ought to knowe that neyther the iust man nor the vniust the child nor the olde man are exempted but be dissolued by death the soule from the body before they be in that state of goodnesse or euill beyonde the which yf they should heare liue alway they shoulde neuer passe further to any felicitie c. ECCLESIASST CAP. 14. OH death how bitter is the remembrance of thee vnto a wicked man hauing peace in his ritches AVGVSTINVS OH life howe many hast thou deceaued whiche whyles thou fleest and passest away art as nothing whyles thou art seene of vs thou art as a shadow whyles thou art made much of thou art as a vanishing smoke sweete art thou vnto fooles and bitter vnto wyse men therefore thou art to be shunned thou art to be feared because thou art daungerous So fareth it with man in this lyfe euen as a man that soiourneth in an other mans house not knowyng when it shall be sayde vnto him arise and depart from hence Ad Romanos CAP. 5. BY meanes of sinne death entred into the worlde AVGVSTINVS THE true death in deede which men doo feare is the separation of the soule from God who is the life of our soules VERSVS O happy is mortall kinde If he alwayes life fynde And feare the eternall good end in respect of his vertuous mind A mighty medecine a royall eke remede Sinne to subdue I finde for eche degree Is to remember that state yf he were deade VVhen soule all sorowfull departes the body Then waying this liues instability VVe shal be sure to receaue iudgement Togeather both in soule and body Of woord and worke of thought and time mispent â–ª ECCLESIAST CAP. 10. WHY art thou proude O thou Earth and Ashes sequitur A King to day and to morowe dead and when a man dyeth he shall become the heyre of Serpentes Beastes and Wormes GENESIS CAP. 3. DVst thou art and into dust shalt thou returne againe HIERONIMVS WE dye dayly and we are changed dayly and yet we thinke our selues to be eternall euen this very woord that I speake that I write when I eate when I drinke or what thing els so euer I doo somewhat therby is my life time shortened PSALME 44.144 MAn is made like vnto vanitie his dayes doo passe away as a shadowe VERSVS Est homo res fragilis durans pro tempore parvo Hic est hic non est quasi flos qui crescit in aruo Man is a brickle and fraile thing That lasteth but small time Now here nowe fades as flowre In feelde that groweth fine ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. MAN dooth not know his end but as the fyshes are taken with the hooke and the birdes are catcht in the snares so in the euill dayes are men snared and yet notwithstanding this man knoweth not whether he deserue more to be hated or loued but the vncertainetie of thinges are reserued till a further time EZECHIEL CAP. 3. THE vngodly and wicked shall die in his sinnes AMBROSIVS WHAT thing can be more miserable vnto vs which are cast foorth into this life as all bare and naked fraile in body weake in mind doubtfull and full of disquietnesse slowe to take paines prone and redy to pleasure AVGVSTINVS IT is a foolishe thing for a man to liue in that case wherein a man dare not aduenture to die and he is of better courage which slumbreth and resteth with one deadly sinne going no further then he that waigeth battel with seuen enimies Thinke on thy corpes now delicately fedde VVhose foode shal be euen woormes and scorpion Thinke howe with costly clothing thou art cladde VVhich death shall change into corruption Yet of our death by naturall condition No creature knoweth time when nor place VVhether Heauen or Hell for our possession Eyther els ioy or sorowe we shall imbrace PSALME 94. MIscheefe shall fall vpon and ensnare the wicked to his destruction AMBROSIVS IT is better for sinners that doo euill to dye then that they shoulde remaine still long in sinne ARISTOT 3. Ethicorum OF all fearefull thinges death is the most fearefull PSALME 49. THE graue is their dwelling place and last end they shall leaue their ritches vnto others to possesse PROVERBES CAP. 11. RItches shal not profite nor preuaile them that haue abused them in the last day of reuenge but iustice shall deliuer a man from death of hell SAPIENCE CAP. 3. FOR horrible is the death of the vnrighteous generation GREGORIVS in moribus EVery man feareth the death of the fleshe but fewe doo feare the death of the soule ECCLESIAST CAP. 1. ONE generation passeth and an other commeth 2. REGVM CAP. 13. BEhold we all taste of death and are as it were water cast vpon the earth which returneth not from whence it is sent so do we fall away ECCLESI CAP. 1. THERE is no suruiuing memorie of them that went before PSAME 9.10 THE memorie of them is perished as it were with a sodaine noyse PSALM 9.10 I Am yeelded vp vnto obliuion as a man that is dead from his owne hart BARVCK CAP. 3. WHERE are the Princes of the nations become which were lordes ouer the beastes of the feeld which delighted them selues in the foules of the ayre whiche haue hoorded vp their siluer and gold wherein men do put their trust and those neuer linne searching for the same which doo woorke therevpon and are busie therein their dayes are ended and them selues are gone downe into the deepe pit Death vnto the wicked is terrible euermore But vnto the godly a comfort doubtles To liue well eche man be carefull therefore And whyle thou hast light refuse darknesse Behold the nine nobles of famous woorthynes As Dauid Salomon Hector and Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest of noble renowne VVhose flickring fame through the world doth wander Hath not death by his dart laid them adowne DEVTE CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation without aduise or counsell and without wysedome would God they would once be wyse and haue vnderstanding and woulde prouide for â—heir later dayes Which woords being more amply discussed by saint Bernard he saith Would God they would be wyse in three thinges that are past that is to say In the losse and lacke of good thinges whiche are brought to passe vnder mortall power or in dooing those thinges which they haue neglected to doo 2. That they woulde be wyse in not constituting the wicked in aucthoritie whereof the number is infinite in the worlde 3. And that they would be circumspect and carefull in the losse of time then which thing there is nothing to be coumpted more precious And sayth saint Bernard Would God they would vnderstand three things that are present that is to say 1. The shortnesse of our life because we haue neither certaine day nor houre how long to rest here 2. The difficulty of our saluation because straight is the way that leadeth therevnto and fewe there are which walke in thereby 3. And the small number of
them that are to be saued because there are many called but fewe are chosen And againe he saith Woulde God men would prouide for those three things that are to come that is to say 1. Death then which nothing is more bitter 2. The iudgement that shall be generall at the last day then whiche nothing shal be more horrible to heare 3. Eternall punishment ordeyned for the vngodly then the which nothing shal be more sharper The memorie of the dead for rhe liuing is a president How better we shall for our state prouide VVhyle we haue grace and space of the Omnipotent Print we well in hart what others hath betide VVhich haue eyther walkt straight or staggered aside At our neighbours fall let vs be eke vvare Lest vve that stand fast vvith them doo not slyde Our armour of perceuerāce in good life le ts prepare ECCLESIAST CAP. 14. BE mindful of death because when he commeth there is no stay with him IEREMI CAP. 4. THEY are wyse ynough to doo wickedly but to doo well they haue no knowledge at all ESAI CAP. 44. I The Lorde am he that doo transport wyse men backwards and doo make their perseuerance to become meare foolishnesse IOB CAP. 7. MY dayes are passed away my cogitations are dispersed disquieting my hart they haue changed the night with me into day and againe yet after darknes I hope to see light BERNARDVS in meditatio TELL me where are the louers of this worlde become whiche a fewe yeeres before passed were with vs there is nothyng remaining more of them at this day but dust and woormes Had they not their appoynted time to drinke with thee to eate with thee and to laugh with thee And so esteemed they of their dayes spent in their wealth and ritches and in the ende they are gone downe into the neathermost pit Their fleshe is here in the earth bestowed vpon the woormes and in hell there theyr soule vnto the flaming fyre tyll being againe lincked in that vnhappy familie they are tossed in perpetuall burning flames VVithout repentaunt turning vve encrease eche day To death and his dome vvherefore vvith diligence Amend vve our misdeedes vvithout delay To saue our soules shevv vve our sapience Eschevving the vice of vvylfull negligence That the time redeemed may render alvvay Sound fruites of vvoordes vvoorkes and conscience To ballance accompt iust at the iudgement day PSALME 11.34 THERE is ordeyned a most vyle death for sinners PROVERBS CAP. 5. HE shall dye that hath not receiued discipline GREGORIVS FOR the most highest is a pacient rewarder of the wicked for those that he hath long suffered to sinne to the ende that they might be conuerted and repent The same persons not being conuerted nor repentyng he dooeth more greeuously adiudge them to the greater damnation SAPIENCE CAP. 4. THE iust man though he be ouertaken with death yet shall he finde rest CHRISOSTO THERE is nothing so much deceaueth man as the vayne hope to liue longer SENECA VNcertaine death doth preuent and steale vpon many amendementes of mislyfe that are deferred or euer they be aware PSALME 49. DEath shall feede the euyll men euen as sheepe that are throwen into the lake of hell they shall desyre to dye but death shall flee from them c PSALME 116· PRecious in the syght of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes BOETIVS DEath vnto those men is happy and welcome when she seemeth not to plant more pleasure at one time then at an other and being often called for he comes sodenly to the sorowfull SENECA TRuely to dye well is for men to dye wyllingly AVGVSTINVS THere is nothing more withdrawes man from sinne then the often meditating and thinking of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 18. THE Lorde hath wrought woonderfull thinges in the death of man. SENECA THere is nothing shall profit thee so much vnto temperance and moderacion of all worldly thinges nor cause thee so much to contemne them as the dayly forethincking and meditating of death APOCA CAP. 2. REmember from whence thou art fallen and be wylling to repent thee thereof ESAI CAP. 38. DIspose and set in order all thinges within thyne house because thou shalt dye and not line And Ezechias turned away his face vnto the wall and prayed vnto the Lorde Sequitur And Ezechias wept with bitter teares As scriptures truely pronounce in sentence Death due to sinners impenitent vvhich dye In this vvorld damnation is by consequence VVhen the sound of Trumpe is hard from on hye From death to lyfe ryse then shall the godly VVherfore preuenting duly the fyrst death Repent vve in time vvith purpose earnestly To liue for euer vvith Christe by fyrme fayth ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for VVENSDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for THVRSDAY Remember the iudgement generall How for our liues then pleade we shall The Translators Application Thalmighty in the Firmament made lightes for to deuide The day night which lights for signes should serue eche time and tide A greater light the Sunne to shine by dry by night a lesse The Moone and Starres the self same light doth plainly lo expresse VVhyles we haue lyght le ts walke that way That gaynes light at the iudgement day AVGVSTINVS WE haue this experience because the minde of man is more familier and invred with the diuers intisementes of this world and ouercome with the concupiscences or lustes thereof that therefore she refuseth to be occupied in well dooing requireth pleasure and scarcely is she brought to this poynt that she shal be able to exclude and reiect from her selfe the custome of her former lyfe But when she shall once fall in reckoning howe necessary it is to thinke vpon the latter day of the efficacie of the iudgement whiche shall then be being stirred vp and prouoked eyther with hope of reward or with feare of pounishment she proclaymeth wylfull warres against her good mocions and passions whiche shoulde resist the same and assaulteth her auncient former good desyres and forecibly as it were striueth with her selfe to subdude her selfe PROVERBES CAP. THE wicked and vngodly men haue no mind vppon the day of iudgement but they that seeke the Lord doo consider therof IEREMI CAP. 12. TRuly Lord thou art righteous notwithstanding in thy iudgementes yea yf I should dispute with thee what the cause is that the wicked in their wayes doo florishe IOB CAP. 22. WHY doo the wicked liue still vppon earth and are so exalted on high they leade their liues in wealth and yet in the end they goe downe into hell ECCLESIASTES 3. THere are some godly persons before whose faces their owne euils haue come to light as though they had offended with the wicked And there are also some vngodly persons whiche liue with suche securitie and thinke them selues so safe as though they had the woorkes of godly disposed persons with them And I haue perceaued that af all the woorkes that the Lorde hath done man can not comprehend and finde out
be adurned with the Dyadem of eternal glory not in the dounghill of this world but in the Pallace of Heauen in the sight of innumerable Angâ—ls and of al the Saincâ—es in your stoole of immortalitie and with splendant royal ornamentes to be inuested Vnde Sapi. CAP. 5. LTT them receaue the kyngdome of honor and the Dyadem of dignity euen at the handes of the Lord. AVGVSTINVS OH thou my soule yf it be so that we must needes suffer tormentes euery day yea to suffer the very horrible hel it selfe a long time so that we might afterwards see Christ our sauiour in his glory and with his saintes euermore accompanied should we not onely suffer all sorrowe and paine to be made partakers of such glory and good graces VINCENCIVS BEloued brethren in the perplexity of this worldly pilgrimage we suffering the sorowes of our exile as it were with want of all goodnes are defiled and suffer the disposing of all incombrances the snares of sinnes laide for vs in euery place fearing the subtel deceiptes of our enimies but not sufficient watchfully or diligently preuenting them as we ought forbearing detrimentes and vexations and not able to shake from vs calamities swelling in vices enclined to vanitie in steade of veritie enduring exile for our countrey taste pouertie in steade of abundance vyle thinges for want of glorious thinges and doo so loue this world with a miserable blindnes or rather foolishe madnes that we are vtterly ignorant of that same glory of the holy ones of God whervnto lyfting the face of our mind and inward man we then behold the ioyes of eternal lyfe that we might some what surely sauour in our hartes the sweetenesse thereof AVGVST OH that I knew what I my selfe am and what thou art oh Lorde Oh yf a man knewe what him selfe were and what GOD were he would suffer a thousand deaths yf it wer c. SAPIENCE CAP. 3. BEholde the perpetuall goodnes of the reward for such as feare God. ECCLESIASTI vltimo BEhold with your eiesâ— forasmuch as I haue laboured a little and I haue found great rest vnto my selfe Let your hart reioyce in his mercie Be dooing what you can before the time and he shall geue you your reward in due time VVhen humane soule her selfe so dooth demene That she loues death and leaues lyfe spirituall Both God she then forgetteth quite and cleane Vertue dispisde she flowes in sinnes sensuall Contemning Christe obayes to Belyall And what her selfe is eke forgetting she For heauenly ioy feeles sorowes infernall For life she tastes death then perpetually Actum Aposto CAP. 5. THE Apostles went from out of sight of the people which gaue counsell because they were coumpted woorthy for the name of Christe or in his behalfe to suffer reproches AVGVSTINVS WE wyll reioyce with the elect of God and we wyll suffer tribulations of the world with them for surely they that would not imitate the holy ones in this manner shoulde not attaine vnto their renowne and glory 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. FOR euery one shall receiue his owne reward according to his labour and trauell but many for the most not meanyng to liue well desire to dye well knowyng how precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his sainctes Is he the God of the Iewes onely is he not also of the Gentiles yes of the Gentiles also CIRHSOSTOMVS IF any man shal thincke the way paynefull to liue wel such a one is the excuser of his owne slouth and negligence for yf Mariners and Seafaring men soppose the raging floods of the Sea to be threatninges of danger vnto them yf the season of Winter be thought a hinderance vnto husbandmen yf woundes and slaughter of Souldyers seeme a thyng tollerable and yf most greeuous stripes and blowes seeme thinges easie to be borne withal of very champions them selues for the hope of temporall thinges and transitory commodities much more when heauen is prepared for a rewarde of the godly we ought not once to thincke any thing of these present calamities neither ought a man to looke that this way is streyt but whyther it bringes a man neyther ought we to seeke for any other beeause it is brode but where the same finisheth LVKE CAP. 9. AND being bidden to the supper they begun euery man to excuse them selues BERNARDVS FOrgeue vs Lorde forgeue vs we excuse our selues we woorke al against the graine so as there is scarce any man whiche wyl be made practized as he may wâ—ll be in those thynges which parteyne vnto thee They all sauour earthly thinges they seeke that which is theirs and not that which is parteinyng vnto Iesus Christe They embrace vices they flee vertues and they waxe vâ—le togeather as the brute beast through filthynesse of their sinnes MICHEA CAP. 7. THe godly man perisheth vpon the earth and there is not any one amongst menne that liueth aright c. Resume thy strength nowe as a knight spirituall Fyght for the heauen winne it with diligence The â—ende the fleshe and vyces mundyall Quite to subuert by deuyne sapience If weake thou be craue God for thy defence Hauing good hope by Gods prouision Through watchfull care and humble pacience VVith tryumph thou shalt win an heauenly crowne AVGVSTINE THere shal be the cheefe securiâ—ie the safe tranquility the tranqiul or safe sweetenes the sweete felicitie the happy eternitie the eternall blessednesse· BERNARDVS OH heauenly Citie thou safe Mâ—nsion place a countrey fully câ—nâ—eyning whâ—â— so euer may be delightful â–ª a people without murmuring quiet inhabitance men hauyng no neede of any thing ORIGEN THE deuine bountie of the most highest shal replenishe all the receptacle of the soule with all goodnesse that is to say the angry and irefull soule with power and dignitie the greedy and couetous soule wiâ—h delightes and the reasonable soule with wysdome that there may therein appeare power without contradictâ—on dignity without comparison PROVERBIORVM CAP. 1. THE feare of the Lorde is the Well of lyfe AVGVSTINE LET the loue of this present Woâ—lde depart from thee wherein no man is so borne that he may not dye and let the loue of the worlde to come take place in thee wherein al men are made liuing so as thence foorth they shall not dye where no aduersitie shall trouble thee and no greeâ—es disquiet thee but whereas euerlastyng ioy and gladnesse raigneth for thy perpetual comfort ESAI CAP. 6. THeâ— sayd I Lorde how lonâ— Hâ— answered vntyl the Cities be vtterly wasted without inhabitantes c. ESAI CAP. 35. THey shall obteyne ioy and gladnesse and sorowe and lamentaâ—ion shall flee from them PSALME 119. OH howe good is the God of Israel vnto such as are true of hart Remember man this solace shal be sure Altogeather voyde of worldly variaunce It shall without dreade or distance ay endure But in this lyfe is no continuance Ritches pouertie lyfe and death are but a traunce VVherefore in this worldly mutable estate Let vs seeke to liue after God his ordinaunce Least of that lasting blis we make our selues frustrate DEVTERONO CAP. 3. MOYSES sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel Consider that this day I haue set before thee in thy sight both lyfe and good and of the contrary part death and euyll Sequitur I Take this day Heauen and Earth to witnesse that I haue set before you lyfe and good blessing and cursing choose you therefore lyfe that you may lyue I marueyle and greatly marueyle that man whiche aboue others is a creature endued with reason dooeth not in any thyng followe the iuâ—gement of reason despiâ—yng wholesome thynges and embrasing daungerous thinges seekyng and desyring deadly and hurtfull thinges OH eternall GOD what is the cause of suche dotyng foudnesse in man what reason is there of such foolishnesse and madnesse Why dooeth he desyre the death of the soule with so wicked a hart c. Nowe Heauens and Earth for witnes in I call How God disposeth for mans direction Perpetuall payne and ioy celestiall Vertue vice health and perdition Put to our choyse by free election VVherefore our hartes and eyes le ts eleuate To God the geuer of all grace deuine Of him to craue that he the fyrme estate Of lastyng blisse would graunt vs all in fine ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for SONDAY Per Authorem Namque huius mundi fallacis gaudia vitae Et quibus exuere se debet omnis homo Sunt miserandâ—a niâ—â—is vexant mortalia corda â–ª Virtutum faciunt quemlibet immemorem Quos igitur Chricti baptisma sacruÌ„ renouauit Librum hunc perlegite qui facit esse sacros Quid Iusto prodest aut quid peccator egebit Si Libet inspicere vos docet istud opus Soli Deo Gloria Here endeth this woorke of Contemplacion fyrst printed in Latine at Westminster the yeere of our Lord God. 1499. and nowe newly englished and printed at London by Hâ—gh Singleton dwelling in Creede Lane at the signe of the gylden Tunne Neare vnto Ludgate Anno. 1578.
golde is vvorth seuen of siluer Euen so is it among Treatises Lucubracions and matters composed and compiled for they haue their diuersitie and difference both in matter and maner of saying And diuers degrees of goodnes maye bee founde in the same As good better and all the best VVherefore in beholdyng wel this perswasion I intend neither to disprayse nor yet to attribute â–ª singuler prayse superfluus to any fourme of compilacion or trauell in speciall But by this digression I purpose by Gods grace to commend vnto deuout and godly disposed Readers this memoriall that for as much as our tyme is precious short and full of Impedimentes that by their knovvledge they shoulde choose rhe best matter for rheir spirituall and gohstly nourishment of the soule as they vvould doo in meate and drincke clothinges and necessaries for the sustentation of their body and take their speciall and frequent recourse in the exercise of readyng such bokes as shal make best for their consolacion and profit spirituall Thus in as much as holy Scripture and the fruites thereof vvel vnderstanded and duely executed is a very guide to eternall lyfe as is sayd IOHN 5. Scrutamini Scripturas quia vos putatis in ipsis vitam eternam habere And because novve a dayes men are best delighted to heare or reade such vvoorkes as are compendious pleasant and profitable short in sentence and large in sence Although for lacke of cunnyng and others sondry impedimentes I am insufficient to compile such a peece of vvorke yet neuerthelesse by the grace of GOD I entend to accomplishe my best endeuour accordyng to my sclender talent in setting foorth a compendius Treatis to the honor prayse of God and spirituall profite of such as shall take any pleasure in readyng thereof vvhich may be called the Contemplacion of sinners And by a similitude forsomuch as euen as a man delighted in the diuersitie of meates and drinckes and apparel for the body for alteration or chaunge thereof renueth appetite and affection So likevvyse the spirit of man reioyceth and taketh comfortable refreshing of the enterchaunge and diuersitie of deuine matters vvhich is the foode and furnirure of the soule I purpose to deuide this Treatis in seuen partes accordyng to the seuen dayes of the vveeke so that for euery day a man may finde in readyng a seuerall delectacion and remember a nevve excercitacion And to make this compilacion more autentike I purpose not to insert nor alledge any sentence thereof in the Latine tongue but eyther that vvhiche is probable by holy Scripture pronounced by our Sauiour Christe him selfe the foure Euangelistes or that vvhich his Apostles haue left vs or that vvhiche the auncient Fathers of the Primatiue Church haue vvritten for ouâ—â—omfort or sometimes the morall mixtions of Philosophers addicted to vertue hath reuealed vnto vs eyther els suche good and godly aduertisementes as the good and godlye vvryters of the latter times haue offered me incident to the consummation and finishing hereof in good and decent order although our grosse natiue language and specially in composing of meeter is suche that it can not in all poyntes agree with the perfection of the Latine tongue hath made me to vvrite the matter it selfe in Latine and to comprise my ovvne priuate opinion vnder the same in englishe verse supposing that some lyght is rather thereby made into the vvorke then any obscuritie by my dooing And to conclude beseeching euery man that shall heare or reade this aforesayd Treatice that they iudge not ne backbite my doinges before they haue read and sufficiently digested the same I submit my poore and insufficint capacitie to the discreete correction of euery reasonable Reader ¶ THE AVCTHORS Commemoration for MVNDAY Behold this worldly wretchednesse Of euils which euer vs possesse The Translators Application First when Thalmighty prouidence dyd heauen and earth create An vniuersall darknesse dyd them both obtenebrate Then likte the Lorde to make a light deuided from darknesse The darknesse should night signifie the light should day expresse This day therfore darknesse mundame Eschevve and vvalke in light oh man. PAVLE ad Rom. CAP. 15. WHatsoeuer thinges are written for our learning and instructon are written that by pacience and consolacion of the Scriptures we might haue hope BERNARDVS super Cantica IT behoueth a man to knowe in what order with what affection with what intent and what thinges they are whiche he ought to know That is in what order That he doo first learne throughly that whiche is most in season or fitte for time tendyng vnto welfare With what affection That he learne suche matter as is more feruent and more vehement to make him in loue with knowledge To what intent That a man not for vaine glory neither for curiositie or any such like doo take any thing in hand to know or make knowen but only to the ende that God may thereby be glorified him selfe and his neighbours edified HVGO de Sancto victore THere is nothing in this life perceaued or felt more sweeter there is nothing taken more greedely there is nothing which so sequestreth a mans mind from the loue of the world nothing so strengtheneth and fortifieth the mind against temptations nothing so encourageth a man and furdereth to the accomplishing of euery worcke and of euery trauell more then the study and zeale of and vnto the sacred scripture PROVERBIORVM CAP. I. A Wyse man that heareth wysedome shal become therby more wyser then he was This volume breefe of sclender quantitie Called of sinners the contemplation Accordeth well for eche state and degree Guiding by grace and due direction Our Soule to sease in sure saluation Therefore this tytle profoundly knowyng VVhich of thy conscience may cause correction In hart emprint with matter folowyng CHRISOSTOMVS super Matthe THere is knowen to be in the Sea a confused noyse a continuall feare to such as sayle there an infatigable beating togeather one waue with an other an vnconstancie continuall and euen so fareth it with the world PSALMORVM 77. THY way and thy pathes are in the seas in many waters AMBROSIVS THis life of ours is replenished with such euils that in the comparison therof euen death it selfe is thought to be a remedy and not a punishment vnto vs. ESAI CAP. 45. de impijs THey are all confused and ashamed all the woorkers of wickednesse are togeather gone to confusion IEREMI CAP. VI. THey being confusedly scattered are not confounded and are nothing ashamed of their wickednesse BERNARDVS THE small number of soules that liue well tryeth the danger of this world and so dooeth the multitude of them that persist and goe through the same AMBROSIVS in sermone IN the troublesome sea of this world sayth he we must greatly feare least that eyther the sturdy violence of the tempest doo carry away our shippe or that the flowing streame doo sincke and swallowe it vp either els leste that some cruell Pirate or Rouer doo seaze vpon it as his prize
pouerty and oppression Murmure discord and desolation Confiskes many a Kingdome ane huge Impery From theyr late former good condicion For want of Iustice through iniquity ESAI CAP. 59. THEY haue wrested iudgement backwardes and Iustice hath stoode a farre of because trueth hath fallen downe in the streetes and equitie coulde not enter there and trueth was made a guste of forgotten freendship and the man that departed from dooing euill felt the smart of a prized spoile IEREMI CAP. 21. BEholde I deliuer before you the way of life and the way of death doo your iudgement in due time and bring the oppressed soule out of violence least that my displeasure and wrath doo haply depart from me towardes you as a consuming fyre and so burne you that there ve none to quenche the same by reason of the malice of your inuentions ISIDOR WIcked Iudges euen after the maner of Woolues do rauen and make hauocke of all thinges IEREMI CAP. 51. NAbuchodonozor eateth me vp and greedely dooth as it were deuoure me ECCLESIAST CAP. 20. BRibes and rewardes doo blind the eyes of Iudges and as a gift in the mouth dooth stoppe their reprehencions In England then trueth shewe thy stately style And Iustice thou thy Baner brode display All leagerdy maynes from hence quite exile Graunt God that good meaning mainteined be may All subtyll shiftes to conuince and bewray VVherewith the couetous encombred bee Least that the great flee the small eatyng alway Doo the same deuoure by lawles libertee MICHEA prophet CAP. 3. HEARE this ye Princes and Rulers of the house of Iacob and you Iudges of the house of Israel whiche haue abhorred to doo iustice in iudgement and doo peruert all thinges that are good because you build vp Sion with bloodshed and Hierusalem with iniquitie their Princes shall geue iudgement for rewardes for this cause shall Sion be furrowed vpon euen as a feelde ISIDOR THE simple people are more greeuously torne in peeces of the euyll Iudges then of their most cruell enimies For there is no robber so greedy of other mens goodes as a wicked Iudge is amongst those whom he hath aucthoritie of AVGVSTINVS IN so much as the mischeefe of couetousnesse waxeth nowe so ripe that euen of custome the very lawes are bought and solde iudgementes are corrupted the very sentence it self is set to sale for mony there can be no cause without care and vexation tryed ESAI CAP. 5. WOO be vnto you whiche iustifie the wicked for bribes and rewardes and doo wrest the iust mans cause from him Farre from vs O God expell corrupt iustice VVith couetousnesse and false affection That goodnesse of eache cause may full suffise To try it selfe cleare in the action Of euill buddes let no bitter abusion Make crooked causes cloked to bee In Consistory Court or Ciuill Session But graunt O GOD to trueth the victory ESAI CAP. 49. HEARE me O ye of hard harts which haue sequestred your selues farre from Iustice Expositio Matth. 22. YOV haue forsaken those two most graue respects of the law that is the one iudgement the other mercie PATRONIVS FOR nowe Iustice is made none other thyng but a common marchandize PSALME 2. NOW O ye Kynges be wyse and learned you that iudge the earth ECCLESIASTICVS CAP. 47 IT is the office and duety of kinges to keepe vnder those that are euil and aduance such as are good subiectes 1. MACHABES CAP. 15. ANtiochus saide I wyll be reuenged vppon them whiche haue corrupted the land c. AVGVSTINVS IN this poynt doo Kinges serue God yf in theyr kingdomes they commaund and establishe that whiche is good and forbid that which is euil not in matters only parteyning to humane society but as concernyng deuine religion for neither liue they at ease free from cares of mind and trauels of the body but bestowe their tyme in great disquietnesse and labour vntill such time as they haue accomplished their functions and dueties to all perfections SAPIENCIA 6. THE hardest iudgement shall be ministred vnto them whiche beare aucthoritie ouer others To Kyng without colour that lyst to keepe Iustice The nearest way most honorable and easie Ys corrupt men to suffer in no wyse By false affection or parcialitie To execute the office of Iustice duely And yf in this poynt a Prince be negligent His mind perswaded may be fully He shall incurre Gods dreedfull iudgement ECCLESIASTES CAP. 10. BLessed is that land whose King is of noble race ARISTOTLE primo Politico VErtue and malice doo determine and handle matters betweene bondmen and freemen betweene noble men and those of base degree Idem 5. Politicorum NObilitie and Vertue are in few persons to be found remayning togeathee PSALME 101. MY song shal be of mercy and iudgement to thee oh lord Idem I haue done indifferent iustice and executed iudgement I haue hated the workes of iniquitie c. IOB CAP. 29. I Haue clothed me with Iustice and with my iudgement haue I apparrelled me as it were with a garment and Dyadem of honour I haue been in steade of an eye to the blind man and as a foote to helpe the lame A father haue I also been of the poore and such cause as I was vtterly ignorant in haue I diligently searched for the certeyne trueth thereof I haue destroyed the labours of the vniust man and out of his Iawes haue I taken the spoyle MATTHEA 5. BLessed are they whiche hunger and thyrst after righteousnesse because theirs is the kingdome of Heauen AVCTHOR FOR as from day to day there is a continuall thirst and hunger renewed in our stomackes after meates and drinkes corporall so ought there appeare in vs a freshe and new appetite or affection inseperable after iustice in correcting of offences committed Nowe Princes Lordes and Nobles of renowne VVhom it pleaseth to vse Iustice with mercie Take Iob and Dauid examples to your crowne VVhen to the poore they had a piteous eye And of mighty offenders punisht peruersitee VVhom Gods good grace hath remunerate VVith blessinges moe then may expressed bee In lasting fame ay to be Lawreate SEleucus Prince of Locria on a time being in the cheefe Citie thereof whiche he had established protected with most wholsome and profitable lawes when as his sonne was condemned for adulterie accordyng to the lawes whiche he him selfe had ordeyned that such offender should be depriued of both his eyes and that the whole Citie for the honour of their Countrey did for a certayne space withstand and gaynesay to dispence with necessity of punishment in this respect The father being throughly ouercome with the instant requestes of the people because he would doo some moderation of iustice and borowe the lawe in some part executing it at full in an other first causing one of his owne eyes to be quite pluckt out and then afterwardes one of his sonnes eyes left vnto them both but two eyes to see with So farre dyd he perfourme a due measure of punishment with a
in bondage of Belyall But turne and take in tyme the plaster repentance Bernardus 5. sermone de Ascentione HOWE comes it to passe that certayne haue the penury and scarcity of spirituall grace when others haue the plentifull abundance Vndoubtedly he that is the distributer and bestower thereof is neyther couetous to keepe it to him selfe nor bare and needy to such as he thinkes woorthy of the bestowing thereof But where as empty vessels for the purpose are wanting there must the oyle want her vse The loue of the world showueth her selfe in to euery corner with her consolacions nay rather desolations shee keepeth and obserueth the maner of her comming to a man shee rusheth in at the wyndowes of the mind shee possesseth the mind of man but not his mind that hath saide My soule hath not refused to be comforted I haue ben mindfull of GOD and I am delighted in him for surely the sacred delight forsaketh and declineth from the minde that is exercised in worldly desyres neyther can thinges true be mixed with thinges that are vayne neyther thinges eternall with things frayle and transitory neyther yet corporall things with spirituall thinges It is thus to be concluded for principall that a man ought to be wyse in thinges that are aboue as well as in thinges vpon earth The soule of man so noble is of nature And made to ioy so hygh an heritage VVithout delight it can not long endure Therefore men should in their tender age VVith vertue and deuotion haue vsage VVhich without lothsomnesse bringeth delyte Encreasing euer her valiant corage For of taste ay she renueth appetyte GREGORIVS IT seemeth there is this difference betwene the delightes of the body and of the minde as the corporal pleasures when they are not enioyed do kindle a greeuous desire towards them selues and being enioyed they turne all thinges to destruction And on the other part the delightes of the soule are quite contrary because howe muth the more the taste of them is sauoured so muche the more the same is esteemed to the ende they may be beleeued with more auidity or greater desyre and therefore not being enioyed they can not be embraced or beloued because the taste of them is not knowen or approued PSALME 34. TAste and see howe sweete the Lorde is and this he meaneth as who would say you haue no perceauerance of the Lorde except you taste and feele the goodnesse of him PSALME 107. THeir soule hath abhorred all meates and they haue drawen neare vnto the gates of death NVMERI 11. OVR soule perprabraketh vppon the receipte of this light meate Though corporall foode haue that quality The greater abstinence the greater appetite And the more taste the more tediosity Yea nowe we lothe where we late dyd delite From spirituall foode which differeth quite The more we absteyne the lesse we desyre The goodnesse of the taste no man can endite VVhich had augmented celestiall feruent fyre AVGVSTINVS THERE is no torment greater then the torment or vexation of the conscience And wylt thou then neuer be sadde or molested lyue well A mans mind that is secure dooth easely sustayne and away with sadnes A good lyfe hath euer ioy among PROVERBES CAP. 9. IOY shal be mixed with sorowe and there is euer mourning foloweth extreme ioyes AVGVSTINVS in confes THOV Lorde hast commaunded and it comes so to passe that there is a torment due vnto euery inordinate mind that can not measure it selfe BERNARDVS SVrely there is no man whiche ought or may thinke that there aryseth greater felicitie of the mind in or by the vse of vices then there dooth in and by the exercise of vertue HEBRE 11. THE holy and elect children of GOD haue conquered kingdomes by fayth haue wrought equitie and iustice and haue adopted them new promises of sauing health GREGORIVS IF humane minde with a strong and fyrme desyre be directed towardes God she esteemeth euery bitter thing to be sweete and thinkes euery thing to be as it were a quiet rest whiche dooth molest her And moreouer she earnestly desyreth to passe ouer this life by death to the end she may the more fully obteyne lyfe GREGORIVS IT standeth most with equitie that we doo loue him aboue all thynges which hath loued vs aboue all thynges More sweetenesse t is vnto sound conscience And vertuous lyfe with delectation Then any pleasant carnall complacence Or fadyng gladnes of worldly abusion To please God euer in conclusion VVith vertuous lyfe whose solace is most deare Full recompenst with hyre of heauenly crowne As of Gods saintes examples witnesse beare Actum Apostolorum CAP. 9. WHEN he had receaued meate he was comforted MATTH CAP. 4. MAN dooth not liue by bread only but by euery woord that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD. PSALME 63. MY Soule is replenished as it were with marowe and with fatnesse 2. REGVM CAP. 2. LET your handes receaue comfort and be you the children of valiant and couragious mindes AVGVSTINVS PRayer is a sauegard of the Soule a solace and consolation to the good angell a scourge vnto the Deuill and an acceptable obsequy or sacrifice of man vnto God. GREGORIVS lib. 28. morall THE fortitude or courage of the reprobate in this world is enclined to the loue of transitorie thinges and neuer stinteth that affect but without reason not knowyng what shee dooth hardneth her selfe agaynst the scourge of the maker of this world The fortitude or courage of good and godly persons is bent to ouercome the fleshe and to goe against her owne pleasure to extinquish the delectations of this present lyfe to embrace the sharpe and bitter stormes of this worlde for and in consideration of the euerlasting remuneracions to contemne the flatteryng allurementes of prosperitie and manfully to vanquishe in the hart all feare of aduersitie For right as mem enfeobled with labour Or which in battell haue bestowed their blood Through sustenance recouer vitall power Resuming to them force and courage good So by resemblance and similitude In spirituall toyle and conflict tossed they To vertue hauing deuoute consuetude Restore them selues to firme estate soone may AVGVSTINVS EXcept thy conscience be pure and cleane from sinnes thou shalt not be heard of God then make cleane the chamber of thy hart onely and thou shalt fynde him within that wyll heare thee at full Ricardus de sancto victore HOwe many are there whiche enter into the house of God to pray vnto God how fewe are there heard of him howe many are there which cal God theyr father as in their prayer Our Father c. which are not his chyldren but the fathers children of whom it is written You are of the father the Deuill because they are not the chyldren of GOD which haue lost his grace and fauour but are rather the Deuils children who hath begotten them in malice and nourisht them in mischefe BERNARDVS EVen as fyre and water can not be both togeather in one substance at once so
is nothing more precious with God then the vertue of loue there is nothing that the deuill desireth more then the extinguishing of charitie and loue IERONIMVS THERE is nothing hard or difficult vnto those that doo loue there is no tedious trauell in loue Let vs therefore loue Christe and what so euer thing is hard of it selfe vnto vs wee shall thinke it very easyly to be atcheeued of vs. MARO Poeta THE labours and trauelles of louers can not by any meanes be tedious and burdenous vnto them but euen them selues are delighted therein as they that haue a delight eyther in hunting fowling or fisshing BERNARDVS WHAT man so euer he be that shall perfectly discerne the burden of sinne and the wound of his soule or conscience shal eyther very little or nothing at all feele the payne or vexation of his body neyther shall he thinke much of the labour bestowed wherein he shall vnderstand howe to deface and wype away his sinnes doone and past and learne to take heede how he commit any more such offences in time to come c. As nothing more maketh resemblance To feendish feares then strife and debate So humane kinde by charitable acquaintance To heauenly Angels is associate This laudable loue makes man laureate Loue makes our labour light in comparison Loue is a vertue of valure inuiolate And chaungeth care to consolation AVGVSTINVS BEtter is that medicine preserueatiue then that which is curatiue AVGVSTINVS ALL haynous offences and horrible whiche man dooth by custome commit are eyther thought by him to be but small or none at all so as not only they are not to be cloked and couered but also doo require to be published and openly detected Philippus in Prolog 3. Phil. CErtaine persons there haue been so accustomed to feede vpon very poyson that they haue taken it for their onely meate SENECA de vita moribus GOod custome ought to shake out and reiect those thinges which the euyl custome hath put in vre and trayned in man. ARISTOT 7. lib. Ethicorum IT is a hard thing for man to resist withstand custome because she is made so like nature in her proper vse yet notwithstanding it is an easier thing for vs to alter and chaunge custome then naturall inclination PSALME 42. ONE depthe calleth vpon an other they haue prolonged their iniquitie ECCLESIASTI CAP. 37. O Most wicked presumption from whence art thou descended Thy corporall health from sicknesse to conserue Is more of prise then any medecine So then thy soule may rather deserue Of deadly wound all sinne for to decline Then for to taste the venemous propine Of sinne and after seeke the salue of repentance Presumption ryseth of the olde serpentine VVhiche doubtles doth proue a perillous pestelance BERNARDVS O Thou my soule whiche art the badge of a Christian made noble after the image of God decored with equall forme spoused vnto him in fayth endowed with the spirite redeemed with his blood made heyre with angels receauer of blessednesse the child of grace and partaker of reason what hast thou with thee as touching thy frayle fleshe what may be saide hast thou not found it an vnsauery and noysome dounghil Idem BERNARDVS O Cleare white vnspotted Lilly oh thou tender and delicate floure there are vnbeleeuing people abidyng with thee and such as seeke thy subuertion and with Scorpions hast thou thy dwelling Take heede and see that thou walke warely amongst the thorns because the worlde is full of thornes they breede on the earth they are in the ayre and they are in thy fleshe To be therefore conuersant amongst these and by them not to be hurt consisteth in the power deuine to withstand and not in any vertue that thou hast AVGVSTINVS O Howe is that Soule vnhappy which is sequestred from the cheefe felicitie and ouer whom the deuill hath sway she is made voyde of lyght and enuironed with darkenesse she is consumed with pleasure and made drunke with bitter waters she loseth life and fyndeth death c. Of our soules Lord we make record with ruthe As flowres fayre tender and delicate To Christe our spouse wedded with ring of truthe Though in this life we haue dayly debate Yet graunt in fayth that we be laureate From hurtfull sinne with syncere conscience O Lord to thee let vs not liue ingrate Sithe thou with vs wolte haue thy residence ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for TVESDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for VVENSDAY The damage due to deadly sinne To seeke to voyde let vs not linne The Translators Application The third day this Creator then the waters here belowe Into â—ne place dyd geather and them in one floodde bestowe The drye land thence deuided hee the Sea those waters named The Sea for trauell to and fro the Earth for fruite he framed VVho liues then in this earthy vale Taste fruites of trouble death and bale PSALME 51. BEcause I doo acknowledge myne iniquitie and my sinne is alway against me TOBIA CAP. 12. BVT they that commit sinne and iniquitie are enimies to their owne soule GREGORIVS THERE should no aduersitie or mishap hurt vs yf there dyd no iniquitie condemne and adiudge vs woorthy therof PSALME 38. MY iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a great burden are they heauy vppon me PROVERBES CAP. 14. SInne maketh the people become miserable AGVSTINVS WHAT can be more miserable then the wretched worldling which hath no compassion of him selfe ESAI CAP. 13. I Wyll vizite the landes with diseases and agaynst the wicked wyll I goe with theyr inâ—quities ECCLESIAST CAP. 27. AS the Lion is euer lurking for his pray so dooth the sinnes of man lye in wayte for them that woorke mischeefe AVGVSTINVS SInne is defined to be any thyng spoken or any thyng done eyther any desyre striuing agaynst the lawe of God. BERNARDVS O Howe wretched is the state of sinners which esteeme of the sonne of God as of a Swineheard ESAI CAP. 59. YOur iniquities haue set enimity betwene you and your God and your sinnes haue couered his face from beholdyng you with mercie and that he shoulde not heare you when you pray vnto him Idem sequitur OVr iniquites are multiplied before him and our sinnes haue made answear vnto vs. 2. REGVM CAP. 3. DAVID spake these woordes touching Ioab The Lorde recompence the euyll man according to the mallice of his mischeefe PSALME 31. THOV hast hated all them that doo woorke wickednesse To define of sinne in sentences short No man well may so full it is of care Neuerthelesse as novv I purpose to report Howe in eache season sinne is most contrare To mans weale supplanting eache afare Vnto his damage where it may preuayle Enforcing ay of blisse to reue him bare In soule in body and in goodes temporall AVGVSTINVS SInne is the ransacking spoyle of the good grace receaued and a corruption naturally grafted in man. PROVERB CAP. 4. BVT the wicked and vngodly in the land shal be destroyed PROVERBES CAP.
4. THE way of the vngodly is as the darkenesse they knowe not where they fall IEREMI GAP 5. OVR sinnes haue debarred and prohibited the good graces of God from vs. PSALME 10. IN the woorkes of his owne handes is the sinner snared and taken PSALME 31. MANY plagues are there ordeyned for sinners but mercy shall compasse him rounde about that putteth his trust in the Lorde BERNARD BE ashamed oh my Soule and blushe at thy folly thou hast chaunged thy deuine shape and forme into a brutish and beastly forme Idem THERE is nothing more beastly then that man which is endewed with reason and vseth it not Idem HOw much the more a man shall sinne so much the lesse shall he knowe what sinne is and in deede so much the more shall he be delighted therewith Robart Grosthed Lincolniens SInne is the issue or generation of the deuill the parent of death the corruption of nature and the deformation or defilyng of the soule GREGORIVS WHAT greater poynt of madnesse can there be in man then for a very little pleasure of the flesh to make him self a bondman vnto euerlasting punishmentes DEVTERONO CAP. 28. WHAT yf thou wouldest desire of God that thou mightest heare the voyce of this thy Lorde and God speaking vnto thee that thou shouldest obserue and accomplishe all that he commaundeth The Lorde shall strike thee with madnes and with blindnes and with fury of the minde that thou shalt stumble at the noone day as the blind man is woont to stumble in the darknes and thou shalt not guide thy footesteppes but shalt alwaies suffer reproche and be oppressed with violence neyther shall there be any man to deliuer thee free from his fury Sinne is the cause of our perdition Sinne of the Deuill is daughter venemons In soule and body sinne causeth corruption Sinne is a sicknesse right contagious Sinne maketh a man foolishe and furious All in wood rage running without reason His dayes ouerdriuing in state styll daungerous VVith confused course of time and season PSALME 14.53 THEY haue trembled with feare where there was no feare at all LEVITCVS CAP. 26. IF so be that you wyll not heare me neyther doo all that I haue commaunded you but shall despise my lawes and ordinances I wyll set my face agaynst you and you shall perishe before the face of your enimies and you shal be cast vnder foote of those that haue hated you The King shal put them in feare yea the noyse of a leafe blowen from the Tree shall make them afraide they shal fall downe to the earth when there is no man to strike them PROVER CAP. 12. THE way of the vngodly shall deceaue them the deceitfull man shall finde none aduantage APOCAL. CAP. 18. THERE is prepared a dwelling place for all the Deuils and a place of custody for euery vncleane spirite OZEA. CAP. 9. THEY are become abominable euen as those idols that they haue embraced and had in honour PROVERB CIP 18. THE belly of the wicked person is neuer satisfied SOPHONI CAP. 1. THEY haue walked as the blinde that sawe not because they haue sinned against the Lorde IOB CAP. 18. HIS foote path is hidden in the earth feare and trembling shall make him afraide on euery side IOB CAP. 20. THE praise of the vngodly shal be but for a small seazon and the ioy of an hypocrite is like vnto the poynt of a swoord yf his pride shall lift it selfe vp vnto the heauens and that his head doo touche the cloudes yet in the ende it shall be destroyed euen as the filthy dounghil and as a dreame that is vanished shall it not be found The mind of sinners is figured vnto hell VVherein is fyre and feendish cruelty Gods lawes and maners resisting as rebell VVith lothsome stenche of wylful iniquity Committed by the seuen sinnes deadly And he that sinne into his chayne can lincke By subtyll shiftes and shameles impiety T ys a speciall gift yf they twayne euer shrincke ROMANS CAP. 6. THE reward of sinne is death PSALME 146. HIS spirite shall goe foorth and shall returne into his owne land in that day shal all his cogitations perishe PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE wicked man being once dead there resteth no further hope vnto him BERNARDVS O Thou Soule of man not with precious golde or siluer but with the blood of the Lambe of GOD redeemed Why wylt thou deliuer thy selfe into destruction seeing Christe for the loue that he beareth vnto thee hath shed his most precious blood HYLLARIVS THE Soule that sheweth not her selfe nete and clearely shining indewed with the garment or robe of holy life is not the Soule espoused vnto Christe but the Deuils darling AVGVSTINVS HAppy is that Soule which shall so endeuour her selfe to gouerne her life that she may through Christe deserue to receaue and entertaine Christ as her geste and inhabiter within her ECLESIAST CAP. 4. BE sorowfull and heauy for thy Soule PSALME 69. THE zeale of thy house Lorde hath euen as it were eaten me vp 1. REGVM CAP. 22. THERE is none that soroweth for my state ECCLESIAST CAP. 32. THE wicked are hardly chastized to amendment and the number of fooles is infinite PSALME 32. BEcause mercie hath come vppon him he shall with mercie be chastized AMBROSIVS THE lewde and dissolute life of the child shal be imputed the negligence of the parentes PSALME 141. BVT the oyle of a sinner shall not hurt my head TVLLIVS FOR euery pounishment and correction ought to be without reproche neither to the reproche of him whiche so punisheth or chastizeth any person but to be referred only for the commoditie and profite of the weale publique AVGVSTINVS THE wrath of GOD is then greate when the offender is not by due chastisement reclaimed but suffereth him selfe to runne in further offence by taking a wandring libertie Mans soule is a iewell incomperable By Christe his bloodshed dearely bought VVherefore he wyll that we be coumptable To him in good wyll for sauety sought VVhen to captiue vs Satan sought Bereft of all solace then surely were wee Tyll this our champion for vs fought VVe deserued the scourge of his equitee ECCLESIAST CAP. 7 REmember thy last dayes and thou shalt not doo amis for euer ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. IF a man doo liue many yeeres and in all this time shall reioyce and be meery yet he ought to remember the dayes of darknesse and the daies of many which shal then come shal plainely testifie that the dayes past were the dayes of vanitie GREGORIVS THE true and perfect life is to be medâ—tating howe to dye well Idem HE that considereth with him selfe what maner of person he shal be when death assayleth him is euermore fearefull in his affaires to offend ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. THE Lorde shall bring all thinges to receaue iudgement that are done vnder the heauens ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. REmember the Lorde in thy life time because death detracteth no time HVGO de sancto victore WE
Shall receaue at the day of iudgement generall Eyther Gods indignation or milde mercie ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. LET the dust of mans corrupt nature returne vnto the earth from whence it came and let the spirite returne againe vnto God who hath geuen the same IOB CAP. 21. SHall any man take vpon him to teache the Lord knowledge which iudgeth thy higher powers The strong and lusty men are subiect to death yea the rich happy of this world Idem sequitur BVT an other man dyeth in the bitternes of his soule without any woorkes of repentance and yet notwithstandyng they shal sleepe altogeather in the dust the wormes shall couer them SENECA THE eternal lawe of God hath ordeyned nothing better vnto man then that we haue all one kind of enterance geuen vs therby into this life and diuers maners of death OZEA. CAP. 6. MY iudgementes shall passe foorth from me as the light out of the Firmament AIERONIMVS HOw many people doo liue in this world I know not but of the dayes to come it is written That the Lorde shall iudge the secrete dooinges and vnknowen deallinges of men and shall geue light euen vnto the dungeons of darknesse and shall disclose the counsels of mens hartes TOBIAS CAP. 3. ALL thy iudgementes are iust Oh Lord. PSALME 119. FOR I haue been afrayde of thy iudgementes Oh Lorde ECCLESIAST CAP. 28. MAke redy thy righteousnesse that thou canst lay for thy selfe before the iudgement of the Lord be summoned BERNARDVS BRethren let vs be enflamed vnto repentance let vs examine our consciences let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our sinnes by earnest repentaunce in Christes bloodshed crauing his gracious fauour to escape the horrible iudgement of the liuyng god c. To waye the wickednesse of corrupt nature In ballance with Gods deuine iustice Eyther our good deedes is absurd and obscure Presumptuous were such our enterprise From the earth the dust should then aryse VVith Thalmighty creator to dispute Submit we therefore in repenrant wyse Our lyfe and death as he hath constitute ECCLESIASSTI CAP. 12. REmember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth and before the time of affliction shall approche and the dayes wherof thou mayst haue cause to say these dayes doo not lyke me ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. REmember the wrath of the Lorde because it shall not be foreslowed Idem REmember the Lordes wrath in the day of the end of the world and remember the time of pouertie euen whyles thou art in thy wealth ECCLESIASTI CAP. 28. REmember thou the later dayes and cease of to doo mischeefe for there is blessednesse and death approching in the prescriptions thereof PSALME 42. MY soule is in my handes alwayes c. MATTH GAP 24. BVt of that day and houre when the Lord shall come to iudge the world no neyther Angel nor the Sonne of man knoweth but the Father him selfe Take you heede therefore watche and pray MATTH CAP. 25. WAtche therefore because you knowe neither the day nor the houre wherein the sonne of man wyll come GREGORIVS in Homelia DOo not you loue the world which you see can not abide for euer because the great day of the Lord is neare PSALME THE day of desolation draweth neare and the times of the latter dayes do speedely hasten on IACOB CAP. 2. THere shal be iudgement geuen vpon him without mercie because he hath not shewed mercie c. As lyfe and death from hence vncertaine are And our demerites doo deserue due dome So how soone the Lord wyll the same prepare No spirite can deuine that day to come Though of signes fyfteene wryteth saint Ierome But yf we wyll credite Christes woordes in scripture Of signes alredy perfourming nowe are some That that day is not long to we may be sure HAYMO ANtechriste shal be borne in Babylon out of the tribe of Dan according to the saying that Iacob mencioneth Let Dan be made a Snake in the way MARCI 12. ANd those dayes shal be such and so troublesome as the like haue not been from the beginnyng of the creation of man vntyll nowe neyther shall there be any more suche afterward And except the Lorde had shortened those dayes for his elect sake there should haue been no saluation vnto frayle mankind 1. TIMOTHI CAP. 3. ALL those that wyll liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution MARCI CAP. 13. BVT who so shall persist constant vnto the end shal be saued DANIEL CAP. 8. IT shal be destroyed meanyng of Babylon without force of strength of the hand THESSALO CAP. 2. THen shall that wicked Antechriste be reueyled which the Lorde Iesus shall destroy with the breath of his mouth 1. IOHN CAP. 2. NOw are there many Antechristes come into the world whereby we knowe that we are in the later dayes 2. PETER CAP. 3. THere shall come deceitfull woorkers of mischiefe in the later dayes walking after their owne lustes ISIDORVS de summo bono THere haue many members of Antechrist gone before vs and their proper workes doo well agree with the ryngleader of their mischiefe according to the Apostles saying which affirmeth that they haue perfourmed the woorkes of iniquitie yea before that their cheefe captaine was manifested to the world DANIEL CAP. 8. ANd in the end of the kingdome when the wicked are come to the full of their iniquitie that is to say In Gluttony Lechery and Couetousnesse a kyng of a fierce countenance and vnderstandyng with hard sentences shall stand vp c. DANIEL CAP. 1. IN the later dayes there shall come deceauers which shall walke after their owne desyres in wickednesse These are they whiche shall assemble them selues togeather as liuing creatures hauing no Soule in them These are Cloudes without water whiche are caried about with the windes These are Trees growing somewhat before Winter vnprofitable whiche being twyce dead are plucked vp by the rootes for whom the mystes of darknesse are to be kept for euer and euer PSALM 50. THere shall goe before him a consuming fyre and it shall scortche his enimies round about him Idem WHyther shall I goe from thy spirite and whyther shall I flee from thy presence DEVTERONO CAP. 32. THere is a fyre kindled in my fury and it shall burne euen vntill the very last day in Hell. AMOS CAP. 9. THere shal be no time for them to flee away which shall saue them LVKE CAP. 21. THere shal be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres MARCI 13 IN those dayes after that tribulation the Sunne shal be darkened and the Moone shall not geue foorth her light and the Stars of Heauen shall fall from thence and the vertues or powers of the Heauens shal be changed and then shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen with great power and glory VVhen sinne the fyre of conflagration All men as then vvhich are left on liue Shall quite of them make consummacion In vvofull plight as doctors doo discriue There
Iudges which were seene to beare rule ouer the people and they haue turned away their vnderstanding and haue withdrawen their eyes from beholding the Heauen neither would they remember the iudgementes of the iust This processe of iudgement is short vvithout tarying VVhen for our sinnes shall serue none excuse But our vnkindnesse to Christe our soueraigne king Our consciences eke vvitnesses shall vs accuse VVhen vve his gracious good fauour abuse God graunt therefore by ages tofore past VVe in this last aige such vvarnyng may take That cleauing in feare to this our God fast VVe may auoyde the danger of the dreadfull lake 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR we all must needes be manifested and openly reuailed before the tribunall seate of Christe that euery man may reape that whiche he hath done in his body be it good or be it bad ESAI CAP. 13. BEhold the day of the Lord shal come that cruell day and full of indignation wrath and furies to put the earth in feare and her sinners to be ouerthrowen by her because the Starres of Heauen and their glitâ—ering hue shall not geue foorth light vnto them EZECHIEL 6. THE end commeth it shall stand vp as a watchman against the sorowe shal come vpon thee which dwellest vppon the Earth the time is come the day of death is neare at hand and not of the ioyfull sound of the Hils Now euen at hand foorthwith wyll I powre out my indignation vppon thee and wyll accomplishe the desire of my fury vppon thee and wyl iudge thee according to thy wayes and wyll lay vppon thee as a burden all thy wickednesse and my eye shall haue no compassion vpon thee neither wyll I shewe thee any mercy but wyl lay vpon thee thine owne wicked wayes MATTHE 25. THen shall he say to those which shal stand vpon his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels ORIGEN SInners doo lincke them selues in amitie with the Deuill as they which are by the prouidence of God saued are made coequals with the holy angels So such as perishe are compared vnto the angels of the Deuil Augustinus 21. de ciuitate dei HEreby also is it manifest that the same fire is geuen by ordinance for a pounishment vnto men and deuils Gregorius 33. cap. mora IT belongeth to the iustice of a straight Iudge neuer to withdrawe pounishment from them whiche of their owne mindes in this life would neuer withdrawe them selues from sinne PSALME 119. VNderstand this you that haue forgotten God least that at any time he take you away by force and then there be no man to take you out of his handes c. Then shall Christe thus pronounce for conclusion From his leaft hand vvhen he the vvicked shal expel Depart yee vvofull vvretches vvith my malediction To the perpetuall fyre and tormentes of hell In dolorous darknesse vvith deuils there to dvvell VVithout recouerie shall be there your residence Fellovved vvith feendes furious and fell And of my person neuer more to haue presence MATTHE 25. COme you the blessed of my Father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world ORIGEN FOR the holy ones of God whiche haue wrought the woorkes of righteousnesse haue alredy taken for their hyre the inheritaunce on the right hand of GOD for their woorkes of righteousnesse wherein consistes both rest and glorious triumphe AVGVSTINVS LAbour in worldly matters will discourage thee from comming vnto God but behold the Heauens whiche haue learned the first commaundement they fulfill the same TOBIA 6. THE Lorde GOD of Heauen shall rewarde thee with ioy and comfort for the werisome trauel that thou hast endured 2. CORINTH 1. FOR this ioye and comfort that we haue conceaued is a witnesse of our conscience within vs c. PSALME 100. BE you glad in the Lord and be ioyful you that are iust c. and reioyce you in the lord c. MATTH CAP. 24. WAtche therefore because you know not the houre when the Lord wyll come HIERONIMVS IT was not requisite that the Apostles should haue the day of the foreknowledged comming of Christe reuealed vnto them that by reason of theyr earnest looking for of his comming they not knowing when yet might alwayes beleeue that he would come whom they knewe not howe soone he would come GREGORIVS WHat man seemeth to watche in deede which to beholde the brightnesse of the true light keepeth open the eyes of his mind That man watcheth who obserueth that order of dooing well which he beleeueth is acceptable before god That man watcheth which driueth from him the darknesse of dolour and negligence IOHN CAP. 3. O Ye generacions of Vipers who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to ome Doo you therefore shewe foorth woorthy fruites of repentance PSALME EVen as the wounded bodies sleeping in their graues that is to say The sinners of whom there is no further memory and those are repulsed out of thy handes PSALME 36. DEpart from dooing that is euill and doo good After the first sentence the second folowe shall Full of solace and consolation Saying vnto those on his right hand all Come ye chyldren on my benediction VVhich haue me loued with true intention Receaue you the kingdome of lasting blis Reserued for you from the worldes creation God grannt vs thy grace to labour for this ESAI CAP. 46. REturne and come againe oh you that haue frowardly walked after your owne hart GREGORIVS O How strait shall then be the way for the reprobate aboue in the Heauens shall sitte the Iudge full of displeasure belowe in Hell shal be an horrible confusion vpon the right hande shall stand our sinnes to accuse vs vpon the leaft hand infinite numbers of Deuils which shall drawe vs to the tormenting place within vs the gnawing of our conscience and without vs the Woâ—ld burning rounde about Whyther then shall the sinner flee To appeare to iudgement shal be intollerable for him and to hyde him setfe shal be impossible PSALME 138. I Haue remembred these and I haue powred out myne owne soule before me HIERONIMVS BVT thou discreete Reader marke and consider that both the punishments which are ordeyned are eternall and that the euerlasting ioyfull life hath in it no maner of decay or ruine ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. BE mindfull of the wrath of the Highest because he wyll not long foreslewe the time MATTH CAP. 10. FEare not ye those that haue power to slay the body onely but rather feare you him which is able to destroy both body and soule euen in the very Hell. Augustinus de verbis Domi. BVT we see all such as loue this present life temporall and which is soone ended so to labour for the same that when the passion of death approcheth them they make all the shift they can that they not be taken away with death and by all meanes seeke to prolong their life If then men doo with suche
labour and such care endeuour thâ—m selues to the ende they would liue a litle longer howe and by what meanes ought they to labour and be carefull for the life euerlasting And yf such men be accompted wyse which trye all maner wayes howe they may deferre death and prolong life for a short time How foolish are those whiche liue so as thereby they lose the life euerlasting surely such may be called most fooles of all other Reuolue in mind the great perplexitee Of sinners seeing them selues in such assay VVhen rheir iust Iudge aboue them they shall see And vnder them Hell to swalowe them as pray All faythfull Christians marke this by the way If sentence geuen for Temporall offence Deserue here a death with losse of goodes alway VVhat to offend the highest shal be the sentence PSALME 118. THey are corrupted and become abominable in their studies it is time Lord to besturre thee they haue dispersed and wrested thy lawe IOB CAP. 5. I Wyll pray vnto the Lord who reproueth the wyse men of this world in their craftinesse and dooth disperse the counsels of the wicked PROVERBES CAP. 2. HE hath forsaken the right way and walketh through the darke places ESAI CAP. 1. THey geue not sentence in fauour of the Orphane and the complaint of the Wydowe hath not come in before them IOB CAP 36. DIssemblers and lukewarme worldlings doo proâ—â—re the wrath of God vpon them PSALME 10. THE mouth of them that speake mischeuous thinges is stopped Let the deceitfull lips be come dumbe and not able to vtter their speache LVKE CAP. 16. THe children of this world are in their generation wyser then the children of light Psalmista de impiis 8. THey are troubled as a drunken man and all their wysedome is vtterly consumed ESAI CAP. 29. FOR wysedome shall depart and perishe from the wyse of this world that is to say from such as are reputed wyse men and their vnderstanding shall be darkened because it is said IEREMI CAP. 4. THey are wyse enough to woorke wickednesse but to doo well they haue none vnderstanding BERNARDVS SVrely thou hast found out wisdome aright yf thou canst esteeme of all things as they be namely of sinne and vices as thinges that are vyle and altogeather to be shunned Of â—emporall thinges as that whiche is fraile and transitory and therfore to be smaly made accompt of but of eternall thinges as that which is best and therefore aboue all others câ—eefely and specially to be desired and imbraced Of worldly witte see the furious raige How it is dased in wylfull darckenesse VVhere spirituall wysedome graue godly and saige Should rest in those that Christe doo professe Some yet there are which practize nought lesse But subtilty the simple to circumuent As wyly VVoolues their deedes them expresse VVhich dayly deuoureth the Lambes innocent SOPHONI CAP. 1. THey shall walke as the blind in darknes because they haue sinned against the lord ESAI CAP. 49. THus sayth the Lorde In an acceptable time haue I heard thee and in the day of health haue I helped thee 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. WE exhort you brethrâ—n that you receaue not the grace of God in vaine for he saith Behold the acceptable time Behold now the day of your sauing health APOCAL. CAP. â—0 ANd he swore by the God that liueth for euer because there shal not be any longer time ECCLESIASTI CAP. 39. FOR all things shal be sought for in their time DEVTERONO CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation wanting the counsell voyde of the wysedome of the highest Would to God they would once be wyse and geather vnderstanding and that they would prouide for the later dayes c. PSALME 2. HEare this al ye nacions marke and geue eare heare this you that inhabite the world SOPHONI CAP. 1. THe great day of the Lord is at hand it is very neare and too too swiftly comming vpon vs ye heare tell that the day of the Lorde shal be bitter â—hen shall the strong man be troubled That day shal be the day of wrath the day of tribulation and of sorowe the day of calamitie and of trouble the day of the Trumpe and the sound of the Trumpe vpon the strong defended cities and vppon the angels on an hie and I wyll vexe all flesh and they shall walke as the blinde doo because they haue sinned against the Lord. Sequitur BVt their siluer and their gold shall not deliuer them in the day of the wrath of the lord All the earth shal be consumed with the fyre of his indignation HIERONIMVS super Mattheum SO oft as I consider vppon the day of the Lordes iudgement I quake for feare in euery part of my body and whether I eate or drinke or what thing so euer els I doo mee thinkes I heare the fearefull Trumpe alwayes sounding in myne eares Aryse vp you dead and come to iudgement c. Such worldly wyse make no prouision For their soules health that euer shall endure But runne headlong into the pit of perdition VVoorking their wylles at all aduenture But such as feare God in euery condition VVith spirituall wysedome furnished are Liuing in feare and harty contrition Agaynst the last day them selues to prepare PSALME 47. THOV shalt renue the face of the earth when the sinners shall perishe thou shalt see it MATTH CAP. 25. THese shall depart into the perpetuall torment ESAI CAP. 3. THE light of the Moone shal shine foorth as the Sun doth and the Sun shall geue foorth his beames as the light of seuen dayes together euen vpon that day when the Lord shall binde vp the woundes of his people and shal heale vp the scarre of the stripe and behold the name of the Lord commeth from a farre whott shal be his wrath and indignation and greeuous to be susteyned ECCLESIASTI CAP. 43. THE Heauens shall shewe foorth their beauty in the day when the glory of the sonne of man shal be seene APOCALIPS CAP. 14. NOwe in deede is the time when the spirite shall say Let all flesh rest from their labours PETER CAP. 2. cathol THE Lorde knoweth best times when to take away and deliuer the godly from the temptations of this world and to keepe the wicked ones to be tormented at the day of iudgement PROVERBES CAP. 16. THe iudgementes of the Lorde are as the ballance and the weightes PSALM 55. FEare anâ— trembling haue come vpon me and the darke places haue enuironed me round about AVGVSTINVS FALL to repentance whyles thou art iâ— health and yf thou shalt so doo I say vnto thee that thou shalt be safe because thou hast repented thee whyles otherwyse thou mightest haue trespassed for yf thou wylt in time repent thee when thou shalt not haue power to sinne sinne shall forsake thee before thou forsake them Soone after sentence of generall iudgement The heauens shall royally be renouate Then shall the wicked to Sathan be sent To make abode with him for euer exterminate Then
shall the Heauens be clearely clarificate The godly shall enter with triumph victorious VVherefore repent you wicked in time els too late Recouer you the damage of that dome dangerous GREGORIVS WHen thou art greeuously handled in bodyly sicknesse thou canst scarse thinke vpon any other thing then vppon the payne thou feelest for thyther is the cogitation of the minde caryed where as is the force of payne and perplexitie most greeuing a man. IOHN CAP. 5. BEhold thou art now made whole sound doo thou not hencefoorth sinne any more lest some other woorse euill happen vnto thee MATTH CAP. 22. THere are many called but fewe are chosen MATTH CAP. 7. ENter in at the narrowe gate because brode is the gate and wyde is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there are which enter there aubâ—ry narrowe is the way that iâ—adeth vnto lyfe and fewe there are which finde the same ECCLESIASTI CAP. 1. THE whole fulnesse and effect of wysedome is to feare God. IACOB CAP. 3. IN many thinges we all offend SENECA THE most safest thing for man is to feare nothing els but God only PROVERBES CAP. 18. BLessed is the man that liueth alwayes in the feare of God. PSALME 34. FEare the Lorde all his saintes Let all the seede of Israel feare the lord Blessed are all they that feare the Lord. To conclude thinke wee eache one of this case No man shall be iudged but deseruingly Then in this life whyle wee haue time and space Let vs in contemplacion and prayer mortifie Our wicked mocions so as continually VVe fearing the iudgementes of the iust God aboue Come death come dome for him may be ready To rest with our redeemer in peace ioy and loue ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for THVRSDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for FRYDAY Christes passion print in minde Shewe not thy selfe to him vnkind The Translators Application Our Creator commaunded than the waters foorth to bring Both Fishe and Foule for foode of man with sondry other thingâ— And blessing them with sacred mouth for humane vse to bee He sayd to them ye Creatures nowe increase and multâ—plee Gods blessing is woonderous great shewed heare His passion yet is to vs most deare BERNARDVS NOthing enflameth so the hart of man vnto loue as the continual remembred passion and effabilitie of our Redeemer because he tooke vpon him therby to make vs a new creature a freshe loue and to haue newe and vnaccustomed consolations in him and of consequence to tasâ—e by his death and passion a certayne new estate of sweete life in as much as he seemed to be a fore runner of the glory predestinate vnto him selfe APOCAL. CAP 1. HE hath loued and washed vs from our sinnes in his blood BERNARDVS WHere is the safe and fyrme rest for our imperfection to be founde but in the woundes of our Sauiour so much the safer doo I there dwell how much the more therby he is of power to saue me The world rageth the fleshe keepeth me vnder the Deuill lyeth in wayte for me yet fall I not because I am established vppon the rocke I haue sinned thy conscince is troubled but it shalâ— not be tormented because I haue remembred the death and passion of the Lord. Bernardus â—uper illud Canticorum Fasciculus miâ—â—he dilectus meus c. EVen from my childehood because of the huge heape of desartes which I know to be wantyng in me I haue carefully endeuored this little bundle of Mirh to haue geathered and layde it â—p in my brostes which is gathered euen of al the anguishes and smarts of my Lord god This said I should teache me wysedomâ— the perfection of righteousnes and fulnesse of knowledge CANTICO CAP. 8. SET me Lord as a marke or token of remembrance before thy brest HEBREOS CAP. 12. CAll him agayne and agayne vnto your mindes who hath suffered such reproche done vnto him by the sinful for you haue not as yet withstood touching his blood shed for you to fight agaynst sinne and you haue forgotten the comforter whiche speaketh vnto you as vnto his children saying Good children despise not the correction of the Lorde nor be thou aweary at suche time as thou art repreheâ—ded for whom the Lord loueth him chasteneth he This louely leafe as Rose so rubicound Of Christe repoâ—â—yng thâ— precious passion The croppe the roote the height and the ground The proper price of mans saluation Deserues due imprintyng in our cogitation Of ghostly comfort most soueraigne suffisance Bringing with it the true operation Of the medcine agaynst sinne and all encombrance Barnardâ—s supper HEB. CAP. 2. YOV shal drawe vp waters with ioy out of the springes of your Sauiour that is to say all kinde of vertues and graces are to be founde in the precious bloodshedding of Christe 2. PETER CAP. 2. CHriste hath suffered for vs leauing vs an example to folowe his steppes who hath not committed any sinne neyther was there any guyle found in his mouth 1. PETER CAP. 4. ANd none of you haue suffered as a murderer or robber for your euyll deedes and agaynst your wylles IEREMI CAP. 31. IN euerduring good wyl haue I loued thee therefore haue I drawne thee vnto me taking compassion vpon thee BERNARDVS WHAT is there so much helping thee to doo well whiche is not more saluing thy sore in the death of Christe 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HErein knowe we that the loue of God is in vs because he hath geuen his lyfe for vs c. BERNARDVS PLentifull redemption is geuen vnto vs in the bloodshedding of our Redeemer great abundance of sweetenes and grace or rather fulnesse and perfection of vertues Sequitur IN all my aduersities I finde not any suche and so effectuall remedie as I finde in remembring the death and passion of Christe for out of these I taste sometimes the potion of healthfull bitternesse and againe I feele howe sweete and supple is this oyle of consolation These betweene ioy and sadnesse administer vnto my present life whyther soeuer I be tossed a safe abidyng and refuge This is my more profound wysedome then any other that I reioyce in to knowe Christ and him crucified Who euer heard of the lyke thing or who hath seene at any time the lyke of this he suffered death him seâ—f for his enimies and for the sinfull rather choosing to passe by death into the Heauens to the ende this sweete freend wise counsellor and mighty helper might also transpasse vs into the Heauens Here is the fountayne of humane felicitie The way to repentance plaine and compendious Here is the cheefe charter of charitie Surprisyng our mindes with motions amorous And salue for vvounded concience gracious The hony combe of harty consolation The VVell of vvealth and storehouse precious Left vs by Christes death and passion ECCLESIAST CAP. 29. FOrget not thou the frendship of thy Suretie for he hath pawned his lyfe for thee BERNARDVS SO long as I reposing my confidence in God doo vsurpe
regard vnto very small thinges They take more care howe to keepe and cherishe their diseased corrupt body then howe to foster and cherish the precious soule Yea they are more carefull howe to batten and â—eede the flesh with fatnesse and good likyng but the kirnell of the soule or the hart of the spirituall man they doo oftentimes destroy Idem super Cantica THey surely that are not diligent in their vocations as men ought to be are partakers of the deuils them selues in their trauayles HIERONIMVS THere can be no labour deemed tedious neither any time seeme long vnto vs wherein the euerlasting glory is obteyned AVGVSTINVS NO doubt sinners doo dayly heare the scriptures promising as well vnto those that loue God the most blessed graces of his good prouidence and contrariwyse they heare the scriptures which doo threaten vnto such as care not for GOD the plagues and pounishmentes by him for them ordeyned And yet geue they no regard therevnto neyther wyllingly do they heare God thus speaking vnto them when he gently entreateth them nor when he seuerely threatneth them but rather doo resist him with their euyll and wicked dooinges PSALME 49. THE wyse man also as well as the foole shall goe to the graue LEOPOLDVS MEN doo more wyllingly toyle them selues for the desire they haue vnto pleasure then for the loue that they beare to vertue Most men are naturally geuen to be feareful and timerus in paines taking in sustayning troubles pouertie and other daungers wherewith humane kind was wonte to be molested But yf they were wyse in deede and vnderstoode the excessiue calamities ordeyneâ— for sinners without ende they woulde then be farre more fearefull to offend in this lyfe IOB CAP. 6. THey that feare a frost vpon them shall haue a snowe come to them Sythen wee see in sicknesse corporall Health to recouer and death for to decline Men wyll absteyne from lustes sensuall And their desyres submit to medecine All for this frayle flesh that runneth to ruine How much more should eche man with busy cure Seeke for the soules health repentyng in time VVherby he may obteyne such ioyes as shalendure 1. THESSALO CAP. 5. WHen they shall say Peace and security is with vs then by and by shall a sodayne destruction come vppon them as the pange of a woman trauayling with chylde and they shall not escape away ECGLESIASTI CAP. 5. MAke thou no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and prolong not of from day to day for sodaynely shall his wrath come and in time of reuenge he shall destroy thee ESAI CAP. 18. FOr you haue said We haue made a league with death and with hell we haue made a couenant GALATH. CAP. 6. BE you not deceaued in your owne dooinges God is not mocked withall what thing so euer a man shall sowe the same shall he also reape agayne IEREMI CAP. 8. THey haue rather chosen death then lyfe· PSALME 69. THey haue drawen neare euen vnto the gates of death Idem THere is a most vyle death ordayned for sinners ECCLESIASTI 7. REmember to dye because death wyll not tary long BERNARDVS I Tremble and quake for feare of the iawes of the infernall beast yea tylâ— I be deliuered from the body of hell from the roaring feendes prepared to their meate Alacke oh my mother why hast thou conceyued me the child of sorowe the childe of bitter bale indignation euâ—rlasting lamentation Why was I lâ—lled in thy lappe why was I fostered with thy dugges I was borne the meate for woormes and foode of the fyre IACOB CAP. 4. YOur laughter shâ—ll turne into mournyng and your ioy into sorowe APOCAL. CAP. 18. SO much as he hath vaunted and reioyced him selfe in his ritches so much torment and mournyng let him haue administred vnto him DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shal be a certayne prescribed rate of pounishment according to the measure of the offence that euery man hath done BERNARDVS BReethren let vs be enflamed to repentance let vs examine our consciences and let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our selus by repentaÌ„ce to the end we may be able to escape the horrible iudgement of y liuing God. Slombring in sinne some dreame security VVithout feare or forecast of infernall afliction Neglecting repentance in this lyfe transitory That they feare nothing the due correction Ordeyned for sinne by deuine direction As those that are not carefull harmes to eschewe Suche feele the sentence of all malediction VVhen repentance come to late their sorowes to rescewe IEREMI CAP. 3. WHY dooest thou cry out so vppon the contrition of thy soule thy sorowe is incurable by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities and because of thy greeuous sins haue I done this sayth the Lord. HIERONIMVS THE moderacion of Gods displeasure the duetie of godlinesse seeketh onely for our returne and desyreth that we may be saâ—ed by this long forbearance of his goodnes If we wyll not be conuerted yf we be stiffâ— necked and yf we continewe still in our syns vnlawfully euen tyll our death Let vs trust vnto it God wyl not shewe mercie vnto those that continually perseuer in their sinnes BERNARDVS I Tremble to thincke vppon the gnawyng woorme and the death that neuer dyeth I shiuer and quake euery ioynt of me to fall into the handes of that death that endureth and of that lâ—fe that dyeth GREGORIVS THE wâ—cked shall dye the death euerlastyng PROSPER IF at that instant when a man purposeth to sinne he would with diligent mind consider what pounishment claymeth to be done towards those that are taken in trappe for their mischeefts what torment shoulde vexe the conuict soules what feare would shake their members and ioynts in euery part and what wanne and pale colour would dumpe theyr hauty countenances and finally how execrable reproche and ignominie it selfe the sentence denounced vnto suche sinners woulde duely reâ—der I knowe not whether he would take any such delight or frame him selfe vnto such vices and wickednes yea or no. MATTH CAP. 21. BEholde the Bridegrome commeth and they that were prepared to wayte vppon the Bridegrome went in with him vnto the wedding Vnde Gregorius IF thou oh wicked man wert wyse and diddest vnderstand what ioye this were thou wouldest oftentimes consider herevpon and speedely run to repentance neither wouldest thou lose or forgoe the acceptable time and the dayes of thy saluation through thy banquetting dayly ryot and idlenesse without profiting body or soule IEREMI CAP. 9. WHO shall geue water vnto my head a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may weepe night and day when I behold the children of the people committed to my charge IVDITH CAP. 8. LET vs craue his pardon with teares AVGVSTINVS THE iustice of the Omnipotent hauing foreknowledge of thinges to come let ordeyne to be made the fyre of hell euen from the first creation of the world He whiche is of his owne mercifull goodnes contrary to this fire who is enflamed with loue of
the heauenly God he is the fire whiche is neuer extinguished neither is he with mans loue consumed nor with wood noryshed BERNARDVS WHat is more horrible to thinke vpon then death what is more feareful â–ª then iudgement what more intollerable then the paiâ—es of hell fyre what more ioyfull then the glory of Heauen c. VVith this foresayd action I reade right ernestfull Repentantly into thy hart imprint Lhy state with teares bemone as most wofull VVith contrite hart doo now thy sinnes lament And wheretofore euyll custome by consent Of selfewyll dyd cause wickednesse abound Let hencefoorth grace amend thy lyfe present That lyfe to come with ioyes may thee redound ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for SATVRSDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SONDAY Remember here the ioyes of Heauen The principall blisfull state of seuen The Translators Application Thalmighty woorkeman ended now hiâ— worke which he dyd frame â–ª Resting from woorke he blest this day and sanctified the same As one that greatly dyd reioyce to see all thinges so well VVith glory infinite he restes where Saintes and Angels dwell This Sabbothes rest to keeps let vs. To enioy Heauens ioyes most precious AVGVSTINVS MAN dooth not comprehend in faith or beleeue what God hath prepared for them that loue him neither is it a thing that can be hoped sufficient nor desired as it ought to be yet may it be obteyned but it can be sufficiently esteemed valued or deemed according to the due value thereof PSALME 132. HOW dearely beloued thy tabernacles of vertues are Oh Lorde my soule hath desiered to knowe within thy Courtes and yet hath it fayled thereof MATTH CAP. 25. ENter thoâ— into the ioy of thy Lord. AVGVSTINE EVery man is made blessed in the country of the heauenly kingdome as well within doores as without within that is to say in the contemplacâ—on of the diuinitie of the Creator without to say in the incarnation and beholdyng in Heauen his Sauiour PSALME 84. BLessed are they which dwell in thy house oh Lorde they shall praise thee worlde without end PSALME 49. THere are glorius sayings of thee oh thou Citie of God. Idem O Lorde I haue loued the beautie of thy house and the place of thy habitation THOBIA CAP. 13. BLessed shall I be yf the rest of my seede might hereafter see the bright clearenesse of the Citie Hierusalem The gates of Hierusalem are builded of the Saphir and Smaragd stone and of diuers precious stones yea of precious stones is the compasse of the walles thereof APOCALIPS CAP. 21. THe heauenly Hierusalem hath the walles thereof in measure an hundred and foure and fourty cubites after the measure of man which is of the angel that measured the same hauing twelue foundacions that is to say all beautified with eache kinde of most precious stones And the first fundacion was of Iasper stone the second of Saphire the third of Calcedony the fourth of Emerald the fifth of Sardonix the sixth of Sardius the seuenth of Crysolity the eight of Berill the ninth of Topas the tenth of Crysophrasus the eleuenth of Iacinth and the twelfth and last fundacion of an Amethist Sequitur AND the streetes of the Citie resembled a golden world shining clearly as bright as glasse And the Temple thereof dyd I not see for the Lorde God euen the Almighty he is the Temple thereof and the Lambe And the Citie neyther wanted Sunne nor Moone to geue light therein for the beauty of the liuing God hath illuminated the same and the light thereof is the Lambe And the gates thereof are nâ—t shutt by day time for there shall no night be seene there And thyther shall they bring glory and honor out of the Nacions There shall nothing that is deâ—owled enter in therat neither any thing that woorcketh abomination or maketh leasings but such as are written in the booke of the life of the Lambe Augusti â–ª in confessi THere is a ioy that is not geuen vnto the wicked ones but vnto those thankful ones whiche honor thee whose ioy thou thy selfe art Ther is perfection and flowre of al fairenes VVhere simplest stuffe is gold and precious stone There is finall felicitie euermore faultles VVhose pleasures there surpasse all mencion There Christe our king for the saluacion Of those that liue in his feare and him loue Caelestiall ioyes preparde hath many a one For ay to dure in glorious Heauen aboue ESAI CAP. 32. MY people shal rest them in the Tabernacle of faithfulnesse in the beautiful court of peace ESAI CAP. 9. AND there shal be none end of peace August de ciuitate dei OH heauenly house of Hierusalem whiche art ful of light vnto thee breatheth my peregrination that he might possesse me in thee which hath made both thee and me AVGVSTINVS ETernall blessednesse consisteth in two pointes to say in the necessarie absence of all euyl and in the necessarie presence of al good If we aske what good there is at all to be found otherwyse it may not be answered but what so euer good thing may be is there to be found and what so euer euyl there is or may be in any place is not at al to be found there PSALM 84. ONE day in thy Courtes is better then a thousand Idem A Thousand yeeres are in thy sight but as one day GREGORIVS FOR who would loue that which he knoweth not wherevpon the Psalmist admonisheth vs saying Taste and see how sweete the Lord is And yf he manifestly declare his sweetenes yet you knowe him not because you haue not tasted of him AVGVSTINE SVch is the beauty of Iustice so much is the pleasauntnes of eternall light that although we had but one day and no longer limitted vs to tarry there euen for this cause only yf there were none other might in-numerable yeeres of this life be despised which are passed full of delightes in the abundance of temporal wealth and that but of right and with iust cause CHRISOSTOMVS PRosperity the Stepdame of vertues from the fyrst beginning of the world hath been proffering vnto her guestes sweete things to drincke that when men haue been drunke with the dregges of her wine she might entermingle them her deadly poyson therewith VVho would be carefull with deuoute diligence Digestly to thincke on the ioyes celestiall Might well discerne by true intelligence That worldly pleasure is of price but small VVhich as deceitfull would nought esteeme at all VVhen he dooth behold with great security That precious Pallace and place imperiall Ordeyned for Christes elect eternally SAPIENCE CAP 3. VNhappy and voyde is the hope of them their labours are without fruite but glorious is the fruites of the labours of the good men AVGVSTINE WHat madnes of soules is that to lose life and take death to gett wealth and lose heauen CHRISOSTOME IT is better to be compared vnto the brute Cattell then continually to be borne into this world For naturally to be boyde of reason is a thyng intollerable but
for a man that shoulde be adorned with reason to liue without reason is and may be wel counted a trespassing life PSALME 49. MAN being in honor hath none vnderstanding but is compared vnto the brute beastâ—s yea vnto the vnwyse and is made like vnto them c. GREGORIVS THE carnall delectation darkeneth and obscureth so that mind which she doth infect that she can not see the clearenesse of the true light but therevpon is more deuilishly delighted so as thencefoorth she suffereth fierie flame euen ascending vpward HIERONIMVS WE all are geuen to be wary in least matters and negligent in greatest thinges Isidorus de summo bono BEcause thou wouldest be such one that no earthly thing delighteth thee at all beleeue me thou shalt see euen at the same moment of time that thing which thou desirest GREGORIVS IF we would consider what and how great benefites these be which are promised vs in the heauens we should thinke in our mindes that all thinges are vyle and base whiche wee enioy vppon earth for the earthy substance being compared vnto the heauenly felicitie is a burden heauy for vs to beare and not a treasure to enioy The temporall lyfe being compared vnto the life eternall is rather to be called death then lyfe for that same dayly diseaze of corrupt nature what other thing els is it then a certaine proloxitie or circumstaunce of death IOHN CAP. 6 THere shall no man take away your ioy from you BERNARDVS OH thou house of God the Citie of the great kyng what woonderful ioyes are there in thee howe much and what great gladnesse how blessed are thy inhabitantes VVhen men to things temporall doo beare affection They least esteeme of euerduring blisse VVherevpon in nature ryseth such corruption That oft who on earth most prosperous is Of the heauenly beautitude most of all mis Their carnall lust a bondage dooth become To them selues who then would consider of this For transitorie pleasure should eternall paines shone PSALME 101. I Wyll sing of mercy and trueth vnto thee oh Lord. PSALME â—8 FOR what is there for me in heauen and what would I haue of thee vpon earth I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in all my ritches my hart hath refused to be comforted in worldly thinges Sequitur I Haue been mindfull of my God and I am comforted PSALME 76. THY consolacious oh Lorde haue made my soule glad BERNARDVS FOR vnto the image and similitude oâ— God is euâ—ry reasonable soule made It may be better exercised then all other creatures but in very deede it can not be satisfyed at all PSALME 34. I Shall be satisfyed when thy glory shall appeare AVGVSTINVS THE soule that is entrenched with the flowres of vertues and with the deawe of heauenly grace is called the Paradise of the Lorde GREGORIVS THE vâ—permost trenche possesseth the soule when she is afflitted with the desire of the heauenly kingdome euen with salte teares but the neathermost trenche doth she enioy when she throughly feareth by her sorowe and teares the tormentes of the pitt of hell Secundus Bonauentura FOR our naturall bodyes are compaâ—t of foure Elementes wherevpon with foure fould qualities shall they be remunerate for the Earthy Elament shal be turned to eternall immortalitie the Watry Elament into al maner of vnabilitie in suffering the Ayrie Elament into a speciall agillity or swiftnes and the Fyry Elament into most bright clearenes And then shall these shine as the Sunne and as the sparckes out of a flaming Furnace shall they disperse them selues abrode because the Lorde shall wipe away all sorowe from their eyes AVGVSTINE WHere so euer the spirite desireth to be then there altogeather shall the body be also c. VVe shall in the heauens of God haue inspection In soule and body endowred with dignity Yea and in this bodyly shape shall we haue cognition Eche one of other before Gods great maiesty VVhen as thus glorified in soule and eke in body Such ioyes shall we taste and endles consolation That in the midst our sauiour triumphing with victory VVe shall shine seuen times more dearer then the son VINCENCIVS AND there is a fruition of blisse whiche shall endure for euer and that in diuers maner not vpon the behalfe of euery perticuler soule which shall enioy the same but on the behalfe of such as shal posses them soules for the blesâ—ed and elect of God howe muche the more perfectly they are enobled with the light of glory and by the same ilâ—ustration or noblenesse the more conformable made So muche the more sharpe contemplacion haue they of the deuine essence and in the same contemplacion the more are they delighted 1. CORINTH CAP. 15. THere is one light of the Sunne an other light of the Moone and an other lyght of the Starres but euery Starre differeth in hrightnesse eche from other and so shall the resurrection of the dead differ one soule from an other AVGVSTINVS NO inferior shall enuie his superior euen as now no other angel inferior doo not enuie their superior in heauen for some one shall haue a larger gift of blessing and some other a lesse So as notwithstanding what so euer gyft eyther of them haue in the blisfull state of heauenly ioy he shall hold him selfe content therewith and shal not at any tyme wyshe or desyre for more c. GREGORIVS LEt therfore the greatnes of the rewards â–ª layd vp for thee in heauen encourage tâ—y â—oule but let not the force of the conflict in Christes fayth terrifie thee for no one man shal be câ—owned with the gaâ—lâ—nd of victory but he that hath rightfully â—ought it out to the vttermost BERNARDVS THat is y alone true and only ioy which is not conceaued of the Creature but of the Creator whiche when a man possesseth there is no man shal take the same away â—roÌ„ him Whereunto yf we compare all other sweetenesse the same may be coâ—mpted to a mindful pâ—rson al sweetenes a sorrâ—we euery bitâ—er thing sweete euery comely thing filthy and finaâ—ly whatsoeuer other may seeme to delight vs the same in deede is but greeuous and intollerable PAVLVS I Desire to be dissolued and to be with Christe ORIGEN ALL my comforters seeme vnto me â—eâ—ious and burdensome They vexâ— me but comfort me not I seeke for my Creator and it is greefe to me to behold euery Creature PSALME 56. THis is my rest for euer and euer wyll I dwell here because I haue chosen the same Nathles in respect of that eternall glory All worldly ioy is but fond ianglyng And beauty braue is but deformity Sweete thinges are sowre myrth very mournyng Or what so euer other delectable thyng All is reâ—uted but payne in comparison And worldly wealth is very vomentyng In respect of heauenly store of graces many one AVGVSTINVS COnsider wel thou faythful soule what inestimabâ—e honor it shal be for thee to be crowned of the cheefe King of Kinges with his owne handes and to