1Now then, if they who lived so long died at last, much more must we, who are dwarfs in years in comparison of them, and who are nearer death when first borne, than some of them were when an hundred years old. Let me beseech you frequently, solemnly, and seriously to consider, That though we live never so long and labour by physic, and temperate diet, and wholesome air to prolong our lives, yet we must die at last. As the King of Persia told Constantine 2the Emperor, when he had showed him all the wealth of Rome; These are indeed (saith he) wonderful things which you show me, but I plainly see, that as in Persia, so in Rome also men are subject to death. For dust we all are and to dust we must all return. We must say to corruption thou art my Father, and to the worm, thou art my Mother and my sister. We have here no abiding City. As we had a day to come into the world, so we shall have a ⟨p. 5⟩day to go out of it. The nature of man is wonderful prone to dream of an eternal abode, and of a lasting happiness here upon earth. Saint Austin tells us of certain heretics called Aeternales, because they held the world to be eternal. We have many such Eternalists, who fancy to themselves a kind of eternity here upon earth, and are ready to say with the rich fool in the Gospel, Soul 3take thy ease, eat drink and be merry, thou hast goods laid up for many years, and in the mean time forget what God said to him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? It is said of wicked men, Psalm 49. 11. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations, &c. They are ashamed to utter any such thing, but their inward thought is that they shall abide for ever. Then it followeth, ver. 13. This their way is their folly, yet their posterity approve their 4sayings. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not, &c. Though he thinks he shall abide, yet neither he, nor his heirs shall be continued, but he shall be like the beasts that perish. Therefore we had all need to pray Davids prayer, Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days 5what it is, that I may know how frail I am. There are few who know practically and applicatively how frail they are. Most men say they are mortal, magis usu quam sensu, more out of custom than feeling;
1Now then, if they who lived so long died at last, much more must we, who are dwarfes in years in comparison of them, and who are nearer death when first borne, than some of them were when an hundred years old. Let me beseech you frequently, solemnly, and seriously to consider, That though we live never so long and labour by physick, and temperate diet, and wholesome aire to prolong our lives, yet we must die at last. As the King of Persia told Constantine 2the Emperour, when he had shewed him all the wealth of Rome; These are indeed (saith he) wonderful things which you shew me, but I plainiy see, that as in Persia, so in Rome also men are subject to death. For dust we all are and to dust we must all returne. We must say to corruption thou art my Father, and to the worme, thou art my Mother and my sister. We have here no abiding City. As we had a day to come into the world, so we shall have a ⟨p. 5⟩day to go out of it. The nature of man is wonderful prone to dreame of an eternal abode, and of a lasting happiness here upon earth. Saint Austin tells us of certain hereticks called Aeternales, because they held the world to be eternal. We have many such Eternalists, who phancy to themselves a kind of eternitie here upon earth, and are ready to say with the rich foole in the Gospel, Soul 3take thy ease, eat drink and be merry, thou hast goods laid up for many years, and in the mean time forget what God said to him, Thou foole, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? It is said of wicked men, Psalm 49. 11. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations, &c. They are ashamed to utter any such thing, but their inward thought is that they shall abide for ever. Then it followeth, ver. 13. This their way is their folly, yet their posteritie approve their 4sayings. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not, &c. Though he thinks he shall abide, yet neither he, nor his heires shall be continued, but he shall be like the beasts that perish. Therefore we had all need to pray Davids prayer, Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my dayes 5what it is, that I may know how fraile I am. There are few who know practically and applicatively how fraile they are. Most men say they are mortal, magis usu quam sensu, more out of custome than feeling;
- 1Use
- 2Mira quidem haec, se• ut video sicut in Persiâ, sic Romoe home nes moriuntur. Gen. •. 19. Job 17 14. Heb. 13. 14. Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum, &c.Mira quidem haec, se• ut video sicut in Persiâ, sic Romoe hom• nes moriuntur. Gen. •. 19. Job 17 14. Heb. 13. 14. Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum, &c.
- 3Luk▪ 12 19, 20
- 4Ver. 12.
- 5Psalm. 39▪ 4.
