The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

This was the strong water which kept the Psalmist from fainting when his flesh and heart failed him.

I begin with the first.

¹That mans flesh will fail him. Those whose spirits are noble, will find their flesh but brittle. The Psalmist was great, yet death made little, yea nothing ⟨p. 13⟩of him, like the Duke of Parma's sword, it makes no difference between great and small; this Cannon hits the great Commanders as well as the Common Soldiers; like a violent Wind it plucks up by the roots, not only low Trees, but also tall Cedars; They who lye in beds of Ivory, must lye down in beds of earth; Some Letters are set out very gaudily with large flourishes, but they are but Ink as the other; Some men have great Titles, Worshipful, Right Worshipful, Honourable, Right Honourable, but they signify no more with Death then other men, they are but moving earth, and dying dust as ordinary men are; Worship, Honour, Excellency, Highness, Majesty, must all do homage to the Sceptre of this King of Terrors. When Constantius entered in triumph unto Rome, and had along time stood admiring the Gates, Arches, Turrets, Temples, Theatres, and other magnificent Edifices of the City, at last he asked Hormisda what he thought of the place. I take no pleasure in it at all, saith Hormisda, for I see the end of this City will be the same with all her Predecessors. What he spake of places, is as true of persons, though men may admire them for a while, yet the stateliest and most curious buildings of their bodies, will fall to the ground as their Ancestors have done before them, Job. 3.15 This storm will beat on the Princes Court, as much as on the Peasants Cottage, What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah,