Conscientia mille testes O but heare in the end what is prepared for such wicked and insolent sinners who hath such pleasure in this world with their abhominations procures the heavie wrath of God even this is prepared for them Cruciabuntur in saecula saeculorum in stagno ardente igne sulphure they shal be tormented for ever ever in a burning lake of fire brimston O that the horror of this sētence might make vs mark our owne blindnes and amend our beastly life Nol ti fieri sicut equus et mulus quibus non est intellectus Be not like the horse or the Mule which hath no vnderstāding as the Prophet would say be not so brutish nor so voyd of reason nor yet set not thy saluation to such a small reckoning O thou reader I will request thee all mankind ever to remember and hold this most worthy and infallible sentence printed in thy heart Hoc momentum vnde pendit aeternitas This short life is the very moment whereon dependeth all eternitie either the eternall joyes of heaven or else the eternall paines of hell O J say againe remember this true sentence and haue a continuall care of this moment and spend it not in such idle vanities Agree with thine aduersarie quickly whiles thou art in the way going with him least thine aduersarie deliuer thee to the Iudge and the Iudge deliuer thee to the jaylor and the jaylor cast thee in prison where thou shalt not come out till thou haue payed all How carefull should we be in this little moment of our life to prevent the intollerable and endlesse burning paines of hell What would the damned soules in hell doe if they were in this world againe how would they spend this moment to escape that vnspeakable torture that ever-burning Gehenna where nothing else is but goashing of teeth and everlasting horrour yea and worse than the tongue or heart of man can tell or thinke out of the which part there is no redemption Good Christian Reader againe I will request thee and all sinners to print this in the depth of thy heart And I my selfe I confesse to be a most greevous sinner when I thinke vpon the losse of pretious time it shrills my wearie soule with griefe it wearies my dayes and disturbs my rest with that holy Prophet Dauid I crie to God with a repenting heart O Lord remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my ignorance but according to thy great mercies remember thou me euen for thy goodnes sake O Lord The workes of our Lord God are great and wondrous they are incomprehensible and yet his mercies exceedes all his stupendious workes therefore once more let vs consider so neere as wee can the great works of God the creating of all things The heauens sayes the Prophet Dauid sets forth his glory and the firmament shewes the workes of his hands The earth the seas and all living creatures therein the strange course of every thing in heaven in earth the naturall inclination of all living creatures Look on the seas how they are limited that they shall not passe their bounds but keepes their due course Looke on the creation of mankinde he hath made vs according to his owne image and of the verie dirt and slime of the earth hath he created and formed vs he hath also made vs subject to many infirmities of Nature the filthinesse of our flesh the excrementall corruption of many sundry and strange diseases which are naturall and insident both to man and woman And what would this carcase of ours be if it had not the change of cleane cloathes it would be naught else but a masse of vermine and with time the smell of our flesh would be loathsom and so in the end wee would putrifie and consume to naught O man why is all this done onely to base our pride and God hath done it to let vs see what stuffe wee are made of and what bath our good God done more Within this earthly vessell of our body he hath placed a soule made of a devine and heavenly substance adorned with all her faculties and garnished with reason The Prophet Dauid sayes Little inferiour to the Angels And besides all this he hath cast vnder our feete all kinde of other creatures and aboue all his workes that work of vdspeakable loue that miraculous worke of our redemption and yet the mercie of our Lord God goes farre aboue and farre exceedes all his wondrous works for the holy Prophet Dauid sayes The Lord is good and kinde to all and his mercies are aboue all his great and wondrous works And heare what our good loving God sayes more with his owne mouth The mountaines shall remoue the hills shall fall downe but my mercie shall not depart from thee neither shall I breake the couenant of my peace saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee What great and true confidence may we then haue in Gods mercie he sayes againe by the mouth of his Prophet The Lord doth attend the sinners conuersion to the end he may take mercy on him and thereby be exalted Yet heare more what God speakes to Ezechiel the Prophet Say vnto them as I liue saith the Lord God I desire not the death of the wicked but that the sinner should turn frō his sinful life liue And farther with what great cōpassion goes he on to allure perswade his people to convert O sayes he Turne you turne you from your wickednes for why will you perish and die O you house of Israell How many kind loving perswasions doth our loving God giue vs to draw neere and come home to him What gentle kind corrections what large and great space of repentance what wonderfull sweet Parables of our Saviour Jesus Christ in the Evangell Of the good sheepheard who brought back the sheep vpon his shoulders which had gone astray what joy and feasting makes hee with his friends and of the honest woman when shee findes her lost peace of siluer And the pittifull father with teares of mercie compassion receaved his forlorn sonne with what joy and gladnes did hee embrace him Here doth our sweet Saviour Iesus shew what great joy is in heaven at the convertion of a sinner Our loving God again entring in more conference with the sinner he begins to reason with him Thou sayest that I am ritch and encreased with goods and full of substance and that I haue need of nothing and doest thou not know how poore thou art how wretched how miserable how blinde and how naked thou art Then our Saviour goes on with sweet perswading speeches to allure the sinner saying I counsell thee to buy of me gold tried be the fire that thou mayest be made ritch and white rayment that thou mayest be cloathed and that thy filthie nakednesse may not be seene and anoint thine eyes with eye-salue that thou mayest see And
with the loue feare and obedience of his subjects he becommeth a King of more kingdomes and so from kingdome to kingdome he groweth to be an imperiall and free Monarch over many Countries for him and his posteritie to possesse for ever in the end he leaues his vertues education his good qualities his vpright justice his mercie his compassion on the poore and his loue to all his people to be a mirrour to the rest of earthly Kings one example to his children and a never decaying Ornament to all his Off-spring then last of all he returneth againe to the earth and his soule cloathed with pure innocent whitenes flyeth vp to heaven in the beautifull shape of a bright winged Angell Who shall ascend sayes the Prophet into the mountaine of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place euen he that hath inuocent hands and a pure heart who hath not in the rage of crueltie sucked the bloud of innocents who hath not suffered the greater powers to oppresse his poore Subjects it is he who extols Iustice and triumphs in mercie O God this man is he whose glorie is great in thy salvation both dignitie and honour hast thou laid vpon him It is thou O Lord who governes all his actions and still instructs his minde what he shall doe Cor regis in manu domini quocunque voluerit inclinabit illud Then thou ô earthly King behold how the great and mightie King of all Kings is thy sure bulwarke his strength guards thee against the malitious mindes of men the poysonnous Calumnie of wicked vipers shall not offend thee nor the subtill hatchers of vnnaturall Treason shall neuer prevaile against thee because God assures thee of thy life in all thy journeyes by day or by night he still sayes vnto thee as he said by the voyce of his Angell to Gideon Peace be vnto thee feare not thou shalt not die How bold may thou be to build vpon this assurance if God be with thee who can be against thee Thy anger is like the roaring of a Lyon he that prouoketh thee to wrath sinneth against his owne soule Who should not tremble at thy furie who should not be afraid to offend thee who dare calumniate a King or yet speake against the vprightnesse of his justice God him selfe giues this straite commaund saying Thou shalt not raile vpon the Iudges neither speake euill of the ruler of the people Then the Apostle Saint Paul tells thee why thou should not doe it Because he is the Minister of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill I say to thee O King Thou earthly God whose ouer-ruling hand The Scepter swayes and doth vnsheath the sword Now seruile Kingdomes stoupes at thy command Who dare controle thy vnrecalled word Thou with great glorie of thy triple crowne Erecks the good and throwes the wicked downe God hath anoynted thee a King and placed thee here on earth to be a God and to doe right to all men without respect of persons God him selfe calls you a God and commaunds you saying Doe right to the poore and fatherlesse doe justice to the poore and needie because I haue said thou art a God And therefore be sure that the great God of heaven will judge you that are Gods on earth remember how he is to craue a most sharpe reckoning at your hands therefore how carefull should thou be ever to discharge thy great and waightie charge which hangs over thy head thou art a ruler of many and many things will be asked of thee respect alwayes the poore more then the ritch and let not the complaints of thy people come to thy eares by the mouthes of thy briberous Minions call the poore complainer before thee stay and heare them with patience and wearie not to examine their wrongs when thy pitty hath pondred their estate Pronounce sentence with thy owne tongue then let thy diligent eye see judgement executed and delay not the poore mans cause nor let no senistrus request recall thy just resolution And so shall the teares of the distressed creatures imbalme thy soule thy righteousnes shall crowne thee and thy mercie shall set thee on the majesticall Throne of Gods eternall glory O remember what thou art where thou art and what thou shalt be as I haue said thou art a King anoynted by God over many people thou art here on earth a Judge and thou art to be called before the tribunall seate of God to giue a reckoning of thy behaviour O then how narrowly should thou looke to thy journey how perrilous is thy Prograce what weightie burthen hangs on thy shoulders what continuall fashires what incomprehensible care and what great memorie craues thy carefull estate With eyes of wisedome governe thy sight about thy selfe and if thou chance to see sheltred vnder thy owne wings the deceitfull parasite the male-contented Mutenar the murmuring whisperer the detracker of honestie the invier of vertue the ambitious oppressour or the vnmercifull briber then if thou finde such caterpillars about thee sweepe them away because they are consuming cankers to thy state bloud-suckers of innocents vessels of treason and sworne enemies to the true Vnion of thy Kingdomes O sayes the great King of wisedome Take away the wicked men from the King and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes Shake off all kinde of such infectious scabs and purge thy companie of such pestiferous euils keepe ever with the men of truth and place such men in office as feares God and loues thee Let graue and honourable counsailours conduct thee and guard thy selfe with them Commaund thou them as God hath commaunded all you that are Kings Say ye shall haue no respect of persons in judgement but shall heare the small as well as the great ye shall not feare the face of man for the judgement is Gods Thou art the Lieutenant of God therfore thou should looke well to thy officers and how they are enclined A true and faithfull subject who doth the will of his King is worth the halfe of his Kings kingdom O sayes Salomon the joy and pleasure of a King is in a wise servant He putteth the charge of him selfe in his hands he is the pillar of his state and executes the actions of his King with a sincere equitie It is not birth that makes thy subject noble or honourable The originall of Nobilitie is like a small spring which good desert makes the gratefull favour of a King to enlarge to a great river which by bound dutie ought to pay their dutifull tribute to the King their Ocaean but how many are they that becomes ingrate and swels with pride ambition envie treason sedition and emulation they become rebellious flouds overflowes their banks and in dispersing them selues looses their name and becomes ignominious to the world When such men beholds their owne ruine and swift destruction which blinde pride did never looke for then how may
cares and take vp our crosse and follow Christ His yocke is sweete and his burthen is light we shall not walke in darknesse Let vs say with S. Augustine Et tu Domine vsque quoquam diu quam diu Cras cras quare non modo quare non hac hora finis est turpitudinis meae O Lord how long wilt thou suffer me thus How long How long shall I say to morrow to morrow why should I not convert now Why should there not be an end of my filthy lyfe even at this very instant And let vs all say with the holy Prophet Dauid O Lord create a new heart in me and renew my spirit and that we May cast off the ould man and put on the new man O Lord giue vs grace hereafter that we may walke circumspectly and not like mad and insolent fooles in ignorance blindnesse and errour that we may redeme the time that we haue spent in sleuthfulnesse and idlenesse Try me O GOD and search my heart saieth Dauid proue me and examine my thoghts Consider if there be any way of wickednesse in me and then O Lord lead me in the way of eternitie I pray GOD let vs never like dogs turne to our vomet stay still with vs O Lord because it is neere the night When S. Peter saies And if the righteous scarcely can be saued where shall the vngodlie and the sinner appeare What a perellous speech is this for vs poore and miserarable sinners who still heapes sinne vpon sinne Therefore deare brother let vs cry O Lord enter not into judgement with vs take all our sinnes and iniquities and bury them in the bleeding wounds of thy dearly beloved Sonne Jesus Christ Let the temporall punishments of this life deliver vs and redeme vs from the eternall paines of hell Let vs all say with S. Austein Hic vre hic seca vt in aeternum parcas O good GOD mollifie our hearts and let vs not be hardned when we heare thy voyce giue vs that strength of grace that the filthy vapors of our sinnes extinguish not thine holy spirit in vs. Da seruo tuo Domine cor docile Giue vnto thy servant O Lord a tractable heart to receaue instruction And O GOD we pray thee to remember thy promise Ad quem respitiam nisi ad pauperculum contritum corde timentem sermones meos To whom will I haue regard or shew my favour but vnto the poore and humble of heart vnto the contreat spirit and to such as trimble at my speeches Thou never yet O Lord despised the sacrifice of a contreat heart So long as the sinner remaines within the darkned and misty vapors of all wickednesse he can not beholde the odeous and vylde leprosie nor the filthy apparell which sinne cleideth his soule with all the devill blinds him but when he reteares himselfe from wickednesse and walkes on the faire way of Repentance or when he stands vpon the Mountaine of Amendement and then lookes forth from the turrat of a good-life beholding the filthy shape and the ougly portrate of sin O how will he then detest himselfe that hath bene so long swatring in that filthie myre in that stinking puddle of sinne putrified with all abhominations and how loathsome will such company be to him thereafter he will eschew them as a contagious pest and say with the Prophet Dauid Discedi te à me omnes qui operamini iniquitatem quoniam exaudiuit Dominus vocem fletus mei Goe from me all ye workers of iniquitie because my GOD hath heard my weeping voice and hath receaved my prayer or else he will intreate the wicked man with gentle perswasions with good examples and loving admonitions to shake off that filthie and contagious habiet which infects the soule and keepes him back and debarres him from the loue of GOD and makes the Death of Christ to be for him in vaine S. Iohn the Evangelest sayeth It is onely to them who beleeveth in him that hee hath given power to be the sonnes and children of GOD. It is most sure that onely want of faith maketh the sinner obstinate he is a lyer and can not beleue in GOD. O thou poore and distressed creature looke vpon thine owne miserable estate how thou gallops post to hell and will not looke back but goeth on thy cairlesse journey When we walke alone on the fields when we walk solitare in our chalmer when we ly in our bed will we but meditate vpon the fearfull and terrible Majestie of GOD whom all the Heavens can scarce containe of his vnspeakable glory of his Almightie power And it is onely this great and Omnipotent Iehouah that we offend To thee onely haue I sinned saith Dauid And let vs remember how for the eating of a sillie apple contrare the Lords commandement he condemned all mankinde and nothing could appease his wrath nor yet ransome the world but the bloud and death of his owne dearly beloved Sonne Jesus Christ When wee thinke on this severitie and of GODS terrible anger against sinne how loath should we be to offend GOD and yet in very contempt of GOD the wicked man will perseveir in all kinde of wickednesse and still deferre his Repentance till at last there shall be no time given him yea not the halfe quarter of an houres minute granted to him Heare how the Prophet Dauid saieth of such men Convertentur ad vesperam famem patientur vt canes circuibunt civitatem And in the evening they shall convert they shall runne about the Cittie and barke like dogs they shall houle for meate but surelie they shall not be satisfied O that in time we wold take heed to this woful speech And what more GOD will mock them and hold them in derifion It is to these that our Saviour will say Nescio vos I knowe you not Why Because you had no Oyle in your lampes And when he hath knowen them and all their wicked deedes which shall be accusers of them and laid open to beare testimonie against them O what will he then say to them Ite malidicti in ignem aeternum Goe you accursed vnto the eternall fire of Hell And besides all this remember the sharpe reckoning must be made when the least idle word we speake we must giue a count of it O GOD according to the multitude of thy mercies be mercifull to vs miserable sinners in that fearfull and terrible day of judgement In time convert vs O Lord and we shall be converted How happie is that man who can withstand the dangers of this life with a well resolved minde and still calles on GOD to assist him in all his actions for the temptations of this world are many and wondrous strong The devill is subtle and we are easily insnared and this our flesh is exceeding subject to many infirmities So that without Gods helpe we are not able of our selues to fight Then with the Prophet Dauid Let vs
buildings lassivous dansing mirry companions quick-witted-discourses and many more pleasures all must end all must be changed Heare this Proclamation The voice of God said Cry and the Prophet said O Lord what shall I cry Cry out that all flesh is grasse and all the glory thereof is like the flower on the field the grasse widreth and the flower faideth The Prophet Dauid saieth Vniversa vanitas omnis homo vivens And what said great king Salomon in the top of his glory All was but vanitie of vanities And S. Iames calleth our life noght else but a vapor How swiftlie are we gone some by one meanes some by other man against man beast against beast every one becomes a prey to other all must pay that doubtlesse debt of Death no creature can escape there is nothing more certaine there is nothing more vncertaine we knowe not when nor where because statutum est omnibus semel mori it is ordained that we shall all once dye Then in our greatest mirth let vs ever say to our selues Memento homo quod pulvis es in pulverim reverteris O man remember that thou art but dust and in dust thou shalt returne againe It is said of the ambitious wretch Mendicant semper avari THe mal-content hunts Fortune here and there His euer-tortring-thoughts disturbs his braine Till all his hopes be drown'd in deepe despare Then Time tels him his travels are in vaine O earthly-wretch what glory canst thou gaine When fruteles-labor thy short life hath spent A restles minde with stil-tormenting paine Even whom a world of worlds could not content Frō such base thoghts heavens make my heart aspire And with a sweete contentment crowne desire Let vs beholde and we shall see how in one day yea even in one instant time some making riatous bankets some triumphing in all pleasures some going to the scaffold to be executed some women travelling with childe with great paines bringing their children to the world some lying in sore sicknesse exspecting death the prisoner in bonds looking when he should bid his last fair-well to the world some carying their children with honour to receaue the Sacrament of Baptisme the bryd-grome going with his bryde to solemnesse Matrimony And againe at that same instant we shall see murnfull companies celebrating the funeralles of the death carying the dead carcatches both of age and youth to the graue It may truely be said of our inconstant estate Laeta sit ista dies nescitur origo secundi An labor an requies sic transit gloria Mundi Sometimes are we merry and sometimes are we sad Nunquam in eodem statu We are not perticepant of the secrets of GOD It is onely his providence derects vs we knowe not what suddaine change may come such a swift course hath Time and in this meane-time the glory of this world goeth away the most part of our life is spent in sleep and how many in their mid-age is taken away scarce are we come in the world when we returne againe to the graue very few comes to the period of Nature O when we truely thinke on Death and calleth to minde that perellous passage how fearfull is it and what a strange horror brings it to the heart of mankinde and cheefly to the vnresolved who lives in all liberty of pleasure environed with all worldly contentment O mors quam amara est memoria tua homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis O Death how bitter is thy memory to that man who hes hurded vp ritches how loath wil he be to leaue his beutiful buildings his faire allurements and his many pleasurs What a greefe is it to his heart that he must departe and leaue them all behinde and he needs must goe and compeir before that great and terrible Judge to giue a sharpe reckoning how he conquest all that ritches O man thinke on thy end and thou shalt neuer sinne Remember that thy glasse shall once be runne and that thy Sonne shall set and the horror of Death shall over-shadow thee and that there shall no pleading be heard after sentence is once given Quia ex inferno nulla est redemptio Thy paines shall haue no end thy torments shal haue no diminishing Therefore to you J cal to you that careles lives and premeditats vpon mischief and how to execute the damnable exploits of the ever-laboring minde To you who are the ritch-gluttons of this world and to you who feeles not with what sence I speik Consider from whence you came where you are for the present and where you shall goe You are here on Earth Vbi spectaculum facti est is Deo angelis hominibus where you are in sight of GOD of Angels and of Men. Now when ye are going looke well to your journey your passage is all straude over with thornes it is a perelous way full of Ominus-threatnings planted with an hedge of many Prodegyous Objects Non est vitae momentum sine motu ad mortem There is no moveing of lyfe without a motion to Death Liue well that you may dye well For looke in what estate you dye so GOD will finde you and as he findeth you so he Censureth you and as he censureth you so he liueth you for ever and ever His decreit shall never be controlled nor his sentence shall never be recalled As a growing tree when it is cut downe falleth to that side where it did extend the branches when it was in growth Even so if thou desirest to fall right learne in thy grouth to extend such frutefull btanches as may sway thee to the right side and make thee fall well Sweete saieth Saint Chrisostome is the end of the laborers when he shall rest from his labors The wearied traveller longeth for his nights lodging and the storme-beattenship seeketh vp for shore the hyreling oft questioneth when his yeares will finishe and come out the woman great with childe will often muse and studie vpon her deliverie And he that perfitelie knoweth that his life is but a way to death wil with the poore prisoner sit on the doore threshold and expect when the Jaylor shal open the doore every small motion maketh him apprehend that the commander with the serjants are comming to take him from such a loath some prison He looketh for death without feare he desireth it without delight and he excepeth it with great devotion he acteth the last and tragicall parte of his life on a dulefull stage before the eyes of the world his gesture thirls the beholders heart with sad compassion his words of woe seasoned with sighes doth bathe the cheeks of the hearers with still distilling teares with a generall relation of his former wickednes he giues a loude confession of his secret sinnes with weeping eyes he calls for help of prayer and like a hunger-starued begger he howles and cries to that honourable housholder saying O good God open the gates of thy mercies to the greatnes of my
dulnes of our vnderstanding can not reach to this the hypocrit wil sigh grone at a preaching be his behavior he wil appear to the world to be a reformd maÌ„ But ô the villain wil not make restititutioÌ„ of wrangous geir nor wil pay duety for oppression so that the iniquitie of the impious hypocriticall presitian leans alwaies to the mercy of God they never think on his justice O ignorant foole is he GOD of mercie so is he GOD of Justice Vengence is mine saith the Lord I visit the sinnes of the fathers vpon the third and fourth generations Want of feare makes the sinner sensles they builde so much on faith that the pride of their faith makes them faithles in whom I say againe shall the vpright man trust when the world is so full of deceitfull villany Beware of that man sayeth the Italian who giues thee fairer words then he was wont to giue thee for he is either minded to deceaue thee or else he hath deceaved thee alreadie then againe the Italian cryes out De gli ' amici mei guarda me dio d' gli inimici mei guardro benio And yet for all this what if a man had Argus eies to watch deceit Yet hee may be deceiued such is the craft of the subtle deceiuer O thou deceiving Hypocrasie what an Eie-blinding behaviour What an externall shew of chirping pietie putst thou on to mask thy damnable deiling The pride and envy of the heart covered with out-ward dissimulation seemes to correct vyce and spit at sinne thou walkst on the streets with a down-east look to Hell thy modest apparell is the onely coverture of Gluttonie Ambit on and Venery this is the true garment of civilitie thy common and smooth speaches is all compunde with borrowed spcriptures thy be yea and na is no swearing but both crost and curst is he who beleeues thee Quoniam non est in ore cornm veritas How brauelie doeth S. Peter paint such men in their owne collours when he saieth Through couetousnes shall they with fained words make marchandries of you their judgement is not far off and their damnation sleepeth not And againe heare what our Saviour cries out O generation of Vipers how can you speake goode things when you are euill your selues Thou atr a sighing â—ulla-fidian brother who is not ashamed to call thy selfe a brother in Christ sigh sob forth thy villanie and be dambd How many and wondrous damned sectes and opinions are spred on the face of the earth and every one to affirme their owne erraesie will lay hand on Scripture wresting the word of GOD to be a warant to their dreaming inventions O thou Religion how art thou changed And with what strange and divers collours art thou painted with How is thy face dis-figurd and thy apperrell polluted And with in grate wormes of the Earth how art thou transformde How can the simple soule knowe thee Or to what hand shall he turne to when so many contrare opinions are at such a miserable strife It is onely to the humble heart that the treuth is manifested and the true passage of Heaven is discovered because Iesus Christ hath placed his Tabernacle in the Soone and he hath builded his Church like a great Cittie on the top of a Mountaine blind Arrogance can not nor will not see it Our Saviour hath bought it with no lesse price then the price of himself he hath made it a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle hauing no blame at all Let Hereticks bark and hellish spirits rage against the truth what then Et porti inferi non preualerunt Let detestable errors and all the authors of sects let all such vipers I say turne their infectious stings in their owne bosomes Sed vestrum quis basiliscus erit woe be vnto you adulterers of Gods word and woe he vnto you who shuts vp the kingdome of heauen before men for you your selues will not enter nor will ye suffer them to enter who willinglie wolde enter O serpents the generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of Hell Dira tibi cum sis vt Cham execratio certa est nam matrem rides risit ut ille patrem Ye shall knowe them be their frutes of vain glorie pryde emulation sedition contention and vndantoned lust of the flesh And more then all this you shall knowe them by vnpardonable sinnes against the holie Ghâ—st to wit Impugnatio veritatis inuidentia fraternae gratiae presumptio impenitentia obstinatio disperatio The haynous blasphlemie against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiuen in this world nor in the world to come For their vine is of the vine of Sodome and Gomorach ther grapes are of gall their clusters are most bitter their vines are the poyson of Dragons and of the cruell gall of Cockatrises O thou man of God J request thee to say with the Prophet Dauid Iudica me Deus decerne causam meam de gente non sancta ab homine iniquo doloso erue me Deus Let wisdome furnish the patience to contrare-poyson the contagious teeth of such mad dogs in these Canicular dayes what detestable a thing is it to see and heare a fraternitie of obstinat ignorants barking amongst themselues at their owne errors to spoyle scripture wrong Religion and pratle of divinitie stil arrogant and euer scorning to be censurde with the more auncient and grauer judgements Jt is no wonder but the wonder of this wondrous error should make the hearers amasd Who would not smyle at the gesture of a young Philosophical fellow who in his youth-heid hes bene anointed with Oleum Philosophorum to hear him in his tedeus talk of Jugling sophestry in superfluous circumlocutions in his far-fetched exemples in base applications in a never-ending discourse seemeth to himselfe a most rare scoller by art then by nature he proues not else but a redicolus foole these are they whom the Apostle S. Paul bids you be ware of that their vain deceiuing Philosophy corrupt you not which are not else but the traditions of men Let al men of a soled vnderstanding allow the Spanish Proverb A palabras locas orejas surdas y que a mucho hablar mucho errar The Charleton or as the Dutch-man cals him the Quick-siluer This cogging raskall will stand vpon a Market place and there with a boulde errected face he will beginne and tell of many invented miracles how his Oyles and Waters hath done such rare wonders in restoring health to the diseased persons in curing as it were incurable wounds and presentlie he will produce some fained Charter seald with walx to approue his villanie and be this meanes he perswades poore ignorants to buye his poysoning drogs This is he who will vndertake to mend any thing what-som-ever The Mutebanky in Italie are not so full of deceit but I grant in their subtle villanies they goe farre
when he with chaines of loue keepes his owne fast to him he sayes As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and amend Now againe at last he concludes with fervent compassion Behold I stand at the dore and knock if any man heare my voice and open the dore I will come in vnto him and I will sup with him and hee with mee What more comfortable speeches would the heart of mankinde craue or what greater consolation can wee Caitiue and distressed sinners desire who would refuse to open the dore of his heart to entertaine such a worthie guest of infinite loue and mercie even Christ Jesus the onely sonne of God omnipotent he gaue his life to ransone the soules of sinners he left the glorious heavens for our cause and cloathed him selfe with our wilde and filthy nature Many yeeres did he preach he suffered cold hunger and reproach he was tempted and fasted forty dayes in the wildernes in the agony of his Prayers he sweat bloud he was tortured sold and imprisoned his head was crowned with sharpe thornes his body torne with scourges he was mocked buffeted and spet in the face his body hung on the Crosse betwixt two theeues and his armes out-stretched his hands and feete peirced with nailes of iron and his side and heart wounded to death neither was we bought with siluer gold or pretious stones but with the infinite price of the bloud and life of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the onely sonne of our ever-living God O it was our sinnes and wickednes put him to death and laid all his cruell torments on him it was our wickednes made him fast forty dayes when he was tempted in the wildernes we crowned his Imperiall head with sharpe thornes we bound his delicate armes with cords wee mocked him wee stripped him naked and scourged his blessed bodie we buffeted and spat in his most glorious face we laid the Crosse on his patient shoulders we cast lots for his vpper garments we crucified him betwixt theeues and nailed his innocent hands and feet to the Crosse it was for vs he sweat bloud and water in his prayers and it was we even onely we who peirced and wounded his heart and it was wee who made him in his cruell paines of death cry out in his last passion My God my God why hast thou forsaken me All this and much more hath our wickednes done to the incomprehensible Majestie of almighty God Heare with what great admiration the Prophet Isay cries out speaking of the Passion of Jesus Christ long before his comming Who will sayes he beleeue our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed Then he begins and tells of his sufferings torments for our sinnes saying Surely he hath borne our infirmities and caried our sorrowee yet we did judge esteeme him plagued and smitten of God and humbled but hee was wounded for our trasgressions it was for our iniquities he was punished The burthen of our sinnes was laide on his backe like a simple sheepe so was he led to the slaughter in patient silence suffered he all sorts of paines neither was wickednes with him fraud nor deceit was never found in his mouth this Innocent was put to death amongst theeues and malefactors for the sinnes of the world The Evangelist S. Iohn sayes For God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting And what shall this life everlasting be the Apostle tells thee That eye hath not seene nor care hath not heard nor yet the heart of man can not imagine what happinesse and glory is prepared for them that shall be saued Now deere and loving Reader consider with what little paines thou may in this little moment of thy life prevent the everlasting paines of hell and make conquest of the eternall glory of heaven to see and behold the vnspeakable Majestie of God set on his triumphant Throne evironed compast with the glorified Saints the innumerable Martirs who hath suffered for the faith of his sonne Iesus Christ when the woman in travaile and bitter paines of hir birth is releeved of her naturall burthen how will the pleasure of her child expell the paines and giue her comfort Even so after the weariednesse of this world the paines and anguish then comes the joyfull pleasure of heavens which expells all our vexations comforts our soules and wipes all the teares from our eyes what persecution what crosse or worldly temptation should hold or keepe vs backe from such an infinite treasure from such an endlesse joy Let vs say with that constant and blessed servant of Jesus Christ Who shal separate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or perrill or sword as it is written for thy sake are wee killed all the day long wee are counted as sheepe for the slaughter neuerthelesse in all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loued vs for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And a little before this happy and godly Apostle sayes in this same Chapter For I count the afflictions of this present life are not worthy of the glory which shall be showne to vs in the life to come And for this respect When hee considered of the joy of heauen hee esteemed all the ritches all the glorie and all the honour of this world but vayled filth and stinking dirt How carefull then should wee be of this word Eternall and that in this moment wee should be good provisors Our Saviour desires vs saying Negotiamini dum venio Be diligent and lay much treasure to thee fore against I come and seeke for a reckoning of thee For behold sayes he I come quickly and my rewardis with mee to giue euery man according to his workes And what shall this reward be if thou be vpright constant and continue firme and faithfull to the end Be thou faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee the crowne of life In hope of this glorious Crowne how gallantly should thou fight against all the wofull miseries of this world and still contemne all their earthly temptations In the word of GOD the wise man forwarnes the saying My sonne when thou art to come to the seruice of GOD stand fast in Iustice and in feare and prepare thy minde for temptation Heere thou art forwarned in what estate thou shalt be in time of battell and howe to lye at thy guard against thy three ghostlle enemies The Deuill the World and the Flesh Stand therefore and your loynes girde about with viritie hauing on the
Lesse travaile farre would gaine eternall joy Which sweet Reward all earthly paines exceeds But thou art mad and in thy madnesse strange To quit thy God and take the devill in change At threatning ever senslesse deafe and dumb Thou never lookes on thy swift-running-Glasse Nor terror of the Judgement for to come But still thou thinks thy pleasure can not passe All is deceit and thou hast no regard Gods wrath at last the sinner will reward To pray to God why then thou art asham'd For sinne in thee shall suffer seandalies Thy rusty filth of conscience shall be blam'd Besides thy soule hath spoil'd her faculties Thus doth the deuill so hold thee still aback Euen to the death and then thy soule doth take Alas poore soule when God did first thee frame Most excellent most glorious and perfit But since thou in that carnall body came Thy favour 's lost spoil'd is thy substance quite O that thou would repent and turne in time God wil thee purge clange thee of thy crime God is a God of vengeance yet doth stay And sparing waites if thou thy life will mend With harmlesse threatnings oft he doth assay And oft he doth sweet words of comfort send If thou repent his anger will asswage If not he will condemne thee in his rage The sonne of God he for thy sinfull sake To saue thy soule with care he did provide Mans filthy nature on him he did take That he both cold and hunger might abide He many yeers on earth great wōders wrought Still persecute and still his life was sought When as his time of bitter death drew neere The agony was so extreame he felt That when he pray'd vnto his Father deere In sweating drops of bloud he seem'd to melt Nail'd on the Crosse he suffer'd cruell smart vvhen as they pierc'd his hands his feet his hart Great torment more was laid on him alone For thee and all mankind who will beleeue Thou was not bought with siluer gold nor stone But Christ his life and precious bloud did giue O let not then his bloud be shed in vaine Whil'st thou hast time turne to thy God againe THE SORROVVFVLL SONG OF A CONVERTED SINNER JOB 7. CAP. I haue sinned what shall I doe vnto thee O thou preseruer of mankinde LEd with the terrour of my grievous sinnes Before Gods mighty Throne I do compeare The horrour of my halfe-burst heart begins To strike my sinfull soule with trembling feare Where shall I seeke secourse or finde redresse Who can my fearefull tort'ring thoughts devorce Who can me comfort in my great distresse Or who can end the rage of my remorce I at compassions dore hath begg'd so long That I am hoarce and yet can not be heard Amids my woes sad silence is my song From mirthlesse-me all pleasure is debard O time vntimely time why was I borne To liue sequestred solitar alone Within a wildernesse of Cares forlorne Which grants no limit to my mart'ring Mone My mart'ring Mone with wofull words doth pierce The aire and next from hollow Caues rebounds This aequiuox my sorrow doth rehearse And fills my eares with tributarie sounds These sounds discends within my slaught'red hart And there transform'd in bleeding drops appeares Next to my eyes drawen vp with cruell smart In water chang'd and then distill'd in teares My teares which falls with force vpon the ground Jn numbers great of little sparks doth spread And in each spark my dolefull pictures found J in each picture tragick stories read I read Characters both of sinne and shame Drawne with the colours of my owne disgrace In figures black of impious defame Which painted stands in my disastred face I breathlesse faint with burthen of their woes Such is my paine it will not be expell'd Doe what I can I can finde no repose All hope of help against me is rebell'd Gods mercie 's great I will expell dispaire With praying still I shall the heavens molest Both night and day vnto my God repaire He will me heare and help my soule opprest The thought of hell makes all my haires aspire Where gnashing teeth sad sorows doth out-sound Where damned soules still boiles in flaming fire And where all endlesse torment doth abound Had they but hope it might appease their griefe That in ten thousand yeares they should be free But all in vaine despaire without reliefe Gods word eternall most eternall be When as our Christ in Judgement shall appeare Cloath'd with the Glory of his shining light And when each soule the trūpets sound shal heare They with their corps must com before Gods sight The Angels all and happy troups of heaven Incirkled rounds theatred in each place A reck'ning sharp of eu'ry one is given Before the Saints and Gods most glorious face The sloathfull sinner then shall be asham'd Who in his life would neither mend nor mourne To heare that sentence openly there proclaim'd Goe wicked to eternall fire and burne And to his blessed company he sayes The Angels to my Kingdome shall convoy With endlesse mirth because ye knew my wayes Come rest with me in never-ending joy O let me Lord be one of thy elect And once againe thy loue to me restore Let thy inspiring grace my spirit protect With thee to bide and never part no more Once call to minde how deerly I am bought When thy sweet corps was spred vpon the Rood Thy suff'ring torment my saluation wrought Thy paines thy death and shedding of thy blood O seeke not then my soule for to assaile Against thy might how can I make defence Thy bleeding death for me will naught auaile Jf thou should damne me for my lewd offence Try not thy strength against me wretched worme I am but dust before thy furious winde Nor haue I force to bide thy angry storme Then rather farre let me thy favour finde I Caitiue on this earth doth loure and creepe I prostrate fall before the heavens defaite On thee sweet Christ with mourning tears I weepe To pittie this my weake and poore estate My poore estate which rob'd of all content And nothing else but dolours doth retaine The treasure of my griefe is never spent But still in secret sorrow I complaine Heare my complaint mark wel my words ô Lord Thou searcher of all hearts in euery kinde Thou to my true conuertion beare record And sweepe away my sinnes out of thy minde I sacrifice to thee my Saviour sweet And patient God who gaue me leaue to liue My sighing-teares and bleeding heart contreit I haue naught else nor ritcher gift to giue Thou God the Father thou created me And made all things obedient to mans will Thou sonne of God to saue my soule didst die And Holy ghost thou sanctifiest me still Thou Father Sonne thou holy Ghost divine On my poore soule let your ritch glory shine FINIS TO THE ESTATE OF VVORLDLIE ESTATES Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis EAch hath his Time whom Fortune will aduance Whose