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| Dearest
men, lo! I now admonish and exhort every man, both men and
women, both young and old, both wise and unwise, both rich
and poor, - everyone to behold and understand himself and,
whatsoever he hath committed in great sins or in venial ones,
forthwith to turn to the better and the true medicine, then
may we have God Almighty merciful (to us), because the Lord
desires all men to be whole and sound, and to turn to the
true knowledge, as David said, 'The humble and fearing and
trembling and quaking hearts and those fearing their Creator,
God will never despise nor disregard, but will hear their
prayers when they cry to him and pray to him for mercy.' |
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| May
we then now see and know and very readily understand that
the end of this world is very nigh; and many calamities have
appeared and men's crimes and woes are greatly multiplied;
and we from day to day hear of monstrous plagues and strange
deaths throughout the country, that have come upon men, and
we often perceive that nation riseth against nation, and we
see unfortunate wars caused by iniquitous deeds; and we hear
very frequently of the death of men of rank whose life was
dear to men, and whose life appeared fair and beautiful and
peasant; so we are also informed of various diseases in many
places of the world, and of increasing famines. |
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many evils, we learn, are here in this life become general,
and flourish and no good is abiding here, and all worldly
things are very sinful, and very greatly cooleth the love
that we ought to have to our Lord; and those good works that
we should observe for our soul's health, we forsake. |
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| These
tokens, that I have just related concerning this world's tribulations
and calamities, are such as Christ himself mentioned to his
disciples, that all these things should happen before the
end of this world. |
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Let us now strive with all the might of good works and be
desirous of God's mercy. Now we may perceive that this world's
destruction approacheth, wherefore I admonish and warn every
man to contemplate diligently his own death, so that he may
live here in the world rightly, before God and in the sight
of the highest King. |
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us be liberal to the needy and charitable to the poor, as
God himself hath bidden us, so that we observe true peace
and have concord among us; and let those that have children
instruct them in right discipline and teach them the way of
life, and the right way to heaven; and if they in any way
live their life amiss let them then at once be converted from
their wickednesses and turned from their unrighteousness;
that we thereby may all please God, as is bidden to all believing
people, and not to those alone that are in exalted positions
subject to God, as bishops, kings, mass-priests, archdeacons,
but is also indeed enjoined upon subdeacons and monks; and
to all men it is needful and profitable to observe well their
baptismal vows. |
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no man be very highminded an account of his worldly wealth,
nor too confident in his bodily powers, nor too disposed to
malice, nor too bold in wickedness, nor too full of crafts,
nor too fond of guile, neither given to contriving false accusations,
nor to laying snares [for the unwary]. |
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man need think that his body may or can amend the sin-burden
in the grave; but therein he shall rot to dust and there await
the great event [the Doom], when the Almighty will bring this
world to an end, and when he will draw out his fiery sword
and smite all this world through and pierce the bodies, and
cleave asunder this earth; and the dead shall stand up, then
shall the body (flesh-garb) be as transparent as glass, nought
of its nakedness may be concealed. |
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| Wherefore
it is needful for us that we follow not too long foolish works,
but we must make our peace with God and men, and establish
firmly the right belief in our hearts, that it may there dwell
and there grow and bloom; and we must confess the true belief
in [God and in] our Lord Jesus Christ, his begotten Son, and
in the Holy Ghost, who is co-eternal with the Father and Son.
And we must trust in God's holy Church, and in those that
have right belief; and we must believe in the forgiveness
of sins and the resurrection of the body on Doomsday, and
we must believe in the everlasting life, and in the heavenly
kingdom that is promised to all that are now workers of what
is good. |
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is the right faith, which it behoveth that each man should
well hold and perform, for no worker may perform good works
before God without love and belief. |
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it is very needful for us to consider and bear this in mind,
and most diligently when we hear God's books explained and
read to us, and the gospel declared, and his glories made
known to men. |
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us then diligently strive to be afterwards the better and
the happier for the teaching that we have often heard. |
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