Sermons preached

(2.) Conscience hath a sense of it; and on the one hand standeth in dread of Eternal Death, and on the other is cheered with the hopes of Eternal Life. The first is proved, Rom. 1. 32. and Heb. 2. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 56. Men are afraid of Death, not only as a natural Evil, as it puts an end to present Comforts, but as it is an entrance to an unknown Country. What is the reason of the stings of Conscience which are never so sensible and quick as when Men approach near Death, or behold themselves in some near danger? What are these but presaging Fears that anticipate Miseries after this Life? If the Soul were extinguished with the Body, then troubles should in reason vanish: but we find that this is the time when these Alarms are redoubled; and these Tempests increase with violence. On the other side, there are Joys of the Spirit which are a taste and earnest of Eternal Life. Eph. 1. 13. He hath given us the earnest of the Inheritance. Good Men have so much of Heaven upon Earth, as may assure them they may look for more; this hath supported them in all their difficulties, and labour. Now if there were no such thing, the wise and best Men that ever the World saw would be Liars, or Fools: Liars in pretending Comfort which they had not, or Fools in being deceived by their own vain Imagination, and in taking such pains in subduing the Flesh, hazarding their Interests, and performing their Duty upon the hopes of another World.

(2.) Conscience hath a sense of it; and on the one hand standeth in dread of Eternal Death, and on the other is cheared with the hopes of Eternal Life. The first is proved, Rom. 1. 32. and Heb. 2. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 56. Men are afraid of Death, not only as a natural Evil, as it puts an end to present Comforts, but as it is an entrance to an unknown Countrey. What is the reason of the stings of Conscience which are never so sensible and quick as when Men approach near Death, or behold themselves in some near danger? What are these but presaging Fears that anticipate Miseries after this Life? If the Soul were extinguished with the Body, then troubles should in reason vanish: but we find that this is the time when these Allarms are redoubled; and these Tempests increase with violence. On the other side, there are Joys of the Spirit which are a taste and earnest of Eternal Life.