A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

2. The Uncertainty of Life. We know not when Death will surprise us, it is ill to be taken unprovided; when Death comes, to say, Hast thou found me, O my Enemy? Every day we have cause to look to it; more are mistaken in reckoning upon Life than upon Death. Thou art asleep in the Wolf's Mouth; there is no Remedy but imploring the Shepherd's Help. A Carnal Man that goeth on in Sin, provoketh God to his Face, and trieth whether he will cut him off yea or no. We are sure to live to enjoy what we provide for Heaven, but we are not sure to live to enjoy what we provide for the World. A Man may not roast what he took in hunting; but when he cometh to enjoy his Estate, God cutteth him off: Luke 12.20. Thou Fool, this night thy Soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? And shall my Master come and find me idle?

2. The Uncertainty of Life. We know not when Death will surprize us, it is ill to be taken unprovided; when Death comes, to say, Hast thou found me, O my Enemy? Every day we have cause to look to it; more are mistaken in reckoning upon Life than upon Death. Thou art asleep in the Wolf's Mouth; there is no Remedy but imploring the Shepherd's Help. A Carnal Man that goeth on in Sin, provoketh God to his Face, and trieth whether he will cut him off yea or no. We are sure to live to enjoy what we provide for Heaven, but we are not sure to live to enjoy what we provide for the World. A Man may not rost what he took in hunting; but when he cometh to enjoy his Estate, God cutteth him off: Luke 12.20. Thou Fool, this night thy Soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? And shall my Master come and find me idle?

3. After Death followeth Eternity, the great Amazement of the Soul. Now if Death find you at Peace with God, Eternity will be comfortable, and Death sweet; Body and Soul part, but God and the Soul meet. When we can see Angels ready to do their Office, and Conscience becometh our Compurgator, I bear you witness you have spent your time in this World in obeying and serving God; and then Body and Soul take leave of one another, it is a blessed parting. But now when you have not regarded your Work, you are then delivered up to Satan by such an Excommunication as shall never be reversed, Accursed till the Lord come; and then Body and Soul meet to be tormented for ever. It is a sad parting, when Conscience falls a raving, and we curse our selves, and the day of our Birth; O that ever such a Creature were born! O that I had been stifled in the Womb, and never seen the Light!