ought to knowe that neyther the iust man nor the vniust the child nor the olde man are exempted but be dissolued by death the soule from the body before they be in that state of goodnesse or euill beyonde the which yf they should heare liue alway they shoulde neuer passe further to any felicitie c. ECCLESIASST CAP. 14. OH death how bitter is the remembrance of thee vnto a wicked man hauing peace in his ritches AVGVSTINVS OH life howe many hast thou deceaued whiche whyles thou fleest and passest away art as nothing whyles thou art seene of vs thou art as a shadow whyles thou art made much of thou art as a vanishing smoke sweete art thou vnto fooles and bitter vnto wyse men therefore thou art to be shunned thou art to be feared because thou art daungerous So fareth it with man in this lyfe euen as a man that soiourneth in an other mans house not knowyng when it shall be sayde vnto him arise and depart from hence Ad Romanos CAP. 5. BY meanes of sinne death entred into the worlde AVGVSTINVS THE true death in deede which men doo feare is the separation of the soule from God who is the life of our soules VERSVS O happy is mortall kinde If he alwayes life fynde And feare the eternall good end in respect of his vertuous mind A mighty medecine a royall eke remede Sinne to subdue I finde for eche degree Is to remember that state yf he were deade VVhen soule all sorowfull departes the body Then waying this liues instability VVe shal be sure to receaue iudgement Togeather both in soule and body Of woord and worke of thought and time mispent â–ª ECCLESIAST CAP. 10. WHY art thou proude O thou Earth and Ashes sequitur A King to day and to morowe dead and when a man dyeth he shall become the heyre of Serpentes Beastes and Wormes GENESIS CAP. 3. DVst thou art and into dust shalt thou returne againe HIERONIMVS WE dye dayly and we are changed dayly and yet we thinke our selues to be eternall euen this very woord that I speake that I write when I eate when I drinke or what thing els so euer I doo somewhat therby is my life time shortened PSALME 44.144 MAn is made like vnto vanitie his dayes doo passe away as a shadowe VERSVS Est homo res fragilis durans pro tempore parvo Hic est hic non est quasi flos qui crescit in aruo Man is a brickle and fraile thing That lasteth but small time Now here nowe fades as flowre In feelde that groweth fine ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. MAN dooth not know his end but as the fyshes are taken with the hooke and the birdes are catcht in the snares so in the euill dayes are men snared and yet notwithstanding this man knoweth not whether he deserue more to be hated or loued but the vncertainetie of thinges are reserued till a further time EZECHIEL CAP. 3. THE vngodly and wicked shall die in his sinnes AMBROSIVS WHAT thing can be more miserable vnto vs which are cast foorth into this life as all bare and naked fraile in body weake in mind doubtfull and full of disquietnesse slowe to take paines prone and redy to pleasure AVGVSTINVS IT is a foolishe thing for a man to liue in that case wherein a man dare not aduenture to die and he is of better courage which slumbreth and resteth with one deadly sinne going no further then he that waigeth battel with seuen enimies Thinke on thy corpes now delicately fedde VVhose foode shal be euen woormes and scorpion Thinke howe with costly clothing thou art cladde VVhich death shall change into corruption Yet of our death by naturall condition No creature knoweth time when nor place VVhether Heauen or Hell for our possession Eyther els ioy or sorowe we shall imbrace PSALME 94. MIscheefe shall fall vpon and ensnare the wicked to his destruction AMBROSIVS IT is better for sinners that doo euill to dye then that they shoulde remaine still long in sinne ARISTOT 3. Ethicorum OF all fearefull thinges death is the most fearefull PSALME 49. THE graue is their dwelling place and last end they shall leaue their ritches vnto others to possesse PROVERBES CAP. 11. RItches shal not profite nor preuaile them that haue abused them in the last day of reuenge but iustice shall deliuer a man from death of hell SAPIENCE CAP. 3. FOR horrible is the death of the vnrighteous generation GREGORIVS in moribus EVery man feareth the death of the fleshe but fewe doo feare the death of the soule ECCLESIAST CAP. 1. ONE generation passeth and an other commeth 2. REGVM CAP. 13. BEhold we all taste of death and are as it were water cast vpon the earth which returneth not from whence it is sent so do we fall away ECCLESI CAP. 1. THERE is no suruiuing memorie of them that went before PSAME 9.10 THE memorie of them is perished as it were with a sodaine noyse PSALM 9.10 I Am yeelded vp vnto obliuion as a man that is dead from his owne hart BARVCK CAP. 3. WHERE are the Princes of the nations become which were lordes ouer the beastes of the feeld which delighted them selues in the foules of the ayre whiche haue hoorded vp their siluer and gold wherein men do put their trust and those neuer linne searching for the same which doo woorke therevpon and are busie therein their dayes are ended and them selues are gone downe into the deepe pit Death vnto the wicked is terrible euermore But vnto the godly a comfort doubtles To liue well eche man be carefull therefore And whyle thou hast light refuse darknesse Behold the nine nobles of famous woorthynes As Dauid Salomon Hector and Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest of noble renowne VVhose flickring fame through the world doth wander Hath not death by his dart laid them adowne DEVTE CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation without aduise or counsell and without wysedome would God they would once be wyse and haue vnderstanding and woulde prouide for â—heir later dayes Which woords being more amply discussed by saint Bernard he saith Would God they would be wyse in three thinges that are past that is to say In the losse and lacke of good thinges whiche are brought to passe vnder mortall power or in dooing those thinges which they haue neglected to doo 2. That they woulde be wyse in not constituting the wicked in aucthoritie whereof the number is infinite in the worlde 3. And that they would be circumspect and carefull in the losse of time then which thing there is nothing to be coumpted more precious And sayth saint Bernard Would God they would vnderstand three things that are present that is to say 1. The shortnesse of our life because we haue neither certaine day nor houre how long to rest here 2. The difficulty of our saluation because straight is the way that leadeth therevnto and fewe there are which walke in thereby 3. And the small number of
appoynted feastes and the solempne feastes of the soule from sin and refraine the wicked labors of thy hands but these thinges are thought easie to be done or accomplished by him that hath mind vpon the euerlasting fyre in hell PSALME 89. WHAT man is he that liueth and shall not taste death or shall saue his soule from the neathermost hell CIRHSOSTOMVS DOthe not all the tyme of this our lyfe â–ª wherin we seeme to take our pleasures manifestly appeare a mainteyner of pleasure and lust as the sleepe of one onely night in respect of the felicitie in the lyfe eternall ANCELMVS ALL the good thinges or euill thynges which we enioy in this world are entermixed with their contraries neyther haue they any fyrme or certayne degree of their perfection but eyther may they be encreased or diminished eyther els may they be enioyed or had of vs somewhat more or lesse as it is euident in euery vertue vice and as well in eury good or euyll part of the body as in euery good or euyll cogitation or affect of the soule Neyther is there ioy found here without feare nor sorowe or sadnesse with consolation neyther perfect health without diseases or some hurtfull harme neyther yet valiant courage of body and mind without debilitie or feeblenes of nature But in heauen are all good things not mixed with contrarietie and those are certayne to trust vnto with most perfect consolation in hell likewyse are all euyll thinges quite contrary GREGORIVS CErtaynely there is one onely fyre of torment in hell which we ought to beleeue is ordeyned for the wicked but all shall not be tormented alike in one maner for euery one accordyng as the qualitie of his trespasses hath required shall there feele the smart of the pounishment due for the same And in this torment which hath no temperance Shall be no maner of relaxation Neyther shall preuayle any prayer of instance In any wyse to empayre the paines or passion Yet though this payne passe all estimation The fury thereof ordeyned by Gods wyll As euery sinner deserued hy transgression Shall them molest destroy consume and spill AVGVSTINVS THE world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof oh man what wouldest thou haue Whether hadst thou leuer to loue temporall thinges and so slide away with time transitory or loue Christe and with him liue for euer Idem THis world is more dangerous when she flattereth vs then when she loureth vpon vs There can be no greater madnes then for momentany pleasures to loose eternal ioyes and to euthrall thy soule vnto perpetuall torment Oh how happy is that man that hath not walked after the glory of this world and the dissembling madnes of the same 1. CORINTH CAP. 1. THE wysedome of this world is counted meare foolishnesse before God. EZECIEL CAP. 28. IN the multitude of thy worldly affares when thou art occupied the very inwarde partes of the body are replete with iniquitie AVGVSTINVS THE poyson against loue and charitie most pernicious is the lust after temporal pleasures BERNARDVS OH my soule what feare shall then take hold of thee when all these thinges haue forsaken thee whose presence are so pleasant vnto thee so acceptable in sight and so familier to dwell togeather Altogeather fearefull and trembling thou alone shalt enter into a strange countrey when as those most vglye and fearefull monsters all vpon an heape shal runne vpon thee GREGORIVS THose eyes which the offence hath shut vp and made to wincke at the same shall the due pounishment for suche offence open and make to see plainely IOB CAP. 17. IF I shall endure this vexation hell it selfe is my house ordeyned and in the darcknesse haue I made my bed I haue sayde vnto corruption thou art my father and my mother and to the woormes thou art my sister Where is then my recouerie and helpe become all that I haue in possession shall goe downe into the deepe pit of hell Therefore geue me leaue to depart that I may bewayle my sorowe before I shall goe hence and not returne vnto the darke land couered with the heate of death the land of miserie and darknesse whereas is the shadowe of death and no order of lyfe to say euerlasting horror inhabiting there Oh amazed witte O soule congeled in sinne Frozzen through affection of foolishe felicitie VVhereunto retchles ryot doth at no time linne To offend thy Creator thou art so foole hardy Thy sight is blinded so with sensuality That the loue of God causeth no correction Nor yet of heauenly ioy no cupidity May make thee leaue sinne for dread of damnation INNOCENTIVS HE that feareth onely for a small tyme to put his finger in the fyre why rather feareth he not both in soule and body to be tormented Oh howe great is this madnes of man for these frayle and transitory things to suffer perpetuall pounishment both in soule and body Chrisostomus dereparacione lapsi DEclare thou howe many and what ages haue been or are spent in ryot and carn iâ— pleasures what times and seasons passed in vayne delightes whiche are to be compared vnto the euerlastyng paynes of hell If thee lyst bestowe thou an hundred yeeres in suche delectacions yea adde there vnto an hundred yeeres moe or rather tenne hundred yeeres moe what shall this or that be in respect of the lyfe euerlastyng EPHESI CAP. 5. AWake thou that sleepest and ryse vp from the dead and Christe shall lighten thy steppes ECCLESIAST CAP. 29. FOR all thinges are had by seekyng for them in their due tyme. DEVTERONO CAP. 4. KEepe thee therefore within thy bondes and establish thy soule stand to thy tackling with a good courage and thou shalt see the helpe of God vpon thee AVGVSTINVS HE that dyeth and dooeth not repent him of his sinnes eare he depart out of this lyfe dyeth not at all but liueth in eternall torment PSALME 77. MY Soule is alwayes before me AVGVSTINVS HE shall geue victory to him that contendeth for victorie who hath emboldned the wrastler DEVTERONO CAP. 32. WOulde God they once in their dayes would be wyse and haue vnderstandyng that they might prouide for the last day LVKE CAP. 6. WOe be vnto you riche men which haue all your consolation in your riches here vpon earth MATTHE 5. BLessed are they whiche doo mourne after godlines in this life because they shall be comforted Idem CAP. 16. WHat shall it preuayle man yf he gayne vnto him selfe all the world and loose his owne soule Awake out of thy dreame and speedely addres Thee to beware in tyme eare thou feele woe Though blinded thou liue here with thy ritches Yet thincke thou shalt this lyfe and them forgoe â–ª VVhere in the end yf thou this race runne so That sinne and vice by thee may be subdued Thou shalt no doubt vanquishe eche feendishe so And with eternall blessing be endued BERNARDVS FOoles doo esteeme of greatest thinges least in value to be cared for haue greatest
regard vnto very small thinges They take more care howe to keepe and cherishe their diseased corrupt body then howe to foster and cherish the precious soule Yea they are more carefull howe to batten and â—eede the flesh with fatnesse and good likyng but the kirnell of the soule or the hart of the spirituall man they doo oftentimes destroy Idem super Cantica THey surely that are not diligent in their vocations as men ought to be are partakers of the deuils them selues in their trauayles HIERONIMVS THere can be no labour deemed tedious neither any time seeme long vnto vs wherein the euerlasting glory is obteyned AVGVSTINVS NO doubt sinners doo dayly heare the scriptures promising as well vnto those that loue God the most blessed graces of his good prouidence and contrariwyse they heare the scriptures which doo threaten vnto such as care not for GOD the plagues and pounishmentes by him for them ordeyned And yet geue they no regard therevnto neyther wyllingly do they heare God thus speaking vnto them when he gently entreateth them nor when he seuerely threatneth them but rather doo resist him with their euyll and wicked dooinges PSALME 49. THE wyse man also as well as the foole shall goe to the graue LEOPOLDVS MEN doo more wyllingly toyle them selues for the desire they haue vnto pleasure then for the loue that they beare to vertue Most men are naturally geuen to be feareful and timerus in paines taking in sustayning troubles pouertie and other daungers wherewith humane kind was wonte to be molested But yf they were wyse in deede and vnderstoode the excessiue calamities ordeyneâ— for sinners without ende they woulde then be farre more fearefull to offend in this lyfe IOB CAP. 6. THey that feare a frost vpon them shall haue a snowe come to them Sythen wee see in sicknesse corporall Health to recouer and death for to decline Men wyll absteyne from lustes sensuall And their desyres submit to medecine All for this frayle flesh that runneth to ruine How much more should eche man with busy cure Seeke for the soules health repentyng in time VVherby he may obteyne such ioyes as shalendure 1. THESSALO CAP. 5. WHen they shall say Peace and security is with vs then by and by shall a sodayne destruction come vppon them as the pange of a woman trauayling with chylde and they shall not escape away ECGLESIASTI CAP. 5. MAke thou no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and prolong not of from day to day for sodaynely shall his wrath come and in time of reuenge he shall destroy thee ESAI CAP. 18. FOr you haue said We haue made a league with death and with hell we haue made a couenant GALATH. CAP. 6. BE you not deceaued in your owne dooinges God is not mocked withall what thing so euer a man shall sowe the same shall he also reape agayne IEREMI CAP. 8. THey haue rather chosen death then lyfe· PSALME 69. THey haue drawen neare euen vnto the gates of death Idem THere is a most vyle death ordayned for sinners ECCLESIASTI 7. REmember to dye because death wyll not tary long BERNARDVS I Tremble and quake for feare of the iawes of the infernall beast yea tylâ— I be deliuered from the body of hell from the roaring feendes prepared to their meate Alacke oh my mother why hast thou conceyued me the child of sorowe the childe of bitter bale indignation euâ—rlasting lamentation Why was I lâ—lled in thy lappe why was I fostered with thy dugges I was borne the meate for woormes and foode of the fyre IACOB CAP. 4. YOur laughter shâ—ll turne into mournyng and your ioy into sorowe APOCAL. CAP. 18. SO much as he hath vaunted and reioyced him selfe in his ritches so much torment and mournyng let him haue administred vnto him DEVTERONO CAP. 25. THere shal be a certayne prescribed rate of pounishment according to the measure of the offence that euery man hath done BERNARDVS BReethren let vs be enflamed to repentance let vs examine our consciences and let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our selus by repentaÌ„ce to the end we may be able to escape the horrible iudgement of y liuing God. Slombring in sinne some dreame security VVithout feare or forecast of infernall afliction Neglecting repentance in this lyfe transitory That they feare nothing the due correction Ordeyned for sinne by deuine direction As those that are not carefull harmes to eschewe Suche feele the sentence of all malediction VVhen repentance come to late their sorowes to rescewe IEREMI CAP. 3. WHY dooest thou cry out so vppon the contrition of thy soule thy sorowe is incurable by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities and because of thy greeuous sins haue I done this sayth the Lord. HIERONIMVS THE moderacion of Gods displeasure the duetie of godlinesse seeketh onely for our returne and desyreth that we may be saâ—ed by this long forbearance of his goodnes If we wyll not be conuerted yf we be stiffâ— necked and yf we continewe still in our syns vnlawfully euen tyll our death Let vs trust vnto it God wyl not shewe mercie vnto those that continually perseuer in their sinnes BERNARDVS I Tremble to thincke vppon the gnawyng woorme and the death that neuer dyeth I shiuer and quake euery ioynt of me to fall into the handes of that death that endureth and of that lâ—fe that dyeth GREGORIVS THE wâ—cked shall dye the death euerlastyng PROSPER IF at that instant when a man purposeth to sinne he would with diligent mind consider what pounishment claymeth to be done towards those that are taken in trappe for their mischeefts what torment shoulde vexe the conuict soules what feare would shake their members and ioynts in euery part and what wanne and pale colour would dumpe theyr hauty countenances and finally how execrable reproche and ignominie it selfe the sentence denounced vnto suche sinners woulde duely reâ—der I knowe not whether he would take any such delight or frame him selfe vnto such vices and wickednes yea or no. MATTH CAP. 21. BEholde the Bridegrome commeth and they that were prepared to wayte vppon the Bridegrome went in with him vnto the wedding Vnde Gregorius IF thou oh wicked man wert wyse and diddest vnderstand what ioye this were thou wouldest oftentimes consider herevpon and speedely run to repentance neither wouldest thou lose or forgoe the acceptable time and the dayes of thy saluation through thy banquetting dayly ryot and idlenesse without profiting body or soule IEREMI CAP. 9. WHO shall geue water vnto my head a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may weepe night and day when I behold the children of the people committed to my charge IVDITH CAP. 8. LET vs craue his pardon with teares AVGVSTINVS THE iustice of the Omnipotent hauing foreknowledge of thinges to come let ordeyne to be made the fyre of hell euen from the first creation of the world He whiche is of his owne mercifull goodnes contrary to this fire who is enflamed with loue of
golde is vvorth seuen of siluer Euen so is it among Treatises Lucubracions and matters composed and compiled for they haue their diuersitie and difference both in matter and maner of saying And diuers degrees of goodnes maye bee founde in the same As good better and all the best VVherefore in beholdyng wel this perswasion I intend neither to disprayse nor yet to attribute â–ª singuler prayse superfluus to any fourme of compilacion or trauell in speciall But by this digression I purpose by Gods grace to commend vnto deuout and godly disposed Readers this memoriall that for as much as our tyme is precious short and full of Impedimentes that by their knovvledge they shoulde choose rhe best matter for rheir spirituall and gohstly nourishment of the soule as they vvould doo in meate and drincke clothinges and necessaries for the sustentation of their body and take their speciall and frequent recourse in the exercise of readyng such bokes as shal make best for their consolacion and profit spirituall Thus in as much as holy Scripture and the fruites thereof vvel vnderstanded and duely executed is a very guide to eternall lyfe as is sayd IOHN 5. Scrutamini Scripturas quia vos putatis in ipsis vitam eternam habere And because novve a dayes men are best delighted to heare or reade such vvoorkes as are compendious pleasant and profitable short in sentence and large in sence Although for lacke of cunnyng and others sondry impedimentes I am insufficient to compile such a peece of vvorke yet neuerthelesse by the grace of GOD I entend to accomplishe my best endeuour accordyng to my sclender talent in setting foorth a compendius Treatis to the honor prayse of God and spirituall profite of such as shall take any pleasure in readyng thereof vvhich may be called the Contemplacion of sinners And by a similitude forsomuch as euen as a man delighted in the diuersitie of meates and drinckes and apparel for the body for alteration or chaunge thereof renueth appetite and affection So likevvyse the spirit of man reioyceth and taketh comfortable refreshing of the enterchaunge and diuersitie of deuine matters vvhich is the foode and furnirure of the soule I purpose to deuide this Treatis in seuen partes accordyng to the seuen dayes of the vveeke so that for euery day a man may finde in readyng a seuerall delectacion and remember a nevve excercitacion And to make this compilacion more autentike I purpose not to insert nor alledge any sentence thereof in the Latine tongue but eyther that vvhiche is probable by holy Scripture pronounced by our Sauiour Christe him selfe the foure Euangelistes or that vvhich his Apostles haue left vs or that vvhiche the auncient Fathers of the Primatiue Church haue vvritten for ouâ—â—omfort or sometimes the morall mixtions of Philosophers addicted to vertue hath reuealed vnto vs eyther els suche good and godly aduertisementes as the good and godlye vvryters of the latter times haue offered me incident to the consummation and finishing hereof in good and decent order although our grosse natiue language and specially in composing of meeter is suche that it can not in all poyntes agree with the perfection of the Latine tongue hath made me to vvrite the matter it selfe in Latine and to comprise my ovvne priuate opinion vnder the same in englishe verse supposing that some lyght is rather thereby made into the vvorke then any obscuritie by my dooing And to conclude beseeching euery man that shall heare or reade this aforesayd Treatice that they iudge not ne backbite my doinges before they haue read and sufficiently digested the same I submit my poore and insufficint capacitie to the discreete correction of euery reasonable Reader ¶ THE AVCTHORS Commemoration for MVNDAY Behold this worldly wretchednesse Of euils which euer vs possesse The Translators Application First when Thalmighty prouidence dyd heauen and earth create An vniuersall darknesse dyd them both obtenebrate Then likte the Lorde to make a light deuided from darknesse The darknesse should night signifie the light should day expresse This day therfore darknesse mundame Eschevve and vvalke in light oh man. PAVLE ad Rom. CAP. 15. WHatsoeuer thinges are written for our learning and instructon are written that by pacience and consolacion of the Scriptures we might haue hope BERNARDVS super Cantica IT behoueth a man to knowe in what order with what affection with what intent and what thinges they are whiche he ought to know That is in what order That he doo first learne throughly that whiche is most in season or fitte for time tendyng vnto welfare With what affection That he learne suche matter as is more feruent and more vehement to make him in loue with knowledge To what intent That a man not for vaine glory neither for curiositie or any such like doo take any thing in hand to know or make knowen but only to the ende that God may thereby be glorified him selfe and his neighbours edified HVGO de Sancto victore THere is nothing in this life perceaued or felt more sweeter there is nothing taken more greedely there is nothing which so sequestreth a mans mind from the loue of the world nothing so strengtheneth and fortifieth the mind against temptations nothing so encourageth a man and furdereth to the accomplishing of euery worcke and of euery trauell more then the study and zeale of and vnto the sacred scripture PROVERBIORVM CAP. I. A Wyse man that heareth wysedome shal become therby more wyser then he was This volume breefe of sclender quantitie Called of sinners the contemplation Accordeth well for eche state and degree Guiding by grace and due direction Our Soule to sease in sure saluation Therefore this tytle profoundly knowyng VVhich of thy conscience may cause correction In hart emprint with matter folowyng CHRISOSTOMVS super Matthe THere is knowen to be in the Sea a confused noyse a continuall feare to such as sayle there an infatigable beating togeather one waue with an other an vnconstancie continuall and euen so fareth it with the world PSALMORVM 77. THY way and thy pathes are in the seas in many waters AMBROSIVS THis life of ours is replenished with such euils that in the comparison therof euen death it selfe is thought to be a remedy and not a punishment vnto vs. ESAI CAP. 45. de impijs THey are all confused and ashamed all the woorkers of wickednesse are togeather gone to confusion IEREMI CAP. VI. THey being confusedly scattered are not confounded and are nothing ashamed of their wickednesse BERNARDVS THE small number of soules that liue well tryeth the danger of this world and so dooeth the multitude of them that persist and goe through the same AMBROSIVS in sermone IN the troublesome sea of this world sayth he we must greatly feare least that eyther the sturdy violence of the tempest doo carry away our shippe or that the flowing streame doo sincke and swallowe it vp either els leste that some cruell Pirate or Rouer doo seaze vpon it as his prize
and so leade it away with him into perpetuall thraldome These sentences before resemble by figure The world as it were set in the salt See VVhose perillous passage as in portrature Explaneth mearely cares and calamitee VVherevnto is subiect eche state and degree For as the Sea is euer in commotion VVith raging storme and perillous perplexitee So is this world wallowyng in confusion IOEL Proph. CAP. 3. THE Sunne and the Moone are depriued of their light and the starres of the Firmament haue withdrawen their glittering hue PSALM 14. THey haue all gone out of the way and are altogeather become vnprofitable SAPIENCIA CAP. 17. FOR with one chayne and bond of darknesse were they all bound togeather AVGVSTINVS I Haue slyded away into temporall and worldly matters which are vaine and transitory and see I was beset with darknesse BEDA HE that reacheth after the cuppe wherein is poyson dooth as it were sippe vppon the brimme of the cuppe for the Hony sake because he would feele how sweete it is and not because he feareth how deadly an ende it bringeth TRENO 4. HOw dimme of cullour is the gold become the best colour therof is faded and changed the cheefe stones of the Sanctuarie are dispersed in the vpper end of the streetes Math. CAP. 15. de impijs THey are blind them selues and the guiders of such as are blind Eche sentence here of foresayd Scripture Sheweth Sunne Moone and Starres to our sight To haue been enuironed with cloudes obscure Dimmed with darknes which somtime blased bright So in the world some estates lacke the light Of grace in maner of lyfe and religion The day of Vertue turnyng into night So blinded in wicked worldly abusion AVGVSTINVS THE prosperous and happie thinges counted in this world haue with them a certaine vnfained bitter taste a deceitfull pleasantnesse a sure and certaine heauinesse or sorowe to trust vnto and an vncertaine pleasure to be delighted withall BOEâ—IVS de consolatione FOR sure I suppose that aduersitie doth more profite men then prosperitie ARISTOTLE Ethicoâ—um primo VErtue shineth clearely when man is in aduersitie OVID. FOrtune distributeth all thinges as pleaseth her and taketh away the same againe at her pleasure he is sodenly made a lanke and sclender person which euen nowe was a graunde paunche BERNARDVS LET a man desire the temporall goodes of this transitorie world and he shal euermore be vexed and disquieted with the desyre thereof Idem EVen as those thornes are not thornes in deede whiche pricke not so are those ritches no ritches worldly whiche doo not disquiet the mind of man. DAMACIVS YT is not at all to be doubted but greater is the vexation of mind vnto that couetous man whiche enioyeth all thinges at wyll then of the poore man whiche almost hath nothing at all IOB CAP. 30. THE children of the vnwyse and of base degree dyd suppose and deeme that pleasures were hidden vnder thornes O wicked world wrapped in wretchednesse Fye on thy fraude and fickle felicitie Fye on thy balefull blundred businesse Thy blandeshing blindnesse in prosperitie Hedged with Hawthorne care and calamity VVith drede dolour and double disease Thy pleasant poyson slayth soule and body So rewardest thou such as seeke thee to please GENES 18. THerfore is the crying of the Sodomites and Gomorrheans increased and their sinne is too too much greeuous in the sight of the Lord. BERNARDVS THE lyfe of sinne profereth vnto suche as enter in thereto the Hony mixed with bitternesse to such as goe forwards therein gall and vineger and vnto them that passe out of the same lyfe the poyson of Adders incurable APOCAL. 2. c. I Know where thy dwelling place is where also thy seate is Sathanas ESAI 24. FEare and trembling a deepe pitte and a lake is ouer thee which inhabitest on the earth 4. REGVM 24. NAbuchodonozor carried away Ioachim and the kynges Wyues the kynges Eunuches Iudges of the land the strong Men the Artificers and warriers out of Hierusalem into the land of Babylon So nowe in like maner by the suggestion of the Deuil many Christians are miserably caried captiues from the state of grace into bondage of sinne O polisant graue and donghill clad with snawe Thou sister to Sodome and seate to Sathanas Thy likyng lustes last but for a thrawe Thou tyrant treasonable and germaine to Iudas VVhom thou canst kisse salute and imbrace By honor ritches delight and dignitie As Iudas betrayed Christe with flattering face His soule thou seazest in endles captiuitie ECCLESI primo I Ecclesiastes was the kyng of Hierusalem and purposed in my mind wysely to seeke and searche out as touching al thinges that are doone vnder the Sunne CAP. 2. I Haue exalted and magnified my workes I haue heaped togeather vnto mee siluer and gold and the substance of kings and prouinces I made to be ordeyned mee singers and singing women and all the delites fitte for the sonnes of men and all thinges which my eyes desired haue I not denyed nor forbidden them from my hart but that it should enioy all maner pleasure And when I had turned me agayne vnto al those works which my handes had made and vnto those labours wherin I had vainely toiled I then saw that in them all there was vanitâ—e and disquietnesse of mind and that there was nothing of durance vnder the Sunne and I sawe that wysdome differed so much from foolishnesse as the light dooth from darknesse 3. REGVM 11. HE had to wyues which were al queenes seuen hundred and three hundred Concubines And when he nowe waxed aged his hart was so depraued by women that he folowed after strange goddes 3. REGVM 4. THE bread of Salomon was dayly .xxx. quarters of meale tenne stalled Oxen and twentie out of the pastures an hundred Sheepe besides Hartes Buckes and wylde Gotes and Capons And Iuda and Israel dwelt without feare euery man vnder his Vine and vnder his Figge tree from Dan to Beerseba all the dayes of Salomon That prudent prince and wyse kyng Salomon Preferred his pleasance in such proued plentee For honor ritches delites and renoune He had no peare so surpassed hee Raignyng in all most royall felicitie Natheles his state he sayd for conclusion VVas of no force but meare vanitie Through corporall toyle and spirituall affliction BERNARDVS ad Eugenium WHether doo these wicked accursed exercises drawe thee if notwithstanding thou perseuer and goe forwards so to addict and geue thy selfe to them that thou leauest thee nothing of that whiche is thyne owne Thou dooest but lose time in those thinges wherein there restes nothing but labour vaine disquietnesse and vexation of the spirite for what is the fruites thereof els but the webbes of Spiders One day vttereth an others brablinges and one nyght adiudgeth the malice of an other ESAI CAP. 59. THey haue conceiued labour and trauell and haue brought foorth iniquitie they haue hatcht the Egges of Adders and haue wouen the webbes of Spiders their works are vnprofitable spoyle
in bondage of Belyall But turne and take in tyme the plaster repentance Bernardus 5. sermone de Ascentione HOWE comes it to passe that certayne haue the penury and scarcity of spirituall grace when others haue the plentifull abundance Vndoubtedly he that is the distributer and bestower thereof is neyther couetous to keepe it to him selfe nor bare and needy to such as he thinkes woorthy of the bestowing thereof But where as empty vessels for the purpose are wanting there must the oyle want her vse The loue of the world showueth her selfe in to euery corner with her consolacions nay rather desolations shee keepeth and obserueth the maner of her comming to a man shee rusheth in at the wyndowes of the mind shee possesseth the mind of man but not his mind that hath saide My soule hath not refused to be comforted I haue ben mindfull of GOD and I am delighted in him for surely the sacred delight forsaketh and declineth from the minde that is exercised in worldly desyres neyther can thinges true be mixed with thinges that are vayne neyther thinges eternall with things frayle and transitory neyther yet corporall things with spirituall thinges It is thus to be concluded for principall that a man ought to be wyse in thinges that are aboue as well as in thinges vpon earth The soule of man so noble is of nature And made to ioy so hygh an heritage VVithout delight it can not long endure Therefore men should in their tender age VVith vertue and deuotion haue vsage VVhich without lothsomnesse bringeth delyte Encreasing euer her valiant corage For of taste ay she renueth appetyte GREGORIVS IT seemeth there is this difference betwene the delightes of the body and of the minde as the corporal pleasures when they are not enioyed do kindle a greeuous desire towards them selues and being enioyed they turne all thinges to destruction And on the other part the delightes of the soule are quite contrary because howe muth the more the taste of them is sauoured so muche the more the same is esteemed to the ende they may be beleeued with more auidity or greater desyre and therefore not being enioyed they can not be embraced or beloued because the taste of them is not knowen or approued PSALME 34. TAste and see howe sweete the Lorde is and this he meaneth as who would say you haue no perceauerance of the Lorde except you taste and feele the goodnesse of him PSALME 107. THeir soule hath abhorred all meates and they haue drawen neare vnto the gates of death NVMERI 11. OVR soule perprabraketh vppon the receipte of this light meate Though corporall foode haue that quality The greater abstinence the greater appetite And the more taste the more tediosity Yea nowe we lothe where we late dyd delite From spirituall foode which differeth quite The more we absteyne the lesse we desyre The goodnesse of the taste no man can endite VVhich had augmented celestiall feruent fyre AVGVSTINVS THERE is no torment greater then the torment or vexation of the conscience And wylt thou then neuer be sadde or molested lyue well A mans mind that is secure dooth easely sustayne and away with sadnes A good lyfe hath euer ioy among PROVERBES CAP. 9. IOY shal be mixed with sorowe and there is euer mourning foloweth extreme ioyes AVGVSTINVS in confes THOV Lorde hast commaunded and it comes so to passe that there is a torment due vnto euery inordinate mind that can not measure it selfe BERNARDVS SVrely there is no man whiche ought or may thinke that there aryseth greater felicitie of the mind in or by the vse of vices then there dooth in and by the exercise of vertue HEBRE 11. THE holy and elect children of GOD haue conquered kingdomes by fayth haue wrought equitie and iustice and haue adopted them new promises of sauing health GREGORIVS IF humane minde with a strong and fyrme desyre be directed towardes God she esteemeth euery bitter thing to be sweete and thinkes euery thing to be as it were a quiet rest whiche dooth molest her And moreouer she earnestly desyreth to passe ouer this life by death to the end she may the more fully obteyne lyfe GREGORIVS IT standeth most with equitie that we doo loue him aboue all thynges which hath loued vs aboue all thynges More sweetenesse t is vnto sound conscience And vertuous lyfe with delectation Then any pleasant carnall complacence Or fadyng gladnes of worldly abusion To please God euer in conclusion VVith vertuous lyfe whose solace is most deare Full recompenst with hyre of heauenly crowne As of Gods saintes examples witnesse beare Actum Apostolorum CAP. 9. WHEN he had receaued meate he was comforted MATTH CAP. 4. MAN dooth not liue by bread only but by euery woord that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD. PSALME 63. MY Soule is replenished as it were with marowe and with fatnesse 2. REGVM CAP. 2. LET your handes receaue comfort and be you the children of valiant and couragious mindes AVGVSTINVS PRayer is a sauegard of the Soule a solace and consolation to the good angell a scourge vnto the Deuill and an acceptable obsequy or sacrifice of man vnto God. GREGORIVS lib. 28. morall THE fortitude or courage of the reprobate in this world is enclined to the loue of transitorie thinges and neuer stinteth that affect but without reason not knowyng what shee dooth hardneth her selfe agaynst the scourge of the maker of this world The fortitude or courage of good and godly persons is bent to ouercome the fleshe and to goe against her owne pleasure to extinquish the delectations of this present lyfe to embrace the sharpe and bitter stormes of this worlde for and in consideration of the euerlasting remuneracions to contemne the flatteryng allurementes of prosperitie and manfully to vanquishe in the hart all feare of aduersitie For right as mem enfeobled with labour Or which in battell haue bestowed their blood Through sustenance recouer vitall power Resuming to them force and courage good So by resemblance and similitude In spirituall toyle and conflict tossed they To vertue hauing deuoute consuetude Restore them selues to firme estate soone may AVGVSTINVS EXcept thy conscience be pure and cleane from sinnes thou shalt not be heard of God then make cleane the chamber of thy hart onely and thou shalt fynde him within that wyll heare thee at full Ricardus de sancto victore HOwe many are there whiche enter into the house of God to pray vnto God how fewe are there heard of him howe many are there which cal God theyr father as in their prayer Our Father c. which are not his chyldren but the fathers children of whom it is written You are of the father the Deuill because they are not the chyldren of GOD which haue lost his grace and fauour but are rather the Deuils children who hath begotten them in malice and nourisht them in mischefe BERNARDVS EVen as fyre and water can not be both togeather in one substance at once so
neyther can the delites of the body of the soule abide to dwell togeather HVGO 2. de Anima A Good conscience is the tytle and signe of religion the Temple of Salomon the feelde of blessing the breeder of delites the golden reclaiming meane of a transgressor the ioy of Angels the Court of God the habitackle or dwellyng place of the holy ghost the booke opened and shut which shal be manifested in the day of iudgement CASSIODORVS WHAT is there thought may be obteyned where as a good conscience is lost GREGORIVS THere is no man more corrupt in life then he that seemes to him self to be cleare and sound in lyfe SENECA ad Lucillum LOoke vppon the mind scanne vppon the maners marke and be mindful of thy doinges for euer in them and by or of them shalt thou knowe what thou art CICERO IT is a poynt of foolishnesse properly for a man to prye and looke neare into other mens faultes and to forgeat his owne God graunt al states to keepe with diligence In conscience good the most assured stay Of treasures heauenly highest in excellence VVhich may our mindes chearefull make alway That lyfe from learnyng doo not goe astray Ne yet with shiftes of cloked collusion Our selues and our freendes corrupt we may To turne vnto our owne confusion ZACHE CAP. 13. I Wyll smite the Shepheard and the sheepe of the flocke shal be scattered one from an other the integritie of them that beare rule is the health of the Subiectes ECLESIAST CAP. 8. IT falleth out nowe and then that one man hath power ouer an other to his owne hinderance PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE Citie shall reioyce in the wealth of iust and vpright Rulers and there shal be ioy ouer the destruction of the wicked BERNARDVS MAN is neuer in state of honour without dolour and sorowe in pleasure without payne in aucthoritie without vanitie ESAI CAP. 3. I Wyl geue them children for their princes and such as are of womanish mindes shall beare aucthoritie ouer them and the people shall perishe BERNARDVS ad Impios THY Shepheardes are chaunged into fleesers of their flocke thy Lambes into Woolues thy defenders into dispersers of the flocke and they that should be sober are dayly geuen to drunkennesse they that should be chaste are vicious liuers for godly Prelates thou shalt haue wicked Pilates and they that ought to be godâ—y inducers and teachers of thee shal be seducers and fetchers of thee from the right way Eche Communalty then standeth in good state VVhen as their princes rulde are by reason But be they vicious and infatuate Then falleth all to foule confusion VVe haue to marke then what abusion Other Realmes doo on them selues ay bring By their misrule way our condicion In happier state God knoweth florishng AVGVSTINVS DAVID the second Kyng of Israel dooth surely shine in mankind as it were a certayne brightnesse that would dazell our eyes In what man at any time were there found togeather these two thinges that is to say so great aucthoritie conceaued with so great humility so great courage so great clemencie so great a care as he conteyned towardes the disposing of his worldly affaires so pure and deuoute contemplacion or meditating of spirituall matters to kill so many men and to shed teares of repentance to fall into so great offences as he dyd and to perfourme so good repentance PSALM 119. I Am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al the riches and worldly wealth which I haue Idem DElight thou thy selfe in the Lord and he shall rewarde thee euen to the desyres of thy owne hart Idem WEre it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe I shoulde then perhappes haue perished in my owne humilitie Lorde my hart is not puffed vp neither are my eyes lifted vp neither haue I walked in greate thinges nor in woonderfull thinges aboue my reache Lord remember Dauid and all his mercie August in epist. ad comit charis WIth exhorting thee good brother I beseeche thee that vnto euery seruaunt of thy housholde from the greatest vnto the least thou wouldst be a messenger of loue and sweetenes towardes the obteyning of that heauenly kingdome and denounce vnto them the horror and trembling that is in the infernall pit of hell and that thou be wyse thy selfe for theyr welfare and be as a watche man vnto them because for euery seruaunt which is within thy house thou shalt render an account PSALME 101. DEpart ye wicked from me and I wyll searche foorth the commaundementes of my God. VVho euer yet conioyned in one person So profound meekenes with high excellence Such temporall trouble with harts deuotion So great slaughter so prteous penitence Seuere iustice mixt with compacience As had King Dauid loe appeareth well To God and man his watchfull diligence At this day Princes many doth excell SAPIENCE CAP. 15. FOR the louers of euill men are woorthy of death ECCLESIAST CAP. 7. GOE away from the wicked man and there shall no euill come neare thee 1. CORINTH CAP. 5. I Haue written vnto you that you should not entermingle your selues with fornicators with offenders specially whiche haue committed fornication against god And this dyd I vnto that end that eyther they myght be confounded or amended MATTH CAP. 7. HEarken not you vnto the false prophetes whiche may come vnto you in Sheepes clothing CHRISOST super Matth. IN nature of worldly things saith he thus falleth it out that so ofte as the euyll man is a companion vnto the good man the euill man is not made better by the good man but by the euyll man the good man is made woorse HIERONIMVS THERE is nothing so much hurteth a man as dooth euyll company I thinke it a thing more then possible that that man can any longer continew in dooing well whiche is dayly conuersant with euyll men PSALME 1. BLessed is the man which hath not walked in the counsell of the wicked and hath not stand in the way of the vngodly nor hath not sit in the chayre of pestilence but hath reposed his wyll and desyre in the lawe of the Lorde PSALME 18. WIth the holy thou shalt be holy and with the froward thou shalt learne frowardnesse In two poyntes dependeth principally The key of honest conuersation Into wyse counsayle and good company VVherefore as Princes with due discretion Knowe euery counsellours disposition For better sauety in good gouernment Semblably eche baser state and condicion By company and counsell are ruled verament HESTER CAP. 18. WHiche matter is prooued by auncient histories and by suche persons as they are accomplished dayly how by the euill suggestions of certaine which are in aucthoritie about some princes of the world the trauels and affaires of those Princes are brought to yll passe 2. PARALIPOM CAP. 24. IOAS the King of Iuda dyd that whiche was acceptable in the syght of the Lord so long as Ioiada the high Priest liued but of trueth when Ioiada dyed the Pâ—inces
is nothing more precious with God then the vertue of loue there is nothing that the deuill desireth more then the extinguishing of charitie and loue IERONIMVS THERE is nothing hard or difficult vnto those that doo loue there is no tedious trauell in loue Let vs therefore loue Christe and what so euer thing is hard of it selfe vnto vs wee shall thinke it very easyly to be atcheeued of vs. MARO Poeta THE labours and trauelles of louers can not by any meanes be tedious and burdenous vnto them but euen them selues are delighted therein as they that haue a delight eyther in hunting fowling or fisshing BERNARDVS WHAT man so euer he be that shall perfectly discerne the burden of sinne and the wound of his soule or conscience shal eyther very little or nothing at all feele the payne or vexation of his body neyther shall he thinke much of the labour bestowed wherein he shall vnderstand howe to deface and wype away his sinnes doone and past and learne to take heede how he commit any more such offences in time to come c. As nothing more maketh resemblance To feendish feares then strife and debate So humane kinde by charitable acquaintance To heauenly Angels is associate This laudable loue makes man laureate Loue makes our labour light in comparison Loue is a vertue of valure inuiolate And chaungeth care to consolation AVGVSTINVS BEtter is that medicine preserueatiue then that which is curatiue AVGVSTINVS ALL haynous offences and horrible whiche man dooth by custome commit are eyther thought by him to be but small or none at all so as not only they are not to be cloked and couered but also doo require to be published and openly detected Philippus in Prolog 3. Phil. CErtaine persons there haue been so accustomed to feede vpon very poyson that they haue taken it for their onely meate SENECA de vita moribus GOod custome ought to shake out and reiect those thinges which the euyl custome hath put in vre and trayned in man. ARISTOT 7. lib. Ethicorum IT is a hard thing for man to resist withstand custome because she is made so like nature in her proper vse yet notwithstanding it is an easier thing for vs to alter and chaunge custome then naturall inclination PSALME 42. ONE depthe calleth vpon an other they haue prolonged their iniquitie ECCLESIASTI CAP. 37. O Most wicked presumption from whence art thou descended Thy corporall health from sicknesse to conserue Is more of prise then any medecine So then thy soule may rather deserue Of deadly wound all sinne for to decline Then for to taste the venemous propine Of sinne and after seeke the salue of repentance Presumption ryseth of the olde serpentine VVhiche doubtles doth proue a perillous pestelance BERNARDVS O Thou my soule whiche art the badge of a Christian made noble after the image of God decored with equall forme spoused vnto him in fayth endowed with the spirite redeemed with his blood made heyre with angels receauer of blessednesse the child of grace and partaker of reason what hast thou with thee as touching thy frayle fleshe what may be saide hast thou not found it an vnsauery and noysome dounghil Idem BERNARDVS O Cleare white vnspotted Lilly oh thou tender and delicate floure there are vnbeleeuing people abidyng with thee and such as seeke thy subuertion and with Scorpions hast thou thy dwelling Take heede and see that thou walke warely amongst the thorns because the worlde is full of thornes they breede on the earth they are in the ayre and they are in thy fleshe To be therefore conuersant amongst these and by them not to be hurt consisteth in the power deuine to withstand and not in any vertue that thou hast AVGVSTINVS O Howe is that Soule vnhappy which is sequestred from the cheefe felicitie and ouer whom the deuill hath sway she is made voyde of lyght and enuironed with darkenesse she is consumed with pleasure and made drunke with bitter waters she loseth life and fyndeth death c. Of our soules Lord we make record with ruthe As flowres fayre tender and delicate To Christe our spouse wedded with ring of truthe Though in this life we haue dayly debate Yet graunt in fayth that we be laureate From hurtfull sinne with syncere conscience O Lord to thee let vs not liue ingrate Sithe thou with vs wolte haue thy residence ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for TVESDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for VVENSDAY The damage due to deadly sinne To seeke to voyde let vs not linne The Translators Application The third day this Creator then the waters here belowe Into â—ne place dyd geather and them in one floodde bestowe The drye land thence deuided hee the Sea those waters named The Sea for trauell to and fro the Earth for fruite he framed VVho liues then in this earthy vale Taste fruites of trouble death and bale PSALME 51. BEcause I doo acknowledge myne iniquitie and my sinne is alway against me TOBIA CAP. 12. BVT they that commit sinne and iniquitie are enimies to their owne soule GREGORIVS THERE should no aduersitie or mishap hurt vs yf there dyd no iniquitie condemne and adiudge vs woorthy therof PSALME 38. MY iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a great burden are they heauy vppon me PROVERBES CAP. 14. SInne maketh the people become miserable AGVSTINVS WHAT can be more miserable then the wretched worldling which hath no compassion of him selfe ESAI CAP. 13. I Wyll vizite the landes with diseases and agaynst the wicked wyll I goe with theyr inâ—quities ECCLESIAST CAP. 27. AS the Lion is euer lurking for his pray so dooth the sinnes of man lye in wayte for them that woorke mischeefe AVGVSTINVS SInne is defined to be any thyng spoken or any thyng done eyther any desyre striuing agaynst the lawe of God. BERNARDVS O Howe wretched is the state of sinners which esteeme of the sonne of God as of a Swineheard ESAI CAP. 59. YOur iniquities haue set enimity betwene you and your God and your sinnes haue couered his face from beholdyng you with mercie and that he shoulde not heare you when you pray vnto him Idem sequitur OVr iniquites are multiplied before him and our sinnes haue made answear vnto vs. 2. REGVM CAP. 3. DAVID spake these woordes touching Ioab The Lorde recompence the euyll man according to the mallice of his mischeefe PSALME 31. THOV hast hated all them that doo woorke wickednesse To define of sinne in sentences short No man well may so full it is of care Neuerthelesse as novv I purpose to report Howe in eache season sinne is most contrare To mans weale supplanting eache afare Vnto his damage where it may preuayle Enforcing ay of blisse to reue him bare In soule in body and in goodes temporall AVGVSTINVS SInne is the ransacking spoyle of the good grace receaued and a corruption naturally grafted in man. PROVERB CAP. 4. BVT the wicked and vngodly in the land shal be destroyed PROVERBES CAP.
4. THE way of the vngodly is as the darkenesse they knowe not where they fall IEREMI GAP 5. OVR sinnes haue debarred and prohibited the good graces of God from vs. PSALME 10. IN the woorkes of his owne handes is the sinner snared and taken PSALME 31. MANY plagues are there ordeyned for sinners but mercy shall compasse him rounde about that putteth his trust in the Lorde BERNARD BE ashamed oh my Soule and blushe at thy folly thou hast chaunged thy deuine shape and forme into a brutish and beastly forme Idem THERE is nothing more beastly then that man which is endewed with reason and vseth it not Idem HOw much the more a man shall sinne so much the lesse shall he knowe what sinne is and in deede so much the more shall he be delighted therewith Robart Grosthed Lincolniens SInne is the issue or generation of the deuill the parent of death the corruption of nature and the deformation or defilyng of the soule GREGORIVS WHAT greater poynt of madnesse can there be in man then for a very little pleasure of the flesh to make him self a bondman vnto euerlasting punishmentes DEVTERONO CAP. 28. WHAT yf thou wouldest desire of God that thou mightest heare the voyce of this thy Lorde and God speaking vnto thee that thou shouldest obserue and accomplishe all that he commaundeth The Lorde shall strike thee with madnes and with blindnes and with fury of the minde that thou shalt stumble at the noone day as the blind man is woont to stumble in the darknes and thou shalt not guide thy footesteppes but shalt alwaies suffer reproche and be oppressed with violence neyther shall there be any man to deliuer thee free from his fury Sinne is the cause of our perdition Sinne of the Deuill is daughter venemons In soule and body sinne causeth corruption Sinne is a sicknesse right contagious Sinne maketh a man foolishe and furious All in wood rage running without reason His dayes ouerdriuing in state styll daungerous VVith confused course of time and season PSALME 14.53 THEY haue trembled with feare where there was no feare at all LEVITCVS CAP. 26. IF so be that you wyll not heare me neyther doo all that I haue commaunded you but shall despise my lawes and ordinances I wyll set my face agaynst you and you shall perishe before the face of your enimies and you shal be cast vnder foote of those that haue hated you The King shal put them in feare yea the noyse of a leafe blowen from the Tree shall make them afraide they shal fall downe to the earth when there is no man to strike them PROVER CAP. 12. THE way of the vngodly shall deceaue them the deceitfull man shall finde none aduantage APOCAL. CAP. 18. THERE is prepared a dwelling place for all the Deuils and a place of custody for euery vncleane spirite OZEA. CAP. 9. THEY are become abominable euen as those idols that they haue embraced and had in honour PROVERB CIP 18. THE belly of the wicked person is neuer satisfied SOPHONI CAP. 1. THEY haue walked as the blinde that sawe not because they haue sinned against the Lorde IOB CAP. 18. HIS foote path is hidden in the earth feare and trembling shall make him afraide on euery side IOB CAP. 20. THE praise of the vngodly shal be but for a small seazon and the ioy of an hypocrite is like vnto the poynt of a swoord yf his pride shall lift it selfe vp vnto the heauens and that his head doo touche the cloudes yet in the ende it shall be destroyed euen as the filthy dounghil and as a dreame that is vanished shall it not be found The mind of sinners is figured vnto hell VVherein is fyre and feendish cruelty Gods lawes and maners resisting as rebell VVith lothsome stenche of wylful iniquity Committed by the seuen sinnes deadly And he that sinne into his chayne can lincke By subtyll shiftes and shameles impiety T ys a speciall gift yf they twayne euer shrincke ROMANS CAP. 6. THE reward of sinne is death PSALME 146. HIS spirite shall goe foorth and shall returne into his owne land in that day shal all his cogitations perishe PROVERBES CAP. 11. THE wicked man being once dead there resteth no further hope vnto him BERNARDVS O Thou Soule of man not with precious golde or siluer but with the blood of the Lambe of GOD redeemed Why wylt thou deliuer thy selfe into destruction seeing Christe for the loue that he beareth vnto thee hath shed his most precious blood HYLLARIVS THE Soule that sheweth not her selfe nete and clearely shining indewed with the garment or robe of holy life is not the Soule espoused vnto Christe but the Deuils darling AVGVSTINVS HAppy is that Soule which shall so endeuour her selfe to gouerne her life that she may through Christe deserue to receaue and entertaine Christ as her geste and inhabiter within her ECLESIAST CAP. 4. BE sorowfull and heauy for thy Soule PSALME 69. THE zeale of thy house Lorde hath euen as it were eaten me vp 1. REGVM CAP. 22. THERE is none that soroweth for my state ECCLESIAST CAP. 32. THE wicked are hardly chastized to amendment and the number of fooles is infinite PSALME 32. BEcause mercie hath come vppon him he shall with mercie be chastized AMBROSIVS THE lewde and dissolute life of the child shal be imputed the negligence of the parentes PSALME 141. BVT the oyle of a sinner shall not hurt my head TVLLIVS FOR euery pounishment and correction ought to be without reproche neither to the reproche of him whiche so punisheth or chastizeth any person but to be referred only for the commoditie and profite of the weale publique AVGVSTINVS THE wrath of GOD is then greate when the offender is not by due chastisement reclaimed but suffereth him selfe to runne in further offence by taking a wandring libertie Mans soule is a iewell incomperable By Christe his bloodshed dearely bought VVherefore he wyll that we be coumptable To him in good wyll for sauety sought VVhen to captiue vs Satan sought Bereft of all solace then surely were wee Tyll this our champion for vs fought VVe deserued the scourge of his equitee ECCLESIAST CAP. 7 REmember thy last dayes and thou shalt not doo amis for euer ECCLESIAST CAP. 11. IF a man doo liue many yeeres and in all this time shall reioyce and be meery yet he ought to remember the dayes of darknesse and the daies of many which shal then come shal plainely testifie that the dayes past were the dayes of vanitie GREGORIVS THE true and perfect life is to be medâ—tating howe to dye well Idem HE that considereth with him selfe what maner of person he shal be when death assayleth him is euermore fearefull in his affaires to offend ECCLESIAST CAP. 12. THE Lorde shall bring all thinges to receaue iudgement that are done vnder the heauens ECCLESIAST CAP. 9. REmember the Lorde in thy life time because death detracteth no time HVGO de sancto victore WE
's none by flyght vvhich may be fugitiue Then Sunne and Moone obscured vvith anoyance Yea other Planets vvith beames obumbratiue Shall in their kinde shevve dolorus countenance DEVTERO CAP. 9. THere shall goe before thee a deuouring fyre and a consuming flame IOEL CAP. 2. BLowe vp the Trumpet in Sion Reioyce you that dwell vpon my holy hill Let all the inhabitantes of the earth be troubled and disquieted because the day of the Lorde is at hand because the day of darknesse and of smoothering heate draweth neare the cloudy and troublesome day Idem BEfore his face shall goe a deuouring fire and after him shal folow a burning flameâ— for the day of the Lord is a mighty day and a very fearefull day and who shall abide the same neyther is there any man which shall escape it Eodem IOEL BE you therefore conuerted and turne vnto me saith the Lorde with all your whole hart in fasting in mournyng and in bitter teares and you shal be saued APOCA CAP. 20. AND the sea gaue out from her the dead bodyes that were buried in the bottome thereof yea death and hell it selfe sent foorth their dead gohstes and there was sentence of iudgement pronounced vppon euery one according to their woorkes IOEL CAP. 3. I Wyll geather all nations togeather and I wyll bring them into the vale of Iosaphat and wyll dispute with them 1. CORINTH CAP. 15. TRuly we shall ryse againe at the iudgement day but we shall not all be immutable or vnchanged euen in a moment or twinckling of the eye in the last blast of the Trumpe Ricardus super 4. dist 47. HOwe or in what maner the Lorde wyll geue iudgement is not presently manifested to the world neither hath he woorthely rewarded euery man neyther hath he punisht them accordingly but the accomplishment thereof resteth behind in his handes as touching the body and the soule and as touching the desert of prayse or punishment EPHESI CHP. 4. VNtill we shall al runne togeather in one course with vnitie of fayth and woorshipping the sonne of GOD growing vp to one perfect man in measure of the fulnesse of the aige of Christe APOCALIPS 22. ANd I sawe as well the great as smal bodyes standing openly before the throne and the bookes were opened Athanasius in Symbolo AGaynst whose comming all men shall be warned to aryse with their bodyes out of the earth MALACHI CAP. 3. WHO shal be able to consider of the day of his comming or who shall endure to behold the sight of his presence IOB CAP. 14. WHO is able to warrant me that thou wylt protect my soule in the neathermost hell and hide me vntill the furie of thy displeasure shal be passed and that it wyll please thee to appoint me a time when thou wylt remember me That day is the day of wrath and calamitie yea the great day of miserie very bitter HEBREOS CAP. 10. BVT terrible and fearefull is the looking for of the iudgement and feruent heate of the fire which shall destroy all his enimies IOB CAP. 19. FLee you away from the face of the Lorde because the swoord is a reuenger of iniquities All fleshe shall aryse from death to liue In soule and body hauyng resemblance Then to receaue sentence definitiue Decreed by Gods deuine ordinance Hovv euer it be in ioy and greeuance VVe shall addresse vs young olde ritche and pore Happy or vnhappy as it shall then chance To rest in payne or pleasure euermore MARCI CAP. 13. THen shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen SAPIENCE CAP. 12. WHO shall stand against thy iudgement oh Lord or who shall come before thy presence as a reuenger vppon the wicked ones of this world PROVERBES CAP. 6. THE Lord wyll not spare any flesh in the day of reuengement neither wyll he be pacified with the entreaty of any person neither wyll he take great rewardes to redeeme any soule PSALME 110. BEcause his mercie is enduring for euer HIERONIMVS IF only the lawe and iudgement of mortall creature and fraile flesh which shal be turned into dust be with such care â—hroughly trembled at and feared With what carefull feare ought we to prouide for the iudgement of the deuine maiestie PSALME 110. I Wyll sing of mercy and iudgement vnto thee oh Lord. Idem O GOD geue thy iudgement vnto the king c. PSALME 36. THY iudgement oh Lord is as the light of the mid-day APOCA CAP. 20. AND behold the dead were called vp to be iudged as touching those things that were written in the bookes to receaue their reward according to their woorkes NAVM CAP. 3. BEholde sayth the Lord God of hostes I come vnto thee and wyll discouer thy shamefulnesse euen in thine owne face and wyl shewe thy nakednesse vnto the nations and reproche vnto other kingdomes and I wyll poure out vpon thee thy owne abominations and will smite thee with reproches Then shall our kyng vvhich iudged vvas vs iudge In glorious forme of deuine humanitie From vvhose face there may be then no refuge No fauour freendship revvard parcialitie Nor any respect ouer high and lovve degree VVhen in tvvo diuers maners he shall administrate His iudgement to the godly vvith mylde mercie But most seuere Iustice vnto the reprobate SAPIENCE CAP. 5. BVT the righteous shal liue for euermore their reward also is with the Lord and the care for them is with the highest Chrisostomus super Mattheum IN that day of the Lordes reuenge we shal haue nothing to answeare for our selues for the Heauen the Earth the Sunne and the Moone the Dayes and the Nightes and all the whole Worlde it selfe shall stand against vs to beare witnesse against vs of our sinnes and wickednesse IACOBI CAP. 5. YOur ritches are become rotten and consumeâ— your garmentes are eaten with the Moth your golde and your siluer is become rusty and the rust thereof shal be a witnesse against you ABACVCK CAP. 2. THE stone in the Walle shall crie out against you and the Tymber betweene the Rooffes of your houses shall answere against you HVGO de sancto victore THE conscience of man is as a booke shut whiche shal be opened in the day of iudgement MICHEAS CAP. 3. HEare O ye Princes of the house of Iacob captaines ouer the house of Israel Eiusdem CAP. 6. LET the high Hilles heare the iudgement of the Lord. LVKE CAP. 16. GEVE a reckonyng of thy Stewardshippe SAPIENCE CAP. 6. THere shal be a most sharpe iudgement ordeyned for such as beare aucthoritie ouer others AVGVSTINVS THE Prelates are woorthy to dye so many deathes as they geue euill examples of death vnto their people committed in charge vnto them ESAI CAP. 46. HEare me oh you of hard hartes whiche are farre of from dooing iustice IEREMI CAP. 15. MY people is become a disobedient people their Sheepheardes haue led them a wrong way DANIEL CAP. 13. INiquitie is gone out from Babylon euen from those that were the elder
Iudges which were seene to beare rule ouer the people and they haue turned away their vnderstanding and haue withdrawen their eyes from beholding the Heauen neither would they remember the iudgementes of the iust This processe of iudgement is short vvithout tarying VVhen for our sinnes shall serue none excuse But our vnkindnesse to Christe our soueraigne king Our consciences eke vvitnesses shall vs accuse VVhen vve his gracious good fauour abuse God graunt therefore by ages tofore past VVe in this last aige such vvarnyng may take That cleauing in feare to this our God fast VVe may auoyde the danger of the dreadfull lake 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR we all must needes be manifested and openly reuailed before the tribunall seate of Christe that euery man may reape that whiche he hath done in his body be it good or be it bad ESAI CAP. 13. BEhold the day of the Lord shal come that cruell day and full of indignation wrath and furies to put the earth in feare and her sinners to be ouerthrowen by her because the Starres of Heauen and their glitâ—ering hue shall not geue foorth light vnto them EZECHIEL 6. THE end commeth it shall stand vp as a watchman against the sorowe shal come vpon thee which dwellest vppon the Earth the time is come the day of death is neare at hand and not of the ioyfull sound of the Hils Now euen at hand foorthwith wyll I powre out my indignation vppon thee and wyll accomplishe the desire of my fury vppon thee and wyl iudge thee according to thy wayes and wyll lay vppon thee as a burden all thy wickednesse and my eye shall haue no compassion vpon thee neither wyll I shewe thee any mercy but wyl lay vpon thee thine owne wicked wayes MATTHE 25. THen shall he say to those which shal stand vpon his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels ORIGEN SInners doo lincke them selues in amitie with the Deuill as they which are by the prouidence of God saued are made coequals with the holy angels So such as perishe are compared vnto the angels of the Deuil Augustinus 21. de ciuitate dei HEreby also is it manifest that the same fire is geuen by ordinance for a pounishment vnto men and deuils Gregorius 33. cap. mora IT belongeth to the iustice of a straight Iudge neuer to withdrawe pounishment from them whiche of their owne mindes in this life would neuer withdrawe them selues from sinne PSALME 119. VNderstand this you that haue forgotten God least that at any time he take you away by force and then there be no man to take you out of his handes c. Then shall Christe thus pronounce for conclusion From his leaft hand vvhen he the vvicked shal expel Depart yee vvofull vvretches vvith my malediction To the perpetuall fyre and tormentes of hell In dolorous darknesse vvith deuils there to dvvell VVithout recouerie shall be there your residence Fellovved vvith feendes furious and fell And of my person neuer more to haue presence MATTHE 25. COme you the blessed of my Father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world ORIGEN FOR the holy ones of God whiche haue wrought the woorkes of righteousnesse haue alredy taken for their hyre the inheritaunce on the right hand of GOD for their woorkes of righteousnesse wherein consistes both rest and glorious triumphe AVGVSTINVS LAbour in worldly matters will discourage thee from comming vnto God but behold the Heauens whiche haue learned the first commaundement they fulfill the same TOBIA 6. THE Lorde GOD of Heauen shall rewarde thee with ioy and comfort for the werisome trauel that thou hast endured 2. CORINTH 1. FOR this ioye and comfort that we haue conceaued is a witnesse of our conscience within vs c. PSALME 100. BE you glad in the Lord and be ioyful you that are iust c. and reioyce you in the lord c. MATTH CAP. 24. WAtche therefore because you know not the houre when the Lord wyll come HIERONIMVS IT was not requisite that the Apostles should haue the day of the foreknowledged comming of Christe reuealed vnto them that by reason of theyr earnest looking for of his comming they not knowing when yet might alwayes beleeue that he would come whom they knewe not howe soone he would come GREGORIVS WHat man seemeth to watche in deede which to beholde the brightnesse of the true light keepeth open the eyes of his mind That man watcheth who obserueth that order of dooing well which he beleeueth is acceptable before god That man watcheth which driueth from him the darknesse of dolour and negligence IOHN CAP. 3. O Ye generacions of Vipers who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to ome Doo you therefore shewe foorth woorthy fruites of repentance PSALME EVen as the wounded bodies sleeping in their graues that is to say The sinners of whom there is no further memory and those are repulsed out of thy handes PSALME 36. DEpart from dooing that is euill and doo good After the first sentence the second folowe shall Full of solace and consolation Saying vnto those on his right hand all Come ye chyldren on my benediction VVhich haue me loued with true intention Receaue you the kingdome of lasting blis Reserued for you from the worldes creation God grannt vs thy grace to labour for this ESAI CAP. 46. REturne and come againe oh you that haue frowardly walked after your owne hart GREGORIVS O How strait shall then be the way for the reprobate aboue in the Heauens shall sitte the Iudge full of displeasure belowe in Hell shal be an horrible confusion vpon the right hande shall stand our sinnes to accuse vs vpon the leaft hand infinite numbers of Deuils which shall drawe vs to the tormenting place within vs the gnawing of our conscience and without vs the Woâ—ld burning rounde about Whyther then shall the sinner flee To appeare to iudgement shal be intollerable for him and to hyde him setfe shal be impossible PSALME 138. I Haue remembred these and I haue powred out myne owne soule before me HIERONIMVS BVT thou discreete Reader marke and consider that both the punishments which are ordeyned are eternall and that the euerlasting ioyfull life hath in it no maner of decay or ruine ECCLESIASTI CAP. 7. BE mindfull of the wrath of the Highest because he wyll not long foreslewe the time MATTH CAP. 10. FEare not ye those that haue power to slay the body onely but rather feare you him which is able to destroy both body and soule euen in the very Hell. Augustinus de verbis Domi. BVT we see all such as loue this present life temporall and which is soone ended so to labour for the same that when the passion of death approcheth them they make all the shift they can that they not be taken away with death and by all meanes seeke to prolong their life If then men doo with suche
labour and such care endeuour thâ—m selues to the ende they would liue a litle longer howe and by what meanes ought they to labour and be carefull for the life euerlasting And yf such men be accompted wyse which trye all maner wayes howe they may deferre death and prolong life for a short time How foolish are those whiche liue so as thereby they lose the life euerlasting surely such may be called most fooles of all other Reuolue in mind the great perplexitee Of sinners seeing them selues in such assay VVhen rheir iust Iudge aboue them they shall see And vnder them Hell to swalowe them as pray All faythfull Christians marke this by the way If sentence geuen for Temporall offence Deserue here a death with losse of goodes alway VVhat to offend the highest shal be the sentence PSALME 118. THey are corrupted and become abominable in their studies it is time Lord to besturre thee they haue dispersed and wrested thy lawe IOB CAP. 5. I Wyll pray vnto the Lord who reproueth the wyse men of this world in their craftinesse and dooth disperse the counsels of the wicked PROVERBES CAP. 2. HE hath forsaken the right way and walketh through the darke places ESAI CAP. 1. THey geue not sentence in fauour of the Orphane and the complaint of the Wydowe hath not come in before them IOB CAP 36. DIssemblers and lukewarme worldlings doo proâ—â—re the wrath of God vpon them PSALME 10. THE mouth of them that speake mischeuous thinges is stopped Let the deceitfull lips be come dumbe and not able to vtter their speache LVKE CAP. 16. THe children of this world are in their generation wyser then the children of light Psalmista de impiis 8. THey are troubled as a drunken man and all their wysedome is vtterly consumed ESAI CAP. 29. FOR wysedome shall depart and perishe from the wyse of this world that is to say from such as are reputed wyse men and their vnderstanding shall be darkened because it is said IEREMI CAP. 4. THey are wyse enough to woorke wickednesse but to doo well they haue none vnderstanding BERNARDVS SVrely thou hast found out wisdome aright yf thou canst esteeme of all things as they be namely of sinne and vices as thinges that are vyle and altogeather to be shunned Of â—emporall thinges as that whiche is fraile and transitory and therfore to be smaly made accompt of but of eternall thinges as that which is best and therefore aboue all others câ—eefely and specially to be desired and imbraced Of worldly witte see the furious raige How it is dased in wylfull darckenesse VVhere spirituall wysedome graue godly and saige Should rest in those that Christe doo professe Some yet there are which practize nought lesse But subtilty the simple to circumuent As wyly VVoolues their deedes them expresse VVhich dayly deuoureth the Lambes innocent SOPHONI CAP. 1. THey shall walke as the blind in darknes because they haue sinned against the lord ESAI CAP. 49. THus sayth the Lorde In an acceptable time haue I heard thee and in the day of health haue I helped thee 2. CORINTH CAP. 6. WE exhort you brethrâ—n that you receaue not the grace of God in vaine for he saith Behold the acceptable time Behold now the day of your sauing health APOCAL. CAP. â—0 ANd he swore by the God that liueth for euer because there shal not be any longer time ECCLESIASTI CAP. 39. FOR all things shal be sought for in their time DEVTERONO CAP. 32. de impiis IT is a nation wanting the counsell voyde of the wysedome of the highest Would to God they would once be wyse and geather vnderstanding and that they would prouide for the later dayes c. PSALME 2. HEare this al ye nacions marke and geue eare heare this you that inhabite the world SOPHONI CAP. 1. THe great day of the Lord is at hand it is very neare and too too swiftly comming vpon vs ye heare tell that the day of the Lorde shal be bitter â—hen shall the strong man be troubled That day shal be the day of wrath the day of tribulation and of sorowe the day of calamitie and of trouble the day of the Trumpe and the sound of the Trumpe vpon the strong defended cities and vppon the angels on an hie and I wyll vexe all flesh and they shall walke as the blinde doo because they haue sinned against the Lord. Sequitur BVt their siluer and their gold shall not deliuer them in the day of the wrath of the lord All the earth shal be consumed with the fyre of his indignation HIERONIMVS super Mattheum SO oft as I consider vppon the day of the Lordes iudgement I quake for feare in euery part of my body and whether I eate or drinke or what thing so euer els I doo mee thinkes I heare the fearefull Trumpe alwayes sounding in myne eares Aryse vp you dead and come to iudgement c. Such worldly wyse make no prouision For their soules health that euer shall endure But runne headlong into the pit of perdition VVoorking their wylles at all aduenture But such as feare God in euery condition VVith spirituall wysedome furnished are Liuing in feare and harty contrition Agaynst the last day them selues to prepare PSALME 47. THOV shalt renue the face of the earth when the sinners shall perishe thou shalt see it MATTH CAP. 25. THese shall depart into the perpetuall torment ESAI CAP. 3. THE light of the Moone shal shine foorth as the Sun doth and the Sun shall geue foorth his beames as the light of seuen dayes together euen vpon that day when the Lord shall binde vp the woundes of his people and shal heale vp the scarre of the stripe and behold the name of the Lord commeth from a farre whott shal be his wrath and indignation and greeuous to be susteyned ECCLESIASTI CAP. 43. THE Heauens shall shewe foorth their beauty in the day when the glory of the sonne of man shal be seene APOCALIPS CAP. 14. NOwe in deede is the time when the spirite shall say Let all flesh rest from their labours PETER CAP. 2. cathol THE Lorde knoweth best times when to take away and deliuer the godly from the temptations of this world and to keepe the wicked ones to be tormented at the day of iudgement PROVERBES CAP. 16. THe iudgementes of the Lorde are as the ballance and the weightes PSALM 55. FEare anâ— trembling haue come vpon me and the darke places haue enuironed me round about AVGVSTINVS FALL to repentance whyles thou art iâ— health and yf thou shalt so doo I say vnto thee that thou shalt be safe because thou hast repented thee whyles otherwyse thou mightest haue trespassed for yf thou wylt in time repent thee when thou shalt not haue power to sinne sinne shall forsake thee before thou forsake them Soone after sentence of generall iudgement The heauens shall royally be renouate Then shall the wicked to Sathan be sent To make abode with him for euer exterminate Then
hart and yet most hygh maiestie and oh most highest and last ioy of humane kind oh reproche of men and glory of angels no man more noble and yet none more despised Who coulde refraine from teares to heare such wicked handling RABANVS TO conâ—inue in sinne dooth increase wickednesse PSALME 41. ONE depth calleth vpon an other GREGORIVS THe sinne that is not extinguished by earnest and true repentance straightway with the efficacie thereof dooth 〈…〉 more sinne MATTH CAP. 2â— PEter remembred and thought vppon the woordes of Christe CHRISOSTOMVS NOthing so muche healeth the sore of sinne as when we continually think vppon the Lord in our mindes MATTH CAP. 26. HE went out and wept bitterly c. Freendles among his foes in feoble plight He suffered of them this greeuous tribulation They fyled his face with spitting in despite And blinded his eyes in scornefull derision His pacience yet surpassing all imagination Peter then fledde wherefore thou sinner Cleaue to Christe in fayth by harty reformacion Forsake not thy Sauiour that held thee so inteare PSALME 108. WHAT shall I render agayne vnto the Lord for all that he hath bestowed vppon me PSALME 35. THEY haue rewarded me euyll thinges for good HIERONIMVS IVdas sinned more in that he dispayred then in that he betrayed Christe Couetousnesse is the snare of the deuill by meanes whereof he hanâ—eth vp all couetous persons MATTH CAP. 27. THey brought him foorth with his handes bound behind him and deliuered him vnto Poncius Pilate the cheefe Iudge HIERONIMVS I Haue seene howe paynefull the priestes haue been about mischeefe they haue watched all the nyght long because they woulde spill the blood of the innocent MATTH CAP. 27. WHich of these two wyll you that I let loose vnto you Barabbas or Iesus which is called Christe LVKE CAP. 23. AND all the whole company cryed out togeather Take this man and let Barabbas goe at libertie BERNARDVS OH fury of mad men oh blindnesse of the Iewes what more peeuishly coulde they haue done then to slay him who hath raysed vp the dead from their graues and to let goe a theefe whiche after his libertie might doo more mischeefe BEDA THE Iewes earnest request remayneth vntyll this day a memoriâ—ll when they lost the kyngdome of Heauen because they had leuer haue a sedicious Prince to gouerne them that is to say the Deuil then the Lord GOD. Christe was accused in presence of Pilate The Iewes they cryed him to crucify A theefe was dismissed O change infortunate And the Sonne of God scourged most cruelly Oh Heauenly flowre of our humanity Thy feature faded thy vnspotted flesh wext pale VVhen plonged thou wast in such perplexity Both the Earth and Heauens dyd rent theyr vale PSALME 99. BEcause I am prepared for the scourge ANCELMVS THE most louely young man elegant and gracious of more excellent feature in respect of the sonnes of men was bound to a piâ—ler and scourged with the greeuous and sorowfull whippe of most vyle persons That tender fleshe of his most vndefiled and fayrest flowre of all fleshe and of all humane kinde most innocently was greeuously scourged wounded and torne in peeces of them ANCELMVS IT is smal to purpose that the Iewes with their misâ—heeuous handes so crucified thee but that thy soule before was replenisht and with gohstly consolations illuminate O elect childe of GOD what hast thou trespassed which deserued such bitternes and confusion Doubtlesse nothing at all I silly soule that I am haue been the cause of all thy affliction and persecution AVGVSTINVS IF he went not from hence without the scourge who came into the world without sinne Howe doo they deserue to be scourged which haue offended euen tyll this day Idem FRom the soule of his foote euen vp to the crowne of his head was there not remaynyng one free spot â–ª APOCAL. CAP. 1. HE washed vs from our sinnes by the sheddyng of his blood MATTH CAP. 27. AND they makyng a crowne of thorne put it vppon his head and gaue him a Reede in his right hand and bowyng theyr knees before him laughed him to scorne saying HAYLE KING OF THE IEVVES As Christe shrincked not his pâ—tecious blood to shed No part of his body without greeuous plight From the sole of his foote to the crowne of his head Neyther yet refused any scornefull despite Oh man so remember what so euer crosse Or trouble for the tryall of thy true fayth Happen thee of temporall thinges suffering losse In Christes name neuer shunne thou to death BERNARDVS HEare hath our Sauiour powred foorth vpon vs the abundance of all charity and plenitude of all his godlinesse And here agayne hath he powred foorth the heauy indignation of his inspeakeable wrath LVKE CAP. 22. SAyde the Theefe Lord rememmber me when thou shalt come into thy Kingdome Iesus said vnto him Verely I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in paradyse GREGORIVS O What a fayth and what a perfect conuersion or turnyng to the Lorde had this Theefe he had nothing left him at his owne libertie but his hart and his tongue whereby he declared his inward râ—pentance and being inspired with this good motion towards God obteyned no doubt all that he found in his owne free desyre remayning BERNARDVS OH most godly Iesus what haue we trespassed vnto thee and thy death and thou hast not mourned for it what haue we ben indebted vnto thee and thou hast not thy selfe paid it Thy loue and our iniquitie hath so made thee lowly and weake for our sakes MATTH CAP. 27. THey ledde him fâ—orth to crucifie him Idem IF any man wyll come after me let him take vp his crosse and folowe me AVGVSTINVS THE Crosse of the Lorde is not onely meant that which was of wood wherevppon he was crucified but also the Crosse of Christe is called that whiche in all the tyme of our life is made equall with vertues suffering all maner corrections LVKE CAP. 23. FAther forgeue them for they knowe not what they doo BERNARDVS THE Iewes cryed Crucifie him And Christe cryed Forgeue them Lord how great is the multitude of thy sweetenesse Oh Lord howe shalt thou drinke of them in the flood of thy pleasure whiche delight in thee and desyre thee which powrest out so abundantly the oyle of thy mercy to â—utch as hate thee AVGVSTINVS BEhold the abundance of charity and wonderfull pacience in our Sauiour He commaundes vs to pray for our enimies and seeketh no reuenge why then should that little creature the Ante the Moth of the earth and woorme that is to say the hart of man seeke reuengement and deferre of to forgeue Vpon his head they put a crowne of thorne For Dyadem A Crosse he bore of tree As kyng of Iewes they saluted him in scorne And twyxt two Theeues deputed him to dye Thus through his loue and our iniquity He suffered thou sinnedst O man most freeuolous Beare this in mind and degrade not thy degree Though thou be
wretched thy price is precious MATTH CAP. 27. ABout the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voyce saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken me AVGVSTINVS SVrely these were the woordes signifiyng what a carefull and troubled spirite he had for vs which are beset with troubles and in them expresseth a certaine tendernesse of bitter passion and sorowe proceeding out of his so deepe sithes entire lamentation and bitter plaint whiche might suffice to molefie vnto compunction and remorse a very iron brest might cleaue in sunder a stony stomacke might humble and bowe the hart of wood towardes loue and finally moysten a very brasen hart towards contemplacion in this case Neyther let man marueyle yf he doo suffer tribulations because he is so comforted in Christe his head and cheefe captaine MATTHE 27. AND when he had cryed agayne with a loud voyce he gaue vp the gohst IOHN CAP. 29. AND bowing the head he gaue vp the gohst AVGVSTINVS THE Sauiour of the worlde bowed his head at his death that he might kisse his welbeloued Mother and the Disciples then and there present And wee doo so oftentimes kisse him as we are compunct and throughly stirred vp to the hartifull remembraunce of his death ANCELMVS· THE Heauens stoode astonished at his death the Earth was amazed What dooest thou then oh Man Neither is it a thing to be marueyled at yf the shinyng Sunne became perplexed that thou shouldest be also perplexed yf els the Earth became sadde and pensiue so thou shouldest likewyse be sadde and pensiue yf the Stones were rent in sender that thy hart be rent in sonder yf those that stoode by the Crosse dyd weepe thou shouldest weepe as well as they HIERONIMVS BEhold when Christe dyed euery creature had compassion vpon him but man alone hath not had any compassion at al vpon him for whom in deede Christe dyed His spirite commending to his fathers cure â–ª VVhen that he cryed consummatum est Both Heauen and Earth and liueles creature On him compassion tooke from most to least O wretched man why art not thou then prest For loue of thy Redeemer sweete Iesus To plant compassion in the faythfull brest Suffering for him all harmes iniurious IOHN CAP. 19. AND they tooke the body of Iesus and wrapped it in linnen clothes and spiced it with Balme and sweete odours BERNARDVS MAry the mother of Christe was the example of sorowe and compassion vnto all those that loue Christe HVGO de passione Christi BEhold oh man what I suffer for thy sake see the paynes and troubles that I endure for thee see the nayles wherevnto I am fastened and whyle I endure for thee such outward sorowe yet notwithstandyng my inward gronyng is more greeuous whyle I trye thee and finde thee an vnthankful freend vnto me HEBREOS CAP. 6. CRucifiyng agayne vnto them selues the sonne of God. Glosa Auctoris THey crucifie Christe and are found reprochefull vnto him which contemnyng his grace doo sleepe in their sinnes Bernardus in persona anime deuote I Knewe not sayth he that Christe so loued me I ought not to be therefore reprochefull vnto my self which so manifestly see that God was crucified and suffered death for me which haue been so acceptable vnto him that he chose rather to dye for me least that I should otherwyse perishe Idem OH precious Soule not with gold nor siluer redeemed but with the blood of the lambe of God why wylt thou cast thy selfe so into perdition seeing Christe for thee shed his precious blood haue remorse ouer thyne owne soule seeking to please God. Regard oh man this wofull disceuerance Behold Mary behold her sonne Iesu If ruthe haue roome in thy remembrance VVith piteous hart his passion to pursew Through which thou mayst thyne innocencie renew O electe vessell knowe thy felicitie Of thy misrule thincke time it were to rew Confound not thy selfe through thyne iniquitie BERNARDVS COuld not GOD repare his pretended woorke of grace in Man any other way but by this so great danger of his owne lyfe Yes truely he might otherwyse haue remedied this matter but he had rather woorke this meanes though it were to the preiudice of his owne person because he woulde not finde any further hatefull vice of ingratitude in man but that he would make man a debter vnto him of manifolde loue that he ought vnto his Sauiour and hereby shoulde encourage him to be thankfull vnto him whom the felicitie of his creation had made lesse gratefull when as this our Creator for our sakes but spake the woord and al things was done he commaunded it should be and they were created ANCELMVS THerefore God was able being a man also to satisfie for man but yet he was not bound to any man so to doo But man was and is bounden to satisfye the wyll of God and coulde not nor can not therefore it was needefull that God should be a man that is to say because in that he was Christ he was able to satisfye as God and was not bounden as man. GREGORIVS HE that made vs of nothing yea yf it had pleased him coulde haue redeemed vs without his death or passion Augustinus de ciuitate dei THere could not haue been any more fitter meanes wrought to heale our miserie then that Christe should dye for vs. And though that God by power Omnipotent Might vs redeemd without such difficultie There was no way more iust nor congruent Then for to take on him our humanitie Restoryng vs thereby to higher dignitie Man was in thrall and could him not acquite To make amends of power deuoyde was he But God him freed by fauour infinite BERNARDVS WHen I shall â—eepely excogitate whatsoeuer I am of my selfe whatsoeuer I can doo of my self is it not thincke I with my selfe in respect as a Starre to be compared to the Sunne a sparcke of fyre to the heate of a whole furnace a droppe of watâ—r in comparison of a flood a litle stone in respect of a hill a grayne of Corne to a whole heape and a handfull to all the worlde Therefore Lord I haue but two small powers in me nay they are very litle that I haue that is to say the one my body the other my soule or rather I haue but one onely litle power that is to say my good hart and wyllyng mind whiche thou hast made and geuen me And shall I not bestowe it in recompence of thy good wyll who being such a one as thou art hast bestowed so much for me and hath as it were preuented me at once with so great benefites who hath in thy selfe comprised me wholy or otherwyse yf I shall retayne these to my selfe and not bestowe them of thee with what countenance with what eyes and with what mind or conscience doo I goe vnto the bowels of the mercie of my God and I do see that same most strong safegard or defence of myne is altogeather gored whereby Israel is kept and that his blood
not as droppes but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body hath been shedde for the price of my redemption c. Trenorum primo O All you that passe by the way marke well and see yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe BERNARDVS BEhold oh man with the eye of thy mind in what duetifull debt of recompence thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee It shall behoue vs to consider well That this was done for our saluation Our vnthankfulnesse let vs then expell And gratefull be for our redemption VVhich to frequent in harty deuotion Aboue all thinges our mind for to remord As mighty medicine and fruitefull confection Doth linck one loue with Christ our soueraigne lord BERNARD Snpee illud canticorum Fasciculus Mirrhe O Howe shewed he mercy more then he ought to haue done howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs what admirable sweetenesse what inuincible mildnesse and humilitie in that he being the king of glory should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies for the most vylest person of the world to suffer death ANCELMVS THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast as shal make the same most healthfull and strong Idem AWake thou oh my soule and more diligently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man as one borne before the time and so conceaued as though no man regarded him and as one in the sight of the world vnwoorthy deformed and leprous Trenorum primo HEare me I beseeche you all you people and behold my sorowe and anguishe 1. GALATHI CAP. 6. GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I am crucifyed vnto the world BERNARDVS HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord is wounded for thy sake and is content to suffer langwors and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde is made strange vnto the world for thy loue is strong as death and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell VVherefore sweete Iesu our loue and soueraine Lord Treasure of treasures which may vs most auayle VVith ruthfull repentance nowe wee record Our great vnthanke and blindnesse bestiall Of pitie praying thy power imperiall To multiply thy mercy so vpon vs That of thy merites with cares inspeciall Thankfull to thee wee may be studious BERNARDVS WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body And vouchsafe thou oh Lorde to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie and print therein the woundes of thy body that after the course of this lyfe I may freely commende into thy handes my soule as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde AVGVSTINVS I Beseeche thee good Lorde so pearce and wounde this my soule with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll shee being chastized may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night Bernardus super verbo Pater ignoscie VOuchsafe oh Lord and heauenly father to looke downe from out of thy Sanctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse Idem REmember nowe oh Man and although thou knowest thy self to be created of nothing yet notwithstandyng thou hast to acknowledge that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing The Creator Redeemer and Sauiour in sixe dayes made all thinges and thre amongst all thinges but in thirtie yeere space that is to say In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake Ponishe not thy people Lord God in thy greeuance Thincke why thy sonne Christe suffered his passion The crowne of thorne the crosse and Longeus launce Vouchsafe accept our harty gratulation Rewyng vpon our sinfull conuersation Plant in our hartes such reuerent regard Towardes thy good graces by due consideration In suffring for thy sake may thinke nothing to hard ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for FRYDAY ¶ THE AVCTORS Commemoration for SATVRSDAY Here thinke to eschew the hellishe payn For such as in vyle sinne remayne The Translators Application The same good God now bids the Earth of creatures in eche kinde To yeeld increase as Cattell VVoorme and Beastes by him assnde Man then after his image made him rule he gaue and sway Creating woman a comfort to him with mutuall stay Amids these pleasures mortall man Shun hellysh paynes all that thou can IOHM CAP. 1. ALL thinges are by him made and without him is nothing made 1. IOHN CAP. 3. HEareby knowe wee the loue of God towardes vs because he hath geuen his life for vs. IOHN CAP. 13. NO man hath greater loue in him then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes BERNARDVS OF trueth sweete Iesus thou hast hadde greater loue whiche hast geuen thy lyfe euen for thy persecuting enemies 1. CORINTH CAP. 6. FOR you are bought with a great price TITVS CAP. 3. NOT according to the woorkes of righteousnesse which we haue done but accordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs. APOCALIPS CAP. 11. THY wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes as to thy holy ones to those that feare thy name small and great and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land PSALM 104. THOV haste made all thinges in wysedome PSALME 7. GOD is a iust Iudge strong and pacient MATTH CAP. 15. DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels Sequitur AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pounishment IOB CAP. 7. WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel shall not ascende vnto the heauens AVCTOR Herevpon a certayn Gentile hath this sentence If I had a hundred tongues and as many mouthes and a voyce as strong as Iron I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes and for the pounishmentes thervnto due they are so many that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence then to resite them at full DEVTERONO CAP. 32. I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades that is to lay all kindes of tormentes and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them ECCLESIASTI CAP. 29. FYre Tempest Famine and Death all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly PSALME 11. IT raigneth snares vppon sinners
Fyre Brimstone and Tempest Aucthour FOr as the droppes of rayne are innumerable so are the pounishmentes due vnto the wicked After the sentence of finall damnation Then Lucifer with all the hellish feendes fell And with them sinners without redemption All on a heape shall headlong haste to hell VVhere in deadly dolour their dome is to dwell VVhose perillous paynes no speache can expreme In heate and colde yea and in cares cruell So shall they exceede surpassing extreme VINCENTIVS EVen as the eye of man hath not seene his care hath not heard neyther hath it ascended into the hart of man what God hath prepared for them that loue him So vndoubtedly ought we acknowledge that mans eye hath neuer seene neyther hath the eare of any trauayler heard neither hath it ascended into the hart of man how many euils there are which God hath prepared for them whiche trespasse against his deuine Maiestie Idem Vincencius ACcordyng to the saying of naturall reason Euen as the kyng hath a fayre Hall for his freendes a Kitchin and Stable for his seruauntes and Cattle and a place of pounishment for guyltye persons So God the kyng of kynges hath prepared Heauen for his freendes and the elect the world for time seruers and transgressors and hell it selfe for those that are dampned SAPIENCE CAP. 5. THEY shall stand in great constancie against those whiche haue molested them and whiche haue defrauded them of their labours They seeing this shal be troubled with horrible feare shall marueile at them in the suddennes of an vnhoped for health thus saying amongst them selues repenting when it is to late and mournyng for very anguish of soule saying These are they whom we sometimes despised and disdained to beare rule who being out of our wittes esteemed their life to be madnesse and their ende without honour Behold how they are reckoned amongst the sonnes of God and their lot falleth among the Saintes therefore haue we erred from the way of trueth and the light of righteousnesse hath not shined vnto vs and the sonne of vnderstandyng hath not appeared vnto vs we haue gone astray in the way of iniquitie and perdition and haue walked difficult wayes but the way of the Lorde haue we not knowen In our malignitie are we therefore consumed suche thinges shall they say in hell which haue sinned O hart of man most hard and incensible VVhich hast no dreade of this damnation Blind as brutall beast irracionable VVhy fallest thou thus to finall confusion Hast thou no pitie of thy perdition Be warned in time to eschew Thalmightyes ire Pray and repent thee with true contrition To flee the flame of that infernall fire PSALME 72. SInners shal be conuerted vnto hell that is to say shall feele the tormentes thereof IOB CAP. 23. THE Lorde hath mollefied my hart and the Omnipotent hath layd troubles vpon me PROSPER LET the vexed mind fyrst behold the punishment due for sinne before she doo offend and let her set before her eyes the sorowes in respect of carnall concupiscences which were woont to folowe the sinner at the hard heeles and there shall no sinne delight her neither shal any carnall delectation moue her to offend God. Psalmista de impijs 2. LET vs breake the bondes of them in sunder and cast from vs their yoke Idem LET his sorowe returne vpon his owne head and let his iniquitie lyght vpon his owne pate APOCAL. CAP. 2. HE that hath eares to heare let him heare what the spirite sayth to the congregations MATTH CAP. 22. BInde him hand and foote and cast him into the vttermost darknesse ESAI CAP. 24. THey shal be geathered togeather as in a congregation of one solempne feast and shall be shut in perpetuall prison APOCALIPS CAP. 12. THey shal be tormented night and day for euer and euer Oh howe voyde of perceuerance and blind are the hartes of sinners not considering these things for sinners shall there say What hath our pride profited vs or what hath our boasting in our wealth brought vnto vs They are all vanished as a shadowe and we are consumed in our owne malignitie Hell is a place most vyle and venemus A dongeon darcke for creaturs dampnate Perpetuall prison for feendes furius To whom then sinners shal be associate VVhere payne shall perseuer early and late VVith eye of reason now who this dooth vewe VVould liue in Gods feare and not be ingrate But seeke all good meanes this mischeefe to eschewe August 19. de ciuitate dei ORder is a certayne disposition which distributeth equalitie diuesity vnto euery thing equall or vnequall Ibidem libro 5. GOD hath sett nothing in the world without order therefore he appoynteth a conuenient place for euery thing accordyng to the measure thereof but that which is tedious or burdensome to the body is delectable and embraced in the soule and in reasonable creatures August 11. de ciuitate dei THE body is euen so carried about with tediousnesse as the soule is with delectation HIERONIMVS THere is nothing hard for them that loue there is no hard or difficult matter in loue Let vs then loue Christ and euery thing shal seeme easy vnto vs which otherwyze is hard to be atcheeued GREGORIVS THere is nothing more precious vnto God then the vertue of loue and nothing more desirous vnto the deuil then the extinguishing of loue OALATH CAP. 6. HE that soweth in the flesh shall reape the corruption of the fleshe ROMANS CAP. 8. FOR they that liue after the flesh doo sauour of those things which are of the flesh that is to say they esteeme carnall things to be better then spirituall thinges All Saintes are enthronized in the Heauens hye Because of their deuine harty affection To heauē more then earth doth soule more thē body As their cheefe comfort and consolation And as accordeth with their good condicion Because they vsed such deuine temperance VVith Palme of victorie they triumph in renoune VVith God and his angels in perpetuall plesance Sanctus Bonauentura AS the mercie of God beareth her selfe towardes good and bad so dooth his iustice likewyse beare her selfe towardes the reprobate and vngodly Therefore as they are the chosen chyldren of heauenly heritage whiche in their loue haue preferred heauenly things before earthly thinges so are the reprobate deputed for hell because they haue preferred earthly thinges before heauenly thinges and thinges carnall before thinges spirituall August 13. lib. confes MY loue is my labour therewith am I carried whether so euer I am carried GREGORIVS in moribus THat same burnyng flame reuengeable hath with it a certayne fierie consuming of vices but hath no light at all there the fire casteth no light to comfort the tormented foules and yet notwithstandyng it geueth light to an other purpose to the end it might more and more torment the dampned soules for the followers thereof are plainely to be perceaued therewith seene in the torment by meanes of whose affection they haue trespassed IEREMI CAP.
9. YOV shall serue strange goddes whiche shall not suffer you to take any rest nyght nor day SAPIENCE CAP 4. AND there shal be after these thinges seene those that shall slide away without â—onor and liue in reproches amongst the â—ead for euer and they shal be laid waste euen â—â—to the very last man. GREGORIVS in moribus THE pounishment is by the ordinance of God distinguished according to the meaâ—â—re of the fault committed â—el is a hole of horrible darknes VVhere light is languorus and nothing delectable â—Vhich sorowfull sight causeth cares to increase From feendish figures foule and terrible â—Vhose tragedie to tell no tongue may be able So restles is the rage thereof most vnquiet â—Vith al mischiefe abounding wretched miserable â–ª In soule and body theyr paynes are so complete ECCLESIASTI CAP. 13. THERE is most wicked pouertie in the mouth of the vngodly IOB CAP. 2. HE shall cast vp agayne the wealth and ritches that he hath swalowed vp and deuoured PSALME 99. THey shall leaue their ritches for strangers to posses APOCALIPS CAP. 18. WIthin one houre are they bereaued of such substance PROVERBES CAP. 11. THeir ritches shall not auayle the wicked in the day of vengeance he that trusteth in them shall haue a fall IOB CAP. 2. ALL sorowe violently russheth in there vpon him SENECA THere is no other man more acceptable vnto GOD then he that contempneth worldly ritches BOECIVS de consolatum OH foolish blessednesse happening vnto man by brittle wealth which when hee hath gotten hee then becommeth secure and careles therein IOB CAP. 2. AND there shall a fire consume them which shall not cast any light Isidorus de summo bono THE fyre of hell shall both geue light vnto the augmentation of the payne for the wretched soules to the end they may see that shal be to their sorowe and also shall not geue light to their comfort because they shall not see that may be to ther ioy ESAI CAP. 9. THE people shal be as the foode of fyre Gregorios in Dialogo THE wicked haue death in hell that shall neuer dye want without want ende without end because death there is immortall penurie neuer fayling and the ende of their paines infinite PSALME 28. EVilles haue compassed me rounde about whereof I am not able to resite the number In hell of flaming fyre is horrible heate VVhich fire without fayle or distance shall endure Greeuously tormenting with furie to freate Both body and soule in payne passing measure O liuing death euerlasting in languor O deadly lyfe of endles mortalitie Sowssed in sadnes and sorowe euermore Should not man than restraine from all peruersitie DEVTERONO CAP. 28. GOD shall strike thee with neede or penurie sicknesse and colde with heate and drought with corrupt ayre and with rust of the earth ESAI CAP. 33. WHich of you shal be able to dwell where the deuouring fyre hath his force PSALME 94. BVT yet shalt thou consider before thyne eyes and shalt see the reward that shal be geuen sinners I wyll remember and beare in mind these thinges and my spirite waxeth faint therefore ECCLESIAST CAP. 1. MY sonne remember thy ende and thou shalt not sinne for euer PSALME 90. BEcause a thousand yeeres are before thine eyes as yesterday which is passed IEREMI CAP. 17. THou shalt be cast out also from the heritage that I gaue thee and I wyll subdue thee vnder the heauie bondage of thyne enemies in a land that ye know not for ye haue ministred fyre to myne indignation which shall burne euermore PROSPERVS IN this present life temporall pleasures are counted sweete and troubles are coumpted bitter but who is he that despiseth not the voluptuousnesse of this worlde thirsting or longing after the felicitie of the life euerlasting or who would not willingly drinke the cup of tribulation for Christe in this world fearing the euerduring torment of the fyre in hell Robertus in quali IF it be a tedious thing for the healthfull man to lye waltering in his bed all day and all night long and in the softnesse thereof to wallowe him selfe at wyll so vnto a young dissolute person it happeneth likewyse a thing ircksome to keepe company long tyme with fayre Women These and suche other like which were woont to be doone for sport and pleasure doo with continuall vse thereof bring lothsomenes Alacke therefore why do such sinners slumber in sinne why rather doo they not awake and why doo they not consider before that horrible tormentes in hell are prepared for them which shall endure a thousand thousand yeres after yea for euerlasting Man in thy mind make a resemblance Of furious fyre and paynes infernall VVhich are enduring without distance Forget not the tormentes thereof eternall But deepely print them in thy memoriall So shalt thou eschewe all snares of sinne And inconuenience by vice preiudiciall VVhich is more greeuous then man may esteeme HIERONIMVS ad Palma AND thincke we then brethren that the power of God haue foreshewed vs these thinges in sport or that the Apostlâ—s haue told vs of these things in a laughing mâ—ode that the iudgâ—ment of the deuine Maiestie is newly begun and determined without discretion But these are no sporting plaies when paynes doo passe herevpon yf they haue suffered pounishment in midst of their ioy they are yet notwithstandyng beleeued of vs to haue spoken these thinges but in iest and not in earnest ESAIAS SAra was sawen in peeces Danyel was throwen amongst the Lyons Paul was beheaded with the swoord Peter was hanged vppon the Crosse after the same manner that Christe was and all this tendeth to that ende that with their doctrine and good lyfe they might reuoke and withdrawe vs from our sinnes AVCTOR WHerefore sayth the sayde Robart Oh wicked oh peruerse oh deceitfull and oh deuelishe cogitation of them which doo esteeme and suppose that there is no hel at all Oh thou hard and stony molded soule oh thou bewitched oh thou vicious soule what dooest thou or whyther wandrest thou why dooest thou make such haste to hell wardes wheras thou shalt liue most miserable for euer Nowe therfore returne thou vnto the Lord thy God which shal deliuer thee â–ª and graunt thee both grace and glory in Heauen Thincke wee the Prophetes spent their time in sport Or the Apostles shewing infernall payne The people from their sinnes for to exhort Theit wayghty woords we should not take in vaine VVhich were content of tyrantes to be slaine To obteyne Heauen and hellish payne eschewe Their fayth in Christe so firme was and certayne By their examples let vs our life renewe ISIDORVS POâ—der well in thy mind what so euer sorowes or vexations of torments are ordeyned for sinners what so euer pounishmentes of this world or els whatsoeuer bitter gripes of sorowes assayle thee yf thou comparest such like altogeather vnto the state of hell all that thou sufferest shall seeme light and easie vnto thee BERNARDVS FEare to breake the
for a man that shoulde be adorned with reason to liue without reason is and may be wel counted a trespassing life PSALME 49. MAN being in honor hath none vnderstanding but is compared vnto the brute beastâ—s yea vnto the vnwyse and is made like vnto them c. GREGORIVS THE carnall delectation darkeneth and obscureth so that mind which she doth infect that she can not see the clearenesse of the true light but therevpon is more deuilishly delighted so as thencefoorth she suffereth fierie flame euen ascending vpward HIERONIMVS WE all are geuen to be wary in least matters and negligent in greatest thinges Isidorus de summo bono BEcause thou wouldest be such one that no earthly thing delighteth thee at all beleeue me thou shalt see euen at the same moment of time that thing which thou desirest GREGORIVS IF we would consider what and how great benefites these be which are promised vs in the heauens we should thinke in our mindes that all thinges are vyle and base whiche wee enioy vppon earth for the earthy substance being compared vnto the heauenly felicitie is a burden heauy for vs to beare and not a treasure to enioy The temporall lyfe being compared vnto the life eternall is rather to be called death then lyfe for that same dayly diseaze of corrupt nature what other thing els is it then a certaine proloxitie or circumstaunce of death IOHN CAP. 6 THere shall no man take away your ioy from you BERNARDVS OH thou house of God the Citie of the great kyng what woonderful ioyes are there in thee howe much and what great gladnesse how blessed are thy inhabitantes VVhen men to things temporall doo beare affection They least esteeme of euerduring blisse VVherevpon in nature ryseth such corruption That oft who on earth most prosperous is Of the heauenly beautitude most of all mis Their carnall lust a bondage dooth become To them selues who then would consider of this For transitorie pleasure should eternall paines shone PSALME 101. I Wyll sing of mercy and trueth vnto thee oh Lord. PSALME â—8 FOR what is there for me in heauen and what would I haue of thee vpon earth I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in all my ritches my hart hath refused to be comforted in worldly thinges Sequitur I Haue been mindfull of my God and I am comforted PSALME 76. THY consolacious oh Lorde haue made my soule glad BERNARDVS FOR vnto the image and similitude oâ— God is euâ—ry reasonable soule made It may be better exercised then all other creatures but in very deede it can not be satisfyed at all PSALME 34. I Shall be satisfyed when thy glory shall appeare AVGVSTINVS THE soule that is entrenched with the flowres of vertues and with the deawe of heauenly grace is called the Paradise of the Lorde GREGORIVS THE vâ—permost trenche possesseth the soule when she is afflitted with the desire of the heauenly kingdome euen with salte teares but the neathermost trenche doth she enioy when she throughly feareth by her sorowe and teares the tormentes of the pitt of hell Secundus Bonauentura FOR our naturall bodyes are compaâ—t of foure Elementes wherevpon with foure fould qualities shall they be remunerate for the Earthy Elament shal be turned to eternall immortalitie the Watry Elament into al maner of vnabilitie in suffering the Ayrie Elament into a speciall agillity or swiftnes and the Fyry Elament into most bright clearenes And then shall these shine as the Sunne and as the sparckes out of a flaming Furnace shall they disperse them selues abrode because the Lorde shall wipe away all sorowe from their eyes AVGVSTINE WHere so euer the spirite desireth to be then there altogeather shall the body be also c. VVe shall in the heauens of God haue inspection In soule and body endowred with dignity Yea and in this bodyly shape shall we haue cognition Eche one of other before Gods great maiesty VVhen as thus glorified in soule and eke in body Such ioyes shall we taste and endles consolation That in the midst our sauiour triumphing with victory VVe shall shine seuen times more dearer then the son VINCENCIVS AND there is a fruition of blisse whiche shall endure for euer and that in diuers maner not vpon the behalfe of euery perticuler soule which shall enioy the same but on the behalfe of such as shal posses them soules for the blesâ—ed and elect of God howe muche the more perfectly they are enobled with the light of glory and by the same ilâ—ustration or noblenesse the more conformable made So muche the more sharpe contemplacion haue they of the deuine essence and in the same contemplacion the more are they delighted 1. CORINTH CAP. 15. THere is one light of the Sunne an other light of the Moone and an other lyght of the Starres but euery Starre differeth in hrightnesse eche from other and so shall the resurrection of the dead differ one soule from an other AVGVSTINVS NO inferior shall enuie his superior euen as now no other angel inferior doo not enuie their superior in heauen for some one shall haue a larger gift of blessing and some other a lesse So as notwithstanding what so euer gyft eyther of them haue in the blisfull state of heauenly ioy he shall hold him selfe content therewith and shal not at any tyme wyshe or desyre for more c. GREGORIVS LEt therfore the greatnes of the rewards â–ª layd vp for thee in heauen encourage tâ—y â—oule but let not the force of the conflict in Christes fayth terrifie thee for no one man shal be câ—owned with the gaâ—lâ—nd of victory but he that hath rightfully â—ought it out to the vttermost BERNARDVS THat is y alone true and only ioy which is not conceaued of the Creature but of the Creator whiche when a man possesseth there is no man shal take the same away â—roÌ„ him Whereunto yf we compare all other sweetenesse the same may be coâ—mpted to a mindful pâ—rson al sweetenes a sorrâ—we euery bitâ—er thing sweete euery comely thing filthy and finaâ—ly whatsoeuer other may seeme to delight vs the same in deede is but greeuous and intollerable PAVLVS I Desire to be dissolued and to be with Christe ORIGEN ALL my comforters seeme vnto me â—eâ—ious and burdensome They vexâ— me but comfort me not I seeke for my Creator and it is greefe to me to behold euery Creature PSALME 56. THis is my rest for euer and euer wyll I dwell here because I haue chosen the same Nathles in respect of that eternall glory All worldly ioy is but fond ianglyng And beauty braue is but deformity Sweete thinges are sowre myrth very mournyng Or what so euer other delectable thyng All is reâ—uted but payne in comparison And worldly wealth is very vomentyng In respect of heauenly store of graces many one AVGVSTINVS COnsider wel thou faythful soule what inestimabâ—e honor it shal be for thee to be crowned of the cheefe King of Kinges with his owne handes and to
be adurned with the Dyadem of eternal glory not in the dounghill of this world but in the Pallace of Heauen in the sight of innumerable Angâ—ls and of al the Saincâ—es in your stoole of immortalitie and with splendant royal ornamentes to be inuested Vnde Sapi. CAP. 5. LTT them receaue the kyngdome of honor and the Dyadem of dignity euen at the handes of the Lord. AVGVSTINVS OH thou my soule yf it be so that we must needes suffer tormentes euery day yea to suffer the very horrible hel it selfe a long time so that we might afterwards see Christ our sauiour in his glory and with his saintes euermore accompanied should we not onely suffer all sorrowe and paine to be made partakers of such glory and good graces VINCENCIVS BEloued brethren in the perplexity of this worldly pilgrimage we suffering the sorowes of our exile as it were with want of all goodnes are defiled and suffer the disposing of all incombrances the snares of sinnes laide for vs in euery place fearing the subtel deceiptes of our enimies but not sufficient watchfully or diligently preuenting them as we ought forbearing detrimentes and vexations and not able to shake from vs calamities swelling in vices enclined to vanitie in steade of veritie enduring exile for our countrey taste pouertie in steade of abundance vyle thinges for want of glorious thinges and doo so loue this world with a miserable blindnes or rather foolishe madnes that we are vtterly ignorant of that same glory of the holy ones of God whervnto lyfting the face of our mind and inward man we then behold the ioyes of eternal lyfe that we might some what surely sauour in our hartes the sweetenesse thereof AVGVST OH that I knew what I my selfe am and what thou art oh Lorde Oh yf a man knewe what him selfe were and what GOD were he would suffer a thousand deaths yf it wer c. SAPIENCE CAP. 3. BEholde the perpetuall goodnes of the reward for such as feare God. ECCLESIASTI vltimo BEhold with your eiesâ— forasmuch as I haue laboured a little and I haue found great rest vnto my selfe Let your hart reioyce in his mercie Be dooing what you can before the time and he shall geue you your reward in due time VVhen humane soule her selfe so dooth demene That she loues death and leaues lyfe spirituall Both God she then forgetteth quite and cleane Vertue dispisde she flowes in sinnes sensuall Contemning Christe obayes to Belyall And what her selfe is eke forgetting she For heauenly ioy feeles sorowes infernall For life she tastes death then perpetually Actum Aposto CAP. 5. THE Apostles went from out of sight of the people which gaue counsell because they were coumpted woorthy for the name of Christe or in his behalfe to suffer reproches AVGVSTINVS WE wyll reioyce with the elect of God and we wyll suffer tribulations of the world with them for surely they that would not imitate the holy ones in this manner shoulde not attaine vnto their renowne and glory 1. CORINTH CAP. 3. FOR euery one shall receiue his owne reward according to his labour and trauell but many for the most not meanyng to liue well desire to dye well knowyng how precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his sainctes Is he the God of the Iewes onely is he not also of the Gentiles yes of the Gentiles also CIRHSOSTOMVS IF any man shal thincke the way paynefull to liue wel such a one is the excuser of his owne slouth and negligence for yf Mariners and Seafaring men soppose the raging floods of the Sea to be threatninges of danger vnto them yf the season of Winter be thought a hinderance vnto husbandmen yf woundes and slaughter of Souldyers seeme a thyng tollerable and yf most greeuous stripes and blowes seeme thinges easie to be borne withal of very champions them selues for the hope of temporall thinges and transitory commodities much more when heauen is prepared for a rewarde of the godly we ought not once to thincke any thing of these present calamities neither ought a man to looke that this way is streyt but whyther it bringes a man neyther ought we to seeke for any other beeause it is brode but where the same finisheth LVKE CAP. 9. AND being bidden to the supper they begun euery man to excuse them selues BERNARDVS FOrgeue vs Lorde forgeue vs we excuse our selues we woorke al against the graine so as there is scarce any man whiche wyl be made practized as he may wâ—ll be in those thynges which parteyne vnto thee They all sauour earthly thinges they seeke that which is theirs and not that which is parteinyng vnto Iesus Christe They embrace vices they flee vertues and they waxe vâ—le togeather as the brute beast through filthynesse of their sinnes MICHEA CAP. 7. THe godly man perisheth vpon the earth and there is not any one amongst menne that liueth aright c. Resume thy strength nowe as a knight spirituall Fyght for the heauen winne it with diligence The â—ende the fleshe and vyces mundyall Quite to subuert by deuyne sapience If weake thou be craue God for thy defence Hauing good hope by Gods prouision Through watchfull care and humble pacience VVith tryumph thou shalt win an heauenly crowne AVGVSTINE THere shal be the cheefe securiâ—ie the safe tranquility the tranqiul or safe sweetenes the sweete felicitie the happy eternitie the eternall blessednesse· BERNARDVS OH heauenly Citie thou safe Mâ—nsion place a countrey fully câ—nâ—eyning whâ—â— so euer may be delightful â–ª a people without murmuring quiet inhabitance men hauyng no neede of any thing ORIGEN THE deuine bountie of the most highest shal replenishe all the receptacle of the soule with all goodnesse that is to say the angry and irefull soule with power and dignitie the greedy and couetous soule wiâ—h delightes and the reasonable soule with wysdome that there may therein appeare power without contradictâ—on dignity without comparison PROVERBIORVM CAP. 1. THE feare of the Lorde is the Well of lyfe AVGVSTINE LET the loue of this present Woâ—lde depart from thee wherein no man is so borne that he may not dye and let the loue of the worlde to come take place in thee wherein al men are made liuing so as thence foorth they shall not dye where no aduersitie shall trouble thee and no greeâ—es disquiet thee but whereas euerlastyng ioy and gladnesse raigneth for thy perpetual comfort ESAI CAP. 6. THeâ— sayd I Lorde how lonâ— Hâ— answered vntyl the Cities be vtterly wasted without inhabitantes c. ESAI CAP. 35. THey shall obteyne ioy and gladnesse and sorowe and lamentaâ—ion shall flee from them PSALME 119. OH howe good is the God of Israel vnto such as are true of hart Remember man this solace shal be sure Altogeather voyde of worldly variaunce It shall without dreade or distance ay endure But in this lyfe is no continuance Ritches pouertie lyfe and death are but a traunce VVherefore in this worldly mutable estate Let vs seeke to liue after God his ordinaunce Least of that lasting blis we make our selues frustrate DEVTERONO CAP. 3. MOYSES sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel Consider that this day I haue set before thee in thy sight both lyfe and good and of the contrary part death and euyll Sequitur I Take this day Heauen and Earth to witnesse that I haue set before you lyfe and good blessing and cursing choose you therefore lyfe that you may lyue I marueyle and greatly marueyle that man whiche aboue others is a creature endued with reason dooeth not in any thyng followe the iuâ—gement of reason despiâ—yng wholesome thynges and embrasing daungerous thinges seekyng and desyring deadly and hurtfull thinges OH eternall GOD what is the cause of suche dotyng foudnesse in man what reason is there of such foolishnesse and madnesse Why dooeth he desyre the death of the soule with so wicked a hart c. Nowe Heauens and Earth for witnes in I call How God disposeth for mans direction Perpetuall payne and ioy celestiall Vertue vice health and perdition Put to our choyse by free election VVherefore our hartes and eyes le ts eleuate To God the geuer of all grace deuine Of him to craue that he the fyrme estate Of lastyng blisse would graunt vs all in fine ¶ FINIS Of the Contemplacion for SONDAY Per Authorem Namque huius mundi fallacis gaudia vitae Et quibus exuere se debet omnis homo Sunt miserandâ—a niâ—â—is vexant mortalia corda â–ª Virtutum faciunt quemlibet immemorem Quos igitur Chricti baptisma sacruÌ„ renouauit Librum hunc perlegite qui facit esse sacros Quid Iusto prodest aut quid peccator egebit Si Libet inspicere vos docet istud opus Soli Deo Gloria Here endeth this woorke of Contemplacion fyrst printed in Latine at Westminster the yeere of our Lord God. 1499. and nowe newly englished and printed at London by Hâ—gh Singleton dwelling in Creede Lane at the signe of the gylden Tunne Neare vnto Ludgate Anno. 1578.