When the time is come to cut it down, the dead tree cannot §3possibly resist the stroke of the axe, but receives the blow, and falls before it. No more can the stoutest sinner resist the fatal stroke of death, by which the Lord hews him ⟨p. 194⟩down, Eccles. 8. 8. There is no man that hath power over the Spirit, to retain the Spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death, and there is no discharge in that war. When the pale horse comes, away you must into the land of darkness; Though thou cry with Adrian, O my poor soul, whither art thou going! die thou must, thou barren Professor; though it were better for thee to do any thing else than to die. What a dreadful screech will thy conscience give, when it sees the axe at thy root! and say to thee, as it is, Ezek. 7. 6. An end is come, the end is come; it watcheth for thee, behold it is come. O, said Henry Beaufort, (that rich and wretched Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester, and Chancellor of England, when he perceived whereto he must) wherefore must I die? If the whole Realm would save my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it. Fie (quoth he) will not death be hired? will riches do nothing? No, neither riches nor policy can then avail.
When the time is come to cut it down, the dead tree cannot §3possibly resist the stroke of the ax, but receives the blow, and falls before it. No more can the stoutest sinner resist the fatal stroke of death, by which the Lord hews him ⟨p. 194⟩down, Eccles. 8. 8. There is no man that hath power over the Spirit, to retain the Spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death, and there is no discharge in that war. When the pale horse comes, away you must into the land of darkness; Though thou cry with Adrian, O my poor soul, whither art thou going! die thou must, thou barren Professor; though it were better for thee to do any thing else than to die. What a dreadful screech will thy conscience give, when it sees the ax at thy root! and say to thee, as it is, Ezek. 7. 6. An end is come, the end is come; it watcheth for thee, behold it is come. O, said Henry Beauford, (that rich and wretched Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester, and Chancellor of England, when he perceived whereto he must) wherefore must I die? If the whole Realm would save my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it. Fye (quoth he) will not death be hired? will riches do nothing? No, neither riches nor policy can then avail.
