Vol. II. quently a Judgment to Come, or at least wise an Eternal Duration in Eternal Pain, implies an Impoffibility; but our Saviour affures us on the contrary, that after this Temporal Death, God is able to destroy both Body and Soul, in Hell, and to extend this Punishment and his Wrath to all Eternity.

Nor is there any Reason why it should be thought a thing incredible by the Sinner that God should raife the Dead, but only because he wishes it were fo; for a few Ages agoe we were as far from Being, as we fhall be a few Ages hence. The very Light of Nature condemns this Incredulity in this Point, for the Heathens themselves did firmly believe as wonderfull things as thefe, induced to it by the Perfwafion of God's Omnipotence: And hence is that excellent Symbol of Pythagoras, περὶ θεῶν μηδὲν θαυμαςῶν ἀπιςει, μηδὲ περὶ Belay Soyμátor, i. e. Let not the wonderfulness of any thing, which relates to GOD, betray thee into Incredulity, nor the ftrangeness of any thing induce thee to believe it impoffible to Gop; for things feeming to theeImpoffible are the proper fubjects of Divine Omnipotence. Revelation therefore does affure us of a Judgment to Come, Reafon does not contradict but confirm it; will it not therefore

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become us to prepare to meet our God, fince Ser. II. he is able if he finds us unprepar'd, to make us Eternally Miferable? Ought we not to beftir our felves, fince our Eternity depends on this Moment? And our Happy or Unhappy State for ever depends upon our Preparation or Neglect? This is the firft Confideration I propos'd to make ufe of, to ftir you up to a Preparation for the coming of the Laft Day, taken from the Perfon we are then to meet, i. e. God.

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2. A Second Inforcement of this Duty is the Business of our Meetings we are to meet GOD in Judgment. If the Delivery of the Law upon Mount Sinai was fo dreadful, that Mofes did exceedingly fear and quake, and the People defired that they might not hear God any more fpeaking out of the Fire, least they fhould die: How dreadful will be the Exod. xx Prefence of GOD calling the World, the 19 finful World to its laft Account for the Violation of his Laws? When the Shrieks of Guilty Sinners arifing from their Graves, and the Voices of Millions of Angels, the Executioners of his Wrath, as well as Instruments of his Mercy, will fure be an infinitely more difmal Noife, than that of Thunder and Trumpets on

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Vol. II. the Mount; and thofe Revengefull Flames which will incircle the guilty Crowd, and flafh forth from the Tribunal of God, will dart a Thousand times more Horrour than the Lightnings of Dani x:9. Mount Sinai. If Holy Daniel fell almost lifeless to the Ground before the Presence of an Angel, how will gulity Sinners be able to ftand before the Prefence of their Judge coming with all the Power of Heaven and numberlefs Legions of Angels ? But alas, the leaft part of the Terror of that Day, is the Glory and Majesty of the Divine Prefence; we are to remember what is to be done that Day, we are to give an Account, a ftrict Account of Three-fcore Years and Ten, abating for our Infancy. We are to make it appear what Honour and Service we have done GOD; what we have contributed to the Peace and Profperity of the Government, the Community we are Members of; what Benefits and Advantages we have brought to the Parish, to the Neighbourhood we have liv'd in: How useful we have been to our Families, our Relations, and our Friends, by our Example, by our Care and Endeavour to instruct 'em in the Knowledge of GoD and, to poffefs 'em with Religious and Sound Principles: There we must give an Ac

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count what Good Deeds we have done, Ser. II. what Alms we have beftow'd, what Comfort we have adminifter'd to the Afflicted. I know there will be fome who form to themfelves an eafy and cheap Religion, confifting purely of pretended Knowledge and pretended Zeal for the Truth, that will be much difpleased with me for ftating the Measure of the laft Enquiry or Trial thus. They expected peradventure that they should be examin'd about the Confidence of their Faith, which is Prefumption when 'tis not attended with Good Works; or about the Depth of their Knowledge, or Orthodoxy of their Opinions, which will only procure us more Stripes if it be not attended with Charity. To fuch I must Answer, I took my Measures from the 25th of St. Matthew, from our Saviour's Description of the great Day of Judgment. I know no better Rule, no better Standard of the Nature of that laft Affizes: But yet this I must add farther, I believe our Saviour in the Description of that laft Trial does inftance the Works of Charity as more particularly to be infifted on, becaufe Charity is one of the most eminent Proofs of the Sincerity of our Love of God, and Faith in Chrift: Not as if there fhould be no Enquiry

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Vol. II. Enquiry made concerning our Publick and Private Devotion towards God, or of our Faith and Love towards Chrift ; but because Righteousness and Charity being the most Illuftrious Effects of thefe Graces, where the Effects are manifeft, the Cause is fuppos'd and taken for granted. In a word, to be a true Difciple of Christ, is to have Chrift form'd in us, and we know that the Image of Christ and the Image of God is the fame thing, and who knows not that the Eph. iv. Image of God confifts in Righteousness and true Holinefs? And therefore these are the Things that we shall be Examined about at the Laft Day. I pray put the Question to your felves, What Good of this kind have you done? Demand of your felves how you have fpent those many Years you have already liv'd? What you have contributed to the promoting Peace, Religion and Charity? And if it shall be found that when you have caft up all the Portions of your Time, that you have fpent in the Drudgery of the World, in the Cares of Life, in the Pleafures of Sin, in making provifion for the Flefb, to fulfil the Lufts thereof, in Sloth and in Pride, in impertinent Vifits and idle Tattle, or what is worfe, in Railing and Slandering, in

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