An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

It is so still, we make a stop at one that lies gasping and groaning, at one that lies bleeding and dying, but let a cloth be thrown over him and he draw aside, put into the grave, and covered with earth, then we go to our business, to trading and dealing, yea to coveting and sinning, as if the last man (that ever should be) were buried. Thus, men perish for ever, without any regarding. If this kind of perishing were more regarded, or regarded by more, fewer would perish. Thoughts of death spiritualized have life in them: thoughts of death laid to the heart, are a good medicine for an evil heart. It follows,

It is so still, we make a stop at one that lyes gasping and groaning, at one that lyes bleeding and dying, but let a cloth be throwne over him and he draw aside, put into the grave, and covered with earth, then we goe to our businesse, to trading and dealing, yea to coveting and sinning, as if the last man (that ever should be) were buried. Thus, men perish for ever, without any regarding. If this kinde of perishing were more regarded, or regarded by more, fewer would perish. Thoughts of death spiritualliz'd have life in them: thoughts of death laid to the heart, are a good medicine for an evil heart. It followes,

Verse 21. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they dye, even without wisdom.

Verse 21. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they dye, even without wisdome.

This Verse (as I noted in the beginning) prevents an objection which might be made, as if man had wrong done him: and that it were too great a diminution to his honour, whom God made the chief creature in the inferior world, and but little inferior to Angels themselves, that he should be looked upon only as a heap of dust, or a lump of clay, as a mortal, momentany perishing creature; therefore he grants that man hath an excellency; but all the excellency that he hath, whether natural or artificial, bred in him, or acquired by him, as a man, when he goes, goes too, Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? or journeyeth not their excellency with them? as Mr. Broughton translates, alluding to our passing out of the world, as in a journey; when a man dies he takes a journey out of the world, he goes out for ever; and (saith he) doth not his excellency journey along with him? yes, the question affirms it, when man goes, his excellency goes too. The word (Jether) which we translate excellency, signifies primarily, a residue or a remain, and that two ways. First, a residue of persons,