The end of … world
The End as Fulfillment and Renewal
The Master defines the end of the world as the fulfillment of Christ's mystery and the renewal of all things, citing Scripture and noting the end of corruption.
Master. Holy Scripture calls the end of the world the full fulfillment and carrying-out of the kingdom and mystery of Christ, and the renewing of all things. For (says the Apostle Peter in his second letter, the third chapter:)12 We look for a new heaven and a new earth, according to the promise of God, where righteousness dwells.✦ And it seems reasonable that corruption, unstable change, and sin—to which the whole world is subject—should at last come to an end. Now I'd gladly hear you tell by what way, and in what manner and circumstances, these things will come to pass.3
The Manner of the World's Renewal
The Scholar describes how the heavens and earth will be purified by fire, and how man and the world will be renewed to a more beautiful state.
Scholar. I'll tell you as well as I can, based on the testimony of that same Apostle. The heavens will pass away like a storm; the elements will melt away; the earth and everything in it will be consumed with fire—as if to say: as gold is usually refined, so the whole world will be purified with fire and brought to its full perfection.4 The lesser world—man—following the same course, will likewise be delivered from corruption and change. And so for man, this greater world—which was first created for his sake—will at last be renewed, and clothed with another hue, much more pleasant and beautiful.
Read the original English
Maist. The end of the world ho… scripture calleth the ful fyllynge & parformaunce of the kyngdome and mistery of Christ, and the renewing of all thynges: For (saythe …he Apostle Peter in his se…ōd Epistle the third chapter.) We loke for a new heauen: and a new earth, according to the promise of God: whearin dwelleth ryghteousnesse. And it semeth reason that corruption, vnstedfaste chaunge, and synne, wherunto the whole world is subiect, shoulde at length haue an end. Now bi what way, and what fasshiō circumstaunces these thinges shal come to passe▪ I would fayne heare the tell.
Scholer. I will tell you as well as I can, accordyng to the wytnesse of the same, Apostle. The heauens shall passe awaye like a storme▪ … elementes shal melt awaye: the earthe, & all the workes therein▪ shall bee consumed wyth fyre: as thoughe he shuld say: as gould is wont to be fined: so shal the whole world be purified with fire, and be broughte to hys full perfection. The lesser world, whiche is man, folowynge the same, shall lykewyse bee delyuered from corruption and chaunge. And so for mā this greater worlde (which for hys sake was first created) shall at lēgth be renewed: & be clad wyth another hew, much more pleasaunt and beutifull.
Scripture echoes
- ↩2Pet.3.13 — But in keeping with his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source lacuna 'ho… scripture' restored as 'holy scripture' (Early Modern object-first word order: 'The end of the world holy scripture calleth…'). Lacunae '…he' and 'se…ōd' restored as 'the' and 'second'.
- 2 ↩'ful fyllynge & parformaunce' rendered as 'full fulfillment and carrying-out' (consummation and accomplishment), not theatrical 'performance'.
- 3 ↩Source 'fasshiō circumstaunces' read as 'fashion [and] circumstances' (n abbreviated by macron; asyndeton or lost 'and'). 'the tell' read as Early Modern 'thee tell' → modern 'you tell'.
- 4 ↩Normalized source has an ellipsis between 'storme' and 'elementes' (likely a lost connective such as 'and the'); sense restored from the surrounding 2 Peter paraphrase without inventing content.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit