is a friend companion of God by how much it is intense in his worship praise and honour by so much it is gratious and acceptable vnto him from whence it cometh to passe that these great holy men when they were liuing in the worlde they were called the friendes of God Loquebatur Deus ad Moysen Exod. 13.11 God spake vnto Moyses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend and Iesus Christ saieth to his disciples Iam non dicam vos seruos Ioan. 15.15 now I will call you no more seruantes for the seruant knoweth not the minde of his Master but you haue I called friends because whatsoeuer I haue heard of my Father that I haue manifested vnto you Behold by what meanes a soule is made a friend and darling of God to witt by obeying his holy will and obseruing his diuine precepts now a sinner refuseth to doe that which is alwaies commaunded by God and in neglect of this performing the contrarie he witnesseth his malice and contempt of so omnipotent and infinite a maiestie if God saieth vnto him Non assumes nomē Domini tus in vanum Exod. 20.7 thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine he is presently breathing forth blasphemies If God saieth Obserua diem Sabath keepe holy the Saboth day he will little esteeme the prophanation of it if God saieth Honora Patrem honour thy Father and thy Mother he will be disobedient to them hence therfore ariseth a capitall emnitie betwixt the soule God Iniquitates vestrae diuiserunt inter vos Deum vestrum Isay 59.2 your iniquities haue made a diuision betwixt you and your God Oh vnfortunate soule what an inexcogitable preiudice hast thou procured which is the losse of Gods friendship and to appeare no other wayes in his diuine aspect then an abiect Reprobate and wretched enemy perhaps thou thinkest with thy selfe that thou hast lost but the fauour of some ignoble and vnworthy man or Prince Oh no no it is no lesse then the friendship of almighty God the creatour and conseruer of all thinges and redeemer of all mankinde Oh miserable soule if thou wouldest but duly consider and equally ballance thy vnheard of detrimēt what could there be inuented so pleasant or delightfull which might retaine thee in the snares of sinne what fetters and chaines of sinne so stronge that thou wouldest not shake off and breake in sunder oh what damage doe you sinners suffer when as you loose the loue fauour and friendship of so omnipotent clement and mercifull a God The holy Prophet Dauid consideringe only that he could not be present at the solemnity of the temple bewailing and lamenting he saieth Fuerunt mihi lachrimae meae c. Psal 41.4 my teares haue bene my bread day and night whilest they doe say vnto me where is thy God Quēadmodum desiderat ceruus euen as the harte panteth after the fountaines of waters so my soule desireth after thee oh God my soule hath thirsted after God the liuing water when shall I come and appeare before the face of God Si ergo inueni gratiam in conspectu tuo c. If therefore I haue found fauour in thy eyes shew mee thy fauourable cōtenāce saith Moyses to God Exod. 33.13 This is that that caused the Saints to be so vigilant and industrious in their prayers so austere in their fastinges mortifications and resignations of their proper wills and that to no other end but that they might be coūted worthy to be friendes of God for truly what other is the end center or repose of our soule but God As fire of its owne nature is carried vpward as euery ponderous and heauy thing of its nature falleth downewards euen so the soule is directed towards God and euen as the waters runne into the sea so haue our soules recourse vnto almighty God now truly from this center from this end and from this sweet repose is the soule hindred by the obstacle of sinne no other thing Oh therfore sinners enemies of God where wil you be secure To what place will you flie for refuge Where will you hide your selues from the presence of God Quò ibo à spiritu tuo Psal 138.7 whether shall I go from thy spirit or whether shall I flie from thy face It was the misery of sinne that made Cayn crie out Ecce hodie eijcis me à facie terrae Gen. 4.14 behould thou doest cast me this day from the face of the earth and I shall be hid from thy face therfore euery man that seeth me may kill mee It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God saith S. Paul But do ye not tremble oh you sinners when your aduersary is so powerfull your enemy so potent wo be vnto vs if he were not clement who is so mighty Returne therfore now oh Brethren vnto him which so louingly expecteth you Humiliamini igitur sub potenti manu Dei 1. Pet. 5.6 humble your soules vnder the mighty hand of God that he might exalt you in the time of his visitation reconcile your selues vnto him and agree with your aduersary whilest you are in the way that when he shall see you at the point and laste article of your death taking your farewel of the world he may not condemne you with the damned soules and execrable diuells in hell but of his mercy extoll and place you in heauen Amen That a soule by sinne doth lose the grace of God THE X. CHAPTER GRatiam gloriam dabit Dominus Psal 83.4 Our Lord will giue grace and glorie That I may comprehend the matter in few wordes our Lord is he that in this life giueth grace and in the next glorie But you so long as yee are in mortall sinne are depriued of that grace and dying in sinne shall neuer attaine to that glory which God forbid therefore rather turne from your wicked wayes and learne to liue vnto God for our Lord saieth Nolo mortem peccatoris impij c. Ezech 33.11 I will not the death of a wicked sinner but had rather that the vniust man would leaue his iniquitie and liue Therefore Brethren consider I beseech you the exceedinge great detriment and losse that you suffer by the depriuation of grace which that with fruite and profit I may intimate demonstrate vnto you I beseech you and implore this thing of you that you would attentiuely heare and with diligence read this that followeth I haue formerly declared how a sinner looseth the friendship of God and now my intent is to make knowne vnto you how he looseth his diuine grace which grace is as it were an intermediat thing betwixt the soule and God causing it to be acceptable and gratefull vnto him for the grace of God is no other thing then a certaine ornament garment or spirituall vestment of the soule by which she is made glorious appeareth beautifull in the eyes and presence of her
magnificent glorie must haue an end thy splendour beautie and comelinesse must decay and thy flesh whyther that body of thine must turne to dust and ashes thou shalt die shalt be consumed and depart this present life But which is most to be lamented at last thy miserable and execrable soule if thou repēt not shall depart out of thy filthy and putrified body to a place of greater misery then can be expressed But when shal this be when thou thinkest least of it when thou art least of all prepared when thou shalt be strangely bound with the chaines and fetters of thy sinnes by the diuell The cordes of my sinnes haue bound mee saith the Prophet Psal 118. taking vpon him the person of a sinner Man knoweth not his end saieth Ecclesiastes but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birds are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euill time when it shall sodenly come vpon them Eccles 9. O wretched sinner giue eare receaue the sound of this fearful trumpet Thou must once die ô sinner and thou oh harlot must one day be dissolued But when wilt thou say The time is vncertaine the time is concealed from thee the time is only knowne vnto God himselfe and it may be when thou not so much as thinkest of it There is nothing more certaine then death and there is nothing more vncertaine thē the houre of death saith S. Bernard This yeare this moneth this weeke this day this hower and moment thou mayest die and yeeld vp the Ghost They spend their dayes in mirth and in an instant they descend into hell Iob. 2. men shall be indulgent to their sensualities sporte laugh and be merrie and in a moment shall die and go to hell For when they shall say peace and securitie then shall sodenly destruction come vpon them as the paine to a woman in childbirth and they shall not escape saith the holy Apostle 1. Thessa 5.4 Of the last and deadly disease and damage of the soule and that after this life there is no recouery THE XV. CHAPTER MIserere mei c. Psal 6.3 haue mercy vpon me oh Lord because I am weake heale me oh Lord because my bones are sore troubled saith the Prophet Dauid Consider a while ô sinner that a little before thy soule depart out of thy vncleane polluted body thou shalt be vexed tormented with some cruell disease or other vnlesse thou be killed or die sodenlie which God forbid from soden vnprouided death oh Lord deliuer vs as our holy Mother the church teacheth vs often to repeate Tell me I pray thee who hath made thee certaine that thou shalt not fall downe dead as thou art eating who hath secured thee that thou shalt not departe this life hauing now the bread in thy mouth and the cupp in thy hand who can tell thee for a certaine that when thou art in the highest degree of delightes pleasures and worldly contentments that then euen in the midst of these thou shalt not be dissolued and descend into the abisse of perpetuall darknesse ô wretched and vnhappie sinners call to minde and foresee what you doe and haue respect vnto the end which most certainly shall come but when you know not Be it that God out of his infinite mercy and clemency will not deale with thee according to thy merits nor take thee away with a suddaine vnforseene but with a common ordinary kind of death In what an astonishmēt wilt thou then be whē thou shalt see the last messenger of thy life which shall be an ordinary disease but deadly euen in thy flourishing yeares beauty strength or in whatsoeuer gift and endowmen of nature belonging to a cōpleate and perfect man consider vnfortunate wretch that thou shalt not depart this life on a suddaine without some vehemēt feauer or the like disease which through heat or colde shall one while cause thy teeth to chatter shake an other while with heat burning shalt not only be enflamed molested with the grief of thy stomacke and head but thy very harte will tremble and quake within thee that all thy nerues sinewes iunctures arturies and veines shal be moued tremble and all this through thy intollerable paine and anguish neither shalt thou haue sleepe or appetite last of all thou shalt take no rest night nor day What wilt thou doe then miserable soule loaden with sinnes which for the space of soe manie moneths or yeares loste hast not confessed nor bene reconciled to God and thy neighbours nor agreed with thy aduersarie who like an other Sardanapalus hast runne a moste libidinous course and lastly seest thy selfe to be defiled and contaminated with the spott and filth of thy sinnes and offences Tell me I beseech thee how great will that anguish bee and how intollerable that affliction which then thy sinnes shall cause and bring vpon thee how infinite shall thy doloures be which shall cruciate thee when thou shalt cal to mind the iniuries wherewith so many yeares together thou hast offended almighty God Tell me whether of these greifes will be more vehement the tormentes of the body or the sorrow of thy soule For when thou shalt beginne to feare death and to receaue a remuneration according to thy sinnes which is death what a present hell will it bee to all the powers and faculties of thy soule when as for the hardnes of thy harte thou canest not repent Indurauerunt facies suas c. Ierem. 5.3 They haue hardened their faces more then the rocke and would not returne saith the Prophet Ieremie Be thou conuerted oh sinner and turne with al expedition vnto thy God expect not blinded soule the last howre in which that vnwelcom messēger of death shall come intimate vnto thee thy dissolution It is your cause that is now in hand therefore be well aduised what you doe it is your suite that is now in action therefore take counsell preuent the future and expect not that latter and perilous time What shall you then be confessed and brought into the state of grace who cā make you certaine of that or promise you that thē God will forgiue your crimes offences and admitt you into his fauour who haue all your life time so exceedingly offended him But if God should then assist you notwithstanding it wil be very painfull and laborious to remember your so innumerable sinnes By what meanes shall you call to minde so many wronges wherby you haue dishonoured God when as you shal be circumuented with so many griefes and oppressed with so many diseases and torments It may be you shall not be capable of sense or reason Last of all how shall it be manifest vnto you that you shall be of power and abilitie to make a true confession or speake or pronounce the words when you shall be dried vp with heat and debilitated with extremitie of sicknes Alas blinde and miserable wretches why prouide you
receaue meate whē sweet sleepe shall be wanting vnto thee when all thinges shall be distastfull vnto thee when thou cāst not endure to heare the voyce wordes or speech of thy Wife Children Father or Mother or of thy most deare friendes when thou thy selfe shalt be distastfull vnto thy selfe O sinner what wilt thou then doe opprest on euery side with so many infirmities dolors and vexations when thou maiest truly say with the Prophet The sorrowes of death haue compassed me about the torments of iniquity haue troubled me the sorrowes of hell haue ouertaken me the snares of death haue preuented me Psal 17.5 O wretch be thou conuerted now vnto thy God now amend and correct thy life implore and craue with al submission pardon for thy sinnes past O you sinners giue an attentiue eare vnto your God who at this instant calleth you saying Be you conuerted vnto me with all your hartes Ioel. 2.13 O my sweet louing Iesus which didest vouchsafe for the saluatiō of miserable sinners to come into this world bestow such efficacie and force vpon my wordes that offenders therby knowing themselues may be conuerted vnto thee Remember blessed Iesus at what a price thou hast bought their soules Remēber what thou hast suffered for the redemption of them Graunt that the found of these my or rather thy Trumpetts may awaken the soules of sinners and stirre vp their mindes and affections to the embracing of thee and the seeking of their owne saluation O Clement Iesu I know with how great loue thou didest hasten to the ignominious death of the Crosse for the redemption of sinners forgett not therfore them which thou hast redeemed with thy moste pretious blood permitt not ô Iesu that those soules which thou hast so dearly bought doe perish but rather graunt that they may be raised vp from death and liue Deliuer my soule ô God from the sword and mine only one from the hand of the Dogge saue me from the Lions mouth and my humilitie from the hornes of the Vnicorne Psal 21.21 Inuocate thy Iesus ô poore soule with these wordes of the Prophet placing all thy trust and confidence in him who desireth nothing more then thy repentance and health I thirst I thirst cried he in the time of his bitter passion which although it may be vnderstood of a corporall thirst yet more especially is it meant of the spirituall thirst and ardent desire which he had for the saluation of soules O afflicted soule would to God thou couldest perceaue that infinite loue by which thy Iesus is enflamed towardes thee would to God thou couldest comprehend that speciall care which thy Iesus from thy first being hath had ouer thee O therefore my louing Iesus how cometh it to passe that a miserable sinner can be so ingratefull and vnmindfull of thee his soe clement mercifull and louing God O my God can it bee that the diuell should possesse the harte of a sinner that hee should become the vassaile of Sathan thy cheifest and most opposite enemie Alas miserable soule at thy death thou shalt perceaue experience the diuels plot and intent the end of his allurements and faire profers which he hath presēted vnto thee inuiting thee to offend thy God and to follow him so impious and cruel an enemie of thy Sauiour Then thou shalt see ô wretched soule how malitiouslie and treacherouslie the diuell will hādle thee In these thy extreame agonies and afflictions when thou mayest truly say Tribulations are on all sides of me Thou shalt stand in the presence of the diuell and all his execrable companions who so soone as thy soule is departed frō thy body shal carrie it into the infernal abisse of hell there to liue with the damned soules in perpetuall torments and flames of fire God of his mercie ô sinners opē your eyes that you may prouide for your soules health and auoyde those horrible punishmēts Heare now ô sinner I hartily beseech thee set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not liue Isay 38.2 for it is apointed for al men to die once Heb. 9.27 Thou shalt die but to liue in perpetuall tormentes God graunt that we die to liue a spirituall and eternal life with Iesus in glorie Amen Of the place whether the soule goeth so soone as it departeth out of the body THE XXI CHAPTER BEhould the Timbrell the Harpe and reioyce at the sound of the Organe they lead their dayes in wealth and prosperitie and in a moment they goe downe into hell Iob. 21.12 It is time now ô sinner to draw nere to the consideration and contemplation of thy future estate and being Tell mee I beseech thee what shall become of thee when thy soule shall depart thy body To what place shall shee betake her selfe when shee shall be exiled and banished from this flesh with which so long as they were conioyned she committed such execrable sinnes and so heinouslie offended thy God and redeemer Heare what shall be said Behold miserable sinners your end Behold the reward of your delights the hire of your pleasures the euent of your desires Behold the end of all your goods riches and honours in a moment you shall forsake them and goe downe into hell O sadde and heauie newes for your delightes must perish your pleasures shall be expired your sensuall desires shall for euer cease Last of all your estate shall be taken away by death Let vs eate and drinke for to morrow we shall die sayed they in the persons of all sinners Isay 22.11 O miserable sinners fix your cogitations vpon that dreadfull time whē your soules shall bidde adew take their last farewell of your corrupted and loathsome bodies There be three places in which our soules so soone as they are separated from our bodies may haue their beings which be these heauen hell purgatorie Thinke therfore with thy selfe ô sinner that thou art to depart into one of these places according to thy merit or demerit for our iust Lord hath loued iustice Et equitatem vidit vultus eius and his contenance hath seene equitie Psal 10.8 and therefore he rewardeth euery mā according to his works good or euill Mine hire is with me to giue vnto euery one according to his workes Rom. 2.6 Those which haue done good workes shall goe into life euerlastinge and they which haue done euill shall goe into euerlasting fire saieth S. Athanasius Consider ô sinner that when thou art striuing and contending with death thy soule shall by little and little withdraw it from the inferior parts of thy body and shall betake her selfe to the harte where she hath her principall residence last of all when she can finde no place in the body where she may be receaued she presentlie flieth away and leaueth that dead carcase of thine But aboue all this consider with thy selfe what shall become of her after her departure for so soone as she is departed from thy body she presently is receaued by the
our Sauiour to death how shalt thou bee able to looke vpoÌ„ this crosse O Caiphas and you Scribes Pharises that moued the people to cry out with an exceeding great clamour to Pilat away with him away with him crucifie him him crucifie him what griefe shall you conceaue at the sight of this holie Crosse What furie and madnes shall posesse you at the behoulding of it O vngodlie Christians who still remaine in the filth of your sinnes who haue trampled vnder foot the pretious blood of Iesus what will you then say and doe Thou proud man who reiecting all others wouldest submitt thy selfe to no bodie with what deiection wilt thou cast thy eyes downewards lest thou shouldest behould that triumphant signe Alas ô lasciuious man who wallowing in the mire of all vncleanesse hast liued in the filth and mire thereof hast liued in contempt of the blood and death of Christ how theÌ„ darest thou looke vpon that sacred signe Alas thou angry man who wilt forgiue nothing wherin thou art offended though in the smallest matter although thou shouldest be asked pardon for Christs sake in remembrance of his most bitter death and passion what then shall become of thee how wilt thou looke vpon that signe wheÌ„ thou shalt see all hope of obtaining mercie to bee shutt vp from thee Alas thou couetous man who for Christs sake wouldest not giue one morsell of bread to the poore what shall become of thee when thou shalt see thy selfe destitute of all celestiall and terrestiall things Alas thou wicked woman that hast killed so many soules and iniuried the blood and crosse of Christ with thy lewed and dishonest life what shall then become of thee Thou peruerse and obstinate heretike who dailie reuilest Christe and his holie church thou shalt then bee brought to the acknowledgement of thyne errours Alas daÌ„ned soules then you shall behould the fruite of your sinneful life past when all hope of mercy which you haue despised here vpon earth shall bee taken away what will you doe when after the crosse and other signes of the passion Christ Iesus crucified shall appeare in his maiesty O happie are they who shall be able then to looke vpon him O most sweet woundes of my beloued Iesus bestow that grace vpon mee that I may bee worthy to bee of the number of them which shall behould you with chearfullnes of hart O most amiable Iesus graunt me thy grace that I may bee one of them who with ioy and gladnes may glorie in thy woundes with these or the like wordes Behould my most louing Iesê° who hath shown so great mercy vnto me as to draw mee out of the abysse of so many sinnes and freely pardoned all myne iniquities Behould those woundes and pretious blood by vertue wherof I am saued Bee you blessed ô glorious woundes full of loue Be thou blessed ô my most amiable Iesus who hast vouchsafed to beestow so great fauours vpon mee To thee and to thy sacred woundes be attributed all praise honour glorie and benediction Let all the Angels and Saints in heauen sing praises vnto thee let all faithfull people vpon earth dailie worship thee let the whole fabrique of heauen and earth with all creatures coÌ„tained therin set foorth thy prayse God forbid that I should glorie in anie thing but in the crosse of Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified to mee and I to the world Now Brethren and sisters sinners turne your selues to Christ the iudge coÌ„ming in the cloudes with his diuine maiestie most glorious to behould to the Angels and all good men but terrible and fearfull to the diuels and all reprobate soules indeed all shall looke vpon him shining with his resplendant glory but with differeÌ„t affections the damned shal be forced to behold him to the greater augmentation of their griefe but the elect to their greater comfort and consolation Ierusalem wash thy harte from malice that thou mayest be saued Ier. 4.14 Sinners purge your soules and consciences looke into your selues with a serious consideration of your estate delay not vntill the terrible day of iudgement shall aproach for then it will be too late to prouide your selues to enter into the place of eternall happines Consider now sinner what helpes are prepared for thee so many teachers to direct thee so many coÌ„fessors to instruct thee so many bookes to cal and admonish thee so many diuine inspirations to moue and excite thee so many prayers of the holy Church so many suffragies of the blessed Saints thou hast thine Angell keeper to protect defend thee Cal to minde the manifould helpes which thy louing Iesus out of his fatherly care hath prouided for thee He daily teacheth and instructeth thee continually prayeth to his heauenly Father for thee we haue an aduocate with the Father saieth S. Iohn Iesus Christ the iust 1. Ioan. 2.1 Consider what helpe the B. V. Marie Mother of mercy patronesse of sinners procureth for thee who neuer ceaseth to pray for all before her sonne in heauen Consider on the otherside if thou continuest and diest in thy sinnes thou shalt be destitute of all helpe thou shalt not finde any to plead for thee not the Saints not the church nor the Blessed Virgin Mary for then the gate of mercy will be shut vp and no entrance shall be fouÌ„d sinners looke to your selues haue recourse to Christ the fountaine of liuing waters whilst it standeth open knocke at the gate of mercy before it be shut so you shal receaue pardon and remission of all your sinnes and offences Which God of his mercy graunt that we may all obtaine Amen Of the great shame wherewith all the damned shall be confounded in the day of iudgement before almighty God and the whole world THE XXVII CHAPTER ANd all nations shall be gathered together before him and he shall separate them one from another as a sheepheard separateth his sheepe from the kiddes and shall place his sheepe on the right hand and the kiddes on the left Mat. 25.32 O sinners what torments and vexations shal you haue in your troubled soules when you shall stand in the presence of God the whole world to be condemned for your iniquities what shame will it be to thee when all thy misdeedes shall appeare and be manifested vnto all And I will reueale thy secrets before thee and will shew thy nakednes to the nations and thine ignominie to the kingdomes saith the Prophet NauÌ„ Naum. 3.6 Noe means can be vsed to couer thy sinnes which thou hast committed so closely then what vices soeuer thou diddest in secret endeuouring to hide them from the eyes of men and Angels shall be brought to light Then traitour all thy treacherous and bloudy plottes shall be reuealed Then deceitfull companion all thy crafty plottes fallaces shall be detected ô wonderfull and maruailous thinge then shall they read one anothers sinnes in their foreheades as in bookes The husband shall see all the dishonest behauiours
wretch with how many difficulties will he then circumuent thee and the more because thou shalt not know what to answere in thine owne behalfe thou shalt be sore besett on euery side and preuaile nothing at all thou shalt be cast headlong into the gulfe of eternall perdition Alas miserable vnfortunate and forlorne sinners you will then haue no time to take an inward hatred of your hainous crimes and misdeedes The diuell will stand in your presence alleadging and reciting al your enormous faultes and offences declaring them to the full to the which you will not know what to answere or to make any excuse for your selues Harken sinners to a terrible example which maketh for our purpose and is related of Iohn Climachus in the eight sermon of his booke of sermons the historie is thus A certaine Monke called Stephen dwelling in moūt Sinay was wonderfully delighted with the tranquillity of a solitary life who as this authour reporteth was adorned with rare vertues learning for many yeares together to become a valiāt souldier of Iesus Christ This religious mā the day before he died would some times looke on the right side other times on the left side of his bed as though there were some present that demaunded a very strict account of all the thinges which euer hee had done We indeed saw no body saieth he to talke thus with him yet sometimes he would say Trulie so it is againe he would say I graunt it but this I haue confessed and for the same I haue fasted lamented so lōg a time Another while he would say it is true and presently after you belie mee it is not so I neuer cōmitted any such crime thē shortlie after he would tell them verily you accuse me vniustly and lay this infamy vndeseruedly vppon mee But this most of all amazed vs when he sayed I yeeld that it is true neither doe I know what to replie or answere for my selfe yet I put my trust in God who is mercifull so that this obscure iudgement which none there present did vnderstand was most terrible to relate but especially in this that the diuels should accuse him of thinges which he neuer did O wretch that I am to what streight was that Anachoret brought into a true louer of a solitarie and an heremiticall life who after that he had continued a monke for fourty yeares and had shedd forth many profitable teares yet after all this he affirmed that he could not say any thing for him selfe or giue a sufficient answer to excuse his offences Woe woe then to vs where was that large promise which allmighty God had made by the mouth of his holy Prophet Ezechiell Si impius egerit paenitentiam Ezech. 18.27 If the wicked shall doe pennance for all the sinnes which he hath wrought all his iniquities which he hath done I will not remember He could answere nothing nor alleadge this in his behalfe whereupon God is onely to be praised and extolled who knoweth the cause and reason of all thinges And so much the more for that some monkes affirmed that this Stephen so long as he liued in the desert fedd and nourished a Leopard with his owne hāds yet this Heremit of such fame and note in the world being called to giue an account of his life left no certainty behinde him what sentence passed on him whither he was accepted before God or no. This history Climachus relateth Haue you giuen eare to this sinners how is it then that you liue so securely being contaminated with vices and loathsome sinnes supposing that you shall die well enough when Alas you heare that so famous an Heremit a man of such notable sanctitie who did great pennance ful fourtie yeares now dying had nothing to answere when a reckoning was to be made O how narrowly shall our life be discussed and examined when we shall be summoned by death to appeare before the tribunall seate of allmightie God to render a strict account of the same We read in the Chronicles of our sacred order that when a certaine brother died who had liued well and deuoutly and giuen good example to all the comunitie a Doctor of diuinity beinge slacke in perfourming his office which was to say Masse for this dead brother according to his obligation thinking indeed that seeing he had liued so vertuously he did not stand in any need therof Hereupon one day betimes in the morning this deceased religious appeared vnto him and sayed Salue Magister vbi est illa charitas quâ te sacrificium pro me facturum promiseras God saue you Sir what is become of your charitie in that you promised to offer the holy sacrifice of the Masse for my soule I thought replied the diuine you had no need thereof No need of it saied the other Vtinam scires quà m seueré negotium in morte transigatur I would to God thou knewest how seuerely our busines is handled after death Know thou that I am punished in purgatorie with most grieuous paines and torments for which if thou wilt offer this holy sacrifice for me forthwith I shal be freed when he had sayed this he departed and the Doctor fulfilled his promise Alas therfore sinners take heed what you doe refraine from your mischieuous acts doe pennance for your former offences delay not diligently to caste vp your account Lord God almightie cleaue in sunder the stonie hartes of wandering sinners that thou mayest be worshipped and poore soules redeemed with thy moste pretious bloud may be saued Take away Lord Iesu and vtterlie destroy the power of Sathan which he so long hath exercised with all cruelty against the miserable soules of men that so this damned spirit may be put to vtter shame and confusion thy holy name be praised and glorified and sinnefull soules deliuered Amen Of the societie which the soule of a sinner hath after death THE XXXVI CHAPTER ITe maledicti c. Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his Angells Is not this the sentence sinners which Iesus Christ the iudge will pronounce in the last iudgemēt against the reprobate who haue died in mortall sinne goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire in the companie of all the diuels Cōsider therfore what associates you shall haue after death thinke that you shall be amongst the most cruell enemies of your soules But how long shall you tarry with that cursed crew for one tenn or a thousand yeares yea for euer miscreants and for all eternitie Alas what miserie Alas what torments and paine will you haue to continue imprisoned in that infernall darke dungeon Ponder that after death thou shalt be wholie in the diuels custodie where thou mayest bee sure that these deadly enemies of God and of mankinde will vse all cruelty to afflict thee which possibly they can deuise When I pray thee will the diuel beginne his dominion ouer thee in respect of thy soule In the very day of thy death and departure out
read in prophane authours that when Crates beganne to studie philosophie hee cast all his monie into the sea saying Malo te perdere quam vt tu me perdas I had rather cast thee away then thou shouldest cast away mee intimatinge thereby that riches are not to be esteemed but vtterliy to be renounced and contemned when they cannot bee kept without the losse and hinderance of vertue I omitt to speake of Bias and Diogenes the one whereof being admonished to saue something for himselfe his answere was Omnia mea mecum porto all my substance I carrie with mee meaning his vertues The other made choise of pouertie rather to liue in washing of rootes then with Aristippus to enioy courtlie pleasures and by flatterie to be in fauour with Princes Alas shall these heathen philosophers which knew not God despise treasures contemne riches and embrace pouertie onely for the loue of morall vertues and shall wee which professe our selues to be Christians bought with the pretious blood of Iesus Christ respect transitorie vanities before the saluation of our soules Shall the blessed Apostle S. Paul Phil. 3.8 count all thinges detriment and esteeme them as dunge that he might gaine Christ And shall we like children be delighted with toyes and with Esops cocke preferre a barlie corne before a rich gemme shall we dissemble with our consciences for the worlde for feare that otherwise we should loose our credit Woe be vnto vs if we doe so seeing our Blessed Sauiour hath sayed Math. 10.33 He that shall deny me before men him wil I denie before my Father which is in heauen And in an other place hee sayeth If any man will come vnto me and hateth not his Father and mother wife and children Brother and sister yea and his owne life he cannot be my disciple Luc. 14.26 God forbid that we should delay our conuersion and with the foolish Virgins haue our oyle to seeke for our lampes when the bridegroome cometh vnto the marriage left afterwardes knocking and calling to be receiued in we be sent backe againe with a Nescio vos I know you not S. Iohn Baptist when he was in the wildernesse shewed that his commission and embassage was to preach pennance vnto the world how that the axe was now layed to the roote of the tree and euerie tree that bringeth not forth good fruite to bee cut downe and cast into the fire And that his life might bee conformable to his wordes he executed in pennance the greatest austerities his meat was locust and wilde honie the food which hee found in the fieldes his apparell a garment of camels hayre girt with a rough girdle and his chamber and lodginge a caue of some craggic rocke his boulster and bedde the hard ground bearinge with great patience the colde heate hunger and thirst and other common iniuries of the ayre But why did this blessed and glorious forerunner of our Sauiour Christ endure all this not in punishment of his sinnes hee beinge sanctified from his Mothers wombe but to preserue himselfe the better euen from the least offences to tame his flesh and bring it in subiection to the spirit and to dispose him selfe the better to receaue the guifts of heauen which are not ordinarilie obtayned but by such painfull austerities Why then should not wee imitate this Saint and conforme our selues vnto him wherein hee is imitable Why should not wee embrace corporall austerities as much as wee may chastising our flesh and offeringe it as a liuelie hoste holy and acceptable vnto God almighty in satisfaction for our sinnefull liues past Rom. 12. This path haue all these holie and iust men of the old and new testament formerly trodden For in the written law the Apostle affirmeth how they went in sheeps skinnes in goates skinnes wandring in deserts in mountaines in dennes and caues of the earth and in the law of grace wee plainlie see that the whole life of our Blessed Sauiour the most perfect mirrour of all virtues was nothing else but a continuall acte of penaunce spent wholy in watching praying fasting hunger thirst and colde with other like necessities wherunto we are subiect suffering shamefull ignominies and reproaches and all for our example as witnesse his owne wordes saying Ego dedi c. Ioan. 13.15 I haue giuen you example as I haue done so do you likewise His prayers were so long that S. Luke writeth that he went forth into the mountaine and there passed the whole night in prayer Luc. 16.12 and that the example of this vertue was not left vs by our Lord for speculation onely but for our practise also this place of scripture maketh it plaine Marc. 13.33 Take heed watch and pray and againe watch yee therefore for yee know not the houre in which the Lord of the house cōmeth He fasted fortie dayes and fortie nightes in the desert Marc. 4. and one Euangelist addeth Luc. 4.2 that he did eate nothing in those dayes neither doe we euer read expresselie that he did euer eate any flesh in all his life vnlesse the Sacramētall flesh of the old law which was eaten for deuotion not to satisfy hunger wheras of fish bread made of barly and of drinking of water māy testimonies are not wāting Besides al this he was derided scorned mocked coūted a foole and when he did any wonderfull miracles they would presētly say Mat. 13.55 Is not this the carpenters sonne do we not know all his pedegree how basely he is descēded a mā that is a glutton wine-drinker Math. 11.19 a friend of publicans sinners After our Sauiour Christs most bitter death and passion consider how the Apostles passed their liues in much fasting long watchings hunger thirst cold heat nakednesse And since their time all these which haue safely passed the troublesom sea of this miserable world and are now arriued at the thrise happy hauen of eternall felicitie they haue all done the like To auoid prolixity I referre you vnto infinite exāples in Egisippus Eusebius and others that haue written the liues of Saints in those ages as also in S. Athanasius of the life of S. Paul the first Eremite and of S. Hilarion the like you may see in Ioānes Cassianus Palladius Ioānes Climachus other holy authētical authors which haue recorded things of admiration in this behalfe all with most rigorous asperities of life in these ancient Christiās which intended only the mortifying of their bodies the subduing of their flesh and sensual tie repressing the vnlawful motiōs of their concupiscence that they might stād more secure in this conflict of resisting sinne Is it possible then that wee knowing and hearinge these thinges should as holy Iob sayeth drinke vp sinne as beasts doe water where are our witts reason and iudgement when we heare Christ saying Mat. 16.26 what doth it profit a man if he gaine the whole world and suffer detriment of his soule And we like swine wallow our selues in the filth
Reader Iuditious reader if thou seeke to please The fantasie with Arguments of witt Curious conceites know such fond passages I doe bequeath to lighter subiects fitt To thy deuotion therfore as a Frend My matter not my Meathhoode I commend Thine G. P. BROTHER BARTHOLOMEVV VNVVORTHY Seruant of Iesus Christ crucified to his moste endeared Sister S. Marie Magdalen glorious spouse of blessed Iesus in heauen BEholde my moste deare Sister Magdalen the spouse of Christ crucified once as blacke as the tents of Cedar Cant. 1. but afterwards as beautifull as the courtaines of Salomon portresse of loue and patronesse of all sinners now blessed with celestiall glorie beholde I say I haue finished a little booke entituled by mee The Seauen Trumpets exciting a sinner to repentance And because I haue written of thee being assisted with thy holy prayers not any that I could find might with such equitie challenge the patronage of this booke as thy selfe For to whom might I with more conuenience present this little worke out of which proceedeth such a sound that terrifieth the greatest malefactour and awakneth the securest offender thē to S. Mary Magdalē a sinner To whom I say rather then vnto thee should I the most abiect and vnworthiest of all sinners dedicate this booke that treateth of the saluation of sinners To thee therfore my sister Magdalen I commend it that thou beeing a daily assistant therof mightest cause it to bringe forth its intended frutes which is the safetie health and happinesse of all distressed wretched and sinfull soules Remember oh blessed Magdalen that thou wast once a loste sheepe farre strayed from the folde of Christ and if our deare Sauiour Iesus the carefull shepheard of thy soule had not called thee vnto him thou hadst beene deuoured of the rauening wolfe thou knowest that our Iesus did vndergoe death for the life of soules Christas venit in hunc mundum c. 1. Tim. 1.15 Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am the cheefe and Christ himselfe saith Non est opus valentibus medico sed malè habentibus Math 9.12 They that be well neede not the phisitian but they that be sicke and thou art not ignorant of that which is written of him in the Gospell of Saint Luc. Hic peccatores recipit c. Luc. 15.2 This man receaueth sinners and eateth with them Oh therfore Magdalen let thy eyes of pittie be euer watchfull ouer miserable sinners intercede for the conuersion and saluation of so many soules which are running headlong into the abisse of eternall perdition Thou seest and knowest moste deare Magdalē what a number of soules doe daily and hourely descēd into the bottomlesse pitte of hell succour aide and stretch forth thy helping hand therfore to the perishing languishing soules remember oh Sister that all those soules were redeemed and bought with the pretious blood of sweete Iesus the Sauiour and Redeemer of vs both Thou knowest right well the inexcogitable sufferings of our louing Iesus vpon mount Caluarie for all vs rebellious wretches I am certaine thou well remembrest that pretious blood which whilest he hāged vpon the crosse thou sawest distill and runne downe from his sacred bodie vpon the earth Remember oh Magdalen the anxiety of his soule when as thou didst behold him yeelding vp his spirit with such bitter paines vpon the holy wood of the crosse procure by thy intercession that these soules which were redeemed with the pretious blood which did so abundantly flow out of his diuine head being prickt and goared with an vnheard-of crowne of thornes may be deliuered from the power of sinne and brought into the glorious liberty of the sōnes of God succour those poore soules which are bought with such an abūdance of blood running like a torrent from the most sacred hands and feet of thy Master Iesus crucified obtaine by thy holy prayers that those soules may be presented pure before God which were washed with that blood and water that issued out of thy Iesus his side euē vnto his most bitter death Thy prayers oh Magdalen which are enflamed with the burning loue of thy dearest spouse are of no small virtue to procure the helpe of the Angel of the couenāt to put the diseased soules of miserable sinners into the all curing waters of Bethsaida Ioan. 5.4 To thee therefore in the name of our gratious Iesus his blessed Mother he a louing Father she a tender Mother of al sinners I present offer this litle worke which I acknowledge to be thine In the name of the moste holie Trinitie Father Sonne and holie Ghost in the vertue of the name of Iesus and the B. V. Marie together with thy helpe oh Blessed Magdalen these my Seauen Trumpets are come to bee sounded abroad which by the efficacie of the blood death and passion of Christ who is Sonne of God and also him selfe true God and man I implore beseech and desire that they terrifie conuert and reduce to repentance an innumerable company of soules which lie demerged ouerwhelmed and plunged in the pitt of sinne and iniquitie Amen In the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Amen Let thy benedictiō oh my Magdalen descend vpon the soule and bodie of mee and all other sinners which shall peruse this booke by the vertue of the pretious body and blood of our Blessed Iesus which is cōtained in the most holy Sacrament of the altar Amen Pray for mee From Rome our place of S. Fran. Transtib Iun. 14. 1612. Thy most deuoted Brother in our Lord Brother Bartholomew IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Here followeth the beginninge of the Seauen Trumpets of the B. F. B. Bartholomew Saluthius of the holie order of the Frier Minars of obseru reform THE PROLOGVE ET septem Angeli qui habebant septem tubas c. Apoc. 8. And the seauen Angels which had the Seauē Trumpets prepared them selues to sound saith S. Iohn after hee had said in the same place Et vidi septem Angelos c. and I saw seauen Angels standing in the presence of God and there was giuē vnto them Seauē Trumpets Oh Brethren sinners I am not an Angell but a sinner not onely like vnto you but worse then you who being enflamed with the honour of allmightie God and also moued with the desire of all your soules healths I haue presumed to bring to light this little booke entituled The Seauen Trumpets that they may found in your eares and recall you to your most louing God mercifull Father and reduce you into the way of saluation Oh wretches consider that you haue strayed and diuerted from the true path and doe now runne and persist with a swift pace in the way that leadeth to perditiō ponder well oh ye vnhappy soules how that yee stand vpon the brimme of hell ready euery moment to be caste downe headlong into the abisse of perpetual darknesse whereupon I being stirred vp
beloued spouse Christ Iesus Queene Hester when she would present her selfe vnto the King her husband the scripture saieth Circundata est gloriâ suâ Ester 15.4 she was adorned with all her glory that shee might find fauour in the fight of the King her spouse So likewise a soule that it may become acceptable in the diuine eyes of the King of heauen and earth had neede be adorned with that rich garment of diuerse colours Psal 44. which is the varietie of spirituall gifts and graces But before I shall declare what this grace is it will be needfull to speake of the common diuision of grace which all Doctors affirme saying that grace is two folde The one is Gratia gratis data grace giuen gratis and for no precedent merit the other Gratum faciens making the party acceptable vpon whom it is bestowed Graces of the first sorte are the fouours and spiritual gifts which are bestowed vpon men of which the Apostle speaketh of when be he saieth Alij quidem per spiritum datur sermo sapientia c. 1. Cor. 12.8 to one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisedome to another the worde of knowledge to another the grace of doing cures to another the working of miracles to another prophecy to another the discerning of spirits to another diuersitie of tounges to another interpretatiō of languages and all these worketh one and the same spirit diuiding vnto euery one according as he wil Grace of the other kind is a certaine spirituall qualitie created of God alone and infused into the soule which filleth and purifieth her essence as the subtile Scotus affirmeth afterwards redoundeth into the powers and faculties as the angelicall Doctor teacheth It is not our purpose to dispute of this matter it will be sufficient for you to know what you loose by your sinnes Now the grace of God being thus vnderstood that it is a certaine spirituall qualitie created and infused into the soule which of its owne nature is opposite to mortall sinne in so much that grace by no means can stand together with mortall sinne I say mortall sinne for grace is not excluded by veniall sinne although a soule should be blemished with a thousand venial sinnes yet notwithstandinge it might obtain◠loue and fauour in the sight of God but it is true that when the soule is thus stained with the blemishes of veniall sinnes that the mutuall loue and amitie which intercedeth betweene God the soule waxeth more colde and tepidd that it cannot be eleuated with that ardent feruour of loue towardes God as it was wonte neither with that zeale doth shee seeke his honour and glorie as is requisite but so soone as one mortall sinne seaseth vpon the soule the grace of God immediatly vpon that instant departeth and leaueth that vnhappy soule which becometh thereby an enemie vnto God and appeareth abhominable in his sight Behold now Brethren your infinite detriment penetrate your great losse ponder well with your selues in what a state you are whē as you are hatefull to almightie God It is no small thinge to be depriued of the fauour of some earthly King or to purchase the displeasure of a worldly Prince but it is a farre greater thing to be destitute of the grace of God and to incurre the wrath of the King of Kings And yet this wretched world vilifying and dispising this seemeth to esteeme of it as a matter of small moment Oh vnwise oh foolish oh blinde world which folowest butterflies and fearest the stings of flies and gnats but tremblest not to thinke of the euer gnawing worme of cōscience and quakest not at the eternall furie and consuminge wrath of God Oh Brethren sinners feare God feare God I say and remember the saying of our B. Sauiour pronounced with his owne moste sacred mouth Nolite timere c. Math. 10.28 feare not those that kill the body but cannot hurte the soule but rather feare him that can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire Christ Iesus our Lord God for his mercies sake vouchsafe to infuse into your soules the holy feare of him for feare is the beginning originall of all our good works Beatus homo qui semper est pauidus Prou. 28.14 blessed is the man that alwaies feareth saith the wise man giue vs therefore sweet Iesu this holy feare of thee and illuminate and burne vs in the furnace of diuine loue Amen Of the terrible sentence which is giuen vpon a soule at the instant that it sinneth THE XI CHAPTER ANima quae peccauerit ipsa morietur Ezech. 18.20 the soule that sinneth shall die Oh yee sinners how fearfull is the sound of this third Trumpet It seemeth like vnto the soūd of those trumpets which at the laste leaue behinde them a fearfull broken and terrible note Oh how horrid and vnpleasant is it giue eare The soule that sinneth shall die Oh fearful sentence but who pronounceth it the holy scripture the mistresse of truth in the person of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost But that you may with more attentiō giue eare to the sound of this trumpet know yee that so soone as yee commit mortall sinne in the consistorie of heauen by the mouth of the moste holy and blessed Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost your sentence is denounced in these wordes Let this soule be accursed condemned and adiudged to death that shee may be tormented and burned in the euerlasting flames of hell fire in the companie of vgglie and terrible diuels in that detestable odious place of perdition And then all hope and means being taken away of euer returning if shee die in this state without penance contrition and it may be confession she is giuen into the hands and authoritie of diabolicall and hellish furies for euer to be consumed in not consuming flames Oh that fearfull and moste terrible sentence yet moste right and iust But giue eare a little further oh you sinners for euery mortall sinne that you commit the same sentence in the same heauen of the same God Father Sonne holy Ghost in the presence of the B. V. Marie Mother of God and the whole celestiall courte of heauen is againe pronounced against your soules and al the Saints and Angels in that celestiall paradise say Amen Oh deare Brethren take this councell of mee turne vnto almightie God neither be diffident or call into doubt the diuine clemencie and mercie for though you were ten thousand times by sentence condemned vnto hell notwithstanding so long as yee liue you haue time to change the sentence Si autem impius egerit penitentiam c. Ezec 18.21 if the sinner do pennance for all his sinnes which he hath wrought all his iniquities shall be done away which he hath committed saith God by the mouth of his holy Prophet Ezechiel thus thou seest oh sinnefull soule that God can wil change his sentence if thou please to chāge thy wicked course and
vngodly maner of liuing There be two thinges sinners that God doâ—h not remember to wit sinnes and good workes if one hath liued wel thirty or fourtie yeares and hath serued God with much feruour of spirit and maceration of his body with fastings watchings disciplines or other such acts and at last should sinne and decline from his former institution and manner of liuing God blotteth out of his memorie all his former good workes and meritorious actes and if he die in such a state he is for euer plunged into the pitt of perdition On the other side if any one hath liued thirty or fourtie yeares in sinnes be they neuer so great and at the last should be penitent and sorrowfull for them God will forgett them all were they as redd as scarlett he will make them as white as snow and dying in that estate without all doubt he should be made participante of the perpetuall ioyes of heauen The former ought to strike great feare trembling and terrour into the good but the latter much confidence hope trust into the wicked Therfore I beseech you and entreat you deare Brethren sinners for Gods sake and the honour and loue of him that died for you that you would leaue sinning be conuerted vnto your clement Redeemer not any longer to abuse his mercies but to giue his diuine maiestie infinite thankes for his long suffering expecting euen vntill this instaÌ„t of your amendment and conuersion and who is alwaies prepared fatherly to receaue you if euer by amendement of life you shall returne home vnto him Dixi confitebor aduersum me iniustitiam meam Psal 31.6 I said I will confesse against my selfe mine iniustice vnto our Lord and thou hast forgiuen the impietie of my sinne saieth the holy Prophet Dauid who is he oh BrethreÌ„ that would abuse this so great benignitie of God doe it not doe it not doe it not for Iesus Christ his loue and bitter passion who died vpon the crosse for you but turne your selues vnto so louing and fatherly a God which doth not only expect but also draw you that he might pardon free and redeeme you from sinne death and hell A lasse oh yee fooles wherefore do you any longer defer it Sweet Iesu Christ looke downe vppon these blinded wretches and infuse into their soules the light of grace which may bring them to the participation of thy glorie which for thy mercie and much suffering vouchsafe to make theÌ„ capable of that they may die to liue with thee eternally Amen That man may easily sinne but cannot of himselfe rise from thence THE XII CHAPTER SIne me nihil potestis facere Ioan. 15.5 without me yee can doe nothing and in another place Nemo potest venire ad me c. Ioan. 6.44 no man can come vnto mee vnlesse my Father who hath sent mee shall draw him therfore the spouse in the canticles cried out Draw me after thee Cantic 1.3 Now therfore oh sinner it is no smal euill that thou doest incurre by sinning seeing thou hast power to fall and that it is in thy free will to sinne or not but being once fallen canst not of thy owne forces rise againe without the assistance of diuine grace Tel mee I pray thee speaking of thy body that by all probability immediatlye after foote set vppon ground thou shouldest fall how careful wouldest thou bee in walking what diligeÌ„ce wouldest thou vse for the placing of thy feete for the auoyding of danger and if thou chance to fall how willingly wouldest thou imitate the asse which with great difficulty iâ— drawne that way where hee foâ—merly receued any hurt The case is the same oh sinner in respect of thy soule in the next moment thou art ready to fall dangerouslie in so much that thou hast not power and abilitie to rise againe what care oughtest thou to haue then in ordering thy footsteps what vnwillingnes to walke in that path againe in which formerly thou hast receaued so great hurt and danger But thou neglecting this perhaps wilt say God will helpe me True it is thou maiest hope and it is good that thou trust confide in his diuine assistance but with this hope there must be ioyned an holie feare to offend or sinne against so great a maiestie for otherwise thou shalt much aggrauate thy crime and delict and procure the displeasure of so benigne and louing a Father But who hath or can assure thee that the effectuall helpe of God will alwaies be at hand to assist thee Hee can doe or omitt this as it shall be thought fitt by his diuine prouidence and therefore thou hast great reason carefully and prudently to institute thy life to shunne and abandon all obiects and occasions that may any way distract or hinder thee from the vnion of so mighty powerfull a Lord. Furthermore wheÌ„ as God hath administred vnto thee ofteÌ„times his diuine helpe and raised thee vp againe but thou continuing in vices and still with the dogge returning to thy former vomit it may be I say then he will leaue thee as long as that sentence of thy damnation may be pronounced in heauen thou art neuer secure why therefore doest thou studie as I may say to sinne and to prouoke the diuine goodnes Leaue therfore Brother leaue I beseech thee by that life and pretious blood which Iesus Christ our Lord powred out for vs hanging vpon the holy wood of the crosse Brother sinne no more for assure thy selfe that so long as thou art polluted with the blemish of sinne thou art no other then an adulterate person and liable to eternall perdition Beholde vnfortunate soule if thou shouldest be in daunger to fal into some deepe lake or into the sea or any other depth or into the iawes of some cruel wilde beastes how vigilant and carefull wouldest thou bee for the auoyding of so great and imminent a perill and yet thou seemest nothing at all to feare or care for falling into hell out of which there is no redemption How good workes done in sinne doe perish and are of no merit THE XIII CHAPTER WHat dost thou not know that all thy good and meritorious acts and deeds shall not auaile thee any thing if thou but once sinne This only thing truly ought to be a sufficient motiue if thou wouldest admit it to thy serious cogitation to excite rouse thee vp to amendement and correction of thy life manners Vnderstand how great and ineffable the loue and benignitie of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is towards vs vngratefull soules who hath ordained decreed for the least thing soeuer done in the honor of him to giue and make vs capable of heauen for one fasting for one mortification of the body for one almes for one penny giuen for the loue of him for one submission and inflexion of the body proceeding and tending to his glory for pronouncing only of the blessed name of Iesus if it be done with due
not now for your necessities why leaue you not your pernicious and wicked course of life why desist you not from offending your gratious God why crie you not out with the Prophet Dauid Haue mercie vpon mee oh God according to thy great mercie and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine iniquities If you will now implore the diuine assistance your daungerous woundes may be cured and you may find grace and mercie at the handes of God which at the howre of death it may be you shall not obtaine for then you will with feare but now you may with loue inuocate craue his diuine clemencie then you leaue not your sinnes but your sinnes leaue you Wherefore Brethren sinners be now vigilant and carefull for your soules begge at this instant with importunity pardoÌ„ for your so many heinous offences and odious delinquences Turne you to your Lord God with all your hartes he is exceedingly clement and his mercies are many and you shal finde rest vnto your soules Returne to him with the saying of the prodigal sonne in your mouthes Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthy to be called thy sonne which if you shall so doe he being moued with compassioÌ„ towards you will goe out to meet you and fall vpon your neckes and louingly embrace you pardoning all your former iniuries wherby you haue offended him euen as a Father taketh pittie of his children so hath our Lord compassion vpon them that feare him because he knoweth our making he remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 102.13 Our Lord is nothing but clemencie and goodnes the earth is filled with his mercie there is no end therof Psa 32.5 Breake forth therefore yee sinners into these wordes sayinge oh sweet Iesu our God Redeemer grant pardon mercie and remission helpe aide succour and assist vs perishing soules for thy bitter passions sake Amen haue mercy vpon me oh Lord haue mercy vpon me because my soule hath trusted in thee Of the separation of the soule from God in the article of death THE XVI CHAPTER INiquitates vestrae diuiserunt c. Isay 59.2 your iniquities haue diuided betweene you and your God saith the holy Prophet Isay consider now obdurate sinner that thou must approach to the last moment of thy death perswade thy selfe that thou must come to that terrible and fearfull instant in which thy soule shall be separated from thy body oh misery and calamity what wilt thou then say or doe when as by no meanes thou canst hinder thy soules departure Thy spirit must be then disioyned from thy flesh which I wish may not bee separated from God Alas alas wretched and miserable sinner when thou shalt see thy soule to depart from thy body and eternally to be separated from God what wilt thou then doe oh miserable separation of the soule from the bodie but oh farre more miserable the separation of the same from God What wilt thou coniecture when thou shalt see thy selfe to be excluded the presence of God thy Creator vnfortunate soule consider what a seuere iudgement there will be of thee at thy death which the holy Apostle considering saieth For we must all be manifested before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one may receaue the proper thinges of his body according as he hâ—th done either good or euill 2. Corin. 5.10 Then of all thy deedes euen thy least actions of all thy vaine wordes and cogitatioÌ„s which euer came into thy minde thou art to giue and yeelde a strict and seuere account Then shalt thou be constrained to answere not only for thy lost time but for al thy time il spent Then shalt thou vnderstand how profitable it would haue bene for thee to follow the counsell of the wise man who saieth Make vse of time and decline from euill Eccles 4.23 O miserable humane nature which runneth to death as the riuers to the sea You shall all die and fall as the waters vpon the earth which do not returne Enter therfore into the closet of thy harte and consider that thou art not to answere for thy owne crimes only but also for those which are committed either by thy fault consent counsell or conniuency or not hindering them when it was in thy power Then thou shalt not excuse thy selfe nor say with Cain Am I my brothers keeper Gen. 4.9 for truly he hath commaunded to euery one the care and charity of his neighbour Bee vigilant therfore thou sinner for there will be a great and difficult matter handled at the moment of thy death Well wilt thou then know how great an offence it is to vse iestes tauntes scoffes sportes and other merrie passages euen although without preiudice or detrimeÌ„t of thy neighbour How perspicuouslie shalt thou then perceaue what it is to be distracted in time of diuine office Masse and other holy Ceremonies and to be negligent and indisposed in the church or in other holy places If euery sinne be it neuer so smal for its obiect which is God is most great therefore also the least iniurie offered to God who is infinite is likewise infinite Now therefore oh sinner see how preposterously and peruerslie thou doest when thou wilt not alwaies eleuate and fix thine eyes vpon God Be circumspect least thou displease him euen in the least thing because thinges seeming of no moment are in his diuine presence very great from little and meane thinges of no account we easily fall into greater and more enormous as the scripture saith He that despiseth small thinges by little and little falleth saieth the wise man How truly did Salomon say The number of fooles is infinite because euery sinner is a foole who for a little vaine and transitorie pleasure feareth not to loose an infinite treasure permanent and immutable Oh sinners turne into your selues liue in the feare of God who created you for this is true wisedome and solidd prudence The beginning of wisedome is the feare of God Psal 110.10 Oh yee obdurate and blinded wretches looke into the state of your soules foresee what griefes you shal conceaue when your soules must departe your bodies with whom they haue bene with so great affection conioyned and vnited Consider that vnwilling and most dolefull departure and separation no man euer hated his flesh saith the Apostle Ephes 5.29 but loueth it with a moste vehement loue and affection whereupon the philosopher vnderstanding this naturall loue of the soule saied that death is the last of terrible and fearfull thinges Know now sinner that this feare terrour is to inuade thee but when this horrour shall seaze vpon thee the time is vncertaine Oh my Trumpet send foorth thy sound that thou mayest bee heard in the extreamest and furthest partes of the world let thy eccho enter into the eares of the wretched sinner that hee may know himselfe knowing may turne vnto himselfe and see the infinite losse detriment which
sinne bringeth into his soule at the houre of death and abhorre it following the counsell of the wise man fly from the face of sinne as from the face of a serpent the teeth therof are the teeth of lyons killing the soules of men O Brethren sinners by the sacred woundes of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I beseech you earnestly and entreat you that you would not imitate the deafe Adder which that she may not heare the melodious tune of the enchaunter stoppeth her eares the one by couering it with her taile the other by laying it on the ground doe you not the same but harken and attend to the sound of this Trumpet with open diligent eares that hereby the diuels stratagemes and diabolicall inuasions being put to flight there may be free accesse for the diuine concourse into your soules Amen Of the terrour which the diuell striketh into a soule in the moment of death THE XVII CHAPTER THe Dragon whom thou hast made to deceaue him saieth the Prophet Psal 103.26 I would to God thou couldest sufficiently weigh and consider the intollerable terrour and feare which the sight of most detestable diuels shall present vnto thee or that thou couldest comprehend what an astonishment it will be to behould a diuell I am certaine thou wouldest chaunge the course of thy life and arise out of the lethargie of thy sinnes if not for feare of God yet for feare of the diuellish and hellish crue For if the sight of a Wolfe a Beare a Lyon a Dragon a Serpent or any loathsome Toade doth strike such terrour into vs and doe so astonish and affright vs what wil the aspect of the diuels doe at the point of death Oh you doating and miserable sinners if you would with due consideratiō thinke of these fearfull formes and sightes which the diuels will lay before your eyes at the very instant of your deaths without doubt you would flie sinne For if when thou art well in health strong and of a good courage any one of the diuels should appeare vnto thee in the forme of some cruell and rauenous beast thou couldest not but tremble and quake through all the partes of thy body what wilt thou doe then vnhappy soule when thou shalt be debilitated and opprest with sicknes destitute and depriued of all powre and strength whē thou canst neither moue nor helpe thy selfe whē thou are scarce able to speak or hardly to intimate and make knowne thy necessities by signes and tokens When last of all the powers and faculties of thy body shall be weakened What when thou art compleate in perfect strength endued with all the ornaments of nature which are required to the full perfection of a man if then thou canest not endure the sight of a fearfull diuell nor of a diuell appearing in some common shape as of a dogge horse or the like what will become of thee when thou shalt behold the diuel not in the shape of some cruell beast but in a forme farre more horrible and that at the instant of thy death Our holy Father S. Francis was wont to say that it were impossible for any one to see the diuell in his owne proper forme and shape which he hath in hell but for the space of the reciting of the Pater or Aue allthough he were in perfect health without present death what then oh sinner will become of thee yeelding vp thy spirit when thou shalt plainly see perceaue that execrable enemy of thine in his detestable shape and forme Turne and direct all the forces powers of the supreme and intellectuall parte of thy soule to this reason abandon thy lasciuious sinneful life now begin to feare that hereafter thou mayest not tremble when it can no way auaile thee Consider that not only one diuell to thee then tormented with the paines of death but many yea thousands shall appeare euery one striuing and endeuoring with their diabolicall actions and gestures to molest affright and astonish thee whether then wilt thou flie for succour or who then will releeue thee will S. Mary whom thou hast despised Will Iesus whom thou hast blasphemed Will the Saints and Angels whom thou hast dishonoured Lastly will God whom thou hast vilified contēned Alas miserable wretch who will assist thee or what Saint wilt thou inuocate to whom wilt thou flie for in the deluge of many waters none of thē wil aproch or draw neare vnto thee Psal 31. no man shall plead thy cause or recite thy necessities Oh in what a depth of miseries art thou in at the houre of death when thou canst not soe much as commend thy soule so agonizing in infirmities to almighty God when thou canst not so much as cal vppon thy good Angell or any of the Saints which in time of thy health thou diddest honour with particular deuotion that they intercede for thee Oh sinners be you now conuerted vnto your God now importune your sweet Iesus now salute the Virgin Mary our blessed Ladie now it is time to implore the aide of the Archangels Michael Gabriell Raphaell and of thy Angel keeper and all the celestial spirits Now it is time to craue the assistance of S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter S. Paul S. Iohn S. Bartholomew and of the other Apostles now it is time to request the helpe of S. Stephē S. Laurēce S. George and all the other Martyrs now it is time to commend thy selfe to S. Benedict S. Dominike S. Francis and the rest of the holy confessors Lastly it is now time to cry out and call vpon S. Mary Magdalen who in time past was a sinner S. Clare S. Agnes S. Catharine S. Lucie and the rest of the blessed Virgins Widowes and Martyrs now Saints in heauen Doest thou not remember that thou hast read or heard how often the diuels haue presented thēselues to sicke mē in their chambers lying vpō their death-beds euē thē drawing their last breath yeelding vp the Ghost sometimes in the formes of Dogges Cattes Hogges or such like one while in one maner an other while in an other alwaies in different formes when they are not able to helpe themselues O wretched vnfortunate sinner how much do I lament thy case who leadest so detestable a life as without repentāce infallibly rēdeth to the pitt of hel cōsider that whē thou shalt come to that accursed place no man can helpe thee not thy Father not thy Mother not thy kindred not thy friendes not thy wife not any of them which stand by thee are of power to afforde thee any releife or assistance only God in the time of thy death can comfort and succour thee only S. Mary his blessed Mother and her sonne Iesus only the Angels the Saints in heauen in these amidst thine extreame agonies thou maiest finde releife comfort and consolation Therefore why doest thou now offend them wherfore doest thou dishonour them why doest thou inueigh against the glorious Saints of God with
thy pernicious maledictiōs why blaspheamest thou thy God why contemnest thou thy Iesus and his blessed Mother S. Marie and doest not rather commende thy selfe vnto them chaunge now the institution and manner of thy life Doest thou thinke that thou shalt liue perpetually that thou art immortall that death shall be afraide of thee canst thou be perswaded that death which exerciseth her fatall function vpon all men and seazed vpon God himselfe that it will passe by or exempt thee Alas wretch knowest thou not what the scripture saith It is decreed that all must once die Heb. 9.27 Remember therfore thy last end and turne vnto thy God Giue eare vnto the sound of this trumpet if thou intendest when thou art come to the howre of death to triumph ouer the diuell haue confidence in thy God for in thy name saieth the Prophet Dauid we will dispise those that rise vp against vs and the same in the person of thy God saieth Super aspidem basilicum ambulabis c. Psal 90. thou shalt walke vpon the Aspe and Basiliske and shalt tread vppon the Lyon and Dragon because he hath giuen his Angels charge of thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes There be three waies oh sinner in which the Angels doe protect guard thee The first in thy birth and natiuitie the second from thy birth vntill thy death the third from death to the obtaining of eternall life God of his infinite mercie keepe thee in all these waies that thou maiest come to raigne with him eternally Amen Of the fearfull presence of the Iudge in the instant of death THE XVIII CHAPTER ALas wicked and miserable sinner what terrour feare of necessity must possesse thy soule when as thou now dying must behould the angry countenance of that great Iudge God almightie whose glorious and pleasing aspect holy men could not beholde for no man shall see me and liue saieth God to Moyses Exod. 20.19 speake thou to vs and we will heare thee let not our Lord speake to vs least perhappes wee die saide the children of Israell to Moyses Saint Peter who loued Christ soe dearlie and was likewise so well beloued esteemed of him that he deliuered his church to him to be gouerned directed and would that it should relie vpon him as a firme foundation He I say vpon a certaine time when he saw Christ in presence astonished cried out Exi à me quia homo peccator sum goe from mee oh Lord because I am a sinnefull man what thē wilt thou do in the day of thy death when thou shalt behold the angry contenance of Iesus burning with the fire of diuine iustice Oh worme what will then become of thee where wilt thou hide thy selfe whether wilt thou flie Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo c. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant because no man liuing shall be iustified in thy sight crieth out the Prophet in the person of a soule striuing with death Giue eare I beseech thee to that which holy Iob saieth of the presence of the iudge verè quod ita sit c. I know indeed it is so that man cannot be iustified compared with God if he contend with him he cannot answere him one for a thousand Iob. 9.2 notwithstanding Iob was of that integrity and sanctity of life that God him selfe speaking of him said Vir erat in terra Hus c. There was a man in the land of Hus whose name was Iob that was simple and right and fearing God departing from euill Iob. 1. And in the same chapter God speaking of Iob vnto the diuell he saied Hast thou considered my seruant Iob that there is not the like vnto him in the earth a man simple and right fearing God and departing from euill and keeping innocencie Alas how terrible and horrible a thing is it at the time of death to fall into the handes of the iust iudge Truly it would seeme a dreadfull thing if one should be circumuented and besett with a multitude of Serpēts Beares Dragons Lyons or other such like deuouring creatures yet all the terror which would proceed from these thinges created compared with the terrour and astonishment that the contenance and maiesty of the angry and iust iudge shall strike into a soule in the instant of death it is light and nothing O miserable soule commiserate and pitty thine owne case meditate vpon thine owne necessities consider what must at last befall thee consider the last end and thou shalt not sinne for euer saieth the wiseman to forewarne thee ô how much shouldest thou and indeed oughtest to feare and tremble to thinke vpon that last instant of thy life in which thy soule must be dissolued and presented before the maiestie of the angry and offended iudge The iudge miserable wretch will say vnto thee giue an account of thy stewardship render a reason of thy soule which thou receauedst immaculate pure and vndefiled of mee and which being defiled and blemished with the contraction and spot of originall sinne I haue washed and made cleane with my most pretious blood Giue an account of thy Reason Vnderstanding Memorie and Will which thou hast receaued of me thou wast endued with vnderstanding that thou shouldest know mee with thy Will that thou shouldest loue mee with a Memorie that thou shouldest be euer mindfull of mee but thou vngrateful soule hast abused these faculties by which thou wert like vnto God let vs make man after our owne Image saieth God Gen. 1. These endowments more then diuine thou hast occupied and busied about base humane transitorie and vaine subiects for so much as thou dost alwaies thinke of them loue and embrace them and exercise thy memorie with them Bewaile now and lament thou sinner for the time will come in which it will repent thee that thou hast bene no more sorrowfull forget not God now for there will come a time when all thy sayings deedes cogitations and counsels shall be reduced to memorie Now endeuour to loue and honour God with all thy force as he hath commaunded thee in these wordes Loue the Lord thy God with all thy soule and with all thy harte all thy neighbour as thy selfe Math. 22.38 Oh miserable mortall men who so inconsideratly vppon the suddaine runne into death My dayes haue passed more swiftlie then the webbe that is cut by the weauer and are consumed without hope Iob. 7.6 Giue vs we beseech thee thy grace oh Lord pardon and remit oh benigne and bountifull God our delictes crimes and offences Remember that thou art our Father looke not vpon our ingratitude but vpon thy mercie haue respect to mee and behould me with the eyes of pittie and compassion for I am alone and poore the tribulations of my harte are multiplied deliuer mee from my necessities Psal 24.16 Oh Marie Mother of indulgent Iesus by whom I am to be iudged pray for mee and for all sinners that we may so dispose of all our
actions in this world and so direct the course of our liues according to his holy and diuine law that so at the last he may show vs not his seuere and angry but pleasing and amiable countenance Oh Marie looke to the soules of poore distressed sinners leaue vs not oh sweet Mary thou art our Queene our Patronesse our Mistresse our Mother Marie Mother of grace Mother of mercie doe thou defend vs from our enemies and receaue vs at the howre of our death By the loue of the blessed soule of thy deare Sonne I beseech and humbly begg that thou wouldest be pleased to accept my poore soule and the distressed soules of all sinners vnto thy carefull and motherly tuition by the pretious blood of thy deare Sonne haue compassion vpon sinnefull soules Remember Marie that thou art a Mother and that our soules were redeemed and bought with the sacred blood of thy sonne Iesus O Iesu be thou now propitious vnto vs that we may not commit any thing whereby we may deserue thy angry countenance Oh Iesu our Father oh Marie our Mother graunt that we may be your true children graunt oh diuine maiestie that we may amēd and correct our manners end our liues in the holy feare of thy omnipotent deitie That at the houre of our death we may behould thee as a louing and mercifull Father auoide the great terrour of thy angry countenance Amen Of the gnawing of the conscience which after a terrible manner shall molest a sinner dying THE XIX CHAPTER AS if a man should flie from the face of a Lyon a Beare should meet him and enter into his house and leane his hand vpon the wall and a Serpent should bite him Amos. 5.19 Beholde the similitude of Amos the Prophet verie fit for this matter Oh wretch what wilt thou doe therfore at the time of thy death which way wilt thou flie which way wilt thou turne thy self there will be imminent daunger on all sides thou shalt finde no place where to hide or secure thy selfe in euery way thou shalt be circumuented and surprised with terrours molestations If thou wouldest eschew and flie the furie of the Lion thou shalt be exposed to the daunger of the Beare and in flying from the Beare taking house of some seeming refuge thou shalt be stunge with a venemous Serpent for truly what is meant by the Lion but Iesus Christ the angry iudge the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda Apoc. 5.5 what doth the Beare signify but the diuell nothinge else is ment by the Serpent but the conscience Behold therefore vnworthy wretch what daunger is to befall thee at the time of thy death dost thou desire to auoide the Lyon the angry iudge Iesus offended thē the Beare the diuell wil meete thee and with his diabolicall inuentions infernall forces and hideous roaringes wil confound astonishe and affright thee and when thou presumest of thy security within thy selfe and enterest thine owne house to take rest there thou shalt find the Serpent thy conscience which will permit thee to haue no peace reste or quietnes then thou shalt see in it as in a glasse all thy sinnes offences which thou in thy life time hast thought said or done neither will it only suggest what thou hast thought sayed or committed amisse but it will also represent vnto thee all thy good deedes and actions which thou hast omitted then oh sinner this Serpent shall bite and deadlie sting thee arguing and accusing thee of all thy crimes threatning hell perpetuall death and damnation vnto thee Alas miserable soule then what a vaste and profound sea of miserie shalt thou be plunged in Omnes persecutores eius c. all the persecutours apprehended her in the midst of her tribulatiōs these wordes of the Prophet Ieremie in his lamentations may be truly spoken of thee when thou art departing and at the instant when thy soule shall be separated from thy bodie all thine enemies shall then compasse thee and in the extreamest of thy miseries and difficulties thou shalt be enuironed with all thine aduersaries God the Diuell and thine owne Conscience the Diuell will be at hand and call to minde all the sinnes which thou hast committed and will crie out vnto the iudge for iustice according to thy merit and vse all his forces to bring thee to desperation Thy Conscience shall sting thee and leaue no parte vnwounded al thy sinnes shall present them selues vnto thy memory in the very same manner and kinde as thou diddest commit them The Diuell will delineate and draw them out in a farre more great and heinous manner then thou coniecturest thou didst commit them The Iudge will demaund an exact a iust account of all thinges saying Render to mee an account of thy stewardship then thou mayest trulie crie out with the Prophet Dauid I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly I haue roared for the groanings of my harte Psal 37.9 O wretched sinners why doe you not now at this instant amēd your liues and manners O rebellious miscreantes why are you so prompt and ready to sinne and offend your louing and mercifull Father Doe you thinke that you are immortall that you shall neuer taste of death Doe you thinke that the time will neuer come when you shall giue an account of your whole liues so euilly spēt you deceaue your selues ô wretches Amend your selues therfore ô my Brethren forsake your former crimes and offences least you be like the Horse and Mule which haue no vnderstandinge Psal 31.9 O that my wordes were so ardent and of such efficacie that they might burne out al the offences from the hartes of sinnefull men To Iesus ô you sinners to Iesus Are you ignorant that he is your God Creator and Father know you not that blessed Iesus for you was made man For you he shedd his moste pretious blood vpon the holy wood of the crosse and burning with the loue of you was willing to vndergoe all kindes of punishments Are you ignorant that he offered him selfe to die such a bitter death only for the loue of you Christ came into the world to saue sinners 1. Tim. 1.15 Iesus came not for them that were well and haue no infirmitie but for those that are ill and diseased Consider sinner that Christ is thy brother Goe too my Brethren remember that Iesus for you was made man and the word was made flesh and dwelt in vs. Ioan. 1.14 cease therfore oh sinners to be any longer offensiue to Iesus your brother wicked Saul for tēne yeares did pursue Dauid but you by your wicked liues and vnheard of offences for these manie yeares haue persecuted and pursued your afflicted Iesus feare at last poore wretches to offend so louing a redeemer behold that infinite iniurie and wrong wherwith you haue afflicted him mark and duely penetrate I entreat you the manifold iniuries which you haue committed in neglecting and contemning so deare a Brother so faithfull a Friend so louing
a Father so good a God that God who hath created you redeemed you with his owne blood O you wretches behold in what a blindnes you walke and liue in so much that you persecute your dearest friend euē God himselfe if it were to molest or vexe some creature the fault would be more tollerable but you persecute and blaspheme euen almighty God himselfe neuer ceasing to quench the spirit of God and to resist his sacred inspirations which if you would know how great an euill it is giue eare I say to you saith our blessed Sauiour that al sinne blasphemy shall be forgiuen men and who so shall speake a word against the sonne of mā it shal be forgiuen him but he that shall speake against the holy Ghost he shall not be forgiuen in this world nor in the world to come Math. 12. If you should cast or spit out your malice against the face of one of your enemies which by some heinous crime had offended you if against one which beareth an aduerse minde or affection towards you you might finde some excuse or euasion but you offend God who of his great bounty hath bestowed such ample benefits vpon you which created and redeemed you which preserueth and susteineth you who last of all is ready to giue you eternall life what an infinite heinous crime is this how loathsome detestable an offēce is this Oh my Brethren so much as that nature it selfe abhorreth and detesteth it I would to God vnworthy sinner that thou couldest but see that indignation with which so often as thou offendest thy God the elements fire ayre water and earth heauen starres sunne and moone are inflamed and moued against thee O that thou couldest but perceaue how much the very brute beasts voide of reason are molested and troubled I would to God thou couldest behould and with due consideration ponder how thinges euen without sense as herbes plantes stones themselues doe stand armed against thee so often as they see thee offending their God and Creator know therfore thou sinner and perswade thy selfe that if it were not for the clemencie and benignitie of thy God after thou hast sinned preuaricated the earth it selfe would open her mouth and swallow thee the waters submerge thee the ayre infect choake thee the fire burne and consume thee the heauens send forth lightninges and fearfull tempests to kill and destroy thee and last of all what thing soeuer is created would rise vp against thee to reuenge the wrong done to their God and Creator O you sinners know that for a certaine all liuing Creatures as wilde beastes Serpents Dragons also rauening birdes all trees such like would oppose make warre against you if it were soe permitted by your God What doest not thou thinke that the house in which thou sinnest could fall downe vpon thee in the very acte wherein thou offendest if it were not vpholdē by God What doest thou not perswade thy selfe that the very bedde wherin thou committest adultery and dishonourest thy Creator would be cōsumed vnder thee if it were not hindered by the diuine prouidence What doest thou not firmely beleue that the bread which thou eatest the meate whereby thou art nourished the wine that thou drinkest would presently choake thee and poysen thee so that it might cause thy death did not the goodnes of thy God withstand it Consider therefore ô sinner that if God would permit it thou shouldest not liue one moment longer wherby to offend him any more because all creatures would rise vp in armes against thee but he reserueth this vntill the last day of iudgement although he permitted many particular sinnes to be reuenged and punished by diuerse creatures that hee might giue an example to other offenders God graunt that we may take example at such so soone as may be amend our liues and be in his grace and fauour so great that we may be no more enemies to him his creatures Amen Of the separation of the soule from the body and of the great dolors and afflictions which follow at that time and instant THE XX. CHAPTER LEt vs proceed further and goe forward to consider now the anguishes dolors griefes which the soule shall feele in the instant and time of her separation from the body O poore soule if thou wouldest seriously examine this I doubt not but that thou wouldest giue such charge to thy Will that it should neuer consent to the sensuall pleasures of the flesh Consider ô sinner that Iesus Christ himselfe who was God when he knew he was to approach and draw nigh to his death he did sweat blood and being in an agonie he prayed vntill his sweat became as droppes of blood trickling downe vpon the earth Luc. 22.44 O wicked wretch if God considering that his blessed soule should departe out of his sacred body did soe much feare death that such an anguish sorrow did possesse his soule what will become of thee Consider obdurate sinner the great griefe and sorrow that one friend taketh at anothers departure and separation they depart weeping sighing and lamenting their separation neither are able scarse to speake or take leaue each of the other How incomparably will then that griefe bee which the soule feeleth at the separation from the body vnto which it hath bene vnited with such intimate and naturall loue and affection O miserable soule how great will thy griefe be how intollerable thy anguish and sorrow when thou shalt be separated frō this thy flesh which thou haste so naturally loued and neuer denied it any thing All the thinges which my eyes desired I haue giuen them saieth Salomon O vnfortunate soule what a penaltie and punishment will it be vnto thee to be disunited frō thy flesh which so dearly thou louest and so highly esteemest of as that thou wouldest not disobey it in any thing No man hath euer hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and succoureth it saieth the holy Apostle Hearken vnto mee ô sinner and at this instant consider that the time shall come when the bōdes wherwith thy soule is so strictlie bound conioyned with thy body shall be violated and dissolued It shall come ô vngratefull sinner that most horrible time I say shall come ô it shall come accursed soule I say that ruefull and dismall moment and instant shall come O sinner commiserate and take pittie on thy selfe and on thy poore soule by seruing and pleasing God What will it profit a man saieth the holy scripture to gaine the whole world and to loose his owne soule Consider therfore ô thou improbous sinner which art so indulgent to that flesh of thine and desistest not to pittie feed and nourish it consider that thou must be disioyned from it when thou art to depart this life Consider that when thou shalt approach and draw nere vnto thy last end thou shalt be tormented and afflicted with some disease that thou shalt not be able to
Angels to goe to heauen or purgatorie or otherwise the diuels with their infernall acclamations shal take and carrie her into hel there to remaine in perpetuall punishements and torments thinke with thy selfe ô thou miserable sinner in what a miserable streight will thy soule be when shee shall see heauen on this side and hell on the other and the diuells prepared suddenly to carry her away by violence to perpetuall torments Alas ô wretched soule what an alteration is this ô thou accursed doest thou see now that there is an hell ô thou malignant Heretike which hast denied that there is a purgatorie what sayest thou now being dimerged and plunged in the abisseall gulfe of infernall and endlesse flames and tormeÌ„ts haddest thou not rather be in purgatorie euen vntill the iudgement day or the last moment what sayest thou O Iew which haddest the holie scripture to demonstrate and intimate vnto thee the promised Messias but thou out of obstinacie and hardnesse of hart wouldst neither acknowledge nor retaine him doest thou perceaue the scripture to be true in this sence doest thou see now ô Turke the vanitie of thy law the deceipfulnes of thy wicked Prophet Mahomet ô sinner and false Christian doest thou acknowledge that God can punish doest thou vnderstand how much thou wert deceaued in saying to excuse thy sinne God is mercifull and will pardon mee I can not beleeue that he will the death of my soule which hath redeemed me at so great a price as his pretious blood I wil afterwardes amend the course of my life I will sinne noe more after this yeare moneth weeke or day deceauing thy selfe with such like perswasions The dayes of man are shorte the number of his monethes is with thee saieth Iob speaking to God Iob. 14.5 here thou mayest marke ô sinner that he saieth not the nuÌ„ber of his yeares are with thee neither doth he say the yeares of man are short but his dayes and monethes Behould sinner how much thou deceauest thy selfe measuring thy life by yeares saying so many yeares I shall liue enter into due consideration with your selues beare in minde the last end of your liues consider the shorte computation of most wise and holy â—ob which is in moneths and dayes perswade your selues that you may euery day and howre yea euery moment and instant fall downe dead Be yee watchfull for you know not when the time shall be saieth our Lord. Thinke therfore that the last momâ—nt of thy liâ—e is already come and 〈…〉 at this instant thy miserable soule may take her last farrewell of thy stinking body and consider to what place shee must goe Thinke with thy selfe ô man although thou shouldest be the most holy and sanctified man in the world that thou art not alwaies certaine of thy saluation They are iust men and wise and their workes are in the hands of God and yet maÌ„ knoweth not whether he be worthy of loue or hatred Eccles 9.2 Accursed be that night when the soule of a miserable sinner departing without penitencie of her sinnes shall be giuen into the haÌ„des of a thousand diuels to the dreadfull lâ—ke that burneth with fire and brimstone to be perpetually tormented with the hellish crue miserable soule thinkest thou nothing of this matter or thinking of it why doest thou not amend thy life why permittest thou thy self to be deceaued by the alluremeÌ„ts of the flesh Truly that soule shall be most happy when departing out of her body she shall be embraced by the handes of Angels and carried with iubilations hymnes vnto the celestiall paradise O vnspeakable felicitie O most blessed and fortunate soule Pretious is the death of the Saints in the sight of our Lord. Psal 115.5 Consider ô soule that it is the only felicity and beatitude which the Saints did hope for and attend I beseech thee what the psalmist saieth of thy end and destruction The death of sinners is most ill Psal 33.22 marke what wordes the holy Prophet vseth he doth not say it is ill but most ill in the highest degree because it is so ill that it cannot be worse deseruedlie ô sinner is thy death most ill for if thou shouldest die now presently the miseries that would accompanie thee would demonstrate the same for thou shouldest die guilty of mortal sinne and dying guilty of mortall sinne thou shouldest dy hateful to God and dying hatefull to God thou diest an enemie to God theÌ„ the which there can be nothing more grieuous for thee or more abhominable in his sight Therefore ô sinner seriously ponder and duly consider I beseech thee thine imminent danger and great perill accepting the counsell of S. Peter the Apostle who saieth Be vigilant carefull that by your good workes you may make certaine your vocation and election for doing these thinges you shall not sinne 2. Pet. 1.10 Mary Mother of grace Mother of mercy protect thou vs froÌ„ our enemies and receaue vs at the howre of death To thee we flie most pious Queene Aduocate and Mother we implore thine aide and assistance euen vntill that last terrible moment Helpe vs gratious Mother defend vs most sweet clement Mary Remember o most blessed Virgin that thou art the patronesse of all sinners Therfore I the most wicked chiefe of all offendors doe in the name of all desire and craue thy succour and intercession for vs but especially at the last instant when our soules are to depart out of this world Helpe vs Mary and defend vs perishing soules thou art our Mother we thy children therefore we wretched and afflicted commend our selues to thy care for thou art our guide in our last conflict Haile Mary full of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Iesus holy Mary Mother of God pray for vs sinners now and at the howre of our death Amen Of the dead body and carcase of man and of the miserie of the same after the separation of the soule THE XXII CHAPTER ANd it came to passe that the begger dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome and the rich man also died and was buried in hell Luc. 16.22 Doest thou heare ô sinner whither the soule of Lazarus the beggar was carried and where the soule of the rich Epicure was buried The poore beggar by the handes of Angels was placed in Abrahams bosome a place of perpetuall rest and tranquilitie the rich man was precipitated into the infernall lake of hell a place of weeping and perpetual misery Consider now that the same shall be fall thee if thou diest not in the fauour and grace of almighty God And dying in his fauour hauing not satisfied for the temporall punishments which thy sinnes do deserue thou shalt be carried into purgatorie and there remaine vntil thou hast paied the last farthing But if thou shalt be dissolued and die in the fauour of God and hast satisfied for thy temporall punishment thou shalt
be assumed with troupes of Angels into heauen there perpetually to enioy the heatificall vision and ineffable delightes of paradise But if thou shalt depart without penance for thy sinnes without confession or at least contrition and desire of confession and reconciliation when thou cāst attaine to the acte of confession thy soule then at the instant of her departure out of thy body presently being seazed vpon by a companie of diuels shal be thrust into the loathsome dūgeō of perpetual darknes Thinke now ô miserable and vnhappy sinner of the misery of the body which shal be left destitute of a soule frō which it receaued its forme beauty and comelines and being depriued of this coniunction and vnion it shall be deformed loathsome pale and wanne Thinke with thy selfe it beganne to be filthy and putrified euen then when it was first taken with a feauer cōsumption impostume or any other disease and from that time to wax most filthy loathsome Thinke that it doth agonize and sweat euen vntill the departure of the soule and continually doth excreate spitt forth fleam and other corrupted filth and in this state and condition weeping languisheth and decayeth consider that after the departure of the soule the eyes will remaine distorted thy teeth grinning thy mouth gaping and thy countenance which before was faire beautifull and comely shal afterwardes become most hideous and fearfull to behould consider what loathsome excrements it will cast forth and of the suddaine moste odiously will stink I haue said to rottennesse thou arte my Father my Mother and sister to the wormes Iob. 17.14 O extreame folly of man which careth for nothing but to pollish nourish adorne and make much of this putrified flesh which whether thou wilt or no must bee eaten and deuowred vpp by wormes We read of a certaine philosopher that out of curiosity did visit the toombe of Alexander the great which beinge opened he found it stinking filled and couered with wormes and two Serpents eating tearing his eyes whereupon he cried out saying O Alexāder how lately is it since the world could not satisfie and fill thy desire but now thou art contēt with three cubits of earth and a little toombe Yesterday thou diddest triumph and boast of the number of thy subiects dominions to day thou art filled with filthines wormes Yesterday thou wert worshipped and honoured of the world this day thou art of the same world left and forsaken yesterday thou diddest feed vpon exquisite meats delicate dainties this day thou thy selfe art become meate for wormes Alas o you sinners and especially you which are giuen to the sensuall desires vnlawfull pleasures of the flesh set before your eyes the last misery of your dead putrified and corrupted bodies goe and consider with your selues the misery and deformity of those dead carcases and perswade your selues that you must be like vnto them and more abhominable it may bee Behould ô you harlotts how Queenes Ladies and Mistresses doe die see ô you sinners how Kings Lords and Masters without exception perish and consider that the same yee it may be worse shall befall you Behould how men and women are buried sinners and harlots behould I say in what state they are which are now buried what they were within these few dayes and be you astonished absolutly perswading your selues that the same it may be worse shall happen vnto you And say to your selues woe Alas to me miserable N. O wretched G. O vnhappy E. Behould into what state we must also one day come Heare you what the dead man saith vnto you To me yesterday to thee to day woe vnto thee which behouldest mee saieth the dead man to euerie one that looketh on him Behould ô woman the miseries of this dead body which in former times was thy associate Behould the mouth nose and countenance of it contemplate the breasts and golden haires of which she did so greatly as thou doest at this present boast and glory cōsider what an alteration there is Behould thou proud and intēperate wretch whosoeuer thou art immerst in the pleasures of the body smel how odiouslie and grieuouslie this dead body stinketh Behould that woman ô lasciuious wanton and tell me if thou knowest her Alasse o yee madd and pertinacious sinners what is there that cā mollify your mindes cleaue in sunder your obdurate and stonie hartes if the misery of your owne bodies and consideration of the loathsome hatefull stinch of the same can no Lord he stinketh for he is now of foure dayes saieth Martha of her dead brother Ioan. 11.39 O sinner what smell can be compared to that of an humane dead carcase To what end therfore such diligence and such curiositie to what end such cost odors paintings and ornaments To what end so many delightes pleasures fancies or whatsoeuer may seeme delectable to soe corrupted and deformed a bodie I haue seene the offenders and haue pined away because they haue not kept thy law saieth the Prophet Psal 118. O my Brethren and sisters sinners you compell me to pine away with Dauid for the extremitie of griefe when I consider the opprobries offences and ignominies whereby you offend your God and the irrecuperable detriment and dammage which you procure vnto your owne soules How long shall sinners o Lord how long shall sinners glory they shall manifest and declare their iniquitie Let God arise and let his enemies be dispersed and let them that hate him flie from his face As smoake vanisheth let them vanish away as wax melteth at the presence of the fire so let sinners perish at the presence of God and let the iust make merrie and reioyce in the sight of God and let them be delighted in mirth Psal 67.2 Breake the arme of the sinner and malignant his sinne shall be sought and he shall not be found saieth the holie Prophet Psal 10.15 beinge moued with an infinite zeale of the honour of God and saluation of soules O good Lord I am not Dauid but of all sinners the most wretched of all heinous offendors the greatest of all wicked malefactours the most pernitious notwithstanding ô my God deare Iesus I am incited and mooued with such a desire of thine honor the saluation of my poore brethren that from the bowells of my harte or rather of thine I implore thy clemency and mercie in these wordes Haue mercie vpon vs ô Lord haue mercie vpon vs for wee are much filled with contempt because our soule is much filled and is made a reproach to the wealthy and despection to the proud O God haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vppon vs for wee are all thy children thy seruantes and creatures Remember sweete Iesus my deare Lord that all poore miserable sinners are thy creatures thy seruantes thy children thy brothers thy sisters therfore my Iesus take compassion and comiseration vppon thy children and bretheren and shew mercie vpon thy daughters and sisters wee doe
them for thy instruction and enrich thy soule therby for thy saluation 1. The sea shall transcend the mountaines to contemne thy pride and insolency ô arrogant and fastidious wretch The wicked are as a rageing sea saieth the scripture Isay 57.20 But the sea shall ascend in such a height as that it shall excell the mountaines and wash away the arrogancy of the proud 2. The sea shall be depressed to that lownesse that it shall hardly apeare wherby ô proud wretch it shal be declared vnto thee that at last thou must be deposed and plucked downe by God Euery man that exalteth himselfe saieth our Lord shall be humbled Luc. 14. and humility saieth the wiseman followeth the proud 3. The lamentatiō of the beastes which is the third signe what should it demonstrate vnto thee o sinner but that they who haue taken much delight in vaine sensuall and lasciuious complacencies shall then be punished and tormented with fearfull execrations and vlulations Speake vnto the earth and it shall shew thee and the fishes of the sea and they shall declare vnto thee saieth holy Ioh. 4. The fourth signe shall bee that of the sea and waters in that they shall consume with heate which may instruct thee ô luxurious sinner for euen as thou hast burned in this world with the fire of filthy concupiscēce luxurious desires and adulterous actions euen so must thou burne in hell with fire and brimstone their part shall be in fire and brimstone saieth S. Iohn in his Apocalipse Apoc. 21 and by this meanes so much as thou hast abounded in the impious desires of the flesh so much shalt thou receaue of this punishment in this next world How much shee hath delighted her selfe in pleasures so much punishment giue you vnto her saieth the iudge in the Apocalipse Apoc. 18.6 5. What meaneth that sweat of the herbes and trees which is the fift signe O wretch that blood which thou hast shed with thy cruell and vnmercifull handes Because that murder is one of those capitall crimes which cry vnto heauen for reuenge The voice of thy brothers blood crieth out of the earth to mee saieth God to Cain 6. That mourning and lamentation with abstinēcie from meat and drinke of the birdes what other thing ô thou glutton doth it signifie then the paines torments which shall be inflicted vppon thee in hell for thine intemperancy and ebriety for they that are giuen vnto this vice shal be fedd in hell with hunger and dearth The portion of drunkards shall be fire and brimstone and the spirit of tempest is parte of their chalice Psal 10.7 7. The ruine and destruction of all buildings throughout the world what else doth it demonstrate but the folly and vanity of those which placed all their delight and chiefest felicity in building sumptuous and spatious pallacies Alas how many are there found of these times which haue more respect of the houses in which their bodies dwell for a time then of heauen in which their soules should perpetually remaine woe be vnto you which ioyne house to house field to field O miserable wretches how much better would it be for you if you would studie to pollish and adorne the celestiall palaces of your soules for heauen where there are so manie beautifull and glorious habitatiōs In my Fathers house there ar many mansions Ioan. 14.2 saieth our Lord O extreme vanitie and madnes of the world 8. What do those flaming and burning dartes those lighninges running from east to west what doe they signify but the wrath indignatiō of the angry iudge against sinners and those which haue molested or wronged their neighbours or brothers Euery man that is angry with his brother saieth Iesus Christ shall be guilty of iudgement Math. 5.22 9. The conflict of the stones signifieth your Adamantine and obdurate hartes which shall be broken a sunder with the iudgements of God because they are not mollified by repētance Heauen and spiritual thinges nothing profit you the promises of Christ will not allure you the fearfull iudgements of the latter day the intollerable punishments of hell set before you doe not any thing moue you O sinners more obdurate then stones the stones claue a sunder at Christs passion but you more hard then they remaine still in obduracie 10. The great earthquakes ô sinner which shall be so terrible as that S. Iohn saieth in his Apocalipse There is made a great earthquake such an one as hath not beene since the beginning of the world it signifieth this that you cannot be sustained any longer by the same and therefore it trembleth and shaketh that it may swallow you vp Or the earth as S. Gregorie saieth therefore quaketh because it will not receaue sinners any longer before they haue heard the sentence of the iudge pronounced against their crimes and offences Alas into how great a streight shal sinners be brought if they looke vp they shal behould the angry contenance of the iudge offended if they looke downe they shall see hell gaping prepared to receaue them vpon their right hand they shall behould their sinnes misdeedes accusing them vpon the left hand innumerable diuels in readines to carrie them into euerlastinge flames Inwardly the worme of the conscience gnaweth them outwardly the fire and torments scorch them and terrifie them Which way then shall a sinner flie or turne him selfe then shall they cry out O you mountaines fall vpon vs and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lambe 11. The leauellings of hils with vallies what do you thinke it signifies ô sinners but the ouerthrow of proud great and rich men which haue trampled the poore and needy vnder their feet and then all shall be made a like and equall euery vally saieth the Prophet Isay shall be exalted and euery mountaine and hill shall be brought low 12. All creatures shall forsake their caues and dennes being possessed with a kinde of madnes shall wander abroad what meaneth it thinkest thou nothing else but that no secret corner no excuse shall be found of any all succour and releife shall bee taken away from poore sinners and no place or parte left wherby they may be relieued Not any Saint not any Angell not the B. V. Saint Mary Mother of God shal assist them because God him selfe will be so exceedingly offended with them Alas ô you wretched and accursed sinners what will you then doe what will you say ô miserable soules you shall walke and wander here there outragious madde furious not knowing what to say or what to doe Now therfore now I say euen at this instant whilst it is time doe that which then vnfortunate soules that you are you shall not be able to doe 13. The graues shall be opened and the dead bones standing vpon them which shall be the thirteenth signe Behould I shall open your toumbes saieth the Prophet Ezechiel whereby it is intimated vnto
thee o sinner that then all the filth and corruption of thy sepulcher to witt of thy defiled and polluted harte shall be manifested and brought to light There is nothing hid but it shall be reuealed and nothing so secret but shall apeare saieth our Lord. Luc. 12.2 Then all thy hidden and secret sinnes o thou adulterate sinner shall be layed open to the eyes of the whole worlde what therfore wilt thou doe o wretch which way will thine vnfortunate soule turne it selfe 14. The starres shall fall from heauen saieth our Lord that it may strike a feare and terrour into all sinners which haue made themselues vnworthy of that celestiall kingdome 15. Last of all all men shall be changed To signifie vnto thee o sinner that then all pleasures must haue an end and that thy selfe shalt cease to offend iniury and wrong thy God and deare Sauiour Iesus Christ To conclude noe man doth walke safe amongst Serpents Scorpions we are here enuironed with troupes of enemies wherfore as often as I thinke of the daunger of the time now present and the fearfull signes of the time of the last iudgement I cannot but tremble throughout all the partes of my body for whether I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer else I do I thinke I alwaies heare that terrible trumpet soūding in mine eares Arise you dead and come to iudgement for we must all be manifested before the tribunall seat of Christ that euery one may receaue the proper thinges of his body as he hath done either good or euill S. Hieron ad Eustoc de cast Virgin Consider diligently therfore now ô you obdurate stiffe-necked sinners and contemplate all these wonders and prodigies breaking your hard and sturdie mindes and affections with the consideration thereof vnto your eternall saluations Amen Of the resurrection of the dead and how that all men which are dead from the beginning of the world doe die and shal die vnto the end of the same shall be reuiued againe THE XXV CHAPTER ANd he shall send to witt the sonne of mā Iesus Christ at the day of iudgement his Angell with a Trumpet and a great voyce to call the dead to iudgement Math. 24.31 Alas ô you sinners what will you doe at that time when euen the dead in their graues shall heare this terrible sound arise you dead and come to iudgement what will you doe when the Angell shall gather you to iudgement you cannot then withdraw your selues or steale away you cannot say we wil not for will you or no you must come Alas miserable soules of condemned sinners which from the bottomlesse pitt of obscure hell shall heare this fearfull sound for as soone as the Angel shal haue soūded the Trumpett the full time of your tormēts being come you shall bee most miserably rancked with the execrable diuels your associates whilst other diabolicall spirits go about to apprehend other accursed soules saying come you reprobate and damned soules come you with vs that you may receaue the terrible sentence of condemnation come and receiue the ful measure of your punishment due vnto body soule and for euer liue with vs in the eternall paines of hell O fearfull spectacle the diuells shall breake forth out of hell with outragious clamors and roaringes drawing and dragging these damned soules along with them which they shall beat with many stripes and excruciate with diuerse kindes of punishments crying out blaspheming and detesting God O how great fearfull and lamentable a spectacle will it bee to see such a troupe and multitude of diuells and damned soules coming out of secret dennes and caues of the earth filling heauen and earth with their hideous out-cries Consider ô sinner that all these diuells and condemned soules the number of the which for the greatnes thereof cannot be recounted shall cause a terrour to the whole world by reason of the fearfull lamentations of soules and roaring of diuels which shall be heard in al partes of the world Alas sinnefull men and woemen what will you then doe Tide and bound to no place you are and yet you cannot hide your selues nor flie away but of necessity vppon that day must appeare before the Iudge to receaue your sentence of condemnatiō At that day all the reprobate soules shall goe weeping and wailing to their graues to receaue their stinking and loathsome bodies and to be ioyned againe with them and to liue with them perpetually in hel Consider ô sinner that when those accursed soules shall stand at their graues euery one of them shall crie out vnto their bodies in this manner O detestable and execrable body thou my associate and companion come with mee to be burned in perpetuall flames hitherto thou hast slept and taken thine ease and I alone haue bine swallowed vp in the depth of misery it is necessary now that thou also come to be rewarded according to thy merits Come ô cursed body for I was allured by thy polluted desires to offend the angry Iudge of heauen and earth Come filthy and loathsome body which hast so often procured vomit by thine excesse thou must now be damned with the innumerable curses of him that created thee gaue thee to mee come you cruell and wicked handes which haue bine ēbrued in your neighbors blood that you may receaue the reward of so many murders thefts roberies and other heinous offences cōmitted by you Come you execrable feet that you may receaue the recompense of so many mischiefs which with great speedines and celerity you haue runne to commit Come my polluted mouth and tounge that you may receaue the wages of so manie blasphemies dishonest and obsceane wordes which you haue vttered Come my deuowringe throat which neuer couldest be satisfied with excesse and druncknesse The time is now come in which thou must now pay the olde score for thy intemperancy in eating and drinking Come you curious and gazing eyes which would not be satisfied with any good sight come you accursed eares whom nothing but dishonest wordes and lasciuious songes and speeches would delight In a a word come hither all you filthy and loathsome members which because I tooke care to cōtent you haue now for euer destroyed me come for the hire of your beastly excesse to be burned with me in the darksome lake of fire and brimstome without hope of euer returning from thence againe Lastly come hither detestable body which as thou hast bene my companion in comitting of vices so now in like manner thou must be partaker with mee of all my hellish torments and that in continuall howling and weeping for we shall for euer liue together without hope of returning from this damnable dungeon of hell In this manner shal all the soules of the reprobat speake to their bodies in the day of iudgement In like manner shall your soules ô sinners speake to your bodies if you die burdened with deadlie sinnes and offences and you shall be also cast into the burning Tophet if you
of his wife the wife all the faultes of her husband euery one shal haue his vices and disordered affectiōs plainely knowne O the iustice of almighty God which will discouer that which a sinner thought would haue beene for euer concealed Call to minde sinner what shame that will be for thee to be set before the eyes of the whole world to be seene of al both within and without Alas how many shall there be who whilst they liued in this world were reputed Saints were reuerenced of all for such but then shall be knowne to be farre otherwise How many treacherous and diuellish plottes how many adulteries and robberies shall openly be declared to the eyes of the whole worlde O my sweet Iesu which seest al thinges that descriest whatsoeuer is committed in priuat pardon sinners Iesu helpe them that doing pennance they may not be confounded with that last and great shame Iesu remember that thou art our Father our Lord God therfore forsake vs not but turne thine anger from vs suffer not the fire of thy wrath to consume vs Let not that perish Lord which is altogether thine Haue mercy vpon vs crying out vnto thee I haue strayed as a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruant because I haue not forgotten thy law He hath forsaken mee and there is none that seeketh after my soule Psal 118. Many poore afflicted soules of sinners make such lamentations releeue and succour them Lord leaue them not who are thine they wholly giue vp themselues vnto thee they flie to thee for refuge they craue and looke for helpe of thee alone Alas sinners men and women without doubt our case is most miserable vnlesse we liue well and honestly and be conuerted vnto our Lord God seeing we yet receaue helpe wherupon if we perish it is our owne faultes The Saints the Angels the church yea heauen earth and euery thing else is ready to helpe vs the Blessed Virgin Mary is ready to succour vs our sweet Iesus to releiue vs and in a word the Blessed Trinity is prepared to defend vs whose wee are of whom we are created and preserued God doth lift vs vp but we cast our selues downe procuring to our selues our owne damage and withall the infernall pitt of hell God would haue vs be saued our Lord Iesus Christ died for vs all he is the propitiation for our sinnes saith S. Iohn not only for ours but for the sinnes of the whole world 1. Iohn 2. Therfore sinners if we be damned we can giue no lawfull excuse it is our owne mischiefe and we are the cause beginning of our owne destruction Alas therfore brethrē sisters let vs shunne and detest our former vices which if we cannot doe at the first for the loue of God which we ought to beare towards him as a Father yet at the least let vs doe it to auoide the shame which will otherwise befall vs before the whole world in the day of iudgement And thus doing I hope at last we shall be brought to forsake them for the loue of God ô heauenly consideration ô frutefull and profitable contemplation I could wish that thou wert engrauen in the hartes of all men for surely thou wouldest be then a great helpe to miserable and wretched soules which now are like to be damned by theire owne foolish madnes O sinnefull man what doest thou what thinkest thou whither goest thou why doest thou hasten with such speed vnto thy destruction ruine and damnation show them a way ô Lord that so great a number of them may not perish preserue Christiā soules from destruction seeing that so many Turkes heretikes and other infidels are daily damned who obstinatly refuse to acknowledge the truth of the holie Catholique church But there is a meanes found out alreadie Christian Bretheren and sisters which stil remaine in your sinnes If you will enter into life keepe the commaundements Math. 19.17 you know you are commaunded of God to lead a life worthy and beseeming Christian profession to abstaine from sinne and flie the apearance of euil to loue vertue and embrace godlines God almighty graunt that we all may performe this that our soules in the day of accompt may be saued Amen Of the fearfull sentence which Iesus Christ will pronounce at the day of iudgement blessed and happy are they who seriously ponder it in their hartes and soules for this is the most compendious way to forsake sinne and to turne vnto God THE XXVIII CHAPTER THen shall the King say to those that are on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Math. 25.34 There are two things which may moue and excite you sinners to forsake your enormous crimes and vices and with an vnfained repentāce to returne to your God One is the consideration of the blessinge which the good shall haue the other is the pondering of the fearfull sentence that Iesus Christ shal pronounce against the damned to the good he shall say Come yee blessed of my Father inheritt the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world But to the wicked Goe into euerlastinge fire which is prepared for the diuell and his Angells the one shall be called to a paradise of pleasures the other shall be sent into a lake of torments Nothing is more glorious or beautifull then paradise nor any thing more horrible and loathsome then hell nothing more delightsome then heauen nothing more detestable then hell therfore sinner consider well of these two such contrarie places Thinke of heauen that forsaking sinne and doing pennance thou mayest come to enioy the vnspeakable pleasures of it Thinke of hell and learne soe to order thy life that desisting from thy former courses thou mayest escape the grieuous punishments of the same Wise sinners and blessed are they who chaunge their ill maners forsake their lewed courses and satisfy for their misdeeds for at their death they shall be saued but miserable are those who giue themselues ouer to the filthy lustes of the flesh and with greedines doe commit all sinne for they after this life shall finde no redresse Happy are those who striue here to adorne their soules with virtues for in the day of iudgement they shall finde mercy and obtaine euerlasting ioyes but wretched are they who followinge the pleasures of this world dye in their sinnes for in the great day of their visitation they shall be perpetually damned And they that haue done good saieth S. Athanasius shall go into life euerlasting they that haue done ill into euerlasting fire Happy are the good to whom God of his bounty will giue the treasures of heauen miserable the wicked whose portion shall bee with the diuells in torments of hell O hard hart which art not moued with these thinges O impietie of a sinner who doeth not thinke of these thinges and by harty cōtritiō returne vnto God! thou hast but one poore soule
sinner and that in the day of iudgement shall either be cursed or blessed of God shall either ascend into heauen to liue for euer in the companie of Saints Angels or else descend into hell to be punished for all eternity with the company of the damned spirits If thou be wise thou wilt be wise for thy selfe saith Salomon Prou. 9.10 Thou wilt be wise sinner if thou detest and hate sinne and turne to God Thou wilt be foolish and worse then madd if in continuing in thy wickednesse thou forgett thy Creator Alas what a number of peruerse and madd fooles are there who are hardly corrected There is an infinite number of fooles Eccles 1.15 Wretched sinners how sottish haue you beene and yet still remaine so which for a small temporall pleasure like a shadow quickly vanishing you loose so great a substance of eternal good Consider sinners that there is no day nor howre nor moment of time passeth but many millions of soules such as yours are descend thicke into hell The sinner hath giuen vp himselfe to a spirituall kinde of sluggishnes not taking any care for his saluation he cōsidereth not that death is present euery howre and moment to giue him a mortall stroake Alas how many haue gone to bedd at night and neuer arose againe in the morning cōsider consider sinners your last endes which are not farre from you How fareth it with thee ô sinner in what case is thy poore soule full of vices and hainous crimes couered ouer with darknes in the diuels possession fast bound with many strong chaines that now thou maiest cry out with the Prophet I am wrapt round about with the cordes of sinners Psal 118. although thou canst not say that which followeth and I haue not forgotten thy law But let vs returne to the terrible and fearfull sentence which Christ Iesus will pronounce against the damned ponder and seriously consider it imprint it in your harts that it may be a spurre and incitement vnto you for the following of vertue and auoyding of vice meditate vpon that saying of worthy S. Hierome a man admirable in sanctity and holines of life Whether I sleepe saieth he or wake whether I eate or drinke write or read sitte or walke that terrible speech alwaies seemeth to sound in my eares arise yee dead and come to iudgement if men of such innocency and integrity of life so much feared that horrible day what will you doe miserable and blinde sinners against whom the sentence of condemnation is to be pronounced My God sweet Sauiour giue that power to my penne seing it is wanting to my toung that this short and rude woorke of mine written without elegancy of wordes and that the sound of these my Trumpets may so moue the hartes and mindes of those that shall read and heare them that at length they may forsake their former courses and fully resolue with themselues to turne to their Creator and Redeemer My God and sweet Sauiour since it hath pleased thee to inspire mee with thy heauenly grace to set forth this my poore labour for the saluation of poore soules redeemed with thy moste pretious blood graunt mee that fauour that I may awake sinners by this my writing and sound of my Trumpets from the lethargie of vices to the glory of thy name and saluation of their soules My God and sweet Sauiour for thy mercies sake suffer not I beseech thee this my labour to be read or these my shrill Trumpets to be heard of any sinner without profit and commoditie but that the noyse of them may force the diuell to tremble and the powers of hell to shake Bretheren sinners if you shall perceaue your hartes to be moued with their sound I pray you despise contemne or resist it not but thankfully acknowledge that motion and heauenly inspiration to be from God who calleth you out of his tender mercy Returne to God sinners men and women death is at hand and yet God as a kinde and louing Father by the sound of these Trumpetts gently calleth you Awake out of your deepe sleepe of sinnes wherin you haue beene buried so manie yeares and make him an answere Sinners our most mercifull Lord sendeth forth this sound both pleasant and harsh of mine or rather his Trumpetts that it may be for the good and saluation of your soules I pray God it may obtaine the end for which it was intended Pray for me and I will not cease to be mindefull of you all Amen Of the going and departure of the damned to hell in the company of all the diuells THE XXIX CHAPTER ANd they shall goe into euerlasting punishment but the iust into euerlasting life Math. 25.46 They that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life they that haue done ill to the resurrection of iudgement saieth S. Iohn Ioh. 5.29 Sinners stay here awhile and fasten your soules vpon the cogitation of that horrible spectacle and seriously consider how the damned persons goe downe into the darke pitt of destruction with fearful howling and lamentation in the company of innumerable forlorne diuells O fearfull thing whose terrour is able to breake and cleaue in peeces the hardest marbles yet nothing at all moueth the harte of man O the misery of humane nature which is not rent a sunder with so pittifull a spectacle Sinner consider that as soone as those wretched soules shall haue the sentence of condēnation pronounced against them the earth shall cleaue in sunder and all the diuels and damned spirits shall be swallowed vp in one gulfe and be throwne downe into the obscure abisse of hell O terrible and mourneful night when weeping and gnashing of teeth and wofull lamentations of forlorne soules now reunited to theire bodies shall continue for euer O miserable disiunction and diuision the husband shall bee separated from the wife the daughter from the mother when the one shall go to heauen a place replenished with all good the other into hell a place of all torments O God of all mercy open the eyes of blinde and obstinate sinners who neuer trouble their mindes with thinking of either heauen or hell but only deuise how to wallow still in the filth of sinne Surge surge quidormis arise arise thou that sleepest Neglect not thine owne saluation that Christ may helpe thee Behould he calleth now by my penne he desireth to awake thee out of thy sleepe by the loud sound of my Trumpetts Qui fecit te sine te non saluabit te sine te saieth S. Augustine he that made thee without thee will not saue thee without thee but will that thou labour to thy power to dispose prepare thy selfe to ētertaine those wholesom coūsels and exhortations which he of his mercy offereth vnto thee Hereupon it is that God prouideth that his truth should be made knowne vnto thee by teachers that thou shouldest be admonished by confessors ghostlie Fathers hereupon he speaketh vnto thee by spirituall bookes and by
you and haue carried you hence had not the goodnesse and clemency of our most sweet and milde Iesus hindered withstood him who gently preserued you aliue expecting looking that you should doe pennance calling you by inward motions and inspirations and admonishing you by wholesome instructions of deuout preachers and spirituall bookes Consider wicked and forlorne sinner how great thine ingratitude hath bene against God who so earnestly desireth thy conuersion saying Conuertimini ad me turne to mee in your whole harte Ioel. 2. Turne to mee and I will turne vnto you saieth God Zach 1. Turne then speedilie vnto him as to your louing God sinners seeing that his tender mercie so kindely inuites you Wilt thou leaue him sinner to take the diuell take heed what thou doest Nunquid non ipse est Pater tuus Is not he thy Father that hath possessed thee hath not he made thee and created thee It is a nation without counsell and wisedome O that they were wise and would prouide for their last end saieth the holy scripture Deut. 32. O the blindnesse of man O the madnesse of a sinner who forsaketh his God to follow a most terrible diuell Remember well and call to minde sinner that he is thy God that hath created thee that alone hath redeemed thee with his most pretious blood Tell me I pray thee sinner whose ayre is this wherewith thou breathest Whose earth is this which sustaineth thee and houldeth thee vp The water which washeth thee the fire which warmeth thee whose I say are all these but Gods who gaue thee cloathing wherewith thou coueredst thy nakednesse hadst thou not it from God from thy Iesus Who giueth thee bread to eate water to drinke but onely thy God wilt thou then be vnthankfull vnto him who bestoweth so liberally these benefits vpon thee who affordeth thee health Who maintaineth thy life is it not God that gaue the same vnto thee My God and sweet Sauiour my benigne clement mercifull louing God what iustice and equitie is it that we should all be conuerted vnto thee It is good for mee to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord my God saied the holy Prophet who knew how many great good things proceeded to him from his God Psal 72. but you forlorne sinners and sillie miscreāts are so farre frō desiring to come to God who is willing able to purge and sanctifie you that willingly and with free consents you associate your selues with the diuel who will make you diuelish like vnto himselfe when as otherwise you might be made one with God by the ardor of loue and charitie Deus charitas est c. Ioan. 4. God is charitie and he that abideth in charity abideth in God and God in him saieth S. Iohn If any man loue mee he will keepe my wordes and my Father will loue him and we will come to him and make our mansion with him Ioan. 14. Delitiae meae c. My delight is to be with the sonnes of men Behould here the inexcogitable felicity of the good the ineffable miserie and calamitie of the wicked for the good shall remaine in the blessed companie of allmightie God but the wicked and trāsgressors shall for euer be shut vp amōgst the damned crew of infernall diuels To conclude assure thy selfe sinner that whether thou eatest or drinkest whether thou sitt or walke whether thou sleepe or wake or what thing soeuer thou dost thou art alwaies in the company of innumerable diuells who daily stand attending thee ready to carry thee along with thē into hell And againe perswade thy selfe that they would not be long without the prey of thy poore soule if Gods clemency and the custodie of Angels were not present to defend it from them Our Lord by the merits of S. Marie Magdalen in remembrance of whose cōuersion the church euerie yeare solemnly celebrateth her festiual day so chaunge the mindes of sinners but especially of those who are to read this little worke that vtterly forsaking the familiaritie of the wretched diuells and damned spirits they may obtaine a heauenly societie and friendship with Iesus Christ their God their Father Creator world without end Amen And I humbly beseech euery one that shall read this booke that he would pray for mee miserable sinner liuing or dead Sweet Iesus blesse vs all Amen IN THE NAME OF THE Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Of the societie which sinners haue in their death and how dangerous their state is about the houre of their death THE XXXV CHAPTER IT is an olde Prouerbe sinner well knowne vnto thee Qui malè viuit malè moritur He that liues ill dieth ill What then doest thou suppose will become of thee who hast lead so wicked a life so many yeares It may be thou wilt say with S. Paul diues est in misericordia c. Ephes 2. God is rich in mercie and wil shew singular clemencie vnto mee in death But this befalleth but to very few for although some sinners haue bene saued at the last gaspe as it happened to the good theefe yet woe to them who sinne presuming vpon such a confidence Paenitentiam in extremis nec damnamus nec approbamus we neither approue of nor condemne repentance deferred to the last end saieth S. Augustin It is only knowne to God what such mens cases shall be This is most certaine that all sinners that are saued must haue an exceeding great and perfect sorrow for all their offences and iniuries wherby they haue offended his diuine Maiestie But who is he that shall be assured to haue this consideration with himselfe how he hath formerly liued in sinne and iniquity to haue a sufficient contrition sorrow for offending God at the time of his death Let no man seduce you by idle and friuolous wordes saieth S. Paul Ephes 5. What then sinner canst thou be so foolish as once to harbour such a thought in thy mind that the diuell thine aduersary who hath bene thy companion all the course of thy life will leaue and forsake thee at thy death be wiser then so for otherwise thou wilt be farre deceaued yea rather at that time he will shew all his malice and vse the greatest care and diligence that he can to obtaine the victory so longe desired of him Then shalt thou behold the vggely shape of thy infernall cōpanion then shalt thou clearly see how horrible his coūtenance is for then God will permit thee to discerne him whom thou hast serued and to whom thou hast boūd thy selfe as slaue for so manie yeares Alas sinner what wilt thou say when the diuell boasting exulting ouer thee will terrifie thee with his fearfull deformed face If happily thou purpose to go frō him and to returne to Christ by doing pennance for thy former lewed life then he will demonstrate and lay open before thine eyes some subtill deceipts and fallacies which before he kept secret Alas