The truth is, this is a duty incumbent upon all. Hence that saying, Deut. 32. 29. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end. A Deaths-head is no unfit furniture, for a young persons closetk. The serious apprehensions of the exceeding great change, which Death will make, would give a check to that wantonness, worldliness and vain-glory, which cleaves to us all by nature. For Death observes not our humane order, it▪ is anomalous, we are not called according to our Age; it proceeds not according to our Registersl. Your considering of Death will not make you Older but Better. But principally it concerns ⟨p. 310⟩the Aged, who live in the confines of the grave. You should be acquainted with it, for you are neighbour's to it. It is one of the Spanish Proverbs, That the Old mans Staff is the Rapper at Deaths-door. When Cato would awaken the Roman Senate to level Carthage, he brought in some green figs thence among them, thereby to show unto them, how soon those their inveterate Enemies, their distance being so small, might be with a Fleet among them; alas! how small is the distance between an Old man and his grave! Is it not reasonable therefore, is it not necessary, that we should be provided for this enemy? and since we cannot escape it, ought we not to be reconciled to it, to be better acquainted with it, yea and learn some way to overcome it. And certainly the more we rightly think of it, the less we shall fear it or be hurt by itm. We must drink this Cup, and therefore it is all the reason in the world, that we should take some foretasts of it, especially considering the sequel of it: that it sets us on an everlasting shore. It's time for Old people to bethink them well, sith a Crown or Flames are just before them: When you sit trimming the fire ponder ⟨p. 311⟩this, whether you can endure the fire that is unquenchable; when you lift up those dazzled eyes towards Heaven, consider what title you have to the blessed Mansions there. What have you to do below? your traffic now should be in Invisibles; you have studied long enough how to live, at length you should study how to die.
The truth is, this is a duty incumbent upon all. Hence that saying, Deut. 32. 29. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end. A Deaths-head is no unfit furniture, for a young persons closetk. The serious apprehensions of the exceeding great change, which Death will make, would give a check to that wantonness, worldliness and vain-glory, which cleaves to us all by nature. For Death observes not our humane order, it▪ is anomalous, we are not called according to our Age; it proceeds not according to our Registersl. Your considering of Death will not make you Older but Better. But principally it concerns ⟨p. 310⟩the Aged, who live in the confines of the grave. You should be acquainted with it, for you are neighbour's to it. It is one of the Spanish Proverbs, That the Old mans Staff is the Rapper at Deaths-door. When Cato would awaken the Roman Senate to level Carthage, he brought in some green figs thence among them, thereby to shew unto them, how soon those their inveterate Enemies, their distance being so small, might be with a Fleet among them; alas! how small is the distance between an Old man and his grave! Is it not reasonable therefore, is it not necessary, that we should be provided for this enemy? and since we cannot escape it, ought we not to be reconciled to it, to be better acquainted with it, yea and learn some way to overcome it. And certainly the more we rightly think of it, the less we shall fear it or be hurt by itm. We must drink this Cup, and therefore it is all the reason in the world, that we should take some foretasts of it, especially considering the sequele of it: that it sets us on an everlasting shore. It's time for Old people to bethink them well, sith a Crown or Flames are just before them: When you sit trimming the fire ponder ⟨p. 311⟩this, whether you can indure the fire that is unquenchable; when you lift up those dazled eyes towards Heaven, consider what title you have to the blessed Mansions there. What have you to do below? your traffick now should be in Invisibles; you have studied long enough how to live, at length you should study how to dy.
- kVivere totâ vitâ discendum est, & quod magis fortasse miraberis totâ vitâ discendum est mori. Sen. de br. vit. c. 7.
- lNon citamur ex censu. Sen. •p. 12.
- mNon mortem timem•s sed cogitationem mortis.—T• tamen ut nunquam timeas, semper cogita. Sen. ep. 30.
