sclaundering theft extortion sacriledge surfetting riot dronkennes vsurie and such like sinnes neither onely all idle rayling vaine foule filthy light fond foolishe rash vnmodest presumptuous wordes and all other whereby godly eares are iustlye offended but also the secrete wills of mē vngodly wishes thoughtes wicked affections and such as disagree with the lawe of God as wrath hatred contentiō enmitie spite enuye euel will pride couetousnes desire of that which is an other mans and not our owne and other of like sort Who is there then that verelye beleueth that the last iudgement shall come whom the remēbraunce thereof doth not reclaime from sinning and retaine in his dutie being otherwise ready and prone to offende Well sayd one of the auncients Whether I eate sayth he or drinke or doe anye thinge els me thinkes I heare that voyce alwayes sound in mine eares Arise yee dead and come vnto iudgement As often as I thinke vpon the day of Iudgement I tremble for feare in my whole heart and body c. If therefore the fleshe stirreth vp anye man to lust and filthy pleasures if to gluttony and surfeiting if to other vices and naughtines lette him remember the day of the last iudgemente If prosperitie as it often commeth to passe doth puffe vp any if riches do make any proud and insolent if honour dignitie rule doe cause anye to bee ouer stoute and presumptuous let such straight call to mind the iudgement seate of god If wrath stirre vp anye to take reuenge if enuye and malice possesse anye mans minde if auarice moue thee to fraude or extortion if the world allure any to ambition pride riot if the deuill prouoke anye to blaspheme God and to other sinnes and wicked dedes let him thinke vpon the voyce of the Archangell let him beleeue that he shall plead his cause before the iudgement seat of God let him earnestly dread the sentence of the iudge that condemneth the wicked to eternall fire I would to God I would to God I say this day of iudgemente did neuer slippe out of the mindes of men then would we all endeuour to doe our duety Princes would procure the prosperitie and se to the safetie of the people which God hath committed vnto ihem they woulde defende and preserue their libertie they would establishe and maintaine good and wholesome lawes in their common wealth Againe the people would shewe themselues obedient and loyall to their princes they woulde not grudge at their rule and aucthoritie they would not refuse to pay tribute custome they woulde giue vnto them due feare and honour Euerye man would loue his wyfe as himselfe Wiues would reuerence their husbandes and be subiect vnto them as vnto their head Parents would bring vp their children in the discipline and nurture of the Lord as the Apostle Paule teacheth Children on the otherside would obey their parents in the Lorde and giue vnto them due reuerence and honour Seruaunts woulde obeye them that are their maisters according to the fleshe with feare and trembling and singlenes of their hearts as vnto Christe as the Apostle Paul admonisheth Masters would deale more gently curteously with their seruants knowing that they themselues also haue a maister in heauen Pastors would haue that care of the Lordes flocke which they oughte Rich men would relieue the penurie of the poore with their substaunce Widowes would giue themselues day and night vnto prayer Poore men woulde suffer their pouertie patientlye seeing it pleaseth the Lorde they shall liue in that state He that hath a wife would be as thoughe he hadde none He that is single woulde haue care of those thinges that pertaine to the Lorde What shoulde I make manye wordes Euerye one would doe his duety from his heart if that day of the last iudgemente did neuer departe out of our mindes when as God wil require of vs an account of our whole life and all our actions and will reward and punishe euerye one according to his desert We see in the time of a great plage or sicknes whē death is daily before our eyes how careful all are to reforme and amende their life at the least such as doe not falsely vsurpe the name of Christians What then Oughte we not at all times at all houres yea and almost euery moment to thinke of the amendment of our lyfe to be touched with vnfained and bitter greefe of mind for our sinnes and to pacifie gods wrathe with earnest and harty repentaunce seeing that by reason of the vncertaine chaunces which be incident vnto vs in this life death is dayly imminent wee ought to be verely perswaded that almost euery houre it is present and doth hang ouer our heads Let him that is wise therefore endeuour as I haue sayde so to leade his life as men for the most parte are wont in the time of some great plague or sicknesse at whiche time they being as it were wakened oute of sleepe beginne to haue some minde and care to amende their life to auoyde and detest sinne to loue and embrace vertue and godlines briefely are wont by true repētance to pacifie God beīg iustli offended at their sinnes Let euery one thē continue such a one being nowe deliuered from feare of the plague as he purposed with himselfe to be when the plague most reigned and raged There is none but he doth confesse that the houre of death is vncertaine albeit it be moste certaine that we shall at one time or other dye Now how foolish a thing is it to feare death hanging ouer our heads euery moment and in the meane season to thinke nothinge of amending of our life But thus it is In aduersitie as in the time of a great plague in the time of famine warre earthquakes in the time of some greeeueous and daungerous disease of the body we acknowledge Gods moste iust wrath indignation against sinne sinne But when we haue the worlde at will thinges are on euery side prosperous we sticke not to abuse his bountie and goodnes neither doe wee then remember death that hangeth ouer our heades euery houre neither the last iudgemente neither the voyce of the Archangell whereof Paule speaketh writing to the Thessalonians neither the sounde of the trumpe of God neither of hell or eternal punishment neither the fire that shal neuer goe out neither that darkenes where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The memorie of which thinges ought neuer to depart out of our minde neyther when we rise in the morning nor when we goe to bed at night whether wee dyne or sup whether we are occupyed aboute any earnest matter or recreate our mind with some honest pastime But all these things seme fables to the wicked namely the last iudgement the tribunal seate of the lord that voice of that Archangel the trumpe of God the eternall paines of hell fire And as the heathen did in time past thinke those thinges false w the Poets were wont to speake
of concerning hel the riuer in hel that alwayes burneth the iudges Minos and Rhadamanthus the place abode punishmēt of the wicked wherupon came that saying of Seneca The poets deluded vs saith he and put vs in vaine feare so many count for trifles and fables vtterly contēne as vayne threats those thinges which at this day are read in the holy Scriptures of hel of eternal death of the fiery lake wher shal be weeping gnashing of teeth also of the resurrectiō of the soule bodye either to euerlasting paines or eternal glorye Whē as al these things without doubt strike horror into thē that be godly in deede do feare god aright as one saith they are almost afraid to heare thē once named or spoken of Thus hast thou the chiefe principall cause as I thinke why all of vs almost do so prolong the amendment of our life Of the second cause vvhy man differreth to amende his lyfe LEt vs nowe come to the second whiche is hope of Gods pardon and fauour a hope great in deede but surelye false and altogether vncertaine With this hope the continuall enemy of mankind the Deuil holdeth man in sinne and by dayly setting before him Gods lenitie and gentlenes keepeth him from fearing his iustice But as God doth easily pardon the penitent and fatherly forgeiueth such as returne vnto goodnes so he leaueth not vnpunished neither suffereth vnreuenged suche as with an obstinate mind perseuer in wickednes In vain therefore doe they hope for pardon who do not hartely repent for their sinnes committed The deuil notwithstanding by setting this hope before man bringeth to passe that he sinneth securely and neuer hath any earnest cogitation of amending his lyfe but despiseth the riches of Gods bountifulnes patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God leadeth him to repentaunce that I maye vse the wordes of the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans Let man here call to minde that which our sauiour sayth in the gospell of Matthew Repent saith he your former life for the kingdome of heauen is at hand And that which the Lord saith in Esay Which of them shall I then regarde Euē him that is poore of a lowly troubled spirite and standeth in awe of my words Christ saith moreouer in the gospel of Luke Vnlesse ye repent ye shal al likewise perish And Peter in the Acts sayth Repente ye therefore and conuert that your sinnes may be put away I omit sixe hundred other places in the Scriptures which tende to the same ende that is which teache that none can hope and trust for pardon of his sinnes but he that repenteth For in vaine as I haue sayde doth he hope to haue remission and forgiuenes whose hearte is not touched with true repentance Now albeit no repentaunce be to late before God which the example of the theese mentioned in the gospell doth declare for God desireth not the destruction of sinners but rather that they repent and liue Who notwithstanding seeth not how daungerous a thing it is to differre the amendment of our life Well was it sayd of one that none hath euer had God so fauourable vnto him that he coulde promise himselfe to liue till the morowe Death oftentimes cōmeth vpon men vnawares so that they haue no time so much as to thinke of repenting and amendinge their life I will not here rehearse those thinges whiche Plinie declareth in hys natural history of sodain deathes farasmuch as nothing almost is more common vsual euen at this time also It is not many yeeres since there were two olde men in this country both inhabitants of one and the same citie who the same night they dyd lye with the strumpets to whō they vsed to resort that one lost his life by an Apoplexie the other was stabbed in with a dagger so both of them died sodenly with how great peril of their soules let euerye one thinke with himselfe I confesse it in dede to be true that it is cōmon to the godly as wel as to the wicked to die sodenly that that is true also with the wiseman saith that the righteous man with what death so euer he be preuented shal be in rest How dreadful a thing is it notwithstanding that the impenitent person should sodenly be ouertaken with death after such a sort Of how many haue we heard oftētimes who euen when they were tipling and making god chere falling vnto strife brawling amōg themselues haue bin thrust through one of an other Of howe many who being taken in adultery haue by the sword lost their liues Of howe many who playing at the dice haue bin slayne of them that played with them That I may say nothing of them who falling frō their horse haue brokē theyr neckes who haue perished sodenly in the sea by shipwracke finally who either byfalling of houses or by some other chance haue died a sodain death Although then y God doth desire rather the repentaunce then death of a sinner as in deede he doth it is notwithstanding a very perilous thing by reason of the vncertaine chaunces which be incident vnto vs to differre the amendment of our life vppon hope of Gods mercy Thou must repent in time while thou doost yet liue and art in good health But thus standeth the case A younge man takethe hys pastime and pleasure geueth himselfe to banketting and riotous liuing promiseth himselfe to liue manye yeeres and therefore thinketh nothing of reforming his life but differreth this thing vntill olde age whereunto notwithstanding it is vncertaine whether he shall euer come For what one among manye thousandes liueth vntill olde age Nowe what doth he that is become verye olde and is as it were euen at deathes dore To morrowe saith he it shall be done and againe it shall be done to morrow so he willingly deceiueth vaynly flattereth himselfe seeing as I haue sayde no man can promise himselfe to liue till the morrow no no man knoweth whether he shall liue vntil the euening In the meane season mē so dayly differring prolonging the amendmēt of their life death oftentimes commeth vppon them vnawares as we may see almost euerye day and yet can not other mens harms make vs to beware so doth the deuill alwayes drawe vs on and allure vs with a vayne hope of Gods pardon and of a long life Now although it neither ought nor by any meanes may be denyed that the penitēt obtaine gods grace and fauour at all times neither may it be sayde that he who is nowe about to yeeld vp the ghost in that very agonye of death should despeire of pardon who notwithstanding is so vnwise that he doth not rather desire that which is safe and boyde of all danger then that which is ioyned with exceedinge greate perill Wherefore rather then there shoulde be any scruple or doubte let vs thinke in time of amending our life let vs not differre it from day
breaketh concorde zeale dissolueth friendship c. Nowe as wee oughte not to be proude or presumptuous being once victors so neither ought we straighte to be discouraged or caste awaye our weapons when we are ouercome What must we do thē To take away the former ignomie let vs more fiercely assaile the enemie put away the shame before receiued by newe vallour and valiantnes no otherwise then that champion mentioned in a certain Poet when he had fallen heauily to the earth being nothing terrified with the fall He commeth fiercer to the fight ire doth his courage moue again Shame stirres his strength and vallour which he in himselfe knew to remaine HOwbeit we must encounter with the enemie trusting not somuch to our own power prowesse as to Gods helpe assistaunce Thus hast thou y cause why for the most parte we persist not in our purposed determinatiō to liue vertuously according to Gods wil. For the cause as I haue sayde is our naturall corruption and pronenesse to sinne also the world offering daily inumerable occasions meanes to all kind of wickednes finally the deuill alwayes thinking of our destruction and omitting not scarce one moment of time eyther with open force or by priuie and secret means to assaile vs. God the father of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ vouchsafe with his ayde and assistance to helpe vs and with his holye spirite to confirme and strengthen vs hauing suche a sore and continuall conflict with so manye enemies whom we are very weake to resiste that by his helpe we may represse the motions of the flesh and not be caried awaye with the allurements thereof that we may subdue our vicious nature and be able valiantly to resist the world alwaies ministring occasions means to infinite sinnes and the deuil on euerye side assailinge vs and attemptinge all meanes to destroye vs and that not onely a seruile feare which the law bringeth namely of Gods vengeaunce and eternall punishment may reuoke vs from sinne and wickednes being terrified with Gods wrath and iudgement and striken with dread and horror of hel but much rather yea specially a free feare with a certen honeste shamefastnes and vertuous reuerence toward GOD maye moue vs not easilye to commit any thinge whiche may displease our moste gracious and fauourable father and may also make vs of our owne accorde to auoyde vice and embrace vertue and by loue and charitie keepe vs in doing our duty so that if we commit anye offence vnawares as the imbecilitie of man is great the same may bring so greate griefe and disquietnesse of mynde vnto vs that we shall take no ioye of our lyfe for that wee haue offended so louinge and mercifull a father vntill wee haue by heartye repentance pacified him againe Finallye the eternall God for his sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christes sake graunte that in suche shortnesse of thys lyfe in suche vncertaintye of the houre of death we may not prolonge and dryue of from daye to daye the amendement of our manners but that acknowledging our sinnes wee may withoute all delaye endeuour to returne vnto goodnesse truelye and heartelye repente and by vnfeyned repentance of our sinnes pacifye our heauenlye Father Moreouer wyth the Publican mencioned in the Gospell humblye and wyth knockinge our breaste implore Gods fauour and mercye Fynallye that wee may be willing carefull to doe those thinges onelye which are acceptable to God that wee may reforme vice with vertu and that through Gods assistance wee may by all meanes endeuour to leade the rest of our lyfe hereafter godlily holily innocently chastly soberly temperatly profitably to the church of God friendly to the life of men agreeable to a christian profession and also perseuer in this our good purpose and determination The Conclusion THus much I thoughte good to write concerning the folly of men in prolonging the amendment of their life The verye matter it selfe whiche I tooke in hande to entreate of hath enforced me to speake of such thinges as to the vertuous and them that loue God are very pleasant and delectable but to suche as will seeme Christians when they are nothing lesse very vnpleasant and grieuous We haue spoken many things yea and haue so earnestly repeated the same that we may seeme almost tedious to the reader concerninge the shortnes and vncertainty of thys lyfe concerning death which by reason of the vncertaine chaunces that be incident vnto vs is dayly imminent and doth oftentimes come vppon men suddenly and vnawares which the godlye doe hartely desire and willingly suffer when it so pleaseth God but the wicked doe wonderfully dread and feare We haue spoken of the generall resurrection of the comming of the Lord of the last iudgement when all shall be called to the examination of the life which they haue led the daye whereof being dreadfull to the wicked the godly thinke shal be to them ioyfull and happy For then approcheth their redēption then commeth the time of comforte and refreshing as the Apostle in the Acts sayeth and as Tertulian sayeth then is the daye of Christian reioycing We haue spoken moreouer what rewardes are appointed after death for the godly and what punishments for the wicked For the godly shall ascende vnto God and in heauen enioye a life most blessed and euerlasting For what great felicitie is it alwayes to beholde God to be exhilarated with a perpetuall and most pleasant contemplation of his cositenance to see him as he is whom we now see through a glasse darkely as the Apostle Paule saieth finally to abound with all good thinges to be partakers of so great delights and ioyes as no man is able sufficiently either in cogitation to comprehend or in words to expresse Contrariwise the wicked shal be thrown hedlong into hell there to be tormented with most grieuous euerlasting paines For there is no eloquēce of any man so great which is able in words to vtter nether the wit of anye so sharp that it is able in cogitation to conceiue the lest parte of those torments which the wicked shal suffer in hel being condemned by the iust iudgement of God to eternall fire Finally we haue spoken of sundry other things which as I haue said shal be very pleasant to the godly but to the wicked very vnpleasant grieuous as of the sense of Gods wrath against sinne of shaking of securitie in the time of prosperitie of repenting vnfeynedly of the amendment of our manners of the reforming of our life of a dayly fight with our aduersaries the world the flesh and the deuill and of other such like thinges which it is not here needefull to repeate These things are in deede hard vnpleasant but as I hope wholesome profitable For phisitions as one wel witnesseth do cure grieuous diseases with sharpe remedies and as Cicero saith vnto Octauius No remedies which are laid vnto wounds do so procure griefe as they that are wholesome The eternal God the father of our Lord and redeemer Iesus Christ graunt that in this so corrupt and wretched age this our treatise howbeit if anye will earnestlye peruse the same may somewhat conteine the godly in their dutie and confirme them in the best part and may giue some occasion to the wicked I mean such as be not past hope to returne vnto goodnes finally that this sharpe medicine whiche is giuen that health maye be recouered thereby may haue force and power to helpe and heale them that be as it were sicke and almost desperate Which he without whose helpe al the endeuour of men is frustrate in vaine euen the Lord God almighty graunt To whom be praise honor and glory for euer Finis ¶ IMPRINTED at London by Gregory Seton and are to be solde at the signe of the Hedgehogge at the West end of Paules Anno. 1579.
to day especially seeinge it is vncertaine whether wee shall liue vntil to morowe As concerning the clemencie gentlenes of God let that alwaies remaine in our mind which Cyprian sayth in a certaine place As fauourable saith he gracious as God alwayes is by the loue of a father so much is he to be feared by the maiesty of a iudge So shall it come to passe that the feare of Gods punishmente wil reclaime vs from sinning hope of Gods pardon will not lull vs a sleepe in ouer much securitie It is too much to say howe Priestes in the papacie doe flatter themselues with this hope of Gods clemency who al their life time kepe concubines and vnder a pretence of single life company with harlots freely without punishment neuer thinking of reforming their life or putting their concubines away And in the meane season knowing themselues guiltie of this dishonestie vnclean and wicked life they doe notwithstanding almoste euerye day celebrate diuine seruice and come to the misticall and holy table feeding vnworthely of y breade of the Lord vnworthely drinking of his holy cuppe Now how horrible a thing is it and how ful of peril and danger alwais to liue in that state in which if death come vpon thee there is no hope at all of thy saluation In vaine therfore do they flatter themselues with hope of gods mercy who so kepe cōcubines do with an obstinate mynd perseuer in wickednes neither euer go about to put away their strumpets or to amend their life neither do repent truely from their heart neither with weeping sighes craue pardon of God for their wickednes cōmitted But will some mā say they aske pardon of God oftentimes they often beseech his clemency to forgiue them For in the end of their euening prayer they say almost dayly Conuert vs O God and turne thine anger away from vs Also in the end of morning prayer Thou O Lord say they haue mercy vpon vs So at other times also they often pray that God wil haue mercy on them that he will be fauourable vnto them forgiue them I heare it neither doe I here stand to decide with howe earnest attention of mind with what zeale ferueney of spirite they doe that But be it that they pray with a mind ardent lifted vp vnto God and with a most serious and earnest affection what then What doth this auaile if they put not away their concubines with intent neuer to receiue them againe and do persist in a setled purpose and determination to liue chastly afterward doe also perseuer in endeuouring to amend their life and in continuall repentance for their wickednes committed Now because they doe not this as the thinge it selfe plainly sheweth who can doubt but they either beleue those things to be a fable with the holy scriptures tech of the last iudgemēt or els do too much flatter thēselues with a vain and false hope of Gods pardō O horible face of y popish church They which oughte to ouersee guide gouerne and teach others and that as wel by example as word they behaue themselues so that others are meruelously offended by them When the laity come to the Lordes table with what reuerence with what feare trembling with howe deuout loue and godlines doe they the same Howe doe they prepare themselues to confesse their sinnes and to aske pardon of God How doe they endeuour to their vttermoste that no scruple or doubt remayne in their minde conscience how certainely and firmely do they determine with them selues to amende theyr maners and reforme their life Now what doe the Popish Priestes These forsooth as one of their owne profession sayth make hast from the wicked company of their concubines to go to the alter and this they doe very often vnpunished without all shame They haue no care to amend their life they thinke not of putting away their harlots finally they are touched with no greefe in their mindes by considering their sinne and not to vse many woordes they seeme christians in name onely and word but in very deede are plain heathen Howe many occasions haue they to repente and turne vnto goodnes they visite such as are afflicted with greeuous diseases they heare thē confesse their sinnes they cōfort thē giue them wholesome exhortations and are oftentimes present with them when they yeelde vp the ghoste Moreouer they celebrate their funerals exequies and with great ceremony burie them commit their bodyes to the earth they walking in the temple oftentimes reade Epitaphs and verses grauen vpon tombes sepulchers they oftentimes heare and reade of the comming of the lord of the resurrection at the last day of the voyce of the Archangell of the trumpe of God c. So that by these meanes they may remember not onely the dead but euen death it selfe hanging ouer their heades euery houre they may remember also the laste iudgement the tribunall seate of the Lord and many other thinges which mighte moue them to amend But seeing by all these they are not brought to repent one of these two must nedes be true eyther that they count a fable those things which they reade in the holy scriptures of the iudgement to come and are with the Epicureans perswaded that the soule is extincte and dooth perishe with the body or els as I haue said that they flatter themselues with a vai◠and false hope and trust of Gods mercy Of the third cause why men driue of to reforme their life THe third cause why we prolong the amendment of our life is the custome of sinning which hath now almost the force of nature Now as it is very hard for euery one to ouercome his owne nature so the force of custome also is almost inuincible which men truely say to be as it were another nature Neither is it said amisse of one that those vices are hardlye cut of which do as it were grow vp with vs Howe tenderly gently parents bring vp their children frō their infancie we al do know From their tender age they are accustomed to delights pleasures They abstaine not frō foule silthy words and suche as are wicked blasphemous against God they weare sumptuous gorgeous apparel they do al things stoutly boldly impudently nothing modestly or reuerently They honour not their parents they reuerence not old folkes they disdaine their equales briefly what soeuer they list they think is lawful for thē to doe They are reclaimed frō naughtines neither with shame of men nor with feare of god They haue no care of religion pietie toward God much lesse of vertue honesty among men What should I vse many wordes Parents doe at this day by their owne example marre corrupt their children that they can with no aucthoritie correcte their maners Whereas in dede it becōmeth parentes neither to say any thing before their children with is vnsemely to be spoken
made manifeste in the company assembly of all sorts of men had rather the earth should swalow him vppe then to haue so manye witnesses of his sinnes and wickednes how doe we think shall we be affected when the hearts of the wicked being opened all our thoughts purposes and deedes shal be brought to light before the whole world before the angels of god before all the saints If we count it here a miserable wretched thing to be caried to prison what a thing will it be to be cast into eternall torments If it be a dreadfull thing here to be punished with exile or death what a thing will it be to be exiled and banished from that heauenly countrye for euermore and for the body with the soule to be tormented with continual death If it shall be most pleasaunt to the godly to heare when the Sonne of God shall bidde them inherite the kingdome prepared for them from the foundations of the world howe dreadfull and terrible to the wicked thinke we shall that voyce of the Iudge be condemning them to euerlastinge fire prepared for the deuil his angls If wee beleeue these thinges concerning the iudgement to come the reward of the godly and deserued punishment of the wicked Why doe we so liue as thoughe there were neither heauen nor hel If we do not beleeue them why will we be counted and called Christians Let vs therfore shake of this securitie which possesseth our minds y sluggishnes slothfulnes that dulnes drousines which is come vpon vs For we haue not to doe with trifling matters but with such as concerne the saluation of our soules y inheriting of the kingdome of Heauen the life blessed and immortall Now now therefore I say while we liue and are in helth while there is yet time for pardon while we haue him an aduocate in heauen whom hereafter wee shall haue a iudge let vs endeuour to amend our life and not differre so long till sinnes rather forsake vs then we them Neyther let vs euer be vnmindfull of the daye of Iudgemente and the dreadefull voice of the Iudge bidding the wicked departe from him neither of the pains of hell and that euerlasting fire Let vs haue alwayes in mind the shortnes of our life the certaintie of Death the vncertaintie of the houre thereof which is such that no man can promise to him selfe that he shall liue till to morowe no not so much as one moment longer Whereupon well surely sayth Seneca it is vncertaine saith he in what place death looketh for thee therefore looke thou for it in euery place Wherefore the lesse certaine and continuing that the life of men is so much more while they maye oughte they to thinke of repentance Remedies againste the second cause for which men driue of to amend their life vvhich was sayde to be hope of Gods mercy pardon WHereas vpon hope and truste of Gods goodnes and clemency thou prolongest the amendment of thy life that we may nowe speake some thing againste the seconde cause thou oughtest in no wise to be moued thereby so to do Christ when he came called sinners in deede but to repentance of their former lyfe not vnto libertie and licence to sinne As God is mercifull so dooth he graciouslye forgiue howbeit them that repente not such as obstinately perseuer in wickednes Christ bare our sinnes in his body on the tâ—ee saith S. Peter I graunt it but what addeth he that we being deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnes Christe gaue himselfe for vs sayth Paul writing to Titus There is none that denyeth that but what foloweth in the same place that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good works Christ hath washed vs from our sinnes in his bloude as Iohn saieth in hys Reuelation I confesse it but not to this ende that we should againe defyle our selues wyth the filthinesse of sinne and wickednesse We haue Christe an aduocate with the Father howebeit if wee repente our former lyfe and so flye vnto him I will thou wilt say hereafter lament mine euill life But how knowest thou whether thou shalt liue one momente longer much lesse so long while thou bewaile thy sinnes and amend thy life Call to mind what God saith to that riche man mencioned in the Gospell who in great prosperitie promised himselfe to liue yet manye yeeres Thou foole sayeth God this night will thy fetch away thy soule from thee Thou haste cause to feare leaste the same happen vnto thee I hope thou wilt say it will be better with me then so But what if this hope deceiue thee for here one may worthely crye O vayne and deceitful hope Nowe if thys come to passe whiche I woulde in no wyse shoulde thou shalt perishe for euer and willinglye caste thy selfe into euerlastinge destruction And thou canst not denye but it maye come to passe in so greate vncertaintye of thy lyfe What follye is it then to bringe thy saluation in doubte by differring and prolonginge that thinge whereby thou mayst presently prouide for the same Why dooste thou not therefore foorthwith amende thy lyfe rather then with so greate perill of thy saluation nourishe such vaine and deceitfull hope God is mercifull thou wilt saye True it is but he is also iuste Whereas then thou trusteth in hys mercy why doost thou not also feare his iustice I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner saieth the Lorde by the Prophet It is true but what dooth he adde by by after But that he turne from hys waye and lyue Turne then vnto the Lorde as Ioel exhorteth wyth all thine heart wyth fasting weepinge and mourninge Turne thee to the Lord thy God for he is gracious and mercifull flowe to anger and of greate goodnesse as the same Prophet sayeth Hereunto maketh that sayinge of Ezechiell If the vngodly wyll turne away from all hys sinnes that he hath done and kepe all my statuts and doe the thing that is iudgemente and righte doubtlesse he shall liue and not dye And a little after Haue I any pleasure in the death of a sinner saith the Lorde God shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes To the same effect tendeth that saying of Esai Let the vngodly man forsake his owne wayes and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations and turne againe vnto the lord so shal he be merciful vnto him and to our God for he is verye ready to forgiue The Prophet declareth that God is gentle and mercifull but to such as repente acknowledge their sinnes Doe thou therefore first repent returne vnto goodnes aske pardon of thy sinnes with weeping and mourninge be sorye euen from thy heart for thy offences committed forsake thine owne way and turne vnto the Lord thy God and then conceiue sure truste of thy saluation neither despeire of pardon neither doubte of Gods goodnes and clemencye In
suddenly slaine so that he can not repent for his sinne when as wee in the meane season by the singular benefite of God haue time and space graunted to returne vnto goodnes Let vs not then abuse this so greate goodnes of our moste gracious God who doth as it were looke for occasion to take pitie vpon vs Let vs amende our lyfe lest that being suddenly preuented with the day of death we seeke space to repent can not fynde the same And truly he that hath promised pardō to the penitent as I sayd euen now but it must be eftsones repeted hath not granted so much as the morow to him that continueth in sinne But that sinner wil some man say may repent flie vnto God for mercy when he lieth nowe visited with sicknes In dede it is not to be denied that this may be but marke howe manye impediments be heare which can scarce be ouercome For to omit the regarde which he ought to haue to make his last will and testamente the care of his wife and children the griefe of his sicknes and such like which seeme perhaps of small importance Howe will Satan at that time besturre himselfe what meanes will he not attempte that he may driue miserable man to despeyre of his saluation because of his innumerable sinnes committed For then especially if euer he putteth in thy mind what soeuer euil thou hast throughe thy whole life from thy childhood either thought willed sayd or done and those offences that be otherwise greeuous of themselues he encreaseth and amplifieth Finallye he goeth about by all meanes to take from man all hope of pardon and to driue him to despeire of hys saluation because of the multitude and greatnes of his sinne Hereunto may be added the remorse of a guilty conscience the great feare of death being nowe before mans eyes the sorrowfull and bitter cogitation of the tribunall seate of the Lord that terror of Gods iudgement which doe sore amaze and astonish the horror of hell fire but who can rehearse all the impediments and all the causes which will hinder thee that thou canst not thinke of repenting Doe not therefore doe not I say if thou bee wise differre the amendment of thy lyfe vntill the last day thereof For this is a thing full of perill and daunger That I may not adde here vnto that such repentance forasmuch as it is vrged by necessitie forced with feare of hell rather then proceding from a ready willingnes of mind shal little preuaile vnto saluation But there is no repētance to late before god I confesse it is true in deede for in what hour so euer a sinner repenteth God will no more remember any of his iniquities and as the Prophet saith in another place The Lord desireth the repentaunce of a sinner rather then his death and destruction But what if sudden death come vppon thee vnawares that thou shalt haue no time to lament thy sinne or to thinke of repenting For that whiche maye chance to all is to be looked for of all Call to mynde the sudden destruction of them who perished by the fall of the tower in Siloam as it is in Luke What it thou be suddenly taken with such a disease or sicknesse that thou shalt lose thy right vnderstandinge and fall into rauing and madnes which we haue seene oftentimes to haue come to passe Nowe if this chaunce as vndoubtedly it may that hope to repent which the sinner had in prolonging the amendment of his life is then vtterly frustrate and vayne That which may come to others may also come to thee thinke not thy selfe exempt from that which is common to all For true is that saying of Publius It may chance to euery one that may chaunce to any Cast of therfore hope of long life then which nothing assuredly is more vaine and deceitfull doe not dreame that thou shalte haue opportunitie neither appoint the time when thou wilt repent Finally doe not with this so vayne hope further thy folly or rather madnes in differring the amendment of thy life If thou be wise repent at that time when thou canst yet sinne For if thou purpose then to repent when thou canst now sinne no more surely thou hast not forsaken sinne but sinne hath forsaken thee Moreouer it is to be feared lest that thou which wilt not repent when thou mayst shalte not be able when thou wouldest For the iudgments of the omnipotent God are vnsearchable in punishing the sinnes of men As God of his goodnes and clemencye is wont to giue space to repent to them that be willing therevnto and ready and fit to receiue mercy and in the meane season to suffer sinners with much patience and leuitie til they returne vnto goodnes so whē he seeth one desperatly dissolut and naught deluding Gods long sufferance and nowe worthy of destruction he ceaseth any more to kepe him from falling into voluntary perdition and as the Scripture speaketh he blindeth the desperate and bardneth the obstinate neither looketh he any more for his conuersion neither giueth to the condemned time to repent or occasion to amend For God hath appointed euery one his day measure beyond which neither can man procede in sinning neither wil God any longer differ the punishment of sinne Which thing surly ought worthely to stirre vp al without delay to repēt and to endeuor to receiue that grace offered vnto them But seeing we haue spoken sufficiently hereof we will nowe proceede to speake of other matters Remedies against the sixt cause for vvhich many in the Papacie differre and neglecte the reforming of their life SVch as differre the amendment of their life vpon confidence in popish pardons and indulgences doe as the prouerbe is truste to a broken staffe and leane to a ruinous wall as also they that worship S. Barbarie and they that prouide that they may bee buried in S. Fraunces habit For what is there any where in the whole Scripture concerninge these tryfles What in the volumes of the olde Testament What in the bookes of the Prophets What in the doctrine of the Gospell What in the writings of the Apostles Finally which of these thinges was eyther in the Primatiue Church obserued or by the true general iudgment and consent of the Churche at all times receiued and allowed as profitable to saluatiō much lesse as necessary He therefore that lamenteth not his sinne before his death can not obtaine saluation albeit he be furnished euen with a thousande popishe pardons and bulles Wherefore vnlesse thou wilt bring thy saluation in doubt omitting these trifles repent thy euill life reknowledge thy sinne and be hartelye sorye and greatlye greeued for the same with earnest prayer and teares craue mercye of God and flye for succour and refuge to the onely merites of Christ with a firme faith and assured hope to obtaine Gods grace and fauor for Christ his sake whom the father hath giuen to death for vs So will
to vse many words as death fyndeth euerie man so is he iudged of GOD. Howe execrable then is that sluggishnes of men who liue with so secure a minde in sinne and wickednes For if they were touched with any care of their saluation they would surelye keepe some measure in sinning and thinke of the last day of their life as for example that I may speake particularly he that is at enmitie with his neighbour would endeuour accordinge to the commandement in the Gospell to be reconciled whoremongers and adulterers woulde remember that God will iudge them as the author to the Hebrewes sayth murderers sorcerers and all lyers woulde neuer forget that lake which burneth with fire brimstone where Iohn in his reuelation writeth that their portion shal bee couetous persons drunkardes raylers woulde alwayes haue in memorye that they shall not inherite the kingdome of GOD as y Apostle Paul witnesseth writing to the Corinthians and Ephesians rich men woulde neuer suffer to slip our of theyr mynde that our Sauiour sayth it is harde for them that truste in riches to enter into the kingdome of GOD briefly all of vs in generall woulde without doubte be myndfull of that vnquenchable and eternall fire which Christe threatneth in the Gospell to the wicked and vngodly and euery one woulde for him selfe feare that aunswere which was made to the foolish Virgins I know yee not also that saying concerning y slothful seruant Caste that vnprofitable seruaunte into vtter darkenesse where shal be weeping gnashing of teeth Moreouer that of the man which had not on a wedding garment Binde him hande and foote and caste him into vtter darkenesse c. Finallye that sayinge of our Sauiour to the wycked Departe from me yee cursed into euerlastinge fyre O too too stubburne and obstinate ones whom these thinges doe nothinge moue O Epicureans whiche bebeleeue not these thinges O wicked and vngodly persons which laugh and scorne at these thinges O mad men and vnmindefull of their saluation who neglect these thinges But they neglecte them who thinke they shall obteyne pardon and remission of sinnes by bulles and indulgences of the Pope and trusting in thys perswasion driue of from day to day the ameÌ„dment of their life Now there is another cause also which make many thus prolong and differre namely for that they are perswaded that because of a goodly worship which they giue to S. Barbarie they shall not dye but being verye contrite and hauing first receiued the Lords supper For thys superstition of worshipping S Barbarie hath possessed the mindes almost of all in the papacie WhereupoÌ„ they haue appointed a fast vnto her to be obserued euery yeere and painters set her forth holding the holy cuppe and breade in her hand Moreouer this is an other cause also for that they haue prouided long before that when their dying day is come they may be admitted into the familie of S. Fraunces and being deade may be buried in S. Fraunces habit For this opinioÌ„ also is fixed in the minds almost of all that the deuill hath no power ouer them who attaine to this forasmuch as the Monks haue together with their habit imparted vnto them their merites and good workes which are done in their whole order as masses diuine offices prayers preachinges studyes fastinges abstinence vigils labors and other such like For hereupon the Monks leauing alwayes that which is sufficient for theÌ„selues to obtaine saluation if there be anye ouerplus as alwayes there is some are wonte not to impart the same freely vnto others but to fell it vnto them for money This therefore is a cause also as I haue saide why they neuer thinke of amending their life who haue so bought with mony the participation of monks merites and deedes But it shall be needelesse here to refâ—… and confute this manifest error of popish indulgences and this very fond and vaine superstition of worshipping of Saintes seeing that both others before vs and we also haue often done the same in sundrye places Thus hast thou gentle Reader the chiefe causes as I thinke why we doe eyther neglect or differre the amendment of our life There be also other as it were seconde causes heâ—eof â–ª â—…s dayly company societie and conuersation with the vngodly and wicked who are touched with no feare of God muche lesse follow vertue and goodnes or liue holilye and vprightly Now the familiaritie and company of suche men is with all diligence to be auoyded of them who haue care of their soules helth Euill wordes as it is most truly sayde of one corrupt good manners and another saith by keeping company and liuing together with the wicked thou thy selfe also dost become wicked Here lette parentes remember that they must haue an especiall care that they suffer no naughty and leud person to haue anye familiaritie with their children and that they see and marke what youth it is and with what maners they be endued which are much or daily in their company doe liue familiarly wyth them or seeke to insinuate into their frendship and fauoure For euery man doth almoste become such a one as they are whose companye he vseth And truely in deede is it sayde of one that he which toucheth pitch is defiled therewith But let vs heare what another sayeth who cannot away with our religion Maners sayth he are taken of them with whom we be conuersant and as certaine diseases passe froÌ„ the bodye to them that touch it so doth the mind also insert them that be next it with the euills thereof The drunkard bringeth his companions to â—oue well wine the vnchast person maketh the stout and valiant if it may be effeminate and wanton couetousnesse poureth her poyson into them that bee next it The same may be sayd on the other side of vertues c. He therefore that desireth to liue vertuouslye and godly and to keepe himselfe pure cleane from wickednes which all Christians oughte to desyre let him shunne and auoide the companye of the wicked For they that giue themselues wholy to theyr companye and are daily conuersant feaste eate and drinke be merye and make good cheere with them they I say doe hardly euer thinke of amending their life neither can they easily seuer themselues froÌ„ y plesant coÌ„pany of their coÌ„panions Wherfore notwithstanding they frequent godly sermoÌ„s are admonished of good men and suche as haue authoritye and they themselues being moued with feare of Gods punishmente doe desyre that vnfainedly to reforme their maners yet for all this I can not tell howe they alwayes differre and driue of from day to day neyther can they for the moste parte euer either truelye repent or turne to the right way In the meane season deathe oftentimes sodenly vnawares commeth vpon them being thus secure carelesse For as euery mans death is certaine so is the houre thereof most vncertaine And therfore are we commaunded in the Scripture to watch and be alwayes
it come to passe that God will take pitie vppon thee forgiue thy sinnes and receiue thee into fauour for hys sonnes sake For he is our aduocate with god who maketh intercessiō for vs and reconcileth and pacifieth our heauenly father being offended at our sinne and wickednes as Iohn in his first Epistle generall teacheth East of therefore all regard of popishe indulgences of that superstitious worship of S. Barbarie and of the habit and clothing of S. Fraunces by which thinges no man can haue any hope to obtain saluation Flie vnto Christ himselfe who is our mediator and aduocate as I haue sayd the throne of grace the reconciliation for the sinnes of the worlde the Lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the world briefly our righteousnes sanctification and redemption as the Apostle saieth to the Corinthians Doe not then that I may returne to my purpose doe not I saye prolong the amendment and reformation of thy maners trustinge to indulgences and other such trifles especiallye in such shortnes of this life the houre of most certain death being so vncertain Which death forasmuch as it is dayly imminent by reason of the vncertaine chaunces which be incident vnto vs may euen at this very instant come vpon thee vnlooked for surely by reason of the shortnes of our life as it is saide of one it can neuer be farre of Howe daungerous a thing is it then to liue in that state in which if sudden death ouertake thee there is no more hope of thy saluation That thou mayst auoid this daunger see thou alwayes liue godlily acknowledge thy sinnes flie humbly to God for mercy aske pardon and forgiuenes and throughe Christe hope and looke for saluation from god Resort also often to the ministers of Gods word and aske of them godly instructions and spirituall comforte And that thou mayst be stirred vp to remember the promises concerning remission of sinne and be more more confirmed concerning the good wyll of God towarde vs come often to the Lordes table and as Christe hath instituted feede of that body which was once offered for the sinnes of mankinde and drinke that blood which was shed for the remission of our sinnes and so being mindfull of the Lords death giue heartye thanks to God for so great benefites and sing hymnes and prayses vnto him both priuatly with thy selfe at home and publikely in the assembly of the faithfull abroade A most fruitful admonition to auoid euill company NOw that I may goe forward to other matters endeuor as much as thou may alwayes to seuer thy selfe from the companye of the wicked and to associate thy selfe as neere as can be wyth the vertuous and godlye And as one admonisheth bee conuersaunt with suche as may make thee better admit such into thy companye as thou mayste amende It is a matter of no smal importance whose familiaritie thou vsest and with whom thou daily liuest For as we are infected with the company of the wicked as with a certen contagion so by dayly liuing together with the vertuous and such as feare God we are almoste reformed and amended Be therefore familier and a frend with these latter as for the other thinke thou oughtest to haue nothinge to doe with them The same doth Salomon commaund in his Prouerbs Paule also writing to the Corinthians doth so earnestly dehort from the companye and societie of the wicked in all thinges that he will not haue vs so muche as to resort to the table with them If anye that is called a brother be a fornicatour or couetous or a worshipper of Idoles or a rayler or a drunkard or an extorsioner with him that is such see that yee eate not There be in deede other causes I graunt why he will haue such to be auoyded either lest we shoulde seeme to allowe their lewdnes and wickednes or that such when they see all men shunne their companye may be ashamed and amende but surely this is not one of the smallest causes least the contagion of their vices shoulde infect others if any haue familiaritie with them For as a little leuen leueneth a greate lumpe of dough so oftentimes the example of one dooth marre and infect a great number Nowe althoughe it be in deede difficult and hard to forsake the aquaintance and familiaritie of them with whō thou hast long liued delightfully and pleasantly thou must notwythstanding with might and maine attempte the same and verye diligentlye endeuour to sequester and seuer thy selfe from the companye of such Onely be willing and earnest in the matter and without doubte it wil goe better forward then thou lookest for And because according to the greeke prouerbe the beginning is halfe of the whole and again as Horace saith he that hath well begunne hath halfe done see in any case thou doe beginne and doubt not of the successe by considering the difficultie If as it commonly falleth out thou doe eftsones thinke vppon the feastes mery meetings and such other vaine and fond delights which thou hast had with them if thou often euen against thy will remember thy mery mates and companions see thou doe then forthwith call to mynde the shortnesse of this lyfe death that hangeth ouer our heads euery houre the laste iudgement the tribunall seate of the Lord hell fire and eternall condemnation and so as the saying is driue out one nayle with another If thou call to mind these thinges and do thus speake with thy selfe Thy felowes pleasaunt companions inuite thee vnto them suppers dinners and mery meetings allure thee what doe I If thou doe earnestly say this with thy selfe what doe I then reason after a sort gathering her strength will subdue thy desire and thy will wyll yeelde to reason exhorting to that which is best Take therfore time as I haue sayde to thinke vpon these thinges and deale aduisedly in them when any such thinge come into thy minde by the suggestion of Satan cast of all remissenes of mynd neither doe straighte giue place to thy desire nor runne whither the deuill would driue thee Doe the companyons inuite thee to drinke and make mery with them See thou then cal to mynde that which our Sauior saith in a certen place Take heede saith he that your heartes be not ouercome with surfetting drunkennes Also that which Paule saieth Be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse and again drunkerds and gluttons shal not inherite the kingdome of heauen Also that which Peter saieth Be sober and vigilant moreouer that saying of Esayas Woe be vnto them that rise vp early to folow drunkennes Remember that thou must obey the authoritie of God and his Apostles rather then follow the will of wicked mē and that thou must yeld vnto reason exhorting vnto that which is best rather then consent to the deuill mouing thee to that which is worst finally that thou muste rather resist that euill spirite then grieue the holy spirite of god Do not therefore doe not