Page:Account of the last words of Christian Ker.pdf/13

 ons and affluent language. Cor. ii. 17. Where the ſpirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Job xxxii. 18. I am full of matter, and the ſpirit within me conſtraineth me, Acts ii, 4. They were filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and began to ſpeak with other tongues, as the ſpirit gave them utterance.'

3. The foregoing relation informs us that religion and godlineſs is no vain and fanciſul thing; but a thing moſt real, ſubſtantial and uſeful: It has truth for the ground of it, joy for the companion of it, and heaven for the reward of it. If God be true, then godlineſs is true. At death, the wilful neglect of godlineſs conſounds a man, and makes him ready to tear himſelf with his own hands: but the conſcionable practice thereof begets holy triumph in God, and how ſweet is that! The unſpeakable gain of godlineſs should entice us to begin and proſecute the ſtudy thereof with all ſpeed and diligence. 'Iſaiah xxxii. 17. The work of righteouſneſs is quietneſs, and aſſurance for ever. Prov. xiv. 32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedneſs, but the righteous hath hope in his death. Pſal. xxxviii, 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. And Pſal. xcvii. 1. Light is ſown for the righteous, and gladneſs for the upright in heart. Prov. xi. 18. To him that ſoweth righteouſneſs shall be a reward. 1 Tim. iv. 8. Godlineſs is profitable to all things, having the promiſe of the life that is, and that which is to come.'

In the 2d place, which is above related ſerves for confutation. It may confute atheiſtical perſons, who fly inſolently in the face of God, and offer a direct blow to the Almighty, denying his being, providences and eternal recompences: foolish perſons, did God give you ſouls to deny him? Do not the riſing and ſetting of the ſun, the blowing and turning of the winds, the gathering, balancing, and dropping of the clouds, and running of the waters into one place, the growing of the herbs and trees, the ſinging and the neſtling of the birds, the ebbing and flowing of the ſea, the hanging of the earth in the air, she admirable virtue of loadſtone in attraction of iron, the