The vanity of the worldThe vanity of the vvorld

Thirdly, If the World be thus vain, what extreme and prodigious folly is it, to take as much pains to secure the poor and perishing concernments of it, as would suffice to secure Heaven and eternal glory, were they laid out that ⟨p. 111⟩way! We labour for the Bread that perisheth, and we perish with it in our very mouths. About this are our hearts, our hands, our strength, our time employed: whereas the great things of Eternity, are so utterly neglected by us, as if they were none of our concernments to look after. Were we but as laborious in our Christian calling, as we commonly are in our Worldly callings, salvation would not lie upon our hands unwrought, God and Christ, and all Heaven were ours. Who would doubt, when they see men so busy about impertinences, and the trivial affairs of this World, but that they were much more anxious about their ⟨p. 112⟩souls? Who would not conclude, that certainly their great work is already done, that shall see them so earnest and solicitous about petty matters? But alas! It may astonish Men and Angels, that rational Creatures, who have immortal souls, Souls whose endless duration, must abide either in inconceivable misery or bliss, should trifle away that time and strength, which might secure their everlasting happiness, about those vain nothings, that have neither happiness in them, nor continuance. Certainly, the service of God is not more painful, than the drudgery of the World: and sure I am, it is far more cleanly. Thou shalt not in his service set ⟨p. 113⟩thine hand to any foul Office: whereas the world employs thee basely to rake together thick clay, and load thy self with it; and the Devil yet worse, to rake in the mire and filth of all manner of defilements, which now pollute the soul, and will hereafter damn it. Both these are most grievous task-masters. Some draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin, as it were with a cart-rope. Isa. 5.18. They are so enslaved to the work of the Devil, that he puts them into his Team, makes them draw and strain for their iniquities, and doth them a courtesy when their sins come easily. He makes them toil and sweat in carrying Fagots to their own Fire, ⟨p. 114⟩