CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹4. This life is measured by time, as are all the things therein: There is a succession of comforts, we cannot have all comforts together: All these things in the world are in a swift motion, and nothing stands still: The comforts we had the last year, or the last day, or the last hour, they are gone, we cannot have them any more; Thus every thing in this world being measured by time is in a continual flux: There is the first, and the second, and so still all is passing, and what is past we have not, and what is to come we do not yet enjoy, so that there is nothing but the present advantages that we are properly said to possess, now put eternal life to this, and it's the clean contrary, even as Eternity is to time, for whereas time is in a continual transient being, Eternity is an whole and full possession of all together; There is no past, present, or to come in Eternity, but Eternity comprehends all these things together, even as the greater wheel comprehends at once all the motions of the less wheel within it, and certainly this consideration is able to swallow us up, Thy comforts do not flow and reflow, They do not pass and others come, but thou art in a stable, permanent way of enjoying all happiness together, Thou canst not be less happy at one time then at another; Thou canst not expect greater joy then thou hast, neither canst thou wish for any joy that is past, so great a matter is Eternity.

¹4. This life is measured by time, as are all the things therein: There is a succession of comforts, we cannot have all comforts together: All these things in the world are in a swift motion, and nothing stands still: The comforts we had the last year, or the last day, or the last hour, they are gone, we cannot have them any more; Thus every thing in this world being measured by time is in a continual flux: There is the first, and the second, and so still all is passing, and what is past we have not, and what is to come we do not yet enjoy, so that there is nothing but the present advantages that we are properly said to possesse, now put eternal life to this, and it's the clean contrary, even as Eternity is to time, for whereas time is in a continual transient being, Eternity is an whole and full possession of all together; There is no past, present, or to come in Eternity, but Eternity comprehends all these things together, even as the greater wheel comprehends at once all the motions of the lesse wheel within it, and certainly this consideration is able to swallow us up, Thy comforts do not flow and reflow, They do not passe and others come, but thou art in a stable, permanent way of enjoying all happinesse together, Thou canst not be lesse happy at one time then at another; Thou canst not expect greater joy then thou hast, neither canst thou wish for any joy that is past, so great a matter is Eternity.