Fair warnings to a careless world in the pious letter written by the Right Honourable James Earl of Marleburgh, a little before his death, to the Right Honourable Sir Hugh Pollard, comptroller of his Maties houshold. With the last words of CXL and upwards, of the most learned and honourable persons of England, and other parts of the world.

A serious GENTLEMANS Discourse of being Religious.

MEn generally stand upon the credit and reputa∣tion of their Understandings, and of all things hate to be accounted Fools, because Folly is so great a reproach to the Understanding of a man, and so high a reflection upon his Discretion: But I know no way for men to avoid this imputation, and to bring off the credit of their Understandings, but by being truly Religious, by fearing God, and de∣parting from evil: for certainly there is no such im∣prudent Person as he that neglects God and his Soul, and is careless and slothful about his everlasting con∣cernments;

because this man acts contrary to his truest Reason, and best Interest: he neglects his own safety, and is active to procure his own ruine: he flies from Happiness, and runs away from it as fast as he can; but pursues Misery, and makes haste to be undone: Hence it is that Solomon does all along in the Proverbs give the title of Fool to a wicked man, as if it were his proper name, and the fittest character for him, because he is eminently such. There is no such fool as the sinning fool, who every time he sins ventures his Soul, and lays his everlasting interest at the stake; every time a man provokes God, he doth the greatest mischief to himself that can be imagi∣ned: A mad-man that cuts himself, and tears his own flesh, and dashes his head against the stones, does not act so unreasonably as a sinner, because he is not so sensible of what he does: Wickedness is a kind of voluntary Frenzie, and is a chosen Distraction; and every sinner does wilder and more extravagant things than any man can do, that is crazed, and beside him∣self, and out of his wits; onely with this sad diffe∣rence, That he knows better what he does.

Is that man wise, as to his Body and his Health, who onely clothes his hands, and leaves his whole Body naked? who provides onely against the Tooth∣ach, and neglects whole troops of mortal Diseases that are ready to rush in upon him? Just thus is he who takes care onely for this vile Body, but neglects his pretious and immortal Soul; who is very sollici∣tous to prevent small and temporal inconveniencies, but takes no care to escape the Damnation of Hell.

Is he a wise man as to his temporal Estate, that

lays designs onely for a day, without any respect to, or provision for the remaining part of his Life? Just thus does he that provides for the short time of this Life, but takes no care at all for Eternity; which is to be wise for a moment, but a fool ever; and to act as untowardly and as crosly to the reason of things, as can be imagined; to regard Time as if it were Eternity, and to neglect Eternity as if it were but a short Time.

Do you think him a wise man who is serious about Trifles, but trifles about the most serious Matters? Just so is he who pursues the World, and the petty Interests of it, with all his might, but minds Religion and the weighty concernments of Eternity, as if he minded them not.

Do you count him prudent, who throws himself over-board, to save his Goods? Just so doth he who to secure any thing in this World, makes shipwrack of his Conscience, and casts away his Soul.

Is he wise, who is wise in any thing but his proper Profession and Employment, wise for every body but himself; who is ingenious to contrive his own Mise∣ry, and to do himself a mischief; but is dull and stu∣pid as to the designing of any real advantage or bene∣fit to himself? Just such is he who troubleth himself with other things, and neglecteth himself; who is wise to do evil, but to do good hath no understanding.

Is he wise who neglects and disobligeth him who is his best Friend, and can be his shrewdest Enemy? Just so doth every wicked man who neglecteth and contemneth God, who can save and destroy him.

Is he wise, who in matters of greatest moment and

concernment neglecteth opportunities never to be re∣trived; who standing upon the shore, and seeing the tide making hast towards him a pace, and that he hath but a few minutes to save himself, yet will lay himself to sleep there, till the cruel Sea rush in upon him, and overwhelms him? Just so doth he who trifles away this day of Gods Grace and Patience, and foolishly adjourneth the work of Repentance, and the Business of Religion, to a dying hour.