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

r (r 66o Ofthefhortneffeandfraiítyo<mantiefe. rie, abundance and great authoritie and command; yet when the dayoftheirdeath iscome, when they are turned out ofall, and ready tobe haledto thebarre ofGods judgement, to giue an accountofhis miffpent talents, & to anfwerefor their cruel tyrannizingotter theirfellowferuants;then they feehowmuch agood confcience is better then earthly trealùres,and the affu- rance ofGodsloue and their faluation, tobepreferred before the vanifhingglorie ofthe world; and now they would not change conditions with them,whom not long lince they enui- cd, though theymight haue the Monarchie ofthewhole earth toboote. Foralas, what will their pallid pleafures,honors and riches,nowprofit them whenbeing (lript ofall,they mullgiue their account at the tribunali feat ofGods iudgement, for their often abutingthefe rich gifts? yeawhat miferie will it now be, that they haue been fohappie,whenas they(hall beforfakenof ali,and change their eflate,hauing nohope nor comfort ofbet- tering themfelues in the alteration? yea what trembling and feare that thenpofieffe them,whenthey leaue thateflatewhich theyknow,and muffchange for onewhich theyknow not?and when being abandoned ofali their delights,they{hall haveon- ly their finsattending on them; notnow difguifedand gilded oueras heretofore, but in theirowne vglÿfbape, andhorrible deformitie as lotltfome as the..diuell, and asblacke as hell?O what would theynotnow giue tohaue theirquietus elf,&Gods debt-bookecancelled?at what price would they refufe a good confcience,ifitwere offeredthem.to fale?howwould theynow with readineuîefirip themfeluesout ofall, to procure the rich robeofChrifl Icfus his righteoufneffe, that therein they might with comfort appearebeforetheir Iudge?Or if theydie ofa fpi. rituall lethargic, and be rocked a[leepeofthe dwell in the cra- dleoffecurity,andfo cariedquietly into hell,foasthey haue no leafurc to think ofthefe things,ortime to entertainethefefear- full meditations ; yet how inuchmore helliíh horror hauethey when they are awakened out ofthcir deepfleep, withthofe in- tollerabie tortures?O how do they then befoole themfelues,for hauingpreferred temporalties before eternities, and madePale oft heirfoules,£or earthlyvanitiesNhatpaires would they-now refitfe,to free themfeluesout of this damned condition, ifthey might hueagaine?howmany worlds would they nowgiue,for one

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