trueth in his words yea he reporteth of himselfe in John that he is via voritas vita the way the truth and the life He therefore that speaketh truth to his neighbour sheweth himselfe to bee the child of Christ Iesus the fountaine and origo of al truth but he that speaketh â—asings and vttereth forth lies sheweth himselfe to be the childe of the diuel the author originall of all lies 2 Christ had vt in verbis profit in his words as he spake truly so he spake profitably he neuer spake one idle or vnprofitable word throughout the whole course of his life which was aboue 32 years 3 Christ had moderameÌ„ in verbis A mean in his wordâ— the neuer was in words excessiâ—e and when iust and necessarie occasion was offered hee was neuer deficient but Ladie meane I meane golden vertuâ— drew forth his well contriued wordes out of the rich content of his euer-flowing heart He fulfilled that saying of Iesus the son of â—h the wordes of the wise are weighed in a ballance In these three thinges should euerie one imitate Christ Iesus and then wee should abstaine as hee did from idle vaine friuolous and vnprofitable words for which a great account must be giueÌ„ the which imitation of Christ the Lord for Christ his sake graunt to all men that they being like vnto him may bee receiued to reigne with him and his holy Angels in the thrice happie heauens at that day Amen But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall c. 3 To whome this account must bee giuen although in this scripture the Iudge is not expresly mentioned yet notwithstanding quod subintelligitur non dâ—est that which is vnderstoode is not wanting and therefore not to bee omitted This Iudge therefore before whose tribunall seat all mankinde must appeare it is Christ for he was annointed of his father into a triple office to be a Priest after the order of Melchisedech to be a Prophet after the order of Dauid to be a King after the order of Salomon Therfore Christ as hee is king ouer all in heauen and earth is this iudge before whome wee muste all appeare the truth of this is euident in the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Corinthians VVe must all appeare before the tribunall seate of Christe c. Wee read also in Iohn that the father iudgeeth no man but hee hath committed all iudgement to his sonne And in Mathew it is written that all power is giuen to Christe in heauen and in earth This was prophecied of him in the Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee aske of mee and I wil giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the ends of the earth for thy possession thou shalt crush them with a Scepter of iron and breake them in peeces like a potters vessel And againe in another place Sit thou at my righte hand vntill I make thine enemies thy footstoole Yea it is an article of our faith to beleeue that Christ shall come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead Christ is therfore the iudge yea he is the vorus Index a righte Iudge for this word Index that is Iudge is as much as ius dicens id est One that speaketh iustice and Iudice that is to iudge is as much as ius dice to speak iustice and iudicium that is iudgement is as much as iurisdicium if I may so terme it that is a iust and righte speech So Christ being an vprighte iudge maintaineth iustice in iudgement hee is a iudge that will vse no partialitie but will reward euery man according to his works he is a iudge that hath no respecte of persons Men in this world may fitly be compared to actors of a Comedie vpon a stage Whereto one acteth that part of a Prince another of a Duke another of an Earl another of a noble man another of a GentlemaÌ„ another of a Magistrate another of a merchant another of a countrimaÌ„ another of a seruaÌ„t one acteth one part one another so long as they are vpon the stage so long there is respect according to their parts one of another amongst them but when the Comedie is ended and the stage pulled downe then there is no such respect amongst them yea many times he that played the basest part is the best man So likewise so long as men art suÌ„dry parts vpon the stage of this earth that is so long as men doe liue in seuerall vocations so long there is respect amongst men and that worthily but when as the Come die shall bee ended that is the day of doome shal come vpon all men when as the stage shall be pulled downe that is the earth shall bee chaunged for the earth shall neuer bee brought ad non ens to nothing but onely the corruptiue qualities shall bee consumed then shall there bee no respecte of persons amongest men yea it may bee that the poore man shall be greater before God than the rich man Yea and Besides all this vpon the earth GOD hath no respecte of persons although there bee respecte amongest men but euery man shall receiue according to his workes the Prince as wel as the subiecte the rich as well as the poore If a Iudge then should come into a citie should iudge the greatest part of the citty to death sparing no man nec precio nec prece neither by bribes nor intreaties would not euery man in that Citty be in great perplexity and feare so feare this Iudge who shall come with thousandes of Angels in greate Pompe Maiestie and Glorie into the citty of this world and iudge the greatest part of mankinde to death and damnation sparing no man neither pretto nor prece neyther by bribes nor yet by intreaties a Iudge that wil vse no partiality A Iudge that is able to destroy both bodie and soule in hell are for euermore feare this iudge this terrible Iudge this iust Iudge this strict Iudge that wil not suffer one idle word to escape in iudgement thou that hast offended this Iudge by thy manifolde transgressions thou that hast deserued for them euerlasting torments in the pit of hell feare him quake and tremble before him at the hearing of this hard saying But I say vnto you that of euery idle words that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement If Paule a chosen vessel and a faithful seruant of Iesus Christ was afraide of this iudgement if the iust and vprighte man Iob cried out and said Quid agam quò me conuertam cum venerit dominus ad iudicandum What shall I doe O whither shall I tuâ—ne me when the Lord commeth to iudgement If blessed Hilary who from the fourteenth yeere of his age serued the Lord in singlenesse of heart and in sincerity of life to his liues end was afraid of this day as it appeareth by
from the heart of man The Diuell first suggesteth after suggestion commeth cogitatioÌ„ after cogitation followeth affection after affection followeth delectation after delectatioÌ„ followeth consent Now is the sin of thought fully coÌ„mitted after consent followeth operation after operation foloweth custom after custom followeth desperation after desperation followeth defending of sins committed after defending of sinnes committed followeth vaunting boasting and glorying in sinne which is next to damnation it selfe thus the heart is the fountain from whence springeth all sinne whatsoeuer Yet haue wee not many wicked ones in this world that think the sin of heart eye her to â—ee no sinne at all or else but asmall sin that shall neuer bee broughte in question at the day of accouÌ„t But let al these know that as of euery idle word so of euery wicked and sinful thought conceiued and nourished within the hearte of man with full consent to the performance of the same for there is no sinne that can be committed without consent had men yea all men must giue an account I giue all men therefore to the good of their soules this good counsell of Salomon Keepe thyne heart with all diligence for thereout commeth life if thou keepest it not diligently and warily therout wil proceed death I meane sinne whose wages is death The heart is a mill alwais grinding either good corne or bad either good thoughts or bad therefore keep it diligently for thy soules sake let it meditate in the law of god day night abandon all wicked motions that at the day of iudgement thou mayst bee pure bread and fine manches for the bread of life Christ Iesus his table in heaueÌ„ the Lord grant this to me the writer thee the reader and to euery hearer of it 2 We must giue an account of our words Of euery idle word that men shal speak c. Diuers of the learned writers haue diuersly commented of this idle word what it shold be one affirming one thing another another thing Therfore I wil in a word set down the opinions of some of theÌ„ not incoÌ„gruent neither disagreeable to the holy Scripture Gregory saith that Verbum otiosum est quod iusta necessitate pia vâ—â—atate caret That is saith he an idle word which is spokeÌ„ eyther without iust necessity or godly profit Ierome saith that VerbumotiosuÌ„ est quod sine vâ—elitate loquentâ— vel audieÌ„tis profertur that is saith he an idle word which is spokeÌ„ either without edification of the hearer or speaker Basil Omne verbuÌ„ quod non condâ—is ad propositam vtilitatem vanuÌ„â—st otiosum that is Euery word which beloÌ„geth not to an intended profit is a vain and an idle word Maister Iohn Caluin saith that Sermo otiosus pro inutili sumitur qui nihil aedificationis vel fructus affert id est an idle word is takeÌ„ for a word vnprofitable for a word that bringeth with it no fruitful edification So that froÌ„ these descriptions of holy men I doe describe an idle word on this manner Verbum otiosum est quod ad bonam rem non pertinet quod non facit ad gloriaÌ„ dei vinentis quod mutile est infrugiferuÌ„ quod nec loquenteÌ„ nec audienteÌ„ aedificat id est An idle word is that which doth not appertaine to a proposed profit which tendeth not to the glory of the euerliuing God which is vnprofitable vnfruitful which edifieth neither the bearer nor the speaker If then good brethren in christ Iesus so great account must be giuen of euery idle vain fruitles word what account thinke yee shall be giuen for swearing cursing banning and blaspheaming What accouÌ„t shal the swearer giue that hath not one word in his mouth but it is guarded with an execrable oath How common alasse this sinne of swearing is who knoweth not for the small infants and tender childreÌ„ in our streetes haue cursed outhes Ad vnguem At their fingers end yea at their tongues end too What account shall the cursing and â—anning tongue giue that Cruelly Disdainfully and Despightfully speaketh against his neighbour What account shall the blaspheamous person giue that speaketh contemptuously of God saith that Christ did cast out Diuels throgh the name of Ecclzaebâ—b If the iust shall scarce be saued where shall the sinner appeare If account must be made of euery idle word Lord what account shall they make that rappe and vomiteous blasphemies against the terrible Iudge of Heauen and Earth As men thinke and fondly imagine that the sinne of thought vnles it proceed into outward act is but a small sinne so likewise do they imagine of idle wordes that they are but small sinnes and a small account for them shall be giuen But let all the world knowe that no sinne can be said to be smal in respect of it owne nature for the least sinne that can bee committed in the world is so weightie as without repentance had it will sink the sinner downe to the bottomlesse pitt of Hel. Yet not withstanding an idle worde in respect of other sinnes maye bee said to be a smal sinne yet as smal as it is it is able to damme the soul for euer Wel therfore saith Petrus Damianus sermone secuÌ„do de vitio linguae Audiut lingua vaniloqua audiat otiosa linguae au diat panescat intelligat pethorrescat sententiaÌ„ horribilem extremique iudicis terrorem c. that is Hear o vain babling tongue heare â—o idle tongue heare and tremble vnderstand and quake at the hearing of the terrible day of iudgement he that hath hands to slay hath hee not cates to heareâ— he saith that of euery idle worde that men shall speak they shall giue an account therof at the day of iudgement Although an idle word be a small sinne in respect of greater sinnes yet neuertheles an innumerable company of idle words coÌ„gested accumulated and heaped vp together they wil make a nighty sinne Quid peuna lenius quid miltâ— breuius What is lighter then a feather and what is shorter thaÌ„ the seed â—ill Yet notwithstaÌ„ding an innumerable company of feathers truffed vp together wil break the poâ—ters back Smal wer the gnats that troubled Pharao yet they being innumerable ouer came proud Pharao and all the power of Egypt An hour is but a short time but Dâ—m horae horae coÌ„tinua successiona congeritur While on houre by continual succession is added to another the whole cours of our liues is finished Quid saxâ— durius quid aqua liquidius What is harder then a stone and what is softer then the water Yet a wise man saith â—ita cauat lapidem consimitur anâ—us vsu that is Water by continuall droppes doth eate vp the stone and a Ring by continuall vse is worne in pocces So an idle word although it be but a small sin yet many a little makes a mickle many of them heaped vp together make an
of euill They put off from them the euill day namely the day of death and iudgement and boldly approach to the seate of iniquity a matter much to be lamented Let euery Christian therefore haue a care of the expence of time least had I wist comes too too late for the damned in hell if they had this fauoure of God to liue on the earth againe and to haue hell broken loose which they shal neuer haue granted they would liue so strictly as they might bee Chronicled for admirable spectators to the whole world It is the duty therfore of euery man to imitate that person that vigilant person that carried alwaies about with him in his pocket a little clocke and when hee heard it sound hee would instantly examine himselfe how he had spent that houre thus should Christians examine themselues that they may neuer bee examined of the Lord iudge themselues that they may neuer be iudged of the Lord and account with themselues that they may neuer be brought to an account of the Lord. Thus much for the second part of this text namely of what thinges we must giue an account But I say vnto you of euery idle worde c. Before I speak of the third parts of this text namely of the Iudge to whom wee must giue an account I thinkest very necessary to speake of a few things which beeing wel considered wee may bee able to abstaine from idle words and shall haue the lesse account to make at that day Three things therefore there are which being performed we shall abstaine from idle words 1 A man must coÌ„sider what he speaketh 2 To whom he speaketh 3 When he speaketh 1 What hee speaketh Peter telleth vs what we ought to speak in his first Epistle Jf any man speak let him speak as the words of God Againe Paule to the Ephesians saith Let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouth but that which is good to the vse of edifiing that it may minister grace to the hearer So that we ought to speake aboue all things of God and his word of good and honest matters if wee will shew our selues to be true Christians and abstinent from idle words Wee shoulde say with Dauid I will alwaye giue thanks to the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually We should resolue with Iob and say My lippes surely shall speak no wickednesse and my tongue shall vtter forth no deceipte then shall we vse our tongues to that purpose to which they were created The tongue in Hebrew is called Kebod id est gloria Glory because it is an instrument to sing forth the glory of God vpon earth If wee vse our tongues to this purpose then may wee truely say with the Poet Lingua quid melius What is better then the tongue But if it bee abused to the dishonour of Almighty God if it bee an vntamed member vttering out idle and euill words then may wee conclude with the Poet and say Lingua quid pâ—es eadem What is worse than the tongue Let euery Christian therefore shew himselfe as hee professeth a Christian in his speeche For out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Euen as the heart standeth affected so is the speach of euery man For Lingua est mentis interpres the tongue is the interpreter of the mind the chaste man speaketh chastly and honestly the wanton speaketh lewdely and luxuriously the enuious person speaketh bitingly and bitterly Euen as by his speeche a man may bee knowne what countriman hee is so a man by his speeche may bee knowne to what kingdome he belongeth There are three kingdoms men by their talke may be known to which of these they belong There is 1. Prouincia coelestis the kingdome of heauen and the speach of this country is praising of God talking of his worde giuing of thankes for the greate benefits wee haue receiued and speaking of diuine and heauenly matters hee therefore that speaketh on this maner Id que non hypocritice that is Not hipocritically For Simulata sanctitas duplex inquitas counterfeit holinesse is double vngodlines surely appertaineth to the kingdome of heauen 2 There is prouincia terrestris the kingdome of earth and the spâ—ach of this country is talking of terrene end earthly matters â—â—ozling with the mole in the Cranies terrarumque poris and in the pores of the earth quite contrary to the nature of man for Os homini sublime dedit saith the Poet coelumque tueri inssit God gaue man a lofty face and bad him looke aloft and hold vp his head toward heauen According to that of Iohn Quâ—de terra est de terra loquitur He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth And againe They are of the world therfore speak they of the world 3 There is prouincia infernalis The kingdome of Hell and the language of this countrey is swearing forswearing cursing banning blaspheming if therfore thou seest such a one it is to be feared that he belongeth to the prouince of hell Thou therefore that wouldest belong to Gods thrice blessed kingdome thou that wouldest abstaine from idle words so haue the lesse account to make thou must beware what thou speakest thou must talk of God of his word of holy heaueÌ„ly matters 2 He that would abstaine from idle words must consider to whom he speaketh if hee speaketh to a foole be must vse fewe wordes for hee spendeth his breath in vaine if he speaketh to a froward and contentious person hee must vse mild and gentle words or else bee taketh the bellows to quench the fire if he speaketh to a wise man hee must vse no vaine Cautologies or needlesse repetitions for frustrà fit per plura quod fiers potest per pauciorâ—t It is in vaine to vse many words wheÌ„ we may as wel be conceiued in few If these things be not coÌ„sidered we may yea speaking of diuine and holy matters offend in idle words 3 If wee would abstaine from idle words wee must also consider when to speake saith Salomon There is a time to speake and a time to hold ones peace Saith one there is a time when something may be spoken there is a time when nothing may be spoken but there is no time when all things may be spoken These three things wel considered of vs we shal abstaine from idle words and haue the lesse accounte to make at the day of iudgement Againe euery Christian as he ought to imitate Christ in al things so he ought to imitate him in his words Gregorie saieth that Omnis Christi actio nostra debet esse instructio id est Euery action of Christ ought to be to vs an exaÌ„ple of imitation Christ had three things in his wordes worthy of consideration which wee must likewise labor to haue if we will abstaine from idle words 1 He had veritatem in verbis
brought thee for it the best Lamb of our flock euen all hearty praise and thanks purpose of better seruice that we can and this dipped and drenshed in heartmelting and in Iesus Christs merit and reconcilement we beseeche thee testifie thy acceptance by addition of mercy in detraction and multiplication of it and let vs obteine the tast feeling of this this nighte following and all our life time repent thee not go forward with vs for Christs sake regard not the outstartings of soule or body against thy mind in thy presence but let thy righte hand of infinite compassion cast them as a milstone into the deepes of our Christs satisfaction and attonemente and let our euidence be alwais kept by grace from dimnesse or blurres of our weaknes that our saluations enemies may not so much as dare to dispute with vs about our pardon and election O Lord let thy spirit watch within vs let thy ministring spirits attend without and about vs being poore heyrs of saluation What Sathan hath purposed confound it what sin hath deserued preuent it what thy mercifull maiesty sees to be good let vs haue it for Christes sake let our sleepe be quiet and not excessiue let our health be continued hold thy hand ouer vs let no commission bee granted against vs let euery thing bee set in order because our date is vncertain the place of our ende vnknown if our lease of life last till morning in that shall appeere to vs that thou wilt bestow another day of grace vppon vs. O Lord wee promise before thy Maiesty that wee will by thy grace striue to the vttermost period of our strength to serue thee Lord remember vs let vs see a besome made put in a strong hand for the wicked and wickednes and let vs see still the vine planted by thy own hand to flourish and all the walls of it to stand and not to fall nor the leaste breache to be made let it not be said that the Fore shall with going vpon it cursh it O Lord to this end preserue our captain the Kings maiesty and all about him for euer and keep his heart in thy hand the hearts of all Christian Kings gouernors people that a ioyfull succes may be seen to thy true religion church among vs in all the world and so with humble thanks we cease To thee be all honor and glory for euermore Amen Amen A thanksgiuing for our late deliuerance O Lord it is good to giue praises vnto thy name prayse is comly but thou art so infinite in deseets that our praises are all short yet being true and new according to fresh and admirable benefits receiued they are as incense to thee but when praises are not rendered in the due place it prouoketh thee to fury yea to sweare that we shal perish for all them hereafter and in wrath thou wilt say that which perisheth let it perish I will neuer put to hand to helpe O Lord iustly mayst thou say so to vs for we haue him woÌ„derfuly preserued by thee as Israel in Pihahiroth as Dauid in the Prophets schoole as Daniell in the Lions denne wee haue seene the axe lie at the roote of our greatest Cedars as thou woldest haue them no couering for vs any longer but let the sunne and stars to pearce with vs as by withering Ionas Gourd O Lord often hast thou bewrayd the malice of the popish crue the venoÌ„ of all that brood that for the time we haue been swallowed vp with thy goodnes in the soul rauishment we haue promised but after not paying our vows for sinne thou hast bin wors combred with vs then before good Lord vpon our confession grant vs remissioÌ„ mercifull acceptation if thou studest true thankfulnes but in ten or a few Lord receiue it and regard not the rest let the righteous deliuer the rest so take all glory that can be giuen thee from al the braÌ„ds that haue bin pulled out of the fire let al addresse theÌ„selues to bring presents to thee that art to be feares so let our king be kept with his thine A praier comprehending the matter of the last iudgement O Blessed Christ Iesus hasten to the last worke of thy mediation to iudgement yea the last iudgement and because that cannot bee till thou haste sealed all thy elect with the seale of Gods iron O Lord hasten that worke and to this end powr thy spirit plentifully vpon ministers and people worke euery good worke that may further the building of thy Church let all Christian Kings cast their crownes before the Lamb and bee willing to lick the dust of thy saints seet let them be deuoured with a zeale of thy glory let thy word spreade into more countries and nations let Babilon fall let it be a cage of vncleane birds let not the noyse of a mil be heard any more in her Let the Iewes be graffed in again as thou hast promised euen all thy elect among them let prayers be made for them Lord heare thou in heauen the place of thy habitation and let all thyne haue grace to thinke of the last trumpet sounded to wake the dead Let vs remeÌ„ber the chaÌ„ge of heauen earth that fire shall consume them Let vs Resolue here is no place of any loÌ„g abode Lord let vs not defer put of our repentance for thou wilt come wilte not carry and as a theef wilt thou steal vpon the reprobates when they are either â—leeping or beating their fellows O Lord let it please thee that we may take heede of the company and conuersation of the vngodly or of any neuer so neerely vnited vnto vs in the flesh Becaus lord thou knowest that then two shal be in a bed one taken and another refused and that thou hast saide that it shall be then a blessed state to be found dooing our duties blessed christ that shalt come in glory to iudge both quick dead at thy appearance and in thy comming thy seat is said to be great to containe such a personage of Maiesty no greatnes shall appeare to be comparable to thine and as thou art greate so thy throne is white for euery one shall haue iustice of thee O Lord let vs take mercy while the date of it lasteth for then the daâ—e of it will be out Iustice without partiality must take place O Lord arme vs in the time of mercy that wee may stand in the day of Iustice when the wicked that now â—augh shal too late weep wheÌ„ the heauen earth in their present but shall run away neuer be fouÌ„d again in the fashioÌ„ O good lord what wretches are wee then to stand vpon merit when as the sun is not clear in thy sight especially considering no Euasion can be made from thy presence without chaÌ„ge which shall be to late our merciful christ our greatnes now if we be fouÌ„d ill will not profit
This is the seuenth article of our faith to beleeue that Christ shall come from heauen to iudge the quick and the dead by the deade all those are to bee vnderstoode that shall bee found dead at the second comming of Christ by the quicke all those are to bee vnderstoode that shall bee found liuing at that his second comming Augustine in his Enchirioson to Laurentius chapter 55. sayth that this article may bee expounded two wayes eyther by the dead sayth be may be meant those that shall be found corporally dead by the quicke those that shall be found corporally liuing at Christs comming or saith hee by the dead may bee meant those that bee dead in sinne according to that in the Gospell of Matthew Let the dead bury their dead and by the quicke those that be dead to sinne and liuing by faith according to that of the Prophet Abacucke the iust shall liue by faith But this exposition is not agreeable to the simplicity of the Creed Yet notwithstanding true it is that both the godly and the wicked shall come to iudgement for by the power of Christ all men shall be raised vp the holy Angels with the greate sound of a Trumpet shal be sent forth into all the world and they shall gather togither the elect from the fowre quarters of the earth from one end of the heauen to the other Then shall Christ separate the electe from the reprobates the wheate from the Tares the come from the cheffe the Lambes from the Contes the iust from the vniust So that you see that the godly and the wicked yea all men whatsoeuer shall appeare before Christs tribunall seate and giue an accounte of themselues and for themselues to the terrible Iudge Ob. Som not withstanding may obiect against this doctrin deliuered and say as it to in Iohn That bee that beleeueth in Christ shall not be iudged or shall not come into iudgement and so by consequence all men shall not bee iudged Ans To which I answer that iudgment in that place of Iohn as in many other places of sacred scriptures is taken for condemnation in which sense true it is that bee that beleeueth in Christ Iesus he that is ingrafted into Christ by a true and aliuely faith he that is flesh of his flesh bone of his bone one with Christ and Christ with him by the spirituall coniunction of the Church with CHRIST this party shall not come into iudgement sâ—â—l Condemnationis that is of Condemnation in iudgement he shall not bee confounded condemned or ouerthrowne but he shall come in iudicium absolutionis that is Into the iudgement of absolution In iudgement hee shall stand out hauing on the white Robe of Christs righteousnesse and beeing couered with the wedding garment of Regeneration The trueth of which doctrine the Preacher affirmeth saying GOD will iudge the iust and the vniust The iust vnto saluation and the vniust to damnation Seing then that all must be brought to iudgement let no man thinke with himselfe that it may be possible for him to escape this dreadfull day whither shall hee flie from the presence of the Lord If he ascendeth vp to heaueÌ„ God is there if hee goe downe to hell God is there also if he take the wings of the morning and she to the vttermost parts of the sea God will finde him out there also For God is euery where hee is in heauen by his glory hee is vppon the earth by his mercy hee is in hell by his iustice God is vbique nulquam he is euery where by his power and wisedome but no where in respect of circumscription of place being a spirit In earthly and terrestriall courts a man may haue his proctor but then wee must volentes nolentes whether wee will or no personally appeare and pleade for our selues In terrestriall courts bribes many times blind the eyes of the wise and for a little greasing the fist of the Magistrate many times small faults nay by your leaue greate and scandalous crimes may be winked at but at this great court of heauen the Iudge will not be partial to any for God hath no respect of persons hee will execute iust iudgement vpon all men as the Psalmographer speaketh VVith righteousnes will be iudge the world and the people with equitle Bribes friends intreaties bowlings cries lamentations nothing wil then preuaile but a pure heart and a spirits vpright yea the damned in Hell confesse the same quid profuit nobis superbia quid diuitiaruÌ„ copia what hath pride profited vs or what hath the pomp of riches done vs good alas these cannot saue our soules Let the Atheist therfore mock God neuer to blasphemously let the Sadduces brag of no resurrection no Angel no spirit neuer so schismatically let the Epicure slug that cursed Epitaph of Sardanapalus neuer so beastly Ede lude bibe charum praeseÌ„tibus exple delicijs animuÌ„ post martem nulla voluptas that is Eat drink play be merry live in al kind of plesure for after death there is no pleasure Yet notwithstanding let all these miserable wretches know that there wil come a day and the a dismal day wherin they shall giue an account of euery idle word Alas lamentable world that men shoulde thus murther their dearest darlings I meane their soules which Christe hath holden so dear that men should with Esau sel their birthright and heritage of heaueÌ„ for a messe of pottage of worldy pleasure that men shoulde delight in wallowing with the sow in the myre of sin and with the dog in swallowing the vomit of iniquity so purchase to their souls and bodies euerlasting torment in the lake vnquenchable whereas they should aboue all things seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse therof that they mighte haue heauenly mansions at the great day of account Let euery Christian therfore bewayle the wickednesse of this world lament the iniquity of these dates least it bee saide of vs as of the carelesse and gracelesse Christian Cadit afina est qui sublenet perist anima nonest quirecogitat If an asse falleth vnder his burthen there be some that will diligently helpe it vp againe but if a soule perish no man regardeth it Men are like the horse asse mule that haue no vnderstanding the more is the good mans griefe Dauid his eyes gushed out into riuers of water because men kept not gods law The prophet Ieremy crieth out on this maÌ„ner My belly my belly I am payned euen at the heart I cannot be quiet becaus my people is a foolish people they are wife to do euill but to doe well they haue no knowledge That godly Matrone Monica saiâ— Augustine mother wayte daily and prayed for her sonne a conuersion for hee was before his conuersion a Manichâ—e So likewise it is the duty of euery Christian to desire the conuersion of their
transmigration of Babilon to the comming of Christ in the flâ—sh the sixth from the comming of Christe in the flesh to his comming againe to iudgement So that according to his prophecie wee liue in the last age which last age â— called of Iohn hora extrema or hora nouissima the laste hourâ— but how loÌ„g this last houre doth last he that is α and ω the first the last the euerlasting God alone doth know The Hebrewes they boast of the prophecie of Eliah a great man in those daâ—eâ— hee prophecied that the worlde should last 6000 yearâ—s 2000 before the law 2000 vnder the law and 2000 from Christ to Christe If this his prophecie holdes true the world cannot last 400 yeares for since Christe his comming in the flesh it was 1606. at Christes tide last hast according to the computation of the Church from time to time But leauing men and comming to the Scripturs which cannot erre for HumanuÌ„ est errare Man may yea and doth many times erre Sainte Paule saith to the Corinthians Wee are they vpon whome the ends of the world are come If therefore the ends of the worlde were come vpon theÌ„ that liued aboue 1560. yeares ago then surely doomes day caÌ„not now possibly be far off Iames likewise saith Behold the Iudge standeth before the doore Iohn Baptist preached repentance to the Iewes saying repent for the kingdome of heauen is at hand So that by these places of Scripture it is euident that the generall day of Iudgement is at hand as also by the signes tokens which should goe before this day immediatly of which many yea almost all are already fulfilled Moreouer we must deare brethren know that there is a twofolde iudgement the one called a particuler iudgment the other called a generall iudgment 1 The particular iudgemente is exercised and executed vpon euery man immediatly after death which is segregatio anima a corpore a separation of the soule from the bodie Of this particuler iudgemente wee may reade in the Epistle to the Hebrewes It is appointed vnto men that they shall once die and after that commeth iudgemente And though the generall Iudgement commeth not these 4000. years yet particular iudgment coÌ„meth at the day of our death look as we at the day of our death shal be found so shall we bee iudged and as we then shal be iudged so shall wee bee iudged at the general iudgement 2 The generall iudgementâ— of which this Scripture speaketh is exercised and executed vpon all men together by Christe who shall by his power raise all those vp againe that haue beene dead from the beginning of the world to that time and they shall bee presented all together being againe vnited to theire soules before Christes tribunall seate who shall come downe in a cloude from heauen in greate maiesty and glory with thousands of blessed Angels attending vpon him and hee shall giue sentence vpon all in generall the wicked shall be cast into euerlasting fire the godly he shall carry vp with him into caelum Empiraeum the third and highest heauen where he nowe in bodie reigneth remaineth there to reape ioyes vnspeakable for euermore But some man may obiecte and say why I pray you shall there bee a generall iudgement when as all are iudged in the particuler iudgement what shall thee be two iudgements executed There shal notwithstanding the particulâ—r be a generall iudgemente and that for three causes 1 Because in the particuler iudgemeÌ„t the faule of man is iudged onely but then both soule bodie shall be iudged 2 In the particuler iudgemeÌ„t the soule onely is either rewarded or punished but then both soule bodie either shal be rewarded with ioyes or punished with torments 3 There shall be a generall iudgmeÌ„t to declare to all the worlde assembled then together the iuste iudgemente of god that he hath iustly saued the godly iuâ—ly condeÌ„ned the wicked yea the uery wicked themselues shal confes no lesse By reason of this generall iudgement some light braine hereticks their bee the say that ther is no particular iudgmeÌ„t at al that the soul immediatlâ— after death is not iudged for wheras it is said hodie mecuÌ„eris in paradiso to day shalte thou be with me in paradise the speech of our sauiour to the theef they take that word hodie id est to day for 1000 years bring for proofe hereof that place of the Psalmist A thousand yeeres in thy sighte are as yesterday But to answere them this place of Scripture is not so to bee vnderstood as that a thousand yeares shoulde bee taken for a day or a day for a thousand yeares for hee saith not a thousand yeares are a daye but a thousand yeares in the sighte of God that is in respecte of the eternity and euerlastingnesse of god are as a day It is therefore spoken on this manner to expresse the eternitie of God as if hee should say a thousand yeares with man in respect of the eternity of God are but as a daye for as many as are haue beene and euer shall bee the daies of man so many thousand yea so many thousand thousands yeeres is the eternity of God he is-and-the first and the last before all beginnings and shall neuer haue ending Againe they alledge that place of Genesis In that day that thou eatest therof namely of the forbidden fruite thou shalt die the death Now saith the heretique that day they died not but liued many hundred yeers after therfore by a day is vnderstood many hundred yeers But I answer that that day wherin Adam did eat of the forbidden fruit euen that day did hee dye that is that day by sinne hee was separated from God then the which separation no death is greater for Vt vita corporis est anima ita vita animae est deus tolle animaÌ„ perit corpus tolle deuÌ„ moritur animae id est As the soule is the life of the body so God is the life of the soule take away the soule the body dieth take away God the soule is dead So that Adam that day died in soule being separated from the Lord yea that day Adam was made subiect to death in this life and in the life to come that day he had the beginnings of death seasing vppon him for hee was presently cast out of Paradise into the ragged world he was cursed and all his posterity yea hee should haue gone to hell had not the second Adam broken the head of the subtile serpent that inticed him to sin Yea the thiefe vpon the crosse had Paradise that day in soule in which he suffered in body although he had it not in so full measure as hee shall at the generall day when his soule shall take vnto it the body againe hodie to daie thy soule with my soule shall be in Paradise that is in
shall goe without according to that country Prouerbe If you will not when you may when you will you shall haue nay And it is commonly seene that qualis vita finis eta as a man liueth commonly be dieth he that will liue without repentance must look to die without repentance Though God spared the thiefe at the laste gaspe yet set no man presume of that for that was a medicine against desperation and not a matter of imitation saith one God spared one that no man mighte despayre he spared but one that no man might presume Let euery man therefore in the feare of God without all delay seeke for amendmente of life Let them as Gregory wisheth Plangere plangenda Bewaile their sinnes that ought to be lamented and as they haue giuen their members as weapons of vnrighteousnes to iniquity so let them now giue them as weapons of righteousnesse to holines Repent dear brethren betimes Viue deâ— gratus tote mundo tumulatus crimine mundat us semper transire paratus that is Liue vnto God a thankfull wight to the world die clense thy selfe froÌ„ wickedns alwaies ready hence to fly Play the wise steward lay vp treasures in heauen for thy soul imitate the Pismire which gathers in Sommer wherby she may liue in winter Damascene reporteth an excellent Historie touching this purpose saith he There was a country where they chose their king of the poorest and basest sort of the people and vpon any dislikement taken they would depose him from his throne and exile him into an Iland where hee should bee starued to death Now one wise fellow coÌ„sidering hereof sent mony before into that IlaÌ„d into which he should be banished and when he was banished he was receiued into the iland with greate triumph So against thou be banished by death from this world without penny or farthing for naked thou camest naked thou must go thou must prouide whils thou art in this life whereby thou maiest liue in heauen hereafter Let nothing therfore make thee deferre thy amendment but whilest Christ calleth thee run vnto him Put on Ieromes resolution who said If my mother wete hanging about my neck if my brethren were on euery side howling and crying and if my father were on his bare knees kneeling before me to detaine mee in their wicked and sinfull course of life what woulde J doe I would shake off my mother to the grouÌ„d I woulde despise and hate all my kindred and kinsfolkes and I would tread and trample my Father vnder my feete thereby to flie to Christ when he calleth me So shouldest thou resolue the amendment of life The Lord of Heauen for his sweet Sonne Christ Iesus his sake graune to thâ—r deere Reader and me to both of vs his holy Spirit that we may stand vnblameable before the Iudge at that great and generall day that we beeing clothed with the long white Robes of righteousnesse may be in the number of those to whom it shall be said then Come yee blessed children of my father inherite the kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this â—eer father for thy deere sonnes sake Christ Iesus our onely Lorde and Sauiour To whom with thee and the holy spirit we ascribe all power glory and dominion and stag Halleluiah to thee O blessed Trinitie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A shorte disputation betweene the deuill and the poore soule of a Christian Sathan THou hast beene a greate Sinner Soule Yes but I am not soe Sathan Thou art damned for that thou haste done Soule No thou lyest SathaÌ„ God hath promised otherwise to all that beleeue repent and amend Sathan Thou beleeuest not as thou sayest thy selfe Soule Yes I beleeue and I desire to beleeue bettter holinesse of desire doth seale Gods fauour to me Sathan Thy hearte is hard and so are al theirs whome god hath reiected Soule No sathan make the worste of it thou canst it is but a soule trance for a time the holy ghost remaineth for I feele him still Sathan Doest not thou see that god hath taken thee in hand and hath laide a heauie iudgement vpon thee Soule God indeede hath like a mercifull father taken me in hande to make mee a newe creature and like a louing father to correcte me but his mercy will he neuer take from me and no wrathful Iudgment shall be towardes me Sathan Euery Pulpit rings of thee and euery parte of scripture proclaimes thee to bee myne Soule The Lord reprooue thee sathan for this Slaunder for all scriptures and Pulpits tell me I am gods dearely bought Sathan Shewe me Gods seale for that or els thou art mine Soule I can weepe for sinne and I hate sinne in my selfe and others and I loue vertue and the vertuous which are the Armes of Christe in his seale and I find my hart formost in his place marching on to heauen Sathan This thou didst but nowe thou haste left thy first loue Soule Thou haste saide ynough for mee the loue of God is like himselfe vnchangeable his guiftes and calling are without repentance once Loue and neuer hate as once Loued and neuer hated Sathan Thou hast confessed that thou haste no such feeling in Prayer and Sermons as in times past Soule What gaynest thou by that for in Christs wooing dayes I was shewed the riches of his grace but though I see not that dayly so highly to inflame me yet Christ is neuer the poorer neither do I cease to loue him shew me any one of gods elect that feeleth his loue at al tymes alike it is not the manner of graces working thou hast no skill in graces affaires Sathan There is some matter I warrant thee against thee that God heares not thy prayer when thou callest vppon him as thou confessest Soule I know thou markest my confession but the more I confesse againste my selfe the more I magnifie Gods mercy Sathan But tell mee why God will not heare the prayer Soule Sathan God hears my prayer but his delight is to heare the prayers of his Children often therefore he doth delay Sathan God careth not for such a wretch as thou art Soule The more wretch I am in thy sighte and also in mine owne the more amiable I am to him and so auoyd sathan and speake no more A short death-bed Dialogue Sathan DEath is come and I must haue thee Soule Death is welcome but thou shalt goe without mee heere are others to carry me Christ my redeemer hath sent his Angels for me Sathan Death will carrie thee to Hell Soule No he must carry me no whither but end me the Angells must carrie mee to mine owne place I haue euidence to shewe which I will not vouchsafe to shewe thee therefore auoyde Lord Iesus that hast bought me take me I doe heere surrender my selfe to thee Amen Speake not a worde more but let thine eies be closed vp in silence Morning prayer O Lord That blessest