with orient Iewels yet I say put all this agaynst the sunne hee shall see but a black and darke shadow for all this fayre substance such is the end of all this worldly trash let it be esteemed never so much Pleasure and Profit will be but black when darknesse is upon the mountaynes nay they will not only bring sorrow to the heart and palenesse to the lookes but which is worst of all darkrnesse yea thick darknesse that may bee felt yet Exod. 12. strange it is to see how many men now a dayes delight in this world how like children they runne and catch after butterflyes goe after shadowes setting up a rest here where there is no continuing City What comfort or Rest is Heb. 11. 6. to bee found here goe but a long the streetes and thou shalt find some singing and but step further and thou shalt see some mourning the bels tolling for poore expiring soules others carryed to their long home Rachel Math. 4. mourning for her children because they are not what alasse is the life that is here enjoyed take but a short view of the severall ages of the severall estates of the inseparable adjuncts of this life and The life of this world miserable in all estates In the Ages it will easily appeare that meerely to live is no great happinesse First an Infant that 's a life of pitty nine months close Prisoner in the dungeon of the wombe not beholding the light which when hee comes into how sadly hee salutes it presaging his hard welcome shaming that hee is naked lamenting that hee is borne repining that hee is borne to misery then if his Cradle proves not his Coffin he lives a Child that 's a life of folly in his speech thoughts and Actions youth succeeds that 's a life of sinne Manhood the flower of all a life of vanity Old age that 's a life of death this is the life in ages what is it theÌ„ in callings Man lives eyther single In the Callings and that is a free life but uncomfortable or hee takes a wife wed-lock is the schoole of patience demure Sarah chid with AbrahaÌ„ blear eyed Leah wrangled with Jacob scornefull Micol scoffed at David stubborne Vashtay will not come at Ahashuerus call and t is no better in the men discreete Abigail lights upon a churlish Nabal Pilate was as unkind a husband as an un righteous Judge denying his wife the life of our blessed Saviour whether the life bee private or publike whether wee eate the bread of carefull Industry or the sweete unswet for bread of an unacquired Patrimony in the most retired quiet plentifull condition something fals out still verifying that of our Saviour Sufficient to the day is the sorrow of it breifely thus by a learned Gentleman The World 's a bubble and the life of Man Lesse then a span In his Conception wretched from the wombe So to the Tombe Curst from his Cradle and brought up to yeares With Cares and feares Who then to frayle Mortality shall trust But lim's the water or but writes in dust 2 Yet whilst with sorrow wee live here opprest What life is best Courts are but superficiall schooles To dandle fooles The worlds misery in all estates The Rurall parts are turn'd into a den Of savage men And where 's a City from all vice so free But may bee tearmed the worst of all the three 3 Domestick cares afflict the husbands bed Or paynes his head Those that live single take it for a Curse Or doe things worse Some wish for Children those that have them none Or wish them gone What is it then to have or have no wife But single thraldome or a double strife 4 Our owne affections still at home to please Is a disease To crosse the Seas to any forrayne soyle Perill and toyle Warres with their noyse afright us when they cease We are worse in peace What then remaynes but that wee still should cry Not to bee borne or being borne to dye Looke where you will like Noahs Dove thou shalt finde no rest for the sole of thy foot how much evill company doth the world present unto thee come say they let us be merry and spend the time in jollity let us eate drinke and be merry for tomorrow wee shall dye and 1 Cor. 15. they have authority for what they say they have a Prince to countenance them out but their prince and they shall be cast out both together Joh. 12. 31. Is it so then what remains Doth the whole world 1. Joh. 5. 19 lye in wickednesse Seeke then the kingdome of God Christs Joh. 18. 36. kingdome is not of this World and that thou mayest the better steere thy course in this tumultuous sea of the World have a care to keepe off these two Rocks 1 Gilded Pleasures Gilded Pleasures Golden Profits maine impediments of Christianity Nulla est sincera vâ—lupt as 2 Golden Profits For the first what is this gilded or paynted pleasure it is a paynted shadow for there is no true pleasure in this world though thou lyest upon the bed of Ivory and eatest the Lambes of the flock and the Calves out of the stall and sing to the sound of the Violl Amos 6 4 5 6. Eccles 11. 1 inventing instruments of Musick and drinking winne in bowles yet what of all this thou shalt at last come to judgement yet for all this how do men rowle out their pretious times how do they cry out here 's a heaven upon earth how do they set a side this day and that day one day for their pleasure another for their profit such a day to receive their Rents such a day to take their pleasures but what of all this time is set a part for Gods service either for duties publicke or private here 's no Remembrance Amos. 6. 6. of the afflictions of Joseph no holy emulation with David In Templum Domini eamus let us go to the house of the Lord there is the true heavenly pleasure to be found instead of all this there is swearing and swaggering hunting and hawking hawking after foules whilest the Devill that 1. Tim. 5. 6 cunning fowler is laying nets for their soules they cry Eamus come let us go but whither to do wickedly I and they go in troopes too and they have good fellowship too but alas what fellowship is there in such unfruitfull workes of darknesse Could but the voluptuous man thinke and verily beleeve that saying of St. Paul that he that liveth in pleasures is dead whilest he liveth he would not go on so merrily as he doth but let any man tell him that he is dead he would presently answer how can I be dead who is more lively or hearty then I am who takes lesse The carnal man a mere dead man care then I who hath lesse trouble then I have do I looke as though I were dead but let mee tell him
which is to come be impositae set upon the head of S. Paul and not upon his head only but upon all their heads that shall with him fight the good fight of faith then shall be imposed the golden Crowne of Christs approbation Euge bone serve well done thou good and faithfull servant enter into thy Maisters joy joy unspeakeable there is no diving into the depth of it the felicity cannot be imagined the blessings cannot be numbred so incomparable that they admit No joy like that of heaven of no equality the tongve may expresse much the eare may heare more then the eye can see and the heart of man conceive more then all of them yet put all together they cannot apprehend the greatnesse of those joyes eternall here only it is bare Earth that is enioyed under the first Adam but in the second Adam Christ Jesus there 's Earth enlarged every thing that wee enjoy is an essentiall heaven our meate and drinke is manna our cloathing white Robes our Company Angels the Place Heaven there the King is verity the lawes Charity the honor Equity the Peace Felicity the life Eternity there 's joy without sadnesse health without sicknesse light with out darknesse life without death ease without labour wealth without wam an Ocean of all selicity without the least drop of misery Joyes of Heaven in utterable many and glorious things are spoken of thee ô thou City of God whilst I am thus describing the Kingdome of heaven oh that I might with the holy Apostle be taken up into the third heaven and whilst that I shall endeavour to blazon out the blisse of that caelestiall place oh that the light of that glory might shine into my sinfull soule that my thoughts being winged with the contemplations of Angels I might in some sort comprehend the excellency of that glorious place which farre surmounteth every humane estimate oh that I were to parley with those blessed Spirits above those vessels of glory the Saints departed tell mee oh tell mee ye noble Army of Martyrs what is that joy whereof ye are now made partakers that my soule being ravished with the glory thereof my pen might distill the Nectar of comfort to enflame the hearts of all those that shall at this time joyne with mee in this sweete meditation but alas how shall he that ever was in darkenesse be able to describe that light that is so inaccessible how can he that is of the Earth measure the heavens no more surely then he which is a slave by birth and base by his continuall habitation is able ingeniously to describe the mâ—jestick state of Princes if Nichodemus understand not the manner of Regeneration how shall he be able to conceive the excellency of glorification of the infinite happinesse in that coelestiall life how shall I then speake Earthly Jerusalem was pourtrayed by Ezekiel upon a tile so cannot the heavenly Ezech. 41 be the joyes prepared for the Elect do exceedingly surpasse all humane apprehension obtayned they may be valued I am sure they cannot he in Tully said truly that it is an easier matter to know what God is not then to tell what he is Tully de Nat. deorum lib. 1 so may I say it is much easier to tell what is not in heaven then what is there S. Augustine wrote two and twenty bookes of the City of God how shall I then bring into the last gasp of these my Meditations the unity the plenty the beauty the holinesse the felicity thereof when he himself confessed after all his endeavours all that can be sayd is but a drop to the Sea and a sparke to the fire what is this world to heaven a man may go Sr. Fr. Drake round about it in three yeares and odde dayes it is lesse then a poynt in comparison what is an acre of Land to the world the light of a candle to that of the sunne the life of a child to the yeares of Methusalah what 's the conceyt of a foole to the expeience of Noah who saw two worlds such is the world to heaven such our life to Eternity a thousand yeares in heaven are but as one day O while I write of those joyes eternall how am I silenced faine would I declare them but cannot conceive them I am in a maze when I beginne to thinke of them what then shall I say what shall I write Haven is a place of Rest a City of excellent beauty a Jerem. 6. 16. Rev. 2. 1. 4. 15. Luk. 22. 30 2 Pet. 5. 4 rare Paradice of Pleasure a kingdome of Majesty a crowne of glory and life everlasting O ioy unspeakeable O happinesse unconceiveable O pleasures indurable O triumphs admirable what shal not such a prize as this make thee to fight why dost thou stand still hath the glimmering pleasures and delights of the fading world so benumbd thy limbs and bewitched thy senses that thou can'st not see paine from pleasure misery from majesty deceits from delights for such and no better is the worlds cheifest ioy compared with that of heaven buckle on thy Armour labour very earnestly to conquer subdue thy owne corruptions the words allurements and the Devils temptations he that will reigne must conquer and he that will conquer must fight valiantly then for thy comfort S. John hath chalked out thy way to the Heavenly Jerusalem he hath Rev. 21. found twelve gates in it open day and night to entertaine departing soules repairing thither in the true faith there shalt thou be entertained by the Patriarches Abraham Isaack and Jacob by the Prophets Moses and Elias by the Kings David Hezekiah and Josias by the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul by S. Stephen and the noble Army of Martyrs by the innumerable society of Saints and Angels a multitude of Heavenly Souldieâ—s shall giue a volley of acclamations at thy entertainment then shall be great ioy in heaven then shall the wedding garment be The Christian Souldiers welcome to Heaven put upon thy body the Ring upon thy finger a crowne upon thy head thus shalt thou be led out to the supper of the Lambe God the Father shall take thee by the hand God the Sonne shall place thee at his owne right hand and God the holy ghost shall fill thee with the graces of his spirit thus shalt thou see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the liâ—ing and thus shall it be with all those that have fought the good fight finished their course kept the faith they shall with S. Paul and all these heavenly spirits receive the Crowne of Righteousnesse which God the Righteous Judg shall give them in that day Thus I haue set before thee life and death blessing and cursing therefore choose life that thou and thy seede may live here 's the horror ofhel Deut. 30. 19. for thy terror the ioyes of heaven for thy encouragement if the intollerable paines of the one will not enforce thee let the unspeakeable happinesse of the other allure thee to fight O the Joyes of the heavenly Canaan O the Riches of those Diamonds that are set in that Crowne which shall impale the brow of every Conquerer loose not then the hold of such a Crowne for a rappe on the fingers vincenti dabitur doe but overcome and thou shalt surely have it to shut up all looke behind thee there is hâ—ll looke before thee there is heaven if thou goest backeward hell will receive thee and if thou stand still hell will overtake thee but if thou runne forward Jehovah will crowne thee which he grant for his mercye's sake for Christ Jesus sake the Captayne of thy salvation and hereunto let all the Church militant throughout the whole face of the Earth say AMEN AMEN Glory be to God on high FINIS Mens workes had faults since Adam first offended And those in these are thus to bee amended ERRATA Epist Dedicat. line 12. read these ibid. l. 34. r. your Counsell Epist Reader l. 10. read I put ibid. l. 43. read from tâ—â—t Pag. 7. line ult read thus pag. 16. lin 21. r. estis p. 18. l. 23. r. him p. 30. l. 15. r. thy wages ibid. l. 18. r. â—et p. 31. l. ult r. hard pag. 32. l. 23. r. Confession p. III. l. 4. r. wine p. 121. l. 14. r. him pag. 125. l. 7. r. inveneris p. 145. l. 3. r. keepe thy selfe p. 162. l. 14 r. forth IMPRIMATUR Octob. 4. 1638. GUIL BRAY.
whosoever he is that he is the very Picture of death he is in a spirituall lethargy dead in sinnes and trespasses yet sees it Ephes 2. 1. not feeles it not he sees not the hand writing upon the wall which made Belshazers knees Dan. 55. knock one against another hee sees not the hand writing in the scripture that the wages Rom. 6. 23 of sinne is death and thus it is with the drunkard he takes much pleasure in his Cups but if he did but consider that there was mors in olla death in the pot he would not take off his cups so roundly what is this more then to live in pleasure and wantonnesse to bee lovers of pleasures more then 2 Tim. 3. 4 lovers of God how sweete a name too do they give their pleasures sweete pleasures for my part I do wonder what they do or can sweeten can they sweeten death here or can they sweeten death hereafter can they sweeten the paynes of hell Solomon had as much pleasure as the world could afford hee had costly houses fayre Vineyands gardens Orchards hee had much cattel and much coyne hee had also men servants and mayde servants hee had men singers and women singers what his eyes delighted in hee witheld not from them but what was the issue of all this goodly pleasure hee looked on all his workes that his hand had wrought and that this was also vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sunne Set Eccles 2. 11 then thy cheefest delight and pleasure in God at whose Right hand are pleasures and fulnesse of pleasures for ever Ps 16. 11. more Now I will shew thee the second impediment or hinderance in the way to salvation and that is golden Profit this it quid non mortalia pectora cogit is which draweth away many from the consideration of goodnesse their owne happinesse how many are there that like the foole in the Gospell sing Requiems to their soules and why because they have goods layd up for many yeares his goods were the ground of all his mirth his profit was the cause of all his pleasure but God made him a foole upon Record for Luk. 12. 19. his labour Thou foole this night shall thy soule bee taken from thee c. yet strange it Per marâ— per terras currit mercator ad Indos is to see what suing what running what riding what sayling what swimming and all to get a little profit which is no sooner had but presently betakes it selfe to it's wings and flyeth away but Prov. 23. 5. this is not to use the world as though they used it not not to 1 Cor. 7. have the conversation witbout covetousnesse not to have the 1 Pet. 1. 15 conversation in heaven from whence there is expectation of a Saviour Object I but sayth the carnall Philip. 3. 20. minded man if I should pray and follow this heavenly calling so much I should soone become a beggar Answer To stop this fond and fooish Objection and plea for advantage of sinne let him first tell me what advantage sinne hath at any time procured hee that winneth the whole world and looseth his owne soule hath but a poore Math. 16. 26. bargayne of it cannot a man live unlesse hee spend his whole life in carking and caring for the things of this world cannot a man have time for God and his calling too Religion must bee the unum the one thing of this life but not the unicum the only thing of this life to doe that and nothing else a man may serve God in Carking care forbidden the performance of his calling no man is forbidden to follow his calling but hee is desired to give God a place with it There is a great difference betwixt the Church bell and the market bell the market bell ringes but once yet at the sound of it what running is there to the market by troupes happy is hee that gets thither first but for the Church that may ring Peale after peale one Peale after another yet much a do to get a man to the Church and if his body bee rung into the Chureh yet a thousaud to one but his mind is gonne a wollgathering after the things of the world the very Math. 6. 21 desires of his heart are upon the world the world is his treasure and there his heart is Phil. 3. 8. also but it is otherwise with a child of God all things with None but Christ None but Christ is the Godly mans note him are but dung and drosse in comparison of Christ Jesus hee lives in this world but not according to this world hee lives in the flesh but not according to the lusts of the flesh hee so useth the Creature that hee alwayes hath an eye on the Creator but let thy conversation bee in heaven from Philip. 1. 23. whence thou expectest a Saviour first in thy meditations on God and heavenly things secondly in thy affections desiring to bee dissolved and to bee with Christ which is best of Act. 23. 1. all Thirdly in thy practise living in a good conscience toward God and towards men though thy hand bee upon the Helme yet let thy eye bee upon the starres thy heart being thus planted in heaven thy hands thy head thy foote will become the happy instruments of Gods glory and all that is within thee praise his holy name This Enemy the world being thus layd open and discovered The Christian Soldier in battle agaynst the world stand ready armed and take unto thee the sword of the spirit which is the word of God take this I say into thy hand and strike with it If the world seeke to allure thee to pleasure hit him home with that saying of Solomon hee that loveth Pleasures shall bee a poore man Prov. 21. 17. and 1 Tim. 5. 6 agayne with the Apostle hee that liveth in pleasure is dead while hee liveth and at hin agayne with that of Job My delight must be in the Almighty Rom. 6. that the wages of sinne is death and therefore thou must not thou mayst not thou darest not doe this great trespasse and so sinne agaynst God but if the world shall still persist to tempt thee reach him with Gods promises which hee hath made to these that take pleasure in him that hee that delights in him he will give him his hearts desire Psalm 37. 4. If the world come upon thee agayne with profits and riches tell him that the treasures Prov 10. 2 of wickednesse profit not but Righteousnesse delivereth Esay 44. 9. from death Prov. 10. 2. and agayne that delectable things Math. 6. 26 shall not profit Esay 44. 9. and what were it for thee to winne the whole world and to loose thy owne soule But if for all this the world shal stil assault thee at him boldly tel him that Godlinesse
plague of pestilence in the yeare 1625 and in the last yeares 1636. 1637. besides many others so that now this kingdome sitteth like the Queene of nations every man in peace Rev. 17. 8. under his owne vine and under his owne figtree this is the Lords doings and it is wonderfull in our eyes but to come yet nearer home to our selves I appeale unto any man living that hath not at one time or other had a large taste of Gods protection and deliverance from some danger or other how many had beene swallowed up quick whilst men rose up against them if God had not beene on their side what shall I say then Our fathers saith David Ps 22. 4. trusted in God they trusted and hee delivered them they called upon him and were delivered they trusted on him and were not confounded goe thou thy wayes and doe likewise depend on Gods protection recount what he hath done for thy soule blesse the Lord god of thy salvation who leadeth thee thus with his benefits Ps 68. 19. blesse him in his infinite essence and power blesse him in his unbounded and just soveraignty blesse him in his preservations blesse him in his deliverances take heed of offering hollow observances to the searcher of hearts they that proclamed Christ at Jerusalem had not onely Advice to blesse God for al his deliverances Hosanna in their mouths but palmes in their hands too if thy hand blesse not the Lord thy tongue is an Hypocrite away with the vast complements of vaine formalityes let thy lowd actions drowne the language of thy words for God is thy deliverance hee is the God of thy salvation thus the bitter waters of Mara shall bee made as sweete as hony crosses shall bee made blessings corrections made instructions to fortifie thy selfe against all the deceipts of the world the flesh and the Devill when thou lookest to thy owne fleshly hands there is nothing but discouragement when thou lookest to thy Spirituall enemyes there is nothing but terror but when thou castest up thy eyes to thy mighty God there is nothing but confidence nothing but comfort comfort thee comfort thee therefore ô thou feeble soule send thy bold defiâ—nces to the Prince of Darkenesse heaven is high and hard to reach hell is steepe and slippery thy Flesh is earthly and impotent Sathan strong and rancorous sinne subtle the world aluring all those yet God is the God of thy salvation let those infernall Lyons roare and rampe upon thee let the gates of hell doe their worst let the world be a cheater thy flesh a Traytor the Devill a Tyrant faithfull is hee that hath promised who will also doe it God is the God of thy Salvation blessed bee his holy name world without end AMEN Thus having shewed the use of every peece of Armor belonging to the Christian warfare the furious assaults and subtle carriage of the severall Enemyes the time of their onset and the meanes how to come off with credit I will now use three motives that may stirre thee up to take armes and being in the field to lay about thee First the consideration of death that thou must dye then there wil be no time to fight Secondly to consider the cruell torments of hell that Motives to take up armes they may enforce thee to fight Lastly to consider the Crowne and Reward the joyes of heaven that they may allure thee to fight There is an Act of Parliament First motive in heaven never to be repealed Statutum est omnibus semel mori dye thou must death knocks equally at the hatch of a cottage and the gates of a Palace hee can top the highest Cedar as well as the lowest shrub there is no man but is naturally walking downe to the chambers of death every sinne is a pace thither only Death unavoyable the gracious hand of God stayes him every man living must bee reduced to the first principles of dust and ashes from whence hee was first taken dust thou art and to dust thou must return Is there not an oppoynted time Gen. 3. 19. for man on the earth yea but when is that time hora nihil incertius nothing more uncertaine that 's in Gods hand hee that is the Lord of life hath set the period of thine his omnipotence so contrives all events that neyther Enemy nor casualty nor disease can prevent the houre of his appoyntment there is no holding of the breath if God call for it a Nothing more uncertaine then the houre of death man may have some power over his outward members but none at all over the inward hee may command the eye to see the eare to heare the hand to worke but hee cannot command the heart to move the liver to sanguine the longues to blow breath hee may swallow downe meate but cannot make the stomack to digest it that 's Gods peculiar a payre of bellowes will fall of themselves but never rise to blow againe without assistance the houre glasse will God is the Lord of life runne out of it selfe but never runne againe except it bee turned a man may send out his breath at his pleasure but not take it in againe without God for in his hand is the breath of all mankind Job 12. 10. if that King of feare death bee charged with a warrant from God hee doth not returne with a non est inventus sometimes hee is sent in the night when man is most secure thus hee came upon all the first borne in the Land of Egipt at midnight Exod. 12. 29. sometimes in the height of power thus he came also upon the Egyptians in the midst of all strength whilst they were pursuing the poore Israelites even then when they were in the ruffe of all their glory their charriot wheeles drew heavy and they were all choaked in the red Sea Exod. 14. 27. Sometimes death comes whilst a man is at his Table he comes indeed to many great mens tables but he is welcome to a few thus did he salute Belshazar in the midst of his Cups quaffing in the bowles of the sanctuary Dan. 5. 3. as a surgeon hides his lancet in a sponge or his sleeve that he may the more secretly use it so death hides himselfe sometimes in meate other whiles in drinke sometimes Gen. 7. he lyes under the Table when they of the old world were eating and drinking then came the floud and overwhelmed them in the morning was the King of Israel destroyed Hos 10. 25. the shunamites child dyed at noone 2 King 4. 20. Ezekiels wife dyed in the Evening Ezek. 24. 18. Sometimes death comes as he did upon the Rich foole witha Stulte hac nocte so whether it be in the day or night in the morning or evening in prosperity or Adversity whether full or fasting the time is still uncertayne some are taken away sodainely many in their infancy some in their youth others in age many dye younge
and the old cannot live long hence it is that mans life is compared to a flower not for the stalk it growes on that 's too strong a simile but to the flower which the breath of a child may blow off nay not every flower neither as the blossome Mans life compared to a flower of a tree that may stick fast two or three dayes nor the flower of sonie strong herb which may continue longer nor the flower of the garden that may be preserved but the flower of the fieldâ— subject to all wind and weather Psalm 103. 15. Such is the brittlenesse of mans nature if hee were made of glasse saith S. Augustine there were more security let him be never so charily Mans life more brittle then glasse kept he must dye a glasse is subject to nothing but a fall it feares no feaver nor age nor plague but man is subject to a thousand accidents he finds but one way to come into the world but may easily see a thousand dores to goe out at It is not policy nor Riches nor strength that will carry it out Goliah had an helmet of brasse upon his head a Coate of brasse upon his body weighing five thousand shekels of brasse a burthen fitter for an asse then a man he had also bootes of brasse upon his legges a sheild of brasse upon his shoulders when this beast was thus set out 1 Sam. 17. 15. with all his Caparisons hee might be rather tearmed homo aereus then homo carneus a man of brasse then a man of flesh yet David found out a place in his fore head where there was no brasse so kild him if death come with a Commission to breake up this house of clay no man can say to him as hee saith to his Neighbour come againe tomorrow is death thus unavoydeable is the time so uncertaine do men so number Ps 90. 12. their dâ—yes that they apply their hearts unto wisedome Alas men live as though there were no death at all like those that go to the India's never take notice how many have beene swallowed up in the waves but what some few have got by the voyage looke onely upon those that are now surviving not upon the many Millions that are gone downe into the grave before them they thinke on death as the Athenians did treate of peace never but when they are in blacks It is a Custome in Constantinople that on that day the Emperor is crowned one presents unto him many stones out of which hee is to choose his tombestone Philip of Macedon had a boy to say unto him on all occasions Memento Philippi c. Remember Philip thou art but a man shall Turkes and Heathens do this and shall not Christians remember their end It is reported that the birds of Norwey fly faster then any others birds of the ayre not that nature hath given any agility to their wings more then others but they knowing the day to be very short in that climate make the greater hast to their nests this is that which God himselfe complaynes of the storcke knoweth her appointed time and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their comming but my people know not the judgements of the Lord. Jerem. 8. 7. Strange that birds shall make such practicall use of their knowledge and that man who is the Lord over all the Creatures should not make use of his time and so Psalm 8. 5 mend his pace to his long home the house appoynted for all living hee that hath a great journey to ride and a short time to ride it in must needes ride the faster hee that hath a great taske of worke to doe and but a small time to worke in must worke the harder here 's no abiding place where then the Heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 13. 14. that 's a great Pilgrimage a long way thither many rubs in the way and but a very short time to go it in a short life which in the twinckling of an eye may be taken away there is need then to pluck up the heeles and to mend the pace thither and as it is a longe way and but a short time allotted so there must be a great deale of worke done in the way too that great worke of salvation the greatest worke of all other a worke that will make that a man sweate at it a worke that must not be done by starts not be wrought onely but worked out not easily Phil. 2. 12. neither but with feare and trembling set on then upon this great worke the time wil come when there shall be no working boc est momentum unde pendet aeternit as the time past thou canst not recall the time to come thou art not sure of the time present is that thou must make use of Christ that good man of the house hath not yet shut too the doore yet it stands open doe but knock and it shall be opened unto thee now is the time to day if thou wilt heare his voyce this present houre this very instant is the faire kept as I may say of forgiving of sinnes It Time present to be used may be now had at an easy rate onely for forgiving them that trespasse against thee but if thou tarry till the faire be ended and who knowes how soone it may bee seeing it hath lasted so long already there will then be no pardons to be purchased at any rate but thou must pay for thy improvidence with the uttermost farthing put not off then from day to day least thou come as it is said a day after the faire but while it is called to day call thy selfe to an accompt let not the Sunne go downe upon thy impenitency to God or upon thine anger to thy neighbour deferre not til the last and hope to creepe into heaven with a Lord haue mercy upon me there was never but one that leaped so soone thither he was one that no man might dispaire but one that no man might presume at that time there will be but a little sand left in the glasse the houre of mortality will be soone runne out then will the Devill like a subtle Logician come upon thee with his best argumeÌ„t casting such a mist of darkenesse betwixt God and thy soule that thou wilt hardly discerne the throne of grace would'st thou not then sell all that thou hast to buy that pretious pearle of time the Rich man tooke care for the enlarging his barnes but God would not stay the building of them yet it is not certaine that thou shalt haue the warning that foole had doe not the weekely bils informe thee of sodaine death ther 's thunder without lightning death without a warning A great manlying on his deathâ—bed sent first for his Phisition to advise with him about the recovery of his health no meanes was left untryed but all in vaine the Phisition gaue him up for a