for all the companie of the faithfull in the kingdome of his Father And thus much likewise witnesseth the words of S. Iohn in the Reuelation where hee sayth * Blessed and holy is hee that Reue. 20 6◠hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power Blessed also are the dead which hereafter Reu◠14 13 die in the Lord euen so saith the Spirite for they rest from theyr labours and theyr workes follow them ¶ Of the last Iudgement after death commonly called the general iudgement or Doomes day When the body and soule of euerie Man departed out of this life beeing by the power of God ioyned againe together shall with the rest of all mankind then liuing receiue the finall sentence either of eternall pleasure or paine §. 1. AFter death saith Esdras shall the 2 Esdras 14. 35. day of Iudgement come vvhen we shall liue againe and then shall the names of the righteous be made manifest and the workes of the vngodly shall be declared And many of them that sleepe in the Dan 12 2. dust of the earth shall awake Some to euerlasting life and som◠to shame and perpetuall contempt §. 2. But before the comming of this day saith Christ there shall be great warres Luke 21 10 11. troubles in the worlde For Nation shall rise against Nation and Realme against Realme There shall also be great Earthquakes in diuers places and pestilence and hunger and fearefull things appearing frō heauen and many other great signes and wonders There shall be signes in the Sunne and Luke 21. 25 26 in the Moone and in the starres and vpon the earth trouble among the Nations with perplexitie The Sea and the waters shall roare and mens harts shall fayle them for feare and for looking after those thinges which shall come on the World For the powers of heauen shall be shaken §. 3. After this shall appeare the signe of the Math. 24 30. sonne of man in heauen and then shall all the kindreds of the earth mourne Then also shal the wicked goe into the Esay 2 19 holes of the Rockes and into the Caues of the earth frō before the feare of the Lord and from the glory of his Maiestie vvhen he shall rise to destroy the earth Then shall they beginne to say to the Luke 23 30 Mountaines fall on vs and to the Hils couer vs hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the Reue 6 16 17 wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand In those dayes men shall seeke death and Reue 9 6. shall not finde it and shall desire to die death shall flee from them And they shall see the Sonne of man Math. 24. 30 come in the clowdes of heauē with power and great glory Who beeing ordained of Acts. 10 42 * God to be the Iudge both of the quicke and deade shall sende his Angels vvith a Mat. 24 31. great sound of a trumpet and they shal gather together his Elect from the 4. windes and from the one end of heauen vnto the other §. 4. Then shall Christ sitte vpon the throne Math 25 31 32 33. of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall seperate them one from another as a sheepheard seperateth the sheepe from the goates And hee shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left The shall the earth restore those that 2 Esdr 7 3◠haue slept in her and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in silence and the secret places shall deliuer the soules that were cōmitted vnto them And they shall come foorth that haue Iohn 5 29. doone good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation For Christ our righteous Iudge vvill Math. 16. 27 then giue to euerie man according to his deedes And reward euery one according Reue 22 12 as his worke shall be Hee will then say to the righteous whom Math 25. 34 35 c. hee hath placed on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherite yee the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world For I was hungry ye gaue mee meate I was thirstie and yee gaue me drinke I was a stranger and yee lodged mee I was naked and yee clothed mee I was sick and yee visited me I was in prison and yee came vnto mee Then shall the iust say Lord when haue we doone these things vnto thee And the King shall answere Verily when you did them to the least of my bretheren you did them to mee Then will he say to the wicked standing Math. 25 41 42 c. on his left hand Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuill and his Angels For I vvas hungry and ye fed mee not I was thirstie and ye gaue mee no drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged mee not I was naked and you clothed me not I was sicke in prison and ye visited me not Then shall they also aunswere saying When ô Lord haue wee seene thee hungry or thirstie or a stranger or naked or sicke or in prison and haue not ministred vnto thee And he shall aunswere Truly I tell you inasmuch as yee haue not doone it to one of the least of these my bretheren yee did it not to mee And these men shall goe into euerlasting paine and the righteous into life eternall §. 5. Miseries saith Esdras shal then vanish away 2 Esdr 7 33 34. and long suffering shall haue an end Iustice onely shall cōtinue the Truth shal remaine and Faith shall be strong The worke shall follow and the rewarde verse 35 shall be shewed the good deedes shall be of force and vnrighteousnes shal beare no more rule For the day of Iudgement shall be the 2 Esdr 7 43. end of this world and the beginning of the immortalitie to come wherein all corruption shall cease Then shall no man bee able to saue him 2 Esdr 7. 45 that is destroyed nor oppresse him that hath gotten the victory §. 6. VVe finde in the New Testament that Saint Paule the Apostle vvriting to the Corinthians to prooue the resurrection of the dead and the second cōming of Christ vseth many arguments to expresse the same and neere vnto the end of his chapter he thus concludeth * Behold I shewe 1 Cor 15 51 52 53 you a secret thing vve shall not all sleepe or die but wee shall all be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised vp incorruptible and we shall be changed For this corruptible must put on incorruption And this mortall must put on immortality c. According
and maketh request for vs. Sathan and his Angels are fallen and Augustine haue no Sauiour but Man falling had through the great mercy of God a Mediatour and Sauiour to restore him namely Iesus Christ VVho as he stoode in our roome vpon Ambrose the Crosse and made satisfaction vnto his Father for our sinnes so nowe in heauen hee appeares as a publique person in our stead representing all the Elect that beleeue in him Yea the selfe same Christ vvhich dyed Augustine for vs heere vpon the earth maketh intercession vnto his Father for vs now in heauen And whatsoeuer his request was in our Ambrose behalfe heere on earth the same for substance it continues still in heauen §. 6. Before the fall of Adam saith S. Ierome Ierâ—me man could speak to God face to face but now Christ is his Intercessour And thys worke of intercession is the sole worke of Christ God and man not belonging to any other creature besides either in heauen or earth The worke of Christes Passion serueth Chrisostome as a satisfaction vnto Gods iustice for our offences and is as it were the tempering of the plaister by which wee may be healed but Intercession goeth further for it applieth the same satis-faction of Christ to vs and layeth the very salue to the sore of euerie penitent sinner Besides the vvorke of Christes Intercession Chrisostome or Mediation serueth not onely to preserue all repentant sinners in the estate of grace that beeing once sanctified and iustified they may so continue to the end but it also maketh our workes acceptable in the sight of GOD and causeth him to account them righteous through our faith in Christ §. 7. Christ our Sauiour beeing both our Heb 9 24 high Priest and Mediatour as the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes calleth him is not entred into the holy places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary but is entred into heauen it selfe to appeare nowe in the sight of GOD for vs. Not that hee should offer himselfe often verse 25 26. as the High-priest among the Iewes entred into the Holy place euery yeere vvith other blood for then must he haue often suffered since the foundation of the world but nowe in the end of the world hath he appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe And as it is appointed vnto men that verse 27 28. they shall once die and after that coÌ„meth the iudgement so Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and vnto them that looke for him shall hee appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation Againe among the Ievves many vvere Hebr. 7 23. made Priestes because they were not suffered to endure by reason of death but this man Christ because hee endureth euer hath an euerlasting priest-hood VVherefore verse 24. 25 he is able also perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them For such an High-priest it became vs to verse 26. 27. haue which is holie harmelesse vndefiled separate froÌ„ sinners and made higher then the heauens which needed not daily as those High-priestes to offer vp sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples for that did he once when he offered vp himselfe §. 8. The same Christ likewise being come Hebr 9 11. 12. an High-priest of good things to come by a greater and a more perfit Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building neyther by the blood of Goates and Calues but by his owne blood entred he in once into the holy place obtained eternall redemption for vs. For if the blood of Bulles of Goates verse 13. 14. and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinckling them that are vncleane sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh hovve much more shal the blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge our coÌ„science from dead works to serue the liuing God And for this cause is he the Mediatouâ— of verse 15. the newe Testament that thorowe death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that vvere in the former Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance For where as is a Testament there must verse 16 17 also be the death of him that made the Testament For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead and is yet of no force so long as he that made the same remaineth aliue c. §. 9. Doubtlesse saith S. Paule one wil scarse Rom 5 7 die for a righteous man but yet for a good man it may be that one dare die But God setteth out his loue towards vs verse 8 9 seeing that vvhile vvee vvere yet sinners Christ dâ—ed for vs. Much more then beeing now iustified by his blood we shall be saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies wee were verse 10 reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more beeing reconciled we shall be saued by his life And not onely so but vvee also reioyce verse 11. in GOD through our Lord Iesus Christ by vvhom vvee haue novve receiued the attonement For God hath not appoynted vs vnto 1 Thes 5 9 10. vvrath but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ vvhich died for vs that vvhether wee vvake or sleepe we should liue together with him Wherefore if any man sinne wee haue 1 Ioh. 2 1 2. an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust hee is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world By him vvee haue redemption through Ephe 1 7 8 his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to his rich grace vvhereby hee hath beene abundant toward vs in all wisedome and vnderstanding By him we are made the sonnes of God Iohn 1 12. if wee beleeue in his Name And of his fulnes haue all wee receiued verse 16 euen grace for grace By his blood also wee may be bold to Heb 10. 19 20. enter into the Holy place by the newe and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile that is his flesh For we are made partakers of Christ if Heb 3 14 we keepe sure vnto the end the beginning where-with we are vpholden And we are iustified freely by the grace Rom. 3 24. 25. of God through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood For the blood of Iesus Christ the sonne 1. Iohn 1. 7. of God clenseth vs from all sinne And without sheading of blood is no Heb 9 22. remission §. 10. Seeing then that we haue a great High-priest Heb 4 14 vvhich is entred into Heauen euen Iesus
brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell §. 11. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter I beseech 1 Pet 2 11 you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine froÌ„ fleshly lusts which fight against the soule And haue your conuersation honest among verse 12. the Gentiles that they which speake euill of you as of euill dooers may by your good workes which they shall see glorifie God in the day of visitation Yea let your light so shine before men Math. 5 16. that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen §. 12. Be sober also and watch for your aduersary 1 Pet. 5 8 9. the deuill walketh about like a roaring Lyon seeking vvhom hee may deuoure whom resist stedfast in the faith Ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith 2 Pet 1 5 6 7 8 and with vertue knowledge and vvith knowledge temperance and vvith temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlines brotherly kindnes with brotherly kindnes loue For if these things be among you and abound they will make you that yee neither shall be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ §. 13. Be yee therefore followers of God as Ephe. 5 1. 2. deere children and walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs and hath giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour vnto God But fornication and all vncleanenes or verse 3 4 couetousnes let it not bee once named â—mong you as it becommeth Saints neyther filthines neither foolish talking neyther iesting which are things not comelie but rather giuing of thanks For this yee know that no whoremonger verse 5. neither vncleane person nor couetous person which is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God Wherefore be yee not vnwise but vnderstand Ephe 5 17 what the will of the Lord is And be not drunke with wine wherein Ephe. 5 18 19 20 21 is excesse but be fulfilled with the Spirit Speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your harts Giuing thanks alwayes for all things vnto God euen the Father in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ and submitting your selues one to another in the feare of God §. 14. Flee fornication euery sinne that a man 1 Cor 6 18. doth is without the body but he that coÌ„mitteth fornication sinneth against his own bodie And who will count him iust that sinnâ—th Ecclê° 10 30 against himselfe or honour him that dishonoureth his owne soule Know ye not that your body is the temple 1 Cor 19. 20 of the holy Ghost which is in you whoÌ„ yee haue of God ye are not your own for ye are bought for a price glorifie God therefore in your body and in your spirit for they are Gods Know yee not likewise that to whomsoeuer Rom 6 16 you giue your selues as seruaunts to obey his seruaunts yee are to whom yee obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnes Know you not also that all wee which Rom. 6. 4. haue been baptized into Iesus Christ haue been baptized into his death We are buried then vvith him by Baptizme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp froÌ„ the dead by the glory of the Father so we also should walke in newnes of life For all that are baptized into Christ Gala 3 27. haue put on Christ And if we be grafted with him to the similitude Rom. 6. 5. 6 7 of his death euen so shall we be to the similitude of his resurrection knovving this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed and hence-foorth wee should not serue sinne For hee that is dead is freed from sinne Wherefore if wee be dead with Christ Rom 6 8 9. 10. 11. wee beleeue that wee shall liue also vvith him for in that hee died hee died once to sinne but in that hee liueth hee liueth to God Likewise thinke yee also that ye are dead to sinne but are aliue to God in Iesus Christ our Lord. Let not sinne raigne therefore in your verse 12 13 mortall body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Neither giue yee your members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but giue your selues vnto God as they that are aliue from the dead giue your members as weapons of righteousnes vnto him For the wages or reward of sinne is Rom 6. 23. death but the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Mortifie therefore your members which Colo 3 5 6 are on the earth namely fornication vncleanenes the inordinate affection euil concupiscence and couetousnes which is idolatry For the which thinges sake the vvrath of God commeth on the chyldren of disobedience §. 15. Furthermore These are the thinges Zach 8 16 17. that yee shall doe Speake yee euery man the truth vnto his Neighbour execute iudgement truly and vprightly in your gates and let none of you imagine euill in his heart against his Neighbour Neither loue any false oath for all these are the thinges that I hate saith the Lord. See that none recompence euill for euill 1 Thes 5 15 vnto any man but euer follow that which is good both toward your selues and toward all men If it be possible as much as in you is Rom 12 18 haue peace with all men And let loue be without dissimulation Rom 12 9 Abhorring that which is euill and cleauing vnto that which is good Also seeing your soules are purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit to 1. Pet 1 22. 23. loue brotherly without faining loue one another with a pure hart feruently beeing borne a newe not of mortall seede but of immortall by the word of God who liueth and endureth for euer Let all bitternes and anger and wrath crying euill speaking be put away from Ephe 4 31 32 you with all maliciousnesse And be yee curteous one to another and tender harted freely forgiuing one another euen as God for Christes sake freely forgaue you Be all of one minde one suffer with another 1. Pet. 3 8 9 loue as brethren bee pittifull bee curteous not rendering euill for euill neither rebuke for rebuke but contrariwise blesse knowing that yee are there-vnto called that yee should be heyres of blessing Blesse them which persecute you blesse Rom 12. 14 15. 16. I say curse not reioyce with them that reioyce and weepe with them that weepe Be of like affection one towards another be not hie minded but make your selues equall to them of the lower sort Be not wise in your owne eyes But rather pray vnto the most High that Ecclê° 37 15 hee will direct thy way in truth §. 16. Yee haue heard that it hath been said Math 5
7 saith Salomon and blessed shall his children be after him The path of the righteous is to decline Prou 16 17 from euill and hee keepeth his soule that keepeth his way The way of the wicked is abhomination Prou. 15. 9 vnto the Lord but he loueth him that followeth righteousnes And better is the poore that walketh in Prou. 28 6. his vprightnes then he that peruerteth his wayes though hee be rich For there can be no greater gaine then Bullenger the good that commeth by godlinesse nor any sweeter comfort then the inward solace of an vnpolluted soule §. 22. The way of the righteous shineth as the Prou. 4. 18 light which shineth more and more vnto the perfect day And vnto them ariseth light in darknes Psal 112 4 Through his religious knowledge and Pacuuius vnderstanding the godly man shal diuers wayes be helpfull to others by his own vertues hee shall be able to withstand many vices For the righteousnes of an vpright man Prou 11 5 ordereth his way It preserueth him in his life * And causeth Prou. 13. 6 Prou 14 32 him to haue hope in his death It also deliuereth from death Prou 11 4 And defendeth the faithfull from eternall Pet. Mar. destruction For hee that walketh or continueth to Prou 28 18 the end in his vprightnes shall be saued And there is no confusion vnto them Dan 3 40 that put theyr trust in God §. 23. Doubtlesse saith Marlorate diuers are Marlorate the fauours and many the mercies which almightie GOD sheweth vnto the godly heere in this life but most vnspeakeable are the sundry consolations which through fayth they feele in conscience at the verie houre of theyr death Marke as Dauid saith the vpright man Psal 37 37 behold the iust for the end of that man is peace And the last houre of his life is the first Cyrill houre of his soules entrance into endlesse felicitie §. 24. Thus much in effect Balaam the lucrelouing Prophet could confesse to be true vnto the comfort of other men though hee himselfe walked in the way of wickednes when hee saide * Oh that my soule Num 23 10 might die the death of the righteous and that my last end might be like his For as many as in this life beleeue in Christ and keepe his doctrine * they shall Iohn 8 51. neuer see death Nor come into condemnation but haue Iohn 5 24 euen as it were alreadie passed froÌ„ death vnto life They finde by experience that the true seruice of GOD giueth inward testimonie Mar. Bucer of eternall saluation vnto theyr soules vvhere-vnto all worldly wealth is not worthy to be compared and that the peace of conscience excelleth al earthly possessions Death vnto them is no death but rather Erasmus a long-desired releasement from their many molestations in this life a most pleasant passage into the Paradise of GOD. VVhere with a number more then may bee numbred of Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Saints and holy Martyrs they shall be made partakers of euer-during happinesse and continue alwayes in the company of Christ Iesus theyr most mercifull Protector VVherfore if thou desire to prosper in Origen thy life and to speede well at thy death bestow thy studie in the lawe of the Lord practise to please him according to his precepts For it is a pleasure full of profit a solace Plotinus voyde of all sorrow for a man to giue his minde to godly meditation §. 25. Light saith the Psalmist is sowen for Psal 97 11 the righteous and ioy for the vpright in hart To euery man that doth good shall be Rom. 2. 10. glory and honour and peace And to the righteous God will recompence Prou. 13 21 good For GOD greatly esteemeth vertuous Socrates people though in this worlde they be little set by For them are good things created from Ecclê° 39 25 the beginning and euill thinges for the vvicked For them is euerlasting rest and glorie 2. Esdr 8 59 made ready but thirst and paine is long since prepared of God for the vngodly Yea the Lord himselfe hath promised 2. Esdr 8. 39. that he wil reioyce in the wayes of the righteous and that hee will remember the pilgrimage the saluation and the revvard that they shall haue For glorious is the fruite of good labours Wisd 3 15 and the roote of wisedome shal neuer fade away §. 26. Theyr first felicitie after this life is the Iust Mar. sweete rest quiet peace that their soules possesse in Christ But the second shall be the immortalitie and glory both of theyr body and soule together at the day of generall iudgement when with triumphant ioy they shall in the sight of all their enemies receiue openly theyr portion in the kingdome of perpetuall blessednes For they shall liue for euer their reward Wisd 5. 15. also is with the Lord and the most High hath care of them Therefore shall they receiue a glorious verse 16. kingdome and a beautifull crowne at the Lords hand for with his right hand shall he couer them and with his arme shall hee defend them Their recompence or reward consisteth Constantiuâ— not onely in Gods grace and fauour towards them during this life but also in his most mercifull receiuing them into eternall felicitie and safe preseruing them froÌ„ the danger of damnation which is the second death of the vngodly So that heauen is not onely the seate of Erasmus Gods glory and the habitation of his holie Angels but it is also the resting place of the faithfull and the inheritance of all his Saints §. 27. The certaine truth vvhereof is further vvitnessed vnto vs by the words of Christ himselfe where among many other petitions made vnto his Father both for himselfe and the faithfull in the end hee concludeth his speech with this saying * Father Iohn 17 24 I will that they which thou hast giuen mee be with mee euen where I am that they may beholde my glory vvhich thou hast giuen mee Also in another place he sayth * If any Iohn 12 26 man serue mee let him followe mee for where I am there shall also my seruant be and who-soeuer serueth mee him will my Father honour And what honour receiued from anie Tertullian Prince in this vvorld be it neuer so great is worthy any way to be compared vnto the least honour vvhich the seruaunts of GOD shall receiue from theyr Creator in the kingdome of Heauen VVhere life shall not be limitted vnto Beda them by number of monthes or yeeres nor theyr pleasures appointed at certaine times and seasons but as God himselfe is without any ending so shall theyr life be euerlasting And as his power endureth perpetually so shall their pleasures last continually §. 28. For it is a thing agreeable to reason that
the giuer thereof wil neuer alter his mind nor change his first determination Theyr seauenth and last beatitude shall be absolute or perfect ioy such as no pen can expresse nor any mortall hart be able to comprehend For there shall be thousands of thousands and more then tenne thousand hundred of thousandes of the righteous whom no tongue can number which shall all enioy this heauenly happinesse and ioy altogether in the same blessednes And euery one of this blessed cōpanie shall as much reioyce giue thanks vnto GOD for the felicitie of others as for himselfe They shall also aboue all this as hath partly before by another Authour beene expressed reioyce with an admirable ioy at the onely sight of almightie GOD in whose presence they shall cōtinually abide and whose glory they shall alwaies behold They shall delight in him more then in themselues and they shall for euer be beloued of him more then they can loue themselues They shall abound in all ioy and be filled there-with both within and without they shall haue ioy aboue them and ioy beneath them and ioy on euerie side and round about them so that theyr reioycing shal be incomparable and theyr felicitie without measure or end For as there is no end of Gods greatnes Augustine nor number of his wisedome nor measure of his benignitie so is there neither end number nor measure of his rewards towards them that loue him and continue constant in his truth vnto the death §. 34. Now then there is no condemnation to Rom 8 1. them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For as many as are led by the Spirit of Rom 8 14. God they are the sonnes of God And if wee be sonnes then are vve also Rom 8 17 heires euen the heires of God heyres annexed with Christ And shall vvith all the righteous and elect of the Lord at the day of our Sauiours comming to iudgement be called to the possession of that kingdome vvhich Math 25 34 was prepared of God for the godly from the beginning of the world Or as Saint Paule saith * Before the Ephe 1 4 foundations of the world were layd Where the beloued chosen of God Eugenius shall neuer be crost with any moe calamities nor combred with any more care or greefe but dwell in euerlasting delight without dread of danger raigne in perpetuall pleasures without feare of paine Where also they shall hunger no more Reue. 7. 16. 17. neyther thirst any more neyther shall the Sunne light on them neyther any heate For the Lambe of GOD Iesus Christ theyr Mediatour and Redeemer vvhich sitteth in his kingdome of glory in the mids of his throne shal gouerne them shall leade them vnto the liuely Fountaines of waters and GOD shall vvipe avvay all teares from theyr eyes And they shall see his face his Name Reue. 22. 4 shal be in their fore-heads And there shall be no more death neyther Reue. 21. 4 sorrow neither crying neyther shall there bee any more paine for the first things are passed away §. 35. Be glad therefore ô yee righteous Psal 32 11 reioyce in the Lord and be ioyfull all yee that are vpright in hart For the things which eye hath not seene 1. Cor 2 9. neyther eare hath heard neither haue entred into the hart of man to conceiue are which GOD hath prepared for them that loue him Hee that is righteous let him be righteous Reue 22 11 still and hee that is holy let him be holy still And beholde saith Christ I come verse 12 shortly and my reward is with me to giue euery man according as his worke shall be ¶ Of the heauie wrath of GOD against the vngodly here in this life with his threatnings of theyr eternall torments in the world to come PROVERBS 11. verse 19. As righteousnesse leadeth vnto life so hee that followeth euill seeketh his owne death §. 1. FRet not thy selfe saith Dauid because Psalm 37 1 of the vvicked or vngodlie neither be thou enuious against the euill dooers For they shall soone be cut downe like verse 2 the grasse and shal wither away as dooth the greene hearbe They are exalted for a little but shortly Iob 24 24 are they gone and are brought lowe as all others they are destroyed cut off euen as the top of an eare of corne Though they florish in the world for a Cyprian season yet is their safety in the same alwaies most vncertaine and when they perswade themselues to be farthest from perrill then commeth theyr confusion speedily vppon them They haue as the Prophet affirmeth Psal 17 14 theyr portion in this life They liue for a time in most prosperous Basill estate they enioy vvealth according to their wish and haue chyldren at theyr desire they spend whole months in mirth banquetting and fill themselues with all varietie of delights but at vnawares they end theyr dayes in sorrow and die without any hope of the felicitie to come Therefore shal not the wicked be able Psal 1 5 6 to stand in iudgement nor sinners in the assemblie of the righteous for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked shal perrish His owne iniquities shal take the wicked Prou 5 22 23. himselfe and hee shal be holden vvith the cordes of his owne sinne Hee shal die for faute of instruction goe astray through his great folly Lewde things are in his hart hee imagineth Prou 6 14 15 euil at al times and raiseth vp contentions Therefore shal his destruction come hastilie vpon him he shal be destroyed suddainly without recouery §. 2. As for my selfe saith Dauid my feete Psalm 73. 2 were almost gone my steps had wel-neere slipt For I fretted at the foolish when I Psal 73 3 saw the prosperitie of the wicked For there are no bandes in theyr death verse 4 5 but they are lustie and strong They come into no misfortune like other folke neyther are they plagued like other men Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto thē verse 6 7 and crueltie couereth them as a garment Theyr eyes stand out for fatnes and they haue more then hart can wish They trust in their goods and boast Psal 49 6 themselues in the multitude of their riches They see that wise men die and also that Psalm 49 10 11 the ignorant and foolish perrish and leaue theyr riches for others Yet they thinke theyr houses theyr habitations shall continue for euer euen from generation to generation and call theyr landes by theyr names Theyr seede also is established in their Iob 21 8 sight with them and theyr generation before theyr eyes Theyr houses are peaceable vvithout verse 9. feare and the rodde of God is not vppon them Theyr Bullocke gendereth and fayleth
the multitude of theyr sinnes and wickednes are hopelesse Vincentius and such as haue committed thefts murders adulteries or any other the like offences the iustice of GOD and theyr owne deserts damne them after thys lyfe ended vnto euerlasting destruction from the which they shall neuer be deliuered §. 25. VVoe therefore be vnto you ô yee Ecclus 41 8. 9. vngodly which haue forsaken the Law of the most high God for though you increase yet shall you perrish If ye be borne ye shall be borne to cursing if ye die the curse shal be your portion For the fearefull and vnbeleeuing the abhominable and murtherers the whoremongers Reue 21 8 and sorcerers the idolaters all lyers shall haue theyr part in the Lake vvhich burneth vvith fire and brimstone which is the second death VVhere there shall be weeping gnaâ—ning Math 25 30 of teeth VVhere theyr worme dyeth not and Mark 9 44 the fire neuer goeth out For the breath of the Lord like a Riuer Esay 30 33 of brimstone doth kindle it And the smoake of their torment shall Reue 14 11 ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night §. 26. Good men saith Lactantius haue Lactantius theyr hell in thys World that they may knowe there is a heauen after death to reward the vertuous but wicked men escape torments in this life because they shal find there is a iudgement to come wherein all vnrighteous people shaâ— be punished according to the measure of their iniquities For eternall death is the reward of all Gregory wickednes hell is the place of punishment which God hath appointed for reprobates after this life So that when the godly shall haue their Paâ—â—â—iuâ— full entrance and beginning to euerlasting blessednes and make theyr happy change from mortalitie to immortalitie and leaue the corruptible drosse of this life for treasures incorruptible for golde glory for siluer solace without end for vaine apparrell roabes royall for earthly houses eternal pallaces with mirth immeasurable pleasure without paine and felicitie endlesse then also shall the estate of the vvicked be most lamentable then shall hastilie come vpon them theyr iust reward of vengeance then shall they with the end of this worlds vaine felicitie enter into eternall damnation and miserie then shal they cry woe woe woe vnto themselues with endlesse sorrow for theyr carelesse life worldly securitie §. 27. Then saith the Lorde shall they haue 2 Esdr 9 9 pitty of themselues which now haue abused my waies and they that haue cast them out despightfully shall dwell in paines For such as in theyr life haue receiued benefites and haue not knowne mee but 2 Esd 9 10 11 12 haue abhorred my lawes while they vvere yet in libertie and when they had yet leysure of amendement and would not vnderstand but despised it they must be taught it after death by payne §. 28. Then shal the wicked seeing the righteous whom in this life they contemned receiued into Gods kingdome and themselues kept out be enforced through inward anguish to breake foorth into this following complaint saying * Wee haue Wisd 5. 6 erred from the way of truth the light of righteousnes hath not shined vnto vs and the sunne of vnderstanding rose not vpon vs. We haue wearied our selues in the way Wisd 5. 7. of wickednes destruction and we haue gone through dangerous waies but as for the way of the Lord we haue not knowne it VVhat good hath our pride done vnto Wisd 5 8 9 vs or vvhat profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs All those things are passed away like a shadowe and as a messenger that rideth post As a ship that passeth ouer the waues of verse 10. the water which when it is gone by the trace thereof cannot be found neyther the path of it in the floods Or as a byrd that flieth thorow the ayre verse 11 and no man can see any token of her passage but onely heare the noyse of her winges beating the light winde parting the ayre through the vehemencie of her going and fleeth on shaking her winges whereas afterward no token of her way can be found Or as when an arrowe is shot at a mark verse 12 it parteth the ayre which immediatly commeth together againe so that a man cannot knowe where it went thorowe Euen so wee as soone as we were borne verse 13 wee began to draw to our end and haue shewed no token of vertue but are consumed in our owne wickednes Such words saith Salomon shal they that haue sinned speake in hell Where theyr complaints shall be bootelesse Pet. Mar. and theyr repentance vnprofitable For theyr punishment shal be endlesse Phil. Mel. and theyr paynes vnceaseable §. 29. And to the end saith S. Gregory that Gregory the damned wretches in hell may be the more seuerely punished for their obstinacy and wicked deeds done in this world there shall all the miseries and torments that possibly may be deuised be heaped together vpon them There shal be fire vnquenchable colde Gregory intollerable the worme of conscience that cannot die and a most horrible stench that cannot be abidden There shal be palpable darknes whyps of tormentors visions of foule fiendes and vglie deuils confusion of sinnes and desperation of all goodnes There they shal haue teares in their eyes Fulgentius gnashing in theyr teeth stinch in theyr nostrils howling in their mouthes mourning in theyr throats terror in their eares bonds and manicles vpon theyr hands and feete and eternall fire burning all theyr parts and members Yea such a fire so stored with cruelty torment through the wonderfull heate vehement strength therof that as S. Augustine Augustine saith there is as much difference betweene naturall fire and the fire of hell as there is betweene painted fire on a wall and the ordinary fire which we daily vse §. 30. Besides the rigour of their paine in that Bullenger tormenting fire shall be so great that despising life which all so deerely loue they shall earnestly desire death which all men hate but it shal not come at them nor neere them For all helpe shal be wanting the gate Cassianus of Gods mercy shall be shut against them and the righteous which then shall behold them in their restlesse torments shall neuer be mooued thereat to any pitty or compassion but rather reioyce the more at theyr destruction and greatly giue thankes vnto God for his vpright iustice shewed vpon them Also that they may bee the more certainly Granado assured that this horrible fire in hell shall neuer be quenched the deuils haue alwayes in charge to blow the same and to keepe it coÌ„tinually burning who as they be immortall so shall they neuer cease or be wearie of blowing therein And though they should be weary yet is Granado there the blast of the Almightie and
so great and the pleasures thereof so small and fewe to make vs the more desirous of the heauenly life which is nothing els but ioy and pleasure And surely it seemeth by the speech of the Apostle that he knew well which was the better choyse of the twaine vvhen hee said * I desire to be dissolued or loosed Philip. 1 23 from this flesh and to be with Christ which is best of all For we know saith he that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroied we 2 Cor 5 1 2 haue a building giuen of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens And therefore doe wee sigh desiring to be clothed vvith our house which is from heauen §. 2. These things being thus ô howe happie Rauisius were it nowe saith Rauisius for vnhappie man if forgetfulnesse deceiued him not to remember the sickle estate of his life both how short it is and also how full of miserie vanitie and woe an approued exile and hath nothing in it permanent But is euen a continuall conflict strife Mar. Aurâ—l warre a wandering wildernesse and a vale of wretchednesse wherin we are continually compassed with most terrible fierce and feareful enemies to the deadly wounding sleying and ouer-throwing both of body and soule into hell All these miseries considered why should man then haue any desire to liue in this wretched world to abide in such a lothsome and laborious life VVere not death much rather to be desired VVere not the howre of death much better then the continuaunce of such a life For to the godly death is no death but rather the most happie messenger and quick dispatcher of all such displeasures the end of al trouble and sorrow the bedde of all rest the doore of good desires the gate of gladnesse the port of Paradice the hauen of heauen the entrance to felicity the manumission from all griefe and misery and the beginning of euerlasting ioy and blessednes Death therefore ought rather to be desired Hâ—rmes then despised for it changeth vs from this world of vncleanenes shame to the pure world of worship and worth From this transitory life to life euerlasting from a worlde of folly and vanities to a worlde of wisedome reason and truth and from a world of trouble trauaile and paine to a world of rest comfort and consolation Let each man therfore wisely consider of Pacuuius his own estate let him also feare to offend the maiestie of Almightie God and not feare the day nor howre of death but alwayes abide with patience his appoynted time and vvhen hee perceiueth that his turne is come let him giue thanks vnto his Maker for his change ¶ Of the parting of the soule from the bodie and of the immortalitie thereof §. 1. TO all thinges saith Salomon there Eccles. 3 1. 2 is an appointed time and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen a time to be borne a time to die a time to plant and a time to pluck vp that vvhich is planted For here haue we no continuing Citty Heb. 13 14 but we seeke one to come All flesh waxeth old as doth a garment Ecclê° 14. 17 and this is the condition of all times Thou shalt die the death For vvhat man is he that liueth shal Psal 89 48. not see death Sith that law is generall which coÌ„maundeth Salust to be borne and to die §. 2. All things that are of the earth saith Sirach Ecclê° 40 11 shall turne to earth againe and they that are of the waters shall returne into the Sea But the soule or spirit of man being immortal Eccles. 12. 7 shal returne vnto God that gaue it For as the beginning of our creation coÌ„meth Aristotle from GOD so it is meete that after death our soule returne vnto him againe §. 3. GOD hath created saith Beda three Beda kindes of liuing Spirits the first incorporeall proper to Angels onely the second couered ouer with flesh but not mortall or dying there-with that is the soule or Spirite of man dwelling in his body the third carnall and dying with the flesh namelie the spirite or life of beastes The soule of man also beeing once Augustine made shall surely endure for euer eyther in the body or out of the body For it should neuer beare the name to bee made according to the Image of Gods own likenesse if it might possibly be enclosed in the bonds of death §. 4. The most precious excellent creature Hermes that God hath created here on earth saith Hermes is man the most worthy thing in him is his soule or spirit vvhich endeuouring in this life to follow goodnes shall after death be rewarded with eternal glory For this is to be beleeued that the soules Socrates of good men so soone as they are foorth of the bodie they passe speedily into a better life but the soules of the wicked goe from this world to a worse If death were the dissoluing both of bodie Plato and soule then happy were the wicked which beeing once ridde of theyr bodie should also for euer after be ridde of theyr soule and wickednes but forasmuch as it is euident that the soule is immortall there is no comfort left for the vngodly to trust in For the immortalitie of the soule excludeth all hope from the wicked and establisheth the good in theyr goodnes §. 5. By the iustice of God saith Plato the Plato soule must needes be immortall and therfore no man ought to liue carelesse or negligent thereof For though the body die yet the soule Solon dieth not but by the stroke of death it passeth foorth of the body into another world more swiftly theÌ„ any bird that flieth Yea the soules of all men doubtlesse Socrates are immortall but the soules of the godlie are both immortall and diuine Wherefore if thy soule be good the Basill stroke of death cannot hurt thee for thy spirit shall thereby liue blessedly in heauen §. 6. But for better proofe of this matter then the speech of any Philosopher in the world can affoord we finde it plainly affirmed in the Gospell of S. Luke by the testimonie Luke 16 22 23. c. of Truth it selfe that the soule of Lazarus was no sooner out of his body but it vvas immediatly carried vp by the Angels into Abrahams bosome Contrariwise the soule of Diues after his death was speedily borne to hell torments The first to ioy pleasure the last to paine greefe Betweene which two places also there is such a great gulfe or swallowing pit sette that there cannot possibly be any passage from one of them to the other Saint Iohn likewise witnesseth in the Reuelation that wheÌ„ the 5. seale of the booke Reue. 6. 9. of God was opened he saw vnder the Alter in heauen the soules of them that were
killed heere on earth for the word of God and for the testimonie of his truth And to shew that they liue there he further addeth in the next veâ—se folowing that they cryed vnto God with a loude voyce verse 10 saying Howe long Lorde holy and true tariest thou to iudge auenge our blood c. King Salomon also in his booke of wisdome affirmeth that the soules of the righteous Wised 3. 1. 2 3 4. are in the hande of God and no torment shall touch theÌ„ Though in the sight of the vnwise saith hee they appeared to die and their end was thought greeuous and their departing from vs destruction yet they rest in peace and though they suffer paine before men yet is theyr hope full of immortality §. 7. Besides these former places of holy scripture wee finde also diuers other proofes in the booke of God concerning this poynt as namely the hopefull speech of Dauid vvho when newes was brought him that his base-borne child for whom hee fasted prayed and wept was dead hee lamented no longer but presently washed his handes and called for meate And being demaunded 2 Sam 12. 23. the reason thereof by his seruants hee aunswered I shall goe to him but he shall not returne to mee Also when old Tobias was derided of his kinsfolkes and acquaintance and scoffingly Tobie 2. demaunded by theÌ„ where his hope was for the which he had doone almes and buried the dead considering he was now euen after the finishing of a good vvorke suddainly smitten blinde hee nothing there-with dismayed confidently rebuked them saying Say not so for wee are the children of holy men and looke for the life which God shall giue vnto them that neuer turne their beleefe from him The same Tobias also at another time to witnesse vnto the worlde vvhat confident hope hee alwaies had of the soules immortalitie earnestly requested of the Almightie Tobie 3 6 that his spirit might be taken from him and that his body might be dissolued and become earth The like may be read in the prayer of Elias wheÌ„ he desired to die saying ô Lord 1 Reg 19 4 I pray thee take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers c. §. 8. And to shew yet a little further that it resteth in the power of God to take the soule from the body and to giue it againe at his pleasure vvee finde in the first Booke of Kings that the fore-said Elias found such 1 Reg 17 22 23. fauour in the sight of God that vvhen the sonne of his hostesse was dead he through his earnest prayer obtained that the childes soule was restored to him againe So did Elisha in the same manner obtaine 2 Reg 4 32 33. his peticion of the Lord and reuiued the dead body of the Shunamites sonne We reade also in the Gospell written by S. Mathew that after our Sauiour had giuen vp the Ghost the Scpulchers of dead Math 27 52 53. men through the miraculous working of the Almightie opened themselues and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came foorth of the graues after his resurrection and vvent into the holie Citty and appeared vnto many So that by these sayings and examples Gene 5 24. 2 Reg 2 1â— Num 16 32 33 with the taking vp of Henoch and Elias both body and soule into heauen the swallowing downe of Corath Dathan and Abiram quicke into hell and sundry other proofes in the Booke of God to this purpose we may sufficiently assure our selues that the soule of Man is immortall that there is not onely a place of rest ordayned of God for the godly but also a lothsome pitte or place of punishment appointed by him for the wicked after this life The veritie whereof is likewise further witnessed vnto vs by the wordes of S. Augustine Augustine where he sayth The soules of the godly beeing separated from their bodies are in rest and the soules of the vngodlie doe suffer punishment vntill such time as the bodies of the righteous doe rise againe vnto life euerlasting and the bodies of the vnrighteous vnto eternall death which is also called the second death ¶ Of the first Iudgement after death called by Diuines particuler Iudgement when the soule of euery man after it is parted foorth of his body shall presently receiue sentence from God eyther of eternall ioy or euerlasting payne §. 1. IT is appointed vnto men saith the Apostle Heb 9 27 that they shal once die and after that commeth the iudgement For wee must all appeare before the Iudgement-seate of Christ that euery man 2 Cor 5 10 may receiue the workes which are done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Also at the very houre of death the soule Cyprian must render vp a particuler account vnto God concerning all her doings in this life and then shall it be iudged knowe assuredly what shall become of it for euer If it finde fauour in the sight of God it Basill shal presently enter into the rest and ioy of the righteous if otherwise it shall be condeÌ„ned by the Iudge to perpetual torments Yea Of euery idle vvorde that men Math. 12. 36 shall speake in this life they shal giue an account at the day of iudgement For GOD will bring euery worke into Eccles. 12. 14. iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill Hee vvill render vnto man according to Iob 34 11. his worke and cause euery one to finde according to his way That is to them which by continuaunce Rom 2 7 8 in well dooing seeke glorie and honor immortalitie shall be eternall life but vnto them that are contentious and disobey the truth and obey vnrighteousnesse shall be indignation and wrath Tribulation and anguish also shall be Rom 2 9 10 vpon the soule of euery man that doth euil of the Iewe first and also of the Grecian But to euery man that doth good shall be glory and honour and peace c. §. 2. Againe so soone as the soule of man saith Augustine S. Augustine is parted froÌ„ the body it passeth presently to the tribunall seate of God vnder the custodie both of good and euill Angels and after it hath there abidden the triall of a straite examination it shall forthwith receiue the sentence either of eternall blessednes or els of endlesse vvoe and miserie Yea euery one of vs shall giue accounts Rom 14 12 of himselfe to God And euery man shall receiue his wages 1 Cor 3 8. or reward according to his worke But in most happy state shall the soules Beda of all the godly bee after theyr departure hence vvho through grace giuen them from GOD haue earnestly in this life resisted euill and followed goodnes for they shall then enter into that place of perpetuall happines which Christ their Captaine hath prepared
mee Namely the comming of * the holy Ghost c. Iohn 14 26 §. 12. And when Iesus had spoken these things vnto his Apostles to the intent they might as well be eye-witnesses of his Ascention as records to the worlde of his Resurrection while * they beheld he was taken vp Acts. 1. 9. for a clowde tooke him out of their sight And for further suretie hereof then the bare sight of their eyes onely though that alone were of it selfe aboue all other most sufficient they heard with theyr eares the very same thing which they saw with theyr eyes further affirmed vnto them by tvvo heauenly witnesses for while they looked stedfastly after him towards heauen as hee went * behold two men stoode by thē in Acts 1 10. 11. white apparrell which also said Yee men of Galilee why stand yee gazing into heauen This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as yee haue seene him goe into heauen Thus much onely to prooue according to the Scriptures the Passion Death Buriall Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ VVhom * the Heauen Acts 3 21. must containe vntil the time that all things be restored vvhich GOD hath spoken by the mouth of all his holie Prophets since the vvorld began ¶ Of the seuerall benefites which wee haue by the Death Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ. §. 1. AS by diuers places in the Booke of GOD we finde it manifestly affirmed that there is only but one God which alone by his owne almightie power hath made Heauen and Earth the Sea all that in them is So from the selfe same sacred Scriptures it may plainlie bee proued by the speech of the Apostle that there is onely but one Mediatour betweene God and man namely the man 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. * Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men to be a testimonie in due time Hee alone died for our sinnes according 1 Cor. 15 3 4. to the Scriptures and he was buried and rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures Yea hee died for all that they vvhich 2 Cor 5 15 liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them and rose againe §. 2. Christ that he might kill death saith S. Augustine Augustine was clothed with death for death coulde not die but in life euen as that which is sower bitter dieth not but in that which is pleasant and sweet And as Elizeus made the yron to swim Cyrill which naturally sinketh so Christ by his death brought vs backe from the gates of hell which deseruedly we should haue entered Hee also by his owne death hath destroyed Heb. 2 14 15. him that had the power of death that is to say the deuil and hath deliuered all them which for feare of death remained all their life time subdued vnto bondage Yea he by his comming hath abolished 2 Tim 1 10 or put away death and brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell §. 3. O Death where is thy sting saith the 1 Cor 15 55 56 57 Apostle ô graue vvhere is thy victorie the sting of Death is sinne the strength of sinne is the Lawe but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ For hee onely deliuereth vs from the 1 Thes 1 10. wrath of God to come And to him also giue all the Prophets Acts 10 43. witnesse that through his Name all that beleeue in him should receiue the forgiuenesse of theyr sinnes §. 4. VVee were not redeemed as S. Peter 1 Pet 1 18 19 20. affirmeth with corruptible things as Siluer and Gold from our vaine conuersation which we receiued by the traditions of the Fathers but with the precious bloode of Christ as a Lambe vndefiled and without spot which was ordained before the foundation of the world but was declared in the last times c. VVho his owne selfe bare our sinnes in 1 Pet 2 24 his bodie on the tree that we being deliuered from sinne shoulde liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes we were healed For hee hath taken on him our infirmities Esay 53 4. and borne our paines He was wounded for our transgressions Esay 53 5 hee was broken for our iniquities The chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are made whole All wee like sheepe haue gone astray verse 6 we haue turned euery one to his own way and the Lord hath layde vpon him the iniquitie of vs all Yea God hath made him which knewe 2. Cor. 5 21. no sinne to be sinne for vs that we should be made the righteousnesse of GOD in him And those things which GOD before Acts 3 18 had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Christ shoulde suffer the same hath hee fulfilled Yet was his death voluntary and not of Augustine constraint §. 5. Mankind laboureth in this world saith Bernard S. Bernard of a three-folde disease his birth his life his death The first vncleane the second sinfull the third dangerous but Christ by his cōming brought vnto vs three remedies Hee vvas borne hee liued he died His birth refined ours his life instructed ours his death ouercame ours And as a strong corrasiue layd to a sore Ierome eateth away all the rotten and dead fleshe so Christes death beeing applyed to the hart of a penitent sinner by fayth weakens consumes that corruption of sin which cleaueth so fast vnto our natures dwelleth within vs. §. 6. It was very needfull saith S. Augustine Augustine that Christ the sonne of God should both become man die for vs for two causes First to satisfie Gods iustice Secondly that hee might fulfill the truth of Gods VVord vvhich had saide That man eating the forbidden fruite shoulde die the death For surely if the sonne of God had not Beza come into the worlde in our nature sinne onely excepted and died vpon the Crosse to appease the wrath of God for mans offences wee should yet remaine subiect to eternall death and damnation But he hath loued vs hath giuen himselfe Ephe 5. 2 for vs to be an offering a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour vnto God Yea hee hath loued vs and washed vs Reue. 1 5. from our sinnes in his owne blood Hee also hath redeemed vs from the Gala 3 13. curse of the Law whē he was made a curse for vs. And hee likewise beeing rich for our 2. Cor 8. 9. sakes became poore that wee through his pouertie might be made rich §. 7. Christ saith S. Peter hath once suffered 1 Pet 3 18. for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God and was put to death cōcerning the flesh but was quickned in the Spirit Yea euen when Christ suffered death Epiphanius
examples that the Saints of God yea such men as vvere most high in Gods fauour haue alwaies beene carefull to serue their Creator with feare and reuerence And without true feare and reuerence Augustine no man liuing can be righteous in the sight of God Boldly hereby may we then with Sirach Ecclê° 18 26 count him a vvise man that feareth God in all his actions And rightly with Salomon pronounce Prou. 28. 14 him blessed that standeth alwaies in dread to doe that which may offend his Maker But hee that hardneth his owne hart shall fall into euill Happy therefore is the man vnto whoÌ„ Ecclê° 25. 12. it is graunted to haue the feare of God And blessed is the soule of him that feareth Ecclê° 34. 15 the Lord. Yea blessed is euery one that feareth Psal 128. 1. the Lord and walketh in his wayes It shal goe wel with such men at the last Ecclê° 1 13. and they shall finde fauour in the day of their death For who so feareth the Lord hee shall Ecclê° 1 18 prosper and at the end of his life hee shall be blessed Yea the spirits or soules of such men Ecclê° 34 13 shall surely liue for their hope is in the Lord their God that can helpe them ¶ Of Loue. §. 1. LOue as Plotinus saith is a diuine Plotinus passion of the soule or Spirit inspiring it with a celestiall desire of heauenly things and inflaming the harâ— to God-ward through the hope vvhich iâ— conceiueth of euerlasting felicitie But like as I haue saide before of Feare that there are two sorts thereof so doe I heere certifie vnto euery one that readeth that diuers worldly men haue out of this holie roote of Loue deriued tvvo seuerall Trees Namely this diuine Loue wholelie dedicated to Pietie and an immodest affection extending it selfe to base Concupiscence vvhich they entitle by the name of Loue also This vile Loue or rather Concupiscence is as Aristotle saith the vvorst Aristotle worke of a mans Malus Genius It disturbeth the passions of the hart and maketh the sences mad It is the roote of violence furie murders and execrations and the sole confounder of all the holy actions of the soule Full fraught with this filthy lust-loue was the heart of wicked Amnon vvhen 2. Sam. 13. through his deceitfull policie he obtained meanes to abuse by violence the body of his sister Thamar But the other Loue sirnamed Charitie which is true perfect diuine and onelie sacred * is the very originall and cheefe Gregory ground of all godly actions It is the way of man to God the vvay Augustine of God to man It is heauens Embassadour to the soule Rauisius and the whole scope or fulfilling of all Gods commaundements §. 2. This Loue as the Apostle saith suffereth 1 Cor 13 4. 5 6 7. long It is bountifull It enuieth not It doth not boast it selfe It is not puffed vp It disdaineth not It seeketh not that which is her owne It is not prouoked to anger It thinketh not euill It reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth It suffereth all thinges It beleeueth all things It hopeth all things It endureth all things This loue teacheth vs true vvisedome Plato namely to loue the soule more then the body not the body â—etter then the soule This loue beeing both diuine and charitable mooueth a man according to the Deut 6 5 commaundement of God in the Law to loue his Maker aboue all things and his Leuit 19. 18 neighbour as deerely as hee loueth himselfe This loue beeing a good and gracious Plotinus affect of the soule so worketh in the harts of the godly that they haue no fancie to esteeme value or ponder any thing in the wide world beside or before the care and studie how to please God For the greatest argument of godly loue Pacuuius is to loue that which God willeth and to forbeare to doe that which he hath forbidden §. 3. This loue resembleth fire which naturally Erasmus inflameth all things that it toucheth This loue teacheth vs according to the commaundement of our Sauiour Christ Math 5 44. to loue our enemies to blesse them that curse vs to do good to them that hate vs and to pray for them that hurt vs and persecute vs. Yea this loue couereth all trespasses Prou 10 12 It is strong as death Much water cannot Cant 8 6. 7 quench it neither can the floods drown it This loue maketh men to forsake sinne Chrisostome and embrace vertue This loue increaseth fayth begetteth Augustine hope and maketh vs at peace with God This loue in aduersity is patient in prosperitie Bernard temperate in passions strong in good workes quicke in temptations confident in hospitality bountifull This loue is neuer idle but alwayes labouring Ambrose to serue him whom it loueth §. 4. This loue as Pacuuius saith cannot Pacuuius stand with any worldly care or studie for the things of this life neither abideth it the coupling with any other loue It beareth no partiall affection to kindred It knoweth no difference betweene poore rich It knoweth not what meaneth mine and thine Neither can it deuide a foe from a friende For hee that truely and perfectlie loueth GOD loueth him alone nothing besides him nor with him but all thinges indifferently in him and for him By which speech it appeareth that the * right measure where-with vvee ought to Bernard loue God is to loue him entirelie without either end or measure Not in part but in whole as hee himselfe in his holy VVorde hath willed vs Leuit 6. 5. Luke 10 27 namely vvith all our heart vvith all our soule with all our minde with all our strength VVhich speech of GOD beeing by Maister Becon in a certaine Sermon of his Becon expounded hee enterpreteth the same in this manner saying To loue God with all our hart is to preferre the loue of him both aboue before all things else whatsoeuer To loue God with all our soule is to loue him discreetly To loue God with all our minde is continually to meditate vpon his commaundements And to loue him with all our strength is manfullie to suffer all kinds of aduersities with willingnesse patience for the testimonie of his truth §. 5. VVith this sacred and religious loue of man to his Maker was the hart of holie Dauid greatly enflamed as may for example be seen in sundry places of his psalmes where in zealous affection to the Lorde and his Lavv he first of all saith * One Psalm 27. 4 thing haue I desired of the Lorde the which I will still require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to beholde the beauty of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple I haue loued ô Lord saith hee the habitation Psalm 26.
mee they will persecute you also If they haue called the Maister of the Math 10 25 house Beelzebub howe much more them of his houshold But all these thinges will they doe vnto Iohn 15 21 you for my Names sake because they haue not knowne him that sent mee Yea the time shall come that whosoeuer Iohn 16. 2. killeth you will thinke that he dooth God seruice Notwithstanding blessed are ye if you 1. Pet. 3. 14. suffer for righteousnes sake For vnto such appertaineth the kingdome Math 5 10 of heauen Yea blessed are yee when men reuile Math. 5 11 12. you and persecute you and say all manner of euill against you for my sake falselie reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you §. 5. Let not saith he your harts be troubled Iohn 14. 1. yee beleeue in God beleeue also in me In the world ye shall haue affliction but Iohn 16 33 be of good comfort I haue ouer-com the world And feare not them which kill the bodie Math. 10. 28 Luk. 12 4. 5 and after that are not able to doe any more but rather feare him which is able to destroy both body soule in hell yea I say vnto you feare him For what shall it profit a man though Math 16. 26 hee should winne the whole world if hee lose his ovvne soule or what shall a man giue for recompence of his soule VVho-soeuer therefore shall confesse Math 10 32 mee before men him will I confesse also before my Father which is in heauen But vvho-soeuer shall denie mee before verse 33 men him will I also denie before my Father which is in heauen Who-soeuer likewise shal be ashamed Luke 9. 26 of mee and of my words of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed when hee shall come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels §. 6. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter thinke 1. Pet. 4 12. it not strange concerning the fierie tryall which is among you to prooue you as though some strange thing were come vnto you But reioyce in as much as yee are partakers verse 13. of Christes sufferings that when his glorie shall appeare yee may be glad and reioyce For vvee must through many afflictions Acts 14 22 enter into the kingdome of God And all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3. 12 shall suffer persecution §. 7. If yee be railed vppon for the Name of 1. Pet 4 14. Christ blessed are you for the Spirit of glory of God resteth vpon you which on their part is euill spoken of but on your part is glorified But let none of you suffer as a murtherer 1. Pet 4 15. or as a theefe or as an euill dooer or as a busie-body in other mens matters But if any man suffer as a Christian let verse 16. him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in that behalfe For it is better if the will of God be so 1 Pet 3 17. that yee should suffer for well-doing then for euill doing And the lesse iustice that a godly man Tremelius findeth at the handes of the vngodly the more comfort shall he receiue in cōscience at the mercifull hand of God §. 8. My sonne saith Sirach submit not thy Ecclus 4 27 28. selfe vnto a foolish man neyther accept thou the person of the mightie But striue for the truth vnto death and defende iustice euen to the losse of thyne owne life and the Lord thy God shall fight for thee against thine enemies Be fauourable to all men be likewise in Socrates subiection to al lawes but aboue al things fulfill the will of God rather then the will of man For a righteous and godly man hauing Pet. Ramus in him the spirit of zeale and constancie neuer feareth in his afflictions the crueltie of any man but vvill boldlie to the death stand vnto the truth And forasmuch as hee knoweth that Rauisius almightie God is the truth and that truth is GOD hee likewise wisely considereth that he which departeth from the one departeth from the other But hee that eyther for feare of punishment Hemingius or else in hope of a Tyrants fauour forsaketh the truth before men vpon earth leaueth the most certaine promise of perpetuall felicitie for an vncertaine assurance of short-lasting vanitie and by seeking to deliuer his body from danger cloggeth his conscience with griefe and his soule with sorrow §. 9. If then thou be desirous to liue euerlastingly Gueuara faint not at any time vnder the burden of thine afflictions neither be thou mooued from thy hope of heauens helpe through the multitude of thy miseries but patiently put thy trust in the promises of Gods mercie and pray often for such perseuerance as may bring thee to eternall blessednes In all thy troubles stand vnto the truth Plotinus and commit thy selfe in thy greatest necessitie wholy altogether to the most high and mighty GOD neyther fearing them that threaten nor beleeuing thē that speak thee faire but trust in him alone that is most kinde and compassionate true of his promise and able to make both his vvord and worke good For more wisedome is it that a man for Hermes his soules sake shoulde suffer death then lose his soules happines for the loue of this life Blessed therfore is the man that endureth Iames 1 12 tentation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the crowne of life vvhich the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him §. 10. The peaceable and blessed life of the Bernard godly saith S. Bernard is in heauen and is onely to be attained vnto by faith patience and perseuerance For as without fayth it is vnpossible to Hillarius please God so without patience and perseuerance no man shall see God And although indeede the death of the Basill bodie by diuers meanes for diuers causes be vnto many men very tedious and bitter yet the death therof for the testimonie of Gods truth is vnto the godly man most easie most ioyfull most sweete and most delectable because he seeth through the eye of fayth the present performance of all Gods heauenly promises made vnto him in his holy word if he zealously continue constant in the veritie of his Christian profession §. 11. Thou therefore my sonne saith Paule vnto Timothie suffer affliction as a good 2. Tim. 2. 3. 4. souldiour of Iesus Christ No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with the affayres of this life because hee would please him that hath chosen him to be a Souldiour And Christ beeing our Captaine hath Rauisius called vs by the voyce of his Gospell to a spirituall warfare The foes against whom wee must continually fight are fleshlie assaultes worldly wickednes and the deceits of the deuill
Our warre-weapons and armour is the shielde of fayth the sworde of the Spirit the brest-plate of righteousnesse and the helmet of saluation The reward of conquest is a crowne of Rauisius life to him that ouer-coÌ„meth which God himselfe hath promised to euery man that perseuereth in vvell-dooing to the end But hee that coward-like leaueth the battaile and forsaketh the fielde shall be pursued spoyled and made a pray to his infernall enemy For no man that striueth for a maisterie 2 Tim 2. 5 shall be crowned except hee striue as hee ought to doe Neyther is hee that putteth his hande to Luke 9 62. the plowe and afterward looketh backe any meete member for the kingdome of God §. 12. If vve suffer with Christ wee shall also 2. Tim. 2. 12 raigne with him but if wee denie him hee also will denie vs. And looke vvith what courage a Christian Pet. Mar. in the time of his triall shall confesse the truth and acknowledge Christ to be his Captaine with as great consolation inward ioy shal his conscience be comforted at the houre of death when his soule is forsaking the prison of his bodie For this is thanke-worthy if a man for 1. Pet 2 19. conscience toward God endure greefe suffer wrong vndeserued §. 13. Take my brethren the Prophets saith Iames 5 10. Saint Iames for an ensample of suffering aduersitie of long patience which haue spoken in the Name of the Lord. And let likewise that generall testimonie which the Writer to the Hebrues giueth in commendation of all the Saints of the olde Testament sufficiently moue vs to be perfectly patient in all our tribulations according to their example where he saith Some of them were tryed by mockings Hebr 11 36 37 38 and scourging some by bondes and imprisonment some were stoned some vvere hewen in sunder some were tempted some were slaine with the sword som went vp and downe in Sheepes skinnes Goates-skinnes in great neede afflicted tormented vvandering in Wildernesses in Mountaines in Dennes and in hollowe Caues of the earth the World not beeing worthy of them Others also were racked woulde not Hebr. 11 35 be deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection §. 14. Besides these we finde also that the Apostle S. Paule himselfe his fellow seruaunts vnder Christ in the Newe-testament are most worthy examples to be remembred For in diuers places of his Epistles hee spareth not to speake both of his owne and the rest of the disciples sufferings but for himselfe onely in his Epistle to the Corinthians he saith I take pleasure 2. Cor. 12. 10. in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions and in anguish for Christes sake for vvhen I am vveake then am I strong Likewise in the Acts we read that when he was fore-told by a certaine Prophet named Acts 21 11 12. Agabus what trouble shoulde befall him at Ierusalem he desisted not from his iourney thether but rather reproued them that sought with teares to perswade him to the contrarie saying * What doe you verse 13 weeping and breaking mine hart For I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus For Christ is to mee both in life and in Philip 1 21 death aduantage And I count all things to be losse and Phil. 3 8 9. iudge them to be dunge that I may winne Christ and be found in him §. 15. Also in the afore-named Epistle to the Corinthians both in the behalfe of himselfe and the rest of his fellow helpers he saith Brethren wee would not haue you 2. Cor. 1. 8. 9 ignorant of our affliction which came vnto vs in Asia how we were pressed out of measure passing strength so that we altogether doubted euen of life Yea wee receiued the sentence of death in our selues because wee should not trust in our selues but in God which raiseth the dead Againe in the 4. chapter of the same 2 Cor 4 8 9 Epistle he saith Wee are afflicted on euerie side yet are we not in distresse we are in doubt but yet we despaire not wee are persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but we perrish not Euery where wee beare about in our bodie verse 10 11 the dying of the Lord Iesus that the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies for wee which liue are alwaies deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the life also of Iesus might be made manifest in our mortall flesh As it is written For thy sake ô Lorde Rom 8 36. are we killed all the day long we are counted as sheepe appoynted to be slaine Neuerthelesse in all these things wee are verse 37 more then conquerours through him that loued vs. §. 16. VVherefore let vs also seeing that wee Heb 12 1 2 are compassed with so great a clowde of witnesses cast away euery thing that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth so fast on Let vs run with patience the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our fayth who for the ioy that was sette before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God Consider therfore him that endured such verse 3 speaking against of sinners least ye should be wearied and faint in your mindes Cast not away your confidence vvhich Heb 10 35. 36 37. hath great recompence of reward for wee haue neede of patience that after yee haue done the will of God ye might receiue the promise For yet a very little while hee that shall come wil come will not tarry Be patient therefore brethren vnto the comming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman Iames 5 7 8 waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill he receiue both the former the latter raine Be yee also patient therefore settle your harts for the coÌ„ming of the Lord draweth neere And the GOD of all grace which hath 1 Pet 5 10 called vs vnto his eternall glory by Christ Iesus after that yee haue suffered a little make you perfect confirme strengthen and stablish you For if wee liue wee liue vnto the Lord Rom 14 8 if we die we die vnto the Lord so that whether we liue or die we are the Lords And none neede to feare death saue Socrates those which haue committed so much wickednes as after death deserueth damnation §. 17. Wherfore let them that suffer according 1 Pet 4 19 to the will of God coÌ„mit their soules vnto him in wel doing as vnto a faithful Creator And let all the troubles that can come Pet. Lomb. vppon thee for thy good conuersation in Christ be borne with boldnes comforted with confidence vnder-propped with patience For the necessary patience of him that Ecclê°
make whole and there is none that can deliuer out of mine hand I destroy the tokens of the Soothsayers Esay 44. 25 and make them that coniecture fooles I turne the Wisemen backward and make theyr knowledge foolishnes I forme the light and create darknesse Esay 45 7. I make peace and create euill I the Lord saith hee doe all these things §. 8. Our God is in heauen faith Dauid and Psal 115. 3 he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him The heauen is his seate and the earth is Esay 66. 1. his footestoole Hee remaineth for euer his throne is Lam. 5 19. frō generation to generation * And there 1. Sam. 2 2. is no God like our God For hee as Salomon saith hath the Wisd 16. 13 power of life and death he leadeth down euen to the gates of hell and bringeth vp againe §. 9. God that made the world and all things Acts 17 24 25. that are therein saith the Apostle seeing that he is Lord of heauen and earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giueth to all life and breath and all things For in him we liue and mooue and haue verse 28. our beeing Yea hee as Plato saith by his almighty Plato power is in all things and in euery part of the world by his prouidence all things are preserued gouerned and moued and hee himselfe is of none other either mooued or gouerned but is the first incomprehensible mouer The eyes of all things waite vpon him Psalm 145. 15 16. and he giueth them theyr foode in due season hee openeth his hand and filleth with his blessing euery liuing thing But if he hide his face they are troubled Psalm 104 29. if hee take away their breath they die and returne to their dust For in his hand is the soule of euerie lyuing Iob 12. 10. thing and the breath of all mankind §. 10. The earth is the Lords saith Dauid and Psal 24. 1 all that therein is the world is his and so are all they that dwell therein Prosperitie and aduersitie life and death Ecclus 11 14 15. pouertie and riches come of the Lorde Wisedome and knowledge and vnderstanding of the Lawe are all of the Lord loue and good workes come of him For hee only is the Authour of all goodnesse Hermes and the giuer of all good gifts Yea euery good and perfect gift as Saint Iames. 1. 17. Iames saith is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whō is no variablenesse neyther shadowe by turning For the diuine nature and substance of Aristotle God suffereth neither change nor end because as Aristotle truly sayth it is both immutable and infinite §. 11. To come to preferment also is neyther Psalm 75. 6 7. from the East nor from the West nor yet from the South but the Lorde as Dauid saith is the Iudge hee putteth downe whō he will and hee setteth vp whom hee pleaseth It is the Lorde that giueth and it is the Iob 1 21 Lord that taketh away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so commeth things to passe §. 12. VVe read in the second booke of chronicles that when Asa King of Iudah was 2. Chron. 14 9 10 11. vrged to giue battaile against an Armie of tenne hundred thousand Ethiopians first before he beganne the fight hee made his humble supplication to the Almighty and in his prayer to shewe that the conquest consisted not in the great companie of his enemies souldiers but only in the might power of him that made both heauen and earth he said Help vs ô Lord our God It is nothing with thee to saue with manie or with no power helpe vs ô Lorde our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name saith hee are wee come against this multitude Ionathan likewise venturing by stealth 1. Sam. 14 6 to set vppon the Philistians garison at vnawares and beeing accompanied with none but onely his Armor bearer for his better encouragement he told him that it was not hard with the Lord to saue with many or with few For the victorie of the battell dependeth 1. Mac. 3. 19. not on the many thousands that are in the host but the strength commeth from heauen And is onely at his pleasure to be disposed whose power as * Iudith saith standeth Iudith 9 11. not in the multitude of Souldiers nor his might in strong men As may more at large be perceiued by reading the happy successe which folowed the enterprises of the aforesaide King Asa and Ionathan the Sonne of Saule against theyr enemies §. 13. Another example also concerning the power of Almightie God in this poynt is set downe in the booke of Iudges where Iudges 7 12 Gedion beeing appointed by the Lord to goe fight against the Midianites which were so mightie an host that as the Text sayth they lay in the valley like a company of Grashoppers and theyr Cammels were without number as is the sand by the Sea-side for multitude mustred vp an Armie Iuges 7. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. of thirty two thousand men And when he had done thus the Lord God called vnto him and said Gedion the people that are with thee are too many for me to giue the Midianites into theyr handes least Israell make their vaunt against me say Mine hand hath saued me Now therefore saith the most Mightie proclaime in the audience of the people and say Whosoeuer he be that is timerous or fearefull let him returne and depart Then saith the Text there departed of the people twentie two thousand and ten thousand remained And the Lord called againe vnto Gedion and sayd The people are yet too manie bring them therefore downe vnto the water I will try them for thee there and of whom I say vnto thee this man shal goe with thee the same shall goe with thee and of whomsoeuer I say vnto thee this man shall not goe with thee the same shall not goe So Gedion according as he was commaunded brought downe the people to the water and the Lord said vnto him As many as thou shalt see to lap the water with theyr tongues as a dogge lappeth put thē by themselues and euery one that shal bow downe on his knees to drinke put them likewise apart Now among those tenne thousand that came to the water to drink there was found but onely three hundred which lapped the vvater by putting their handes to theyr mouthes by which 300. men God most miraculously saued Israel deliuered the Midianites into their hands So that both by this example the former that sentence of our Sauiour is verified where hee sayth * The things which Luke 18 27 are vnpossible with men are possible with GOD. And surelie as Plato sayth hee alone is Plato most worthy to be taken for
Iohn 3 3. saith Christ hee cannot see the kingdome of God That is as our Sauiour himselfe expoundeth it Except that a man bee borne of Water and of the Spirit hee cannot enter into the kingdome of God That which is borne of the flesh is flesh Iohn 3 6 and that that is borne of the Spirit is Spirite A man can receiue nothing except it be Iohn 3 27. giuen him from heauen §. 17. Why doe men then presume so much Augustine of the possibilitie of nature saith S. Augustine seeing it is wounded it is â—â—angled it is troubled it is lost It behoueth vs rather truly to confesse it then falsely to defend it For in our flesh the euill lurketh and Bullenger out of vs iniquitie ariseth Whereupon the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romaines saith * I know that in mee that is in my Rom 7 18 19. flesh dwelleth no good thing For to wil is present with mee but I finde no meanes to performe that which is good For I do not the good thing which I would but the euill which I would not that doe I. Also it furthermore seemeth that the verie coÌ„sideration of this our weake sinfull nature where-vnto we are yoked was the only cause which enforced the same Apostle within 5. verses following vehemently to breake forth into these speeches saying O wretched man that I am vvho shall deliuer Rom 7 24. mee from the body of this death But comforting recouering himselfe through faith in his Redeemer he presently maketh this reply in the next verse after saying * I giue thanks vnto God through Rom. 7 25. Iesus Christ our Lord. For hee deliuereth vs from the wrath of 1 The. 1. 10 God to come And GOD hath giuen vs the victorie 1 Cor. 15 57. through him Yea the victory is wholely gotten in his Augustine Name that hath taken man vpon him and hath liued without sinne that in him and through him being both the Priest the Sacrifice remission forgiuenes of sinnes should be obtained and giuen That is to say by the Mediatour of GOD and Man that man Iesus Christ by whom the purging of our sinnes beeing made wee are reconciled vnto God For men bee not seperated from God but by sinnes whereof the purging is not made or which are not purged in this life by our owne vertue and strength but by the mercie of God by his pardon clemencie and not by our own power For the same small vertue and strength that is called ours is graunted and giuen vnto vs by the mercifull goodnesse of Almightie GOD. Thus much onely to shewe vvhat Man is of himselfe by nature ¶ Of the shortnesse and vncertaintie of Mans life §. 1. IT followeth next to be coÌ„sidered what the life of Man is and so consequently how short and vncertaine the same To beginne therefore first with Mans life vve finde in the fourth of S. Iames that the Apostle doth not there compare or liken it to smoake but plainly saith * It is euen Iames 4 14. a vapour or smoake that appeareth for a little time and afterward vanisheth awav We read also in the second Booke of Samuell that the subtile woman of Tekoah pleading with King Dauid for the reconcilement 2. Sam. 14. 4 of his sonne compareth the life of Man to no better thing then water spilt vppon the ground which being once down can neuer be gathered vp againe Besides the Prophet Esay with the afore-said S. Iames S. Peter doe all three agree in one sentence about the life of man Esay 40 6. lames 1. 10. 1. Pet. 1 24 saying * All flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Euen as a flower of the fielde so florisheth Psalm 103 15 16. Man for the winde goeth ouer it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more §. 2. Man that is borne of a woman saith Iob Iob. 14 1 2. is of short continuaunce and full of trouble hee shooteth forth like a flower and is cut downe he vanisheth also as a shadow and continueth not The daies of his life are determined the Iob 14 5. number of his monthes are known to thee ô Lorde thou hast appointed him his boundes beyonde the which hee cannot passe §. 3. The time of Mans life saith the Psalmist Psal 90 10 is threescore yeeres and tenne and if they be of strength foure-score yeeres yet their strength is but labour sorrow for it is cutte off quickly and we flee away If the number of a Mans dayes doe amount Ecclê° 18. 8 to an hundred yeres it is very much And no man liuing hath any certaine knowledge of his death But euen as fishes when they think theÌ„selues Ecclesi 9. 12 in most safetie are taken vvith the hooke and as birdes are caught in a snare when they thinke nothing lesse so death suddainly smiteth men in an euill season when * Granado they are least mindfull of any such matter §. 4. Now if we consider by the authoritie of these few former places onely what and hovve short the life of Man is seeing the longest terme thereof according to the saying of the Psalmist passeth not threescore and tenne or foure-score yeeres for all the rest if any mans life be drawne a little longer is but labour and sorrow and Granado abate out of this saith Granado the time of our infancie vvhich is rather a lyfe of beasts then men and withall the time that we spend in sleep at which instant we haue not the vse of our sences and reason vvee shall finde that this life of ours is a great deale shorter then it seemeth vnto vs. For wee cannot well reckon the time of our infancie for any part of our life because the life of infancie when we are not yet come to the vse of reason which only sheweth vs to be men is as it were the lyfe of a young Goate that goeth wantonly about leaping and skipping in diuers places at pleasure And especially because we plainly perceiue that in all that age there is nothing either learned or doone that may well beseeme the dignitie of a man And as for the time we spend in sleepe that may much lesse bee counted any part of our life seeing it is the coÌ„mon custome of men to sleepe the third part of the day and night which is eyght vvhole howres VVhere-vppon it followeth by thys account that the third part of our life is consumed in sleepe and so consequently that during that time we doe not liue Besides all this if wee doe compare thys life of ours with the eternitie of the life to come which endureth euerlastingly we shall finde that it vvill scarcely seeme so much as a minute Very well therefore and aduisedlie did that Philosopher write vvho likened the life of man to lightning which coÌ„tinueth Crates but a
8 of thine house the place where thine honour dwelleth The zeale of thine house ô Lord hath Psalm 69 6. eaten mee vp One day in thy Courts is better then a Psal 84 10. thousand other-where I had rather be a Doore-keeper in the house of my GOD then to dwell in the Tents of the vngodly As the Hart brayeth for the Riuers of Psal 42 1 2 water so panteth my soule after thee ô Lord. My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When shall I come appeare before the presence of God I will loue thee deerely ô Lorde my Psal 18. 1. strength VVhom haue I ô Lord in heauen but Psal 73 25. thee and there is none vpon earth that I desire in comparison of thee I haue longed ô Lord for thy saluation Ps 119. 174. and thy law is my delight Oh how I loue thy law It is my meditation Psal 119. 97 continually Oh teach mee thy statutes ô Lorde Psalm 119. 26 27. make mee to vnderstand the vvay of thy commaundements and I will meditate in thy wondrous workes Teach mee ô Lord the way of thy statutes Psal 119 33 34 I will keepe it vnto the end Giue mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy Law yea I will keepe it with my vvhole hart Direct me in the path of thy commaundements verse 35 for therein is my delight Behold I desire thy commaundements verse 40 quicken me in thy righteousnes And incline my hart vnto thy testimonies verse 36 Deale with thy seruaunt ô Lord according Ps 119 124. 125. to thy mercie and teach mee thy statutes I ô Lord am thy seruaunt graunt mee therefore vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies Looke vpon mee and be mercifull vnto Psalm 119 132. mee as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy Name Direct my steps in thy Worde and let verse 133. none iniquitie haue dominion ouer me Teach mee to doe thy will for thou art Psal 143. 10 my God Let thy good Spirit lead me vnto the Land of righteousnesse By these and manie moe such like sayings in the Booke of Psalmes dooth thys princely Prophet make manifest as I said before with vvhat earnest zeale feruent affection hee alwayes loued the Lord and his Law The true and perfect loue also of man to his Maker was as it seemeth deeply rooted in the hart of old Eleazer when he refused all the friendship worldly fauours 2 Mac 6 28 that were offered vnto him by the seruants of Antiochus and chose rather to suffer death by torments then to saue his life by breaking the rules of his Religion With the like loue and constancie did the seauen brethren and their mother endure 2 Mac. 7. death by tortures vnder that wicked Tyrant Antiochus and left behinde them a woorthy remembrance of their feruent affection to the Lawe of the Lorde their God VVe reade also in the Newe-testament that Saint Stephen the first Martir after Acts 7 59. Christ through his religious loue to his Lord and Maister willingly suffered himselfe to be stoned to death commending his spirit into the hands of his Creator And such like diuine and holy loue to Christ our Captaine ought euery Christian professor to harbour in his heart else may it greatly be doubted that hee shall shoote short of life euerlasting §. 6. But as I said in the beginning this loue is both diuine and charitable First mouing man to loue the Lord and his lawe for the sundry blessings and benefits which God both already hath and daily doth bestowe vppon him through Christ Secondlie to loue his neighbour or brother as himselfe because GOD in his holy Worde hath so commaunded him and for that hee is the very forme of his own Image or likenes With which kinde of charitable loue of man to man or man to his neighbour was the heart of the Samaritane softned vvho Luke 10. 33 34 35. finding a stranger in the high-vvay halfe dead first bound vp the wounds of his body then setting him vpon his own beast brought him to an Inne and made prouision for him commaunding the Host of the house to take care of him and looke quoth he what-soeuer the charges of this man commeth vnto more then the two pence which I now giue thee at my next comming hether I will pay thee all But with more then charitable loue of man to his neighbour was the hart of holy Moises moued when through his great affection hee prayed vnto the Lord to pardon the foolish and Idolatrous sinne of his people Yea such was his feruent affection more theÌ„ charitable loue towards them that he desired of GOD in his prayer to Exod 32 32 graunt that theyr foule offence might be forgiuen or else his owne name to be rased out of the Booke of life And vvith more also then charitable loue of man to his neighbour was the Apostle Saint Paule acquainted when verie zeale for Gods glory and loue to his owne Nation enforced him to say * I vvould Rom 9 3. wish my selfe to be separated from Christ or to loose mine owne saluation for my Bretheren that are my kinsmen according to the flesh I terme these two last ensamples more then charitable loue because it made these men ready to refuse their ovvne soules health rather then their Brethren should be vnpardoned and cast from their Creator for their offences §. 7. By which few examples onely wee may sufficiently perceiue the forcible effect of true and perfect loue and iustly may wee confesse with the afore-named Apostle That * although we speak with the tungs 1 Cor 13 1 2 3. of men and Angels and haue not loue we are but as sounding Brasse or a tinckling Cymball And though wee had the gift of prophecie and knewe all secrets and all knowledge yea if we had all fayth so that we could remoue mountaines and had not loue we were nothing And though vvee feede the poore with all our goods giue our bodies to be burned haue not loue it profiteth vs nothing For God hath chosen vs in Christ Iesus Ephe 1 4 before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue And this commaundement haue we of 1 Ioh 4 21. him that he which loueth GOD should loue his brother also For as a King is honoured in his Image Bernard so God in man is either loued or hated hee cannot hate man who loueth GOD neither can hee loue GOD who hateth man Also like as the body without the soule Fulgotiâ—â— enioyeth no life so all other vertues without godlie loue are but colde and fruitlesse §. 8. If wee loue one another saith S. Iohn 1 Ioh 4 12 God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs. Also hee that loueth his Brother abideth 1 Ioh 2 10 in the
light there is none occasion of euill in him But he that hateth his brother is in darknesse verse 11. and walketh in darknesse knoweth not vvhether hee goeth because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes §. 9. Loue saith the Apostle doth no euill Rom 13 10 to his neighbour therefore is loue the fulfilling of the lawe For all the law is fulfilled in one vvord Gala. 5 14. which is this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Wherefore If any man say I loue 1 Ioh 4 20. God and hate his brother he is a lyer for howe can hee that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene loue God whom he neuer saw Moreouer Whosoeuer he be that hath this worlds good seeth his brother haue 1 Iohn 3 17 neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him howe dwelleth the loue of God in him For by the true and perfect loue which Erasmus we beare vnto God we rightly vnderstand what our dutie is towards our neighbour And this is the coÌ„maundement of God 1 Ioh 3 11. which we haue heard from the beginning That we should loue one another * Euen Ephe 5 2. as Christ himselfe hath loued vs. §. 10. Beloued let vs therefore loue one another 1. Ioh 4 7 8 for loue commeth of God euerie one that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue Let vs not loue in vvorde neither in 1. Ioh. 3. 18. tongue onely but in deede and in truth That we may walke worthy of the vocation Ephe 1 1 2. 3. where-vnto wee are called vvith all humblenes of minde meekenesse with long suffering supporting one another through loue endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace ¶ What the will and desire of Almighty God is concerning men and how louingly he admonisheth euery one to come to repentance promising mercy forgiuenes to all those that amend 2. ESDRAS 7. verse 20. 21. Many perrish in this life because they despise the Law of God that is appointed For God hath diligently admonished such as came so oft as they came what they should doe to haue life and what they should obserue to auoyd punishment ¶ What the will of God is c. §. 1. THis is the will of God as saith the Apostle euen our sanctification 1. Thes 4. 3. 4. 5. 6. that we should abstaine from fornication that euery one of vs should knowe howe to possesse his vessell in holinesse and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence as doe the Heathen which know not God that no man oppresse or defraude his brother in any matter for the Lord is the auenger of all such things He therefore that despiseth these things 1 Thes 4 8. despiseth not man but God who hath giuen vnto vs his holy Spirit And whose will is that all men should 1 Tim 2 4 be saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth For it is not the will of God that one of Math 18 14 the least should be lost §. 2. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter be not 2 Pet 3 8 9 ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeeres and a thousand yeeres as one day The Lord is not slack concerning the promise of his comming as some men count slacknes but is patient toward vs would haue no man to perrish but would haue all men to come to repentance For GOD would not that man should 2 Esdr 8 59 perrish But vnto them that will repent hee giueth Ecclê° 17 22 them grace to returne and exhorteth such as faile vvith patience and sendeth them the portion of the veritie Amend your liues therefore and turne Acts 3 19. that your sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And as it came into your minde to goe Baruc 4 28. astray from your God so endeuour your selues tenne times more to turne againe to seeke him For he that is Lord ouer all is rich vnto Rom. 10 12 all that call vpon him §. 3. Make no tarrying to turne vnto the Ecclus 5. 7. Lord neither put it off from day to day for suddainly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy securitie thou shalt be destroyed thou shalt perrish in time of vengeance VVherefore as the holy Ghost sayth Hebr 3 7 8 To day if yee shall heare his voyce harden not your harts Yea this day if yee heare his voyce Heb 4 7 harden not your harts For it is a fearefull thing to fall into the Heb 10 31 hands of the liuing God §. 4. VVee finde in the eyghteene of Ezechiell and the 23. verse that the Almightie by the mouth of the same Prophet exhorting the Children of Israell to repentance first maketh this demaund of them Ezec 18 23 saying * Haue I any desire that the wicked should die or shall hee not liue if hee returne from his wayes Then followeth in the 27. and 28. verses Ezec 18 27 28 31 32 sundry promises of Gods loue mercie vnto him that truly repenteth and forsaketh his sinnes And in the 31. 32. verses of the same chapter he thus concludeth all his former speech held with them to that purpose saying Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you haue transgressed and make you a newe heart and a nevve Spirite for vvhy vvill yee die ô house of Israell For I desire not the death of him that dieth cause therefore one another to returne and liue §. 5. We finde likewise in the prophecie of Esay that the Lord beeing there desirous to withdraw that wicked obstinate people of Israell from their greeuous offences in which too long they had wilfully continued beginneth also first with a gentle admonishment saying * VVashe you Esay 1 16 17 make you cleane take away the euill of your workes from before mine eyes cease to do euill learne to doe well seeke iudgement relieue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widdow And hauing thus fore-told them vvhat they ought to doe hee then presently addeth * Come nowe and let vs reason together Esay 1 18 though your sinnes were as Crimson they shall be made white as snowe though they were redde like Skarlet they shall be as vvooll Declaring heereby vnto vs howe readie he is to receiue them that truly repent and how prone to put all their former offences cleane out of his remembrance As may further appeare againe euen by the witnesse of his owne wordes in the 18. chapter of the afore-named Ezechiell vvhere hee saith * If the wicked will returne Ezec 18 21. from all his sinnes that he hath committed keepe all my statutes do that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely liue and shall not
die All his transgressions that he hath committed verse 22. they shall not be mentioned vnto him but in his righteousnes that hee hath done he shall liue Moreouer VVhen the wicked saith Ezec 18. 27 hee turneth away from his wickednes that he hath committed and doth that which is lavvfull and right hee shall saue his soule aliue Because hee considereth and turneth away verse 28 from all his transgressions that he hath committed hee shall surely liue and shall not die Againe vvhen I saith the most Mercifull Ezech. 33 14 15 shall say vnto the wicked Thou shalt surely die if hee turne from his sinnes and doe that which is lawfull and right to wit If hee restore the pledge and giue againe that hee had taken away by robberie and walke in the statutes of life without committing iniquitie then shall hee surely liue and not die None of the sinnes that hee hath committed verse 16 shall be mentioned vnto him or any more thought vpon for insomuch as he doth nowe the thing that is lawfull and right hee shall surely liue §. 6. These places of Scripture onely if no moe such could be found might serue sufficiently to proue that God delights not in a sinners death Yet notwithstanding for our greater comfort and as it were more certaine assurance the Lord besides his promise hath vouchsafed to giue his oath to this effect And because he knewe none eyther in heauen or earth greater to sweare by hee hath therefore sworne vnto vs by himselfe saying * As truly as I liue I haue Ezec. 33 11. no pleasure in the death of the vvicked but rather that the wicked shoulde turne from his euill way and liue And to make yet a little more manifest how greatly he desireth our good he spareth not by sundry other speeches both in the old and New-Testament to expresse his kindnes and compassion towards vs in this poynt As namely in the fift Booke of Moises vvhere hee saith * Oh that there Deut 5 29. were such a hart in my people as to feare mee and to keepe all my coÌ„maundements alway that it might goe vvell vvith them and with their children for euer Behold saith he I stand at the doore Reue 3 20 knock if any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come in vnto him and will sup with him and he with me Also by the voyce of his Gospell hee daily more nowe then euer heretofore manifesteth his euerlasting loue towardes vs in that he therby vouchsafeth coÌ„tinually to call vs saying * Come vnto mee all yet Math. 11. 28 that are weary laden and I wil ease â—ou Take my yoake on you learne of me verse 29 30 that am meeke and lowly in hart and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules For my yoake is easie and my burden light § 7. Clense therefore your hands yee sinners Iames. 4. 8 and purge your harts yee vvauering minded Circumcise the fore-skin of your hearts Deut. 10 16 and harden your necks no more Returne vnto the â—ord and he will returne Mala 3 7 vnto you Cease from your sinnes and forget your 2 Esdr 16. 59 iniquities and medle no more from henceforth with them so shall God leade you foorth and deliuer you from all troubles Yea let the wicked forsake his wayes Esay 55 7 the vnrighteous his ovvne imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and hee vvill haue mercy vpon him and to our GOD for hee is very ready to forgiue §. 8. Returne then vnto the Lord and forsake Ecclê° 17 23 thy sinnes make thy prayer before his face and take away the offence Turne againe vnto the most High for verse 24 hee will bring thee from darknes to wholsome light forsake thine vnrighteousnes and hate greatly all abhomination Learne to know the righteousnesse and verse 25 iudgements of God stand in the portion that is sette forth for thee and in the prayer of the most high GOD and goe in the portion of the holie world with such as be liuing and confesse God Also if thou be withered and worne away Chrisostome of sin renew thy selfe againe through hartie sorrow and true repentance For godly sorrowe causeth repentance 2 Cor 7 10 vnto saluation not to be repented of but worldly sorrow causeth death And the best remedy if thou hast offended Hermes is true repentance and amendement of life §. 9. But to the ende we may some-what the better vnderstand what true repentance is I will heere rehearse some fewe places collected froÌ„ diuers of the diuine Doctors of the Church and first of all from S. Augustine vvhere speaking to this purpose hee saith * True repentance is greatly to Augustine deplore sinnes past and fully to resolue in minde hart neuer to commit any heereafter It consisteth of three parts namelie Contrition of hart Confession of mouth and Satisfaction of deede For vvee haue saith hee offended God three manner of wayes by the delight of thought by the lapse of tongue by the pride of works And these three are to be cured by three contrary remedies Delight of thought by the inward sorrow contrition of the hart The lapse of tongue by the confession of the mouth And the pride of works by our vpright liuing and vncorrupted satis-faction Contrition is a hartie sorrowe inward Bernarde greefe taken for the sinnes which we haue already committed with a full inten and purpose of confession and satisfaction heereafter not to commit any more For otherwise thy repentance is no true Augustine repentance but rather seemeth to be fained if thou pollute thy selfe againe vvith thy former offences thy penitent teares are to small purpose if thou multiply thine iniquities For true repentance is to cease from sinne Wee ought also in the true contrition of Cassianus hart to be sorowfull for these three things First for the sinnes wee haue committed Secondly for the good wee haue omitted Thirdly for the time we haue lost And this kinde of contrition is more auailable Augustine in the sight of God then to goe on pilgrimage throughout the world §. 10. Confession which hath the second place Augustine in true repentance is the health of the soule an expeller of vices a restorer of vertue an impugner of wicked spirits an impediment of the deuill By it the lurking disease of the soule is Isidore opened to the praise of God through it we obtaine hope of pardon for all our offences past Besides vvhen the confession of the Ambrose hart proceedeth forth of the mouth then the vengeance of GOD ceaseth to pursue the penitent person And hee likewise that accuseth himselfe Augustine of his sinnes preuenteth thereby the deuill of his purpose so that hee cannot accuse him at the day of iudgement if in confessing his sinnes vnto God he blot those
that is often beaten verse 10. cannot be without some skarre so hee that sweareth and nameth GOD continually shall not be faultlesse But as hee blasphemeth the Name of Sigismund GOD by his often swearing so he dailie procureth vnto himselfe many plague for his punishment Yea the man that vseth much swearing Ecclê° 23 11 shall be filled with wickednes the plague shall neuer goe from his house when he shall offend his fault shall be vppon him and if hee acknowledge not his sinne hee maketh a double offence if hee sweare in vaine he shall not be innocent but his house shall be full of plagues Vse not thy mouth therefore to ignoraunt Ecclê° 23 13 rashnesse for therein is the occasion of sinne ¶ Of sanctifying the Sabaoth-day §. 1. REmember thou keep holy the Sabaoth Exod 20. 8. day Sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe But the seuenth day is the Sabaoth of the verse 9. Lord thy God in it thou-shalt do no manner of worke neither thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter nor thy man seruaunt nor thy mayd seruaunt nor thy cattell nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen verse 10. and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it §. 2. If saith the Almighty thou turne away Esay 58. 13. thy foote from the Sabaoth from doing thy will on mine holy day and call the Sabaoth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord shalt honour him not dooing thine owne wayes nor seeking thine ovvne vvill nor speaking a vaine vvord Then shalt thou delight in the Lorde verse 14. and I will cause thee to mount vpon the hie places of the earth feede thee vvith the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it But take heede to thy foote when thou Ecclesi 4 â—7 entrest into the House of GOD and be more neere or ready to heare then to giue the sacrifice of fooles for they know not that they doe euill ¶ Of honouring our Parents §. 1. HOnour thy father thy mother that Exod 20 12 thy dayes may be prolonged in the Land which the Lord thy GOD giueth thee Honour thy father from thy whole hart Ecclus 7 27 28. forget not the sorrowes of thy mother Remember that thou wast borne of them and how canst thou recompence them the things that they haue done for thee Obey thy father therfore that hath begotten Prou 23 22. thee and despise not thy mother when shee is old For the Lord will haue the father honored Ecclus 3 3 of the children and hath confirmed the authoritie of the mother ouer them §. 2. It is the first lawe euen of nature saith Val. Max. Valerius that we should in all kindnes and affection deerelie loue our parents And the honour which wee owe vnto Chilo them is no otherwise to be vnderstood but to iudge discreetly reuerently and honourably of them to esteeme wel of all their dooings not onely because they are our elders but chiefely because they are our parents whom it pleased God to vse as instruments to the intent that by them wee might haue our first beginning and naturall entrance into this world by whom also after our birth wee be most tenderlie brought vp carefully attended on naturallie beloued and most daintily fedde and nourished both in sicknes in health Also in dutifully honouring of our parents Chilo wee doe not onely honour the great vertue and power of God but also the excellencie of his goodnesse whereby we are made men and borne into the world euen of the blood of man §. 3. Honour thy father thy mother saith Ecclê° 3 9 10. Sirach in deede and in word and in all patience that thou mayst haue Gods blessing and that his blessing may abide with thee in the end For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of the chyldren and the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations Helpe thy father in his age and grieue Ecclus 3 13 him not as long as he liueth And if his vnderstanding faile haue patience verse 14. with him and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength For the good intreatie of thy father shall verse 15 not be forgotten but it shall be a fortresse for thee against sinnes And in the day of trouble thou shalt be verse 16. remembred thyne iniquities also shal melt away as the yâ—e in the faire weather §. 4. Who so honoureth his father his sinnes Ecclê° 3 4 5 shall be forgiuen him and he shal abstaine from them and shall haue his daily desires And he that honoureth his mother is like one that gathereth treasure VVho so honoureth his father shall verse 6 haue ioy of his owne chyldren and vvhen hee maketh his prayer he shal be â—eard Who so honoreth his father shall haue a verse 7 long life and hee that is obedient vnto the Lord shall comfort his mother But hee that forsaketh his father shall Ecclê° 3 17 come to shame and hee that despiseth his mother is cursed of God Hee also that curseth his father or his Exod 21 17 mother shall die the death And that childs light shall be put out Prou 20 20. in obscure darknes ¶ Against Pride §. 1. THere are sixe things as Salomon saith Prou 6 16. 17 18 19. which the Lord hateth yea his soule abhorreth seauen namely these hautie or proude lookes a lying tongue the hands that shedde innocent blood a heart that imagineth wicked enterprises feete that be swift in running to mischiefe a false witnes that speaketh lyes and him that raiseth vp contentions among bretheren §. 2. Pride as Pacuuius saith is a subtile Serpent Paâ—uuius which slilie insinuateth her selfe into the mindes of men and the very cheefe cause of all superstition and enuie It is an vgly and lothsome monster both Plato in the sight of God man continually accompanied with these foure bad companions Folly Rashnes Audacitie and Impudencie The beginning of mans pride is to fall Ecclê° 10 13 away from God to turne away his hart from his Maker For pride is the originall of sinne he verse 14. that hath it shall powre out abhomination till at last himselfe be ouerthrowne But the rewarde of humilitie and the Prou 22 4 feare of God is riches honour health §. 3. Pride enuie and impatiencie are the Augustine three capitall enemies of mans constancie And it commonly falleth out that hee Arnobius which is proud himselfe thinketh it a matter vnpossible for any man to be humble Pride is also such a turbulent euill to him Ambrose that is possessed there-with that it maketh his maister like a shyp
§. 3. The vvorld saith Socrates hath so manie Socrates sundry changes in the vanitie thereof that it leadeth all men vvandering in vnstedfastnesse It is a speciall enemy to those vvhom it Crates hath raised to honour It neuer paieth vnto any man that which Euripides it promiseth It endeuoureth daily to drawe the soule Aristotle from God through fained delights And whosoeuer busily seeketh after the Hermes pleasures thereof followeth a shaddovve which when hee thinketh he is surest of it speedily vanisheth away turneth to nothing Besides if any man desire to reade more largely of the delights of the world the seuerall falshoods of them let him looke into the Booke of Ecclesiastes there he Ecclesi cap. 1. 2 3. c. shall finde what the Preacher through his owne experience speaketh of them And how withall after a long repetition of the tryall of all the pleasures vnder the sunne hee at last giueth forth these words in their discommendation saying * Vanitie of Eccle 12 8 vanities all is vanitie Put no confidence therfore in the mutable vanities of this euer-changing world Plotinus neither suffer thy selfe to be seduced by the deceits thereof for the pleasures of the world leade diuers men to perdition and whosoeuer trusteth vnto them shall most certainly be deceiued §. 4. A man may vse this world indeede as Plato Plato saith for necessities sake but hee that abuseth it that is hee that wholy delighteth therein looseth thereby his loue to God depriueth himselfe of eternall saluation To preuent vvhich danger * Let him 1 Cor 7 31 that vseth this world be as though hee vsed it not For the too much loue of this Worlde was the onely cause why the Noble men of Iurie coulde not resolue themselues to followe Christ For * they loued the prayse Iohn 12 43 of men more then the prayse of God And deceiued themselues as vnaduisedly 2 Tim 4 10 in theyr choyse as euer Demas did wheÌ„ he forsooke S. Paule to embrace vanitie ¶ Against euill company-keeping §. 1. MY sonne saith Salomon if sinners Prou. 1 10 11 12 13 14 doe entise thee consent thou not If they say Come with vs we will lay vvaite for blood and he priuily for the innocent without a cause vvee will swallowe them vp aliue like a graue euen whole as those that goe downe into the pit we shall find all precious riches and fill our houses with spoyle cast in thy lot among vs wee will all haue one purse My sonne vvalke not thou in the vvay with them refraine thy foote from theyr Prou 1 15. 16. path For theyr feete runne to euill and make hast to shedde blood They cannot sleepe except they haue Prou 4 16 17. done euill and their sleepe departeth except they cause some to fall For they eate the bread of wickednes drinke the wine of violence Hee that toucheth pitch shall be defiled Ecclê° 13 1 with it and hee that is familiar vvith the proude shall become like vnto him For it is a corrupting of the godly to Gregory keepe company with the wicked §. 2. Shâ—nne the company of a lyer as much Hermes as thou mayst and beware least any one through flattery perswade thee to thinke otherwise of thy selfe then thou art indeed But if thou must needs keepe company Thales with the man that vseth to lye in anie wise beleeue him not for if thou credite him to day which telleth thee a lie of another body hee will not sticke to morrowe to tell an vntruth of thee to another man §. 3. Moreouer a man vvere better saith Plutarch Plutarch to fall amongst a sort of Rauens then to giue entertainement to flattering companions for Rauens neuer seeke to eate a man till hee be dead but flatterers will not spare to feede vpon him while hee is aliue And like as a Camelion can change himselfe Hermes into al colours saue white so can a flatterer frame his tongue to any talke whatsoeuer saue honestie §. 4. Take not thy pleasure in great voluptuousnes Ecclê° 18 32 neither intangle thy selfe with such company Become not a begger by making bankets verse 33 of that which thou hast borrowed so leaue nothing in thy purse Keepe not company with drunkards nor Prou 23 20 with gluttons For the drunkard and the glutton shall verse 21. be poore and the sleeper shall be clothed with ragges §. 5. Vse not the company of a woman that Ecclê° 9. 4 is a singer a dauncer neyther heare her least thou be taken by her craftines Cast not thy minde vpon harlots in anie Ecclus 9 6 manner of thing least thou destroy both thy selfe and thine heritage Meete not an harlot least thou fall into Ecclê° 9 3 her snares Desire not her beauty in thy heart neyther Prou 6 25. let her take thee with her eye-lids For the whoredome of a woman may be Ecclê° 26. 9 knowne by the pride of her lookes And an harlot will make a man to beg Prou. 6. 26 his bread §. 6. I haue compassed about saith Salomon Eccles 7 27. 28. both I and mine hart to know and to enquire and to search wisedome and reason and to know the wickednes of folly the foolishnes of madnes and I finde more bitter then death the woman whose hart is as nets and snares and her hands as bands hee that is good before God shall be deliuered from her but the sinner shall be taken by her The lippes of a strange woman saith Prou 5 3 4 5 hee droppe as an honny-combe and her mouth is more soft then oyle but the end of her is bitter as vvorme-wood and sharp as a two edged sword Her feete goe down to death and her steps take hold on hell Shee weigheth not the vvay of life her verse 6. paths are moueable thou canst not know them Beeing foule by nature shee notwithstanding deceiueth the simple vvith her Hermes painted face and vnder faire white ruddie colours shee hideth her filthy and ill-fauoured visage Shee lyeth also in waite as for a pray Prou 23 28 shee increaseth the transgressours among men §. 7. Keepe thy way farre from her and come Prou 5 8 not neere the doore of her house For a whore is as a deepe ditch and a Prou 23 27 strange woman is as a narrow pit Let not thy heart decline to her wayes Prou 7 25 26 neither wander thou in her pathes for she hath caused many to fall downe wounded and the strong men are all slaine by her Her house is the vvay vnto the graue verse 27. which goeth downe vnto the chambers of death Her mouth likewise is as a deepe pit Prou 22 14 and he with whom the Lord is angry shall fall therein Surely her house tendeth to death and Prou 2
tongue to slaunder them that be dead Be alwayes one to thy friende aswell in Mar. Aur. aduersitie as in prosperitie and keepe thy promise as truly as thou wouldest pay thy debt Vse in all things and towards all men a Socrates simple veritie without fraude deceit or guile eyther in word or deed And be not ashamed to doe iustice to euery Boetius man for what-soeuer is doone vvithout iustice is tyrannie §. 30. Doe no secrete thing before a stranger Ecclê° 8 18 for thou canst not tell vvhat hee goeth about Neither tell the thoughts of thy heart Ecclê° 8 19 vnto euery man least he be vnthankfull to thee and put thee to reproofe Dishonour no man in his olde age for Ecclus 8. 6 they were as wee which are not old Sit not at all with another mans wife neither Ecclê° 9 11 lie with her vpon the bed nor banket with her least thine hart incline vnto her and so through thy desire thou fall into destruction Be not glad of the death of thine enemy Ecclus. 8 7 but remember that wee must die all and so enter into ioy Be gentle and curteous to euery one but Theophras flatter no man neyther suffer thy selfe to be flattered of any Be familiar with fewe men and beware Macrobius whom thou trustest Be patient constant in the time of aduersitie Arnobius and in thy prosperitie be of an humble spirit §. 31. If thy parents wexe poore supply theyr Socrates want with thy wealth if froward with age beare patiently with their imperfections And striue not with thy father mother Anacharsis in words although thou tell the truth If thou haue sonnes bring them vp in Ecclê° 7 23 nurture and learning hold them in awe euen from their youth Chasten thy childe while there is hope Prou. 19 18 and let not thy soule spare for his murmuring For it is better that thou should'st make Antisth thy sonne weepe in his youth then hee should make thee mourne when thou art old If thou haue daughters keepe theyr bodie Ecclê° 7 24 and shewe not thy face cheerefull towards them Suffer not thy daughter to walke abroad Anaxag after her owne will for it is the ready vvay to bring her to wickednesse If thy daughter be not shamefast holde Ecclê° 26 10 her straitly least she abuse herselfe through ouermuch libertie Take heed of her that hath an vnshamefast Ecclê° 26 11 looke meruaile not if she trespasse against thee For. as one that goeth by the way and Ecclê° 26 12 is thirstie so shall shee open her mouth drink of euery next water by euery hedge shall she sitte downe and open her quiuer against euery arrow §. 32. Let no couetous man haue any rule ouer Aristotle thee neither yeeld thy selfe subiect vnto couetousnesse for the couetous man wil deceiue thee of thy goods and couetousnesse will defraude thee of thy life If thou intendest any thing whereof may Xenocrates grow any goodnes deuise to proceed with all diligence but if by thy workes may chaunce that which is euill then be as forward to conquer thy will Sowe good works and thou shalt reape Socrates the flowers of ioy and gladnesse When thou risest in the morning determine Pythagoras so to spend the day following as though at night a graue should be thy bed Endeuour thy selfe at all times to doe so Plato well that the wicked may rather enuie thee for thy vertuous life then good men pitty thee for thy euill liuing So liue and so hope as though thou Thales shouldest die immediatly Order thy selfe so that thy soule may alwayes Pythago be in good estate what-soeuer become of thy body §. 33. Be not as a Lyon in thine owne house Ecclus 4 30 neyther beate thy seruaunts for thy fantasie nor oppresse them that are vnder thee Doe nothing vvithout aduisement so Ecclê° 32 20 shall it not repent thee after the deede Be not excessiue toward any without Ecclê° 33 28 discretion doe nothing Let reason goe before euery enterprise Ecclê° 37 16 and counsell before euery action Thinke first then speake and last of all Isocrates fulfill Liue alwayes with thine vnderlings as Mar. Aurel. thou wouldest thy betters should liue with thee do to all men as thou wouldest be done by §. 34. Be not ashamed to heare the truth of Socrates whomsoeuer it be for truth is so noble of it selfe that it maketh them honorable that pronounce it Be sober and chast among young folkes Plato that they may learne of thee and among old that thou mayst learne of them Learne those thinges whilst thou art a Anaxag chylde as may afterward profite thee by practise when thou art a man And let it not grieue thee in youth to Socrates follow vertue for if thou deferre it off till age it will seeme like a heauie burden vnpleasant to be borne §. 35. Holde friendship with many men neuerthelesse Ecclus 6 6 haue but one counsellour of a thousand If thou get a friende proue him first verse 7 8 be not hastie to credite him For some man is a friende for is owne occasion and will not abide in the day of thy trouble Againe some friende is but a companion verse 10. at thy table and in the day of thine affliction he continueth not But in thy prosperitie he will be as thou verse 11. thy selfe and will vse libertie ouer thy seruaunts If thou be brought low he wil be against verse 12 thee and will hide himselfe froÌ„ thy face Contrariwise a faithfull freende is a verse 14. strong defence hee that findeth such an one findeth a treasure §. 36. Abide not thou in the errour of the vngodly Ecclê° 17 27 but prayse the Lord before death For thankfulnes perrisheth from the verse 28. dead as though hee were not but the liuing and he that is sound of hart praiseth the Lord and reioyceth in his mercy Number not thy selfe in the multitude Ecclus 7 16 17 of the wicked but remember that vengeance will not be long in tarrying and that the rewarde of the vngodly is fire and wormes Seeke not death in the error of your life Wisd 1 12 13. destroy not your selues thorow the works of your owne hands for GOD hath not made death neither hath hee pleasure in the destruction of the liuing Righteousnes is euerlasting and immortall Wisd 1. 15 but vnrighteousnes bringeth death To depart from euill is a thankful thing Ecclus 35 3. to the Lord and to forsake vnrighteousnesse is a reconciling vnto him ¶ Of trouble and affliction whereby GOD tryeth the harts of all such as faithfully loue him PROVERBS 17. verse 3. As is the sining pot for siluer and the fornace for gold so the Lord tryeth the harts ¶
20 31 followeth the Lord is better then hee that gouerneth his life without the Lord. And our light affliction which is but for 2. Cor. 4. 17. a moment causeth vnto vs a far more excellent and eternall waight of glory while we looke not on the thinges that are seene but the things which are not seene For the things that are seene are temporall verse 18 but the things which are not seene are eternall For vvee are saued by hope but hope Rom. 8. 24. 25. that is seene is no hope for howe can a man hope for that which he seeth But if wee hope for that we see not we doe with patience abide for it Likewise the Spirit of God also helpeth Rom 8 26. our infirmities for we know not what to pray as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes vvhich cannot be expressed But he that searcheth the harts knoweth verse 27. what is the meaning of the Spirit for hee maketh request for the Saints according to the will of God Also wee knowe that all things worke verse 28. together for the best vnto them that loue GOD. And I count saith the Apostle that the Rom 8 18 afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory which shall be shewed vnto vs. Neyther may the many yeeres of thys World be any way comparable vnto the length of dayes in the life to come * For Ecclâ—s 18 9. as drops of raine are vnto the Sea and as a grauell stone is in comparison of the Sand so are a thousand yeeres to the dayes euerlasting Of the manifold blessings and fauours of Almightie God extended vnto the godly heere in this life with the promises of theyr euerlasting felicitie in the World to come PROVERBS 21. verse 21. Hee that followeth after righteousnes mercy shall finde life righteousnes and glory §. 1. BLessed is the man saith Dauid that Psal 1. 1. 2. doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scornefull But hath his delight in the lawe of the Lord and in that lawe doth exercise himselfe both day and night For he shall be like a tree planted by the verse 3 waters side vvhich will bring foorth her fruite in due season whose leafe shall not wither or fade away and looke what-soeuer hee doth it shall prosper Blessed saith Ieremy is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope is the Iere. 17. 7. Lord himselfe For hee shall be as a tree planted by the water which spreadeth out her rootes by the riuer and shall not feele verse 8 when the heate coÌ„meth but her leafe shall be greene shall not care for the yeere of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruite Yea blessed is the man saith Sirach Ecclê° 14 21 that doth meditate honest things by vvisedome and exerciseth himselfe in iustice reasoneth of holy things by his vnderstanding Which considereth in his hart the wayes verse 22. 23. of VVisedome and vnderstandeth her secrets and goeth after her and continueth in her wayes For he shall looke in at her windowes Ecclê° 14. 24 25 and harken at her doores hee shall abide beside her house and shall fasten a stake in her walles Hee shall pitche his tent nie vnto her verse 26. 27. hand and in his lodging shall good things rest for euermore Hee shall sette his children vnder her couering he shall dwell vnder her branches By her hee shal be defended from the heate and in her glory shall hee rest For life is in the way of righteousnesse Prou 12 28 and in that path-way there is no death §. 2. Blessed therefore is the man that feareth Psal 112. 1. the Lord and delighteth greatly in his commaundements Yea blessed is he that maketh the Lord Psalm 40 4 his trust and regardeth not the proude nor such as turne aside to lies For his seed shal be mighty vpon earth Psa 112. 2 3 and his generation shall be blessed Riches and treasures shall be in his house and his righteousnes shall endure for euer Though he fall hee shall not be cast off Psal 37. 24 for the Lord putteth vnder his hand Surely hee shall neuer be mooued but Psal 112. 6. shall be had in euerlasting remembrance For the Lord loueth iudgement forsaketh Psal 37. 28. not his Saints they shall be preserued for euer-more §. 3. If saith the Almightie vnto Israel yee Leuit. 26. 3. 4. 5. walke in mine ordinaunces and keepe my commaundements and doe them I will then send you raine in due season and the Land shall yeeld her increase and the trees of the fielde shall giue their fruite your threshing shall reach vnto the vintage and the vintage shall reach vnto the sowing time and you shall eate your breade in plenteousnes dwell in your land safely For I will haue respect vnto you and Leuit 26 9 make you increase and multiply you and establish my couenaunt or promise with you Also I will walke among you I will Leuit. 26. 12 be your God and yee shal be my people §. 4. Yea all these following blessings ô Deut. 28. 2. Israel saith Moises shall come vpon thee and ouer-take thee if thou shalt obey the voyce of the Lord thy God Blessed shalt thou be in the Cittie and verse 3 4 blessed also in the fielde Blessed shall be the fruite of thy body and the fruite of thy ground and the fruite of thy Cattell the increase of thy Kine and the flocks of thy sheepe Blessed shal be thy basket thy dough verse 5 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou commest in and blessed also when thou goest out §. 5. The Lorde likewise shall cause thine Deu. 28. 7. enemies that rise against thee to fall before thy face they shall come out against thee one way and shall flee before thee seauen wayes The Lord shall commaunde the blessing to be with thee in thy store-houses and in Deut 28 8. all that thou settest thine hand vnto will blesse thee in the Land vvhich hee giueth thee The Lord shall make thee an holie people verse 9 vnto himselfe as hee hath sworne vnto thee if thou shalt keepe the commaundements of the Lord thy God and walke in his wayes Then all people of the earth shal see that verse 10 the Name of the Lord is called vpon ouer thee and they shall be afraid of thee And the Lord shall make thee plenteous Deut 28 11 in goods in the fruite of thy body and in the fruite of thy cattell and in the fruite of thy ground in the land which the Lorde sware vnto thy fathers to giue thee The Lord shall open vnto thee his good verse 12. treasure euen the heauen to giue raine to thy land in due season and to
him as with a shielde The wicked shall see the same be angry Psal 112. 10 hee shall gnash with his teeth and consume away §. 12. Feare the Lorde therefore yee that be Psalm 34 9. his Saints for nothing vvanteth to them that feare him The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger Psal 34 10. but they that seeke the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good Neither shall any euill happen vnto the Ecclê° 33. 1. man that feareth him but when hee is in tentation the Lord will deliuer him and keepe him from harme For his eyes are ouer the righteous and 1 Pet 3 12 his eares are open vnto theyr prayers Hee knoweth the dayes of vpright men Psal 37 18 theyr inheritance shall be perpetuall §. 13. Hee also preserueth the state of the Prou 2 7 righteous is a shield to them that walke vprightly They shall not be confounded in the Psal 37 19 perrillous time and in the dayes of famine they shall haue enough For his eye is vpon them that feare him Psalm 33 18 19 and vpon them that trust in his mercy to deliuer theyr soules from death to preserue them in the time of dearth Yea his eyes haue respect vnto them Ecclê° 34 16 that loue him hee is theyr mightie protection and strong ground a defence from the heate and a shadow for the noone day a succour from stumbling and a helpe from falling §. 14. They that put theyr trust in him shall Psal 125. 1. be euen as the mount Sion which cannot be remoued but remaineth stedfast for euer They shall florish like a Palme tree and Psal 92. 12. shall spread abroade like a Cedar in Lebanon They shall inherite the land and dwell Psal 37 29 therein for euer They shall still bring forth fruite in their Psal 92. 14. age and shall be fat and florishing §. 15. The man that serueth him shall be accepted Ecclê° 35 16 with fauour and his prayer shall reach vnto the clowdes His prayer shall pierce thorowe the Mart. Bucer clowdes and preuaile mightily in the presence of his Maker That which a wicked man feareth shall Prou 10 24 come vpon him but GOD will grant the desire of the godly For a good man getteth fauour of the Prou 12 2 Lord but a man of vvicked imaginations will the Almightie condemne He respecteth not the speech of vngodly Iohn 9. 31 persons when they pray vnto him but if any man be a vvorshipper of him and obedient vnto his will him he will heare For as hee himselfe is all goodnes so loueth Plato hee all those that loue goodnes and as hee can haue no euill in himselfe so can he not away with the workers of iniquitie §. 16. They that trust in the Lord shall vnderstand Wisd 3. 9. the truth and the faithfull shall remaine with him in loue for grace mercie is among his Saints and hee regardeth his elect His secrete is reuealed to them that feare Psal 25. 14 him and his couenaunt to giue them vnderstanding Hee is euer-more mindfull of those men Theophilact that make his Word the guide vnto theyr waies and neuer ceaseth to succour his seruants which through faith confidence continually cleaue vnto him For he alwaies loueth them that loue his Lyra. law and bestoweth many benefites on the man that maketh his coÌ„maundements his daily meditation §. 17. Hee highly regardeth euery one that beleeueth Origen in him and will in time performe what-soeuer hee hath promised vnto the faithfull Hee will most certainly graunt vnto the Euagoras godly all things that are needfull for theyr life present And at his pleasure hee will make the Virgilius penitent to reioyce greatly in his loue and mercie He will also be fauourable to the righteous Eugenius in the time of theyr affliction And be ready to heare the cry of the confident Hillarius when-soeuer they call vpon him Yea before they call hee will aunswere Esay 65. 24. and whiles they speake or whiles they are thinking what to speake hee will heare them By all vvhich former speeches most plainly according to the saying of the Psalmist it appeareth That * they which Psalm 119. 165. loue the lawe of the Lord shall haue great prosperitie and shall haue no hurt That they vvhich obey and serue him Iob. 36. 11. shall end theyr dayes in prosperitie and theyr yeeres in pleasures And that the man that is faithfull shall Prou. 28. 20 abound in blessings §. 18. Taste yee then and see how gracious Psal 34 8. the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Yea blessed is the man whose strength Psal 84. 5 is in the Lord and in vvhose hart are the vvayes of God Blessed is euery one that feareth the Psal 128 1. Lord and walketh in his wayes For to them that thinke on good things Prou. 14. 22. shall be mercie and truth And as many as in this world endeuour Phil. Mel. to liue vprightly shall after death be receiued of God into euerlasting glory §. 19. A booke of remembrance saith Malachie Mala. 3. 16. is written before the Lord for all them that feare him and that thinke vpon his Name Many sorrowes shall come vnto the vngodly Psal 32 10 but hee that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed with mercie He will honour them that honour him 1. Sam 2 30 but whosoeuer despiseth him shall of him be despised Hee hath alwayes a speciall respect vnto Pet. Lomb. the godlie and will neuer suffer any that serue him to want theyr reward For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnes Psalm 11 7 his countenaunce doth behold the iust VVhen they cry hee heareth them Psal 34 17 deliuereth them out of all theyr troubles So that theyr hope shall neuer come to Gregory confusion but prosper euen in the time of perrill and lay sure hold on heauen as the cheefest harbour of theyr perfect happinesse §. 20. Hee that walketh in iustice saith Esay Esay 33 15 and speaketh righteous thinges refusing gaine of oppression shaking his handes from taking of gifts stopping his eares from hearing of blood and shutting his eyes from seeing euill Hee shall dwell on hie his defence shall verse 16. be the munitions of Rocks breade shall be giuen him and his waters shall be sure Hee shall receiue a blessing froÌ„ the Lord Psalm 24 5 and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation For the Lorde preserueth all them that Psal 145. 20 loue him Hee delighteth in them that feare him Psal 147. 11 Hee careth for all those that haue confidence 1. Pet. 5. 7 in him And no good thing will hee with-hold Psal 84 11 from them that walke vprightly §. 21. Hee that walketh in his integritie is iust Prou 20.
hedged in with bushes and the path thereof couered with thornes whereby no man may trauaile VVoe vnto them that speake good of Esay 5 20 euill and euill of good which put darkenesse for light and light for darkenes that put bitter for sweet and sweet for sower VVoe vnto them that excell in gluttony Esay 5 22 23 and drunkennes which iustifie the vvicked for a reward and take away the righteousnes of the righteous from them For as the flame of fire deuoureth the Esay 5. 24. stubble as the chaffe is consumed of the flame so shal theyr roote be as rottennesse and theyr blossome shall vanish avvay like dust because they haue cast off the Lawe of the Lord of hostes and contemned the word of the holie one of Israell §. 16. There is a way saith Salomon vvhich Prou. 14. 12 13. seemeth right to a man but the issues therof are the wayes of death Euen in laughing the hart is sorrowfull and the ende of that mirth is heauinesse Doubtlesse the Wiseman in this speech of his meaneth the way of worldly pleasures VVhere-into * Euagoras the wicked beeing once entred they are daily so ledde away vvith the vaine delights thereof that they neuer regard godlines till the deceits of iniquitie bring them to destruction For the end of all worldly pleasure is Theophilact sorrow and paine And the stipend or revvard of sinne Rom 6. 23 is death Not the death of the body onely for that Rauisius as all men knowes is naturall and ordinarie but the death both of body and soule which is endlesse and eternall §. 17. Through the sundry subtilties of sinne Origen and the contempt of Gods law saith Origen many thousands in this world passe after death to perpetuall perdition And vvho-soeuer refuseth to followe Virgilius righteousnesse shall for his recompence dwell with confusion For destruction shall be to the workers Prou. 21. 15 of iniquitie And the man that wandereth out of the Prou 21 16 way of wisedome shall remaine in the congregation of the dead §. 18. The hart that is obstinate shall be laden Ecclê° 3. 29. with sorrowes and the wicked man shall heape sinne vpon sinne Because he hath refused knowledge hee Hosea 4. 6. shall be refused of the Lord. And for that he hath left the way of vnderstanding Gueuara and life he shal fal into diuers dangers by the deceits of false doctrine For errour and darknesse are appoynted Ecclê° 11 16 for sinners And they that worke wickednes shal be Ecclê° 27. 27 wrapped in euils §. 19. Inquisition saith the Wiseman shall be Wisd 1 9 made for the thoughts of the vngodly the sounde of his wordes shall come vnto God for the correction of his iniquities The wicked deedes which he hath done Bernard shall stand vp to declare against him and the reward of his vnrighteousnes shall be powred vppon him His vnquiet conscience shal be his chiefest Pet. Lomb. accuser and the sinne of his owne impietie shall bee most forward to conuict him §. 20. The vngodly shall be punished according Wisd 3. 10. to theyr imaginations for they haue despised the righteous and forsaken the Lord. They haue thought euill in theyr harts Wisd 2 21. 22. against the godly and haue gone astray through theyr owne folly for theyr owne wickednesse hath blinded them and they doe not vnderstand the misteries of God neither hope they for the reward of righteousnes nor can discerne the honour of the soules that are faultlesse The way that they walke is as the darknes Prou. 4. 19 they know not wherein they shal fall They meete with darknes euen in the Iob. 5. 14. day time and grope at noone day as in the night The hope that they haue is indignation Prou. 11 23 Prou 13. 21 Psal 112. 10 * Affliction dooth followe them * And theyr desire shall perrish Theyr hope is a false hope Like vnto the hope of * Siseras mother vvho pleasantly Iudges 5. 28 29. 30. perswaded herselfe that her Sonne was gorgiously attyred in roabes of needle worke and very busie after the battell in deuiding the spoyles of Israel when hee lay sencelesly sleeping in * Iaels tent with Iudges 4. 21 a nayle driuen through his forehead Or like the hope of Haman * Who Ester 6 6 7. 8. 9. c. proudly thought in his hart that King Ahashuerosh would doe honour to no man more then to him vvhen contrariwise all the glory which he wisht vnto himselfe he was coÌ„maunded to shew vnto Mordecaâ— the man whom aboue all men els he most hated and * the euill death vvhich hee Ester 7 10. prepared for the same man was his ovvne latter ending §. 21. All iniquitie saith Sirach is as a double Ecclê° 21. 3. edged sword the wounds whereof cannot be healed Dishonour shame euill death damnation Paâ—â—â—ius waite vpon pride enuie murther and such other like vices And the match that kindleth against Cicero vngodly people the fierce wrath of God is their owne wilful persisting in sinne and iniquitie For as theyr harts wexe harder and harder Arnobius through theyr custome in sinning daily more and more impenitent so they hourely heape vp displeasure vnto themselues against the day of Gods wrath and the terrible appearing of his iust iudgement §. 22. Oh howe vnhappy then are the liues of Constantius all those men that leaue vertue to follovve vice and forsake wisedome to embrace wickednesse For they thereby make theyr mindes vnapt Plotinuâ— to receiue any goodnes and clog theyr consciences vvith many molestations They liue alwaies doubtfull of their own Pet. Lomb. safetie in the day time and theyr sleepe is vnquiet and full of feares in the night The morning is euen to them as the Iob. 24. 17. shadow of death And they buy hell dearer then good Gregory men buy heauen §. 23. They are ready to flee when none pursueth Prou. 28 1. them And are very often dreading that some Pâ—t Mart. deserued danger will suddainely fall vpon them The reason is for that all wickednes in it Orosius selfe is full of feare And the conscience that is touched doth Wisd 17 10 alwayes fore-cast cruell things For there can be no greater trouble to Tremelius the vngodly in this lyfe then the inward vexations of their own guiltie conscience The testimony whereof is as a thousand Marlorate witnesses against them and the doome of it is euerlasting damnation Insomuch that the consciences of the Mart. Bucer wicked which are wounded ouer-burdened with the weight of sinne doe most certainly feele euen in thys world part of hell torments And many times the sting or gnawing Erasmus vvorme thereof enforceth the miserable offender cleane to remooue all his confidence from the comfort of Gods mercie