The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

In a word, needs there any more to make this appear a false slander, than to observe, how these very wretches upon a sick-bed, when they apprehend themselves on the marches of death, do Court Religion; which in their jollity they Cart and Scourge with their reviling Tongues? Oh how glad would they then be to creep into a Saints clothes, and go by his name; how desirous to dye the Righteous mans death, and to have an end like his? ⟨p. 97⟩Oh how afraid to look into another world, or to think of going hence as they are? Doth not all this speak, that they themselves secretly think there is more reality in Religion, and the Eternal consequences of it, than they will in their Prosperity confess? The truth is, God hath their Conscience on his side, but their Lusts have their Hearts; and these are they which gag their Conscience, that it may not speak what it would: but at last, Conscience is even with them, and revengeth the violence offered to it, upon them. And for stopping its mouth a while, opens it the wider at last; both in accusing them for this their past wickedness, and terrifying them with the fearful expectation of the Dismal Tempest of Fire and Brimstone, ready now to pour down upon them. Thus as the hardest Frosts, when they break, leave the deepest slugs behind them: so doth the greatest Dedolency and insensibility, in an Irreligious life, leave sinners (when Conscience recovers its sense and feeling) ⟨p. 98⟩sticking fast in the deepest horror and desperation.

In a word, needs there any more to make this appear a false slander, than to observe, how these very wretches upon a sick-bed, when they apprehend themselves on the marches of death, do Court Religion; which in their jollity they Cart and Scourge with their reviling Tongues? Oh how glad would they then be to creep into a Saints cloaths, and go by his name; how desirous to dye the Righteous mans death, and to have an end like his? ⟨p. 97⟩Oh how afraid to look into another world, or to think of going hence as they are? Doth not all this speak, that they themselves secretly think there is more reality in Religion, and the Eternal consequences of it, than they will in their Prosperity confess? The truth is, God hath their Conscience on his side, but their Lusts have their Hearts; and these are they which gag their Conscience, that it may not speak what it would: but at last, Conscience is even with them, and revengeth the violence offered to it, upon them. And for stoping its mouth a while, opens it the wider at last; both in accusing them for this their past wickedness, and terrifying them with the fearful expectation of the Dismal Tempest of Fire and Brimstone, ready now to pour down upon them. Thus as the hardest Frosts, when they break, leave the deepest slugs behind them: so doth the greatest Dedolency and insensibility, in an Irreligious life, leave sinners (when Conscience recovers its sense and feeling)