important than those of eternity. What can exceed the folly of living in such a state ? How will such an one, if not stupified by sin, condemn himself in a dying hour ! How will he stand amazed when he shall appear at the tribunal of Godp !]
2. In his punishment —
[Every worldling indeed is not cut off without a previous warning : but, whenever he is taken away, he is summoned before God in wrath : he is torn from the idols which he had cherished in his bosom : not the smallest portion of his former comforts is left him : he is called by an incensed master to give an account of his stewardship, and for his folly is consigned over to everlasting burnings.]
We cannot conclude without remarking, how widely different God's sentiments are from those of men —
[Men account us wise in proportion as we prosecute our temporal interests'1, and consider a diligent attention to our eternal welfare as a mark of weakness and folly. But God forms a very different estimate of human actions : the amassing of wealth is in his eyes like the " loading of oneself with thick clayr:" but the laying up treasure in heaven is the very be- ginning of wisdom s. Let us then study to be like-minded with God; and let us be content to be despised by man, if we may but receive a plaudit from our Judge. Let us not how- ever carry our disregard of the world to a criminal excess. While we are in the world we should diligently perform the duties of our station* : but our first and greatest care should be to obtain an eternal inheritance. So, whenever our soul shall be required, we shall give it up with joy, and possess our por- tion when the vanities of time shall be no more.]
P Wisd. v. 4. i Ps. xlix. 18. r Hab. ii. 6.
s Ps. cxi. 10. t i Cor. vii. 24.