The Practice of Piety

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 ^g