not as droppes but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body hath been shedde for the price of my redemption c. Trenorum primo O All you that passe by the way marke well and see yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe BERNARDVS BEhold oh man with the eye of thy mind in what duetifull debt of recompence thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee It shall behoue vs to consider well That this was done for our saluation Our vnthankfulnesse let vs then expell And gratefull be for our redemption VVhich to frequent in harty deuotion Aboue all thinges our mind for to remord As mighty medicine and fruitefull confection Doth linck one loue with Christ our soueraigne lord BERNARD Snpee illud canticorum Fasciculus Mirrhe O Howe shewed he mercy more then he ought to haue done howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs what admirable sweetenesse what inuincible mildnesse and humilitie in that he being the king of glory should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies for the most vylest person of the world to suffer death ANCELMVS THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast as shal make the same most healthfull and strong Idem AWake thou oh my soule and more diligently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man as one borne before the time and so conceaued as though no man regarded him and as one in the sight of the world vnwoorthy deformed and leprous Trenorum primo HEare me I beseeche you all you people and behold my sorowe and anguishe 1. GALATHI CAP. 6. GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I am crucifyed vnto the world BERNARDVS HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord is wounded for thy sake and is content to suffer langwors and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde is made strange vnto the world for thy loue is strong as death and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell VVherefore sweete Iesu our loue and soueraine Lord Treasure of treasures which may vs most auayle VVith ruthfull repentance nowe wee record Our great vnthanke and blindnesse bestiall Of pitie praying thy power imperiall To multiply thy mercy so vpon vs That of thy merites with cares inspeciall Thankfull to thee wee may be studious BERNARDVS WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body And vouchsafe thou oh Lorde to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie and print therein the woundes of thy body that after the course of this lyfe I may freely commende into thy handes my soule as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde AVGVSTINVS I Beseeche thee good Lorde so pearce and wounde this my soule with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll shee being chastized may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night Bernardus super verbo Pater ignoscie VOuchsafe oh Lord and heauenly father to looke downe from out of thy Sanctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse Idem REmember nowe oh Man and although thou knowest thy self to be created of nothing yet notwithstandyng thou hast to acknowledge that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing The Creator Redeemer and Sauiour in sixe dayes made all thinges and thre amongst all thinges but in thirtie yeere space that is to say In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake Ponishe not thy people Lord God in thy greeuance Thincke why thy sonne Christe suffered his passion The crowne of thorne the crosse and Longeus launce Vouchsafe accept our harty gratulation Rewyng vpon our sinfull conuersation Plant in our hartes such reuerent regard Towardes thy good graces by due consideration In suffring for thy sake may thinke nothing to hard ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for FRYDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SATVRSDAY Here thinke to eschew the hellishe payn For such as in vyle sinne remayne The Translators Application The same good God now bids the Earth of creatures in eche kinde To yeeld increase as Cattell VVoorme and Beastes by him assnde Man then after his image made him rule he gaue and sway Creating woman a comfort to him with mutuall stay Amids these pleasures mortall man Shun hellysh paynes all that thou can IOHM CAP. 1. ALL thinges are by him made and without him is nothing made 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HEareby knowe wee the loue of God towardes vs because he hath geuen his life for vs. IOHN CAP. 13. NO man hath greater loue in him then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes BERNARDVS OF trueth sweete Iesus thou hast hadde greater loue whiche hast geuen thy lyfe euen for thy persecuting enemies 1. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR you are bought with a great price TITVS CAP. 3. NOT according to the woorkes of righteousnesse which we haue done but accordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs. APOCALIPS CAP. 11. THY wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes as to thy holy ones to those that feare thy name small and great and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land PSALM 104. THOV haste made all thinges in wysedome PSALME 7. GOD is a iust Iudge strong and pacient MATTH CAP. 15. DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels Sequitur AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pounishment IOB CAP. 7. WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel shall not ascende vnto the heauens AVCTOR Herevpon a certayn Gentile hath this sentence If I had a hundred tongues and as many mouthes and a voyce as strong as Iron I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes and for the pounishmentes thervnto due they are so many that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence then to resite them at full DEVTERONO CAP. 32. I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades that is to lay all kindes of tormentes and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them ECCLESIASTI CAP. 29. FYre Tempest Famine and Death all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly PSALME 11. IT raigneth snares vppon sinners
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
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
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
the reason ROMANS CAP. 2. O The woonderfull height of the ritches of the wysedome of GOD and of his knowledge howe incomprehensible and inscrutable are the iudgementes of his way The Auctor figuring the generall iudgement Hereby admonisheth both iust and vniust To consider thereof in this life present All securitie then abandon we must Yea all licencious liuyng and carnall lust VVherein the wicked florishe at wyll For all such as therein doo put their trust Thalmighty Iudge in his wrath shall them spyll ECCLESIAST CAP. O What tormentes haue all the elect of GOD suffered that they might safely come vnto the obteyned victory ordeined for martyrs ESAI CAP. 10. WOe be vnto Assur which is becomr the rod of my fury and the staffe it selfe of reuenge in their handes is my heauy displeasure But according to the opinion of Saint Augustine when the father hath corrected the childe in mercy and iustice he then casteth the rod into the fyre 2. PETER CAP. 2. THE Lorde dooeth knowe when in due time to take hence those that are godly but as for the wicked he leaueth them for the day of iudgement to pounishe them then according to their desertes PSALME 76. LOrde I haue been mindfull of thy iudgementes and I am comforted Were it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe then shoulde I perhaps haue perished euen in myne owne humilitie c. 1. PETER CAP. 2. CHriste hath suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we shoulde all folowe his steppes LVKE CAP. 24. OVght not Christe to haue suffered death and â—hat he shoulde so enter thereby into his glory Ad Hebreos CAP. 11. THE holy ones and elect of God by faith haue coâ—quered vnto them kyngdomes haue wrought the woorkes of equitie and righteousnesse â–ª haue purchased them selues newe promises of saâ—yng health But some others hauing tryed the scornefull dispites and scourges of this worlde and moâ—eouer the bâ—nâ—es and imprisonment haue been stoned to death haue been dâ—smembred haue been tempted and haue been put to death with the swoord ISIDORVS ADuersities are meanes to reclayme and remedy the diseases of the soule Sicknes woundeth the fleshe but cureth the defect of the mind As God suffereth the wicked a time to lyue here Though it be for a scourge vnto his elect So to strengthen their pacience when they forbeare Too to many iniuries yet hath he respect His chosen quite out of mind not reiect But for better tryall of their fyrme fayth VVhen he seeth time he wyll detect Their foes of mischeefe with sentence of dearh ESAI CAP. 30. THE Lorde looketh for vs to the ende he would haue mercie vpon vs. IVDITH BVT because the Lorde is pacient euen for this purpose let vs repent the more and let vs with teares craue his pardon ESAI CAP. 26. HE had compassion of the obstinate and wicked person and he hath not learned to feare our righteousnes ECCLESIASTI CAP. 5. SAY not thou with thy self I haue sinned and what mishap hath chaunced vnto me by meanes of forgeuenesse of thy sinnes be thou not therefore the more without feare for mercy and displeasure soone passeth away from him and his wrath dooth beholde those that sinne Ad Romanos CAP. 2. THOV art vtterly ignorant that the great good wyll of God bringeth thee to repentance but according to the hardnes of thy hart and as thou art impenitent thou heapest vp wrath vnto thee in the day of wrath and when the iudgement of the iust God shal be reauealed whiche rendreth to euery man according to his woorkes Idem ad Romanos AND dooest thou despise the ritches of his goodnes of his pacience and longanimitie Thou dooest then heape vppon thee his wrath against the day of wrath PSALME 22. FOrsake me not Lord in the day of my tribulation Idem I Wyll not feare any euyll thinges because thou Oh Lord art with me DEVTERONO CAP. 31. TRuely because the Lorde was not with me therefore haue these euils and mischeefes come vpon me 2. PARALIPO CAP. 15. THE Lord is with you to helpe you because you are abiding with him yf you shall seeke him you shall finde him but yf you forsake him he shall forsake you ROMANS CAP. 8. IF God be on our side who shall be agaynst vs. GENES CAP. 12. MY soule liueth euen because of thy louing fauour PSALME 84. THE Lorde shall geue vnto his chosen both grace and woorship PROVERBES CAP. 3. HE shall geue grace to the humble and lowly in hart PROVERBES CAP. 14. GRace shall remaine amongst the iust and vpright in hart Oh mankind rue on thy miserable estate VVhen sleeping in sinne of liberty thou liuest A more lothsome life then brute beast create The nearer grace is offred thee the furder of thou geuest Thy consent with security and so thou thriuest For abusyng Gods grace and offered mercy One mischeefe vpon an other thou driuest Tyll all to late it is to repent thy folly APOCAL. CAP. 20. THere shall be ordeyned a iudgement of euery soule according as he hath done in this lyfe time ECCLESIAST CAP. 38. O Man remember thou my iudgement for euen so shall thine be with me it was yesterday and with thee shal it be to morow LEVITICVS CAP. 14. LET him sprinckle him seuen times that is to be cleansed from his offences that he may be purged by the lawe Idem NEyther let him enter into the Sanctuarie vntyll suche time as the dayes of his cleansing shal be fulfylled 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. BVT euery man shall receaue his owne reward according to his labour and trauayle DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shall be also apyointed a measure of punishment according to the measure of the offence and sinne committed APOCAL. CAP. 14. FOr their woorkes shall folowe them when they are gone hence PSALME 28. THou shalt render vnto euery one according to his woorkes ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. HOwe becommest thou ignorant what the way of the spirite is Dooest thou so not vnderstand the woorkes of God which is the woorkemaster of all thinges SAPIENCE CAP. 11. FOR who is he that can vnderstand the mysteries of God. ESAI CAP. 47. THere shall sodenly come a plague vppon thee which thou knowest not of Actuum Apostolorum CAP. 15. WE beleeue to be saued by the grace and fauour of God. AVGVSTINVS IF so be that I knewe my reward were laid vp for me in hell I would pray no more for it then I would doo for the deuill SAPIENCIE CAP. 2. THere is not any man acknowledged or knowen to haue gone downe into hel and haue returned thence againe BERNARDVS MArke and beholde alwayes this rule that after the Lorde hath long spared sinners he dooeth more greeuously seeke to be auenged of them Be it by example of others imitation Or by our selfe wyll and ignorance we fall Or by Satans subtilty and suggestion VVe commit any offences here criminall So for the same answeare make we shall And as we haue wrought so awarded we
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
vnto my selfe that whiche lacketh by and through the woundes of my Lord Iesus because he aboundeth with mercie towardes me I ought not be voyd of well deseruing so long as the Cesterne of his mercies is neuer empty towardes me GREGORIVS ALL the proude people sprong of the linnage of Adam laboured by all meanes to atteyne vnto the prosperous thinges of this world To shonne and eschewe al aduersities flee from reproches and folowe after pompe and glory The Lorde came amongst them choosing to take vnto him aduersitie fleeing vayne pompe and glory despising prosperitie and embracing reproches Idem YF the passion of Christe be called of vs rightly into our mindes there is nothing so greeuous vnto vs but thereby it shal be tolerated of vs with pacient mind PHILLIPIANS CAP. 2. HE shewed him selfe humble and lowly being obedient to death euen vnto the death of the crosse Thus the quotidian and fruitefull remembrance Of Christes blessed passion so piteous Vniting with Christe familier acquayntance Maketh a vicious man to become vertuous And his deuotion both sweete and sauerous Causing temperance in blinde prosperitie And as a Christian knight Cheualrious To haue glad pacience in great aduersitie GALATH. CAP. 3. I Liue nowe yet not I but Christe liueth in me ESAI CAP. 5. HE is wounded for our iniquities and torne in peeces for our sinnes the discipline of our peace is vpon him Lorde therefore take from vs our stony hart and geue vs a fleshly hart HIERONIMVS O Good Lord Iesu oh that the reproches of those whiche put thee to death hadde light vpon me that they might haue moued my hart vnto compunction and harty sorow IOHN CAP. 11. LET vs also goe and dye with him ESAI CAP. 43. CAll me agayne to thy memorie and let vs be iudged togeather Declare thou for thy part what thou canst then see what thou hast to iustifie thy selfe of BERNARDVS O Sweete Iesus the bitter cuppe whereof thou dydst taste hath made me to loue thee aboue all other thinges a woorke perfourmed for our redemption once for all This being oftentimes duely pondered dooeth easely callenge our loue vnto it nothing more delectably allureth our deuotion vnto it more iustly perfourmeth our duety more deepely bindeth nor more vehemently surpriseth our affectes He hath taken great paynes for vs and yet in all the woorkes that euer he wrought as touching the worlde this the aucthour of our life was neuer in any thing so turmoyled For in that he suffered for vs in steade of saying trueth he was controlled with gaynâ—sayinges for his good deedes he had those that looked nearely vnto him when he felt extreame paynes he was scorned of them and when he dyed he suffered the reproche of his enimies BERNARDVS THY passion Lorde is our last refuge that we haue to cleaue vnto and our singuler remedy ESAI CAP. 3. THERE is none ende of the treasures therâ—of GREGORIVS THE passion of Christe being set before our eyes woorketh all vertue in vs both for the time present and to come and fulfylleth all health of soule and body And when we receaue the remembrances of the passion of Christe streightway thereby all the deuils in Hell are put to flight and all our deserued punishmentes for our offences are dispenced with and forgeuen BOECIVS 3. de consolatione HE had brought such weapons vnto thee which hadst thou not first reiected might haue defended thee with an inuincible strength EPHESI CAP. 6. BE you comforted in the Lord and put vppon you the armour of God in the power of his vertue that you may be able to withstand the deceiptes of the Deuill SAPIENCE CAP. 7. YEa there is an infinite quantitie of treasure hidden for men wherein who so euer are possessed are made partakers of the freendship of God. 2. PARALIPO CAP. 22. MAnifest therfore and openly expresse vnto him your hartes and your soules that you may seeke for your Lord God. 2. PARALIPO CAP. 15. IF you seeke for him you shal finde him out but yf you refuse to seeke him and forsake him he wyll forsake you Againe and againe within thy mind reuolue Howe to be thankfull for Christes passion Crauing of him thy hard hart to resolue VVith inward dolour and outward lamentation Powre foorth thy prayers to finde consolation In that victorious triumph of vertues abundance From Sinne the VVorld and Satans suggestion VVhich yf thou seekest shall geue thee deliuerance MATTH CAP. 26. MY soule is heauy euen vnto death AVGVSTINVS OH howe bitter is death whose only premeditacion caused Christe to sweate water and blood LVKE CAP. 22. AND his sweate became as the drops of blood running downe to the earth for his blooddy sweate doo expresse the sorowes of his hart MATTHE 26. WHom so euer I shall kisse the same is he hold him fast MATTH CAP. 26. THen all the Disciples hauing forsaken him fled from him PSALME 84. BEhold thy Christe in his face Augustin supper MARC CAP. 15. HE tooke vp with him Peter Iohn and Iames and feare and tediousnesse came vppon him in so much as he trauayled with sorowe teaching vs by example or as it were figuratiuely what maner companions and disciples a man ought to haue with him in such perplexities as he that wyll then pray is or ought to be like affected for euen as a theefe hearing an outery presently taketh his heeles and therevppon the neyghbours besturre them to remedy the case Euen so by mans feruent prayer the Deuil fleeth away and the holy spirite of God entreth with good meditations to comfort man. MATTH CAP. 26. O Father yf this cuppe may not passe me except I fyrst drinke thereof thy wyll be done LEODIGARIVS THis voyce of the head is the health of the whole body this voyce hath instructed al the faythfull hath inflamed all the confessors of Christe and crowned all the Martyrs of Christe for what is he that is able to ouercome the hatred of the world the troubles of temptations and the terrors of persecutors but only that Christe in all and for all should say vnto his Father Thy wyll be done VVhat troubles terrours and tormentes haue Assayled Christe in any maner wyse Thou oughtest in prayer dayly of him to craue Power to resist thy gohstly enimies VVho wyll not let thee suffer iniuries But at a pinche thy helper wyll appeare As he him selfe suffered smart likewyse And was comforted so shalt thou be his deare MATTH CAP. 26. THen they spitted vpon his face and buffeted him CHRISOSTOMVS THE Euangelist expoundeth those most reprochefull handlinges in this maner Nothing abashed was he to suffer them because we might imprint them in our hartes with continencie and in them reioyce â–ª or take comfort BERNARDVS HOwe much the poorer he made him selfe by his humilitie so muche the ritcher he shewed him self in goodnesse and how much more base he was in the sight of the world so much the more deare beloued is he vnto me Idem super canti OH humble
hart and yet most hygh maiestie and oh most highest and last ioy of humane kind oh reproche of men and glory of angels no man more noble and yet none more despised Who coulde refraine from teares to heare such wicked handling RABANVS TO conâ—inue in sinne dooth increase wickednesse PSALME 41. ONE depth calleth vpon an other GREGORIVS THe sinne that is not extinguished by earnest and true repentance straightway with the efficacie thereof dooth 〈…〉 more sinne MATTH CAP. 2â— PEter remembred and thought vppon the woordes of Christe CHRISOSTOMVS NOthing so muche healeth the sore of sinne as when we continually think vppon the Lord in our mindes MATTH CAP. 26. HE went out and wept bitterly c. Freendles among his foes in feoble plight He suffered of them this greeuous tribulation They fyled his face with spitting in despite And blinded his eyes in scornefull derision His pacience yet surpassing all imagination Peter then fledde wherefore thou sinner Cleaue to Christe in fayth by harty reformacion Forsake not thy Sauiour that held thee so inteare PSALME 108. WHAT shall I render agayne vnto the Lord for all that he hath bestowed vppon me PSALME 35. THEY haue rewarded me euyll thinges for good HIERONIMVS IVdas sinned more in that he dispayred then in that he betrayed Christe Couetousnesse is the snare of the deuill by meanes whereof he hanâ—eth vp all couetous persons MATTH CAP. 27. THey brought him foorth with his handes bound behind him and deliuered him vnto Poncius Pilate the cheefe Iudge HIERONIMVS I Haue seene howe paynefull the priestes haue been about mischeefe they haue watched all the nyght long because they woulde spill the blood of the innocent MATTH CAP. 27. WHich of these two wyll you that I let loose vnto you Barabbas or Iesus which is called Christe LVKE CAP. 23. AND all the whole company cryed out togeather Take this man and let Barabbas goe at libertie BERNARDVS OH fury of mad men oh blindnesse of the Iewes what more peeuishly coulde they haue done then to slay him who hath raysed vp the dead from their graues and to let goe a theefe whiche after his libertie might doo more mischeefe BEDA THE Iewes earnest request remayneth vntyll this day a memoriâ—ll when they lost the kyngdome of Heauen because they had leuer haue a sedicious Prince to gouerne them that is to say the Deuil then the Lord GOD. Christe was accused in presence of Pilate The Iewes they cryed him to crucify A theefe was dismissed O change infortunate And the Sonne of God scourged most cruelly Oh Heauenly flowre of our humanity Thy feature faded thy vnspotted flesh wext pale VVhen plonged thou wast in such perplexity Both the Earth and Heauens dyd rent theyr vale PSALME 99. BEcause I am prepared for the scourge ANCELMVS THE most louely young man elegant and gracious of more excellent feature in respect of the sonnes of men was bound to a piâ—ler and scourged with the greeuous and sorowfull whippe of most vyle persons That tender fleshe of his most vndefiled and fayrest flowre of all fleshe and of all humane kinde most innocently was greeuously scourged wounded and torne in peeces of them ANCELMVS IT is smal to purpose that the Iewes with their misâ—heeuous handes so crucified thee but that thy soule before was replenisht and with gohstly consolations illuminate O elect childe of GOD what hast thou trespassed which deserued such bitternes and confusion Doubtlesse nothing at all I silly soule that I am haue been the cause of all thy affliction and persecution AVGVSTINVS IF he went not from hence without the scourge who came into the world without sinne Howe doo they deserue to be scourged which haue offended euen tyll this day Idem FRom the soule of his foote euen vp to the crowne of his head was there not remaynyng one free spot â–ª APOCAL. CAP. 1. HE washed vs from our sinnes by the sheddyng of his blood MATTH CAP. 27. AND they makyng a crowne of thorne put it vppon his head and gaue him a Reede in his right hand and bowyng theyr knees before him laughed him to scorne saying HAYLE KING OF THE IEVVES As Christe shrincked not his pâ—tecious blood to shed No part of his body without greeuous plight From the sole of his foote to the crowne of his head Neyther yet refused any scornefull despite Oh man so remember what so euer crosse Or trouble for the tryall of thy true fayth Happen thee of temporall thinges suffering losse In Christes name neuer shunne thou to death BERNARDVS HEare hath our Sauiour powred foorth vpon vs the abundance of all charity and plenitude of all his godlinesse And here agayne hath he powred foorth the heauy indignation of his inspeakeable wrath LVKE CAP. 22. SAyde the Theefe Lord rememmber me when thou shalt come into thy Kingdome Iesus said vnto him Verely I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in paradyse GREGORIVS O What a fayth and what a perfect conuersion or turnyng to the Lorde had this Theefe he had nothing left him at his owne libertie but his hart and his tongue whereby he declared his inward râ—pentance and being inspired with this good motion towards God obteyned no doubt all that he found in his owne free desyre remayning BERNARDVS OH most godly Iesus what haue we trespassed vnto thee and thy death and thou hast not mourned for it what haue we ben indebted vnto thee and thou hast not thy selfe paid it Thy loue and our iniquitie hath so made thee lowly and weake for our sakes MATTH CAP. 27. THey ledde him fâ—orth to crucifie him Idem IF any man wyll come after me let him take vp his crosse and folowe me AVGVSTINVS THE Crosse of the Lorde is not onely meant that which was of wood wherevppon he was crucified but also the Crosse of Christe is called that whiche in all the tyme of our life is made equall with vertues suffering all maner corrections LVKE CAP. 23. FAther forgeue them for they knowe not what they doo BERNARDVS THE Iewes cryed Crucifie him And Christe cryed Forgeue them Lord how great is the multitude of thy sweetenesse Oh Lord howe shalt thou drinke of them in the flood of thy pleasure whiche delight in thee and desyre thee which powrest out so abundantly the oyle of thy mercy to â—utch as hate thee AVGVSTINVS BEhold the abundance of charity and wonderfull pacience in our Sauiour He commaundes vs to pray for our enimies and seeketh no reuenge why then should that little creature the Ante the Moth of the earth and woorme that is to say the hart of man seeke reuengement and deferre of to forgeue Vpon his head they put a crowne of thorne For Dyadem A Crosse he bore of tree As kyng of Iewes they saluted him in scorne And twyxt two Theeues deputed him to dye Thus through his loue and our iniquity He suffered thou sinnedst O man most freeuolous Beare this in mind and degrade not thy degree Though thou be
wretched thy price is precious MATTH CAP. 27. ABout the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voyce saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken me AVGVSTINVS SVrely these were the woordes signifiyng what a carefull and troubled spirite he had for vs which are beset with troubles and in them expresseth a certaine tendernesse of bitter passion and sorowe proceeding out of his so deepe sithes entire lamentation and bitter plaint whiche might suffice to molefie vnto compunction and remorse a very iron brest might cleaue in sunder a stony stomacke might humble and bowe the hart of wood towardes loue and finally moysten a very brasen hart towards contemplacion in this case Neyther let man marueyle yf he doo suffer tribulations because he is so comforted in Christe his head and cheefe captaine MATTHE 27. AND when he had cryed agayne with a loud voyce he gaue vp the gohst IOHN CAP. 29. AND bowing the head he gaue vp the gohst AVGVSTINVS THE Sauiour of the worlde bowed his head at his death that he might kisse his welbeloued Mother and the Disciples then and there present And wee doo so oftentimes kisse him as we are compunct and throughly stirred vp to the hartifull remembraunce of his death ANCELMVS· THE Heauens stoode astonished at his death the Earth was amazed What dooest thou then oh Man Neither is it a thing to be marueyled at yf the shinyng Sunne became perplexed that thou shouldest be also perplexed yf els the Earth became sadde and pensiue so thou shouldest likewyse be sadde and pensiue yf the Stones were rent in sender that thy hart be rent in sonder yf those that stoode by the Crosse dyd weepe thou shouldest weepe as well as they HIERONIMVS BEhold when Christe dyed euery creature had compassion vpon him but man alone hath not had any compassion at al vpon him for whom in deede Christe dyed His spirite commending to his fathers cure â–ª VVhen that he cryed consummatum est Both Heauen and Earth and liueles creature On him compassion tooke from most to least O wretched man why art not thou then prest For loue of thy Redeemer sweete Iesus To plant compassion in the faythfull brest Suffering for him all harmes iniurious IOHN CAP. 19. AND they tooke the body of Iesus and wrapped it in linnen clothes and spiced it with Balme and sweete odours BERNARDVS MAry the mother of Christe was the example of sorowe and compassion vnto all those that loue Christe HVGO de passione Christi BEhold oh man what I suffer for thy sake see the paynes and troubles that I endure for thee see the nayles wherevnto I am fastened and whyle I endure for thee such outward sorowe yet notwithstandyng my inward gronyng is more greeuous whyle I trye thee and finde thee an vnthankful freend vnto me HEBREOS CAP. 6. CRucifiyng agayne vnto them selues the sonne of God. Glosa Auctoris THey crucifie Christe and are found reprochefull vnto him which contemnyng his grace doo sleepe in their sinnes Bernardus in persona anime deuote I Knewe not sayth he that Christe so loued me I ought not to be therefore reprochefull vnto my self which so manifestly see that God was crucified and suffered death for me which haue been so acceptable vnto him that he chose rather to dye for me least that I should otherwyse perishe Idem OH precious Soule not with gold nor siluer redeemed but with the blood of the lambe of God why wylt thou cast thy selfe so into perdition seeing Christe for thee shed his precious blood haue remorse ouer thyne owne soule seeking to please God. Regard oh man this wofull disceuerance Behold Mary behold her sonne Iesu If ruthe haue roome in thy remembrance VVith piteous hart his passion to pursew Through which thou mayst thyne innocencie renew O electe vessell knowe thy felicitie Of thy misrule thincke time it were to rew Confound not thy selfe through thyne iniquitie BERNARDVS COuld not GOD repare his pretended woorke of grace in Man any other way but by this so great danger of his owne lyfe Yes truely he might otherwyse haue remedied this matter but he had rather woorke this meanes though it were to the preiudice of his owne person because he woulde not finde any further hatefull vice of ingratitude in man but that he would make man a debter vnto him of manifolde loue that he ought vnto his Sauiour and hereby shoulde encourage him to be thankfull vnto him whom the felicitie of his creation had made lesse gratefull when as this our Creator for our sakes but spake the woord and al things was done he commaunded it should be and they were created ANCELMVS THerefore God was able being a man also to satisfie for man but yet he was not bound to any man so to doo But man was and is bounden to satisfye the wyll of God and coulde not nor can not therefore it was needefull that God should be a man that is to say because in that he was Christ he was able to satisfye as God and was not bounden as man. GREGORIVS HE that made vs of nothing yea yf it had pleased him coulde haue redeemed vs without his death or passion Augustinus de ciuitate dei THere could not haue been any more fitter meanes wrought to heale our miserie then that Christe should dye for vs. And though that God by power Omnipotent Might vs redeemd without such difficultie There was no way more iust nor congruent Then for to take on him our humanitie Restoryng vs thereby to higher dignitie Man was in thrall and could him not acquite To make amends of power deuoyde was he But God him freed by fauour infinite BERNARDVS WHen I shall â—eepely excogitate whatsoeuer I am of my selfe whatsoeuer I can doo of my self is it not thincke I with my selfe in respect as a Starre to be compared to the Sunne a sparcke of fyre to the heate of a whole furnace a droppe of watâ—r in comparison of a flood a litle stone in respect of a hill a grayne of Corne to a whole heape and a handfull to all the worlde Therefore Lord I haue but two small powers in me nay they are very litle that I haue that is to say the one my body the other my soule or rather I haue but one onely litle power that is to say my good hart and wyllyng mind whiche thou hast made and geuen me And shall I not bestowe it in recompence of thy good wyll who being such a one as thou art hast bestowed so much for me and hath as it were preuented me at once with so great benefites who hath in thy selfe comprised me wholy or otherwyse yf I shall retayne these to my selfe and not bestowe them of thee with what countenance with what eyes and with what mind or conscience doo I goe vnto the bowels of the mercie of my God and I do see that same most strong safegard or defence of myne is altogeather gored whereby Israel is kept and that his blood
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