by the fall of houses or other chances haue beene bruzed into peeces Therefore albe God would the repentance rather then the death of a sinner as vndoubtedlie he would yet is it a dangerous thing in respect of vncertaine chances to deferre the amendment of our life in hope of Gods mercie For thou art in time to repent while thou art yet aliue while thou art strong while thou art in health But thus it is The yong man giueth himselfe to pleasure to bellie cheere to wine to riot and promiseth himselfe manie yeeres and a long life and therefore neuer thinketh of reforming his manners but deferres that matter vntill he comes vnto age yet is he not sure whether he shall liue to be an old man For who among manie thousands attaineth to old age Now being an old man what dooth he then To morowe it shalbe doone saith he and still to morowe it shalbe doone so willinglie he deceaueth vainelie dooth flatter himselfe because no man as I haue saide can promise that he shall liue till to morowe naie there is no man sure that he shall liue till night In the meane season Death suddenlie oppresseth him that deferreth and prolōgeth the reformatiō of his life as euerie daie almost we haue examples giuē yet doo not other mens harmes make vs to beware so mightelie dooth Satan drawe on and feede vs with a vaine hope of Gods mercie and of a long life And although it neither ought nor in deede anie waie can be denied that the true penitent sinners at all times do finde fauor at Gods hand and that a man neuer no not at the point of death should despaire yet who is so foolish that maie haue that which is voide of all danger and will chuse that which is ioined with great hazard euen of the soule Therefore to be out of all doubt let vs while time is thinke of amending our liues and not deferre the same from daie to daie especiallie because we are not sure to liue till to morowe Nowe concerning the mercie of God let vs remember continuallie what Cyprian in a certaine place dooth say on this wise As much as God is good and mercifull in that he is a Father so much is he to be feared in that he is a Iudge so will it come to passe that the feare of Gods vengeance will reclaime vs from sinne and the vaine hope of his mercie in too much securitie shall not deceaue and corrupt vs. In this vaine hope of Gods mercie how miserabley doo those Popish Priestes deceaue themselues who all their life time keepe concubines and vnder the pretence of a single life plaie the whore-masters are neuer punished nor yet thinke of changing their wicked manners nor of putting their concubines quite awaie from them Yea notwithstanding they know well their owne filthines and wicked life yet blush they not daie by daie almoste to doo the diuine seruice to come vnto the mysticall and diuine table vnworthelie to eate the Lords breade and to drinke the holie cup vnworthelie Oh how horrible yea how dangerous is it to liue in such state of life wherein if death suddenlie should strike thee thou wert vtterlie cast awaie In vaine therefore doo they flatter themselues with hope of Gods mercie which keep concubines in such sorte and with hardened hartes persist in wickednes neuer minding either to put awaie and forsake their harlots or to change their wicked liues by hartie repentance and to aske forgiuenes of their lewde behauiour at Gods hand with teares and sighing But some will saie they aske God mercie oftentimes and oftentimes they beseech his goodnes to forgiue them For after their euening praier saie they not euerie daie welnigh Conuert vs O Lord and turne awaie thy displeasure against vs. Yea and in the ende of their Mattins too doo they not saie Lord haue mercie vpon vs. And at other times that God would haue mercie on them spare and forgiue them they praie doo they not I heare you But with what earnestnes of minde with what heate and zeale of spirite they doo so I will not dispute Be it they praie vnto God zelouslie earnestlie and with a moste hartie affection what then what good do their praiers vnlesse they put awaie their concubines with intent neuer to take them againe and vnlesse they perseuere in a purpose and minde to liue chastlie euer afterward in a studie of amending their life and finallie in continuall sorow for their wickednesse committed Now because they doo not this as their deedes plainelie show who doubteth but either they thinke those things written concerning the daie of iudgement to be but a fable or that they flatter themselues too too much with a vaine and false hope of pardon at Gods hande O horrible face of the Popish Church They which aswell by example as by praier should rule gouerne and teach others euē they so behaue themselues that others in them be maruelouslie offēded Whē the Laie people come vnto the Lords table with what reuerēce as it is meet they should with what feare trembling with what zeale do they approche what preparation doo they make before they confesse their sins desire absolution what care do they take that no scruple remaine in their conscience minde how certainlie firmelie doo they purpose to amende their manners and to reforme their life Nowe what doo the Popish Priestes Forsooth as one of their owne crewe reporteth they from the wicked embracement of an whore hasten vnto the altar and that commonlie vnpunished without blushing They are touched neither with a care of amending their liues nor of putting awaie their harlots neither conceaue they anie sorrow at the remembrance of sinne To be briefe in name onelie and word they be Christians but in deede and truth they appeare plaine Ethnickes VVhat then some may demaunde is there no hope of saluation of such Surelie to speake my conscience they who are such as I haue described can haue no hope of mercie before God forsomuch as the Auctor of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues dooth affirme that VVhoremongers and Adulterers God will iudge and Paule saith They which doo such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God VVherefore if the Papists beleeue it to be true as it is which the Apostle hath saide what hope can they haue to be saued abiding in such filthines of life especiallie seeing they neither vnfainedlie repent nor will put away their concubines But if they doo not beleeue it to be true then falselie doo they vsurpe the name of Christians and are not to be numbred among the godlie but should be to vs as our Sauiour dooth saie As Heathen men and Publicans How then doo Bishops tollerate such vngodlie fellowes in their Churches Yea why allow they such to preache vnto the people yea why for mony do they permit them to haue harlots The matter is manifest so that it cānot
shamefastnes and through a religious reuerence toward God to commit nothing at anie time which maie offend our most louing and best father Also which maie make vs so of our owne accord to doo wel and to flie from sinne and so keepe vs through loue and charitie in our calling that when vnwittinglie we shall coÌ„mit any offence as great is our weaknes it maie bring such a sorowe and griefe to our minde that both we maie willinglie enioine a punishment to our selues and be loath to liue for that we haue offended so merciful and gratious a Father Finallie O eternall Father graunt for thy sonne our Lord and sauiour Christ his sake that in such shortnes of life and vncertainty of death we put not of the amendment of our life and deferre the same from daie to daie but maie with speede endeuour to returne vnto wel-doing confessing our sinnes and vnfainedlie repent and through repentance pacifie our heauenlie Father and with the Publicane in the Gospel humblie striking our breast craue mercie of God and finallie wil and doo those thinges which are grateful and acceptable before God that we maie amend our wickednes by wel doing reforme vices with vertues and through Gods assistaunce spend the time which we haue to liue in this world godlie religiouslie innocentlie purelie soberlie and temperatlie to the profit of the Church the benefit of mankinde and the discharge of our duties and that in such mindes and godlie determination we maie continue euen til our liues end Amen Cap. 21. A briefe repetition of that which hath bene saide with a short conclusion THus much I thought good to write of mans foolishnes in putting of the amendment of this life The matter which I haue handled hath enforced me to vtter those thinges which wil be as to the godlie comfortable so to them which would seeme but are not vnfained Christians vnpleasaunt For we haue spoken much and aboundantlie of the shortnes and vncertaintie of life of death in respect of vncertaine chaunces dailie hanging ouer our heads and many times dispatching men before they be aware the which all good men doo wish and desire of God in their godlie praiers but the wicked do abhorre Also we haue spoken of the generall resurrection of the comming of Christ of the last iudgement when all men shalbe summoned to giue an accoumpt of their life spent which daie wil be to the wicked horrible but comfortable to the godly For then their redemption draweth neere then is the time as one said in the Acts of comfort and refreshing and as it is in Tertullian the daie of Christian triumphing Furthermore we haue told both what rewards be appointed for the godlie and what punishmentes ordained for the wicked For the godlie shalbe exalted vp vnto glorie and liue a blessed and euerlasting life in heauen For who is able to expresse what a felicitie it wil be alwaies to behold God and to enioie the most comfortable contemplation of his heauenlie countenance to behold him euen as he is whome now we doo see through a glasse darklie as Paule saith to abound with all good thinges finallie to enioie so manie pleasures and delightes as maie be neither conceaued in minde nor expressed by wordes On the other side the vngodlie shalbe throwen headlong into hel to be afflicted with vnmeasurable and euerlasting tormentes No eloquence can describe by wordes nor wit conceaue the smallest part of the paines which the vngodly are to endure in hel being condemned through the righteous iudgement of God vnto euerlasting fire Last of all we haue vttered diuers other thinges which as I said wil please the godlie right wel but trouble the wicked as of the sense of Gods indignation against sinne of casting of securitie when we haue the world at wil of vnfained repenting of reforming our manners of amending our liues of our continual fight with mightie enimies the world the flesh and the diuel and diuers such like things which are needles to be repeated in this place Sharpe these are and sowre to blood and flesh notwithstanding as I am perswaded verie profitable For as one in Curtius doth saie Phisitions doo heale sore maladies with sharpe medicines and as Cicero writeth vnto Octauius No medicines applied vnto wounds doo so grieue as they which are most wholsome Now the eternall God father of our Lord and sauiour Christ giue grace that this our booke how so euer it be written maie in this corrupt and wretched world yet some-what keepe the godlie in their calling and confirme them in wel-doing if anie of zeale and wel-liking thereof shall reade the same furthermore that it maie offer some occasion to the wicked to reform them-selues and that the salue which is here prescribed to such as are sicke and almost past recouerie maie haue strength to helpe and heale them This he graunt without whose helpe all the labour of man is vaine and to no purpose euen God almighty and most righteous to whome be all praise honour and glorie now and for euermore Amen FINIS A Table wherein ye maie finde all the Chapters which are contained in this booke A Preface vnto the discourse following Cap. 1. Page 1. The first cause whie man doth not repent Cap. 2. Page 4. The second cause whie we doo not repent vs of our wickednes Cap. 3. Pa. 15 A third cause whie we deferre the amendment of our life Cap. 4. Pa. 35. The fourth cause whie men are loath to repent Cap. 5. Pa. 55. A fift cause whie man will not repent Cap. 6. Pa. 64. A sixt cause which alienateth mens minds from repentance Cap. 7. Pa. 71. Of other like principall causes whie we repent not Cap. 8. Pa. 79. An other cause of deferring repentance Cap. 9. Pa. 83. A remedie against incredulitie which is the first cause whie man doth not repent Of which afore Chapter second Cap. 10. Pa. 86. A remedie for the second cause whie we repent not mentioned afore in the third Chapter Cap. 11. Pa. 93. A remedie against the custome of sinning which is the third cause of deferring repentance as aboue in the fourth Chapter hath bene showed Cap. 12. Page 101. A remedie against the fourth cause of prolonging repentance spoken of before in the fift Chapter Cap. 13. Pa. 107. A remedie against the fift cause of deferring amendment of life contained in the sixt Chapter of this booke Cap. 14. Pa. 115. A remedie for the sixt cause of deferring repentance declared afore in the seuenth Chapter Cap. 15. Pa. 125. A remedie for the seuenth cause specified afore in the eight Chapter Cap. 16 Page 129. A remedie against the last cause which holdeth men from repentance entreated of before in the ninth Chapter Cap. 17. Pa. 135. VVhat meanes a godlie man maie vse by the example of the Author to stirre vp him-selfe vnto a godlie life Cap. 18. Pa. 146. How men should addresse them-selues to liue well Cap. 19. Pa. 149. The causes whie we proceede not in wel doing hauing purposed to liue in the feare of God with the remedies for that infirmitie of man Cap. 20. Page 159. A briefe repetition of that which hath bene saide with a short conclusion Cap. 21. Page 169. FINIS Faultes escaped In the. 39. Page and in the fift line for My father in a sock reade My father in a sort In the. 122. Page and in the second line for Defer the amendment of their life reade Defer the amendment of thy life ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Charlewood for Andrewe Maunsel dwelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Paret A description of the iudgement to come Eph. 5 33. Eph. 5 22. Eph. 6 4. Eph. 6 1 2 Eph. 6 5. Ephe. 6 9. Cogitations of men when they are sicke Be such vvhen thou art vvhole as thou vvert being sicke 1. The. 4 16. The remedie against this cause you shall finde afterward in the tenth Chapter Rom. 2 4. Mat. â— 1 2 Esa. 66 2 Lu. 13 3 5 Act. 3 19 Wisd. 4 7. Yong men loue not to repent Old men vnwilling to amend The obstinacie of Popish Priestes That which the Auctor speaketh vnto Priests he speaketh first vnto all vvhich doo as they doo Praiers of Popish Priestes vvhat Comparison betweene the Laie people and Popish Priestes Hebr. 13 4. Gal. 5 21. Matth. 18 17. Eph. 5 5. Gal. 5 21. Ephe. 5 5. Eph. 5 5. The deformitie of the Popish Church * Page 26. The office of Bishops in punishing levvde Clergie men Tit. 2 7. 1. Tim. 4 12. Hovv manifold occasions be offered vnto Popish Priestes to repent A remedie for this cause you shall finde afterward in the eleuenth Chapter of this booke Custome another nature Ill education of children Dutie of Parents Nausistrata Antemona Tobias Schoolemaisters Mischiefes that growe by euill Schoolemaisters Dutie of Schoolemaisters Chusing of Schoolemaisters Liberall manners Liberall knowledge Frute of ill education Magistrates office Punishment of adulterie Punishment of open offenders Pagans more seuere in punishing sin then Christians VVhat correction or discipline is vsed VVickednes neuer at such ripenes Comparison betvveene lavves and good education The cheefest care of Magistrates VVith this Chapter compare the twelfe Chapter of this booke Prosperitie Prosperitie mother of Securitie 1 Tim. 6 â—7 18. Example of extreme securitie Luk. 12 18 19. 20. Iam. 5 1. 2. 3. 5. Luk. 16 19 VVhy God sendeth affliction Heb. 12 6 State of Dauid a secure sinner State of Dauid a penitent person A remedie for this cause reade afterward in the thirteenth Chapter of this booke Sextius Seneca Reade the foureteenth Chapter of this booke for the remedie against this cause Popes Bâ— Pardons S. Barbara S. Francis A remedie for this cause reade afterward in the fifteenth Chapter VVicked companie Luke 14. 40. Reade the sixteenth Chapter of this booke Preaching of Paule The seuenteenth Chapter of this booke is to be read for remedie of this cause Eccle. 5 4. 5. 6. 7. Deu. 6 16.
OF the foolishnes of men in putting-off the amendement of their liues from daie to daie A godlie and profitable treatise for the present time Written in the Latine tongue by that reuerend and worthie member of Christ his Church in this age Iohn Riuius Newlie translated by Thomas Rogers Ecclesiast 5 7. Make no tarrying to turne vnto the Lorde and put not off from daie to daie for suddenlie shall the wrath of the Lord breake foorth and in thy securitie shalt thou be destroyed and thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance Imprinted at London for Andrew Maunsel and are to be solde at his shop at the west end of Paules Church ¶ To the most noble Prince and Lord Maurice Duke of Saxonie Elector of the sacred Empire Landgraue of Thuring Marques of Misna c. his most gratious Prince Iohn Riuius wisheth S. AMong all euils well-nigh infinite which to the astonishment of euerie man haue taken strength this daie in the world the securitie of men in delaying the amendment of their sinfull life is not the least which when I remember and call into minde which often I doo I am not a little amazed And surelie forsomuch as the life of man as holie Iob dooth witnes and experience dooth confirme is but verie short and a Christian should euermore consider that presentlie he either must or maie die for our Sauiour willeth vs to watch continuallie to be readie against death the foolishnes of men in prolonging repentaunce from daie to daie maie well make all men to wonder vnlesse they be of the sect of Epicures supposing the soule to die with the bodie and after death no parte of man to remaine For otherwise he which hath anie care of his owne saluation and beleeueth there be after death both rewardes for the godlie and punishments for sinners cannot chuse but not onlie for his owne part continuallie thinke of repenting while sinnes maie be forgiuen but also in respect of others maruelouslie muze at their follie which neglect a thing so profitable and so necessarie and the more a great deale for that no man liuing is sure he shall liue I saie not vntil night but an houre more no not a minute or moment of time But to saie nothing of the yonger and lustier sort who thinke they maie haue whatsoeuer they hope for though fondlie and foolishlie they doo so what doo doting and bald men in their old age when they should spend the time which they haue to liue in none other cogitations and workes but such as pertaine vnto the attainement of saluation Surelie they thinke as little of death as yong men doo and so deferre the amendment of their life and neuer thinke while time is to repent as though they could promise manie yeeres moe to themselues which thing notwithstanding they should rather wish than hope for Yea which is more wonderfull and showeth more plainelie the dotage of old men they blush not at foure score yeeres of age to marrie wenches vnder sixteene yeeres What more I am ashamed it greeueth me to saie it so I maie liue and so I maie haue Christ mercifull vnto me Then what wantonlie delicatelie riotouslie they spend the time they loue they make good cheere they plaie the whore-masters they are sweete in ointments they take their pleasure and as an old man in the Poet saith Because my daies be short which I haue heare to liue To women wine and pleasant sport my selfe I minde to giue The same doo our old men in words commonlie in deedes openlie saie and confirme by their life Neither doo they which commit these hainous offences euen with hoare heads for whie should I be afraide to speake it make anie great accoumpt with themselues or care of reforming their manners but are Christians in name onlie but in deede and life nothing so To come to the crooked old women which haue had manie husbands what doo they Surelie euen they too when they are most old and full of wrinckles make death a banquet as the Poet saith that is they be not afraide to marrie yet againe whereas in deede if they were touched with anie care of their saluation they should do better if with Anna the Prophetisse of whom Luke 2 36 37. maketh mentiō they neuer went out of the temple but serued God with fasting and praiers night and daie I speake not of the yonger women for whom according to the sentence of Paule 1. Tim. 5 14. 1. Cor. 7 8 9. it is better that they marrie then to burne but of old and aged women who in respect of their yeeres can beare no children For they after the manner of doting old men of whom I haue spoken bid honestie fare-well and care little what becommeth them Such a mischeef is in example They alledge for them-selues solitarines and pouertie and other as they thinke iust causes at those yeeres and likelie but pretend they what they will yet shall they neuer prooue their intemperancie good either before God or men howsoeuer they cloake and couer the same We dallie too much with our selues we doo yeelde too too much to our weakenes or lust rather we suffer our selues ouer easelie to be snarled by the allurements of the flesh we cast not awaie the tendernes of our minde we resist not the snares and ingines of Satan by continuall praier we tame not our bodie with abstinence and fasting Hence come the teares as it is saide and this maketh such old marriages in those yeeres which call for a new life and a new conuersation For it were time then not to thinke of the short time which is to be spent but of the life to come which alwaie shall indure When thinke you they will begin to amend and haue regard of their saluation When will they repent When will they prepare themselues vnto death which marrie euen when they are going to the graue Either I am deceaued or this is not the waie vnto heauen as the Tragicall Poet dooth saie Alack alack whether is the godlines of Christians gone Howe fewe are they if there be anie at all which call into minde the shortnes and vncertaintie of this life death alwaies at hand the iudgement seate of Christ the last iudgement euerlasting felicitie in the heauens the torments and cursed state of hell Neither the regarde of the kingdome of God and of an happie life dooth stir vp vnto godlines nor the feare of hell and euerlasting destruction either reclame from offending or terrefie from sinne Neither doo moste men giue credit to the woord of God and religion or if they beleeue it through a vaine hope of Gods pardon toward the obstinate and such as perseuere in sinne they moste foolishlie doo flatter themselues neither doo they endeuor by little and little to caste off wicked custome which in manner is turned into another nature Slothfulnes and securitie hath inuaded them being drunke as it were with prosperitie they are lead awaie and fed with
we not at all times euerie hower yea and euerie moment to thinke of the amendement of our life to be touched with a true and bitter sorowe for our sinnes and to pacifie the wrath of God by repentance especiallie seeing in respect of vncertaine chances death continualie is imminent and hangeth euerie howre ouer the heads of all and euerie of vs as we are certainely to thinke Therefore who so is wise will haue such a care as I haue shewed as men commonlie haue in a great pestilence at which time as it were wakened out of the sleepe of securitie they are wonte to take care and to thinke how to chaunge their wicked liues howe to flie and auoide sinne how to followe righteousnesse and godlines finallie how to please God by repentance who is displeased through our sinnes Let euery man then perseuere so when he hath escaped the plague as he purposed to be when the sicknes was hot All men acknowledge that the houre of death is vncertaine yet is it moste certaine that one daie we shall die Nowe what foolishnes is it to feare death which euerie moment hangeth ouer our heads and in the meane time not to thinke of amendment of life But thus it is In aduersitie as in the time of the plague of famine of warre of Earthquake of any greeuous and dangerous sicknes of the body we can acknowledge the iust anger displeasure of God against wickednes but whē things flowe foorth according to our harts desire we blush no whit to abuse his goodnes and liberalitie neither doo we call into minde neither death ready to take vs euery howre Nor the last iudgement nor the voice of the Archangell whereof Paule maketh mention writing vnto the Thessalonians Nor the Trumpet of God nor of Hell either the euerlasting punishment or the vnquencheable fire nor finallie that vtter darkenes where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth The memorie wherof should be fresh in our minde both when we rise from our beds in the morning and when we go vnto bed in the euening both when we dine and when we suppe when we are washed for health sake when we deale in matters that are serious yea and when we doo recreate our minde with honest sporte But these things to wit the last iudgement the Lords tribunall seate the voice of the Archangell the Trumpet of God the euerlasting torments of hell these I saie are but a meere fable to the vngodlie And as the Ethnicks in old time esteemed all fained whatsoeuer the Poets mentioned of Tartarus of Phlegeton of the Iudges Minoes and Rhadamanthus of the place and region of the wicked and of the paines of the vngodlie whereof sprang that of Seneca saieng The Poets haue battered and terrified our mindes with vaine feares So verie manie count all toies and fables yea and thinke all but idle threates which at this daie we reade in the sacred Scripture concerning Hell euerlasting death Hell fire where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth and touching the covniting hereafter of the soule and bodie either vnto paine or glorie VVhereas contrariwise these things strike a maruelous terror without doubt into the godlie and such as feare God yea being but named as the Poet saith Thus you haue the firste and principall cause as I thinke whie we so deferre the amendment of our life as we doo Cap. 3. The second cause why we doo not repent vs of our wickednes NOw let vs goe vnto another cause which is to wit a great yet a false and vncertain hope of pardō at Gods hand Through this hope Satan the continuall enimie of mankind deteineth mā in wickednes and by laieng daily before his eies the mercie and lenitie of God forbiddeth him to dread his iustice But as God mercifullie dooth pardon the penitent and like a father forgiueth such as returne from vice vnto wel-doing so doth he leaue them neither vnpunished nor vnreuenged who obstinatelie persist in wickednes So that in vaine doo they hope for pardon which repent not from the harte Notwithstanding by proposing this vaine hope the diuell dooth so bring it about that man becommeth secure in naughtines and neuer taketh anie care at all of amending his life but vtterlie despiseth the riches of Gods bountifulnes and patience and long sufferaunce not knowing that the bountifulnes of Godle◠deth him vnto repentance to vse S. Paule his wordes vnto 〈◊〉 Romanes Heere that would be remembred which Iohn the Baptist as it is recorded by Matthew dooth saie Repent your former euil conuersation for the kingdome of heauen is at hand so would that also which the Lord in Esaiah speaketh Vnto whom shall I looke Euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirite and trembleth at my words Christ saith moreouer by Luke Except you amend your liues ye shall all likewise perish And Peter in the Actes Amend your liues therefore and turne that your sinnes maie be put awaie I omit sixe hundred places of Scripture tending to prooue that no man should haue hope or trust to haue their sinnes pardoned but he which repenteth For as I said in vaine dooth he looke for pardon who doth not repent from his hart And although there is no time too late to aske forgiuenes at Gods hande as plainelie appeareth by the example of that Theefe of whom the Euangelists make mention For God desireth not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his waie and liue yet who knoweth not how dangerous a thing it is to prolong amendment of life from day vnto day For as the Poet saith No man so in Gods fauour is That to liue an other daie he can promis Death taketh men oftentimes when they little thinke thereof insomuch that they haue no space to repent and amend their liues Here I will not recite what Plinie in his naturall Historie speaketh of suddaine death because in these daies nothing is more common Manie yeares are not passed since two old men dwellers in one towne together hauing on a certaine night had vnlawfull copulation with two harlotes whom they haunted died both of them sudēlie the one of an Apoplexie the other thrust through with a Dagger Now in what dāger their soules were let euerie mā consider with himself for his profit I am not ignorant that good men as wel as wicked may suddenlie be taken and that though the righteous as he saith be preuented with death yet shall he be at rest notwithstanding how horrible is it for an impenitent person suddenlie to be ouertaken after such a sort How manie haue we heard of murthered through contention euen when they haue beene at good cheere How manie slaine foorth-with taken in adulterie How manie at the Dice and Cardes suddenlie dispatched euen of such as they haue plaied withall That I speake nothing of them which falling from their Horse haue brake their neckes which through Shipwrack haue perished suddenlie which finallie either
heart manifest so that all men shall behold the same The which how horrible it will be to the wicked no man can sufficientlie either tell or conceaue For if in this life a wicked man whose wicked and shamefull vices and wickednes are to be ripped vp and repeated in the face of a great multitude of men would wish rather to be swallowed vp of the earth aliue then haue so many witnesses of filthie life to appeare in sight how thinke yee our mindes shalbe troubled when the harts of the wicked shalbe opened and all our cogitations councels and doinges brought before the sight of the whole world of the Angels of God and of all the Saints in heauen If here we deeme it a miserable and wretched thing to be led vnto prison how miserable will it then seeme to be throwen into euerlasting tormentes If it be horrible to be punished in this world either with banishment or death what will it be hereafter to be banished worldes without end from the celestiall kingdome and body and soule to be put to euerlasting death If it be most comfortable for the godlie to heare God bidding them to inherite the kingdome prepared for them from the foundation of the world how horrible doo we thinke that the sentence of the Iudge will be to the wicked condemning them vnto euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels If we beleeue these thinges of the iudgement to come of the reward of the godlie and due punishmēt of the wicked are true why doo we so liue as though there were neither heauen nor hell If we doo not beleeue these thinges why will we needes be called and counted Christians Let vs therefore shake off securitie which possesseth our mindes together with that sluggishnes cowardnes and blockishnes and drousines which haue inuaded vs. We argue not about nifles but about the saluatiō of the soule the possession of the kingdome of heauen about euerlasting life and blessednes VVherfore now I saie now while we liue and are in health while we maie be forgiuen while he is our aduocate which will be our Iudge let vs endeuor to amend our liues and neuer deferre we the same till our sinnes forsake vs before we forsake them Let vs alwaies remember the daie of iudgement and the horrible voice of the Iudge bidding the wicked depart from him also the paines of hell and the euerlasting fire let vs neuer forget Finallie let the shortnes of our life the certaintie of death the vncertaintie when we shall depart be euermore in minde to the ende that no man maie promise him selfe so much as one daie no not one moment of life To which effect it was well saide of Seneca It is vncertaine in what place death will waite for thee therefore waite thou for death in all places And therefore the more vncertaine and short mans life is the more while we maie we are to thinke of repentance Cap. 11. ¶ A remedie for the second cause whie we repent not◠mentioned afore in the third Chapter FOr to saie some-what against the second cause why shouldest thou defer the amendment of thy life in trust and hope of Gods mercie I graunt Christ when he came called sinners but vnto repentance for their life mispent not vnto libertie to sinne The Lord gratiouslie as he is mercifull doth forgiue but such as repent nor them which obstinatlie persist in wickednes Christ bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree saith Peter I know he did but what addeth he That we being deliuered frō sin should liue in righteousnes Christ gaue himselfe for vs saith Paule vnto Titus No man denieth that but what followeth 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 workes Christ hath washed vs from our sinnes through his blood saith Iohn in the Reuelation I knowledge it but not that we should againe defile our selues with sinne and wickednes VVe haue an aduocate with God the Father saith Iohn euen Iesus Christ Not vnles we repent and so run vnto him for helpe But you vvill saie I vvill hereafter bewaile my sinne But how knowest thou that thou shalt liue one minute of an houre much lesse so long a time as thou vvilt prefixe for thy conuersion Call into thy minde vvhat God vnto that Rich-man in the Gospell vvhich in his great prosperitie promised long life to him-selfe doth saie O foole this night will they fetch awaie thy soule from thee Thou hast much to feare least the like happen to thy selfe I hope thou saiest it will be better vvith me then so But vvhat if your hope deceaue you then maie some one exclame and saie O vaine and deceitfull hope Now if that should come to passe vvhich God forbid thou art vtterlie damned and voluntarilie throwest thy selfe into euerlasting destruction Yet you can not denie but it maie fall out so our life is so vncertaine Then vvhat a follie is it by procrastinating repētance to bring thy saluation in hazard vvhich thou maist be sure of repent thou neuer so soone VVhy then foorth-with dost thou not amend rather then vvith such daunger of thy saluation to feede thy vaine hope God is mercifull me thinkes you saie So is he righteous too VVhy then standest thou not in feare of his iustice vvhose mercie thou dost trust vntoo I desire not the death of the wicked saith the Lord by the Prophet True but what followeth those wordes But that the wicked man turne from his waie and liue Therefore turne you vnto the Lord as Ioel adhorteth with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Turne you vnto the Lord your God for he is gratious and mercifull slowe to anger and of great kindnes as the same Ioel speaketh Hetherto maketh that of Ezechiel If the wicked man will returne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my statutes and doo that which is lawful and right he shall surelie liue and shall not die And a litle after Haue I anie desire that the wicked should die saith the Lord or shall he not liue if he turne from his waies Hetherto belongeth that of Esaie Let the wicked forsake his waies and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and he wil haue mercie vpon him and to our God for he is verie readie to forgiue The Prophet sheweth how that God is gratious and merciful but toward them which repent and acknowledge their sinne Therefore doo thou speedelie repent turne againe vnto the feare of God aske forgiuenes of thy sinnes with teares and sighing be thorowlie out of loue with thy selfe for wickednes perpetrated and committed leaue thine owne waie and turne vnto the Lord thy God and then assure thy selfe of saluation despaire not neither doubt thou of Gods mercie and fauour In the meane while remember the saying of our Sauiour That ioie shalbe in heauen for
erect comfort and quicken vs according as Christ hath promised in the Gospel that our heauenlie Father wil giue the holie ghost to them which aske it at his handes And yet in the meane while let vs not resist the holie Ghost by yeelding to wicked affections contrarie to our conscience neither yet expel and grieue him to vse the wordes of Paule Let vs walke in newnes of life not insinfulnes Let vs giue vp our bodies a lâ—ing sacrifice holie acceptable vnto God let vs crucifie the flesh with the affections and the 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 righteousnes and true holines Be we followers of God as deare children and walke we worthie of the Lord as it becommeth Saintes supporting one another through loue endeuoring to keepe the vnitie of the spirite in the bond of peace let vs be gentle one toward another and merciful let vs loue our enimies blesse them that curse vs doo good to them that hate vs and praie for them that hurt vs and persecute vs. Let vs giue to the hungrie meate to the thirstie drinke to the needie reliefe to the harborles lodging cloathing to the naked let vs visit the sick admonish the wanderer teach the ignoraunt councel the troubled comfort the afflicted let vs reconcile them which be at variance despise honour refuse promotion abhorre couetousnes finallie let vs endeuor euermore to tame and subdue our ingraffed naughtines together with wicked affections let vs not only take heed to ourselues least at anie time our hearts be oppressed with surfetting and dronkennes but also prepare we our selues in like sort vnto praier by abstinence and fasting And among so manie subtilties and batteringes both of the Diuel the world and the flesh let vs with earnest praier call for the helpe of God that we be neither in prosperitie proude nor out of heart in aduersitie VVhat so euer we doo let vs doo it to the glorie of God let no man seeke his owne but euerie man anothers wealth Furthermore let vs be such as maie offend no man but rather by good example prouoke others vnto godlines and wel-doing And last of all let vs praie continuallie and in all thinges giue thankes let vs set our affection on thinges which are aboue and not on thinges which are on the earth These be hard thinges thou saist I know that yet meete for Christians and necessarie to saluation Let vs then giue dilligence to cast awaie this nicenes of minde let vs not pamper our selues so as we doo neither veeld to our weaknes nor finallie of purpose make the grace of God in vaine to vs-ward Let vs not onlie not wittinglie run headlong into wickednes but stoutlie beside resist the Diuel when he driueth vs to sinne and neuer cowardlie let vs yeeld vnto him And so what is there so grieuous but thou wilt iudge it light so thou maist attaine vnto euerlasting life and heauenlie loies For wel and wiselie was it saide of Paule I count that the afflictions of this present time are not woorthie of the glorie that shalbe shewed vnto vs. Hetherto maketh The thinges which eie hath not seene neither eare hath heard neither came into mans heart hath GOD prepared for them which loue him For how great a thing is it which no force of wordes can expresse not cogitations comprehend namelie to be a cittizen and inhabiter of heauen the heire of God the coheire of Christ to possesse the kingdome prepared for the godlie before the foundations of the world euerlastinglie to behold the most souereigne good to enioie the most comfortable contemplation of Gods heauenlie countenance to abide in the societie of Angels in the companie of Saintes in the number of the righteous with continuall Hymnes and Psalmes together with all the holie Angels and Patriarkes and Prophetes and Apostles and Martyrs and with all the godlie now enioying blessed immortalitie and eternitie to praise God euen the fountaine of all glorie VVhat Are not all the miseries and troubles of this life compared to the glorie to come euen to be iudged of no waight nor meete to deserue so great a reward as is appointed for them that in verie deede we maie be ashamed of our nicenes and securitie And who is there calling to remembrance the kingdome of heauen euerlasting life eternall happines the exceeding great and infinite ioie the fellowship of Angels the societie of all the Saints which departing in the feare of God doo enioie felicitie worldes without end I saie who calling these thinges to remembrance wil couet to liue vpon earth and not with Paule rather desire to be loased and deliuered out of the prison of the bodie Let vs not then deeme those thinges hard which our sauiour Christ so often beate into the heads of his for the attainment of this so vnspeakable happines especially sith contrariwise they which obserue not the commaundements of God necessarie vnto saluation are not onlie bereued of the felicitie whereof we haue spoken but are cast headlong into hel among the damned where they are tormented euerlastinglie with extreme paines appointed for the reprobate iudged to hel fire and perpetuall death throwen into vtter darknes where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth plagued with most bitter paines and torments which euer shall endure and that in the societie and crew of Diuels and damned soules without all hope of better state that is they shall continue worldes without end in despaire which more grieuouslie shall vexe them then anie torment or then all torments beside Now whome would not these things terrifie from sinning as the feare of hel the paines of which there is neither end nor measure euerlasting death vnquenchable fire vnspeakable tormentes the fellowship of Diuels the societie of the damned horror anguish trembling both euerlasting for continuance and vnmeasurable for greatnes such as neither mans minde can conceaue nor any mouth declare I saie what man is there but wil be terrifed by that daie of wrath as both the Prophet and Paule in his Epistle vnto the Romanes calleth it that daie of trouble and heauines of destruction and desolation of obscuritie and darknes of cloudes and blacknes at what time he wil reward euerie man according to his workes O that the cogitation and memorie of these things were continually fresh before the eies of the minde vndoubtedly then either I am much deceaued or men with more dilligence would obserue Gods commaundements they would study earnestly both to abstaine from sinne and wickednes and also to liue vprightlie and vertuouslie all the daies of their life Moreouer what if here in this world vertue sometime be rewarded as wickednes and il behauiour is punished And to saie nothing of the conscience whereof we haue spoken at large in other bookes let vs bring out those things which in a manner we doo feele