A09387:12
Deaths knell
Deaths knell: or, The sick mans passing-bell summoning all sick consciences to pr[e]pare themselves for the coming of the great[t] day of doom, lest mercies gate be shut against them: fit for all those that desire to arrive at the heavenly Jerusalem. Whereunto are added prayers fit for householders. The ninth edition. Written by W. Perkins.Deaths knell: or, The sicke mans passing-bell summoning all sicke consciences to pr[e]pare themselues for the comming of the grea[t] day of doome, lest mercies gate be shut against them: fit for all those that desire to arriue at the heauenly Ierusalem. Whereunto are added prayers fit for housholders. The ninth edition. Written by W. Perkins.
London: printed by G. Purslowe for M. Trundle, 1628
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Put not off repentance therefore to the last ⟨image 5⟩point: take Davids early in the morning: stay not till to morrow; though thou sufferedst the Bud to be blasted, the Flowers to fade, the Fruit to perish, the Leaves to wither. the Boughs to dry up, and the body of the Tree to decay; yet still keep life in the Root, for fear lest the whole become fuel for Hell fire: for where the tree falleth there it lieth. Imagine that Time hath flied off the better part of thy natural forces, and left thee in the Lees of thy dying days: and that thou art onward in thy voyage, and not far from the period of thy last harbour: be not therefore disfurnished of necessaries required in so perilous a journey. O how men do carefully begin, industriously prosecute, and effectually end their labours, in attaining to this transitory trash upon earth! but of that great affair of winning Heaven, or falling into hell, there is had no respect: Nay, they do not so much as remember, that there is a Hell for sinners, a Heaven for good livers, a dreadful day of Judgement, or a strict reckoning to be made. Death in its own property is sufficiently fearful, but far more terrible, in respect of the Judgement whereto it summoneth.
Put not off repentance therefore to the last ⟨image 5⟩point: take Dauids early in the morning: stay not till to morrow; though thou sufferedst the Bud to be blasted, the Flowres to fade, the Fruit to perish, the Leaues to wither. the Boughes to dry vp, and the body of the Tree to decay; yet still keepe life in the Root, for feare lest the whole become fuell for Hell fire: for where the tree falleth there it lyeth. Imagine that Time hath flied off the better part of thy naturall forces, and left thee in the Lees of thy dying dayes: and that thou art onword in thy voyage, and not farre from the period of thy last harbour: bee not therefore disfurnished of necessaries required in so perrillous a iourney. O how men doe carefully beginne, industriously prosecute, and effectually end their labours, in attaining to this transitory trash vpon earth! but of that great affaire of winning Heauen, or falling into hell, there is had no respect: Nay, they doe not so much as remember, that there is a Hell for sinners, a Heauen for good liuers, a dreadfull day of Iudgement, or a strict reckoning to be made. Death in its owne property is sufficiently fearefull, but far more terrible, in respect of the Iudgement whereto it summoneth.