this transitory life, and now sleep in the sleep of peace, and rest from
their labours in quietness and peaceable sleep, faithfully, lovingly, and
patiently looking for that that they clearly shall see when God shall be
so pleased. For all these, and for grace necessary, ye shall say unto
God God's prayer, _Pater-noster_.

THE SECOND SERMON, IN THE AFTERNOON.

_Filii hujus seculi_, &c.--Luc. xvi. [8].

Christ in this saying touched the sloth and sluggishness of his, and did
not allow the fraud and subtlety of others; neither was glad that it was
indeed as he had said, but complained rather that it should be so: as
many men speak many things, not that they ought to be so, but that they
are wont to be so. Nay, this grieved Christ, that the children of this
world should be of more policy than the children of light; which thing
was true in Christ's time, and now in our time is most true. Who is so
blind but he seeth this clearly; except perchance there be any that
cannot discern the children of the world from the children of light? The
children of the world conceive and bring forth more prudently; and things
conceived and brought forth they nourish and conserve with much more
policy than do the children of light. Which thing is as sorrowful to be
said, as it seemeth absurd to be heard. When ye hear the children of the
world, you understand the world as a father. For the world is father of
many children, not by the first creation and work, but by imitation of
love. He is not only a father, but also the son of another father. If
ye know once his father, by and by ye shall know his children. For he
that hath the devil to his father, must needs have devilish children. The
devil is not only taken for father, but also for prince of the world,
that is, of worldly folk. It is either all one thing, or else not much
different, to say, children of the world, and children of the devil;
according to that that Christ said to the Jews, "Ye are of your father
the devil:" where as undoubtedly he spake to children of this world. Now
seeing the devil is both author and ruler of the darkness, in the which
the children of this world walk, or, to say better, wander; they mortally
hate both the light, and also the children of light. And hereof it
cometh, that the children of light never, or very seldom, lack
persecution in this world, unto which the children of the world, that is,
of the devil, bringeth them. And there is