CONCLUSION. In the preceding pages we have briefly considered the vanity and transitory nature of all earthly things, and the importance and necessity of attending to those which relate to our final welfare. Should my reader, after all, feel no concern about his future state, let me intreat him to reflect on his condition. You are seeking after happiness, and constantly pursuing those objects which you think will afford you the greatest satisfaction. "Make me but happy," "that is all I want." But know, that say you; you cannot be made happy until you are made holy. What happiness can you enjoy, when you are every day adding to your guilt; when you are constantly receding farther from the fountain of felicity; when vile ingratitude and base passions have taken possession of your soul? What peace can you have, if you reflect on a life devoted to nothing but sensual objects? What must you feel, if you look forward to a dying bed, to an eternal world, to that day when you inust give an account to Him who will judge "the quick and the dead." Will you say, you are determined to be happy, you will banish reflec tion, you will make yourself happy. O, deluded mortal! This is more than you can do; it is more than others can do; it is more than all the world can do. For can you invert the order of things? Can you create light where there is nothing but darkness? Can you make that good which the Almighty has declared is the greatest evil? Are you stronger than he? Can you disannul his purpose? Can you find happiness where he has not placed it? Do you not know that he holds it in his own hand, and bestows it only on those who fear him? hardy enough to discredit his word? Are you Has he not said, "Evil pursueth sinners; the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt: there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked ?"* What! in the face of these assertions, will you be bold enough to say, I will be happy without God-without religion? O, consider that this is utterly impossible. You may gratify your senses, acquire wealth, obtain popularity, pursue the pleasures of the world, stifle conscience, and forget death; but all this is not happiness. It is all transient. It is all too * Isa. Ivii. 20, 21. Prov. xiii. 21. to come. little for an immortal being. It cannot satisfy the soul, prevent death, nor save from the wrath But behold a source from whence you may draw happiness, abundant in its enjoyment, and eternal in its duration. Behold One who can forgive all your sins, purify your nature, expand your mind, and fill you with joy unspeakable and full of glory. "Seek ye then the Lord, while he may be found: call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”* Consider, the time is short. Say not, I am too much engaged in business; I shall injure my reputation; I am too young, to think of these things. But are you then so busy, so young, so fearful of your reputation, that you can be content to live without any just hope of eternal happiness? You know not, but before another hour, you may be a corpse, and your spirit summoned to the bar of God; and will you not so much as bend your knee, nor lift up * Isa. lv. 6, 7. your eyes to him who made you? his threatnings nothing to you? What? are Does he not say, "If I lift up my hand to heaven and say, I live for ever; if I whet my glittering sword, and my hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance on mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me: I will make mine arrows drunk with blood."* Are his mercies nothing to you? What! constantly live upon his bounty, every moment breathe his air, and supported by his kindnessand still live in enmity to him? Are his commands nothing to you? Will you respect the authority of an earthly prince, and trample on that of the King of heaven? Will the word of a mortal affect you, and the word of the living God make not the least impression? Is the approbation of a creature that for which you can make many sacrifices; and the favour of God so trifling, that you do not think it worth your while to devote one hour in a year to implore it? Alas? what madness possesses you! what awful insensibility is this! What egregious folly to prefer the pleasures of sin, which are for a * Deut. xxxii. 41, 42. season, to the everlasting enjoyment of God in heaven. Behold God himself is represented as being affected with this strange conduct. "O, that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments; then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. O, my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries." Is the Almighty willing to make you happy? Is he waiting to be gracious? No longer then delay. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things necessary shall be added unto you. Seek him at the throne of grace, for he hears and answers the supplications of those who look to him. Seek him in his word; for therein has he revealed his mind and will. Seek him in his house, for one day in his courts, is better than a thousand. It is better to be a door-keeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.* * Isa. xlviii. 18. Micah vi. 3. Psalm lxxxi. 13, 14. Matt. vi. 33. Psalm lxxxiv. 10. |