Repent / What if this present were the world’s last night ?

Rabbi ben Eliezer used to say “Repent on the day before you die”. When his pupils asked “How do I know when that is?” he replied “You cannot know, so you’d better repent today”.

Or as Bishop Ken said:

“Redeem thy mis-spent time that’s past.
Live this day as if ‘twere thy last.”

What if this present were the world’s last night ?
Mark in my heart, O soul, where thou dost dwell,
The picture of Christ crucified, and tell
Whether His countenance can thee affright.
Tears in His eyes quench the amazing light ;
Blood fills his frowns, which from His pierced head fell ;
And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,
Which pray’d forgiveness for His foes’ fierce spite ?
No, no ; but as in my idolatry
I said to all my profane mistresses,
Beauty of pity, foulness only is
A sign of rigour ; so I say to thee,
To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign’d ;
This beauteous form assures a piteous mind.

John Donne Holy Sonnets No. XIII