to vse many words as death fyndeth euerie man so is he iudged of GOD. Howe execrable then is that sluggishnes of men who liue with so secure a minde in sinne and wickednes For if they were touched with any care of their saluation they would surelye keepe some measure in sinning and thinke of the last day of their life as for example that I may speake particularly he that is at enmitie with his neighbour would endeuour accordinge to the commandement in the Gospell to be reconciled whoremongers and adulterers woulde remember that God will iudge them as the author to the Hebrewes sayth murderers sorcerers and all lyers woulde neuer forget that lake which burneth with fire brimstone where Iohn in his reuelation writeth that their portion shal bee couetous persons drunkardes raylers woulde alwayes haue in memorye that they shall not inherite the kingdome of GOD as y Apostle Paul witnesseth writing to the Corinthians and Ephesians rich men woulde neuer suffer to slip our of theyr mynde that our Sauiour sayth it is harde for them that truste in riches to enter into the kingdome of GOD briefly all of vs in generall woulde without doubte be myndfull of that vnquenchable and eternall fire which Christe threatneth in the Gospell to the wicked and vngodly and euery one woulde for him selfe feare that aunswere which was made to the foolish Virgins I know yee not also that saying concerning y slothful seruant Caste that vnprofitable seruaunte into vtter darkenesse where shal be weeping gnashing of teeth Moreouer that of the man which had not on a wedding garment Binde him hande and foote and caste him into vtter darkenesse c. Finallye that sayinge of our Sauiour to the wycked Departe from me yee cursed into euerlastinge fyre O too too stubburne and obstinate ones whom these thinges doe nothinge moue O Epicureans whiche bebeleeue not these thinges O wicked and vngodly persons which laugh and scorne at these thinges O mad men and vnmindefull of their saluation who neglect these thinges But they neglecte them who thinke they shall obteyne pardon and remission of sinnes by bulles and indulgences of the Pope and trusting in thys perswasion driue of from day to day the ameÌ„dment of their life Now there is another cause also which make many thus prolong and differre namely for that they are perswaded that because of a goodly worship which they giue to S. Barbarie they shall not dye but being verye contrite and hauing first receiued the Lords supper For thys superstition of worshipping S Barbarie hath possessed the mindes almost of all in the papacie WhereupoÌ„ they haue appointed a fast vnto her to be obserued euery yeere and painters set her forth holding the holy cuppe and breade in her hand Moreouer this is an other cause also for that they haue prouided long before that when their dying day is come they may be admitted into the familie of S. Fraunces and being deade may be buried in S. Fraunces habit For this opinioÌ„ also is fixed in the minds almost of all that the deuill hath no power ouer them who attaine to this forasmuch as the Monks haue together with their habit imparted vnto them their merites and good workes which are done in their whole order as masses diuine offices prayers preachinges studyes fastinges abstinence vigils labors and other such like For hereupon the Monks leauing alwayes that which is sufficient for theÌ„selues to obtaine saluation if there be anye ouerplus as alwayes there is some are wonte not to impart the same freely vnto others but to fell it vnto them for money This therefore is a cause also as I haue saide why they neuer thinke of amending their life who haue so bought with mony the participation of monks merites and deedes But it shall be needelesse here to refâ—… and confute this manifest error of popish indulgences and this very fond and vaine superstition of worshipping of Saintes seeing that both others before vs and we also haue often done the same in sundrye places Thus hast thou gentle Reader the chiefe causes as I thinke why we doe eyther neglect or differre the amendment of our life There be also other as it were seconde causes heâ—eof â–ª â—…s dayly company societie and conuersation with the vngodly and wicked who are touched with no feare of God muche lesse follow vertue and goodnes or liue holilye and vprightly Now the familiaritie and company of suche men is with all diligence to be auoyded of them who haue care of their soules helth Euill wordes as it is most truly sayde of one corrupt good manners and another saith by keeping company and liuing together with the wicked thou thy selfe also dost become wicked Here lette parentes remember that they must haue an especiall care that they suffer no naughty and leud person to haue anye familiaritie with their children and that they see and marke what youth it is and with what maners they be endued which are much or daily in their company doe liue familiarly wyth them or seeke to insinuate into their frendship and fauoure For euery man doth almoste become such a one as they are whose companye he vseth And truely in deede is it sayde of one that he which toucheth pitch is defiled therewith But let vs heare what another sayeth who cannot away with our religion Maners sayth he are taken of them with whom we be conuersant and as certaine diseases passe froÌ„ the bodye to them that touch it so doth the mind also insert them that be next it with the euills thereof The drunkard bringeth his companions to â—oue well wine the vnchast person maketh the stout and valiant if it may be effeminate and wanton couetousnesse poureth her poyson into them that bee next it The same may be sayd on the other side of vertues c. He therefore that desireth to liue vertuouslye and godly and to keepe himselfe pure cleane from wickednes which all Christians oughte to desyre let him shunne and auoide the companye of the wicked For they that giue themselues wholy to theyr companye and are daily conuersant feaste eate and drinke be merye and make good cheere with them they I say doe hardly euer thinke of amending their life neither can they easily seuer themselues froÌ„ y plesant coÌ„pany of their coÌ„panions Wherfore notwithstanding they frequent godly sermoÌ„s are admonished of good men and suche as haue authoritye and they themselues being moued with feare of Gods punishmente doe desyre that vnfainedly to reforme their maners yet for all this I can not tell howe they alwayes differre and driue of from day to day neyther can they for the moste parte euer either truelye repent or turne to the right way In the meane season deathe oftentimes sodenly vnawares commeth vpon them being thus secure carelesse For as euery mans death is certaine so is the houre thereof most vncertaine And therfore are we commaunded in the Scripture to watch and be alwayes
it come to passe that God will take pitie vppon thee forgiue thy sinnes and receiue thee into fauour for hys sonnes sake For he is our aduocate with god who maketh intercessiō for vs and reconcileth and pacifieth our heauenly father being offended at our sinne and wickednes as Iohn in his first Epistle generall teacheth East of therefore all regard of popishe indulgences of that superstitious worship of S. Barbarie and of the habit and clothing of S. Fraunces by which thinges no man can haue any hope to obtain saluation Flie vnto Christ himselfe who is our mediator and aduocate as I haue sayd the throne of grace the reconciliation for the sinnes of the worlde the Lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the world briefly our righteousnes sanctification and redemption as the Apostle saieth to the Corinthians Doe not then that I may returne to my purpose doe not I saye prolong the amendment and reformation of thy maners trustinge to indulgences and other such trifles especiallye in such shortnes of this life the houre of most certain death being so vncertain Which death forasmuch as it is dayly imminent by reason of the vncertaine chaunces which be incident vnto vs may euen at this very instant come vpon thee vnlooked for surely by reason of the shortnes of our life as it is saide of one it can neuer be farre of Howe daungerous a thing is it then to liue in that state in which if sudden death ouertake thee there is no more hope of thy saluation That thou mayst auoid this daunger see thou alwayes liue godlily acknowledge thy sinnes flie humbly to God for mercy aske pardon and forgiuenes and throughe Christe hope and looke for saluation from god Resort also often to the ministers of Gods word and aske of them godly instructions and spirituall comforte And that thou mayst be stirred vp to remember the promises concerning remission of sinne and be more more confirmed concerning the good wyll of God towarde vs come often to the Lordes table and as Christe hath instituted feede of that body which was once offered for the sinnes of mankinde and drinke that blood which was shed for the remission of our sinnes and so being mindfull of the Lords death giue heartye thanks to God for so great benefites and sing hymnes and prayses vnto him both priuatly with thy selfe at home and publikely in the assembly of the faithfull abroade A most fruitful admonition to auoid euill company NOw that I may goe forward to other matters endeuor as much as thou may alwayes to seuer thy selfe from the companye of the wicked and to associate thy selfe as neere as can be wyth the vertuous and godlye And as one admonisheth bee conuersaunt with suche as may make thee better admit such into thy companye as thou mayste amende It is a matter of no smal importance whose familiaritie thou vsest and with whom thou daily liuest For as we are infected with the company of the wicked as with a certen contagion so by dayly liuing together with the vertuous and such as feare God we are almoste reformed and amended Be therefore familier and a frend with these latter as for the other thinke thou oughtest to haue nothinge to doe with them The same doth Salomon commaund in his Prouerbs Paule also writing to the Corinthians doth so earnestly dehort from the companye and societie of the wicked in all thinges that he will not haue vs so muche as to resort to the table with them If anye that is called a brother be a fornicatour or couetous or a worshipper of Idoles or a rayler or a drunkard or an extorsioner with him that is such see that yee eate not There be in deede other causes I graunt why he will haue such to be auoyded either lest we shoulde seeme to allowe their lewdnes and wickednes or that such when they see all men shunne their companye may be ashamed and amende but surely this is not one of the smallest causes least the contagion of their vices shoulde infect others if any haue familiaritie with them For as a little leuen leueneth a greate lumpe of dough so oftentimes the example of one dooth marre and infect a great number Nowe althoughe it be in deede difficult and hard to forsake the aquaintance and familiaritie of them with whō thou hast long liued delightfully and pleasantly thou must notwythstanding with might and maine attempte the same and verye diligentlye endeuour to sequester and seuer thy selfe from the companye of such Onely be willing and earnest in the matter and without doubte it wil goe better forward then thou lookest for And because according to the greeke prouerbe the beginning is halfe of the whole and again as Horace saith he that hath well begunne hath halfe done see in any case thou doe beginne and doubt not of the successe by considering the difficultie If as it commonly falleth out thou doe eftsones thinke vppon the feastes mery meetings and such other vaine and fond delights which thou hast had with them if thou often euen against thy will remember thy mery mates and companions see thou doe then forthwith call to mynde the shortnesse of this lyfe death that hangeth ouer our heads euery houre the laste iudgement the tribunall seate of the Lord hell fire and eternall condemnation and so as the saying is driue out one nayle with another If thou call to mind these thinges and do thus speake with thy selfe Thy felowes pleasaunt companions inuite thee vnto them suppers dinners and mery meetings allure thee what doe I If thou doe earnestly say this with thy selfe what doe I then reason after a sort gathering her strength will subdue thy desire and thy will wyll yeelde to reason exhorting to that which is best Take therfore time as I haue sayde to thinke vpon these thinges and deale aduisedly in them when any such thinge come into thy minde by the suggestion of Satan cast of all remissenes of mynd neither doe straighte giue place to thy desire nor runne whither the deuill would driue thee Doe the companyons inuite thee to drinke and make mery with them See thou then cal to mynde that which our Sauior saith in a certen place Take heede saith he that your heartes be not ouercome with surfetting drunkennes Also that which Paule saieth Be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse and again drunkerds and gluttons shal not inherite the kingdome of heauen Also that which Peter saieth Be sober and vigilant moreouer that saying of Esayas Woe be vnto them that rise vp early to folow drunkennes Remember that thou must obey the authoritie of God and his Apostles rather then follow the will of wicked mē and that thou must yeld vnto reason exhorting vnto that which is best rather then consent to the deuill mouing thee to that which is worst finally that thou muste rather resist that euill spirite then grieue the holy spirite of god Do not therefore doe not
godlines doth vndoubtedly proceede from a sincere faith as the fruite froÌ„ the tree the effect from the cause Nowe in vvhome soeuer such a faith is they are free from the curse of the lawe from the tyranny of Satan from the daunger of death from the horror of hell they haue God to theyr father Christe to their brother they shall inherite the kingdom of heauen as the word of God vvitnesseth Forasmuch theÌ„ as the Guide vvhich vve haue spokeÌ„ of doth leade froÌ„ that vvhich is foule filthy vvhich kinde of things vve are vvont coÌ„monly to detest and loth froÌ„ that vvhich excludeth vs from the fruition of Gods benefites from that vvhich hath so bitter and grieuous an end euen eternall death and destruction and not onely thys but also directeth vs to that vvhich is so precious and profitable whiche proceedeth from the grace of God the fountaine of all goodnes which is not subiecte to worldâ—y mutations vvhich is an vndoubted fruit of a true faith and therefore they that bee endued therewith are the sonnes of God and heyres of eternall blessednes Forasmuch I say as this Guide doth thus leade direct who oughte not to be moste willing to follow the same to their no small commoditie and profit Thus haue I right reuerend father bin briefe short in a matter wherin I might haue bin larg long Howbeit I thinke those things which I haue entreated of sufficient to cause the Christian reader the better to loue like the more vvillinglye to reade and peruse this present treatise and also to embolden me to presume to publish the same vnder the protection of your reuerend name forasmuch as by the premisses is proued that it conteyneth matter very good and godly and therefore is agreing to your Christian conuersation not for any instruction vvhere right graue and greate learning aboundeth but onely for vvell liking vvhere good vvill is not vvanting which I earnestly desire and heartelye wish being little or nothing doubtfull thereof And nowe to conclude the Lord God graunt for his Christes sake that after yee haue runne the race of this mortall life ye maye reape the fruite of an vnfeyned faith euen the saluation both of body and soule Amen Your Lordships to commaund and vse in the lord W. Gace A Guide vnto godlines most worthy to be folowed of all true Christians IF they that wil be couÌ„ted Christians did so much dreade and mislike the thing it self as they doe at thys day detest the name and profession of EpicureaÌ„s or Sadducees they would no lesse surely refraine themselues from all euill doing and embrace vertue and godlines then they doe now with an obstinate mind follow vice and naughtines and liue lewdly and vngodlily neither woulde they any lesse keepe the commaundements of Almighty God then they are now voyde of all feare of his diuine maiesty But truly all of vs almost doe beare a mind not so much alienate and estraunged from the thing it selfe whiche our life deedes and conditions doe witnes as we doe dread the disdayne of the worde and vtterly mislike the bare name of the thinge For what Either can they beleeue the immortality of the soule who liue almost like beastes or can they be perswaded that there are rewardes prepared in heauen for the godlye and punishments appoynted in hell for the wicked who almoste in nothing sticke to breake the commaundements of God and runne hedlong vnto al vice either as though they verely thought that God is a thing vayne and fayned or did beleeue that the soule is extinct and doth perish with the body Now to confesse that there are some which both feare God and doe nothinge doubte that hee will in time to come either punish or reward euery one as he hath deserued of which sort surely ther are very few what one is there among a great number whom the fear of Gods iustice doth either reuoke from sinne euill doing or induce to amend and reforme his life Wherein thou mayst worthelye lament and bewayle the case of vs all maruell at our folly blindnes and madnesse who in such shortnes and vncertaintie of this life doe so behaue our selues that being nowe become euen verye olde when as our dying day is not farre of wee doe not so muche as thinke of amendinge our manners much lesse goe we about to doe the same being yet younge and in our flourishing yeeres I oftentimes entring in to consideration of this folly as it were dotage of men in deferring the amendment of their sinful life doe thinke it good to search out the causes why in so waighty a matter wheron dependes saluation wee behaue our selues so slacklye and slothfullye For these being once found out and made manifest it will not be afterward hard as I thinke to find some remedy to cure this euill Of the first cause vvhy men differre the amendment of their life FIrst therefore the chiefe principall cause hereof I thinke to be our incredulitie For if we did beleeue those thinges which are conteined in the holy scriptures of the iudgement to come of the voyce of the Archangell and the trumpe of God of the iudgement seate of the Lord before which we muste all appeare also those thinges that are mentioned of the punishments in time to come of the wicked of the life and immortall felicitie of the godly of the resurrection of the bodyes to gether with the soules either vnto assured glorye or certaine paine If I saye wee did beleeue these thinges not to be a vayne or fond fable we would surely endeuour to liue farre otherwise neither woulde wee so daily differ and prolong the amendment of our life For who liuing wickedly is not eyther striken with horror in his whole bodye or dooth not altogither tremble in his minde and hearte as often as he remembreth the last iudgement In which men must giue an accounte before the tribunall seate of God of all their thoughtes purposes sayinges and deedes and euery one must for himselfe pleade the cause of his lyfe O iudgement worthelye dreadfull to the wicked the memory whereof oughte neuer to slippe out of our minde For if the righteous shall scarcely be saued as sayeth the Apostle where shall the vngodly sinner appeare The sonne of God himselfe shall sitte the iudge of all men whiche haue bin from the creation of the world being then seuere sharpe and inexorable who is now an aduocatâ— wyth the father for them that be guiltie All shall be called to the examination of the life which they haue led the secretes of all heartes shall be opened euerye mannes conscience shal accuse reproue and conuince him In fine God wyll with iuste seueritie and rigour punish the wicked and graciously and mercifullye saue the godly that is he will reward euery man according to his works as the Apostle Paule sayth Neither shall euill deedes onely be iudged here as adulterie fornication incest sorcerye murder
of better state that is being alwaies in extreme and vtter desperation then which there can be no torment more greeuous or greate Whom would not all these thinges greatly feare from sinning namely the horror of hell the paines that neuer shall haue ende or measure eternall death the fire that shall neuer go out vnspeakeable torments the companye of the deuils the societie of the reprobate and wicked feare anguishe tremblinge euerlastinge and infinite and suche as the minde of man can not comprehende nor any words expresse Whom I saye will not that daye of wrath terrifie as both the Prophet and Paule to the Romans calleth it a daye of affliction and anguish a day of calamitie and miserye a darke glomie day a cloudy and blacke day when God will reward euery mā according to his workes I woulde to God the cogitation and remembraunce of these thinges were alwayes before the eyes of our minde Truely if they were either I am much deceiued or men would more diligently obserue the commaundements of Almighty God they would more refrain themselues from sinne and euel doing they would embrace vertue and godlines and endeuour to liue holily and vprightly What ought that also nothinge to moue vs that vertue is sometimes rewarded here on the earth as vice wickednes is plagued and punished And that I may omit to say any thing of the conscience wherof we haue spoken in other bookes we wil entreate of those things which thou mayst almost handle with thy handes much more be hold with thine eyes For that I may speake of a moste common vice what inconueniences euils ensue of surfettinge drunkennesse hereof as one saith in his historye of the worlde commeth palenes of colour hanginge cheekes sore eyes trembling handes troublesome sleepe vnquiet rest in the night hereof commeth stinking breth ache of the hed a weak memorie a dul wit hereof come oftentimes greuous diseases as great ach of the ioynts the gout apoplexies as both the phisitions affirme and almost dayly examples do teach As for lecherye howe often doe we see it in our age punished with the french pocks as also immoderate carnall pleasure wyth the palseye blerednesse of the eyes tremblinge of the sinewes What shall I saye of prodigalitye and ryotte hath it not broughte many to pouerty and penurie What of Adultery is it not somtimes a present punishment and is cause of infamie alwayes after Moreouer whō hath not his wrath often hurt vnto whom hath not prid procured hatred What shoulde I speake of enuie is it not a punishment vnto it selfe and doth gnaw and consume it selfe so that it was sayd rightly of one The tyrannes of Sicilie found no greater torment then enuie and of an other also An enuious man doth pine at the prosperitie of another Now concerning couetousnes is not he whose hearte it possesseth disquieted with a desire alwayes to encrease his substance and afflicted with feare to lose that he hath For a couetous man is not content with that which he hath and he feareth also least he shall not still retaine the same Dost thou not plainly by the premisses see that euen here vpon earth vice wickednes oftentimes escapeth not vnpunished Nowe if this little moue vs yet those eternall torments in hell which the Scripture threatneth to the wicked ought worthely to moue all and greatly to stir vs vp and pricke vs forward without all delay to amend our life if we count not those things a fable which the holy Scriptures teach of the life immortall of the godlye and of the paines eternall of the wicked I will rehearse what is wont mightelye to moue me and as it were inflame me to liue godlily if perhaps the same may minister occasion to other to amend their life Thus doe I often thinke with my selfe What I say Riuius if at this very instant thou shouldest depart out of this life what thinkest thou would become of thee Thinkest thou thy selfe sufficiently prepared to dye For althoughe thou reposest thy trust as thou oughtest in deede in the infinite clemency and goodnes of GOD thinkest thou notwithstanding that thou hast no cause to feare his iustice How many thousand christians are committed to euerlastinge paines howe many young men old men men of midle age women folks maried vnmaried finally howe many of euerye state age and sex whose sinnes were both farre fewer and much lighter then thine O dreadfull iudgement of God yet righteous and iust How many Iews are there in hell how many idolaters are tormented with continuall paynes Who if they had bin conuerted to the faith of Christ as by Gods goodnes and grace we are they would perhaps haue liued farre better on the earth then we at this daye doe and also would haue auoyded those eternall torments O execrable ingratitude of ours O senselesnesse of mans heart What I say if thou shouldest heare that which was spoken of the Prophet vnto Ezechias Prepare thy selfe for thou must dye and shalt not escape what wouldest thou doe in this case Thou wouldest wyshe I thinke a tyme to liue wherein thou mightest bewayle thy sinnes vnfeynedly repente and aske mercye of god Why then dooste thou not that daylye and throughe thy whole lyfe which thou wouldest then do in a moment of time By thinking of these things I am wont as I haue sayde to be much stirred vp and inflamed to liue godlily also hereby am I terrified from sinning moued to craue mercy of god Let therefore such as thinke good set the same before their eyes There is scarce any mā who purposeth not to forgiue his enemies before he go hence let him then forgiue him now There is scarce anye who desireth not to returne into Gods fauour let him returne therefore nowe There is scarce anye who thinketh not to amend his life let him amend it therefore now Brieflye whatsoeuer thou wouldest doe at the poynte of death doe the same through Gods helpe and assistance while thou liuest and arte in helth that is that I may speake particularly repent continuasly feare God vnfeynedly loue him wyth thy whole heart and most entirely repose all thy trust and confidence in him alone call vpon him in aduersitie giue him thanks in prosperitie prayse extoll confesse him at al times singe willinglye hymnes vnto him remember him alwayes in thy prayers wishes and desires committe thy selfe to hys goodnes and submit thy selfe to hys wyll set his example before thee and imitate the same in deseruing well of men finally endeuour to be like vnto him in louing thine ennemies Moreouer be patient in aduersitie humble in prosperitie diligent in thy dutie temperate in thy liuing comely in thine apparel iust toward thy neighbor liberal toward the poore gentle curteous in the company of mē patient to suffer iniuries a furtherer of peace concord chast shamefast sober to conclude in all thinges vpright entire And forasmuch as thou art not able to performe