Sap. 4. If thou be not prepared to day Matt. 24. 25. how wilt thou be prepared to morrow To morrow-day is vncertaine and whether thou shalt see it or no thou knowest not 2. What doth it auaile vs to liue long when we do so little amend A long life doth not alwaies make vs better nay rather it oftentimes heapeth vpon vs a greater load of sinnes O that we had spent one day well in this world Many do reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to dye perhaps it will be more dāgerous for thee to liue long Blessed is he that hath alwaies before his eyes the houre of his death Eccles 7. and disposeth himselfe dayly therunto If thou hast at any time seene a man dye thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3. When it is morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night Heb. 9. and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy self the next morning Be alwaies ready and so order thy life that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Luc. 21. Many dye suddainly for the Sōne of man will come when we least thinke of it Matt. 24. Luc. 12. When that last houre shall come thou wilt begin to think farre otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast bene so slack and negligent 4. O how wise and happy is he that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of pennance the readinesse of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou maist do much good whilest thou art well but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to do I know not Few do grow better and amend thē selues with sicknes as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5. Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours Esa 30. 31. Herem 17. 48. neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou dost imagine It is better now to prouide in time Matt. 6. and do some good before thou goest then to trust in the help of others when thou art gone If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee herafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6. O my dearest brother from how great danger maist thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maist thou be freed if thou dost now liue fearfull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to dye to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earth ly things that thou maist then freely go to Christ 1. Cor. 9. Chastice now thy body with pennance that thou maist then haue assured confidence 7. Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luc. 12. How many haue byn deceaued and taken out of this world on a suddaine when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddainely slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his neck another dyed at his meate another when he was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another dyed by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of all and the life of man passeth away like a shaddow 8. Who will remember thee and who will pray for thee after thy death Iob. 14. Do now beloued brother do now what thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt dye nor what shall befall thee after thy death Matt. 1. Luc. 11. Now whilst thou hast time heape togeather eternall riches Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Luc. 16. Heb. 11. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receaue thee into their euerlasting dwellings 9. Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime 1. Pet. 2. and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world do nothing appertaine Keep thy hart free Heb. 13. and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citty Send thither thy prayers dayly with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happines to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou willt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge frō whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with guifts Heb. 10. nor admitteth excuses but iudgeth according to instice O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest somtimes the countenance of an angry man what answere wilt thou make to God to whome all thy wickednes is knowne Iob. 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy self against that rigorous day of iudgment Luc. 16. in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden inough to himselfe Now thy pains are profitable 2. Cor. 6. thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iac. 1. who receauing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice Luc. 23. then for his owne wrongs prayeth willingly for his aduersaries Act. 7. and from his hart forgiueth their offences delayeth not to aske forgiuenes of whomsoeuer he hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sins and vices now then to reserue them for purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceaueth vs. 3. What other thing shall that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished heerafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe same wherin a man hath finned shall he be more
alwaies sufficient cause of teares and sorrow for whether he consider himselfe or weigh the estate of his neighbour he knoweth that none liueth here without tribulation And how much the more throughly he considereth himselfe so much the more is his sorrow Our sinnes and vices in which we are so plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen do minister vnto vs matter of most iust sorrow and harty contrition 5. If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long Eccles 7. thou wouldest without doubt be more carefull in the ameÌ„dment of thy life And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of purgatory Matt. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to seare any kind of austerity But because these things enter not to the hart and we still loue that which delighteth vs therfore we remaine could and void of spirituall vigour 6. Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly coÌ„plaine Pray therfore with all humility to our Lord that he will vouchsafe to giue thee the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet Feed me o Lord Ps 79. with the bread of teares and giue me to drinke with teares in measure CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MISERABLE thou art wher soeuer thou be whithersoeuer thou turnest if thou turnest not thy selfe to God Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldest and desirest Who is there that hath all things as he will Eccls. 7. Neither I nor thou nor any man vpon earth There is not any man in this world without some tribulation or affliction though he be a King or a Pope Who thinkest thou theÌ„ is in best case I ruly he that willingly suffereth something for God 2. Many weak feeble men say Behould how well such a one liues how rich how powerful how beautifull how great a man he is Luc. 12. but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heaueÌ„ and thou shalt see that all temporall prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had without solicitude and feare Prou. 19. Iob. 14. The felicity of man consisteth not in hauing aboundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth It is truly misery inough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to be spirituall Eccls. 2. so much the more distastfull is this present life vnto him for he better perceaueth and seeth more cleerly the defects of human corruption To eate to drinke to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to be subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout mind that would gladly be free deliuered from all sinne 3. The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilst he is in this world And therfore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer me O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo be to them that know not their misery much more to theÌ„ that loue this miserable corruptible life For some there be so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labour and begging they scarce get bread to eat yet if they might liue heer alwaies they would care but little for the kingdome of heauen 4. O senslesse creatures and infidels in hart Rom. 3. whoâ—ly buried so deep in earth that they haue no tast nor feeling but of sensuall things But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued 1. Pet. â—1 Heb. 11. The Saints of God the deuout Seruants and friends of Christ respected little what pleased their naturall inclinations or what flourished in this life but with their whole hopes intentioÌ„s they sought after the riches of heauen Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible least they might haue byn drawne to base affectioÌ„s by the loue of visible things Rom. 13. Loose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past 5. Why wilt thou deferre thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and begin and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight now is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Psal 65. Thou must passe through fire and water before thou come to rest Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as we carry about with vs this frayle body of ours we can neuer be without sinne nor liue without tediousnes and griefe Rom. 7. Gen. 3. We would gladly enioy quietnes and be deliuered from al misery but for that we haue by sinne lost our innocency we haue togeather with it lost also our happines And therfore it behoueth vs to haue patience 2. Cor. 5. to expect the mercy of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 6. O how great is the frailty of man alwaies inclined to euill Gen. 6. To day thou confessest thy sinnes and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou purposest to take heed and within an houre thou dost as if thou hadst made no purpose at all We may therfore with great reason humble our selues 2. Mach. 9. and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change Full soone God knowes is that lost by negligence which with much labour was hardly gotten by grace 7. What will become of vs in the end that do so timely begin to wax could Wo be vnto vs if we will now giue our selues to ease as if all were already in peace and security when as yet there scarce appeareth so much as any signe of true sanctity in our conuersation It were needfull that we were taught good manners againe like Children if so perhaps there might be some more hope of our amendment and profit in spirit CHAP. XXIII Of the consideration of death THE houre of death will quickly ouertake thee and therfore look how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare Iob. 9. 14 Luc. 12. Heb. 9. and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of mind O dulnesse and hardnesse of mans hart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Thou shouldest alwaies so order thy thoughts and actions Matt. 25. as if this very day thou wert to depart this life Luc. 12. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death It is better to auoyd sin then to fly death
vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I haue fayled heerin and giue me againe grace of greater sufferance For thy bountifull mercy is more auaylable to me for the obtayning of pardon then my conceaued iustice for the defence of my hidden conscience 1. Cor. 4. Although my conscience accuse me not yet I cannot hereby iustifie my selfe Ps 142. for if thy mercy be away no man liuing shal be iustified in thy sight CHAP. XLVII That all grieuous thinges are to be endured for life euerlasting SONNE †Our Lord. let not the paines dismay thee which thou hast vndertaken for me neither be thou discoÌ„forted for the tribulatioÌ„s which do befall thee but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in all euents I am able to reward thee aboue all measure Thou shalt not long toile here nor alwayes be oppressed with griefe Attend a while and thou shalt see a speedy end of thy euills There will come an houre when all labour and trouble shall cease Little and short is all that passeth away with time 2. Doe as thou doest labour faithfully in my vineyard I will be thy reward Write read sing Mâ—tt 20. mourne obserue silence pray suffer crosses maÌ„fully life euerlasting is worthy of all these greater coÌ„bats Peace shall come in the day which is knowne vnto our Lord it shall not be day nor night to wit of this time but euerlasting light infinite brightnesse stedfast peace and secure rest Then thou shalt not say Who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Rom. 7. nor cry Wo be vnto me for that my dwelling in a strange countrey is prolonged Psal 119. For death shall be throwne downe and health shall be without decay no anxiety blessed ioy sweet and glorious company 3. O if thou hadst seene the euerlasting crowns of the Saints in heaueÌ„ and with how great glory they now reioyce who in times past were conteÌ„ptible to this world Sap. 3. 5. and esteemed vnworthy of life it selfe truly thou wouldest presently humble thy selfe euen vnto the earth wouldest rather seek to be vnder the feet of all then to haue coÌ„mand so much as ouer one neither wouldest thou desire pleasant daies of this life but rather reioyce to be afflicted for God and esteeme it thy greatest gaine to be reputed as nothing amongst men 4. O if thou hadst a feeling of these things and didst suffer them to enter into the depth of thy hart how durst thou so much as once to complaine Are not al paineful labours to be endured for euerlasting life It is no smal matter to leese or to gain the Kingdome of heauen Lift vp thine eyes therfore vnto heauen behould I and all my Saints with me who in this world had great conflicts do now reioyce now are comforted now are secure now do rest and shall remaine with me euerlastingly in the Kingdome of my Father CHAP. XLVIII Of the euerlasting day and shortnesse of this life O most * The Seruant blessed mansion of the heauenly Citty o most cleare day of eternity which night obscureth not Apoc. 21. but the highest truth euer enlightneth day euer pleasant euer secure and neuer changing into coÌ„trary state O that that day would once appeare and all these temporall things were at an end To the Saints it shineth glistering with euerlasting brightnesse but to those that are Pilgrimes vpon earth it appeareth only a far off and as it were through a glasse 2. The inhabitants of heauen do know how ioyfull that day is but the banished children of Eue be waile the bitternes and tediousnes of this The daies of this life are short and euill Iob. 7. full of sorrow anguish where man is defiled with many sinnes incumbred with many passioÌ„s disquieted with many feares filled with many cares distracted with many curiosities intangled with many vanities compassed about with many errours worne away with many labours vexed with temptatioÌ„s weakned with delights tormented with want 3. O when shall these euills be at an end Rom. 7. When shall I be deliuered from the miserable bondage of sin Ps 70. When shall I thinke o Lord of thee alone When shall I perfectly reioyce in thee When shall I be free from al impediments in true liberty without all griefe of mind body When shal I haue firme peace peace secure and without trouble peace within and without peace euery way assured O good Iesu when shal I stand to behould thee When shall I contemplate the glory of thy Kingdome When wilt thou be vnto me all in all thinges O when shall I be with thee in thy Kingdome which thou hast prepared for thy beloued from before all worldes I am left a poore and banished man in the land of mine enemies where there are daily warres and great misfortunes 4. Comfort my banishment asswage my sorrow for my whole desire sendeth vp sighes vnto thee For all is burdensome to me whatsoeuer this world offereth for my coÌ„fort I desire familiarly to enioy thee but I cannot attaine vnto it I would gladly fixe my hart to the things of heauen but temporall cares and vnmortified passions weigh me down In mind I would be aboue al things Rom. 7. â— but to my flesh I am inforced to be subiect against my will Thus vnhappy man that I am I fight against my selfe and am become grieuous to my selfe whilst my spirit seeketh after the things that are aboue and my flesh that which is below 5. O what do I inwardly suffer when in mind I consider heauenly things and presently in my praiers a multitude of fleshly fantasies present themselues before me Psal 70. My God be not farre from me depart not in thy wrath from thy seruant Cast forth thy lightning and disperse them send out thy darts and breake all the fantasies of my enemie Gather my senses togeather vnto thee make me forget the things of this world grant me grace to cast away speedily the fantasies of vices Succour me o euerlasting truth that no vanity may moue me Come heauenly sweetnesse and let all impurity fly from thy face Pardon me also and mercifully forgiue me as often as I think vpon any thing els besides thee in praier I truely confesse that I am wont to be subiect to many distractions for oftentimes I am not there where I do corporally stand or sit but rather there whither my thoughte do carry me Where my thought is there am I there is oftentimes my thought where my affection is That quickly occurreth vnto me which is naturally delightsome and by custome pleasing 6. And for this cause thou that art truth it selfe hast plainely said Matt. 6. Where thy treasure is there is also thy hart If I loue heauen I willingly think of heauenly things If I loue the world I reioyce at the felicity of the world and grieue for the aduersity therof If I loue the flesh I