Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
judgement_n	death_n	lord_n	sin_n	3,691	5	4.6111	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13694	The follovving of Christ Diuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man, Thomas a Kempis, canon-regular of the order of S. Augustine. Whereunto also is added the golden Epistle of S. Bernard. And also certaine rules of a Christian life, made by Iohn Picus the elder, Earle of Mirandula. Translated into English by B.F.; Imitatio Christi. English.	Hoskins, Anthony, 1568-1615.; Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153. Epistola de perfectione vitae. English.; Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494, Regulae duodecim portim excitantes portim dirigentes hominem in pugna spirituali. English. aut; Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name.; Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555?	1615 (1615)	STC 23988; ESTC S111535	135,170	483

that wee had spent one day well in this world Many doe reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to die perhaps it will be more dangerous for thee to liue long Blessed is hee that hath alwayes before his eyes the houre of hia death and disposeth himselfe daily therunto Eccl. 7. If thou hast at any time seen a man die thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3 When it t s morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy selfe the next morning Heb. 9. Be alwaies ready so order thy selfe that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Many die suddenly for the Sonne of Man will come when we least think of it Luk. 21. When that last houre shal come thou wilt begin to thinke far otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast beene so slack and negligent Matth. 24. Luk. 12. 4 O how wise and happy is hee that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of penance the readines of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou mayest doe much good whilest thou art wel but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to doe I know not Few doe grow better and amend themselues with sicknesse as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5 Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou doest imagine Esay 30. 31. Hier. 17. 48. It is better now to prouide in time and doe some good before thou goest then to trust in the helpe of others when thou art gone Mat. 6. If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee hereafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6 O my dearest brother from how great danger mayest thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maeyst thou bee freed if thou doest now liue fearefull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to die to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earthly things that thou mayest then freely go to Christ Chastise now thy body with pennance that thou mayst then haue assured confidence 1. Cor. 9. 7 Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luk. 12. How many haue been deceiued and taken out of this world on a sudden when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddenly slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his necke another died at his meate another when hee was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another died by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of al and the life of man passeth away like a shadow 8 Who will remember thee and vvho vvill pray for thee after thy death Iob 14 Do now beloued brother doe novv vvhat thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt die nor what shall befall thee after thy death Now whilest thou hast time heape together eternall riches Matth. 1. Luk. 11. Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Luk. 16. Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receiue thee into their euerlasting dwellings Hebr. 11. 9 Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertaine 1. Pet. 2. Keepe thy heart free and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citie Heb. 13. Send thither thy prayers daily with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happinesse to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgement and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge from whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with gifts nor admitteth excuses but judgeth according to justice Heb. 10. O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest sometimes the countenance of an angry man what answer wilt thou make to God to whō al thy wickednes is known Iob 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy selfe against that rigorous day of Iudgement in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden enough to himselfe Luk. 16. Now thy paines are profitable thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. Cor. 6. 2 The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iam. 1. who receiuing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice then for his owne wrongs Luk. 23. prayeth willingly for his aduersaries and from his hart forgiueth their offences Act. 7. delayeth not to aske forgiuenesse of whomsoeuer hee hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sinnes and vices now then to reserue them for Purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceiueth vs. 3 What other thing shal that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished hereafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe-same wherin a man hath sinned shall he be more grieuously punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwards with burning goads There shall the Gluttons be tormented with insatiable hunger and thirst There shall the lasciuious and the louers of pleasures be couered ouer vvith burning pitch and brimston The enuious like raging dogs shall there howle for griefe 4 There is no vice that shall not haue his proper torment The proud shall be full of all shame and confusion The couetous shall be in miserable want One houre of paine there shall be

THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST Diuided into foure Bookes Written in Latin by the Learned and deuout Man THOMAS A KEMPIS Canon-Regular of the Order of S. AVGVSTINE Whereunto also is added the golden EPISTLE of S. BERNARD And Also certaine rules of a Christian life made by IOHN PICVS the elder Earle of MIRANDVLA· Translated into English by B. F. Printed with licence 1615. TO THE HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the Lord HARRODOVVNE HOnorable Right Worthy the publike demonstration which you haue lately giuen of your true desire to follow the footsteps of our Lord vndergoing so heauy a Crosse for his sake with so ready and resolued a minde hath moued mee to dedicate this little Booke of the IMITATION OF CHRIST vnto you assuring my selfe that it will be no lesse gratefull to you to see it appeare in light purged from many mistaken sentences which were in the former Translation then the reading and practise thereof wil be profitable to others it being so diuine and excellent a worke as in the opinion of such as can best judge of this matter of all the Bookes which are written that treate of Spirit Christian Perfection the holy Scripture excepted it is inferiour to none if it excelleth not all No book hath bin more approued by generall consent none more often printed translated into diuers languages none more esteemed commended yea commanded also by the chiefe Masters of Spirit of some religious Orders to be often read by euery one in priuate and once a week publikely to al. So full of sweet sense is this diuine Flower that the most spirituall Bees may daily draw from thence great plentie of celestiall hony It is a dish of so diuine meat that it neuer satiates the deuout mind but as the Wisdome of God doth promise to all such as sit at that heauenly banquent so shal they find in this spiritual food The more they eat it the more they shall hunger after it Eccles 4. And the reason hereof is for that it containeth so great depth of spirit and so great store and variety of heauenly documents that it seemeth euer new to the Reader and like another Manna affordeth to euery one that delightfull taste which best agreeth with the palate of his soule and none can loath it but they whose lustes doe carry them to Aegyptian slauery A true Israelite may feed vpon it forty yeares together and euer finde such pleasing taste and encreasing strength by vse therof as wil sustaine him in the desert of this world and enable him to goe on without fainting till he arriue at his promised inheritance of eternall rest The practise of that which this booke doth teach couereth the soule with the rich garment of grace and adorneth it with the splendent pearls of Euangelical perfection which maketh vs more pleasing in the sight of God then can the deckings of all earthly jewels make the fairest Lady in the Kingdome where you are appeare beautifull to the eyes of men It returneth abundant gaine for sustained losses and enlargeth the liberty which is now restrained It raiseth vp to cheerefull confidence the debased head placeth in a Throne of endlesse honour those who in this world doe seeme imprisoned in the blacke cloud of disgrace To you therefore who haue so willingly endured the losse of your earthly substance I haue thought good to present this Euangelicall Pearle and incomparable Treasure contained in a little roome Here you shall find the most perfect manner of conforming our selues to Christ our heauenly paterne see the vertues set forth in their colours which did most shine in the life of our Lord himselfe and reade in plaine and vulgar phrase those Lessons of high perfection which are commended vnto vs by the highest Wisdome which haue made as many Saints as they haue had diligent and obseruant followers Accept therefore I beseech you this little Present presented by him who wisheth you much more temporall happines then your present state affordeth and that endlesse glory whereof your present suffering is no vncertaine pledge This first of Nouember 1612. Yours in all dutie B. F. A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS OF THIS ensuing Booke THE FIRST BOOKE OF the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world pag. 1 Of the humble conceit of our selues pag. 4 Of the doctrine of truth pag. 7 Of prudence and foresight in our actions pag. 13 Of the reading of holy Scriptures pag. 14 Of inordinate desires and affections pag. 16 Of flying vaine hope and pride pag. 17 That too much familiarity is to be shunned pag. 19 Of obedience and subiection pag. 21 Of auoiding superfluitie of words pag. 23 Of the obtaining of peace and zeale of spirituall profit pag. 25 Of the profit of aduersitie pag. 29 Of resisting temptations pag. 30 Of auoiding rash iudgement pag. 36 Of workes done of charitie pag. 38 Of bearing with the defects of others pag. 40 Of religious life pag. 42 Of the examples of the holy Fathers pag. 44 Of the exercise of a good and religious person pag. 48 Of the loue of solitude and silence pag. 54 Of compunction of heart pag. 60 Of the consideration of humane misery pag. 64 Of the consideration of death pag. 70 Of iudgement and the punishment of sin pag. 77 Of the feruent amendment of our whole life pag. 83 THE SECOND BOOKE OF spirituall conuersation pag. 93 Of humble submission pag. 99 Of a good and peaceable man pag. 101 Of a pure minde and vpright intention pag. 104 Of the consideration of ones selfe pag. 106 Of the comfort of a good conscience pag. 108 Of the loue of Iesus aboue all things pag. 111 Of familiar conuersation with Iesus pag. 114 Of the want of all comfort pag. 118 Of thankefulnes for the grace of God pag. 124 How few the the louers of the Crosse of Christ are pag. 128 Of the high way of the holy Crosse pag. 131 THE THIRD BOOKE OF the inward speech of Christ vnto a faithfull-soule pag. 143 That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words pag. 145 That the words of God are to bee heard with humilitie and that many weigh them not pag. 147 That we ought to liue in truth and humilitie in the sight of God pag. 152 Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace pag. 156 Of the proofe of a true Louer pag. 161 That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humilitie pag. 165 Of a meane conceit of our selues in the sight of God pag. 170 That all things are to bee referred vnto God as vnto the last end pag. 173 That despising the world it is sweet to serue God pag. 175 That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated pag. 179 Of the effects of patience and of strife against concupiscence pag. 182 Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ pag. 185 Of the secret Iudgements of God to bee considered lest

more sharp then an hundred yeares of most hard pennance heere There is no rest there nor comfort for the damned Iob. 40. Heere yet sometimes our labours cease and we enioy the comfort of our friends Be now solicitous and sorrowfull for thy sinnes that in the day of judgement thou mayest bee secure in the company of the blessed soules For then shal the just stand in great constancy against those that afflicted and oppressed them Wisd 5. Then shall hee stand to judge who now doth humbly submit himselfe to the judgement of men Then shall the poore and humble haue great confidence and the proud shall be compassed about on all sides with feare 5 Then will it appeare that hee vvas vvise in this vvorld vvho had heere learned to be as a foole and dispised for Christ Then shall affliction patiently suffered delight vs and iniquity shall stoppe her mouth Then shall the deuout reioyce and the irreligious mourne Then shall the chastised flesh more flourish then if it had bin alwaies nourished in delights Psal 106. Then shall the poore garment shine and the precious robes appeare contemptiple 2. Cor. 4. Then shall the meane cottage be more commended then the sumptuous Palace Then will constant patience more auaile vs then all earthly power Then will simple obedience bee more esteemed then all worldly wisdome Esay 29. 6. Then shall a good and pure conscience yeeld vs more comfort then the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more then al the worldlings treasures Then wilt thou bee more comforted that thou hast prayed deuoutly then that thou hast fared daintily Then wilt thou be more ioyful that thou hast obserued silēce then that thou hast talked much Then will good workes appeare of much more esteem then faire words Then a strict life and hard pennance will be more pleasing then all earthly delights Accustome thy selfe now to suffer a little that thou mayst then bee deliuered from more grieuous paines Proue heere first what thou canst endure hereafter If now thou canst beare so little how wilt thou be able to endure euerlasting torments If now a little suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire doe hereafter Assure thy selfe thou canst not haue two Paradises It is impossible for thee to enioy delights heere in this world and raigne hereafter with Christ in heauen 7 If thou haddest hitherto liued alwaies in honors and delights what would it auaile thee if thou shouldest presently die Luk. 12. All is vanity but to loue God and onely to serue him Eccles 1. And he that loueth God with his whole heart needeth to feare neither death punishment judgement nor hell for perfect loue giues secure accesse to God Rom. 8. But hee that delighteth alwaies in sinne what wonder though he alwaies feare death and be terrified with the thought of judgement Yet it is good that if loue be not of force to withhold thee from sinne that at least the feare of hell may restraine thee And he that layeth aside the feare of God can neuer continue long in good state but falleth quickly into the snares of the diuell CHAP. XXV Of the feruent amendment of our whole life BE watchfull and diligent in the seruice of God and often thinke with thy selfe wherfore thou camest and why thou didst leaue the world 2. Tim. 4. Was it not that thou mightest liue to God and become a spirituall man Goe on therefore with courage thou shalt shortly receiue the reward of thy labours and there shall be no more feare nor sorrow in the confines of thy habitation Mat. 5. Apoc. 21. Thou must labour heere a while thou shalt afterwards haue great rest yea euerlasting ioy Eccles 51. If thou continuest faithfull and diligent in seruing of God doe not doubt but God will be faithfull and liberall in giuing thee reward Apoc. 21. 22. Matth. 25. Thou oughtest to haue a good hope of getting the victory but thou must not make thy selfe assured thereof lest thou waxe negligent or bee puffed vp with pride Rom. 5. 2 When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wauering betweene feare and hope did once being oppressed with griefe prostrate himselfe in a Church in praier before an Altar and said within himselfe O if I knew that I should yet perseuer He presently heard as it were a voice from God which said What if thou diddest know it what wouldest thou doe Doe now what thou wouldest doe then and thou shalt bee secure And being herewith comforted and strengthened in minde he committed himselfe wholly to the will of God that noysom anxiety ceased neither had hee any minde to search curiously any further to know what should befall him but rather laboured to vnderstand what was the perfect and acceptable will of God for the beginning and accomplishing of euery good worke Rom. 12. 3 Hope in our Lord and doe good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches thereof Psa 36. One thing there is that draweth many backe from that spirituall good the diligent amendment of their liues the horror of the difficulty and the labor of the combat But they aboue others profite most in vertue that endeauour most to ouercome those things which are grieuous and contrary vnto them For there a man profiteth more and deserueth greater grace where hee more ouercommeth and mortifieth himselfe in spirit 4 But all men haue not alike to ouercome and mortifie yet he that is zealous and diligent though hee haue more passions shall profit more in vertue then another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be lesse feruent in the pursuit of vertue Two things chiefely helpe to our amendment to wit to withdraw our selues violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labor earnestly for that vertue which we most want Be carefull also to auoide vvith great diligence those things in thy selfe which doe most displease thee in others 5 Gather some profit to thy soule out of euery occasion and wheresoeuer thou bee so as if thou seest or hearest any good stir vp thy selfe to the imitation therof But if thou seest any thing vvorthy of reproofe beware thou doest not the same And if at any time thou hast done it labour quickely to amend it As thine eye obserueth others so art thou also noted againe by others O how sweet and comfortable a thing it is to see the seruants of Christ feruent and deuout endued with vertuous and decent manners And on the contrary how pitifull and grieuous a thing it is to see them that liue in a dissolute and disordered sort not applying themselues to that for which they were called O how great domage and great danger it is to neglect the good purposes of their vocation and to busie themselues in that which appertaineth not vnto them nor is committed to their care 6 Bee mindefull of the purpose thou hast made and haue

that which thou wouldest not leaue vndone that thou wouldest do That which is pleasing to others shall goe well forwards that which thou wishest shall not speed That which others say shal be heard what thou sayst shall be nothing regarded Others shall aske shal receiue thou shalt aske not obtaine 5 Others shall bee great in the praises of men but of thee there shall be no speech to others this or that shall be committed but thou shalt be accounted fit for nothing At this nature will sometimes repine and it is much if thou endurest it with silence In these and such like a faithfull seruant of our Lord is wont to be tried how he can deny and ouercome himselfe in all things There is scarce any thing wherein thou hast such need to mortifie thy selfe as in seeing and suffering those things that are contrary to thy will especially when that is commanded which seemeth vnto thee inconuenient or to little purpose And for that thou being placed vnder authority darest not resist a higher power therefore it seemeth hard vnto thee to walke at the becke of another and to leaue wholy thine owne opinion 6 But consider Sonne the fruit of these labours the end neere at hand and the reward aboue all measure and thou shalt receiue no griefe therby but great comfort of thy patience For in regard of that little of thy will which now thou willingly forsakest thou shalt alwaies haue thy will in heauen There thou shalt haue all that thou wilt or canst desire there thou shalt enioy all good without feare of loosing it there shal thy will be euer one with me it shall desire nothing strange or priuate there no man shall withstand thee no man complaine of thee no man hinder thee nothing come against thee but all things desired shall bee there together present and delight thy whole desire and fulfill it to the highest degree there I will giue thee glorie for the reproach which heere thou sufferedst a garment of praise for former griefe for the lowest place a seat of an euerlasting Kingdome there shall the fruit of obedience appeare the labour of pennance reioyce and humble subjection shall bee gloriously crowned 7 Now therefore bow thy selfe with great humility vnder the hands of all and regard not who said or commanded this but take great heede that whether thy Superiour or thy Inferiour or thine equall require any thing of thee or doe insinuate their desire thou take it all in good part and endeauour to fulfill it with a sincere intention Let one seeke this another that let him glorie in this the other in that and be praysed a thousand thousand times but doe thou neither reioyce in this nor in that but in the contempt of thy selfe and in my pleasure and honour a lone This art thou to wish that whether by life or death God may be alwayes glorified in thee CHAP. L. How a desolate person ought to offer himselfe into the hands of God THE SERVANT LOrd God holy Father thy holy name be now and for euer blessed because as thou wilt so is it done and what thou dost is good Let thy seruant rejoyce in thee not in himselfe nor any thing else for thou alone art the true gladnes thou art my hope and my crowne thou art my joy and my honor O Lord. What hath thy seruant but what he receiued from thee euen without any desert of his 1. Cor. 4. Thine is all that thou hast giuen whatsoeuer thou hast made I am poore and in labours from my youth and sometimes my soule is heauy vnto teares somtimes also it is troubled in it selfe by reason of passions which rise against her Psal 87. 2 I desire the joy of peace I craue the peace of thy children that are fed by thee in the light of comfort If thou giue peace if thou infuse holy joy the soule of thy seruant shall be full of heauenly sweetnes and shall become deuout in thy praise but if thou withdraw thy selfe as very often thou art wont he wil not be able to runne the waies of thy Commandements but rather hee boweth his knees and knocketh his breast for that it is not with him as it was yesterday and the day before when thy light shined vpon his head and he was protected vnder the shadow of thy wings from the temptations which violently assault him 3 O righteous Father and euer to be praised the houre is come that thy seruant is to be proued Behold Father it is fit that in this houre thy seruant suffer something for thee O Father worthy of eternall honour the houre is come which from all eternity thou didst fore-know should come that for a short time thy seruant should outwardly bee oppressed but inwardly liue for euer with thee he should be a little despised and humbled and made as an abiect in the sight of men and much afflicted with passions and infirmities that he may rise againe with thee in the rising of new light and be clarified in heauen Holy Father thou hast so appointed it and wilt haue it so and this is fulfilled which thy selfe hast commanded 4 It is a grace and a fauour to thy friend to suffer and to be afflicted in the world for the loue of thee how often soeuer and by whom soeuer thou permittest it to fall vpon him Without thy counsell and prouidence and without cause nothing is done in earth Psalm 118. It is good for mee Lord that thou hast humbled me that I may learne thy righteous judgments and cast away al haughtines of hart presumptiō It is profitable to me that shame hath couered my face that I may rather seeke to thee for comfort then to men I haue learned also hereby to dread thy inscrutable judgment that afflictest the just with the wicked but not without equity and justice 5 I giue thee thanks that thou hast not spared my sinnes but hast worne me away with bitter stripes inflicting sorows sending griefs within and without There is none vnder heauen that can comfort mee but thou my Lord God Tob. 13. the heauēly Phisitian of souls that strikest healest bringest into hell and drawest out againe Psal 17. let thy correction be vpon me and let thy rod instruct me 6 Behold beloued Father I am in thy hands I bow my selfe vnder the rod of thy correction let my neck shoulders feel the stripes of thy chastisement that my crookednes may be conformed to thy wil. Make me a deuout humble disciple of thine as thou art wōt wel to do that I may be ready at euery beck of thy diuine pleasure I commend my selfe and all mine vnto thee to be corrected It is better to be rebuked here then hereafter Thou knowest all and euery thing and there is nothing hidden in the conscience of man which can be hidden from thee Before things are done thou knowst that they wil happen hast no need that any should