hinder thee Although I speake to thee O beloued soule I do meane and speake these thinges also to those which are as yet vnperfect aduising and counsayling you al to loue innocēcie and hate euyl What soule soeuer thou be that offendest be sory and repent and so repent if thou doest meane to reape the fruites of true repētance that thou doo not returne to thine olde sinnes nor to the occasions therof Looke alwayes for death and so prepare thee selfe for it as though euerie howre should be the instaunt therof And lest weake soules should lacke any kinde of godlie instruction whereby they might the better prouide them selues to dye I wyl adde more to this which I haue sayde Marke well the wordes of mine Apostle which thing the matter it self doeth plainely shewe You haue no stedfast dwelling nor permanent cittie sayth he in this trāsitory world for such a cittie is onely to be looked for in the worlde to come vnto the which this world is nought but the way and pilgrimage which iourney and pilgrimage is ended when your life is determined Death is the end of al men that boundeth and leadeth directly from the pilgrimage wherein you now are vnto the region whervnto you cast your course in suche dyrect sorte that there is none other way or gate through which you cā enter or departe out of this Pylgrimage into your countrey but onelie by death As there is no assuraunce of lyfe so there is an assured certenty of death but this indyfferent betweene the good and the euyll that being mixt in this perigrination they be al but straungers and they al do long to come to the blessed kingdom although they al walke not in the ryght path Al you so lōg as you are in this iourney although you stray you may returne to the ryght way againe And when you come to the ende of your iourney euē at the very gates therof at the extreme instant of death some go from eryle to lyfe and other some go to myserable and eternall death You ought not therfore lightly to esteeme nor forcelesse with a neglygent conscience to consider in what sort you shoulde come to death For then must you forgoe leaue behind you al thinges whatsoeuer you put any trust or confidence in whether it be riches honour friendes or any other vanitie whatsoeuer for at the howre of death they shal profite nothing but must be al left behind and you fellowlesse without companye shal goe alone before the tribunall seate of almightie God thereto receyue accordinge to your workes What greater blindnesse madnesse maye there be then to take pleasure or reioyce in any thing that may happē vnto you whylst you trauaile in this iourney or to loue any transitorie thing that neither auaileth or profiteth the soule And as it were cast into a certayne sodaine madnesse with a drye wythered conscience without God to seeke for such things as are altogether fleshly and rashly to rush and thrust foorthe after externall thinges onely neglecting slouthfully tyme and godly occasions wherby they might amend their liues taking no regarde nor heede to the spiritual estate of their inwarde man And in this maner you doe runne headlong vnto death O how many are in this very point deceyued Loe here how they are intraped wrapt vp and taken in the deceytful nettes and priuie snares of this transitorie and miserable worlde See howe vnhappilie they are taken captiues and compelled to drawe the yoke of the diuell that thus vnaduisedlye come to death with blinde and hard hartes O howe vnhappie bee their liues that neglecting death prepare not for their owne health They whiche hinder the soule and with pleasure pamper theyr fleshe forgoing althinges behouefull and necessarie for theyr saluation are worthy to be cut of an cast away Euerie man ought so to liue at euery howre as though the same were the last howre of his life wherein he should go to heare the iudgement of god And right now if not oftner alwaies he ought to cal present before his eyes the dreadful houre of his departure from the fleshe for the soule shal be iudged for euery word work and thought Alwaies and presently thou oughtest so to rule thy self that by thy nowe doing thou shouldest be found in such a readinesse as in tyme to come thou wouldest wyshe thou shouldest be found in when vndoubted death shal appeare It is therefore the parte of a foolish and madde harte to deferre the correction of life vnto that time wherein the ende of lyfe appeareth and when there is no further hope of life At what time we ought not neede to be amended but rather being amēded we ought to meete our god Departing out of this life thy soule forgoeth not onlie al offences but also leaueth al other thinges behinde it And yet art thou not sayde then to forsake sinne whē thou canst sinne no more Therfore whilst thou hast power to sinne forsake it seeing that true repentāce can neuer be to late notwithstanding that such repentance as is deferred to the last howre is much doubted whether it maye be called true repentance or not If the feare of damnation do so much trouble thee at the howre of thy death take heede then that thou prepare what remedie thou canst to preuent the same I feare me thy feare groweth not by charity for that thou didst offence me thy Lord God but that it commeth only of the proper loue thou bearest to thee selfe Thy onely cause of griefe is for that by thine owne offences thou hast gained death and eternall damnation whereas if thou hadst truely repented thy chiefest cause of sorowe shoulde be in that thou wast vnobedient stubborne vnthankfull reprocheful and that thou yeeldedst not due honour vnto me This ouer great lamēting of thine owne cause doth iustly argue that if there had bene no daunger or if sinne should freelie escape vnpunished thou wouldest neuer bewayle thy sinfull estate although thou hadst continued therein a thousand yeres The true repentāce whereby the soule is reconciled vnto me is grounded only vpon charity doth continually lament and repent that it hath so often despised me the best the greatest faithfullest Lord God Creator redemer And that it hath exalted it self so hyely so proudlie so arrogantlie and vnobedientlie against me it being but dust and of no value Whosoeuer he be that meaneth to dye well let him as mine Apostle teacheth lyue soberlie iustlie and godly For after a good and iust life foloweth an happy death For the death of my Saints are precious in my sight by what death soeuer they doe depart out of this life whether it be by water or by fyre or in their beddes And for a preparation thervnto in the meditation whereof a wyse man spēdeth the whole course of his natural lyfe take here this short exercise whereby euery Christian may in suche sorte admonishe and direct himselfe in such order as he
THE MANER TO DYE WELL. An Introduction most compendiouslie shewinge the fruytfill remembrance of the last fowre things That is to say Death Hel Iudgement and The ioyes of Heauen Gathered out of manye good Authors both comfortable and profitable to the diligent Reader Learnedly instructing howe to prouide for Death ¶ Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones 1578. ¶ To the Reader TO stirre vp a more diligence of the inwardenâ—aâ— in vs our Lorde Iesus putteth foorth this similitud knowe you that if the houshold Father knew at what time the Theefe would inuade his house he would surely watche and woulde not suffer his house to bee broken By this Household is vnderstanded the thoughtes of man and also the invvarde and outward motions and deedes VVhich housholde vvoulde be to lasciuious and vvanton if by the diligence of the Father they vvere not corrected and repressed For if the father be vvearie of his care vvho coulde be able to shevve hovve proude and insolent the thoughtes eyes tongue eares and other members vvoulde become This house is the conscience vvherein this Father dvvelleth and gathereth together the treasure of vertues for vvhich he doth vvatche diligentlie least the house should be broken vp â–ª And it is not one but many Theeues that vvould commit this buglary and robbery For euery verâ—â—e hath a â—ice incident vnto it The cheefe Theefe is taken to bee the Deuell againste whom and all his atmie the saide father if he be not negligent doth watche and warde his house appointing Prudence in the firste warde who vnderstandeth what is to be admitted and what is to be kept out Next vnto her is placed Fortitude to withstand suche enemies as by her warning he seeth to come neere And Iustice sitteth in the middest to geue to euerie one his owne And euerie houre is to bee feared for it is not knowen in what houre the theefe wil come VVe oughte alvvaies to watche least the sleepe of sinne do vnwares creepe vpon vs Now these thinges beeing thus ordered the Memorie of death desireth to come in and is suffered to enter who being demaunded to say what he was and from whence he commeth Hee answered that he would say nothing except all were commaunded to silence VVho obteyning his request began in this order My name saith he is Memorie of death and I foretel you that death is comming Prudence speaking for al putteth the question saying VVher is death Memory ansvvereth I know where he is for he draweth very nere but the houre of his comming I knowe not Prud. VVho commeth with him Mem. A number of Deuilles bringing with them greate bookes in which are written the offences of man and they claime those whose sinnes are written therein and they will violentlie draw with them both their soules and bodies to hel Prudence VVhat thing is hell Mem. Hel is a place of vnmesurable sorowes miserie and darknes there is eternal horror there is no hope of goodnes nor seperation from euyl Euery man that is there hateth himselfe and al others There is weping and gnashing of teeth There is no voyce there heard but Alas Alas Alas they haue no vvord but Alas The deuelishe tormentors doo tormente and are tormented and of them there shall neuer be ende nor remedie Suche a place is Hel and a thousande times worse Prudence O God what shall wee doo My brethren heare mine aduise and geue me yours Be ye faithful watche and pray doo good not only in the sighte of men but in the sighte of god Temperaunce Let vs goo before his face with harty repentaunce and let vs prayse him in Psalmes Bee you sober and watche Fortitud VpoÌ„ whom do you stay Be strong in fayth Comfort your selues in our Lorde Arme your selues with the armour of God Take vppon you the harneys of Iustice the target of Faith and the sworde of the holie Ghost which is the word of god Iustice Let vs lyue sober iust and godlie Sober to our selues iust to our neighbours and godlie to god Let vs not do that to others vvhich vve vvould not haue done vnto our selues Prud. Behold another Messenger verie comelie and pleasaunt vvho seemeth to bring some good newes Iustice Let him come in peraduenture he wyl make vs mery for this first messenger hath terrified vs Prudence I vvill admit him Come in VVho art thour Messenger I am called The loue of eternal lyfe Keepe silence for I can not be heard vvhere tumult is Iustice Yf vve did keepe silence vvhilst the Memory of death spake of iustice we ought to be silent when thou speakest Desire of eternal lyfe I haue seene such thinges as no man is vvorthy to speake of I sawe God the maiestie of the vndeuided Trinitie but yet as it vvere through a glasse that brightnes vvas so cleare that mine eyes dasled to beholde that clearenes vvhich passeth all vnderstanding Yet notwithstanding I behelde a litle vvhyle our Lorde Iesus sitting on the right hande of his father who did so farre excel all creaturs that the Angels themselues desire to beholde and looke vpon him And I sawe vppon his bodye the woundes of his passion wherewith he redeemed vs But not being able any long time to looke vpon this brightnes of the sonne of God I turned mine eyes vpon the orders of Angels that stand before god I behelde also the Prophets the Apostles and Martirs and an innumerable companie of blessed Soules from whose eyes God hath wasshed awaie all teares they doo see the king in his Maiestie and were all appareled in long white garmentes lyuing a lyfe without ende W. B. Of the fall of man and the punishment by death for the same and of the vncertaine howre of death BY shine against the lyning Lorde olde Adam our first Sire Death to him selfe and al his séede hath gayned for his hyre Mortalitie and temporal death this gift our Parents wonne In Paradise the fruite forbyd to eate when they begonne First sinne began and after death in haste dydit ensue By whome ech man must passe herehence as sure as God is true Lest some men would them selues extol too farre aboue the rest If that they shoulde in freedome quite escape this feareful blast Then Death nothing more certen is no doubt thereof we see But no man knoweth the houre ne place nor what his ende shal bee Whether by dint of edged sword or heate of flaming fyre Or roaring wanes of raging seas pale Death shall paye his byre No place nor time there is but Death in watche and wayte doth lye Man to intrappe if that he can vnarmed him espie No shadowe darke on massie corps more duely doth attende Then lurking death who alway séekes Man to confounde and ende What man is he that standeth sure tyll night to drawe his breath Our life beeing the open way that straight doth leade to death The wise therefore remembring oft that once he needes must dye His lyfe at euerie howre to yeelde prepareth wyllingly
they do prepare themselues comming to the holye Eucharist and vittayle themselues therewith for theyr reliefe in theyr iourney The fowrth daye they do continually pray vnto God for the inspiration of the holy ghost wherby they may lighten soften the hardnes of theyr hartes and thus they do continew al that day The fift day with feruent deuotiō they make theyr humble supplications vnto God for a spyrituall death wherby they may perfectlie mortify them selues and yet continually liue to God. To ech of these dayes a man may applie fyt Psalmes and Prayers And lastly they do giue harty thāks to almightie God for his innumerable benefits bestowed vpon them at al times during theyr liues ¶ Spirituall counsayles at the howre of death MY Daughter thou beeing brought to infyrmitie prepare thy soule to God taking such order for thy temporal goodes that there be no strife nor cōplaint for them after thy death Nothing profiteth the soule more then to leade a iust innocent lyfe and to do good to euery man in thine owne life tyme whatsoeuer thou wouldest that others should do for thee be thou careful and diligent to do the same thy selfe If after death thou dost goe to euerlasting paine what doeth the fulfylling of thy Testament the pompe of thy Funeral almes or sacrifice auayle thee after thy death Do these things thy selfe in thine owne life dayes that thou maist be deliuered not only frō sinne but also increased in my grace thou mayst escape damnation and I preseruing thee from thine offēces thou maist continue and perceuer in good workes vnto the ende When death approcheth see thou do ridde thy self from al cares and worldlie labours that with feruent desire thou mayst affect to come to me without spotte beeing ful of fayth not trusting any thing to thine owne workes but let the hope of thy reliefe be onely planted in mine ineffable mercie In this faith altogeather betaking thy selfe and al other things which thou hast in this worlde vnto my prouident wyl humblie and deuoutlie receyue thou the Sacraments of my body blood which haue theyr vertue only by my merites and were by me geuen vnto the Church as a treasure Although that many men haue oftē times abused them as they haue done many other good things neuer thelesse receiue thou them with a feruent zeale and a sure fayth vnto thy euerlasting ioy ¶ An Exercise wherein the weake man may resigne himselfe to God. O My saythful louer O mercyfull Lorde Iesus Christ graunt that with al my harte and minde I maye perfectly vnderstande that which I saye As the Harte desireth to come to the fountaynes of freshe waters so doeth my soule desire to come to thee O Lorde I haue chosen rather to bee an abiect and an vnderling in the house of my god then to dwel in the Tabernacles of sinners Blessed are they which dwell in thy house O Lord they shal prayse thee for euer By soule dothe thirse to come to thee O Lorde when shal I appeare before thy face O my soule why art thou heauy why troublest thou me Hope in the Lorde for I wyl trust in him the health of my countenaunce and my god Turne thy face vpon me thy seruaunt saue me in thy mercie O Lorde that I be not confounded foreuer I cal vpon thee linger not from me my god Looke backe and assist me a poore man left vnto thee for thou arte the releeuer of Orphantes thou art the refuge of al my trouble that compasseth me O my triumph delyuer me from them that assault me O thou Lorde God of my health come and helpe me for thou arte my strength my helper and refuge do not forsake me nor despise me O God salute me with welcome beholde I come vnto thee my God whome I haue neglected and despised for all the earth is ful of thy mercy I doe therefore flye vnto thee moste mercyfull God receyue me according to thy word by which thou saydest I wyll not the death of a sinner and I shal lyue do not consounde me contrarie to mine expectation My God I craue not for this temporal life but I do onely inuocate and call vpon thee with al my harte which art the eternal life Alas my best beloued Alas my only Lord and God that euer I offended thee that euer I neglected thy inspirations and counsayles that euer I loued any thing besides thee my Lorde God this is it that repenteth me I beseech thee therfore to graūt vnto me that during my life I maye with al my hart truely faithful lie repent and bewayle these mine offēces I woulde I coulde powre forth and vp before thee al the droppes of my bloud and teares in true repentaunce Lorde Iesu I craue and loke neyther for death nor life but onelie for thy good wyl Let al thinges be done according to thy good wyl and pleasure Seeing it pleaseth thee that I must dye O Iesu receyue my soule graūt that I may haue eternal rest with thee If it be thy pleasure O Iesu that my lyfe shal be prolonged I haue determined with al my harte to beseeche and aske that thou wylt most graciously graunt it me through the helpe of thy mercie and grace so to offer my selfe vnto thee as an offering to thy glorie wyll O best beloued Iesu for that I haue past ouer my lyfe in contempt of thy glorious name lyuing out of thine obedience graunt nowe I beseeche thee that henceforward I may wyllingly spēde al the strength of my soule and body and al the rest of my time graūted by thee vnto thy glorie and wyl O Mercyful Iesu bee present with me and mercifullye helpe mee in these my paynes and miseries and if greeuouser paynes shall happen to oppresse me which for mine offences I knowe I haue deserued farre greuouser greater then these graunt that I maye suffer and beare them paciently Osweete Iesu although I had neuer offended nor deserued punishment in thy sighte yet to thy glory and wyl in these paynes as in euerye other I doe offer and resigne my selfe vnto thy Maiestie not trusting in mine owne vertue but only in the multitude of thy merits vpon which I doe presume and doe inuocate and call vppon thee that thou mayst by thy vertue erect strengthen the weaknes and vnstedfastnes of my soule and that thou wilt comfort it with strength and strengthen it with patience that I doe not fall downe beeing vanquished with aduersitie and temptation nor weried with weaknes of minde but beeing altogeather consumed in the flame of thy sweete fyre and loue I maye onely long for thee and that wyth a thirstie appetite I maye coole my thirst in thee that I may thinke vpō thee and altogether long for thee that I may forsake disdaine and cōtemne the world al things therin that I may geue thee like thanks both in ioye and sorowe O Most louing Iesu I haue chosen thee
world to be but short seeing it is suâ—â—â—fent to liue a short time and smal age so that we spende the same in dooing well For what matter is it whethâ—â— one dye yong or olde for so much as the number of yeeres nor length of tyme do make neyther blessed nor vnblessed happy nor vnhappy And that by coÌ„ming to death the ende of al humain kinde we shal aryue in a safe porte quiet harborowe free and safe from al the dauÌ„gerous stormes troublesome broyles of this worlde The death of the iust man. NOthing ought to be more wished for then to be in the handes of God â–ª wherein the Soules of the iust quietly rest Theyr death is acceptable to the Lorde if a man maye caâ— that death which is the greatest pleasure that can happen to good men for it is to them the ende of labour care the winning of victory the way of lyfe the entrie into perfect securitie and ioyning of the soule to God the thiefest goodnes which is of al other the greatest rewarde that men can haue The departing of the iust man from this lyfe is the vyage and passage from trouble to rest froÌ„ paynes to glory from pouerty to a kingdom from feare to securitie from griefe to ioye from death to that lyfe which onelie ought to be called lyfe And to conclude death is nought else vnto him but an escape from prisonment a returne from banishment a finishing of labours an arriual to the port of rest an ending of pylgrimage a lyghtning of his burden a delyueraunce from a ruinous house an ending of euylles an escape from daungers and paying to nature hir duetie and entrye into his countrey of euerlasting ioye and glorie By meanes where of that daye wherein the Saintes departe hence and are receyued into Heauen is commonlie called their natall daye for that when they departe hence then doo they begynne to lyfe and by dying in this worlde they enter into a better The death of the euyll THe death of a sinner is most wretched of al euyls for there by he loseth the worlde the greatest aspect familyer felowship of his best beloued also by it the soule is seuered from the body is condempned to abide the affliction of Hell fyre For the paines of one coÌ„demened soule is farre worse greeuouser then al the tormentes of al the holy Martirs yea though they were al gathered in one For the sinner hath horror feare at his departing griefe sorow in his iourney shame and confusion in the sight of God the vpright iudge incredible terror dreade in departing from this lyfe entring into an vnknowen Region wherein feareful spyrites wycked Angels meete the soule and pul it to eternal paines The goodes of the wycked are diuided into three Fyrst his soule to the diuel his body to the wormes his temporal goodes to his heyres which are coÌ„monly vngratefull and too prodigal The daungers of death THe diuel doth with al his engines and snares seeke to intrap mans Soule at the very howre of death if God of his speciall goodnesse assyste him not tempting him fyrste of the verity of his faith persuading him to forgo the same putting him in remembraunce of his coÌ„mitted offeÌ„ces thinking with the greatnes of them to driue him into dispayre And at the same instaunt coÌ„monly a pang more painful then tongue can tel assayleth him which is the separation of the soule from the body That paine is so great that as then he can remember nought els but the deadly paÌ„ges of death only Therfore it is written In death O Lorde none remembreth thee And Saint Augustine sayth The sinner is stricken with such animaduersity that dying he forgetteth him selfe who whylst he lyued remembred not god Saint Barnarde also treating of the hoâ—â—e of death Cursed spyrites sâ—â—th he watcheth at my doores and â—â—rrible diuels attende my comming so that I dare not goe forth Sâ—â—â—â— lie I am not able to escape theyr haudes vnlesse the Lorde defende me But he who tedeemed me wyll defende and faue me Howe we shoulde comfort those â–ª that be in daunger of death To the end that euery manâ—night learne the ryght waye howe to dye I haue gathered together these sewe lynes folowing out of dyuers good Authors Three exhortations to the sicke 1. Consider good Brother that all men of what condition or degree soeuer they bee must once dye some sooner some later according to the tyme appoynted them by God to whom we are al subiect to paye vnto Nature hir fees whensoeuer his omnipotencie shal thinke good who hath appointed this worlde vnto vs as a bayting Inne and not to be our continual dwelling place There is no cause therefore why you should so much affect this transitory life for by how much the loÌ„ger your life is prolonged by so much y more your syns are increased And y elder you grow in age the more your offences are multiplied for euery day vice increaseth and vertue decayeth We ought therefore to be the more wylling to dye for the by flytting from this poore mortal life we shal come to the euerlasting and blessed lyfe 2. Acknowledge good brother most thankfully â–ª God 's bountiful goodnes towardes thee in that that hytherto of his vnspeakeable mercie he hath permitted thee to lyue yea for that at this present extremitie of death his hyghnesse hath graunted thee thy perfect senses reason and vnderstanding whereby thou mayst acknowledge thy bounden duety vnto his heauenly Maiestie And in that he hath not oppressed not preuented thee with sodaine death and for that also he hath of his merciful goodnes called thee vnto his true and vnfaigned faith through which by his help thou shall be brought to his euerlasting kingdome and eternal inheritaunce For this and al other his innumerable benefites geue vnto his highnesse most hartie thankes and altogether betake thy selfe vnto his endles mercie humblie crauing pardon of him for thine offences 3. Consider that God the Father hath geuen and yeelded his welbeloued sonne in whome he tooke great delyght to be crucifyed and tormented with innumerable tribulations tortures and paynes and to suffer most vyle bitter death for vs most wretched sinners Seeing therefore thou hast in this transitorie life commytted done innumerable synnes and haynous offences which deserueth farre greeuouser and greater paynes and punishmentes then bee assigned vnto thee Thou oughtest therfore patientlie to beare the paines and panges of this thy deserued disease and death Christ for thine offences most willynglie and patientlie suffred death and the holy Martyrs and Apostles with al theyr minde moste wyllingly imbraced death for his names sake Knowe thou therefore that what maner of death soeuer thou suffrest is muche lesse painefull then theyrs for wyl thou nyl thou die thou must therefore in the name of Christ good brother take it patiently Questions to bee asked of him that lyeth sicke by
good Raim We haue gathered out of that which you haue saide that there shal be a perpetual seperation of the good and the euil th one froÌ„ thother Those which haue takeÌ„ themselues to Lucifer his wicked will makings themselues his members shal be with him condemned to euerlasting fyre And those which haue folowed Christ our lord shal be with him takeÌ„ vp to euerlasting glory The reprobates shal be plunged in a moste deepe bottomlesse pitte and the chosen shal be lifted vp to the highest heauen They shal be geuen to the fyre and those to pleasures They shall haue deuils to their fellowes these shal be accompanied with Angels They for extreme tribulation shall â—â—ace these for the greatnes of their ioyes shal geue harty thaÌ„ks A most thicke and eternall darkenes shal be alwaies cast vpon them to these God shal be an euerlastinge light the lambe shal be their light Now you haue that which you required Gather therefore by these the full and last finishing of man for if he be adiudged good the best of all shal be allotted vnto him that is to be with Angels in the kingdom of heauen But if he be adiudged euil then shal he continually possesse the worst place of all with the deuils in Hel. Dom. Nowe seeing that I am come to th ende of all these thinges which I sought for and to the very last retribution I geue you moste hartye thankes for that you haue vouchedsafe to graunt to my requeste and for your laboure and industry whereby you haue most effectually instructed me duringe my lyfe I wil alwayes remeÌ„ber this most wholsom instructions remembringe my selfe to bee made by my redeemer and farre exalted aboue other creatures And I being through mine owne pride and disobedience slidden and falne down with a thousand other calamities intercepted am redeemed restored againe by Christ hauing compassion vpon me and by him reserued to receyue eternall rewarde FINIS The thirde thinge worthy to be remembred is the payns of hel CHriste hath his fan in his hand he vâ—â—â—leâ—â—â— his barn flower and gather his wheat corne into the same and 〈◊〉 burne the chaffe with vnquenchable fyre By the fanne of our Lorde Iesus Christ is vnderstoode his iudiciall power and iust iudgement And by this Barne flower is vnderstoode the Churche or humaine kinde By the Wheate is signified his eleâ—te By the Chaâ—â—e the reprobates by the Baâ—â—e is vnderstoode the kings dome relestiall The sence of these wordes is that as by the Fame the corne is made cleane as the chast is women away the corne left so the son of God wil purge his church wherein amongest the chosen the iust the reprobates and wickedare mingled but in the day of iudgemeÌ„t they shal be seuered one froÌ„ another in place rewards as now they differ in conuersatioÌ„ The vngodly are rightly called the chaff because they are vaine light follow the contions of their mindes The vertuous are compared to the wheat for they are the fruite of Christ borne in the field of the Church that is regenerate of water and the holy ghost spiritually liuing in charitye bâ—deâ—t with diuine grace heauenlye giftes They are transferred from the barn flower of the Church militant vnto the barne of the triumphant church And the wicked being the childreÌ„ of Babilon which is of confusioÌ„ they are hurled headlong into a fornace of burning fyre and eternall damnation And for that hetherto we haue treated of death iudgement I mene to set forth a sâ—â—dowe of the paynes of hel whereby the heaueÌ„ly Ierusalem maye appence the excellenter ¶ Of Hell. WHoe is able to expresse the tormentes appointed for the vngodly and euill liuers in that deadly place called Hel What other thinge can be there but continual flames of fyre eternal tribulatioÌ„ infinite calamities of al euils Burning flouds that run from stinking fens fil vp all places therein There dwelleth wicked and vglye Angels headed and winged like dragons with flaming eyes casting of fierye dartes whose teeth are more long sharpe theÌ„ the Elephants wherwithal they pinch gnaw and torment more greeuous theÌ„ doeth the Dragons taile whose lookes bringeth sodaine feare greeuous paynes and feareful death Oh I woulde to God that death might ende these painefull extremities But alas se yet another torture greuouser then this The soule shal stil liue he alwayes vnder the rule gouernance of cruel tormentors And further beinge gnawen with Serpentes changinge their holdes they do with new bitinges a freshe from time to time torment and tears the soule in peeces Dragons shal ther deuoure the lips of the blasphemers the Cockatrice with greedy teeth shal sunder teare in peeces the bowels of the wicked Al kinde of horrible beastes wil there torment without ceassing the soules of the misbeleues Howling be wailing lamentation rearing do ther continually sound fearful scriches and confused cries are there in al places sodenly raysed Which crye is procured by the cruel force of tortures and is thruste forth by the strength of burninge flames The same tribulations whervnto the soules are receued be without al end and measure For the soules are continually consumed with the broiling heate of fierye flames and beeing throughly burned are againe and againe tormented in new kindled fyres There are wormes that neuer dye fire that neuer quencheth and continuall gnashing of teeth There is in hell deadly colde continual Ise cruel hunger vnme asurable thirste perpetual sorowe raging pestilence vnceassable punishments continual darkenesse and nightes of horrible obscurenes The miserable soule findeth there no rest but is tormented with al kinde of tormentes There is mortall death defectiue lacke endlesse ende What faythful man can then but tremble to heare and knowe of such paynes Deliuer vs we beseeche thee good Lorde from that lake of miserie obscure place and darke world couered with the deadlye cloude of death wher no order is obserued but an euerlastinge horronre Stir vp oure hartes moste merciful God vnto the true fruites of repentance We humblye beseeche thy Maiesty to deliuer vs from these eternal paines See here how great how in comparable how vnmeasurable how perpetual the miseries paines infelicities of the condemned are He which wil not be terrified by these descriptions is blind hard harted neither hath he anye spiritual sence but is rather altogether deade Let him notwithstandinge looke aboute him and rise from the depth of his sinne lifting vp the eyes of his hart to consider these thinges And euerye man which as yet delighteth in sinne let him impresse the consideration of these thinges in his minde that at the least by the horror of them hee maye bee withdrawen from vice and directed to vertue He also which already hath begun to enter into the way of vertue let him by the due consideration of these thinges cast off all vnstablenesse and vnbeliefe And let