Saints memorials, or, Words fitly spoken, like apples of gold in pictures of silver…

Mr. EDMUND CALAMY HIS EXHORTATIONS TO The Service of the Lord.

Mr. EDMVND CALAMY HIS EXHORTATIONS TO The Service of the Lord.

Such are the minds of most men, whom either the cares of this world hath distracted, or the false pleasures thereof deluded, that the meditations of Heaven are far from them; and they rarely think of those dangers that attend them, or what damage they are like to suffer by despising, or slighting those precious Opportunities that might lead to their Salvation; to whom our Saviours saying, when speaking to Martha, ⟨p. 2⟩may be well applied: Ye are troubled with many things, but one thing is necessary. Oh that men would consider this Unum necessarium, that they might shun and forsake the immoderate trifles of a Transitory world; and that they would ere the time be far spent, find out those paths that will lead them to their Souls rest: which Lesson is taught them in the Holy Scriptures; and not only there, but by a Heathen,¹ who said, Tempus est de illa perpetua Jam, non de hac exigua vita cogitare. It is now high time, not to think of this Life, but of Life Eternal. In this present world we can study how to provide for our Temporal Estates, contriving a settlement for our maintenance and preservation; and shall we be so stupid as to neglect the Eternal happiness of our Souls in that other world, Where there are pleasures for evermore? To do which, we should begin betimes; we should like wise builders lay a good Foundation, and seek the Lord while he may be found. ²We should day and night meditate ⟨p. 3⟩