A15859:58
Speculum Christianum
Speculum Christianum or, A Christian survey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, grave, and learned divine, master Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseverance of the saints. 3. A summary abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.Speculum Christianum or, A Christian suruey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, graue, and learned diuine, maister Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseuerance of the saints. 3. A summarie abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.
London: printed by George Eld, 1614
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The fourth Chapter is: why God will not have us know the end of the world? I answer, even for the same reason why he will not, that any should know when he must die: Verily, that we should always watch, and p•ay, and always have our loins gl•• up and have our lamps in our hands filled with oil•, and burning, as if the Lord were to be expected hourly. The Lord himself allegeth this cause. Mat. •4. after he had said of that day &c. And by the example of the deluge, which ca••t suddenly upon the world in the days of Noah he had concluded that such like and so sudden should be the coming of the Son of Man; forthwith he annexeth this exhortation, saying. Wa••h therefore, for you know not when the Son of Man shall come: giving instruction in these ⟨p. 54⟩words, that this is the cause why he would not have us know the certain time of the end of the world, that is to say, That being certain the Lord will come, and uncertain of the time when he will come, we might continually watch and pray, daily and hourly being in expectation of him: Therefore Augustine saith in Epist. ad Hesychium, The Lord was willing we should know his first coming, for that the knowledge thereof was both necessary and profitable for us: whereupon the Lord reproveth the Jews, Luc. 12. saying; Ye can discern the face of the sky, but do ye not discern the day of your visitation? for that who doth not acknowledge the first coming of the Lord, cannot prepare himself for his second coming. But he would not have the day and time of his other coming to be manifested, for that it was not expedient for us; lest verily we should say with the evil servant, Luc. 12. My Master doth defer his coming, so let us feast and ⟨p. 55⟩beat our fellow-servants &c. The Lord will not have us promise much time to our selves before his coming, but daily to expect him, for that he would have us always in a readiness. Therefore in the same chap. Mat. 4. in the end he addeth, saying; But if that evil servant did say in his heart, My Master will defer his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and shall likewise eat and drink with the drunkard; the Lord of that servant shall […] in a day when he looketh not and in an hours when […] knoweth rat, and shall cut him off; and give him his portion with hypocrites; there shall be weeping and […] feeth.