Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate…

Probably you can hear of death by the reports of others, and be little troubled;¹ ye can stand it out stiffly against such false fire, with We must all die, and Nothing so sure; God knoweth who shall go next, and the like: all this while, the heart not with seriousness considering of it, so as to be preparing for it: The soul as much neglected, God as little regarded, and the affections as much enslaved to fleshly lusts as before. But when Death ^*climbs up to your own windows, and entereth into your Chamber and comely with its pale save to your bed side, and boldly arresteth you with a warrant from Heaven, assuring you by its symptoms on your body, that you must in good earnest into the other world, and there have all your walkings and workings interpreted and examined by the infinitely pure and righteous God, and your souls (according to your deeds) sentenced impartially, and sent immediately to Heaven or Hell, then surely your apprehensions of a new Nature, and strict Conversation, will change, and you will wish with all your souls for a little of others oil; for your Lamps will go out. The stoutest unregenerate heart alive will droop at last, when God cometh to take away his soul; then his crest falls, and his plumes flag.

Probably you can hear of death by the reports of others, and be little troubled;¹ ye can stand it out stiffly against such false fire, with We must all die, and Nothing so sure; God knoweth who shall go next, and the like: all this while, the heart not with seriousness considering of it, so as to be preparing for it: The soul as much neglected, God as little regarded, and the affections as much inslaved to fleshly lusts as before. But when Death ^*climbs up to your own windows, and entereth into your Chamber and comely with its pale save to your bed side, and boldly arresteth you with a warrant from Heaven, assuring you by its symptoms on your body, that you must in good earnest into the other world, and there have all your walkings and workings interpreted and examined by the infinitely pure and righteous God, and your souls (according to your deeds) sentenced impartially, and sent immediately to Heaven or Hell, then surely your apprehensions of a new Nature, and strict Conversation, will change, and you will wish with all your souls for a little of others oyl; for your Lamps will go out. The stoutest unregenerate heart alive will droop at last, when God cometh to take away his soul; then his crest falls, and his plumes flag.