Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences…

First; THE case of Mortality is above all to be thus considered; That Man knows not his Time, when his Mortality must have the Operation of it finished. Man lies under a Sentence of Death; and the Time for Execution is determined with GOD; Lord, The number of our Months is with thee; Thou hast appointed our Bounds, that we cannot pass. But Man must not know the Time, until the Executioner come and bring the Bow-string. There is no Day that breaks upon any Man, but for ought he knows, His Time is come, and the Day of his Death. Sudden Deaths are some of those Things, whereto all Men living are exposed. We find it supposed, Numb VI. 9. A man may die very suddenly. 'Tis what we see fulfilled on great Numbers; We need not for the proof of it quote the Book of Numbers. The commissions which our glorious GOD gives to the Angel of Death are often kept secret until the very Day, that he comes and swears unto them, No more Time shall be given them. It may be the Portion of Wicked Men to Die suddenly. The profane Men, who can say of the Thing they never once thought upon, They thought no more of it than of their Dying Day; find it according to their word; Their Dying Day comes at a Time which they thought not of. The Men of Sodom; Did they know their Time? A bright fair, Sunshiny Morning, found them wallowing in all Impurities; Before Night the Vengeance of Eternal Fire came down upon them. The Egyptians; Did they know their Time? In the Morning ⟨p. 9⟩they were full of brave Expectations to divide Spoils and Slaves among them, and to do wondrous Exploits. That Night they were Drowned, and Damned; the Sea covered them. The Philistines; Did they know their Time? In the Morning they had nothing in their Eye, but the Sports of an Holiday. Ere the Night came, they were crushed all to pieces. Ananias & Sapphira; Did they know their Time. They came out well to the Meeting, and they are carried home Dead! It may be the Portion of Godly Men also to Die suddenly. It may be a Privilege granted by GOD unto some of His most Favoured ones, to Die such a Death. Uzzah, Did he know his Time; In the Morning of the Day, when the Ark was to be carried into the City of David? or, The Prophet sent unto Jeroboam; Did he know his Time, in the Morning of the Day when the Lion fell upon him? Others less obnoxious find it so.

First; THE case of Mortality is above all to be thus considered; That Man knows not his Time, when his Mortality must have the Operation of it finished. Man lies under a Sentence of Death; and the Time for Execution is determined with GOD; Lord, The number of our Months is with thee; Thou hast appointed our Bounds, that we cannot pass. But Man must not know the Time, until the Executioner come and bring the Bow-string. There is no Day that breaks upon any Man, but for ought he knows, His Time is come, and the Day of his Death. Sudden Deaths are some of those Things, whereto all Men living are exposed. We find it supposed, Numb VI. 9. A man may die very suddenly. 'Tis what we see fulfill'd on great Numbers; We need not for the proof of it quote the Book of Numbers. The commissions which our glotious GOD gives to the Angel of Death are often kept secret until the very Day, that he comes and swears unto them, No more Time shall be given them. It may be the Portion of Wicked Men to Dy suddenly. The profane Men, who can say of the Thing they never once thought upon, They thought no more of it than of their Dying Day; find it according to their word; Their Dying Day comes at a Time which they thought not of. The Men of Sodom; Did they know their Time? A bright fair, Sunshiny Morning, found them wallowing in all Impurities; Before Night the Vengeance of Eternal Fire came down upon them. The Egyptians; Did they know their Time? In the Morning