Iudges which were seene to beare rule ouer the people and they haue turned away their vnderstanding and haue withdrawen their eyes from beholding the Heauen neither would they remember the iudgementes of the iust This processe of iudgement is short vvithout tarying VVhen for our sinnes shall serue none excuse But our vnkindnesse to Christe our soueraigne king Our consciences eke vvitnesses shall vs accuse VVhen vve his gracious good fauour abuse God graunt therefore by ages tofore past VVe in this last aige such vvarnyng may take That cleauing in feare to this our God fast VVe may auoyde the danger of the dreadfull lake 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR we all must needes be manifested and openly reuailed before the tribunall seate of Christe that euery man may reape that whiche he hath done in his body be it good or be it bad ESAI CAP. 13. BEhold the day of the Lord shal come that cruell day and full of indignation wrath and furies to put the earth in feare and her sinners to be ouerthrowen by her because the Starres of Heauen and their glitâ—ering hue shall not geue foorth light vnto them EZECHIEL 6. THE end commeth it shall stand vp as a watchman against the sorowe shal come vpon thee which dwellest vppon the Earth the time is come the day of death is neare at hand and not of the ioyfull sound of the Hils Now euen at hand foorthwith wyll I powre out my indignation vppon thee and wyll accomplishe the desire of my fury vppon thee and wyl iudge thee according to thy wayes and wyll lay vppon thee as a burden all thy wickednesse and my eye shall haue no compassion vpon thee neither wyll I shewe thee any mercy but wyl lay vpon thee thine owne wicked wayes MATTHE 25. THen shall he say to those which shal stand vpon his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels ORIGEN SInners doo lincke them selues in amitie with the Deuill as they which are by the prouidence of God saued are made coequals with the holy angels So such as perishe are compared vnto the angels of the Deuil Augustinus 21. de ciuitate dei HEreby also is it manifest that the same fire is geuen by ordinance for a pounishment vnto men and deuils Gregorius 33. cap. mora IT belongeth to the iustice of a straight Iudge neuer to withdrawe pounishment from them whiche of their owne mindes in this life would neuer withdrawe them selues from sinne PSALME 119. VNderstand this you that haue forgotten God least that at any time he take you away by force and then there be no man to take you out of his handes c. Then shall Christe thus pronounce for conclusion From his leaft hand vvhen he the vvicked shal expel Depart yee vvofull vvretches vvith my malediction To the perpetuall fyre and tormentes of hell In dolorous darknesse vvith deuils there to dvvell VVithout recouerie shall be there your residence Fellovved vvith feendes furious and fell And of my person neuer more to haue presence MATTHE 25. COme you the blessed of my Father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world ORIGEN FOR the holy ones of God whiche haue wrought the woorkes of righteousnesse haue alredy taken for their hyre the inheritaunce on the right hand of GOD for their woorkes of righteousnesse wherein consistes both rest and glorious triumphe AVGVSTINVS LAbour in worldly matters will discourage thee from comming vnto God but behold the Heauens whiche haue learned the first commaundement they fulfill the same TOBIA 6. THE Lorde GOD of Heauen shall rewarde thee with ioy and comfort for the werisome trauel that thou hast endured 2. CORINTH 1. FOR this ioye and comfort that we haue conceaued is a witnesse of our conscience within vs c. PSALME 100. BE you glad in the Lord and be ioyful you that are iust c. and reioyce you in the lord c. MATTH CAP. 24. WAtche therefore because you know not the houre when the Lord wyll come HIERONIMVS IT was not requisite that the Apostles should haue the day of the foreknowledged comming of Christe reuealed vnto them that by reason of theyr earnest looking for of his comming they not knowing when yet might alwayes beleeue that he would come whom they knewe not howe soone he would come GREGORIVS WHat man seemeth to watche in deede which to beholde the brightnesse of the true light keepeth open the eyes of his mind That man watcheth who obserueth that order of dooing well which he beleeueth is acceptable before god That man watcheth which driueth from him the darknesse of dolour and negligence IOHN CAP. 3. O Ye generacions of Vipers who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to ome Doo you therefore shewe foorth woorthy fruites of repentance PSALME EVen as the wounded bodies sleeping in their graues that is to say The sinners of whom there is no further memory and those are repulsed out of thy handes PSALME 36. DEpart from dooing that is euill and doo good After the first sentence the second folowe shall Full of solace and consolation Saying vnto those on his right hand all Come ye chyldren on my benediction VVhich haue me loued with true intention Receaue you the kingdome of lasting blis Reserued for you from the worldes creation God grannt vs thy grace to labour for this ESAI CAP. 46. REturne and come againe oh you that haue frowardly walked after your owne hart GREGORIVS O How strait shall then be the way for the reprobate aboue in the Heauens shall sitte the Iudge full of displeasure belowe in Hell shal be an horrible confusion vpon the right hande shall stand our sinnes to accuse vs vpon the leaft hand infinite numbers of Deuils which shall drawe vs to the tormenting place within vs the gnawing of our conscience and without vs the Woâ—ld burning rounde about Whyther then shall the sinner flee To appeare to iudgement shal be intollerable for him and to hyde him setfe shal be impossible PSALME 138. I Haue remembred these and I haue powred out myne owne soule before me HIERONIMVS BVT thou discreete Reader marke and consider that both the punishments which are ordeyned are eternall and that the euerlasting ioyfull life hath in it no maner of decay or ruine ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. BE mindfull of the wrath of the Highest because he wyll not long foreslewe the time MATTH CAP. 10. FEare not ye those that haue power to slay the body onely but rather feare you him which is able to destroy both body and soule euen in the very Hell. Augustinus de verbis Domi. BVT we see all such as loue this present life temporall and which is soone ended so to labour for the same that when the passion of death approcheth them they make all the shift they can that they not be taken away with death and by all meanes seeke to prolong their life If then men doo with suche
ought to knowe that neyther the iust man nor the vniust the child nor the olde man are exempted but be dissolued by death the soule from the body before they be in that state of goodnesse or euill beyonde the which yf they should heare liue alway they shoulde neuer passe further to any felicitie c. ECCLESIASST CAP. 14. OH death how bitter is the remembrance of thee vnto a wicked man hauing peace in his ritches AVGVSTINVS OH life howe many hast thou deceaued whiche whyles thou fleest and passest away art as nothing whyles thou art seene of vs thou art as a shadow whyles thou art made much of thou art as a vanishing smoke sweete art thou vnto fooles and bitter vnto wyse men therefore thou art to be shunned thou art to be feared because thou art daungerous So fareth it with man in this lyfe euen as a man that soiourneth in an other mans house not knowyng when it shall be sayde vnto him arise and depart from hence Ad Romanos CAP. 5. BY meanes of sinne death entred into the worlde AVGVSTINVS THE true death in deede which men doo feare is the separation of the soule from God who is the life of our soules VERSVS O happy is mortall kinde If he alwayes life fynde And feare the eternall good end in respect of his vertuous mind A mighty medecine a royall eke remede Sinne to subdue I finde for eche degree Is to remember that state yf he were deade VVhen soule all sorowfull departes the body Then waying this liues instability VVe shal be sure to receaue iudgement Togeather both in soule and body Of woord and worke of thought and time mispent â–ª ECCLESIAST CAP. 10. WHY art thou proude O thou Earth and Ashes sequitur A King to day and to morowe dead and when a man dyeth he shall become the heyre of Serpentes Beastes and Wormes GENESIS CAP. 3. DVst thou art and into dust shalt thou returne againe HIERONIMVS WE dye dayly and we are changed dayly and yet we thinke our selues to be eternall euen this very woord that I speake that I write when I eate when I drinke or what thing els so euer I doo somewhat therby is my life time shortened PSALME 44.144 MAn is made like vnto vanitie his dayes doo passe away as a shadowe VERSVS Est homo res fragilis durans pro tempore parvo Hic est hic non est quasi flos qui crescit in aruo Man is a brickle and fraile thing That lasteth but small time Now here nowe fades as flowre In feelde that groweth fine ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. MAN dooth not know his end but as the fyshes are taken with the hooke and the birdes are catcht in the snares so in the euill dayes are men snared and yet notwithstanding this man knoweth not whether he deserue more to be hated or loued but the vncertainetie of thinges are reserued till a further time EZECHIEL CAP. 3. THE vngodly and wicked shall die in his sinnes AMBROSIVS WHAT thing can be more miserable vnto vs which are cast foorth into this life as all bare and naked fraile in body weake in mind doubtfull and full of disquietnesse slowe to take paines prone and redy to pleasure AVGVSTINVS IT is a foolishe thing for a man to liue in that case wherein a man dare not aduenture to die and he is of better courage which slumbreth and resteth with one deadly sinne going no further then he that waigeth battel with seuen enimies Thinke on thy corpes now delicately fedde VVhose foode shal be euen woormes and scorpion Thinke howe with costly clothing thou art cladde VVhich death shall change into corruption Yet of our death by naturall condition No creature knoweth time when nor place VVhether Heauen or Hell for our possession Eyther els ioy or sorowe we shall imbrace PSALME 94. MIscheefe shall fall vpon and ensnare the wicked to his destruction AMBROSIVS IT is better for sinners that doo euill to dye then that they shoulde remaine still long in sinne ARISTOT 3. Ethicorum OF all fearefull thinges death is the most fearefull PSALME 49. THE graue is their dwelling place and last end they shall leaue their ritches vnto others to possesse PROVERBES CAP. 11. RItches shal not profite nor preuaile them that haue abused them in the last day of reuenge but iustice shall deliuer a man from death of hell SAPIENCE CAP. 3. FOR horrible is the death of the vnrighteous generation GREGORIVS in moribus EVery man feareth the death of the fleshe but fewe doo feare the death of the soule ECCLESIAST CAP. 1. ONE generation passeth and an other commeth 2. REGVM CAP. 13. BEhold we all taste of death and are as it were water cast vpon the earth which returneth not from whence it is sent so do we fall away ECCLESI CAP. 1. THERE is no suruiuing memorie of them that went before PSAME 9.10 THE memorie of them is perished as it were with a sodaine noyse PSALM 9.10 I Am yeelded vp vnto obliuion as a man that is dead from his owne hart BARVCK CAP. 3. WHERE are the Princes of the nations become which were lordes ouer the beastes of the feeld which delighted them selues in the foules of the ayre whiche haue hoorded vp their siluer and gold wherein men do put their trust and those neuer linne searching for the same which doo woorke therevpon and are busie therein their dayes are ended and them selues are gone downe into the deepe pit Death vnto the wicked is terrible euermore But vnto the godly a comfort doubtles To liue well eche man be carefull therefore And whyle thou hast light refuse darknesse Behold the nine nobles of famous woorthynes As Dauid Salomon Hector and Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest of noble renowne VVhose flickring fame through the world doth wander Hath not death by his dart laid them adowne DEVTE CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation without aduise or counsell and without wysedome would God they would once be wyse and haue vnderstanding and woulde prouide for â—heir later dayes Which woords being more amply discussed by saint Bernard he saith Would God they would be wyse in three thinges that are past that is to say In the losse and lacke of good thinges whiche are brought to passe vnder mortall power or in dooing those thinges which they haue neglected to doo 2. That they woulde be wyse in not constituting the wicked in aucthoritie whereof the number is infinite in the worlde 3. And that they would be circumspect and carefull in the losse of time then which thing there is nothing to be coumpted more precious And sayth saint Bernard Would God they would vnderstand three things that are present that is to say 1. The shortnesse of our life because we haue neither certaine day nor houre how long to rest here 2. The difficulty of our saluation because straight is the way that leadeth therevnto and fewe there are which walke in thereby 3. And the small number of
's none by flyght vvhich may be fugitiue Then Sunne and Moone obscured vvith anoyance Yea other Planets vvith beames obumbratiue Shall in their kinde shevve dolorus countenance DEVTERO CAP. 9. THere shall goe before thee a deuouring fyre and a consuming flame IOEL CAP. 2. BLowe vp the Trumpet in Sion Reioyce you that dwell vpon my holy hill Let all the inhabitantes of the earth be troubled and disquieted because the day of the Lorde is at hand because the day of darknesse and of smoothering heate draweth neare the cloudy and troublesome day Idem BEfore his face shall goe a deuouring fire and after him shal folow a burning flameâ— for the day of the Lord is a mighty day and a very fearefull day and who shall abide the same neyther is there any man which shall escape it Eodem IOEL BE you therefore conuerted and turne vnto me saith the Lorde with all your whole hart in fasting in mournyng and in bitter teares and you shal be saued APOCA CAP. 20. AND the sea gaue out from her the dead bodyes that were buried in the bottome thereof yea death and hell it selfe sent foorth their dead gohstes and there was sentence of iudgement pronounced vppon euery one according to their woorkes IOEL CAP. 3. I Wyll geather all nations togeather and I wyll bring them into the vale of Iosaphat and wyll dispute with them 1. CORINTH CAP. 15. TRuly we shall ryse againe at the iudgement day but we shall not all be immutable or vnchanged euen in a moment or twinckling of the eye in the last blast of the Trumpe Ricardus super 4. dist 47. HOwe or in what maner the Lorde wyll geue iudgement is not presently manifested to the world neither hath he woorthely rewarded euery man neyther hath he punisht them accordingly but the accomplishment thereof resteth behind in his handes as touching the body and the soule and as touching the desert of prayse or punishment EPHESI CHP. 4. VNtill we shall al runne togeather in one course with vnitie of fayth and woorshipping the sonne of GOD growing vp to one perfect man in measure of the fulnesse of the aige of Christe APOCALIPS 22. ANd I sawe as well the great as smal bodyes standing openly before the throne and the bookes were opened Athanasius in Symbolo AGaynst whose comming all men shall be warned to aryse with their bodyes out of the earth MALACHI CAP. 3. WHO shal be able to consider of the day of his comming or who shall endure to behold the sight of his presence IOB CAP. 14. WHO is able to warrant me that thou wylt protect my soule in the neathermost hell and hide me vntill the furie of thy displeasure shal be passed and that it wyll please thee to appoint me a time when thou wylt remember me That day is the day of wrath and calamitie yea the great day of miserie very bitter HEBREOS CAP. 10. BVT terrible and fearefull is the looking for of the iudgement and feruent heate of the fire which shall destroy all his enimies IOB CAP. 19. FLee you away from the face of the Lorde because the swoord is a reuenger of iniquities All fleshe shall aryse from death to liue In soule and body hauyng resemblance Then to receaue sentence definitiue Decreed by Gods deuine ordinance Hovv euer it be in ioy and greeuance VVe shall addresse vs young olde ritche and pore Happy or vnhappy as it shall then chance To rest in payne or pleasure euermore MARCI CAP. 13. THen shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen SAPIENCE CAP. 12. WHO shall stand against thy iudgement oh Lord or who shall come before thy presence as a reuenger vppon the wicked ones of this world PROVERBES CAP. 6. THE Lord wyll not spare any flesh in the day of reuengement neither wyll he be pacified with the entreaty of any person neither wyll he take great rewardes to redeeme any soule PSALME 110. BEcause his mercie is enduring for euer HIERONIMVS IF only the lawe and iudgement of mortall creature and fraile flesh which shal be turned into dust be with such care â—hroughly trembled at and feared With what carefull feare ought we to prouide for the iudgement of the deuine maiestie PSALME 110. I Wyll sing of mercy and iudgement vnto thee oh Lord. Idem O GOD geue thy iudgement vnto the king c. PSALME 36. THY iudgement oh Lord is as the light of the mid-day APOCA CAP. 20. AND behold the dead were called vp to be iudged as touching those things that were written in the bookes to receaue their reward according to their woorkes NAVM CAP. 3. BEholde sayth the Lord God of hostes I come vnto thee and wyll discouer thy shamefulnesse euen in thine owne face and wyl shewe thy nakednesse vnto the nations and reproche vnto other kingdomes and I wyll poure out vpon thee thy owne abominations and will smite thee with reproches Then shall our kyng vvhich iudged vvas vs iudge In glorious forme of deuine humanitie From vvhose face there may be then no refuge No fauour freendship revvard parcialitie Nor any respect ouer high and lovve degree VVhen in tvvo diuers maners he shall administrate His iudgement to the godly vvith mylde mercie But most seuere Iustice vnto the reprobate SAPIENCE CAP. 5. BVT the righteous shal liue for euermore their reward also is with the Lord and the care for them is with the highest Chrisostomus super Mattheum IN that day of the Lordes reuenge we shal haue nothing to answeare for our selues for the Heauen the Earth the Sunne and the Moone the Dayes and the Nightes and all the whole Worlde it selfe shall stand against vs to beare witnesse against vs of our sinnes and wickednesse IACOBI CAP. 5. YOur ritches are become rotten and consumeâ— your garmentes are eaten with the Moth your golde and your siluer is become rusty and the rust thereof shal be a witnesse against you ABACVCK CAP. 2. THE stone in the Walle shall crie out against you and the Tymber betweene the Rooffes of your houses shall answere against you HVGO de sancto victore THE conscience of man is as a booke shut whiche shal be opened in the day of iudgement MICHEAS CAP. 3. HEare O ye Princes of the house of Iacob captaines ouer the house of Israel Eiusdem CAP. 6. LET the high Hilles heare the iudgement of the Lord. LVKE CAP. 16. GEVE a reckonyng of thy Stewardshippe SAPIENCE CAP. 6. THere shal be a most sharpe iudgement ordeyned for such as beare aucthoritie ouer others AVGVSTINVS THE Prelates are woorthy to dye so many deathes as they geue euill examples of death vnto their people committed in charge vnto them ESAI CAP. 46. HEare me oh you of hard hartes whiche are farre of from dooing iustice IEREMI CAP. 15. MY people is become a disobedient people their Sheepheardes haue led them a wrong way DANIEL CAP. 13. INiquitie is gone out from Babylon euen from those that were the elder
wretched thy price is precious MATTH CAP. 27. ABout the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voyce saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken me AVGVSTINVS SVrely these were the woordes signifiyng what a carefull and troubled spirite he had for vs which are beset with troubles and in them expresseth a certaine tendernesse of bitter passion and sorowe proceeding out of his so deepe sithes entire lamentation and bitter plaint whiche might suffice to molefie vnto compunction and remorse a very iron brest might cleaue in sunder a stony stomacke might humble and bowe the hart of wood towardes loue and finally moysten a very brasen hart towards contemplacion in this case Neyther let man marueyle yf he doo suffer tribulations because he is so comforted in Christe his head and cheefe captaine MATTHE 27. AND when he had cryed agayne with a loud voyce he gaue vp the gohst IOHN CAP. 29. AND bowing the head he gaue vp the gohst AVGVSTINVS THE Sauiour of the worlde bowed his head at his death that he might kisse his welbeloued Mother and the Disciples then and there present And wee doo so oftentimes kisse him as we are compunct and throughly stirred vp to the hartifull remembraunce of his death ANCELMVS· THE Heauens stoode astonished at his death the Earth was amazed What dooest thou then oh Man Neither is it a thing to be marueyled at yf the shinyng Sunne became perplexed that thou shouldest be also perplexed yf els the Earth became sadde and pensiue so thou shouldest likewyse be sadde and pensiue yf the Stones were rent in sender that thy hart be rent in sonder yf those that stoode by the Crosse dyd weepe thou shouldest weepe as well as they HIERONIMVS BEhold when Christe dyed euery creature had compassion vpon him but man alone hath not had any compassion at al vpon him for whom in deede Christe dyed His spirite commending to his fathers cure â–ª VVhen that he cryed consummatum est Both Heauen and Earth and liueles creature On him compassion tooke from most to least O wretched man why art not thou then prest For loue of thy Redeemer sweete Iesus To plant compassion in the faythfull brest Suffering for him all harmes iniurious IOHN CAP. 19. AND they tooke the body of Iesus and wrapped it in linnen clothes and spiced it with Balme and sweete odours BERNARDVS MAry the mother of Christe was the example of sorowe and compassion vnto all those that loue Christe HVGO de passione Christi BEhold oh man what I suffer for thy sake see the paynes and troubles that I endure for thee see the nayles wherevnto I am fastened and whyle I endure for thee such outward sorowe yet notwithstandyng my inward gronyng is more greeuous whyle I trye thee and finde thee an vnthankful freend vnto me HEBREOS CAP. 6. CRucifiyng agayne vnto them selues the sonne of God. Glosa Auctoris THey crucifie Christe and are found reprochefull vnto him which contemnyng his grace doo sleepe in their sinnes Bernardus in persona anime deuote I Knewe not sayth he that Christe so loued me I ought not to be therefore reprochefull vnto my self which so manifestly see that God was crucified and suffered death for me which haue been so acceptable vnto him that he chose rather to dye for me least that I should otherwyse perishe Idem OH precious Soule not with gold nor siluer redeemed but with the blood of the lambe of God why wylt thou cast thy selfe so into perdition seeing Christe for thee shed his precious blood haue remorse ouer thyne owne soule seeking to please God. Regard oh man this wofull disceuerance Behold Mary behold her sonne Iesu If ruthe haue roome in thy remembrance VVith piteous hart his passion to pursew Through which thou mayst thyne innocencie renew O electe vessell knowe thy felicitie Of thy misrule thincke time it were to rew Confound not thy selfe through thyne iniquitie BERNARDVS COuld not GOD repare his pretended woorke of grace in Man any other way but by this so great danger of his owne lyfe Yes truely he might otherwyse haue remedied this matter but he had rather woorke this meanes though it were to the preiudice of his owne person because he woulde not finde any further hatefull vice of ingratitude in man but that he would make man a debter vnto him of manifolde loue that he ought vnto his Sauiour and hereby shoulde encourage him to be thankfull vnto him whom the felicitie of his creation had made lesse gratefull when as this our Creator for our sakes but spake the woord and al things was done he commaunded it should be and they were created ANCELMVS THerefore God was able being a man also to satisfie for man but yet he was not bound to any man so to doo But man was and is bounden to satisfye the wyll of God and coulde not nor can not therefore it was needefull that God should be a man that is to say because in that he was Christ he was able to satisfye as God and was not bounden as man. GREGORIVS HE that made vs of nothing yea yf it had pleased him coulde haue redeemed vs without his death or passion Augustinus de ciuitate dei THere could not haue been any more fitter meanes wrought to heale our miserie then that Christe should dye for vs. And though that God by power Omnipotent Might vs redeemd without such difficultie There was no way more iust nor congruent Then for to take on him our humanitie Restoryng vs thereby to higher dignitie Man was in thrall and could him not acquite To make amends of power deuoyde was he But God him freed by fauour infinite BERNARDVS WHen I shall â—eepely excogitate whatsoeuer I am of my selfe whatsoeuer I can doo of my self is it not thincke I with my selfe in respect as a Starre to be compared to the Sunne a sparcke of fyre to the heate of a whole furnace a droppe of watâ—r in comparison of a flood a litle stone in respect of a hill a grayne of Corne to a whole heape and a handfull to all the worlde Therefore Lord I haue but two small powers in me nay they are very litle that I haue that is to say the one my body the other my soule or rather I haue but one onely litle power that is to say my good hart and wyllyng mind whiche thou hast made and geuen me And shall I not bestowe it in recompence of thy good wyll who being such a one as thou art hast bestowed so much for me and hath as it were preuented me at once with so great benefites who hath in thy selfe comprised me wholy or otherwyse yf I shall retayne these to my selfe and not bestowe them of thee with what countenance with what eyes and with what mind or conscience doo I goe vnto the bowels of the mercie of my God and I do see that same most strong safegard or defence of myne is altogeather gored whereby Israel is kept and that his blood
pouerty and oppression Murmure discord and desolation Confiskes many a Kingdome ane huge Impery From theyr late former good condicion For want of Iustice through iniquity ESAI CAP. 59. THEY haue wrested iudgement backwardes and Iustice hath stoode a farre of because trueth hath fallen downe in the streetes and equitie coulde not enter there and trueth was made a guste of forgotten freendship and the man that departed from dooing euill felt the smart of a prized spoile IEREMI CAP. 21. BEholde I deliuer before you the way of life and the way of death doo your iudgement in due time and bring the oppressed soule out of violence least that my displeasure and wrath doo haply depart from me towardes you as a consuming fyre and so burne you that there ve none to quenche the same by reason of the malice of your inuentions ISIDOR WIcked Iudges euen after the maner of Woolues do rauen and make hauocke of all thinges IEREMI CAP. 51. NAbuchodonozor eateth me vp and greedely dooth as it were deuoure me ECCLESIAST CAP. 20. BRibes and rewardes doo blind the eyes of Iudges and as a gift in the mouth dooth stoppe their reprehencions In England then trueth shewe thy stately style And Iustice thou thy Baner brode display All leagerdy maynes from hence quite exile Graunt God that good meaning mainteined be may All subtyll shiftes to conuince and bewray VVherewith the couetous encombred bee Least that the great flee the small eatyng alway Doo the same deuoure by lawles libertee MICHEA prophet CAP. 3. HEARE this ye Princes and Rulers of the house of Iacob and you Iudges of the house of Israel whiche haue abhorred to doo iustice in iudgement and doo peruert all thinges that are good because you build vp Sion with bloodshed and Hierusalem with iniquitie their Princes shall geue iudgement for rewardes for this cause shall Sion be furrowed vpon euen as a feelde ISIDOR THE simple people are more greeuously torne in peeces of the euyll Iudges then of their most cruell enimies For there is no robber so greedy of other mens goodes as a wicked Iudge is amongst those whom he hath aucthoritie of AVGVSTINVS IN so much as the mischeefe of couetousnesse waxeth nowe so ripe that euen of custome the very lawes are bought and solde iudgementes are corrupted the very sentence it self is set to sale for mony there can be no cause without care and vexation tryed ESAI CAP. 5. WOO be vnto you whiche iustifie the wicked for bribes and rewardes and doo wrest the iust mans cause from him Farre from vs O God expell corrupt iustice VVith couetousnesse and false affection That goodnesse of eache cause may full suffise To try it selfe cleare in the action Of euill buddes let no bitter abusion Make crooked causes cloked to bee In Consistory Court or Ciuill Session But graunt O GOD to trueth the victory ESAI CAP. 49. HEARE me O ye of hard harts which haue sequestred your selues farre from Iustice Expositio Matth. 22. YOV haue forsaken those two most graue respects of the law that is the one iudgement the other mercie PATRONIVS FOR nowe Iustice is made none other thyng but a common marchandize PSALME 2. NOW O ye Kynges be wyse and learned you that iudge the earth ECCLESIASTICVS CAP. 47 IT is the office and duety of kinges to keepe vnder those that are euil and aduance such as are good subiectes 1. MACHABES CAP. 15. ANtiochus saide I wyll be reuenged vppon them whiche haue corrupted the land c. AVGVSTINVS IN this poynt doo Kinges serue God yf in theyr kingdomes they commaund and establishe that whiche is good and forbid that which is euil not in matters only parteyning to humane society but as concernyng deuine religion for neither liue they at ease free from cares of mind and trauels of the body but bestowe their tyme in great disquietnesse and labour vntill such time as they haue accomplished their functions and dueties to all perfections SAPIENCIA 6. THE hardest iudgement shall be ministred vnto them whiche beare aucthoritie ouer others To Kyng without colour that lyst to keepe Iustice The nearest way most honorable and easie Ys corrupt men to suffer in no wyse By false affection or parcialitie To execute the office of Iustice duely And yf in this poynt a Prince be negligent His mind perswaded may be fully He shall incurre Gods dreedfull iudgement ECCLESIASTES CAP. 10. BLessed is that land whose King is of noble race ARISTOTLE primo Politico VErtue and malice doo determine and handle matters betweene bondmen and freemen betweene noble men and those of base degree Idem 5. Politicorum NObilitie and Vertue are in few persons to be found remayning togeathee PSALME 101. MY song shal be of mercy and iudgement to thee oh lord Idem I haue done indifferent iustice and executed iudgement I haue hated the workes of iniquitie c. IOB CAP. 29. I Haue clothed me with Iustice and with my iudgement haue I apparrelled me as it were with a garment and Dyadem of honour I haue been in steade of an eye to the blind man and as a foote to helpe the lame A father haue I also been of the poore and such cause as I was vtterly ignorant in haue I diligently searched for the certeyne trueth thereof I haue destroyed the labours of the vniust man and out of his Iawes haue I taken the spoyle MATTHEA 5. BLessed are they whiche hunger and thyrst after righteousnesse because theirs is the kingdome of Heauen AVCTHOR FOR as from day to day there is a continuall thirst and hunger renewed in our stomackes after meates and drinkes corporall so ought there appeare in vs a freshe and new appetite or affection inseperable after iustice in correcting of offences committed Nowe Princes Lordes and Nobles of renowne VVhom it pleaseth to vse Iustice with mercie Take Iob and Dauid examples to your crowne VVhen to the poore they had a piteous eye And of mighty offenders punisht peruersitee VVhom Gods good grace hath remunerate VVith blessinges moe then may expressed bee In lasting fame ay to be Lawreate SEleucus Prince of Locria on a time being in the cheefe Citie thereof whiche he had established protected with most wholsome and profitable lawes when as his sonne was condemned for adulterie accordyng to the lawes whiche he him selfe had ordeyned that such offender should be depriued of both his eyes and that the whole Citie for the honour of their Countrey did for a certayne space withstand and gaynesay to dispence with necessity of punishment in this respect The father being throughly ouercome with the instant requestes of the people because he would doo some moderation of iustice and borowe the lawe in some part executing it at full in an other first causing one of his owne eyes to be quite pluckt out and then afterwardes one of his sonnes eyes left vnto them both but two eyes to see with So farre dyd he perfourme a due measure of punishment with a
in bondage of Belyall But turne and take in tyme the plaster repentance Bernardus 5. sermone de Ascentione HOWE comes it to passe that certayne haue the penury and scarcity of spirituall grace when others haue the plentifull abundance Vndoubtedly he that is the distributer and bestower thereof is neyther couetous to keepe it to him selfe nor bare and needy to such as he thinkes woorthy of the bestowing thereof But where as empty vessels for the purpose are wanting there must the oyle want her vse The loue of the world showueth her selfe in to euery corner with her consolacions nay rather desolations shee keepeth and obserueth the maner of her comming to a man shee rusheth in at the wyndowes of the mind shee possesseth the mind of man but not his mind that hath saide My soule hath not refused to be comforted I haue ben mindfull of GOD and I am delighted in him for surely the sacred delight forsaketh and declineth from the minde that is exercised in worldly desyres neyther can thinges true be mixed with thinges that are vayne neyther thinges eternall with things frayle and transitory neyther yet corporall things with spirituall thinges It is thus to be concluded for principall that a man ought to be wyse in thinges that are aboue as well as in thinges vpon earth The soule of man so noble is of nature And made to ioy so hygh an heritage VVithout delight it can not long endure Therefore men should in their tender age VVith vertue and deuotion haue vsage VVhich without lothsomnesse bringeth delyte Encreasing euer her valiant corage For of taste ay she renueth appetyte GREGORIVS IT seemeth there is this difference betwene the delightes of the body and of the minde as the corporal pleasures when they are not enioyed do kindle a greeuous desire towards them selues and being enioyed they turne all thinges to destruction And on the other part the delightes of the soule are quite contrary because howe muth the more the taste of them is sauoured so muche the more the same is esteemed to the ende they may be beleeued with more auidity or greater desyre and therefore not being enioyed they can not be embraced or beloued because the taste of them is not knowen or approued PSALME 34. TAste and see howe sweete the Lorde is and this he meaneth as who would say you haue no perceauerance of the Lorde except you taste and feele the goodnesse of him PSALME 107. THeir soule hath abhorred all meates and they haue drawen neare vnto the gates of death NVMERI 11. OVR soule perprabraketh vppon the receipte of this light meate Though corporall foode haue that quality The greater abstinence the greater appetite And the more taste the more tediosity Yea nowe we lothe where we late dyd delite From spirituall foode which differeth quite The more we absteyne the lesse we desyre The goodnesse of the taste no man can endite VVhich had augmented celestiall feruent fyre AVGVSTINVS THERE is no torment greater then the torment or vexation of the conscience And wylt thou then neuer be sadde or molested lyue well A mans mind that is secure dooth easely sustayne and away with sadnes A good lyfe hath euer ioy among PROVERBES CAP. 9. IOY shal be mixed with sorowe and there is euer mourning foloweth extreme ioyes AVGVSTINVS in confes THOV Lorde hast commaunded and it comes so to passe that there is a torment due vnto euery inordinate mind that can not measure it selfe BERNARDVS SVrely there is no man whiche ought or may thinke that there aryseth greater felicitie of the mind in or by the vse of vices then there dooth in and by the exercise of vertue HEBRE 11. THE holy and elect children of GOD haue conquered kingdomes by fayth haue wrought equitie and iustice and haue adopted them new promises of sauing health GREGORIVS IF humane minde with a strong and fyrme desyre be directed towardes God she esteemeth euery bitter thing to be sweete and thinkes euery thing to be as it were a quiet rest whiche dooth molest her And moreouer she earnestly desyreth to passe ouer this life by death to the end she may the more fully obteyne lyfe GREGORIVS IT standeth most with equitie that we doo loue him aboue all thynges which hath loued vs aboue all thynges More sweetenesse t is vnto sound conscience And vertuous lyfe with delectation Then any pleasant carnall complacence Or fadyng gladnes of worldly abusion To please God euer in conclusion VVith vertuous lyfe whose solace is most deare Full recompenst with hyre of heauenly crowne As of Gods saintes examples witnesse beare Actum Apostolorum CAP. 9. WHEN he had receaued meate he was comforted MATTH CAP. 4. MAN dooth not liue by bread only but by euery woord that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD. PSALME 63. MY Soule is replenished as it were with marowe and with fatnesse 2. REGVM CAP. 2. LET your handes receaue comfort and be you the children of valiant and couragious mindes AVGVSTINVS PRayer is a sauegard of the Soule a solace and consolation to the good angell a scourge vnto the Deuill and an acceptable obsequy or sacrifice of man vnto God. GREGORIVS lib. 28. morall THE fortitude or courage of the reprobate in this world is enclined to the loue of transitorie thinges and neuer stinteth that affect but without reason not knowyng what shee dooth hardneth her selfe agaynst the scourge of the maker of this world The fortitude or courage of good and godly persons is bent to ouercome the fleshe and to goe against her owne pleasure to extinquish the delectations of this present lyfe to embrace the sharpe and bitter stormes of this worlde for and in consideration of the euerlasting remuneracions to contemne the flatteryng allurementes of prosperitie and manfully to vanquishe in the hart all feare of aduersitie For right as mem enfeobled with labour Or which in battell haue bestowed their blood Through sustenance recouer vitall power Resuming to them force and courage good So by resemblance and similitude In spirituall toyle and conflict tossed they To vertue hauing deuoute consuetude Restore them selues to firme estate soone may AVGVSTINVS EXcept thy conscience be pure and cleane from sinnes thou shalt not be heard of God then make cleane the chamber of thy hart onely and thou shalt fynde him within that wyll heare thee at full Ricardus de sancto victore HOwe many are there whiche enter into the house of God to pray vnto God how fewe are there heard of him howe many are there which cal God theyr father as in their prayer Our Father c. which are not his chyldren but the fathers children of whom it is written You are of the father the Deuill because they are not the chyldren of GOD which haue lost his grace and fauour but are rather the Deuils children who hath begotten them in malice and nourisht them in mischefe BERNARDVS EVen as fyre and water can not be both togeather in one substance at once so
is nothing more precious with God then the vertue of loue there is nothing that the deuill desireth more then the extinguishing of charitie and loue IERONIMVS THERE is nothing hard or difficult vnto those that doo loue there is no tedious trauell in loue Let vs therefore loue Christe and what so euer thing is hard of it selfe vnto vs wee shall thinke it very easyly to be atcheeued of vs. MARO Poeta THE labours and trauelles of louers can not by any meanes be tedious and burdenous vnto them but euen them selues are delighted therein as they that haue a delight eyther in hunting fowling or fisshing BERNARDVS WHAT man so euer he be that shall perfectly discerne the burden of sinne and the wound of his soule or conscience shal eyther very little or nothing at all feele the payne or vexation of his body neyther shall he thinke much of the labour bestowed wherein he shall vnderstand howe to deface and wype away his sinnes doone and past and learne to take heede how he commit any more such offences in time to come c. As nothing more maketh resemblance To feendish feares then strife and debate So humane kinde by charitable acquaintance To heauenly Angels is associate This laudable loue makes man laureate Loue makes our labour light in comparison Loue is a vertue of valure inuiolate And chaungeth care to consolation AVGVSTINVS BEtter is that medicine preserueatiue then that which is curatiue AVGVSTINVS ALL haynous offences and horrible whiche man dooth by custome commit are eyther thought by him to be but small or none at all so as not only they are not to be cloked and couered but also doo require to be published and openly detected Philippus in Prolog 3. Phil. CErtaine persons there haue been so accustomed to feede vpon very poyson that they haue taken it for their onely meate SENECA de vita moribus GOod custome ought to shake out and reiect those thinges which the euyl custome hath put in vre and trayned in man. ARISTOT 7. lib. Ethicorum IT is a hard thing for man to resist withstand custome because she is made so like nature in her proper vse yet notwithstanding it is an easier thing for vs to alter and chaunge custome then naturall inclination PSALME 42. ONE depthe calleth vpon an other they haue prolonged their iniquitie ECCLESIASTI CAP. 37. O Most wicked presumption from whence art thou descended Thy corporall health from sicknesse to conserue Is more of prise then any medecine So then thy soule may rather deserue Of deadly wound all sinne for to decline Then for to taste the venemous propine Of sinne and after seeke the salue of repentance Presumption ryseth of the olde serpentine VVhiche doubtles doth proue a perillous pestelance BERNARDVS O Thou my soule whiche art the badge of a Christian made noble after the image of God decored with equall forme spoused vnto him in fayth endowed with the spirite redeemed with his blood made heyre with angels receauer of blessednesse the child of grace and partaker of reason what hast thou with thee as touching thy frayle fleshe what may be saide hast thou not found it an vnsauery and noysome dounghil Idem BERNARDVS O Cleare white vnspotted Lilly oh thou tender and delicate floure there are vnbeleeuing people abidyng with thee and such as seeke thy subuertion and with Scorpions hast thou thy dwelling Take heede and see that thou walke warely amongst the thorns because the worlde is full of thornes they breede on the earth they are in the ayre and they are in thy fleshe To be therefore conuersant amongst these and by them not to be hurt consisteth in the power deuine to withstand and not in any vertue that thou hast AVGVSTINVS O Howe is that Soule vnhappy which is sequestred from the cheefe felicitie and ouer whom the deuill hath sway she is made voyde of lyght and enuironed with darkenesse she is consumed with pleasure and made drunke with bitter waters she loseth life and fyndeth death c. Of our soules Lord we make record with ruthe As flowres fayre tender and delicate To Christe our spouse wedded with ring of truthe Though in this life we haue dayly debate Yet graunt in fayth that we be laureate From hurtfull sinne with syncere conscience O Lord to thee let vs not liue ingrate Sithe thou with vs wolte haue thy residence ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for TVESDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for VVENSDAY The damage due to deadly sinne To seeke to voyde let vs not linne The Translators Application The third day this Creator then the waters here belowe Into â—ne place dyd geather and them in one floodde bestowe The drye land thence deuided hee the Sea those waters named The Sea for trauell to and fro the Earth for fruite he framed VVho liues then in this earthy vale Taste fruites of trouble death and bale PSALME 51. BEcause I doo acknowledge myne iniquitie and my sinne is alway against me TOBIA CAP. 12. BVT they that commit sinne and iniquitie are enimies to their owne soule GREGORIVS THERE should no aduersitie or mishap hurt vs yf there dyd no iniquitie condemne and adiudge vs woorthy therof PSALME 38. MY iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a great burden are they heauy vppon me PROVERBES CAP. 14. SInne maketh the people become miserable AGVSTINVS WHAT can be more miserable then the wretched worldling which hath no compassion of him selfe ESAI CAP. 13. I Wyll vizite the landes with diseases and agaynst the wicked wyll I goe with theyr inâ—quities ECCLESIAST CAP. 27. AS the Lion is euer lurking for his pray so dooth the sinnes of man lye in wayte for them that woorke mischeefe AVGVSTINVS SInne is defined to be any thyng spoken or any thyng done eyther any desyre striuing agaynst the lawe of God. BERNARDVS O Howe wretched is the state of sinners which esteeme of the sonne of God as of a Swineheard ESAI CAP. 59. YOur iniquities haue set enimity betwene you and your God and your sinnes haue couered his face from beholdyng you with mercie and that he shoulde not heare you when you pray vnto him Idem sequitur OVr iniquites are multiplied before him and our sinnes haue made answear vnto vs. 2. REGVM CAP. 3. DAVID spake these woordes touching Ioab The Lorde recompence the euyll man according to the mallice of his mischeefe PSALME 31. THOV hast hated all them that doo woorke wickednesse To define of sinne in sentences short No man well may so full it is of care Neuerthelesse as novv I purpose to report Howe in eache season sinne is most contrare To mans weale supplanting eache afare Vnto his damage where it may preuayle Enforcing ay of blisse to reue him bare In soule in body and in goodes temporall AVGVSTINVS SInne is the ransacking spoyle of the good grace receaued and a corruption naturally grafted in man. PROVERB CAP. 4. BVT the wicked and vngodly in the land shal be destroyed PROVERBES CAP.
4. THE way of the vngodly is as the darkenesse they knowe not where they fall IEREMI GAP 5. OVR sinnes haue debarred and prohibited the good graces of God from vs. PSALME 10. IN the woorkes of his owne handes is the sinner snared and taken PSALME 31. MANY plagues are there ordeyned for sinners but mercy shall compasse him rounde about that putteth his trust in the Lorde BERNARD BE ashamed oh my Soule and blushe at thy folly thou hast chaunged thy deuine shape and forme into a brutish and beastly forme Idem THERE is nothing more beastly then that man which is endewed with reason and vseth it not Idem HOw much the more a man shall sinne so much the lesse shall he knowe what sinne is and in deede so much the more shall he be delighted therewith Robart Grosthed Lincolniens SInne is the issue or generation of the deuill the parent of death the corruption of nature and the deformation or defilyng of the soule GREGORIVS WHAT greater poynt of madnesse can there be in man then for a very little pleasure of the flesh to make him self a bondman vnto euerlasting punishmentes DEVTERONO CAP. 28. WHAT yf thou wouldest desire of God that thou mightest heare the voyce of this thy Lorde and God speaking vnto thee that thou shouldest obserue and accomplishe all that he commaundeth The Lorde shall strike thee with madnes and with blindnes and with fury of the minde that thou shalt stumble at the noone day as the blind man is woont to stumble in the darknes and thou shalt not guide thy footesteppes but shalt alwaies suffer reproche and be oppressed with violence neyther shall there be any man to deliuer thee free from his fury Sinne is the cause of our perdition Sinne of the Deuill is daughter venemons In soule and body sinne causeth corruption Sinne is a sicknesse right contagious Sinne maketh a man foolishe and furious All in wood rage running without reason His dayes ouerdriuing in state styll daungerous VVith confused course of time and season PSALME 14.53 THEY haue trembled with feare where there was no feare at all LEVITCVS CAP. 26. IF so be that you wyll not heare me neyther doo all that I haue commaunded you but shall despise my lawes and ordinances I wyll set my face agaynst you and you shall perishe before the face of your enimies and you shal be cast vnder foote of those that haue hated you The King shal put them in feare yea the noyse of a leafe blowen from the Tree shall make them afraide they shal fall downe to the earth when there is no man to strike them PROVER CAP. 12. THE way of the vngodly shall deceaue them the deceitfull man shall finde none aduantage APOCAL. CAP. 18. THERE is prepared a dwelling place for all the Deuils and a place of custody for euery vncleane spirite OZEA. CAP. 9. THEY are become abominable euen as those idols that they haue embraced and had in honour PROVERB CIP 18. THE belly of the wicked person is neuer satisfied SOPHONI CAP. 1. THEY haue walked as the blinde that sawe not because they haue sinned against the Lorde IOB CAP. 18. HIS foote path is hidden in the earth feare and trembling shall make him afraide on euery side IOB CAP. 20. THE praise of the vngodly shal be but for a small seazon and the ioy of an hypocrite is like vnto the poynt of a swoord yf his pride shall lift it selfe vp vnto the heauens and that his head doo touche the cloudes yet in the ende it shall be destroyed euen as the filthy dounghil and as a dreame that is vanished shall it not be found The mind of sinners is figured vnto hell VVherein is fyre and feendish cruelty Gods lawes and maners resisting as rebell VVith lothsome stenche of wylful iniquity Committed by the seuen sinnes deadly And he that sinne into his chayne can lincke By subtyll shiftes and shameles impiety T ys a speciall gift yf they twayne euer shrincke ROMANS CAP. 6. THE reward of sinne is death PSALME 146. HIS spirite shall goe foorth and shall returne into his owne land in that day shal all his cogitations perishe PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE wicked man being once dead there resteth no further hope vnto him BERNARDVS O Thou Soule of man not with precious golde or siluer but with the blood of the Lambe of GOD redeemed Why wylt thou deliuer thy selfe into destruction seeing Christe for the loue that he beareth vnto thee hath shed his most precious blood HYLLARIVS THE Soule that sheweth not her selfe nete and clearely shining indewed with the garment or robe of holy life is not the Soule espoused vnto Christe but the Deuils darling AVGVSTINVS HAppy is that Soule which shall so endeuour her selfe to gouerne her life that she may through Christe deserue to receaue and entertaine Christ as her geste and inhabiter within her ECLESIAST CAP. 4. BE sorowfull and heauy for thy Soule PSALME 69. THE zeale of thy house Lorde hath euen as it were eaten me vp 1. REGVM CAP. 22. THERE is none that soroweth for my state ECCLESIAST CAP. 32. THE wicked are hardly chastized to amendment and the number of fooles is infinite PSALME 32. BEcause mercie hath come vppon him he shall with mercie be chastized AMBROSIVS THE lewde and dissolute life of the child shal be imputed the negligence of the parentes PSALME 141. BVT the oyle of a sinner shall not hurt my head TVLLIVS FOR euery pounishment and correction ought to be without reproche neither to the reproche of him whiche so punisheth or chastizeth any person but to be referred only for the commoditie and profite of the weale publique AVGVSTINVS THE wrath of GOD is then greate when the offender is not by due chastisement reclaimed but suffereth him selfe to runne in further offence by taking a wandring libertie Mans soule is a iewell incomperable By Christe his bloodshed dearely bought VVherefore he wyll that we be coumptable To him in good wyll for sauety sought VVhen to captiue vs Satan sought Bereft of all solace then surely were wee Tyll this our champion for vs fought VVe deserued the scourge of his equitee ECCLESIAST CAP. 7 REmember thy last dayes and thou shalt not doo amis for euer ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. IF a man doo liue many yeeres and in all this time shall reioyce and be meery yet he ought to remember the dayes of darknesse and the daies of many which shal then come shal plainely testifie that the dayes past were the dayes of vanitie GREGORIVS THE true and perfect life is to be medâ—tating howe to dye well Idem HE that considereth with him selfe what maner of person he shal be when death assayleth him is euermore fearefull in his affaires to offend ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. THE Lorde shall bring all thinges to receaue iudgement that are done vnder the heauens ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. REmember the Lorde in thy life time because death detracteth no time HVGO de sancto victore WE
them that are to be saued because there are many called but fewe are chosen And againe he saith Woulde God men would prouide for those three things that are to come that is to say 1. Death then which nothing is more bitter 2. The iudgement that shall be generall at the last day then whiche nothing shal be more horrible to heare 3. Eternall punishment ordeyned for the vngodly then the which nothing shal be more sharper The memorie of the dead for rhe liuing is a president How better we shall for our state prouide VVhyle we haue grace and space of the Omnipotent Print we well in hart what others hath betide VVhich haue eyther walkt straight or staggered aside At our neighbours fall let vs be eke vvare Lest vve that stand fast vvith them doo not slyde Our armour of perceuerāce in good life le ts prepare ECCLESIAST CAP. 14. BE mindful of death because when he commeth there is no stay with him IEREMI CAP. 4. THEY are wyse ynough to doo wickedly but to doo well they haue no knowledge at all ESAI CAP. 44. I The Lorde am he that doo transport wyse men backwards and doo make their perseuerance to become meare foolishnesse IOB CAP. 7. MY dayes are passed away my cogitations are dispersed disquieting my hart they haue changed the night with me into day and againe yet after darknes I hope to see light BERNARDVS in meditatio TELL me where are the louers of this worlde become whiche a fewe yeeres before passed were with vs there is nothyng remaining more of them at this day but dust and woormes Had they not their appoynted time to drinke with thee to eate with thee and to laugh with thee And so esteemed they of their dayes spent in their wealth and ritches and in the ende they are gone downe into the neathermost pit Their fleshe is here in the earth bestowed vpon the woormes and in hell there theyr soule vnto the flaming fyre tyll being againe lincked in that vnhappy familie they are tossed in perpetuall burning flames VVithout repentaunt turning vve encrease eche day To death and his dome vvherefore vvith diligence Amend vve our misdeedes vvithout delay To saue our soules shevv vve our sapience Eschevving the vice of vvylfull negligence That the time redeemed may render alvvay Sound fruites of vvoordes vvoorkes and conscience To ballance accompt iust at the iudgement day PSALME 11.34 THERE is ordeyned a most vyle death for sinners PROVERBS CAP. 5. HE shall dye that hath not receiued discipline GREGORIVS FOR the most highest is a pacient rewarder of the wicked for those that he hath long suffered to sinne to the ende that they might be conuerted and repent The same persons not being conuerted nor repentyng he dooeth more greeuously adiudge them to the greater damnation SAPIENCE CAP. 4. THE iust man though he be ouertaken with death yet shall he finde rest CHRISOSTO THERE is nothing so much deceaueth man as the vayne hope to liue longer SENECA VNcertaine death doth preuent and steale vpon many amendementes of mislyfe that are deferred or euer they be aware PSALME 49. DEath shall feede the euyll men euen as sheepe that are throwen into the lake of hell they shall desyre to dye but death shall flee from them c PSALME 116· PRecious in the syght of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes BOETIVS DEath vnto those men is happy and welcome when she seemeth not to plant more pleasure at one time then at an other and being often called for he comes sodenly to the sorowfull SENECA TRuely to dye well is for men to dye wyllingly AVGVSTINVS THere is nothing more withdrawes man from sinne then the often meditating and thinking of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 18. THE Lorde hath wrought woonderfull thinges in the death of man. SENECA THere is nothing shall profit thee so much vnto temperance and moderacion of all worldly thinges nor cause thee so much to contemne them as the dayly forethincking and meditating of death APOCA CAP. 2. REmember from whence thou art fallen and be wylling to repent thee thereof ESAI CAP. 38. DIspose and set in order all thinges within thyne house because thou shalt dye and not line And Ezechias turned away his face vnto the wall and prayed vnto the Lorde Sequitur And Ezechias wept with bitter teares As scriptures truely pronounce in sentence Death due to sinners impenitent vvhich dye In this vvorld damnation is by consequence VVhen the sound of Trumpe is hard from on hye From death to lyfe ryse then shall the godly VVherfore preuenting duly the fyrst death Repent vve in time vvith purpose earnestly To liue for euer vvith Christe by fyrme fayth ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for VVENSDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for THVRSDAY Remember the iudgement generall How for our liues then pleade we shall The Translators Application Thalmighty in the Firmament made lightes for to deuide The day night which lights for signes should serue eche time and tide A greater light the Sunne to shine by dry by night a lesse The Moone and Starres the self same light doth plainly lo expresse VVhyles we haue lyght le ts walke that way That gaynes light at the iudgement day AVGVSTINVS WE haue this experience because the minde of man is more familier and invred with the diuers intisementes of this world and ouercome with the concupiscences or lustes thereof that therefore she refuseth to be occupied in well dooing requireth pleasure and scarcely is she brought to this poynt that she shal be able to exclude and reiect from her selfe the custome of her former lyfe But when she shall once fall in reckoning howe necessary it is to thinke vpon the latter day of the efficacie of the iudgement whiche shall then be being stirred vp and prouoked eyther with hope of reward or with feare of pounishment she proclaymeth wylfull warres against her good mocions and passions whiche shoulde resist the same and assaulteth her auncient former good desyres and forecibly as it were striueth with her selfe to subdude her selfe PROVERBES CAP. THE wicked and vngodly men haue no mind vppon the day of iudgement but they that seeke the Lord doo consider therof IEREMI CAP. 12. TRuly Lord thou art righteous notwithstanding in thy iudgementes yea yf I should dispute with thee what the cause is that the wicked in their wayes doo florishe IOB CAP. 22. WHY doo the wicked liue still vppon earth and are so exalted on high they leade their liues in wealth and yet in the end they goe downe into hell ECCLESIASTES 3. THere are some godly persons before whose faces their owne euils haue come to light as though they had offended with the wicked And there are also some vngodly persons whiche liue with suche securitie and thinke them selues so safe as though they had the woorkes of godly disposed persons with them And I haue perceaued that af all the woorkes that the Lorde hath done man can not comprehend and finde out
the reason ROMANS CAP. 2. O The woonderfull height of the ritches of the wysedome of GOD and of his knowledge howe incomprehensible and inscrutable are the iudgementes of his way The Auctor figuring the generall iudgement Hereby admonisheth both iust and vniust To consider thereof in this life present All securitie then abandon we must Yea all licencious liuyng and carnall lust VVherein the wicked florishe at wyll For all such as therein doo put their trust Thalmighty Iudge in his wrath shall them spyll ECCLESIAST CAP. O What tormentes haue all the elect of GOD suffered that they might safely come vnto the obteyned victory ordeined for martyrs ESAI CAP. 10. WOe be vnto Assur which is becomr the rod of my fury and the staffe it selfe of reuenge in their handes is my heauy displeasure But according to the opinion of Saint Augustine when the father hath corrected the childe in mercy and iustice he then casteth the rod into the fyre 2. PETER CAP. 2. THE Lorde dooeth knowe when in due time to take hence those that are godly but as for the wicked he leaueth them for the day of iudgement to pounishe them then according to their desertes PSALME 76. LOrde I haue been mindfull of thy iudgementes and I am comforted Were it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe then shoulde I perhaps haue perished euen in myne owne humilitie c. 1. PETER CAP. 2. CHriste hath suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we shoulde all folowe his steppes LVKE CAP. 24. OVght not Christe to haue suffered death and â—hat he shoulde so enter thereby into his glory Ad Hebreos CAP. 11. THE holy ones and elect of God by faith haue coâ—quered vnto them kyngdomes haue wrought the woorkes of equitie and righteousnesse â–ª haue purchased them selues newe promises of saâ—yng health But some others hauing tryed the scornefull dispites and scourges of this worlde and moâ—eouer the bâ—nâ—es and imprisonment haue been stoned to death haue been dâ—smembred haue been tempted and haue been put to death with the swoord ISIDORVS ADuersities are meanes to reclayme and remedy the diseases of the soule Sicknes woundeth the fleshe but cureth the defect of the mind As God suffereth the wicked a time to lyue here Though it be for a scourge vnto his elect So to strengthen their pacience when they forbeare Too to many iniuries yet hath he respect His chosen quite out of mind not reiect But for better tryall of their fyrme fayth VVhen he seeth time he wyll detect Their foes of mischeefe with sentence of dearh ESAI CAP. 30. THE Lorde looketh for vs to the ende he would haue mercie vpon vs. IVDITH BVT because the Lorde is pacient euen for this purpose let vs repent the more and let vs with teares craue his pardon ESAI CAP. 26. HE had compassion of the obstinate and wicked person and he hath not learned to feare our righteousnes ECCLESIASTI CAP. 5. SAY not thou with thy self I haue sinned and what mishap hath chaunced vnto me by meanes of forgeuenesse of thy sinnes be thou not therefore the more without feare for mercy and displeasure soone passeth away from him and his wrath dooth beholde those that sinne Ad Romanos CAP. 2. THOV art vtterly ignorant that the great good wyll of God bringeth thee to repentance but according to the hardnes of thy hart and as thou art impenitent thou heapest vp wrath vnto thee in the day of wrath and when the iudgement of the iust God shal be reauealed whiche rendreth to euery man according to his woorkes Idem ad Romanos AND dooest thou despise the ritches of his goodnes of his pacience and longanimitie Thou dooest then heape vppon thee his wrath against the day of wrath PSALME 22. FOrsake me not Lord in the day of my tribulation Idem I Wyll not feare any euyll thinges because thou Oh Lord art with me DEVTERONO CAP. 31. TRuely because the Lorde was not with me therefore haue these euils and mischeefes come vpon me 2. PARALIPO CAP. 15. THE Lord is with you to helpe you because you are abiding with him yf you shall seeke him you shall finde him but yf you forsake him he shall forsake you ROMANS CAP. 8. IF God be on our side who shall be agaynst vs. GENES CAP. 12. MY soule liueth euen because of thy louing fauour PSALME 84. THE Lorde shall geue vnto his chosen both grace and woorship PROVERBES CAP. 3. HE shall geue grace to the humble and lowly in hart PROVERBES CAP. 14. GRace shall remaine amongst the iust and vpright in hart Oh mankind rue on thy miserable estate VVhen sleeping in sinne of liberty thou liuest A more lothsome life then brute beast create The nearer grace is offred thee the furder of thou geuest Thy consent with security and so thou thriuest For abusyng Gods grace and offered mercy One mischeefe vpon an other thou driuest Tyll all to late it is to repent thy folly APOCAL. CAP. 20. THere shall be ordeyned a iudgement of euery soule according as he hath done in this lyfe time ECCLESIAST CAP. 38. O Man remember thou my iudgement for euen so shall thine be with me it was yesterday and with thee shal it be to morow LEVITICVS CAP. 14. LET him sprinckle him seuen times that is to be cleansed from his offences that he may be purged by the lawe Idem NEyther let him enter into the Sanctuarie vntyll suche time as the dayes of his cleansing shal be fulfylled 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. BVT euery man shall receaue his owne reward according to his labour and trauayle DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shall be also apyointed a measure of punishment according to the measure of the offence and sinne committed APOCAL. CAP. 14. FOr their woorkes shall folowe them when they are gone hence PSALME 28. THou shalt render vnto euery one according to his woorkes ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. HOwe becommest thou ignorant what the way of the spirite is Dooest thou so not vnderstand the woorkes of God which is the woorkemaster of all thinges SAPIENCE CAP. 11. FOR who is he that can vnderstand the mysteries of God. ESAI CAP. 47. THere shall sodenly come a plague vppon thee which thou knowest not of Actuum Apostolorum CAP. 15. WE beleeue to be saued by the grace and fauour of God. AVGVSTINVS IF so be that I knewe my reward were laid vp for me in hell I would pray no more for it then I would doo for the deuill SAPIENCIE CAP. 2. THere is not any man acknowledged or knowen to haue gone downe into hel and haue returned thence againe BERNARDVS MArke and beholde alwayes this rule that after the Lorde hath long spared sinners he dooeth more greeuously seeke to be auenged of them Be it by example of others imitation Or by our selfe wyll and ignorance we fall Or by Satans subtilty and suggestion VVe commit any offences here criminall So for the same answeare make we shall And as we haue wrought so awarded we
Shall receaue at the day of iudgement generall Eyther Gods indignation or milde mercie ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. LET the dust of mans corrupt nature returne vnto the earth from whence it came and let the spirite returne againe vnto God who hath geuen the same IOB CAP. 21. SHall any man take vpon him to teache the Lord knowledge which iudgeth thy higher powers The strong and lusty men are subiect to death yea the rich happy of this world Idem sequitur BVT an other man dyeth in the bitternes of his soule without any woorkes of repentance and yet notwithstandyng they shal sleepe altogeather in the dust the wormes shall couer them SENECA THE eternal lawe of God hath ordeyned nothing better vnto man then that we haue all one kind of enterance geuen vs therby into this life and diuers maners of death OZEA. CAP. 6. MY iudgementes shall passe foorth from me as the light out of the Firmament AIERONIMVS HOw many people doo liue in this world I know not but of the dayes to come it is written That the Lorde shall iudge the secrete dooinges and vnknowen deallinges of men and shall geue light euen vnto the dungeons of darknesse and shall disclose the counsels of mens hartes TOBIAS CAP. 3. ALL thy iudgementes are iust Oh Lord. PSALME 119. FOR I haue been afrayde of thy iudgementes Oh Lorde ECCLESIAST CAP. 28. MAke redy thy righteousnesse that thou canst lay for thy selfe before the iudgement of the Lord be summoned BERNARDVS BRethren let vs be enflamed vnto repentance let vs examine our consciences let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our sinnes by earnest repentaunce in Christes bloodshed crauing his gracious fauour to escape the horrible iudgement of the liuyng god c. To waye the wickednesse of corrupt nature In ballance with Gods deuine iustice Eyther our good deedes is absurd and obscure Presumptuous were such our enterprise From the earth the dust should then aryse VVith Thalmighty creator to dispute Submit we therefore in repenrant wyse Our lyfe and death as he hath constitute ECCLESIASSTI CAP. 12. REmember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth and before the time of affliction shall approche and the dayes wherof thou mayst haue cause to say these dayes doo not lyke me ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. REmember the wrath of the Lorde because it shall not be foreslowed Idem REmember the Lordes wrath in the day of the end of the world and remember the time of pouertie euen whyles thou art in thy wealth ECCLESIASTI CAP. 28. REmember thou the later dayes and cease of to doo mischeefe for there is blessednesse and death approching in the prescriptions thereof PSALME 42. MY soule is in my handes alwayes c. MATTH GAP 24. BVt of that day and houre when the Lord shall come to iudge the world no neyther Angel nor the Sonne of man knoweth but the Father him selfe Take you heede therefore watche and pray MATTH CAP. 25. WAtche therefore because you knowe neither the day nor the houre wherein the sonne of man wyll come GREGORIVS in Homelia DOo not you loue the world which you see can not abide for euer because the great day of the Lord is neare PSALME THE day of desolation draweth neare and the times of the latter dayes do speedely hasten on IACOB CAP. 2. THere shal be iudgement geuen vpon him without mercie because he hath not shewed mercie c. As lyfe and death from hence vncertaine are And our demerites doo deserue due dome So how soone the Lord wyll the same prepare No spirite can deuine that day to come Though of signes fyfteene wryteth saint Ierome But yf we wyll credite Christes woordes in scripture Of signes alredy perfourming nowe are some That that day is not long to we may be sure HAYMO ANtechriste shal be borne in Babylon out of the tribe of Dan according to the saying that Iacob mencioneth Let Dan be made a Snake in the way MARCI 12. ANd those dayes shal be such and so troublesome as the like haue not been from the beginnyng of the creation of man vntyll nowe neyther shall there be any more suche afterward And except the Lorde had shortened those dayes for his elect sake there should haue been no saluation vnto frayle mankind 1. TIMOTHI CAP. 3. ALL those that wyll liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution MARCI CAP. 13. BVT who so shall persist constant vnto the end shal be saued DANIEL CAP. 8. IT shal be destroyed meanyng of Babylon without force of strength of the hand THESSALO CAP. 2. THen shall that wicked Antechriste be reueyled which the Lorde Iesus shall destroy with the breath of his mouth 1. IOHN CAP. 2. NOw are there many Antechristes come into the world whereby we knowe that we are in the later dayes 2. PETER CAP. 3. THere shall come deceitfull woorkers of mischiefe in the later dayes walking after their owne lustes ISIDORVS de summo bono THere haue many members of Antechrist gone before vs and their proper workes doo well agree with the ryngleader of their mischiefe according to the Apostles saying which affirmeth that they haue perfourmed the woorkes of iniquitie yea before that their cheefe captaine was manifested to the world DANIEL CAP. 8. ANd in the end of the kingdome when the wicked are come to the full of their iniquitie that is to say In Gluttony Lechery and Couetousnesse a kyng of a fierce countenance and vnderstandyng with hard sentences shall stand vp c. DANIEL CAP. 1. IN the later dayes there shall come deceauers which shall walke after their owne desyres in wickednesse These are they whiche shall assemble them selues togeather as liuing creatures hauing no Soule in them These are Cloudes without water whiche are caried about with the windes These are Trees growing somewhat before Winter vnprofitable whiche being twyce dead are plucked vp by the rootes for whom the mystes of darknesse are to be kept for euer and euer PSALM 50. THere shall goe before him a consuming fyre and it shall scortche his enimies round about him Idem WHyther shall I goe from thy spirite and whyther shall I flee from thy presence DEVTERONO CAP. 32. THere is a fyre kindled in my fury and it shall burne euen vntill the very last day in Hell. AMOS CAP. 9. THere shal be no time for them to flee away which shall saue them LVKE CAP. 21. THere shal be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres MARCI 13 IN those dayes after that tribulation the Sunne shal be darkened and the Moone shall not geue foorth her light and the Stars of Heauen shall fall from thence and the vertues or powers of the Heauens shal be changed and then shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen with great power and glory VVhen sinne the fyre of conflagration All men as then vvhich are left on liue Shall quite of them make consummacion In vvofull plight as doctors doo discriue There
not as droppes but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body hath been shedde for the price of my redemption c. Trenorum primo O All you that passe by the way marke well and see yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe BERNARDVS BEhold oh man with the eye of thy mind in what duetifull debt of recompence thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee It shall behoue vs to consider well That this was done for our saluation Our vnthankfulnesse let vs then expell And gratefull be for our redemption VVhich to frequent in harty deuotion Aboue all thinges our mind for to remord As mighty medicine and fruitefull confection Doth linck one loue with Christ our soueraigne lord BERNARD Snpee illud canticorum Fasciculus Mirrhe O Howe shewed he mercy more then he ought to haue done howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs what admirable sweetenesse what inuincible mildnesse and humilitie in that he being the king of glory should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies for the most vylest person of the world to suffer death ANCELMVS THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast as shal make the same most healthfull and strong Idem AWake thou oh my soule and more diligently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man as one borne before the time and so conceaued as though no man regarded him and as one in the sight of the world vnwoorthy deformed and leprous Trenorum primo HEare me I beseeche you all you people and behold my sorowe and anguishe 1. GALATHI CAP. 6. GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I am crucifyed vnto the world BERNARDVS HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord is wounded for thy sake and is content to suffer langwors and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde is made strange vnto the world for thy loue is strong as death and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell VVherefore sweete Iesu our loue and soueraine Lord Treasure of treasures which may vs most auayle VVith ruthfull repentance nowe wee record Our great vnthanke and blindnesse bestiall Of pitie praying thy power imperiall To multiply thy mercy so vpon vs That of thy merites with cares inspeciall Thankfull to thee wee may be studious BERNARDVS WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body And vouchsafe thou oh Lorde to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie and print therein the woundes of thy body that after the course of this lyfe I may freely commende into thy handes my soule as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde AVGVSTINVS I Beseeche thee good Lorde so pearce and wounde this my soule with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll shee being chastized may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night Bernardus super verbo Pater ignoscie VOuchsafe oh Lord and heauenly father to looke downe from out of thy Sanctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse Idem REmember nowe oh Man and although thou knowest thy self to be created of nothing yet notwithstandyng thou hast to acknowledge that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing The Creator Redeemer and Sauiour in sixe dayes made all thinges and thre amongst all thinges but in thirtie yeere space that is to say In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake Ponishe not thy people Lord God in thy greeuance Thincke why thy sonne Christe suffered his passion The crowne of thorne the crosse and Longeus launce Vouchsafe accept our harty gratulation Rewyng vpon our sinfull conuersation Plant in our hartes such reuerent regard Towardes thy good graces by due consideration In suffring for thy sake may thinke nothing to hard ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for FRYDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SATVRSDAY Here thinke to eschew the hellishe payn For such as in vyle sinne remayne The Translators Application The same good God now bids the Earth of creatures in eche kinde To yeeld increase as Cattell VVoorme and Beastes by him assnde Man then after his image made him rule he gaue and sway Creating woman a comfort to him with mutuall stay Amids these pleasures mortall man Shun hellysh paynes all that thou can IOHM CAP. 1. ALL thinges are by him made and without him is nothing made 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HEareby knowe wee the loue of God towardes vs because he hath geuen his life for vs. IOHN CAP. 13. NO man hath greater loue in him then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes BERNARDVS OF trueth sweete Iesus thou hast hadde greater loue whiche hast geuen thy lyfe euen for thy persecuting enemies 1. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR you are bought with a great price TITVS CAP. 3. NOT according to the woorkes of righteousnesse which we haue done but accordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs. APOCALIPS CAP. 11. THY wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes as to thy holy ones to those that feare thy name small and great and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land PSALM 104. THOV haste made all thinges in wysedome PSALME 7. GOD is a iust Iudge strong and pacient MATTH CAP. 15. DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels Sequitur AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pounishment IOB CAP. 7. WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel shall not ascende vnto the heauens AVCTOR Herevpon a certayn Gentile hath this sentence If I had a hundred tongues and as many mouthes and a voyce as strong as Iron I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes and for the pounishmentes thervnto due they are so many that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence then to resite them at full DEVTERONO CAP. 32. I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades that is to lay all kindes of tormentes and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them ECCLESIASTI CAP. 29. FYre Tempest Famine and Death all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly PSALME 11. IT raigneth snares vppon sinners
9. YOV shall serue strange goddes whiche shall not suffer you to take any rest nyght nor day SAPIENCE CAP 4. AND there shal be after these thinges seene those that shall slide away without â—onor and liue in reproches amongst the â—ead for euer and they shal be laid waste euen â—â—to the very last man. GREGORIVS in moribus THE pounishment is by the ordinance of God distinguished according to the meaâ—â—re of the fault committed â—el is a hole of horrible darknes VVhere light is languorus and nothing delectable â—Vhich sorowfull sight causeth cares to increase From feendish figures foule and terrible â—Vhose tragedie to tell no tongue may be able So restles is the rage thereof most vnquiet â—Vith al mischiefe abounding wretched miserable â–ª In soule and body theyr paynes are so complete ECCLESIASTI CAP. 13. THERE is most wicked pouertie in the mouth of the vngodly IOB CAP. 2. HE shall cast vp agayne the wealth and ritches that he hath swalowed vp and deuoured PSALME 99. THey shall leaue their ritches for strangers to posses APOCALIPS CAP. 18. WIthin one houre are they bereaued of such substance PROVERBES CAP. 11. THeir ritches shall not auayle the wicked in the day of vengeance he that trusteth in them shall haue a fall IOB CAP. 2. ALL sorowe violently russheth in there vpon him SENECA THere is no other man more acceptable vnto GOD then he that contempneth worldly ritches BOECIVS de consolatum OH foolish blessednesse happening vnto man by brittle wealth which when hee hath gotten hee then becommeth secure and careles therein IOB CAP. 2. AND there shall a fire consume them which shall not cast any light Isidorus de summo bono THE fyre of hell shall both geue light vnto the augmentation of the payne for the wretched soules to the end they may see that shal be to their sorowe and also shall not geue light to their comfort because they shall not see that may be to ther ioy ESAI CAP. 9. THE people shal be as the foode of fyre Gregorios in Dialogo THE wicked haue death in hell that shall neuer dye want without want ende without end because death there is immortall penurie neuer fayling and the ende of their paines infinite PSALME 28. EVilles haue compassed me rounde about whereof I am not able to resite the number In hell of flaming fyre is horrible heate VVhich fire without fayle or distance shall endure Greeuously tormenting with furie to freate Both body and soule in payne passing measure O liuing death euerlasting in languor O deadly lyfe of endles mortalitie Sowssed in sadnes and sorowe euermore Should not man than restraine from all peruersitie DEVTERONO CAP. 28. GOD shall strike thee with neede or penurie sicknesse and colde with heate and drought with corrupt ayre and with rust of the earth ESAI CAP. 33. WHich of you shal be able to dwell where the deuouring fyre hath his force PSALME 94. BVT yet shalt thou consider before thyne eyes and shalt see the reward that shal be geuen sinners I wyll remember and beare in mind these thinges and my spirite waxeth faint therefore ECCLESIAST CAP. 1. MY sonne remember thy ende and thou shalt not sinne for euer PSALME 90. BEcause a thousand yeeres are before thine eyes as yesterday which is passed IEREMI CAP. 17. THou shalt be cast out also from the heritage that I gaue thee and I wyll subdue thee vnder the heauie bondage of thyne enemies in a land that ye know not for ye haue ministred fyre to myne indignation which shall burne euermore PROSPERVS IN this present life temporall pleasures are counted sweete and troubles are coumpted bitter but who is he that despiseth not the voluptuousnesse of this worlde thirsting or longing after the felicitie of the life euerlasting or who would not willingly drinke the cup of tribulation for Christe in this world fearing the euerduring torment of the fyre in hell Robertus in quali IF it be a tedious thing for the healthfull man to lye waltering in his bed all day and all night long and in the softnesse thereof to wallowe him selfe at wyll so vnto a young dissolute person it happeneth likewyse a thing ircksome to keepe company long tyme with fayre Women These and suche other like which were woont to be doone for sport and pleasure doo with continuall vse thereof bring lothsomenes Alacke therefore why do such sinners slumber in sinne why rather doo they not awake and why doo they not consider before that horrible tormentes in hell are prepared for them which shall endure a thousand thousand yeres after yea for euerlasting Man in thy mind make a resemblance Of furious fyre and paynes infernall VVhich are enduring without distance Forget not the tormentes thereof eternall But deepely print them in thy memoriall So shalt thou eschewe all snares of sinne And inconuenience by vice preiudiciall VVhich is more greeuous then man may esteeme HIERONIMVS ad Palma AND thincke we then brethren that the power of God haue foreshewed vs these thinges in sport or that the Apostlâ—s haue told vs of these things in a laughing mâ—ode that the iudgâ—ment of the deuine Maiestie is newly begun and determined without discretion But these are no sporting plaies when paynes doo passe herevpon yf they haue suffered pounishment in midst of their ioy they are yet notwithstandyng beleeued of vs to haue spoken these thinges but in iest and not in earnest ESAIAS SAra was sawen in peeces Danyel was throwen amongst the Lyons Paul was beheaded with the swoord Peter was hanged vppon the Crosse after the same manner that Christe was and all this tendeth to that ende that with their doctrine and good lyfe they might reuoke and withdrawe vs from our sinnes AVCTOR WHerefore sayth the sayde Robart Oh wicked oh peruerse oh deceitfull and oh deuelishe cogitation of them which doo esteeme and suppose that there is no hel at all Oh thou hard and stony molded soule oh thou bewitched oh thou vicious soule what dooest thou or whyther wandrest thou why dooest thou make such haste to hell wardes wheras thou shalt liue most miserable for euer Nowe therfore returne thou vnto the Lord thy God which shal deliuer thee â–ª and graunt thee both grace and glory in Heauen Thincke wee the Prophetes spent their time in sport Or the Apostles shewing infernall payne The people from their sinnes for to exhort Theit wayghty woords we should not take in vaine VVhich were content of tyrantes to be slaine To obteyne Heauen and hellish payne eschewe Their fayth in Christe so firme was and certayne By their examples let vs our life renewe ISIDORVS POâ—der well in thy mind what so euer sorowes or vexations of torments are ordeyned for sinners what so euer pounishmentes of this world or els whatsoeuer bitter gripes of sorowes assayle thee yf thou comparest such like altogeather vnto the state of hell all that thou sufferest shall seeme light and easie vnto thee BERNARDVS FEare to breake the
appoynted feastes and the solempne feastes of the soule from sin and refraine the wicked labors of thy hands but these thinges are thought easie to be done or accomplished by him that hath mind vpon the euerlasting fyre in hell PSALME 89. WHAT man is he that liueth and shall not taste death or shall saue his soule from the neathermost hell CIRHSOSTOMVS DOthe not all the tyme of this our lyfe â–ª wherin we seeme to take our pleasures manifestly appeare a mainteyner of pleasure and lust as the sleepe of one onely night in respect of the felicitie in the lyfe eternall ANCELMVS ALL the good thinges or euill thynges which we enioy in this world are entermixed with their contraries neyther haue they any fyrme or certayne degree of their perfection but eyther may they be encreased or diminished eyther els may they be enioyed or had of vs somewhat more or lesse as it is euident in euery vertue vice and as well in eury good or euyll part of the body as in euery good or euyll cogitation or affect of the soule Neyther is there ioy found here without feare nor sorowe or sadnesse with consolation neyther perfect health without diseases or some hurtfull harme neyther yet valiant courage of body and mind without debilitie or feeblenes of nature But in heauen are all good things not mixed with contrarietie and those are certayne to trust vnto with most perfect consolation in hell likewyse are all euyll thinges quite contrary GREGORIVS CErtaynely there is one onely fyre of torment in hell which we ought to beleeue is ordeyned for the wicked but all shall not be tormented alike in one maner for euery one accordyng as the qualitie of his trespasses hath required shall there feele the smart of the pounishment due for the same And in this torment which hath no temperance Shall be no maner of relaxation Neyther shall preuayle any prayer of instance In any wyse to empayre the paines or passion Yet though this payne passe all estimation The fury thereof ordeyned by Gods wyll As euery sinner deserued hy transgression Shall them molest destroy consume and spill AVGVSTINVS THE world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof oh man what wouldest thou haue Whether hadst thou leuer to loue temporall thinges and so slide away with time transitory or loue Christe and with him liue for euer Idem THis world is more dangerous when she flattereth vs then when she loureth vpon vs There can be no greater madnes then for momentany pleasures to loose eternal ioyes and to euthrall thy soule vnto perpetuall torment Oh how happy is that man that hath not walked after the glory of this world and the dissembling madnes of the same 1. CORINTH CAP. 1. THE wysedome of this world is counted meare foolishnesse before God. EZECIEL CAP. 28. IN the multitude of thy worldly affares when thou art occupied the very inwarde partes of the body are replete with iniquitie AVGVSTINVS THE poyson against loue and charitie most pernicious is the lust after temporal pleasures BERNARDVS OH my soule what feare shall then take hold of thee when all these thinges haue forsaken thee whose presence are so pleasant vnto thee so acceptable in sight and so familier to dwell togeather Altogeather fearefull and trembling thou alone shalt enter into a strange countrey when as those most vglye and fearefull monsters all vpon an heape shal runne vpon thee GREGORIVS THose eyes which the offence hath shut vp and made to wincke at the same shall the due pounishment for suche offence open and make to see plainely IOB CAP. 17. IF I shall endure this vexation hell it selfe is my house ordeyned and in the darcknesse haue I made my bed I haue sayde vnto corruption thou art my father and my mother and to the woormes thou art my sister Where is then my recouerie and helpe become all that I haue in possession shall goe downe into the deepe pit of hell Therefore geue me leaue to depart that I may bewayle my sorowe before I shall goe hence and not returne vnto the darke land couered with the heate of death the land of miserie and darknesse whereas is the shadowe of death and no order of lyfe to say euerlasting horror inhabiting there Oh amazed witte O soule congeled in sinne Frozzen through affection of foolishe felicitie VVhereunto retchles ryot doth at no time linne To offend thy Creator thou art so foole hardy Thy sight is blinded so with sensuality That the loue of God causeth no correction Nor yet of heauenly ioy no cupidity May make thee leaue sinne for dread of damnation INNOCENTIVS HE that feareth onely for a small tyme to put his finger in the fyre why rather feareth he not both in soule and body to be tormented Oh howe great is this madnes of man for these frayle and transitory things to suffer perpetuall pounishment both in soule and body Chrisostomus dereparacione lapsi DEclare thou howe many and what ages haue been or are spent in ryot and carn iâ— pleasures what times and seasons passed in vayne delightes whiche are to be compared vnto the euerlastyng paynes of hell If thee lyst bestowe thou an hundred yeeres in suche delectacions yea adde there vnto an hundred yeeres moe or rather tenne hundred yeeres moe what shall this or that be in respect of the lyfe euerlastyng EPHESI CAP. 5. AWake thou that sleepest and ryse vp from the dead and Christe shall lighten thy steppes ECCLESIAST CAP. 29. FOR all thinges are had by seekyng for them in their due tyme. DEVTERONO CAP. 4. KEepe thee therefore within thy bondes and establish thy soule stand to thy tackling with a good courage and thou shalt see the helpe of God vpon thee AVGVSTINVS HE that dyeth and dooeth not repent him of his sinnes eare he depart out of this lyfe dyeth not at all but liueth in eternall torment PSALME 77. MY Soule is alwayes before me AVGVSTINVS HE shall geue victory to him that contendeth for victorie who hath emboldned the wrastler DEVTERONO CAP. 32. WOulde God they once in their dayes would be wyse and haue vnderstandyng that they might prouide for the last day LVKE CAP. 6. WOe be vnto you riche men which haue all your consolation in your riches here vpon earth MATTHE 5. BLessed are they whiche doo mourne after godlines in this life because they shall be comforted Idem CAP. 16. WHat shall it preuayle man yf he gayne vnto him selfe all the world and loose his owne soule Awake out of thy dreame and speedely addres Thee to beware in tyme eare thou feele woe Though blinded thou liue here with thy ritches Yet thincke thou shalt this lyfe and them forgoe â–ª VVhere in the end yf thou this race runne so That sinne and vice by thee may be subdued Thou shalt no doubt vanquishe eche feendishe so And with eternall blessing be endued BERNARDVS FOoles doo esteeme of greatest thinges least in value to be cared for haue greatest
regard vnto very small thinges They take more care howe to keepe and cherishe their diseased corrupt body then howe to foster and cherish the precious soule Yea they are more carefull howe to batten and â—eede the flesh with fatnesse and good likyng but the kirnell of the soule or the hart of the spirituall man they doo oftentimes destroy Idem super Cantica THey surely that are not diligent in their vocations as men ought to be are partakers of the deuils them selues in their trauayles HIERONIMVS THere can be no labour deemed tedious neither any time seeme long vnto vs wherein the euerlasting glory is obteyned AVGVSTINVS NO doubt sinners doo dayly heare the scriptures promising as well vnto those that loue God the most blessed graces of his good prouidence and contrariwyse they heare the scriptures which doo threaten vnto such as care not for GOD the plagues and pounishmentes by him for them ordeyned And yet geue they no regard therevnto neyther wyllingly do they heare God thus speaking vnto them when he gently entreateth them nor when he seuerely threatneth them but rather doo resist him with their euyll and wicked dooinges PSALME 49. THE wyse man also as well as the foole shall goe to the graue LEOPOLDVS MEN doo more wyllingly toyle them selues for the desire they haue vnto pleasure then for the loue that they beare to vertue Most men are naturally geuen to be feareful and timerus in paines taking in sustayning troubles pouertie and other daungers wherewith humane kind was wonte to be molested But yf they were wyse in deede and vnderstoode the excessiue calamities ordeyneâ— for sinners without ende they woulde then be farre more fearefull to offend in this lyfe IOB CAP. 6. THey that feare a frost vpon them shall haue a snowe come to them Sythen wee see in sicknesse corporall Health to recouer and death for to decline Men wyll absteyne from lustes sensuall And their desyres submit to medecine All for this frayle flesh that runneth to ruine How much more should eche man with busy cure Seeke for the soules health repentyng in time VVherby he may obteyne such ioyes as shalendure 1. THESSALO CAP. 5. WHen they shall say Peace and security is with vs then by and by shall a sodayne destruction come vppon them as the pange of a woman trauayling with chylde and they shall not escape away ECGLESIASTI CAP. 5. MAke thou no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and prolong not of from day to day for sodaynely shall his wrath come and in time of reuenge he shall destroy thee ESAI CAP. 18. FOr you haue said We haue made a league with death and with hell we haue made a couenant GALATH. CAP. 6. BE you not deceaued in your owne dooinges God is not mocked withall what thing so euer a man shall sowe the same shall he also reape agayne IEREMI CAP. 8. THey haue rather chosen death then lyfe· PSALME 69. THey haue drawen neare euen vnto the gates of death Idem THere is a most vyle death ordayned for sinners ECCLESIASTI 7. REmember to dye because death wyll not tary long BERNARDVS I Tremble and quake for feare of the iawes of the infernall beast yea tylâ— I be deliuered from the body of hell from the roaring feendes prepared to their meate Alacke oh my mother why hast thou conceyued me the child of sorowe the childe of bitter bale indignation euâ—rlasting lamentation Why was I lâ—lled in thy lappe why was I fostered with thy dugges I was borne the meate for woormes and foode of the fyre IACOB CAP. 4. YOur laughter shâ—ll turne into mournyng and your ioy into sorowe APOCAL. CAP. 18. SO much as he hath vaunted and reioyced him selfe in his ritches so much torment and mournyng let him haue administred vnto him DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shal be a certayne prescribed rate of pounishment according to the measure of the offence that euery man hath done BERNARDVS BReethren let vs be enflamed to repentance let vs examine our consciences and let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our selus by repentaÌ„ce to the end we may be able to escape the horrible iudgement of y liuing God. Slombring in sinne some dreame security VVithout feare or forecast of infernall afliction Neglecting repentance in this lyfe transitory That they feare nothing the due correction Ordeyned for sinne by deuine direction As those that are not carefull harmes to eschewe Suche feele the sentence of all malediction VVhen repentance come to late their sorowes to rescewe IEREMI CAP. 3. WHY dooest thou cry out so vppon the contrition of thy soule thy sorowe is incurable by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities and because of thy greeuous sins haue I done this sayth the Lord. HIERONIMVS THE moderacion of Gods displeasure the duetie of godlinesse seeketh onely for our returne and desyreth that we may be saâ—ed by this long forbearance of his goodnes If we wyll not be conuerted yf we be stiffâ— necked and yf we continewe still in our syns vnlawfully euen tyll our death Let vs trust vnto it God wyl not shewe mercie vnto those that continually perseuer in their sinnes BERNARDVS I Tremble to thincke vppon the gnawyng woorme and the death that neuer dyeth I shiuer and quake euery ioynt of me to fall into the handes of that death that endureth and of that lâ—fe that dyeth GREGORIVS THE wâ—cked shall dye the death euerlastyng PROSPER IF at that instant when a man purposeth to sinne he would with diligent mind consider what pounishment claymeth to be done towards those that are taken in trappe for their mischeefts what torment shoulde vexe the conuict soules what feare would shake their members and ioynts in euery part and what wanne and pale colour would dumpe theyr hauty countenances and finally how execrable reproche and ignominie it selfe the sentence denounced vnto suche sinners woulde duely reâ—der I knowe not whether he would take any such delight or frame him selfe vnto such vices and wickednes yea or no. MATTH CAP. 21. BEholde the Bridegrome commeth and they that were prepared to wayte vppon the Bridegrome went in with him vnto the wedding Vnde Gregorius IF thou oh wicked man wert wyse and diddest vnderstand what ioye this were thou wouldest oftentimes consider herevpon and speedely run to repentance neither wouldest thou lose or forgoe the acceptable time and the dayes of thy saluation through thy banquetting dayly ryot and idlenesse without profiting body or soule IEREMI CAP. 9. WHO shall geue water vnto my head a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may weepe night and day when I behold the children of the people committed to my charge IVDITH CAP. 8. LET vs craue his pardon with teares AVGVSTINVS THE iustice of the Omnipotent hauing foreknowledge of thinges to come let ordeyne to be made the fyre of hell euen from the first creation of the world He whiche is of his owne mercifull goodnes contrary to this fire who is enflamed with loue of
be adurned with the Dyadem of eternal glory not in the dounghill of this world but in the Pallace of Heauen in the sight of innumerable Angâ—ls and of al the Saincâ—es in your stoole of immortalitie and with splendant royal ornamentes to be inuested Vnde Sapi. CAP. 5. LTT them receaue the kyngdome of honor and the Dyadem of dignity euen at the handes of the Lord. AVGVSTINVS OH thou my soule yf it be so that we must needes suffer tormentes euery day yea to suffer the very horrible hel it selfe a long time so that we might afterwards see Christ our sauiour in his glory and with his saintes euermore accompanied should we not onely suffer all sorrowe and paine to be made partakers of such glory and good graces VINCENCIVS BEloued brethren in the perplexity of this worldly pilgrimage we suffering the sorowes of our exile as it were with want of all goodnes are defiled and suffer the disposing of all incombrances the snares of sinnes laide for vs in euery place fearing the subtel deceiptes of our enimies but not sufficient watchfully or diligently preuenting them as we ought forbearing detrimentes and vexations and not able to shake from vs calamities swelling in vices enclined to vanitie in steade of veritie enduring exile for our countrey taste pouertie in steade of abundance vyle thinges for want of glorious thinges and doo so loue this world with a miserable blindnes or rather foolishe madnes that we are vtterly ignorant of that same glory of the holy ones of God whervnto lyfting the face of our mind and inward man we then behold the ioyes of eternal lyfe that we might some what surely sauour in our hartes the sweetenesse thereof AVGVST OH that I knew what I my selfe am and what thou art oh Lorde Oh yf a man knewe what him selfe were and what GOD were he would suffer a thousand deaths yf it wer c. SAPIENCE CAP. 3. BEholde the perpetuall goodnes of the reward for such as feare God. ECCLESIASTI vltimo BEhold with your eiesâ— forasmuch as I haue laboured a little and I haue found great rest vnto my selfe Let your hart reioyce in his mercie Be dooing what you can before the time and he shall geue you your reward in due time VVhen humane soule her selfe so dooth demene That she loues death and leaues lyfe spirituall Both God she then forgetteth quite and cleane Vertue dispisde she flowes in sinnes sensuall Contemning Christe obayes to Belyall And what her selfe is eke forgetting she For heauenly ioy feeles sorowes infernall For life she tastes death then perpetually Actum Aposto CAP. 5. THE Apostles went from out of sight of the people which gaue counsell because they were coumpted woorthy for the name of Christe or in his behalfe to suffer reproches AVGVSTINVS WE wyll reioyce with the elect of God and we wyll suffer tribulations of the world with them for surely they that would not imitate the holy ones in this manner shoulde not attaine vnto their renowne and glory 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. FOR euery one shall receiue his owne reward according to his labour and trauell but many for the most not meanyng to liue well desire to dye well knowyng how precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his sainctes Is he the God of the Iewes onely is he not also of the Gentiles yes of the Gentiles also CIRHSOSTOMVS IF any man shal thincke the way paynefull to liue wel such a one is the excuser of his owne slouth and negligence for yf Mariners and Seafaring men soppose the raging floods of the Sea to be threatninges of danger vnto them yf the season of Winter be thought a hinderance vnto husbandmen yf woundes and slaughter of Souldyers seeme a thyng tollerable and yf most greeuous stripes and blowes seeme thinges easie to be borne withal of very champions them selues for the hope of temporall thinges and transitory commodities much more when heauen is prepared for a rewarde of the godly we ought not once to thincke any thing of these present calamities neither ought a man to looke that this way is streyt but whyther it bringes a man neyther ought we to seeke for any other beeause it is brode but where the same finisheth LVKE CAP. 9. AND being bidden to the supper they begun euery man to excuse them selues BERNARDVS FOrgeue vs Lorde forgeue vs we excuse our selues we woorke al against the graine so as there is scarce any man whiche wyl be made practized as he may wâ—ll be in those thynges which parteyne vnto thee They all sauour earthly thinges they seeke that which is theirs and not that which is parteinyng vnto Iesus Christe They embrace vices they flee vertues and they waxe vâ—le togeather as the brute beast through filthynesse of their sinnes MICHEA CAP. 7. THe godly man perisheth vpon the earth and there is not any one amongst menne that liueth aright c. Resume thy strength nowe as a knight spirituall Fyght for the heauen winne it with diligence The â—ende the fleshe and vyces mundyall Quite to subuert by deuyne sapience If weake thou be craue God for thy defence Hauing good hope by Gods prouision Through watchfull care and humble pacience VVith tryumph thou shalt win an heauenly crowne AVGVSTINE THere shal be the cheefe securiâ—ie the safe tranquility the tranqiul or safe sweetenes the sweete felicitie the happy eternitie the eternall blessednesse· BERNARDVS OH heauenly Citie thou safe Mâ—nsion place a countrey fully câ—nâ—eyning whâ—â— so euer may be delightful â–ª a people without murmuring quiet inhabitance men hauyng no neede of any thing ORIGEN THE deuine bountie of the most highest shal replenishe all the receptacle of the soule with all goodnesse that is to say the angry and irefull soule with power and dignitie the greedy and couetous soule wiâ—h delightes and the reasonable soule with wysdome that there may therein appeare power without contradictâ—on dignity without comparison PROVERBIORVM CAP. 1. THE feare of the Lorde is the Well of lyfe AVGVSTINE LET the loue of this present Woâ—lde depart from thee wherein no man is so borne that he may not dye and let the loue of the worlde to come take place in thee wherein al men are made liuing so as thence foorth they shall not dye where no aduersitie shall trouble thee and no greeâ—es disquiet thee but whereas euerlastyng ioy and gladnesse raigneth for thy perpetual comfort ESAI CAP. 6. THeâ— sayd I Lorde how lonâ— Hâ— answered vntyl the Cities be vtterly wasted without inhabitantes c. ESAI CAP. 35. THey shall obteyne ioy and gladnesse and sorowe and lamentaâ—ion shall flee from them PSALME 119. OH howe good is the God of Israel vnto such as are true of hart Remember man this solace shal be sure Altogeather voyde of worldly variaunce It shall without dreade or distance ay endure But in this lyfe is no continuance Ritches pouertie lyfe and death are but a traunce VVherefore in this worldly mutable estate Let vs seeke to liue after God his ordinaunce Least of that lasting blis we make our selues frustrate DEVTERONO CAP. 3. MOYSES sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel Consider that this day I haue set before thee in thy sight both lyfe and good and of the contrary part death and euyll Sequitur I Take this day Heauen and Earth to witnesse that I haue set before you lyfe and good blessing and cursing choose you therefore lyfe that you may lyue I marueyle and greatly marueyle that man whiche aboue others is a creature endued with reason dooeth not in any thyng followe the iuâ—gement of reason despiâ—yng wholesome thynges and embrasing daungerous thinges seekyng and desyring deadly and hurtfull thinges OH eternall GOD what is the cause of suche dotyng foudnesse in man what reason is there of such foolishnesse and madnesse Why dooeth he desyre the death of the soule with so wicked a hart c. Nowe Heauens and Earth for witnes in I call How God disposeth for mans direction Perpetuall payne and ioy celestiall Vertue vice health and perdition Put to our choyse by free election VVherefore our hartes and eyes le ts eleuate To God the geuer of all grace deuine Of him to craue that he the fyrme estate Of lastyng blisse would graunt vs all in fine ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for SONDAY Per Authorem Namque huius mundi fallacis gaudia vitae Et quibus exuere se debet omnis homo Sunt miserandâ—a niâ—â—is vexant mortalia corda â–ª Virtutum faciunt quemlibet immemorem Quos igitur Chricti baptisma sacruÌ„ renouauit Librum hunc perlegite qui facit esse sacros Quid Iusto prodest aut quid peccator egebit Si Libet inspicere vos docet istud opus Soli Deo Gloria Here endeth this woorke of Contemplacion fyrst printed in Latine at Westminster the yeere of our Lord God. 1499. and nowe newly englished and printed at London by Hâ—gh Singleton dwelling in Creede Lane at the signe of the gylden Tunne Neare vnto Ludgate Anno. 1578.