the Popes Buls and Pardons but also a vaine and false hope of deliuerance from the paines of Purgatorie by annuarie sacrifices masses and by the praiers of Monks and Friers as also by the almes and good deedes of their friendes aliue as by fasting praying watching wandering in Pilgrimage and such like For some not onlie affirme that the Popes pardons are of power to obtaine forgiuenes of sinne and are not ashamed to stand in it that moneie is no sooner throwne into their offering basen but foorthwith a soule flieth out of purgatorie into heauen but also are perswaded that by other folkes merites and workes the dead are holpen which thing Hillarie writing vpon Matthew doth denie And Hierome agreeing with him as euen in the Canon lawe he is cited saith In this present world we maie helpe each other either by praiers or councell but when we shall appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ he affirmeth that euerie man must beare his owne burthen To be short as death it selfe findeth a man so God iudgeth him VVhat an horrible securitie is it therfore to liue in sinne and wickednes and neuer to thinke thereof were they touched with any care of their saluation they doubtles would obserue some meane in sinning and euermore thinke of the last daie of their life As to open my minde by particulers he which beareth hatred against his neighbour would be reconciled according to the cōmaundement in the Gospel VVhoremongers and adulterers would remember that God will iudge them as the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrues doth saie Murderers and sorcerers and all liers would neuer forget how their part is in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone as Iohn in the Reuelation writeth Couetous persons dronkardes and railers would beare continuallie in remembrance that they shall not inherite the kingdome of God as Paule writing not onlie vnto the Corinthians but also vnto the Ephesians dooth testifie Rich men would be sure to haue in minde that our sauiour saith How hard a thing is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdome of God Finallie each of vs would be mindfull of that euerlasting and vnquenchable fire which Christ in the Gospel threateneth to the wicked and their fellowe-sinners and euerie man for his part would feare those wordes vnto the foolish virgins I know ye not those also vnto that idle seruaunt Cast that vnprofitable seruaunt into vtter darknes there shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth and those too of him which lacked the wedding garment Binde him hand foote take him awaie and cast him into vtter darknes and to be briefe that vnto the wicked Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire Oh too too obstinate are they whom these thinges doo not moue plainlie Epicures which beleeue them not extremelie wicked which cōtemne them verie mad men and vnmindfull of saluation which regard them not Such are they which by purchased pardons doo thinke they haue got libertie and freedome to commit wickednes and through this vaine perswasion driue off to amend from daie to daie An other cause of deferring and prolonging repentaunce is for that manie are perswaded if they maie worship S. Barbara they shall neuer die vnpenitent and without receiuing the holie Communion For this superstition of the worshipping of Barbara hath possessed the mindes of all worldlinges where the Pope hath to doo And therfore a fast is consecrated to her euerie yeere to be kept and Painters haue set her forth in the likenes of one holding a cup and holie bread in her hand Furthermore manie haue a great care and long a fore doo prouide that when the houre of their death shall approche they may be adopted into Saint Francis familie and buried when they are dead in the habit of a Franciscane For this opinion is rooted in all their mindes that the diuel hath no power vpon them which can attaine thereunto inasmuch as the Monkes doo impart vpon them together with their habit all the merites and good workes of their whole order as namely Masses Church seruice praiers preachinges meditations fastinges abstinence vigils pilgrimages and such like For Monkes hereby leauing alwaies that which is sufficient vnto saluation if any thing happelie doo remaine and be superfluous as lightlie there is that they communicate with other not Gratis but for moneie So that as I haue saide this also is a cause why men that haue bought the good deeds of Monkes and the communion of godlie merites at no time doo thinke of amending their life But in this place it is needeles to refell either this manifest error of popish pardons or the doting superstition of worshipping Saints or this wicked opinion which manie haue of commucating merites especiallie because both others haue done it before now we also in many places ere this haue oftentimes confuted them Cap. 8. ¶ Of other like principall causes whie we repent not THus you haue as I thinke the chiefest causes whie we neglect and prolong the amēdment of our life There be also other causes hereof but they are inferior causes as vsuall liuing companie and dealing with the vngodlie and wicked which are touched with no feare of God much lesse doo pursue godlines or liue purelie and innocentlie They who haue any care of their saluatiō must with all endeuor auoide the companie and familiaritie of such men For trulie was it saide Ill wordes corrupt good manners And an auncient Greeke writer saith In liuing with the wicked thou wilt proue wicked Here I would haue Parentes to remember that they are to vse great dilligence in keeping their children from the companie and familiaritie of the wicked and in marking what youth of what conuersation they be which are ioined to them in much familiaritie or that liue together with them or finallie which doo seeke their companie For such is a man for the most part as is the companie which he vseth And surelie well was it saide of one He that toucheth pitch shalbe defiled with it But heare what an aduersarie of ours doth saie VVe take our manners from such as we companie withall And as some diseases come to the bodie and infect them which touch it so the vices of the minde pollute them which are next The dronkard draweth his familiars vnto the loue of wine The companie of lasciuious doo effeminate euen the strongest man Couetousnes spueth foorth her poison vppon her companie Such is the force of vertue and of the vertuous on the other side and so foorth He therefore that desireth to liue godlie holilie and to keepe him selfe pure and whole from all infection of wickednes which euerie Christian should desire to doo must flie and auoide the companie of the wicked For they which addict them-selues wholie to keepe companie with such and abide with them from daie to daie making merrie feasting eating and drinking together continuallie they sildome or neuer will thinke
we not at all times euerie hower yea and euerie moment to thinke of the amendement of our life to be touched with a true and bitter sorowe for our sinnes and to pacifie the wrath of God by repentance especiallie seeing in respect of vncertaine chances death continualie is imminent and hangeth euerie howre ouer the heads of all and euerie of vs as we are certainely to thinke Therefore who so is wise will haue such a care as I haue shewed as men commonlie haue in a great pestilence at which time as it were wakened out of the sleepe of securitie they are wonte to take care and to thinke how to chaunge their wicked liues howe to flie and auoide sinne how to followe righteousnesse and godlines finallie how to please God by repentance who is displeased through our sinnes Let euery man then perseuere so when he hath escaped the plague as he purposed to be when the sicknes was hot All men acknowledge that the houre of death is vncertaine yet is it moste certaine that one daie we shall die Nowe what foolishnes is it to feare death which euerie moment hangeth ouer our heads and in the meane time not to thinke of amendment of life But thus it is In aduersitie as in the time of the plague of famine of warre of Earthquake of any greeuous and dangerous sicknes of the body we can acknowledge the iust anger displeasure of God against wickednes but whē things flowe foorth according to our harts desire we blush no whit to abuse his goodnes and liberalitie neither doo we call into minde neither death ready to take vs euery howre Nor the last iudgement nor the voice of the Archangell whereof Paule maketh mention writing vnto the Thessalonians Nor the Trumpet of God nor of Hell either the euerlasting punishment or the vnquencheable fire nor finallie that vtter darkenes where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth The memorie wherof should be fresh in our minde both when we rise from our beds in the morning and when we go vnto bed in the euening both when we dine and when we suppe when we are washed for health sake when we deale in matters that are serious yea and when we doo recreate our minde with honest sporte But these things to wit the last iudgement the Lords tribunall seate the voice of the Archangell the Trumpet of God the euerlasting torments of hell these I saie are but a meere fable to the vngodlie And as the Ethnicks in old time esteemed all fained whatsoeuer the Poets mentioned of Tartarus of Phlegeton of the Iudges Minoes and Rhadamanthus of the place and region of the wicked and of the paines of the vngodlie whereof sprang that of Seneca saieng The Poets haue battered and terrified our mindes with vaine feares So verie manie count all toies and fables yea and thinke all but idle threates which at this daie we reade in the sacred Scripture concerning Hell euerlasting death Hell fire where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth and touching the covniting hereafter of the soule and bodie either vnto paine or glorie VVhereas contrariwise these things strike a maruelous terror without doubt into the godlie and such as feare God yea being but named as the Poet saith Thus you haue the firste and principall cause as I thinke whie we so deferre the amendment of our life as we doo Cap. 3. The second cause why we doo not repent vs of our wickednes NOw let vs goe vnto another cause which is to wit a great yet a false and vncertain hope of pardō at Gods hand Through this hope Satan the continuall enimie of mankind deteineth mā in wickednes and by laieng daily before his eies the mercie and lenitie of God forbiddeth him to dread his iustice But as God mercifullie dooth pardon the penitent and like a father forgiueth such as returne from vice vnto wel-doing so doth he leaue them neither vnpunished nor vnreuenged who obstinatelie persist in wickednes So that in vaine doo they hope for pardon which repent not from the harte Notwithstanding by proposing this vaine hope the diuell dooth so bring it about that man becommeth secure in naughtines and neuer taketh anie care at all of amending his life but vtterlie despiseth the riches of Gods bountifulnes and patience and long sufferaunce not knowing that the bountifulnes of Godle◠deth him vnto repentance to vse S. Paule his wordes vnto 〈◊〉 Romanes Heere that would be remembred which Iohn the Baptist as it is recorded by Matthew dooth saie Repent your former euil conuersation for the kingdome of heauen is at hand so would that also which the Lord in Esaiah speaketh Vnto whom shall I looke Euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirite and trembleth at my words Christ saith moreouer by Luke Except you amend your liues ye shall all likewise perish And Peter in the Actes Amend your liues therefore and turne that your sinnes maie be put awaie I omit sixe hundred places of Scripture tending to prooue that no man should haue hope or trust to haue their sinnes pardoned but he which repenteth For as I said in vaine dooth he looke for pardon who doth not repent from his hart And although there is no time too late to aske forgiuenes at Gods hande as plainelie appeareth by the example of that Theefe of whom the Euangelists make mention For God desireth not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his waie and liue yet who knoweth not how dangerous a thing it is to prolong amendment of life from day vnto day For as the Poet saith No man so in Gods fauour is That to liue an other daie he can promis Death taketh men oftentimes when they little thinke thereof insomuch that they haue no space to repent and amend their liues Here I will not recite what Plinie in his naturall Historie speaketh of suddaine death because in these daies nothing is more common Manie yeares are not passed since two old men dwellers in one towne together hauing on a certaine night had vnlawfull copulation with two harlotes whom they haunted died both of them sudēlie the one of an Apoplexie the other thrust through with a Dagger Now in what dāger their soules were let euerie mā consider with himself for his profit I am not ignorant that good men as wel as wicked may suddenlie be taken and that though the righteous as he saith be preuented with death yet shall he be at rest notwithstanding how horrible is it for an impenitent person suddenlie to be ouertaken after such a sort How manie haue we heard of murthered through contention euen when they haue beene at good cheere How manie slaine foorth-with taken in adulterie How manie at the Dice and Cardes suddenlie dispatched euen of such as they haue plaied withall That I speake nothing of them which falling from their Horse haue brake their neckes which through Shipwrack haue perished suddenlie which finallie either
with our hand much more see with our eies For that I may begin with the most vsual vice what euils doo not follow dronkennes and gluttonie For as he in the Storie of the world doth saie Hence commeth palenes of the face hanging cheekes sore eies palsie in the handes ouglie dreames and vnquiet sleepe in the night Hence proceede stincking breathes hed-aches weake memories dul wits Hence are ingendered grieuous diseases as ache of the iointes goutes the falling euil as both Phisitions doo affirme and dailie examples testifie Now touching whoredome how in this our age doo we behold the same to be punished with the French-pocks as also other immoderate venerie with the palsie with the blearednes of the eies with the quiuering of the sinewes As for luxuriousnes doth it not bring manie a man vnto neede and beggerie Adulterie is it not sometime punished and they which commit the same alwaies after infamous Besides the angrie man doth he not oftentimes get hurt and the proude man hatred What shall I saie of Enuie is it not a punishment to him which is giuen there-vnto doth it not eate vp and consume the enuious As rightlie did one saie The Sicilian Tyrans did neuer finde A greater plage then enuy to the mind So did another Th'enuious man doth pine away in paine To see another florish wel and gaine Now to speake of couetousnes is it not euermore tormented as with desire of getting so with feare of forgoing For that which a couetous man hath wil not content him and that which he hath maketh him to feare least he loase the same Thus you maie see how that vice and wickednes are often punished yea in this world Now if these thinges doo nothing moue vs yet should the euerlasting tormentes of hell threatened to the wicked in the holie scripture stirre vp euerie man with all earnestnes of minde to amend his naughtie life without delaie if we beleeue those thinges to be true and not a fable which the holie scripture teacheth both of the eternall life of the godlie and of the punishment of the wicked Cap. 18. ¶ What meanes a godlie man maie vse by the example of the Author to stirre vp him selfe vnto a godlie life HEre I wil brieflie declare if happily it may giue occasion to others in like sort to amēd their life what it is wher by I am greatlie incensed and set on fire to followe vertue and godlines For thus many times I doo reason with my selfe What Riuius what if at this verie instant of time thou shouldest leaue this world in what state shouldest thou be Art thou wel prepared to die For albe thou reposest thy confidence as it is thy part to doo so in the infinite mercie and goodnes of God haue you not neede for all that to stand infeare of his iustice How manie thousandes of Christians how manie young men old men of middle age women wiues vnwedded finallie of all degrees of all ages and of all kindes whose sinnes are neither for number so manie nor so hainous as thine and yet are damned to euerlasting tormentes O horrible iudgement of God yet a righteous iudgement How manie Iewes are in hel how manie Idolaters are punished with perpetuall paines The which had escaped those paines had they bene conuerted vnto the faith of Christ as we are through the goodnes of God seeing they liued farre more vprightlie in the world then we haue done O cursed ingratitude of ours O the hardnes of our harts I saie what if it were saide vnto thee as it was saide vnto Ezechias Put thine house in an order for thou shalt die and not liue what wouldest thou doo then I thinke thou wouldest craue longer life that thou mightest bewaile thy sinnes repent and aske God mercie VVhie then dost thou not that daie by daie all thy life long which thou vvouldest doo at such a point By these cogitations as I saie I am woont maruelouslie to be inflamed to liue well to flie sinne and to requite mercie at Gods hand Let others then as like this woont place the same before their eies Cap. 19. ⧠How men should addresse them-selues to liue well THere is none almost but thinketh enimies should be forgiuē before death comes let him now then forgiue none but desireth Gods fauour let him now then seeke the same none but would thinke to amend his life let him now then amend Finallie doo that while thou liuest and art well doo that through trust in God which thou wouldest wish to doo at the point of death That is particularlie to expresse the same repent continuallie feare the Lord vnfainedlie loue him heartelie trust in him alone in aduersitie call vpon him in prosperitie thanke him alwaie see thou praise extoll acknowledge his goodnes sing Psalmes to him let him alone be euermore in thy praiers in thy cogitations and in thy desires Commit thy selfe to his goodnes and submit thy wil to his Follow his example in doing wel to all men and endeuor to be like him in louing thine enimies Furthermore be thou in troubles patient in peace modest in thy office diligent in thy liuing and apparel temperate Be thou toward thy neighbour righteous toward the poore liberall in thy dealing with others milde and courteous Put vp iniuries pursue peace loue chastitie shamefastnes sobrietie and in all thinges shew thy selfe vp-right and vncorrupt And forasmuch as these thinges cannot be attained by the onlie power of nature flie thou vnto the Lord for helpe and assistance acknowledging thy weaknes the infirmitie of man praie God both humblie and continuallie to impart vpon thee his holie spirit the which Christ hath promised that the Father wil giue to them that desire him If therefore thou craue that the same spirit maie be giuen thee of God and shed vpon thee aboundantlie to vse the wordes of S. Paule through Iesus Christ thou shalt finde that what thinges of thy selfe thou couldest not doo through him thou shalt bring to passe Onlie be not thou thine owne foe neither doo thou voluntarilie loase the bridle to thine affections and with all endeuor looke that thou feede not thy wanton humor For the holie Ghost doth not assist cowards sluggardes and such as idlelie sit with their armes folded together but those which worke and labour earnestlie to tame their natural wickednes yea he deemeth such worthie his aide which continuallie doo striue with the wicked affections of the minde Let vs not then doo as that countrie-man did as the tale is who his cart sticking fast in the myte cried vnto God for helpe but stoode idlelie him-selfe and would not helpe at all Aboue all be thou terrified from sinning and stirred vnto a godlie life through the presence both of God who euerie and no waie can be auoided and of his holie Angel thy keeper and guider yea and the beholder and witnes of all thy doinges Now if thou wouldest for no good that anie man should come in when thou
quaffing plaieng dauncing reuelling all the night together to adde nothing more filthie I name that which is well knowen and those things which are so certaine that they cannot be denied and so shamefull that they may not be excused any kinde of waie And forsomuch as Schoolemaisters whose dutie were with all endeuour diligence and seueritie to bring downe the boldenes to tame the wildenes and to bridle the wantonnes of youth both by instruction admonition and correction doo suffer the youth committed to their trust to be corrupted and carried headlong into all vice and wickednes what hope is there of their amendement when they come vnto riper yeeres and to mans estate For it is vnlikelie that either he will liue honestlie when he is old which ledde a wicked and filthie life when he was yonge or that he which was naughtelie brought vp in his childe-hood will in his man-hood be brought vnto good order Such a matter it is to be accustomed to a thing from tender yeeres as the moste excellent Poet dooth saie And as another Tragicall Poet writeth The minde easelie forgetteth not VVhat long time since it learnd got Oh that cities would cōsider the waightines of this matter and yeeld in no wise neither to affection nor to affinitie and kinred nor to the cōmendation sute of their familiars in choosing Schoolemaisters Surelie at euerie mans letter of cōmendation a Schoolemaister should not be appointed especiallie because it is much to the benefit of a cōmon-weale to haue a godlie learned teacher that will traine vp children in religion teach them ciuilitie and endue them with liberall both manners and discipline Notwithstanding how in this pointe now a daies men offend no tongue can expresse For now there is no place for godlie and learned Schoolemaisters whose honest life commendable behauiour and faithfulnes is well knowen Vnlearned Sciolies doo euerie where so creepe into the freendship familiaritie of mightie men and so perswade thē that they alone are thought to be meetest when they are as meete for that office as the Asse is for the harp according to the cōmō saying to gouern Scholes and to bring vp children And for their doctrin it is such as no wise mā wil giue a straw or a burnt thred therefore their ignorāce is verie grose notwithstāding they can hide the same maruelous cunninglie And for that in respect of their ignorāce rudenes they carie none auctoritie the which a learned mā doth easelie attaine they lose the raines of discipline to much maryong minds with their cokring that youth may the more willinglie chuse thē for their teachers But that I may returne to my purpose seeing that parents thēselues with teachers maisters do nussell yong children in wickednes giue thē the head to do what they list and haue no care at all of gouerning restraining their desires what maruel if hardlie or not at all they can leaue those vices in their old age whereunto they were accustomed in their youth custome so commeth to a nature And although when the daie of iudgement comes into their minde they thinke of repentance yet custome hath so marred them that whether it be vnwillinglie or against their knowledge they fall euermore vnto worser wickednes and like fooles neuer ceasse to prolong their amendment more and more Now what good members of a Common-weale shall we thinke they will prooue in their old age which in their youth are so corrupted through their parentes meanes and so ill brought vp through their maisters negligence For whence come so manie adulterers now a daies so many corrupters of maidēs so many ruffins so many bawds so manie vnthrifts and prodigall cousins whence are there so many dicers such a nomber of most wicked cittizens but euen from this fountaine as it were of vngodlie and euill education of children For they had neede of a purgation which laie the vices of this age vpon the Gospell It is not the Gospell which causeth such wickednes it is wanton and ill bringing vp it is negligent carelesse magistrates that I saie nothing of higher Princes which must beare the blame They who are in auctoritie should most seuerelie punish and correct sinne not winke thereat If the Iulian lawe of adulterers which with death puuisheth adulterie and violaters of marriage neither suffereth the wickednes of whoredome to goe vnpunished if I saie this lawe were againe established and if they which abuse the name of God and spue out blasphemie against his holines and sweare by the crosse by the woundes and blood of Christ which when godlie Sermons are making be quaffing plaieng gadding idlie vp and downe which obaie not their parents nor giue them due honor which are mankillers and murtherers and theeues dicers rauishers church-robbers and Vsurers if iuglers coseners dronkards gluttons and prodigall vnthrifts if ill speakers backbiters braulers forsworne persons idle talkers and liers finallie if they which are apparentlie wicked were not wincked at but seuerelie punished neither would there be such large scope for vice and wickednes nor all men should crie out as they doo now of the loosenes of this world Let euerie magistrate therefore thinke vpon his office and perswade himselfe that when Christ shall returne to iudge the world he must yeeld an accompt and learne of Paule that he beareth not the sworde for naught For he is the minister of God to take vengeance on them that doo euill as the same Paule writeth vnto the Romaines And for so much as Paule dooth witnesse that the Lawe is not giuen to a righteous man but to the laweles and disobedient to the vngodlie and to sinners to the vnholie and to the prophane to murtherers of father and mothers to manslaiers to whoremongers to buggerers to manstealers to liers and to the periured and because in his office the magistrate is a minister of the lawe doubtles he cannot be negligent or slacke and dissolute in punishing without great sinne VVherefore such as beare auctoritie and rule in the Common-weale must remember that loosenes of behauiour and wildenes must be tamed and bridled by euerie good meanes and that mē must be terrified from vice and wickednes from naughtines and from all deceipt and deadlie and hainous crimes through the feare of punishmēt Vnles they do so they make themselues guiltie of horrible sinnes and shall aunswer for the faults of others For as the Poet saith He that may restraine vvickednes vvil not Dooth vvill men to sinne and spare not I am afraide the seuerenes of Ethnickes in punishing sinne and cutting off malefactors wilbe a witnes against our negligence and slothfulnes in that point at the daie of iudgement They had their punishments appointed by lawes for offenders there lacked no cōmissioners to cite them vnto iudgement they had examiners and iudges finallie they had executioners which with all seueritie punished wickednes And so by that meanes wilde
heart manifest so that all men shall behold the same The which how horrible it will be to the wicked no man can sufficientlie either tell or conceaue For if in this life a wicked man whose wicked and shamefull vices and wickednes are to be ripped vp and repeated in the face of a great multitude of men would wish rather to be swallowed vp of the earth aliue then haue so many witnesses of filthie life to appeare in sight how thinke yee our mindes shalbe troubled when the harts of the wicked shalbe opened and all our cogitations councels and doinges brought before the sight of the whole world of the Angels of God and of all the Saints in heauen If here we deeme it a miserable and wretched thing to be led vnto prison how miserable will it then seeme to be throwen into euerlasting tormentes If it be horrible to be punished in this world either with banishment or death what will it be hereafter to be banished worldes without end from the celestiall kingdome and body and soule to be put to euerlasting death If it be most comfortable for the godlie to heare God bidding them to inherite the kingdome prepared for them from the foundation of the world how horrible doo we thinke that the sentence of the Iudge will be to the wicked condemning them vnto euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels If we beleeue these thinges of the iudgement to come of the reward of the godlie and due punishmēt of the wicked are true why doo we so liue as though there were neither heauen nor hell If we doo not beleeue these thinges why will we needes be called and counted Christians Let vs therefore shake off securitie which possesseth our mindes together with that sluggishnes cowardnes and blockishnes and drousines which haue inuaded vs. We argue not about nifles but about the saluatiō of the soule the possession of the kingdome of heauen about euerlasting life and blessednes VVherfore now I saie now while we liue and are in health while we maie be forgiuen while he is our aduocate which will be our Iudge let vs endeuor to amend our liues and neuer deferre we the same till our sinnes forsake vs before we forsake them Let vs alwaies remember the daie of iudgement and the horrible voice of the Iudge bidding the wicked depart from him also the paines of hell and the euerlasting fire let vs neuer forget Finallie let the shortnes of our life the certaintie of death the vncertaintie when we shall depart be euermore in minde to the ende that no man maie promise him selfe so much as one daie no not one moment of life To which effect it was well saide of Seneca It is vncertaine in what place death will waite for thee therefore waite thou for death in all places And therefore the more vncertaine and short mans life is the more while we maie we are to thinke of repentance Cap. 11. ¶ A remedie for the second cause whie we repent not◠mentioned afore in the third Chapter FOr to saie some-what against the second cause why shouldest thou defer the amendment of thy life in trust and hope of Gods mercie I graunt Christ when he came called sinners but vnto repentance for their life mispent not vnto libertie to sinne The Lord gratiouslie as he is mercifull doth forgiue but such as repent nor them which obstinatlie persist in wickednes Christ bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree saith Peter I know he did but what addeth he That we being deliuered frō sin should liue in righteousnes Christ gaue himselfe for vs saith Paule vnto Titus No man denieth that but what followeth in the same place That he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Christ hath washed vs from our sinnes through his blood saith Iohn in the Reuelation I knowledge it but not that we should againe defile our selues with sinne and wickednes VVe haue an aduocate with God the Father saith Iohn euen Iesus Christ Not vnles we repent and so run vnto him for helpe But you vvill saie I vvill hereafter bewaile my sinne But how knowest thou that thou shalt liue one minute of an houre much lesse so long a time as thou vvilt prefixe for thy conuersion Call into thy minde vvhat God vnto that Rich-man in the Gospell vvhich in his great prosperitie promised long life to him-selfe doth saie O foole this night will they fetch awaie thy soule from thee Thou hast much to feare least the like happen to thy selfe I hope thou saiest it will be better vvith me then so But vvhat if your hope deceaue you then maie some one exclame and saie O vaine and deceitfull hope Now if that should come to passe vvhich God forbid thou art vtterlie damned and voluntarilie throwest thy selfe into euerlasting destruction Yet you can not denie but it maie fall out so our life is so vncertaine Then vvhat a follie is it by procrastinating repētance to bring thy saluation in hazard vvhich thou maist be sure of repent thou neuer so soone VVhy then foorth-with dost thou not amend rather then vvith such daunger of thy saluation to feede thy vaine hope God is mercifull me thinkes you saie So is he righteous too VVhy then standest thou not in feare of his iustice vvhose mercie thou dost trust vntoo I desire not the death of the wicked saith the Lord by the Prophet True but what followeth those wordes But that the wicked man turne from his waie and liue Therefore turne you vnto the Lord as Ioel adhorteth with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Turne you vnto the Lord your God for he is gratious and mercifull slowe to anger and of great kindnes as the same Ioel speaketh Hetherto maketh that of Ezechiel If the wicked man will returne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my statutes and doo that which is lawful and right he shall surelie liue and shall not die And a litle after Haue I anie desire that the wicked should die saith the Lord or shall he not liue if he turne from his waies Hetherto belongeth that of Esaie Let the wicked forsake his waies and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and he wil haue mercie vpon him and to our God for he is verie readie to forgiue The Prophet sheweth how that God is gratious and merciful but toward them which repent and acknowledge their sinne Therefore doo thou speedelie repent turne againe vnto the feare of God aske forgiuenes of thy sinnes with teares and sighing be thorowlie out of loue with thy selfe for wickednes perpetrated and committed leaue thine owne waie and turne vnto the Lord thy God and then assure thy selfe of saluation despaire not neither doubt thou of Gods mercie and fauour In the meane while remember the saying of our Sauiour That ioie shalbe in heauen for
children of the paine of sicknes and such like vvhich maie seeme of small importance how doth Satan bestirre him-selfe then vvhat engins doth he set to bring the poore soule vnto desperation through laying his manifold offences before his eies For then chieflie if euer he rippeth vp and bringeth into remembraunce whatsoeuer euil a man hath either thought or wild or said or done and such faultes as of them-selues are great and hainous he doth make much greater then they be and by all meanes doth studie to withdrawe him from hope of saluation and to driue him vnto despaire for his manifold and great offences Hetherto belongeth the griefe of a guiltie conscience the great feare of death before his eies the wofull and bitter cogitation of Gods iudgement seate the dread of a seuere sentence which wil sore dismaie and trouble the minde the horrible remembrance of the paines of hel and who is able to repeate all the impediments and causes which let men that they cannot so much as thinke of repenting at that time Doo not therefore doo not if thou be wise deferre the amendement of their life till the last daie For that is a verie dangerous matter that I saie not how such a repentance for so much as of necessitie it springeth and is extorted through the feare of damnation rather then taken in hand of pure zeale is of small force to get pardon But no repentance is too late before God I confesse so much For At what time so euer a sinner dooth repent him of his sinne I wil put all his wickednes out of my remembrance saith the Lord. And as the Prophet in another place God desireth not the death of a sinner but that he repent and liue But what if sudden death take thee vnawares that thou canst haue no time to lament and to repent thee of thy sinnes For all men should looke for that which maie happen vnto all men Let the vnlooked for destruction of them vpon whome the towre in Silo fell as Luke recordeth come into your minde VVhat if suddenlie you should leese your wits and vnderstanding as we see many doo The which if it should fall out as it maie happen then gone were all hope of repenting which the sinner had placed in prolonging the amendment of his life For that maie betide thee which hath happened to others that you maie thinke you are not exempted from that which is common to all men For a true saying is that of Publius That maie happen to euerie man which maie happen to anie man Cast awaie therfore all hope of long life then the which vndoubtedlie nothing is more vaine fleeting neither doo thou dreame of occasion nor appoint a time wherein thou wilt repent nor finallie doo not thou nourish thy foolishnes or madnes rather in deferring the reformation of thy sinfull life through this deceiptful hope VVert thou wise thou wouldest repent at that time wherein thou maist offend For if thou minde then to repent when thou canst sinne no more doubtles thou dost not leaue sinne but sinne thee Furthermore it is to be feared least seeing when thou maist thou wilt not repent that when thou wouldest thou maist not For the iudgementes of almightie God in punishing mans wickednes are vnsearchable For as his woont is of his goodnes and mercie to giue them space of repentance vvhich are prepared readie and willing to receaue mercie yea and in the meane while with much patience and lenitie to beare with sinners vntill they returne from their wickednes so when he seeth any man vtterlie bent vnto vngodlines and deriding Gods long suffering and so worthie damnation then ceaseth he to hold such a one back from falling into destruction and so according to the phrase of scripture blindeth the desperate and hardeneth the obstinate neither dooth he looke any longer for his conuersion nor offereth occasion for the damned to repent For God hath appointed a time and manner for each man the which no man in wickednes maie ouer-passe and God will not prolong his punishment and paine of sinne The which should stirre vp all men to repent without delaie and to prepare them-selues to receaue the grace of God But for so much as we haue spoken sufficient hereof let vs hasten vnto other thinges Cap. 15. ⧠A remedie for the sixt cause of deferring repentance declared afore in the seuenth Chapter THey vvho through the opinion which they haue in Popes pardoÌ„s doo defer the correction of their life doo trust to a weake staffe and depend vppon a tottering wall as the saying is So doo they in like sort that worship Saint Barbara and wil be buried in the habite of a Franciscane For in all the scripture what maie be found concerning these toies VVhat in all the old Testament In the Euangelical doctrine what VVhat in the works of the Apostles To conclude which of these thinges was obserued in the primitiue Church or else by a generall iudgement and consent of the Church at all times receaued and allowed as a thing auaileable and necessarie to saluation Therefore who doth not before death bewaile his offences he albeit he haue a thousand Buls and Pardons shall neuer be saued And therefore vnlesse thou wilt be in doubt of thy saluation omitting these vices thou must earnestlie repent thy wicked life and be heartelie sorie at the remembraunce of thy sinnes thou must with teares and praiers beseech God to be good vnto thee finallie thine onlie refuge must be to runne vnto the merites of Christ in a strong hope that God the Father wil be merciful to thee for Christ his sake whome for vs he hath deliuered vnto the death So wil it come to passe that God wil haue mercie on thee forgiue thy sinnes and for his Christes sake receaue thee into fauour For we haue him our aduocate with God which praieth for vs and doth reconcile his heauenlie Father who by reason of our sinnes and wickednes is offended with vs and maketh him both mercifull and quiet as Iohn in his first Catholical Epistle doth teach So then regard thou neither the Popes pardons nor the worship of Barbara nor the habite and weede of a Franciscane wherin there is no hope at all to be saued Run thou vâ—to Christ him-selfe who is our mediator and aduocate as I said the throne of grace the propitiation for the sinnes of the world and the Lambe killed froÌ„ the beginning of the world as in the Reuelation it appeareth brieflie who is our righteousnes sanctification and redemption as Paul vnto the CorinthiaÌ„s doth witnesse VVherfore to returne vnto the purpose prolong not the amendement of thy sinfull life for anie Bull or Pardon from the Pope especiallie seeing our life is so short and the houre of certain death so vncertaine The which death for so much as in respect of vncertaine chaunces it is alwaies nigh and maie in this verie moment ouer-take a man vnawares doubtles as one saith can not
be farre off How daungerous therefore is it to liue in such a state wherein if sudden death should strike thee thou wert vtterlie damned Then to auoide this daunger see that alway thou liue in the feare of God acknowledge thy wickednes flie vnto the mercie of God aske pardon and hope looke too for saluation at Gods hand for Christ his sake Beside make thou oftē recourse vnto the minister of the Church and craue cōsolation and absolution from him And that thou maist be stirred vp vnto the remembrance of the promise of pardon and be confirmed more more of Gods mercie to vs-ward make often recourse vnto the Lordes table and according to Christes institution both eate that bodie which some-time was a sacrifice for the sinnes of mankinde and drinke the blood shedde foorth for the remission of our sinnes and so being mindfull of the Lordes death yeeld thou heartie thankes to God for his so great benefits and with a grateful mind sing thou Psalmes to him both with thy selfe at home and with others in the congregation of the faithful Cap. 16. A remedie for the seuenth cause specified afore in the eight Chapter AS much as thou canst to come vnto other thinges auoide euermore the companie of the wicked and ioine thy selfe vnto the societie of the good And as one councelleth haue cōuersation with such as maie make thee better and admit them into thy fellowship whome thou maist reclame from vice vnto vertue For it is behoouefull to marke what companie one vseth and who are his dailie companions For as by the familiaritie of wicked men we are infected as with a certaine contagion so by dailie acquaintance of the godlie and vertuous we are in manner corrected and amended Seeke therefore the amitie and friendship of these men but haue no dealing at all with those Salomon in his Prouerbes commaundeth the same thing Yea and Paule writing vnto the Corinthians doth so dehort vs from liuing and hauing to deale with the wicked that he would not haue vs so much as to eate and drinke with them If anie saith he that is called a brother be a fornicator or couetous or an idolater or a railer or a dronkard or an extortioner with such one eate not I graunt diuers other causes there be why he would haue such to be auoided either because we maie seeme in no sort to allowe the sinnes and wickednes of these men or that such whome all men doo so auoide and shun through shame of the world maie repent Notwithstanding it is not the least cause that the contagion of wickednes doo not redound vnto such as are ioined vnto them in friendship For as a litle leauen maketh a great heape of doa to swel so the example of one wicked man doth corrupt and infect a great many And although it be hard and verie difficult to for sake their acquaintance and familiaritie with whome a man merelie a long time iocundlie hath liued yet earnestlie thou must endeuor and labour with carefulnes by all meanes to depart and plucke thy selfe from their companie If thou but from thine heart once minde the same without doubt thou wilt finde better successe then thou art ware of And for so much as according to the Greeke prouerbe The beginning is as good as halfe and as Horace doth write He which hath begunne hath halfe done set vpon the same at the least and despaire not of the successe through consideration of the difficultie Now as commonlie it falleth out if thou thinke of the bankets the feastinges the reare-suppers the reuelinges and such like fond and childish things which thou hast vsed with them and if thou against thy will remember thy companions and merrie mates call into thy minde foorthwith the shortnes of this life the nighnes of death the last iudgement the tribunall seate of Christ hel fire and euerlasting damnation And so as the saying is Thou shalt driue out one naile by the force of another If these thinges come into minde and thou thinke thus with thy selfe My cup-mates and companions inuite me vnto them their suppers dinners and potations doo allure me But what doo I Credite me wouldest thou saie but thus much with thy selfe what doo I foorth-with both reason would ouer-come thy lust and thy will would listen to reason adhorting vnto the best Therefore as I saie thou must take a space to deliberate and make some delaie When any such thing by the suggestion of Satan commeth into thy minde throwe awaie thy weaknes of minde and loase not the bridle by and by to thy lust for then thou wilt runne as the Diuel would haue thee Doo thy companions inuite thee to the Tauerne Call thou into thy remembraunce what our Sauiour in a certaine place doth saie Take heede to your selues least at anie time your heartes be oppressed with surfetting and dronkennes what Paule doth write Be not dronke with wine wherein is excesse And Neither dronkardes nor gluttons shall inherite the kingdome of God what Peter saith Be sober and watch finallie what the Prophet Esaie writeth VVo vnto them that rise vp earlie to follow dronkennes Remember that the authoritie of God and of his Apostles must be obeied and not the mindes of vngodlie persons followed that thou art to hearken to thine Angel adhorting thee vnto all goodnes and not to obeie the Diuel pricking thee forward vnto wickednes finallie that thou must resist the euil spirit and not grieue the holie Ghost Wherefore doo not thou I saie doo not thou destroie thy selfe for the sweete companie of thy cup-mates but so much as in the lieth withdrawe thy selfe from their familiaritie and make thou more accoumpt of euerlasting saluation then of a litle short pleasure Cap. 17. ¶ A remedie against the last cause which holdeth men from repentance entreated of before in the ninth Chapter NOw to prescribe a remedie for the last cause thinke alwaie with thy selfe that he vnfeinedlie doth not repent neither that he either is or maie be counted a true Christian that goeth on forward in wickednes neither that he hath true faith which continueth in sinne against his conscience and committeth any outragious wickednes Let vs not then be Christians in name onlie being farre from the nature neither let vs in wordes boast of faith but let vs trulie and vnfeinedlie repent turne vnto the Lord with our whole heart and reforme our sinfull conuersation by wel doing yea let vs studie by good workes to blot our wickednes as it were out of the minde of God and through hope of Gods assistance not through our own strength endeuor we to liue godlie righteously innocentlie vprightlie holilie chastlie soberlie temperatelie profitablie to the Church of God friendlie vnto man and as Paule doth saie as it becommeth the Gospel of Christ. Furthermore beg we of our heauenlie Father through our Lord and sauiour Christ that he would impart vpon vs his holie spirit which maie rule gouerne instruct sanctifie