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
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
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
a Father so good a God that God who hath created you redeemed you with his owne blood O you wretches behold in what a blindnes you walke and liue in so much that you persecute your dearest friend euē God himselfe if it were to molest or vexe some creature the fault would be more tollerable but you persecute and blaspheme euen almighty God himselfe neuer ceasing to quench the spirit of God and to resist his sacred inspirations which if you would know how great an euill it is giue eare I say to you saith our blessed Sauiour that al sinne blasphemy shall be forgiuen men and who so shall speake a word against the sonne of mā it shal be forgiuen him but he that shall speake against the holy Ghost he shall not be forgiuen in this world nor in the world to come Math. 12. If you should cast or spit out your malice against the face of one of your enemies which by some heinous crime had offended you if against one which beareth an aduerse minde or affection towards you you might finde some excuse or euasion but you offend God who of his great bounty hath bestowed such ample benefits vpon you which created and redeemed you which preserueth and susteineth you who last of all is ready to giue you eternall life what an infinite heinous crime is this how loathsome detestable an offēce is this Oh my Brethren so much as that nature it selfe abhorreth and detesteth it I would to God vnworthy sinner that thou couldest but see that indignation with which so often as thou offendest thy God the elements fire ayre water and earth heauen starres sunne and moone are inflamed and moued against thee O that thou couldest but perceaue how much the very brute beasts voide of reason are molested and troubled I would to God thou couldest behould and with due consideration ponder how thinges euen without sense as herbes plantes stones themselues doe stand armed against thee so often as they see thee offending their God and Creator know therfore thou sinner and perswade thy selfe that if it were not for the clemencie and benignitie of thy God after thou hast sinned preuaricated the earth it selfe would open her mouth and swallow thee the waters submerge thee the ayre infect choake thee the fire burne and consume thee the heauens send forth lightninges and fearfull tempests to kill and destroy thee and last of all what thing soeuer is created would rise vp against thee to reuenge the wrong done to their God and Creator O you sinners know that for a certaine all liuing Creatures as wilde beastes Serpents Dragons also rauening birdes all trees such like would oppose make warre against you if it were soe permitted by your God What doest not thou thinke that the house in which thou sinnest could fall downe vpon thee in the very acte wherein thou offendest if it were not vpholdē by God What doest thou not perswade thy selfe that the very bedde wherin thou committest adultery and dishonourest thy Creator would be cōsumed vnder thee if it were not hindered by the diuine prouidence What doest thou not firmely beleue that the bread which thou eatest the meate whereby thou art nourished the wine that thou drinkest would presently choake thee and poysen thee so that it might cause thy death did not the goodnes of thy God withstand it Consider therefore ô sinner that if God would permit it thou shouldest not liue one moment longer wherby to offend him any more because all creatures would rise vp in armes against thee but he reserueth this vntill the last day of iudgement although he permitted many particular sinnes to be reuenged and punished by diuerse creatures that hee might giue an example to other offenders God graunt that we may take example at such so soone as may be amend our liues and be in his grace and fauour so great that we may be no more enemies to him his creatures Amen Of the separation of the soule from the body and of the great dolors and afflictions which follow at that time and instant THE XX. CHAPTER LEt vs proceed further and goe forward to consider now the anguishes dolors griefes which the soule shall feele in the instant and time of her separation from the body O poore soule if thou wouldest seriously examine this I doubt not but that thou wouldest giue such charge to thy Will that it should neuer consent to the sensuall pleasures of the flesh Consider ô sinner that Iesus Christ himselfe who was God when he knew he was to approach and draw nigh to his death he did sweat blood and being in an agonie he prayed vntill his sweat became as droppes of blood trickling downe vpon the earth Luc. 22.44 O wicked wretch if God considering that his blessed soule should departe out of his sacred body did soe much feare death that such an anguish sorrow did possesse his soule what will become of thee Consider obdurate sinner the great griefe and sorrow that one friend taketh at anothers departure and separation they depart weeping sighing and lamenting their separation neither are able scarse to speake or take leaue each of the other How incomparably will then that griefe bee which the soule feeleth at the separation from the body vnto which it hath bene vnited with such intimate and naturall loue and affection O miserable soule how great will thy griefe be how intollerable thy anguish and sorrow when thou shalt be separated frō this thy flesh which thou haste so naturally loued and neuer denied it any thing All the thinges which my eyes desired I haue giuen them saieth Salomon O vnfortunate soule what a penaltie and punishment will it be vnto thee to be disunited frō thy flesh which so dearly thou louest and so highly esteemest of as that thou wouldest not disobey it in any thing No man hath euer hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and succoureth it saieth the holy Apostle Hearken vnto mee ô sinner and at this instant consider that the time shall come when the bōdes wherwith thy soule is so strictlie bound conioyned with thy body shall be violated and dissolued It shall come ô vngratefull sinner that most horrible time I say shall come ô it shall come accursed soule I say that ruefull and dismall moment and instant shall come O sinner commiserate and take pittie on thy selfe and on thy poore soule by seruing and pleasing God What will it profit a man saieth the holy scripture to gaine the whole world and to loose his owne soule Consider therfore ô thou improbous sinner which art so indulgent to that flesh of thine and desistest not to pittie feed and nourish it consider that thou must be disioyned from it when thou art to depart this life Consider that when thou shalt approach and draw nere vnto thy last end thou shalt be tormented and afflicted with some disease that thou shalt not be able to
Angels to goe to heauen or purgatorie or otherwise the diuels with their infernall acclamations shal take and carrie her into hel there to remaine in perpetuall punishements and torments thinke with thy selfe ô thou miserable sinner in what a miserable streight will thy soule be when shee shall see heauen on this side and hell on the other and the diuells prepared suddenly to carry her away by violence to perpetuall torments Alas ô wretched soule what an alteration is this ô thou accursed doest thou see now that there is an hell ô thou malignant Heretike which hast denied that there is a purgatorie what sayest thou now being dimerged and plunged in the abisseall gulfe of infernall and endlesse flames and tormeÌ„ts haddest thou not rather be in purgatorie euen vntill the iudgement day or the last moment what sayest thou O Iew which haddest the holie scripture to demonstrate and intimate vnto thee the promised Messias but thou out of obstinacie and hardnesse of hart wouldst neither acknowledge nor retaine him doest thou perceaue the scripture to be true in this sence doest thou see now ô Turke the vanitie of thy law the deceipfulnes of thy wicked Prophet Mahomet ô sinner and false Christian doest thou acknowledge that God can punish doest thou vnderstand how much thou wert deceaued in saying to excuse thy sinne God is mercifull and will pardon mee I can not beleeue that he will the death of my soule which hath redeemed me at so great a price as his pretious blood I wil afterwardes amend the course of my life I will sinne noe more after this yeare moneth weeke or day deceauing thy selfe with such like perswasions The dayes of man are shorte the number of his monethes is with thee saieth Iob speaking to God Iob. 14.5 here thou mayest marke ô sinner that he saieth not the nuÌ„ber of his yeares are with thee neither doth he say the yeares of man are short but his dayes and monethes Behould sinner how much thou deceauest thy selfe measuring thy life by yeares saying so many yeares I shall liue enter into due consideration with your selues beare in minde the last end of your liues consider the shorte computation of most wise and holy â—ob which is in moneths and dayes perswade your selues that you may euery day and howre yea euery moment and instant fall downe dead Be yee watchfull for you know not when the time shall be saieth our Lord. Thinke therfore that the last momâ—nt of thy liâ—e is already come and 〈…〉 at this instant thy miserable soule may take her last farrewell of thy stinking body and consider to what place shee must goe Thinke with thy selfe ô man although thou shouldest be the most holy and sanctified man in the world that thou art not alwaies certaine of thy saluation They are iust men and wise and their workes are in the hands of God and yet maÌ„ knoweth not whether he be worthy of loue or hatred Eccles 9.2 Accursed be that night when the soule of a miserable sinner departing without penitencie of her sinnes shall be giuen into the haÌ„des of a thousand diuels to the dreadfull lâ—ke that burneth with fire and brimstone to be perpetually tormented with the hellish crue miserable soule thinkest thou nothing of this matter or thinking of it why doest thou not amend thy life why permittest thou thy self to be deceaued by the alluremeÌ„ts of the flesh Truly that soule shall be most happy when departing out of her body she shall be embraced by the handes of Angels and carried with iubilations hymnes vnto the celestiall paradise O vnspeakable felicitie O most blessed and fortunate soule Pretious is the death of the Saints in the sight of our Lord. Psal 115.5 Consider ô soule that it is the only felicity and beatitude which the Saints did hope for and attend I beseech thee what the psalmist saieth of thy end and destruction The death of sinners is most ill Psal 33.22 marke what wordes the holy Prophet vseth he doth not say it is ill but most ill in the highest degree because it is so ill that it cannot be worse deseruedlie ô sinner is thy death most ill for if thou shouldest die now presently the miseries that would accompanie thee would demonstrate the same for thou shouldest die guilty of mortal sinne and dying guilty of mortall sinne thou shouldest dy hateful to God and dying hatefull to God thou diest an enemie to God theÌ„ the which there can be nothing more grieuous for thee or more abhominable in his sight Therefore ô sinner seriously ponder and duly consider I beseech thee thine imminent danger and great perill accepting the counsell of S. Peter the Apostle who saieth Be vigilant carefull that by your good workes you may make certaine your vocation and election for doing these thinges you shall not sinne 2. Pet. 1.10 Mary Mother of grace Mother of mercy protect thou vs froÌ„ our enemies and receaue vs at the howre of death To thee we flie most pious Queene Aduocate and Mother we implore thine aide and assistance euen vntill that last terrible moment Helpe vs gratious Mother defend vs most sweet clement Mary Remember o most blessed Virgin that thou art the patronesse of all sinners Therfore I the most wicked chiefe of all offendors doe in the name of all desire and craue thy succour and intercession for vs but especially at the last instant when our soules are to depart out of this world Helpe vs Mary and defend vs perishing soules thou art our Mother we thy children therefore we wretched and afflicted commend our selues to thy care for thou art our guide in our last conflict Haile Mary full of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Iesus holy Mary Mother of God pray for vs sinners now and at the howre of our death Amen Of the dead body and carcase of man and of the miserie of the same after the separation of the soule THE XXII CHAPTER ANd it came to passe that the begger dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome and the rich man also died and was buried in hell Luc. 16.22 Doest thou heare ô sinner whither the soule of Lazarus the beggar was carried and where the soule of the rich Epicure was buried The poore beggar by the handes of Angels was placed in Abrahams bosome a place of perpetuall rest and tranquilitie the rich man was precipitated into the infernall lake of hell a place of weeping and perpetual misery Consider now that the same shall be fall thee if thou diest not in the fauour and grace of almighty God And dying in his fauour hauing not satisfied for the temporall punishments which thy sinnes do deserue thou shalt be carried into purgatorie and there remaine vntil thou hast paied the last farthing But if thou shalt be dissolued and die in the fauour of God and hast satisfied for thy temporall punishment thou shalt
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.
THE SEAVEN TRVMPETS OF BROTHER BARTHOLOMEVV SALVTHIVS OF THE holie Order of S. Francis Exciting a sinner to repentance A Worke very profitable for the saluation of all such soules as are bound with sinne NOW Lately translated out of the Latin into the English tongue by Br. G P. of the same order and obseruance AT S. OMERS FOR IOHN HEIGHAM With permission of Superiors Anno 1626. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE TO HIS LOVING AND Deare Father Master H. P. his obedient sonne wisheth health in Iesus Christ DEARE SIR The intimacie of my euer and all bounden dutie which I acknowledge as tributarie due vnto you with the ardent zeale and desire of your speedie auersion from these broken cisternes of heresie and your penitentiall conuersion vnto the liuing waters of eternall life which are no where contained but in one Holy Catholique and Apostolique church haue moued mee often times to commend some litle treatise vnto you therein to lay open before your eyes the grieuous threatnings of almightie God against sinneâ—s and to admonish you in 〈◊〉 of the dangerous state wherin you liue hoping by th s to disburthen my selfe of the obligatorie duties which I acknowledge as bouÌ„d by nature but considering that touchinge this subiect many bookes haue beene learnedly written tha kes bee giuen to God by diuerse good Catholiques and faithfullie translated into our English toung I desisted to proceede in so worthy an enterprise till at length mine enflamed zeale filiall dutie it such sort burned a fresh within mee that I could no longer quench it by the insurging waues of the seas nor deferre the aduenturing with this present to make the same knowne vnto you I am nor ignorant how farre the mouthes of many Gentlemen of your rancke and neighbourhood are out of tast and much more affected to the flesh parts of Aegypt Exod. 16.3 then to the bread of Angells I meane rather to the reading of prophane then spirituall bookes taking greater delight in perusing strang pleasant histories therin to solace and recreate them selues then in the pious workes and wholesome exhortations of deuout and religious men who intend nothing but the saluation of your poore sinfull soules But as the Prophet Dauid Psal 4.3 sayeth O yee sonnes of men how long are yee of heauie hartes why loue yee vanities and seeke after lying Did they but know what profitt and fruite they may reape thereby doubtlesse they would paint euerie little sentence in the r hartes and mediate vppon them morninge and eueninge and binde them for a signe on their handes writting them in their entries and on the dores of their houses that so they might alwaies haue them in their sight and remembrance Deuteronom 6.6.7.8 Truly Deare Sir I haue endeauored in dressing this meate to prouoke your appetite Gen. 27.9 and laboured to sett forth this doctrine in such a stile that it may moue you diligently to read the same which if you doe I hope by the grace of God you shall finde that wonderfull chaung in your soule which others in former ages most happilie haue had and as that allmost euery day haue who by the means of spirituall bookes haue vtterly detested their former licentious liues and with great feruour and zeale begunne anew in Gods holie seruice Call to minde the treasurer of the Queene of Aethiopia who was reading I say the Prophet in his chariot when God almightie conuerted him by Saint Philip Act. 8.30 Remember likewise that those soe notable and famous workes which King Iosias did in all his kingdome proceeded from the reading of an holie booke which Helchias the Prophet gaue vnto Saphan the scribe 4. Regum 22.13 and S. Augustine relateth confess lib. 8. how three noble courtiers walking abroad in the euening with Theodosius the Emperour into the fields two of them went a litle aside vnto a Monkes cell and there finding a booke wherein was written the life of S. Anthony one of them begaÌ„ne to read it behould in a moment he felt his hart so enkindled with an holie loue and moued with such a religious shame that hee together with his other companion being in a great agonie with themselues put off their secular apparell in the verie same place where they stood and bidding farrewell vnto courtlie pleasures beganne to erect a spirituall building and did forsake all thinges of this world desiring nothinge more then to follow their Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Such admirable chaunges and notable alterations haue holy bookes procured in these persons who with due attention considered them Accept then Deare Sir this small guift and first fruites of my poore endeuours which may be a means as I hope to call you into the path of a good life and induce you forthwith by Gods grace to make profession of the Catholique faith which faith vnlesse euery one keepe holy and inuiolable without doubt he shall perish euerlastingly S. Atha creed Come therfore speedily into the foulde of Christ if you will be preserued from the raueninge wolues Ioh. 10.16 Haue recourse vnto Noahs arke Gen. 6.18 if you will be saued from drowning Be a member of the Catholique and vniuersall church which according to the Apostle is Columna firmamentum veritatis 1. Tim. 3.15 the pillar and ground of truth And be no longer seduced by the fallacies and deceipts of death bringing heretiques Now at the last as you tender your owne soules health confesse your sinnes with the Prophet Dauid Psal 50. crie aloud vnto God for mercie with Saint Marie Magdalen Luc. 7. wash the feete of our Sauiour with tears of true contrition Goe out with S. Peter Math. 26. and weepe bitterlie For now is the acceptable time now is the day of saluation The night will come when it will be too late to worke 2. Cor. 6.2 True it is that the theefe was saued and found mercie at the last gaspe but God forbid as a right virtuous sonne said in the like case to his owne Father that wee should vse such preposterous pollicie as when our senses are astonished our wittes distracted our vnderstandinge obscured when both bodie and minde are tormented with the gripes of mortall sickenes that then wee should beginne to thinke of the weightie matters of our saluation and of the suddaine to become Sainctes when we are fearce able to behaue our selues like reasonable creatures No no deceaue not your selfe take time while you may when it is once past it is impossible to recall it according to the old prouerbe post est occasio calua feare not persecution or lâ—sse of goods feare not them that kill the bodie and are not able to preiudice the soule but rather feare him that can precipitate both body and soule into the infernall abisse of hell Math 10.28 Is it not a most lamentable case that men who professe themselues to be Christians should haue a greater care of their worldlie pelfe honours and dignities then of the health and saluation of their owne soules Wee
Reader Iuditious reader if thou seeke to please The fantasie with Arguments of witt Curious conceites know such fond passages I doe bequeath to lighter subiects fitt To thy deuotion therfore as a Frend My matter not my Meathhoode I commend Thine G. P. BROTHER BARTHOLOMEVV VNVVORTHY Seruant of Iesus Christ crucified to his moste endeared Sister S. Marie Magdalen glorious spouse of blessed Iesus in heauen BEholde my moste deare Sister Magdalen the spouse of Christ crucified once as blacke as the tents of Cedar Cant. 1. but afterwards as beautifull as the courtaines of Salomon portresse of loue and patronesse of all sinners now blessed with celestiall glorie beholde I say I haue finished a little booke entituled by mee The Seauen Trumpets exciting a sinner to repentance And because I haue written of thee being assisted with thy holy prayers not any that I could find might with such equitie challenge the patronage of this booke as thy selfe For to whom might I with more conuenience present this little worke out of which proceedeth such a sound that terrifieth the greatest malefactour and awakneth the securest offender thē to S. Mary Magdalē a sinner To whom I say rather then vnto thee should I the most abiect and vnworthiest of all sinners dedicate this booke that treateth of the saluation of sinners To thee therfore my sister Magdalen I commend it that thou beeing a daily assistant therof mightest cause it to bringe forth its intended frutes which is the safetie health and happinesse of all distressed wretched and sinfull soules Remember oh blessed Magdalen that thou wast once a loste sheepe farre strayed from the folde of Christ and if our deare Sauiour Iesus the carefull shepheard of thy soule had not called thee vnto him thou hadst beene deuoured of the rauening wolfe thou knowest that our Iesus did vndergoe death for the life of soules Christas venit in hunc mundum c. 1. Tim. 1.15 Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am the cheefe and Christ himselfe saith Non est opus valentibus medico sed malè habentibus Math 9.12 They that be well neede not the phisitian but they that be sicke and thou art not ignorant of that which is written of him in the Gospell of Saint Luc. Hic peccatores recipit c. Luc. 15.2 This man receaueth sinners and eateth with them Oh therfore Magdalen let thy eyes of pittie be euer watchfull ouer miserable sinners intercede for the conuersion and saluation of so many soules which are running headlong into the abisse of eternall perdition Thou seest and knowest moste deare Magdalē what a number of soules doe daily and hourely descēd into the bottomlesse pitte of hell succour aide and stretch forth thy helping hand therfore to the perishing languishing soules remember oh Sister that all those soules were redeemed and bought with the pretious blood of sweete Iesus the Sauiour and Redeemer of vs both Thou knowest right well the inexcogitable sufferings of our louing Iesus vpon mount Caluarie for all vs rebellious wretches I am certaine thou well remembrest that pretious blood which whilest he hāged vpon the crosse thou sawest distill and runne downe from his sacred bodie vpon the earth Remember oh Magdalen the anxiety of his soule when as thou didst behold him yeelding vp his spirit with such bitter paines vpon the holy wood of the crosse procure by thy intercession that these soules which were redeemed with the pretious blood which did so abundantly flow out of his diuine head being prickt and goared with an vnheard-of crowne of thornes may be deliuered from the power of sinne and brought into the glorious liberty of the sōnes of God succour those poore soules which are bought with such an abūdance of blood running like a torrent from the most sacred hands and feet of thy Master Iesus crucified obtaine by thy holy prayers that those soules may be presented pure before God which were washed with that blood and water that issued out of thy Iesus his side euē vnto his most bitter death Thy prayers oh Magdalen which are enflamed with the burning loue of thy dearest spouse are of no small virtue to procure the helpe of the Angel of the couenāt to put the diseased soules of miserable sinners into the all curing waters of Bethsaida Ioan. 5.4 To thee therefore in the name of our gratious Iesus his blessed Mother he a louing Father she a tender Mother of al sinners I present offer this litle worke which I acknowledge to be thine In the name of the moste holie Trinitie Father Sonne and holie Ghost in the vertue of the name of Iesus and the B. V. Marie together with thy helpe oh Blessed Magdalen these my Seauen Trumpets are come to bee sounded abroad which by the efficacie of the blood death and passion of Christ who is Sonne of God and also him selfe true God and man I implore beseech and desire that they terrifie conuert and reduce to repentance an innumerable company of soules which lie demerged ouerwhelmed and plunged in the pitt of sinne and iniquitie Amen In the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Amen Let thy benedictiō oh my Magdalen descend vpon the soule and bodie of mee and all other sinners which shall peruse this booke by the vertue of the pretious body and blood of our Blessed Iesus which is cōtained in the most holy Sacrament of the altar Amen Pray for mee From Rome our place of S. Fran. Transtib Iun. 14. 1612. Thy most deuoted Brother in our Lord Brother Bartholomew IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Here followeth the beginninge of the Seauen Trumpets of the B. F. B. Bartholomew Saluthius of the holie order of the Frier Minars of obseru reform THE PROLOGVE ET septem Angeli qui habebant septem tubas c. Apoc. 8. And the seauen Angels which had the Seauē Trumpets prepared them selues to sound saith S. Iohn after hee had said in the same place Et vidi septem Angelos c. and I saw seauen Angels standing in the presence of God and there was giuē vnto them Seauē Trumpets Oh Brethren sinners I am not an Angell but a sinner not onely like vnto you but worse then you who being enflamed with the honour of allmightie God and also moued with the desire of all your soules healths I haue presumed to bring to light this little booke entituled The Seauen Trumpets that they may found in your eares and recall you to your most louing God mercifull Father and reduce you into the way of saluation Oh wretches consider that you haue strayed and diuerted from the true path and doe now runne and persist with a swift pace in the way that leadeth to perditiō ponder well oh ye vnhappy soules how that yee stand vpon the brimme of hell ready euery moment to be caste downe headlong into the abisse of perpetual darknesse whereupon I being stirred vp
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
in this little booke to sound vnto your eares that at the last you being awaked with the terrour of the same you may beginne to forsake your flagitious and sinnefull life and be reduced to the right way which will guide and conduct you safe and secure to the happy and heauenly porte of perpetuall happines but know for certaine that if you stoppe your eares at these sounding Trumpets at the last pointe and article of your death you shall be called to a strict accompt for your so great conteÌ„pt and neglect which God forbid should come to passe but rather that the loue and charitie which did induce me to write this booke for your saluation may mollifie your stony hartes and tame your vnruly affectioÌ„s that these trumpets sounding forth your eternall blisse may penetrate and stirre vp your mindes and soules The first trumpet soundeth forth the great peruersnes and malice of a sinner wherwith he offendeth allmightie God The second the filthines of sinne The third the detriment that sinne causeth in the soule of a sinner in this life The fourth the harme and losse that shall appeare in the houre of death The fift the damage that it shal cause in the terrible day of iudgement The sixt the ineffable punishment that it doth procure in hell The seauenth the societie and combination which it draweth with it in this life in death and after death These oh my brethren sinners are the Seauen Trumpets which to the honour of God and to your soules health and the confusion of the diuell I entend to sound in this little booke Therfore I beseech you that when yee shall heare them like well disciplined and valiant souldiers you doe awake presently to enter in battaile with your enemy and permit not your selues to be vanquished trampled vnder foot but like horses wel exercised and trained vp in military discipline which at the sound of drummes and trumpets proudly shaking their loftie and magnanimous neckes couragiously neighing and beating the earth with their feete doe stirre vp them selues and animate their riders heroically to march against the army and affronts of the enemie Soe behaue your selues oh my Brethren viriliter agite take vnto your selues courage and with an vndaunted spirit oppose the world the flesh and the diuell necessitie vrgeth Res nostra agitur it is our cause that is in hand heere is matter of great importance namely the saluation and perdition of your soules Therfore for Iesus his sake awake out of that lethargie of vices wherein you lie depriued of all spirituall sence change your maners and institutions lead the life of good Christians call to minde the promise which you made vnto your redemer in your baptisme Surge qui dormis awake thou that sleepest and arise from the spiritual death of sinne and Christ shall illuminate thee Oh Brethren Operamini dum dies est worke while the day of Gods mercie appeareth because the night of his iudgement draweth neare wherein noe man can worke let vs doe good to all while we haue time because euerie one shal be rewarded after his death according to his workes and deedes Now is the acceptable time now is the time wherin we may buy oyle for our lampes be vigilant therfore with the wise Virgins to â—…er in with the bridegroome lest you be depriued of his presence for euer It is time for vs now oh sinners to awake and arise from sinne Iuxta est dies perditionis the day of perdition is at hand and the last night draweth neare Therfore my sinfull brethren seeke our Lord while he may be found for vnlesse you will turne vnto him he will shake his sword he will bend his bow and prepare the arrowes of death Returne therfore oh returne yee miserable and blinded sinners to the sure refuge of pennance Nisi penitentiaÌ„ egaritis vnlesse ye do penance ye shal likewise perrish oh my Brethren a vehement commination a fearfull threatning denounced to that end that euery one might be vigilant in matters concerning his saluation carefull to preuent future dangers Christ Iesus which speaketh these wordes vnto you for his mercies sake infuse into your soules his diuine grace that yee may serue him as ye ought not of coÌ„straint but of a willing mind not as seruants for feare but as dutifull children for loue Amen IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen The first Trumpet of Gods grieuous complaint of a sinner THE II. CHAPTER ET primus Angelus tubâ cecinit Apoc. 8. and the first Angell sounded the Trumpet I would to God my deare Brethren that the sound of this first Trumpet would suffice and that by this he would so powerfully touch your hartes that you might with internall coÌ„punction turne to your creatour and mercifull Sauiour I haue not the spirit of Ionas the Prophet who with fiue wordes only conuerted the great vaste citie Nineue Adhuc quadraginta dies Nineue subuertetur Ion. 3.4 yet fourtie daies and Nineue shall be destroied Ionas sounded with the shrill Trumpet of his voice exclamations and threatnings but I desire not that at the first you should heare so fearfull a sound but that you might attend and giue eare a while to the pittifull complaintes of your mercifull redeemer for surely there is noe soule soe frozen in sinne whom these grieuous complaints would not dissolue into teares if they them selues did not make resistance Giue eare therefore I beseech you consider with what great griefe he bewaileth your ingratitude and vnthankefulnes Obstupescite coeli be astonished oh yee heauens and be yee desolate oh yee gates therof for my people hath committed two euills they haue forsaken mee the fountaine of liuing waters and haue digged to them selues cisterns broken cisterns that can holde no waters Ierem. 2.12 Oh wretched sinners penetrate and weigh well your miserie and see how true it is that you haue forsaken Christ the wel of liuing water and haue druncke of the bitter waters of Mara Exod. 15. Know yee not yet that vices are cisterns that can holde no spirituall water doe yee not perceaue that couetousnes is a cisterne that containeth not the water of true delight because the couetouse man is alwayes sad neuer satiated doe yee not perceaue that gluttonie and intemperancy is a cisterne that holdeth not the water of satietie because it is neuer filled perceaue ye not that lust and concupiscence are cisternes which receaue not the water of compleat delectation for the pleasures therof consume both body and soule doe yee not perceaue that ambition is a cisterne that containeth not the water of a satiated desire for the ambitious man is continuallie wracked Oh ambitio ambitio erat quomodo omnes torques omnibus places D. Bernard oh ambition ambitioÌ„ the torture of ambitious persons how doest thou torment all and yet art receaued of all Which your mercifull and louing Father foreseing complaineth of your
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
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
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
sinne bringeth into his soule at the houre of death and abhorre it following the counsell of the wise man fly from the face of sinne as from the face of a serpent the teeth therof are the teeth of lyons killing the soules of men O Brethren sinners by the sacred woundes of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I beseech you earnestly and entreat you that you would not imitate the deafe Adder which that she may not heare the melodious tune of the enchaunter stoppeth her eares the one by couering it with her taile the other by laying it on the ground doe you not the same but harken and attend to the sound of this Trumpet with open diligent eares that hereby the diuels stratagemes and diabolicall inuasions being put to flight there may be free accesse for the diuine concourse into your soules Amen Of the terrour which the diuell striketh into a soule in the moment of death THE XVII CHAPTER THe Dragon whom thou hast made to deceaue him saieth the Prophet Psal 103.26 I would to God thou couldest sufficiently weigh and consider the intollerable terrour and feare which the sight of most detestable diuels shall present vnto thee or that thou couldest comprehend what an astonishment it will be to behould a diuell I am certaine thou wouldest chaunge the course of thy life and arise out of the lethargie of thy sinnes if not for feare of God yet for feare of the diuellish and hellish crue For if the sight of a Wolfe a Beare a Lyon a Dragon a Serpent or any loathsome Toade doth strike such terrour into vs and doe so astonish and affright vs what wil the aspect of the diuels doe at the point of death Oh you doating and miserable sinners if you would with due consideratiō thinke of these fearfull formes and sightes which the diuels will lay before your eyes at the very instant of your deaths without doubt you would flie sinne For if when thou art well in health strong and of a good courage any one of the diuels should appeare vnto thee in the forme of some cruell and rauenous beast thou couldest not but tremble and quake through all the partes of thy body what wilt thou doe then vnhappy soule when thou shalt be debilitated and opprest with sicknes destitute and depriued of all powre and strength whē thou canst neither moue nor helpe thy selfe whē thou are scarce able to speak or hardly to intimate and make knowne thy necessities by signes and tokens When last of all the powers and faculties of thy body shall be weakened What when thou art compleate in perfect strength endued with all the ornaments of nature which are required to the full perfection of a man if then thou canest not endure the sight of a fearfull diuell nor of a diuell appearing in some common shape as of a dogge horse or the like what will become of thee when thou shalt behold the diuel not in the shape of some cruell beast but in a forme farre more horrible and that at the instant of thy death Our holy Father S. Francis was wont to say that it were impossible for any one to see the diuell in his owne proper forme and shape which he hath in hell but for the space of the reciting of the Pater or Aue allthough he were in perfect health without present death what then oh sinner will become of thee yeelding vp thy spirit when thou shalt plainly see perceaue that execrable enemy of thine in his detestable shape and forme Turne and direct all the forces powers of the supreme and intellectuall parte of thy soule to this reason abandon thy lasciuious sinneful life now begin to feare that hereafter thou mayest not tremble when it can no way auaile thee Consider that not only one diuell to thee then tormented with the paines of death but many yea thousands shall appeare euery one striuing and endeuoring with their diabolicall actions and gestures to molest affright and astonish thee whether then wilt thou flie for succour or who then will releeue thee will S. Mary whom thou hast despised Will Iesus whom thou hast blasphemed Will the Saints and Angels whom thou hast dishonoured Lastly will God whom thou hast vilified contēned Alas miserable wretch who will assist thee or what Saint wilt thou inuocate to whom wilt thou flie for in the deluge of many waters none of thē wil aproch or draw neare vnto thee Psal 31. no man shall plead thy cause or recite thy necessities Oh in what a depth of miseries art thou in at the houre of death when thou canst not soe much as commend thy soule so agonizing in infirmities to almighty God when thou canst not so much as cal vppon thy good Angell or any of the Saints which in time of thy health thou diddest honour with particular deuotion that they intercede for thee Oh sinners be you now conuerted vnto your God now importune your sweet Iesus now salute the Virgin Mary our blessed Ladie now it is time to implore the aide of the Archangels Michael Gabriell Raphaell and of thy Angel keeper and all the celestial spirits Now it is time to craue the assistance of S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter S. Paul S. Iohn S. Bartholomew and of the other Apostles now it is time to request the helpe of S. Stephē S. Laurēce S. George and all the other Martyrs now it is time to commend thy selfe to S. Benedict S. Dominike S. Francis and the rest of the holy confessors Lastly it is now time to cry out and call vpon S. Mary Magdalen who in time past was a sinner S. Clare S. Agnes S. Catharine S. Lucie and the rest of the blessed Virgins Widowes and Martyrs now Saints in heauen Doest thou not remember that thou hast read or heard how often the diuels haue presented thēselues to sicke mē in their chambers lying vpō their death-beds euē thē drawing their last breath yeelding vp the Ghost sometimes in the formes of Dogges Cattes Hogges or such like one while in one maner an other while in an other alwaies in different formes when they are not able to helpe themselues O wretched vnfortunate sinner how much do I lament thy case who leadest so detestable a life as without repentāce infallibly rēdeth to the pitt of hel cōsider that whē thou shalt come to that accursed place no man can helpe thee not thy Father not thy Mother not thy kindred not thy friendes not thy wife not any of them which stand by thee are of power to afforde thee any releife or assistance only God in the time of thy death can comfort and succour thee only S. Mary his blessed Mother and her sonne Iesus only the Angels the Saints in heauen in these amidst thine extreame agonies thou maiest finde releife comfort and consolation Therefore why doest thou now offend them wherfore doest thou dishonour them why doest thou inueigh against the glorious Saints of God with
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
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
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
them for thy instruction and enrich thy soule therby for thy saluation 1. The sea shall transcend the mountaines to contemne thy pride and insolency ô arrogant and fastidious wretch The wicked are as a rageing sea saieth the scripture Isay 57.20 But the sea shall ascend in such a height as that it shall excell the mountaines and wash away the arrogancy of the proud 2. The sea shall be depressed to that lownesse that it shall hardly apeare wherby ô proud wretch it shal be declared vnto thee that at last thou must be deposed and plucked downe by God Euery man that exalteth himselfe saieth our Lord shall be humbled Luc. 14. and humility saieth the wiseman followeth the proud 3. The lamentatiō of the beastes which is the third signe what should it demonstrate vnto thee o sinner but that they who haue taken much delight in vaine sensuall and lasciuious complacencies shall then be punished and tormented with fearfull execrations and vlulations Speake vnto the earth and it shall shew thee and the fishes of the sea and they shall declare vnto thee saieth holy Ioh. 4. The fourth signe shall bee that of the sea and waters in that they shall consume with heate which may instruct thee ô luxurious sinner for euen as thou hast burned in this world with the fire of filthy concupiscēce luxurious desires and adulterous actions euen so must thou burne in hell with fire and brimstone their part shall be in fire and brimstone saieth S. Iohn in his Apocalipse Apoc. 21 and by this meanes so much as thou hast abounded in the impious desires of the flesh so much shalt thou receaue of this punishment in this next world How much shee hath delighted her selfe in pleasures so much punishment giue you vnto her saieth the iudge in the Apocalipse Apoc. 18.6 5. What meaneth that sweat of the herbes and trees which is the fift signe O wretch that blood which thou hast shed with thy cruell and vnmercifull handes Because that murder is one of those capitall crimes which cry vnto heauen for reuenge The voice of thy brothers blood crieth out of the earth to mee saieth God to Cain 6. That mourning and lamentation with abstinēcie from meat and drinke of the birdes what other thing ô thou glutton doth it signifie then the paines torments which shall be inflicted vppon thee in hell for thine intemperancy and ebriety for they that are giuen vnto this vice shal be fedd in hell with hunger and dearth The portion of drunkards shall be fire and brimstone and the spirit of tempest is parte of their chalice Psal 10.7 7. The ruine and destruction of all buildings throughout the world what else doth it demonstrate but the folly and vanity of those which placed all their delight and chiefest felicity in building sumptuous and spatious pallacies Alas how many are there found of these times which haue more respect of the houses in which their bodies dwell for a time then of heauen in which their soules should perpetually remaine woe be vnto you which ioyne house to house field to field O miserable wretches how much better would it be for you if you would studie to pollish and adorne the celestiall palaces of your soules for heauen where there are so manie beautifull and glorious habitatiōs In my Fathers house there ar many mansions Ioan. 14.2 saieth our Lord O extreme vanitie and madnes of the world 8. What do those flaming and burning dartes those lighninges running from east to west what doe they signify but the wrath indignatiō of the angry iudge against sinners and those which haue molested or wronged their neighbours or brothers Euery man that is angry with his brother saieth Iesus Christ shall be guilty of iudgement Math. 5.22 9. The conflict of the stones signifieth your Adamantine and obdurate hartes which shall be broken a sunder with the iudgements of God because they are not mollified by repētance Heauen and spiritual thinges nothing profit you the promises of Christ will not allure you the fearfull iudgements of the latter day the intollerable punishments of hell set before you doe not any thing moue you O sinners more obdurate then stones the stones claue a sunder at Christs passion but you more hard then they remaine still in obduracie 10. The great earthquakes ô sinner which shall be so terrible as that S. Iohn saieth in his Apocalipse There is made a great earthquake such an one as hath not beene since the beginning of the world it signifieth this that you cannot be sustained any longer by the same and therefore it trembleth and shaketh that it may swallow you vp Or the earth as S. Gregorie saieth therefore quaketh because it will not receaue sinners any longer before they haue heard the sentence of the iudge pronounced against their crimes and offences Alas into how great a streight shal sinners be brought if they looke vp they shal behould the angry contenance of the iudge offended if they looke downe they shall see hell gaping prepared to receaue them vpon their right hand they shall behould their sinnes misdeedes accusing them vpon the left hand innumerable diuels in readines to carrie them into euerlastinge flames Inwardly the worme of the conscience gnaweth them outwardly the fire and torments scorch them and terrifie them Which way then shall a sinner flie or turne him selfe then shall they cry out O you mountaines fall vpon vs and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lambe 11. The leauellings of hils with vallies what do you thinke it signifies ô sinners but the ouerthrow of proud great and rich men which haue trampled the poore and needy vnder their feet and then all shall be made a like and equall euery vally saieth the Prophet Isay shall be exalted and euery mountaine and hill shall be brought low 12. All creatures shall forsake their caues and dennes being possessed with a kinde of madnes shall wander abroad what meaneth it thinkest thou nothing else but that no secret corner no excuse shall be found of any all succour and releife shall bee taken away from poore sinners and no place or parte left wherby they may be relieued Not any Saint not any Angell not the B. V. Saint Mary Mother of God shal assist them because God him selfe will be so exceedingly offended with them Alas ô you wretched and accursed sinners what will you then doe what will you say ô miserable soules you shall walke and wander here there outragious madde furious not knowing what to say or what to doe Now therfore now I say euen at this instant whilst it is time doe that which then vnfortunate soules that you are you shall not be able to doe 13. The graues shall be opened and the dead bones standing vpon them which shall be the thirteenth signe Behould I shall open your toumbes saieth the Prophet Ezechiel whereby it is intimated vnto
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
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
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
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
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
wretch with how many difficulties will he then circumuent thee and the more because thou shalt not know what to answere in thine owne behalfe thou shalt be sore besett on euery side and preuaile nothing at all thou shalt be cast headlong into the gulfe of eternall perdition Alas miserable vnfortunate and forlorne sinners you will then haue no time to take an inward hatred of your hainous crimes and misdeedes The diuell will stand in your presence alleadging and reciting al your enormous faultes and offences declaring them to the full to the which you will not know what to answere or to make any excuse for your selues Harken sinners to a terrible example which maketh for our purpose and is related of Iohn Climachus in the eight sermon of his booke of sermons the historie is thus A certaine Monke called Stephen dwelling in moūt Sinay was wonderfully delighted with the tranquillity of a solitary life who as this authour reporteth was adorned with rare vertues learning for many yeares together to become a valiāt souldier of Iesus Christ This religious mā the day before he died would some times looke on the right side other times on the left side of his bed as though there were some present that demaunded a very strict account of all the thinges which euer hee had done We indeed saw no body saieth he to talke thus with him yet sometimes he would say Trulie so it is againe he would say I graunt it but this I haue confessed and for the same I haue fasted lamented so lōg a time Another while he would say it is true and presently after you belie mee it is not so I neuer cōmitted any such crime thē shortlie after he would tell them verily you accuse me vniustly and lay this infamy vndeseruedly vppon mee But this most of all amazed vs when he sayed I yeeld that it is true neither doe I know what to replie or answere for my selfe yet I put my trust in God who is mercifull so that this obscure iudgement which none there present did vnderstand was most terrible to relate but especially in this that the diuels should accuse him of thinges which he neuer did O wretch that I am to what streight was that Anachoret brought into a true louer of a solitarie and an heremiticall life who after that he had continued a monke for fourty yeares and had shedd forth many profitable teares yet after all this he affirmed that he could not say any thing for him selfe or giue a sufficient answer to excuse his offences Woe woe then to vs where was that large promise which allmighty God had made by the mouth of his holy Prophet Ezechiell Si impius egerit paenitentiam Ezech. 18.27 If the wicked shall doe pennance for all the sinnes which he hath wrought all his iniquities which he hath done I will not remember He could answere nothing nor alleadge this in his behalfe whereupon God is onely to be praised and extolled who knoweth the cause and reason of all thinges And so much the more for that some monkes affirmed that this Stephen so long as he liued in the desert fedd and nourished a Leopard with his owne hāds yet this Heremit of such fame and note in the world being called to giue an account of his life left no certainty behinde him what sentence passed on him whither he was accepted before God or no. This history Climachus relateth Haue you giuen eare to this sinners how is it then that you liue so securely being contaminated with vices and loathsome sinnes supposing that you shall die well enough when Alas you heare that so famous an Heremit a man of such notable sanctitie who did great pennance ful fourtie yeares now dying had nothing to answere when a reckoning was to be made O how narrowly shall our life be discussed and examined when we shall be summoned by death to appeare before the tribunall seate of allmightie God to render a strict account of the same We read in the Chronicles of our sacred order that when a certaine brother died who had liued well and deuoutly and giuen good example to all the comunitie a Doctor of diuinity beinge slacke in perfourming his office which was to say Masse for this dead brother according to his obligation thinking indeed that seeing he had liued so vertuously he did not stand in any need therof Hereupon one day betimes in the morning this deceased religious appeared vnto him and sayed Salue Magister vbi est illa charitas quâ te sacrificium pro me facturum promiseras God saue you Sir what is become of your charitie in that you promised to offer the holy sacrifice of the Masse for my soule I thought replied the diuine you had no need thereof No need of it saied the other Vtinam scires quà m seueré negotium in morte transigatur I would to God thou knewest how seuerely our busines is handled after death Know thou that I am punished in purgatorie with most grieuous paines and torments for which if thou wilt offer this holy sacrifice for me forthwith I shal be freed when he had sayed this he departed and the Doctor fulfilled his promise Alas therfore sinners take heed what you doe refraine from your mischieuous acts doe pennance for your former offences delay not diligently to caste vp your account Lord God almightie cleaue in sunder the stonie hartes of wandering sinners that thou mayest be worshipped and poore soules redeemed with thy moste pretious bloud may be saued Take away Lord Iesu and vtterlie destroy the power of Sathan which he so long hath exercised with all cruelty against the miserable soules of men that so this damned spirit may be put to vtter shame and confusion thy holy name be praised and glorified and sinnefull soules deliuered Amen Of the societie which the soule of a sinner hath after death THE XXXVI CHAPTER ITe maledicti c. Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his Angells Is not this the sentence sinners which Iesus Christ the iudge will pronounce in the last iudgemēt against the reprobate who haue died in mortall sinne goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire in the companie of all the diuels Cōsider therfore what associates you shall haue after death thinke that you shall be amongst the most cruell enemies of your soules But how long shall you tarry with that cursed crew for one tenn or a thousand yeares yea for euer miscreants and for all eternitie Alas what miserie Alas what torments and paine will you haue to continue imprisoned in that infernall darke dungeon Ponder that after death thou shalt be wholie in the diuels custodie where thou mayest bee sure that these deadly enemies of God and of mankinde will vse all cruelty to afflict thee which possibly they can deuise When I pray thee will the diuel beginne his dominion ouer thee in respect of thy soule In the very day of thy death and departure out