Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

5. Consider also, how many have been taken away under shorter measures of patience. Some have been struck into a Hell of misery, while thou remainest upon an Earth of forbearance. In a Plague, the destroying Angel hath hewed down others, and past by us; The Arrows have flew about our heads, past over us, and stuck in the heart of a neighbour. How many Rich men? How many of our Friends and Familiars have been seized by death, since the beginning of the year, when they least thought of it, and imagined it far from them? Have you not known some of your acquaintance snatched away in the height of a crime? Was not the same wrath due to you as well as to them? And had it not been as dreadful for you to be so surprised by him, as it was for them? Why should he take a less sturdy sinner out of thy company, and let thee remain still upon the Earth? If God had dealt so with you, how had you been cut off, not only from the enjoyment of this Life, but the hopes of a better? And if God hath made such a Providence beneficial for reclaiming you, how much reason have you to acknowledge him? He that hath had least patience, hath cause to admire, but those that have more, ought to exceed others in blessing him for it. If God had put an end to your natural Life, before you had made provision for Eternal, how deplorable would your condition have been?

5. Consider also, how many have been taken away under shorter measures of patience. Some have been struck into a Hell of misery, while thou remainest upon an Earth of forbearance. In a Plague, the destroying Angel hath hew'd down others, and past by us; The Arrows have flew about our heads, past over us, and stuck in the heart of a neighbour. How many Rich men? How many of our Friends and Familiars have been seiz'd by death, since the beginning of the year, when they least thought of it, and imagin'd it far from them? Have you not known some of your acquaintance snatcht away in the height of a crime? Was not the same wrath due to you as well as to them? And had it not been as dreadful for you to be so surprized by him, as it was for them? Why should he take a less sturdy sinner out of thy company, and let thee remain still upon the Earth? If God had dealt so with you, how had you been cut off, not only from the enjoyment of this Life, but the hopes of a better? And if God hath made such a Providence beneficial for reclaiming you, how much reason have you to acknowledge him? He that hath had least patience, hath cause to admire, but those that have more, ought to exceed others in blessing him for it. If God had put an end to your natural Life, before you had made provision for Eternal, how deplorable would your condition have been?