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

Such truly is thy case, thou lookest on thy right and left hand, on thy Father or Mother, or Husband, or House or Land, and dost as it were call for help, but alas they cannot give thee any comfort in this groaning Hour, in this thy dreadful conflict; they may be about thy body, as Ravens about a carcass, to devour it, to get something from thee, but they cannot defend it.

Such truely is thy case, thou lookest on thy right and left hand, on thy Father or Mother, or Husband, or House or Land, and dost as it were call for help, but alass they cannot give thee any comfort in this groaning Hour, in this thy dreadful conflict; they may be about thy body, as Ravens about a carkass, to devour it, to get something from thee, but they cannot defend it.

Well now the Screech-owl of Death, which all this while clawed about thy Windows, is entered thy Chamber, flieth towards thy bed side, the Messenger by this time is come to thee, and showeth thee the Warrant for thy speedy and immediate execution. Now, Now is the beginning of thy sorrows. Live thou canst not, and dye thou darest not; fain wouldst thou be rid of thy pain, but fearful least ⟨p. 53⟩thou shouldst go to a worse place; Thou dislikest thy dirty nasty dungeon, but dost not like to exchange it for a Gibbet. Thou choosest to stay, but Death will not be denied, thou must go. Thou sayest, thou art not at leisure, thou hast such worldly affairs of concernment to finish, thou art not prepared, thou hast the business of thy soul, a work of infinite weight to begin, as they for their farms, so thou, I pray thee have me excused; thou begest on Week, one Day, nay one Hour, Death will not wait one moment; Death pulls thee (as Benaiah did Job) towards the place of thy eternal punishment; thy soul clings about thy body (as he about the Altar) and still sings loath to depart; Death (like Solomons Officer) renteth thee in pieces by force, and slayeth thee there. Now thy soul standst quivering upon thy pale lips, ready to take its flight to its everlasting home, thou seest Devils looking and longing, like so many ravening and roaring Lyons for thee their prey, thy past sins trouble thee, O how thou cursest thy pastimes and pleasures, thy Companions and possessions which stole away thy time and affections, and hindered thy preparation for such a dreadful hour, thy future sufferings terrify thee! and Ah thinkest thou, Whither am I going? Where must my soul lodge this Night? In what place, with what persons must I dwell for ever? Oh that I had provided for this before hand, how many a time did God wish me, Ministers persuade me, Christ beseech me, and Conscience warn me? but fool that I was, I rejected the entreaties of Christ, stifled the convictions of conscience, scorned the counsels of men, set at