_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.