How far Men of irreligious Lives and. Principles are chargeable with these Abuses, they can best inform themselves: And furely the Hopes of Immortality, and Fears of Hell, fhould compose them to fo much Seriousness, as to ask themselves that Queftion. But, after all, if, upon a View of the whole Matter, and of the Evidences that Reason and Revelation afford us of a future State, they will not fubmit to the Doctrines and Precepts of Religion, they must be left to the Event for a fuller Demonstration of their Folly. If there be really a future State of Rewards and Punishments, both the Punishments and the Rewards must be very inconfiderable indeed not to make it worth a Man's while to live up to the Conditions of being happy. So that, when the Difpute is concerning the Folly of Irreligion, we may remit a great deal of the Truth in allowing the Punishment to be less than really it is, and the Argument will still have Force enough to convince Irreligion of Folly. The Punishment in all Cafes muft exceed the Advantage the Offender will reap by tranfgreffing the Law; or elfe, as much as the Gain to be reaped by breaking the Law exceeds the Punishment annexed to

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the

the Breach, fo much Encouragement there. will be for Men to offend. Therefore we

may be fure that God, who is the wifeft of Lawgivers, has taken such Care to guard. his Laws and Statutes, that there shall be no Encouragement for Offenders. Upon which Account we may affure ourselves, that, let the Pleasures and Advantages of Sin and Irreligion be ever fo numerous or great, the Punishment shall still be greater: So that Men shall say, when they are to pay the Price of their Sins, they have finned exceeding foolishly. Wicked Men spend their Time to no purpose in disputing against the Punishments of Sin, which are revealed to us; I mean, against the Nature of them: For, if they once allow that Sin and Wickedness shall be punished, their own Reason will inform them that the Punishment must at least be so great, as to make it worth a Man's while to abstain from Sin. So that all Sinners must be guilty of Folly in chufing the Sin with the Punishment, when the Punishment must of Neceffity exceed the Advantage of finning.

These are the easiest Terms that Sinners can flatter themselves with; and yet, even upon this View, the Pleafures of Sin will VOL. III.

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prove a dear Bargain. But fhould the Punishments of another Life be, what we have but too much Reason 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 Pleafure to reproach us with our Miftake; they and we, in equal Rest, shall sleep the Sleep of Death. But should 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 must they then undergo? Could I repre fent to you the different States of good and bad Men: Could I give you the Prospect 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 Praise, which the Blessed above fing to Him that was, and is, and is to come s to the Lamb that was flain, but liveth for ever: Could

you

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 the apostate Angels fast bound in eternal Chains, or the Souls of wicked Men overwhelmed with Torment and Despair: Could I open your Ears to hear the Deep itself groan with the continual Cries of Misery; 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 any Truth in Religion, thefe Things are certain, and near at hand.

be

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 Re- * ligion at least fo ferious 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 Chamber, and be ftill.

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DISCOURSE