And further,1 To live in misery is worse than present dreadful death: to live in a lingering way of misery is worse than present death even in this world. 2I remember Suetonius tells of Tiberius Caesar, that there was one that he had adjudged to death, and he that was adjudged to die, petitioned to him, that he might have his dispatch. He answers him thus, Sir, you and I are not friends yet, you must not die, you must be kept in misery. It is worse than death many times to be kept in a lingering way of misery, it is so, even in regard of the miseries of this world, Oh! how much worse than death is it then to be kept under the wrath of God to all eternity? How fearful is it to live in misery for ever then, and never to die? Why it's better, certainly Sense would apprehend it better for a man to be dispatched presently than to live in lingering misery: yet, if we did know all, it were better to live in the greatest misery in the world (for a wicked man) than to die the fairest death; thou wert better to live as a Dog, a Toad, yea, as a stock-log at the back of the fire (if it were possible) than to die, if thou knewest all (being a wicked man) but however hereafter in Hell, then it were better if it were possible to perish than to live so as thou hast, yet then thou shalt not die, though it would be the greatest happiness to thee; if thou shouldest after a thousand ⟨p. 416⟩years cry to God, Oh Lord, that Mountains might fall upon me! The Lord would answer: You and I are not friends yet; and if after a thousand years more thou shouldest cry, Oh Lord that I might be crushed to pieces: the Lord would answer you still, You and I are not yet friends.3 Saith Bernard, Oh! I tremble to think of that, that I should fall into the hands of living death, and of dying life, where men do not die, that they might for ever die (saith he) they do die that they may for ever die, they are always dying,4 but never die, but are kept by the Almighty power of God on purpose that they might be fuel for his wrath, and subjects for his revenging Justice to strike upon.5 Oh! consider of this you that are so ready to desire death, because you are in a lingering misery at any time. Is a lingering misery so evil? Then what will be the lingering evil of eternity?
And further,1 To live in misery is worse than present dreadful death: to live in a lingring way of misery is worse than present death even in this world. 2I remember Suetonius tels of Tiberius Caesar, that there was one that he had adjudged to death, and he that was adjudged to die, petitioned to him, that he might have his dispatch. He answers him thus, Sir, you and I are not friends yet, you must not die, you must be kept in misery. It is worse than death many times to be kept in a lingring way of misery, it is so, even in regard of the miseries of this world, Oh! how much worse than death is it then to be kept under the wrath of God to all eternity? How fearful is it to live in misery for ever then, and never to die? Why it's better, certainly Sence would apprehend it better for a man to be dispacht presently than to live in lingring misery: yet, if we did know all, it were better to live in the greatest misery in the world (for a wicked man) than to die the fairest death; thou wert better to live as a Dog, a Toad, yea, as a stock-log at the back of the fire (if it were possible) than to die, if thou knewest all (being a wicked man) but however hereafter in Hell, then it were better if it were possible to perish than to live so as thou hast, yet then thou shalt not die, though it would be the greatest happiness to thee; if thou shouldest after a thousand ⟨p. 416⟩yeers cry to God, Oh Lord, that Mountains might fall upon me! The Lord would answer: You and I are not friends yet; and if after a thousand years more thou shouldest cry, Oh Lord that I might be crush'd to pieces: the Lord would answer you still, You and I are not yet friends.3 Saith Bernard, Oh! I tremble to think of that, that I should fall into the hands of living death, and of dying life, where men do not die, that they might for ever die (saith he) they do die that they may for ever die, they are alwaies dying,4 but never die, but are kept by the Almighty power of God on purpose that they might be fewel for his wrath, and subjects for his revenging Justice to strike upon.5 Oh! consider of this you that are so ready to desire death, because you are in a lingering misery at any time. Is a lingering misery so evil? Then what will be the lingering evil of eternity?
- 1Obs. 4.
- 2Suetonius L. 3. C. 6. Nondum tecum in gratiam redii.
- 3Bernard lib. 5. de consid. c. 12
- 4A dreadful consideration.
- 5Use to the impatient.
