[ 436] Mortalities Memorandum.
ORigen after he had chosen, rather facere periculose quàm perpeti turpiter, to burn Incense to the Heathen Gods,* 1.1 than to suffer his body to be defiled by a Blackmoor, and the flower of his chastity, which he had so long preserved to be some way blasted; at a Church in Ierusalem goeth into the Pulpit, openeth the Bible at all adventures, intending to preach upon that Text which he should first light upon, but falling upon that Verse of Psalm 50. But to the wicked (saith God) what hast thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy mouth? (which contained his suspension) shutteth his book, speaketh not a word more,* 1.2 but Comments upon it with his tears. So (me thinks) when any man shall read that Text, Man goeth to his long home, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 go about the streets. In which he shall find his capitall doom written, he cannot do better then follow that Fathers president, and shut up not onely his book, but his mouth also, and seal up his lips, and comment upon the coherence with distraction, the parts with passion, the notes with sighs, the periods with groans, and the words with tears; For alas, as soon as a Man cometh into his short booth in this world, which he saluteth with tears, he goeth to his long home in the next world, And the mourners go about the streets.