Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. What being we have, had a beginning. After an unaccountable Eternity was run out, in the very dregs of time, a few years ago we were created, and made of the basest and vilest dross of the world, the slime and dust of the Earth; made of that, wherewith Birds build their nests; made of that, which Creeping things make their habitation, and beasts trample upon; How monstrous is pride in such a Creature, to aspire, as if he were the Father of Eternity, and as Eternal as God, and so his own Eternity?

3. What being we have, is but of a short duration in regard of our life in this World. Our life is in a constant change, and flux, we remain not the same an entire day; youth quickly succeeds Child-hood, and age as speedily treads upon the heels of youth; there is a continual defluxion of minutes, as there is of sands in a glass. He is as a Watch wound up at the beginning of his life, and from that time is running down, till he comes to the bottom; some part of our lives is cut off every day, every minute. Life is but a moment, what is past cannot be recalled; what is future cannot be ensured: If we enjoy this moment, we have lost that which is past, and shall presently lose this by the next that is to come.

3. What being we have, is but of a short duration in regard of our life in this World. Our life is in a constant change, and flux, we remain not the same an intire day; youth quickly succeeds Child-hood, and age as speedily treads upon the heels of youth; there is a continual defluxion of minutes, as there is of sands in a glass. He is as a Watch wound up at the beginning of his life, and from that time is running down, till he comes to the bottom; some part of our lives is cut off every day, every minute. Life is but a moment, what is past cannot be recalled; what is future cannot be ensured: If we enjoy this moment, we have lost that which is past, and shall presently lose this by the next that is to come.