over ourselves. We must guard against the Snares and Temptations to which we are now expofed, and must take Pains to get evil Habits and corrupt Difpofitions corrected and restrained, and to cultivate and improve good ones. For as we fow here, we shall reap hereafter. hereafter. This is what St. Paul plainly fignifieth in that excellent Paffage, with which I fhall conclude, Gal. vi. 7, 8. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatfoever a Man foweth, that shall be alfo reap. For he that foweth to his Flesh, fhall of the Flesh reap Corruption; but he that Joweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting. Concerning Concerning a future Judgment and State of final Retributions, when the Adminiftrations of Providence towards Mankind fhall be compleated. DISCOURSE XVIII. ECCLES. iii. 17. 1 faid in mine Heart, God fhall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a Time there for every Purpofe and for every Work. IN N my former Difcourfe feveral Confiderations were offered to fhew that this present Life is not the whole of Man's Existence, and that it is defigned for a pro bationary bationary State, a State of Trial and Dif cipline, and not of final Judgment; and confequently that there must be a future State and Season in which God will judge the righteous and the wicked. But to fet this in a clearer and stronger Light, I fhall now proceed more distinctly to fhew, that neither the righteous receive their proper and full Reward here on Earth, nor are the wicked punished in fuch a Manner as would be neceffary if this were defigned to be a State of final Retributions. First, The righteous do not receive their proper and full Reward here on Earth. That which good Men afpire after as their proper Felicity, is not the Enjoyment of worldly Riches or Honours, or of fenfual Pleasures, but a Happiness arifing from the Perfection of Righteousness, Goodness, and Purity, from the nearest Communion with God, and Conformity to him in his amiable moral Excellencies. But this is what they are not capable of fully attaining to in this prefent World. They are still reaching forward, and endeavouring to make a continual Progrefs in the most holy and virtuous Difpofitions. But after all their Efforts they fall greatly fhort: Many are the Defects which attend them whilft they are in the Body. The beft of Men are most fenfible fenfible of this, and ready to acknowledge with the Apostle Paul, that they have not yet attained, neither are already perfect; and therefore they moft earnestly afpire after a better State, where they shall be entirely free from all their Sins and Defilements, and arrive at the true Perfection and Felicity of their Natures. But what a chilling Thought would it be, if this immature and imperfect State were all they had to hope for! If they were to have no Prospects or Opportunities of ever arriving to any higher Degrees of moral Excellence, or of being raised to a nearer Conformity to God, or a fuller Enjoyment of him, than they can attain to in this present short and mortal Life! Is the good Man only left to struggle with his Appetites and Paffions for a while, and after having, by a careful Difcipline, brought them under proper Regulations, must he, when he is just entered as it were upon a Course of Wisdom and Virtue, and beginning to make a hopeful Progress in the divine Life, be fnatched away at once, and an utter End be put to all his noble Pursuits and Attainments? Shall all the earnest Defires and Afpirations after Immortality and Perfection in Holiness, which are kindled in the religious and virtuous Soul, prove vain and abortive, and end in eternal Difappointment? What a Discou VOL. I. Сс ragement |