Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the fbortnet and fraittieof mans of life. 637 dinarie in the Scriptures, to reckon mens lines by daies, and Plalme 90.5o.. not by yecrs,to note their breuity:yea comparing them with eternity,they make them not fo much as a minute; for fo the Apoftle Peter faith,that with the Lord,a thoufand yeeres are a.Peter 3.S. but as one day.And thus the Apohle lobo calleth al that time, Plalmc 9o+ from the fires commingofChrif tin the flefh,vnto his fecund "es` i.tohn r.c B.. comming to iudgemenc,the lafthoure;wherbyime would in- timatevnto vs,that the worlds continuancebeing compared with eternity,is but.ofa few homes continuance,and that all the ref+ being fpent,we are now come to the lati: and there- fore ifall this time being thus compared, is in refpe &ofeter- nitie but a fhort houre, then furely a mans life according to the fame proportion is fcarce a minute. The fimilitudes alto which are vfed to expreffe thebreuity 45e67.3. of mans life, are very fignificant,and fit for our purpofe;for it The brenitle of is copared to a a pilgrimage,which is not long in trauelling; mans life ills- to a b warfare, which is fhort and full oftrouble ; to the daies grated by find- of anchireling,which as they are commonly but few, fo by ;`Genccnfg7..' reafon oftheir painesatid labour,irkefome and tedious:to the r.Chr.a9,t q d wind,vvhichfeldome hands long in one place, & euery day b 7.1. is in force likelihood ofchanging,that which now bloweth ` verle 7.. pafling away without returning to the flower of the field, a Iob s4.a. which one day flouritheth and the next day withereth:to the Pfal.t o3.tg.t6c c gratfe, which in the morning growech in it full hrength, e Praline 90. p. . and is cut downe before night. All which fimilitudes implie, Efay 40,6. . that mans life is but(as it were)ofone daies continuance;like vntothofe creatures neerePontus,whereofPlatarchmaketh Plutarch.Con- mention,whofelife and the day begin and end together; for fol.adApollon. at morning they are bred, at noone they come to their full growth,& at cuening die with old age;for what is our child - hood,butamorning,our youth and ripe age the mid day,and our old age the funfet andnight of life? the which proporti- on holy lob feemedto aime at,where he faith,thaceveare bat of fyetlerday, and fcarcely full out oftwo daies flanding.But f Iob 9.9. becaufe we are readie to flatter our felues with a vaine hope oflong ltfe,and toimagine that eueryday is many yeeres;the holy Ghohcompareth our liues tomanyother things which are leffe then ofa dales cótinuance;as unto g 4 vapear,thata¡t. r Iames 4,54« peareth M