apolog 2. tp ad felic That protestātes doe follovv the same spirit of corrupting Luth. in Lipist ad Ioan. Heruagium typogra Argent The nevv brethrens testimonies the one against the other Zuing. li. de Sacra fol. 412. 10. 2. Bez. in resp ad defens Castal Itē in praefat Test. an 1556. Mol in trá Test. noni part 11. fol. 110. Item part 64. 65. 66. 74. 99. M. Bunies particuler dealing in editiō of the booke of resolution B V N. first deuise To MAKE his aduersaries speake like Protestantes S. Augustine taught to speake by M. Buny BVNY second deuise To INSERT parentheses Math. 18. Marc 10. Luc. 19. 2. Tim. 2. Apoc. 2. Eccle. 9. BVN third shift MAROInal annotations of diuers fortes Annotatiōs fonde 2. Annotatiōs absurd Aug. lib. 8 confes cap. 12. Possid in vita Aug. 3. Annotations vvicked Athanas. in vita Anton. Aug lib. 8. cōfes c. 12. Mat. 19. Against S. Antonie Against S. Augustine Against our B. 〈◊〉 die Aug. quest 71. in Exo. con 1. in Psal. 32. Great absurditie impietie of M. Buny Maruelous absurdities M. Bun. the. diuels proctor BVN third snift THEVsting out Impudent dealing in striking out Monkes Apparitiōs of Christ. Purgatorie Apparitiōs of Angels Neremites Satisfactiō Penance Bodily affliction 2. Cor. 12. Resisting of temptatiōs Promisses to Virginitis Christes vvordes thrust out by M. Buny Mat. 11. OF mangling OTHER mens sayings Cyp. lib. de laps l. 5. epist. 9. ad Corn. The measare of penance Hier. ep 27 ad Lustoch Intollerable dealing Ambros. ad virg Laps cap. 8. A consideration vpon the premisses Intollerable pride of beretiques VVhy vve should ioine vvith protestantes VVhy they vvil not ioine vvith vs. Their hurtes in yelding to vs. * So much the more certaine to proceede of grace and of Gods special ordinance for that othervvise men vvould neuer haue receaued thē Note this The cōmodities offered to vs in ioining vvith thē religion The Protostantes protestation Cōmodities by yelding in our ciuil state Intellerable lying flatterie * Hovv doe they prosper at this day in Frāce and Flāders * Note this blessednes The remouing of impediments Of discredit Of hurtes Atheisme Hovv by N. Buny vve are al of one Church Page 108. VVhy protestātes are novv so kinde as to make attonement vvith vs. The only motiue to protestant religion in England 1. The vvhole booke reuevved 2. The title altered 3. Diuers treatisses altered 4. Nevv chapters added and vvhy The greuous temptations of faith that come by heresie The reason of particuler chapters added of nevv An other cause of the amplificatio of tins booke The reason of the methode adioined in the ende The conclusion vvith certaine instructions True treating of demotion only in the Catholique Church VVhy no heretique treateth sincerly of deuotion 2. Tim. 3. 2. Pet. 3. VVhy protestantes of alother sectaries can not teach true pietie Examples bovv protestantes can not teach piesie of life vvithout imparing their doctrine No effect of verme sollovveth vpon the prating of protestants The spirit of the Catholique Church The charitable proceeding of God by Int. prophctes The dāger of inconsideration Esa. 5. The sensual life of the Iuis he 〈◊〉 Esa. 47. The daughter of Babylon forgetteth her ende 4. Reg. 15. 17. The complaint of Ierenue for inconsideration Iere. 12. Esa. 5. The mysterie of incōsideration Iob. 4. Iob. 4. A collectiō to be noted Lack of cōsideratiō cause of eternal destruction Psal. 91. A point that fooles vvill not consuler Dan. 10. A most terrible vision of Daniel vvherī he savv Christ. Dan. 12. A secret Dan. 12. VVilfull ignorance The cause of so much sinne at this day Iob. 15. Luc. 19. Es2 47. Luc. 9. Voluntarie inconsideration Iob. 21. Iob. 23. Pro. 28. Ibid. Dent. 6. 11. Iosue 1. Psal. 118. Eccle. 6. 22. Ecclo 17. The first cause vvhy men slie cōsideratiō Act. 24. Ioseph li. 20 antiq cap. 5. The second cause vvhy men slye cōsideratiō Iere. 7. Ierem. 8. The third cause of incōsideratiō Sap. 15. Eccle. 8. A comparison Iere. 30. 23. In the end ynel men shall vnderstand vvhether they vvill or no. The exāple of the Babyloniās Esa. 47. Esa. 21. Esa. 21. VVe must stand vpon our vvatch Luc. 12. Cōsideratiō the onelie dore to our vvatch Bern. lib. 1. de consid The manie cōmodities of consideration Effectes 〈◊〉 consideratiō Hovv all vertues are stirred vp quickened by consideration Psalm 38. Psal. 76. The exercise of holy men touching consideration Gen. 24. The first three Patriarches Moyses Iosue Deut. 6. 11. Ios. 1. K. Dauid Psalm 38. 62. 118. Psal. 76. K. Salomō Eccle. 6. K EZechias Esa. 58. Esa 26. The consideration that Iob vsed and the seuites therof Iob. 23. Tvvo effectes of consideration Esa. 32. Mich. 6. A consideration vpon the doinges of Iob. Iob. 9. Augustin in lib. cōfess Knovvledg and beleefe in grosse A similitude The importance of cōsideration 1. Tim. 4 The cōclusion of the chapter The miserie of the vvorld Iere. 30. 23. Ephes. 5. Ierem. 7. Th' effect of all the chapters follovvinge Ioh. 17. The vvaye to knovve god in this life Psal. 45. Luc. 10. A common custome in sciences to suppose principles An example in cheualrie In handycraftes In liberal sciences Growndes to be graūted in sciēces In logicke In Moral Philosophie In natural Philosophie In the Mathematiks In Metaphysike In Diuinitie Heb. 11. Tvvo principles in diuiritie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 4. The cause of this chapter If ther be a God he is a iust revvarder See Lactantius at large in his booke of the vvorkmāshipe of the vvorld The vvorkes of the vvorld doe declare the vvorkman Sap. 13. Rom. 1. A Similitude The Heauens teache God Iob. 28. Psal. 18. The earth teacheth vs God Iob. 38. The Sea shevveth God Aris lib. de mirabilibus Iob. 38. The things in man declare God Iamblicus de Myst. cap. 1. Act. 17. Old Atheistes Laertius lib. 2. 4. de vit philos Psal. 13. 52. Rom. 1. Philip. 3. Lact. lib. 3. institut Philosophers Fovver pri cipal sciences The Mathematique proueth not God THE Natural philosopher The first argument in natural Philosophie Arist. lib. 7. 8. phy Primum mobile Plat. l. 10. de legib Arist. lib. 8. phys cap. 5. An argument taken from the clocke Arist. lib. de mūdo A similitude The second argumēt of natural philosophie Philo. l. de opificio mundi The third argumēt of natural Philosophīe * Vide Plutarch de placitis Philosoph Arist. l. 8. phys l. de Gen. corrup Arist. l. de mundo vide plotin l. de mundo THE Metaphysique and his argumentes The first argumēt in Metaphysique Ut maxia in Metaphysique Arist. li. 2. Metaph. cap. 2. The 2. argument in Metaphysique Multitude Plat. in Parmen Primum Mobile MICRO COSMOS The infiite thinges bat prosede from be soule The 3. argument in Metaphysike Subordination A similitude The 4. argument in Metaphysique Prouidēce *
his simplicitie was deliuered frō the mouth of lions And so doe you runne ouer by cogitation al generations and you shal see that al those that hope in God shal not be vanquished And doe you not seare the vvordes of a sinful man for his glorie is nothing els but dung and vvormes to daie he is great and exalted and to morovv he shal not be found for he shal returne vnto his earth againe and al his fond cogitations shal perishe Wherfore take courage vnto you my children and plaie the men in the lawe of God For ther in shal be your honour glorie Hitherto are the wordes of scripture which shal suffice for the end of this chapter THE FOVRTH AND GREATEST IMPEDIMENT THAT HINdereth resolution to witte The loue and respect vvhich men beare to the pleasures and vanities of this vvorld CHAPT IIII. AS the former impedimentes which now by Gods grace we haue remoued be in verie deed great staies to many mē from the resolutiō we talke of so this that presently we take in hand is not onely of it self a strong impediment and let but also a general cause as it were a commō ground to al other impedimentes that be or may be For if a man could touch the hidden pulse of al such as refuse or neglect or doe differre to make this resolution he should find the true cause origine therof to be the loue and respect which they beare vnto this world what soeuer other excuses they pretend besides The noble men of Iewrie pretended feare to be the cause why they could not resolue to coniesse Christ openly but S. Iohn that felt their-pulses and knew their disease vttereth the true cause to haue bene for that they loued the glory of men more then the glory of God Demas that for sooke S. Paul in his bandes euen a litle before his death pretended an other cause of his departure to Thellalonica but S. Paul saieth it was quia diligebat hoc seculū for that he loued this world So that this world is a general and vniuersal impediment and more largely dispersed in mens hartes thē outwardly appeareth for that it bringeth forth diuers other excuses therby to couer it self in the people wher it abideth This may be confirmed by that most excellent parable of our Sauiour Christ recorded by three Euangelistes concerning the three sortes of men which are to be damned and the three causes of their damnation wher of the third and last most general including as it were both the two former is the loue of this world For the first sorte of men ther mentioned are compared to a high waie wherin al seed of life that is sowen ether withereth presentlie or els is eaten vp by the birdes of the ayer which is as Christ expoundeth it by the deuils in such careles men as contemne what-soeuer is said vnto thē such are insidels heretikes and other like obstinate and contemptuous people The second sorte of damnable people are compared to rockie groundes in which for lacke of depe roote the seed that falleth continueth not and by this are signified light and vnconstant persons that now choppe in and now runne owt now are seruent and by and by keie-colde againe so in time of tēptation they are gone saith Christ. The third sorte are compared to a feild wherin the seed of life groweth vp but yet there are so many thornes about the same which one father expoundeth to be the cares troubles miseries and deceinable vanities of this life as the good corne is choked vp and bringeth soorth no fruite By which last wordes lie signifieth that whersoeuer the doctrine of Christ groweth vp yet bringeth not forth due fruite that is to saie whersoeuer his faith is planted receaued and professed as among Christians it is and yet bringeth not forth vertuous life holie conuersation good workes and due seruice of God corespōdent to this seed ther the principal cause is for that it is choked with the loue and care of this present world This is a parable of maruailous greate importance as may appeare both for that Christ after the recital therof cried out with a lowde voice He that hath eares to heare let him heare As also for that he expounded it him self in secrete onelie to his Disciples And principallie for that before the exposition therof he vsed such a solemne preface saying to you it is geuen to knovv the misteries if the kingdome of heauen but to others not for that they seing doe not see and hearing doe not heare nor vnder stand Wherby Christ signifieth that the vnderstanding of this parable among others is of singular importance for conceauing the true misteries of the kingdome of heauen and that many are blinde which seeme to see and many deafe and ignorant that seeme to heare and know for that they vnderstand not wel the misteries of this parable For which cause also his diuine wisdome maketh this conclusion before he beginne to expound the parable Happie are your eies that see and biessed are your eares that heare After which wordes he beginneth his exposition with this admonitiō Vos ergo audite parabolam Doe you therfore heare and vnderstand this parable And for that this parable doth containe and touch so much in deede as may or is needful to be saied for remouing of this greate and dangerous impediment of worldly loue I meane to staie my self onelie vpon the explication the ros in this place and wil declare the force and truth of certaine wordes here vttered by Christ of the world and worldlie pleasures And forsome order and methodes sake I wil drawal to these six pointes folowing First how and in what sense al this whole world and commodities therof are meere vanities in them selues and of no value as Christ here signifieth and consequentlie ought not to be an impedimēt to let vs from so great a matter as the kingdome of heauen and seruing of God is Secondlie how they are not onelie vanities and trifles but also Deceptions as the wordes of Christ are that is to say deceyte and fallaces not performing to vs in deede those litle trifles which they doe promise Thirdlie how they are spinae that is pricking thornes as our Saueour affirmeth albeit they seeme to worldly men to be most sweet and pleasant thinges Fourthlie how they are arumnae that is to saie miseries and afflictions Fiftlie quomodo suffocant how they strangle or choke their possessours according as the sonne of God in this parable auoucheth Sixthlie how we may vse them notwithstanding without these daungers euils and to our great comfort gaine and preferment The first point of the parable AND NOVV for the first albeit I might stande vpon many reasons and demonstrations yet doe I not see how breefly pithelie it may be better declared that al the pleasures and goodlie shewes of this world are mere vanities
of a Leuit God punished the whole tribe in this order as holy scripture recounteth He caused al the other eleuen tribes to rise against them first to come to the house of God in Silo to aske his aduise and to folow his direction in this warre against their brethren And thence hauing by Godes appointement ioined battaile twise with the tribe of Beniamin the third daie God gaue them so great a victorie as they slew al the liuing creatures within the compasse of that tribe except onelie six hundred men that escaped awaie into the desert the rest were slaine both man woman children and infantes together with al the beastes and cattel al the cities villages and howses burnt with fire And al this for one sinne committed onelie at one time with one woman And who then deare Christian brother wil not confesse with Moyses that God is a iust God a great God and a terrible God Who wil not confesse with S. Paul that it is horrible to fal into the handes of the liuing God Who wil not say with holy Dauid A Iudicijs tuis timui I haue feared at the remembrance of thy iudgementes If God would not spare the destroying of a whole tribe for one sinne onely if he would not perdon Chore Dathan and Abiron for once the sonnes of Aaron for once Ananias Saphira for once if he would not forgiue Esau though he demaunded it with teares as S. Paul saieth if he would not remit the punishment of one fault to Moyses Aaron albeit they asked it with great instance if he would not forgiue one proude cogitation vnto the Angels nor the eating of one apple vnto Adā without infinite punishment nor would passe ouer the cuppe of affliction from his own deare sonne though he required the same thrise vpō his verie knees with the sweate of blood and water in his presence what reason hast thou my brother to thike that he wil let passe so many sinnes of thine vnpunished what cause hast thou to induce thy imagination that he wil deale extraordinarilie with thee breake the course of his iustice for thy sake Art thou better then thos whom I haue named or hast thou any priuilege from his Maiestie aboue them If thou wouldest consider the great and strange effectes of his iustice which we see dailie executed in the world thou shouldest haue litle cause to persuade thy self so fauorablie or rather to flatter thy self so daungerously as thou doest We see that notwithstanding Godes mercie yea after the death and passion of Christ our Sauiour for sauing of the whole world yet so many infinite millions be damned daily by the iustice of almightie God so many insideles heathens Iewes and Turkes that remaine in the darknes of their owne ignorance and among Christīans so many heretiques and misbeleuers and among Catholiques so many euel liuers as Christ truely said that few were they which should be saued albeit his death was paid for al if by their own wickednes they made them selues not vnworthie therof And before the comming of our Sauiour much more we see that al the world went awrie to damnatió for many thousand yeres together excepting a few Iewes which were the people of God And yet among them also the greater part perhappes were not saued as may be cōiectured by the speeches of the prophetes from time to time and specially by the sayings of Christ to the harisees and other rulers therof Now then if God for the satisfying of his justice could let so many millions perish through their own sinnes as he doth also now daily permit without any preiudice or impechement to his infinit mercie why may not he also damne thee forthy sinnes notwithstanding his mercie seing thou doest not onely commit them without feare but also doest confidently persist in the same The 2. part of the chapter BVT HERE now perhappes some man may say if this be so that God is so seuere in punishment of euery sinne and that he damneth so many thousandes for one that he saueth how is it true that the mercies of God are aboue al his other vvorkes as holy scripture affirmeth and that it passeth and exalteth it self aboue his iudgement For if the number of the damned doe exceede so much the number of thos which are saued it seemeth that the worke of iustice doth passe the worke of mercie To which I answere that touching the smal number of them that are saued as also of th' infinit quantitie of such as are damned we may in no wise doute for that besides al other prophetes Christ our Sauiour hath made the matter certaine and out of question We haue to see therfore how notwithstāding al this the mercie of God doth exceede his other workes And first his mercie may be said to exceede for that al our saluation is of his mercie and our damnation from our selues only as from the first and principal causes therof according to the saying of God by the prophet Perditio tua Israel tantummodò in me auxilium tuum Thy perdition is onely from thy self ô Israel and thy assistance to doe good is onely from me So that as we must acknowledge Gods grace and mercie for th' author of euerie good thought and acte that we doe and consequently ascribe al our saluatiō vnto him so none of our euil actes for which we are damned doe proceede from him but onely from our selues and so he is no cause at al of our damnation and in this doth his mercie exceede his iustice Secondlie his mercie doth exceede in that he desireth al men to be saued as S. Paul teacheth and him self protesteth when he saieth I vvil not the death of a sinner but rather that he turne from his vvikednes and liue And againe by the prophet Ieremie he complaineth greeuouslie that men wil not accept of his mercie offered Turne from your vvicked vvaies saith he vvhy vvil ye die a you house of Israel By which appeareth that he offereth his mercie most willinglie and freelie to al but vseth his iustice onelie vpon necessitie as it were cōstrained therunto by our obstinate behauiour This our Sauiour Christ signifieth more plainlie when he saith to Ierusalem O Ierusalem which killest the prophetes and stonest them to death that are sent vnto thee how oftē wold I haue gathered thy children together as the henne clocketh her chickins vnderneth her winges but thou woldest not behold thy house for this cause shal be made desert and left without children Here you see thee mercie of God often offered vnto the Iewes but for that they refused it he was enforced in a certaine maner to pronounce this heauie sentence of destruction and desolatiō vpon them which he fulfilled within fortie or fiftie yeares after by the handes of Titus and Vespasian Emperours of Rome who vtterlie ouerthrewe the citie of Ierusalem and the whole nation
and hourly by infinit wayes and mianes to remember and put in vre thes pointes of vertuous life while her enimies in the meane space doe lye wrangling and cauiling about contradictions in beleefe And therfore in the Catholique Churche onlie gentle reader shalt thou finde the true spirite of teaching and of execution of thes pointes touching pietie within the lappe and bosome wherof if thou alredy be thou hast humbly and hartely to thanke God for the same and with al sollicitous diligence and care to make thy gaine of such helpes as she offereth the for attayning thy saluation But if thou finde thy self in other estate as alas many may at this daye in our poore afflicted countrie then I beseeche the tender marcie of our Soueraine Lord and Sauiour that by readings of this present booke thou maist the sooner be moued to make thy selfe partaker both of the one and of the other benefite that is to saie not onlie to enter into the vnion of his Catholique Church but also which more importeth to leade a true Christian and vertuous life within the same And so to our Lord IESVS I commit the. At S. Omer in Artoys this present xxix of Iulie 1585. Being the daye of the holie virgin S. Martha Thy harty vvel vviller and seruant in IESVS Christ. R. P. OF THE MANY-FOLDE PERILS THAT ENSVE TO THE vvorld by inconsideration And hovv necessarie it is for euerie man to enter into cogitation of his ovvne estate CHAPT I. THE Prophetes and Sainctes of God who from tyme to tyme haue bene sent by his merciful prouideÌ„ce to aduertise and warne synners of theyr perilous estate and conditioÌ„ for synne haue not onlie fortold them of their wickednesse and imminent dangers for the same but also haue reueiled the causes therof wherby they might th' easyer prouide remedie for the inconuenieÌ„ces to come Such is the charitable proceeding of our moste mercifull Lord with the childreÌ„ of meÌ„ And amoÌ„g other causes none is more general or more often alleaged then the lacke of consideration by which as by a common snare and decept of our aduersarie most men fall into synne and are holden also perpetuallie in the same to their final destruction and eternal perdition So Esay the prophet speaking of the carelesse nobilitie and gentrie of Iurie that gaue them selues to baÌ„ketting disporte without consideration of their duties towardes god repeateth often the threat of vvoe against them and thé putteth downe the cause i thes wordes The lute and harpe and tymprel and shalme and good vvyne aboundeth in your bankettes but the vvorkes of god you respect not nor haue you consideration of his doinges And then insueth Therfore hath hell enlarged his soule and opened his mouth vvithout all measure or limitation the stoute and high and glorious of this people shall descende into it Here are two causes as you see and two effectes lynked together of thes Iewes damnation th' one depending of th' other For as good cheere and sensualitie brought thes men to inconsideratioÌ„ of gods workes and proceedinges towardes synners so IncosideratioÌ„ brought them to the mouth and pittes brymme of hell I say that inconsideration of gods workes towardes sinners brought them to this peril for that it followeth in the verie same place And the Lord of hostes shal be exalted in indgemeÌ„t and our holie god shal be sanctified in iustice as if he had sayed that albeit you will not consider now gods iudgemétes and iustice amiddest the heate and pleasure of your seastinges yet shall he by excercising the same vpon you hereafter be knowen exalted and sanctified throughout the world The like discourse maketh God hym self by the same prophet to the daughter of Babylon and by her to euerie finful and sensual soule figured by that name Come downe sayeth he sitte in the dust thou daughter of Babylon thou hast said I shal be a Ladye for euer and hast not put vpon thy harte the thinges thou shouldest nor hast thou had remembraÌ„ce of thy last ende c. Now therfore harcken thou delicate daughter which dwellest so coÌ„fideÌ„tlie ther shall come vpon the an euel wherof thou shalt not know the ofspringe and a calamitie shall rushe vpoÌ„ the froÌ„ which thou shalt not be able to deliuer the. A miserie shall ouertake the vpon the suddain which thou shalt not know c. Holie Ieremie after he had weyghed with hym self what miseries for synne the prophetes Esay Amos Ozee Ioel Abdias Michaeas Nahum Sophonias and hym self all which prophetes lyued within the coÌ„passe of one huÌ„dred yeares had fortolde to be imminent vppon the world not onlie to Samaria and the ten tribes of Israel which were now alredie caried into banishmeÌ„t to the furthest partes of th' east but also to the states couÌ„tries that most florished at that tyme as by name to BabyloÌ„ Egypt Damasco Tyrus Sidon Moab and finallie to Hierusalem and Iudaea it self which he forsaw should soone after moste pittifullie be destroyed when he saw also by longe experience that nether his wordes nor the wordes and cries of th' other forenamed prophetes could anie thing moue the hartes of wicked men he brake foorth into this moste lamentable complaint Desolatione desolata est omnis terra quia nulius est qui recogitet corde The whole earth falleth into extreme ruine desolation for that there is no man which considereth depelie in his hart This complaint made good Ieremie in his dayes for compassioÌ„ of his people that ranne miserablie to perdition for want of consideratioÌ„ And the same complaint with much more reason may euerie good ChristiaÌ„ make at this tyme for th' infinite soules of such as perishe daylie by incoÌ„sideration Wherby as by a general and remedilesse inchantement manie thousand soules are brought a slepe and doe synde them selues within the gates of hell before they misdoubt any such inconuenieÌ„ce being ledde through the vale of this present life as it were blyndfolded with the veile of carelesse negligence lyke beastes to the slaghterhouse and neuer permitted to see theyr owne danger vntil it be to late to remedie the same Propterea captiuus ductus est populus meê° quia non habuit scientiam saith god by the mouth of Esaye Therfore for this cause is my people led away captiue in all bondage slauerie to perditioÌ„ for that they haue no knowledge no vnderstaÌ„ding of their owne estate no forsight of the tymes to come no consideration of their danger Herehence floweth all the miserie of my people and yet this is a mysterie that all men wil not know Will you see what a mysterie and sealed secret this is harcken then how one describeth the same and with what circumstances Furthermore saith he a certaine hydden word was spoken vnto me and mine eare as it were by stealth receiued the veines of his whyspering it was iÌ„ the horror of a vision by night when deade
gouernour of Iurie when S. Paul began to talke of iustice chastitie and gods iudgmentes before hym he was wonderfullie a feard and said to Paul that he should departe for that tyme and that he vvould call for hym againe aftervvard vvhen occasion should require But he neuer dyd and what was the cause For that as Iosephus testifieth he was a wicked man Drusilla his fayre ladie that was with hym at S. Pauls speeche was not his true wife but taken by allurement and violence from an other and therfore it offended them both to heare preaching of chastitie This then is one principall cause whie men of this world will not enter into consideration of their owne estate and of gods cōmandementes least they should reade and see their owne faultes beare witnesse against thē selues of their owne condemnation Wherunto the scripture annexeth an other cause not far vnlike to this which is that worldlie men doe so dro vne them selues in the cares and cogitations of this life as they leaue in their mindes no place to thinke vpon gods affaires which are the busynes of their owne soules This expresseth Ieremie the prophet most effectuallie when hauing made his complaint that not withstānding his preaching and crying in the temple-gate for long tyme together where all the people passed by hym and heard hym yet no man sayeth he would enter into consideration or say with hym self vvhat haue I donne wherof he addeth presentlie the cause and reason omnes enim conuersi sunt ad cursum suum quasi equus impetu vedens ad praelium All men are sett vpon their owne courses and wayes and doe runne in the same with as great vehemēcie and fearse obstination as a furious armed horse whē he heareth the trompett in the beginning of a battaile By which cōparison the holie ghost expresseth verie lyuelie the irrecouerable state of a setled worldlie man that followeth greedilie his owne designmentes in the negotiation of earth Thes are two of the chyefe causes of inconsideration I meane wilful malice and obstinate occupation in the vanities of this life And yet mētioneth the scripture a third sorte also of inconsiderate men who nether of direct malice nor yet of greate occupatiō in worldlie affaires doe neglect consideration but rather of a certaine lightenesse and idle negligēce for that they will not trouble their heades with any thing but disporte and recreation of whom it is written aestimauerūt lusum esse vitā nostra They esteeme this life of ours to be but a plai-game And in an other place of the same mē ita securi viuunt quasi iustorum facta habeant They lyue as securelie and considentlie without care or cogitation as if they had the good workes of iust men to stand for them But as the holie Ghost pronoūceth in the same place hoc vanissimum this is vanitie and folie in the highest degree For as in thinges of this life he were but a foolish marchant that for quietnes sake would neuer looke into his accōptbookes whether he were behind hand or before and as that ship-master were greatelie to be laughed at that for auoiding of care would sett downe and make good cheere let the shippe goe whether she would so much more in the busines of our soule is it madnesse and follie to flye consideratiō for eschuyng of trouble seing in th ende this negligence must needes turne vppō vs much more trouble and irremediable calamitie For as Ieremie sayeth to all such men in nouissimo dicrum intelligetis ca in the ende of your dayes you shall not chuse but know see and vnderstand thes thinges which now for delicacie you will not take the paines to thinke of But when shall this be trow you he telleth plainlie in the same place vvhen the furie of our lord shall come foorth as a vvhirle vvinde and shall rushe and rest vppon your heades as a tempest then shall you know and vnderstand thes thinges It seemeth that the Babylonians were a people verie faultie in this pointe of cōsideration as all wealthie people are not only by that which before hath bene touched of the daughter of Babylon that would not consider her endinge dayes but also for that not long before the most terrible destruction of that greate Citie by the Medes and Persiās God cried vnto her in thes wordes My deerlie beloued Babylō put aside the table and stand vppon thy watch rise vp you princes from eating and drinking take your targetes in your handes goe and set a watcheman vppon the walles and what so euer he seeth let hym tell you And then was there a watcheman sett vppon the wales and a Lyō to denounce with open mouth what soeuer danger he saw comming towardes them And God taught the people to crie in this sorte to their sentinel or watchman Custos quid de nocte custos quid de nocte Thow watcheman what seest thou coming towardes vs by night what espyest thou ò sentinel drawing on vs in the darkenesse By all which circūstance what els is insinuated but that god would haue vs stād vppon our watch for that his iudgementes are to come vppon the world by night when men least thinke therof they are to come as a theese at mid-night as also in an other place we are admonished and therfore happie is the man that shal be founde watcheful But now the dore and sole entrance into this watch wherof the securitie of our eternal life depēdeth can be nothing els but consideration For that where no cōsideratiō is there can be no watch nor fore-sight nor knowledge of our estate consequentlie no hope of saluation as holie S. Bernard holdeth which thing caused that blessed man to wryte fyne whole bookes of consideration to Eugenius Consideration is the thing which bringeth vs to know both god and our selues And touching god it layeth before vs his Maiestie his mercie his iudgementes his commandemēts his promisses his threatninges his proceeding with other men before vs wherby we may gather what we also in tyme must expect at this hādes And for our selues consideration is the keye that openeth the dore to the closet of our hart where all our bookes of accompt doe lye it is the looking glasse or rather the verie eye of our soule wherby she taketh the vew of her self and looketh into all her whole estate Into her riches her debtes her dueties her negligēces her good guiftes her defectes her saftie her dāger her way she walketh in her course she followeth her pace she holdeth and finallie the place and ende wherto she draweth And without this consideratiō she runneth on hedlong into a thousand brakes and bryars stumbling at euerie steppe into some one inconuenience or other and continuallie in perill of some great and deadlie mischiefe And wonderful trulie it is that in all other busines of this
life men can see and confesse that nothing may be ether begunne prosecuted or well ended without consideratiō and yet in this greate affaire of gayning heauen or falling into hell few thinke consideration greatelie necessarie to be vsed I might stand here to shew th' infinite other effectes and commodities of consideration as that it is the watche or l'arme-bell that stirreth vp and awaketh all the powers of our minde the match or tynder that cōceyueth and nourisheth the fyar of deuotiō the belloes that enkyndleth and inflameth the same the spurre that pricketh forward to all vertuous zelous and heroical actes and the thing in deede that gyueth both light and life motion to our soule Our Faith is confirmed increased by consideration of gods workes and miracles our Hope by cōsideratiō of his promisses and or the true performance therof to all them that euer trusted in hym our Charitie or loue of god by consideration of his benefites and innumerable desertes towardes vs our Humilitie by cōsideratiō of his greatenesse and of our owne infirmitie Our Courage Fortitude by cōtēplation of his assistance in all causes for his honour our Contempte of the world by consideration of the ioyes of heauen eternall and so all other vertues both moral and deuine doe take their heate and quickening and vital spirite from consideration By th' excercise of consideratiō and meditation holy Dauid sayeth that he felt a burning fyar to flame within his breast that is the fyar of zeale the fyar of feruour in religion the fyar of deuotion the fyar of loue towardes god and his neighbour And in an other place he sayeth that by the same excercise he svvept and purged his ovvne spirit which is to be vnderstoode from the dust of this world from the dregges of synne from the cōtamination and coinquination of humaine creatures for that consideration in deede is the verie fanne that seuereth and driueth away the chaffe from the corne For which cause we shall neuer reade of any holie man from the beginning of the worlde nether before Christ or after who vsed not much and familiarlie this moste blessed excercise of cōsideration pondering And for the first three Patriarches it shal be sufficient to remember the custome of yonge Isaac recorded in Genesis VVhich was to goe foorth towardes night into the fieldes ad meditādum that is to meditate consider and ponder vppon the workes and iudgementes and commādemétes of god And this he did being yet but a childe and vnmarryed far different from the custome of yong gétlemé now a dayes who frequent the fieldes to follow their vanities And as litle Isaac could not haue this custome but from his father Abraham so no doubt but he taught the same to his sonne Iacob and Iacob againe to his posteritie And as for Moyses and his successor Iosue it may easelie be imagined how they vsed this excercise by the most earnest exhortations which they made therof to others in their speech and writinges The good kinges of Iuda also notwithstāding their many great temporal affaires doe testifie of them selues cōcerning this excercise as Dauid almost euery where that the commandementes of god were his daylie meditation not onlie by day and that tota die all the day per singuios dies euerie day in matutino in the morning septie in die seuē tymes a day But also he insinuateth his custome by night meditatus sum nocte cum corde meo I doe meditate by night in my harte vppon thy commaundementeso Lord signifying hereby both his watchfulnes by night when other men were a sleepe and the hartie care that he had of this exercise which we esteeme so litle Salomon also king Dauides sonne so long as he liued in the grace and fauour of god obserued this excercise of his father and exhorteth other men to haue continual and daylie cogitation in this affaire VVhich if hymself had continued still it is liklie he had neuer fallen from god by women as he did The good king Ezechias is reported to haue meditated like a doue that is in silence solitarines with hymself alone which is the true way of profitable meditation Esaye testifieth of his owne watching by night in this excercise and how he did the same with his spirite alone in the verie bowels of his harte Holy Iob maketh mention not onlie of his maner of considering but what also he cōsidered what effect he found in hym self by the same First he considered as I said the wayes foot-stepes cōmandemetes of god thé his dreadful power to witt how no man was able to auerte or turne away his cogitation but that his sowle did what soeuer it pleased and by this sayeth he considerans eum timore sollicitor I am made sollicitous or watcheful with feare when I doe consider hym In which wordes he insinuateth two most excellent effectes of cōsideratiō first the feare of god of which it is writen salutis the saurus timor Drnini the feare of God is the treasure of saluation and the second that by this feare he was made sollicitous watchfull and diligent in gods seruice of whiche the prophet Micheas saith thus I vvil tell the ò man vvhat is good and vvhat our Lord requireth at thie handes to witt to doe iudgement and loue mercie and to vvalke sollicitous and vvatchfull vvith thie God But ò thou holie and blessed man Iob did this excercise of consideration bring foorth in thee so greate feare and terror of god and so carefull watchfulnes for obseruing his cōmandementes now I see well the cause why thou wrytest of thv self that thou dydste doubte and feare all thy workes and actions were they neuer so circumspect But what shall we say now a dayes most happie Sainte who do not doubt so much as our owne dissolute careles and inordinate actions who feele no terror of God at all nor doe vse anie one iote of watchfulnes in obseruing his commandementes trulie this proceedeth of nothing els but of inconsideration it proceedeth of lacke of knowledge both of god and of our selues For doubtelesse yf we knewe eyther of thes two thinges a-right as in deede neyther of them can be well vnderstoode without th other it could not be but that manie of vs would chaunge our wrong courses O merciful Lord what synful māin the world would lyue as he doth if he knew ether thee or hymself as he should doo I meane if he considered what thou arte what thou hast bene to other that lyued cōtinued in synne as he doth Not without greate cause cried so often and earnestlie to the that holy Doctor of thy church for obteyninge of thes two poynctes at thie handes vt cognoscam te vt cognoscam me that I may know thee and that I may know my selfe saith he that is that
had fower principal sciēces wherof they made profession eche one of thes hauing other lower sciences comprehended vnder it The first of thes foure is called Natural philosophie the second Moral the third Supernatural or Metaphysicke the fowerth Mathematique And for the first three they haue eche one their proper meanes and peculier proofes wherby to cōuince that there is a God The fouerth which is the Mathematique for that it hath no cōsideratiō at all of the efficient or final cause of thinges vnder which two respectes and considerations onlie God may be knowen and declared to mē in his world therfore this science hath no proper meane peculier to it self for prouing this veritie as th' other sciences haue but receaueth the same as borrowed of the former THE NATVRAL phisosopher amóg the Gentiles had infinite arguments to proue by the creatures that there was a God but all he reduced to thre pricipal general heades which he termed exMotu ex Fine ex Causa Efficiēte That is arguméts drawen from the Motions from the Endes and frō the Cause efficient of creatures that we behold which termes th' examples solowinge shall make cleare manisest Th' argument of Motion standeth vppó this general ground in philosophie that vvhat soeuer is moued is moued if an other Wherin also is obserued that in the motions of creatures there is a subordinatiō th' one to th' other As for example thes inferiour bodies vppon earthe are moued altered by the ayre and other elemēts and the elements are moued by the influence and motion of the Moone Sunne and other heauenlie bodies thes planets agayne are moued from the highest Orbe or Spheare of all that is called the first mouable a boue which we cā goe no further among creatures Now then asketh the philosopher here whoe moueth this first moueable for if you saye that it moueth it self it is against our former ground that nothing is moued in nature but of an other And if you saye that some other thing moueth it then is the questiō againe who moueth that other so from one to one vntill you come to some thing that moueth and is not moued of an other and that must be God which is aboue all nature This was the common argument of Plato and of Aristotle and of all the best philosophers And they thought it a demonstration vnauoydable and it seemeth they were admonished of this argument by consideration of the clocke whose hammer when it stryketh sheweth the next wheele wherby it is moued and that wheele sheweth an other wheele and so from one to one vntill ye come to hym that was the first cause of motion to all the wheeles that is to the clockemaker hymselfe Aristotle to king Alexander vseth this pretie similitude That as in a Quyar of singers when the foreman hath gyuē the first tune or note there insueth presentlie a sweete harmonie and consent of all other voyces both great and small sharpe and meane So God in the creation of this worlde hauing gyuen once the first pushe or motion to the highest heauen called primum mobile ther insue vppon the same all other motions of heauens planetes elements and other bodies in most admirabile order concorde and congruetie for cōseruation and gouernement of the whole And thus is God proued by th' argument of motion Th' other two arguments of th' Ende and of the Cause Efficiēt of creatures are made euidēt in a certaine maner by this that hath bene spoken of Motiō For seing by experiēce that euerie thing brought foorth in nature hath a peculier Ende appointed whereto it is directed by the selfe same nature as we see the byrde is directed to build her nest by nature the fox to make his denne and so the lyke in all other creatures the philosopher asketh here what thīg is that which directeth nature her self seing eche thīg must haue somewhat to directe it to his Ende And no answer can be made but that the Director of Nature must be some thing aboue Nature that is God hymself This argument of the final Ende is most excellentlie handled by Philo Iudaeus in his learned treatise of the vvorkemanshipe of the vvorlde From the Cause efficiēt the Philosopher disputeth thus It is euident by all reason in respect of the corruptions alterations and perpetual motiōs of all creatures that this world had a beginning and all excellēt philosophers that euer were haue agreed theruppon except Aristotle for a tyme who held a fantasie that the world had no beginning but was from all eternitie albeit at last in his old age he confessed the contrarie in his booke to king Alexander This then being so that this world had 3 begīnīg it must needes follow also that it had an Efficient cause Now then is the question whoe is that Efficient cause that made the world if you say that it made it self it is absurde for how could it haue power to make it self before it self was and before it had any beeing at all if you say that some thing within the world made the worlde that is that some one parte of the world made the whole this is more absurde for it is as if a man should say that the fingar and this before it was a fingar or parte of the bodie did make the whole bodie Wherfore we must confesse by force of this argument that a greater and more excellent thing then is the whole world putt together or then any parte therof made the world and was the Cause efficient of the frame that we see and this cā be nothing els but God that is aboue the world So that hereby we see how many wayes the Natural philosopher is fraught with arguments to proue there is a God that by reason onlie without all light or assistance of faith BVT THE Metaphisique or Supernatural Philosopher amōg the Gétiles as he to whome it appertained most in special to handle thes high supernatural affaires had manie more arguments and demonstrations to proue and cōuince the being of one God And first of all he said that it could not stande with any possibilitie in his science that eus finitum a thing finite or closed within bosides limites as this world euerie creature therin is could be but from some Maker or Creator For sayeth he the thīg that in it self is not infinite hath his boundes and limmites and cōsequētelie ther must be some thing that assigned thes boūdes and limites And seing ī this world there is no creature so great which hath not boundes and limites we must of necessitic imagine some infinite supreme Creator or Maker that limited thes creatures euen as we see that the potter at his pleasure gyueth boūdes and limites to the pot that he frameth This argument the Metaphisique confirmeth by a ruled principle in his science that euerie
other benefites Which thinge if S. Paul might trulie saye vnto these Gentiles before his tyme who had onelie natural knowledge and vnderstanding of God that is so much as by his creatures was to be gathered what may or shal be said vnto vs who haue not onelie that light of nature which they had but also the wrytinges à nd lawe of God hymself communicated speciallie vnto the Iewes and aboue that also haue hearde the voyce of his onelie sonne vpon earth and haue receiued the doctrine of his most holie ghospel and yet doe liue as negligentelie manie of vs as did the verie heathens touching good life and vertue Surelie in this case I must denounce against my self that if it be true as it can not be false which this blessed Apostle affirmeth here of thes heathen philosophers that by that litle knowledge they had of God they vvere made inexcusable then by the most iust certaine rule of Christ layed downe in S. Luke cui multum datum est multum quaretur ab eo that of euerie man which hath receiued much a greater accompte shal be taken for the same we are forced to inferre that our accompt shal be greater and our selues much more inexcusable before his diuine maiestie thē the verie Gentiles and heathens are if after all our knowledge and manifest vnderstanding of his Godhead and iustice vve vanishe avvay in our cogitatiōs as they did as most parte of the world at this day are sene to doe that is if we applie our cogitatiōs cares aboute the vaine affaires of this tēporal life and trāsitorie cōmodities which we should bestowe vpō the seruice and honour of this our Lord and Creator OF THE FINAL ENDE AND CAVSE WHIE MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD and placed in this world And of th' obligation he hath therby to attende to th' affaire for vvhich he came hyther CHAPT III. BY the Chapter precedent I nothing doubt gétle reader but if thou haue sene and perused the same thou remainest sufficientlie informed of thy Creator Now followeth it by order of good consequence that we cōsider with some attention for that it standeth vs much vpon what intent purpose God had in creating vs and this world for our sakes and in placing vs therin as Lords of the same By the former considerations we haue learned that as among other creatures nothing made it self so nothig was made for it self nor to serue it self The heauens we see doe serue th' ayer th' ayer serueth th' earth th' earth serueth beastes the beastes serue man and then is the questió whom mā was made to serue For in hym also holdeth the former reason that seig he was not made by hym self it is not likelie that he was made to serue hym selfe If we consult with the scripture herein we finde a general sentence layed downe without exception Vniuersa propter semetipsum operatus est Dominus our Lorde hath made all thinges for hym self And if all the man likewise no doubte who is not the least of the rest which he hath made And hereby it cometh to passe that man can not be said to be free or at his owne appointement or disposition in this world but obliged to perfourme that thing for which he was sent into this habitation Which pointe holie Iob declareth plainelie in a certaine inuectiue that he maketh against such men as were careles and negligent in consideration of this affaire A vaine man sayeth he is lifted vp in pride and thinketh hym self to be borne as free as the colt of a vvilde asse That is he thinketh hym self bound to nothīg subiect to nothīg accōptable for nothing that he doth in this life but onlie borne free to passe his time ī disporte pleasure as a wilde colte in a desert that hath no Master to tame hym Whiche in other words the wise mā vttereth thus He estremeth this life of ours for aplaigame therfore careth not how he liueth or wherin he spéd passe-ouer the tyme. And this of the man whó the scripture calleth Vaine But now for the sooer wise and discrete of whom it is writen the vvay of life is vpon the learned to th' ende they may decline from the lovvest hell they are farre from so greate follie as to imagine that no accompt shall be demanded of our being in this world for that they haue reade that God shall bring into iudgement vvhat so euer is donne for euerie fault that is commytted And the Christian man knoweth further by the mouth and asseueration of his Saue our and Redeemour that he shall be accomptant for euerie idle worde that he misvttereth and finalie there is no man that is ether of reason or conuersant in the writinges and testament of his Creator but remembreth well that among all other irritations wherby the wicked man is said to prouoke Gods patience to indignation none is more often repeated or more greeuouslie taken then that he said in his harte God vvill as ke no accompt With thes men then alone shall be my speeche in this present chapter who haue a desire to discharge well this accompte For attayning wherof trulie I can gyue them no better counsaile instruction or aduise then to doe in this case as a good marchant-factour is wonte to doe when he arriueth in forraine Countries or as a souldiar or Capitaine sent by his prince to some greate exploite is accustomed when he cometh to the place appointed that is to weigh and consider deepolie for what cause he came thither whie he was sent to what ende what to attempte what to prosecute what to perfourme what shal be expected and required at his handes vpon his returne by hym that sent hym thyther For thes cogitations no doubt shall stirre hym vp to attende to that for which he came not to imploy his tyme in impertinent affaires The lyke would I counsail a Christian to putt in vre concerning the case proposed and to demande of hymself betwene God and his conscience why and wherfore and to what endo he was created sent hythe into this worlde what to doe wherin to bestowe his dayes c. And then shal he fynde that for no other cause matter or ende but onlie to serue God in this life and by that seruice to gaine heauen and saluation in the lyfe to come This was the condition of our creation as Moyses well expresseth and this was the consideration of our redeeming fortolde by Zacharie before we were yet redeemed that vve being deliuered foorth of the handes of our enimies should serue God inholines and righteousnes all the dayes of our liues Of this consideration doe ensue two consequentes to be obserued Whereof the first is that seinge our ende and final cause of being in this worlde is to serue God and therby to worke our owne saluation whatsoeuer thinge we doe or bestowe our tyme
euer sorte or sect of people in the world professed reuerence honour or worshippe to God or to Gods or to any diuine power essence or Nature what soeuer were they Iewes heathens Gentiles ChristiaÌ„s Turkes Moores Heretiques or other they did alwayes call their said professioÌ„ by the name of their Religion In which sense also and signification of the worde I am to treate at this tyme of Christian religion that is of the substance forme maner and waye reueiled by Christ and his Apostles vnto vs of persourning our duetie and true seruice towardes God Which seruice is the first pointe necessarie to be resolued vpon by hym that seeketh his saluatioÌ„ as in the Chapter that goeth before hath bene declared And for obteyning this seruice true knowledge therof no meane vpoÌ„ earth is left vnto man but onlie by the light and instruction of Christian religion according to the protestation of S. Peter to the gouernours of the Iewes wheÌ„ he sayed Ther is no other name vnder beauen gyuen vnto men vvherby to be saued but only this of Christ and of his religion If you obiecte against me that in former tymes before Christes natiuitie as vnder the law of Moyses for two thousand years together there were many Sainctes that without Christian religion serued God vprightelie as the Prophetes and other holie people and before them againe in the law of Nature wheÌ„ nether ChristiaÌ„ nor Iuishe religion was yet heard of for more then other two thousand years there wanted not diuers that pleased God and serued hym trulie as Enoche Noe Iob Abraham Iacob and others I answer that albeit thes men expeciallie the former that liued vnder the law of nature had not so particuler expresse knowledge of Christe and his mysteries as we haue now for this was reserued to the tyme of grace as sainct Paule in diuers places at large declareth that is albeit they knew not expresselie how and in what maner Christ should be borne whether of a virgine or no or in what particuler sorte he should liue and die what sacramentes he should leaue what waye of publishing his ghospel he should appointe the like wherof not withstanding verie manie particulers were reueiled to the Iewes from tyme to tyme and the nearer they drew to the tyme of Christes appearance the more plaine reuelation was made of thes mysteries yet I say all and euerie one of thes holie Sainctes that liued from Adam vntill the comming of Christ had knowledge in general of Christian religion and did be lieue the same that is they belieued expresselie that there should come a Saueour and Redeemer of man-kinde to deliuer them from the bondage contracted by the sinne of Adam This was reueiled straight after their fall to our first parentes progenitours in Paradise to witt that by the vvomans seede our redemption should be made In respecte wherof it is said in the reuelations that Christ is the Lambe that hath bene slaine from the beginning of the worlde And S. Peter in the first general Councel holdeÌ„ by th' Apostles affirmeth that th' old auncieÌ„t fathers before Christes Natiuitie were saued by the grace of Christ as we are now which S. Paul confirmeth in diuers places And finallie the matter is so cleare in this behalfe that the whole schoole of diuines accordeth that the faith and religion of th' old fathers before Christes appearance was the verie same in substance that ours is now sauing onlie that it was more general obscure and confuse then ours is for that it was of thinges to come as ours is now of thinges past and present For example they beleeued a Redeemer to come and we beleeue that he is alredie come They said virgo concipiet a Virgine shall conceyue and we say virgo concepit a virgine hath conceyued They had sacrifices and caeremonies that presigured his coÌ„ming for the tyme ensuinge we haue sacrifice and sacramentes that represent his beinge for the tyme present They called their Redeemer th' expetatioÌ„ of Nations and we calle hym now the saluatioÌ„ of Nations And finallie there was no other difference betwene the old faith of good men from the begining ours but onlie in the circumstances of tyme. clearnes particularitie and of the maner of protesting the same by owtwarde signes and ceremonies For that in substance they beleeued the same Redeemer that we doe were saued by the same beliefe in his merites as we are For which cause Eusebiê° well noteth that as we are called now ChristiaÌ„s so they were called then Christi Psal. 104. that is annointed iÌ„ prefiguratioÌ„ of the true Christ in whom they belieued as the first head of all other anoynted and who was the cause and authour of their annoynting By this then it is most manifest that not onlie now to vs that be Christians but at all other tymes from the begining of the world to all other persons and people what so euer that desired to saue their soules it was necessarie to beleeue and loue Christ and to professe in harte his religion For which consideration I thought it not amisse in this place after the former groundes layed that their is a God and that man was created and placed here for his seruice to demonstrate and proue also this other principle that the onlie seruice of this God is by Christian religion Wherin albeit I doe not doubt but that I shall seeme to manie to take vpon me a superfluous labour in prouing a veritie which all men in Christendom doe confesse yet for the causes before alleaged in the second chapter which moued me in that place to proue there is a God that is to saye first for the comfort strengthe 2nd confirmation of suche as either froÌ„ th' enimie may receiue temptations or of them selues may desire to see a reason of their beleefe and secondlie for awakening stirring or stingig of others who ether of malice carelesnes or sensualitie are fallen in a slamber and haue lost the feeling and sense of their beleefe for manie such wante not in thes our miserable dayes it shall not be perhappes but to verie good purpose to laye together in this place with the greatest breuity that possiblie may be the most sure groundes and inuincible euidences which we haue for declaration and confirmation of this matter For albeit as th' Apostle S. Paul declareth the thinges which we belieue be not such in them selues as may be made appareÌ„t by reason or humane argumeÌ„tes for that our faith that is th' assent of our iudgemeÌ„t to the thinges propounded by God vnto vs must be voluntarie to th' ende it waye be meritorious yet such is the goodnes and most sweet proceeding of our merciful God towardes vs as he will not leaue hym self without suficient testimonie both inwarde and owtward as the same Apostle in another place doth testifie For that inwardlie he testifieth the truth of such
thinges as we beleeue by gyuing vs light and vnderstandinge with internal ioye and consolatiō in beleeuing them And owtwardle he gyueth testimonie to the same with so manie conueniences probabilites and argumentes of credibilitis as Diuines doe call them that albeit the verie pointe of that which is belieued remaine still with some obscuritie to th' ende there may be place for our will and merite yet are there so many circumstances of likelihodes to induce a man to the beliefe therof ' as in all reason it may seeme against reason to denie or mistrust them This shall easelie appeare by the treatise following of Christ and Christianitie and of the foundations of our religion which shal be confirmed by so manie pregnant reasons and most manifest circústáces of euidét probabilitie as I doubt not but the zelous Christiá shall take exceedig cófort therin esteeme hymself happie to haue a lotteī that faith religion wher he shall see and feele so much reason proofe and conueniencie to concurre and shew it self for his satisfaction And to this effect it shal be of no meane moment that I haue proued before the certaintie diuinitie and infallible truth of the Iewes scriptures or old testament which writinges we hauing receaued frō that Nation that doth as it were professe enimitie against vs the same being writen so many ages before the name of Christianitie was knowen in the world it can not bee but of singuler authoritie what so euer shal be alleaged out of those recordes for our purpose And therfore as before in prouing our first principle that there is a God we vsed onlie the testimonie of such witnesses as could not be partial so muche more in this confirmation of Christian religion shall we stande onlie ether vpon the confessions of such as are our enimies or vpon the recordes of others who must needes be indifferent in the cause for that they liued before ether cause or controuersie in Christianitie was knowen or called in question My whole purpose shal be then to make manifest in this chapter that Iesus Christ was the Saueour and Redeemer of mankind fore-promissed and expected from the beginning of the world that he was the sonne of God and God him self and consequentelie that what so euer he hath lefte vs in his doctrine and religion is true and sincere the onlie waie of Saluation vpon earth For clearer proof and declaration wherof I will reduce what soeuer I haue to saye herein vnto three principal heades or braunshes according to th' order of three distincte tymes wherin they fell out that is to saye in the first place shal be considered the thinges that passed before the natiuitie or incarnation of Christ. In the seconde the thinges dōne and verified from that tyme vnto his ascension which is the space of his aboode vpon earth And in the third place such euentes shal be cōsidered as ensued for cōfirmatiō of his deitie after his departure In declaration of which three general poinctes I hope by th' asistance of hym whose cause wee handle that so many cleare demonstrations shal be discouered as shall greatelie cōfirme thie faith gentle reader and remoue all occasions of temptations to infidelitie Hovv Christ vvas fortolde to Ievve Gētile Sect. 1. FIrst then for such thinges as passed before Christ appeared in fleshe and doe make for proofe of our Christian religion it is to be noted that they are of two sortes or at least-wise they are to be taken from two kindes of people that is partelie from the Iewes and partelie frō the Gentiles For seing that Christ was appointed from the beginning yea before the world was created as S. Paul affirmeth to worke the redemption both of Iewe and Gentile and to make them both one people in the seruice of his father herehēce it is that he was fortold and presignified to both thes Nations diuers forwarninges were left among them both for stirring them vp to expect his comminge as by the considerations following shall nost euidentelie appeare AND TO beginne with Iewes no man can denie but that throughout the whole bodie and course of their scriptures that is from the verie beginning to the last ending of their old testament they had promissed to thē a MESSIAS which is the same thing that we call CHRIST that is to saye a person annointed and sent from God to be a Saueour a Redeemer a Pacifier of Gods wrath a Mediatour betwene God and man a Satisfyer for the sinnes offences of the world a Restorer of our innocencie lost in Paradise a Master an Instructour a Lawgyuer and finally a spiritual and eternal king that should sitt rule and reigne in our hartes to conquer the power and tyrannie of Satan that ouer-came our first parentes and assaileth vs daylie This is euident by the first couenant of all that euer God did make with man whē he said to Adā our first father in Paradise In vvhat daye so euer thou shalt eate of the tree that is forbidden thou shalt die Which couenaunt being after broken on the parte of our said progenitour he receaued his iudgement but yet with a most benigne promisse of redemptiō for the tyme to come for thus God said to the deuil or serpent that had deceaued hym The seede of the vvoman shal crushe thy head thou shalt lye in vvayte to hurt his heele That is one shall proceede in tyme of the seede of the woman who shall cōquer death sinne that are thy weapons and shall not care for thy tēptatiōs but shall treade them vnder his feete this shal be Christ the Messias of the world Thus did not onlie the eldest Iewes and Rabbines vnderstād this place what so euer the latter haue dreamed that there Messias should be only a tēporal kīg but also the old Chaldie paraphrase named Thargum Hierosolymitanum expoūdeth it plainlie ī thes wordes applīed vnto the deuil that had deceaued Adam They haue a certaine and present remedie against the o deuil for that the tyme shall come vvhen they shall treate the dovvne vvith their heeles by the helpe of Messias vvhich shal be their kinge The same thing is confirmed by the verie same promise seuen tymes repeated and established vnto Abraham that liued verie neare two thousand yeares after Adam and againe to Isaac his sonne after hym In 〈◊〉 tuo benedicentur omnes gentes terrae All nations of the earth shal be blessed in thy seede Which had bene in deede but a verie small benediction to Abraham or to other Iewes after hym that neuer saw this Messias actuallie if he had bene onlie to be a temporal king And much lesse blessing had it bone to Gentiles and other nations if this Messias of the Iewes must haue bene a temporal and worldlie Monarche to destroye and subdue them to the seruitude of Iurie as fondlie thes later teachers of that nation doe
countriman Apollidorus Erythraeus and Varro doe reporte that she liued before the warre of Troie pro phetied to the Graecians that went to that warre that Troie should be taken Which was more then a thousand years before Christ was borne Cicero also that was slaine more then fortye yeares before Christs natiuitie translated into Latine the former Acrostike verses as Constantine sayeth which translation was to be seene in his workes when Constantine wrote this oration so that by no meanes they could be deuised or brought in by Christians Thirdlie he sheweth that the same Cicero in diuers places of his workes besids the mention of these Acrostike verses insinuateth also an other prophetie of Sibylla touching a king that should rise ouer all the world wherwith hym self and the Romans were greatlie troubled and therfore in one place after a longe inuectiue against his enimie Antonie that would seeme to gyue credit to that prophetie or rather as Cicero doth vrge against hym would haue had the same fulfilled in Iulius Caesar he concludeth thus lett vs deale vvith the prelates of our religion to alleage onle one thing rather out of the bookes of Sibylla then a KINGE vvhom nether the Gods nor yet men came suffer hereafter to be in Rome The like prophetie of Sibylla touching a king is insinuated by the same Cicero in his first booke of Epistles to Lentulus to witt that when the Romans should restore a king in Egypt by force theÌ„ should insue the vniuersal king that should be Lord ouer Romans and all other Which prophetie being much vrged by Cato the Tribune against the restoring of Ptolomaeus Auletes late king of Egypt that for his euil gouernment was expulsed by his subiects the matter was to be of such weight by all the Roman Senat I meane the sequel of this prophetie that whereas otherwise for manie respectes they were greatelie inclined to haue restored the said Ptolomie yet in regarde of this religion as they called it they changed their mindes But what could they alter by this the determination of God No truly for sone after king Polomie perceyuing the Senatours mindes to be altered fled secretely from Rome to one Gabinius that was Gouernour of Siria and for fiue Millions of gold that he promissed hym he was by the forces of Gabiniê° restored and so not longe after was Christ borne according to the meaning of the Sibyl prophetie Fowerthlie the say de Emperour Constantine proueth th' authoritie of thes Sibylles verses for that Augustus Caesar before Christ was borne had such regarde of them that he layed them vp in more straite order then before according as Suetonius a heathen in his life reporteth vnder the Alter of Apollo in the hill Palatine wher no man might haue the sight of them but by special licence which licence Constantine proueth that Virgil the Poet had for that he was in highe fauour with Augustus And therfore in a certaine Ecloge or composition of verses that he made in praise of a yong chylde named Saloninus newlie borne to Asinius Pollio Augustus great friende or as other take it of Marcellus a litle boye that was nephue to Augustus by his Sister Octauia or rather of them both for adulation of Augustus he applieth I say to one or both of thes yonge infantes the whole prophetie which he had reade in the verses of Sibilla touching the birthe of Christ of the peace grace golden world that should come with hym Vpon which subiect he beginneth thus Vltima Cumaei venit iam temporis aetas Magnus ab integro saeculorum nascitur ordo Iam redit virgo rediunt Saturnia regna That is now is come the last age prophetied by Sibylla called Cumaea now coÌ„meth to be fulfilled the great ordinaunce and prouidence of God appointed from the beginning of the world thes were Sibylles wordes now coÌ„meth the virgine and the first golden dayes of Saturnus shall returne againe Thus much translated Virgile out of Sibylla touching th' eternal determinatioÌ„ of God for Christs comming into this world as also of his mother the virgine and of the infinit blessings that should appeare with hym Now ensueth in the same Poet what Sibylla had said for Christs actual natiuitie Iam noua progeniescaelo dimittitur alto Chara Deum soboles c. Now a new progenie or ofspring is sent downe from heauen the dearlie beloued issue or childe of the Gods And note here that Sibilla said plainlie chara Dei soboles the dearlie beloued sonne of God and not of Gods but that Virgile would follow the style of his time And thirdlie he setteth downe out of Sibylla th' effect and cause of this sonne of Gods natiuitie in thes wordes Te duce si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri Irrita perpetua soluent formidine terras That is thou beinge our leader or Captaine the remnant of our sinnes shal be made voide or taken awaye and shall deliuer the world for euer froÌ„ feare for the same Thes are virgils wordes translated as I said out of Sibilla And now consider you in reason whether thes propheties might be applied as Virgile applied them to those poore children in Rome or no who died soone after this flatterie of Virgile without doing good either to them selues or to others Albeit perhappes in this pointe the Poet bee to be excused in that he being not able to imagine what the Sibyl should meane made his aduantage therof in applying the same to the best pleasing of Augustus Thes then are the proofes which Censtantine vseth for the credit and authoritie of the Sibyl verses And of Sibilla Erithraea in particuler that made the Acrostik verses before mentioned of Christes death and passion he concludeth in thes wordes Thes are the thinges vvhich sell from heauen into the mynde of this Virgin to surtell For vvhich cause I am induced to accompt her for blessed vvhom our Saucour did voutel safe to chuse for a prophet to denounce vnto the vvorld his holie prouidence tovvardes vs. And we may consider in this whole discourse of Constantine for authoritie of thes verses First that he vseth onlie the testimonie of such writers as liued before Christ was borne or Christians thought vpon Secondlie that he vseth thes prooses to no meaner audience the to a Councel and congregation of learned men Thirdlie that he was an Emperour which vseth them that is one that had meanes to sce and examine the original Copies in the Romane treasarie Fowerthelie that he had greate learned men aboute hym who were skilful and would be diligent in the searche of suche an antiquitie of importance especiallie Lactantius that was Master to his sonne Crispus who most of anie other authour reciteth and confirmeth the said Sibyls verses Eusebius Caesariensis that wrote th' ecclesiastical historie recordeth this oration of Constantine therin And
finallie we may consider that Constantine was the first publique Christian Emperour and liued within 300. years after Christ whē the recordes of the Romās were yet whole to be seene He was a religious wise and graue Emperour and therfore would neuer haue bestowed so muche labour to confirme suche a thing at such a tyme to such an audiēce had not the matter bene of singuler importance And thus much of the second pointe touchinge prophetes among Gentiles There remaineth onlie a worde or two to be spokē of the thirde which is of the confession of deuils and Oracles concerning Christs comminge especiallie whē the tyme of his appearance drew neare and that they begā to forefeele his power and vertue Wherin as I might alleage diuers examples recorded by the Gentiles them selues so for that I haue bene somewhat longe in the former pointes and shall haue occasion to saye more of this matter in an other place hereafter I will touche onlie here two oracles of Apollo concerninge this matter Th' one wherof was to a priest of his owne that demaunded hym of true religion and of God to whom he answered thus in greeke ô thou unhappie priest vvhy doest thou aske me of God that is the father of all thinges and of this most renoumed kynges deare and onlie sonne and of the spirit that conteineth all c. Alas that spirit vvill inforce me shortelie to leaue this habitation and place of oracles Th' other oracle was to Augustus Gaesar euen about the verie tyme that Christ was redy to appeare in flesh For where as the said Emperour now drawinge into age would needes goe to Delphos and there learne of Apollo who should reigne after hym what should become of thinges whē he was dead Apollo would not answere for a greate space notwithstanding Augustus had bene verie liberal in making the greate sacrifice called Hecatombe But in th' ende when th' Emperour began to iterate his sacrifice againe and to be instant for an answer Apollo as it were inforced vttered thes straunge wordes vnto hym An Hebrue childe that ruleth ouer the blessed Gods commaundeth me to leaue this habitation and oute of hand to gett me to hel But yet doe you'departe in silence from our Aulters Thus much was Apollo inforced to vtter of his owne miserie and of the cōming of th' Ebrue boye that should putt hym to banishment But yet the deceptful spirit to holde still his credire would not haue the matter reueiled to many Wherupon Augustus falling into a greate musinge with hym self what this answer might importe returned to Rome and builded there an Aulter in the Capitole with this latine inscription as Nicephorus affirmeth Ara primogeniti Dei Th' Aulter of Godes first begotten sonne Thus then haue I declared how that the cōming of Gods sōne into the world was for tolde both to Iewe and Gentile by all meanes that possiblie in reason might be deuised that is by propheties signes figures ceremonies tradition and by the confession of deuils them selues Nor onlie that his comming was fortold but also why and for what cause he was to come that is to be a Saueour of the world to die for sinne to ordeine a new law and more perfect common wealth How also he was to come to witt in mans fleshe in likenes of sinne in pouertie humilitie The tyme likewise of his appearance was foresignified together with the maner of his birth life actions death resurrection and ascensiō And finallie nothing can be more desired for the fore knowledge of anie one thing to come then was deliuered vttered cōcernīg the Messias before Christ or Christians were talked of in the world Now thē remaineth it to consider examine whether thes particularities fortolde so lōg agoe of the Messias to come doe agree in Iesus whom we acknowledge for the true Messias And this shall be the subiect argument of all the rest of our speeche in this chapter Hovv the former predictions vvere fulfilled in Iesus at his being vpon earth Sect. 2. ALbeit in the pointes before recited which are to be fulfilled in the Messias at his comming we haue some controuersie and disagreemēt with the Iewe as hath bene shewed yet our principal contention in them all is with the Gentile and heathen that beleeueth no scriptures For that in diuers of the fornamed articles the Iewe standeth with vs and for vs offereth his life in defence therof as farre foorth as if he were a Christiā In so much that the Gētile oftē times is inforced to maruaile when he seeth a people so extremelie bent against an other as the Iewes are against Christiās and yet to stand so peremptorilie in defence of thos verie principles which are the proper causes of their disagreement But hereunto the Iew maketh answer that his disagreement from vs is in th' application of thos principles For that in no wise he will allowe that they were or may bee verified in Iesus And herein he standeth against vs much more obstinatelie then doth the Gentile For that the Gentile as soone as he commeth once to vnderstande and beleeue the propheties of scripture he maketh no doubt or difficultie in th' application thereof for that he seeth the same most euidentelie fulfilled in our Saueour Which is the cause that fewe or no Gentiles since Christs appearance haue come to be Iewes but that presentelie also they passed ouer to be Christians But the Iewe by no meanes wil be moued to yeeld albeit he haue neither scripture nor reason nor probabilitie for his defence Which among other thinges is a verie great argument to proue that Iesus was the true Messias in deed seing that among the markes of the true Messias set downe by Gods Prophetes this was one that he should be refused by the Iuishe Nation Herehence are those wordes of the Holie Ghost so longe before vttered The stone vvhich the builders refused is made the head stone of the corner this is donne by God and is maruailous in our eyes Hence is that great complainte of Esay touching th' incredulitie obstinacie of this people against their Messias at his comming which Moyses also longe before Esay expressed most effectuallie It maketh then not a litle for our cause gentle reader that the Iuishe Nation is so wilfullie bent against vs and that they refused Christ so peremptorilie at his being among them For whom so euer that Nation should receyue and acknowledge it were a great argument by scripture that he were not in deede the true Messias But yet to demonstrate 〈◊〉 worlde how litle shew of reason they haue in standing thus against their owne saluation and in refusing Iesus as they doe I will in as great breuitie as I may runne ouer the chief pointes that passed at his being vpon earth and therby examine by the testimonies of his greatest enimies whether the forsaid propheties and all other
my eyes sleepe or rest to the temples of my head vntill I find out the place that is appointed for my Lord the tabernacle or house for the God of Iacob And then the mysterie being reueiled vnto hym he sayeth presentely Beholde vve haue heard of it novv in Ephrata or Bethleem vve haue founde it out in the fieldes of vvoode And to shew how he reuerenced the place for that cause he addeth immediatelie vve vvill adore in the place vvher his seete haue stoode Wherby he for prophitieth not onlie th' adoration vsed after in that place vnto Iesus by the Magi or three kinges of th' east but also of all other adoratiō vsed in the same place in the memorie of Iesus by other deuout Christians vntill this daye For which respect Origē sayeth that the place of Bethleem was most famous and renoumed in his dayes For th' Angels appearing to the shepheardes in the night of the Natiuitie there can be no more said but the credite honestie and simplicitie of them that reported it and likelie it is they would neuer feigne a thing that might haue bene refuted by testimonie of the sheapheards them selues if it had bene false Of the name of IESVS gyuen to hym in his circumcision it was to be seene sett downe in a booke that how so euer it were not scripture yet was it extant in the worlde before Christ was borne I meane the fowerth booke of Esdras which hath thes wordes in the person of God the father Beholde the tyme shal come vvhen the signes shall appeare that I haue tolde c. And my sonne IESVS shal be reueiled vvith these vvho are vvith hym c. And after those yeares my sonne CHRIST shall dye and th' earth shall render thos that sleepe therin Rabi Hacadosch also proueth by arte Cabalist out of manie places and textes of scripture that the Messias name at his comming shal be IESVS And among other he addeth this reason that as the name of hym who first brought the Iewes out of bondage into the lande of promisse was Iesus or Iosue which is al one so must his name be Iesus that shall the second tyme deliuer thē from the bondage wherin they are and restore them to their olde aunciēt possession of Iurie which is the chiefe benefite they expect by the Messias Finallie it is not probable that the virgine Marie should feigne this name of her self for that among the Iewes there were manie other names of more honour and estimatiō at that tyme as Abraham Isaac Iacob Moyses and Dauid And therfore if she would haue feigned any it is like shee would haue taken one of thē as soone as this which had not bene the name of anie greate Patriarche THERE followeth the comming of the three Magi or wise men from th' easte of whom Cyprians wordes are it is an olde tradition of the churche that the Magi of th' easte vvere kinges or rather litle Lordes of particuler places Which is to be vnderstood such litle kinges as Iosue slew thirtie in one battaile And it is to be noted that S. Mathew maketh mention of the comming of thes kinges to Hierusalem as of a knowen and publique matter wherof all Ierusalem and Iurie was able to beare hym wituesse For he talketh of their open comming to Ierusalem and of their inquirie for the new borne king of their speech and conference had with Herod as also of Herodes consultation with the Scribes and Pharasies about the place of the Messias birth And finallie he sheweth the most pittiful murder that insued of almost infinite infantes in all the circuite of Bethleem for this matter Which could not be a thinge vnknowen to all Iurie much lesse feigned by S. Mathew for that he should haue gyuen his aduersaries the greatest aduātage in the world if hè had begunne his Ghospell with so notorious and opē an vntruth which might haue bene refuted by infinite persons that were yet a liue Epiphanius is of opinion that thes kinges arriued in Hierusalem two yeares after Christs Natiuitie for that Herod slew all infantes of that age But other hold more probablie that the starre appeared vnto them two yeares before Christs Natiuitie so that they came to Bethleē the thirtienth daye after Christs birth according as the Church doth celebrat th' epiphanie S. Basil thinketh that they were learned men and might by their learning and art magike wherin those countrimen at that tyme were verie skilful vnderstand and feele that the power of their heathē Godes was greatlie deminished and broken They might also be stirred vp with that commō brute and general prophetie spred ouer all th' east in those dayes as both Suetonius and Iosephus doe recorde that oute of Iurie should come an vniuersal Kinge ouer all the vvorld By thes meanes I say and by the prophetie of Balaam left a nonge them from Moyses tyme for he was a Gētile wherby was signified that a starre should rise and declare a greate and mightie king in Israel they might be induced at the sight of this Starre to take so longe a iourney as they did towardes Iurie This Starre as I haue said was fortold by Balaam a heathen Prophete aboue 1500. yeares before it appeared And after Balaam againe it was prophetied by Dauid that kinges of Arabia Saba and other Eastren countries should come and adore Christ and offer both gold and other gystes vnto hym The murder also of those infantes of Bethleem was presignified by Icremie in the weeping of Rachel for thee slaughter of her children which Rachell was buried in Bethleem and for that cause thos infantes were called her children albeit she were dead aboue 2000. yeares before they were slaine and aboue 1500. before Ieremie wrote the prophetie Amongest which infantes Herode also for more assurance slewe an infant of his owne For that as Philo noteth he was descended by his mother of the lyne of Iuda Which crueltie comming to Augustus eares he said as Macrobius reporteth that he had rather bee Herods swyne thē his sonne for that he being a Iewe was forbidden by his religion to kill his swine though not ashamed to kill his sonne The same Starre wherof we speake is mentiōned by diuers heathen writers as by Plinie vnder the name of a Comete for so they termed all extraordinarie Starres which appeared in the later ende of Augustus daies and was farre different from al other that euer appeared And therfore contrary to the nature of thos kind of Starres it was adiudged by the whole college of Southsaiers to portend vniuersal good vnto the earth and for that cause had an image of metal erected to it in Rome and as Plinies wordes are Is Cometa vnus toto orbe colitur that only Comete is worshipped throughout the whole world Origine also writeth of one Chaeremon a Stoike that was much moued with
Cities your Prouinces your Ilādes your Castles your Forteresses your Tentes your Campes your Courtes your Pa laces your Senates and your market places Only we haue left your idolatrous temples vnto your selues al other places are ful of Christians If we were enemies what dangerous warres might we make against you albeit our number were farre lesse who esteeme so litle of our liues as to offer our selues daily to be slaine at your handes This then is your safetie in very deed not your persecuting of vs but that we are honest patient and obedient and that it is more lauful in Christian religion to be killed then to kill By which wordes of Tertulian in this first beginnings and infancie as it were of Christian religion for he liued in the second age after Christ we see how this litle flocke and kingedome of Iesus was increased not withstanding all the resistance and violence of the world against it Which appeareth by the same Tertulian to haue bene such was euen at that tyme when he wrote those wordes the fowerth persecution being then in most furie as all the malefectours of the world together had not so much rigour shewed against them as had the most innocent Christiā that liued for confeising onlie that name and religion This then declared must apparentelie that it could not proceede but of some diuine power and supernatural assistance that in so shorte a space amiddest the contradiction and opposition of so manie aduersaires amōge the whippes swordes and tortures of so greate potent and violent persecutours this poore simple and feeble cōgregatiō should pearse through and augment it self so strongelie Especiallie if we cōsider th' outwarde meanes of this increase wherein ther was nothing to allure or cōtent mans nature nothing gorgeous nothinge delectable nothinge to please or entertaine sensualitie We reade of an Emperour that takinge in hande to conquer the world made this Proclamation for winninge men vnto his partie Who soeuer will come and be my Seruaunt if he be a footeman I will make hym a horsman If he be a horsman I will make hym ryde with Coches If he be a Farmour I will make hym a Gentleman If he possesse a cotage I will gyue hym a village If he haue a village I will gyue hym a Cittie If he be Lorde of a Cittie I will make hym Prince of a regiō countrie And as for Gold I wil power it foorth vnto them by heapes weight and not by number This was Cyrus edict and proclamation to his followers very glorious as we see in pompe of wordes and ostentation of stile Let vs now compare the proclamation of Iesus whos entrance and preface was Paenitētiā agite doe ye penāce And then it followed In hoc mundo pressuram habebitis In this world you shall receyue affliction And then after againe they shal vvhippe and murder you And yet further you shal be hateful in the sight of all mē for my sake Thē is ther adioy ned he that loueth his life shal loose his soule After that ensweth he that vvil follovv me must beare his Crosse. And finallie the cōclusion is he that cōmeth to me and doth not hate his father his mother his vvife his children his brethrē his sisters as also his ovvne life he is not vvorthie to be my seruant This was the entertainment proposed by Iesus to such as would come and serue vnder his Banner with expresse protestatiō that hym self was sent into the world not to bring peace rest and ease to flesh and blood but rather to be the cause of sworde fire tribulation combat enmitie And yet with thes colde offers presented to the world by poore abiecte most contemptible officers and by this doctrine so Crosse and opposite to mans nature inclination and sensual appetite he gained more hartes vnto hym within the space of fortie yeares as hath bene said then euer did Monarche in the world possesse louing subiectes by what soeuer temporal alluremente they did or might propose Which argueth most euidently the omnipotent puissance of hym that contrary to mans reason could bring to passe so miraculous a conquest THER FOLOVVETH in order the cōsideration of Christs Apostles which in some respect may be said more straunge and wonderful then the former in that they being both rule and simple and vnletteredmen for the most parte of the baser sort should be chosen and assigned to so great a worke as was the conuersiō of all Countries and Natiōs and to stand in combat with the power learning and wisdome of all the world Neither only had they to contend and fight against their enemies but also to direct and gouerne and menage al thos who should be adioyned to their maisters kingdome To which charge they seemed so vnto warde and insufficient in al that time wherin they liued with him vpon earth as by their questions and demandes made vnto him 2 litle before his passion they might appeare to haue learned very litle in three whole years conuersation and instructiō and in very deed to be incapable of so high mysteries and functions Yet notwithstanding thes men who of them selues were so weake and impotent after strength and confirmation receyued by the descending of Gods holy spirit into them became so perfect able and most excellent men as they brought the whole world in admiration of them Not only by the most exquisite perfectiō of their doctrine wherin of a sudaine without studie they excelled and conuinced the greatest Philosophers then liuing but also and that especially by the rare and stupendious Miracles which they wrought in the sight of al men The contemplation wherof as S. Luke reporteth droue the beholders not only into great meruaile but also into feare and exceeding terrour And for example he recompteth the restoring of a lame mā at the Temple gate of Ierusalem which had bene a Criple for the space of fortie yeares or more and the miracle dōne and testefied in the presence and knowledge of all the Citie He recordeth also the dreadful death of Ananias and Saphira by the only speech and voice of S. Peter as īn like maner the healīg of infinite sicke people by the presence shadowe of the same Apostle He reporteth the most wonderful deliuerance of the said S. Peter out of the hands and prison of Herode by an Angel The varietie of lāguages which all th' Apostles spake The visible descending of the holy Ghost vpon al such on whom the said Apostles did but laie their handes The miraculous conuersiō of S. Paul by Christs appearing vnto him in the way when he went to persecute Of which miracle S. Paul protested in euery place afterward and once especiallie in open audience and iudgement before Agrippa the king and Festus Gouernour of Iurie Thes miracles and manie moe are recorded by S. Luke wherof some part were sene by
schollers and auditours Papias Ignatius Policarpus al which agree of the foure Ghospels and other writinges left vnto vs in the newe Testament affirming S. Iohn to haue approued the same These men were maisters againe to Iustinus Martyr Irenaeus and other whose writinges remaine vnto vs. And if they did not yet their sayinges and iudgementes touching the Scriptures are recorded vnto vs by Eusebius and other fathers of the next age after and so from hand to hand vntil our dayes So that of this ther can be no more doubt then whether Rome Constantinople Hierusalem and other such renoumed Cities knowen to al the world at this day be the very same wherof Authours haue treated so much in auncient times AND THVS MVCHE of Christs Euangelistes for whose more credit and for confirmation of thinges by them recorded his diuine prouidence preordained that infinite witnesses whom we cal Martyrs should offer vp their blood in the primatiue Churche and after Wheras for no other doctrine profession or religion in the world the like was euer heard of albeit among the Iewes in the tyme of the Machabies and at some other tymes also when that nation for their sinnes were affâ—icted by Heathen Princes some fewe were tyrannized and iniuriouslie put to death yet commonly and for the most parte this was rather of barbarous furie in the Paganes for their resistaÌ„ce theÌ„ directly for hatred of Iuishe religioÌ„ And for the number ther is no doubt but that more Christians were putt to death within two monethes for their beliefe throughout the world then were of Iewes in two thouland yeares before Christs comming Which is vndoubtedly a matter verie wounderful considering that the Iuishe religion impugned no lesse the Pagan Idolatrie then doth the doctrine of the Christians But this came to passe that Christes wordes might be fulfilled who said I come not to bring peace but the svvorde And againe I sende you forth as sheepe among vvolues That is to saye to be torne and harried and your bloud to be deuoured In which extreme and most incredible sufferinges of Christians thre pointes are worthie of great consideration The first what infinite multitudes of al states conditions sexe qualities and age did suffer dailie fortestimonie of this truth The second What intollerable and vnacustomed tormentes not hard of in the worlde before were deuised by Tyrantes for afflicting this kinde of people The third what inuincible courage and vnspeakable alacritie the ChristiaÌ„s shewed in bearing oute these afflictions which the enimies theselues could not attribute but to some diuine power and supernatural assistance And for this later point of comfort in their sufferings I will alleage onlie this testmonie of TertuliaÌ„ against the GeÌ„tiles who obiected that wicked men suffered also as wel as Christians Wherto this learned Doctour made answere in these wordes Truth it is that many men are prone to yl and do suffer for the same but yet dare they not defend their euil to be good as ChristiaÌ„s doe their cause For that euery euil thig by nature doth bring with it either feare or shame therfor we see that malefactours albeit they loue euill yet would they not appeare so to the world but desire rather to lie in couert They tremble when they are taken and when they are accused they deny all and do scarse oftentimes coÌ„fesse their doings vpon torments And finally when they are condemned they lament mone and do impute their il fortune to destinie or to the planets But the Christian what doth he like to this Is their any man ashamed or doth any man ' repent him when he is taken except it be for that he was not taken rather If he be noted by the enemy for a Christian he glorieth in the same if he be accused he defendeth not him self if he be asked the question he confesseth it willingly if he be coÌ„demned he veldeth thankes What euil theÌ„ is ther in this Christian cause which lacketh the natural sequele of euil I meane feare shame tergiuersatioÌ„ repentance sorowe and deploration what euil I say can this be deemed whose guiltines is ioye whose accusation is desire whose punishment is happines Hitherto are the wordes of learned Tertulian who was an eye-witnes of that he wrote had no smal part in the cause of thos that suffred being him self in that place and state as daily he might expect to taste of the same affliction To which combat how redie he was may appeare by diuers places of this his Apologie wherin he vttereth besides his zeale feruour a most confident securitie and certaine assurance of Iesus assistance by that which he had sene performed to infinite other in their greatest distresses from the same Lord before So that nothing doth more a-certaine vs of the diuine power and omnipotencie of Iesus then the fortitude inuincible which aboue al humane reason force and nature he imparted to his Martyrs AFTER VVHICH consideration there coÌ„meth to be weighed the fifte point before mentioned which is of the same power and omnipoteÌ„cie of Iesus declared and exercised vpon the spirites insernal Which thing partely may appeare by the Oracles alleaged in the ende of the former section wherin thos spirites foretolde that an Hebrew Childe should be borne to the vtter subuersion and ruine of their TyraÌ„nical dominion And much more at large the same might be declared by other answers Oracles vttered after Christes natiuitie and registred in the monumentes euen of the heathens them selues Wherof he that desireth to see more ample mention especially out of Porphyrie who then was liuing let him read Eusebius sixte booke de preparatione Euangelica where he shal finde store and namely that Apollo many times exclamed Hei mihi congemiscite Hei mihi hei mihi Oraculorum defecit me claritas Woe vnto me lament yee with me woe vnto me woe vnto me for that the honour of Oracles hath now foresakeÌ„ me Which coÌ„plaintes and lamentations are nothinge els but a plaine confession that Iesus was he of whom a prophet said diuers ages before Attenuabit omnes Deos terrae he shal weare-out bring to beggarie al the Godes or Idols of the earth This confessed also the wicked spirites them selues when at Christs appearing iÌ„ Iurie they came vnto him at diuers times and besought him not to afflict or torment them nor command them presently to returne to hel but rather to permit them some litle time of entertainment in the sea or mountaines or amoÌ„g heardes of swine or the like Which confession they made in the sight of all the world and declared the same afterwardes by their factes and deedes For presently vpon Iesus death vpon the preaching of his name and Ghospel throughout the worlde the Oracles which before were aboundant in euery prouince and countrie were put to sileÌ„ce Wherof I might alleage the testimonies of verie many GeÌ„tiles them selues as that of Iuuenal
the truth of our beleefe it would be ouer tedious to lay doune euery particuler waie that might be assigned for discussion therof for that it would bring in the contention of al times aswel auncient as present about cōtrouersies in Christian faith which hath bene impugned from age to age by the seditious instruments of Christs infernal enemie And therfore as well in respecte of the lēgth wherof this place is not capable as also for that of purpose I doe auoide al dealing with matters of controuersie within the cōpasse of this worke I meane only at this time for the comfort of such as are alredy in the right waie and for some light to others who perhaps of simplicitie may walke awrie to let doune with as great breuitie as possibly may be some few general notes or obseruations for their better helpe in this behalfe In which great affaire of our faith and beleefe wherin consisteth as well the ground and foundatiō of our eternal welfare as also the fruite entire vtilitie of Christs comming into this world it is to be considered that God could not of his infinite wisdome forseeing al thigs and times to come nor euer would of his vnspeakable goodnes desiring our saluatiō as he doth leaue vs in this life without most sure certaine and cleare euidencie in this matter and consequētly we must imagine that all our errours cōmitted herein I meane in matters of faith and beleefe among Christians doe proceede rather of finne negligence wilfulnes or inconsideration in our selues then either of difficultie or doubtfulnes in the meanes left vnto vs for discerning the same or of the want of Gods holie assistance to that effect if we would with humilitie accept therof This Esay made plaine when he prophetied of this perspicuitie that is of this most excellent priuilege in Christian religion so many hundred yeares before Christ was borne For after that in diuers chapters he had declared the glorious cōming of Christ in signes and miracles as also the multitude of Gētiles that should imbrace his doctrine together with the ioye and exultation of their cōuersion he forsheweth presentlie the wōderful prouidence of God also in prouidinge for Christians so manifest a waye of directiō for their faith and religion as the most simple and vnlearned man in the world should not be able but of wilfulnes to goe astraye therin His wordes are thes directed to the Gentiles Take comfort and feare not beholde your God shall come and saue you Then shall the eyes of the blinde be opened and the eares of the deafe shal be restored c. And there shal be a path vvaye and it shal be called THE HOLIE WAYE it shal be vnto you so direct a vvay as fooles shall not be able to erre therin By which wordes we see that among other rare benefites that Christes people were to receaue by his comminge this should be one and not the least that after his holie doctrine once published and receyued it should not be easie for the weakest in capacitie or learning that might be whom Esay here noteth by the name of fooles to runne awrie in matters of their beliefe so plaine cleare euidēt should the waye for trial therof be made Here hence it is that S. Paul pronounceth so peremptorilie of a contētious and heretical man that he is damned by the testimenie of his ovvne iudgement or conscience for that he hath abandoned this common direct and publique waye which all men might see and hath deuised particuler pathes and turninges to hymself Herehēce it is that th' auncient fathers of Christe primatiue Church disputinge against the same kynde of people defended alwayes that their errour was of malice and wilful blindnes and not of ignorance applyinge thos wordes of prophetie vnto thē they that savve me rannc out from me That is saith S. Augustine they which sawe and beheld the Catholique Church of Christ which is the plaine waye denoted byEsay and the most eminēt mountaine described by Daniel as also by Esay hymself in an other place expounded by Christ in S. Mathewes Ghospel this Churche saith he wicked heretiques beholding for that no mā can auoide the sight therof but he that most obstinatelie will shut his eyes yet for hatred and malice doe they runne out of the same and doe raise vp heresies and schismes against th' vnitie therof Thus much saith this holie doctour by whose discourse we maye perceyue that the plaine and direct waye mentioned by Esay wherin no simple or ignorant man can erre is the general bodie of Christes visible Church vpon earth planted by his Apostles throughout al countries Nations and cōtinuinge by succession vnto the worldes ende In which Church whosoeuer remaineth beleeueth al thinges that are taught therin cā not possiblie fall into errour of faith For that this church or vniuersal bodie is guided by Christes spirit who is the heade therof and so no waies subiect or withi cōpasse of errour For which cause S. Paul nameth it the pillar and sirmament of truth And the same Church is so manifest and euident and shal be so to the worldes ende as the same learned Doctour and other his equals doe proue that it is more easie to fynde it out then it is to see the Sunne or Moone when it shy neth brightest or to beholde the greatest hill or mountaine in the world For as S. Augustines wordes are albeit particuler hilles in one countrie may be vnknowen in an other as Olympus in Greece may be vnknowen in Affrica and the mountaine Giddaba of Affrike may be vnknowen in Greece yet saith this holie father a mountaine that passeth throughout all Countries and filleth vp the whole world as Daniel prophetied Christes Church should doe can not be but apparent to the sight of al men and consequentlie must needes be knowē of al men but onlie of such as wilfullie doe shut their eyes from sight therof For declaration of which reason argument and discourse of Holy-Fathers being also the discourse of Christ hym self in the Ghospel when he remitteth mē to the visible Church that is placed on an hill it is to be noted that in the time frō Christes ascension vntil the 14. yeare of Neroes raigne who first of the Romane Emperours beganne open persecution against the proceedinges of Christians put to death S. Peter and S. Paul In this time I saie of tolleration vnder the Romane Empire which cōtained the space of 37. yeares Christes Apostles and Disciples had preached and planted one vniforme Ghospell thoroughout all the worlde as both by their actes and gestes recorded as also by the peculier testimonie of S. Paul to the Romanes may appeare Which thing being done most miraculoussie by the power and vertue of their Maister and Bishops pastours and other gouernours being ordained in euery Church and countrie for guiding and directing the same by
whos wonderful actes are set doune by S. Ierome and infinite other whos most admirable and rare austerities are described by Cassianus almost twelue hundred yeares gone Al which exercises tended to this only ende to enhable them selues the better to stand in the fight and bataile against al wickednes and sinne This was the beginning of austeritie of life in thos first fathers and founders of our religion This was the cause of first leauing the world and flying to the desert This was the origine of al Monasteries Cloisters Eremitages Celles Solitarie habitatiōs And finally this was the reason of al breach and separation from flesh and blood and from al wordly conuersation therby to eschue al occasions of external temptations and by that meanes to gather the more force and strength for resistance of the internal In which internal conflict not with standing the combat oftentimes was so sharpe and vehement as it is most wonderful to consider what is recorded by the forsaid writers touching assaults endured in this behalfe by thos auncient Saintes that had left the world and what extreme paines and afflictions they susteined willingly for continuing their resistance against their spiritual aduersarie Which thinges were sett doune no doubt left writen to vs by Gods holie prouidence for our confusion that now liue who are so careles and negligent in resustinge th' assaultes and temptations of synne as we make no accompt or estimation ther of at all S. Ierome in a certaine epistle beareth witnes of him self that hauing abādoned the world and retired him self into a wilde desert of Syria was most terribly tempted not vnlike to S. Paul with suggestions of the fleshe But what did he for resisting of this temptation and what successe had he therin You shal heare reported by this his owne declaratiō O saieth he how often being in the wildernes vaste desert burnt vp and scorched by the extreame heates of the Sunne wherin the Moūkes of my time had their vglie habitations was I tempted with cogitations of Romane delights c. I sat alone for that I was replenished with sorowe and bitternes The partes of my bodie were now become deformed and vglie with continual wearing of my sacke and my skinne was as blacke as the skinne of an Ethiopian I wept daily and passed my time continually in groning And when at length sleepe came vpon me against my wil I laic doune did beate my bare bones scarse hanging togither against the ground Of my meate drincke I wil saie nothing wheras in this place we that are Mōkes doe vse only colde water euen when we be sicke and doe thincke it a great delicacie to taste any one thing that sauoureth of the fire I therfore being in this case and hauing shut my self vp in this prison for feare of helfire for auoyding of sinne being fellow now only to scorpions and wilde beastes and wholy worne out with continual fasting yet could I not auoide the temptations of the flesh c. Wherfore I did cast my self doune at the feet of Iesus I did bathe the ground about me with teares and dried the same vp againe with my owne heare I did represse my rebellious flesh with continual abstinence of whole weekes togyther I am not ashamed to confesse this miserie of my wretched estate I remember that I cried vnto Iesus whole daies and nightes togyther and ceassed not to beate and knocke my breaste vntil he arose rebuked my enimie and therby restored to me my former tranquillitie I perseuered in praier in that forlorne and sauuage desert being angrie and rigourous against my self I hampered with imprisonment my miserable flesh as our Lord is my witnes vntil at length after infinite teares shed and my verie sighte dazeled with long looking vp and beholding the heauens I seemed againe to be restored to the companie felowship of Angēls Wherwith being made exceeding ioyful and replenished as it were with al kinde of diuine and Celestial solace I beganne to sing againe within my self that most pleasant songe vve shal novv rūne after the svvet sauour of thy fragrant ointments O Lord. Thus did thes blessed fathers Saintes of God behaue them selues and thus did they esteeme them selues bound to doe for resisting of sinne and for maintenance of their integritie against the wicked assaultes of their ghostly enimie remembring wel how it is written fight valiantly for thy soule and striue vnto death for maintenance of iustice But alas deare brother how doe we behaue our selues in this importāt busines what doe we what paines take we what attention what vigilance doe we hold vpon our thoughtes wordes and actions what caution doe we vse what resistance doe we make Is ther any man that flieth the occasions of sinne or rather prouoketh not the same is ther any now adayes that mortisieth his fleshe or rather doth not cherishe and pamper it to wickednes is ther any man that represseth his owne appetites that standeth in fight against sensual suggestions nay rather doth not al the world runne after their owne concupiscences doe they not yeeld them selues as slaues to euery temptatiō that doth arise to euery assault that the enimie maketh doe they not deuoure euery hooke which the deuil layeth for their intrappinge and swalow doune euerie poisonned baite that is cast for their destructiō O merciful Lord what a pitiful state of the world is this harcken good Christian how this case of a careles sensual man is described euen by the very fingar of God hym self I looked forth through the barres of my wīdowe sayeth the diuine wisdome of God and I sawe and considered a fond yong fellowe who walked by corners of the streates ī darkenes c. And ther ranne vnto hym a woman decked vp like an harlot and prepared to deceyue soules c. she enticed hym by flatterie and many sweet speeches and entangled hym with stronge alluremētes Presently he folowed her as an oxe ledde vnto the slaughter and as a wanton skippinge lambe that is caried to the shambles like a birde that maketh haste to the snare so foloweth he not knowing seely sotte that he is drawen to fetters and that the daunger of his soule dependeth thereon vntill his harte be strocken through c. This is the description which the holy Ghoste vseth to set out vnto vs the miserable condition of a dissolute and recheles Christian which hath no care of resisting temptations but folovveth euery suggestion of his owne sensual appetite and therby not only woundeth to death his owne hart and soule by euery consent he yeeldeth but also as the Scripture here noteth enthralleth him self in such miserable bondage and captiuitie and casteth him self into so strong bandes inextricable fetters of his ennimie as he can not possibly afterwardes deliuer him self but by some wonderful extraordinarie miracle wrought by God For as truly Christes
good workes which his hand or hart may possibly performe Which kinde of life if it were exactly fulfilled in such sort as it was prescribed by Christ the authour of our profession most euident it is that the common weale of Christianitie should be a most heauenly blessed and Angelical estate vpon earth wherin no fraude no deceipt no malice no contention no wickednes iniustice or violence should raigue and consequētly either few or no tēporal lawes should be necessarie for punishment of the same For that by the only lawe of religion and conscience al would be simplicitie al puritie al truth and honestie concorde loue and charitie one towardes the other euē as we read that it fel out in the first daies and ages of Christian religion when this lawe of conscience was yet obserued But now for that the world hath abandoned commonlie in euery place thes two principal partes of Christian dutie I meane the resistance of synne and performance of good workes the most part of Christians are become more sensual and dissolute in maners and life then euer were the more ciuile part of Gentiles and Infideles which is a most intollerable and supreme dishonour to our Saueour that gaue his life for reducing vs to a better conuersatiō For which cause in al reason right and equitie the punishment of such vnworthie Christians must needs be farre greater at the later daie then of the verse Paganes who had not that light and assistance for their direction according to that speech of Christ to certaine ingrateful Townes places wherin he had preached woe be to thee Corozain woe be to the Bethsaida for that if the like thinges had bene done in Tyrus and Sidon which are heathen Cities that haue bene done in the they would haue repented therfore I tel you that it shal be easier for them in the daie of iudgement then for you Which point would God that men now adayes would attentiuely consider Secondly it may appeare by thes and other thinges before set doune what a maruelous different life the good and euil doe passe in this world and consequently how different a lot they are to receyue in the next from hym that rewardeth eche man as S. Paul saieth according to his actions either good or euil For first the vertuous Christiā doth not only abstaine from committing sinne especially that which diuines cal mortal which eche man by Gods assistance may eschewe but also by cōtinual resisting fightīg against the same he encreaseth daily and hourely his merite for the Crowne of heauē But the careles man by yeelding consent of hart to euery leude concupiscence that offereth it self doth not only not gaine any merite at al but heapeth vp sinne vpō sinne without ende or number Againe the careful man besides auoiding sinne the gaine which he gathereth by fighting in that combat performeth also infinite good workes at lest wise in hart and desire which is accepted by God for deedes wher further habilitie faileth But the lose Christiā neither in hart or deed doth any good at al but in place therof committeth infinite euils so that as the one employeth his whole mīde hart wordes and handes with al the forces and other habilities that God hath lent him to the doing of good and resisting of euil so the other bendeth al his powers both of bodie minde and fortune to the seruice of vanities the world and of his owne flesh and to the encrease of Christes enimies kingdome And hereby as the former encreaseth hourely in merite before God wherunto by his holie promisse belongeth encrease of grace in this life and of glorie in the life to come so the later cōtinually by all his thoughts wordes deeds and endeuours doth multiplie in stane frō time to time wherunto of Gods iustice doe appertaine both vengeance and damnation with the tormente of hel And in this contrarie course they passe ouer their liues for twentie thirtie fortie more or fewer yeares and so come to die eche man with his cōtrarie accompt which being such as I haue said can it be maruailous to any man liuinge if ther be so great diuersitie in their pavementes euerlastinge conditions for the world to come seing their dealinges recōninges were so opposite and vnequal in this life present Learne then my deare brother if thou be wise by thes and like considerations to awaken thy self while thou hast tyme. If thou finde by examination of the two forsaid partes of Christian dutie that hyterto thou hast walked avvrye hast not perfourmed the life required in that vocation thanke God for this so great a benefite as is the reuciling of thy daunger while yet ther is tyme and place to make amendes Many no doubt are this day in tormentes and shal be euerlastinglie who passed ouer their liues without euer thinking of thes affairs and if they had receyued so special fauour as thou doest now in hauing thes matters so particulerlie layed before the perhappes they had escaped thos eternal calamities wherin now they are fallen without possibilitie of redresse Vse then Gods mercie to thy gayne deare Christian and not to thy greater and more intollerable damnation Cast not awaye wilfullie that most precious Inel thy soule which Christ hath bought so dearlie and which he desireth so vehementelie to saue enriche with grace euer lasting glorie if thou wouldest yeeld the same into his handes and be content to direct thy life according to his most hoiie and sweet commaundementes OF THE ACCOMPT WHICH CHRISTIANS MVST YEELD TO GOD of the duties and offices before rehearsed As also the Maiestie seueritie terrour and other circumstances of that reconinge day vvith tvvo seueral times appointed for that purpose CHAPT VII AS IN euerie office and charge committed to a seruant in this life it is a principall point of wisdome to consider and beare in minde what accōpt reckonig shal be demaunded therof by him who placed him in that roome as also what nature and disposition his master is of in taking his audite that is whether exact or remisse facile or rigorous milde or sterne and whether he haue power to punishe at his pleasure if he finde hym faultie euen so it behoueth a careful Christian man in the charge of his life and dutie before mentioned and declared verie diligently to waighe and ponder with him self what maner of reckoning his Lord and Saueour wil require at his handes and in what termes either of rigour or lenitie facilitie or seueritie he will proceed with hym in that accompt or audite Which thing a prudēt man may easelie conceyue by consideration of thes two points which ensue First if he waighe the manner order and circumstances wherby his charge that is the lawe and rule of his conuersation was published and proclaymed by God vnto the world Which thing is set forth at large in the booke of Exodus wher is described with
cōming the Prophete Malachies wordes are Beholde our Lord shal come and vvho shal be able to abide the daie of his comming And the Prophete Esaie addeth further touching the same cōming that the verie mountaines shalmelt at that daie before his face And yet further he describeth the same in an other place thus Beholde our Lord shal come in strength and sortitude as a storme of haile and as avvhyrle vvinde breaking and throvving doune vvhat soeuer standeth in his vvaie as a rage of many vvaters that ouer-stovve and rushe together c. Wherunto the Prophet Dauid annexeth that burning fire shal runne before his face and on euery side of him a violent tempest This terrible Iudge then being set and al creatures of the world conuented before him the Scripture laieth doune vnto vs the order of that iudgment described by Daniel in thes wordes I stoode saieth he vvith attention and I savve certaine seates placed and the Auncient of yeares sate doune in iudgment Thousand thousands vvere attendant to serue him and ten hundreth thousand thousands stood vvaiting before him The iudgment vvas settled and the bookes vvere opened Thus much was reueyled to Daniel without declaration what bookes thos were But to S. Iohn the same were made manifest who expoundeth the matter thus I savve saieth he a great bright throne and one that sate vpon the same before vvhos face both heauē and earth did tremble c. And I savve al thos that vvere dead both great and smal standing before the throne And the bookes vvere ther opened and al thos that vvere dead had their iudgemēt according to the thinges vvhich vvere vvriten in thos bookes euery one according to his vvorkes By which wordes we are gyué to vnderstand that the books which at that daie shal be opened and wherby our cause must be discerned shal be the euidences of our deedes and actions in this life recorded in the testimonie of our owne consciences and in the infallible memorie of Gods inscrutable wisdome Wherūto shal gyue witnes in that place against the reprobate both heauen and earth which were created for them the Sunne and Moone with all the starres and planetes which from the beginning of the world haue serued them the elements and other creatures inordinately loued and abused by them their compagnions ther present with whom they sinned their brethern whom they afflicted the preachers and other Saints of God whom they contemned and aboue al other thinges the ensigne and standard of their redemption I meane the triumphant Crosse of Christ which shal at that daie be erected in the sight of all the world Al thes I saye with infinite other thinges shal thē beare witnes against the wicked and condemne them of intollerable ingratitude in that they offended so gratious and bountiful a Lord as by so manifold benefites allured them to loue and serue him At this daie saieth the Scripture shal the iust stand in great constancie against thos by whom they were afflicted and oppressed in this life And the wicked seeing this shal be surprised with a horrible feare and shal saie vnto the hilles fal vpō vs and hide vs from the face of him that fitteth vpon the throne and from the indignatiō of the Lambe for that the great daie of wrath is now come O merciful Lord how great a daie of wrath shal this be how truly said thy Prophete in his meditation of this daie vvho can conceyue the povver of thy vvrath or vvho is able for very scare to recount the greatnes of thine indignatiō This is that daie of thine wherof thy seruant said so long before that thy zeale and surie should spare none in this daie of reuenge nether should yeeld or be moued vvith any mans supplication nor should admit revvards for the deliuery of any man This is that most dreadful daie of thine wherof thy holy Prophete admonished vs when he said Behold the daie of our Lord shal come a cruel daie ful of indignation vvrath and surie to bring the earth into a vvildernes and to crushe in peeces the sinners therof And an other Prophete of the self same daie behold the daie of our Lord dot bcome a daie of darknes and dimnes a daie of cloudes and stormes a most terrible daie and such an one as vvas neuer from the beginning of the vvorld nor shal be after in al eternitic This is thy daie ô Lord and so properly thou wilt haue it called like as it pleaseth thy goodnes to terme the course of this present life the daie of man For that as in the time of this present world thou art content to holde thy peace and be patient and suffer sinners to doe their wil euen so at this last daie thou wilt rise vp pleade for thine owne glorie and wilt make thy self knowen to the terrour of thine enimies according as thy seruant Dauid foretold of the when he said Cognescetur Dominus iudicia faciens God wil be knowé when he shal come to doe iudgment Good God what a maruailous daie shal this be when we shal see al the children of Adam gathered together from al corners and quarters of the earth when as S. Iohn saieth the sea and land shal yeeld their dead bodies and both hel and heauenshal restore the soules which they possesse to be vnited to thos bodies What a wonderful meeting wil this be deare Christian how ioyful to the good and how lamentable doleful and terrible to the wicked The godlie and righteous being to receyue the bodies wherin they liued into the league felowship of their eternal blisse shal embrase them with al possible swetnes and delight singing with the prophet Behold hovv good pleasant a thing it is for brethern or parteners to dvvel together in unitie But the miserable damned spirites beholding the carcaies which were the instruments and occasiós of their sinne wel knowing that their inspeakable tormentes shal be encreated by their mutual coniunction and association shal abhorre and vtterly derest the same curse the daic that euer they were acquainted together inueighing most bitterly against all the partes and semes therof as against the eies for whos curious delighte so many vanities were seught the eares for whos pleasure and daliance so great varietie of sweet sounds and melodie was procured the mouth and taste for whos contentemēt and fond satisfaction so innumerable delicacies were deuised And to be short the backe and belly with other sensual partes for contentatió of whos riotous volupteoulnes both sea and land were sifted and turmoiled This shal be the most sorowful condition of thes infortunate soules at that daie but this sorowe shal not auaile them For the iudgment must passe on And then saieth the Scripture shal christ separate the sheepe frō the goates shal place his sheepe on the right hand and the goates on the lest
diuers times he hath vsed and doth vse therby to gaine vs and our sowles vnto his eternal kingdome by stirring vs vp to abandon vitious life and to betake ourselues to his holy and swete seruice Al which most rare and excellent benefites being measured either according to their inestimable value in themselues or according to the loue of that harte from which they do proceede or els if we respect the maiestie of the giuer or meanesse of the receyuer ought in reason to moue vs most vehementlie to gratitude towardes so bountiful a benefactour And this gratitude shoulde be to resolue ourselues at length to serue him vnsaynedlie to preferre his fauour before al wordlie or mortal respectes whatsoeuer Or if we can not obtaine so much of ourselues yet at leastwise not to offende him anie more by our sinnes and wickednes There is not so fearse or cruell a nature in the world as I noted before but is mollisied allured and wōne by benefites And stories do make reporte of straunge examples in this kinde euen among brute beastes as of the gratitude of lyons dogges and other like towardes their maisters and benefactours Onliean obstinate sinner is he among all the sauuage creatures that are whom neither benefites can moue nor curtisies can mollifie nor promises can allure nor gyftes can gayne to the faithfull seruice of God his Lord and maister The greatest synner that is in the world if he geeue his seruante but twentie nobles a yeare or his tennant some litle farme to liue vpon if they for this should not serue him at a becke he crieth out of their ingratitude But if they should further malitiouslie seeke to offende him and to ioyne in amitie with his professed enimie how intollerable a matter would this seeme in his conceit And yet him self dealing much more ingratfullie and iniuriouslie with almightie God esteemath it a matter of smal consideration easely pardonable He dealeth I saie far more ingratfullie with God for that he hath receyued a thousand folde for one in respect of all the benefites that one mortal man can gyue vnto an other Seing that of God he hath receyued al in al the bread which he eateth the grounde he treadeth the light he beholdeth the aire he enioyeth and finally what so euer he possesseth ether within or without his bodie as also the minde with al her spiritual endumētes wherof eche one is more worth then ten thousand bodies Of this extreme ingratitude and iniurie God himself is enforced to complaine in diuers places of holy scripture as where he saith they repaied me euil for good And yet much more vehemētlie in an other place he calleth the heauens to witnes of this iniquitie crving out Obstupescite caeli super hoc O you heauens be you astonished at this As if he should saye by a figuratiue kinde of speech goe out of your wittes you heauens with meruaile at this incredibile iniquitie of man to wardes me For so he expoundeth the whole matter more at large in an other place Audite cals auribus percipe terra c. Harken oye heauens and thow earth bende hither thine eares I haue nourished vp children and haue exalted them and now they doe cōtemne me What a lamentable complaint is this of almightie God against most vile and base wormes of the earth But yet he amplifieth this iniquitie more vehemētly by certaine examples and comparisons The oxe saieth he knovveth his ovvner the asse knovveth the manger of his Lord and maister but yet my people knovveth not me VVoe be to this synful nation to this people loden vvith 〈◊〉 to this noughtie seede to vvicked children What complaint can be more vehement then this what threatning can be more dreadfull then this woe comming from the mouth of him which may punishe vs at his pleasure Wherfore deare brother if thou haue grace cease to be vngrateful to God any longer cease to offend him which hath by so many waies preuented the with benefites cease to render euil for good hatred for loue contempt for his father lie affection towardes the. He hath done for the al that he can he hath geeuen the al that thow art yea and in a certaine maner al that he is worth hym self and meaneth besides to make the partaker of al his glorie in the world to come and requireth no more for al this at thy handes but loue and gratitude O my louing brother why wilt thou not yelde vnto him this his desire why wilt thou not doe as much to him as thou woldest haue an other mā to doe to the for lesse then the ten thousand parte of thes benefites which thow hast receyued for I dare bouldly saye if thow haddest gyuen but an almes to a poore man at thy dore thou wooldest thike him bounde to loue the for it al beit besids this ther were nothing in the that greatly might deserue his loue But thy Lord and maister setting a parte al his giftes bestowed vpon the hath infinite causes to drawe thy loue vnto him that is to saye all the causes which any thing in the world hath in it to purchase loue and infinite more besydes For if all the perfections of thinges created both in heauen and in earth that may procure loue were ioyned together in one as al their beautie al their vertue al their wisdome al their sweetnes al their nobilitie al their goodnes and other like excellencies yet thy Lord Sauy our whom thou contemnest surpasseth all thes and that by infinite and infinite degrees for that he is not onlie all thes thinges together but morouer he is verie beautie it self vertue it self wisedome it self sweetenes it self nobilitie it self goodnes it self and the verie fountaine and welspring from which by litles peeces and parcels al thes thinges are deriued vnto his creatures Be a shamed then good Christian of this thine ingratitude to so great so good and so bountifull a Lord and resolue thy self for the tyme to come to amende thy course of life and former behauiour towardes him Say at lēgth with the Prophet hauing considered thine owne ingratitude O Lord pardon me mine offences for they are great in thy sight I know there is nothing ô Lord which doth so much displease the or drie vp the fountaine of thy mercie or so byndeth thy handes frō doinge good as doth ingratitude in the receyuers of thy benefites Wherin hitherto I haue exceeded al others But I haue done it ò Lord in mine ignorance not considering thy infinite giftes bestowed vpon me or what account thou wouldest demaunde againe of the same But now seing thou hast vouchsafed to make me woorthie of this special grace also wherby to see knowe mine owne errour default I hope hereafter by direction of the same grace to shew my self a better childe towardes the. O my God I am vāquished at lēgth with cōsideratiō of thy
length to crie out my soule doth thirst after God that is the liuelie vvel-spring vvhen shal I come and appeare before the face of God So that from the feare of death which is the first effect that springeth of the remembrance meditation therof he was come now to the loue and most earnest desire of the same which is the highest degree of comfort and the most supreme felicitie that saintes doe arriue vnto in this life Endeuour then my deare Christiā brother by frequent and diligent premeditation of this passage to attaine to this felicitie or at least wise to some parte or degree therof Feare death now that thou maist not feare it then For as God by his holie spirite assureth the he that feareth novv shal be in securitie at the last in the day of his departure Nay as holie Iob further describeth the matter he shal laugh at that day whē other mē are in spoile famine he shal not feare the beastes of the earth his legue shal be with the stones of Nations that is he shal be no more moued or terrified with comming of death then stones are he shal see that his tabernacle shal be that day in peace he shal enter into his sepulcher in al aboundance as a mow of corne in the haruest time that is he shal departe hence in aboundance of al grace and merit at the houre of his death which to a vertuous man is the day of haruest wherin he shal reape the rewardes of his good deedes which he hath sowen in this life Thus describeth Iob the blessed departure of a godlie man cōcluding his whole discourse with this admonition and exhortatiue clause Ecce hoc ita est quod auditum mente pertracta Behold this thing is as I haue said which thou hauing vnderstoode passe it not ouer sleightlie but reuolue and discusse the same diligentlie in thie minde OF THE GREATE AND SEVERE PAINES AND PVNISHMENTES APPOINted by God for sinners after this life As also of tvvo kindes and sortes herof the one temporal for them that shal be saued th' other eternal for the damned CHAPT XI AMONGST all the meanes which God vseth towardes the children of men in this life to moue them to the resolution wherof I entreate the strōgest most forcible is the consideratiō of punishmentes prepared by him for rebellious sinners and transgressours of his cōmaundemēts Wherfore he vseth this motiue often as may appeare by al the prophetes who doe almost nothing els but threaten plagues and destruction to offendours And this meane hath oftentimes preuailed more then anie other that could be vsed by reason of the natural loue which we beare towardes our selues and consequentlie the natural feare which we haue of our owne danger So we reade that nothing could moue the Niniuites so much as the fortelling them of their imminent destruction And S. Iohn Baptist albeit he came in a simple and contemptible maner yet preaching vnto the people the terrour of vengeance to come and that the axe vvas novv put vnto the tree to cut dovvne for the fire al such as repented not he moued the verie publicanes souldiers to feare being otherwise people of verie harde metal in such sort as they came vnto him vpon this terrible embassage and asked what they should doe to auoide these punishmentes For which cause hauing now cōsidered in the former chapters of death and of godes seuere iudgment ensuing thervpon wherin euerie man hath to receyue according to his workes in this life it followeth that we consider also of the punishmentes which are appointed for thē that shal be founde faultie ī that accounte hereby at leastwise if no other consideration wil serue to induce Christians to this resolution of seruinge God For as I haue noted before if euerie man haue naturallie a loue of him self and desire to cōserue his owne ease then should he also haue feare of peril wherby he is to fal into miserie calamitie This expresseth S. Bernard verie excellently according to his wonte O man saieth he if thou haue left al shame which appertaineth to so noble a creature as thou art if thou feele no sorow as carnal men doe not yet loose not feare also which is founde eué in brute and sauage beastes We vse to loade an asse and to werie him out with laboure and he careth not because he is an asse but if thou wouldest thrust him into fire or flinge him into a ditch he would auoide it as much as he coulde for that he loueth life and feared death Feare thou then and be not more insensible thā a beast Feare death feare iudgment feare hel This feare is called the beginning of wisdome and not shame or sorow for that the spirite of feare is more potent to resist sinne then the spirite of shame or sorow Wherfore it is saide remember the ende and thou shalt neuer sinne that is remember the final punishmentes appointed for sinne after this life Thus far S. Bernarde First therfore to speake in general of the punishmentes reserued for the life to come if the scriptures did not declare in particular their greatnes vnto vs yet are there manie reasons to persuade vs that they are most seuere grieuous and intollerable For first as God is a God in al his workes that is to saye greate wounderful and terrible so especiallie he sheweth the same in his punishmentes being called for that cause in holy scripture Deus iustitiae God of iustice as also Deus vltionum God of reuenge Wherfore seing al his other workes are maiestical and exceeding our capacities we may likewise gather that his hande in punishment must be also most wonderful God himself teacheth vs to reason in this maner when he sayeth And vvil ye not then feare me and vvil ye not tremble before my face vvho haue set the sande for limites to the sea and haue giuen the vvaters a commaundemēt neuer to passe the same no not then vvhen they are most troubled and the vvaues therof most outragious As who would say if I be wonderful and doe passe your imagination in these woorkes of the sea and other of this world which you behould dailie then haue yee iust cause to feare me considering that my punishmētes are like to be correspondent to the greatnes of my other actions An other coniecture of the great and seuere iustice of God in punishing may be the consideration of his infinite and vnspeakable mercie which as it is the verie nature it self of God and consequently without ende or measure as his godhead is so is also his iustice And these two are the two armes as it were of his diuine Maiestie embracing kyssing one th' other as the scripture saieth And therfore as in a man of this world if we had the measure of one arme we might easely cōiecture the length of the
that he shal escape al paine or punishment For he that differred the fruites of repentance vntil the next life must be perfited in purgatorie fire this fire I tel you though it be not euerlasting yet is it passing greuous for it doth far exceede al paines that mā can suffer in this life Neuer was there founde out yet so greate a paine in flesh as that is though martyrs haue abidden straunge tormentes and many wicked mē haue suffered exceeding greate punishmentes To like effect doth S. Gregorie write of the seueritie of this punishment expounding those wordes of Dauid O Lord rebuke me not in thy surie nor correct me in thy vvrath This is as if he said saith S. Gregorie I know that after this life some must be clensed by purging fire And other must receyue sentēce of eternal damnation But because I esteeme that purgīg fire though it be transitorie to be more intolerable then al the tribulation which in this life may be suffered therfore I doe not onlie desire not to be rebuked in the furie of eternal damnatiō but also I greatlie feare to be purged in the wrath of transitorie correction Thus far S. Gregorie And I might adde a hundred like other sayinges out of the auncient holie fathers touching the extreame seueritie of this purging fire after death and of the greate feare which they had therof But that this alredy spoken may be sufficient to gyue admonishment to Catholique men that agree with thes Saints in beleef of this doctrine more carefully to looke vnto them selues for auoiding the rigour of this fier especially by thes two principal meanes of Almes-deedes and teares wherunto S. Augustine most earnestly exhorteth them in the place before alleaged wher also he frameth this notable collection We see sayeth he what men doe or may suffer in this life what racking what tearing what burning and the like and yet al this is nothing in respect of that fire Thes thinges therfore which we suffer heere are much more easie then that fire and yet you see that men wil doe any thing rather then suffer the same how much more then ought we to doe that litle which God commaundeth vs to auoide that fire which is by many degrees more grieuous This was the feeling which learned S. Augustine had in thes affaires And truly it is verie straunge and wonderful to consider how great feare and terrour holie men of auncient time conceyued at the verie cogitation of this fire and how slenderly we passe the same ouer now a daies hauing infinite more cause to feare then they had Among other that blessed deuout mā S. Bernard who lead so examplar and strict a life as the world doth know entering into contemplation of this matter brake forth into thes words ensuing O would God some man would now before hand prouide for my head abundance of water to mine eyes a fountaine of teares for so perhaps the burning fire should take no hold where running teares had clensed before And againe I tremble and shake for feare of falling into Gods hands I wolde gladlie present my self before his face alredie iudged of my self and not to be iudged thē of him Therfore I wil make a reckoning whiles I am here both of my good deedes and of my badde My euil shal be corrected with better woorkes they shal be watered with teares they shal be punished by fasting they shal be amended by sharp discipline I wil rip vp the verie bottome of my wayes workes to the ende he may finde nothing vntried at that day or not fullie discussed to his handes And then I hope in his mercie that he wil not iudge the same faults againe as he hath promised Hitherto are the wordes of S. Bernard The like great feare vttered holy S. Ambrose in thes wordes O Lord if thou reserue any thing in me to be reuenged in the next life yet I humblie beseech the that thou gyue me not vp to the power of wicked spirits whiles thou wipest away my sinnes by the paines of Purgatorie And againe in an other place I shal be searched examined as lead in this fire and I must burne vntil al the lead be melted away And if then there be found no siluer metal in me woe be vnto me for I must be thrust doune to the profoundest partes of hel or els wholie waste away as straw in the fire But if anie gold or siluer be found in me not through my workes but by grace and Christes mercie and through the ministerie of my prestoode I shal also once say surelie they that trust in the shal neuer be confounded And thus much of this temporal punishment reserued euen for the purging of Gods seruants in the life to come BVT NOVV TOVCHING the reprobate such as for their wickednesse are dessigned to eternal death we must Imagine that with them the case standeth much more hardlie for therunto may be applied that saying of our Sauiour to the good women of Hierusalem who lamented his case when he was going to his passion If they doe these things in grene vvord vvhat shal become of the drie which wordes S. Peter seemeth in some parte to expounde when he saieth If the Iudgement of God begin vvith vs vvhich are his seruants vvhat shal the end of vvickedmen be As who wold say that in al reason their ende must be intollerable For more particuler conceyuing whereof because the matter is of great importāce for al Christiās to know it shal not be perhaps amisse to consider brieflie what the holie scriptures auncient fathers of the Catholique Church directed no doubt by the holie Ghost haue reueiled vnto vs touching this punishment And first of al concerning the place it self of punishment appointed for the damned commonlie called hel the scripture in diuerse languages vsed diuerse names but al tending to expresse the grieuousnesse of torments therin to be endured As for example in the latin tongue it is called INFERNVS that is a place beneath or vnder ground as most of the olde fathers doe interprete But whether it be vnder ground or no most certaine it is that it is a place most opposit to heauen which is said to be aboue and from which lucifer was throune doune And this name is vsed to signifie the miserable deiection and hurling doune of the damned to be troden vnder the feet not onlie of almightie God but also of al good men for euer For so sayeth the scripture Beholde the day of the Lord commeth burning like a fornace and al proud and vvicked men shal be stravv to that fornace and you that feare my name shal tread them dovvne and they shal be as burnt ashes vnder the soles of your feet in that day And this shal be one of the greatest miseries that can happen to the proude and stoute potentates of the worlde to be thrown doune with
such contempt and to be troden vnder the feet of thē whom they so much despised in this world The Hebrue word which the scripture vseth for hel is SEOL which signifieth properly a great ditche or dungeon In which sense the same place is also called in the Apocalips lacusirae Dei the lake of Gods wrath And againe Stagnum ardens igne sulphure a poole burning with fire brimstone In greek the scripture vseth three wordes for the same place The first is HADES vsed in the ghospel which as Plutarch noted signifieth a place where no light is The second is ZOPHOS in S. Peter which signifieth darknes it self In which sense it is called also of Iob. terra 〈◊〉 operta mortis caligine a darke land and ouer whelmed with deadlie obscuritie Also in the ghospel revebra exteriores vtter darknesse The third greeks worde is TARTAROS vsed also by S. Peter which worde being deriued of the yerbe tarasso which signifieth to terrifie trouble and vexe importeth an horrible confusion of tormentors in that place euen as Iob sayeth there is no order but euerlasting horrour which the holy Ghost in an other place describeth more at large in thes wordes Ther are spirites created to reuenge and in their furie they haue sortified their tormentes VVhen the final daie shal come they shal povver forth the force and rage of him that created them fire haile famine death teeth of beastes scorpions and serpents The Chaldie worde which is also vsed in Hebrew and translated into greke is GEHENNA First of al vsed by Christ our Saueour for the place of them which are damned as S. Ierom noteth vpon the tenth chapter of S. Mathewes ghospel And this word being compounded of gee and binnom signified a valley nigh to Ierusalem called the valley of hinnom in which the olde Idolatrous Iewes were wont to burne aliue their owne children in the honour of the deuil and to sound with trumpets tvmprils and other loud instruments whiles they were making of this abhominable sacrifice to the ende the pitiful shrikes and cries of their children might not be heard And this place was afterward vsed for the receipt of al filthines dung dead carions and the like And most probable it is that our Sauiour vsed this word GEHENNA aboue al other for hel therby to signifie the miserable burning of soules in that place the pitiful clamours and cries of the tormented the confuse and barbarous noise of the tormentors together with the most lothsom filthinesse of the place which otherwise is described in the scriptures by the names of adders snakes cocatrices scorpions and other venemouse creatures as hath bene and shal be afterwards declared And with this word GEHENNA concurreth also in signification an other vsed by the Prophet Esaie to denote the same place that is to saie TOPHET Which properly signifieth the forsaid valley of the children of Hinnom but is applied expresly to declare and represent the most horrible dungeon of dāned soules Which Esaie talking of God as of a great king describeth in thes wordes From eternitie is TOPHET prepared by this king a profound and spatious roome His food is fire and store of vvood The breath of our lords mouth doth kendle the same like a maine riuer of brimstone AND NOVV HAVING thus declared the names of this place thereby also in some part the nature it remaineth that we examine what maner of paines men suffer in the same For declaration whereof we must consider that as heauē and hel are contrary assigned to contrary persones for contrary causes so haue they in al respectes contrarie properties conditions and effects in such sort as whatsoeuer is spokē of the felicitie of the one may serue to inferre the calamitie of the other As for example when S. Paule sayeth that no eye hath seene nor eare hath beard nor hart conceyued the ioyes that God hath prepared for them that shal be saued we may interre that the pains of the damned must be of like proportion So againe when the scripture saith that the felicitie of thē in heauen is a perfect felicitie containing al goodnesse so that no one kinde of pleasure cā be imagined which they possesse not we must thinke on the contrary part that the miserie of the damned must be also an absolute miserie containing al afflictions that may be without want of any So that as the happines of the good is insiaite and vniuersal so also is the calamitie of the wicked infinite and vniuersal Now in this life al the miseries and paines which fal vpon man are but particular and not vniuersal As for example we see one mā pained in his eyes an other in his teeth an other in his stomak an other in his back which particular pains not witstanding are some times so extreame as life is not able to resist them a man wolde not suffer them long for the gaining of a million of worldes But suppose that some one mā were tormēted in al the parts of his bodie at once as in his head his eyes his tōgue his teeth his stomak in al other ioints mēbers of his bodie besides suppose I say he were most cruellie tormented with extreme paines in al these parts together without ease or intermissiō What thing could be more miserable then this what fight more lamentable what calamitre more vnspeakable If thou shouldest see but a brute beast lye in the strete thus afflicted I know thou couldest not but take compassion of him Wel then consider what difference there is betwene abiding thes paines for a week or for al eternitie in suffering them vpon a sost bedde or vpon a burning gridiron and boiling fornace among a mans friendes comforting him or among the suries of hel whipping and tormenting him Consider this I say gentle reader and if thou wouldest take agreate deale of labour rather then in this life temporallie to abide the one be contēt to sustaine a litle paire rather then to incurre the other in the life to come eternallie But yet to penetrate these things a litle further not onelie al these partes of the body which haue bene instruments to sinne shal be tormented together in this place of punishment but also euerie sense both external and internal for the same cause shal be afflicted with his particular torment contrarie to the object wherein it delited most and toke pleasure in this world As for exāple the lasciuious eyes shal be afflicted with the vglie and feareful sight of deuils the delicate eares with the horrible noise of damned spirits the daintie nostrels with poisoned stench of brimstone and other vnsupportable filth the delicate taste with most rauinous hungar and vnquē chable thirst and al the sensible partes of the bodi with burning fire As also inwardlie th' imagination of the damned shal be tormented with the apprehension of paines both present
sueing vnto sinners for their conuersion it followeth that we should in this third place examine some what more in particuler what certaine assurance his diuine Maiestie geueth of vndoubted pardon and ful remission of their sinnes to al such as vnfainedlie shal resolue them selues to make their refuge vnto him Which thing albeit euerie mā by that which before hath bene treated may sufficientlie conceaue yet for th' importāce of the matter it shal not be amisse in this place also to adde a word or two for more plaine and euidēt demonstration therof And this shal be donne by setting doune both the wordes and deedes that is both the promisses and perfourmāce which almightie God hath vsed and excercised in this behalf to al such as haue offended him whatsoeuer And for the first which are his promises most apparent it is as wel by the thinges which before haue bene discussed as also by the whole course bodie drift of holie scripture that the promises of mercie and pardon which his diuine Maiestie hath made to synners and wherunto by his sacred word he hath in a certaine maner obliged him self are both manifold vehement absolute resolute vniuersal VVho so euer shal depart from his vvicked vvayes and turne vnto me saith almightie God I vvil receaue him Behold the vniuersalitie of al people and persons without excluding any And then further At vvhat day soeuer an impious man shal returne vnto me from his impietie his vvickednes shal not hurt him saith the same L. God of hostes see the vniuersalitie of al times seasons without exceptiō But yet harken what God addeth besides Leaue of to doe peruerselie saith he to the Iewes c. and then doe you come and finde fault vvith me if you can For if your sinnes vvher as red as skarlet they shal be made as vvhite as snovve c. Consider the vniuersalitie of al kind of synnes be they neuer so greeuous so horrible or haynous And finallie God talking to a soule that hath oftentimes fallen most infinitelie offended him he saith thus it is a common receaued speech that if a womā depart from her husbād and doe ioine her self to an other man she may not returne to her first husband againe for that she is defiled and made contaminate And yet wheras thou hast departed from me and hast committed fornication with many other louers doe thou returne vnto me againe and I wil receaue the saith almightie God By which wordes is expressed the fowerth vniuersalitie containing al states qualities and conditions of men how many waies or how oftentimes or how contemptuouslie soeuer they haue committed sinnes against his diuine Maiestie And what may be added now more vnto this was ther euer prince that made so large an offer vnto his subiectes or was ther euer father that gaue so ample and vniuersal promise of pardō vnto his children Who can now mistrust him self to be excluded from this assurance of mercie wherin al sortes of people al kindes of sinnes al times and seasons al states and qualities of sinners are comprehended O most miserable and infortunate man that excludeth him self whom God excludeth not What is ther in this general and vniuersal promises wherof anie man in the world should haue pretence to make any least doubt or question Of the meaning perhapes and intent of him that promiseth O deare brother it is onlie loue and tharitie and consequentlie can not deceaue vs. Of the truth and suertie of his promisses It is infallible and more certaine then heauen and earth put together Of the power that he hath to perfourme his promisse It is infinite and not restrained by any boundes or limitation wherof thē may we doubt or in which of thes three pointes may we not conceaue most singuler consolation heare the comfortable meditation that blessed S. Bernard made vpon thes three particulers which wee haue now mentioned Tria considero saith he in quibus tota spes mea consistit charitatem vocationis veritatem promissionis potestatem redditionis c. That is I doe consider three thinges saith this holie mā wherin al my hope cōsisteth wherby it is made inuincible First the exceeding loue and charitie of him that calleth me to him by repentance secondlie the infallible truth and certaintie of his promise which he maketh to me of pardon and mercie thirdlie the endles power and abilitie he hath to perfourme whatsoeuer he promiseth This is that triple or threefold rope and chaine which holie scripture saith is hardlie broken for that by this rope let donne vnto vs from heauen which is our contrie into this world that is our prison we may ascende and mount vp if we wil euen vnto the sight and possession of Gods eternal kingdom and heauēlie glorie Thus farre that blessed father But now to the second pointe if we consider how faithfullie almightie God hath put in execution thos promises of his from time to time how no one man vpon earth so many ages as the world hath continued was euer yet frustrate of his hope in making his conuersion vnto his Maiestie if he made it from his hart we shal finde further cause for vs to confide For so much as it is not probable or ī reason to be imagined that he which neuer failed in times past wil breake his promise for the time to come especially seing now in Christianitie when we haue this aduantage aboue other former times as S. Iohn doth also note that he who was and is our iudge is become also our aduouocat to pleade our cause Cast backe thine eyes then my louing deare brother and take a vew of al ages times and seasons past and gone Beginne from the first creation of the world and come donneward euen vnto this daye examine indifferentlie whether in al this wide compasse of times persons places most greeuous offences committed against his diuine Maiestie ther were euer yet any one sinner vpon earth that returned vnsay nedlie and was not receaued The sinne of our first parentes was presentelie forgeuen vnto them vpon their first signification of greefe and sorowe for the same And not onlie this but our Saueour also Iesus Christ was promissed to be sent for restoring them and their posteritie to the glorie and felicitie which by their fal they had lost After this vntil the time of Abraham and of the people of Israel as some workes of Gods iustice are recorded in holie writ that were excercised vpon irrepentant offendours so are ther many more celebrated of his mercie and onlie two persons in particuler are mentioned who notwithstanding some sorow which they seemed to haue of their offences were yet reiected the first wherof was the murderer Cain who at the beginning denied his wickednes vnto God and then being conuicted despaired of remission The second was Esau whom S. Paul calleth a profane fornicator who
If God be vvith vs vvho vvill be against vs sayeth the Apostle God is my helper and defender saieth holie Dauid for vvhom shal I quake or treÌ„ble If whole armies should rise against me yet wil I alwaies hope to haue the victoric And what is the reason for that thou art vvith me ô Lords thou fightest on my side thou assistest me with thy grace by helpe and assistance whereof I shal haue the victorie though al the squadrons of my enemies that is of the flesh the world and the deuil should at once rise against me Nay I shal not onelie haue the victorie but I shal haue it also most easilie and with al pleasure coÌ„fort delite For thus much signifieth S. Iohn in that hauing saied that the commaundemeÌ„tes of Christ are not greeuous he inferreth presently as the cause there of Quoniam omne quod natum est ex Deo vincit mundum For that al which is borne of God ouercommeth conquereth the world that is the grace and heauenlie assistance which is deriued and sent vs from God aboue doth both conquer the world with al the difficulties and temptations therof as also make the commaundements of almightie God most easie vnto vs and al vertuous life veric sweet and pleasant But here perhappes you wil saye vnto me Christ him self confesseth it to be a yoke and burden and how then can it be so pleasant easie as you make it wherto I answer that Christ addeth also that it is a sweete yoke a light burden wherby your obiection is taken away Againe it is further signified that there is a burden which greeueth not the bearer but rather helpeth and refresheth the same like as the burden of fethers vpon a birdes back beareth vp the bird and is nothing at al greeuoê° vnto her So in like maner though it be a yoke yet is it a sweete yoke a comfortable yoke a yoke more pleasant than hony or hony combe as sayeth the Prophet And whie so because we drawe therin with a sweete yokefelow we drawe with Christ him self that is to say Christes holie grace draweth at the one end of the yoke and our endeuour at the other And because when a great oxe and a litle doe drawe together in one yoke the weight lieth al vpon the greater oxe his neeke for that he beareth vp the yoke from the other therof it cometh that we drawing in this yoke together with Christ which is infinitly stronger and greater then we are he lighteneth vnto vs the whole burden and onelie requireth that we should goe on comfortablie with him and not refuse to ioyne and perseuer vnder this sweet yoke in his companie for that the paines shal be his and the pleasure and profit ours And this him self signifieth verie expreslie in the Ghospel when he inuiteth al men that are heuelie loden to come vnto his yoke and he wil refreshe theÌ„ Wherby he declareth plainly that his calling vs to the bearing of his sweet yoke is onlie therby to disburden and ease vs and not any waye to loden or agreeue vs to disburden vs I say of the heauie loadinges packes and yokes of this world as from the burden for example of a guiltie conscience the burden of melancholie the burden of enuie hatred and malice the burden of pride the burdeÌ„ of ambition the burden of couetousnes the burden of wrath the burden of feare the burden of al wickednesse and of hel fire it self From al these burdens lodinges and miserable yokes our most louing Saucour desireth to deliuer vs by couering our neckes onelie with his yoke and burden so lightned and sweetned by his holy grace as the bearing therof is not trauailsome but most easie pleasant iocunde and comfortable And thus much of the first and principal helpe that maketh the path of vertuous life easie I meane of Gods holie grace inhereÌ„t in mans soule which is the ofspring and fountaine of al other helpes that doe insue THE SECOND thing that maketh this yoke so sweet this burden so light this waie of Gods commaundementes so pleasant to resolued men is vehemencie of loue loue I meane towards God whose commaundementes they are which we take in hand For that euery maÌ„ can easelie tel hath experienced in him self what an irresistable force the passion of loue conteineth and how it maketh most facil the verie greatest paines that are in this world What maketh for examples sake the mother to take such incessant paine in the bringing vp of her child to indure with comfort so many trauailes as she doth but onelie loue what causeth the wife to fit so attentiue at the beds side of her husbande when he is sicke but onelie loue what moueth the beastes and birdes of the ayer to spare from their owne foode and to endaunger their own liues for the feeding and defending of their litle ones but onelie the great force and puissance of loue S. Austen doth prosecute this pointe at large by many other examples as of Marchantes that refuse no aduenture of sea for loue of gaine of huntars that refuse no season of euill weather for loue of game of soldiers that refuse no danger of spoyle And he addeth in the end that if the loue of man can be so great towardes creatures here as to make great labours easie and in deede to seeme no labours but rather pleasures how much more shal the loue of good men towardes God make al their paines and trauailes comfortable which they take in his seruice This extreme loue was the cause and reason whie al the intollerable paines afflictions which our Saue our Christ suffered for our sake did seeme nothing vnto him And this loue also was the reciprocal cause why so infinit trauailes and tribulations as zelous Christians from the beginning haue suffered for their Lord and Maister seemed nothing vnto them Imprisonmentes tormentes losse of honour goodes and life haue seemed verie trifles to innumerable seruantes of God in respect of this feruent and burning loue This loue droue infinite virgines and tender children to offer them selues in time of persecution for zelous affection toward him which in the cause was persecuted This loue caused holie Apollonia of Alexandria being broght to the fire to slip out of the handes of such as ledde her and ioyfullie to runne into the same of her self This loue inforced blessed Ignatius the auncient Martir to saye being condemned to beastes and fearing least they would refuse his bodie as they had done the bodies of diuers Martirs before him that he would not permit that but would rather prouoke them to pulle and teare his bodie in peeces Thes are the effectes deare brother of feruent loue which doe make euen the thinges that in this world are most difficult and dreadful of theÌ„ selues to appeare verie facile sweete and pleasant and much more the lawes and commaundementes of almightie
the temptations of the world and deuil the resisting wherof is much more difficult in time of peace and wealth then in time of external affliction and persecution for that thes enemies are stronger in flatterie then in force which a godly father expresseth by this parable The sunne and wind saieth he agreed one day to proue their seueral strengthes in taking a cloke from a waiefaring man And in the forenoone the wind vsed al violence that he could to blow of the said clok But the more he blew the more fast held the trauailer his clock and gathered it more closely about him At after noone the sunne sent forth her pleasant beames by litle and litle so entered into this man as he caused him to yeeld to put of not onely his cloke but also his cote Whereby is proued saieth this father that the allurementes of pleasure are more strong and harder to be resisted then the violence of persecution The like is shewed by the example of king Dauid who resisted easily many assaults of aduersitie but yet fel dangerously in time of prosperitie Wherby appeareth that vertuous men haue no lesse warre in time of peace then in time of persecution Nor euer wanteth there occasion of bearing the crosse and suffering affliction to him that wil accept of the same And this may susfice for this first point to proue that euery man must enter into heauen by tribulation as S. Paul saieth The second part TOVCHING THE second why God wold haue this matter so it were sufficiēt to aunswer that it pleased him best so without seeking any further reason of his meaning herein euen as it pleased his diuine Maiestie without al reason in our sight to abase his sonne so much as to send him hither into this world to suffer and die for vs. Or if we wil needes haue a reason hereof this one might be sufficiēt for al that seing we looke for so great a glory as we doe we should labour a litle first for the same and so shew our selues worthie of Gods fauour and exaltation But yet for that it hath pleased his diuine Maiestie not onely to open vnto vs his wil and determination for our suffering in this life but also diuers reasons of his most holy purpose and pleasure therin for our further encouragement and consolation that doe suffer I wil in this place repeate some of the same for declaration of his exceeding great loue and fatherlie care towardes vs. THE FIRST cause then and the most principal is to encrease therby our merit and glorie in the life to come For hauing appointed by his eternal wisdome and iustice that none shal be crouned there but according to the measure of his fight in this world the more and greater cōbates that he geueth together with sufficient grace to ouercome them the greater crowne of glorie prepareth he for vs at our resurrection This cause toucheth S. Paul in the wordes before alleaged of the saintes of the olde testament to wit that they receaued no redemption from their miseries in this world to the end they might find a better resurrection in the world to come This also meant Christ expresselie when he saied Happie are they vvhich suffe persecutiō for theirs is the kingdom of heauen happie are you vvhen men speake euil and persecute you c. reioyse be glad I saye for that your revvard is great in heauē Hereunto also appertaine al those promises of gaining life by leesing life of receauing a hundred for one and the like Herehence do procede al those large promises to virginitie and chastitie and to such as geld them selues for the kingdom of heauen to voluntarie pouertie and to the renouncing of our owne wil by obedience Al which are greate conflictes against the fleshe world and our owne sensualitie and can not be performed but by sufferings and affliction Finally S. Paul declareth this matter fullie when he sayeth that a litle and short tribulation in this life vvorketh a beape of glorie aboue al measure in the hight of heauen THE SECOND cause why God appointed this is to draw vs therby from the loue of the world his professed enemie as in the next chapter shal be shewed at large This cause S. Paul vttereth in these wordes VVe are punished of God in this life to the end vve should not be damned vvith this vvorld In like maner as a Nurse that to weane her child from the loue and liking of her milke dothe anointe her teat with Aloes or some other such bitter thing so our merciful Father that wolde retire vs. from the loue of wordlie delites wherby infinite men doe perish daily vseth to send tribulation which of al other thinges hath most force to woorke that effect as we see in the example of the prodigal sonne who could by no meanes be stayed from his pleasures and retired home to his olde Father but onelie by affliction THIRDLIE God vseth tribulation as a most present and soueraine medicine to heale vs of many diseases otherwise almost incurable As first of a certaine blindenes and careles negligence in our estate contracted by wealth and prosperitie In which sense holy scripture saieth that affliction geueth vnderstanding And the wise man affirmeth that the rodde bringeth vvisdom This was shewed in figure when the sight of Tobie was restored by the bitter gaule of a fish And we haue cleare examples in Nabuchodonasor Saul Antiochus and Manasses al wich came to see their owne faultes by tribulation which they wolde neuer haue done in time of prosperitie The like we read of the brethren of Ioseph who falling into some affliction in Egypt presentlie entred into their owne conscience and sayd VVe suffer those thinges vvorthely for that vve sinned against our brother And as tribulation bringeth this light wherby we see our owne defectes so helpeth it greatlie to remoue and cure the same wherin it may be wel likened vnto the rodde of Moyses For as that rodde striking the hard rockes brought foorth water as the scripture saieth so this rodde of affliction falling vpon stonie harted sinners mollifieth them to contrition and often times bringeth forth the fluddes of teares to repentance In respect wherof holy Tobie saieth to almightie God In time of tribulation thou forgeuest sinnes And for like 〈◊〉 it is compared also to a file of yron which taketh away the rust of the soule In like maner to a purgation that driueth out corrupt humours And finallie to a goldsmithes forge which cōsumeth away the refuse metals and fineth the gold to his perfection I vvil trie thee by fire to the quick saieth God to a sinner by Esay the prophet and I vvil take avvaie al thy tinne and refuse metal And againe by Ieremie I vvil melt them and trye them by fire This he meant of the fire of tribulation whose propertie is according
as the scripture saith to purge and fine the soule as fire purgeth fineth gold in the fornace For besides the purging and remouing of greater sinnes by consideration and contrition which tribulation woorketh as hath bene shewed it purgeth also the ruste of infinite euil passions appetites and humours in man as the humour of pride of vaine glorie of slouth of choler of delicate nisenes and a thousand more which prosperitie ingendreth in vs. This God declareth by the prophet Ezechiel saying of a rustie soule put her naked vpon the hote coles and let her heate there vntil her brasse be melted from her and vntil her corruption be burned owt and her ruste cōsumed There hath bene much labour and sweate taken about her and yet her ouer much ruste is not gone out of her This also signifieth holy Iob when hauing sayed that God instructeth a man by discipline or correction to the end he may turne him from the thinges that he hath done and deliuer him from pride which is vnderstoode of his sinful actes he addeth a litle after the maner of this purgation saying his flesh being consumed by punismentes let him returne againe to the daies of his youth That is al his fleshlie humours palsions being now consumed by punishmentes and tribulations let him beginne to liue againe in such puritie of soule as he did at the beginning of his youth before he had contracted these euil humours and diseases by prosperitie NETHER ONELIE is tribulation a strong medicine to heale sinne and to purge awaye the refuse metalles in vs of brasse tinne yron lead and drosse as almightie God by Ezechiel sayeth but also a most excellent preseruatiue against sinne for the time to come According as good king Dauid saied thy discipline o Lord hath corrected me for euermore That is to say it it hath made me wary and watchful not to commit sinne againe according as the scripture sayeth in an other place Agrenous infirmitie or afflictiō maketh the soule sober For which cause the prophet Ieremie calleth tribulation virgam vigilantem A watcheful rodde that is as S. Ierome expoundeth it a rodde that maketh a man watchful The same signified God when he saied by Ose the prophet I vvil hedge in thy vvaye vvith thornes That is I wil so close thy life on euerie side with the remembrance and feare of affliction that thou shalt not dare to treade awrie lest thou treade vpō a thorne Al which good Dauid expresseth of him self in these wordes before I was humbled broght lowe by affliction I did sinne and offend the ô Lord but after that time I haue kept thy commandementes OF THIS ALSO appeareth yet an other cause why God afflicteth his elect in this life and that is to preuent his iustice vpon them in the world to come I mean that Iustice which otherwise remaineth to be executed vpon euery one after their departure hence in that most greuous purging fire wherof I spake before Touching which S. Barnard sayeth thus Oh vvold to God some man vvolde novv before hand prouide for my head abundance of vvaters and to mine eyes a fountaine of teares for so happely the burning fire should take no hold vvhere running teares had clensed before And the reason of this is as that holy man him self noteth after for that God hath said by Naum the prophet I haue afflicted the once and I vvil not afflict thee againe there shal not come from me a double tribulation SIXTHLIE God sendeth tribulation vpō his seruants to examine proue them therby whether they be fatheful constant or no that is to make thē selues and other men see and confesse how faithful or vnfaithful they are This in figure was signified when Isaac wold grope and touche his sonne Iacob before he wold blesse him And this the scripture expresseth plainlie when talking of the tribulations layed vpon Abraham it addeth tentauit Deus Abraham God tempted Abraham by these meanes to proue him And Moyses saied to the people of Israel Thou shalt remember hovv thy God ledde thee fortie yeres about the desert to afflict thee and tempt thee to the end it might appeare vviat vvas in thy hart vvhether thou vvoldest keept bis commandemētes or na And againe a fewe chapters after Your God and Lord doth tempt you to the end it may be manifest vvhether you loue him or no vvith al your hart and vvith al your soule In which sense also the scripture sayeth of Ezechras after many praises geuen vnto him that God left him sor a time to be tempted that the thoughtes of his hart might therby be made manifest And that this is Gods fashion towards al good men king Dauid sheweth in the persone of al when he sayeth Thou hast proued vs ò Lord thou hast examined vs by fire thou hast layed tribulation vpon our backes and hast brought men vpon our heades And yet how wel he liked of this matter he signifieth when he calleth for more therof in an other place saying Trie me ò Lord and tempt me burne my reines and hart vvithin me That is trie me by the way of tribulation and persecution search out the secretes of my hart and reines let the world see whether I wil sticke to the in aduersitie or no. Thus sayed that holie prophet wel knowing that which in an other place the holy Ghost vttereth that as the fornace trieth the potters vessels so tribulation trieth men For as the sounde vessels onelic do hold when they come to the fornace and thos which are crased doe breake in peeces so in time of tribulation and persecution the vertuous onely stand to it and the counterfeit bewraye them selues according to the saying of Christ In tempore tentationis recedunt They depart from me in time of temptation THE SEVENTH reason whie God layeth tribulation vpon the vertuous is therby to make them runne vnto him for aide helpe euen as the mother to make her child to loue her more and to runne vnto her procureth the same to be made afearde and terrified by others This God expresseth plainlie by the prophet Ole saying of them that he loued I vvil dravv thē vnto me in the ropes of Adam in the chaines of loue and vvil seeme vnto them as though I raysed a yoke vpon their iavv bones By the ropes of Adam he meaneth affliction wherby he drew Adam to know him self as also appeareth by that he addeth of the heauy yoke of tribulation which he wil lay vpon the heades and faces of his seruantes as chaines of loue therby to draw them vnto him This chaine had drawen Dauid vnto him when he saied O Lord thou art my refuge from the tribulation of sinners As also thos wherof Elay saieth they saught the out ò Lord in their affliction Also thos of whom Dauid saied Infirmities vvere
remembrance Besides this we must consider that the appointing and tempering of this cuppe being now in the handes of Christ our Sauiour by the ful commission graunted him from his Father he hauing learned by his owne sufferinges as S. Paul notifieth what it is to suffer in flesh and blood we may be sure that he wil not laie vpon vs more then we can beare For as if a man had a Father or brother that were a most skilful phisition and should receaue a purgation from them tempered with their owne handes he might be sure it wold neuer hurt him what rōbling soeuer it made in his bellie for the time so and much more may we be assured of this potion of tribulation ministred vnto vs by the hand of Christ howsoeuer as S. Paul saieth it seeme vnto vs vnpleasant in the operation BVT ABOVE al other comfortable cogitations this is the greatest and most ful of consolatiō to consider that he diuideth this cuppe onelie of loue as him self protesteth and as S. Paul proueth that is he geneth out portions of his crosse the richest Iewel that he maketh accōpt of as worldlie princes doe their treasine vnto none but vnto his chosen and picked freendes and among them also not equally to 〈◊〉 but to euerie one a measure according to the measure of good wil and special affection wherwith he loueth them This is euident by the examples before set downe of his dearest frendes most of al afflicted in this life that is to say they receaued greatest portiōs of this treasure for that his good wil was greatest towardes them This also may be seene manisestly in the exaple of S. Paul of whom after that Christ had saied to Ananias vas electionis est mihi he is a chosen vessel vnto me he geueth immediatlie the reason therof For I vvil shevv vnto him vvhat great thinges he must suffer for my name Loe here for that he was a chosen vessel therfore he must suffer great matters for Christ. Doth not the measure of suffering goe then according to the measure of Gods loue vnto vs Surely S. Peter knew wel how the matter went and therfore he writeth thus If you liuing vvel doe suffer vvith patience this is a grace or priuilege before God And againe alitle after Yf you suffer reproche in the name of Christ you are happie for that the honour and glerie and povver of God and of his holy spirit final rest vpon you Can there possibly be any greater rewarde promised to man or anie more excellēt dignitie thē to be made partaker of the honour glorie and power of Iesus Christ Is it maruaile now if Christ saied Happie are you vvhen men reuile and persecute you Is it maruaile though he saied gaudete in illa die exultate reioyse and triumphe ye in that daie Is it maruaile though S. Paul said I take greate pleasure and doe glorie in my infirmities or afflictions in my reproches in my necessities in my persecutions in my distresses for Christ Is it maruaile if S. Peter and S. Iohn being reproched and beaten at the Iudgement seat of the Iewes went away reioysing that they were esteemed worthie to suffer contumelie for the name of IESVS Is it maruaile thogh S. Paul accounted this such a highe priuilege geuen to the Philippiens when he saied It is geuen vnto you not onelie to beleeue in IESVS Christ but also to suffer for him and to haue the same cōbat vvhich you haue seene in me and novv heare of me Al this is no maruaile I save seing that suffering with Christ and bearing the crosse with Christ is as great a prefermēt in the court of heauen as it should be in an earthlie courte for the prince to take of his owne garment to laye it on the backe of one of his seruantes Of this now foloweth an other consequent of singular consolation in time of affliction and that is that tribulation especiallie when grace is also geuen to beare it patientlie is a great coniecture of our predestination to eternal life For so much doe al those argumentes before touched insinuate As also on the cōtrary part to liue in continual prosperitie is a dreadful signe of euerlasting reprobatiō This point is maruailouslie proued by S. Paul vnto the hebrewes and greatlie vrged And Christ geueth a plaine signification in S. Luke when he saieth Happie are you that vveepe novv for you shal laugh And on th' other side VVoe be vnto you that laugh novv for you shal vveepe vvoe be vnto you rich men vvhich haue your consolation here in this life And yet more vehementlie then al this doth the saying of Abraham to the riche man in hel or rather Christs wordes parabolicallie attributed vnto Abraham confirme this matter For he saieth to the riche man complayning of his torment Remēber child that thou receauedst good things in thy life time He doth not say as S. Barnard wel noteth rapuisti thou tokest them by violence but recepisti thou receauedst them And yet this now is obiected against him for a sufficient cause of his damnation as wee see Holy Dauid handleth this matter in diuers places but purposelie in two of his psalmes and that at large And after long search and much admiration his conclusion of wicked mē prospering aboue other in the world is this Veruntamen propter dolos posuisti eis deiecisti eos dum alleuarentur Thou hast geuen them prosperitie ô Lord to deceaue them withal and thou hast indeed throwen them downe by exalting them That is thou hast throwen them downe to the sentence of damnation in thy secret and inscrutable determination Here then the comparison of S. Gregorie taketh place that as the oxen appointed to the slaughter are let runne to feed at their pleasure and the other kept vnder dailie labour of the yoke so fareth it with euil and good men In like maner the tree that beareth no fruite is neuer beaten as we see but onelie the fruitful yet th' other as Christ saieth is reserued for the fire The sick man that is past al hope of life is suffered by the phisition to haue whatsoeuer he lusteth after but he whos health is not dispaired can not haue that libertie graunted To conclude the stones that must serue for the glorious temple of Salomon were hewed beaten and polished without the Church at the quarrie side for that no stroke of hammer might be heard within the temple S. Peter saieth that the vertuous are chosen stones to be placed in the spiritual building of God in heauen where there is no beating no sorow no tribulation Here then in this life must we be polished hewed and made fit for that glorious tēple here I say in the quarrie of this world here must we be fined here must we feele the blowe of the hammer and be most gladde when
thurseday and friday next ensuing they cried Crucifige against him and preferred the life of Barrabas a wicked murderer before his Now my freend if they delt thus with the Saueour of the world which was a better man then euer thou wilt be and did more glorious miracles thē euer thou wilt doe to purchase name and honour with the people why doest thou so labour and beate thy self about this vanitie of vainglorie why doest thou cast thy trauailes into the wind of mens mouthes why doest thou put thy riches in the lippes of mutable men where euery flatterer may robbe the of them hast thou no better a chest to locke them vp in S. Paul was of an other mind when he said I esteeme litle to be iudged of you er of the day of man And he had reason surely For what careth he that runneth at the tilt if the ignorant people that stand by doe geue sentence against him so the Iudges geue it with him If the blind man in the way to Iericho had depended of the liking and approbation of the goers bie he had neuer receaued the benefit of his sight for that they disuaded him from running and crying so vehemently after Christ. It is a miserable thing for a man to be a windemil which grindeth not nor maketh meale but according as the blast endureth If the gale be strong he sourgeth about lustely but if the winde slake he relenteth presently So doe you praise the vainglorious man and ye make him runne if he feele not the gale blow he is out of hart He is like the Babilonians who with a litle sweete musike were made to adore any thing what soeuer The scripture saith most truely as siluer is tried in the fire by blovving to it so is a man tried in the mouth of him that praiseth For as siluer if it be good taketh no hurt therby but if it be euil it goeth al into sume so doth a vaine man by praise and commendation How many haue we seene puffed vp with mennes praises and almost put besides them selues for ioy thereof and yet afterward brought downe with a contrarie winde and driuen ful neare to desperation by cōtempt How many doe we see dailie as the prophet did in his daies commended in their sinnes and blessed in their wickednes How many palpable intolerable flateries doe we heare both vsed and accepted dailie and no mā crieth with good king Dauid avvay vvith this oile and ointment of sinners let it not come vpon my head Is not al this vanitie Is it not madnes as the scripture calleth it The glorious Angels in heauen seeke no honour vnto themselues but al vnto God and thou poore worme of the earth desirest to be glorified The foure and twentie elders in the Apocalips tooke of their crounes and cast them at the seet of the lamb and thou wouldest plucke fortie frō the lamb to thy self is thou couldest O fond creature how truely saieth the prophet homo vanitati similis factus est a man is made like vnto vanitie that is like vnto his owne vanitie as light as the verie vanities them selues which he foloweth And yet the wise man more expressely In vanitate sua appenditur peccator the sinner is weighed in his vanitie that is by the vanitie which he foloweth is seene how light and vaine a sinful man is THE SECOND vanitie that belongeth to Ambition is desire of worldly honour dignitie and promotion And this is a great matter in the sight of a worldly man this is a Iewel of rare price worthie to be bought with any labour trauaile or peril what-soeuer The loue of 〈◊〉 letted the great mē that were Christians in Iewrie from confessing Christ openly The loue of this letted Pilat from deliuering IESVS according as in consciēce he saw he was bound The loue of this letted Agrippa and Festus from making themselues Christians albeit they esteemed Paules doctrine to be true The loue of this letteth infinite men daily from embrasing the meanes of their saluation But alas thes men doe not see the vanitie hereof S. Paul saith not without iust cause Nolite esse pueri sensibus be you not Childrē in vnderstanding It is the fashiō of Children to esteeme more of a painted bable then of a riche Iewel And such is the painted dignitie of this world gotten with much labour maintained with great expenses and lost with intolerable greef and sorow For better conceauing wherof ponder a litle with thy self gentle reader any state of dignitie that thou woldest desire and think how many haue had that before the. Remēber how many mounted vp and how they descended downe againe imagine with thy self which was greater ether the ioy in getting or the sorow in leesing it Where are now al thos emperours thos kings thos princes prelats which reioised so much once at their owne aduancement where are they now I say who talketh or thinketh of them are they not forgotten and cast into their graues long agoe And doe not men boldely walke ouer their heads now whos faces might not be looked on without feare in their life what then haue their dignities done them good It is a wonderful thing to consider the vanitie of this worldly honour It is like a mans owne shadow which the more a man runneth after the more it flieth and when he flieth from it it foloweth him againe and the onely way to catche it is to fal downe to the ground vpō it So we see that thos men which desired honour in this world are now forgotten thos which most fled from it and cast them selues lowest of al mē by humilitie are now most of al honoured honoured I say most euen by the world itself whos enemies they were while they liued For who is honoured more now who is more commended and remembred then S. Paul and his like which so much despised worldly honour in this life as he made lesse accompt therof then of cōmon dūge Most vaine then is the pursute of this worldly honour which nether contenteth the minde nor easeth the pained body nor continueth with the possessour nor leaueth behind it any benefit or cōtentation THE THIRD vanitie that belōgeth to ambition or pride of life is nobilitie of flesh blood a great pearle in the eye of the world but in deed in it self and in the sight of God a meere trifle and vanitie Which holy Iob wel vnderstood whēn he wrote thes wordes I said vnto rottennesse thou art my father and vnto vvormes you are my mother and sisters He that wil behold the gentrie of his auncestours let him looke into their graues and see whether Iob saith truely or no. True nobilitie was neuer begonne but by vertue and therfore as it is a testimony of vertues in the predecessours so ought it to be a spurre to the same
we wolde exercise our selues in these maner of cogitations we might easilie keepe our hartes pure and vnspotted before God in beholding the beautie of his creatures But for that we vse not this passage from the creature to the creator but doe rest onely in the external appearance of a deceatful face letting goe the bridle to our foule cogitations and setting wilfully on fire our own concupiscences hence it is that infinite men doe perish day lie by occasion of this fond vanitie I cal it fond for that euerie childe may discrie the deceate and vanitie therof For take the fairest face in the world wherwith infinite folish men fal in loue vpon the sight therof and rase it ouer but with a litle scrach and al the matter of loue is gone let there come but an Ague for foure daies and al this goodly beautie is distroyed let the soule depart but one halfe hower from the bodie and this louing face is vglie to looke on let it lie but two daies in the graue and those who were so hote in loue with it before wil skarse abyde to beholde it or come neare it And if none of those things happen vnto it yet quicklie cometh on olde age which riueleth the skinne draweth in the eies setteth-owt the teeth and so disfigureth the whole visage as it becometh more contemptible and horrible now then euer it was beautiful and alluring before And what then can be more vanitie then this What more madnesse then ether to take a pride therof if we haue it our selues or to indanger our soules for the same if we behould it in others THE SIXT vanitie belonging to pride of life is the glorie of fine apparel against which the scripture saith In vestitu ne gloriaris vnquam See thou neuer take glorie in apparel Of al vanities this is the greatest which yet we see so common among men of this world If Adam had neuer sallen we had neuer vsed apparel For that apparel was deuised to couer our shame of nakednes and other infirmites contracted by that fal Wherfore we that take pride and glorie in apparel doe as much as if beggar should glorie take pride of the olde cloutes that do couer his sores S. Paul said vnto a bishop If vve haue vvhervvithal to couer our selues let vs be content And Christ touched deeplie the daunger of nice apparel when he cōmended so much S. Iohn Baptist for his austere attire adding for the contradictorie Qui moliibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt They which are clothed in soft and delicate apparel are in kinges courtes that is in kinges courtes of this world but not in the kinges court of heauen For which cause in the descriptiō of the riche man damned this is not omitted by our Sauiour That he vvas apparelled in purple and silke It is a wounderful thing to consider the different proceeding of God and the world herin God him self was the first tailer that euermade apparel i this world and he made it for the most noble of al our auncestous in paradise yet he made it but of beasts skinnes And S. Paul testifieth of the noblest saintes of the olde testament that they were couered onelie with goates skinnes and with the heares of Cameles What vanitie is it then for vs to be so curious in apparel and to take such pride therin as we doe we robbe spoile al creatures in the world to couer our backes and adorne our bodies From one we take his wolle from an other his skinne from an other his furre and from some other their verie excrementes as the silk which is nothing els but the excrementes of wormes Nor yet content with this we come to fishes and doe begge of them certaine pearles to hang about vs. We goe doune into the grounde for gold and siluer and turne vp the sandes of the sea for pretious stones and hauing borowed al this of other creatnres we iette vp doune prouoking men to looke vpō vs as if al this now were our own When the stone shineth vpon our fingar we wil seeme forsooth therby to shine When the siluer and silkes doe glister on our backes we looke bigge as if al that beautic came from vs. And so as the prophet saith we passe ouer our daies in vanitie and doe not perceaue our owne extreme folie AND THVS much now may suffice for declaration of the first general head of worldlie vanities termed by S. Iohu Pride of life Ther followeth the seconde which he calleth Concupiscence of the eyes wherunto the auncient fathers haue referred al vanities of riches and wealth of this world Of this S. Paul writeth to Timothie Geue commandement to rich men of this vvorld not to be high minded nor to put confidence in the vncertaintie of their riches The reason of which speech is vttered by the scripture in an other place when it saieth Riches shal not profit a man in the daie of reuēge That is at the daie of death and iudgement Which thing the rich men of this world doe confesse them selues though to late now being in tormentes diuitiarum iactantia quid nobis contulit what hath the brauerie of our riches profited vs Al which doth euidentlie declare the great vanitie of worldlie riches which can doe the possessour no good at al whē he hath most need of their help Riche men haue slept their sleepe saith the prophet and haue found nothing in their handes that is riche mē haue passed ouer this life as mē doe passe ouer a slepe imagining them selues to haue goldē mountaines and treasures wher with to help them selues in al needes that shal occurre when they a wake at the daie of their death they finde themselues to haue nothing in their hādes that can doe thē good In respect wherof the prophet Baruch asketh this question VVhere are they novv vvhich heaped together gold siluer vvhich made no end of their scraping together And he answereth him self immediatlie Exterminati sunt ad inferos descenderunt They are now rooted owt and are gone down vnto hel To like effect saith S. Iames Novvye riche mco doe ye vveepe and vvaile and houle in your miseries that come vpon you your riches are rotten and your gold and siluer is rustie and the rust therof shal be in testimonie against you it shal seede vpon your one flash as if it vvere fire you haue hoarded vp vvrath to your ovvn selues in the last daie If wealth of this world be not onelie so vaine but also so perilous as here is affirmed what vanitie then is it formen to set their mindes so vpon it as they doe S. Paul saieth of him self that he esteemed al but as dung of the earth And he had great reasō surely to say so seing in deed riches are no better then the verie excrements of the earth and fownde onelie in
the most barraine places therof as they can tel which haue seene their mines What a base matter is this then for a man to tie his loue vnto God commāded in the ólde law that what soeuer did goe with his breast vpon the ground should be vnto vs in abhomination How much more then a reasonable man that hath glewed his hart and soule vnto a peece of earth VVe came naked into this vvorld and naked vvee must goe soorth againe saieth Iob. The mille whele stirreth much about and beateth it self from daie to daie and yet at the yeres end it is in the same place that it was ī the beginning so riche men let them toile labour what they can yet at their death must they be as poore as at the first daie wherin they were borne When the riche man dieth saith Iob he shal take nothing with him but shal close vp his eies and finde nothing Pouertie shal laie handes vpon him and a tempest shal oppresse him in the night a burning winde shal take him awaie and an hurle winde shal rushe vpon him and shal not spare him it shal binde his handes vpon him and shal hisse ouer him for that it seeth his place wether he must goe The prophet Dauid in like wise forewarneth vs of the same in these wordes Be not afraid vvhen then seest a man made riche and the glorie of his house multiplied For vvhen he dieth he shal take nothing vvith him nor shal his glorie desiend to the place vvhether he goeth he shal passe into the progenies of his aunceslours that is he shal goe to the place where they are who haue liued as he hath done vvorld vvithout end he shal see no more light Al this and much more is spoken by the Holie ghost to signifie the dangerous vanitie of worldlie wealth and the folie of those men who labour so much to procure the same with the eternal peril of their soules If so many phisitions as I haue here alleaged scriptures should agree together that such or such meates were poisonned and perillous I thinke fewe men wold geue the aduenture to eate therof though otherwise in taste they appeared sweet and pleasant How thē cometh it to passe that so manie earnest admonitions of God himself can not staie vs from the loue of this dangerous vanitie Nolite cor apponere saith God by the prophet that is set not your hartes vpon the loue of riches Qui diligit aurum non iustificabitur saith the wise man he that loueth gold shal neuer be iustified I am angrie greatlie vpon riche natiōs saith God by Zacharie Christ saith Amen dico vobis quia diues difficilè intrabit in regnum calorū Truelie I saye vnto you that a riche man shal hardlie get into the kingdome of heauen And againe vvoe be to you riche men for that you haue receaued your consolation in this life Finallie S. Paul saith generallie of al and to al They vvhich vvilbe riche doe fal into temptations and into the snares of Satan and into many vnprofitable and hurtful desires vvhich doe drovvne them in euerlasting destruction and perdition Can any thing in the world be spoken more effectualie to dissuade from the loue of riches than this must not here now al couetous men of the world ether denie God or condemne them selues in their own consciences Let them goe now and excuse them selues by the pretēce of wife children kinsfolke as they are wōt saying they meane nothing els but to prouide for their sufficiencie Doth Christ or S. Paul admit this excuse wher Gods seruice and their own saluation commeth in question ought we so much to loue wife or children or other kinred as to endanger our soules for the same Tel me deare Christian brother what comfort may it be to an afflicted father in hel to remember that by his meanes his wife and children doe liue wealthelie in earth that for his eternal woe they inioy some few years pleasurs No no deare brother this is vanitie a mere deceate of our spiritual enemie For within one moment after we are dead we shal care no more for wife children father mother or brother in this matter thē we shal for a mere straunger and one penie geuen in almes while we liued for Gods sake shal comfort vs more at that daie thē thousandes of poundes bestowed vpon our kinred for the natural loue we beare vnto our own flesh blood The which one poīt would Christ al worldly men could consider and then no doute they would neuer take such care for kinred as they doe especially vpon their death beddes whence presentlie they are to depart to that place where flesh and blood holdeth no more priuilege nor riches haue any power to deliuer but onely such as were wel bestowed in the seruice of God or geuen to the poore for his names sake And this shal be sufficient for this point of riches THE THIRD branche of worldlie vanities is called by S. Iohn concupiscence of the flesh which conteineth al pleasures and carnal recreations of this life as are banquetting laughing playing and such other delites wherwith our flesh is much comforted in this world And albeit in this kind there is a certaine measure to be allowed vnto the godly for the conuenient maintenance of their health as also in riches it is not to be reprehēded yet that al thes worldly solaces are not onely vaine but also daungerous in that excesse and abundance as worldly wealthie men seeke and vse them appeareth plainlie by thes wordes of Christ. VVoe be vnto you vvho novv doe laugh for you shal vvepe VVo be vnto you that novv liue in fil satietie for the time shal come vvhen you shal suffer bungar And againe in S. Iohns gospel speaking to his Apostles and by them to al other he saith you shal ' vvepe morne but the vvorld shal reioise making it a signe distinctiue betwene the good and the badde that the one shal mourne in this life and th' other reioise and make them selues merie The very same doth Iob confirme both of the one th' other sort for of worldlinges he saith that they solace them selues with al kind of musicke and doe passe ouer their dayes in pleasure and in a verie moment doe goe doune into hel But of the godly he saith in his owne persone that they sigh before they eate their bread And in an other place that they feare al their workes knowing that God spareth not him which offendeth The reason whereof the wise man yet further expresseth saying That the vvorkes of good men are in the handes of God and no ma knovveth vvhether he be vvorthie of loue or hatred at Gods handes but al is kept vncertaine for the time to come And old Tobias insinuateth yet an other cause when he saith VVhat ioy can
I haue or receaue seing I sit here in darknes speaking litterallie of his corporal blindnes but yet leauing it also to be vnderstood of spiritual and internal darknes Thes are then the causes beside external affliction which God often sendeth why the godly doe liue more graue sadde and feareful in this life then wicked men doe according to the counsaile of S. Paul and why also they sigh often and weepe as Iob and Christ doe affirme to wit for that they remember oftentimes the seuere Iustice of almightie God their owne frailtie in sinning the secret iudgement of his predestination vncertaine to vs the vale of misery and desolation wherein they liue here which made euen the very Apostles them selues to grone as S. Paul affirmeth albeit they had much lesse cause then we haue In respect wherof we are willed to passe ouer this life in carefulnes watchfulnes feare and trembling In regard wherof also the wiseman saith It is better to goe to the house of sorovv then to the house of feasting And againe VVhere sadnes is there is the hart of vvisomē but vvhere mirth is there is the hart of fooles Finally inconsideration of thes things the scripture saiths Beatus homo qui semper est pauidus Happie is the man which alwaies is feareful Which is nothing els but that which the holy Ghost commaundeth euery man by Micheas the Prophet solicitum ambulare cū Deo To walke carefully and diligently with God thinking vpō his commaundementes how we keepe and obserue the same how we resist mortifie our members vpon earth how we bestowe our time talents and riches lent vnto vs how we labour in good workes for the gaining of heauen what accompt we could yeeld if presently we were to die c. which cogitations if they might haue place with vs would cut of a great many of thos worldly pastimes wherwith the careles sort of sinners are ouerwhelmed I meane of thos good feloushippes in eating drinking laughing singing disputing and other such vanities that distract vs most Hereof Christ gaue vs a most notable aduertisemēt in that he wept often times as for example at his natiuitie at the resuscitation of Lazarus vpon Ierusalem vpon the Crosse. But he is neuer redde to haue laught in al his life Her of also is cch mans own natiuitie and death a signification and figure which two extremities I meane our beginning ending being reserued by God in his own handes to dispose are appointed vnto vs in sorow greef and weeping as we see and feele But the midle parte therof which is our life being left by God in our own hādes we passe it ouer with vaine delites neuer thinking whence we came nor whether we goe A wise trauailer passing by his Inne albeit he see pleasāt meates set before him to banquet at his pleasure yet he for beareth and restraineth his appetite vpon cōsideration of the price and of the iourney he hath to make and taketh nothing but so much as he knoweth wel how to discharge the next mornig at his departure But a foole layeth handes on euerie delicate bayt that is presented to his sight and playeth the prince for a night or two But the next morning when it cometh to the reckning he wisheth that he had liued onelie with bread drinke rather then to be so troubled as he is for the paiment The custome of Gods Church is to fast the euen of euerie feast and then to make merie the next daye following which is the festiual it self And this representeth the abstinent life of goodmen in this world therby to be merie in the world to come But the fashion of the world is contrarie that is to eate and drincke merilie first at the tauerne and after to let the host bring in his reckning They eate drinke and laugh and the host he skoreth vp al in the meane space And when the time cometh that they must paye many a hart is sadde that was pleasant before This very self thing holy scripture affirmeth also of the pleasures of this world Risus dolore miscebitur extrema gaudij luctus occupat Laughter shal be mingled with sorow mourning shal ensue at the hinder end of mirthe The deuil that plaieth the hoste in this world and wil serue you at an inche with what delite or pleasure you desire writeth vp al in his booke and at the daie of your departure which is at your death he wil bring in the whole reckoning charge you with it al and then shal folow that which God promiseth to worldlinges by the prophet Amos Your mirth shal be turned into morning and lamentation Yea and more then this if you be not able to discharge the rekoning you may chaunce to heare that other dreadful sentence of Christ in the Apocalips quantum in delitiis fuit tantum date illi tormentum Looke how much he hath taken of his delites so much torment doe you lay vpon him Wherfore to conclude this point and therwithal this first parte of the parable touching vanities truelie may we saie with the prophet Dauid of a worldlie minded man Vniuersa vanitas omnis homo viuens The life of such men conteineth al kind of vanitie That is to saie both vanitie in ambition vanitie in riches vanitie in pleasures vanitie in al things which they most esteeme And therfore I may wel end with the wordes of almightie God by the prophet Esay vaevobis qui trahitis iniquitatem in funiculis vanitatis Wo be vnto you which doe draw wickednes in the ropes of vanitie These ropes are those vanities of vainglorie promotion dignitie nobilitie beautie riches delites and other such like before touched which alwaies draw with them some iniquitie sinne For which cause holie Dauid saith vnto his Lord Thovvhatest ô Lord obseruers of super fluous vanities And the scripture reporting the cause why God destroied vtterlie the familie and linage of Baasa king of Israel saith it was For that they had prouoked God in their vanities And lastlie for this cause the holy Ghostpronounceth generallie of al men Beatus vir qui non respexit in vanitates insanias falsas Blessed is that man which hath not respected vanities and the false madnes of this world The second point of the parable NOVV COME I to the second part proposed in this chapter which was also the second point contained in Christes parable to shew how this world with the commodities therof are not onelie vanities but also deceites for that in deed they performe not vnto their folowers thos idle vanities trifles which they doe promise Wherin the world may be compared to that wretched and vngrateful deceiuer Labā who made poore Iacob to serue him seauen yeeres for faire Rachel and in the end deceiued him with foule Lia. What false promises doth the world make daily To one it pmiseth
men that is God shal permit wicked mē to fal into snares which are as plentiful in the world as are the droppes of raine which fal doune from heauē Euery thing almost is a deadly snare vnto a carnal and loose harted mā Euery fight that he seeth euery word that he heareth euery thought that he conceaueth his youth his age his freendes his enemies his honour his disgrace his riches his pouertie his compagnie keeping his prosperitie his aduersitie his meate that he eateth his apparel that he weareth al are snares to draw him to destruction that is not watchful Of this then and of the blindnes declared before doth folow the last and greatest miserie of al other which can be in this life And that is the facilitie wherby worldly men doe runne into sinne For truely saieth the scripture miseros facit populos peccatum Sinne is the thing that maketh people miserable And yet how easily men of the world doe commit sinne and how litle scruple they make of the matter Iob signifieth when talking of such a man he saieth bibit quasi aquam iniquitatem He suppeth vp sinne as it were water that is with as great facilitie custome ease aduētureth he vpō any kind of sinne that is offered him as a man drinketh water when he is a thirst He that wil not beleeue the saying of Iob let him proue a litle by his owne experience whether the matter be so or no. Let him walke out into the streetes behold the doinges of men vew their behauiour cōsider what is done in shoppes in halles in consistories in iudgement seates in palaces and in cōmon meeting places abroad what lying what slandering what deceiuing there is He shal find that of al things wherof men doe make any accōpt in the world nothing is so litle accounted of as to commit a sinne He shal see iustice solde veritie wrested shame lost and equitie despised He shal see the innocent condemned the guiltie deliuered the wicked aduaunced the vertuous oppressed He shal see many theeues florish many vsurers beare great sway many murderers and extorsioners reuerenced and honoured many fooles put in authoritie and diuers which haue nothing in them but the forme of men by reason of money to be placed in great dignities for the gouernmēt of others He shal heare at euerie mans mouth almost vanitie pride detraction enuie deceit dissimulation wantōnesse dissolution lying swearing periurie and blaspheming Finally he shal see the most part of men to gouerne them selues absolutely euen as beastes doe by the motion of there passions not by law of iustice reason celigion or vertue The. 5. pointe of the parable OF THIS DOTH ensue the fifte point that Christ toucheth in his parable and which I promised here to handle to wit that the loue of this world choketh vp and strangleth euerie man whom it possesseth fromal celestial and spiritual life for that it filleth him with a plaine contrarie spirite to the spirite of God The Apostle saieth Si quis spiritum Chrsti non habet hic non est cius If any man haue not the spirit of Christ this felow belongeth not vnto him Now how contrarie the spirite of Christ and the spirite of the world is maie appeare by the twelue fruites of Christs spirite reckned vp by S. Paul vnto the Galathians to wit Charitie which is the roote and mother of al good workes Ioye in seruing God peace or trāquilitie of minde in the stormes of this world Patience in aduersitie Longanimitie in expecting our reward Bogitic in hurtig no man Benignitie in sweete behauiour Gentlenes in occasion geuē of anger Faithfulnes in performig our promises Modestie without arrogancie Continencie from alkind of wickednes Chastitie in conseruing a pure minde in a cleane and vnspotted bodie Against thes men saith S. Paul there is no lavv And in the verie same chapter he expresseth the spirite of the world by the contrarie effectes saying the worcks of flesh are manifest which are fornication vncleannes wantonnes lecherie idolatrie poysonninges enemities contentious emulations wrath strife dissention sectes enuie murder drōkennes glutonie and the like of which I fortel you as I haue tolde you before that those men which doe such things shal neuer obteine the kingdome of heauen Here now may euery man iudge of the spirit of the world and of the spirit of Christ and applying it to him self may coniecture whether he holdeth of the one or of th' other S. Paul geeueth two pretie short rules in the very same place to trye the same The first is They vvhich are of Christ haue crucifie ltheir flesh vvith the vices concupisconces therof That is they haue so mortified their owne bodies as they commit none of the vices and sinnes repeated before nor yeld not willinglie vnto the concupiscences or temptations therof The second rule is if vve liue in spirite then let vs vvalke in spirit That is our walking behauiour is a signe whether we be aliue or dead For if our walking be spiritual such as I haue declared before by the twelue fruites therof then doe we liue and haue life in spirite but if our workes be carnal such as S. Paul now hath described then are we carnal and dead in spirite nor haue we any thing to doe with Christ or portion in the kingdome of heauē And for that al the world is ful of those carnal workes and bringeth forth no fruites in deede of Christs spirit nor permitteth them to grow or prosper within her thence is it that the scripture alwaies putteth Christ and the world for opposite and open enemies Christ him self saith that the vvorld can not receaue the spirit of trueth And againe in the same Euangelist he saieth that nether he nor anie of his are of the world though they liue in the world And yet further in his most vehement prayer vnto his father Pater iuste mundus te non cognouit iust father the world hath not knowen thee For which cause S. Iohn writeth If any man loue the vvorld the loue of the Father is not in him And yet further S. Iames that vvbs soeuer desireth only to be a sreend of this vvorld is therby made an enemie to God What wil worldly mē saie to this S. Paul affirmeth plainlie that this world is to be dāned And Christ insinuateth the same in S. Iohns gospel but most of al in that wonderful fact of his whē praying to his Father for other matters he excepteth the world by name Non promun lo saith he I doe not aske mercie and perdone for the world but for those which thou hast geuen me out of the world Oh what a dreadful exception is this made by the Sauiour of the world by the lambe that taketh awaie al sinnes by him that asked perdone euen for his tourmentours and crucifiers to except I saie now the world
by name from his mercie Oh that worldlie men would consider but this one point onelie they would not I think liue so voide of feare as they doe Can any man maruaile now why S. Paul crieth so carefully vnto vs nolite conformari huic saeculo cōforme not your selues to this world againe that we should renounce vtterly al secular desires Can any man maruaile why S. Iohn which was most priuie aboue al others to Christs holy meaning herein saieth to vs in such earnest sorte Nolite diligere mundum nequè ea quae in mundo sunt doe not loue the world nor any thing that is in the world If we may nether loue it nor so much as conforme our selues vnto it vnder so great paines as are before rehearsed of the enimitie of God and of our eternal damnation what shal become of thos mē that doe not onely cōforme them selues vnto it and to the vanities therof but also doe folowe it seeke after it rest in it and doe bestow al their labours and trauailes vpon it If you aske me the cause why Christ so hateth and abhorreth this world Saint Iohn telleth you Quia mundus totus in maligno positus est for that al the whole world is set on noughtines for that it hath a spirite contrarie to the spirite of Christ as hath bene shewed for that it teacheth pride vainglorie ambition enuie reuēge malice with pleasures of the flesh and al kinde of vanities And Christ on the contrarie side preacheth al humilitie meekenes perdoning of enemies abstinence chastitie sufferance mortification bearing the Crosse with cōtempt of al earthlie pleasures for the kingdome of heauen Christ hateth it for that it persecuteth the good aduanceth the euil for that it rooteth out vertue and planteth al vice And finalie for that it shutteth the doores against Christ when he knocketh and strangleth the hart that once it possesseth Wherfore to conclude this part seing this world is such a thing as it is so vaine so deceitful so troublesome so dangerous seing it is a professed enemie to Christ excommmunicated and damned to the pit of hel seing it is as one father saieth an arcke of trauaile a schole of vanities a marcket of deceite a laberinthe of errour seing it is nothing els but a barraine wildernes a stonie field a dirtie stie a tempestuous sea seing it is a groue ful of thornes a medowe ful of scorpions a flourishing garden without fruite a caue ful of poisoned and deadlie basiliskes seing it is finallie as I haue shewed a fountaine of miseries a riuer of teares a faigned fable a delectable frensie seing as Saint Austen saieth the ioy of this world hath nothing els but false delite true asperitie certaine sorowe vncertaine pleasure trauailsome labour fearful rest greeuous miserie vaine hope of felicitie seing it hath nothing in it as S. Chrisostome saith but teares shame repentāce reproche sadnes negligences labours terrours sicknes sinne and death it self seing the worlds repose is ful of anguish his securitie without foundation his feare without cause his trauailes without fruite his sorowe without profit his desires without successe his hope without rewarde his mirthe without continuance his miseries without remedies seing thes and a thousande euils more are in it no one good thing can be had from it who wil be deceiued with this visard or allured with this vanitie hereafter who wil be staied from the noble seruice of God by the loue of so fond a trifle as is this world And this to a reasonable man may be sufficiēt to declare the insufficiencie of this third impediment The. 6. point of this chapter BVT YET NOVV for satisfying my promisse in the beginuing of this chapter I haue to adde a word or two in this place how we may auoide the foresaid daungers of this world as also vse it vnto our gaine and commoditie And for the first to auoide the daungers seing there are so many snares and trappes as hath bene declared there is no other waie but onelie to vse the refuge of birdes in auoiding the dangerous snares of fowlers that is to mounte vp into the ayer and so to flie ouer them al. Frustra tacitur rete ante oculos pennatorum saith the wise man that is the net is laide in vaine before the eies of such as haue winges and can flie The spies of Hierico though many snares were laide for them by their enemies yet they escaped al for that they walked by hilles saieth the scripture Which place Origen expounding saieth that there is no waye to auoide the daungers of this world but to walke vpon hilles and to imitate Dauid that saied Leuaui oculos meos ad montes vnde ve 〈◊〉 auxiliū mihi I lifted vp mine eies vnto the hilles frō whence al mine aide and assistāce came for auoiding the snares of this world And then shal we saie with the same Dauid Anima nostra sieut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium Our soule is deliuered as a sparo we from the snare of the fowlers We must saie with S. Paul Our conuersation is in heauen and then shal we litle feare al thes deceites and daungers vpon earth For as the fouler hath no hope to catch the birde except he can allure her to pitch and to come doune by some meanes so hath the deuil no way to entangle vs but to say as he did to Christ mitte te deorsum throw thy self doune that is pitch doune vpon the baites which I haue laid eate and deuour them enamour thy self with them tie thine appetite vnto them and the like Which grosse and open temptation he that wil auoide by contemning the alluremēt of thes baites by flying ouer them by placing his loue and cogitations in the mountaines of heauenly ioyes eternitie he shal easily escape al daungers and perils King Dauid was past them al when he saied to God VVhat is there for me in heauen or vvhat doe I desire besides thee vpon earth my flesh and my harte haue fainted for desire of thee Thou art the God of my hart and my portion ô Lord for euer Saint Paul also was past ouer thes daungers when he saied that now he was crucified to the world and the world vnto him and that he esteemed al the wealth of this world as meere dung and that albeit he liued in flesh yet liued he not according to the flesh Which glorious example if wee would folow in contemning and despising the vanities of this world and fixing our mindes on the noble riches of Gods eternal kingdome to come the snares of the deuil would preuaile nothing at al against vs in this life Touching the second point how to vse the riches and commodities of this world to our aduantage Christ hath laied doune plainly the meanes Facite vobis amicos de Māmonainiquitatis Make vnto you freendes of
Possidius But S. Victor comming to declare the said persecution more in particuler sheweth that albeit they were cruel against al Catholiques in general yet saith he praecipuè in ecclesijs basilicisque caemiterijs monasterijs sceleratijss saeuiebant They principally did excercise their wicked crueltie vpon Churches oratories church-yards and Monasteries And then he goeth forward shewing their further cruelties and outrages in abusing preestes and monkes and in spoiling alters of which he saith in particuler de pallis altaris proh nesas camisias sibi femoralia faciebant Of the corporesses and other clothes of the aulter sie on the villanie they made them selues shirtes and briches Further he addeth that they gathering diuers sacred Virgins together against al shame would behold and handle the priuie partes of their bodies whom afterward for that they would not be leud with them they tormented with fire and threw into riuers with stones tied to their feet saying vnto them tel vs how doe your bishops and clergie men vse to lie with you besides al this he saith that they prohibited Catholiques Missas agere vel tractare to haue Masse or to talke therof they forbide them also to burie Christians solemly with lightes tapers and torches and finally they forbid them al excercise of their Catholique Christian religion And for that in thes things they were not obeied as they desired but were resisted openly and manfully by them that had spirit corage from God to doe it therfore did they rage and fome aboue al measure and did excercise more extremitie in al despiteful and villanous kind of cruelties then did the Pagan persecutours either before or after NOVV THEN to make here our staie and to passe no further in this discourse thou seest deare brother in this descent of Gods Church for fiue hūdred years together after Christs departure how ordinarie a thing it was to our Saue our to send persecution vnto his dearest seruants for their trial and merit In which matter notwithstanding is diligently to be considered first the greatenes and sharpnesse of this trial to the end we be not desmaied when the like more or lesse doe fal vnto our lot Secondly how pittiful and miserable the fal of diuers were in this trial to the losse of their soules and eternal desolation Thirdly how the causes of this their fal were either pride and temeritie wherby they tempted God or els the loue of this present world wherby they were allured to forsake their Lord and master Fourthly how glorious the victorie was of thos that were resolute and how euerlasting their reward both in this world in the world to come Besides this it shal not be amisse for thee to consider and that for thy particuler comfort if thou be a Catholique how careful thes holy Martyrs were that suffered in the primatiue Church to keepe them selues within the vnitie of Catholique faith doctrine deliuered vniuersally by tradition in al Churches frō age to age to the end their sufferinges and labour might reccaue their merit How diligēt also they were in aduertising others of this important pointe assuring them that without this their trauailes could be of no profit or auaile And as it is most euident and certaine that al thes blessed martyrs Sainctes which before I haue named together with their brethren did cōtinue by successiō for fiue hundred years together in the common knowen faith of Christēdome called at that time Catholique and did defend the same both by wordes writing and suffering against al apostaces heretiques schismatiques or other newfangled enemies whatsoeuer So is it as euidēt apparēt to the world that the same vniuersal general church faith and doctrine which thes men left haue continued euer since vntil this daie and shal doe to the worlds ende fighting and striuing against al new vpstart enemies of the same traditiō of Christian religion which thes mē so carefully commended vnto vs. By al which as also by the maner of persecution that was then and by the thinges them selues that were suffered at heretiques hādes in thes old times euerie Catl olique man that by Gods special grace is made worthie to suffer the like in thes our daies maie take singuler comfort and great instruction therin considering nubem illam testium propositam as S. Paul calleth it that is the great multitude and cloude of examples and witnesses that haue gone before vs to instruct and animate vs in this battaile And the holy Apostle vseth the word cloude to allude by a metaphore vnto that cloude which out Sauiour sent to the people of Israel to direct their iourney in the deserte insinuating hereby that thes excellent examples of holy Martyrs and Confessours which I haue named before to haue suffered so valiantely in the primatiue church ought to be vnto vs a most certaine direction both for corage cōstancie wisdome alacretie and resolution in this spiritual fight assuring our selues that we following their steppes in fighting for the like cause against the like enemies with like fortitude and humilitie and in like patience and longanimantie as they did we shal not want the like grace like comfort like assistance like merit and reward at our merciful Sauiours hand as they receaued THE FIFT IMPEDIMENT OF RESOLVTION IN THE SERVICE OF ALmightie God Proceeding of ouer much presumption in the mercie of our Sauiour vvithout remembrance of his iustice CHAPT VI. AS many men for their excuse against the resolutiō which we persuade doe serue them selues with the reasons that before we haue confuted So is ther an other forte of people that taketh a more shorte way to dispatch their handes of al that can be said to moue thē by seare quite contrary to them whom in the first chapter of this second part I answered this way is to lay the whole matter of their stay vpon the backe and shoulders of our Sauiour Christ himself and to answere what soeuer you can say against them with this onely sentence God is merciful Of thes men our Saue our seemeth to complaine greeuously by the prophet when he saieth Supra dor sum meū fabricauerunt peceatores prolongauerunt iniquitatem Sinners haue built vpon my backe they haue prolonged their iniquitie By which wordes he signifieth that prolonging of our iniquities in hope of Gods mercie is to build our sinnes on his back and shoulders But what foloweth wil God beare this iniurie no verelie for the next wordes ensuing are Dominus iustus cōcidet ceruices peccatorum God is iust and he wil cut in sunder the neckes of sinners Here loe are two cooling cardes for the two warme imaginations before recited For meane you Syr to prolong your iniquitie for that God is merciful remember then also that he is iust saieth the prophet Are ye gotten vp vpon the backe of almightie God to make your nest of sinne there take heed for he wil fetch
treate and to remoue al impedimentes that offer them selues against the same But yet for that as the wiseman saieth he which is once minded to breake with his frind seeketh occasiōs how to doe it with some colour and shew there be many in the world who hauing no other excuse of their breaking houlding of from God doe seeke to couer it with this pretense that they meane by his grace to amend al in time And this time is driuen of from day to day vntil almightie God in whos handes onely the momentes of time are doe shut them out of al time and doe send them to paines eternal without time for that they abused the singular benefite of time in this world This is one of the greatest most dangerous deceites and yet the most ordinary and vniuersal that the enemie of mankind doth vse towardes the children of Adam And I dare say boldlie that more doe perish by this deceite among Christians thē by al his other guiles and subtilities that he vseth besides He wel knoweth the force of this snare aboue al others and therfore vrgeth it so much vnto euerie man He considereth better then we doe the importance of delay in a matter so weightie as is our conuersion and saluation He is not ignorant how one sinne draweth on an other how he that is not fit to day wil be lesse fit to morow how custome groweth into nature how old diseases are hardly cured how God withdraweth his grace how his iustice is redie to punish euery sinne and how by delay we exasperate the same and heape vengeance on our owne heades as S. Paul saieth He is priuie to the vncertaintie and perils of our life to the dangerous chaunces we passe through to the impedimentes that wil come daily more and more to let our conuersiō Al this he knoweth and wel considereth and for that cause persuadeth so many to delay as he doeth For being not able any longer to blind the vnderstāding of many Christians but that they must needes see clearlie the necessitie and vtilitie of this resolution and that al impedimentes in the world are but trifles mere deceites which diuert them from the same he runneth to this onely refuge that is to persuade men that they deferre a litle and that in time to come they shal haue better occasion and opportunitie to doe it then presentely they haue This S. Augustine proued in his conuersion as him self writeth For that after he was persuaded that no saluation could be vnto him but by change and amendement of his life yet the enemie held him for a time in delaie saying vnto him staye yet a litle yet deserre for a time Therby as he saith to binde him more fast in the custome of sinne vntil by the omnipotent power of Gods grace and his owne most earnest endeuour he brake violentlie from him crying to God vvhie shal I longer saye to morovv to morovv vvhy shal I not doe it euen at this instant And so he did euen in his verie youth liuing afterward a most holie and seuere Christian life But if we wil discouer yet further the greatnes and peril of this deceit let vs consider the causes that may let our resolution and conuersion at this present and we shal see them al increased and strengthened by delaie and consequentlie the matter made more hard and difficult for the time to come then now it is For first as I haue said the continuance of sinne bringeth custome which once hauing gotten prescription vpon vs is so hard to remoue as by experience we proue daily in al habites that haue taken roote within vs. Who can remoue for examples sake without great difficultie a longe custome of dronkennes of swearing or of any other euil habite once setled vpon vs Secondlie the longer we persist in our sinful life the more God plucketh his grace and assistance from vs which is the onelie meanes that maketh the waie of vertue easie vnto men and their conuersion possible Thirdlie the power and kingdome of the deuil is more established confirmed in vs by continuance and so the more hardely to be remoued Fourthlie the libertie of our free wil is more more weakened and daunted by frequentation of sinne though not extinguished Fiftlie the faculties of our mind are more corrupted as the vnderstanding is more darkened the wil more peruerted the appetite more disordered Sixtlie and lastlie our inferiour partes and passions are more stirred vp and strengthened against the rule of reason and harder to be repressed by continuance of time then they were before Wel then deare Christian brother put al this together and consider indifferentlie with thy self whether it be more likelie that thou shalt rather make this resolution hereafter thē now Hereafter I say when by longer custome of sinne the habite shal be more deeply rooted in thee the deuil in more firme possession of the Gods helpe further of frō thee thy minde more infected thy iudgement more weakened thy good desires extinguished thy passions confirmed thy bodie corrupted thy strength diminished and al thy whole common wealth more peruerted We see by experiēce that a ship which leaketh is more easily emptied at the beginning then afterward We see that a ruinous palace the longer it is let runne the more charge and labour it wil require in the repairing We see that if a mā driue in a naile with a hammer the more blowes he geueth vpon it the more harde it is to plucke out againe How then thinkest thou to commit sinne vpon sinne and by perseuerance therin to finde the redresse more easie hereafter then now It is writen among the liues of old heremites how that on a time an Angel shewed to one of them in the wildernes a certaine good felow that hewed doune wood who hauing made to him self a great burden to carie thence laied it on his backe and for that it was vneasie and pressed him much he cast it doune againe and put a great deale more vnto it and thē beganne to lift at it a new But when he felt it more heauie then before he fel into a great rage and added twise as much more vnto it therby to make it lighter Whereat when this holy mā mused much the Angel told him that this was a figure of them in the world who finding it some-what vnpleasant to resist one or two vices at the beginning doe deferre their conuersion and doe adde twentie or fortie more vnto them thinking to finde the matter more easie afterward Saint Austen expounding the miracle of our Sauiour in raising Lazarus from death to life which had bene dead now fower daies as th' Euangelist saieth examineth the cause why Christ wept cried out and troubled him self in spirit before the doing of this acte where as he raised others with greater facilitie And he concludeth the mysterie to haue bene for that Lazarus was
their last extremety shal cry for help and their crie shal be as sharp to pearse mēs eares as a sword is yet notwithstāding no mā shal heare thē And thou ô Lord which onely canst help them shalt be so farre of from hearing or pitying their case as thou shalt also laugh at their miserie and destruction By al which is signified the great calamitie of such as deferre their conuersion vnto the last day expressed by three circumstances in the former sentence alleaged For first he saith they vvil turne at the euening that is at the houre of death For as the euening is the end of the day and the beginning of night euen so is this time the end of light and the beginning of al darkenes vnto the wicked In which sense Christ said I must vvorke the vvorkes of him that sent me vvhiles the day lasteth for night vvil come on vvhen no man can vvorke more At this time then that is at this euening in this twy light betwene day and darkenes when the pleasant brightnes and heate of al sunne beames is past the brightnes I meane of honour of vainglorie and of worldlie pompe is consumed when the heat of concupiscence of carnal loue of delicate pleasures is quenshed when the beautiful sommer day of this life is ended and the boisterous winter night of death draweth on thē saieth the prophet wil the wicked man beginne of force to turne vnto God then wil he forsooth repent then wil he resolue him self and make his conuersion But what shal this be accepted You haue heard the prophets request to God Non miserearis doe not take mercie on them Not for that the prophet wisheth God to be vnmerciful but for that he wel knew Gods immutable iustice towardes such kinde of men Who 's miserie in this extremitie he expresseth further by saying they shal suffer hungar as dogges which is as if he should haue saied euen as dogges when they are hungrie are rauenous doe seeke by al meanes for meate be it neuer so homelie and wil refuse nothing that is offered but wil deuoure al thos things most gredilie which they contemned whiles their bellies were ful so thes men that would not heare of penance while they were in health wil now admit any thing and make strange of nothing Now I say when they can liue no longer wil they promise any paines what praiers you wil what fasting you please what almes deedes you can desire what austeritie soeuer you can imagine They wil promise it I say vpon conditiō they might now haue life againe vpon condition that the day might be prolonged vnto them albeit if almightie God should graunt them their request in this also as many times he doeth they would performe no one point therof but would be as careles as euer they were before yet for the present you shal see thē as hungrie as dogges saieth the prophet most redie to deuour any thing that may be deuised for their saluation And not contented with this the same prophet addeth yet a further clause of miserie And that is that they shal circuite or runne about the cilic euen as dogges doe when they are hungrie putting in their heades at eucry dore for releef though it be with great danger to be beaten out againe This expresseth an vnspeakable distresse and calamitie of wicked men at the last day when they shal circuite and runne about the whole citie of God both in heauen and earth to seeke help and shal finde none When they shal crie with sighes and grones as pearsing as a sword and yet shal not be heard For whether wil they turne them selues in this distresse vnto their worldly wealth power or riches alas they are gone and the scripture saieth riches shal not profit in the day of reuenge Wil they turne vnto their carnal frends But what comfort can they geue besides onely weeping and comfortles mourning Wil they aske helpe of the Saints in heauen to pray for them in this instant It is good surely so to doe but yet they can not chuse but remember what is writen The sainies shal reioise in glorie exultation shal be in their throtes and tvvo edged svvordes in their handes to take reuenge vpon nations and increpations vpon people to binde kings in fetters and noble men in manacles of iron to execute vpon them the prescript iudgement of God and this is the glorie of al bis saintes Their onely refuge thē must be vnto God who in deed is the onely sure refuge of al but yet in this case the prophet saieth here that he shal not heare them but rather contemne and laugh at their misery Not that he is contrarie to his promise of reccauing a finner at what time soeuer he repēteth and turneth from his sinne but for that this turning at the last day is not commonly true repentance and conuersion for the causes before rehearsed To conclude then this matter of delay what wise man is ther in the world who reading this wil not feare the deferring of his conuersion though it were but for one day Who doeth know whether this shal be the last day or no that euer God wil cal him God saith I called and you refused to come I held out my hand and you vvold not looke tovvardes me and therfore vvil I forsake you in your extremitie He doth not say how many times or how long he did cal and hold out his hand God saith I stand at the dore and knocke but he saith not how often he doth that or how many knockes he geueth Againe he said of wicked Iezabel the faigned prophetesse in the Apocalips I haue geuen her time to due penance and she vvold not and therfore shal she perish but he saieth not how long this time of repentance endured We read of wonderful examples herin HEROD the father had a cal geuen him and that a lowd one when Iohn baptist was sent vnto him and when his hart was so farre touched as he willingly heard him and folowed his counsaile in many thinges as one Euangelist noteth But yet because he deferred the matter and tooke not time when it was offered he was cast of againe and his last doings made worse then his former HEROD tetrarche the sonne had a cal also when he felt that desire to see Christ some miracle done by him but for that he answered not vnto the cal it did him no good but rather much hurt What a great knocke had PILATE geuen him at his hart if he had bene so fortunate as to haue opened the dore presently when he was made to vnderstand the innocencie of Christ as appeareth by washing his handes in testimonie therof and his wife also sent vnto him an admonition about the same No lesse knocke had king AGRIPPA at his dore when he cried out vpon the hearing of S. Paul O Paul thou
things vvith the conclusion of this first booke CHAPT VIII BESIDES al other impedimētes lettes and hinderances which hitherto haue bene named recounted there remaine yet diuers other to be found if a mā could examine the particular consciences of al such as doe not resolue But thes three here mentioned and to be handeled in this chapter are so publique and knowen as I may not passe them ouer without discouering the same for that many times men are sicke and euil affected within and yet know not their owne diseases the onely declaration wherof to such as are desirous of their oune health is sufficient to diuert the danger of the sickenes Of Sloth FIRST THEN the impediment of slouth is a great and ordinary let of resolution to many men but especially in idle and delicate people whos life hath bene in al case and rest and therfore doe persuade themselues that they can take no paines nor abide anie hardnes though neuer so faine they would Of which kind of persons S. Paul saieth that nise people shal not inherite the kingdome of heauen Thes folkes doe proceede in this order They wil confesse to be true so much and a great deale more then is said before and that they would also gladlie for their partes put the same in execution but that they can not Their bodies may not beare it they can not fast they can not watch they can not praie They can not leaue their disportes recreations and merie companions they should die presently as they saie with melanchely if they did it yet in their hartes they desire forsooth that they could doe the same which seing they can not no doubt say they but God wil accept our good desires pardon vs in the rest But let them hearken a litle what the scripture saith hereof Desires do kil the slothful man saith Salomon his handes vvil not fal to any vvorke al the daie long he coucteth and desireth but he that is iust vvil doe and vvil not cease Take the slothful and vnprofitable seruant saith Christ and fling him into vtter darkenes vvhere shal be vveeping and gnashing of teeth And when he passed by the way and founde a figge tree with leaues without fruit which signified desires without workes he gaue it presentlie an euerlasting curse Finallie the prophet Dauid detesteth thos men and saith also they are detested of God qui in labore hominū non sunt which are not in the labours of men Of this fountaine of sloth do proceed many effectes that hinder the slothful frō al good resolution And the first is a certaine heauines and sleepie drowsines towardes al goodnes according as the scripture saith pigredo immittit soporem sloth doth bring drousines For which cause S. Paule saith surge qui dormis arise thou which art a sleepe and Christ crieth out so often videte vigilate looke about you and watch You shal see many men in the world with whom if you talke of a cowe or a calfe of a fat oxe of a peece of groūd or the like they can both heare and talke willinglie and freshly But if you reason with them of their saluation and of their inheritance in the kingdome of heauen they answere not at al but wil heare as if they were in a dreame Of thes persons then saith the wise man how long wilt thou sleepe ô slouthful felow when wilt thou arise out of thy dreame A litle yet wilt thou sleepe a litle longer wilt thou slumber a litle wilt thou close thy handes together and take rest and so pouertie shal hasten vpon thee as a run ning poste and beggarie as an armed man shal take possesse thee The second effect of slouth is a certaine fond feare of paines and labour and of casting dowtes where none be according as the scripture saith pigrum deiicit timor feare discourageth the slothful man And the prophet saith of the like they shake for feare vvhere there is no feare Thes men doe frame vnto them selues strange imaginations of the seruice of almightie God and of verie dangerous euentes if they should imbrace and folow the same One saith if I should fast much it would without dowte corrupt my blood An other saith if I should pray and stand bareheaded long I should die most certainly with rheume A third saieth if I should kepe account of al my sinnes to confesse them it would quicklie kil me with sadnes And yet al this is nothing els but slouth as the scripture testifieth in thes wordes Dicit piger leo est foris in medio platearum occidendus sum The slouthful man saith sitting stil in his house ther is a Lion without if I should goe out of dores to labour I should certainly be slaine in the middest of the streetes A third effect of sloth is pusillanimitie and faintnes of hart wherby the slouthful man is ouerthrowen and discouraged by euery litle contrarietie or difficultie which he findeth in vertue or which he imagineth to finde therin Which the scripture signifieth when it saith inlapide luteo lapidatus est piger the slouthful man is stoned to death with a stone of durt that is he is ouerthrowne with a difficultie of no importance Againe De stercore boum lapidatus est piger the slouthful man is stoned dead with the dung of oxen which commonly is such a substance as hardly can doe any hurt A fowerth effect of slouth is idle lazines which we see in many men that wil take and consult of this that about their amendement but wil execute nothing Which is most fitlie expressed by the Holie Ghost in thes wordes Sieut ostium vertitur in cardine suo it a piger in lectulo suo As a dore is tossed in and out vpon his hingels so is a slothful man lying lazelie vpon his bedde And againe vult non vult piger A slothful man wil and wil not that is he turneth him self to and from in his bedde betwene willing and nilling he doth nothing And yet further in an other place the scripture describeth this lazinesse saying the slothful man putteth his handes vnder his girdle and vvil not vouchsase to lift them vp to his mouth for that it is painful Al thes and many more are the effectes of slothe but thes fower especiallie haue I thought good to touch in this place for that they let and hinder greatlie this resolution which we talke of For he that liueth in a slumber wil not heare or attend to any thing that is said of the life to come and besides this imagineth feareful matters in the same and thirdlie is throwen downe by euerie litle blocke that he findeth in the way and lastlie is so lazie as he can beare no labour at al this man I say is past hope to be gained to any such purpose as we speake of TO REMOVE therfore this
may be proued by many rules of our Sauiour him self As for exāple this is one rule set downe by him self By their fruites yee shal knovv them For such as the tree is within such is the fruit which that tree sendeth forth Againe the mouth speaketh frō the abundance of the hart and consequentlie seing thes mens talke is nothing but of worldlie vanities it is an euident signe there is nothing in their hart but that And then it foloweth also by a third rule vvhere the treasure is there is the hart and so consequently seing their hartes are onelie set vpon the world the world is their onelie treasure and not God and ther vpon are very Atheistes This impediment deare Christian brother reacheth both farre and wide at this daie and infinite are the people who are intangled therwith and the causes therof are two especiallie The first is deuision schisme and heresie in matters of our faith which by raising many doubtes and questions and by contentious quarreling which it maintaineth wearieth out a mans wit and in the end bringeth him to care for no part but rather to contemne al. The second is inordinate loue of the world which bringeth men to hate God and to conceiue enemitie against him as the Apostle saith and therfore no maruaile though indeed they nether beleeue nor delite in him And of al other men thes are the hardest to be reclaymed and brought to any resolution of amendemēt for that they are insensible and besides that doe also flie al meanes wherby they may be cured For as there were final hope to be conceiued of that patiēt which being greuouslie sicke should nether feele his disease nor beleeue that he were distēpered nor abide to heare of phisick or phisition nor accept of anie counsail that should be offered nor admit any talke or consultation about his curing so thes men are in more dangerous estate then anie other for that they know not their owne danger but persuading them selues to be more wise then their neighbours doe remoue from their cogitations al things wherby their health might be procured THE ONELIE waie to doe thes men good if there be any waie at al is to make them know that they are sicke and in great daunger which in our case may be done best as it seemeth to me by geuing them to vnderstand how farre they are of from any one peece of true Christianitie and consequentlie from al hope of saluation that may be had therby God requireth at our handes that we should loue him and serue him vvith al our hart vvith al our soule and vvith al our strength Thes are the prescript wordes of almightie God set downe both in the old and new law And how farre I praye the are thes careles men short of this who emploie not the halfe of their hart nor the halfe of their soule nor the halfe of their strength in Gods seruice nay not the least part therof God requireth at our handes that we should make his lawes and preceptes our studie and cogitation that we should thinke of thē continuallie and meditate vpon them both day and night at home and abrode early and late when we go to bedde and when we rise in the morning this is his commandemēt and there is no dispensation therin But how farre are thes men from this which bestowe not the third parte of their thoughtes vpon this matter no not the hundreth part nor scarse once in a yeare do talke therof Can thes mē saie they are Christians or that they beleeue in IESVS our Saueour Christ making the estimate of things in this life pronounced this sentence Vnum est necessarium one onelie thing is necessarie or of necessitie in this world meaning therby the diligent and careful seruice of God Thes mē finde many things necessarie besides this one thing and this nothing necessarie at al. How farre doe they differ then in iudgement from their Sauiour Christ Christes Apostle saith that a Christian must nether loue the vvorld nor any thing in the vvorld Thes men loue nothing els but that which is of the world He saith That vvho soeuer is a frend to the vvorld is an enemie to Christ. Thes men are enemies to who soeuer is not a frend to the world How then can thes men holde of Christ Christ saith vve should praye stil. Thes men praye neuer Christs Apostle saith that couetousnes vncleanesse or scurrilitie should not be so much as once named among Christians thes men haue no other but such talke Finally the whole course and canon of scripture runneth that Christiās should be attenti vigilantes soliciti instantes feruentes perseuerantes sine intermissione That is attent vigilant careful instant feruent and perseuerant without intermission in the seruice of their God But thes men haue no one of thes pointes nor any one degree therof but in euery one the cleane cōtrarie For they are nether attent to thos things which appertaine vnto God nor vigilant nor solicitous nor careful and much lesse instant and feruent and least of al perseuerant without intermission for that they neuer beginne But on the contrarie side they are careles negligent lumpish remisle key cold peruerse contemning and despising yea lothing and abhorring al matters that appertaine to the mortifiing of them selues and to the true seruice of God What parte haue thes men then in the lot and portion of Christians besides onely the bare name which profiteth nothing And this is sufficiēt to shew how great and dangerous an impediment this careles senseles and supine negligence is against the resolutiō wherof we entreate For if Christ require to the perfection of this resolution that whosoeuer once espieth out the treasure hidden in the field which is the kingdome of heauen and the right way to gaine it he should presently goe and sel al that he hath and buie that field that is to say that he should preferre the pursute of this kingdome of heauen before al the commodities of this life whatsoeuer and rather venture them al then to omit this treasure If Christ I say require this as he doeth when wil thes men euer be brought to this point who wil not geue the least parte of their goodes to purchase that field nor goe forth of the dores to treate the bying therof nor wil so much as thinke or talke of the same nor allow of him which shal offer the meanes waies to compasse it Wherfore whosoeuer findeth him self in this perilous disease I would counsaile him to reade some chapters of the first part of this booke especially the third fift entreating of the causes for which we were sent into this world as also of the account which we must yeld to God of our time here spēt he shal there vnderstand I dout not the errour dāger he standeth in by this damnable negligence wherein he sleepeth
pa. 1. The danger therof 1. the cause therof sensualitie or vvilful obstinacie 2. 3. 4. c. vvhv men doe flye the same 9. 10. the commodities and effectes therof 14. 15. Ingratitude intolerable of men towardes God 4. 5. Iugement day see the vvhole 7. chap. 349. vvhy tvvo Iudgemantes are appointed 353. Iustice of God hovv terrible and seuere 799. L Labour appointed to man by God 336. most necessarie both in the old and nevv testament 337. Libertie and freedome of soule hovv singuler it is in good man 605. Life and conuersation of Christ vvhat it vvas 222. vvhat it ought to be in true Christians 320. at large Good life hath tvvo necessitie partes 324. Loue of God tovvardes mankinde hovv great it is hovv it may be seene 529. 530. c. at large soe also the causes and effectes therof ibid. The force of lone in good men tovvardes God 586. 587. c. M Magnanimitie and true Christian fortitude 673. Magi ther comming prophetied and the storie proued 212. hovv long they vvere in comming ibid. Maiestie of God hovv vvonderful 400. Mans final ende chap. 3. pag. 110. Martyrs of the primatiue Church hovv vvōderful 264. Mathematique only hath no proper means to proud God 35. Mercie of God infinite and aboue al sinnes vvhatsoeuer see the vvhole first chapt part 2. pag. 523. Miracles of Iesvs 223. Monastical life vvhy and vvhen it vvas begonne 339. old Monkes vvhat austeritie they vsed 331. Moral Philosophie hovv it proueth God 48. Moyses particulerly considered vvhat maner of man lre vvas 68. Moyses lavv vuperfect to be changed 163. N Natural Philosophie hovv it proueth God 36. Negligence hovv great an impedimēt to our conuersion 860. hovv it bringeth men to Atheisme 861. O Oracles of Gentile Godes hovv false and vncertaine It. vvhat they fortold of Christ before his natiuitie 181. vvhen and hovv the ceassed 268. P Passion of Christ proued 229. Peace of minde and conscience in the vertuous hovv great a matter 597. Philosophie proueth-God 35. sovver sectes of old Phllosophers confessing one God 51. Pilate hovv he died 277. Pleasures of this vvorld hovv vaine 715. Porphyrie a great enimie of Christians yet vvhat he confesseth of Christ 223. and againe 273. Presumption hovv dangerous and detestable to God see the 6. chapt part 2. pag 793. Principles to be supposed in al sciences vvithout proose 25. The prophesies of scripture hovv they proue the scripture to be of God pag. 81. vvhat manner of men our Prophetes vvere 68. 98. hovv diuels may prophetie 81. Proclamation that Christ made at his comming 250. the Proclamation or publication of the lavv of good life vvith hovv greate dread 350. Punishmentes after this life See the 11. chapt 444. Purgatorie proued vvith the greatnes of the paines therof 452. the feare that old Saintes had of the same 454. R Rabbins among the Jevves of tvvo sortes Cabalistes and Thalmudistes 157. Redemption vvhat a benefite 409. Religion vvhat it meaneth and signifieth 132. no man euer sayed but by Christian Religion from the beginning of the vvorld 134. Resisting of sinne hovv it ought to be 316. Resurrection of Christ proued 235. Revvard expected by the iust hovv great a consolation 613. Riches hovv vaine and perilous 711. The Roman Monarchie fortold 188. S Scepter of Iuda hovv it pphetied of vvhē it failed 191 Sciēces ech one proueth God 35. fovver principal Ib. Scriptures their certaintie proued by many arguments 62. 63. confirmed by Gēntiles 100. Sensualitie hovv dangerous 2. Sibyls vvhat they vvere and of their prophesies touching Christ at large 174. Sinne hovv it is to be resisted 326. sinne hath 3. degrees 327. of the nature of sinne sinners see the 8. cha 378. VVhy euery Sinne is so hateful to God deserueth infinite punishment 384. the losses that come by Sinne 390. Sloth hovv great an impediment to the true seruice of God 853 fovver euel effectes therof 854. The soules immortalitie proueth God 47. hovv many things the soule attendeth vnto at one time Spirits subdued by Christ Christians in the primatiue Church 267. Starre of the Kings forprophetied proued 213. T Temple of Hierusalem tvvise builded 192. 193. c. The prerogatiues of the 1. temple 195. of the 2. 196. Time hovv pretious vvhile it indureth 476. Tradition of learning among Ievves Gentiles from the beginning 171. The true scriptures knovven only by Tradition 273. Tribulatiō vvhat it vvorketh pag 631. good men must suffer 634. the causes hereof 641. VVhy it should be occeaued ioifully 656. VV VVickednes vvicked men hovv fullof miserie 611. VVisdome of Christians vvherin it consisteth 340. vvisdome of the vvorld 703. VVooing vvhich God vseth tovvardes a sinner 542. The vvorldes vvrong course 118. vvorldes vanitie miserie see al the 4. chap. part 2. pag. 688. VVorldlinges lament vvhen it is to late 120. VVorkes necessarie besides faith 314. the diligēce of old Christians in vvorking vvhile they had time 342. V Vaine glorie vvhat a vanitie 696. Vision of God maketh soules happie in heauen 499. Vocatiō vvhat a benefite 411. Y Yoke of Christs hovv svvet and easie 584. FINIS * 1. Of inconsideratiō * 2. That ther is a God * 3. Why mā was created * 4. Proofes of Christian religion * 5. Who is a true Christian * 6. Two partes of good life 7. Of the accompting daye 8. Of the nature of inne and inners 9. Maiestie and benefites 10. Of the day of our departure 11. Punishemētes after death 12. Of rewardes after this life * 1. Dispaire of Gods mercie 2. Against supposed difficulties 3. Feare of persecution 4. The loue of the world * 5. Exāples of true resolutiō 6. Against presumption 7. Against delay 8. Sloth Negligence obduration The reason of printing againe this first booke of Resolution Nevv additions The vvhole vvorke deuided into tvvo volumes 1. Speculatiue 2. Practive Tvvo editions of the booke of Resolution vvithout the authors knowledge M. Ed. Bany Of M. Bunies edition Fovver pointes of this preface In his preface to the reader The first occasion of setting soorth the booke of Resolution Bookes of deuotion more profitable to good life thē bookes of controuersies The description of deuotion 2. Timot. 2. Our fathers happie that builded and contended not about the foundation 1. Co. 3. Act. 10. Tvvo partes of Christian aiuinisie Speculation easier then practise The three bookes of this Christiā directorie vvith their argumentes A title giuen by M. Buny Heb. 13. An old trick of beretiques to abuse simple people vvith obscure places of scripture See Epiph. cont heres and 〈◊〉 Quod vult Deum 2. Pet. 3. My L. of yorkes armes The epistle dedicaterie In his Ep. dedicat My L. of yorkes mortificatiō and calling vpō others * His L. hostise of Doncaster Sir Robert Stapleton others The preface to the reader M Banies ignorance M. Bunies vanitie Ep. Dedicate Only Catholiques vvrite boo kes of deuotion bookes 1. Tim. 4. Tit. 3. Athanas.