§. 47. A sixth help to this spiritual watchfulness is the ifrequent consideration of our end, and of that last day either of death or doom, ⟨p. 83⟩wherein we must every one appear before God to give up our accounts to him. kThe end of all things, saith the Apostle Peter, is at hand: be sober therefore, and watch unto prayer. And our Saviour oft; lWatch therefore; for you know not in what hour your Master will come. And it is the last Argument that the Wise man useth (hoping, if by any, by it to prevail) to the unruly youngster, that will needs have his own swing; mBut know that for all these things God will call thee to account. As those therefore that are to give an account of their actions, as nat Athens most of their Magistrates did at the years end when they went out of office, are wont to be more wary and chary how they carry themselves in their affairs, then those that are not liable to account, nor look ever to come to reckoning, especially if it be uncertain how soon they may be called upon to give up their accounts: oSo ought it to be with us, since we may well remember, yea so it cannot but be with us, if we shall duly consider, that pwe must all of us one day appear at Christs Tribunal, and there qevery one give account unto God for himself. And if we shall withal take notice, what a strict account it shall be, wherein we must answer not for every wicked work only, but rfor every idle word also, and as well sfor the very Thoughts of our hearts, as for the actions of our lives; and that this we know not how soon it may be, (God hath prefixed us no set time for it; the would have the last ⟨p. 84⟩day hid from us, because he would have us every day watch for it:) it must needs make us keep a most strait watch, and that constantly and continually too, not over our feet and our hands only, but over our hearts and our minds also, as uthe Wise man doth well admonish us.
§. 47. A sixt helpe to this spirituall watchfulnesse is the ifrequent consideration of our end, and of that last day either of death or doome, ⟨p. 83⟩wherein we must euery one appeare before God to giue vp our accounts to him. kThe end of all things, saith the Apostle Peter, is at hand: bee sober therefore, and watch vnto praier. And our Sauiour oft; lWatch therefore; for you know not in what houre your Master will come. And it is the last Argument that the Wiseman vseth (hoping, if by any, by it to preuaile) to the vnruly youngster, that will needes haue his owne swinge; mBut know that for all these things God will call thee to account. As those therefore that are to giue an account of their actions, as nat Athens most of their Magistrates did at the yeeres end when they went out of office, are wont to bee more wary and chary how they carry themselues in their affaires, then those that are not liable to account, nor looke euer to come to reckoning, especially if it bee vncertaine how soone they may bee called vpon to giue vp their accounts: oSo ought it to bee with vs, since wee may well remember, yea so it cannot but bee with vs, if we shall duly consider, that pwee must all of vs one day appeare at Christs Tribunall, and there qeuery one giue account vnto God for himselfe. And if we shall withall take notice, what a strict account it shall bee, wherein we must answer not for euery wicked worke only, but rfor euery idle word also, and as well sfor the very Thoughts of our hearts, as for the actions of our liues; and that this wee know not how soone it may be, (God hath prefixed vs no set time for it; t
- i[Greek or Hebrew]. Zaleucu• in legū prooemio apud S•ob. c. 42.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Zaleucu• in legū prooemio apud S•ob. c. 42.
- k1 Pet. 4. 7.
- lMatth. 24. 42. & 25. 13. Mark 13. 33, 35. Luke 21. 35, 36.
- mEccles. 11. 9.
- nInde [Greek or Hebrew] dicti. Et [Greek or Hebrew] apud quos rationem quisque reddebat. Visantur Jul. Pollux & Harpoor. Sic & Dan 6. 2.Inde 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 dicti. Et 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 apud quos rationem quisque reddebat. Visantur Iul. Pollux & Harpoor. Sic & Dan 6. 2.
- oSemper ita vivamus, ut rationem reddendā nobis arbitremur: putemusque nos momentis omnibus, non in aliquo orbis terrae theatro ab hominibus, sed desuper spectari ab eo, qui & judex & testis idem futu, us est, &c. Ex Citer. Verrin. 4. Lactant. instit. l. 6 c. 24.Semper ita viuamus, vt rationem reddendā nobis arbitremur: putemusque nos momentis omnibus, non in aliquo orbis terrae theatro ab hominibus, sed desuper spectari ab eo, qui & iudex & testis idem futu, us est, &c. Ex Citer. Verrin. 4. Lactant. instit. l. 6 c. 24.
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