Serro.CLVIII. andparticular Galling. And it is very well worth our confideration, that as there is no work nor wifdom in the grave, fo there is very little to be exercifed when we come to draw near to, it, whether it be by ,ficknefs or old age.: Sufficient furely for that day will be the evil thereof; we had need then to have nothing élfe to dog but töbe (Aland weak, tobe lick and die; we íhall find that to be burden and trouble enough. Let us therefore work thework of him that font us into theworld, while it is day; for the night cometh, faith our Saviour, (by which may probably be meant the time of ficknefsor old age,) the night conwth when no man can work; fo that what we do, we muff do quickly, mind the work which is before us, and ply it with all our might, as if it were the lift opportunity we fhould ever have ; and fo it may prove for ought we know, for it is ten to one but that fome here prefent, and God knows which of us it may be, may now have the laft opportunity in our hands, and that but a flippery hold of it, and may never have this Counfel given us again, nor perhaps be long in a capacity to make ufe of it ; for when death hath once overtaken us, it will fix us in an unchangeable frate ; as the tree falls fo it (hag ye. This is the timeof our work and preparation for another World, and what we . do towards it, in this life, will avail us in the other; but if this opportunity be neglefted, there is nothing to be done by us afterwards, but to inherit the fruit of our own folly and negle&, to fit down in everlafting forrow, and to be immutably fix'd in that miferable (late, which whilft we were in thisWorldwe could never be perfwaded to take any tolerable care to avoid. And if we can do nothing for our felves to help and relieve ús in that irate, much lefs can we think it canbe done for us by others, by the con signing of Malfes and Prayers, of Merits and Indulgences to our ufe and benefit in anòther World. No, fo foon asever we are pafs'd into the other ítate, we íhall enter upon a con- ditionof happinefs or mifery, that is never to be altered.- So that this life is the proper feafon for Wifdom to íhew it felf, and to exercife our heft induftry for the attaining of happinefs; it will be too late afterwards to think of altering or ;better- ing our condition, for death will conclude and determine our fine one way or o- ther, andwhat we are when we leave the world, good or bad, fittedfor happinefs or mifery, we (hall remain and continue fo for ever. Therefore it infinitely concerns all of us, to exercife our bell Wifdom in this prefent life, and what we have to do for our Souls, and for all eternity, to do it with our might ; to contrive and ufe the belt means to be happy, while the oppor. tunity of doing it is yet in our hands; we may eafily let it flip, but no care, no wifdom, no diligence, no repentance can retrieve it; when it is once loft, it is loft for ever. Hear then the conclufion of the whole matter; would we enjoy our felves and the peace of our minds while we live? would we have good hopes and comfort in our death, and after death would we be happy for ever? Let us lay the foundati- on of all this, in the a&ivity and induflry of a religious and holy life; a life of unfpotted purity and temperance in the ufe of fenfual pleafures, of fincere Piety, and Devotion towards God, of arid juftice and integrity, and of goodnefs and charity towards Men. And let us confider that many of us are a great way already on our journey to wards the Grave, that our day is declining apace, and the íhadows of the Even- ingbegin to be ftretched out, therefore that little of our life which is yet behind us fhould be precious to us, ut efe fobs gratius lumen folet, jam jam cadenti:, we should improve thatwhich yet remains, as it were for our lives, always remem- bring that our only opportunity of working, of defigning and doing great and happy things for our felves, is on this fide the Grave, and that this opportunity will expire and die with us; For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wifdom in the grave, whither we aregoing. Now Godof bis infinite mercygrant, that we may all of us know in this our day, the things which belong to our prefent peace, andfuturehappinefi, before they behid from our eyes, for his mercy':fake injefusChrifi; To whomwith thee, 0 Father, and tbeHolyGhoft, be all honour andglory, thankfgiving and praife, nowandfor evermore. D d d SER 385
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