pastours and mynisters as were almost faythles But some man wyl peraduenture contrarye me and say that they beleue to be saued by Chrystes benefite wel that I stande not in this poynte with you admitte that it be soo as ye saye Nowe beleue they S. Paule where he affirmeth that whorekepers and adulterers shal not be inheritours of the kyngedome oâ— god I thynke not the contrary but they beleue it for we oughte not to thinke the contrarye Sithen then these men be of that numbre whome Paule denieth shall be inheritours of the kyngdome of god or the holy ghoost rather The thynge must be graunted of necessitie whiche can be denyed in no wyse how can they promise them selues saluation in Christ By this reason then they beleue that they them selues shall be saued and whorkepers such as they are in very dede shal be condempned Lord for thy mercy what ignoraunte blyndes is here what lacke of iudgement is this do they not se plainly that theâ— speake contraries If they may hauâ— any sure hope to be saued then thaâ— that Paule wryteth vnto the Epheâ—ans is false but if that be a greatâ— ouersyghte and an absurde thyngâ— to affirme these men can conceiue no certayne and assured hope or trust that the father is pleased with them for Christes sake Than what truste is this how thinke they to be saued They that haue but small syght in Logique maye easely se howe stronge and pythy our reason is The fyrste part in logique termed Maior is taken out of S. Paule for he sayth that whoorekepers and adulterers shall not be inheriters of the kyngedome of god The seconde parte called Minor is confirmed and verified by the whole worlde for they pronounce with one assent that our Romanistes are such Of these twayne then the Catholike may frame suche a conclusion that all the packe of papistes lyuynge in abhominable whoredome are banished men out of the kyngedome of heauen All men thoughe they be but sklender logicians se very well that this is a necessary conclusion which is brought in and gathered of the former prepositions which are manyfest true and graunted of our aduersaries This argumeÌ„t is fashioned in the fyrst figure and fourth mode Therfore the popishe pristes liuynge in suche abominable whoredome can conceyue none assured hope and truste of saluation nor haue true fayth as they feygne thoughe they bragge and spreade abrode certayne vncredible tales of theyr faythe but some man wyll peraduenture obiecte and say that it maye come to passe that suche as lyue wickedly and vngodly this day may to morowe or after wheâ— it shall please the goodnes of God repent and acknowlege their sinnes and after the reknowlegynge theroâ— lyue innocentely and in the feare oâ— god therfore we ought not so lyghtâ—… to despeire of the saluation of any man I haue weyed your reason dyligently and no doubt of it we may se howe suche men studie the reformation of theyr life and how truely and vnfeynedly they repente For where haue you sene heretofore of many thousandes but one which hauinge suche remorse of conscience hath forsaken his whore and fullye purposed neuer after that tyme to company with her I wote well ynoughe what I say for it is euident and knowne There is scarsely one of euery thousand that casteth thus with him selfe for to amende his lyuynge and to forsake his whore in good ernest and with his harte But nowe to leaue these thynges howe stynkyng and abominable is the outwarde face of that popyshe churche wherein the superintendauntâ—s 〈◊〉 ministers do lyue in such open abomination soo that others are not a lyttle offended therewith What a thyng is it when whorkepers must exhorte men to chastytie the impenitent to repentaunce the wycked to godly lyuynge yet this thynge is done dayly as we may se not onely in vyllagies but in gret cyties and peraduenture also in some regions but without al question it is done in all landes all places where so euer the pope is supreme heade the bysshopes them selues lokynge on permittynge and almost approuyng it whiche thynge bycause they sharply punyshe not as by theyr offyce they are bounden to doo but for brybes suffer men to lyue in most abominable whordome they encourage them to take pleasure and delyght in the thynge and do sette them forwarde whoÌ„ they ought to brydle and kepe backe yea they be the cause that though the preestes lyue in such abomination yet they thynke it no sinne at all and them selues do minister to the same occasion by sufferinge them to continue obstinatly in such whordome Of the which one thynge as of theyr other cure and offyce they shal render a streyght accompte and reckenynge but here some man wyll axe me what were the byshops dewtye in this behalfe I wyll tell you it were none other but this not to winke and dissemble in such abominacyon as S. Paule exorteth neyther yet to permitte it or beare with it Fyrst they shuld admonishe them and reproue the vice of whoredome Than if they profyted nothynge by so doynge the nexte remedy were to put them out and let them haue nothynge to doo in the congregation and to excominicate theÌ„ out of their temples and sacred places And to cast out of the assembles of faythful men suche as are adiudged to hell fyre and to giue them as Paul willeth into Satans handes to mortifie theyr fleshe that in the day of our Lorde Iesus Christe they myghte be saued I say that this were their office if they shulde execute the same and approue theyr doynges in the lordes syght which is the selfe same iudge that wyll requyre and haue an accompte of all theyr doynges They shulde shewe them selues authors and example gyuers of good workes and an example of the fayth full aswell in theyr communication and conuersation as also in loue spirite fayth and purenes of lyfe But sithe that nowe a dayes the bishops commonly shewe them selues such to the inferiour sorte of the clargie yea and rather worse than the same is by theyr example they doâ— not onelye cause but also encourage the ignorant fooles to offende more boldely a greate deale then other wyse they wolde for they thinke that they may boldly by the byshops example do so Yet I wonder much at it that they can not be awaked and sterred to repentaunce sence that they haue so many and sundry occasions thervnto For theyr office is to viset comforte confesse and assoyle the sycke To minister the sacrament of the bodye and bloude of the lorde and the laste vnction to be present with the sycke at theyr death and departure To synge dyryges in the which there is mencion made so many tymes of the day of anger of the daye of calamitie of the sorowfull daye of the fearfull iudgement of god of eternall condempnation of the these whiche repented late in the which also they seke and pray that they fele not the peines of death nor be bounde with
haue spent and made a way theyr lyuyng in belly chere and vnthriftines Yf sklaunderers scolders such as be periured and reporters of vayne tales And finally if al offenders were streyghtly punyshed surely there shulde be both lesse occasion geuen to offende and also good men shulde not haue so greate cause to complayne of the maners of men of this age Let the magistrate therefore remembre his office and thinke that he must surelye gyue an accompte at the daye of dowme Lette him learne of Paule that he bearethe not his temporall swearde for ryght naught for he is gods minister appoynted of god to punyshe offenders As it appeareth playnlye vnto the Romaynes Forasmuche then as Paule declarethe that a law was ordeyned not for iust men but the vnrighteous for the disobedient lyers such as intyce other mens seruantes from them and are periured forasmuch also as the magistrate in this behalfe is as it were a minister of the lawe certes he can not be slacke in executynge his offyce without great reprofe Lette potestates therfore those I meane that are in offyce and haue authoritie restrayne this libertie to offende without punyshment by one meane or an other which thynge yf they do not execute they do very naught it wyll be vndoubtedly layd to theyr charge at the last day Who so prohibiteth not men to offende when he may in a maner commaundeth them so to do I feare me greatly lest the heathen mens seueritie streyghtnes in punyshyng vyce shal be a reproche to vs and accuse at the laste dowme our negligeÌ„ce and slacknes herein There was amonge them punyshment ordeyned and appoynted by the lawe for all offenders and trespassers They had theyr sonmers theyr examiners and iudges which dyd most rigorously se vice and wickednes punyshed Thus were fearse and wylde felowes for feare of punyshement kept backe from the outwarde acte for feare of punyshment they brydled brought theyr wylde affections into subiection for feare of punyshment they conquered and ouercame theyr lustes and so ranne not headlynge into vyce But nowe a dayes by a reason of libertie without punyshemente and slackenes of men in offyce which forgyue offenders at the fyrst nor do punyshe vice so seuerely as they shuld do a blynd man may se how much the 〈◊〉 order and polycyâ— is fallen away and decayed No man causeth lychâ—ry to be punyshed no not adultrye and fautes which are very heynous No man correctethe the dysobedyence of chyldren towardes theyr parentes the styfe rebellyon of inferyoures agaynst heades and superiours the detractacyon refusing of laweful impery and authorite No man maketh a restreynt for superfluous apparell No man represseth the lyght and madde conceyte of men pryde not onelye for theyr gorgious and kyngelyke arraymente but also for the dyuersitie of coloures for cuttynge and gardynge theyr garmentes No man restreyneth theyr large expences and costes in theyr breakefastes theyr dinners and sumptuous suppers And though they drinke both nyght and day there is nothynge sayde to it No man punyssheth carders diessers vserers engrosers skolders cursers the periured and such as speake blasphemye agaynst god And yet I haue not touched the common stewes in euery cytye the lybertie permitted within the byshoppe of Romes dioceses to kepe whores and impunitie of all vyces and enormities Men in authoritie therfore shuld wtoute all de lay punyshe such not that it is an offence to do so but that all occasyon to do yll myght be remoued and taken awaye In punishyng thre thynges be chyfly to be consydered first that thou studye his reformation whome thou punysshest Than that by his example thou make aâ—erde others frome commyttynge the lyke offences Thyrdly and last of al that by weadynge out the naughtye vn godly the innocente may lyue at rest in quietnes Hitherto statutê haue profited nothing we must now therfore take an other waye And here let â—s consider that the magistrate beareth not his swerde for a shewe As Paul witnesseth wheÌ„ nede requireth therfore let him drawe it to punyshe and cut awaye vice and let not men long cry for theyr redines promptnes in executyng theyr office whiche are in auctoritie and do intermedle in suche matters that in as muche as perteyneth vnto the outward policie â–ª we be not founde wors than the Heathen and gyue and ministre by our slacknes to the enemyes of the gospel and Christian name occasion to sklaunder and speke yl by our religion as it happeth manye tymes Howe wolde ye haue the turkes to thynke that our relygyon is good syth that the professours teachers of it are so vicious and abominable vndoubtedly they may iustly and by good ryght hit in our teach obiecte to vs so many riottours as one certayne man say the so many dronkerdes aduouterers fornycatours and whoryshe ruffyans so that we in very deade may be greatly ashamed of our behalfe They wyll and may muche agaynst our vyces they wyl also as they iustly may fynde faulte with and reproue oure superfluitie They wyll and may laye to vs for a reproch our beastely voluptuous lyuynge And thus by reason of our vyces and our yl lyuyng the worde shal be diffamed And as Paul sayeth the name of god shal be sklaundered amonge the Heathen for oure sakes And though riot is a vyce of euery tyme and age hath so ben and belly chere also as breakefastes deyntye dynners sumptuous suppers excesse in meate and drynke â–ª aduoutry fornycation violent wrongynge and oppressynge of the pore by powers the neglectyng of good lawes and ordinaunces whiche we fynde that euery learned man reproued in men of his tyme lyke as Seneca affirmed that none age was euer voyde of all blame yet in our tyme vyces haue wonderfully encresed and not onelye vyces but also the impunitie of vyce whiche is the origine cause of vice Good order is nowset at naught youth is corrupted by to much lybertye all kynde of wyckednes is growen vp and encreased wonderfully so that vngodlynes selfe and Epicurisme semeth to haue inuaded and occupyed a place amonge men and possessed a kyngedome amonge Chrystyans Men do lytle regarde good lawes ordynaunces but do al together folowe pleasure and carnall lybertye Wherfore it were the offyce dewty of kynges and byshops by theyr authoritie to withstande such enormyties and to remedye them syth that for this cause they were exalted and called vnto such an hyghe dignitie and god wolde that they shulde excel in myght and power He commaundeth them to haue theyr people in subiection and to loke ouer them as though they were set vppe on an hyghe mountayne to espye out vyces and enormities and most rygorously to restreyne and punyshe the same to defende the godly feare the naughtye from theyr vyce by seuere punyshment and to defend and meynteyne iustice and truth and set forth and dilate the religion glory of god Wherfore let them remembre theyr offyce and
though they can not cleane extirpate and abolyshe suche enormities as haue crepte in and are roted in mens hertes yet at least let theÌ„ go about to restreine the same And though it consisteth not in them to make other men godly and Christians for that is the worke and offyce of the holy ghost let them yet in deuour to brynge this to passe and effecte that we be not founde eyther Pagans or wors then they be And lette magystrates charge parentes streightly with this thinge that they do se theyr children traded brought vp in good learnyng and also in the knoweledge and feare of god euen from theyr chyldhod For surely the magistrate ought most of all to tranayle in this thynge syth that it is a thynge so profytable for the common welth the preseruation of townes and cytyes resteth in this one thynge chefly Yf they loâ—ed but to this one thynge dylygentlye and executed theyr offyce herein we shulde not be troubled with suche vyces as haue heretofore reygned and yet raygne in many places which thynge vndoubtedly can not be prouided for by any statutes or lawes but onelye by this meane whiche I haue shewed that is to wytte by the godly education and bryngynge vp of youthe For syth that lawes punyshe offences alredy commytted godly education letteth a man to commytte any thynge worthye of punyshemente Lawes do but correcte vyces godly education kepeth them farre of and suffereth no such thynge to be it is very euidente that godly education doth more profyt the common welth then lawes and Statutes do It is commonlye sene in oure tyme that suche as haue bene broughte vp in vyce are not refreined and brought in feare by the punyshement whiche the lawe ordeyneth and appoynteth for vyce and enormities This was the cause therfore that prudent and wyse rulers were wonte to laboure and trauayle herein chiefly haue theyr specyal care on this one thinge not alonely how to punyshe vice but howe to preuente and take away the causes thereof Whiche thynge bycause they dyd se myght the best be broughte to passe if youth shulde be brought vp in good learnynge and in the feare of god and yf fathers imployed theyr diligence and indeuour to the same ende they thought it best to labour and trauayle chefly therein But from this dygressyon lette vs returne agayne vnto oure purpose ¶ The fourth cause I Fynde that welth and prosperitie is the fourth cause whiche dothe inebriate the myndes of men in such wyse that they neyther remeÌ„bre god nor constantly purpose to refourme and amende theyr lyuynge Therefore one auncient wryter sayth very wel that lyke as of prosperitie riotte procedeth euen so of riotte commeth both other common vyces and also vngodlynes and the neglectynge of gods worde and coÌ„mandementes And Seneca affyrmeth that into greate welthe and prosperitie as it were continuall dronkennes men fall into a certayne soote and plesaunte steape Also Paule vnto Timothe commaundethe that this admonition and warnyng be geuen to the rych that they wax not proud nor put theyr affyaunce in vncertayne ryches but in the lyuynge god to do good be ryche in good workes This verse of Publius may also be verified of the inordinate rych men Fortune maketh hym a foole whome she kockereth to muche For howe suche passe for no manner of thynge whiche haue this worlde at wyl it is euydent ynough and nedeles it is to speake therof This securytie is verely the mother of al vyce for by the same a man is made vnseÌ„sible so that in his conscience he feleth not the anger and wrath of god agaynst synne by securitie mennes myndes are brought on a dead slepe that they be not a whyt perced with the feare of the punyshment of god or withdrawen from vyce nor yet awaked with the feare of deathe or of the last dowme Our sauiour dothe in Luke artificially paynt this securitie where as mencion is made of the rych man which when his lande had enryched and made hym welthy with a frutfull and plentyfull crop dyd not go about to refourme his lyuynge and to repente nor to bestow almes vpon the poore but studyed howe for to enlarge his barnes and to make more roume for his corne and thus delayted the matter with hym selfe I wyll brynge in and gather vpon heapes all my corne and lay vp al my substaunce and ryches and speake to my sowle in this wise Nowe thou hast my soule a greate deale layde vp for the whiche wyll laste the â–ª the space of manye yeares Nowe therfore take thy reste eate drynke and be of good chere But in this securitie and this imagination what herde he of god Thou foole this nyght requyre they thy sowle of the markest thou not howe deathe commeth sodaynly vpon hym thinkynge to haue had all the commodities and pleasures of the worlde as ease rest delicious fare pastymes delectacions and sauegarde of all his goods For this cause then as Paule sayth commaundethe vs to awake be in a redines at al tymes agaynst the commynge of the lorde which myght be a fayre sufficiente warnynge for vs yf we take heade of it for lyke as it befell and chaunced in the time of Noe wheÌ„ the floud ouer went and drowned the worlde some eatynge and drynkynge other some weddynge and doynge suche busines as they had to do As it also chaunced that the Sodomites were al destroyed with fyre and brymstone froÌ„ aboue after that Loth departed out of theyr cytie so verely the laste daye shal come sodaynely and at the twincklynge of an eye euen when men loke leaste for it Therefore S. Iames to vanquishe and dryue ouâ— such securitie oute of mennes hertes speaketh to ryche men in this wyse Ye ryche men mourne and owle for the miseries that remayne for you and hange ouer your heades Your ryches putrifie wormes and mothes corrupte your gorgious apparel your syluer and golde gathereth rust and cancte deliciously and wantonly ye haue lyued on yearth Ye haue spente your dayes in ryottynge c. In this place call to remembrauÌ„ce the rych man in the gospell whiche in the dayes of his lyfe weÌ„t gorgiously arayed with his veluets purples silkes but after his death he was greuously tormented in hell wherof prosperitie welth was the cause whiche dyd not permytte and suffer hym to repente and refourme his lyuynge Our sauioure also declareth the same thyng in S. Mathewe where he saythe that it is hard for one that is rych to eÌ„ter into the kyngdome of heauen eftsoones it is more ease for a cammell to passe throughe the eye of a nedle then for a ryche man to entre into the kyngedome of god which Marke in a maner expowneth Chyldren sayenge howe harde a thynge is it for suche one as putteth his trust in ryches to entre into the kyngdome of god Christ also hym selfe calleth ryches and worldely pleasures brambles bryers wherwith the seede of gods worde is choked that it
bashefull sobre and honest and vpryght in al thy doinges And bicause this thynge doth not consyst in the to do thou must therefore resorte vnto God for helpe thou must acknowelege the weakenes and vnablenes of man Thou must hartelye and loulye seke the father to strengthen the with his holy spirite which Christe in the Gospell promysed that the father wolde gyue to such as shuld require it of him with ardente prayers If thou shalt require than that thou mayst haue the holy ghost plentifully aboundantly rychly as Paule sayth Powered vpon the by Iesus Chryst by his myght and his helpe those thinges which we could not by natural strength bryng to passe shal be ryght easelye atcheued Let this thinge be onely thyne endeuour 〈◊〉 to brydle thine affectioÌ„s and beware lest at any time thou embrase idlenes or fayle thy selfe For the holy ghoste doth not iudge them to be worthy of his helpe which be lâ—dder and geuen to ydlenes and such as cantynde theÌ„ selues none honest thyng to be occupied withall but syt al the day longe with theyr handes clasped together lyke vagaboundes But he aydeth workers such as put to their owne diligence and do laboure for to van quishe and ouercome the redines inclination vnto vice which is graffed naturally in vs. Suche I saye doth the holy ghost helpe as wrastle and fyght contynually with the wicked and euyl affections of the mind Let vs not therfore folow the example of the carter which when his cart stacke in the tough clay called vnto god for helpe but he hym selfe stode lokynge about hym and dyd no maner of thynge This thyng may also feare vs from committinge of euyll and may also stere vs vp vnto godly lyuynge bycause god is present euery where whom thou canst escape in no maner wyse and he hath set his angel ouer the to kepe and gouerne the and to maâ—ke and bere wytnesse of that thynge that thou doest Yf thou woldest not for any good that a man shulde take the in doyng that thynge which were not lawefull nor meete to be done howe muche more shuld the feare and reuerence of god cause the to refreâ—e froÌ„ such Thou fearest a man wonderfully bycause he knoweth and is a wytnes of thy naughtynes doest thou then thinke that he which ouerseeth all thynges and nothyng doth escape to be fitte that in his â—yght thou shuldest permit thy selfe to do that thinge which thou woldest be ashamed to commit in the syghte of a man sythe that he shall â—…es iudge the which is a witnes and marker of all thynges that thou doest A cerâ—ayne Heathen man geueth good counsel that thou must so lyue as though thou werte in the syght of all men and that thy thynking must be such as thoughe there were one that myght se thine inward thought For it is a great stay for a man when he bethinketh hym that there is one present whiche knoweth his inwarde thinking A great occasion of sinninge is taken awaye wheÌ„ there is a present wytnes by This precepte and this rewle dyd an Heathen writer geue which verely euery Chrysten man shulde thynke that it toucheth him and is a lesson for him If at any tyme therfore thou purposest any vnhonest or vnlawful thing consyder thus with thy selfe before thou enterprisest such a thyng what shal I do shal I purpose that thing in gods sight which I wold be ashamed to do before meÌ„ Shal I make the holy Aungel mine enemie by this offence which is set to loke ouer and rewle men which wolde be looth to cause my frende to forsake me Shal I make the good spirite sory and the euyll gladde Did Christ redeme me therfore with the shediÌ„g of his blode that I shulde become the seruaunt slaue of sinne and of the deuyll dyd he make me an inheritoure of the kyngedome of heauen therfore that I shulde lease by my negligence the same godly and heueÌ„ly inheritauÌ„ce dyd he delyuer me from sinne that I shulde wyllyngly and weatyngly fal into it agayne Nowe where is that burnynge loue towardes god Now where is the feare of god where is the shame that shuld be in meÌ„ wher is the fayth and mercy shall I thus recompence the benefites of god shal I render this thanke to Chryste for the benefitte of my redemption doth the holy ghost stere me no more than thus Do I come thus vnto the lordes table do I loke thus for the coming of Christ shall death take me in this state shal I be seen before the iudgement seate of the Lorde in this state do I suffer after this sorte the wylde affections to beare the suffragnite in me the fleshe to haue the victory and vpper hande and to triumphe ouer me and sin to raine in my bodye Am I a beast haue I not a mans herte that I thus cowerdly like a dasterde giue place to suche mocions and resist theÌ„ not do I chose euer theÌ„ worse when I dayly se the better surely if thou woldest consyder those thynges and such like which no man can nombre thou woldest not easly committe any vnhonest or vnlawful thinge What thynge soeuer thou doest therefore what thynge soeuer thou attemptest remember that there is God present as vndoutedlye he is and that he beholdeth and loketh vpoÌ„ what thinge soeuer thou doest or attemptest fere and dreed hym And for as muche as he is alway preseÌ„t let that thing sum what stay the kepe the backe from sin For as thei say he is a witnes He is a iudge he beholdeth what thinge so euer maÌ„s minde compryseth This is a iudge whom no mannes craftye conueyaunce canne blynde This thynge shall also much further and helpe vnto godlye lyuynge yf a man call to remembraunce that by baptyme he is made the son and heyre of god and that he is also made brother of Chryst and with hym partener of his Fathers kyngdome whiche one thynge farre passeth and surmounteth all other For who wolde not be muche moued with this thynge vnto godlye lyuynge and wolde not abhor by a certeyne natural feare from vyce whiche remembreth that God is his father wherfore forget not the benefyt of hym whiche hath made the by adoption his son Loue hym worshyp hym feare hym reuerence hym and in no maner thynge offende or dysplease hym Be obedyente to hys wyll and plesure at all tymes do his coÌ„maundement and folowe it in thy lyuynge expresly do not thynke that onely the pertakynge of his heritage dothe belonge vnto the but also thimitacion and folowyng of his goodnes and vertue So that thoughe thou be not able for to attayne vnto the excellency of that goodnes which is in god by imitacion and folowing yet thou mayst in herte and wyll approche nyghe thereunto and thynke that it is a great shame for the to degenerate from the same If thou commyttest that thynge by chaunce at any tyme whiche is agaynst the wyll and plesure of the father lyke
house concernyng the true worshypyng and due seruynge of god wherfore seynge that the thynge of it selfe is so profitable and necessary vndoubtedly it can not be but very wel receyued of all men if your lordshyps commendacion be there vnto added whiche thynge if it come to passe I doubte not but as it hath profyted much in the latine tongue so shal it sumwhat also do good in Englyshe For although it is not so finely translated yet I trust that the mynde of the authore is so expressed that mine industrye and labour herein can not iustly be reprehended and fault founde withall of the tentyll and fauourable reder whom I shal in this place moste hartely require for to accepte this my doynge and interprete euery thynge herein as he ought to do for so muche as this is euen the first fruites of my wyt and in so doynge if I shall perceyue that this my laboure shall profyte the same I shall be muche encouraged to go forward in suche lyke studyes as may moste conduce and hereafter to enterprise greater thynges But fearyng leste I haue ben to tediouse to your lordshyp and deteyned you longer than becommeth me to do from the swete and comfortable readynge of Riuius I commytte the boke into your lordeshyppes handes besechyng the euerlastynge and immortal God father of our Lorde and redemer Iesus Christe that he wyl graunt you dayely more and more encrease of knowledge in his truthe and kepe your hart awake contynually to glorifie hym that by thexample of your lordshyp others maye be styred vp vnto godlye lyuynge and that he wyll assist you and further you in al your godly affaires which with the sonne and holye ghost reygneth for euer to whome be gyuen all prayse honour and glorye So be it Your lordeshyppe his humble oratour Iohn Bankes ¶ A TREATISE AGAINST the folishenes of men in differrynge the reformation of theyr lyuyng and amendment of theyr maners IF SVCHE men as wyll be taken for Christians wold flee and abhorte so muche the dedes of the Epicures Saduceis as they pretende â–ª to detest the name and profession of theim verely they wolde refraine and temper them selues from wyckednes and mischiefe and wold vse and exercise vertuous and godlâ— lyuyng no lesse than they nowe lyuâ— obstinately in vice and behaue them selues in al theyr doynges both wickedly vngodly And agayne theâ— wolde none otherwyse obserue anâ— kepe the commaundementes of alâ— myghty god than they now neytheâ— feare hym nor dread him at al. Buâ— vndoubtedlye there is not one almost whiche dothe so much abhorre the thynge it selfe in his herte which thyng may playnely appeare by our dayely conuersacion our maners and al that euer we do as we eschew and flee the name For how can those men be assured in theyr conscience that soules are immortall which for the most parte lyue as brute beastes do Or that there be rewardes reposed for the godlye in heauen or punishment ordeyned for wycked men in hell which do in no maner thyng feare to transgresse and breake the commaundemente of god and doâ— fal headlong into all kynde of vyce and enormities as though they dyd imagine that eyther god â—s but a â—estyng stocke and a feined thynge or the sowles and bodyes do dye bothe at once And to graunt that 〈◊〉 be some men which do both feare 〈◊〉 and doubt not but that he wyl both rewarde and also punyshe euery one acordyngly as he hath deserued of the which sort there be but very few Nowe I beseche you what man is there whom eyther the feare of gods iustice doth withdrawe from vice or yet doth induce and bryng in minde to refourme and amende his lyfe wherin thou mayest iustly lamente and bewaile the folly and state of vs al and much wonder at our blyndenes or rather madnes which in suche shortnes and vncertenty of lyfe doo so behaue our selues that we haue no mynde of any reformacion or amendment of our lyfe when we be croked for old age and haue than skarsly one daye to lyue so farre of is it that we go aboute or entendeâ— that thynge whan we be yonkers and in our floryshyng age When I remembre with my selfe that suchâ— is the folly of men or madnes rather as I may well call it in deferrynge the reformation of theyr lyfe I thynke it meete and necessarie to search the causes out why we are so slowe in that weyghtie thynge whervpon our saluacion doth wholly depende for when we shal haue sought forth the causes and declared what they be I doubt not but that it shal be easye for vs to fynde also some remedy for the disease ¶ The first and principal cause I Thinke therefore that our vnbelefe is the chefest and principall cause herof For if we supposed not that those thinges were fables whiche are mencioned in scripture euery where of the laste dowme and of the voyce of the Archangell and of the trumpe of god and of the iudgemeÌ„t seeate of the Lorde wherat all men must stande of the punyshmente of the wycked of the euerlastynge and blessed lyfe whiche the godlye after this miserable lyfe shall enioye of the resurrection of the bodyes and soules eyther to be partakers together of certayne ioye or elles of certayne peyne without al question we wolde not lyue thus as we do and â—…fferre the reformacion of our lyfe but wold lyue farre other wyse and after an other sorte than we do for what myslyuer wold not quake both body soule whan so euer he shulde remembre the last dowme syth that he shal in the same make a reckening of all thynges which he hath eyther entended thoughte sayde or done and there shall speake his owne matter without any assistaunte or man of lawe Oh terrible iudgement to the wycked which shulde neuer fall out of theyr remembraunce for syth that the iust and godly shall vnneth be able to stande in this iudgement where shal than the wycked and vngodly appeare In this iudgement the sonne of god shall sytte vpon all sortes of men beynge than an vpryght seuere streyghte and an vntractable iudge which is nowe our mediatour and aduocate with his father Al kynd of men shal be called vnto a rekening how they haue passed ouer theyr dayes here in yearth The secretes of hertes shal be disclosed and shewed abrode The testimoâ—ie of euery mannes conscience shall gyue agaynst hym selfe shall accuse condempne hym And to be shorte god wil punyshe the vngodly by his â—ust seueritie and most fatherly and mercifully preserue and saue the inâ—ocent that is as Paul doth interâ—rete it god wyll render and gyue to euery man acordingly as he hath deserued But in this iudgement not onely the outwarde acte shall be condempned As adultry fornication whordome wytchcrafte murder sklander thefte robbery sacrilegie banketynge riotinge drunkennes vsury and other such lyke as baudy and vnhoneste talkynge fonde folyshe and rashe â—anglyng without measure liynge ydle wordes vitious
communicacion and infinite other of the same sorte wherwith soâ—euer godlye eares are offended buâ— also the vnsene and hyd ententes oâ— the herte such thinges as we hauâ— wyckedly eyther wyshed or thoughtâ— moreouer the naughty affections oâ— the mynde which be contrary to thâ— worde of god as anger grudge hâ—tred ennimitie malyce enuy prydâ— couetousnes desyre of other menâ— goodes c. Who wold not than thâ— remembraunce of this iudgemente withdrawe from vice and stay leste he shulde fall all together whiche is perswaded assuredly that it shal be One of the olde wryters hath a very good and notable sayeng whether I eate or drynke sayeth he or what thyng so euer I do the terible voyce of the archangell sowneth in myne eares Arise you dead men come vnto your dowme whiche whan I remembre I quake bothe bodye and soule Yf the fleshe then stirreth vp any man vnto beastly lustes and bodely pleasures or vnto gluttony or â—urfettynge or vnto any such vyce â—et hym by and by call to his remembraunce the dreadful day of dowme Yf prosperitie as it doth very often cause a man to be hauty and proude if ryches make a man fearse and his mynded yf honoure promocion or high dignitie cause a man to thinkâ— much of hym selfe and to despise others let hym streyght way remembre the iudgement seate of the lorde Yf anger prycketh any manne to reuenge his quarell yf grudge and malyce trouble the hertes of any yf couetousnes enforceth a man to rob and deceyue others yf the worlde doth prouoke any man vnto ambycion pryde or ryote yf the deuyl by his suttyll and false meanes and crafte dryue any man to speake blasphemie agaynst god or vnto any other suche myschefe let hym thynke none other but that he shal appeare before the iugement seate of the lord and shall there pleade for hym selfe Let hym feare the sentence that the iudge shall pronounce which dothe condempne the wycked to hell fyre wolde god wolde god I saye that this day of dowme wolde neuer fall out of mens myndes Than surelyâ— euery man wold do as he shulde do Kinges and rulers wold haue their onely and specyall care vppon the weal of the communaltie committed to theyr charge and wolde defende theyr Lybertye and vpholde and maynteyne bothe theyr priuate and publique ordynaunces and lawes Of the other part the comons wold shew them selues loyall obedient towarde their liege and soueraygne head and kyng and wolde not disdayne to haue him rular ouer them nor refuse to pai their rentes towles or trybutes but otherwyse wolde render vnto hym aswell due reuerence and feare as also honour c. Euery man wolde loue his wyfe as his owne selfe the wyues wolde reuerence theyr husbandes and be in subiection vnto them as vnto their lordes and heades Parentes wold trade and brynge vp theyr chyldren in godly education and discipline and as Paule wylleth in the feare knowledge of god Agayne chyldren wolde be obediente towardes theyr parentes in the lord and wold ernestly folowe theyr wayes and busely do theyr commandement Seruantes wold be redy at the coÌ„maundement of them which as apperteyneth vnto the flesh are their masters and that with all honest reuerence and godly feare and symplicitie of hert as also Paule exorteth Againe maysters wolde be meke and gentil towardes theyr seruauntes beynge well assured that they haue also a mayster in heauen Pastoures and mynisters wolde attende the lordes flocke as they are bounden Ryche menne wolde relieue the poore with theyr goodes â–ª wydowes wolde pray nyght and day without ceassynge Poore men wolde take paciently well in worthe theyr pouertie sythe that it is the wyl of god that it shal so be The maryed man wolde lyue as though he had no wyfe The vnmaried man wolde referre al that euer he doth vnto the glory of god what wyl ye more euery man wold do his offyce and duetie in his callynge as he oughte to do if the remembrance of the laste dowme were euer before his eyes when god wyll requyre a reckenyng of our whole lyuynge and of all our doynges and wyl gyue to euery man accordingly as he hath deserued eyther rewarde or punyshment We see dayly with our eyes in a gret and feruent plage tyme when death is euery houre present before mens eyes howe careful they are and howe diligentely they go aboute the reformation of their life specially if they be not suche as do vsurpe falsly the name of Christistians What Ought not we than muche more to go about the reformacion of our lyfe at all tymes all houres and euerye moment of the houre and to repent vnfeinedly and bewayle our wicked and synful life and pacifie the wrath and indignation of god agaynst synne sythe that by casualitie and vncertayne chances death is imminent and at hande euerye houre A wyse man therfore wyll so leade his lyfe alway as men vse commonlye in the daungerous plage time when they are as it wer awaked out of theyr dreame and be carefull and go ernestely about the reformacion of theyr lyfe and purpose to chaunge it into better and to eschewe vyce exercyse iustyce and equitte and finally to pacifie gods wrath whiche is worthely stered agaynste vs for our synne by true repentance and remorse of conscience â–ª I praye you ought not euery man when there is no such daunger nor feare of any plage to be the like that afore in the hotte and daungerous plage tyme he determined to be Euery man wil graunt that the houre of deathe is vncertayne and that it is a thyng most certayn that we shal dye what a great folly is it than to feare death so much which is euery houre at hande nor to thinke at any tyme of the reformacion of our lyfe but thus it is We fele and acknowledge the most iuste wrath of god aaynst syn in aduersitie as in plage famine yearthquake daungerous dissases of the body but in prosperitie when we haue the world at wyl we feare nat to abuse the goodnes of god In this state we remembre nat death which is iminent euery houre nor the laste dowme nor the terrible 〈◊〉 of the Arâ—hangel of the which S. Paul maketh mention vnto the Thessalon nor the sowne of the lordes trumpe nor hell or euerlastinge peyne nor the vnquenchable fyre nor the darkenes where there shal be wepynge and gnasshynge of teeth Whiche thynges verely we oughte to remembre at all tymes whether it be in the mornyng at our vprisynge or at night when we go to rest or at dynner or supper or when we bathe our selfe for our healthes sake or do any serious and weighty busines or fynally when we refreshe and recreate our myndes with some honest pastyme But the vngodly can not be perswaded none other but that these thynges are fables whiche the scripture setteth forthe of the last dowme of the iudgement seate of the lorde of the voyce of tharchaungel of the trumpe of
the cheine of synne And besydes all this they gyue attendaunce to the beere and â—inge the funerall masse and burye the deade omittyng no ceremonies yea euen when they walke in theyr temples and churches they may beholde and reade Epitaphies grauen vpon graues and tombes whereby they might be admonished not only of me that be deade but also of death it selfe whiche dayelye and hourely hangeth ouer theyr heades also of the laste dowme of the iudgemente seate of the lorde and suche other Moreouer in theyr Requiem masse they are warned of the comynge of Christ of the resurrection at the last day of the voyce of the archaungell of the trumpe of god c. Therforâ— syth that these thynges can not be a warnyng sufficient for them cause them to repent of two thynges the one muste be the cause without question eyther that they thynke those thynges to be but fables whiche be taughte vs in scripture of the laste dowme and are in the Epicures opinion that sowles be not immortall or els that they flatter theim selues as I haue shewed with false hope of the mercy of god ¶ The thirde cause I Fynde that the thyrde cause hereof is the custome of synne which is in a maner made natural in long continuance For lyke as it is harde for a manne to alter nature soo custome if it be ones roted can not easely be plucked vppe and expelled And therefore it is that lerned men do cal custom an other nature It is not very much disagreynge fro this purpose that a certayne man sayth Such vyces as we haue accustomed our selues to from our tender age can not be without greate difficultie weded out afterwarde which thinge though it be very certayne and true yet who seeth not howe fondelye fathers bringe vp theyr chyldren in cokeryng and pamperyng them for from theyr infancy they be gyuen to noâ—e other thynge but to delicious fare and to the beallye pleasures of the bodye They refrayne not from vnsemely and baudy talkynge they sweare and blaspheme god they go ruffelynge in theyr gorgeous geare and trype in theyr purples They weare cotes of diuerse colours hose cut and pounced out with sarcenets Yet I omitte the gardynge of theyr cotes which is very folyshe for there cometh no profitte at all therof furthermore what thynge soo euer they do they do it fearslye hardely and boldely There is in them no myldnes nor sobrenes They exhibet not dewe honour to theyr parentes they do not reuerence aged men nor suffer theyr egalles and companions what wyll ye more they thynke that what so euer they do they may do it without blame There is in them no shame noo feare of god at all that can withdrawe them fro vyce They passe for no honestie and vertuous lyuynge and lesse a greate deale for religion and doynge theyr duetye to godwarde Yea parentes theim selues now a dayes with euyl example corrupte theyr chyldren so that they can not by theyr corrections brynge them into feare of them nor by theyâ— commaundement withdrawe theym fro that that they set theyr myndes on whan surely they shulde do nothynge when theyr chyldren are present that were not lawful to be done nor say any thynge that myghte not honestely be spoken Theyr lyuynge shoulde be so godlye and vertuous that therwith theyr chyldren myght be moued to such lyke their maners and conuersacion shuld be such that therby theyr chyldren myght learne when so euer they had respecte vnto the same bothe what they shulde folowe and enbrace or fle and eschew But when the father dothe expreslye declare that thynge in his owne maners which he reproueth in his children doth he not whyles he blameth them accuse hym selfe What face can he haue to fynde faulte with his chyldren which with his yl example corrupteth them How can he seuerelye reproue any vyce in his children which may fynde in hym selfe vyces more worthy to be reproued Wherefore let parentes remembre that it is theyr dewtye and very requiset in them to lyue withoute blame and vertuously and that for diuers causes both lest they be example to their chyldren of naughtynes and that they may iusâ—ly reproue vices in theÌ„ last of all that throughe theyr slacke negligence the aucthorite of fathers be not diminished Thus much is declared by that which the poete sayth Howe canst thou take the aucthorite of a father in correctynge thy chyldren whan beyng an olde man thou thy selfe committeste offences bothe more heynous and worthy of reproche Such a lyke thyng Nausistrata saythe in Terence where she reproueth her husbande bycause he was greued with his sonne which haunted the Stewes and yet he was a greate deale more to be blamed hym selfe what iust cause hast thou saith she to chyde hym To these is Artemones sayenge in Plaut agreable Is it meate for a father to geue yll example to his children art thou not ashamed Let vs note also what was broughte in the declamacion of the yonge man agaynst his father whoÌ„ he accused of madnes father saythe he the I blame and none but the for all my riote and bycause thou broughte me not vppe vnder the lawe of a well ordered house nor kepeste me in feare and awe wherewith I mought haue bene wtdrawen frome such vices as raygne most commonly in yonge men Yea thou was a setter on and leader vnto such vnthriftines But this Tobye an holy man and derely beloued of god dyd not whiche taught his son as his history declareth euen of a chylde bothe the feare of god and also to refreine from vyce he was him selfe an example of godly lyuing to his sonne he busied him selfe to declare him such one to his sonne in euery condicion as he wyshed to haue hym But now a dayes whan youth shuld be traded and brought vp in good learnynge and gods word how be they occupied verely I am ashamed to speke it yet I wyll not dissemble with them for very conscyence sake I am enforced and driuen to it sore agaynst my wyll I take god to recorde Moste part of teachers I do not speake generally of all do gyue theyr scholers so muche of the brydle and suche lybertye and al to procure and wynne the loue and frendshyp of theyr parentes or at lest not to displease and offend them that they put it in their choyse whether they wyll learne or not neyther refrayne they them fro vyce by sharpe correction nor cause them to profitte by graue admonitions They trade theym not in the knowledge and feare of god nor instructe them in modestie other vertues besides that suche innocencie streyghtnes appeare the not in theyr owne maners as is requisite nor such humanitie and gentylnes as shulde be in suche as beare the person and resemble fathers but to much slackenes and negligence as they were companions and play â—elowes rather then teachers and instructours And by such liberte with out punyshemente theyr scolers become not onely dispisets of their
gnasshynge of â—eath Also to the man that came to the maryage without his weddyngâ— garment bynd hym both hande and foote and cast him into the outward darknes Also to the wicked and vngodly at the last day departe fro â—… â–ª ye acâ—ursed into euerlastyng fyre O good lorde what obstinate and styffe felowes be these that such sayeâ—ges do nothyng stere we may cal them that beleue them not Epicures theÌ„ that deride and haue them in moâ—â—agâ— vnhappie and such as regard them not madde and lytle consyderynge theyr soules health But all those regard them not which thinke that when they haue brought oute a rablement of the popes pardonnes they may frely sinne and offend with out punyshment and by reason therof dilay put of from tyme to tyme the refourmation and amendmente of theyr lyfe There be manye also that differre the same bycause they worshyp Barbara And those be in this fonde and folyshe opinion that they thynke verely and beleue stedfastly that they shal not dye impenitente and without howsle as they terme it yf they worshyp her This supersticious worshyppynge of â— Barbara was placed almost in all the papystes hertes therfore they ordeyned yerely a fastyng day for her And paynters portraied her in th one hande bearyng a chalyce And in the other holy breade This is also an other cause bicause men prouide long yer they dye that they may be receaued into the famylye of the Francyscanes and be buryed in one of theyr robes after theyr death For men be of such a folishe persuasion that they thynke the deuyll to haue no power ouer them when they shal haue gâ—tten that holy hyue ouer theyr heades bycause the Monkes communycate with the robe both theyr owne merites and such good workes also as are doone throughout the whole order as requiem masses solâ—mpâ—… seruyce singing â–ª praieng preaching suffrages fastynges watchynges pylgremages and such lyke For thâ— Monkes dyd sette euer aparte that thing which was thought sufficient for their owne saluaâ—ion and the rest yf that any remayned they dyd not communicate for right nought but solde it for money This is therefore another cause why that such men as haue boughte out with money the merites of Monkes dyfferre in this wyse the reformacyon of theyr lyfe But nowe it is nedeles to confute in this place this grosse errour concernynge the popes pardons and worshyppynge of sayntes and communicatynge of merites syth that other men before vs and we also our selfe haue done it in other places Nowe thou hast herde gentyll reader as I thinke the principal causes of dilayenge the amendment of our life But besides these there are yet certaine other as it were secondarye causes As to accompanye with the wycked and vngodly and suche as stande in no feare of God and esteme not nor regarde vertuous innocencye and those thynges which are agreable to our professyon for suche mens compani al those must diligeÌ„tly eschewe whiche haue any care of their soules health For as a certaine man sayth full trulye yll company rorrupteth good manners And yf thou accompanyest with the euyll incontynuaunce of tyme thou shalte thy selfe be come euyl Let parentes therefore remembre that it is their deuty to loke to it that the euyll and naughty accompanye not theyr chyldren and to try exactly the maners of such as ar theyr playfelowes For suche they proue most commonly as theyr play felowes be So that here this maye be a good lesson for vs yf a man wyl not be fyled let hym touche no tarre which signifieth naughtye company in this place Lette vs marke also what an Hethen man sayth we take and receaue our condicyons of suche as we accompany withal And as certayne vices of the bodye be contagyous and do infect theÌ„ whoÌ„ we touch so transferreth the mynde vices vnto such as we daylye accompanye with all and are oure famylyers The dronkerde prouoketh his felowes to wyne drynckynge The vnchaste goeth about to ouercome the chaste The couetouse man allureth his coÌ„panyons vnto auaryce c. Who so wyll lyue godly therefore let hym eschewe euyll company For if therebe any that accoÌ„pany such and be daylye conuersaunt with them at the tauerne and at other places wher they resorte They do neuer lightlye purpose to refourme there liuinge No. They can not without much dyfficultie be brought from their companye at any tyme. And this is the cause that thoughe they here Gods worde preched neuer so much thoughe they be admonished and warned by men in auctorite neuer so ofteÌ„ thoughâ— they them selues eueÌ„ fully determine and purpose to reforme and amende their liuinge bycause they feare and drede the punisshement of god yet I can not tel howe the deuyll it chaunseth they differ coÌ„tinually the amendment of there lyfe they repente not nor retourne into the waye agayne And thus peraduenture deathe may come vpon them in such securite and oppresse them For euen as death is most certeyne so the daye and houre of death is vncertayne And for this cause we be commaunded in Scripture to awake and watche and be in readines for the last day euery hour which thyng is planely sette forth in Luke where it is said semblablye be in a redines bicause the son of man wyl come when ye shall least weene There is also another cause why the lay sorte commonly dyffer the reformacion of their lyfe forther there be certeine men good soules and fauourers of gods worde withal theyr hert we may not iudge the contrary but not so wyttie in this one poyntt as were nedeful which set forth wonderfully and beate into mennes heades the grace and goodnes of God the forgyuenes of synne and many such other thinges whiche perteyne vnto saluacyon And for this purpose alleage scriptures very diligeÌ„tly But of a newe lyfe in Iesus Chryst that we be made holy and reuiued by the holy ghost they neuer speake worde or verye lytel But he that wyl be taken as a christen man must as Paul wylleth hym be dead to synne and a lyue to ryghtuousnes he must lay of the old man and put on him the new man He must be as perteinyng vnto his conuersacyon euen as one that professeth the Gospell of Chryst He must not be an aduouterer a whorâ— huÌ„ter an enuious felow to his neighbor warde He must not be couetous giuen to filthy gaine and lucre malicious or proud The father gyueth the holye ghost to those that beleue and cal vpon him which wyl awake the herte of man and stere vppe in it newe mocyons and as it were regenerate his wyll and moue him to do good woorkes to lyue vertuously and agreablye to our professyon as we haue declared in other places more at large Howe much thynkest thou be the laye people moued with suche saienges as these are What yf thou be an adulterer an whoore keaper a couetouse man or suche beleue onelye and thou shalte be saued why shuldest thou fere the lawe
syth that Christ hath fulfilled it and satysfyed for the synnes of the whole worlde veresy such saienges do wonderfuâ—…e offende the eares of Godly men and giue occasion of much vngodly liuing and besides that cause men that they thinke but lytel of any reformacion Ye mary it is the cause that they contynue obstynatelye in vice nor that all one but also be encouraged there vnto Surelye it taketh away al the occasion of reformacion Wel Paul did not thus whiche dyd not onelye preache the fayeth in Christ to Felix and Drufille hê wyfe as Luke declareth in Thactes but also reasoned profoundlye of iustice temperance and the last iudgement so that Felix herynge hym dispute so exactely to the purpose was muche abashed He also testifieth in thactes that he dyd not preache repentaunce onely to the Heathen but also gaue them warnynge that they shulde do workes worthy of repentance Nowe I haue shewed you the causes why we difer the reformacioÌ„ of ouâ—â—…fe It remaineth therfore that we shewe in lyke maner brefely what be the remedies for the same whiche partelye we haue done alredye ⧠The remedies THauthoritie therfore of god and our Lorde Iesus Chryst shal be of muche force and power agaynste our vnbeleue concernynge the laste iudgement the punysshement of the wycked and the euerlastynge blesse of the godly onlesse we wyl rather be taken for Christians than be Christians in very deede specially yf we dilygeÌ„tly wey and cal to remembrance those thinges which are mencyoned euery where in scripture concernyng the same thinges As this saienge in Saynt Iohn The houre shal come when tâ—ey which are in their graues shall 〈◊〉 his voyce And suche as haue done wel shall aryse vnto lyfe but they that haue done the contrarye shal aryse vnto condempnacyon Againe the wyll of my father whiche sent me is this that whosoeuer seeth me and dothe beleue in hym shall haue euerlasting lyfe and at the last day I wyll rayse hym Our sauyour also in Mathewe speakynge of the last iudgement declareth what sentence he wyll pronounce of the godlye and saieth thus O ye which are the blessed of my father possesse the kyngdome prepared for you frome the beginning of the worlde but the vngodly shall here this Auaunte yâ— the accursed go ye fro me into euerlastynge fyer which is ordeyned for the deuyl and his Aungels Againe these shal go to euerlasting fier But the iust and Godlye to euerlastynge life Oh what a terrible voice is this of the iudge that adiudgeth 〈◊〉 wycked to euerlastynge fyer Yf the feare of iudgement here in yearth maketh such aferde and astonied as are gyltye muche more must the feare and dreed of the heauenlye iudge make them astonied and the gylte of theyr owne conscience If that thou dredest here in earth the iudge from whom thou mayste appeale vnto an other much more hast thou cause to dreade the sentence of that iudge froÌ„ whom there can be none appealynge at all This is his senteÌ„ce Go fro me O ye the accursed How heuy and dredful a thynge is it to be banysshed out of gods syght which in goodnes farre passeth and surmouÌ„teth al thinges â–ª howe miserable a thing is it to be excluded out of the kyngdome of God â–ª which is suche that we can not ymagine the pleasure of it much lesse atteine vnto it in wordes Howe lamentable a thinge is it to be priued of the company of saintes and godlye men But we shal not only be secluded out of the kingdome of heauen that most ioyful blessed habitacioÌ„ but shal be also appoyncted to infinyte peynes in hel and vnquenchable fier which passeth our fiere so many degrees in heate that in comparison of it this is veray yse There shal we accompany continuallye deuylles without all hope of a better state Thinkest thou if men remembred these thinges that they wolde lyue so wickedlye as they do vndoutedly â–ª they thinke lytle As Peter declareth in thactes that god the father hath ordeyned Chryste to iudge the quycke and deade whiche thynge also Paul noteth both vnto Timothe and also vnto the Corin. These be his wordes Al we must appere before the iudgement seat of the Lord there euery man to receaue accordingelye as he hath done here in earth eyther good or the contrarye In this iudgement as he also declareth what thynge soeuer hath benne hyd and couered shal be reueled and dysclosed to the whole worlde which thing howe terrible and shamfull it wyl be to the wicked no tongue is able to say or mynde to thinke For yf here in erth a man had rather be swalowed quicke into the grounde than haue his fautes opened and shewed afore a great multytude of all states of men which might be wytnesses of his wretchednes what hertes shal the deuelysshe haue than thynke we when all thynges whiche they haue either purposed coÌ„ceued or wrought shal be dysclosed tolde to the whole worlde to the Angels in heauen and to all saintes and other If we iudge it a shameful thynge to be ledde into prison here in earth how much more shameful a thinge wyl it be to be cast into euerlastyng fier If it be a terrible thing to be banyshed here in erth or to suffer death howe muche more terrible wyl it be to be exiled and out lawed fro the kyngdome of heauen and the bodye and soule to be punyshed with endles death If it shal be a glad and ioyful herynge when the son of god commaundeth the godlye to pertake and possesse the kingdom prepared for them frome the begynning of the worlde of the contrarye howe heuy newes wyll these be to the wicked when they shal here them selues adiudged to the vnquencheable fyer ordeyned for the deuyll and his aungels If those thinges we beleue to be true which the scripture setteth forth concernynge the laste iudgement and paine of the wycked Why liue we so as thoughe there were neither heauen nor hel If we beleue theÌ„ not why wil we be taken for Christians Let vs therfore put awai expel these domestical vices .i. lithernes and slugyshenes for our strife is not bout the Goates woole as it is said in the common prouerbe But al the whole matter is about our saluacioÌ„ and the atteynement of the heauenly and blessed life Nowe therfore let vs refourme our lyuynge nowe I saye whyles we haue the whole tyme for forgiuenes and haue him our medyator and aduocate whiche at the last day shal iudge vs. Let vs not defer the amendment of our life vntil such tyme as our sin shall seeme rather to haue lefte vs then we to haue forsaken it Let vs dayly and hourely remember the day of dowme the terryble voice of the iudge whiche commaundeth the wicked to depart and auaunte from hym Let vs remeÌ„ber also the paines of hel and of the endles fier Let vs remeÌ„ber the shortnes and vncertainte of lyfe certaine deth and yet that the houre therof is most
in the assembles of the faythful As muche as euer thou mayst withdrawe thy selfe from euyll company and accompanye the vertuous and godlye for by them thou maist be the better But receaue such to be thy familiers as thou maist refourme and make better For it is a great matter and very expedynt to consider what maner of felowes those are whiche are our familiers and dayly companions for lyke as in accompanienge the naughtye we be as it were infected by a contagyon so verelye by the company of suche as be godlye and liue in the feare of the lord our maners are corrected and amended With these therfore be conuersant but with the other neyther make nor meddle Salomon in the prouerbes commaūdeth the same thynge And vnto the Cor S. Paul ernestlye counselleth and exhorteth men to eschewe the felowship and company of the wicked insomuch that he wold not haue men to eate and drinke with them These are his wordes If any man among you called brother shal be an whorekeper couetous a worshypper of ydols a railer a dronkerde or a rauener neither eate nor drinke with him And I graunt that there are diuerse other causes why S. Paul wylleth vs that we shulde eschewe their company eyther that we seeme not to alowe their vices or els that whē thei perceaue that all men for theyr vyce sake do flee and abhorre there company they might be ashamed repent But verely the chefest cause this is bicause he wolde not that their famyliars and companions shulde therewith be infected For lyke as a lytell leauen dothe cause a great heape of doughe to soure so verelye thexample of one naughty man corrupteth and dothe marre a great multytude And though it is a very herde thyng to leue the company and familiaryty of suche as thou hast afore tyme lyued withal long merely and plesant lye yet verely thou must dyligently apply thy selfe therunto and laboure by al meanes that euer thou canst to withdrawe thy selfe from theyr company Attempt but the thing ernestly and with a bolde courage and I dare promise the suche successe in the thynge as thou woldest not thynke And bicause the beginninge as it is commonly said is the better parte of the whole and whosoeuer begynneth wel hath as Horace saieth the halfe of the whole dead set vpon the thing therfore nor despeire in an◠wise whē thou considerest with thy selfe howe harde and ful of difficultie the thing it selfe is If it shal fortune the to cal to remembrance those feastes which thou hast kepte with thē the reresuppers the bākets and quaffing which thou hast had with them ofte and many tymes If it fortune the I saye to fal into any such fonde and folyshe ymaginacion Againe if thou shalt call to remembraunce at any tyme sore against thy wyll al such good felowes as thou werte wont to iest and prate withal merely al such as kept the company in playe and at tauerues euen then in that same very moment cal also to remembraunce the shortnesse of life death which is nighe at al tymes the last dowme the iudgement seat of the lord hel and dampnacion And by this meane thou shalte put away one difficultie with an other If thou shalt reson with thy selfe in this wise my felowes whiche I haue afore nowe ben merye withall call and cry vppon me deinty suppers bankets and reresuppers allure me what shal I nowe do verelye if thou thinke but so with thy selfe what shal I do streight way reson weieng and debatinge the thynge shall ouercome the and thy wylle and appetyte shall without questyon be made obedient to reason whiche moueth and exhorteth menne euer vnto those thinges which be best and most profitable for our behofe Take space therefore when the deuyll putteth any suche thinges in thy mynde to pouder and wey the thing and laye awaye all folyshe nisenes of the mynde and lette not the appetites bere the suffragnitie in any wise fal not hedlong whither the deuel wold haue the. What do thy felowes prouoke the vnto wine drinkig moderate thou thy selfe kepe measure bycause in a certaine place our sauiour speketh these wordes Take heed lest your hertes be burdened or ouerladen with meate Also Saynte Paul saith ouercharge not your selues with winedrinkinge for therein is riote and againe drunkerdes and rioters shall not inheryte the kingedome of god Also S. Peter be sobre and awake also Esay wo be to such as do arise in the morning to frequēt and haunte tauernes And in this place thou must remember that we be more bounden to be obedient and submit our selfe to the auctorytye of the word of god and of his Apostles then to do a pleasure and to gratyfye the desires of the wicked and vngodlye and that we must rather obey the good angel which exhorteth vs and doth gide vs vnto al good thynges then the deuyl whiche intiseth vs to al kinde of naughtynes And that we must rather withstande the euyl spyryte then repyne agaynste the good Wherfore for the plesaunt company of thy playfelowes be not cause of thyne owne destruction but rather withdrawe thy selfe so much as lieth in the from them neither make nor medle with thē Regarde and esteme yf thou be wyse more thy saluacyon then the shorte delectation that here thou maist haue by thy naughtye wicked company of thin old cōpanions Se also that thou remēber and diligently wey this thinge that who so doth obstinately contynue in vyce doth neyther vnfeynedly repent nor eyther is or can be taken for a Christian for in hym surely whom sinne pleseth trewe fayth can not be which he lacketh also that sinneth against his owne conscience or commytteth any deadly syn Wherfore let vs not be named Christians when we are farre of much differ from the thing it selfe nor yet let vs boste and sette forth our fayth in wordes but let vs in deade and vnfeynedly repent and with all our herte be conuerted vnto the lorde god Let vs laboure to a mende that thyng whiche is amysse and by doynge wel and as we shuld and are bounden to do recompence such offences as we haue alredy cōmitted and by thus doyng remoue out of gods sight the remembraunce of oure former mysdoynges Let vs referre and imploye our studies vnto these endes that we maye alwaye lyue in the feare of god and accordyng to ryghtuousnes let vs in our lyuynge be innocent vpryght holye chaste sobre and temperate in al maner of thynges Let vs profitte the congregation and helpe the poore membres therof and to be short let vs as Paule exorteth vs lyue worthely and as it becommeth such as do professe the gospell of Chryst hauynge yet for all this our cheafest special trust in the goodnes and mercye of god none at al in our selues Let vs praye also with out ceasynge vnto the father by our lorde and sauyoure Iesus Chryste that he wyll vouchsafe to sende his holy spirite among vs for to