needeth not to feare death so as hee be founde according to this instruction it shal suffice ¶ Wholsome admonitions to dye WHatsoener things at the howre of thy death thou wouldest haue to bee done doe thou the same presently and whatsoeuer thou arte by duety bound to doe commit not the charge thereof vnto others For if thou thy selfe wast negligent and carelesse of thine owne wealth and busines howe thinkest thou that others wyl take any heede or regarde to thy health Beleeue not vncerten thinges and vaine promises neither commit thyselfe to doubtful chaunces Liue so behaue thee selfe that thou mayst be so quieted in thy conscience as though this were thy dying daye Neuer go vnto thy bedde before thou hast accoumpted with thy selfe the maner state of thy life Examine thy selfe calling thy harte with al thy sences to iudgement and knowe whether thou be the better or the worse for this daye Neuer go thou to bedde with such a coÌ„science wherein thou fearest to dye If thou doest finde thee selfe in such state as thou doest feare to die search out the cause therof for peraduenture there be some sinnes of the which as yet thou hast not perfectlie repented thy self or else thou forsakest to acknowledge confesse them or peraduenture thou doest refuse to abstaine froÌ„ the occasions thereof or thou liuest vnder the daunger or obedience of some man or as a peruerse maÌ„ thou dost continue in malice or in the vniust withholding of other mennes goodes or thou art too much addicted bent to the couetous desyre of worldly wealth carnal sensualitie or rauished with the vnlawful lust of some creature or being so deepelie drowned in the greedy desire of earthlie visible thinges in such sort as thou canst by no meanes be withdrawen from them coueting for nothing of that which belongeth to the Soule foolishly looking and lyking in al external things lothing and vomiting out al heauenly thinges The cause that mooueth thee to feare death is that thy guyltie conscience foretelleth thy feareful minde the torments whiche are prouided for thy sinneful soule after thy death Which soeuer of these resteth and raygneth in thee cutte them off persecute them and with all thyne endeuour doo what lyeth in thee to deliuer thy selfe from them Imbrace my crosse and folow my footesteppes and they shal be a great furtheraunce to thee in this thine attempte and with rigour of minde holy hatred against thy self proclayme thou open warre against al vyces with a determinate wyll not to sinne renewing oftentymes this holy battayle without ceassing And least thou shouldst be ouerthrowen for weaknesse and want of courage contemplate and earnestly beholde the examples of me and of my Saints commending thy selfe to the prayers exhortations of good meÌ„ reposing thy selfe with inwarde and wholsome inspiration be occupied in prayer and godlie reading be neuer ydle loue solitarinesse and sylence These and such like driue away euyl thoughts froÌ„ the harte banish the feare of death When thou coÌ„mest to the ende of euery day say vnto thy self Now my life is shortned by one day And when thou rysest in the morning saye O God I am by one night neerer to death then I was ¶ An Exercise to be vsed in the Morning or at other times when you thinke conuenient ALmightie and eternall God my Creator and louer I praise adore and blesse thee for that in mine offeÌ„ces and vngratefulnesse thou hast so mercifullie and leysurelie forborne suffred me to liue euen to this houre wherunto by thy benefits thou hast brought me geuing to me thine vnworthy reprocheful seruaunt both life necessaries therunto beloÌ„ging appointing Angelles to be my keepers O good God who knoweth whether tyll euening my life shal be prolonged or what death is appointed forme O merciful Lorde God heauenly father graunt that I may with harty repentaunce truly repeÌ„t â—â—y sinnes inwardly bewaile that â—â—et I offended thy godly maiestie Suffer not my soule to departe this body before it be through thy mercie perfectlie reconciled and adopted vnto thee by thy grace bedeckt with thy merites and vertues inflamed with perfect charitie and acceptable vnto thee according vnto thy wyl O mercifull Lorde Iesus Christe if those thinges whiche I desyre doo stand with thy pleasure grauÌ„t them I beseeche thee although I be not worthy to be heard yeelde and geue I beseech thee of thine infinite mercie that by the merites of thy passioÌ„ I may be purged from al my sinnes And that at the howre of my death I maye be striken with true and vehement contrition and being knitte with thee in perfect charity I maye immediatly flit vnto thee my sweete Redeemer safelie and freelie from al dampnation Neuerthelesse in al these my requestes O best beloued Iesu I do fully and wholy offer and resigne my selfe vnto thee to be altogether disposed ordered according to thy wyl and to suffer for thy glorious sake desyring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragilitie vnworthinesse vnstablenesse miseries together with thine owne goodnesse and most charitable mercy praying thee neuer to forsake or leaue me but that thou wylt alwaies possesse and gouerne me according to thy wyl Amen ¶ An oblation of Christ and of his merites vnto his Father OMnipotent and benigne Father al the paines dolours checkes punishmentes rebukes and labours of thy onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ lambe immaculate which he vpon his owne body hath suffred for my sake his trauels with the afflietion of al his members for me his bloudshed and feete nayled for me his most noble and godly soule seuered from his delicate body for mee his infinite vertues and merites the strength also of his body soule and al thinges the hare lyfe in him yeelded to death for my redemption inseperately notwithstaÌ„ding vnited with the Deitie Christ also thy blessed soÌ„ne God man omnipotent both weakned looking downe glorious working myracles and hanging vpoÌ„ the Crosse I do here offer vnto thee in exaction satisfaction of my synnes al the worldes and in mortifying extinguishing of al my passions euil affections sinful vices in steede and supply of al my negligeÌ„ce and in the laude and prayse of al thy graces benefites O heauenly father haue coÌ„passion vpon me for his sake haue thou mercie vpon me for the loue of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ THere beâ— which doe prefixe a certaine kinde of exercise vnto them selues as death were present preparing themselues euerye fyue dayes continually in suche sorte as though they shoulde dye presently The fyrst daye they do remember death the presidentes and horror thereof to whom they do wyllingly yeelde The seconde daye they do thinke vpon theyr sinnes and them so busie and diligently they do confesse as though presently after theyr confessioÌ„ they should die passing ouer that daye in sobbes and teares The thyrde day with the greatest deuotion they can
I wishe and loke for thee I runne to meete thee and I doe renounce all things that are not of thee Whatsoeuer thou wilt I wyll and whatsoeuer thou wylt not the same I wyl forsake Whatsoeuer thou doest detest I doe refuse it and whatsoeuer shal hereafter happen vnto me coÌ„trarie to this my present minde I beseeche thee my God not to impute the same vnto me neither according vnto that but accordyng to this present choyse of my soule iudge me For al thinges whiche I ought not to doe I doe here vtterly forsake them And if at anye time hereafter I shall chaunce by any sinister occasion to agree to any thing that may be a cause to withdraw thy nâ—â— dyd from me I do 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 vtterly 〈◊〉 and dâ—tâ—â—â—tlys satile O Lorde Iâ—â—â— if it please thre or if if maye stande 〈◊〉 thy glâ—â—y â—â—auÌ„t I beâ—â—eche thee in this my present lyfe â—hat I 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 wherein I haâ—e oâ—â—â—nded â—â—om al the pâ—ines 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—â—uedlie I â—â—ght to 〈…〉 And that thâ—◠〈…〉 of thy 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ned farry afte◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Lorde Iesu 〈◊〉 my 〈…〉 ¶ 〈…〉 or lâ—st 〈…〉 therto be saye 〈◊〉 to be â—â—ought 〈…〉 vp on at the howre 〈…〉 〈…〉 seath 〈…〉 IN the name of the Father and of the Some and of the holie Ghost I Hâ— a wretched synner â—â—deemed with the precious bloud of our Lord Iesus Christe through his greate merry and loue not by my merites do confesse and â—â—knowledge openly eyther by this wryting or by these my wordes before God omnipotent and before you that are here as witnesses if there needeth any that I aâ—â—â—â—â—d doo dyethe true serâ—â—unt of our Lorde Iesus Christe as it becomâ—eth a true Christian I do beleeue and confesse generallie all and euerie parte and Article of the Christian fayth wherein euery Christian beleeuer is â—â—â—â—â—de is beleeueâ— And chiâ—sâ—ie the vâ—iuersall 〈…〉 â—oâ—teyned in the twelue Articles of the Christian faith either openly expressed or by reason excluded According as through the holye Ghoste by the twelue Apostles and by the true gospel they were delyuered vnto vs And to be shorte I beleeue so muche as a true Christian ought And I do with all my harte reioyce to dye in this immoueable and fyrme Fayth holding this scripture in my handes and offering it vp as a most defensible and inuinsible shield against all the inuasions and deceiptes of the diuell And if which God forbyd it come to passe that by the temptation of the diuell or by the violence of my disease I shall happen to thinke speake or do any thing contrarie to this pretestation Or that I shall fal into any error misbelefe or dispaire Yf any of these doo chaunce vnto me I do here in the presence of you al reuobe vtterly renounce the same in such sorte as I woulde do if I had my perfect sences For this I cal you al which are here present thee my good Angell vnto whose custodie I am coÌ„mitted that you as witnesses may testifie this my protestation and confession before the omnipotent and righteous Iudge As muche as in me lyeth I doo here clearely forgeue and remit al iniuries iuries whatsoeuer haue beene done vnto me And the lyke I do aske 〈◊〉 theyr handes whoâ—â—eit her by word or dee de I haue at any time â—â—leÌ„ded And cheessie I do request to bee partaker of the bytter PassioÌ„ and innocent death of our Lord Iesus Christ and that my natural and voluntarie death may through thy grace stande for al my sinnes I do also intitely requeâ—â— and desire you al that be here present to say the Lordes prayer with me and for me Our Father which arte in Heauen hâ—â—o 〈◊〉 be thy 〈◊〉 Thy kingdom thing Thy wyl be done in earth as it is in heauen â—eue vs this day out â—â—ylâ—e breade And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from al euyl For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen Would to God I had neuer sinned nor offeÌ„ded against my God nor my 〈◊〉 periors 〈◊〉 against my neighbours nor my selfe Lastlie I geâ—â—â— thâ—â—bes 〈◊〉 thaâ—â—â—â—ghty God for al his 〈…〉 â—â—sâ—â—wed vpon west And I commâ—â—de my body and soule into thy 〈…〉 that my soule may he saued through the bitter passion of our Lord 〈◊〉 Christ to whom be prayse 〈◊〉 glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ Howe feareful and bytter corporal death is of it selfe and the muâ—â—â— causes thereof AS man naturallie desyreth to be in this worlde to lyue and to reioyce So is it also natural for him to feare death and the paines presydents thereof Vertuous and perfect men not withstanding are accustomed to wysh for death wrâ—oâ—â—â—ch as it is the ende of the myseties and offences of this present lyfe the entry like wise into the felicitie and ioye to come They do therfore couet death whiche loue no vnâ—â—wâ—all thing in this lyfe and despiseth and settethat nought al the vanities pleasutes tiches homours prosperities of this world with a most â—â—dent affection aspyring to the most blessed syght of theyr God whome aboue al other thinges they do with al their hartes entirely loue and inwardlie burne with the hartie desyre of heauenlie pleasures eternall wealth saying with the prophet Dauid As the Hart desireth to come to the fountaines of fresh waters so doth my soule desire thee O lord My soule hath thirsted to come vnto God the lyuing fountaine When shal I come appeare before the face of God And to the same effect sayth Paule I vnhappie man who wyll deliuer me from the body of this death That is to saye from this mortal miserable body Also I desyre to be dissolued to be with Christ Neuerthelesse though the consideration of death of it self be a most bytter paine and that the losse of lyfe to a humaine 〈…〉 is naturaâ—le fearfull and horâ—â—â—â— insomuch that our Lord Iesus Christ death approchâ—ig by natural â—eaâ—e of death whiche he tooke willingly vpon him began to feare to ware weerie and to be heauy Such wâ—â—eâ—aâ—e 〈◊〉 of death is proâ—â—â—able for it withdraweth man from cauâ—â— detectatioÌ„ and from the vanities of this worlde He that wyl wisely consider howe pawful an ende howe bytter a death and howe greeuous a sorow doth dayly approche vnto him and peradueÌ„ture is presentlie at hande hee wyll refrayne him selfe from dyssolute and vaine secutitie from sportes games and laughters Saying with Salomon I haue accompted laughing for errour And to myrthe I haue sayde Why doest thou deceyne in vayne And that they be so in deede the wyse Salomon doth in another place witnesse the same Better it is sayeth he to gâ—e into a sorrowfull house then into a hoÌ„â—ueting house Iâ—â—thoue that is the sorowful house man is admonished of theâ—de of all men lyuing he thinketh vpon that which shall happen and is
to come As the Scripture sayth Blessed is he that is alwayes fearefull And by this the olde Doctours Hierâ—ome and Augustine 〈◊〉 wryte that Plato that excellent and moste noble Philosopher dyd forgoe the delicate and beautifull Cittie of Athens â–ª with â—â—â—tayne of his Schollers choosing rather to dwell in an olde thinous Vyllage beeing often with Earthquakes and Tempestes wel neare ouerturned so that by the frace of daungers and death they myght in themselues mortifie the vicas of the fleshe withdraw themselues from concupiscence and all other vices For so muche as the Gentyles haue done this howe much more I praye you ought Christians to withdraw themselues from delectations by remembring the daungers of death And that by this the preme ditation of death there might growe in vs such an healthful feare The disposition of him that dyeth is to be consydered to behold the present howre of the separation of the soule from the fleshe whereof man hath a naturall feare for then man altogeather waxeth pale his feete waxeth colde his weake hands becommeth blacke his countenaunce chaungeth colour his eyes becommeth dimme and sinketh in and for intollerable pangues of paynes they are turned vpwarde See how his hart waxeth faynt his forehead shrinketh all his members waxeth flyffe his chinne falleth his pulses chaungeth theyr course his breath gathering it self from the innermost bowels doo altogether forsake the body The paines of death do then appeare deadly pangues stinging with the mortal stinges the very harte which fyrst of al begynneth to lyue and last of al doth dye And last of al there commeth breaketh foorth a dead sweate shewing that Nature is ouercome And thus being vanquished by griefe the soule is cast out from hir dwelling place If we wyl consyder this disposition of them that dye and do dilygentlie imagine that the lyke wyl short lie happen vnto our selues there is no doubte but we wyll consider the healthfull feare of death ¶ THE MANER howe to dye well Written in Latin by Petrus de Soto AL men must nedes dye a punishment assigned vnto vs for that sinne of our fyrst parentes Mortalitie that is â—euitable death is test cast vpon vs for that Adam and Eua did eate of the forbidden fruit wherby they sinned against the lord And as sinne was first commited so death presently folowed By syn they lost life gained death For as by doing well they shoulde haue obteyned immortality to themselues their posterity so by doing the contrarie they haue gained death mortality to them vs for euer from the general sentence whereof none shal escape lest that any one shoulde haue cause to exalt himself aboue another if he might freely escape the same The certentie of death and the vncertayne howre thereof NOthing is more certayne then death but the howre the place and maner thereof none knoweth For who is he that knoweth when where and after what sorte he must dye whether he shal dye a good or a shamefull death whether hee shall ende his lyfe by sword fire or water or by any other kynde of death No not one truely For death more diligent then our shadows at al times and places continuallye geueth his attendance laying for vs his trappe thinking at euerye houre vnwarely to intrap vs therein Who is then so foolish as to assure himselfe to lyue but tyl night of what age soeuer hee be of For what other thing is our life but the verye beaten pathe and straight way to death Hee therefore that is wise loketh prepareth him selfe for death and at al tymes and in al places is continually ready to dye For death is at the gates of old men and lyeth in a readines to oppresse ouertake yong men the houre when the Lorde reserueth and keepeth to himselfe to the ende that we beeing vncertayne when to dye shoulde the rather prepare our selues to dy And whylst we haue our perfect health memorie we ought to acknowledge our redeemer to cal vpon him betaking our selues altogether vnto his clemencie great mercye And in no wise to detract the time to the laste houre and extreme instant of death For death most commonlie assaulteth and oppresseth those whom he seethe most vnwilling and the worst prouided And as death findeth the man so man shall finde death The perfect man dyeth in securitie and gladnes the iust manful of hope fayth and assured confidence and the vniust dyeth in stare and desperation VVhy Iust men doe wishe for death WE do continually walk amongst innumerable dangers that is the dangerous snares of our aunciente enimie the diuel the bloody swordes of the wicked the intollerable greefes paynes and labours of the body The habitation or dwelling place of the body wherein we dwel is ruinous the worldely sea wherein wee fayle is ful of stormes dangerous wrackes no earthly thing wherein wee can delight our selues lacketh great perils and that wherein wee thinke we finde great felicitie therin alwayes consisteth our most miserie and calamities But yet our benigne Sauiour doth not without heauenly prouidence appoynte suffer that this our mortal life shoulde be so replenished and fylled with those so great calamities paynes and perils And also doth according to his profounde wisedome prouidentlye ordeyne and appoynte them I meane those temporal paynes which we do abide to the ende that wee shoulde repent vs of our former sinnes and amend our present lyfe and diligently to care for the lyfe to come and that we shoulde willingly contemne the worlde and set at noughte this transitorie life erecting and lifting vppe our mindes soules and hartes vnto the almightie God â–ª earnestlye affecting the glorious euerlasting life with feruent desire from the bottome of our hartes Our forefathers which in times past tasted but verye litle of this glorious and heauenlye sweetnes did yet abandon al earthly vanities abhorred the delight of the world despised and quite forgot this transitorie life most painfully labouring with al diligence to obteine the vnspeakeable pleasures of heauen greedely thirsting for the eternal blisse saying with the Apostle â–ª O wretched man who shal deliuer me from this mortal body My desire is to be dissolued to be with thee O christ for as the Harte desireth to come to the fouÌ„tains of fresh waterâ— so doth my soule O Lorde desire to come to â—hee Although death bringeth vnto vs suche and so many pleaâ—â—res and that through it the soule is carried thither where it shal eâ—â—â—auy liue yâ—â— we ought not to dâ—â—â—â—te nor argue of the rest of our life which is presâ—â—lbed by God neyther ought werâ— bee the causeâ—s or procâ—reâ— of our owne death For as we 〈◊〉 not hither by 〈◊〉 owne appoynâ—ment so ought we not to be â—hâ—â—â—â—â—rs of ouâ— ende before the â—ime appoynted vnto vâ— by god Hereby I iudge him to be altogether forgetful of himselfe and litle to regarde his owne state that thinketh his time in this
world to be but short seeing it is suâ—â—â—fent to liue a short time and smal age so that we spende the same in dooing well For what matter is it whethâ—â— one dye yong or olde for so much as the number of yeeres nor length of tyme do make neyther blessed nor vnblessed happy nor vnhappy And that by coÌ„ming to death the ende of al humain kinde we shal aryue in a safe porte quiet harborowe free and safe from al the dauÌ„gerous stormes troublesome broyles of this worlde The death of the iust man. NOthing ought to be more wished for then to be in the handes of God â–ª wherein the Soules of the iust quietly rest Theyr death is acceptable to the Lorde if a man maye caâ— that death which is the greatest pleasure that can happen to good men for it is to them the ende of labour care the winning of victory the way of lyfe the entrie into perfect securitie and ioyning of the soule to God the thiefest goodnes which is of al other the greatest rewarde that men can haue The departing of the iust man from this lyfe is the vyage and passage from trouble to rest froÌ„ paynes to glory from pouerty to a kingdom from feare to securitie from griefe to ioye from death to that lyfe which onelie ought to be called lyfe And to conclude death is nought else vnto him but an escape from prisonment a returne from banishment a finishing of labours an arriual to the port of rest an ending of pylgrimage a lyghtning of his burden a delyueraunce from a ruinous house an ending of euylles an escape from daungers and paying to nature hir duetie and entrye into his countrey of euerlasting ioye and glorie By meanes where of that daye wherein the Saintes departe hence and are receyued into Heauen is commonlie called their natall daye for that when they departe hence then doo they begynne to lyfe and by dying in this worlde they enter into a better The death of the euyll THe death of a sinner is most wretched of al euyls for there by he loseth the worlde the greatest aspect familyer felowship of his best beloued also by it the soule is seuered from the body is condempned to abide the affliction of Hell fyre For the paines of one coÌ„demened soule is farre worse greeuouser then al the tormentes of al the holy Martirs yea though they were al gathered in one For the sinner hath horror feare at his departing griefe sorow in his iourney shame and confusion in the sight of God the vpright iudge incredible terror dreade in departing from this lyfe entring into an vnknowen Region wherein feareful spyrites wycked Angels meete the soule and pul it to eternal paines The goodes of the wycked are diuided into three Fyrst his soule to the diuel his body to the wormes his temporal goodes to his heyres which are coÌ„monly vngratefull and too prodigal The daungers of death THe diuel doth with al his engines and snares seeke to intrap mans Soule at the very howre of death if God of his speciall goodnesse assyste him not tempting him fyrste of the verity of his faith persuading him to forgo the same putting him in remembraunce of his coÌ„mitted offeÌ„ces thinking with the greatnes of them to driue him into dispayre And at the same instaunt coÌ„monly a pang more painful then tongue can tel assayleth him which is the separation of the soule from the body That paine is so great that as then he can remember nought els but the deadly paÌ„ges of death only Therfore it is written In death O Lorde none remembreth thee And Saint Augustine sayth The sinner is stricken with such animaduersity that dying he forgetteth him selfe who whylst he lyued remembred not god Saint Barnarde also treating of the hoâ—â—e of death Cursed spyrites sâ—â—th he watcheth at my doores and â—â—rrible diuels attende my comming so that I dare not goe forth Sâ—â—â—â— lie I am not able to escape theyr haudes vnlesse the Lorde defende me But he who tedeemed me wyll defende and faue me Howe we shoulde comfort those â–ª that be in daunger of death To the end that euery manâ—night learne the ryght waye howe to dye I haue gathered together these sewe lynes folowing out of dyuers good Authors Three exhortations to the sicke 1. Consider good Brother that all men of what condition or degree soeuer they bee must once dye some sooner some later according to the tyme appoynted them by God to whom we are al subiect to paye vnto Nature hir fees whensoeuer his omnipotencie shal thinke good who hath appointed this worlde vnto vs as a bayting Inne and not to be our continual dwelling place There is no cause therefore why you should so much affect this transitory life for by how much the loÌ„ger your life is prolonged by so much y more your syns are increased And y elder you grow in age the more your offences are multiplied for euery day vice increaseth and vertue decayeth We ought therefore to be the more wylling to dye for the by flytting from this poore mortal life we shal come to the euerlasting and blessed lyfe 2. Acknowledge good brother most thankfully â–ª God 's bountiful goodnes towardes thee in that that hytherto of his vnspeakeable mercie he hath permitted thee to lyue yea for that at this present extremitie of death his hyghnesse hath graunted thee thy perfect senses reason and vnderstanding whereby thou mayst acknowledge thy bounden duety vnto his heauenly Maiestie And in that he hath not oppressed not preuented thee with sodaine death and for that also he hath of his merciful goodnes called thee vnto his true and vnfaigned faith through which by his help thou shall be brought to his euerlasting kingdome and eternal inheritaunce For this and al other his innumerable benefites geue vnto his highnesse most hartie thankes and altogether betake thy selfe vnto his endles mercie humblie crauing pardon of him for thine offences 3. Consider that God the Father hath geuen and yeelded his welbeloued sonne in whome he tooke great delyght to be crucifyed and tormented with innumerable tribulations tortures and paynes and to suffer most vyle bitter death for vs most wretched sinners Seeing therefore thou hast in this transitorie life commytted done innumerable synnes and haynous offences which deserueth farre greeuouser and greater paynes and punishmentes then bee assigned vnto thee Thou oughtest therfore patientlie to beare the paines and panges of this thy deserued disease and death Christ for thine offences most willynglie and patientlie suffred death and the holy Martyrs and Apostles with al theyr minde moste wyllingly imbraced death for his names sake Knowe thou therefore that what maner of death soeuer thou suffrest is muche lesse painefull then theyrs for wyl thou nyl thou die thou must therefore in the name of Christ good brother take it patiently Questions to bee asked of him that lyeth sicke by
al true beleeue us cast out and vomite foorth with horror and hatefulnes all the delectations of the fleshe and vanâ—ties of the world through which they come to so great calamities in hell FINIS ¶ Hereafter followeth certayne meditations of the Heauenlye kingdome or the ioyes of Heauen WE oughte so to liue in this worlde that when our bodies beginne to become subiectes to wormes in the Sepulture then our soules should beginne to be glad with Saintes in heauen directing of spyrites thither whither it continually aspyreth We ought to hasten our selues thither where wee shall alwayes lyue and where we shalle are death no more If we do any thing at al affect this vâ—ding and transitory life which at no time is void of cares and labors and that by eating drinking sleeping or any other recreation scarce can we at any time satisly the necessity of the flesh By how much the more ought we to desyre and wishe for eternal life wherein we shal abide nor suffer no lobor or payne where there is continual health eternal felicity happy lyberty and perfect blysse where men shal be like vnto the Angels of God and iust men shal shine as the Sun in the kingdom of their father How thinkest thou then of what brightnes wil the soule be when the body shal possesse the light of the Sun In that place there is no heauinesse no sorrow no griefe no feare no labor no death but a perpetual health and euerlasting blisse In which eternal kingdome there is no malice nor misery of the fleshe no disease no lack no huÌ„ger no thrist no colde nor heate no weriâ—es of fasting nor temptation of the enemy no will to sinne nor power to do euyl but a quiet harborough of pleasur crumph where men in the society of Angels shal continually dwel without any infyrmity of the flesh There is infinite ioy eternal blisse from whence none shal be remoued that once can enter therein Ther is the rest from labours peace froÌ„ the enemy a new kinde of pleasure a securitie of eternity taking a meruaildus delite and exceeding plesure in the beholding of god Who is he theÌ„ that wil not seeke and desyre by all means possible to be a dweller there both for the desire of peace ioye and eternity for the perfect sight of god The desire the soule hath to the Heauenly iudgement O Spirituall Hierusalem the holye citie of God happy wer my soule if I might obteine to behold thy glorie thy gates thy wale thy streetes thy innumerable habitations thy most noble citizens and thy omnipotent king in his maiesty glory For thy walles are made of pretious stones thy gates of excellent margarites thy stretes of most pure golde wherein that sweete song Alleluy a is incessantly songe Thy manifolde mansions are founded vpon square stones and builded with Sâ—phyres couered with golden Tiles wherin no wicked man entreth nor sinner dwelleth O heauenly Hierusalem thou art sweete bewtiful in al thy peasures and delights There are no such miseries in thee as wee feele abid suffer in this poore miserable life Ther is in thee no darknes no night nor chaunge of time The shining of the Moon the twinkling brightnesse of the stars geueth not light in thee but only the God of God the light of light and the Sun of iustice geueth light in thee The white inunaculate Lambe a most beutiful light is thy light thy â—rightnes goodnes is an endles contemplation and beholding of thy moste â—ewtiful king The king of â—â—ngs is in the middest of thee inâ—uâ—â—â—â— on ech 〈◊〉 with his beloued â—hâ—â—â—â— In thee are legions of Angels sâ—â—ging of sweete â—iâ—â—es in thee are the felowship of heauenly Citizens there resteth the sweete soleÌ„nity of al such as returne from this miserable pilgrimage vnto thy glory the prouident coÌ„pany of the prophetes dwel in thee there are the whole nuÌ„bet of the twelue Apostles and there is the victorious army of innumerable martirs there are true perfect holy men and women which haue vanquished the pleasures of the world and the infirmity of the flesh Ther are yong childreÌ„ and maideÌ„s which haue passed ouer their yeres in holines of life ther are they that haue escaped the snares nets of pleasure and sensuality Euerye one reioiceth in his degree though not equal in glorye yet lyke in ioyes and gladnes For there reigneth perfect charity and God is al in al whom without â—â—d they 〈◊〉 coÌ„tinually and stil in 〈◊〉 â—olding him theyr loue increseth they loue prâ—ise him al theyr worâ—â—â—â— to the prayse of God without ende intermission or labour Happye were I yea most happye if I could obteine after my departure from this life to beare the song of heauenly melody which is song by these heueÌ„ly Citizens happy companies of blessed spirites in the laud praise of the eternal king Most fortunate and blessed wer I if I my selfe could come to sing that sweete song and to stand neere my kinge my God and captain to behold him in his glory and maiesty as he himself hath vouchedsafe to promise saying father I wil that those which thou hast geueÌ„ me be with me the they may see that excelleÌ„t purenes that I haue with thee before the constitution of the world Let him who ministreth vnto me followe me where I am â—heâ— shâ—lâ—â—y seruaÌ„t be And again â—e that loueth me is beloued of my father Iâ—â—â—il loue him and shew my self vnto him Howe plentifull of al goodnes and how spare of all euill the heauenly Hierusalem is O My soule let vs returne vnto the heauenly citie wherin we are registred appointed to be dwellers as the felowes of Saints and housholde seruances of our Lord heires of God and coheires with Christe our Sauiour Let vs consider so far as possible we can of these licitye of that holy Citie saying with the prophete O what glorious thinges are sayde of thee O thou Citie of God for thou art the habitacle of al those that reioice and be glad For the art filled with ioye There is no olde age nor miserye of age in thee There is none maimed lame crookebact nor deformed in thee for in thee al men grow to ful strength and perfectnes yea vnto the very yeres of our Saui or Christ What life is happier then that life where there is no feare of pouerty nor weakenesse by desease Ther is no anger hurt nor enuy no couetousnes nor ambitious aspiring to honor nor power pricketh the mind of any that dwel in that holy Citie The feare of the deuil his dauÌ„gers and the terror of hel is far absent froÌ„ thee The death neither of body nor soule is feared in thee but a pleasant life rewarded with inâ—â—ortalitye Ther wil be then no euil peace shal be there proclaymed in euery place and al discorde shal be quyte forgotten for the concorde of the holye Saintes is one Althinges shal