of Iuda entred into the fauour of Ioas the Kâ—ng and did honour the King as a God who being ouercome with their flattering seruices gaue eare vnto them and both the King and his Counsell then forsooke the Church of the Lorde and dyd woorship vnto the starres of the Firmament and grauen Images and the wrath of the Lorde was mooued vppon Iuda and Hierusalem for this offence PROVERBES I Wysedome haue my dwelling in the counsels of men 3. REGVM CAP. 12. ROboam the King forsooke the counsell of the Elders of the kingdome wherevppon it came to passe that of twelue tribes which ruled in Israel he lost ten of them PROVERBES CAP. 12. THE counsels of the vngodly are meare deceiptfull snares vnto them selues VERSVS Regnum stat sanum per consilium veteranum Where auncient heads doo counsell giue The kingdome there dooth safely liue Regnum decressit vbi consilium iuuenescit That kingdome must of needes decay Where counsellors young do beare the sway Et proprium lucrum crescit Liuorque patescit And eche mans priuate gaines increase And malice from mischeefe doth not cease PSALME 26. I Haue hated the vniust liuers and I am abhorred of them Good company is of so great vertue It causeth sinners to become gracious VVhen they endeuour them selues to rescew From their folly and faultes defamous And eke euill company is so contagious That it corrupteth good inclination It is so vigorus violent and venemous It puts euen princes to great perdicion PSALME 112. THERE is risen vp a light in place of darknesse to suche as are of a true hart SAPIENCE CAP. 17. FOR with one chaine or band were they all linckt ESAI CAP. 56. THVS sayth the Lorde Keepe equitie and doo right for my sauing health shall come shortly and my righteousnesse shall be opened SENECA ad Lucillum PVT thou no confidence in fortune of this world for in a moment is the Sea altered and chaunged GREGORIVS THE great surges of temporall thinges carrieth with them the iudgement of eternall damnation HIERONIMVS IT is not possible for a man to enioy both the present felicities of this life and of the life to come and here to fyll his belly and there to satisfie his mind and from pleasures to pleasures to passe his appointed course that he may be both happy and blessed in heauen and earth togeather GREGORIVS IF we wyll seeke for the sweete it is requisite that wee doo suffer and tollerate the sower VERSVS Dulcia non meruit qui non gustauit amara The sweete to haue deserues not he That hath not tasted the sowre tree SOPHONI CAP. 1. THEY shall walke as the blind doo because they haue sinned against the Lorde EXODVS CAP. 10. AND Moyses lifted vp his handes vnto Heauen and there was made horrible darknesse for the space of three dayes vppon the whole land of Egypt so that no man knâ—we his owne brother neither knewe he in what place him selfe was but contrarywyse â–ª where so euer the children of Israel had their abiding there appeared light vnto them IOHN CAP. 10. THE light shineth in the darknesse but the darknesse comprehendeth it not ESAI CAP. 9. THE people that walketh in the darkenesse haue seene a great light appeared vato them there is light arysen vp vnto them that dwell in the shadowe of death LVKE CAP. 1. TO lighten those that sitte in darknesse and in the shadowe of death Actum Apostolorum CAP. 9. A Light from Heauen compassed him shining rounde about him and when he opened his eyes he sawe nothing SAPIENCE CAP. 2. FOR their owne malice hath blinded them selues Among the plagues of Egypt most horrible One was of darknes three dayes enduring VVhich was a token troublesome and terrible To all the Egyptians but there abiding The people of Israel had large light shining So though this world be blinded by abusance Yet amongst all some be in grace growyng To innocent lyfe through fruitefull repentance ECCLESIAST CAP. 40. THERE is great labour and trauell ordeyned for all men and a yoke of greeuous painefulnesse which shall be laid vpon the sonnes of Adam from their birth day vntill they shall returne vnto the Earth their graue the mother of all thinges euen from the degree of him which beareth the scepter and weareth the Diadem or Crowne vnto that lowe degree of him that is clothed in sackecloth fury zeale hurlyburly trembling and the feare of death burning in irefull indignation and contencion shall molest him and when he would take his rest in his bedde the dreame of the night passed shall take away his vnderstanding IOB CAP. 14. MAN which is borne of a woman hath but a short time here to liue and is filled with many miseries with heate colde and hunger and neuer remaineth in one estate because he is nowe in good health straightway sicke c. All mortall creatures conceaued in sinne VVretchedly borne liuing in variaunce Are lyke fragrant flowres in a Garden VVith fading florishe euer chaunging the chaunce The newe to olde succeedeth by ordinaunce So in his kinde goeth humane succession Now sicke now sound now glad now in greeuaunce Neuer standeth in one estate by condicion BERNARDVS HOO ritche Lorde art thou in mercie howe mighty in iustice howe bountifull in grace O Lorde our GOD there is none like vnto thee PSALME 34. BVT those that seeke foorth the Lorde shall not be put to confusion in euery good enterprise wherevppon saith Cassiodorus When we loue the Lorde we finde al things in him he is one onely to be sought for but he is that one wherein all thinges are conteined Oh woonderfull gaine oh singuler sallary or steepend for our paines why then doo we wearie our selues by diuers meanes but let vs with one vnitie of mind make haste vnto him who being had let vs seeke for none other felicities besides him but let vs holde him with fixed faith GENESIS CAP. 31. THOV hadst very little before that I came vnto thee and nowe thou art made riche by me and God hath blessed thee at my entrance vnto thee THOME CAP. 2. AT all times and seasons doo thou geue praises and pray vnto God and desire of him that he would direct thy wayes according to his wyll VVherefore our God meekely to thee we call Graunt vs thy grace for most surest suffisance To set aside all sinnes sensuall And be our guide with all good gouernance In mysty darknesse of worldly variance Graunt wylling mindes thy will to execute That vve may so serue thee vvithout dissimulance So as of thy grace vve be neuer destitute IERONIMVS THERE is nothing more like vnto the woorkes of the Deuils then to be continually at strife and debate one man with an other CASSIODRVS SEe that you haue vnitie in the bond of peace because there is not a more liuelier shape and fourme of Angelicall conuersation then is brotherly vnitie of one man with an other AVGVSTINVS GOD loueth the bonde of concorde and vnitie GREGORIVS THERE
4. THE way of the vngodly is as the darkenesse they knowe not where they fall IEREMI GAP 5. OVR sinnes haue debarred and prohibited the good graces of God from vs. PSALME 10. IN the woorkes of his owne handes is the sinner snared and taken PSALME 31. MANY plagues are there ordeyned for sinners but mercy shall compasse him rounde about that putteth his trust in the Lorde BERNARD BE ashamed oh my Soule and blushe at thy folly thou hast chaunged thy deuine shape and forme into a brutish and beastly forme Idem THERE is nothing more beastly then that man which is endewed with reason and vseth it not Idem HOw much the more a man shall sinne so much the lesse shall he knowe what sinne is and in deede so much the more shall he be delighted therewith Robart Grosthed Lincolniens SInne is the issue or generation of the deuill the parent of death the corruption of nature and the deformation or defilyng of the soule GREGORIVS WHAT greater poynt of madnesse can there be in man then for a very little pleasure of the flesh to make him self a bondman vnto euerlasting punishmentes DEVTERONO CAP. 28. WHAT yf thou wouldest desire of God that thou mightest heare the voyce of this thy Lorde and God speaking vnto thee that thou shouldest obserue and accomplishe all that he commaundeth The Lorde shall strike thee with madnes and with blindnes and with fury of the minde that thou shalt stumble at the noone day as the blind man is woont to stumble in the darknes and thou shalt not guide thy footesteppes but shalt alwaies suffer reproche and be oppressed with violence neyther shall there be any man to deliuer thee free from his fury Sinne is the cause of our perdition Sinne of the Deuill is daughter venemons In soule and body sinne causeth corruption Sinne is a sicknesse right contagious Sinne maketh a man foolishe and furious All in wood rage running without reason His dayes ouerdriuing in state styll daungerous VVith confused course of time and season PSALME 14.53 THEY haue trembled with feare where there was no feare at all LEVITCVS CAP. 26. IF so be that you wyll not heare me neyther doo all that I haue commaunded you but shall despise my lawes and ordinances I wyll set my face agaynst you and you shall perishe before the face of your enimies and you shal be cast vnder foote of those that haue hated you The King shal put them in feare yea the noyse of a leafe blowen from the Tree shall make them afraide they shal fall downe to the earth when there is no man to strike them PROVER CAP. 12. THE way of the vngodly shall deceaue them the deceitfull man shall finde none aduantage APOCAL. CAP. 18. THERE is prepared a dwelling place for all the Deuils and a place of custody for euery vncleane spirite OZEA. CAP. 9. THEY are become abominable euen as those idols that they haue embraced and had in honour PROVERB CIP 18. THE belly of the wicked person is neuer satisfied SOPHONI CAP. 1. THEY haue walked as the blinde that sawe not because they haue sinned against the Lorde IOB CAP. 18. HIS foote path is hidden in the earth feare and trembling shall make him afraide on euery side IOB CAP. 20. THE praise of the vngodly shal be but for a small seazon and the ioy of an hypocrite is like vnto the poynt of a swoord yf his pride shall lift it selfe vp vnto the heauens and that his head doo touche the cloudes yet in the ende it shall be destroyed euen as the filthy dounghil and as a dreame that is vanished shall it not be found The mind of sinners is figured vnto hell VVherein is fyre and feendish cruelty Gods lawes and maners resisting as rebell VVith lothsome stenche of wylful iniquity Committed by the seuen sinnes deadly And he that sinne into his chayne can lincke By subtyll shiftes and shameles impiety T ys a speciall gift yf they twayne euer shrincke ROMANS CAP. 6. THE reward of sinne is death PSALME 146. HIS spirite shall goe foorth and shall returne into his owne land in that day shal all his cogitations perishe PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE wicked man being once dead there resteth no further hope vnto him BERNARDVS O Thou Soule of man not with precious golde or siluer but with the blood of the Lambe of GOD redeemed Why wylt thou deliuer thy selfe into destruction seeing Christe for the loue that he beareth vnto thee hath shed his most precious blood HYLLARIVS THE Soule that sheweth not her selfe nete and clearely shining indewed with the garment or robe of holy life is not the Soule espoused vnto Christe but the Deuils darling AVGVSTINVS HAppy is that Soule which shall so endeuour her selfe to gouerne her life that she may through Christe deserue to receaue and entertaine Christ as her geste and inhabiter within her ECLESIAST CAP. 4. BE sorowfull and heauy for thy Soule PSALME 69. THE zeale of thy house Lorde hath euen as it were eaten me vp 1. REGVM CAP. 22. THERE is none that soroweth for my state ECCLESIAST CAP. 32. THE wicked are hardly chastized to amendment and the number of fooles is infinite PSALME 32. BEcause mercie hath come vppon him he shall with mercie be chastized AMBROSIVS THE lewde and dissolute life of the child shal be imputed the negligence of the parentes PSALME 141. BVT the oyle of a sinner shall not hurt my head TVLLIVS FOR euery pounishment and correction ought to be without reproche neither to the reproche of him whiche so punisheth or chastizeth any person but to be referred only for the commoditie and profite of the weale publique AVGVSTINVS THE wrath of GOD is then greate when the offender is not by due chastisement reclaimed but suffereth him selfe to runne in further offence by taking a wandring libertie Mans soule is a iewell incomperable By Christe his bloodshed dearely bought VVherefore he wyll that we be coumptable To him in good wyll for sauety sought VVhen to captiue vs Satan sought Bereft of all solace then surely were wee Tyll this our champion for vs fought VVe deserued the scourge of his equitee ECCLESIAST CAP. 7 REmember thy last dayes and thou shalt not doo amis for euer ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. IF a man doo liue many yeeres and in all this time shall reioyce and be meery yet he ought to remember the dayes of darknesse and the daies of many which shal then come shal plainely testifie that the dayes past were the dayes of vanitie GREGORIVS THE true and perfect life is to be medâ—tating howe to dye well Idem HE that considereth with him selfe what maner of person he shal be when death assayleth him is euermore fearefull in his affaires to offend ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. THE Lorde shall bring all thinges to receaue iudgement that are done vnder the heauens ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. REmember the Lorde in thy life time because death detracteth no time HVGO de sancto victore WE
ought to knowe that neyther the iust man nor the vniust the child nor the olde man are exempted but be dissolued by death the soule from the body before they be in that state of goodnesse or euill beyonde the which yf they should heare liue alway they shoulde neuer passe further to any felicitie c. ECCLESIASST CAP. 14. OH death how bitter is the remembrance of thee vnto a wicked man hauing peace in his ritches AVGVSTINVS OH life howe many hast thou deceaued whiche whyles thou fleest and passest away art as nothing whyles thou art seene of vs thou art as a shadow whyles thou art made much of thou art as a vanishing smoke sweete art thou vnto fooles and bitter vnto wyse men therefore thou art to be shunned thou art to be feared because thou art daungerous So fareth it with man in this lyfe euen as a man that soiourneth in an other mans house not knowyng when it shall be sayde vnto him arise and depart from hence Ad Romanos CAP. 5. BY meanes of sinne death entred into the worlde AVGVSTINVS THE true death in deede which men doo feare is the separation of the soule from God who is the life of our soules VERSVS O happy is mortall kinde If he alwayes life fynde And feare the eternall good end in respect of his vertuous mind A mighty medecine a royall eke remede Sinne to subdue I finde for eche degree Is to remember that state yf he were deade VVhen soule all sorowfull departes the body Then waying this liues instability VVe shal be sure to receaue iudgement Togeather both in soule and body Of woord and worke of thought and time mispent â–ª ECCLESIAST CAP. 10. WHY art thou proude O thou Earth and Ashes sequitur A King to day and to morowe dead and when a man dyeth he shall become the heyre of Serpentes Beastes and Wormes GENESIS CAP. 3. DVst thou art and into dust shalt thou returne againe HIERONIMVS WE dye dayly and we are changed dayly and yet we thinke our selues to be eternall euen this very woord that I speake that I write when I eate when I drinke or what thing els so euer I doo somewhat therby is my life time shortened PSALME 44.144 MAn is made like vnto vanitie his dayes doo passe away as a shadowe VERSVS Est homo res fragilis durans pro tempore parvo Hic est hic non est quasi flos qui crescit in aruo Man is a brickle and fraile thing That lasteth but small time Now here nowe fades as flowre In feelde that groweth fine ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. MAN dooth not know his end but as the fyshes are taken with the hooke and the birdes are catcht in the snares so in the euill dayes are men snared and yet notwithstanding this man knoweth not whether he deserue more to be hated or loued but the vncertainetie of thinges are reserued till a further time EZECHIEL CAP. 3. THE vngodly and wicked shall die in his sinnes AMBROSIVS WHAT thing can be more miserable vnto vs which are cast foorth into this life as all bare and naked fraile in body weake in mind doubtfull and full of disquietnesse slowe to take paines prone and redy to pleasure AVGVSTINVS IT is a foolishe thing for a man to liue in that case wherein a man dare not aduenture to die and he is of better courage which slumbreth and resteth with one deadly sinne going no further then he that waigeth battel with seuen enimies Thinke on thy corpes now delicately fedde VVhose foode shal be euen woormes and scorpion Thinke howe with costly clothing thou art cladde VVhich death shall change into corruption Yet of our death by naturall condition No creature knoweth time when nor place VVhether Heauen or Hell for our possession Eyther els ioy or sorowe we shall imbrace PSALME 94. MIscheefe shall fall vpon and ensnare the wicked to his destruction AMBROSIVS IT is better for sinners that doo euill to dye then that they shoulde remaine still long in sinne ARISTOT 3. Ethicorum OF all fearefull thinges death is the most fearefull PSALME 49. THE graue is their dwelling place and last end they shall leaue their ritches vnto others to possesse PROVERBES CAP. 11. RItches shal not profite nor preuaile them that haue abused them in the last day of reuenge but iustice shall deliuer a man from death of hell SAPIENCE CAP. 3. FOR horrible is the death of the vnrighteous generation GREGORIVS in moribus EVery man feareth the death of the fleshe but fewe doo feare the death of the soule ECCLESIAST CAP. 1. ONE generation passeth and an other commeth 2. REGVM CAP. 13. BEhold we all taste of death and are as it were water cast vpon the earth which returneth not from whence it is sent so do we fall away ECCLESI CAP. 1. THERE is no suruiuing memorie of them that went before PSAME 9.10 THE memorie of them is perished as it were with a sodaine noyse PSALM 9.10 I Am yeelded vp vnto obliuion as a man that is dead from his owne hart BARVCK CAP. 3. WHERE are the Princes of the nations become which were lordes ouer the beastes of the feeld which delighted them selues in the foules of the ayre whiche haue hoorded vp their siluer and gold wherein men do put their trust and those neuer linne searching for the same which doo woorke therevpon and are busie therein their dayes are ended and them selues are gone downe into the deepe pit Death vnto the wicked is terrible euermore But vnto the godly a comfort doubtles To liue well eche man be carefull therefore And whyle thou hast light refuse darknesse Behold the nine nobles of famous woorthynes As Dauid Salomon Hector and Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest of noble renowne VVhose flickring fame through the world doth wander Hath not death by his dart laid them adowne DEVTE CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation without aduise or counsell and without wysedome would God they would once be wyse and haue vnderstanding and woulde prouide for â—heir later dayes Which woords being more amply discussed by saint Bernard he saith Would God they would be wyse in three thinges that are past that is to say In the losse and lacke of good thinges whiche are brought to passe vnder mortall power or in dooing those thinges which they haue neglected to doo 2. That they woulde be wyse in not constituting the wicked in aucthoritie whereof the number is infinite in the worlde 3. And that they would be circumspect and carefull in the losse of time then which thing there is nothing to be coumpted more precious And sayth saint Bernard Would God they would vnderstand three things that are present that is to say 1. The shortnesse of our life because we haue neither certaine day nor houre how long to rest here 2. The difficulty of our saluation because straight is the way that leadeth therevnto and fewe there are which walke in thereby 3. And the small number of
them that are to be saued because there are many called but fewe are chosen And againe he saith Woulde God men would prouide for those three things that are to come that is to say 1. Death then which nothing is more bitter 2. The iudgement that shall be generall at the last day then whiche nothing shal be more horrible to heare 3. Eternall punishment ordeyned for the vngodly then the which nothing shal be more sharper The memorie of the dead for rhe liuing is a president How better we shall for our state prouide VVhyle we haue grace and space of the Omnipotent Print we well in hart what others hath betide VVhich haue eyther walkt straight or staggered aside At our neighbours fall let vs be eke vvare Lest vve that stand fast vvith them doo not slyde Our armour of perceuerāce in good life le ts prepare ECCLESIAST CAP. 14. BE mindful of death because when he commeth there is no stay with him IEREMI CAP. 4. THEY are wyse ynough to doo wickedly but to doo well they haue no knowledge at all ESAI CAP. 44. I The Lorde am he that doo transport wyse men backwards and doo make their perseuerance to become meare foolishnesse IOB CAP. 7. MY dayes are passed away my cogitations are dispersed disquieting my hart they haue changed the night with me into day and againe yet after darknes I hope to see light BERNARDVS in meditatio TELL me where are the louers of this worlde become whiche a fewe yeeres before passed were with vs there is nothyng remaining more of them at this day but dust and woormes Had they not their appoynted time to drinke with thee to eate with thee and to laugh with thee And so esteemed they of their dayes spent in their wealth and ritches and in the ende they are gone downe into the neathermost pit Their fleshe is here in the earth bestowed vpon the woormes and in hell there theyr soule vnto the flaming fyre tyll being againe lincked in that vnhappy familie they are tossed in perpetuall burning flames VVithout repentaunt turning vve encrease eche day To death and his dome vvherefore vvith diligence Amend vve our misdeedes vvithout delay To saue our soules shevv vve our sapience Eschevving the vice of vvylfull negligence That the time redeemed may render alvvay Sound fruites of vvoordes vvoorkes and conscience To ballance accompt iust at the iudgement day PSALME 11.34 THERE is ordeyned a most vyle death for sinners PROVERBS CAP. 5. HE shall dye that hath not receiued discipline GREGORIVS FOR the most highest is a pacient rewarder of the wicked for those that he hath long suffered to sinne to the ende that they might be conuerted and repent The same persons not being conuerted nor repentyng he dooeth more greeuously adiudge them to the greater damnation SAPIENCE CAP. 4. THE iust man though he be ouertaken with death yet shall he finde rest CHRISOSTO THERE is nothing so much deceaueth man as the vayne hope to liue longer SENECA VNcertaine death doth preuent and steale vpon many amendementes of mislyfe that are deferred or euer they be aware PSALME 49. DEath shall feede the euyll men euen as sheepe that are throwen into the lake of hell they shall desyre to dye but death shall flee from them c PSALME 116· PRecious in the syght of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes BOETIVS DEath vnto those men is happy and welcome when she seemeth not to plant more pleasure at one time then at an other and being often called for he comes sodenly to the sorowfull SENECA TRuely to dye well is for men to dye wyllingly AVGVSTINVS THere is nothing more withdrawes man from sinne then the often meditating and thinking of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 18. THE Lorde hath wrought woonderfull thinges in the death of man. SENECA THere is nothing shall profit thee so much vnto temperance and moderacion of all worldly thinges nor cause thee so much to contemne them as the dayly forethincking and meditating of death APOCA CAP. 2. REmember from whence thou art fallen and be wylling to repent thee thereof ESAI CAP. 38. DIspose and set in order all thinges within thyne house because thou shalt dye and not line And Ezechias turned away his face vnto the wall and prayed vnto the Lorde Sequitur And Ezechias wept with bitter teares As scriptures truely pronounce in sentence Death due to sinners impenitent vvhich dye In this vvorld damnation is by consequence VVhen the sound of Trumpe is hard from on hye From death to lyfe ryse then shall the godly VVherfore preuenting duly the fyrst death Repent vve in time vvith purpose earnestly To liue for euer vvith Christe by fyrme fayth ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for VVENSDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for THVRSDAY Remember the iudgement generall How for our liues then pleade we shall The Translators Application Thalmighty in the Firmament made lightes for to deuide The day night which lights for signes should serue eche time and tide A greater light the Sunne to shine by dry by night a lesse The Moone and Starres the self same light doth plainly lo expresse VVhyles we haue lyght le ts walke that way That gaynes light at the iudgement day AVGVSTINVS WE haue this experience because the minde of man is more familier and invred with the diuers intisementes of this world and ouercome with the concupiscences or lustes thereof that therefore she refuseth to be occupied in well dooing requireth pleasure and scarcely is she brought to this poynt that she shal be able to exclude and reiect from her selfe the custome of her former lyfe But when she shall once fall in reckoning howe necessary it is to thinke vpon the latter day of the efficacie of the iudgement whiche shall then be being stirred vp and prouoked eyther with hope of reward or with feare of pounishment she proclaymeth wylfull warres against her good mocions and passions whiche shoulde resist the same and assaulteth her auncient former good desyres and forecibly as it were striueth with her selfe to subdude her selfe PROVERBES CAP. THE wicked and vngodly men haue no mind vppon the day of iudgement but they that seeke the Lord doo consider therof IEREMI CAP. 12. TRuly Lord thou art righteous notwithstanding in thy iudgementes yea yf I should dispute with thee what the cause is that the wicked in their wayes doo florishe IOB CAP. 22. WHY doo the wicked liue still vppon earth and are so exalted on high they leade their liues in wealth and yet in the end they goe downe into hell ECCLESIASTES 3. THere are some godly persons before whose faces their owne euils haue come to light as though they had offended with the wicked And there are also some vngodly persons whiche liue with suche securitie and thinke them selues so safe as though they had the woorkes of godly disposed persons with them And I haue perceaued that af all the woorkes that the Lorde hath done man can not comprehend and finde out
Shall receaue at the day of iudgement generall Eyther Gods indignation or milde mercie ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. LET the dust of mans corrupt nature returne vnto the earth from whence it came and let the spirite returne againe vnto God who hath geuen the same IOB CAP. 21. SHall any man take vpon him to teache the Lord knowledge which iudgeth thy higher powers The strong and lusty men are subiect to death yea the rich happy of this world Idem sequitur BVT an other man dyeth in the bitternes of his soule without any woorkes of repentance and yet notwithstandyng they shal sleepe altogeather in the dust the wormes shall couer them SENECA THE eternal lawe of God hath ordeyned nothing better vnto man then that we haue all one kind of enterance geuen vs therby into this life and diuers maners of death OZEA. CAP. 6. MY iudgementes shall passe foorth from me as the light out of the Firmament AIERONIMVS HOw many people doo liue in this world I know not but of the dayes to come it is written That the Lorde shall iudge the secrete dooinges and vnknowen deallinges of men and shall geue light euen vnto the dungeons of darknesse and shall disclose the counsels of mens hartes TOBIAS CAP. 3. ALL thy iudgementes are iust Oh Lord. PSALME 119. FOR I haue been afrayde of thy iudgementes Oh Lorde ECCLESIAST CAP. 28. MAke redy thy righteousnesse that thou canst lay for thy selfe before the iudgement of the Lord be summoned BERNARDVS BRethren let vs be enflamed vnto repentance let vs examine our consciences let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our sinnes by earnest repentaunce in Christes bloodshed crauing his gracious fauour to escape the horrible iudgement of the liuyng god c. To waye the wickednesse of corrupt nature In ballance with Gods deuine iustice Eyther our good deedes is absurd and obscure Presumptuous were such our enterprise From the earth the dust should then aryse VVith Thalmighty creator to dispute Submit we therefore in repenrant wyse Our lyfe and death as he hath constitute ECCLESIASSTI CAP. 12. REmember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth and before the time of affliction shall approche and the dayes wherof thou mayst haue cause to say these dayes doo not lyke me ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. REmember the wrath of the Lorde because it shall not be foreslowed Idem REmember the Lordes wrath in the day of the end of the world and remember the time of pouertie euen whyles thou art in thy wealth ECCLESIASTI CAP. 28. REmember thou the later dayes and cease of to doo mischeefe for there is blessednesse and death approching in the prescriptions thereof PSALME 42. MY soule is in my handes alwayes c. MATTH GAP 24. BVt of that day and houre when the Lord shall come to iudge the world no neyther Angel nor the Sonne of man knoweth but the Father him selfe Take you heede therefore watche and pray MATTH CAP. 25. WAtche therefore because you knowe neither the day nor the houre wherein the sonne of man wyll come GREGORIVS in Homelia DOo not you loue the world which you see can not abide for euer because the great day of the Lord is neare PSALME THE day of desolation draweth neare and the times of the latter dayes do speedely hasten on IACOB CAP. 2. THere shal be iudgement geuen vpon him without mercie because he hath not shewed mercie c. As lyfe and death from hence vncertaine are And our demerites doo deserue due dome So how soone the Lord wyll the same prepare No spirite can deuine that day to come Though of signes fyfteene wryteth saint Ierome But yf we wyll credite Christes woordes in scripture Of signes alredy perfourming nowe are some That that day is not long to we may be sure HAYMO ANtechriste shal be borne in Babylon out of the tribe of Dan according to the saying that Iacob mencioneth Let Dan be made a Snake in the way MARCI 12. ANd those dayes shal be such and so troublesome as the like haue not been from the beginnyng of the creation of man vntyll nowe neyther shall there be any more suche afterward And except the Lorde had shortened those dayes for his elect sake there should haue been no saluation vnto frayle mankind 1. TIMOTHI CAP. 3. ALL those that wyll liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution MARCI CAP. 13. BVT who so shall persist constant vnto the end shal be saued DANIEL CAP. 8. IT shal be destroyed meanyng of Babylon without force of strength of the hand THESSALO CAP. 2. THen shall that wicked Antechriste be reueyled which the Lorde Iesus shall destroy with the breath of his mouth 1. IOHN CAP. 2. NOw are there many Antechristes come into the world whereby we knowe that we are in the later dayes 2. PETER CAP. 3. THere shall come deceitfull woorkers of mischiefe in the later dayes walking after their owne lustes ISIDORVS de summo bono THere haue many members of Antechrist gone before vs and their proper workes doo well agree with the ryngleader of their mischiefe according to the Apostles saying which affirmeth that they haue perfourmed the woorkes of iniquitie yea before that their cheefe captaine was manifested to the world DANIEL CAP. 8. ANd in the end of the kingdome when the wicked are come to the full of their iniquitie that is to say In Gluttony Lechery and Couetousnesse a kyng of a fierce countenance and vnderstandyng with hard sentences shall stand vp c. DANIEL CAP. 1. IN the later dayes there shall come deceauers which shall walke after their owne desyres in wickednesse These are they whiche shall assemble them selues togeather as liuing creatures hauing no Soule in them These are Cloudes without water whiche are caried about with the windes These are Trees growing somewhat before Winter vnprofitable whiche being twyce dead are plucked vp by the rootes for whom the mystes of darknesse are to be kept for euer and euer PSALM 50. THere shall goe before him a consuming fyre and it shall scortche his enimies round about him Idem WHyther shall I goe from thy spirite and whyther shall I flee from thy presence DEVTERONO CAP. 32. THere is a fyre kindled in my fury and it shall burne euen vntill the very last day in Hell. AMOS CAP. 9. THere shal be no time for them to flee away which shall saue them LVKE CAP. 21. THere shal be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres MARCI 13 IN those dayes after that tribulation the Sunne shal be darkened and the Moone shall not geue foorth her light and the Stars of Heauen shall fall from thence and the vertues or powers of the Heauens shal be changed and then shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen with great power and glory VVhen sinne the fyre of conflagration All men as then vvhich are left on liue Shall quite of them make consummacion In vvofull plight as doctors doo discriue There
regard vnto very small thinges They take more care howe to keepe and cherishe their diseased corrupt body then howe to foster and cherish the precious soule Yea they are more carefull howe to batten and â—eede the flesh with fatnesse and good likyng but the kirnell of the soule or the hart of the spirituall man they doo oftentimes destroy Idem super Cantica THey surely that are not diligent in their vocations as men ought to be are partakers of the deuils them selues in their trauayles HIERONIMVS THere can be no labour deemed tedious neither any time seeme long vnto vs wherein the euerlasting glory is obteyned AVGVSTINVS NO doubt sinners doo dayly heare the scriptures promising as well vnto those that loue God the most blessed graces of his good prouidence and contrariwyse they heare the scriptures which doo threaten vnto such as care not for GOD the plagues and pounishmentes by him for them ordeyned And yet geue they no regard therevnto neyther wyllingly do they heare God thus speaking vnto them when he gently entreateth them nor when he seuerely threatneth them but rather doo resist him with their euyll and wicked dooinges PSALME 49. THE wyse man also as well as the foole shall goe to the graue LEOPOLDVS MEN doo more wyllingly toyle them selues for the desire they haue vnto pleasure then for the loue that they beare to vertue Most men are naturally geuen to be feareful and timerus in paines taking in sustayning troubles pouertie and other daungers wherewith humane kind was wonte to be molested But yf they were wyse in deede and vnderstoode the excessiue calamities ordeyneâ— for sinners without ende they woulde then be farre more fearefull to offend in this lyfe IOB CAP. 6. THey that feare a frost vpon them shall haue a snowe come to them Sythen wee see in sicknesse corporall Health to recouer and death for to decline Men wyll absteyne from lustes sensuall And their desyres submit to medecine All for this frayle flesh that runneth to ruine How much more should eche man with busy cure Seeke for the soules health repentyng in time VVherby he may obteyne such ioyes as shalendure 1. THESSALO CAP. 5. WHen they shall say Peace and security is with vs then by and by shall a sodayne destruction come vppon them as the pange of a woman trauayling with chylde and they shall not escape away ECGLESIASTI CAP. 5. MAke thou no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and prolong not of from day to day for sodaynely shall his wrath come and in time of reuenge he shall destroy thee ESAI CAP. 18. FOr you haue said We haue made a league with death and with hell we haue made a couenant GALATH. CAP. 6. BE you not deceaued in your owne dooinges God is not mocked withall what thing so euer a man shall sowe the same shall he also reape agayne IEREMI CAP. 8. THey haue rather chosen death then lyfe· PSALME 69. THey haue drawen neare euen vnto the gates of death Idem THere is a most vyle death ordayned for sinners ECCLESIASTI 7. REmember to dye because death wyll not tary long BERNARDVS I Tremble and quake for feare of the iawes of the infernall beast yea tylâ— I be deliuered from the body of hell from the roaring feendes prepared to their meate Alacke oh my mother why hast thou conceyued me the child of sorowe the childe of bitter bale indignation euâ—rlasting lamentation Why was I lâ—lled in thy lappe why was I fostered with thy dugges I was borne the meate for woormes and foode of the fyre IACOB CAP. 4. YOur laughter shâ—ll turne into mournyng and your ioy into sorowe APOCAL. CAP. 18. SO much as he hath vaunted and reioyced him selfe in his ritches so much torment and mournyng let him haue administred vnto him DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shal be a certayne prescribed rate of pounishment according to the measure of the offence that euery man hath done BERNARDVS BReethren let vs be enflamed to repentance let vs examine our consciences and let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our selus by repentaÌ„ce to the end we may be able to escape the horrible iudgement of y liuing God. Slombring in sinne some dreame security VVithout feare or forecast of infernall afliction Neglecting repentance in this lyfe transitory That they feare nothing the due correction Ordeyned for sinne by deuine direction As those that are not carefull harmes to eschewe Suche feele the sentence of all malediction VVhen repentance come to late their sorowes to rescewe IEREMI CAP. 3. WHY dooest thou cry out so vppon the contrition of thy soule thy sorowe is incurable by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities and because of thy greeuous sins haue I done this sayth the Lord. HIERONIMVS THE moderacion of Gods displeasure the duetie of godlinesse seeketh onely for our returne and desyreth that we may be saâ—ed by this long forbearance of his goodnes If we wyll not be conuerted yf we be stiffâ— necked and yf we continewe still in our syns vnlawfully euen tyll our death Let vs trust vnto it God wyl not shewe mercie vnto those that continually perseuer in their sinnes BERNARDVS I Tremble to thincke vppon the gnawyng woorme and the death that neuer dyeth I shiuer and quake euery ioynt of me to fall into the handes of that death that endureth and of that lâ—fe that dyeth GREGORIVS THE wâ—cked shall dye the death euerlastyng PROSPER IF at that instant when a man purposeth to sinne he would with diligent mind consider what pounishment claymeth to be done towards those that are taken in trappe for their mischeefts what torment shoulde vexe the conuict soules what feare would shake their members and ioynts in euery part and what wanne and pale colour would dumpe theyr hauty countenances and finally how execrable reproche and ignominie it selfe the sentence denounced vnto suche sinners woulde duely reâ—der I knowe not whether he would take any such delight or frame him selfe vnto such vices and wickednes yea or no. MATTH CAP. 21. BEholde the Bridegrome commeth and they that were prepared to wayte vppon the Bridegrome went in with him vnto the wedding Vnde Gregorius IF thou oh wicked man wert wyse and diddest vnderstand what ioye this were thou wouldest oftentimes consider herevpon and speedely run to repentance neither wouldest thou lose or forgoe the acceptable time and the dayes of thy saluation through thy banquetting dayly ryot and idlenesse without profiting body or soule IEREMI CAP. 9. WHO shall geue water vnto my head a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may weepe night and day when I behold the children of the people committed to my charge IVDITH CAP. 8. LET vs craue his pardon with teares AVGVSTINVS THE iustice of the Omnipotent hauing foreknowledge of thinges to come let ordeyne to be made the fyre of hell euen from the first creation of the world He whiche is of his owne mercifull goodnes contrary to this fire who is enflamed with loue of
be adurned with the Dyadem of eternal glory not in the dounghill of this world but in the Pallace of Heauen in the sight of innumerable Angâ—ls and of al the Saincâ—es in your stoole of immortalitie and with splendant royal ornamentes to be inuested Vnde Sapi. CAP. 5. LTT them receaue the kyngdome of honor and the Dyadem of dignity euen at the handes of the Lord. AVGVSTINVS OH thou my soule yf it be so that we must needes suffer tormentes euery day yea to suffer the very horrible hel it selfe a long time so that we might afterwards see Christ our sauiour in his glory and with his saintes euermore accompanied should we not onely suffer all sorrowe and paine to be made partakers of such glory and good graces VINCENCIVS BEloued brethren in the perplexity of this worldly pilgrimage we suffering the sorowes of our exile as it were with want of all goodnes are defiled and suffer the disposing of all incombrances the snares of sinnes laide for vs in euery place fearing the subtel deceiptes of our enimies but not sufficient watchfully or diligently preuenting them as we ought forbearing detrimentes and vexations and not able to shake from vs calamities swelling in vices enclined to vanitie in steade of veritie enduring exile for our countrey taste pouertie in steade of abundance vyle thinges for want of glorious thinges and doo so loue this world with a miserable blindnes or rather foolishe madnes that we are vtterly ignorant of that same glory of the holy ones of God whervnto lyfting the face of our mind and inward man we then behold the ioyes of eternal lyfe that we might some what surely sauour in our hartes the sweetenesse thereof AVGVST OH that I knew what I my selfe am and what thou art oh Lorde Oh yf a man knewe what him selfe were and what GOD were he would suffer a thousand deaths yf it wer c. SAPIENCE CAP. 3. BEholde the perpetuall goodnes of the reward for such as feare God. ECCLESIASTI vltimo BEhold with your eiesâ— forasmuch as I haue laboured a little and I haue found great rest vnto my selfe Let your hart reioyce in his mercie Be dooing what you can before the time and he shall geue you your reward in due time VVhen humane soule her selfe so dooth demene That she loues death and leaues lyfe spirituall Both God she then forgetteth quite and cleane Vertue dispisde she flowes in sinnes sensuall Contemning Christe obayes to Belyall And what her selfe is eke forgetting she For heauenly ioy feeles sorowes infernall For life she tastes death then perpetually Actum Aposto CAP. 5. THE Apostles went from out of sight of the people which gaue counsell because they were coumpted woorthy for the name of Christe or in his behalfe to suffer reproches AVGVSTINVS WE wyll reioyce with the elect of God and we wyll suffer tribulations of the world with them for surely they that would not imitate the holy ones in this manner shoulde not attaine vnto their renowne and glory 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. FOR euery one shall receiue his owne reward according to his labour and trauell but many for the most not meanyng to liue well desire to dye well knowyng how precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his sainctes Is he the God of the Iewes onely is he not also of the Gentiles yes of the Gentiles also CIRHSOSTOMVS IF any man shal thincke the way paynefull to liue wel such a one is the excuser of his owne slouth and negligence for yf Mariners and Seafaring men soppose the raging floods of the Sea to be threatninges of danger vnto them yf the season of Winter be thought a hinderance vnto husbandmen yf woundes and slaughter of Souldyers seeme a thyng tollerable and yf most greeuous stripes and blowes seeme thinges easie to be borne withal of very champions them selues for the hope of temporall thinges and transitory commodities much more when heauen is prepared for a rewarde of the godly we ought not once to thincke any thing of these present calamities neither ought a man to looke that this way is streyt but whyther it bringes a man neyther ought we to seeke for any other beeause it is brode but where the same finisheth LVKE CAP. 9. AND being bidden to the supper they begun euery man to excuse them selues BERNARDVS FOrgeue vs Lorde forgeue vs we excuse our selues we woorke al against the graine so as there is scarce any man whiche wyl be made practized as he may wâ—ll be in those thynges which parteyne vnto thee They all sauour earthly thinges they seeke that which is theirs and not that which is parteinyng vnto Iesus Christe They embrace vices they flee vertues and they waxe vâ—le togeather as the brute beast through filthynesse of their sinnes MICHEA CAP. 7. THe godly man perisheth vpon the earth and there is not any one amongst menne that liueth aright c. Resume thy strength nowe as a knight spirituall Fyght for the heauen winne it with diligence The â—ende the fleshe and vyces mundyall Quite to subuert by deuyne sapience If weake thou be craue God for thy defence Hauing good hope by Gods prouision Through watchfull care and humble pacience VVith tryumph thou shalt win an heauenly crowne AVGVSTINE THere shal be the cheefe securiâ—ie the safe tranquility the tranqiul or safe sweetenes the sweete felicitie the happy eternitie the eternall blessednesse· BERNARDVS OH heauenly Citie thou safe Mâ—nsion place a countrey fully câ—nâ—eyning whâ—â— so euer may be delightful â–ª a people without murmuring quiet inhabitance men hauyng no neede of any thing ORIGEN THE deuine bountie of the most highest shal replenishe all the receptacle of the soule with all goodnesse that is to say the angry and irefull soule with power and dignitie the greedy and couetous soule wiâ—h delightes and the reasonable soule with wysdome that there may therein appeare power without contradictâ—on dignity without comparison PROVERBIORVM CAP. 1. THE feare of the Lorde is the Well of lyfe AVGVSTINE LET the loue of this present Woâ—lde depart from thee wherein no man is so borne that he may not dye and let the loue of the worlde to come take place in thee wherein al men are made liuing so as thence foorth they shall not dye where no aduersitie shall trouble thee and no greeâ—es disquiet thee but whereas euerlastyng ioy and gladnesse raigneth for thy perpetual comfort ESAI CAP. 6. THeâ— sayd I Lorde how lonâ— Hâ— answered vntyl the Cities be vtterly wasted without inhabitantes c. ESAI CAP. 35. THey shall obteyne ioy and gladnesse and sorowe and lamentaâ—ion shall flee from them PSALME 119. OH howe good is the God of Israel vnto such as are true of hart Remember man this solace shal be sure Altogeather voyde of worldly variaunce It shall without dreade or distance ay endure But in this lyfe is no continuance Ritches pouertie lyfe and death are but a traunce VVherefore in this worldly mutable estate Let vs seeke to liue after God his ordinaunce Least of that lasting blis we make our selues frustrate DEVTERONO CAP. 3. MOYSES sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel Consider that this day I haue set before thee in thy sight both lyfe and good and of the contrary part death and euyll Sequitur I Take this day Heauen and Earth to witnesse that I haue set before you lyfe and good blessing and cursing choose you therefore lyfe that you may lyue I marueyle and greatly marueyle that man whiche aboue others is a creature endued with reason dooeth not in any thyng followe the iuâ—gement of reason despiâ—yng wholesome thynges and embrasing daungerous thinges seekyng and desyring deadly and hurtfull thinges OH eternall GOD what is the cause of suche dotyng foudnesse in man what reason is there of such foolishnesse and madnesse Why dooeth he desyre the death of the soule with so wicked a hart c. Nowe Heauens and Earth for witnes in I call How God disposeth for mans direction Perpetuall payne and ioy celestiall Vertue vice health and perdition Put to our choyse by free election VVherefore our hartes and eyes le ts eleuate To God the geuer of all grace deuine Of him to craue that he the fyrme estate Of lastyng blisse would graunt vs all in fine ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for SONDAY Per Authorem Namque huius mundi fallacis gaudia vitae Et quibus exuere se debet omnis homo Sunt miserandâ—a niâ—â—is vexant mortalia corda â–ª Virtutum faciunt quemlibet immemorem Quos igitur Chricti baptisma sacruÌ„ renouauit Librum hunc perlegite qui facit esse sacros Quid Iusto prodest aut quid peccator egebit Si Libet inspicere vos docet istud opus Soli Deo Gloria Here endeth this woorke of Contemplacion fyrst printed in Latine at Westminster the yeere of our Lord God. 1499. and nowe newly englished and printed at London by Hâ—gh Singleton dwelling in Creede Lane at the signe of the gylden Tunne Neare vnto Ludgate Anno. 1578.
eternali cohereditari secum preseruaret conseruaretque beatissima sua â–ª Ad quam et in qua Deitasvna in trinitate et trinitas vna in Deitate absolutissima potentia PATRIS FILII ET SPIRITVS SANCTI sua semper gratia et benedictione tuam paternitatem cogitaciones tuâ—s simul et actiones omnes diuinas beat regat dirigat Protegatque ad nominis sui gloriam propagandam Ecclesiae sanctae suae nec non congregationis christianae vtilitatem Denique ad animae tuae ipsius consolationem in Christo IESV Perhennem Amen ¶ Londini ex Domicilio meo in Perochia Sancti Iohannis Euangelistae nuncupata Primo die Mensis IANVAR 11. ANNO salutis humanae 1578. Tuae Dignitatis humilimus Studiosissimusque Orator Ricardus Robinsonus Londinensis The Auctors Epistle or Preface to this woorke SAPIENCIAE CAP. 2. Exiguum cum tedio Est tempus vitae nostrae SYTHEN that by naturall course the date of mans life is short and as experience sheweth the Process of the same is full of perilles both of soule and body And moreouer our mortall complexion is yet subiect to many corporall infirmities passions and inordinate affections of the spirite And so we passe away our dayes by continuall enterchange as then sicke nowe in health then tich nowe poore then in hope now in dispayre and now in discomfort then in consolacion Therefore IOB making familier comparison likeneth the beginnyng the middes and the end of mans lyfe vnto a flowre For right as a flowre in the first appearance or rysing is tender and feoble and soone ouerthrowen oppressed and consumed and all be it that in the processe of growyng it springeth and ryseth pleasantly yet by alteracion of Nyght and Day mutabilitie of winde and weather misty Cloudes and tempestious ayre This foresaid flowre is in continuall enterchange and standeth neuer stable in one florishing state any long time but finally fadeth away returnyng to very earth and powder Right so a man in the tender state of his innocencie is vnable to helpe him selfe and to nourishe him selfe in the necessitie of Nature he hath no suffisaunce Then growyng vp to Childhood he is both feeble of corporall strength and weake in witte and by casuall chaunce of any intâ—mperancie excesse or surffet he is soone quayled and brought to his ende Then florishing and springing vp to the ripenes that is vnto yeeres of discretion portlines of stature and perfection of manly strength he is apt to be possessed with many sondry perils both spirituall and corporall and vnder the chaunge of many fortunate chaunces And so concludingly in decrepit aige he must neede suffer the impotencie thereof and the miserie of many sore languors and finally be sequestred from this lyfe and worldly vanities thereof And thus he neuer standeth fyrme in one stay IOB 44. Homo natus est de muliere breui viuens tempore repletur multis miserijs Qui quasi flos egreditur eonteritur fugit velut vmbra nunquam in eodem statu permanet c. And thus our tyme reuoluing by continuall alteration to conclude and finishe our perillous pilgrimage in this vaile of teares succeedeth dollorus Death the which no man by naturall course can eschue And of the time the place the maner or the kind of his death is no man that naturally knoweth and then according to his deseruing he shall haue his dome Therefore sythen our time is but short and vncertayne and by reason of diuers impedimentes ryght daungerus it shoulde be the rather more profitably spent For as Sainct Bernard sayth There is nothyng committed to the disposition of Man more precious then time All be it many worldly men labour and turmoyle them selues with weerinesse in worldly trauels wastyng their dayes in meare vanitie And carnall Creatures blinded with sensuall appetites lothsomely consume their precious tyme wherein they might attayne vnto knowledge and soules health making no more accompt of lost tyme whiche is vnrecouerable then as it were but of vyle price and of no value BERNAR Nihil preciosius tempore heu nihil hodie vilius computatur Transeunt dies salutis nemo sibi diem vnquam causatur rediturum And though for the profitable employment of our time most requisite it be for all estates and conditions what so euer to be exercised in readyng or hearing diuers woorckes and compiled matters wherein might be conteyned noble histories morall documentes and royal examples of personages renoumed for their vertuous lyfe and conuersation whiche when we duely reade and regard may fructifie and bring profite to vs in our lyues and maners of liuyng for the aduauncement of vertue and the ahollishing of vice Yet is there no exercise or labour taken in hand nor tyme better spent then in reading the sacred volumes of the Scriptures For the knowledge of Scripture by many reasons strengthneth our Pacience and geueth vs consolation in all aduersitie VVherefore the vnderstanding of it to euery estate higher or lower is both honorable pleasant and profitable as Cassianus sayth Non aliqua in mundo potest esse fortuna quam literarum non auget gloriosa notitia Yet notwithstandyng holy Scripture hath a speciall prerogatiue beyonde all other doctrine or prophane compiled matters VVhetefore Sainct Ierome compared holy Scripture to a Mirror or a Glasse saying Scriptura enim speculum est feda ostendens corrigere docens GREGO Sacra enim scriptura est quasi Speculum quod oculis mentis opponitur Ibi enim sentimus Quantum proficimus quantum a profectu longe distamus For like as a Glasse sheweth a man the spots deformities and faultes of his face the which by the sight of his eye he can not discerne so the declaration of holy Scripture lightneth a mans reason and maketh him more profoundly to know the goodnes of God his owne vnthankfulnes the daunger of sinne the vallure of vertue the vicious vanitie of this world the short processe of our lyfe the endles torment of hell ordayned for sinners and the perpetual pleasures of heauen prepared for iust and godly persons And though by the iudgement of natural reason men may indiffeâ—ently haue a grosse conceipt betweene vice and vertue good and euyll some discernyng clearely some darckly accordyng to the measure of ingenious witt and capacitie in him that so deemeth and iudgeth yet notwithstandyng holy Scripture cleareth a mans conscience and conceipt yea and helpeth reason perfectly to vnderstand in what state he standeth and whether in the wayes of vertue or vice he furdereth or failleth Therefore Dauid the Prince of Propphetes sayd Declaratio sermonum tuorum illuminat intellectum dat paruulis And by a grosse comparison though all mertalles be good in their vse yet is there great distinction of degrees among them and diuersity of value as Brasse is more of price then Iron Tynne better then Leade and Copper exceedeth Tynne â–ª and one penny of siluer is worth ten of Copper and one penny of
pouerty and oppression Murmure discord and desolation Confiskes many a Kingdome ane huge Impery From theyr late former good condicion For want of Iustice through iniquity ESAI CAP. 59. THEY haue wrested iudgement backwardes and Iustice hath stoode a farre of because trueth hath fallen downe in the streetes and equitie coulde not enter there and trueth was made a guste of forgotten freendship and the man that departed from dooing euill felt the smart of a prized spoile IEREMI CAP. 21. BEholde I deliuer before you the way of life and the way of death doo your iudgement in due time and bring the oppressed soule out of violence least that my displeasure and wrath doo haply depart from me towardes you as a consuming fyre and so burne you that there ve none to quenche the same by reason of the malice of your inuentions ISIDOR WIcked Iudges euen after the maner of Woolues do rauen and make hauocke of all thinges IEREMI CAP. 51. NAbuchodonozor eateth me vp and greedely dooth as it were deuoure me ECCLESIAST CAP. 20. BRibes and rewardes doo blind the eyes of Iudges and as a gift in the mouth dooth stoppe their reprehencions In England then trueth shewe thy stately style And Iustice thou thy Baner brode display All leagerdy maynes from hence quite exile Graunt God that good meaning mainteined be may All subtyll shiftes to conuince and bewray VVherewith the couetous encombred bee Least that the great flee the small eatyng alway Doo the same deuoure by lawles libertee MICHEA prophet CAP. 3. HEARE this ye Princes and Rulers of the house of Iacob and you Iudges of the house of Israel whiche haue abhorred to doo iustice in iudgement and doo peruert all thinges that are good because you build vp Sion with bloodshed and Hierusalem with iniquitie their Princes shall geue iudgement for rewardes for this cause shall Sion be furrowed vpon euen as a feelde ISIDOR THE simple people are more greeuously torne in peeces of the euyll Iudges then of their most cruell enimies For there is no robber so greedy of other mens goodes as a wicked Iudge is amongst those whom he hath aucthoritie of AVGVSTINVS IN so much as the mischeefe of couetousnesse waxeth nowe so ripe that euen of custome the very lawes are bought and solde iudgementes are corrupted the very sentence it self is set to sale for mony there can be no cause without care and vexation tryed ESAI CAP. 5. WOO be vnto you whiche iustifie the wicked for bribes and rewardes and doo wrest the iust mans cause from him Farre from vs O God expell corrupt iustice VVith couetousnesse and false affection That goodnesse of eache cause may full suffise To try it selfe cleare in the action Of euill buddes let no bitter abusion Make crooked causes cloked to bee In Consistory Court or Ciuill Session But graunt O GOD to trueth the victory ESAI CAP. 49. HEARE me O ye of hard harts which haue sequestred your selues farre from Iustice Expositio Matth. 22. YOV haue forsaken those two most graue respects of the law that is the one iudgement the other mercie PATRONIVS FOR nowe Iustice is made none other thyng but a common marchandize PSALME 2. NOW O ye Kynges be wyse and learned you that iudge the earth ECCLESIASTICVS CAP. 47 IT is the office and duety of kinges to keepe vnder those that are euil and aduance such as are good subiectes 1. MACHABES CAP. 15. ANtiochus saide I wyll be reuenged vppon them whiche haue corrupted the land c. AVGVSTINVS IN this poynt doo Kinges serue God yf in theyr kingdomes they commaund and establishe that whiche is good and forbid that which is euil not in matters only parteyning to humane society but as concernyng deuine religion for neither liue they at ease free from cares of mind and trauels of the body but bestowe their tyme in great disquietnesse and labour vntill such time as they haue accomplished their functions and dueties to all perfections SAPIENCIA 6. THE hardest iudgement shall be ministred vnto them whiche beare aucthoritie ouer others To Kyng without colour that lyst to keepe Iustice The nearest way most honorable and easie Ys corrupt men to suffer in no wyse By false affection or parcialitie To execute the office of Iustice duely And yf in this poynt a Prince be negligent His mind perswaded may be fully He shall incurre Gods dreedfull iudgement ECCLESIASTES CAP. 10. BLessed is that land whose King is of noble race ARISTOTLE primo Politico VErtue and malice doo determine and handle matters betweene bondmen and freemen betweene noble men and those of base degree Idem 5. Politicorum NObilitie and Vertue are in few persons to be found remayning togeathee PSALME 101. MY song shal be of mercy and iudgement to thee oh lord Idem I haue done indifferent iustice and executed iudgement I haue hated the workes of iniquitie c. IOB CAP. 29. I Haue clothed me with Iustice and with my iudgement haue I apparrelled me as it were with a garment and Dyadem of honour I haue been in steade of an eye to the blind man and as a foote to helpe the lame A father haue I also been of the poore and such cause as I was vtterly ignorant in haue I diligently searched for the certeyne trueth thereof I haue destroyed the labours of the vniust man and out of his Iawes haue I taken the spoyle MATTHEA 5. BLessed are they whiche hunger and thyrst after righteousnesse because theirs is the kingdome of Heauen AVCTHOR FOR as from day to day there is a continuall thirst and hunger renewed in our stomackes after meates and drinkes corporall so ought there appeare in vs a freshe and new appetite or affection inseperable after iustice in correcting of offences committed Nowe Princes Lordes and Nobles of renowne VVhom it pleaseth to vse Iustice with mercie Take Iob and Dauid examples to your crowne VVhen to the poore they had a piteous eye And of mighty offenders punisht peruersitee VVhom Gods good grace hath remunerate VVith blessinges moe then may expressed bee In lasting fame ay to be Lawreate SEleucus Prince of Locria on a time being in the cheefe Citie thereof whiche he had established protected with most wholsome and profitable lawes when as his sonne was condemned for adulterie accordyng to the lawes whiche he him selfe had ordeyned that such offender should be depriued of both his eyes and that the whole Citie for the honour of their Countrey did for a certayne space withstand and gaynesay to dispence with necessity of punishment in this respect The father being throughly ouercome with the instant requestes of the people because he would doo some moderation of iustice and borowe the lawe in some part executing it at full in an other first causing one of his owne eyes to be quite pluckt out and then afterwardes one of his sonnes eyes left vnto them both but two eyes to see with So farre dyd he perfourme a due measure of punishment with a
neyther can the delites of the body of the soule abide to dwell togeather HVGO 2. de Anima A Good conscience is the tytle and signe of religion the Temple of Salomon the feelde of blessing the breeder of delites the golden reclaiming meane of a transgressor the ioy of Angels the Court of God the habitackle or dwellyng place of the holy ghost the booke opened and shut which shal be manifested in the day of iudgement CASSIODORVS WHAT is there thought may be obteyned where as a good conscience is lost GREGORIVS THere is no man more corrupt in life then he that seemes to him self to be cleare and sound in lyfe SENECA ad Lucillum LOoke vppon the mind scanne vppon the maners marke and be mindful of thy doinges for euer in them and by or of them shalt thou knowe what thou art CICERO IT is a poynt of foolishnesse properly for a man to prye and looke neare into other mens faultes and to forgeat his owne God graunt al states to keepe with diligence In conscience good the most assured stay Of treasures heauenly highest in excellence VVhich may our mindes chearefull make alway That lyfe from learnyng doo not goe astray Ne yet with shiftes of cloked collusion Our selues and our freendes corrupt we may To turne vnto our owne confusion ZACHE CAP. 13. I Wyll smite the Shepheard and the sheepe of the flocke shal be scattered one from an other the integritie of them that beare rule is the health of the Subiectes ECLESIAST CAP. 8. IT falleth out nowe and then that one man hath power ouer an other to his owne hinderance PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE Citie shall reioyce in the wealth of iust and vpright Rulers and there shal be ioy ouer the destruction of the wicked BERNARDVS MAN is neuer in state of honour without dolour and sorowe in pleasure without payne in aucthoritie without vanitie ESAI CAP. 3. I Wyl geue them children for their princes and such as are of womanish mindes shall beare aucthoritie ouer them and the people shall perishe BERNARDVS ad Impios THY Shepheardes are chaunged into fleesers of their flocke thy Lambes into Woolues thy defenders into dispersers of the flocke and they that should be sober are dayly geuen to drunkennesse they that should be chaste are vicious liuers for godly Prelates thou shalt haue wicked Pilates and they that ought to be godâ—y inducers and teachers of thee shal be seducers and fetchers of thee from the right way Eche Communalty then standeth in good state VVhen as their princes rulde are by reason But be they vicious and infatuate Then falleth all to foule confusion VVe haue to marke then what abusion Other Realmes doo on them selues ay bring By their misrule way our condicion In happier state God knoweth florishng AVGVSTINVS DAVID the second Kyng of Israel dooth surely shine in mankind as it were a certayne brightnesse that would dazell our eyes In what man at any time were there found togeather these two thinges that is to say so great aucthoritie conceaued with so great humility so great courage so great clemencie so great a care as he conteyned towardes the disposing of his worldly affaires so pure and deuoute contemplacion or meditating of spirituall matters to kill so many men and to shed teares of repentance to fall into so great offences as he dyd and to perfourme so good repentance PSALM 119. I Am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al the riches and worldly wealth which I haue Idem DElight thou thy selfe in the Lord and he shall rewarde thee euen to the desyres of thy owne hart Idem WEre it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe I shoulde then perhappes haue perished in my owne humilitie Lorde my hart is not puffed vp neither are my eyes lifted vp neither haue I walked in greate thinges nor in woonderfull thinges aboue my reache Lord remember Dauid and all his mercie August in epist. ad comit charis WIth exhorting thee good brother I beseeche thee that vnto euery seruaunt of thy housholde from the greatest vnto the least thou wouldst be a messenger of loue and sweetenes towardes the obteyning of that heauenly kingdome and denounce vnto them the horror and trembling that is in the infernall pit of hell and that thou be wyse thy selfe for theyr welfare and be as a watche man vnto them because for euery seruaunt which is within thy house thou shalt render an account PSALME 101. DEpart ye wicked from me and I wyll searche foorth the commaundementes of my God. VVho euer yet conioyned in one person So profound meekenes with high excellence Such temporall trouble with harts deuotion So great slaughter so prteous penitence Seuere iustice mixt with compacience As had King Dauid loe appeareth well To God and man his watchfull diligence At this day Princes many doth excell SAPIENCE CAP. 15. FOR the louers of euill men are woorthy of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 7. GOE away from the wicked man and there shall no euill come neare thee 1. CORINTH CAP. 5. I Haue written vnto you that you should not entermingle your selues with fornicators with offenders specially whiche haue committed fornication against god And this dyd I vnto that end that eyther they myght be confounded or amended MATTH CAP. 7. HEarken not you vnto the false prophetes whiche may come vnto you in Sheepes clothing CHRISOST super Matth. IN nature of worldly things saith he thus falleth it out that so ofte as the euyll man is a companion vnto the good man the euill man is not made better by the good man but by the euyll man the good man is made woorse HIERONIMVS THERE is nothing so much hurteth a man as dooth euyll company I thinke it a thing more then possible that that man can any longer continew in dooing well whiche is dayly conuersant with euyll men PSALME 1. BLessed is the man which hath not walked in the counsell of the wicked and hath not stand in the way of the vngodly nor hath not sit in the chayre of pestilence but hath reposed his wyll and desyre in the lawe of the Lorde PSALME 18. WIth the holy thou shalt be holy and with the froward thou shalt learne frowardnesse In two poyntes dependeth principally The key of honest conuersation Into wyse counsayle and good company VVherefore as Princes with due discretion Knowe euery counsellours disposition For better sauety in good gouernment Semblably eche baser state and condicion By company and counsell are ruled verament HESTER CAP. 18. WHiche matter is prooued by auncient histories and by suche persons as they are accomplished dayly how by the euill suggestions of certaine which are in aucthoritie about some princes of the world the trauels and affaires of those Princes are brought to yll passe 2. PARALIPOM CAP. 24. IOAS the King of Iuda dyd that whiche was acceptable in the syght of the Lord so long as Ioiada the high Priest liued but of trueth when Ioiada dyed the Pâ—inces
the reason ROMANS CAP. 2. O The woonderfull height of the ritches of the wysedome of GOD and of his knowledge howe incomprehensible and inscrutable are the iudgementes of his way The Auctor figuring the generall iudgement Hereby admonisheth both iust and vniust To consider thereof in this life present All securitie then abandon we must Yea all licencious liuyng and carnall lust VVherein the wicked florishe at wyll For all such as therein doo put their trust Thalmighty Iudge in his wrath shall them spyll ECCLESIAST CAP. O What tormentes haue all the elect of GOD suffered that they might safely come vnto the obteyned victory ordeined for martyrs ESAI CAP. 10. WOe be vnto Assur which is becomr the rod of my fury and the staffe it selfe of reuenge in their handes is my heauy displeasure But according to the opinion of Saint Augustine when the father hath corrected the childe in mercy and iustice he then casteth the rod into the fyre 2. PETER CAP. 2. THE Lorde dooeth knowe when in due time to take hence those that are godly but as for the wicked he leaueth them for the day of iudgement to pounishe them then according to their desertes PSALME 76. LOrde I haue been mindfull of thy iudgementes and I am comforted Were it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe then shoulde I perhaps haue perished euen in myne owne humilitie c. 1. PETER CAP. 2. CHriste hath suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we shoulde all folowe his steppes LVKE CAP. 24. OVght not Christe to haue suffered death and â—hat he shoulde so enter thereby into his glory Ad Hebreos CAP. 11. THE holy ones and elect of God by faith haue coâ—quered vnto them kyngdomes haue wrought the woorkes of equitie and righteousnesse â–ª haue purchased them selues newe promises of saâ—yng health But some others hauing tryed the scornefull dispites and scourges of this worlde and moâ—eouer the bâ—nâ—es and imprisonment haue been stoned to death haue been dâ—smembred haue been tempted and haue been put to death with the swoord ISIDORVS ADuersities are meanes to reclayme and remedy the diseases of the soule Sicknes woundeth the fleshe but cureth the defect of the mind As God suffereth the wicked a time to lyue here Though it be for a scourge vnto his elect So to strengthen their pacience when they forbeare Too to many iniuries yet hath he respect His chosen quite out of mind not reiect But for better tryall of their fyrme fayth VVhen he seeth time he wyll detect Their foes of mischeefe with sentence of dearh ESAI CAP. 30. THE Lorde looketh for vs to the ende he would haue mercie vpon vs. IVDITH BVT because the Lorde is pacient euen for this purpose let vs repent the more and let vs with teares craue his pardon ESAI CAP. 26. HE had compassion of the obstinate and wicked person and he hath not learned to feare our righteousnes ECCLESIASTI CAP. 5. SAY not thou with thy self I haue sinned and what mishap hath chaunced vnto me by meanes of forgeuenesse of thy sinnes be thou not therefore the more without feare for mercy and displeasure soone passeth away from him and his wrath dooth beholde those that sinne Ad Romanos CAP. 2. THOV art vtterly ignorant that the great good wyll of God bringeth thee to repentance but according to the hardnes of thy hart and as thou art impenitent thou heapest vp wrath vnto thee in the day of wrath and when the iudgement of the iust God shal be reauealed whiche rendreth to euery man according to his woorkes Idem ad Romanos AND dooest thou despise the ritches of his goodnes of his pacience and longanimitie Thou dooest then heape vppon thee his wrath against the day of wrath PSALME 22. FOrsake me not Lord in the day of my tribulation Idem I Wyll not feare any euyll thinges because thou Oh Lord art with me DEVTERONO CAP. 31. TRuely because the Lorde was not with me therefore haue these euils and mischeefes come vpon me 2. PARALIPO CAP. 15. THE Lord is with you to helpe you because you are abiding with him yf you shall seeke him you shall finde him but yf you forsake him he shall forsake you ROMANS CAP. 8. IF God be on our side who shall be agaynst vs. GENES CAP. 12. MY soule liueth euen because of thy louing fauour PSALME 84. THE Lorde shall geue vnto his chosen both grace and woorship PROVERBES CAP. 3. HE shall geue grace to the humble and lowly in hart PROVERBES CAP. 14. GRace shall remaine amongst the iust and vpright in hart Oh mankind rue on thy miserable estate VVhen sleeping in sinne of liberty thou liuest A more lothsome life then brute beast create The nearer grace is offred thee the furder of thou geuest Thy consent with security and so thou thriuest For abusyng Gods grace and offered mercy One mischeefe vpon an other thou driuest Tyll all to late it is to repent thy folly APOCAL. CAP. 20. THere shall be ordeyned a iudgement of euery soule according as he hath done in this lyfe time ECCLESIAST CAP. 38. O Man remember thou my iudgement for euen so shall thine be with me it was yesterday and with thee shal it be to morow LEVITICVS CAP. 14. LET him sprinckle him seuen times that is to be cleansed from his offences that he may be purged by the lawe Idem NEyther let him enter into the Sanctuarie vntyll suche time as the dayes of his cleansing shal be fulfylled 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. BVT euery man shall receaue his owne reward according to his labour and trauayle DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shall be also apyointed a measure of punishment according to the measure of the offence and sinne committed APOCAL. CAP. 14. FOr their woorkes shall folowe them when they are gone hence PSALME 28. THou shalt render vnto euery one according to his woorkes ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. HOwe becommest thou ignorant what the way of the spirite is Dooest thou so not vnderstand the woorkes of God which is the woorkemaster of all thinges SAPIENCE CAP. 11. FOR who is he that can vnderstand the mysteries of God. ESAI CAP. 47. THere shall sodenly come a plague vppon thee which thou knowest not of Actuum Apostolorum CAP. 15. WE beleeue to be saued by the grace and fauour of God. AVGVSTINVS IF so be that I knewe my reward were laid vp for me in hell I would pray no more for it then I would doo for the deuill SAPIENCIE CAP. 2. THere is not any man acknowledged or knowen to haue gone downe into hel and haue returned thence againe BERNARDVS MArke and beholde alwayes this rule that after the Lorde hath long spared sinners he dooeth more greeuously seeke to be auenged of them Be it by example of others imitation Or by our selfe wyll and ignorance we fall Or by Satans subtilty and suggestion VVe commit any offences here criminall So for the same answeare make we shall And as we haue wrought so awarded we
Iudges which were seene to beare rule ouer the people and they haue turned away their vnderstanding and haue withdrawen their eyes from beholding the Heauen neither would they remember the iudgementes of the iust This processe of iudgement is short vvithout tarying VVhen for our sinnes shall serue none excuse But our vnkindnesse to Christe our soueraigne king Our consciences eke vvitnesses shall vs accuse VVhen vve his gracious good fauour abuse God graunt therefore by ages tofore past VVe in this last aige such vvarnyng may take That cleauing in feare to this our God fast VVe may auoyde the danger of the dreadfull lake 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR we all must needes be manifested and openly reuailed before the tribunall seate of Christe that euery man may reape that whiche he hath done in his body be it good or be it bad ESAI CAP. 13. BEhold the day of the Lord shal come that cruell day and full of indignation wrath and furies to put the earth in feare and her sinners to be ouerthrowen by her because the Starres of Heauen and their glitâ—ering hue shall not geue foorth light vnto them EZECHIEL 6. THE end commeth it shall stand vp as a watchman against the sorowe shal come vpon thee which dwellest vppon the Earth the time is come the day of death is neare at hand and not of the ioyfull sound of the Hils Now euen at hand foorthwith wyll I powre out my indignation vppon thee and wyll accomplishe the desire of my fury vppon thee and wyl iudge thee according to thy wayes and wyll lay vppon thee as a burden all thy wickednesse and my eye shall haue no compassion vpon thee neither wyll I shewe thee any mercy but wyl lay vpon thee thine owne wicked wayes MATTHE 25. THen shall he say to those which shal stand vpon his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels ORIGEN SInners doo lincke them selues in amitie with the Deuill as they which are by the prouidence of God saued are made coequals with the holy angels So such as perishe are compared vnto the angels of the Deuil Augustinus 21. de ciuitate dei HEreby also is it manifest that the same fire is geuen by ordinance for a pounishment vnto men and deuils Gregorius 33. cap. mora IT belongeth to the iustice of a straight Iudge neuer to withdrawe pounishment from them whiche of their owne mindes in this life would neuer withdrawe them selues from sinne PSALME 119. VNderstand this you that haue forgotten God least that at any time he take you away by force and then there be no man to take you out of his handes c. Then shall Christe thus pronounce for conclusion From his leaft hand vvhen he the vvicked shal expel Depart yee vvofull vvretches vvith my malediction To the perpetuall fyre and tormentes of hell In dolorous darknesse vvith deuils there to dvvell VVithout recouerie shall be there your residence Fellovved vvith feendes furious and fell And of my person neuer more to haue presence MATTHE 25. COme you the blessed of my Father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world ORIGEN FOR the holy ones of God whiche haue wrought the woorkes of righteousnesse haue alredy taken for their hyre the inheritaunce on the right hand of GOD for their woorkes of righteousnesse wherein consistes both rest and glorious triumphe AVGVSTINVS LAbour in worldly matters will discourage thee from comming vnto God but behold the Heauens whiche haue learned the first commaundement they fulfill the same TOBIA 6. THE Lorde GOD of Heauen shall rewarde thee with ioy and comfort for the werisome trauel that thou hast endured 2. CORINTH 1. FOR this ioye and comfort that we haue conceaued is a witnesse of our conscience within vs c. PSALME 100. BE you glad in the Lord and be ioyful you that are iust c. and reioyce you in the lord c. MATTH CAP. 24. WAtche therefore because you know not the houre when the Lord wyll come HIERONIMVS IT was not requisite that the Apostles should haue the day of the foreknowledged comming of Christe reuealed vnto them that by reason of theyr earnest looking for of his comming they not knowing when yet might alwayes beleeue that he would come whom they knewe not howe soone he would come GREGORIVS WHat man seemeth to watche in deede which to beholde the brightnesse of the true light keepeth open the eyes of his mind That man watcheth who obserueth that order of dooing well which he beleeueth is acceptable before god That man watcheth which driueth from him the darknesse of dolour and negligence IOHN CAP. 3. O Ye generacions of Vipers who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to ome Doo you therefore shewe foorth woorthy fruites of repentance PSALME EVen as the wounded bodies sleeping in their graues that is to say The sinners of whom there is no further memory and those are repulsed out of thy handes PSALME 36. DEpart from dooing that is euill and doo good After the first sentence the second folowe shall Full of solace and consolation Saying vnto those on his right hand all Come ye chyldren on my benediction VVhich haue me loued with true intention Receaue you the kingdome of lasting blis Reserued for you from the worldes creation God grannt vs thy grace to labour for this ESAI CAP. 46. REturne and come againe oh you that haue frowardly walked after your owne hart GREGORIVS O How strait shall then be the way for the reprobate aboue in the Heauens shall sitte the Iudge full of displeasure belowe in Hell shal be an horrible confusion vpon the right hande shall stand our sinnes to accuse vs vpon the leaft hand infinite numbers of Deuils which shall drawe vs to the tormenting place within vs the gnawing of our conscience and without vs the Woâ—ld burning rounde about Whyther then shall the sinner flee To appeare to iudgement shal be intollerable for him and to hyde him setfe shal be impossible PSALME 138. I Haue remembred these and I haue powred out myne owne soule before me HIERONIMVS BVT thou discreete Reader marke and consider that both the punishments which are ordeyned are eternall and that the euerlasting ioyfull life hath in it no maner of decay or ruine ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. BE mindfull of the wrath of the Highest because he wyll not long foreslewe the time MATTH CAP. 10. FEare not ye those that haue power to slay the body onely but rather feare you him which is able to destroy both body and soule euen in the very Hell. Augustinus de verbis Domi. BVT we see all such as loue this present life temporall and which is soone ended so to labour for the same that when the passion of death approcheth them they make all the shift they can that they not be taken away with death and by all meanes seeke to prolong their life If then men doo with suche
labour and such care endeuour thâ—m selues to the ende they would liue a litle longer howe and by what meanes ought they to labour and be carefull for the life euerlasting And yf such men be accompted wyse which trye all maner wayes howe they may deferre death and prolong life for a short time How foolish are those whiche liue so as thereby they lose the life euerlasting surely such may be called most fooles of all other Reuolue in mind the great perplexitee Of sinners seeing them selues in such assay VVhen rheir iust Iudge aboue them they shall see And vnder them Hell to swalowe them as pray All faythfull Christians marke this by the way If sentence geuen for Temporall offence Deserue here a death with losse of goodes alway VVhat to offend the highest shal be the sentence PSALME 118. THey are corrupted and become abominable in their studies it is time Lord to besturre thee they haue dispersed and wrested thy lawe IOB CAP. 5. I Wyll pray vnto the Lord who reproueth the wyse men of this world in their craftinesse and dooth disperse the counsels of the wicked PROVERBES CAP. 2. HE hath forsaken the right way and walketh through the darke places ESAI CAP. 1. THey geue not sentence in fauour of the Orphane and the complaint of the Wydowe hath not come in before them IOB CAP 36. DIssemblers and lukewarme worldlings doo proâ—â—re the wrath of God vpon them PSALME 10. THE mouth of them that speake mischeuous thinges is stopped Let the deceitfull lips be come dumbe and not able to vtter their speache LVKE CAP. 16. THe children of this world are in their generation wyser then the children of light Psalmista de impiis 8. THey are troubled as a drunken man and all their wysedome is vtterly consumed ESAI CAP. 29. FOR wysedome shall depart and perishe from the wyse of this world that is to say from such as are reputed wyse men and their vnderstanding shall be darkened because it is said IEREMI CAP. 4. THey are wyse enough to woorke wickednesse but to doo well they haue none vnderstanding BERNARDVS SVrely thou hast found out wisdome aright yf thou canst esteeme of all things as they be namely of sinne and vices as thinges that are vyle and altogeather to be shunned Of â—emporall thinges as that whiche is fraile and transitory and therfore to be smaly made accompt of but of eternall thinges as that which is best and therefore aboue all others câ—eefely and specially to be desired and imbraced Of worldly witte see the furious raige How it is dased in wylfull darckenesse VVhere spirituall wysedome graue godly and saige Should rest in those that Christe doo professe Some yet there are which practize nought lesse But subtilty the simple to circumuent As wyly VVoolues their deedes them expresse VVhich dayly deuoureth the Lambes innocent SOPHONI CAP. 1. THey shall walke as the blind in darknes because they haue sinned against the lord ESAI CAP. 49. THus sayth the Lorde In an acceptable time haue I heard thee and in the day of health haue I helped thee 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. WE exhort you brethrâ—n that you receaue not the grace of God in vaine for he saith Behold the acceptable time Behold now the day of your sauing health APOCAL. CAP. â—0 ANd he swore by the God that liueth for euer because there shal not be any longer time ECCLESIASTI CAP. 39. FOR all things shal be sought for in their time DEVTERONO CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation wanting the counsell voyde of the wysedome of the highest Would to God they would once be wyse and geather vnderstanding and that they would prouide for the later dayes c. PSALME 2. HEare this al ye nacions marke and geue eare heare this you that inhabite the world SOPHONI CAP. 1. THe great day of the Lord is at hand it is very neare and too too swiftly comming vpon vs ye heare tell that the day of the Lorde shal be bitter â—hen shall the strong man be troubled That day shal be the day of wrath the day of tribulation and of sorowe the day of calamitie and of trouble the day of the Trumpe and the sound of the Trumpe vpon the strong defended cities and vppon the angels on an hie and I wyll vexe all flesh and they shall walke as the blinde doo because they haue sinned against the Lord. Sequitur BVt their siluer and their gold shall not deliuer them in the day of the wrath of the lord All the earth shal be consumed with the fyre of his indignation HIERONIMVS super Mattheum SO oft as I consider vppon the day of the Lordes iudgement I quake for feare in euery part of my body and whether I eate or drinke or what thing so euer els I doo mee thinkes I heare the fearefull Trumpe alwayes sounding in myne eares Aryse vp you dead and come to iudgement c. Such worldly wyse make no prouision For their soules health that euer shall endure But runne headlong into the pit of perdition VVoorking their wylles at all aduenture But such as feare God in euery condition VVith spirituall wysedome furnished are Liuing in feare and harty contrition Agaynst the last day them selues to prepare PSALME 47. THOV shalt renue the face of the earth when the sinners shall perishe thou shalt see it MATTH CAP. 25. THese shall depart into the perpetuall torment ESAI CAP. 3. THE light of the Moone shal shine foorth as the Sun doth and the Sun shall geue foorth his beames as the light of seuen dayes together euen vpon that day when the Lord shall binde vp the woundes of his people and shal heale vp the scarre of the stripe and behold the name of the Lord commeth from a farre whott shal be his wrath and indignation and greeuous to be susteyned ECCLESIASTI CAP. 43. THE Heauens shall shewe foorth their beauty in the day when the glory of the sonne of man shal be seene APOCALIPS CAP. 14. NOwe in deede is the time when the spirite shall say Let all flesh rest from their labours PETER CAP. 2. cathol THE Lorde knoweth best times when to take away and deliuer the godly from the temptations of this world and to keepe the wicked ones to be tormented at the day of iudgement PROVERBES CAP. 16. THe iudgementes of the Lorde are as the ballance and the weightes PSALM 55. FEare anâ— trembling haue come vpon me and the darke places haue enuironed me round about AVGVSTINVS FALL to repentance whyles thou art iâ— health and yf thou shalt so doo I say vnto thee that thou shalt be safe because thou hast repented thee whyles otherwyse thou mightest haue trespassed for yf thou wylt in time repent thee when thou shalt not haue power to sinne sinne shall forsake thee before thou forsake them Soone after sentence of generall iudgement The heauens shall royally be renouate Then shall the wicked to Sathan be sent To make abode with him for euer exterminate Then
not as droppes but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body hath been shedde for the price of my redemption c. Trenorum primo O All you that passe by the way marke well and see yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe BERNARDVS BEhold oh man with the eye of thy mind in what duetifull debt of recompence thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee It shall behoue vs to consider well That this was done for our saluation Our vnthankfulnesse let vs then expell And gratefull be for our redemption VVhich to frequent in harty deuotion Aboue all thinges our mind for to remord As mighty medicine and fruitefull confection Doth linck one loue with Christ our soueraigne lord BERNARD Snpee illud canticorum Fasciculus Mirrhe O Howe shewed he mercy more then he ought to haue done howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs what admirable sweetenesse what inuincible mildnesse and humilitie in that he being the king of glory should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies for the most vylest person of the world to suffer death ANCELMVS THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast as shal make the same most healthfull and strong Idem AWake thou oh my soule and more diligently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man as one borne before the time and so conceaued as though no man regarded him and as one in the sight of the world vnwoorthy deformed and leprous Trenorum primo HEare me I beseeche you all you people and behold my sorowe and anguishe 1. GALATHI CAP. 6. GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I am crucifyed vnto the world BERNARDVS HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord is wounded for thy sake and is content to suffer langwors and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde is made strange vnto the world for thy loue is strong as death and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell VVherefore sweete Iesu our loue and soueraine Lord Treasure of treasures which may vs most auayle VVith ruthfull repentance nowe wee record Our great vnthanke and blindnesse bestiall Of pitie praying thy power imperiall To multiply thy mercy so vpon vs That of thy merites with cares inspeciall Thankfull to thee wee may be studious BERNARDVS WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body And vouchsafe thou oh Lorde to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie and print therein the woundes of thy body that after the course of this lyfe I may freely commende into thy handes my soule as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde AVGVSTINVS I Beseeche thee good Lorde so pearce and wounde this my soule with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll shee being chastized may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night Bernardus super verbo Pater ignoscie VOuchsafe oh Lord and heauenly father to looke downe from out of thy Sanctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse Idem REmember nowe oh Man and although thou knowest thy self to be created of nothing yet notwithstandyng thou hast to acknowledge that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing The Creator Redeemer and Sauiour in sixe dayes made all thinges and thre amongst all thinges but in thirtie yeere space that is to say In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake Ponishe not thy people Lord God in thy greeuance Thincke why thy sonne Christe suffered his passion The crowne of thorne the crosse and Longeus launce Vouchsafe accept our harty gratulation Rewyng vpon our sinfull conuersation Plant in our hartes such reuerent regard Towardes thy good graces by due consideration In suffring for thy sake may thinke nothing to hard ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for FRYDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SATVRSDAY Here thinke to eschew the hellishe payn For such as in vyle sinne remayne The Translators Application The same good God now bids the Earth of creatures in eche kinde To yeeld increase as Cattell VVoorme and Beastes by him assnde Man then after his image made him rule he gaue and sway Creating woman a comfort to him with mutuall stay Amids these pleasures mortall man Shun hellysh paynes all that thou can IOHM CAP. 1. ALL thinges are by him made and without him is nothing made 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HEareby knowe wee the loue of God towardes vs because he hath geuen his life for vs. IOHN CAP. 13. NO man hath greater loue in him then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes BERNARDVS OF trueth sweete Iesus thou hast hadde greater loue whiche hast geuen thy lyfe euen for thy persecuting enemies 1. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR you are bought with a great price TITVS CAP. 3. NOT according to the woorkes of righteousnesse which we haue done but accordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs. APOCALIPS CAP. 11. THY wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes as to thy holy ones to those that feare thy name small and great and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land PSALM 104. THOV haste made all thinges in wysedome PSALME 7. GOD is a iust Iudge strong and pacient MATTH CAP. 15. DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels Sequitur AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pounishment IOB CAP. 7. WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel shall not ascende vnto the heauens AVCTOR Herevpon a certayn Gentile hath this sentence If I had a hundred tongues and as many mouthes and a voyce as strong as Iron I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes and for the pounishmentes thervnto due they are so many that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence then to resite them at full DEVTERONO CAP. 32. I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades that is to lay all kindes of tormentes and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them ECCLESIASTI CAP. 29. FYre Tempest Famine and Death all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly PSALME 11. IT raigneth snares vppon sinners
appoynted feastes and the solempne feastes of the soule from sin and refraine the wicked labors of thy hands but these thinges are thought easie to be done or accomplished by him that hath mind vpon the euerlasting fyre in hell PSALME 89. WHAT man is he that liueth and shall not taste death or shall saue his soule from the neathermost hell CIRHSOSTOMVS DOthe not all the tyme of this our lyfe â–ª wherin we seeme to take our pleasures manifestly appeare a mainteyner of pleasure and lust as the sleepe of one onely night in respect of the felicitie in the lyfe eternall ANCELMVS ALL the good thinges or euill thynges which we enioy in this world are entermixed with their contraries neyther haue they any fyrme or certayne degree of their perfection but eyther may they be encreased or diminished eyther els may they be enioyed or had of vs somewhat more or lesse as it is euident in euery vertue vice and as well in eury good or euyll part of the body as in euery good or euyll cogitation or affect of the soule Neyther is there ioy found here without feare nor sorowe or sadnesse with consolation neyther perfect health without diseases or some hurtfull harme neyther yet valiant courage of body and mind without debilitie or feeblenes of nature But in heauen are all good things not mixed with contrarietie and those are certayne to trust vnto with most perfect consolation in hell likewyse are all euyll thinges quite contrary GREGORIVS CErtaynely there is one onely fyre of torment in hell which we ought to beleeue is ordeyned for the wicked but all shall not be tormented alike in one maner for euery one accordyng as the qualitie of his trespasses hath required shall there feele the smart of the pounishment due for the same And in this torment which hath no temperance Shall be no maner of relaxation Neyther shall preuayle any prayer of instance In any wyse to empayre the paines or passion Yet though this payne passe all estimation The fury thereof ordeyned by Gods wyll As euery sinner deserued hy transgression Shall them molest destroy consume and spill AVGVSTINVS THE world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof oh man what wouldest thou haue Whether hadst thou leuer to loue temporall thinges and so slide away with time transitory or loue Christe and with him liue for euer Idem THis world is more dangerous when she flattereth vs then when she loureth vpon vs There can be no greater madnes then for momentany pleasures to loose eternal ioyes and to euthrall thy soule vnto perpetuall torment Oh how happy is that man that hath not walked after the glory of this world and the dissembling madnes of the same 1. CORINTH CAP. 1. THE wysedome of this world is counted meare foolishnesse before God. EZECIEL CAP. 28. IN the multitude of thy worldly affares when thou art occupied the very inwarde partes of the body are replete with iniquitie AVGVSTINVS THE poyson against loue and charitie most pernicious is the lust after temporal pleasures BERNARDVS OH my soule what feare shall then take hold of thee when all these thinges haue forsaken thee whose presence are so pleasant vnto thee so acceptable in sight and so familier to dwell togeather Altogeather fearefull and trembling thou alone shalt enter into a strange countrey when as those most vglye and fearefull monsters all vpon an heape shal runne vpon thee GREGORIVS THose eyes which the offence hath shut vp and made to wincke at the same shall the due pounishment for suche offence open and make to see plainely IOB CAP. 17. IF I shall endure this vexation hell it selfe is my house ordeyned and in the darcknesse haue I made my bed I haue sayde vnto corruption thou art my father and my mother and to the woormes thou art my sister Where is then my recouerie and helpe become all that I haue in possession shall goe downe into the deepe pit of hell Therefore geue me leaue to depart that I may bewayle my sorowe before I shall goe hence and not returne vnto the darke land couered with the heate of death the land of miserie and darknesse whereas is the shadowe of death and no order of lyfe to say euerlasting horror inhabiting there Oh amazed witte O soule congeled in sinne Frozzen through affection of foolishe felicitie VVhereunto retchles ryot doth at no time linne To offend thy Creator thou art so foole hardy Thy sight is blinded so with sensuality That the loue of God causeth no correction Nor yet of heauenly ioy no cupidity May make thee leaue sinne for dread of damnation INNOCENTIVS HE that feareth onely for a small tyme to put his finger in the fyre why rather feareth he not both in soule and body to be tormented Oh howe great is this madnes of man for these frayle and transitory things to suffer perpetuall pounishment both in soule and body Chrisostomus dereparacione lapsi DEclare thou howe many and what ages haue been or are spent in ryot and carn iâ— pleasures what times and seasons passed in vayne delightes whiche are to be compared vnto the euerlastyng paynes of hell If thee lyst bestowe thou an hundred yeeres in suche delectacions yea adde there vnto an hundred yeeres moe or rather tenne hundred yeeres moe what shall this or that be in respect of the lyfe euerlastyng EPHESI CAP. 5. AWake thou that sleepest and ryse vp from the dead and Christe shall lighten thy steppes ECCLESIAST CAP. 29. FOR all thinges are had by seekyng for them in their due tyme. DEVTERONO CAP. 4. KEepe thee therefore within thy bondes and establish thy soule stand to thy tackling with a good courage and thou shalt see the helpe of God vpon thee AVGVSTINVS HE that dyeth and dooeth not repent him of his sinnes eare he depart out of this lyfe dyeth not at all but liueth in eternall torment PSALME 77. MY Soule is alwayes before me AVGVSTINVS HE shall geue victory to him that contendeth for victorie who hath emboldned the wrastler DEVTERONO CAP. 32. WOulde God they once in their dayes would be wyse and haue vnderstandyng that they might prouide for the last day LVKE CAP. 6. WOe be vnto you riche men which haue all your consolation in your riches here vpon earth MATTHE 5. BLessed are they whiche doo mourne after godlines in this life because they shall be comforted Idem CAP. 16. WHat shall it preuayle man yf he gayne vnto him selfe all the world and loose his owne soule Awake out of thy dreame and speedely addres Thee to beware in tyme eare thou feele woe Though blinded thou liue here with thy ritches Yet thincke thou shalt this lyfe and them forgoe â–ª VVhere in the end yf thou this race runne so That sinne and vice by thee may be subdued Thou shalt no doubt vanquishe eche feendishe so And with eternall blessing be endued BERNARDVS FOoles doo esteeme of greatest thinges least in value to be cared for haue greatest