4. Didst thou oftner think of thy death, than of thy living long, there is no question but thou wouldst be more zealous to amend. I believe thou wouldst willingly undergo any labour, or sorrow, or austerity, if thou didst consider within thyself the pains of a future state. But because these things enter not into the heart, and we still love the things of the world, therefore we remain cold and slothful. *Miserable thou art, wheresoever thou be, or whithersoever thou turnest, unless thou turn thyself to God. *Who is in the best case? He who can suffer something for God. O brother, quit not thy hope of profiting in spiritual things: there is yet time, the hour is not yet past. 5. Why wilt thou defer thy good purpose? *Arise, begin this instant, and say, Now is the time to be doing, now is the time to be striving, now is the time to amend. But unless thou dost violence to thyself, thou shalt never get the victory over sin. 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.