But God said unto him, Thou Fool, thou troublest thy self about Things of this Life, thou puttest off the Thoughts of departing this World, when this Night thy Soul shall be taken from thee. O•, this Night, they, that is, the Devil will fetch away thy Soul from thee. And here it comes to pass, mens not being exercised with the Thoughts of departing this Life, that they are so unexpected to themselves and their Neighbours, taken away from the pleasures and profits; yea, all the Enjoyments they busy themselves withal while they live in this World. And hence it is again, that you have some in your ⟨p. 21⟩Towns and Cities, that are so suddenly taken away, some from haunting the Ale-house, others from haunting the Where-houses, others from playing and gaming, others from the cares and covetous desires after this World, unlooked for as by themselves, or their Companions. Hence it is also, that men do so wonder at such Tidings as this, There is such an one dead, such an one is departed; it is because they do so little consider, both the transitoriness of themselves and their Neighbours: for had they but their Thoughts well exercised about the shortness of this Life, and the danger that will befall such as do miss of the Lord Jesus Christ, it would make them more wary and sober, and spend more time in the service of God, and be more delighted and diligent in enquiring after the Lord Jesus, who is the Deliverer from wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1. 10. For, as I said before, it is evident, that they who live after the flesh in the Lusts thereof, do not really and seriously think on Death, and the Judgment that doth follow after, neither do they indeed endeavour so to do; for did they, it would make them say with Holy Job, All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my Change come, Job 14. 14. And, as I said before, that not only the Wicked, but also the Godly have their time to depart this Life. And the Beggar died. The Saints of the Lord, they must be deprived of this Life also, they must yield ⟨p. 22⟩up the Ghost into the hands of the Lord their God; they must also be separated from their Wives, Children, Husbands, Friends, Goods, and all that they have in the World. For God hath decreed it: It is appointed, namely, by the Lord, for men once to die, and we must appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ. As it is 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11.
But God said unto him, Thou Fool, thou troublest thy self about Things of this Life, thou puttest off the Thoughts of departing this World, when this Night thy Soul shall be taken from thee. O•, this Night, they, that is, the Devil will fetch away thy Soul from thee. And here it comes to pass, mens not being exercised with the Thoughts of departing this Life, that they are so unexpected to themselves and their Neighbours, taken away from the pleasures and profits; yea, all the Enjoyments they busie themselves withall while they live in this World. And hence it is again, that you have some in your ⟨p. 21⟩Towns and Cities, that are so suddainly taken away, some from haunting the Ale-house, others from haunting the Where-houses, others from playing and gaming, others from the cares and covetous desires after this World, unlooked for as by themselves, or their Companions. Hence it is also, that men do so wonder at such Tidings as this, There is such an one dead, such an one is departed; it is because they do so little consider, both the transitoriness of themselves and their Neighbours: for had they but their Thoughts well exercised about the shortness of this Life, and the danger that will befal such as do miss of the Lord Jesus Christ, it would make them more wary and sober, and spend more time in the service of God, and be more delighted and diligent in enquiring after the Lord Jesus, who is the Deliverer from wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1. 10. For, as I said before, it is evident, that they who live after the flesh in the Lusts thereof, do not really and seriously think on Death, and the Judgment that doth follow after, neither do they indeed endeavour so to do; for did they, it would make them say with Holy Job, All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my Change come, Job 14. 14. And, as I said before, that not onely the Wicked, but also the Godly have their time to depart this Life. And the Beggar died. The Saints of the Lord, they must be deprived of this Life also, they must yield ⟨p. 22⟩up the Ghost into the hands of the Lord their God; they must also be separated from their Wives, Children, Husbands, Friends, Goods, and all that they have in the World. For God hath decreed it: It is appointed, namely, by the Lord, for men once to die, and we must appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ. As it is 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11.
