Use 1 1. To discover their folly, that presume of long life, in regard of health and youth. They are but ⟨p. 13⟩young yet, and therefore they may live long and see many a good day. And they are healthy and strong, and may therefore hold out as well as others, as long as any. Yea, but there is none of those that thus say or think, so young, but they have seen many younger go; none so strong, but that they may have seen as strong, if not stronger, go than themselves. mMans life is as a day. And as we see that days are not all of one length; there are Summer, and there are Winter days; some longer, some shorter; some of more, some of fewer hours: So is there no less variety in the length and size of mens lives, according to that time that God hath pleased to allot each. But herein again there is great difference between this natural day and the day of mans life; that nthe natural day, be it never so short, it hath a morning, a noon, an afternoon and an evening; whereas the day of our life may have a morning, and no noon, or a noon and no after-noon. oThe Sun (as the Prophet speaketh in another sense) may set with us at noon day. We may be suddenly snatched away pin the flower of our youth, in the prime of our age, in the height of our health, in the chief of our strength. Yea, the qSun may set with us, so soon as it is up; it may but peer out, and twinkle awhile with a twi-light, and in the twinkling of an eye instantly go down again. It is a vain thing therefore, for any in regard of youth, to presume of long life, when as length of life no way dependeth upon youth, and we see young go as well, yea as oft as old do.
Vse 1 1. To discouer their folly, that presume of long life, in regard of health and youth. They are but ⟨p. 13⟩young yet, and therefore they may liue long and see many a good day. And they are healthie and strong, and may therefore hold out as well as others, as long as any. Yea, but there is none of those that thus say or thinke, so young, but they haue seene many younger goe; none so strong, but that they may haue seene as strong, if not stronger, goe than themselues. mMans life is as a day. And as we see that daies are not all of one length; there are Summer, and there are Winter dayes; some longer, some shorter; some of more, some of fewer houres: So is there no lesse varietie in the length and size of mens liues, according to that time that God hath pleased to allot each. But herein againe there is great difference betweene this naturall day and the day of mans life; that nthe naturall day, be it neuer so short, it hath a morning, a noone, an afternoone and an euening; whereas the day of our life may haue a morning, and no noone, or a noone and no after-noone. oThe Sunne (as the Prophet speaketh in another sense) may set with vs at noone day. We may be suddenly snatcht away pin the flower of our youth, in the prime of our age, in the height of our health, in the chiefe of our strength. Yea, the qSunne may set with vs, so soone as it is vp; it may but peere out, and twinckle awhile with a twy-light, and in the twinckling of an eye instantly goe downe againe. It is a vaine thing therefore, for any in regard of youth, to presume of long life, when as length of life no way dependeth vpon youth, and wee see young goe as well, yea as oft as old doe.
- mPsal. 90.4, 5, 6. Uno die totam hominis vitam conclusit. Philip. in Job 1. Instar totius vitae dies est. Sen. Epist. 61. Vide Cic. Tuscul. l. 1. cum Ephemero bestiola hominem committentem.Psal. 90.4, 5, 6. Vno die totam hominis vitam conclusit. Philip. in Iob 1. Instar totius vitae dies est. Sen. Epist. 61. Vide Cic. Tuscul. l. 1. cum Ephemero bestiola hominem committentem.
- nNihil interest inter diem & seculū. Sen. ep. 100. Nihil enim habet longissimi temporis spatiū, quod non in uno die inuenis, lucem & nocte, & alternas mundi vices: plura, non alia facit ista nox, alias contractior, alias productior, Idem ep. 12.Nihil interest inter diem & seculū. Sen. ep. 100. Nihil enim habet longissimi temporis spatiū, quod non in vno die inuenis, lucem & nocte, & alternas mundi vices: plura, non alia facit ista nox, alias contractior, alias productior, Idem ep. 12.
- oAmos 8.9.
- pJob 15.33. & 21.23.Iob 15.33. & 21.23.
- qPsal. 129.6. Solstitialis velut herba solet, Oftentatus raptusque. simul. Auson. profess. Allusit ad illud Plaut. Pseud. 1.1. Quasi solstitialis herba paulisper fui; Repent exortus sum, repentino occidi. Et ad illud Virg. Aen. 6. Ostendent terris hunc tantum fata, nec ultra Esse sinent.Psal. 129.6. Solstitialis velut herba solet, Oftentatus raptusque. simul. Auson. profess. Allusit ad illud Plaut. Pseud. 1.1. Quasi solstitialis herba paulisper fui; Repente exortus sum, repentino occidi. Et ad illud Virg. Aen. 6. Ostendent terris hunc tantum fata, nec vltra Esse sinent.
