Now our Saviour, in way of answer unto this question, layeth down both the certainty and the ⟨p. 2⟩uncertainty of his second coming: the certainty, that it shall be; the uncertainty when it shall be. That, which is wont to be said of the day of Death, being no less true of the day of Doom; fThere is nothing more certain, and yet nothing more uncertain: gNothing more certain than that it shall be: as sure, we use to say, as Death; and may well say, as Doom: For hHeaven and earth (saith our Saviour) shall pass away, but so shall not my word. And yet inothing more uncertain than when it shall be. For, kOf that day and hour knoweth no man ought, no nor the Angels in heaven, nor the Son (l as he was mthen) himself.
Now our Sauiour, in way of answer vnto this question, layeth downe both the certaintie and the ⟨p. 2⟩vncertaintie of his second comming: the certaintie, that it shall be; the vncertaintie when it shall be. That, which is wont to be said of the day of Death, being no lesse true of the day of Doome; fThere is nothing more certaine, and yet nothing more vncertaine: gNothing more certaine than that it shall be: as sure, we vse to say, as Death; and may well say, as Doome: For hHeauen and earth (saith our Sauiour) shall passe away, but so shall not my word. And yet inothing more vncertaine than when it shall be. For, kOf that day and houre knoweth no man ought, no nor the Angels in heauen, nor the Sonne (l as he was mthen) himselfe.
- fNihil certius; nihil incertius. Bernde Coena Dom. ser. 2. & medit. c. 3. & epist. 105.
- gCaetera nostra & bona & mala incerta sunt: sola mors certa est. Aug. verb. Dom. 21▪ Incerta omnia: sola mors certa, •uius etiam hora incerta est, Idem in Psal. 38.
- hMark. 13. 31. Matth. 24. 35.
- iPoena certa, hora incerta: mors certa, dies mortis incer•us, Aug. ibid.Poena certa, hora incerta: mors certa, dies mortis incer•ꝰ, Aug. ibid.
- kMark. 13. 32. Matth. 24▪ 36.
- l[Greek or Hebrew]. Greg. Naz. ad Eunom. serm. 4. & ex eo E•logius c•nt. Agnoitas apud Photiū biblioth. c•d. 230. [Greek or Hebrew]. Ephrem. ad Anatol. quaest. 1. Secundum formam […], Aug de Trin. lib. 1. cap. 12. In statu humiliationis, Vorst. apolog. disp. 2▪ •. 33. Parum •nim selidum▪ quod Aug in Psal. 36. & in Genes. contra Manich lib. 1 cap. 32. & 8•. q•aest. 60 sed & de Trinit. lib. 1. cap. 12. nescit, i. nesci•e facit. Neque sirm•m satis quod Greg. R•m. lib. 8. epist. 42. & Cyril. thesaur. lib. 9. cap. 4. In humanitate norat; sed ex humanitate non norat.
