CHAPTER XVII.
_Of the meditation of death._
THIS life will soon be at an end: consider therefore how thy affairs stand as to the next.
Man is here to-day; to-morrow he is gone.
When he is out of sight, he is soon forgotten.
*Thou shouldest so order thyself in all thy thoughts and all thy actions, as if thou wert to die to-day.
Hadst thou a clear conscience, thou wouldst not fear death.
It were better to avoid sin, than to fly death.
If thou art not prepared to-day, how wilt thou be to-morrow?
To-morrow is uncertain, and how knowest thou that thou shalt live till to-morrow?
2. What availeth to live long, when we are so little the better?
Alas! long life doth not always mend us; but often increaseth guilt.
*O that we had spent but one day well in this world!
3. When it is morning, think thou mayst die before night.
When evening comes, dare not to promise thyself the next morning.
Be therefore always in readiness; and so live, that death may never take thee unprepared.
Many die suddenly, and when they look not for it; for _in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh_, Matthew xxiv. 44.
When that last hour shall come, thou wilt have a far different opinion of thy whole life.
*4. How wise and happy is he, that laboureth to be such in his life, as he would wish to be found at the hour of his death!
*Whilst thou art in health, thou mayst do much good; but when thou art sick, I know not what thou wilt be able to do.
*Few by sickness grow better; and they who travel much are seldom sanctified.
*5. Trust not in friends and kindred, neither put off the care of thy soul till hereafter; for men will sooner forget thee, than thou art aware of.
If thou art not careful for thyself now, who will be careful for thee hereafter!
The time present is very precious; now is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time.
*But alas! that thou shouldst spend thy time no better here, where thou mightest purchase life eternal! The time will come when thou shalt desire one day or hour to amend in, and I cannot say it will be granted thee.
6. Ah fool, why dost thou think to live long, when thou canst not promise to thyself one day!
How many have been deceived, and suddenly snatched away?
How often dost thou hear, such a man is slain, another is drowned, a third has broke his neck with a fall; this man died eating, and that playing?
One perished by fire, another by sword, another of the plague, another was slain by thieves: thus death is the end of all, and man’s life suddenly passeth away, like a shadow.
*7. Who shall remember thee when thou art dead? Do, do now, my beloved, whatsoever thou art able to do: for thou knowest not when thou shalt die, nor yet what shall be after thy death.
Now, while thou hast time, lay up for thyself everlasting riches.
Think on nothing but the salvation of thy soul, care for nothing but the things of God.
8. Keep thyself as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, who hath nothing to do with the affairs of this world.
*Keep thy heart free, and lifted up to God, because thou hast here no abiding city.
*Send thither thy daily prayers and sighs and tears, that after death thy Spirit may happily pass to the Lord. _Amen._