3G 4 THE SEVEN'TEENTH SERMON. [DeUT. XXX. 15,
man as to Lis soul is immortal, and tliere is no chanj^e of estate in the other world after our trial is over, and tliinf^s of religion become mere matter of sense. Certainly one that hath lived holily, and is translated to glory, there is no reason that he should afterwards be made miserable ; and the punishment holdeth conformity to the re- ward : Luke xvi. 26, ' Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.' There is no changing of estates or ]ilaccs in the other world, the blessedness and misery is eternal. Things to come would not considerably counterbalance things present, if there were not eternity in the case.
[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 Eom. i. 32, Heb. ii. 14, and 1 Cor. XV. 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 pre- saging 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. i. 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 moic ; tliis hath supported them in all their difficulties and labour. Now if there was no such thing, the wise and best men that ever the world 8aw 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.
[3.] Scripture, if we will take God's word for it, is express, Kom. viii. 13, Rom. vi. 21, 22, and Gal. vi. 8. The present world is com- ])rised in two ranks — either sowing with the flesh, that is, such M'ho employ their labour to make provision to gratify the carnal appetite, or sowing to the Spirit, such as employ their time and study in ad- vancing the work of the Spirit ; and they issue themselves into two states in the other world — the state of eveilasting perdition or everlast- ing life. Thus do the scriptures propound good and life, evil and death.
Secondly, The manner how this is to be done. It must be set forth with all evidence and conviction as to the reason of men, with all earnestness and atfectionate importunity to awaken their affections. In short : —
1. So as will become the belief of these things. We must not speak of them as a thing spoken in jest and by rote, but as firmly persuaded of the truth of things as if heaven and hell were before our eyes, and as evident to sense, Heb. xi. 1. We look upon these things naturally as at a dis- tance, and so have but a cold apprehension of them ; but we should by faith see them as near at hand ; as you would pull a man out of the fire, Jude 23, or as falling into a deep pit or bottomless gulf ; as one in
DeUT. XXX. 15.] THE SEVENTEENTH SERMON. 365
tlie greatest earnest. Belief puts a life into truths whicli otherwise are but dead and weak in their operation : ' I believed, and therefore did I speak;' as if we had a deep sense of these things upon our own hearts.
2. As will become experience : 2 Cor. v. 11, ' Knowing the terrors of tlie Lord, we persuade men.' A man that knoweth the terrors of the Lord, that hath been scorched himself, will set them before men as if they were at hand, ready to surprise them. Others that talk of these things but as cold opinions, they will not be so careful to rouse up men to mind the case of their souls : ' If one went unto tlitmi from the dead, then will they repent/ Luke xvi. 30.
3. So as will become zeal for the glory of God, which is much pro- moted by the subjection and obedience of his creatures, and his interest in them ; therefore we should be diligent and industrious in drawing souls to Christ : Col. i. 27, 28, ' Christ in you, the hope of glory ; whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom ; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.' 2 Cor. xi. 13, They have blind, unbelieving hearts, therefore need to be taught; cold careless affections, and need to be warned;^ and this with the greatest wisdom that can be used, that all may be pre- sented to Christ at the last day. This is that which sets all agoing. When we are wooing for Christ we should not do it coldly and triflingly, but as those that would prevail for their master, that he may be glorified in their being gained to him.