Book I. of J E s U S C H R 1 S T. 6^

tofubmit to, for mortifying their Vanities, and amend- ing their Lives.
For, (which is of all others the kf! and dreadfulleft Aggravation^ ) thofe Miferies and Tortures have no End, no Refrefhment, no Intermiffion : But the fharp- eft Afflictions we endure in this Life will quickly have a Period : They have their Intervals of Eafe and Comfort ,- and thofe Sorrows, which we feel upon a Religious Account , are largely recompenced with Spiritual Confolations , and fweet Peace of Mind. Do not then grudge a little prefent Grief ^ but mourn earneftly for thy Sins, and bend thy utmoft Thoughts and Care to the Subduing and Reforming them ; that this fliort Anxiety may deliver thee from eter- nal Defpair, and Anguifh. unconceiveable, and thofe few Tears of Repentance may fecure to thee a Por- tion of everlafting Joy with the Bleffed.
O happy Reverfe of all their Griefs and Sufferings, which the Righteous fhall.find in that Day ! Vv'hen they fhall ftand full of Hope and humble Confidence before that Judgment- Seat, from which their Haughty and Mercilefs Oppreffors , confounded with Fear, and amazed with Guilt, fliall ftrive and wifh in vain to hide their Trembling Heads. When he, who now fiands tamely at the Bar of Men, and innocently fufFers, fhall then be advanced to a Throne, and placed among the Saints and Martyrs, to affift at the Tryal of his, once infulting, Judges. When the Poor and Meek fliall have great Boldnefs, while the Proud and great Sinner quakes at the Prefence of God and the Lamb. When that Piety and Godly Fear, that Abftinence and fevere Virtue, that patient Enduring for Chrilt's fake, which is now thought ju t Matter of Derifion and Contempt^ and counted Folly and Religious Madnefs, fliall then be acknowledged by irs mofl batyiical Scorners, to be in- deed the True, t'.^ Only Wifdom. When the Re- membrance of pait Miferies fliall be fweet, and They,
whofs
66 £>{ ttiC ^imitattOIT Book L
whofe wicked M':ilice exercifed fuch Patience, fhall be ftruck Dumb with did Remorfe and Bitternefs of Soul. When all , v^ho devoted themfelves to God and his Service, fliall be tranfported ,with Raptures of Joy • and all thofe who difregarded or defpifed them, fhall Weep and Lament. When the Afflided and Perfecuted jfhall blefs his bitter Cup^ and feel more refined^ more fub- ftantial Delights from it ^ than fenfual Pleafures,, or uninterrupted Profperity could ever bring to the moil Voluptuous and Fortunate. When the plain Drefs of the Humble^ and Sackcloth of the Penitent^ fhall fhine glorious as the Sun; and all the gay Pomp and glifter^ ing Jewels of the proud and gaudy Sinner fiiall be trampled under Foot like Dung. When the Cottage fliall take place of the Court, Patience appear more eligible than the moft boundlefs and arbitrary Power* the honeft Obedience of an humble Faich^ more Wife, than the niceil Cavils of the fcbtleft Wit ; and a good Confclence more ufeful Learning, than the moil ela- borate Syllems of Philofophy. When the Contempt of Riches (hall approve it fclf the greateftTreafure,* De- vout Prayer the moft delicious Entertainment; Silence and Caution the beft Converfation. When Good Works fhall plead better than the moft accurate Elo- quence ; Alms prove the moft prevailing Advocate ; Self-denial the moft exalted Pleafure ; and the^ Con- queft of ill Habits the moft glorious Triumph. .
If then this be, (and this moft alTuredlv is) a true Reprefentation of that decifive Day : If this the diffe- rent Fate and Efred of thefe fo very different Perfons and Practices; Confider^ I conjure thee^ the Circum- ftances of thofe Damned. And harden thy feif from this Reflexion , to endure a Little now, when Th^f little will fecure thee againft enduring infinitely more hereafter. Make tryal of thy felf, and if the flight Difficulties of a Religious Life feem tedious and tire- fome; turn the ArgUinent agaiaft thy fenfual Inclina-
dori^