Deaths knell

or what canst thou find in this vale of vanities, that is comparable to the favour of God? Let not thy youthful affections oversway thee; for time will tell thee, they are but bubbling follies. Let not temporal fear mislead thee; for the force of reason will rather draw thee to fear God then man, and to stand more in awe of perpetual then temporal punishments. Who would fasten his eternal affairs upon the slipperiness of uncertain life? or who (but one of distempered wits) would offer to put tricks upon him, who is the strict searcher out of the closest secrets▪ with whom he may dissemble to his cost, but to deceive him, tis impossible? Wilt thou account ⟨image 7⟩it a craft to steal time from God, & to bestow it on his enemies▪ who keeps tale of the least minute of thy life, and at thy ending will call thee to question, how thou hast employed every moment? Is it not preposterous policy to fight against God, till our weapons be blunted, our forces enfeebled, our strength made impotent, our best spent; and at last when we are fallen into fainting, and fought our selves well-nigh dead; then so presume of his mercy, whom we have to much offended, so long opposed? Would it not be held an exorbitant course, that while the Ship is sound, the Pilot well, the Sailors strong▪ the Gale favourable, and the Seas calm, to lie carelessly idle at rode, losing so seasonable weather, and then when the Ship leaks, the Pilot sick, the Mariners feeble, the winds aloft▪ the storms boisterous, and the waves outrageous, to launch forth, hoist sail, and set out for a far Journey? Such are our evening-repenters, who in the soundness of health, and perfect use of reason, cannot abide to cut Cables, and weigh those Anchors that with-hold them from GOD▪ but when their Senses are benumbed, their Reason distracted, their Understanding dulled, and both soul and Body tormented with pangs of pains, and sorrowful sickness, ⟨image 8⟩then will cast back their memory on these weighty affairs; then will they needs become sudden Saints, that are scarce reasonable creatures.

or what canst thou find in this vale of vanities, that is comparable to the fauour of God? Let not thy youthfull affections ouersway thee; for time will tell thee, they are but bubbling follies. Let not temporall feare misleade thee; for the force of reason will rather draw thee to feare God then man, and to stand more in awe of perpetuall then temporall punishments. Who would fasten his eternall affaires vpon the slipperinesse of vncertaine life? or who (but one of distempered wits) would offer to put tricks vpon him, who is the strict searcher out of the closest secrets with whom he may dissemble to his cost, but to deceiue him, tis impossible? Wilt thou account