A discourse concerning the Redeemer's dominion over the invisible world, and the entrance thereinto

Let the former be suppos•• the thing we quarrel at, and consider the intolerable consequences of the matters being otherwise; as the case is with this Apostate Sinful World. Such as upon second, better-weighed thoughts, we would abhor to admit into our minds, even as the matter of a wish. What would we wish to Mankind a sinning immortality on this Earth, before which a wise Heathen profest to prefer one Day virtuously spent?¹ Would we wish this World to be the everlasting Stage, of indignities and affronts to him that made it? Would we wish there should never be a judgment Day? and that all the wise & righteous Counsels of Heaven ⟨p. 118⟩should be ranverst & overturned, only to comport with our terrene & sensual inclinations? Is this our dutifulness and loyal affection to our Blessed Lord, the Author of our Beings, and the God of our •ives, whose rights and honours should be infinitely dearer to us than our selves? Is it our kindness to our selves, and all others of our kind and order, that are all naturally capable, and many, by gracious vouchsafement, fitly qualified, to enjoy a perfect felicity in another World, that we would have all together confined for ever, to this Region of darkness, impurity and misery?

Let the former be suppos•• the thing we quarrel at, and consider the intolerable consequences of the matters being otherwise; as the case is with this Apostate Sinful World. Such as upon second, better-weighed thoughts, we would abhor to admit into our minds, even as the matter of a wish. What would we wish to Mankind a sinning immortality on this Earth, before which a wise Heathen profest to prefer one Day vertuously spent?¹ Would we wish this World to be the everlasting Stage, of indignities and affronts to him that made it? Would we wish there should never be a judgment Day? and that all the wise & righteous Councels of Heaven ⟨p. 118⟩should be ranverst & overturned, only to comport with our terrene & sensual inclinations? Is this our dutifulness and loyal affection to our Blessed Lord, the Author of our Beings, and the God of our ives, whose rights and honours should be infinitely dearer to us than our selves? Is it our kindness to our selves, and all others of our kind and order, that are all naturally capable, and many, by gracious vouchsafement, sitly qualified, to enjoy a perfect felicity in another World, that we would have all together confined for ever, to this Region of darkness, impurity and misery?