The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain itThe soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it

The loss is inconceivably great. If Cain when banished from the Society of the Saints, where God was publicly worshipped, and by spiritual Revelations and visible Apparitions, graciously made himself known, cried out in anguish of Soul, My punishment is greater than I can bear, from thy Face shall I be hid, and I shall be a Fugitive upon the Earth, how intolerable will be the final separation from his glorious and joyful Presence? 'Tis ⟨p. 251⟩often seen how tenderly and impatiently the human Spirit resents the loss of a dear Relation. Jacob for the supposed Death of Joseph, was so overcome with Grief, that when all his Sons and Daughters rose up to comfort him, he refused to be comforted, and said, I will go down to the Grave unto my Son mourning. This is a Sin and a punishment.¹ 'Tis established by the righteous and unchangeable Decree of God, that every inordinate Affection in Man should be his own Tormentor. But if the loss of a poor frail Creature for a short time be so afflicting, how insupportable will be the Sorrow, for the loss of an infinite Eternal Good? It may be a carnal Wretch may think comfortably of this now, whilst he lives in Pleasures, but in the next World he shall be totally deprived of all things that please his voluptuous Senses, and shall understand what a misery it is to lose the favour and enjoyment of the blessed God. Our Saviour told the Jews, There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth (the Symptoms of extreme Sorrow) when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and you your selves thrust out. The ⟨p. 252⟩sight of that blessed Company entering into the sacred Mansions of Light, will make the loss of Heaven infinitely more discernible and terrible to the Wicked, who shall be cast into outer Darkness, and for ever be deprived of Communion with God and his Saints.

The loss is inconceivably great. If Cain when banisht from the Society of the Saints, where God was publickly worshipt, and by spiritual Revelations and visible Apparitions, graciously made himself known, cry'd out in anguish of Soul, My punishment is greater than I can bear, from thy Face shall I be hid, and I shall be a Fugitive upon the Earth, how intolerable will be the final separation from his glorious and joyful Presence? 'Tis