is nothing more precious with God then the vertue of loue there is nothing that the deuill desireth more then the extinguishing of charitie and loue IERONIMVS THERE is nothing hard or difficult vnto those that doo loue there is no tedious trauell in loue Let vs therefore loue Christe and what so euer thing is hard of it selfe vnto vs wee shall thinke it very easyly to be atcheeued of vs. MARO Poeta THE labours and trauelles of louers can not by any meanes be tedious and burdenous vnto them but euen them selues are delighted therein as they that haue a delight eyther in hunting fowling or fisshing BERNARDVS WHAT man so euer he be that shall perfectly discerne the burden of sinne and the wound of his soule or conscience shal eyther very little or nothing at all feele the payne or vexation of his body neyther shall he thinke much of the labour bestowed wherein he shall vnderstand howe to deface and wype away his sinnes doone and past and learne to take heede how he commit any more such offences in time to come c. As nothing more maketh resemblance To feendish feares then strife and debate So humane kinde by charitable acquaintance To heauenly Angels is associate This laudable loue makes man laureate Loue makes our labour light in comparison Loue is a vertue of valure inuiolate And chaungeth care to consolation AVGVSTINVS BEtter is that medicine preserueatiue then that which is curatiue AVGVSTINVS ALL haynous offences and horrible whiche man dooth by custome commit are eyther thought by him to be but small or none at all so as not only they are not to be cloked and couered but also doo require to be published and openly detected Philippus in Prolog 3. Phil. CErtaine persons there haue been so accustomed to feede vpon very poyson that they haue taken it for their onely meate SENECA de vita moribus GOod custome ought to shake out and reiect those thinges which the euyl custome hath put in vre and trayned in man. ARISTOT 7. lib. Ethicorum IT is a hard thing for man to resist withstand custome because she is made so like nature in her proper vse yet notwithstanding it is an easier thing for vs to alter and chaunge custome then naturall inclination PSALME 42. ONE depthe calleth vpon an other they haue prolonged their iniquitie ECCLESIASTI CAP. 37. O Most wicked presumption from whence art thou descended Thy corporall health from sicknesse to conserue Is more of prise then any medecine So then thy soule may rather deserue Of deadly wound all sinne for to decline Then for to taste the venemous propine Of sinne and after seeke the salue of repentance Presumption ryseth of the olde serpentine VVhiche doubtles doth proue a perillous pestelance BERNARDVS O Thou my soule whiche art the badge of a Christian made noble after the image of God decored with equall forme spoused vnto him in fayth endowed with the spirite redeemed with his blood made heyre with angels receauer of blessednesse the child of grace and partaker of reason what hast thou with thee as touching thy frayle fleshe what may be saide hast thou not found it an vnsauery and noysome dounghil Idem BERNARDVS O Cleare white vnspotted Lilly oh thou tender and delicate floure there are vnbeleeuing people abidyng with thee and such as seeke thy subuertion and with Scorpions hast thou thy dwelling Take heede and see that thou walke warely amongst the thorns because the worlde is full of thornes they breede on the earth they are in the ayre and they are in thy fleshe To be therefore conuersant amongst these and by them not to be hurt consisteth in the power deuine to withstand and not in any vertue that thou hast AVGVSTINVS O Howe is that Soule vnhappy which is sequestred from the cheefe felicitie and ouer whom the deuill hath sway she is made voyde of lyght and enuironed with darkenesse she is consumed with pleasure and made drunke with bitter waters she loseth life and fyndeth death c. Of our soules Lord we make record with ruthe As flowres fayre tender and delicate To Christe our spouse wedded with ring of truthe Though in this life we haue dayly debate Yet graunt in fayth that we be laureate From hurtfull sinne with syncere conscience O Lord to thee let vs not liue ingrate Sithe thou with vs wolte haue thy residence ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for TVESDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for VVENSDAY The damage due to deadly sinne To seeke to voyde let vs not linne The Translators Application The third day this Creator then the waters here belowe Into â—ne place dyd geather and them in one floodde bestowe The drye land thence deuided hee the Sea those waters named The Sea for trauell to and fro the Earth for fruite he framed VVho liues then in this earthy vale Taste fruites of trouble death and bale PSALME 51. BEcause I doo acknowledge myne iniquitie and my sinne is alway against me TOBIA CAP. 12. BVT they that commit sinne and iniquitie are enimies to their owne soule GREGORIVS THERE should no aduersitie or mishap hurt vs yf there dyd no iniquitie condemne and adiudge vs woorthy therof PSALME 38. MY iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a great burden are they heauy vppon me PROVERBES CAP. 14. SInne maketh the people become miserable AGVSTINVS WHAT can be more miserable then the wretched worldling which hath no compassion of him selfe ESAI CAP. 13. I Wyll vizite the landes with diseases and agaynst the wicked wyll I goe with theyr inâ—quities ECCLESIAST CAP. 27. AS the Lion is euer lurking for his pray so dooth the sinnes of man lye in wayte for them that woorke mischeefe AVGVSTINVS SInne is defined to be any thyng spoken or any thyng done eyther any desyre striuing agaynst the lawe of God. BERNARDVS O Howe wretched is the state of sinners which esteeme of the sonne of God as of a Swineheard ESAI CAP. 59. YOur iniquities haue set enimity betwene you and your God and your sinnes haue couered his face from beholdyng you with mercie and that he shoulde not heare you when you pray vnto him Idem sequitur OVr iniquites are multiplied before him and our sinnes haue made answear vnto vs. 2. REGVM CAP. 3. DAVID spake these woordes touching Ioab The Lorde recompence the euyll man according to the mallice of his mischeefe PSALME 31. THOV hast hated all them that doo woorke wickednesse To define of sinne in sentences short No man well may so full it is of care Neuerthelesse as novv I purpose to report Howe in eache season sinne is most contrare To mans weale supplanting eache afare Vnto his damage where it may preuayle Enforcing ay of blisse to reue him bare In soule in body and in goodes temporall AVGVSTINVS SInne is the ransacking spoyle of the good grace receaued and a corruption naturally grafted in man. PROVERB CAP. 4. BVT the wicked and vngodly in the land shal be destroyed PROVERBES CAP.
Iudges which were seene to beare rule ouer the people and they haue turned away their vnderstanding and haue withdrawen their eyes from beholding the Heauen neither would they remember the iudgementes of the iust This processe of iudgement is short vvithout tarying VVhen for our sinnes shall serue none excuse But our vnkindnesse to Christe our soueraigne king Our consciences eke vvitnesses shall vs accuse VVhen vve his gracious good fauour abuse God graunt therefore by ages tofore past VVe in this last aige such vvarnyng may take That cleauing in feare to this our God fast VVe may auoyde the danger of the dreadfull lake 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR we all must needes be manifested and openly reuailed before the tribunall seate of Christe that euery man may reape that whiche he hath done in his body be it good or be it bad ESAI CAP. 13. BEhold the day of the Lord shal come that cruell day and full of indignation wrath and furies to put the earth in feare and her sinners to be ouerthrowen by her because the Starres of Heauen and their glitâ—ering hue shall not geue foorth light vnto them EZECHIEL 6. THE end commeth it shall stand vp as a watchman against the sorowe shal come vpon thee which dwellest vppon the Earth the time is come the day of death is neare at hand and not of the ioyfull sound of the Hils Now euen at hand foorthwith wyll I powre out my indignation vppon thee and wyll accomplishe the desire of my fury vppon thee and wyl iudge thee according to thy wayes and wyll lay vppon thee as a burden all thy wickednesse and my eye shall haue no compassion vpon thee neither wyll I shewe thee any mercy but wyl lay vpon thee thine owne wicked wayes MATTHE 25. THen shall he say to those which shal stand vpon his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels ORIGEN SInners doo lincke them selues in amitie with the Deuill as they which are by the prouidence of God saued are made coequals with the holy angels So such as perishe are compared vnto the angels of the Deuil Augustinus 21. de ciuitate dei HEreby also is it manifest that the same fire is geuen by ordinance for a pounishment vnto men and deuils Gregorius 33. cap. mora IT belongeth to the iustice of a straight Iudge neuer to withdrawe pounishment from them whiche of their owne mindes in this life would neuer withdrawe them selues from sinne PSALME 119. VNderstand this you that haue forgotten God least that at any time he take you away by force and then there be no man to take you out of his handes c. Then shall Christe thus pronounce for conclusion From his leaft hand vvhen he the vvicked shal expel Depart yee vvofull vvretches vvith my malediction To the perpetuall fyre and tormentes of hell In dolorous darknesse vvith deuils there to dvvell VVithout recouerie shall be there your residence Fellovved vvith feendes furious and fell And of my person neuer more to haue presence MATTHE 25. COme you the blessed of my Father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world ORIGEN FOR the holy ones of God whiche haue wrought the woorkes of righteousnesse haue alredy taken for their hyre the inheritaunce on the right hand of GOD for their woorkes of righteousnesse wherein consistes both rest and glorious triumphe AVGVSTINVS LAbour in worldly matters will discourage thee from comming vnto God but behold the Heauens whiche haue learned the first commaundement they fulfill the same TOBIA 6. THE Lorde GOD of Heauen shall rewarde thee with ioy and comfort for the werisome trauel that thou hast endured 2. CORINTH 1. FOR this ioye and comfort that we haue conceaued is a witnesse of our conscience within vs c. PSALME 100. BE you glad in the Lord and be ioyful you that are iust c. and reioyce you in the lord c. MATTH CAP. 24. WAtche therefore because you know not the houre when the Lord wyll come HIERONIMVS IT was not requisite that the Apostles should haue the day of the foreknowledged comming of Christe reuealed vnto them that by reason of theyr earnest looking for of his comming they not knowing when yet might alwayes beleeue that he would come whom they knewe not howe soone he would come GREGORIVS WHat man seemeth to watche in deede which to beholde the brightnesse of the true light keepeth open the eyes of his mind That man watcheth who obserueth that order of dooing well which he beleeueth is acceptable before god That man watcheth which driueth from him the darknesse of dolour and negligence IOHN CAP. 3. O Ye generacions of Vipers who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to ome Doo you therefore shewe foorth woorthy fruites of repentance PSALME EVen as the wounded bodies sleeping in their graues that is to say The sinners of whom there is no further memory and those are repulsed out of thy handes PSALME 36. DEpart from dooing that is euill and doo good After the first sentence the second folowe shall Full of solace and consolation Saying vnto those on his right hand all Come ye chyldren on my benediction VVhich haue me loued with true intention Receaue you the kingdome of lasting blis Reserued for you from the worldes creation God grannt vs thy grace to labour for this ESAI CAP. 46. REturne and come againe oh you that haue frowardly walked after your owne hart GREGORIVS O How strait shall then be the way for the reprobate aboue in the Heauens shall sitte the Iudge full of displeasure belowe in Hell shal be an horrible confusion vpon the right hande shall stand our sinnes to accuse vs vpon the leaft hand infinite numbers of Deuils which shall drawe vs to the tormenting place within vs the gnawing of our conscience and without vs the Woâ—ld burning rounde about Whyther then shall the sinner flee To appeare to iudgement shal be intollerable for him and to hyde him setfe shal be impossible PSALME 138. I Haue remembred these and I haue powred out myne owne soule before me HIERONIMVS BVT thou discreete Reader marke and consider that both the punishments which are ordeyned are eternall and that the euerlasting ioyfull life hath in it no maner of decay or ruine ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. BE mindfull of the wrath of the Highest because he wyll not long foreslewe the time MATTH CAP. 10. FEare not ye those that haue power to slay the body onely but rather feare you him which is able to destroy both body and soule euen in the very Hell. Augustinus de verbis Domi. BVT we see all such as loue this present life temporall and which is soone ended so to labour for the same that when the passion of death approcheth them they make all the shift they can that they not be taken away with death and by all meanes seeke to prolong their life If then men doo with suche
neyther can the delites of the body of the soule abide to dwell togeather HVGO 2. de Anima A Good conscience is the tytle and signe of religion the Temple of Salomon the feelde of blessing the breeder of delites the golden reclaiming meane of a transgressor the ioy of Angels the Court of God the habitackle or dwellyng place of the holy ghost the booke opened and shut which shal be manifested in the day of iudgement CASSIODORVS WHAT is there thought may be obteyned where as a good conscience is lost GREGORIVS THere is no man more corrupt in life then he that seemes to him self to be cleare and sound in lyfe SENECA ad Lucillum LOoke vppon the mind scanne vppon the maners marke and be mindful of thy doinges for euer in them and by or of them shalt thou knowe what thou art CICERO IT is a poynt of foolishnesse properly for a man to prye and looke neare into other mens faultes and to forgeat his owne God graunt al states to keepe with diligence In conscience good the most assured stay Of treasures heauenly highest in excellence VVhich may our mindes chearefull make alway That lyfe from learnyng doo not goe astray Ne yet with shiftes of cloked collusion Our selues and our freendes corrupt we may To turne vnto our owne confusion ZACHE CAP. 13. I Wyll smite the Shepheard and the sheepe of the flocke shal be scattered one from an other the integritie of them that beare rule is the health of the Subiectes ECLESIAST CAP. 8. IT falleth out nowe and then that one man hath power ouer an other to his owne hinderance PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE Citie shall reioyce in the wealth of iust and vpright Rulers and there shal be ioy ouer the destruction of the wicked BERNARDVS MAN is neuer in state of honour without dolour and sorowe in pleasure without payne in aucthoritie without vanitie ESAI CAP. 3. I Wyl geue them children for their princes and such as are of womanish mindes shall beare aucthoritie ouer them and the people shall perishe BERNARDVS ad Impios THY Shepheardes are chaunged into fleesers of their flocke thy Lambes into Woolues thy defenders into dispersers of the flocke and they that should be sober are dayly geuen to drunkennesse they that should be chaste are vicious liuers for godly Prelates thou shalt haue wicked Pilates and they that ought to be godâ—y inducers and teachers of thee shal be seducers and fetchers of thee from the right way Eche Communalty then standeth in good state VVhen as their princes rulde are by reason But be they vicious and infatuate Then falleth all to foule confusion VVe haue to marke then what abusion Other Realmes doo on them selues ay bring By their misrule way our condicion In happier state God knoweth florishng AVGVSTINVS DAVID the second Kyng of Israel dooth surely shine in mankind as it were a certayne brightnesse that would dazell our eyes In what man at any time were there found togeather these two thinges that is to say so great aucthoritie conceaued with so great humility so great courage so great clemencie so great a care as he conteyned towardes the disposing of his worldly affaires so pure and deuoute contemplacion or meditating of spirituall matters to kill so many men and to shed teares of repentance to fall into so great offences as he dyd and to perfourme so good repentance PSALM 119. I Am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al the riches and worldly wealth which I haue Idem DElight thou thy selfe in the Lord and he shall rewarde thee euen to the desyres of thy owne hart Idem WEre it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe I shoulde then perhappes haue perished in my owne humilitie Lorde my hart is not puffed vp neither are my eyes lifted vp neither haue I walked in greate thinges nor in woonderfull thinges aboue my reache Lord remember Dauid and all his mercie August in epist. ad comit charis WIth exhorting thee good brother I beseeche thee that vnto euery seruaunt of thy housholde from the greatest vnto the least thou wouldst be a messenger of loue and sweetenes towardes the obteyning of that heauenly kingdome and denounce vnto them the horror and trembling that is in the infernall pit of hell and that thou be wyse thy selfe for theyr welfare and be as a watche man vnto them because for euery seruaunt which is within thy house thou shalt render an account PSALME 101. DEpart ye wicked from me and I wyll searche foorth the commaundementes of my God. VVho euer yet conioyned in one person So profound meekenes with high excellence Such temporall trouble with harts deuotion So great slaughter so prteous penitence Seuere iustice mixt with compacience As had King Dauid loe appeareth well To God and man his watchfull diligence At this day Princes many doth excell SAPIENCE CAP. 15. FOR the louers of euill men are woorthy of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 7. GOE away from the wicked man and there shall no euill come neare thee 1. CORINTH CAP. 5. I Haue written vnto you that you should not entermingle your selues with fornicators with offenders specially whiche haue committed fornication against god And this dyd I vnto that end that eyther they myght be confounded or amended MATTH CAP. 7. HEarken not you vnto the false prophetes whiche may come vnto you in Sheepes clothing CHRISOST super Matth. IN nature of worldly things saith he thus falleth it out that so ofte as the euyll man is a companion vnto the good man the euill man is not made better by the good man but by the euyll man the good man is made woorse HIERONIMVS THERE is nothing so much hurteth a man as dooth euyll company I thinke it a thing more then possible that that man can any longer continew in dooing well whiche is dayly conuersant with euyll men PSALME 1. BLessed is the man which hath not walked in the counsell of the wicked and hath not stand in the way of the vngodly nor hath not sit in the chayre of pestilence but hath reposed his wyll and desyre in the lawe of the Lorde PSALME 18. WIth the holy thou shalt be holy and with the froward thou shalt learne frowardnesse In two poyntes dependeth principally The key of honest conuersation Into wyse counsayle and good company VVherefore as Princes with due discretion Knowe euery counsellours disposition For better sauety in good gouernment Semblably eche baser state and condicion By company and counsell are ruled verament HESTER CAP. 18. WHiche matter is prooued by auncient histories and by suche persons as they are accomplished dayly how by the euill suggestions of certaine which are in aucthoritie about some princes of the world the trauels and affaires of those Princes are brought to yll passe 2. PARALIPOM CAP. 24. IOAS the King of Iuda dyd that whiche was acceptable in the syght of the Lord so long as Ioiada the high Priest liued but of trueth when Ioiada dyed the Pâ—inces
wretched thy price is precious MATTH CAP. 27. ABout the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voyce saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken me AVGVSTINVS SVrely these were the woordes signifiyng what a carefull and troubled spirite he had for vs which are beset with troubles and in them expresseth a certaine tendernesse of bitter passion and sorowe proceeding out of his so deepe sithes entire lamentation and bitter plaint whiche might suffice to molefie vnto compunction and remorse a very iron brest might cleaue in sunder a stony stomacke might humble and bowe the hart of wood towardes loue and finally moysten a very brasen hart towards contemplacion in this case Neyther let man marueyle yf he doo suffer tribulations because he is so comforted in Christe his head and cheefe captaine MATTHE 27. AND when he had cryed agayne with a loud voyce he gaue vp the gohst IOHN CAP. 29. AND bowing the head he gaue vp the gohst AVGVSTINVS THE Sauiour of the worlde bowed his head at his death that he might kisse his welbeloued Mother and the Disciples then and there present And wee doo so oftentimes kisse him as we are compunct and throughly stirred vp to the hartifull remembraunce of his death ANCELMVS· THE Heauens stoode astonished at his death the Earth was amazed What dooest thou then oh Man Neither is it a thing to be marueyled at yf the shinyng Sunne became perplexed that thou shouldest be also perplexed yf els the Earth became sadde and pensiue so thou shouldest likewyse be sadde and pensiue yf the Stones were rent in sender that thy hart be rent in sonder yf those that stoode by the Crosse dyd weepe thou shouldest weepe as well as they HIERONIMVS BEhold when Christe dyed euery creature had compassion vpon him but man alone hath not had any compassion at al vpon him for whom in deede Christe dyed His spirite commending to his fathers cure â–ª VVhen that he cryed consummatum est Both Heauen and Earth and liueles creature On him compassion tooke from most to least O wretched man why art not thou then prest For loue of thy Redeemer sweete Iesus To plant compassion in the faythfull brest Suffering for him all harmes iniurious IOHN CAP. 19. AND they tooke the body of Iesus and wrapped it in linnen clothes and spiced it with Balme and sweete odours BERNARDVS MAry the mother of Christe was the example of sorowe and compassion vnto all those that loue Christe HVGO de passione Christi BEhold oh man what I suffer for thy sake see the paynes and troubles that I endure for thee see the nayles wherevnto I am fastened and whyle I endure for thee such outward sorowe yet notwithstandyng my inward gronyng is more greeuous whyle I trye thee and finde thee an vnthankful freend vnto me HEBREOS CAP. 6. CRucifiyng agayne vnto them selues the sonne of God. Glosa Auctoris THey crucifie Christe and are found reprochefull vnto him which contemnyng his grace doo sleepe in their sinnes Bernardus in persona anime deuote I Knewe not sayth he that Christe so loued me I ought not to be therefore reprochefull vnto my self which so manifestly see that God was crucified and suffered death for me which haue been so acceptable vnto him that he chose rather to dye for me least that I should otherwyse perishe Idem OH precious Soule not with gold nor siluer redeemed but with the blood of the lambe of God why wylt thou cast thy selfe so into perdition seeing Christe for thee shed his precious blood haue remorse ouer thyne owne soule seeking to please God. Regard oh man this wofull disceuerance Behold Mary behold her sonne Iesu If ruthe haue roome in thy remembrance VVith piteous hart his passion to pursew Through which thou mayst thyne innocencie renew O electe vessell knowe thy felicitie Of thy misrule thincke time it were to rew Confound not thy selfe through thyne iniquitie BERNARDVS COuld not GOD repare his pretended woorke of grace in Man any other way but by this so great danger of his owne lyfe Yes truely he might otherwyse haue remedied this matter but he had rather woorke this meanes though it were to the preiudice of his owne person because he woulde not finde any further hatefull vice of ingratitude in man but that he would make man a debter vnto him of manifolde loue that he ought vnto his Sauiour and hereby shoulde encourage him to be thankfull vnto him whom the felicitie of his creation had made lesse gratefull when as this our Creator for our sakes but spake the woord and al things was done he commaunded it should be and they were created ANCELMVS THerefore God was able being a man also to satisfie for man but yet he was not bound to any man so to doo But man was and is bounden to satisfye the wyll of God and coulde not nor can not therefore it was needefull that God should be a man that is to say because in that he was Christ he was able to satisfye as God and was not bounden as man. GREGORIVS HE that made vs of nothing yea yf it had pleased him coulde haue redeemed vs without his death or passion Augustinus de ciuitate dei THere could not haue been any more fitter meanes wrought to heale our miserie then that Christe should dye for vs. And though that God by power Omnipotent Might vs redeemd without such difficultie There was no way more iust nor congruent Then for to take on him our humanitie Restoryng vs thereby to higher dignitie Man was in thrall and could him not acquite To make amends of power deuoyde was he But God him freed by fauour infinite BERNARDVS WHen I shall â—eepely excogitate whatsoeuer I am of my selfe whatsoeuer I can doo of my self is it not thincke I with my selfe in respect as a Starre to be compared to the Sunne a sparcke of fyre to the heate of a whole furnace a droppe of watâ—r in comparison of a flood a litle stone in respect of a hill a grayne of Corne to a whole heape and a handfull to all the worlde Therefore Lord I haue but two small powers in me nay they are very litle that I haue that is to say the one my body the other my soule or rather I haue but one onely litle power that is to say my good hart and wyllyng mind whiche thou hast made and geuen me And shall I not bestowe it in recompence of thy good wyll who being such a one as thou art hast bestowed so much for me and hath as it were preuented me at once with so great benefites who hath in thy selfe comprised me wholy or otherwyse yf I shall retayne these to my selfe and not bestowe them of thee with what countenance with what eyes and with what mind or conscience doo I goe vnto the bowels of the mercie of my God and I do see that same most strong safegard or defence of myne is altogeather gored whereby Israel is kept and that his blood
not as droppes but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body hath been shedde for the price of my redemption c. Trenorum primo O All you that passe by the way marke well and see yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe BERNARDVS BEhold oh man with the eye of thy mind in what duetifull debt of recompence thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee It shall behoue vs to consider well That this was done for our saluation Our vnthankfulnesse let vs then expell And gratefull be for our redemption VVhich to frequent in harty deuotion Aboue all thinges our mind for to remord As mighty medicine and fruitefull confection Doth linck one loue with Christ our soueraigne lord BERNARD Snpee illud canticorum Fasciculus Mirrhe O Howe shewed he mercy more then he ought to haue done howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs what admirable sweetenesse what inuincible mildnesse and humilitie in that he being the king of glory should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies for the most vylest person of the world to suffer death ANCELMVS THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast as shal make the same most healthfull and strong Idem AWake thou oh my soule and more diligently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man as one borne before the time and so conceaued as though no man regarded him and as one in the sight of the world vnwoorthy deformed and leprous Trenorum primo HEare me I beseeche you all you people and behold my sorowe and anguishe 1. GALATHI CAP. 6. GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I am crucifyed vnto the world BERNARDVS HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord is wounded for thy sake and is content to suffer langwors and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde is made strange vnto the world for thy loue is strong as death and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell VVherefore sweete Iesu our loue and soueraine Lord Treasure of treasures which may vs most auayle VVith ruthfull repentance nowe wee record Our great vnthanke and blindnesse bestiall Of pitie praying thy power imperiall To multiply thy mercy so vpon vs That of thy merites with cares inspeciall Thankfull to thee wee may be studious BERNARDVS WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body And vouchsafe thou oh Lorde to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie and print therein the woundes of thy body that after the course of this lyfe I may freely commende into thy handes my soule as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde AVGVSTINVS I Beseeche thee good Lorde so pearce and wounde this my soule with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll shee being chastized may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night Bernardus super verbo Pater ignoscie VOuchsafe oh Lord and heauenly father to looke downe from out of thy Sanctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse Idem REmember nowe oh Man and although thou knowest thy self to be created of nothing yet notwithstandyng thou hast to acknowledge that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing The Creator Redeemer and Sauiour in sixe dayes made all thinges and thre amongst all thinges but in thirtie yeere space that is to say In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake Ponishe not thy people Lord God in thy greeuance Thincke why thy sonne Christe suffered his passion The crowne of thorne the crosse and Longeus launce Vouchsafe accept our harty gratulation Rewyng vpon our sinfull conuersation Plant in our hartes such reuerent regard Towardes thy good graces by due consideration In suffring for thy sake may thinke nothing to hard ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for FRYDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SATVRSDAY Here thinke to eschew the hellishe payn For such as in vyle sinne remayne The Translators Application The same good God now bids the Earth of creatures in eche kinde To yeeld increase as Cattell VVoorme and Beastes by him assnde Man then after his image made him rule he gaue and sway Creating woman a comfort to him with mutuall stay Amids these pleasures mortall man Shun hellysh paynes all that thou can IOHM CAP. 1. ALL thinges are by him made and without him is nothing made 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HEareby knowe wee the loue of God towardes vs because he hath geuen his life for vs. IOHN CAP. 13. NO man hath greater loue in him then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes BERNARDVS OF trueth sweete Iesus thou hast hadde greater loue whiche hast geuen thy lyfe euen for thy persecuting enemies 1. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR you are bought with a great price TITVS CAP. 3. NOT according to the woorkes of righteousnesse which we haue done but accordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs. APOCALIPS CAP. 11. THY wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes as to thy holy ones to those that feare thy name small and great and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land PSALM 104. THOV haste made all thinges in wysedome PSALME 7. GOD is a iust Iudge strong and pacient MATTH CAP. 15. DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels Sequitur AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pounishment IOB CAP. 7. WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel shall not ascende vnto the heauens AVCTOR Herevpon a certayn Gentile hath this sentence If I had a hundred tongues and as many mouthes and a voyce as strong as Iron I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes and for the pounishmentes thervnto due they are so many that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence then to resite them at full DEVTERONO CAP. 32. I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades that is to lay all kindes of tormentes and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them ECCLESIASTI CAP. 29. FYre Tempest Famine and Death all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly PSALME 11. IT raigneth snares vppon sinners
Fyre Brimstone and Tempest Aucthour FOr as the droppes of rayne are innumerable so are the pounishmentes due vnto the wicked After the sentence of finall damnation Then Lucifer with all the hellish feendes fell And with them sinners without redemption All on a heape shall headlong haste to hell VVhere in deadly dolour their dome is to dwell VVhose perillous paynes no speache can expreme In heate and colde yea and in cares cruell So shall they exceede surpassing extreme VINCENTIVS EVen as the eye of man hath not seene his care hath not heard neyther hath it ascended into the hart of man what God hath prepared for them that loue him So vndoubtedly ought we acknowledge that mans eye hath neuer seene neyther hath the eare of any trauayler heard neither hath it ascended into the hart of man how many euils there are which God hath prepared for them whiche trespasse against his deuine Maiestie Idem Vincencius ACcordyng to the saying of naturall reason Euen as the kyng hath a fayre Hall for his freendes a Kitchin and Stable for his seruauntes and Cattle and a place of pounishment for guyltye persons So God the kyng of kynges hath prepared Heauen for his freendes and the elect the world for time seruers and transgressors and hell it selfe for those that are dampned SAPIENCE CAP. 5. THEY shall stand in great constancie against those whiche haue molested them and whiche haue defrauded them of their labours They seeing this shal be troubled with horrible feare shall marueile at them in the suddennes of an vnhoped for health thus saying amongst them selues repenting when it is to late and mournyng for very anguish of soule saying These are they whom we sometimes despised and disdained to beare rule who being out of our wittes esteemed their life to be madnesse and their ende without honour Behold how they are reckoned amongst the sonnes of God and their lot falleth among the Saintes therefore haue we erred from the way of trueth and the light of righteousnesse hath not shined vnto vs and the sonne of vnderstandyng hath not appeared vnto vs we haue gone astray in the way of iniquitie and perdition and haue walked difficult wayes but the way of the Lorde haue we not knowen In our malignitie are we therefore consumed suche thinges shall they say in hell which haue sinned O hart of man most hard and incensible VVhich hast no dreade of this damnation Blind as brutall beast irracionable VVhy fallest thou thus to finall confusion Hast thou no pitie of thy perdition Be warned in time to eschew Thalmightyes ire Pray and repent thee with true contrition To flee the flame of that infernall fire PSALME 72. SInners shal be conuerted vnto hell that is to say shall feele the tormentes thereof IOB CAP. 23. THE Lorde hath mollefied my hart and the Omnipotent hath layd troubles vpon me PROSPER LET the vexed mind fyrst behold the punishment due for sinne before she doo offend and let her set before her eyes the sorowes in respect of carnall concupiscences which were woont to folowe the sinner at the hard heeles and there shall no sinne delight her neither shal any carnall delectation moue her to offend God. Psalmista de impijs 2. LET vs breake the bondes of them in sunder and cast from vs their yoke Idem LET his sorowe returne vpon his owne head and let his iniquitie lyght vpon his owne pate APOCAL. CAP. 2. HE that hath eares to heare let him heare what the spirite sayth to the congregations MATTH CAP. 22. BInde him hand and foote and cast him into the vttermost darknesse ESAI CAP. 24. THey shal be geathered togeather as in a congregation of one solempne feast and shall be shut in perpetuall prison APOCALIPS CAP. 12. THey shal be tormented night and day for euer and euer Oh howe voyde of perceuerance and blind are the hartes of sinners not considering these things for sinners shall there say What hath our pride profited vs or what hath our boasting in our wealth brought vnto vs They are all vanished as a shadowe and we are consumed in our owne malignitie Hell is a place most vyle and venemus A dongeon darcke for creaturs dampnate Perpetuall prison for feendes furius To whom then sinners shal be associate VVhere payne shall perseuer early and late VVith eye of reason now who this dooth vewe VVould liue in Gods feare and not be ingrate But seeke all good meanes this mischeefe to eschewe August 19. de ciuitate dei ORder is a certayne disposition which distributeth equalitie diuesity vnto euery thing equall or vnequall Ibidem libro 5. GOD hath sett nothing in the world without order therefore he appoynteth a conuenient place for euery thing accordyng to the measure thereof but that which is tedious or burdensome to the body is delectable and embraced in the soule and in reasonable creatures August 11. de ciuitate dei THE body is euen so carried about with tediousnesse as the soule is with delectation HIERONIMVS THere is nothing hard for them that loue there is no hard or difficult matter in loue Let vs then loue Christ and euery thing shal seeme easy vnto vs which otherwyze is hard to be atcheeued GREGORIVS THere is nothing more precious vnto God then the vertue of loue and nothing more desirous vnto the deuil then the extinguishing of loue OALATH CAP. 6. HE that soweth in the flesh shall reape the corruption of the fleshe ROMANS CAP. 8. FOR they that liue after the flesh doo sauour of those things which are of the flesh that is to say they esteeme carnall things to be better then spirituall thinges All Saintes are enthronized in the Heauens hye Because of their deuine harty affection To heauē more then earth doth soule more thē body As their cheefe comfort and consolation And as accordeth with their good condicion Because they vsed such deuine temperance VVith Palme of victorie they triumph in renoune VVith God and his angels in perpetuall plesance Sanctus Bonauentura AS the mercie of God beareth her selfe towardes good and bad so dooth his iustice likewyse beare her selfe towardes the reprobate and vngodly Therefore as they are the chosen chyldren of heauenly heritage whiche in their loue haue preferred heauenly things before earthly thinges so are the reprobate deputed for hell because they haue preferred earthly thinges before heauenly thinges and thinges carnall before thinges spirituall August 13. lib. confes MY loue is my labour therewith am I carried whether so euer I am carried GREGORIVS in moribus THat same burnyng flame reuengeable hath with it a certayne fierie consuming of vices but hath no light at all there the fire casteth no light to comfort the tormented foules and yet notwithstandyng it geueth light to an other purpose to the end it might more and more torment the dampned soules for the followers thereof are plainely to be perceaued therewith seene in the torment by meanes of whose affection they haue trespassed IEREMI CAP.
appoynted feastes and the solempne feastes of the soule from sin and refraine the wicked labors of thy hands but these thinges are thought easie to be done or accomplished by him that hath mind vpon the euerlasting fyre in hell PSALME 89. WHAT man is he that liueth and shall not taste death or shall saue his soule from the neathermost hell CIRHSOSTOMVS DOthe not all the tyme of this our lyfe â–ª wherin we seeme to take our pleasures manifestly appeare a mainteyner of pleasure and lust as the sleepe of one onely night in respect of the felicitie in the lyfe eternall ANCELMVS ALL the good thinges or euill thynges which we enioy in this world are entermixed with their contraries neyther haue they any fyrme or certayne degree of their perfection but eyther may they be encreased or diminished eyther els may they be enioyed or had of vs somewhat more or lesse as it is euident in euery vertue vice and as well in eury good or euyll part of the body as in euery good or euyll cogitation or affect of the soule Neyther is there ioy found here without feare nor sorowe or sadnesse with consolation neyther perfect health without diseases or some hurtfull harme neyther yet valiant courage of body and mind without debilitie or feeblenes of nature But in heauen are all good things not mixed with contrarietie and those are certayne to trust vnto with most perfect consolation in hell likewyse are all euyll thinges quite contrary GREGORIVS CErtaynely there is one onely fyre of torment in hell which we ought to beleeue is ordeyned for the wicked but all shall not be tormented alike in one maner for euery one accordyng as the qualitie of his trespasses hath required shall there feele the smart of the pounishment due for the same And in this torment which hath no temperance Shall be no maner of relaxation Neyther shall preuayle any prayer of instance In any wyse to empayre the paines or passion Yet though this payne passe all estimation The fury thereof ordeyned by Gods wyll As euery sinner deserued hy transgression Shall them molest destroy consume and spill AVGVSTINVS THE world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof oh man what wouldest thou haue Whether hadst thou leuer to loue temporall thinges and so slide away with time transitory or loue Christe and with him liue for euer Idem THis world is more dangerous when she flattereth vs then when she loureth vpon vs There can be no greater madnes then for momentany pleasures to loose eternal ioyes and to euthrall thy soule vnto perpetuall torment Oh how happy is that man that hath not walked after the glory of this world and the dissembling madnes of the same 1. CORINTH CAP. 1. THE wysedome of this world is counted meare foolishnesse before God. EZECIEL CAP. 28. IN the multitude of thy worldly affares when thou art occupied the very inwarde partes of the body are replete with iniquitie AVGVSTINVS THE poyson against loue and charitie most pernicious is the lust after temporal pleasures BERNARDVS OH my soule what feare shall then take hold of thee when all these thinges haue forsaken thee whose presence are so pleasant vnto thee so acceptable in sight and so familier to dwell togeather Altogeather fearefull and trembling thou alone shalt enter into a strange countrey when as those most vglye and fearefull monsters all vpon an heape shal runne vpon thee GREGORIVS THose eyes which the offence hath shut vp and made to wincke at the same shall the due pounishment for suche offence open and make to see plainely IOB CAP. 17. IF I shall endure this vexation hell it selfe is my house ordeyned and in the darcknesse haue I made my bed I haue sayde vnto corruption thou art my father and my mother and to the woormes thou art my sister Where is then my recouerie and helpe become all that I haue in possession shall goe downe into the deepe pit of hell Therefore geue me leaue to depart that I may bewayle my sorowe before I shall goe hence and not returne vnto the darke land couered with the heate of death the land of miserie and darknesse whereas is the shadowe of death and no order of lyfe to say euerlasting horror inhabiting there Oh amazed witte O soule congeled in sinne Frozzen through affection of foolishe felicitie VVhereunto retchles ryot doth at no time linne To offend thy Creator thou art so foole hardy Thy sight is blinded so with sensuality That the loue of God causeth no correction Nor yet of heauenly ioy no cupidity May make thee leaue sinne for dread of damnation INNOCENTIVS HE that feareth onely for a small tyme to put his finger in the fyre why rather feareth he not both in soule and body to be tormented Oh howe great is this madnes of man for these frayle and transitory things to suffer perpetuall pounishment both in soule and body Chrisostomus dereparacione lapsi DEclare thou howe many and what ages haue been or are spent in ryot and carn iâ— pleasures what times and seasons passed in vayne delightes whiche are to be compared vnto the euerlastyng paynes of hell If thee lyst bestowe thou an hundred yeeres in suche delectacions yea adde there vnto an hundred yeeres moe or rather tenne hundred yeeres moe what shall this or that be in respect of the lyfe euerlastyng EPHESI CAP. 5. AWake thou that sleepest and ryse vp from the dead and Christe shall lighten thy steppes ECCLESIAST CAP. 29. FOR all thinges are had by seekyng for them in their due tyme. DEVTERONO CAP. 4. KEepe thee therefore within thy bondes and establish thy soule stand to thy tackling with a good courage and thou shalt see the helpe of God vpon thee AVGVSTINVS HE that dyeth and dooeth not repent him of his sinnes eare he depart out of this lyfe dyeth not at all but liueth in eternall torment PSALME 77. MY Soule is alwayes before me AVGVSTINVS HE shall geue victory to him that contendeth for victorie who hath emboldned the wrastler DEVTERONO CAP. 32. WOulde God they once in their dayes would be wyse and haue vnderstandyng that they might prouide for the last day LVKE CAP. 6. WOe be vnto you riche men which haue all your consolation in your riches here vpon earth MATTHE 5. BLessed are they whiche doo mourne after godlines in this life because they shall be comforted Idem CAP. 16. WHat shall it preuayle man yf he gayne vnto him selfe all the world and loose his owne soule Awake out of thy dreame and speedely addres Thee to beware in tyme eare thou feele woe Though blinded thou liue here with thy ritches Yet thincke thou shalt this lyfe and them forgoe â–ª VVhere in the end yf thou this race runne so That sinne and vice by thee may be subdued Thou shalt no doubt vanquishe eche feendishe so And with eternall blessing be endued BERNARDVS FOoles doo esteeme of greatest thinges least in value to be cared for haue greatest
regard vnto very small thinges They take more care howe to keepe and cherishe their diseased corrupt body then howe to foster and cherish the precious soule Yea they are more carefull howe to batten and â—eede the flesh with fatnesse and good likyng but the kirnell of the soule or the hart of the spirituall man they doo oftentimes destroy Idem super Cantica THey surely that are not diligent in their vocations as men ought to be are partakers of the deuils them selues in their trauayles HIERONIMVS THere can be no labour deemed tedious neither any time seeme long vnto vs wherein the euerlasting glory is obteyned AVGVSTINVS NO doubt sinners doo dayly heare the scriptures promising as well vnto those that loue God the most blessed graces of his good prouidence and contrariwyse they heare the scriptures which doo threaten vnto such as care not for GOD the plagues and pounishmentes by him for them ordeyned And yet geue they no regard therevnto neyther wyllingly do they heare God thus speaking vnto them when he gently entreateth them nor when he seuerely threatneth them but rather doo resist him with their euyll and wicked dooinges PSALME 49. THE wyse man also as well as the foole shall goe to the graue LEOPOLDVS MEN doo more wyllingly toyle them selues for the desire they haue vnto pleasure then for the loue that they beare to vertue Most men are naturally geuen to be feareful and timerus in paines taking in sustayning troubles pouertie and other daungers wherewith humane kind was wonte to be molested But yf they were wyse in deede and vnderstoode the excessiue calamities ordeyneâ— for sinners without ende they woulde then be farre more fearefull to offend in this lyfe IOB CAP. 6. THey that feare a frost vpon them shall haue a snowe come to them Sythen wee see in sicknesse corporall Health to recouer and death for to decline Men wyll absteyne from lustes sensuall And their desyres submit to medecine All for this frayle flesh that runneth to ruine How much more should eche man with busy cure Seeke for the soules health repentyng in time VVherby he may obteyne such ioyes as shalendure 1. THESSALO CAP. 5. WHen they shall say Peace and security is with vs then by and by shall a sodayne destruction come vppon them as the pange of a woman trauayling with chylde and they shall not escape away ECGLESIASTI CAP. 5. MAke thou no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and prolong not of from day to day for sodaynely shall his wrath come and in time of reuenge he shall destroy thee ESAI CAP. 18. FOr you haue said We haue made a league with death and with hell we haue made a couenant GALATH. CAP. 6. BE you not deceaued in your owne dooinges God is not mocked withall what thing so euer a man shall sowe the same shall he also reape agayne IEREMI CAP. 8. THey haue rather chosen death then lyfe· PSALME 69. THey haue drawen neare euen vnto the gates of death Idem THere is a most vyle death ordayned for sinners ECCLESIASTI 7. REmember to dye because death wyll not tary long BERNARDVS I Tremble and quake for feare of the iawes of the infernall beast yea tylâ— I be deliuered from the body of hell from the roaring feendes prepared to their meate Alacke oh my mother why hast thou conceyued me the child of sorowe the childe of bitter bale indignation euâ—rlasting lamentation Why was I lâ—lled in thy lappe why was I fostered with thy dugges I was borne the meate for woormes and foode of the fyre IACOB CAP. 4. YOur laughter shâ—ll turne into mournyng and your ioy into sorowe APOCAL. CAP. 18. SO much as he hath vaunted and reioyced him selfe in his ritches so much torment and mournyng let him haue administred vnto him DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shal be a certayne prescribed rate of pounishment according to the measure of the offence that euery man hath done BERNARDVS BReethren let vs be enflamed to repentance let vs examine our consciences and let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our selus by repentaÌ„ce to the end we may be able to escape the horrible iudgement of y liuing God. Slombring in sinne some dreame security VVithout feare or forecast of infernall afliction Neglecting repentance in this lyfe transitory That they feare nothing the due correction Ordeyned for sinne by deuine direction As those that are not carefull harmes to eschewe Suche feele the sentence of all malediction VVhen repentance come to late their sorowes to rescewe IEREMI CAP. 3. WHY dooest thou cry out so vppon the contrition of thy soule thy sorowe is incurable by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities and because of thy greeuous sins haue I done this sayth the Lord. HIERONIMVS THE moderacion of Gods displeasure the duetie of godlinesse seeketh onely for our returne and desyreth that we may be saâ—ed by this long forbearance of his goodnes If we wyll not be conuerted yf we be stiffâ— necked and yf we continewe still in our syns vnlawfully euen tyll our death Let vs trust vnto it God wyl not shewe mercie vnto those that continually perseuer in their sinnes BERNARDVS I Tremble to thincke vppon the gnawyng woorme and the death that neuer dyeth I shiuer and quake euery ioynt of me to fall into the handes of that death that endureth and of that lâ—fe that dyeth GREGORIVS THE wâ—cked shall dye the death euerlastyng PROSPER IF at that instant when a man purposeth to sinne he would with diligent mind consider what pounishment claymeth to be done towards those that are taken in trappe for their mischeefts what torment shoulde vexe the conuict soules what feare would shake their members and ioynts in euery part and what wanne and pale colour would dumpe theyr hauty countenances and finally how execrable reproche and ignominie it selfe the sentence denounced vnto suche sinners woulde duely reâ—der I knowe not whether he would take any such delight or frame him selfe vnto such vices and wickednes yea or no. MATTH CAP. 21. BEholde the Bridegrome commeth and they that were prepared to wayte vppon the Bridegrome went in with him vnto the wedding Vnde Gregorius IF thou oh wicked man wert wyse and diddest vnderstand what ioye this were thou wouldest oftentimes consider herevpon and speedely run to repentance neither wouldest thou lose or forgoe the acceptable time and the dayes of thy saluation through thy banquetting dayly ryot and idlenesse without profiting body or soule IEREMI CAP. 9. WHO shall geue water vnto my head a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may weepe night and day when I behold the children of the people committed to my charge IVDITH CAP. 8. LET vs craue his pardon with teares AVGVSTINVS THE iustice of the Omnipotent hauing foreknowledge of thinges to come let ordeyne to be made the fyre of hell euen from the first creation of the world He whiche is of his owne mercifull goodnes contrary to this fire who is enflamed with loue of