prove a dear Bargain. But fhould the Punishments of another Life be, what we have but too much Reafon to fear they will be, what Words can then exprefs the Folly of Sin? Short are your Days in this World, and foon they fhall expire: And should Religion at laft prove a mere Deceit, we know the worst of it; it is an Error for which we cannot fuffer after Death: Nor will the Infidels there have the Pleasure to reproach us with our Miftake; they and we, in equal Reft, fhall fleep the Sleep of Death. But fhould our Hopes, and their Fears, prove true; fhould they be fo unhappy, as not to die for ever; which miferable Hope is the only Comfort that Infidelity affords; what Pains and Torments muft they then undergo? Could I reprefent to you the different States of good and bad Men: Could I give you the Profpect which the bleffed Martyr St. Stephen had, and fhew you the bleffed Jefus at the right Hand of God, furrounded with Angels, and the Spirits of juft Men made perfect: Could I open your Ears to hear the never-ceafing Hymns of Praife, which the Bleffed above fing to Him that was, and is, and is to come; to the Lamb that was flain, but liveth for ever: Could

Could I lead you through the unbounded Regions of eternal Day, and fhew the mutual and ever-blooming Joys of Saints who are at reft from their Labour, and live for ever in the Prefence of God! Or, could I change the Scene, and unbar the iron Gates of Hell, and carry you, through folid Darknefs, to the Fire that never goes out, and to the Worm that never dies: Could I fhew you the apostate Angels faft bound in eternal Chains, or the Souls of wicked Men overwhelmed with Torment and Defpair: Could I open your Ears to hear the Deep itfelf groan with the continual Cries of Mifery; Cries which can never reach the Throne of Mercy, but return in fad Echoes, and add even to the very Horrors of Hell! Could I thus fet before you the different Ends of Religion and Infidelity, you would want no other Proof to convince you that nothing can recompenfe the Hazard Men run of being for ever miferable through Unbelief. But, though neither the Tongues of Men nor of Angels can exprefs the Joys of Heaven, or describe the Pains of Hell; yet, if there be any Truth in Religion, thefe Things are certain, and near at hand.

Confider therefore with yourselves, that when you judge of Religion, fomething more depends upon your Choice, than the Credit of your Judgment, or the Opinion of the World. For God's fake! think Religion at least so serious a Thing, as to deferve your coolest Thoughts, and not fit to be determined in your Hours of Gaiety and Leisure, or in the accidental Converfation of public Places. Truft yourself with yourself; retreat from the Influence of diffolute Companions; and take the Advice of the holy Pfalmift: Stand in awe, and fin not: Commune with your own Heart, and in your Chamber, and be fill.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE II.

LUKE XVI. 31.

And be faid unto him, If they hear not Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, though one rofe from the Dead.

T fometimes happens in Matters of Reafon, as it often does in Objects of Senfe: That which at firft Appearance makes a fair Shew, upon Examination proves to be worthlefs, and of no Efteem. Some Fruits, which allure the Eye moft, can the least bear the Teft of the Palate: They may be admired by the Traveller, who rides haftily by, and only fees them at a distance; but, when they are ferved up at the Table, the Taste foon rectifies the Miftake of the Eyes. So likewise, in Matters of Reason:

C 3

Some

Some Arguments ftrike the Fancy imme diately, and take the Judgment captive, before it has Time fairly to examine the Merits of the Caufe; and yet, when the Vigour of the first Onfet is over, and Time is given for Reflection, the Demonstration dwindles into nothing, and leaves a Man admiring that he was fo eafily deceived by fo palpable a Cheat. And this feems to be the Cafe of the Argument in which the Text is concerned: Who would not think that the Coming of one from the Dead would effectually convince an Unbeliever? Or, were we for ourselves to defire the last Evidence for a future State, what more fhould we defire, than to fee one come from the Dead; one of our old Acquaintance; and to hear from him the Relation of what happened to him after Death, and of what he had feen and experienced in the other World? And yet this Evidence, our Saviour tells us, would have no Effect upon an Unbeliever: He, who can hold out against the Evidence that God has already given that he will one Day judge the World in Righteousness, would not be perfuaded, though one rofe from the Dead.

Our