Psalms 17:14 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

From men of the world, which have their portion in this life— If we did enough remember, what it concerns wicked men to forget, That they have their portion in this life, and are therefore filled with the treasures of this world, upon which they have set their whole hearts, that they may have no pretence or title to that of the next; we should with pity look at the bargain that they have made for themselves; and tremble more at what they are to suffer hereafter, than be troubled at what for the present they enjoy. When we see men languishing in fevers and dropsies, we do not envy them the pleasure that they have enjoyed in former riots and excesses; and when we see men wasted and faint in consumptions, or worn away by more noisome diseases, we do not envy them the pleasure of their former lusts and licence; and truly, if we did present to our clear thoughts the severe interest which bloody rebels and traitors must unavoidably pay for their short triumphs in this world, we could not think that their dying in the same prosperity they had lived in, and their leaving children to succeed them in their offices and estates, and to inherit their unrighteousness, was any addition or improvement of their happiness. The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake; says the Son of Sirach. Sir 41:7. No man has reason to be proud of leaving an estate behind him, and such children to inherit it, as will quickly grow ashamed of the memory of their own father: and to wicked men whose wisest ambition would be, that they and their actions might quickly be forgotten, it is the greatest curse which can befal them, that they leave a posterity to keep up their infamy, and to put the world often in mind of their unrighteousness. In a word, if, in the deepest deluge of misery which is ready to overwhelm us, we can keep such a confidence about us, as may carry us to God in honest and faithful prayer; such as may warrant us that God is pleased to look down upon us with favour; if, under those clouds of oppression, and in that night of affliction, HE does discern that we do in truth, according to the best of our understanding, through his grace, guide ourselves by those rules which he has given us; he will take us so far into his own immediate protection, that we shall be so much satisfied in the consciousness of having pleased him, and done as he would have us, and suffered as he hath found best for us, that we shall only pity those instruments of his displeasure who have taken so deep a draught of joy in this world, that they have quenched all thirst of the inestimable comfort of that which is to come.