A Golden Chain

The fourth reason: God hath appointed unto every man that liveth in the Church a certain time of repentance, and of coming to Christ. And he which misspendeth that time and is not made a christian then, can never be saved. This made our Saviour Christ weep for Jerusalem, and say,^q O if thou hadst known at the least in this thy day, those things which belong to thy peace, but now are they hidden from thine eyes. And he further signifieth the destruction of Jerusalem, ^rbecause she knew not the time of her visitation. Again, the neglecting of this time is one cause, why not one or two, but many ^sshall seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and yet shall not be able. It is a marvellous thing, that they which seek to be saved should perish, but the fault is theirs which seek when it is too late. Now therefore thou secure worldling, thy conscience telleth thee that thou hast not yet repented, and that thou art not as yet a lively member of Jesus Christ. And thou knowest further, that howsoever thou art alive at this time, yet thou hast no lease of thy life. God may call thee forth of this world the next year, the next week, the next hour: yea he may strike thee with sudden death at this very present. And in very truth, if thou goest forth of this world being no repentant sinner, thou goest damned to hell. Wherefore delay not one minute of an hour longer, but with all speed repent and turn unto God, and bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life, that all thy sins may be done away, when the day of death, or the day of judgement shall be. And do not think with thy self that it shall be sufficient to defer thy turning unto God till the last end. For late repentance is seldom true repentance. And he which continueth long in any sin is in a dangerous case. If a man lie long in any disease he will scarce recover his former health; and he which is grown in the custom of any sin, and the sin is become ripe in him, it is a thousand to one, he is never saved; according to that of Saint James, ^tsin being perfected bringeth forth death.

The fourth reason: God hath appointed vnto euery man that liueth in the Church a certaine time of repentance, and of comming to Christ. And hee which mispendeth that time and is not made a christian then, can neuer be saued. This made our Sauiour Christ weepe for Ierusalem, and say,