is the Benefit this is the Advantage of Consideration Alas if we sail without Chart without Compass without a Pilot what can we expect but a fatal Shipwrack If Men will not endeavour to dispose themselves to a serious Consideration and Reflection upon what they are a going to do but as the Horse into the Battle rush upon things with Indiscretion and Precipitancy what can be the consequence of such their Folly but Ruin and Destruction It is the worthy Observation of Philo That the first reason of all the dangers and miscarriages of Men lies in their running on with the boistrous Tide of Passion and that the first hopes of safety flow from a sober reasoning of the matter But behold a greater than Philo is here God himself lays the blame of all Men's Misery upon Inconsideration Thus God complains of his People Isa 1.4 Ah sinful Nation a people laden with Iniquity And why were they so Why forsook they the Lord and provoked him to Anger It was because of their heedlesness and Inadvertency Israel doth not know my People doth not consider vers 3. Thus Ezekiel 18.27 28. Who is he that turneth away from his Wickedness and doth that which is lawful and right The Considerative Person He repents because he considereth So that Inconsideration is the chief Impediment the principal Obstruction of Repentance which is the Reason why God according to Solomon's Assertion will severely punish Men for it at the Day of Judgment Eccles 12.14 God will bring every Work into Judgment with every secret thing i. e. say the generality of Latinists Pro omni Errato with every Error or Miscarriage i. e. He will bring into Judgment the inconsiderateness of Men And this Translation the Seventy seem to approve of Every secret thing i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est iucuriose aspicere vel per incuriam mentis minus attentis oculis praeterire To behold or look upon a thing with a negligent or careless Eye This Heedlesness and Neglect this Remissness and Inconsideration in our Actions God will punish at the Day of Judgment and there is all the Reason and Justice imaginable in so doing because from Inconsideration flow all Vicious and Immmoral Actions But this by the By. Thus Psalm 4.4 What curbs and restrains a Man from the Commission of any wicked Act A withdrawing into his Chamber and there communing with his own Heart such a Solitude such a private Retirement and Communing darts the most powerful and auspicious Influence upon the Hearts of Men Stand in awe and sin not commune with your own Hearts upon your Beds and be still Thus in the Gospel Who were they that heard the Word of God and were no better for it Such as heard it slightly and superficially such as suffered it not to enter into their Mind and Consideration Without Consideration it was impossible for it to take root and grow or to digest into Principles of Action some Seed indeed there was which arriv'd to maturity and perfection which was prosperous and fruitful but the reason was because it was sown in an honest and a good Heart such heard the Word and kept it i. e. Retain'd it in their Thoughts and Consideration and so brought forth Fruit with patience Luke 8.12 13 14 15. But thus much of the Benefit of Consideration I come now to the third Observable Namely To shew you what is meant by the Latter End which is the Object of the Consideration here in the Text Oh that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end That is as if he should have said Oh that they would see the things which belong unto their Peace Oh that the Evil I forewarn them of may deter them from avowed Wickedness and Impiety may oblige them to a constant Living up to the Precepts and Obligations of the Divine Laws If not Oh that the Judgments of God may convince them of their Errors and reclaim their Sins that they would stimulate and excite them to Repentance to a due sense and consideration what it is to sin against God to an understanding what will be the Event of persisting in Wickedness what will be the Reward of their Impenitence both in this Life and the Life to come so that by the Latter End is to be understood not only Death but what follows after Death the Judgment an Appearance before the dreadful Tribunal of Almighty God there to receive a Reward or a Punishment proportionable to what we have transacted upon the Stage of this World Oh that all you who hear me this day would understand and consider this great and certain Truth That it is not only appointed unto all men once to die but after this the Judgment This is the import this is the signification of the Latter End Death is our Latter End but the Resurrection the future Judgment is a Latter End beyond it The Soul is of an immortal Nature incapable of any Cessation can never cease to be the Body must naturally die it 's noble Frame and admirable Contexture must be dissolved and taken in Pieces it must return to its original Dust and Corruption tho this is but a transitory and temporal Death this is reparable by a Resurrection it must certainly be raised again and be re-united to the Soul and share with it in whatever state or Condition it shall be sentenced unto if it hath not served God but the Devil it shall then suffer a second Death after its reunition to the Soul they shall both be depress'd into a state of Misery a State where are endless and easeless Torments a Misery which is not Temporal or Transitory but durable and permanent to all Eternity and who can dwell with everlasting burnings Whosoever is wise will consider this Men and Brethren let me use the Strain of the Holy Apostle to King Agrippa Acts 26.27 Do you believe the Scriptures Do you believe a Resurrection a Judgment to come I know you believe it May I say I know you remember it This I dare say that if you do not I know you have no cause not to remember it A thing of the highest Importance a thing of the greatest Concernment that ever will befall you a thing that is most sure and certain a thing that you can as little avoid as you can avoid Death and a thing that must determin of your Eternal State and do you not remember it I am sure we have all cause to remember it we have all the reason imaginable to understand and consider our Latter End If there be any here of a Sadducean Temper that deny the Resurrection or with the Corinthian Naturalist question How are the Dead raised up And with what Body do they come Such are foolish and inconsiderate such Questions flow from Incogitancy and Indiscretion such are horribly deceived and they will find themselves grosly mistaken for there will be a Resurrection
consider our latter end that we may apply our Hearts unto Wisdom i. e. to the important business of Religion thus shall we lay up in store for our selves a good foundation against the time to come thus shall we lay hold on Eternal Life And this if we do it will be a demonstrative argument of our Wisdom and Understanding And that you may be perswaded to incline your Ear unto Wisdom and apply your Hearts to Vnderstanding I shall set before you the happiness of a Religious and the folly of a vicious and an Immoral Conversation and this I cannot better do than by referring you to the third Chapter of the Proverbs You will see there how the Wise Man sets off Religion in the most beautiful and glorious Dress enumerates there its peculiar excellencies and particular advantages ver 16. He represents her as a great and generous Princess distributing Gifts to her Subjects length of Days is in her right hand and in her left hand Riches and Honour and ver 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace i. e. They procure a blessed Tranquility in a Mans Mind and Conscience Prosperity in all his enterprizes and Eternal Rest with God in Glory The Religious Man hath Peace and an Heaven in his Bosom the greatest transports of Joy possess and surround his Breast and his last end is sweet and comfortable he dies the Death of the Righteous his Conscience then as a Glass represents to his sight the Beatific Vision and the Joys of Eternity And this it is to consider our latter end this is the blessed effect of a righteous Life whosoever then thus considers his latter end it is certainly an Argument of his Wisdom and Understanding But Secondly Consider we the folly of a Vicious Life and an Immoral Conversation Alas what is Vice and Immorality but a sort of practice that debaseth and disparageth a Man Such a sad course of Life generally plunges a Man into the most grievous and intolerable Evils as a distemper both of Body and Soul the greatest distress of Fortune Poverty and Disgrace a low and contemptible condition reproach and the loss of Reputation Affliction and Discomposure of Mind the torments of a troubled Conscience for there is no Peace saith my God to the Wicked the danger of a Death-bed Repentance and frequently brings him to a violent and an unnatural Death Add to this Misery the loss of Gods favour and loving kindness such treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath Oh the perplexity and consternation such are in when they come to dye when their Conscience presents to their sight the dreadful Scenes of a Judgment to come their evil Conscience then flashes in their Face casts abroad its Thunder and strikes them with the greatest Terrour and Affrightment All these are the lamentable effects of a vicious Life and an immoral Conversation which sufficiently demonstrates the folly of such as prefer Wickedness above Religion such do truly wander out of the way of Vnderstanding But this is not all the Man that wandereth out of the way of Vnderstanding shall remain in the Congregation of the Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the version of the LXX Prov. 21.16 i. e. The Man that leaves the beautiful Paths of Vertue which directly lead to Happiness and takes the By-Paths the rough and unpleasant Road of Iniquity which conducts him to Eternal Death such a Man doth not only dethrone his Reason is not only void of Understanding but he shall remain in the Company of the Giants of whom we read Gen. 6.4 They were Men of a monstrous Stature and whose wickedness too was proportionable to their large Size these Men as they were singularly eminent for their height and bigness so were they horribly infamous for Acts of Injustice for Wrong and Robbery for Tyranny and Oppression these were the Men for whom it repented the Lord that he had made Man on the Earth these were the Men whose Sins opened the Cataracts the Windows of Heaven and brought down a deluge of Wrath and Indignation and the Man who works Wickedness is not only without Vnderstanding but shall be incorporated into the wretched Society and Converse of those Giants and Rebels against God shall be condemned to keep them company shall be sentenced to that accursed place which they had assign'd them when the Flood came and destroyed them all a Place where the Worm dieth not and the Fire is not quenched Thus I have shewn you I. What it is to consider II. The benefit of Consideration III. What is meant by the latter end the object of Consideration IV. The great advantage of considering the latter end V. That to consider our latter end is an argument of our Wisdom and Understanding I come now in the Sixth and last place to make an Application and then I a'done And here suffer a Word of Exhortation you who worthily deserve to be punished you who for your Evil Deeds are condemned to die let me beseech you and prevail with you to consider your Latter End it behoves you consider it Eternal Bliss and Happiness sure is a thing of the greatest and most weighty Consideration a thing of such vast moment that for you to put off the Thoughts of it and neglect the Provision for it is certainly the most unaccountable Indiscretion the greatest Folly and Madness You have but this and part of the Day following to make your Peace with an Offended God to make Provision for your Future Happiness To day then hear the Voice of God who calleth upon you to consider your latter End I do not doubt your Consideration of it in one Sense i. e. That you have terrible Apprehensions of your Temporal Punishment of the violent and unnatural End you have brought your selves unto but this ought to be the least of your Consideration nothing ought to disturb you now but the apprehension of your having offended God And if you now do truly fear God as you have all imaginable reason to fear him who is able to cast both Body and Soul into Hell that will raise you above all other Depressions that will exalt you above all base and dispiriting Fears You are to consider that after your departure hence there will be a Judgment and to make ready and prepare your selves for a comfortable appearance at that tremendous Tribunal you have received Sentence of Death from an Earthly Judge which Death is only Temporal and Transitory and it was pass'd upon you with all possible Regret and Reluctancy with the greatest unwillingness but if you repent not of the Evils you have done a more terrible Sentence will be pronounced upon you by the Righteous Judge of the World Go you Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Will you not then consider your latter end so as to prepare for it by true and faithful Repentance Surely if you be wise you will so
the innocent blood you have shed Crys to Heaven for Vengeance yet the blood of the ever Blessed Jesus crys as loud for your pardon and forgiveness if you be but deeply touch'd and affected with a sense of your abominable wickedness Your Repentance 'T is True is late you have been exceeding sinful you have put off your Duty towards God and your Neighbour till the very last Minute of your Life and the Holy Gospel requires not only Sorrow and Remorse for Sin but an Holy Life to demonstrate the Sincerity of Repentance But Alas You have little or no time to amend your Life in your glass is well nigh run you have not many hours for the Consideration of your latter End Well! but there is mercy with God his Nature and Property is ever to have mercy and to forgive his mercy is as infinite as himself and therefore none must pretend to Limit or Confine it though you have hitherto liv'd in Prophaneness in the contempt of God and Religion yet if you make a True and Ample Confession of all your Wickednesses if you humbly beg pardon and with the Publican in the Gospel smite upon your breast and say God be Merciful to me a Sinner if you promise and resolve Amendment and if God foresee that such your resolution would be inviolable that you would Pay your Vows if more time were given you I hope He will accept your Repentance I Leave you therefore to the goodness and pity to the Gracious compassion of a merciful God I pray you to consider your Latter End that after Death there will be a Judgment I beg of you to Employ the small Moment you have to live to your Eternal interest and Advantage to work out your Salvation with fear and Trembling to be doubly diligent and industrious to redeem the time seeing you are but come into the Vineyard at the Eleventh hour May you receive Equal Wages with those that came in at the first with those that have born the burden and heat of the day may you be sav'd with the Thief upon the Cross tho' his Case as well as the Labourers is vastly different from yours yet you have a general refuge in the Merits of Christ and in the Mercys of God And here may all you who have escap'd the Sentence of Death who have been but slightly punish'd for your offences follow the salutary advice of our Blessed Saviour which He gave to the Adulterous Woman and the impotent Man in the Gospel Go and Sin no more Jo. 5.14 Jo. 8.11 Lest a worse thing come unto you Lastly May all you who hear me this day be perswaded by the Exemplary punishment of these Persons to the Excellent and rewardable service of God to keep your vessels in Sanctification and Honor to the practice of Temperance and Chastity to do always that which is just and honest Lawful and Right to a constant performance of your duty both towards God and Men to an early and sincere Repentance to bring up your Children in the fear of the Lord to season them betimes with the salt of piety and Holy Religion I Pray for you all in the Pathetick and Affectionate words of my Text. Oh that you may be Wise Oh that you may understand this O that you would consider your Latter End Now to God the Father God the Son and to God the Holy Ghost be Ascrib'd as is most due all Honor Glory Power Might Majesty Dominion and Faithful service from Henceforth and for Evermore Amen A Short ACCOUNT of Mr. Edmund Robinson who was Condemn'd for High-Treason in Counterfeiting the KING's Coin on Monday the 23. of March 1690 1. and Executed on Tuesday the 31st of March 1691. THe place of this Unhappy Man's birth was Colne Parish in the County of Lancaster His Father was a Considerable Husband-Man who sent him to School as soon as he was Capable of Institution where he made a great proficiency in something else as well as his Book for as I am credibly inform'd by an honest Gentleman who was his School-Fellow those base practices which have since brought him to the Gallows began then to appear and shew themselves in him he had there contracted an intimate friendship and acquaintance with a Young Man whose name was Greggson with whom amongst many other Roguish Pranks he frequently impos'd upon and cheated the ignorant and unskilful with Pewter Shillings and of whom it is probable he learn'd his Art for this Greggson's Father had the Scandalous Character Reputation of a Coyner Greggson himself who had likewise taken Holy Orders upon him was about 10. or 12. Years ago for Coyning Executed at Lancaster thus as they had both equally abus'd and Scandaliz'd their sacred function as they were Brethren together in iniquity so in the shameful manner of their deaths they were not divided From this School I suppose he went to the Vniversity where according to his own information he was admitted though he made but a very short stay there not residing in the College above six weeks when he return'd into the Countrey but whether or no he ever visited the Vniversity again to take a degree he wou'd not give me any satisfaction as to that particular However he got into orders being ordain'd both Deacon and Priest as he told me by the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Hacket late Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry which qualify'd him for a Benefice a place call'd Holmforth under the Vicaridge of Kirk-Burton in York-Shire which Curacy in value about 25 or 30 l. per Annum he serv'd about Eleaven years and then pretended to leave it through some Bodily indisposition he preach'd likewise for the space of a year at a place call'd Haworth in the Parish of Bradford this was all the promotion he had in the Church and from which if he had been honest and industrious he might have had a comfortable subsistence having the Addition of 12 l. per Annum of a Temporal Estate which he got by the marriage of one Anthony Armitage's daughter a considerable Yeoman of Thick Hollins in the parish of Almon-bury His Life when a Curate was by no means suitable to his profession for he wou'd Forge Licenses and Clandestinely Marry and was guilty of many other immoralities which to mention wou'd swell this Narrative too much By these Vicious practices he made himself Obnoxious to the Ecclesiastical Laws being Suspended and Excommunicated and at the last imprison'd upon a writ de Excommunicato Capiendo Such was his Deportment such was his behaviour when concern'd in the Church But the Devil had put into the heart of this Judas Iscariot another-guess and as he Tempted him to Believe a more Profitable and advantagious way of living in the world which was by imparing and Counterfeiting the King's Coyn this was the Employ he Closely follow'd when at Bank End in the aforesaid Parish of Kirk-Burton as he himself inform'd me telling me all the Tricks of his
A SERMON Preach'd at the CASTLE of YORK TO THE CONDEMNED PRISONERS On Monday the 30th of March 1691. Being the Day before their Execution With an APPENDIX which gives some Account of them All but more particularly of Mr. Edmund Robinson Clerk who was Condemned and Executed for High Treason in counterfeiting the King 's Coyn. By GEORGE HALLEY M. A. Succentor of the Vicars Choral of the Cathedral and Rector of St. Cuthbert's in York LONDON Printed for Robert Clavel at the Peacock in St. Paul's Church-yard And are to be sold by Christopher Welburn Bookseller in York MDCXCI Licensed April 11. 1691. Z. Isham Deuteronomy XXXII xxix Oh that they were Wise that they understood this that they would consider their Later End THIS Chapter the Hebrews call the Summary or an Abridgment of the whole Law it is the Song of Moses which he composed for and sung to the Children of Israel before his Death He was highly sensible what a rebellious and stiff-necked People he had had the Conduct and Government of and by Divine Instinct or Inspiration foresaw their greater Rebellion after his Departure from them and the Dreadful Judgments that would fall down upon them plainly foretold that after his Death God would pour down upon them the fiercest Instances of his Anger and heavy Displeasure for their Violation of his Commandments for their Nonconformity to his Divine Laws and Prescriptions We find him therefore in the Close of the foregoing Chapter summoning the Elders of their Tribes and their Officers to whom he communicated his Prescience or Fore-knowledge of their utterly corrupting themselves after his Death and of the Evil which would befall them in the latter days for their doing Evil in the sight of the Lord for their provoking him to Anger through the work of their hands vers 27 28 29. And indeed what Moses thus foretold exactly came to pass for when they were come into the Promised Land and had received particular Command utterly to destroy all the Idolatrous Inhabitants thereof for fear they should be inveigled by them and drawn away to their Idol-Worship and those Abominable Pollutions they were infamously guilty of yet contrary to the express Command of God they executed not this Severity they destroyed not the Nations but mingled among the Heathen and learned their Works they went a whoring with their own inventions they served their Idols and sacrificed their Sons and Daughters unto Devils Thus to their Idolatry they added Blood-guiltiness of the highest degree the deepest Dye even the most barbarous and unnatural the Blood of their dearest and innocent Children These Moses told them would be such Provocations as would most justly inflame the vehement Anger and Displeasure of God as would enforce the Almighty to withdraw his Favour and Protection from them so to abhor them tho his own peculiar People that he would give them over into the hands of the Heathen and suffer such as hated them to Rule and Lord it over them All this Moses faithfully represented to the Elders of their Tribes and to their Officers but withal prescribed them an effectual way to Peace and Reconciliation with their God to render him propitious and favourable to them and that was a turning unto him with true and faithful Repentance This he told them would be the only way to oblige the Lord to Pity and Commiseration If they sincerely repented their sins then tho of so high and provoking a Nature would be blotted out and the times of refreshing would come God then would hear their Complaint God then would make his Arrows drunk with their Enemies Blood vers 42. and Crown them his People with Victory and good Success But alass Moses had fearful Apprehensions of their Obdurateness and Impenitency of their Blindness and Stupidity that they would lose all their true Judgment that for want of understanding they would despise his wholsom Counsels and Instruction therefore he very pathetically and Affectionately prays for them in the Words of my Text Oh that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end From which Words I will endeavour to shew you I. What it is to consider II. The Benefit of Consideration III. What is meant by the latter End the Object of Consideration IV. The great Advantage of considering the latter End V. That to consider our latter End is an Argument of our Wisdom and Understanding VI. I shall make a particular Application and then a'done Oh that they were wise c. But First In the first place What it is to consider And here to consider is to make a proper Use of the rational Faculty which God hath implanted in every one of us to exercise the several Capacities of the Soul to reflect upon our selves to measure our Motions our Actions by the Standard of Reason Whoever through a manly and serious Application of his Mind takes a just and an impartial View of himself of all such things as relate to and concern him and accordingly governs his Will and Affections determins his Behaviour and Deportment such an one is a considerative Man When a Man suffers not his Passions to tumultuate and ferment into a Storm nor himself to be carried away with Exorbitant Lusts but embraces in his Mind the whole Nature Tendency and all the Circumstances of things when he weighs them in the Scale of Reason and diligently examins carefully observes which way the Scale turns and proportions his Course his Actions to such a diligent Observance and careful Examination such a Man is a wise and serious a thinking and considerative Person And this it is in short to consider which brings me to the second observable namely The Benefit of consideration It is a great Art and an Excellence in Man to know how to think how to consider it is a thing that requires some time for its Accomplishment and Perfection some Pains some Industry for its Acquisition and whoever would but take the Pains will but be at the expence of some Labour to seek it will certainly find it and when he hath found it nothing will be more useful and necessary more beneficial and Advantagious to him nothing will more avail to the good Conduct and well-government of his Life and Conversation For then he will be able to look into the Nature of Humane Actions to weigh well the Causes and compare the Consequence of things and to exercise that Sense and Reason which God hath plentifully enrich'd and endow'd him with And what can better contribute to his Peace and Happiness to his Security and Preservation If he communeth but with his own Heart and acts according to the Illumination of his Understanding to the Dictates of Reason and Convictions of Conscience if he seriously revolves in his Mind the Reward of Vertue and the Danger of Vice in all probability he will stand in Awe and not sin he will have a care of affronting his God by wickedness and impiety and this
from the Dead God hath certainly appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in righteousness by that Man whom he he hath ordain'd whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Acts 17.31 How strangely then will such Sadducees or any who are mindless of a future state be surpriz'd at the Resurrection of the Dead Oh! that we had been wise and consider'd this Oh! let us lie still in the Dust will they then cry let the Earth cover us Let the Mountains and the Rocks fall upon us Alas the Trumpet will sound and they shall be rais'd from the Dead they shall hear this terrible Voice Arise you Wretches and come to Judgment they will then find that which Solomon hath asserted to be infallibly true Eccles 11.9 Know that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment And this leads me to the fourth Observable namely The great Advantage of considering the latter End Oh that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter End It is the Saying of the Wise Man Ecclus 7.36 Whatsoever thou takest in hand remember the end and thou shalt never do amiss The Latinist reads it In omnibus Operibus vel Sermonibus tuis memorare Novissima in aeternum non peccabis In all thy Works or Words remember the last things and thou wilt never commit a Sin unto Death such a Remembrance would make it morally impossible for thee to commit a presumptuous Sin a wilful and deliberate Transgression Now the Four last things to be continually remembred are Death a Judgment to come Hell and Celestial Glory And what more horrible than Death What more terrible than such a Judgment What more intolerable than Eternal Fire And what worthier Object can there be for us to exert our Faculties upon than God and the Mansions of everlasting Felicity How many Sins might we have avoided in the course of our Lives if we had had the serious remembrance and apprehension of these things And how many Sins might we yet avoid if we would but endeavour to have these things as Belshazzar's Hand-writing upon the Wall constantly in our Eye These things as the Pilot the Ship would direct and influence our whole Life and Conversation would help us to steer our Course and safely bring us to the Haven of Bliss and Happiness Such would be the great Advantage of considering our latter End If Men would but thus consider no Temptation would then take hold of them nothing would ruffle and discompose their Conscience it would be void of Offence both towards God and towards Men. But alas In this lapsed and degenerate Age in this miserable and naughty World how many are there that have languid luke-warm and feeble Opinions of Religion If Judgment may be formed according to their Vicious and immoral Conversation what a Deluge of Prophaneness and Impiety Atheism and Infidelity overflows this Sinful Land this poor Nation How many live as tho they believed that Vertue and Vice that God and the Devil were Words signifying nothing as if they were the Extract of some melancholy and pregnant Brain as if they were invented meerly for Mens Terror and Affrightment The Halter the Gibbet and the most terrible of Temporal Punishments too have as little Influence upon Mens Lives makes as small an Impression upon the Minds of Men as those which are Eternal How many have suffer'd as Murderers as Thieves as Evil-doers And yet Men will not take Warning and Example Men will not be deterr'd from committing the like abominable Vile and Enormous Offences Every Assize gives us too many fresh and sad Instances of this Truth Oh that Men would become wise and consider not only Temporal but Eternal Punishments Such a Consideration would if any thing oblige them to follow the important business of Religion To hurt no body by Word or Deed to keep their hands from picking and stealing Such a Consideration would enforce them to labour truly to get their own living and to do their Duty in that Station which Divine Providence hath allotted to them There is not certainly a more effectual way to revive the drooping Spirit of Christian Religion in the World than seriously to contemplate upon and consider our Latter End That we must shortly die and come to Judgment and there receive a Reward according to our Deeds If we were but possess'd with a warm and constant Sense of these things we should in all probability endeavour to walk circumspectly not as Foools but as wise to be holy in all manner of Conversation Such is the advantage of a Religious Consideration Alas were there but mature Thoughts would but Men be wrought upon to act as reasonable Creatures would they but judiciously and soberly weigh things in the Balance of their Understanding they would seldom or never be found wanting in their Duty and Obligation If Men would once entertain serious Thoughts of Religion they would soon set open their Ears to its sweet and charming Language if they would but fix their Eyes upon it they would soon be captivated with its incomparable Beauty it would presently attract their love and admiration and enforce them to embrace it with all profound respect and affection A consideration of our latter end a serious reflection upon Eternity this would put the Soul into such a frame and posture as would make it restless and uneasy wrack'd and impatient till it had made its Peace with an incens'd Judge by Repentance not to be repented of till it had prepar'd it self for a comfortable Appearance at his Bar for a glorious advancement into an endless state of Bliss and Immortality Such is the great advantage of considering our latter end Oh that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end And this leads me to the fifth and last Observable Namely That to consider our latter end is an Argument of our Wisdom and Understanding And here if we consider our latter end as we ought it we seriously meditate upon Death and a Judgment to come then we shall prepare our selves and make ready for it by purity of Life and holiness of Conversation such a Consideration will create in our Minds an abhorrency and detestation of Sin and plant in us Vertue and Goodness a perfect and sincere love of God and Religion and this I am sure is the greatest Wisdom the noblest Understanding The fear of the Lord saith the Royal Psalmist is the beginning of Wisdom a good Vnderstanding have all they that do thereafter Psalm 110.10 i. e. There is no such excellent and prudential course as the preserving in our Breasts a just and due reverence of God an awe to his Laws and a dread to his Judgments and all this is the happy effect of considering our latter end So teach us to number our Days is the fervent Prayer of Moses Psal 90.12 So teach us to