I saye runne to thy ruine and destruction for the pleasant companye of thy companions but to the vttermost of thy power sequester thy selfe from them and let eternall saluation be more deere and pretious vnto thee then a shorte delighte of worldly ioye and pleasure A right pithie and profitable exhortation to forsake vice and imbrace vertue AGaine and againe thinke thus with thy selfe that I may nowe come to the laste poynt that he doth not truely repent neyther is or may be counted a Christian who continueth in sinne and wickednes neither that there is anye true faith in him who sinneth against his conscience and committeth an heynous offence Let vs not therefore be Christians in name onely being farre of from the thing it selfe neither let vs boast of faith in wordes alone but let vs truly and vnfeynedly repente let vs turne to God with all our heart let vs not trusting to our owne strength but to the helpe and assistance of God endeuour to reforme vice by vertue alwayes to liue godlily iustly innocently vprightly holily chastly soberly temperately profitably to the Churche of God friendly to the life of man and as Paule saith as it becommeth the Gospell of Christe Let vs moreouer dayly desire of our heaueÌ„ly father by our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ that he will giue vnto vs his holy spirite who may gouern guide teach sanctisie rayse vp comfort and quicken vs for Christe in the gospell hath promised that his heauenlye father will giue the same spirite vnto vs if we by harty prayer aske it of him And let vs not resiste the holy Ghost by yeelding to our wicked desires against our conscience neither let vs expell or greeue him that I may vse the word of the Apostle Paul. Let vs walke in newenesse of life let vs not serue sinne let vs giue vp our bodyes a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God let vs mortefie the fleshe with the affections and lustes thereof let vs keepe our selues vnspotted of the world let vs be renued in the spirite of our minde and put on the newe man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holines let vs be followers of God as deere children let vs walke worthye of the Lord and as it becommeth saints forbearing one another through loue endeuoring to kepe the vnitie of the spirite in the bonde of peace let vs be gentle louing one towards another let vs loue our enemies let vs blesse them that curse vs let vs doe well to them that hate vs let vs praye for them that hurt and trouble vs let vs giue meate to the hungrye drinke to the thirstie releefe to the needye let vs harbour straungers cloth the naked visite the sicke admonish him that is out of the way instructe the ignoraunte helpe the perplexed with our counsaill comfort the afflicted reconcile suche as be at discorde and variance despise worldly honours contemne vayne glorye brieflye let vs not seeke after welth and riches lett vs endeuour alwayes to subdue and represse our naturall corruption and wicked affections and let vs not onely take heede least our hearts be at anye time ouercome with surfettinge and drunkennes but let vs also by fasting and due abstinence prepare our selues to prayer and among so many deceites and inuasions of Satan the world and the flesh let vs with ardent prayer aske helpe of God Let vs not be proud in prosperitie or discouraged in aduersitie whatsoeuer we doe let vs doe all things to the glorye of God let vs not regarde onely our owne matters but rather those which are other mens Moreouer let vs so behaue our selues that none be offended by vs but that we may by our good example bring other to vertue and godlines finally let vs pray dayly and without intermission in all things let vs giue thanks let vâ—â—lwaies aspire to heaueÌ„ly things let vs contemne humane and earthly These things are hard thou wilt say I coÌ„fesse it yet are they agreable to a christian profession needeful to saluation Let vs then do our diligence that we may cast of al remissenes of mind let vs not ouermuch fauor our selues nor yeeld to our own infirmitie or euer willingly be cause that the grace of God bee in vaine in vs Let vs not only not fall into sinne wittingly but let vs also valiauntly resist the assaults of Satan neuer yeeldinge vnto him through cowardise or sluggishnes Nowe what is not to be iudged light whereby thou mayst come to that life which aboundeth with all good things to those eternal ioyes Not without cause saith the Apostle Paul I count that the afflictions of this present time are not worthye of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs Hereunto maketh that which is sayde in another place The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither haue entred into the hearte of man the thinges which God hath prepared for them that loue him For how great a thing is it which can neither by force of words bee expressed nor by thought of man conceiued of what sorte it is to be a citizen and inhabitour of heauen to be an heyre of God an heyre annexed with Christe to possesse the kingdome prepared for the godly before the beginning of the worlde without end to beholde that soueraigne good to enioy the most comfortable coÌ„templation of the countenaunce of God to be conuersant in the company of Angels to haue societie with the blessed spirits to be in the assembly of the righteous together with the angels the Patriarchs the Prophets the Apostles the Martyrs finally with all the godly enioying blessed immortalitie and life euerlasting together I saye with all these to celebrate with hymnes and prayses the eternall God the fountaine of all glory What are not al the miseryes and molestations of this lyfe to be counted light if thou looke vnto the glory to come so that we oughte worthelye to be ashamed of our sluggishnesse and remissenes who when he remembreth these thinges namely the kingdom of heauen the life immortal euerlasting blessednes ioies exceeding great and infinite the companye of Angels finally the societie of all who after their life led godlily vpon the earth shall enioy a life moste blessed and eternall who I saye when he remembreth these thinges is willing to cary on the earth and doth not rather with Paule desire to be dissolued and deliuered out of the prison of this body Let vs not therefore count these things heard after which so greate commodities do ensue especially seeing on the other side they that keepe not the commandements of God that are needefull to saluation shall not onely be excluded from that felicitie whereof we haue spoken but also be cast headlong into hell fire and eternal death throwne into vtter darkenes where shal be weeping gnashing of teeth afflicted with most greuous paines and continual torments in the companie and societie of the deuils and the wicked without any hope
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
passe in the former ages of the world concerninge the destruction of mankinde by the flood concerning the cities of Sodom Gomorthe howe they were consumed to ashes by fire from heauen also those thinges which histories both sacred and prophane declare of the most grieuous and often calamities of the people of Israell how they were often caried captiue of Barbarous nations for the neglect of pietie and godlines Finally those thinges whiche wee reade of the vtter destruction and ruine of the citie of Ierusalem For all these thinges are written as Paule saieth to the Corinthians to admonish vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come Now how God hath often punished all sortes of men for sinne it woulde be longe as I haue sayd and needelesse to rehearse I will speake onely of one for examples sake When that noble king Dauid whom God dearely loued at suche time as being secure idle he liued in great prosperitie had fallen into adulterye and had encreased the same offence by the murder of an innocent man wyth what miseries and calamities was he not afflicted of God euen after that hauing acknowledged his sinne and repented he was restored to Gods accustomed grace and fauour For God punished him with the death of his sonne newly borne with the conspiracie of the sonne against the father with his sorrowfull flighte out of the citie of Ierusalem with the forcing of his concubines by hys owne Sonne with the reuolting of the people from him finally with greate mortalitie and death of hys citizens So great and horrible is the wrath of God againste sinne If a man so holy dyd not scape vnpunished for his sinne committed no not when hee had obteyned pardon and was reconciled into Gods fauour as in the hystorye of the Kinges is declared Howe thinkest thou will it fall out with others who are nothinge at all greeued and troubled in minde for their sinnes but doe securelye offende and heape one sinne vppon another finallye who wyth an obstinate mynde perseuer in wickednes Let vs therfore shake of slothfulnes that carnal carelesse security which commonly commeth vpon vs in the time of prosperitie Let vs liue in the feare of the Lord and with feare and tremblinge procure our saluation let vs not suffer our selues to be entangled with the allurements of the fleshe let vs by continual praier resist satans tētations And thus much shal suffize concerning this poynt Remedies against the fift cause for which man prolongeth the amendment of his lyfe NOw to speake of such as being led with hope of long life do differre the amendment of their maners these doe willingly deceiue themselues and of that which they excedingly desire they haue a vain hope and doe fondly dreame and so they wittingly and willingly perish being aliue and beholding their state they be in then which no folly can be said to be greater If these be nothing moued with those things which wise mē yet no professors of Christian religion haue commited to writinge concerninge the shortnesse and vncertaintie of thys lyfe as is that of one who sayde that man a is buble and of another who calleth him a dreame of a shadowe at the least let y man beloued of God holy Iob I meane moue them who sayth that man hath here but a shorte time to liue Let the seruaunt of God S. Iames moue them who sayth that mans life is as a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Let him that cannot lye the Sonne of God our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ moue them who biddeth vs watch because we knowe neither the daye nor the houre Finally let experience it selfe moue them if thou thinke that to be more certaine Thou sittest often with thy friends being sicke or diseased and lying without hope of recouery thou art sometimes presente with them that giue vp the ghoste thou hearest the groninges of them that dye thou seest the dead caried forth thou also dost accompany them to burying thou seest the bodyes committed to the earth thou hearest men lament the death of their freendes thou readest Epitaphs and inscriptions of tombes thou meetest them that weare mourninge apparell all which thinges ought worthely to stir vp in thee a remēbrance of the shortnes of this life and of death that is dayly imminent If the death of strangers doe nothing moue vs yet let the death of our familiers neighbours moue vs let our owne perils in whiche we often are the grieuous diseases that we fall into moue vs and where as wee consider not our infirmitie by the example of others let vs at the lest by our own weakenesse acknowledge the imbecilitie and frailtie of mankind and of our common nature Which if we shall do we shal then perceiue that there is no cause why we should flatter our selues with a vaine and false hope of long life But will some man say I may in olde age amende my life and repent in the meane season I will take my pleasure I heare this but who certenlye knoweth that he shall liue vntill olde age Dooste thou thinke that it wil be in thy power to repente when thou wilt who nowe neglectest and pretermittest the time and occasion of the same being offered Thou art deceiued truly thou art deceiued I say if thou so doost thinke God of his goodnes whereby he desireth rather the amendment then destruction of a sinner when it seemeth good vnto him calleth thee to repētaunce and as he sayth in the reuelation he standeth at the dore knocketh open thou to him knocking heare him calling thee and whither he calleth followe thou despise not the riches of his bountifulnes and lenitie least after thine hardnes and heart that can not repente thou heape vnto thy selfe wrath againste the day of wrath as Paul saith writing to the Romanes Remember what the same Paule sayth to the Corinthians We beseeche you saith he that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine For he sayth I haue heard thee in a time accepted and in y day of saluation haue I succoured thee behold now the accepted time behold now the day of saluation The Apostle sheweth here that the time of repentinge being offered of God is not to be neglected that the like occasion is not alwayes giuen Hereunto pertaineth that sayinge to the Galathians While we haue time let vs worke that which is good And one of the auncients sayde not amisse He that hath promised pardon to the penitent hath not graunted so much as the morrow to him that dissembleth Take hede therefore leaste by prolonginge the amendment of thy maners and that vpon hope of long lyfe thou do wittingly willingly tempt the Lord whose goodnes inuiteth thee vnto repētance which we are forbidden to do by the commandement of God as is declared in Deuteronomie It doth not seldome happen that in the time of contending brawling of playing of drinking and tipling some is
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
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.