A44699:182
The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…
The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present mortal state by J. Howe ...
London: printed by A. Maxwell for Sa. Gellibrand, 1673
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.
This we ought to be constantly intent upon, as the business of our lives, our daily work, to get our spirits so attempered and fi• ted to Heaven, that if we be asked, What design we drive? What are we doing? We may be able to make this true answer, We are dressing our selves for Eternity: And since nothing is required hereto, that is simply impossible, nothing but what is agreeable to our natures, and would be a perfection to them; How worthy and commendable an ambition were it to be always aspiring? not to rest or take up beneath the ⟨p. 130⟩highest pitch of attainable excellency in these kinds, reckoning every degree thereof a due to our natures; and that they have not what belongs to them, while any thing of real intrinsic moral goodness is yet wanting; and not only due, but necessary, and what we shall have need of in reference to the state we are shortly to enter upon; that except such things be in us, and abound, we cannot have an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom.
This we ought to be constantly intent upon, as the business of our lives, our daily work, to get our spirits so attempered and fi• ted to Heaven, that if we be asked, What design we drive? What are we doing? We may be able to make this true answer, We are dressing our selves for Eternity: And since nothing is required hereto, that is simply impossible, nothing but what is agreeable to our natures, and would be a perfection to them; How worthy and commendable an ambition were it to be always aspiring? not to rest or take up beneath the ⟨p. 130⟩highest pitch of attainable excellency in these kinds, reckoning every degree thereof a due to our natures; and that they have not what belongs to them, while any thing of real intrinsick moral goodness is yet wanting; and not only due, but necessary, and what we shall have need of in reference to the state we are shortly to enter upon; that except such things be in us, and abound, we cannot have an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom.