A42350:67
The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…
The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at the funeral of the Right Honourable the Lady Mary Vere, relict of Sir Horace Vere, Baron of Tilbury, on the 10th of January, 1671, at Castle Heviningham in Essex by William Gurnall ...
London: printed by J.M. for Ralph Smith, 1672
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, It is a consistent and fixed state, free from all changes and vicissitudes, which in this life he is subject to: here, alas, the Christian is sometimes ⟨p. 75⟩well, and sometimes sick; now in Prosperity, then in Adversity; Rich and Poor in the same day: In momento vertitur mare & ubi luserunt navigia sorbentur. In a moment, a storm arising, where the Ship even now danced, it is wrecked. He is like one that Travels in an April day, whose Cloak is wet with the Rain, and dried again by the Sun, and then wet again: neither do these changes only befall the Saints outward state, but his inward also, both in point of Grace and Comfort. Now his Heart is up and lively in the performance of a duty; anon so dead and down, as if he were not the same man. Now the Christians Coat is on, ready to attend and follow his Master; anon it is off, and he on his bed of sloth. So in point of Comfort; one while the Spouse hath her Beloved in her arms, and is ravished with his company; another while, she is setting up her, Si quis, and enquiring if any can tell her tidings of him; hora longa, brevis mora: The Christian waits long for the Comforter, and when he ⟨p. 74⟩[…] ⟨p. 75⟩[…] ⟨p. 76⟩comes, he doth but look in, and then withdraws again: so that the joy which he hath at present, is much interrupted from the fear of losing it; for, nemo fruitur solicito bono; how much there is of fear, so little is then of enjoyment in what we have. Indeed, what ever the Saints refreshings are here, 'tis but like a Travellers entertainment in an Inn; the thoughts that he must to Horse again in the morning, doth lessen the pleasure he takes in it. But in Heaven, the journey is at an end, the Saint is at home; his labour is gone, and his rest is come; he is in a Kingdom that cannot be moved.
Fourthly, It is a consistent and fixed state, free from all changes and vicissitudes, which in this life he is subject to: here, alas, the Christian is sometimes ⟨p. 75⟩well, and sometimes sick; now in Prosperity, then in Adversity; Rich and Poor in the same day: In momento vertitur mare & ubi luserunt navigia sorbentur. In a moment, a storm arising, where the Ship even now danced, it is wrackt. He is like one that Travels in an April day, whose Cloak is wet with the Rain, and dryed again by the Sun, and then wet again: neither do these changes only befal the Saints outward state, but his inward also, both in point of Grace and Comfort. Now his Heart is up and lively in the performance of a duty; anon so dead and down, as if he were not the same man. Now the Christians Coat is on, ready to attend and follow his Master; anon it is off, and he on his bed of sloth. So in point of Comfort; one while the Spouse hath her Beloved in her arms, and is ravished with his company; another while, she is setting up her, Si quis, and enquiring if any can tell her tydings of him; hora longa, brevis mora: The Christian waits long for the Comforter, and when he