Hark Husbandman, before thou seest many more crops of harvest, thy self shalt be ripe, and Death will cut thee down with his Sickle. Hark Trades-man, ere many six months goes over, thy last month will come on, after which thou shalt trace away, and trade no longer. Hark most grave Judge, within a few Terms, the term of thy life approacheth, wherein thou shalt cease to judge others, and go thy self to be judged. Hark, ô man of God that goest to the Pulpit, preach this Sermon, as if it were the last thou shouldest make to thy people. Hark ⟨p. 278⟩Noble-man, lay aside the high conceit of thy Honour! Death ere it be long, *vvill lay thine Honour in the dust, and make thee as base as the earth that thou treadest under thy feet. Hark thou that now readest this Book, assure thy self ere it be long, there vvill be but two holes where now thy two eyes are placed, and others shall read the truth of this lesson upon thy bare skull, which now thou readest in this little Book. How soon I know not: but this I am sure of; that athy time is appointed, thy bmonths are determined, thy cdays are numbered, and thy very dlast hour is limited, beyond which thou shalt not pass: for then, the efirst borne of Death, mounted ⟨p. 279⟩on his fpale Horse, shall alight at thy door: and notwithstanding all thy Wealth, thy Honour, and the tears of thy dearest friends, will carry thee away bound hand and foot, as his prisoner: and keep thy body under a load of earth, until that day come: wherein thou must be brought forth to greceive according to the things which thou hast done in that body, whether it be good or evil. Oh, let not then the false, hope of an uncertain long life hinder thee, from becoming a present Practiser of religious Piety. GOD hoffereth grace to day, but who promiseth to morrow? There are now in hell many young-men, who had purposed to ⟨p. 280⟩repent in their old age, but Death cut them off in their impenitency, ere ever they could attain to the time they set for their repentance.10 The longer a man runs in a disease, the harder it is to be cured:11 for custom of sin breeds hardness of heart: and the impediments which hinder thee from repenting now, will hinder thee more when thou art more aged.
Hearke Husbandman, before thou seest many more crops of haruest, thy selfe shalt be ripe, and Death will cut thee downe with his Syckle. Heark Trades-man, ere many sixe moneths goes ouer, thy last moneth will come on, after which thou shalt trace away, and trade no longer. Hearke most graue Iudge, within a few Tearmes, the terme of thy life approcheth, wherein thou shalt cease to iudge others, and goe thy selfe to be iudged. Hearke, ô man of God that goest to the Pulpit, preach this Sermon, as if it were the last thou shouldest make to thy people. Hearke ⟨p. 278⟩Noble-man, lay aside the high conceit of thy Honour! Death ere it be long, *vvill lay thine Honour in the dust, and make thee as base as the earth that thou treadest vnder thy feet. Hearke thou that now readest this Booke, assure thy selfe ere it be long, there vvill be but two holes where now thy two eyes are placed, and others shall reade the truth of this lesson vpon thy bare skull, which now thou readest in this little Booke. How soone I know not: but this I am sure of; that athy time is appointed, thy bmoneths are determined, thy cdayes are numbred, and thy very dlast houre is limited, beyond which thou shalt not passe: for then, the efirst borne of Death, mounted ⟨p. 279⟩on his fpale Horse, shall alight at thy doore: and notwithstanding all thy Wealth, thy Honour, and the teares of thy dearest friends, will carry thee away bound hand and foote, as his prisoner: and keepe thy body vnder a loade of earth, vntill that day come: vvherein thou must be brought forth to greceiue according to the things which thou hast done in that body, whether it be good or euill. Oh, let not then the false, hope of an vncertaine long life hinder thee, from becomming a present Practizer of religious Pietie. GOD
- *Sceptra ligonibus aequat.Sceptra ligonibꝰ aequat.
- aJob 14.14Iob 14.14
- bJob 14.5.Iob 14.5.
- cPsal. 90.12 Dan. 5.26. Stat sua cuique dies. Virg.
- dJoh. 11.9. and John 13 1.Ioh. 11.9. and Iohn 13 1.
- eJob 17.13.Iob 17.13.
- fApoc. 6.8.
- g2 Cor. 5.10
- hPsal. 95. Heb. 3. Poenitenti veniam spospondit, sed vivendi in crastinum non spospondit. Chrysost.Psal. 95. Heb. 3. Poenitenti veniam spospondit, sed viuendi in crastinum non spospondit. Chrysost.
