Tela praevisa. A short essay, on troubles to be looked for. A wise expectation…Tela praevisa. A short essay, on troubles to be look'd for. A wise expectation…

OUR Duty & Interest is disposed into Two Articles; ⟨p. 4⟩An Expectation of Changes, and a Preparation for Changes. But these, as our Duty & Interest themselves, are sweetly Incorporated. They are very near to each other; They always go together; They are one and the same: Tho' they may be distinctly considered.

I. WE have Reason to Live in a continual Expectation of Troublesome Changes; To Fear Changes, as things that are very likely to come upon us.

WE will Enquire; First, What Reason have we to Live Expecting of Troublesome Changes? The First Answer shall be; Where do we Live? Indeed, if we were got safe to Heaven, we were then got beyond all Troublesome Changes. Of them that are got out of this World, into a better, we read, Rev. XIV. 13. They Rest from their Labours. Even so, They Rest from then Changes. When Death, which is our great Change, has come upon a Child of God, he shall find it his Last Change; that is to say, the last that will have any Trouble in it. It is true, There is a Change to be Expected after Death; The Resurrection of the Dead, will be a wondrous & an Happy Change upon them. It is of that Change, that we read; Job 14.14. I will wait until my Change come. But the Saint shall never see any Troublesome Change after Death. In the mean time, while we Live in this World, we are in a World full of Changes. Nothing in this World is Constant, but the Inconstancy of the World. In the Natural World, there are continual Changes. We read; Psal. LXXIV. 16, 17. Day & Night, Summer & Winter. And the Political World, has as many Changes. The Vicissitudes in the World are admirable. All things are in Motion. Things cannot