Thomas A Kempis 1.23 (Part 2) Meditation on Mortality

You, most dear in the Lord, you might free yourself from much danger and fear, if the fear of death were the only one in your mind! Apply yourself now to live so that the hour of death brings no fear, but rather joy. Learn now to die to the world, so that already you begin to live with Christ. Learn now to despise other things so that you may freely go to Christ. Keep your body in penitence, and you will be able to have a sure confidence.

Fool, do you think that you shall live long, when you are not sure of a single day? How many have been deceived, and have been drawn from the body unexpectedly! How often have you heard people speak of death: that one died violently, another drowned, another fell and broke his neck, another choked, another died while at play. They'll say someone died in a fire, someone died being stabbed, another from disease, another by a robber. For all, the end is death, and human life is gone as fast as a shadow. 

Who will keep your memory after your death, and who will pray for you? Most dear in the Lord, now is the time to do all you can for yourself, because you do not know when you will die. Neither do you know what will happen to you after death. While you have time, store up immortal treasure. Consider your salvation, and think of nothing else. Only for the things of God, spend your care. Make yourself friends by venerating the saints, imitating their works, so that when this life fails, they will receive you into your eternal home. 

Carry yourself as a pilgrim and guest on this earth, to whom the concerns of this world are nothing. Keep your heart free, upright, and uplifted towards God, for here have we no enduring city. To Him your prayers and groans are daily directed with tears, that your spirit may deserve after death to pass happily to the Lord.

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.23 (second part).

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art