Serious Reflections on Time and Eternity, Tract · Chapter 16
XVI. The contemplation of our approaching Change may aſſiſt us to mortifie the Luſts of the Fleſh, the Luſt of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life; to cure Ambition, and promote Contentment.
ALL that is in the World, ſaith the Apoſtle, is the Luſt of the Fleſh, the Luſt of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life. The Duſt and Aſhes of our own Mortality duly conſidered and applied, will help to deaden and extinguiſh each of theſe. By Pride of Life, we lift up our ſelves againſt Heaven, and deſpiſe our Maker: by the luſt of the Fleſh, we overlove and indulge the Body, and ſtudy to gratifie the ſenſual Appetite: by the luſt of the Eyes, our Deſires are immoderate after Temporal and External Goods. the thought of our approaching end hath a tendency to oppoſe and mortifie theſe Luſts; to humble us before God; to take us off from the inordinate love of the Body; and to moderate our Paſſions to Earthly Things. It may help us againſt Pride, by ſhewing us the infinite diſtance between the Eternal ſelf-ſufficient God, and ſuch poor Duſt as we; who are but of yeſterday, and if he uphold us not, and maintain our Souls in Life, ſhall be laid in the duſt to morrow. It will mind us of his Juſtice againſt Sin, the Parent of Death, and of all the miſeries of our mortal State; and convince us of our weakneſs to reſiſt his Will, or avoid his Wrath. As to our fond Affection to the Body, it may inſtruct us, that it deſerves not to be ſo much accounted of; it will open our Eyes to diſcern the Preference of our immortal Souls, and what concerns them, to the intereſt of a periſhing Body. It may convince us, that we are Cruel and unkind to our very Bodies, by overloving them, becauſe we thereby contribute to their Eternal Sufferings: and ſo teach us to love and uſe our Bodies, as Servants to our Souls in this World; and as expecting to ſhare in Glory with them, after the Reſurrection. It may alſo help to moderate our Deſires after Earthly Good, and ſo cure the Luſt of the Eyes, by letting us ſee the vanity, uncertainty, and ſhort duration of theſe things, and their inſufficiency to make us Happy, and give us true Content.
The Thoughts of an approaching Change may, if any thing will do it, damp the mirth of the Luxurious Epicure, and ſtrike him into a fit of trembling, as did Belſhazzar's handwriting on the wall. It may diſcover the diſtraction of living in Pleaſure, and of care to pleaſe the Senſes, and the fleſhly Appetite, when the End is ſo near. It may likewiſe check the folly of Ambitious Deſigns: that Men ſhould make ſo much ado to get into ſlippery places, from whence they may ſo eaſily fall. Where being puft up with vain applauſe, they forget themſelves, and their latter end, till their Life, and Glory expire together. Where are now the Great, and Mighty, and Honourable, who have made ſuch a noiſe in the world? What is now the Difference between the Duſt of an Alexander or Caeſar, and that of their meaneſt Slaves or Captives? Could their Dignities and earthly Glory preſerve any of them, from the ſtroke of Death, or the Judgment of God, or without Repentance, from his condemning Sentence?
Think, O my Soul! how little it will ſhortly ſignifie, whether I have been known and honoured among Men or no; any farther than God may be glorified by it. How ſhould it ſuppreſs vain Glory? to think of being one day eſteemed, and worſhipt, reverenced, and applauded by dying Men, and laid in the Grave the next? Let me rather ſeek that Glory and Honour, to which Immortality is annext: and labour to be accepted with God, at whoſe Bar I moſt be judged, endeavouring to keep the teſtimony of a good Conſcience; and then it is not much whether I paſs through good Report or evil Report: no contempt, or frowns, or threatnings of Men need then diſcourage me. Tho' I ſhould be trampled on by the foot of Pride, while others are happy in a dream for a little while; and it may be have a proſperous paſſage to damnation; I'le rather thank God for delivering me from their Temptations, and giving me the opportunity, and call, to haſten my Preparations for a better World. Let God diſpoſe of my Condition here, and Reputation too, as beſt ſhall pleaſe his Sovereign Will: only be pleaſed to keep me upright, and to preſerve me from everlaſting Shame and Confuſion of Face, after the general Reſurrection, and final Judgment. Vouchſafe me a Portion now in thine approving Love, and own me for Thine at laſt, in the Great and terrible Day of Reckoning; that then I may hear the Bleſſed Euge, and enter into my Lord's Joy!