from my verye hearte with all my power and strength and loue my neyghbour as my selfe to thy glory O god all the daies of my lyfe and for euer in the world to come Thus I say O thou erthly creature dere christen brother that hasardly by due iustice abidest the hard hande of God let daily sorow fasten vppon thee and continuall sadnes poâ—â—eâ—fe thyne hart Offre vnto God the acceptable sacrifice of a troubled spirite of a brokeÌ„ sore vexed and contrite heart till grace bee planted againe in thee and thy synnes thorowe faithe cleane purged and taken from thee And alwaies remembre if thou loue god bicause of his mercy if thou feare hym for his iustice sake or if thou beare any good hart towardes the counsailes or voice of god harden not thy hart as in the day of temptation keÌ„dle not vpon thy self the wrath of god flee from the vengeaÌ„ce to com for otherwise the iustice of God wylle fall faste vppon thee And yf thou as before wilfully dost desire to be mindfull of wrath reuengement or displeasure either of speking or of doing wickedly vse fyrste thy cogitation in this maner folowyng whiche shall bee rather to a godly entent and purpose accordyng to the counsayle of the preacher which is not to be yreful against thy neyghbour to wourke reuengemente agaynst hym for any matter or to wythhold thy charitie from him but to thinke vpon the moste terrible bitter day when thou among the rest shalt be called vppon by the trompe of god Eccle. 18. to appere before his wrathfull indignacion and to remembre the bitternes of his vengeaÌ„ce wheÌ„ he shal turne his face away from thee yea euen froÌ„ thee thou wrathfull and dampnable reiected creature if thou abyde in thy wrath and yf thou with the rest shalte be partaker of thys terrible and moste bytter sentence Awaye ye wicked to the deuell and to hell fyre for euer Yf thou otherwyse haue pleasure to think vpon wrath and to wourke or deuyse mischiefe thereby to the hurte of thy neighboure be thou certaine hereof well assured that suche a matche shall be ioined vnto thee as wyll cruellye in his wrath vexe thee quickly consume thee and violentlye twyne thee euen lyke a rysshe Psal 49. to the sodaine and shorte confusion Euen God hym selfe it is that shal recompence thee thy wickednesse shal destroy thee in thine owne wycked malyce yea it is the Lorde God hym selfe I say that shall vtterlye destroye thee As hatrede enemitie reuengement with suche other are wyeked euils forbidden thee and thervppon agreed with thyne owne consent and promise to a blessed and most happie ende so if thou contemnynge this prohibition dooest swarue frome thy promyse and fidelitie and cleaue vnto suche iniquitie they wyll kendle the wrathe of God agaynste thee Eccle. â—â— to the increace of affliction to the wour kyng of an euyl death and euerlastyng destruction Thou shalte worthily be compted among the numbre of the cursed and vngodly people Vpon whom god in this lyfe shall rayne snares fyre brymstone storme and tempeste whiche shall be their dewe portion to drynke Psal 1â— And suche as be scornefull despisers withoute a cause they shall bee put to confusion Psal 5. Psal 68. Psal 75. neyther shall suche as be mercylesse and cruell stande in the syghte of God For lyke as ware melteth at the greate heate of the fyreâ— so shal â—hun godly perishe at the preseÌ„ce of god come to a terrible and feareful end Fire haile wind earthquake tempest and whirlewind hungre and thirst pestilence murrayn burninge feuers incurable botches swellyngs madnes and suche straunge diseases sodayn fearefulnes strise vnquietnes rigour oppression sworde bloudsheddyng death sodayn death destruction and punishment the teeth also of wild and noysome beastes the scorpions Eccle. 39. serpentes and all suche poisoned and venomous wourmes are created for vengeaunce to the destruction of suche malicious and wicked people If thou wylt not therfore do obserue the will of God and feare to offende the fearefull name of the Lorde thy God Deut. 28. Psal 39. he will sende vpon thee yea and vpon thy seede after thee these foresaid greuous and moste terrible plagues and curses O chaunge therfore thy copy and tourne in tyme. Leaue of frome wrathe what soeuer thou be and lette go displeasure feare god be charitable kepe peace abyde in loue styppe not from it consider it wel and thinke what theron dependeth so shalte thou knowe it yea thou shalt gladly also exeresse it and enioy for euer the delectable fruites of it And if thou wilte further knowe of loue what it is note saint Paule Loue saith he is pacient and curteous 1. Cor. 4. it enuieth not it dooth not frowardly it is not pufte vp it dealeth not dishonestly it seeketh not her own it is not prouoked to anger it thiÌ„keth none euil it reioiceth not ouer iniquitie but in rightuousnes truthe it beareth al thinges 1. Tim. 1. beleueth al things hopethe all thynges and suffere the all thynges And this loue is the whole summe and ende of the lawe that shineth from a pure harte and good conscience and out of an vnfayned faith Rom. 13. For they that loue one an other fulfilleth the law So that the dedes theÌ„ of that fleshe beynge mortitied Gala. 2. we shall haue our conuersation in the spirit and not lyue vnder the lawe These are the fruites of the spirite Gala. 5. loue ioy peace longe sufferynge gentylnesse goodnesse faithefulnesse meekenesse and temperaunce These I saye bee the fruictes of the spirite And those that possesseth them are free and lyue not vnder the law wherby our soules are in rest at peace with god we coÌ„tent well god we reioyce to worke his will to the helpynge and edifyenge of oure neyghboure and to compte of our selues to be as before al membres of one bodye to thinke that we be all but one in Christ Charitie to reioice in our neighbours helth welth coÌ„fort eueÌ„ as we would do of our own to remedy his incoÌ„modities to lameÌ„t hys distresse mysery to aide him and comforte hym or if he erre or go oute of the right way to bewayle frome oure hartes hys greate blyndnes errour to geue him frendlye counsayle and warnynge to admonish him gently to tel him of his faultes soberlye and courteousely to geue hym instructions for his learning according to the veritie of goddes worde wherby oure hartes are illumined yâ— will of the flesh confouÌ„ded finally as the redemed iewel of Christ decely beloued of him to succour him in al necessities Thus if we hereby wel regard the mynde of god hys great loue and mercy towardes vs our obediece vnto hym and oure dueties towardes our neighbours we shal perceiue and easely finde out what heaueÌ„ly doctrin and counsailes among many others these are to be attayned vnto to be beloued embraced
Iere. 13. Act. 12. that is onelye wourthye all exaltation and glorye Let no mariesteeme more of him selfe then becommeth hym Erre not my brotherne Euerye good gifte and euery perfect gyste is from aboue cometh down froÌ„ the father of light Prou. 2. Iohn 3. We must be in submission therfore vnder the mighty haÌ„d of god that he in time to come may exalte vs For as God resisteth the proude Iacob â—â— so geueth he grace to the huÌ„ble Haue we not often experieÌ„ce of gods doings in his wrath the long before age or deth or other whiles by death for vnthankefulnesse sake the honourable of this world men in auctority are thrown down al theyr glory troden in the duste Psal 14â— that of tyche men there haue becomme poore men Of the vs neglorious most witty and wise personnes 1 Cor. â— theyr wysedomes are tourned to foolyshnes that healthfull and stronge menne by syckenes and manye daungers are made weake and enfeebled that of semelye personages becommeth deformed creatures Yea and of faire faces lothesome and fowle visages Are not these the wourkes of God to a good ende wourthye the notinge of vs And yf we only consider the state of our flesh wherein we so greatly glorye and delight Gene 6 Râ—m 〈◊〉 nourysshing it and settinge it forth wythoute respect of charge what are we What appeareth in vs Are we any thing els theÌ„ erthly creatures in the haÌ„ds of that creatour and as the clay pot in the handes of the potter Are oure bodyes anye other then earthly vesselles duelye proportioned of the maker Iob. 10. VVhat vve are toâ—â—â— my only the fleshe couered wyth skynne and fleshe and ioined together wyth synewes and bones Eyther are we any better then very dungeons of darkenes vile donghilles of all filthynes and stinche wourmes meate and a fowle synke or puddle that floweth wyth infections and all noysome corruptions Are not our bodies flesh and bloude of lesse substaunce thenne shadowes The shornes of mannes lyfe our lyues more swiftlye vanishynge then the smoke or of as shorte contynuaunce as the sodayne ryuyttyng bubbles Are we not also compared for our shorte abydyng to the swift trace of a cloud to a consuming mist to a vapoure or smoke to a lighte flyeng lease to drye dustie stubble Sapi. 2. Iob 1â— to wythered hay or to the floures and grasse of the fielde whose flouryshyng times are but shorte and that the swaye of death in tyme by the sickle or sithe do lyghte vpon theim Psal 〈…〉 Eccle. 14 Iacob 1. 1. Pet. 1. Are not the cruell strokes of the ineuitable dart of death in all tymes frome the firste lyfe of the younge and tender infante vnto the last breath of the most old and crooked aged maÌ„ felte with most dolorous paÌ„ges to end this life What are al these discriptions vnto vs and innumerable suche other but familiar and lyuelye exaumples perfecte and true layinges to make vs myndefull of god to knowe well our selues and to remenbre oure ende to fashion our wylles to his wyll and to wythdrawe wythoute delaye oure fyxed hartes from vayne thinges Maye it no the thought verye madnes and a greate folye in vs to be vnmyndefull of suche thynges as wee daylye bothe feele and see or to be forgetfull of oure saylynge wyth paynfull trauailes It is greate follye not to remember the dangers of this life and that vve Shall dye thorough the great and daungerous perilles of this life And that wee are sodeynely at one becke commaunded in tyme of necessitie to take lande to discharge vs of oure flesh and to take the earth in the sepulcre The myghty lorde and creatoure the rightuouse god and iust iudge him selfe hath thus plainely determined against vs and hath geuen euer vs touching our end shorte and terrible sentence sayenge The determinate sentence of god Thou shalte dye the death Thys his briefe sentence is irrevecable It is not nowe but hath bene experimented vpon all fleshe from the begynnyng neyther wyl his ambassadour be corrupted in hys Embassage with gold nor siluer nor for the whole treasure vpon the earth to withdrawe one title or iote of hys commission Deathes extremities vvithoute respecte of personnes but wyll wyth all rygoure and sharpened execute the extremitie of hys apointed office not respectinge the vayne estate or stoughtnesse of anye personne violentelye he stryketh theym he cruellye wyth hys deadely darte yearceth their hartes in sonder he ryddeth theym of their lyues and rolleth theim together in the dust It is the fatal destiny of vs all earthly creatures that we must nedes dye we ar borne to dye And as we haue known the death of many so manye also shall knowe vs dye VVorldlye â—ros◠〈◊〉 We are nowe youthfull lyuelye and at lybertie healthfull wealthye and full of solitie we haue presently all thynges at pleasure and lyue in securitie yea we wysshe not for anye thynge but it frameth luckily suche is the good disposition of god otherwhiles vppon vs to put vs in remembraunce of hys goodnes wyth due reuerence and thankesgeuing but what doth thaÌ„ ensu 〈…〉 Note the vntowardnesse the cursed abuse and vnthankefulnes of mankind We are so rapte and ouer ronne wyth our own blindnes wyth obstinacy pryde and beastlye folly swymminge in vanities and earthly felicite that we are then forgetfull of god vnkynde vnreÌ„uerent stiffenecked and brutishe 〈…〉 And as wee at suche tymes are vnmyndefull of GOD and of death the messenger of god and thynke all thinges to be coch sure on our side saieng with in our selues tusshe let vs be mery let vs be iocunde lustye and liuely what impedimentes are there to the contrary we haue peace al thynges are safe we stande in no perel we thynke of no daunger we care for no chaunge wee passe of no warres wee remembre no famin neither pestilence or murrain we dread no subuersion nor feele none affliction So destruccion or sorow hastille approcheth vs or death immediatlye by the will of god cometh swiftlye vppon vs lyke an outragious and moste vehemente runnynge streame wyth hys terrible chastisementes and wyth hys impytuous and mooste roughe rorynge soundes of horroure and desperation renewinge into our conscyences the sharpo sentence of GOD sayenge vnto vs Thou shalte dye The 〈…〉 Thy time is nowe expired therfore nedes muste thou dye I death the messenger of the most high immortall and iuste GOD am sente vnto thee for thy presente confusion My charge and and comyssion is so grayghte agaynste thee that I maye not deferre to styfle thee or geeue thee thy deadly wounde Nay nay striuing preuaileth not ther is now no remedye for the swourde of god is wheâ— against the. What couldest thou not haue thought of thys before Hast thou not ben often aduertised to remembre the ende Hast thou not had by the doome of thy conscience often and sufficiente admonition of goddes
good name of god for such his fauorable most gracious doinges So again I must most greuously lament bewaile sorowfullye the fraile state of man through vnthankfulnes disorder of lyfe and great forgetfulnesâ— namely of goodes determination touchyng our short and familiar passage or th end of this life wherby with godly good vnderstanding we should alwais the better frame our selues in liuynge and with the more ioyfulnes peace quietnes of conscience that the terror of deth also shuld euer the lesse molest vs by whome we feele in oure selues that moste horrible and poysoned bitter stinge which so defileth and woundeth oure weake consciences drawynge vs to enemitye to impaciencie and rebellion to forgetfulnes to incredulitie and distruste of gods mercye wyth suche other euen the spottes and foule deformities of synne and iniquitie whereby also we muste iudge that iustly of our selues to be but the seruaÌ„tes of sin stand therfore in dauÌ„ger of gods wrathfull iudgemeÌ„t to eternal death and occasion therfore geuen to expresse wyth sorow and wo our most wretched and frayle estate feelinge in oure selues iuste reproche shame and confusion of face fearefull trembling deadly sighing bitter wayling most harty and inwarde gronynge for thys our weakenes and greate imperfection These thynges I saye thus consydered of vs how caÌ„ we in suche distres but lamente all the sorte of vs and say wyth groninge desires for grace and better memorye as subiectes continuallye in handes to the slaughter vnder suche a careles most pitiles and publique enemy O death deth thou most cruell and deadly aduersarye seeynge we are not at any tyme of power able to preuayl bodily against thee or with force to wythstande thee Iere. 13. Act. 12. nor can finde fauoure in thy sight to staye thee neyther canne wage thee by anye meanes to deferre thy doynges I woulde most ioyefully wyshe that we were at least so happye alwayes to remember thee for our health and felicitie as we continually haue experieÌ„ce of thee Prou. 1. Iohn 3. seeing we must assuredly and vnwares abide thy dint I say therfore how it is ordeined that we shal al die neither may we escape in the ende the force of deathe Iacob 5. For we plainly se from tyme to tyme that goddes power by death shal styfle our breath and fynyshe our ende Ah what shall we then sale Seynge there is no resystence agaynste the violente force of thys messenger deathe Psal 147. what shall we then vnreuerentlye agaynste god esteeme of our selues What shal then auaile amongest vs 1. Cor. 1. our vnprofitaÌ„ble and vayne studies and our busied heades for fantasies Where shall then become our nice and light affections our solitie our deyntie desires earthelye delyghtes What shall wee then gaine by our haught courage the moste foolyshe and vayne brute of stoughtnesse Where shall thenne lye our lifted vp heades our hygh lookes our forged canntynaunces our fayre faces and our stretched out neckes Euen there full lowely truely where our â—â—mble and fyne feete oure tripping toes and the whole body of erth shallye By the order and decaye of all things mâ—nes deathe is signified The ordre and state of al thinges vpon the earth beynge or lyuyng in theyr kynde vppon the earth dothe playnelye signifie vnto thee O thou man or woman euen in the middest of she ruste and folitie what thou arte and whereunto also thou shalte For as they are altogether but earthly verie vanitie transitorious and flitting sommetime beautifull and seemelye frethely in floures flourishyng youthfull frutefull and well pleasynge the eye healthfull puissaunte fortunate and happy to the contrarye in tyme foule and vnseemelye wythered and deformed â—loe and vnfrutefull infected enfebled Man is in the number of vayne thynges infortunate vnhappy So thou also in the numbre of vaine thinges although of greater estimation and price before god who hath endued thee wyth hys good graces and gyftes aboue all the rest of his creatures to hys prayse and thy ioye if thou well note it haste thine order and turnes in tymes prescribed thee nothyng auaileable to grounde vpon nothyng certain or sure nor neuer abide in one state God Goddes immortalitie is not more certayne then the mortalitie of man is certaine touchynge the state of hys most pure immortall and incomprehensible maiesty is not more certaine by hys own power for euer to endure and raigne in glory wyth his aungels and blessed sainctes in heauen worlde wythout ende then thou corruptible mortall and earthelye creature shalt here holde thy felicity but earthly and at aduenture nothynge certayne nor stable nothyng pleasaunte or sweete nor nothynge wourthye any hungrys delyghte whereunto thou maiest happily cleaue or leaue of assuraÌ„ce but altogether shal be vnto the but vnstable lightnes vanity very foÌ„dnes misery and most certainlye to ende It maye well bee sayth of those that onely seke this lyfe and glory in the pleasures of thys worlde they folowe but fantasies and a vayne shad owe Whyche when they thynke to be surest of vanyssheth away and is nothynge For let vs nener so muche applye to thys lyfe beewrappe oure selues Vayne trauell frame fashion and flatter oure selues wyth the vayns delyghtes thereof and seeke by al meanes possyble to now sell and stablysâ—he oure selues therein in vayne and most foolyshe shall be our trauaile we haue our tymes prescribed to dye we are al planted within the limits of death all flesshe is but as grasse death muste be oure ende frome the earthe we came yea verye earth we are And as we beynge but earthe were bredde in the entrayles of the earth and are nourished vppon the earthe and by the earthe so are we also cyted by deathe to retourne to the earthe agayne For the graue muste bee oure house Eccle. 11. Psal 104. Iob. 16. Iob. 7. and from whense also wee shall neuer retourne agayne vntill the day of Christes generall iudgemente Neyther shall oure eyes see any more the vayne piâ—asures of the earthe O full well described Ieremy of oure vnstable lumpysshe and moste grosse nature Iere. 22. and of the shorte contynuaunce of our lyues when he called vnto vs in fewe wourdes faleng O thou earth earth earth And as we earthlye creatures are not able to saye that we holde any thynge certaine in this lyfe whether it be life yt selfe tymes belongynge to lyfe or thinges necessary for this life so there is nothynge so certayne against life Luke 12. as death though the times of death be vn certayne in what kynde so euer we sustayne hys force either in bedde or out of bedde by force of lawe by dinte of swourd by rage of fyre by peril of water or by innumerable other wais and casuall chaunces vnder all whiche Roma 5. Hebre. 9. we liue in subiection to dye And notwithstandinge that wyth greate griefe and careful studies in the fiesh we rub thorough