(2.) They that neglect their main business, and leave it undone, and run up and down, they know not why, nor wherefore, surely they act like mad and distracted, not like wise and rational men. Now, alas ! worldly and carnal men spend their time and cares for nothing, like children and boys that follow a bubble blown out of a shell of soap, till it break and dissolve. This is the most serious business of worldly wise men, they court a vain world, which they seem to count religion ; and though they believe eternal life and death, yet they make no great matter of it. And though all their life should be spent in fleeing from wrath to come, and seeking after heaven in the first place, yet they never seriously inquire whether they shall be in heaven or in hell. They know they must shortly die, and be in one of them, either endless joy or misery ; yet they have not the wit to avoid damnation, or to pre- fer heaven above inconsiderable vanities ; but, like busy ants, run up and down their molehill, lay out their time and thoughts upon imper- tinences ; and some of them are blaspheming of God, and scoffing at the religion they do profess ; others whoring and debauching ; others flying in the face of them that would curb their folly ; others running after preferment, and so eager in the pursuit of some worldly honour, which they know to be slippery ; but they run after it, as if it were their only felicity, over-running one another like boys at foot-ball, and contending so earnestly, as if it were some great, desirable prize ; others grasping after the world with both hands, though within a little while it must fall to they know not who, and be spent they know not how. Come to any of those and interpose a few sober and serious words about eternity, they will answer as Antigonus, when one presented him with a treatise of sicmmicm honum, or true happiness, he answered ' I am not at leisure.' Or as Felix, when his conscience wambled, said to
116 SEBMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XX.
Paul, I will send for thee at a more convenient season. Now what are all these but a company of madmen ? Their great business lieth by, and trifles take up their time and care and thoughts. Men are sun- dry ways out of their wits, and only one way in them, that is, when the true fear of God and the sense of the other world ruleth in their hearts. But every one is so wedded to his lusts, that they will not con- sider and repent, or suffer admonition. Oh, the folly and madness of the world ! Oftentimes it is seen that men are counted mad, who are bound in fetters, when madder men are walking at liberty.
(3.) Another instance of their madness is their perverse choice. He is a wise merchant that selleth all for the pearl of price. Mat. xiii. 46. A child will prefer an apple, or a nut, before a precious pearl ; and a madman will part with things of value for a trifle. Is that man wise that selleth his birthright for a morsel of meat ? Heb. xii. 15 ; that damneth his soul, and selleth his salvation, for so small a j)leasure as sin affordeth? that to gratify a lump of flesh, that was dust in its composition, and will be dust again in its dissolution, with a little temporary vain pleasure, hazards his immortal soul, with all the interests and concernments thereof, and changes his part in God and glory for a little carnal satisfaction ?
(4.) They that are the worst enemies to themselves, certainly they act as mad and distracted men ; as you would count those deservedly mad who are ready to cut their own throats, and gash and wound them- selves, and rend and tear themselves, and do themselves a mischief. Now, who is a worse enemy to himself than a carnal person ? Prov. viii. 36, ' He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul : and all they that hate me love death.' They are self-destroyers and self-murderers in the worst sense, for they destroy their own souls ; they make it their business to bar up the gates of heaven against themselves, and kindle and blow up the unquenchable fire, wherewith they shall be tormented for evermore ; and with a great deal of cost and stir and care, do labour for damnation ; it is not their intent, but is the necessary result of their actions ; it is finis operis, but not finis operantis ; it tends to this: Eom. vi. 21, ' The end of these things is death.'
(5.) In their confidence and presumption. As the madman at Athens challenged all the ships that came into the harboiu' for his own ; so they believe they are running to heaven when they are post- ing to hell ; like rowers in a boat, they look one way and go contrary. He is called a foolish builder who would raise a stately building upon a sandy foundation, Mat. vii. 24 ; so to lay on such a structure of con- fidence upon such slender grounds as they have, to hope for anything from God, is an instance of their madness.