which belong vnto that tyme in which Death might seeme to be further off in this other which we haue now in hand we will lay downe those which apperteyne vnâ—o Death when it is present or neere at hand Death is said to be at hand or expecting vâ— at the gate when we are eyther worne out with old age the Apostle telling vâ— Quod antiquatur senescit prope interitum est That which groweth auncient waxeth old is neere vnto death or destruction Heb. 8. or else are taken with some great sicknes in the iudgement of Phisitians very dangerous whether this do befall an old man or a young a youth or a child Of this second ranke it seemes to vs the first precept to be the meditatioÌ„ of death for although Death be thought vpon and considered with neuer so great diligence or attention whiles we are in our youthfull yeares yet doth it very little moue vs because we apprehend it as farre off and therefore lesse dreadfull but when we see it so present as it may in a manner be felt with our handes then it stirreth vs vp indeed and the consideration thereof is very profitable all Artes are better attayned by practise then by teaching and those who if not more often did twice at least dye as Saint Christine Drithelmus the English man of whome I made mention in my booke De gemnitu Coâ—umbae of the mourning of the Doue the noble woman raysed by Saint Malachy of whome I shall speake in the 8. chapter and that Hermite whose history Climacus doth relate of whome also we in the end of this Chapter will say somewhat it is euident that they died cheerfully but for vs who are permitted to dye but once there is no better way then to meditate to thinke often of what is done or to be done in that houre First then we are to thinke that then there shal be a separation made of the soule from the body that neyther the soule is to be extinguished nor the body to fall be resolued to dust without hope of rising againe and being reunited vnto the soule for in case the soule should be annihilated and the body be subiect to eternal corruption as the Atheists do surmize then shold they seeme to haue spoken well who contemned death and sayd Edamus bibamus eras enim moriemur Let vs eate let vs drink for to morrow we shall dye which prouerbe is most ancient as we may see in the Prophet I say Cap. 22. Cap. 15. and in the first of S. Paul to the Corinthians and surely there are some euen amongst Christians who in wordes say that they do belieue but deny it by their deeds which may be proued out 〈◊〉 this principle that very many euen iâ— their old decrepit age neuer thinke vpon death as though that they were neuer 〈◊〉 dye or as if they thought with the death of the body the soule also did perish and resolue to nothing but whatsoeuer such men do dreame the separation of the body from the soule as it were of thâ— spouse from her husband is but an absencâ— for a while not a perpetuall diuorce for the soule is immortall and the flesh without all doubt shall rise againe at the later day We must therefore if we be Christians and haue any wit dayly thinke of death at hand in this standeth the totall summe of all our weale that we dye well In this life the passage is not hard froâ— vertue to vice and with the grace of God from vice vnto vertue for he who is now heir of the Kingdom of God may to morrow by synne fall from the inheritance oâ— God and become guilty of hell fire coâ—trarywise he who is a slaue of the Diuell may be deliuered from that bondage and be againe enrolled amongst the children â—f God and heyres of the heauenly Kingâ—ome But he who dyes the enemy of God â—nd guilty of euerlâ—sting fire he shall alwayes remayne the enemy of God tyed to these torments and on the other side he who dyeth the friend of God and heir of the Kingdome of heauen shall neuer fall from grace and that most excellent glory wherefore all our feliciâ—y or infelicity dependeth vpoÌ„ our good or bad death who then that hath not lost all is wit and iudgement will aduenture to depart out of this life vntill withall diligence he hath learned and prepared also himselfe to dye well Another consideratioÌ„ that most profitable touching death may be to conceaue well that although death be most certeyn the prophet worthily demaunding VVho is the man that liueth and shall not see death Psal 88. with whome Saint Paul agreeth saying It is decreed for all men once to dye Heb. 9. Yet is there nothing more vncerteyne then the day and houre of our death which the Scripture cleerly pronounceth saying VVatch because that you do not know the day nor houre many are taken away in their infancy some arryue arryue vnto crooked old age some dyâ— young some at matures yeares and which is more miserable some do dy so sodeÌ„ly as they haue no leasure left then to call vpoâ— God or to commend their soules to his mercy and these thinges doth the diuiâ—â— prouidence of God according to the treasures of his wisdome for no other cause ordeyne after this manner but to the end that none of his elected children and seruaunts should presume or be so hardy as to remayne for one moment plunged iâ— the durt of deadly synne and therefore whosoeuer thou be that doest reade thesâ— thinges if perhaps thy conscience giue testimony against thee of a deadly synne be not so bold as to stay till to morrow in it nor yet to expect till the end of this day or houre but presently with a contrite and humble hart before God detest and be sorrowfull for the same The third Consideration no lesse profitable then the former may be if in the morning before thou go out to thy daily busines at night before thou goest to bed least soden death should takâ— thee at vnawares that thou diligently examin thy conscience what thou hast done the night past what the day immediately â—efore especially whether there be any â—ing that may seeme a deadly syn and if â—ou find nothing yield thanks vnto God â—e Authour of all good and it thou fynd â—â—y thinge committed against God seriâ—usly repent thee from thy hart and at the â—rst occasioÌ„ prostrating thy selfe at the feet of the Priest confesse the same receaue willingly the pennance imposed faithfully performe it â—his method of examiâ—ing our selues twice in the day wonderâ—ully helpeth that death neuer take vs heÌ„ce â—nprouided The fourth consideration may be that which Ecclesiasticus setteth downe that In euery thinge thou doest remember the last things â—nd thou shalt neuer synne For how can he oâ—â—end in any worke who first doth weigh â—ll his works in the ballance
securely meet with our Sauiour at his retourne from the marriage There remayneth the third office or duty of a faithfull seruant that he alwayes watch because he is vncertayne when his maister will come Blessed are those seruants saith Christ whome their maister when he shall come shall fynde watching God Almighty would not haue all men at a certeyne tyme or period of their age to depart this life least they should bestow all the tyme of their life til then in gluttony and drunkennes plaies and desportes or in other ill works and then afterwards a little before their death to recal themselues retourne vnto God wherefore his diuine prouidence hath so ordeyned that nothing should be more vncerteyne then the houre of our death whiles some as we see dye in their mothers wombe others as soone as they are borne if not in their very birth some in hoary old age others in the very flower of their youth againe some we see by long lingring to languish away others to dye sodenly some to recouer from a most desperate sicknes others to be but a little sicke whiles they seeme free from death the disease increaseth and they depart this life and to make vs the better see this vncertaynty our Sauiour sayd Et si venerit c. Luc. 12. If he shall come in the second watch or if in the third watch so shall fynd his seruants to wit watching blessed are those seruants for know you this that if the maister of the house shold know at what houre the theefe would come truly he would watch and not suffer his house to be ransacked and be you prepared because the Sonne of man will come at such an hower as you thinke not on Moreouer that we might vnderstand of what weight this matter is to be well perswaded of the vncertainty of our life of the houre in which our Lord will call vs to iudgement eyther in the death of euery particuler or else at the later day the Scripture doth repeate nothing so often as that one word Vigilate watch and the similitude of a theefe who vseth not as you know to come but at such a tyme and place where and when he is least expected the word watch is in many places repeated in the Ghospells of S. Mathew Marke and Luke and the similitude of a thiefe is not only in the Gospels but also in the Epistles of the Apostles Apocalyps of S. Iohn Of all which we may euidently perceaue how great the negligence and ignorance not to say madnes and folly of most men is that so often admonished by the spirit of truth by the pens of the Apostles who could not lye nor deceaue vs that we be still prepared for death as a thing most great and difficult and on which dependeth our greatest and euerlasting happines or our greatest and euerlasting destruction and yet that there be so few that are stirred vp by these wordes or rather thunderings of the holy Ghost to prepare themselues thereunto Heer some will say what counsaile do you giue vs that we may watch as we should and by watching be prepared to make a happy end I can thinke of nothing better then that we often prepare our selues to death by a serious and due examination of our conscience and truly Catholike people when they come euery yeare to confession omit not to examine their consciences and againe when they begin to be sicke and the Phisitians by the decree of Pope Pius V. are forbidden to come the second tyme vnto them vnlesse after the examination of their conscience they haue also made a confession of their syns finally there are none in the Catholike Church but neere the hower of their death examine their consciences and confesse their synnes But what shall we say of such as are taken away by soden death What of such as become mad or leese their witts before they can make their confession What of those who are so ouerburthened with the extremity of sicknes as they cannot so much as thinke how many or what sins they haue coÌ„mitted What of those who in dying do synne or in synning doe dye as those who fight in vniust warre or in single combat or are taken in adultery To auoid therefore prudently and religiously these and the like inconueniences nothing better can be deuised then that all those who esteeme and make account of their saluation do twice euery day to wit at noone and night diligently discusse their conscience what the night or day before they haue done what they haue sayd what they haue desired what they haue thought in which any spot of synne may be found and if they fynd any such especially any thing that may seeme a mortall synne let them not delay the remedy of true contrition with firme purpose at the first opportunity to come to the Sacrament of pennance wherefore let them aske of God the gift of true compunction and sorrow let them call to mynde the grieuousnes of synne let them detest from their hart the fault committed let them seriously discusse who it is that doth offend whome he hath offended to wit a vile wretch Almighty God an vnprofitable seruant the Lord of heauen and earth let not their eyes cease from teares nor their hands froÌ„ knocking their brest and finally let them make a true and resolute purpose neuer more to prouoke Gods wrath nor to offend their most louing Father This examination if it be well made morning and euening or at least once in the day it can very hardly happeÌ„ that any one in dying should synne or in synning dye or be preuented with giddines madnes or other like misfortunes and so being well prepared to dye neyther the vncertainty can hurt vs or we be depriued of the glorious reward of euerlasting life CHAP. V. Of the fifth precept or rule of the Art of dying well in which is detected the errour of the Rich men of this world TO that which hath been sayd we are to adioyne the refutation of a certeyne errour very vulgar amongst the rich men of this world and it much hindereth the good life and death we haue spoken of The errour consisteth in this that rich men do esteeme the goods which they possesse to be absolutely and truly their owne if they possesse them by due clayme tytle and therefore that they may lawfully wast them giue them as they list neyther may any man say vnto them why do you thus Why go yoâ— so braue in apparell Why do you faâ—â— and feast so daintely Why are you so prodigall and lauish in feeding doggs oâ— hawkes or in play at dâ—ce or cardes oâ— in like delighting pastimes For the will forth with answere you what 〈◊〉 that to you May I not do with myâ—â— owne goods what I list or must I askâ—â— your leaue and counsaile how to bestow them This truly is a most grieuous and pernicious errour For suppose the rich
of Gods iudgement as they shal be weighed at his death To which purpose we may apply that remarkeable saying of a man twice dead which Climacus in his booke entituâ—ed the Ladder recouÌ„teth for thus he saith Grad 6. Non omittaÌ„ c. I wil not pretermit to recouÌ„t the history of that Anchoret who dwelled in Choreb this man after that he had liued most negligently for a longe tyme togeather and had had no care at al of his soule taken at length with sicknes and by â—â—â—nes with the death when as he was pâ—â—fectly departed after the space of an hoâ— the soule retourned againe to the bod◠〈◊〉 then he desired vs that were present 〈◊〉 incontinently we would all depart 〈◊〉 then stopping vp the dore of his cell wiâ—â— stones he remained there for twelue yearâ— neuer speaking one word to any or 〈◊〉 tasting any other thing then bread wâ—ter and sitting with great amazement 〈◊〉 reuolued in his mynd the thinges whiâ— in the tyme of his departure he had seene and that with so stedfast apprehension aâ— he neuer changed his countenaÌ„ce but remayning alwayes astonished he shed in silence great abundance of teares but when the tyme of his departure was at haâ—â— breaking downe the wall and opening the dore we went in vnto him and humbly intreating him to speake somewhat for our instruction this only we heard froâ— him Nemo qui reuerà mortis memoriam agnâ—â—rit peccare vmquam poterit No man who indeed shall throughly conceaue the remembrance of death can euer synne Hitherto Climacus Now let the Reader consider â—ell and know that this is a true history â—d no fiction or fable written by one â—ho was a very holy man and he wrote 〈◊〉 otherwise then he saw with his owne â—â—s heard with his eares Out of which it is easy to perceaue â—w important a thinge it is daily to meâ—ate vpon death alwayes to haue the sâ—â—e present in our remembrance this maÌ„ had beene before very negligent in procuring his owne saluation but out of the great mercy of God he tasted death and risiâ—g againe vnto life for twelue yeares togeather he did daily thinke vpon death moreouer bewayled his synnes with conâ—iâ—uall teares and those thinges which beâ—e his first death he accounted light and â—iall matters hauing tasted the bitterâ— of death he iudged to be most grieuous â—nd such as required the penitential teares â—welue yeares to blot theÌ„ out This then â—he true commentary of these wordes of 〈◊〉 Scripture Remember the last thinges to wit â—th iudgement heauen and hell and 〈◊〉 shalt neuer synne if the remembrance 〈◊〉 one only of these foure was so auailable 〈◊〉 this Monke as that for twelue yeares pennance he redeemed the euerlasting toâ—ment of hellfyre and gayned the glory 〈◊〉 a neuer ending Kingdome what will 〈◊〉 perpetuall memory of al foure work in 〈◊〉 in case we wold exercise our selues theriâ— I would to God men would but know 〈◊〉 try this short and compendious way to 〈◊〉 great and vnspeakable a gaine CHAP. II. Of the second Precept of dying well wheâ— our Death is neere which is of the last day of Iudgment THE second of the foure last thinges iâ— Iudgment which is twofold the one particuler in which euery soule in particuler is iudged at the departure from the body the other generall which shal be of altogeather in the later day both are most horrible and dreadfull vnto the wicked delightfull and glorious vnto the good And often and attentiuely to thinke of tâ— one and other is most profitable for sâ—â— as desire to atteyne a happy death No 〈◊〉 can doubt but that the particuler Iudgement of euery man alone is to be made preâ—â—ntly at his death when as in the Counâ—ell of Florence it is declared against the heâ—etiks that such as depart out of this life in â—eadly sinne streight wayes to descend inâ—o hell fire and those who dye out of the â—tate of deadly synne but with the debt of â—emporal punishment to be caried to purgatory and finally such as after baptisme are free from synne and debt of punishment presently to ascend into heauen to receaue euerlasting felicity And it is very credible as Deuines do hold S. Tho. in 4. dist 47. Dom. Soto in 4. dist 45. the iudiciall sentence of Christ eyther to be signifyed vnto them by Angells or to be reuealed immediately vnto their soules by God himselfe and the soules of the vertuous guarded by Angells either to ascend into heauen or to descend into Purgatory but the soules of the daÌ„ned to be carryed by the Diuells and by them to be cast headlong into hell This iudgement may be dispatched in a moment because the Iudge is present who being God and man according to his diuine nature is euery where and as he is man doth know all things For most truly did Saint Peter say vnto our Sauiour Domine tu omnia nosti Ioan. 21. O Lord thou knowest all thinges the accuser which is the Diuell called in the Apocalips Accusator fratrum nostrorum the accuser of our brethren is at hand he runneth to such as are sick and ready to dye as a wolfe lion or dogg to his prey The witnes is also ready the coÌ„science it selfe of the soule which now separated from the body can no more be deceaued by ignorance or obliuion but throughly knoweth it selfe and incontinently seeth whether it be gratefull or hatefull vnto God and therefore nothing hindereth but that this iudgement may presently be made and put in execution this iudgement is to be called priuate if it be compared with the iudgement at the the later day which shal be publike generall before all the Angells and men of the world But heere briefly is to be yelded a reason why it is required that such shold be iudged againe who not only are iudged already but are also eyther punished in hell 〈◊〉 rewarded in heauen for this point noâ— one reason alone but six may bâ— alleadâ—â—â— The first is in respect of God for in this liâ—â— there want not many who seeing many vertuous men to be vniustly afâ—licted and punished by the wicked on â—he other side many wicked meÌ„ to abound with temporall wealth prosperityes do â—uspect that eyther God doth not see these â—hinges or else that he hath no care of â—hem therefore that all mankind may â—now this world to be most prudently â—uyded by God he hath determined at â—he later day before all the Angells and men to manifest his iustice and to render vnto euery man according to his deserts rewards to the good punishments to the wicked Apoc. 16. that all may be compelled to auouch and say Iustus es Domine vera iusta iudicia tua thou art iust o Lord thy Iudgements are true and iust The second reason is that Christ who before men was so vniustly iudged â—nd suffered so many grieuous and most vnworthy torments
two testimonyes which shew the order obserued betweene the two Sacraments Extreme Vnction and â—he holy Eucharist there may be produced â—wo other which shew the Blessed Sacraâ—ent to haue beene the last although no â—ention be made in them of extreme Vnction In the life of Saint Ambrose which Paulinus wrote there is mentioned that he at the point of death receaued this heaueÌ„ly food and hauing receaued it presently departed this life and the same writeth Methaphrast of Saint Iohn Chrysostome in his life so as it is cleere that this was the last Sacrament that was giuen to the sicke in â—ncient tymes Now a dayâ—s we first arme the sicke with the Blessed Sacrament then after some dayes the disease continuing or encreasing we anneyle them with holy oyle both customes haue their reasons for approuance the ancient Fathers did coÌ„sider the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction to be instituted both for the recouery of perfect health and to take away synnes or the relikes that remayned of them for so speaketh Saint Iames Is there any sicke amongst you Iac. 5. Let him fetch the Priests of the Church and let them pray ouer him annoynting him with oyle in the name of our Lord and the prayer of faith shall saue the sicke and our Lord shall rayse him vp and if he be in sinns they shall be forgiuen him The ancients then hoping by this sacred Vnction the corporall health of the diseased delayed not this Sacrament vntill that tyme when in the iudgement of Phisitiâ—ns the disease was desperate but as soone â—s it seemed in their iudgement to be danâ—erous presently they made recourse vnto â—he holy vnction which also may be gathered of that which Saint Bernard writeth in the life of Saint Malachy the same Saint being sicke came downe on his feet from his chamber which was in the top of the howse to the Church that first he might receaue the holy Vnction then the Blessed Sacrament and hauing receaued them both he returned againe on his feet without the helpe of any to his chamber bed But now a dayes when they heare any mention to be made of extreme Vnction they thinke all at an end that the sicke man cannot escape for which cause the kinsfolkes and friendes of the partyes that be sicke not to terrify them with the apprehension of present death do delay as long as they can this Sacrament There is also another reason hereof which moued the ancients first to anâ—eyle the sicke then to giue them their â—eauenly foode because in the SacrameÌ„t of Extreme Vnction the synnes are forgiuen as we haue heard out of the Apostle Sainâ— Iames and therefore of some ancient writers Extreme Vnction is called Poâ—nitentiâ— infirmorum the pennance of the sicke and remission of synnes togeather with pennance are most worthily premised as a preparation or dispositioÌ„ to the most high diuine SacrameÌ„â— of the Eucharist which requireth the greatest pâ—â—ity that can be gotten in this life Finally all the Sacraments are ended and as it were sealed vp with the Sacrament of the body of our Lord and so we see that such as are of rype age when they are baptized as Turkes Iewes the like are presently after their baptisme confirmed admitted to be present at the sacrifyce of the Masse and to receaue the holy Eucharist so likewise such as did publike pennance after their pennance performed at least according to the auncient custome al wayes receaued the Blessed Sacrament and they who take Orders whether the lesser or greater after they haue taken them come to the holy communion and lastly such as are marryed doe strengthen and confirme the Sacrament of Marryage with the Sacrament of the Altar now in our dayes this order is alteâ—ed and that not without a iust cause For oftentymes it happynes that Extreme Vnâ—tion that the sicke person may not be aâ—frighted is put of for a longe tyme and there is danger least he leese his senses or vse of â—eason or for some other cause become vnfit if not vnable to receaue the B. Sacrament and therâ—fore this wholsome food is giuen before for it is better that the order of giuing these Sacraments be changed then that the sicke should be depriued of the one that also most wholsome and comfortable and Extreme Vnction may be giuen vnto the sicke albeit he be in his agony or last pangs and conflicts with death although he neyther vnderstand or feele what is done so as yet he be aliue for the dead are capable of no Sacraments and so much of the order of ministring these Sacraments to the sicke Now I come to speake of the pretious body of Christ to be fruitfully giueÌ„ to the sicke and first I will briefly explicate what the sicke man is to doe before this Sacrament be brought vnto him then what the same sicke man is to do wheÌ„ the body of Christ is present lastly how he ought to behaue himself after that he hath receaued it As for the first my counsayle sholâ— be vnlesse his Ghostly Father should suggest some other thinge according to the present occasions more necessary that the sicke man diligently ponder these wordes of Saint Thomas O sacred banquet in whiâ—â— Christ is receaued the remembrance of his passâ—â—â— is recounted the soule is filled with grace a pledge is giuen vs of the glory to come First then he shal attentiuely consider the holy Eucharist to be giuen to vs trauellers which tytle by Deuines is applyed vnto all mortall men by way of food that we faint not in the way in which we trauell towards out countrey especially at that tyme in the which we being wearyed with a longe iuorney we become weake and feeble this food is called a banquet and a sacred baÌ„quet for although it be giueÌ„ vnder the forme of bread alone yet is it an entiere great banquet a banquet not prophane but sacred not of the body but of the soule and therefore it is added In quo Christus samitur in which Christ is receaued for vnder the formes or accidents of bread is the true body of Christ not separated from his soule and diuinity and for that it is a most great most excellent and most pretious thinge a great and most sweet banquet farre exceeding the tast of all earthâ—y sweetnes but fit to feed and delight the â—oule not the body What the fruites or commodityes are of this food is added when it is sayd The remembrance of our â—auiour his passion is recounted the soule is filled with grace and a pledge is giuen vs of our future glory The first fruite then is the remembrance of our Sauiours passion for which cause the body bloud of our Lord are consecrated vnder the twofold formes of bread and wyne that the forme of breade may represent his body separated from the bloud and so consequently dead and the forme of wyne represent his bloud separated from the body although that
Saint Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians Id enim quod in praesenti est momentanem c. 2. Cor. 4. For our tribulation which in this life is momentary and light worketh in vs aboue measure on high an euerlasting weight of glory we not contemplating the things that are seene but which are not seene for the thinges which are seene are temporall the thinges which are not seene eternaâ—â— These Apostolicall and golden words to a spirituall man are most easy and plaine and out of them alone without alâ— difficulty he learnes the art of liuing and the art of dying well but to a carnall sensual man they are as obscure as any Cymmerian darkenes and sound as the Hebrue or Arabicke tongues do to one who knoweth no other but the Latyn or Greeke A spirituall man gathereth out of these wordes the tribulations of this life although most grieuous endured born foâ— the loue of God to be most light and most short albeit they should last for many yeares because whatsoeuer hath an end cannot be properly sayd to be of long continuance and the same tribulations to merit before God so great riches as that an vnmeasurable euer during treasure of glory and all good things is purchased by them out of which al men of capacity may see that these tribulations are not to be feared but we are to feare our sins neyther are temporall emolumeÌ„ts to be much regarded but eternall only And hence it followeth that men are to liue well on earth that they may happily raigne in heauen and consequently liue dy most securely But sensuall men that haue no spirit who in wordes say that they belieue the words of the Scripture and deny it in deeds they doe plainly peruert the words of the Apostle and say if not with their tongue yet in their hart that pouerty ignorance ignominy iniuryes tribulations are most grieuous therefore with all care to be auoyded preuented repelled albeit they should for that end lye deceaue commit murther offend God and afterwards go to hell firâ—â—or say these men who knoweth whether any where there be a hell Or who hath euer seene this eternall weight of glory But we fynde by experience we know for certeyne yea we feele with our hands pouerty ignominy and iniuryes to be ill Thus doth the world and such as are of the world not deliuer in wordes but testify in their actions and this is the cause why the greatest part of men doe liue ill and dye most miserably And to alleage an example or two of the bad death of the damned we haue in the fourth booke of S. Gregoryes Dialogues the example of one Crisorius who being one of them whom I now described a politike fellow wise and in worldly affayres very practicall but withall as S. Gregory noteth very proud and couetous this man being now come to the end of his life opening his eyes saw most filthy and vgly spirits to stand before him to draw neere that they might take him away perforce and carry him into hell the poore man began to tremble to wax pale and with loâ—d cryes to aske for respit crying and saying Inducias vel vsqâ—â—ane inducias vel vsque mane resâ—it 〈◊〉 till to morow respit but till to morrow and whiles he thus cryed euen in the very speaking his soule was taken away from his body by which it is most cleere that he saw that vision for our instruction that it might be a warning to vs seeing that in respect of himselfe it was nothing auayleable And this vsually hapneth vnto such as differ or delay their amendment vntill the last houre of their life and of this number are they to be reckoned who as Saint Gregory sayth in the beginning of his fourth booke doe not easily belieue any thinge that they do not see with their eyes or if they belieue they doe not belieue as they should by reforming their liues to the prescript of vertue Another example is in the same place where Saint Gregory writeth of a Monke that was an Hypocrite who was thought to fast whiles in the meaâ—e tym he did secretly eate and drinke and the same Saint affirmeth the sayd Monke to be damned in hell fire for he acknowledged his synne but did no pennance for it for God on the one side would haue his Hipocrisy detected and on the other gaue him not grace to repent that othâ—â—â—ay learne not to delay their coÌ„fession â—â—peâ—nance vntill the end of their life But not to stay longer in discoursing of such who through their owne negligence haue not learned the art of liuing well therfore haue miscaryed in their ends I returne to the wordes of S. Paul which are very full of mysteryes most wholsom documeÌ„ts First it is good to note how far the Apostle doth extenuate his owne merits and labours endured for Christ and extolleth the glory of the Kingdome of heauen which is the reward of our merits That sayth he of our tribulation is momentary and light this is the extenuation of his merits The Apostle with all possible endeauour had laboured almost fourty yeares for when he was called by a voice from heauen vnto Christ he was a young man Cap. 7. for so it is written in the Acts of the Apostles the stoners of Saint Stephen deposuerunt vestimenta sua secus pedes adolescentis qui vocabatur Saulus they layed their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul He liued a Christian euen vnto his old age for so he writeth of himselfe vnto Philemon cùm sis sicut Paulus senex seeing thâ—â— arâ— like Paul an old â—an therfore he â—â—towed his youth his middle and old age in the seruice of Christ and yet hâ— sayeth that his tribulations which were continuall without intermission from his conuersion vntill his MartyrdoÌ„ were out momentary and what he sayth is true if his tribulations be compared vnto the eternity of euerlasting felicity though in respect of our tyme they dured for a long while To the shortnes he addeth their lightnes Momentaneum leue tribulationis nostrae And yet how sharâ— and cruell his tribulations were himself declareth wheÌ„ in the first to the Corinthians he sayth 1. Cor. 4. Vsque in hanc horam c. Euen vnto this houre we hunger and thirst are naked and are beaten or buffetted with fists and haue no place of aboad and labour with our own hands we are cursed and we blesse we suffer persecution and endure it we are blasphemed and we entreat we are made as it were the filth of the worlde and the scum of all euen vntill this present tyme and in his other Epistle vnto the same Corinthians he addeth further 2. Cor. 11. In laboribus plurimis c. In very many labours in prisons more often in strips aboue measure in deaths often of the Iewes fiue â—â—â—es had I fourty lashes saue one thrice was I