The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Secondly, Consider the brevity of thy life. He who hath but a little time, and a great task, must work hard, or his work will not be done. The Birds know their time, and improve it; in some Countries, the shorter the days are, the faster they fly. Heathen have been sensible of this. Theophrastus cried out on his dying bed, Ars longa, vita brevis, Time was short, and not sufficient for humane arts and sciences. Seneca saith of himself, Nullus mihi per otium exiit dies, partem noctis studiis devovi; I lose no day through idleness, but even devote part of the night to my studies. The very Devils follow their cursed trade with the greater diligence, knowing that their time is short, Rev. 12. 12.

Secondly, Consider the brevity of thy life. He who hath but a little time, and a great task, must work hard, or his work will not be done. The Birds know their time, and improve it; in some Countries, the shorter the days are, the faster they flye. Heathen have been sensible of this. Theophrastus cryed out on his dying bed, Ars longa, vita brevis, Time was short, and not sufficient for humane arts and sciences. Seneca saith of himself, Nullus mihi per otium exiit dies, partem noctis studiis devovi; I lose no day through idleness, but even devote part of the night to my studies. The very Devils follow their cursed trade with the greater diligence, knowing that their time is short, Rev. 12. 12.

Now Reader, Consider how few thy days are; What is your life! even a vapour, a coming, and a going, a flood and an ebb, and then thou art in the Ocean of eternity. I have read of one, that being asked, What life was; was answered answerless; for the party of whom the question was demanded, only turned his back and went away. We come into the world and take a turn or two about in it, and God saith, Return ye Children of men; A little child may number the days of the oldest man; We project high things, and lay foundations for an earthly eternity; but the longest life is less then a drop to that Ocean. Yet alas, the most are blown off in the spring, and few continue to fall off in Autumn. Plutarch compareth Galba,