Serious Reflections on Time and Eternity, Tract · Chapter 17
XVII. The ſame Argument conſidered farther, as diſſuaſive from Worldlineſs, and Earthly mindedneſs: and as proper to confute the vanity of long Projects, and great Deſigns for this World.
ARE the Years of my Life but few, and they haſtening to a Period, and may this be my laſt? Let me not then greedily covet Riches and abundance, and waſte my little time to ſcrape together large Proviſions, for many years to come; when I have no aſſurance to ſee the end of this. Is it becoming ſuch a belief, to toyl from day to day, that I may lay up that which I muſt ſo ſoon leave? as if I were to ſpend an Eternity here on Earth, and in the mean while neglect the one thing neceſſary. Am I not upon the ſhore of Eternity? May not the next Tide carry me off? And ſhall I ſpend my whole Life in Diverſions from the main buſineſs of it? Have I nothing elſe to do, but to gather Shells, (if they were Pearls, the abſurdity were ſtill the ſame,) and pile them upon heaps, till I am ſnatcht away paſt all recovery? Shall I be regardleſs of an Eternal State, and run the hazard of being undone for ever, by ſollicitous care about pretended Neceſſaries for a long abode on Earth? Much leſs for Superfluities; when I am not certain of the Poſſeſſion, this one Year? Shall I magnifie and admire what is ſo ſoon to be parted with? Value my ſelf upon theſe things, ſo as to deſpiſe thoſe that have leſs, and envy ſuch as have more? and ſuffer my Mind to be diſtempered, and my paſſions immoderate on every Change of theſe things? Tho' I know beſides my own Mortality, that to inforce the Argument, there is a principle of Corruption in all theſe things; that our very Manna here in a little while will ſtink; and Bread, which is the ſtaff of Life, moulder; our richeſt Garments wax old, and rot; Silver and Gold ruſt, and the greateſt Beauty wither, and every thing that is Earthly, decay and periſh. And ſhall not this teach me to ſit looſe from all ſuch things? Can I imagine, that in my laſt hour it will be eaſier to part with much, than little? or better in the day of Judgment, to have a great Eſtate to anſwer for than a leſſer one? We read concerning the Patriarch Abraham, (who rightly underſtood the tranſitory nature of Riches, and his own mutable Condition,) that the only purchaſe he made with his Riches, was a Grave: chuſing to take Poſſeſſion of the Land promiſed him rather by a mark of his parting with it, than of his poſſeſſing it. Did I think oftner and more ſeriouſly, O my Soul! of tarrying here but a little while; I ſhould more eaſily be perſwaded, that a little of this World were ſufficient to carry me through it. I ſhould conſider more that my Heaven-born Soul is made and deſigned for another, an endleſs World: and therefore ſhould not ſo far forget his own People, and Fathers Houſe; as eagerly to purſue and ſeek what is ſuited only to the Body, for a little while, and whereof a little with Contentment will be ſufficient.
The ſame Reflection may be uſeful to contract our Thoughts to preſent Duty; that we may not perplex our Minds with long deſigns and Projects; which if we dye this this Year, will come to nothing. Our great Buſineſs in this World is adapted to the little portion of Time, which is allowed us. Not that good Deſigns for the publick Benefit, may not be begun by one, and finiſht by others: or that we are not obliged prudently to provide for thoſe who ſhall come after us, by attempting many Things of probable Advantage to Poſterity. But conſidering the ſhortneſs, and uncertainty of Life, not only ſhould the most neceſſary Things be firſt minded, and not put off by proſecuting ſuch deſigns, as may ſignifie ſomewhat to others, when we are Dead: But we ſhould not now omit that which we may hope to compaſs our ſelves; to begin ſuch things, whoſe accompliſhment muſt depend on the Pleaſure of our Succeſſors. Conſideration and faithful Counſel would in this caſe have prevented the fruitleſs Expence of many Mens Time and Money; which if otherwiſe imployed, might have turned to good account to themſelves and others.
And this heightens our Folly, that while we purſue great Projects in reference to this World, and dye without effecting them, our preparations for Eternity are neglected; and ſo we are ſuddenly cut off in the midſt of our Folly, and all our Thoughts periſh. How eaſily, how ſoon may they do ſo! The difference and diſtance between Death and Life, being no more than that of a Candle lighted, from its being blown out; and if it is expoſed to all Winds, how quickly may that happen?