Meditations collected and ordered for the vse of the English colledge of Lisbo by the svperiovrs of the same colledge.

THE THIRD MEDITATION. Of the miseries of mans life.

1. COnsider first both the shortnes and vn∣certainety of mans life: make the lon∣gest a hundred yeares (and yet not one in a hundred thousand doth attaine thither) vvhat is that compared to Eternitie? not so much as a moment, or the twinkling of an eye; looke backe on vvhat is passed, and thou vvilt scarce find a dreame, a shadow: but stay; out of these hundred yeares, vve must yet cut of a large share, first the time of childhood, vvherein it cannot bee sayd, vvee liue like men: then the time of sleepe, a full third part vvith most men, of the sayd hundred; next vve may vvell cut of the latter part of old age also, vvhich is not vita, life; but labor labour, and dolor, griefe; and senex an old man: you know is bis puer: vvice at child: J dare not discount all the time vvhich is comonly lost or ill spent, least J

should leaue nothing, and yet it may very vvell bee done. The Wise man compareth it to a sha∣dow, to a post riding by, to a ship vnder full saile, to a bird vpon the vving, to an arrow from the bow; Sic & nos nati continuò desiuimus esse. Soe vve alsoe being born, forthvvith cea∣sed to be. Yet vvere this shortest moment of life but sure and certaine, some small comfort might be fancied: but alás! nothing in the vvorld stands so ticklish and vncertaine; daylie chances teach vs sufficiently, vvhat ground vvee stand vpon: Neque diem neque horam scimus. Neither the day nor the hour doe vve knovv.

Conclude therefore to play both a good Mer∣chant. and a good souldier: a good merchant in prouiding rather for Eternitie, then for this present moment: a good souldier, in keeping a vigilant sentinell vpon this our Castle, least the enemie assayle vs, as commonly he doth, vna∣vvares, or a sleep: ô take heed, for on this mo∣ment depends Eternitie.

2. Consider secondly the frailtie of our life, noe glasse more brickle, no flovver sooner bla∣sted: a cold, a vvind, a vvarme Sunne, the pricke of a pin, the bite of a vvorme, a great griefe, nay the excesse of a sudden ioy are suffi∣cient to take avvay the breath and life of the strongest man in the vvorld: hovv oft doe vvee heare this and that man suddenly fallen dead? or going healthy and sound to bed, found in the morning vvithout life or motion? and yet noe skill of Physitians can tell hovv, nor vvhy? Hovv

vvell did the Prophet cry out? Omnis caro foe∣num, & omnis gloria eius, sicut flos campi; All flesh is grasse, and all the glorie therof as the flovver of the fielde. Faire and beautifull to be∣hold, but blasted and vvithered vvith the least puffe of vvinde.

Conclude from hence the desperate folly of most men, that vvake and sleep soe confidently in mortall sinne, hauing noe more betwixt them & hell then the slender thread of a life so fraile; farre madder certainely, then hee that should hang by a haire ouer a sulphurous fire-pit, and yet not endeauour to free himselfe thence: mad∣der I say, because the fall into hell hath noe re∣turne. Walke therefore alwayes in the feare & grace of God, that when soeuer this thread shall breake, his holy hand may sustaine & support our poore soules from soe hideous a precipice & downefall into the eternal dungeon of hell.

3. Consider thirdly how full of miseries, disasters & calamities is this our life, how short soeuer; from the cradle to the graue, what doe wee euery where behold, but obiects of miserie? what doe wee heare, but either wranglings and complaints one of an other? or the groanings of euery one vnder his owne burden? no man con∣tent with his owne estate, but all in perpetual motion to seeke rest & content, where it is not to be found. Let vs see and heare S. Aug. in the 20. chap. of his Meditations: how can we call this a life, in which we liue? which humours so alter, griefes weaken, heates drie vp, the aire in∣fects,

meates oppresse, fasting quaileth, sports dissolue, sadnes consumeth, cares rend asunder, quiet security destroyeth, riches puffe vp, po∣uerty abateth; youth lifts on high, old age boweth downe, infirmity breaketh: and after all this, what succeeds, but furious death, the full point and period of all her delights? so that fitly may it be tearmed, a liuing death, or a dying life. And yet, good God? how doe men passe by all this? with what little feeling doe they drinke vp these bitter potions? nay like spiders disem∣bowell them selues to weaue a thinne net to catch flyes.

Conclude with thy selfe, to seeke thy content and happines, not in this life, so miserable, so fraile, so short; but in the eternall life, where neither force, nor chance, nor durance of time can bereaue vs of it: and so let all our cares and toyles here be directed to the blisse, and happi∣nes, that there wee hope for.