The crucifying of the world

Quest. 7.

What is it that dying men do commonly think and say of the world? If you can observe what all others say of it, you may partly conjecture what mind you shall be of your selves. You have sometimes sure been about dying men; (If you have not, you were best draw near them hereafter; for the house of mourning is better then the house of mirth.) Do you not hear them all cry out of the world, as a worthless thing? Do you not see how little good it can then do them? And will no warning serve you? Surely the judgement of one of these men (much more of so many) is more to be valued, then of many that are in health and prosperity, that overvalue the world. You are but in the chase, and know not what it is which you do pursue: but they have overtaken it, and find it ⟨p. 134⟩but a feather: You are but in the trying of it, but they have tried it already, and have found how little or nothing it can do. You are entangled in the midst of its deceits: but they begin to see it bare-faced. Your senses are more violent in withdrawing you and perverting your judgements: but so are not theirs, who are languishing unto death. If you come to one of them, that know they must die within a few days, and tell them that such a Lordship is fallen to them, or such Honour is bestowed on them, or such a friend hath given them great possessions; how will they regard it? will they not say [Alas, what is this to me, that am presently to leave the world, and appear before the eternal Judge!] If you then come to them, and offer them such baits as were wont to catch the glutton, or drunkard, or fornicator, do you think they will regard them? Would they not rather cry shame against him that would then entice them to any such thing? Why then should you so value that now, which all the world will vilify at the last?

WHat is it that dying men do commonly think and say of the world? If you can observe what all others say of it, you may partly conjecture what mind you shall be of your selves. You have sometimes sure been about dying men; (If you have not, you were best draw near them hereafter; for the house of mourning is better then the house of mirth.) Do you not hear them all cry out of the world, as a worthless thing? Do you not see how little good it can then do them? And will no warning serve you? Surely the judgement of one of these men (much more of so many) is more to be valued, then of many that are in health and prosperity, that overvalue the world. You are but in the chase, and know not what it is which you do pursue: but they have overtaken it, and find it