The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

And if the propension of a man's soul be towards God under the latter notion also, in order to a satisfaction that shall thence accrue to himself (which design, ⟨p. 43⟩both in the pursuit and execution of it, is so conjunct with the former, that it cannot be severed) It cannot but be an unspeakable diminution and check to the highest delights in this kind, to think how soon they shall have an end. That the darkness and dust of the grave shall shortly obscure and extinguish the glory of this lightsome scene.

And if the propension of a man's soul be towards God under the latter notion also, in order to a satisfaction that shall thence accrew to himself (which design, ⟨p. 43⟩both in the pursuit and execution of it, is so conjunct with the former, that it cannot be sever'd) It cannot but be an unspeakable diminution and check to the highest delights in this kind, to think how soon they shall have an end. That the darkness and dust of the grave shall shortly obscure and extinguish the glory of this lightsome scene.

To think every time one enters that blessed Presence, for ought I know, I shall approach it no more! This is possibly my last sight of that pleasant Face! my last taste of those enravishing pleasures! What bitterness must this infuse into the most delicious sweetness our state could then admit! And by how much more free and large Grace should be in its present communications; and by how much any soul should be more experienced in the life of God, and inured to divine delights, so much the more grievous and afflictive resentments it could not but have of the approaching ⟨p. 44⟩end of all; And be the more powerfully tempted to say, Lord, why was I made in vain? How faint and languid would endeavours be after the knowledge of that God, whom I may but only know, and dye? How impotent and ineffectual would the attractions of this end be to man in his terrene state, to raise him above the world, and rescue him from the power of sensible things, to engage him in the pursuit of that sanctity and purity which alone can qualify him for converse with God, to bear him out in a conflict against the (more natural) inclinations of sense; When if with much labour and painful striving, much self-denial, ad severity to the flesh, any disposition should be attained to relish divine pleasures; it be considered all the while, that the end of all may be as soon lost as it is gained. And that possibly there may be no more than a moments pleasure to recompense the pains and conflicts of many years; although, in this case, the continual