Imitation 1 2353 verses
1Very quickly will there be an end of thee here; take heed therefore how it will be with thee in another world.
2Today man is, and tomorrow he will be seen no more.
3And being removed out of sight, quickly also he is out of mind.
4O the dullness and hardness of man’s heart, which thinketh only of the present, and looketh not forward to the future.
5Thou oughtest in every deed and thought so to order thyself, as if thou wert to die this day.
6If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death.
7It were better for thee to watch against sin, than to fly from death.
8If today thou art not ready, how shalt thou be ready tomorrow?
9Tomorrow is an uncertain day; and how knowest thou that thou shalt have a tomorrow?
10What doth it profit to live long, when we amend so little?
11Ah!
12long life doth not always amend, but often the more increaseth guilt.
13Oh that we might spend a single day in this world as it ought to be spent!
14Many there are who reckon the years since they were converted, and yet oftentimes how little is the fruit thereof.
15If it is a fearful thing to die, it may be perchance a yet more fearful thing to live long.
16Happy is the man who hath the hour of his death always before his eyes, and daily prepareth himself to die.
17If thou hast ever seen one die, consider that thou also shalt pass away by the same road.
18When it is morning reflect that it may be thou shalt not see the evening, and at eventide dare not to boast thyself of the morrow.
19Always be thou prepared, and so live that death may never find thee unprepared.
20Many die suddenly and unexpectedly.
21For “at such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” When that last hour shall come, thou wilt begin to think very differently of thy whole life past, and wilt mourn bitterly that thou hast been so negligent and slothful.
22Happy and wise is he who now striveth to be such in life as he would fain be found in death!
23For a perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire to excel in virtue, the love of discipline, the painfulness of repentance, readiness to obey, denial of self, submission to any adversity for love of ; these are the things which shall give great confidence of a happy death.
24Whilst thou art in health thou hast many opportunities of good works; but when thou art in sickness I know not how much thou wilt be able to do.
25Few are made better by infirmity: even as they who wander much abroad seldom become holy.
26Trust not thy friends and kinsfolk, nor put off the work of thy salvation to the future, for men will forget thee sooner than thou thinkest.
27It is better for thee now to provide in time, and to send some good before thee, than to trust to the help of others.
28If thou art not anxious for thyself now, who, thinkest thou, will be anxious for thee afterwards?
29Now the time is most precious.
30“Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” But alas!
31that thou spendest not well this time, wherein thou mightest lay up treasure which should profit thee everlastingly.
32The hour will come when thou shalt desire one day, yea, one hour, for amendment of life, and I know not whether thou shalt obtain.
33Oh, dearly beloved, from what danger thou mightest free thyself, from what great fear, if only thou wouldst always live in fear, and in expectation of death!
34Strive now to live in such wise that in the hour of death thou mayest rather rejoice than fear.
35Learn now to die to the world, so shalt thou begin to live with .
36Learn now to contemn all earthly things, and then mayest thou freely go unto .
37Keep under thy body by penitence, and then shalt thou be able to have a sure confidence.
38Ah, foolish one!
39why thinkest thou that thou shalt live long, when thou art not sure of a single day?
40How many have been deceived, and suddenly have been snatched away from the body!
41How many times hast thou heard how one was slain by the sword, another was drowned, another falling from on high broke his neck, another died at the table, another whilst at play!
42One died by fire, another by the sword, another by the pestilence, another by the robber.
43Thus cometh death to all, and the life of men swiftly passeth away like a shadow.
44Who will remember thee after thy death?
45And who will entreat for thee?
46Work, work now, oh dearly beloved, work all that thou canst.
47For thou knowest not when thou shalt die, nor what shall happen unto thee after death.
48While thou hast time, lay up for thyself undying riches.
49Think of nought but of thy salvation; care only for the things of God.
50“Make to thyself friends,” by venerating the saints of God and walking in their steps, “that when thou failest, thou mayest be received into everlasting habitations.”
51Keep thyself as a stranger and a pilgrim upon the earth, to whom the things of the world appertain not.
52Keep thine heart free, and lifted up towards God, “for here have we no continuing city.” To Him direct thy daily prayers with crying and tears, that thy spirit may be found worthy to pass happily after death unto its Lord.
53Amen.
