A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

especially if we consider that this Faith is stirring in them at such times as men use to be least given to Fancies, as on the most solemn Occasions, under the greatest Afflictions, and at the approach of the most terrible of all temporal evils, Death it self. Men are most apt to be taken with Fancies, and Appearances when they are wholly at Ease, and flush in the World, and have hope, or some prospect of great things in it; then they are apt to fancy things according to their Appetites, and fondly to believe that that will be, which they desire may be. But when Death draws nigh, they have nothing to encourage such imaginations, and then usually their Fancies vanish, they come to discover their folly, and deceitfulness; they judge quite contrary to what they did before; they then see those things to be real which they counted but Fancies, and those things to be but Fantastical which they had thought to be real. Now at such a time as this, the Faith of a Saint (saving what desertions or Temptations may occasion in particular instances) is ordinarily more-strong, and active; as his judgment of earthly things is more true when he is leaving them, so his apprehension of heavenly is more clear when he draws nigh to them; the approach of Death proves an enlivening to his Faith; he hath the fairest view of the Crown of Glory when his Lord is about to set it on his head; the same thoughts indeed he then hath, which before he had, only more clear, and affecting they are at the last, there being less to interrupt, or discompose him. It were hard to say that all the Comforts and Joys of dying Saints and Martyrs, have been mere Delusions and Cheats, and yet so they must be, if the apprehensions they have had of heavenly things were but Fancies and Ravings.

especially if we consider that this Faith is stirring in them at such times as men use to be least given to Fancies, as on the most solemn Occasions, under the greatest Afflictions, and at the approach of the most terrible of all temporal evils, Death it self. Men are most apt to be taken with Fancies, and Appearances when they are wholly at Ease, and flush in the World, and have hope, or some prospect of great things in it; then they are apt to fancy things according to their Appetites, and fondly to believe that that will be, which they desire may be. But when Death draws nigh, they have nothing to encourage such imaginations, and then usually their Fancies vanish, they come to discover their folly, and deceitfulness; they judge quite contrary to what they did before; they then see those things to be real which they counted but Fancies, and those things to be but Fantastical which they had thought to be real. Now at such a time as this, the Faith of a Saint (saving what desertions or Temptations may occasion in particular instances) is ordinarily more-strong, and active; as his judgment of earthly things is more true when he is leaving them, so his apprehension of heavenly is more clear when he draws nigh to them; the approach of Death proves an enlivening to his Faith; he hath the fairest view of the Crown of Glory when his Lord is about to set it on his head; the same thoughts indeed he then hath, which before he had, only more clear, and affecting they are at the last, there being less to interrupt, or discompose him. It were hard to say that all the Comforts and Joyes of dying Saints and Martyrs, have been meer Delusions and Cheats, and yet so they must be, if the apprehensions they have had of heavenly things were but Fancies and Ravings.