for a taste Likewise of the Creede or forme of christian Fayth No Whore nor Whoremonger can or doth rightly beeleeue any one article thereof For how can sutche looke for any good at Gods hande whose wrathe anger cursse and malediction 〈◊〉 in the Father Not in the Soâ— hangeth ouer their heads In the Father they cannot beeleeue for the cause aboue sayed In the Sonne if they did beeleeue they would as Christe testifieth follow his doctrine whiche is to repeut and beeleeue the Gospell neither of the which will they doo In Iesus they beléeue not Not in Iesus for hee is a Sauâ—ur of his people from their sinnes Mat. 1. But whoores and whoremongers haue such a deadly delight in their sinne that is so pleasaunt to the flesh that they will not bee saued from it they make more accompt of it then they doo of their owne saluation and redemption by Iesus the Sauiour In Christe nothing at al In Christ they beleeue not for all that truely beleeue in christe are by faith made partakers of his triple or threefolde Office 1 prophets They are made prophets to know what is Gods will and to studie to doo the same 2. preâ—stes They are made Preestes to kill in sacrifice their fleshly and beastly affections and to offer vp their owne bodies a liuely Sacrifice to God 3. Kynges And finally Kinges to rule and raigne ouer sinne and corruption ouer all lust pleasure vanitie concupiscence and all vncleanenesse Neither do they truely beleeue that christe dyed for them rose agayne and ascended into Heauen for if they did they shoulde seele in them selues the force and efficacie of christes death in dying to sinne of his resurrection in rysinge vp to vertue and godlinesse and of his ascencion by hauing their conuersation in heauen and by contempning the world and the vanities therof Neither doo they beleeue that christe shall come to inudge the wicked to eternall tormentes For if they did they woulde leaue their wickednesse Neither in the holye Ghoste for hee sanctifieth all the faithfull and giueth them grace to loue and follow holynesse vertue and godlynesse and to hate and detest prophanation corruption vice and impietie Neither the holy Church doo they beeleeue which would bee none at all if euery one were or should bee as they are Nor the communion of Sainctes seeinge they haue communion with the Diuell as afore is saide and with all the wicked and dampned But specially they beleeue not the resurrection of the fleshe for if they did beleeue that it should rise againe to euerlastinge glorye and to raigne with christe in Heauen they would not pollute and defile it with whoredome filthinesse sinne and wickednesse as they do Dr if they were perswaded that they should receyue accordynge to their deedes wrought in the flesh whether it bee good or euill vice or vertue wickednesse or godlinesse 2. Cor. 5 10. Math. 16.17 Rom. 2.6 Gal. 6.5 1. Pet. 1.17 Reuel 2 2.3 20.12 22.12 Thus you see that Faith Prayer and Whoredome will not stande together For whoredome expelleth them bothe and therefore is as a perillous and venemous Cocatrice that so as before is declared eateth vp poysoneth infecteth and consumeth all vertue godlinesse religion and christianitie Now if whores whoremongers and all other fleshly minded persons had the grace deepely to consider these thynges Fyrst that they be possessed with a Deuill Secondly that they cannot pray nor serue god as long as they be of that minde and so left open without defence or any saulfgarde to bee a praye to all wicked spirites Thirdly that they are but hypocrites and dissemblers whose portion is in the Lake that burneth with Fier and Brimstone as is reneled vnto vs in the Reuelation Chapter 4. And last of all that they are without Faith and vniustified and in the state of dampnation In daunger euery moment to sinke downe to Hell if God should exercise his iudgements which are terrible and vnsercheable agaynst them If they had the grace I say to consider these thynges aright they woulde soone bée wearie of so wretched and miserable an estate and turne to GOD in haste FIfthly 〈…〉 it doth not only swéepe cleane away Fayth and Prayer but also the true knowledge of Gods whole religion and all godlinesse vertue and goodnesse out of our hartes For as Sainct Iohn in all his first Epistle doth inculcate and beate into our beades No man can bee of Christes religion vnlesse he doth endeuour himselfe to keep Christes commaundementes Now Christes will and commaundement is as you haue hearde that wee should possesse our bodies in honour and holines not in lust and concupiscence as they doo that know not GOD. 1. Thes Cap. 4. For the Lorde is a reuenger of all such thinges For God hath not called vs unto vncleanenesse but vnto holynesse Here I might goe throughout all the ten Commaundementes in like sorte as I haue doone afore almost throughout the Lordes Prayer and confession of our faith and so prooue that whoores and whooremongers keepe none of them all For example wherof let vs take the first commaundement If they did loue God aboue 1. all thinges as that commaundemente requireth they would not disobey him for a litle filthy and beastly pleasure And to touch them all for admonition sake to the ignorant If they did keepe the second commaundement they would serue the Lorde in spirite and truth as therby is required and not the flesh in lust and dissimulation If the third they would not take the name of God Christ in vaine For in vaine is it to be called a christian the member of Christ but to bee in déede the member of an whoore or harlot If the fourth they would expresse in their life and conuersation the spirituall reste there commaunded that is to rest from their owne will to do Gods will which is our holyuesse and abstinence from all vncleanenesse as before is ofte declared If the fifth they would honour the bodyes of their Neighboures and euen christen and not dishonour and prophane them with such filthinesse and abbomination and they would honour God the father of Fathers or chiefe Father of whom all paternitie or fatherlinesse is named in Heauen and earth by due reuerence and obedience to his sayde commaundemente of holynesse and continencie from all impuritie so ofte in sacred Scripture repeated and vrged If the sixte they woulde not so cruellye slaye the soule as they doo For to seperate the soule from GOD the lyfe thereof which is doone by whoredome and such like beastlinesse is to kill and destroy the same so to commit spirituall murther If the scuenth they would liue temperately modestly soberly chastely and honestly as therby is commaunded If the eyghth they would not steale away their owne good names and fames which is more precious then any worldly substaunce nor their bodies and soules from Christ the right owner of both for hée bought
thee nothinge preuaile Pleasure her felse hath thrust thee away saying neither am I seemely for thee nor thou fit for mee Thou hast plaied enough thou hast eaten enough thou hast dronke enough thou hast dallied enough it is time for thee now to bee packkinge hence with thee why doost thou as yet graspe and holde fast the fleetinge delightes of this transitory life seeinge this life it selfe hath forsaken thee and so of the persons of all other degrees and seuerall callinges for to prosecute all were endlesse This much for example sake Secondely from the Cause A Gayne if no cause should mooue you to this vice 2. From the cause but prosperitie case and your owue beastly appetite as there can bee no other cause in you then would your offence bee greater thou the crime of common strumpets that are driuen therto by pouertie and penurre The which how shamefull and reprochfull it would bee witte and discretion with riper yeares will tell you The greeuousnesse of this opprobrious offence drawen from the circumstaunce time MOreouer 3. From the circumstance of time if in the time of such great light of the Gospell that through Gods merciful prouidence shineth vpon you you should commit this abhominable worke of darkenesse it would encrease the punishmente of your sinnes wonderfully If in this dreadfull time wherin appeare manifest signes and tokens of Gods wrath and indignatioÌ„ against vs for our sinnes as blazing Stars Monsters terrible sightes in the Aire supernaturall Earthquakes and such like prodigous wonders you should be so carelesse and so full of contempt of his dreadfull Maiestie that you should with this sinne encrease Gods wrath already kindled against vs your plagues one time or an other would bee horrible Agayne apply the circumstance of time of the wéeke of the yeare to your solues and you shall finde no time for such vncleanenes but shal perceiue it hainous shame ful vnseemely for a faithful Christian at al times thus 1. ON the working day Not on the working day is no fit time to coÌ„mit whoredome or filthines in for it would bee a great shame for vs that when all other giue them selues to labour to please the Lorde in their vocation with honest vertuous exercises wee alone should giue our selues to slothfulnes wantonnes vice filthines abhomination 2. The Sunday and holyday is no fit time for the prophanation vnhalowinge of our bodies by whoredome or Adultery 〈◊〉 Not on the Sabothe day and holy day and such like impuritie for that day aboue all other the Lorde requireth that wee should keepe holy and dedicate and consecrate the same to his seruice and in no wise that day to serue his enemies the wortoe the flesh or the Diuell Besides the very name Sabboth doth admonish vs to rest from our owne filthy will to dâ— the will of the Lord. For Sabboth in Hebrue signifieth rest Moreouer that day is a tipe and figure of our eternall life wherin we shal rest from sinne for euer Which wee must begin in this worlde by resting from our corrupt will lust and desire or els wee shall neuer come to it And therfore no day to woorke our damnation and eternal death by such dead workes as is who redome c. 3. The morning when the Sunne shyneth 〈◊〉 Not in the 〈◊〉 clearely casting forth her bright Beames is no fitte time for the woorkes of darkenesse and then wee should giue thanks vnto our heauenly Father that hee hath so louingly preserued vs from all daungers of the night past that hath not suffered the Diuell to pull downe the house on our heades as hee did on Iobe his Children nor suffered our thretes to bee cut in our veddes as manies bee and so forth of other his irrecompensable benifites bounteously bestowed vpon vs without any our besertes And not to â—ee so vnthankefull for his diuine benificence as by and by to prouoâ—e him to wrath through out filthineâ—â—e in steede of thankes for the same his great mercy 4. But peraduenture you will thinke the night and darkenesse a fit time for it No Not at night not for For God hath ordained the night and daâ—kenesse not only that we might take our reste and sleepe but also to set afore vs a type and shaddowe of the euerlastinge borroâ— and darkenesse that hee hath prepared in Hell for suche as contempne him and disobey his woorde and commaundemente And what impudente bâ—ldenesse were it 〈◊〉 to prouoke God to wrathe when hee setteth a signe and picture of his wrath before our face 5. After Dinner or Supper is no fitte time for it Not after dinner or supper for that were as if a shrewd Girle after shee had beene well fedde and cherished of her louinge Father wouldâ— come to him and in steade of thankes spitte in his face who woulde not counte sutch a one worthy to bee 〈◊〉 scourged and plagued hut so do all such as béeing liberâ—ly sed of their heauenly Father runne by and by and 〈◊〉 steede of gininge him thankes by livings to him and his Saincts commit who redeme or such like 〈◊〉 which hée most abhoreth and detesteth Now procéede and apply the circumstance of time in the yeare to your selues and you shal finde the like that is that there is no time of the yeare fit for a Christian to commit who redome in thus 1. NOt at Newyeres tide Newyeares tide for that is the feast of Circumciston when all fleshly lustes and vanities should be cut from our harts And therfore no time then to let theÌ„â—uergrow our hartes and mindes so much that they carry ve euen to commit the outward externall filthy 〈◊〉 2. Not at Twelfe tide Twelfetide for then God appeared shewen him selfe to the worlde and therfore no time to commit such vucleanenesse in the Lordes prefence 3. Not at Candlemas for that is a time of purifâ—y◠〈◊〉 â—lensing of our soules and coÌ„sciences Candelmas therfore 〈◊〉 time â—o pollute and defile the same with such abhomination 4. Not at Shroftide â—yde for that is a time of honest mirth and recreation and wee Chistians are commaunded that when wee will bee merrie wee should bee merry in the Lorde Now now great a shame would it bee for vs if that when all other reiâ—yse in the Lorde in vertue honesty and lawdable recreations we alone should reioyce in the Diuell in the spirite of fornication in vice dishonesty and villainie 5. Not at Lente Lente for that is a time of fasting praying repentance and studyinge to pacifâ—e Gods wrath and if wee then should prouoke him to wrath wee should shew our selues too desperate 6. Not at Easter Easter when our heade Christe rose from death to life after hee had conquered finne the Diuell and all the insernall Atmie and therfore the Churche hath appointed that time speciall to rise from sinne and corruption Now it were to much shame for
that was blinde lame sicke or blemished reâ—use 〈…〉 for no purpose Naturecas corrupteâ—â— it is doth abhorre sutche iniquitie and 〈…〉 in corporall matters 〈…〉 men and men And why shoulde wee not 〈…〉 belonging and 〈…〉 seeinge the Nea 〈…〉 and estimation doth 〈…〉 excell â—urmount and surpasse the earthly and corruptible bodye then pure Golde dooth 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 yea more then Heauen 〈…〉 〈◊〉 finally 〈…〉 willyngly and of set purposâ— serue 〈◊〉 to serue the Diuell whereby he ruleth and reigâ—eth in them And therfore waigh and ponder well how 〈◊〉 wittâ—esâ—◠〈◊〉 madde and bed 〈◊〉 a châ—yse it is at 〈◊〉 time or in any age in anyg place or for 〈◊〉 cause to chuse and delight rather to 〈◊〉 the Diuell then to 〈◊〉 God The grounde therefore dooth greane to bee disburthened and vnleded of sutche â—lthye slaues and vile villaines that thus goe about to corrupte youth to make Nouices for the Diuels Colledge Abbey or Societie Sutche rotten Rootes and vnproâ—itable burthens of the earth d ee much more deserue to bée hanged at Tyborne then those that rob and â—ut mans throates by the â—igh way side for such take away â—â—t mâ—ney that might soone bee restored sundry wayes but these priâ—ie filthy theeues robbe silly soules poore weake Girles of such a Ie well and treasure that if all the wise men of the world would laye their heades to 〈◊〉 it if all the 〈◊〉 and princely power of the 〈…〉 regeather to restore it if all the ritche of the world would giuâ— all their rytches and treasures to buy it againe yet it would bee to no purpose It ranâ—ner be restored it is a losse vnrecouerable Moreouer they by the high way 〈◊〉 cut but the 〈◊〉 of meus bodies These to 〈◊〉 filthy â—inking 〈◊〉 buâ—chers cut the throate of the soule too and bring both body and soule to eternall destruction vnieâ— Goâ— wâ—orke at wonderful worke in their coÌ„uersion And therfore these Theeues these cutthroats these butchers these 〈…〉 these corruptious these ragges shreâ—â—rs 〈…〉 that are the dregges and peyson the venim and 〈◊〉 on of the world ought to bee of any godly barte and in 〈◊〉 most hated detested and abhorred as inferual infections firebrandes of Sathan helhoundes and Dinâ—ls 〈◊〉 And here the English Prouerbe taketh place One scaâ—bed sheepe is ynough to infect a whole flocke One bauing the spirituall botche and plague of 〈…〉 and filthy pleasure running an him is able to infect an whole Cittie If wee had spirituall eyes to see the spirituall Leprosies and other â—ugly and lothely diseases and infections of the soule that are this way taken through keeping of godlesse company 〈◊〉 would more esâ—â—ue shun and auoyde the companies of fleshly and worldly minded persons for the preseruation continuance of the health and beautie of the immortall soule then wee now d ee the contagion of such as are infected of the plague leprosle or Frenche pockes or any other contagious and lothsome disease for the preseruation continuance of the health and beautie of the corruptible bodys that shortly wé◠know not how soone wil wée or 〈◊〉 we must be wormes meate and subiects to such corruption as the eye can not without horror sustaine to beholde And yet so corrupt and preposterous is our indgement and vnderstanding So the body be in health and in good plight and lykinge in prosperitie merry lustie and in â—â—lytie wee care not what becomes of the soule no though it bes infected with all kinde of spirituall leproâ—â—e botch pockes and plagues yea rot and stinke in all kinde of corruption and lothelynes before God his heauenly Aungels and Sainctes to the eternall death of the same except God in mercy mightely raise it vp againe from his spirituall death to life â—â—es ought also to 〈◊〉 out folues from this â—illainous vice by others examples who 〈◊〉 haue knowen to haue beene 〈◊〉 â—y it either through pouertie or some lothely disease therby taken or by some other notable plague of God therby â—en vpon them selues Wherof if wee marke wée shall heare and see baâ—â—ye examples and the same notable and lamentable On the other side wee should animate and encour age our selues to continencie Virginitie and Chastitie by the examples of so many Godly and vertuous younge men and women and comparinge circumstaunce with circumstance twite exprobrate and vpbrayds our selues of slothfulnesse cowardice and dastardlinesse expostulatinge thus with our selues Why can not wee line as vertuoufly continently and chastely as sutch younge men and such younge women of sutch beauty of sutch flourishinge age of sutch wealth prosperitie and tender bringing vp And finallys perswade and resolue our selues that if wee loue vertue as ardently as they doo and hate vice as deadly wee shall by Gods grace be able to liue as godly and vertuously as they be they neuer so rare excellent or in apparance peerelesse Let ve further remember how honest how amiable delectable pleasaunts and flourishings a thinge is the thastitie and puritie of body and minde This maketh vs very familiar to the good chaste and temperate Augels and most apte for the working of the holy Ghoste For from no vice doth this holy spirite the louer of chastitie and puritie so farre flee as from shamelesnesse and leachery Neyther dooth hee so delight and quietly rest in anyes mindes as in the mindes and soules of virgins and chast persons And finally let vs not forget that it is the thiefe â—urty of Christians and almost the onely thing that Christe requireth of them to refrayne their mindes from the dire and deadly allurementes of fleshly pleasure to set their mindes wholy vpon the cheefest good and most surpassing beauty which is God him self most good amiable â—eantifull and glorious in finitly abaue all creatures without any comparison respect or colletion For what coÌ„parisoâ— is there betwéene goodnesse and naughtinesse amtablenesse and vilenesse beâ—utifulnesse and lothelinesse Glorye and ignaminie all thinge and nothing â—â—itis and vanitie felicitie and misery betweene the Patter and his pottes the Creator and his creatures and so foorth The remembraunce of the last thinges and godly Meditations concerning beauty THE seuenth and last way 〈◊〉 A perperu 〈◊〉 minding of the last â—inges and a â—dly specuâ—on and â—templaâ—on of bevvti and meane to suppresse and keepe vnder the lust and concupiscence of the bodye is to haue alwayes in our mindes and remembraunces the last thinges or as some call it the ende which are in number foure that is .1 Death .2 The generall and particular indgement .3 The rewarde of the godly and .4 The punishment of the wicked To haue alwayes in minde and remembrance that in what state soeuer wee dye in the same wee shall continue for euermore without ende bee it in the state of damnation or saluation in Gode fauour or wrath benediction or malediction To remember that it standeth 〈◊〉 know therfore seeing wée haue no certaintie of our lyfe no not an howre for the