29 g Obfervat. vier. Lifes Apparition, and Mans DiPution. and rejoice, andare exceedinggladwhen they find thegrave. As themifery ofour life maybe the more eafie,confideringthe (hortnefs of ir,fo the fhortnefs ofour life may be thelefsgrievous, confidering themifery of it ; for if God thould lengthen our manymens lives,what would it be but lengtheningof ¿heir mifery. But our life it is but a little while, therefore let usendure it with comfort. And as it ferves for comfort, fo for inffru :ion ; for if the life we live in herebe butfor a little while ; then learn to bellow thislittle timeof life that we fpend here, as profitably, and as faithfully as we can, both for thereceiving and doing of good. Thou thatlived now undera good Magiftrate, undera good Minifter, under a good Father, under a good Mailer, gain all the good thou canih now, for peradventure they (hall live; nay, certainly they (hall live but a little while; and when their life isonce quenched, thou knoweft not what light thou maift have to Walk by., And for our felves, fince ourlife isbut a while,letus be careful' to do all the goodwe can, . be dining betimes, whilewe have opportunity, let as dogoodmall. It is the madnefs of the Epicures,becaufethey (hall livehut a while,they will live only to themfelves; Let useat anddrink, becaufe we limndie tomorrow ; and that is thereafon, they die asbeafts, becaufethey carenot to live as men. When they fing out their firftcanto, we will fill our felves with pleafure, the burden ofthe Fong mutt be, that wehave weariedour felves with fin. And is is thefolly ofthe Mammonilts, confideringthat they have not longto live, to put offthe doingofall good till theydie, whereas the rule ofChrift is, to work.while we have day, farfhortly the night will come, when no man can work; They contrary put off all their work till night ; all the day their charity deeps, and doth nothing ; as one Paid wittily, that that men give then they 'giveofother bodies thantheir own, for they give thatthat theycan keep no longer, and though it bePaid to be given by their Will and Deed,it is rather their Deed than theirWill,for if theycould have their will,it thould neverbe their Deed,they would rather be poffeffors of it themfelves,than that others fhould be their Executors;but beexhorted to do works of charity, and other good works,- while you have time, whileyoumay make your owneyesyour overfeers, and your ownhands your exe- cutors, whileyou have opportunity dogoodto yourfelves,and others, and the ra- ther, becaufeyouknow not how longopportunity will be afforded, or took from you ; For what idyour life, it is eve»a vapourthat appearethfor a littlewhile. Thus of the firft circumfhance,wherein therefemblance confifts,the lhortnefs of abiding. The next isthe fuddennefs of departing, It appearsfora while, and thenvaniJheth away. And here my difcourfe mutt be like a vapour,fhort,itfuddenly vanitheth a- way,thatis the natureof a vapour,foras there is no matter togive it a"fixed founda- tion ; fowhen it appearethfora little, it loon diffolvethand vanifhethaway to no- thing; and fuch avapouris the life ofman,it is gone fuddenly, it is gone before we are aware,and when it isgone,there isno memoryof it remains,noprint ofit ; how fuddenly and quickly, in amoment, in the twinckling ofan eyehave many been de- prived,both ofbreath and life,asone would put out a candle,or tread out a fnuff. It is true, ficknefs isonecommon Bayliffthat arreffs menat the fuit ofDeath, butmany a one hash beenmade the prifoner ofDeath, that was never arrefted at the fuit of Death ; yea know e.4bel was múrthered in the field; Eli broakhis neck from the chair; Abfalom was fnatchedup in an Oke ; the difobedient Prophet was flain bya Lyon ; the difobedient Prince Was trodden todeath in a crowd; Abimelech was fiain by a piece of a milffone; Pope Adrianwas chocked with (wallowing a flie; Pelted flain with afall of a tile. Such is our life as a vapour, as the fand ofan hour- glafs, ever fpending, and ever running out ; as Gregory hath it in his Morals, Look how many dayes a man adds to his life,fomany ffepshe takes to his death ; So Je remyto Fleliodortu; weare everdying, for we every daychange : When I amwri- ting this,all the points ofmy pen fpends,a point ofmy life: nay,while we are hear- ing this Sermon, we are palling on. I will make a littleIlk ofit, and then I havedone. Firft, make theüfethe Apoffle dotb.to them that build upon futurity, and think they may dowhat they lift : you that,think you. will do to day, and tomorrow, what
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