Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/62

Rh 5. Trust not to friends and kindred, neither do thou put off the care of thy soul's welfare till hereafter; for men will forget thee, sooner than thou art aware of.

It is better to look to it betime, and to send some good before thee, than to trust to the help of men.

If thou be not careful for thyself now, who will be careful for thee hereafter?

Time now is very precious: now is the day of salvation; now is the accepted time.

But alas! that thou shouldst spend time idly here in which thou mightest prepare for eternal life.

The time will come, when thou shalt desire one day or hour to amend in; who can know that it can be granted thee?

6. O beloved, from how great danger mightest thou deliver thyself, from how great fear free thyself, if thou wouldst be ever fearful and mindful of death!

Labour now so to live, that at the hour of death thou mayest rather rejoice than fear.

Learn to die to the world now, that thou mayest begin to live with Christ then.

Learn to contemn all things now, that then thou mayest freely go to Christ.

Chastise thy body now by repentance, that thou mayest then have assured confidence.

7. 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 these reports, Such a man is slain, another is drowned, a third has broken