other mens perilles and harmes to take heede The deuyll leadeth vs on forthe and feadeth vs in suche wyse with vayne hope of the mercie of god and of longeâ— lyfe But here though it can not be denyed nor ought to be denyed but that the repentant receiueth of gods mercie at all tymes nor that he nedeth to feare or fal into desperation whiche is at the very poynt of death yet I recken that there is none so folish that he wyll chose that thynge which is ieoperdsome and leaue the other wherin there is no daungere at all Wherfore that noo suche feare or grudge of conscience remaine let vs goo about the reformation herof betimes nor differre it in any maner wise sythe that we are vncertaine of the nexte morowe folowing And as towchynge the mercye of god let vs remembre continually the saiyng of Ciprian So much as god is sayth he euer bountious and merciful for his fatherly loue and tendernes towardes vs so muche oughte we to feare and dreade hym for the maiestie of a iudge that he beareth Thus shall it come to passe that through the feare of gods wrath we shal be withdrawen and brought froÌ„ vyce and shall not yet throughe the hope of his mercy be deceyued and corrupted in securitie A worlde it is to consider how the popyshe prestes flatter theym selues with this selfe same hope of goddes mercy whiche kepe concubines al the days of their lyfe and lyue-vnder the pretence of single lyfe in moste shamefull whordome and abomination nor thynke ernestly with them selues of any reformation at any tyme or of dischargynge them selues of theyr whores And thoughe they be giltie in theyr own conscience of this theyr vicious and abomynable lyuynge yet they go to theyr masse sacrifice euery day and do also resort and presume vnto the lordes table as they do take it to be They eate the lordes breade vnworthely and drynke vnworthely of the lordes cup. Oh lord how dangerfull and horrible is it to lyue in that state wherin if death shulde preuent a man he were vtterly condempned and cast away both body and sowle Those than that after this maner kepe whoores all the dayes of theyr lyfe and do in the same thyng obstinately continue nor purpose at any tyme to dismis theyr strumpets nor truely do repent and crie god mercy with sighynge and teares for their wicked and synfull life doo flatter them selfe falsely with this hope But here peraduenture some man wyll obiecte this and saye What good syr do they not cry god mercye oftentimes and beseche him to haue mercy vpon them do they not dayly say in theyr euensong Conuert vs Lorde and turne thine angre from vs Also in the later ende of theyr matines lord haue mercy vpon vs. I se farther they pray in many other places that it wil please god to haue mercye spare and forgyue them I here your reasons very well Nor I entende not to axe you the question or reason with you in this place how they praye or with what entente of mynde or what zele or what feruentnes of spirite But admit that they pray with an ardent deuotion and a mynde erecte and lyfte vppe to god with most ernest affection what can ye conclude herevpon For what profyteth it them onles they discharge them of theyr harlots in that minde purpose neuer to receyue theym agayne and in that purpose to lyue chastly and contynue euen to th end But for so muche as they do not repente as we see playnely surely we nede not to doubt but that they eyther holde it to be a fable whiche is taught in scripture of the last iudgement or els fondly flatter them seues with this hope of the mercy of god Oh yl fauored and horrible face of that the popishe churche Such as shulde rule teache and instructe others not so much by their learning as example in lyuynge become soo dissolute that in theym others take greate cause of offence Marke diligentely the laye men when they repaire vnto the mysticall table of the lorde how reuereÌ„tly with what preparation in confessyng their sins c. with what godly behauour and deuocion they come how diligently laâ—…ure they and endeuour that noo grudge remayne behind in their conscience how certaynly purpose they thenseâ—orth to amend that whiche is amisse to refourme theyr lyuynge but consyder now what our whorishe masmongers commonly vse to doo Verelye as one of theyr order wytnesseth they come froÌ„ thimbrascinge of a whore vnto the aulter and that not ones or twyse but often and dayly without any punysshemente or shame They passe not for any reformation they mynde not to discharge theym of theyr whores No sygne of repentaunce foloweth of the reknowlegynge of theyr faultes and to say the verye truthe they seme to be in name onely christians in deade very heathen and publicans Than some man wyll are of me whether there be any hope that suche shal be saued or not Verely to speake my conlcyence I thynke that they can coÌ„ceyue no hope of the mercy of god bycause S. Paule affirmeth vnto the Hebrewes that god wyll iudge whorkepers adulterers And doth plainly denye that those shall be the inhericers of the kyngdome of god Nowe if the prestes of Balaan perswade theym selfe that Paule dyd speake the truthe as it can not be denied but he dydde can they in suche abomination and fylthy liuing conceyue any hope of saluation considering that they neyther do repent vnfeinedly nor purpose to discharge theim of theyr minions but if they doo not beleue S. Paule we take them to be christians amisse for they ar no more to be taken for Christians than the heathen and publicanes are like as our sauiour sayth By what lawe or authoritte do the byshops theÌ„ suffre such abominable liuers to continue within their iurisdictions dioceses why licence they such men by theyr aucthoritie to preache in churches wherfore do they wynke at such abominacion and permitte them for brybâ—s to vse yerely such whordome This thyng is so manifest that it can not be denyed so fylthye and cryed out on that it is not lawfull to beare with it And it can not be couered or cloked anye longer Thoughe than they wyl say that they are not playnlye vngodly bycause they attrybutâ— honoure to the name of god yet it is manifest that they can not be taken for godly bycause they giue them seâ—ues to such thynges as are most coâ—trary to godlinesse like as Hilarius affirmeth where he wryteth of suche And surely suche are they also which are not greued and offended with the abominable liuyng of those and openly do detest the vndefiled pure bed as S. Paule calleth it that is the honest and laweful matrimony of the mynisters of the congregation Oh terrible thynge to be harde oh miserable and lamentable state of the congregation O lorde Iesus come and succour thy churche which so long as the popisshe kingedome endured had such
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
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
ryghte reason Virgill sheweth that when he hadde thus reuolued what he had done all the day longe whether good or bad he rebuked that which was euyl and praysed and commended the good In this place I can not let passe that which Seneca speaketh concernyng this forme and trade Sextius saith he at the euening yer he went to rest accustomed to axe of his mynde certayne questions semblably what yll and naughtye condition haste thou this day amended What vyce hast thou with stande what art thou â—etter nowe then when thou diddest aryse And after he addeth this What better forme can there be than this to examine the whole day agayne in this wyse Muste not there folowe after such a rekenyng a sweat sownd quiet free and pleasaunt sleape wheÌ„ the mynde is eyther praysed or warned and is taken to be a iudge and examiner of it selfe I my selfe vse this trade dayly and reason in this wyse with my selfe as I haue shewed When the day is past I examine the whole agayne and ponder and wey depely both what I haue sayd done I kepe nothynge in secrete I omitte nothynge for why shulde I be affrayed syth that I may frely say take heade do no more so for at this tyme I forgyue the. In thy communication with suche a man thou dyddest reason conteÌ„tiously hereafter I waâ—ne â–ª the dispute not with the ignorant Thou warnedst such a maÌ„ more frely a greate deall then thou oughtest and more offendedest hym then correctedest hym Henceforth consyder not onely whether thou speake trueth or not but whether or no he can beare it to whome it is tolde Seneca spake these thynges and many mo in this sentence and meanynge which I wolde wyshe that christians wolde not onely remembre but also purpose cast to folow and to bring vp and trade theyr children in this fourme of exercyse Certes onles I am very farre deceyued we shulde then endeuour to leade our lyfe more agreably to our profession But now of the contrary let vs consyder our exercises and howe we vse to recken our fautes and examyne the whole day agayne at nyghte yer we go to rest howe are we occupied Verely we kepe ioly â—here one with an other our tables are furnyshed with deyntye dishes And we are not contente to drynke and swyll in all the day longe ercept we banket and drynke also at nyght where vppon what vyces procede we be none of vs ignoraunt And at last when we are not thorowlye satisfied in drynkynge we aryse frome the table in such case that we can not stande on our feete but stagger and stumble at euery thynge and muste be ledde home and stayed on other mennes shulders Oftentymes we fall into such beastlynes that we must be taken fro the table and layed in oure beddes by others And there we lye lyke brute beastes drowned and buryed with wine and sleape I can not with more propre wordes sette forth this abomination And this is a thynge that is done daylye But scarsly ones we do in a whole yere recompte and recken with our selues howe we haue lyued axe forgeuenes of our synne and purpose to be reconciled to god And yf peraduenture we purpose so yet trueth it is we continewe not therin so farre of is it that we do dayly euery man trye and examyne his owne conscyence consyder howe he lyueth yer he go to bed And beynge offended and displeased with hym selfe seketh god to haue mercy vpon him with syghing and wepyng or putting his affyauÌ„ce and trust in god trusteth and promiseth him selfe that is better in Christ or if he purpose to lyue godly continueth therein And yet for all this we dare boldely sleape and take our rest in that state in which if any man shulde dye as no man is sure that he shall lyue vntyll the next morowe folowing we were vtterly cast away and condempned both body soule But alas these thynges we remembre not In such wyse we flatter oure selfe with hope of longer lyfe wherewith syth that so many men be deceyued howe chyldyshe are we or rather howe do we dote which do perswade our selues that we be exempted out of the nombre of those as it were by some synguler and propre priuilege ¶ The .vi. cause THe syxte cause remayneth and that why welthy and ryche men within the bishop of Romes dominions differre the reformation and amenmente of theyr lyfe the cause is hope of forgyuenes of synnes by the Popes Pardons and bulles Also a certayne false truste to relese the paynes of purgatorye by masses dirigies sayd yerely prestes and monkes prayers and also by the workes almes dedes done by theyr frendes alyue as fastynge prayenge watchynge and goynge of pylgrymage and such lyke For lyke as certayne men affyrme that pardonnes haue strength to obteyne temyssyon of sinnes so are they not ashamed to saye that in what moment of the houre so euer a penny or money gynglethe in the boxe the soule at that verye instant doth depart out of purgatory and more ouer they thinke that the deade are eased by the good workes and merites of men alyue whiche Hilarius vpon Mathewe doth deny And so doth Hierome as he is alleged in the common law affyrme that in this present lyfe one may helpe an other whether it be with his prayer or good councell But at what tyme we shall appeare before the iudgemente seate of the lorde euery man shal beare his owne burthen besides this in what state so euer a man dyeth he shal be iudged in the selfe same state Then howe detestable is the sluggyshnes of such men as lyue thus quietly and securely in vyce wyckednes which wolde ywysse yf they regarded ought theyr saluacion and soules helth kepe some meane and not so excede in vyce as they do and remembre the laste dowme As for an example to speake perticularly the vncharitable man wold study accordyng to gods commaundemeÌ„t to be at atonement and agremente with his neygheboure whorkepers and adulteres wold remembre that god wyll iudge them As Paule declareth Also murderers such as minister poyson to others all sortes of lyers wold haue before theyr eyes the lake burnynge with fyre and brymstone wherin theyr parte shal be as we reade in the reuelations of Iohn Couetous men drunkerdes sklaunderers of theyr neyghboures wolde remembre that such as they are shal not be inheritours of the kyngdome of God As Paule wytnesseth bothe vnto the Cor. and Ephe. Rych men wolde beare in mynde the sayenge of Christe that he whiche putteth his trust in vncertayne ryches shall not entre into the kyngdome of god fynally al men wold remeÌ„bre the endeles and vnquenchable fyre of hell which Christ threatneth in his worde to the wycked and vngodly euery man wolde feare the voyce of our sauiour to the folyshe women I know you not and to the slowe seruaunte cast the vnprofitable seruaunte into the outwarde darkenes where there shal be wepynge and
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
vncertaine so that in such vncerteÌ„te a man can not promes him selfe that he shall lyue but one moment of an hour a great dele lesse a day or twain Therefore this is an excellent and a very notable saieng of Seneca For as much as thou knowest not when or where thou shalt die therfore loke thou for death in euery place and at al times In this wise I wyl conclud then that the shorter and vncertener mans lyfe is so much the more shuld we repent and refourme our lyuing whyles we haue yet tyme. ¶ The seconde remedy NOwe to say some thynge in the seconde cause we shulde nat in any wyse differre the reformation of our lyfe for that hope truste whiche we haue in the mercy and goodnes of god Christ came to call synners But to repeÌ„t theÌ„ of their former life and not to syn more frely more at lybertie As god is mercyfull so doth he mercifully forgyue But the repeÌ„taunt not the obstinate in sin Christ bare our synnes on his owne body to the crosse as Peter sayth I do not deny but what foloweth that we mortifyenge our fleshe shulde lyue to ryghtuousnes Christe gaue him selfe for vs as Paul remeÌ„breth vnto TituÌ„ I denye not but what dothe immediatly folowe That he myght redeme vs from our synne pourge a chosen people for him selfe to do good workes Christe pourged vs by his bloude shed frome synne As Iohn declareth in his Reuelations I graunt that to but nat that we shuld pollute our selfe agayne with the fylthynes of syn We haue Christ our aduocate with the father But if we repent vs of our former lyfe and so resorte vnto hym for succoure Thou wylt peraduenture saye that I maye well ynoughe here after bewayle my synnefull lyfe To this I answer Howe knowest thou that thou shalt lyue but a moment much lesse canst thou haue â—ope to lyue vntyll thou mayst repeÌ„t and refourme thy lyuyng Consyder with thy selfe what the lorde sayde to the rych man in the gospell that in prosperitie promised hym selfe manye yeres to lyue O foole they shal requyre this nyght thy sowle of the. Thou haste nede to take heade leste the same chaunce also to the. Thou sayest but I hope better But what if this hope begyle you for here I may cry out Oh deceyptfull hope Now if it hap so which thynge god prohibite thou shalt peryshe and wylfully cast thy selfe into euerlastynge destruction This thou wylt not agayne say but that in such vncertenty of lyfe it may well come to passe What follye then is it by dilayenge to putte that thynge on syx and seuen whiche at the first thou myghteste prouyde for without al daunger why doest thou not repent betymes rather then hope thus with such ieoperdy Thou wilt say to me God is mercyfull Truth it is but he is also iuste Then syth that thou trustest so much in his mercye why fearest thou not lykewyse his iustyce The lorde speaketh by his prophet semblably I wil not the death of a synner well but what foloweth that he be conuerted lyue Therfore be conuerted vnto the lord as Ioell exorteth the with all thine herte in fasting sighing and teares be conuerted vnto the lorde thy god For he is bountifull gentyll longe sufferynge and of much mercy As the same Ioell sayth This thynge dyd also Ezechiell declare Where he sayth If the synner shall repent him of his sinnes kepe my commaundementes and execute iustyce and iudgemente he shall lyue and not dye Is it my wyll sayth the lorde god that the synner rather dye then be conuerted and lyue Also Esaye Let the sinner forsake his waies and the iust chaunge his wycked thoughtes and turne vnto the lord and the lorde wyll haue mercy vpon hym let him be conuerted vnto the lorde god of hostes bicause he is great in mercye The Prophet declareth that God is good and mercyfull but to the repentaunt those that acknowledge confesse theyr synnes Therfore fyrste repente retourne agayne vnto helth requyre forgyuenes of thy synnes with bytter teares and weapynge be offended and displeased with thy sinnes euen with al thin harte Forsake thy former pathes be conuerted vnto the lorde god and then thou mayst vndoubtedlye conceyue a sure hope and trust to be saued Then thou hast no cause to despeire of the goodnes of god and of the forgyuenes of thy synnes And in the meane tyme call this to remembraunce which is spoken by our sauiour that there is greater gratulacion and gladnes for one repeÌ„taunt sinner than is for .xcix. iust menne in theyr owne syght Let this also stere the bycause the Aungels be so glad and wyshe so hartely thy saluacyon I haue bene woÌ„derfully moued and delyghted with the sayenge of the Psalmist The lorde is good and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of much mercy Note also what as he sayeth in an other place Those thou hatest Lorde which worke iniquitie and thy countenaunce is fixed on the which do euyll A man wyll peraduenture say to me that Iohn affyrmeth that who so beleueth in the son hath euerlastynge lyfe But the very selfe same IohnÌ„ dothe in an other place playnely pronounce that who so synneth is of the deuyll And againe who so sayth that he knoweth god and kepeth not his coÌ„maundementes is a lyer But thou wylt say that Iohan the baptist testifyed this thyng of Christ that he is the lambe of god which taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde But what is ioyned immediatly there vnto repente you of your former lyfe eftsoones brynge forth such fruytes as the repentaunt shulde But thou wylt yet go further with me and say that Peter As we reade in the actes sayeth We beleue that by the grace and fre goodnes of our Lorde Iesus Chryst we shal be saued That is plaine also but what addeth he therunto repente therefore and be conuerted to the intent that your sin may be taken away and forgyuen you Thou wylte saye agayne to me that God so loued the worlde as we may reede in S. Iohn that he gaue his onely son that whoso euer shulde beleue in hym shulde not perysshe but enioye euerlastinge lyfe But nowe by your pacience here me what Math. saieth Euery man that saieth to me Lorde Lorde shal not enter into the kyngdome of heauen but onely they which do the wyl of my father which is in heuen If thou beleuest S. Paul where he saith that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners beleue hi also where he saieth that sorcerers adulterers whorekepers murderers robbers theaues proude and couetous men druÌ„kerdes sklaunderers sowers of sedicyon enuious folkes and such other shall not inherite the kingdome of god yf thou beleuest hym where he saieth thou no not Paul but the holye ghost rather speaking in Paul beleue him also in the tother And than vndoutedly thou shalte conceiue none hope of the mercy of God in such fylthy and abomynable liuyng nor yet loke for
and allureth vs vnto the vtter destruction of our sowles we must warely eschewe his snares which he hath laid for vs. Let vs not gyue occasion nor offer a fitte and conuenient tyme to hym for to assaulte and oppresse vs vnwares Cyprian sayth that a man may the better beware when he feareth Therfore lette vs shake of vs slouthfullnes and set a part al securitie and as it is commonly said let vs feare the Scorpion vnderneth euery stone let vs not be without care in securitie as though all were well and in safegarde No man is sooner vndoone than he whiche is without feare as an Heathen man wryteth this securitie is the begynnyng of al myscheafe and calamitie Yf thou haste therfore ones tryumphed ouer thine enemie vanquished hym do not streyght way thinke as thoughe al dauÌ„ger were past that thou shalt lyue continually in peace thou must stande styl in the front of the batayle redy to fyght as Ciprian exortethe Thou muste in this worlde do none other thynge but fyght continâ—ally with the Deuyll and keape of thee his dartes and weapons with the buclarre of fayth and the swerde of gods worde We must fyght sayth he with auarice with vnchastitie with anger ambition we muste wrastle continually with carnall vyces and the temptacions of the worlde for our soule considerynge that it is seged with the whole armye of the deuyll is scarsly able to stande against such a violent assault For if auarice be supplanted lust putteth oute the hâ—ade If lust be vanquyshed ambition succedeth yf ambicion be sette at naught anger is placed for it thus pride puffeth vp the hert of maÌ„ wine drinkynge allureth enuye breketh concorde â—elowsye dyssolueth frendeshyp and amitie And lyke as we must not be proude beynge conqueroures so when we are conqueted we muste not streyght waye despeyre and laye awaye frome vs our weapon What must we then do verely we must then fyght more fearsly then euer we dyd before for to remeue and take awaye the former ignominie and shame and with valiaunte courage to quitte oure selues of the foyle receyued at the handes of oure enemie like as a certayne noble man dyd which is artificially peynted set forth in his coloures by an excellent poet whose wordes these be of the same WheÌ„ he was beaten downe vnto the grounde with great stones which his enemies caste downe vpon him he was not therfore vanquished and put to flyght but was then more fearse then euer was he before For anger pricked hym forwarde and shame and his knowen prowesse did stere and insence him albeit we must fight with our enemie hauyng more affiaunce in god then in oure owne strength Now thou perceyuest what the cause is why if we purpose to liue godly at any tyme we continue not therein A certayne enclination vnto sinne which is naturally graffed in vs is chefely the cause nexte of all the worlde which ministreth sundry occasions vnto al kynd of vyce Last of all the deuyll whiche casteth with him selfe contynually how to destroy vs nor ceaseth at any tyme to ouerthrowe vs eyther openly or priuilye God and the father of oure Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ encourage and strengethen vs in this daungerous and contynual conflycte with so many enemies and supporte vs with his helpe which are vnable of our selues to resist theÌ„ and with his holy spirite coÌ„firme establishe our hertes that we may both ouercome and brynge lowe these fleshely mocions nor be yet ouercomen brought downe by the teÌ„ptacions of the same and that we may suppresse our naturall concupissence resist the world which geueth diuers and sundry occasious vnto sinne and that we may also withstand the deuyl which temteth vs by al meanes possyble and â—…uenteth al maner of giles and waies how to destroy vs and that not onely the seruile and bonde feare which the lawe bryngeth may reuoke and withdrâ—… vs froÌ„ vice by a certayne seruyle dreed and feare of the punishment of god and of euerlastinge torment and paine being fered with the wrathe and iudgement of God and the terror of hell but rather a greate dele the liberal honest feare which natural children haue to breake and transgresse the commaundement of their derest father whiche feare true faith verely doth ingeÌ„dre may moue vs withal honest godli and reuerent behauior at no tyme to do or atteÌ„pte that thing wherwith such a benigne and bountiful father may be greued and offended and that this thynge may moue vs for to do well of oure owne free wyll and to flee and abhor vyce and to do our bounden deutye euen of a loue so that yf we haue at vnwares suffered our selues to trespasse or offend any thing by frailtie that thynge may so greue and vexe our conscyence that we wâ—lde verye gladlye and willinglye punisshe ourselues and thynke that we wolde be rather dead than alyue bycause we haue offeÌ„ded our father whiche is so merciful and bountious This thing also the euerlastyng god graunte for his sons sake our lorde and sauiour Iesus Chryst that consyderynge the shortnes of our lyfe the vncerteine hour of death we difer in no wise the amendmeÌ„t of our life but returne rather vnto saluacyon acknoweledge our sins and repent vnfeinedly and pacify with a soroful contrite herte the wrath of the heuenly father knocking our brestes with the Publicane in the gospel require humbli the mercy of god that we wyl and laboure for to attaine such thinges onely as are acceptable in gods sight make a greter mendes for our offence committed than th offence it selfe is and by good workes and almes deedes recompence our fautes and putting thus our affiaunce and truste in the goodnes and helpe of God that we may liue in the seruice feare of god innoceÌ„tly as Christen men shuld do chastly soberly and temperatly For the profytte of the congregacyon of Christ and of mans lyfe agreably to the professyon of Chrysten men and herein may thus styll continewe and persyst vnto the last daye These were the thynges whiche I purposed to shewe of the foly of men bicause they difer and put of froÌ„ day to daye the reformation of their lyfe our purpose dyd constreyne vs to allege bryng forth certeyne thinges whiche lyke as they wyll be plesaunt and well accepted of the godlye that loue and feare god so wyll they be to thother bitter and vnplesant whiche wolde be taken for Christians whan they are none in very deed We spake manye thynges euerye where of the shortnes of lyfe of the vncerteintie of deth which is euery hour at hand by reson of vncerteine chaunces and oppresseth vs oftentymes whan we least weene But notwithstandynge godly men do wyshe for it and when it pleaseth God wyllyngelye and desyrouslye enbraseth it The vngodly do not so they feare it woÌ„derfully We spake also of the resurrection of the deade of the coÌ„ming of the lorde of the last dowme when al men shal be called to gyue an accomptes and reckening of their former lyfe which day wil be to the wicked very terrible but much loked for wyshed of the godly For then doth theyr redemption approche then the tyme of refreshinge as we reade in thactes is at hande and as Tertullian sayth the day of Christen exultacion draweth nyghe We declared also what peine and punyshement was ordeyned for the wycked after this bodely death and what reward and pleasure was reposed in Christ for the godly For then the godly shal come vnto heaueÌ„ shal there lyue in the greatest ioye that can be Howe great ioye and felicitie must it neades be for to behold gods countenaunce euer more to be gladdened with the continuall and moste comfortable contemplation of gods vysage whom nowe we se but coueredly as Paule sayth How great felicitie must it neades be to se hym as he is of him selfe to abound with all good thynges to enioy such greate ioyes and so manye in numbre as no man is able to conceyue muche lesse to vtter and expresse in wordes But the deuelyshe shall be cast headlong into hell pit and there shal be tormented with endles peyne Neyther such is the vtteraunce or eloquence of any man that he can be able to describe set forth in wordes nor such is the sharpenes of any maÌ„nes wyt that he can conceyue but euen the least parte of those peynes which the wicked shal abyde suffre in hell which are condempned by the iust iudgement of god vnto euerlastyng fyre Finally we spake of many other thynges mo whiche wylbe to the Godlye verye pleasaunte and comfortable but otherwyse to the wycked and deuelyshe As of gods wrath agaynst sinne of dryuyng out of our mindes securitie in welth and prosperitie of repentaunce amendement and reformation of our liuing of the continual wrastlynge and batayle that we haue with our extreme enemies the world the fleshe and the deuyll and other such lyke which it is nedeles now to reherse These thinges are bitter and vnplesaunte but as I trust healthfu For Phisitians cure coÌ„monly greuous sore diseases with sharpe medicines as Cureius sheweth Also Cicero in an Epistle vnto Octauian saith that no salues which ar laid vnto sores do so much grene the pacient as do those which are helthful The euerlastynge god graunt this the father of our lord redemer Iesus Christ that in this â—o wycked and corrupte world this our laboure may kepe the godly in their offyce and therin confirme and establishe theÌ„ if at lest wise any wil reade this litle treatise hauiÌ„g a zele to the wycked also that it maye ministre some occasion to retourne and repeÌ„t And that the salue which is taken layde to the sycke and well nere desperate for healthes sake maye haue power to ease them and worke theyr saluacyon This thynge graunt he without whose helpe al our endeuor and study is voyde and in vayne the almightye and euerlastynge God to whom be al prayse honour and glorye nowe and euer So be it Luke .xii Chap. ¶ Be in a redines therfore bycause at what houre ye leaste weene the sonne of man wyll come ⧠IMPRYNTED AT LONDON IN FLETEstrete at the signe of the George nexte to Saynte Dunstones Churche by Wyllyam Powell ⧠Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum