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

tion, and chink^ how one who finks under thefe, will be able to dwell with exquifite and Everlafting Tor- ments. Nor is this a trifling needlefs Enquiry , but abfolutely neceffary, and of mighty moment. For Matters are fo ordered, that perfect Eafe can be no Man's Portion in hoth Worlds. They who chufe their good Things here, cannot have them hereafter too • nor fliall any Man, who indulges Senfe and Pleafure uponEarth , Rejoice and Reign with Chrifl: in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Suppofe then, that, from your Entrance into the Body, to this very Day, you had enjoyed the utmoft your Fleart could poffibly defire , of all which this World calls Happinefs : Honours, Riches, Pleafures, v/ithout Check, or Stint, or Interruption. Yet what Good would all this do to you, if it iliould pleafe God juft now to ftrike you with D»athf Dc not you plain- ly fee , without my profecuting this Ar^'jment any farther, that all below is Vanity and xneer Notliing, and that the \.q\q, of God and a Religious Life is the only thing which can Itand you in any ^c,z^ ? This will flick by you, when all the reft forL?ke yen. This is neither dettroyed by Death, nor afraid of Punifli- ment, but Triumphs over both ; fills the Man u'ith Confidence and jo)ful Expedation at the dreadful Day of Judgment ^ and fers him above all the Ter- rors and difmal Apprehei lions ct Fiell and its Tor- tures. But then , This is the peculiar Privjledge of the Servants of God ^ for how is it pofSble for the Men who pradife and deiieh: in Wickednefs, to think of Death and Judgment, without Fear and Perpie;dtv of Heart.? How fhould they enjoy Quiet, and be eafy in their Minds , if they think at all what is coming apace upon them ? Let then the Love of God prevail over that of bin.. But if thou aft not yet perfeA enough to be aded by this noble Principle,* Let at lead the Love of th) /e//' reclaim thee, and the Fear of Hell
re-
6B 0f tf^t imitation Book 1
reftrain and deter thee from a Courfe ^ which muft
end at laft in thy utter and inevitable
Pfilmcxuio, ^^^^^ -pi^ig^ f^y5 ^j^g Scripture, is the
beginning of Wifdom ^ for he, who is Proof againft the Fear of God , cannot perfevere in any thing that is Good ^ As having no manner of Principle that can fave him, no Curb upon his Mind that can awe, or hold him in, from running headlong into the Snares of the Devil.
Chap. XXV, Of Zeal in the Reformation of our Lives.
BE fewent in Trayer, fewing the Lord, fays the Apo- ftle. And fuch indeed it highly concerns every one to be in his Service. For what is the Rom. xiL II. £j^^ ^g propofe, by dedicating our felves in folemn Vows to Chrifl: ? or to what purpofe do we renounce the World and its Vanities ; but that thefe facred Ties may engage our utmoft Watchfulnefs and Diligence, to confecrate our Perfons and Actions, to conform our felves to the Image of God, by living to him, and like him, and much above the rate of com- mon Men ? Let not therefore thefe good Refolutions cool upon your Hands ,• but be zealous in Piety and Virtue. Confider , that you (hall fhortly receive an ample Recompence for all your holy Labours , and fee a happy End of Grief, and Fear, and Hardfliip. Be content with Tra'vel and Pain for a very little while, Manh. xi. 28, ^^d JOH jhall he fure to find Reft, and VeacCy 30, and Joy to your Souls, The Tuke is eafjy
1 Cor. iv. 16. and the Burthen ts light ^ but the TVcight of Glory is far more exceeding and eternal. Be but You careful to difcharge your pare ^^ and then you need
nefef