of Angels Therefore if the righteous for their secret pride or negligence and ingratitude became so vnmiâ—d full of God after they had béene his dutifull Seruaunts so many yeares What doest thou looke for hauing framed thy life to no other trade then to accumulate one sinne vppon an other Therefore whosocuer we sée to liue in this sort as wee haue tolde of before shall it not bee expedient that hee shoulde nowe at the length cease to fill vppe the measure of his iniquities and to assay to please God and to deliuer his soule from bondage should it not suffise him that he hath liued so leaudlie till this houre addicting himselfe wholy to the worlde the flesh and the diuell and hereafter to imploy himselfe and to runne out the remnant of his race 〈◊〉 the homage and honour of God is it not néedefull after so long time and so many iniuries committed against his Diuine Masestie to feare his seuere instice which the more patiently it beareth with the wicked so much the more rigorously is reuenged vppon them in the ende shall it not be reason that hee should bee afraid to lye so long swallowed vppe in the gulfe of sinne depriued of the grace of God and to haue so strong an enemie as is hee who of a deare father through his deserts is become his adnersarie and his iudge Shall it not bée reason to dread least the force of long vse bee turned into nature and habitte making of vice necessitie How should hee not feare by little and little to fall into a reprobate sence whereunto when a man is come hee doth not any thing that is acceptable in the sight of almightie God The Patriarke Iacob said to his father in lawe Labin Fourtéene yeares are passed since I haue scrued thée and haue had charge of thy businesse and now it is time that I attend vppon mine owne affaires and that I begin to prouide for mine owne house Wherefore I pray thée sith thou hast bin so long not a retayner but a daylie waiter to the worlde not letting slip any oportunitie of this life which was eyther appendaunt to thy pleasures or agréeing to thy appetites shall it not to be reasonable for thée nowe at the length to get some commoditie for the soule and for the bertering of thy estate in the other life certainly there is nothing more short and vnsure then the life of man Why then thou prouiding so carefully all necessaries for that which is so momentall and transitory dost not likewise make some prouision for that which endureth for euer The Argument A man ought to remember himselfe and that he is a Christian and that he beleeue firmely all that he is taught by his faith which should mooue him eyther through loue or feare All things inuite him to the loue and seruice of God among which hee should acquire wisedome and harken to the words of Christ who fixed himselfe to the crosse for our redemption CHAP. XIIII NOw therfore if it be true as I haue said I beséech thée deare brother and charge thée by the precious blood of Christ that thou remember thy selfe that thou art a Christian and that thou take all that which our faith teacheth for vnfeined veritie which plainly prooueth vnto thée that besides other things thou hast a iudge to whose eye lyeth open all the actions and moments of thy life who will come at a day vnwares wherin he will exact an account of thée euen of euery idle worde This faith telleth shée farther that a man at his death is not quite extinguished because after this mortall life succéedeth an other which lasteth eternally and shat mens foules doo not perish with their bodies but that the bodies resting and raked vp in their graues the soules yet enter into a newe Kingdome and into an other new world where such condition and company shal be assigned vnto them as their manner and behauiour hath bin in this life Héere vnto this faith adioyneth yet more that as the rewarde of vertue so the scourge of vice is so infinit that although the whole worlde were full of bookes and euery creature were a Scriuener the writers woulde sooner dye and the world be at an ende before it could bee knowne and treated of particularly that which each of these doth containe in it selfe This faith also informeth thée that our debt and dutie is so great through our benefites receiued of God that though the number of a mans yeares did surpasse the sandes of the seas yet they should be too fewe to acquite himselfe in his seruice towards him The same faith affirmeth that vertue is of such passing valour that all the treasures of the worlde and all that a mans heart can desire may in no respect be coÌ„pared the reunto Wherfore if such and so great things doo exhort vs to vertue why be there so fewe which imbrace it and endeuour themselues to attaine it If men may bee mooued with any aduauntage or interest what greater gaine is there what life more perdurable If with feare what sharper punishments what paint more permanent If with the bonds of bountious liberalitie what greater debt haue wee then that which we owe vnto God of whom wee haue receiued all things If the dread of dangers may stirre vs what greater perill can there bee then that of death whose comming is so vncertaine whose account so straight If peace if libertie if the gifts of the holy Ghost and the solace of a sugred life be desired of all men it appeareth euidently that all these things are founde more readilie in that life which is lead by vertue and reason then in that which is ruled by rage and passions for that a man is a reasonable creature and not a beast But if all this bee not regarded shall it not bee sufficient that for the maintenaunce of veriue GOD descended from Heauen to the earth and was made man who hauing created the world in six dais imployed thirtie and thrée yeares in this worke wherein hee also spent his bloud and life God dyed to slay sinne yet for all this wee endeuour to reuiue in our hearts those whom God would destroy with his owne death What should I say more for all reasons are sufficient to promote this matter or to shewe it as it is Fo I say not respecting the crosse onely but which way soeuer we turne our eyes we shall finde that all things doo cry and cal vs to this commoditie sith there is no creature in the world if hee bee well noted but doth inuite vs to the loue and seruice of our supernall Lord in such sort that looke howe many creatures there be in the world so many preachers there are so many bookes so many voyces which doo stirre vs therevnto Wherefore howe is it possible that so many shriking sounds as héere thou hearest so many promises thundring threats can beare no parte to perswade thée thereunto What should God or could
day be depriued before the darke night of death steale vppon you and ere your féete be entrapped or ye stumble at that foule blacke hillocke Therefore take the time and day whilest ye haue it for it shall be turned into darknesse And our Lord himselfe who better then any other knoweth the deapth of this daunger aduertiseth vs hereof in his Euangelist saying Luke 11. Take héed that your hearts be not opprest with too much meate drinke and with ouermuch care and turmoyle of this world least that dreadfull day catch you at vnwares which will steale vpon you like a théefe and vpon all those which inhabit vpon the face of the earth Therefore watch and pray continually that you may be deliuered from these huge heapes of calamities which hereafter will happen that you being cleane and vndefiled may be presented before the sonne of the pure Virgin the promoter of all our auaile and profit The Argument Those which haue loued God and liued according to his will shall be rewarded in Paradise which is the glory and merit that good men do respect Which notwithstanding any difference that is among the elect bringeth a common comfort and pleasure to them all because there is perfect charitie and God is all in euery thing Wherfore no other exercise is vsed there or no other paine or trauaile then to loue God to laude and glorifie him incessantly for euer CHAP. IIII. NOw that we haue declared the coÌ„demnation and sharpe sentence to be pronounced vpon the wretched sinner it followeth consequently that we treat likewise of the glorious recompence wherewith the righteous shall be endued which is nought else but that happie life and kingdome which God hath ordeined for his chosen people euen from the creation of all things which is such and so excellent that neither with the tongue of men nor Angels it can be expressed But that ye may haue some taste of this heare what S. Augustine briefly saith in commendation hereof in a certaine meditation of his in this sort O life alotted by God to them that loue him a liuing life a life voide of care a blessed life a quiet life a pleasaunt life a pure life a chaste life a life enemie to death a life that knoweth no gréefe voyd of molestation of smart of anxietie voyd of all corruption voyd of perturbatioÌ„s not subiect to varietie change or mutabilitie A life full of beautie and perfection where no enemie shall molest thée nor no trespasse offend thée when is perfect vnitie vnfeigned and holie loue where all feare is far away where is one eternall day without alteration where God is séene face to face which is the foode of all that there abive Swéet GOD with an vnsatiable heart and greedie minde I couet thy hidden treasures and the more I long after them the more I luste and burne in desire considering thée my delight my life and Sauiour in contemplation whereof I féele my selfe excéedingly refreshed and reuiued O moste happie life O very blessed kingdome altogither with out death and without ende which doest not yéelde to any succession or alteration of times where is bright day continually without interruption of night there it is not knowne what mutation meaneth where the tryumphant Souldiour accompanied with a glittering crewe of Angelles singeth vnto GOD without ceasing the passing praise of Sion hauing gotten the crowne of euerlasting felicitie I would to God that my sin my gréeuous guilt were forgiuen me Thrise blessed were my soule if after this painefull pylgrimage I might be worthy to sée and beholde thy glory the beatitude the beautie the walles and the gates of thy Citie thy stréetes thy pallaces thy noble Citizens thy worthie King setled in his throne of magnificence Thy walles are made of precious stones thy gates are beautified with shining Pearles thy stréetes are paued with pure gold which resounde and ring aloude with the peales of perpetuall praises Thy houses are buylded with quadrant stones adorned with Saphyrs thy beames and rafters are of golde where no corruption can abide nothing may enter that is defiled O Hierusalem our mother thou art braue and pleasaunt in thy deuises the force of no aduersitie is felte in thée neither any of those discommodities are susteyned whiche here we find Thy ioyes are farre aboue any which this wretched life can yéelde vs. In thee is neuer founde night darkenesse nor chaunge of times Thy light issueth neither from lampe nor from the Moone nor yet from the stars but God the light of all lightes is ho which lightneth thée The supernall Emperour kéepeth continuall residence in the middest of thée enuironed and assisted with many millions of his ministers There the angelicall quires answere each to other melodiously there the frutes of true nobilitie doo yéelde a pleasaunt sent and spectacle to the beholders there is celebrated the feast of those who being safely arriued from the bottomlesse sea of these miseries and mishappes are incorporate in one societie with those which possesse eternall life There is the company of the Prophets the royall ranke of the Apostles the inuincible hoast of innumerable Martyrs there is the sacred conuent of graue Confessors there are the true religious the deuout women who despising all delights and dalliance haue conquered their fraile inclination There are the virgins and younglings which with their vertuous indnstry haue shunned she allurements of this vile deceitfull world There are the innocent lambs who robbing themselues of all earthly pleasures doo now skip and leape for ioy in theyr propper and peculiar houses And whatsoeuer difference there be in glory amoÌ„g them notwithstanding the solace and contentation is common to all There charitie ruleth béeing entire and perfect for that god is all in all whom they alwaies sée and séeing him continually are euer enflamed with his loue therefore they louing praise him and praysing loue him all their exercise all their endeuour is to magnifie him without ceassing or intermission O how happie were I and most happie if after the dissolution of this corporall prison I might heare the swéete musicall songs of that celestiall harmony and sing Psalmes of coÌ„mendation to the eternall king of al the woorthy company of the most happie Cittie Now happie shoulde I be yea twise blessed if I might attaine to this felicitie to sing stand before my King my God my guide and to behold him in his glorie as himselfe hath promised to be séene Ioh. 7. wheÌ„ he said O father my desire is that all those may be with me which thou hast giuen me that they may see the cleare brightnesse which I had with thée before the foundation of the world And all this is vouched out of S. Augustine Now tell me then what a chearefull day shall that be which shall so illuminate and clarisie thy courage if at the full consummation of this pilgrimage thou passe from mortalitie to immortalitie and in the same time that otherâ—
beloued sonne and all the sorrowe and torments that he hath suffered for me Therefore most mercifull father for the feruent loue and petitions of thy deare sonne forgiue the faults of thy histoyall vassall regarde the noble sacrifice offered by thy sonne and race out of thy remembraunce the disobedience of thy leaud seruaunt For the raunsome that he hath payde for my deliuerie surpasseth farre any my debts or trespasses whatsoeuer Oh that it would please thée to put in a payre of balance my leaudnesse thy liberalitie my wickednesse and thy woundes no doubt the peise of them would bee more weightie a great deale For what guilt can bee so gréeuous for which such sorrowe cannot satisfie sufficiently which cannot bee washed away with such affliction with so many teares and with such obedience and humilitie with such inuincible patience and aboue all with such immeasurable loue What crime can be so enormous which may not bee cleansed with that bloudie sweat yea whole flouds of blood What sinne is there so execrable which is not cured by Christes death Oh heauenly Father I offer here vnto thée the selfe-same my Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ thy sonne beloued most tenderly His sharpe sorrowes his agonies incomprchensible the which thou knowest exactly to be suffered for my defects and in stead of the contrition which I ought to haue for them I offer vnto thee his bloudie sweat in stead of my teares which I cannot shed because of the adamanticall harnesse of my hart I offer vnto thée his humble and feruēt praiers for all my slouths and negligences For ende I offer vnto thée all his loathsome labours and vertuous exercises his austere life and all that he hath wrought therein and the bitter tormēts that he did abide as a worthie sacrifice of thy diuine glorie for all the iniquities wherewith my whole life I haue offended thée and for the good things which I haue omitted and left vndone Which liuest and raignest for euer and euer Amen The Argument In the sixt consideration a man should thinke vpon death the last iudgement and bell paines And how greeuous will be the separation of the soule from the bodie by meanes of death which by reason of diuers accidents occurring then togither is the very receit of excessiue sorrows anxieties CHAP. VIII TO these considerations I wil adde other thrée out of Sarasinus of Fermus that is death iudgement and she paines of hel which are a very necesry appendix to all that we haue treated of before The same Doctor telleth vs that to him that is newly conuerted nothing is more behouefull and requisite then the meditation of death both for that it repelleth vaine delightes as also because the practise thereof is of such facilitie as the whiche we daily viewe with our eyes and féele with our hands yea we may rather say that our surest portion is with death and that we dye continually hauing a bodie so corruptible that euery houre altereth chaungeth his shape and neuer resteth in one estate Like vnto a riuer that passeth with a furious and headlong course wherof no part can be marked throughly for it running swiftly whilest ye note one waue straight it is not the same that ye looked vppon before but is turned into another Many deuout considerations may be had cōcerning death which the matter it selfe yéeldeth sufficiently to him that aduisedly deliberateth herevpon Of which minding to collect a fewe I doo affirme that if thou intende to reforme thy life when thou risest in the morning perswade thy selfe so much as thou maiest that the same will bee the last day of thy life and dispose of thy soule and worldly affaires in suche sort as though in verie déede thou shouldest not liue one houre longer and thinke not that thou deceiuest thy selfe in so dooing for if death may attache thée euery day thou shouldest likewise daily attende his comming And farther I say vnto thée that no one day of thy life shall passe without many negligences vnlesse thou doest enforce thy selfe to beléeue that euery of them is the laste of thy life Thinke also vppon the dreadfull stroke of Death which because it is so vncertaine ought to bee feared continually And consider to howe many perilles of death we are subiected and thou shalt finde that they are innumerable as well within the bodie as without in so muche that if thou looke warily about thée thou shalt perceiue Death to be paynted in euery place and businesse Thinke also what pressures and agonies shall assault thée at the poynte of death To this consideration it shall assist thée much to beholde sometimes a man dying Marke the accidents and painefull passions of that houre howe his bodie lyeth forsaken of naturall heats his sences without force or moouing as though it were a very stone the extremities and vttermost parts waxe colds the face is turned into the colour of leade the bowles of the eyes dipped in the mouth full of fome the tongue swollen the necke winding to euery side Then marke also howe the brest beateth and panteth and is readie to burst asunder with paine the lippes waxe blewe the téethe become dumbe Finally all the bodie dissoluing it selfe and being forsaken of the soule with sorrowe inestimable the man resteth a lumpe of earth Thou perceiuing and viewing well such perplexities in other maiest likewise represent the same spectacle in thy selfe imagining that the Phisttians haue nowe giuen thée ouer as knowing the maladie to bee incurable thy friendes and kinsfolkes about thy bedde whose presence shal augment the griefe of thy departure O how dreadfull shall that separation be where welth shall not asswage thy woe but shall rather plunge thée déeper in the gulfe of calamities neyther shall honours assist thée yea thou shalt leaue them with like vehement smart as thou gottest them with gréedie desire and for thy wonted delights shalt reape the fruites of a gnawing conscience What then wilt thou doo béeing brought to this poynt what counsell wilt thou then take To go out of thy bodie will be intollerable to abide there impossible to deferre thy departure cannot be graunted thée neither maiest thou returne to thy sensuall delightes which nowe are senslesse togither but knowing thy selfe and scanning them more narrowly shalt bee abashed at thine owne brutish behauiour and if it were possible wouldest flie from thy selfe Shalt sée thy selfe beset with horrible monsters that is with thine owne sinnes of whom whither soeuer thou wandrest thou shalt be pursued and hedged in all that is passed shall séeme vnto thée as the twinkling of an eye and shalt know the time to come to be infinite Then mayest thou well say with the Prophet The dolours and daungers of death hath inclosed mée rounde about and the furie of hell hath assaulted mée By this minding and meditation of death thou shalt acquire many great commodities First thou shalt be stirred and incensed to the seruice of God the feare of