"Thirdly, think often on the pains of hell. Consider whether it
is not better to cut off a right hand or foot, and pluck out a
right eye, if they offend us, or cause us to sin, rather than to
be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.
Think how many thousands there are now reserved, with damned
spirits, in chains of darkness, unto the judgment of the great
day, for not complying with the precept in the text. And think
withal that this, this must be our own case shortly, unless
we are wise in time, and submit to those easy conditions our
Saviour has prescribed us in order to avoid it. Think you, they
now imagine Jesus Christ to be a hard master; or, rather think
you not, they would give ten thousand times ten thousand worlds,
could they but return to life again, and take Christ's easy
yoke upon them? And can _we_ dwell with everlasting burnings
more than _they_? If we cannot bear this precept, how shall we
bear the irrevocable sentence, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels'?
"Lastly, often meditate on the joys of heaven. Think, think with
what unspeakable glory those happy souls are now encircled, who,
when on earth, were called to deny themselves, and were not
disobedient to the call. Hark! Methinks I hear them chanting
their everlasting hallelujahs, and spending an eternal day
in echoing triumphant songs of joy. And do you not long, my
brethren, to join this heavenly choir? Do not your hearts burn
within you? As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, do not
your souls so long after the blessed company of these sons of
God? Behold, then, a heavenly ladder reached down to you, by
which you may climb to this holy hill. If any man will come
after them, let him deny himself, and follow them. By this we,
even we, may be lifted up into the same blissful regions,
there to enjoy an eternal rest with the people of God, and join
with them in singing doxologies and songs of praise to the
everlasting, blessed, all-glorious, most adorable Trinity, for
ever and ever" (p. 26).
6. "Of Justification by Christ: A Sermon preached at the Parish
Church of St. Antholin," etc. (8vo, 26 pp.) Text, "But ye are
justified." One extract must suffice. Having stated that "we all
stand in need of being justified, because we are all chargeable with
_original sin_," Whitefield says:--
"I have been, the more particular in treating of this point,
because it is the very foundation of the Christian religion;
for I am verily persuaded that it is nothing but a want of
being well grounded in the doctrine of original sin, and of
the helpless, nay, I may say damnable, condition each of us
comes into the world in, that makes so many who call themselves
Christians so very lukewarm in their love to Jesus Christ. It is
this, and I could almost say this only, that makes infidelity
abound among us. We are mistaken if we imagine that men commence
or continue infidels, and set up corrupted reason in opposition
to revelation, merely for want of evidence. No, it is only for
want of an humble mind, of a sense of their original depravity,
and an unwillingness to own themselves so depraved, that makes
them so obstinately shut their eyes against the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ. Were they but once pricked to the
heart with a due and lively sense of their natural corruption
and liableness to condemnation, we should have them no more
scoffing at Divine revelation, and looking on it as an idle
tale; but they would cry out with convicted Paul, 'Lord, what
wouldest Thou have me to do?' or, with the trembling jailor,
'Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved?'" (p. 10.)
7. "The Heinous Sin of Profane Cursing and Swearing: A Sermon
preached at the Parish Church of St. Nicholas, Cole Abbey"[108]
(8vo, 18 pp.) Text, Matthew v. 34. Whitefield's four divisions are--
"I. The crime of profane swearing is highly aggravated, because
there is no temptation in nature to this sin, nor does the
commission of it afford the offender the least pleasure or
satisfaction. II. Because it is a sin which may be so often
repeated. III. Because it hardens infidels against the Christian
religion, and must give offence, and occasion much sorrow and
concern, to every true disciple of Jesus Christ. IV. Because it
is an extremity of sin, which can only be matched in hell."
[108] Price, threepence, or a guinea a hundred to those who gave
them away.