O Friend, what are all the portions in the world (which, as a candle, consume in the use, and then go out in a stink) to this eternal portion! It is reported of one Theodorus, that when there was music and feasting in his Fathers house, withdrew himself from all the company, and thus thought with himself, Here is content enough for the flesh; but how long will this last? this will not hold out long: then falling on his knees, O Lord, my heart is open unto thee. I indeed know not what to ask but only this, Lord, let me not die eternally: O Lord, thou knowest I love thee, O let me live eternally to praise thee. I must tell thee, Reader, to be eternally happy, or eternally miserable; to live eternally, or to die eternally, are of greater weight then thou art aware of; yea of far more concernment then thou canst conceive: Ponder this motive therefore throughly. God is not only a satisfying portion, filling every crevice of thy soul with the light ⟨p. 175⟩of joy and comfort, and a sanctifying portion elevating thy soul to its primitive and original perfection, and an universal portion; not health, or wealth, or friends, or honours, or liberty, or life, or house, or wife, or child, or pardon, or peace, or grace, or glory, or earth, or heaven, but all these and infinitely more; but also he is an eternal portion. This God would be thy God for ever and ever, Psal. 48.11. O sweet word Ever! thou art the crown of the Saints crown, and the glory of their glory; their portion is so full, that they desire no more; they enjoy variety and plenty of delights above what they are able to ask or think, and want nothing, but to have it sixth; may they but possess it in peace without interruption or cessation, they will trample all the Kingdoms of the earth as dirt under their feet; and lo thou art the welcome Dove to bring this olive branch in thy mouth, This God is our God for ever and ever. All the Arithmetical figures of days, and months, and years, and ages, are nothing to this infinite Cypher, ever, which though it stand for nothing in the vulgar account, yet contains all our millions; yea our millions and millions of millions are less then drops to this Ocean Ever.
O Friend, what are all the portions in the world (which, as a candle, consume in the use, and then go out in a stink) to this eternal portion! It is reported of one Theodorus, that when there was musick and feasting in his Fathers house, withdrew himself from all the company, and thus thought with himself, Here is content enough for the flesh; but how long will this last? this will not hold out long: then falling on his knees, O Lord, my heart is open unto thee. I indeed know not what to ask but only this, Lord, let me not die eternally: O Lord, thou knowest I love thee, O let me live eternally to praise thee. I must tell thee, Reader, to be eternally happy, or eternally miserable; to live eternally, or to die eternally, are of greater weight then thou art aware of; yea of far more concernment then thou canst conceive: Ponder this motive therefore throughly. God is not only a satisfying portion, filling every crevis of thy soul with the light ⟨p. 175⟩of joy and comfort, and a sanctifying portion elevating thy soul to its primitive and original perfection, and an universal portion; not health, or wealth, or friends, or honours, or liberty, or life, or house, or wife, or childe, or pardon, or peace, or grace, or glory, or earth, or heaven, but all these and infin•tely more; but also he is an eternal portion. This God would be thy God for ever and ever, Psal. 48.11. O sweet word Ever! thou art the crown of the Saints crown, and the glory of their glory; their portion is so full, that they desire no more; they enjoy variety and plenty of delights above what they are able to ask or think, and want nothing, but to have it fixt; may they but possess it in peace without interruption or cessation, they will trample all the Kingdomes of the earth as dirt under their feet; and loe thou art the welcome Dove to bring this olive branch in thy mouth, This God is our God for ever and ever. All the Arithmetical figures of dayes, and months, and years, and ages, are nothing to this infinite Cypher, ever, which though it stand for nothing in the vulgar account, yet contains all our millions; yea our millions and millions of millions are lesse then drops to this Ocean Ever.
