A25250:88
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things: or certain meditations on life, death, judgement, hell, right purgatory, and heaven: delivered by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes in Lancashire.
London: printed for J.A., 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Use. 1 What is sweet in this life, which so many miseries will not embitter? If this be a vale of rears, where is thy place to pleasure? If this life be a nest of cares,1 how canst thou settle so great a vanity as sin in a field of such misery as the world? O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing? Were men not mad in their ways, or utterly besotted in their imaginations, well might these miseries of our life breed their neglect of the world. Can we choose but wonder to see how busily thou heapest up riches yet knowest not who shall eat the grapes of thy planted vineyard? God gave thee a countenance erected towards heaven, and must it ever be grovelling and poring on the earth? God gave thee a soul to live with his blessed Angels, and wilt thou make it a companion fitter for no other then brute beasts?2 There is an evil sickness (saith Solomon) that I have seen under the Sun; and what is that, but riches reserved to the owners for their evil. See here the just judgement of a righteous ⟨p. 30⟩God, to this end is thy riches, thou wouldest live at ease, and outlast many years, therefore thy life is but miserable, and thy death must be sudden, thy days are but few, and thy few days are evil.
Ʋse. 1 What is sweet in this life, which so many miseries will not imbitter? If this be a vale of rears, where is thy place to pleasure? If this life be a nest of cares,1 how canst thou settle so great a vanity as sinne in a field of such misery as the world? O ye sonnes of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing? Were men not mad in their wayes, or utterly besotted in their imaginations, well might these miseries of our life breed their neglect of the world. Can we chuse but wonder to see how busily thou heapest up riches yet knowest not who shall eat the grapes of thy planted vineyard? God gave thee a countenance erected towards heaven, and must it ever be groveling and poring on the earth? God gave thee a soul to live with his blessed Angels, and wilt thou make it a companion fitter for no other then brute beasts?