I wishe and loke for thee I runne to meete thee and I doe renounce all things that are not of thee Whatsoeuer thou wilt I wyll and whatsoeuer thou wylt not the same I wyl forsake Whatsoeuer thou doest detest I doe refuse it and whatsoeuer shal hereafter happen vnto me coÌ„trarie to this my present minde I beseeche thee my God not to impute the same vnto me neither according vnto that but accordyng to this present choyse of my soule iudge me For al thinges whiche I ought not to doe I doe here vtterly forsake them And if at anye time hereafter I shall chaunce by any sinister occasion to agree to any thing that may be a cause to withdraw thy nâ—â— dyd from me I do 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 vtterly 〈◊〉 and dâ—tâ—â—â—tlys satile O Lorde Iâ—â—â— if it please thre or if if maye stande 〈◊〉 thy glâ—â—y â—â—auÌ„t I beâ—â—eche thee in this my present lyfe â—hat I 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 wherein I haâ—e oâ—â—â—nded â—â—om al the pâ—ines 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—â—uedlie I â—â—ght to 〈…〉 And that thâ—◠〈…〉 of thy 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ned farry afte◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Lorde Iesu 〈◊〉 my 〈…〉 ¶ 〈…〉 or lâ—st 〈…〉 therto be saye 〈◊〉 to be â—â—ought 〈…〉 vp on at the howre 〈…〉 〈…〉 seath 〈…〉 IN the name of the Father and of the Some and of the holie Ghost I Hâ— a wretched synner â—â—deemed with the precious bloud of our Lord Iesus Christe through his greate merry and loue not by my merites do confesse and â—â—knowledge openly eyther by this wryting or by these my wordes before God omnipotent and before you that are here as witnesses if there needeth any that I aâ—â—â—â—â—d doo dyethe true serâ—â—unt of our Lorde Iesus Christe as it becomâ—eth a true Christian I do beleeue and confesse generallie all and euerie parte and Article of the Christian fayth wherein euery Christian beleeuer is â—â—â—â—â—de is beleeueâ— And chiâ—sâ—ie the vâ—iuersall 〈…〉 â—oâ—teyned in the twelue Articles of the Christian faith either openly expressed or by reason excluded According as through the holye Ghoste by the twelue Apostles and by the true gospel they were delyuered vnto vs And to be shorte I beleeue so muche as a true Christian ought And I do with all my harte reioyce to dye in this immoueable and fyrme Fayth holding this scripture in my handes and offering it vp as a most defensible and inuinsible shield against all the inuasions and deceiptes of the diuell And if which God forbyd it come to passe that by the temptation of the diuell or by the violence of my disease I shall happen to thinke speake or do any thing contrarie to this pretestation Or that I shall fal into any error misbelefe or dispaire Yf any of these doo chaunce vnto me I do here in the presence of you al reuobe vtterly renounce the same in such sorte as I woulde do if I had my perfect sences For this I cal you al which are here present thee my good Angell vnto whose custodie I am coÌ„mitted that you as witnesses may testifie this my protestation and confession before the omnipotent and righteous Iudge As muche as in me lyeth I doo here clearely forgeue and remit al iniuries iuries whatsoeuer haue beene done vnto me And the lyke I do aske 〈◊〉 theyr handes whoâ—â—eit her by word or dee de I haue at any time â—â—leÌ„ded And cheessie I do request to bee partaker of the bytter PassioÌ„ and innocent death of our Lord Iesus Christ and that my natural and voluntarie death may through thy grace stande for al my sinnes I do also intitely requeâ—â— and desire you al that be here present to say the Lordes prayer with me and for me Our Father which arte in Heauen hâ—â—o 〈◊〉 be thy 〈◊〉 Thy kingdom thing Thy wyl be done in earth as it is in heauen â—eue vs this day out â—â—ylâ—e breade And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from al euyl For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen Would to God I had neuer sinned nor offeÌ„ded against my God nor my 〈◊〉 periors 〈◊〉 against my neighbours nor my selfe Lastlie I geâ—â—â— thâ—â—bes 〈◊〉 thaâ—â—â—â—ghty God for al his 〈…〉 â—â—sâ—â—wed vpon west And I commâ—â—de my body and soule into thy 〈…〉 that my soule may he saued through the bitter passion of our Lord 〈◊〉 Christ to whom be prayse 〈◊〉 glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ Howe feareful and bytter corporal death is of it selfe and the muâ—â—â— causes thereof AS man naturallie desyreth to be in this worlde to lyue and to reioyce So is it also natural for him to feare death and the paines presydents thereof Vertuous and perfect men not withstanding are accustomed to wysh for death wrâ—oâ—â—â—ch as it is the ende of the myseties and offences of this present lyfe the entry like wise into the felicitie and ioye to come They do therfore couet death whiche loue no vnâ—â—wâ—all thing in this lyfe and despiseth and settethat nought al the vanities pleasutes tiches homours prosperities of this world with a most â—â—dent affection aspyring to the most blessed syght of theyr God whome aboue al other thinges they do with al their hartes entirely loue and inwardlie burne with the hartie desyre of heauenlie pleasures eternall wealth saying with the prophet Dauid As the Hart desireth to come to the fountaines of fresh waters so doth my soule desire thee O lord My soule hath thirsted to come vnto God the lyuing fountaine When shal I come appeare before the face of God And to the same effect sayth Paule I vnhappie man who wyll deliuer me from the body of this death That is to saye from this mortal miserable body Also I desyre to be dissolued to be with Christ Neuerthelesse though the consideration of death of it self be a most bytter paine and that the losse of lyfe to a humaine 〈…〉 is naturaâ—le fearfull and horâ—â—â—â— insomuch that our Lord Iesus Christ death approchâ—ig by natural â—eaâ—e of death whiche he tooke willingly vpon him began to feare to ware weerie and to be heauy Such wâ—â—eâ—aâ—e 〈◊〉 of death is proâ—â—â—able for it withdraweth man from cauâ—â— detectatioÌ„ and from the vanities of this worlde He that wyl wisely consider howe pawful an ende howe bytter a death and howe greeuous a sorow doth dayly approche vnto him and peradueÌ„ture is presentlie at hande hee wyll refrayne him selfe from dyssolute and vaine secutitie from sportes games and laughters Saying with Salomon I haue accompted laughing for errour And to myrthe I haue sayde Why doest thou deceyne in vayne And that they be so in deede the wyse Salomon doth in another place witnesse the same Better it is sayeth he to gâ—e into a sorrowfull house then into a hoÌ„â—ueting house Iâ—â—thoue that is the sorowful house man is admonished of theâ—de of all men lyuing he thinketh vpon that which shall happen and is
be repie at with peace and gladnes traÌ„quilitie rest and a continual excellent brightnes farre vnlike to this whiche nowe we see Adn by howe much the better ech one liued in this world he shal in that world be by so much the more the cleerer For it is read that that Citie needeth not the light of the Sun nor of the Moone for there the Lambe is their lampe and the omnipotent Lorde geueth them light There Saintes dosh me like Starres in perpetual eternitie as the purenesse of the heauens that geueth light to many Wherfore ther is no night nor darknes there is no contracy meeting of clowdes no extremity of coulde nor heat but a wonderful temperatenes of al things which no eie can see no eare caÌ„ heare nor heart imagine sauing only those who enioy the same whose names are writteÌ„ in the booke of life And that which excelleth this is the felowship of Angels ArchaÌ„gels and al the vertues of heauen To behold the Apostles Martirs and prophetes and to see our forefathers al these are glorious But to behold the perfect countenaunce of God and to see his incomprehensible lighte is a far excellenter glorie For when we shall see God in himself then shal we see haue in our selues that which continuallye without ende we shall contemplate and beholde ¶ A supposed description of the heauenly Hierusalem O Beloued countrey O heuenly citie what can be sufficiently writteÌ„ or beleued of thee for that in theÌ„e is that goodnes ioy and solace that eyes see not that eares here not nor minde of man can so-muche as once coniecture for which so many Legions of Martirs haue moste willingly suffered death Thy gates do glister with choseÌ„ stones most precious thy streetes are paued with burnished golde thy walles are made of most precious stones in thee are inestimable pleasaÌ„t gardens alwaies greener then the fields of Thessalie wherin fresh flowres dainty violetâ— do continually bud grow In thee vnspeakeable sweete odours of Cinamon Balme do alwaies plesantly breath and smel The beautie of althings do increase in thee without laâ—ke remaine without fading abide without corruptioÌ„ without chaunge do eternally continue In thee is al temperatenes purenes of ayre farre exceeding the capacitie of maÌ„ In thee â—â—peace rest surpassâ—ng measure In thee is euerlasting day one spirit of althings In thee is certain assurance assured eternity eternal quietnes quiet happines happy pleasure pleasaunt mirth Iust men do shine in thee as the sun Nothing can be wished loued or sought for but it is in thee to be founde in thee one lye is conteined that which no wher els can be had O what gladnes without offence what flouds of sincere plesure with bottomles plesure of sweete delectatioÌ„ is it to behold the God of Gods in Sion to looke vpon the incoÌ„prehensible glory of the holy trinity to taste of the perfect sweecenes from which coÌ„meth al goodnes to humaine kinde What a pleasure is it to behold the maiestly of God to be in the perpetual company of the blessed troupes of Angels with the sanctified Apostles and Martirs with holy and blessed virgins to know al the Citizens of heauen and alwaye to reioyce in eternal felicitie O my soule loue this blessed palace and inwardly affect the same which with fleshly eyes cannot be seene but onely with the eies of thy faith Beleeue that which thou seest not to the ende that thou maiest sometime obteine that which thou beleeuest ⧠Of the perfect and absolute ioy of eternall lyfe MY God my Lord my heartes delyght tel vnto my soule if this be the ioy that thou hast spoken of vnto vs by thy sonne For thou saidest Aske you shal haue to the ende that your ioies may be perfect I haue found a certaine kinde of ioy yea more then perfect yet although man hath a perfect hart a perfect mind a perfect soule and that man is al replenished with ioy There resteth yet another ioy that aboue measure passeth this for al ioyes cannot be contemed in him that reioyseth but al those that reioyce shal emer in the ioye of our lord But truely that ioy wherein thine elect reioyce cannot bee seene heard nor be coÌ„passed within the capacity of man Therfore O Lord in al these my sayinges I haue not so much as once thought vpoÌ„ any part of the ioyes of thine elect They shal in al places so much reioyce as they loued thee and so much loue thee as they acknowledge thee their Lorde No eie caÌ„ see no toung caÌ„ tel no eare can heare nor hart can think in this life how much they acknowledge loue thee in the life to come I besech thee O Lord that I may loue thee reioyce in thee And though I cannot come to that perfectneâ— in this lyfe yet graunt that I may from day to day so increase therein that I maye after this life come to the ful perfectnes thereof Let me so profite in this knowledge that in time to come I maye be perfectly instructed therin Let thy loue good Lord so increase grow in me that I may be therin perfectly grouÌ„ded in the life to come Graunt I beseech thee that I maye so reioyce in hope as that I maye perfectly reioice in ioy after this world O true euerliuing God graunt I beseeche thee that I may receaue that which thou hast promise dme that is that my ioye maye be perfecte in the world of worlds that in the meane time my minde may remeÌ„ber the same my tongue may speak therof my hart may loue it that my mouth may talk thereof Let my soule hunger for it my flesh desyre it and all my bodilye substaunce feruentlye require it tyl such time as I do enter into the ioies of my Lord my God where I shal remaine for euer A prayer whereby thou maiest be stirred vp vnto the desire of heauenly thinges O My God O the sweete life of my soule O my true health O my saluation O my onely eternal vnchangeable and chiefest goodnes what other thing besydes thee ought I to looke or aske fore What haue I not al thinges if I do possesse thee who hast created al things There is nothing of anye estimation but onelye such thinges as thou hast made Beholde the bewty of the Aungels of blessed soules of mortal bodies of brutish beastes the brightnes of the heauens Statees Sunne Fyre and Ayre the Sea Earth Planets the flowers precious stones metals and colours sweetenes of al soundes and odours and the delicate taste of al sweete thinges proceedeth onely froÌ„ thee O lord Whatsoeuer grace of comlines plesaÌ„tnes sinenes sweetnes vertue dignity or ritches consisteth in any creature the same proceedeth from thee O God and al thinges aboundantly flowe in thee without any lacke Thou art the chiefest bewty the chiefest pleasure chiefest desyre Thou most abuÌ„dantly dost conteine in thee al bewty goodnesse
THE MANER TO DYE WELL. An Introduction most compendiouslie shewinge the fruytfill remembrance of the last fowre things That is to say Death Hel Iudgement and The ioyes of Heauen Gathered out of manye good Authors both comfortable and profitable to the diligent Reader Learnedly instructing howe to prouide for Death ¶ Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones 1578. ¶ To the Reader TO stirre vp a more diligence of the inwardenâ—aâ— in vs our Lorde Iesus putteth foorth this similitud knowe you that if the houshold Father knew at what time the Theefe would inuade his house he would surely watche and woulde not suffer his house to bee broken By this Household is vnderstanded the thoughtes of man and also the invvarde and outward motions and deedes VVhich housholde vvoulde be to lasciuious and vvanton if by the diligence of the Father they vvere not corrected and repressed For if the father be vvearie of his care vvho coulde be able to shevve hovve proude and insolent the thoughtes eyes tongue eares and other members vvoulde become This house is the conscience vvherein this Father dvvelleth and gathereth together the treasure of vertues for vvhich he doth vvatche diligentlie least the house should be broken vp â–ª And it is not one but many Theeues that vvould commit this buglary and robbery For euery verâ—â—e hath a â—ice incident vnto it The cheefe Theefe is taken to bee the Deuell againste whom and all his atmie the saide father if he be not negligent doth watche and warde his house appointing Prudence in the firste warde who vnderstandeth what is to be admitted and what is to be kept out Next vnto her is placed Fortitude to withstand suche enemies as by her warning he seeth to come neere And Iustice sitteth in the middest to geue to euerie one his owne And euerie houre is to bee feared for it is not knowen in what houre the theefe wil come VVe oughte alvvaies to watche least the sleepe of sinne do vnwares creepe vpon vs Now these thinges beeing thus ordered the Memorie of death desireth to come in and is suffered to enter who being demaunded to say what he was and from whence he commeth Hee answered that he would say nothing except all were commaunded to silence VVho obteyning his request began in this order My name saith he is Memorie of death and I foretel you that death is comming Prudence speaking for al putteth the question saying VVher is death Memory ansvvereth I know where he is for he draweth very nere but the houre of his comming I knowe not Prud. VVho commeth with him Mem. A number of Deuilles bringing with them greate bookes in which are written the offences of man and they claime those whose sinnes are written therein and they will violentlie draw with them both their soules and bodies to hel Prudence VVhat thing is hell Mem. Hel is a place of vnmesurable sorowes miserie and darknes there is eternal horror there is no hope of goodnes nor seperation from euyl Euery man that is there hateth himselfe and al others There is weping and gnashing of teeth There is no voyce there heard but Alas Alas Alas they haue no vvord but Alas The deuelishe tormentors doo tormente and are tormented and of them there shall neuer be ende nor remedie Suche a place is Hel and a thousande times worse Prudence O God what shall wee doo My brethren heare mine aduise and geue me yours Be ye faithful watche and pray doo good not only in the sighte of men but in the sighte of god Temperaunce Let vs goo before his face with harty repentaunce and let vs prayse him in Psalmes Bee you sober and watche Fortitud VpoÌ„ whom do you stay Be strong in fayth Comfort your selues in our Lorde Arme your selues with the armour of God Take vppon you the harneys of Iustice the target of Faith and the sworde of the holie Ghost which is the word of god Iustice Let vs lyue sober iust and godlie Sober to our selues iust to our neighbours and godlie to god Let vs not do that to others vvhich vve vvould not haue done vnto our selues Prud. Behold another Messenger verie comelie and pleasaunt vvho seemeth to bring some good newes Iustice Let him come in peraduenture he wyl make vs mery for this first messenger hath terrified vs Prudence I vvill admit him Come in VVho art thour Messenger I am called The loue of eternal lyfe Keepe silence for I can not be heard vvhere tumult is Iustice Yf vve did keepe silence vvhilst the Memory of death spake of iustice we ought to be silent when thou speakest Desire of eternal lyfe I haue seene such thinges as no man is vvorthy to speake of I sawe God the maiestie of the vndeuided Trinitie but yet as it vvere through a glasse that brightnes vvas so cleare that mine eyes dasled to beholde that clearenes vvhich passeth all vnderstanding Yet notwithstanding I behelde a litle vvhyle our Lorde Iesus sitting on the right hande of his father who did so farre excel all creaturs that the Angels themselues desire to beholde and looke vpon him And I sawe vppon his bodye the woundes of his passion wherewith he redeemed vs But not being able any long time to looke vpon this brightnes of the sonne of God I turned mine eyes vpon the orders of Angels that stand before god I behelde also the Prophets the Apostles and Martirs and an innumerable companie of blessed Soules from whose eyes God hath wasshed awaie all teares they doo see the king in his Maiestie and were all appareled in long white garmentes lyuing a lyfe without ende W. B. Of the fall of man and the punishment by death for the same and of the vncertaine howre of death BY shine against the lyning Lorde olde Adam our first Sire Death to him selfe and al his séede hath gayned for his hyre Mortalitie and temporal death this gift our Parents wonne In Paradise the fruite forbyd to eate when they begonne First sinne began and after death in haste dydit ensue By whome ech man must passe herehence as sure as God is true Lest some men would them selues extol too farre aboue the rest If that they shoulde in freedome quite escape this feareful blast Then Death nothing more certen is no doubt thereof we see But no man knoweth the houre ne place nor what his ende shal bee Whether by dint of edged sword or heate of flaming fyre Or roaring wanes of raging seas pale Death shall paye his byre No place nor time there is but Death in watche and wayte doth lye Man to intrappe if that he can vnarmed him espie No shadowe darke on massie corps more duely doth attende Then lurking death who alway séekes Man to confounde and ende What man is he that standeth sure tyll night to drawe his breath Our life beeing the open way that straight doth leade to death The wise therefore remembring oft that once he needes must dye His lyfe at euerie howre to yeelde prepareth wyllingly
needeth not to feare death so as hee be founde according to this instruction it shal suffice ¶ Wholsome admonitions to dye WHatsoener things at the howre of thy death thou wouldest haue to bee done doe thou the same presently and whatsoeuer thou arte by duety bound to doe commit not the charge thereof vnto others For if thou thy selfe wast negligent and carelesse of thine owne wealth and busines howe thinkest thou that others wyl take any heede or regarde to thy health Beleeue not vncerten thinges and vaine promises neither commit thyselfe to doubtful chaunces Liue so behaue thee selfe that thou mayst be so quieted in thy conscience as though this were thy dying daye Neuer go vnto thy bedde before thou hast accoumpted with thy selfe the maner state of thy life Examine thy selfe calling thy harte with al thy sences to iudgement and knowe whether thou be the better or the worse for this daye Neuer go thou to bedde with such a coÌ„science wherein thou fearest to dye If thou doest finde thee selfe in such state as thou doest feare to die search out the cause therof for peraduenture there be some sinnes of the which as yet thou hast not perfectlie repented thy self or else thou forsakest to acknowledge confesse them or peraduenture thou doest refuse to abstaine froÌ„ the occasions thereof or thou liuest vnder the daunger or obedience of some man or as a peruerse maÌ„ thou dost continue in malice or in the vniust withholding of other mennes goodes or thou art too much addicted bent to the couetous desyre of worldly wealth carnal sensualitie or rauished with the vnlawful lust of some creature or being so deepelie drowned in the greedy desire of earthlie visible thinges in such sort as thou canst by no meanes be withdrawen from them coueting for nothing of that which belongeth to the Soule foolishly looking and lyking in al external things lothing and vomiting out al heauenly thinges The cause that mooueth thee to feare death is that thy guyltie conscience foretelleth thy feareful minde the torments whiche are prouided for thy sinneful soule after thy death Which soeuer of these resteth and raygneth in thee cutte them off persecute them and with all thyne endeuour doo what lyeth in thee to deliuer thy selfe from them Imbrace my crosse and folow my footesteppes and they shal be a great furtheraunce to thee in this thine attempte and with rigour of minde holy hatred against thy self proclayme thou open warre against al vyces with a determinate wyll not to sinne renewing oftentymes this holy battayle without ceassing And least thou shouldst be ouerthrowen for weaknesse and want of courage contemplate and earnestly beholde the examples of me and of my Saints commending thy selfe to the prayers exhortations of good meÌ„ reposing thy selfe with inwarde and wholsome inspiration be occupied in prayer and godlie reading be neuer ydle loue solitarinesse and sylence These and such like driue away euyl thoughts froÌ„ the harte banish the feare of death When thou coÌ„mest to the ende of euery day say vnto thy self Now my life is shortned by one day And when thou rysest in the morning saye O God I am by one night neerer to death then I was ¶ An Exercise to be vsed in the Morning or at other times when you thinke conuenient ALmightie and eternall God my Creator and louer I praise adore and blesse thee for that in mine offeÌ„ces and vngratefulnesse thou hast so mercifullie and leysurelie forborne suffred me to liue euen to this houre wherunto by thy benefits thou hast brought me geuing to me thine vnworthy reprocheful seruaunt both life necessaries therunto beloÌ„ging appointing Angelles to be my keepers O good God who knoweth whether tyll euening my life shal be prolonged or what death is appointed forme O merciful Lorde God heauenly father graunt that I may with harty repentaunce truly repeÌ„t â—â—y sinnes inwardly bewaile that â—â—et I offended thy godly maiestie Suffer not my soule to departe this body before it be through thy mercie perfectlie reconciled and adopted vnto thee by thy grace bedeckt with thy merites and vertues inflamed with perfect charitie and acceptable vnto thee according vnto thy wyl O mercifull Lorde Iesus Christe if those thinges whiche I desyre doo stand with thy pleasure grauÌ„t them I beseeche thee although I be not worthy to be heard yeelde and geue I beseech thee of thine infinite mercie that by the merites of thy passioÌ„ I may be purged from al my sinnes And that at the howre of my death I maye be striken with true and vehement contrition and being knitte with thee in perfect charity I maye immediatly flit vnto thee my sweete Redeemer safelie and freelie from al dampnation Neuerthelesse in al these my requestes O best beloued Iesu I do fully and wholy offer and resigne my selfe vnto thee to be altogether disposed ordered according to thy wyl and to suffer for thy glorious sake desyring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragilitie vnworthinesse vnstablenesse miseries together with thine owne goodnesse and most charitable mercy praying thee neuer to forsake or leaue me but that thou wylt alwaies possesse and gouerne me according to thy wyl Amen ¶ An oblation of Christ and of his merites vnto his Father OMnipotent and benigne Father al the paines dolours checkes punishmentes rebukes and labours of thy onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ lambe immaculate which he vpon his owne body hath suffred for my sake his trauels with the afflietion of al his members for me his bloudshed and feete nayled for me his most noble and godly soule seuered from his delicate body for mee his infinite vertues and merites the strength also of his body soule and al thinges the hare lyfe in him yeelded to death for my redemption inseperately notwithstaÌ„ding vnited with the Deitie Christ also thy blessed soÌ„ne God man omnipotent both weakned looking downe glorious working myracles and hanging vpoÌ„ the Crosse I do here offer vnto thee in exaction satisfaction of my synnes al the worldes and in mortifying extinguishing of al my passions euil affections sinful vices in steede and supply of al my negligeÌ„ce and in the laude and prayse of al thy graces benefites O heauenly father haue coÌ„passion vpon me for his sake haue thou mercie vpon me for the loue of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ THere beâ— which doe prefixe a certaine kinde of exercise vnto them selues as death were present preparing themselues euerye fyue dayes continually in suche sorte as though they shoulde dye presently The fyrst daye they do remember death the presidentes and horror thereof to whom they do wyllingly yeelde The seconde daye they do thinke vpon theyr sinnes and them so busie and diligently they do confesse as though presently after theyr confessioÌ„ they should die passing ouer that daye in sobbes and teares The thyrde day with the greatest deuotion they can
they do prepare themselues comming to the holye Eucharist and vittayle themselues therewith for theyr reliefe in theyr iourney The fowrth daye they do continually pray vnto God for the inspiration of the holy ghost wherby they may lighten soften the hardnes of theyr hartes and thus they do continew al that day The fift day with feruent deuotiō they make theyr humble supplications vnto God for a spyrituall death wherby they may perfectlie mortify them selues and yet continually liue to God. To ech of these dayes a man may applie fyt Psalmes and Prayers And lastly they do giue harty thāks to almightie God for his innumerable benefits bestowed vpon them at al times during theyr liues ¶ Spirituall counsayles at the howre of death MY Daughter thou beeing brought to infyrmitie prepare thy soule to God taking such order for thy temporal goodes that there be no strife nor cōplaint for them after thy death Nothing profiteth the soule more then to leade a iust innocent lyfe and to do good to euery man in thine owne life tyme whatsoeuer thou wouldest that others should do for thee be thou careful and diligent to do the same thy selfe If after death thou dost goe to euerlasting paine what doeth the fulfylling of thy Testament the pompe of thy Funeral almes or sacrifice auayle thee after thy death Do these things thy selfe in thine owne life dayes that thou maist be deliuered not only frō sinne but also increased in my grace thou mayst escape damnation and I preseruing thee from thine offēces thou maist continue and perceuer in good workes vnto the ende When death approcheth see thou do ridde thy self from al cares and worldlie labours that with feruent desire thou mayst affect to come to me without spotte beeing ful of fayth not trusting any thing to thine owne workes but let the hope of thy reliefe be onely planted in mine ineffable mercie In this faith altogeather betaking thy selfe and al other things which thou hast in this worlde vnto my prouident wyl humblie and deuoutlie receyue thou the Sacraments of my body blood which haue theyr vertue only by my merites and were by me geuen vnto the Church as a treasure Although that many men haue oftē times abused them as they haue done many other good things neuer thelesse receiue thou them with a feruent zeale and a sure fayth vnto thy euerlasting ioy ¶ An Exercise wherein the weake man may resigne himselfe to God. O My saythful louer O mercyfull Lorde Iesus Christ graunt that with al my harte and minde I maye perfectly vnderstande that which I saye As the Harte desireth to come to the fountaynes of freshe waters so doeth my soule desire to come to thee O Lorde I haue chosen rather to bee an abiect and an vnderling in the house of my god then to dwel in the Tabernacles of sinners Blessed are they which dwell in thy house O Lord they shal prayse thee for euer By soule dothe thirse to come to thee O Lorde when shal I appeare before thy face O my soule why art thou heauy why troublest thou me Hope in the Lorde for I wyl trust in him the health of my countenaunce and my god Turne thy face vpon me thy seruaunt saue me in thy mercie O Lorde that I be not confounded foreuer I cal vpon thee linger not from me my god Looke backe and assist me a poore man left vnto thee for thou arte the releeuer of Orphantes thou art the refuge of al my trouble that compasseth me O my triumph delyuer me from them that assault me O thou Lorde God of my health come and helpe me for thou arte my strength my helper and refuge do not forsake me nor despise me O God salute me with welcome beholde I come vnto thee my God whome I haue neglected and despised for all the earth is ful of thy mercy I doe therefore flye vnto thee moste mercyfull God receyue me according to thy word by which thou saydest I wyll not the death of a sinner and I shal lyue do not consounde me contrarie to mine expectation My God I craue not for this temporal life but I do onely inuocate and call vpon thee with al my harte which art the eternal life Alas my best beloued Alas my only Lord and God that euer I offended thee that euer I neglected thy inspirations and counsayles that euer I loued any thing besides thee my Lorde God this is it that repenteth me I beseech thee therfore to graūt vnto me that during my life I maye with al my hart truely faithful lie repent and bewayle these mine offēces I woulde I coulde powre forth and vp before thee al the droppes of my bloud and teares in true repentaunce Lorde Iesu I craue and loke neyther for death nor life but onelie for thy good wyl Let al thinges be done according to thy good wyl and pleasure Seeing it pleaseth thee that I must dye O Iesu receyue my soule graūt that I may haue eternal rest with thee If it be thy pleasure O Iesu that my lyfe shal be prolonged I haue determined with al my harte to beseeche and aske that thou wylt most graciously graunt it me through the helpe of thy mercie and grace so to offer my selfe vnto thee as an offering to thy glorie wyll O best beloued Iesu for that I haue past ouer my lyfe in contempt of thy glorious name lyuing out of thine obedience graunt nowe I beseeche thee that henceforward I may wyllingly spēde al the strength of my soule and body and al the rest of my time graūted by thee vnto thy glorie and wyl O Mercyful Iesu bee present with me and mercifullye helpe mee in these my paynes and miseries and if greeuouser paynes shall happen to oppresse me which for mine offences I knowe I haue deserued farre greuouser greater then these graunt that I maye suffer and beare them paciently Osweete Iesu although I had neuer offended nor deserued punishment in thy sighte yet to thy glory and wyl in these paynes as in euerye other I doe offer and resigne my selfe vnto thy Maiestie not trusting in mine owne vertue but only in the multitude of thy merits vpon which I doe presume and doe inuocate and call vppon thee that thou mayst by thy vertue erect strengthen the weaknes and vnstedfastnes of my soule and that thou wilt comfort it with strength and strengthen it with patience that I doe not fall downe beeing vanquished with aduersitie and temptation nor weried with weaknes of minde but beeing altogeather consumed in the flame of thy sweete fyre and loue I maye onely long for thee and that wyth a thirstie appetite I maye coole my thirst in thee that I may thinke vpō thee and altogether long for thee that I may forsake disdaine and cōtemne the world al things therin that I may geue thee like thanks both in ioye and sorowe O Most louing Iesu I haue chosen thee
the Minister or any other godly person 1 Wylte thou lyue and dye in the true fayth of Iesus Christe as a true Christian I wyl 2 Wylt thou aske forgeuenes of him for all thine offeÌ„ces coÌ„mitted against his holy maiesty for that thou hast not worthily honoured him I doo aske 3 Hast thou not determyned with thy selfe to alter thy trade of lyfe into a better if it shal please Gods goodnes that thou shalt escape this disease I haue determined 4 Dost thou not humblie craue and beseech him to grauÌ„t thee grace not to decline from this thy good intent that thou mayest repentauntlye bewayle thy former faultes and that thou mayst henceforwarde continue in al goodnes I doo requyre 5 Dost thou not hartely forgeue all offences committed against thee I doo forgeue 6 Wylt thou not earnestly aske forgeuenes of al them whom thou hast in any wyse offended I doo aske 7 Doste thou not clearely caste out of thy hart al enuie malice hatred whatsoeuer thou bearest to any creature and willingly be reconciled in perfect charitie to euery man I am willing 8 Wilt thou willingly restore what soeuer thou hast wrongfully taken or withholden from any man I wyl 9 Dost thou not paciently take in good woorth these paynes for the name of God I doo ¶ Prayers to be sayde at the howre of death INto thy handes O Lorde I commende my soule thou haste redeemed me O Lorde God of trueth Iesus Christe the Father of mercy make mee one of thy seruauntes helpe mee in my extreme necessitie Succour my needeful and desolate soule O Lord my god that it be not deuoured by helhoundes For the honour and vertue of thy bytter Passion most mightie Lorde Iesus Christe commaunde that my name may bee registred among the number of thine elect O my Creator redeemer Iesus Christe I yeelde my selfe vnto thee forsake me not be holde I flye vnto thee succor me and reproue me not O Lorde Iesus Christe the sonne of the liuing God put thy Passion Crosse and death betwixt my soule and thy iudgement Nowe O Lorde according vnto thy wyl haue mercy vppon mee and commaunde that my soule be receyued into thy peace Let that sweete voyce O Lorde sound in the eares of my soule This day thou shalt be with mee in Paradise The maner howe Howe to foresee that thinges goe rightly with anye when he dyeth IF the sicke man doe wauer stray or doubt any thing of the veritie of his fayth put him in remembraunce of the Apostles and holy Martyrs which for the defence of this true fayth haue suffered all kindes of tormentes and paines If hee be in dispayre then tell him that although his offences bee neuer so great and many yet the goodnes of our mercyful Lord is much more for his mercies do exceede the quantitie of all our effences which hee of his goodnes offereth in common to euery man lest hee himselfe doe wylfully refuse the same for his mercye is infinite and without number Al the offences that euer were committed since the beginning of the worlde may be numbred al which are clerly washed awaye with the least drop of the blood of our lord Iesus Christ which he shed at the time of his bytter passion Our Lorde God of his great clemencie was redy to cal vnto his mercy Iudas the wickedst man that euer lyued when he sayde vnto him My freende Yet for that he dyd dispayre he was condemned and so sinned more by falling into dispayre then by betraying of his maister our Sauiour Iesus Christ the immaculate Lambe and onely begotten sonne of God the Father And lastlye put in thy minde that the forgiuenes of sinnes is an Article of our faith by which is signified vnto vs that how often and howe greeuous soeuer our offences are yee by true repentance of our sinnes yet shal obteine true remission for them wherof whosoeuer doubteth he is no true Christian If you see that hee do not presently yelde vp the Ghost then reade to him the hystorie of the Passion or some other good and Godly hystorie wherein hee delighted most when he was in health or the commaundementes of God to the ende that hee maye with more perfectnes repent him selfe if hee haue oughte committed agaynst them If for lacke of speache hee bee not able to aunswere with woordes then let hym aunswere in mynde and with outwarde signes expresse his conscience for they are through Gods mercye sufficient to obteyne grace Put him no wise in remembraunce of his wife children freends or temporal wealth vnlesse it bee necessary for his spiritual health Put him not in ouermuche hope of bodyly health lest by that meanes he might withdraw his minde from the spirituall care that hee hath of his soule For by the health of the soule hee shoulde seeke for the health of the bodye onelye requiringe it at Gods hande if his goodnesse shall thinke it most meete and beste for his soule For God is a furtherer of the pacient and wel disposed and corporal diseases bring for the moste parte langour and grefe to the soule We should therefore first prouide for our soule and repent vs of our sinnes before we take any care of our bodily health ¶ Heereafter followeth a breefe Dialogue touching the day of Iudgement Betweene Raymundus and Dominicus I Haue my Raymundus all this long time since our laste communication bene very desirous to knowe howe our mercyful Sauiour Chryst wyl in th ende rewarde euery man Wherefore I praye you of your curtesie shew me somewhat touching this poynte Raym My freende Dominicus I graunte to thy request for it is not conueniente that we leaue man of whom hitherto wee haue conferred vnfinished Seeing wee haue treated of hys creation and seeing wee haue spoken of hys reparation wee wyll nowe talke somewhat touchinge his final iudgement God worketh three wayes concerning man that is to saye in creation reformation and in iudging him moste iustlye according to his workes Seeing then man is the liuely and magnificente worke of God and aboue al creatures moste lyke vnto his Maker he oughte not therefore to bee leste vnfinished and vnpertected And for that he can not come to the verie laste ende of perfection before his life bee examined and iudged that according to the quality of it hee maye receyue rewarde at the last retribution eyther to eternal payne or to euerlasting glory Therefore it is necessary to conferre in few wordes of this last and general iudgement and by certaine natural reasons to shew taaâ— is to come Domi. I beseech you so to do for I am determined with al my hart to heare you Raym. We wil proue that the iudgemeÌ„t is to come by the very nature of ioy gladnesse them selues It must needes be that the iust manne for his iustice shal so magnifycently reioyce that he cannot reioyce more perfectly And that the wickedman for his iniquitie be cast into heauinesse as there may be noâ—â—reater
good Raim We haue gathered out of that which you haue saide that there shal be a perpetual seperation of the good and the euil th one froÌ„ thother Those which haue takeÌ„ themselues to Lucifer his wicked will makings themselues his members shal be with him condemned to euerlasting fyre And those which haue folowed Christ our lord shal be with him takeÌ„ vp to euerlasting glory The reprobates shal be plunged in a moste deepe bottomlesse pitte and the chosen shal be lifted vp to the highest heauen They shal be geuen to the fyre and those to pleasures They shall haue deuils to their fellowes these shal be accompanied with Angels They for extreme tribulation shall â—â—ace these for the greatnes of their ioyes shal geue harty thaÌ„ks A most thicke and eternall darkenes shal be alwaies cast vpon them to these God shal be an euerlastinge light the lambe shal be their light Now you haue that which you required Gather therefore by these the full and last finishing of man for if he be adiudged good the best of all shal be allotted vnto him that is to be with Angels in the kingdom of heauen But if he be adiudged euil then shal he continually possesse the worst place of all with the deuils in Hel. Dom. Nowe seeing that I am come to th ende of all these thinges which I sought for and to the very last retribution I geue you moste hartye thankes for that you haue vouchedsafe to graunt to my requeste and for your laboure and industry whereby you haue most effectually instructed me duringe my lyfe I wil alwayes remeÌ„ber this most wholsom instructions remembringe my selfe to bee made by my redeemer and farre exalted aboue other creatures And I being through mine owne pride and disobedience slidden and falne down with a thousand other calamities intercepted am redeemed restored againe by Christ hauing compassion vpon me and by him reserued to receyue eternall rewarde FINIS The thirde thinge worthy to be remembred is the payns of hel CHriste hath his fan in his hand he vâ—â—â—leâ—â—â— his barn flower and gather his wheat corne into the same and 〈◊〉 burne the chaffe with vnquenchable fyre By the fanne of our Lorde Iesus Christ is vnderstoode his iudiciall power and iust iudgement And by this Barne flower is vnderstoode the Churche or humaine kinde By the Wheate is signified his eleâ—te By the Chaâ—â—e the reprobates by the Baâ—â—e is vnderstoode the kings dome relestiall The sence of these wordes is that as by the Fame the corne is made cleane as the chast is women away the corne left so the son of God wil purge his church wherein amongest the chosen the iust the reprobates and wickedare mingled but in the day of iudgemeÌ„t they shal be seuered one froÌ„ another in place rewards as now they differ in conuersatioÌ„ The vngodly are rightly called the chaff because they are vaine light follow the contions of their mindes The vertuous are compared to the wheat for they are the fruite of Christ borne in the field of the Church that is regenerate of water and the holy ghost spiritually liuing in charitye bâ—deâ—t with diuine grace heauenlye giftes They are transferred from the barn flower of the Church militant vnto the barne of the triumphant church And the wicked being the childreÌ„ of Babilon which is of confusioÌ„ they are hurled headlong into a fornace of burning fyre and eternall damnation And for that hetherto we haue treated of death iudgement I mene to set forth a sâ—â—dowe of the paynes of hel whereby the heaueÌ„ly Ierusalem maye appence the excellenter ¶ Of Hell. WHoe is able to expresse the tormentes appointed for the vngodly and euill liuers in that deadly place called Hel What other thinge can be there but continual flames of fyre eternal tribulatioÌ„ infinite calamities of al euils Burning flouds that run from stinking fens fil vp all places therein There dwelleth wicked and vglye Angels headed and winged like dragons with flaming eyes casting of fierye dartes whose teeth are more long sharpe theÌ„ the Elephants wherwithal they pinch gnaw and torment more greeuous theÌ„ doeth the Dragons taile whose lookes bringeth sodaine feare greeuous paynes and feareful death Oh I woulde to God that death might ende these painefull extremities But alas se yet another torture greuouser then this The soule shal stil liue he alwayes vnder the rule gouernance of cruel tormentors And further beinge gnawen with Serpentes changinge their holdes they do with new bitinges a freshe from time to time torment and tears the soule in peeces Dragons shal ther deuoure the lips of the blasphemers the Cockatrice with greedy teeth shal sunder teare in peeces the bowels of the wicked Al kinde of horrible beastes wil there torment without ceassing the soules of the misbeleues Howling be wailing lamentation rearing do ther continually sound fearful scriches and confused cries are there in al places sodenly raysed Which crye is procured by the cruel force of tortures and is thruste forth by the strength of burninge flames The same tribulations whervnto the soules are receued be without al end and measure For the soules are continually consumed with the broiling heate of fierye flames and beeing throughly burned are againe and againe tormented in new kindled fyres There are wormes that neuer dye fire that neuer quencheth and continuall gnashing of teeth There is in hell deadly colde continual Ise cruel hunger vnme asurable thirste perpetual sorowe raging pestilence vnceassable punishments continual darkenesse and nightes of horrible obscurenes The miserable soule findeth there no rest but is tormented with al kinde of tormentes There is mortall death defectiue lacke endlesse ende What faythful man can then but tremble to heare and knowe of such paynes Deliuer vs we beseeche thee good Lorde from that lake of miserie obscure place and darke world couered with the deadlye cloude of death wher no order is obserued but an euerlastinge horronre Stir vp oure hartes moste merciful God vnto the true fruites of repentance We humblye beseeche thy Maiesty to deliuer vs from these eternal paines See here how great how in comparable how vnmeasurable how perpetual the miseries paines infelicities of the condemned are He which wil not be terrified by these descriptions is blind hard harted neither hath he anye spiritual sence but is rather altogether deade Let him notwithstandinge looke aboute him and rise from the depth of his sinne lifting vp the eyes of his hart to consider these thinges And euerye man which as yet delighteth in sinne let him impresse the consideration of these thinges in his minde that at the least by the horror of them hee maye bee withdrawen from vice and directed to vertue He also which already hath begun to enter into the way of vertue let him by the due consideration of these thinges cast off all vnstablenesse and vnbeliefe And let
and pleasure alwaies greene florishing al goodnes is far more excellent in thee theÌ„ meÌ„ may see or proue in any of thy creatures O Creator most excellent thou art the pleasure of althings thou art the abundantfulnes of perfect ioy the vnmesurable sea of holy delights pleasures thou art that light of incredible cleerenes passing brightnes O be wtiful eternal incomprehenlible light That which they do see heare taste smell or feele which are inwardly ioyned vnto thee through exceeding pucenesse of hearâ— whâ—â—â—st they yet remain in this present 〈◊〉 can with no â—ouing be expressed The louing imbracementes the daintye kisses of the mothâ—â— wherwith she appeaseth the weepâ—â—g of her tonâ—â—t childe no nor the â—weâ—â—â— wordes 〈◊〉 pleasant countenâ—nce of the hâ—sbaâ—â—â— towarâ—es hiâ— louiâ—â— wise are 〈◊〉 shadowes and 〈◊〉 vaâ—ue in respeâ—t and conâ—â—de 〈◊〉 â—f the sweete imbraâ—emâ—â—tes wherewith thou O Lorde dost aâ—â—â—â—eâ—◠〈…〉 of thâ—se that â—oue thee But if poore banished men can be so blessed and happy and that they can see such inexplicable incomparable goodnesse whoe see thee but in a darke had owed glasse how much more happyer then ought we to iudge of thy holy citizens who see thee face to face from whom floweth riuers of pleasure more sweeter then honey who are perfectly vnited vnto thee drowned in a bottomelesse of â—ternal delightes Those thy â—â—â—lbeloâ—ed dâ—ldren doo nowe most nâ—â—ifestly knowe and in the â—â—se lues diâ—â—aâ—isest lyefe ele howe muche O meâ—ciful father thou dost fauâ—ur and â—â—uâ— them and from the be giuning haste loâ—â—d them Thou O Lorde â—rofie willingly sinnerâ—â—est and belpest â—â—emaâ— Tâ—â—udâ—â—â—ighten al menne moste pleasaunâ—lye with the light of thy brigh tâ—esâ— Thou dost comiâ—â—ally moste samâ—â—â—e â—â—y and offeâ—â— ally talke in thefeoreete ho weâ—â— of euery man Thâ—â—ddest drawe the â—eâ—â—tes and 〈◊〉 of al men vnto thee with an inâ—â—â—morehensible sweet mes and feruert affeâ—tion of charitye Thou dost qualify gladden refreshe and fatissye with a delicate desyrâ—â—f enioying thy companye the he artes and willes of all men And to saye al O eternal God thou art all in al in that moste holy Citie of newe Hierusalem That is the happy day and the singuler day the onely true daie whereof thou O Lorde Iesus haste thus spoken vnto thy disciples In that day you shal knowe that I am in my father and you in me and I in you O daye so much wished for with most harty desire wherein the holy soules shal be vnited vnto thee O God and shal be inspyred with a meruailous light of wisedome and transformed into the brightnes of eternal glory O Iesus graunt I beseeche thee that so longe as I am in the darkenesse of this perigrination that the eyes of my minde maye beholde and contemplate the most shining light and brightnesse of thee O God and that I may alwaies please thee my Lord and God. Man wisheth for tribulations of this worlde to the ende that he may the more earnestly desire the kingdome of heauen O My soule if wee must euery daye suffer torments yea and a longe time abyde the vexations of this worlde to the ende that wee myght see Christ in his glory and be ioyned in the felowship of his Saintes Is it not conuenient that we should pacientlye suffer al kynde of paines to th ende that we myght be partakers of so great goodnesse and glory Let wicked spirites prepare theyr snares and temptations let sickenesse weaken the bodye let apparel trouble the fleshe lette laboures oppresse it lette longe wakinges fore watche it let this manne exclaime against me let that manne disturbe me let colde benumme me let heate burne me let my conscience prycke me let the head ake let the heart broyle let the stomack be ouercome with superfluous humors let the visage waxe pale and wanne let al the body be weakned let my lyfe be ended in sorowe let my yeres be consumed in sighes let corruption enter into my bones and let my bowels gushe out vnder me What care I though al these come to passe so that I may in th ende and day of trybulation come to reste and ascende into the felowshippe of those that are already preferred vnto glory How great wil the glorye of the iust be what exceeding gladuesse wil be amongst them when theyr faces shal shine as the Sunne and the Lorde in the kingdome of his father beginneth to place his people eache one in his degree and rewardeth euerye one according to his merytes geuyng them in steede of carthly thinges heauenly goodnesse for temporal thinges eternal rewards and for smal things great ample gifts Truely it wyl be a heape of felicity when the Lord shal lead his Saints into the glory of his father and cause them to sit in celestial seates where God is al in al. O what a pleasaunt happines is it to see the Saintes to be with Saintes and to be Saintes our selues to see God and to enioye God him selfe for euer and euer Let vs therefore thinke vpon these thinges with al our heartes affecte them with feruent desyre that wee may be the better able with speede to come to them If thou my soule peraduenture wilt aske by what helpe or by whose merites maye this be done Christ yelded himselfe to death to the ende to winne thee vnto the kingdome of God his father Yelde thy selfe therfore vnto him that therby thou maiest bee of his kingdome And let not synne haue dominion nor reigne ouer thy mortal body but let the soule be occupied in searching for euerlasting life ¶ A prayer that we shoulde repose our selues in God aboue all thinges O Iesus graunt I beseeche thee that I maye rest and repose my self in thee before any creature before al glory honour power dignitie and consolation ouer and aboue al hope and promise yea and aboue all the Angels Archangels and about all the hoste of heauen aboue al thinges visible and inuisible and chiefâ—â—y for that thou art my God yea thou aâ—t nâ—â—e onelyâ— God excelling al other thinges For thou aâ—t the highest the moste mightie thou onely art the fullest and pâ—â—â—ectest O when shall it be fullye gâ—â—â—ted vnto me that I shal forsake my selfe and see howe sweete and pleasantly thou art O Lord my god O Iesu the brightnes of eternal glory the comfort of the wanderinge soule my mouthe is bent towards thee without speaking and silence speaketh vnto thee How long wyl my Lord my God withdrawe himselfe from commings vnto theeâ— come vnto me thy seruant comforte me O Lorde thrust foorth 〈◊〉 â—â—â—pinge hande O God and delâ—â—â—â— me thy seruaunte from these troubles Come come for without thee there can be â—o restful day nor quiet houre Thou art my ioye and without thee I am vnfurnished Beholde a poore wretche howe I am imprysoned and my selfe loaden with Gyues tyl thou deliuer mee and refresh mee with the light of thy presence Thoughe others searche thee at leysure whensoeuer
it shal please them Yet continuallye nothing shall please mee but thou my Lorde and GOD my hope and eternal health Blessed he thou O Lords which haste done this goodnesse vnto thy seruaunt according to the multitude of thy mercye What can thy seruant saye more vnto thee O Lord but humble himselfe in thy sight be alwayes mindful of his iniquitye and vnwoorthynes For in al the wonderful thinges of heauen and earth there is none like vnto thee Thy workes are excellent thy iudgementes are vpright by thy prouidence al thinges are gouerned O father of wisedome laude and praise be vnto thee My mouth my soule and al my powers shall prayse thee without ceassing ¶ The soule feruently wisheth to be in the house of the Lorde O Moste bright and bewtifull house of the Lord I am delyghted with thy comelinesse the habitation of the glory of my Lord the owner and builder of thee Al my wandring perigrination tendeth towardes thee both night and daye my heart coueteth to come vnto thee my mynde is fullye bent towardes thee my soule doeth feruently desire to come into thy blessed company I speake this vnto him who made mee and possesseth me in thee for he created both thee and me I do not aske thy companye and the syght of thy wonderful purenesse through mine own merites but thorough the bloud of him that hath redeemed mee whereof I doe not dispayre I haue erred I confesse like a straied sheepe and my dwelling is prolonged I am caste from the face of thee O Lorde in blyndnes of exile wherin I am expulsed from the ioies of Paradise I doo with sorrowfull verse and vnmesurable lamentations daily bewaile the miseries of â—y captiuitie when I doo call thee to remembraunce O spirituall Hierusalem and whilest my feete stande in the excellent and beautiful Sion not yet able openlye to see the innermost partes of thee but yet I hope to be caried into thee vpoÌ„ the shoulders of my Redeemer the verye builder of thee that I maye reioyce with thee in that venerable glory wherin they delight that are with thee in the presence of God him selfe our redeemer who hath dissolued al enmitye that was betweene God and man with his owne fleshe and hath with his precious bloud pacifyed al thinges in heauen and earth He is our peace who hath made al things alone who ioyning two walles in one in him selfe which before were disagreeing euerlastingly to continue in the felicitie of his blessednesse The same thinge hath hee promised vnto vs saying They shall be equall with the Angels of God in Heauen Let me reioyce and be glad in thee Let the sweete memorye of thy blessed name be a releeuing of my sorow and weerinesse ¶ An earnest prayer that thou being assisted by the grace of God maiest be alwaies bent to heauenly thinges I Would to God that that daye might once shine in the which I might see my redeemer and al these temporal daies would ende In thee O heauenly kingdome the saintes doo shine in perpetual and cleere charitie which we can not see whilst we wander here on earth The heauenlye Citizens knowe how muche they them selues reioice and the banished sonnes of the Eua lament feele how bitter werie and tedious this worlde is The dayes of this worlde are few shorte ful of euill and sorow where maÌ„ is defiled with many sins oppressed with grefes troubled with cares disturbed with thoughtes wrapt in vanities compassed with erroures molested with temptation drowned in sensualitie and crucified with pouertie O when shal there be an ende of these manifolde and miserable labours when shal I be deliuered froÌ„ the miserable bondage of wickednes When shall I onelye remember thee O Lorde When shal I fullye and perfectly reioyce in thee When shal I be out of al danger deliuered from al griefe of bodye and soule and come to true libertye When shal I rest in that quiete secure and vndisturbed peace When shal I come thyther where peace is both within without in althinges O Lorde Iesus when shal I stande vp to see thee when shal I behold the glorye of thy kingdome which thou hast prepared for thine elect froÌ„ the beginning Aâ— poore wretche I am left banished in the lande of mine enemies where there is dayly warres and continual misfortune Comfort me in my banishment mitigate my sorowes I do moste feruentlye with all my heart require to come vnto thee For whersoeuer pleasure is offered vnto me in this worlde I thinke it noysome I doo inwardly require thy companie but I cannot obteine it I doo wishe to be ioyned to heauenly thinges but temporal pleasures and mortal passions keepeth me backe from them In minde I woulde faine vanquishe al wickednes and vice but yet I am constrained to be subiecte to the frowarde fleshe And I vnhappye man am at controuersy with my selfe and am become odious vnto my selfe for whilest my soule aspireth vpwarde my fleshe draweth downe warde O what passions doo I inwardlye suffer For when my soule beginneth to contemplate of heauenly things theÌ„ presently heapes of carnall thoughts withdraweth me from prayers O my God doo not linger from me depart not in anger from thy seruaunt Thunder forth thy lightning bolts â—isperse my worldly thoughts abrod shoote thine arowes amongest them driue away all the temptations of mine enemies Turne my senses vnto the make me forget al earthly things graunt I beseeche thee that I may caste off all sinfull thoughtes and phantasies O eternall veritie succor me to th end that no vanity do tempt or remoue me from thee O heauenly father helpe me for al vanitie and impurenes melteth before thy face An ardent desire of the soule to the blessed and immortal life AS the Hart desireth to come to the fountaines of freshe waters so doth my soule desire to come to thee O Lorde When shal I come and appere before thy face O wel spryng of louing water When shal I come to the water of thy sweetenes froÌ„ this desert pathlesse and barraine lande that I may see thy vertue and glory and coole my thirst with the water of thy mercye O Lorde the wel of lyfe satisfye me I thirste for thee O Lord God of life When shal I come O Lorde and appeare before thy face O moste cleere and excellent daye without night without ende wherin I shal heare these wordes Enter into the ioyes of the Lorde thy God. Enter in eternal glory into the house of thomnipotent God where there is great and wonderful ioyes without number Enter into the glory which is without sorrowe conteyning eternal gladnesse where all goodnesse and no euyl is where the sweete amiable way of life is where is no controuersy neyther flickering intisements where there is a perfect and certaine assuraunce an assured quietnes a quiet pleasantnes a plesaunt happines a happy eternity an eternal blessednes the blessed Trinitie and vnity of Trinitie deitie of vnitie
and a blessed syght of the deitie which is the ioyes of thy Lord god O ioye vpon ioy and ioy aboue ioye without whiche there is no ioye when shal I enter into thee that I maye see my God who dwelleth in thee I wyl go thither and I wil see this most excellent syght What is it that stayeth me Wo be vnto me for my daies are prolonged wo be vnto mee howe long shal it be sayde vnto me where is the Lord thy God O my soule attende a while and expect that which I looke for Shal not we attende the comming of our redeemer our Lorde Iesus Christ who hath brought our bodies to their ancient humility and obedience configuted and formed vnto the brightnes of his owne body Let vs abide the returne of our Lorde from the mariage feaste to the ende hee maye leade vs vnto his mariage Come O Lorde and stay not come O Lorde Iesus Christe come and visite vs in peare come and deliuer vs that he fettered out of prison that we maye reioyce before thee in perfectnesse of hart Come our sauiour the wished hope of al people shewe thy face and we shal be saued Come my light my redeâ—â—â—er deliuer my foule out of this prison that it may confesse and glorifye thy holy name Howe longe shall I bee toste in the surging waues of this my mortal life crying vnto thee and thou wilt not heare me Heare me O Lorde calling vnto thee from this large troublesome and daungetous Sea and bring mee vnto thy safe porte of eternal felicities O happye are they that haue through thy goodnes ariued from al the dangers of this Sea in that most safe porte and harborough of rest O most happy are they which haue escaped this surging Seas and are safely landed vpon the shores escaped this pryson and come to thy Palace returned from exile and entred into thy kingdome The blessed doo moste quickly enioye that they wished for Happy are they that haue obteined the rewarâ—e of eternal glorye and that which here they haue won in tribulation they do nowe ioyfully brooâ—e in happy myrth and perpetual glory Most blessed thrise fouretimes blessed are they whiche haue obteyned throughe his aboundante glorye to come to his gracious kingdome O eternal kingdome and kingdome of all worldes where there is contynual lyght and where the peace of God is which doeth farre exceede at vnderstanding wherin the soules of the elect do rest replete with eternal gladnesse Oglorious is thy kyngdome wherein al the saints do reigne appareled with white garmentes hauing crownes vpon theyr heades O kingdome of eternal blisse O happye kingdome where thou O Lord the Diadem of glorye shalt be seene face to face reioycing them in thy peace whiche passeth al capacitye Happy are they therefore that haue escaped from the shipwracke of this life and haue obteyned to come into so great ioy and gladnes Vnhappye alas are wee poore wretches that do row our ship through the deuouring waues of this large raging seanot knowing when we shal come to that hauen of health Vnhappy I say are they who leade theyr lyues in exile and daunger whose ende is doubtful For we knowe not what shal become of vs for al thingâ—s which are to come are vnknoweÌ„ vnto vs We as yet sayling in the waues of the Sea doo hope and looke to come to the happy porte and haueÌ„ of ourcountrey O safe countrey we see thee a farre off we salute thee froÌ„ the Seas we doo sigh and wishe to come to thee out of this vale and we doo endenour our selues yea with teares to see if by anye meanes wee may come vnto thee O Christe the God of Gods and hope of humaine kind our refuge and strength whose lyght our eyes doo beholde through the thicke clouds aboue through the boysterous stormes of this troublesome Seas as the bright beames of the careful shipmans starre ende ouring out selues thereby to direct our course vnto thy hauen and safe harborough O Lord gouerne our ship in thy right hande with the nailes of thy crosse that we do not perishe in the roaring waues nor tempest drowne vs nor be sunke downe in the deepe but fasten the anker of thy crosse vnto our ship and draw vs out of this sea vnto thy selfe our onely comfort and consolation He holde vs whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud and nowe banished from thee we do cal vpon thee heare vs O God our Sauiour the onelye hope of al those that dwel in al the corners of the earth we are toste in the troublesome seas and thou on the shore dost see our daunger Saue vs for thy names sake and graunt vnto vs O Lord I beseech thee that we which saile betweene Silla and Charibdin may so sterne and gouerne our Sip vnto thee that escaping both the daungers we may be preserued both Sippe and wares safely ariuing vnto thy Porte and hauen of rest FJNJS ⧠A breefe Table of the thinges conteyned in this Booke wishing the Reader to peruse it throughly OF the fall of mán and the punishment by death for the same and of the uncertaine hower of death Fol. 1 Of Death Iudgement Hell Heauen Fol. 2 Of the hower of Death worthy of often repetition Fol. 3 A ready instruction and godly exercise for an happy death spoken as it were in the person of Christ to the soule Fol. 6 Holsome admonitions to dye Fol. 13 An exercise to be vsed in the morning or al other times when you thinke good Fol. 15 Counsailes at the hower of death Fol. 18 An exercise wherin the weake man may restane him selfe vnto God Fol. 19 A Christian protestation or last testament not vnprofitable to be sayd or to be thought vppon Fol. 22 How feareful and bitter corporal death is of it selfe and the naturall causes thereof Fol. 24 The manner to dye well Fol. 17 The certentye of Death and the vncertayne hower thereof Fol. 27 Why the iust men do wish for death Fol. 28 The death of the iust man Fol. 30 The death of the euill Fol. 31 The daungers of death Fol. 31 How we should comforte those that be in daunger of death Fol. 32 Three exhortations to the sicke Fol. 33 Questions to be asked him that lyeth sick by the minister or some other godly persoÌ„ Fol. 33 Praiers to be said at the hower of death Fol. 34 Howe to foresee that thinges go rightlye with any when be dyeth Fol. 35 A briefe Dialogue touthing the daye of iudgement Fol. 37 A general iudgement of the dead â–ª requireth an vniuersall resurrection Fol. 38 Of the excellencie of the iudgement days aboue al other dayes Fol. 41 Of the paines of hell Fol. 43 Of hel Fol. 44 Meditations of the heauenly kingdome Fol. 46 The defyre the soule hath to the heauenly Hierusalem Fol. 47 How plentifull of all goodnesse and howe spare of al euil the heaueÌ„ly Ierusalem is Fol. 49 A supposed description of the heauénlye Hierusalem Fol. 50 Of the perfect and absolute ioy of eternal lyfe Fol. 51 A prayer whereby thou maist be fryred vp vnto the desyre of heauenly thinges Fol. 53 Man wisheth for the trybulations of this world to the end that he may the more earnestly desyre the kingdome of heauen Fol. 55 A prayer that we should depose our selues in God aboue al thinges Fol. 56 The soule feruently wisheth to be in the house of the lord Fol. 58 An earnest prayer that being assisted by the grace of God we may be alwayes bent to heauenly thinges Fol. 59 An ardent desire of the soule to the blessed and immortall lyfe Fol. 60 FINIS