Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

6 All flesh (even the strongest and most healthy flesh) is grass, and all the godliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass is flourishing in the morning; but, in the evening, being cut down by the mowers, it is withered: so man sometimes is walking up and down at ease in the morning; and in the evening, is lying a corpse, being knocked down by a sudden stroke, with one or other of death's weapons. The flower, at best, is but a weak and tender thing, of short continuance, where-ever it grows: but (observe) man is not compared to the flower of the garden; but to the flower of the field, which the foot of every beast may tread down at any time. Thus is our life liable to a thousand accidents, every day; any of which may cut us off. But though we should escape all these, yet at length this grass withereth, this flower fadeth of itself. It is carried off, "as the clouds is consumed and vanisheth away." Job vii. 9 It looks big as the morning cloud, which promiseth ⟨p. 219⟩great things, and raiseth the expectations of the husbandman; but the sun riseth, and the cloud is scattered; death comes, and man evanisheth. The Apostle James proposeth the question, What is your life? chap. iv. 14. Hear his own answer, It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. It is frail, uncertain, and lasteth not. It is smoke, which goes out of the chimney, as if it would darken the face of the heavens; but quickly is scattered, and appears no more: thus goeth man's life, and where is he? It is a wind, Job vii. 7. O remember that my life is wind· It is but a passing blast, a short puff, a wind that passeth away and cometh not again, Psal lxxviii. 39. Our breath is in our nostrils, as it were always upon the wind to depart; ever passing and repassing like a traveller; until it go away for good and all, not to return, till the heavens be no more.

6 All flesh (even the strongest and most healthy flesh) is grass, and all the godliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass is flourishing in the morning; but, in the evening, being cut down by the mowers, it is withered: so man sometimes is walking up and down at ease in the morning; and in the evening, is lying a corpse, being knocked down by a sudden stroke, with one or other of death's weapons. The flower, at best, is but a weak and tender thing, of short continuance, where-ever it growes: but (observe) man is not compared to the flower of the garden; but to the flower of the field, which the foot of every beast may tread down at any time. Thus is our life liable to a thousand accidents, every day; any of which may cut us off. But though we should escape all these, yet at length this grass withereth, this flower fadeth of itself. It is carried off, "as the clouds is consumed and vanisheth away."