vncertaine so that in such vncerteÌ„te a man can not promes him selfe that he shall lyue but one moment of an hour a great dele lesse a day or twain Therefore this is an excellent and a very notable saieng of Seneca For as much as thou knowest not when or where thou shalt die therfore loke thou for death in euery place and at al times In this wise I wyl conclud then that the shorter and vncertener mans lyfe is so much the more shuld we repent and refourme our lyuing whyles we haue yet tyme. ¶ The seconde remedy NOwe to say some thynge in the seconde cause we shulde nat in any wyse differre the reformation of our lyfe for that hope truste whiche we haue in the mercy and goodnes of god Christ came to call synners But to repeÌ„t theÌ„ of their former life and not to syn more frely more at lybertie As god is mercyfull so doth he mercifully forgyue But the repeÌ„taunt not the obstinate in sin Christ bare our synnes on his owne body to the crosse as Peter sayth I do not deny but what foloweth that we mortifyenge our fleshe shulde lyue to ryghtuousnes Christe gaue him selfe for vs as Paul remeÌ„breth vnto TituÌ„ I denye not but what dothe immediatly folowe That he myght redeme vs from our synne pourge a chosen people for him selfe to do good workes Christe pourged vs by his bloude shed frome synne As Iohn declareth in his Reuelations I graunt that to but nat that we shuld pollute our selfe agayne with the fylthynes of syn We haue Christ our aduocate with the father But if we repent vs of our former lyfe and so resorte vnto hym for succoure Thou wylt peraduenture saye that I maye well ynoughe here after bewayle my synnefull lyfe To this I answer Howe knowest thou that thou shalt lyue but a moment much lesse canst thou haue â—ope to lyue vntyll thou mayst repeÌ„t and refourme thy lyuyng Consyder with thy selfe what the lorde sayde to the rych man in the gospell that in prosperitie promised hym selfe manye yeres to lyue O foole they shal requyre this nyght thy sowle of the. Thou haste nede to take heade leste the same chaunce also to the. Thou sayest but I hope better But what if this hope begyle you for here I may cry out Oh deceyptfull hope Now if it hap so which thynge god prohibite thou shalt peryshe and wylfully cast thy selfe into euerlastynge destruction This thou wylt not agayne say but that in such vncertenty of lyfe it may well come to passe What follye then is it by dilayenge to putte that thynge on syx and seuen whiche at the first thou myghteste prouyde for without al daunger why doest thou not repent betymes rather then hope thus with such ieoperdy Thou wilt say to me God is mercyfull Truth it is but he is also iuste Then syth that thou trustest so much in his mercye why fearest thou not lykewyse his iustyce The lorde speaketh by his prophet semblably I wil not the death of a synner well but what foloweth that he be conuerted lyue Therfore be conuerted vnto the lord as Ioell exorteth the with all thine herte in fasting sighing and teares be conuerted vnto the lorde thy god For he is bountifull gentyll longe sufferynge and of much mercy As the same Ioell sayth This thynge dyd also Ezechiell declare Where he sayth If the synner shall repent him of his sinnes kepe my commaundementes and execute iustyce and iudgemente he shall lyue and not dye Is it my wyll sayth the lorde god that the synner rather dye then be conuerted and lyue Also Esaye Let the sinner forsake his waies and the iust chaunge his wycked thoughtes and turne vnto the lord and the lorde wyll haue mercy vpon hym let him be conuerted vnto the lorde god of hostes bicause he is great in mercye The Prophet declareth that God is good and mercyfull but to the repentaunt those that acknowledge confesse theyr synnes Therfore fyrste repente retourne agayne vnto helth requyre forgyuenes of thy synnes with bytter teares and weapynge be offended and displeased with thy sinnes euen with al thin harte Forsake thy former pathes be conuerted vnto the lorde god and then thou mayst vndoubtedlye conceyue a sure hope and trust to be saued Then thou hast no cause to despeire of the goodnes of god and of the forgyuenes of thy synnes And in the meane tyme call this to remembraunce which is spoken by our sauiour that there is greater gratulacion and gladnes for one repeÌ„taunt sinner than is for .xcix. iust menne in theyr owne syght Let this also stere the bycause the Aungels be so glad and wyshe so hartely thy saluacyon I haue bene woÌ„derfully moued and delyghted with the sayenge of the Psalmist The lorde is good and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of much mercy Note also what as he sayeth in an other place Those thou hatest Lorde which worke iniquitie and thy countenaunce is fixed on the which do euyll A man wyll peraduenture say to me that Iohn affyrmeth that who so beleueth in the son hath euerlastynge lyfe But the very selfe same IohnÌ„ dothe in an other place playnely pronounce that who so synneth is of the deuyll And againe who so sayth that he knoweth god and kepeth not his coÌ„maundementes is a lyer But thou wylt say that Iohan the baptist testifyed this thyng of Christ that he is the lambe of god which taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde But what is ioyned immediatly there vnto repente you of your former lyfe eftsoones brynge forth such fruytes as the repentaunt shulde But thou wylt yet go further with me and say that Peter As we reade in the actes sayeth We beleue that by the grace and fre goodnes of our Lorde Iesus Chryst we shal be saued That is plaine also but what addeth he therunto repente therefore and be conuerted to the intent that your sin may be taken away and forgyuen you Thou wylte saye agayne to me that God so loued the worlde as we may reede in S. Iohn that he gaue his onely son that whoso euer shulde beleue in hym shulde not perysshe but enioye euerlastinge lyfe But nowe by your pacience here me what Math. saieth Euery man that saieth to me Lorde Lorde shal not enter into the kyngdome of heauen but onely they which do the wyl of my father which is in heuen If thou beleuest S. Paul where he saith that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners beleue hi also where he saieth that sorcerers adulterers whorekepers murderers robbers theaues proude and couetous men druÌ„kerdes sklaunderers sowers of sedicyon enuious folkes and such other shall not inherite the kingdome of god yf thou beleuest hym where he saieth thou no not Paul but the holye ghost rather speaking in Paul beleue him also in the tother And than vndoutedly thou shalte conceiue none hope of the mercy of God in such fylthy and abomynable liuyng nor yet loke for
it were a vapoure appering for a shorte tyme and after euanishing away let this also moue the whiche was spoken by hym that neuer made lye by our lorde and sauiour Iesus Chryste for he geueth the warninge and vs all to watche forsomuche as we knowe neither the day nor hour Ye and if these wyl not serue let experiēce moue the for thou sittest many tymes by thy frendes lieng sicke without al hope to recouer there helth Thou arte presente with them at theyr deathe Thou hearest theyr greuous grones and payneful panges Thou seest them brought forth on beers laide in their graues and thou thy selfe doest often tymes burye them Agayne thou herest men in euery place lamenting and bewayling their frendes deth Thou redest Epitaphies verses wryten vpon dead mens graues oftentymes thou metest men in morning weede c. which thynges myght put the in mynde as wel of the shortnes of lyfe as also of death whiche at no tyme is farre of If death of strangers doth not moue vs we shuld be moued with the deth of our familyar freendes with oure owne proper daungers that befal to vs all moste daylye with our owne syckens wherwith we be not ones or twyse visited And for so much as we wey not our wekenes in consydering the afflictiō and plagyng of others we shulde remembre it and acknowledge it by reson of our owne aduersitye and syckenes wherewith God plageth vs often times Which thinges yf we consyder we shall perceyue that we haue very litle cause or none at all to flatter our selues with hope of longer lyfe But in this place som man wyll peraduenture saye to vs what maye we not amende and refourme our liuinge sone ynoughe in our old age Than I pray you what shulde we do in the meane tyme but lyue merely and iocundlye good syr I here you wel but tel me I shal desyre of you by your pacyence what man is sure to lyue vntyll that age Thinkest thou to haue occasion whē thou wylte to repente whiche when thou myghtest commodiouslye woldest not take it Nay thou art far deceaued beleue me thou art deceaued For surely god which of his inexplycable goodnes wolde that the sinner shulde lyue rather then dye when he thinketh tyme doth call the vnto repentaunce and standeth at the doore as S. Iohn sheweth in the Reuelacions and knocketh Open the doore therefore and lette hym in Here hym which calleth vppon the and folowe hym whyther he calleth the. Dyspise not the ryches of the free grace and goodnes of God lest thou lay vp for thy selfe against the day of anger the wrath and indignacion of God As Paul saith vnto the Romains Forget not Paul his lesson vnto the Cor. we beseche you brethren receyue not the grace of god in vaine I herd the in an acceptable tyme and am thy fort in the day of saluaciō and helth by which wordes thus much is declared to vs that when the tyme of repentaunce is offered we shulde not lette it escape vs in any maner wyse And that there be not like times and lyke occasions giuen and offered euery day Paul hath also vnto the Galathians a sayeng that we may very fytly apply to this purpose Whyles we haue tyme let vs do good workes This was also very truly sayd of the olde doctour he that hath promised his mercy to the repentaunt hath not ascerteined him of the next morowe folowinge whiche dyssembleth Thou hast nede therefore to take hede least by dayeng and puttyng of the reformacion of thy lyfe for hope of longer lyfe thou willingly tempt the Lorde thy God whiche of his goodnes moueth the vnto repentaunce for this thing we are forbiddē to do by scripture and the expresse commaundmēt of God which is written in Deutero It chanceth oftentymes that throughe brawlyng by some occasions giuen in playeng and drinkinge a man is soddeinelye slaine so that there is no tyme then lefte to repentaunce when otherwyse we haue tyme and space graūted vs by the specyal grace and goodnes of God wherin we may repente and be conuerted vnto health Let vs not therefore abuse this exceding gret benefite of our most bountious and merciful father which loketh for an occasiō as it were to haue mercy and compassion vpon vs Let vs repent and reforme our liuing by tymes least we be sodeinly preuented with the daye of death and seeke for space of repentaunce and finde it not As the churche singeth For verely he that hath promysed mercye to the repentaunt As we sayd once and must eftsones saye assured not the synner of the next morowe folowyng But thou wilte saye that the sinner may repent them sone ynoughe and cry god mercye when he begynneth to sycken I graunt it you but consyder nowe I besech the how many impedimentes and lett es are in that tyme whiche a man can skarsly withstande for to omit the busines about making of his last wyll testament the care for his wife and children the payne grefe of the sickenes and such other which may appere peraduenture but lyght matters how muche thynkest thou that in that tyme Sathan laboureth and what wiles and deceites doth he inuent and imagine to driue a man vnto desperacyon throughe the multytude of his synnes For at no tyme so much as then the deuyl laboureth to set before our eyes and to call to our remēbraunce what euil thing soeuer we haue eyther thought purposed saide or wrought and such offences as are otherwise greuous of thē selfe he maketh to seme a great dele more heynous And to be short he goeth about by all meanes that euer he can to leue vs none hope of forgyuenes and to driue vs to despeire of the mercy of God by reson of the multitude and greatnes of our sinnes There is more ouer the vexation and grefe of conscyence There is presente before our eyes death it self we bethinke vs of the last iudgemente of the iudgement seat of the lorde and of hel fyre who or what man is able to recken vp euery let whiche causeth a man that he neyther thynketh nor yet can thynke of repentaunce in suche anguysshe Therefore dyferre not in any wyse the reformacion of thy lyfe vntyl the last daye yf thou be wyse For it is very perilous and daunger full so to do that I adde not howe that such repentaunce as is constreined by necessite and the feare of hell and dothe not procede of our owne free wyll doth but lytell further and helpe vnto saluacion But this wyll be obiected that before God there is no tyme of repentance late I graunt that in verye deade it is so for God wyll no longer remembre the fautes and offences of a sinner then he shal repente and be sorye in his herte for his iniquyty And the Prophet sayth in an other place that god wyll that the synner rather repente then dye But what if sodaine death so opresse a man vnwares that he can not haue
god of hell and of euerlasting torment and peyne And like as the heathen in times past were perswaded that these thynges were feyned whiche the poetes feyned of Tartarus and Phlegethon of Minoe Radamanthis of hell and the region of the deuelishe and of the punishment of the same wherupon Seneca toke occasion to saye that the poetes deluded and feared vs with vain menasses and feares So verayly a great parte of men thynke that these are but tales and contemne them as vayne thretenynges whiche are sette forthe to vs in holy scripture of hell of eternall death of the fyre wherin shall be waylynge and gnashynge of tethe of the resurrection of the sowle and body together to partake eyther ioy or peyne when otherwise all these thynges do imprynte in the hartes of godly men and suche as lyue in the feare of the lorde a wonderfull feare and horrour And are as the poâ—te sayth names which euen sowne fearfull in our eares Thou hast the first and chefest cause why we for the most parte all of vs in this wyse differ the reformacion of our lyfe ¶ The seconde cause NOwe let vs procede vnto an other cause which is the hope of the mercy of god this hope is greate in verye deade but yet it is suche as they may well ynough deceyue themselues with al. For of theyr hope they haue no sure triall at all With this hope I say the continuall enemie of mankynge kepeth man in sinne wonderfully and by settynge forth to him the mercy of god bryngeth him vnto this passe that he feareth not the iustice of god at all But verely I say vnto you that lyke as god granteth forgeuenes at the fyrste to the repentaunte and most fatherly sheweth his mercy vnto such as be conuerted vnto hym so doth he also sharpelye punyshe those men whiche do contynue obstinatly in vyce Suche men then as repente not vnfeynedly conceyue a false hope of the mercy of god But the deuyl notwithstanding by setting forth to men this hope bryngeth this thyng to passe that they liue on forth quietly and securly in vice and wyckednes nor thyncke ernestely with them selues at any tyme of any reformation or amendment Yea they desâ—ise thabundaunce and riches of the bountifulnes and longe sufferyng of god beynge ignoraunt that the goodnes of god dothe induce and leade vnto repentaunce as Paule testifyeâ—… â–ª In this place also let vs cal that thyâ—… vnto remembraunce whiche our sauiour speaketh of in S. Mat. Repent bycause the kyngedome of god is at hand And also that which the lorde spake by the mouth of his prophete Esai Vnto whome shulde I haue respecte but vnto suche as repente and are lowe in spirite and feare my commaundementes In S. Luke also he declareth the same thynge Excepte ye repente ye are al of you vtterly caste awaye And in the actes Peter sayth in this wyse repente therefore and be conuerted that your sinnes may be taken away Here I myght allege infinite places of scripture which make very plainely for this purpose that no man whiche dothe not vnfeinedly repent can conceyue certain hope to haue remissioÌ„ of his synnes which I wyl omiâ— at this tyme. For as I haue sayde alredy he loketh in vayne for to hauâ— forgeuenes at gods hande whichâ— truely repenteth not with his herte â–ª And althoughe there is no tyme oâ— repentaunce late in gods syght As appeareth by thexample of the thefe which is spoken of in scripture Also god wyll not the death of a sinner but that he repente and lyue yet who may not se howe daungerous a thynge it is to differ the reformacion of our lyfe sith that there is no man as the poete sayth in suche fauour with god that he can assure hym selfe of the next morowe folowyng For many times death crepeth steleth vppon vs when we loke leaste for it so that than there is no tyme of repentaunce lefte nor space to reforme and amende our lyuiug Here I thynke it nedes to speake of those thinges which Plinius maketh mencion of in his naturall history touchynge sodayne deathe sence that there is nothing almost in our tyme more common than the same For not longe ago two olde men of oure countrey which dwelte bothe in one cytye dyed sodaynlye vppon a certayne nyght whan they dyd resorte vnto a certayne woman that they were wonte to company with all the one dyed of a sodayne passion the other was thrust through with a daggar And nere nother of them euer spake worde after that tyme Nowe â–ª let euery man iudge for him selfe in what daunger these twayne dyed And thoughe it be a thyng common as well to the godly as vngodly to dye sodaynly And the iuste can not be but in good state what deathe so euer they dye yet verely a man can not deuise how horryble a thynge it is for one to dye thus which is with out repentauÌ„ce of howe many haue we herde whiche were slayne oute of hande by multyplyenge wordes amonge other ruffyans in tauernes whiche haue bene taken in bed with other mens wyues or haue bene other wyse sodaynly cast away by one meanes or other in gamnyng or otherwyse to passe by those whiche haue broken theyr neckes of horsebacke haue peryshed sodaynlye by shypwreake and haue bene oppressed with the ruyne and fallynge of houses vppon them or with some other such chaunces Let vs then admitte this that god wolde haue the sinner to repente rather than to dye as he vndoubtedly wolde yet by reson of vncertayne chaunces we can not without gret danger diferre the reformation of our life yea though we put our hope firmely in the mercie and goodnes of god we must repente therfore while we liue vppon yearthe and be lustie and haue our helthe but the world is cleane contrarie For we se daily that the yongeman giueth him selfe to belly chere drinkinge and riotte he flaterethe him selfe and saith to him selfe that he maye liue many yeres and therfore myndeth not any thynge the reformation and amendemente of his life but differreth and putteth that thinge of vntill his olde age whervnto whether he shall euer attayne or neuer it is harde for any man to saye For tell me one of many thousandes which hath lyued vntil that age but for his pleasure let vs admytte that he may lyue soo longe as he wold wyshe What doth he than I praye you goeth he about any reformation or amendment of his life No no. This is euer more his sayinge I wyll amende to morowe to morowe And thus with such delayinge he flatereth and deceiueth him selfe at length for he is vncertayne euen as al other be whether god wil permit hym to lyue vntyll the same nyghte or not much lesse is he certayne of the nexte morowe Thus whiles a man differreth the reformation of his lyfe often tymes deathe sodaynly stealeth vpon hym As we may dayly se by experience And yet we can not be admonished and warned by
space to sorowe bewayle his sinne euery man must loke for that thinge which hangeth ouer the heades of al men and may happē indifferentlye to euery one Cal to remembraunce the sodeyne death of them whiche were in the tower Siloa whiche thynge we reade in Luke Agayne what if a man shall fall into suche a disease and syckenes as shal take his witte and reason cleane from hym as we see dayly by experience Well yf it so happen as it may well ynough all hope of repentaunce is gone and brought to naught wherunto the sinner when he prolonged and put of fro daye to daye the reformation of his lyfe had most respecte Thinke not contrary but that thyng which fortuneth to others maye also fortune to the. For as Publyus saythe very wel That thing which chaunceth to any one may chaunce to euery man wherefore putte awaye this vayne and dyceyuable hope of longer lyfe thinke not to haue occasion when thou wylt prescribe not to thy selfe a tyme to repent in lest by so doynge thou increase thy foly or madnes as I may call it in differrynge the reformation of thy lyfe Yf thou be wyse repent whyle thou mayest sinne For yf thou purpose to repent when thou canst syn no longer thou shalte not seame to haue lefte synne but it the. And it is to be feared lest when thou myghtest thou woldeste not that when thou woldeste thou shalte not The iudgementes of god are vnsearchable in punyshynge the vyce and wyckednes of manne For lyke as of his infinite mercy and of his excedynge great goodnes he geueth space of repentaunce to such as are wyllynge and redy to receyue it and beareth with sinners vntyl they come vnto them selues agayne and be refourmed so verely whē he doth se any man that he is vtterly loste and a chylde of perdityon and illudeth his long sufferaunce and iustly deserueth punyshement he doth no longer vphold him bycause he runneth headlong into wylful destructiō but blindeth hym beynge desperate and without hope as the scripture saith hardeneth his stony hert nor afterwarde loketh for any amendment or geueth hym an occasion as it were to repent and amende his lyuynge God doth appoynt for euerye man his day and ende beyonde the which a man can not in vyce procede nor surely god wyl prolonge the punishment of sin anye longer which thing myght much moue a man to repente and to refourme his lyuynge and to set asyde all dilayenge and to yelde hym selfe to the mercy of god offered vnto hym But nowe let vs go forwarde bycause I haue declared sufficiently of this parte Such as do by a certayne trust and confydence that they haue in the popes pardons differ the refourmation and amendment of theyr lyfe leane vpon a rea◅n and weake staffe and stay them selues by an vnsure holde none other wyse then they also do whiche worshyp Barbara of Nicomedeus and gyue a streyght charge to theyr executors for to se thē brought forth and buryed in a Franciscane friers robe For what mencyon is there made any where in scripture of such eyther in the olde testament and the Prophetes or in the newe testament and the Apostles Or where read we it that there was any suche thynge obserued in the prymatyue church or receyued and approued by a general counsell as a thynge eyther necessarye or yet profitable vnto saluation◠Therfore he that bewayleth not his sines before death shal not be saued thoughe he be bolstered with thousand thousandes of bulles and pardons Yf thou wylt not then come in to despeire of thy soules helth repent the of thy former lyfe settynge suche trumperye ware a parte and when thou shalt reknowledge thy synnes be sory with all thyne herte and vnfeynedly requyre the mercy of god with prayenge and wepyng let thy refuge and resortynge for succoure be vnto the merite of Christ in a sure and vndoubted hope truste that god the father wyll be mercyfull to the for Chrystes sake whome for our sake he delyuered to dye a moste sharpe and shamefull death Thus it shall come to passe that god will haue mercy vpon the◠and forgyue the thy synnes and receyue the into his fauour for Christes sake For we haue him an aduocate with the father he prayeth contynually for vs and reconcileth vs to the father which is greuously offended with our vyce naughtynes he appeaseth the wrath and indignation of the father as Ioi declareth in the firste Catholique Epistle Let vs therfore lay away from vs these popyshe pardons and this supersticious worshyppyng of Barbara and a Fransciscane robe to be buryed in For in these thynges no man can conceyue any certeyne hope of saluation Let vs resorte for succour vnto Chryst him selfe for he is our mediatour and aduocate as I sayde before he is the very throne of grace he appeased the wrath of god the father for the synnes of the world he is the lambe of God whiche was ordeyned a facrifice for synne frome the beginninge as we reade in the Reuelacions of S. Iohn what wyll ye more He is our rightuousnes santificacion and redemption As Paul declareth vnto the Cor. Do not therfore deferre the reformacyon of thy life for the hope and trust which thou puttest in Pardons and other suche triftles consideringe that our lyfe is so short and vncertein And sith that death by reason of vncerteine chaunces hangeth dayly and hourly ouer our heades it may wel ynough come to passe that in this present moment when thou least lokest for it it maye creape and steale vpon the without al dout if thou considerest how short the tyme of a mans life is at no tyme it can be very farre of howe daungegerous a thynge is it then to lyue in that state in the whiche if thou shuldest be preuented suddeinely by deth thou wert vtterly cast away and condemned both body and soule Therfore for the auoidinge of such daunger and ieperdy lyue euer in the fere of God confesse and acknoweledge thy sins resorte for succour vnto the mercy of god axe humbli forgiuenes of thy sins and trust assuredlye that by Christ thou art saued Repaire of tentimes vnto the minister of the cōgregacion desire that thou maist be comforted and assoyled by hym and that thou mayst be stered to remēber the promes of the forgyuenes of syn and mayst be more assured and certeine of the mercy and wyl of god towardes the come oftentymes vnto the Lordes table eate of the bodye which was once offered for the sinnes of mankinde eate of it accordingely as he dyd institute it and drinke also of the lordes bloude which was shed for the remission of synne and declaring and shewinge after this maner the lordes death and callynge to remembrance the benefite whiche thou hast receued therby rēder most herty thankes to hym for the same synge swete songes and laudes before him with a ioyful and thankeful hert as wel at home in thine owne house as also
and darkenes the day of cloudes and tempestuous day when god wyl giue to euery maÌ„ according to his desertes wolde god the remembrance of those thinges wolde neuer fal out of mens mindes but that we had them alway set before the eyes of our herte Then men wold be except I am far deceued more dyligente in keping the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of God Then men wolde refreyne frome the outwarde acte and exercyse iustyce Then wolde they lyue in the feare of God and accordinge to the rule and prescripte of vertue For sometymes vertue hath her iust rewarde here in this presente lyfe lyke as also vice wickednesse haue their deserued punishement And that I speake not at this present tyme of the testimomye whiche ones mynde beareth againste him selfe and of the greafe of conscyence which we haue intreted of in other places let vs now consider those thinges which are put in daily practise and experience so that they maye not only be sene but groped and felt with haÌ„des For to speke of the moste common and moost frequented vyce amonges men what mischeuousnes I beseche you procedeth not nowe a dayes of drunkenes for of this as it is noted in the cronicle of the world palenes of the face drousy and soore eyes trembling handes furious slepes and nightly vnquiet procede Of this also the stenche of the breath the headeache feblenes of the memorye and dulnes of wyt come many times also there ensuethe of drunkenesse greuous and very daungerous diseses as the gout bothe of handes and feete the fallyng euyll as both Physicians do affirme and also dayly experience proueth How oftentymes se we also whoredome punished in this world with french pockes as also we se the immoderate pleasure of the body punyshed with paulsy dymnes of the syghte and the dyssolution of the synowes What dothe not ryote also bringe many vnto pouerty and beggers state Is not adultry punished very often by the lawe and alway is diffamed and slaundered WhoÌ„ hath not anger also oftentymes hurt here in erth WhoÌ„ hath not pryde brough into hatred Now to what end shuld I speke any thing of enuy for is not it punishment ynoughe it selfe doth it not cause a man to trete and chafe him selfe For as Horace saith veray wel the tirauntes of Sicilia did neuer inuent a more greuous and sorer punishment theÌ„ enuy Estesones the enuyous man is not a lytel greued in his hert when other men cheaue and prospere wel Doth not the couetous man take great care about the entre sing of his substance is he not trobled againe and taketh gret though lest he shal leese the same For neither that thig which he hath doth suffyce hym nor yet he is at any tyme without feare of â—esyng that which he possesseth oâ— els he thinketh that it shal not last lyke as one man affirmeth Doest thou not nowe manyfestly see howe that vyce and wickednesse are punished here in earth wherwith yf we be nothinge moued we shulde be moued with the punyshment whiche the Scripture threateneth to the vngodly in hel and to be prouoked ther with to refourme and amende oure lyfe al procrastmacion and dilaâ—eng set aparte yf we take not these thynges to be fables whiche are mencyoned in scripture of thimmortalitie of the godly and of the endles payne of the wicked I wyl tel the in few wordâ— what thyng dyd verye muche moue and stere me to refourme and amend my lyfe bicause it may also peradueÌ„ture geaue occacyon to others to refourme their liuing Thus verely I thoughte with my selfe O Riui What yf it shulde happen that there were none other way euen in this moment but present death what I pray the thynkest thou shulde become of the for doest thou persuade thy selfe that thou arte meete and redye for death admytte that thou doest put thine whole trust as thou arte bounden in the goodnesse and mercye of God yet thinkest thou that therefore thou hast no nede to feare his iustice Howe many thousandes of Chrystians are adiudged to hell fyre bothe yonge and olde men women maryed folkes and vnmaryed of al sortes of menne of euery tyme and kynrede whose synnes haue ben bothe lesse in nombre and not so gret as thyne be Oh fearefull iudgemente but iuste How many Iewes howe many worshyppers of Idolles are tormented in hel which if they had ben conuerted vnto the faith of Christ as we are through the infinite and excedynge great mercy goodnes of god wold â—oth haue lyued more godly heare in earth then we do and had also escaped euerlasting death Oh execrable vnkindnes Oh blindnes of our hert what if thou shuldest here such word as the prophete Esay brought vnto good kynge Ezechias Set thine howse in order and make thy selfe redy for thou must dye and lyue no loÌ„ger sayth the lorde what woldeste thou do in this case I beseche the Then no doubte of it thou woldeste wishe to haue space to repent and bewaile thy sinnes Then thou woldest crye god mercy with wepyng syghing But wherfore doest thou not rather intende it euery day and all thy lyfe tyme longe syth that thou woldest do it in that present tyme. When I coÌ„sydered and thought thus with my selfe I was much awaked stered vp vnto godly lyuynge and feared from syn in a maner enforced to crye god mercy This trade maye such men folowe as thynke it good where is there any man in the world which doth not purpose to forgyue his enemie before his dâ—th why doth he not forgyue him euen now aswel where is there any man which wold not be reconcâ—led to god with all his hert why is he not aswell reconciled euen nowe Agayne where is there any man which is not in mynde to amende and refourme his lyuynge Why then doth he not the same euen nowe as well To be shorte therfore what thynge so euer thou woldest do at the present houre of death do the same thyng by the furtheraunce and helpe of god whiles thou lyuest here in earth and art lustâ—e and in good health that is to speake perticulerly repent feare god vnfaynedly loue hym with all thyne herte with al thy myght and power put thine whole affiaunce aâ—d trust in hym call vnto hym in aduersitie gyue thankes in prosperitie prayse glorifie him at al tymes syng hympnes sweate songes of melodie before him remembre hym in thy prayers supplycations and requesâ—es commit and be take thy selfe wholy to his wyll and mercy Let hi be thine example in doyng good to al men endeuour to be sum what like him also in louiÌ„g thine enemies Take thyne aduersitie well in worth be geÌ„ryl and lowlye in prosperitie diligent in thyne offyce moderate aswel in thyne apparel as also temperate in eatynge drinking be also iuste in thy dealynge good to the poore well aduyled in company Suffer also wroÌ„ges make loue dayes and peace amonge them that are at debate and variaunce be chaste