[ 314] Men commonly are loath to die, though seemingly willing thereto.
IT is but Aesop's,* 1.1 fable, but the Morall of it is true; A poor desolate old Man re∣turning home from the vvood with a burthen of sticks on his back, threw them down, and in remembrance of the misery which he sustained, called often for death to come unto him, as if he would live no longer: But when death came to him in earnest, and asked him, what he should do, the old Man presently changed his mind, and said; That his request unto him was, that he would help him up with his wood: This most commonly is our case; vve would find some other business to set death about, if he should come to us,* 1.2 when vainly we have wished for him, we dismiss him with a Nondum venit tempus, bid him call to morrow, we are not yet at leisure: How do men vainly wish for death, and how mercifully doth the Eternal deal with them,* 1.3 who oftentimes in his love denyeth that which they so earnestly desire,* 1.4 and which if they should presently enjoy, they would prove, of all men most miserable; for being removed hence, it is to be feared the ac∣counts betwixt God and their own souls would fall short of what they should be.