In  either  of  your  different  cases  how  foolish
is  the  bargain  you  are  making ;  a  little  worldly
pleasure  for  eternal  ages  of  pain ;  the  adorning


4


106       The  Union  of  the  People  of  Christ

and  pampering  the  body  for  the  improvement
and  cultivation  of  the  soul ;  the  society  of  the
wicked  and  of  them  that  know  not  God,  for
the  high  joys  of  Christian  love  and  kindliest
intercourse  with  the  real  servants  of  the  Lord ;
and  the  sure  result  of  endless  banishment  from
all  good  into  the  place  and  among  the  sufferers
of  everlasting  torment  when  this  short  life
shall  have  past  over  you.  This,  you  know,
must  be  the  issue  of  your  mad  and  ruinous
choice.  For,  though  you  are  living  as  with-
out knowledge,  you  are  in  possession  of  suf-
ficient knowledge  to  pain  you  in  what  you  do
now;  or  if  your  heart  be  hardened  against
your  better  knowledge,  to  condemn  you  here-
after. Every  thing  around  you,  did  you  but
open  your  eyes  to  the  instructive  lesson,  warns
you  of  your  danger ;  and  every  thing  within
you,  did  you  but  regard  this  inward  monitor,
points  to  your  extreme  folly  and  madness.
Christ  even  now  puts  His  parable  before  you,
and  tells  you  of  the  vine,  tells  you  of  all  the
branches,  but  tells  you  of  the  fearful  difference
in  the  speedy  treatment  of  those  branches
that  bear  fruit,  and  of  those  that  bear  none.
But  Christ  rejoices  not  in  your  fearful  and
dangerous  condition ;  "  nigh  unto  burning."
Christ's  arm  is  stretched  out  to  snatch  you
from  the  burning.  Hear  Him  remonstrating
with  you  in  His  word :  "  O  ye  sons  of  men.
