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THE

Confederations o F

DREXELIVSl

UPON

ETERNITY.

Tranflated by Ralph Winter- ton, Fellow of Kjngs Col- ledge in Cambridge, 16J2

l o N d o AT,

Printed for Richard Chifaelf, and are to be Sold by Richard Part-jr, at the Sign of the Vnicor% under the Pia^a. of the

Royal Exchange > in Cornbilf, i6$g.

$3 5?> 5? -J& J*.. 5 j^ -X ck; cX> * <55> 5s <3d

To the Right Worfhipful and truly Religious Efqiurey Mr. E. BENLOWES of Brent-Hd in £//kv,

Wifhech Internal, External , ani Eternal Happinefs.

IT was well anfweredby bm, who bs'rg as\edy What this life was, ford thuh It is nothing elfe but the Meditation^ of Death. If a Man fh aid as^me, What time is, I thinly I might fitly anfrver thus. It is nothing elfe but the Meditation of Eternity. Our Lie is bat a Porting un a Death, and our Time a fhorc days fail un- to Eternity. In this Time of Wit ware as Pilgrims and Strangers , travelling to- wards our CoeleftuI Country. We are as Sailors, bound for the Haven of Eternity. But rve mlift run through malt) troubles w* fore we can come to our journeys end : We muft fail through fait and bittei waters, and pafs through the Gulf of Death, bejoi t n>e can come to Land. There k a Lind n is called. The Land of the Living; and there it aland which is. cxtttdi The Land & 3

The Epiftle

of Horror and Defpair : Tmre is a two- fold Eternity •, Htm of the Blefled, or of the Curled : Toere is a twofold Life after Death ; either in Eternal joys, or E'ernal punifhments. It is good therefore in- this ftiorc life, to think upon that Life which never (hall haveend : It is good whil ft we are on the way to thinly upon our Journeys end .- It is good in Time, while ft we are failing, to have an eye frill upon our Com- pafs, and thinly upon Eternity. To thing upon Eternity, waSoveraign Prefervative, to keep us from falling into Sin •• To think upon Eternal joys, fweetenstht&x and bit- ter waters of Sorrows and Affii&ions : To thinly upon Eternal Punifhments, makes us not to fet our hearts upon Temporal De lights and Pleafures. Heaven is here on Earth in part enjoyed, whileft we raifc up cur thoughts to medirae upon it: /isdHcll may for ever be efcaped, ;l by ferious and fre- quent thoughts thereof here in this lije, we defcend into it. Such thoughts as theft moved Drexeiius to, write theft CON SIDE- RATIONS y and me alfe to tranflate them. He wrote upon a general fubjeft } and t- very Man may challenge a part in it. Whit be wrote , he intended jor a publick Dfneft j and fo did Tin the Tr inflation oj it. I hope He and His fhall find never the worft enter- Uinment , becarfs He is a Stranger , end.

5u,uc«r

\ .ome

Dedicatory,

come from beyond.Stas. It is toe honour of gut Nation to be lejnd and courteous unto Stran- gers. He was commended unto me by a Trru zef/er, a mefi religious and learned Gintle- man. ( Be not angry with me, Mr. Benlovres, ij I fay, He was as lity you as can be in every refpetl ; fit indeed be was ) bred and brought up in the Rom\(h Religion, and fent beyond Seas to be confirmed in it,, but yet brought borne again by divine providence and refioxed to his Metbtr the Church o] England, jor the Conversion, J hope, of many, (tngled out sf all his kindred to be amofl zealous Prote- flint ; born to good Fo'tunes, and yet ntt givtn to Pleafures, wedded to his Books and Devotions , fpending what fome call idle time in the be ft company ioi the edijying him- felf or others v counting nothing good which he pojfeffeth, but only that which he doth good withal; taking more care to lay out his morn for the good oj others, than others in laying up momy for themfelvts. To conclude, A Gen~ tltman of whom I map moft truly fay, Toax Hs Converfation is in heaven, ^'jDitcourie on things above, and his thot^hts upon E- pernky. Vpor.fuch a mans commendation as it is, 1 could not but ta^e a li^ig to the parti commended, and the more I grew acquainted with him, I Hied him. It is the ce*nfei of Horace.

i

The Epiftle.

Tu quern commendcs etiam atqueetiatri afpice : nc mox

Incuciant alieaa tibi commifla pud:- rem.

Believe me, Mr. Benlowes, Ibave hadfucb experience of this party, whom here I com- mend unto you, that I dare confidently (ay, If you entertain him into your fervice, yon fhall never repent you of it. Philip of Mace- don appointed one every morning to falute him -with a. Memento of Mortality : Drex- elius his office (hall be, if you pleafe, To be your Remembrancer , and every Morning, Noon , and Evening, to round you in the tar with a Memento of Eternity. But I know, that is fo often in your thoughts, thai- yen need not any to put you in Remembrance of it. Neither yet do 1 intend here, though I have afair occafion, to run over the Cita* logue of your Chriftian Vertues, fpecially that part of Chriftian twins, your Piety and Temperance, with your Charity and Boun- ty. For the fir ft, they that daily converfe with you, cannot but fee how you converfe with them, the other pair go along with you wherefoeveryou go, and though you defire to hide thtm, cannot be concealed -, in (pedal, many poor Scholars, godly and devour Mi- nisters in the Univerfity and abroad, of ft- viral Colledges , have had a feeling them- feivis of them, and cannot bat make them

confpi-

Dedicatory.

(•nfjnc.cn r, 9jy palpable to or.--rs. Thtft fkall praife you inyour abfenct : for my putt, I do not lo: t to praife a Mm tc his fate. Eat ij tht living hold their peace, the dead fhatt rift up and praife f*u, r mean, thofe many and excellent Books , together with other rare monumen - purch^ita at a great pin \ which rrithaii ay solicitation at all, out if metr aft&jmjou bcreto Saint J--hnV Col- itrife in Cambridge, vrnerr you were fem<>- times jScwient, yon have beftowsd en their LiSrap : Their Library, but the mo;1 nag- iipcent work , and Eternal Monument of the Mecoenas of our agt^ John Lord Bifhop oj Lincoln, arj true ioi er oj Learning and Patron of Scholars, And now it appears, Mr. Bentowes, that you have lefs need of Drexclius hi s fervice than before. Bit bow- foever, I pray yon, entertain him : Let htm hue bat the honour i» volar your Cogni- lance, and-otb He and I will put it upon, the fill of Thankful Remembrance , and region it for a lingular aft of pu* Bene- ficence. Fir don m) boldntfs it this : and command mt in what liberal fervice yen fl'4'>

Ralph Wiruerton. Frr-m Kings CelL June i. 1 612.

The

ThcEpiftletothe

READER.

IF any Man, more curious in cenfuriug what is done for a common good, ra- ther thanftudious himfelf to promote it, fhould queftion me for medling in another Mans profeflion, I might anfwer him in his own kind by way of queftion, as Mnedmus in Terence anfwered Chremes finding fauk with him, Tantumne abs re tun eft otii tiki, Alienaut cures, eaque nihil qua ad te atti- nent* Haft thou fo much Ieifure as to meddle with that which noching concerns thee ?

But to fatisfie thee ( Courteous Reader ) who intendeft, I know, with the Bee to ga- ther Honey out of this garden of Eternity, and not / uyfon with the Spider -, I hold it rlt to acquaint thee with the true occasion that moved me to tranflate this book. No Divinel am indeed, neither yet can I be if I would never fo fain : I would I were but worthy the name of a Phyfieian ! But howfoever being deftinated by theftatutes of my private Colledge to the ftudy of Pby- fic^, in the firft place I thought good to fpend fome time in Arithmetic^ as being a necetfary inftrument and help in my Pro?

fijjfon :

To the Redder.

fion : In which I made fome progrefs, (Ting from Numeration, Addition, S*b- itlion , Multiplication , Divifion, Red*- on, to the Golden Rule, or the Ride of 'ee, The Rule of Faljhood, The Rule of portion, and the Rules of Society , and i reft. But the knowledge of this coft me tear, that I was forced to leave the ftudy t : For many nights together I was con < ined againft my will to pra&ife Nume- \on oftner than I would, telling the clock, I could take but little reft. Whereupon folved with my felf to leave the Arit\>- \c \School, and fo I went unto the Phy- and Mufie^ Schools, imploring at one the fame time Hippocrates. and the 'es. For at that time I turned thefirft k of Hippocrates his Aphorifms into e (verfes,hoping to procure reft by Phy- and the Mufic^ of Poetical. lumbers; which I found fome reft indeed ; ( And refore fmce, I have well nigh finifhed ac re hours the other fix books ; which, if d permit, may ere long fee light. ) But ugh I found fome reft, yet I did not p fo foundly as at other times. So I the temple of Hippocrates and the Mu- md betook my felf unto the Santtuary^ am of David divine Arithmetic^ which fifteth in the due numbring of .the days his ftiort life, by comparing diem with

the

To the Rexder.

the years of Eternity : And Co I fell upon tranflating this book of Eternity, And this I found by daily experience to he die beft Hypnoticon, that ever I ufed:, for it brought me to reft be;ter than it f had ta- ken Diacodion. Thuh I found the old fay- ing true, h here Philofopby ends, there Phy- fic{ begins; and where Phyftc^ends , there Divinity b gins ; which I interpret thuc ( as I found it true by experience: ) When Philofopby by accident hid done me harm, andPhyficl^ could do me little good, I found ftrjttt help in Divinity . And ha v ing found fo much food by this book mv felt, I could not he \o envi3us as not impart it unto o- thers for a Sovereign Medicine to procure quiet fieep. Neither is it good for that on- ly (but far un'ike to other medicines,which are on'y good for fome one difeafe, and falling into unskilful hands oftentimes do more harm than good ) it is a Medicine fitting all Ages, Complexions, Conditions, Places, Parts, DifeaC-s> S v;ituil,and Cor- foral wh tfoever : It is a Medicine Preser- vative, Curative, Mcflorathe: It is an An» tidote againft the poyfon of fin: It isDi- iiamnum ro drive out the fiery darts of Sa- tan : It is Catboiiconw purge out all ill hu- mours. It is better than Exhilarans Gate- ni, to chear the Heart opprefTed with Me- lancholy: It is mAcofon for all wearinefs,

an

To the Reader.

an Anodynonfor all pains, a Panckrejio* profitable for all things, or All-good. It is Panacea, Htarts-erfe, All heal. It is a rich Treafury for Englifimtn. A {tort- fouft for the difeafed, and, The ready way to long lift, even to blefled Eternity. Lee no Man now challenge me for ufurping another Maas Office , or trefpafTmg upon Divines. I cannot fee but Dhines and Phyficians may well agree together : Both are bufied about curing of Difeafes either Spiritual or Corporal: And here is a Jiiidu cine for both. Take it and ufe it, Chri- ftian Reader j and thou fhalt find by thine own experience that it hath all the Virtues above mentioned.

So I commend thee to the Phyjicia* both of Body andSoul, and heartily deiire thy Temporal and Eternal Health and Wel- fare.

fylpb Winterton,

From Kings CoU June j. 1632.

A Vpn

Uimn this Book of Eternity.

TO reach Eternity our thoughts flrft climbe On the fucceffive fteps and (lairs of Time, And, what is Time ? It is by Potts calPd, And by moft Painters reprefented baJd : But Poets and the Painters are too bold, For Time was never yet a Minute old : Nor yet, God Saturn-tikc, doth it devour The iflue which it breeds : For every hour Were then a Murderer. But while we drain, And all created Natures for to gain Time to their Inch of ting\ in theftrife They quite burn out the Taper ot their life. But what's Eternity? Good Reader, look, Not on my Verfes, but upon this Beo^: Which I dowifh("andyetnoharm)maybe To all frtlsfting, Stationer, but to thee,

Richard Williams.

Up

on

Upon this Book of Eternity,.

LOok Or. the Glafsol Mans Motility, Behold the Mirror of Eternity.

Ti-iis Sw^is both ; Herein behold thy face;

i r waxech old -, thv GUfs doth run apace.

It i«appo:nted alMeii once to die;

And after Deutb iuccteds Eternity.

This Life's no Li]e> which Timt doth com- prehend,

But thaf s true Life indeed, which knows no end .*

This Bob^ w*H ccacn tnec f° t0 -/l%J* an^ ^'>

That chcumay^fl live unto Enmity.

Thomas Gouge.

Upon this Book of Eternity.

*T*His Bqo^s a Nautic^ Chard * which X kept n Eye, Doth point at ch' Hivin of bleft Eternity. [ O blefled /fozM ! ] At which if thou

wouldft Land. Lee not this Chard depart out of thine hand.

S. I. THE

THE

CONTENTS.

TheFirft Confideration. What Eternity u.

Chap. I. Page.

WHat men of farmer times have thought of Eternity, and how they haie reprefented it. 4

II. The fecret fenfe and mtaning of Scripture is unfolded. 13

III. Why the place of Eternity is called <i Manfion. 18

The Second Confideration.

In what things Nature reprefenteth Eter- nity. 2 3 I. What things are Eternal in Hell- 26

II. Why

The Contents.

II. Why Nell is Eternal. 51

III. Other motives to the Consideration ojE- ccrnicy drawn from Nature. 35

The Third Confederation.

Wherein the old Romans principal: y placed their Eternity. 41

I. How jar the Romans have gone a fray from the true way of Eternity. 5 1

II. A better way than the jomer which the Romans followed to Eternity. 60

III. That the way of Eternity is diligently and carefully to be fought after. 70

The Fourth Confederation.

How holy David meditated upon Eternity, and how we fhould imitate him. 8 1

I. Divers Admonitions to xbinJ^ufon Eter- nity. 85

II. That Eternity tranfmds all numbers of Arithmetic!?. 88

til. What effect and fruit the fonfideration of ' ^Eternity bringethjortb. 94

The Fifth Confederation.

How o:hers, even wicked Men themfelves, have meditated upon Eternity* 1 o 1

Llfo

The Contents.

I. Tr>t cmparifons of maris labors and the Spiders, one with another. 108

II. Wl)*t is the k[i queftion in the World.

112

III. Hnw Gtd, pnvhtth here, that he m.zy [pure hereafter. A ftrange Example. 1 1 6

The Sixth Confederation.

How the Holy Scripture in many places, te^cheth us to medicace upon Eternity.

I2£

I. TIm anfwir of the Holy Fathers and the Church about this. 125

II. Clear Testimonies of Divine Scripture con- cerning Eternity. 1 3$

III. This life, in refpetf of that which is t$ come, is hut as a drop to the Ocean. 145

The Seventh Confideration.

How Cliriftians ufe to paint Eternity. 1 $7

I. Chrifi Inviting. 160

II. Adam lamenting. 162

III. The Raven croaking. 16$

The Eighth Confideration.

How Chriftians ought not only to look up- on

The Contents.

on the Emblems and Piftures of Eter- nity ^ but come home and look within themfeives, and ferioufly meditate up- on the thing it felf. 185

I. Eternity doth not only cut off all comfort and tiff, b.it even all hope a fo. 1 p i

II. EcerRity is a Sea, and a three-headed Hy- dra : It is alfo a fountain of all joy. 1 c 5

HI. Hon Jwtet and frttms the tafte oj E- ternity is. 2co

The Ninth Confidcration.

Seven Conclufions about thefe Confedera- tions or Eternity. 215,217,219,221. 225,227,231. I Toe Pu\i[hm?nts of Eternal death, 242 ) I. The reward of Eternal life, i 53

III. The Cen.lkfan of all, 267

Confidera-

B

THE

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Confiderations Upon

ETERNITT.

THE FIRST

CONSIDERATION, JfW Eternity is ?

SImonidts being asked by C/ftff //j>tfKingofSJa7}', H^jf /ft. i. Go.'i-rp^defiredoneday « A\tf. to confider upon ic ; and after Deor, •one day part, having not yet found it out,defired yet two days more to confider further upon it -, and after two days, he defired three : and to conclude at length he had no anfwer to return unto the King but this, That the more he thought upon it, the moreftill he might 5 for the further he bulled himfelf in the fe*rch thereof, the further he was from B 2 finding

2 The firjl Consideration

finding it. Tlie thing that we are here now tbconOderupon is iternity : andthefirft queftion that offers it felf unto our con- , federation is, lib at Eternity fs? Lib. $ . Boctius faith, That it is akoge- de Conf. therand.at once, the intire and

perfect polieflion of a life that never fhall have an end. And let no man take it ill, if we fay that it cannot he known, and that the more we fearch into it, the more we Jofe our felves in the' fearch of it. For how can that be defined which hath no bounds or limits ? If a- ny man urge us further and defire us to fhadowitout, at leaft by fome, though obfciire,defcription: our anfwer is, True it may eafier be done by declaring what ic is not, rather than what it is ; fo

doth Plato concerning God i In TU J) hit God is, faith he, that I m<eo. {now not? What he is not, that I

fyow. So Aiigufiine Bifhop of Hippo, in his fixty fourth Sermon upon the words of our Lord, defcribeih the true beatitude which is in Heaven, by remo- ving from it the very thought of all evil. lie may more eafdy find, faith he, what is ' not there, than whit is. In Heazen then Is ndthcr grief) nor forroiv, nor penary, nor defeel, nor Jifeafe, nor death, nor any ezil. So may we fay concerning Eternity. For whatfoever

upon Eternity. j

Whatsoever in this life we either fee with our eyes.or lee in by our outward fenies, that is pot Eternal. Fjt 2 C:~. the t ' fate feen, faith 4. 18.

Si. Pud . are temporal^ but the things v: . i Eternal. Hence

every man may fay, This my joy, theft Tny pleasures :'.n:l delights, this treafure, this honour, this (lately building, this life ofmine, all is Tranfitory, nothing Eter- nal. A man can point at nothing which ffcall not perifn and have an end. Indeed the ignorant multitude ufe to (peak after this manner. This frrufturei-s tor Eter- nity, this Monument is everlaftmg. And the impatient Man is went to complain that his pains are without end. But thde Eternities are very fhort, and a Man may eafily in words 'comprehend diem : Say what thou anil of the true Eternity, ti.ou muft needs come fur fhort of ic. So faith Auguftm\ Tim ftyefl In Pfri, ij ttt mi ty wbhfoe 1 1 r tUu wilt : 65. Br. : . : i foyefl wbatfa-

ivertfm wilt, buaufi ibeu canfi not fay alfy fay what thou wilt: Bit tf)erejm t m mnft needs fay fom thing , that jlill t':ot rr.ayifi kaze fometr'ng to thii^wbicb thw can{l not fay. Trifmeiiftns faith, That the Sonl'n the Horhon ot In jf- TimuvA Eternity : F©r, in that -cUf.

B 3. ic

4 The fir ft Co>s(idevatio&

k is immortal, it is partaker of Eternity, and in due it is infilled by God into the Body, ic is partaker of Time. But befcre wc proceed any further, for orders fake fet u: fee what Men of former times, Rod- mans , Grecians, Egyptians-, and others have thought of Eternity. For they ac- knowledged it for certain, and reprefented it divers ways.

G H A P. T.

What Men of former times have thought of Eternity \ and how they have repreftn* ttd it.

FIrft of all , they have reprefented Eteriity by a Ring, or a Circle which hath neither beginning nor ending, which. is proper only to God's Eternity: feeing therefore that God is Eternal, and his du- ration is properly called Eternity, die Egyp* tians viCed tofjgnifie God by a Circle. And the Perft.ins thought they honoured God. mod, when going up to the top of the liigheft Tower, they called him the Circle of Heaven. And it was a cuftom among the Turfy ( as Piirius teacheth at large ) to cry out every morning from an high Tower, God always was, and always will bi > and then to faluce their Mahomet.

The

upon Eternity. 5

The Sarins alfo ufed to call God a Ci ? - c^. Mircurihs Triimegiflhs , whom I n> med before, the moft memorable amongft Philofophers, ( who wrote more Books than any mortal Man betide, it we may be! ieve StltKMS, and Mtntawi 3 faid, That God was an intellectual Sphere, whole / Centre is every where, and Circumfennrt no where : becaufe God's Majefty and im- rrenfity are terminated no where. For this caufe the Ancients buile unto their gods Temples for figure rand. So Wfrnnt Pompillis is faid to have confecrated to Vrfta a round Table at Rom?. So Auguftns Ctfat, in the name of Agrippa, dedicated- to all the gods a round Tern fie, and called it Par.theon. Hereupon Pythagoras, to fhew God's Eternity, taught his Scholars to worfhip him, turning their bodies round about. And there was a Statute made by Mtifcr, ( as Erlflomus whnefTeth ) That they which were about to worfhip God, fhould turn themfelves round. Thereto e God is according to the Ancients, a Circle, but a Circle without a Periphery or C'ltcnm- ference,\\\\ofcCe<:ire is every where; be- caufe God is the beginning and end of all things. Whereupon Job mod j^ _i juftly cries cut, Behold, God is fa • * great, and we {now him not, ltd* tber can the timber of bis years be [e arched out. B. 4., Again.

6 Thefirji Consideration

Again, they have reprefenced Eternity by a Sphere and a 6/0^. Therefore Fan- flint the Emprefl had mony ftampt after this figure and fuperfcription ', There was a Globe on which the Emprefs fate fetch- ing forth one hand, and holding in;the other a Scepter with this Inscription, ETERNITY, Hence it was that many of the Ancients thought the World to be Eternal , becaufe it was Ron-id, ■whom Saint Eafil anfwers very fitly. Lit the 11 or Id be a Circle 5 bid the beginning of the Circle is the Centre.

In the third place they have reprefented Eternity by a Seat : by which is fignified Eternal Reft, The Nafamones, a certain People of Africa, for the moft part did not only breath out their Iaft fitting upon a Seat, but alfo defired to be buried after that portion, as having then attained to Eternity, and a long ceflation from all their labours : As in many places at this day Kings and Emperors are found fitting in Vaults under Earth, in fiknce and mournful Majefty. And it was ufual with the Romans to fupport with fuch like the molten ftatucs of their decea fed Emperors, as having then the fruition oi Eternity, Some there are that thus reafon with themfelves oftentimes. Eehold, I have been along time held and .opprefled with

cares

• ufen Eternity. J

atres and labours: But now why do F not cake feme refpite ? Why do 1 not make fome paufe ? Why do I not reft from my labours ? I have laboured long enough : let others labour as muchas I have done ; for my part IFe reft now and take mine cafe. So they fet up their feats, and pro- mife unco themfe'ves days of reft: buc C alas ! J they are of no long continuance. Thev fee up their feats , and embrace their eafe; but neither in due time ncr place. Oh ! how truly and devoutly doth chat Golden Book, of the Imitation of- Chrift, give us a pul! by the ear, in thefe words, Difpofe and or for Kempk% . all things according to thine own lib. i. ml/ , and tk l/ifi of thine own C, 12. eyes, and yet thou (haittcuer find, bht thou (halt always fuffer one thing, or-. . either willingly or by wijlriht, and . hilt ilwiys hid a Crofs. The whole life of Chrift wasaCrofs, and Marcyr^ dom ; and doft thou feek reft and plea-, fure > Therefore we maft fet up our lea:* in Heaven, and not here, for herca mongfV, fo many troubles it can never ftand quiet 5 . and though all other things fhould fpare, . yet death at lenerlyvill overturn. There is no true reft 'tStib fcped for, buc tliaiv which hEttnal. But if there beany reft ia.cj;h>life,. chh is it, ForaMan to com- B c. mi:

$ The ft ft Confer at ion

mithimfelf, and all that is his to the will qf God, to put his whole truft and confi- dence in him, and to account all other things befide, but vain. So are Ecclus. we taught in Ecchfiaflicus ; Truft ii, 21. in God, and abide in thy peace. Without this reft of the Soul alt other things are meer troubles . a meer Sea of tempeftuous Waves, and the very prefence of Hell. But I return to the An- cients.

In the fourth place they have reprefen- ted Eternity by the Sim and ft&Mosn. The Sun rev iveth every day, although itfeems every day to die,and to be buried. It al- ways rifcth again, although every night it, fetteth. The Moon al fo hath her In Hen- increafe after every wane. Ca- dtcafyl. tkllus hath pretty verfes to this: purpofe.

The Sun doth [ft ■: tht Sun doth rife again. Tioe Day doth clofe } tbe Day doth breal^again. Qnct fit our Sun, again it rifeth nez<cr : OMi clofe our Day oj Lift, it's Night ftr-

wer.

YnHeU there is Eternal night, but m ith-

\ »ut Deep. There they fleepnot, hecaufe

they Hept here, where they fhould have

watched; there they watch, btcaufe here

Upon Eternity y

they flepc in their fins ; indeed not long, but longer they would if they could, yea Eternally. But it is far otherwife wirh thofe that are in Heaven : For a perpetual light fhall fhine forth to the Saints, and Enmity of time, there is reft ; there is pleafure after long labours and watchings. In the fifth pkce, they have reprefen- ted Eternity by the B*JUi& The Bafiiis^ is the moft venomous of -11 Creatures, . and it alone o: all ethers ( as Horns S'dii- cus faith ) cannot be killed by humane force ; yea it is fo virulent, that it killeth herbs with the very breath of ir,that it puts to flight all other ere.; tures with the hifling of it, and that it makes all birds fuddenly filent upon the flrft prefence of it. Mb* - anus reports, that in the defort of Africa a certain beaft fell down being tired, and that the Serpents came together as it were to a feaft, to devour the carkafe, and that th^y prefently ran all away, and hid them- fc-Ives in the Sand, upon the fight of the B.if;!i:4j Eternity whether of " joy or of ■ torment, cannot be fhortned or diminifh- cd,much lets taken away or avoided. Nei- ther is it ftrange if it affright all that are in their rieht wits, with the very thought of it. Infinueare the -windings of this Ba- filisll y unmejfurable and untenable arc the Qrh *0d Ci cmtT of it. Oh Dragon

io TkifrJlC'onfideration-

to be trembled at \ Let us divert a lit Je ta our felves. It comes to pafs fometimes when a Man defcends int® hirnfelf, and rips up his Confcienceby confefllon, thae he finds many Serpents Nefts, and whole broods of Vipers, and thereupon much marvelleih in himfelf, faying, Whence if there fo much venome in my breaft? Whence are fo many fat Snakes, fo many ' grievous and deadly fins? Whence is there fo great an hoft ot Lizards <? Whence fo many filthy and luftfu! cogitations ? I am afraid my felt at fuch a numerous and pe* fiilent brood. But marvel not ; we fhall cafily fhew thee the caufe thereof. A moift and a rude place is very apt to breed Se> pents. Lo then, there is a double caufe 5 the moifkre of the place, and the negli- gence of them that fhould look to ic. So k is in the Soulof Man i if we fpend all our care upon our Body, handling it delicater fy, feeding it daintily, pampering it wit!* feafts, end effeminating it wkh p.'cafures, it mud needs*"Be corifeileci .that the .Soul, the inhabitant thereof, ruth her dwelling in a moift place. Add hitheribthfulnefs, and negleft of Divine Duties. Let no care fee had at all of Salvation ; fo the body be found, and it goeth well with it, let no rer gird be had what happens to the Soul : !et CQAidfon of fm be fddom made unto

upon Eternity. 1 1

God, and when k is, but in a negligent manner : what marveJ tlien » it a multi- tude of Serpens -and poyfonous vermjrve breed there ? But (O good ChriiVtan Bro- ther ) let the Ei (ill Renter into thy b;eafl, that is, the cogitation of Eternity , and thou malt prefently perceive chatchefe ve- nomous beails will foca vanifh away. Thou confefleft that thy heart doth abound with thefe Snakes: It is a-fign therefore thou feldom thinkeft upon Eternity, A- mend therefore,: and now at length begin to think upon this with thy felf, That -which dt light etb is but Moment -any ', but that which Urmnttth is Eternal.

In the fixch placcthey have reprefented Eternity after this manner. There is a -jift diftj full of Horrors : • round abow whiclia Sir pent winds it felf, and in the winding bite, it felf by the Tail. At the right hand of the den fends a yn:g man of abejuti- fwl and pleafant countenance, holding in his right hand a bow and two airows, and in hisleft hand an Harfi. In the very ejt- uance of the Den fits an old man oppef-e, and having his c\esvcry intent upon his Table-Rod^ \ according as the. Ccelefrial Gi:be by its mo icn, or die young mm feu di ng by, dictates unto him, fo he write?. A: che left hand of the d'.n fits a grata fiUiio-i) grey-headed, and having her eyes

always

12 Thefirfl Confederation

always butted. At the mouth of the den there are four ft airs , each higher than o- ther : The firfl is of Iron, the fecond of Brafs, the third of Silver, and the fourth of Gold. On thefe are little Children run- . ningupand down and playing, and never fear the danger of falling. This is the Pi- Hurt : The meaning is this. The Dm fig- nifiesthe incomprenenttbilky ot Eternity : The Serpent that twines it felf about it, Time •, The Tomg man, God ; in whofe hand is Heaven. Earth, and Hell. On Earth, and in Hell are the Arrows of the Lord fattened *, but in Heaven, there is nothing but Joy, and the found of the Harp. The OldMan\sFate,or rather, that which God hath decreed from all Eternity. The Ma- tron,'Nature : The Stain, diftinft Times 2nd Ages: The Children running up and down the Stairs, do fignifie things created, efpecially Man, who is fporting in matters of Salvation, and playing and jetting in the very entrance of Eternity. Alack,alack ! 0 mortal Men, we have played too long amidtt thefe dangers ; We are very near, unto Eternity, even-in the very entrance of it, whilett. we live : Let but deathlightly touch us, and we are prefently fwallowed up of Eternity. Death need not ufe any great power, or fight long againtt us; we ace thrown down headlong in a morrenr,

asd;

npn Eternity. 1 j

and tumble down thefe Stairs into the 0- emt of Eternity. Bethink ycur felves well, you that play upon thefe Stairs, and think upon any thing rather than upon Eternity •, , It may be to djy or to marrow you may be. tranflated from Time to Eternity,

C HA P. If*

The fecrtt fenfe and misting of Scripture is. unfolded,

AFter the Chapter of the Type and Pifture-oi Eternity, the Koly Scri- pture of Divine Truth fhall not unfitly fol- low. When Nebuchadrezzar , King of Babylon, had caft the three Heir em Chil- dren into the fiery Furnace for rerufing to . obey his impious command, the flame is faid to have afcended nine and forty cubi.s above the Furnace. A ftrange thing: Euc rot without a Nhffery. What ? Did any Mm accurately meafure the heigh th there- of? Did any Manarcend andapp!} unto it* a rule, to take the juft meafure ot it ? Was it juft nine and forty cubits, neither mora nor lefs -? Why not fifty ? For we ufe to number thus : Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty*. though the number I c lbmewhcc more or- kls. Here in this place there wants but one of fifty* Surely dicre is a Myflcry ia

14: The firjl Consideration

irj and fome fecret meaning. The num- ber of fifty was wont co fignifie the year of Jubilee. But the flames in the- fiery fur- nace of Hell, although they rage both agamft Body and Soul, and infinitely ex- ceed all the torments of this life, yet they fhall never extend fo far as the year of grace and Jubilee, In Hell there is no year of Jubilee, no pardon, no end of torments. Now, vow, is the time of Jubilee ;. . not every hundred or fifty years , but every hour and every moment. Now one part of an hour may obtain pardon here, which a'l Eternity cannot hereafter. Now is the time, that in one little and fhort day we may have more de'rts forgiven us, than in the fire of Hell in ail years and umes to come hereafter. Let us. add hither another explication?

of Divine Scripture. When die Jofhua. People of God did pafs over Jor- 3. 1 6. dan, the waters which tana down

toward the Sea of the plain ( whidvisnow called the dead Sea } failed;

until there were none. left. And Ecclas in Ecclejiaficus it is faid, There 2c. 12. is that buyeth much for a little*

Thefe two Teftimonies of Scri- pture Galfrid joyneth togerher, and there- upon difcourfeth thus. If Eternal bit- sernefs be due unto thee, and thou maifb

cfcapCi.

upon Eternity. r^

efcape it by tafting of Temporal, certainty thou haft redeemed much for a little, I confefs, it is a Sea indeed in which thou faileft, but yet a dead Sea : and how much art thou bound to give thanks unto God, who, whereas thou haft deferved to be overwhelmed inthefalt, roaring and un- navigable Sea, hath of his great mercy to- ward thee, furTered thee rather to fail in the dead Sea. ( O bleffed change ! ) That fo by the dead Sea thou mayeft pals into the land of the living \ This Writer compares all the adverfities of this lije to the dead Sea, and Eternal punifhment to the fait and unchangeable Sea. No Man can efcape them, he muft needs fall into the one, or m the other. What deft thou, OMan? ( cryes out Saint Chryfoftom, ) Art thou about toafcend up to Heaven, anddceft thou ask me whether there be any difficul- ties by the way ? Whatsoever we do, this dead Sea we muft pafs over : we may, if we will, arrive at the Haven of Tran- quillity, and £f a>w/ Happinefs. Toe Word of God moft high is the Ecclef. Fowtainoj mfdom,andherwayes i. 5. are everla(iing commandments. Through this dead Sea there is no other way into the Region of the living, but the way of God's Commandments. We have a moft clear place of Sciiprare far tec

1 6 The fir ft Covfideration

Mat. 1$. If thou wilt inter into life, ty? 17. the Commandments : This is

the only way to Eternity. If a Corncli- man ffiould ask a Divine of our us a La- times this quefton, What is E- pide. umtjl His anfvver will be, It is a Circle running back in:o i: felf, whofe Centre is Always, and Cir- cumference No where, that is, which never ftiallhave end. What is Eternity ? It is an Orb everyway round, and like Voki- it felf, in which there is neither tur , & beginning nor end. What is ztke- Eternty ? It is a Wheel* tur in A wheel that turns, a n heel that wine turneth ever,

volubi- A wheel that turns, and wiltleavt lis £* turning never.

vnm. What is Eternity ? It is a year-

continually wheeling about, which returns again to the fame point from whence it began , and fhll wheels about again. What is Eternity ? It is an ner-nnning Fountain, whither the Waters after many turnings flow back again, that they may always flow. What is Eternity .' It is an ever- tiling Spring, from whence Waters continually flow, either the moft fweet Waters of Benediclion and blefling, or the mofl hirer Waters of Malediction aad curfing. Wh:<t is Eternity ? It is a

Labyrinth

upon Eternity. Vj

Labjrinth which hah innumerable turn- ings and windings, which always lead them round that enter in, carrying them from, turning to turning , and fo lofmg them. What is Eternity ? It is a pit -without hot- torn, uhofe turnings and revolurions are endlefs. What is Ettrnity * It is a Sfirdk Line, but without beginning ; which hath Circles and windings one within another, but without ending. What is Eirrmtyi It rs a Snal^e bowed bac\ unto it flj orbicu- lar!y,holding the Tail in the Mouth, which in its end doth again begin, rnd never ceafeth to begin, what is Eternity ? It is a deration always prefent, ir is one perpetual day> which is not divided into that which is pad, and tra which is to come. What is Eternity ? It is an Age of Ages, as D>V Ttyjip.s faith, never expiring, but always like it felf, without changing. What is Eternity ? It is a beginning without be- ginning, middle, or end. Ic is a begin- ning, continuing, never ending, alway beginning. In which the Bleiled alway begin a blelred Life, and always abound with new pleafures : in which the Dam- » ned always die, and after all death and : ftruggling with death, always begin again to die and ftruggle with death. As long as God fhall be God, fo long fhall the blefled be bleiled, fo l&ng fhall diey reign

and,

1 8 The firji ConfiAer&tion

and triumph : fo long fhall the damned alio fry in Hell, and yelling cry, We are tormented in this fame, being ftillto be tor- mented and tortured for ever.

CHAP. III.

Why the place of Eternity is called a Manjicv.

JOHN, Patriarch of Alexandria ,. a very dev&at and godly Man, was often wont to go to vifa the fiok, and took with him, for his Companion, Troilm a Bifhop, which had more care of his Mony than of thefick. The Patriarch whifperetb him in the Ear, and feid, I pray thee, Brother, let us help the Friends of Chrift. Where- upon Trains, like a crafty Companion, ecru cealingthedilealcof his mind, to wit, his Covctoufnefs, bad. his Servant give to die Poor all the Mony, which at that time he had about him, to buy other things withal. Not long after it happened thai he fell into a Fever, wlvch his Covctoufnefs h.d caufed : whereof the Patriarch of Alex- andria hearing, and eafily guefEng at the caufeofhisdifeafe, went to vi fit him, and carried with him as much Silver, as he had not long before given to the Tick : and if- ter. a Jittle conference with him, he fa id

thus>.

upon Etirnity. if

ifius, I did but jeft with thee the other day, when I wifhed thee to beftow fome- thing to the relief of the Tick ; and it was becaufe ray fervant had not Mony abouc him. But behold here, in good earneft I reftore unto thee the Mony which thou Iaidft out for my fake, and I thank thee for it. When Troilus faw the Mony told, his Fever began to leave him , and his heat to abate, and in every part he found himfelf much better j whereupon finding himfelf gather ftrength , he'rofe up to Dinner, and fat down to Table. Abouc noon-tide when Dinner was ended, and the Table removed , he went to fleep, and fweet.'y took hiseafe, and dreamed that he faw a very (lately Edifice, and in the pwttffpitct thereof over the Gate, this infeription , Manfio JEjttrn& & Re quits Tioili Epifcopi j In Englifh thus, 77;c- Em- ml Marfan and Rejiing place of Bi'lop Troilus. He was very much delighted with this dream. But not long after he had another Vifion that troubled him. For there came one with a company of Work- men, and gave them a ftrid charge, fay- ing, Takeaway that Infeription, and put this in the place there, Minfto Mterni &\ R-^des Jthannis Archie pifcopi Alexan- dria , tmfts Hods triginta argtnti ; In Engiifh thus, Toe Eternal Marfan and

Refting

20 The firjl Consider at ion

Rifling place of John Archbifhop of Alex* andria, which he bought for thirty pounds. With this Yifion he was very much af- frighted : but he made a very good ufe of it. Forprefently, of an hard and cove- tous Man, he became liberal and charita- ble, efpecially to fuch as were in need. So much did the very dream of an Eternal Manfion prevail with him.

But Oh ye rather blefled Manfions, and therefore blefled, becaufe Eternal I Oh, how exceedingly doth Chrift defirethac we fhould loath and forfake thefe our Ta- bernacles, and ruinous Houfes, and with earned defire make hade unto thofe Eternal MavponsX In my Fathers houfe, faith he, are many Manfions : No Man is kept back from thence but by himfdf. The place excludes no Man : for it is exceeding large. Tin:.e fhuts out no Man : for there is a Maafion, and that Manfion is Eternal,

A Prayer.

O Eternal and merciful God, O Eter- nal Truth, 0 true Love, 0 beloved Eternity ; So cure our blindntfs, that by thefe prefent and fhort forraws tve may be fraught to fyow, and Jo efcape the future,

horrible,

ttpon 'Eternity. 2 1

fanible, and Eternal punishments. Direct us, and teach usfo to pojfefs things perijhing and Temporal, that finally we loft not the things which an Eternal. Teach us jo to lament for our fins committed, that we may efcape -Eternal pmjbaents. Teach us fe to behave oar [elves in the Houje of our Filgri- tnage, that we be not (hut out of the Eternal Manftons. Teach us fo to make our pro grefs in the way, that at length wt may ty rt* ceivtd into our Country.

THE

^7

'Thf.virgetuaJL hills did hawe. his tv ayes art evirhferuj.JCabac:^.

thzSahutuuder, $u Ba/iIi/i1ike'Pkenvc^t£

golden- rinabieji. upon eart/lputiis tn.vwtde of'Etermix^'. but onefyM^edltef'nittz-. can make- rs eternatLin heaven. .

2J

THE SECOND

CONSIDERATION

Upon

ETERNITT.

In whit things Nature reprefenteth Eternity.

TH E Idolaters themfelves therefoj^ have acknowledged an Eterniim fuch as it was, and have defaJJI bed icalfoby certain figns : For God him manifefkd it unto them, fo that they are without excnfe. How Rom.u much dearer therefore, and in 20. what great eftecm ought the confederation thereof to be amongft all Chriftians, to whom Eternity is better re- prefented, and in a more lively manner! Tlwefore thou art in- Rom. 2 1 txcufabUy 0 min, whofoeitr thou r. arty that being often put in mind of Eternity , doth as otten let it flip out of thy memory. Thou haft often in thy fight and before thine eyes, Rings and Circle st Sfbtrssund QlobiSy Sun and Men : If thou C looked

£4 Tl)t fecondConfideration

lookefr upon any of thcfe, they will put thee in mind ot Eternity. Nature her felt' like a good Mother hath expcfed them to publics view, that, when we fee chem, or near cf them, we might be invited to me- ditate upon Etmrity.

Solinus reports that there is a Stone in Arcad.li czWedAsbsftos, which being once (et on fire doth continually burn: Where- fore in times pad they were wont in Tem- ples and Sepulchres to make Lib. 21. Lamps of it: of which St. Au- diChit. £ujline maketh mention. I add cap. $. that Pliny y VolaXivinuSy Diofco i- de sy and many others tell ftrange wonders of a certain kind of tine or Flax, which is called by divers names : For fome call it limm Asbeftinum , ethers Cary- fliim, others Indicum, and others Linim vivnm.

This is not only not contained by fire, but alio is pureed and cleanfed ; wherefore the dead Bodies of Kings heretofore, when they were to be put into the fire, and to be burned, ufed to be wrapped about with a Linnen cloth made thereof, to keep their affoes from confufion, and to diflinguhh them from others. Ot fuch Flax Niro had a Towel, which he efteemed of more price than Gold and. precious Stones. Behold, INdtmv her felf, like a Mijirtfs and Guide,

Leaded)

upon Eternity. 2 5

lendeth chec by the hand, and poinedi thee to a thing which the fire hath no po .ver to confume. So (hall all die damned 3urn* but never fliall burn out. They fhall al- ways burn, but never be confumed ; they fhall leek for death in the flames, but fna.it not rind it. Therefore juftly doth one cry o\i:,0 wo Eternal \that never (hall have end \ 0 end without end ! 0 In Horo- death more grievous than all death, log. fa- Always to die , and never to be fien.Ifa. quite dead ! So faith dirine /- 66. 24, fuiah, Toeir fire never fhall be Aev<z,$ quenched : And die Angel hi the Revelation, They (hall defer e to die : and death {hall flee from them.

That the Salamander for a little time can indure, and live in the fire, befide A- riflotle, Pliny, Galen, /Elian, Diofceridi .-, S. Auguflim alio himfelf believed. This creature is very cold , and generated ot Oiowers •, the Sun and drought are death to it -, Therefore, according to Pliny, it en- dures in the flame like Ice. Of the Skin thereof lights are made for perpetual bur- ning Lamps. God who made the SaUm&n- der of Earth and Clay, hath of his goodijefs formed Man, though of the fame matter, yet of a more excellent and noble nature. He hath made him a little lower than the Angils, PJal. 8, 4. He hath afiigned un- C 2 te

2 6 The fecond Confideration

to him after this life the fellowfhip of the fame Kingdom with the Angels. But ma71 bring in honour had no under (landing, and •was compared unto the beads that" perifo, Pfal. 49. 20. By his own malice he mad£ himfelf fuch a Salamander, that muft al- ways live or always die in Eternal flames. In tlTofe fiery prifons of Hell, all things are Eternal ; but thefe fix things tfpeci- ally.

CHAP. I.

What things are Eternal in Hell.

TH E damned himfelf is Eternal and dycih not. No Man can make an end of himfelf, or another. They (hall fetl^ death, and (hall not find it, Rev. 9. 64 Yea the very defire of death, inasmuch as their defire cannot be fatisfied, fhall greatly increafe their torments.

2. T\)t Prifon it felt is Eternal', It can ne- ver fall to ruin, it can never be broken down, it can never bedigged through. It is barred up with rocks and mountains -, The locks and bars are fo firm and ftrong, that none can get out. If any of the dam- ned fhould by God's permifTion before the day of judgment come out from thence, )'ec ftlll he fhould carry an Hell about

him,

upon Eternity. 1J

him , and never be free from torment.

3. lh? fire there is Eternal. Chrift him- felf in Matthev? faith as much expreflv ; Mdltbi 25. 41. Depart from me'yt curfed in- to everlafting fire, or fire Eternal. Doft tlnu hear this word, Eternal; The anger of the Lord doth kindle this fire , and ic fhall never be put out. To this beareth Ifaiah witnefs, faying, Tue breath of the Lord like a ftmm of Brim flow doth k*ndte it, it fhall burn night and day, and fhall not be quenched, the fmo\e thereof {ball af~ and up forever and ever, Ifaiah 30. 33. Ifaiah 66. 24. Rev. 14 n. Eternal fu-

■ nifhmerrts, and Eternal Life are \ Relate, as St. Auguftine (peak- Lib.12. . ethj and Re lutes are of like de Ch, continuance : To fay therefore, c. 23. that Eternal Life fhall be with- out end, and Eternal pnifyment fhall have an end, is very abfurd. Who thereiorc vrill defer his converfion ?

4. As the things mentioned before are Eternal, fo is the Worm, and conference tormented with deep defpair for the life paft, I fa. 66. 24. their tvorra (hall not die : So prcphefied Ifaiah. The Peers of old tranflated this out of Holy Writ into their Fables: For what is that 77/^*5, of whom Virgil feigneth, That a flying Vulture every day gnaws and tears his Liver, which is

C 3 eve,y

2 8 The fecondC on federation

every night again repaired and made up, that every day the Vulture imy have more pre\ to gnaw upon ? What is the Vulture but the Worm we fpeak of ? And what is *theZiwr,but the Conjci'.nce always gnawn, and tormented ?

$. To this Etmity of Hell belongcth al- fo the iafi fgntme,. and thcUfl Degree pro* »ourced by Chrift the Judge : A decree (Alas!) irrevocable, immutable, Eter- nal. There is no Appealing from it; If the fcntcxce be once pronounced by the mouth of this judge, it funds irrevocable for all Eternity In Heil there is no re- demption, not any, no not any ; but Eter- nal defperation. The Blood of Chrifi when it was newly poured out on the Mount of Golgotha, though of infinite effi- cacy for fatisfacticn, yetreacheth net un- to the damned. Ij the yofy of the Lord, faith Saint Bernard, be a yofy of Repen- tance, you thinl^thatin itfelfitisnotfweet: But this you muft tyow, That it is moft fvreet, if it be compared "with the fire of -which it isfaidy Depart from me ye cuffed i«- to ever lafiing fire, Mat. 25 41.

£. The Prmifhment or Fain oflofs alio, as they call it, is Etemsl, being the priva- tion of the fight of God forever, which together with all the other torments of the damned (hall never have end : becaufc

there

ufon Eternity. 29

there can be nc place for fatisfacYon . I c f although thefe torments fha',1 co/.tinue in- finite millions of years, yec there (hall not one day, no no^ one hour, no nor fo much as a momem of reft and refpite be grant- ed. There [hall be viciffkudc and variety of torments, but to their greater pain and grief. Chrift often fore old it by Mat- thew in plain words, Mat, 8. 12. The children of the Kingdom fbtU be ea(l okt into utter darhiefs ; there (ball be weeping and gnashing oj teeth : Tvejjnnfa for heat ; and gnawing oj teeth, for cold. Kqu then can Man be To forgetful of himfeif and God r How can he lo degenerate into a beaft ? Yea rather, how can he become like a rock, or a ftonc, fo fcnfelefs, as when he ftiall think upon the unfurTerable and un- utterable torments of Hell, which sever fhall have end, then not to fear and trem- ble, and fay with himfeif thus, I am for certain in the way to Eternity, and I know not how foon I may come to my journeys end : I fit on the ftairs of Etinnty, and every little thruft is ready to. plunge me into the bottomlefs pit? But if itfeemlo grievous and intolerable for a man to lye, though but for one night, on a foft Fea- ther-bed , and never fleep or dole his eyes, but to figh and groan for pain in his head , or any other member for the C 4. tooth-

%o The fecond Conjtderat ion

tooth-ach, or for the ftone : If the night ieemslong, and the clay a great way off, and the Sun to flack his coming .♦* And yet, as I faid, lie lies upon a good Feather-bed, and if he will have but a little pacience,he may hope to find eafe in the day, and help from the Phyfician, Al.xk, Alack ! how intolerable fhall it be to lie night and day in the fire, for a thoufand and a thoufand, and again, I lay, a thoufand years ! How intolerable fhall it be, there to watch, to hunger, jto thirft, to burn, to be tormen- ted extrearary in every part, and not to !iope for any reft, or fo much as a drop of cold Water \ but to be always in defpair, and fo to fry and to be torcured for infinite millions of ages, and to be fo far from 'finding any end, as never to be able to

hope for any end ! There, faitk Di Thomas > one hours punifhment

Ckrifl. fhall be more grievous, than an imltit. hundred years here in the mod lib, i. bitter punifhment that can be, tap, 24. There is no reft, no confolation

to the damned, Pfal. 6.1.0 Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chaflen, meinthy hot dif pie afar e, Pfal. 25.7. Re- member not the Jim »f my. youth, nor mytranfr grefions, Unlefs thou wilt have mercy , O God, I muft needs perifh,

CHAP,

Upon Eternity fi

CHAP. II.

nty Hell is Eternal.

TT'Ere ariferh a queftion, which is won 1JL thy co be known of all Men, How it can be, thattGod, who is good and mer- ciful, and whofe mercy is over all his works, mould notwithstanding punifh even one mortal fin, committed, it may be, in a mornen:, and in thought only •, how he mould punifh fuch a fin, I fay, for all Eternity; and fo punifh it, that ic fhall - deferve fYill always to be.punifhed: and though millions of years be paffed, yec ic fliall never be faid, This fin hath" been fufficiently punifhed, it is enough, he Itath made facisfaction for the wicked: thought, by which he hath offended God. What then ? Hath God for one fin, and that in though- only, decreed the pu~ nifhment of everlafting fire ? What equa- Key is there in this, for a momentary fin, ■ to appoint an Eternal punifhment? Why doth bleffed Dazid cry out, 0 givt thanks unto the Lord, j for he is- good, and his mercy tndveth jor ever ! Pfal. 106, I. 107. j. 118. 1. 17,6. 1. and why doth he repeac k twenty "(even times, if God be fo fevere ? To this S. Auguflin, Gregory, Thomas A~ ■ rx, and other J anfwer, That in every G < mortal;

J 2 The fecond Con ^deration

mortal fin the offence of its own nature ii infinite, becaufe it is an injury againft the infinite Majeftyof God. Again, He that dyeth guilty of a mortal fin without repen- tance, doth as much as if he mould fin Eternally: For if he might live Eternally,. he would fin Eternally : He hath not loft a will to fin , but life in which to fin, ftill being ready to fin, if he might live ftill \ So he doth not ceafe to fin, but doth ceafe to live. Further it is to be confidered, That a damned Perfon can never make fatisfa&ion, though he fhould pay never fo much \ For being an enemy, and not in favour with God, his payment is not worthy acceptation ; feeing that he him- felf is not accepted with him. Neither in- deed, to fpeak truly, can he be faid to • pay any thing -,, becaufe he doth nothing, . but furters only pumfhraent , «nd that aga'mft his will. We will make the nut- ter yet more plain by a familiar example.. Suppofe a man fhould borrow of his neigh- koar a thoufcnd Croons, and for the ufe thereof make over the Rent of his Houfe unto him for ever. Iciruy he in twenty yesrs he may thus repay the fam. of Mo- ney borrowed , But what then ? Is he tiil;y difcharged of all the cieb: ? Both ihere remain nothing to be paid? The. principal remains fall as due to be paid,

upon Eternity. g J

as if there had been nothing at all paU. For this is the nature of fuch Jones, that although the yearly ufe be paid, ftill the principal remains entire,and due to be paid. So it is with the damned *, For although, they fhou'.d pay never fo much j yet they can never get out of debt : They are debtors ftill, Jnd ever fhall be, la. i. 31. The flronz (hall be as tow, and the ma- {croj it as a fparitf tbfj 'hall both burn to- gether, an i none {hall (punch them. Suetonius reports of Tiberius Ct- Suit. * far,, that being Petitioned unto lib. 5,. by a certain offender to haften cap. 6,. his punifhment, and to grant him a fpeedy dhpatch , he midc him this anfwer, Nondum tecum in gratiam redii, Stay Sir, Ton and I art not yet friends*. thrift is a mof- juft Judge, no Tyrant, no Tiberius. And yet if one of the damned arter a thoufan'd years burning in Hell ihju'd beg and intreat for a fpeedy death,, lie would anfwer after the Cine manner, Nondum tecum in gratiam redii, S:a\y Ton and I an not ) it friends. If a'.tera thou- fund years more he fhould ask the fame thing, he mould receive the fame- anfwer, m tecum In gratiam reditu Stay, Tut cri I are nor yet jrii'ids. If after \i\\ hun- dred thousand years yet more, yea roil- boos 0: years, hefhouUasfe again, again *

34 The \ feconetConfideration

ile fhould receive the fame anfwer, Non- dum ttcum in gratiam redii, Stay, Ton and I are not yet friends. The time was, I offered robe thy friend ', but thou wouldfl not 5 yea, thy Fa'ber, but thou, wouldft not. I offered thee my grace a thoufand and a-thoufand times •, but thou rejcttedft ifc This I knew right well, and! held my peace, and further expefted, forcy, fifty,, fixty years, to fee if thou woukift change thy mind and courfeof life. But there fol- lowed no ferious or true repent mce. Thou haft fet at nought alt my counfel, and wouldeft none ef my- reproof. Tim haft hated in- flruftion, arid ha[i cafl my words behind thee, Prov. i. 25 Pfal. $0- 17. Eat therefore die fruit of thine own ways, and be tilled with thy own counfels. Prcv. 1. 26. 1 wiM* laugh at thy definition for ever : neither ihall my juftice after infinite ages give thee any anfwer but tliis. K end um tecum 'v: gra- tiam redii, Stay, Ton and I au net yet jri.nds. O Cod 'which art in Heaven! O fin which throweft men headlong into hell, the hell of torments, and into the.bottom- tefspitof Eternal f»aih! But righteous m *Im> 0 Lark and upright are thy judgments.. Pfal. 1 J 9. i$7> Juft and right.it. is, that he which would not by repentance ac- cept of mercy when it was cfil-rrcL. %o-M . by punifhment. be . tormented^

sad

upon Eternity. 35-

and have" juflice without mercy for ever.

CHAP. III.

Other motives to tht con/Me* ztion of Ettrnityy draw* from Katun.

B.U T I return to the School of Nature, to confidcr further upon Eternity. There are found hot Baths in certain Moun- tains and Rocks, whofe waters -in running make fuch a noife and murmuring, that the difeafed perfons that reibrt thithf cure, if at that entrance into die they do but imagine they tear mafic ftruments,aud an harmonious cohfort,they have their ears (0 dulled with the a ntirraal Qp! fe thereof, tha: the mufick whi - 6r(l

vect unto them, becomes ac by their imagination working upon it* ve- ry loathforne, and a torment unto :cm : But if they imagine they hear a Dr: r , or any other loud lc unding inftrument, they

ithgrcw almoft mad with the :oiCe thereof djily moleftingand troubling leru. From whence aliq *.ve are led, as it were by the hand, to the consideration or Etn> riltu The weeping and wailing, yelling ami crying which is heard at the firft en- moitth under thofe infernal mous :

3 6 The fecond Conjtderatioft

mountains (hall never ceafe, but (hall tor- ment the damned without end, and be no whit mitigated by time and long-fuffer- ance. But on the contrary the Blefled in Heaven fhall without wearinefs hear the Jhrict Holy fang , Holy, Holy, H«ly ', yea, and the more they he^ri:, the more they fhall be delighted with the found thereor. Chrift in his Conference with the Women, of Szmzria, makes often mention of Eter- nity, and life cverlafting. Whofoever drinl^ tth of the water that. I (hall give him, fhall ntur rhirft : But the wattr that I [hall give him, [hall bt in him a well of -rvatir, fring- ing Hp unto evtrla fling life, John 4. 14. I would we d d thirft with the Woman of Samaria after thofe waters, and earncftly pray tor them : 0 Lord give mt of this wa- ter, that 1 thirfl net, John 4, \ $. Give me, OChrift, though but adrok of this water,, that is, f$mt thirfl and defire after Eternal life. In the yea: after the Nativity of cur Lord fourfcore and one (as Suetonius, Dion, and Plinius Secnndus tell at large } on the firft day of November, about feven of the Clock, at the Mountain .^;/k;".,'j in Cam- famar, there was an horrible eruption of fire, before which there went an unufual drought, and grievous Earthquakes. There Was 2Kb heard a noife under Earth, as if ic , had been thunder. The Sea roared and,

made.

npn Eternity. 37

sircle a noife •, the Heaven thundred as if mountains had in conflict met together ? . great ftenes were feen to fall y the Air was filled with fmoak and fire mixt together ; the Sun did hide his head. Whereupon ic was thought by many that the World was almoft at an end,and that the laftday was come, wherein all ftiould be confumed. wich fire : For there was fuch abundance of afhes fcattered up and down over Land, and Sea, and in the Air, that there was much hurt done amongft Men :ndCattle9. and in the fields, that Fifh and Fowl were deftroved, that two Cities, the name of the cne was Herculanum> and the name of the other Pswpiii, were utterly rumed. Thefe and fuch other like Cazirns in the. Ear.h, with Precip ices and ftrj maintains always flaming, but never going our, are lively example: given us by God, to paras in mind 01 the fire of Hell, in which the Bodies of the curfed /hall be always burn- ing, but never be burnt out. Concerning this you may read Ttrt.lli- a», Minutiusy and Pad an. Tirtid.Apol. See, O m.in, how provident- c ^B-MtnuU ly even Nature her felt' doth iaCcl. Pa-- go before thee, and as it dan. dt /w- were lead thee by the hand nitent. & to the contemplation of £- cmftff, ttmitfr

3 8 The fecond Confident ion

To conclude, ThisTime of ourscarrieth. with it fome fign and print of Eternity, Nature fain would have us learn the thing fignified by the fign, and take a fcantling. of Eternity by the little modnle andmez-

fure of time. It is the faying. In Sent, of St. AHguftine, This is the dij- fen. 270. fertnee between things Temporal

and Eternal : We Jove things Temporal mote before we have them, and efteem them not fo much when we have them : for the foul cannot be fatisfied but with true 2nd iecure Eternity , and joy which is Eternal and incorruptible. But things Eternal , when they are actually pffelfed, are much more loved than before, when they were only deftred and hoped for: For neither could Faith believe, nor Hope expect fo much as Charity and Love fhallfind when once we fhall be admitted to poffeffion. Why then doth not Earth feem vile in our eyes, efpecially when we muft er'e long forfake it ? And why do .we hot with ardent defirelift up our eyes to , Heaven where we (hall inherit a Kingdom, , Md that Eternal,..

TU E

±7

Thou art? weighed in ihe. haUances t artJvtmcL wanting .D cut; %. %y ,

"That man reaardetL twtEtermti^

who wetqheth- 1iis money more,

accurately then, his Uf& .

4i

THE THIRD

CONSIDERATION

Upon

ETERNITT.

Wbtmn the eld Remans principally placed their Enmity.

PLtiius Secundus thought Epift. 2* thofe Men happy, which ad Tat, either did things worthy to!:ewro:e, or wrote things worthy to be ^ad j but thofe men of ali raoft happy,, which could do both. So the Romans thought they might three manner of ways eternize their fame, and tranfmir their names unto pofterity. Firft they wrote many excellent things ; many excellent in- deed, but not al/y not all chart, not all holy :. They commitced to writing their own blemifhes, iheir difhoneft loves, and filthy lufts •, But this was no honeft or Kings highway to Eternity. How many Books have died before their Authors, and accor- ding to FJatYi have been iikeunto the Gar-.

dens

42 The third Confider at ion

dens of Adonis : asfoon dead asfprungup ! They pleafed net long which quickly plea* fed. But fuppofe the Books of all the Ro~ mans fliould out-live time, and be always extant and expofed to pubfick yiew, yet they fhould not be able to give life unto their Authors.

ftgak$ tne Romans d\d not only write, but alfo did many brave works worthy to be recorded by the pens of eloquent and learned men, and thefe works were of di- vers kinds. They fought Eternity in many things, but found it in nothing, as we are taught to believe. They were great ( we do not deny it) in civil and warlike affairs, at home and abroad : admirable for their skill in Arts and Sciences : Magnificent and profufe in fetting forth Shews, and be- flowing Gifts : wonderful even to aftonifh- ment for ftately Buildings, Tombs, Vaults, MonHments and Statues, as you may guefe by thefe few particulars,which I wiilhrief- Iv run «ver.

Anguflks, in his own name, and at his own proper charges, fet forth Plays and Games four and twenty times, and at the charge of the common Treafury, three and twenty times : and never a one of thofe Colt him under two Millions and five hun- dred thoufand Crowns ; and this fo great | a fum of Mony, I fay, was all laid out

upon

u]>on Eternity. 4 J

upon one fhew. The very meaneft and cheapeft that ever Augkfns fet forth, came to a Millioa two hundred and fifty thou- fand Crowns.

Ntro gilded over the whole Theatre ; the Ornaments^ of the tyring Hou(e and Comical implements he made all of Gold : To thefe you may add fquare pieces of Wood or wooden Lots fcattered amongfl the People, which had for their Infcripti- ons, whole Houfes, FieIds,Grounds,Farrns, Slaves, Servants, Beads, great fums of Sil- ver, and many times Jewels a great uum- ber : To whofoevcrs Lot fell *ny one of thefe, he prefently received according to the infcrip.ion.

The fame Nero for a Donative to a com- mon Soldier, commanded to be told two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns.

Agripfiua ( Ner/i Mother 3 caufeth the like fum of Mony to be laid upon a Table, thereby fecretly reprehending and labour- ing to reftrain her Sons profufenefs. Where- upon Nero perceiving that he was toucht, commanded another fum to be added as great as the former, and laid thus, Nefci- ebim me tarn farm dedifle, I forgot my felf in giving fo little.

The fame Ntro entertained at Rome for nine Months together King Tiridates, and was every day at coft for him twenty thou-

fjnd

44 The third Conner ution

fand Crowns, which came in nine Months to five millions and forty thoufand Crov^ns. And at his departure he gave him for a Vi- tticm, or to fpend by the way, two mil- lions and an half. What mould I tell you of their llately and magnificent buil- dings >

Caligula the Emperour made a Bridge over an Arm of the Sea , three Miles long.

There were Temples in Rome four hun- dred twenty four, moil of them were mag- nificent.

Domitian fpent upon the fole gilding of the Capitol, feven millions.

On the Stairs of the Ampkitkeattr, which were made all of Stone, there might fit ve- ry conveniently, fourfcore and feven thou- fand fpedators ; above, there might ftand round about twelve thoufand. In all four- lcore and nineteen thoufand.

Befides many others, there were twelve publick Baths made by the Emperor, where Men might bathe gratis.

In the hot Baths of Antoninus , there were of polifhed ftone one thoufand and fix hundred feats, and there might fo ma- ny men bathe themfelves very conveni- ently.

In the Bath of Hetrufcus, as Pliny faith, all were of Silver, the paflages for the Wa- ter,

upon Eternity \ 4 5

ter, tlie lips of the Bath, and the very floor it felt. But I pafs to other things.

At Rome there werealmoft as many Szu tues asMen, of no worfe matter than Sil- ver and Gold, befide infinite others of Brafs, Marble, and Ivory.

Domitian had one of Gold in the Capi- tol, of an hundred pound weight.

Commodus and Claudius had alfo Statues of Gold, each of them being of a thcu- fand pound weight. CUudius had alf© in the place at Rome ca'led Roflra, another of Silver. Hereupon thfcre was a certaia Officer appointed, who was called the Count of Rome, on whom there attended a great many Soldiers continually to guard and look to' the great number of Statues.

The way which4s-caj]ed Appii, will ex- ercife a nimble foocman five days in run- ning it over. It reached in length, from Rome to Cdpuiy f©broad,thattwo Coaches might meet, and never trouble one ano- ther ; fo folid and firm, as if it were ill of one flone, in no place Ioofe or broken up. There were alio more ways like unto this. It is incredible what good Authors do write of their Conduits and Aqueducts.

CUudius the Emperonr beftowed about one, feven Millions of Gold and a halt -y and there were maintained fix hundred Men with die only keeping and looking to

the

46 ThethirdConfideration

the waters. Thefe were great works in- deed, but the Authors thereof in part de- fended reprehenfion for their immoderate profufenefs. There was at Rome one thing that furpafled their ftately build- ings, but ( as for name, to fay no worfe, and to fpare your ears) difhonourable, and not fit to be named. They had certain Vaults under earth built with Arches, you may call them the finks of tlie City ( they called them Cloacas ) running with water, to carry away all the filth of the City. Of thefe there were fo many, fo large, and fo long, that you may well reckon them amongft the wonders of the World. I need not inftance any more : thefe which I have named are furhcient. He that is any thing converfant in Hiflories, or hath heard of the great power and wealrii of the Romans in former ages, will eafily believe my relation : if he will norbelieve me, let him believe the teftimony of Sue-' ttnius, Dion, Caflius, Pliny, Livy, and others that have wrote of the Roman Mo- numents.

Thefe things which I have reckoned up, are very laudable in themfelves. But they governed their Common-wealth fo prudently, that in War for die moft part they were unconquerable, for Arts and Sciences excellent, for Venue illuftrious ^

in-

npon Eternity. 47

jnfomuch, that Cyneasm Ambaflador fenc from Pyrrbus, a very eloquent and intel- ligent man, when he had all in vain folici- ted the City to make a League with his Lord and Matter, which League could not (land with the honour of the Romans* upon his return told the King, That he. thought the city to be a Tempk, and all the Senators, Kings. Herein the Romans were •highly to be commended: but in this they were much overfeen ( though other- wife very prudent men ) in placing their Eternity in fuch tilings as neither could give unto them nor had in themfelvcs Eternity, If the Romans had made choice of Saint Augu[tint for their guide in the "way to Eternity, he would hare mewed them a more certain and readier way. For what faith he ? W? do not account tbofe Ev- ferours happy which ha-je reigned long, $r which have often triumphed as Conquerors tn/tr their Enemies, or -which have treafured up much wealth, Thefe things often happen t» thofe that have no right or title to the King- dom which is Eternal. Who then m Saint Augkfiine's opinion are to be accounted tmly'happy ? Hearken, O ye Emperoursr Oye Kings and Princes: You mall in Saint Aug ■< (tint's ftnfe abtjin true and Eternalhzp- pinefs, by the obfervation of thefe Rule* folio wine.

D i. TV.

48 The third Consideration

1. The Rule oijuflice. By ruling juft" ly, and hating the very vizard and paint" ed face of injuftice.

2. The Rule of Mode fly. By not being puffed up by the vain applaufes, acclama- tions and titles of honour, but by remem- bring your felves to be but men.

3. The Rule of the Fear and Love of God. By propagating by all means the true Worfliip of God \ by fubjefting all humane power to his Divine Majeily y by ferving him in fear and love,

4. The Defire of Heaven. By fetting your love and affection upon the kingdom which is Eternal, where one fhall not envy anothers power.

5. The Rule of Facility, and readinefs to forgive. By being fwift to forgive, and flow to punifh, but when the glory of God, and the neceffity of the Common-wealth callcth for it.

6. Mercy and Liberality. By temper- ing the feverky of the Laws by the Oyl of Mercy, and the fvveet odour of bene- ficency.

7. Centinency. By not giving the Reins to Luxury, but by bridling your appetites a;ul concupifcences ; and the more liber- ty ycu have, the lefs abufing it unto licen- tioufnefs.

8. Moderation ef PaJJions. By choofing

rather

upon Eternity. 49

rather to get the conqueft over evil PaP fions, chan by domineering over Na- tions.

9. The ftudy of Humility ^ and Praytr, By doing all chefe, not for vain-glory, but for the glory of God, and the atcainmenc of Eterml felicity : and again, by never negle&ing that nioft noble facrifice of Hu- mility and Prayir.

Thefe Rules or Laws hath Sz. Av- guftine fixed upon the double gates of the World, are a glafs fit for Princes to look into. Bur, O ye Romans, how far have ye gone aftray from the way that leadeth unto the gates whereon thefe Laws arc fixed ! Not to fpeak of other things, you have inftead of one and the only true God, brought in innumerable others, towor- fhip them which are no Gods. For Rome feemed to make it a great matter of Reli- gion , to refufe no falfity -y and when (he rulethalmoft over all Nations, to ferve and follow the errors of all Nations.

But to let thefe things pais alfo : how vain and ridiculous a thing is it for them, to leave behind diem all their Eternity in Parchments and Papers, in Marble and other Stone , in Theaters and Pyramids, in Monuments and Tombs ! What is now become of their Eternity which was fome- tiree carved m Stone? The lame hath D 2 hapned

^o The third Ccnfideration

hapned unro Rome, which alf§ betel Je- malm. The Difciples pointing at the buildings of the Temple at JerafaUm, faid unto cur Saviour Chrifl, Af after. See what manner of flones, and what buildings art berel Mark 13. 1. Whereupon Chriftan- fwered and faid, See ye all theCe buildings * Verily I fay unto you, there jha.ll not be left here one ft one upon another, that (ball not be thrown down, Matth. 24. 2. So there is nothing Eternal in this World. And where is now old Rome ? If this queftion be de- manded : the anfwer may be this, Here it was. Where are they that built it? Tiny are dead and gone. TheTe is not fo much as their Afhes left of them. And ere long we muft all go the fame way, become like a fliadow, return unto duft, and be refol- ved into nothing. Oh the poor and mean condition of mortal Men, even at the greateft ! Oh the inftability and frailty of the ftrongeft Men, even in the prime of all their fh*ength ! For whac is now be- come of all thofe things, or where are they ? They are quite zanijhed away. Where is their Mony, which they heaped up be- yond belief? "Tis pattered abroad. Where are their (lately and lofty buildings? Tbey are not to befeen. Such are all things cKc, theugh to us they feem never fo great, Too- thing elfe but a rneer fhadow, and a dream,

if

upon Eternity, 5 1

if they be compared with &emty, and th ofe rh: ngs which are Eternal. T.-ie fou n- d.:t;on on which the whole fabrick of va- nishing glory is fct up , is coo weak and mouldering, and made bu: of Clay, Scone nnd Marble canaoc be ingraven with Chi- rafters and Infcrlptions of Eternity. We'd fimhLaffjJttius, Tbi worlds of m or til mm are mortal. Thar, there wis. zBab)lon, a TV 7, a Carthage, and a Row > we be- lieve : Eu.: it we will believe no more than we fee, there be fear ce any reliqaes or rui- nous parrs of them remaining', to per- fwade us that there were fucfc Cities. So the feven wonders of ciie world, fo tor 0*5 golden Palace, Diocletian's hot Biths, At- tvihshh Baths, Sezews his Sepcizoni'um, JiUita his Cololfus Pompefi Arnplrrhca- ter, have no footftep or prin: of them remaining; no, i'circe upon Record, or rc^fftered in Books. And how far have a' I of thefe come fhort of Eternity.

CHAP. I.

How far the Romans base gone apij from tbttTKtwa) of Lttrnity.

AT Narjrttb, in a certain Conclave, callea by the name of the Bleffed Virgin, there is in one place mention made D 2 of

52 The third Consider At ten

of a Kingdom, Of which Kingdom there (hail be no end, Luk. 1.35. Such was roc the King- dom of Solomon : for that 1: fled but four hundred years, even to the Captivity of Ba- bylon. Such was not the Kingdom of the Ro- /^«,nekheroftheP^/jtf;,nor yet of the Grecians. Far where arenowthofe King- doms in former times mod- flsurifhing ? Where are thofemeft ancient Monarchies j Flow great was Ntb:>chidr.f\\er in Cbaldea apdSpis, and zrter him Bel'kwyir? From them the Scepter was tranflatf d unto the jv.edes and Per pans, to Cyrus and Darius. Neither continued it there long. From thence it was transited iwen Greece, to A- lexander, furr.amed the Great, 1 ing of Ma- cedon, for along time moil victorious and fortunate. Eut as warlike valour decayed,io fortune failed. And fo the Scepter was tran- slated into Italy to Julius Ctfar, and Ocla- "iiar.us Augustus. What is become of all thefe Kings? Where are they? Eut thcu, O Chriftian man,feek that Kingdom, Of. which Kingdom there (hall be no end. Kamanthiz, Athens, Carthage, and Sparta, all are come fo an end, they are utterly perifhed. But as for the Kingdom which is above, Of that there- fkall be no end. The King that ruleth there \s Eternal, v:.d thofe that live in that Kingdom are Eternal. The Lord fhzll reign m ever And ew, Exod. 15. 14. On which ' vords3

upon Eternity. 5J

words, faith Origin, Dofl thou thinly thit the Lo d (hill reign forever and ever .' tilths (hall nign for tier and ever, and beyond that toe. S.iy what thou canft, thou (halt fti!l come ftnrt of the duration of his King- dom : the Prophet will ftill add fomething, as for exam pie, after jor eurjfet more, and tvttjxjn} nd-that too. Ar,d yetSiith IJidyrti though this Kingdom be Eternal, though inmte, though everv way bkflTed, though it be promifed ro us, net a word ofthat.Fcr what man is there of a thenftod that fp.nds the k-afi part of a day in medic. - ting up n that ? that ever once makes mention of drat ? that ever infiructs his Wire, his Children, ami h:s Sew :nts con- ce-n:ng rhat ? We prattle much of all other things j but as for Heaven there is fjarce any mention made of that; or if the cbe, furcly it is very rare In fet- ting forth the commendation of his o>\n Country, every man is a nimble-tongue d Orator : But as for t! at which is our true * : .try indeed, we Liufh and are almoft sihamed, being tooniodeff in commend- ing that, i'or it is come to pa.'s in thefe days, by the difufe of lioly cenference, that men think themfelves not witty nor e enough, unlefs they fpeak idle and unprofitable words , and make foo'ifh jefts ; nay that is not all, unlcfc their D 4 cheeks-

"54 The third Con fider at iott.

cheeks fwell, and their ftps run over witlr filthy and unfavoury fpecches. Oh! This is to go aftray quite out of the way. But let our hearcs and mouths be filled with die praife and defire ofthings£ftr?u/ ; let cur thoughts and words always run after them : we have no other way to true glo- ry, but this -, and there is no true glory, but that which is Eternal.

The chief Priefts r.nd the Phari fees a- mengft the Jews, to overthrow GhrifVs power f as they thought J and to eternize their politick Government , aflembled themfelves together in Councel : and by their foolifli wifdom ( as it proved ) made

Becrees to their own hurt. Ele- ;A*gkp. gantly fpeaketh St. Augujline of

them, Confultirg and Delibe- rating together in full Court : The chief Priefts, faith he, and the Pharifees took counfel together what they fhould do for their own good, and yet they faid not, Let as believe. The wicked and ungodly men iought more how to hurt-andtodeftroy, than how to provide for their own fecurity, that they might be faved. And yet they were in fear and in counfel : For they faid,. What do we ? For this man doth many Mir a-. ties. If we Itt him thus alone, all men mil believe on him. And the Romans fhall m?m0 arid ulet away both oxr Place and

Nation*

npo» Eternity. 55

Natiirt, John 1 1. 47, 48. They were afraid to lofe things Temporal, and never thought upon the life which is Eternal : and (6 they Ioftbo.h. Such is the vanity, and affected mockery of our foolifti cogi- tations. What are we ? and what is all that we call ours ? To day -we flourfh like a flower, wearewellfpoken of, wep'eafe,. and are in favour with men .• But (alas!) tomorrow our fbwer will fade, we fhall be ill fpoken of, and out of favour with- God and Man ; Man whom hitherto we pleafed \ and God, whom we never flu- died for to pkaie. We negle.^ Heaven, and keep net Earth: We get notthe fa- vour of God, and lofe the Worlds favour. And fo we are moft deplorately mifera- b'e, anddeftituteonboth fides. If death would but fpare thefethat arethehappy ones of this World, itmay be they might find here fome glory : fomte, I fay, fuch as it is; for there is none true but thar which is in Heaven, and Etinial. But ( alas ! ) death fpares no Man ; fees in . the dark, and is net feen j and watches his time when- he may Cet upon us, when we think notof him. What fhall become, of U: ? Whither will he carry us, if here we have lived wickedly ? To the bar of Chrills judgment, and from thence to the pit ot Hell ; ;nd frcm thence there is no re- D ' 5 demptica

5 6 The third, Confederation

demption. Nobility from thence fers n<* man free : Power delivers no man. The ipplaufe of men formerly given, yields there no comfort. Let us here feek the favour of God and his glory. That is the true glory which is got t>y the fhunning of vain glory: and there is no true glory but that which is Eternal,

Solomon in the Proverbs defer i«- Prov beth Wifdm like a Queen, at- g. 1 1* tended by two waiting-ma id<-,£- urnity and Glory 5 the firft on the right hand, the fecond on the left. Glory is- nothing worth, if there be not joyned wi h k Eternity y that which all we Chriftians doexpeft. For here we hive no- continuing City, but we fee £ one to come, Eternal in the heavens. The righteous fhaE be had in eier- lafting remembrance, Heb. 12; 14. 2 Ccr. $., 1. Pfal. 1 1 2.6* To give an Alms to a poor Man, to moderate a greedy appe- tite, to refift an enemy of chaftity, thefe are works that require not much pains, or time for the doing : and yet the remem- brance of thefe, together with their re- ward , fkull be Eternal. What a fmall: thing was it that Mary Magdalen beftow- ed upon our Saviours feet \ How quickly had (he done it ! And yet it is made Known tmMghout the whole world, Matth. 26. 1 3* Some others, it may be, would have ad-

mfrctfc

upon Eternity. 57

mired odier things in her , her cherry cheeks , kcr comely counrenance , the pleafant flower of her youth , her rare grace, her great riches, her arTability and courtefie , and fuch like. Thefe were not the things which Chrift commends in her \ but it was the office which (he performed unto his feet. The thing it felf was not great : and yet it was a means to procure for her Eternil glory, and a never dying name. It fh ill bi >~ preacbt throughout the whole 'world : This is the Teftimony of Chrift. This work of hers was not engra- ven in Mirble, nor cart in Brafs, nor pro- mulgei in the Market place , nor p:o* claimed with a Drum and a Trumpet : and yet it hath continued for a memorial of her to this day, and fo flull for ever, and. It [hill be preached throughout the whole Timid, If vou confider the Aclion it felf,. J-udas lie mot the covetous Purfe-bearer found fault with it: Simon the fvvelling- and proud Phari fee condemned it : If the nutter, it was but an Ointment, ac the rnoft not worth above thirty fmill pieces of Go!d: If the pi a ce y it was private: If the witneffes prefent 5 they were but few : if the perfan \ (he wa:- a Woman, and one infamous : And yet for all thefc , B fhaU be pr cubed throughout the whole- "mild,. How many Emperor, have advanced their

Coloms

5 8 The third Confideration

Colours difplayed , their victorious and triumphant Eagles, and fet up their Stan- dards in their Enemies Camp ! How ma- ny warlike Captains have led popular Ar- mies, and eommanded them worthily I How many provident Governours have ruled their people very wifely! How ma- - ny Kings have erected rare Monuments, and Statues, and built Caftles and Cities! How many learned Men have wafted their brains in new Inventions , and have like Chymicks , diftilled them- into Receivers of Paper ! And to what end all this ? To keep their names in continual remem- brance, and to be recorded amongft wor- thy and memorable Men. And yet nor- . j withftanding they lodge in the bed of fi- lence, and lie buried in the grave ofoblivi-. 1 en. But one gcod work that the righteous doth, fhall be had in everlafling remem- brance : Time and envy fhall never de- face and conceal it ; the wifeft Men,. Captains, Prelates, and Kings themfelves,. fhail with reverence read and hear it. It fhall be psasiud throughout the whole vwrli:

The only way then to immortality and.

true Eternity is, to live well, and fo to d\e

^well. Go to now, ye Remans-, if ye will

ieek Eternity in Statues and Marble monu-..

stents : but yeu fhall never find it. there, h

for;

upon Eternity. 59?

tor my part will wifh rather with Sc. Hie- rome, in the life of Paul the Eremite, Oh remember, faith he, Hierome a finncrs, who if God had given him the choice, would have preferred the poor Cloak of Paul with his good works,before the Scar- let Robes of Kings with their Kingdoms. Let us Chriftians here, whileft we have erne, make over our Riches ; for fear left we lofe them, let us fend them before us. into another world: Heaven Hands open,, ready to receive them. \V£ need not doubt of the fafe carriage : the Carriers are ve- ry faithful and trufty j but they are the poor and needy of this world We make, over unto them here by way of exchange a few things of little value, being to receive in heaven an exceeding Eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. For fohqth Chrift p.omifed upon the performance of this, precept. / fay unto you, Ma {e to yo •<)■ fthts friends oj the Mammon ofkvighttottfntfs : tbat> yph:n ye jail, they may receive yon into ezer- Ufiing habitations. But let us pafs from the.. Ronuns unto others.

C HA &

&o The third Confideratiotz

CHAP. II.

Abetttr way than the former wJjicb tht Ro»- mans jollowed to Eternity.

DAriw the King of the Perjians^ moftv notable for his daughter , had in Ids Army ten choufand Per funs, which he therefore called immortal; €>/. ( as Cfilius Rhodiginus inrerpre- Rht- teth it ) not becaufe lie tliought digin- they fhould never die, ( for lib. Q. where are there any fuch? ) but cap, 2. becaufe as any of the number & I. 2 5. was diminifhed by fword or fick- cap. 1. nefs, it was prefencly made up y lb tint ftill there was neither more nor lefs than ten thoufand. Thus "Darius framed un.o himfelf a kind of im- mortalky and Eternity : But ( slas \) it was a very fhort one •, for within a little fpace, he and. all his Army utterly peri fil- ed. The Pre fi dents and Princes afftmhled together wito Darius, and [aid thus mto him, King Darius, Li ie far ever, D.m. 6.6, Alas, How vain was this-wifh, and how ftort this Eternity ? We live but feventy or eighty years at the moft : we are but in a Dream, if we think to live here for ever. Nor without caufe therefore Xerxes^ { T^henfor the conquering and fubjugating

GXWk

afon Eternity. 6 ti

Greece (as Htrodof.-.s reports) he carried with him out of Ajk two great Armies bach by Sea and Land ( in number. three and twenty hundred thoufand, feventeen thoufand, and fix hundred, befides othero that arter.dcd upon Soldiers) upon a day taking his profpeft from a Mountain, and beholding his Soldiers, fell a weeping :. and being asked the reafon why, he faid it was, Becaufe after a matter of fifty or fixty years, of fomany hundred thoufand Men fo elect and ftrong, fcarce oae fhould be found alive.

We may Dream, and feign unto our felves, I know not what Enr titles : Bur in the mean time we naft netds die and are as water fpilt u?m the ground. 2 Sam, 34. 14.

Another and better type of Etcm;!;; was found cut at Cmjtantihople, in the year of our Lord 459. The Church of Con- jhntiiople, in the time when Gennadi us was Eifbop, was augmented by anew a;id. noble foundation of a Monaftery or Ant* mets dedicated to Saint John Baptifia Thefe Acamtts were fo called for noc deeping, becau& they were never all ac once to fieep, but fYillto beexercifei in their courfe night and day in firming praifes unro God. Thefe Acce met* divided after this manner into three Com #

62 Tlfe tbirdConfideraticn

panics: fo that when the firft compa- ny had made an end of fmging divine praifes, the fecond ftiou Id begin ; and when the fecond had made an end, the third mould begin. By means of this godly inftitution , the City had in fome fort heaven within it felf always founding, with the praifes of God ; or at leaft a Type or Reprefentation of the Eternity in Heaven, where God (Tall he praifed for all Eternity, with great delight and cheerfulncfs , and without all wearinefs. Therefore hath the Pfatotift gocd caufe to cry out, Bleffed are they which dwell irt thy hohfi ,. they will [fill be praifing Thee> Pfal. 84. 4. Then fhall all the bleffed fay, as Peter did upon the Mountain, It

is good for us to be here, Mat:h. 1 7 . Bernard 4. For, as St. Bernard fpeak- Serm. 2. eth, Eternity is true riches with- it Om. out meafure : but he adds this S. S. withal, It is not found, unlefs

it be fought with perfeverance, Eut how fhall we fo feek that we may ob- tain it? Hear what the good Father faith: By Poverty, by Meetyefs, and by Tears, there is renewed in the Soul the ftamp and inwge of Eternity, which comprehend eth all times. Firfr, Poierty is the way to Eternity. Bleffed are the poor in [pint : for theirs is the {ingdom o^heavm^ Matth, $. 3,.

When

upon Eternity. 6$

Where poor men are difperfed and rorfa- kcn, there is the heart and the Money locked up together in the Cheft: Where Money is expended according to the Rules of Avarice, there is no afleft or Jove of po- verty, there is nodefire or love of Etir- nity. Secondly, Mttfarfs : By Mtctytf* we make our felves fccure of things pre- fent, and have an affurance cf tlvngs to come. Bhjjtd are the HHS^fertheyfbaB inherit the earth, Mat. 5. 5. If any nun ask, What fhail we fay of him that is void of Miekjiifs and Patience, that can fcarce at any time fpeak a mild word ? What gairs he by his implacable imp.uience? What doth it profit him to rjge and fret with in- dignation, to make outcries and tumults, to fhew his will to do mifchief, though he cannot efteft what he wou'd ; or to con- clude, to falute no man civilly, as if he were an enemy to all humanity and affa- bilty ? What fhall we fay of fuch a man >' If there be any fuch, he is fureto fuffer lofs of goods or good name or both. For the riches which he hath, he pofleflcth- not, but keeps them like a dog, whofe pro- perty is to bark at a man, to Hy upon him, and to bite him: as for his good name, if he have any, he fhall not augment it by the title of impatience: and as for Hea- ven, lie Iofeth that before he hath taker*

pofMoa.

6 4 The third Confideration

pDfleflTionof it. Thirdly, Tars. For by weeping and mourning "we redeem the timepaft, we recover what we prodigally fyentby finning. But this mourning and (orrow muft nor Iaft for an hour only, or for a day : for this is nothing elfe but to do as he did, who at his Mothers death put on mourning- clothes, forced for the prefent a few Tears, and fo went along af- ter the biere, and left her not till he faw her buried ; but the fame day, or the next day a/rer, wiped away A\ Tears from his Eyes, changed his weeping into laughing, caft off his mourning clothes, and put on colours. This is not to mourn in good earneft, to make an end of mourning fo fuddcnly. But this we do ( alas F ) too often. To day we make publick confe/Tion of ourfius to God , and hear Abfolution -y we repent us of our fins , and receive the holy Communion : and within a day after we fin again with delight, and without fear, andoftemimes more grievoufly than before. We detefl for the prefent the wicked courfe of our life paft ; and we re- turn again to the fame pais. We forfwear the fins wbHi we formerly committed; and again he fame day we commit the iame. So with the fame tongue we pro- claim Chrift innocent, and crucifie him afrefhj as if we were die true Brothers

of

upon Eternity. 65

of Pontius PiUte, who with one and the fame mouth did both abfolve him and condemn him, confcflina that he jounino tuft of death in him, Luke 23. 22, 24. and yet adjudging him to be crucified .We are very fickle and incorftant, but in nothing more conflant than in the repetition of a v':cious courfe of Life. Alas! alas! we car- ry too much of the Mmy that is, Incon- stancy in our breaft. Sometimes we are fo zealous and fo holy, that we will net ad- mit of a cheerful countenance , fcr fear left it fheuid hinder our fan&ity and devo- tion : we look demurely, carting oureyes down to thegrcund,and knit the brows, 2s being angry with our felves, when we find in our felves the lead remifsnefs or coldnefs in holy duties. But this fanctity and devo- tion doth never continue long : after a while we begin to hate even piety itfelf : and the dream being turned, we turn again to our former riot and intemperance ; and we are as ready to diflblve the knot of friendfhip made betwixt God and us, as ac the firft we were unwilling to have it knir. At length Piity, attended with forrorv and rifmtoiitii prefents her felf again unto us, and puts to flight lalcivioufnefs, until the time comes that we begin to repent us of our repentance. So we feldom continue long in any honeft and godly ccurfe, for

it

66 The third Confederation

it feems unro us too laborious : and- at e- ! very light beck we row down the ftream of ' our former uncicannefs. Such is the in- conftancy ef our life, that it prefents unto our minds all forts of pie .fares and vices. We make an outward fhew of adoring vir- tue ! but in hearc and mind we fill down «nd worship vice •, a moft laborious kind of fervi e e.This is not die way unto Eternity unlefs it be of puni foment and torments which fhall tare no end.

Let us Tingle out one Chriftian man of many, 2nd fuch a one efpecially as is moft addicted to his pieafure ; let us carry him along with us to the mouth of a Furnace red hot and Aiming •, and then let us begin to queftion him after this manner : How much pieafure wouldeft c';ou ask to conti- . nue burning in thie Furnace for one day I ' He will anfwer to this undoubtedly , I would not be tormented in thefe flames for one day, to gain the whole world and. all the pleafures in the world. But let us propound anodier condition unto him. What reward would ft thou ask to endure 4 this fire only for half a day ? Propound, what reward you will, there is nothing (o delicate,fo precious,fo dear unto me,which I would be willing to buy at fo dear a price, as thefe torments. But to try once more, What reward and pieafure wouldft thou

a*

upon Eternity. 6j

ask ro go into this furnace,and co flay there but one hour ? His anfwer certainly will be this, Let the mod covetous and impudent man in the world ask what he can, that is net to be compared with the unutterable and unfufferable fcorchings and torments of this fire, though they ftiould laft but for one hour. If thefe anfwers be good and agreeable to right reafon, How comes it to pafs, O God, that for a little gain, and that but vile, for deceitful honour, and that fugitive, for filfhy pleafures, and that net long, fo many menfo little regard £- ttrnj'L purrimment in Hell-fire ! We can- not be perfwaded with any reward , no, though It be to gain a whole world to ftay but for one hour in fire Temporal: and yet, if either gain at any time invited us, or if honour fmilerh upon us, or pleafure al!u- reth us , we never fear Hell and fire Eter» nil. But thou wilt fay, I hope for better i God Is merciful, and his goodnefs will not fufTer me to defpair, or to be terrified with the fear of evil to come. So indeed we are wont to fpeak : and the words in them- felres are not impious, if our works were pious. But for the moft part our works are inch, that if we rightly confider them, we have link caufe to hope for mercy. It is a very dangerous and foolim part, for a man to live in a conftam courfe of ung odlincf

an

68 The third Consideration

and to hope for Eternity amongft the blefc fed. Alas ! one fin is Sufficient to con- demn us. Knoweft thou not what Chrift hath threatned in the Gofpel? Wbofoever (bail fay ttuto his brother, Thou fool, fall be 'in dinger ojhell fire, Matth. 5.22. Know- eft thou n«t what Chrift hath forbidden ? Wbofotvtr lookfth upon a "woman to lafl after her, bath committed Adultery with her al- ready in his heart, v. 28. Knoweft thou not what Chrift hath premonifhed ? Not ei try em that faith,Lord, Lord, fall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven : but he which doth the Will of my Father which is in heaven. Match. 7.21. Knoweft thou not that Chrift fhali fhut many out of the gate ? He that lovetb father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me : And he that ta\eth not his crofs and folliwitb after me, is not worthy of me, Matth. 10. 37, 38. Knoweft thou not what Chrift hath openly and plainly faid, and again repeated > Many be called, but few cbofen : Matth.20.1^. and 22. Few indeed, yea very jew, Knoweft thou not how often Chrift hath exhorted to amendment of life ? Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye (halt not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Match. 18. 3. Ij thy hands or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cafi them from thee : It is better for thee to enter into life, halt and maimed, ratkr than having

two

upon Eternity. 69

two hinds, or two fat, to be caft into ever- Ufti g fire, v. 8 . Except ye repent, ye /hall all U^e wife perifa Luke 13. 3. And not long after, Strive to enter in at the fir tight gate : jor many, I fay unto yon, will fee^ to enter in, and fbali not be able, ver. 24. Knoweft thou not how exprefly St. Paul recites up all rhofe things that hinder us from entering into that blefTed Eternity > The wcrt^s of th: fiefl) are manijeft, which are theft, Adultery, Fornication, Vnchin- nefs, Lafcivioufnefs , Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Here fits , Envyings , Murders, Vruntynnefs, Revellings, and fuch lil^e : of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time pafi, that they which do fuck things, fhaU not inherit the Kingdom of God. Gal. $. 19, 20, 21. Now if any Man be guilty to himfelf of any one of thefe fins here reckoned up, and is not fo grieved for it, trur he leeks by all means poflible to a- void it for the time to come, he may fmg to himfelf if he will, this vzmSpero,! hope, and I hope : but this roans hope is indeed none at all, but mere rafhnefs and pre- fumption. For a man to adventure die danger of ftripes and blows, is an evil that may be born. To lofe at play an hundred or a chou&nd Florens, is a great misfor- tune, but may be endured. To lav his

head

70 The third Conft deration

head at (lake, and to bring his life in dan- ger, is a bad adventure \ but at the word it is but loft of life, and that lofs is not of all other the greateft. But to hazard the eternal falvation both of body and foul, by living at uncertainties, by hoping in words, and defpairing in works, nullifying hope by a wicked and ungodly life .- fhis is the moft extreameft of all evils : this is 'the moft grievous misfortune a man can fall into ; this is moft pernicious rafhnefs and boldnefs .• this is extream folly and mad- nefs. Kow confider this, ye that forget God% led be tear you in pieces, ani there be none te deliver you, Pfal. 50. 22.

CHAP, II I.

Timt the -way of Eternity is diligently and. carefully to bt fought ajter.

LET every Chriftian man therefore often ask himfelf , and others alfo which are in the place of God, this qucfti- on, What fhall I do that I may obtain bletfed 'Eternity, or Eternal bldfednefs ? Am I in the right way that leadeth unto Eternity ? Something I do indeed, but it is but very little, and not worth fpeaking of, I thirft and breath after the joys which are immortal and Eternal : but few are my * works, cold and imperfeft at the beft,and

altogether

upon Eternity. 7 1

altogether unworthy of an Eternal reward. I think it long till I arrive at the haven, but I am afraid of the troublefome waves and tempefts by the way ? when as yec nocwichftanding chat is the fafeft and beft way unto heaven, which is mod rough and narrow. This is the very Truth it felfof G»ds mouth pronounceth, and Chrift pro- claimed, faying, Enter ye in at the ftrait gate : For wide is the gate, and broadistbe way that leadeth so dejtr.iclion , and ma».y there be ("alack ! too many j that go in thereat. Because ftrait is the gate, and narrow is the ■way which leadeth unto life ; and fro then be (alack /too few ) that find it, Matth. 17, 13, 14. Again, Strive to enter in at the ftrait gate-. For many. Ifayuntoyou,willfee^ to enter in, and {hall not be able, Luk. 15. 24. Oh what a fearful word is that, M A N Y ; and that FEW ! How fhould it make us tremble! But we refe- rable men deceive our felves, rafhly pro- mifmg unto our felves Eternity : and yet I cannot cell whether we may he more truly faid to hope, or to dream, true we I ha' I be reckoned amongft thofe few before mentioned. Would to God now , even now whileft it is tin accented time, and the day of Salvition, 2 Cor. 6. 2. we would have a diligent and an intent eye upon Enmity, and reafon thus with our felves: E Aia>!

7 2 The third Covfideration

Alas ! What is all this that I fuffer ; Or, that I fee others fuffer ? It is nothing if it he compared vvi.h Eternity. What if I could reckon up as many labours and pe- rils as Saint Paul himfelf did undergo as they are by him fet down in his fecond. Epiftle to the Corinthians, and the eleventh Chapter ? 2 Cor. 1 1. 27. If I (hould en- dure hunger and tbirft, enmities and inju- ries, ficknefs and poverty ? Yea more , what if I were flexed with Saint Paul, and beaten rvoth reds ? What if I fuffer ed fhif~ 'tm§s\i ver. 2$. Alhhefe are nothing to punifhments Eternal. Therefore in all ad- vcrfity, I rauft thus think with my felf, I fhall 'fee an end of all, Pfal. 119. 96.

The Prophet Daniel having reckoned up fundry calamities, at length addeth thefe words, Even to the time of the end : becaufe it is yet for a time appoinyd, Dan. 11. 35. Come hither, come hither, all ye that are in affliction, in forrow, need, ficknefs, or any other calamity. Why do ye drown your I felves in your own tears ,? Why do ye make your life bitter unto you with impatience and complaining ? Here is comfort for you, great comfort drawn from the time of that fuffering. Are divers calamines upon you? Benotcaftdown: have a good courage : they fhall continue only for sl time ; Do ye fuffer contumely and re-

prpach \

upon Eternity, 7 J

proach? Are ye wearied with injuries? Areochers troubles multiplied upon you? ceafe to lament j all thefe fhall laft but for a time-y they fhalj not laft for eur y your fighing fhall have an end.

Tears may diftil from your eyes for t. time ; but fighs and groans fhall not arife from your hearts for eur. The time is ac hand, when you fhall be delivered from all grief ; and be tranflated unto everiaft- ing happinefs. This is moft clear by chat in Ecc'ejiafticus, A patient man will bear for a time, and afterward joy (h all ff ring ftp unto him, Ecclul. 1.23. But ye alfo which think your felves the only happy men on ejrth, and the darlings of the worJd,know thus much, and be not proud> neirher lift up your horn ; Ail your feeming hap- pinefs ( for it is no more at the beft ) hath but fhort and narrow bounds and limits, and is quickly patted over. Your triumph- ing is bat for stime y your golden dreams laft but for a time , after a time, and that not long, death will command you to put 1 off fortunes painced vizard, and ftenda*'- mcng die croud. Then fhill ycfruly ap- pear lb much the more unhappy, by how much the more ye feemed to your felves before, in your own foolifh imaginations, moft happy. Therefore whether forrow or joy , ail is but for a rim io this world. £ 2 Ic

74 The third Confideration

lt\s Eternity alone which is not concluded within any bounds of time. Whether therefore the bcdy fuffer or the mind ; whe- ther we Iofe riches or honours ; wkether our patience be exercifed by forrow or grief, cares, or any afflictions, inward or outward, all is but painted and momenta- ny,if we think upon Eternal punifhments. For when fifty thoufand years fhall be palled after the day of Judgment, there fhall ftill remain fifty thoufand Millions of years ; and when thofe likewife are pafled there fhall ftill remain more and more, and yet more Millions of years, and there fhall never be an end. But who thinks upon thefe things ? who weighs and confl- ders them well with himfelf? Sometimes we feem to have favour of things Eternal: but we are tofled up and down with the motions and thoughts of things part, and things future •-, our heart waveretn, and is full of vanity. Who will eftablifh it, and fet it in a fure place, that it may (land a while, and Handing admire , and admi- ring be ravifht with the fplendor of Eter- nity 9 which always ftands, and Augnfi. never pailcth away ? Well did lib. 11. Myrogenes , when Euflachins corf. cap. Archbifhop of Jerusalem Tent II, gifts unto him, he did very

well, I fay in refilling them, and

i

upon Ltemity. 75

andfaving, Do but one thing for me. On- ly pray for me, that I maybe delivered from Eternal tormew. Neither was Tully out or the way when he T-. II . fold., No humane thing can teem Trfc. great unto a wife mm, who hith que'h the knowledgof aii Err, »//j and lib, 3. of the magni:ude of the whole world. But Frams, the Author of the O/der of the FranHfcans, hath a faying far better than that of Tally, ^e pleafure thit is here, faith he, is but fhorc'; bog the punifhment that fhall be hereifter, is infinite : The labour that is here, isbuc fmail ; but the glory which (hall he here- after, is Eternal. Take your choice. Ma- ny are called, fewchofen, but all reward- ed according to their works.

Let us haftcn our repentance therefore, whileft we hare time. It is bet- ter, faith Gxiriais, to be pur- Guerr. ged by water than by fire, and Serm. it is far eafier. Now is the time dn Pmm for repentance ; Let our timely repentance therefoe prevent punimmenc. Whofoever is afraid of the hoar frofl:, the fnow (hall fall upon him i he which feareth die ietfer detriment, (hail furTer a g -eater, he which will not undergo the light bur^ den of Repentance, fhall be forced to Wh der^o the moft heavy burthen and mofl E 5 gtievous

7 6 The third Confederation

grievous punifhment of Hell. S. Grego- ry hath a faying to this purpofe , Sonic, faith he, whileft they are afraid of Tem- poral punifhments, run themfelves upon Eternal punifhment- Hither we may add that of Fad an s Remember, faith he, that in Hell there is no place for confeffion of fin?, no place for Repentance ', for then it is too late to repent, and the time ispaft. Make raft therefore whileft you are in the way. We are afraid ot Temporal fire, and the Executioners hands ; but what are thefe to the claws of ..tormenrng 'eAmbr. Devils, and the Overlaying fire cap. g. of Hell? The Counfel of Saint adVirg. Ambrofe to a Iapfed Virgin .fits lajf. well in this place.

True Repentance , faith he, ought not to be in word only, but in deed ; and this is true Repentance indeed , if thou fetreft before thine eyes from what glory thou art fallen ; and confidereft with thy kit out of what Eook thy name is blotted*, and believed that now thou art uear unto utter darknefs , where there is weeping and gnafhing of teeth without end. And when thou art certainly perfwaded that thefe things are true, as indeed they *re, feeing that the Soul that finneth is in danger of Hell-fire, and there is no means after Baptifm left to efcape, but only Re- pentance j

Upon Eternity. 77

pcntance \ be content to fufTer any la- bour, and to undergo any anii&ion, to be freed from Eur ml punifhment. The dif- cafes of the Eody move the (ick man to purge the Bod v : Let the dile.ues of our Souls move us'alfo to take the purgation of repenrance : let the defireofourSalvaricn move us : let the fear of Eternal death and Eternal torments m ve us : let the hope of attaining Eternal life and Eternal glory move us. Let us embrace that which purgeththe Sou% and !et us efchew that which polluteth it. And nothing de- . files the Soul more than a filthy Body. » Faithful is this counlel of Saint Ambrofe, and worthy of us to be embraced.

O Chrift jefus, gran: unto us riiat we may fopo'Fefs things tranfitory and temp* rriy that finally we lefe not the things which zrcEtenjil: and give us grace ro walk in the'r fieps, and to follow theirgood example, of whom Sa;nt Hugufiim fpeak- eth ; Many thane a e, faith he, chat wil- lingly come under die yoke, and of proud and haughty men, become humble 2nd lowly, defirmg to be what before they defpifed, and hating to be what before they we e j parting by, like ftrangers, things pFefent, and making hafle with greedinefs after things to come. They pant in their running towards their Eternal Country, E 4. pre-

78 The thirdCoftfideratioftfec.

preferring Abftinence before Fulnefs , Watching before Sleep, and Poverty be- fore Riches, accounting labour in the conqueftof vices to be but pleafure, loving their enemies , pafling by injuries *, and all for the hope of an Eternal teward. And nvfio then would notfufTer any extremity and labour, to purchafe unto themfelres1 an Etmal reward?

THE

97

Ihwe con/i'derecl-tke dayejofotd\ thzyearej of anti^ttt -tunef. Tf;y^.

Thy atronjj ]3afs hyms lJt£ votes ofthylhunltr is round, alcrut me-Ae. arron/J af^ryerttpuru ipiinerdyfL- overitty lucLtiy ike vnu crf~ik*t fort&f&JmttuUrjjoye isfHteaivlueL-that

8i

THE FOURTH

CONSIDERATION

Upon ETERNITT.

How holy David meditated upon Eternity*. and hew Tve [hould imitate kirn,

THat God fliould punifh the Apo*- rfiate Angels 2nd Men condemned at the laft day , wich Eternal $u- nifhments, this hath feemed fo flrange to fome and fo incredible, that Origin him* felt ( a man other wife cf an admirable wic and excellent learning, very well skilled. in Scripture, hath been 10 bold as to teach, That the Devils and the Damned, after a certain time , when they (hall be. fufficiently purged by the fire from their fins, fhallat length be reftored j;, to grace. But St. AugHfiint and ^ o.hers convince him and «on- n' -

demn him of this his error. r ^ Yet notwichfhnding this error & hach fokiid in the world many c*

ttvourers*.

82 The fourth Confederation

favourers. Certain Hereticks called the Aniti, have difleminated and fcattered it throughout Spain, by divers their inter- pretations.Some thought that all the dam- ned, others that Chriftians only, others that Catholicks only, others that thofe only that had been more liberal than o- thers in giving of alms, mould be deliver- ed at length out of Hell. Though St. Au- guftine hath not refuted thefe their errors, yet the holy writ bath done it plainly and openly. Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me yt curfed into everlafling fire : And again, ver. 45. And tbefe (hill go amy into ever- lafHngpunifhment, but the righteous into lift Eternal. Here no Glofles or Interpreta- tions will ferve their turn to defend their crrours. Wherefore the Divine Ffalmift King David, though he delighted much in the ceufideration of -both times , that which was paft, and that \vh:ch was to come. Mine eyes, ( faith he ) prevent the night-watches: Pfal. 119. 14&. and a- gain in another place , Thou holdefi mine eyes "waling : I am fo troubled that I cannot fpeak Pfal. 77. 4. What was it , Blef- fed Prophet, that thus broke thy fleep? What bufroefs hadft thou to do fo early, before day-light ? What caufed thee fo to keep filence. and to be troubled in mjnd ? Hear what he faith, / have confidered the

days,

ufon TLtemity, 8 5

days of old, and the years of ancient times, and the years of Eternity 1 have had in my mind, Pfal. 77. 5. Lo, this was the thing chat broke his fleep, when he compared the years that were paft with the years that were to come, and mth Eternity. Nei- ther did he thus in the day only, but IcaHto remembrance, faith he, my fong in the night : I commune with my own heart, andmyfpirit made diligent fearch, ver. 6. And what moved him to this nighdy exercife? WiH the Lord cafi off for eier ? and wil/ he be fa- vourable no more ? is his mercy c'ean gone for ever ? See how he fears and trembles at the very confideration of Eternity, how he is afraid of Gods judgments, left God fhould pun?(h them with Eternal punifh- menc.And what is the end and effeftofthis Meditation ? And I faid, this is mine in- firmity : But I will r member , &c. or, Now 1 will begin. So in an inftant, at the very fanje minute, he became better than he waF, and delayed not, neither did he defer his Repentance, and put it off till worfe years ; But, faith he, Now I will begin, now I will live a more godly life than I have done. He faith not , After fuch an hour, or after fuch a day ; but, Now evm now. I, will fome men fay, if I were as David was : If I could medi- ate of Eternity as blefled David did, ic

may

§4 The fourth Confideraiion

may be then I would readily and with alacrity fay with David, Now I will be- gin : But I am fo intangled with daily cares, fo hindred with worldly bufinefs, fo diftra&ed into divers parts one way or other, that I cannot. I live amongft men ; I fee and hear much evil ; I have no time or leifure once to have fo good a thought in mind as the thought of Eternity. When we meet together in company to make merry, amidft our fporcs, and amsngft our cups, we never confer about fuch grave points : our minds wander up and down about many things, and cannot then fix themfelves upon the confederation of Eter- nity. At our feaft and merry-meetings, we take our cups, and pleafe our felves irj making jefts : Thoughts of Eternity are too fevere, too fad and melancholick to be entertained by us ; we banifh fuch out ot our company. We enquire what news out ofltaly, or France, or Spain. That which you tell us of fo often con- cerning Heaven and Hell, is now old, and grown ftale. We know it well enough al- ready, what need you repeat it fo often,., sail we loath it ? So by this means there is no place or time left once to think upon Eternity. O Chriftian Brother, it is true indeed which thou fayeft, I cannct deny k, But I could wilh thou wouldft be as,

ready-

upon Eternity, S5

ready^and forward to amend thy faulc, as to confefs it. It is too clear and maniVeft, we fee it with our eyes, that there is little or no care in the World of Eternity, al- though one thing or other every day Hill puts us in mind of it.

The Book of the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Rome attheConfecratieir of their Bifhops doth appoint thefe words to be recited,^toj JEurnos in mente babe, Keep ftill in mind the years oj Eternity , or Thinly upon Eternity, For when the Pope newEIeft, in a folemn manner is carried alcng to St. Pittas churchy there goes one before him, having in his hand burning flax, and making it, he repeateth thrice thefe words, Pater S ancle 9 fie tranfit glorix mtfodi, Holy Father, fo the glory oj the World pifleth atvay: It were a devout and godly practice, if we did every day at the begin- ning and end ©f all our aeYions, fay unto our felves thefe words, Annas sEternos in mente habe, Thinly upon Eternity. But e* fpecially when we are tempted unto any fin, when the Devil fuggefts and puts into our minds ill thoughts, and when our Con- fidence is in danger of being wounded, O then Think nfon Eternity.

CHAP,

S6 The fourth Confederation CHAP, t

Divers admonitions to thinl^upn Eternity*

PHilip King of Macedon appointed a cer- tain noble young man to falute him thrice every morning after this manner, Philippus, homoes'-, Remember, Philip, Thou art but a man ; that being put daily in mind of his mortality, he might carry him- felf towards mortd men. like a mortal m*n. Much more cu^ht every good Chriftian man> and true memLer of the Carholick Church, to be a monirorunto himfelf and with due. consideration hrice at the leaft every day faytohirnfelf5 Eternity, Eterni- ty Eternity ! Why lb? Set thine houfe in order Q faith the Prophet to King Heyijas-,) For thou fhalt die and not live. There will come an evening for certain, after which thou fhakfeeno morning-, or there will come a morning j after which thou flialt fee no evening. Have an efpecial care therefore in all thy actions > that thou woundeft not thy Conference ; and truft not too far tothofe things that peri/h, for fear left thou thy felf together with them doft likewife perifh, and finally lofe the things that are Eternal.

It is a cuftom in Germany, and not to fcedifliked, in the evening when a Candle

is

ufon Uternity. Sy

is firft lighted, or brought into a room, to fay, Deus dtt nobis luctm Ait mam, God grant unto us light Eternal. We fhall do well to imitate the Crfr.w*»j in this cuftom : or rather it is already in ufeand hath been long ago in many Pares of this Kingdom, to &y, God grant us the light tf Heaven. It is very good daily to put us in mind of Eter- nity.

There is likewife a kind of Eternity in flavery and imprifonment, but infamous and horrible. It is a cwel punifhment and worfe than death it felf in fome mens judg- ment, to be condemned to perpetual im- prifonment, or to be a perpetual Gaily- flave.

Thofe which are opprelTed with ficknefs or other forrows,do likewife imagine with themfelves , that even in their fufferiags there is a kind of Eternity. Whence it comes to pafs that we often hear them utter fuch diftempered fpeeches asthefe,!f;7/*h\r la(l alix ays ? Shall Iftill without tnd be nailed faft to my bed ? fhall I fujfer theft pins and forrows perpetually * {bill I always be thus vexed and tormented * AL'ck / thefe Eter- rit'us are but fhort, and foon come to an end. But if it be lb grievous to fiefh and blood to endure flavery or imprifonment here on earth, though but for a moment (for our lire is no longer, according to Da-

vUt%

8? The fourth Conftderatiov

ttWs meafure, but a fpan, which is very fhort J what care and diligence, and what c^ircumfpecTrion ought we to ufe, that we be not caft into the prifon of hell, and into the fathomlefb pit, where there is flavery and imprifonment, pain and torment, to be endured throughout all ages, beyond all times, even to z\\ Eternity.

chap. ri.

thai Eternity traufctnds all numbers of A- rithmetic\.

THere is a very common and well known Arithmetic]*, which Children are taught when they fir ft go to School \ and this is it. Suppofe there was a Moun- tain of very fine Sand as big as the whole Earth, or rather much bigger : then fup- pofe that every year an Angel mould take from this Mountain one, and but one grain cf Sand-, how manv thoufand, and thou- fand, and again I lay thouDnd, yea how many hundred thoufand and yet more, how" many thoufand millions of years muft there needs pafs, before it can be percei- ved that the mountain is grown lefs, or any whit diminifhed ? Let a man that is skil- ful in Arithmetick fit down, and begin to eaft, how many years muft pafb before the

Hioun-

upon Eternity. S9

mountain, or half the mountain be remo- ved by the Angel. Certainly we cannot conceive that ever he Rial) be able to caft up the total number ouhefand. Eutherc* in are we miftaken ; for although we can- not conceive it poffible to be done, yet it may be done. Eut Eternity exceeds this number of years beyond all ccmparifon, it is mofl certain : tor between a thing fi- nite and a thing infinite there is no compari- fon, no proportion. Eternity hath no limits, no terms, no bounds, none at all. But fuppofe the damned fhould burn in Hell no longer, than till the Mountain by grain after grain, year after year, fhould by the Angel be quite removed : yet what an in- comprehenfible number of years muft firfi: pafs, before they can expeft to fee the day of deliverance! But (alas!) there is no fuch day to be expected 5 their torments fhall have no end : Af:er that incompre- henfible number of years, it fhall be truly faid , Now beginneth their Eternity ', their Eternity is not in any part expired, they areas far from the end of their torments as they were a: the beginning. After a thou- sand years, yea after a hundred thoufand years, there fhall not be an end, or middle, or beginning of Eternity : for the meafure of Eternity is Always. The fame art of Arithmetick about the bufmefs of Enmity,

a

90 The fourth Confederation

a late divine teachech, in words fomewhat different, .but in meaning all one with the former I therefore add it, becaufe a man can never fufficicntly think or fpeak of it. Confider, faith he, what is the length of E- Cornelius ttrnty How Ion8 ftallGod and ^ t * *>u, t» hisSaints reign?How long fball * i^i'll the damned burn in Hell ? For vtrB ' 'wHowlongis thatflmagine an hundred thoufand years. A* las/ That is nothing in refpeft of Eternity. Imagine ten hundred thoufand years,yea fo many ages : Yet that is nothing, Eternity is ftill as long as it was. Imagine a thoufand millions of years : And yet that is nothing. Eternity is not a whit Ihortned. Imagine yet more a 1 0000000000000000000000000 0000; thoufand-thoufand *, thoufand-thou- fand 3 thoufand-thoufand i thoufand-thou- fcnd-Millions of years. Imagine, I fay, the damned fhould burn in Hell fo many yea-s, and yet thou haft not found the very begin- ning of Eternity. Imagine once more fo ma- ny millions of millions of years as there are drops in the Sea, and yet thou art not come to the beginning of Eternity. Suchior conti- nuance is the Eternity of joy into which the blefled (hall enter, and the Eternity of tor- ments which the damned fhall lufter. O Je- fus fpare us, fpare us O Jefus, O Jefus, fave us. Have mercy upon us, G good Jefus, and

fuffcr

uyon Eternity. 9 1

fuffer us not to be plunged headlofig into the bottomlefs pit, to be tormented wieh the damned for all Eternity.

But yet if God would but fay unto the damned,Iet the earth be covered with moft fine fand, and let the world be filled there- with, and let it be heaped up fo high as hea- ven, and then let an Angel come once in e- very thoufand years, and take one grain of fand out of this heap ; when after 10 many thoufand years as there be grains of tend, the Angel fhail have removed the whole heap,then will I deliver you out of Hell : O how would the damned exult and rejoyce, and not think themfelves damned ! Butfa- lasj after fo many thoufends of years there remain yet more , and more, and infinite more to all Eternity >evcn for ever and ever. This is that heavy weight that fopreffech the damned. Let every one therefore that finneth, con fid cr with himfelf, and again, I fay , let him confider , that unlefs he repent, he fhall be preffed and grcan un- der this heavy weight of Eternity.

Gulielmus Peraldus , Bifhop of Lions, a very religious and learned m:m, hath ano- ther manner of reckoning,medirating upon the innumerable number of years through- cut which the damned fhall be tormented. If the damned , faith he , fhould every day diflil from their eyes but one ihiall rear,

and

92 The fourth Configuration

and thofe tears mould be added together day after day, they would at length far ex- ceed the drops of the Ocean : for they have their number and mcafure -y and it is eafie with God to fay, So many are the drops of the Ocean and no more ; but the tears of the damned exceed all number and meafure. Alas ! Alas ! How little do we think upon thefe things ! How freely and wilfully do we fin, and make our felves guilty of Eternal punifhment , and that oftentimes for a very little fliort and filthy pleafure.

Yet there remains one way more , of carting up this numberlefs number of years : Suppofe i here were a fchedule of Parch- ment a fpan broad, but fo long that ic would begirt andincircle the whole Globe of theEardi : and fuppofeit werewritte/i all over very clofe with figures of 9, from one end to another : who fo skilful an A- rithmewcian, that can tell the number thereof ? What Mountain fo great, that eonfifteth of fo many grains of duft of fand ? What Ocean fo vaft,that containeth with- in it fo many drops of water ? And yet this is nothing to Eternity : it flretcheth it felf further than fo •, it knows no bounds ; it is extended beyond all meafure. But how far is it extended? It is extended infinitely aad without sad. If thy heart ( GChn-

ftian

ufon Eternity. 95

ftian Man ) be not turned into a done, it cannot but melt at the confideratron of thefe things, and the very thought of the bottomlefs pit and Eternal punifhment will make thee fear and tremble. Ifthertbe any fenfe in thee, here it will /hew it felf. But as I raid before, too few. think upon thefe things \ and too many live fo fecure of their falvation, as if there were no Hea- ven, no God, no Hell,nor Eternity. Every day they heap up fin upon fin, as if they laboured and ftudied to make their laft day to eyceed the former, for the meafure and number of their fins : and f« they pafs unto Eternity fporting and playing, as if they went to prifon but a few weeks ofdays. Such men as thefe, faith St. Gregory, when they mould be mourning for their fins, they are dancing for their pleafure 5 and when they fhould be ferioufly meditating upon death, they run laughing unto exe- cution. This is blindnefs indeed, this is oblivious madnefs. For this fliortlite which is but the fludow of Eterr.it?> we labour beyond all meafure ', but for the life which is Eternal, and mod happy, we fcarce take any pains at all : And yet the no: obtain- ing of this life is the incurring of Ettnul death ; whichasit is a torment more grie- vous thm al the torments ofthislife, fo in this it is moft grievous, thai there is no

reft

94 The fourth Confideration

reft or mitigation of pain, no not for one fhort hour in the infinite fpace of all £-

ttrnity.

CHAP. III.

What ejfett and fruit the confideration of E- ternity bring etb forth.

AN D this is it that hath made fo many good Chriftians, and fo many holy Martyrs fo prompt and ready to fuffer any torments, and any kind of death, that even in their greateft pains, when they lay wal- lowing in their own bloo J, they were mofi ftout and couragious, and with a conftant look and chearful countenance infulted o- ver their Tormentors. They had the years of Eternity in mind. This is it that hath made the world feem difhfteful and un- pleafant unto many , infomuch that they have taken their leave of all pleafures, anS embraced and entertained a fevere anu ftrift. courfe of life, giving themfeJves wholly to reading, medicaciort and prayer, an J fuch holy duties, minding heaven, and heavenly things. They had the years of E- ternity in mind. The thought of Eternity will make all rhings in this life feem eafie and pleafant, though to flefh and blood rheyfeem moft grievous and unpleafanc.

It

upon Eternity. 95

It makes all labours feem light and very fhort. Prayer, ftudy, watching, and fuch like holy duties it commends unto us, and makes them feem amiable. It feafons and fweeters hunger and third. It mitigates the fenfe of pinching poverty. It makes all manner of crcifes in this life not only tolerable, but alio grateful and comfor- tab'e. Whofoever hath the years of Etft- trity in mind, and imprints them within, deeper and deeper by daily meditation, fhunneth no labour , neither is daunted with any lofTes. Offer him a Kingdom, cfterhimall the delights and pleafures in the World : and he will not change his poor eft ate and condition for them. Such a man as this is never complaining -, lie endures all things, he fubmitshimfelf to all. For thus he thinks with himfelf, whit a frnall thing is this or that, that or this, and of how fhort continuance ! I will therefore endure it patiently ; it will not £ft always. It is but for an hour, and that a very fhort one, that mine enemies here opprefs me. Well, go to ye detractor:, bite me ftill, if ye will, yeenviors j I will not run from you. This is your hour and the power of darknefs ; But I expect the day of the Lord, and the day of Eternity ; and why fhould I afflict and torment my felf with lbrrow gnd lamentation ? All this lire F is

<)6 The fourth Confederation

is but a death of one hour : The vi&ory \% not difficult ; but the triumph is Eternal. Why fhould I be afraid ot the raging waves of this troublefome world * I have fight of the haven already Now it rains and thun- ders upon the heads of the good and godly } but the ltorm will fhortly blow over. But upon his enemies God fhall always rain fire and brimftone, ftorm and tempeft : this fhall be their portion to drink, Dan. 12.2. And many of them that feep in the duft of the earth ( fo prophefieth Daniel ) fhall awafyi fame to everlafiing life, and fome to fhameand ever lifting contempt. In the ©Id Law God commanded Mofes, faying, Numb. 10. 2. Mal^thee two trumpets of filver, of an whole piece fhalt thou make them, v. 4. If they blow but with one trumpet, then tbe Princes, which are the he ads of the thoufands o\ 'Ifrael fhall ga- ther themfelves unto thee. When ye blow an ■ alarm , then the Camp jhall go forwards. Unto thefe two trumpets we may compare thefe two words, NOW and ALWAYS. This is the law of the world, NOW let us be merry ', now let us rejoyce *, now let us enjoy our goods, while we have them : come, let us vow crown our felves with rofes, before they be withered -, now let us leave in every place the figns and fbotfteps of our joy. They that attend only to the found of this Trumpet, they tha: have ears

to

n$on 'Eternity,

ro hear nothing but this NOW, the) for the moft p:rt fo, as if they were n j ALWAYS for to follow. Therefore they do not remove the camp j amidft their pleafurcs they wilfully forget that they are here but Pilgrims and ftrangen : whithcr- foever tlie wanton fkfh invitedi them they gowithg^eedinefs: they are bufied a! to* gether in heaping up riches md foliowing pleafures: and the found cf this NOW doth fo obtund and dull their eas, thac they a,e deaFto all good counfels and pre- cepts : and they will not fo much as lend an ear to that ALWAYS which fh .11 fol- low. But them which open their eas to hear, and their hearts to underftand, when the Church foundeth bo:h trumpets, ( as it often doth ) and thereupon feriouHy con- fider with chemfelves, and compare toge- ther thisfhortNOW with that infinite and everiafling ALWAYS, they will ufe no delay, but prefently remove the camp : they live here ss Pilgrims and flrangers.* they have their loyns girt j they remember thac they are in a journey ; they fend their riches and pleafures betore them into their Country which is above jthey chufe rather to enjoy them ALWAYS in Heaven , than NOW for a (hort time upon earth. Certain it is,whofoever heareth attentively and mindech feiioufly the Alarm of theic F 2 Trura-

9'S The fourth Consideration

Trumpets, and thereupon compareth to- gether things prefent with things future, and things tranfitory with things Eternal, he will presently make himfelf read y to de- part, he will prepare himfelf a place of burial, he will lay out his winding-meet, he wili fend for his bier, and furnifh him- felf wi:h all things neceffary for his jour- ney, remembring (till in every place, that he is pafFmg on the way to Eternity, and conferring with himfelf every day after this manner : How mall I be able to give an account unto God for all my thoughts, words and deeds ? and, When fhall I give up my account? and what fentence will he pafs upon me ? NOW therefore will I die unto my felf, that I may ALWAYS live unto my felf and unto God. Well is it with that man, which timely and daily thus thinketh upon Eternity, Whatfoever- we do, we are pafling on our way, and we do not know how fhort it is, unto the gate , which leadeth unto Eternity. At the laft hour of our life death fhall bring us unto this gate, and compel us to enter. Let us therefore fo live, as if we were always ex- pecting death, that if it mould pleafe God at any time to vifit us with ficknefs, the fore-runner of death, we may entertain ic cheerfully, and bear it patiently , lifting up our eyes unto Chrift hanging upon the

Crofs,

upon Eternity. 99

Crofs, the true and perfect pattern of Pa- tience: and when the time of our diifolu- tion draweth near , praying thus ; Lord

Jefu ftand by me and comfort me; Lord efu be prefent with thy fervant that put- teth his twft in thee ; Lord Jefu make me partaker of thy victory, Lord Jefu receive my fpirit , and lead me through the dark- fome valley and fhadow of death, lead me and forfake me not until thou halt brought: my foul into the land of the living, Othou mod: potent conquerour of death, O thou which arc my light, life, and laivacion.

F3 THE

qg"_?

Tc him. he (jlory 'hrtk now ardi \ for* zver^tncn.. % .Pzfr.^.tB.

"Bectmfe. truttvjhall^o to hit Jzrt habitation. » JEcduS z Alas ItunvvttUke are -the. hm/kr ofEternitie one. afikem. we muJtinhabit-.Tvemit/l either for ever raoyce in. heat- eft or for ever

102

THE FIFTH

CONSIDERATION

Upon

£ t e r n i r r.

f/otv others , even wicfyd men thmfilves9 hive meditated upon Ettmity.

THE oldHiftoryoftheFatherstel- Jeth us of a religious Man, that reading upon che ninetieth Pfalm came at length, having not thought of ir, to thefe words, For a thousand years in thy fi£>t are but as yefterday, tvbe>i it is pi(?9 and here ftuck: For he couhl not con- ceive a reafon, why a thcufand years and one day mould be compared together. Whereupon they fay there a little bird was fent by God, which fo ravifht the Man widi her fweet ilnging , that though he heard herfing a very great while to gether yet he thought die time very fhort, icarce a fhort hour long. The -wind blowtth wlitre it lijieth, Joh. 3.8. Not good men only have widi holy David meditated upon £- F 4 unity >

102 The fifth Confi&ertftori

tcrnhy^ but even wicked men alfo , and thofc oftentimes againil their will .

BmdiShis Rbenamsre^orts of a vain and ungodly fellow, a very epicure and mere worldling, which never ufed to faft or watch 5 one that could not endure the want of any thing, but efpecially Deep : Upon a certain night, itfeemeth, thistel- low could not deep as he was wont, being much troubled with unufual dreams; fo Tie rerncth himfelf upon his bed from one j'ide to another, and could not by any means get any reft j then he wined it were day. But here the " wind of the Lord began to blow, though it were in a ftr-nge land: for good thoughts were very rare in this man. Being weary with watching, and finding no eafe or reft at all, thus he began to think with himfelf ; Would any be hired upon any condition to lye thus, two or three years together in darknefs, without the company of friends, though his fickaefs were not very grevous ? Would he be content to want his fports and plays fo long «? Would he be coKtent to be bound to his bed, though it were a feather-bed, or a bed of Down, and never ftir abroad to Tee any fights, or (hews, or make mer- ry with his friends ? I think no man would. And fhall alone amongft all men enjoy reft and pleafure by an efpecial priviledge,

and

upon Eternity* 105

and have no end of grief and forrovs ? SiKely no. Willi, nill I, needs Imuft fome time or other he down upon the bed of ficknefs , unlelY I be fuddenly taken away by deach, which God forbid. ( Tnis tvas a good wind, theft irere good cogitati- ons ) But what bed fhall I hive next, when death fhall thruftme out ofttas ? My bodv muft rot under earth : Forchis is the condition of all Men after death. Eur what fhall become of my foul in another World? Surely a'l Men do not go to the fame place "after death. Do not fome go one way, and fome another ? Is there noc an Hell as well as an Heaven/ Wo and ahs ? What kind of bed ft a 1 the damned find in Hell? How many years fi-.2il they lie there? In what year after their firft entrance fhall the rlames ceafe and be puc out ? Allurcd!y Chrift do:h noc only in word threaten to caft the wicked into ever* lafling fire, but will alfo caft them i: This thing is certain and verv manifeft,, Therefore the da-nned fhall bSm in Hell for ever. Therefore a thoufand , and a thoufand , and again I fay a thoufand years will no: (office to purge a- ay the fins of this fhort life. Therefore rhey (Vail never fee the fun any mote* riof Heaven, nor God, being moft miserable Eternally and wi;hout end. With

F 5 thought

104 The ffth Consideration-

thoughts as thefethis man became fo vigi- lant md watchful, and proceeded fo far, that night and day he could not be at reft, bm Eternity didftill run in his mind. Fain indeed he would have fhaken eff the thoughts thereof, as gnawing worms \ but he could nor. Therefore he followed fportsandpaftimes, went to merry meet- ings, fought out companions like himfelf, and fate oftentimes fo long at his cups, that he hid his Confcience afleep, and fo feemed to take fome reft : but when he came again unto himfelf, his Confcience bei rg awakened did prefently accufe him, and fuggeft unto him afrefh forrowful thoughts of Etmity. Thus finding no reft, lie refoived at length to amend his manners, and to betake himfelf to a bet- ter courfe of life. And thus he began to reafon with himfelf, Miferable man that I am, what do I here? I fo enjoy the world, that indeed / enjoy it not •, I fut- fer many things I would not '■, I want ma- ny things which fain I wculd h..ve : I ferve like a Quve, but who will pay rae my wages/ 1 fee well enough how the world rewardeth thofe that love it, and do all their lives nothing eife but ferve ir. But fuppofel had the fruition of all the tielights and pleafures in the world that Hiv heart could wifli : what certainty can

1

upon Eternity. 10^

I have how long they (hall laft ? I am noc certain whether I (hall live till to morrow or no : Daily funerals fufficiently \ this. Oh Eternity , if thou were noc! Oh Eternity, if thy place be not in Hea- ven, though it be on a fofc Down-bed .* thou canft not but be bitter and unplei- fant. It is true indeed, it is a hard mat- ter to withdraw our felves away from th :fe things whereunro we are accuftomed , whether it be feafring , or drinking, or company keeping , or fuch like : But whilft we delay and defer the time, deith may prevent us, and take us away from all thefe. Why then doft thou delay ? why doft thou not impofean honeft and happy neceflity upon thy felf, why doft thou not refolve thus prefently with thy felf? Well, I will be another Man thjn t have been, if it pleale God I live. This life lafteth not long : Euc Eternity endur- eth for ever. I mud walk now in a new way y I am refohred up:n it 3 and Now I begin. Where art thou blefled Eternity ? I am feeking tor thee, I am travelling to- wards thee.

To conclude, he did as hefaid, he took his leave of the world, he changed the courfe of his life ; and fo lived and died an honeft and godly Mm.

Oh Et<nity, how few are chey that

think

I o 6 The fifth Consideration

thmk thus ferioufly upon thee? But cer- tainly there are very few, force any that weigh and confide r well with themfelves what they are, and fo continue andperrlfl in that consideration. We feek earneftly after all other things, only Eternity feem- eth vile unto us, and not worth the look- ing after. Our thoughts run after riches, and yet the pofTeflion of them is very un- certain j we know nothovv foon they fhall tbrfake us, or we them. We arc ambitious after honours: and yet they are flippcry, and foon Aide away from us. We are in love with pleasures : and yet they have forrowaridbitternefs in their htterend. We deili e reft : but it is of no long conti- nuance. We knit the knot of friendship ■with others: but it isfuch as death fhall quickly dilTo've. We are never well but when we are converting with others : but our converfaticn is never in Heaven, where itihouldbe. We feek for abundance: but it is there where it will foon fail. But furely if we did more often and ferioufly . thirl; upon Eter.itv> we fhould not have iuch a fervent defire after things of fo thor't a continuance. I call Siint Bernard to witnefs, who faith thus, He that lozgeth after things Eternal cannot lut loith things xrsnjitory. There are that; have often in their

mouths

upon Eternity. 107

mouths I know not what Eternity, that will promife and fwear, and make good resolutions of amendment, and fay thus; As long a; I live, I will beware of fuch a place, or fuch a p'.ace, where I have for- merly been tempted to fin: I will never come near fuch a Man, or fuch a Woman^ or fuch a cne that was my companion in evil, I will never come near him as long as I live. As long as I live, I will never go to fuch and fuch meetings, where there ufeth to be gluttony and drunkennefs , dancing , chambering and wamonnefs, and fuch like. Ic mall fuffice me that J h.ive been there once,, and again, and perhaps oftner ; that I have done as tne company did, that I have finned with fuch and fuch. Thefe are good refutations : In this I cemmend thee , O Man •, Be- caufe fin is to be feared, thou doft w ell in purpof ng to avoid theoccafion of finning ; and I ccmld wifh thou wert as religious in o' ferving w hat thou haft promifed, as thou art ready to promife. Eut ( alas ! Rafter a. day or nso, yea an hour or two, c:o forge. ml of thy promife and good refolu- tion , thou doft again the very fame th:ng which lately thou didft deceft, abhor and forfwear. Therefore before thou makeft avow or promife unto God, it is good zq me due confideraiion and forefi&ht > and

when

I ©8 The fifth Confederation

when thou haft made a vow or promife un- to God, ic is neceflary to ufe after care and Chriftian fortitude in performance. Thou muft promife nothing rafhly and unadvi- fedly unto God : But wliat thou haft pro- mifed tliou muft religioufly and conftantly keep and obferve. How fevere God is in punifhing fuch as break their vows and promifes, we are fufficiently taught by the woful experience and lamentable exam, pie of others.

CHAP. I.

T)ii cmparifon of mans labor and the fpiders $w with anotler.

THere is another Eternity , and that the worft of all, which thole men promife to themfelves, which will needs ereft unto themfelves an heaven out of heaven, and be blefled before they be dead. Wherefore bear the word of the Lsrd, ye fcornful men, faith the Prophet Ifaiab, Becaufe ye have faid, We have made a cove' riant with death, and with hell we are at agreement, Ifaiah 28. 14, 1 5. O ye mad men / How vain, and none at all, is this your Eternity ! There is nothing perma- nent and perpetual in this^ prifon. Ele- gantly doth the Kingly Prophet declare

this y

upon Eternity. 109

this ; Pfal. 90. 9. We fpend pur years, faith he, as a tale that is told, &c. We fpend o:-,r years in mufing, like the Spider, ( for fo fome read it. ) He could nor have declared it better, and in fewer words. For whac are all our years but a continual mufing , and wearifome exer- cife? All the time of our life is confumed and wafted away with vain labours, many forrows, fun dry fears, often fufpicions, and innumerable troubles: Even as the Spider fpendeth her felf in the weaving of her web. Our labours are continual , linked one unto another ; our fighs and groans continual, partly in the purfuing of our profits and pleafures, and partly in the removing and efchewing thofe things which we count evil. We do . many things, we undertake many labours, tro%i- blefome and grievous to be born , and mean- while (alas/ fuch is our tolly) we perceive not that we do but weave die Spiders web, taking a great deal of pains, with lite lefuccefs, to no end or purpofe. We fpend our years in mufing like the Spider. It is a great deal of pains and care that the Spider taketh in weaving other web, (he runneth much and often up and downD the fetcheth acompafs this way and that way , and returneth often to the fame point, fliefpericlahherfelfin a multitude

r Of

no The fifth Confident ion

of fine-fpun threads, to make her felf a round Cabinet j fhe exenteratethher felf, and worketh out her own bowels, to make an artificial and curious piece of work, which when it is made, is apt to be blown away with every puff of wind j fhehang- eth it up aloft, fhe faftneth it to the roof of thehoufe, fhe Itrengthneth it with ma- ny a thread, wheeling often roundabout, notfparing her own bowels, but fpending them willingly upon her work. And when fhe hath done all this,fpun her fine threads, weaved them one within another, wrought her felf a fine Canopy, hanged it aloft, and thinketh all is fure; on a fudden in the twinkling of an eye, with a light fweep of a beefome all fall eth to the ground, and fo her labour perimeth. But here is not all : Pocr Spider ! fhe is either killed in her own web. or elfe fhe is taken in her own fnare, haled to death and troden un- derfoot. Thus the filly Animal may be truly faid, either to weave her own wind- ing fheet, or to make a fnare to hang her felf. Juftfo dc many men, like the Spi- der, wafte and confume themfelves to get preferment , to enjoy pleaiures , to gather riches, to keep them, and to in- creafe them. In fuch 'projects they fpend all their wit, and oftentimes theheakhsof their bodies, running up and down, la- bouring

ttf on Eternity. i 1 1

touring and {wearing, carking ana caring: wearying themfelres, and weakcing their

bodies, even as the Spider doth by fpin- 'jirg cut of her own bowels. And when they have done aft this, they have but weaved the Spiders Web to catch F'ies. Ye j, oftentimes they are caught in thdr Own nets, they are iniriuments of their own mifchiet. The days of mirth which they promife to themfelves , prove of- tenrmes the days of mourning .* That whicfithey call their palace, becometh their burying pface, So r?t fftnd our years in am ler : I fay, in mufiig,

for the mot pan : For we ofcen purpofe todom.ny things, and do them not. And what we do molt an end were better un^ core, Thofe tilings which we purfue with fuch greedicefs, for the mofl pare die from us; and thofe things which we ccntend for with fuch earneflnefs, we fcldom at* tain to : Eut fuppofe we dd, ( Alas ! ) they have no perpetuity. So the covenant vpith death ''rail be difannnlled , avd the agreement "which bell [hall not ft and, I fa. 23. 18. We all confume away and die: and which is worft of all, we blindly rufh head- long into Eternity > from whence there is no return.

nicks hearing thefe words read \n the Church out of die Book of Bmfs%

Gen.

112 The fifth Confederation

Gen, 5. $. And all the days that Adam IU vedy were nine hundrei and thirty years : Aid he died. 8. And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years-. And be^died. 11. And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years : And he died. And all the days of Mthufelah were nine hundred fixty and nine years: And he diedy &c. Hearing , I fay thefe words read, the very conceit of death wrought fo ftrongly upon him, and made fo deep an impreffion in his mind, that he retired himfelffrom the world, and gavchimfelf wholly to his devotions, that fo he might die the death of the godly, and arrive mere fafely at the haven of Eternal feli- city, which is no wliere to be found iu this world.

CHAP. II.

What is the beji Qneflion in the World?

SAint Matthew telleth us of a young Man that came unto Chrift, and pro- pounded aqueftionuntohim, Mat. 19,16. And Saint i^r^defcribeth the manner of his coming to cur Saviour, and his good carriage : For, faith he , There tame em running and fueling to himy and as^ed himy Good Mafter, what [ball I do that I may

inherit

fipon Eternity. 1 1 $

faberit Eternal Life? Mark 10. 17. And our Saviours anf<\ er wac. thou J^iotvefi the Commandments : If thou wilt enter into life, fyep the Commandments, Matth. ip. 17. AtFhilippi a City of Macedonia, the fyeper ci tht trtfon came trembling, and jell dovpri tefore Paid and Silas , and moved this queftion unro them. Sirs, what rnnfl I do to befaved! This was a very good queftion 5 A better and more profitable could not be moved, But , O good God , where is this queftion now in the world ? The world is full of other queftions : but this is fcarce any where to be heard. Mofi men do now adays betray themfelves by their own queftions, and bring to light, and fo make others wimefles of their nm- pliciry, orcuriofity, oribmefuch hidden difea/eof mind. He which maketh dili- gent fearch and enquiry where thebeft wine is to be fold, doth fufficiently declare what he loves beft,aEd where his clverefl: care is. Another asketh fuch queftions as a modelt Man would blufh to hear: And this man (hews that his heart is full, and that out of the abundance thereof his mcuth fpeaketh. All mens mouths in all places are tuil of queftions, fuch as thefe are: But it is a rare thing to hear one Man ask another this queflion, Do yon chink this is the way to heaven f It is a

fault

H4- The fifth Confederation

faulc common to every vicious Man, but more proper co the libidinous and iuftful, die luxurious and riotous Man, though he be plunged into the deep, and begins to fink, and to be overwhelmed, yet feldom or never to enter into a ferious confedera- tion with himfelf, and with a finceremind ask himfelf this queftion, Shall I ever think to obtain Eternal felicity by this courfe of life? Is_this the way to heaven? Eutef. all men thofe efpecially lead think upon fuch queftions as thefe, thofe I fay, that live a foft life, fare deliciqufly, and wal- low in pleafures,that feel little or no for- row and affii&ion, or if they do at any time feel never fo little, labour what they can to be fenfelefs of it. To fuffer, they count the greateft of all evils. If ic gees well widi them, they care not how it fares with others. If it be well with them for the prefent, they take no care what fhall follow after. They never once think upon Eternity. This is their daily ditty, The Heaven of Heavens is the Lords, but ths earth he bath given to the (ons oj Men. They want neither ftrength of body or mind, by which to efcape the hands of Men. But God hath long hands, he fhall furely find them out, they mull appear before him who is the Judge of all the world j they cannot efcape his judgment; they fhall

furely

upon Eternity. 115

furely filter Eternal punifhments for their wickednefs and their offences. But if God in his fecret judgment cafteth away any man as a reprobate and fuffereth him to live after his own luft and pleafure, he gi- veth him his portion of profperity and fe- licity in this life, he fpareth him here, that he may punifh him hereafter. And if at anytime he doth any thing that is good, he prefently receiveth his reward. Or fuch unhappy -happy Men the kingly prophet thus fpeaketh,Pfal, 73. 5. They ire not in trouble as other Men ', neither are they plained Ukj other Men, Pfal. 106.39. They go a whoring with their own inventions . And this is a meft miferable eftate and conditi- on of life , if there be any. For who God hath predeftinated to bring him into the way o( Eternal happinefs, he fpareth him nor here in this life, out fcourgeth him daily. I might bring infinite exam- ples to prove this: I will name but one ; but the like, I think, hath not been feen or heard of in many ages.

CHAP.

ii 6 The fifth Conftder at ion

CHAP. III.

flow God funifheth here, that be may fpare hereafter. A grange example, the tike hatbfcavce at any time been heard of.

IN the year of our Lord, one thousand one hundred eighty five, Andronicus , Emperourof the Eaft being overcome and taken prifoner by Ifaac Angela, had two heavy iron chains put about his neck, was laden with fetters and fhackles, and was moft barbaroufly and defpitefully ufed , and at length in this manner was brought before the forenamed Ifaac. Before whom complaining of his hard ufage, he was de- livered over to the mukitude to be abufed at their pleafure, They being kx. on fire with anger, thought it a fine thing to be revenged of ther enemy : And thus they ufed him. They buffeted him, they bafti- nadoed him, they puliedhim by the beard, they twicht his hair from his head, they dafht out his teedi, they dragged him in publick, they made him a bughing-ftock, they frittered women to beat him with their rifts. Then they cut off his right hand ; and being thus maimed, they thruffc him into the dungeon of thieves and robbers without either meat or drink or any other thing that was neeeffay, or any one to

look

upon Eternity* 117

look after him. After a few days they put out one of his eyes and being thus fhame- fully mangled, having one eye put out, and cne hand cut orT, they put upon him a very forry fhort coat, fhaved his head, fet him upon a (tabbed Camel with his face towards the tail, put upon his head a Crown of Garlick, made him hold in his hand the Camels tail inftead of a Scepter, and fo they carried him through the mar- ket place very leifurely with great pomp and triumph. And here the moft impudent, bafe and vile amongft the people, like fa* vages, after an inhumane fort fell upon him, nothing at all eonfidering that noc paft three days before he was no lefs thin anEmperour, Crowned with a royal Dia- dem, commended, worfhipped, honoured, yea and adored of all men. Nothing at all regarding the oath of Allegiance , they raged and were mad upon him, and their rage and madnefs fitted every man with inftruments of mifchief againft him. Some ftruck him on the head with clubs, others filled his noftrils with dirt, others fqueezed fpunges upon his face, firft foaked in the excrements of man and bead, others run him into the fides with fpits. Some threw ftones, others threw dirt at him : fome called him mad dog, others called him fool and blockhead. An impudent women

running

1 1 8 The fifth Consideration

running out of a kitchin with a kettle of (balding water in her hand, poured it upon his head as lie pafled by. There was none which did not fome mifchief or other to hirn. At length they brought him to the Theatre to make him a laughing-flock, took him down from the Camel, and han- ged him up by the heels between two pil- lars. Jhus the poor Emperor having fuf- fered a noufand indignities ; yet he bore them patient'y, carrying himfeJf like a man and a true Chriftian Champion. He was never heard all the while to lament, or cry out of his hard fortune : for it had been t© no purpofe. He was all the while calling up his account, which he was to make unto God, and begging patdon for his fins. He was heard to fay nothing but only this, and this he faid often, "Domini mfe-< ire, Domini mifime, Lord have mer- cy, Lord have mercy.

Unhappy Andronicus, which waft com- pelled to fuffer fuch things I But happy in this, that thou didft fuffer them fo pati- ently, as being the juft reward of fin.

When he was hanged up, one would have thought their malice fhould have ceafed: but they fpared him not then, as long as he lived. For they rent his coat from his body : and tofle'd him up and down with their hands, tearing him in

pieces

upon Eternity* 119

th rhe;r nails. Ore mere cr. el than the reft run his fword through his belly, ?nd guts, as he was hangk?g, Two o- then, to trywhofe fword w.s fnarprir, thrufthim through the back, Ie.:n:ngup n the":r fwcrds with bo h their hands. Here the molt miferable unhappy Emperour with much a do Ir-red up his n limed hatrd to his mcurh, to pu: out the blood, as Tome thought, from the frefh and bleeding wound, and 10 ended his lite rhiferably. Alter fome few days he was taken down from the gibbet, and throwtt under one of the arches of the Theatre like 1 bead, till fome that h_d more humanity in them than the reft, removed him; but yet not- withftandinghe was not lurleredro be bu- ried. O Andronicus ! O thou Emperor of the Eaft ! How much waif the u bound unto God, whole will it was that for a few days thou fhoulJeft differ fuch t! ings,th-t thou mighreft not perifli for ever' lb u w (lmifer..ble for a fhorc time, that tlv u mighceft notbe miferable for ail Eternity. I make no doubt but thou hadil the years of Eternity in mind/eeing that thoudtdft buf- fer fuch things fo contlantly & couragioufly. Mat is thoniaterh mine Author, from wh: m I borrowed this lamentable hiftory , an^ he lived about the fame time, when this happened.

G Let

I 20 The fifth Conjideration

Let us Chriftians keep always in mind the years of Eternity. So whatibever ad- vcrfity or affliction happeneth, we (hall more eaiily bear ir. Every thing is fhort, it we compare it with Eternity. For our light ajfiiclion, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a for mort exceeding, andE- ternal weight oj glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Here- upon St. X*£///h"»*crieth out, andprayeth fo earneftly, Domine, hie nre, hie feca,modo in sternum p areas : L or d, fear me here, lance me here, fo thou fpareft me hereafter. And :Fulgentius, though a mod holy man, draw- ing near unto his death, threefcore and ten days before he died,was often heard to cry out, Domine, da mihi modo patientiam, & pojtea indulgentiam ; Lord, grant me pati- ence here, and eafe hereafter. Thefe were his words and prayers even to the lafl gafp. Certain it is, God fpareth them leaft of all, whom he determined! to take unto himfelf to dwell with him throughout all ■Eumty.

THE

l±L

, _ i-^:j

We have ol liutdhtg of<so& an-hou[e not made with hcauLs 'EterrudL irt the heavens z^C or ;%. l

L it nam wander at my ha&itaturnlhavi \tre. anwJtha^gevcdiceiWtiehl.-Bmkz upsxtv-0u, everlajhkfljJnfotis afhettanl ifye, £ternj&Manfum.s qfheav ert- .

!2J

THE SIXTH

CONSIDERATION

Upon

E T E R N. 1 T T.

How the holy Scripture in many places ttack? etb hsIo mediate upon Eternity.

^"T^HE Kingly fVcpher, fpeafcng of the Wicked,faith,That they veilf^

\ in every fide, or in a clrcdt; Pfal. 12. 8i This is cheir manner of life .• they go from feaftto feaft, from delights to de- lights, from wickednefs to wickenefc, This is their Circuit. And when they think they have almc'ft fmi*hed their Circuit of wickednefs, and gone over the rouad of their luft, they begin again, returning ftill to their former courie, till death ftealeth upon them before they be aware

The Children of fob made this law a- mongft themfelves, to feaft one another round, every one in his courfc. The good Man their Father obferved and knew very well, that this tlieir feafting round, c

G 3 n&t.

1^4 *\ bejixtf) Consideration

not he without fin: And therefore hej^f, andfanflifidtbem9androfeup early in the morningj and opted burnt- offerings according I o the n umber of them all, job 1.5. As there- fore the wicked delight and rejoyce in going the circuit of their pleafure : So God (hall appoint them a circuit to go, but it fhallbe a circuit of torments, end that perpetual $nd&ter*/U. Blei'Ied Dazid forefaw this Iikewife : For faith he, Thine arrows went abroad: The voice of thy thun* ' der tzas heard in the Heaven, or, round about* Pfal. 77. 1 7, 1 8. Famine, War, Peflilence, Sorrows, biilafcs , Calamities, Death it ftl:, and ail ad verities whatfoever thac happen before the firft death, are the Ar- rows of the Lord ; but they flie over j they have wings, and they quickly flie from one to another. But the voice of this thunder, the voice of his anger and fury fhall coRti- nuaily roar in the prifon of Hell, and like a wheel run round without wearing, for all Eternity. This wheel,as if it were filled with Gunpowder, when it hath once taken fire, fhall burn for ever and ever. A fire is kind'ed in mine anger, and {hall barn unto the lovpefi Hell, Deur. 32. 22. There is alfo another circuit, and that Iikewife is Eternal : from unutterable cold to intole- rable heat, and from heat back again to cold, Job 24. 19. Drought and heat con-

fame

upon Eternity. 125

fum the [now waters, (To faith Job) and fo doth the grave tbofe that haze finned. St. Matthew fignificm it more exprefly by the gna'hing of teetk, and weeping of eyes. Matth. 1 2. 1 3. That we may more fully fet out this horrible and incomprehenfible wheel, order requireth that we fl;ew how the Church agreeth with the holy Scrip- ture inrhis,as the holy Fathers acreewith the Churcli. We have here divers gcod admonitions from all thefe, which if we attend unto, we cannot eafily let Eternity flip out of our memory.

CHAP. I.

The Afwers of the holy Fathers and r: Church about this.

OF all the holy Fathers which have lived in divers ages, we fhoulddo well to hearken unto five efpccially, An- gufline, Clnyfejiom, Gregory, Bernard] Lau- rent ins y Jufiinianns.

The firft queftion here (_ which vet may fecm a vain and foolifh one ) is, Which is eailer, and more tolerable, to (lifter pain in the head, eyes or teeth ; to be troubled with the ftone ; to be pained with the wind Chohck, or Iliac* Paffio, or any c- ther acute difeafej neither to flecp night G 4 ©r

126 ThefixthCoxfider&ticn

orday, but ro be tormented continually without any refpite for three day* toge- ther. Tiicqaefiicnncw is, I fay, Which is cafier, whether to fiiffer the pains now mentioned, or die to eat a piece of fifh which is mace bitter by the breaking of theGall. This may feem a very ridicu- lous and moil idle qucflion. For, how much bitter is it to it eat fuch a vshole fi/h, jracher than fuffer thole fo grievous tor- ments though but one day ! The bitter- nefs of thcfilh will not endanger a Mans life, nor nuke him fick, but leave only a bitter talc in the mouth, which is unpka- fingtoit. Icis truly an'Vvercd. And yet how many thoufands of men make choice rather of the former! For, how often doth the Preacher teach and exhort, cry out and fpe.ik plainly 1 Chriftian brethren , confidcr well with your felves, and look about you? the Eternil falvation of your fouls is in queftion ; If you walk this way, yoa muff afluredly look for Eternal tor- ments: Chrift hath (hewed you another way both by his life and doftrine. Returi therefore and repent, you have gone long enough afiray. You may if you will have entrance into Heaven; if you be fhut out it is ycur own fault : God is not wanting to rhefe that a>*e willing. It is true indeed, There is fome bitterness in ufing abftt-

' nence

upon Eternity. 1 2 7

nencc and fading, in conceding of fins, in keeping the body under, inferring a flrict watch over thy feafes, in conquering ones felt, in living duftfy and continently: Thsisnoeafie task: But, let it be what it will, we mud fufTer it. Lu^e 24. 25. Ought net Cbrijt to have fuffer ed theft things, avdfo tit enter into bis glory ? Let not a little and fhort labour terrifie us. It is but for a few years, or it may be but a few days, that we are to do and fuffer va- • liantly •, but our joy and reft fhall be £- ttrnal. He overcometh all , whofoever overcometh and conquereth himlelr, con- taineth himfelf, and refifteth his evil and violent paGfions , and all this for Chrrftj for Keaveo, for blefled Enmity. Chrifr after his Refurrefton found his Difciplej eating fifh broiled upon the couls: To teurh them how great things they fhould' afterwards fufTer : and that tney were not to think of a fof: and eafie life, but chat they were to be ftoned, wh'pped, cruci- fied, have their skin pulled over their ears ; lib w.is the way to a joyful Refurre- c~fcion, and o the participation and fellow- fh'p of Eternity with the defied ^ that all1 other things were Im ill and of no worth in companion o: immo ta icy, and that blef-. kducis, which ye: eve hath never Cecn. Ihcie tilings are often fpokenofj but they G I aie

1 2 8 The fixth Confederation

are little regarded. This fifh birter with the over-flovsingof :he gall, tkat is world- ly crofles and the fufferings of this life, is often fet before us : but it goeth againft our ftomach, we cannot endure to taile of it. Eternity, is a thing tve often hear of, we often read of,itis continually preached unto us, and often repeated : but we either hear not, or believe not, or regard not, or if we do for a time, the cares of the world foon put it out of our minds, and wc bury it in oblivion. But again, the Confcience often plays the Preacher, and recals to our mind thefe wholfom lellons, is inffant, dehorts, reproves j but prevails nothing. Allisinvaia. For many are (6 obftinite and perverfe, that neither the Preacher nor their own Confcience can work upon them. But fome are fo impu- dent, that they will fee themfelves in op- £>ofition, and reply thus, Let it go weli with hs hire and tve care not', we neither fyiow norca)s what fljall come hereafter % we are all for prefix* profts and pieajum : no man returneth again fr&m the dead \ mi- tinr was it ever known that any one came bac^agiinoutoj Hill. Come therefor #, let hs eat) diink, and be merry, let us enjoy cur goods and take our pleafnre. Thefe are the worldlings Ditties : but let S. Augujline determine rliis queftion, M&HS efl^nodica

mm*

upon Eternity. 129

ammtudo in fauci'jxs, eptam JSlirmvi tor- mentnmin viceribus. Better it is, faith he, t a fuffer 1 little bittemefs in. the mouthy than Eter ad torments in the inward parts; It is far better to fuffer for our offences here in this World, than the World to come. Far better it is for threefcore years and ten, continually togerhcr here on earth, to be punifhed with moft grievous punifh- - merits, than to fuffer the torments of Hell for one day, yea for one hour hcreafter.Buc let us hear what another of the Fathers faith.

Saint Chryfo^ome propounds thefecondqueftion after this Hg>\ 20. manner ; Suppofe one night in ad Fo% an hundred years a mm ihould AntiK. have a fweet & pleafant drejm, and be after punifhed an hundred years for it, would he think fuch a dream were to bedefired? And yet. faith the Father, as a dream is to an hundred years/0 is this prefent life to the life to come, yea rither it is much lefs : And as a drop is to tht ma:n Ocean, fo area thoufand years unto

>y. And in another place What is there, faich he, to be Mm. 22. compared unto Eternity ? What in E are ar thou land years in com pa- ad //. rifon of infinite ages which are yet for to come? Arechey not like unto

the

1 5 o The fixth Consideration

the leaft drop of a bucket compared to a bottomlefs Well? Look for no end of tor- rid nts after this life, unlefs thcu repent- eft before thou departeft out of this life : for after death there is no pkce of repen- tance, no (redding of tears will profit thee, or do thee any good. Though a Man in Hell fhould gn,(h his teeth, and blare outhisfcorched tongue, hefha.lr.ot J ©bta'*n fo much as n drop of cold water. G. ast then that a Man fhould enjoy plea- fares all h'-s life long, what is that to infi- nite ages which are yet for to come ? Here in th;s life all things good and bad have at length an er.d \ but the pumfhrnents that fhall be lurTered hereafter Ihall have no end Set fire on the body here, and the foul will icon depart : bui a'ter the i efur- rettien , when the bedy fhall be from thenceforth immorral and incorruptible, the Soul of the damned fhali always burn, and not eonfumc in Hell-fire. They ftv.ll rife again , inco ruptible indeed; but hew ? Not to receive a Crown of incor- ruptible glory, but to fufter Eternal tor- ments. But let us hear what another of the Fathers faith.

Saint Gregory nvaketh anfwer to thi$ common quefti on ; Will net drunkeiwels fooner ileal upon a Man in the Wine cel- lar, funding b\ the he gdieud, dianjnthe

upn Eternity. i J i

Parlcur fitt'ng ac the table ? The fpou-fe of Chrift triurjipheth in the words of Sc= tomorti he brought me to the Banquttting* boafe ( or as fome read it, He brought me into lis Wine-cellar ) and his banner over me wis love, or, Hehithfet his banner of low. over me, llpcn which words St.G'i- gnry ciifcourfing faith thus, By the Wine- cellar what can we better or mere fitly conceh cd, than the fecret contemplation ot" Eternity ? For truly whofoever dech fe- rouflv confider with himfelf upon Eternity and let this c:nfideration (ink deep hit 6* his m:nd, he may truly re Joyce, and tr - umph with the Spoufe, faying, He batbj t his banners of love over me: For he wi.l keep better crder in his love, loving him- felf lefs, Go.! more, and even his enemies- alfo for Gods lake. But fuch is the nature ot this profound consideration, that it will prefer.tly make a Man drunk. Make him d. unk? Hew ? With the drunkennefs of the beft de fires, fuch as will lead him to a- mendmentoflife, curry him to hi: heaven- ly Country, and bring him at length ta joys-Erww/ It was cait in the Apoftles teeth, that they we, e drunk with wine : and lb they were ndeed \ but it was wim wine cut ot this Cellar. St. Gregory hath ma- ny excellent confider at ions and fayings Upon Eternity: amciv It others he haii>

this.)

1 3 2 The fixth Confederation

this, which is a very fhort one and a true one, Momentum quod dele fiat , JEternurn quod cruciate That which delight eth is mo- mentany, bat that which tormentitb is Eter- nal, Here I could wifh with Job, Job 19. 23, 24. 0 that thefe words were written / 0 that they were printed in a BqoK^/ That they were graven with a pen of Iron! Thefe words, I fay, that which delighteth is m*.« mtntany, but that which tormtnteh is Eter- nal. The Boo^'m which this fhould be written, is the hurt of man ; the pin of iron with which it fhould be written, is fe-. rious meditation j the Inl^ with which it fhould be written, is, the Blood of chrifi. And thefe words fo imprinted and ingra- ven in the breaft, are then efpecially to be called to mind, and to be often repeated, when pleafure fawneth , when luft pro- voketh, when luxury inviteth, when the flefih rebeileth, and the fpirit faijeth, when there isoccafion of fin offered,. and dan- ger of falling into fin. Eut let us hearwhac another of the Fathers faith.

In the fourth place comes Sr. Bernard: He fhall anfwer to the queflion here to be propounded. In the livts of men there is fuch difference, that almoftnow fo nuny men fo many judgments concerning affli- ctions. There are found fome fo grievoully aad continually afflicted , that they are

ready

nfon 'Eternity. 135

ready to fall down under the crofs, as be- ing too heavy for them to bear. One is opprefled witn poverty, another is afflicted > with ficknefs, another is overcharged with Ccret debts, another is tormented with cares, another is grieved and vexed with injuries and (landers: every man thinketh that mod grievous which in preient he furTereth. And many times it cometh to pafs that fuchas are faint-hearted and im- patient, wifh for death, run into the wa- ter, and make haft to the halter, thinking thereby to find an end of all their griefs and forrows, whereas indeed that fuppofed end becomes to them, but the begifining of their lbrrows, and fuch fcrrows as never (ball have end. But with the good and godly it 15 not lb : They patiently endure all, fubmitting themfelves in all things to God's good will and pleafure. They nei- ther defn e to die quickly, nor yet to live long. Is it God's will they fnall die? They alio are willing. Will he have them d;e quickly? They are willing to that alfo, Will he have them live yet longer? They are not againff that. What God willeth, that they will : what he willeth no:, nei- ther will they, Befide thefe two kinds of Men, there is a third , and that is the greateft part of men, that defire to live Jong : And there is almoft no Man fo old,

bus

rj4 The fixthConJideration

but he hopes and defires to live yet another year. Thefe Men are never heard to fay, they have lived long enough. Death maketh too much haft with them, hecom- meth to them too foon, yea and before his time. Here now the queftion may be moved •, Who live? or who (hall live lon- ger ? St, Bernard in his feventeenth Ser- mon upon the 91 Pfalm , upon thefe words, With long life will Ifatisfo kiwy breaketh forth into this admiration, Wrut is lb long as that which is Eternal ? Whit is fo long a; that which mall have no end ? .. Lite Eternal is the good end which we are all to aim at, and this end is without end. And further he adds, That is the t.ueday indeed after which there follows no night, .where there is Eternal verity, and true £- ttrnity, and therefore true and Eternal fo- c;ety. £0 then the queftion may bede« termined thus, That thofe only fhalilive a long life iruly lo called, whofoever fhall nevcrdie, but always live in heaven ; Ani again, That thofe fhall die in a lingring death ( alas! too lingring a death ) who- foever fti-h always die, but ever live in- Hell : for they (hall live only the e to be tormented always. Let us hear biK one more, and fo conclude.

Laureiitius ]n;iiniws fhaii refolve the hit queftion for us. There are, faih he,

nfon Eternity. I J 5

many things in this, Wcr'd which nature hath fo appropriated .mdiffigned tofome one certain place, that they are not to be Lund in another pl:ce, unlefsit be in part. O; fome flowers which grow in the new- found world we have only the feed : Of fome living Creatures there are brought over > nco us only die Skins. Now Eternity is a thing fo proper to another World, that ir is not to be found in this ; enly the (e^d there- f we may have even in this World. And w hat are the feeds of Eternity ? They are faith LaurentUs, Contempt of a mans- felf, the gift of Charily, and the tape of thrift's worlds. To conttmn others, is a Tree that over fprcadeth the whole World whole Wood is Fewel for the Fire of Hell. To conttmn himfelt is a very fmall feed, fcarce known in ^he world : Chrift brought it down from Heaven with him who made himfelj oj no reputation, and tool^ upon him tbejorm oj a Servant , and became obedient, not to the Stable only, or the Manger, but even to mount Calvary , unto death, eve ft tbedeathoj the Crofs, un o the- grave, yea even unto Hel!, vcr. 9. Wherefore God alfo h ah highly exalted him. Behold, this litt e feed is grown up and (bread in breadth, and is become the highelt of all trees. The fame Author, fpeaking of Charity, faicli thus, The meafureot our glory and Etir-

i J 6 The flxth Confideration

nal reward fhall be according to the mea- fure or" our Ck ant). For, To whom little is forgiven, the fame loveth little, Luk. 7 .47. He obtaineth lefs grace, whofoever hath lefs Charity : And where there hick grace, there alfo fhall be lefs glory. So then it is meit true, The more thou loveft God, the more thou heaped up unto thy felf £- iirnal rewards. The whole Law is love, hut it muft be pure, chafte, and holy. I have done with the fecond, which is Cha- rity, I come to the third, which is The tafie ofclmfis words. I c is a common and witty faying in the Rhetorick Schools, He is to be thought a good proficient who can re- lifoTkUfs worlds-. We. may fay as much in the Shool of Chriftianity, He hath made a good progrefs in Religion and Virtue, who Can relifh Chrifls worlds, who Mejs the taft? of Chrifls doclrine and example. But who- foever flndeth no tafte almoft at all, no relifh in die words and works of Chriil *, whofoever is not moved, affe&ed, and de- lighted with thofe things which belong un- to the mind, and Chriilian piety to Hea- ven, and Eternal felicity ', but on the con- trary flndeth much f.veetncfs in eating, drinking, walking, laughing, jeft'ngand playing : the fane Man may fay with f r- row enough, too truly, How little feed of Eternity have 1 within me, 0 my God / Or

rather

niton Eternity 1J7

rather, / haze none at all. For when I defcend into my felr, I lee manifcfrly what ipiric is within "me, and whither my afre. cddon carrietk me. To ipcnd whole nights in dancing, fcafting, revelling , qu:;fting, dicing and carding, hearing foohfli and idle tales, reading impure Books, calling for, and laughing at amorous Sengs, play- ing the good feLow, and doing as the com- pnydcthj Oh! ih:s never effendeth me, this is pleallngand delightful to me: But to hear of Chriftand his life, to hear of Holy Men that lived formerly, who were much given to watching, faffing, and prayer,or to read of their lives,that mikes no muhek in my ears, and this is an eye- i<">reuntome: I cm neither hear nor fee: J lk>p mine ears, and clofe mine eyes for ferried they mould be offended. To hear a Sermon of an hour long, it is death un- to me, and therefore I feldom come ta Church : or if I do fomctimes, I drive a- way che time, either fleeping or prating. There are too mjny fuch men in the world : but of fuch it may be truly faid, th t they have no tafte or re'ifh at all of the works ot Chrift. Eutnow let us hear the judgmenc of the Church cencernmg Et-r-ity.

The memory of Etmiity is fo precious is the elleem of the Church, that there is

no

138 ThefixthConfidcratioti

no Pfalm, no Prayer; no Hymn but do- lech with it, Glory be to the Fdtber, and to the Son, and to the Holy Gboft ; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever (hull be , •world without end, Amen. As U was in the beginning^ that is , before all beg:nning from all Eternity, "without any beginning is new, and zvexfhall be, world without end, that is, throughout all ages; infinite, in- numerable, incomprehenfible ages ; to all Eternity. But let us leave the* ii tele rivers, and make hafte to the fountain.

CHAP. IT.

Clear Te(li monies of Divine Scripture con- sewing Eternity.

I Will produce only three witneffes, a Prophet j an Apoflle, and an Evange- li(i.

How many and how great are the fighs and groans ot poor abjeft and defpifed Men! we may hear them every day. One or other every where is complaining, Wo is me poor man, I have few or no friends at all ; I am difrefpeded : I am fco ned and trampled under foot almoft by all. Have patience a little, O man, naffer for a while; the day of comfort will rife ac lengthj though it feem long firft. Remem- ber

upon Eternity. 159

ber Gods promife in the Prophe- Bur.t; fie otBaruch, CaA about thee a 3.2, double garment o\ the righteouf- nefs -which corneth from God, and fit a Dia- dem on thy head of the glory of the -Ever tap- ing.

Others there are that accufe Nature, complaining ftill that fhe harh given too long a life to ravens and too fhort a great deal unto Man. Hear thus much, you that are ftill compteining of the fhertnefs of mans Iife,This life is fhort indeed : but when this fhort and vain life mall end, there remains another life which never fhall have an end : If ye will not believe me, yet believe St. Paul, 2 Cor. $.2. For tre know, faith St. Paul, that if our earthly boyfe of this tabernacle "were diffolved, we have a building of God , an houfc not made with hands, Eternal in the heavens. Wliac great lofs is it then, if this earthly taber- nacle of our body be difiolved, when as we have a Royal Pahce prepared for us, which isnotfuhjefr to diilolution? To the tefti- mo-.yof the Prophet and the Apo[ile, let us add the teftimony of the Evangelifi St. Matthew, in whofe Gofpe'l we may read thefe words of our Saviou-, Mitih. 1 S. 8. If thy hand or thy foot of end thee, cut them off, and caft them from thee-, It is bet- urfor thee to enter into life halt or maimed,

rather

140 The fixth Consider At ion

ratber than hazing two hands or two f.et is be aft int§ ever 'lifting fire And if ' thim eye offend thee, plucl^ it out, -and cift it from thee: It is better jer thee to enter into iije Tvithweeyt, rather thin having two ey<s to be call into hell fire. O fire ! O Hell! O Eternity ! Time is nothing, if it be com- pared with Eternity ', fhortnefs of life, and fo lofs of time is no lots at all, but great gain, if thereby we £.ain Eternity, thrift hath promifed it, and Sc. Matthew hath recorded it, and fealed it in thefe words of our Saviour, Matth. 19. 29. Everyone that hath forfafyn hoitfes, or brethren, cr pflers, or father , or mother , or wife, or children, or lands for my nam s fake, \hiU receive an hundred-fold , and (hall inherit iverlafiing life. Is it not clear enough that this promife is.of bleffed Eternity, when wehavefccurity givenusof receiv- ing an hundred-fold reward ? Again,Chrift according to the fame Evavgelift forewar- ning of the latter judgement, three timej makes mention of Eternity exprefly in thefe words, Matth. 25. 41,45. everla fling fi<\ or eternal frre, everlasting cr ttexnii p ment, and life eternal.

Seeing therefore the holy Fathers, the Church , and the facred Scripture do fo many ways propound unto us the ferious confideraiion of Eternity -y it is our pare

upon Eternity. 141

and duty, as many of us as look for &mul life in Heaven, it is our part and duty fe- ri cufly to medicate thus with our felves every one : O my God ! How feidorn have I heretofore thought upon Enmity 1 or if I have thoughc upon it , in what a cold, and negligent manner have I done it, notwithftanding every day, yea every hour and minute I draw nearer and nearer unto Eternity ? But for the time to come by die afliftance of thy grace I will mind it more carefully than heretofore 1 have done •, and if at any time through thy bounty, riches fhall increafe, I will not (ct my heart upon them : though the world mould fmile upon me, though I fhould want no temporal thing that my heart can defire, though I fhould feem to flow in never (6 much abundance, yet will I ftill remember Eter- nity. In the midft of my profperity thefe fhall be my thoughts. But how long fhall this laft? Will this fair weather never change ? Will this comfortable Sun always fhine upon me ? Or if I fhould live in pro- fperity all the days of my life, what fhall ic profit me after death ? After this fwee: but fhort,pleafmg but perilous, unhappy hap- pinefs, there fhaJl lhort'y follow Eternity s Eternity. But if the World goes ill with me, if it frown upon me, if I meet with manv crofTes, troubles and affiifi ions, if misfor- tunes

142 Thcfixth Consider At ion

tun s befal me, if they rufh upon me like waves, one on the neck of another, if I beturmoiledand tefled up and down,chea thefe fhall be my daily thoughts. Well, let the World have itscourfe,] am content to bear it, Gods will be dene. Let the fca be troubled, let the waves thereof ro:r, let the Winds of affiiflions blow, let the waters of forrows rufh upon me, let the clouds of tentations threaten rain and thunder, let the darknefs of grief andhea- vinefs compsfs me about, yea though the foundations of the World mould feem to fhake, yet will I not be afra'd. Thefe (forms will blow over, thefe Winds will be laid, thefe Waves will fall, this tempeft c.nnot Iaft long, and thefe clouds fh 11 be difpelled. Whatfoeverl fuffer here fhall fhortlyhave an end, I fhall not fuffer E- tema/ly, Come the worft that can come, death will put an end to all my fcrrows and rniferies. But no ftorm to mat ftorm of Fire and Brimftone which the damned fh.ll fuffer in Hell Etmaily and without end. All things here fhall have an end, but the tormems there fhall have no end. Whatso- ever is not within the circle of Eternity, is fhort, fwift, and momentany, it is but a fhadow, but a d'eam, fo faith St. Chry- fo(tome, It is but a Modicum or a thing of ne- tting, a little> * very little, lor a little wiile,

yea

upon Eternity. 14 J

yea, a very little while. Often doth our Saviour beat upon this, lpe^king to his Difciples. All his own fuffering , yea his moft biccer death upon the cro s, he cdiedi but a little. All the fufTcrings, punifhments, and violent deaths of the Apoftles, a lbuc a little : And why mould not Ialfothink ic but a //tt/*, whatsoever here I fuffer,though I mould fuffer it an hundred yea s toge- ther ; Heb. 7. 27. For fit a little w /.':, and he thit (hould come, mil come, and ivill not tatty. I will therefore fuffer patiently wharfoever can happen, and account one thing onlyneceflary, and that is, To do nothing againft my Confcience, anddif- pleafing unto God. For all is ft fe and fure with him who is certain and fure ot bleifed Eternity,

CHAP. III.

this life in refpect of that which is to come, is but as a Drop to the Ocean, a little Stone to the Sand upon the Sea (bore, a Center to the Circle, a Modicum, 1 tittle, a very little time, a Minute to Eternity. Andfucb art the fitfferings of this life, iilrefpeft of the joys that fhall be hereafter.

M

Oft true it is, whatsoever labour or

forrow we fuffer in this life, it is

H but

144 ThefixthCottfideration

but a Modicum, or for a little while. It is th^ faying of St. Mguftine, This Modicum cr little while feems long unto us, becaufe it is not yet all pafi and gone : But when it [hall tome to an end, then fhall we perceive and under ft and what a little while this Modicum was. The wifeft of Men being to (hew the vanity and fhortnefs of this prefent life, though it mould be lengthned to an hundred years , which few men can reach unto •, makes choice of the moft minute things in the World, whereby to exprefs it, andfetit forth by way of refemblance. For thus we read exprefly in Ecclejtafticus9 Jhe number of a mans days at the moft are an hundred years. As a drop of water un- to the fea, and a gravel ftone in comparU fon of the fand ', fo are a thoufand years to the days of Eternity, Eccluf.iB. 9, 10. And 'Why then do ye re Joyce in this, ye long lived Men, that ye have lived an hundred years ? All our years are, What are they > They are as a drop of water unto the ft a, and a gravel ftone , in comparifon of thl (and. And what is a little Stone to thofe exceeding high Mountains of Sand? And what isafmalldropof Water to the dee^> and fathomlefs Sea ? Such are fifty, fixty, yea, an hundred years. (Hear this, ye old Men.) They are but a Modicum, a very Jittie whikj but a Minute of time, indeed

nothing

upon Eternity. J45

nothing at all to the days of Eternity. And yee, foolifh and miferable Men, we are overjoyed withthis lie tie Scone, this fmall drop. Our life is indeed a tittle ftone,but no Jewel, no precious Scone ; it is made of no better matter than Sand. Our life is a drop, hut not of fweetanJ frefh Wj- ter j it is fait and brackifhas the Sea- wa- ter is. For ill his days ire fori <nvs, and his travel griefs yea, his heart tal>eth no reft in the night : So faith the Pmcber, Ec- cluj. 2 22,. Ic is the counfel of St. Augip- fine, Rec.il to mind, faith he, the years that are paft, from Adam to this prefenc day : Run over all che Scripture j it is but almoft yefterday fmce he fell, and was thruft out of Paradife. For where are thofe times that are part? Certainly, if thou hadft lived all the time fmce AsUm was thruft out of Paradife, even unto this prefent, thou wouldft perceive and con- fefs, That thy life was not long, which is fo foon fled away. For what is any Man's life * Add as many years as thou wilt, imagine the longeft old age. What is it ? Is it not as a Morning blafl ? All this is iv.ofttrue. I pray you tell me, where is Adim now > Where is Cain ? Where is long lived Metmfdihl Where is Ijfctffc? Where is Sim ? Where is Ebei ? Where is mo£ obedient Abraham i Where is Jacob * H 2 where

i\6 The fixth Consideration

where is Jofepb ? They are dead and gone, their time is part: We may fay of them, Vixtnnt, futYunt Troes; Once the) were, now they are not. Thus our life pafleth a- way j thus the glory of the World pafleth away. O morning dew 1 O meer vanity ! What is it that we do fo defire here? What fo long as to be hoped or wifhed for here? Short it is, a Modicum it is, it is vile and nothing worth, it is but a fmall point whatfoever thine eye beholdeth here. It is a true faying of Gregory the Great : The Icngeft meafure of our life, is but a point ; or it is a fliort line that begins, continues, and ends in a point. In a me- mint) in the twinkling of an eye, i Cor. 1 5 . 52. all things fhall have an end. I have fsen an end of all perfection, but thy command- ment is exceeding broad, Pfal. 119. 69. Why then do we account any time long ? For tfcat which is paft, new is not; that which is to come, yet is not *, and what is the prefent ? The Glafs is always running, and the Clock never ftands (till -, the hour pafleth away by flying minutes. What is flown by, is paft and gone •, what is yet behind, is ftillto come : But where is the time wh'th we ufe to call long ? Bernard makes often mention of that moft true and excellent faying of St. Jerome, (and, Header, it is worth obferving ) No .(pboitr

wgbt

upon Eternity. -. 1 47

ought to fern long unto us, no time long, fa rpkicbrve ire feeding ifter eternal glory.

And ycc though the Life of Man be bug- very fhort in comparifon of Eternity. there is none of the damned that can juft- ly accufe God for not gran :ing him a longer life. They muft condemn themfelves for mt living better. There is no inquifition in the Grave (faith Syraddes) whether the* haft lived ten or an kindred, or a tboHfind. years . Eccluf. 4 1 . 4.

In Hell it is no time to complain of fhortnefs of life. Every Mm lrtli lived long enough, if he hath lived godly, enough.

Here, Chriftian Brother, T will deal more b jldly and plainly with ihee < and tey the matter fo open, that thou (halt fee it clearly prefented before thine eyes. Thou fayeft, That thou doeft often chirk uponr Heaven, and that thou haft an earned and longing defire afer Eternity. Sayeft thou fo? 1 hear hee,but I do not believe thee , neither would I have thee believe me, if I fhou'd fay fo of my felf. For how can it be, O good Chriftian Brother, how can k be, trr.t thou or I mould think fo often, and fo ferioufly upon Heaven, and have fuch a longing defire fas we fay we have) a'ter Eternity,, and yet be fo lukewarm, year ftone-eeld, in Matters of Religion? Hj fo

148 Thefixth Confederation

fo flow and backward to that which is good, fo prone and forward to that which is evil, fo ready and willing to all manner of wantonnefs, fo querulous and com- plaining , fo flothful and negligent : "Where we fhculd be angry, there are we too patient ; snd where we mould be pa- tient and couragious, there are we too faint-hearted and pufillanimous. In the £re of every light affliction, our patience melts and confumes away ; nay, we are often caft down with a word, we are blown down with the breath of Man*s Mouth; but sever are we more impa- tient and defpe rate, than when our wills are crofled'. I might fpeak here of the hot Afoftems of Tuft, wherewith our hearts are often inflamed and fwoln , and likewife of the devouring Cancer of £nvy, which often eats into our Breads, and makes our Flefh confume away j but I pafs them by.

Notwithfianding what hath beenfaid, we good and godly Men, as we profefs our (elves, and would have others think us to be, are too timorous where we mould- be bold, and too bold where we ffcould be timorous. Glory in nothing more than in this, That we have often in our minds the hearty defires, the joys of Eternity. Believe it, it is not credible, that the

thoughts

upon Eternity. 149

thoughts of Heaven and Eternity fhould be fo often in our minds as we fpeak of, and yet meanwhile that we fliould live no bet- ter than we do. Did I fay, it is not cre- dible? Nay I fay, it is inipoffible. Aad thus I fnall declare it.

The Patriarch Jacob ferved his uncle Lab an for his Daughter Rachel feven years, And they feemed to him b'it a few dayes for the love that be bare to her, Gen. 29. 20, Heareft thou this whofoever thou art thac fo complaineft ? Thou ferveft no impoftor or deceiver as Labaa was, but God thy maker, and him that will furely keep his covenant and promife. Thou ferveft noc for a Wife, but for the Kingdom of hea- ven ; not for the beauty and fight of a wife, but for the beatifical vifion and Eter- nal fight of God : not for the delight and pleafure of a wife, .but for coeleftial and Eternal dtlights and pleafures. And yec doth the trouble of one win:ers day often- times fo caft thee down, that fuddenly all thy love towards God and thy defire after heaven begins to wax cold in thee. As foon as the ftorm of adverfity begins, thou breakeft forth into mod bitter complaints ; thou calleft Heaven and Earth to witnefs, thou breatheft nothing but revenge ; yea oftentimes, I believe, thou fpareft not God himfelf, but calleft his juftice into H 4. queftion*

i$o ThefixthConfideration .

queftion. At other times when p!#afure ■with her fawning allurements hath once enticed thee, fhe doth fo bewitch thee and take away thy memory , that thou quite forge tteft to ferve God , and fo runneft headlong into the Labyrinth of fin, which hath a fair entrance, at leaft feemingly, but leadeth thee the next way to deftrufti- on. Is this the vigilancy which thou fo much taikeft of ? Is this thy hcroical for- titude and love of God? How wilt thou ferve God feven years, jls Jacob did La- ban, when ( alas ! ) thou canft not endure the labour and forrow of one fhort day ? Mark 14. $7,0 Simon, Simon, (leepefl thou ? coul&$ thou not tv^tch one hour with thy lord and Mafter ? but hear further con- cerning the Patriarch Jacob : He being beguiled b^ his Uncle Lab an , who gave him blear eyed Leah inftead of beautiful Rachel, fcrved him yet feven years more for hisDaugh er Rachel, whom he dearly ioved .* and no doubt but thofe feven years alfo feemed unto him but as a few days for the exceeding great love that he had unto her And it is very likely that oftentimes when he was weary at his work he had an eye unto Rachel's beauty, and faidthus with himfelf, (Surely, for her beauty _) She is worthy for whom I fhould.fulfer &ven years hard fervice ', and, if need

were.

ufon Eternity. 151

were, I would noc flick toferveyetfeven years more. Such was the affection chac he bore unco Richel, chac ic made him fcarce fenfibie of any labour,

Heareftchou this, thou whogoeftfor a Soldier of Chrift ? Conceived thou diis, underftandeft thou this? How then cinft thou ftill murmur againft God ? Thou arc bid to ferve God for God's fake, thac fothoumayeft at length enter into God's Eternal reft ; Thou art exhorted to tole- rance and patience here , that fo thou. mayeft be made partaker of immorality with thebleited hereafter : Andyetfleep- eft thou, O fluggard? Haft thou not an ear to hear? Art thou ftill complaining? Do but reefy* up the years -which than hajt [pent in the fervid of God, and fee whether thou haft ferved God faithfully and pain- fully twenty years, as Jacob did Ltbiny I am afraid thou wilt come fhort in thy reckoning : Haft thou ferved God fo ma- ny Months ? I cell thee, I make queftion of k. Number the n ghts that thou haft fpenc in watching and praying, recount the days which thou haft fpenc in holy exercifes, and fee if thocicanft truly fay unto God as Jacob did co Liban, I dry the drought c$*f*Btd me-, and the frof by night , and my (lee p departed from nine fjes. 71m have I been twenty yea ■ - it

H 5

152 The fix th Confederation.

fervedtbee fourteen years (or thy trvo daugh- ters, and fix years for thy. cartel; Gen, %t. 40, 41. Tell me, Chriftian Man , haft thou fervedGod thus twenty years? Thou knoweft thy wages if thou ferveft Gcd ; Not Lean's daughters,nor flocks of fheep y God kimfelf ftiall be the reward of chy fervice : Thou fhaltbe blefled both in foul and body ; It fhall be well with thee on every fide; Thou fhalt injoy all manner of delights; great delights without either lacking or loathing , and without end. Thou (halt fwim in the bottomlefs Ocean of pleafures : And yet ( behold ") thy hands are flack to every good work ; Thy feec are flow to go to Church ; thy heart con- sumes away with envy, flames with anger and revenge, aboundeth with the vermine of filthy thoughts,and is quite dead through iioihfulnefs and impatience. Is this thy ferving of God? Is this the way, thinkeft thoa, to Heaven, to immortal life, to£ftr- nal bleffednefs? Surely it is not. Why ■deft thcu not rather as Jacob did, when thou art weary with any labour which the a ^ndergcefl in the fervice of God, when the World goes ill with thee, when adverfity preffeth thee,profperky feduceth ihee, and labours burthen thee, lift up thine ey-es to Heaven, behold Rachel, who S ^romifed into thee^ and thus comfort

upon Eternity. 15$

up thy felf. Be not troubled, 0 my foul : Behold thy Rachel, thy Rachel, which is in heaven , fair Rachel, comely Rachel -, Rachel that is all beautiful , not having any one blemifh about her 1 Behold hea- ven, andthehoufeofthy Eternal reft and pleafure ! Be content to fuffer for a while, a little forrow, and fome pains : For thou fhalt fhortly be where thy Rachel is ', and" there thou (halt be the more joyful and blefled, by how much the more thou, arc here forrowful and afflicted : There fhali thy reft be the more pleafant and joyfuI5 by how much the more thy life here is heavy and r. alnful. Well then,be of good courage, fhew Chriftian fortitude and pa* tience. Eternity, bleifed Eternity is more worth, infinitely more worth, than all that we can do or fuffer : If thus , O Chriftian brother , thou wouldeft ani- mate and encourage thy felf, if with fuch eyes thou would ft oftner look up to Heaven , if with fuch affeftton thou wouldeft daily think upon Eternity 5 be- lieve it, all the days of fervice here on earth would feem but few, for the great love which thou wouldeft have unto E- ternity, Thou wouldeft count all la- bour eafie, all troubles welcome, all iolfes gain. This I will fay, and there- with

I ^Thefixth Consider Ation&Q*

with I will conclude, The more a Man. thinks upon the Eternity of the World to come , the more care he will take here to lead a godly life in this prefent World.

THE

'Thusjcutk-the hiak and Ujtie. one. -that itthabitdk. EtemztCe. .

hjb tlzrwtii£knfb regained, it : •fto ikis -the. AitAeLs vtvite.vjjr<fitv this via I (LevUs nntfadraw UJ : hwt a, cafes- ■tvJietker lhau, J-otLcnveft .

*57

THE SEVENTH

CONSIDERATION

Upon

ETERNITr.

How Ckriftians life to Paint Eternity.

HE that is to go through an Houfe in the dark muft go warily and leifurely, ftep after ftep , and he muft grope for the Wall, If Man's un- derstanding will be prying into Eternity, if he thinks here in this life to enter into it, he is much deceived : The way is dark and full of difficulties. He may hurthim- felf by the way, but he fhall never here attain unto it. The way thither is buc fhort indeed: but when a Man is once in, there is no coming out again. And yec ihough no mortal Man can fo conceive of Eternity, that he can certainly fay whatic h, notwithstanding the infinitenefs there- of is fhadowed outby certain Piftures and Refemblances, in fuch manner that every Man my have a glimpfe of it. Whatfo-

ever

1 58 Thefevtnth ConfiderAtion

ever we fpeak or write concerning Eter- nity, howfoeverwe fee it out in colours ; all is but a fhadow, yea a fliadow of fha- dows: No Orator in the World can with all his Rhetorick, fufficiently expreft it -, No Limner with all his curious Art and Skill can fet it forth to the life. If all times that evef were and ever fhall be fhould be put together, they would infi- nitely come (hort of Eternity : The lati- tude thereof is not to be meafured, neither by hours, nor days, nor weeks, nor months, nor years, nor Luflra% nor Olympiads, nor Indiftions, nor Jubilees, nor Age sx nor Plato's years, nor by the rnoft flow mo- tions of the Eighth Sphere, though thefe were multiplied by athoufand, or a mil- lion, or the greateft multiplier or Number numbering that can be imagined. Neither can it be meafured by any Number mm- bered, as by the Stars of Heaven, the Sands of the Sea, the Grafs of the Field, the Drops of the River, and fuch like. The number of Eternity is part finding out.

The Sailers ufe to found the depth of the Sea by a Plummet and a Line: Let us alfo let down the Plummet and Line of our humble and reverent cogitations, to found the depth of Eternity, which yet is paft finding out. But if we will goby this Afc/V if we wiil fail by this Card, if

wt

upon Eternity. 1 59

we will view well this Fifture, we fhall come much nearer finding ic, than other- wife we fhould.

Cbrift as a Child, taken as it were from the Manger and the Cradle, almoft quire naked, and without clothes, ftands in the clouds : 01 his fooulders ht heirs a Crofs : in the clouds there is this infeription, £- TERN ITT: beneath Chriflj jtet, down upon the Earth there is the S^eliton of a Man, or nothing but the Bones of a Man without Hair or Skin, only he hath a Beard to be known by : in his lejt hand heholdeth a piece oj Parchment , in which thefe words are written, Momen- Gregnr» tmum quod de'e5fat : That which delighttth is moment any-: in his right hand he holdeth up an Apple, Near unto him there ftandeth a Raven pecking a fhell- fifh, with this fubfeription, Cras, Cras, To Morrow, To Morrow. T*e earth opens her mouth, and flames of fire kreal^ forth and tend aloft, in which thefe words are written , sZinm.m Gregor. quod cruciat, That which tormen- teth is Eternal, drift coming down from the Clouds Two adore with bended knees of divers Sex,in the place of all Mankind. Be- bind them there is a running Ho«r Glafs, or a Dial meafuring hours by the running of water, called a Clepfydra j and a Bm\

Kin?,

1 60 The feventh Confederation

lying wide open. On one Page there is written, They fpend their days in mirth, and in a moment go down to the graze, Job 21. 1 3. On the other Page, who fall deliver me from the body ojthis death? Horn. 7. 24. Before them (land Two heavenly Angels, which embrace them with their Arms j and pointing at Chrift bid them lift up their Eyes unto him. This is the Pitture : The meaning followeth,

CHAP. I.

Chrifl inviting.

CHrift the Eternal Son of the Eternal God came into this World , clad with no ether Garment than we, that is, ftark naked. The Garment of immorta- lity and innocency we loft by Adam's dif- obedience. And now (alas ! ) how mife- rably arrayed do we come into this World ? Chrift together with us, yea for us, fuf- fereth punifhment and yet was not guilty of any fin. But whatmeaneth this Crojs upon the Shoulders of the Son of God ? It is a Bed on which he flept in death, Golgo- tha was his Chamber. The Thorns his Pil- low, and the Crofs his Bed. Which ma- ».y religious Men of former times well con-

fidering

upon Eternity. \6i

fidering with themfclves, have voluntarily and freely chofen to lie hard and take Ii- tie reft, that at the day of Refurreftion they might rife joyfully to reft Eternal. Some, as we may read, have made the Earth their Mattrefs , Sackcloth their Sheet, and a S:one their Bculfter. And many there are which do fo ft ill to this day. But I leave them , and return to Chrift. He fuffered death, even that moft bitter and fhameful death of the Crofs. To what end ? That he might fave us from death Eternal. Dye we muft all of us 5 but our death is but fhorr. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye the Soul is mat- ched from the Body, and this is all that which we call Death. But it is not fo with them in Hell : Their torments far exceed all the forrows and pangs of death, not only becaufe they are more grievous for their quality, but alfo becaufe they are of longer continuance beyond all compari- fon j for they are Eternal. So then their torments are, always to be tormented ; and their death, to dye always. And from this death hath Chrift the Son of God de- livered us -j the Child that we fee defcri- bed walkingamidft the Clouds. Under his Feet is a bare Sceleton, or the bare Bones of a Man, which by all figns we may ga- ther to be our fore-father Adam\ Hearken

J*

162 The f eve nth Cmfiier&tion

ye Children, and ye Childrens Children, harken unto the words of your Fore-fa- ther Adam thus fpeaking unto you.

CHAP. II.

Adam lamenting,

OMy Children, happy then indeed, if your Fore-father had known his own happinefs, but now mtferable, and that even in this, becaufe mine. By me were you deftreyed before you were be- gotten-, by me were you damned before you were brought forth. I fain would be as God, and by that means I am left fcarce a Man. Before you could perifh, you all perifhed in me. I my felt do not know, whether you may better call me a Father , or a Tyrant, and a Murderer. I cannot wonder or complain juflly that you are fo vicious and fo finful * for you learned it of me. I amforry that you are fo difobedient ; but this you learned atfo of me. I was firft difobedient un- to God that made me. The Angels in Heaven blufli and are afhamed to fee your Gluttony and Intemperance ', bu: this is your Father's faulc. Your pride hath made you odious and deteftable before

God y

upn Eternity. i6j

God j but this Monfter firft conquered and triumphed over me, and fo Pride be- came more proud than (he was before. This is the inheritance you receive from me, nothing elfe but an heap of miferies. God indeed of his free good will gave un- to me by a fure promife Heaven for an Inheritance, and intailed it upon you : But I have undone you all, cut off the In- tail, and prodigally made away all for one bit. I valued my Wife and an Ap- ple more than you all, more than Heaven, more than God. A curfed and unhappy Dinner, for which I deferved to Sup in Hell many thoufand years after. I lived in Ptfadife^ a Garden full of all delight and pleafure beyond imagination : God gave me the free ufe of all things therein, only the fruit of one Tree was forbidden me. I was Lord of all the Creatures, I was wife and beautiful, ftrong and lufty. I abounded with all manner of delights. The Air was then as temperate as could be defired j the Clouds were clad in bright blue j the Heaven failed upon us ; the Sun did frine fo pure, that nothing could be more. All things feem'd to gratifie us at our new Marriage. Our eyes could behold nothing but that which was flour ifhing and pleafmg to them. Our cars were concinually filled with mufick,

the

£64 The feventhConf deration

the Birds thofe nimble Chorifters of the Air ever warbling out their pleafant Dit- ties. The Earth of it felf brought forth odoriferous Cinnamon and Saffron. I was compaffed about with pleafureson every fide. I lived free and remote from all care, forrow,fear, labour, ficknefs, and death. I feemed to be a God upon Earth. The Angels in Heaven rejoyced to fee my happinefs ; there was none that did envy me, but my felf; but becaufe I obeyed not the voice of God, all thefe evils fell upon me.

I was driven out of Paradife, banifhed from the fight of God , and for fhame I hid my Face. Labour, forrovv, mourning, fears, tears, calamities, a thoufand mife- ries (eifed upon me, and quite wearied me out : You feel it, as many as are of my Family ; and that which feemeth to be the end of all temporal mifery and for* row, is oftentimes the beginning of E- ternal.

O my Children, learn by your own woful experience, learn by your ownlofs and mine ; learn, I fay, to be wife at length. I will give you but one Leflbn, and it is but in three words, which you (hall do well to learn by heart, and r.hac is, To hate fin. Behold! Do you not fee a grUvws flams breaking out hard by

me ?

Eternity. 165

me? It harh burnt ever face fin firfl entred into the World, and fhall never be put out. All other punifhments are but light, and fhall fhortly have an end ; but the damned fhall be tormented in this flame, for ever and ever. Now, if we will, we may efcape it. Heaven is fee open to all ; but there is no coming to it, but by the way of Repentance , and the gate of the Crofs. He that walketh in this way, and entreth in at this Gate, may be certain of his Salvation, and eternal joy in the Kingdom of Heaven, where he fhall have an everlafting habitation. This is the counfel of Adam to his Children, I fay it is Adam's counfel,

Who falling once , did maki bis children all Both guilty of his pmfhmtnt and fall.

CHAP. III.

The Ravens croaking.

NEar unto the Sceleton of the Proto- plaft, or the bare Bones of the firft Man that God made, is the Raveifs place in ^he Picture, which maketh very much for the representation of Eternity to the life. It is a well-known faying of Sainc Augnfliyey Cras, Cras, that is, To Morrow,

To

x66 The feventhConfideration

To morrow , is the voict of the Raven : Mourn therefore like a Dove , and beat thy breifi. The chiefeft caufc, that I conceive, why moft Men lofe their part and portion oiBleffed Eternity, is, becaufe they feek it not To day, but defer the feeking of it till To morrow. For what is more frequent or ordinary, than putting off repentance till To morrow , To morrow, which God doth know we are uncertain, whether we fhaJl live to fee or no ? But that we may not feem to put it off without fome fair pretence, we make many fair, promifes un- to God.

J will To morrow, that I will,

I will be fure to do it ; Tomorrow come s, To morrow goes \

And JIM thou art to do it. Thus ft iH repentance is deferred

From one day to another : Vntiltheday of Death is come,

And Judgement is the other.

But the day of promife is fo long a com- ing, that the day of Death often prevent* eth it,and we are fuddenly fnatcrf d away, and fwallowed up of Eternity, and fo plunged into the gulf ; miferable Men that we are, into the gulf of everlafting horror and defpair. This is it that undo-

eth

upon Eternity. 16 J

fth maRy , kith S Augtfine^ whileft they cry, Cr.w, Ovfr, 71? morrow, To morrow, the gate is fuddenly (hot againft them. Therefore the fon of Stitch often calleth upon us to this parpofe, Mify no tarrying to turn unto the Lord, a*dput not off from day to day: For fuddenly (hall the tvrath of God come forth, and in thy ecu- rity thou (halt be deftrcyed, did ptrifb in the d~y of zcngtance, Ecclus 5. 7. It was truly faid of S-eneca, that Roman Phi'ofo. pher, A greac part of cur Iive we fpend in do'hgilli the greateft part in doing no- thing ; but all in doing another thing, ra- ther than that we flould. Not unlike to Archimedes, who when Syracufe was taken, I was fitrng fecureat home, and dra.\ing Circles with his Compafs m the Duft. For do we notfeemoft Men, when the Eter- nal Falvation of their Souls is in queftion, handling their Duft, and ft retching thena- felvcs to their ftu theft compafs, ret upon the Tenter-hooks, as it were , and <!:- ftra&ed with Law-iuits, Money-matter?^ worldly bufmetfes, and labors th t fhaft no hing profit them at the laft ? Eternity is a thing the\ never once think of, oreltc very feUom,'and then but flight' y for a fnitch and au ay, as Dogs are laid to lap at A'//':/, Mirths Martha, thou art care- ful and trou'ried abut many ttingi, but ont I tbti&

1 6S Thefeventh Confderation

. • .jr.; Tub 10. at. and that is

e^ sa« si* * ►

before we take .nybu^jn hand,

known rule^frying, £ " 4 £ a

5fe« T«rt »y B««£ ^in the bee nning of

esyssSbSa

do adjourn ««">"><>« "^ and at and another and M ^£ ^ ant a the laft day of the T«"V«^ faft we

hearing. u,Fooltw then we firft begin aren0t able to labor, then w

to think of labor, wnen fa

depart out of *«^«»; Jd, When we to think upon another "vvona to

can live no longer here, then £ s think of the hfe to come tocatt ^

the bo"-g,afs.°i:nOUt0 tWA of SMfe out, then we ^f^'for repentance, When there k no time left tor ^ ( then presently wemtt .epen . g^ .$ Gaceisfhut, thenweknocK. * ^

upon Eternity. 169

the fault of all finners in general, (till to deter their repenrance from day to day. Every (inner is ready to fay, ( faith S. A* gujiine ) I cannot now, I will another time, Alas ! Alas ! If another tiw, why not now ?. Dienypus , King of Sicily , diirobiHg Apollo of his Cloth of Goid, faid thusj Ac <eftati nee hyemi veftis h.ec commit. It is a wear neither fit for Winter nor Summit, In fummer it is too heavy, and in Winter it is too cold. So do many ( faith S. Am* brofe)$\3Ly with God, and deceive their own Souls. They fay, Let \ young Man Jive according to the falhion of the World j let him drink and dance ', let him go to the Horfe-race , and to the Wreftlers ; let him go a courfing in the fields with his companions. It is for old men to flay at home, and not to ftir a- broad, unlefs it be to Church. This is too melancholy a life for a young Man. Eut when they grow old, w hat do they then -, Then are they old and fickly, weak and feeble : You mud not look for thefe things of them at that age \ their ftrength will not permit : 1c is not with them as formerly it hath been ; you mud give them leave to take their eafe 5 let them have a care of their health : This is all they have co do.

I a Thui

1 70 Thefeventh Coxftderation

Thus we let the Summer and Winter of our age pafs away, and never once tfrnk of the Eternal Sp; ing. But let us remem- ber our felves, and as we have opportunity la us do good. Gal. 6. r o. But let not our fong be any more, with the Black Raven, Cras, Cras, To morrow, To morrow, and fo let, To daj, and To morrow , and the text, and fo our whole life pafs away, and Eternity ov< rta! e us before we are aware. Tomorrow is not, To day only is ours. So fai'h S. James, Go to now, ye that fay, To day, or to moriow,we will go into fuch a City, and continue there a year, and buy and fell, and get gain *, whereas ye tyow not what jkatt be on the morrow. For what is our life ? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanijheth away, Jam. 4. 15. It was a very good anfwer that Meffodamus gave one, inviting him to a feafl the ne*t day, ( as it is reported by Guido Bituri- ctnjis 3 My friend , faith he, why doll thou invite me againfl tomorrow? Idurft not for thefe many years fecure my felf, that I fhould live one day •, for I have ex- pected death every hour. Mo man is fuf- ficicntly armed againft death, unlefs he Le always prepared to entertain it. What is it elle, butrafhnefs and folly, folly aad madnefs, and indeed meer contempt of Et&itity, for a Man to lie down in eae

UpOQ

upon Eternity. J 7 1

upon a Feather-bed, to fleep fecurc, fnort- ing and fnorting, and to lodge an enemy, a dead'y Enemy, all t'te while, fm,m his very bofom > Sudden deaths are very common and ordinary amongftus. How many have we heard of, that went to Bed well over night, for ought any Mm could tell, and w#re found dead in the morning! I will not fay carried away out of their Beds, and caft into Hell fire^ whether ic be fo cr no, Go.iknoweth. Hive we noc- feen and known fone chat have been fud- .- denly ftruck, fain Tick, and d;ed in the fpac: of an hour? Within an hour, yea Iefsthanan hour, found and f>:k, quick'J and dead ? And yet do we ( r jfh and fool- iffemenjprocraftinate it from d-iyto day ( that is nothing ) from year to year do we defer our repentance, and the amendment or our lives ; and death mean time un- expeded feifeth upon U6, . and deliverech us up unto Eternity. S. Auguftine 9 cor- retting in himfelf fuch lingering and dan- gerous delay, fuch lenitude and back- wardnefs of mind and will to repent, filth thus, lfelt and found horv I vpjs held in- tangled, and I uttered fuch lament ab e com- plaints as thefe, Quamdiu, quamdiu, Cras & Cras ? Quare non hxc hora finis tur- pi tudinis me* ? How long (hill I d fer, aad ft ill cry, To morrow, To morrow I , I t, Why

T-T^rinfeventh Confederation

Woy do I not now begin, even this very pre- fect boar ? Why do I not breaks off my finful courfe\ and begin to live better * Thus I fpa^e and fell a weeping for very contrition of heart.

Anthony the Great ("as S.Jerome wit- refleth ) when he ufed exhortations to the people to ftir them up to godlinefs and vercue, was wont to wifhthem always to keep in mind, and often meditate upon that faying of the Apoftle, Sol noneccidat fuper iraamdiam veftram. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath, .And this pro- hibition he did not reftrain to wrath only, but made it general \ Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath, hacred, malice, envy, luft, or any other fin, left it depart from you as a witnefs againft you.

John, Patriarch of Alexandria , had a certain controverfie with one Nicetas, a chief Man of that City. The matter was to be tried at Law, Jehn was for the poor, Iticetas for his money. But for peace fake there was a private meeting and hearing appointed, to fee if they could come to fome composition and agreement. They met, they fell to words, they were hot at at, a great deal of choler and JTomach was fhown on both parts, neither would yield a jot, neither would depart an inch from his right. A great conflict there was

be-

upon Eternity. 17 J

between them, many hours fpent to little purpofe: They werefurcher off from A- greernent , at length, than before -, for neither vould yield to Conditions pro- pounded by either. Well, it grew late, rhey departed more offended and difpTea- fed'one with another, than before, and fb left the fuit pendent. Nicetas thought it a hard cafe to part with his money, and the Patriarch feemed to be in the right, and to Handout in the Caufeof God, and the Poor. Eut yet when Nietfas was gone, the Good Bifhop weighed the matter bet- ter with himfelf, and condemned himfelf for his pertinacy j and though he was in a - good Caulepmd knew it alfo, yet faid, Can I chink chat God will be well pleafed with this implacable wrath, and wilful ftubbornnefs? The night draweth on: And fhall I fuflfer the Sun to go down up- on my wrath ? That is impious, and noc according to the counfel of the Apoft'e . So the good Prelite could not be at reft till he had fent unco Nicetxs: For he ouc of hand fent MefTengers of good efteem, and gave". them this charge, that they fhouldfay no more to him but only this Domine, Sol ad oecafum eft, that is , Sir, the Saps going down. Upon the hearing of which mefTage, there wjs fuch a fudden alteration wrought in Nicetas, that his I 4 High

174 The /event h Consider a! ion

high ftomach came down prefently., lie began to melt, his eyes did Hand full fwoln with tears, andhc had much ado to keep them in. Out of doors he ran prefently after the MefTengers ( for he rrnde hafte to fpeak with the Patriarch ) and coming to him in humble manner, faluted him thus, Holy Father^ I will be ruled by yon in this, or in any o'her matter. Whereupon the Patriarch made him, very welcome \ Co they embraced each other very loving- ly, and became good friends. Great fure- ly was the virtue, andfpeedv was the ope- ration of thefc few words, tm Shi is go- ing down: For prefently upon the hearing thereof, a peace was concluded betwixt them, which was fought for before with multitude of words, but could not be ef- fected. So do thou, whofoever thou art thac knoweft thy felf guilty of any grie- vous fin, if not before, towards the even- ing, at leaft, call to mind thofe operative words, The Sm is going down. For what knoweft thoujwhether thou ftnlt rife again with the Sun,orno.«> And if thoudeft in the night without Repentance, it is a queftion in which Eternity thou (halt have thy part, whether of the blefled, or of the curfed . Wherefore do what thou haft to do quickly, The Sim is going down. But have a are it go not down upon thy luft

or.

upon Eternity. 175

orluxury, envy orblafphemy, detraction or thefr, or upon any other grievous fin unrepenred of. Good God ! What a thing is this ? If there be but a ftain in a garment, a fpot in the face, a blot in a cap, we prefendy ufe fame means to take it out, or wafh 'it off. Are thefe fuch eye- fores to us ? And yet are we fo blind- within, that we cannot fee our manifold corruptions and pollutions ? or do we fee and fuffer them? Can we fuffer them, and not be troubled at them ? Are we troubled, and yet feek no means to expiate and purge them out ? When we are pol- luted at any time with the ftain of fin, we ihould labour presently to take itout; the fooner it is done, the better and the eafier it is. Therefore, faith S.Ambrofe, tve ought to be careful to repent: But that is not all , our repentance muft be alfo • fpeedy, for fear left the Heavenly Hus- bandman in the Gofpel, that planted a Fig-tree in his Vineyard, come and feek for fruit, and finding none, fay unto the Drefler of his Vineyard, Cut it down. If the fenrence be once paft, there is no a- voiding the fatal blowj down it muft. If therefore we find our felves once wounded with fin, let us look for help in time. The brute beafts which have nb undemanding , will teach us fo much I 5 pro-

i'] 6 The (event h Confiderat ion

providence. The harts of Candy or Crete, as foon as they are ftruck, run prefently to their Vifiamnum or Dittany: The Swallows, to cure the blindnefs of their young ones eyes, flie to fetch their Che- Udomum or Celandine: The Dog, when he is fick, maketh hafte to his Grafs, to give him a vomit: The Toad figh.ing with the Spider, as focn as (he feeleth her felt begin to fwell, crawleth to her Plan- tan, and fo is recovered.

Thefe by a natural inflind, know their own proper Medicines, and upon all oc- cafions , prefently make recourfe unto them. But we poor mifcrabie Men, more unreafonable, and without underfhnding, than the Beafts, are wounded every day, and that many tin es deadly ; and yet not- withstanding we feek for no Medicine to cure our Spiritual Difeafes. Weufe the fame diet we were wont to do; we talk as freely and merrily as ever we did* we go to Bed at our accuftomed hour, and fleep according to our old compafs. But Repentance is the Phyfick that gocth againft our ftomachs, Contrition cutteth ns to the heart , Conjtffion feemeth bitter in our mouths: We chufe ra her to con •*inue fick, then to be cured. This is our miferable condi-ion -, fo foolifli are we, and void of under/landing, ei.her not

knowing,

upcfn Eternity 177

knowing , or at lead , not imbracing that which would make for our Eternal good.

If we would give ear unco the counfel of the Heavenly Angels , which feem in the Picture according to their defcri prion, to give direction unto us, and are indeed appointed by God, as Minifying Spirits for our Good-, If we would, I fay, give ear unto tVieir counfel, then certainly we fhould neither fufYer our eves to deep, nor our eye-lids to flumber, neither the tem- ples of our Heads, to take any reft, until our peace and reconciliation were made with God. They put us fhll in mind, thac our day is almoft fpent, that the nighc draws on, that our glafs is near running out, that death is at hand, and after death cometh judgement : But we fecurely walk en in our old way. Let the day fpend, let the night draw on, let the glafs run out ; come death, follow judgment; We are not troubled at it, we care not, we regard not , no warning of the Angels will ferve our turn.

Wefweetly fleep, and never dream oj this. Vnbappy Man tvhofoeier tlm art !

— Potes hoc fub cafu ducere fomnos ? And canjl tkou Jleep in fucb a cafe as this >

Canft

178 The f event h Confederation

Canft thou go to Bed, with a Confci- ence thus laden with fin ? Canft thou take any reft when thou lieft in clanger of Eter- nal Death? Canft thou lodge in the fame Bed with the Brother of Death, and en- ter fleep into thy bofom ? I can, I tell thee, that I can, and find no harm at all by it. Be not too confident ; that may happen in the fpace of one hour, which hath not happened in a thoufand. Thou artnotpaft clanger ; for confider with thy felt how long thou hafl to live. There is no great diffance betwixt thy Soul and Death, Hell and Eternity. It is gone in a breath. Thou mayeft moft truly fay e- very hour, I am within one degree of Death, within one foot, yea, within one inch. Dearh need not fpend all his (Qui- vers upon thee; One Arrow, the head of one Arrow fhall wound thee to the heart, -and make fuch a large orifice, that blood and fpirits , and life and all, ftiall fud- deniy run cut together. Either thou liveft in a malignant and corrupt Air, or elfe thou art troubled with diftillations, falling down from thy Head upon thy Lungs, or elfe there is feme obftru&ion in the Veins, or in the Liver, or elfe- the Viral Spirits are fufYocared , or elfe the Pulfation of the Arteries is inter- cepted, or cKc the Animal Spirits run

back

upon Eternity. 179

back to their Head, and there are either frozen to death, or elfe drowned. One way or other thou pofteft to the end of thy fkort race; and prefently thou arc but a dead Man, carried away to Eternity in the turning of a hand, before thou couldft imagine or think upon it. There are a thoufand ways to bring a Man to his end : I do not fpeak of iingring Deaths; before which there goes fome warning , but of fudden Deaths that fummon us, arreft us, and carry us away all in a mo- ment. He dies fuddenly that dies unpre-* paredly. Death is not fudden, if it be forefeen and always expected. That is fudden death which was unpremeditated ; and unpremeditated death is the worft of a'l deaths: And from fueh fudden death, Good Lord deliver us. It is good counfel for every one, let him be of what age he will, for no age is priviledged more than another/ Death hath a gene- ral commiffion which extends to all pla- ces, perfons, ages, there is none exempt. It is good counfel then, I fay, for every one at all times, and in all places, and in all companies, to expert death , and to think every day, yea, every hour to be his laft : Then let him die, when pleafe God, he fhall not die fuddenly.

How

1 80 The f event h Confederation

How many Men have we heard :> f > whofe light hath fuddenly been put our, and life taken away, either by a fall, or the Haker, or Poyfon, or Sword, or Fire, or Water, or Lions paws, or Boars tusks, or Horfe heels, and a thoufand more ways than thefe! As many Senfesas we have, ( that number is nothing. ) As many parts and members as we have, ( and yet that is nothing. ) As many pores as there be in all the parts of our Body put together, fo many windows are there for death to creep in at, to fteal upon us, and fuddenly cut our throats. Thou waft born ( faith Saint Auguftine \ that is fure : For thou (halt finely die. And in this that thy death is cer- tain, the day alfe oj thy death is uncertain. None of us knows how near he draws un- to his end : / tyiow not ( faith Job, chap, 52.12 ) how long I jhatt live, and how foon my Maker may take me away j or ( as our Tranflation hath it ( / k*ow m t0 &ve flattering titles •, in fo doing , my Maimer wodd foen take me away. In the midft of ©ur life, we are near unto death: For we always carry it in our bofom } and who can tell, whether he fhall live till the evening or no ? This murderer and man-ftealer ( for fo I call Death ) hath a thoufand ways to hurt us, as by thunder and lightning, ftorms and tempeft, fire and water, &c.

ufon Eternity. \%i

inftruments of mifchief he hath of all forts, as Guns, Bows, Arrows, Slings, Spears, Darts, Swords, and what not? We need not be beholding to former ages for examples of fudden deaths. Alack/ we have coo many in our own days. Have not we our felves known many, that laying themfelves down to fleep, hive fallen in fuchadead fleep, that they are not to be awaked again, till they (hall hear the found of the Trumpet at the laft day ? Death doth not always fend his Heralds and Summoners before, to tell us or his coming, but often fteals upon us unex- pected j and as he finds us, fo he takes us, whether prepared or unprepared. Watch therefore ', for ye know neither the day nor the hOii^Matth. 2$. 13. There is a kind of Repentance indeed in Hell : But neither is it true, neither will it profit any thing at al, For it is joyned with everlafting, and tormenting horror and defpair. Now, now is the acceptable time of Repent- ance, now while ft it is called to day, Heb. 3. 13. Bring jovth therefore fruits meet for repentance, Matth. 3. 8. The night com- eth when no man canworl^ Joh. 9.4. Work therefore while it is day. The day, faith Origen, is the time of this life ■■, which may leem long unto us, but indeed is very (hort, if it be compared with Eternity.

And

1 82 Thefeventh Confederation

And after this fhort day of this prefent life, there follows the day of Etemty, which is infinite long, and hath' no night to come after it.

OMan, whofoever thou art, think up- on thefe things ; but thou efpecially, who- foever findeft thy felf guilty of any grie- vous fin. Repent and amend, remember Eternity, and think upon the day of Death. It is uncertain in what place Death will expeft thee; do thou therefore expect Death in every place. As the Lord (hall find thee when he calls for thee, fo ftiall he alfo pafs fcucence upon thee.

THE

m

^hMtfoevertlwtL-bikeft in hanci-^ remember the aid dndlhou.Jhaknevtr dve amt/J leclujry.^^.

CHXTS-R

To -think upon. EtzrnitU and not to cutiaid ons nuuuiiers is to hid heaven fare will, and to joy n. handj with tut*. ■

i8;

THE EIGHTH

CONSIDERATION

Upon

ETERNITT.

How Chriftians ought not only to loo^ upoti the Emblems and Piftures of Eternity, but come home and loo^ within themfehes, and ftrioujly meditate upon the thing it felf.

ORder requires now , that leaving the Pfalmift, and the reft, who- have defcribed unto us Eternity, we fhould defcend into our felves, keep ac home, and ftay within. He is a great way from home, from himfelf, and from his own falvation, whofoever hath an eye to that only which is tranfitory, and for- getteth that which is Eternal.

The Lawyers know well enough that a Man will not let go his right and title, though it be but in a matter of three- half-pence, if it be a perpetuity, and to be yearly paid forever. Yea, it is thought

a

1 86 The eighth C on ftder at ion

a great Rent, if a Man be bound to pjy, though but three farthings yearly, to his l^nd-Iord, as long as the World endures. Infuch efteem are perpetuities, though in things little worth, though but three Pepper-corns. If thou art fo folicirous and eager in purfuing thy right of three- half-pence, how comes it to pafs , O Man, that thou art fo negligent and care- Jefs in feeking after the Inheritance of an Eternal Kingdom, which may be had at a few years purchace ? Thou failed out with thy Brother for three half- pence, thou goeft to Law with him, tho« makeft it a Jong fuit : In the mean time, thou fuffer- cft others to carry away the Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. What is the reafon? Is it fo little worth? Is it not worth looking after? Itfeemsthou think- eft fo,or elfe thou wouldft labor for it more than thou doft. Thou art much cumbred' about other things j thou thinkeft all pains little enough j thou art never weary of feeking after them : But as for Eternity* that thou thinkeft to be a great way off, • and therefore thou art fcarce ever at lei- fare fo much as once to think upon it ; or, if thou art any time at Ieifure, then- thou haft no mind to it. O ! It is a grievous thing, and very wearifome to be always looking after that which yet is not

here

upon Eternity* 187

hire ever throughly to be looked into. Who would trouble his head, and weary his mind about it? We are all for the prefent. Give us prefent pofleifion ; that is the thing we defire, that is the thing we de- light in : There is fome content in that.

See our folly and want of difcretion. What blindnefs is this, or rather is ic not madnefs, to look for certainty where none is, and where it is, never to lock for it ? In a bufincfs concerning our temporal and uncertain riches, we love to be certain, we will have good feourity, which yet, at thebeft, is very uncertain. But concern- ing Eternal and certain riches, we make our felves fo certain, that we look for no aflurance •, we are fo fecure, that we lock for no fecurity, which yet, if we would, we might have as good as could be defired. Does any Man lend money without a Bill, or a Bond, or a Pledge ? Every Man hath this prefendy in his mouth, I love to be certain ; I defire good fecurity ; I will go fafely to work •, I will not put the mat- ter to hazard. Things prefent and cer- tain, when we hold the balance, always weigh down things future and uncertain. Better fay we, ( as the Proverb goes ) is one Bird in the bar. dy than tvoo in the bu'h. And, / had rather ft a Wren in a Ca£\

than

iSS The eighthConftderation

than- an Eagle in the Clouds. We arc of Plautus his mind, we carry our eyes in our hands, and believe no more than we fee. What fond and foolifh Men are we, that leek for certainty of fuch things as are moft uncertain, which deceive us mod when we make our felves moft fure of them, which make themfelves wings and flieaway, whileftwe think we haverhem faft enough in our hands! But, be it known unto all Chriftian people , what aflurance and fecurity Chrift, the King of Heaven will give : What aflurance , I fey, of Eternal Life, Chrift will give un- to all thofe that will enter Bond for per- formance of Covenanrs. I j thou wilt en- ter into life, Qmp the Commandments. Matth. 19. 17. Si vis advitamingredi, fer- va mandata. The Condition of this Ob- ligation is fuch, That if thou keepeft the Commandments, thou (halt enter into life, Life Eternal: But if thou breakeft the Commandments, in as much as thou breakeft them, then this Obligation fhall be void, and of none effect. For whofo- ever breaketh one of thefe Command- ments, and deferreth his repenunce, and doth not the fame hour wherein he hath finned, feek reconciliation and peace with God, whom he hath offended \ he is in danger to lofe himfelf, and all that

he

upon Eternity. 189

he hath, and manifeftly hazardeth the Eternal Salvation both of Soul and Body. There is but three fingers breadth,or rather but an inch between him and death. For he hath within himfelf the matter of a thoufand difeafes, and caufes, of death: And yet rafh and fbolifh Man, he perfiii- eth and continueth flill without fear or wic in the ftate ©f damnation ; in which ftate, if it fhould pleafe God to take him away fuddenly, he is in danger to perifh ever- laftingly. Is k not a bold and foolifh part, for a Man to adventure all that he hath at a caft, and hazard the lofs of Eternal Riches, when he may eafily keep them ?

If a Man fhould fuffer in Hell but fo many torments, as he hath lived hours, or but fo many torments as he hath com- mitted (ins all his life ; this might feem fomewhat the more tolerable. If it were fo, that in Hell there were any end of torments, after the expiration of any cer- tain number of years, Men would make no end of finning, all the days of their life. The enemies of God would increaie every day more and more. For albeit they know that the torments in Hell, are fo many in number, that they cannot be numbred *, fo long for continuance, that they cannot be meafured* fo grievous

for

19° The 'eighth Confident ion

for quality, that they cannot be endured, but with fuch infinite pain, that every minute of an hour (hall feem a whole year. Notwithstanding all thb, Men are I nothing deterred from fin, but walk on I boldly, or rather run headlong to their Own deftrucYron.

If all the torments that can be infix- ed or imagined, fhould be heaped toge- ther upon the head of a Man for an Srun- dred years together, they would not come near the punifhments of Hell for one year, no, not for a day, nor yet an hour. All the punifhments that Thieve?, Robbers, Murderers, and fuch Malefaftors fuffer, though grievous for the time, yet they are quickly ended ; in three or four days they are over, or in the compafs of a vveek at moft *, but the torments of the damn- ed are not for a year, or an age, but for ever. God fhall ever punifh them, becaufe he can never punifti them e- nough, though he punifh them to all Eternity,

CHAP.

upon Eternity. 191

CHAP. r.

fEtirnity doth not o>:ly cut off til cor, fort and tafe, but tven ill hope afifh

IN this life we have ffofe for our com- forcer in all calamities 2nd diflredes, which hach a fovereign virtue to miti- gate and aflwage all pains and forrows. And God of hisgreat mercy, for the moft part, in alladverlicies, fhllleavech a Man fome Hope to help slid fuccor. The fick M:n as long as he lives, he fall lives, in Mop?: As long as there is life there is Mope. But cfter this lire ended, there remainech to the damned no more any Hop? of comfort. Hope, the laft comforter of all, taketh her flight, and Eternal Defperation ieileth upon them. The Prophet Daniel ipeak- eth of ?n Angel coming down from Hea- ven, and faying, Herv the Tree dorvn and /ieflroy it, cut off her boughs, fhakeeffher leaves, and fcatter her fruit abroad, )n leave the flump f the Riots thereof in the Earth, Dm. 4.2;. Upon which woftis faith St. /mkrofe, The t fives and the fruit tri (hi^en off, but the root is preferved\ that is, Delights here are taken from us, and punifhments are inflicted upon us, bur yet Hope is not taken away from us. Ee- K hold'.

192 The eighth Confideration

hold ! The Root is preferved, Hope is left behind. In Hell it hath no rooting. Be- hold the day cometh, ( cryeth the Prophet Malachy ) that {hall bum them up, faith the Lord of Ho ft s, 'thatitfha.ll leave them nei- ther root nor branch, And Job lamenting cryeth out, J am gone, and my hope hath he removed like a tree, Job 19.10. The hope, or, The expiration of the wicked (hall perifh, fo faith Solomon, Prov. 10 28. Therefore whileft there is time and place for Hope, let us have Hope , but let us Hope tor fuch things as we ought. All humane things are vain and uncertain. The Heathen Poet tells us fo much in thefe Verfes,

-Omnia funt homimm tenui pendentia filo, Et fubito cafu qua valutrt rmnt.

All humane things hang by a {lender thread, Wkatflands moft ftrong, is quickly ruined.

We mud not therefore place our Hope, truft, and confidence in fuch things. Saint £m?jrifhewethusabe.ter way in the; e words, Faith faith, God hath prepared for the faithful, great and mconceiveable good things And Hope faith, He hath referved them, and laid them up jor thee. And Cioa- rity faith, in the third pkce, / mxfy hxfie,

and

upon Eternity. 19 J

and thinl^it long till 7 come to them. True Hope, as St. Gregory affirmejh, raiieth up the mind to the thought of Eternity, and caketh away the fenfe of all out.vard crofles and trouble?. True ffipe makes us to undenland, that all vvo;ld!y things are Viin, but a Modicum, but for a ft But, O that momen , on wlvch all Eter- nity doth depend / The day of death, and the hour of theextream and Iaft agony, is properly that moment, and that precious jewel j for buying whereof, the chant fel eth ili that he hath. But few know he worth of this jewel. About E- tern.il Salvation , faith St. J from* every Man is negligent. Eut what is the reafon that men are fo negligent in a thing of fuch great momen: ? Poor men ! We are troubled with weak and ill eyes. We fee well enough near at hand, but we can fcarce perceive anything ararorf. I do not fpeak of fuch as are come to mans eftate, or fuch as a e grown old Boys and Girls when they are new taken from their Cradle, before they have a!i their teeth come forth, learn the firft elements of vices, they fmutch their fingers pre- fently with the foil of covaoufnefs; and after a while , they have an unfa- tiable defire after getting riches ; they learn to make good Markets for them* K 2 felYtsj

194 The eighth Confederation

felves j if they meet with a good penny- worth, they prelently lay hold upon it, their hand is prefently in the purfe, either laying out fof gain, or receiving in gain ; thev know how to make the beft ufe and advantage of their money •, they get an infight into the myfteries of divers trades-* they willbetalking of merchandife, they will learn good judgment of Wines 5 they will tell you what fafhion and cut is in ufe beyond fea, Juvenal the Poet in his Sa> t\ rs, gave thefe a lafh long ago.

this old Wives teach Boys in their Infancy, And Girls do learn before tbsir ABC. Hence is rice Oj every vice.

Hence cometh our grots ignorance, and forgetfulnefs of things Eternal. Young and old, all do overvalue their Money * but as for Heaven and Eternity , they know not , neither will they underftand the true worth of them. But let us pro- ceed.

CHAP.

ttpon Eternity.. 19^

CHAP. II.

Et-r ityisaSta, andathree-buded Hydra j bat it is alf$ a Fountain of all Joy.

I Would fiin ask thee, O Christian Man, whofocver thou art that heard! Sermons often, but feldom , it may be, with attention and devotion ; thee efpe* cially fain would I ask one quefh m. Sup* pofe thou (houldft take in hand coljde cue all che Water in the Sea , inco a fmall River near adjoyning, which runneth back again into the Sci continually, as faftasic is cart out. Suppofe thou fhouldfl ufe no other Ladlebut 3 very (mail Spoon co cal't it out withal : Now tell me, How long docft thou think thou fhouldft be in drain- ing of the Sea: Or a^iin, Suppofe thou fhouldft draw it out with a Bucket as big as an Hog he^d •, and as faffc ss Mou. draw- eft , pour it out into another Channel. Anfwer me, In how many years do!t thou think thou fhouldft be aMe to draw the Sea. dry ? To fit fcorching and fr\ing in the flames of Hell fre lb many yea s, I know chou wi!t fay, were a grievous and wretched tormenc ; and yet the damned would think it well with them, if it were fo :They would like the condition well,, nd K 1 nut

i go The eighth Confideratiom

not think the tine long, fo that they had any aflurjnce, that at length their torments fhouJd have an end, and net extend to all Eternity.

We read in He.uhenifh Authors of old time, a thing more Grange than true, of a certa:n Hydra or Snake, which ( as they feiined ) had three heads, and as foon as one was cut off, had two fhcot up in the phce thereof. But if this Hydra beany thereto be found, it is in Hell', where there is a threeibld Eternity, which like the Hydra ftretchcth out her long neck with three heads that is, The pin oflofs, the fain of (t />, and the worm ej Covfcience that ni tr diith. What miferable and improvident Men are we, that having but a mort journe) to go, but full of dangers all the way, go on nctwirhftsndingib mer- rily and fpo;tingly, as if we were walking ?!! the while through Paradife-, or a moH plcafant Garden, free from all fear of E- rferfiies j and in the end of our walk, pre- fendy to be receive., and admitted as Ci- tizens into our Hi avenly Countrey, a place of all .ccurity ! For can we be ignorant ? if we be, it is our own fault. But we can- not be ignorant, that at length we fhall come to the two Gates of Eternity, the one o^ the blefled, the other of the damn- ed ; And enter we muft at one of them,

that

upon Eternity. 197

th:tis certain \ at which, God knows, it is accordingly as we fhall behave and carry our felves by the way.

•entius JnftiniMUS , wondering ac the merry madnefs of fuch Travellers, breaks forth into this exclamation, 0 t':z wnditim of mortal Men, -which go 01 exulting ail the tvxy^ whiitp they an La exiles, or bmfbed men frm their own Country \ Let us not fettle our minds up- on any vain )oys,and fond toys by the way, whileft we are travelling, towards our Country ; but let us fo run our race, that a- the end thereof, we may obtain admit- tance in at the Gate, which is the entrance to Eternal Bleilednefs. God hath indeed created us rather unto joys and pleafures, than unto labors and forro v ; but we are muchmifUken,bo:h of the time and place: It is not here, ic fhi! i be hereafter. Joys are prepared in Heaven? but none but the good and 'faithful fervar.ts fhall encer into them. And by what means may a man obtain entrance? Knoweft tho\| not what Chnft faid ? 77?^ kingdom oj Heiven fojfmth violence ; &dtbt vtolgtf tafy it by force, Math. u. 12. Think now thus wich thy (c\fy Am I this violent Man ? Is this die violence here fpoken of, To eat, to drink, to rife up to play, to lie down,to take my eafe? It is not certainly. Fight K 4 we

1 9$ The eighth Co-^Ji deration

we muit, but it muft be the good fight, like Chriftian Champions ; Run we muft, but fo, that we may obtain \ Strive we muft, but to enter in at the ftraitGatc. Labor we muft, and cffer violence to the Kingdom of Heaven \ but it muft be in due time and place. Now whileft we have time here, whileft me are on the way, whileft we have life and ftrength , that when we come to the point of death, and fo pais the Horizon of this World, and de- part into another, never to return back arain ; when we fhall be trarflated from Tim to Eternity, then at the Iaft we may have joy for our life paft, and hope for that which is to come. Let us labor therefore, let us labor, I fay, and offer violence to cur feives, fighting agamft our own fro- ward wills and affecVicns : So fhall we ob- tain by the mercy of God, evetlafting reft for fhort labor, and eternal glory for a few days travel.

True and folid joy is not here to be feund in vain delights and pleafures, but m Heaven,where there is joy and p'eafure for evermore. God prepared a gourd, and made it come over Jonah, that it might be a. fhadow over his hud, to deliver him from his grief Jonah 4. 6. So Jonah was exceed- ing glad of the gourd. And what is all the pkafcre, or rather vanic-v of this prefenc r World?

upon Eternity. 199

World ? Is it not like Jmih\ gourd flou" rifhing for a time, and yielding a comfort" ablefhadow? Rich Men have their gourd aIfo,thatis, their riches, under the ftudow whereof they re Joyce with excee^uig great joy. Drunkards and Glut ons have their gourds alfo, that is, great Tables and de- licious fare, under the frudcw whereof they are merry and joyful. Voluptuous Men alfo have their gourds too , thit is, their unlawful pleaftires , under the fha- dow whereof they lie down and fporc themfelves, Eut ( alas ! ) ibrrow follows after fuch joy, and fuddenly overtakes ir. Their mirth is foon turned into mournings and their delights and pleafures en. I in gall and bitternefs. For what became of Jonih\ gourd? God prepjreda ivorm when the morniig rofg the next da}, and it Cmote the gourd thit It withe ed. Now tell me, Jonah > where is thy gourd? What is be- come of it ? Where is now thy exceeding great jo\ ? They are bodi gone together, thy gourd is withered, and thy joy is end- ed. Such are our vain delights and plea- fures, fuch is our jov, rather fhadows of things than any thing indeed, they safs a- way fuddenly, and become \\v.e. Jomlfs gourd that foon withered. The joy of tl :s World is but for a moment, but the joy of tke lire to come is for all Euinitf.

K 5 CHAP,.

200 Th eighth Confederation

CHAP. III.

Here is declared by a mo ft memorable exam- ple, ffowfweet and precious the- tajte of Et-.inlty is.

THis knew Theedorus very well, one born of Chriftian Parents \ and, as it feems, he learned it betimes , when for years he was but a youth, but an old Man for judgment and difcretion. For on a great feftival day, kept throughout all Egypt, there being a great feaft at his Fa- thers houfe, and many invited thereunto j when fome were eating and drinking, o- ■ thers laughing and playing, and others fporting and dancing •-, he amidft all thefe jollities , retired himfelf to his inward Clofet, finding himfelf wounded to the heart, but with a chafte arrow. For thus he begun to expoftulate with himfelf. Un- happy Theodore ? What would it profit thee*, if thou fhouldft gain the whole World? Many things thou haft indeed, but <eanft thou tell how long thou fhalt enjoy them ? Thou liveft in abundance now , fchou maift feaft it, and make a erry \ thou maift laugh and be fa-, thou maift rejoyce and skip for joy. But art thoufure how kssg thisfhali laft ? Ifhouid like it well, if

upon Eternity. 201

it would laft always. But what fhall I do * Shall I for the enjoying oTthefe fhortand tranfkory pleafures & delights,deprive my felf of thofe joys which are Eternal ? Teil me, Theodore, is this according to Chrirti- * an Religion, to frame unco ourfelves an- Heaven here on Earth, and think to pafs from delights to delights, from Temporal to Eternal: Either I am much deceived, or elfeChrifl mewed unto us another way unto the Kingdom of Heaven, ani tha: is through many tribu'acions. Therefore fraveno more to do with worldly vanities, but prefer Eternal joys before Temporal. Thus he laid, and fell a weeping So then he retired himfelf into a withdrawing room, and there proflrating himfelf upon the Earth, he payed after thismmner. Eternal God, my heart is nafyd and open before t\ne, I (end up my fyhs as humble Orators and Petitioners unto that : £ S^nnw not ycb.it to as^, nor hovf. Only this ore thing I beg a* thy hinds, Ihzt thou wilt not fuffer me to die an Eternal Death. Lord, thon J^norvefi th.it lhv? t'r.?, and that I defire t9 be with thei, thit I may fing Eternal praifes unto thee: Lordhav? mercy u';o-i me, Whilcft he was thus proving, in comes his Mother, on a fudden, and prciently perceived) by the rednds and moifmefs of hiseyes, due he had been a weeping 5 and thereupon

&ir.h,

202 The eighth Confideration

faith, My Son , What is the fatter with thee ? Why weepefl tbm ? Why mottrneft thou * why ^eepeft thou out of fight to day* Why doji thou not come to the Table? The reft are all there: Try company is defied: Come aw Ay. But Theodore anfwered, and faid, I pay you, good Mother, have meex- r.ufed j Tfind my felffomewhat ill at fiomach, I pray you do not urge me to eat or drisj^ againft my (iomach. So with a fair and colourable pretence he fent away his Mo- ther j then being alone, he conferred with ^ God and himfelt about Eternity , and ftri&ly examined all thecourfe of his life laying unto himfelt, What am I? or, What hive I been ? How hath it beet with me k?)itojon? or, How fhall it be with me hereafter, if Tlofe my part andfellowfhip in the Kingdom oj Heaven and Blejfed Eter- nity ? Time are divers ways to ffenven : Some go one way^, fome another', it is no matter which way we go, fo we come thither. But becaufe all ways are not a'i^e, neither are all natures ality ', every Man ought to chafe that way which is mo ft convenient. There is & [hort way, and a long ', a faff way, and a dangerous. If then I be air aid to go along and dangerous way, there is a fhorttr and a fafer, which if I jball chafe, without all doubt,- 1 (hall have the Angels jor mf companions and comforters, and they will aljb rebyft

Well,

upon Eternity. 205

Wil^ Theodore, defer a while, bur not: too long, and do not yield toe much, t heft I (hall om day grow a Jlrong Man, and then. I dull be better able "to deal with mine ene- mies, for I (hall find theft that are (trong^ But what if they be eafie, flattering, fawn- ing, and fuch as will even weep for me j Toe truth is, I am moil afraid oj fuch. Bat plucJ^ up a good heart, Man, and though by nature thou at flexible ana eafily moved, yet fray unto Chrifl, an i he will make the? ftrong and immovable. Bit what if thy Mother falls a wetting , befeecheth thee with her tears t> idling down her cheeks i M^at if fhe hangs about thy necj^ '■> and dt fires thee to [pare thy ril}> What i) fhe fhews thet her breafis which fave thee WJ^t :rill not. all thefe move thee / Here remember what St. Jerome faith, Notwitbjtanditg all thefe importuni- ties, run with fpeed unto the Standard of Lhrijts Crofs. it is a virtue andpraife-wex- thy to be cruel in Inch a cafe as this. It is the portion and inheritance $j thy Mother tht Church, to "and under the Crofs oj Chrifl - So did Mary, the Mother of Chi (I; andfo 'tiUhou, if thou wilt have God thy Father in Heaun ; and. the Church, thy Mother, on Earth: And(o thou wilt do, if thou beefi a. I ue (n and no baftard. But mufi I doit new in my youth, in the flower of mine age! shard: Se it is, indeed, to fleh and

bleed

204 The eighth Consideration

blood. But experience teacheth it, that God is not well pleafed with late fervice ; for late fervices are feldom good. Therefore they do well, that begin to ferve God betimes, that ' feek him early, and that remember him in the days of their youth, and learn to fubmit their tender necks unto the yoke of Chrift. But I have been brought up tenderly, I have been fed with dainties j and (hall I now enter up- on a ftrift and rigid courfe. of Life, and bid adieu to all my pleaptres ? Shall J be able to endure it ? I hope ifhall. But, how long ? For a year or two I that is not enough'. / muft go further, and continue to the end, even as long as I live. Therefore weigh and con- fider the matter weU with thy [elf , before' thou nfolveft *, and either never begin , or elf? continue to the end. Iwill by God's affift- ance; for I hope he will not leave me alone toftrive with thefe difficulties, which of my felf I (hall not be able to overcome. But it is a hard matter to ftrive agaiufi cufiome. I have hitherto lived like a Nobleman, and a. Freeman-, and (hall I novo live like a Poor- man, and a Slave ? Or, ij I do, bow long {hall I live fa* If I put on the Poor-man's perfon, andaclin the Tie aire of this World, when {hall I put it off? At the end of the lafl Aft. And how far is it thither * As long as it is to the lafl breath. Thy part is not ended till thou art to depart out of this life.

ttj/on Eternity 205

If tho:<. once comefl forth in the Poor-man's drefs, there is no putting it off again : Thou mufinot &nce thinly of thy Silks, Sattens,and ;. Pur pit and fine Linnen thou muft not wear, until thou beeft cloathed with the Robe oj Immoitality and Glory.

Theodore, Wbttt ihinl^ft thou 9 Shalt thou be able to hold out to the I aft Acl ? I mil ftrive what I can, and comfort my felj by the example of other good Aclors that haze gone before me. And whom fhall I chafe rather to follow and imitate than Chrift, the Son of God, who voluntarily became poor, and made himfelj of no reputation, humbling himjelf above meajure, to do andfuffer li^e a fervatt9 being Lo*d oj all ? Aid fhall not I do and fuffer any thing after his example 9 Snail not I ta^e up the Crofs and follow him>. Am I better than he ? Why \honld I be afraid to follow, when I have fuch a. Leader ? For who is it? Who bids me follow him > It is the zoice of Man that I hoar ; but it is the Will of God., whom I ought to obey, becaufe he commands. But t':is is too high a point of' Philofophy, for a Man to forUke his ricbts9 and to embrace poverty. And what wilt thou do, Theodore ? Refolve with thy felf what to do.

Why do I thus long doubt, and difput: within my (dj i Why do I waver thus be- twem hope and fear ? Hxvi I not the example

4

2 o 6 The eighth ConfiAerAtion

§f my Lord before mine eyes ? Did not he fuffermany things not to be uttered I Was not he nailed to theCrofs, and defpitejully . ufed * He forfool^ his heavenly Treafures, and came poor into this World. His birth, life, and death (hew it. At his birth he wanted a Cra- dle ; in his life he had not where to hide his He nd ; and at his death he had not where- withal to cover his Body, flawed came he into this World, andnakedhe went out. How w-as it with him in his life ? He was fain to fee from me place to another. He was often wearied with travel, fcorcked with heat, and dry for thirft, He was as indefatigable in doing, as he was patient in fuffering, ani both in dnhigh degree. Was ever any one fo well bent to poverty, fo patient in labor s,and fo gentle and mild when he was reproaded ? And [hoidd I hi jfhamed of fitch a Leader ? Should I blufb to be called one oj his yellow- er s ? Shall not I be content to be fuch as my Lord and Saviour will have me to be? lam ready, for love of him, tofuffer hunger, thirfl, cold, na-kednefs , poverty, and fuch li{e. I am willling, jor his fake, to be bound, burnt, and cut in pieces. Tliefe fufferings are but fbort , they cannot continue long. But the 'joys or torments of Eternity are long indeed; for they fhall never have end. Therefore fare- well all the World, and the things that are in it^h-curt-m for you , / regard you not, ;

Farewel,

upon Eternity, 207

Fanwel , T fay\ but welcome, Eternity^ yphenfoevtr thou comeji: Thou an the only thing that I feel^ after ; my Soul langeth aft, r thee } there is nothin? thtt I dejlre in com- tarilon of thee. . ^

With the heat of fucb Cogitations his Soul w.s (b fct on fire, than it was infla- med with the love of Eternity which the BlefTed (hall enjoy in Heaven. Therefore he refolved to take leave of his Parent-, to forfake his riches, and bid adieu to his cielishtsfor ever. He did not refolve hafti- lv, but continued in his refolution con- stantly. He was not foon hot, and foon cold -f he was not altered all on the Hid- den ; lie did not pals from oneextream to another-, he did notftrive for the higheft pitch at the fir ft, but rofe up by degrees, and became one of Pachoni*s his Scholars. You have heard the Prologue j but there follows no Tragedy after it : For, contrary to the Law of a Tragedv, we have a for- ro'.vful beginning, but a joyful ending. He came forth with a Lacq%£, but went off with a Phadite: At his fotrat, there was v. eeping for grief •, but at his Exit, there was clapping of hands for joy. Thus have ye heard che life and death of Tlieodwus, whofe Soul fed, as it were, upon thoughts of Eternity, and was delighted therewith as with marrow and fatnefs. He was ncc

o:*

208 The eighth Consideration

of the Worlds mind, which countech E- tmity but a Fable \ but refufed no: him- felf to become a Fable and a by-word in the World, being perfwaded fully of a Bleffed Eternity, and earneftly defiring and thirftii?p,to have a pjrtin it.

Chriftian Brethren, fh.tll I fpeak a free word, but a true? Or, not I, but Theodo- rus, Moft men live fo, as if there were nofuch thing as Eternity ', as if it were but ; a meer Fable and a feigned thing. Bucwhac do I tell you oiTheodorus ? Will you hear what St. Peter faith? Tte day of the Lord will come as a tbie] in the night, in the which the heavens PnalL pafs away with a great noife, and the elements [hall melt with fer- vent heat, th earth alfo and the workj thit are therein (hill be burnt up. Seeing then that all thefe things fhall be diffolvcd, what manner of mm ought we to be in all bofy eonvnfation and godlinefs ? 2 Pet. 3, 10. But where are thofe men now a-divs, by whofe holy converfation and godlinefs a man may judge that they believe St. Peter, that the day of the Lord is coming, and that Eternity fhall follow after ? But if you. willnec believe St. peter, hear what Truth it felf faith, Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deftruclion, and many there be which go in thereat, Mat. 7.15. Certainly men would not go in at the

broad

upon Eternity. 209

broad gate ofdeftrufrion, if they did think they fhou'dcome out no more, if they did once dream of Eternity. But, as I laid be- fore, moft Men make Eternity but a teigned thing, a witty invention to keep Men in aw, and a gcod honeft fable. And yet how ma- ny sre apt to fay, We believe that there is a Bttffed Eternity after this life, we hope to have part in it, we have a defire and long- ing after it ! Euc ( a'as ! ; how licccle is their faith / how va-,n is their hope ! how cold is their dtfire/ Prefent pleafures, mo~ey in the hand, the allurements of the ffcfh fteal away the hearts of many, and by littleand fitrle, make the defire and love of Eternity grow quite cold in them, as if they had drowned and buried it in the grave or obli- vion. We hear it often read and preached : 77; us faith the Lord, THi is the Cor.mandment of the Lord: And as often as we hear it, we ftilineglett it. Say the Lord what he will, command what he will, our old way p'eaf- eth us beft, We mil tval^ajter our etvn de- lices and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heJrt. Therefore thus faith the Lord, As^je now among ft the Heathen, who hath heard fuch horrible things? Jer.iB. 12, 13. Had the people which knew no God, but known thefe fecrets of Eternity, certain- ly they never would have contemned and negleded than. Go te now, 0 ye fons of

Meny.

2 1 o The eighth Confideration

Men, becjufe I have called, and yerefuftd, I have fir etched out my hinds, and no Mm ??- girded, 1 will alfo laugh at your calamity, J will mocl^ when your fear cometh ; when, your fear cometh as demolition, and your de- ftr'.itiion cometh as a whirlwind ', when, dilrefs and anguido cometh upon you, Prov. i. 24, 2^,27. When ittrnky fhall fudden- ly overtake you. If Death feife upon you in this miferable flare and condition, there is then no hope of mercy : The Gate is prefently fliut, there is no opening of it;. The fentence of condemnation is part , there is no repealing of it. Depart ye cur- fed into everlajling pre, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, Matth. 25. 41.

Watch therefore,good Chriftians, watch I fay j The Judge (lands at the Gate. That may happen in a minute, that you may be forry for, for all Eternity. Anthony the Great, in a certain Sermon which he made to the people, fpake thus unto them. Dearly be- loved Brethren, in matters of this Uje we have a care to make good bargains, we wiH be fare to have a pennyworth jar a penny. I layout, for inftance,fo much money, and I have the worth of ic in wares -, I tive fo many crowns, and I have fo many bufhels of Wheat •, fo many pounds, and I have io many quai ters of Malt. But we are not fa wife in Heavenly mat;ers; we will not

gve

tip on Eternity. 211

give things Temporal , in exchange for things Eternal. Eternal life is a thing not worth looking after, we much undervalue it, we will fcarce give any thing for it, we will not take any pains or labor to obtain it. And yet what is our labor, fuppofe the greatefl we can undergo ? If it be com- pared unto lite Eternal the reward of it, it willnot amount to fo much as one half- penny, in refped and reference to a Mil- lion of Gold. For what faith the Pfalmift, The days of our life are 'threescore years and tern, and if by reafon offtrength they be fourfcore years, yet is their flrength, labour andjorrow, Ffa'l. 90.10. But fuppofe a "Man mould live an hundred years, tofpeak with the moft, and all that while ferve Godzealoufly, and faithfully, were it net time well fpent to gain Eternity ? were not the labot well beftowed , to purchafe a Kingdom ? I do not mean a Kingdom to continue for an hundred years only, but throughout all ages j not an Earthly King- dom, but the Kingdom of Heaven. There- fore, Chriftian Brethren, be not puffed up with vain glory, be not ambidous after worldly honour, be not wearied out wich wdl-doing, be not caft down with afflicti- ons, do not fink under the burden of the ■Crofs, bur bear it patiently and chearful- ly, Rejoycing, with the Apoftlcs, that ft

are

212 The eighth Confideration

. are counted worthy to fuffer. Rom. 5.3. For 1 'reckon, faith St Paul, that the fufferings of this prefent time are net worthy to be com- pared with the glory which (hall be revealed in us, Rom, 8- 18. Let no Man when he hath forfaken the World,think th. the hath forfaken any great matter. For whit is Eartli in Comparifon of Heaven ? It is hue

\ a Centre to the Circle, a Minute to Ettr-

^ »*Yv, a Drop to the Sea, and a Grain of Duft to the Dry Land. What ;re our riches ? Fading and uncertain moveables. We are foon taken from them,or they from us. Though with much ado we keep them as long as we live, yet whether we will or no,we muft part with them when we die ; we cannot carry them to our Graves. Why

• do we not then make a vertue of neccflity ? Why do we not willingly part with t". ;em, whiieft they are ours, feeing that fhortly we muft part with them, whether we will or not, when Death attacheth us for a debt due to Nature, and then they can be no longer ours ? Why do we not lay them cut like good Merchants for the Margarite or precious Fearl of Eternal life ? Thus fweetiy goes on Athanafius \ But I muft leave him, and draw to a conclufion.

Pachonius was wont, whenfoever he felt any unlawful thoughts or defires arife in his mind, to drive rhem away with the re- membrance

upon Eternity. 2 1 3

membrance of Eternity $ and if at any time he perceived them to rebel again, he ftill reperd them by medic, ting ferioufly upon Eternity, the Ece n*l punimments of the damned, the u rments without end, the fie cha: never goes out, and the worm that never dieth. And here I will conclude this Confideration with the Exhortation of the fame Pachonius. be ore all things, faith he, let hs every day thinl^upn the lift day *, let us in time remember Eternity 5 let 11* every minute we have to Uvi, jo live, as if -we lived in fear of EverlafHng Torments \ tbat'fo by the Mercy oj God in Jems Chrift, we may fir ever efeafe them.

THE

13J

QoaA.fi lofter TvhztqoocL -thing (hallldce Math,. ij . jo

ZiJJ- eajtir-fora camel -to ju thrash -an eye of a. neec&£? -thatjbr a. tick man to e.nfrr Ptto iJieXmadpm£ of Go I .The tote of< SC ofEier- nttLe-'areJlarcz refidmtm ctte hart .

215

THE NINTH

CONSIDERATION

Upon

ETERNHr.

77;^ /Srj? Conch/ion.

NO Man living is able in word to exprefs, or in thought to con- ceive the infinite fpace of Eter- nity. Between a true Man, and a painted Man, true fire and painted fire, there is a great deal of difference-, and yet thefc are in fome kind one like unto another. But between our common fire and die fire of Hell, between the forrows of this life and the pains of Hell, there is no com- panion, no proportion at all. For diislife, and the forrows of this life, are meafured by fpace cf Time; but the life to come, and the forrows thereof annot be mea- fured by any thing but only Etimtf, which alfo is without meafure. This doth our Saviour moft elegantly exprefs in the Gof- pel of S. John , by the Parable of the L Vine-

2 1 6 The ninth Conner at ion

'Vine branch, if a Man abide not fame, he is cap forth as a branch, and is withered, and Men gather them, and call them into the fire, and they are burned, John 15.6. In thefe words is Eternity briefly and plainly 1 defcribed : For mark the words well-, they run rx: in the future, He (hall be cafl forth, and (hall wither, and Men fhall gather them, and foall cafl them into the fire, and they fhall be b::rned; I fay they run not in the future, but all in the prefent tenfe, He is caft forth and withered, and Men gather them and caftt1 em into the foe, and they are bum- ed. They are burned. This is theftateand condition oftEe*damned, They are burned, f that is, always burning. When a thoufand . years are paft and gone, as it was in the beginning, fo it is ftill, V)ey are burned : And when a thoufand and a thoufand more yet are gone, as it was, fo it is, They are burned. And if after certain millions of years the queftion be asked, What is nowtheftate and condition of the damn- ed ? What do they ? What fuffer they ? How fares it with them-? There can be no other anfwer made but this, They are buru- \td, ftill burning, continually , inutterabiy, Eternally, from one age to another, even for ever and ever. Upon this place excel- lently iaich St. Augufiine , One of thefe xvvo muft needs be the condition ©f the

Vine-

npon Eternity. 2 1 7

yiaebrasch, either it amd abide in che VinCj oreliebecaft into the fire? if cor

in che Vine, then certainly in therire. Bur that it may not he cafl inco che nve, let it ftii! abide in the Vine.

the rr.o:i Con:

IF thofe Men which do Rill conrnue in their f-ns,d d but know how eear they are unto Eternity, and everlafting tor- mentsi if they did consider well with them- felvet, how that God in a moment, in a breach, in the fainting of in eye (as we fpeak ) may fuddenly take them away in their fins, and deliver them up unto deaths then Surety, it they had it, they wo^d give all Spin, all the treasures of Afu, all the Gold of Lidia, yea all the World to obtain but one hour to cenfefs their fm>> to repent them cf the fame, and to a:k God pardon and tbrgivenefs : They would nor, certainly they would not, full hug and embrace dieir fins, they would 09c every day multiply them as they do, they would not lodge them every night in their bofonvnd ly fnorcing in them, Mittb.i6* 27. Forwlut is 1 Mm profited, if bejkdii gain the whole world, and life bis own foal / Though diou Iofeft every thing elfe m the World, yet, OMan, have a care to keep

l 2 d ■>

2 1 8 77^ #/#?£ ConflderMion

thy foul. It were needlefs here to reckon up a Catalogue o£ the Martyrs of Chrift in all ages. There are whole books of them in great volumes : they are recorded to all pofterity, and their names fhall be had in everlafting remembrance. But the greateft honor that we can do them is to follow their good example, to learn or them Chriftian fortitude and magnanimi- ty, to fear God more than Man, ALtth. io. 28. God which is able to deftoy both body and foid in Nell, rather than Man which can only'tyl the body, but is nut able to {ill the foul -, to lore God more than all the World •, to be willing to part with ail for Chrift, to Jofe all to fave cur fouls, and gain Eternity. I will conclude here with that excellent exhortation of St. Auguft'm ; What then fhall we do, brethren ? What ? What elfe but whilcfi we have time amend cur lives, where we have dene amifs, do Co no more; become new Men j That whit is threatned and fhall certainly come upon wicked and ungodly Men, may not fall upon us ; not becaufe we fhall not be, but becaufe we (hall not be like unro them : Whatfoever is written in the Scripture, is written for our learning, it is the voice of 'God. Obferve and make good ufe of what you read: Whatfoever we fuffer in this life i£> but die gentle rod of our moft

mer-

upon Eternity* '219

merciful Father, who corre&eth us here as his dear children, thit we be not tor- mented with the damned hereafter. Why then do rhe light afticU ns of this life fcem fo grievous unto us ? Why do we even tjremb e, and quake for fear, when we do but hear of them? The mod grievous fuf- ferings of tn«s hre. if we judge aright of them, \\\ companion of everlafting nre, are very fmall, j ea indeed none at all.

T.t third Cmclufion.

AMongil Chriftians , God knoweth, there are a great many, that either believe there is neither Heaven nor Hell, or elfe if they did truly believe it, they would certainly live otherwife than they do. AsconcerningfuchMen, thequeftion may be very fitly asked, Ln{e 18. 8. When the Sos of mincomsth) jhiU he find fii'.b upon the earth > Some there are that would fain be thought to be true Believers \ They confefsit indeed with their mouths, bue diflemble with their double hearts ; If their words may be believed, they may go for true Believers; but if their lives be ex- amined, they may be thought to be no better than Infidels. They never think up- on Eternity, or very feldom ; and when they do,t!iey do but think upon it and there L 5 is

220 The ninth Confideraticv

is all ; it is gone in a thought, they never wei^h well with them felm what it is, they never feriouflv meditate upon it, they ne- ver roufe their undemanding to be intent upon it, they never bend their wills and afYeftions to feck after it, they never im- print it in their deep cogitations that fo they may reir.ersber it. They fcarce be- gin to think upon it, but their minds are prefently femewhere elfe, their thoughts go a wandring, their imagination is work- ing upon fomewhat elfe. And if at any time fome fparks of devotion and godiy cfcfires arife in their hearts, they are prc- featly quenched an:! choaked with cjres of this World, with multitude of bufinefs, with profits Ci" fUafares, and foch like. And thins miferable Men they ftop their ear:, and clofe their eyes, and without fear or undemanding they run hecdwinke in the way that leadeth to Ettrnal death. It is obferved by the holy Fathers of the C^atton in the Gofpel, that he never life-

* ed up his eyes till he was in torments ;

Afl his lifelong they werefhut againll the

and asairrft all godlinefs : He opened

them not till he was in Hell, when it was

I too late. And it is no marvel that fo many Men run blindfold to the houfe of {laughter , and Eternal forrow : for the way is very broad and pleafant, fmooth

and

upon Eternity. 221

«nd plain, a Man can hardly go out of i:, there is no fear of Iofmg himfelf till he comes to the end thereof. Then he ftiaH perceive that all the while he was travel- ling, he was quite out of the right w\v: tken I fay, when there is no recurning Pacj? again. Many would like this v,iy well, if there were no end thereof; For, though h rids merrily, ic ends mifera '-ly : and therefore they do wifely, thir leave the great road, and travel on in the rough wiy •, :hat choofe rather to go through briers and thorns unto an Etenutf Para- dife, than through a pleafarrt Paradvt to an Eternal Prifat, that refolve with themfelves to break through a]l difficul- ties ; counting it better to go on weeping and mourning, in the narrow way of falva- tioo, rather than laughing and re joy ring in the broad way of deftrutnon. Moft true it is which Job fpeaketh, As the cloud is confumed , and vanijbfd away *, fo be that gdetb dfiwn to the grave, fhatl come up no more: He fall return no more to hishonfa neither (hall his place \nrcv him a-.y more9 Jpb 7.0.

w

Tr : fourth Conclufien .

Hofoever ufeth to defcend into a deep and feriousconftderationof L 4 Ettr-

222 The ninth Confider M ion

Eternity, he will refo far from living fi- centioufly and wantonly, that you (hall sc hardly ever fee him laughing heartily. It h h been obferved of as many as have bee; raifed from the dead, and turned a- galnunrolife, that they were fcarce-ever feen to laugh at all. In p irticular it hath been obferved of La\arus of Bethany , whom Chriit loved. He and they, as ma- rry as have been raifed from the dead, might truly fay with the Prhcher, I faid of laughter, It is mad } and of mirth, What doth it? EccUf.7. 2. Not without caufe in this doth Cyril of Alexandria confefs himfe^to he fearful ; For he faith thus, lam a'raid of Hell and the punifhments thereof, became they have no end ; I am afrai J of the dev >uring worm, becaufe it never dieth. 0 that they were wife, that they wide flood this, that they would confider their lattei end! Vent. 52. to. Whofoever is not better by the confederation ©f £-. ternity, ( I dare boldly fay, and think I may fay it truly ) either he hath no faith at all; or if he'hath any faith, he hath no heart at all \ or at the beft it is but an heart that is dead anJ without all fenfe. It was the witty fayingjof a learned Man, That marriage was a fhor: and; fweetfong, but that it had a doleful clofe : So we may meft truly fay of all the pleafures that we

uke

upon Eternity.

take in fin, that it is a fliort and a merry fong, but it ends in mourning and lamen- tation \ or rather it is a fong W for time; and fweet for tune as long as it Jjftcth \ tor it runs much upon quavers, and fen. qui* vers o£ mirth and iubiUti on. But the rial fuddenly changech. and theftoz is altered ; for there follows without any rtf the lir- ges and lags of farrow and lamentation \? which cannot be meafured by any time. For the torments of Hell are Eternal. Ob Eternity, Eternity, Eternity ±

The fob ConclnfioH;

WHenfoever wefpeik of Eternity, we fpeak always with the leaft, bi c we can never fpeak too much of it. Whar- foever is laid comes (hon of ic. No words can utcer it, no figures can number it, no time can meafure it. For Eternity is of this , nature; take from it what you will, ic is ftill the fame. It is neither incrcafed by i addition, nor diminifhed by fubftrscVron! ' Suppofe there were fuhfWted from i: fo mam-yeas as there areftars in the fir.na* ment, drop- in the fea. lands on the fhorc, leaves on the trees,grafs in the field scores in the Sun, duft on the earth: What re- main- ? As much asthere was before the* Subfrt&imi Suppofe there grere Co many L < - ,«

224 The ninth Confider At ion

years added -o it ; What then is the Result ? The fame thrt ic wa; before the Addition, 1'wttntal (urn is neither more nor leis, thaa what it was, that is, Eternity. t As long as God is, fo long fhall the dam- l ned be tormented. This we have fhadow- ed out before by fome fimilitudes 3nd re- femblances, unto which we will add one more out of Bonavtnture. If one of the damned, faith he, fhould weep after this r manner, that he fhould let fall but one tear in an hundred years, and thofe tears mould be kept together fomany hundred years till they would equ.il the drops of the tea j Alas ! Alas ! ( Not to fpeak of the Tea J How many millions of years muft needs pafs before they can make one little river / or if they mould at length make a whole fea of water: yet even then ic might truly be laid, Now Eternity begin* netb. And if he fhould weep again after the fame manner till he made another tea ; yet thenalfo it might befaid again as tru- ly as before, Now Eternity btgimtth : and fo on forwards for ever. Let no Mas once doubt of the truth hereof j for between that which is finite and that which is infi- nite there is no proportion. But this feems wonderful and ftrange unto us, becaufe our imagination cannot conceive it: It cannot reach unco that which is fo far re- mote ;

upon Eternity. 225

mote s It cannot penetrate into that which is infinite, for that is impenetrable. And that isthereafon that our undemanding is fo hardly drawn to the com -deration of £- ttrnity; becaufe it blufherh in a fort, and is afhamed, or elfe for indignation cannos endure to tire it felf in the fearch of thac which cannot be found out. But let us puc away this foolifhand frameful medefty, and let us force our underftanding to the due and ferious contemplation of Ewnity, and let it be our daily exercife to be (til meditat'ng upon fuch fimilitudes, as may in fome fhort fhadow it our, and reprefent it unto us : And fo (hall we never do a- m'fs. Say what we can, think what we will, imagine fo manv millions of millions of years as it is poflible for the mind of Man to conceive, we fhall frill come fhort of the meafure , and length of Eternity : The years of Eternity are more, far more, yea infinitely more. This is certain, and without ailcontroverfie.

The Prophet Diniel figninech the in- comprehenfible dimenfion and length of Eternity vn thefe words, They that be wife jhj!i ibine is the bdghfifs yf the fir* i and they that turn many to right to-fii . tbfjtirsfor ever and ever, Dm. 12. 5. Mark thefe words, For cur 2nd ever. As if he fhouldluveilrd, No word* are fdfficieflt

10

226 The ntnt h Confederation

toexprefs the nature of Eternity. It is for ever and ever : Here is a!l that I can fay of it : Though nacre might be faid jn refpetl of its own nature, yet T am not able to fay more. Obferve his Auxefis, or his augmentation of it by multiplication: For ever , that is , for Eternity : But he thinkech that not lufficient, and therefore he doubles it, and ever. And yet in the Lacinit is expreifed more fully, •■ in thefe wo ds, In per pit uas JEtemitates, To per- petual Eternities, Mark here, he faith not, In dUenitatem, To Eternity barely in the Singular number ; but -In /Fternitates , To Eternities in 'he Plural, as if one were not enough: Neither doth he reft here in lefi- nitely, faying To Eternities, nor yet doth he add any finite term, becaufe none can exprefs it, but an infinite, Perpetuas, Per- petual; la perpetuus JExernitates, To per* pttual cr Infinite Eternities. Now if one Eternity is without end, what are two ? what are ten? what are an hundred ? what are infinite ' If we fhould multiply the grest year or years a thoufand times, it would not amount to the Ieaft fraftion of the rumberlefs number of Eternity. They fay that the Eight Ccejeftial Orb or Sphere is moved wonderful'Ieifurely beyond all t&mpariibn; For though it be dally wheeled 4frout.by the rapid motion of the Primum

mebik}

upon Eternity. 117

mobile, yet ic finifheth not i:s own pioper qircuicbut once in thirty fix thoufand years, and this fpace of time they call, Tm great year, or Plato's year. But compare this with Eternity , and it willappeir to be but a moment, but an inftant, but a minure, indeed nothing at all. It is a true faying of Boetius, that an infant, or point of time, and ten thoufand years, compared toge- ther, keep better proportion, than ten thou- fand vears z.nd Eternity . But hear wha: St. John faith, Little children, it is the Uft time, cr the Ufl hour9 i John 2. 18. And this he faid one thoufand iix hundred years ago. It is moft true therefore what S. Auguftine faith, whatfoever hath an end, that thing is but fhort. Eternity is a Word confuting but of four fy liable s, but it is a thing without end. Therefore fet thy love upon Eternity. Let Chrift be thy end^ and thou fhalt reign with Chrifl without end.

Tl)e Jixth Conclufion.

IT is not to be believed that any Man that hath but the Ieaft fmack of true Religion can be fo far carried away by his impotent an^i unruly paflions ( if he be not as bad as a beaft, ) ruled meerly by fenfe, aud ferving only his fenfual appetite ; For

the.

228 The ninth Cenfideration

Ehe wicked and ungodly man , even then when he is almoft fwallowed up in the deep pit, whereinto his fins have plunged him headlong , even then , I fay , doth but laugh at it, regards it nor, is not a jot troubled at it j It is not to be believed, I fay, that any Man that hath any Religion at all in him, canbefo far carried away by his headftrong and unbridled paffions, but if he will fpend a part of an hour every day in meditating upon Eternity, yea if he will bur once in a week feriouily think up- on it, he will mend his manners, he will change the courfe of his life to better, he will certainly become a new Man : Of a proud Man, he will become humb'e and lowly ; of an angry Man, he will become mild and gentle ', Of an unclean Man, he will become chafle. and continent ; of a drunken Man, he will become fober and temperate. He will put on, not the out- ward, but the inward habit of a trne reli- gious and godly Man. He will become fuch a one, not in cloth, s and outward ex- preffion, but in heart, and inward affection. Neither will he rafhly and unadvifedly, flightly and negligently, upon a fpurt all at once on the fudden pafs from one ex- tream to another: (fuch alterations are not good, neither will they continue long ) But he will again and again weigh the mat- ter

upon Eternity. 229

ter well with himfelt, he will confider well upon it, he will fatten his lertous thoughts upon it, he will often revolve in mind, £- tt>- Kit), Eternity, Eternity, thac fhall never have end , end never, never end ; which ftull lail throughout innumerable, incom- prehenffrle, infinite ages. Thh will he dc with confederation and attention, and often ruminat* upon it, as beafts chew thecud. Meat though never fo good and wholfome, if it be not chewed in the teeth, prepared in the mouth, digefted in the ftomach, turned into blood, and diftributed by the veins into alkfae parts of the bodv, turns topoylbn rather than to nonrilhmcnt, be- gets all manner of difeafes , Is retained perhaps fometime in the body, but doth more harm than good, were a great deal better out than in. Even fo the thoughrs of Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell are good and wholfome, ».odly arid holv, but none more than the though: of £; which nay worthily be called the £ fence. But as it is w ith meat, hoc the taking of it rceerly into the mouth, butthegood digeflingof it in the from ach, the turning of it into good blood ia the Liver, and the diftributing of itintoall the partsbythe veins, nourifhech the body : So it is with thofe precious thought of Death, J.ig- mint , Htaveih tieS3 and Eternity: not the

bare

2 jo The ninth Confederation

bare thinking upon them, butferiousthifik- ing upon them with our felves, fetting a- part all cares and worldly diftracYions, the ponder ings of them well in our hearts, and the often ruminating upon them, this is it that feedeth and nourifiieth the foul. If this be notdone, the reft is to little parpofe: without this even the reading of the holy- Scriptures is fruitlefs, the hearing of the word preached is unprofitable. Many hear Sermons often, read the Scripture over and over again, and yet arelktle bettered by it, became they do not meditate upon what they have both read and heard. When they hear, what comes in at one ear goes out at the other : when they read, the eye is no fooner off from the book, but what was read is foon fliptout of memory. Be- fore they can practife what they have heard or read, they have quite forgotten what they (houlddo. Therefore if we will read or hear with profit, vve niuftfpend fome time in meditating and pondering with our felves what we have read and heard. This leflon we may learn of the blefTed Virgin the mother of our Lord, Luk. 2.19. But Mary i^ept all the fe things, and fonder td them in her hart.

Jit.

upon Eternity. 2}i

T\)t fezntb Conrtufion.

FEW or none believe, or elfe do not weB underft.md and weigh with them- felves thefe words of Chrift, Matth* 7. 13. 'Enter ye in at the fir light gate ; for vcide is the gate and braid is the way th.it leatteth to d? ft 7 uclion, and matt) then be wi/i :h go in tmre.it'. 1*. Becaafe jinit is ths gate and narrow is the way which ludtth unto life, and jew there be that find it. This again our Saviour repeats by the mouth of Si. Lube, Luke 1 3. 2:. Strive to enter in at the (halt gate; For manyy T fay yntt y.*.v, will feek to enter in, and (hall not be able. Atgufi, Whofoevcr laughs at this faith, and there- fore will not believe becaufe he doth not fee*, when that fhall come to pafs which he did not believe, he fhall blufh and be confounded, he fhall be confounded and feparared from the blefledj he fhall be fe- pac 1 ed from the blefled , and have his porcr n with the damned.

H'uronymm Ptautus reports of a certain, Woman, that hearing Bertoldus a powerful Mao in the Pulpit inveigh very vehemently and bitterly againft a fin that fhe knew her fe f guilty of, fell down dead in the Chureh ? and after a while by the blefling of God upon the Prayers of the Congregation

" coining

2 1 2 The ninth Confi&er&tion

coming again unto her. felt, related unto them what fhehad feen in this trance, fay- ing thus, Methought I flood before God's Tribunal, and threefcore thoufand fouls more with me, called together from all the parts of the World, to receive their fi* nalfentence: And they were all condem- ned and adjudged to Eternal torments, but only thee. Oh '. what a fearful thing was this / I mould hardly believe this womans relation, but that I believe Chrifts alte- ration in the Gofpel, Mattb. 7. 1 3. Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadetb to definition, and many there be that go in thereat', And again, v. 14, Stmt is the gate , and narrow is the way that leadetb unto Ufa and jew there be that find it. It may feem ftrange to flefh and blood that God the Father of Mercies mould pafs thefentence of condemnation upon fo many, I do not fay threefcore thoufand , but threefcore thoufand thoufand? And what Man would believe it, were he notperfwaded of the. truth thereof, upon the confideration of the fovereign and infinite Majefty of God which is offended ; the unutterable malice of fin which is committed, and many evi- dent teft imonies of Scripture by which it is piainlv proved ; Job trembles at.it, fay- ing, Job 10. 22. A land oj dar&efs , as dttfyefsitfelj, and of the (hadow of death,

without

uf>o# Eternity. 23^

H mywivTy sndwhtri tbt tight is as darfytfs, or according to [he Latin, yvhtrt theriis neordtr, ajiitfhtfi tveriaftfag horror liicvtHah. St. Matfhn* affirms as much its the words of bw Saviour, Metth. 2$. 4r« tfepartjrem vie ye tmfid intt everlafiing fire. Le: usconfider thefe things well with our fdves , and whileft we luve time let us v>afh away cur fins with the tears of repen- tance, for fear left God fuddenly match us away, and give us our portion to drink with hypocrites in the bottomlefs pit of Hell, where there is nothing but weeping 2nd grafting of teeth, where the worm never di*th$ and the nre never goes oat, from whence there is no redemption, no redemption, I fay, and again I fay, no re- demption ; No, not any comfort at all, nor fo much as a little drop of cold water, li the godly themfehes, who are in the ftate of grace and in the favour of God, whole minds and wi is be good, if they, I fay,could fufficiently conceive from what grievous torments they mall :e delivered at the day of judgment, and into what unutterable and nnconcervablc joys they fhall enter, without doubt they would ufe no delay, they would not let an hour pais, bur out of hand they would take their leave of all Vanities, forfeke the World, and leave the dead to look after the dead ; But as for

them

2 J 4 The nint h Confederation

themfelves,they would be daily and hourly weli imployed about t'-eir Matters builnefs, always ftudying co pleafe God,everlaud-, ing and prai ring him for his eoodnefs and mercy towards them, in blefTirig them in parthere in chis World, and giving them an atfured prcmife of everlafting bleffed- nefs in the World to come, for delivering diem from the torments of Kell, and gi- ving them entrance into the joys of Hea- ven. Ic is the faying of St Gregory, The evils of this prefent life feem the more hard unco us the lefswe think upon the good which fhall follow hereafter. Andbecaufe we' confidcr not the exceeding great re- wards which are laid up for us, therefore we count the afflictions of this World grie- vous to be born : whereas if we did lift up ourmJnd^ and raife our thoughts to the contemplation of thofe things which are Eternal, ?nd not fubjeft to any change j if we would have an eye unto them, and fee our hearts upon them, we would certainly count the fufferings of this life, andwhat- foever hath an end, to be as nothing; and again , joy in tribulation is a fong in the night : For although we are outwardly af- flicted with the fenfe of forrows Temporal, yet we are inwardly comforted with the hope of joys Eternal. Much after the fame manner reafoneth

St.

upon Eternity. 2 3 5

St. Aignfline : If thou wouldeft bur at- tend, faith he, unto what thou fhak here- after receive, thou wouldeft count all the fuffering of this prefent life to be butljght, Sc altogether unworthy of the glory which frail be reve.led. For'brcthren, (to fpeak of the worth of things ) for Eternal reft a Man fhould be content to undergo Eternal labor, and for Eternl ioy willingly fuffer Eternal forrow : But if the labor and for- row were Eternal, when (hou'd a Man come to reft and joy Eternal ? Therefore upon neceflity thy tribulation muft be but Tern- pYal, that fo at length thou maift receive a reward which (hall be Eternal. For hang up the fcales, and put Eternity in one,, and a thoufand years in the other: what do I fay, a thoufand years, yea ten thoufand, yea an hundred thoufand, and yet more, a thoufand thoufand, they 2re all too light to weigh widi Eternity ; there is no compa- nion betwixt them. And yet further, to make them more light ; As they are but Temporal, fo likcwifc they are but fhort, and of no continuance, they laftbutfor a few winter-days, when they are at the fhorteft, or rather but for one day, and that a fhort one •, the day of this life which is foon paft, and they are gene. Though a Man therefore fhould fuffer all his lifelong even to the Iaft breath, though he fhould

fuffer,

2 3 6 The ninth Consider at ion

fufter, I fay, ltbors, griefs, forrows, im- £rifonment, fcourge, hunger, thirft, all his life long, even to the laft breach, yet his fufferings are but fhort, becaufehis life is but fhort. For the days of our pilgrimage are but/*:*?, though evil, as Jacob told Pha- raoh, Gen. 47, 9. And Job 14. 1. Man that is born of a Woman Is of few days; though ss Job complaine h, full of trouble. And Pfal. 39. $. Behold, faith David, thouhdfl made my days as an hand breadth, f and that is but a fhort meafure, and yet he goeth further } and mine age is as nothing before thee. And as our Life is fhort, (o is our Affliction light, but k tv or \eth for us afar more exceeding and Eternal v? eight of glory , 2 Cor. 4. When this fhort life and light, labour is ended, we (hall inherit everlaft^ life, an Eternal Kingdom, and felicity with- out end : We fhall be made aqual to the Angels, heirs of God , and joint-heirs with thrift* Rom. 8. 17. Oh! For how little labour, how great a reward '. and again, St. Augnftine in another place, The thoughts of God are very dee}. Where is the thought of God ; and what is his purpofe ; He let- eth the rains loofe for die prefent, but afterwards he will draw them in. Do not rejoyce and fport thy ielf, like the fifh in the water, which having got the baic in her mouth, playeth up and down,but being

ftruck

upon Etefnity. 237

ftruck with the hook in the jaws, may be pulled up at thefifherspleafure. The time which feems long unto thee is indeed but fkort, very fhort. For whac is the life of Man compared with Eternity 1 Wouldefi thou be patient and long fuffering ? Con- fider Gods Eternity : Doft thou only cowfi- der thine own days, which are but few and fhort, and doft thou think that in them all things (ball be fulfilled? That the wicked fhould be condemned , and the godly crowned ? Wouldeft thou have all thefe things fulfilled in thy few and fhort days ? God fhall fulfil them in his own time. God is Eternal. God is patient and long-fuf- fering : And thou fayefl, But I cannot be patient and long-fufYering, becaufe I am not Eternal. But thou mayeft be if thou wilt : For do but joyn thy heart to God's Eternity, and thou fhalt be Eternal with him. If thou beeft a good Chriftian, and well inftrufted in the fear of the Lord, thou wilt certainly conclude, God hath refer- ved all unto his own judgment. The good and godly Men are troubled and affli&ed: For God chaftifeth them as his own Chil- dren. But the wicked and ungodlv Men com- intonofuch trouble and affliction: For God cafteth them orY,andcondemneih them as aliens. A certain Man hath two for.s i He chaftifeth the one, and Iettcth

the

2 3 8 The ninth Confederation

the other go without any chaftifement* The one, if he goes never fo little awry is prefently buffeted, whipped and fcourged ; the other} let him do never fo il!, he rever hears of it, he is not fo much as once re- buked for it. What is the reafon : He that is punifhed, is the fathers heir 3 and he that gees unpuniihed is aiflnhericed. For what fhould the Father do? He fees there is no hope of him, and that he is part grace, and therefore he lets him alone to do what he lifteth. But ye: notwithftanding, the fon which is ever and anon punifhed for the lealt offence, will be ready to bemoan and deplore his own cafe, and count his brother happy which goeth unpunifhed. He will, I fay, unlefs God h.:th given him a wife and underftanding heart, to know whatmaketh for his own good. He will 1 eapt to fay in his heart, My brother fol- lowethall ill courfes, taketh his pleafure, wafteth his means,doth what feemeth good in his own eyes, is ever breaking my fathers commandment, and hath never an ill word for it. But the cafe is otherwife with me : If I be but out of fight never fo litcTe while, if I go but ro the next door, if I do but flep afide, ft:rbuta fcot, but an inch bey end my bounds, prefently I am called in queftion, Sirrah, where have you been y there is no hope of pardon, I am

fure

upon Eternity, 239

fure to fmart for ic. This is my cafe. And I fay, Thou arc in a far better cafe than thy brother \ and if thou beeftnotafool, thou wilt think fo too .• For in that thou arc corrected, ic is a fign that thou arc bell beloved. If chou chinkeft only upon chy prefenc ftace, iccannocbuc feem grievous unco thee \ But it chou haft an eye co che Infeericance which is referved for thee, a- gain ic cannoc but feem joyous unto thee. For the aflurance of thy future reward will quire take away the fcnfe of the prefenc fmart.

Hicherco may be added out of the fame holy Facher chic which followech, as che fumm of all chat hitherto hath been faid. Kow great and wonderful is the mercy of God ! He faith not, Labour thou for "ten hundred thoufand years together ; nor yen one thoufand years, ncr yet, five hundred years. But wh:t ? Labour whileft chou liveft •, ic is but for a few years •, after chat chou fhalt have reft, fuch reft as fliall have no end. Conlider this well with thy felt, Thou arc injoyned to labour but for a few years, asd amidft thy labour arc not withou: fome joy, not a day pa:Teth in which chou mayeft not receive comfort and confo!ation. But rejoyce noc chou afcer the manner of the World, buc as the Apoftle exhorted!, Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce M in

240 The ninth Confident ion

in the Lord always: and again 1 fay, Re- joice: Rejoyce in Chrift, Rejoyce in his Word, Rejoyce in his Law. For it is true which the Apoftle faith, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light afliiftion, which is but for a moment, •mwletth jor us a far mure exceeding and E- ternal weight oj Glory. Confider what a fmall price thou art to give, but the husk of an Acorn, for everlafting treafures: The husk of thy fhorc labour, for reft E- ternal. Haft thou joy for a time? Do not truft tco much to it Art thou fad and forrowful for a time ? Do not defpair of joy and comfort. Neither let profperity I puff thee up, noradvcrfity call thee down. God hath p. cmifed unto thee Eternal Lije ; Therefore contemn Temporal jdicity. He hath threatned Eternal Fire *, Therefore contemn all Temporal forrows.

To conclude then with the fame Divine Author, Let us therefore be in love with Eternal Life j and thereby we fhall come to know how much « e ought to labour for the obtaining of it •, for we fee that thofe Men which aie lovers of this prefent life, which is but temporal, and mall fhortly have an end, labour with might and main to preserve and prolong it as long as they can. And yet they cannot efcape death 5 for that at one time or other will feize up- «n them. All that they can hope for, is

but

upon Eternity. 241

but to put it off for a little time. When death approacheth, then every one is la- bouring and feeking to hide himfeif, ready to give and part wkh any thing thit he hath co redeem his life. He fends for the Phyfician, he will be ruled by him in any thing, he will take any thing at his hands, he will futTer any thing, Purging, Bleed- ing, Cupping, Scarifying, and w hat not? Yon fee whac charge a Man will be at, and what pains he will voluntarily endure, | to live here though but for a fhort time ; : and yet he will fcarce be at any charge, or take any pains, after this life ended co live for ever. Brethren, it fhould not be fo. If chere be fuch labouring an.:) watch- in?, fuch fending and going, fuch rumrng and riding, fuch f pending and paying, fuch doing and fuffering, to live here a whilelonger; What fhould we not wil- lingly do and futTer to live for ever? And if they e accounted wLe, which labour by all me ins they can tc put off death a whiie longer , being loth to lofe a few days; What fools are they which livefo, that finally they ofethe day of Eternity. Think upon thofe tilings well with your felves, O morcal Men, and forelee the day of Eternity, whether of joy or of tor- ment, before it cometh. For at' c ugh all other things pafs away, yet Et.m- 'M 2 ty

2 4 ^ The ninth Confi deration

ty dill remainetli, and fha!l never pafs a- v.ay.

' C H A P. I.

77;* Punishment of Eternal Death,

THe Meflenians had a certain Prifon or Dungeon under earth void of air and light, and full of Hellifh horror ; W&ch as it was a mdft difmal place, fohad it alfo a glorious title ', for it was called the Treafm-hoHfe. This Prifon or Dun- ^ eon had no Doors at all to it, only one mouth, at which the Prifoners were let down by a Rope ; and fo it was flopped uj> again with a great ftcne. Into this Trea- j/tre houfe was Pbiloptmon that great Em- perour of Greece caft, and there by Poyfon he endedhis life* God hath a'fohis Trea- fare houfe under e^rth, if I may fo fpeak t Eut, I pray you, what a one is it? It is of moft wicked and ungodly, defperate and damned Mes.

Attiolinns a Tyrant of Padua, ( as Jo- vius reporteth ) had many Prifons fo in- famous for all kind of miferies and tor- ments, thatwhofoever were caft thereinto counted their life mifery, and their death happinefs, Death might come in there

with*

upon Eternity. 24/;

without knocking, he was fo welcome un- to then, and 10 long looked for. For this was their hard ufage, they were laden with Irons, ftarved with hunger, poyfon* ed with flench, eaten up with vermjne, and fo in a mofl miferable manner they lived, and dyed at length a long and lin- gering death. There every one was ed mofl miferable, but he that was dead and could feel no nailery. Whileft they lived it was a punifh nent worfe than death to have their habitation amongfl r\\c dead. For the dead bodies lay on heap.- rotting amongfl theiivinain fuch manuer, that it might'be truly faid there, that the dead kided the living.

But the very won't of thefe Prifons is a Paradife, and a mofl: p'eafant place, if it be compared with the infernal Prifon of Hell. Whatfoever mifery was Piffercd in Aciioliv.ts his Prifon, in this regard it was tolerable, became it was ot no long conti- nuance^ being to lafl no longer than a fhorr life, and quite vanishing awry ac the hour of dea h. Bu: the Treafure- houfeof the damned, which is Gods Pri- fon, is void of a!! comfort: The tormeqts thereof jre intolerable, becaufe they are Eternil. Death cannot enter in there, neither can thofe that are entred get out again: But they fhali he tormented for. M 3 tvtr*

244 The ninth Conjideraticn

ivermore. For tvtw:v ? What a fearful ihing is this ; They fhall he tormented for ijjtrmm. It was a moil true faying of Caj- fodo)hs. As romrtalMan can apprehend or underftand w hat the Eternal reward is, fo neither can any Mao conceive e>r ima- gine what that Eternal torment is.

The Persons had a Prifon into which a M; n might enter eafily, hut being once in, couki get out no more •, or if he did, yet very hardly. And therefore it was called r Lethe, o- Oblivion. It is an cade matter tf defoend down ; nto Hdl ; but to a ccrd up-' ain it is altccc-c^er impofllble. Was eve ) any he^rd to return iron) He) ? This Prion of Hell is net withouc juft caufe ca'ltd Letbt of Oblivion, For God isfo . unmindful of the damned , that he will / never remember them to have mercy upon ' them. Heli is called the Land of Oblivion cr ForgetJMlnefs, and that for two reafons (as a godly and Learned Writer obferv- eth ) Firft, Eecaufe , fath he, they re- member God no more fcr their good, nei- ther hive they any memory a, all of things paft, but fuel; as doth aftiicv and torment tkem. AH their pomp and glory, p.'ea- fures and delights, are quite forgotten, or e fe net remembred without grief and for- row. Secondly, To thofe that are in this horrid Region, and Luke of fire, God

~~" hath

upon Eternity. 245

hath forgotten to be g-acious, and merci- ful, neither wili he fend his Ange'sat any time to miiafter onto them the leaft com- fort: It once in, there is no coming ouc again For what (aid Abraham unto the rich Glutton trving in Kell ; and defiring him to fend Lazarus to eocl his tongue with a drop of water ? Between us and yon there is a great gulf fixed> fotb.ttt ry would fafs from hence to yon, cannot j nei- ther can they p if s to us, that would come from thence, Lu\. \6. 26. Oh golf tuli or nor- rour and defpair ! Oh Eternity cl tor merits the very thought whereof is aVe ro make a flout Man quake and tremble! The wick- ed and ungodly Men dig their own Graves, and dwell therein for evermore * But what manner of Graves do they d'g \ They dig as deep as Hell, where the rich Glutton was buried, from whence he lifted up his eyes in torments and fare Abraham afar of, and Lazarus in hisbofom, Luk 16. 23. to his greater torment. Oh what a terrible deep is this! O what a fear.SiI Grave is this / Who lieth here ? He that fuflfered Laxirus to lye at his Gi e, having no com- panion on him. How is it with him now ? He ledgeth in flames of Fire inftead of his foft Bed: he is (carded with thirft, aod Ins fweet Cups are taken from his mouth j his Table is removed, ;-nd he hath no other M 4 Food

2 68 The ninth C on [i deration

Food but Fire and Brimftone ; he is not row dancing and exulting for joy, but gnafhing his teeth fer hellifh defperation. They that are fhuc up in Prifon here in this World , have hope for their comfort 5 k may be they flhall be delivered, and re- deemed out of Prifon: But from HcIJ there is do deliverance, no redemption, ko not fo much as any hope at all, but E- ternal defperation.

It is a fhorr, but a terrible Sermon that God Preacheth by the Prophet E\e^iel m thefe words, Say to the Forrefl of the South , Bear the wsrd of the Lord, Behold, I will kindle a Fire in thee, and it fha.ll devour eve~ ry green Tree in thee, a»d nvy dry Tree: the faming Flare all not be qutnehed, E-Kf^. 20. 47. Row many tall Cedars , how many wicked and ungodly Men flo«- rifh and wax green in this life for profper- ous fuccefs in all outward, things, and yet are dry and wi hered for want of virtue ! Hear this therefore every green, and yet dry and withered Tree,/ wi Handle a Fire, faith the Lord, and the flaming Flame fhall net be quenched. In Hell, v\ hither you make fuch great hafte, there are no Holy- days, no Feftivals, no fet times in which the Fire (lull ceafe burning. There is Eternal grief, Eternal death, Eternal for- row , without the mixture of the leaft

comfort

upon Eternity 247

comfort. Night and dav there is no reft, no fleep at all,. but continually watching and waking for grief , and anguifh, and intolerable torments in evcrlafting Fire. There fhall you always have ) our being, that you may always be tormented : There (hall you always live, that you may always die ' If you will not belie e me, believe St. AugvAim , whofe words are thefe; The ungodly, faith he, fha 1 live :n tor- ments : but they which I've in torments fhall defire, if it were poffible, that their life were ended. Eut death hears them not, there is none to takeaway their life; their life fhall never end, becaufe their torment fhall never end. But what faith the Scripture ? The Scripture doth not fo much as call it life. For life is a name of comfort: but what comfort can there be imagined in tcrtures and tQrments, fry- ing and broiling in everlifticg Fire ? But what doth the Scripture call it \ The Second death, that is , a death which followeth after the firft and natural death which is common to all Men. But how can theic* cond death be called a death, feeing that he that hath part therein never diem? We may better indeed exprefs what it is not, rather than what it is. As it cannc: properly be called a death, Co it may be truly faid that it is no life : And as corr- M 5 Benuog

248 The ninth Confederation

cerning them tha: have pare therein, as they cannot properly be faid ever to die, (6 again it ma> he moft truly laid that thev never 1 ve. For fo to live, that a M«n fli.ll always live fn lorrovv and tor- ments. is not tc live, Therefore that life is no Hfc, bur the onlv life indeed is that life which is bleifed i and that lire only is bleilal , which is Eternal. Again, we have another place in the fame Father to this purpofe : if the foul liveth in Eternal torments, tormented with the unclean fpiri.s, this is rather to be called Eternal ceath, than Ete.rn.il life. For there is eo greater or worfe death, than that death which never d'eth.

St. Cr;gory alio giveth the like Teftimo- ny» In Hell , faith he , there fhall be death without death , and wichout end, becaufe death eve; liveth, and the end ever begm'eth : there death fhall never die. Oh death, how much fweerer were thou if thou vvGiidft takeaway life, and no: corrtxl rhofe to live, who would fain tiiel Eu. io it i-, the num er of the years in Hel! are wit!, out number. It pafleth the tkill o: the beft ^rithmttician to find out the number thereof. God himfelf fcnoweth no end thereof. After a Thou- land Tho'fand Millions of years part, shere are ftill as many more to come, and

when

upon Eternity, 249

when thofe alfo are part, there are yec as many more to come \ and fti!l chey are as far from the bftas they were ac the firfL It is now above five thoufand years fince Cain that flew his Brother -:/;./, wis cuft into the Lake that burnetii witu hire and Brimftane ; and yec the number of the years throughout which fti 1! he is to be tor- mented, is as great ilill.sk wjsthenrfr. day of his torment •, and after certa:tj Millions of years, the years of his ccr- ments for their number flfwll be nothing diminifhed: It mall be ail one as if he were cart into the Fire but this p-efenc hour. And though the rich Glutton men- tioned in the Gofpel, be tormented two thoufand ye-rs together, yet (Till he do.h burn , and (hall bum for ever j neither fh^Il he obtain fo much a? a little drop of Water, though he ufe never fo much in- treaty, not fo much as a little drop of water to cool his inflamed tongue.

Thefe things we often hear of, and when we hear of them, we do but laugh at them. Certainly we counc it but a light matter to hum in Eternal Fire. Here a Mjh might well ask the Queftion, Wlxre are your tears , 0 mortal Men , ye thst are gi-jen fo much to laughing7. This is our condition : A fmall lofs if it bebu: a matter of three halfpence, will wring

gre?x

2 50 The ninth Confideration

great ftore of tears from us \ but as for an infinite and irrecoverable lofs, that we can brook eafily, we can dig* ft that with laughter. When we are cited to appear at the Barr of an earthly Judge , then we quake and tremble : but as we are go- ing to Gods Tribunal, ( for every day we ridfomeof our way, we walk on, ftep af- ter ftep, will we , nill we •, and ( yet as we are going ) we (port bv the way. When we go to Sea, we are afraid of Shipwrack: But without eirher fear or wit we lanch into the deep Sea of Eternity, and make but a laugh mg matter of it.

Ic is the wifh of St. Bernard, Oh that Men were wife! that they were wife! Oh that they were wife! What then, holy Bernard ? Oh, then would the Image of Eternity begin to be reformed in them \ Then would they order things prefent wifely, judge of things part undemanding. Jy, and for efee things to come provident- ly.

Here we have Sz. Paul's command to

the Ephrfians, and net his wifh only, for his words run in the Imperative mood, and not in the Optative : Brethren , See that ye nvalJ^ cbcuwfyeffl), not, as Fools but as Wife, Redeeming the time, becaufe the days nmviU Pfb. <. 15, 16. The great bufi* Bel's of our falvation, ought circumfpecV

Jy>

upon Eternity. 2^1

ly, diligently, and carefully co be regard- ed of us. Ic is the moft foolifh thing in the World for a Man having hue little time allotted him, to fpend it prodigally in vain delighcs, whereas he fhould like a thrifty Merchant imploy it rather for his beft advantage, t« purchafe a portion in bleffed Eternity. If we think to gain Hea- ven by fport'ng, playing, andidleing, we are much deceived. To be telling of tales, or giving ear unto them when they are told j to r e given to our eafe, and fpend our time in idienefs ; to be calling for our Cups, and fit fo long at them till we can- not ftand. This is not to redeem the time. But this is truly to redeem the time, to give our feives to labour and ftudy»prayer and meditaion ; not for a fpurt and a way, Lut to hold on in this courfe conftandy unro :he end j This, I fay , is truly tore- deem the time. It is the counfel of St. Auguftm , to fteal fome time from our worldly bufmefs. Will any man fue thee at the Common Law ? Be contenr, faith he, to lofe fomething , that thou mayeft beat leifure to ferveGod, and not follow Suits: for that which choulofeft, is the gaining of time. For as thou giveft thy money and buyeft Bread \ fo be con- tent to lofe thy money, that thou mayeft buy reft, and opporcunity co ferve God :,

for

252 The ninth Confideration

for this is indeed truly to redeem the time.

So ought we to fpare for no coft, but willingly part with any thing to gain an opportunity of doing good, feeing that the days are evil. The days of this life are fall of forrows , griefs , dangers , and tentations; which ever and anon take from us the opportunity of doing good ; (6 faith Anftlme. But if we let flip the op- portunity of doing good when it is offered, and let our days confume away in meer purpofes of amendment of life, without bringing them to gooderTeft: from hence- forth it is in vain to look for any opportu- nity of doing good ; we fhall no: obtain one minute of time -, our lofs is altogether irrecoverable. Our life , faith Nayan- \tn, is like a Mart or a Fair : When the day appointed is once over, there is no more buying any commodities. If then we will buy any thing, we muft do it quickly, whileft the Fair lafts : We muft live godlily, whileft we have time to live. We muft ferve God, whileft we are ft. ong and able. The Preacher often beats upon this, Whatfoevfr thy hand findeth to do, ddifwiththy might, Ecclef. 9. 19. The Apoftle often fpurs us on to lay hold upon epportunity, and make good ufe of our time. As therefort wc have opportunity,

US

i

n fan Eternity. 253

lit us do good to all Men, Gal. 6. 10. For now it is high time to awal^e out of fleep , Rom. 13. 11. Thou fleepeft, faith St.Ambrofe, but thy time (leepeth not, it runneth apace, yea it flies with wings. Happy he, h;ppy they that think upon thefe things, to do thereafter ', that live- fo, as at the point of death they will de- fire to have lived} to do fuch things, as they willrejoyce to have done when they are Tranflated to Eternity. A light neg- letl now will pro-je an Eternal lofs. What - foever we think,fpeak, or do, once thought^ fpo.e, or done, it is Eternal, it abideth j for ever.

CHAP. II. fbt reward of Eternal Life.

T He life in Heaven is life indeed, and the moft perfect and a^folute life of ali others, in that it is aniwal, in that kh humane, in that it is angelical, yea in that it is Diiiv. There lives the M<:mo>y, by the perfect remembrance of all things- thacare paft: There lives the Itodtrfitndr i*g, by the knowledge and Vifion t God : There lives the Wiu , and enjoveth 2I4 manner of good, without fear cflofm^ it.

la

254 The ninth Confideration

In like manner liveth there the Appitite* | both thac which is called ConcupifcibU9 and *that which is called Irafcibk. There live -. all the Senfes, and are filled with delights. There is heard no fighing, no lamentati- on, no grief or forrow, nor Co much as the leaft fign thereof. There is the mod fmcereand pure fongof joy, without the mixture of the leaft drop of the Gall of bitternefs and forrow. Let the eyes be (i- lent, they never Crw the like 3 let the ears be filent, they never heard the like 3 lee thy heart be filent, it could never conceive the like to this life. This life includeth within it felf all pleafures, riches, honours, and all the delights of all lives, Ajtguft. rentes, and faculties. St An* de Civi- gnftine as it were fet on Fire tate Dei, with the fervent defire of this cap, 30. li e, breaketh forth into thefe words. How great happinefs ftull be there, where there is the prefence of no evil, and* the abfence of no good ? where we fhall be continually praifing God, who is all in all 3 Bleffed are they that dwell in thy Houfe 3 they will be jlitt praifing tke, Pfal. 84. 4. All the facul- ties of our fouls and members of our bo- dies being made incorruptible, fhall be ever fetting forth the praife of God. There fhall be true glory and praife in- deed,

upon Eternity. 255

deed, where neither he than doth give praife and glory can be deceived, nor he to whcm it is given can be flattered. There fhall be true honour indeed, which fhall be denied to none that is woi thy, nor be- ftowed uprn any that is unworthy, yea, which none that is unworthy frulldefire cr feek after i where none that is unwor- thy fhall be permitted to abide. There he which is the giver of virtue, fhall be the reward thereof: for he hath promifed himfelf; and what could he promife greater and better than himfelf? The Prophet Jeremy iswitnefs of this his pro- mife, in thee words, I will be their God, and they fhall be my People , Jerem. gr. 33. I will be unto them whatfoever with ho-» nefty can bedeflred, I will be unto them life, and health , and food, and plenty, and glory, and honour, and peace, and every good thing : For this is the meaning of thefe words, God fall be all in all , He fhall be the end of onr acfires. And one great good there is to be found in that blefied City of God, which is not elfe- where tobefounc', and that is this, That no inferiour there fhall envy his fuperiour, but they fhall belike members of the na- ture body com pa&ed together in a friend- ly and peaceable manner, where the fin- ger defreth not to be the eye, nor the

foot

256 The ninth Confederation

foot the head, but every member is con- tent with his own pta^e. And a little af- ter faith the fame Father, there fhall we keep an Eternal Sabba:h of reft, and there (hall w e tufte and lee how fweet A:<guftt the Lord is, we fhall be filled de Chi- with his goodnefs, when he fhalr tit Dei. be all in all. O Gcd ray God! Thou art Love and Charity, Truth and Verity , true Eternity and In- ternal Felicity. Another fpeaketh unto this life, by way of Afoftrophe , after this man- Mtor. ner, in thee there is no corru- libr. de paon, nor defe ', nor old Age, Spir.& nor anger j but perpetual peace, anima. and folemn glory, and everlaft- ing joy, and continual folemni- ty. There is joy and exultation, there is an Eternal fpring. There is always the flow- er and gnce of youth and perfect health. Hon eft inte fferi nee Hefttrnum: ■ Sed eft idemNodiermm. Tibifalus^ tibi vlta.y Tibipaxefihudta:

TibiDe us omnia That is, Tefier day -was with thee never j But t& day is prefent ever : Tiiou haft peace that ever tafteth. Health and lift that nevtr wafteth 5 God is til in all.

Glo-

ufon Eternity. 257

Glorious things are fpf^en °I &&* 0 City cj God, Pfal. 87. $. In thee have their habitation all thofe that rejoyce ; in thee there U no fear-, in thee no i'orrow. All defires are turned to joys. Whatibevcr a Man can with for is preier.t with thee: Whatsoever can be defjred, is in thee in abundance. Trey fhati be abundantly fati s- fied with the utnefs of thy Hr.de \ and thou (halt make thm drir\ oj the River of thy pttafms, Phi. 26 8. For with thee is the Fountain of Lije ; in thy light [lull we fee light, 9. 'when we fliail fee thee in thy (elf, and thee in us, 2nd cur felves in thee, living :n everlaft;ng felicity, and enjoying the beatifical viiicn of ihee for ever.

And though this felicity be ever'afting j yet a Man may obtain it in a (hort time, and with little labour. I have companion on the multitude, faith our Saviour, hcaufe they have now been with me three days, and hive nothing to eat, Marl^ 8 2. Sweet Saviour, rioft thou count it fuch a matter for us to abide with thee three days, and e t nothing ? and why, fweet Jefus, doft thou not rather tell us of the diysof Eter* nit), and the everlafting joys wherewith we fiiall be abundantly fatisfied in the Kingdom of Heaven ? God taketh notice of the kail fervice that we perform, and

it

258 The ninth Consider At ion

it is precious in his fight : He telleth the very hairs of our heads ; and much more then will he tell the drops of blood that are fpilt for his fake, and put them up in the Bottle of his remembrance.

We may therefore very well cry out with St. Jfierom, Oh ! How great a blef- fednefs is this, to receive great things for fmall, and Eternal things for Temporal ; and further to have the Lord our Debtor ! But thou wik be ready to fay, it goes hard to be in fufTerings every day ; and though all ether tilings might eafily be endured, yet death is terrible. Chriftian Brother, I ;>m afhamed to hear chee fayfo, it is fooliftry fpoken, and like a Child. Know- eft thou not thus much ? I know that I af- cend to deicend, flour' fh to wither, am young co prow old, live to die, and die to live bleileu Et&natly. Truft therefore in the Lord far evert For in the I ird febo ■ h is everlafting ftrengtb, Ifa. 26. 4.

Again , St. A^gu'tine comes intc- my mind, who upon the Words of- our 1 d faith thus, Our Lord and Saviour con- cluded with thefe word , faying, Theje fhall go away into eueriaffimg pwd(hmnty kut the righteous inte life Eternal, Mitth 2 5. 46. It is life Eternal that is here promif- ed. Becaufe Men love to live here upon I earth, therefore life is promifed unco

them :

ufon Eternity. • 259

them .- And becaufe thev are much afraid to die, therefore death Eternal is threat- red unto them. What wouldeft thou have? Life} Well, thou fha't have it. What art thou afraid of ? Is it Death ? Well, thou (halt not furTer it. But they which fhall be tormented in Hell Fire, fhall have a deiire to die j and death fhall fly from them. To I he long therefore is no great matter; yea more, To live al- ways, is no great matter -, but To Hvt blef- ed, tha: is a thing to be defired, that is a great matter indeed.

Therefore thou (halt live is Heaven, and (halt never die ; there fhait thou live bleffed for evermore*, for neither fhak thou furTer any evil ; neither (halt thou be in fezr of fuffering it -, for there it is im- poflible to furTer any evil. There fhait thou poffefs whatfoever thou canft defire j and what thcu pofleflcft, thou (halt de- fire (till to poflefs : Thou canft not be cart out of polteilion , rnd this fhall fatisfie thee. It was there, that David did ex- pect to have his thirlt quenched, and his hunger fatisfied. In thy preftace is fulnefs of joy, at thy right h^nd there are Fleafures for evermore, Pfal. 15. u. And again, My foul thirfleth after thee, Pfal. 141. 6. And yet again, As for me, I mil behold thy fact h right mfmfs : I fall be fatisfied,

when

2 60 The ninth Conflict a.t ion

when Izwifa, with thy litynefs, Pfal.17.1 5. This is a hew and a ftr-n^e voice for a King : He Inch his Table well furnifhed with all kinds-of Difhes 5 and vet as if he were hunger-ftarved he hopes to be filled at anothers Table; his own Bread and his own Wine would not ferve his turn, to appeafe his hunger, or to quench hsthirfl. There was other Bread that he had a mind to, and other Uquor that he Co thirfted after, the Bread of Heaven, and the Wa- ter of Life. For what is the plenty and abundance of all the Kings of the Earth ? It is nothing elfe but meer want. And what is 'the dainty Fare at their great Ta- bles? It is but like the I'eggars Pitcher, if it be cempared with theFatneis of Gods Houfe, and his Heavenly Table. Come Eat and Drink, and be filled, my beloved, fhall the King of Heaven fay ; this Fe ft of mine fhall never be ended j there fhall come no forrow after it; as it is To diy, (o it fhall be For ever and ever. Neither can S:. Augufiine here contain himfel^ but he breaks forth aeain into this Excla- mation, Oh life of lives furpafling all life! Oh everlafting life ! Oh life blefled for ever I Where there is joy without forrow, reft without labour, riches without lofs, health without ficknefs ( there is no fuch matter in this life) abundance without

defeft,

ftfoa Eternity, 261

deFe&, lite without death , perpetuity without corruptibility, beatitude without calamity -, where all good Men «rein per- fect charity, where all knowledge is in all things , and though all things ; where the Majefty of God is feen in prefence, where the mind of the beholders is filled with the bread o: life: They always be- Viold Gcds prefence, and (till they defire to behold it} they ddire to behold it, and vet tvithout anxiety ;rhey , ire fatisfled with it, and yet wkhcutfatiety.

And thiJt thou taayeft underftand and know, go d Chnftian Brother, th.,t this fup^rexcellent Glory , thefe cceleftial Riches , this Heavenly Kingdom is to be bought, hear what the fame St. Auguflint faith, I have to fell, faith God, I have to fell ; come and buy Eccl'.s. it. Lord, what is it that thou 5.7. - haft to fell ? I have reft ; Come and buy it. What is the price ot it ? The price is labor. And how much labor is Eternal reft worth? If thou wilt fpeak the truth and judge aright , Eternal reft is worth Eternal labor. Ic is tiue indeed; but do not fear : For God is merciful. For mould thy labor be Eternal , thou fhouldeft never attain to reft Eternal; but that thou may eft attain at length to reft Eternal, therefore thy labor mail not be

Eternal ;

262 The ninth Confederation

Eternal \ not but that it is worth fo much, but that thou mayeft at length gee the pofleflion of it. Indeed it is worth the price, though it be labour Eternal j but that it may be purchafed and poflefled, ic is neceflary that the price thereof be but labour Temporal. Therefore Chriftian Brethren, Jet us roufe up our felves, and ftir up one another with this exhortation of St. Angnfjtinty which here followed!.

Let us let before our eyes the life which is Eternal, and let us well confider the nature of it, which we mail come the bet- ter to underftand, by removing from it, whatfoever we account troublefome in this life. For it is eafierto find what it is not, rather than what it is. And yetitisfet to (ale. Thou mayeft buy it if thou wilt. Thou fhak not need to be much troubled or turmoiled about it, for the greatnefs of the price. The price is whatfoever thou haft, and no more. Never examine what thou haft, but corfider what thou art. It is worth thy buying, though thou giveft thy felt for it. Give thy felf, and thou fhak h-ve it. What ? Art thou to fell thy felf? Art thou to buy thy felf ? Behold, fuchcS thou art, if thoucanft be cont ?nt to give thy felf thou (halt have it. But thou wilt be ready to fay it may- be, Alack ! I am a wicked Man ; and

fuch

upon Eternity. 26$

iuch a Man pe haps will not be received for good payment : If thou beeft not al- ready good, co but give thy felt, and by fo doing thou (halt become good, and go for current. Do hut make a faithful pro- mifetogive thy felt ; and this fhallmake thee good : And being made good thon art a price ot thy felt good enough : And thou fhalt ruve, as I raid, not only health, -fateiy, hie, and fuch like as fhall have an end j but a!fo thou fhalt he freed from many miferies: Thou fhalc neither be wearied, nor ftand in need of reft, thou {halt neither hunger, nor thirft, neither increale nor decreafe, neither grow young nor w<=x old, becaufe there is no being born there ; tor there is full growth and ftature, and the entire and per feci number of years. There is no number like unto ic : For as it hath no need of being aug- mented, fo li there no need of being dimi- niihed. Behold what excellent things are fpoken of it ! And yet I cannot come near telling thee what it is, or what good things are treafured up in it : For, it is written, Eye hath nut ieen , nor ear heard , neither bath it entred into the heart of Man, 2 Cor, 2. 9. And how fhould my mouth be able to utter what the heart ot Man is not able to conceive? And becaufe we hive gone aIon?» N through

264 The ninth Confideration

through $t.Aug*fHne% Bcoks, as it were through fo many pleafant Gardens, end

are now brought at length to the C celeftial Faradife, kt us feal and confirm what hi- therto hath been fpoken by the teflimony of the Time Father. If we were every i&y, faith he, to fuffer all torments, yea the torments of Hell it felt, end that for a long owe together, to the end that we might behold Chrft in his Glory, and have communion and fellowfhip with the Saints -, were it net worth cur pains and fulferings 1 who would not fuffer any for- row to be mad* partaker of fo much good, and fo great Glory ?«■ Let the Devils then lie in wait fcr me, let them aflauk with temptations ; let my body be brought down with fading, let my rlefhbekept un- der vvithpreffure*, let me be wearied with labours, let my moifture be dried up wich watching-, let one Man clamour againfl me, kt another difquiet me, let me be lowed together with coH, let tnebefeton fire with heat \ let my confeience murmur, let my head r.ke, let my breaft ! e med,kt my tic poach be troubled wkh von- tefkies, let my countenance wax pale and bleak, kt me ' be u;Il oi infirmities-, let iny lifeconfume away with grief, end n^j years with mourning \ kt rottennefs en- ter into rvAbcnes, andktit fpringuplike

a

upon Eternity, 265

a Fountain under my feet; Jet all thefe miferies come upon me, fo thac I may have reft: and conlb'ation in the day of tri- bulation, ?nd afcend up unto the people of the Lord. For, Wha: fhall be the Glo- ry of the jaft, and how great fhall the joy of the Saints be, when every face fhall - fhine as the Sun i when die Lord fhall begin to reckon up his people in their di- ftinft orders, in his Fa: hers Kingdom; and when he fhall render unto every Man according to his works, the rewards which he huh promifed , that is, Having for Eirthl)\ and Ettnilijt Timpani.

Think therefore upon the days of old, and call to mini the years which are yet for to come. Tlrnk upon Etermtf , ' O Nan , think upon Enmity ; think upon- the Enmity of Torment, and the Et of Joy, which is to follow after thisfno/c life ended , and I d.:re warrant thee, thou n il: never complain of any Ad verfitv ; thou wilt never let flip out of thy mouth fuch a word as this, T is is too gi it itas, or, T * is iatolerahtt, or, This ii tot hard : Ti:ou wilt, I dare fay, count all things eafie and tolerable w ha- fc ever can h ippen in this Hie, and thou wilt never begetter VVeafcd, than when thou arc moil a cd.

It is reported by John Mofdm of one N 2 01)'

266 The ninth Confederation

Clympiiis, an oid Man of lingular patience ( who lived c!o)frered up in a Monaftery near urto Jordan ) that he had his mind fo knt and nxt continually upon Eternity , that he had fcjrce any fenfe or feeling at all of any temporal fcrrow ormifery. For, ( as he goes on «i ich his flory , upon a time, as it happened, a certain Religious Man turned out of his way to vifit him, and finding him in a dark Cell, a place, as he thought, uninhabitable by reafon of heut and (warms of Gnats end other Flies ; not without much admiration fpake thus unto him. And canft thou, Ol)mpius^ endure to live in fuch a clofeRcom, fo exceeding hot, and fo much prelfed with Gnats, and fwarmsof files? Fut what did Olympics anfwer ? And doft thcu wonder at this? I tell thee, my Son, all thefe are but light matters ? I count them tolerab'e, that fo I may efcape Eternal torments, which are intolerable. I can endure to be flung by Gnats, that fo I may not feel the fling of Confcience , and the gnawing of the worm that never dieth. This heat which thou fo complained of I can fuffer eafily, when I think upon the Eternal fire of Hell, which is unfufferable. Thefe troubles, if I naay fo call them, are but fliort, and fhall have an end •, but the torments in Hell are without ted. Whereupon faid the other,

Ccr-

upon Eternity* 267

Certainly, Qlymfius% thou arc led by ere fpiric of wifdom and cruch ; fo wifely sni truly luft thou anfwered. I would there were more of thy mind, rhac would think thus feriouflv upon thefe chines ; then cer- tainly there would be more than there are now adiys, that would after thy example patiently fuffer and endure ah things.

CHAP. III. The eonelufion of ill.

ZEuxis, the moft Famous for his skill amongft all the Antlenc P^ inter i thac we have heard of, was obferved to be very flow at his work, and to let no piece of his go abroad into the World to be Ceca of Men, till he had turned it over, and over, this fide and that fide, again an J a?ain, to fee if he could fpy any fault in it : And be- ing upon a time asked the reafon why he was lo curious, why lb long in drawing his lines, and fo flow in the ufe of his Pen&l, he made this anf.ver, I am long a doing whatfoever I take in hand, becaufe what I . Paint, I Paint for Eternity. And thus ftands the cafe with all, we Paint alfo for Eternity. Whatfoevejr we do, it Co belongs unto E:. ;;.., chat a Man may truly fa N 1

268 The ninth Confederation

h thus, I write, I read, I fag, Ppray., I labor, whatfoever I do, whatfoever I fay, whatfoever I think, all is for Eterni- ty. Now if th's be the mture of our thoughts, words and deeds, if they fkall remain /tr all Etmitjy we had need have a care what we think, fpeak or do; ic concerns us to look about ys, to mind our bufinefs, not to go negligently andfleepily about our work, net to let any thing go out of our hands rude and imperfect, but to pclifh and perfect it with all the care, skill, andinduftry that we canufe. We Paint with Zeuxis jcr it maty. When we havedcr.e our works, they are prefent- ly tranfmitted to Etenity, to be viewed by a moft judicious and all-feeing eye, that no fault can efcape ; and being viewed and cenfured, they are to be committed either to be Eternally punifhed, or Eter- nally rewarded. What I have faid before, I here fay £gain , lecaufe it cinnct be faid too often , though I fhould fey it a th#ufand times ; whatfoever we think , fper.k, or do, once thought, fpake, or done, it is Eternal, it abidethfor ever.

Will you hear what Si. Gregory faith? In all our actions we muft ufe great care and circumfpeclicn, we muft well weigh and ccnflder with our felves, what it is that we take in h;nd, and to what end we

do

upon Eter;: 269

doic, that o a- 01 nanV

it , buc upon thoie

things which a.e Eternal. Therefore in actions labour :o be perfect. Pray

tor Eternity, ftudv tor Ettrmty, faffcr tor

7, contend for Etmitii, labor for

.. Sj live to Sod J th:c thou

maveft live with Sod: lb live onE

: mayeft live in Heaven •, fo

live:":. , that thou mayeft five to

Hear alib what St. kith. Oar

works do n" ly as loon I

done (as the)

Seeds town ia time they ri.e up to all S - sir/. Thetboi'ihMan which hadi no un- derftanding.wil! wonder to lee fuch a plen- tiful inc;eaie rife up of fuch tittle Seed?, be kgood or be ic evil, according to the Harare of the Seed which is fown. B is wife will ponder the fe-hhu':. ccunt no fin little : Fcr he hath an eye itiil boc co that which is prefent, bu: to thai which is to come j not to that which is (own, bu: to that which is reaped ; not to due which B done in time, buc to due which remains to ail Eta

Oh the dangcouo and imferable mai-

nefs o: the Sons or Ada n ! Goi created

us un:o the poifdlicn at infinite an.-l E-

ternaJ goods: And why are we carried

. N 4 then-

270 The ninth Confederation

then with the whole bent of our affcftions, to thofe tilings which are flitting and va- nishing? God made us heirs of Heaven and Eternal potfcfiions : And why do we To niiferab.'y itfraagle our felves in cur va- nities, znd run headlong to deftruetion ? let us be wne in time, let us look weli to curfleps, letusmakefpeedonthe way of Eternity : Let us fo live that we may Jive to Etmiity. The way thither is fhort and narrow, but the term thereof is very large.

But O miferable and foclifh Men that wc are ! We fain would obtain Eternal life, but we arc loth to tread in the way that leads to it : We fain would be there 5 but we will not take pains to go thither. Every Man defires to be blefled. There is no Man , faith St. Augkftive , of what conditio l or degree Ibever he be, but have a dellre after that life which is blefled for e^er. Therefore that life is the com- mon Haven at which all Men defire to ar- rive i but all Men know not how to fleer their courfe aright. It is a thing which all Men without concroverfie would fain pof- ick ; but how to compafs it, wha: courfe to take, which way to go, that is the point they cannot agree upon. We may feckk 1 ng enough upon Earth; and it is a C^ueftion, whether we (hall ever find ic

er

upon Eternity. 2 7 1,

or no. Not chat I condemn the feeking of u, but the not feeking of it in the right place. Or.e is of opinion chat die Soldiers life is mod blefled. Eut another denies that, and favs, the life of the Husband- Man is moft bleffed. And again, this an- other denies, and fays, that the Lawyers life is moft blefled •, and be gives his rea- fon for it: For the Lawyer is worfhipped by the people, and is much fought unto, he is ever taking or" fees and pleiding caufes.

And again , this another denies, and fayes, the Judges life is mod b'eflai : Fcr he hath power of hearing caufes and de- ciding them. And yet again, another de- nies this, and fays, the Merchants life is moft blefled : For he fees divers Countries, learns many fafhions , gathers together much Wealth. You fee, dearly beloved, in fo many feveral kinds of lives there is not any one to e found, that will pleafe all. But the life blefled for ever, that is it which pleafethall.

Bleflednefs therefore is not to be ey pe- eled here, but is to be fought tor elicwhere, and never to be found our, but by a good and godly death. Ungodly Men them- felves defire to die the death of the Godljt, but they will not live the life of rhe Godly: For co die well ijche way to felicity? but N 5 cq

-72 The ninth Confederation

to live well is matter of labor -, and yet that is not to be o tained without this. Eternity depends upon death, and there is no dying welhvirhout living well. Chufe which thou wilt, life or death. If thou lived well, thou canft not but die well *, and it fhallbe well with thee for ever j If thou liveft not well, thou canft not hope to die well, but it will be ill with thee for ever.

Not many years ago a Man of a gocd Houfe, having more wit in his head, than Religion in his heart, being asked what he thought of theftri&livesof the Religious, and the loofe lives of the licentious, which he efteemed bcft, anfwered thus, I could wifh to live like the licentious, but to die like the Religious. Some wit there might be in his aclwer, but I am fure there was little Religion in it. He had fpoke like a Chriftian Nan, it he had faid thus, I denre to live the lire of the Religious, that my end may be like his. Balaam could fay, Let me die the death of the righteous, and lit my I aft end be li^e his, Numb. 2$, to. But he had faid a great deal better, if he had faid thus, Let me live the life of the r/gbte- aus, that I may die the death of the rigbteoHsy and that my lift end may be ii{e his. For whofoever liveth the life of the Godly, flhalj be fc.tco die the death of the Godly:

And.

upon Eternity. 2j$

An I whofoever liveth the life of the un- godly, fh 11 be fare to die the death of the ungodiy : Once he (hall die, but that once fhall be always, and that always for ever and ever.

A certain Soldier being called in questi- on by Lmiachus a Centurion, for forae mifdcmeanor or other committed fn Camp, earneftly defired pardon for that once, and promifed never to offend in the like kind again : But the Centurion made him this anfwer, In

I bis peccarf i Ob Sir, \now f?u t'\s much, there isne offending . But in death ( alas! ) [here is no offend- ing once; there is no hope or pardon, once dead and always dead. He that once ill, is damned for ever. There : ■;ng again to life, to amend wh done amifs. There is no appealing from the fentence of condemnation- , it ic be once pa fled. As dea:h leaves a Mm, fo judgment >-"ndeth him; and as judgment leaves "him, fo Eternity (mdeti) him.

It is the faying of Iphicrates, that it is a fhame for an Emperor at any time to fay with die tool, Son putarant , I did not0 thinly it : But it is a greater fhame for a ' n Man to lay, Son put. raw, I did

>\ there had beenfuch a difference betwees a chifie life, and a volupc

1

274 The ninth Consideration

life, I did not thinks that Etern ty was to follow afcer thH life, / did not thinly that I fhould have died Co fudJenly. ALs / alas! How fleepily do we go about the buflnefs of Eternity ! Whereas the nature of this mortal life of ours is fuch, that we cannot be certain at any time that we fhall live for any time, no not fo much as for one minute, whenas we know for certain that we mutt depart from hence/ and yet are moft uncertain at what hour we fhall depart ; and when that hour fhall come, then alfo we fhall fcem f.oc Co much to have lived, as to have potted unto death in a moment. Here we are but as fojourner s in a ftrange Land, and not as Citizens in our own Country ; we are but Tenants at will, and not Free-holders : Will we, nil we, we muft depart, For here ivi have no continuing City , but we fee^ one to comey Mb.i$. i4.

The holy Prophet Btntch asketh this quefhon, Where an the Princes oj the Hea- then become , and fuch as ruled the Beaffs upon the Earth, that hoirdid up Silver and Gold* and made no end oj their getting ? Baruxh 5. 16, 17. Do they retain and keep their Kingdoms and their glory (fill ? Notfo* For thus faiJi the Prophet, an- swer ing his own queftion, They are vanifk- id, and gone down to the Grave, and others.

an

upon Eternity. 275

are come up in their finds. They m vanipj- ed, faith the Prophet •, For they were hue foiourners and no Citizens j they are gone and others are come up in their fieads ; their Houfes are let out to others, and they are caftouc themfelves, and gone down to the Grave. But it the queftion be asked again, Where are the Frinces of Heaven , whofe dwelling is above the feventh Sphere, where are they > It may beanfwered like- wife, that They are alfo vnrifad, and others are come up in their (tends -, but they are tranflated to the Kingdom of Heaven, there to abide for ever, without all fear of being difpoiTeiTed.

Let us Crown our (elves mth Refe-buds, Wifd. 2. 8. Sing thofe Men of molt loofc and deplorable fives. Why with Rofe- buds ? Becaufe the beauty and fmeli of them is gore ia ore day, and they are wi- thered : And fuch fading Crowns do beft become thofe which fhail fhortly perifh. But as for the BlefTed, it is not 10 with them, but diey are Crowned with Jewels and precious Stones, whofe beauty never fadeth. The Wom.-n mentioned in the Retention kid upon her head a Crown, noc or Rofe-budsof the Garden, not of Jew- els of the Sea, but of the Surs of Heaven. As then the Heavenly orbs are incorrupti- ble, fo likewife they that inhabit them are

incor-

276 The ninth Confederation

incorruptible, they are not fubjeft to any change, they are immortal. . The Righte- ous live for evermore, IVifd, 5. 15. All worldly things are tranfitory,but heavenly things are everlafting. Here are we wea- ried with la', our, but there fhall we be refrefbed with E:ern.;l reft, Why do we feek for reft before our labour is ended? We are yet upon the Stage .* Therefore we muft aft our parts ; We have to deal with potent Enemies ; therefore we muft be always prepared to Fight : we are Hill in our race; therefore we muft hold out to the laft. Let us then fo aft our parts, that the Angels may rejoyee to be fpeclators ? Let us fo Fight that we may win the Crown j let us fo run, that we may obtain.

Well, fai.rh St. Cr^rv, if we well confi- der with our felves what and how great things are p. omifed unto us in Heaven, all things on earth will feem vile unto us; For what tongue can fufficiently exprefs, or what heart conceive, how great the joys be in trutCity which is above ? Whe e we fhall bear a part in the heavenly Qttirt with Angels evermore Luding and praifing God; where we fha!lbeinGod,sprefence, and fee him face to face ; where we fhall behold light incomprehenflble ; where' we fliall have the privilcdge of heavenly Saints

and.

upon Eternity. 277

and Cirzens, to be for ever incorruptible. Methink. I find my mind inflamed and fee on Fire, whiicft I am fpeaking of thefe joys, and methinks it ftiouM fet on fire all that hear it. Methinks it mould fo work upon us all, that even now we mould moft eai neft.y and ardently dthec to be there, where we hope to be for ever hereafter. Eut thus much we muft knew, that there is no coming there without much labor. It is not I, but Pax/the Preacher that faith it, A Man is not Crrmud, except he fhivt Uwji'My, 2 Tim. 2. 5. Let then the greatneisof the leward encourage u: and prick us forward •, and let not the labor and p^ins, the fnort labor, and the little painf, hinder us or keep us back. We mull go on, and we muft go on with per- feverance -, we muft not fo mach ccnlider the roughnefs of the way, as the bx'led Eternity which is the end thereof. And this the fame holy Father declares mod excellently, faying, This is a fpecial badjg znA cognizance of the cleft, that they know how to carry themfclves in the way of this prefent life in fuch manner, that by the certainty of hope they ure allured, that they have atta;ned unto a grea: pitch, inafmuch as they fee all tranntory things far beneath them , and for the love of Eternity trample all fublunary things un- der

2 7 8 The ninth Confi deration

der rheir feet. And this is it which the Lord fpeaketh by the mouth of his holy- Prophet, faying unto every foul that fol- lowed him, I wiH lift thee up above the high places of the Earth. For as for lofles, re- proaches, poverty , difgrace, and fuch like , thefe are , as I may fo call them, the lower places of the earch, which the lovers of this World, as they walk through the plain of t'e broad way, do not love to come near, but keep off as far as is poffi- ble. But as for gain and profit, the fawn- ing and flattering of inferiors, abundance of riches, honors, and places of dignity, thefe are the high places of the earth, which whofoever is worldly-minded, and hath fetled his arTe&ions on things here be- low, he, I fay, efteemeth highly j becaufe to him they feem greac : But whofoever is heavenly minded, and hath fetled his af- fections on things abov$, lie ,1 fay, e- fteemeth them not ; becaufe to him they feem what they arc, that is, vile and bafe. For as it is with a Man going up an high Mountain, ftill the higher he goes, the lower he lees the earth beneath him; So it is with him whofeconverfationis in Hea- ven i the higher he mounts from the earth with the wings of pious cogitations, the farther he flies from the earth with the wings of his arTe&ions. He knows that all

the

upon Eternity. 279

the glory of this Wo Id is nothing, and therefore his thoughts and attentions are altogether upon another World This is the Man that is lijtedup aboze the high; laces of the Earth.

You have heard what St. Gregory faith; Jt \vi ] not be amifs in the next place ro hear Iikewife what St. Auguftine faith, What is that? It is a LeOon « worth our learning. Th.it which we muft !ofe, fai.h he, one time or o.her upon ncctflity, it is wifdom tod iftribute abroad in time, true we may purchale thereby the reward of Eternity. Mcfes lived long in- deed , he lived in health; but Dint. st length be died. Methufelah 34. 5. lived longer than he; but it fol- Gen 5. lows, And he di?d. This is , or 27. fhall be every mat-s Epitaph, Et mortuus eft, And he died. For Ttvemu.ft needs die, and are as wattr fpilt upon the ground, 2 Sam. 14. 14. But the foul is immortal, ic is Eternal, it ("hall live for ever, either in Eternal glory, or elfe in Eternal torments. Here our lot is caft in which Eternity we (hall have p.'rt , and there is no revoking it. Oh bleiled Eter- nity, ch Eternal blelfednefs ! How comes it to pafs that feldom or never we think upon r he e; or if we do a: any time, we do it but upon the by ? How comes it to

pals,

280 The nlnt h Consideration

pafs, that we do not labor more for thee, that we do not feek for thee, that we are

not folicitous tor thee. O Lord God, o- pen thou our eyes, that we may fee and know what Eternity is, both that of glory, and that other of torment, and how infi- nite both i h jw Welled the one, and how miferable the other. Thou haft created us unto thee, thou haft created us unto Et unity : For thou art" Eternity. Thou woultlefl have us be partakers of thy Eter- nity i Lord, let it be according to thy will. Thou haft iVid it; Lord, let it be accord- ing to thy word. Thou haft promifed \ Lord, make good thy promife j Make us partakers of thy Eternity. Grant that we may fpend the Ihort moment of time granted to us here in this life ; Grant, we befeech thee, that we may fpend ic in fuch a Religious and Godly manner, as Men that labour for Eternity, contend for Eternity, fuffer for Eternity. To this end eaufe thy Minifters often to call up n us to think ftillupon Enmity, make us call one uponanr) her in every place to think upon Eternity, that fo by thy mercy we may Reign with thee, O Eternity, and as many as it is pofliHe may be kept from perifirn^everlaftingly. Hear this ye Chri- stians all hear it ye Pagans, hear it ye Kings and Princes, hear it ye Germans,

heir

ufon Eternity. 281

*ear it ye French, hear it ye English yea, Jet all the World hear it. Tku can Efficient fefority, rrbm there is danger of iofing Ete< nky.

Oh long, Oh profound, Ohbcttomlefs, Oh Eernil Eternity I Bieffed are they, 0 Lord, tbatdwell in thy Houte ■-, they fhatl be tfyPfaL'SJ.*}. Thcyflial! prailie chee thrcughcut infinite myriads or Ages.

Mo'es being near unto his de^th, com- mending unto God in his Prayers his peo- ple Vran : and bleffing them , thus took his leave of the Tribe of Afher, and faid, Lit Afar beblejjid with Children -, let bim be acceptable to his Brethren, and let bim dip his foot in Oyl. Thy {hoes (hall be Iron and brafs •, and as thy days , fo (hall thy ftrenith be. There is none lify unto the God of Jefurun, who rideth upon the Heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the Sly. T:e Eternal Cod is the refuge, and under. neaih are tie ezerlaflivg amis, Dent. 33, 24, 2$, 26, 27. Thus God flretcheth fcrrh the arms of his power throughout Heaven infinitely : And by his ar-ms all the World, all time, and all things in the World are direfted, £uided and governed. So God from the beginning, yea, f:om the Eter- nit, of his predeftination, h th carried in tis brcaft all the Godly, and doth pi ote£|

them

282 The ninth Confiderntion

them daily and hourly, and as it were em- briceth them with his arms. AC end therefore, O my foul, and have no more to do with earth and clay. Stretch forth thy felt, and afcend up uno him that ri- deth upon the Heavens j afcend up unto thy God, whofe dwelling is in the nigheft Mountains, thofe Mountains of Eternity: There fha!c thou (it in fafety, and behold the earth beneath : andfo flialc thou plain- Iv perceive how little and of none efleem all things are here below , which now either folicite thee with love, or ter- rifle thee with tear j thou flialc plainly per- ceive what a fmall thing it is, whatfoever is contained within the Centre of the World, tint li tie Globe or pint of earth-, thou fhalc plainly perceive botv that all things created are v!in9 weakj (hort 9 vile, yea, vanity it felt, yea, rather .neer nothing in refpe 1 of God and of & entity. There- fore feck thou after the < f true and fo- vcraigngcod, and regard not other things. TruffinGod, rely on him, open thy heart! -wide to entertain him \ tread under the feetofchy affections whatfoever isi ider the Sun and Moon, whatfoever ajlureth thee with fmiles, or terrific h thee with frowns, think upon Eterri y, and always keep in mind that excellent faying of St. Hierome , no labor mud feem hard ,

ne

upon Eternity. 28$

no time muft feem long, all the while we are feeking after Eternal glory.

It is reported by Sz.Hitrome^ that there was upon a time a certain Camel haunted by an evil Spirit, which being brought be- fore H'dirion, a devout and godly Man, began to ra£.e in fuch a ftrange and terrible manner, as if it would prefently have de- voured him: But the Holy Man nothing afraid, fpake thus unto the evil Spirit, Do not thirk to fright me, thou evil Spirit, although that thou haft got a Camel on thy back ; it is all one to me whether thou comeft in a Camels skin, or in a Foxes skin : And prefently the fierce Camel fell down before him, and became very t.ime and gentle, to the great laughter of all thofe that flood by. Such are al! flatte- ries , fawnings , allurements, and renta- tions of this World j fuch are all fears, frowns, frights, snd re-rors. What doft thou hope for ? What doft thou fear ? What doft thou love? He that rideth up- on the Heavens is thy helper -, he fhall embrace thee with his everlafting arms. Writh thcfearms of his he is abJetotetur a!l thine Enemies, whether they fawn or frown upon thee^ he is able at a beck to fqueeze them inp'eceslike fo many flics, and break them in p:eocs like a Po:cers Veflel. Doth the pleafure then of luft,

or

284 The ninth Confiderat ten

or gluttony, or intemperance fwlli cite thee ? That is nothing : Be not moved at it, pafs it by, regard it not ', think rather upon the pleasures which are Eternal. Art thou terrified with threats, oppreflfed with for- rows, patfed by with contempt, afflifted with ficknefs, tired out with poverty ? All thefe are a mater of nothing. The more violent thefe are, the fhorter while they will, laft : Defpife them, life up thine eyes unto the Mills, from whence cometh my help, k ok up to Heaven, thin^upon Eter- nity, There (bill no evil happen unto the ju[i, rrov. 2. 21.

Hmat. Si frafius HUh.itnr orbis,

Cam. Impsvidm jenent nana.

lib z.

Od 3. Toe }u1 Mm (hall not be afraid, Tbsugh Heaven fill upon his head.

Thereforethe juft Man is never forrow- ful : no tribulation doth ev^r aiuult him. Bu: are not thetribulitions of the juft ma- ny? Yea, but ye: they make nothing of them. That only they count evil, which i>Eterna!, which feparateth a Man from God, as fin do :h, and eternal death which is the w ;ges of fin. The Preacher o? the Gentiles bids mLno^ not at things -which Are feen, but at the things which are not

[em.

upon Eternity. 285

(ttih Why To ? For, faith he, The things 'which are feen are temporal, but the things which are not feen an Eternal. The things which are not feen, the things which are Eternal, thofe are the things which are great indeed, whether they be good, or. whether they be evil.

But whikft we look only at the things

which are feen, and feldom or never at

the things which are not feen, what do

v. e make ot our felves but great and foolifh

Eoys > Great, but yet foolifh ; at the beft

but Eoys. If the Ice fallout of our hands,

1 we prefently fall a crying, and yet that is

fuch a thing- thai we cannot hold long : We

I arc frighced at fhadows, and dream of

\ great matters ; we fpend our felves on

1 fuch things a:. not only fliall fliorcly pafs

J away for. certain, hut are already p-ifling

away : For it is not faid, The figure, or

the fafhim of this World Shall pajs away,

in the Future : 1 Cor. 7, 31. Eir, Tf:e

Fityion of this }Vorld pjjjeth away, in the

frefent. It is parting away aire dy. As

ill the goods which we enjoy here are but

ranfitory, fo all the evils which wefuffcr

ere are but mniitory; that cannot con-

ir.uc long. Thcfe things which are not

»n, 2nd thofe only have a permanent

Ute,tkey know no end, they h ive no term,

ley are not (inject to any change, they

are

286 The ninth Confideration

are firm , they are immoveable, they are Eternal. I repeat k aguin , what I faid a little before, for it deferves to be repeated a thoufand and a thoufand times ; no labor muft feem hard, no time muft feem long, all the while we are feeking after Eternal Glory.

Symphonanus , a Chriftian young Man after chat he was a'moft fcourged to death, as he was dragged to Execution at Aug*- (lodunum, met Ivs Mother upon the way j But how ? Not tearing the hair from her head, or rending her Cloaths, or laying open her Ereafts, or making grievous la mentations, as the manner of toolfh wo- men is to do : But carrying her felf like an Heroical and Chriftian Lady. For (he cryed out-, and called unto her Son, and fa id , Sen , my Son, I fay , r member life Eternal, look, up to Heaven, lift up thine ryes to him that reigneth there. Life -is not ul(en from thee, but is exchanged for a. better. At which words of h;s Mother, the young Man was fo exceedingly animated, that he went willingly to Execution, and chcar- fully like a flout Champion laid down his head upon the block , and expofed his throat to the fatal Ax.

Hear this , O Chriftians all , and re- member your fclves. This is the cafe of every Man living -> we are on our way to

death ;

upon Eternity. 287

death j we go not fo faft, ic may be, as Symphorianns did ; but yet we are all go. ing, and we have not far to go. The No- ble Armies of Martyrs which nre gone be- fore us, they call unto us from Heaven, and' fay as the Chriftian and couragious Mother faid unro her Son, as he was going to Execution, Remtmember life Eternal, looi^ up to Heavin, and It ft up jour tyesta kirn- that nignttb thin. Carrv thy felf There- fore like a Symphoriiv, whofoever profef- feft thy felt to be a Chriftian. Do not hang back, be net lo h to go, wi lid raw not thy neck trom the Yoke, nor thv moul- ders from the Crois •, be not afraid to fur"- fer for Chrift , be not afraid to die for Chrift, be not afraid to eat Fire, or to devour the Sword for the name of Chrift. Here fhew thy felt a Man, rake good cou- rage, pull up a good heait. And when thou art at any time tempjed, when thou art grieved, when thou art made forrow- ful, when thou arc vexed, when thou arc defpifed, when thou art made a laughing- stock, when thou artdifgraced, when thou art fpoiled 01 thy Goods, when it is with thee as ic was with Job upon the Dunghil, or, if it can be worfe, then cali to mind Symphorian, and a thoufand more ftouc ChnAians fuch as he wjs, and learn of them Chriftim courage and irrgnanimitv, 0 and

288 The ninth Confideration and boldly and freely break forth mto thele words , and repeat them often,- Whatsoever I fuffer here, is but a Modi* cm, it is but rtiort. Farewel then all the World, and all the things that are therein- tUi ^1CxTmte^0vmc' thou m vyelcome^

& l E* ft IN 1 f X.

Of Eternity there is no

FINIS.