§. 1. Our own experience, and the alterations which the approach of death makes upon the most, doth sensibly prove, that the expectation of a speedy change, and reckoning upon a short life, doth greatly help us in all our preparation, and in all the work of Holiness through our lives. Come to a man that lieth on his death-bed, or a prisoner that is to dye to morrow, and try him with1 discourse of riches, or honours, or temptations to lust, or drunkenness, or excess: and he will think you are mad or very impertinent, to tell him of such things: If he be but a man of Common Reason, you shall see that he will more easily vilify such temptations, than many religious persons will do, in their prosperity and health: O how serious are we in repenting and perusing our former lives, and casting up our accounts, and asking, What we shall do to be saved, when we see that death is indeed at hand, and time is at an end, and we must away! Every sentence of Scripture hath then some life and power in it: Every word of Exhortation is savoury to us: Every reproof of our negligence and sin, is then well taken: Every thought of sin or Christ, or Grace, or Eternity goes then to the quick: Then time seems precious: and if you ask a man whether it be better spent in Cards and Dice, and Plays and Feastings, and needless recreations and idleness, or in prayer and holy conference, and reading and meditating on the Word of God and the life to come, and the holy use of our lawful labours? How easily will he be satisfied of the truth? and confute the Cavils of voluptuous time-wasters? Then his judgement will easilier be in the right, than Learning or Arguments before could make it. In a word, the expectation of the speedy approach of the soul into the presence of the Eternal God, and of our entering into an unchangeable endless life, of joy or torment, hath so much in it to awaken all the powers of the soul, that if ever we will be serious, it will make us serious, in every thought, and speech, and duty. And therefore as it is a great mercy of God, that this life which is so short, should be as uncertain, and that frequent dangers and sicknesses call to us, to look about us, and be ready for our change; so usually the sickly that look for death, are most considerate;
§. 1. Our own experience, and the alterations which the approach of death makes upon the most, doth sensibly prove, that the expectation of a speedy change, and reckoning upon a short life, doth greatly help us in all our preparation, and in all the work of Holiness through our lives. Come to a man that lyeth on his death-bed, or a prisoner that is to dye to morrow, and try him with1 discourse of riches, or honours, or temptations to lust, or drunkenness, or excess: and he will think you are mad or very impertinent, to tell him of such things: If he be but a man of Common Reason, you shall see that he will more easily vilifie such temptations, than many religious persons will do, in their prosperity and health: O how serious are we in repenting and perusing our former lives, and casting up our accounts, and asking, What we shall do to be saved, when we see that death is indeed at hand, and time is at an end, and we must away! Every sentence of Scripture hath then some life and power in it: Every word of Exhortation is savoury to us: Every reproof of our negligence and sin, is then well taken: Every thought of sin or Christ, or Grace, or Eternity goes then to the quick: Then time seems precious: and if you ask a man whether it be better spent in Cards and Dice, and Playes and Feastings, and needless recreations and idleness, or in prayer and holy conference, and reading and meditating on the Word of God and the life to come, and the holy use of our lawful labours? How easily will he be satisfied of the truth? and confute the Cavils of voluptuous time-wasters? Then his judgement will easilier be in the right, than Learning or Arguments before could make it. In a word, the expectation of the speedy approach of the soul into the presence of the Eternal God, and of our entring into an unchangeable endless life, of joy or torment, hath so much in it to awaken all the powers of the soul, that if ever we will be serious, it will make us serious, in every thought, and speech, and duty. And therefore as it is a great mercy of God, that this life which is so short, should be as uncertain, and that frequent dangers and sicknesses call to us, to look about us, and be ready for our change; so usually the sickly that look for death, are most considerate;
- 1Nemini exploratum potest esse quomodo se•e habiturum sit corpus, non dico ad annum sed ad vesperum, C•ce•o 2. de fit. Dii boni! quid est in hominis vita diu? Mihi ne diuturnum quidem quicquam videtur, in quo est aliquid extremum. Cum enim id advenit, tum illud praeter•it, e• fluxit: tan tum remanet quod virtute & recte factis fit consecutus: ho•ae quidem •edunt, & di••, & me•ses, & anni, nec praeteritum tempus unquam revertitur, nec quid sequatur sciri potest: Cic. in Cat. Maj. Quem saepe transit, casus aliquando invent.Nemini exploratum potest esse quomodo se•e habiturum sit corpus, non dico ad annum sed ad vesperum, C•ce•o 2. de fit. Dii boni! quid est in hominis vita diu? Mihi ne diuturnum quidem quicquam videtur, in quo est aliquid extremum. Cum enim id advenit, tum illud praeter•it, e• fluxit: tan tum remanet quod virtute & recte factis fit consecutus: ho•ae quidem •edunt, & di••, & me•ses, & anni, nec praeteritum tempus unquam revertitur, nec quid sequatur sciri potest: Cic. in Cat. Maj. Quem saepe transit, casus aliquando inven•.
