Unless it so befall that he live so well afterward and do
so much good that he outrun, in the shorter time, those good folk
that yet did so much in much longer. This is proved in the blessed
apostle St. Paul, who of a persecutor became an apostle, and last
of all came in unto that office, and yet in the labour of sowing
the seed of Christ's faith outran all the rest so far that he
forbore not to say of himself, "I have laboured more than all the
rest have."
But yet, my cousin, though I doubt not that God be so merciful
unto those who, at any time of their life, turn and ask his mercy
and trust in it, though it be at the last end of a man's life; and
that he hireth him as well for heaven who cometh to work in his
vineyard toward night at such time as workmen leave work, and
goeth home, being then willing to work if time should serve, as he
hireth him who cometh in the morning; yet may no man upon the
trust of this parable be bold all his life to lie still in sin.
For let him remember that no man goeth into God's vineyard but he
who is called thither. Now he who, in hope to be called toward the
night, will sleep out the morning and drink out the day, is full
likely to pass at night unspoken to. And then shall he with ill
rest go supperless to bed!
They tell of one who was wont always to say that all the while he
lived he would do what he pleased, for three words when he died
should make all safe enough.
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