reuerence he will make vs partakers of his celestial kingdome Cōsider now poore wretch that so long as thou art blemished polluted with the spott and contagion of sinne what soeuer thou doest were it to die it would not be imputed meritorious for the obtayning of eternall saluation and from hence it cometh that whatsoeuer thou doest it doth all perish although thou shouldest doe so much pennance so austerlie macerate thy body so often fast as often as the whole world if thou shouldest distribute al thy goods to the poore and giue thy body to be consumed in flames of fire performe what soeuer can be done or saide it doth not any way profit or auaile thee for the obtaining of eternall life so long as thou art in mortal sinne These good workes doe profit thee but to other endes as to conseruing of thy health and procuring and obtaining of temporall goods riches in this life because God out of his infinite goodnes and iustice letteth passe no euill vnpunished and no good thing vnrewarded Therfore abstaine thou not hereafter from doing well performing those good morall acts although thou beest guiltie of mortall sinne because besides that they conduce to that which I haue formerly intimated it may be also that they auaile so much that thou being freed from the guilt of sinne thou mayest be made more fitt and apt that God may more freely concur with thy soule and cause in thee penitencie and satisfaction for thy former sinnes although of thēselues they auaile not to obtaine heauē I will here demonstrate vnto thee a certaine manner of proceeding that although thou art guiltie of mortall sinne notwithstanding God may accept of thy good works to thy saluation which is very profitable and I earnestly desire thee to attend giue eare vnto it When thou art about to giue an almes to fast to say the Rosary to heare Masse or a sermon or to doe any good worke being then in mortall sinne if then thou hast not oportunitie or leasure to goe to confession I will that thou endeauour to gaine that sorrow and penitencie for thy sinnes that is requisite with a purpose neuer to sinne more and confesse them when there shall be conuenient time and occasion which thing being so done thy good workes shall be gratefull meritorious and capable of eternall retribution But if thou obseruest not this remainest guiltie of deadlie sinne there is no hope that thou shalt euer gaine heauen for all thy good deeds although they were innumerable Here I also tell thee that not a few are deceaued who suppose beleeue that those good acts that they doe in mortall sinne after confession and reconciliation with God shall be restored vnto them againe and by their merits they may gaine heauen which is is most vntrue But that thou mayest fully and truly vnderstād this opiniō I will that thou know ô sinner accordinge to all the Doctors that there are three kindes of workes which are liue workes dead workes mortified workes Liue workes are those which are done in grace and these are meritorious of eternall life Dead workes are called those which are done in sinne which are altogether dead neither are capable of merit Mortified workes are these which are done in the state of grace of any one but afterwards he sinneth and therby so mortifieth obscureth them that if he should die in mortall sinne the workes which before were meritorious and liuely shall perish and be abolished because their vertue and force was so debilitated and weakned by sinne Againe these mortified workes when thou shalt be receaued into grace they shall haue their former nature and that mortification being remoued they shall be reuiued and of no lesse merit thē they were formerly But these which were done in sinne which had no vigour or life although thou art admitted into grace not withstanding they shall obtaine nothing vnlesse as I haue formerly explicated Iesus Christ for his mercies sake graunt that he would impresse the horrible sound of this fearfull trumpet in your eares and hartes and therby so awake you that you may be alwaies fitt instruments of his diuine grace and at last to raigne with him and his eternall Father in the kingdome of eternall glorie in blisse and happines for euer and euer Amen The fourth Trumpet of the losse that a sinner suffereth through sinne at his death THE XIV CHAPTER ET quartus Angelus tubâ ceciuit Apoc. 8. and the fourth Angel sounded the trumpet Come yee now ô sinners to the hearing of the fourth trumpett attend and marke how terrible and fearfull it is O wretched and blinded soules that you are consider with your selues that you must once die Dust thou art and into dust shalt thou returne said God to Adam when he was penitent for his offence Gen. 3. By the enuie and malice of the diuell sinne entred into the world and those that are of his combination striue to imitate him The holy scripture saieth It is decreed once for men to die accordinge to the Apostle Alasse oh yee sinners what reason can you haue to be so proane and facill to sinne when as it must needes bee that you are not ignorant of the necessitie of your deathes Oh yee harlotes which make your owne bodies netts of the diuell to deceaue and entrap your selues and make your soules a prey for the furie of the diuell with thē to be burned perpetuallie in hell how can it be I say that beinge mindefull of death you doe not desist from such malignant offences and crimes O death how cometh it to passe that at the remembrance of thee sinners are not astonished In all thy workes remember thy last end and thou shalt neuer sinne saith the wise man Eccles 7.40 But which are your last and finall ends oh yee sinners doe you know They are Death Iudgement Hell Heauen we will at this present proceed to treat and say something of death and hereafter of the other O happy soule which now bearest in minde and appliest to thy harte the last houre and moment of death Mors est vltimum terribilium Death is the last thing of all that are to be feared saith the philosopher There can nothing be fained or thought vpon more fearful thē death but thou thinking not vpon this matter studiest continually how to sinne saying with the impious mā Let vs crowne our selues with roses before they wither let there be no pleasant medow which our riot shall not passe through Wisd 2.8 Thus thou spendest ten twenty thirty perhaps fourtie yeares liuing in this irreligious and vngodly course of life But tell me I beseech thee sinner what will all this profit thee at last thy life shall draw to an end at length thy last day shall come at length whether thou wilt or not thou must departe at last thou must leaue all thy treasures delightes recreationes and pleasures I say to all these thou must once die Thy
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
read in prophane authours that when Crates beganne to studie philosophie hee cast all his monie into the sea saying Malo te perdere quam vt tu me perdas I had rather cast thee away then thou shouldest cast away mee intimatinge thereby that riches are not to be esteemed but vtterliy to be renounced and contemned when they cannot bee kept without the losse and hinderance of vertue I omitt to speake of Bias and Diogenes the one whereof being admonished to saue something for himselfe his answere was Omnia mea mecum porto all my substance I carrie with mee meaning his vertues The other made choise of pouertie rather to liue in washing of rootes then with Aristippus to enioy courtlie pleasures and by flatterie to be in fauour with Princes Alas shall these heathen philosophers which knew not God despise treasures contemne riches and embrace pouertie onely for the loue of morall vertues and shall wee which professe our selues to be Christians bought with the pretious blood of Iesus Christ respect transitorie vanities before the saluation of our soules Shall the blessed Apostle S. Paul Phil. 3.8 count all thinges detriment and esteeme them as dunge that he might gaine Christ And shall we like children be delighted with toyes and with Esops cocke preferre a barlie corne before a rich gemme shall we dissemble with our consciences for the worlde for feare that otherwise we should loose our credit Woe be vnto vs if we doe so seeing our Blessed Sauiour hath sayed Math. 10.33 He that shall deny me before men him wil I denie before my Father which is in heauen And in an other place hee sayeth If any man will come vnto me and hateth not his Father and mother wife and children Brother and sister yea and his owne life he cannot be my disciple Luc. 14.26 God forbid that we should delay our conuersion and with the foolish Virgins haue our oyle to seeke for our lampes when the bridegroome cometh vnto the marriage left afterwardes knocking and calling to be receiued in we be sent backe againe with a Nescio vos I know you not S. Iohn Baptist when he was in the wildernesse shewed that his commission and embassage was to preach pennance vnto the world how that the axe was now layed to the roote of the tree and euerie tree that bringeth not forth good fruite to bee cut downe and cast into the fire And that his life might bee conformable to his wordes he executed in pennance the greatest austerities his meat was locust and wilde honie the food which hee found in the fieldes his apparell a garment of camels hayre girt with a rough girdle and his chamber and lodginge a caue of some craggic rocke his boulster and bedde the hard ground bearinge with great patience the colde heate hunger and thirst and other common iniuries of the ayre But why did this blessed and glorious forerunner of our Sauiour Christ endure all this not in punishment of his sinnes hee beinge sanctified from his Mothers wombe but to preserue himselfe the better euen from the least offences to tame his flesh and bring it in subiection to the spirit and to dispose him selfe the better to receaue the guifts of heauen which are not ordinarilie obtayned but by such painfull austerities Why then should not wee imitate this Saint and conforme our selues vnto him wherein hee is imitable Why should not wee embrace corporall austerities as much as wee may chastising our flesh and offeringe it as a liuelie hoste holy and acceptable vnto God almighty in satisfaction for our sinnefull liues past Rom. 12. This path haue all these holie and iust men of the old and new testament formerly trodden For in the written law the Apostle affirmeth how they went in sheeps skinnes in goates skinnes wandring in deserts in mountaines in dennes and caues of the earth and in the law of grace wee plainlie see that the whole life of our Blessed Sauiour the most perfect mirrour of all virtues was nothing else but a continuall acte of penaunce spent wholy in watching praying fasting hunger thirst and colde with other like necessities wherunto we are subiect suffering shamefull ignominies and reproaches and all for our example as witnesse his owne wordes saying Ego dedi c. Ioan. 13.15 I haue giuen you example as I haue done so do you likewise His prayers were so long that S. Luke writeth that he went forth into the mountaine and there passed the whole night in prayer Luc. 16.12 and that the example of this vertue was not left vs by our Lord for speculation onely but for our practise also this place of scripture maketh it plaine Marc. 13.33 Take heed watch and pray and againe watch yee therefore for yee know not the houre in which the Lord of the house cōmeth He fasted fortie dayes and fortie nightes in the desert Marc. 4. and one Euangelist addeth Luc. 4.2 that he did eate nothing in those dayes neither doe we euer read expresselie that he did euer eate any flesh in all his life vnlesse the Sacramētall flesh of the old law which was eaten for deuotion not to satisfy hunger wheras of fish bread made of barly and of drinking of water māy testimonies are not wāting Besides al this he was derided scorned mocked coūted a foole and when he did any wonderfull miracles they would presētly say Mat. 13.55 Is not this the carpenters sonne do we not know all his pedegree how basely he is descēded a mā that is a glutton wine-drinker Math. 11.19 a friend of publicans sinners After our Sauiour Christs most bitter death and passion consider how the Apostles passed their liues in much fasting long watchings hunger thirst cold heat nakednesse And since their time all these which haue safely passed the troublesom sea of this miserable world and are now arriued at the thrise happy hauen of eternall felicitie they haue all done the like To auoid prolixity I referre you vnto infinite exāples in Egisippus Eusebius and others that haue written the liues of Saints in those ages as also in S. Athanasius of the life of S. Paul the first Eremite and of S. Hilarion the like you may see in Ioānes Cassianus Palladius Ioānes Climachus other holy authētical authors which haue recorded things of admiration in this behalfe all with most rigorous asperities of life in these ancient Christiās which intended only the mortifying of their bodies the subduing of their flesh and sensual tie repressing the vnlawful motiōs of their concupiscence that they might stād more secure in this conflict of resisting sinne Is it possible then that wee knowing and hearinge these thinges should as holy Iob sayeth drinke vp sinne as beasts doe water where are our witts reason and iudgement when we heare Christ saying Mat. 16.26 what doth it profit a man if he gaine the whole world and suffer detriment of his soule And we like swine wallow our selues in the filth
decree and resolue with thy selfe to flie from it for the exceeding detriment that the soule suffereth by it euen in this world O wretch that thou art if thou didst but know what preiudice thou receauest when thou committest any sinne I am most certaine thou wouldest fly from it as from a serpent Quasi a facie colubri fuge peccata Flie sinne as from the face of a Serpent the teeth of it are as the teeth of a Lyon killing the soules of men All iniquitie is as a two-edged sword the wound thereof is incurable saith the wise man Eccles 21.3 Oh Brethren what a fearfull speech is this to terrifie you from sinning and to draw you from offending your God and Redeemer how euidently doth it demonstrate how great and infinite the detriment is and how paste cure the vlcer of sinne is how true is it that sinne is a sting of a venemous serpent which causeth such a wound in the soule of man as that without great difficultie it cannot be cured Nam peruersi difficulter corriguntur peruerse men are not easily reformed and brought to amendment And Impius cum in profundum venerit peccatorum contemnit Prou. 18.3 the wicked whē he cometh to the height of vngodlines contemneth How much violence must a couetous intemperate malitious or angry mā or any sinner vse to be truly and cordially conuerted which for a long time hath bene inueterated in his accustomed vices how true is it that sinnes are lions teeth mortally woūding the soules of men Lions at one stroke and moment kill and deuoure beastes sinne likewise in one instāt butchereth soules In so much that it peruerteth and molesteth all the internall and externall powers it darkneth and blindeth the vnderstanding it congealeth the affections it debillitateth all the faculties that they are made weake to resist and withstand all oppositions I would to God that yee could perceaue what woundes you giue your soules euery time that you sinne I wish from my harte you could see how grieuously and deadly you strike stabbe and murder them so often as you offend Therfore the holy scripture saieth very properly Quasi romphea bis acuta omnis iniquitas Eccles 21.4 all iniquitie is a two-edged sword which may be vnderstood because it killeth both body and soule or therfore it is spoken to exaggerate and make knowne vnto vs the deadly wounds that it doth inflict vpon a soule Neither is the scripture content with this but it goeth farther and saieth Illius non est sanitas there is no remedy for the hurt thereof neither truly is there found a naturall balme against the wound of sinne but we must seeke one supernaturall and diuine Quis potest remittere peccatum nisi solus Deus who can forgiue sinne but God alone Luc. 5.21 this blemish cannot be taken away nor this woūd cured vnlesse God himselfe the heauenly phisitian of soules applie the salue Magnus de coelo descendit medicus quia magnus iacebat egrotus it was necessary that a grat phisitian should come from heauen because there was a dāgerous woūd to be cured vpō earth In a word it is only the pretious blood of Christ that can effect this Et sine sanguinis effusione non fit remissio peccatorum Heb. 9.22 and without the effusiō of blood there is no remission of sinne Blinde olde Tobias that he might recouer his lost sight was compelled to apply the gall of a fish taken out of the riuer Tigris and thou inueterated sinner in vices to receaue thy spirituall sight againe hast need to apply the bitter gall of the sacred fish Christ Iesus taken out of the torrent of his passion according to that of Ionas Protecisti me in profundū in corde maris flumē circumdedit me Ion. 2. Thou hast cast me into the deepe and the riuer hath compassed me about which truly may be vnderstood of the passion of Christ Passio Christi est mare propter penalitatis amaritudinem flumen propter charitatis dulcedinem S. Bon. proemio sentent And therfore if thou desirest to be made whole thou must haue recourse to the wounds of Christ that pretious blood which was powred forth and distilled from his sacred body hanging vpon the wood of the crosse runne with all speed to the whippes and nailes blowes ignominies which our deare Iesus suffered to those torments and sufferinges which he endured to the paines which he did vndergoe to the disgracefull crowne which was set vpon his head to the spittings buffetings opprobries accursed maledictions and blasphemies with which thy sweet Iesus was opprest In a word Brethren that you may be awakened from the lethargie of sinne and abandon the societie of the diuell of necessitie you must make haste to prostrate your selues at the feete of Iesus Christ crucified there to begge the balme electuarie and potion which may cure your inueterate woundes poisoned soares and apostemes To conclude it is necessary to caste all our cogitation into the immense abisse of the passion of Iesus Christ and that we should assure our selues that whatsoeuer he hath suffered hath bene for vs and that our sinne hath bene the only cause therof Last of all that we may recouer our former health change our lifes conuersations let our Lord illuminate vs take pitty and commiseratiō vpon vs for his mercies sake Amen Other damages and losses which a soule receaueth by reason of sinne THE VIII CHAPTER SVrge qui dormis Ephes 5.14 Arise thou that sleepest and come from amongst the dead and Christ wil illuminate thee Marke I beseech you and giue eare to this saying of the Apostle if yee desire to know more detriments of sinne whereby your soules are preiudiced The Apostle doth demonstrate three harmes in this place which sinne procureth The first is that it dulleth the soule that it cannot well performe her function therfore it is said Surge qui dormis arise thou that sleepest The second is that it killeth the soule therfore it is said Surge à mortuis The third is that it blindeth it therfore the Apostle saith Et illuminabit te Christus and Christ shall giue thee light oh ye drowsie and sluggish sinners how true is it that you are a sleepe and possest with the lethargy of sinne Et Ionas descendebat ad interiora nauis dormiebat sopore graui Ion. 1.5 Ionas descended into the innermoste partes of the shippe slept a sound sleepe he perceaued not the roaring of the sea nor the violent encountring of the foming waues nor the great danger to which he was exposed nor did he heare the cry and lamentation of the marriners nor had he awaked had not the Master of the shippe stirred him vp saying vnto him Quid tu sopore deprimeris what doest thou sleepe arise and cal vpon the name of thy God Oh sinner how hast thou descended into the interiour parte of the shippe our holy Mother the church thou liest there lulled
a sleepe in vices iniquities neither wretch that thou art doest thou take notice of the troubled state of the shippe the church exposed to the danger of shipwrack for thy sinnes on all sides tossed with turbulent windes and stormes of most cruell enemies Arise vnhappy soule I say not the Master or pilot of the shippe but thy poore Brother who beinge touched with a desire of the helth of thy soule and of all other sinners for the loue of him who shewed such great mercy towardes me that called me from the sleepe in which I did lie I say vnto thee wherefore doest thou lie opprest with sleepe sleepe no longer awake oh sinnefull and wicked wretch now is the time to thinke with thy selfe what miseries are imminent now implore the diuine ayde and mercy Si fort◠recogitet de nobis vt non pereamus Ion. 1.6 if perhappes he will thinke of vs that we may not perish Arise now with the holy Prophet Dauid saying Illumina oculos meos Psal 12.5 lighten mine eyes lest I should sleepe in death lest that mine enemies should say I haue preuailed against him There are some which snorte are sound a sleepe in their sinnes and there be some which be halfe awake they of the first sorte be such as daily sinne mortally and they are in continuall enmitie with God because as they that snorte sleepe soundly neither are they awaked of the sudden so they that are in mortall sinne are not easily raised out of the depth thereof But they of the second sorte sometimes they fall sometimes they rise againe out of their sinnes euen as he that slumbereth often sleepeth and often awaketh againe and this is the lesser euill although sometimes they are punished with noe lesser penaltie then they that are soūdlie a sleepe God almighty illuminate you that you may not sleepe slumber nor snorte in the depth of sinne as you haue done vntill now The Apostle prosecuteth this matter further saying Et exurge à mortuis and arise from the dead Beholde a greater danger wherby the soule is endamaged by sinning for after that a soule for some time hath slept in sinne it is more negligent in the exercise of good workes and is so dulled and in disposed that it seemeth to be dead For as the body without the soule is dead so a soule is dead without God as the soule is the life of the body so God is the life of the soule know yee deare Brethren that there is noe dead carcase so stinkinge or hath a more loathsome smell in the sense of man as a soule dead in sinne hath in the nostrills of almighty God There is an example at hād in the liues of the holy Fathers of an Angell that did accompanie an Anachoret to make him vnderstand something of the diuine iudgements These in the way as they iournied foūd a dead body the Angel passing by made noe signe of any offensiue smell but proceeding further they met with a certaine comely yōg man richly inuested bearing about him strong parfumes at the sight of whome the Angell forthwith stopped his nostrills at which thing the Anchoret wonderinge he demaunded the reason wherfore he should stoppe his nose at that comely yong man wel cloathed and sending forth acceptable smells and immmediatly before made no such signe at the dead body because said the Angell youth loaden with sinne stinketh more odiously then a putrified body I am fetet now he stinketh saith Martha of her Brother Lazarus Ioan. 11.39 oh my my Brother sinner how grieuouslie doest thou stinke in the nostrils of God the Angels the Saints in heauen Et illuminabit te Christus Christ shall enlighten thee behold another greeuous effect and detriment that sinne bringeth vpō the soule Oh blinded sinners which perceaue not the resplendant lustre and light of diuine grace Et confestim ceciderunt ab oculis eius tanquam squamae visum recepit Act. 9.18 and presently there fel from his eyes as it were scales and he receaued his sight saieth S. Luke in the acts of the Apostles speaking of the conuersion of Saul Oh sinner persecutor of Iesus Christ I would to God thou couldest see with what great scales thy eyes are couered which doe hinder blinde thy sight Oculos suos statuerunt declinare in terram Psal 16.11 they haue determined to decline their eyes towardes the earth sinners haue made a compact with the diuell to haue their eyes alwaies fastned vppon the earth Oh blinded sinners that Iesus might illuminate your eyes he would permit his diuine eyes to be ridiculously couered shamfully blindfolded How ignorant and blind art thou oh ambitious man which doest so stedfastly fix thine eyes vpon the vanishinge shadow of vaine glory Oh thou couetous man how blinde art thou to whom a lump of dust earth seemeth an incomparable treasure How blinde art thou oh luxurious man to whom a stinking carcase seemeth so pretious a thing Oh intemperate mā how blinde art thou to whom transitorie pleasures seeme soe sweete and inestimable Oh all yee sinners how blinde are you that you cannot perceaue and see your great detriment and eminent danger oh my Iesu illuminate I beseeche thee these blinded sinners that they may take notice of their errours in which they are soe miserablie inuolued graunt them to repent for theire crimes and offences and to turne vnto thee with all their hartes the sweete fountaine of eternall life and happines Amen That a soule by sinne looseth the friendship of God THE IX CHAPTER SI consideremus fratres charissimi qua quanta sunt quae nobis promittuntur in coelis vilescerent animo omnia quae habentur in terris Oh dear Brethren if you would truly consider what and how great thinges are promised and prouided for you in heauen all things vppon earth would seme contemptible and base vnto you saith S. Gregorie I am not determined at this present to speake of the great losse which sinne bringeth vpon the soule in the life to come seeing that I purpose hereafter to take a more oportune occasion but now I wll intimate only what and how great a thing it is that a soule looseth by sinne in this life In maleuolam animam non intrabit sapientia wisedome shall not enter into a malignant soule saieth the scripture Wisd 1.4 behold the first shipwracke of a sinnefull soule is the want of the taste of true knowledge for although a sinful soule is endued with an excellent vnderstāding yet is it depriued of the comfortable tast of the scriptures and neuer hath the gust of the sweetnes thereof But this is nothing in respect of that which it looseth for the soule of a sinner is depriued of the friendship and amitie of God which farre exceedeth all other thinges Be wife now therefore oh yee sinners and know how pretious a iewell you loose heare mee I beseech you Soe long as a soule is void of sinne it
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
thee o sinner that then all the filth and corruption of thy sepulcher to witt of thy defiled and polluted harte shall be manifested and brought to light There is nothing hid but it shall be reuealed and nothing so secret but shall apeare saieth our Lord. Luc. 12.2 Then all thy hidden and secret sinnes o thou adulterate sinner shall be layed open to the eyes of the whole worlde what therfore wilt thou doe o wretch which way will thine vnfortunate soule turne it selfe 14. The starres shall fall from heauen saieth our Lord that it may strike a feare and terrour into all sinners which haue made themselues vnworthy of that celestiall kingdome 15. Last of all all men shall be changed To signifie vnto thee o sinner that then all pleasures must haue an end and that thy selfe shalt cease to offend iniury and wrong thy God and deare Sauiour Iesus Christ To conclude noe man doth walke safe amongst Serpents Scorpions we are here enuironed with troupes of enemies wherfore as often as I thinke of the daunger of the time now present and the fearfull signes of the time of the last iudgement I cannot but tremble throughout all the partes of my body for whether I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer else I do I thinke I alwaies heare that terrible trumpet soūding in mine eares Arise you dead and come to iudgement for we must all be manifested before the tribunall seat of Christ that euery one may receaue the proper thinges of his body as he hath done either good or euill S. Hieron ad Eustoc de cast Virgin Consider diligently therfore now ô you obdurate stiffe-necked sinners and contemplate all these wonders and prodigies breaking your hard and sturdie mindes and affections with the consideration thereof vnto your eternall saluations Amen Of the resurrection of the dead and how that all men which are dead from the beginning of the world doe die and shal die vnto the end of the same shall be reuiued againe THE XXV CHAPTER ANd he shall send to witt the sonne of mā Iesus Christ at the day of iudgement his Angell with a Trumpet and a great voyce to call the dead to iudgement Math. 24.31 Alas ô you sinners what will you doe at that time when euen the dead in their graues shall heare this terrible sound arise you dead and come to iudgement what will you doe when the Angell shall gather you to iudgement you cannot then withdraw your selues or steale away you cannot say we wil not for will you or no you must come Alas miserable soules of condemned sinners which from the bottomlesse pitt of obscure hell shall heare this fearfull sound for as soone as the Angel shal haue soūded the Trumpett the full time of your tormēts being come you shall bee most miserably rancked with the execrable diuels your associates whilst other diabolicall spirits go about to apprehend other accursed soules saying come you reprobate and damned soules come you with vs that you may receaue the terrible sentence of condemnation come and receiue the ful measure of your punishment due vnto body soule and for euer liue with vs in the eternall paines of hell O fearfull spectacle the diuells shall breake forth out of hell with outragious clamors and roaringes drawing and dragging these damned soules along with them which they shall beat with many stripes and excruciate with diuerse kindes of punishments crying out blaspheming and detesting God O how great fearfull and lamentable a spectacle will it bee to see such a troupe and multitude of diuells and damned soules coming out of secret dennes and caues of the earth filling heauen and earth with their hideous out-cries Consider ô sinner that all these diuells and condemned soules the number of the which for the greatnes thereof cannot be recounted shall cause a terrour to the whole world by reason of the fearfull lamentations of soules and roaring of diuels which shall be heard in al partes of the world Alas sinnefull men and woemen what will you then doe Tide and bound to no place you are and yet you cannot hide your selues nor flie away but of necessity vppon that day must appeare before the Iudge to receaue your sentence of condemnatiō At that day all the reprobate soules shall goe weeping and wailing to their graues to receaue their stinking and loathsome bodies and to be ioyned againe with them and to liue with them perpetually in hel Consider ô sinner that when those accursed soules shall stand at their graues euery one of them shall crie out vnto their bodies in this manner O detestable and execrable body thou my associate and companion come with mee to be burned in perpetuall flames hitherto thou hast slept and taken thine ease and I alone haue bine swallowed vp in the depth of misery it is necessary now that thou also come to be rewarded according to thy merits Come ô cursed body for I was allured by thy polluted desires to offend the angry Iudge of heauen and earth Come filthy and loathsome body which hast so often procured vomit by thine excesse thou must now be damned with the innumerable curses of him that created thee gaue thee to mee come you cruell and wicked handes which haue bine ēbrued in your neighbors blood that you may receaue the reward of so many murders thefts roberies and other heinous offences cōmitted by you Come you execrable feet that you may receaue the recompense of so many mischiefs which with great speedines and celerity you haue runne to commit Come my polluted mouth and tounge that you may receaue the wages of so manie blasphemies dishonest and obsceane wordes which you haue vttered Come my deuowringe throat which neuer couldest be satisfied with excesse and druncknesse The time is now come in which thou must now pay the olde score for thy intemperancy in eating and drinking Come you curious and gazing eyes which would not be satisfied with any good sight come you accursed eares whom nothing but dishonest wordes and lasciuious songes and speeches would delight In a a word come hither all you filthy and loathsome members which because I tooke care to cōtent you haue now for euer destroyed me come for the hire of your beastly excesse to be burned with me in the darksome lake of fire and brimstome without hope of euer returning from thence againe Lastly come hither detestable body which as thou hast bene my companion in comitting of vices so now in like manner thou must be partaker with mee of all my hellish torments and that in continuall howling and weeping for we shall for euer liue together without hope of returning from this damnable dungeon of hell In this manner shal all the soules of the reprobat speake to their bodies in the day of iudgement In like manner shall your soules ô sinners speake to your bodies if you die burdened with deadlie sinnes and offences and you shall be also cast into the burning Tophet if you
of these thinges Bretheren doe you not likewise perceaue a great delight comfort when you thinke vppon God doe you not consider when you meditate vpon terrestriall and created thinges referring them to God their creatour and efficient cause that you receaue a wonderfull sweet content from them O what a meditation is here for you to contemplate the fairenesse and largenesse of the Emperiall heauen O Israell Magna est domus Domini ingens locus possessionis eius c. O Israell saieth the Prophet great is the house of our Lord and large is the place of his possession he is great and hauing no end high and mightie Baruch 3.25 In domo Patris mei mansiones multa sunt In my Fathers house there are many mansions saieth our Lord Iesus Ioh. 14.2 O how many diuerse places and seats are there in heauen which the Saints enioy What is it then that now hindereth your will what letteth you that you cannot be inhabitants of that heauenly citie I am non estis hospites aduenae c. Ephes 2.19 You are not now pilgrims and strangers but you are the citizens with the Saints and domestickes with God Our mercifull Lord Iesus Christ sinners hath reckoned vs amongst the citizens of heauen by his bitter death and passion he hath made vs heires and coheires of a kingdome haeredes quidem Dei cohaeredes autem Christi heires truly of God but as coheires of Christ. Alas miserable wretches what mischiefe is it that depriueth you of so large and faire an inheritance sinne some small puffe or blast of pride some little delight of your polluted bodies some gredie desire or thirsting after humane affaires some light passion of hatred some foolish plotts to be reuenged accursed be all those sinnes which procure such losse and damage vnto vs as to depriue vs of heauen and of the beatifical visiō of the almightie of the most pleasant sight of God the Father and of our Lord Iesus Christ and this is the portion which befalleth all the damned in hell O most louing Father O blessed Sonne of God and holy Ghost the comforter full of loue and charity for thy mercies sake suffer vs not to be depriued of those thy great and large promises permit not Lord God our mercifull Father Sonne and holie Ghost permit vs not to loose the ioyfull sight of that glory in the life to come and the comfort of thy grace in this life present Amen Of the fire of hell and the paines of sense which the damned doe suffer in the companie of diuells THE XXXI CHAPTER PRaeparata est enim ab heri Tophet c. for Tophet is prepared since yesterday of the King deepe and wide the nourishment thereof is fire much wood the breath of our Lord as a torrent of brimstone kindling it Isay 30.33 Goe to now sinner call to thy remembrance those grieuous punishments which thou shalt endure in hell vnlesse thou amend thy life And first of all consider that in hell there is a wonderful denowring fire euer burning and yet neuer consumeth those miserable damned Praeparata est ab heri It is prepared since yesterday that is from the beginning of the foundation of the world there is a place prepared which is called Tophet which signifieth a misleading or beguiling that is hell whither all the soules misled and beguiled by the world the flesh and the diuell presently resorte This Tophet and this hel God the King of Kinges hath prepared to reuenge and punish those execrable diuels all sinners together with thē Prosūdata c. It is deepe and vaste hell is large of great cōpasse saith the holy Prophet I say Nutrimentum eius c. the fuell of this place is fire wood and God with his breath doth cōtinually kindle and sett it on fire Whereupon sinners it is moste cleare that hell is a very darke place in the most inward deepest partes of the earth broade and wide and so ample that although soules should fall downe therin as fast as the raine vpon the earth yet would it neuer be filled In this place the fire allwaies burneth and without ceasing or intermission cruelly torments the diuells damned persons and will so torment and wofully burne them for euer The holy Doctors doe hould that this fire is corporall Ignem infernalem corporalem esse non ambigo saieth Saint Gregorie I doe not doubt but that the fire of hell is corporall And although no corporall thing hath power to worke on a spirituall thing naturally yet notwithstanding by the diuine power that fire which is corporall of the same nature with ours neuer ceaseth after a wonderfull manner to torment al the diuels which are pure spirits and all the damned soules which likewise are without their bodies vntill the day of iudgement then their bodies also shall burne with them for all eternity Alas miserable sinners this is the place appointed and prepared for you where you shal burne with all the accursed crue of diuells for euer except you amend your liues and by repentance turne vnto God That fire shall burne for euer and neuer be extinguished Nutrimenta eius ignis c. The nutriment therof is fire and much wood neither shall there want one daily to blow it for the breath of our Lord like a torrent of brimstone doth kindle it But you must by no means suppose or thinke that there is wood in hell necessary to encrease the fire but the sacred scripture speaketh so to this end that it may be presēted more liuely vnto our vnderstāding which better comprehends and perceaueth naturall thinges neither can wee but say the diuells and soules before iudgement and the bodies of the damned after iudgement be vnderstood by wood for euen as the wood shall be cast into the fire so the diuels and the damned spirits before the day of iudgemēt and their bodies after shal be cast into the same O wonderfull miserie and calamitie whereinto a sinner falleth seeing that he must go downe into hell where he shal burne for euer and euer and neuer be consumed Thinke with thy selfe that thou cannest not without marueilous paine hould thy fingar in this our fire for the space of one Aue Maria but according to the opinion of the Doctors this our fire being compared with the fire of hell is like a painted fire O ineffable miserie Put thy fingar a while to a painted fire and thou shalt perceaue no sensible paine but thrust it into a reall fire and thou shalt not be able to endure the same So truly stādeth the case here for so mightie and so forcible is the fire of hell and tormenteth the soule in such sort and so intolerably as that suppose any one could deliuer and take a soule out of hell fire and cast it into some burning furnace of our fire the soule would imagine it to be no other thing then a recreation or some sweet
Chapter In what hatred sinne is in the sight of almighty God The 7. Chapter The third Trumpett of the detriment that sinne bringeth to a soule in this life The 8. Chapter Other damages and losses which a soule receaueth by reason of sinne The 9. Chapter That a soule by sinne looseth the friendship of God The 10. Chapter That a soule by sinne doth lose the grace of God The 11. Chapter Of the terrible sentence which is giuen vpon a soule at the instant that it sinneth The 12. Chapter That man may easily sinne but cannot of himselfe rise from thence The 13. Chapter How good workes done in sinne doe perish and are of no merit The 14. Chapter The fourth Trumpet of the losse that a sinner suffereth through sinne at his death The 15. Chapter Of the last and deadly disease and damage of the soule and that after this life there is no recouery The 16. Chapter Of the separation of the soule from God in the article of death The 17. Chapter Of the terrour which the diuell striketh into a soule in the momēt of death The 18. Chapter Of the fearfull presence of the Iudge in the instant of death The 19. Chapter Of the gnawing of the conscience which after a terrible manner shall molest a sinner dying The 20. Chapter Of the separation of the soule from the body and of the great dolors and afflictions which follow at that time and instant The 21. Chapter Of the place whether the soule goeth so soone as it departeth out of the body The 22. Chapter Of the dead body carcase of man and of the miserie of the same after the separation of the soule The 23. Chapter The fift Trumpet of the losse that sinne bringeth at the day of iudgement The 24. Chapter Of the fearful signes which shall appeare before the day of iudgement by the consideration whereof many sinnefull soules may be saued which otherwise might perish The 25. Chapter Of the resurrection of the dead and how that all men which are dead from the beginning of the world doe die and shall die vnto the end of the same shall be reuiued againe The 26. Chapter Of the comming of the Iudge to iudgement and of the great feare which his comming will strike into the hartes of sinners The 27. Chapter Of the great shame wherewith all the damned shall be confounded in the day of iudgement before almighty God and the whole world The 28. Chapter 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 29. Chapter Of the going and departure of the damned to hell in the company of all the diuells The 30. Chapter The sixt Trumpett Of the dammage that sinne bringeth to a soule in hell and of the most grieuous punishments wherwith the dāned are ther tormēted The 31. Chapter Of the fire of hell and the paines of sense which the damned doe suffer in the companie of diuells The 32. Chapter Of the diuersitie of punishmentes wherewith the damned soules are tormented without any hope of intermission or mitigation The 33. Chapter Of the fift sixt and other aboue mētioned punishments which the damned suffer in hell The 34. Chapter The Seuenth Trumpet of the societie and companie which a sinner draweth with him in life death and after death The 35. Chapter Of the societie which sinners haue in theire death and how dangerous their state is about the houre of their death The 36. Chapter Of the societie which the soule of a sinner hath after death APPROBATIO EX mandato Reuerēdi admodum Patris nistri Fatris Ioannis Genings Prouincia Angliae satrum Minorum Ministri Custodis diligentius perlegi has septem Tubas Reuerendi Patris Frat. Bartholomei Saluthij è lingua Latina in Anglicam fideliter transpositam quas peccatorum auribus insufflandas iudico Datum Duaci 23. Nouemb. 1625. Fr. Franciscus à S. Clara Sacrae Theol. Lector Conuentus Duaceni Guard indig VIsa approbatione Reuerendi Patris Fratris Francisci à S. Clara Sacrae Theol. Lector obseruatis obseruandis secundum institutionem sacrorum canonum per me imprimi liceat in Collegio nostro Duac S. Bonauentura 23. Nouemb. 1625. Fr. Ioannis Genings Prouinciae Angliae Min. Custos The Approbation BY command of our Reuerend Father Brother Iohn Geninges Superior of the Prouince of England of the holy Order of S. Francis I haue diligently perused these Seauen Trumpets of the Re. Fa. Bro. Saluthius translated out of Latin into English which I iudge most necessary to excite sinners to repentance Bro. Francis of S. Clare Reader of Diuinitie HAuing seene the Approbation of the Reuerend Father Bro. Francis of S. Clare Reader of Diuinitie supposing that the ordinatiōs of the holy Canons be obserued I giue my leaue for the Impression Bro. Iohn Geninges Minister Custos of the English Prouince
vngodly maner of liuing There be two thinges sinners that God doâ—h not remember to wit sinnes and good workes if one hath liued wel thirty or fourtie yeares and hath serued God with much feruour of spirit and maceration of his body with fastings watchings disciplines or other such acts and at last should sinne and decline from his former institution and manner of liuing God blotteth out of his memorie all his former good workes and meritorious actes and if he die in such a state he is for euer plunged into the pitt of perdition On the other side if any one hath liued thirty or fourtie yeares in sinnes be they neuer so great and at the last should be penitent and sorrowfull for them God will forgett them all were they as redd as scarlett he will make them as white as snow and dying in that estate without all doubt he should be made participante of the perpetuall ioyes of heauen The former ought to strike great feare trembling and terrour into the good but the latter much confidence hope trust into the wicked Therfore I beseech you and entreat you deare Brethren sinners for Gods sake and the honour and loue of him that died for you that you would leaue sinning be conuerted vnto your clement Redeemer not any longer to abuse his mercies but to giue his diuine maiestie infinite thankes for his long suffering expecting euen vntill this instaÌ„t of your amendment and conuersion and who is alwaies prepared fatherly to receaue you if euer by amendement of life you shall returne home vnto him Dixi confitebor aduersum me iniustitiam meam Psal 31.6 I said I will confesse against my selfe mine iniustice vnto our Lord and thou hast forgiuen the impietie of my sinne saieth the holy Prophet Dauid who is he oh BrethreÌ„ that would abuse this so great benignitie of God doe it not doe it not doe it not for Iesus Christ his loue and bitter passion who died vpon the crosse for you but turne your selues vnto so louing and fatherly a God which doth not only expect but also draw you that he might pardon free and redeeme you from sinne death and hell A lasse oh yee fooles wherefore do you any longer defer it Sweet Iesu Christ looke downe vppon these blinded wretches and infuse into their soules the light of grace which may bring them to the participation of thy glorie which for thy mercie and much suffering vouchsafe to make theÌ„ capable of that they may die to liue with thee eternally Amen That man may easily sinne but cannot of himselfe rise from thence THE XII CHAPTER SIne me nihil potestis facere Ioan. 15.5 without me yee can doe nothing and in another place Nemo potest venire ad me c. Ioan. 6.44 no man can come vnto mee vnlesse my Father who hath sent mee shall draw him therfore the spouse in the canticles cried out Draw me after thee Cantic 1.3 Now therfore oh sinner it is no smal euill that thou doest incurre by sinning seeing thou hast power to fall and that it is in thy free will to sinne or not but being once fallen canst not of thy owne forces rise againe without the assistance of diuine grace Tel mee I pray thee speaking of thy body that by all probability immediatlye after foote set vppon ground thou shouldest fall how careful wouldest thou bee in walking what diligeÌ„ce wouldest thou vse for the placing of thy feete for the auoyding of danger and if thou chance to fall how willingly wouldest thou imitate the asse which with great difficulty iâ— drawne that way where hee foâ—merly receued any hurt The case is the same oh sinner in respect of thy soule in the next moment thou art ready to fall dangerouslie in so much that thou hast not power and abilitie to rise againe what care oughtest thou to haue then in ordering thy footsteps what vnwillingnes to walke in that path againe in which formerly thou hast receaued so great hurt and danger But thou neglecting this perhaps wilt say God will helpe me True it is thou maiest hope and it is good that thou trust confide in his diuine assistance but with this hope there must be ioyned an holie feare to offend or sinne against so great a maiestie for otherwise thou shalt much aggrauate thy crime and delict and procure the displeasure of so benigne and louing a Father But who hath or can assure thee that the effectuall helpe of God will alwaies be at hand to assist thee Hee can doe or omitt this as it shall be thought fitt by his diuine prouidence and therefore thou hast great reason carefully and prudently to institute thy life to shunne and abandon all obiects and occasions that may any way distract or hinder thee from the vnion of so mighty powerfull a Lord. Furthermore wheÌ„ as God hath administred vnto thee ofteÌ„times his diuine helpe and raised thee vp againe but thou continuing in vices and still with the dogge returning to thy former vomit it may be I say then he will leaue thee as long as that sentence of thy damnation may be pronounced in heauen thou art neuer secure why therefore doest thou studie as I may say to sinne and to prouoke the diuine goodnes Leaue therfore Brother leaue I beseech thee by that life and pretious blood which Iesus Christ our Lord powred out for vs hanging vpon the holy wood of the crosse Brother sinne no more for assure thy selfe that so long as thou art polluted with the blemish of sinne thou art no other then an adulterate person and liable to eternall perdition Beholde vnfortunate soule if thou shouldest be in daunger to fal into some deepe lake or into the sea or any other depth or into the iawes of some cruel wilde beastes how vigilant and carefull wouldest thou bee for the auoyding of so great and imminent a perill and yet thou seemest nothing at all to feare or care for falling into hell out of which there is no redemption How good workes done in sinne doe perish and are of no merit THE XIII CHAPTER WHat dost thou not know that all thy good and meritorious acts and deeds shall not auaile thee any thing if thou but once sinne This only thing truly ought to be a sufficient motiue if thou wouldest admit it to thy serious cogitation to excite rouse thee vp to amendement and correction of thy life manners Vnderstand how great and ineffable the loue and benignitie of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is towards vs vngratefull soules who hath ordained decreed for the least thing soeuer done in the honor of him to giue and make vs capable of heauen for one fasting for one mortification of the body for one almes for one penny giuen for the loue of him for one submission and inflexion of the body proceeding and tending to his glory for pronouncing only of the blessed name of Iesus if it be done with due
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
stollē away many soules from Christ and cast them downe headlong into the pitt of destructiō Alas voluptuous persons men and women where wil you be hereafter who now daily heape sinne vpon sinne without remorse of conscience without shame of men or feare of God what doe you thinke of your selues who haue done actes against the cōmon course of nature what punishments what tormēts what miseries doe waite for you in hell who is able I will not say to number but to thinke of the innumerable paines which are appointed for you Consider sinners you especiallie who follow with great delight and diligence the pleasures and lustes of the flesh consider what I am to tell you further of the fire of hell Although in hel there is but one common fire to tormēt the diuells and damned soules yet in diuerse places and partes of hell there shall also be diuerse fires whereof some shall be greater then others burning more stinking worse that there sinners may be punished according to the diuersitie of their offēces But let vs come now to the second kinde of punishment Ponder with thy selfe that besides this fire there is a wonderfull intense colde which some shall feele more some lesse according as they be loaden with the burden of their iniquities Alas you sloathfull sluggish and cold Christians in holy religion and in God his diuine seruice this extreame colde these vnspeakable tortures and torments will he inflict vpon you congealing you like ice and causing you to gnash with your teeth as our Lord saieth Ibi erit fletus stridor dentium there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The third kind of punishment is the vggly shape and deformitie of wormes which shall be continually biting and gnawing of you vermis eorum non morietur their their worme shall not die saieth the Prophet Isay Isay 66.24 Vindicta carnis impij ignis vermis the reuenge of the flesh of the wicked is fire and the worme saieth the wise man Eccles 7.19 Dominus dabit vermes carnes eorum the all powerfull Lord saieth Iudith will giue wormes to their flesh Iud. 16.21 The more that sinners haue delighted them selues in foule filthy and enormous vices and crimes the more shall they be tormented in hell with strange vggely monsters of serpents toades dragons and such like which indeed are nothing else but diuels in the forme and shape of these liuing creatures allthough some Doctours affirme such creatures to be really there that the torments of the damned soules may be more cruell and intollerable Wo to thee then wretched woman which placest thy felicitie in carnall impuritie thinke how thou shalt be often times compassed about with serpents dragons toades or other some vggely deformed creatures worse then the former all which shall bite thee with their venemous teeth and teare those partes of thy body wherein thou tookest greatest pleasure contentment with incredible torture O miserie and calamitie O thing vnheard of yet for all this the wofull sinner doth not cōsider them The daintie damsell and braue citizens wife do not trouble their thoughts with these thinges Alas how many are there which haue wholy giuen them selues to the sinnefull lusts and sensual delightes of the flesh and in a moment when they haue the least thought of it haue descended into the bottomlesse pit Ducunt in bonis dies suos they lead saith holie Iob their liues in good thinges but in an instant goe downe into hell O the calamitie of the blinde and foolish world which after such a manner vtterly ouerthroweth it selfe The fourth punishment is that intollerable stinch which shal fill the nostrils of the damned with ineffable vexation This stinch of the holy scripture is called Fetor sulphureus a stinch mixt with brimstone ignis sulphur c. Fire and brimstone and the blast of stormes is the portion of their cupp saith the psalmist Psal 10.7 pars iniquorum c. the portion of the wicked shall be in a lake or poole burning with fire brimstone The reason wherefore the fire the colde and the stinch of hell are so excessiue and so insupportable is because they can neuer vent forth but are shutt vp kept close within the hollow partes of the earth euen as fire in a furnace kept in on euery side is of greater force to burne then if it had compasse to dilate it selfe that the flame and heat thereof might euaporate Weigh the matter exactly and consider awhile sinner what an ill sauour thou shouldest smell if thou wert shut vp close in a sinke full of all filthines and corruption where no ayre can come in in the which dead carcases lie where pitch brimstone is burning Out of this gather what ill sauour thou shalt finde in hell where the damned bodies shall stinke farre worse without comparison then the carcases of dogges or of any other filthy carraine But contrariwise the bodies of Gods seruants and blessed in heauen shal send forth throughout euery part of the same most delightsome sauours Cōsider sinner what a stinch that will be of hell where so many bodies of damned persons of men and women shall be not for one day but for eternity All the damned shall be there kept close prisoners together one lying vpon another and one infecting another with his stinch and loathsome sauour Sicut oues in inferno c. as sheepe they are put in hell death shall feed vpon them saieth the Prophet Psal 48.15 Of the fift sixt and other aboue mentioned punishments which the damned suffer in hell THE XXXIII CHAPTER THE fift punishment of hell shall be the fearfull sight of diuells and damned persons who all very deformed shall appeare with foule and vggely visages to behould because the dāned both men and women shall be like the diuels themselues Ponder a while sinner how loathsome dead bodies seeme to be in their graues Consider with what horrour and dread the dead body of any man or woman doth affright thee so soone as the soule is departed frō it thinke what an ill smell proceedeth from it when it remaineth but one day without burying Weigh with thy selfe how horriblie stinking are the bodies of those that be dead which haue beene buried three or foure daies in their graues Domine iam fetet quatriduanus est Lord now he stinketh he hath beene foure dayes in the graue saieth Martha of her brother Lazarus Alas miserable mortall men what doe you doe being cruell outragious and vnnaturall against your selues Why doe you condemne your selues after such a lamentable manner and that for iust nothing O consider wretched sinners if the sight of one diuell striketh such terrour into you that although he appeare in the shape and likenesse of no vggely creature you are not able to endure him long what will become of you then when you shall see in hel so many diuels so many men so many women all alike in one ill fauorednesse and