Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That the world and worldly things aremomeetanie. 605 Mort còntinuance,and lubicét to corruption; for fuch as are all the parts o£the world,fuch alto is the whole; but experi- ence teachcrh, that all the parts of the world are ftbiea to corruption and diffolution,and corfcqucntly thiswhole vni- uerfe cannot be incorruptible and eternall;but (hal in the ap- pointed time be diliolued and corne to ruine: and this the Scriptures allo plainly reach vs, that as the world had a be- :,pet. ;.rz. ginning; fo allo it mutt have an ending. To this purpofe the Apoftle lobe faith,that the world paffethaway,& the lugs ther. t.Io sn as7. of, buthe that fulfil leththewillof God abi.etheuer. And the A. poftle Peter plainly aflïrtneth,that the heauens & earth are re- fereed veto fire opting the day o fiudgement,and o fthedefiratti. onofvngodly men : and that the day of the Lord will come as a z,.Pet.3.7.10. thiefein the eight,inthe which theheauens 'ball pafeaway with a noife, the elements Thal melt with heate,d. the earth with the workes that are therin,fhai be beret vp.Now as we are certaine that the world is corruptible,and {hall haue an end;fo are we vncertaine how Toone this end lha!1 be, but for ought we know,it maybe this yeare,as wel as the next,and Eure we are that it cannot be far off; feting we line in the latter times, of which the Apo(tle fpeakech ; yea in the latter end oftheiafl houre :.for the Apoflle lohn making the whole age ofthe r.Iohn 1.18. world in refpc ofeternity,to be but ola few houres conti- nuatíce,faith, that all were fpent fauing the lafl,in which he lived; and therefore ifthc whole dine from Chrifis incarna+ tien, to his fecond commingto iudgemcnt, were but one houre, it is not probable that we are farre from the heures end, feting fo great a part is alreadie pall. Now who would fix his heart and ground his hopes vpon 4.Se .2 fuch a rotten foundation, as cannot poffibly long (land, and That wefhourd way for ought we know prefently fall ?who would build his ont hee mortar is houle-in fuch a cille as he certainly knew would within a becaufeitisaor- while be confumed with fire, being vncertaine in what part ruptibte and oft his fhort time,ic would come to this expeêled ruine?what mere an end. wife man will builds houle vpon the flocking fands ,where itis either ready to fmcke with them, or tobe beatendowne at the next high flood, and not rather vpon the firme rocke, where itfrail at-mine vnmoueable ?Sut the Scriptures teach YS