Christ our Lord and Saviour, considering what and how great carnal security and fleshly quietness reigneth in mortal men of all ages,1 yea, and that in them, that profess godliness, that is to say: Christians, which by their profession are dead unto the world, and have their life hidden with Christ in God, insomuch that they being occupied about worldly and transitory things, which soon perish and come to naught, do utterly neglect the things that appertain unto the salvation of their souls: in many places of his holy Gospel admonisheth us to watch and to make provision for our latter end, least we be found unready wham we shall be called out of the world. In the Gospel of blessed Matthew he hath these ⟨image 3⟩words:2 watch, for you know not what hour the Lord will come. Of this be ye sure, that if the good man of the house knew what hour the thief would come he would surely watch, and not suffer his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready. For in such hour as ye think not, will the Son of man come. In S. Marks Gospel also he saith. Watch, for ye know not when the master of the house will come,3 at even or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing or in the dawning, least if he come suddenly, he find you sleeping. And that I say unto you, I say unto all. Watch▪ Yea take heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is. Again in the Revelation of blessed John he saith. Behold I come as a thief.4 Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, that he walk not naked, and men see his filthiness.5 Item, Behold I come shortly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his deeds shall be.6 The holy Apostle S. Paul likewise exhorteth us, that we sleep not as other do, but that we watch & be sober, nether that we fall into fleshly ⟨image 4⟩quietness, promising our selves long life, health and rest in this world, least sudden destruction fall upon us.
CHrist our Lorde and Sauiour, cōsidering what and how great carnall securitie and fleshly quietnes reigneth in mortall men of all ages,1 yea, and that in them, that professe godlynesse, that is to saye: Christians, whiche by their professiō ar dead vnto the world, and haue their lyfe hydden with Christ in God, in somuche that they being occupied about worldlye and transitory thinges, which sone perish and come to naught, do vtterly neglecte the thinges that appertaine vnto the saluation of their soules: in many places of his holy Gospell admonisheth vs to watche and to make prouision for our latter ende, least we be found vnready whā we shall be called out of the worlde. In the Gospell of blessed Mathewe he hath these ⟨image 3⟩words:2 watch, for you know not what hour the Lord will come. Of this be ye sure, that if the good man of the house knew what hour the thief would come he would surely watche, and not suffer his house to be broken vp. Therfore be ye also ready. For in suche houre as ye thinke not, wil the sonne of man come. In S. Markes Gospell also he sayth. Watch, for ye know not whē the maister of the house wil come,3 at euen or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing or in the dauning, least if he come sodenly, he finde you sleping. And that I say vnto you, I say vnto all. Watch▪ Yea take hede, watche and pray, for ye know not when the time is. Again in the Reuelation of blessed Iohn he sayth. Behold I come as a thiefe.4 Blessed is he that watcheth and kepeth his garmentes, that he walke not naked, and men see his fylthines.5 Item, Behold I come shortly, and my rewarde is with me, to geue euery man according as his dedes shall be.6 The holy Apostle S. Paule lykewyse exhorteth vs, that we sleepe not as other doo, but that we watche & be sober, nether that we fall into fleshly ⟨image 4⟩quietnes, promysing our selues long lyfe, healthe and reste in this worlde, least soden destruction fall vpon vs.
- 1Colos. iii.
- 2Math. xxiiii▪
- 3Mark. xiii
- 4Apoca. xvi.
- 5Apoca. xxii.
- 6i. Thes. v▪
