Remember, That A State Of Eternal Happiness, Or Misery Is Not Far Remote From Us.

Well, trifle a little longer!
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(Samuel Davies, "The Danger of Lukewarmness in Religion")

"I know your works, that you are neither cold 
nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 
So, because you are lukewarm, and 
neither hot nor cold--
I am going to vomit you out of MY mouth!" 
Revelation 3:15-16

Are lukewarmness and indifference 
a suitable temper with respect to a HAPPINESS 
far exceeding the utmost bounds of our present 
thoughts and wishes; a happiness equal to 
the largest capacities of our souls in their 
most improved and perfect state; a happiness 
beyond the grave, when all the enjoyments 
of this transitory life have taken an eternal 
flight from us; a happiness that will last as 
long as our immortal spirits, and never 
fade or fly from us?

Or are lukewarmness and indifference 
a suitable temper with respect to a MISERY 
beyond expression, beyond conception 
dreadful; a misery inflicted by a GOD 
of almighty power and inexorable 
justice upon all obstinate, incorrigible 
rebels for numberless, willful and daring 
provocations; inflicted on purpose to show 
HIS wrath and make HIS power known? 

A misery proceeding from the united fury 
of divine indignation, of the turbulent 
passions of a guilty conscience, 
of malicious tormenting devils? 

A misery (who can bear up under the horror 
of the thought!) that shall last as long as 
the eternal GOD shall live to inflict it--
as long as sin shall continue evil to deserve it--
as long as an immortal spirit shall endure to bear it--
a misery that shall never be mitigated, never 
intermitted, never, never, never see an end? 

And remember, that a state 
of eternal happiness or misery 
is not far remote from us-
but near us, just before us! 

The next year, the next hour, 
or the next moment--
we may enter into it!

Oh, sirs, does an apathetic, careless 
attitude befit us in such a solemn situation? 
Is a state of such eternal happiness--
or such misery; is such a state which 
we must shortly enter--
a matter of indifference to us? 

Oh, can you be lukewarm about 
such matters? Was such a exceeding 
stupidity ever seen under the canopy 
of Heaven, or even in the regions of Hell--
which abound with monstrous 
and horrid beings? No! the vilest 
demons below cannot make light 
of these things! Mortals! can you 
trifle about them?

Well, trifle a little longer--
and your trifling will be over, forever! 
You may now be indifferent about 
the improving of your time; 
but time is determined to continue 
its rapid course, and hurry you into 
the ocean of eternity, though you 
should continue sleeping and dreaming 
through all the passage!

Therefore awake, arise--
before your doom is unchangeably fixed!

Let the criminal, condemned to die 
tomorrow, be indifferent about a pardon; 
let a drowning man be careless about 
catching at the only plank that can 
save him; but oh, do not be careless 
and indifferent about eternity--
and such amazing realities 
as Heaven and Hell!

If you disbelieve these things--
you are infidels.
If you believe these things, 
and yet are unaffected with them--
you are worse than infidels! 

Not even Hell itself can find a precedent 
of such a conduct. The devils believe--
and tremble! You believe--
and trifle with things whose very 
name strikes solemnity and awe 
through Heaven and Hell.

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