2. Secondly, I will consider what ends our Lord had in this design of His providence, which is to oblige us to be always watchful, apprehensive of this hour, providing ourselves for it, [1] doing penance for our sins before death seize upon us, and making haste to merit and to labour before our light be out, lest "the light" [2] die suddenly and we remain in the dark. This Christ our Lord concluded in His parables concerning this matter. Sometimes He said "Vigilate, quia nescitis diem neque horam," "Watch" daily and hourly, " because you know not the day nor the hour" [3] of your death. At other times He said, " Watch ye, because you know not what hour your Lord will come," [4] and " Be you ready," " for at what hour you think not the Son of Man will come. ,, [5] With these words I will often exhort myself, saying,
Colloquy. — Gird thy body with the mortification of thy vices and passions, and take in thy hands the burning torches of virtues and good works, and be always watchful, expecting the coming of Christ; for He shall come when thou least thinkest of it, and that hour in which thou art most forgetful shall be, peradventure, the hour that He hath assigned; and if He find thee not well provided, thou wilt be miserably deceived.
3. Thirdly, I will consider that all sudden, unexpected deaths that have happened, and daily do happen, are remembrancers of this truth given me by our Lord, that I may fear and prepare myself; for death that strikes every man may likewise strike me. And therefore when I see or hear it said that some die suddenly by the sword, some by the hands of their enemies, and others lying down to sleep in good health slept the last sleep of death, out of all this I
