Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

laW Co?oH:3.t.1. Ecclef:3.14, 658 OftheJhsrtne17andfrailtieofmanslife. mouing,andcannot long flay :wearepilgrimesheere,and ther- forewe (hould not let our affe&ionson the earth, andearthly things,where we (hall ref+ (as it were)but one night, & then be gone;but on the ioiesr;ferued for vs inour owncountry,where we flail remaine for euer : wearenow fouldiers in thecampe, and therefore there is neithertime nor place heere to buildvs houfes,to purchafe lands,to low,plant, or play the merchants, with apurpofe ofcontinuing here (till ; only tents are fittefl for vs,till haling gotten the vi&orie, we fhall with triumph be re- ceiued intoour heauenlycitie : ifwe place our treaÌures heere, wemaydie in thebattell and to loreall,& therefore let vsmake that our treafurie,wherewe (hall hue for euer. And as the Apo- file cxhorteth vs, Tfyebe rifenfrith Chriffdetvsfeeke thof things which areabone,whereChrifffttethat the righthandofGod ; and fitour ofeltions on thingswhich areaboue,andnot on things which webane on theearth; forwearedead(in theworld) andoxr lifera bid 'lv2rhChriFi in God. And foras much as our life is momenta. ny,let vslabourto improveit to the bellpurpofes;.and efpecial- lybefore wedie,let vs take care thatour fins may die before vs. lfwe were lure that wefhould huebut one yeer,no manwould defer his repentance,but forfaking his former wicked waits,. wouldbetakehimfelfe to the feruiceofGodwithall zeale and devotion ; what folly therforeandmadnes is it,to defer our re- pentance & amendment, feeing wehaue noafluranceofliuing amoneth,no nor (hort minute orthe leaf+momët ?whyfhould' we be fo frugallofthe time which is certaine,& foprodigall of that which isvncertaine? ifwe were certainly affuredofconti- nuing a yeere longer only,yet wemight withmuch more fafety defer ourrepentance to the latter end; but now that ourhues are fo momentanyand vncertaine,that we arenot allured ofli- Hingone day longer, what frenzie íhould fopoífcffevs, which fhould caufevs to make any delay of our amendment, vpon which the eternail falnation of our foules dependeth? Let vs thereforewhileli this fhort andvncertaine time laf+eth,forfake and mortifie our fins & corruptions, thatwhen death takethvs away,they may not accompanyvs to iudgement; let vs let our heartsvpon Gods fpirituall graces, and in comparifonof them concemnetheworld,andworldly vanities; for thefewilleither leauevs orwe them, buttheywill neuer forfake vs, nonot in death;

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