Heaven taken

17. There is but a short space of time ¹granted us, therefore work the harder for Heaven before it be too late, Indeed we are apt to dream of a long life, as if we were not sojourners, but natives, and were to stay here always. The blossom of childhood hopes to come to the budding of youth; and the bud of youth hopes to come to the flower of age; and the flower of age hopes to come to old age; and old age hopes to renew its strength as the Eagle^*: But if we measure life by a pair of Scripture-compasses, it is very short: it is compared to a flying shadow, Job. 8. 17. to an hand-breadth, Psal. 39. 5. as if there were but a span between the cradle and the grave,—parum abest à nihilo—. Is the time of life so short, and may be shorter than we are aware? what need is there zealously to improve it before it be slipped away? if time runs, let us so run, 1 Cor. 9. 24. He that hath a great business in hand, and the ⟨p. 157⟩time allotted for doing it is but short, had not need lose any of that time. A Traveller that hath many miles to ride, and the night ready to approach, had need spur on the harder, that the night do not overtake him: So we have a long journey, and the night of death is drawing on, how should we use spurs to ou• sluggish hearts, that we may go on more swiftly!

17. There is but a short space of time ¹granted us, therefore work the harder for Heaven before it be too late, Indeed we are apt to dream of a long life, as if we were not sojourners, but natives, and were to stay here alwaies. The blossom of childhood hopes to come to the budding of youth; and the bud of youth hopes to come to the flower of age; and the flower of age hopes to come to old age; and old age hopes to renew its strength as the Eagle