CONTEMPLATIVE PICTVRES With WHOLESOME PRECEPTS The first part Of God Of the Diuell Of Goodnesse Of Badnesse Of Heauen and Of Hell By RICHARD BERNARD LONDON Printed by William Hall for William Welbie and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Swan 1610. TO THE RIGHT Honourable EDMVND Lord SHEFFEILD Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter Lord PRESIDENT of his Maiesties Honourable Counsell in the NORTH and his Highnesse Lieutenant there And to the right Honourable that his louingly obedient Lady VRSVLA the Lady SHEFFEILD To the Right Worshipfull Ladies their Honourable issue the Lady SVVIFT and the Lady FAIRFAXE Heauenly ioies in Spirituall Meditations good conscience in obedience and endlesse glorie by faith in Christ that grace and peace euermore RIGHT HONOVRABLE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIx diuided equallie to two is three or three to either Three is all so many to euerie one no lesse to any A man is either of God by regeneration liuing in goodnesse going to heauen or of the diuell by corruption practising wickednesse and running headlong to hell Two generations the heauenlie race or the Serpents seed two Regiments some slaues by sin to Satans controulement some in voluntarie subiection by grace to Gods gouernemēt two places to goe vnto the infernall bottomlesse pit or the celestiall endlesse paradise There is but one Conductour God in the spirituall brightnesse but one seducer principall the diuell in spirituall darkenesse One onelie true Religion the rest Idolatrie and Superstition There are no men Miscellane one betweene two of either and yet neither There is no meane or third place betwixt Hell below and Heauen one high The Pope with his Priests may teach a Purgatorie to picke the purses of foolish Papists but beleeue them those that list the word yeelds no such warrant to cause a iudicious and sound Protestant to feare or force of it Yet is there one an ill meane among men that loathed creature that Luke-warme Gospeller a time seruer professing after his pleasure as may stand with his profit this is the Miscellane man But is hee good then of God then goe such to heauen but God saith hee will spue them a tearme of loathing out of his mouth if bad then of the Diuell and so belong to Hell Three and three then God Goodnesse Heauen the Diuell Badnesse Hell my subiect matter empinfolds all none not within the compasse of these God either guides men by his holie spirit settles them in grace and rewards them in heauen with infinite glorie or the diuell beareth swaie in their hearts and holds them in wickednesse for which in hell they receiue wages due euen vnspeakable miserie Heere therefore RIGHT HONOVRABLE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL of all these are certaine pictures not Popish and sensible for superstition but mentall for Diuine contemplation whereto are added wholesome Precepts for direction after godlie meditation Gods Picture to behold him that is so good to admire his excellencie to feare his Maiestie to praise his bountie The Diuels portraiture that he may be seene that is so euill to wonder at his wickednesse to loath his vilenesse to detest his wretchednesse and to beware of his deceitfulnesse Good is set forth to behold the comelie beautie of celestiall grace to embrace it with loue Badnesse is discouered that the vglie morphew of sinne may be seene to abhorre it Heauen is described to worke ioy in wel-doing by considering so great a reward of happinesse and that eternally Hell is deciphered to restraine from sinne by fearing the recompence of vengeance in internall torments euerlastingly He that doth good may turne and read of God his blessed guide and of heauen how in the end he shall bee in felicitie He that doth euill may read of the diuell his accursed leader and of hell and behold his future and dreadfull miserie This is the practicall vse of these pictures Right Noble Lord Still let the honouring of the gospell and hatred of Poperie praise your zeale this is of God Let still your speedie execution of iustice make renowned your seat of equitie this is goodnesse Your Honours loue to the truth and regard of the ministrie is not vnknowne your godly hate of Antichristianisme is no lesse manifest and is not a care in iust proceeding betweene these two words mine and thine commended These giue sure hope by Christ of heauen My praier is for your Honours constant footing in this happie path Indeede the way of wel-doing is strait and as narrow as strait hard to enter and as difficult to endure therein whereunto is required the wisdome of a Serpent and a Doues innocency Godlie sinceritie now adaies with Achitophels is held an affection from follie iust and resolute dealing but a desperate attempt The dislike of Lukewarmenesse and hate of a false religion with Machiauellian Time-seruers is iudged but a passionate rashnesse the heat of a spirit apt to Sedition What if this be the wicked mans censure What if the world the Schoole of Satans policie do thus condemne true Christianitie Must noble spirits set vp to aduance pietie yeeld to such hellish Hags and become slauish to the froth of vanitie A true childe of the Church instructed in the Schoole of Christ can not endure it his high spirit eleuated beyond the low pitch of corrupt reason in confederacie with flesh and blood possiblie cannot so debase it selfe This were to separate wisdome and innocencie to leaue religious sinceritie and to take vp other godlesse mens impietie Hee that can put in practise our Sauiours lesson to be as wise as a Serpent and as harmlesse as a Doue he may doe well Together are they good it is not seasonable to be in act while they bee asunder The first alone is but diuellish deceitfulnesse the latter by it selfe is but a good meaning sillinesse Hee that conioines them rightlie seekes his owne safetie Conscience will plead for innocencie God will defend it and prudent practise keeps an estate good maugre the enemies malice Where these two like to lodge and harbour in one heart that as rare as excellent a person may liue within himselfe comfortably among men peaceably and in the end die ioyfully my vnfeined wish to your Honour and to all that walke with God vprightlie Right honourable Lady Right Worshipful and Honourable ofspring My attempt may seeme a wonder but the conceit of the wonderment ceaseth where iudgement searcheth out the cause prudēce doth guid wisdom to weigh the circumstance A Lady is Honored in her Lord children are dignified in the due fame and high promotiō of their parents The first are vnited by Gods ordināce the latter by natures influence Whom God then and nature hath cemented I in my due honoring of al presume to conioine Right Honourable Madame and to you Ladies I wish all welfare vnder God on earth true goodnes in heauen enduring gladnes a time to read good things but all times to practise commending to your heartie
insufferably painefull This stinking Sidde and dung-pit crawles full of the venemous generation bloodie Cainits with sorcerous Balaamites persecuting Saules with craftie Achitophels the Serpents seed the reprobated race and the accursed workers of iniquity There the rageous may rend and teare one an other and none part them the enuious gnash for anger and gnaw one an other to the bone and none regard them Hee that heere sinned for his pleasures will there sinne more because of his plagues Euery sinne shall there bee punished accordingly as they were here committed There is penurie for gluttonie extreame drinesse and thirsting for exessiue drinking burning for lecherous lusting outragious madnesse for blaspheming want for ill gotten wealth a fearefull agonie for bloody crueltie for oppression vtter desolation Then is seene with sorrow enough their time spent in vanitie their childhood in foolishinesse their youth in lustfulnesse their manhood in wickednesse and their old age in couetousnesse their first yeeres runne on in ignorance the middle age consumed in negligence and the terme of life ended without repentance They out of measure are vexed to consider what they were and might haue beene what they are and must be what they would be and cannot attaine to They thinke of time past but without thought of recouery they taste of the time present in vnspeakeable miserie and doe looke to the time to come without hope of deliuerie One curseth his birth and bewailes his ignorance an other curseth his education and parents negligence a third direfully bannes himselfe for his irrepentance Their owne senses doe enlarge much their sorrowes they behold Heauen and themselues in Hell the godly in gladnesse themselues in griefe Christs faithfull people in order and honour themselues in confusion and fearefull horrour the Saints of God in glorious prosperitie themselues in shamefull infamie and miserable aduersitie They heare in heauen blessing melodious singing in hell cursing and lamentable mourning before the eies are flashing flames and a thicke smoake ascending for the nose is prepared a noisome smell euerlastinglie stincking In steed of sweetnesse there is gallie bitternesse for delicate fare farnishment for libertie inthralement fire brands for beds for soft lodging pich and brimstone with iuniper coales burning in steed of musick and pleasant harmonie a hellish noise of discordancy They feele torments vnspeakable paines intollerable and the same alwaies durable By impatience their plagues are increased by their obstinacy continued and by Gods power and iustice maintained Thus are their hearts in continuall heauinesse their pale countenance in dolefull sadnesse To heauen they looke vp bewailing their mishap in hel they looke downe with shame of face If they would repent now they cannot if they could it is then to late they were retchlesse in the daies of amendment and their case is remedilesse in the time of punishment There is not any grant of the least comfort to the greatest torment nor to the extreemest pange any kind of easement They may crie and cry againe Lord Lord they may intreat for mercy but neuer be heard no grace no peace all paine all plagues none blessed euery one accursed Hee that is afflicted shall bee more tormented he that is condemned shall euer be damned Heauen haue they lost and not to bee purchased Hell haue they duelie deserued and the place must needes bee endured None among themselues can helpe one another and among the celestiall companie they shall not finde one comforter If children should call to parents they will not pity them they haue lost that naturall affection they can haue no such compassion Though parents should make petition pray their children they will not bee cared for Tho they cry and call saying ôh our bowels and our blood Oh once bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh speake for your poore tormented parents Is there no naturall loue now left What no compassion Shall wee perish can you see vs thus plagued and shew no pitie Haue mercy deare children on vs so in miserie sweet Babs once louing and beloued speak oh speake one word for vs are wee not plunged in vnspeakable paine looke vpon your now forlorne Father who once fedde you with food ah alas haue some remorse of your mournefull mother Oh for Gods sake seeke this time our good let some sparkles of your loue appeare Can you be in pleasure and suffer vs to lie in perpetuall paine Wee spared no labour for your education and can your eies behold vs languishing in this place of destruction If you did call wee came speedily to succour when we heard you cry wee were in care for you your miserie was to vs calamitie your aduersitie the abatement of our prosperitie and can you heare our pitious groning and see the Diuels grinning as dogs vpon vs your eares heare our bitter crying and they againe barbarously tormenting vs and be silent Oh woe is vnto vs fire consume vs vengeance doe you vtterlie make an end of vs. All this will not worke words are but spent in vaine natures force hath lost the effect there is no knowledge of kindred or kinsfolke the godly regard Gods glorie and therein onely reioice To conclude they now know and to late beleeue that the good doe dwell with God haue Christs company and Angels glorie but themselues to be hated of God neglected of the good to bee with black diuels damned with sauage furies accompanied with barking helhounds horribly affrighted and with barbarous tormentors cruelly handled so as they alwaies in this liuelesse liuing weepe mourne and lament for such hellish paines and in this deathlesse dying crie yelp howle yell for such euer during plagues from which O Lord deliuer thine and shew them mercie O God that they decay not in goodnes that so they neuer feele these punishments for their wickednesse Amen Precepts O Miserable Sinner now doe thou seriouslie consider heere in this life see to thy selfe Who would endure but awhile these paines for all worldly pleasure Who would goe to this dolefull place of Diuels for wicked gaine What is there in this pleasure heere profit and honour that for it thou shouldst aduenture infernall paines for euer Oh breake the caul of thine heart with sorrow rather then to fall into such plagues for delight in sinne Brust into teares to escape these torments Liue not securelie stoope hautie heart that thou maiest not for pride bee sent packing to this place of paines Grow leane cheekt thou Glutton and pale faced thou Drunkard ere thou beest euerlastinglie famished with penurie or be scorched in a burning flame and euer be kept drie and thirstie Thou mincing creature Peacock-like neglect thy pride i◠apparell that thou maiest betime in time auoid this perill Prophane Miscreant seeke an attonement labour for peace fall downe before the throne of grace Let O wicked liuer thy head be a fountaine of water and cause thy eies to trickle downe teares yea to runne as riuers for thy transgressions that thou maiest escape these hellish vexations Looke on the ground whereon thou goest and thinke vpon thy graue behold the heauens and consider whence is grace Awfullie regard the accusation of conscience and set euer thy selfe before Gods presence Read letters of discomfort sometime from the Law lest thou presume by promises of the Gospell Draw neere to God whilest he doth say Come stretching out his hands to embrace the penitent before he saie Goe sitting as Iudge to condemne the disobedient There is a time for thee before thou die to obtaine saluation but in time after death there is no redemption Therfore craue pardon of God earnestly associate thy self to the godlie speedilie Fall groueling vpon the ground and aske forgiuenesse grieue heartily speake passionately Smite thy breast strike on thy thigh shake thy head wring thy hands shead teares powre powre out thy soul vnto God and crie aloud aloud I saie cry oh spare spare me good Lord whom thou O God hast redeemed with Christs precious blood Oh forgiue me I confesse I haue offended thee let thy patience forbeare mee let thy great mercie acquite mee He that doth repent betime the Lord will heare him in time Gods gracious compassion is neuer without pitifull commiseration neither the prouoking of his iustice to wrath without dreadfull and certaine destruction Presume not yet despaire not liue to die yet die to liue thinke of heauen yet forget not that there is a hell be so comforted in thy iustification as thou euer get a certaintie of glorie by thy sanctification Liue in the fleshes mortification in hatred of the world in the spirits viuification vse the meanes of thy effectuall vocation claime nought of merit craue all of mercie liue in true humilitie and practise alway the works of charitie and thou shalt assuredly escape Hels
praiers to pierce the Heauens He sweat drops of bloud to purge and sweeten vs vnto our God hee cried with bitter torment vpon the crosse to saue his seruants from the dreadfull curse He did die as a malefactor to become to euery beleeuer a benesactour Euil did he none wee are the offenders Heauen is his desert Hell ours deserued wee haue merited damnatiō and he purchast for vs saluation Wee were bound to the Law we were vnder the curse in danger of death and subiect to wrath but hee hath sent vs his Gospel preched peace promised pardon and obtained grace If the law would condemne vs hee hath fulfilled it for vs his works preuent wrath his crosse the curse Conscience by the law would accuse the Gospell by grace will quiet it and acquite vs. If iustice demand her due his paines were our full paiment Hee is the waie for vs to walke in Hee is the trueth wee may beleeue him Hee is the life happy is he that liues in him By him and through him all our wants are suplied and all grace and goodnes obtained Are we in corruption His purity purgeth vs. Are we disobedient Hee was most obedient Are we subiect to wrath he couers vs. Wander we he recouers vs. Seeke we safety He affoords vs solace Want we a surety He is our pledge None in so great debt but he can discharge None so in disgrace but he can procute him peace He is ascended for life that wee might not descend to the place of death Wee need not feare the Law Sathan sinne hee hath gotten vs heauen life and saluation without daunger of Hell death or damnation Precepts HEre is peace O happy man by Christ procured Seek in him thy soules safety Behold heer ioy spiritual security Call boldly God father it pleaseth this Iesus to be thy brother Belieue in him constantlie rely on him Loue him and long for him say when Lord how long Lord come Lord Iesus come quickly In the meane space liue in loue worke righteousnesse seeke peace in holines keepe in the limits of sobriety continue in chastitie and bee neuer without charitie and expect assured felicity which the father of mercy euermore grant thee Amen The Picture of the Holy Ghost HE is the third person his property is proceeding from the Father and from the Son He works euer from both together with both Hee is Christs Vicegerent in his kingdome The Pope may bee packing as the diuels darling his onely Vicar General in his Church Hee raised vp the Prophets hee instructed the Apostles and now qualifieth all Christs true messengers The bad he maketh good in the good hee encreaseth grace He reforms our waies informes our iudgement and confirmes our faith Hee changeth discord into duties of loue and turneth all misdeeds into Almes deedes pratling into deuoute praier foolish prating into powerfull and perswasiue preaching the Preachers tong he makes the pen of a ready writer Euill lusts wher hee commeth hee killeth the dead works of darkenes he expelleth He is the spirit sanctifying the elect hee is not partiall but dealeth measurably to all without sinister respect He is to the Saints the blessed Comforter hee perswades them all to call God Father He works repentance and giueth therupō true peace of conscience Christs Church is his Temple and he the saueguard of his sheep He signifieth our innarrable sighs and maks vs expresse our desires in praier vnto God He helps vs to indite to frame our wils to make our meditations to moderate our affectiōs orderly to dispose al our actions Our eics by him do see into the Scriptures he is the true commentarie to vnderstand the word Hee learneth men to handle controuersies without contētion to make a separation but without Schisme By him crosses are not without comfort and the day of prosperitie not without meditation of a change He maketh euery thing to the godly profitable and the greatest afflictions neuer insupportable It is onely he that worketh in his faith by the word distastful wearisomnes of the world a hopefull perswasion of heauen without any dreadfull feare of hell Hee knits piety to right policy and seuereth true deuotion from foolish superstition Here in this life hee beginneth grace sets on to goodnesse perswads to holinesse vrgeth to charitablenesse presseth on to godlie practise settling the soule in religious purenesse and so leades it forward with a resolued constancie to endlesse happinesse and perfects all in the life to come Precepts OH vnstable man get the strength by this Spirit pray him earnestlie to settle thy soule in safetie Make him thy master his motions thy first mouer Aduise by his Counsell walke euer by his course Silence thy selfe when he giues sentence bee not secure if he doe censure Bestow thy selfe by his direction and willingly be led by his instruction If he premonish be forewarned if hee call backe run not on Stay Where hee bids thee shop and stand not when he moueth thee to set forward If thou hast him not intreat the Lord to send him If thou hast him carefully hold him If thou wouldest trie the true Spirit discerne his motions by the word his habitation in thee by sanctified worke The Scripture is his Scantling hee works not ordinarilie but as the word doth warrant and hee abids in none that are wicked and disobedient Bee no Schismaticke he will forsake thee be no Heretique be will not harbour with thee Displease not him despight him not by thy prophanenes If thou quench his grace thou loosest thine owne good Let him guide thee after the word and thou shalt bee euer well-pleasing to God accompanied of Angels approued of godlie men and be rewarded in heauen which benefit the blessed trinitie vouchsaf thee Reader Amen The Picture of the Diuell HEe is that damned Ghost the first siner the first Seducer One knowing much yet neuer obedient but by constraint Hee is but a Slaue as base as he is beggerly as malicious as cursedly mischieuous Blasphemously careles of God tyrannously cruell to men A continual Tempter Gods gaoler a dreadfull tormentor Euer is he out with God and a hater of the good What God commands hee condemnes hee will allow what God dislikes A bright Angell hee was in heauen but now the black Fiend in hell To no man a friēd to the Church a most malicious foe He is driuen out of the penitent he harbours in the disobedient The leaud are his lodging the prophane his habitation Hee is the vncleane spirit the place most full of abomination is his common harbour All his motions are to satisfie lust he would haue vs liue after our liking to worke wickednesse to rage in rebellion against God He knows himselfe to be damned all he cares for is to make other like himselfe This cursed spirit is that Lion roaring strong fearefull that old Serpent subtil guilfull that red Dragon bloodie terrible Hee raigneth where hee gets any rule and whom hee
practiser nor patron Care combers no mans mind nothing weakneth the vnderstanding nothing blunts the apprehension Iudgement cannot bee infected with error zeale with corrupt affection patience with anger Will is there without wilful frowardnesse the heart without deceit and hardnesse Thoughts are not troubled they be not corrupted affections not distempered they bee not disordered The holy spirit rules all the holy Lamb leades all God by his power preserues them by his grace doth euer assist them All mercies are receiued thankefully al commands are obeied rightly in hart without hypocrisie willinglie without grudging readilie without lingring faithfully without altering ioifully without murmuring and constantly without ceasing Their drinke is the sweet water of life Angels foode their delicate nourishment Christs righteousnesse their holie raiment and their perfect fulnes ioifull contentment In a word there is happinesse with goodnesse felicitie with vnitie safetie with solace peace with perfection pleasure with profit agreement with grace lowlinesse without contempt exaltation without pride security without carnality stability without wauering abundance without euer-wanting All persons generallie haue the participation of ioy and euery one in particular the fruition of glory Nothing there is here to the eie discernable nothing there but innarrable all things to humane reason incredible A man may imagine much a tong may speake much the eare may heare much yet heauenly happinesse is beyond all relation all imagination The name of heauen to all is louely many doe wish it hartily All Religions aime at it the Iew expects it the Turke wisheth it the wickedest desire it the Papist would merit it the Schismaticke seekes for it the sound Protestant the deuout Christian by faith begges it and hee through Iesus Christ shall enioy it to whom be praise and glorie for euermore Amen Precepts O Mortall man doe thou often meditate of this happinesse Let it eat vp thy heart with desire to enioy it Let carking for this world bee expelled with thy care of heauen neglect not this felicity the things heere are transitorie vanitie Delight not in the pleasures of death to lose for them the paradise of life To winne the world by works of darknesse what is thy gaine if thou lose true goodnesse To pawne thy soule for sinne is it not madnesse Exchange not God for the Diuell goodnesse for badnesse heauen for hell Heauen is a holy place the vncleane enter not thereinto Suppose no such easie passage as fabulous Poets paint out Straite is the way vnto it narrow is the gate to goe into it many seeke it few doe find it Let thy way be veritie thy path pietie the spirit thy conductor the word a directour thy eie faith thy staie hope The straitnesse of it is affliction the narrownesse true contrition the suburbs the Church the dore Christ by whom thou shalt enter into the pallace euen the Paradise of God Striue then to auoid heere wickednesse to escape all future wretchednesse that thou maiest possesse this true blessednesse for euermore This God grant thee Christ merit for thee the holie Spirit therof certainely assure thee and thy godlie life witnesse the same to thee that thou maiest end thy daies comfortably Amen The Picture of Hell HEll is the place for the impenitent euerie such person is the hellish inhabitant It is the prison for those that be separate from Gods presence the dreadful dungeō of vtter darkenes the fearefull Topheth and deep pit bottomlesse It is the lake burning with brimstone the hollow caue and Chaos of confusion It is terrour with lamentation it is dread with desolation and horrour with vtter destruction There is death there is euer dying and yet nener without being It is a gulph deuouring a swallowing whirle pole a flaming furnace Gods iustice makes it his power vpholds it and it is blown with the bellowes of his wrath There is scorching fire vnquenchable and freezing cold intollerable Stinking smoak is for the smell loathsome filth for the stomacke the eare shall heare a hideous noise the eie shall see gastlie sights and horrible visions what not there to breed amazedment what not there to cause fearefull astonishment It is the valley of Gods vtmost vengeance the fulnesse of his wrath perfection of his plagus The Lords gaole the exilement of soules the sinck of sinners the foule harbour for infernall Hags Oh what woe is there with wailing from hearts comfortlesse what riuers of teares because of torturing torments and yet remedilesse Forlorne creatures cursed caitifs full of trauell painefull wearines ful of frightings fearefull terrours endlesse They bee in themselues helpelesse of Gods mercy hopelesse Oh the clamorous outcrying the yelps and yelling the sighs and sobbing the mad rage that there is and roaring No heart so hard as can suffer a mortall eie to behold it no eare to heare it nor mind to muse of it The diuell there hath his full damnation the fiends are outragious and filled with furie the rest fret and sume and are as in a wood frensie Their desire is reuenge their deuotion cursing their blessing blaspheming The wicked there be so fagoted vp with the bands of Gods iustice as bundles of sticks so cast into the fire by the power of his might so held in vndurable torment by his perpetuall displeasure as they blaspheme Gods benignitie for feeling his iustice in seueritie They bee in a huge Sea of miserie in an Ocean of calamitie Fire flames and flashing about them the worme of conscience gnawing within thē rage madnesse irefull indignation among thē vgly visages of blacke diuel saffrighting them monstrous apparitions an vncomfortable companie about thē Sulphure and hot burning cinders vnder them the reuenging hand of God ouer them and pouring forth the viols of his wrath full of variety of plagues without ceasing vpon them Egyptian plagues are there encreased the tempests of lightening and thunder multiplied They may remoue from place to place so exchange in plagues but neuer either be eased of pangs or freed from paine They are chained vp perpetually to endure reall punishment vpon body and soule eternally They haue heauie hearts loadned with passion they be wofully distressed with all Calamities without any commiseration There is care but no comfort vexation without consolation lamentation but none shew compassion They weepe they crie they waile mourne they houle and pitiously bemone their euer-during miserie Ah alas saith one in cold freezing and yet extremely burning Woe to mee saith an other in hote water-scalding and yet so cold as his teeth may bee hard chattering his body may behold so to quak and in euery ioint to quiuer as if bone from bone would fall a sunder Hence such roaring such yelling such bitternesse in banning such scritching and outcries at the sudden renewing of torments at the continual remouing into exchange of tortures and yet remaining alwaies in contrarie plagues as the eare neuer heard the eie neuer saw nor minde of man able to apprehend Wofull dolefull horribly fearefull