The thoughts of a dying man. A faithful report of matters uttered by many,…

First, Know, That it will not, it cannot, ⟨p. 39⟩be Long, before we come unto our Last. We are not only by Scripture, but also, by Repeated and Continual Experiments, advised, as in Jam. 4.14. What is your Life? It is even a Vapour that appeareth for a Little while, and then it Vanisheth away. When there is a Little Vapour spent, even that Little Vapour, of our Animal, or our Vital Spirits, we shall then see our Last: And this Little Vapour may not be Long i• Spending. How swiftly doth our Last Hour advance upon us? Every Time the Clock Strikes, it may Strike upon our Hearts, to think, Thus I am one Hour nearer to my Last! But, O mark what I say; That Hour is probably Nearer to None than to such as Least Think of it.

First, Know, That it will not, it cannot, ⟨p. 39⟩be Long, before we come unto our Last. We are not only by Scripture, but also, by Repeated and Continual Experiments, advised, as in Jam. 4.14. What is your Life? It is even a Vapor that appeareth for a Little while, and then it Vanisheth away. When there is a Little Vapour spent, even that Little Vapour, of our Animal, or our Vital Spirits, we shall then see our Last: And this Little Vapour may not be Long i• Spending. How swiftly doth our Last Hour advance upon us? Every Time the Clock Strikes, it may Strike upon our Hearts, to think, Thus I am one Hour nearer to my Last! But, O mark what I say; That Hour is probably Nearer to None than to such as Least Think of it.

Secondly, Know, That as our Last, will come upon us very Speedily, so it may come upon us very Suddenly. What says the Preacher? in Eccl. 9.12