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

And first, Let us hence as in a looking-glass, behold the vanity of the world; and of all these thing in it, […] men so much value and esteem and therefore set their hearts upon. The rich and the poor are equally intent upon this world; they bow the knee to it; yet it is but a clay god: they court the bulky vanity, and run keenly to catch the shadow; the rich man is hugged to death in its embraces; and the poor man wearies himself in the fruitless pursuit. (What wonder if the world's smiles overcome us; when we pursue it so eagerly, even while it frowns upon it?) But look into the grave. O man, consider and be wise; listen to the doctrine of death; and learn, (1.) That hold as fast as thou canst, thou shalt be forced to let go thy hold of the world at length Though thou load thyself with the fruits of this earth; yet all shall fail off when thou comest to creep into thy hole, the house, under ground, appointed for all living. When death comes, thou must bid an eternal farewell to thy enjoyments in this world: thou must leave thy goods to another: and whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke xii 20.— (2.) "Thy portion of these things shall be very little ere long" If thou lie down on the grass, and stretch thyself at full length, and observe the print of thy body when thou risest, thou mayst see how much of this earth will fall to thy sh•re at last. It may be thou shalt get a coffin, and a winding-sheet: but thou art not sure of that: Many who have had abundance of wealth, yet have not had so much when they took up their new house in the land of silence. But however that be more ye cannot expect. It was a mortifying lesson, Saladin, when dying, give to his soldiers: He called for his standard-bearer, and ordered him to take his winding sheet upon his pike; and go out to the camp with it, and tell them, That of all his conquests, victories and triumphs, he had nothing now left him. but that piece of linen to wrap his body in the burial Lastly, "This world is a false friend," who leaves a man in time of greatest need; and flees from him when he but most ado. When thou art lying on a death bed, all thy friends and relations cannot rescue thee; all thy substance cannot ransom thee; nor procure thee a reprieve for one day; nay, not for one hour. Yea, the more than possessest of this word's goods, thy sorrow at death is like […] be the greater:

And first, Let us hence as in a looking-glass, behold the vanity of the world; and of all these thing in it, 〈…〉 men so much value and esteem and therefore set their hearts upon. The rich and the poor are equally intent upon this world; they bow the knee to it; yet it is but a clay god: they court the bulky vanity, and run keenly to catch the shadow; the rich man is hugged to death in its embraces; and the poor man wearies himself in the fruitless pursuit. (What wonder if the world's smiles overcome us; when we pursue it so eagerly, even while it frowns upon it?) But look into the grave. O man, consider and be wise; listen to the doctrine of death; and learn, (1.) That hold as fast as thou canst, thou shalt be forced to let go thy hold of the world at length Though thou load thyself with the fruits of this earth; yet all shall fail off when thou comest to creep into thy hole, the house, under ground, appointed for all living. When death comes, thou must bid an eternal farewell to thy enjoyments in this world: thou must leave thy goods to another: and whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke xii 20.— (2.) "Thy portion of these things shall be very little ere long" If thou ly down on the grass, and stretch thyself at full length, and observe the print of thy body when thou risest, thou mayst see how much of this earth will fall to thy shre at last. It may be thou shalt get a coffin, and a winding-sheet: but thou art not sure of that: Many who have had abundance of wealth, yet have not had so much when they took up their new house in the land of silence. But however that be more ye cannot expect. It was a mortifying lesson, Saladine, when dying, give to his soldiers: He called for his standard-bearer, and ordered him to take his winding sheet upon his pike; and go out to the camp with it, and tell them, That of all his conquests, victories and triumphs, he had nothing now left him. but that piece of linen to wrap his body in the buriel Lastly, "This world is a false friend," who leaves a man in time of greatest need; and flees from him when he but most ado. When thou art lying on a death bed, all thy friends and relations cannot rescue thee; all thy substance cannot ransom thee; nor procure thee a repriee for one day; nay, not for one hour. Yea, the more than possessest of this word's goods, thy sorrow at death is like be the greater: