and reiectâ—â— othersome For albeit of meere gracs hee chooseth whome be will yet against such as are decreed to death hee is neither cruell nor wrongful seeing God oweth them nothing they are so dealt with for their sinnes they not being able to pleade for themselues We haue paid the debts that wee neuer owed Next to this they aâ—e abiudred to Hâ—il fire what heâ—l â—â—e is we 〈◊〉 not curioâ—â—ye to search but wee are rather to be carefull how to auoide it as when a mans house is on fire bee standeth not to enquire from whence that fire came but all his care is to quench it The wicked are â—on pared to drie wood that the fire will soone take holde on as when Christ saide to the woman of Hierusalem that wept for him If they doe these thinges to a greene tree what shall be done to the drye Or vnto Chaâ—â—e which is presently inflamed in these wordes of Iohn He will burne vp the Chasse with vnquenchable fire or to tares which the remie sowed among good wheate in these words of Christ The tares are the Children of the wicked These are to be made vp into Faggots and sheafes to bee â—â—tted to the fire according to that which is in the parable Gather yee first the tares and binde them in sheafes to burne them But how shall they be shocked and bundled vp namelyâ— the Vsurer with his Broker Badger regrater and workemen of such things shal be bound vp together to make an euen fâ—ggot according to the Statute The deceiâ—efull Merchant with his apprentises that make lyâ—â— oathes deceâ—tfulnesse the principall porters to bring in their liuing The whole broode of Lawyers that can set a good dye vpon a bâ—dde cloath and call bad good and good badde that eate vp the people like breade and grinde their noses to the faces betweene the Milstones of oppression Preathers yâ— make merchandize of holy misteries Barter◠〈…〉 of the Bible that with their temporâ—sâ—ng and luke-warme Religion dawbe vp the mudde wall of all abhomination euerie of these companies make seuerall sheaâ—â— seruisable for the 〈◊〉 Ye may runne through all the ranckes and Clasâ—ies of sinne in thâ—â— manner to make vp the wood stacke that must feedâ— this â—re But it is more then admirable which is said of the nature of this 〈◊〉 that it is euerlasting For the â—unishment exâ—eedeth the offence for the offence was but momentame and the iudgement is eternall which seemeth not to be answerable to Gods infinite mercie We answere extraordinarie transgression hath no proportion with ordinarie correction Againe what is the cause that thy domesticall and ordinarie fire goeth out Is it not because thou feedest it not with combustible matter For let it haue alwayes stouer giuen to it and it will alwayes continue In hell the fire is maintained by fewell fit for it For there is euerie mans wicked will and endlesse desire of sinning which can neuer be done away because there is no repentance in hell which is the nutriment and preseruatiue of this fire Therefore so long as the sinne remaineth it is but equitie and iustice that the punishment should continue Sinners are like Card-players who will not giue ouer though the night bee neuer so much spent vnlesse their Candle saile them so did not the light of life faile them and were not their Candle as Iob saieth put out and spent to the Socket they would not cease to sinne Wherfore the punishment is agreeable with their sinfull wishes They wish to sinne for euer therefore they are worthily plagued for euer Therewarde of the righteous is euerlasting therefore the wages of the wicked is euerlasting May not the sonne is sinne against the father and the subiect against his soueraigne as in the rule of reason and iustice the one may be disinherited and the other confined and banished for euer If wee admit these it holdeth by comparison that our heauenly King and father may doe so with his degenerate children and rebellious people But yet it is verie strange that this fire should burne and not consume But the answere hereof is the will of the Creator who hath giuen this condition and qualitie vnto it The beast called the Salamander is not burnt but nourished by the fire and thou maist by anoynting thy selfe with the lard and fat of it walke vpon the fire and not be burned The fish that is dâ—cocted in vineger remaineth whole and will not fall a peeces because the vineger hardnâ—th it and fitteth it for the frying If these smaller matters of no moment are brought to passe by man shall not God giue this â—â—sposition to the damned creature much more to liue and neuer 〈◊〉 in this fire Thus death shall be a restauratiue to the damned and dying they shall neuer die Who doth not now shake and quake at the remembrance of such erquisite iudgement In respect of this fire our ordinarie fire is but as painted fire yet it is so fierce as to gaâ—e the worlde thou wilt not indure thy bodie in it one quarter of an houre how wilt thou therefore wrastle with eternall burnings If wee bee so delicate as lying on our beds wee cannot abide the byting of a Flea or Gnat how shall wee endure the venemous mouthes of so manie Serpents Dragons poisonable and stinging creatures that will come gnawing vpon vs round about There is weeping with a witnesse for the eies shall deliuer out riuers of teares and the chattering of teeth shal be like the clattering of an army of armed men Flaetus ex dolore stridor dentium exfurore Wéeping commeth of the dolor and gnashing of séeth of the furor that we shall there be put vnto There no part of body or soule shall be able to solace or succor one another but all shal be intollerably pained The mind shall muze of nothing but a maze of miseries past her getting out the memorie shall recount nothing but old odious sins the fantasie shall feed of nothing but fâ—aceful visions the eies shal behold nothing but legions of soule flends the eares shall be alwayes grated with the direfull discorde of the hoarse and hideous howlings of hell-hounds the nosthrils shall be filled with sulphurous fumes and fuliginous filthie odours the handes shall holde fast nothing but globes and balles of fire their feete shall goe no further then their chaines will let them Thus hath euerie part of man perfection of miserie The Braines of men haue béene curiously busied in inuenting strange torments for men A Booke hath beene written entituled De torquendis Christianis Of tortering Christians Some haue beene giuen vp to the teeth of wilde Beasts Some haue beene burned vppon a Harth and soft fire Other spitted and rosted vppon Gredyrons Others cast into furious fires into Furnaces and Ouens of hote burning coales Others into vessels of boyling Lead or Oyle Some into bulâ— and engens of burning Brasse some haue béene rowleâ— and rocked vp
worlde shall perish Take wee a shorte and curâ—ory suruay of the espâ—ciall parts to put the matter out of doubt which for 〈…〉 wee reduce to two cheâ—fe for so the scripture truneth them all vp as it were in two bundles The heauen and the earth But the definitiue doome of Christ concerning them is that they shall be destroied Heauen and earth shall pasâ—e The heauen is the roofe and the earth the foundation of Gods house The heauen containeth the ayre and whatsoeuer liueth in the same The earth containeth the sea in it which are the pauement of Gods beautiful pallace the sea also being the girdle of the dryland now there is nothing more firme and stable then the earth which how best it be â—ounded vpon the floodes as Dauid saith yet is it such a solid and compact bodie and of such waightines as by no means of man it may bee rocked out of his place an earthquake which assaniteth it most is numbred amongest the strangest thunderboltes of Gods iudgements which he letteth she as arrowes at a marke The heauen as it is so mortaised and hangde as it cannot bee drawne from his hindges and hookes so his orbs haue their certaine and orderlie courses but they shall bee thredbare and waxe olde as a garment The heauens shall pass away with a noise and the elements shall melte with heate c. Doe wee not see how the earth droopeth like an old man that hath lost his strength hauing lost the fatnesse and marrow that was wont to be in the heart bones of it whilest it is somtimes choaked with water and at other times parched with heat and whilest in some places it mouldreth away It is recorded of Aetna that mightie mountaine that it is not such a marke to Sailers as it was wont In manie places the sea retire and giue backe as is written of Egipt in other places it getteth ground horriblie ouerwhelming whole townes and prouinces In some places mountaines are maimed by earthquakes rockes the boniest places of the earth splitted asunder great deepes dried vp and are like a drie floore neither cloddes nor clouds giue theâ—r wonted instâ—â—â—s al which doe argue that they haue no long contâ—unâ—â—e Moreouer if wee may beleeue Astrononiers the 〈…〉 of the celestiaâ—â—â—â—s is weakned the Sun is not so many 〈…〉 from vs as it was wont to be for they auouch that â—t is neerer to vs by the fourth part then it was in Pâ—olome â—s time that is to say nine thousand nine hundred seuentie fire miles as the Germaines reckon miles If there be such a declâ—â—ation in the vppermost parte what shall we say of this lowe â—â—ost rome but that it is in a verie weake taking Old age hath come vpon the backe of the worlde and euery part thereof groaueth vnder the burthen thereof In pâ—antes their is lesser vertue in beaâ—ts and men lesser strength in all of vs fewer yeares I looke therefore for noe lesse then a suddaine and short consummation of all From this doctrine groweth verie special vse if we haue grace â—o apprehend it 1. For the consideration of the traÌ„sttory nature of the things of this world lifteth vp our mindes beyond all earthlie thinges and gaineth them to God For it is but lost labour to plough vpon rocks to leane vpon a broaken reede to looke for comfort of a riuer that is dried vp to builde vpon vncertainties and to relie vpon meere vanities But Salomon smiteth the world of both cheeres twice calling it vanitie vanitie of vanities and troubling the note that wee might knowe it is his verdict without repeale All is vanitie Ionas giueth the he to them naming them lying vanities as promising one thing and giuing vs another promising liâ—e and euery minute bringing vs to death promising felicitie and ouerwhelming vs with miserie promising eternitie whereas it is transtâ—orie dealing dissemblingly and falsly with vs as Laban did with Iacob who promised him Rachell but gaue him Leaâ—â— in her steade And as the false prophets did by Achab promising him victorie when behold hee was slaine by the enemie and as the deceitfull teachers did the people of whom God thus speaketh by Isaiah My people they that cal you blessed deceiue you It is the ghostly councel the Apostle giueth vs from this obseruation Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God c. The like lecture Christ reade vs before him Lay not vp treasures for your selues vpoÌ„ the earth which the moth and canker corrupt and where theeues digge thoâ—ough and steale For if we d ee the verie corruption thereof shall coâ—â—â—â—me our corruption as the Apostle learneth vs. Your riches 〈◊〉 corrupt and your garments are motheaten Your golde and siluer is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witnes agaâ—â—st you and shall eate your 〈◊〉 as it were fire Ye haue liâ—â—â—â—â— pleasure on the earth and in wantonnes Ye haue nourished your hearts as 〈◊〉 day of slaughter He saith of them as Duke Ioab said to Abner in effect Knowest thou not that it 〈◊〉 bitternes in the latter end If we could spare a time from due sinnes for such a thought wee should soone feele in our selues more compunction and deuoâ—ion 2. This document also as needfull as the former is from hence deducted that wee who dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is the dust whoe are nothing else but a sincke of sinne and Chaos of corruption shall much more perish seeing all the parts of the world the excellent creatures and wormanship of God shal haue their desolution We â—iue not heere in a castle and place of abode but as it were in an Iune as passengers to tarry but for a night as Christ said My kingdome is not of this world so our kingdome and continuance is not in this world As God said to AbrahaÌ„ get thee out of thy country from thy kindred and from thy fathers house so God will say to euery one of vs get thee out of thy life As the tabernacles of the Iewes were made to be remoued so are we Wherefore stand not so much vpon yâ— prerogatiâ—e of thy birth right and termes of gentry seeing they are all so momentarie It is well knowne from what house the best borne among vs the sonne of man only excepted originally haue descended namely from the earth and gleabe Iob teaching vs to cal corruption our father and the worm our mother Now what profite is there as Dauid saith in our bloud when wee goe downe to the pitte As 〈◊〉 said Lo I am almost dead what is then this birthright tâ—â—ee Wherefore by the diligent consideration of thy end with the worlde and thou shalt be taught
and brought to make an end of sinne and so beginne a new life And therewith 〈…〉 Christ the sole obiect of the eye of the 〈◊〉 thou shalt 〈…〉 death bedde be willing to die and 〈…〉 which saying Possidâ—nius in the storie of his life 〈…〉 I am not ashamed to liue I doe not feare to die because I haue a good maister whom I serue what extremitie of sollie is it to be thinking of this transitorie world so much and of the eternall world to come so litle wherein wee are like the â—unnell that tunneth in licor into a vessell that deliuereth it selfe of the purer matter but suffereth the concreat and gresser substance to cleaue to the sides of it The iudgement that should purifie vs is out of our sight and the carnall cares of the world like lumpes of mire and clay sticke to our soules The second Chapter Of the maner how the world shall be destroied IT being concluded in the former chapter that the world shall be destroied order would we should set downe how it is to bee destroied which shall bee the subiect argument of this chapter which wee will spend vpon these two parts 1. The first shall determine in what sorte it shall perish 2. The second shall giue decision to this question whether the same in substance or forme shall so perish About the first there is great dispute and difference among Doctors while they denide them selues into contrarie minâ—es some holding that it shall be destroied by water othersome by fire Of the first rancke are Seneca and his schollers Of the second which are the sounder sort are the Stoicks of whom Cicero and Galen maketh mention Heraclitus the greater part of Philosophers the Mathematicians and Diuines running with the streame of sacred authorities as the other part with the current of their priuate fanâ—ics For they take their text from Peter who saith But the heauens and earth which are now are kept by the same worde in store and resâ—rued vnto fier against the day of iudgement and oâ— tâ—e destâ—â—â— of vngodly men But yet there is no small 〈…〉 of the Moon to scoure and purifie the other three elements others producing it out of the Sunne beames Peter Lombard saith that thâ—e fier shall goe before the face of the Lord and shall reduce the whole fashion of the heauens earth to a consumption and he is so curious and fine as to measure out vnto vs the height of the fier suâ—ing it to the depth of yâ— waters of Noah which drowned the earth Such thinges deliuereth Austine in his twentieth booke of the Citie of God in the 18. chapter Yet in the 16. chapter of that booke he semeth to denie that a man may haue any certaine knowledge therein but by the especiall certificate of the spirite Wherein hee is in the right and of the surer side for it is safer for vs to hold this modestie then to be ouer busie with the secrets of Gods sanctuary It is enough that we simplie beléeue as Peter teacheth that the worlde shall bee fixed 1. To ventilate and examine of what kind of nature this fire should be 2. From whence it should be brought 3. How the saints shall be preserued in that flame liue as the Salamander in the fire 4. How high this fier shal mount we leaue to the wil prouideÌ„ce of God being contented to be wise with sobrietie and not affecting to know more then God wold haue vs or to compel the scriptures that are willing to go part of yâ— way with vs to go after the vagaries of our idle lusts It serueth to the confirmation of the present cause namly to the illustratioÌ„ of the maner of the worlds dissolution that which Math hath in these words At midnight there was a cry made Behold the bridgrome coÌ„meth The voice of the angell and the trumpet of God is part of that cry The scripture calleth it else where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth the hoarse vociferation of Mariners when they call one vpon another to goe to their tackling for it must needs be a cry out of cry that must waken the dead and raise them from their graues But another part of the cry is the stridor and noise that Peter mentioneth which this fier that shal consume the world shall make saying The heauens shall passe away with a noise and the elements shall melt with heat and the earth with the workes therin sâ—al be burnt vp Wee heare a terrible noise at the downfal of two or three houses at once therefore that must be a noise with a 〈◊〉 esse which one fire shall make which shalouerchroâ—â—â—he heauers the earth the sea all cities towns houses beasts liuing creatures and the whole masse of the world â—ltogither Dauid by an apt similitude teaching the â—â—ate and condition of the wicked alludeth hereunto As the fire among the thornes c. Fire among thorns maketh a great noise Wherefore heare we now the crie of his worde at mid-day least we heaâ—e this fearefull crie at midnight hetherto spoken of and in time let the swéete crie of his mercie charme vs least the direfull and irefull out crie of his iudgements do condemne vs. We come to the second part of this Chapter which answereth the question whether the substance or forme of the worlde shall perish For hereof are two opinions scattered 1 Some are of that minde that in verie substance it shall be turned vpside downe fastning vpon these Scriptures as of that in the Psalme Thou hast aforetime laid the foundation of the earth and the heauens are the workes of thine hands They shall perish but thou shalt indure c. As of that saying of the Prophet Isaiah For loe I will create new heauens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind as of that which Saint Iohn in his Reuelation saith And I sawe a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea Finally in that the Angell sweareth by him that liueth for euer that Time shall be no more Now if time be taken away all motion must be taken away If all motion be taken away there is nothing in the world that can continue 2 But othersome hold that only but some parts of the worlde shall bee ouerturned at the second comming of Christ not altogither raised from their foundationâ— but so as they shall suffer a singular alteration Ambrose taketh part with this side and setteth his hande to this opinion vrging that which the Apostle Paul saith The fashion of this worlde goeth away prossing the word which he calleth the fashion shadow or forme and not the masse matter substance That authoritie of Peter also fauoureth that part in these wordes Wherefore the worlde that then was perished ouerflowed with the water when
Others there are that are carried away with oracle deriued from the traditions of the Hebrewes which they would beare vs in hand they had learned of Elias and out of his schoole house and restraine the worlds duration to 〈◊〉 thousand of yéeres which they to part equally into these 〈…〉 1. Two thousand spent be oâ—e the time of the law 2. Two thousand vnder the law 〈◊〉 3. The last two thousand to the kingdome of Christ depâ—ted so as 〈◊〉 â—eeing the yeere of grace reuealed 1603. as it pleaseth learned men so suppâ—te this is the fiue thousand fiue hundreth 〈◊〉 eight yeere of the worldes age So that of this account there 〈◊〉 yee foure hundred â—eeres to be consummased This reckoning hath â—â—nne the more currantly in that they applie these six thousand yeeres to the six dates wherin God created yâ— worldâ— inasmuch as the Prophet saith A thousand yeers in thy sight are as yesterday and it â—â—in Peter One day is with the Lord as a thousâ—â—d yeers and a thousâ—nd yeers as one day Héereâ—pon they make this interence as in hâ—daâ—es the worlde was 〈◊〉 and in the seauenth wâ—s the sâ—bbath of the Lord wherein hée tested So after six thousand yeeres accomplished the world shall bee â—estâ—oâ—ed and in the seauenth shal our eternal fabbâ—th hee fulfilled and in the eight the puritie of our circumcision reâ—oâ—ed Wee read also of another fraternitie and brotherhoode who â—â—liuer that the â—â—sticali bodie the church shal abide three and thirtie yéeres héere in caâ—th as Christ himselfe 〈◊〉 so long in the bodâ—e which he tooke from the Virgin But they make euery of those â—éeces of a wonderful widenes putting fiftie yéeres to euery one to make euery yere a yéere of Iubilee But this and such like are verâ—e frâ—â—uolous fictions It is naturally engrafted in the mind of man to desire nouelties and to affect strange courses and so see is after a knowledge beyond al sobâ—tetâ—â— to be curiously â—â—quisttiue after â—â—ages to come and carelesly respectiue of such thinges as are present This is the cause why some giue themselves vnto â—â—lawfull artes and 〈◊〉 themselues to be mocked and misled bâ—â—ste Deuill So did Saul who perceiuing God to bee angrie with hâ—m and the hand of the Philistiâ—â—s to be sore vpon him neuer sought vnto God for his Quietus est to haue couÌ„saâ—le or comfort from 〈◊〉 But decâ—â—ous to know the censequent of the case hee deliberated with 〈◊〉 women who draue him headlong to deâ—petation and destruction Such madnesse now blindeth and beâ—â—teâ—eth too manie who by staring vpon the startes will prognositcat the euent and successe of euery yeere and so determine of the estate of it as if they had the heauens water in an brinall with an impudent rashnes denouncing warres fore-promising peace prophisying of maladies in men and beasts giuing vs many good words of a good yéere telling vs a faire tale of the free passage of religion and comprehending in their speculation the perturbations and mutations of all kingdomes In the meane while they let slip greater matters that are certaine reuealed by the scriptures touching faith hope charitie and other godlie duties requisite for a christian man weil to know and to bée familiarly conuersant in which haue no perpleritie or obscuritie in them But in this Article especially which is of the end of the world men at all times haue bene singularly busie and bolde Wheras the prophecies thereof as Augustine well saith are sooner perfected then perceiued This is one of the Deuills notable stratagems and deuises to set our braines a worke with circuler questions endles and fruitles thereby to withdraw our mindes from points of greatest néedfulnes The Apostle toucheth such and willeth the Thessalonians not to héede them that drop into their eares the present comming of Iesus Christ in glory Our age haue brought forth men of no base learning who in their bookes and sermons haue bene ouer sawcie and malipert in this matter as if they had bene furnished with heauenly reuelations and as if God had familliarly talked with them as the father deth with the childâ— Now what heinous and detestable boldnes is this to affect such a metaphisicall and supereminent knowledge which goeth beyond the wisdome of angells and the wisdome of the sonne of man as he is barely the sonne of man So wée be wise vnto saluation wée must content our selues with that which the word deliuereth vs and séeke no other scholmaâ—ster no though it were an angell I care not what any Angell saith if he take not his text from the written word of God which wée haue with vs. That which wée say of an Angel is to be vnderstode likewise of the spirites of those that are departed as the historie of the rich man and Lazarus sheweth who putting vp his bil of request vnto AbrahaÌ„ that some doctor out of another world from the company of the dead might be sent to preach vnto his brethren hée was denied his sute and tolde that Moses and the Prophets were sufficient and that if they could not reclaime them their case was incurable this his new found affected monster could doe no good vpon them What néed haue we to séene beyond the scriptures for any thing belonging to the worke of our saluation when as Paul saith an Angell is not to bee credâ—ted but so farre as he commeth with scripture The obiect and subiect of the word being Christ how should it not be stored with all kinde of wisdome Who of God is made vnto vs wisdome and righteousnes and santification and redemption The written word of God endited by the spirit is in all numbers absolute as Paul teacheth The whole scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to improue to correct and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes It was requisite that this time should be concealed and not discouered to vs. That we might arise the better from that bed of securitie into which wée were cast as Iezabell was cast vpon abedde of fornication Christ taketh vp this argument as an instigation to vs to more forwardnes and faithfullnes in our dutie Watch therefore for yee know not when the maister of the house will come at euen or at midnight at the cocke crowing or in the dawning It is our manner to serue God as lawâ—ers do their cliants with delaies and to put off duties of religion and deuotion to after times promising our selues that wée shall liue long and sée many good daies But while we are in the fashion of the world in Zacharie â—in time of which it is said All the world sitteth still and is at rest the Eccho and answering voice from heauen will be this When they shall say peace and safetie then shall come vpon them sodaine distruction as trauell vpon a woman with child and they
shall not escape Wherefore the vncertaine suddaines of the worldes end is effectuall to dispell desidiousnes and to stirre vs vp to watchfulnes to liue as if the present day were the last and to make our bookes euen as if out of hand God would keepe his Audit among vs and take a streight account of vs. Omnem crede diem tibâ— diluxisse suâ—remum Thinke euery day the last that heere abode thou hast A Poet spake it and euery Christian may well repeat it It thou were called to a table furnished with fiftie or thrée score platters of good meate sâ—uing onely that deâ—dly poison is in one of those chargers and thou art toâ—oe so â—â—uch before but art â—ot certified in which of them it is Doubtlesse in the tender regarde which thou hast of thâ— liâ—â— thou wouldest mistrust euerie diâ—h and forbeare all together least in that which thou tastest thou shouldest be taken It is thus with thee thou hast heere fiftie or thrée scoâ—e yeares to liue and in one of those death shall certainely seaze on thee and thou knowest not in which of them hee will attach thee wherefore doubt euerie one I aduise thee and looke circumspectly aboâ—t thee Seeing our pater patria and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are in heauen we are Pilgrims and Trauailers vpon earth as al our Fathers were and we haue a â—ourney to goe namely to Ierusalem a Citie whose builder and workeman is God and a swift Horse wee haue to carrie vs thether let vs gird vp our reynes put our Sandols about our feet and prepare for the voyage What man knowing that hee is to liue in England will purchase and build in Spaine But such fooles are wee looking to liue in heauen wee consume our selues with care how to liue heere in earth I doe not impartinently degresse from the matter in putting two endes together of the world and mans life For the same consideration is to be had of them both there being such a kinde Simpathye and affâ—nite betweene them For death in Scripture is called the way of all flesh and the common ineuitable condition of death is imposed vpon all But there is nothing more certaine then the vncertaintie thereof as daily proofe teacheth Iob his Sonnes and Daughters when they were feastingÌ„ in their elder Brothers house little thought that death was so nie them in a whirl-wind which threwe the foure corners of the house ouer them When Elah was drinking in his Stewards house in his capable Goblets eueâ— vnâ—o drunkennes he did not imagine there to be done to death by Zimri Did Babilon was bare the title of the Ladie of the kingdomes and was called Tender and Delicate who presumed of herselfe that shee was like Mount Syon not to be remooued and therefore said I shall bee a Ladie for euer I am and none else I shal not sit as a Widdow neither shall knowe the losse of Children Did she I say that thus swelled with pride dreame that this sentence should so soone haue beene reade ouer heâ— Thine end is come wherefore to such as sayâ—â— Isaâ—ah Come I wil bring wine we will fill our selues with strong drinke to morrowe shall bee as this day and much more which 〈◊〉 but the merrie madnesse of one houre Iâ—â—nes remooueth thâ—◠〈◊〉 from their eies that blindeth them and loâ—teth them see the nice and â—ickle est ate wherein they stand thus censuring their follie Go to now ye that say To day or tomorrow we will goe into such a Citie and continue there a yeare and buy and sell and get gaine and yet cannot tell what shall be tomorrow For what is your life It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a little time and afterward vanisheth away No glasse or pitcheâ— of earth is more brickle then the body oâ— man as being nothing else but a house of clay whose foundation is the dust For a noysome sauour an infected ayre a day little more then ordinarily hotter some what a larger supper excessiue either sorrow or pleasure is as it were a blowe of a hammer that knocketh the sides of tâ—is fraile vessell together A little labour cracketh some a little loâ—e othersome vnkindnesse is some mans coroâ—iue and his pleasant wine is his â—o This man complaineth of head-ache with the Sunamites sonne that man hath conâ—ulsion in his bowels with Antiochus A third man crieth out of the goute in his legges with Asa Some perish through peâ—utie as the sonneâ— of Ierusalem and other some are slaine surfetted through satietie as the Sodomâ—tes many are dispatched by violent death many kindâ— of wayes some in their cradle as the Babes of Bethlehem some in their Parlar as Eglon. some in the field as Saul some in their bed as Isbosheth some betweene the Porch and the Altar as Zenacharib some at the very hornes of the Altar as Duke Ioab some by water as Pharaoh and his Princes of Egypt some by fire from heauen as the Coâ—onels with their fifties some by fiâ—e from the earth as Zâ—mri some by yâ— rupture and opening of the earth as DathaÌ„ and his complices some by winde as lobs sonnes and daughters some by dogges as Iesabel some by wormes as Herod some by Lions as the disobedient man of God some by Beares as the gracelesse children that mocked the Prophet some by the Gallowes as Haman some by a Gâ—at as Pope Adrian the fourth some by a haire in their 〈◊〉 as a certaine Roâ— an Fabius the Senator some by the stone of a Râ—â—sâ—n as Anacreon wee come into the world one way but we go out of it by a thousand We maruel not that a clock is soone out of â—elter because it coÌ„sisteth of so many slender peeces our bodies staÌ„ding of so many weak iunctures why should we admire the soone decay of it Death knocketh vs on the head like a hammer goeth through the loynes of vs like a sword entangleth euerie one of vs like a snare as a prison keepeth vs forth-comming as a sea ingendreth vs all and it is the tribute money that we must all disburse to nature Wherefore as watchmen are set to those places where they feare the enemie wil come though his comming be vncertaine so because our enemie death will beset our bodies and soules and his comming is dayly to be feared and looked for let vs set good ward and watch about them both that we may be appointed for him when he commeth that wee may not be affraide when wee meete him in the gatâ— The fourth Chapter Shewing the signes of the worlds end THe saying of the Prophet Amos is verie memorable in these wordes Surely the Lorde God will doe nothing but hee reuealeth his secrets vnto his seruants the Prophets Hee brought the Flood vppon the first worlde but they were tolde of it a hundred yeares before by Noah Sodome and Gomorrha and the neighbour Cities were burnt to
both from mind and bodie therefore the recompence of the reward shal be giuen vnto them both 2 Our second Apodicticall conclusion is this That which is imperfect hath not capacitie of absolute felicitie but the soule sundred from the bodie is imperfect therefore it must needes be coupled to the bodie to the attainment of this plenarie felicitie 3 We reason also thus The fulnesse of Gods goodnes towards those that are his could not be shewed nor the fulnes of his furiousnesse vpon the wicked could not be powred if the resurrection were not 4. It standeth God in hand as much as his truth is worth to make good the resurrection because we haue promise and charter of him for it Christ hauing said it God shall reward you in the resurrection of the iust 5 That we should not doubt of his truth in some examples at all tâ—mes he hath made proofe hereof exempting them froÌ„ death that the world may know that death is in his hands standing before him to execute his will like a Purseuant to spare and to spoile as in the time of nature when he tooke vp Enoch in the time of the law when he tooke vp Elias in the time of grace when he raised vp Christ from death to life We inforce the matter fuller and argue from the lesser to the greater thus Elizeus raised the Sunamites sonne therefore much more can Christ raise vs vp Elizeus his bones gaue life to a dead bodie therefore much more shall the omnipotent word of God which is Christ giue liâ—e to our dead bodies Aarons rod did blossom and beare Almonds Moses drie waster became a créeping Serpent Sarah her dead wembe was deliuered of a son what are these but liuely images of the resurrection 7 From the order of nature though we haue no strong proofe yet much probable matter we haue of the vndoubted resurrection The day that now passeth to morrow doth returne Trées and herbs are stroken dead by the violence of the winter reuiue with the spring the renuing time of the yere and are clothed with leaues and fruits But thou wilt say to this that life was not vtterly out of them by the winters wracke wee say also that by death man is not vtterly depriued of life for it is their soules that die not Such Logicks doth Paul vse in the corne that is sowne whose corruption is the generation of it O fool that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die This is that which Christ saith except the wheat-corne fall into the ground and dâ—e it bideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit If such contemptible creatures haue renewance and from death are restored to life shall not this handle worke of God be much more seen in man the noblest plant that his right hand hath planted and the finest seed that euer the furrowes of the earth were strowed with the most excellent and worthiest creature of all For what is the hay or gréeue herbe in comparison of man That Indian bird the Phaenix as philosophers do report good diuines do ratifie especially Lactantius among others dieth is wasted to ashes by the heat of the Sun of those her ashes is a yong one ingundred and thus is that kind continued This similitude is taken vp by diuines to illustrate our certain resurrection For more coÌ„panie sake we name the swallows worms flies which lie dead al the winter by yâ— increasing heat of the sun are enliued againe in the spring and sommer time If we run through all the rankes and classes of nature we shall finde euerie where probabilities in the point Fire that lieth dead in a flint stone by a little force that is put vnto it putteth life into it The Sunne that goeth downe doth rise againe the Moone decreaseth and increaseth againe Our nailes are paired and grow againe our heares are cut off come vp againe Sleepe called by Homer the brother of death and by others the image of death because it is the tying of the senses as binding them in that wise as they cannot execute their functions seazeth vpon vs and as it were burieth vs for a time But the bodie dispelleth it againe after which it is fresh and plyable to to any office The misbeleefe of such who cannot be brought to think that out of the putred and consumed stuffe life should be expressed are by sundry works of nature notably conuicted For of such confection or infection rather are mise mouls frogs worms ingendred Out of â—ooks cranies odde corners of the earth often very radiant and splendent precious stones are gathered The séed of liuing creatures which is nothing else but a drop of misshapen humour what substance doth it beget in progresse of time What partes doth it produce as hands feete eares eies head and such like in their kinde These thinges doe wee beholde in the Glasse of nature which so oft as we remember we doe well if we remember the resurrection 8 By the Prophets by Christ by the Apostles some haue beene raised from death in life to ground vs in the faith of the resurrection The widowes sonne of Sarepta was raised by Elias the Sunamites sonne by Elisha a dead man by the touch of the bones of Elisha the rulers daughter by Christ who was newly deceased the widowes sonne of Nain that was in his locker and led out to the graue by him likewise Lazarus that had lien in the ground foure dayes Tabitha by Peter Eutychus by Paul 9 A man would thinke if were a worke of more difficultie to forme the woman of mans rib to create the man of the gleab of the earth to make the whole frame of heauen and earth of nothing then to raise vp man from the dust to life If wine be mixed with water there are those that can part the wine from the water Goldsmiths and such as worke in mettals can dissolue confected substances concreate of gold siluer brasse steele And such are to be found who can expresse Oyle and liquide matter out of anie drie bodie Wherefore the illimited power of God which made all things of nothing shall reduce our bodies to their formes againe howsoeuer formerly reduced to nothing Lengthen out the matter so farre as conceit and imagination will let you and put the case thus That a man is eaten by a wolfe that wolfe is eaten by a lion that lion is deuoured by the fouls of the aire the foules of the are aire eaten by men one of those men eate vp another as Canibals doe yet shall his owne bodie be giuen him againe euerie man shall haue so much matter of his owne as will serue to make him a perfect bodie They shall haue the same bodies in substance as Iob saieth but altred in qualitie being freed from corruption and fulfilled with glorie Their mouthes shall bee opened to speake better things