Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

In all our doings to think upon Eternity. [ 1248]

AMongst many other Rites and Ceremonies of elder times in the Consecra∣tion of Bishops,* 1.1 they had this speech made unto them, Habeatis aeternita∣tem in omnibus cogitationibus vestris, Have Eternity in all your thoughts; Whether it were so, penes sit Authorem; but certain it is, that at the decollation of the late Archbishop of Cant. Jan. 10. 1644. there stood on either side as he was to passe, a generation of People that ecchoed out unto him the like saying,* 1.2 Remember Eter∣nity;

(a sweet breath, had it not come from corrupt lungs; a good Memento, had it proceeded from sanctified hearts; but it is much to be feared, that they spake rather ex livore malitiae, quàm ex Zelo justitiae, rather out of malice, then love to his Soul, being not silent many dayes after in quarrelling his Salvation,) However, there is a right good, and godly use to be made of the thoughts of Eter∣nity; so pretious are they, that if Men would but spend one quarter of an hour of every day therein, thus thinking with themselves;* 1.3 This body of mine though frail and mortal, yet must live for ever; and this Soul of mine must live eternally; It is too too much time that I have spent in seeking after contentment for the flesh; but what have I done for my Soul? what for Eternity? It cannot be imagined, what good such thoughts would do; For without all doubt, there is many a blessed Soul now in Heaven praising and magnifying God, that they were so well em∣ployed; and too many in the neglect thereof, howling in Hell for ever.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jer. Borroughs Moses Choyce.
• * 1.2

  In vita ejus per Anonym.
• * 1.3

  Hieron, in Drexclii, con∣••iderat. de aeter∣nitate.