A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

2. And it is but an ignoble Base de sign that the ungodly carry on in the world. What is it but to provide for, and please their flesh? It aimeth at nothing beyond this life. And a beast can eat, and drink, and sleep, and play, and satisfy his lust, as much as they. A swine can carry a mouth full of straw to his lodging, and a bird can build a nest for her young ones. And what do ungodly men more in the world! whether Gentlemen or Beggars, the flattered Gallants or the poor day-labourers, if they be not such as first seek Heaven, and live to God, what do they but make a pother in the world, about a little dirt or smoke? and find themselves somewhat to do that is next to nothing, instead of that for which they were created; and busy themselves about nothing till their time is gone, and the night is come when none ⟨p. 266⟩can work? If you would judge of a mans Designs, fore-see his Attainments. If you can tell what End it is that they come to, you may know how to judge of their intentions and their course. Their corpses you know, have no greater a Happiness, (after a few foolish merry hours) then to lie in the earth as filth or dust. You can see no Honour attained there. It is a child indeed that thinks a gilded Monument over a rotten carcass, is any great matter of Honour or Benefit to it. And if you look after the soul, (by the prospective of the Word of God) alas, it goeth to far greater dishonour. And is this it that worldlings make such a stir for?

2. And it is but an ignoble Base de sign that the ungodly carry on in the world. What is it but to provide for, and please their flesh? It aimeth at nothing beyond this life. And a beast can eat, and drink, and sleep, and play, and satisfie his lust, as much as they. A swine can carry a mouth full of straw to his lodging, and a bird can build a nest for her young ones. And what do ungodly men more in the world! whether Gentlemen or Beggars, the flattered Gallants or the poor day-labourers, if they be not such as first seek Heaven, and live to God, what do they but make a pudder in the world, about a little dirt or smoak? and find themselves somewhat to do that is next to nothing, instead of that for which they were created; and busie themselves about nothing till their time is gone, and the night is come when none ⟨p. 266⟩can work? If you would judge of a mans Designs, fore-see his Attainments. If you can tell what End it is that they come to, you may know how to judge of their intentions and their course. Their corpses you know, have no greater a Happiness, (after a few foolish merry hours) then to lie in the earth as filth or dust. You can see no Honour attained there. It is a child indeed that thinks a guilded Monument over a rotten carkase, is any great matter of Honour or Benefit to it. And if you look after the soul, (by the prospective of the Word of God) alas, it goeth to far greater dishonour. And is this it that worldlings make such a stir for?