22. But now, laying aside lamentation, I
will look at myself, and examine my feelings, that I may not
unconsciously have in myself anything to be lamented. O ye sons
of men, for the words apply to you, how long will ye be hard-hearted
and gross in mind? Why do ye love vanity and seek after
leasing, Ps. iv. 3. supposing life here
to be a great thing and these few days many, and shrinking from this
separation, welcome and pleasant as it is, as if it were really
grievous and awful? Are we not to know ourselves? Are we
not to cast away visible things? Are we not to look to the things
unseen? Are we not, even if we are somewhat grieved, to be on the
contrary distressed at our lengthened sojourn, Ib. cxx.
4.
like holy David, who calls things here the tents of darkness, and the
place of affliction, and the deep mire, Ib. xliv.
19 (LXX.); lxix. 2.
and the shadow of death; Ib. xliv.
20. because we linger
in the tombs we bear about with us, because, though we are gods, we die
like men Ib. lxxii. 6,
7. the death of
sin? This is my fear, this day and night accompanies me, and will
not let me breathe, on one side the glory, on the other the place of
correction: the former I long for till I can say, “My soul
fainteth for Thy salvation;” Ib. cxix.
81. from the
latter I shrink back shuddering; yet I am not afraid that this body of
mine should utterly perish in dissolution and corruption; but that the
glorious creature of God (for glorious it is if upright, just as it is
dishonourable if sinful) in which is reason, morality, and hope, should
be condemned to the same dishonour as the brutes, and be no better
after death; a fate to be desired for the wicked, who are worthy of the
fire yonder.