The. The holy scripture moveth ⟨p. 184⟩us to do good while we are alive, and not to trust other mens works, to be done for us, when we be dead.1 The wise man saith: do good unto thy friend, before thou die, and according to thy ability, reach out thine hand, and give unto the poor. Be not disappointed of the good day, and let not the portion of the good day overpass thee. Shalt thou not leave thy travails & labours unto other men? In the dividing of thy heritage, give and take, and sanctify thy soul. Work thou righteousness before thy death, for after thy death,2 there is no meat to find. Again: Abide thou not in the error of the ungodly, but give God than kes before death. As for the dead, thankfulness perisheth from him as nothing. Give thou thanks in thy life, yea, while thou art living and whole shalt thou give ⟨p. 185⟩thanks, and praise God, and rejoice in his mercy. O how great •s the loving kindness of the lord, and his merciful goodness unto •uch as turn unto him?3 Solomon •n his proverbs saith: withdraw •o good thing from them that have •ede, so long as thy hand is able •o do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, go thy way & come again: •o morrow will I give thee, where •s thou hast now to give him. Hereto agreeth the saying of the preacher:4 whatsoever thou art a•le to do, do it out of hand, for in •he grave that thou goest unto: here is neither work, counsel, knowledge nor wisdom. The prophet also saith.5 Seek the Lord, ••hyle he may be found, and call upon him, while he is nigh. Let the ungodly forsake his own ways, •nd the unrighteous his own imaginations, and turn again ⟨p. 186⟩unto the Lord, so shall God be merciful unto him. Our saviour Christ saith in the Gospel. I must work the works of him that sent me,6 while it is day. The night cometh, when no man can work. Walk while we have light, least ye darkness come on you.7 &c. While ye have light, walk in the light, that ye may be the children of light. I say unto you, make you friends of the unrighteous Mammon, that when ye shall have need,8 they may receive you into everlasting habitations. That servant,9 which received one talent of his Lord, and gained nothing therewith, but went his way, and hid it in the ground; was cast into utter darkness, wher• weeping and gnashing of teeth shall be. The .v. foolish virgins, because they had no Oil in their lamps, were not suffered to enter into the marriage.
The. The holy scripture moueth ⟨p. 184⟩vs to doe good whyle we are alyue, and not to truste other mens workes, to be done for vs, when we be dead.1 The wyseman saith: doe good vnto thy frende, before thou die, and according to thy abilitie, reache out thyne hand, and geue vnto the poore. Be not disapoynted of the good daye, and let not the portion of the good day ouerpasse the. Shalt thou not leue thy trauails & labours vnto other men? In the deuiding of thy heritage, geue and take, and sanctify thy soule. Worke thou ryghteousnes before thy death, for after thy death,2 there is no meat to fynd. Again: Abide thou not in the errour of the vngodly, but geue God thā kes before death. As for the dead, thanckfulnes perisheth from him as nothing. Geue thou thanckes in thy lyfe, yea, whyle thou art liuing and whole shalt thou geue ⟨p. 185⟩thankes, and prayse God, and reioyce in his mercy. O howe great •s the louing kindnes of the lord, and his mercifull goodnes vnto •uch as turne vnto hym?3 Salomō •n his prouerbes saith: withdrawe •o good thing frō them that haue •ede, so long as thy hande is able •o doe it. Say not vnto thy neighbour, go thy way & come againe: •o morowe wil I geue thee, wher •s thou hast nowe to geue hym. Hereto agreeth the saying of the •reacher:4 whatsoeuer thou art a•le to do, do it out of hande, for in •he graue that thou goest vnto: here is neither worke, counsell, knowledge nor wisdom. The prophet also sayth.5 Seke the Lorde, ••hyle he may be founde, and call pon him, while he is nie. Let the ngodly forsake his owne waies, nd the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and turne againe
- 1Eccl. xiiii.
- 2Eccl. xviii
- 3Pro. iii.
- 4Eccle. ix.
- 5Esa. lv.
- 6John. ix.Iohn. ix.
- 7John, xii.Iohn, xii.
- 8Luke. xvi.
- 9Mat. xxv.
