The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Fourthly, the uncertainty and brittleness of our own lives, which is such, that we can not assure our selves, that we shall live one hour, or one half quarter of it. Which by experience we do find daily to be true, in them that being now merry and lusty, and sometimes feasting and banqueting with their friends, do fall suddenly dead in the streets, and otherwhiles under the board when they are yet at meat. These daily examples, as they are most terrible and dreadful, so ought they to move us to seek for to be at one with our heavenly judge, ⟨p. 541⟩that we may with a good conscience appear before him, whensoever it shall please him for to call us, whether it be suddenly or otherwise, for we have no more charter of our life, then they have. But as we are most certain that we shall dye, so are we most uncertain when we shall dye. For our life doth lye in the hand of God, who will take it away when it pleaseth him. And verily ¹when the highest summoner of all, which is death, shall come, he will not be said nay: but we must forth with be packing, to be present before the judgement seat of God, as he doth find us according as it is written: Whereas the tree falleth, ²whether it be toward the South, or toward the North, there it shall lye. Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy martyr of God S. Cyprian, ³saying: As God doth find thee when he doth call, so doth he judge thee. Let us therefore follow the counsel of the wise man, where he saith: Make no tarrying to turn unto the Lord, and put not of from day to day. For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord break forth, and in thy security shalt thou be destroyed, and shalt perish in time of vengeance. Which words I desire you to mark diligently, because they do most lively put before our eyes, the fondness of many men, which abusing the long suffering and goodness of God, do never think on repentance or amendment of life. Follow not (saith he) thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart, neither say thou, who will bring me under for my works: For God the revenger, will revenge ⟨p. 542⟩the wrong done by thee. And say not, I have sinned, and what evil hath come unto me? For the almighty is a patient rewarder, but he will not leave thee unpunished. Because thy since are forgiven thee, be not without fear to heap sin upon sin.