The third peril is this; lest that, because the good servant must remember, that it may so fall out that his Master may come quickly, he should rashly define how long or how short time that (quickly) will be, and should appoint any certain time when his Lord will come. For that determination of a certain time, besides, that it is presumptuous, it is likewise repugnant to the will of God, and pernicious. Against this rock, the Lord will have us to acknowledge and confess, that we cannot know this time, and that it is only known to God. Again, he would have us know, that it is not our office either to search out, or to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. Hereunto also appertain the signs, that is to say, That when we shall see many of them to be originally accomplished from the time of the Apostles, neither yet presently the Lord to be come, that […] yet we presume to define (though ⟨p. 69⟩we see the rest) of any certain time of his coming, but that we should know that this only is seen to the Lord: and therefore, for that we are ignorant when he will come, we should always watch and pray. Wherefore the Lord saith, Matthew, 24. If the householder knew at what hour the thief would come, he would (doubtless) watch, and not suffer his house to be digged through: as though he should say, he would (doubtless) watch that hour only, wherein he knew the thief would come, but for that he knoweth he will come, and is ignorant in what hour, therefore he awaketh the whole night, and standeth upon his watch: be eye also therefore prepared (that is, always) for at an hour when yet think not will the Son of man come; as if he had said▪ If ye know that certain time wherein he would return, ye would watch only about that time, and address your selves to meet me: but for that ye are ignorant when I shall come, at midnight ⟨p. 70⟩or cock-crow, or in the morning, and yet ye know certainly that I will come, therefore, ye ought continually to be prepared, and in readiness. These therefore are the three principal uses of the tokens foregoing the end of the world, and the coming of the Lord; first, that by seeing of them we may firmly know that the Lord will come: next, that by the sight thereof we may know that he will come quickly;
The third perill is this; lest that, because the good seruant must remember, that it may so fall out that his Maister may come quickly, hee should rashly define how long or how short time that (quickly) will be, and should appoint any certaine time when his Lord will come. For that determination of a certain time, besides, that it is presumptuous, it is likewise repugnant to the will of God, and pernicious. Against this rock, the Lord will haue vs to acknowledge and confesse, that wee cannot know this time, and that it is onely knowne to God. Againe, hee would haue vs know, that it is not our office either to search out, or to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power. Hereunto also appertaine the signes, that is to say, That when we shall see many of them to bee originally accomplished from the time of the Apostles, neither yet presently the Lord to bee come, that 〈…〉 yet wee presume to define (though ⟨p. 69⟩we see the rest) of any certaine time of his comming, but that we should know that this onely is seene to the Lord: and therefore, for that wee are ignorant when he will come, we should alwaies watch and pray. Wherfore the Lord saith, Matthew, 24. If the housholder knew at what houre the theefe would come, he would (doubtlesse) wa•ch, and not suffer his house to be digged through: as though he should say, he would (doubtlesse) watch that houre onely, wherein he knew the thiefe would come, but for that he knoweth hee will come, and is ignorant in what houre, therfore hee awaketh the whole night, and standeth vpon his watch: be yie also therefor• prepared (that is, alwaies) for at an houre when yet thinke not will the sonne of man come; as if he had said▪ If yee know that certaine time wherin he would returne, yee would watch onely about that time, and addresse your selues to meete me: but for that yee are ignorant when I shall come, at midnight ⟨p. 70⟩or cock-crow, or in the morning, and yet yee know certainly that I wil come, therefore, yee ought continually to bee prepared, and in readinesse. These therefore are the three principall vses of the tokens foregoing the end of the world, and the comming of the Lord; first, that by seeing of them we may firmely know that the Lord wil come: next, that by the sight thereof wee may know that hee will come quickly;
