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 good to  thee  that  thou  shouldst oppress me,  the  work  of  thy own hands? Is it  thus  that my days  shall  be  swifter  than a post, that  they  shall  flee away, and  not  see  good? Is it thus  that  they  shall  pass  more swiftly than  the  web  is  cut by the  weaver,  and  be  consumed without  any  hope? Oh, forgive me,  that  I may  be  refreshed before  I go  hence  and be no  more!

''§ 2. The  art  of  dying  well necessary  above  all  things. ''

Christ. It is  not  I who made death,  but  by  the  envy of the  devil  has  death  entered into the  world; because  by his  doing  it  was  that  death entered into  the  world,  and death by  sin,  in  which  all have sinned. Therefore it  is appointed  to  all  men  once  to die. But this  one  consolation is  left  to  thee,  that  as  in Adam  all  die,  so  in  me  shall all be  made  alive. But if thou  desirest  to  profit  by  this my benefit,  see  that  thou  be not  ruined  by  the  second death; for the  death  of  sinners is  the  worst  death. But how is  it,  alas! that life,  the time of  which  is  so  short,  and the whole  of  it  barely  sufficient for  even  necessary  duties, and  above  all  for  due reparation for  death,  is  spent y the greater  number  for  the most part  on  superfluities  and trifles?

If thou  wert  the  sole  possessor  of  all  the  years,  days, hours, and  all  the  time  that the world  has  stood,  and  shall stand, together  with  that  of all  the  wisdom,  and  foresight, and industry,  and  all  the  arts, wealth, friendships,  favours, and whatever  aid  or  advantage besides  could  ever  be  had in the  world,  wouldst  thou not do  well  to  apply  it  all  to making  that  moment  a happy one, which  will  determine  for thee thy  whole  eternity,  from which thou  wilt  be  either  miserable or  happy  for  ever?

Man. When I turn  myself to all  the  works  that  are wrought by  the  hands  of  men, and to  the  labours  in  which they labour  in  vain,  I see  in  all things vanity  and  vexation  of mind,  and  that  nothing  is  lasting under  the  sun. And therefore I am  weary  of  my  life, when I see  that  all  things under the  sun  are  evil,  and that all  are  vanity  and  vexation of  spirit  so  that  in  much wisdom there  is  much  indignation; and  he  that  adds knowledge adds  also  labour.

Oh, vanity  of  vanities,  and  all is vanity!

Christ. Why, then,  art thou careful  and  troubled about many  things? Of what advantage is  it  to  mind  high things? To pry  into  things that are  subtle  rather  than what are  useful? Why dost thou walk  in  things  great  and