Oh how weaned, how sober, how temperate, how mortified should our spirits, our affections, our desires be, when we remember that we are but strangers, converse with strange companies, dwel in strange houses, lodge in strange beds and know not whether this day, this night shall be our finall change of this strange place for one far stranger, darke and dolefull, except enlightened by the Death and Life of the Son of God.
How contented should we be with any Pittance, any Allowance of Bread, of Cloaths, of Friendship, of Respect, &c.?
How thankfull unto God, unto man should we poor strangers be for the least crum, or drop, or rag, vouchsaf'd unto us, when we remember we are but strangers in an In, but passengers in a Ship, and though we dreame of long Summer dayes, yet our very life and being is but a swift short passage from the bank of time to the other side or Banck of a dolefull eternity?
How patient should our minds and bodies be under the crossing, disappointing hand of our all-powerfull Maker, of our most gracious Father, when we remember that this is the short span of our purging and fitting for an eternall Glory, and that when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world?
How quietly (without the swellings of revenge and wrath) should we bear the daily injuries, reproaches, persecutings, &c. from the hands of men, who passe away and wither (it may be before night) like grasse, or as the smoake on the chimnies top, and their love and hatred shall quickly perish?
Yea, how busie, how diligent, how solicitous should we be (like strangers upon a strange Coast) waiting for a winde or passage) to get dispatched what we have to doe before wee hear that finall call, Away, Away, let us be gone from hence, &c.
How should we ply to get aboard that which will passe, and turne to blessed account in our own countrey?
How should we over-look and despise this worlds trash which (as the holy woman going to be burnt for Christ said of money) will not passe in Heaven?
How zealous for the true God, the true Christ, his praise, his truth, his worship, how faithfull in an humble witnesse against the lyes and cozening delusions of the Father of lyes, though guilded o're with truth, and that by the hands of the highest or holyest upon the Earth?
How frequent, how constant (like Christ Jesus our Founder and Example) in doing good (especially to the Souls) of all men, especially to the Household of Faith, yea even to our enemies, when we remember that this is our seed time, of which every minute is precious, and that as our sowing is, must be our eternall Harvest: for so sayeth the Spirit by Paul to the Galathians: He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption or rottennesse, and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.