Thou mayest do many good things whilst thou art well: but when thou art sick, I know not what thou wilt be able to do.
Few are improved by sickness; they also that travel much abroad seldom become holy.
5. Trust not in thy friends and kinsfolks, nor put off the welfare of thy soul to hereafter: for men will sooner forget thee than thou imaginest.
It is better now to provide in time and send some good before thee, than to trust to others helping thee after thy death.
If thou art not now careful for thyself, who will be careful for thee hereafter?
The present time is very precious: Now are the days of salvation: now is an acceptable time.
But it is greatly to be lamented, that thou dost not spend this time more profitably: wherein thou mayest acquire a stock on which thou mayest live for ever! The time will come, when thou wilt wish for one day or hour to amend: and I know not whether thou wilt obtain it.
6. O my dearly beloved, from how great a danger mayest thou deliver thyself: from how great a fear mayest thou be freed, if thou wilt but now be always fearful, and looking for death! Strive now so to live, that in the hour of thy death thou mayest rather rejoice than fear.