vncertaine fraile and brittle condition censuring them all with one iudgement vanitie of vanities all is vanitie Eccles. 1. 2. Came not Craesus the rich Prince to misery for all his wealth Xerxes the King of Persia for all his pompe and glory discomfited Did not Dionisius the King of Siracuse fall from a King to be a schoolemaister Did not Bellisarius fall from a giuer to bee a receiuer from a rich man to be a begger Came not Iob from great riches to miserable pouertie for a time Doe not many florish to day in wealth and to morrow come to extreame pouertie Are we all as grasse and wormes meate why then doe wee make so much of the flesh which shall perish and doe not adorne and decke the soule with vertues which shall be presented to God in the day of iudgement We doe not regard our soules but prefer our bodies before them It is a great abuse when the mistresse shall become an handmaide and the handmaide mistresse so it is a great abuse when the soule is not regarded and the body preferred before the soule Seeing our bodies shall perish as grasse let vs say Christ is to mee in life and death aduantage Phil. 1. 21. When we die we shall be deliuered out of two prisons at once the one so much worse then the other as it is worse to be with-held from perfect blisse then from the libertie of a most painfull and tedious pilgrimage We now liue to die but then wee shall die to liue for euer now liuing we are continually dying but then once dying neuer to die more Wee shall leaue a ruinous and base cottage passe to a most glorious and blessed pallace whose pauement is pure gold and whose gates are pearles Reuel 21. 21. By this wee may ghesse what roomes wee are like to finde where our Sauiour prepareth the place Ioh. 14. 2. Had the Prodigall sonne cause to sorrow when he was to depart from this dirtie village and the company of swine to his fathers house Who would not bee able to cast off a sacke of dunge to receiue long white robes Reuel 7. 14. I hope we shall haue neither oxen to try nor farme to see nor wiues to with-hold vs from going Luk. 14. 18. 19. 20. Wee haue had toile enough in the seruitude of Egypt we haue wandred long enough in the desert in continuall battaile with Gods our enemies and in death the time is come to take our repose and inioy the felicitie of the land of promise Wee haue beene in the mount Sinai with Moses when thundrings began to be heard lightnings to flash and a thicke darke cloude to couer the mount but wee shall come to enioy his glory whose terror we haue already sustained This may reproue such as feare death The sting of death is taken away O death where is thy sting 1. Corint 15. 55. Some would die but they would not die a violent death What cause haue we to feare death wee haue but one life and but one can we loose Goliah was as much hurt by Dauids litle stone 1. Sam. 17. 50. as Sampson by the waight of a whole house Iudg. 16. 30. Ely had as much harme by falling backward in his chaire 1. Sam. 4. 18. as Iezabel by being thrown downe from a high window 2. King 9. 33. All they that stoned Stephan to death tooke no more from him Act. 7. 59. then an ordinary sicknesse did from Lazarus Luk. 16. 19. One death is no more death then another and as well the easiest as the hardest taketh our life from vs. Let vs bee willing to leaue this sinfull world desiring to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ Philip. 1. 23. Why should wee feare that which cannot be auoided The very necessitie of death should make vs not vnwilling to die and the remembrance of our mortalitie should make vs litle feare when experience sheweth vs that we are mortall Liue well and die well we may if please God but liue long not die we cannot We should not thinke our life shortened when it is well ended He dieth olde enough that dieth good and life is better well lost then euill kept Wee goe but that way the which all the world before vs hath gone and all that come after vs shal follow beare vs company 4 If we bee not warned neither will take it for a warning that we are as grasse death may come before we are aware and surprise vs when wee shall not haue time to learne to die Wee must be prepared Luk. 12. 40. We must watch Mark 13. 37. How soone is the grasse cut downe and so how soone doth man die The day of death will come suddenly as thiefe in the night 2. Pet. 3. 10. A thiefe giueth no vvarning vvhen he vvill come but commeth vvhen men are asleepe so the day of the Lord commeth suddenly vvhen men are altogether vnprouided Before a ruinous house fall the rafters cracke and giue warning At a strangers comming the dogge barkes and giues warning before a storme the cloudes giue vvarning and the trumpet biddeth men prepare to battell but the day of death commeth suddenly all the time from the birth to death is a time of preparation When the bird thinketh her selfe safe then is she nearest to death when the ship-master is in sight of land hee may be in greatest danger for commonly in the range or harbour is the Shippe lost the want of care drowneth the Shippe the want of skill is the ruine of the souldiers the want of foode starueth the sheepe and the want of preparation to die casteth thousands into perdition As a flower of the field so florisheth hee Mans life is compared in the Scripture to a span for the shortnesse thereof Psal. 39. 5. To a shadow Psal. 102. 11. First for the cause for as the shadow is formed oflight and a body so is man of an intellectuall soule and a humaine body Secondly for the figure and likenesse as the shadow is sometimes long and sometimes short so some men liue long some but a short time Thirdly for the flight the shadow is changed with the moouing of the body so is the life The shadow in the morning is not as it was at night and the health of the body in the morning is not as it was at night The shadow flieth from a man following it and it followeth a man flying from it hee that looseth his life shall saue it he that will saue his life shall loose it Fourthly for the measure the longer the day the shorter the shadow and the shorter the day the longer the shadow so the higher the day of prosperitie the shorter the life and the shorter prosperitie is the longer mans life seemeth to be Iobs prosperitie was short therefore his life seemed long I will saith hee speake in the bitternesse of my
soule Iob 10. 1. For he was euen weary of his life to smoake that vanisheth Hos. 13. 3. To a bubble that is dissolued To a weaueers shuttle for swiftnesse Iob. 7. 6. To a cloude that is driuen with the winde Iob. 7. 9. To a vapour which is soone dispersed Iam. 4. 14. And here to grasse which withereth and to a fading flower That the whole outward glory of man is but as a fading flower Though a flower may bee faire in sight sweete for smell curious in colour and glorious for beautie yet it will fade so man may be great in place noble in birth mightie in strength valiant in courage wise in ordering and disposing carefull in prouiding and excellent in knowledge and gifts yet all will fade and fall away A flower groweth speedily but being cut downe turneth as speedily to its former matter so man quickly groweth vp from the earth assoone turneth to earth againe Doe not thou glory doe not thou praise doe not thou admire at outward things for they will fade away they are as a reede of Egypt That which men most glory in they are soonest depriued off I speake of worldly things Some glory in their birth nobilitie and house froÌ„ whence they same all these are Gods gifts but not much to be stood vpon The God of heauen hath giuen thee a Kingdome power and strength and glory Dan. 2. 37. Some glory in their riches why doest thou so either they will leaue thee or thou must leaue them all riches haue their wings as an Eagle and flye into the heauen Prou. 23. 5. The Apostle saith trust not in vncertaine riches 1. Tim. 6. 17. Riches are vncertaine because they haue wings and because they auaile not in the day of wrath Prou. 11. 4. Siluer and gold cannot deliuer them in the day of the wrath of the Lord Ezechi 7. 19. That which our Sauiour calleth thornes Matth. 13. 7. Paul calleth vncertaine riches Doe riches content no the more men haue the more men craue and commonly they are the greatest beggers which haue the greatest portion hee that loueth siluer shall not bee satisfied with siluer Eccles. 5. 9. A couetous man is not satisfied with riches for the more hee gathereth together the more he desireth the graue and destruction can neuer be full so the eyes of man can neuer bee satisfied Prou. 27. 20. The couetous man desireth all that his eye seeth The couetous saith What shall I doe because I haue no roome Luk. 12. 27. Some glory in pleasure pleasure is like lightning sweete but short much cost and care for a litle sport nay one houres sport may bee recompenced with eternall punishments Some glory in the world and worldly things notwithstanding this I must tell thee either thou wilt faile in pursusing them or else when thou hast caught them they will bee so vaine that they will giue no contentment Some glory in beautie beautie will vanish with a sicknesse or consume in time Some glory in their strength mans strength is but weakenes Some in honour man shall not continue in honour Hee is like the beastes that die Psal. 49. 12. It is an euill sicknesse and a great vanitie when a man shall haue riches and treasure and honour and want grace to ioy in them Eccles. 6. 2. Some in the praise of men which indeede is but winde No man knoweth whether it commeth and whether it goeth Iohn 3. 8. As the childes loâ—e so the peoples commendation is gotten and forgotten in an houre The Prophetsaith Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome nor the strong man glory in his strength neither the rich man glory in his riches But let him that glorieth glory in this that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth mee Iere. 9. 23. 24. Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome for wisedome shall not deliuer the wise from death nor strength the strong nor riches the rich but faith in Christ and good conscience in all things shall deliuer the godly from the second death Is it so that glory pompe honour and beautie are as a fading flower then let not vs affect these things too much let them not steale away our hearts Wee should set our affections on things aboue Col. 3. 2. It is not simply vnlawfull to vse the world but it is needefull that we be iealous of our selues to watch our own hearts that our affections bee not set on the world Outward glory pompe honour and beautie are but transitory things so are riches and the world A man cannot serue God and mammon Math. 6. 24. It is an axiome in the Bible that amitie with the world is enmitie with God Iam. 4. 4. Either men must forsake God and loue the world or bid the world farewell and cleaue to God Wee are taught not to loue the world 1. Iohn 2. 15. For we see the daily mutabilitie and inconstancie of the world and worldly things Doe not humaine affaires imitate the sea are not men tossed on earth more then on the sea one taketh away this mans ground another that mans field another desireth his neighbours wife another taketh away his seruants One striueth with his neighbour about water another about the aire He that is poore is reproached he that is rich is sought to be ensnared Hee that ruleth is subiect to conspiracy the Magistrate to enuy and hee that is of power to hatred There are continuall wars continuall slaughters and insatiable desire doth exercise tiranny couetousnesse ruleth and lying is preferred Trust hath taken her flight truth is a stranger and salutations are full of suspition and so all wallow in vices for euery man is vanitie Psal. 39. 11. 2. This may reproue the seekers of these vanities who plod and study to attaine to them but being gotten they profit not much they cannot saue they may destroy they cannot helpe at the last they may hurt How greedy are men after honour how doe they couet promotions how doe they hunt after riches They care not who are poore so they be rich who sicke so they be whole who cold so they be warme who sinke so they swimme The loathsome luke-warmnesse of the most is to be reproued Reuel 3. 19. And the dangerous losse of first loue in too many to be lamented Reuel 2. 4. Let men seeke the Lord whiles he may bee found Esa. 55. 6. Good and not euill Amo. 5. 14. The Kingdome of God Math. 6. 33. Peace Psal. 34. 14. The time will come when the Scepter and sepulchre will bee all one when the Prince and peasant shall bee fellowes when there shall bee no difference betweene the ashes of veluet and course canuasse What can the belley returne which consumeth most part of mens riches but dunge corruption what vaine pompe and glory but malice and enuy what vnchastitie but hell and
the worme of conscience Let men and women bee neuer so richly attired without Christ they are naked with what iewels and ornaments soeuer they are set foorth without Christs beautie they are deformed howsoeuer their faces are painted and their beautie blazed without grace they are vgly and monstrous nay they carry about them their owne funerall while their body is a filthy tombe of a more filthy soule not onely dead but almost rotten in sinne Noah must not follow the fashions of the olde world Lot must not follow the fashions of Sodome Iob must not follow the fashions of Vz. Wee must not follow the fashions of our corrupt age but as Paul exhorteth in the middes of a crooked and naughtie generation we must be pure and blamelesse shining euen as lights in the world Philip. 2. 15. Shining euermoreto walke in the narrowe path and enter in at the straite gate Luk. 13. 24. Wee must account spirituall things our chiefest glory This spirituall glory is either in the world to come or in this world that in the world to come is the greatest Reioyce vnder the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. 2. When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shall yee also appeare with him in glory Coloss. 3. 4. The glory which shall be conferred may be considered either on the bodies or on the soules of the godly The glory which shall bee giuen to the bodies of the Saints is threefold first the bodies of the Saints shall bee immortall they shall die no more for mortalitie shall put on immortalitie 1. Corinth 15. 53. Secondly they shall be incorruptible they shall rot and putrifie no more they shall be free from infirmitie and deformitie It is sowen in weakenesse and shall be raised in power 1. Cor. 15. 43. Thirdly they shall be spirituall 1. Cor. 15. 44. The glory vpon the soule shall bee the perfection of Gods image in all the faculties of it then shall the memory will and affection bee made conformable vnto God The glory in this world is first Christ He is the King of glory Psal. 24. 7. Wee must bee much in the duties of mortification before wee can enter into the kingdome of glory for no vncleane thing shall enter into the kingdome of heauen Reuel 21. 27. Wee are vncleane till we be washed in the blood of Christ by iustification and bathed in teares of true repentance by mortification Secondly the spirit of adoption is the spirit of glory if this rest vpon men they cannot bee miserable 1. Pet. 4. 14. Thirdly our soules are our glory Fourthly the testimony of a good conscience is our glory 2. Corinth 1. 12. In a word God is our glory Psalm 3. 3. For the winde goeth ouer it and it is not The word is taken for winde for the sperit for the intellectuall soule for the will and for the aire but most expositers read it the winde goeth ouer it The Prophet doth not say it is burned with the heate of the Sunne or destroied with the cold of the winter or cut downe with the hand of the mower but the winde goeth ouer it and it is not that is the winde goeth ouer the flower and it is not for it is withered As a flower is destroyed by the passing of some winde so mans life doth faile with a light occasion That mans life and glory are soone gone First mans life is soone gone how many at vnawares haue beene burnt vp in their owne houses how many slaine by beastes in the field how many deuoured by the same how many consumed in common pestilences murthered by thieues slaine by their enemies killed by the fall of an house as those on whom the tower in Siloam fell Luk. 13. 4. They spend their dayes in wealth and suddenly they goe downe to the graue Iob 21. 13. Sodome was destroied in a moment Lam. 4. 6. Sisera soone slaine by Ioel Iudg 4. 21. The Philistims by Sampson Iudg. 16. 30. Saneherib by Adramelech and Sharezer Esa. 37. 38. Man can take life away but he cannot giue life There is great paines and paiments bestowed before one come to mans estate and then a small thing taketh away his life As when a bladder is blowne great with great paine a pricke of a pinne will giue vent for all the winde so when man is growne vp a litle thing will depriue him of life a stab with dagger or knife will take from him his life because life it selfe is fraile brittle vnstable and of all things most vncertaine As the Spiders webbe which is long time spinning is swept away and destroyed vpon a sudden so mans life which hath continued many moneths and yeares in a moment ceaseth I haue cut off like a weauer my life Esa. 38. 12. One is choakt with an haire in milke another strangled with the stone of a grape another with a flie some crushed and troden to death Man continueth not in one stay hee is of fewe dayes in his body and full of trouble in his estate Secondly mans glory is soone gone The Prophet saith the glory of Epraim shall flie away like a bird from the birth and from the wombe and from the conception Hos. 9. 11. By glory is meant riches power honour and renowne As a bird doeth not long stay in a place so glory as riches and such like doe not long continue The smoake ascending vpward from the chimney at the first is great and thicke but it is quickly scattered and out of sight so the glory of the men of this world by litle and litle is obscured and vanisheth cleane away The first vse wee must remember our ende how fraile and fickle a thing our life is hence is it that Dauid saith Lord let mee knowe my ende and the measure of my dayes what it is let mee knowe how long I haue to liue Psal. 39. 4. Thy life is as the palme of thy hand if it be compared with eternitie and it may bee more truely called the shadow of death then life It is decreed that the death of all is a certaine houre but the houre of death vncertaine It is better the houre of death be vnknowne then knowen Moses saith Teach vs to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts vnto wisedome Psalm 90. 12. That wee may haue the fewnesse of our dayes in memory that vvee promise to our selues no great things in this world but that our mindes bee set vvholly on the study of heauenly wisedome Let vs consider how many yeares vvee haue liued in the vvorld how many of them vvee haue spent in sleepe and eating how many in childhood and vanities how many in vvorldlinesse and vvickednesse and how few in pietie and godlinesse vvhy doe I speake of yeares I may speake of moneths nay of dayes nay of houres vve neede not the Art of Arithmeticke to number the houres
that many of vs haue spent in reading praying meditating examining hearing and practising holy and Christian duties Let vs now returne to the Lord Iere. 4. 1. Let vs heare his writ while it is to day Heb. 3. 13. Let vs arise and depart for this is not our rest Mich. 2. 10. Let vs be more frequent in prayer more carefull in hearing more conuersant in meditation more painfull in seeking more diligent in examining and more studious in doing Let not God the author of time haue the least part of time spent in his seruice Let vs redeeme the time Coloss. 4. 5. Buy it with repentance vvatching fasting praying and with strong cries let vs make our peace fly from the anger to come Math. 3. 7. Let vs remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth Eccles. 12. 1. God vvill haue the first fruites and the first borne are due to him Let vs consider our latter ende Deut. 32. 29. and how quickly our life vvill be gone Our sinees cleaue so fast vnto vs that wee doe not remember our latter ende Lament 1. 9. Wee are carelesse in making our calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1. 10. It is sufficient for vs that wee haue spent the time past of our liues after the lustes of the Gentiles walking in wantonnesse lustes drunkennesse in gluttonies drinkings and in abominable idolatries 1. Pet. 4. 3. Our gray haires our sickly bodies our weakenesses and infirmities the shortnesse of our liues the iudgements of God on others and his mercies toward vs should make vs alway aboundant in the workes of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 58. That is we must proue our constancy in faith and our loue to God and our neighbour by earnest study endeauour and zeale not that our workes can bee superogatory and more then due but that we ought to excell in the things that are due Let vs double our imploiment in reading the Scripture Prayer must bee sent before vnderstanding desired the continuance of meditation giuen that the Scripture might transforme vs into it selfe after a sort In reading the Scripture the guide oft to be the grace of God study and diligence must be giuen that all may be referred to edification In meditation which putteth life and strength into all other duties Wee must meditate on Gods maiestie aboue vs on our nature within vs on the vanitie of the world without vs on the shortnesse of life behinde vs and on heauen which is set before vs. In hearing of the word preached which is the meanes of knowledge and faith and of all grace with the blessed and prosperous grouth and increase thereof In conference in mortification and in mercy The life of all wise men is the meditation of death Is outward glory soone gone I for the glory of man endeth with the life of man It is hard to bee gotten short of continuance and sorrowfull to be left It is giuen to men not that they should giue themselues to it or to affect it too much Be not thou afraid saith the Prophet when one is made rich and when the glory of his house is increased For hee shall take nothing away when he dieth neither shall his pompe descend after him Psalm 49. 16. 17. Salomons glory ended with his life so did Hamans Herodes and Neroes The affecting of outward glory doeth cause many to fall from God The loue of the world made Demas for sake Christ 2. Tim. 4. 10. The loue of money made Iudas sell Christ Math. 26. 15. The loue of riches made the couetous man loose Christ Luk. 12. 20. And the seeking of vaine glory maketh many men neglect Christ. Seeke Christ and yee shall liue Amo. 5. 6. Seeke him while hee may bee found Esa. 55. 6. He that hath I sachar his burden must needes couch Gen. 49. 14. He that hath rent his net will take nothing Luk. 5. 5. They which are laden with thicke clay cannot mount vp before the Lord Habak 2. 6. They can neuer bee faithfull disposers that are faithlesse workers 1. Cor. 4. 2. They will say and doe not Math 23. 3. So they which labour much for vaine glory will hardly attaine to true glory And the place thereof shall knowe it no more When the flower is cut off or withereth the roote is greene in the earth but man when hee is once dead shall liue no more here hee shall liue no more vpon earth Hee shall bee seene no more here hee shall liue no more in this world The place where a flower hath growne shall know it no more so the place shall know no more where man hath liued That man being onee dead shall liue no more on earth Who of all our fathers departed this life haue liued againe a naturall life wee shall goe to them they shall not com to vs they triumph wee fight they at their iourneyes ende wee trauailing they in the hauen wee on the sea they at rest wee in trouble Remember that my life is but winde and that mine eyes shall not returne to see pleasure The eye that hath seene me shall see me no more thine eyes are vpon me and I shall be no longer As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away so hee that goeth downe to the graue shall come vp no more He shall no more returne to his house neither shall his place knowe him any more Iob. 7. 7. 8. 9. 10. As if Iob had said after death I shall not liue here on earth enioying my riches my dignities and power I shall not come againe to eate and drinke to haue children and to be restored to my former estate I shall not command seruants nor bee commanded by any higher power on earth my life shall bee a communion with the blessed Trinitie my ioy the presence of the lambe my exercise singing my dittie praise yee the Lord my consorts Saints and Angels the place the heauen of heauens 1. Kin. 8. 27. The Paradise Luk. 23. 43. The bridegromes chamber Psal. 19. 5. They which now see me shall see me no more on earth my soule at the time of dissolution shall returne to God that gaue it Eccles. 12. 7. and my body to the dust dust I am concerning my body Gen. 3. 19. There is hope of a tree if it be cut downe that it will yet sprout and the branches thereof will not cease Though the roote of it waxe olde in the earth and the stock thereof be dead in the ground Yet by the sent of the water it vvill bud and bring forth houghes like a plant But man is sicke and dieth and man perisheth and vvhere is he Iob 14. 7. 8. 9. 10. Hee that is once dead naturally cannot bee repaired againe hee cannot returne to liue on earth An house that is fallen may bee built againe a tree that is fallen may bee vnderpropped and staied vp againe but