A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

5. Direct. Then next consider,¹ that one of these two places you must shortly, very shortly be in. When you are going to prayer, look behind you, and you shall see death hastening after you, that death is at your backs; and look forward, and you shall see Heaven and Hell before you, your selves standing upon the very brink of time, and the next step might be into eternity of joy or sorrow; where you did but now by faith see others were, there you your selves must quickly really be, where you shall rejoice with them, or suffer and sorrow with them: Do but look a little, before you fall down upon your knees, and you might see your selves cast down upon a bed of sickness, your friends weeping and fearing you will die, the Physicians are puzzled and at a loss, giving you over for the grave, and your self gasping for life, and breathing out your last. Look but a little before you, and you might as it were hear your friends saying, he is dead, he is dead, he is gone, he is departed, and then (as it were) you might see them haling you out of your bed, and wrapping you in your winding sheet, and nailing you up in your Coffin, you might see your Grave a digging, and men hired to carry you on their shoulders from your house to your grave, Relations and Neighbours following after to see you lodged in the dust, to lie and rot among the dead.

5. Direct. Then next consider,¹