III. The precise time of the conflagration is unknown; always prepare by watching, prayer, repentance
III. Nor is it more certain to humans when this world's conflagration will definitely and precisely be future, so that, security shaken off, they may always prepare themselves for it by watching, praying, and performing the exercises of repentance.
For wisely Augustine (City of God book 18, chapter 53): It is altogether importune, he says, that that be asked. And he adds: If it were profitable for us to know this, by whom better than by God's own Master would it be said to the asking disciples? For they were not silent about it before him, but asked of him present, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? But he: It is not yours, he says, to know the times which the Father has put in his own power (Acts 1:6–7). They had certainly not asked about day or hour or year, but about the time, when they received that answer. So also Anastasius of Sinai (Hexaemeron book 7): The true exit and end of the age, he says, only the creator of times and of all things knows. And Vincent of Beauvais (Natural Mirror book 32, chapter 102): How much time remains until the end of the age, it is certain that no mortal knows, unless perhaps the Lord has revealed it to someone by special grace. For he who says It is not yours to know commands the fingers of all who calculate about this matter to rest.
Latin
III. Neque magis hominibus certum est, quando definite ac precise haec mundi conflagratio sit futura, ut, securitate excussa, semper sese ad eam parent vigilando, orando & poenitentiae exercitia obeundo. Nam sapienter Augustinus lib. 18. de C.D. cap. 53. Importune, ait, omnino illud quaeri. Et addit: Si hoc nobis nosse prodesset, a quo melius quam ab ipso Dei magistro, interrogantibus discipulis, diceretur? Non enim siluerunt inde apud eum, sed a praesente quaesiverunt, dicentes, Domine, si hoc in tempore restaurabis regnum Israel? At ille, Non est, inquit, vestrum nosse tempora quae Pater in sua posuit potestate. Non utique illi de die vel hora vel anno, sed de tempore interrogaverant, quando illud accepere responsum. Sic & Anastasius Sinaites lib. 7. Hexaem. tom. 1. bibl. patrum: Verum, inquit, exitum & finem saeculi solus scit creator temporum & universorum. Et Vincentius Burgundus in Speculo natur. lib. 32. cap. 102: Quantum temporis usque ad finem saeculi supersit, certum est neminem mortalem esse qui noverit, nisi forsitan Dominus alicui speciali gratia revelaverit. Omnium namque de hac re calculantium digitos quiescere jubet, qui ait: Non est vestrum nosse &c.