Works, Treatise 1

Works · Treatise 1

p. 1A Treatiſe of the Great and Generall Day of Iudgement, neceſſary for eueryevery Chriſtian, that wiſheth good ſucceſſe to his ſoule, at that Great and Terrible day.

MATH. 12. 36.

But I ſay vntounto you, that of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeake, they ſhall giuegive an account thereof at the day of Iudgement.

MAn, in regard of the corruption of his Nature, through the fall of his great Grand-father Adam (who was the foyle of Man-kind, the Parent of ſinne, and the author of death to all his poſterity, for aſmuch as wee were all in …umbi… Adami, in his loines ) as p. 2hee is ſubiect to all ſinnes whatſoeuer, ſo is hee ſpecially addicted to the ſinne of ſecurity and careleſneſſe. Therefore as Adam ſléeping ſecurely in his tranſgreſſion, and hiding himſelfe from the preſence of the Lord, behinde the buſh, had great need of that Watch-bel from God, (to rouze him from the ſleepe of ſinne, and call him againe vntounto God) Adam, vbies? Adam, where art thou? So asGen. 3. 9.Gen 3:9 neceſſary for eueryevery ſinfull Adamite (to raiſe him from the ſleepe of ſinne wherein he was borne) is this notable Memento, this worthy rehearſall of the great and terrible day of Doome: But I ſay vntounto you, &c. Which words of our Sauiour Chriſt ſpoken to the Scribes and Phariſes (who would not beléeue that he wrought theſe miracles, by the powerfull Spirit of God; but ſlanderouſly and contumeliouſlyMat. 12. 24Matt 12:24 told him to his face: that he did caſt out diuels through Beelzebubs name) are as much in effect, as if hee had ſaid on this manner: If account muſt be rendred at the day of Iudgement, p. 3of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeake, then much more of blaſphemous words: But I ſay vntounto you, that of eueryevery idle word, that men ſhall ſpeake, they ſhall giuegive account thereof at the generall day of Iudgement: Ergo: much more of blaſphemous words as yours are, in ſaying that I caſt out diuels through the name of Beelzebub.

So that theſe words of our Sauior are nothing elſe, but a true propoſition and ſound argument drawne, a minore ad mai…s, whereby Chriſt doth proue the greatneſſe of puniſhment that ſhould befall the blaſphemous Phariſes, in regard of the greatneſſe of their ſinne.

In which portion of Scripture, foure things neceſſarily muſt be conſidered.

1. The perſons that muſt giuegive an account: who they be.

2. Of what things theſe perſons muſt giuegive an account.

3. To whom this account muſt be giuen.

p. 44. When this account muſt bée giuen.

1 The perſons that muſt giuegive anThe firſt part. account, they are expreſſed in this text in generall, to be men: That men ſhall ſpeake. Men, yea all men muſt giuegive an account, as wee may read in the Epiſtle of S. Paul to the Corinthians▪ We muſt all appeare before the Tribunall …. Cor. 5. 10.ſeat of Chriſt, that eueryevery man may receiue according to his workes. All men, none excepted, of eueryevery age, of eueryevery ſexe, and of eueryevery Nation, rich and poore, Princes & common people, noble, and ignoble, all that hauehave béene from the beginning of the world, and ſhall be to the end of the ſame, ſhall appeare before Chriſtes Iudgement ſeate, and giuegive an account eueryevery one for himſelfe to God: For, It is appointed Heb. 9. 27.Heb 9:27vntounto men once to dye, and after that commeth Iudgement. As it is therefore moſt ſure that all men muſt dye, ſo is it as ſure that all men muſt come to Iudgement.

This is the ſeuenth article of ourArticle 7. faith to beléeue: that Chriſt ſhall come from heauen to iudge the quicke and p. 5the dead: by the dead, all thoſe are to be vnderſtood, that ſhall be found dead at the ſecond comming of Chriſt; by the quicke, all thoſe are to bee vnderſtood, that ſhall be found liuing at his ſecond comming. Auguſtine in hisAuguſtine. Enchiridion to Laurentius, Chap. 55 ſaith; that, this Article may bee expounded two wayes: either by the dean (ſaith hee) may bee meant thoſe that ſhall bee found corporally dead: and by the quicke, thoſe that ſhall bee found corporally liuing at Chriſts comming: or (ſaith he) by the dead may be meant, thoſe that be dead in ſinne. According to that in the Goſpell of S. Mathew: Let the dead bury their dead. Mat. 8. 22.Matt 8:22And by the quicke, thoſe that be dead to ſinne, and liuing to faith; according to that of the Prophet Abac…k: Hab. … ▪ 4.The Iuſt ſhall liue by faith. But this expoſition is not agreeable to the ſimplicitie of the Creede. Yet notwithſtanding true it is, that both the godly and the wicked ſhall come to iudgement: for by the power of Chriſt, all men ſhall bee raiſed vp: The holy Angels p. 6with the great ſound of a trumpet … 24. 31ſhall bee ſent forth into all the world, and they ſhall gather together the Elect, from the foure quarters of the earth, from one end of the heauen to the other. Then ſhall Chriſt ſeparate theMat. 13. 4…Matt 13:4 Elect from the Reprobates, the Wheat from the Tares, the Corne from the Chaſte the Lambs from the Goats, the Iuſt from the Vniuſt.

So that you ſee, that the godly and the wicked, yea all men whatſoeuer, ſhall appeare before Chriſts tribunall … and giuegive an account of themſelues, and for themſelues, to the terrible Iudge.

Obiect. Ob. Some, notwithſtanding, may obiect againſt this doctrine deliuered, and ſay as it is in Iohn: That he that Ioh. … 18.John 18beleeue him Chriſt, ſhall not bee iudged, or ſhall not come into iudgement: and ſo by conſequence, all men ſhall not be iudged.

Anſw. To which I anſwere, thatAn… Iudgement in that place of Iohn, as in many other places of ſacred Scriptures, is taken for condemnation; in p. 7which ſence true it is, that he that beleeueth in Chriſt Ieſus, he that is ingranted into Chriſt by a true and liuely faith, hee that is fleſh of his fleſh, and bone of his bone, one with Chriſt, and Chriſt with him by the ſpirituall coniunction of the Church with Chriſt, this party ſhall not come into iudgement; ſ…il. condemnationis, that is, of condemnation; in iudgement he ſhall not be confounded, condemned or ouerthrowne▪ but he ſhall come in iudicium abſolutionis: that is, into the iudgement of abſolution: In iudgement hee ſhall ſtand out, hauing on the white robe of Chriſts righteouſnes, and being couered with the wedding garment of Regeneration. The truth of which doctrine, the preacher affirmeth, ſaying: God will iudge Eccl. …. 17.he Iuſt and the vniuſt; the Iuſt vntounto ſaluation, and the vniuſt to damnation. Seeing then that all muſt bee brought to iudgement, let no man thinke with himſelfe, that it may be poſſible for him to eſcape this dreadfull day; whither ſhal he …lye from the p. 8preſence of the Lord? If he aſcendeth Pſal. 139. …, 8, 9.Ps 139vp to heauen, God is there, if hee goe downe to hell, God is there alſo, if hee take the wings of the morning, and fly to the vttermoſt parts of the Sea, God will finde him out there alſo. For God is eueryevery where; hee is in heauen by his glory, he is vponupon the earth by his mercy, he is in hell by his iuſtice: God is … & nuſquam; hee is eueryevery where, by his power and wiſedome, but no where in reſpect of circumſcription of place, beeing a Spirit. In earthly and terreſtriall Courts▪ a man may hauehave his Proctor: but then we muſt (volentes nolentes, whether we will or no ) perſonally appeare and pleade for our ſelues.

In terreſtrial Courts, bribes, many times blind the eyes of the wiſe, and for a little greaſing the fiſt of the Magiſtrate, many times ſmall faults, nay (by your leaue) great and ſcandalous crimes may bee winked at: but at this great Court of Heauen, the Iudge will not be partiall to any: For Rom … ▪ …1.God hath no reſpect of perſons: Hee p. 9will execute iuſt iudgement vponupon all men, as the Pſalmographer ſpeaketh: With righteouſneſſe will he iudge the Pſal. 58. 9.Ps 58:9world, and the people with equitie. Bribes, Friends, intreaties, howlings, cryes, lamentations, nothing will then preuaile, but a pure heart, and a ſpirit vpright; yea, the damned in hell confeſſe the ſame: Quid profu… nobis ſuperbia? quid di…it…arum coput▪ What hath pride profited vsus? or what hath the pompe of riches done vsus good? Alas theſe cannot ſaue our ſoules.

Let the Atheiſt therefore mocke God neuer ſo blaſphemouſly, let the Sadduce bragge of no Reſurrection, no Angell, no Spirit, neuer ſo Schiſmatically▪ let the Epicure ſing that curſed Epitaph of Sardanapalus neuer ſo beaſtly, …de, bibe, …ude, charum praeſentibus exple, delicijs animum, poſt mortem nulla voluptas: Eat, drinke, play, be merry, liue in all kinde of pleaſure, for after death there is no pleaſure.

Yet notwithſtanding, let all theſe miſerable wretches know, that there p. 10will come a day, and that a diſmall day, wherein they ſhall giuegive an account of eueryevery idle word.

Alas, lamentable world, that men ſhould thus murther their deereſt darlings, I meane their Soules, which Chriſt hath holden ſo deare: that men ſhould with Eſau, ſell their birth …, and heritage of heauen, for a m…e of pot…age of worldly pleaſure: that men ſhould delight in wallowing (with the 2. Pet. 2. 2…2 Pet 2:2Sow) in the mire of ſinne, and (with the dogge) in ſwallowing the vo…i… of iniquitie: and ſo purchaſe to their Soules and bodies euerlaſting torment, in the lake vnquenchable▪ wheras they ſhould aboue all things ſeeke the Kingdome of God and the righteouſneſſe thereof, that they might hauehave heauenly manſions, at the great day of account.

Let eueryevery Chriſtian therefore bewayle the great wickedneſſe of this world, and lament the ſoule iniquitie of theſe dayes, leſt it be ſaid of vsus, as of the careleſſe and graceleſſe Chriſtian: Cadit Aſina, & eſt qui ſubleuet, per… p. 11anima, & non eſt qui reco…it…t: If an Aſſe falleth vnderunder his burthen, there be ſome that will diligently helpe it vp againe: but if a Soule periſh, no man regardeth it.

Men are like the Horſe, Aſſe and Mule, that hauehave no vnderſtanding, the more is the good mans griefe; Dauid Pſal 11…. 1….Ps 11:1his eyes g…ſhed out into riuers of water, becauſe men kept not Gods Law.

The Prophet Ieremy cryeth out…et. 4. 19. …. on this manner: Ah, my belly, my belly, Iam pained euen at the heart, I cannot bee quiet, becauſe my people is a fooliſh people, they are wiſe to do euill; but to doe well, they hauehave no knowledge.

That godly Matron Monica, SaintMonica. Auguſtines Mother, wept daily, and prayed for her ſonnes conuerſion: for hee was before his conuerſion a Manichee.

So likewiſe it is the duty of eueryevery Chriſtian to deſire the conuerſion of their brethren, and to bewaile their wretched eſtates

Sinne neuer more, then in theſe p. 12our dayes of the Goſpell abounded, the greateſt part of the world are Sataniſts, diuels in conuerſation, worſhippers of that vgly beaſt, That Apoc. 13. 14.Rev 13:14hath ſeuen heads, and tenne hornes, whoſe badge is, blaſphemy: of the damned ſerpent, The prince of the Eph. 2. 2.Eph 2:2Ayre, the grand enemy of Mankinde, that goeth vp and downe like a roaring 1. Pet. 5. 8.1 Pet 5:8Lyon, ſeeking whom he may deuoure. Yea, Saint Iohn ſaith, That Whatſoeuer 1. Ioh. 2▪ 161 John 2:16is in the world, is either the concupiſcence of the fleſh, or the concupiſcence of the eye, or the pride of life: Haec tria, pro trino numine mu… … habet: This is the trinity which the world doth worſhip: In ſtead of God the Father▪ God the Sonne, and God the Holy Ghoſt; the world doth worſhip the diuell, the world, and the fleſh: the concupiſcence of the fleſh, that is, carnall luxury; the concupiſcence of the eye, that is, worldly couetouſneſſe, and the pride of life, that is, helliſh and diueliſh ambition.

The way to hell is a broad, and a wide way, and whole multitudes p. 13walke in the ſame, but …ew there be that can finde out the narrow way of amendment of life. The heathen man could ſay this: Plurima peſsima, the Ariſtotle.moſt are the worſt: Pretioſa non ſunt numeroſa, good men are odde men. Waſps and Hornets ſwarme, but few painefull Bees are to be found, that treaſure vp the Honey of good workes, in the hiue of their hearts, and co… l…en home with the ſame; as Virgil writeth of the Bées: At …eſſae multa referunt ſe nocte minores, crura, thymo plena.

No maruell therefore, if Dauid cryed out to the Lord for helpe in his dayes, ſaying: Helpe Lord, helpe, Pſal. 12. 1.Ps 12:1for good and godly men decay. The world therefore may bee compared to the earth.

Aſke the earth, and it will tell theeCompar. that it doth affoord much matter for baſe pots, but very little ſtuffe for Gold; aſke the Gardiner and he will tell thee that hee hath more Nettles then Roſes, more Wéeds then Flowers, more Brambles then Vines: p. 14Yea, aſke thine owne conſcience andNote. it will tell thee that there is Magna plen…tu…o hominum, ſed magna ſolitudo honorum, id est, There is a great plenty of men, but there is a great ſcarſitie of good men. A good man is a Phenix, he is Rara auis … terris, nigro que ſi…ili… I…en.cygno: A rare Bird, a blacke Swanne▪ Wee hauehave many couetous Churles that wil (with the foole in the Goſpell, commend their Soules to Plutus, that was called of the heathen, Deus d…tiarum: The god of riches: but more fitly he is Daemon d…tiarum, the diuell of riches: and thinke themſelues ſafe when they hauehave ſpoken peace to their ſoules on this manner: Soule take thy reſt, for thou haſt goods Luk. 12. 19Luke 12:19layd vp for many dayes. Making their cheſt their heauen, and their pictures their god. We hauehave many Achabs, Tyrannicall extortioners, deuourers of their brethren, eating them vp like bread. Many adulterers, as appeareth by the great number of Baſtards in this Realme▪

Many rebellious Traytors, and p. 15Antichriſtian conſpirators; as did appeare by the Gun-powder-treaſon.

Many conceited Herods, many proud Nebuchadnezzars, and many vaine-glorious Iezabels, many ſwea…ers, forſwearers, drunkards, mock…o…s: Many wee hauehave (in a word) damned hel-hounds, curſed caytifes, and moſt miſerable miſcreants.

How little doe theſe lamentable wretches think of the day of account? How little doe they imagine of that wofull ſentence, Goe from me ye curſed, &c? The Lord grant to all men (one with another) his grace, that they may hauehave this Scripture alway ſounding in their eares: Of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeake, they ſhall giuegive an account thereof at the day of Iudgement.

The conſideration of this laſt day made Ierome afraid to offend: Whether Ierom.I eate, or drinke (ſaith hee) or whatſoeuer I doe elſe, mee thinkes I heare this ſaying ſounding in mine eares; Ariſe ye dead and come to iudgement. The which when I conſider, p. 16it makes mee quake and ſhake, and not dare to commit ſin, which otherwiſe I ſhould hauehave committed.

O that men would remember their end, then they ſhould neuer offend: O that men would alwayes ſet before their eyes, the quatuor nouiſſima: The day of death, the day of iudgement, the ioyes of heauen, and the torments of hell: then would not men liue ſo looſely, but they would with all diligence worke out their ſaluation with feare and trembling: the which care of godlineſſe the Lord grant to all men.

Thus much ſhall ſuffice for this firſt part of this Scripture: namely, for the parties that ſhall giuegive an account, who they be: namely, all men whatſoeuer. But I ſay vntounto you, that of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeake, they, &c.

2 Of what things wee muſt giuegive an The ſecond part▪account.

There muſt an account be made of many, yea, of things innumerable, but eſpecially of theſe foure.

1 Of the thoughts of our hearts, p. 17according to that of Salomon: There Wiſd. 1. 9.Wis 1:9ſhall inquiſition bee made for the thoughts of the vngodly, there ſhall not a wicked thought paſſe in iudgement.

If Adam had committed but one diſobedient thought in heart againſt Almighty God, with full conſent of will to hauehave performed the ſame, and though hee had not actually broken Gods Commandement: it was neceſſary that the ſecond Adam (who is the raiſer of our ruines, the ranſome of our offences, and the reſtorer of life) ſhould come and ſuffer the tortures of hell (as hee did) or elſe wee with Adam had gone the high way to eternall miſery.

No maruell therefore if our Sauiour Chriſt accounted him an adulterer that luſted after a woman, ſaying: Whoſoeuer looketh on a woman to Mat. 5. …8.Matt 5:8luſt after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart. It is the malicious nature of the Diuell (as ſaith Bernard) to intice men to miſchiefe. Daemonum eſt mala ſuggerere, noſtrum eſt p. 18Bernard.non conſentire. … is the prop… of the Diuell to inti… and to ſuggeſt men to euill, and it is our parts not to conſent to his inticem…nts, but to reſiſt them manfully, according to that of P…; 1. Pet. …. ….Whom reſiſt y… The diuel outwardly by the world and inwardly by the corruption of nature, doth dayly allure vsus to ſinne. Now i… we conſent to thoſe his wicked motions (whether we performe them outwardly in act, or no) before God we hauehave committed the ſinne: according to that of Iohn: Hee that hateth his 1. Ioh. …. 1…brother is a man ſlayer: becauſe in will, in wiſh, and in deſire, hee hath already ſlaine him, although hee doth not bring it into outward act, either for feare of the law of man, in that caſe, or for want of iuſt and fit opportunity for the effecting thereof. Yea, the ſinne of thought, the ſinne conceiued in the heart of man is not onelyonly a ſinne, but it is the roote and beginningMat. 15. 1…Matt 15:1 of all ſinnes whatſoeuer: for it is not that which goeth into man, that defileth him, but that which commeth p. 19out of him, that is: that which proceedeth from the heart of man.

The diuell firſt ſuggeſteth: afterThe Ladder of ſin. ſuggeſtion, commeth cogitation: after cogitation followeth affection: after affection followeth delectation: after delectation followeth conſent, (how is the ſinne of thought fully committed:) after conſent followeth operation: after operation followeth …ſtome, after cuſtome followeth deſperation: after deſperation followeth defending of ſinnes committed: after defending of ſins committed, followeth vaunting, boaſting, and glorying in ſinne, which is next to damnation it ſelfe: Thus the heart is the fountaine, from whence ſpringeth all ſin whatſoeuer.

Yet hauehave wee not many wicked ones in this world, that think the ſin of heart to bee no ſin at all, or elſe but a ſmall ſin, that ſhall neuer be brought in queſtion at the day of account? But let all theſe know, that, as of eueryevery idle word, ſo of eueryevery wicked and ſinfull thought conceiued and nouriſhed p. 20within the heart of man, hath full conſent to the performance of the ſame (for there is no ſinne that can be cōmitted without conſent had) men, yea all men muſt giuegive an account.

I giuegive all men therefore (to the good of their ſoules) this good counſell of Salomon, Keepe thine heart Prou. 4. 23Prov 4:23with all diligence, for there▪ out commeth life: If thou keepeſt it not diligently and wa…ly, thereout will proceed death: I meane, ſinne, whoſe Rom. 6. …3Rom 6:3wages is death▪ The heart is a Mill alwayes grinding either good corne or bad, either good thoughts or bad, therefore keepe it diligently for thy ſoules ſake: let it meditate in the Law of God day and night, abandon all wicked motions, that at the day of iudgement thou maiſt be pure bread▪ and fine manchet for the Bread of Life, Chriſt Ieſus his Table in heauen. The Lord grant this to mee the Writer, thee the Reader, and to eueryevery Hearer of it.

2 Wee muſt giuegive an account of our words.

p. 21Of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall Word.ſpeake, &c.

Diuers of the learned Writers hauehave diuerſly commented of this idle word, what it ſhould be: one, affirming one thing, another, another thing. Therefore I will (in a word) ſet downe the opinions of ſome of them, not incongruent, neither diſagreeable to the holy Scripture.

Gregory ſaith, that Ʋerbum otioſum Gregory.eſt, quod …ſta neceſſitate, & pia vtilitate caret: That is (ſaith he) an idle word which is ſpoken, either without iuſt neceſſitie, or godly profit.

Ierome ſaith, that Verbū otioſum eſt, Ierome.quod ſine vtilitate loquentis vel audienti… pro…ertur, That is (ſaith he) an idle word, which is ſpoken either without edification of the Hearer or Speaker.

Baſil, Omne verbum quod non condu…it Baſil.ad propoſitam vtilitatem, vanum eſt & otioſum, that is, eueryevery word, which belongeth not to an intended profit, is a vaine and an idle word.

Maſter Iohn Caluin ſaith: thatCaluin. Sermo otioſus pro inutili ſumitur, qui nihil p. 22aedificationis vel fructus aſſert: id eſt, An idle word is taken for a word vnprofitable, for a word that bringeth with it no fruitfull edification. So that from theſe deſcriptions of holy men, I doe deſcribe an idle word on this maner: Verbum otioſum eſt, quod ad bonam rem non pertinet: quod non facit ad gloria… ▪ Dei vnse…tis: quod mut…le eſt & infrug… ▪ ferum: quod nec loqu…ntem nec audientem …di…icat: id eſt, An idle word is that which doth not appertaine to a propoſed profit; which tendeth not to the glory of the euer-liuing God: which is vnprofitable and vnfruitfull: which ed…ieth neither the Hearer, nor the Speaker. If then (good breforen in Chriſt Ieſus) ſo great account muſt be giuen of eueryevery idle, vain, and fruitleſſe word; what account (thinke yée) ſhall bee giuen for ſwearing, curſing, banning and blaſpheming?

What account ſhall the ſwearer giuegive, that hath not one word in his mouth but it is guarded with an execrable oath?

How common (alas) this ſinne of p. 23ſwearing is, who knoweth not? for the ſmall infants and tender children in our ſtreets, hauehave curſed oaths, ad unguem, at their fingers end: yea, at their tongues end too. What account ſhall the curſing and banning tongue …ue, that Cruelly, Diſdainefully, andPſal. 31. 1….Ps 31:1 Deſpightfully, ſpeaketh againſt his neighbour? What account ſhall the blaſphemous perſon giuegive, that ſpeaketh contemptuouſ…y of GOD, and ſaith, that Chriſt did caſt out diuels through the name of Beelzebub? If 1. Pet. 4. 1…1 Pet 4:1the Iuſt ſhall ſcarce bee ſaued, where ſhall the ſinner appeare? If account muſt bee made of eueryevery idle word, Lord, what account ſhall they make, that rap and vomit out blaſphemies againſt the terrible Iudge of heauen and earth!

As men think, and fondly imagine, that the ſinne of thought (vnleſſe it proceed into outward act) is but a ſmall ſinne: ſo likewiſe doe they imagine of idle words, that they are but ſmall ſinnes, and a ſmall account for them ſhall be giuen.

p. 24But let all the world know, that no ſin can be ſaid to be ſmall in reſpect of it own nature, for the leaſt ſinne that can bee committed in the world, is ſo weighty, as without repentance had, it will ſinke the ſinner downe to the bottomeleſſe pit of hell. Yet, notwithſtanding, an idle word, in reſpect of other ſinnes, may be ſaid to bee a ſmall ſinne; yet as ſmall as it is, it is able to damne the ſoule foreuer.

Well therefore, ſaith Petrus Damianus, Petr…ſermone ſecundo de vitio linguae; Audiat lingua vaniloqua, audiat otioſa lingua, audiat & paueſcat, intelligat & perhorreſcat ſententiam horribilem, extremique I…di…ij terrorem, &c. that is, Heare, O vaine babbling tongue, heare, O idle tongue, heare and tremble, vnderſtand and quake at the hearing of the terrible day of Iudgement: He that hath hands to ſlay, hath he not cares to heare? Hee ſaith: that of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeake, they ſhall giuegive an account thereof at the day of Iudgement.

Although an idle word bee a ſmall p. 25ſinne in reſpect of greater ſins▪ yet neuertheleſſe an innumerable company of idle words, congeſted, accumulated, and heaped vp together, they will make a mighty ſin. Quid penna leuius? quid millio breuius? What is lighter then a feather? and what is ſhorter then the …eed-mill? Yet, notwithſtanding, an innumerable company of feathers truſſed vp together, will breake the Porters back. Small were the gnats that troubled Pharaoh, yet they beingExod. 8. 24Exod 8:24 innumerable ouercame proud Pharaoh, and all the power of Egypt. An houre is but a ſhort time, but, Dum hora horae continua ſucceſſione congeritur: While one houre by continuall ſucceſſion is added to another, the whole courſe of our liues is finiſhed. Quid ſ…xo durius, quid aqua liquidius? What is harder then a ſtone, and what is ſofter then the water? Yet a Wiſeman ſaith: Gutta cauat lapidem, con…m…tur Po….annulus vſu: that is, Water by continuall drops doth eate vp the ſtone, and a ring by continuall vſe is worne in pieces. So an idle word, p. 26although it bee but a ſmall ſinne, yet many a little makes a mickle, many of them heaped vp together make an intolerable lumpe.

It hath been, is, and euer will be, the fond nature of man, to imagine ſin a great deale leſſer then indeed it is. A man would thinke that Adam (through the diuels ſuggeſtion, andGen. 3. 6.Gen 3:6 through the abuſe of his owne free▪ will) eating of the forbidden fruite, had committed but a ſmall treſpaſſe: yet …ee was guilty of euerlaſting torment for the ſame. S man wouldNum. 15. 30Num 15:30 thinke, that that poore man had cōmitted but a ſmal ſin in gathering chips▪ (of méere neceſſity) on a Sabbath day▪ yet he was by the Law ſtoned for his labour. A man would thinke that Peter had giuen his Maſter good counſell (when as Chriſt told him that hee muſt goe to Ieruſalem, and there ſuffer many things) ſaying, Maſter, fauour Mat. …. …, …thy ſelfe and goe not: yet he was called Satan for his labour. A man would thinke that Ananias and Saphira Acts 5. ….Acts 5had committed but a ſmal ſinne, p. 27when as they did detaine part of the Apoſtles money, for feare of afterplays, and proteſted the contrary with a lye, yet they dyed both ſodainely at the feete of Peter. So a man would thinke, that an idle word were but a ſmall ſinne: yet Chriſt ſaith here, that a great account muſt bee made for the ſame. For, by thy word, thou ſhalt be Mat. 12. 35.Matt 12:35iudged, and by thy words thou ſhalt …e condemned. Seeing this is true, it behoueth eueryevery man to ſet a watch▪ before the dore of his lips, and to kéep his tongue from idle and euill words, that he may obtaine that bleſſedneſſe: Bleſſed is hee that hath not falne by the Eccle. 1…. 1Eccl 1:1words of his mouth.

3 We muſt giuegive an account of our workes, as appeareth to the Corinthians: Workes. 2. Cor. 5. 102 Cor 5:10We muſt all appeare before the Iudgement ſeat of Chriſt, and there receiue according to our works. Againe the Preacher ſaith: That God will Eccl. 12. 14Eccl 12:14bring to Iudgement eueryevery worke, with eueryevery ſecret thing, whether it be good or euill. Hee that hath liued in ſinne, ſhall receiue the reward of ſin, which p. 28is death and damnation; and hee that hath liued in faith and amendment of li…e, ſhall receiue a crowne of glory, w^ch the Lord will giuegive him at that day. It is the duty therfore of eueryevery Chriſtian to labor and to end…uor, with all …ligent carefulneſſe …o liue well, that at the day of Iudgement he may ſ…d well. …, …, that is, li…e wel ſhould be the delightſome poſie, & ſweet perfumed Noſeg… of eu… ry Chriſtian: thus line well▪ that that mayſt die well▪ & after death eternal… ſpeed wel, obtaining that bleſſednes Bleſſed are they that dye in the Lord

4 We muſt giuegive an account of ou… 4 Good▪temporall goods, how we hauehave gotten them, whether iuſtly, or vniuſtly: how wee hauehave ſpent them, whether wee hauehave cloathed the naked with them, or whether wee hauehave made naked the cloathed for them; how wee hauehave diſpoſed them, leſt there hee any debate for them after wee be gone: therefore Eſay telling Hezekiah, that he ſhould not liue but dye, ſaith: Diſpone domum tuam … Set thine houſe p. 29Eſay 38. 1. …Isa 38:1in order, for thou muſt not liue, but dye. How then ſhall thoſe griping Vultures make an account, that hauehave by oppreſſion vndone their brethren? The world is grown ſo hard-hearted, that men will rather ſuffer their brethren to ſtarue in the ſtreets, then to ſuccour or relieue them: The dogs ſhall hauehave the remnant of the Rich mans table, before poore I azarus ſhallLuk. 16. 21.Luke 16:21 hauehave one …rum that falleth from the ſame▪ …ow ſhall theſe fiinty hearts …o…ke for one dram of mercy at the day of Iudgement? Let them looke with what meaſure they hauehave meaſured to others, it ſhall bee meaſured to them againe: let them know, that if they will ſtop their eares at the cry of the poore, they ſhall cry themſelues and ſhall not be heard: if they will be partakers with the Saints of the ioyes of heauen, their brethren muſt be partakers with them of their wealth on earth: For this is to treaſure vp treaſures in heauen, to lay out their treaſures on earth.

Let men therefore ſo vſe their p. 30temporall goods, and worldly riches, as they may at the day of account receiue a Crowne of immortall Glory.

5 We muſt giuegive an account of the5 Time. time wherein we liue, and of our ſeuerall vocations, how we hauehave employed our ſelues in the ſame.

Saith Bernard: Omne tempus ti…i Bernard.impenſum requiretur à te qualiter fuerit expenſum…d eſt, All the time that God hath giuen thee, ſhall be required at thy hands, how thou haſt ſpent it: Whether in the ſeruice of God, or in the ſeruice of Satan.

The Prince muſt giuegive an account how he hath gouerned his kingdome whether hee hath (as it becommeth Gods Vice-gerent) mildely, louingly, and carefully trained his Subiects vp in the worſhip of God: or as a bloudy Nero, and hard-hearted Tyrant, cruelly oppreſſed them. The Miniſters of the Word of God (who hauehave taken vponupon them curum animorum: The charge of ſoules ) muſt giuegive an account, how they hauehave behaued themſelues in their Miniſtery: whether p. 31they hauehave preached Chriſt for Chriſt, that is; for the conuerſion of ſinners to Chriſt, or (as hirelings) for lucre and gaine of worldly traſh: whether they hauehave fed their Flocks carefully, or fed vponupon their Flocks couetouſly. The Magiſtrate muſt giuegive an account, how he hath behaued himſelfe in his Magiſtracy: whether …ee hath ſought the maintenance of Vertue, and the confuſion of Vice, or hath (his eyes being blinded with ſiluer ſcales) maintained iniquitie, and oppreſſed the innocent. The Houſeholder▪ how he hath gouerned his Family: whether in reading of holy Scriptures, and Prayer, to the praiſe and glory of God; or in reading of fooliſh fables, in gaming, dicing, playing, ſwearing, and ſuch like. Yea, eueryevery man muſt giuegive an account of the time ſpent in his ſeuerall calling, from the higheſt to the loweſt. Let eueryevery Chriſtian therefore beware of miſ-ſpending his time, liuing in ſecuritie looſely, and of loſing his time ſecurely, and careleſly: for there will p. 32come a day, when for eueryevery houre of thy life thou ſhalt giuegive an account, how thou haſt ſpent it: according as Salomon telleth the careleſſe liuer: Reioyce O young man in thy youth, Eccl. 11▪ 9.Eccl 11:9cheere thy heart in the dayes of thy youth, and walke in the waies of thine heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes: but know, that for all theſe things God will bring thee to iudgement. Time loſt can neuer be recouered, the houre paſt cannot be recalled: Time is painted like an old man hauing a locke of haire on the hinder part; to ſignifie that men ſhould lay hold of time comming, and make much of it when they hauehave it: for being once gone, it can neuer bee recouered. Auguſtine confeſſethAuguſtine. that hee ſpent his time idlely when he ſtood gazing and looking on a ſpider, how ſhe catcht a fly in her net. But alas, mē in theſe daies do not only ſpend their time in idleneſſe (which is a ſhameful fault amōg Chriſtians) but alſo in all manner of euill: They Amo… 6. 3.put off from them the euill day, namely, the day of death and iudgement, p. 33and boldly approach to the ſeat of iniquity: a matter much to be lamented.

Let eueryevery Chriſtian therfore hauehave a care of the expence of time, leſt (had I wiſt) come too too late: for the damned in hell, if they had this fauor of God to line on the earth againe, and to hauehave hell broken looſe (which they ſhall neuer hauehave granted) they would liue ſo ſtrictly, as they might bee chronicled for admirable ſpectacles to the wholeExample. world: It is the duety therefore of eueryevery man to imitate that perſon, that vigilant perſon, that carried alwayes about with him in his pocket a little clock, and when he heard it ſound, he would inſtantly examine himſelf how hee had ſpent that houre: thus ſhould Chriſtians examine themſelues, that they may neuer bee examined of the Lord; iudge themſelues, that they may neuer be iudged of the Lord; and account with themſelues, that they may neuer bee brought to an account of the Lord. Thus much for the ſecond part of the Text: namely, of what things we muſt giuegive an account.

p. 34But I ſay vntounto you of eueryevery idle word, &c. Before I ſpeak of the third part of this Text; namely, of the Iudge, to whom we muſt giuegive an account, I thinke it very neceſſary to ſpeake of a few things, which being wel conſidered, we may be able to abſtaine from idle words, and ſhall hauehave the leſſe account to make at that day. Three things therefore there are, which being performed, wee ſhall abſtaine from idle words.

1. A man muſt conſider what hee ſpeaketh.

2. To whom he ſpeaketh.

3. When he ſpeaketh.Quid.

1. What hee ſpeaketh: Peter telleth vsus what we ought to ſpeak in his1. Pet. 4. 1.1 Pet 4:1 firſt Epiſtle: If any man ſpeake, let him ſpeake as the words of God. Againe, Paul to the Epheſians ſaith:Eph. 4. 29.Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouth, but that which is good to the vſe of edifying, that it may miniſter grace to the Hearer. So that wee ought to ſpeake aboue all things of God and his word, p. 35of good and honeſt matters, if we will ſhew our ſelues to bee true Chriſtians, and abſtinent from idle words. Wee ſhould ſay with Dauid, I will alwayes Pſal. 34. 1.Ps 34:1giuegive thankes to the Lord, his praiſe ſhall be in my mouth continually. We ſhould reſolue with Iob and ſay: My lips ſhall ſurely ſpeake no wickednes, Iob 27. 4.Job 27:4and my tongue ſhall vtter forth no deceit: then ſhall we vſe our tongues to that purpoſe, to which they were created.

The tongue in Hebrew is called, K…bod: id eſt, Gloria, Glory: becauſe it is an inſtrument to ſing forth the glorie of God vponupon earth. If we vſe our tongues to this purpoſe, then we may truely ſay with the Poet, Lingua quid Poet.melius? What is better then the tongue? But if it be abuſed to the diſhonor of Almighty God, if it be an vn…amed member, vttering out idle, and euill words, then may wee conclude with the Poet, and ſay: Lingua quid Mat. 12. 34.Matt 12:34p…ius eadem? What is worſe then the tongue?

Let eueryevery Chriſtian therfore ſhew p. 36himſelfe (as he profeſſeth) a Chriſtian in his ſpéech: For out of the aboundance Mat. 12. 34Matt 12:34of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. Euen as the heart ſtandeth affected, ſo is the ſpeech of eueryevery man: For Lingua est mentis interp…es: the tongue is the interpreter of the minde: the chaſte man ſpeaketh chaſtly and honeſtly; the wanton ſpeaketh lawdly and luxuriouſly: the enuious perſon ſpeaketh bitingly, and bitterly. Euen as by his ſpeech a man may bee knowne what Countrey man hee is: ſo a man by his ſpeech may bee knowne to what kingdome hee belongeth.

1There are three Kingdomes, andThree kingdoms. men by their talke may bee knowne to which of theſe they belong. There is, 1. Prouincia Coeleſtis, The Kingdome of Heauen: and the ſpeech of this Country is, praiſing of God, talking of his word, giuing of thanks for the great benefits wee hauehave receiued, and ſpeaking of diuine & heauenly matters: he therfore that ſpeaketh on this manner (Idqu… non hypocritice; p. 37that is, not hypocritically: For, Simulata ſanctitas duplex iniquitas: counterfet holineſſe is double vngodlneſſe ) ſurely appertaineth to the Kingdome of Heauen.

2 There is, Prouincia terreſtris, the Kingdome of earth: and the ſpeech of this Country is talking of terrene and earthly matters, muzling with the Mole in the cranies, Terrarumque poris, and in the pores of the earth: quite contrary to the nature of man: for, Os homini ſublime dedit (ſaith theOuid. Poet) coelum que tueri iuſſit: God gaue man a lofty face, and bade him looke aloft, and hold vp his head towards Heauen. According to that of Iohn: Quide terra eſt▪ de terra loquitur: Hee Ioh. 3. 31.John 3:31that is of the earth, ſpeaketh of the earth. And againe: They are of the 1. Ioh. 4. 5.1 John 4:5world, therefore ſpeake they of the world.

3 There is, Prouincia infernalis: The Kingdome of hell: and the language of this country is ſwearing, forſwearing, curſing, banning and blaſpheming: if therefore thou ſeeſt p. 38ſuch a one, it is to bee feared that hee belongeth to the Prouince hell: Thou therefore that wouldeſt belong to Gods thrice-bleſſed kingdome, thou that wouldeſt abſtaine from idle words, and ſo hauehave the leſſe account to make; thou muſt beware what thou ſpeakeſt, thou muſt talke of God and of his word, of holy and heauenly matters.

2 He that would abſtaine from idle… words, muſt conſider to whom he ſpeaketh: if he ſpeaketh to a foole, he muſt vſe few words, for hee ſpendeth his breath in vaine: if he ſpeaketh to a froward and contentious perſon, he muſt vſe milde and gentle words, or elſe he taketh the bellowes to quench the …re: If he ſpeaketh to a wiſe man, hee muſt vſe no vaine Tautologies, or needleſſe repetitions: for fruſtra fit per plura, quod fieri poteſt per pauciora. It is in vaine to vſe many words, when we may as well be conceiued in few. If theſe things bee not conſidered, wee may (yea ſpeaking of diuine and holy matter) offend in idle words.

p. 393 If we would abſtaine from idleQuando. words, we muſt alſo conſider when to ſpeak; ſaith Salomon: There is a time Eccleſ. 3. 7.Eccl 3:7to ſpeake, and a time to hold ones peace. Saith one: There is a time when ſome-thing may be ſpoken, and there is a time when nothing may be ſpoken, but there is no time when all things may bee ſpoken. Theſe three things well conſidered of vsus, we ſhall abſtaine from idle words, and hauehave the leſſe account to make at the day of Iudgement. Againe, eueryevery Chriſtian, as hee ought to imitate Chriſt in all things, ſo he ought to imitate him in his words. Gregory ſaith: that Omnis Christi actio noſtra debet eſſe inſtructio: Gregory.id eſt, EueryEvery action of Chriſt ought to bee to vsus an example of imitation. Chriſt had three things in his words worthy of conſideration, which wee muſt likewiſe labour to hauehave, if wee will abſtaine from idle words.

11 He had veritatem in verbis: truth in his words: …ea, he reporteth of himſelfe in Iohn: that he is Via, Ʋeritas, …& Ʋita: The Way, the Truth, and p. 40the Life: Hee therefore that ſpeaketh truth to his neighbour, ſheweth himſelfe to bee the Childe of Chriſt Ieſus, the Fountaine and Origo of all truth: but hee that ſpeaketh leaſings, and vttereth forth lyes, ſheweth himſelfe to bee the child or the diuell, the author and originall of all lyes.

22 Chriſt had vtilitatem in verbis: profit in his words. As he ſpake truely ſo he ſpake profitably: He neuer ſpake one idle or vnprofitable word through the whole courſe of his life, which was aboue 32. yeeres.

33 Chriſt had moderamen in verbis: A meane in his words: Hee neuer was in words exceſſiue; and when iuſt and neceſſarie occaſion was offered▪ he was neuer deficient: but Ladie Meane (I meane golden vertue) drew forth his well contriued words out of the rich Conduit of his euer…lowing heart▪ He fulfilled that ſaying of Ieſus, the ſonne of Syrach: The Eccl 21. 2….Sir 21:2words of the wi…e are weighed in a ballance.

p. 41In theſe thrée things ſhould eueryevery one imitate Chriſt Ieſus, and then we ſhould abſtaine (as he did) from idle, vaine, friuolous, and vnprofitable words; for which, a great account muſt be giuen: The which imitation of Chriſt, the Lord, for Chriſt his ſake grant to all men, that they being like vntounto him, may bee receiued to reigne with him and his holy Angels, in the thrice-happy heauens at that day. Amen.

But I ſay vntounto you, that of eueryevery Text.idle word that men ſhall, &c.

3 To whom this account muſt beThe third part. giuen. Although in this Scripture that Iudge is not expreſly mentioned, yet notwithſtanding, quod ſubintelligitur non de eſt: that which is vnderſtood is not wanting; and therefore not to be omitted.

This Iudge therfore, before whoſe Tribunall Seate all mankinde muſt appeare▪ it is Chriſt: for hee was anointed of his Father into a triple office; to bee a Prieſt after the order of Melchiſedech: to be a Prophet after p. 42the order of Dauid: to be a King after the order of Salomon: Therefore Chriſt, as hee is King ouer all in heauen and earth, is this Iudge before whom we muſt all appeare: The truth of this is euident in the Epiſtle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians: We …. Cor. 5 10.muſt all appeare before the tribunall ſeat of Chriſt, &c. Wee read alſo in Iohn; that the Father iudgeth no man, Ioh. …. ….but hee hath committed all iudgement to his Sonne. And in Matthew it is written; that all power is giuen to Mat. …. 2…Chriſt in heauen and in earth. This was prophecied of him in the Pſalme: Thou art my Sonne, this day hauehave I begotten Pſal. …. … …. ….thee: Aske of mee, and I will giuegive thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy poſſeſſion: Thou ſhalt cruſh them with a ſcepter of Iron, and breake them in pieces like a Potters veſſell.

And againe in another place: Sit Pſal. 11…. 1Ps 11:1thou at my right hand, vntill I make thine enemies thy foot-ſtoole. Yea, it is an Article of our faith to beleeue, that IESVS CHRIST ſhall p. 43come againe to iudge both the quicke and the dead.

Chriſt is therefore the Iudge: yeaIudge▪ he is verè Iudex, a right Iudge: for this word Iudex, that is, Iudge, is as much as ius dicens, id eſt: One that ſpeaketh Iuſtice: and Iudico, that is to Iudge, is as much as ius dico, to ſpeake iuſtice: and iudicium, that is, iudgement, is as much as iuriſdicium, if I may ſo tearme it, that is: a Iuſt and Right ſpeech.

So Chriſt being an vpright Iudge, maintaineth Iuſtice in Iudgement: hee is a Iudge that will vſe no partiality, but will reward eueryevery man according to his workes: he is a Iudge that hath no reſpect of perſons. MenRom … 1…Rom 1 in this world may fitly be compared to Actors of a Comedy vponupon a Stage: Wherein, one acteth the part of a Prince, another of a Duke, another of an Earle, another of a Noble-man, another of a Gentleman, another of a Magiſtrate, another of a Marchant, another of a Countriman, another of a Seruant: one acteth one p. 44part; one another, and ſo long as they are vponupon the ſtage, ſo long there is reſpect (according to their parts) one of another amongſt them: But when the Comedy is ended, and the ſtage pulled downe, then there is no ſuch reſpect amongſt them: yea, many times he that played the baſeſt part is the beſt man.

So likewiſe, ſo long as men act ſundry parts vponupon the ſtage of this earth, that is, ſo long as men do liue in ſeuerall vocations, ſo long there is reſpect amongſt men, and that worthily: but when as the Comedy ſhall be ended; that is, the day of doome ſhal come vponupon all men, when as the ſtage ſhall be pulled down, that is, the earth ſhall bee changed, (for the earth ſhall neuer bee brought ad non eus, to nothing: but onelyonly the corruptiue qualities ſhall bee conſumed) then ſhall there be n… reſpect of perſons amongſt men: yea, it may bee that the po…e man ſhall be greater before God than the rich man. …ea, and beſides all this, vponupon the earth God hath no reſpect p. 45of perſons (although there bee reſpect amongſt men) but eueryevery man ſhall receiue according to his works, the Prince as well as the Subiect, the Rich as well as the poore.

If a Iudge then ſhould come into a Citie, and ſhould iudge the greateſt part of the Citie to death, ſparing no man, nec precio, nec prece, neither by bribes, nor entreaties: would not eueryevery man in that Citie bee in great perplexitie and feare? So feare this Iudge, who ſhal come with thouſands of Angels in great Pompe, Maieſtie, & Glory, into the Citie of this world, and iudge the greateſt part of mankind to death and damnation, ſparing no man; neither precio, nor prece, neither by bribes, nor yet by intreaties, a Iudge that will vſe no partiality: A Iudge that is able to deſtroy both …2.body and Soule in hell fire for euermore: Feare this Iudge, this terrible Iudge, this iuſt Iudge, this ſtrict Iudge, that will not ſuffer one idle word to eſcape in iudgement: thou that haſt offended this Iudge by thy p. 46manifold tranſgreſſions, thou that haſt deſerued for them euerlaſting torments in the pit of hell, feare him, quake and tremble before him, at the hearing of this hard ſaying: But I ſay vntounto you, that of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall giuegive account thereof at the day of Iudgement.

If Paul a choſen veſſell, and a faithfull ſeruant of Ieſus Chriſt, was afraid of this iudgement? If the iuſt and vpright man Iob cryed out and ſaid: Quid agam, quò me conuertans Iob, … 1…cum venerit Dominus ad iudicandum…? What ſhall I doe, O whither ſhall I turne mee, when the Lord commeth to Iudgement? If bleſſed Hilary (who from the fourteenth yeere of his age ſerued the LORD in ſingleneſſe of heart, and in ſinceritie of life to his liues end) was afraid of this day, as it appeareth by his ſpeech vponupon his death-bed; Egredere anima, egredere: H…ion.quid times? quid dubitas? That is, Goe forth, O Soule, goe forth: Why art thou afraide? Why doubteſt thou? …ho… haſt ſerued Chriſt theſe ſeuentie p. 47yeeres, and art now afraid to depart? If theſe holy men were afraide of this terrible day, how oughteſt thou (O ſinner) that art defiled with ſinne, from top to toe, that haſt not ſerued thy God (as thou oughteſt) one day in ſeuentie yeeres, how oughteſt thou to quake and tremble? If the Iuſt ſhall ſcarce bee ſaued,1. Pet 4. 181 Pet 4:18 where ſhalt thou (poore wretch) appeare?

If the people of Iſrael trembled atExo. 16. 18Exod 16:18 the preſence of God on Mount Sinai, when the Lord gaue vntounto them his Law, and (as a Schoole-Maſter) read a Lecture to all the world: how terrible will his preſence be, when he ſhall come to exact this Lecture at thy hands, how thou haſt conned the ſame?

If Iohn and Daniel, at the ſight of aApoc. 1, 1… Dan. 8. 17.Rev 1:1Dan 8:17 milde Angell, fell vponupon the earth as dead: how ſhalt thou (poore ſinner) indure the preſence of this terrible Iudge? If Haman could not abide the angry countenance of King Ahaſueroſh, Heſt. 7. 6.how ſhalt thou (O wicked man) p. 48abide the angry countenance of this frowning Iudge? If Adam for theGen. 3 8.Gen 3:8 commiſſion of one ſinne, ranne from God in great feare, and hid himſelfe behinde the buſh: whither ſhalt thou (O ſinfull Adamite, that haſt committed as many ſinnes, as ſtarres in ſky, as haires on head, and ſands by Sea, Immo horum numerus numero non clauditur vllo: Yea, the number of them is not to bee numbred ) whither (I ſay) ſhalt thou deſire to run? and where ſhalt thou wiſh to hide thy ſelfe from this terrible Iudge? O (ſaith Auguſtine) Mallent Auguſtine.impi… eſſe in inferno, quàm videre faciem irati Iudicis: The wicked had rather bee tormented in hell, then ſee the face of this fearefull Iudge. Then ſhalt thou cry to the mountaines; Cadite ſuper me▪ Fall vponupon me: and to the hils,… Abſcondire me à facie ſedentis ſuper thronum, & ab ira Agni: id eſt, Hide mee from the face of him that ſitteth vponupon the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe.

Then ſhall the Booke be opened, videlicet, p. 49the euidence of thy workes in this life, recorded freſhly in the teſtimonie of thine owne conſcience, and in the true and infallible memorie of Gods eternall wiſedome: then ſhall thy ſinnes be ſet in order before thine eyes: heauen and earth ſhall witneſſe againſt thee: yea, thine owne Conſcience ſhall condemne thée: and Conſcientia Pſal. 50. 11. Pſal. 50. 4. Rom. 2. 15.Ps 50:11Ps 50:4Rom 2:15eſt mille teſtes▪ Thy Conſcience is a thouſand witneſſes to condemne thee. The diuell ſhall pleade hard (moſt pitifull wretch) for thy Soule and body, accuſing thee on this manner: O Iudex iuſtiſſime, O moſt iuſt Iudge, thou haſt, in the abundance of thy louelove, ſuffered many torments of hell vponupon the Croſſe at Golgotha, for the redemption of this wretch: thou haſt offered him (times innumerable) redemption, iuſtification, and endleſſe happineſſe: yet neuertheleſſe hee hath deſpiſed thee, and hated thy inſtruction, and hath choſen rather to follow me, then thée; rather to walke in iniquity, after my example, then in holineſſe of life, after thine; hee hath p. 50choſen to bee my ſeruant, rather then thine: therefore what remaineth, but that thou ſhouldeſt refuſe him, that refuſed thée, and that I ſhould receiue him to euerlaſting torments▪ that hath hitherto ſerued me?

When thou (poore ſoule) ſhalt heare this pitifull Plea, and confeſſe the ſame to be too true: what ſhall become of thee, or whither ſhalt thou turne thee for comfort? Alack, alack, thou ſhalt hauehave no hope of ſaluation: for aboue thée thou ſhalt ſée the Iudge angry with thée for thy ſinnes, and the bleſſed Angels reioycing and laughing at thy deſtruction: beneath thee, thou ſhalt ſee hell open, and the fiery Furnace ready to receiue thee to torment: on thy right hand, ſhall bee thy ſinnes accuſing thée: on thy left hand, the diuels ready to execute Gods iudgements vponupon thee: within thee ſhall lye thy Conſcience gnawing: without thee, the damned crue bewayling, on eueryevery ſide fire burning; and then ſhalt thou receiue this lamentable ſentence: Goe from me, ye p. 51Mat 25. 41Matt 25:41curſed, into euerlaſting fire, which is prepared for the diuell and his angels. EueryEvery one of theſe words are able to cut thy heart aſunder. Goe from mee: Goe.Hitherto I hauehave bin a Father to thée, I hauehave beſtowed many comfortable benefits vponupon thee, I hauehave had great care of thee; but now goe from me into torments inexpreſſable, where thou ſhalt cry vntounto me, but I will not heare thee: in torment ſhalt thou lye comfortleſſe. in hell thy torment ſhall be endleſſe: I wil put a gulfe betweene thee and me, to make thy torments remedileſſe: thou ſhalt bee dyingApoc. 9. 6. Luke 6. 25Rev 9:6Luke 6:25 alwayes, yet neuer dead: thou ſhalt ſeeke death, but neuer finde it: thou ſhalt bee burning alwayes, yet neuer burnt to death: thy mente ſhallPſal. 11. 6. Mat. 1…. 4…Ps 11:6Matt 1:4 be griping hunger, and famine intolerable, thy drink ſhall be lakes of fire and brimſtone: thy muſicke ſhall bee howling & roaring of crying diuels, and wéeping, wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth.

Ye curſed: Thou haſt beene calledYe … hitherto by renowned and glorious p. 52titles; as Prince, Duke, Noble, Reuerend, Maſter, &c. But now thou ſhalt hauehave another title: thou ſhalt be called Curſed: curſed ſhalt thou be of God, whoſe curſe is …narum inflictio, id eſt: puniſhment: curſed ſhalt thou be of all the bleſſed Angels in heauen, whoſe curſe is Conſcientiae cruciamen, id eſt: vexation of thy conſcience: Curſed ſhalt thou be of all the diuels in hell, whoſe curſe is Poenarum executio, id est: the execution of thy puniſhment preſcribed; according to that of the Poet; Minos …xamen, Radamanthus dat cr…scia…en tertius heu frater tertia iura tenet, id eſt: One diuell cippeth vp thy examination, another diuell tormenteth thee, the third is not behinde to adde one torment to another vponupon thee▪ Curſed moreouer ſhalt thou be of all the damned crue, whoſe curſe is Poenarum aggra…atio, id eſt, the augmentation of thy torment: Thus curſed ſhalt thou bee of all things for euermore.

Into euerlaſting fire: O miſerableInto euerlaſting fire torment▪ There were ſome comfort p. 53to the damned ſoule, if theſe torments ſhould hauehave end; but that ſhall neuer be. O miſerable wretch! Thou ſhalt Mat. 22. 13Matt 22:13bee bound hand and foot, and caſt into this euerlaſting fire. In reſpect of which fire, all earthly elementall fire is but as fire painted on a wall; thy torments ſhall be endleſſe, eaſeleſſe▪ and remedileſſe.

Which is prepared for the diuell and Which is prepared.his angels: Heauen was prepared for thée, and not hell: thou wert borne to glory, and not torment; but becauſe thou haſt choſen to follow the diuell and not Me, therefore, Goe from me, yee curſed, into euerlaſting fire, which is prepared for the diuell and thee his wicked angell, where thou ſhalt lye weeping and wayling, and gnaſhing of thy teeth for euermore.

The conſideration of theſe things ſhould ſtirre vp eueryevery Chriſtian to looke about him, to be careful and circumſpect to all his wayes, that …ee tread not his ſhe… awry at any time, that he offend not this fearfull Iudge p. 54in any thing, that at this day of iudgement hee may finde him a gentle and louing Lambe, and not a Lyon of Iud…; for as to the wicked this Iudge is terible, ſo to the godly he is a friendly and a welcome Iudge: as to the wicked the day of Iudgement is a day of deſolation, a day of clouds and blackneſſe: ſo to the godly it is a day of Redemption:…. 1. 1… yea, the godly ſhall leape for ioy at that day, and for the comming of that day the bleſſed ſpirits in heauen try out, ſaying: How long Apo…. …2.Lord and the bleſſed ones vponupon earth deſire the comming of this day alſo; ſaying with Paul, Cupimus diſſolui, &Phil 1. 23.Phil 1:23 eſſe cum Chriſto: id eſt; We deſire to bee diſſolued and to bee with Chriſt: and praying with Iohn, Veni Domine Ieſu, Apoc▪ 6. 9. 10.Rev 6:9Rev 6:10Come Lord IESVS, come quickly. Let eueryevery Chriſtian therefore ſo lead his life, that it may goe wel with him at that day: What if I hauehave all the Mat. 1…. …Matt 1world, and loſe my ſoule at that day, what doth it profit me?

If a man bee called to appeare before ſome earthly Iudge, he will hauehave p. 55an eſpeciall care to array himſelfe in the beſt manner he may, & to behaue himſelfe accordingly, that he may be the better accepted of him. So eueryevery Chriſtian, againſt the day of Iudgement, when hee muſt appeare before the King of Kings, and Iudge of all the world, muſt hauehave an eſpecial care to put on the Wedding garment of Chriſts Righteouſneſſe and Regeneration, leſt he be ſent packing to hell with the wicked, and all thoſe that forget God.

Mordecay, becauſe hee went baſelyHeſt. 4 … in ſackcloth, could not be permitted to come into the Kings Palace: and doeſt thou thinke (whatſoeuer thou art) that thou ſhalt he admitted into that Glorious Palace of the King of Hetnen, hauing on the ſtinking, defiled, and abominable garment of impurity, & the menſtruous cloth of iniquity? No, no, the Lord will ſpue thee out of his mouth: a ſtinking carcaſſe ſtinketh not ſo before men, as a polluted ſinne… in the noſt…ils of Almighty God.

p. 56Nebuchadnezzar would hauehave noDan. 1. 4.Dan 1:4 children in his Palace, but thoſe that were wiſe and beautifull: and doeſſ thou thinke that the King of Heauen and earth will hauehave any fooles; that is, ſinners (for the ſinner is called a foole in the Scripture: The foole ſaith in Pſal. 14. 1.Ps 14:1his hart there is no God) to dwel with him in his Palace? or doſt thou think that an vgly perſon ſhall bee ſuffered there, that is, any ſinner: (for the ſinner is an vgly and abominable thing in the ſight of God?) No, the Lord will entertaine none into his Kingdome, but ſuch as are beautifull, ſhining in holineſſe, purity, and righteouſneſſe, as the portals of the burniſh Sunne: ſuch as are without ſpot or wrinkle, Omnino ad imaginem ſuam: altogether like vntounto him: holy as he is holy, pure as h…e is pure: Such will the Lord hauehave in his Kingdome, to ſing Halleluiah: Saluation, and Glory, A…and Honour, and Power bee to the Lord our God.

Therfore as the thiefe is excéeding prouident, and very carefull how hee p. 57may anſwere the Iudge at the barre: and as in earthly Courts men wil be very carefull to prouide an anſwere againſt they be called: yea, and will make ſome friend to the Iudge, that they may ſpéed the better: ſo likewiſe eueryevery Chriſtian ſoule ſhould carefully prouide a good anſwere againſt he bee cited by the Apparitour Death, to appeare before Chriſt at the generall Court of Heauen: and that then it may goe well with him, let him get ſome friend to moue the Iudge in his behalfe, as he tendreth the welfare of his deare Soule. And who muſt that friend be? not Mary nor Peter; but it muſt be CHRIST IESVS, that ſitteth at the right hand of his Father in glory, and maketh dayly interceſſion for the ſinnes of the whole world. Get him for thy Proctour (who offereth himſelfe to all) and then happy ſhalt thou be; the Diuell ſhall not preuaile againſt thée; for CHRIST hath broken his head: the gates of hell ſhall not preuaile againſt thée; for Chriſt hath conquered them: & death ſhal not p. 58hold thée captine, for Chriſt hath ouercome it. Happy art thou that art in Pſal. …. 4▪ 15.ſuch a …aſe; yea bleſſed art thou, if thou haſt the Lord for thy God.

Thus much for the third part of this Text: namely, of the Iudge to whom we muſt giuegive account.

But I ſay vntounto you, that of eueryevery Text.idle word, &c.

4 When we ſhall giuegive an account:The 4. part. It is ſaid heere, at the day of iudgement.

The time when this great and generall day ſhall be, cannot be knowne of mortall man: yea, it is not for man to know of it: as we may reade in the Acts: It is not for you to know theAct. 1. 7.Acts 1:7 times and ſeaſons which God hath put in his owne power: yea, Chriſt him ſelfe knoweth not of this day. But of that day and home (ſaith Marke)Marke 13.Mark 13 knoweth no man, no, not the Angels which are in heauen, neither the bonne himſelfe, …a…e t… Father, id est, Chriſt according to his humane Nature knoweth not of i… ▪ but according to his Diuine Nature, he knoweth of p. 59it as well as God the Father: for he is co-equall with God the Father, in Knowledge, Wiſedome, and in all things whatſoeuer: yea, he knew of this day before the foundation of the world was laid: yea, Hee himſelfe ſhall ſit Iudge at that day.

God will not hauehave vsus know of this day, when it ſhall be, for theſe three cauſes.

11 To proue and try our patience, faith and other vertues: to ſee whether we will put our whole truſt and affiance in him, although wee know not the time of our diſſolution.

22 To bridle our curioſity and p… niſh inquiſition after ſuch (too high) matters: Quae ſupra nos, nihil ad no…. Ariſtotle.That which is aboue our capacity, we ought not to meddle withall.

3 To keep vsus in continual watchfulneſſe: for if we knew certainly the day of death and iudgement, ſurely it would be a great and forcible motiue to draw vsus to a looſe, negligent, and ſecure kind of life. Watch therefore, Ma… …4. 42(ſaith the Euangeliſt) becauſe yee p. 60know not when your Maſter will come. For theſe thrée cauſes the Lord will not hauehave vsus know of the time of iudgement.

Although (my beloued in Chriſt) we know not the certainty of the time of this day: yet neuertheleſſe wee muſt know that this great and generall day cannot be farre off, both according to the Propheſies of holy fathers, as alſo to the truth of holy Scriptures.

Auguſtine in his booke vponupon Geneſis, …againſt the Manichees ſaith, that the world ſhould laſt ſix ages: the firſt from Adam to Noah; the ſecond from Noah to Abraham; the third from Abraham to Dauid; the fourth from Dauid to the tranſmigration of Babylon; the fifth from the tranſmigration of Babylon, to the comming of Chriſt in the fleſh; the ſixth from the comming of Chriſt in the fleſh, to his comming againe to iudgement. So that according to his Propheſie, wee … in the laſt age, which laſt age is called of Iohn, H…ra extrema, or hora p. 61…nouiſſima, the laſt houre: But how long this laſt houre doth laſt, he that is Alpha and Omega, the Firſt & the Laſt, y^e euerlaſting God alone doth know

The Hebrewes they boaſt of the Propheſie of Eliah, a great man inEliah▪ thoſe dayes: hee propheſied that the world ſhould laſt 6000. yeers: 2000. before the Law, 2000. vnderunder the Law and 2000. from Chriſt to Chriſt.

If this his propheſie holds true, the world cannot laſt 400. yeares: for ſince Chriſt his comming in the fleſh, it was 1619. at Chriſts-tide laſt paſt, according to the computation of the Church from time to time. But leauing men, and comming to the Scriptures, which cannot erre, for Humanum eſt errare, Man may, yea and doe many times erre:

Saint Paul ſaith to the Corinthians:1 Cor. 20. 11. We are they vponupon whom the ends of the world are come. If therefore the ends of the world were come vponupon thoſe that liued aboue 1564. yeeres agoe, then ſurely Doomes day cannot now poſſibly be farre off.

p. 62Iames alſo ſaith: Behold, the iudge Iam. 5. 9.Jas 5:9ſtandeth before the dore.

Iohn Baptiſt preached repentanceMat. 3 2Matt 3:2 to the Iewes, ſaying, Repent, for the Kingdome of Heauen is at hand▪

So that by theſe places of Scripture it is euident, that the generall day of Iudgement is at hand: as alſo by the ſignes & tokens which ſhould goe before this day immediately, of which many, yea almoſt all are already fulfilled.

Moreouer wee muſt (deare brethren) know, that there is a twofold iudgement; the one called a particular iudgement, the other called a generall iudgement.

1 The particular iudgement is… … 2…. exerciſed and executed vponupon eueryevery man, imediatly after his death, which is, S… ▪ regatio animae à corpore: A ſeparation of the ſoule from the body.

Of this particular iudgement we may reade in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes: It is appointed vntounto men that …they ſhal once die, and after that commeth Iudgement. And though the p. 63generall iudgement cōmeth not theſe 4000. yeers; yet particular iudgment commeth at the day of our death; and look as we at the day of our death ſhal be found, ſo ſhall we bee iudged: and as we then ſhall be iudged, ſo ſhall we be iudged at the generall iudgement

2 The general iudgement (of which this Scripture ſpeaketh) is exerciſed & executed vponupon all men together, by Chriſt: who ſhall by his power, raiſe all thoſe vp againe that hauehave bin dead from the beginning of the world, to that time: and they ſhall be preſented all together (being againe vnited to their ſoules) before Chriſts Tribunall ſeat, who ſhall come downe in a Cloud from heauen, in great Maieſty and Glory, with thouſands of bleſſed Angels attending vponupon him: and hee ſhal giuegive ſentence vponupon al in general: the wicked ſhall bee caſt into euerlaſting fire, and the godly he ſhall carry vp with him into Coelum Empir…um, the third and higheſt heauen, (where hee now in body reigneth and remaineth) there to reape ioyes vnſpeakable for euermore.

p. 64But ſome man may obiect and lay,Ob. Why (I pray you) ſhall there bee a generall iudgement, when as all are iudged in the particular iudgement? what, ſhall there be two iudgements executed?

There ſhall (notwithſtanding theA… particular) be a generall iudgement, and that for three cauſes.

11 Becauſe in the particular iudgement, the Soule of man is iudged only; but then both Soule body and ſhal be iudged.

22 In the particular iudgement, the Soule only is either rewarded or puniſhed: but then both Soule and body either ſhall be rewarded with ioyes, or puniſhed with torments.

33 There ſhall be a generall iudgement, to declare to all the world aſſembled then together the iuſt iudgement of God, that he hath iuſtly ſaued the godly, and iuſtly condemned the wicked: yea, the very wicked themſelues ſhall confeſſe no leſſe.

By reaſon of this generall iudgement, ſome light-braind Heretikes p. 65there be that ſay, that there is no particular iudgement at all, and that the Soule immediately after death is not iudged; for whereas it is ſaid, Hodie mecum …ris in Paradiſo: To day thou Luk. …3. 4…Luke 3:4ſhalt be with me in Paradiſe, the ſpéech of our Sauiour to the thiefe: they take that word (bodie, id eſt, to day ) for 1000 yeers; and bring for proofe hereof the place of the Pſalm, A thouſand yeeres Pſal. 90. 4.Ps 90:4in thy ſight are as yeſterday.

But to anſwer them: this place of Scripture is not ſo to be vnderſtood, as that a thouſand yéeres ſhould be taken for a day, or a day for a thouſand yeeres: for he ſaith not a thouſand yerees are a day: but a thouſand yeeres in the ſight of God, that is, in reſpect of the eternity & euerlaſtingneſſe of God, are as a day. It is therfore ſpoken on this maner, to expreſſe the eternity of God, as if hee ſhould ſay: A thouſand yeeres with m…n, in reſpect of the eternity of God▪ a… but as a day: for as many as are hauehave bin and euer ſhall be the dayes of man▪ ſo many thouſand; yea, ſo … th…n p. 66ſand thouſands yeeres is the C…nitie of God: He is Alpha and Omega, the Firſt and the La…, before all beginnings, and ſhall neuer hauehave ending.

Againe they alleage that place of Geneſis: In that day that thou eateſt Gen. 2. 17.Gen 2:17thereof; (namely, of the forbidden fruit) thou ſhalt dye the death.

Now (ſaith the Heretique) thatOb▪ day they dyed not, but liued many hundrd yeeres after: Therfore, by a day, is vnderſtood many hundred yeeres.

Anſ. But I anſwer, that that day (wherin ADAM did eate of the forbidden fruit) euen that day did hee dye▪ that is, that day by ſin he was ſeparated from God, then the which ſeparation no death is greater▪ for▪ Vt v…a corporis eſt anima, … v…a … eſt Deus; Auguſtine.tolle animam … corpus; tolle D… ▪ m… ritur anima… …d eſt, As the ſoule is the life of the body, ſo God is … of the ſoule; take away the ſoule▪ the body dieth; take away God▪ the Soule … So Adam that day dyed in Soule, …eing p. 67ſeparated from the Lord; yea, that day Adam was made ſubiect to death in this life and in the life to come; that day hee had the beginnings of death ſeazing vponupon him: for hee was preſently caſt out of Paradiſe, into the ragged world, he was curſed and all his poſterity; yea, hee ſhould hauehave gone to hell, had not the ſecond Adam broken the head of the ſubtill ſerpent that inticed him to ſinne. Yea, the Thiefe vponupon the Croſſe had Paradiſe that day in his ſoule, in which he ſuffered in body; although hee had it not in ſo full meaſure as hee ſhall at the generall day, when his Soule ſhall take vntounto it the body againe: Hodie, to day, thy ſoule with my ſoule, ſhall be in Paradiſe: that is, in my Fathers Kingdome.

Where is now the Heretique that confoundeth particular iudgement?

Where is now the Epicure, that thinketh there is no iudgement at all▪

Where is now the ignorant Papiſt, that dreameth of …u…ga…ory? and he that …ondly thinketh that there p. 68is Limbus Patrum, and Limbus Puerorum? and where are thoſe that imagin of a place of aboad betwéene Heauen and Hell? I turne them altogether to the Hebrewes for wiſedome, in thisHeb. 9. 27.Heb 9:27 point, where they ſhall find, that after death the ſoule of man is iudged.

Would Paul hauehave ſo earneſtly deſiredPhil. 1. 23.Phil 1:23 to hauehave béen diſſolued, if he ſhould not preſently hauehave been with Chriſt? He ſaith, That in this world we ſee in 1 Cor. 13. 12.1 Cor 13:12a glaſſe darkely. Wée ſée but Gods back-part, as Moſes did: that is, but a little of the fauor of God: But then, Ex. 33. 23.Exod 33:23that is, after this life ended, wee ſhall ſee God face to face: that is, wée ſhall hauehave the full fruition of him.

Wée reade of Diues and Lazarus, Luk. 19. 22Luke 19:22that after death, the one was iudged to heauen, the other to hell: which is a Parable, to ſignifie the truth of this particular iudgement.

And to conclude this point, wéeEccl. 12. 7.Eccl 12:7 read in Salomon: That the duſt returneth to the earth from whence it came, and the Spirit to God that gaue it.

So that wée may learne from hence p. 69the vncertainty of the day of Iudgement.The vſe hereof. Bernard. Well ſaith Bernard: Nihil certius morte, hora mortis nihil …certius: that is, Nothing is more certaine then death, and there is nothing more vncertaine then the houre of death.

Let eueryevery Chriſtian therefore (that wiſheth the ſaluation of his Soule at the day of death and Iudgement) beware of ſecurity and careleſſe liuing: let no man deferre repentance, and amendment of life, leſt death come when hee looketh not for it, and ſo being vnprepared, he be caſt into hell▪ fire.

The old world had 120. yeeres toGen 6. 3. Ionas 1▪ … Pſa. 9. 5, 1…Gen 6:3Jonah 1Ps 9:5Ps 9:1 repent in: Nini…e had 40. dayes to repent in: Iſrael had 40 yéeres to repent in: but thou (O man) knoweſt not how long thou haſt to liue: thou haſt no leaſe of thy life, thou art here to day, & gone to morrow: when the houres of thy life bee ended, and the glaſſe out-runne, thou muſt away: death waiteth for thee in eueryevery place, and at all times; therefore w…ite thou for it, playing the fiue wiſe Virgins, that p. 70had the candle of ſaith burning in the lamps of their hearts, nouriſhed withMat. 25. 4.Matt 25:4 the oyle of louelove and workes.

Ieruſalem, becauſe ſhe could not be brought to repentance, ſhee was deſtroyed: many hundred thouſands of her children were …amiſht to death: and many hundred thouſands taken captiue by Titus Veſpatian, the Roman… Emperour: many caſt to wilde beaſts and deuoured.

The children of Iſrael, becauſe they were a ſtiffe-necked people, and a froward generation, and would not be brought to Repentance; how many thouſands of men lay ſlaine in the Wilderneſſe? 600000. Males, except Ioſhua and Caleb.

The old world, becauſe they wouldGen. 7. ….Gen 7 take no warning, and could not bee brought to amendment of life: the ſ…oud drowned them all, except faithfull Noah and his godly family; And except thou repenteſt, thou likewiſe ſhalt periſh; according to that of Luke: Except yee repent, yee ſhall all likewiſe Luk▪ 13 3▪Luke 13:3periſh: Beware therefore and p. 71repent betimes: F…lix quem …ciunt aliena pericula cautum: Happy is hee whom other mens harmes doe make to beware.

Refuſe no good motions knocking at the dore of thy heart, but entertaine them willingly; according to the counſell of Auguſtine: If hee offereth Auguſtine.thee grace to day (ſaith hee) take it, make much of it, for thou knoweſt not whether hee will offer the ſame to morrow: Make no long tarrying to turne to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: the longer thou remaineſt in thy ſinne, the h…r…er it is for thee to repent: for, Qui …, cra… Poet.minus aptus …rit: If thou b…l not fit for amendment to day thou wilt bee leſſe fit to morrow. Therefore, while the Lord ſpeaketh to thee, make him anſwere: while he calleth vntounto thee, let there be an eccho in thi…e heart, as was in the heart of Dauid: Seeke ye my Pſal. …7. … ▪Ps 7face: thy face Lord will I ſeeke: And while it is ſaid to day▪ harden not your hearts: in no caſe deſerve repentance: for the day of death and iudgement is p. 72vncertaine; as ſaith Chryſoſtome: Poenitenti veniam ſpoſpondit, ſed viuendi in craſtinum non ſpoſpondit, that is, The Lord hath promiſed pardon to him that repenteth, but to liue till to morrow he hath not promiſed.

Obiect. But ſome there bee in the world, that will ſay; (the more it is to bee lamented) I am young, I will liue a while after my hearts deſire, and in my old age I will repent mee of my ſinnes: for God hath promiſed (who will be as good as his word.) At what Eze. 18. 2…. …2.Ezek 18:2time ſoeuer a ſinner doth repent him of his ſinnes from the bottome of his heart, I will put all his wickedneſſe out of my remembrance, ſaith the Lord. And will pray to the Lord for forgiueneſſe of their ſinnes, as Auguſtine Auguſtine▪ſaid before his conuerſion…: Ignoſce (pater) ignoſce mihi, at noli modò: Forgiue mee my ſinnes, but not now: let mee ſinne in my youth, and pardon me in mine age. Thus they would deſire to dye the death of the righteous: but they would not liue the life of the righteous: but let theſe graceleſſe p. 73perſons (that thus defer repentance) beware of two things.

1 Let them beware of ſuddaine death: let them take héed, leſt they be cut off in the middeſt of their ſins; as Iobs Children in the middeſt of theirIob 1. 18Job 1:18 banquetting and ryoting were ſuddainly ſlain by the fall of a houſe: and as the Floud came vnlooked for, and drowned the old world.

Liuie reporteth a fearefull example… of ſuddaine death: ſaith hee, There were two old men that frequented two Harlots, and preſently vponupon the fact committed, they both ſuddainely dyed: the one was thruſt thorow with a dagger: the other dyed ſuddainly of an Apoplexy: which is a diſeaſe ingendred of abundance of groſſe humors, which doe fill thoſe veſſels and receptories of the head, from whence commeth feeling and mouing of the bodie, as ſaith Galen, and therefore… they that hauehave this diſeaſe, are depriued of all ſence, feeling and moouing.

Let eueryevery luſty Younke… and deſperate p. 74ruſſian, ſet this fearefull example before his eyes.

Againe, the young man dyeth as ſoone as the old: the Lambs ſkin is brought to the Market, as well as the old Crones: true is the ſaying of Auguſtine: Vita dum creſcit, decreſcit: vita Auguſtine.mortalis & mors vitalis: id eſt, Life while it increaſeth, decreaſeth; life is dying, and death is liuing.

… Let all men that refuſe the mercy of God, and deferre their repentance, know, that repentance is not theirs at command, but it is the great mercy of God: and it is to bee …ared, that they that hauehave refuſed it offered, when they would hauehave it, they ſhall go without according to that country Prouerbe: If you will not when you may; when you will, you ſhall hauehave …ay: And it is commonly ſeene, that Qu…a, …s ita: as a man liueth (commonly) hee dyeth: Hee that will liue without repentance, muſt look to dye without repentance▪

… God ſpared the Thiefe at the la… gaſpe, yet let no man preſume p. 75of that: for that was a medicine againſt deſperation, and not a matter of imitation: ſaith one; God ſpared one, that no man might deſpaire; hee ſpared but one; that no man might preſume.

Let eueryevery man therefore (in the feare of God) without all delay, ſeeke for amendment of life: let them (as Gregory wiſheth) Plangere, plangenda: Bewayle their ſinnes that ought to bee lamented: and as they hauehave giuen Rom. 6. 13Rom 6:13their members as weapons of vnrighteouſneſſe to iniquitie: ſo let them now giuegive them as weapons of righteouſneſſe to holineſſe. Repent (deare brethren) betimes.

Ʋi…e Deo gratus, toti mundo tumulatus:Poet.

Crimine mūdatus, ſemper tranſire paratus.

That is:

Liue vntounto God a thankefull wight,

And to the world dye:

Cleanſe thy ſelfe from wickedneſſe,

Alwayes ready hence to flye.

Play the wiſe Steward, lay vp p. 76treaſures in heauen for thy ſoule; imitate the Piſmire, which gathers in Summer, whereby ſhee may liue in Winter.

Damaſcene reporteth an excellentDamaſcene. Hiſtory touching this purpoſe: ſaith he, There was a country where they choſe their King of the pooreſt and baſeſt ſort of the people, and vponupon any diſlikement taken, they would depoſe him from his Throne, and exile him into an Iland, where hee ſhould bee ſta…ued to death. Now one wiſe fellow (conſidering hereof) ſent money before into that Iland, into which hee ſhould be baniſhed: and when he was baniſhed, he was receiued into the Iland with great triumph.

So, againſt thou be baniſhed by death from this world, without penny or farthing, (for naked thou cameſt, and naked thou muſt goe) thou muſt prouide w…le thou art in this life, whereby thou mayſt liue in Heauen hereafter.

Let nothing therefore make thée …erre thy amendment, but whileſ… p. 77Chriſt calleth thee, runne vntounto him. Put on Ieromes reſolution, who ſaid: If my Mother were hanging Ierome.about my necke, if my brethren were on eueryevery ſide howling and crying, and if my Father were on his bare knees; kneeling before mee, to detaine mee in their wicked and ſinfull courſe of life, what would I doe? I would ſhake off my Mother to the ground, I would deſpiſe and hate all my kindred and kinſ-folkes, and I would tread and trample my Father vnderunder my feete▪ thereby to flye to CHRIST, when hee calleth mee.

So ſhouldeſt thou reſolue the amendment of life. The Lord of heauen for his ſwéet Sonne Chriſt Ieſus his ſake, grant to thée (deare Reader) and mee, to both of vsus his holy Spirit, that wee may ſtand vnblameable before the Iudge, at that great and generall day: that we (being …l…athed with the long white robes of righteouſneſſe) may bee in the number of thoſe to whom it ſhall be ſaid then: Come, yee bleſſed Children of my p. 78Father, inherit the Kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, deare Father, for thy deare Sonnes ſake, Chriſt Ieſus, our only Lord and Sauiour: to whom with thee and the holy Spirit, wee aſcribe all Power, Glory, and Dominion, and ſing Halleluiah to thee (O bleſſed Trinity) for euer and euer:

Amen.