A Golden Chain

Wherefore it is a thing greatly to be wished, that men would repent and prepare themselves to die in the time of health before the day of death or sickness come. Lastly it is alleged that one of the thieves repented upon the cross. Answ. The thief was called after the eleventh hour at the point of the twelfth, when he was now dying and drawing on. Therefore his conversion was altogether miraculous and extraordinary: and there was a special reason why Christ would have him to be called then, that while he was in suffering he might show forth the virtue of his passion; that all which saw the one, might also acknowledge the other. Now it is not good for men to make an ordinary rule of an extraordinary example.

Wherefore it is a thing greatly to be wished, that men would repent and prepare themselues to die in the time of health before the day of death or sicknesse come. Lastly it is alleadged that one of the theeues repented vpon the crosse. Answ. The thiefe was called after the eleuenth houre at the point of the twelfth, when he was now dying and drawing on. Therefore his conuersion was altogether miraculous and extraordinarie: and there was a speciall reason why Christ would haue him to be called then, that while he was in suffering he might shew forth the vertue of his passion; that all which saw the one, might also acknowledge the other. Now it is not good for men to make an ordinarie rule of an extraordinarie example.

Thus then this point being manifest that a general preparation must be made, let us now see in what manner it must be done. And for the right doing of it, •u•e duties must be practised in the •ourse of our lives. The first i• ⟨p. 786⟩the meditation of death in the life time. For the life of a Christian is nothing else but a meditation of death. A notable practise hereof we have in the example of Joseph of Arimathea, who made his tomb in his life time in the midst of his garden: no doubt for this end, to put himself in mind of death, and that in the midst of his delight and pleasures. Heathen Philosophers that never knew Christ, had many excellent meditations of death, though not comfortable in regard of life everlasting. Now we that have known and believed in Christ, must go beyond them in this point, considering with our selves such things as they never thought of, namely, the cause of death, our sin: the remedy thereof, the cursed death of Christ, cursed I say in regard of the kind of death and punishment laid upon him, but blessed in regard of us. Thirdly, we must often meditate on the presence of death, which we do, when by Gods grace we make an account of every present day as if it were the present day of our death, and reckon with our selves when we go to bed as though we should never rise again; and when we rise, as though we should never lie down again.