This is the seuenth article of our faith to beleeue that Christ shall come from heauen to iudge the quick and the dead by the deade all those are to bee vnderstoode that shall bee found dead at the second comming of Christ by the quicke all those are to bee vnderstoode that shall bee found liuing at that his second comming Augustine in his Enchirioson to Laurentius chapter 55. sayth that this article may bee expounded two wayes eyther by the dead sayth be may be meant those that shall be found corporally dead by the quicke those that shall be found corporally liuing at Christs comming or saith hee by the dead may bee meant those that bee dead in sinne according to that in the Gospell of Matthew Let the dead bury their dead and by the quicke those that be dead to sinne and liuing by faith according to that of the Prophet Abacucke the iust shall liue by faith But this exposition is not agreeable to the simplicity of the Creed Yet notwithstanding true it is that both the godly and the wicked shall come to iudgement for by the power of Christ all men shall be raised vp the holy Angels with the greate sound of a Trumpet shal be sent forth into all the world and they shall gather togither the elect from the fowre quarters of the earth from one end of the heauen to the other Then shall Christ separate the electe from the reprobates the wheate from the Tares the come from the cheffe the Lambes from the Contes the iust from the vniust So that you see that the godly and the wicked yea all men whatsoeuer shall appeare before Christs tribunall seate and giue an accounte of themselues and for themselues to the terrible Iudge Ob. Som not withstanding may obiect against this doctrin deliuered and say as it to in Iohn That bee that beleeueth in Christ shall not be iudged or shall not come into iudgement and so by consequence all men shall not bee iudged Ans To which I answer that iudgment in that place of Iohn as in many other places of sacred scriptures is taken for condemnation in which sense true it is that bee that beleeueth in Christ Iesus he that is ingrafted into Christ by a true and aliuely faith he that is flesh of his flesh bone of his bone one with Christ and Christ with him by the spirituall coniunction of the Church with CHRIST this party shall not come into iudgement sâ—â—l Condemnationis that is of Condemnation in iudgement he shall not bee confounded condemned or ouerthrowne but he shall come in iudicium absolutionis that is Into the iudgement of absolution In iudgement hee shall stand out hauing on the white Robe of Christs righteousnesse and beeing couered with the wedding garment of Regeneration The trueth of which doctrine the Preacher affirmeth saying GOD will iudge the iust and the vniust The iust vnto saluation and the vniust to damnation Seing then that all must be brought to iudgement let no man thinke with himselfe that it may be possible for him to escape this dreadfull day whither shall hee flie from the presence of the Lord If he ascendeth vp to heaueÌ„ God is there if hee goe downe to hell God is there also if he take the wings of the morning and she to the vttermost parts of the sea God will finde him out there also For God is euery where hee is in heauen by his glory hee is vppon the earth by his mercy hee is in hell by his iustice God is vbique nulquam he is euery where by his power and wisedome but no where in respect of circumscription of place being a spirit In earthly and terrestriall courts a man may haue his proctor but then wee must volentes nolentes whether wee will or no personally appeare and pleade for our selues In terrestriall courts bribes many times blind the eyes of the wise and for a little greasing the fist of the Magistrate many times small faults nay by your leaue greate and scandalous crimes may be winked at but at this great court of heauen the Iudge will not be partial to any for God hath no respect of persons hee will execute iust iudgement vpon all men as the Psalmographer speaketh VVith righteousnes will be iudge the world and the people with equitle Bribes friends intreaties bowlings cries lamentations nothing wil then preuaile but a pure heart and a spirits vpright yea the damned in Hell confesse the same quid profuit nobis superbia quid diuitiaruÌ„ copia what hath pride profited vs or what hath the pomp of riches done vs good alas these cannot saue our soules Let the Atheist therfore mock God neuer to blasphemously let the Sadduces brag of no resurrection no Angel no spirit neuer so schismatically let the Epicure slug that cursed Epitaph of Sardanapalus neuer so beastly Ede lude bibe charum praeseÌ„tibus exple delicijs animuÌ„ post martem nulla voluptas that is Eat drink play be merry live in al kind of plesure for after death there is no pleasure Yet notwithstanding let all these miserable wretches know that there wil come a day and the a dismal day wherin they shall giue an account of euery idle word Alas lamentable world that men shoulde thus murther their dearest darlings I meane their soules which Christe hath holden so dear that men should with Esau sel their birthright and heritage of heaueÌ„ for a messe of pottage of worldy pleasure that men shoulde delight in wallowing with the sow in the myre of sin and with the dog in swallowing the vomit of iniquity so purchase to their souls and bodies euerlasting torment in the lake vnquenchable whereas they should aboue all things seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse therof that they mighte haue heauenly mansions at the great day of account Let euery Christian therfore bewayle the wickednesse of this world lament the iniquity of these dates least it bee saide of vs as of the carelesse and gracelesse Christian Cadit afina est qui sublenet perist anima nonest quirecogitat If an asse falleth vnder his burthen there be some that will diligently helpe it vp againe but if a soule perish no man regardeth it Men are like the horse asse mule that haue no vnderstanding the more is the good mans griefe Dauid his eyes gushed out into riuers of water because men kept not gods law The prophet Ieremy crieth out on this maÌ„ner My belly my belly I am payned euen at the heart I cannot be quiet becaus my people is a foolish people they are wife to do euill but to doe well they haue no knowledge That godly Matrone Monica saiâ— Augustine mother wayte daily and prayed for her sonne a conuersion for hee was before his conuersion a Manichâ—e So likewise it is the duty of euery Christian to desire the conuersion of their
thy seruice to thy seruaunts Blesse vs in this part of thy seruice prayer and thanksgiuing to thee and Because none are to meddle with anie part of thy seruice but thy called seruants good Lord bestow that grace vpon vs that we feele more and more our effectuall Calling before wee presume to come neer thee becaus each duty is to be done by and in the name of thy sonne we confesse that till our ingraftment into him by grace the appreheÌ„sion of faith through thy spirit our effectuall calling doth not appeare so that if we waÌ„t faith thy spirit we must not intrude our selues into thy sight but our attendaÌ„ce is vpon the diuell and thou wilte not part seruice with him O Lord in the weaknes of faith we presume accept of vs be in the middest of vs thou hast strongly vs called to obedience in this and all other things by worde and worke it is a dept therefore to be rendered heare of vs Lord receiue it we confesse our sinns haue driuen vs far awaie they are many and great thy Curse is the due of them to our shame we confesse we haue beene warned and yet since warning against our knowledge and conscience of forgetfullnes weaknes and sometime of frowardnesse we haue of our naturall inclination as lightly esteeming thee thy law transgressed offeÌ„ded Nowe Lord albeit wee can destroy our selues yet we Cannot saue our selues wee intreat thy Ritch mercy for our pardon our sauiour Iesus Christ for our ful satisfactioÌ„ Lord in that mercy pardon vs in Iesus christ be coÌ„tented wel ple-w t vs for former conceiued displesurs forget theÌ„ in the multitude of thy coÌ„passions remoue theÌ„ with sin of al kinds the cause of them and so iustice being answered thy wrath appeased hel gates shut a conquest assured Let vs walke in the coÌ„fort of this peace yea in holines assuraÌ„ce of it as we haue lost all by that life rule of sin so we pray that let vs find our selues restored by the death and captiuity of sinne let our vnderstanding be lightned let our memory be sound let our wills be holy let our affection be honest let our conscience be tender and ready to euery good exhortation let our apetites be sober let vs be free from bondage to prophanenes in al our faculties in all our liues at all times and in all places let vs perseuer striue and ouercome Let vs be armed and watch let vs heare read and pray let vs meditate and study in thy loue let all sad motions and passions be examined and if ill suppressed let vs resigne al our bodies and soules holinesse vnto thy seruice Let vs not want that we ought to haue let vs not haue that we ought to waÌ„t or that is good to be wanting Lord let vs shew mortification in al our behauiour Let the life of righteousnes appeare in all our actions inward and outward secret open Let vs Regard our callings the duties belonging to the same Let vs haue grace to finde out all the sound and peculiar Euidence of thy kingdome let vs determine to keepe thy word let vs vowe it whatsoeuer standeth in the waie O Lord be our keeper in our waies this day and for euer looke from heauen vpon thy whole Church euery member of it militant that hath neede of the prayers of thy saintes especially this part of it where we liue and aboue euery particular member Lorde let it please thee to regard our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiesty with his Queen the noble Prince of Wales their Son with the residue of that Royall issue haue an eie deare Father to his Maiesties honorable priuy Councell to councell them and to the trusty nobility to sanctifie them and to all subordinate maiestrates of City and Cuntry to be the God of gods among them and to stir them vp to stand in the gap and to take thy part against the Diuell and his and to animate them blesse them hereunto and to guide them Let thy word haue a free passage let all lets be remooued let the piller and cloude of protection further it night and day· Let all that are able and willing to help in Macedonia be called in and countenaÌ„ced let knowledge heale painfulnes a godly life appear in all thy ministers Let hearing and obedience meet in all thy people becaus few preferred by thee doe prefer thee before their chiefe ioyes O Lord turn their harts as they beloÌ„g to thee let generall consideration hee had of the beneaÌ„ts thou bestowest to mooue the hearts of al high and low to put to hand to help thee against Anti-christe and the diuell and let the corrections of thy hande especially that heauy rod and stroke of the pestilence continued and greatly spread through the kingdome this foure yeares be stayed let there be an humiliation proportionable generall earnest true vnfained without delay Least thy angell haue his commission inlarged not onely to kill hundreds but thousands as not long since not onely thousands but millions O Lorde stop yet the mouth of our cheefe crying sins in the howse of Dauid in the house of NathaÌ„ in the house of Leuie in all the howses of Iudah let a search bee made good Lord for Achan for Ionas that our state may be calme and the Epha sent into Shinnar Lord help thy church in all places and in all things let Babilon fall let the Iewes come on let all them be as Meroz that haue ill will and no good will to Sion Amen Euening Prayer O Rich God infinite in all goodnesse we presume again to resort to that ouerflowing fountain Lord turn vs not awaie though we be fools like thy seruant Gedeons Armie that we cannot tell the fittest way to take in the sweetnes of thy goodnes yet accepte of our weaknes because that good minde and harte we haue thou art the author of it thou hast called and beckned vs to thee now we are come to know thy good plesure to beg from thy liberality what shall please thee thy doâ—e of mercy is euer open to thy saintes and thou fittest as Abraham at the dore to entertaine poore weary and heauy loaden ones and we know thou hastest to meet vs to do vs good like a good God according to thy accustomed goodnes we are therfore confidently comforted that in this that the least soule-whispering of an adopted child is as odours to thee though it be silly and as the chattering of Ezechiah O Lord we willingly confesse to thy praise that thou hast hearde our praiers offered to thee in the morning we haue through thy mercy fared well this day in soule and body not withstanding the spight of Satan the malice of our sinne the pestilent enmity of corrupt nature and the enuy of the world and the deceits of others among whom we dwell O prouident kind Lord and Father we haue
brought thee for it the best Lamb of our flock euen all hearty praise and thanks purpose of better seruice that we can and this dipped and drenshed in heartmelting and in Iesus Christs merit and reconcilement we beseeche thee testifie thy acceptance by addition of mercy in detraction and multiplication of it and let vs obteine the tast feeling of this this nighte following and all our life time repent thee not go forward with vs for Christs sake regard not the outstartings of soule or body against thy mind in thy presence but let thy righte hand of infinite compassion cast them as a milstone into the deepes of our Christs satisfaction and attonemente and let our euidence be alwais kept by grace from dimnesse or blurres of our weaknes that our saluations enemies may not so much as dare to dispute with vs about our pardon and election O Lord let thy spirit watch within vs let thy ministring spirits attend without and about vs being poore heyrs of saluation What Sathan hath purposed confound it what sin hath deserued preuent it what thy mercifull maiesty sees to be good let vs haue it for Christes sake let our sleepe be quiet and not excessiue let our health be continued hold thy hand ouer vs let no commission bee granted against vs let euery thing bee set in order because our date is vncertain the place of our ende vnknown if our lease of life last till morning in that shall appeere to vs that thou wilt bestow another day of grace vppon vs. O Lord wee promise before thy Maiesty that wee will by thy grace striue to the vttermost period of our strength to serue thee Lord remember vs let vs see a besome made put in a strong hand for the wicked and wickednes and let vs see still the vine planted by thy own hand to flourish and all the walls of it to stand and not to fall nor the leaste breache to be made let it not be said that the Fore shall with going vpon it cursh it O Lord to this end preserue our captain the Kings maiesty and all about him for euer and keep his heart in thy hand the hearts of all Christian Kings gouernors people that a ioyfull succes may be seen to thy true religion church among vs in all the world and so with humble thanks we cease To thee be all honor and glory for euermore Amen Amen A thanksgiuing for our late deliuerance O Lord it is good to giue praises vnto thy name prayse is comly but thou art so infinite in deseets that our praises are all short yet being true and new according to fresh and admirable benefits receiued they are as incense to thee but when praises are not rendered in the due place it prouoketh thee to fury yea to sweare that we shal perish for all them hereafter and in wrath thou wilt say that which perisheth let it perish I will neuer put to hand to helpe O Lord iustly mayst thou say so to vs for we haue him woÌ„derfuly preserued by thee as Israel in Pihahiroth as Dauid in the Prophets schoole as Daniell in the Lions denne wee haue seene the axe lie at the roote of our greatest Cedars as thou woldest haue them no couering for vs any longer but let the sunne and stars to pearce with vs as by withering Ionas Gourd O Lord often hast thou bewrayd the malice of the popish crue the venoÌ„ of all that brood that for the time we haue been swallowed vp with thy goodnes in the soul rauishment we haue promised but after not paying our vows for sinne thou hast bin wors combred with vs then before good Lord vpon our confession grant vs remissioÌ„ mercifull acceptation if thou studest true thankfulnes but in ten or a few Lord receiue it and regard not the rest let the righteous deliuer the rest so take all glory that can be giuen thee from al the braÌ„ds that haue bin pulled out of the fire let al addresse theÌ„selues to bring presents to thee that art to be feares so let our king be kept with his thine A praier comprehending the matter of the last iudgement O Blessed Christ Iesus hasten to the last worke of thy mediation to iudgement yea the last iudgement and because that cannot bee till thou haste sealed all thy elect with the seale of Gods iron O Lord hasten that worke and to this end powr thy spirit plentifully vpon ministers and people worke euery good worke that may further the building of thy Church let all Christian Kings cast their crownes before the Lamb and bee willing to lick the dust of thy saints seet let them be deuoured with a zeale of thy glory let thy word spreade into more countries and nations let Babilon fall let it be a cage of vncleane birds let not the noyse of a mil be heard any more in her Let the Iewes be graffed in again as thou hast promised euen all thy elect among them let prayers be made for them Lord heare thou in heauen the place of thy habitation and let all thyne haue grace to thinke of the last trumpet sounded to wake the dead Let vs remeÌ„ber the chaÌ„ge of heauen earth that fire shall consume them Let vs Resolue here is no place of any loÌ„g abode Lord let vs not defer put of our repentance for thou wilt come wilte not carry and as a theef wilt thou steal vpon the reprobates when they are either â—leeping or beating their fellows O Lord let it please thee that we may take heede of the company and conuersation of the vngodly or of any neuer so neerely vnited vnto vs in the flesh Becaus lord thou knowest that then two shal be in a bed one taken and another refused and that thou hast saide that it shall be then a blessed state to be found dooing our duties blessed christ that shalt come in glory to iudge both quick dead at thy appearance and in thy comming thy seat is said to be great to containe such a personage of Maiesty no greatnes shall appeare to be comparable to thine and as thou art greate so thy throne is white for euery one shall haue iustice of thee O Lord let vs take mercy while the date of it lasteth for then the daâ—e of it will be out Iustice without partiality must take place O Lord arme vs in the time of mercy that wee may stand in the day of Iustice when the wicked that now â—augh shal too late weep wheÌ„ the heauen earth in their present but shall run away neuer be fouÌ„d again in the fashioÌ„ O good lord what wretches are wee then to stand vpon merit when as the sun is not clear in thy sight especially considering no Euasion can be made from thy presence without chaÌ„ge which shall be to late our merciful christ our greatnes now if we be fouÌ„d ill will not profit
from the heart of man The Diuell first suggesteth after suggestion commeth cogitatioÌ„ after cogitation followeth affection after affection followeth delectation after delectatioÌ„ followeth consent Now is the sin of thought fully coÌ„mitted after consent followeth operation after operation foloweth custom after custom followeth desperation after desperation followeth defending of sins committed after defending of sinnes committed followeth vaunting boasting and glorying in sinne which is next to damnation it selfe thus the heart is the fountain from whence springeth all sinne whatsoeuer Yet haue wee not many wicked ones in this world that think the sin of heart eye her to â—ee no sinne at all or else but asmall sin that shall neuer bee broughte in question at the day of accouÌ„t But let al these know that as of euery idle word so of euery wicked and sinful thought conceiued and nourished within the hearte of man with full consent to the performance of the same for there is no sinne that can be committed without consent had men yea all men must giue an account I giue all men therefore to the good of their soules this good counsell of Salomon Keepe thyne heart with all diligence for thereout commeth life if thou keepest it not diligently and warily therout wil proceed death I meane sinne whose wages is death The heart is a mill alwais grinding either good corne or bad either good thoughts or bad therefore keep it diligently for thy soules sake let it meditate in the law of god day night abandon all wicked motions that at the day of iudgement thou mayst bee pure bread and fine manches for the bread of life Christ Iesus his table in heaueÌ„ the Lord grant this to me the writer thee the reader and to euery hearer of it 2 We must giue an account of our words Of euery idle word that men shal speak c. Diuers of the learned writers haue diuersly commented of this idle word what it shold be one affirming one thing another another thing Therfore I wil in a word set down the opinions of some of theÌ„ not incoÌ„gruent neither disagreeable to the holy Scripture Gregory saith that Verbum otiosum est quod iusta necessitate pia vâ—â—atate caret That is saith he an idle word which is spokeÌ„ eyther without iust necessity or godly profit Ierome saith that VerbumotiosuÌ„ est quod sine vâ—elitate loquentâ— vel audieÌ„tis profertur that is saith he an idle word which is spokeÌ„ either without edification of the hearer or speaker Basil Omne verbuÌ„ quod non condâ—is ad propositam vtilitatem vanuÌ„â—st otiosum that is Euery word which beloÌ„geth not to an intended profit is a vain and an idle word Maister Iohn Caluin saith that Sermo otiosus pro inutili sumitur qui nihil aedificationis vel fructus affert id est an idle word is takeÌ„ for a word vnprofitable for a word that bringeth with it no fruitful edification So that froÌ„ these descriptions of holy men I doe describe an idle word on this manner Verbum otiosum est quod ad bonam rem non pertinet quod non facit ad gloriaÌ„ dei vinentis quod mutile est infrugiferuÌ„ quod nec loquenteÌ„ nec audienteÌ„ aedificat id est An idle word is that which doth not appertaine to a proposed profit which tendeth not to the glory of the euerliuing God which is vnprofitable vnfruitful which edifieth neither the bearer nor the speaker If then good brethren in christ Iesus so great account must be giuen of euery idle vain fruitles word what account thinke yee shall be giuen for swearing cursing banning and blaspheaming What accouÌ„t shal the swearer giue that hath not one word in his mouth but it is guarded with an execrable oath How common alasse this sinne of swearing is who knoweth not for the small infants and tender childreÌ„ in our streetes haue cursed outhes Ad vnguem At their fingers end yea at their tongues end too What account shall the cursing and â—anning tongue giue that Cruelly Disdainfully and Despightfully speaketh against his neighbour What account shall the blaspheamous person giue that speaketh contemptuously of God saith that Christ did cast out Diuels throgh the name of Ecclzaebâ—b If the iust shall scarce be saued where shall the sinner appeare If account must be made of euery idle word Lord what account shall they make that rappe and vomiteous blasphemies against the terrible Iudge of Heauen and Earth As men thinke and fondly imagine that the sinne of thought vnles it proceed into outward act is but a small sinne so likewise do they imagine of idle wordes that they are but small sinnes and a small account for them shall be giuen But let all the world knowe that no sinne can be said to be smal in respect of it owne nature for the least sinne that can bee committed in the world is so weightie as without repentance had it will sink the sinner downe to the bottomlesse pitt of Hel. Yet not withstanding an idle worde in respect of other sinnes maye bee said to be a smal sinne yet as smal as it is it is able to damme the soul for euer Wel therfore saith Petrus Damianus sermone secuÌ„do de vitio linguae Audiut lingua vaniloqua audiat otiosa linguae au diat panescat intelligat pethorrescat sententiaÌ„ horribilem extremique iudicis terrorem c. that is Hear o vain babling tongue heare â—o idle tongue heare and tremble vnderstand and quake at the hearing of the terrible day of iudgement he that hath hands to slay hath hee not cates to heareâ— he saith that of euery idle worde that men shall speak they shall giue an account therof at the day of iudgement Although an idle word be a small sinne in respect of greater sinnes yet neuertheles an innumerable company of idle words coÌ„gested accumulated and heaped vp together they wil make a nighty sinne Quid peuna lenius quid miltâ— breuius What is lighter then a feather and what is shorter thaÌ„ the seed â—ill Yet notwithstaÌ„ding an innumerable company of feathers truffed vp together wil break the poâ—ters back Smal wer the gnats that troubled Pharao yet they being innumerable ouer came proud Pharao and all the power of Egypt An hour is but a short time but Dâ—m horae horae coÌ„tinua successiona congeritur While on houre by continual succession is added to another the whole cours of our liues is finished Quid saxâ— durius quid aqua liquidius What is harder then a stone and what is softer then the water Yet a wise man saith â—ita cauat lapidem consimitur anâ—us vsu that is Water by continuall droppes doth eate vp the stone and a Ring by continuall vse is worne in pocces So an idle word although it be but a small sin yet many a little makes a mickle many of them heaped vp together make an
intolerable lump At hath beene is and euer will bee the fond nature of man to imagine sinne a greate deale lesser than indeed it is A man would thinke that Adam through the diuels suggestion and through the abuse of his own free wil Eating of the forbidden fruite had committed but a small trespasse yet hee was guilty of euerlasting torment for the same A man would thinke that that poore man had committed but a small sin in gathering chips of meere necessitie on a Sabbath day yet hee was by the law stoned for his labour A man would think that Peter had giuen his maister good counsell when as Christ told him that he must goe to Ierusalem there suffer many things saying Maister fauour thy selfe and goe not yet he was called Sathan for his labour A man would thinke that Ananias and Saphira had committed but a small sinne when as they did detaine parte of the Apostles money for feare of afterclaps and protested the contrary with a lye yet they died both suddenly at the feete of Peter So a man would thinke that an idle word were but a smal sinne yet Christ saith heere that a great account muste bee made for the same For by thy words thou shalt bee iustified and by thy wordes thou shalt bee condemned Seeing this is true it behooueth euerie man to set a watch before the doore of his lippes and to keepe his tongue from idle and euill words that he may obtaine that blessednesse blessed is he that hath not fallen by the words of his mouth 3 We must giue an account of our workes as it appeareth to the Corinthians Wee muste all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christe and there receiue according to our works Againe the Preacher saith that God will bring to iudgement euery worke with euery secret thing whether it bee good or euill Hee that hath liued in sinne shall receiue the reward of sinne which is death and damnation and he that hath liued in faith and amendment of life shal receiue a crowne of glory whiâ—h the Lord will giue him at that day It is the duty therefore of euery Christian to labour and endeauour with all diligent carefulnesse to liue toell that at the day of iudgement he may speed well 〈◊〉 bene vmore that is liue well shoulde bee the delightsome poesie sweete perfumed Nosegay of euery christian thus liue wel that thou maiest die wel and after death eternally speed well obtayning that blessednesse Blessed are they that die in the Lord. 4 Wee must giue an account of our temporall goods howe wee haue gotten them whether iustly or vniustly how we haue spent them whether we haue cloathed the naked with them or whether we haue made naked the cloathed for them howe wee haue disposed them least there bee any debate for them after wee bee gone therefore Esay telling Ezekia that hee should not liue but die saith Dispone domum tuam c. Set thine house in order for thou must not liue but die Howe then shall those griping vultures make an account that haue by oppression vndone their brethren The worlde is grown so hard bearted that men will rather suffer their brethren to starue in the streets than to succour or relieue them the dogs shall haue the remnant of the ritch mans Table before poore Lazarus shall haue one crumme that falleth from the same How shall these flinty heartes looke for one dramme of mercy at the daye of iudgement Let theÌ„ look with what measure they haue measured to others it shall be measured to them againe let them know that it they will stoppe their ears at the cry of the poore they shall crie themselues and shall not bee heard if they will bee partakers with the Saints of the ioys of heauen their brethren must be partakers with them of their wealth on earth for this is to treasure vp treasures in heauen to layout their treasures on earth Let men therefore so vse their temporall goods and worldly ritches as they may at the daye of account receiue a crowne of immortall glory 5 We must giue an account of the time wherein wee liue and of our seuerall vocations how wee haue imployed our selues in the same Saith Bernard Omne tempus tibi impensum requiretur á te qualiter fuerit expensum id est All the time that God hath giuen thee shall bee required at thy hands how thou hast spent it Whether in the seruice of God or in the seruice of Sathan The Prince must giue an account how hee hath gouerned his kingdome whether hee hath as it becommeth Gods vicegerent mildly louingly and carefully trained his subiects vp in the worship of GOD or as a bloodie Nero and hard-hearted Tyrant cruelly oppressed them The ministers of the word of God who haue taken vppon them curam animarum the charge of soules must giue an account how they haue be haued themselues in their ministerie whether they haue preached Christ for Christ that is for the conuersion of sinners to Christ or as hirelings for lucre and gaine of worldlye trash whether they haue fedde their flocks carefully or fed vpon their flocks couetously The Magistrate must giue an account how he hath behaued himselfe in his magistracy whether hee hath sought the maintenaÌ„ce of vertue and the confusion of vice or hath his eyes beeing blinded with siluer scales maintained iniquity and oppressed the innocent The housholder how hee hath gouerneâ— his family whether in reading of holy Scriptures and prayer to the praise and glory of God or in reading of foolish fables in gaming dicing playing swearing and such like Yea euery man must giue an accounte of the time spent in his seueral calling from the highst to the lowest Let euery Christian therefore beware of mispendâ—ng his time liuing in security loosly and of loosing his time securely carelesly for there will come a day when for euery houre of thy life thou shalt giue an account how thou hast spent it according as Salomon telleth the carelesse liuer Reioyce O young man in thy youth cheere thy hearte in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine hearte and in the sighte of thyne eyes but know that for all these thinges GOD will bring thee to iudgement Time lost can neuer bee recouered the houre past cannot bee recalled time is painted like an olde man hauing a locke of hayre on the former parte of his head but balde on the hinder part to signifie that men should lay hold of time comming and make much of it when they haue it for being once gone it can neuer bee recouered Augustine confesseth that hee spent his time idlely when hee stoode gazing and looking on a Spider howe thee catcht a flye in her net But alas men in these daies do not onely spend their time in idlenes which is a shamefull fault amongst Christians but also in all manner
of euill They put off from them the euill day namely the day of death and iudgement and boldly approach to the seate of iniquity a matter much to be lamented Let euery Christian therefore haue a care of the expence of time least had I wist comes too too late for the damned in hell if they had this fauoure of God to liue on the earth againe and to haue hell broken loose which they shal neuer haue granted they would liue so strictly as they might bee Chronicled for admirable spectators to the whole world It is the duty therfore of euery man to imitate that person that vigilant person that carried alwaies about with him in his pocket a little clocke and when hee heard it sound hee would instantly examine himselfe how he had spent that houre thus should Christians examine themselues that they may neuer bee examined of the Lord iudge themselues that they may neuer be iudged of the Lord and account with themselues that they may neuer be brought to an account of the Lord. Thus much for the second part of this text namely of what thinges we must giue an account But I say vnto you of euery idle worde c. Before I speak of the third parts of this text namely of the Iudge to whom wee must giue an account I thinkest very necessary to speake of a few things which beeing wel considered wee may bee able to abstaine from idle words and shall haue the lesse account to make at that day Three things therefore there are which being performed we shall abstaine from idle words 1 A man must coÌ„sider what he speaketh 2 To whom he speaketh 3 When he speaketh 1 What hee speaketh Peter telleth vs what we ought to speak in his first Epistle Jf any man speak let him speak as the words of God Againe Paule to the Ephesians saith Let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouth but that which is good to the vse of edifiing that it may minister grace to the hearer So that we ought to speake aboue all things of God and his word of good and honest matters if wee will shew our selues to be true Christians and abstinent from idle words Wee shoulde say with Dauid I will alwaye giue thanks to the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually We should resolue with Iob and say My lippes surely shall speak no wickednesse and my tongue shall vtter forth no deceipte then shall we vse our tongues to that purpose to which they were created The tongue in Hebrew is called Kebod id est gloria Glory because it is an instrument to sing forth the glory of God vpon earth If wee vse our tongues to this purpose then may wee truely say with the Poet Lingua quid melius What is better then the tongue But if it bee abused to the dishonour of Almighty God if it bee an vntamed member vttering out idle and euill words then may wee conclude with the Poet and say Lingua quid pâ—es eadem What is worse than the tongue Let euery Christian therefore shew himselfe as hee professeth a Christian in his speeche For out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Euen as the heart standeth affected so is the speach of euery man For Lingua est mentis interpres the tongue is the interpreter of the mind the chaste man speaketh chastly and honestly the wanton speaketh lewdely and luxuriously the enuious person speaketh bitingly and bitterly Euen as by his speeche a man may bee knowne what countriman hee is so a man by his speeche may bee knowne to what kingdome he belongeth There are three kingdoms men by their talke may be known to which of these they belong There is 1. Prouincia coelestis the kingdome of heauen and the speach of this country is praising of God talking of his worde giuing of thankes for the greate benefits wee haue receiued and speaking of diuine and heauenly matters hee therefore that speaketh on this maner Id que non hypocritice that is Not hipocritically For Simulata sanctitas duplex inquitas counterfeit holinesse is double vngodlines surely appertaineth to the kingdome of heauen 2 There is prouincia terrestris the kingdome of earth and the spâ—ach of this country is talking of terrene end earthly matters â—â—ozling with the mole in the Cranies terrarumque poris and in the pores of the earth quite contrary to the nature of man for Os homini sublime dedit saith the Poet coelumque tueri inssit God gaue man a lofty face and bad him looke aloft and hold vp his head toward heauen According to that of Iohn Quâ—de terra est de terra loquitur He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth And againe They are of the world therfore speak they of the world 3 There is prouincia infernalis The kingdome of Hell and the language of this countrey is swearing forswearing cursing banning blaspheming if therfore thou seest such a one it is to be feared that he belongeth to the prouince of hell Thou therefore that wouldest belong to Gods thrice blessed kingdome thou that wouldest abstaine from idle words so haue the lesse account to make thou must beware what thou speakest thou must talk of God of his word of holy heaueÌ„ly matters 2 He that would abstaine from idle words must consider to whom he speaketh if hee speaketh to a foole be must vse fewe wordes for hee spendeth his breath in vaine if he speaketh to a froward and contentious person hee must vse mild and gentle words or else bee taketh the bellows to quench the fire if he speaketh to a wise man hee must vse no vaine Cautologies or needlesse repetitions for frustrà fit per plura quod fiers potest per pauciorâ—t It is in vaine to vse many words wheÌ„ we may as wel be conceiued in few If these things be not coÌ„sidered we may yea speaking of diuine and holy matters offend in idle words 3 If wee would abstaine from idle words wee must also consider when to speake saith Salomon There is a time to speake and a time to hold ones peace Saith one there is a time when something may be spoken there is a time when nothing may be spoken but there is no time when all things may be spoken These three things wel considered of vs we shal abstaine from idle words and haue the lesse accounte to make at the day of iudgement Againe euery Christian as he ought to imitate Christ in al things so he ought to imitate him in his words Gregorie saieth that Omnis Christi actio nostra debet esse instructio id est Euery action of Christ ought to be to vs an exaÌ„ple of imitation Christ had three things in his wordes worthy of consideration which wee must likewise labor to haue if we will abstaine from idle words 1 He had veritatem in verbis