*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._ CHAPTER XVIII. _Of judgment and the punishment of sins._ IN all things remember the end, and how thou wilt be able to stand before that severe Judge, from whom nothing is hid: who is not pacified with gifts, nor admitteth any excuses; but will judge according to right. O wretched and foolish sinner, who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry man! What answer wilt thou make to God, who knoweth all thy wickedness? Why dost thou not provide for thyself against that great day of judgment, when no man can excuse or answer for another, but every one shall have enough to answer for himself? 2. What is it which that infernal fire feeds upon but thy sins? The more thou sparest thyself now, and followest the flesh, so much the more hereafter shall be thy punishment, and thou stowest up greater fuel for the flame. *In what thing a man hath sinned, in the same shall he be punished. There is no quiet, no comfort for the damned there: here we have some intermission of our labours, and enjoy the comfort of our friends. Be now solicitous and sorrowful because of thy sins, that at the day of judgment thou mayest be secure with the blessed. For then shall the righteous stand with great boldness before such as have vexed and oppressed them. Then shall he stand to judge, who doth now humbly submit himself to the judgment of others. Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence, but the proud shall be compassed with fear on every side. 3. Then will it appear, that he was wise in this world, who had learned to be a fool and despised for _Christ_’s sake.