The spiritual watchThe spirituall vvatch

^aAs in a race then it is to no purpose for a man to set out with the first, and to run eagerly a while, if after some time he sit down, and stay at the mid-way: yea if he give over when he is within but a foot or two of the goal, it is all one as if he had never set foot into the field: So here for a man ⟨p. 17⟩^bto run well for a spurt, and then to give over, yea to break off that good course that he was entered into but a day or twain before decease▪ it is enough to annul all his former proceedings, and to make him to be in no better estate then if he had never set foot into the good ways of God. For ^cIt is perseverance alone in well-doing, that carieth away the crown. ^dThe latter part of a mans life over-swayeth the former: and ^ethe former yieldeth it to the latter. ^fif the righteous man (saith the Prophet, or rather God himself by the Prophet) shall turn from his righteous course of life that before he lived in, none of his former good deeds shall be remembered or reckoned; but in the evil that then he doth, he shall die.

^aAs in a race then it is to no purpose for a man to set out with the first, and to run eagerly a while, if after some time he sit downe, and stay at the mid-way: yea if he giue ouer when he is within but a foot or two of the gole, it is all one as if he had neuer set foot into the field: So here for a man ⟨p. 17⟩^bto runne well for a spurt, and then to giue ouer, yea to breake off that good course that he was entred into but a day or twaine before decease▪ it is enough to annull all his former proceedings, and to make him to be in no better estate then if he had neuer set foote into the good wayes of God. For