A26782:229
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompenses of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectic evil of the times / by William Bates ...Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompences of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectick evil of the times / by William Bates ...
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1676
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.
4. This should make us set a just value upon time, and consecrate it to those things that are preparatory for the future state of blessedness. Indeed the present ⟨p. 278⟩Life, though spun out to the utmost date, how short and vain is it? But as 'tis the price of Eternity, and our well-being hereafter depends upon it, 'tis above all esteem precious. When* Popilius, by order of the Roman Senate, required Antiochus to withdraw his Army from the King of Egypt, and he desired time to deliberate upon it, the Roman drew a Circle with his Wand about him, and said, In hoc stans delibera, give a present Answer before you move out. Thus Eternity, whose proper Emblem is a Circle, a Figure without end, presents to us Life and Death, that after a short time expects all men, and here we must make our choice. And shall a mortal coldness possess us in an affair of such importance? We cannot so fast repair the ruins of the Body, but that every day Death makes nearer ⟨p. 279⟩approaches, and takes away some spoils that cannot be recovered, and will shortly force the Soul to leave its habitation; and shall we not secure a retreat for it in the Sanctuary of Life and Immortality?
4. This should make us set a just value upon time, and consecrate it to those things that are preparatory for the future state of blessedness. Indeed the present ⟨p. 278⟩Life, though spun out to the utmost date, how short and vain is it? But as 'tis the price of Eternity, and our wel-being hereafter depends upon it, 'tis above all esteem precious. When* Popilius, by order of the Roman Senate, required Antiochus to withdraw his Army from the King of Egypt, and he desired time to deliberate upon it, the Roman drew a Circle with his Wand about him, and said, In hoc stans delibera, give a present Answer before you move out. Thus Eternity, whose proper Emblem is a Circle, a Figure without end, presents to us Life and Death, that after a short time expects all men, and here we must make our choice. And shall a mortal coldness possess us in an affair of such importance? We cannot so fast repair the ruines of the Body, but that every day Death makes nearer