of
him? or the son of man, that Thou shouldest so regard him?' (Psalm
viii.) 'Thou madest him lower than the angels, to crown him with glory.'
Here is matter of praise and gladness. 'The fool,' as the Psalmist
expresses it, 'hath said in his heart, There is no God.' Or, let us
consider the man, who is content to own an invisible power, yet tries to
believe, that when man has done living on this earth he lives no more:
but I would ask, if any of these unhappy creatures are fully persuaded,
or that there does not remain in those men at times (as in sickness or
sober thoughtfulness) some suspicion or doubt, that it may be other than
they try to think. And although they may, to shun such a thought, or be
rid of such a contemplation, run away from it to some unprofitable
diversion, or, perhaps, suffer themselves to be rallied out of such a
thought, so destructive to the way they walk in; yet, to be sure, that
man does not feel the peace and tranquillity he does who believes a
future state, and is a good man.

"For, although this good man, when his mind may be clouded with some
calamity very grievous to him, or the disorder of vapours to a
melancholy temper, I say, if he is tempted to some suspicion, that it is
possible it may be other than he believes (pray observe) such a surmise
or thought, nay, the belief, cannot drive him to any horror: he fears no
evil, because he is a good man, and with his life all sorrow ends too:
therefore, it is not to be denied, he is the wisest man who lives by the
Scripture rule, and endeavours to keep God's laws. His mind is in peace
and tranquillity; he walks sure who keeps innocence, and takes heed to
the thing that is right. He is secure, God is his friend, that Infinite
Being; and He has said, 'Come unto Me, ye that are heavy laden, My yoke
is easy.' But guilt is, certainly, a heavy load; it sinks and damps the
spirits. 'A wounded spirit who can bear!' And the evil subtle spirit
waits (I am persuaded) to drive the sinner to despair; but godliness
makes a cheerful heart. Let not past errors discourage; who lives and
sins not? God will judge the obstinate, profane, unrelenting sinner, but
is full of compassion to the work of His own hand, if they will cease
from doing evil and learn to do well, pray for grace to repent, and
endeavour with that measure which will be given, if sincerely asked for;
for at what time soever a sinner repents (but observe, this is no
licence to sin, because at any t