B1.4 HEAVEidI,Y MEDITATION and towns, seem to him but little spots. Thus des- picably wilt thou look on all things here below. The greatest princes will seem but as grasshoppers ; the busy, contentious, covetous world, but as a heap of ants. Men's threatenings will be no terror to thee; nor the honours of this world any strong enticement; temptations will be more harmless, as having lost their strength ; and afflictions less grievous, as having lost their sting ; and every mercy will he better known and relished. It is now, under God, in thy own choice, whether thou wilt live this blessed life or not; and whether all this 'pains I have taken for thee shall prosper or be lost. If it be lost through thy laziness, thou thyself wilt prove the greatest loser. O man ! what hast thou to mind but God and heaven ? Art thou not almost out of this world already ? Dost thou not look every day, when one disease or other will let out thy soul? Does not the grave wait to be thine house ; and worms to feed upon thy face and heart? What if thy pulse must beat a few strokes more? what if thou hast a little longer to breathe, before thou breathe out thy last ? a few more nights to sleep, before thou sleepest in the dust? Alas! what will this be, when it is gone? And is it not almost gone already ? Very shortly thou wilt see thy glass run out, and say to thyself; My life is done! 11# time is gone ! It is past recalling ! There is nothing now but heaven or hell before me ! Where then should thy heart be now but in heaven? Didst thou know what a dreadful thing it is, to have a. doubt of heaven when a man is dying, it would rouse thee up. And what else but doubt can that man then do, that never seriously thought of heaven before?. § 29. Some there be that say, "It is not worth so much time and trouble, to think of the greatness of the joys above: so that we can make sure they are ours, we know they are great." But as these men obey not the command of God, which requires them to have their conversation in heaven, and to set their affections on things above; so they wilfully make their
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