of these thinges Bretheren doe you not likewise perceaue a great delight comfort when you thinke vppon God doe you not consider when you meditate vpon terrestriall and created thinges referring them to God their creatour and efficient cause that you receaue a wonderfull sweet content from them O what a meditation is here for you to contemplate the fairenesse and largenesse of the Emperiall heauen O Israell Magna est domus Domini ingens locus possessionis eius c. O Israell saieth the Prophet great is the house of our Lord and large is the place of his possession he is great and hauing no end high and mightie Baruch 3.25 In domo Patris mei mansiones multa sunt In my Fathers house there are many mansions saieth our Lord Iesus Ioh. 14.2 O how many diuerse places and seats are there in heauen which the Saints enioy What is it then that now hindereth your will what letteth you that you cannot be inhabitants of that heauenly citie I am non estis hospites aduenae c. Ephes 2.19 You are not now pilgrims and strangers but you are the citizens with the Saints and domestickes with God Our mercifull Lord Iesus Christ sinners hath reckoned vs amongst the citizens of heauen by his bitter death and passion he hath made vs heires and coheires of a kingdome haeredes quidem Dei cohaeredes autem Christi heires truly of God but as coheires of Christ. Alas miserable wretches what mischiefe is it that depriueth you of so large and faire an inheritance sinne some small puffe or blast of pride some little delight of your polluted bodies some gredie desire or thirsting after humane affaires some light passion of hatred some foolish plotts to be reuenged accursed be all those sinnes which procure such losse and damage vnto vs as to depriue vs of heauen and of the beatifical visiō of the almightie of the most pleasant sight of God the Father and of our Lord Iesus Christ and this is the portion which befalleth all the damned in hell O most louing Father O blessed Sonne of God and holy Ghost the comforter full of loue and charity for thy mercies sake suffer vs not to be depriued of those thy great and large promises permit not Lord God our mercifull Father Sonne and holie Ghost permit vs not to loose the ioyfull sight of that glory in the life to come and the comfort of thy grace in this life present Amen Of the fire of hell and the paines of sense which the damned doe suffer in the companie of diuells THE XXXI CHAPTER PRaeparata est enim ab heri Tophet c. for Tophet is prepared since yesterday of the King deepe and wide the nourishment thereof is fire much wood the breath of our Lord as a torrent of brimstone kindling it Isay 30.33 Goe to now sinner call to thy remembrance those grieuous punishments which thou shalt endure in hell vnlesse thou amend thy life And first of all consider that in hell there is a wonderful denowring fire euer burning and yet neuer consumeth those miserable damned Praeparata est ab heri It is prepared since yesterday that is from the beginning of the foundation of the world there is a place prepared which is called Tophet which signifieth a misleading or beguiling that is hell whither all the soules misled and beguiled by the world the flesh and the diuell presently resorte This Tophet and this hel God the King of Kinges hath prepared to reuenge and punish those execrable diuels all sinners together with thē Prosūdata c. It is deepe and vaste hell is large of great cōpasse saith the holy Prophet I say Nutrimentum eius c. the fuell of this place is fire wood and God with his breath doth cōtinually kindle and sett it on fire Whereupon sinners it is moste cleare that hell is a very darke place in the most inward deepest partes of the earth broade and wide and so ample that although soules should fall downe therin as fast as the raine vpon the earth yet would it neuer be filled In this place the fire allwaies burneth and without ceasing or intermission cruelly torments the diuells damned persons and will so torment and wofully burne them for euer The holy Doctors doe hould that this fire is corporall Ignem infernalem corporalem esse non ambigo saieth Saint Gregorie I doe not doubt but that the fire of hell is corporall And although no corporall thing hath power to worke on a spirituall thing naturally yet notwithstanding by the diuine power that fire which is corporall of the same nature with ours neuer ceaseth after a wonderfull manner to torment al the diuels which are pure spirits and all the damned soules which likewise are without their bodies vntill the day of iudgement then their bodies also shall burne with them for all eternity Alas miserable sinners this is the place appointed and prepared for you where you shal burne with all the accursed crue of diuells for euer except you amend your liues and by repentance turne vnto God That fire shall burne for euer and neuer be extinguished Nutrimenta eius ignis c. The nutriment therof is fire and much wood neither shall there want one daily to blow it for the breath of our Lord like a torrent of brimstone doth kindle it But you must by no means suppose or thinke that there is wood in hell necessary to encrease the fire but the sacred scripture speaketh so to this end that it may be presēted more liuely vnto our vnderstāding which better comprehends and perceaueth naturall thinges neither can wee but say the diuells and soules before iudgement and the bodies of the damned after iudgement be vnderstood by wood for euen as the wood shall be cast into the fire so the diuels and the damned spirits before the day of iudgemēt and their bodies after shal be cast into the same O wonderfull miserie and calamitie whereinto a sinner falleth seeing that he must go downe into hell where he shal burne for euer and euer and neuer be consumed Thinke with thy selfe that thou cannest not without marueilous paine hould thy fingar in this our fire for the space of one Aue Maria but according to the opinion of the Doctors this our fire being compared with the fire of hell is like a painted fire O ineffable miserie Put thy fingar a while to a painted fire and thou shalt perceaue no sensible paine but thrust it into a reall fire and thou shalt not be able to endure the same So truly stādeth the case here for so mightie and so forcible is the fire of hell and tormenteth the soule in such sort and so intolerably as that suppose any one could deliuer and take a soule out of hell fire and cast it into some burning furnace of our fire the soule would imagine it to be no other thing then a recreation or some sweet
wicked impious and vngodly wretch which hauing noe respect or reuerence to so great infinite a maiestie darest commit such thinges in his presence which thou wouldest feare and be ashamed to commit in the presence of an earthlie King or Prince although of meane power and authoritie The third reason is Tell mee oh yee sinners what punishment is hee worthy of who receauing many courtesies fauours from some noble man of worth as a â—ouse ornaments and clothes beseeming his qualitie when before he was ragged torne and meanly cloathed and being restored to his former dignitie wheÌ„ as before he was in great disgrace and miserie and hauing recouered his health which before was sicke infirme by his meanes made rich and wealthy which before was a begger and in great want lastly promoted and placed in the cheifest degree of honour who before was contemned vilified and despised of all if this man who is thus infinitly obliged and bound to this his friend should in stead of giuinge thankes intend and meditate snares and deceipts for the taking away of the goodes estimation and honour and laste of all the life of so great a friend and charitable benefactor and should associate him selfe in the companie of his enemies to the end that he might abuse contemne deride and kill him speake I beseech thee what penaltie shall this vngratefull wretch deserue surely the greatest that can be inuented Tell mee now oh moste wicked rebellious adulterous sinner what punishments what torments art thou worthy of when as thou doest disunite and separate thy selfe from thy God which made thee which created thee which gaue thee thy soule and body adorned thee with faculties and senses correspondent which produced thee out of nothing when as thou wert nothing and conserueth thee in this state in which thou now art and for thy vse conseruation hath ordained an infinite number of creatures visible and inuisible the heauens sunne moone starres elements mixt and composed bodies for thy sake only who also exceeding in loue and charitie for thy sake was made man visible and mortall exposinge himselfe to all wronges and difficulties when as he was impassible who last of all did offer him selfe to be killed and naked like a publique malefactour in the middest of two theeues as theire captaine crucified vpoÌ„ the wood of the crosse only that he might free thee from death sinne the diuell and hell and to bring thee to the eternall blisse of the celestiall paradise but thou on the contrary doest oppose and resist with al thy forces this so benigne a God so indulgent a Father so gentle and milde a Lord this I say so infinite and great a maiestie thou doest studie and endeauour with all thy faculties and powers of body and soule with so odious and detestable crimes to offend despise and dishonour Oh miserable and sinneful soule what punishmeÌ„t caÌ„ be thought vpon ordained worthy of thy deserts oh infinite patience and clemency of God which when as thou mightest precipitate pluÌ„ge and caste these sinners into the bottomlesse pitte of hell and deliuer them into the hand of the diuell to be carried into the abisse of perpetual darknesse thou doest not only not doe it but fauorably and patiently expect their returne calling them by thy diuine inspirations and heauenly suggestions vnto amendment repentance And also hast conserued protected and defended such cruell and malitious enemies forso many yeares together as well in thinges appertaininge to the body as the soule thou callest them thou goest to meet them thou inuitest them and doest offer thy selfe vnto them as if thou wert rauisht with loue towardes them who art so infinitly offended and greatly dishonoured by them Oh immense loue oh patience oh clemency oh mercy of God what great reason haddest thou oh holy Prophet to say Misericordias Domini in eternum cantabo Psal 88.1 Thy mercies oh Lord will I sing for euer the earth is full of thy mercies oh Lord there is no end of thy goodnes Let vs come to the fourth reason which declareth the greatnes of sinne wherwith a sinner offendeth God What doe you otherwise oh sinners when yea sinne and offend then ballance in one scale the infinite maiestie power and presence of God and your selues your vnlawfull desires and momentary pleasures in the other therefore tell mee oh sinner whither of these two is of greater excellency and worth rather to be chosen God or thy little momentary pleasure your opinion is that this your transitorie pleasure is of greater value by which meanes your Sauiour being reiected you make choise of his creature God being left in whom is the fulnes of all thinges you take that which is nothing the cheifest good beinge contemned yee doe embrace that which beareth in it selfe noe species or signe of true good but superficiall painted and transitorie oh iniurie oh offence oh wrong oh dishonour wherewith you offend so louing a God and benigne and clement a Father Let vs now proceed to the gift of reason what doth a miserable sinner by sinning but call in question and dispute whether his or Gods diuine will is better whither with more promptitude hee should obey God or his owne base desire He preferreth his own will before Gods and presently concludeth that it is more conuenient to obey his owne making himselfe an other Lucifer greater then God Oh execrable Lucifers oh wicked and accursed sinners who when as yee are base filth and dung are so swollen and puffed vp with pride that in as much as lyeth in your powers you exalt yourselues aboue God what affliction therefore shall be imposed vpon you in the world to come when you shall be deliuered and giuen vp into the handes of that proud Lucifer of whoÌ„ ye haue bene such diligent sectatours and vigilant seruants Oh my deare sinnefull Brethren I will not be more prolix in this argument because the disputation calleth mee an other way it sufficeth mee and also ought to suffice you to haue heard the sound of this our first Trumpet which with a shorte blaste I haue sounded that detesting and abhorring sinne you may be disunited from Sathan and reioyned to your sweet creatour Lord and redeemer that herafter yee may desist from offering him so great iniuries and make an end and period of so many foule and detractiue contumelies wherby yee haue in no small measure offended him Doe this I beseech you brethren which I begge and implore of you by the pretious wouÌ„des and liuely blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ lyinge prostrate at your feet vpon the earth I say vnto you oh BrethreÌ„ by the bitter passion of Iesus crucified offend him not so often with so many iniuries crucifie him not any more with such hainous crimes desist my Brethren hereafter to contemne and tread vnder foot the blood of the couenant And turning to thee oh my Iesu I say oh Iesu my only loue and ioy graunt pardon
execrable and accursed sinne how great and infinite is thy deformitie filthines and malice Here followeth the same matter of the deformitie of sinne THE V. CHAPTER SVch so great oh Brethren is the deformity of sinne that if a sinner should see his soule in a deadly sinne he would be vtterlie confounded with feare and amazement Wee read of an adulterer who after that he had committed adultery returned home whose wife and children forthwith astonished at the sight of him rāne away for he did appeare vnto them in the likenes of a diuell with fearfull and huge hornes this man beholding himselfe in a glasse and seeing himselfe to be soe deformed being stroken with an horrible feare with all expedition and haste went forth to confession and to be reconciled to almightie God the people that mett him yea the very brute beastes themselues being affrighted fled away he seemed so terrible to them in shape and figure and coming to the preist who did stand at the gate of the church saying his diuine office being espied of him to approach neare vnto the church he did so astonish him as that it caused him presently to shut the dores The miserable soule comming to the dore intimated vnto him that he was a sinner and was so deformed and of so fearfull aspect by reason of his sinne and desired him not to be afraide this being related and manifested the priest being possessed with no smal fear went out vnto him who hauing confessed being penitent and reconciled was restored to his ordinary naturall forme Oh soule soule oh vnhappy and wretched soule if thou couldest but see thy selfe being in a deadly sinne how exceedingly beyond all apprehension wouldest thou bee ashamed astonished confounded at thy selfe how great a terrour would seaze vpon thee if thou shouldest see thy selfe so deformed and vggly through sinne when as before thou wert moste faire beautifull Furthermore when yee commit any sinne lest you should be seene of any one you seeke obscure places for the performance of the same and if by fortune you be apprehended in the acte of your offence presently you are moste grieuously ashamed and perplexed and although the sinne be obscure and not reuealed yet for many yeares you dare not appeare in the presence of him who apprehended you Oh blessed soules who now rest in the fauour of God make knowne vnto these sinners what basenes and confusion yee perceaue in sinne when as some time by the diuine permissiō endued with heauenly virtues and illuminated with the celestiall beames of diuine grace you know vnderstand apprehend your former blemishes and offences and the multitude of soe great iniuries whereby formerly you haue displeased your moste gracious God I beseech you oh blessed soules demonstrate this vnto these sinners and sollicite your benigne and clement spouse for them that he would be pleased for his mercies sake to bestow some measure of those singular graces wherewith yee your selues were endued vpon these destressed desolate and miserable wretches effect this I beseeche you by the loue of him who soe dearly loueth you and whom you likewise so much reuerence honour and esteeme Doe this seeing there is nothing more acceptable vnto God then to intercead for poore sinners for the pardoning and remission of their sinnes who were redeemed and bought with so deare a price as the pretious blood death and passion of his deare sonne obtaine this therefore I intreat you while I proceed further to exaggerate the deformitie of sinne Giue eare oh my Brethren sinners sinne is so odious and abhominable that it compelled Iob to curse the houre and day in which he was borne with that fearfull speech saying Pereat dies in qua natus sum Iob. 3.3 let the day perish in which I was borne the night in which it was said a man childe is conceaued let darknes and the shadow of death obscure it let a miste possesse it let it bee wrapped vp in bitternes let a darkesome whirlewinde possesse that night let that day not be counted with the dayes of the yeare nor numbred in the monethes And a little after in the same chapter he vttereth these words full of misteries Quare non in vuluâ mortuus sum c. why perished I not in the wōbe why did the knees beare mee the brests giue me sucke what doe yee say to this oh my Brethren that such an holy perfect and iust man as Iob should say these thinges of whom God with his owne mouth gaue this testimony vnto Sathan Numquid cōsiderasti seruum meum Iob Iob. 2.3 hast thou considered my seruant Iob that there is not the like vnto him in the earth a man simple vpright fearing God retaining innocency Wherefore then and to what end should such fearfull words as the literall sence giueth proceed out of his mouth as to curse the day the night and houre of his birth surely it was only to intimate vnto vs the greuous and detestable loathsomnes of sinne in which he was conceaued Oh this wonderfull and admirable exaggeration of sinne how fully doth it represent vnto vs the filth and deformity therof God graunt that the terrible soūd of this trumpet may worke in you an abhorring and detestation of vice and kindle in your soule the fire of diuine loue that you may die daily to sinne here liue with him perpetually herafter Amen In what hatred sinne is in the sight of almighty God THE VI. CHAPTER O Dio sunt Deo impius impietas eius Wisdom 14.9 The wicked and his impietie are abhominable vnto God Soe great Brethren is the deformitie of sinne that God who is nothing but beauty splendour and goodnes hath it in great hatred and detestation and not sinne only but also the sinner The wicked and his impietie are odious alike in the sight of God saith the holy scripture By many thinges we may collect the deadlye hatred that God hath towardes sinners but most especially by two The first is that he doth soe sodenlie out of his seuere iustice punish it Lucifer and his associates sinned but God by no means enduring that insolent pride precipitated them frō the height of their former felicitie into the abisse of eternall darknes by Michael the Archangell prime minister in the celestiall paradise Our first parents Adam and Eue sinned and God forthwith expelled them out of paradise There are many examples in holy scripture which doe liuely set before our eyes the rigorous and soden execution of the iudgement and seueritie of God vpon sinners The Israeliticall people sinned adoring the golden Calfe presently the fire of Gods wrath was kindled and he said vnto Moyses Dimitte me ut irascatur furor meus contra eos Exod. 32.20 suffer mee that my fury may arise against them The same people sinned in demaunding Quailes in the wildernes Adhuc escae erant in ore ipsorum Psal 77.30 Euen when the meat was in their mouth the iudgements of
is a friend companion of God by how much it is intense in his worship praise and honour by so much it is gratious and acceptable vnto him from whence it cometh to passe that these great holy men when they were liuing in the worlde they were called the friendes of God Loquebatur Deus ad Moysen Exod. 13.11 God spake vnto Moyses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend and Iesus Christ saieth to his disciples Iam non dicam vos seruos Ioan. 15.15 now I will call you no more seruantes for the seruant knoweth not the minde of his Master but you haue I called friends because whatsoeuer I haue heard of my Father that I haue manifested vnto you Behold by what meanes a soule is made a friend and darling of God to witt by obeying his holy will and obseruing his diuine precepts now a sinner refuseth to doe that which is alwaies commaunded by God and in neglect of this performing the contrarie he witnesseth his malice and contempt of so omnipotent and infinite a maiestie if God saieth vnto him Non assumes nomē Domini tus in vanum Exod. 20.7 thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine he is presently breathing forth blasphemies If God saieth Obserua diem Sabath keepe holy the Saboth day he will little esteeme the prophanation of it if God saieth Honora Patrem honour thy Father and thy Mother he will be disobedient to them hence therfore ariseth a capitall emnitie betwixt the soule God Iniquitates vestrae diuiserunt inter vos Deum vestrum Isay 59.2 your iniquities haue made a diuision betwixt you and your God Oh vnfortunate soule what an inexcogitable preiudice hast thou procured which is the losse of Gods friendship and to appeare no other wayes in his diuine aspect then an abiect Reprobate and wretched enemy perhaps thou thinkest with thy selfe that thou hast lost but the fauour of some ignoble and vnworthy man or Prince Oh no no it is no lesse then the friendship of almighty God the creatour and conseruer of all thinges and redeemer of all mankinde Oh miserable soule if thou wouldest but duly consider and equally ballance thy vnheard of detrimēt what could there be inuented so pleasant or delightfull which might retaine thee in the snares of sinne what fetters and chaines of sinne so stronge that thou wouldest not shake off and breake in sunder oh what damage doe you sinners suffer when as you loose the loue fauour and friendship of so omnipotent clement and mercifull a God The holy Prophet Dauid consideringe only that he could not be present at the solemnity of the temple bewailing and lamenting he saieth Fuerunt mihi lachrimae meae c. Psal 41.4 my teares haue bene my bread day and night whilest they doe say vnto me where is thy God Quēadmodum desiderat ceruus euen as the harte panteth after the fountaines of waters so my soule desireth after thee oh God my soule hath thirsted after God the liuing water when shall I come and appeare before the face of God Si ergo inueni gratiam in conspectu tuo c. If therefore I haue found fauour in thy eyes shew mee thy fauourable cōtenāce saith Moyses to God Exod. 33.13 This is that that caused the Saints to be so vigilant and industrious in their prayers so austere in their fastinges mortifications and resignations of their proper wills and that to no other end but that they might be coūted worthy to be friendes of God for truly what other is the end center or repose of our soule but God As fire of its owne nature is carried vpward as euery ponderous and heauy thing of its nature falleth downewards euen so the soule is directed towards God and euen as the waters runne into the sea so haue our soules recourse vnto almighty God now truly from this center from this end and from this sweet repose is the soule hindred by the obstacle of sinne no other thing Oh therfore sinners enemies of God where wil you be secure To what place will you flie for refuge Where will you hide your selues from the presence of God Quò ibo à spiritu tuo Psal 138.7 whether shall I go from thy spirit or whether shall I flie from thy face It was the misery of sinne that made Cayn crie out Ecce hodie eijcis me à facie terrae Gen. 4.14 behould thou doest cast me this day from the face of the earth and I shall be hid from thy face therfore euery man that seeth me may kill mee It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God saith S. Paul But do ye not tremble oh you sinners when your aduersary is so powerfull your enemy so potent wo be vnto vs if he were not clement who is so mighty Returne therfore now oh Brethren vnto him which so louingly expecteth you Humiliamini igitur sub potenti manu Dei 1. Pet. 5.6 humble your soules vnder the mighty hand of God that he might exalt you in the time of his visitation reconcile your selues vnto him and agree with your aduersary whilest you are in the way that when he shall see you at the point and laste article of your death taking your farewel of the world he may not condemne you with the damned soules and execrable diuells in hell but of his mercy extoll and place you in heauen Amen That a soule by sinne doth lose the grace of God THE X. CHAPTER GRatiam gloriam dabit Dominus Psal 83.4 Our Lord will giue grace and glorie That I may comprehend the matter in few wordes our Lord is he that in this life giueth grace and in the next glorie But you so long as yee are in mortall sinne are depriued of that grace and dying in sinne shall neuer attaine to that glory which God forbid therefore rather turne from your wicked wayes and learne to liue vnto God for our Lord saieth Nolo mortem peccatoris impij c. Ezech 33.11 I will not the death of a wicked sinner but had rather that the vniust man would leaue his iniquitie and liue Therefore Brethren consider I beseech you the exceedinge great detriment and losse that you suffer by the depriuation of grace which that with fruite and profit I may intimate demonstrate vnto you I beseech you and implore this thing of you that you would attentiuely heare and with diligence read this that followeth I haue formerly declared how a sinner looseth the friendship of God and now my intent is to make knowne vnto you how he looseth his diuine grace which grace is as it were an intermediat thing betwixt the soule and God causing it to be acceptable and gratefull vnto him for the grace of God is no other thing then a certaine ornament garment or spirituall vestment of the soule by which she is made glorious appeareth beautifull in the eyes and presence of her
magnificent glorie must haue an end thy splendour beautie and comelinesse must decay and thy flesh whyther that body of thine must turne to dust and ashes thou shalt die shalt be consumed and depart this present life But which is most to be lamented at last thy miserable and execrable soule if thou repēt not shall depart out of thy filthy and putrified body to a place of greater misery then can be expressed But when shal this be when thou thinkest least of it when thou art least of all prepared when thou shalt be strangely bound with the chaines and fetters of thy sinnes by the diuell The cordes of my sinnes haue bound mee saith the Prophet Psal 118. taking vpon him the person of a sinner Man knoweth not his end saieth Ecclesiastes but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birds are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euill time when it shall sodenly come vpon them Eccles 9. O wretched sinner giue eare receaue the sound of this fearful trumpet Thou must once die ô sinner and thou oh harlot must one day be dissolued But when wilt thou say The time is vncertaine the time is concealed from thee the time is only knowne vnto God himselfe and it may be when thou not so much as thinkest of it There is nothing more certaine then death and there is nothing more vncertaine thē the houre of death saith S. Bernard This yeare this moneth this weeke this day this hower and moment thou mayest die and yeeld vp the Ghost They spend their dayes in mirth and in an instant they descend into hell Iob. 2. men shall be indulgent to their sensualities sporte laugh and be merrie and in a moment shall die and go to hell For when they shall say peace and securitie then shall sodenly destruction come vpon them as the paine to a woman in childbirth and they shall not escape saith the holy Apostle 1. Thessa 5.4 Of the last and deadly disease and damage of the soule and that after this life there is no recouery THE XV. CHAPTER MIserere mei c. Psal 6.3 haue mercy vpon me oh Lord because I am weake heale me oh Lord because my bones are sore troubled saith the Prophet Dauid Consider a while ô sinner that a little before thy soule depart out of thy vncleane polluted body thou shalt be vexed tormented with some cruell disease or other vnlesse thou be killed or die sodenlie which God forbid from soden vnprouided death oh Lord deliuer vs as our holy Mother the church teacheth vs often to repeate Tell me I pray thee who hath made thee certaine that thou shalt not fall downe dead as thou art eating who hath secured thee that thou shalt not departe this life hauing now the bread in thy mouth and the cupp in thy hand who can tell thee for a certaine that when thou art in the highest degree of delightes pleasures and worldly contentments that then euen in the midst of these thou shalt not be dissolued and descend into the abisse of perpetuall darknesse ô wretched and vnhappie sinners call to minde and foresee what you doe and haue respect vnto the end which most certainly shall come but when you know not Be it that God out of his infinite mercy and clemency will not deale with thee according to thy merits nor take thee away with a suddaine vnforseene but with a common ordinary kind of death In what an astonishmēt wilt thou then be whē thou shalt see the last messenger of thy life which shall be an ordinary disease but deadly euen in thy flourishing yeares beauty strength or in whatsoeuer gift and endowmen of nature belonging to a cōpleate and perfect man consider vnfortunate wretch that thou shalt not depart this life on a suddaine without some vehemēt feauer or the like disease which through heat or colde shall one while cause thy teeth to chatter shake an other while with heat burning shalt not only be enflamed molested with the grief of thy stomacke and head but thy very harte will tremble and quake within thee that all thy nerues sinewes iunctures arturies and veines shal be moued tremble and all this through thy intollerable paine and anguish neither shalt thou haue sleepe or appetite last of all thou shalt take no rest night nor day What wilt thou doe then miserable soule loaden with sinnes which for the space of soe manie moneths or yeares loste hast not confessed nor bene reconciled to God and thy neighbours nor agreed with thy aduersarie who like an other Sardanapalus hast runne a moste libidinous course and lastly seest thy selfe to be defiled and contaminated with the spott and filth of thy sinnes and offences Tell me I beseech thee how great will that anguish bee and how intollerable that affliction which then thy sinnes shall cause and bring vpon thee how infinite shall thy doloures be which shall cruciate thee when thou shalt cal to mind the iniuries wherewith so many yeares together thou hast offended almighty God Tell me whether of these greifes will be more vehement the tormentes of the body or the sorrow of thy soule For when thou shalt beginne to feare death and to receaue a remuneration according to thy sinnes which is death what a present hell will it bee to all the powers and faculties of thy soule when as for the hardnes of thy harte thou canest not repent Indurauerunt facies suas c. Ierem. 5.3 They haue hardened their faces more then the rocke and would not returne saith the Prophet Ieremie Be thou conuerted oh sinner and turne with al expedition vnto thy God expect not blinded soule the last howre in which that vnwelcom messēger of death shall come intimate vnto thee thy dissolution It is your cause that is now in hand therefore be well aduised what you doe it is your suite that is now in action therefore take counsell preuent the future and expect not that latter and perilous time What shall you then be confessed and brought into the state of grace who cā make you certaine of that or promise you that thē God will forgiue your crimes offences and admitt you into his fauour who haue all your life time so exceedingly offended him But if God should then assist you notwithstanding it wil be very painfull and laborious to remember your so innumerable sinnes By what meanes shall you call to minde so many wronges wherby you haue dishonoured God when as you shal be circumuented with so many griefes and oppressed with so many diseases and torments It may be you shall not be capable of sense or reason Last of all how shall it be manifest vnto you that you shall be of power and abilitie to make a true confession or speake or pronounce the words when you shall be dried vp with heat and debilitated with extremitie of sicknes Alas blinde and miserable wretches why prouide you
not now for your necessities why leaue you not your pernicious and wicked course of life why desist you not from offending your gratious God why crie you not out with the Prophet Dauid Haue mercie vpon mee oh God according to thy great mercie and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine iniquities If you will now implore the diuine assistance your daungerous woundes may be cured and you may find grace and mercie at the handes of God which at the howre of death it may be you shall not obtaine for then you will with feare but now you may with loue inuocate craue his diuine clemencie then you leaue not your sinnes but your sinnes leaue you Wherefore Brethren sinners be now vigilant and carefull for your soules begge at this instant with importunity pardoÌ„ for your so many heinous offences and odious delinquences Turne you to your Lord God with all your hartes he is exceedingly clement and his mercies are many and you shal finde rest vnto your soules Returne to him with the saying of the prodigal sonne in your mouthes Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthy to be called thy sonne which if you shall so doe he being moued with compassioÌ„ towards you will goe out to meet you and fall vpon your neckes and louingly embrace you pardoning all your former iniuries wherby you haue offended him euen as a Father taketh pittie of his children so hath our Lord compassion vpon them that feare him because he knoweth our making he remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 102.13 Our Lord is nothing but clemencie and goodnes the earth is filled with his mercie there is no end therof Psa 32.5 Breake forth therefore yee sinners into these wordes sayinge oh sweet Iesu our God Redeemer grant pardon mercie and remission helpe aide succour and assist vs perishing soules for thy bitter passions sake Amen haue mercy vpon me oh Lord haue mercy vpon me because my soule hath trusted in thee Of the separation of the soule from God in the article of death THE XVI CHAPTER INiquitates vestrae diuiserunt c. Isay 59.2 your iniquities haue diuided betweene you and your God saith the holy Prophet Isay consider now obdurate sinner that thou must approach to the last moment of thy death perswade thy selfe that thou must come to that terrible and fearfull instant in which thy soule shall be separated from thy body oh misery and calamity what wilt thou then say or doe when as by no meanes thou canst hinder thy soules departure Thy spirit must be then disioyned from thy flesh which I wish may not bee separated from God Alas alas wretched and miserable sinner when thou shalt see thy soule to depart from thy body and eternally to be separated from God what wilt thou then doe oh miserable separation of the soule from the bodie but oh farre more miserable the separation of the same from God What wilt thou coniecture when thou shalt see thy selfe to be excluded the presence of God thy Creator vnfortunate soule consider what a seuere iudgement there will be of thee at thy death which the holy Apostle considering saieth For we must all be manifested before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one may receaue the proper thinges of his body according as he hâ—th done either good or euill 2. Corin. 5.10 Then of all thy deedes euen thy least actions of all thy vaine wordes and cogitatioÌ„s which euer came into thy minde thou art to giue and yeelde a strict and seuere account Then shalt thou be constrained to answere not only for thy lost time but for al thy time il spent Then shalt thou vnderstand how profitable it would haue bene for thee to follow the counsell of the wise man who saieth Make vse of time and decline from euill Eccles 4.23 O miserable humane nature which runneth to death as the riuers to the sea You shall all die and fall as the waters vpon the earth which do not returne Enter therfore into the closet of thy harte and consider that thou art not to answere for thy owne crimes only but also for those which are committed either by thy fault consent counsell or conniuency or not hindering them when it was in thy power Then thou shalt not excuse thy selfe nor say with Cain Am I my brothers keeper Gen. 4.9 for truly he hath commaunded to euery one the care and charity of his neighbour Bee vigilant therfore thou sinner for there will be a great and difficult matter handled at the moment of thy death Well wilt thou then know how great an offence it is to vse iestes tauntes scoffes sportes and other merrie passages euen although without preiudice or detrimeÌ„t of thy neighbour How perspicuouslie shalt thou then perceaue what it is to be distracted in time of diuine office Masse and other holy Ceremonies and to be negligent and indisposed in the church or in other holy places If euery sinne be it neuer so smal for its obiect which is God is most great therefore also the least iniurie offered to God who is infinite is likewise infinite Now therefore oh sinner see how preposterously and peruerslie thou doest when thou wilt not alwaies eleuate and fix thine eyes vpon God Be circumspect least thou displease him euen in the least thing because thinges seeming of no moment are in his diuine presence very great from little and meane thinges of no account we easily fall into greater and more enormous as the scripture saith He that despiseth small thinges by little and little falleth saieth the wise man How truly did Salomon say The number of fooles is infinite because euery sinner is a foole who for a little vaine and transitorie pleasure feareth not to loose an infinite treasure permanent and immutable Oh sinners turne into your selues liue in the feare of God who created you for this is true wisedome and solidd prudence The beginning of wisedome is the feare of God Psal 110.10 Oh yee obdurate and blinded wretches looke into the state of your soules foresee what griefes you shal conceaue when your soules must departe your bodies with whom they haue bene with so great affection conioyned and vnited Consider that vnwilling and most dolefull departure and separation no man euer hated his flesh saith the Apostle Ephes 5.29 but loueth it with a moste vehement loue and affection whereupon the philosopher vnderstanding this naturall loue of the soule saied that death is the last of terrible and fearfull thinges Know now sinner that this feare terrour is to inuade thee but when this horrour shall seaze vpon thee the time is vncertaine Oh my Trumpet send foorth thy sound that thou mayest bee heard in the extreamest and furthest partes of the world let thy eccho enter into the eares of the wretched sinner that hee may know himselfe knowing may turne vnto himselfe and see the infinite losse detriment which
be assumed with troupes of Angels into heauen there perpetually to enioy the heatificall vision and ineffable delightes of paradise But if thou shalt depart without penance for thy sinnes without confession or at least contrition and desire of confession and reconciliation when thou cāst attaine to the acte of confession thy soule then at the instant of her departure out of thy body presently being seazed vpon by a companie of diuels shal be thrust into the loathsome dūgeō of perpetual darknes Thinke now ô miserable and vnhappy sinner of the misery of the body which shal be left destitute of a soule frō which it receaued its forme beauty and comelines and being depriued of this coniunction and vnion it shall be deformed loathsome pale and wanne Thinke with thy selfe it beganne to be filthy and putrified euen then when it was first taken with a feauer cōsumption impostume or any other disease and from that time to wax most filthy loathsome Thinke that it doth agonize and sweat euen vntill the departure of the soule and continually doth excreate spitt forth fleam and other corrupted filth and in this state and condition weeping languisheth and decayeth consider that after the departure of the soule the eyes will remaine distorted thy teeth grinning thy mouth gaping and thy countenance which before was faire beautifull and comely shal afterwardes become most hideous and fearfull to behould consider what loathsome excrements it will cast forth and of the suddaine moste odiously will stink I haue said to rottennesse thou arte my Father my Mother and sister to the wormes Iob. 17.14 O extreame folly of man which careth for nothing but to pollish nourish adorne and make much of this putrified flesh which whether thou wilt or no must bee eaten and deuowred vpp by wormes We read of a certaine philosopher that out of curiosity did visit the toombe of Alexander the great which beinge opened he found it stinking filled and couered with wormes and two Serpents eating tearing his eyes whereupon he cried out saying O Alexāder how lately is it since the world could not satisfie and fill thy desire but now thou art contēt with three cubits of earth and a little toombe Yesterday thou diddest triumph and boast of the number of thy subiects dominions to day thou art filled with filthines wormes Yesterday thou wert worshipped and honoured of the world this day thou art of the same world left and forsaken yesterday thou diddest feed vpon exquisite meats delicate dainties this day thou thy selfe art become meate for wormes Alas o you sinners and especially you which are giuen to the sensuall desires vnlawfull pleasures of the flesh set before your eyes the last misery of your dead putrified and corrupted bodies goe and consider with your selues the misery and deformity of those dead carcases and perswade your selues that you must be like vnto them and more abhominable it may bee Behould ô you harlotts how Queenes Ladies and Mistresses doe die see ô you sinners how Kings Lords and Masters without exception perish and consider that the same yee it may be worse shall befall you Behould how men and women are buried sinners and harlots behould I say in what state they are which are now buried what they were within these few dayes and be you astonished absolutly perswading your selues that the same it may be worse shall happen vnto you And say to your selues woe Alas to me miserable N. O wretched G. O vnhappy E. Behould into what state we must also one day come Heare you what the dead man saith vnto you To me yesterday to thee to day woe vnto thee which behouldest mee saieth the dead man to euerie one that looketh on him Behould ô woman the miseries of this dead body which in former times was thy associate Behould the mouth nose and countenance of it contemplate the breasts and golden haires of which she did so greatly as thou doest at this present boast and glory cōsider what an alteration there is Behould thou proud and intēperate wretch whosoeuer thou art immerst in the pleasures of the body smel how odiouslie and grieuouslie this dead body stinketh Behould that woman ô lasciuious wanton and tell me if thou knowest her Alasse o yee madd and pertinacious sinners what is there that cā mollify your mindes cleaue in sunder your obdurate and stonie hartes if the misery of your owne bodies and consideration of the loathsome hatefull stinch of the same can no Lord he stinketh for he is now of foure dayes saieth Martha of her dead brother Ioan. 11.39 O sinner what smell can be compared to that of an humane dead carcase To what end therfore such diligence and such curiositie to what end such cost odors paintings and ornaments To what end so many delightes pleasures fancies or whatsoeuer may seeme delectable to soe corrupted and deformed a bodie I haue seene the offenders and haue pined away because they haue not kept thy law saieth the Prophet Psal 118. O my Brethren and sisters sinners you compell me to pine away with Dauid for the extremitie of griefe when I consider the opprobries offences and ignominies whereby you offend your God and the irrecuperable detriment and dammage which you procure vnto your owne soules How long shall sinners o Lord how long shall sinners glory they shall manifest and declare their iniquitie Let God arise and let his enemies be dispersed and let them that hate him flie from his face As smoake vanisheth let them vanish away as wax melteth at the presence of the fire so let sinners perish at the presence of God and let the iust make merrie and reioyce in the sight of God and let them be delighted in mirth Psal 67.2 Breake the arme of the sinner and malignant his sinne shall be sought and he shall not be found saieth the holie Prophet Psal 10.15 beinge moued with an infinite zeale of the honour of God and saluation of soules O good Lord I am not Dauid but of all sinners the most wretched of all heinous offendors the greatest of all wicked malefactours the most pernitious notwithstanding ô my God deare Iesus I am incited and mooued with such a desire of thine honor the saluation of my poore brethren that from the bowells of my harte or rather of thine I implore thy clemency and mercie in these wordes Haue mercie vpon vs ô Lord haue mercie vpon vs for wee are much filled with contempt because our soule is much filled and is made a reproach to the wealthy and despection to the proud O God haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vppon vs for wee are all thy children thy seruantes and creatures Remember sweete Iesus my deare Lord that all poore miserable sinners are thy creatures thy seruantes thy children thy brothers thy sisters therfore my Iesus take compassion and comiseration vppon thy children and bretheren and shew mercie vpon thy daughters and sisters wee doe
our Sauiour to death how shalt thou bee able to looke vpoÌ„ this crosse O Caiphas and you Scribes Pharises that moued the people to cry out with an exceeding great clamour to Pilat away with him away with him crucifie him him crucifie him what griefe shall you conceaue at the sight of this holie Crosse What furie and madnes shall posesse you at the behoulding of it O vngodlie Christians who still remaine in the filth of your sinnes who haue trampled vnder foot the pretious blood of Iesus what will you then say and doe Thou proud man who reiecting all others wouldest submitt thy selfe to no bodie with what deiection wilt thou cast thy eyes downewards lest thou shouldest behould that triumphant signe Alas ô lasciuious man who wallowing in the mire of all vncleanesse hast liued in the filth and mire thereof hast liued in contempt of the blood and death of Christ how theÌ„ darest thou looke vpon that sacred signe Alas thou angry man who wilt forgiue nothing wherin thou art offended though in the smallest matter although thou shouldest be asked pardon for Christs sake in remembrance of his most bitter death and passion what then shall become of thee how wilt thou looke vpon that signe wheÌ„ thou shalt see all hope of obtaining mercie to bee shutt vp from thee Alas thou couetous man who for Christs sake wouldest not giue one morsell of bread to the poore what shall become of thee when thou shalt see thy selfe destitute of all celestiall and terrestiall things Alas thou wicked woman that hast killed so many soules and iniuried the blood and crosse of Christ with thy lewed and dishonest life what shall then become of thee Thou peruerse and obstinate heretike who dailie reuilest Christe and his holie church thou shalt then bee brought to the acknowledgement of thyne errours Alas daÌ„ned soules then you shall behould the fruite of your sinneful life past when all hope of mercy which you haue despised here vpon earth shall bee taken away what will you doe when after the crosse and other signes of the passion Christ Iesus crucified shall appeare in his maiesty O happie are they who shall be able then to looke vpon him O most sweet woundes of my beloued Iesus bestow that grace vpon mee that I may bee worthy to bee of the number of them which shall behould you with chearfullnes of hart O most amiable Iesus graunt me thy grace that I may bee one of them who with ioy and gladnes may glorie in thy woundes with these or the like wordes Behould my most louing Iesê° who hath shown so great mercy vnto me as to draw mee out of the abysse of so many sinnes and freely pardoned all myne iniquities Behould those woundes and pretious blood by vertue wherof I am saued Bee you blessed ô glorious woundes full of loue Be thou blessed ô my most amiable Iesus who hast vouchsafed to beestow so great fauours vpon mee To thee and to thy sacred woundes be attributed all praise honour glorie and benediction Let all the Angels and Saints in heauen sing praises vnto thee let all faithfull people vpon earth dailie worship thee let the whole fabrique of heauen and earth with all creatures coÌ„tained therin set foorth thy prayse God forbid that I should glorie in anie thing but in the crosse of Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified to mee and I to the world Now Brethren and sisters sinners turne your selues to Christ the iudge coÌ„ming in the cloudes with his diuine maiestie most glorious to behould to the Angels and all good men but terrible and fearfull to the diuels and all reprobate soules indeed all shall looke vpon him shining with his resplendant glory but with differeÌ„t affections the damned shal be forced to behold him to the greater augmentation of their griefe but the elect to their greater comfort and consolation Ierusalem wash thy harte from malice that thou mayest be saued Ier. 4.14 Sinners purge your soules and consciences looke into your selues with a serious consideration of your estate delay not vntill the terrible day of iudgement shall aproach for then it will be too late to prouide your selues to enter into the place of eternall happines Consider now sinner what helpes are prepared for thee so many teachers to direct thee so many coÌ„fessors to instruct thee so many bookes to cal and admonish thee so many diuine inspirations to moue and excite thee so many prayers of the holy Church so many suffragies of the blessed Saints thou hast thine Angell keeper to protect defend thee Cal to minde the manifould helpes which thy louing Iesus out of his fatherly care hath prouided for thee He daily teacheth and instructeth thee continually prayeth to his heauenly Father for thee we haue an aduocate with the Father saieth S. Iohn Iesus Christ the iust 1. Ioan. 2.1 Consider what helpe the B. V. Marie Mother of mercy patronesse of sinners procureth for thee who neuer ceaseth to pray for all before her sonne in heauen Consider on the otherside if thou continuest and diest in thy sinnes thou shalt be destitute of all helpe thou shalt not finde any to plead for thee not the Saints not the church nor the Blessed Virgin Mary for then the gate of mercy will be shut vp and no entrance shall be fouÌ„d sinners looke to your selues haue recourse to Christ the fountaine of liuing waters whilst it standeth open knocke at the gate of mercy before it be shut so you shal receaue pardon and remission of all your sinnes and offences Which God of his mercy graunt that we may all obtaine Amen Of the great shame wherewith all the damned shall be confounded in the day of iudgement before almighty God and the whole world THE XXVII CHAPTER ANd all nations shall be gathered together before him and he shall separate them one from another as a sheepheard separateth his sheepe from the kiddes and shall place his sheepe on the right hand and the kiddes on the left Mat. 25.32 O sinners what torments and vexations shal you haue in your troubled soules when you shall stand in the presence of God the whole world to be condemned for your iniquities what shame will it be to thee when all thy misdeedes shall appeare and be manifested vnto all And I will reueale thy secrets before thee and will shew thy nakednes to the nations and thine ignominie to the kingdomes saith the Prophet NauÌ„ Naum. 3.6 Noe means can be vsed to couer thy sinnes which thou hast committed so closely then what vices soeuer thou diddest in secret endeuouring to hide them from the eyes of men and Angels shall be brought to light Then traitour all thy treacherous and bloudy plottes shall be reuealed Then deceitfull companion all thy crafty plottes fallaces shall be detected ô wonderfull and maruailous thinge then shall they read one anothers sinnes in their foreheades as in bookes The husband shall see all the dishonest behauiours
of this life for so soone as thy soule shall leaue thy stinking and vile body presently will these cruell fiendes lay hold vpon her and entertaine her with store of tortures Consider with what fury and madnes they will take possession of thy soule Thinke what straunge kindes of torments they will inuent to punish her O there is nothing which we can excogitate so horrible as this Know for certaine that after death iudgement the diuell may dispose of thee as he listeth as well for thy body as thy soule Alas obdurate sinner cannest thou imagine that thou hast no need to doe pennance seeing that thou hast delighted thy selfe with all carnall pleasures and lasciuiousnes euen to the full Thou art deceaued wretch if thou suppose that thy body which for so many yeares together hath bene exposed to al abhominable vices shall not at last receaue recompence for its former lewednes Thou greedy glutton which Epicure-like makest a God of thy belly doest thou not expect the wages which thou hast deserued Thou bloudy companion which desirest nothing more then to be reuenged of thine enemies māgling their bodies at thy pleasure doest thou thinke to goe vnpunished or that infernall fiendes shall not in the same sorte dilacerate and disioint all the partes and members of thy body O the madnesse and blindnesse of mankinde which vnawares casteth it selfe downe headlong into hell what wilt thou doe wretched sinner when thou shalt be brought from one companie of diuells to another farre worse and more furious What wilt thou say lasciuious maide when thou shalt be tortured in one part of hell and from thence in a sudden be thrust into another where an infinite multitude of executioners expecteth thee What course will you take sinnefull men and women when you shall see your selues dailie to be punished with new and straunge deuised punishments Consider sinner that thy pleasures and pastimes are but transitorie call to minde wanton woman how that beautie will decay thy comely countenance be consumed and thy body become a prey for diuells Tell me I pray thee lewed woman hast thou neuer seene any one possessed in all thy life dost thou remember how the damned spirits tosse those miserable creatures torture their bodies in most pittifull manner Goe to then and consider how they will deale with thee when they shall get thee in their regiment when by the diuine iustice thou shalt be deliuered vp into their handes to be afflicted both in body and soule Consider seriouslie if those which the diuels possesse ar handled of them in this sorte vpon whom as yet they haue no power at all but only so farre as God doth giue thē leaue for they haue power ouer the bodie alone but nothing to do with the soule what will then become of thee when both in body and soule thou shalt be wholy deliuered vp to their cruelty which is not the same case with possessed persons because they are very seldome tormented of more diuells then one at the same time woe to you men and women which now disquiet not your thoughts with these thinges for afterwards you will feele the smarte for your negligence What sinner dost thou thinke that it will profit thee any thing if thou complaine and say Alas you afflict mee leaue off punish mee no longer and commiserate my poore case Noe noe it is otherwise yea the more thou shalt bewaile the greater blowes shall they lay vpon thee What canst thou replie that thy griefe and torments might be diminished The time wil neuer come in which these grieuous paines shall cease Ite in ignem c. goe saieth our Sauiour into eternall fire who shall reiect thee with terrible sentence and adiudge thee to these perpetuall flames What punishment will it be vnto thee when thou shalt call to minde the angry coūtenance of Christ Iesus whom after death thou didest behould in iudgement Good God Numquid qui cadit non resurget Shall not he that falleth rise againe and he that is turned away shall he not turne againe why thē is this people turned away with a cōtentious reuolting saieth the Prophet Ieremie 8.4 It is mans frailtie to fall angelicall puritie to amend and diuelish malice to perseuere in sinne as a certaine Doctour affirmeth Alas Brethren and sisters sinners be not so carelesse of the time to come returne to your God be sorry for your offences cōmitted earnestly begg pardon for thē of the diuine clemency whose property is to forgiue sinners Deus cui proprium est misereri c. God whose proprietie is to haue mercy and to spare saieth our holy Mother the church receaue our humble petitions that the pittifulnes of thy mercie may gently absolue vs and all thy seruants whom the chaines of their offences haue fast bound Returne to your Lord God and get againe into fauour with your sweet Iesus Are you afraide sinners that he will not receaue you thinke not so sinners Misericordia Domini plena est terra the earth is full of the mercy of our Lord and his tender compassions are ouer all his workes saith the holie Prophet Dauid Fidelis sermo c. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptance that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners 1. Tim. 1.15 Meditate a while vpon the great loue wherwith thy God was moued to come downe from heauen and to dwell vpon the earth for thee he was made man for thee and for thy sake after thirtie-three yeares spēt in austerities contempts and reproaches he shedd his most pretious bloud vpon the crosse Alas this alone ought to be sufficient to breake in pieces your stony hartes to bring you backe againe into the right path O Iesu my loue through vertue of thy holy name conuert sinners and those that goe astray take commiseration of their sinnefull state pardon them and be reconciled with them that they may auoide and shunne the tiranny of the diuell Graunt this my sweet Iesu I hūbly beseech thee through the merits of thy death and passion through thy most pretious bloud which thou diddest shedd for mee and for all sinners vppon the holy wood of the crosse Graunt this I beseech thee for the loue of thy most sacred passion for the loue of thy moste deare and pure Mother Graunt this mercy my beloued Iesu to all sinners for thy exceeding great clemency giue them pardon and forgiuenesse in honour of thy Angels and blessed Saints Amen IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen FINIS A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS THE 1. CHAPTER THE diuision of the Seauen Trumpets The 2. Chapter The first Trumpet of Gods grieuous complaint of a sinner The 3. Chapter Of the infinite wrong wherewith a sinner by sinning doth offend the diuine Maiestie The 4. Chapter The second Trumpet of the deformitie of sinne The 5. Chapter Here followeth the same matter of the deformitie of sinne The 6.
confesse and humblie acknowledge that wee haue all offended thy diuine and infinite maiestie wee doe all desire to amend and to reforme our liues and actions wee doe confesse ô my Lord Iesu that thine ineffable clemencie benignitie hath beene wronged and abused by vs all wee confesse our dullnes and negligence in cooperating with the diuine concourse of thy grace and last of all we confesse that in all thinges we haue bene most vnprofitable negligent and vnworthy seruants and most vndeseruing of such a clement louing and bountifull Father Lord and Master And therfore we cast our selues downe prostrate at thy feet submissiuely imploringe thy goodnes that thou wouldest not haue respect vnto our iniquities but vnto thy fatherly mercy most gratious compassion Euen as a Father hath mercy vpon his sonne so God is mercifull vnto those that feare him because he hath knowne our making He hath remembred vs because we are but dust Psal 102 15. Man is as the hay his dayes decay as the flower of the field Remēber therfore my Iesu that thou art our Father correct and instruct vs as a Father that we being moued with thy so great beniguity clemency and charity may fly and haue recourse vnto thee like good children and abandoning all vices may faithfully serue thee and loue honour and obey thee as our louing clement mercifull and omnipotent Father for euer and euer world without end Amen The fift Trumpet of the losse that sinne bringeth at the day of Iudgement THE XXIII CHAPTER ANd the fift Angell sounded the Trumpet Draw neare and with attention giue eare vnto the terrible sound of the fift Trumpet for there must come a reuolting first and the man of sinne shall be reuealed the sonne of perdition which is an aduersarie and is extolled aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sitteth in the temple of God shewing himselfe as if he were God and then that wicked one shall be reuealed whom our Lord Iesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the manifestation of his coming him whose coming is according to the operation of Sathan in all power and lying signes and wonders and with all seducing to iniquitie those that perish because they haue not receaued the truth according to charitie that they might be saued 2. Thess 2. Heare ô you sinners the terrible and fearfull sound of this Trumpet be astonished with all expedition arise from the sinke of sinne thinke seriouslie with your selues what exceeding great detriment damage it bringeth with it Alas thou vnhappie soule if thou couldest but penetrate the greatnes of the losse that sinne procureth how vigilant wouldest thou be for being ensnared in it and if thou being depriued of the grace of God shouldest fall how dilligently wouldest thou rise againe Miserable sinner if thou wouldest be throughlie mooued with the horrour of sinne weigh well in thy minde what thinges shall befall thee at the last day of iudgement And first of all consider that Antichrist polluted and defiled with all kinde of sinne and vices must thē appeare who is the chiefest enemie of God who shall striue by all meanes to seduce the faithfull beleeuing Christiās affirming that he is true God If thou desirest more particularly to know the conditions and affections of this hellish and diabolicall vsurper consider diligently the forementioned wordes There shall come reuolt first and the man of sinne shall be reuealed c. Turne your cogitations Brethren to the names which are attributed vnto him by S. Paul A man of sinne The sonne of perdition that wicked man whose coming is according to this operation of Sathan O wretched and vnhappy shal they bee which liue at this time for many of them shall either be seduced by his false doctrine or compelled with the extremity of his torments and tortures to follow his diuellish inuētions Contrarilie moste happie are they which shall follow blessed Iesus keeping his holy law with purity and integrity of minde for although they shall be tormented with the diuerse and many kindes of torments punishments yet they shall be saued and receaue a crowne of eternall happinesse Time will not permit or suffer me ô sinners to insist any longer vpon the improbous impietie of Antichrist neither did I at the first intend it but this I ardently desire that you considering the greatnes and multitude of euille wherwith your soules are blemished and deformed may auoide them with great detestation abhorre and loath them for what other cause is there wherefore Antichrist should be so impudēt and so wicked but sinne He shall be a most false lyer borne by the operation of the diuell who shall haue a shew of sanctity when he is most wicked what maketh him be so cruelly minded against the professors of Christianity which are the seruantes of God but sinne what other reason shall there be wherfore so many poore soules shall be seduced by him but sinne wherfore the holy Apostle saieth In all seduction of iniquity vnto them that perish for that they haue not receaued the truth in charitie that they might be saued Therfore God will send them the opinion of errour to beleeue a lie But who hath secured vs that that dreadful day shall not come euen in our time Certaine it is that Antichrist shall come but when there is nothing more vncertaine O you vnfortunate and wretched soules what if he should come now what would you doe which way would you dispose of your selues without all doubt should not God most extraordinarily preserue you you would vnite and ioyne your selues vnto him for because you haue reiected and refused the truth which so often hath bene ministred vnto you by sermons and other spirituall exercises and not only refused it but in some sorte haue scorned vilified and contemned it how iust would it be with God if he should permit you to be seduced with the hellish doctrine of that enemie of God that you should heare him obey him worship him honour follow him and eternally perish and be damned with him Cōsider o you blinded sinners with feare and trembling what Dauid the holy Prophet saieth of the diuine maiestie in these wordes Hee is terrible in his diuine councels vpon the sonnes of men how hidden and profound are the diuine iudgemēts Blessed are they which runne the race of their liues with feare blessed is that man saieth the wiseman which is alwaies fearfull Consider also ô you wretches what the holy Prophet speaketh of the righteous and such as are enflamed with the loue of God Serue saieth he your God in feare and reioyce in him with trembling as if hee should haue said you which worship God with all your soules serue him with all feare and reuerence him when soeuer you desire inward exultation doe it with feare and trembling But you o wicked sinners who incessantly serue your enemie the diuell lying plunged in the filth of