Hark, Husbandman, before thou seest many more crops of Harvest, thy self shall be ripe, and Death will cut thee down with his sickle. Hark, Tradesman, ere many six months go over, thy last month will come on; after which thou shalt trace away and trade no longer. Hark, most grave Judge, within a few terms, the term of thy life approacheth, wherein thou shalt cease to judge others, and go thy self to be judged. Hark, O man of God, that goest to the Pulpit, preach this Sermon, as it were thy last that thou shouldest make to thy people. Hark, Noble man, lay aside the high conceit of thy honour, Death, ere it be long* will lay thine honour in the dust, and make thee as base as the Earth that thou treadest under thy feet▪ Hark, thou that now readest this book, assure thy self ere it be long there will be but two holes where now thy two eyes are placed; and others shall read the truth of this lesson upon thy bare Skull, which now thou readest in this little book; how soon I ⟨p. 129⟩know not, but this I am sure of;a that thy time is appointed, thy bmonths are determined, thy cdays are numbered, and thy veryd last hour is limited, beyond which thou shalt not pass; For then, the first-horn of death mounted on hise pale horse, shall alight at thy door; and (notwithstanding all thy wealth and honour, and the tears of thy dearest friends) will carry thee away bound hand and foot, as his Prisoner, and keep thy body under a load of earth, until that day come, wherein thou must be brought forth tof receive according to the things which thou hast done in the body, whether it be good or evil. O let not then the false hope of an uncertain long life hinder thee from becoming a present Practiser of religious Piety! Godg offereth grace to day, 9but who promiseth to morrow? 10there are now in Hell many young Men, who had purposed to repent in their old age, but Death cut them off in their impenitency, ere ever they could attain to the time they set for their repentance. The longer a man runs in a disease, the harder it is to be cured; for custom of sin breeds hardness of heart; and the impediments which hinder thee from repenting now, will hinder thee more when thou art more aged.
Hark, Husbandman, before thou seest many more crops of Harvest, thy self shall be ripe, and Death will cut thee down with his sickle. Hark, Tradseman, ere many six months go over, thy last month will come on; after which thou shalt trace away and trade no longer. Hark, most grave Judge, within a few terms, the term of thy life approacheth, wherein thou shalt cease to judge others, and go thy self to be judged. Hark, O man of God, that goest to the Pulpit, preach this Sermon, as it were thy last that thou shouldest make to thy people. Hark, Noble man, lay aside the high conceit of thy honour, Death, ere it be long* will lay thine honour in the dust, and make thee as base as the Earth that thou treadest under thy feet▪ Hark, thou that now readest this book, assure thy self ere it be long there will be but two holes where now thy two eyes are placed; and others shall read the truth of this lesson upon thy bare Skull, which now thou readest in this little book; how soon I ⟨p. 129⟩know not, but this I am sure of;a that thy time is appointed, thy bmonths are determined, thy cdays are numbred, and thy veryd last hour is limited, beyond which thou shalt not pass; For then, the first-horn of death mounted on hise pale horse, shall alight at thy door; and (notwithstanding all thy wealth and honour, and the tears of thy dearest friends) will carry thee away bound hand and foot, as his Prisoner, and keep thy body under a load of earth, until that day come, wherein thou must be brought forth tof receive according to the things which thou hast done in the body, whether it be good or evil. O let not then the false hope of an uncertain long life hinder thee from becoming a present Practiser of religious Piety! Godg offereth grace to day, 9
- *Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat.
- aJob 14. 14.
- bJob 14. 5.
- cPsal. 90 1• Dan. 5. 26. Stat sua cuique dies Virg.
- d11. 8.
- eRev. 6. 8.
- f2 Cor. 5. 10
- gPsal. 95. 7.
- 9Heb. 3. 7.
- 10P••nitenti veniam spospondit, sed vivendi in crastinum non spospondit, Chrysost▪ Nemo tam divos habuit Faventes, crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri, Senec.
