The speedy coming of Christ to judgment represented in a funeral sermon on the…

That we may therefore be duly prepared, these Directions are to be followed.

1. Let it be our special care to plant the Belief of this great Truth in our Minds, and preserve it in its Vigour, that we may feel its Efficacy and Influence in our Hearts and Lives. Customary Believers, whose assent to Divine Truths is only from the prejudice of Education, and the current Opinions of others ⟨p. 65⟩with whom they live, are as careless and secure as direct Atheist: The substantial Fruits of Godliness and Holiness spring from internal Notions deeply established, and experimentally felt in the Soul. The usual coldness in the Duties of Religion, and presumptuous boldness in Sin, is because Men have but a slight Belief of their great account. But we have infallible assurance from the Judg himself: Behold, I come quickly: his Throne is like the fiery Flame, and his Wheels as burning Fire, an Emblem of his swift coming to Judgment. The steadfast Belief of this will arrest our vain Thoughts, and ⟨p. 66⟩control our vicious Affections, and regulate our Conversations. Faith is the Principle of Fear; and Fear is a preventive Passion, it engages the Mind to consider with becoming seriousness, how to escape the Damnation of Hell. Then we throughly believe this fundamental Principle of Religion, when the design and work of our Lives is to be approved by our Judg.

1. Let it be our special care to plant the Belief of this great Truth in our Minds, and preserve it in its Vigor, that we may feel its Efficacy and Influence in our Hearts and Lives. Customary Believers, whose assent to Divine Truths is only from the prejudice of Education, and the current Opinions of others ⟨p. 65⟩with whom they live, are as careless and secure as direct Atheist: The substantial Fruits of Godliness and Holiness spring from internal Notions deeply establish'd, and experimentally felt in the Soul. The usual coldness in the Duties of Religion, and presumptuous boldness in Sin, is because Men have but a slite Belief of their great account. But we have infallible assurance from the Judg himself: Behold, I come quickly: his Throne is like the fiery Flame, and his Wheels as burning Fire, an Emblem of his swift coming to Judgment. The stedfast Belief of this will arrest our vain Thoughts, and