be adurned with the Dyadem of eternal glory not in the dounghill of this world but in the Pallace of Heauen in the sight of innumerable Angâ—ls and of al the Saincâ—es in your stoole of immortalitie and with splendant royal ornamentes to be inuested Vnde Sapi. CAP. 5. LTT them receaue the kyngdome of honor and the Dyadem of dignity euen at the handes of the Lord. AVGVSTINVS OH thou my soule yf it be so that we must needes suffer tormentes euery day yea to suffer the very horrible hel it selfe a long time so that we might afterwards see Christ our sauiour in his glory and with his saintes euermore accompanied should we not onely suffer all sorrowe and paine to be made partakers of such glory and good graces VINCENCIVS BEloued brethren in the perplexity of this worldly pilgrimage we suffering the sorowes of our exile as it were with want of all goodnes are defiled and suffer the disposing of all incombrances the snares of sinnes laide for vs in euery place fearing the subtel deceiptes of our enimies but not sufficient watchfully or diligently preuenting them as we ought forbearing detrimentes and vexations and not able to shake from vs calamities swelling in vices enclined to vanitie in steade of veritie enduring exile for our countrey taste pouertie in steade of abundance vyle thinges for want of glorious thinges and doo so loue this world with a miserable blindnes or rather foolishe madnes that we are vtterly ignorant of that same glory of the holy ones of God whervnto lyfting the face of our mind and inward man we then behold the ioyes of eternal lyfe that we might some what surely sauour in our hartes the sweetenesse thereof AVGVST OH that I knew what I my selfe am and what thou art oh Lorde Oh yf a man knewe what him selfe were and what GOD were he would suffer a thousand deaths yf it wer c. SAPIENCE CAP. 3. BEholde the perpetuall goodnes of the reward for such as feare God. ECCLESIASTI vltimo BEhold with your eiesâ— forasmuch as I haue laboured a little and I haue found great rest vnto my selfe Let your hart reioyce in his mercie Be dooing what you can before the time and he shall geue you your reward in due time VVhen humane soule her selfe so dooth demene That she loues death and leaues lyfe spirituall Both God she then forgetteth quite and cleane Vertue dispisde she flowes in sinnes sensuall Contemning Christe obayes to Belyall And what her selfe is eke forgetting she For heauenly ioy feeles sorowes infernall For life she tastes death then perpetually Actum Aposto CAP. 5. THE Apostles went from out of sight of the people which gaue counsell because they were coumpted woorthy for the name of Christe or in his behalfe to suffer reproches AVGVSTINVS WE wyll reioyce with the elect of God and we wyll suffer tribulations of the world with them for surely they that would not imitate the holy ones in this manner shoulde not attaine vnto their renowne and glory 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. FOR euery one shall receiue his owne reward according to his labour and trauell but many for the most not meanyng to liue well desire to dye well knowyng how precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his sainctes Is he the God of the Iewes onely is he not also of the Gentiles yes of the Gentiles also CIRHSOSTOMVS IF any man shal thincke the way paynefull to liue wel such a one is the excuser of his owne slouth and negligence for yf Mariners and Seafaring men soppose the raging floods of the Sea to be threatninges of danger vnto them yf the season of Winter be thought a hinderance vnto husbandmen yf woundes and slaughter of Souldyers seeme a thyng tollerable and yf most greeuous stripes and blowes seeme thinges easie to be borne withal of very champions them selues for the hope of temporall thinges and transitory commodities much more when heauen is prepared for a rewarde of the godly we ought not once to thincke any thing of these present calamities neither ought a man to looke that this way is streyt but whyther it bringes a man neyther ought we to seeke for any other beeause it is brode but where the same finisheth LVKE CAP. 9. AND being bidden to the supper they begun euery man to excuse them selues BERNARDVS FOrgeue vs Lorde forgeue vs we excuse our selues we woorke al against the graine so as there is scarce any man whiche wyl be made practized as he may wâ—ll be in those thynges which parteyne vnto thee They all sauour earthly thinges they seeke that which is theirs and not that which is parteinyng vnto Iesus Christe They embrace vices they flee vertues and they waxe vâ—le togeather as the brute beast through filthynesse of their sinnes MICHEA CAP. 7. THe godly man perisheth vpon the earth and there is not any one amongst menne that liueth aright c. Resume thy strength nowe as a knight spirituall Fyght for the heauen winne it with diligence The â—ende the fleshe and vyces mundyall Quite to subuert by deuyne sapience If weake thou be craue God for thy defence Hauing good hope by Gods prouision Through watchfull care and humble pacience VVith tryumph thou shalt win an heauenly crowne AVGVSTINE THere shal be the cheefe securiâ—ie the safe tranquility the tranqiul or safe sweetenes the sweete felicitie the happy eternitie the eternall blessednesse· BERNARDVS OH heauenly Citie thou safe Mâ—nsion place a countrey fully câ—nâ—eyning whâ—â— so euer may be delightful â–ª a people without murmuring quiet inhabitance men hauyng no neede of any thing ORIGEN THE deuine bountie of the most highest shal replenishe all the receptacle of the soule with all goodnesse that is to say the angry and irefull soule with power and dignitie the greedy and couetous soule wiâ—h delightes and the reasonable soule with wysdome that there may therein appeare power without contradictâ—on dignity without comparison PROVERBIORVM CAP. 1. THE feare of the Lorde is the Well of lyfe AVGVSTINE LET the loue of this present Woâ—lde depart from thee wherein no man is so borne that he may not dye and let the loue of the worlde to come take place in thee wherein al men are made liuing so as thence foorth they shall not dye where no aduersitie shall trouble thee and no greeâ—es disquiet thee but whereas euerlastyng ioy and gladnesse raigneth for thy perpetual comfort ESAI CAP. 6. THeâ— sayd I Lorde how lonâ— Hâ— answered vntyl the Cities be vtterly wasted without inhabitantes c. ESAI CAP. 35. THey shall obteyne ioy and gladnesse and sorowe and lamentaâ—ion shall flee from them PSALME 119. OH howe good is the God of Israel vnto such as are true of hart Remember man this solace shal be sure Altogeather voyde of worldly variaunce It shall without dreade or distance ay endure But in this lyfe is no continuance Ritches pouertie lyfe and death are but a traunce VVherefore in this worldly mutable estate Let vs seeke to liue after God his ordinaunce Least of that lasting blis we make our selues frustrate DEVTERONO CAP. 3. MOYSES sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel Consider that this day I haue set before thee in thy sight both lyfe and good and of the contrary part death and euyll Sequitur I Take this day Heauen and Earth to witnesse that I haue set before you lyfe and good blessing and cursing choose you therefore lyfe that you may lyue I marueyle and greatly marueyle that man whiche aboue others is a creature endued with reason dooeth not in any thyng followe the iuâ—gement of reason despiâ—yng wholesome thynges and embrasing daungerous thinges seekyng and desyring deadly and hurtfull thinges OH eternall GOD what is the cause of suche dotyng foudnesse in man what reason is there of such foolishnesse and madnesse Why dooeth he desyre the death of the soule with so wicked a hart c. Nowe Heauens and Earth for witnes in I call How God disposeth for mans direction Perpetuall payne and ioy celestiall Vertue vice health and perdition Put to our choyse by free election VVherefore our hartes and eyes le ts eleuate To God the geuer of all grace deuine Of him to craue that he the fyrme estate Of lastyng blisse would graunt vs all in fine ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for SONDAY Per Authorem Namque huius mundi fallacis gaudia vitae Et quibus exuere se debet omnis homo Sunt miserandâ—a niâ—â—is vexant mortalia corda â–ª Virtutum faciunt quemlibet immemorem Quos igitur Chricti baptisma sacruÌ„ renouauit Librum hunc perlegite qui facit esse sacros Quid Iusto prodest aut quid peccator egebit Si Libet inspicere vos docet istud opus Soli Deo Gloria Here endeth this woorke of Contemplacion fyrst printed in Latine at Westminster the yeere of our Lord God. 1499. and nowe newly englished and printed at London by Hâ—gh Singleton dwelling in Creede Lane at the signe of the gylden Tunne Neare vnto Ludgate Anno. 1578.
not as droppes but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body hath been shedde for the price of my redemption c. Trenorum primo O All you that passe by the way marke well and see yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe BERNARDVS BEhold oh man with the eye of thy mind in what duetifull debt of recompence thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee It shall behoue vs to consider well That this was done for our saluation Our vnthankfulnesse let vs then expell And gratefull be for our redemption VVhich to frequent in harty deuotion Aboue all thinges our mind for to remord As mighty medicine and fruitefull confection Doth linck one loue with Christ our soueraigne lord BERNARD Snpee illud canticorum Fasciculus Mirrhe O Howe shewed he mercy more then he ought to haue done howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs what admirable sweetenesse what inuincible mildnesse and humilitie in that he being the king of glory should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies for the most vylest person of the world to suffer death ANCELMVS THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast as shal make the same most healthfull and strong Idem AWake thou oh my soule and more diligently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man as one borne before the time and so conceaued as though no man regarded him and as one in the sight of the world vnwoorthy deformed and leprous Trenorum primo HEare me I beseeche you all you people and behold my sorowe and anguishe 1. GALATHI CAP. 6. GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I am crucifyed vnto the world BERNARDVS HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord is wounded for thy sake and is content to suffer langwors and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde is made strange vnto the world for thy loue is strong as death and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell VVherefore sweete Iesu our loue and soueraine Lord Treasure of treasures which may vs most auayle VVith ruthfull repentance nowe wee record Our great vnthanke and blindnesse bestiall Of pitie praying thy power imperiall To multiply thy mercy so vpon vs That of thy merites with cares inspeciall Thankfull to thee wee may be studious BERNARDVS WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body And vouchsafe thou oh Lorde to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie and print therein the woundes of thy body that after the course of this lyfe I may freely commende into thy handes my soule as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde AVGVSTINVS I Beseeche thee good Lorde so pearce and wounde this my soule with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll shee being chastized may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night Bernardus super verbo Pater ignoscie VOuchsafe oh Lord and heauenly father to looke downe from out of thy Sanctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse Idem REmember nowe oh Man and although thou knowest thy self to be created of nothing yet notwithstandyng thou hast to acknowledge that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing The Creator Redeemer and Sauiour in sixe dayes made all thinges and thre amongst all thinges but in thirtie yeere space that is to say In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake Ponishe not thy people Lord God in thy greeuance Thincke why thy sonne Christe suffered his passion The crowne of thorne the crosse and Longeus launce Vouchsafe accept our harty gratulation Rewyng vpon our sinfull conuersation Plant in our hartes such reuerent regard Towardes thy good graces by due consideration In suffring for thy sake may thinke nothing to hard ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for FRYDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SATVRSDAY Here thinke to eschew the hellishe payn For such as in vyle sinne remayne The Translators Application The same good God now bids the Earth of creatures in eche kinde To yeeld increase as Cattell VVoorme and Beastes by him assnde Man then after his image made him rule he gaue and sway Creating woman a comfort to him with mutuall stay Amids these pleasures mortall man Shun hellysh paynes all that thou can IOHM CAP. 1. ALL thinges are by him made and without him is nothing made 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HEareby knowe wee the loue of God towardes vs because he hath geuen his life for vs. IOHN CAP. 13. NO man hath greater loue in him then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes BERNARDVS OF trueth sweete Iesus thou hast hadde greater loue whiche hast geuen thy lyfe euen for thy persecuting enemies 1. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR you are bought with a great price TITVS CAP. 3. NOT according to the woorkes of righteousnesse which we haue done but accordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs. APOCALIPS CAP. 11. THY wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes as to thy holy ones to those that feare thy name small and great and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land PSALM 104. THOV haste made all thinges in wysedome PSALME 7. GOD is a iust Iudge strong and pacient MATTH CAP. 15. DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels Sequitur AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pounishment IOB CAP. 7. WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel shall not ascende vnto the heauens AVCTOR Herevpon a certayn Gentile hath this sentence If I had a hundred tongues and as many mouthes and a voyce as strong as Iron I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes and for the pounishmentes thervnto due they are so many that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence then to resite them at full DEVTERONO CAP. 32. I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades that is to lay all kindes of tormentes and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them ECCLESIASTI CAP. 29. FYre Tempest Famine and Death all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly PSALME 11. IT raigneth snares vppon sinners
pouerty and oppression Murmure discord and desolation Confiskes many a Kingdome ane huge Impery From theyr late former good condicion For want of Iustice through iniquity ESAI CAP. 59. THEY haue wrested iudgement backwardes and Iustice hath stoode a farre of because trueth hath fallen downe in the streetes and equitie coulde not enter there and trueth was made a guste of forgotten freendship and the man that departed from dooing euill felt the smart of a prized spoile IEREMI CAP. 21. BEholde I deliuer before you the way of life and the way of death doo your iudgement in due time and bring the oppressed soule out of violence least that my displeasure and wrath doo haply depart from me towardes you as a consuming fyre and so burne you that there ve none to quenche the same by reason of the malice of your inuentions ISIDOR WIcked Iudges euen after the maner of Woolues do rauen and make hauocke of all thinges IEREMI CAP. 51. NAbuchodonozor eateth me vp and greedely dooth as it were deuoure me ECCLESIAST CAP. 20. BRibes and rewardes doo blind the eyes of Iudges and as a gift in the mouth dooth stoppe their reprehencions In England then trueth shewe thy stately style And Iustice thou thy Baner brode display All leagerdy maynes from hence quite exile Graunt God that good meaning mainteined be may All subtyll shiftes to conuince and bewray VVherewith the couetous encombred bee Least that the great flee the small eatyng alway Doo the same deuoure by lawles libertee MICHEA prophet CAP. 3. HEARE this ye Princes and Rulers of the house of Iacob and you Iudges of the house of Israel whiche haue abhorred to doo iustice in iudgement and doo peruert all thinges that are good because you build vp Sion with bloodshed and Hierusalem with iniquitie their Princes shall geue iudgement for rewardes for this cause shall Sion be furrowed vpon euen as a feelde ISIDOR THE simple people are more greeuously torne in peeces of the euyll Iudges then of their most cruell enimies For there is no robber so greedy of other mens goodes as a wicked Iudge is amongst those whom he hath aucthoritie of AVGVSTINVS IN so much as the mischeefe of couetousnesse waxeth nowe so ripe that euen of custome the very lawes are bought and solde iudgementes are corrupted the very sentence it self is set to sale for mony there can be no cause without care and vexation tryed ESAI CAP. 5. WOO be vnto you whiche iustifie the wicked for bribes and rewardes and doo wrest the iust mans cause from him Farre from vs O God expell corrupt iustice VVith couetousnesse and false affection That goodnesse of eache cause may full suffise To try it selfe cleare in the action Of euill buddes let no bitter abusion Make crooked causes cloked to bee In Consistory Court or Ciuill Session But graunt O GOD to trueth the victory ESAI CAP. 49. HEARE me O ye of hard harts which haue sequestred your selues farre from Iustice Expositio Matth. 22. YOV haue forsaken those two most graue respects of the law that is the one iudgement the other mercie PATRONIVS FOR nowe Iustice is made none other thyng but a common marchandize PSALME 2. NOW O ye Kynges be wyse and learned you that iudge the earth ECCLESIASTICVS CAP. 47 IT is the office and duety of kinges to keepe vnder those that are euil and aduance such as are good subiectes 1. MACHABES CAP. 15. ANtiochus saide I wyll be reuenged vppon them whiche haue corrupted the land c. AVGVSTINVS IN this poynt doo Kinges serue God yf in theyr kingdomes they commaund and establishe that whiche is good and forbid that which is euil not in matters only parteyning to humane society but as concernyng deuine religion for neither liue they at ease free from cares of mind and trauels of the body but bestowe their tyme in great disquietnesse and labour vntill such time as they haue accomplished their functions and dueties to all perfections SAPIENCIA 6. THE hardest iudgement shall be ministred vnto them whiche beare aucthoritie ouer others To Kyng without colour that lyst to keepe Iustice The nearest way most honorable and easie Ys corrupt men to suffer in no wyse By false affection or parcialitie To execute the office of Iustice duely And yf in this poynt a Prince be negligent His mind perswaded may be fully He shall incurre Gods dreedfull iudgement ECCLESIASTES CAP. 10. BLessed is that land whose King is of noble race ARISTOTLE primo Politico VErtue and malice doo determine and handle matters betweene bondmen and freemen betweene noble men and those of base degree Idem 5. Politicorum NObilitie and Vertue are in few persons to be found remayning togeathee PSALME 101. MY song shal be of mercy and iudgement to thee oh lord Idem I haue done indifferent iustice and executed iudgement I haue hated the workes of iniquitie c. IOB CAP. 29. I Haue clothed me with Iustice and with my iudgement haue I apparrelled me as it were with a garment and Dyadem of honour I haue been in steade of an eye to the blind man and as a foote to helpe the lame A father haue I also been of the poore and such cause as I was vtterly ignorant in haue I diligently searched for the certeyne trueth thereof I haue destroyed the labours of the vniust man and out of his Iawes haue I taken the spoyle MATTHEA 5. BLessed are they whiche hunger and thyrst after righteousnesse because theirs is the kingdome of Heauen AVCTHOR FOR as from day to day there is a continuall thirst and hunger renewed in our stomackes after meates and drinkes corporall so ought there appeare in vs a freshe and new appetite or affection inseperable after iustice in correcting of offences committed Nowe Princes Lordes and Nobles of renowne VVhom it pleaseth to vse Iustice with mercie Take Iob and Dauid examples to your crowne VVhen to the poore they had a piteous eye And of mighty offenders punisht peruersitee VVhom Gods good grace hath remunerate VVith blessinges moe then may expressed bee In lasting fame ay to be Lawreate SEleucus Prince of Locria on a time being in the cheefe Citie thereof whiche he had established protected with most wholsome and profitable lawes when as his sonne was condemned for adulterie accordyng to the lawes whiche he him selfe had ordeyned that such offender should be depriued of both his eyes and that the whole Citie for the honour of their Countrey did for a certayne space withstand and gaynesay to dispence with necessity of punishment in this respect The father being throughly ouercome with the instant requestes of the people because he would doo some moderation of iustice and borowe the lawe in some part executing it at full in an other first causing one of his owne eyes to be quite pluckt out and then afterwardes one of his sonnes eyes left vnto them both but two eyes to see with So farre dyd he perfourme a due measure of punishment with a
neyther can the delites of the body of the soule abide to dwell togeather HVGO 2. de Anima A Good conscience is the tytle and signe of religion the Temple of Salomon the feelde of blessing the breeder of delites the golden reclaiming meane of a transgressor the ioy of Angels the Court of God the habitackle or dwellyng place of the holy ghost the booke opened and shut which shal be manifested in the day of iudgement CASSIODORVS WHAT is there thought may be obteyned where as a good conscience is lost GREGORIVS THere is no man more corrupt in life then he that seemes to him self to be cleare and sound in lyfe SENECA ad Lucillum LOoke vppon the mind scanne vppon the maners marke and be mindful of thy doinges for euer in them and by or of them shalt thou knowe what thou art CICERO IT is a poynt of foolishnesse properly for a man to prye and looke neare into other mens faultes and to forgeat his owne God graunt al states to keepe with diligence In conscience good the most assured stay Of treasures heauenly highest in excellence VVhich may our mindes chearefull make alway That lyfe from learnyng doo not goe astray Ne yet with shiftes of cloked collusion Our selues and our freendes corrupt we may To turne vnto our owne confusion ZACHE CAP. 13. I Wyll smite the Shepheard and the sheepe of the flocke shal be scattered one from an other the integritie of them that beare rule is the health of the Subiectes ECLESIAST CAP. 8. IT falleth out nowe and then that one man hath power ouer an other to his owne hinderance PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE Citie shall reioyce in the wealth of iust and vpright Rulers and there shal be ioy ouer the destruction of the wicked BERNARDVS MAN is neuer in state of honour without dolour and sorowe in pleasure without payne in aucthoritie without vanitie ESAI CAP. 3. I Wyl geue them children for their princes and such as are of womanish mindes shall beare aucthoritie ouer them and the people shall perishe BERNARDVS ad Impios THY Shepheardes are chaunged into fleesers of their flocke thy Lambes into Woolues thy defenders into dispersers of the flocke and they that should be sober are dayly geuen to drunkennesse they that should be chaste are vicious liuers for godly Prelates thou shalt haue wicked Pilates and they that ought to be godâ—y inducers and teachers of thee shal be seducers and fetchers of thee from the right way Eche Communalty then standeth in good state VVhen as their princes rulde are by reason But be they vicious and infatuate Then falleth all to foule confusion VVe haue to marke then what abusion Other Realmes doo on them selues ay bring By their misrule way our condicion In happier state God knoweth florishng AVGVSTINVS DAVID the second Kyng of Israel dooth surely shine in mankind as it were a certayne brightnesse that would dazell our eyes In what man at any time were there found togeather these two thinges that is to say so great aucthoritie conceaued with so great humility so great courage so great clemencie so great a care as he conteyned towardes the disposing of his worldly affaires so pure and deuoute contemplacion or meditating of spirituall matters to kill so many men and to shed teares of repentance to fall into so great offences as he dyd and to perfourme so good repentance PSALM 119. I Am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al the riches and worldly wealth which I haue Idem DElight thou thy selfe in the Lord and he shall rewarde thee euen to the desyres of thy owne hart Idem WEre it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe I shoulde then perhappes haue perished in my owne humilitie Lorde my hart is not puffed vp neither are my eyes lifted vp neither haue I walked in greate thinges nor in woonderfull thinges aboue my reache Lord remember Dauid and all his mercie August in epist. ad comit charis WIth exhorting thee good brother I beseeche thee that vnto euery seruaunt of thy housholde from the greatest vnto the least thou wouldst be a messenger of loue and sweetenes towardes the obteyning of that heauenly kingdome and denounce vnto them the horror and trembling that is in the infernall pit of hell and that thou be wyse thy selfe for theyr welfare and be as a watche man vnto them because for euery seruaunt which is within thy house thou shalt render an account PSALME 101. DEpart ye wicked from me and I wyll searche foorth the commaundementes of my God. VVho euer yet conioyned in one person So profound meekenes with high excellence Such temporall trouble with harts deuotion So great slaughter so prteous penitence Seuere iustice mixt with compacience As had King Dauid loe appeareth well To God and man his watchfull diligence At this day Princes many doth excell SAPIENCE CAP. 15. FOR the louers of euill men are woorthy of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 7. GOE away from the wicked man and there shall no euill come neare thee 1. CORINTH CAP. 5. I Haue written vnto you that you should not entermingle your selues with fornicators with offenders specially whiche haue committed fornication against god And this dyd I vnto that end that eyther they myght be confounded or amended MATTH CAP. 7. HEarken not you vnto the false prophetes whiche may come vnto you in Sheepes clothing CHRISOST super Matth. IN nature of worldly things saith he thus falleth it out that so ofte as the euyll man is a companion vnto the good man the euill man is not made better by the good man but by the euyll man the good man is made woorse HIERONIMVS THERE is nothing so much hurteth a man as dooth euyll company I thinke it a thing more then possible that that man can any longer continew in dooing well whiche is dayly conuersant with euyll men PSALME 1. BLessed is the man which hath not walked in the counsell of the wicked and hath not stand in the way of the vngodly nor hath not sit in the chayre of pestilence but hath reposed his wyll and desyre in the lawe of the Lorde PSALME 18. WIth the holy thou shalt be holy and with the froward thou shalt learne frowardnesse In two poyntes dependeth principally The key of honest conuersation Into wyse counsayle and good company VVherefore as Princes with due discretion Knowe euery counsellours disposition For better sauety in good gouernment Semblably eche baser state and condicion By company and counsell are ruled verament HESTER CAP. 18. WHiche matter is prooued by auncient histories and by suche persons as they are accomplished dayly how by the euill suggestions of certaine which are in aucthoritie about some princes of the world the trauels and affaires of those Princes are brought to yll passe 2. PARALIPOM CAP. 24. IOAS the King of Iuda dyd that whiche was acceptable in the syght of the Lord so long as Ioiada the high Priest liued but of trueth when Ioiada dyed the Pâ—inces
the reason ROMANS CAP. 2. O The woonderfull height of the ritches of the wysedome of GOD and of his knowledge howe incomprehensible and inscrutable are the iudgementes of his way The Auctor figuring the generall iudgement Hereby admonisheth both iust and vniust To consider thereof in this life present All securitie then abandon we must Yea all licencious liuyng and carnall lust VVherein the wicked florishe at wyll For all such as therein doo put their trust Thalmighty Iudge in his wrath shall them spyll ECCLESIAST CAP. O What tormentes haue all the elect of GOD suffered that they might safely come vnto the obteyned victory ordeined for martyrs ESAI CAP. 10. WOe be vnto Assur which is becomr the rod of my fury and the staffe it selfe of reuenge in their handes is my heauy displeasure But according to the opinion of Saint Augustine when the father hath corrected the childe in mercy and iustice he then casteth the rod into the fyre 2. PETER CAP. 2. THE Lorde dooeth knowe when in due time to take hence those that are godly but as for the wicked he leaueth them for the day of iudgement to pounishe them then according to their desertes PSALME 76. LOrde I haue been mindfull of thy iudgementes and I am comforted Were it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe then shoulde I perhaps haue perished euen in myne owne humilitie c. 1. PETER CAP. 2. CHriste hath suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we shoulde all folowe his steppes LVKE CAP. 24. OVght not Christe to haue suffered death and â—hat he shoulde so enter thereby into his glory Ad Hebreos CAP. 11. THE holy ones and elect of God by faith haue coâ—quered vnto them kyngdomes haue wrought the woorkes of equitie and righteousnesse â–ª haue purchased them selues newe promises of saâ—yng health But some others hauing tryed the scornefull dispites and scourges of this worlde and moâ—eouer the bâ—nâ—es and imprisonment haue been stoned to death haue been dâ—smembred haue been tempted and haue been put to death with the swoord ISIDORVS ADuersities are meanes to reclayme and remedy the diseases of the soule Sicknes woundeth the fleshe but cureth the defect of the mind As God suffereth the wicked a time to lyue here Though it be for a scourge vnto his elect So to strengthen their pacience when they forbeare Too to many iniuries yet hath he respect His chosen quite out of mind not reiect But for better tryall of their fyrme fayth VVhen he seeth time he wyll detect Their foes of mischeefe with sentence of dearh ESAI CAP. 30. THE Lorde looketh for vs to the ende he would haue mercie vpon vs. IVDITH BVT because the Lorde is pacient euen for this purpose let vs repent the more and let vs with teares craue his pardon ESAI CAP. 26. HE had compassion of the obstinate and wicked person and he hath not learned to feare our righteousnes ECCLESIASTI CAP. 5. SAY not thou with thy self I haue sinned and what mishap hath chaunced vnto me by meanes of forgeuenesse of thy sinnes be thou not therefore the more without feare for mercy and displeasure soone passeth away from him and his wrath dooth beholde those that sinne Ad Romanos CAP. 2. THOV art vtterly ignorant that the great good wyll of God bringeth thee to repentance but according to the hardnes of thy hart and as thou art impenitent thou heapest vp wrath vnto thee in the day of wrath and when the iudgement of the iust God shal be reauealed whiche rendreth to euery man according to his woorkes Idem ad Romanos AND dooest thou despise the ritches of his goodnes of his pacience and longanimitie Thou dooest then heape vppon thee his wrath against the day of wrath PSALME 22. FOrsake me not Lord in the day of my tribulation Idem I Wyll not feare any euyll thinges because thou Oh Lord art with me DEVTERONO CAP. 31. TRuely because the Lorde was not with me therefore haue these euils and mischeefes come vpon me 2. PARALIPO CAP. 15. THE Lord is with you to helpe you because you are abiding with him yf you shall seeke him you shall finde him but yf you forsake him he shall forsake you ROMANS CAP. 8. IF God be on our side who shall be agaynst vs. GENES CAP. 12. MY soule liueth euen because of thy louing fauour PSALME 84. THE Lorde shall geue vnto his chosen both grace and woorship PROVERBES CAP. 3. HE shall geue grace to the humble and lowly in hart PROVERBES CAP. 14. GRace shall remaine amongst the iust and vpright in hart Oh mankind rue on thy miserable estate VVhen sleeping in sinne of liberty thou liuest A more lothsome life then brute beast create The nearer grace is offred thee the furder of thou geuest Thy consent with security and so thou thriuest For abusyng Gods grace and offered mercy One mischeefe vpon an other thou driuest Tyll all to late it is to repent thy folly APOCAL. CAP. 20. THere shall be ordeyned a iudgement of euery soule according as he hath done in this lyfe time ECCLESIAST CAP. 38. O Man remember thou my iudgement for euen so shall thine be with me it was yesterday and with thee shal it be to morow LEVITICVS CAP. 14. LET him sprinckle him seuen times that is to be cleansed from his offences that he may be purged by the lawe Idem NEyther let him enter into the Sanctuarie vntyll suche time as the dayes of his cleansing shal be fulfylled 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. BVT euery man shall receaue his owne reward according to his labour and trauayle DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shall be also apyointed a measure of punishment according to the measure of the offence and sinne committed APOCAL. CAP. 14. FOr their woorkes shall folowe them when they are gone hence PSALME 28. THou shalt render vnto euery one according to his woorkes ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. HOwe becommest thou ignorant what the way of the spirite is Dooest thou so not vnderstand the woorkes of God which is the woorkemaster of all thinges SAPIENCE CAP. 11. FOR who is he that can vnderstand the mysteries of God. ESAI CAP. 47. THere shall sodenly come a plague vppon thee which thou knowest not of Actuum Apostolorum CAP. 15. WE beleeue to be saued by the grace and fauour of God. AVGVSTINVS IF so be that I knewe my reward were laid vp for me in hell I would pray no more for it then I would doo for the deuill SAPIENCIE CAP. 2. THere is not any man acknowledged or knowen to haue gone downe into hel and haue returned thence againe BERNARDVS MArke and beholde alwayes this rule that after the Lorde hath long spared sinners he dooeth more greeuously seeke to be auenged of them Be it by example of others imitation Or by our selfe wyll and ignorance we fall Or by Satans subtilty and suggestion VVe commit any offences here criminall So for the same answeare make we shall And as we haue wrought so awarded we
Shall receaue at the day of iudgement generall Eyther Gods indignation or milde mercie ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. LET the dust of mans corrupt nature returne vnto the earth from whence it came and let the spirite returne againe vnto God who hath geuen the same IOB CAP. 21. SHall any man take vpon him to teache the Lord knowledge which iudgeth thy higher powers The strong and lusty men are subiect to death yea the rich happy of this world Idem sequitur BVT an other man dyeth in the bitternes of his soule without any woorkes of repentance and yet notwithstandyng they shal sleepe altogeather in the dust the wormes shall couer them SENECA THE eternal lawe of God hath ordeyned nothing better vnto man then that we haue all one kind of enterance geuen vs therby into this life and diuers maners of death OZEA. CAP. 6. MY iudgementes shall passe foorth from me as the light out of the Firmament AIERONIMVS HOw many people doo liue in this world I know not but of the dayes to come it is written That the Lorde shall iudge the secrete dooinges and vnknowen deallinges of men and shall geue light euen vnto the dungeons of darknesse and shall disclose the counsels of mens hartes TOBIAS CAP. 3. ALL thy iudgementes are iust Oh Lord. PSALME 119. FOR I haue been afrayde of thy iudgementes Oh Lorde ECCLESIAST CAP. 28. MAke redy thy righteousnesse that thou canst lay for thy selfe before the iudgement of the Lord be summoned BERNARDVS BRethren let vs be enflamed vnto repentance let vs examine our consciences let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our sinnes by earnest repentaunce in Christes bloodshed crauing his gracious fauour to escape the horrible iudgement of the liuyng god c. To waye the wickednesse of corrupt nature In ballance with Gods deuine iustice Eyther our good deedes is absurd and obscure Presumptuous were such our enterprise From the earth the dust should then aryse VVith Thalmighty creator to dispute Submit we therefore in repenrant wyse Our lyfe and death as he hath constitute ECCLESIASSTI CAP. 12. REmember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth and before the time of affliction shall approche and the dayes wherof thou mayst haue cause to say these dayes doo not lyke me ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. REmember the wrath of the Lorde because it shall not be foreslowed Idem REmember the Lordes wrath in the day of the end of the world and remember the time of pouertie euen whyles thou art in thy wealth ECCLESIASTI CAP. 28. REmember thou the later dayes and cease of to doo mischeefe for there is blessednesse and death approching in the prescriptions thereof PSALME 42. MY soule is in my handes alwayes c. MATTH GAP 24. BVt of that day and houre when the Lord shall come to iudge the world no neyther Angel nor the Sonne of man knoweth but the Father him selfe Take you heede therefore watche and pray MATTH CAP. 25. WAtche therefore because you knowe neither the day nor the houre wherein the sonne of man wyll come GREGORIVS in Homelia DOo not you loue the world which you see can not abide for euer because the great day of the Lord is neare PSALME THE day of desolation draweth neare and the times of the latter dayes do speedely hasten on IACOB CAP. 2. THere shal be iudgement geuen vpon him without mercie because he hath not shewed mercie c. As lyfe and death from hence vncertaine are And our demerites doo deserue due dome So how soone the Lord wyll the same prepare No spirite can deuine that day to come Though of signes fyfteene wryteth saint Ierome But yf we wyll credite Christes woordes in scripture Of signes alredy perfourming nowe are some That that day is not long to we may be sure HAYMO ANtechriste shal be borne in Babylon out of the tribe of Dan according to the saying that Iacob mencioneth Let Dan be made a Snake in the way MARCI 12. ANd those dayes shal be such and so troublesome as the like haue not been from the beginnyng of the creation of man vntyll nowe neyther shall there be any more suche afterward And except the Lorde had shortened those dayes for his elect sake there should haue been no saluation vnto frayle mankind 1. TIMOTHI CAP. 3. ALL those that wyll liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution MARCI CAP. 13. BVT who so shall persist constant vnto the end shal be saued DANIEL CAP. 8. IT shal be destroyed meanyng of Babylon without force of strength of the hand THESSALO CAP. 2. THen shall that wicked Antechriste be reueyled which the Lorde Iesus shall destroy with the breath of his mouth 1. IOHN CAP. 2. NOw are there many Antechristes come into the world whereby we knowe that we are in the later dayes 2. PETER CAP. 3. THere shall come deceitfull woorkers of mischiefe in the later dayes walking after their owne lustes ISIDORVS de summo bono THere haue many members of Antechrist gone before vs and their proper workes doo well agree with the ryngleader of their mischiefe according to the Apostles saying which affirmeth that they haue perfourmed the woorkes of iniquitie yea before that their cheefe captaine was manifested to the world DANIEL CAP. 8. ANd in the end of the kingdome when the wicked are come to the full of their iniquitie that is to say In Gluttony Lechery and Couetousnesse a kyng of a fierce countenance and vnderstandyng with hard sentences shall stand vp c. DANIEL CAP. 1. IN the later dayes there shall come deceauers which shall walke after their owne desyres in wickednesse These are they whiche shall assemble them selues togeather as liuing creatures hauing no Soule in them These are Cloudes without water whiche are caried about with the windes These are Trees growing somewhat before Winter vnprofitable whiche being twyce dead are plucked vp by the rootes for whom the mystes of darknesse are to be kept for euer and euer PSALM 50. THere shall goe before him a consuming fyre and it shall scortche his enimies round about him Idem WHyther shall I goe from thy spirite and whyther shall I flee from thy presence DEVTERONO CAP. 32. THere is a fyre kindled in my fury and it shall burne euen vntill the very last day in Hell. AMOS CAP. 9. THere shal be no time for them to flee away which shall saue them LVKE CAP. 21. THere shal be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres MARCI 13 IN those dayes after that tribulation the Sunne shal be darkened and the Moone shall not geue foorth her light and the Stars of Heauen shall fall from thence and the vertues or powers of the Heauens shal be changed and then shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen with great power and glory VVhen sinne the fyre of conflagration All men as then vvhich are left on liue Shall quite of them make consummacion In vvofull plight as doctors doo discriue There
's none by flyght vvhich may be fugitiue Then Sunne and Moone obscured vvith anoyance Yea other Planets vvith beames obumbratiue Shall in their kinde shevve dolorus countenance DEVTERO CAP. 9. THere shall goe before thee a deuouring fyre and a consuming flame IOEL CAP. 2. BLowe vp the Trumpet in Sion Reioyce you that dwell vpon my holy hill Let all the inhabitantes of the earth be troubled and disquieted because the day of the Lorde is at hand because the day of darknesse and of smoothering heate draweth neare the cloudy and troublesome day Idem BEfore his face shall goe a deuouring fire and after him shal folow a burning flameâ— for the day of the Lord is a mighty day and a very fearefull day and who shall abide the same neyther is there any man which shall escape it Eodem IOEL BE you therefore conuerted and turne vnto me saith the Lorde with all your whole hart in fasting in mournyng and in bitter teares and you shal be saued APOCA CAP. 20. AND the sea gaue out from her the dead bodyes that were buried in the bottome thereof yea death and hell it selfe sent foorth their dead gohstes and there was sentence of iudgement pronounced vppon euery one according to their woorkes IOEL CAP. 3. I Wyll geather all nations togeather and I wyll bring them into the vale of Iosaphat and wyll dispute with them 1. CORINTH CAP. 15. TRuly we shall ryse againe at the iudgement day but we shall not all be immutable or vnchanged euen in a moment or twinckling of the eye in the last blast of the Trumpe Ricardus super 4. dist 47. HOwe or in what maner the Lorde wyll geue iudgement is not presently manifested to the world neither hath he woorthely rewarded euery man neyther hath he punisht them accordingly but the accomplishment thereof resteth behind in his handes as touching the body and the soule and as touching the desert of prayse or punishment EPHESI CHP. 4. VNtill we shall al runne togeather in one course with vnitie of fayth and woorshipping the sonne of GOD growing vp to one perfect man in measure of the fulnesse of the aige of Christe APOCALIPS 22. ANd I sawe as well the great as smal bodyes standing openly before the throne and the bookes were opened Athanasius in Symbolo AGaynst whose comming all men shall be warned to aryse with their bodyes out of the earth MALACHI CAP. 3. WHO shal be able to consider of the day of his comming or who shall endure to behold the sight of his presence IOB CAP. 14. WHO is able to warrant me that thou wylt protect my soule in the neathermost hell and hide me vntill the furie of thy displeasure shal be passed and that it wyll please thee to appoint me a time when thou wylt remember me That day is the day of wrath and calamitie yea the great day of miserie very bitter HEBREOS CAP. 10. BVT terrible and fearefull is the looking for of the iudgement and feruent heate of the fire which shall destroy all his enimies IOB CAP. 19. FLee you away from the face of the Lorde because the swoord is a reuenger of iniquities All fleshe shall aryse from death to liue In soule and body hauyng resemblance Then to receaue sentence definitiue Decreed by Gods deuine ordinance Hovv euer it be in ioy and greeuance VVe shall addresse vs young olde ritche and pore Happy or vnhappy as it shall then chance To rest in payne or pleasure euermore MARCI CAP. 13. THen shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen SAPIENCE CAP. 12. WHO shall stand against thy iudgement oh Lord or who shall come before thy presence as a reuenger vppon the wicked ones of this world PROVERBES CAP. 6. THE Lord wyll not spare any flesh in the day of reuengement neither wyll he be pacified with the entreaty of any person neither wyll he take great rewardes to redeeme any soule PSALME 110. BEcause his mercie is enduring for euer HIERONIMVS IF only the lawe and iudgement of mortall creature and fraile flesh which shal be turned into dust be with such care â—hroughly trembled at and feared With what carefull feare ought we to prouide for the iudgement of the deuine maiestie PSALME 110. I Wyll sing of mercy and iudgement vnto thee oh Lord. Idem O GOD geue thy iudgement vnto the king c. PSALME 36. THY iudgement oh Lord is as the light of the mid-day APOCA CAP. 20. AND behold the dead were called vp to be iudged as touching those things that were written in the bookes to receaue their reward according to their woorkes NAVM CAP. 3. BEholde sayth the Lord God of hostes I come vnto thee and wyll discouer thy shamefulnesse euen in thine owne face and wyl shewe thy nakednesse vnto the nations and reproche vnto other kingdomes and I wyll poure out vpon thee thy owne abominations and will smite thee with reproches Then shall our kyng vvhich iudged vvas vs iudge In glorious forme of deuine humanitie From vvhose face there may be then no refuge No fauour freendship revvard parcialitie Nor any respect ouer high and lovve degree VVhen in tvvo diuers maners he shall administrate His iudgement to the godly vvith mylde mercie But most seuere Iustice vnto the reprobate SAPIENCE CAP. 5. BVT the righteous shal liue for euermore their reward also is with the Lord and the care for them is with the highest Chrisostomus super Mattheum IN that day of the Lordes reuenge we shal haue nothing to answeare for our selues for the Heauen the Earth the Sunne and the Moone the Dayes and the Nightes and all the whole Worlde it selfe shall stand against vs to beare witnesse against vs of our sinnes and wickednesse IACOBI CAP. 5. YOur ritches are become rotten and consumeâ— your garmentes are eaten with the Moth your golde and your siluer is become rusty and the rust thereof shal be a witnesse against you ABACVCK CAP. 2. THE stone in the Walle shall crie out against you and the Tymber betweene the Rooffes of your houses shall answere against you HVGO de sancto victore THE conscience of man is as a booke shut whiche shal be opened in the day of iudgement MICHEAS CAP. 3. HEare O ye Princes of the house of Iacob captaines ouer the house of Israel Eiusdem CAP. 6. LET the high Hilles heare the iudgement of the Lord. LVKE CAP. 16. GEVE a reckonyng of thy Stewardshippe SAPIENCE CAP. 6. THere shal be a most sharpe iudgement ordeyned for such as beare aucthoritie ouer others AVGVSTINVS THE Prelates are woorthy to dye so many deathes as they geue euill examples of death vnto their people committed in charge vnto them ESAI CAP. 46. HEare me oh you of hard hartes whiche are farre of from dooing iustice IEREMI CAP. 15. MY people is become a disobedient people their Sheepheardes haue led them a wrong way DANIEL CAP. 13. INiquitie is gone out from Babylon euen from those that were the elder
hart and yet most hygh maiestie and oh most highest and last ioy of humane kind oh reproche of men and glory of angels no man more noble and yet none more despised Who coulde refraine from teares to heare such wicked handling RABANVS TO conâ—inue in sinne dooth increase wickednesse PSALME 41. ONE depth calleth vpon an other GREGORIVS THe sinne that is not extinguished by earnest and true repentance straightway with the efficacie thereof dooth 〈…〉 more sinne MATTH CAP. 2â— PEter remembred and thought vppon the woordes of Christe CHRISOSTOMVS NOthing so muche healeth the sore of sinne as when we continually think vppon the Lord in our mindes MATTH CAP. 26. HE went out and wept bitterly c. Freendles among his foes in feoble plight He suffered of them this greeuous tribulation They fyled his face with spitting in despite And blinded his eyes in scornefull derision His pacience yet surpassing all imagination Peter then fledde wherefore thou sinner Cleaue to Christe in fayth by harty reformacion Forsake not thy Sauiour that held thee so inteare PSALME 108. WHAT shall I render agayne vnto the Lord for all that he hath bestowed vppon me PSALME 35. THEY haue rewarded me euyll thinges for good HIERONIMVS IVdas sinned more in that he dispayred then in that he betrayed Christe Couetousnesse is the snare of the deuill by meanes whereof he hanâ—eth vp all couetous persons MATTH CAP. 27. THey brought him foorth with his handes bound behind him and deliuered him vnto Poncius Pilate the cheefe Iudge HIERONIMVS I Haue seene howe paynefull the priestes haue been about mischeefe they haue watched all the nyght long because they woulde spill the blood of the innocent MATTH CAP. 27. WHich of these two wyll you that I let loose vnto you Barabbas or Iesus which is called Christe LVKE CAP. 23. AND all the whole company cryed out togeather Take this man and let Barabbas goe at libertie BERNARDVS OH fury of mad men oh blindnesse of the Iewes what more peeuishly coulde they haue done then to slay him who hath raysed vp the dead from their graues and to let goe a theefe whiche after his libertie might doo more mischeefe BEDA THE Iewes earnest request remayneth vntyll this day a memoriâ—ll when they lost the kyngdome of Heauen because they had leuer haue a sedicious Prince to gouerne them that is to say the Deuil then the Lord GOD. Christe was accused in presence of Pilate The Iewes they cryed him to crucify A theefe was dismissed O change infortunate And the Sonne of God scourged most cruelly Oh Heauenly flowre of our humanity Thy feature faded thy vnspotted flesh wext pale VVhen plonged thou wast in such perplexity Both the Earth and Heauens dyd rent theyr vale PSALME 99. BEcause I am prepared for the scourge ANCELMVS THE most louely young man elegant and gracious of more excellent feature in respect of the sonnes of men was bound to a piâ—ler and scourged with the greeuous and sorowfull whippe of most vyle persons That tender fleshe of his most vndefiled and fayrest flowre of all fleshe and of all humane kinde most innocently was greeuously scourged wounded and torne in peeces of them ANCELMVS IT is smal to purpose that the Iewes with their misâ—heeuous handes so crucified thee but that thy soule before was replenisht and with gohstly consolations illuminate O elect childe of GOD what hast thou trespassed which deserued such bitternes and confusion Doubtlesse nothing at all I silly soule that I am haue been the cause of all thy affliction and persecution AVGVSTINVS IF he went not from hence without the scourge who came into the world without sinne Howe doo they deserue to be scourged which haue offended euen tyll this day Idem FRom the soule of his foote euen vp to the crowne of his head was there not remaynyng one free spot â–ª APOCAL. CAP. 1. HE washed vs from our sinnes by the sheddyng of his blood MATTH CAP. 27. AND they makyng a crowne of thorne put it vppon his head and gaue him a Reede in his right hand and bowyng theyr knees before him laughed him to scorne saying HAYLE KING OF THE IEVVES As Christe shrincked not his pâ—tecious blood to shed No part of his body without greeuous plight From the sole of his foote to the crowne of his head Neyther yet refused any scornefull despite Oh man so remember what so euer crosse Or trouble for the tryall of thy true fayth Happen thee of temporall thinges suffering losse In Christes name neuer shunne thou to death BERNARDVS HEare hath our Sauiour powred foorth vpon vs the abundance of all charity and plenitude of all his godlinesse And here agayne hath he powred foorth the heauy indignation of his inspeakeable wrath LVKE CAP. 22. SAyde the Theefe Lord rememmber me when thou shalt come into thy Kingdome Iesus said vnto him Verely I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in paradyse GREGORIVS O What a fayth and what a perfect conuersion or turnyng to the Lorde had this Theefe he had nothing left him at his owne libertie but his hart and his tongue whereby he declared his inward râ—pentance and being inspired with this good motion towards God obteyned no doubt all that he found in his owne free desyre remayning BERNARDVS OH most godly Iesus what haue we trespassed vnto thee and thy death and thou hast not mourned for it what haue we ben indebted vnto thee and thou hast not thy selfe paid it Thy loue and our iniquitie hath so made thee lowly and weake for our sakes MATTH CAP. 27. THey ledde him fâ—orth to crucifie him Idem IF any man wyll come after me let him take vp his crosse and folowe me AVGVSTINVS THE Crosse of the Lorde is not onely meant that which was of wood wherevppon he was crucified but also the Crosse of Christe is called that whiche in all the tyme of our life is made equall with vertues suffering all maner corrections LVKE CAP. 23. FAther forgeue them for they knowe not what they doo BERNARDVS THE Iewes cryed Crucifie him And Christe cryed Forgeue them Lord how great is the multitude of thy sweetenesse Oh Lord howe shalt thou drinke of them in the flood of thy pleasure whiche delight in thee and desyre thee which powrest out so abundantly the oyle of thy mercy to â—utch as hate thee AVGVSTINVS BEhold the abundance of charity and wonderfull pacience in our Sauiour He commaundes vs to pray for our enimies and seeketh no reuenge why then should that little creature the Ante the Moth of the earth and woorme that is to say the hart of man seeke reuengement and deferre of to forgeue Vpon his head they put a crowne of thorne For Dyadem A Crosse he bore of tree As kyng of Iewes they saluted him in scorne And twyxt two Theeues deputed him to dye Thus through his loue and our iniquity He suffered thou sinnedst O man most freeuolous Beare this in mind and degrade not thy degree Though thou be
wretched thy price is precious MATTH CAP. 27. ABout the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voyce saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken me AVGVSTINVS SVrely these were the woordes signifiyng what a carefull and troubled spirite he had for vs which are beset with troubles and in them expresseth a certaine tendernesse of bitter passion and sorowe proceeding out of his so deepe sithes entire lamentation and bitter plaint whiche might suffice to molefie vnto compunction and remorse a very iron brest might cleaue in sunder a stony stomacke might humble and bowe the hart of wood towardes loue and finally moysten a very brasen hart towards contemplacion in this case Neyther let man marueyle yf he doo suffer tribulations because he is so comforted in Christe his head and cheefe captaine MATTHE 27. AND when he had cryed agayne with a loud voyce he gaue vp the gohst IOHN CAP. 29. AND bowing the head he gaue vp the gohst AVGVSTINVS THE Sauiour of the worlde bowed his head at his death that he might kisse his welbeloued Mother and the Disciples then and there present And wee doo so oftentimes kisse him as we are compunct and throughly stirred vp to the hartifull remembraunce of his death ANCELMVS· THE Heauens stoode astonished at his death the Earth was amazed What dooest thou then oh Man Neither is it a thing to be marueyled at yf the shinyng Sunne became perplexed that thou shouldest be also perplexed yf els the Earth became sadde and pensiue so thou shouldest likewyse be sadde and pensiue yf the Stones were rent in sender that thy hart be rent in sonder yf those that stoode by the Crosse dyd weepe thou shouldest weepe as well as they HIERONIMVS BEhold when Christe dyed euery creature had compassion vpon him but man alone hath not had any compassion at al vpon him for whom in deede Christe dyed His spirite commending to his fathers cure â–ª VVhen that he cryed consummatum est Both Heauen and Earth and liueles creature On him compassion tooke from most to least O wretched man why art not thou then prest For loue of thy Redeemer sweete Iesus To plant compassion in the faythfull brest Suffering for him all harmes iniurious IOHN CAP. 19. AND they tooke the body of Iesus and wrapped it in linnen clothes and spiced it with Balme and sweete odours BERNARDVS MAry the mother of Christe was the example of sorowe and compassion vnto all those that loue Christe HVGO de passione Christi BEhold oh man what I suffer for thy sake see the paynes and troubles that I endure for thee see the nayles wherevnto I am fastened and whyle I endure for thee such outward sorowe yet notwithstandyng my inward gronyng is more greeuous whyle I trye thee and finde thee an vnthankful freend vnto me HEBREOS CAP. 6. CRucifiyng agayne vnto them selues the sonne of God. Glosa Auctoris THey crucifie Christe and are found reprochefull vnto him which contemnyng his grace doo sleepe in their sinnes Bernardus in persona anime deuote I Knewe not sayth he that Christe so loued me I ought not to be therefore reprochefull vnto my self which so manifestly see that God was crucified and suffered death for me which haue been so acceptable vnto him that he chose rather to dye for me least that I should otherwyse perishe Idem OH precious Soule not with gold nor siluer redeemed but with the blood of the lambe of God why wylt thou cast thy selfe so into perdition seeing Christe for thee shed his precious blood haue remorse ouer thyne owne soule seeking to please God. Regard oh man this wofull disceuerance Behold Mary behold her sonne Iesu If ruthe haue roome in thy remembrance VVith piteous hart his passion to pursew Through which thou mayst thyne innocencie renew O electe vessell knowe thy felicitie Of thy misrule thincke time it were to rew Confound not thy selfe through thyne iniquitie BERNARDVS COuld not GOD repare his pretended woorke of grace in Man any other way but by this so great danger of his owne lyfe Yes truely he might otherwyse haue remedied this matter but he had rather woorke this meanes though it were to the preiudice of his owne person because he woulde not finde any further hatefull vice of ingratitude in man but that he would make man a debter vnto him of manifolde loue that he ought vnto his Sauiour and hereby shoulde encourage him to be thankfull vnto him whom the felicitie of his creation had made lesse gratefull when as this our Creator for our sakes but spake the woord and al things was done he commaunded it should be and they were created ANCELMVS THerefore God was able being a man also to satisfie for man but yet he was not bound to any man so to doo But man was and is bounden to satisfye the wyll of God and coulde not nor can not therefore it was needefull that God should be a man that is to say because in that he was Christ he was able to satisfye as God and was not bounden as man. GREGORIVS HE that made vs of nothing yea yf it had pleased him coulde haue redeemed vs without his death or passion Augustinus de ciuitate dei THere could not haue been any more fitter meanes wrought to heale our miserie then that Christe should dye for vs. And though that God by power Omnipotent Might vs redeemd without such difficultie There was no way more iust nor congruent Then for to take on him our humanitie Restoryng vs thereby to higher dignitie Man was in thrall and could him not acquite To make amends of power deuoyde was he But God him freed by fauour infinite BERNARDVS WHen I shall â—eepely excogitate whatsoeuer I am of my selfe whatsoeuer I can doo of my self is it not thincke I with my selfe in respect as a Starre to be compared to the Sunne a sparcke of fyre to the heate of a whole furnace a droppe of watâ—r in comparison of a flood a litle stone in respect of a hill a grayne of Corne to a whole heape and a handfull to all the worlde Therefore Lord I haue but two small powers in me nay they are very litle that I haue that is to say the one my body the other my soule or rather I haue but one onely litle power that is to say my good hart and wyllyng mind whiche thou hast made and geuen me And shall I not bestowe it in recompence of thy good wyll who being such a one as thou art hast bestowed so much for me and hath as it were preuented me at once with so great benefites who hath in thy selfe comprised me wholy or otherwyse yf I shall retayne these to my selfe and not bestowe them of thee with what countenance with what eyes and with what mind or conscience doo I goe vnto the bowels of the mercie of my God and I do see that same most strong safegard or defence of myne is altogeather gored whereby Israel is kept and that his blood