those things which are before, I press forward toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God through Christ Jesus," Phil. iii. 13.

Let him who sails upon the sea, fancy the whole world is a great sea, swelling with waves, our life as a dangerous voyage, and our days as ships that pass away in a moment; and let him consider, that the last wind of Death will drive him into the haven of eternal felicity, to the enjoyments of immortal glory, Job ix.

Doth God bless us with children? Let us understand that we are minded by them of our mortality, for they come to take our room, and to succeed in our estate. Doth God take them away to his rest of whom we are most fond? Let this advertise us, that God intends thereby to cut off all the lower roots that tie us to this earth, to unloose our hearts and affections, that we may offer them up to him alone. Instead of spending our lives in tears, and indulging our foolish humours in needless displeasures, let us comfort ourselves with this consideration, That, by this means, a part of ourselves is entered into heaven, and that the other part will follow apace. Let us say with David, "We shall go to them, but they shall not return to us."

Let the magistrate, whenever he delivers his vote, or pronounces a sentence, be provided with this consideration, That he who sits in a judgment-seat here below, shall stand at the bar, and be judged himself above; that one day he shall appear as a poor prisoner at the tribunal of his great God; that the books will be opened, and that the universal Judge of the world will pursue every particular of his accusation; that he must render an account, not only of his words and actions, but also of his most secret thoughts; and that without examination at the rack, God will disco yer the very secrets of his heart.

Let

Let the gentleman, whenever he receives his rents and revenues, call to mind the tribute he must needs pay to Death. Let the prince and the lord, when he handles his royal patents, and his ancient charters, or when he examines the homage and duties to be paid to his house and family, take notice that he must go in person to heaven's gates, and pay his homage to the Divinity. Let the king who sits in his seat of justice, or chair of state, think upon the throne of the King of kings, before which he must appear, as well as the most wretched slave, and the meanest of his subjects; and that he must be accountable to a just God, who is no respecter of persons.

Let the minister never be employed about the duties of his function, but let him long and wish for that happy day, in which the Lamb shall instruct and feed him in person, and lead him to the fountain of living water.

Let the Christian soldier engrave upon his sword this sentence of Job, "Is there not as it were a warfare appointed for all mortals upon earth?" Job vii. And, instead of thirsting after human blood, let him prepare to encounter Death itself.

Let the husbandman, whenever he sows his seed, or when he reaps the corn of his fields, be mindful of the season that comes on apace, in which his body must rot in the earth, that it may grow up to eternity. Let him meditate upon what St. Paul-saith, "O fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die," 1 Cor. xv. And let him meditate upon David's comfortable persuasion, "They who sow in tears, shall reap with songs of triumph."

Let any handicrafts-man, that works in his shop, imprint in his mind this excellent sentence, " Our days are like the days of an hireling ;" and when he hath ended his task, and

is

is departing to his rest, let him comfort himself with this assurance, that as soon as he shall have ended that work that God hath given him to do, he shall rest from all his labours, Job vii.

Whenever the physician visits the patient, or when the surgeon dresses the wounds, let them consider that they have no secret or art able to protect them from death, or to cure the breaches that it makes in our corruptible nature.

Let the most cunning lawyers, the most advised counsellors, and the most eloquent orators, remember, that all their rhetoric and subtlety will never obtain for them their suit against Death, nor procure a moment of respite or delay.

And let the most learned philosophers learn, that the soundest philosophy is the meditation of death.

In short, whatever be our employment, condition, or age, let us lift up our minds and hands unto God, to speak to him in the language of the prophet David," Lord, let me know my end, and the number of my days, that I may know how long I am to live ;" or of Moses, "So teach us the number of our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.".

O

A PRAYER and MEDITATION on our Mortality.

MY God, and heavenly Father, since it is thy pleasure that I should be mortal, and that my body should return to the dust; grant me grace to be always mindful of my frail condition, and seriously to reflect upon the several changes of times, the variety of seasons, the inconstancy of the world, and alterations I meet with, as mementos of my last change

7

change and departure. Let my infirmities and frequent distempers be looked upon as so many messengers sent to summon and warn me, that I must shortly leave this tabernacle. Let the bed I rest on call to my mind, that when all the business of my life shall be finished, I must lie down and rest in a bed of dust. Let the garments that I cast off at night, the sleep that benumbs my senses, the tombs of my predecessors, forefathers, and friends, refresh in me the thoughts of my departure to my last home. Gracious God, give me grace so often to look upon Death and the grave, that I may be acquainted with them, and that they may not fright or terrify, but comfort me; for though I know that I am born to die, I know also this, that Death shall introduce me into the presence of my God, the only author of life and happiness, to live for ever with him in bliss. Amen.

CHAP. VIII.

The second Remedy against the Fears of Death is, to expect it every moment.

I

'is not sufficient to think often upon Death, and to discourse of it in a pathetic manner; and there be some that frequently mention Death with many pious reflections; yet nevertheless they cannot boast of being free from all apprehensions of it. Their tongue is always ready to speak of Death, but their heart cannot yet yield to expect it. They know that Death will seize upon them, but they entertain this dangerous opinion, that the time is not yet come; they acknowledge that they are indebted to God and nature, but they delay the payment of the debt from day to day, as if they were able to corrupt the serjeants of Death, and obtain a reprieve at their pleasure. There is no man old and decrepit, but flatters himself with the fancy of having as yet at L

least

least a year to live in the world. In short, we imagine always that we perceive Death at a vast distance from us, and that we shall, at our leisure, prepare ourselves to receive it as we ought. Therefore, whenever or wherever it comes to drag us out of the world, it surpriseth and astonisheth us.

To prevent this mischief, we must not only consider that we are mortal, but that our life is short, and of no long continuance; we must continually say with Job, "Are not my days few?" Job x. and imprint in our minds this sentence of David's, "The Lord hath made my days as an handbreadth, mine age is as nothing before him," Psa. xxxix. Or that of Moses, "The best of our days are but labour and sorrow; for they are soon cut off, and we flee away," Psa. xc.

The ancients painted Time with wings, to express its unavoidable swiftness. The Holy Spirit compares our life to a weaver's shuttle, to an hired servant, to a post that runs apace, to a packet-boat, or an eagle that flies after his prey. The sacred writers speak of our life as a torrent of waters, of a cloud, of a vapour, a wind, or a breath. They tell us that our days are gone as a dream, they flee away as a shadow, they vanish as a word in the air, and that they perish as a thought. In a word, all the lightest and the most unconstant things in the world, whereof the motion is very sudden and quick, are employed, in holy scripture, to express the vanity of our life, and the shortness of our days.

Besides that our life is of a short continuance, it slides away insensibly, like a clock; the wheels move without ceasing, although the hand appears to us to be steady; or to a plant that grows continually, although the increase and growth is not to be discerned by our eye-sight; or like to a man who stands in a ship under sail, he goes forward whether he will or no. Thus, whether we sleep or wake, whether we go