heart manifest so that all men shall behold the same The which how horrible it will be to the wicked no man can sufficientlie either tell or conceaue For if in this life a wicked man whose wicked and shamefull vices and wickednes are to be ripped vp and repeated in the face of a great multitude of men would wish rather to be swallowed vp of the earth aliue then haue so many witnesses of filthie life to appeare in sight how thinke yee our mindes shalbe troubled when the harts of the wicked shalbe opened and all our cogitations councels and doinges brought before the sight of the whole world of the Angels of God and of all the Saints in heauen If here we deeme it a miserable and wretched thing to be led vnto prison how miserable will it then seeme to be throwen into euerlasting tormentes If it be horrible to be punished in this world either with banishment or death what will it be hereafter to be banished worldes without end from the celestiall kingdome and body and soule to be put to euerlasting death If it be most comfortable for the godlie to heare God bidding them to inherite the kingdome prepared for them from the foundation of the world how horrible doo we thinke that the sentence of the Iudge will be to the wicked condemning them vnto euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels If we beleeue these thinges of the iudgement to come of the reward of the godlie and due punishmēt of the wicked are true why doo we so liue as though there were neither heauen nor hell If we doo not beleeue these thinges why will we needes be called and counted Christians Let vs therefore shake off securitie which possesseth our mindes together with that sluggishnes cowardnes and blockishnes and drousines which haue inuaded vs. We argue not about nifles but about the saluatiō of the soule the possession of the kingdome of heauen about euerlasting life and blessednes VVherfore now I saie now while we liue and are in health while we maie be forgiuen while he is our aduocate which will be our Iudge let vs endeuor to amend our liues and neuer deferre we the same till our sinnes forsake vs before we forsake them Let vs alwaies remember the daie of iudgement and the horrible voice of the Iudge bidding the wicked depart from him also the paines of hell and the euerlasting fire let vs neuer forget Finallie let the shortnes of our life the certaintie of death the vncertaintie when we shall depart be euermore in minde to the ende that no man maie promise him selfe so much as one daie no not one moment of life To which effect it was well saide of Seneca It is vncertaine in what place death will waite for thee therefore waite thou for death in all places And therefore the more vncertaine and short mans life is the more while we maie we are to thinke of repentance Cap. 11. ¶ A remedie for the second cause whie we repent not◠mentioned afore in the third Chapter FOr to saie some-what against the second cause why shouldest thou defer the amendment of thy life in trust and hope of Gods mercie I graunt Christ when he came called sinners but vnto repentance for their life mispent not vnto libertie to sinne The Lord gratiouslie as he is mercifull doth forgiue but such as repent nor them which obstinatlie persist in wickednes Christ bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree saith Peter I know he did but what addeth he That we being deliuered frō sin should liue in righteousnes Christ gaue himselfe for vs saith Paule vnto Titus No man denieth that but what followeth in the same place That he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Christ hath washed vs from our sinnes through his blood saith Iohn in the Reuelation I knowledge it but not that we should againe defile our selues with sinne and wickednes VVe haue an aduocate with God the Father saith Iohn euen Iesus Christ Not vnles we repent and so run vnto him for helpe But you vvill saie I vvill hereafter bewaile my sinne But how knowest thou that thou shalt liue one minute of an houre much lesse so long a time as thou vvilt prefixe for thy conuersion Call into thy minde vvhat God vnto that Rich-man in the Gospell vvhich in his great prosperitie promised long life to him-selfe doth saie O foole this night will they fetch awaie thy soule from thee Thou hast much to feare least the like happen to thy selfe I hope thou saiest it will be better vvith me then so But vvhat if your hope deceaue you then maie some one exclame and saie O vaine and deceitfull hope Now if that should come to passe vvhich God forbid thou art vtterlie damned and voluntarilie throwest thy selfe into euerlasting destruction Yet you can not denie but it maie fall out so our life is so vncertaine Then vvhat a follie is it by procrastinating repētance to bring thy saluation in hazard vvhich thou maist be sure of repent thou neuer so soone VVhy then foorth-with dost thou not amend rather then vvith such daunger of thy saluation to feede thy vaine hope God is mercifull me thinkes you saie So is he righteous too VVhy then standest thou not in feare of his iustice vvhose mercie thou dost trust vntoo I desire not the death of the wicked saith the Lord by the Prophet True but what followeth those wordes But that the wicked man turne from his waie and liue Therefore turne you vnto the Lord as Ioel adhorteth with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Turne you vnto the Lord your God for he is gratious and mercifull slowe to anger and of great kindnes as the same Ioel speaketh Hetherto maketh that of Ezechiel If the wicked man will returne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my statutes and doo that which is lawful and right he shall surelie liue and shall not die And a litle after Haue I anie desire that the wicked should die saith the Lord or shall he not liue if he turne from his waies Hetherto belongeth that of Esaie Let the wicked forsake his waies and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and he wil haue mercie vpon him and to our God for he is verie readie to forgiue The Prophet sheweth how that God is gratious and merciful but toward them which repent and acknowledge their sinne Therefore doo thou speedelie repent turne againe vnto the feare of God aske forgiuenes of thy sinnes with teares and sighing be thorowlie out of loue with thy selfe for wickednes perpetrated and committed leaue thine owne waie and turne vnto the Lord thy God and then assure thy selfe of saluation despaire not neither doubt thou of Gods mercie and fauour In the meane while remember the saying of our Sauiour That ioie shalbe in heauen for
by the fall of houses or other chances haue beene bruzed into peeces Therefore albe God would the repentance rather then the death of a sinner as vndoubtedlie he would yet is it a dangerous thing in respect of vncertaine chances to deferre the amendment of our life in hope of Gods mercie For thou art in time to repent while thou art yet aliue while thou art strong while thou art in health But thus it is The yong man giueth himselfe to pleasure to bellie cheere to wine to riot and promiseth himselfe manie yeeres and a long life and therefore neuer thinketh of reforming his manners but deferres that matter vntill he comes vnto age yet is he not sure whether he shall liue to be an old man For who among manie thousands attaineth to old age Now being an old man what dooth he then To morowe it shalbe doone saith he and still to morowe it shalbe doone so willinglie he deceaueth vainelie dooth flatter himselfe because no man as I haue saide can promise that he shall liue till to morowe naie there is no man sure that he shall liue till night In the meane season Death suddenlie oppresseth him that deferreth and prolōgeth the reformatiō of his life as euerie daie almost we haue examples giuē yet doo not other mens harmes make vs to beware so mightelie dooth Satan drawe on and feede vs with a vaine hope of Gods mercie and of a long life And although it neither ought nor in deede anie waie can be denied that the true penitent sinners at all times do finde fauor at Gods hand and that a man neuer no not at the point of death should despaire yet who is so foolish that maie haue that which is voide of all danger and will chuse that which is ioined with great hazard euen of the soule Therefore to be out of all doubt let vs while time is thinke of amending our liues and not deferre the same from daie to daie especiallie because we are not sure to liue till to morowe Nowe concerning the mercie of God let vs remember continuallie what Cyprian in a certaine place dooth say on this wise As much as God is good and mercifull in that he is a Father so much is he to be feared in that he is a Iudge so will it come to passe that the feare of Gods vengeance will reclaime vs from sinne and the vaine hope of his mercie in too much securitie shall not deceaue and corrupt vs. In this vaine hope of Gods mercie how miserabley doo those Popish Priestes deceaue themselues who all their life time keepe concubines and vnder the pretence of a single life plaie the whore-masters are neuer punished nor yet thinke of changing their wicked manners nor of putting their concubines quite awaie from them Yea notwithstanding they know well their owne filthines and wicked life yet blush they not daie by daie almoste to doo the diuine seruice to come vnto the mysticall and diuine table vnworthelie to eate the Lords breade and to drinke the holie cup vnworthelie Oh how horrible yea how dangerous is it to liue in such state of life wherein if death suddenlie should strike thee thou wert vtterlie cast awaie In vaine therefore doo they flatter themselues with hope of Gods mercie which keep concubines in such sorte and with hardened hartes persist in wickednes neuer minding either to put awaie and forsake their harlots or to change their wicked liues by hartie repentance and to aske forgiuenes of their lewde behauiour at Gods hand with teares and sighing But some will saie they aske God mercie oftentimes and oftentimes they beseech his goodnes to forgiue them For after their euening praier saie they not euerie daie welnigh Conuert vs O Lord and turne awaie thy displeasure against vs. Yea and in the ende of their Mattins too doo they not saie Lord haue mercie vpon vs. And at other times that God would haue mercie on them spare and forgiue them they praie doo they not I heare you But with what earnestnes of minde with what heate and zeale of spirite they doo so I will not dispute Be it they praie vnto God zelouslie earnestlie and with a moste hartie affection what then what good do their praiers vnlesse they put awaie their concubines with intent neuer to take them againe and vnlesse they perseuere in a purpose and minde to liue chastlie euer afterward in a studie of amending their life and finallie in continuall sorow for their wickednesse committed Now because they doo not this as their deedes plainelie show who doubteth but either they thinke those things written concerning the daie of iudgement to be but a fable or that they flatter themselues too too much with a vaine and false hope of pardon at Gods hande O horrible face of the Popish Church They which aswell by example as by praier should rule gouerne and teach others euē they so behaue themselues that others in them be maruelouslie offēded Whē the Laie people come vnto the Lords table with what reuerēce as it is meet they should with what feare trembling with what zeale do they approche what preparation doo they make before they confesse their sins desire absolution what care do they take that no scruple remaine in their conscience minde how certainlie firmelie doo they purpose to amende their manners and to reforme their life Nowe what doo the Popish Priestes Forsooth as one of their owne crewe reporteth they from the wicked embracement of an whore hasten vnto the altar and that commonlie vnpunished without blushing They are touched neither with a care of amending their liues nor of putting awaie their harlots neither conceaue they anie sorrow at the remembrance of sinne To be briefe in name onelie and word they be Christians but in deede and truth they appeare plaine Ethnickes VVhat then some may demaunde is there no hope of saluation of such Surelie to speake my conscience they who are such as I haue described can haue no hope of mercie before God forsomuch as the Auctor of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues dooth affirme that VVhoremongers and Adulterers God will iudge and Paule saith They which doo such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God VVherefore if the Papists beleeue it to be true as it is which the Apostle hath saide what hope can they haue to be saued abiding in such filthines of life especiallie seeing they neither vnfainedlie repent nor will put away their concubines But if they doo not beleeue it to be true then falselie doo they vsurpe the name of Christians and are not to be numbred among the godlie but should be to vs as our Sauiour dooth saie As Heathen men and Publicans How then doo Bishops tollerate such vngodlie fellowes in their Churches Yea why allow they such to preache vnto the people yea why for mony do they permit them to haue harlots The matter is manifest so that it cānot
to amendment of life Wherein we haue iust occasion offered to lament and bewaile the condition of vs all and to maruaile at our foolishnes blindnes and madnes who in such a shortnes and vncertaintie of this present life so behaue our selues that no not in crooked old age when the vttermoste daie of our life cannot be farre off much lesse in our youth while we are lustie doo we take anie care of reforming our manners I therefore calling this follie or madnes rather of men in deferring the amendment of life into minde haue thought it good to search out the causes whie in a matter of such importance as the saluation of the soule is we are so rechlesse and secure For these being founde and brought foorth it will be an easie thing as I thinke to finde a remedie for this euill Cap. 2. The first cause why man dooth not repent IN my iudgement the principall and cheefest cause hereof is our incredulitie For did wee beleeue those things which are writtē in the sacred Scripture of the iudgement to come of the voice of the Archangel and Trumpe of God of the tribunall seate of Christ before which all the sorte of vs are to appeare of the paines of the reprobate of the endles condition and felicitie of the righteous of the resurrection to come bothe of body and soule to an assured part either of glorie or of shame did we beleeue these things I say not to be a vaine or old wiues tale sure I am we would studie to leade an other kind of life and not diferre the amendment of our life so as we doo from daie to daie For who is there so wicked but will either quake in bodie or shake in minde and harte when he considereth the iudgement to come At which iudgement all men must giue an accompt before the tribunall seate of Iesu Christ not onelie of their words and deedes but also of euerie thought and cogitation where euery man as I may say shall pleade for his owne life O horrible iudgement to the vngodlie The remembraunce whereof at no time should slip out of our minde For as he saith If the righteous scarcelie be saued where shall the vngodlie and the sinner appeare The sonne of God himselfe shall sitte a Iudge vpon all mankinde that haue beene from the beginning of the world then will he be seuere sharpe not intreated which now is an aduocate for sinners with God his Father All men shalbe summoned to giue an accompt of their life spent vea the hartes of all shalbe opened euerie mans conscience shall accuse reprooue and condemne himselfe Laste of all God seuerelie yet righteouslie shall punish the wicked and of his mercie preserue the godlie that is will rewarde euerie man according to his workes as Paule dooth saie Neither at this iudgement shall wicked deedes onelie be iudged as adulterie whoredome incest witchcrafte murther backbiting thefte robberie sacriledge quaffing riotousnes dronkennes vsurie and such other sinnes nor euerie idle scurrilous vaine filthie beastlie light fonde foolish rash vnmodest and babling worde onlie and such like wherewithall the godly eares are iustlie offended but also the secret will vngodlie wishinges and cogitations with the wicked affections of the minde striuing against the lawe of God as anger hatred dissimulation enmitie spight enuie euil-wil disdaine couetousnes desire of that which is an other mans and such like Therefore who beleeueth that one day there shalbe a iudgement and will not by the remembrance thereof either be reclaimed if he haue beene wicked or detained backe if he be inclined to fall into sinne Well saide one of the ancient Doctors VVhether I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer els I doo me thinkes I alwaies heare this sounde in mine eares Arise yee dead and come vnto iudgement As often as I call into minde the daie of iudgement I shake againe euen at the verie harte and all my bodie ouer and so foorth If the flesh then prouoke anie man whether it be vnto lecherie and vile pleasure or vnto gluttonie and surfetting or to any other vices and wickednes let him remember the day of the last iudgement If either prosperitie puffe vp the minde as commonlie it dooth or wealth make hautie and cruell or honour worship or auctoritie engender pride in any man let him foorthwith remember the iudgement of Christ If either anger vnto reuengement or enuie vnto disdaine or couetousnesse vnto couen and theft or the world vnto ambition pride or bely cheere or the Diuell tempt thee vnto blaspheming the name of God and to other sinnes and wicked facts thinke straight waie of the voice of the Archangel beleeue how thou must pleade thine owne cause before the bench of Gods iudgment and frō thy verie hart do thou feare the heauy sentēce of that Iudge who doubtles will condemne the wicked vnto euerlasting fire Would to God oh would to God this day of iudgement were at no time forgotten then would euerie man doo his dutie Both Magistrates then would seeke the wealth and welfare defend the libertie and maintaine the lawes and rightes of the people committed to their charge and Subiects then would giue lawfull obedience to their Magistrates and at no time either repine at their Gouernors or withhold tribute or custome but willinglie would render all feare and due honor vnto them Both Husbandes then would loue their wiues euen as themselues And also wiues would feare their husbands and be subiect to them as vnto the Lord. Then would Parents bring vp their children in instruction and information of the Lord as the Apostle teacheth and children in the Lord would obey their Parents and honor them with all humilitie Seruaunts then would be obedient vnto them which are their Maisters according to the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenesse of their harts as vnto Christ as the same Paule doth admonish and Maisters would be more milde and gentle toward them knowing that euen their Maister also is in heauen Pastors then would haue that care of the Lords flock which they ought to haue Rich men would supplie the lacke of the poore Widowes would continue in supplications and praiers night and daie The poore would patientlie endure pouertie sithe it hath pleased the Lord to allot the same vnto them He which hath a wife would so deale as if he had none and he that is vnmaried care onelie for those thinges which may please the Lorde To be shorte There is no man but would doo his dutie did he alwaies remember the daie of the laste iudgement at which time God will aske an accompt of vs of our whole life and of euerie deede which we haue doone and so appoint either punishment or reward according to euerie mans desert In the time of a great plague when death is before mens eies we see how all men be they not dissembling Christians are carefull to reforme and amende their manners VVhat then Ought
with our hand much more see with our eies For that I may begin with the most vsual vice what euils doo not follow dronkennes and gluttonie For as he in the Storie of the world doth saie Hence commeth palenes of the face hanging cheekes sore eies palsie in the handes ouglie dreames and vnquiet sleepe in the night Hence proceede stincking breathes hed-aches weake memories dul wits Hence are ingendered grieuous diseases as ache of the iointes goutes the falling euil as both Phisitions doo affirme and dailie examples testifie Now touching whoredome how in this our age doo we behold the same to be punished with the French-pocks as also other immoderate venerie with the palsie with the blearednes of the eies with the quiuering of the sinewes As for luxuriousnes doth it not bring manie a man vnto neede and beggerie Adulterie is it not sometime punished and they which commit the same alwaies after infamous Besides the angrie man doth he not oftentimes get hurt and the proude man hatred What shall I saie of Enuie is it not a punishment to him which is giuen there-vnto doth it not eate vp and consume the enuious As rightlie did one saie The Sicilian Tyrans did neuer finde A greater plage then enuy to the mind So did another Th'enuious man doth pine away in paine To see another florish wel and gaine Now to speake of couetousnes is it not euermore tormented as with desire of getting so with feare of forgoing For that which a couetous man hath wil not content him and that which he hath maketh him to feare least he loase the same Thus you maie see how that vice and wickednes are often punished yea in this world Now if these thinges doo nothing moue vs yet should the euerlasting tormentes of hell threatened to the wicked in the holie scripture stirre vp euerie man with all earnestnes of minde to amend his naughtie life without delaie if we beleeue those thinges to be true and not a fable which the holie scripture teacheth both of the eternall life of the godlie and of the punishment of the wicked Cap. 18. ¶ What meanes a godlie man maie vse by the example of the Author to stirre vp him selfe vnto a godlie life HEre I wil brieflie declare if happily it may giue occasion to others in like sort to amēd their life what it is wher by I am greatlie incensed and set on fire to followe vertue and godlines For thus many times I doo reason with my selfe What Riuius what if at this verie instant of time thou shouldest leaue this world in what state shouldest thou be Art thou wel prepared to die For albe thou reposest thy confidence as it is thy part to doo so in the infinite mercie and goodnes of God haue you not neede for all that to stand infeare of his iustice How manie thousandes of Christians how manie young men old men of middle age women wiues vnwedded finallie of all degrees of all ages and of all kindes whose sinnes are neither for number so manie nor so hainous as thine and yet are damned to euerlasting tormentes O horrible iudgement of God yet a righteous iudgement How manie Iewes are in hel how manie Idolaters are punished with perpetuall paines The which had escaped those paines had they bene conuerted vnto the faith of Christ as we are through the goodnes of God seeing they liued farre more vprightlie in the world then we haue done O cursed ingratitude of ours O the hardnes of our harts I saie what if it were saide vnto thee as it was saide vnto Ezechias Put thine house in an order for thou shalt die and not liue what wouldest thou doo then I thinke thou wouldest craue longer life that thou mightest bewaile thy sinnes repent and aske God mercie VVhie then dost thou not that daie by daie all thy life long which thou vvouldest doo at such a point By these cogitations as I saie I am woont maruelouslie to be inflamed to liue well to flie sinne and to requite mercie at Gods hand Let others then as like this woont place the same before their eies Cap. 19. ⧠How men should addresse them-selues to liue well THere is none almost but thinketh enimies should be forgiuē before death comes let him now then forgiue none but desireth Gods fauour let him now then seeke the same none but would thinke to amend his life let him now then amend Finallie doo that while thou liuest and art well doo that through trust in God which thou wouldest wish to doo at the point of death That is particularlie to expresse the same repent continuallie feare the Lord vnfainedlie loue him heartelie trust in him alone in aduersitie call vpon him in prosperitie thanke him alwaie see thou praise extoll acknowledge his goodnes sing Psalmes to him let him alone be euermore in thy praiers in thy cogitations and in thy desires Commit thy selfe to his goodnes and submit thy wil to his Follow his example in doing wel to all men and endeuor to be like him in louing thine enimies Furthermore be thou in troubles patient in peace modest in thy office diligent in thy liuing and apparel temperate Be thou toward thy neighbour righteous toward the poore liberall in thy dealing with others milde and courteous Put vp iniuries pursue peace loue chastitie shamefastnes sobrietie and in all thinges shew thy selfe vp-right and vncorrupt And forasmuch as these thinges cannot be attained by the onlie power of nature flie thou vnto the Lord for helpe and assistance acknowledging thy weaknes the infirmitie of man praie God both humblie and continuallie to impart vpon thee his holie spirit the which Christ hath promised that the Father wil giue to them that desire him If therefore thou craue that the same spirit maie be giuen thee of God and shed vpon thee aboundantlie to vse the wordes of S. Paule through Iesus Christ thou shalt finde that what thinges of thy selfe thou couldest not doo through him thou shalt bring to passe Onlie be not thou thine owne foe neither doo thou voluntarilie loase the bridle to thine affections and with all endeuor looke that thou feede not thy wanton humor For the holie Ghost doth not assist cowards sluggardes and such as idlelie sit with their armes folded together but those which worke and labour earnestlie to tame their natural wickednes yea he deemeth such worthie his aide which continuallie doo striue with the wicked affections of the minde Let vs not then doo as that countrie-man did as the tale is who his cart sticking fast in the myte cried vnto God for helpe but stoode idlelie him-selfe and would not helpe at all Aboue all be thou terrified from sinning and stirred vnto a godlie life through the presence both of God who euerie and no waie can be auoided and of his holie Angel thy keeper and guider yea and the beholder and witnes of all thy doinges Now if thou wouldest for no good that anie man should come in when thou