The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain itThe soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it

1. Men are flattered with the Presumption of long Life. But what is more uncertain? 'Tis the Wisdom and Goodness of God to keep concealed in his own Counsels the time of our sojourning here; for if Men though liable to Death every hour, and therefore ⟨p. 122⟩should be under a just fear lest it surprise them unprepared, yet against so strong a curb run with that exorbitant vehemence after the Vanities of the World, how much more licentious would they be, if secured from sudden Death? But none can promise to himself one day: Death comes not according to the order of Nature but the Divine Decree. How many in the flower of their Youth and Strength, thought themselves at as great a distance from Death as the East is from the West, when there was but a step between them and Death, between them and Hell. The Lamp suddenly expires by a blast of Wind, when there is plenty of Oil to feed it. The rich Man pleased himself with designs of sensual enjoyments for many Years, yet did not see the dawning of the next Morning. Thou Fool this Night shall thy Soul be required of thee: This Sentence is now pronounced in Heaven against thousands that are alive this day, conversant in the Vanities and Businesses of the World, Eating and Drinking, Playing and Trading, and all unconcerned as to Dying, yet shall breath their last before to Morrow, and their unwilling ⟨p. 123⟩Souls be rent from the embraces of the Body. In various manners Men die suddenly from inward and outward causes. An^† Apoplexy, an Imposthume, a Flux of Rheum, stopping Respiration, kills the Body without any presaging signs of Death. As if the Roof and all the Chambers should fall within the House, whiles the Walls are standing. And how many unforeseen Accidents, and therefore inevitable, put a sudden period to Life? Is it not then the truest Wisdom to be early in our work for Heaven, when the season is certainly short, and uncertainly continued, and the omission is irreparable? Therefore the Gospel represents the coming of our Judg under different images of surprisal; of a Thief, that by the favour of the Night breaks into the House; of a Master that returns from abroad unexpected, to call his Servants to an account:

1. Men are flattered with the Presumption of long Life. But what is more uncertain? 'Tis the Wisdom and Goodness of God to keep concealed in his own Counsels the time of our sojourning here; for if Men though liable to Death every hour, and therefore