Reader Iuditious reader if thou seeke to please The fantasie with Arguments of witt Curious conceites know such fond passages I doe bequeath to lighter subiects fitt To thy deuotion therfore as a Frend My matter not my Meathhoode I commend Thine G. P. BROTHER BARTHOLOMEVV VNVVORTHY Seruant of Iesus Christ crucified to his moste endeared Sister S. Marie Magdalen glorious spouse of blessed Iesus in heauen BEholde my moste deare Sister Magdalen the spouse of Christ crucified once as blacke as the tents of Cedar Cant. 1. but afterwards as beautifull as the courtaines of Salomon portresse of loue and patronesse of all sinners now blessed with celestiall glorie beholde I say I haue finished a little booke entituled by mee The Seauen Trumpets exciting a sinner to repentance And because I haue written of thee being assisted with thy holy prayers not any that I could find might with such equitie challenge the patronage of this booke as thy selfe For to whom might I with more conuenience present this little worke out of which proceedeth such a sound that terrifieth the greatest malefactour and awakneth the securest offender thē to S. Mary Magdalē a sinner To whom I say rather then vnto thee should I the most abiect and vnworthiest of all sinners dedicate this booke that treateth of the saluation of sinners To thee therfore my sister Magdalen I commend it that thou beeing a daily assistant therof mightest cause it to bringe forth its intended frutes which is the safetie health and happinesse of all distressed wretched and sinfull soules Remember oh blessed Magdalen that thou wast once a loste sheepe farre strayed from the folde of Christ and if our deare Sauiour Iesus the carefull shepheard of thy soule had not called thee vnto him thou hadst beene deuoured of the rauening wolfe thou knowest that our Iesus did vndergoe death for the life of soules Christas venit in hunc mundum c. 1. Tim. 1.15 Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am the cheefe and Christ himselfe saith Non est opus valentibus medico sed malè habentibus Math 9.12 They that be well neede not the phisitian but they that be sicke and thou art not ignorant of that which is written of him in the Gospell of Saint Luc. Hic peccatores recipit c. Luc. 15.2 This man receaueth sinners and eateth with them Oh therfore Magdalen let thy eyes of pittie be euer watchfull ouer miserable sinners intercede for the conuersion and saluation of so many soules which are running headlong into the abisse of eternall perdition Thou seest and knowest moste deare Magdalē what a number of soules doe daily and hourely descēd into the bottomlesse pitte of hell succour aide and stretch forth thy helping hand therfore to the perishing languishing soules remember oh Sister that all those soules were redeemed and bought with the pretious blood of sweete Iesus the Sauiour and Redeemer of vs both Thou knowest right well the inexcogitable sufferings of our louing Iesus vpon mount Caluarie for all vs rebellious wretches I am certaine thou well remembrest that pretious blood which whilest he hāged vpon the crosse thou sawest distill and runne downe from his sacred bodie vpon the earth Remember oh Magdalen the anxiety of his soule when as thou didst behold him yeelding vp his spirit with such bitter paines vpon the holy wood of the crosse procure by thy intercession that these soules which were redeemed with the pretious blood which did so abundantly flow out of his diuine head being prickt and goared with an vnheard-of crowne of thornes may be deliuered from the power of sinne and brought into the glorious liberty of the sōnes of God succour those poore soules which are bought with such an abūdance of blood running like a torrent from the most sacred hands and feet of thy Master Iesus crucified obtaine by thy holy prayers that those soules may be presented pure before God which were washed with that blood and water that issued out of thy Iesus his side euē vnto his most bitter death Thy prayers oh Magdalen which are enflamed with the burning loue of thy dearest spouse are of no small virtue to procure the helpe of the Angel of the couenāt to put the diseased soules of miserable sinners into the all curing waters of Bethsaida Ioan. 5.4 To thee therefore in the name of our gratious Iesus his blessed Mother he a louing Father she a tender Mother of al sinners I present offer this litle worke which I acknowledge to be thine In the name of the moste holie Trinitie Father Sonne and holie Ghost in the vertue of the name of Iesus and the B. V. Marie together with thy helpe oh Blessed Magdalen these my Seauen Trumpets are come to bee sounded abroad which by the efficacie of the blood death and passion of Christ who is Sonne of God and also him selfe true God and man I implore beseech and desire that they terrifie conuert and reduce to repentance an innumerable company of soules which lie demerged ouerwhelmed and plunged in the pitt of sinne and iniquitie Amen In the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Amen Let thy benedictiō oh my Magdalen descend vpon the soule and bodie of mee and all other sinners which shall peruse this booke by the vertue of the pretious body and blood of our Blessed Iesus which is cōtained in the most holy Sacrament of the altar Amen Pray for mee From Rome our place of S. Fran. Transtib Iun. 14. 1612. Thy most deuoted Brother in our Lord Brother Bartholomew IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Here followeth the beginninge of the Seauen Trumpets of the B. F. B. Bartholomew Saluthius of the holie order of the Frier Minars of obseru reform THE PROLOGVE ET septem Angeli qui habebant septem tubas c. Apoc. 8. And the seauen Angels which had the Seauē Trumpets prepared them selues to sound saith S. Iohn after hee had said in the same place Et vidi septem Angelos c. and I saw seauen Angels standing in the presence of God and there was giuē vnto them Seauē Trumpets Oh Brethren sinners I am not an Angell but a sinner not onely like vnto you but worse then you who being enflamed with the honour of allmightie God and also moued with the desire of all your soules healths I haue presumed to bring to light this little booke entituled The Seauen Trumpets that they may found in your eares and recall you to your most louing God mercifull Father and reduce you into the way of saluation Oh wretches consider that you haue strayed and diuerted from the true path and doe now runne and persist with a swift pace in the way that leadeth to perditiō ponder well oh ye vnhappy soules how that yee stand vpon the brimme of hell ready euery moment to be caste downe headlong into the abisse of perpetual darknesse whereupon I being stirred vp
with charitie towards you in this our conuent of S. Iohn Baptist at Font Palumb now residing God assisting mee together with the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and of all the Saints and Angels in heauen but especially of S. Iohn Baptist and my glorious Father S. Francis I doe speake vnto all sinners crying out and compelling them with these wordes Oh yee sinners sinners I say turne yee to God forsake your enemie the diuell amend correct your euill liues and departe from the pernicious and dangerous way wherin yee walke turne oh brethren vnto your benigne creatour prepare the way by the which your sweet and louing Iesus is to come to inhabite and make his mansion in your soules Expell and driue out oh yee wretches those diabolicall vices which haue prepared for themselues an habitatioÌ„ in your poore soules Oh yee miserable sinners do ye not yet perceaue that your soules are as so many caues full of inhumane serpents and cruell dragons Who are al readie to deuoure and teare you in pieces These being expelled and put to flight let in your most louing Iesus into the closet of your soules who standeth knocking without and like a tender Father mercifull Sauiour commiserating your obduratnes crieth out open to me open to me I say my deare children Why doe you therfore oh yee miscreants admit your enemie and deadly aduersary into your soules and exclude and bannish your louing Sauiour and benigne redeemer Open vnto him oh my Brethren open vnto him and at last acknowledge that he alone is your creatour redeemer Sauiour turne to your selues and consider oh vnworthy abiects and know that this is that Iesus which bought you with his moste pretious blood and died for you vpon the holy wood of the Crosse Contemplate oh sinner the great loue which thy most sweete Iesus did and doth at this present beare to thee and be vigilant and carefull least thou againe offend him Consider that for the loue of thee he hangeth conteÌ„ned left of al vpon the crosse behold him nailed through his sacred hands and feete vpon the rood and for thy sake Behold how for thee his diuine head is girded about with sharpe and cruell thornes that pricked him eueÌ„ to the braines looke vpon him how hee is contemned vilified and crucified as a publique malefactour betwixt two theefs and onely for thee heare what opprobries contumelies and disgraceful termes hee endured of the passers by and that for thy sake giue eare vnto him crying with a loud voice by reason of extreme thirst Sitio sitio I thirst I thirst and onely for thee For this was that ardent thirst besides the naturall thirst which was most vehement to witt thy saluation Heare him not murmuring one iot but most ardently praying for his persecutours and malefactours Pater ignosce illis c. Luc. 23.34 Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe Oh the depth of the loue and mercie of Iesus oh the Tigre-like cruelty and obdurate malice of that diabolicall hellish crue that crucified him oh yee vngratefull sinners who little esteeming of the vnspeakable affection of Iesus towardes you doe accompanie and vnite your selues with diuells are slaues to diuels and do eate drinke sleepe and liue in the companie of diuels who likewise at the last shall be damned with diuels vnlesse yee turne to your blessed redeemer This onely thing if yee your selues did not resist is of it selfe sufficient to reduce and conuert you to your louing Iesus that is to say the very remembrance of the fatherly compassion which our Blessed Sauiour did beare towards you which for you alone did suffer death and shedd his moste pretious blood Fidelis sermo omni acceptione dignus Tim. 1.15 It is a faithfull saving and worthy of all acceptatioÌ„ that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners and in an other place Empti enim estis pretio magno Yee are bought with a great price glorifie therfore God in your bodies But you wretches hauinge no respect of him doe vilifie contemne and trample him vnder your feete he died for you and yee liue that yee might offeÌ„d him he layed downe his soule for you and you giue your soules to your enemie the diuell he hath redeemed you from the hand of your aduersarie and you doe caste and precipitate your selues into his mouth hee freed your from the power of death and you by your vngodly coÌ„uersatioÌ„ bring death vpon your soules throw your selues into hell in despight of him Oh yee vnfortunate wretches commiserate your owne most woful condition and if that you will not be moued to serue him for loue at least beginne awhile to serue him for feare vntill at the last vnderstanding your blinde errours you may serue him as it is fitting for loue alone O my deare Iesu oh louing and sweete Iesu open thy bowells of compassion vnto all sinners regarde not their madnes remember not their pertinacious malice looke vpon the ignominies torments which thou hast sufsuffered for vs beholde that liuelie and hotte blood which gushed out and ranne downe from all parts of thy torne body haue pittie vpon that sinner that taketh no pittie vpon himselfe alwaies prouiding that it may be done to the augmenting and amplifying of thy honour glorie heere and for euer herafter Amen The diuision of the Seauen Trumpets THE I. CHAPTER ET primus Angelus tubâ cecinit the first Angell sounded the trumpet saieth S. Iohn Apoc. 8. without all doubt oh yee sinners if yee will vse the benefit of your free will together with the assistance of diuine grace and that little exhortation of my prologue you may very easily as yee ought abandon sinne flie your accustomed vices and leaue the seruitude of Sathan your deadlie enemie and turne to your sweet and louing Iesus the deare spouse of your soules But being that you sleepe so profoundly and so securely that vee doe not or will not heare the sweet sound of so gratefull acceptable musicke I haue determined to send forth a sound of a more shrill and fearfull trumpet to make triall whether I can awake you from the sleepe and letharâ—ie of your sinnes wherein you lie drowned ouerwhelmed being mindeful of that of the Prophet Clama ne cesses quasi tuba exalta voceÌ„ tuam Isay 58.1 crie out and cease not exalt thy voyce as a trumpet that a sinner hearing it he may be conuerted to repentance But I entreat you my brethren that Hodie si audteritis c. Psal 94. if to day you will heare the voyce of our Lord you would not harden your hartes Brethren I say in the interim whilest you heare the souÌ„d of these trumpets obdurate not your hartes lest God be offended with you Et primus Angelus tubâ cecinit and the first Angel sounded the trumpet That I may come to my intended purpose I haue determined with these Seauen Trumpets set downe
magnificent glorie must haue an end thy splendour beautie and comelinesse must decay and thy flesh whyther that body of thine must turne to dust and ashes thou shalt die shalt be consumed and depart this present life But which is most to be lamented at last thy miserable and execrable soule if thou repēt not shall depart out of thy filthy and putrified body to a place of greater misery then can be expressed But when shal this be when thou thinkest least of it when thou art least of all prepared when thou shalt be strangely bound with the chaines and fetters of thy sinnes by the diuell The cordes of my sinnes haue bound mee saith the Prophet Psal 118. taking vpon him the person of a sinner Man knoweth not his end saieth Ecclesiastes but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birds are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euill time when it shall sodenly come vpon them Eccles 9. O wretched sinner giue eare receaue the sound of this fearful trumpet Thou must once die ô sinner and thou oh harlot must one day be dissolued But when wilt thou say The time is vncertaine the time is concealed from thee the time is only knowne vnto God himselfe and it may be when thou not so much as thinkest of it There is nothing more certaine then death and there is nothing more vncertaine thē the houre of death saith S. Bernard This yeare this moneth this weeke this day this hower and moment thou mayest die and yeeld vp the Ghost They spend their dayes in mirth and in an instant they descend into hell Iob. 2. men shall be indulgent to their sensualities sporte laugh and be merrie and in a moment shall die and go to hell For when they shall say peace and securitie then shall sodenly destruction come vpon them as the paine to a woman in childbirth and they shall not escape saith the holy Apostle 1. Thessa 5.4 Of the last and deadly disease and damage of the soule and that after this life there is no recouery THE XV. CHAPTER MIserere mei c. Psal 6.3 haue mercy vpon me oh Lord because I am weake heale me oh Lord because my bones are sore troubled saith the Prophet Dauid Consider a while ô sinner that a little before thy soule depart out of thy vncleane polluted body thou shalt be vexed tormented with some cruell disease or other vnlesse thou be killed or die sodenlie which God forbid from soden vnprouided death oh Lord deliuer vs as our holy Mother the church teacheth vs often to repeate Tell me I pray thee who hath made thee certaine that thou shalt not fall downe dead as thou art eating who hath secured thee that thou shalt not departe this life hauing now the bread in thy mouth and the cupp in thy hand who can tell thee for a certaine that when thou art in the highest degree of delightes pleasures and worldly contentments that then euen in the midst of these thou shalt not be dissolued and descend into the abisse of perpetuall darknesse ô wretched and vnhappie sinners call to minde and foresee what you doe and haue respect vnto the end which most certainly shall come but when you know not Be it that God out of his infinite mercy and clemency will not deale with thee according to thy merits nor take thee away with a suddaine vnforseene but with a common ordinary kind of death In what an astonishmēt wilt thou then be whē thou shalt see the last messenger of thy life which shall be an ordinary disease but deadly euen in thy flourishing yeares beauty strength or in whatsoeuer gift and endowmen of nature belonging to a cōpleate and perfect man consider vnfortunate wretch that thou shalt not depart this life on a suddaine without some vehemēt feauer or the like disease which through heat or colde shall one while cause thy teeth to chatter shake an other while with heat burning shalt not only be enflamed molested with the grief of thy stomacke and head but thy very harte will tremble and quake within thee that all thy nerues sinewes iunctures arturies and veines shal be moued tremble and all this through thy intollerable paine and anguish neither shalt thou haue sleepe or appetite last of all thou shalt take no rest night nor day What wilt thou doe then miserable soule loaden with sinnes which for the space of soe manie moneths or yeares loste hast not confessed nor bene reconciled to God and thy neighbours nor agreed with thy aduersarie who like an other Sardanapalus hast runne a moste libidinous course and lastly seest thy selfe to be defiled and contaminated with the spott and filth of thy sinnes and offences Tell me I beseech thee how great will that anguish bee and how intollerable that affliction which then thy sinnes shall cause and bring vpon thee how infinite shall thy doloures be which shall cruciate thee when thou shalt cal to mind the iniuries wherewith so many yeares together thou hast offended almighty God Tell me whether of these greifes will be more vehement the tormentes of the body or the sorrow of thy soule For when thou shalt beginne to feare death and to receaue a remuneration according to thy sinnes which is death what a present hell will it bee to all the powers and faculties of thy soule when as for the hardnes of thy harte thou canest not repent Indurauerunt facies suas c. Ierem. 5.3 They haue hardened their faces more then the rocke and would not returne saith the Prophet Ieremie Be thou conuerted oh sinner and turne with al expedition vnto thy God expect not blinded soule the last howre in which that vnwelcom messēger of death shall come intimate vnto thee thy dissolution It is your cause that is now in hand therefore be well aduised what you doe it is your suite that is now in action therefore take counsell preuent the future and expect not that latter and perilous time What shall you then be confessed and brought into the state of grace who cā make you certaine of that or promise you that thē God will forgiue your crimes offences and admitt you into his fauour who haue all your life time so exceedingly offended him But if God should then assist you notwithstanding it wil be very painfull and laborious to remember your so innumerable sinnes By what meanes shall you call to minde so many wronges wherby you haue dishonoured God when as you shal be circumuented with so many griefes and oppressed with so many diseases and torments It may be you shall not be capable of sense or reason Last of all how shall it be manifest vnto you that you shall be of power and abilitie to make a true confession or speake or pronounce the words when you shall be dried vp with heat and debilitated with extremitie of sicknes Alas blinde and miserable wretches why prouide you
sinne bringeth into his soule at the houre of death and abhorre it following the counsell of the wise man fly from the face of sinne as from the face of a serpent the teeth therof are the teeth of lyons killing the soules of men O Brethren sinners by the sacred woundes of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I beseech you earnestly and entreat you that you would not imitate the deafe Adder which that she may not heare the melodious tune of the enchaunter stoppeth her eares the one by couering it with her taile the other by laying it on the ground doe you not the same but harken and attend to the sound of this Trumpet with open diligent eares that hereby the diuels stratagemes and diabolicall inuasions being put to flight there may be free accesse for the diuine concourse into your soules Amen Of the terrour which the diuell striketh into a soule in the moment of death THE XVII CHAPTER THe Dragon whom thou hast made to deceaue him saieth the Prophet Psal 103.26 I would to God thou couldest sufficiently weigh and consider the intollerable terrour and feare which the sight of most detestable diuels shall present vnto thee or that thou couldest comprehend what an astonishment it will be to behould a diuell I am certaine thou wouldest chaunge the course of thy life and arise out of the lethargie of thy sinnes if not for feare of God yet for feare of the diuellish and hellish crue For if the sight of a Wolfe a Beare a Lyon a Dragon a Serpent or any loathsome Toade doth strike such terrour into vs and doe so astonish and affright vs what wil the aspect of the diuels doe at the point of death Oh you doating and miserable sinners if you would with due consideratiō thinke of these fearfull formes and sightes which the diuels will lay before your eyes at the very instant of your deaths without doubt you would flie sinne For if when thou art well in health strong and of a good courage any one of the diuels should appeare vnto thee in the forme of some cruell and rauenous beast thou couldest not but tremble and quake through all the partes of thy body what wilt thou doe then vnhappy soule when thou shalt be debilitated and opprest with sicknes destitute and depriued of all powre and strength whē thou canst neither moue nor helpe thy selfe whē thou are scarce able to speak or hardly to intimate and make knowne thy necessities by signes and tokens When last of all the powers and faculties of thy body shall be weakened What when thou art compleate in perfect strength endued with all the ornaments of nature which are required to the full perfection of a man if then thou canest not endure the sight of a fearfull diuell nor of a diuell appearing in some common shape as of a dogge horse or the like what will become of thee when thou shalt behold the diuel not in the shape of some cruell beast but in a forme farre more horrible and that at the instant of thy death Our holy Father S. Francis was wont to say that it were impossible for any one to see the diuell in his owne proper forme and shape which he hath in hell but for the space of the reciting of the Pater or Aue allthough he were in perfect health without present death what then oh sinner will become of thee yeelding vp thy spirit when thou shalt plainly see perceaue that execrable enemy of thine in his detestable shape and forme Turne and direct all the forces powers of the supreme and intellectuall parte of thy soule to this reason abandon thy lasciuious sinneful life now begin to feare that hereafter thou mayest not tremble when it can no way auaile thee Consider that not only one diuell to thee then tormented with the paines of death but many yea thousands shall appeare euery one striuing and endeuoring with their diabolicall actions and gestures to molest affright and astonish thee whether then wilt thou flie for succour or who then will releeue thee will S. Mary whom thou hast despised Will Iesus whom thou hast blasphemed Will the Saints and Angels whom thou hast dishonoured Lastly will God whom thou hast vilified contēned Alas miserable wretch who will assist thee or what Saint wilt thou inuocate to whom wilt thou flie for in the deluge of many waters none of thē wil aproch or draw neare vnto thee Psal 31. no man shall plead thy cause or recite thy necessities Oh in what a depth of miseries art thou in at the houre of death when thou canst not soe much as commend thy soule so agonizing in infirmities to almighty God when thou canst not so much as cal vppon thy good Angell or any of the Saints which in time of thy health thou diddest honour with particular deuotion that they intercede for thee Oh sinners be you now conuerted vnto your God now importune your sweet Iesus now salute the Virgin Mary our blessed Ladie now it is time to implore the aide of the Archangels Michael Gabriell Raphaell and of thy Angel keeper and all the celestial spirits Now it is time to craue the assistance of S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter S. Paul S. Iohn S. Bartholomew and of the other Apostles now it is time to request the helpe of S. Stephē S. Laurēce S. George and all the other Martyrs now it is time to commend thy selfe to S. Benedict S. Dominike S. Francis and the rest of the holy confessors Lastly it is now time to cry out and call vpon S. Mary Magdalen who in time past was a sinner S. Clare S. Agnes S. Catharine S. Lucie and the rest of the blessed Virgins Widowes and Martyrs now Saints in heauen Doest thou not remember that thou hast read or heard how often the diuels haue presented thēselues to sicke mē in their chambers lying vpō their death-beds euē thē drawing their last breath yeelding vp the Ghost sometimes in the formes of Dogges Cattes Hogges or such like one while in one maner an other while in an other alwaies in different formes when they are not able to helpe themselues O wretched vnfortunate sinner how much do I lament thy case who leadest so detestable a life as without repentāce infallibly rēdeth to the pitt of hel cōsider that whē thou shalt come to that accursed place no man can helpe thee not thy Father not thy Mother not thy kindred not thy friendes not thy wife not any of them which stand by thee are of power to afforde thee any releife or assistance only God in the time of thy death can comfort and succour thee only S. Mary his blessed Mother and her sonne Iesus only the Angels the Saints in heauen in these amidst thine extreame agonies thou maiest finde releife comfort and consolation Therefore why doest thou now offend them wherfore doest thou dishonour them why doest thou inueigh against the glorious Saints of God with
puddle sincke of all iniquitie shall we be kindlie inuited to the mariage dinner Math. 22.4 and refuse to come for some base commoditie that is complacent vnto our sensualitie Certainly such proceeding would argue want of faith in vs that we should not beleeue that the diuine iustice will punish sinne with perpetuall bannishment out of the celestiall paradise of endlesse blisse and with euerlasting paines and torments in the horrible fire of hell Let vs then as the Apostle aduiseth Heb. 12.12 shake off from vs all weight and clogg that may hinder vs let vs by patience and long animitie runne and make hast vnto the combat offered vnto vs with our eyes fixed vppon the authour of our faith and principall cause therof Christ Iesus who setting before him the ioyes of heauen and conteÌ„ning the confusion or worldly shame that thereof might ensue sustained the bitter death of the Crosse and thereby hath obtained to sitt at the right hand of the seat of God his Father Lastly as Gods vnworthy Legate your dutiful sonne I admonish you with the Prophet Psal 47.13 that out of hand you compasse Sion the Catholique Church and embrace her that you build in her towers by considering her fortresses the holy Doctors and Fathers which watch and defend her Walles that you sett your hart on her strength resting assured of all matters of faith vpon her the pillar and foundation of truth that you distribute her houses by obseruing and marking diligently how many particular churches were speedilie founded into the world thâ—t you may declare that in another generation by teaching theÌ„ to hould fast the same faith or to returne vnto it if they be relapsed or to receiue it if they be estranged from it Because this is God our God for euer euer Christ God incarnate that worketh aâ—l this is our verie God and Sauiour not for a few yeares as an hundred six hundred a thousand or millions of thousands but for euer and euer He shall rule as a King consequently haue a kingdome his Catholike church euermore to endure vnto the end of the world which church must be your Mother if you will haue God for your Father For it is an infallible rule with S. Cyprian and S. Augustin Non habebit Deum patrem qui nolit habere EcclesiaÌ„ matrem Cypr. simp prelat he shal not haue God for his Father who wil not haue the church for his mother It may be you shal haue your Scripturarum fures Origen in 2. ad Rom. theeues of the scriptures your presumptuous heretikes fly through the whole b ble quoting the Psalmes Prophets Gospell Epistles very readily vnto you as Vincentius Lirinensis sayth such mens fashion is but take heed of them for they giue you the bare text wâ—thout the true meaning and as the Diuell did vnto our Sauiour they come vnto you with a Scriptum est Math. 4.6 couering themselues ouer head eares with scripture as with the wooll and fleese of simple sheepe Beware of such fâ—lse Prophets which are inwardlâ— rauen ng wolues Mat. 7.15 worke out your saluation with feare trembling remembring that none shall be crowned which doth not lawfully fighte 2. Tim. 2. Now therfore make ioyfull all the Angels and court of heauen with your conuersion strike the stroake with God say with the Prophet Nunc cepi Mal. 7.6 now I haue begunne in Gods blessed seruice Doe you with S. Hierom although your Mother much lamenting should show you her brests with which shee gaue you sucke and your Father should weepe on his knees before you hereby to keepe you from the sweet repose and tuition of the Catholique church runne ouer your Father cast your Mother aside and make hast to the standard of the Crosse Solum pietatis genus est in hac re esse crudelem this is the greatest kinde of pietie aboue all other in this point to shew your selfe cruell I humbly implore the diuine Maiestie and lying prostrate at your feete do begge with teares that he would so moue and mollifie your hart that at the sound of these summoning Trumpets all impediments being incontinently cast aside you may attentiuely harken to their dreadfull echoe Sweet Iesus out of his infinite mercy and by his bitter death and passion blesse direct and confirme you with his principall spirit Psal 50. that when he shall be pleased inwardly to moue you with his diuine inspirations he may gratiously inuite you to tast of the heauenly waters of his most sweet and our holy mother the Catholike church CoÌ„tristate not any longer the holy Ghost Ephes 4.30 by hardning your harte but thankefully receaue and entertaine the same with submission reuerence respect towards so great a maiestie and without delay make profession openly of the Catholique faith and religion of our auncient holy Christian forefathers that so you may raigne with our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and with them in heaueÌ„ participating there of such ioyes as neither eye hath seene eare hath heard nor euer hath ascended into the hart of man to conceiue Cor. 2.9 to which God of his infinite mercie bring vs who hath so dearly bought vs that we may there raigne perpetuallie in glorie with him for euer Amen Your humble and dutifull sonne during life G.P. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL HIS DEARE MOTHER Mistris E. P. increase of all spirituall and temporall consolation TO you deare Mother doe I offer these My poore endeuours which I doe implore And begg of God-allmightie on my knees At their arriuall may find ope the dore Of your desires What pittie cannot moue For its one sake may enter by my loue Let mee noe longer frutelesse sacrifice Vppon the sacred Altar of sinceare Deuotion offeâ—… with tear-tricklinge eyes Dride vpp with sighs redoubled are with feare Which wakes my thoughts with a perpetuall fright In the dead-silent howers of the night To thinke the wombe wherein I was conceau'd The louinge Breasts which first gaue nourishment Vnto my tender yeares whose armes receau'd Into the bosome of such sweete content My Infancy which tenderly to wrapp They tooke delight lay'd prostratâ— on the lapp Of more then common-care should what Alas Must I pronounce the sentence Perrish ô noe Heauens forbide the fatall howerglasse Is nott yett runne Though itt draw too too lowe Returne my dearest Sunamite returne Let not in vaine thy holy off'rings burne T' was noe small greefe you seem'd for to expres With pittie moueinge plaints and promises By which you did coniure mee noâ—-Lesse Deare to my soule then yours to bannish these Religious enterprises What will bee The Greefe when wee must part and neuer see Each other thinke you Nether is that all For in the day of wrath and indignation Men shall reioice to see their Parents fall By the iust iudgement of Gods ordination Thus much my filiall duty forst mee too The rest I leaue to Iesus Christ and you Your most dutifull and obedient Sonne G. P. To the deuout
pasttimes vanish away like smoake but your punishments shal be permanent your sportes merry conceipts quickly consume and passe away like a cloud but your troubles afflictiōs shal neuer haue an end Alas therfore sinners returne at length to God why doe you not forsake your iniquities and transgressions why doe you not flie the diuell your cruell and deadly enemie woe to you sinners men and women who liue as if you should neuer die who take no care for the time to come but pursue your wicked and sinfull course of life euen as if you had no soules to saue neither were there any hell to torment you Sweet Iesus for his clemency and tender mercy open your eyes Sweet Iesus for his moste bitter death and passion sake chaunge and turne your hartes Iesus the true sonne of almightie God and the B.V. Marie his deare beloued Mother bring you backe againe into the right path of saluatiō that you may not be damned in the bottomlesse pitt of destruction Amen The Seuenth Trumpett of the society and companie which a sinner draweth with him in life death and after death THE XXXIV CHAPTER ET septimus Angelus tubâ cecinit And the seuenth Angell sounded the Trumpett Apoc. 8. Heare now at length the last Trumpet sounding which if it shall nothing moue thee thou giuest mee but smal hope of thy saluation Consider a while sinner whose companion thou shalt be so long as thou liuest Afterwardes wee will speake of thy company in death and after death Et societas nostra c. And our societie is with the Father and the Sonne saieth S. Iohn speaking of good men 1. Iohn 1.3 O happy and fortunate men wheresoeuer they goe they haue the Angels and God himselfe in their company for where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of thē Math. 18.20 But sinner who shall associate thee Alas wretch the diuell shal be thy daily companion and attendant For what end and purpose That he may tumble fling thee downe headlong that he may kill and murther thee that he may enforce thee to commit all kindes of vices and lastly that he may carry thee with him into hell The Doctors affirme a certaine diuell to be assigned to euery man who doth continually watch and follow him nor euer leaueth him while he liueth that he may entrapp and ensnare his soule What then sinners doe you can you for all this sleepe and shorte seeing that the diuel euery day watcheth so narrowly for your destruction Can you so carelesly neglect your owne saluation and suffer the diuell alwaies to busie himselfe in the worke of your damnation wil you not yet take any thought vppon this matter Are you still delighted with so mischieuous a cōpanion Madd men and cruell against your owne sinnefull soules O wicked and senslesse creatures which are so in humane against your selues Ponder sinner that withersoeuer thou walkest there is a diuell ready to be thy lackie Thinke how sometimes he goeth before sometimes he followeth one time on the right hand another time on the left hand now he goeth before to ouerthrow thee now he followeth prouiding snares to catch thee now he standeth at thy left hand by calamities and distresses to bring thee to despaire and by and by he is on thy right hand by honours and dignities to puffe thee vp with pride and arrogancy thereby to giue thee a greater fal Consider when thou eatest he is about thee to make thee exceede by gluttonie When thou speakest that thou mayest stumble faulter in thy speech Thinke that when thou awakest he causeth thee to be drowsy whē thou sleepest he deludeth thee by strange visions and deceipts manie subtil deuices many deceipts and craftie sleights doth he imagine How many netts how many snares doth that tirāt lay for the miserable soules of sinneful men In how many wayes and comers doth that enemy sitt lurking to spoile robbe and murder all passengers Fratres sobrij estote c Brethren be you sobre and watch because your aduersary the diuell as a roaring lyon goeth about seeking whome he may deuoure saieth the holy Apostle S. Peter 1. Pet. 5.8 which worthy sentēce our holy Mother the church hath apointed to be daily sung at Compline in al places where the diuine office is said Circuiui terram c. I haue cōpassed about the earth and walked along through it saieth the diuel to God asking of him frō whence he came Iob. 2.2 What is the reason why the diuell so vieweth the world why he walketh through the earth so diligently for your soules for your soules I say God his Angells seeke to saue your soules the diuell with all greedines thirsteth after your damnation Da mihi animas c. Giue me the soules take thou the rest saith Abraham Gen. 14.21 The diuell saith the like to man the true seruants and worshippers of God are enflamed with desire to winne soules so likewise all the diuels hate them with extreame indignatiō neuer ceasing vntill they haue brought them as low as hel The Angells and good men and the diuells are marchants of soules but after a different manner For the first by all means endeauour to conduct them into heauen but the latter to make shipwracke of them in the bottomlesse pitt of hell That soule maketh an ill and an vnluckie iourney which taketh the diuell for her companion seruing him daily by sinne contemning God and reiecting his most sacred law But on the other side that soule maketh a prosperous iourney which followeth the Angels and Gods seruants for they will assuredly lead her into paradise shewinge her the way which they haue trodden namely the keeping and true obseruing of the diuine precepts commaundements Thine Angel Guardian sinner will neuer forsake thee so long as thy soule remaineth in thy body exciting thee to shunne euill and to chose that which is good The diuell a most cruell tyrant thy companion will not be idle about thee but wil prouoke thee vnto all sortes of wickednesse tragression Now then sinner how doest thou behaue thy selfe towardes thy good Angell how doest entertaine this thy most faithfull and louing keeper Alas sillie miscreant thou refusest thy good Angell and thy blessed Sauiour to ioyne thy selfe to the infernall Prince of darknesse whom thou seruest with all homage diligence and industrie Consider sinner with what streight obligation thou art bound to God and thy good Angell who cōtinually defendeth and accompanieth thee keepeth thee from the assaults and snares of innumerable damned spirits Thinke how many yeares are passed wherein thou hast liued in the sure custody of infernall enemies offending dishonouring and dispising thy God who al this time hath expected thee ready to embrace thee in his armes stretched out vpon the crosse there manifesting his benignity mercy loue and charitie towardes thee It is not long since sinners that the diuel would haue quite destroyed