CHAP. XI.] The dangers of sense. [HEAVEN. shows of felicity. The way to hell is broad, as the inclinations of the licentious appetite; pleasant, as the delights of sense; so plain and easy, that men go to it blindfold; and so frequented, that it would force tears from any considerate.person to see men so hasty to meet with their eternal ruin. When a harlot reproached Socrates that there were more followers of her beauty than his wisdom, the philosopher replied, That was not strange, because it was much easier to draw them in the way of pleasure, that is steep and slippery, than to constrain them to ascend to virtue, seated on a hill, where the ascent is slow and difficult. Nothing is more contagious than example. We blindly consent with the multitude, and are possessed with foolish wonder and carnal admiration of worldly greatness, treasures and delights, neglecting to make a due estimate of things. It is the ordinary artifice of the devil to render temporal things more valuable and attractive to particular persons, from the common practice of men who greedily pursue them as their happiness; like some crafty merchants who by false reports raise the exchange, to advance the price of their own wares. The men of the world are under the direction of sense, and think those only to be wise and happy that shine in pomp, abound in riches, and overflow with pleasures. The Psalmist tells us of the prosperous worldling, that while he lives he blesses his soul; and men will praise thee when thou dost well to thyself.' By HEAVEN.] The dangers of sense. [CHAP. XI. : vicious imitation our judgments are more corrupted, and our passions raised to higher degrees for painted varieties. The affections in the pursuit of earthly things are inflamed by the contention of others and when holy desires and resolutions spring up in men, yet so powerful is the custom of the world, that they often become ineffectual. As a ship whose sails are filled with a fair wind, but makes no way, being stopped by the force of the current. Now to fortify us against the pernicious influence of example, consider. 1. It is most unreasonable in this affair of so vast moment to be under the direction of the multitude. For the most are sottish and sensual, governed by the uncertain motions of a giddy voluble fancy, and roving impetuous passions; so that to be led by their example, and disregard the solid immortal rules of heavenly wisdom, is as perfect madness as for one to follow a herd of swine through the mire, and leave a clean path that lies before him. If there were but few in an age or country that were deluded with false appearances, it would even then be a disgrace to mitate the practice of the foolish; and shall the great numbers of the earthly-minded give reputation and credit to their error? He were a strange fool indeed who should refuse a single piece of counterfeit money, and receive a great heap in payment, as if the number added a real value to them. It is therefore a necessary point of wisdom to divest all vulgar CHAP. XI.] The dangers of sense. [HEAVEN. prejudices, to separate ourselves from the multitude, that we may see the vanity of those things which dazzle inferior minds. 2. Consider the universal judgment even of worldy men in their last and serious hours, when the prospect of eternal things is open before them. How vastly different are their apprehensions of temporal things in the review, from what they were in their vicious desires. How often do they break forth in the sorrowful words of the apostle; We have been toiling all night, and caught nothing.' When there are but few remaining sands in the glass of time, and death shakes the glass before them, how powerfully do they preach of the emptiness and uncertainty of things below, and sigh out in Solomon's phrase,' all is vanity.' This is more singularly observable in those who have had the fullest enjoyment of earthly things. How do they complain of the vain world, and their vainer hearts, when experience has convinced them of their woeful folly. Solomon who was among other princes as the sun in the midst of the planets, that obscures them by his illustrious brightness; he that had surveyed the continent of vanity, to make an experiment whether any satisfaction could be found in it, at last sadly declares that all things here below are but several kinds and ranks of vanities, as ineffectual to make men happy as counterfeit jewels of several colours are to enrich the possessor. Nay they are not only vanity, but vexation;' an empty show that has nothing real, but the vexation HEAVEN.] The dangers of sense. [CHAP. XI. of disappointment. judgment of men when they are best instructed, and give credit to their testimony when they are sincere. Certainly in their approaches to the divine judgment they are most considerate and serious; they have the truest and justest thoughts of things, and most freely declare them. How astonishing is the folly of men, that they will not be convinced of the error of their ways till they come to the end of them, and the sun is set, and no time remains for their returning into the way of life. And shall we not value the I shall proceed to show further what is necessary to direct us in our choice, that we way not fall into the double misery of being deceived with a false happiness for a little time, and deprived of true happiness for ever. CHAP. XII. A stedfast belief of unseen eternal things is necessary to direct our choice-Faith realizes things future, and controuls the efficacy of present temptationsThe neglect of the great salvation proceeds from unbelief-Consideration is necessary in order to a wise choice-It must be serious and deliberateMotives to consideration. FIRST, A sound and stedfast belief of eternal things is requisite to direct our choice aright. 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,' Heb. xi. 1. It assures us of their reality and worth, as if they were before our eyes, and in our actual possession. This divine light governs and conducts the will to choose wisely, and excites all the powers for preventing the greatest evils, and obtaining the most perfect felicity. When the devil, that deadly flatterer, by inviting representations of the world incites the heart, the serious belief of the future reward so glorious and eternal, eclipses the most splendid temptation, and makes them ineffectual. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.' If tempted to lasciviousness by the allurements of an earthly beauty, faith represents the angelic lustre of the saints, when they shall come with the unspotted Lamb in his glorious appearance; |