The fourth means is, that we continually remember the day of our death, not as though it were far off, but near approaching, and even knocking at our doors. For our lives are short and momentany, and this short time so uncertain, that we have no assurance that we shall live another day, no not so much as the next minute. When we go abroad, we know not whether we shall return home; nor when we are at home, whether we shall live to go abroad; when we go to bed, we cannot tell whether we shall ever rise; and when we rise, whether we shall again go to bed. For many have been thus suddenly taken away, going well out of doors, and never returning; lying down securely to take their rest, have been found dead the next morning. Now seeing that which befalleth one, may happen to any, and that which hath been the case of many, may probably betide any one; let it be our wisdom to stand continually upon our watch, that we may be found in readiness, seeing it is a matter that concerns us no less, then the everlasting salvation or damnation of our souls. And seeing we are not sure of living another day, let us think that every day may be the last, and so take occasion to watch carefully over our ways, that we may, when God pleaseth to call, be prepared to go unto him with cheerfulness and joy: and when we are enticed to commit any sin; as to love the world immoderately, to increase our riches by fraud and deceit, or violence and oppression, to swear, lye, and profane the Lords Day, to drink drunken, commit filthiness, or any other sin; let us say unto our own souls, Would I commit this or that sin, if I were sure that this day were my last? Far would it be from me, if I were thus persuaded. And therefore let me be now as far from giving way willingly unto any of these, or the like sins, seeing, for ought I know, it may be the last minute. And thus when we find our selves slack and backward unto any duties of Gods service, let us examine our own hearts, whether we would not shake off all sluggishness, and go about them with all care and diligence, if we were persuaded that we should not live another day; and then if we be wise, we will be as circumspect and careful that we neglect no good duty which may bring comfort to our hearts, peace to our consciences, and assurance of salvation ⟨p. 532⟩to our souls;
The fourth meanes is, that wee continually remember the day of our death, not as though it were farre off, but neere approching, and euen knocking at our doores. For our liues are short and momentany, and this short time so vncertaine, that we haue no assurance that we shall liue another day, no not so much as the next minute. When wee goe abroad, wee know not whether we shall returne home; nor when we are at home, whether wee shall liue to goe abroad; when wee goe to bed, wee cannot tell whether we shall euer rise; and when we rise, whether we shall againe goe to bed. For many haue been thus suddenly taken away, going well out of doores, and neuer returning; lying downe securely to take their rest, haue been found dead the next morning. Now seeing that which befalleth one, may happen to any, and that which hath been the case of many, may probably betide any one; let it be our wisedome to stand continually vpon our watch, that we may be found in readinesse, seeing it is a matter that concernes vs no lesse, then the euerlasting saluation or damnation of our soules. And seeing we are not sure of liuing another day, let vs thinke that euery day may be the last, and so take occasion to watch carefully ouer our wayes, that we may, when God pleaseth to call, be prepared to goe vnto him with cheerfulnesse and ioy: and when wee are inticed to commit any sinne; as to loue the world immoderately, to increase our riches by fraud and deceit, or violence and oppression, to sweare, lye, and profane the Lords Day, to drinke drunken, commit filthinesse, or any other sinne; let vs say vnto our owne soules, Would I commit this or that sinne, if I were sure that this day were my last? Farre would it be from me, if I were thus perswaded. And therefore let mee bee now as farre from giuing way willingly vnto any of these, or the like sinnes, seeing, for ought I know, it may be the last minute. And thus when wee finde our selues slacke and backward vnto any duties of Gods seruice, let vs examine our owne hearts, whether we would not shake off all sluggishnesse, and goe about them with all care and diligence, if we were perswaded that wee should not liue another day; and then if wee be wise, we will bee as circumspect and carefull that wee neglect no good duty which may bring comfort to our hearts, peace to our consciences, and assurance of saluation ⟨p. 532⟩to our soules;
