Sin will pluck on sin.

KING RICHARD III. Act IV. Scene 2.

XXI.

OUR FACULTIES TO BE MADE GOOD USE OF, AND NOT TO LIE UNUSED.

Break up your fallow ground.-Hos. x. 12.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.1-MATT. v. 16.`

Neglect not the gift that is in thee.2-1 TIM. iv. 14.

It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.-1 COR. iv. 2.

Unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability.3 *-MATT. xxv. 15.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.-LUKE xii. 48.

1 2 Cor. vi. 1. 2 Rom. xii. 6; 1 Cor. xii. 7, 11. 3 1 Pet. iv. 10. * See also the remainder of the parable, to verse 30.

I would that you would make use of that good wisdom whereof I know you are fraught.

KING LEAR.

Act 1. Scene 4.

The means that heaven yields, must be embraced,

And not neglected.

KING RICHARD II. Act III. Scene 2.

What is a man,

If his chief good, and market of his time,

Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more.
Sure, He, that made us with such large discourse
Looking before, and after, gave us not

That capability and godlike reason

To fust in us unused.

HAMLET. Act IV. Scene 4.

Heaven doth with us as we with torches do:

Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touched
But to fine issues; nor nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and use.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

Act 1. Scene 1.

XXII.

READINESS FOR DEATH.

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.1-2 PET. iii. 10.

Be ye therefore ready, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.2-LUKE xii. 40.

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth.-REV. xvi. 15.

I every day expect an embassage

From my Redeemer to redeem me hence.

KING RICHARD III. Act II. Scene 1.

Men must endure

Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all.*

KING LEAR. Act v. Scene 2.

1 Matt. xxiv. 42, 43; 1 Thess. v. 2, 3.

2 Rev. iii. 3.

* 'Tis a vile thing to die.

When men are unprepared, and look not for it.

KING RICHARD III. Act III. Scene 2.

XXIII.

SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.1

To sue to live, I find, I seek to die;

And seeking death find life.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Act III. Scene 1.

My joy is death;

Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard,
Because I wish'd this world's eternity.

KING HENRY VI. (2d part). Act 11. Scene 4.

XXIV.

A SAVING SACRIFICE.

If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter

1 John xii. 25.

2 Rev. xiv. 13.

into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.1

MATT. xviii. 8.

For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.-MATT. v. 30.

This festered joint cut off, the rest, rest sound;
This, let alone, will all the rest confound.

KING RICHARD II. Act v. Scene 3.

XXV.

FAITHLESSNESS.

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.2-Ps. xli. 9.

Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjured to the bosom ?

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

Act v. Scene 4.

1 Mark ix. 43, 44, 47; Col. iii. 5; Rom. viii. 13.

2 Ps. lv. 12, 13; 2 Sam. xv. 12; Obadiah 7; John xiii. 18.