Death at the gates of olde men is and prest to youth also But neither knoweth the certen howre when they away must go Let vs therfore not knowing when God shall vpon vs call Prepare our selues in readinesse both soule minde harte and all Yeelding our selues vnto the Lorde whylst we our health enioy Not wasting time by posting off least we our selues annoy Euen like as death doth finde the man so man the death shal finde For perfect men in safetie do dye with ioyfull minde With hope of blysse the iust doth ende their lyfe in quiet rest And wicked men full desperate doo ende in cares opprest Therefore to auoide these dangers all keepe thou these verses in minde Which I amongst the learned workes of godlie men doo finde ¶ Of Death Iudgement Hell and Heauen EChe thing returnes to massie earth and endes where it begunne Fresh flowres and all that beareth breath as shades away doth runne Nothing for long accompted is that must in time decay To morrowe next perhaps shal be my death and dying day This present day may likewise be the last day of my dayes Wherein appoynted is that I. must dye without delayes No hope of dooing wel is left after that deadful day That day in ioy without al greefe To passe God sende I may It is great folly to accompt long time here to endure Séeing that none one day to liue himselfe can wel assure Oft to accompt or mencion make of dayes it is but vayne Since restful day or quiet houre none hath without great paine Haue thou as long a time and race as thou doth lust to runne As ought of nought was made in fine so ought to nought must turne A thousand thousand men haue bene and thousand of thousands eke VVhose bones in earth consumed are whose fame is nowe to seeke A iust rewarde for their desertes doth onely nowe remayne And for their déedes by iudgment iust they suffer ioy or payne Beholde that feareful iudgement iust for one shal geue the dome VVho doth appoynte that trembling day when he thereto wyl come Dread feare and cast thy count therfore prepare thy harte I say Liue thou as though death present were thy due preparde to pay ¶ Of the houre of death worthye of often repetition REmember oft O mortal man consider in thy minde VVhat soden feare and terror great thy soule is like to fynde VVhat pinching wormes begin to fret the hart on euery side VVhen soule from flesh life from man begins away to slide Ten thousand griefs begins to paine the wicked soule with woe VVhen from the prison of the fleshe away it needes must goe It doth bewayle with streames of teares the vayne bestowed time VVherein it might ful leasurely repent eche sinful crime And bitterlie with scryching cryes it makes a rufull mone To see the time of strict reuenge that drawes so hardlie on It seekes a whyle then to remaine in hope some mendes to make No sute maye then preuayle but that the fleshe it must forsake Full fayne it would recouer againe the ioye which it hath lost All is in vaine it wyll not be away the soule must post But looking backe it séeth againe when it was wald with bones The whole full course of passed lyfe all presentlie at once And taking yet more earnest viewe it séeth not farre beside The infinite Eternitie that neuer away wyl slide Then trikling teares by watred leares in floudes for gréefe doth runne For losing al the heauenly ioyes that easly mought bene wonne Intisementes fowle of filthy fleshe iust cause of greefe then brings For that by them the swéete delight of heauen and heauenlie thinges From sinfull soule for euer alas remediles is reft And endles paines by iust desart by God to it is left It blusheth for that the sinfull flesh it dyd so much set by The foode of gréedie scrauling wormes in graue when it doth lye Forgetting quite it selfe alas which if it had done wel To Angels might compared be that in the heauens doo dwel O howe the soule confounded is when it doth sée with eyes The perfect glée that was and is aboue the starrie Skies With fléeting stoudes of cares I saye the doleful soule is tost When it doth see the heauenly health that it hath vainely lost For vading glorie of the worlde in this poore mortall lyfe Wherein we see nothing is had without debate and strife When the blacke vale of miserie it doth from farre beholde It wondreth at the shyning light of heauen more pure then golde It doth then sée the wauering worlde that séemde to it most bright To be none other but a clowde more darke then drowpy night How godly harde and strict a life the soule woulde vndertake What fastings great what promise large what holy vowes would make To get by grace some space of tyme wherein it might repent The vaine surpassed course of life that earst in sinne was spent But when the dasled eyes begins to loose their wonted sight And holo we chest yet feble pants and loosing neare his might The ratling throte doth faintly breath the téeth waxe blacke and rust The lippes becommeth pale and wan the toung is thicke and thurst And euerie lym neare styffe and colde when these doo play their parte As verie signes and tokens true of Death his pearsing darte Then al his wicked works and thoughts as witnesse forth are brought And strongest euidence they geue gainst him that them haue wrought He no where then can fire his eyes but there they present are And as his strongest enimies they worke his greatest care Huge routes of vgly dreadfull douyls on thoâ—e side standeth nâ—â—re The vertues all on thother side with Angels passing cleare And in the midst betwixt them both by iust and vpright dome It s clearely iudged to whether side the wandâ—ing soule shall come If in the pathe of vertue true the soule did runne her race Then do the Angels euery one craue that it maye haue grace With pleasaunt heauenly harmonie full sweete they do allure The soule with them in heauen to go they earnestly procure But if the soule all blurred be with blottes of filthy sinne Then war like troupes of hateful deuils agaynst the soule doo â—iune And sodenly in boyâ—â—rous wise alheadlong downe doth cast The guyltie soule eternally to heâ— they pul at last In ambushe they in priuie wise the waye doo al beset Thereby the soule to stop and stay and it from heauen to let By calling these and such like thinges to minde with inwarde thought Al raging fleshlie lust we shal despise and set at nought And weigh as thinges of litle weight al worldlie pleasures vaine Forsaking quite thentisements sweete of hoores and hoorishe traine Applying our studies by stedfast faith to God in godlinesse VVe shal I trust by Christ at last be plast with Saintes in bliffe Praise be to God our Sauiour and to his name also VVho graunt that to his glory we all thinges
al true beleeue us cast out and vomite foorth with horror and hatefulnes all the delectations of the fleshe and vanâ—ties of the world through which they come to so great calamities in hell FINIS ¶ Hereafter followeth certayne meditations of the Heauenlye kingdome or the ioyes of Heauen WE oughte so to liue in this worlde that when our bodies beginne to become subiectes to wormes in the Sepulture then our soules should beginne to be glad with Saintes in heauen directing of spyrites thither whither it continually aspyreth We ought to hasten our selues thither where wee shall alwayes lyue and where we shalle are death no more If we do any thing at al affect this vâ—ding and transitory life which at no time is void of cares and labors and that by eating drinking sleeping or any other recreation scarce can we at any time satisly the necessity of the flesh By how much the more ought we to desyre and wishe for eternal life wherein we shal abide nor suffer no lobor or payne where there is continual health eternal felicity happy lyberty and perfect blysse where men shal be like vnto the Angels of God and iust men shal shine as the Sun in the kingdom of their father How thinkest thou then of what brightnes wil the soule be when the body shal possesse the light of the Sun In that place there is no heauinesse no sorrow no griefe no feare no labor no death but a perpetual health and euerlasting blisse In which eternal kingdome there is no malice nor misery of the fleshe no disease no lack no huÌ„ger no thrist no colde nor heate no weriâ—es of fasting nor temptation of the enemy no will to sinne nor power to do euyl but a quiet harborough of pleasur crumph where men in the society of Angels shal continually dwel without any infyrmity of the flesh There is infinite ioy eternal blisse from whence none shal be remoued that once can enter therein Ther is the rest from labours peace froÌ„ the enemy a new kinde of pleasure a securitie of eternity taking a meruaildus delite and exceeding plesure in the beholding of god Who is he theÌ„ that wil not seeke and desyre by all means possible to be a dweller there both for the desire of peace ioye and eternity for the perfect sight of god The desire the soule hath to the Heauenly iudgement O Spirituall Hierusalem the holye citie of God happy wer my soule if I might obteine to behold thy glorie thy gates thy wale thy streetes thy innumerable habitations thy most noble citizens and thy omnipotent king in his maiesty glory For thy walles are made of pretious stones thy gates of excellent margarites thy stretes of most pure golde wherein that sweete song Alleluy a is incessantly songe Thy manifolde mansions are founded vpon square stones and builded with Sâ—phyres couered with golden Tiles wherin no wicked man entreth nor sinner dwelleth O heauenly Hierusalem thou art sweete bewtiful in al thy peasures and delights There are no such miseries in thee as wee feele abid suffer in this poore miserable life Ther is in thee no darknes no night nor chaunge of time The shining of the Moon the twinkling brightnesse of the stars geueth not light in thee but only the God of God the light of light and the Sun of iustice geueth light in thee The white inunaculate Lambe a most beutiful light is thy light thy â—rightnes goodnes is an endles contemplation and beholding of thy moste â—ewtiful king The king of â—â—ngs is in the middest of thee inâ—uâ—â—â—â— on ech 〈◊〉 with his beloued â—hâ—â—â—â— In thee are legions of Angels sâ—â—ging of sweete â—iâ—â—es in thee are the felowship of heauenly Citizens there resteth the sweete soleÌ„nity of al such as returne from this miserable pilgrimage vnto thy glory the prouident coÌ„pany of the prophetes dwel in thee there are the whole nuÌ„bet of the twelue Apostles and there is the victorious army of innumerable martirs there are true perfect holy men and women which haue vanquished the pleasures of the world and the infirmity of the flesh Ther are yong childreÌ„ and maideÌ„s which haue passed ouer their yeres in holines of life ther are they that haue escaped the snares nets of pleasure and sensuality Euerye one reioiceth in his degree though not equal in glorye yet lyke in ioyes and gladnes For there reigneth perfect charity and God is al in al whom without â—â—d they 〈◊〉 coÌ„tinually and stil in 〈◊〉 â—olding him theyr loue increseth they loue prâ—ise him al theyr worâ—â—â—â— to the prayse of God without ende intermission or labour Happye were I yea most happye if I could obteine after my departure from this life to beare the song of heauenly melody which is song by these heueÌ„ly Citizens happy companies of blessed spirites in the laud praise of the eternal king Most fortunate and blessed wer I if I my selfe could come to sing that sweete song and to stand neere my kinge my God and captain to behold him in his glory and maiesty as he himself hath vouchedsafe to promise saying father I wil that those which thou hast geueÌ„ me be with me the they may see that excelleÌ„t purenes that I haue with thee before the constitution of the world Let him who ministreth vnto me followe me where I am â—heâ— shâ—lâ—â—y seruaÌ„t be And again â—e that loueth me is beloued of my father Iâ—â—â—il loue him and shew my self vnto him Howe plentifull of al goodnes and how spare of all euill the heauenly Hierusalem is O My soule let vs returne vnto the heauenly citie wherin we are registred appointed to be dwellers as the felowes of Saints and housholde seruances of our Lord heires of God and coheires with Christe our Sauiour Let vs consider so far as possible we can of these licitye of that holy Citie saying with the prophete O what glorious thinges are sayde of thee O thou Citie of God for thou art the habitacle of al those that reioice and be glad For the art filled with ioye There is no olde age nor miserye of age in thee There is none maimed lame crookebact nor deformed in thee for in thee al men grow to ful strength and perfectnes yea vnto the very yeres of our Saui or Christ What life is happier then that life where there is no feare of pouerty nor weakenesse by desease Ther is no anger hurt nor enuy no couetousnes nor ambitious aspiring to honor nor power pricketh the mind of any that dwel in that holy Citie The feare of the deuil his dauÌ„gers and the terror of hel is far absent froÌ„ thee The death neither of body nor soule is feared in thee but a pleasant life rewarded with inâ—â—ortalitye Ther wil be then no euil peace shal be there proclaymed in euery place and al discorde shal be quyte forgotten for the concorde of the holye Saintes is one Althinges shal
and pleasure alwaies greene florishing al goodnes is far more excellent in thee theÌ„ meÌ„ may see or proue in any of thy creatures O Creator most excellent thou art the pleasure of althings thou art the abundantfulnes of perfect ioy the vnmesurable sea of holy delights pleasures thou art that light of incredible cleerenes passing brightnes O be wtiful eternal incomprehenlible light That which they do see heare taste smell or feele which are inwardly ioyned vnto thee through exceeding pucenesse of hearâ— whâ—â—â—st they yet remain in this present 〈◊〉 can with no â—ouing be expressed The louing imbracementes the daintye kisses of the mothâ—â— wherwith she appeaseth the weepâ—â—g of her tonâ—â—t childe no nor the â—weâ—â—â— wordes 〈◊〉 pleasant countenâ—nce of the hâ—sbaâ—â—â— towarâ—es hiâ— louiâ—â— wise are 〈◊〉 shadowes and 〈◊〉 vaâ—ue in respeâ—t and conâ—â—de 〈◊〉 â—f the sweete imbraâ—emâ—â—tes wherewith thou O Lorde dost aâ—â—â—â—eâ—◠〈…〉 of thâ—se that â—oue thee But if poore banished men can be so blessed and happy and that they can see such inexplicable incomparable goodnesse whoe see thee but in a darke had owed glasse how much more happyer then ought we to iudge of thy holy citizens who see thee face to face from whom floweth riuers of pleasure more sweeter then honey who are perfectly vnited vnto thee drowned in a bottomelesse of â—ternal delightes Those thy â—â—â—lbeloâ—ed dâ—ldren doo nowe most nâ—â—ifestly knowe and in the â—â—se lues diâ—â—aâ—isest lyefe ele howe muche O meâ—ciful father thou dost fauâ—ur and â—â—uâ— them and from the be giuning haste loâ—â—d them Thou O Lorde â—rofie willingly sinnerâ—â—est and belpest â—â—emaâ— Tâ—â—udâ—â—â—ighten al menne moste pleasaunâ—lye with the light of thy brigh tâ—esâ— Thou dost comiâ—â—ally moste samâ—â—â—e â—â—y and offeâ—â— ally talke in thefeoreete ho weâ—â— of euery man Thâ—â—ddest drawe the â—eâ—â—tes and 〈◊〉 of al men vnto thee with an inâ—â—â—morehensible sweet mes and feruert affeâ—tion of charitye Thou dost qualify gladden refreshe and fatissye with a delicate desyrâ—â—f enioying thy companye the he artes and willes of all men And to saye al O eternal God thou art all in al in that moste holy Citie of newe Hierusalem That is the happy day and the singuler day the onely true daie whereof thou O Lorde Iesus haste thus spoken vnto thy disciples In that day you shal knowe that I am in my father and you in me and I in you O daye so much wished for with most harty desire wherein the holy soules shal be vnited vnto thee O God and shal be inspyred with a meruailous light of wisedome and transformed into the brightnes of eternal glory O Iesus graunt I beseeche thee that so longe as I am in the darkenesse of this perigrination that the eyes of my minde maye beholde and contemplate the most shining light and brightnesse of thee O God and that I may alwaies please thee my Lord and God. Man wisheth for tribulations of this worlde to the ende that he may the more earnestly desire the kingdome of heauen O My soule if wee must euery daye suffer torments yea and a longe time abyde the vexations of this worlde to the ende that wee myght see Christ in his glory and be ioyned in the felowship of his Saintes Is it not conuenient that we should pacientlye suffer al kynde of paines to th ende that we myght be partakers of so great goodnesse and glory Let wicked spirites prepare theyr snares and temptations let sickenesse weaken the bodye let apparel trouble the fleshe lette laboures oppresse it lette longe wakinges fore watche it let this manne exclaime against me let that manne disturbe me let colde benumme me let heate burne me let my conscience prycke me let the head ake let the heart broyle let the stomack be ouercome with superfluous humors let the visage waxe pale and wanne let al the body be weakned let my lyfe be ended in sorowe let my yeres be consumed in sighes let corruption enter into my bones and let my bowels gushe out vnder me What care I though al these come to passe so that I may in th ende and day of trybulation come to reste and ascende into the felowshippe of those that are already preferred vnto glory How great wil the glorye of the iust be what exceeding gladuesse wil be amongst them when theyr faces shal shine as the Sunne and the Lorde in the kingdome of his father beginneth to place his people eache one in his degree and rewardeth euerye one according to his merytes geuyng them in steede of carthly thinges heauenly goodnesse for temporal thinges eternal rewards and for smal things great ample gifts Truely it wyl be a heape of felicity when the Lord shal lead his Saints into the glory of his father and cause them to sit in celestial seates where God is al in al. O what a pleasaunt happines is it to see the Saintes to be with Saintes and to be Saintes our selues to see God and to enioye God him selfe for euer and euer Let vs therefore thinke vpon these thinges with al our heartes affecte them with feruent desyre that wee may be the better able with speede to come to them If thou my soule peraduenture wilt aske by what helpe or by whose merites maye this be done Christ yelded himselfe to death to the ende to winne thee vnto the kingdome of God his father Yelde thy selfe therfore vnto him that therby thou maiest bee of his kingdome And let not synne haue dominion nor reigne ouer thy mortal body but let the soule be occupied in searching for euerlasting life ¶ A prayer that we shoulde repose our selues in God aboue all thinges O Iesus graunt I beseeche thee that I maye rest and repose my self in thee before any creature before al glory honour power dignitie and consolation ouer and aboue al hope and promise yea and aboue all the Angels Archangels and about all the hoste of heauen aboue al thinges visible and inuisible and chiefâ—â—y for that thou art my God yea thou aâ—t nâ—â—e onelyâ— God excelling al other thinges For thou aâ—t the highest the moste mightie thou onely art the fullest and pâ—â—â—ectest O when shall it be fullye gâ—â—â—ted vnto me that I shal forsake my selfe and see howe sweete and pleasantly thou art O Lord my god O Iesu the brightnes of eternal glory the comfort of the wanderinge soule my mouthe is bent towards thee without speaking and silence speaketh vnto thee How long wyl my Lord my God withdrawe himselfe from commings vnto theeâ— come vnto me thy seruant comforte me O Lorde thrust foorth 〈◊〉 â—â—â—pinge hande O God and delâ—â—â—â— me thy seruaunte from these troubles Come come for without thee there can be â—o restful day nor quiet houre Thou art my ioye and without thee I am vnfurnished Beholde a poore wretche howe I am imprysoned and my selfe loaden with Gyues tyl thou deliuer mee and refresh mee with the light of thy presence Thoughe others searche thee at leysure whensoeuer
world to be but short seeing it is suâ—â—â—fent to liue a short time and smal age so that we spende the same in dooing well For what matter is it whethâ—â— one dye yong or olde for so much as the number of yeeres nor length of tyme do make neyther blessed nor vnblessed happy nor vnhappy And that by coÌ„ming to death the ende of al humain kinde we shal aryue in a safe porte quiet harborowe free and safe from al the dauÌ„gerous stormes troublesome broyles of this worlde The death of the iust man. NOthing ought to be more wished for then to be in the handes of God â–ª wherein the Soules of the iust quietly rest Theyr death is acceptable to the Lorde if a man maye caâ— that death which is the greatest pleasure that can happen to good men for it is to them the ende of labour care the winning of victory the way of lyfe the entrie into perfect securitie and ioyning of the soule to God the thiefest goodnes which is of al other the greatest rewarde that men can haue The departing of the iust man from this lyfe is the vyage and passage from trouble to rest froÌ„ paynes to glory from pouerty to a kingdom from feare to securitie from griefe to ioye from death to that lyfe which onelie ought to be called lyfe And to conclude death is nought else vnto him but an escape from prisonment a returne from banishment a finishing of labours an arriual to the port of rest an ending of pylgrimage a lyghtning of his burden a delyueraunce from a ruinous house an ending of euylles an escape from daungers and paying to nature hir duetie and entrye into his countrey of euerlasting ioye and glorie By meanes where of that daye wherein the Saintes departe hence and are receyued into Heauen is commonlie called their natall daye for that when they departe hence then doo they begynne to lyfe and by dying in this worlde they enter into a better The death of the euyll THe death of a sinner is most wretched of al euyls for there by he loseth the worlde the greatest aspect familyer felowship of his best beloued also by it the soule is seuered from the body is condempned to abide the affliction of Hell fyre For the paines of one coÌ„demened soule is farre worse greeuouser then al the tormentes of al the holy Martirs yea though they were al gathered in one For the sinner hath horror feare at his departing griefe sorow in his iourney shame and confusion in the sight of God the vpright iudge incredible terror dreade in departing from this lyfe entring into an vnknowen Region wherein feareful spyrites wycked Angels meete the soule and pul it to eternal paines The goodes of the wycked are diuided into three Fyrst his soule to the diuel his body to the wormes his temporal goodes to his heyres which are coÌ„monly vngratefull and too prodigal The daungers of death THe diuel doth with al his engines and snares seeke to intrap mans Soule at the very howre of death if God of his speciall goodnesse assyste him not tempting him fyrste of the verity of his faith persuading him to forgo the same putting him in remembraunce of his coÌ„mitted offeÌ„ces thinking with the greatnes of them to driue him into dispayre And at the same instaunt coÌ„monly a pang more painful then tongue can tel assayleth him which is the separation of the soule from the body That paine is so great that as then he can remember nought els but the deadly paÌ„ges of death only Therfore it is written In death O Lorde none remembreth thee And Saint Augustine sayth The sinner is stricken with such animaduersity that dying he forgetteth him selfe who whylst he lyued remembred not god Saint Barnarde also treating of the hoâ—â—e of death Cursed spyrites sâ—â—th he watcheth at my doores and â—â—rrible diuels attende my comming so that I dare not goe forth Sâ—â—â—â— lie I am not able to escape theyr haudes vnlesse the Lorde defende me But he who tedeemed me wyll defende and faue me Howe we shoulde comfort those â–ª that be in daunger of death To the end that euery manâ—night learne the ryght waye howe to dye I haue gathered together these sewe lynes folowing out of dyuers good Authors Three exhortations to the sicke 1. Consider good Brother that all men of what condition or degree soeuer they bee must once dye some sooner some later according to the tyme appoynted them by God to whom we are al subiect to paye vnto Nature hir fees whensoeuer his omnipotencie shal thinke good who hath appointed this worlde vnto vs as a bayting Inne and not to be our continual dwelling place There is no cause therefore why you should so much affect this transitory life for by how much the loÌ„ger your life is prolonged by so much y more your syns are increased And y elder you grow in age the more your offences are multiplied for euery day vice increaseth and vertue decayeth We ought therefore to be the more wylling to dye for the by flytting from this poore mortal life we shal come to the euerlasting and blessed lyfe 2. Acknowledge good brother most thankfully â–ª God 's bountiful goodnes towardes thee in that that hytherto of his vnspeakeable mercie he hath permitted thee to lyue yea for that at this present extremitie of death his hyghnesse hath graunted thee thy perfect senses reason and vnderstanding whereby thou mayst acknowledge thy bounden duety vnto his heauenly Maiestie And in that he hath not oppressed not preuented thee with sodaine death and for that also he hath of his merciful goodnes called thee vnto his true and vnfaigned faith through which by his help thou shall be brought to his euerlasting kingdome and eternal inheritaunce For this and al other his innumerable benefites geue vnto his highnesse most hartie thankes and altogether betake thy selfe vnto his endles mercie humblie crauing pardon of him for thine offences 3. Consider that God the Father hath geuen and yeelded his welbeloued sonne in whome he tooke great delyght to be crucifyed and tormented with innumerable tribulations tortures and paynes and to suffer most vyle bitter death for vs most wretched sinners Seeing therefore thou hast in this transitorie life commytted done innumerable synnes and haynous offences which deserueth farre greeuouser and greater paynes and punishmentes then bee assigned vnto thee Thou oughtest therfore patientlie to beare the paines and panges of this thy deserued disease and death Christ for thine offences most willynglie and patientlie suffred death and the holy Martyrs and Apostles with al theyr minde moste wyllingly imbraced death for his names sake Knowe thou therefore that what maner of death soeuer thou suffrest is muche lesse painefull then theyrs for wyl thou nyl thou die thou must therefore in the name of Christ good brother take it patiently Questions to bee asked of him that lyeth sicke by