Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/61

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Of Death.
47

Happy is he that always hath the hour of his death before his eyes, and daily prepareth himself to die.

If at any time thou hast seen another man die, make account that thou must also pass the same way.

3. When it is morning, think that thou mayest die before night;

And when evening comes, dare not to promise thyself the next morning.

Be thou therefore always in readiness, and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared.

Many die suddenly: for the Son of Man cometh in an hour when we think not.

When that last hour comes, thou wilt have a far different opinion of thy life that is past, and be exceeding sorry that thou hast been so careless and remiss.

4. O how wise and happy is he that laboureth to be such an one in his life, as he will desire to be found at the hour of death!

A perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire to go forward in all virtue, a love of discipline, a laborious repentance, a ready obedience, a denying of ourselves, and an endurance of any affliction whatsoever for the love of Christ, will give us great confidence that we shall die happily.

Whilst thou art in health thou mayest do much good; but when thou art sick, see what thou wilt be able to do.

Few by sickness grow better, and they who wander much abroad, seldom thereby become holy.