be assumed with troupes of Angels into heauen there perpetually to enioy the heatificall vision and ineffable delightes of paradise But if thou shalt depart without penance for thy sinnes without confession or at least contrition and desire of confession and reconciliation when thou cāst attaine to the acte of confession thy soule then at the instant of her departure out of thy body presently being seazed vpon by a companie of diuels shal be thrust into the loathsome dūgeō of perpetual darknes Thinke now ô miserable and vnhappy sinner of the misery of the body which shal be left destitute of a soule frō which it receaued its forme beauty and comelines and being depriued of this coniunction and vnion it shall be deformed loathsome pale and wanne Thinke with thy selfe it beganne to be filthy and putrified euen then when it was first taken with a feauer cōsumption impostume or any other disease and from that time to wax most filthy loathsome Thinke that it doth agonize and sweat euen vntill the departure of the soule and continually doth excreate spitt forth fleam and other corrupted filth and in this state and condition weeping languisheth and decayeth consider that after the departure of the soule the eyes will remaine distorted thy teeth grinning thy mouth gaping and thy countenance which before was faire beautifull and comely shal afterwardes become most hideous and fearfull to behould consider what loathsome excrements it will cast forth and of the suddaine moste odiously will stink I haue said to rottennesse thou arte my Father my Mother and sister to the wormes Iob. 17.14 O extreame folly of man which careth for nothing but to pollish nourish adorne and make much of this putrified flesh which whether thou wilt or no must bee eaten and deuowred vpp by wormes We read of a certaine philosopher that out of curiosity did visit the toombe of Alexander the great which beinge opened he found it stinking filled and couered with wormes and two Serpents eating tearing his eyes whereupon he cried out saying O Alexāder how lately is it since the world could not satisfie and fill thy desire but now thou art contēt with three cubits of earth and a little toombe Yesterday thou diddest triumph and boast of the number of thy subiects dominions to day thou art filled with filthines wormes Yesterday thou wert worshipped and honoured of the world this day thou art of the same world left and forsaken yesterday thou diddest feed vpon exquisite meats delicate dainties this day thou thy selfe art become meate for wormes Alas o you sinners and especially you which are giuen to the sensuall desires vnlawfull pleasures of the flesh set before your eyes the last misery of your dead putrified and corrupted bodies goe and consider with your selues the misery and deformity of those dead carcases and perswade your selues that you must be like vnto them and more abhominable it may bee Behould ô you harlotts how Queenes Ladies and Mistresses doe die see ô you sinners how Kings Lords and Masters without exception perish and consider that the same yee it may be worse shall befall you Behould how men and women are buried sinners and harlots behould I say in what state they are which are now buried what they were within these few dayes and be you astonished absolutly perswading your selues that the same it may be worse shall happen vnto you And say to your selues woe Alas to me miserable N. O wretched G. O vnhappy E. Behould into what state we must also one day come Heare you what the dead man saith vnto you To me yesterday to thee to day woe vnto thee which behouldest mee saieth the dead man to euerie one that looketh on him Behould ô woman the miseries of this dead body which in former times was thy associate Behould the mouth nose and countenance of it contemplate the breasts and golden haires of which she did so greatly as thou doest at this present boast and glory cōsider what an alteration there is Behould thou proud and intēperate wretch whosoeuer thou art immerst in the pleasures of the body smel how odiouslie and grieuouslie this dead body stinketh Behould that woman ô lasciuious wanton and tell me if thou knowest her Alasse o yee madd and pertinacious sinners what is there that cā mollify your mindes cleaue in sunder your obdurate and stonie hartes if the misery of your owne bodies and consideration of the loathsome hatefull stinch of the same can no Lord he stinketh for he is now of foure dayes saieth Martha of her dead brother Ioan. 11.39 O sinner what smell can be compared to that of an humane dead carcase To what end therfore such diligence and such curiositie to what end such cost odors paintings and ornaments To what end so many delightes pleasures fancies or whatsoeuer may seeme delectable to soe corrupted and deformed a bodie I haue seene the offenders and haue pined away because they haue not kept thy law saieth the Prophet Psal 118. O my Brethren and sisters sinners you compell me to pine away with Dauid for the extremitie of griefe when I consider the opprobries offences and ignominies whereby you offend your God and the irrecuperable detriment and dammage which you procure vnto your owne soules How long shall sinners o Lord how long shall sinners glory they shall manifest and declare their iniquitie Let God arise and let his enemies be dispersed and let them that hate him flie from his face As smoake vanisheth let them vanish away as wax melteth at the presence of the fire so let sinners perish at the presence of God and let the iust make merrie and reioyce in the sight of God and let them be delighted in mirth Psal 67.2 Breake the arme of the sinner and malignant his sinne shall be sought and he shall not be found saieth the holie Prophet Psal 10.15 beinge moued with an infinite zeale of the honour of God and saluation of soules O good Lord I am not Dauid but of all sinners the most wretched of all heinous offendors the greatest of all wicked malefactours the most pernitious notwithstanding ô my God deare Iesus I am incited and mooued with such a desire of thine honor the saluation of my poore brethren that from the bowells of my harte or rather of thine I implore thy clemency and mercie in these wordes Haue mercie vpon vs ô Lord haue mercie vpon vs for wee are much filled with contempt because our soule is much filled and is made a reproach to the wealthy and despection to the proud O God haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vppon vs for wee are all thy children thy seruantes and creatures Remember sweete Iesus my deare Lord that all poore miserable sinners are thy creatures thy seruantes thy children thy brothers thy sisters therfore my Iesus take compassion and comiseration vppon thy children and bretheren and shew mercie vpon thy daughters and sisters wee doe
be not carefull in time to preuent Such like words shall the damned soules vtter when by the diuine power all the dispersed ashes of their bodies shall be gathered together and rising out of their loathsome graues shall be reunited to their accursed soules This being done they shall be presented before the iudge by the tormenting diuels that so they may be accursed and condemned together But now sinners to leaue so pittiful and horrible consideratiōs let vs come to the contemplation of the blessed soules in paradise the very cogitation wherof is sufficient to stirre vp your mindes and affections to embrace practice virtues and to shunne and forsake vices O how delectable and pleasant a sight shall it be to behould so many blessed soules descending from heauen as glorious as the sunne in his ful beautie that vpon the earth they may receaue their bodies O ioyfull spectacle There shall appeare the soule of the great precursor S. Iohn Baptist most resplendāt with the beames of glorie that it may receaue her dispersed and scattered ashes There shall appeare S. Peter and S. Paul the two chiefe pillars of holy church with all the other blessed Apostles Here shall bee seen the soules of the Patriarkes there of holie Martyrs and Confessors as so manie sunnes starres shining in theyr glorie who singing prayses to allmighty God shall fill the ayre with heauenly Alleluiahs and shall come to theyr sepulchers in diuerse places and Countries of the earth to receaue theyr bodies endued with comlynes and glorie O worthie sighte those blessed soules shall come accompanied with Angels as contrariwise the damned soules with diuels but especiallie with theyr Angell Guardians who hauing defended and protected them in this life at theyr happie state and condition are filled with all ioy and heauenlie delight Euerie one then of theise blessed Angells shall speake vnto his most happie soule which he hath protected Come o soule blessed of the most holie Trinitie whom with al thy power thou hast serued come and take againe this thy bodie that together with it thou maist bee made partaker of celestiall ioyes O what a sight shall it bee to see at Rome the two most beautifull soules of S. Peter and S. Paul comming to theyr sepulchers that they may resume their most famous reliques with a companie of so manie blessed Angels Then shall the Angells happie soules themselues speake vnto their bodies in these wordes or the like Alas poore bodies of ours which haue lyen so long time in the dust without your reward arise for now is the time that you must bee reunited vnto vs and receaue the reward of so manie molestations greifes and labors which you haue suffered come hither my feet which haue gone bare so manie iourneies for the loue of God come hither my handes which for the loue of Iesus Christ haue performed so manie good deedes come hither my tounge which hast been dailie preaching of the praises of God and teaching others to conforme themselues to his most holie will come my bellie which hast so often fasted and abstained from meats come my loynes which haue borne cordes chaines for the loue of Iesus come my whole bodie which diuerse times hast mortified and subdued thy selfe with hayr-cloaths whippings scourges and other soare torments for the loue of thy Sauiour for now is the time wherin thou must receaue the recompence of these labors and sufferinges O what a glorious sight will it bee to behould throughout the whole world especiallie at Rome so great a number of Saints bodies arising in such wonderful splendour brightnes O thrise happie then are they which haue runne the race of their life in the path of vertue And if perhaps through humane frailtie they did fall without delay they rose againe doeing also pennance for the same These shall bee of that most blessed and glorious number What sayest thou now ô sinner wilt thou any longer harden thy hart and stoppe thine eares at the sound of my Trumpett wilt thou still persist in thy lewd and vngodly courses woe woe bee vnto thee if thou doest so for by theise meanes thou shalt come to bee of the number of those miserable dāned soules from which God of his infinite goodnesse and mercy deliuer thee Amen Of the comming of the Iudge to iudgement and of the great feare which his cōming will strike into the hartes of sinners THE XXVI CHAPTER WHen the sonne of man shall come in his maiestie and all his Angels with him Then shall hee sitt vpon his throne of maiestie and all nations shall bee gathered together before him Math. 25.31 Alas sinners returne forsake your sinnes and accustomed vices remēber that you must bee iudged of almightie God whom by your lewd liues you haue offended cōsider now at length that after that the angels shall come to cal together all the dead with the sound of a Trumpett the dead shall rise and shall bee gathered together in the valley of Iosaphat and in the neere adioyning places the damned standing on the earth but the elect remaining in the ayre in excellent claritie and brightnes And last of all the iudge shall appeare in the same ayre who shall descend frō heauen accompanied with his most deare and louing mother attended of all the celestiall quire of Angels Consider the ensigne of the holie Crosse that shall goe before him with all the other trophies of his victorious death and passion which shall bee carried by the holie Angels partlie that they may bee an euident testimonie against all sinners and partly that they shew the lawfullnes of the sentence which the iudge shall pronounce against the damned and partlie to encourage and comforte all good men which by their force vertue shal bee saued And then sayeth our Lord shall appeare the signe of the sonne of man in heauen and our holy mother the church singeth this signe of the Crosse shall bee in heauen when our Lord shall come to iudgement O wonderfull spectacle neuer seen in the world before this most holie signe of the Crosse shall shine farre more bright then six hundred sunnes adorned with an innumerable company of celestiall colours ô happie and thrise happie are they who shall behould that crosse with ioyfull countenance but contrariwise most miserable shall bee the reprobate which against their willes shal be forced to see the same to their great griefe and sorrow O what ioy and pleasure shal vertuous men haue at the presence therof and what excessiue lamētations shall wicked and sinnefull men make when they see the same with what alacrity shal S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter S. Paul S. Bartholomew and all the holie Apostles looke vpon that glorious wodde of the crosse S. Benedict S. Charles S. Dominicke S. Francis S. Clare saint Cecilie sainte Catharine Marie Magdalen and all the other holie Virgins and Matrones with what gladnes will they behould it Alas o wicked and cruell Pilat which condemnedst
magnificent glorie must haue an end thy splendour beautie and comelinesse must decay and thy flesh whyther that body of thine must turne to dust and ashes thou shalt die shalt be consumed and depart this present life But which is most to be lamented at last thy miserable and execrable soule if thou repēt not shall depart out of thy filthy and putrified body to a place of greater misery then can be expressed But when shal this be when thou thinkest least of it when thou art least of all prepared when thou shalt be strangely bound with the chaines and fetters of thy sinnes by the diuell The cordes of my sinnes haue bound mee saith the Prophet Psal 118. taking vpon him the person of a sinner Man knoweth not his end saieth Ecclesiastes but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birds are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euill time when it shall sodenly come vpon them Eccles 9. O wretched sinner giue eare receaue the sound of this fearful trumpet Thou must once die ô sinner and thou oh harlot must one day be dissolued But when wilt thou say The time is vncertaine the time is concealed from thee the time is only knowne vnto God himselfe and it may be when thou not so much as thinkest of it There is nothing more certaine then death and there is nothing more vncertaine thē the houre of death saith S. Bernard This yeare this moneth this weeke this day this hower and moment thou mayest die and yeeld vp the Ghost They spend their dayes in mirth and in an instant they descend into hell Iob. 2. men shall be indulgent to their sensualities sporte laugh and be merrie and in a moment shall die and go to hell For when they shall say peace and securitie then shall sodenly destruction come vpon them as the paine to a woman in childbirth and they shall not escape saith the holy Apostle 1. Thessa 5.4 Of the last and deadly disease and damage of the soule and that after this life there is no recouery THE XV. CHAPTER MIserere mei c. Psal 6.3 haue mercy vpon me oh Lord because I am weake heale me oh Lord because my bones are sore troubled saith the Prophet Dauid Consider a while ô sinner that a little before thy soule depart out of thy vncleane polluted body thou shalt be vexed tormented with some cruell disease or other vnlesse thou be killed or die sodenlie which God forbid from soden vnprouided death oh Lord deliuer vs as our holy Mother the church teacheth vs often to repeate Tell me I pray thee who hath made thee certaine that thou shalt not fall downe dead as thou art eating who hath secured thee that thou shalt not departe this life hauing now the bread in thy mouth and the cupp in thy hand who can tell thee for a certaine that when thou art in the highest degree of delightes pleasures and worldly contentments that then euen in the midst of these thou shalt not be dissolued and descend into the abisse of perpetuall darknesse ô wretched and vnhappie sinners call to minde and foresee what you doe and haue respect vnto the end which most certainly shall come but when you know not Be it that God out of his infinite mercy and clemency will not deale with thee according to thy merits nor take thee away with a suddaine vnforseene but with a common ordinary kind of death In what an astonishmēt wilt thou then be whē thou shalt see the last messenger of thy life which shall be an ordinary disease but deadly euen in thy flourishing yeares beauty strength or in whatsoeuer gift and endowmen of nature belonging to a cōpleate and perfect man consider vnfortunate wretch that thou shalt not depart this life on a suddaine without some vehemēt feauer or the like disease which through heat or colde shall one while cause thy teeth to chatter shake an other while with heat burning shalt not only be enflamed molested with the grief of thy stomacke and head but thy very harte will tremble and quake within thee that all thy nerues sinewes iunctures arturies and veines shal be moued tremble and all this through thy intollerable paine and anguish neither shalt thou haue sleepe or appetite last of all thou shalt take no rest night nor day What wilt thou doe then miserable soule loaden with sinnes which for the space of soe manie moneths or yeares loste hast not confessed nor bene reconciled to God and thy neighbours nor agreed with thy aduersarie who like an other Sardanapalus hast runne a moste libidinous course and lastly seest thy selfe to be defiled and contaminated with the spott and filth of thy sinnes and offences Tell me I beseech thee how great will that anguish bee and how intollerable that affliction which then thy sinnes shall cause and bring vpon thee how infinite shall thy doloures be which shall cruciate thee when thou shalt cal to mind the iniuries wherewith so many yeares together thou hast offended almighty God Tell me whether of these greifes will be more vehement the tormentes of the body or the sorrow of thy soule For when thou shalt beginne to feare death and to receaue a remuneration according to thy sinnes which is death what a present hell will it bee to all the powers and faculties of thy soule when as for the hardnes of thy harte thou canest not repent Indurauerunt facies suas c. Ierem. 5.3 They haue hardened their faces more then the rocke and would not returne saith the Prophet Ieremie Be thou conuerted oh sinner and turne with al expedition vnto thy God expect not blinded soule the last howre in which that vnwelcom messēger of death shall come intimate vnto thee thy dissolution It is your cause that is now in hand therefore be well aduised what you doe it is your suite that is now in action therefore take counsell preuent the future and expect not that latter and perilous time What shall you then be confessed and brought into the state of grace who cā make you certaine of that or promise you that thē God will forgiue your crimes offences and admitt you into his fauour who haue all your life time so exceedingly offended him But if God should then assist you notwithstanding it wil be very painfull and laborious to remember your so innumerable sinnes By what meanes shall you call to minde so many wronges wherby you haue dishonoured God when as you shal be circumuented with so many griefes and oppressed with so many diseases and torments It may be you shall not be capable of sense or reason Last of all how shall it be manifest vnto you that you shall be of power and abilitie to make a true confession or speake or pronounce the words when you shall be dried vp with heat and debilitated with extremitie of sicknes Alas blinde and miserable wretches why prouide you
of his wife the wife all the faultes of her husband euery one shal haue his vices and disordered affectiōs plainely knowne O the iustice of almighty God which will discouer that which a sinner thought would haue beene for euer concealed Call to minde sinner what shame that will be for thee to be set before the eyes of the whole world to be seene of al both within and without Alas how many shall there be who whilst they liued in this world were reputed Saints were reuerenced of all for such but then shall be knowne to be farre otherwise How many treacherous and diuellish plottes how many adulteries and robberies shall openly be declared to the eyes of the whole worlde O my sweet Iesu which seest al thinges that descriest whatsoeuer is committed in priuat pardon sinners Iesu helpe them that doing pennance they may not be confounded with that last and great shame Iesu remember that thou art our Father our Lord God therfore forsake vs not but turne thine anger from vs suffer not the fire of thy wrath to consume vs Let not that perish Lord which is altogether thine Haue mercy vpon vs crying out vnto thee I haue strayed as a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruant because I haue not forgotten thy law He hath forsaken mee and there is none that seeketh after my soule Psal 118. Many poore afflicted soules of sinners make such lamentations releeue and succour them Lord leaue them not who are thine they wholly giue vp themselues vnto thee they flie to thee for refuge they craue and looke for helpe of thee alone Alas sinners men and women without doubt our case is most miserable vnlesse we liue well and honestly and be conuerted vnto our Lord God seeing we yet receaue helpe wherupon if we perish it is our owne faultes The Saints the Angels the church yea heauen earth and euery thing else is ready to helpe vs the Blessed Virgin Mary is ready to succour vs our sweet Iesus to releiue vs and in a word the Blessed Trinity is prepared to defend vs whose wee are of whom we are created and preserued God doth lift vs vp but we cast our selues downe procuring to our selues our owne damage and withall the infernall pitt of hell God would haue vs be saued our Lord Iesus Christ died for vs all he is the propitiation for our sinnes saith S. Iohn not only for ours but for the sinnes of the whole world 1. Iohn 2. Therfore sinners if we be damned we can giue no lawfull excuse it is our owne mischiefe and we are the cause beginning of our owne destruction Alas therfore brethrē sisters let vs shunne and detest our former vices which if we cannot doe at the first for the loue of God which we ought to beare towards him as a Father yet at the least let vs doe it to auoide the shame which will otherwise befall vs before the whole world in the day of iudgement And thus doing I hope at last we shall be brought to forsake them for the loue of God ô heauenly consideration ô frutefull and profitable contemplation I could wish that thou wert engrauen in the hartes of all men for surely thou wouldest be then a great helpe to miserable and wretched soules which now are like to be damned by theire owne foolish madnes O sinnefull man what doest thou what thinkest thou whither goest thou why doest thou hasten with such speed vnto thy destruction ruine and damnation show them a way ô Lord that so great a number of them may not perish preserue Christiā soules from destruction seeing that so many Turkes heretikes and other infidels are daily damned who obstinatly refuse to acknowledge the truth of the holie Catholique church But there is a meanes found out alreadie Christian Bretheren and sisters which stil remaine in your sinnes If you will enter into life keepe the commaundements Math. 19.17 you know you are commaunded of God to lead a life worthy and beseeming Christian profession to abstaine from sinne and flie the apearance of euil to loue vertue and embrace godlines God almighty graunt that we all may performe this that our soules in the day of accompt may be saued Amen Of the fearfull sentence which Iesus Christ will pronounce at the day of iudgement blessed and happy are they who seriously ponder it in their hartes and soules for this is the most compendious way to forsake sinne and to turne vnto God THE XXVIII CHAPTER THen shall the King say to those that are on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Math. 25.34 There are two things which may moue and excite you sinners to forsake your enormous crimes and vices and with an vnfained repentāce to returne to your God One is the consideration of the blessinge which the good shall haue the other is the pondering of the fearfull sentence that Iesus Christ shal pronounce against the damned to the good he shall say Come yee blessed of my Father inheritt the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world But to the wicked Goe into euerlastinge fire which is prepared for the diuell and his Angells the one shall be called to a paradise of pleasures the other shall be sent into a lake of torments Nothing is more glorious or beautifull then paradise nor any thing more horrible and loathsome then hell nothing more delightsome then heauen nothing more detestable then hell therfore sinner consider well of these two such contrarie places Thinke of heauen that forsaking sinne and doing pennance thou mayest come to enioy the vnspeakable pleasures of it Thinke of hell and learne soe to order thy life that desisting from thy former courses thou mayest escape the grieuous punishments of the same Wise sinners and blessed are they who chaunge their ill maners forsake their lewed courses and satisfy for their misdeeds for at their death they shall be saued but miserable are those who giue themselues ouer to the filthy lustes of the flesh and with greedines doe commit all sinne for they after this life shall finde no redresse Happy are those who striue here to adorne their soules with virtues for in the day of iudgement they shall finde mercy and obtaine euerlasting ioyes but wretched are they who followinge the pleasures of this world dye in their sinnes for in the great day of their visitation they shall be perpetually damned And they that haue done good saieth S. Athanasius shall go into life euerlasting they that haue done ill into euerlasting fire Happy are the good to whom God of his bounty will giue the treasures of heauen miserable the wicked whose portion shall bee with the diuells in torments of hell O hard hart which art not moued with these thinges O impietie of a sinner who doeth not thinke of these thinges and by harty cōtritiō returne vnto God! thou hast but one poore soule
sinner and that in the day of iudgement shall either be cursed or blessed of God shall either ascend into heauen to liue for euer in the companie of Saints Angels or else descend into hell to be punished for all eternity with the company of the damned spirits If thou be wise thou wilt be wise for thy selfe saith Salomon Prou. 9.10 Thou wilt be wise sinner if thou detest and hate sinne and turne to God Thou wilt be foolish and worse then madd if in continuing in thy wickednesse thou forgett thy Creator Alas what a number of peruerse and madd fooles are there who are hardly corrected There is an infinite number of fooles Eccles 1.15 Wretched sinners how sottish haue you beene and yet still remaine so which for a small temporall pleasure like a shadow quickly vanishing you loose so great a substance of eternal good Consider sinners that there is no day nor howre nor moment of time passeth but many millions of soules such as yours are descend thicke into hell The sinner hath giuen vp himselfe to a spirituall kinde of sluggishnes not taking any care for his saluation he cōsidereth not that death is present euery howre and moment to giue him a mortall stroake Alas how many haue gone to bedd at night and neuer arose againe in the morning cōsider consider sinners your last endes which are not farre from you How fareth it with thee ô sinner in what case is thy poore soule full of vices and hainous crimes couered ouer with darknes in the diuels possession fast bound with many strong chaines that now thou maiest cry out with the Prophet I am wrapt round about with the cordes of sinners Psal 118. although thou canst not say that which followeth and I haue not forgotten thy law But let vs returne to the terrible and fearfull sentence which Christ Iesus will pronounce against the damned ponder and seriously consider it imprint it in your harts that it may be a spurre and incitement vnto you for the following of vertue and auoyding of vice meditate vpon that saying of worthy S. Hierome a man admirable in sanctity and holines of life Whether I sleepe saieth he or wake whether I eate or drinke write or read sitte or walke that terrible speech alwaies seemeth to sound in my eares arise yee dead and come to iudgement if men of such innocency and integrity of life so much feared that horrible day what will you doe miserable and blinde sinners against whom the sentence of condemnation is to be pronounced My God sweet Sauiour giue that power to my penne seing it is wanting to my toung that this short and rude woorke of mine written without elegancy of wordes and that the sound of these my Trumpets may so moue the hartes and mindes of those that shall read and heare them that at length they may forsake their former courses and fully resolue with themselues to turne to their Creator and Redeemer My God and sweet Sauiour since it hath pleased thee to inspire mee with thy heauenly grace to set forth this my poore labour for the saluation of poore soules redeemed with thy moste pretious blood graunt mee that fauour that I may awake sinners by this my writing and sound of my Trumpets from the lethargie of vices to the glory of thy name and saluation of their soules My God and sweet Sauiour for thy mercies sake suffer not I beseech thee this my labour to be read or these my shrill Trumpets to be heard of any sinner without profit and commoditie but that the noyse of them may force the diuell to tremble and the powers of hell to shake Bretheren sinners if you shall perceaue your hartes to be moued with their sound I pray you despise contemne or resist it not but thankfully acknowledge that motion and heauenly inspiration to be from God who calleth you out of his tender mercy Returne to God sinners men and women death is at hand and yet God as a kinde and louing Father by the sound of these Trumpetts gently calleth you Awake out of your deepe sleepe of sinnes wherin you haue beene buried so manie yeares and make him an answere Sinners our most mercifull Lord sendeth forth this sound both pleasant and harsh of mine or rather his Trumpetts that it may be for the good and saluation of your soules I pray God it may obtaine the end for which it was intended Pray for me and I will not cease to be mindefull of you all Amen Of the going and departure of the damned to hell in the company of all the diuells THE XXIX CHAPTER ANd they shall goe into euerlasting punishment but the iust into euerlasting life Math. 25.46 They that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life they that haue done ill to the resurrection of iudgement saieth S. Iohn Ioh. 5.29 Sinners stay here awhile and fasten your soules vpon the cogitation of that horrible spectacle and seriously consider how the damned persons goe downe into the darke pitt of destruction with fearful howling and lamentation in the company of innumerable forlorne diuells O fearfull thing whose terrour is able to breake and cleaue in peeces the hardest marbles yet nothing at all moueth the harte of man O the misery of humane nature which is not rent a sunder with so pittifull a spectacle Sinner consider that as soone as those wretched soules shall haue the sentence of condēnation pronounced against them the earth shall cleaue in sunder and all the diuels and damned spirits shall be swallowed vp in one gulfe and be throwne downe into the obscure abisse of hell O terrible and mourneful night when weeping and gnashing of teeth and wofull lamentations of forlorne soules now reunited to theire bodies shall continue for euer O miserable disiunction and diuision the husband shall bee separated from the wife the daughter from the mother when the one shall go to heauen a place replenished with all good the other into hell a place of all torments O God of all mercy open the eyes of blinde and obstinate sinners who neuer trouble their mindes with thinking of either heauen or hell but only deuise how to wallow still in the filth of sinne Surge surge quidormis arise arise thou that sleepest Neglect not thine owne saluation that Christ may helpe thee Behould he calleth now by my penne he desireth to awake thee out of thy sleepe by the loud sound of my Trumpetts Qui fecit te sine te non saluabit te sine te saieth S. Augustine he that made thee without thee will not saue thee without thee but will that thou labour to thy power to dispose prepare thy selfe to ētertaine those wholesom coūsels and exhortations which he of his mercy offereth vnto thee Hereupon it is that God prouideth that his truth should be made knowne vnto thee by teachers that thou shouldest be admonished by confessors ghostlie Fathers hereupon he speaketh vnto thee by spirituall bookes and by
with charitie towards you in this our conuent of S. Iohn Baptist at Font Palumb now residing God assisting mee together with the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and of all the Saints and Angels in heauen but especially of S. Iohn Baptist and my glorious Father S. Francis I doe speake vnto all sinners crying out and compelling them with these wordes Oh yee sinners sinners I say turne yee to God forsake your enemie the diuell amend correct your euill liues and departe from the pernicious and dangerous way wherin yee walke turne oh brethren vnto your benigne creatour prepare the way by the which your sweet and louing Iesus is to come to inhabite and make his mansion in your soules Expell and driue out oh yee wretches those diabolicall vices which haue prepared for themselues an habitatioÌ„ in your poore soules Oh yee miserable sinners do ye not yet perceaue that your soules are as so many caues full of inhumane serpents and cruell dragons Who are al readie to deuoure and teare you in pieces These being expelled and put to flight let in your most louing Iesus into the closet of your soules who standeth knocking without and like a tender Father mercifull Sauiour commiserating your obduratnes crieth out open to me open to me I say my deare children Why doe you therfore oh yee miscreants admit your enemie and deadly aduersary into your soules and exclude and bannish your louing Sauiour and benigne redeemer Open vnto him oh my Brethren open vnto him and at last acknowledge that he alone is your creatour redeemer Sauiour turne to your selues and consider oh vnworthy abiects and know that this is that Iesus which bought you with his moste pretious blood and died for you vpon the holy wood of the Crosse Contemplate oh sinner the great loue which thy most sweete Iesus did and doth at this present beare to thee and be vigilant and carefull least thou againe offend him Consider that for the loue of thee he hangeth conteÌ„ned left of al vpon the crosse behold him nailed through his sacred hands and feete vpon the rood and for thy sake Behold how for thee his diuine head is girded about with sharpe and cruell thornes that pricked him eueÌ„ to the braines looke vpon him how hee is contemned vilified and crucified as a publique malefactour betwixt two theefs and onely for thee heare what opprobries contumelies and disgraceful termes hee endured of the passers by and that for thy sake giue eare vnto him crying with a loud voice by reason of extreme thirst Sitio sitio I thirst I thirst and onely for thee For this was that ardent thirst besides the naturall thirst which was most vehement to witt thy saluation Heare him not murmuring one iot but most ardently praying for his persecutours and malefactours Pater ignosce illis c. Luc. 23.34 Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe Oh the depth of the loue and mercie of Iesus oh the Tigre-like cruelty and obdurate malice of that diabolicall hellish crue that crucified him oh yee vngratefull sinners who little esteeming of the vnspeakable affection of Iesus towardes you doe accompanie and vnite your selues with diuells are slaues to diuels and do eate drinke sleepe and liue in the companie of diuels who likewise at the last shall be damned with diuels vnlesse yee turne to your blessed redeemer This onely thing if yee your selues did not resist is of it selfe sufficient to reduce and conuert you to your louing Iesus that is to say the very remembrance of the fatherly compassion which our Blessed Sauiour did beare towards you which for you alone did suffer death and shedd his moste pretious blood Fidelis sermo omni acceptione dignus Tim. 1.15 It is a faithfull saving and worthy of all acceptatioÌ„ that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners and in an other place Empti enim estis pretio magno Yee are bought with a great price glorifie therfore God in your bodies But you wretches hauinge no respect of him doe vilifie contemne and trample him vnder your feete he died for you and yee liue that yee might offeÌ„d him he layed downe his soule for you and you giue your soules to your enemie the diuell he hath redeemed you from the hand of your aduersarie and you doe caste and precipitate your selues into his mouth hee freed your from the power of death and you by your vngodly coÌ„uersatioÌ„ bring death vpon your soules throw your selues into hell in despight of him Oh yee vnfortunate wretches commiserate your owne most woful condition and if that you will not be moued to serue him for loue at least beginne awhile to serue him for feare vntill at the last vnderstanding your blinde errours you may serue him as it is fitting for loue alone O my deare Iesu oh louing and sweete Iesu open thy bowells of compassion vnto all sinners regarde not their madnes remember not their pertinacious malice looke vpon the ignominies torments which thou hast sufsuffered for vs beholde that liuelie and hotte blood which gushed out and ranne downe from all parts of thy torne body haue pittie vpon that sinner that taketh no pittie vpon himselfe alwaies prouiding that it may be done to the augmenting and amplifying of thy honour glorie heere and for euer herafter Amen The diuision of the Seauen Trumpets THE I. CHAPTER ET primus Angelus tubâ cecinit the first Angell sounded the trumpet saieth S. Iohn Apoc. 8. without all doubt oh yee sinners if yee will vse the benefit of your free will together with the assistance of diuine grace and that little exhortation of my prologue you may very easily as yee ought abandon sinne flie your accustomed vices and leaue the seruitude of Sathan your deadlie enemie and turne to your sweet and louing Iesus the deare spouse of your soules But being that you sleepe so profoundly and so securely that vee doe not or will not heare the sweet sound of so gratefull acceptable musicke I haue determined to send forth a sound of a more shrill and fearfull trumpet to make triall whether I can awake you from the sleepe and letharâ—ie of your sinnes wherein you lie drowned ouerwhelmed being mindeful of that of the Prophet Clama ne cesses quasi tuba exalta voceÌ„ tuam Isay 58.1 crie out and cease not exalt thy voyce as a trumpet that a sinner hearing it he may be conuerted to repentance But I entreat you my brethren that Hodie si audteritis c. Psal 94. if to day you will heare the voyce of our Lord you would not harden your hartes Brethren I say in the interim whilest you heare the souÌ„d of these trumpets obdurate not your hartes lest God be offended with you Et primus Angelus tubâ cecinit and the first Angel sounded the trumpet That I may come to my intended purpose I haue determined with these Seauen Trumpets set downe
wicked impious and vngodly wretch which hauing noe respect or reuerence to so great infinite a maiestie darest commit such thinges in his presence which thou wouldest feare and be ashamed to commit in the presence of an earthlie King or Prince although of meane power and authoritie The third reason is Tell mee oh yee sinners what punishment is hee worthy of who receauing many courtesies fauours from some noble man of worth as a â—ouse ornaments and clothes beseeming his qualitie when before he was ragged torne and meanly cloathed and being restored to his former dignitie wheÌ„ as before he was in great disgrace and miserie and hauing recouered his health which before was sicke infirme by his meanes made rich and wealthy which before was a begger and in great want lastly promoted and placed in the cheifest degree of honour who before was contemned vilified and despised of all if this man who is thus infinitly obliged and bound to this his friend should in stead of giuinge thankes intend and meditate snares and deceipts for the taking away of the goodes estimation and honour and laste of all the life of so great a friend and charitable benefactor and should associate him selfe in the companie of his enemies to the end that he might abuse contemne deride and kill him speake I beseech thee what penaltie shall this vngratefull wretch deserue surely the greatest that can be inuented Tell mee now oh moste wicked rebellious adulterous sinner what punishments what torments art thou worthy of when as thou doest disunite and separate thy selfe from thy God which made thee which created thee which gaue thee thy soule and body adorned thee with faculties and senses correspondent which produced thee out of nothing when as thou wert nothing and conserueth thee in this state in which thou now art and for thy vse conseruation hath ordained an infinite number of creatures visible and inuisible the heauens sunne moone starres elements mixt and composed bodies for thy sake only who also exceeding in loue and charitie for thy sake was made man visible and mortall exposinge himselfe to all wronges and difficulties when as he was impassible who last of all did offer him selfe to be killed and naked like a publique malefactour in the middest of two theeues as theire captaine crucified vpoÌ„ the wood of the crosse only that he might free thee from death sinne the diuell and hell and to bring thee to the eternall blisse of the celestiall paradise but thou on the contrary doest oppose and resist with al thy forces this so benigne a God so indulgent a Father so gentle and milde a Lord this I say so infinite and great a maiestie thou doest studie and endeauour with all thy faculties and powers of body and soule with so odious and detestable crimes to offend despise and dishonour Oh miserable and sinneful soule what punishmeÌ„t caÌ„ be thought vpon ordained worthy of thy deserts oh infinite patience and clemency of God which when as thou mightest precipitate pluÌ„ge and caste these sinners into the bottomlesse pitte of hell and deliuer them into the hand of the diuell to be carried into the abisse of perpetual darknesse thou doest not only not doe it but fauorably and patiently expect their returne calling them by thy diuine inspirations and heauenly suggestions vnto amendment repentance And also hast conserued protected and defended such cruell and malitious enemies forso many yeares together as well in thinges appertaininge to the body as the soule thou callest them thou goest to meet them thou inuitest them and doest offer thy selfe vnto them as if thou wert rauisht with loue towardes them who art so infinitly offended and greatly dishonoured by them Oh immense loue oh patience oh clemency oh mercy of God what great reason haddest thou oh holy Prophet to say Misericordias Domini in eternum cantabo Psal 88.1 Thy mercies oh Lord will I sing for euer the earth is full of thy mercies oh Lord there is no end of thy goodnes Let vs come to the fourth reason which declareth the greatnes of sinne wherwith a sinner offendeth God What doe you otherwise oh sinners when yea sinne and offend then ballance in one scale the infinite maiestie power and presence of God and your selues your vnlawfull desires and momentary pleasures in the other therefore tell mee oh sinner whither of these two is of greater excellency and worth rather to be chosen God or thy little momentary pleasure your opinion is that this your transitorie pleasure is of greater value by which meanes your Sauiour being reiected you make choise of his creature God being left in whom is the fulnes of all thinges you take that which is nothing the cheifest good beinge contemned yee doe embrace that which beareth in it selfe noe species or signe of true good but superficiall painted and transitorie oh iniurie oh offence oh wrong oh dishonour wherewith you offend so louing a God and benigne and clement a Father Let vs now proceed to the gift of reason what doth a miserable sinner by sinning but call in question and dispute whether his or Gods diuine will is better whither with more promptitude hee should obey God or his owne base desire He preferreth his own will before Gods and presently concludeth that it is more conuenient to obey his owne making himselfe an other Lucifer greater then God Oh execrable Lucifers oh wicked and accursed sinners who when as yee are base filth and dung are so swollen and puffed vp with pride that in as much as lyeth in your powers you exalt yourselues aboue God what affliction therefore shall be imposed vpon you in the world to come when you shall be deliuered and giuen vp into the handes of that proud Lucifer of whoÌ„ ye haue bene such diligent sectatours and vigilant seruants Oh my deare sinnefull Brethren I will not be more prolix in this argument because the disputation calleth mee an other way it sufficeth mee and also ought to suffice you to haue heard the sound of this our first Trumpet which with a shorte blaste I haue sounded that detesting and abhorring sinne you may be disunited from Sathan and reioyned to your sweet creatour Lord and redeemer that herafter yee may desist from offering him so great iniuries and make an end and period of so many foule and detractiue contumelies wherby yee haue in no small measure offended him Doe this I beseech you brethren which I begge and implore of you by the pretious wouÌ„des and liuely blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ lyinge prostrate at your feet vpon the earth I say vnto you oh BrethreÌ„ by the bitter passion of Iesus crucified offend him not so often with so many iniuries crucifie him not any more with such hainous crimes desist my Brethren hereafter to contemne and tread vnder foot the blood of the couenant And turning to thee oh my Iesu I say oh Iesu my only loue and ioy graunt pardon
God descended vpon them To be briefe the scripture is full of such examples although on the contrary his diuine mercy in expecting the conuersion of a sinner farre surpasseth his iudgement and the reason that there are so many examples extant of sinners in the scripture not punished by God sodenly is that he might declare vnto vs the riches of his mercy according to that saying of the Apostle Deus autē qui diues est in misericordiâ Eph. 2.4 God who is rich in mercie would expect them vntill they were conuerted he expected the penitencie of the olde worlde an hundred yeares before he would destroy it with the deluge in the meane time he commaunded Noah to preach pennance allthough according to the custome of the world they beleeued him not who were wont very seldome to beleeue Prophets who did denounce any destruction vnto thē but rather did persecute and torment them with diuerse punishments The Euangelist declareth this where Iesus Christ our Lord threatning Ierusalē Ierusalem inquiens Ierusalem quae occidis Prophetas Math. 23.37 Ierusalem Ierusalē thou which puttest to death the Prophets and stonnest them which are sent vnto thee But let vs omit these and declare how long time he expected before he would raine downe fire and brimstone vpon that obscene cōtaminated citie of Sodome and after that he had decreed to consume it he was soe clement that he was compelled drawne vnto it as if it were by the eares wherupō the holy scripture saith Clamor Sodomorum Gomor multiplicatus est Gen. 18.21 The cry of Sodome Gomorrha is multiplied and their sinne aggrauated exceedingly I will descend and see whether they haue in act◠accomplished the crie which is come vnto me Notwithstanding though he hath in so full a measure manifested his mercy yet that he might demonstrate the hate detestation which he hath towardes sinne it appeareth by many wonderfull examples how seuerely and iustly he hath punished it euen so soone as it was committed which is an infallible argument of the great deformitie of sinne The second reason by which we may vnderstand the great displeasure which God conceaueth against sinne is that for the subuersion of the same he would giue his only begotten sonne to die a most ignominious death vpō the crosse amidst two theeues Sic enim Deus dilexit mundum c. Ioh. 3.16 so God loued the world that he gaue his only begotten sonne for the redemption of it Propter scelus populi mei percussi eum Isay 53.8 for the sinne of my people I haue strooke him and hee hath laid vpon him all our iniquities saieth the same holy Prophet Oh thou sinner consider wel this place and let it touch thee to the quicke if the eternall Father for the bannishing of sinne would that his owne sonne should suffer death who was not man only but also God and that so pretious a life should be giuē for the death of sinne which was prized at soe high a rate that the holy Apostle saieth Empti enim estis pretio magn◠1. Cor. 6.20 for yee are bought with a great price what an infinite then and immense indignation and wrath must God needs conceaue against sinne Furthermore how odious and detestable must execrable sinne be when Iesus Qui erat speciosus prae filijs hominum who was the fairest amonge the sonnes of men should soe abase himselfe that he made himselfe of no reputation that the Prophet Isay did say Vidimus eum c. Isa 53.2 we haue seene him and there was moe appearance of beautie in him we were desirous of him despised and most abiect of men a man of sorrowes and knowing infirmitie whereupon neither haue we esteemed him but counted him as a leaper and one striken of God oh yee Brethren sinners if the eternall Father would not pardon and remit sinne without the death of his only sonne how hatefull must it needes bee in his diuine sight and so much the more that it did not satisfie his infinite inscrutable iustice that his deare sonne should ōly dy but that he should suffer vpon the crosse a death most ignominious that he should be so oppressed with griefe and so tirannically hādled that his contenance and shape could not bee knowne Oh sinne be thou accursed that wast the cause that my sweet Sauiour Iesus suffered and died so shamefull vnheard of a death Oh Iesu my loue and delight commiserate and compassionate poore sinneful and wretched soules the which thou hast redeemed with so great a price as thy prepretious blood Neither can yee say that deare Iesus suffered and was crucified for the fall and sinne of Adam only when as trulie he died for the sinnes of the whole world Supra dorsum meum fabricauerunt peccatores Psal 128.3 sinners haue builded vppon my backe saieth the Prophet Dauid in the person of Iesus Christ what need we many words Iesus Christ our Lord died for the abolishing and abliterating of all sinnes and offences generally and particularly and he suffered no more for all then for one yea I say he offered himselfe to be buffeted and massacred for one only soule and if it were needfull and necessary he would doe the same againe for the most abiect soule that liueth Oh therfore yee sinners sinne no more by your so many offences and execrable iniquities crucifie no more your sweet Iesus indulgent Father for what of only the Iewes doe yee say he was crucified I will tell you brethren that what time so euer ye commit any sinne in as much as in your power lieth you doe crucifie him againe and doe cause him with euery one of your mortall sinnes if his death and passion were not already sufficient to vndergoe and suffer the same againe Rursum crucifigentes sibimetipsis filium Dei Hebr. 6.6 crucifying againe vnto themselues the sonne of God oh therefore Brethren abstaine from such infinite heinous offences and offend not your louing God any more with such death-bringing iniuries which loueth you so exceedingly mercifully expecteth your penitency and conuersion saying Conuertimini ad me in toto corde vestro Ioel. 2.12 turne to me with your whole harte oh clemencie oh benignitie oh loue of Iesus oh ingratitude oh obduracie oh malice of a sinner Oh deare and louing Iesus haue pittie vpon vs looke not vpon our iniquities but remember that infinite mercy wherewith thou diddest imbrace vs Et secundum magnam misericordiam tuam Psal 50. and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine iniquitie Amen The third Trumpet of the detriment that sinne bringeth to a soule in this life THE VII CHAPTER ET tertius Angelus tubâ cecinit Apoc. 8. and the third Angell sounded the trumpet Draw neare my sinfull Brother and attentiuely giue eare vnto the soūd of this trumpet if thou canst not be moued to the abhorring of sinne by that deformity which the former trūpet hath sounded vnto thee at least
beloued spouse Christ Iesus Queene Hester when she would present her selfe vnto the King her husband the scripture saieth Circundata est gloriâ suâ Ester 15.4 she was adorned with all her glory that shee might find fauour in the fight of the King her spouse So likewise a soule that it may become acceptable in the diuine eyes of the King of heauen and earth had neede be adorned with that rich garment of diuerse colours Psal 44. which is the varietie of spirituall gifts and graces But before I shall declare what this grace is it will be needfull to speake of the common diuision of grace which all Doctors affirme saying that grace is two folde The one is Gratia gratis data grace giuen gratis and for no precedent merit the other Gratum faciens making the party acceptable vpon whom it is bestowed Graces of the first sorte are the fouours and spiritual gifts which are bestowed vpon men of which the Apostle speaketh of when be he saieth Alij quidem per spiritum datur sermo sapientia c. 1. Cor. 12.8 to one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisedome to another the worde of knowledge to another the grace of doing cures to another the working of miracles to another prophecy to another the discerning of spirits to another diuersitie of tounges to another interpretatiō of languages and all these worketh one and the same spirit diuiding vnto euery one according as he wil Grace of the other kind is a certaine spirituall qualitie created of God alone and infused into the soule which filleth and purifieth her essence as the subtile Scotus affirmeth afterwards redoundeth into the powers and faculties as the angelicall Doctor teacheth It is not our purpose to dispute of this matter it will be sufficient for you to know what you loose by your sinnes Now the grace of God being thus vnderstood that it is a certaine spirituall qualitie created and infused into the soule which of its owne nature is opposite to mortall sinne in so much that grace by no means can stand together with mortall sinne I say mortall sinne for grace is not excluded by veniall sinne although a soule should be blemished with a thousand venial sinnes yet notwithstandinge it might obtain◠loue and fauour in the sight of God but it is true that when the soule is thus stained with the blemishes of veniall sinnes that the mutuall loue and amitie which intercedeth betweene God the soule waxeth more colde and tepidd that it cannot be eleuated with that ardent feruour of loue towardes God as it was wonte neither with that zeale doth shee seeke his honour and glorie as is requisite but so soone as one mortall sinne seaseth vpon the soule the grace of God immediatly vpon that instant departeth and leaueth that vnhappy soule which becometh thereby an enemie vnto God and appeareth abhominable in his sight Behold now Brethren your infinite detriment penetrate your great losse ponder well with your selues in what a state you are whē as you are hatefull to almightie God It is no small thinge to be depriued of the fauour of some earthly King or to purchase the displeasure of a worldly Prince but it is a farre greater thing to be destitute of the grace of God and to incurre the wrath of the King of Kings And yet this wretched world vilifying and dispising this seemeth to esteeme of it as a matter of small moment Oh vnwise oh foolish oh blinde world which folowest butterflies and fearest the stings of flies and gnats but tremblest not to thinke of the euer gnawing worme of cōscience and quakest not at the eternall furie and consuminge wrath of God Oh Brethren sinners feare God feare God I say and remember the saying of our B. Sauiour pronounced with his owne moste sacred mouth Nolite timere c. Math. 10.28 feare not those that kill the body but cannot hurte the soule but rather feare him that can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire Christ Iesus our Lord God for his mercies sake vouchsafe to infuse into your soules the holy feare of him for feare is the beginning originall of all our good works Beatus homo qui semper est pauidus Prou. 28.14 blessed is the man that alwaies feareth saith the wise man giue vs therefore sweet Iesu this holy feare of thee and illuminate and burne vs in the furnace of diuine loue Amen Of the terrible sentence which is giuen vpon a soule at the instant that it sinneth THE XI CHAPTER ANima quae peccauerit ipsa morietur Ezech. 18.20 the soule that sinneth shall die Oh yee sinners how fearfull is the sound of this third Trumpet It seemeth like vnto the soūd of those trumpets which at the laste leaue behinde them a fearfull broken and terrible note Oh how horrid and vnpleasant is it giue eare The soule that sinneth shall die Oh fearful sentence but who pronounceth it the holy scripture the mistresse of truth in the person of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost But that you may with more attentiō giue eare to the sound of this trumpet know yee that so soone as yee commit mortall sinne in the consistorie of heauen by the mouth of the moste holy and blessed Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost your sentence is denounced in these wordes Let this soule be accursed condemned and adiudged to death that shee may be tormented and burned in the euerlasting flames of hell fire in the companie of vgglie and terrible diuels in that detestable odious place of perdition And then all hope and means being taken away of euer returning if shee die in this state without penance contrition and it may be confession she is giuen into the hands and authoritie of diabolicall and hellish furies for euer to be consumed in not consuming flames Oh that fearfull and moste terrible sentence yet moste right and iust But giue eare a little further oh you sinners for euery mortall sinne that you commit the same sentence in the same heauen of the same God Father Sonne holy Ghost in the presence of the B. V. Marie Mother of God and the whole celestiall courte of heauen is againe pronounced against your soules and al the Saints and Angels in that celestiall paradise say Amen Oh deare Brethren take this councell of mee turne vnto almightie God neither be diffident or call into doubt the diuine clemencie and mercie for though you were ten thousand times by sentence condemned vnto hell notwithstanding so long as yee liue you haue time to change the sentence Si autem impius egerit penitentiam c. Ezec 18.21 if the sinner do pennance for all his sinnes which he hath wrought all his iniquities shall be done away which he hath committed saith God by the mouth of his holy Prophet Ezechiel thus thou seest oh sinnefull soule that God can wil change his sentence if thou please to chāge thy wicked course and
not now for your necessities why leaue you not your pernicious and wicked course of life why desist you not from offending your gratious God why crie you not out with the Prophet Dauid Haue mercie vpon mee oh God according to thy great mercie and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine iniquities If you will now implore the diuine assistance your daungerous woundes may be cured and you may find grace and mercie at the handes of God which at the howre of death it may be you shall not obtaine for then you will with feare but now you may with loue inuocate craue his diuine clemencie then you leaue not your sinnes but your sinnes leaue you Wherefore Brethren sinners be now vigilant and carefull for your soules begge at this instant with importunity pardoÌ„ for your so many heinous offences and odious delinquences Turne you to your Lord God with all your hartes he is exceedingly clement and his mercies are many and you shal finde rest vnto your soules Returne to him with the saying of the prodigal sonne in your mouthes Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthy to be called thy sonne which if you shall so doe he being moued with compassioÌ„ towards you will goe out to meet you and fall vpon your neckes and louingly embrace you pardoning all your former iniuries wherby you haue offended him euen as a Father taketh pittie of his children so hath our Lord compassion vpon them that feare him because he knoweth our making he remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 102.13 Our Lord is nothing but clemencie and goodnes the earth is filled with his mercie there is no end therof Psa 32.5 Breake forth therefore yee sinners into these wordes sayinge oh sweet Iesu our God Redeemer grant pardon mercie and remission helpe aide succour and assist vs perishing soules for thy bitter passions sake Amen haue mercy vpon me oh Lord haue mercy vpon me because my soule hath trusted in thee Of the separation of the soule from God in the article of death THE XVI CHAPTER INiquitates vestrae diuiserunt c. Isay 59.2 your iniquities haue diuided betweene you and your God saith the holy Prophet Isay consider now obdurate sinner that thou must approach to the last moment of thy death perswade thy selfe that thou must come to that terrible and fearfull instant in which thy soule shall be separated from thy body oh misery and calamity what wilt thou then say or doe when as by no meanes thou canst hinder thy soules departure Thy spirit must be then disioyned from thy flesh which I wish may not bee separated from God Alas alas wretched and miserable sinner when thou shalt see thy soule to depart from thy body and eternally to be separated from God what wilt thou then doe oh miserable separation of the soule from the bodie but oh farre more miserable the separation of the same from God What wilt thou coniecture when thou shalt see thy selfe to be excluded the presence of God thy Creator vnfortunate soule consider what a seuere iudgement there will be of thee at thy death which the holy Apostle considering saieth For we must all be manifested before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one may receaue the proper thinges of his body according as he hâ—th done either good or euill 2. Corin. 5.10 Then of all thy deedes euen thy least actions of all thy vaine wordes and cogitatioÌ„s which euer came into thy minde thou art to giue and yeelde a strict and seuere account Then shalt thou be constrained to answere not only for thy lost time but for al thy time il spent Then shalt thou vnderstand how profitable it would haue bene for thee to follow the counsell of the wise man who saieth Make vse of time and decline from euill Eccles 4.23 O miserable humane nature which runneth to death as the riuers to the sea You shall all die and fall as the waters vpon the earth which do not returne Enter therfore into the closet of thy harte and consider that thou art not to answere for thy owne crimes only but also for those which are committed either by thy fault consent counsell or conniuency or not hindering them when it was in thy power Then thou shalt not excuse thy selfe nor say with Cain Am I my brothers keeper Gen. 4.9 for truly he hath commaunded to euery one the care and charity of his neighbour Bee vigilant therfore thou sinner for there will be a great and difficult matter handled at the moment of thy death Well wilt thou then know how great an offence it is to vse iestes tauntes scoffes sportes and other merrie passages euen although without preiudice or detrimeÌ„t of thy neighbour How perspicuouslie shalt thou then perceaue what it is to be distracted in time of diuine office Masse and other holy Ceremonies and to be negligent and indisposed in the church or in other holy places If euery sinne be it neuer so smal for its obiect which is God is most great therefore also the least iniurie offered to God who is infinite is likewise infinite Now therefore oh sinner see how preposterously and peruerslie thou doest when thou wilt not alwaies eleuate and fix thine eyes vpon God Be circumspect least thou displease him euen in the least thing because thinges seeming of no moment are in his diuine presence very great from little and meane thinges of no account we easily fall into greater and more enormous as the scripture saith He that despiseth small thinges by little and little falleth saieth the wise man How truly did Salomon say The number of fooles is infinite because euery sinner is a foole who for a little vaine and transitorie pleasure feareth not to loose an infinite treasure permanent and immutable Oh sinners turne into your selues liue in the feare of God who created you for this is true wisedome and solidd prudence The beginning of wisedome is the feare of God Psal 110.10 Oh yee obdurate and blinded wretches looke into the state of your soules foresee what griefes you shal conceaue when your soules must departe your bodies with whom they haue bene with so great affection conioyned and vnited Consider that vnwilling and most dolefull departure and separation no man euer hated his flesh saith the Apostle Ephes 5.29 but loueth it with a moste vehement loue and affection whereupon the philosopher vnderstanding this naturall loue of the soule saied that death is the last of terrible and fearfull thinges Know now sinner that this feare terrour is to inuade thee but when this horrour shall seaze vpon thee the time is vncertaine Oh my Trumpet send foorth thy sound that thou mayest bee heard in the extreamest and furthest partes of the world let thy eccho enter into the eares of the wretched sinner that hee may know himselfe knowing may turne vnto himselfe and see the infinite losse detriment which
thy pernicious maledictiōs why blaspheamest thou thy God why contemnest thou thy Iesus and his blessed Mother S. Marie and doest not rather commende thy selfe vnto them chaunge now the institution and manner of thy life Doest thou thinke that thou shalt liue perpetually that thou art immortall that death shall be afraide of thee canst thou be perswaded that death which exerciseth her fatall function vpon all men and seazed vpon God himselfe that it will passe by or exempt thee Alas wretch knowest thou not what the scripture saith It is decreed that all must once die Heb. 9.27 Remember therfore thy last end and turne vnto thy God Giue eare vnto the sound of this trumpet if thou intendest when thou art come to the howre of death to triumph ouer the diuell haue confidence in thy God for in thy name saieth the Prophet Dauid we will dispise those that rise vp against vs and the same in the person of thy God saieth Super aspidem basilicum ambulabis c. Psal 90. thou shalt walke vpon the Aspe and Basiliske and shalt tread vppon the Lyon and Dragon because he hath giuen his Angels charge of thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes There be three waies oh sinner in which the Angels doe protect guard thee The first in thy birth and natiuitie the second from thy birth vntill thy death the third from death to the obtaining of eternall life God of his infinite mercie keepe thee in all these waies that thou maiest come to raigne with him eternally Amen Of the fearfull presence of the Iudge in the instant of death THE XVIII CHAPTER ALas wicked and miserable sinner what terrour feare of necessity must possesse thy soule when as thou now dying must behould the angry countenance of that great Iudge God almightie whose glorious and pleasing aspect holy men could not beholde for no man shall see me and liue saieth God to Moyses Exod. 20.19 speake thou to vs and we will heare thee let not our Lord speake to vs least perhappes wee die saide the children of Israell to Moyses Saint Peter who loued Christ soe dearlie and was likewise so well beloued esteemed of him that he deliuered his church to him to be gouerned directed and would that it should relie vpon him as a firme foundation He I say vpon a certaine time when he saw Christ in presence astonished cried out Exi à me quia homo peccator sum goe from mee oh Lord because I am a sinnefull man what thē wilt thou do in the day of thy death when thou shalt behold the angry contenance of Iesus burning with the fire of diuine iustice Oh worme what will then become of thee where wilt thou hide thy selfe whether wilt thou flie Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo c. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant because no man liuing shall be iustified in thy sight crieth out the Prophet in the person of a soule striuing with death Giue eare I beseech thee to that which holy Iob saieth of the presence of the iudge verè quod ita sit c. I know indeed it is so that man cannot be iustified compared with God if he contend with him he cannot answere him one for a thousand Iob. 9.2 notwithstanding Iob was of that integrity and sanctity of life that God him selfe speaking of him said Vir erat in terra Hus c. There was a man in the land of Hus whose name was Iob that was simple and right and fearing God departing from euill Iob. 1. And in the same chapter God speaking of Iob vnto the diuell he saied Hast thou considered my seruant Iob that there is not the like vnto him in the earth a man simple and right fearing God and departing from euill and keeping innocencie Alas how terrible and horrible a thing is it at the time of death to fall into the handes of the iust iudge Truly it would seeme a dreadfull thing if one should be circumuented and besett with a multitude of Serpēts Beares Dragons Lyons or other such like deuouring creatures yet all the terror which would proceed from these thinges created compared with the terrour and astonishment that the contenance and maiesty of the angry and iust iudge shall strike into a soule in the instant of death it is light and nothing O miserable soule commiserate and pitty thine owne case meditate vpon thine owne necessities consider what must at last befall thee consider the last end and thou shalt not sinne for euer saieth the wiseman to forewarne thee ô how much shouldest thou and indeed oughtest to feare and tremble to thinke vpon that last instant of thy life in which thy soule must be dissolued and presented before the maiestie of the angry and offended iudge The iudge miserable wretch will say vnto thee giue an account of thy stewardship render a reason of thy soule which thou receauedst immaculate pure and vndefiled of mee and which being defiled and blemished with the contraction and spot of originall sinne I haue washed and made cleane with my most pretious blood Giue an account of thy Reason Vnderstanding Memorie and Will which thou hast receaued of me thou wast endued with vnderstanding that thou shouldest know mee with thy Will that thou shouldest loue mee with a Memorie that thou shouldest be euer mindfull of mee but thou vngrateful soule hast abused these faculties by which thou wert like vnto God let vs make man after our owne Image saieth God Gen. 1. These endowments more then diuine thou hast occupied and busied about base humane transitorie and vaine subiects for so much as thou dost alwaies thinke of them loue and embrace them and exercise thy memorie with them Bewaile now and lament thou sinner for the time will come in which it will repent thee that thou hast bene no more sorrowfull forget not God now for there will come a time when all thy sayings deedes cogitations and counsels shall be reduced to memorie Now endeuour to loue and honour God with all thy force as he hath commaunded thee in these wordes Loue the Lord thy God with all thy soule and with all thy harte all thy neighbour as thy selfe Math. 22.38 Oh miserable mortall men who so inconsideratly vppon the suddaine runne into death My dayes haue passed more swiftlie then the webbe that is cut by the weauer and are consumed without hope Iob. 7.6 Giue vs we beseech thee thy grace oh Lord pardon and remit oh benigne and bountifull God our delictes crimes and offences Remember that thou art our Father looke not vpon our ingratitude but vpon thy mercie haue respect to mee and behould me with the eyes of pittie and compassion for I am alone and poore the tribulations of my harte are multiplied deliuer mee from my necessities Psal 24.16 Oh Marie Mother of indulgent Iesus by whom I am to be iudged pray for mee and for all sinners that we may so dispose of all our
actions in this world and so direct the course of our liues according to his holy and diuine law that so at the last he may show vs not his seuere and angry but pleasing and amiable countenance Oh Marie looke to the soules of poore distressed sinners leaue vs not oh sweet Mary thou art our Queene our Patronesse our Mistresse our Mother Marie Mother of grace Mother of mercie doe thou defend vs from our enemies and receaue vs at the howre of our death By the loue of the blessed soule of thy deare Sonne I beseech and humbly begg that thou wouldest be pleased to accept my poore soule and the distressed soules of all sinners vnto thy carefull and motherly tuition by the pretious blood of thy deare Sonne haue compassion vpon sinnefull soules Remember Marie that thou art a Mother and that our soules were redeemed and bought with the sacred blood of thy sonne Iesus O Iesu be thou now propitious vnto vs that we may not commit any thing whereby we may deserue thy angry countenance Oh Iesu our Father oh Marie our Mother graunt that we may be your true children graunt oh diuine maiestie that we may amēd and correct our manners end our liues in the holy feare of thy omnipotent deitie That at the houre of our death we may behould thee as a louing and mercifull Father auoide the great terrour of thy angry countenance Amen Of the gnawing of the conscience which after a terrible manner shall molest a sinner dying THE XIX CHAPTER AS if a man should flie from the face of a Lyon a Beare should meet him and enter into his house and leane his hand vpon the wall and a Serpent should bite him Amos. 5.19 Beholde the similitude of Amos the Prophet verie fit for this matter Oh wretch what wilt thou doe therfore at the time of thy death which way wilt thou flie which way wilt thou turne thy self there will be imminent daunger on all sides thou shalt finde no place where to hide or secure thy selfe in euery way thou shalt be circumuented and surprised with terrours molestations If thou wouldest eschew and flie the furie of the Lion thou shalt be exposed to the daunger of the Beare and in flying from the Beare taking house of some seeming refuge thou shalt be stunge with a venemous Serpent for truly what is meant by the Lion but Iesus Christ the angry iudge the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda Apoc. 5.5 what doth the Beare signify but the diuell nothinge else is ment by the Serpent but the conscience Behold therefore vnworthy wretch what daunger is to befall thee at the time of thy death dost thou desire to auoide the Lyon the angry iudge Iesus offended thē the Beare the diuell wil meete thee and with his diabolicall inuentions infernall forces and hideous roaringes wil confound astonishe and affright thee and when thou presumest of thy security within thy selfe and enterest thine owne house to take rest there thou shalt find the Serpent thy conscience which will permit thee to haue no peace reste or quietnes then thou shalt see in it as in a glasse all thy sinnes offences which thou in thy life time hast thought said or done neither will it only suggest what thou hast thought sayed or committed amisse but it will also represent vnto thee all thy good deedes and actions which thou hast omitted then oh sinner this Serpent shall bite and deadlie sting thee arguing and accusing thee of all thy crimes threatning hell perpetuall death and damnation vnto thee Alas miserable soule then what a vaste and profound sea of miserie shalt thou be plunged in Omnes persecutores eius c. all the persecutours apprehended her in the midst of her tribulatiōs these wordes of the Prophet Ieremie in his lamentations may be truly spoken of thee when thou art departing and at the instant when thy soule shall be separated from thy bodie all thine enemies shall then compasse thee and in the extreamest of thy miseries and difficulties thou shalt be enuironed with all thine aduersaries God the Diuell and thine owne Conscience the Diuell will be at hand and call to minde all the sinnes which thou hast committed and will crie out vnto the iudge for iustice according to thy merit and vse all his forces to bring thee to desperation Thy Conscience shall sting thee and leaue no parte vnwounded al thy sinnes shall present them selues vnto thy memory in the very same manner and kinde as thou diddest commit them The Diuell will delineate and draw them out in a farre more great and heinous manner then thou coniecturest thou didst commit them The Iudge will demaund an exact a iust account of all thinges saying Render to mee an account of thy stewardship then thou mayest trulie crie out with the Prophet Dauid I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly I haue roared for the groanings of my harte Psal 37.9 O wretched sinners why doe you not now at this instant amēd your liues and manners O rebellious miscreantes why are you so prompt and ready to sinne and offend your louing and mercifull Father Doe you thinke that you are immortall that you shall neuer taste of death Doe you thinke that the time will neuer come when you shall giue an account of your whole liues so euilly spēt you deceaue your selues ô wretches Amend your selues therfore ô my Brethren forsake your former crimes and offences least you be like the Horse and Mule which haue no vnderstandinge Psal 31.9 O that my wordes were so ardent and of such efficacie that they might burne out al the offences from the hartes of sinnefull men To Iesus ô you sinners to Iesus Are you ignorant that he is your God Creator and Father know you not that blessed Iesus for you was made man For you he shedd his moste pretious blood vpon the holy wood of the crosse and burning with the loue of you was willing to vndergoe all kindes of punishments Are you ignorant that he offered him selfe to die such a bitter death only for the loue of you Christ came into the world to saue sinners 1. Tim. 1.15 Iesus came not for them that were well and haue no infirmitie but for those that are ill and diseased Consider sinner that Christ is thy brother Goe too my Brethren remember that Iesus for you was made man and the word was made flesh and dwelt in vs. Ioan. 1.14 cease therfore oh sinners to be any longer offensiue to Iesus your brother wicked Saul for tēne yeares did pursue Dauid but you by your wicked liues and vnheard of offences for these manie yeares haue persecuted and pursued your afflicted Iesus feare at last poore wretches to offend so louing a redeemer behold that infinite iniurie and wrong wherwith you haue afflicted him mark and duely penetrate I entreat you the manifold iniuries which you haue committed in neglecting and contemning so deare a Brother so faithfull a Friend so louing
receaue meate whē sweet sleepe shall be wanting vnto thee when all thinges shall be distastfull vnto thee when thou cāst not endure to heare the voyce wordes or speech of thy Wife Children Father or Mother or of thy most deare friendes when thou thy selfe shalt be distastfull vnto thy selfe O sinner what wilt thou then doe opprest on euery side with so many infirmities dolors and vexations when thou maiest truly say with the Prophet The sorrowes of death haue compassed me about the torments of iniquity haue troubled me the sorrowes of hell haue ouertaken me the snares of death haue preuented me Psal 17.5 O wretch be thou conuerted now vnto thy God now amend and correct thy life implore and craue with al submission pardon for thy sinnes past O you sinners giue an attentiue eare vnto your God who at this instant calleth you saying Be you conuerted vnto me with all your hartes Ioel. 2.13 O my sweet louing Iesus which didest vouchsafe for the saluatiō of miserable sinners to come into this world bestow such efficacie and force vpon my wordes that offenders therby knowing themselues may be conuerted vnto thee Remember blessed Iesus at what a price thou hast bought their soules Remēber what thou hast suffered for the redemption of them Graunt that the found of these my or rather thy Trumpetts may awaken the soules of sinners and stirre vp their mindes and affections to the embracing of thee and the seeking of their owne saluation O Clement Iesu I know with how great loue thou didest hasten to the ignominious death of the Crosse for the redemption of sinners forgett not therfore them which thou hast redeemed with thy moste pretious blood permitt not ô Iesu that those soules which thou hast so dearly bought doe perish but rather graunt that they may be raised vp from death and liue Deliuer my soule ô God from the sword and mine only one from the hand of the Dogge saue me from the Lions mouth and my humilitie from the hornes of the Vnicorne Psal 21.21 Inuocate thy Iesus ô poore soule with these wordes of the Prophet placing all thy trust and confidence in him who desireth nothing more then thy repentance and health I thirst I thirst cried he in the time of his bitter passion which although it may be vnderstood of a corporall thirst yet more especially is it meant of the spirituall thirst and ardent desire which he had for the saluation of soules O afflicted soule would to God thou couldest perceaue that infinite loue by which thy Iesus is enflamed towardes thee would to God thou couldest comprehend that speciall care which thy Iesus from thy first being hath had ouer thee O therefore my louing Iesus how cometh it to passe that a miserable sinner can be so ingratefull and vnmindfull of thee his soe clement mercifull and louing God O my God can it bee that the diuell should possesse the harte of a sinner that hee should become the vassaile of Sathan thy cheifest and most opposite enemie Alas miserable soule at thy death thou shalt perceaue experience the diuels plot and intent the end of his allurements and faire profers which he hath presēted vnto thee inuiting thee to offend thy God and to follow him so impious and cruel an enemie of thy Sauiour Then thou shalt see ô wretched soule how malitiouslie and treacherouslie the diuell will hādle thee In these thy extreame agonies and afflictions when thou mayest truly say Tribulations are on all sides of me Thou shalt stand in the presence of the diuell and all his execrable companions who so soone as thy soule is departed frō thy body shal carrie it into the infernal abisse of hell there to liue with the damned soules in perpetuall torments and flames of fire God of his mercie ô sinners opē your eyes that you may prouide for your soules health and auoyde those horrible punishmēts Heare now ô sinner I hartily beseech thee set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not liue Isay 38.2 for it is apointed for al men to die once Heb. 9.27 Thou shalt die but to liue in perpetuall tormentes God graunt that we die to liue a spirituall and eternal life with Iesus in glorie Amen Of the place whether the soule goeth so soone as it departeth out of the body THE XXI CHAPTER BEhould the Timbrell the Harpe and reioyce at the sound of the Organe they lead their dayes in wealth and prosperitie and in a moment they goe downe into hell Iob. 21.12 It is time now ô sinner to draw nere to the consideration and contemplation of thy future estate and being Tell mee I beseech thee what shall become of thee when thy soule shall depart thy body To what place shall shee betake her selfe when shee shall be exiled and banished from this flesh with which so long as they were conioyned she committed such execrable sinnes and so heinouslie offended thy God and redeemer Heare what shall be said Behold miserable sinners your end Behold the reward of your delights the hire of your pleasures the euent of your desires Behold the end of all your goods riches and honours in a moment you shall forsake them and goe downe into hell O sadde and heauie newes for your delightes must perish your pleasures shall be expired your sensuall desires shall for euer cease Last of all your estate shall be taken away by death Let vs eate and drinke for to morrow we shall die sayed they in the persons of all sinners Isay 22.11 O miserable sinners fix your cogitations vpon that dreadfull time whē your soules shall bidde adew take their last farewell of your corrupted and loathsome bodies There be three places in which our soules so soone as they are separated from our bodies may haue their beings which be these heauen hell purgatorie Thinke therfore with thy selfe ô sinner that thou art to depart into one of these places according to thy merit or demerit for our iust Lord hath loued iustice Et equitatem vidit vultus eius and his contenance hath seene equitie Psal 10.8 and therefore he rewardeth euery mā according to his works good or euill Mine hire is with me to giue vnto euery one according to his workes Rom. 2.6 Those which haue done good workes shall goe into life euerlastinge and they which haue done euill shall goe into euerlasting fire saieth S. Athanasius Consider ô sinner that when thou art striuing and contending with death thy soule shall by little and little withdraw it from the inferior parts of thy body and shall betake her selfe to the harte where she hath her principall residence last of all when she can finde no place in the body where she may be receaued she presentlie flieth away and leaueth that dead carcase of thine But aboue all this consider with thy selfe what shall become of her after her departure for so soone as she is departed from thy body she presently is receaued by the
sinne liuing so inconsideratly securely and confidentlie as you doe thinke and verily perswade your selues making no doubt that the diuine wrath iudgement shal descend from heauen vpon the suddaine vnlooked for and more swift then the lightning Alas how many vppon the suddaine haue fallen downe dead which could not so much as say Iesu helpe me Alas how many by negligence and sloath haue perished which neuer thinking of their ends haue liued in all kinde of concupiscence and voluptuous delightes when they saide peace and securitie there came a suddaine destruction vpon them saieth S. Paul 1. Tim. 3. Man knoweth not his end but as fishes are taken with the hooke and birdes with the net so are men taken in the time of persecution when there shall come vppon them a suddaine destruction Eccl. 9. O you my Brethren and sisters sinners looking into your soules and beholding the imminencie of your present danger thinke some thing of your ends consider o you vnfortunate and miserable wretches the vncertainty of your liues consider the perpetual torments which are prepared for sinners in hell consider o you lost soules that you must once come to the point of death consider that your delights shal haue an end your pompes honours glorie and whatsoeuer else wherin you tooke sensual delight and you your selues shall perish die and become as nothing and your soules themselues shall be drawne and separated from your impure filthy loathsome bodies wherby you haue so heinouslie impiouslie offended your God To Christ therfore o yee sinners to Iesus Christ o yee obdurate soules draw neare and haue recourse to him God calleth you by my penne by that liuely blood of Christ O sinners by the virtue and force of the loue and mercie of God I beseech you and speake vnto you in these wordes Come ô you sinners death draweth nere but Iesus Christ died for you that you might liue for euer Come ô you sinners vnto Iesus for the diuell is at hand to throw you into hell Turne you to Christ who calleth you by the sound of my Trumpet lest he reiect and vtterly condēne you with the sound of his seuere and bitter sentence at the day of iudgement Woe to you ô sinners woe I say vnto you if you refuse to heare the sound of this Trumpet whereby the diuine clemency calleth you from sinne and perdition vnto repentance and saluation O you my Brethren sinners how cometh it to passe that your hartes are not mollified but are deafe dumbe at this sound God graunt that you be not of the nūber of those of whom it is written they haue obdurated their faces more hard thē the rocke and they would not be conuerted Of the fearful signes which shall apeare before the day of iudgement by the consideration whereof many sinneful soules may be saued which otherwise might perish THE XXIV CHAPTER ANd there shall be signes in the sunne and in the moone and in the starres in the earth distresse of nations for the confused sound of the waues of the sea mens hartes fayling them for feare and expectation of those thinges which shall come vpon the whole world Luc. 21.25 And I wil make wonders in heauen and in earth blood and fire and vapour of smoake the sunne shall be turned into darknes and the moone into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord doth come Ioel. 2.30 O vnhappy sinners if you would but settle your cogitations vpon these horrible thinges and prodigious signes I doe not doubt but that with feare and terrour at the very consideration of them your stony hartes would cleaue a Sunder What when you shall see the sunne obscured the moone turned into blood the starres obfuscated and seeming to fall from heauen the earth to be moued and tremble the sea to rage mountaines to breake and fall a sunder and to be leuelled with the vallies dumbe creatures so affrighted as to runne here and there Lions to roare Beares to make a hideous noise Wolfes to houle and other wilde beasts terrible to sight by the motion of the earth to come out of theire dennes and caues Dragons and Birdes to flie vp and downe the aire who would not be astonished for feare and dissolued with horrour O humane miserie what shall be come of thee What a terrour will it be to see and heare in the fearfull day of iudgement these strange signes and vnheard of wonders And there shall be a great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world euen to this day saieth our Lord by S. Mathew Math. 24.21 I will not omit ô sinners to soūd my Trumpett in your eares that I may rouse you out of the deepe sleepe of your sinnes being moued with a vehement desire of your saluation and incited by the loue of my deare Sauiour Iesus woe bee vnto you if you stoppe your eares at the sound thereof but most happy if you attend and giue eare vnto it which is sent forth for the saluation of your poore distressed soules Many signes there are which shall goe before the day of iudgement but fifteene only are remēbred by S. Hierom. The 1. signe is that the sea shall transcend the mountaines fourtie cubits The 2. signe the same sea shal descēd in such a lownesse as that it shall hardly be perceaued The 3. signe All the vnreasonable creatures especially they that liue in the sea shall be gathered together into lakes and pooles there to lament their desolation The 4. signe The sea and all waters shall burne The 5. signe All trees and herbes shall droppe blood The 6. signe Al the foules of the ayre shall be gathered together sending forth cries and lamentations and abstaining from their vsual meate drinke The 7. signe All houses statelie buildinges which are in the world shall be ruinated to the ground The 8. signe Lightnings and firie dartes shall flie from the west towardes the east threatning the heauens and striking feare and astonishment into the whole world The 9. signe The stones shall contend amongst them selues and in their conflict shall be broken The 10. signe Earthquakes throughout all partes of the world shall be so great that neither man nor beast shall be able to stād on their feete The 11. signe All the mountaines shall be turned into dust The 12. signe All creatures shall leaue their caues dennes and being possest with a kinde of madnes shall wander abroad The 13. signe in all places the graues and toombes shall be opened and the bones of all the dead shall stand vpright vppon their graues The 14. signe The starres shall fall from heauen The 15. signe Euery thing that is endued with life shall be chaunged as well beasts as men as vpon the suddaine those men that now dy together with them that haue died since the creation of the world shall be reuiued and liue againe Fearfull signes they be ô sinner which I relate vnto thee receaue
our Sauiour to death how shalt thou bee able to looke vpoÌ„ this crosse O Caiphas and you Scribes Pharises that moued the people to cry out with an exceeding great clamour to Pilat away with him away with him crucifie him him crucifie him what griefe shall you conceaue at the sight of this holie Crosse What furie and madnes shall posesse you at the behoulding of it O vngodlie Christians who still remaine in the filth of your sinnes who haue trampled vnder foot the pretious blood of Iesus what will you then say and doe Thou proud man who reiecting all others wouldest submitt thy selfe to no bodie with what deiection wilt thou cast thy eyes downewards lest thou shouldest behould that triumphant signe Alas ô lasciuious man who wallowing in the mire of all vncleanesse hast liued in the filth and mire thereof hast liued in contempt of the blood and death of Christ how theÌ„ darest thou looke vpon that sacred signe Alas thou angry man who wilt forgiue nothing wherin thou art offended though in the smallest matter although thou shouldest be asked pardon for Christs sake in remembrance of his most bitter death and passion what then shall become of thee how wilt thou looke vpon that signe wheÌ„ thou shalt see all hope of obtaining mercie to bee shutt vp from thee Alas thou couetous man who for Christs sake wouldest not giue one morsell of bread to the poore what shall become of thee when thou shalt see thy selfe destitute of all celestiall and terrestiall things Alas thou wicked woman that hast killed so many soules and iniuried the blood and crosse of Christ with thy lewed and dishonest life what shall then become of thee Thou peruerse and obstinate heretike who dailie reuilest Christe and his holie church thou shalt then bee brought to the acknowledgement of thyne errours Alas daÌ„ned soules then you shall behould the fruite of your sinneful life past when all hope of mercy which you haue despised here vpon earth shall bee taken away what will you doe when after the crosse and other signes of the passion Christ Iesus crucified shall appeare in his maiesty O happie are they who shall be able then to looke vpon him O most sweet woundes of my beloued Iesus bestow that grace vpon mee that I may bee worthy to bee of the number of them which shall behould you with chearfullnes of hart O most amiable Iesus graunt me thy grace that I may bee one of them who with ioy and gladnes may glorie in thy woundes with these or the like wordes Behould my most louing Iesê° who hath shown so great mercy vnto me as to draw mee out of the abysse of so many sinnes and freely pardoned all myne iniquities Behould those woundes and pretious blood by vertue wherof I am saued Bee you blessed ô glorious woundes full of loue Be thou blessed ô my most amiable Iesus who hast vouchsafed to beestow so great fauours vpon mee To thee and to thy sacred woundes be attributed all praise honour glorie and benediction Let all the Angels and Saints in heauen sing praises vnto thee let all faithfull people vpon earth dailie worship thee let the whole fabrique of heauen and earth with all creatures coÌ„tained therin set foorth thy prayse God forbid that I should glorie in anie thing but in the crosse of Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified to mee and I to the world Now Brethren and sisters sinners turne your selues to Christ the iudge coÌ„ming in the cloudes with his diuine maiestie most glorious to behould to the Angels and all good men but terrible and fearfull to the diuels and all reprobate soules indeed all shall looke vpon him shining with his resplendant glory but with differeÌ„t affections the damned shal be forced to behold him to the greater augmentation of their griefe but the elect to their greater comfort and consolation Ierusalem wash thy harte from malice that thou mayest be saued Ier. 4.14 Sinners purge your soules and consciences looke into your selues with a serious consideration of your estate delay not vntill the terrible day of iudgement shall aproach for then it will be too late to prouide your selues to enter into the place of eternall happines Consider now sinner what helpes are prepared for thee so many teachers to direct thee so many coÌ„fessors to instruct thee so many bookes to cal and admonish thee so many diuine inspirations to moue and excite thee so many prayers of the holy Church so many suffragies of the blessed Saints thou hast thine Angell keeper to protect defend thee Cal to minde the manifould helpes which thy louing Iesus out of his fatherly care hath prouided for thee He daily teacheth and instructeth thee continually prayeth to his heauenly Father for thee we haue an aduocate with the Father saieth S. Iohn Iesus Christ the iust 1. Ioan. 2.1 Consider what helpe the B. V. Marie Mother of mercy patronesse of sinners procureth for thee who neuer ceaseth to pray for all before her sonne in heauen Consider on the otherside if thou continuest and diest in thy sinnes thou shalt be destitute of all helpe thou shalt not finde any to plead for thee not the Saints not the church nor the Blessed Virgin Mary for then the gate of mercy will be shut vp and no entrance shall be fouÌ„d sinners looke to your selues haue recourse to Christ the fountaine of liuing waters whilst it standeth open knocke at the gate of mercy before it be shut so you shal receaue pardon and remission of all your sinnes and offences Which God of his mercy graunt that we may all obtaine Amen Of the great shame wherewith all the damned shall be confounded in the day of iudgement before almighty God and the whole world THE XXVII CHAPTER ANd all nations shall be gathered together before him and he shall separate them one from another as a sheepheard separateth his sheepe from the kiddes and shall place his sheepe on the right hand and the kiddes on the left Mat. 25.32 O sinners what torments and vexations shal you haue in your troubled soules when you shall stand in the presence of God the whole world to be condemned for your iniquities what shame will it be to thee when all thy misdeedes shall appeare and be manifested vnto all And I will reueale thy secrets before thee and will shew thy nakednes to the nations and thine ignominie to the kingdomes saith the Prophet NauÌ„ Naum. 3.6 Noe means can be vsed to couer thy sinnes which thou hast committed so closely then what vices soeuer thou diddest in secret endeuouring to hide them from the eyes of men and Angels shall be brought to light Then traitour all thy treacherous and bloudy plottes shall be reuealed Then deceitfull companion all thy crafty plottes fallaces shall be detected ô wonderfull and maruailous thinge then shall they read one anothers sinnes in their foreheades as in bookes The husband shall see all the dishonest behauiours
the scripture that thou mayest harken and giue diligent eare vnto him This if thou doe in his good time he will bestow that grace vpon thee if thou refuse not to receaue it which will enable the to forsake thy lewde course of liuing take heed sinner how thou behauest thy selfe for if thou stoppe thine eares at his cal and running away from him contemne his vocation he will turne away from thee and suffer thee to continue in thy miserable estate and condition and in that shalt thou die and so dying shalt be damned Alas who is there which would not be moued at this and willingly forsake a thousād worldes that hee might not loose God which if he would not doe for the loue of God at least hee would that he might not incurre the losse of so great a good as heauen or procure vnto himselfe so great a mischeife as is the obtaining of held The losse of heauen is no trifling matter or to go into hell is not of a small moment that a mā should not regard whither he come thither or no The damned shall goe yea bee cast downe headlong into hell with the accursed crue of infernall spirits and yee sinners vnlesse you doe pennance you shall all likewise perish the blessed shall be taken into paradise and if you amend your liues you shall be in the number of them The Saints shall enioy all kinde of good and you also if you will shall be made partakers with them The damned shall be cast into hell to bee tormented in euerlasting flames you except you alter your purposes and course of liuing shall be in the same number Good Lord what gladnes shall the blessed haue when they shall enter into heauen exulting and reioycing in the delightfull companie of sweet Iesus and his Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints men and women Stay here a while sinners and behould this most beautifull companie and societie See how the heauens shine with light Heare the harmonie of celestiall hymnes giue care to the musicke of Angelicall voices behould the Saints leaping for ioy and gladnes about the throne of God see how Iesus Christ and his blessed Mother embrace and kindly receaue all the Saints Behould the Angels triumphing Harken to the quire of heauen singing most sweetly to the honour of Iesus and his Mother the B. Virgin O Iubilie ô gladnes ô mirth such as shall neuer be ended O excessiue ioy which shall neuer cease to be in the inhabitants of this paradise ô happy are you and happy againe you which are there all ready and you which hasten to come thither pray for vs you that haue your soules there that we may be made capable of your vnspeakable ioy and gladnes O heauenly Queen Mother of God O Marie my Ladie and Patronesse pray for me and all sinners that we by thy merits and intercession may deserue to bee reckoned in that blessed number praising and extolling thy God and ours for all eternity O powerfull God who hast created vs despise not our prayers gratiouslie heare our petitions and giue vs that grace that to thy honour and glory we may refraine from the filthines of sinne looke not vpon our manifolde misdeedes which wee haue committed nor vppon the innumerable iniuries wherewith we haue offended thy sacred Maiestie Goe to sinners and be of good courage Dulcis rectus est Dominus our Lord is sweet and righteous saieth the Psalmist Bonus est Dominus our God is God to them that trust in him to a soule that seeketh after him Endeauour sinners striue and labour so much as lieth in you that you may be assured of the mercies of God Misericordia Domini plena est terra the earth is full of the mercie of our God there is no created thing on the earth vnder heauen wherein the most gratious benignity of God doth not appeare and except we our selues be in fault we may be sure of saluation because of his parte he is willing to receaue all Deus vult omnes homines saluos fieri God will haue all men to be saued 1. Tim. 2. ◠Alas sinners purpose and resolue to forsake the world with all your hartes worship God who loueth you so dearly bestoweth so many benefits vpon you and still desireth to bestow farre greater vpon you Be not faint harted doubt not any thing haue recourse vnto Christ so soone as you can I dare be your surety to make you al which are obnoxious to sinne secure and safe if you desire indeede to come to Christ Iesus Come hither Brethren and sisters be not dismaied come to the most sweet amiable woundes of sweet Iesus come to crucified Iesus Doe you not see how he standeth with his armes stretched out to embrace you To Iesus Brethren sinners to Iesus sister sinners haue recourse to Iesus who neuer refuseth or reiecteth any come to Iesus full of loue who expecteth all calleth all thirsteth after all Hic peccatores recipit this Iesus receaueth sinners Luc. 15.2 Christ Iesus came to the world to saue sinners saith S. Paul O louing Iesu who wholy giuest thy selfe for sinners O vnthankefull sinner who belongest wholy to Iesus how great is thy mercy ô Iesu how great is thy benefit ô sinner Propter scelus populi mei percussi cum for the wickednes of my people haue I smitten him saieth the eternall Father of his sonne Isay 53.9 He bare our sinnes in his body vpon the wood saieth the same Prophet If then Iesus hath bestowed so many great benefits vpon a sinner and loueth him so tenderly whence is it sinners that you feare Iesus who is become your friend do him therfore no wrong sinner come forth to thy Iesus behould how he expecteth thee vpon the holy wood of the crosse his handes and feet being pierced through with sharpe nailes that he might giue thee hope and confidence to come vnto him Let this crucified Iesus be engrauen in my harte and in the soule of euery sinner that soe we may chaunge our liues and reforme our conuersations to our saluation and to the honour and glorie of the most holy Trinity the Father the Sonne the holie Ghost Amen The sixt Trumpett Of the dammage that sinne bringeth to a soule in hell and of the most grieuous punishmēts wherwith the damned are there tormented THE XXX CHAPTER ET sextus Angelus tubâ ceciuit And the sixt Angell blew his Trumpet Apoc. 8. Sinners giue care vnto the fearfull and terrible sound of this Trumpet and see whither it be of power to moue your soules O the misery of mans hart which destroyeth it selfe by its obstinacie and hardnesse and extolleth it selfe to the highest degree of mischiefe from whence there is noe hope of returning safe Behould in this world there is nothing more pleasing and delightsome to our fight then the light of the sūne so in the other world and in all the celestiall orbes yea if there were so
cooling ayre in respect of the intollerable burning heate which before it did suffer in hell What saiest thou sinner if thou denie it to be true thou art much deceaued and deluded neither doest giue eare to that which the scripture affirmeth in many places And besides thou shalt alltogether gainsay what we before haue produced out of the Prophet Isay But if this doeth not satisfie you how will you giue credit to that which the holy Euangelist citeth in the parable of the rich glutton Mortuus est autem diues sepultus est in inferno the rich man also died and was buried in hell And being in torments he saw Abraham a farre off and Lazarus in his bosome to whome he cried out saying Father Abraham haue mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dipp the tipp of his finger in water and coole my toung because I am pittifully tormented in this flame Luc. 16.22 doest thou heare wicked sinner what the holye ghospell saieth wouldest thou know by what name he calleth that fire Crucior in hâc flammâ I am tormented in this flâ—me therefore Christ him selfe saieth in an other place speaking of hell Ibi erit flecus stridor dentium there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Math. 8.12 Our Lord in these wordes declareth and setteth downe two very terrible punishments of hel when he saieth fletus stridor dentium weeping and gnashing of teeth by weeping he sheweth that there is fire in hell for the fire hath alwais smoake mixed with it which hurteth and offendeth the eyes so coÌ„sequently procureth weeping but when he saieth stridor dentium gnashing of teeth hee manifesteth vnto vs that there is a moste vehement colde in hell of such efficacie as it forceth them who suffer it to gnash with the teeth Iob also setteth downe these two kindes of punishments Ad nimium calorem transeat ab aquis niuium c. Let him passe from the waters of the snow to excessiue heat Iob. 24.19 Alas wretched sinners what woefull punishments doe expect you your poore wretched soules shall be tossed from one place to another from cold to heat and scorching from thence againe into cold from flames into snow from ice and froste in to fire and all this with ineffable torture and vnspeakable paine Herupon you may easily coniecture what torment griefe and sorrow it is to be in hell by going our of fire heat into frost and colde neither is there any of you ignorant if vpon some occasion your hands should become nuÌ„med with cold and afterwards should put them to the fire to warme them what paine you should feele thereby For the maruelous force of the â—eate which violently piercinge the fingers endeuoureth to expell and driue out the colde O the miserable state and condition of mankinde what griefe and torment shouldest thou feele sinner if in the height of summer when thou art sweating and burninge with heat thou shouldest be cast into a cisterne full of snow and cold water without question thou couldest not long endure in this affliction Alas thinke therfore seriouslie with thy selfe of those horrible and intollerable paines of colde and heat and firie flames which thou shalt suffer in hell Discedite à me maledicti in ignem c. Departe from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire Math. 25.41 will Iesus Christ say to the damned sitting vpon his tribunall seat of iudgement whereupon it is manifest that there is fire in hell Discedite à me departe from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire not at the first prepared for you but for the diuels but seeing that now by your sinnes you haue deserued the same punishment discedite à me departe from mee with the company of all the daÌ„ned spirits that together with them you may be punished in euerlasting tormeÌ„ts Sinner what wilt thou now say wilt thou derogate from the credit of the holy ghospell the wordes of truth the wordes of Christ who is truth it selfe if thou doest so thou art in the number of heretiques if an heretique thou shalt haue the punishment of heretiques and of all them who will not giue credit to the Catholique faith Of the diuersitie of punishments wherwith the damned soules are tormented without any hope of intermission or mitigation THE XXXII CHAPTER QVantum glorificauit se c. As much at she hath glorified her selfe and hath abounded with delightes so much giue her of torments saieth S. Iohn in his Apocalipse Apocal. 18.7 These wordes the diuine iustice wil vse to you sinners in hel The iustice of God wil cry against you and commaund the diuells to torture you according to the measure of your sinnes and iniquities Harken sinners what diuersitie of punishmeÌ„ts is kept for you vnderstand wretched soules those manifolde torments which are reserued for your transgressions you shall be sure neuer to come out from thence neuer to obtaine the least rest and repose that can be imagined neuer to be freed from any one kinde of these punishmentes Pater Abraham c. Father Abraham send Lazarus that he may dippe the tippe of his fingar in water to coole my toung because I am tormented in this flame these be the wordes of the rich glutton Many and sundry punishments are there ordained in hell and all of them very cruell you shall be coÌ„tinually swiftly tossed from one to another This wretched sinners shall be your recreation rest and repose These innumerable punishments which are prepared for you forlorne soules are reduced by the sacred scripture and holy Doctours of the church vnto tenn heades Of the first we haue already spokeÌ„ which is the fire of hel wanting all comfortable light stinking and burning and the greater your affection was in this world to commit sinne so much will God vse the more his seueritie and iustice against you This fire is prouided especially for you who haue followed the pleasures and lustes of the flesh for seeing that you haue giuen way to your sensuall appetites and haue bene polluted with all maner of vncleanesse therfore this loathsome fire and stinking pittes of brimstone are prepared for you Quantum hasit amor tantum affligit dolor S. August how much loue and delight you haue had in sinning so much sorrow and paine shall you haue to recompense the same Thinke with your selues if you must suffer and endure such intollerable paines for euery deadlie sinne how miserable will your case be who all your life time haue defiled your soules with the filth of concupiscence what will become of you Epicures who for so many yeares haue made Gods of your bellies what will become of thee harlott which for so long time hast had familiarity with coÌ„cubines what wil become of thee impudent whore which hast so many yeares together allured inticed drawne all passengers by signes laughings gay attire and deceitfull paintings to the vnlawfull vse of thy body what will become of thee silly woman which hast
pasttimes vanish away like smoake but your punishments shal be permanent your sportes merry conceipts quickly consume and passe away like a cloud but your troubles afflictiōs shal neuer haue an end Alas therfore sinners returne at length to God why doe you not forsake your iniquities and transgressions why doe you not flie the diuell your cruell and deadly enemie woe to you sinners men and women who liue as if you should neuer die who take no care for the time to come but pursue your wicked and sinfull course of life euen as if you had no soules to saue neither were there any hell to torment you Sweet Iesus for his clemency and tender mercy open your eyes Sweet Iesus for his moste bitter death and passion sake chaunge and turne your hartes Iesus the true sonne of almightie God and the B.V. Marie his deare beloued Mother bring you backe againe into the right path of saluatiō that you may not be damned in the bottomlesse pitt of destruction Amen The Seuenth Trumpett of the society and companie which a sinner draweth with him in life death and after death THE XXXIV CHAPTER ET septimus Angelus tubâ cecinit And the seuenth Angell sounded the Trumpett Apoc. 8. Heare now at length the last Trumpet sounding which if it shall nothing moue thee thou giuest mee but smal hope of thy saluation Consider a while sinner whose companion thou shalt be so long as thou liuest Afterwardes wee will speake of thy company in death and after death Et societas nostra c. And our societie is with the Father and the Sonne saieth S. Iohn speaking of good men 1. Iohn 1.3 O happy and fortunate men wheresoeuer they goe they haue the Angels and God himselfe in their company for where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of thē Math. 18.20 But sinner who shall associate thee Alas wretch the diuell shal be thy daily companion and attendant For what end and purpose That he may tumble fling thee downe headlong that he may kill and murther thee that he may enforce thee to commit all kindes of vices and lastly that he may carry thee with him into hell The Doctors affirme a certaine diuell to be assigned to euery man who doth continually watch and follow him nor euer leaueth him while he liueth that he may entrapp and ensnare his soule What then sinners doe you can you for all this sleepe and shorte seeing that the diuel euery day watcheth so narrowly for your destruction Can you so carelesly neglect your owne saluation and suffer the diuell alwaies to busie himselfe in the worke of your damnation wil you not yet take any thought vppon this matter Are you still delighted with so mischieuous a cōpanion Madd men and cruell against your owne sinnefull soules O wicked and senslesse creatures which are so in humane against your selues Ponder sinner that withersoeuer thou walkest there is a diuell ready to be thy lackie Thinke how sometimes he goeth before sometimes he followeth one time on the right hand another time on the left hand now he goeth before to ouerthrow thee now he followeth prouiding snares to catch thee now he standeth at thy left hand by calamities and distresses to bring thee to despaire and by and by he is on thy right hand by honours and dignities to puffe thee vp with pride and arrogancy thereby to giue thee a greater fal Consider when thou eatest he is about thee to make thee exceede by gluttonie When thou speakest that thou mayest stumble faulter in thy speech Thinke that when thou awakest he causeth thee to be drowsy whē thou sleepest he deludeth thee by strange visions and deceipts manie subtil deuices many deceipts and craftie sleights doth he imagine How many netts how many snares doth that tirāt lay for the miserable soules of sinneful men In how many wayes and comers doth that enemy sitt lurking to spoile robbe and murder all passengers Fratres sobrij estote c Brethren be you sobre and watch because your aduersary the diuell as a roaring lyon goeth about seeking whome he may deuoure saieth the holy Apostle S. Peter 1. Pet. 5.8 which worthy sentēce our holy Mother the church hath apointed to be daily sung at Compline in al places where the diuine office is said Circuiui terram c. I haue cōpassed about the earth and walked along through it saieth the diuel to God asking of him frō whence he came Iob. 2.2 What is the reason why the diuell so vieweth the world why he walketh through the earth so diligently for your soules for your soules I say God his Angells seeke to saue your soules the diuell with all greedines thirsteth after your damnation Da mihi animas c. Giue me the soules take thou the rest saith Abraham Gen. 14.21 The diuell saith the like to man the true seruants and worshippers of God are enflamed with desire to winne soules so likewise all the diuels hate them with extreame indignatiō neuer ceasing vntill they haue brought them as low as hel The Angells and good men and the diuells are marchants of soules but after a different manner For the first by all means endeauour to conduct them into heauen but the latter to make shipwracke of them in the bottomlesse pitt of hell That soule maketh an ill and an vnluckie iourney which taketh the diuell for her companion seruing him daily by sinne contemning God and reiecting his most sacred law But on the other side that soule maketh a prosperous iourney which followeth the Angels and Gods seruants for they will assuredly lead her into paradise shewinge her the way which they haue trodden namely the keeping and true obseruing of the diuine precepts commaundements Thine Angel Guardian sinner will neuer forsake thee so long as thy soule remaineth in thy body exciting thee to shunne euill and to chose that which is good The diuell a most cruell tyrant thy companion will not be idle about thee but wil prouoke thee vnto all sortes of wickednesse tragression Now then sinner how doest thou behaue thy selfe towardes thy good Angell how doest entertaine this thy most faithfull and louing keeper Alas sillie miscreant thou refusest thy good Angell and thy blessed Sauiour to ioyne thy selfe to the infernall Prince of darknesse whom thou seruest with all homage diligence and industrie Consider sinner with what streight obligation thou art bound to God and thy good Angell who cōtinually defendeth and accompanieth thee keepeth thee from the assaults and snares of innumerable damned spirits Thinke how many yeares are passed wherein thou hast liued in the sure custody of infernall enemies offending dishonouring and dispising thy God who al this time hath expected thee ready to embrace thee in his armes stretched out vpon the crosse there manifesting his benignity mercy loue and charitie towardes thee It is not long since sinners that the diuel would haue quite destroyed
you and haue carried you hence had not the goodnesse and clemency of our most sweet and milde Iesus hindered withstood him who gently preserued you aliue expecting looking that you should doe pennance calling you by inward motions and inspirations and admonishing you by wholesome instructions of deuout preachers and spirituall bookes Consider wicked and forlorne sinner how great thine ingratitude hath bene against God who so earnestly desireth thy conuersion saying Conuertimini ad me turne to mee in your whole harte Ioel. 2. Turne to mee and I will turne vnto you saieth God Zach 1. Turne then speedilie vnto him as to your louing God sinners seeing that his tender mercie so kindely inuites you Wilt thou leaue him sinner to take the diuell take heed what thou doest Nunquid non ipse est Pater tuus Is not he thy Father that hath possessed thee hath not he made thee and created thee It is a nation without counsell and wisedome O that they were wise and would prouide for their last end saieth the holy scripture Deut. 32. O the blindnesse of man O the madnesse of a sinner who forsaketh his God to follow a most terrible diuell Remember well and call to minde sinner that he is thy God that hath created thee that alone hath redeemed thee with his most pretious blood Tell me I pray thee sinner whose ayre is this wherewith thou breathest Whose earth is this which sustaineth thee and houldeth thee vp The water which washeth thee the fire which warmeth thee whose I say are all these but Gods who gaue thee cloathing wherewith thou coueredst thy nakednesse hadst thou not it from God from thy Iesus Who giueth thee bread to eate water to drinke but onely thy God wilt thou then be vnthankfull vnto him who bestoweth so liberally these benefits vpon thee who affordeth thee health Who maintaineth thy life is it not God that gaue the same vnto thee My God and sweet Sauiour my benigne clement mercifull louing God what iustice and equitie is it that we should all be conuerted vnto thee It is good for mee to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord my God saied the holy Prophet who knew how many great good things proceeded to him from his God Psal 72. but you forlorne sinners and sillie miscreāts are so farre frō desiring to come to God who is willing able to purge and sanctifie you that willingly and with free consents you associate your selues with the diuel who will make you diuelish like vnto himselfe when as otherwise you might be made one with God by the ardor of loue and charitie Deus charitas est c. Ioan. 4. God is charitie and he that abideth in charity abideth in God and God in him saieth S. Iohn If any man loue mee he will keepe my wordes and my Father will loue him and we will come to him and make our mansion with him Ioan. 14. Delitiae meae c. My delight is to be with the sonnes of men Behould here the inexcogitable felicity of the good the ineffable miserie and calamitie of the wicked for the good shall remaine in the blessed companie of allmightie God but the wicked and trāsgressors shall for euer be shut vp amōgst the damned crew of infernall diuels To conclude assure thy selfe sinner that whether thou eatest or drinkest whether thou sitt or walke whether thou sleepe or wake or what thing soeuer thou dost thou art alwaies in the company of innumerable diuells who daily stand attending thee ready to carry thee along with thē into hell And againe perswade thy selfe that they would not be long without the prey of thy poore soule if Gods clemency and the custodie of Angels were not present to defend it from them Our Lord by the merits of S. Marie Magdalen in remembrance of whose cōuersion the church euerie yeare solemnly celebrateth her festiual day so chaunge the mindes of sinners but especially of those who are to read this little worke that vtterly forsaking the familiaritie of the wretched diuells and damned spirits they may obtaine a heauenly societie and friendship with Iesus Christ their God their Father Creator world without end Amen And I humbly beseech euery one that shall read this booke that he would pray for mee miserable sinner liuing or dead Sweet Iesus blesse vs all Amen IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Of the societie which sinners haue in their death and how dangerous their state is about the houre of their death THE XXXV CHAPTER IT is an olde Prouerbe sinner well knowne vnto thee Qui malè viuit malè moritur He that liues ill dieth ill What then doest thou suppose will become of thee who hast lead so wicked a life so many yeares It may be thou wilt say with S. Paul diues est in misericordia c. Ephes 2. God is rich in mercie and wil shew singular clemencie vnto mee in death But this befalleth but to very few for although some sinners haue bene saued at the last gaspe as it happened to the good theefe yet woe to them who sinne presuming vpon such a confidence Paenitentiam in extremis nec damnamus nec approbamus we neither approue of nor condemne repentance deferred to the last end saieth S. Augustin It is only knowne to God what such mens cases shall be This is most certaine that all sinners that are saued must haue an exceeding great and perfect sorrow for all their offences and iniuries wherby they haue offended his diuine Maiestie But who is he that shall be assured to haue this consideration with himselfe how he hath formerly liued in sinne and iniquity to haue a sufficient contrition sorrow for offending God at the time of his death Let no man seduce you by idle and friuolous wordes saieth S. Paul Ephes 5. What then sinner canst thou be so foolish as once to harbour such a thought in thy mind that the diuell thine aduersary who hath bene thy companion all the course of thy life will leaue and forsake thee at thy death be wiser then so for otherwise thou wilt be farre deceaued yea rather at that time he will shew all his malice and vse the greatest care and diligence that he can to obtaine the victory so longe desired of him Then shalt thou behold the vggely shape of thy infernall cōpanion then shalt thou clearly see how horrible his coūtenance is for then God will permit thee to discerne him whom thou hast serued and to whom thou hast boūd thy selfe as slaue for so manie yeares Alas sinner what wilt thou say when the diuell boasting exulting ouer thee will terrifie thee with his fearfull deformed face If happily thou purpose to go frō him and to returne to Christ by doing pennance for thy former lewed life then he will demonstrate and lay open before thine eyes some subtill deceipts and fallacies which before he kept secret Alas
of this life for so soone as thy soule shall leaue thy stinking and vile body presently will these cruell fiendes lay hold vpon her and entertaine her with store of tortures Consider with what fury and madnes they will take possession of thy soule Thinke what straunge kindes of torments they will inuent to punish her O there is nothing which we can excogitate so horrible as this Know for certaine that after death iudgement the diuell may dispose of thee as he listeth as well for thy body as thy soule Alas obdurate sinner cannest thou imagine that thou hast no need to doe pennance seeing that thou hast delighted thy selfe with all carnall pleasures and lasciuiousnes euen to the full Thou art deceaued wretch if thou suppose that thy body which for so many yeares together hath bene exposed to al abhominable vices shall not at last receaue recompence for its former lewednes Thou greedy glutton which Epicure-like makest a God of thy belly doest thou not expect the wages which thou hast deserued Thou bloudy companion which desirest nothing more then to be reuenged of thine enemies māgling their bodies at thy pleasure doest thou thinke to goe vnpunished or that infernall fiendes shall not in the same sorte dilacerate and disioint all the partes and members of thy body O the madnesse and blindnesse of mankinde which vnawares casteth it selfe downe headlong into hell what wilt thou doe wretched sinner when thou shalt be brought from one companie of diuells to another farre worse and more furious What wilt thou say lasciuious maide when thou shalt be tortured in one part of hell and from thence in a sudden be thrust into another where an infinite multitude of executioners expecteth thee What course will you take sinnefull men and women when you shall see your selues dailie to be punished with new and straunge deuised punishments Consider sinner that thy pleasures and pastimes are but transitorie call to minde wanton woman how that beautie will decay thy comely countenance be consumed and thy body become a prey for diuells Tell me I pray thee lewed woman hast thou neuer seene any one possessed in all thy life dost thou remember how the damned spirits tosse those miserable creatures torture their bodies in most pittifull manner Goe to then and consider how they will deale with thee when they shall get thee in their regiment when by the diuine iustice thou shalt be deliuered vp into their handes to be afflicted both in body and soule Consider seriouslie if those which the diuels possesse ar handled of them in this sorte vpon whom as yet they haue no power at all but only so farre as God doth giue thē leaue for they haue power ouer the bodie alone but nothing to do with the soule what will then become of thee when both in body and soule thou shalt be wholy deliuered vp to their cruelty which is not the same case with possessed persons because they are very seldome tormented of more diuells then one at the same time woe to you men and women which now disquiet not your thoughts with these thinges for afterwards you will feele the smarte for your negligence What sinner dost thou thinke that it will profit thee any thing if thou complaine and say Alas you afflict mee leaue off punish mee no longer and commiserate my poore case Noe noe it is otherwise yea the more thou shalt bewaile the greater blowes shall they lay vpon thee What canst thou replie that thy griefe and torments might be diminished The time wil neuer come in which these grieuous paines shall cease Ite in ignem c. goe saieth our Sauiour into eternall fire who shall reiect thee with terrible sentence and adiudge thee to these perpetuall flames What punishment will it be vnto thee when thou shalt call to minde the angry coūtenance of Christ Iesus whom after death thou didest behould in iudgement Good God Numquid qui cadit non resurget Shall not he that falleth rise againe and he that is turned away shall he not turne againe why thē is this people turned away with a cōtentious reuolting saieth the Prophet Ieremie 8.4 It is mans frailtie to fall angelicall puritie to amend and diuelish malice to perseuere in sinne as a certaine Doctour affirmeth Alas Brethren and sisters sinners be not so carelesse of the time to come returne to your God be sorry for your offences cōmitted earnestly begg pardon for thē of the diuine clemency whose property is to forgiue sinners Deus cui proprium est misereri c. God whose proprietie is to haue mercy and to spare saieth our holy Mother the church receaue our humble petitions that the pittifulnes of thy mercie may gently absolue vs and all thy seruants whom the chaines of their offences haue fast bound Returne to your Lord God and get againe into fauour with your sweet Iesus Are you afraide sinners that he will not receaue you thinke not so sinners Misericordia Domini plena est terra the earth is full of the mercy of our Lord and his tender compassions are ouer all his workes saith the holie Prophet Dauid Fidelis sermo c. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptance that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners 1. Tim. 1.15 Meditate a while vpon the great loue wherwith thy God was moued to come downe from heauen and to dwell vpon the earth for thee he was made man for thee and for thy sake after thirtie-three yeares spēt in austerities contempts and reproaches he shedd his most pretious bloud vpon the crosse Alas this alone ought to be sufficient to breake in pieces your stony hartes to bring you backe againe into the right path O Iesu my loue through vertue of thy holy name conuert sinners and those that goe astray take commiseration of their sinnefull state pardon them and be reconciled with them that they may auoide and shunne the tiranny of the diuell Graunt this my sweet Iesu I hūbly beseech thee through the merits of thy death and passion through thy most pretious bloud which thou diddest shedd for mee and for all sinners vppon the holy wood of the crosse Graunt this I beseech thee for the loue of thy most sacred passion for the loue of thy moste deare and pure Mother Graunt this mercy my beloued Iesu to all sinners for thy exceeding great clemency giue them pardon and forgiuenesse in honour of thy Angels and blessed Saints Amen IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen FINIS A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS THE 1. CHAPTER THE diuision of the Seauen Trumpets The 2. Chapter The first Trumpet of Gods grieuous complaint of a sinner The 3. Chapter Of the infinite wrong wherewith a sinner by sinning doth offend the diuine Maiestie The 4. Chapter The second Trumpet of the deformitie of sinne The 5. Chapter Here followeth the same matter of the deformitie of sinne The 6.