Secondly, As God will call you to an account for all that work which is in the power of your hand; So you do not know how soon he may take your work out of your hands; how soon he may take you from your work, or your work from you. We ordinarily think that we shall not dye before our work be done: But if you look wishly upon Gods Dispensations, you shall find that Death doth sometimes press men from their Shop-board, when much work is cut out before them. You all know what an useful man good King Josiah was, as a Magistrate, yet he dyed in the midst of his work, when he was but Thirty nine years old! Ye know what an useful man John the Baptist was; yet he died in the midst of his days, when not above Thirty three years old. Is it not known to some what a great Workman Dr. Whitaker was here in England, of whom it was said, That he never was less idle, then when idle; yet he died in the midst of his work, when he was but Forty four years old. It is ordinarily known what a blessed Instrument Mr. Perkins was, of whom the Preacher said at his Funeral, Here lies that blessed Perkins, who first taught England for to worship God; yet he died in the midst of his work, when he was but Forty seven years old. And who hath not heard of Dr. Preston, what ⟨p. 158⟩a great Workman he was in Gods Vineyard; of whom I may say, Who though dead, yet speaketh in his precious Books that are amongst you; yet he died in the midst of his Work, when he was but Forty one years old. I might instance in Mr. Burroughs, and others; yea, in divers good Christians in this place, who have died in the midst of their work and time. It was not long since a Preacher now in Heaven preached on this Text at the Guild at Norwich, at the Instalment of the Mayor; and before the year came about, the Mayor died. So that Death doth sometimes press us from our Shop-board before our work be made up. And I pray mind the Text a little, Whatever is in the power of thine hand to do, do it with all thy might: For says Solomon, In the grave there is no work nor device whither thou goest. He doth not say, Whither thou shalt go, or whither thou must go, but whither thou goest. You go sometimes to Church, and sometimes not; you go sometimes to Sea, and sometimes not; you go sometimes into the Country, and sometimes not:
Secondly, As God will call you to an account for all that work which is in the power of your hand; So you do not know how soon he may take your work out of your hands; how soon he may take you from your work, or your work from you. We ordinarily think that we shall not dye before our work be done: But if you look wishly upon Gods Dispensations, you shall find that Death doth sometimes press men from their Shop-board, when much work is cut out before them. You all know what an useful man good King Josiah was, as a Magistrate, yet he dyed in the midst of his work, when he was but Thirty nine years old! Ye know what an useful man John the Baptist was; yet he died in the midst of his days, when not above Thirty three years old. Is it not known to some what a great Workman Dr. Whitaker was here in England, of whom it was said, That he never was less idle, then when idle; yet he died in the midst of his work, when he was but Fourty four years old. It is ordinarily known what a blessed Instrument Mr. Perkins was, of whom the Preacher said at his Funeral, Here lyes that blessed Perkins, who first taught England for to worship God; yet he died in the midst of his work, when he was but Fourty seven years old. And who hath not heard of Dr. Preston, what ⟨p. 158⟩a great Workman he was in Gods Vineyard; of whom I may say, Who though dead, yet speaketh in his precious Books that are amongst you; yet he died in the midst of his Work, when he was but Fourty one years old. I might instance in Mr. Burroughs, and others; yea, in divers good Christians in this place, who have died in the midst of their work and time. It was not long since a Preacher now in Heaven preached on this Text at the Guild at Norwich, at the Installment of the Mayor; and before the year came about, the Mayor died. So that Death doth sometimes press us from our Shop-board before our work be made up. And I pray mind the Text a little, Whatever is in the power of thine hand to do, do it with all thy might: For says Solomon, In the grave there is no work nor device whither thou goest. He doth not say, Whither thou shalt go, or whither thou must go, but whither thou goest. You go sometimes to Church, and sometimes not; you go sometimes to Sea, and sometimes not; you go sometimes into the Countrey, and sometimes not:
