Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

All the time we have is little enough for the preparing for our great change. The Devil doth improve his time upon this score. We read in the Revelations, that the Devil is come down with great wrath, for his time is short. Shall the Devil improve his time because it is but short, in a way of mischief: And shall not we improve our time seeing it is but short? Our time is short, therefore let us use the World as though we used it not.

But then secondly, as for the second Reason, Use the World as if we used it not, we must, For the fashion of this world passeth away. The fashion of this World, 'tis but a Scheme, it is but a piece of Pageantry, it is but a Stage, one goes off and another ⟨p. 141⟩comes on. Take the World in the bravest dress, and it is but a Fashion: And as that's a Fashion to day which was not yesterday, that's a Fashion to day which is none to morrow; Fashions pass away: So the Fashion of the World passeth away. Joseph was in favour greatly with his Father, and that favour past away. His Brethren sold him; then he was in an afflicted condition, being sold down to Egypt: That fashion past away, he came into Potiphars house, and there he had favour. Well, there he had favour a little time, and that fashion past away; then thrown into the Prison, and there he was in a sad condition again: and that Fashion past away, he had favour with the Jailer: And then he came to the Throne, to be the great Councillor of the Nation; and that lasted •ot long, but that past away. What piece of the world is there, but the fashion thereof passeth away.

But then secondly, as for the second Reason, Use the World as if we used it not, we must, For the fashion of this world passeth away. The fashion of this World, 'tis but a Scheme, it is but a piece of Pageantry, it is but a Stage, one goes off and another ⟨p. 141⟩comes on. Take the World in the bravest dress, and it is but a Fashion: And as thats a Fashion to day which was not yesterday, thats a Fashion to day which is none to morrow; Fashions pass away: So the Fashion of the World passeth away. Joseph was in favour greatly with his Father, and that favour past away. His Brethren sold him; then he was in an afflicted condition, being sold down to Egypt: That fashion past away, he came into Potiphars house, and there he had favour. Well, there he had favour a little time, and that fashion past away; then thrown into the Prison, and there he was in a sad condition again: and that Fashion past away, he had favor with the Jaylor: And then he came to the Throne, to be the great Councellor of the Nation; and that lasted ot long, but that past away. What piece of the world is there, but the fashion thereof passeth away.