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

6. It is a day, and for ought you know, It may be your last day: and therefore improve that present day. You have no assurance of another: from the upper glass of the hour-glass, thou canst not be assured of one sand more. Often say thou therefore to the day wherein thou livest, art thou my last, or may I look for another? Though thou art young, it may prove thy last day: Death taketh us not by Seniority. The new pitcher may be as easily broken as the old. And (which is a more severe consideration) the Spirit of God possibly may never knock at the door of thy heart again, never strive in thee, never strive with thee. Death may knock next, and remember, he will easily break into thy body, though thy Minister could not get into thy Soul. Death never cometh without a warrant; yet it often comes without a warning. We do not live by patent, but we live at pleasure. How knowest thou that the candle of the Ministry shall shine one Sabbath longer? The message shall always live, but the messenger is always dying. The clods of the Earth may soon stop that mouth, that so frequently and unfruitfully hath given thee the word of life. He, the light now of his place and of his people, may be blown out by violence as well as burnt out by death. Thou canst not say, but God may soon make that ear of thine deaf, that now thou stoppest: God may soon blind those eyes, which now thou shuttest. It is a peradventure whether God will ever give repentance or no. God hath made many promises to repentance; but he hath made none of repentance. If to day thou sayest thou wilt not, to morrow thou mayest say thou canst not pray. It is just with God, that he who while he liveth forgets God, when he dies should forget himself. I have heard of a profane miscreant, that being put upon speedy repentance and turning to God, scoffingly answered; if I do but say three words when I come to dye, (Miserere mei Domine: Lord have mercy upon me,) I am sure to be happy. This miserable wretch shortly after, falling from his horse, and receiving thereby a deadly wound, had indeed time to speak three words (as the relation informed me,) but those three words were these, Diabolus capiat omnia, Let the Devil take all. Thou dost not know what thy last words shall be: the very motions of thy tongue and of thy heart are all in the hands of that God, whose grace thou hast despised.

6. It is a day, and for ought you know, It may be your last day: and therefore improve that present day. You have no assurance of another: from the upper glass of the hour-glass, thou canst not be assured of one sand more. Often say thou therefore to the day wherein thou livest, art thou my last, or may I look for another? Though thou art young, it may prove thy last day: Death taketh us not by Seniority. The new pitcher may be as easily broken as the old. And (which is a more severe consideration) the Spirit of God possibly may never knock at the door of thy heart again, never strive in thee, never strive with thee. Death may knock next, and remember, he will easily break into thy body, though thy Minister could not get into thy Soul. Death never cometh without a warrant; yet it often comes without a warning. We do not live by patent, but we live at pleasure. How knowest thou that the candle of the Ministry shall shine one Sabbath longer? The message shall alwaies live, but the messenger is alwaies dying. The clods of the Earth may soon stop that mouth, that so frequently and unfruitfully hath given thee the word of life. He, the light now of his place and of his people, may be blown out by violence as well as burnt out by death. Thou canst not say, but God may soon make that ear of thine deaf, that now thou stoppest: God may soon blind those eyes, which now thou shuttest. It is a peradventure whether God will ever give repentance or no. God hath made many promises to repentance; but he hath made none of repentance. If to day thou saist thou wilt not, to morrow thou maist say thou canst not pray. It is just with God, that he who while he liveth forgets God, when he dies should forget himself. I have heard of a profane miscreant, that being put upon speedy repentance and turning to God, scoffingly answered; if I do but say three words when I come to dye, (Miserere mei Domine: Lord have mercy upon me,) I am sure to be happy. This miserable wretch shortly after, falling from his horse, and receiving thereby a deadly wound, had indeed time to speak three words (as the relation informed me,) but those three words were these, Diabolus capiat omnia, Let the Devil take all. Thou dost not know what thy last words shall be: the very motions of thy tongue and of thy heart are all in the hands of that God, whose grace thou hast despised.