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

¹Thirdly, Dost thou not know, that whensoever Death comes, twill be too late to prepare for it? The Ship must be Rigged in the Harbour, twill be too late to do it in the main Ocean in a storm; Probably enough (though now thou canst spend thy days delightfully without Christ and grace, yet) when the Bridegroom cometh by Death, thou wilt, as the foolish Virgins, talk of getting Oil, because thy lamps will be then gone out; but alas then twill be too late, only such as are ready enter in with him. I have read of a Woman in Cambridge, who lying on her death bed, was visited by persons of Worth and Piety, and heard much Heavenly discourse from them; but they could hear nothing from her, save this, Call time again, Call time again: But time runs swiftly, and being once past is irrecoverable. Time, saith Bernard, were a good commodity in Hell, if it could be bought up at any rate. Ah when thou comest to dye, a Week, a Day, nay an Hour, would be more worth to thee then all the World. But twill be impossible to put off the Trial which Death hath with thee for thy soul till another time, till another Term. When Death calleth, at leisure, or not at leisure, ready or unready, willing or unwilling, thou shalt not deny, but must go the way whence thou shalt never return.

¹Thirdly, Dost thou not know, that whensoever Death comes, twill be too late to prepare for it? The Ship must be Rigd in the Harbour, twill be too late to do it in the main Ocean in a storm; Probably enough (though now thou canst spend thy days delightfully without Christ and grace, yet) when the Bridegroom cometh by Death, thou wilt, as the foolish Virgins, talk of getting Oyl, because thy lamps will be then gone out; but alas then twill be too late, onely such as are ready enter in with him. I have read of a Woman in Cambridge, who lying on her death bed, was visited by persons of Worth and Piety, and heard much Heavenly discourse from them; but they could hear nothing from her, save this, Call time again, Call time again: But time runs swiftly, and being once past is irrecoverable. Time, saith Bernard, were a good commodity in Hell, if it could be bought up at any rate. Ah when thou comest to dye, a Week, a Day, nay an Hour, would be more worth to thee then all the World. But twill be impossible to put off the Tryal which Death hath with thee for thy soul till another time, till another Term. When Death calleth, at leisure, or not at leisure, ready or unready, willing or unwilling, thou shalt not deny, but must go the way whence thou shalt never return.