And meditate also how frail thy Life is, how thin and slight a Screen of Flesh there is betwixt all this Wrath and thy bare Soul; which if worn, or any way sliced through, the Soul runs out. Nay, that venomous Spider, thy Soul, dwells but in a Cobweb, which if broken, or any violence be done it, it instantly flies away into the other World.—Job, in several places, delights to compare our Lives and Condition in this World unto a Candle or Lamp: Now let the Candle be let alone to burn it self out fairly to its full length, yet some last but a very little while, and those of the greatest size cannot long. Oh, but how many intervening Casualties are there, that afore do put it out? The Candle of the Wicked shall be put out, and Destruction cometh upon them, Job 21. 17. that is, ab extrinseco, from without. How many Thieves in the Candle, or fatal Accidents do Men meet with, that unawares consume it? Immoderate Sorrows and Cares swale it; Intemperance, ⟨p. 237⟩like too much Oil poured thereon to feed it, choketh and extinguisheth it; Too much Intention of Mind turns the Flame downwards upon it self, and so it evaporates. Often another Mans Breath in seasons of Malignity (which fall out more or less every year) blows and puffs it out. A Friends Breath comes in with an infectious Vapour, and throws his Soul out who visits him: Yea, an unskilful or else a mistaking hand of a Physician, who undertakes to snuff and brighten it; unwarily clean snuffs the Candle out.—Yea, Men strong and vigorous go to the Grave in a moment, as in the same 21. chapter of Job, ver. 13. Yea, as Psal. 55. 15. they go quick to Hell: it is an allusion to Corah, Dathan, &c. Numb. 16. 30, 33. of whom 'tis said twice, They went alive to Hell. Many die so suddenly, that they are in Hell in a trice, and as it were ere quite dead. And truly the most of Men live in this World like silly Sheep in a Pasture, as David's Similitude is Psal. 4. 9. 14. They are 1put into Hell like Sheep, (so some:) It notes out their Security in respect of that slaughter which comes upon them. This Man dies, then that, then another, and they regard it not; even as the Sheep do not, when the Butcher (as his Pleasure is) ⟨p. 238⟩takes out first one, then another, and carries them to the Shambles, whilst the rest feed on; and know not that themselves are a fating to the day of Slaughter also.
And meditate also how frail thy Life is, how thin and slight a Skreen of Flesh there is betwixt all this Wrath and thy bare Soul; which if worn, or any way sliced through, the Soul runs out. Nay, that venemous Spider, thy Soul, dwells but in a Cobweb, which if broken, or any violence be done it, it instantly flies away into the other World.—Job, in several places, delights to compare our Lives and Condition in this World unto a Candle or Lamp: Now let the Candle be let alone to burn it self out fairly to its full length, yet some last but a very little while, and those of the greatest size cannot long. Oh, but how many intervening Casualties are there, that afore do put it out? The Candle of the Wicked shall be put out, and Destruction cometh upon them, Job 21. 17. that is, ab extrinseco, from without. How many Thieves in the Candle, or fatal Accidents do Men meet with, that unawares consume it? Immoderate Sorrows and Cares swale it; Intemperance, ⟨p. 237⟩like too much Oyl poured thereon to feed it, choaketh and extinguisheth it; Too much Intention of Mind turns the Flame downwards upon it self, and so it evaporates. Often another Mans Breath in seasons of Malignity (which fall out more or less every year) blows and puffs it out. A Friends Breath comes in with an infectious Vapour, and throws his Soul out who visits him: Yea, an unskilful or else a mistaking hand of a Physician, who undertakes to snuff and brighten it; unwarily clean snuffs the Candle out.—Yea, Men strong and vigorous go to the Grave in a moment, as in the same 21. chapter of Job, ver. 13. Yea, as Psal. 55. 15. they go quick to Hell: it is an allusion to Corah, Dathan, &c. Numb. 16. 30, 33. of whom 'tis said twice, They went alive to Hell. Many die so suddenly, that they are in Hell in a trice, and as it were ere quite dead. And truly the most of Men live in this World like silly Sheep in a Pasture, as David's Similitude is Psal. 4. 9. 14. They are 1put into Hell like Sheep, (so some:) It notes out their Security in respect of that slaughter which comes upon them. This Man dies, then that, then another, and they regard it not; even as the Sheep do not, when the Butcher (as his Pleasure is) ⟨p. 238⟩takes out first one, then another, and carries them to the Shambles, whilst the rest feed on; and know not that themselves are a fatting to the day of Slaughter also.
- 1See Ainsw.
