Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 24:44

44 Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the son of man cometh.

Mark saith, Take you heed, Watch and Pray, for you know not when the time is, Ch. 13.33. what our Lord here meaneth by Watching is easily gathered, as well by what went before, where our Saviour had been speaking of the Security and Luxury of the old World: As by what followeth, v. 44. where he biddeth them, be always ready, and therefore Luke, Ch. 21.34. expounds this thus: And take heed to your selves, lest at any time your Hearts be over-charged with Su[illegible: 1 letter]fetting, and Drunkenness, and Cares of this Life, and so that day come upon you at unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them, that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth. Watch you therefore and Pray, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things, that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Our Saviour in these Verses, from the incertainty of the particular time, when the day of Judgment shall be, presseth upon his Disciples, a Sober, Heavenly and Holy Life; intimating that by such a Life only, they can make themselves ready for the coming of Christ, and to [illegible: 1 letter]tand before the Son of Man, when he shall appear in his Power and Glory. He presseth this from that which common Prudence would teach any Housholder viz. If he knew in what Watch of the Night a Thief would come to watch, and not suffer his House to be broken open. That is, in what time of the Night, ([illegible: 1 span] Iews divided the Night into the first, second, third, and fourth Watch, as the Romans divided it for relief of their Military Guards. Now (saith our Saviour) you, knowing that there will come such a time, and not certainly knowing at what time, stand concerned to be always Watching and Praying.