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
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
reioyce on thine owne behalte for tht thou haste begun to reforme and amend thy maners so greate pleasure wilt thou take hereof and dailye more fruite and more And thou wilt without doubte nowe confesse that to be true which our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe saieth in the Gospell of Matthew My yoke is casye and my burden is lighte Hereunto maketh that whiche Ierome saieth in a certaine place Ouermuche custome of sinning saieth he maketh the waye to vertue harde and grieuous but if this custome bee contrariwise altered the waye to godlinesse is founde playne and pleasaunt Thus saieth he no lesse truely then elegantly If so be that Stilpho the philosopher as Cicero witnesseth whē he was enclined both to drunkennes lechery did so not withstandinge by learning bridle and represse his vicious nature that no man euer saw hym drunken no man euer sawe anye appearaunce of vnlawfull luste in hym why mayste not thou through Gods helpe and assistance by litle and little subdue and at the last quite shake of that I may so speake an euill custome although it hath continued euen a long time An heathen man ouer came nature shall not a Christian ouercome custome especially if he earnestlye endeuour to doe the same if he haue greate regarde to himselfe if he doe after a sorte force himselfe and nothing at all fauour or further his pronenesse to euill if in respect of his imbecillitie and weakenes he doth with ardent prayer craue Gods helpe and assistaunce if he desire that the holye Ghoste may be giuen vnto him which may stirre vp newe motions in his heart and assiste and further his studye and care which he hath to liue well But let vs nowe proceede to the rest Remedies againste the fourth cause for vvhich mē differre to amend and repent vvhich vvas sayde to be vvelth and prosperitie LEt them whome welthe and prosperitie maketh secure for this was the fourth cause of differring repentaunce call often to minde that dreadful saying which is in the Gospel of Luke Woe be to you that are rich for yee haue receiued your consolation Wo be to you that are full for ye shal hunger Wo be to you that nowe laugh for ye shall wayle and wepe Neither lette that departe out of their mynde which is sayde to the riche man in the Gospel Thou foole this night wyll they fetche awaye thy soule from thee Let them remember also those thinges which we haue spoken of before concerning them whom the flood suddenly destroyed when they looked for nothing lesse of them which perished in Sodom by fyre from heauen of the rich men whom the seruaunt of God S. Iames biddeth weepe and houle for the miseries that shall come vpon them also of the rich man mencioned in Luke which was clothed in purple and fared deliciously euerye day who being dead is tormented in hell fyre Let vs then shake of all carnall securitie Let vs not forget God in our prosperitie Let vs feare the wrath of the eternall Iudge before whose tribunall seate we must all stand and euery one for himselfe pleade his owne cause his conscience accusing him being witnesse of all things that he hath done either well or ill It most commonly commeth to passe that prosperitie puffeth vp mens mindes that such as flow in welth wax insolent and proude that riches make men stoute and stately Let vs therefore alwayes suspecte and mistruste our good fortune and prosperitie let vs againe again take hede that temporall telicitie be not cause vnto vs of eternall misery and destruction What must we then doe Paule in fewe words declareth in his firste epistle to the Corinthians It remaineth saith he brethren that they which haue wiues be as though they had none and they that weepe as thoughe they wept not and they that reioyce as though they reioiced not and they that buy as thoughe they possessed not they that vse this world as thoughe they vsed it not for the fashion of this world goeth away The Apostle sheweth here that there ought to be none or very litle care of wiues of prosperitie or aduersity of welth riches finally of all terrene and earthlye thinges but our chiefe and almost onely care oughte to be of eternall heauenly things Not without cause doth Paul bid Timothee charge them that be rich that they be not high minded and that they trust not in vncertain riches but in the liuinge god And Dauid in the booke of psalmes saith If riches increase set not your hart theron Riches are not condenmed which euen the godly haue often possessed but truste which is reposed in riches stoutnes insolēcy which commeth by them For riches and prosperitie are wont for the most part to make men stout lofty whereupon is that saying in a certain commody because they haue gotten a litle mony they are become high minded Let him therefore that is welthy rich and who in all his affaires hath prosperous successe both giue thāks vnto god take good heede that he become not insolēt and proud let him put no truste or affiance in his fortunate estate let him haue an especiall care lest that a certain securitie creping vpon him as it commonly cōmeth to passe he forget God let him beware that he become not voide of all sense of Gods wrath againste sinne so that a carnal carelesues possesse his minde he wax altogether slothful and sluggishe Vnlesse he take diligent heede of these thinges it is to be feared assuredly least that resting in hys present prosperitie he be caried awaye with a false and vayne ioye and least flatteringe himselfe with hope that his good fortune shall long continue and hauing cast of the feare of God death come vppon him in the meane season in this his securitie for the laste daye of mans life is then most commōly wont to come when it is least looked for Let alwayes therefore this sayinge of the Apostle be before the eyes of our minde When they shall say peace and safetie then shall sudden destruction come vpon them Wherefore let vs not sleepe as Paul admonisheth but let vs be vigilant and sober Let vs not say Wee shall haue peace and no euill shall come vnto vs neither let vs say as they whom the Prophet Esay speaketh of We haue made a couenaunt with death and with hell are we at agreement and thoughe there goe forth a sore plague it shall not come vnto vs Many testimonies of Gods wrath againste sinne may be founde here and there in the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles manye examples of the punishment of the wicked which euerye one reading to his own cōmoditie may be moned thereby to shake of that ouermuch security which is commonly incident to men in the time of prosperitie I mynde not here to rehearse them all least I shoulde be too long and tedious Let vs alwayes haue before our eyes those thinges which Moses mentioneth came to
suddenly slaine so that he can not repent for his sinne when as wee in the meane season by the singular benefite of God haue time and space graunted to returne vnto goodnes Let vs not then abuse this so greate goodnes of our moste gracious God who doth as it were looke for occasion to take pitie vpon vs Let vs amende our lyfe lest that being suddenly preuented with the day of death we seeke space to repent can not fynde the same And truly he that hath promised pardō to the penitent as I sayd euen now but it must be eftsones repeted hath not granted so much as the morow to him that continueth in sinne But that sinner wil some man say may repent flie vnto God for mercy when he lieth nowe visited with sicknes In dede it is not to be denied that this may be but marke howe manye impediments be heare which can scarce be ouercome For to omit the regarde which he ought to haue to make his last will and testamente the care of his wife and children the griefe of his sicknes and such like which seeme perhaps of small importance Howe will Satan at that time besturre himselfe what meanes will he not attempte that he may driue miserable man to despeyre of his saluation because of his innumerable sinnes committed For then especially if euer he putteth in thy mind what soeuer euil thou hast throughe thy whole life from thy childhood either thought willed sayd or done and those offences that be otherwise greeuous of themselues he encreaseth and amplifieth Finallye he goeth about by all meanes to take from man all hope of pardon and to driue him to despeire of hys saluation because of the multitude and greatnes of his sinne Hereunto may be added the remorse of a guilty conscience the great feare of death being nowe before mans eyes the sorrowfull and bitter cogitation of the tribunall seate of the Lord that terror of Gods iudgement which doe sore amaze and astonish the horror of hell fire but who can rehearse all the impediments and all the causes which will hinder thee that thou canst not thinke of repenting Doe not therefore doe not I say if thou bee wise differre the amendment of thy lyfe vntill the last day thereof For this is a thing full of perill and daunger That I may not adde here vnto that such repentance forasmuch as it is vrged by necessitie forced with feare of hell rather then proceding from a ready willingnes of mind shal little preuaile vnto saluation But there is no repētance to late before god I confesse it is true in deede for in what hour so euer a sinner repenteth God will no more remember any of his iniquities and as the Prophet saith in another place The Lord desireth the repentaunce of a sinner rather then his death and destruction But what if sudden death come vppon thee vnawares that thou shalt haue no time to lament thy sinne or to thinke of repenting For that whiche maye chance to all is to be looked for of all Call to mynde the sudden destruction of them who perished by the fall of the tower in Siloam as it is in Luke What it thou be suddenly taken with such a disease or sicknesse that thou shalt lose thy right vnderstandinge and fall into rauing and madnes which we haue seene oftentimes to haue come to passe Nowe if this chaunce as vndoubtedly it may that hope to repent which the sinner had in prolonging the amendment of his life is then vtterly frustrate and vayne That which may come to others may also come to thee thinke not thy selfe exempt from that which is common to all For true is that saying of Publius It may chance to euery one that may chaunce to any Cast of therfore hope of long life then which nothing assuredly is more vaine and deceitfull doe not dreame that thou shalte haue opportunitie neither appoint the time when thou wilt repent Finally doe not with this so vayne hope further thy folly or rather madnes in differring the amendment of thy life If thou be wise repent at that time when thou canst yet sinne For if thou purpose then to repent when thou canst now sinne no more surely thou hast not forsaken sinne but sinne hath forsaken thee Moreouer it is to be feared lest that thou which wilt not repent when thou mayst shalte not be able when thou wouldest For the iudgments of the omnipotent God are vnsearchable in punishing the sinnes of men As God of his goodnes and clemencye is wont to giue space to repent to them that be willing therevnto and ready and fit to receiue mercy and in the meane season to suffer sinners with much patience and leuitie til they returne vnto goodnes so whē he seeth one desperatly dissolut and naught deluding Gods long sufferance and nowe worthy of destruction he ceaseth any more to kepe him from falling into voluntary perdition and as the Scripture speaketh he blindeth the desperate and bardneth the obstinate neither looketh he any more for his conuersion neither giueth to the condemned time to repent or occasion to amend For God hath appointed euery one his day measure beyond which neither can man procede in sinning neither wil God any longer differ the punishment of sinne Which thing surly ought worthely to stirre vp al without delay to repēt and to endeuor to receiue that grace offered vnto them But seeing we haue spoken sufficiently hereof we will nowe proceede to speake of other matters Remedies against the sixt cause for vvhich many in the Papacie differre and neglecte the reforming of their life SVch as differre the amendment of their life vpon confidence in popish pardons and indulgences doe as the prouerbe is truste to a broken staffe and leane to a ruinous wall as also they that worship S. Barbarie and they that prouide that they may bee buried in S. Fraunces habit For what is there any where in the whole Scripture concerninge these tryfles What in the volumes of the olde Testament What in the bookes of the Prophets What in the doctrine of the Gospell What in the writings of the Apostles Finally which of these thinges was eyther in the Primatiue Church obserued or by the true general iudgment and consent of the Churche at all times receiued and allowed as profitable to saluatiō much lesse as necessary He therefore that lamenteth not his sinne before his death can not obtaine saluation albeit he be furnished euen with a thousande popishe pardons and bulles Wherefore vnlesse thou wilt bring thy saluation in doubt omitting these trifles repent thy euill life reknowledge thy sinne and be hartelye sorye and greatlye greeued for the same with earnest prayer and teares craue mercye of God and flye for succour and refuge to the onely merites of Christ with a firme faith and assured hope to obtaine Gods grace and fauor for Christ his sake whom the father hath giuen to death for vs So will
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
and fiue yeres of age become a newe maried man and marye an olde criple to my wyfe doe yet perswade me vnto thys But at this day olde men being almost four score yeeres of age mary wenches that be scarce yet fiftene yeres old So doe they hope no lesse then striplings or yong men that they shall yet liue a long while but how wisely y thing it selfe is able to shewe And perhaps to some it may seme a thing foolish and fond to be woers being so olde as for vs wee determine thereof neyther way onely this I know well that they which mary Virgins at that age albeit they be nowe olde and euen very criples are notwithstanding caried with hope of liuing yet longer This hope therefore is the cause why almoste no man dooth earnestly thinke of reforming his manners or of rendring an accounte to that highe iudge of the life which he hath led All differre and put of from daye to day as muche as they can so profitable and necessary a thing Howe greatly doe I feare least the very heathen shal in the last iudgement vpbraid vs with this slothfulnes who doe so late or almoste neuer at all thinke of reforming our maners amendinge our life Whereas not a fewe of the Heathen in time paste were wonte dayly to vse this custome before they gaue themselues to sleepe to consider with themselues according to Pythagoras precepte what they had done that daye eyther well or ill Which the Poet Virgill speaking of a good wise man hath declared in manner as followeth HE doth not close his eyes to take the sweete and pleasant sleepe Till all things done the day he weyes vvith cogitation deepe Thinking vvhat did I pretermit vvhat haue I done in season VVhat not why was this naughtly done and why that vvithout reason VVhy did that mynde preuaile with me which altred had bin best VVhy vvhen I had the poore releud did greefe possesse my brest VVherefore did I that thing desire vvhich good is to deny VVhy did I gaine preferre before vertue and honesty Hath any man by me bin hurt by vvord or deede this day VVhy doth nature then discipline vvith me beare greater sway Thus weying thinges both sayd and done from morning vntill night That which is euill doth vvorke him greefe but good doth him delight Of this custome Seneca also saieth somewhat which I can not but adde and annexe hereunto He therefore speaking in a certaine place of calling the minde dayly to giue an accounte Sextius did thys saith he the day being ended when he went to his nightly rest he demaunded of his minde in this sort what euill of thine haste thou reformed this day What vice hast thou resisted in what respect art thou better And a little after he addeth What saith he is more goodlye then thys custome to examine the whole day What sleepe foloweth after such examinatiō of a mans selfe how quiet is it how sound free when the mind is either praysed or admonished the viewer and graue censor thereof doth knowe of the conditiōs of it I vse this custome do dayly examine my selfe When the night is nowe come I cōsider what I haue don the whole day I cal to mind wey my deedes and wordes I hide nothing from my selfe I passe nothing ouer For why should I feare any of mine errors whē I can say se thou do this no more I do now pardon thee In such a disputatiō thou didst speak too carnestly doe not hereafter deale with the vnskilfull Thou didst admonishe suche a one more freely then thou oughtest and therefore didst thou not amēd him but offend him Hereafter take heede not onely whether that be true which thou saiest but also whether he to whom thou speakest will suffer the truth to bee spoken vnto him These thinges saith Seneca and many other concerning the same matter which I would to God we did throughly print in our mindes set them before our selues to imitate folow yea did cause our childrē also to vse this custome Surely if we did this either I am verie much deceiued or els we wold endeuor to lead a life more agreable to a christian professiō But now what do we we merily banket feast togither we haue tables furnished with dainty delicates wee giue our selues to immoderate eating drinking we do scarce once in a yere require an account of our selues of our life past ether aske pardō for our sinnes or determine to return into Gods fauour So farre is it of that daily before wee giue our selues to slepe euery one examineth his own cōsciēce cōsidereth with himselfe what life he doth lead or being wholy displeased with himselfe doth with weping and mourninge and knocking his breste prostrate on the grounde aske God forgiuenesse promiseth to liue better hereafter by Gods helpe and assistance and endeuoreth to perseuer in his purposed determination to leade a godly life And albeit we doe not these thinges yet in that state that wee are we dare be bolde to take sleepe yea and to sleepe very soundly in which state if soden death shoulde come vppon vs as there is none who certenlye knoweth whether he shall in the morning rise safe out of his bedde or no there were no hope left of our saluation But none of these thinges come into our minde so muche doe wee flatter our selues with hope to liue longe which hope notwithstanding when we see it oftentimes deceiue others how childish are we or rather howe vnwise who thinke our selues exempt out of the number of such as it were by a certaine special priuiledge Of the sixte cause why many that are blinded vvith popishe superstition driue of to amende and reforme their lyfe NOw remayneth the sixt cause why many in the papacie prolonge the amendment of their life but especially such as are of the richer and welthier sort and this is not only that trust which is conceiued of pardon and remission of sinnes by popish bulles and indulgences but also a certaine vain and false hope of deliuerance from the paines of purgatorye by yeerely sacrifices and masses and by the helpes and meanes of Priestes and Monkes also by the almes deedes and good workes of their freendes that are aliue as fastings praiers vigils pilgrimages and other such like For some of thē both affirme that by indulgēces may be obtained remission of sinnes and are not ashamed to say that the soule which is tormented in the fire of purgatory doth flie vnto heauen euen at the verye same instant that y mony is throwne into y bason also do think that the departed are holpen by other mens workes and merites which both the scripture it selfe the auncient fathers do vtterly deny affirming that in this present world one maye helpe another either by prayer or good counsell but that when wee come before the iudgemente seate of Christe euery one muste beare his owne burden and not
to vse many words as death fyndeth euerie man so is he iudged of GOD. Howe execrable then is that sluggishnes of men who liue with so secure a minde in sinne and wickednes For if they were touched with any care of their saluation they would surelye keepe some measure in sinning and thinke of the last day of their life as for example that I may speake particularly he that is at enmitie with his neighbour would endeuour accordinge to the commandement in the Gospell to be reconciled whoremongers and adulterers woulde remember that God will iudge them as the author to the Hebrewes sayth murderers sorcerers and all lyers woulde neuer forget that lake which burneth with fire brimstone where Iohn in his reuelation writeth that their portion shal bee couetous persons drunkardes raylers woulde alwayes haue in memorye that they shall not inherite the kingdome of GOD as y Apostle Paul witnesseth writing to the Corinthians and Ephesians rich men woulde neuer suffer to slip our of theyr mynde that our Sauiour sayth it is harde for them that truste in riches to enter into the kingdome of GOD briefly all of vs in generall woulde without doubte be myndfull of that vnquenchable and eternall fire which Christe threatneth in the Gospell to the wicked and vngodly and euery one woulde for him selfe feare that aunswere which was made to the foolish Virgins I know yee not also that saying concerning y slothful seruant Caste that vnprofitable seruaunte into vtter darkenesse where shal be weeping gnashing of teeth Moreouer that of the man which had not on a wedding garment Binde him hande and foote and caste him into vtter darkenesse c. Finallye that sayinge of our Sauiour to the wycked Departe from me yee cursed into euerlastinge fyre O too too stubburne and obstinate ones whom these thinges doe nothinge moue O Epicureans whiche bebeleeue not these thinges O wicked and vngodly persons which laugh and scorne at these thinges O mad men and vnmindefull of their saluation who neglect these thinges But they neglecte them who thinke they shall obteyne pardon and remission of sinnes by bulles and indulgences of the Pope and trusting in thys perswasion driue of from day to day the ameÌ„dment of their life Now there is another cause also which make many thus prolong and differre namely for that they are perswaded that because of a goodly worship which they giue to S. Barbarie they shall not dye but being verye contrite and hauing first receiued the Lords supper For thys superstition of worshipping S Barbarie hath possessed the mindes almost of all in the papacie WhereupoÌ„ they haue appointed a fast vnto her to be obserued euery yeere and painters set her forth holding the holy cuppe and breade in her hand Moreouer this is an other cause also for that they haue prouided long before that when their dying day is come they may be admitted into the familie of S. Fraunces and being deade may be buried in S. Fraunces habit For this opinioÌ„ also is fixed in the minds almost of all that the deuill hath no power ouer them who attaine to this forasmuch as the Monks haue together with their habit imparted vnto them their merites and good workes which are done in their whole order as masses diuine offices prayers preachinges studyes fastinges abstinence vigils labors and other such like For hereupon the Monks leauing alwayes that which is sufficient for theÌ„selues to obtaine saluation if there be anye ouerplus as alwayes there is some are wonte not to impart the same freely vnto others but to fell it vnto them for money This therefore is a cause also as I haue saide why they neuer thinke of amending their life who haue so bought with mony the participation of monks merites and deedes But it shall be needelesse here to refâ—… and confute this manifest error of popish indulgences and this very fond and vaine superstition of worshipping of Saintes seeing that both others before vs and we also haue often done the same in sundrye places Thus hast thou gentle Reader the chiefe causes as I thinke why we doe eyther neglect or differre the amendment of our life There be also other as it were seconde causes heâ—eof â–ª â—…s dayly company societie and conuersation with the vngodly and wicked who are touched with no feare of God muche lesse follow vertue and goodnes or liue holilye and vprightly Now the familiaritie and company of suche men is with all diligence to be auoyded of them who haue care of their soules helth Euill wordes as it is most truly sayde of one corrupt good manners and another saith by keeping company and liuing together with the wicked thou thy selfe also dost become wicked Here lette parentes remember that they must haue an especiall care that they suffer no naughty and leud person to haue anye familiaritie with their children and that they see and marke what youth it is and with what maners they be endued which are much or daily in their company doe liue familiarly wyth them or seeke to insinuate into their frendship and fauoure For euery man doth almoste become such a one as they are whose companye he vseth And truely in deede is it sayde of one that he which toucheth pitch is defiled therewith But let vs heare what another sayeth who cannot away with our religion Maners sayth he are taken of them with whom we be conuersant and as certaine diseases passe froÌ„ the bodye to them that touch it so doth the mind also insert them that be next it with the euills thereof The drunkard bringeth his companions to â—oue well wine the vnchast person maketh the stout and valiant if it may be effeminate and wanton couetousnesse poureth her poyson into them that bee next it The same may be sayd on the other side of vertues c. He therefore that desireth to liue vertuouslye and godly and to keepe himselfe pure cleane from wickednes which all Christians oughte to desyre let him shunne and auoide the companye of the wicked For they that giue themselues wholy to theyr companye and are daily conuersant feaste eate and drinke be merye and make good cheere with them they I say doe hardly euer thinke of amending their life neither can they easily seuer themselues froÌ„ y plesant coÌ„pany of their coÌ„panions Wherfore notwithstanding they frequent godly sermoÌ„s are admonished of good men and suche as haue authoritye and they themselues being moued with feare of Gods punishmente doe desyre that vnfainedly to reforme their maners yet for all this I can not tell howe they alwayes differre and driue of from day to day neyther can they for the moste parte euer either truelye repent or turne to the right way In the meane season deathe oftentimes sodenly vnawares commeth vpon them being thus secure carelesse For as euery mans death is certaine so is the houre thereof most vncertaine And therfore are we commaunded in the Scripture to watch and be alwayes