treasures which Almighty God offereth vnto thee and do now lie hidden from thine eyes O miseraable is the day of thy natiuity much more miserable the day of thy death for so much as that shall be the beginning of thy euerlasting damnation Mar. 14. ô how much better had it bene for thee neuer to haue bin borne The wicked Christians shall be punished in hell more grieuously for their wicked liues more then the infiâ—els if thou shall be damned in the most horvible tormeÌ„â— of he fire for euer euer How much better had it bene for thee neuer to haue beene baptized if throughthe abusing thereof by thy wicked life thy damnation shal be therby the greater for if the light of reason onely sufficeth to make the heathen Philosophers inexcusable because they knowing God in some degree did not glorifie him nor serue him as the Apostle sayth how much lesse shall he be excused that hath receiued the light of faith and the water of Baptisme and doth often receiue the representation of the Lords body and euery day heareth his word preached Rom. â—1 if he doe nothing more then these pagan Philosophers haue done Now what other thing may we inferre of the premises but briefely to conclude that there is none other vnderstanding none other wisedome none other counsell in the worlde but that setting aside al the impedimeÌ„ts combersome dangerous wayes of this life we solow only that true and certaine way whereby true peace and euerlasting life is obtained hereunto we are called by reason by wisedome by lawe by heauen by earth by hell and by the life death iustice and mercie of Almightie God Hereunto we are also inuited very notably by the holy Ghost Eccles 6. speaking by the mouth of Ecclesiasticus in this wise My sonne bearken to instruction euen from the first yeares of thy youth and in thy latter daies thou shalt enjoy the sweete fruite of wisedome approch vnto it as one that ploweth and soweth and with patience expect the fruitfull encrease which it shall yeeld vnto thee The paines that thou shall take shall be but little and the benefits that thou shalt quickly enioy shall be great May sonne hearken to my words and neglect not my counsell which I shall giue put thy feet willinglyinto her fetters and thy necke into her chaines bowe downe thy shoulders and carry her vpon thee and be not displeased with her bonds approch neere vnto her with all thy heart and follow her wayes with all thy strength seeke for her with all diligence and shee will discouer her selfe vnto thee and after that thou hast found her neuer forsake her for by her shalt thou findrest in thy latter daies and that which before seemed painefull will afterwardes become pleasant vnto thee and her fetters shal be a defence of thy strength and foundation of vertue and her chaine shall be arobe of glorie for in her is the very beauty of life her both are the very bonds of health Hitherto are the words of Eâ—clesiasticus wherby thou maist in some degree vnderstaÌ„d how great the beauty the delight the liberty and riches of true wisedome are which is vertue it felse and the knowledge of Almighty God whereof we do intreate But is al this be not sufficient to mollifie thy heart lift vp thine eyes fixe thy mind not vppon the water of the world which vanish away but vppon the Lord who died for our sins there stan deth he with his feet nailed fast looking for thee with his armes spread abroad to receiue thee and with his head bowing downe to giue thee as to another prodigal son new kisses of peace attonement from thence he calleth thee if thou couldest here him with many callings and cries hearken therefore ô my Christian brother and consider this well with thy selfe that if his prayer bee not heard that hearkneth not vnto the cries of the poore how much lesse shall he bee heard that maketh him self deaffe to such cries as these are Wherfore now determine with thy selfe to hearken vnto these cries be fully resolued to change thy sinfull life to liue a new life and so shalt thou at the last possesse the ioyes which neuer shall end FINIS CONSTANTIA ET LABORE
I wouâ—â— liue euen like an Angell vpâ—â— earth but alas I would nâ—â— when I might and now I caâ— not though I would Let euâ—â— rie one therefore if he be wiâ—â— beware by my harmes aâ—â— while yeares strength aâ—â— time do serue to merite eâ—â— deuour to preuent the miserable cares and most perilloâ—â— perplexities that you see 〈◊〉 lapped in Behold I stand noâ—â— in such extremitie as I maâ—â— greater account and wouâ—â— more reioyce of one Pater â—â—ster or other litle prayer dâ—uoutly said for me then 〈◊〉 innumerable millions of gold and precious stones I haue with the prodigall child spent my golden time and wasted all lasciuiously not thinking what would follow and now I go a begging from dore to dore crauing some spirituall â—â—mes and euerie one thruâ—â—eth me from him saying Mat. 25. Ne forte nobis tibi non fufficiat Math. 15. I would gladly catch some of the crummes that fall from their table but no maÌ„ will giue â—â—e anie no man hath pitie of â—â—e and rightly for why should any man pitie him that would not pitie himselfe I cared not for my selfe why then should others care for me O all you that stand here about me and are eye-witnesses of my present miseries beware â—e ware by me and while you are in health hoord not â— your treasurers in earth but heauen let poore mens bâ— somes be your store-house Redeeme your sinnes wâ— Almes-deedes and your iâ— quities with pitie of the pooâ— endeuor by the means of wâ— ked MaÌ„moÌ„ to make you mâ— frieÌ„ds that in the houre of deâ— they may bring you richly â— den with merites and gâ— workes into the eternall tabâ— nacle and be not excluded shut out for want of gâ— without hope of mercie â— fauour as ye see me Oh oh cruell death Iâ— hath pierced my hart the hoâ— of my dissolution is come Iâ— liue no longer my sightâ— xeth dimme my senses â—â— my tong beginneth to clâ—â— to the roofe of my mouth voyce waxeth feeble and in â—eed of speaking I begin to â—attle in the throate Ah tole go tole my dolefull passing â—ell Ring out my mournfull â—nell Alas alas I must be gone I must die I must die farewell my faithfull friends all the things that in this world â— tooke delight in I must now depart and leaue you all behind Adue Adue for euer and euer I shall neuer see you againe Behold my legs waxe cold as yce my hands withered and drie my nayles blacke my face wanne pale earthly my sight dimme and â—arke mine eyes waxe hollow begin to roll in my head and more and more I waxe lothsome to looke on my heart panteth and gaspeth for breath but being oppressed by deaâ—â— it can indure no longer noâ— all my carnall friends begin â—â— put me in mind of God anâ— will me to call vpon Iesus anâ— to runne to him for mercie Aâ— las how can I with confidenâ— now cal vpon him whom I nâ— uer serued how can I hope â—â— mercie at his hands whom â— haue so infinitly offended â—â— ring life I abused his mercy aâ—â— therefore must I now feele hâ— iustice O Arsenius Arâ—â—nius how happie and blesseâ— wert thou that haddest thâ— houre of death alwayes beforâ— thine eyes But wo and tennâ— thousand times wo to me thâ—â— neuer thought on deathâ— vntill I was wounded at thâ— heart Alas whither shall my poorâ— ghost go now what harbour â—â—all my sinfull soule find â—â—ho will receiue her who â—â—all be her companion who â—â—al be her guide in this strange â—â—gion by the which she is to â—asse who will or can helpe â—â—r or what is he that dareth 〈◊〉 speake for her departing as â—â—e doth O lord God of â—ostes thou art our guide thou â—â—t the way by which I should walke thou art the doore by which I must enter be thou â—y refuge my comfort and â—efence in this most dreadfull â—â—oure thou art the Father of mercie and God of all consoâ—ation and comfort it is more proper to thee to haue mercie â—â—en for me to sinne I cannot â—inne so much but thou canst â—orgiue much more and this I also beleeue that I shoâ— more offend thy Maiesticâ— dispairing of thy mercie â—â— in all the other sinnes that â—â— I committed and thereâ—â— will I put my trust in theeâ—â— though thou shouldest kill â—â— Miserere mei Deus miseâ—â— met quta in te confidit anâ— mea Into thy hands ô Loâ— do I commend my soule tâ—â— haâ—â—redeemed me ô Lord â—â— of truth Ah farewell farewell â— friends God graunt my mâ—rable and vnprouided deâ— may make you to liue and â— better then I haue done I â— manie legions of wicked â— rits which enuiron me roâ—â— about triumphing the petition of my soule hoping â—â— haue me their perpetuall sâ—◠〈◊〉 hel All good Christians pray or me that God of his infinite goodnesse deliuer me not ouer to the willes of those most horrible and vgly monsters Amen A SONG IN THE praise of heauenly Ierusalem HIerusalem my happie home When shall I come to thee When shall my sorowes haue an end Thy ioyes when shall I see O happie harbour of the Saints O sweet and pleasant soile In thee no sorrow may be found No griefe no care no toile In thee no sicknesse may be seene No hurt no â—ch no sore There is no death not vgly diuell There 's life for euermore No dampish mist is seene in thee No cold nor darkesome night There euerie soule shines like the Sun There God himselfe giues light There lust and luker cannot dwel There enuie beares no sway There is no hunger hear nor cold But pleasure euerie way Ther 's Nectar and Ambrosia made Ther 's muske and Ciuet sweet There many a fine and daintie drugge Are troden vnder feete There Cinamon there Sugar growes There Nard and Balme abound What toung can tell or heart conceiue The ioyes that there are found Quite through the streets with siluer sound The floud of life doth flow Vpon whose bankes on euery side The wood of life doth grow There trees do euermore beare fruite And euermore do spring There euermore the Angels sit And euermore do sing There Dauid stands with harpe inhand As maister of the quire Ten thousand times that man were blest That might his mufike heare Gods praises there are alwayes song With harmonie most sweete Old Sâ—meon and Zacharie Haue not their songs to seeke There Magdalene hath left her mone And cheerefully doth sing With blessed Saints whose harmonie In euery streete doth ring Hierusalem my happie home Would God I were in thee Would God my woes were at an end Thy ioyes that I may see I. B. AN EXHORTAtion to good life Of the punishmentes which the Lord threatneth vnto such as liue a sinfull life Chap. I. ONe of the principal means which the Lord hath vsed often times to bridle the hearts of men and to draw them vnto the obedience of his commandements hath bene
without sadnesse without labour without griefe without trouble without corruption without feare without varietie without alteration a life replenished with all bewtie and dignitie where there is neither enemie that can offend nor delight that can annoy where loue is perfect and no feare a◠all where the day is euerlasting and the spirit of al is one where almighty God is seene face to face who is the onely meate whereupon they seed◠without any lothsomnesse 〈◊〉 delighteth me to consider thy brightnesse and thy treasure do delight my longing heart the more I consider thee the more I am striken in loue with thee the great desire I haue o◠thee doth wonderfully deligh◠me no lesse pleasure is it vn◠to me to keepe thee in remembrance O life most happy ◠kingdome truely blessed wherein there is no death no◠end neither yet succession e◠time where the day continuing euermore without night knoweth not any mutation where the victorious conquerour being ioyned with the euerlasting companies of Angels and hauing his head Crowned with a garland of glorie singing vnto almighty God one of the songs of Siō O happie yea and most happie should my soule bee if when the race of this my pilgrimage is ended I might be worthy to see thy glory thy blessednesse thy beauty the walles and gates of thy Citty thy streetes thy lodgings and thy noble Citizens and thine omnipotent king in his most glorious Maiestie the stones of thy walles are precious thy gates are adorned with bright pearles thy streetes are of very fine excellent gold in which there neuer faile perpetuall praises thy houses are paued with rich stones wrought throughout with Saphires and couered aboue with massie gold where none entreth in that is not cleane neither doth doth any abide there that is defiled faire and bewtifull in thy delights art thou ô Ierusalem none of those things are suffered in thee that are suffered here there is great diuersitie betweene thy things and the things we doe continually see in this miserable life in thee is neuer seene neither darkenesse nor night neither yet any change of time the light that shineth in thee commeth neither of lāpes nor of the moone nor yet of the bright glistring starres but God that proceedeth of God and the light that commeth of light is he that giueth clearnesse vnto thee euen the very king of kings himselfe keepeth continual residence in the midst of thee compassed about with his officers and seruants there do Angels in their order sing a most sweete and melodious harmonie there is celebrated a perpetuall solemnity and feast with euery one of them that commeth thither after his departure out of this pilgrima ge there be the orders of Prophets there is the famous company of the Apostles there is the inuincible army of martyrs The bless companie heauen there are the true and perfect religious persons there are the holy virgins which haue ouercome both the pleasure of the world and the frailtie of their owne nature there are the young men and yong women more auncient in vertue then in yeares there are the sheepe and little lambes that haue escaped from the wolfe and from the deceiptfull snares of this life and there doe now keepe a perpetuall feast each one in his place all alike in ioy though differēt in degree there charity raigneth in her full perfection for vnto them God is all in all whom they behold without ende in whose loue they will be al cōtinually enflamed whom they alwayes loue and in louing doe praise and in praysing doe loue and all their exercises consist in praises without wearinesse and without trauell O happie were I yea and very happie indeede if what time I shall be loosed out of the prison of this wretched bodie I might bee thought worthy to heare those songs of that heauenly melody song in the praise of the euer lasting king by all the Citizens of that so noble city happie were I and very happie if I might obtaine a roome among the chaplaines of that chappell and waite for my turne to sing praises to my God if I might be neere to my King my God my Lord and see him in his glory euen as he promised me when he sayd O father this is my last determinate wil that all those that thou hast giuen vnto me may be with me and see the glory which I had with thee before the world was created hitherto are the words of Saint Augustine Now tell me good Christian reader what a day shall that be that shall shine in thy house if thou leade thy life in the feare of God when after the course of this pilgrimage thou shalt passe from death te◠immortalitie in that passage when others shall beginne to feare thou shalt beginne to reioyce and lift vp thy head because the day of thy deliuerance is at hand Come foorth a little sayth Saint Ierome out of the prison of this body and when thou art before the gate of the Tabernacle set before thine eies the reward thou hopest for tel me what a day sha◠that be when the Lord himselfe with all his Saints shall come and meete thee in the way saying vnto thee Arise make hast ô my beloued my delight and my turtle-doue for now the winter is past and the tempestuous waters are ceased and flowers begin to appeare in our land How great ioy shall thy soule then receiue when it shall be at that time presented before the throne of the most blessed Trinity by the hands of the holy Angels how clearely shalt thou vnderstand the value and excellency of vertue there the obedient man shall talke of victories there vertue shall receiue herreward and the good shall be honored according to their desert moreouer what a pleasure will it be vnto thee when thou shalt see thy selfe to be in that sure hauen when thou shalt remember the tempestes wherein thou hast beene tossed the straights through which thou hastpassed and the daungers which thou hast passed and the daungers of theeues and pirates from whō thou hast escaped this is the place where they shall sing the song of the Prophet which sayth Had it not bene that the Lord had bene my helper it could not bee but that my soule had gone to hell And how it hath pleased almightie God that among such a multitude of damned persons thou shouldest be of the number of his elect and one of those to whom hee would graunt such exceeding great felicitie and glorie Besides all this what a goodly sight shall it be to behold the feastes and triumphes which they daily celebrate with their new brethren who hauing conquered the world and finished the course of their pilgrimage do enter in there to be crowned with them O what a ioy will it be to see those seates filled vp and that Citie builded and the walles of that noble Ierusalem repaired again with what cheerefull imbracings shall the whole Court of
sinnes past and the facility thou hast vsed in committing of them do not make thee afraid why dost thou not feare at the least the Maiesty omnipotency of him against whom thouhast sinned Life vp thine eyes and consider the infinite greatnesse and omnipotency of the Lord whom the powers of heauen doe adore before whose Maiestie the whole compasse of the wide world lyeth prostrate in whose presence all things created are no more then chasse carried away with the wind consider also with thy selfe how vnseemely it is that such a vile worme as thou art should haue audacitie so many times to offend prouoke the wrath of so great a Maiestie Consider the wonderfull most terrible seueritie of his iustice The terrible seuere iustice of almightie God against sinners and what horrible punishments hee hath vsed from time to time in the world against sinne and that not onely against particular persons but also vppon Cities Nations Kingdomes and Prouinces yea vpon the vniuersall world and not only in earth but also in heauen not only vpon sâ—…gers and sinners but euen vpoâ— his owne most innoceson our sweete Sauiour Iesâ—â— Christ when he tooke vppoâ— him to satisfie for the deâ—… that they owed And if thâ— seuerity was vsed vppoâ— innocent greene wood anâ— for the sinnes of others whaâ— then will he do vpon drie anâ— withered wood and againsâ— those that are loden with theâ— owne sinnes Now what thinâ— can be thought more vnreasonable then that such a vilâ— wretched weake dwarfe a thou Luke 13. verse 43. shouldest be so sawcie and mallaparte as to mocke with so mighty a Lord whose hand is so heauie that in case hee should stricke but euen one stroke vppon thee hee would at one blow driue thee downe head-long into the deepe and bottomlesse pitte of hell â—here to be tormented for euer by the diuels and his Angles without all hope of remedie Consider likewise the great patience of this our mercifull Lord The great pacience of Almighty God who hath expected thy repentaunce so long euen from the time that thou didst first offend him and thinke that if after so great patience and long tarrying for thee thou shalt still continue thy lewde and sinfull life abusing thus his mercie and not ceassing to prouoke him to further indignation and wrath he will then bend his bow and shake his sworde and raine downe vpon thee euen very sharpâ— arrowes of euerlasting death Consider also the profounâ—nesse of his iudgements The profoundnesse of the deepe iudgements of almightie God wheâ— of we reade and see dayly â— great wonders we see hoâ—â— king Salomon himselfe after be so great wisedome and afteâ— those three thousand parable and most profound misterieâ— vttered by him in his book called Cantica Canticoruâ— was sorsaken of almighty God and fuffered to fall downe 1. Reg. 11. aâ—â— adore Idols wee see dayâ— many starres fall downe from heauen to the earth with â—â— serable falles Ato 2. and to walloâ— themselues in the durt and to cate the meate of swine which sate before at Gods table and were fed with the very breaâ— of Angels If then the iust and righteous for some secrete pride or negligence or else for some ingratitude of theirs be thus iustly forsaken of almighty God after they haue bestowed so many yeares in his seruice what mayst thou looke for that hast done nothing else all thy life time but onely heaped vp sinnes vpon sinnes and hast thereby offended Almighty God most grieuously Now if thou hast liued after â—his sort were it not reason that thou shouldest now at the â—ength giue ouer and cease heaâ—ing sinne vpon sinne and debt vpon debt and begin to pacifie the wrath of almighty god and â—o disburthen thy sinfull soule were it meete that that time which thou hast hitherto giuen to the world to the flesh and to the diuell should suffice and that thou shouldest bestow some litle time of that which remaineth to serue him 〈◊〉 hath giuen vnto thee all 〈◊〉 thou hast were it not a poâ—â— of wisedome after so long time and so many great iniuries 〈◊〉 feare the most terrible iushâ— of Almighty God who thâ— more patiently hee suffereâ— sinners the more doth hee 〈◊〉 terward punish them wiâ— greater seuerity and iustioâ— were it not meete for thee feare thy long continuance many yeares in sinne and in thâ— displeasure of almighty God procuring thereby against the such amighty aduersary asâ—â— is and prouoke him of a mercifull louing father to be comâ— a seuere terrible judge and â— nemy were it not meete to feare least that the force ofâ—uill custome may in continuance of come be turned into nature and that thy long vicious vsuall maner of committing of sinne may make of a vice a necessitie or litle lesse why art thou not afrayd lest by litle â—litle thou maist cast thy felse downe headlong into the deep pit of a reprobate sence Rom. 1. wherinto after that a man is once falle he neuer maketh account of any sinne be it neuer so great The Patriarke Iacob sayd vnto Laban his father in law These fourteene yeares haue I serued thee looked to thine affaires now it is time that I should looke to mine owne begin to attend vnto the affaires of mine owne houshold Wherfore if thou hast likewise bestowed so many yeares in the seruice of this world and of this frayle transitorie 〈◊〉 were it not good reason thâ— thou shouldest now beâ— to make some prouision 〈◊〉 the saluation of thy soule 〈◊〉 son the euerlasting life 〈◊〉 come There is nothing moâ— short nor more transaâ—rie then the life of a mâ—â— and therefore prouiding carefully as thou doest for such things as bee necessâ—â— for this life which is so shaâ—â— why doest thou not likewâ—â— prouide somewhat for theâ— that is to come which sâ—endure for euer and euer The conclusion of all the premises Chap. 5. IF now all this bee so beseech thee ô my deâ— Christian brother euen for the bitter passion of Iesus Christ to remember thy selfe and to consider that thou art a Christian and that thou beleeuest assuredly for a most vndoubted truth what thy faith instructeth this faith telleth thee thou hast a iudge aboue that seeth all the steps and motions of thy life and that certainly there shall a day come when hee will require an account of thee euen of euery idle word this faith teacheth thee that a man is not altogether at an end when hee dieth but that after this temporall life there remaineth another euerlasting life and that the soules dye not with the bodie but that while the bodie remaineth in the graue vntill the generall day of iudgement the soule shall enter into another new countrey and into a new world where it shall haue such habitation and companie as the faith which it had in this life This faith telleth thee also that both the reward of vertue and the punishment of