A Golden Chain

now death it self is a serpent, dragon, or scorpion, and sin is the sting or poison whereby he wounds and kills us. Wherefore without any more delay, see that ye pull out his sting: the practise of the foresaid duties is as it were a fit and worthy instrument to do the deed. Hast thou been a person ignorant of Gods will, a contemner of his word and worship, a blasphemer of his name, a breaker of his sabbaths, disobedient to parents and magistrates, a murderer, a fornicator, a railer, a slanderer, a covetous person, &c. reform these thy sins and all other like unto them, pull them out by the roots from thy heart, and cast them off. So many sins as be in thee, so many stings of death be also in thee to wound thy soul to eternal death. Therefore let no one sin remain for which thou hast not humbled thy self and repented seriously. When death hurts any man, it takes the weapons whereby he is hurt, from his own hand. It cannot do us the least hurt but by the force of our own sins. Wherefore I say again & again, lay this point to your hearts, & spend our strength, life, and health, that ye may before the die, abolish the strength of death. A man may put a serpent in his bosom when the sting is out: and we may let death creep into our bosoms, and gripe us with his legs, and stab us at the heart, so long as he brings not his venom and poison with him.

nowe death it selfe is a serpent, dragon, or scorpion, and sinne is the sting or poison whereby hee woundes and kills vs. Wherefore without any more delay, see that yee pull out his sting: the practise of the foresaid duties is as it were a fitte and worthie instrument to doe the deede. Hast thou beene a person ignorant of Gods wil, a contemner of his word and worship, a blasphemer of his name, a breaker of his sabbaths, disobedient to parents and magistrates, a murderer, a fornicator, a railer, a slanderer, a couetous person, &c. reforme these thy sinnes and all other like vnto them, pull them out by the rootes from thy heart, and cast them off. So many sinnes as bee in thee, so many stings of death bee also in thee to wound thy soule to eternall death. Therefore let no one sinne remaine for which thou hast not humbled thy selfe and repented seriously. When death hurts any man, it takes the weapons whereby he is hurt, from his owne hand. It cannot doe vs the least hurt but by the force of our owne sinnes. Wherefore I say again & againe, lay this point to your hearts, & spend our strength, life, and health, that ye may before ye die, abolish the strength of death. A man may put a serpent in his bosome when the sting is out: and wee may let death creepe into our bosoms, and gripe vs with his legs, and stab vs at the heart, so long as he brings not his venime and poison with him.