HOW falling into torments, never to
come back again? O cruel, gnawing
worm ! ^^ art thou come to torment
me before my time?'' I was told
indeed, by Him that might haye been
my Saviour, of the never-dying rage
of conscience in the burning lake :
but I never feared it before my
entrance thither ; and I questioned
not to escape it there, by a timely
repentance before my death : and
behold now the intended time of my
repentance is come, 1 have not now
grace enough to offer up a devout
prayer to that God whose service
never used to be my business. Fain
would I now repent, and cannot : all
I can now do, is to curso my folly,
and be sorry for the ensuing punish-
ment of my sins ; and thus far the



OF DBATU. 183

tormented spirits do repent. I did
intend, before this fatal hour came,
to baye been very bountiful to the
poor, and have purchased my peace
with God at the price of a good part
of my estate, fiut, O God ! 1 now
perceive I must suffer for that very
intention, in having such low thoughts
of an Almighty God, as to expect he
would be satisfied with money for the
violation of his commands, and my
distrust of his providence.
O vain, bewitching pleasures ! will
ye leave me thus ? When I was of
late so eager in the chase of you, how
little did I expect this dreadful hour,
and these fears of hell, whicli now
damp and embitter all my former
sports and sensual pleasures ! O
Ms is a sad hour, that puts an end



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