The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

Let me demand of thee; dost thou this regret the thoughts of death, as being unwilling to dye at all, or as being unwilling to dye as yet? is it the thing it self, or only the circumstance of time, that thou exceptest against? 'Tis likely thou wilt say that which will seem more plausible, and so fix only on the latter; and that thou wilt not profess to desire an eternity on earth, but only more time. Well, let that for present be supposed as it is a more modest, so to be a true account of thy desires; Yet ⟨p. 402⟩what is the reason of this moderation with thee herein? and that thou so limitest thy self? Is it that thou believest the blessedness of the other state will prove better then any thing thou canst enjoy here? and that thou art not willing eternally to be deprived of? but dost thou not think it is now better also? And what canst thou pretend, why, what is now the best, and most desirable good, should not be now chosen, and desired out of hand? or is it that thou thinkest it unbecomes thee to cross the Supreme will of him that made thee, who hath determined, that all men once shall die? And then, how knowest thou but he hath also determined concerning thee, that thou shalt die the next day or hour? and 'tis only a present willingness to die in subordination to the Divine Will, or upon supposition of it, thou art persuaded to. Why art thou not afraid, lest thy present unwillingness, should cross his present will? Dost thou not think that Sovereign power is as sufficient to determine of the circumstance, as the thing it self? And art thou not ashamed to pretend an agreement with God about the thing it self, and yet d•ffer with him about a circumstance? shall that be a ground of quarrel between him and thee?

Let me demand of thee; dost thou this regret the thoughts of death, as being unwilling to dye at all, or as being unwilling to dye as yet? is it the thing it self, or only the circumstance of time, that thou exceptest against? 'Tis likely thou wilt say that which will seem more plausible, and so fix only on the latter; and that thou wilt not profess to desire an eternity on earth, but only more time. Well, let that for present be supposed as it is a more modest, so to be a true account of thy desires; Yet ⟨p. 402⟩what is the reason of this moderation with thee herein? and that thou so limitest thy self? Is it that thou believest the blessedness of the other state will prove better then any thing thou canst enjoy here? and that thou art not willing eternally to be deprived of? but dost thou not think it is now better also? And what canst thou pretend, why, what is now the best, and most desirable good, should not be now chosen, and desired out of hand? or is it that thou thinkest it unbecomes thee to cross the Supreme will of him that made thee, who hath determined, that all men once shall die? And then, how knowest thou but he hath also determined concerning thee, that thou shalt die the next day or hour? and 'tis only a present willingness to die in subordination to the Divine Will, or upon supposition of it, thou art perswaded to. Why art thou not affraid, lest thy present unwillingness, should cross his present will? Dost thou not think that Soveraign power is as sufficient to determine of the circumstance, as the thing it self? And art thou not ashamed to pretend an agreement with God about the thing it self, and yet dffer with him about a circumstance? shall that be a ground of quarrel between him and thee?