CHAPTER XXXIII.

_Of eternity, and the shortness of this life._

_Christian._ O MOST blessed mansion of the heavenly city! O most clear day of eternity, which night obscureth not, but the highest truth ever enlighteneth!

A day of continual joy, of perpetual quietness, and never changing into a contrary state!

O that that day would once appear, and all these temporal things were at an end!

To the saints above it shineth with everlasting brightness; but to those that are pilgrims upon earth, it appeareth only afar off, and through a glass.

O good Jesus, when shall I stand to behold thee! When shall I contemplate the glory of thy kingdom! When wilt thou be unto me all in all!

O when shall I be with thee in thy kingdom, which thou hast prepared for thy beloved from all eternity!

2. Comfort my banishment, assuage my sorrow; for my whole desire sigheth after thee.

My God, be not far from me, depart not in thy wrath from thy servant.

Cast forth thy lightning and disperse them; shoot out thine arrows, and consume all the imaginations of the enemy.

Gather in, call home my senses unto thee, make me forget all the things of this world:

Grant me to cast away speedily the imaginations of wickedness.

*Succour me, O thou, the everlasting truth, that no vanity may move me.

*Come, heavenly sweetness, and let all impurity fly from thee.

Pardon me as often as I think upon any thing besides thee in prayer.

I truly confess, that I am wont to be subject to many distractions.

For oftentimes I am not there, where I stand or sit; but I am rather there whither my thoughts carry me.

Where my thoughts are, there am I; there are often my thoughts where my actions are.

But blessed is that man, that for thee, O Lord, dismisseth all creatures, violently resisteth nature, and through fervour of spirit, crucifieth the lusts of the flesh: that so with a serene conscience he may offer pure prayer unto thee, and be meet to be admitted into the angelical choirs, all earthly things both outwardly and inwardly being excluded.