god of hell and of euerlasting torment and peyne And like as the heathen in times past were perswaded that these thynges were feyned whiche the poetes feyned of Tartarus and Phlegethon of Minoe Radamanthis of hell and the region of the deuelishe and of the punishment of the same wherupon Seneca toke occasion to saye that the poetes deluded and feared vs with vain menasses and feares So verayly a great parte of men thynke that these are but tales and contemne them as vayne thretenynges whiche are sette forthe to vs in holy scripture of hell of eternall death of the fyre wherin shall be waylynge and gnashynge of tethe of the resurrection of the sowle and body together to partake eyther ioy or peyne when otherwise all these thynges do imprynte in the hartes of godly men and suche as lyue in the feare of the lorde a wonderfull feare and horrour And are as the poâ—te sayth names which euen sowne fearfull in our eares Thou hast the first and chefest cause why we for the most parte all of vs in this wyse differ the reformacion of our lyfe ¶ The seconde cause NOwe let vs procede vnto an other cause which is the hope of the mercy of god this hope is greate in verye deade but yet it is suche as they may well ynough deceyue themselues with al. For of theyr hope they haue no sure triall at all With this hope I say the continuall enemie of mankynge kepeth man in sinne wonderfully and by settynge forth to him the mercy of god bryngeth him vnto this passe that he feareth not the iustice of god at all But verely I say vnto you that lyke as god granteth forgeuenes at the fyrste to the repentaunte and most fatherly sheweth his mercy vnto such as be conuerted vnto hym so doth he also sharpelye punyshe those men whiche do contynue obstinatly in vyce Suche men then as repente not vnfeynedly conceyue a false hope of the mercy of god But the deuyl notwithstanding by setting forth to men this hope bryngeth this thyng to passe that they liue on forth quietly and securly in vice and wyckednes nor thyncke ernestely with them selues at any tyme of any reformation or amendment Yea they desâ—ise thabundaunce and riches of the bountifulnes and longe sufferyng of god beynge ignoraunt that the goodnes of god dothe induce and leade vnto repentaunce as Paule testifyeâ—… â–ª In this place also let vs cal that thyâ—… vnto remembraunce whiche our sauiour speaketh of in S. Mat. Repent bycause the kyngedome of god is at hand And also that which the lorde spake by the mouth of his prophete Esai Vnto whome shulde I haue respecte but vnto suche as repente and are lowe in spirite and feare my commaundementes In S. Luke also he declareth the same thynge Excepte ye repente ye are al of you vtterly caste awaye And in the actes Peter sayth in this wyse repente therefore and be conuerted that your sinnes may be taken away Here I myght allege infinite places of scripture which make very plainely for this purpose that no man whiche dothe not vnfeinedly repent can conceyue certain hope to haue remissioÌ„ of his synnes which I wyl omiâ— at this tyme. For as I haue sayde alredy he loketh in vayne for to hauâ— forgeuenes at gods hande whichâ— truely repenteth not with his herte â–ª And althoughe there is no tyme oâ— repentaunce late in gods syght As appeareth by thexample of the thefe which is spoken of in scripture Also god wyll not the death of a sinner but that he repente and lyue yet who may not se howe daungerous a thynge it is to differ the reformacion of our lyfe sith that there is no man as the poete sayth in suche fauour with god that he can assure hym selfe of the next morowe folowyng For many times death crepeth steleth vppon vs when we loke leaste for it so that than there is no tyme of repentaunce lefte nor space to reforme and amende our lyuiug Here I thynke it nedes to speake of those thinges which Plinius maketh mencion of in his naturall history touchynge sodayne deathe sence that there is nothing almost in our tyme more common than the same For not longe ago two olde men of oure countrey which dwelte bothe in one cytye dyed sodaynlye vppon a certayne nyght whan they dyd resorte vnto a certayne woman that they were wonte to company with all the one dyed of a sodayne passion the other was thrust through with a daggar And nere nother of them euer spake worde after that tyme Nowe â–ª let euery man iudge for him selfe in what daunger these twayne dyed And thoughe it be a thyng common as well to the godly as vngodly to dye sodaynly And the iuste can not be but in good state what deathe so euer they dye yet verely a man can not deuise how horryble a thynge it is for one to dye thus which is with out repentauÌ„ce of howe many haue we herde whiche were slayne oute of hande by multyplyenge wordes amonge other ruffyans in tauernes whiche haue bene taken in bed with other mens wyues or haue bene other wyse sodaynly cast away by one meanes or other in gamnyng or otherwyse to passe by those whiche haue broken theyr neckes of horsebacke haue peryshed sodaynlye by shypwreake and haue bene oppressed with the ruyne and fallynge of houses vppon them or with some other such chaunces Let vs then admitte this that god wolde haue the sinner to repente rather than to dye as he vndoubtedly wolde yet by reson of vncertayne chaunces we can not without gret danger diferre the reformation of our life yea though we put our hope firmely in the mercie and goodnes of god we must repente therfore while we liue vppon yearthe and be lustie and haue our helthe but the world is cleane contrarie For we se daily that the yongeman giueth him selfe to belly chere drinkinge and riotte he flaterethe him selfe and saith to him selfe that he maye liue many yeres and therfore myndeth not any thynge the reformation and amendemente of his life but differreth and putteth that thinge of vntill his olde age whervnto whether he shall euer attayne or neuer it is harde for any man to saye For tell me one of many thousandes which hath lyued vntil that age but for his pleasure let vs admytte that he may lyue soo longe as he wold wyshe What doth he than I praye you goeth he about any reformation or amendment of his life No no. This is euer more his sayinge I wyll amende to morowe to morowe And thus with such delayinge he flatereth and deceiueth him selfe at length for he is vncertayne euen as al other be whether god wil permit hym to lyue vntyll the same nyghte or not much lesse is he certayne of the nexte morowe Thus whiles a man differreth the reformation of his lyfe often tymes deathe sodaynly stealeth vpon hym As we may dayly se by experience And yet we can not be admonished and warned by
space to sorowe bewayle his sinne euery man must loke for that thinge which hangeth ouer the heades of al men and may happē indifferentlye to euery one Cal to remembraunce the sodeyne death of them whiche were in the tower Siloa whiche thynge we reade in Luke Agayne what if a man shall fall into suche a disease and syckenes as shal take his witte and reason cleane from hym as we see dayly by experience Well yf it so happen as it may well ynough all hope of repentaunce is gone and brought to naught wherunto the sinner when he prolonged and put of fro daye to daye the reformation of his lyfe had most respecte Thinke not contrary but that thyng which fortuneth to others maye also fortune to the. For as Publyus saythe very wel That thing which chaunceth to any one may chaunce to euery man wherefore putte awaye this vayne and dyceyuable hope of longer lyfe thinke not to haue occasion when thou wylt prescribe not to thy selfe a tyme to repent in lest by so doynge thou increase thy foly or madnes as I may call it in differrynge the reformation of thy lyfe Yf thou be wyse repent whyle thou mayest sinne For yf thou purpose to repent when thou canst syn no longer thou shalte not seame to haue lefte synne but it the. And it is to be feared lest when thou myghtest thou woldeste not that when thou woldeste thou shalte not The iudgementes of god are vnsearchable in punyshynge the vyce and wyckednes of manne For lyke as of his infinite mercy and of his excedynge great goodnes he geueth space of repentaunce to such as are wyllynge and redy to receyue it and beareth with sinners vntyl they come vnto them selues agayne and be refourmed so verely whē he doth se any man that he is vtterly loste and a chylde of perdityon and illudeth his long sufferaunce and iustly deserueth punyshement he doth no longer vphold him bycause he runneth headlong into wylful destructiō but blindeth hym beynge desperate and without hope as the scripture saith hardeneth his stony hert nor afterwarde loketh for any amendment or geueth hym an occasion as it were to repent and amende his lyuynge God doth appoynt for euerye man his day and ende beyonde the which a man can not in vyce procede nor surely god wyl prolonge the punishment of sin anye longer which thing myght much moue a man to repente and to refourme his lyuynge and to set asyde all dilayenge and to yelde hym selfe to the mercy of god offered vnto hym But nowe let vs go forwarde bycause I haue declared sufficiently of this parte Such as do by a certayne trust and confydence that they haue in the popes pardons differ the refourmation and amendment of theyr lyfe leane vpon a rea◅n and weake staffe and stay them selues by an vnsure holde none other wyse then they also do whiche worshyp Barbara of Nicomedeus and gyue a streyght charge to theyr executors for to se thē brought forth and buryed in a Franciscane friers robe For what mencyon is there made any where in scripture of such eyther in the olde testament and the Prophetes or in the newe testament and the Apostles Or where read we it that there was any suche thynge obserued in the prymatyue church or receyued and approued by a general counsell as a thynge eyther necessarye or yet profitable vnto saluation◠Therfore he that bewayleth not his sines before death shal not be saued thoughe he be bolstered with thousand thousandes of bulles and pardons Yf thou wylt not then come in to despeire of thy soules helth repent the of thy former lyfe settynge suche trumperye ware a parte and when thou shalt reknowledge thy synnes be sory with all thyne herte and vnfeynedly requyre the mercy of god with prayenge and wepyng let thy refuge and resortynge for succoure be vnto the merite of Christ in a sure and vndoubted hope truste that god the father wyll be mercyfull to the for Chrystes sake whome for our sake he delyuered to dye a moste sharpe and shamefull death Thus it shall come to passe that god will haue mercy vpon the◠and forgyue the thy synnes and receyue the into his fauour for Christes sake For we haue him an aduocate with the father he prayeth contynually for vs and reconcileth vs to the father which is greuously offended with our vyce naughtynes he appeaseth the wrath and indignation of the father as Ioi declareth in the firste Catholique Epistle Let vs therfore lay away from vs these popyshe pardons and this supersticious worshyppyng of Barbara and a Fransciscane robe to be buryed in For in these thynges no man can conceyue any certeyne hope of saluation Let vs resorte for succour vnto Chryst him selfe for he is our mediatour and aduocate as I sayde before he is the very throne of grace he appeased the wrath of god the father for the synnes of the world he is the lambe of God whiche was ordeyned a facrifice for synne frome the beginninge as we reade in the Reuelacions of S. Iohn what wyll ye more He is our rightuousnes santificacion and redemption As Paul declareth vnto the Cor. Do not therfore deferre the reformacyon of thy life for the hope and trust which thou puttest in Pardons and other suche triftles consideringe that our lyfe is so short and vncertein And sith that death by reason of vncerteine chaunces hangeth dayly and hourly ouer our heades it may wel ynough come to passe that in this present moment when thou least lokest for it it maye creape and steale vpon the without al dout if thou considerest how short the tyme of a mans life is at no tyme it can be very farre of howe daungegerous a thynge is it then to lyue in that state in the whiche if thou shuldest be preuented suddeinely by deth thou wert vtterly cast away and condemned both body and soule Therfore for the auoidinge of such daunger and ieperdy lyue euer in the fere of God confesse and acknoweledge thy sins resorte for succour vnto the mercy of god axe humbli forgiuenes of thy sins and trust assuredlye that by Christ thou art saued Repaire of tentimes vnto the minister of the cōgregacion desire that thou maist be comforted and assoyled by hym and that thou mayst be stered to remēber the promes of the forgyuenes of syn and mayst be more assured and certeine of the mercy and wyl of god towardes the come oftentymes vnto the Lordes table eate of the bodye which was once offered for the sinnes of mankinde eate of it accordingely as he dyd institute it and drinke also of the lordes bloude which was shed for the remission of synne and declaring and shewinge after this maner the lordes death and callynge to remembrance the benefite whiche thou hast receued therby rēder most herty thankes to hym for the same synge swete songes and laudes before him with a ioyful and thankeful hert as wel at home in thine owne house as also
pastours and mynisters as were almost faythles But some man wyl peraduenture contrarye me and say that they beleue to be saued by Chrystes benefite wel that I stande not in this poynte with you admitte that it be soo as ye saye Nowe beleue they S. Paule where he affirmeth that whorekepers and adulterers shal not be inheritours of the kyngedome oâ— god I thynke not the contrary but they beleue it for we oughte not to thinke the contrarye Sithen then these men be of that numbre whome Paule denieth shall be inheritours of the kyngdome of god or the holy ghoost rather The thynge must be graunted of necessitie whiche can be denyed in no wyse how can they promise them selues saluation in Christ By this reason then they beleue that they them selues shall be saued and whorkepers such as they are in very dede shal be condempned Lord for thy mercy what ignoraunte blyndes is here what lacke of iudgement is this do they not se plainly that theâ— speake contraries If they may hauâ— any sure hope to be saued then thaâ— that Paule wryteth vnto the Epheâ—ans is false but if that be a greatâ— ouersyghte and an absurde thyngâ— to affirme these men can conceiue no certayne and assured hope or trust that the father is pleased with them for Christes sake Than what truste is this how thinke they to be saued They that haue but small syght in Logique maye easely se howe stronge and pythy our reason is The fyrste part in logique termed Maior is taken out of S. Paule for he sayth that whoorekepers and adulterers shall not be inheriters of the kyngedome of god The seconde parte called Minor is confirmed and verified by the whole worlde for they pronounce with one assent that our Romanistes are such Of these twayne then the Catholike may frame suche a conclusion that all the packe of papistes lyuynge in abhominable whoredome are banished men out of the kyngedome of heauen All men thoughe they be but sklender logicians se very well that this is a necessary conclusion which is brought in and gathered of the former prepositions which are manyfest true and graunted of our aduersaries This argumeÌ„t is fashioned in the fyrst figure and fourth mode Therfore the popishe pristes liuynge in suche abominable whoredome can conceyue none assured hope and truste of saluation nor haue true fayth as they feygne thoughe they bragge and spreade abrode certayne vncredible tales of theyr faythe but some man wyll peraduenture obiecte and say that it maye come to passe that suche as lyue wickedly and vngodly this day may to morowe or after wheâ— it shall please the goodnes of God repent and acknowlege their sinnes and after the reknowlegynge theroâ— lyue innocentely and in the feare oâ— god therfore we ought not so lyghtâ—… to despeire of the saluation of any man I haue weyed your reason dyligently and no doubt of it we may se howe suche men studie the reformation of theyr life and how truely and vnfeynedly they repente For where haue you sene heretofore of many thousandes but one which hauinge suche remorse of conscience hath forsaken his whore and fullye purposed neuer after that tyme to company with her I wote well ynoughe what I say for it is euident and knowne There is scarsely one of euery thousand that casteth thus with him selfe for to amende his lyuynge and to forsake his whore in good ernest and with his harte But nowe to leaue these thynges howe stynkyng and abominable is the outwarde face of that popyshe churche wherein the superintendauntâ—s 〈◊〉 ministers do lyue in such open abomination soo that others are not a lyttle offended therewith What a thyng is it when whorkepers must exhorte men to chastytie the impenitent to repentaunce the wycked to godly lyuynge yet this thynge is done dayly as we may se not onely in vyllagies but in gret cyties and peraduenture also in some regions but without al question it is done in all landes all places where so euer the pope is supreme heade the bysshopes them selues lokynge on permittynge and almost approuyng it whiche thynge bycause they sharply punyshe not as by theyr offyce they are bounden to doo but for brybes suffer men to lyue in most abominable whordome they encourage them to take pleasure and delyght in the thynge and do sette them forwarde whoÌ„ they ought to brydle and kepe backe yea they be the cause that though the preestes lyue in such abomination yet they thynke it no sinne at all and them selues do minister to the same occasion by sufferinge them to continue obstinatly in such whordome Of the which one thynge as of theyr other cure and offyce they shal render a streyght accompte and reckenynge but here some man wyll axe me what were the byshops dewtye in this behalfe I wyll tell you it were none other but this not to winke and dissemble in such abominacyon as S. Paule exorteth neyther yet to permitte it or beare with it Fyrst they shuld admonishe them and reproue the vice of whoredome Than if they profyted nothynge by so doynge the nexte remedy were to put them out and let them haue nothynge to doo in the congregation and to excominicate theÌ„ out of their temples and sacred places And to cast out of the assembles of faythful men suche as are adiudged to hell fyre and to giue them as Paul willeth into Satans handes to mortifie theyr fleshe that in the day of our Lorde Iesus Christe they myghte be saued I say that this were their office if they shulde execute the same and approue theyr doynges in the lordes syght which is the selfe same iudge that wyll requyre and haue an accompte of all theyr doynges They shulde shewe them selues authors and example gyuers of good workes and an example of the fayth full aswell in theyr communication and conuersation as also in loue spirite fayth and purenes of lyfe But sithe that nowe a dayes the bishops commonly shewe them selues such to the inferiour sorte of the clargie yea and rather worse than the same is by theyr example they doâ— not onelye cause but also encourage the ignorant fooles to offende more boldely a greate deale then other wyse they wolde for they thinke that they may boldly by the byshops example do so Yet I wonder much at it that they can not be awaked and sterred to repentaunce sence that they haue so many and sundry occasions thervnto For theyr office is to viset comforte confesse and assoyle the sycke To minister the sacrament of the bodye and bloude of the lorde and the laste vnction to be present with the sycke at theyr death and departure To synge dyryges in the which there is mencion made so many tymes of the day of anger of the daye of calamitie of the sorowfull daye of the fearfull iudgement of god of eternall condempnation of the these whiche repented late in the which also they seke and pray that they fele not the peines of death nor be bounde with
syth that Christ hath fulfilled it and satysfyed for the synnes of the whole worlde veresy such saienges do wonderfuâ—…e offende the eares of Godly men and giue occasion of much vngodly liuing and besides that cause men that they thinke but lytel of any reformacion Ye mary it is the cause that they contynue obstynatelye in vice nor that all one but also be encouraged there vnto Surelye it taketh away al the occasion of reformacion Wel Paul did not thus whiche dyd not onelye preache the fayeth in Christ to Felix and Drufille hê wyfe as Luke declareth in Thactes but also reasoned profoundlye of iustice temperance and the last iudgement so that Felix herynge hym dispute so exactely to the purpose was muche abashed He also testifieth in thactes that he dyd not preache repentaunce onely to the Heathen but also gaue them warnynge that they shulde do workes worthy of repentance Nowe I haue shewed you the causes why we difer the reformacioÌ„ of ouâ—â—…fe It remaineth therfore that we shewe in lyke maner brefely what be the remedies for the same whiche partelye we haue done alredye ⧠The remedies THauthoritie therfore of god and our Lorde Iesus Chryst shal be of muche force and power agaynste our vnbeleue concernynge the laste iudgement the punysshement of the wycked and the euerlastynge blesse of the godly onlesse we wyl rather be taken for Christians than be Christians in very deede specially yf we dilygeÌ„tly wey and cal to remembrance those thinges which are mencyoned euery where in scripture concernyng the same thinges As this saienge in Saynt Iohn The houre shal come when tâ—ey which are in their graues shall 〈◊〉 his voyce And suche as haue done wel shall aryse vnto lyfe but they that haue done the contrarye shal aryse vnto condempnacyon Againe the wyll of my father whiche sent me is this that whosoeuer seeth me and dothe beleue in hym shall haue euerlasting lyfe and at the last day I wyll rayse hym Our sauyour also in Mathewe speakynge of the last iudgement declareth what sentence he wyll pronounce of the godlye and saieth thus O ye which are the blessed of my father possesse the kyngdome prepared for you frome the beginning of the worlde but the vngodly shall here this Auaunte yâ— the accursed go ye fro me into euerlastynge fyer which is ordeyned for the deuyl and his Aungels Againe these shal go to euerlasting fier But the iust and Godlye to euerlastynge life Oh what a terrible voice is this of the iudge that adiudgeth 〈◊〉 wycked to euerlastynge fyer Yf the feare of iudgement here in yearth maketh such aferde and astonied as are gyltye muche more must the feare and dreed of the heauenlye iudge make them astonied and the gylte of theyr owne conscience If that thou dredest here in earth the iudge from whom thou mayste appeale vnto an other much more hast thou cause to dreade the sentence of that iudge froÌ„ whom there can be none appealynge at all This is his senteÌ„ce Go fro me O ye the accursed How heuy and dredful a thynge is it to be banysshed out of gods syght which in goodnes farre passeth and surmouÌ„teth al thinges â–ª howe miserable a thing is it to be excluded out of the kyngdome of God â–ª which is suche that we can not ymagine the pleasure of it much lesse atteine vnto it in wordes Howe lamentable a thinge is it to be priued of the company of saintes and godlye men But we shal not only be secluded out of the kingdome of heauen that most ioyful blessed habitacioÌ„ but shal be also appoyncted to infinyte peynes in hel and vnquenchable fier which passeth our fiere so many degrees in heate that in comparison of it this is veray yse There shal we accompany continuallye deuylles without all hope of a better state Thinkest thou if men remembred these thinges that they wolde lyue so wickedlye as they do vndoutedly â–ª they thinke lytle As Peter declareth in thactes that god the father hath ordeyned Chryste to iudge the quycke and deade whiche thynge also Paul noteth both vnto Timothe and also vnto the Corin. These be his wordes Al we must appere before the iudgement seat of the Lord there euery man to receaue accordingelye as he hath done here in earth eyther good or the contrarye In this iudgement as he also declareth what thynge soeuer hath benne hyd and couered shal be reueled and dysclosed to the whole worlde which thing howe terrible and shamfull it wyl be to the wicked no tongue is able to say or mynde to thinke For yf here in erth a man had rather be swalowed quicke into the grounde than haue his fautes opened and shewed afore a great multytude of all states of men which might be wytnesses of his wretchednes what hertes shal the deuelysshe haue than thynke we when all thynges whiche they haue either purposed coÌ„ceued or wrought shal be dysclosed tolde to the whole worlde to the Angels in heauen and to all saintes and other If we iudge it a shameful thynge to be ledde into prison here in earth how much more shameful a thinge wyl it be to be cast into euerlastyng fier If it be a terrible thing to be banyshed here in erth or to suffer death howe muche more terrible wyl it be to be exiled and out lawed fro the kyngdome of heauen and the bodye and soule to be punyshed with endles death If it shal be a glad and ioyful herynge when the son of god commaundeth the godlye to pertake and possesse the kingdom prepared for them frome the begynning of the worlde of the contrarye howe heuy newes wyll these be to the wicked when they shal here them selues adiudged to the vnquencheable fyer ordeyned for the deuyll and his aungels If those thinges we beleue to be true which the scripture setteth forth concernynge the laste iudgement and paine of the wycked Why liue we so as thoughe there were neither heauen nor hel If we beleue theÌ„ not why wil we be taken for Christians Let vs therfore put awai expel these domestical vices .i. lithernes and slugyshenes for our strife is not bout the Goates woole as it is said in the common prouerbe But al the whole matter is about our saluacioÌ„ and the atteynement of the heauenly and blessed life Nowe therfore let vs refourme our lyuynge nowe I saye whyles we haue the whole tyme for forgiuenes and haue him our medyator and aduocate whiche at the last day shal iudge vs. Let vs not defer the amendment of our life vntil such tyme as our sin shall seeme rather to haue lefte vs then we to haue forsaken it Let vs dayly and hourely remember the day of dowme the terryble voice of the iudge whiche commaundeth the wicked to depart and auaunte from hym Let vs remeÌ„ber also the paines of hel and of the endles fier Let vs remeÌ„ber the shortnes and vncertainte of lyfe certaine deth and yet that the houre therof is most
communicacion and infinite other of the same sorte wherwith soâ—euer godlye eares are offended buâ— also the vnsene and hyd ententes oâ— the herte such thinges as we hauâ— wyckedly eyther wyshed or thoughtâ— moreouer the naughty affections oâ— the mynde which be contrary to thâ— worde of god as anger grudge hâ—tred ennimitie malyce enuy prydâ— couetousnes desyre of other menâ— goodes c. Who wold not than thâ— remembraunce of this iudgemente withdrawe from vice and stay leste he shulde fall all together whiche is perswaded assuredly that it shal be One of the olde wryters hath a very good and notable sayeng whether I eate or drynke sayeth he or what thyng so euer I do the terible voyce of the archangell sowneth in myne eares Arise you dead men come vnto your dowme whiche whan I remembre I quake bothe bodye and soule Yf the fleshe then stirreth vp any man vnto beastly lustes and bodely pleasures or vnto gluttony or â—urfettynge or vnto any such vyce â—et hym by and by call to his remembraunce the dreadful day of dowme Yf prosperitie as it doth very often cause a man to be hauty and proude if ryches make a man fearse and his mynded yf honoure promocion or high dignitie cause a man to thinkâ— much of hym selfe and to despise others let hym streyght way remembre the iudgement seate of the lorde Yf anger prycketh any manne to reuenge his quarell yf grudge and malyce trouble the hertes of any yf couetousnes enforceth a man to rob and deceyue others yf the worlde doth prouoke any man vnto ambycion pryde or ryote yf the deuyl by his suttyll and false meanes and crafte dryue any man to speake blasphemie agaynst god or vnto any other suche myschefe let hym thynke none other but that he shal appeare before the iugement seate of the lord and shall there pleade for hym selfe Let hym feare the sentence that the iudge shall pronounce which dothe condempne the wycked to hell fyre wolde god wolde god I saye that this day of dowme wolde neuer fall out of mens myndes Than surelyâ— euery man wold do as he shulde do Kinges and rulers wold haue their onely and specyall care vppon the weal of the communaltie committed to theyr charge and wolde defende theyr Lybertye and vpholde and maynteyne bothe theyr priuate and publique ordynaunces and lawes Of the other part the comons wold shew them selues loyall obedient towarde their liege and soueraygne head and kyng and wolde not disdayne to haue him rular ouer them nor refuse to pai their rentes towles or trybutes but otherwyse wolde render vnto hym aswell due reuerence and feare as also honour c. Euery man wolde loue his wyfe as his owne selfe the wyues wolde reuerence theyr husbandes and be in subiection vnto them as vnto their lordes and heades Parentes wold trade and brynge vp theyr chyldren in godly education and discipline and as Paule wylleth in the feare knowledge of god Agayne chyldren wolde be obediente towardes theyr parentes in the lord and wold ernestly folowe theyr wayes and busely do theyr commandement Seruantes wold be redy at the coÌ„maundement of them which as apperteyneth vnto the flesh are their masters and that with all honest reuerence and godly feare and symplicitie of hert as also Paule exorteth Againe maysters wolde be meke and gentil towardes theyr seruauntes beynge well assured that they haue also a mayster in heauen Pastoures and mynisters wolde attende the lordes flocke as they are bounden Ryche menne wolde relieue the poore with theyr goodes â–ª wydowes wolde pray nyght and day without ceassynge Poore men wolde take paciently well in worthe theyr pouertie sythe that it is the wyl of god that it shal so be The maryed man wolde lyue as though he had no wyfe The vnmaried man wolde referre al that euer he doth vnto the glory of god what wyl ye more euery man wold do his offyce and duetie in his callynge as he oughte to do if the remembrance of the laste dowme were euer before his eyes when god wyll requyre a reckenyng of our whole lyuynge and of all our doynges and wyl gyue to euery man accordingly as he hath deserued eyther rewarde or punyshment We see dayly with our eyes in a gret and feruent plage tyme when death is euery houre present before mens eyes howe careful they are and howe diligentely they go aboute the reformation of their life specially if they be not suche as do vsurpe falsly the name of Christistians What Ought not we than muche more to go about the reformacion of our lyfe at all tymes all houres and euerye moment of the houre and to repent vnfeinedly and bewayle our wicked and synful life and pacifie the wrath and indignation of god agaynst synne sythe that by casualitie and vncertayne chances death is imminent and at hande euerye houre A wyse man therfore wyll so leade his lyfe alway as men vse commonlye in the daungerous plage time when they are as it wer awaked out of theyr dreame and be carefull and go ernestely about the reformacion of theyr lyfe and purpose to chaunge it into better and to eschewe vyce exercyse iustyce and equitte and finally to pacifie gods wrath whiche is worthely stered agaynste vs for our synne by true repentance and remorse of conscience â–ª I praye you ought not euery man when there is no such daunger nor feare of any plage to be the like that afore in the hotte and daungerous plage tyme he determined to be Euery man wil graunt that the houre of deathe is vncertayne and that it is a thyng most certayn that we shal dye what a great folly is it than to feare death so much which is euery houre at hande nor to thinke at any tyme of the reformacion of our lyfe but thus it is We fele and acknowledge the most iuste wrath of god aaynst syn in aduersitie as in plage famine yearthquake daungerous dissases of the body but in prosperitie when we haue the world at wyl we feare nat to abuse the goodnes of god In this state we remembre nat death which is iminent euery houre nor the laste dowme nor the terrible 〈◊〉 of the Arâ—hangel of the which S. Paul maketh mention vnto the Thessalon nor the sowne of the lordes trumpe nor hell or euerlastinge peyne nor the vnquenchable fyre nor the darkenes where there shal be wepynge and gnasshynge of teeth Whiche thynges verely we oughte to remembre at all tymes whether it be in the mornyng at our vprisynge or at night when we go to rest or at dynner or supper or when we bathe our selfe for our healthes sake or do any serious and weighty busines or fynally when we refreshe and recreate our myndes with some honest pastyme But the vngodly can not be perswaded none other but that these thynges are fables whiche the scripture setteth forthe of the last dowme of the iudgement seate of the lorde of the voyce of tharchaungel of the trumpe of
other mens perilles and harmes to take heede The deuyll leadeth vs on forthe and feadeth vs in suche wyse with vayne hope of the mercie of god and of longeâ— lyfe But here though it can not be denyed nor ought to be denyed but that the repentant receiueth of gods mercie at all tymes nor that he nedeth to feare or fal into desperation whiche is at the very poynt of death yet I recken that there is none so folish that he wyll chose that thynge which is ieoperdsome and leaue the other wherin there is no daungere at all Wherfore that noo suche feare or grudge of conscience remaine let vs goo about the reformation herof betimes nor differre it in any maner wise sythe that we are vncertaine of the nexte morowe folowing And as towchynge the mercye of god let vs remembre continually the saiyng of Ciprian So much as god is sayth he euer bountious and merciful for his fatherly loue and tendernes towardes vs so muche oughte we to feare and dreade hym for the maiestie of a iudge that he beareth Thus shall it come to passe that through the feare of gods wrath we shal be withdrawen and brought froÌ„ vyce and shall not yet throughe the hope of his mercy be deceyued and corrupted in securitie A worlde it is to consider how the popyshe prestes flatter theym selues with this selfe same hope of goddes mercy whiche kepe concubines al the days of their lyfe and lyue-vnder the pretence of single lyfe in moste shamefull whordome and abomination nor thynke ernestly with them selues of any reformation at any tyme or of dischargynge them selues of theyr whores And thoughe they be giltie in theyr own conscience of this theyr vicious and abomynable lyuynge yet they go to theyr masse sacrifice euery day and do also resort and presume vnto the lordes table as they do take it to be They eate the lordes breade vnworthely and drynke vnworthely of the lordes cup. Oh lord how dangerfull and horrible is it to lyue in that state wherin if death shulde preuent a man he were vtterly condempned and cast away both body and sowle Those than that after this maner kepe whoores all the dayes of theyr lyfe and do in the same thyng obstinately continue nor purpose at any tyme to dismis theyr strumpets nor truely do repent and crie god mercy with sighynge and teares for their wicked and synfull life doo flatter them selfe falsely with this hope But here peraduenture some man wyll obiecte this and saye What good syr do they not cry god mercye oftentimes and beseche him to haue mercy vpon them do they not dayly say in theyr euensong Conuert vs Lorde and turne thine angre from vs Also in the later ende of theyr matines lord haue mercy vpon vs. I se farther they pray in many other places that it wil please god to haue mercye spare and forgyue them I here your reasons very well Nor I entende not to axe you the question or reason with you in this place how they praye or with what entente of mynde or what zele or what feruentnes of spirite But admit that they pray with an ardent deuotion and a mynde erecte and lyfte vppe to god with most ernest affection what can ye conclude herevpon For what profyteth it them onles they discharge them of theyr harlots in that minde purpose neuer to receyue theym agayne and in that purpose to lyue chastly and contynue euen to th end But for so muche as they do not repente as we see playnely surely we nede not to doubt but that they eyther holde it to be a fable whiche is taught in scripture of the last iudgement or els fondly flatter them seues with this hope of the mercy of god Oh yl fauored and horrible face of that the popishe churche Such as shulde rule teache and instructe others not so much by their learning as example in lyuynge become soo dissolute that in theym others take greate cause of offence Marke diligentely the laye men when they repaire vnto the mysticall table of the lorde how reuereÌ„tly with what preparation in confessyng their sins c. with what godly behauour and deuocion they come how diligently laâ—…ure they and endeuour that noo grudge remayne behind in their conscience how certaynly purpose they thenseâ—orth to amend that whiche is amisse to refourme theyr lyuynge but consyder now what our whorishe masmongers commonly vse to doo Verelye as one of theyr order wytnesseth they come froÌ„ thimbrascinge of a whore vnto the aulter and that not ones or twyse but often and dayly without any punysshemente or shame They passe not for any reformation they mynde not to discharge theym of theyr whores No sygne of repentaunce foloweth of the reknowlegynge of theyr faultes and to say the verye truthe they seme to be in name onely christians in deade very heathen and publicans Than some man wyll are of me whether there be any hope that suche shal be saued or not Verely to speake my conlcyence I thynke that they can coÌ„ceyue no hope of the mercy of god bycause S. Paule affirmeth vnto the Hebrewes that god wyll iudge whorkepers adulterers And doth plainly denye that those shall be the inhericers of the kyngdome of god Nowe if the prestes of Balaan perswade theym selfe that Paule dyd speake the truthe as it can not be denied but he dydde can they in suche abomination and fylthy liuing conceyue any hope of saluation considering that they neyther do repent vnfeinedly nor purpose to discharge theim of theyr minions but if they doo not beleue S. Paule we take them to be christians amisse for they ar no more to be taken for Christians than the heathen and publicanes are like as our sauiour sayth By what lawe or authoritte do the byshops theÌ„ suffre such abominable liuers to continue within their iurisdictions dioceses why licence they such men by theyr aucthoritie to preache in churches wherfore do they wynke at such abominacion and permitte them for brybâ—s to vse yerely such whordome This thyng is so manifest that it can not be denyed so fylthye and cryed out on that it is not lawfull to beare with it And it can not be couered or cloked anye longer Thoughe than they wyl say that they are not playnlye vngodly bycause they attrybutâ— honoure to the name of god yet it is manifest that they can not be taken for godly bycause they giue them seâ—ues to such thynges as are most coâ—trary to godlinesse like as Hilarius affirmeth where he wryteth of suche And surely suche are they also which are not greued and offended with the abominable liuyng of those and openly do detest the vndefiled pure bed as S. Paule calleth it that is the honest and laweful matrimony of the mynisters of the congregation Oh terrible thynge to be harde oh miserable and lamentable state of the congregation O lorde Iesus come and succour thy churche which so long as the popisshe kingedome endured had such
lead guyde gouerne instructe sanctifie raise vp comforth and strengthen vs like as in the gospell Chryste hath promised that the father wyll gyue the holye ghoste to such as requyre it of him And in the meane tyme by geuing place to prau and wicked affections let vs not agaynste our owne conscyence withstand the holy ghost nor banishe and greue hym but rather as Paule exorteth vs let vs walke in nâ—…enes of lyfe and be no slaues nor seruauntes to sinne Let vs offer oure bodyes a lyuely pure and acceptable sacrifice before god Let vs crucifie and kyll the flesshe with all the ragious lustes and pleasures thereof and kepe our selues pure from the worlde Let vs be renewed in spirite and put vpon vs the newe man whiche in ryghtuousnes and true holynes is made lyke vnto the image of god Let vs be folowers of god as louynge chyldren and walke lyke as it becometh the seruauntes and saynctes of the lorde one berynge with an other by loue and studyenge to preserue and maynteyne by the bonde of peace the vnytye of spiryte gentyll and louyng one towardes an other Let vs loue our enemies praye for suche as curse vs do good to such as hate vs pray for them that vexe and trouble vs gyue fode to the hungry drynke to the thristie money to the pore and neady Let vs harbour the harbourles cloth the naked viset the sycke shewe the way to him that waÌ„dereth instructe the ignoraunt helpe hym that is in perplexitie with our good counsell comforte the comfortelesse make agrement amonges them that are at varyaunce let vs also condempne honoures forsake vayne glorye passe for no ryches Finally let vs endeuour to oppresse and vanquyshe this naturall enclination to vyce which is graffed in vs And let vs not onely beware of this that our hertes be not burdened at anye tyme with excessyue eatynge or drynking but also prepare oure selues some tymes by abstinence and fastynge for to pray and in so many and sundrye assaultes of the deuyl the world and the fleshe most ardeÌ„tly to require the helpe of god Neyther let vs be to proude in prosperitie nor caste downe in aduersitie and what thing so euer we do let vs referre it vnto the glorye of god not respectinge so much our owne pryuate profitte and coÌ„moditie as the common profit commodity of others Let vs moreouer behaue our selues so that we be no cause of offeÌ„ce to others but that they may rather by oure example be moued and stered vp vnto vertuous and godly behauyour And to conclude let vs pray contynually with out ceasynge gyue thankes in all thynges preace euermore vnto heauenlye thynges and sette the vayne thinges of the world at naught But thou wylt peraduenture say These thynges are harde and of much difficultie I wyl not denye that thyng But surely they are thynges as well fytte and agreable to our profession as also necessarye vnto saluacion Wherfore in dryuynge out and expulsynge this folyshe nysenes of the mynd let vs be very diligent let vs not pamper our selues to much nor flatter our owne weakenes nor faile our selues wyllingly sith that we are not yet destitute of the grace of god Let vs not wetyngely fal into synne but rather strongly resyst the deuyll which stereth vs and prouoketh vs thereunto Let vs not gyue cowardlye ouer at the fyrste brunte What thing is not to be thought light and easye to atteyne that lyfe whiche aboundeth withall good thynge and euerlastynge ioye Paule sayeth by good ryght I recken that the miseries of this present lyfe shal not be so greate as the glory which we shall haue reueled to vs which thynge is declared and proued by this place in scripture For it is written that the eye hathe not sene nor the eare herde nor the thinges haue not entred into the herte of man which god hathe prepared for them that loue hym What a greate thynge is this Howe scarsly can it be not onelye by any mans tongue vtterered but imagined in the mynde what a state that is to be citizen of heauen heyre of god partener with Christe in his fathers herytage to possesse that kingdome which was before the creacion of the worlde prepared for the godly to beholde euermore the highest felicitie and greatest good thing that can be to see and haue the most sweate contemplacion of gods countenaunce to accompnye aungelles to be in the numbre of the blessed soules in the felowshyp of the iuste to praise god coÌ„tinually with himpnes which is the euerlastynge sprynge fountayne of al trewe glorye among aungelles Patriarches Prophetes Apostles and all the godly whiche are partakers of the blessed and euer lastynge lyfe what be not all the paines grefes and calamites of this lyfe to be thought light and easye yf thou compare them with the glorye whiche shal be Nor hable to deserue such a rewarde as is ordeined for theÌ„ which bere those paciently and take them well in worthe so that we may iustly be ashamed of our nise delicatenes what man wolde I beseche the wisshe to tary here in earth and not to be dissolued rather with Paul calling to remembraunce the kingdome of heuen the immortal lyfe and ioye thendles blesse the company of aungels the felowship of al them which liued here in earth in the seruice and feare of god and be nowe pertakers of the blessed and euerlastyng kyngdome of god Let vs not thinke therfore that these thinges ar difficile or hard which Christ setteth forth to hê disciples for that eâ—ment hereof sith that of the contrary wise whoso doth not kepe gods commaundemeÌ„t whiche is a thing necessary and nedefull vnto saluacion shal not onely be depriued of that blessed lyfe whiche we spake of but shal also be cast iÌ„to that regyon and place where the wycked abide â—nd shal be greuously tormented in hel with such punishement as is ordeined â—or the deuelishe and vngodly and shal be addict to hel fyer endles death and cast into that depe darknes where there is wailing and gnashing of â—eth and where as they shal be most sharpely rigorously and euerlastingly punished tormented and shal be also in the felowship and company of deuyls and the wycked soules without al hope of better that is to wit in extreme desperacioÌ„ whiche pricketh vexeth a man a thousande partes more then the pein and punishment which he abideth what man wolde not refraine him selfe fro sin whiche hath those thinges before his eyes the feare of hell endles punishmeÌ„t euerlasting deâ—h the vnqueÌ„cheable fire tormenâ—es which no maÌ„ is able to tel the company of deuils the felowship of the vngodly horror anguishe continual tremblinge and quaking which is such that it caÌ„ not be conceaued muche lesse described set forth in wordes whom wolde not the day of anger make a ferd as both the Prophet and Paul also vnto the Ro. callethâ—…t the day of punishement and afflictioâ— the day of miserye the day of mist