and these all now, for their purity, are dwelling
with Christ in everlasting glory.
Now in our days, in the end of this world,
the devil secretly layeth snares about us,
how he by vices may seduce Christians,
and turn their minds to divers sins ;
but those are happy who discern his snares,
and by faith overcome his cunning deceits.
Now he rageth furiously, and warreth on Christians,
because he knoweth well that this world's ending
is very nigh at hand, and therefore he maketh haste.
We should likewise hasten, and help our souls
by good services to the pleasing of God,
because we may not exist long in this life;
and that is [by] God's mercy, although it be secret.
In the beginning of this world, when it was winsome,
and men might live therein according to their desires,
then life was prolonged so that men lived
some nine hundred years in the patriarchs' times,
some eight hundred years, and some even longer.
Now is our life unlike to theirs,
because we may not now live after our lusts,
but we have to obey our Saviour's commands,
and earn by labour the everlasting life;
and that labour began in the preaching of the Gospel.
Now hath God also greatly shortened our days,
even as He so said; ' Ye shall not labour too long,
but be ye steadfast unto the eternal life,
where ye shall live happy without labour.'
Now there are three Chief Virtues, which men must have,
