And yet further again, though this heavy and disconsolate estate should last long, and were yet to last far longer; yet if there were some certain stint of time set how long it should last; the eye of the soul being fixed upon that term, it would be some comfort to consider how the time wore away. But where the eye of the mind meeteth with no object to stint it, but (as it is with persons distressed at Sea in a thick fog, that have rowed and wrought long till their hearts ache again, and beaten to and fro, but can descry no shore; or as it is *with those that are in hell, whose torments have no stint, but are boundless and endless) it is as far from an end still, for ought it can descry, as at first; it hath lasted thus long, and “it is uncertain how long longer it may last: This is that that might break an heart of stone or steel, that might enforce the forlorn soul to sink down under the heavy burden and unsupportable weight of it, overwhelmed with horror, and swallowed up with ⟨p. 8⟩despair, were there not somewhat else (even xan hand of God himself) to support and uphold it.
And yet further againe, though this heauy and disconsolate estate should last long, and were yet to last farre longer; yet if there were some certaine stint of time set how long it should last; the eye of the soule being fixed vpon that terme, it would be some comfort to consider how the time wore away. But where the eie of the minde meeteth with no obiect to stint it, but (as it is with persons distressed at Sea in a thicke fog, that haue rowed and wrought long till their hearts ake againe, and beaten to and fro, but can descry no shore; or as it is *with those that are in hell, whose torments haue no stint, but are boundlesse and endlesse) it is as farre from an end still, for ought it can descry, as at first; it hath lasted thus long, and “it is vncertaine how long longer it may last: This is that that might breake an heart of stone or steele, that might enforce the forlorne soule to sinke downe vnder the heauy burden and vnsupportable weight of it, ouerwhelmed with horror, and swallowed vp with ⟨p. 8⟩despaire, were there not somewhat else (euen xan hand of God himselfe) to support and vphold it.
- *Quib' cruciatus & ad finem per torment a proper at, & sine fine deficiens durat. Ita fit miseris mors sine morte, finis sine fine, defectus sine defectu: quia & mors vivit, & •nis semper incipit, & deficere desectus ne•cit. Greg. mor. l. 9. c. 47.
- “Psal. 74. 9.
- xPsal. 37. 24.
