Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/596

 understand, and  would  provide for  their  last  end.

Man. I acknowledge, O Lord,  that  the  days  of  man are short,  and  that  the  number of  his  months  are  with thee; thou hast  appointed  his bounds, which  cannot  be  passed. I know that  thou  wilt deliver me  to  death,  where  a house  is  appointed  for  every one that  lives. And who  am I,  that  I should  answer  thee, and contend  with  thee  in  my words? Thou art  just,  O Lord,  if  I plead  with  thee; but if  thou  wilt  not  be  angry with the  prayer  of  thy  servant, I will,  O Lord,  ask  of thee  one  thing: Make  me know  my  end,  and  what  is the  number  of  my  days,  that I may know  what  is  wanting to me. How many  are  the days of  thy  servant,  in  which I shall be  still  in  warfare  upon the earth,  until  my  change come?

Christ. It is  not  for  thee, my son,  to  know  the  times  or the  moments  which  the Father has put  in  his  own  power; it is  for  thee  to  watch,  wait, and be  ready  at  all  hours. For thy  last  day  is  hidden, that thou  mayest  carefully guard them  all,  for  there  is not  one  among  them  all  that may not  be  thy  last. It is  for thee to  redeem  the  time,  and to labour  while  it  is  day; for the night  will  come,  when no man  can  work. It is  for thee to  labour,  that  by  good works thou  mayest  make  sure thy calling  and  election. Behold, now is  the  acceptable time; behold, now  is  the  day of salvation. His is  the  extreme of  folly  who  lets  the days that  he  has  slip  by,  and promises himself  others,  and meanwhile is  occupied  with trifles, with  pleasure,  and  with the cares  of  this  world. But why wouldst  thou  know  that which is  not  good  for  thee? Know this,  and  hold  it  for  a truth,  that  my  ordering  the hour of  men’s  death  to  be  uncertain is  a signal  proof  of my  goodness  and  mercy. For oh, how  many,  if  it  were known, would  take  from  it  occasion for  security  and  slumber, and  would  be  much  more sluggish in  providing  for  their salvation, and  would  put  it off  to  the  close  of  their  lives, and to  the  time  of  their death? Is not  this  done  everywhere already,  although  they have not  a day,  nor  an  hour, nor a moment  that  is  secure from death? Alas! man knows not his  own  end,  and  yet  he neglects  the  care  of  his  end! And therefore,  as  fishes  are taken with  the  hook,  and  as