A30241:2123
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 87: That God hath determined a precise time to every particular man in the world, how long…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Therefore though God hath appointed the bounds of our life in this world, yet he hath kept it secret from us, he lets none know (unless by special revelation) the times of their death. And therefore there is a duty imposed upon all, that they use the means of life, Thou shalt not kill, reacheth first to a mans self, and then to another: Hence to live cheerfully, to use the help of the Physician are duties; Christ said, The sick need the Physician, Mat. 9.12. as for secret things they belong to God. The soldier knoweth not, whether he shall conquer such an enemy, scale such a wall, yet because his General commands him, he is ready to obey, and thus though we cannot tell, such means shall prolong our lives in the world, yet Gods will cannot be neglected without great sin.
4. Therefore though God hath appointed the bounds of our life in this world, yet he hath kept it secret from us, he lets none know (unless by special revelation) the times of their death. And therefore there is a duty imposed upon all, that they use the means of life, Thou shalt not kill, reacheth first to a mans self, and then to another: Hence to live chearfully, to use the help of the Physician are duties; Christ said, The sick need the Physician, Mat. 9.12. as for secret things they belong to God. The souldier knoweth not, whether he shall conquer such an enemy, scale such a wall, yet because his General commands him, he is ready to obey, and thus though we cannot tell, such means shall prolong our lives in the world, yet Gods will cannot be neglected without great sin.
5. God hath determined the time of our being in the world, out of justice and wrath to the wicked, out of mercy and wisdom to the godly. It's anger to the wicked, for all the while they live, they increase their sin, they treasure up wrath; so that it had been well for them, if they had been cut off by death long before. They live to make hell the hotter for them, when they die. But to the godly the time of their abode is limited in mercy. The righteous is taken away from the evil to come,