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

¹The body is our house of clay, in which we are Tenants at another's will, we may be turned out of its Doors without so much as an hours warning; the soul is our own everlasting possession, yet generally the immortal spirit is slighted, no time taken for a serious view of its ⟨p. 24⟩wants, no cost laid out for its supply, as if it were an indifferent thing, whither it swim or sink for ever; when men are always plotting and studying to gratify and please their fading flesh. O this is one of the dolefullest sights which eyes can behold, the servant to ride on horse-back, and the Prince to go on foot; the sensitive appetite to be the grave of Religion, and the Dungeon of Reason.² It is reported of a certain Philosopher, that dying he bequeathed a great sum of money to him that should be found most foolish: His Executor in pursuance of his will, travelled up and down, to find out one that excelled others in folly, and so might challenge the legacy; at last he came to Rome, where a Consul abusing his office was adjudged to death, and another (suing for the place) chosen, who cheerfully took it upon him, to this man he delivered the money, telling him; That he was the most foolish man in the World, who seeing the miserable end of his Predecessor, was nothing therewith discouraged, but joyfully succeeded him in his Office. How much do most titular Christians resemble this foolish Consul, they see in the World their sensual Companions, like sheep as they are feeding in their fleshly pastures, culled out by death, and called away from them; nay, they may see in the Word (if they will believe God himself) the block on which they are laid by that bloody Butcher Satan, the Knife with which they are stuck, and which he runs up to the very Haft in the throat of their precious souls; the heavy curse of the law, and the infinite wrath of the Lord, which they must undergo for ever, and yet they are therewith not the least ⟨p. 25⟩affrighted, but merrily follow them to the place of endless mourning.

¹The body is our house of clay, in which we are Tenants at anothers will, we may be turned out of its Doors without so much as an hours warning; the soul is our own everlasting possession, yet generally the immortal spirit is slighted, no time taken for a serious view of its