For ever, is some time put for an infinite time, and some time for an indefinite time, 1 Chron. 23. 25 The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever. And yet the Jews are now so far from dwelling in Jerusalem, that they have scarce rest or dwelling among any people. The like sense of for ever, read 1 Kings 2. 33. Psal. 132. 12, 14. Yet further, for ever is put for the finite time of one mans life, 1 Sam. 27. 12. He shall be my servant for ever, that is, as long as he lives. Psal. 23. 6. I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, that is, as long as I live. In the text before us, for ever, is as long as this world lasts; it notes the utmost term of time, not (which is without term) eternity. They perish for ever, that is, they shall not live in this world any more; as (Job 14. 14.) If a man dye shall he live again? As if he had said, man can dye but once; he cannot live again, that is, in this world; shall he any more return to his house, to his wife and children to his riches or honours, and, shall he here again enjoy such an estate as he had before? That (Psal. 103. 16.) explains it so, As for man his days are as grass, as a flower of the field so he flourisheth, for the wind passeth over ⟨p. 158⟩it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more, that is, he shall never return to that local place, or civill place in which he lived; he shall not return to that place of magistracy or ministry, to that place of merchandizing or trading, of husbandry or handicraft, where he conversed before. Thus his place will know him no more. Man dyes but once, and therefore when he dies, he is said to dye for ever. There is a second death, but it is only a second condition of life. Some shall so live for ever, that they shall be dying for ever. The misery of all men here, is, that they are dying while they live; the misery of the damned hereafter, will be, that they are living while they dye. We see then, that as life is a continual going out of the world, so from death there is no returning to the world, they perish for ever: when once you die, you are dead for good and all (as we say) there's an end, in respect of any work proper to this world, whether natural, civill, or spiritual. A dying man perishes for ever from eating and drinking, from any outward content or pleasure.
For ever, is some time put for an infinite time, and some time for an indefinite time, 1 Chron. 23. 25 The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever. And yet the Jewes are now so farre from dwelling in Jerusalem, that they have scarce rest or dwelling among any people. The like sense of for ever, reade 1 Kings 2. 33. Psal. 132. 12, 14. Yet further, for ever is put for the finite time of one mans life, 1 Sam. 27. 12. He shall be my servant for ever, that is, as long as he lives. Psal. 23. 6. I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, that is, as long as I live. In the text before us, for ever, is as long as this world lasts; it notes the utmost terme of time, not (which is without terme) eternity. They perish for ever, that is, they shall not live in this world any more; as (Job 14. 14.) If a man dye shall he live again? As if he had said, man can dye but once; he cannot live againe, that is, in this world; shall he any more return to his house, to his wife and children to his riches or honours, and, shall he here againe enjoy such an estate as he had before? That (Psal. 103. 16.) explains it so, As for man his days are as grass, as a flower of the field so he flourisheth, for the winde passeth over ⟨p. 158⟩it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more, that is, he shall never returne to that locall place, or civill place in which he lived; he shall not return to that place of magistracy or ministrey, to that place of merchandizing or trading, of husbandry or handicraft, where he convers'd before. Thus his place will know him no more. Man dyes but once, and therefore when he dies, he is said to dye for ever. There is a second death, but it is only a second condition of life. Some shall so live for ever, that they shall be dying for ever. The misery of all men here, is, that they are dying while they live; the misery of the damned hereafter, will be, that they are living while they dye. We see then, that as life is a continuall going out of the world, so from death there is no returning to the world, they perish for ever: when once you die, you are dead for good and all (as we say) there's an end, in respect of any work proper to this world, whether naturall, civill, or spirituall. A dying man perishes for ever from eating and drinking, from any outward content or pleasure.
