prepared vnto the laste day of our life accordinge to the saying of our Sauiour Christ in the gospell of Luke Be ye prepared saith he for the Sonne of man will come at an houre when ye thinke not There is also another cause at this day why many of the common sort prolonge and driue of the amendment of their life For ther be certaine and those verye deuoure felowes for we must suspect no other of thē howbeit not very wise and wary who in sundry places preache much of the grace of God of forgiuenesse of sinnes and of other thinges that pertaine to saluation and doe very diligently and wyth greate earnestnesse handle the same but they say either nothing at all or els verye little of a newe life in Christ of the sanctifying quickning of the holy ghost But he that will be coūted a true Christian in deede must accordinge to the doctrine of Paule dye to sinne and liue vnto righteousnesse must put of the olde man with his woorkes put on the newe man and liue as it becommeth the Gospell of Christe must not commit adultery or whoredome must not be at enmitie with his neighbour must not be couetous an vserer enuious muste not be proude and high minded And the holy ghost is giuen of God to them that beleeue and cal vpon him that he may stirre vp newe motions in the heart and as it were regenerate the will of man moue him forward to all duties of godlines to all vertues worthy of a christian man and vnto a life agreable to the profession of the Gospell where of we haue elswhere spoken more at large Now how much dost thou think are the mindes of the ignoraunt offended by these or such like sayings of some If thou bee an adulterer say they if a whoremonger if a couetous person or defiled with any other sinne and wickednes beleeue onely and thou shalt be safe There is no cause why thou shoul dest feare the Lawe for this Christe hath fulfilled and made satisfaction for the sinnes of mankinde These sayings doe without doubte grieuously offend godly eares and minister occasion to leade a wicked life and are cause that men thinke nothing of reforming their manners but obstinately perseuer in sinne and vngodlines yea they doe encourage them vnto al wickednes as it were cut of such meanes as might moue thē to repent amend How much better did Paule who as Luke mentioneth in the Acts not onely preached of that faith which is in Christ vnto Felix and Drusilla his wife but entreated also diligently of righteousnes and temperance of the iudgement to come so that Felix was striken with terror while Paule disputed The same Paule also witnesseth moreouer in the Acts that he did not only preache to the Gentiles that they should repente and turne vnto God but admonish them also that they shoulde doe workes worthye of them that had repented Thus hast thou gentle Reader the causes which commonly moue vs to prolonge and differre the amendment of our lyfe it remayneth nowe that we briefly shewe what remedye may be founde for this euell although we haue done the same partly alreadye Remedies against the causes aforesayd and first against mans incredulitie which was sayde to be the firste cause vvhy he differreth the amendement of hys lyfe AGainst our incredulitie then concerninge the iudgement to come the punishment of the wicked the immortall felicitie of the godlye very much vndoubtedly vnles wee had rather seeme then be Christians in deede will preuaile the aucthoritye of our God and Lord Iesus Christe if wee haue in remembraunce and alwayes as it were before the eyes of our mynde hys sayinges whiche are in sundrye places of the Scripture concerninge these thinges as is that in the Gospel of Iohn that of manye I maye rehearse onelye a fewe The houre shall come sayeth he in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and they shall come forth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euell vnto the resurrection of condemnation c. This is the will saith he in another place of him that sent me that euerye man which seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I wyll raise him vp at the laste day Moreouer in the Gospell of Matthew speaking of the last iudgement amonge other thinges he sheweth what sentence he shal pronoūce of the godly Come saith he ye blessed of my father inherit ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world And contrariwise of the wicked Depart from me saith he yee cursed into euerlastinge fyre which is prepared for the deuill and his angels And a little after and these shall goe into euerlastinge paine but the righteous into lyfe eternall O dreadful voice of the iudge that condemneth the wicked to euerlasting fyre If feare of Iudges on the earth doth astonish the guilty howe ought that heauenly iudge to make them afraid or what terror ought he to strike into the wicked through remorce of conscience for sinne If thou dost so feare a Iudge on the earth from whom not withstanding thou maist appeale vnto others how much more oughtest thou to feare the sentence of that Iudge from whom there is no appealing Depart saith he from me ye cursed Howe dreadfull a thinge will it be to be seperate from God himselfe who is the chiefe and soueraigne good to be driuen from the company of the godly and holy spirites to be excluded from the eternall blessednes of the heuenly kingdome which is so great that it can neither in words be expressed neither in mynd comprehended nor by any cogitation of man conceiued not only this but also to be cōmitted to extreme euerlasting paines in hel to be condemned to fire that shal neuer go out in respect whereof our fire is mere yse finally to be with the deuils an infinite time for euermore without any expectatiō or hope of better state What thinkest thou if these thinges came into mens mindes they would liue so leudlye Howbeit they thinke not of that which Peter witnesseth in the Acts of the Apostles that Christ is ordeyned of God a iudge of quicke dead whereof Paule maketh mention writing to Timothee And the same Paule in his second Epistle to the Corinthians saith for we must all appeare before the iudgemente seate of Christe that euerye man may receiue the things which are don in his body accordinge to that he hath don whether it be good or euil In this iudgement as the same Paule testifieth shal be reuealed and made open before all whatsoeuer is now hidde in the depth of mans hart and as it were obscured with darknesse Which thing how dreadfull it will bee to the wicked it neither can be sufficiently expressed neither well conceiued If in this life he whose deedes being in euery respect filthy and very sinfull and wicked shoulde be
the meane season remember that which our sauiour saith in the Gospell that there is ioy in heauen for one sinner that repenteth and turneth vnto God more then for ninetie and nine iust men which neede none amendment of life Yea let this thing greatly stirre thee vp to repent cōsidering with thy selfe howe desirous the Angels are of thy saluation and how they reioyce and be gladde at thy repentaunce But that doth singularly wel please thee which is in the booke of Psalmes The Lorde is good gracious and of great mercy But heare againe what is also in the same booke Thou hatest all that worke iniquitie and again The countenaunce of the Lord is against them that doe euill Iohn will some man alleage sayth in this wise He that beleueth in the Sonne hath eternall lyfe But what doth the same Iohn say moreouer He that committeth sinne is of the deuill and he that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his commaundements is a lyer Iohn Baptist beareth witnesse of Christ Behold saith he the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the worlde But what saith he in another place Repent and bringe forth fruites worthy amendment of life Peter as Luke mentioneth in the Acts saith in this sort We beleeue through the grace of y Lord Iesus Christ to be saued But what doth the same Peter say also in another place of the same boke Amend your liues therefore turn that your sinnes may be put away Christ himselfe saith in the Gospel of Iohn God so loued the world that he hath giuen his only begottē sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting life But what dooth he also saye in the Gospell of Matthew Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Thou beleeuest that which Paule saieth that Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners Beleeue then the same Paule also when he affirmeth that sorcerers adulterers whoremongers murderers theeues extorsioners couetous men proude persons drunkards slaunderers such as be enuious and malicious shall not inherite the kingdome of god For if thou be verelye perswaded that Paul doth speake truely here or rather the holy Ghoste by the mouth of Paule thou then plainely seest that thou canst cōceiue no trust of Gods mercy nether hope for saluation frō him as long as thou liuest wickedly and vngodlily For faith as it learneth out of the Gospel that God is gracious merciful to them that repent so doth it also learn that he is angry oftended with them that obstinately perseuer in sinne There is no cause thē that thou shouldest vpon hope truste of Gods fauour pardon prolong the amendment of thy life so deceiue thy selfe Repent first return into the right way thē be bold to promise to thy selfe largely of Gods elemency mercy Now as none can well repent but he that hopeth for pardon as Ambrose hath truely said so he can not hope for any pardon who doth not vnfeinedly repent I wil moreouer adde hereunto somewhat out of the booke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach before I procede any further Say not saith he I haue sinned what euill hath come vnto me For the Almighty is a pacient rewarder but he wil not leaue thee vnpunished Because thy sinne is forgiuen be not without feare to heape sinne vpon sinne neither say the mercy of God is great he will forgiue my manifold sinnes For like as he is mercifull so goeth wrath from him also and his indignation commeth down vpon sinners Make no tarying to turne vnto the Lord and put not of from daye to day For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in time of vengeance he will destroy thee Thus much saith Iesus the sonne of Syrach Remedies against the third cause for which we prolonge the reforming of our life which vvas sayde to be the custome of sinninge BVt the custome of sinning doth hinder thee that thou causte not returne vnto goodnes and amend For most commonly it commeth to passe that thou shalt euen againste thy will doe those things whereunto thou hast accustomed thy selfe from thy tender yeeres For as Cyprian saith it is not suddenly and quicklye left which hauing bin long vsed hath in continuaunce of time much increased When doth he learne to spare and spende moderatlye who hath bin longe accustomed to sumptuous suppers and deintie delicates And when doth he frame himselfe to weare common and simple apparell who hath of a longe time bin clothed with gorgeous garmentes glittering with gold and other precious ornaments It muste needes be that according to the custome drunkennes do with forcible prouokements allure pryde puffe vp wrath inflame extorsion disquiet crueltie pricke forwarde ambition delight lust cary headlong c. So that it semeth very hard by any meanes to ouercome the custome of sinning which is nowe almost turned into nature Howbeit thou muste notwithstanding endedeuour to doe it if thou haste anye care of thy saluation But by what meanes thou wilt demaunde If by little and little good custome shaketh of that which euill custome hath brought in If that which euill custome hath as it were ingraffed by good custome thou doe endeuor to plucke vp Now nothing is so difficulte and hard as Seneca saith which the minde of man can not ouercome That therefore thou mayste ouer come the force of custome which is almost inuincible there is more neede of a certaine willingnes of mind then of striuing and labor although thou must add these also if thou wilt weaken plucke vp and as it were quite roote out that whiche hath taken deepe roote and is firmely fixed Goe to therefore with a good courage begin and doe thine endeuour with a good hope trusting especially to the assistance of God thou shalt haue prosperous successe At the first perhaps when thou doost begin that long continued custome of sinning will seeme vnto thee euen inuincible but when thou commest to the tryall thou shalt soone perceiue that that which was supposed coulde not bee done without great difficultie is not a matter so troublesome or hard as thou hadst thoughte So doth it fall out oftentimes that in doinge we finde that light and easye which in the beginning seemed heauie and harde Brieflye whereas that excellent Poet sayde of the companions of M◅estheus They prosper wel they able are because they so do seme Trust without all doubtinge that it shal be so with thee also Onely as I haue sayde go to with a good courage and an assured hope of prosperous successe and the endeuour and care to liue godlily will daylye more and more like and delight thee and vertue will meruelouslye allure thee to loue it then which as one truely saith there is nothing more fayre nothinge more beautiful nothing more amiable Finallye thou wilt neuer cease to
godlines doth vndoubtedly proceede from a sincere faith as the fruite froÌ„ the tree the effect from the cause Nowe in vvhome soeuer such a faith is they are free from the curse of the lawe from the tyranny of Satan from the daunger of death from the horror of hell they haue God to theyr father Christe to their brother they shall inherite the kingdom of heauen as the word of God vvitnesseth Forasmuch theÌ„ as the Guide vvhich vve haue spokeÌ„ of doth leade froÌ„ that vvhich is foule filthy vvhich kinde of things vve are vvont coÌ„monly to detest and loth froÌ„ that vvhich excludeth vs from the fruition of Gods benefites from that vvhich hath so bitter and grieuous an end euen eternall death and destruction and not onely thys but also directeth vs to that vvhich is so precious and profitable whiche proceedeth from the grace of God the fountaine of all goodnes which is not subiecte to worldâ—y mutations vvhich is an vndoubted fruit of a true faith and therefore they that bee endued therewith are the sonnes of God and heyres of eternall blessednes Forasmuch I say as this Guide doth thus leade direct who oughte not to be moste willing to follow the same to their no small commoditie and profit Thus haue I right reuerend father bin briefe short in a matter wherin I might haue bin larg long Howbeit I thinke those things which I haue entreated of sufficient to cause the Christian reader the better to loue like the more vvillinglye to reade and peruse this present treatise and also to embolden me to presume to publish the same vnder the protection of your reuerend name forasmuch as by the premisses is proued that it conteyneth matter very good and godly and therefore is agreing to your Christian conuersation not for any instruction vvhere right graue and greate learning aboundeth but onely for vvell liking vvhere good vvill is not vvanting which I earnestly desire and heartelye wish being little or nothing doubtfull thereof And nowe to conclude the Lord God graunt for his Christes sake that after yee haue runne the race of this mortall life ye maye reape the fruite of an vnfeyned faith euen the saluation both of body and soule Amen Your Lordships to commaund and vse in the lord W. Gace A Guide vnto godlines most worthy to be folowed of all true Christians IF they that wil be couÌ„ted Christians did so much dreade and mislike the thing it self as they doe at thys day detest the name and profession of EpicureaÌ„s or Sadducees they would no lesse surely refraine themselues from all euill doing and embrace vertue and godlines then they doe now with an obstinate mind follow vice and naughtines and liue lewdly and vngodlily neither woulde they any lesse keepe the commaundements of Almighty God then they are now voyde of all feare of his diuine maiesty But truly all of vs almost doe beare a mind not so much alienate and estraunged from the thing it selfe whiche our life deedes and conditions doe witnes as we doe dread the disdayne of the worde and vtterly mislike the bare name of the thinge For what Either can they beleeue the immortality of the soule who liue almost like beastes or can they be perswaded that there are rewardes prepared in heauen for the godlye and punishments appoynted in hell for the wicked who almoste in nothing sticke to breake the commaundements of God and runne hedlong vnto al vice either as though they verely thought that God is a thing vayne and fayned or did beleeue that the soule is extinct and doth perish with the body Now to confesse that there are some which both feare God and doe nothinge doubte that hee will in time to come either punish or reward euery one as he hath deserued of which sort surely ther are very few what one is there among a great number whom the fear of Gods iustice doth either reuoke from sinne euill doing or induce to amend and reforme his life Wherein thou mayst worthelye lament and bewayle the case of vs all maruell at our folly blindnes and madnesse who in such shortnes and vncertaintie of this life doe so behaue our selues that being nowe become euen verye olde when as our dying day is not farre of wee doe not so muche as thinke of amendinge our manners much lesse goe we about to doe the same being yet younge and in our flourishing yeeres I oftentimes entring in to consideration of this folly as it were dotage of men in deferring the amendment of their sinful life doe thinke it good to search out the causes why in so waighty a matter wheron dependes saluation wee behaue our selues so slacklye and slothfullye For these being once found out and made manifest it will not be afterward hard as I thinke to find some remedy to cure this euill Of the first cause vvhy men differre the amendment of their life FIrst therefore the chiefe principall cause hereof I thinke to be our incredulitie For if we did beleeue those thinges which are conteined in the holy scriptures of the iudgement to come of the voyce of the Archangell and the trumpe of God of the iudgement seate of the Lord before which we muste all appeare also those thinges that are mentioned of the punishments in time to come of the wicked of the life and immortall felicitie of the godly of the resurrection of the bodyes to gether with the soules either vnto assured glorye or certaine paine If I saye wee did beleeue these thinges not to be a vayne or fond fable we would surely endeuour to liue farre otherwise neither woulde wee so daily differ and prolong the amendment of our life For who liuing wickedly is not eyther striken with horror in his whole bodye or dooth not altogither tremble in his minde and hearte as often as he remembreth the last iudgement In which men must giue an accounte before the tribunall seate of God of all their thoughtes purposes sayinges and deedes and euery one must for himselfe pleade the cause of his lyfe O iudgement worthelye dreadfull to the wicked the memory whereof oughte neuer to slippe out of our minde For if the righteous shall scarcely be saued as sayeth the Apostle where shall the vngodly sinner appeare The sonne of God himselfe shall sitte the iudge of all men whiche haue bin from the creation of the world being then seuere sharpe and inexorable who is now an aduocatâ— wyth the father for them that be guiltie All shall be called to the examination of the life which they haue led the secretes of all heartes shall be opened euerye mannes conscience shal accuse reproue and conuince him In fine God wyll with iuste seueritie and rigour punish the wicked and graciously and mercifullye saue the godly that is he will reward euery man according to his works as the Apostle Paule sayth Neither shall euill deedes onely be iudged here as adulterie fornication incest sorcerye murder
passe in the former ages of the world concerninge the destruction of mankinde by the flood concerning the cities of Sodom Gomorthe howe they were consumed to ashes by fire from heauen also those thinges which histories both sacred and prophane declare of the most grieuous and often calamities of the people of Israell how they were often caried captiue of Barbarous nations for the neglect of pietie and godlines Finally those thinges whiche wee reade of the vtter destruction and ruine of the citie of Ierusalem For all these thinges are written as Paule saieth to the Corinthians to admonish vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come Now how God hath often punished all sortes of men for sinne it woulde be longe as I haue sayd and needelesse to rehearse I will speake onely of one for examples sake When that noble king Dauid whom God dearely loued at suche time as being secure idle he liued in great prosperitie had fallen into adulterye and had encreased the same offence by the murder of an innocent man wyth what miseries and calamities was he not afflicted of God euen after that hauing acknowledged his sinne and repented he was restored to Gods accustomed grace and fauour For God punished him with the death of his sonne newly borne with the conspiracie of the sonne against the father with his sorrowfull flighte out of the citie of Ierusalem with the forcing of his concubines by hys owne Sonne with the reuolting of the people from him finally with greate mortalitie and death of hys citizens So great and horrible is the wrath of God againste sinne If a man so holy dyd not scape vnpunished for his sinne committed no not when hee had obteyned pardon and was reconciled into Gods fauour as in the hystorye of the Kinges is declared Howe thinkest thou will it fall out with others who are nothinge at all greeued and troubled in minde for their sinnes but doe securelye offende and heape one sinne vppon another finallye who wyth an obstinate mynde perseuer in wickednes Let vs therfore shake of slothfulnes that carnal carelesse security which commonly commeth vpon vs in the time of prosperitie Let vs liue in the feare of the Lord and with feare and tremblinge procure our saluation let vs not suffer our selues to be entangled with the allurements of the fleshe let vs by continual praier resist satans tētations And thus much shal suffize concerning this poynt Remedies against the fift cause for which man prolongeth the amendment of his lyfe NOw to speake of such as being led with hope of long life do differre the amendment of their maners these doe willingly deceiue themselues and of that which they excedingly desire they haue a vain hope and doe fondly dreame and so they wittingly and willingly perish being aliue and beholding their state they be in then which no folly can be said to be greater If these be nothing moued with those things which wise mē yet no professors of Christian religion haue commited to writinge concerninge the shortnesse and vncertaintie of thys lyfe as is that of one who sayde that man a is buble and of another who calleth him a dreame of a shadowe at the least let y man beloued of God holy Iob I meane moue them who sayth that man hath here but a shorte time to liue Let the seruaunt of God S. Iames moue them who sayth that mans life is as a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Let him that cannot lye the Sonne of God our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ moue them who biddeth vs watch because we knowe neither the daye nor the houre Finally let experience it selfe moue them if thou thinke that to be more certaine Thou sittest often with thy friends being sicke or diseased and lying without hope of recouery thou art sometimes presente with them that giue vp the ghoste thou hearest the groninges of them that dye thou seest the dead caried forth thou also dost accompany them to burying thou seest the bodyes committed to the earth thou hearest men lament the death of their freendes thou readest Epitaphs and inscriptions of tombes thou meetest them that weare mourninge apparell all which thinges ought worthely to stir vp in thee a remēbrance of the shortnes of this life and of death that is dayly imminent If the death of strangers doe nothing moue vs yet let the death of our familiers neighbours moue vs let our owne perils in whiche we often are the grieuous diseases that we fall into moue vs and where as wee consider not our infirmitie by the example of others let vs at the lest by our own weakenesse acknowledge the imbecilitie and frailtie of mankind and of our common nature Which if we shall do we shal then perceiue that there is no cause why we should flatter our selues with a vaine and false hope of long life But will some man say I may in olde age amende my life and repent in the meane season I will take my pleasure I heare this but who certenlye knoweth that he shall liue vntill olde age Dooste thou thinke that it wil be in thy power to repente when thou wilt who nowe neglectest and pretermittest the time and occasion of the same being offered Thou art deceiued truly thou art deceiued I say if thou so doost thinke God of his goodnes whereby he desireth rather the amendment then destruction of a sinner when it seemeth good vnto him calleth thee to repētaunce and as he sayth in the reuelation he standeth at the dore knocketh open thou to him knocking heare him calling thee and whither he calleth followe thou despise not the riches of his bountifulnes and lenitie least after thine hardnes and heart that can not repente thou heape vnto thy selfe wrath againste the day of wrath as Paul saith writing to the Romanes Remember what the same Paule sayth to the Corinthians We beseeche you saith he that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine For he sayth I haue heard thee in a time accepted and in y day of saluation haue I succoured thee behold now the accepted time behold now the day of saluation The Apostle sheweth here that the time of repentinge being offered of God is not to be neglected that the like occasion is not alwayes giuen Hereunto pertaineth that sayinge to the Galathians While we haue time let vs worke that which is good And one of the auncients sayde not amisse He that hath promised pardon to the penitent hath not graunted so much as the morrow to him that dissembleth Take hede therefore leaste by prolonginge the amendment of thy maners and that vpon hope of long lyfe thou do wittingly willingly tempt the Lord whose goodnes inuiteth thee vnto repētance which we are forbidden to do by the commandement of God as is declared in Deuteronomie It doth not seldome happen that in the time of contending brawling of playing of drinking and tipling some is
I saye runne to thy ruine and destruction for the pleasant companye of thy companions but to the vttermost of thy power sequester thy selfe from them and let eternall saluation be more deere and pretious vnto thee then a shorte delighte of worldly ioye and pleasure A right pithie and profitable exhortation to forsake vice and imbrace vertue AGaine and againe thinke thus with thy selfe that I may nowe come to the laste poynt that he doth not truely repent neyther is or may be counted a Christian who continueth in sinne and wickednes neither that there is anye true faith in him who sinneth against his conscience and committeth an heynous offence Let vs not therefore be Christians in name onely being farre of from the thing it selfe neither let vs boast of faith in wordes alone but let vs truly and vnfeynedly repente let vs turne to God with all our heart let vs not trusting to our owne strength but to the helpe and assistance of God endeuour to reforme vice by vertue alwayes to liue godlily iustly innocently vprightly holily chastly soberly temperately profitably to the Churche of God friendly to the life of man and as Paule saith as it becommeth the Gospell of Christe Let vs moreouer dayly desire of our heaueÌ„ly father by our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ that he will giue vnto vs his holy spirite who may gouern guide teach sanctisie rayse vp comfort and quicken vs for Christe in the gospell hath promised that his heauenlye father will giue the same spirite vnto vs if we by harty prayer aske it of him And let vs not resiste the holy Ghost by yeelding to our wicked desires against our conscience neither let vs expell or greeue him that I may vse the word of the Apostle Paul. Let vs walke in newenesse of life let vs not serue sinne let vs giue vp our bodyes a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God let vs mortefie the fleshe with the affections and lustes thereof let vs keepe our selues vnspotted of the world let vs be renued in the spirite of our minde and put on the newe man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holines let vs be followers of God as deere children let vs walke worthye of the Lord and as it becommeth saints forbearing one another through loue endeuoring to kepe the vnitie of the spirite in the bonde of peace let vs be gentle louing one towards another let vs loue our enemies let vs blesse them that curse vs let vs doe well to them that hate vs let vs praye for them that hurt and trouble vs let vs giue meate to the hungrye drinke to the thirstie releefe to the needye let vs harbour straungers cloth the naked visite the sicke admonish him that is out of the way instructe the ignoraunte helpe the perplexed with our counsaill comfort the afflicted reconcile suche as be at discorde and variance despise worldly honours contemne vayne glorye brieflye let vs not seeke after welth and riches lett vs endeuour alwayes to subdue and represse our naturall corruption and wicked affections and let vs not onely take heede least our hearts be at anye time ouercome with surfettinge and drunkennes but let vs also by fasting and due abstinence prepare our selues to prayer and among so many deceites and inuasions of Satan the world and the flesh let vs with ardent prayer aske helpe of God Let vs not be proud in prosperitie or discouraged in aduersitie whatsoeuer we doe let vs doe all things to the glorye of God let vs not regarde onely our owne matters but rather those which are other mens Moreouer let vs so behaue our selues that none be offended by vs but that we may by our good example bring other to vertue and godlines finally let vs pray dayly and without intermission in all things let vs giue thanks let vâ—â—lwaies aspire to heaueÌ„ly things let vs contemne humane and earthly These things are hard thou wilt say I coÌ„fesse it yet are they agreable to a christian profession needeful to saluation Let vs then do our diligence that we may cast of al remissenes of mind let vs not ouermuch fauor our selues nor yeeld to our own infirmitie or euer willingly be cause that the grace of God bee in vaine in vs Let vs not only not fall into sinne wittingly but let vs also valiauntly resist the assaults of Satan neuer yeeldinge vnto him through cowardise or sluggishnes Nowe what is not to be iudged light whereby thou mayst come to that life which aboundeth with all good things to those eternal ioyes Not without cause saith the Apostle Paul I count that the afflictions of this present time are not worthye of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs Hereunto maketh that which is sayde in another place The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither haue entred into the hearte of man the thinges which God hath prepared for them that loue him For how great a thing is it which can neither by force of words bee expressed nor by thought of man conceiued of what sorte it is to be a citizen and inhabitour of heauen to be an heyre of God an heyre annexed with Christe to possesse the kingdome prepared for the godly before the beginning of the worlde without end to beholde that soueraigne good to enioy the most comfortable coÌ„templation of the countenaunce of God to be conuersant in the company of Angels to haue societie with the blessed spirits to be in the assembly of the righteous together with the angels the Patriarchs the Prophets the Apostles the Martyrs finally with all the godly enioying blessed immortalitie and life euerlasting together I saye with all these to celebrate with hymnes and prayses the eternall God the fountaine of all glory What are not al the miseryes and molestations of this lyfe to be counted light if thou looke vnto the glory to come so that we oughte worthelye to be ashamed of our sluggishnesse and remissenes who when he remembreth these thinges namely the kingdom of heauen the life immortal euerlasting blessednes ioies exceeding great and infinite the companye of Angels finally the societie of all who after their life led godlily vpon the earth shall enioy a life moste blessed and eternall who I saye when he remembreth these thinges is willing to cary on the earth and doth not rather with Paule desire to be dissolued and deliuered out of the prison of this body Let vs not therefore count these things heard after which so greate commodities do ensue especially seeing on the other side they that keepe not the commandements of God that are needefull to saluation shall not onely be excluded from that felicitie whereof we haue spoken but also be cast headlong into hell fire and eternal death throwne into vtter darkenes where shal be weeping gnashing of teeth afflicted with most greuous paines and continual torments in the companie and societie of the deuils and the wicked without any hope
breaketh concorde zeale dissolueth friendship c. Nowe as wee oughte not to be proude or presumptuous being once victors so neither ought we straighte to be discouraged or caste awaye our weapons when we are ouercome What must we do thē To take away the former ignomie let vs more fiercely assaile the enemie put away the shame before receiued by newe vallour and valiantnes no otherwise then that champion mentioned in a certain Poet when he had fallen heauily to the earth being nothing terrified with the fall He commeth fiercer to the fight ire doth his courage moue again Shame stirres his strength and vallour which he in himselfe knew to remaine HOwbeit we must encounter with the enemie trusting not somuch to our own power prowesse as to Gods helpe assistaunce Thus hast thou y cause why for the most parte we persist not in our purposed determinatiō to liue vertuously according to Gods wil. For the cause as I haue sayde is our naturall corruption and pronenesse to sinne also the world offering daily inumerable occasions meanes to all kind of wickednes finally the deuill alwayes thinking of our destruction and omitting not scarce one moment of time eyther with open force or by priuie and secret means to assaile vs. God the father of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ vouchsafe with his ayde and assistance to helpe vs and with his holye spirite to confirme and strengthen vs hauing suche a sore and continuall conflict with so manye enemies whom we are very weake to resiste that by his helpe we may represse the motions of the flesh and not be caried awaye with the allurements thereof that we may subdue our vicious nature and be able valiantly to resist the world alwaies ministring occasions means to infinite sinnes and the deuil on euerye side assailinge vs and attemptinge all meanes to destroye vs and that not onely a seruile feare which the law bringeth namely of Gods vengeaunce and eternall punishment may reuoke vs from sinne and wickednes being terrified with Gods wrath and iudgement and striken with dread and horror of hel but much rather yea specially a free feare with a certen honeste shamefastnes and vertuous reuerence toward GOD maye moue vs not easilye to commit any thinge whiche may displease our moste gracious and fauourable father and may also make vs of our owne accorde to auoyde vice and embrace vertue and by loue and charitie keepe vs in doing our duty so that if we commit anye offence vnawares as the imbecilitie of man is great the same may bring so greate griefe and disquietnesse of mynde vnto vs that we shall take no ioye of our lyfe for that wee haue offended so louinge and mercifull a father vntill wee haue by heartye repentance pacified him againe Finallye the eternall God for his sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christes sake graunte that in suche shortnesse of thys lyfe in suche vncertaintye of the houre of death we may not prolonge and dryue of from daye to daye the amendement of our manners but that acknowledging our sinnes wee may withoute all delaye endeuour to returne vnto goodnesse truelye and heartelye repente and by vnfeyned repentance of our sinnes pacifye our heauenlye Father Moreouer wyth the Publican mencioned in the Gospell humblye and wyth knockinge our breaste implore Gods fauour and mercye Fynallye that wee may be willing carefull to doe those thinges onelye which are acceptable to God that wee may reforme vice with vertu and that through Gods assistance wee may by all meanes endeuour to leade the rest of our lyfe hereafter godlily holily innocently chastly soberly temperatly profitably to the church of God friendly to the life of men agreeable to a christian profession and also perseuer in this our good purpose and determination The Conclusion THus much I thoughte good to write concerning the folly of men in prolonging the amendment of their life The verye matter it selfe whiche I tooke in hande to entreate of hath enforced me to speake of such thinges as to the vertuous and them that loue God are very pleasant and delectable but to suche as will seeme Christians when they are nothing lesse very vnpleasant and grieuous We haue spoken many things yea and haue so earnestly repeated the same that we may seeme almost tedious to the reader concerninge the shortnes and vncertainty of thys lyfe concerning death which by reason of the vncertaine chaunces that be incident vnto vs is dayly imminent and doth oftentimes come vppon men suddenly and vnawares which the godlye doe hartely desire and willingly suffer when it so pleaseth God but the wicked doe wonderfully dread and feare We haue spoken of the generall resurrection of the comming of the Lord of the last iudgement when all shall be called to the examination of the life which they haue led the daye whereof being dreadfull to the wicked the godly thinke shal be to them ioyfull and happy For then approcheth their redēption then commeth the time of comforte and refreshing as the Apostle in the Acts sayeth and as Tertulian sayeth then is the daye of Christian reioycing We haue spoken moreouer what rewardes are appointed after death for the godly and what punishments for the wicked For the godly shall ascende vnto God and in heauen enioye a life most blessed and euerlasting For what great felicitie is it alwayes to beholde God to be exhilarated with a perpetuall and most pleasant contemplation of his cositenance to see him as he is whom we now see through a glasse darkely as the Apostle Paule saieth finally to abound with all good thinges to be partakers of so great delights and ioyes as no man is able sufficiently either in cogitation to comprehend or in words to expresse Contrariwise the wicked shal be thrown hedlong into hell there to be tormented with most grieuous euerlasting paines For there is no eloquēce of any man so great which is able in words to vtter nether the wit of anye so sharp that it is able in cogitation to conceiue the lest parte of those torments which the wicked shal suffer in hel being condemned by the iust iudgement of God to eternall fire Finally we haue spoken of sundry other things which as I haue said shal be very pleasant to the godly but to the wicked very vnpleasant grieuous as of the sense of Gods wrath against sinne of shaking of securitie in the time of prosperitie of repenting vnfeynedly of the amendment of our manners of the reforming of our life of a dayly fight with our aduersaries the world the flesh and the deuill and of other such like thinges which it is not here needefull to repeate These things are in deede hard vnpleasant but as I hope wholesome profitable For phisitions as one wel witnesseth do cure grieuous diseases with sharpe remedies and as Cicero saith vnto Octauius No remedies which are laid vnto wounds do so procure griefe as they that are wholesome The eternal God the father of our Lord and redeemer Iesus Christ graunt that in this so corrupt and wretched age this our treatise howbeit if anye will earnestlye peruse the same may somewhat conteine the godly in their dutie and confirme them in the best part and may giue some occasion to the wicked I mean such as be not past hope to returne vnto goodnes finally that this sharpe medicine whiche is giuen that health maye be recouered thereby may haue force and power to helpe and heale them that be as it were sicke and almost desperate Which he without whose helpe al the endeuour of men is frustrate in vaine euen the Lord God almighty graunt To whom be praise honor and glory for euer Finis ¶ IMPRINTED at London by Gregory Seton and are to be solde at the signe of the Hedgehogge at the West end of Paules Anno. 1579.
A Guide vnto godlinesse moste worthy to bee followed of all true Christians A TREATISE WHEREIN is set forth the folly of man in prolonging the amendment of his sinful life togither with the chiefe causes thereof and souereigne remedies againste the same Written in Latin by Iohn Riuius Englished by W. G. ¶ Imprinted at London by Gregorye Seton and are to be solde at the signe of the Hedghogge at the West end of Paules To the right reuerend father in God Gylbert by Gods merciful prouidence Bishoppe of Bath and Welles W. Gace wisheth peace and saluation in Christ. YOV are not ignorant as I think right reuerend Father that the corruption of our age is become euen lamentable and the enormities vvhich novve doe reigne verye great and grieuous For pietie nowe preuaileth with fevv but sinne seduceth many the most part slepe in senselesse securitie Vertue and godlinesse are almoste quite exiled vice and vvickednes almost vvholy embraced mē for the most part are become not godly but godles not vertuous but vicious professinge one thing in vvordes performing another in works as swift as the swallow to runne vnto vanitie as slow as the vvorme to folow vertue and pietie If any proofe be sought hereof we neede goe no further then to dayly experience and vsuall examples For to confes that there be some in dede which serue the Lord with vnfeyned fear dutiful obedience yet vvithout all dout the greatest part do liue very leudly and are too too slacke and remisse in matters of theyr saluation In steede of humilitie many nowe a dayes vse hautines in steede of prayer prating in steede of fasting feasting in steede of almes auarice in steede of setting forth Gods glory with their tongue which was made giuen thē especially to that end herrible dishonouring of his holy name by most wicked and vnlavvfull othes in steede of chastitye adulterie vvhich is nowe counted almost no sinne in steede of plain dealing deepe dissembling in steede of hearty good will hatred malice so that there is almost no faithfull friendshippe or loyall loue left amongst vs But I cannot stand to rehearse al so greate is the corruption and so many folde are the vices vvhich at this day doe reigne yea manye are so farre frō leading a life vvhich beseemeth Christians that in vertuous behauiour and liuing they are farre inferiour to many of the heathen as in sanctitie to Socrates in abstinence to Aristides in integrity to Phocion c That I may omit many other which vvere vvith sundrye vertues very plentifully endued vvho notwithstandinge had onelye the lighte of nature and rule of reason to directe them If then this age of ours be such that all kind of vice so mightely preuaileth vertue and godlines being litle or nothing regarded which as I sayd by daily experience vsual examples before our eyes is plainly proued so that the vertuous actions of many of the Heathen may be to a greate number in these our dayes as it were lanterns of light patterns and examples to imitate and folow If I say the case be thus as vndoubtedly it is how requisite are such remedies as may reduce men from such levvde liuing to the doing of their duetie By consideration of the premisses righte reuerend father I vvas moued to employe some time to englishe this treatise thinking that it vvill bee verye profitable in these our dayes wherin sin so aboundeth forasmuch as in the same is set forth the folly of men in prolonginge the amendmēt of their sinfull life as also the chiefe causes which moue them so to doe with singular and souereigne remedies againste the same whereupon I haue entituled it and that not amisse as I thinke A GVIDE VNTO GODLINES for that it reclaimeth men from sinne vvithdravveth them from vice and shevveth vnto them the right and plaine path to pietie vertue Now vvhat is better for men thē to follovv such a guide what more profitable then to vvalke in such a path which shal plainly appeare if we consider from vvhence they leade and vvhither they direct namely from vice to vertue frō sinne to godlines from the seruitude of Satan to the liberty of Christ from the snares of the deuill to the fatherly fauour of our most gracious God. As concerning vice or sinne from whence this Guide leadeth vs it is vndoubtedly a thing foule and filthy as by testimonies of the Scripture may be plainly proued Dauid sayth VVash me throughly from mine iniquitie clense me frō my sinne purge me frō my wickednes c. Now vvhat do vve vse to wash what to clense purge but that which is vncleā defiled with filthines Moreouer to omit how almost euery sinne is punished some vvay or other euen in this life hovv great a discommoditie is it that this vice or sinne bringeth vnto vs in that it moueth the Lorde to vvithhold his benefits and blessings from vs Most feruent is the loue of the Lorde God yet the vvaters of wickednes are able to quench it exceeding great is his liberalitie and bountie infinite is his clemencie and mercye yet sinne is able to close his hand and to cause him to detein his benefites from vs sinne is able to make him of a gracious giuer a vvrathfull reuenger of a fauourable father a sharpe and seuere iudge the like may be sayd of the rest of Gods benefits Finally the end of sinne is eternall torments and perpetuall paynes Many thinges mighte be spoken pertinent to this purpose some I onely briefly touch manye moe I willingly omit thinking these sufficient VVhereas this Guide directeth vs to vertue godlines it is a thing assuredly of a very great importaunce For that vvhereunto it guideth vs farre exceedeth all vvorldlye vvelth all terrene treasures Noblenes of birth is a thing much esteemed yet is it receiued of our forefathers by succession Riches are much regarded had in great price yet are they subiect vnto manye casualties Beauty is a thing much loued and liked yet is it also very fraile and fading Helth of the body is muche to be vvished yet is it diuers and sundry wayes mutable strength of the body is of many much made of yet is it by sicknes abated by age adminished vvasted Howbeit vertue or godlines commeth not by succession but frō the speciall grace of God the fountaine of all goodnes Vertue is not subiect to vvorldly changes chances it is not by aduersity altered by torments abated by enemies taken avvaye neither by anye other worldlye meanes fayleth vnlesse man through his owne defaulte be the cause thereof It remaineth as vvell with the sick as the vvhole vvith the old as the young Finally as they that follovv vice and perseuer in sinne are the seruaunts of sinne slaues of Satan so they that embrace and exercise true vertue and godlines are not bonde but free not seruants but sonnes euen the sonnes of God and heyres annexed vvith Christ For true
of concerning hel the riuer in hel that alwayes burneth the iudges Minos and Rhadamanthus the place abode punishmēt of the wicked wherupon came that saying of Seneca The poets deluded vs saith he and put vs in vaine feare so many count for trifles and fables vtterly contēne as vayne threats those thinges which at this day are read in the holy Scriptures of hel of eternal death of the fiery lake wher shal be weeping gnashing of teeth also of the resurrectiō of the soule bodye either to euerlasting paines or eternal glorye Whē as al these things without doubt strike horror into thē that be godly in deede do feare god aright as one saith they are almost afraid to heare thē once named or spoken of Thus hast thou the chiefe principall cause as I thinke why all of vs almost do so prolong the amendment of our life Of the second cause vvhy man differreth to amende his lyfe LEt vs nowe come to the second whiche is hope of Gods pardon and fauour a hope great in deede but surelye false and altogether vncertaine With this hope the continuall enemy of mankind the Deuil holdeth man in sinne and by dayly setting before him Gods lenitie and gentlenes keepeth him from fearing his iustice But as God doth easily pardon the penitent and fatherly forgeiueth such as returne vnto goodnes so he leaueth not vnpunished neither suffereth vnreuenged suche as with an obstinate mind perseuer in wickednes In vain therefore doe they hope for pardon who do not hartely repent for their sinnes committed The deuil notwithstanding by setting this hope before man bringeth to passe that he sinneth securely and neuer hath any earnest cogitation of amending his lyfe but despiseth the riches of Gods bountifulnes patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God leadeth him to repentaunce that I maye vse the wordes of the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans Let man here call to minde that which our sauiour sayth in the gospell of Matthew Repent saith he your former life for the kingdome of heauen is at hand And that which the Lord saith in Esay Which of them shall I then regarde Euē him that is poore of a lowly troubled spirite and standeth in awe of my words Christ saith moreouer in the gospel of Luke Vnlesse ye repent ye shal al likewise perish And Peter in the Acts sayth Repente ye therefore and conuert that your sinnes may be put away I omit sixe hundred other places in the Scriptures which tende to the same ende that is which teache that none can hope and trust for pardon of his sinnes but he that repenteth For in vaine as I haue sayde doth he hope to haue remission and forgiuenes whose hearte is not touched with true repentance Now albeit no repentaunce be to late before God which the example of the theese mentioned in the gospell doth declare for God desireth not the destruction of sinners but rather that they repent and liue Who notwithstanding seeth not how daungerous a thing it is to differre the amendment of our life Well was it sayd of one that none hath euer had God so fauourable vnto him that he coulde promise himselfe to liue till the morowe Death oftentimes cōmeth vpon men vnawares so that they haue no time so much as to thinke of repenting and amendinge their life I will not here rehearse those thinges whiche Plinie declareth in hys natural history of sodain deathes farasmuch as nothing almost is more common vsual euen at this time also It is not many yeeres since there were two olde men in this country both inhabitants of one and the same citie who the same night they dyd lye with the strumpets to whō they vsed to resort that one lost his life by an Apoplexie the other was stabbed in with a dagger so both of them died sodenly with how great peril of their soules let euerye one thinke with himselfe I confesse it in dede to be true that it is cōmon to the godly as wel as to the wicked to die sodenly that that is true also with the wiseman saith that the righteous man with what death so euer he be preuented shal be in rest How dreadful a thing is it notwithstanding that the impenitent person should sodenly be ouertaken with death after such a sort Of how many haue we heard oftētimes who euen when they were tipling and making god chere falling vnto strife brawling amōg themselues haue bin thrust through one of an other Of howe many who being taken in adultery haue by the sword lost their liues Of howe many who playing at the dice haue bin slayne of them that played with them That I may say nothing of them who falling frō their horse haue brokē theyr neckes who haue perished sodenly in the sea by shipwracke finally who either byfalling of houses or by some other chance haue died a sodain death Although then y God doth desire rather the repentaunce then death of a sinner as in deede he doth it is notwithstanding a very perilous thing by reason of the vncertaine chaunces which be incident vnto vs to differre the amendment of our life vppon hope of Gods mercy Thou must repent in time while thou doost yet liue and art in good health But thus standeth the case A younge man takethe hys pastime and pleasure geueth himselfe to banketting and riotous liuing promiseth himselfe to liue manye yeeres and therefore thinketh nothing of reforming his life but differreth this thing vntill olde age whereunto notwithstanding it is vncertaine whether he shall euer come For what one among manye thousandes liueth vntill olde age Nowe what doth he that is become verye olde and is as it were euen at deathes dore To morrowe saith he it shall be done and againe it shall be done to morrow so he willingly deceiueth vaynly flattereth himselfe seeing as I haue sayde no man can promise himselfe to liue till the morrow no no man knoweth whether he shall liue vntil the euening In the meane season mē so dayly differring prolonging the amendmēt of their life death oftentimes commeth vppon them vnawares as we may see almost euerye day and yet can not other mens harms make vs to beware so doth the deuill alwayes drawe vs on and allure vs with a vayne hope of Gods pardon and of a long life Now although it neither ought nor by any meanes may be denyed that the penitēt obtaine gods grace and fauour at all times neither may it be sayde that he who is nowe about to yeeld vp the ghost in that very agonye of death should despeire of pardon who notwithstanding is so vnwise that he doth not rather desire that which is safe and boyde of all danger then that which is ioyned with exceedinge greate perill Wherefore rather then there shoulde be any scruple or doubte let vs thinke in time of amending our life let vs not differre it from day
to day especially seeinge it is vncertaine whether wee shall liue vntil to morowe As concerning the clemencie gentlenes of God let that alwaies remaine in our mind which Cyprian sayth in a certaine place As fauourable saith he gracious as God alwayes is by the loue of a father so much is he to be feared by the maiesty of a iudge So shall it come to passe that the feare of Gods punishmente wil reclaime vs from sinning hope of Gods pardon will not lull vs a sleepe in ouer much securitie It is too much to say howe Priestes in the papacie doe flatter themselues with this hope of Gods clemency who al their life time kepe concubines and vnder a pretence of single life company with harlots freely without punishment neuer thinking of reforming their life or putting their concubines away And in the meane season knowing themselues guiltie of this dishonestie vnclean and wicked life they doe notwithstanding almoste euerye day celebrate diuine seruice and come to the misticall and holy table feeding vnworthely of y breade of the Lord vnworthely drinking of his holy cuppe Now how horrible a thing is it and how ful of peril and danger alwais to liue in that state in which if death come vpon thee there is no hope at all of thy saluation In vaine therfore do they flatter themselues with hope of gods mercy who so kepe cōcubines do with an obstinate mynd perseuer in wickednes neither euer go about to put away their strumpets or to amend their life neither do repent truely from their heart neither with weeping sighes craue pardon of God for their wickednes cōmitted But will some mā say they aske pardon of God oftentimes they often beseech his clemency to forgiue them For in the end of their euening prayer they say almost dayly Conuert vs O God and turne thine anger away from vs Also in the end of morning prayer Thou O Lord say they haue mercy vpon vs So at other times also they often pray that God wil haue mercy on them that he will be fauourable vnto them forgiue them I heare it neither doe I here stand to decide with howe earnest attention of mind with what zeale ferueney of spirite they doe that But be it that they pray with a mind ardent lifted vp vnto God and with a most serious and earnest affection what then What doth this auaile if they put not away their concubines with intent neuer to receiue them againe and do persist in a setled purpose and determination to liue chastly afterward doe also perseuer in endeuouring to amend their life and in continuall repentance for their wickednes committed Now because they doe not this as the thinge it selfe plainly sheweth who can doubt but they either beleue those things to be a fable with the holy scriptures tech of the last iudgemēt or els do too much flatter thēselues with a vain and false hope of Gods pardō O horible face of y popish church They which oughte to ouersee guide gouerne and teach others and that as wel by example as word they behaue themselues so that others are meruelously offended by them When the laity come to the Lordes table with what reuerence with what feare trembling with howe deuout loue and godlines doe they the same Howe doe they prepare themselues to confesse their sinnes and to aske pardon of God How doe they endeuour to their vttermoste that no scruple or doubt remayne in their minde conscience how certainely and firmely do they determine with them selues to amende theyr maners and reforme their life Now what doe the Popish Priestes These forsooth as one of their owne profession sayth make hast from the wicked company of their concubines to go to the alter and this they doe very often vnpunished without all shame They haue no care to amend their life they thinke not of putting away their harlots finally they are touched with no greefe in their mindes by considering their sinne and not to vse many woordes they seeme christians in name onely and word but in very deede are plain heathen Howe many occasions haue they to repente and turne vnto goodnes they visite such as are afflicted with greeuous diseases they heare thē confesse their sinnes they cōfort thē giue them wholesome exhortations and are oftentimes present with them when they yeelde vp the ghoste Moreouer they celebrate their funerals exequies and with great ceremony burie them commit their bodyes to the earth they walking in the temple oftentimes reade Epitaphs and verses grauen vpon tombes sepulchers they oftentimes heare and reade of the comming of the lord of the resurrection at the last day of the voyce of the Archangell of the trumpe of God c. So that by these meanes they may remember not onely the dead but euen death it selfe hanging ouer their heades euery houre they may remember also the laste iudgement the tribunall seate of the Lord and many other thinges which mighte moue them to amend But seeing by all these they are not brought to repent one of these two must nedes be true eyther that they count a fable those things which they reade in the holy scriptures of the iudgement to come and are with the Epicureans perswaded that the soule is extincte and dooth perishe with the body or els as I haue said that they flatter themselues with a vai◠and false hope and trust of Gods mercy Of the third cause why men driue of to reforme their life THe third cause why we prolong the amendment of our life is the custome of sinning which hath now almost the force of nature Now as it is very hard for euery one to ouercome his owne nature so the force of custome also is almost inuincible which men truely say to be as it were another nature Neither is it said amisse of one that those vices are hardlye cut of which do as it were grow vp with vs Howe tenderly gently parents bring vp their children frō their infancie we al do know From their tender age they are accustomed to delights pleasures They abstaine not frō foule silthy words and suche as are wicked blasphemous against God they weare sumptuous gorgeous apparel they do al things stoutly boldly impudently nothing modestly or reuerently They honour not their parents they reuerence not old folkes they disdaine their equales briefly what soeuer they list they think is lawful for thē to doe They are reclaimed frō naughtines neither with shame of men nor with feare of god They haue no care of religion pietie toward God much lesse of vertue honesty among men What should I vse many wordes Parents doe at this day by their owne example marre corrupt their children that they can with no aucthoritie correcte their maners Whereas in dede it becōmeth parentes neither to say any thing before their children with is vnsemely to be spoken
to vse many words as death fyndeth euerie man so is he iudged of GOD. Howe execrable then is that sluggishnes of men who liue with so secure a minde in sinne and wickednes For if they were touched with any care of their saluation they would surelye keepe some measure in sinning and thinke of the last day of their life as for example that I may speake particularly he that is at enmitie with his neighbour would endeuour accordinge to the commandement in the Gospell to be reconciled whoremongers and adulterers woulde remember that God will iudge them as the author to the Hebrewes sayth murderers sorcerers and all lyers woulde neuer forget that lake which burneth with fire brimstone where Iohn in his reuelation writeth that their portion shal bee couetous persons drunkardes raylers woulde alwayes haue in memorye that they shall not inherite the kingdome of GOD as y Apostle Paul witnesseth writing to the Corinthians and Ephesians rich men woulde neuer suffer to slip our of theyr mynde that our Sauiour sayth it is harde for them that truste in riches to enter into the kingdome of GOD briefly all of vs in generall woulde without doubte be myndfull of that vnquenchable and eternall fire which Christe threatneth in the Gospell to the wicked and vngodly and euery one woulde for him selfe feare that aunswere which was made to the foolish Virgins I know yee not also that saying concerning y slothful seruant Caste that vnprofitable seruaunte into vtter darkenesse where shal be weeping gnashing of teeth Moreouer that of the man which had not on a wedding garment Binde him hande and foote and caste him into vtter darkenesse c. Finallye that sayinge of our Sauiour to the wycked Departe from me yee cursed into euerlastinge fyre O too too stubburne and obstinate ones whom these thinges doe nothinge moue O Epicureans whiche bebeleeue not these thinges O wicked and vngodly persons which laugh and scorne at these thinges O mad men and vnmindefull of their saluation who neglect these thinges But they neglecte them who thinke they shall obteyne pardon and remission of sinnes by bulles and indulgences of the Pope and trusting in thys perswasion driue of from day to day the ameÌ„dment of their life Now there is another cause also which make many thus prolong and differre namely for that they are perswaded that because of a goodly worship which they giue to S. Barbarie they shall not dye but being verye contrite and hauing first receiued the Lords supper For thys superstition of worshipping S Barbarie hath possessed the mindes almost of all in the papacie WhereupoÌ„ they haue appointed a fast vnto her to be obserued euery yeere and painters set her forth holding the holy cuppe and breade in her hand Moreouer this is an other cause also for that they haue prouided long before that when their dying day is come they may be admitted into the familie of S. Fraunces and being deade may be buried in S. Fraunces habit For this opinioÌ„ also is fixed in the minds almost of all that the deuill hath no power ouer them who attaine to this forasmuch as the Monks haue together with their habit imparted vnto them their merites and good workes which are done in their whole order as masses diuine offices prayers preachinges studyes fastinges abstinence vigils labors and other such like For hereupon the Monks leauing alwayes that which is sufficient for theÌ„selues to obtaine saluation if there be anye ouerplus as alwayes there is some are wonte not to impart the same freely vnto others but to fell it vnto them for money This therefore is a cause also as I haue saide why they neuer thinke of amending their life who haue so bought with mony the participation of monks merites and deedes But it shall be needelesse here to refâ—… and confute this manifest error of popish indulgences and this very fond and vaine superstition of worshipping of Saintes seeing that both others before vs and we also haue often done the same in sundrye places Thus hast thou gentle Reader the chiefe causes as I thinke why we doe eyther neglect or differre the amendment of our life There be also other as it were seconde causes heâ—eof â–ª â—…s dayly company societie and conuersation with the vngodly and wicked who are touched with no feare of God muche lesse follow vertue and goodnes or liue holilye and vprightly Now the familiaritie and company of suche men is with all diligence to be auoyded of them who haue care of their soules helth Euill wordes as it is most truly sayde of one corrupt good manners and another saith by keeping company and liuing together with the wicked thou thy selfe also dost become wicked Here lette parentes remember that they must haue an especiall care that they suffer no naughty and leud person to haue anye familiaritie with their children and that they see and marke what youth it is and with what maners they be endued which are much or daily in their company doe liue familiarly wyth them or seeke to insinuate into their frendship and fauoure For euery man doth almoste become such a one as they are whose companye he vseth And truely in deede is it sayde of one that he which toucheth pitch is defiled therewith But let vs heare what another sayeth who cannot away with our religion Maners sayth he are taken of them with whom we be conuersant and as certaine diseases passe froÌ„ the bodye to them that touch it so doth the mind also insert them that be next it with the euills thereof The drunkard bringeth his companions to â—oue well wine the vnchast person maketh the stout and valiant if it may be effeminate and wanton couetousnesse poureth her poyson into them that bee next it The same may be sayd on the other side of vertues c. He therefore that desireth to liue vertuouslye and godly and to keepe himselfe pure cleane from wickednes which all Christians oughte to desyre let him shunne and auoide the companye of the wicked For they that giue themselues wholy to theyr companye and are daily conuersant feaste eate and drinke be merye and make good cheere with them they I say doe hardly euer thinke of amending their life neither can they easily seuer themselues froÌ„ y plesant coÌ„pany of their coÌ„panions Wherfore notwithstanding they frequent godly sermoÌ„s are admonished of good men and suche as haue authoritye and they themselues being moued with feare of Gods punishmente doe desyre that vnfainedly to reforme their maners yet for all this I can not tell howe they alwayes differre and driue of from day to day neyther can they for the moste parte euer either truelye repent or turne to the right way In the meane season deathe oftentimes sodenly vnawares commeth vpon them being thus secure carelesse For as euery mans death is certaine so is the houre thereof most vncertaine And therfore are we commaunded in the Scripture to watch and be alwayes
it come to passe that God will take pitie vppon thee forgiue thy sinnes and receiue thee into fauour for hys sonnes sake For he is our aduocate with god who maketh intercessiō for vs and reconcileth and pacifieth our heauenly father being offended at our sinne and wickednes as Iohn in his first Epistle generall teacheth East of therefore all regard of popishe indulgences of that superstitious worship of S. Barbarie and of the habit and clothing of S. Fraunces by which thinges no man can haue any hope to obtain saluation Flie vnto Christ himselfe who is our mediator and aduocate as I haue sayd the throne of grace the reconciliation for the sinnes of the worlde the Lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the world briefly our righteousnes sanctification and redemption as the Apostle saieth to the Corinthians Doe not then that I may returne to my purpose doe not I saye prolong the amendment and reformation of thy maners trustinge to indulgences and other such trifles especiallye in such shortnes of this life the houre of most certain death being so vncertain Which death forasmuch as it is dayly imminent by reason of the vncertaine chaunces which be incident vnto vs may euen at this very instant come vpon thee vnlooked for surely by reason of the shortnes of our life as it is saide of one it can neuer be farre of Howe daungerous a thing is it then to liue in that state in which if sudden death ouertake thee there is no more hope of thy saluation That thou mayst auoid this daunger see thou alwayes liue godlily acknowledge thy sinnes flie humbly to God for mercy aske pardon and forgiuenes and throughe Christe hope and looke for saluation from god Resort also often to the ministers of Gods word and aske of them godly instructions and spirituall comforte And that thou mayst be stirred vp to remember the promises concerning remission of sinne and be more more confirmed concerning the good wyll of God towarde vs come often to the Lordes table and as Christe hath instituted feede of that body which was once offered for the sinnes of mankinde and drinke that blood which was shed for the remission of our sinnes and so being mindfull of the Lords death giue heartye thanks to God for so great benefites and sing hymnes and prayses vnto him both priuatly with thy selfe at home and publikely in the assembly of the faithfull abroade A most fruitful admonition to auoid euill company NOw that I may goe forward to other matters endeuor as much as thou may alwayes to seuer thy selfe from the companye of the wicked and to associate thy selfe as neere as can be wyth the vertuous and godlye And as one admonisheth bee conuersaunt with suche as may make thee better admit such into thy companye as thou mayste amende It is a matter of no smal importance whose familiaritie thou vsest and with whom thou daily liuest For as we are infected with the company of the wicked as with a certen contagion so by dayly liuing together with the vertuous and such as feare God we are almoste reformed and amended Be therefore familier and a frend with these latter as for the other thinke thou oughtest to haue nothinge to doe with them The same doth Salomon commaund in his Prouerbs Paule also writing to the Corinthians doth so earnestly dehort from the companye and societie of the wicked in all thinges that he will not haue vs so muche as to resort to the table with them If anye that is called a brother be a fornicatour or couetous or a worshipper of Idoles or a rayler or a drunkard or an extorsioner with him that is such see that yee eate not There be in deede other causes I graunt why he will haue such to be auoyded either lest we shoulde seeme to allowe their lewdnes and wickednes or that such when they see all men shunne their companye may be ashamed and amende but surely this is not one of the smallest causes least the contagion of their vices shoulde infect others if any haue familiaritie with them For as a little leuen leueneth a greate lumpe of dough so oftentimes the example of one dooth marre and infect a great number Nowe althoughe it be in deede difficult and hard to forsake the aquaintance and familiaritie of them with whō thou hast long liued delightfully and pleasantly thou must notwythstanding with might and maine attempte the same and verye diligentlye endeuour to sequester and seuer thy selfe from the companye of such Onely be willing and earnest in the matter and without doubte it wil goe better forward then thou lookest for And because according to the greeke prouerbe the beginning is halfe of the whole and again as Horace saith he that hath well begunne hath halfe done see in any case thou doe beginne and doubt not of the successe by considering the difficultie If as it commonly falleth out thou doe eftsones thinke vppon the feastes mery meetings and such other vaine and fond delights which thou hast had with them if thou often euen against thy will remember thy mery mates and companions see thou doe then forthwith call to mynde the shortnesse of this lyfe death that hangeth ouer our heads euery houre the laste iudgement the tribunall seate of the Lord hell fire and eternall condemnation and so as the saying is driue out one nayle with another If thou call to mind these thinges and do thus speake with thy selfe Thy felowes pleasaunt companions inuite thee vnto them suppers dinners and mery meetings allure thee what doe I If thou doe earnestly say this with thy selfe what doe I then reason after a sort gathering her strength will subdue thy desire and thy will wyll yeelde to reason exhorting to that which is best Take therfore time as I haue sayde to thinke vpon these thinges and deale aduisedly in them when any such thinge come into thy minde by the suggestion of Satan cast of all remissenes of mynd neither doe straighte giue place to thy desire nor runne whither the deuill would driue thee Doe the companyons inuite thee to drinke and make mery with them See thou then cal to mynde that which our Sauior saith in a certen place Take heede saith he that your heartes be not ouercome with surfetting drunkennes Also that which Paule saieth Be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse and again drunkerds and gluttons shal not inherite the kingdome of heauen Also that which Peter saieth Be sober and vigilant moreouer that saying of Esayas Woe be vnto them that rise vp early to folow drunkennes Remember that thou must obey the authoritie of God and his Apostles rather then follow the will of wicked mē and that thou must yeld vnto reason exhorting vnto that which is best rather then consent to the deuill mouing thee to that which is worst finally that thou muste rather resist that euill spirite then grieue the holy spirite of god Do not therefore doe not