QVid prodest homini si totum Mundum lucratus fuerit & animae suae iacturam &c. The last day (dearely beloued) you hearde how swéetly gently and louingly our saui­our Christ spake vnto vs, & with most tender and [...]inde heart called vs to fol­low him, and assured vs to haue care Iohn. 14. 15. of our saluation. If you love me (sayde he) keepe my commandements: assu­ring vs withall of his singular graces and benefites of his holy spirit, & that he woulde not onely teache vs, and be our guide, but that he and his Father woulde come and dwell in vs, and so [Page] make our fraile bodyes, as it were, the Temple of the blessed Trynitie, And not only that he would make his dwel­ling place in vs, but also abyde with vs for euer, that we might by him en­ioye eternal life. These swéete allure­ments should not onely moue the hart of Christians to pietie and godlinesse, but also cause vs to haue an earnest & carefull consideration of our soules health and not to neglect this time of grace whereinthe long suffring of God doth mercifully call vs to repentance. But lamentable it is, and it woulde make any true Christian heart bléede to consider, that the most part of vs are not onely so carelesse and negligent, but so dul of hearing, and so heard har­ted, as we take no héed of gentle speche, we be not mooued with swéete allure­ments, yea, we be so a slepe in securitie as no sounde or noyse of Gods mercie will wake vs out of our deadly flom­ber.

Wherefore séeing mercie and milde­nesse will not preuaile with our care­lesse [Page] mindes, séeing swéete and gentle speeche wil not waken our sléepie and sluggish hearts, we must be contented this daye to heare him make terrible proclamation of his iustice, and to put vs in minde of that dreadfull danger, that we shal fal into, vnlesse we spéede­ly haue regard vnto our souls. VVhat doth it auaile a man (saith he) if he win the vvhole vvorlde and loose his owne soule, for it shal come to passe that the sonne of man &c. The somme of Chri­stes spéeche is this. The sonne of man assuredlie shall come vvith mightye povver to iudge the vvorlde, and giue to euerie man according to his deserts: therfore it behoueth you to haue care of your soules. This short argument comprehendeth great and ample mat­ter, of some part whereof I meane at this time by Gods sufferance to speak, and first of the Antecedent, and then of the conclusion. First therefore I will let you vnderstande that the daye of iudgement shall be, and that spéedely. Secondly how and after what sort it [Page] shalbe. And then wil I adde the conclu­sion, how we shoulde haue care of our soules and prepare our selues for the comming of that day.

That there shalbe a iudgement, If there were no more places in the whole scripture, this one might be sufficient, especially if we consider who it is that speaketh it, that is, Christ our Saui­our, Matt. 16. the Sonne of God and trueth it selfe. It shal come to passe (saith he) that the sonne of man shal come in the glo­rie of the Father with his Angels, and then shal he giue to euerie man accor­ding to his doings. But beside this te­stimonie the holy Ghost in sundry pla­ces of the Scripture beareth witnesse to the same. Novv (saith S. Paul) God denounceth to al men in al places that Act. 17. they should repent, because he hath set a day vvherein he vvil by that mā, vvhome he hath appointed, iudge the vvorlde in righteousnesse. And againe: vve al shall appeare before the iudge­ment seate of Christ that euerie man Rom. 14. may yelde to God an accompt for him [Page] selfe. And to the Corinthians: vve must 2. Cor. 5. al appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ, that euerie man maye re­ceiue the vvorkes of his bodie accor­ding to that he hath done, be it good Dan. 7. Zach. 14 Mat. 25. 26. Iohn. 5. Apoc. 1. 2. Pet. 3. 1. Cor. 15. or badde.

But what should I stand in reko­ning vp of manie testimonies seing the holy Scriptures are ful of them? And therefore the Apostles of Christ, & after thē the holy Fathers of the first Church haue layd it downe as a necessarie ar­ticle of Christian faith, the denying or doubting wherof must nedes subuert al Christian religion, and make vs the most miserable of al men.

Wherefore Christians that haue féeble and wauering faith, in these mi­serable and daungerous dayes, must séeke by all godly meanes to streng­then their consciences herein, Where­vnto this reason following must be of great waight and importance with al them that haue any sense of God.

The Prophetes of God many hun­dred yeres before Christ came in flesh, [Page] denounced vnto the worlde, that the true Sauiour Christe Jesus should be sent to worke the redemption of man­kynde, and descriueth his Conception, his Natiuitie, the place and maner of his birth, his state and condition in the world, finally his death, his resurrecti­on and ascention. All which things we sée haue vnfallibly come to passe many yeres since. Therefore those things, that they haue prophesied of the last day, and of his comming to iudgemēt, must also proue as true, and as cer­teinly in due time come to passe. But happily many be so farre gon in hea­thenishe infidelitie, that they beléeue not the Scriptures, yea they will scoffe and scorne at this talke, and thinke it is no better thā a bug to feare babes withall. Yea and these happyly shall be in no small place and counte­nance in the world. For the world is so great with them, that they forget God altogether. Of these speaketh S. Peter. There shall come (sayth he) in 2. Pet. 3. the latter dayes scorners, vvalking af­ter [Page] their ovvn lust, and saying, vvhere is the promise of his comming? For since the fathers slept, all things conti­nue a like from the beginning of the creatiō. Who heareth not such voyces spread cōmōly among the ioliest sort of men in this worlde, or if many doe not heare thē, who is it, y ^• by the obstinate contempt of Gods holy worde, the dis­dain of his messengers, and by the vn­brideled loosenesse of mens liues, may not iustly gather, that this opinion is in the hearts of very many? But I wil answere them as S. Peter in effect doth immediately folowing, that is, that heauen and earth doth so long re­maine, because they are preserued by the worde of their almightie Creator and maker, who as by his worde he made it of nothing, so, when he shall appoint the time, it shall ende and pe­rishe, for the same worde, that had po­wer to make the worlde of nothing: hath also like power, when it shall seeme good, to dissolue it. For pro [...]e here of: the world continued from the first [Page] creation, vntill the generall deluge of Noah, being appointed by the determi­ned decree of Gods holy prouidence that it should so do, and when the same almightie worde of God had sayd, that for sinne he would destroy the whole worlde with water, it was without stay perfourmed. Therefore séeing the same prouidence by his holy spirit hath sayde also that in the ende it shall be consumed with fire, the same worde shall as assuredly be veryfied. For Mat. 5. heauen and earth shall perishe and passe away in vanitie, but the worde of God shall not perish, but that euery iote thereof shal be perfourmed. But, as I haue sayd, these men make small account of Gods worde, I will there­fore leaue Christians, and turne my selfe to Heathens and Paganes, for suche are these scorning and loose Epi­cures of whome S. Peter speaketh, al­though they hide themselues vnder the cloakes of Christians. I aske them therefore, whether they beléeue there is a God or no? If they will say no: [Page] For the foolish hath saide in his heart, there is no God: Then will I, will them to beholde the whole world, and the maruellous workemanship there­of. The Sunne, the Moone, the starres and planets, with the wonderfull mo­uing and course of the same, the earth, the water, the ayre, and all the beauti­full furniture thereof, beastes, trées, plantes, foules, fyshes, rayne, haile, thunder, lightning, with the residue of Gods maruellous workes in his crea­tures, and the maner of growing, brée­ding, and encreasing of the same, and vndoubtedly the almightie power, the excéeding wisedome and vnestimable goodnesse that shall appeare in these things, must néedes conuince them in their owne consciences that there is a God, which in so excéeding and good­ly maner hath framed them. Yea, if he be worthy the name of a man, let himselfe consider but the framing of a litle babe in his mothers wombe, from séed to skynne, sinews, veynes, arteries, bones, flesh, lyfe and reasonable soule, [Page] and verie reason it selfe will tell him, that it is an euerlasting power that doeth it. For the weighing thereof hath cōuinced the consciences of great learned Philosophers, that haue stri­ued to persuade them selues the con­trary. Oh wil they say, these are done by course of nature.

Why, and what is that they call Nature? or what is it, that doeth di­recte that course? is it any thing else then the finger of God working in his creatures? Seneca an heathen Philo­sopher can witnesse so much. Séeing then there must néedes be a God, let them reason thus with themselues. If there be a God, he must néedes be a iust God, and the office of iustice is to rewarde them that be good, and to pu­nish them that be euill. For this direc­tion the same God by nature hath im­printed in vs. But in this lyfe, al­though God oftentimes shewe some notable examples of his iustice, in re­warding the good, and punishing the euill, yet most commonly the wicked doe prosper and flourishe, as Dauid [Page] in sundry places complayneth, and cō ­trarywise the faythfull and godly are afflicted. In so muche that S. Paule 2. Tim. 3. sayth, vvho so euer vvill liue godly in Christ Iesu, shall be sure to suffer per­secution, and therfore it is truely said, Crux comes euangelij, the crosse is the v­suall companion of the Gospell. Yea such is the miserie and trouble of good men in this worlde that Saint Paule sayth, if there be not a resurrection of 1. Cor. 15. the deade, and another life after this, Christians are of all other most mise­rable. Christ him selfe in many places telleth his faythfull and blessed Apo­stles, and vnder their names all other true Christians, that they shoulde not in this worlde be so sure of any thing as of affliction, trouble, and per­secution. Wherefore it must néedes folow as a most necessarie consequent, that after this life there must be a iudgement, in which men according to the vnfallible iustice of God, must re­ceiue as Christ sayth in this place, ac­cording to their doings, be it good or [Page] bad. This reason hath persuaded the most parte of y ^e heathen Philosophers, that the soule of man is immortal, and receiueth after this life eyther reward or punishment. Yea, in persuasion hereof, some with their owne handes haue dispatched them selues out of this life, as it is writen of Cato Vti­censis, and other: And a great number vpon the same hope of a better life af­ter this, haue constantly contem­ned death, and cherefully receiued the same. Seing then heathen persones that neuer had the true knowledge of God, by the very leading of humane reason haue growne to an assured per­suasion, that after this life there shuld be a iudgement for the rewarding of the godly, and punishing of the wic­ked: What a dreadfull in [...]idelitie is it in Christians to séeme any thing to doubt of the same?

Séeing therefore it is by Gods holy worde, and by reason conuinced that there shall be a iudgement after this life, it remayneth that we as certeinly [Page] vnderstand, that it shall come to passe very shortly. And for proofe hereof let vs first cal to minde the similitude and borowed speeches, that the holy Ghost vseth in the scriptures, to declare the sodaine comming thereof.

Christ himselfe and S. Paule compa­reth it to a thief that commeth sodain­ly in the night, when th [...] master and family thinketh of no danger, but that they may quietly take their rest. If the Matt. 24. housholder had knovvē (saith christ) at vvhat houre the thiefe vvould haue come, he vvoulde haue vvatched and not suffred his house to haue ben bro­ken vp. VVatch you therefore and be ready, for the sonne of man vvil come you knovve not at vvhat houre. S. Paule resembleth the comminge of the last day not onely to the sodaine as­sault of a thiefe in the night, but to the throwes of a woman traueiling with chylde. For this he saith: VVhen they shal say vnto you peace, peace and all is vvell, then sodainly shall destructi­on come vpon them as the panges of [Page] a vvoman in trauaile, & they shall not scape it.

In which wordes he noteth y ^e quiet­nes & secure peace of confidence & good estate y ^• men shal haue at the later day. Christ Matt. 24. cōpareth it to a flashe of lightening comming from the East vnto the West, then which, you know nothing can be more sodaine, for it is done in the twinkling of an eye. Ther­fore, Derely beloued, you must be as­sured that in a moment, yea, euen in the twinkling of an eye, when you be in most securitie, the last day shall op­presse you. And therefore no man is hable to assigne the day, the moneth or the yere, as some presumtuously haue Act. 1. taken vpon them. For Christ himselfe saith, it is not knowen to the Angels of heauen, no nor the sonne of man in that he is man: but to his Godheade nothing is vnknowne. The wisdome of God hath kept this secret from all men, thereby to stirre vp the faithful alway to be in a readinesse. For such is the frowardnesse of our corrupt na­ture [Page] that if we vnderstand of any de­laye, we abuse the patience and long sufferance of God to our owne further condemnation. We ought therfore so to frame our selues in al godlinesse as if euery day should be the last daye of the world, or at the least the last daye of our life.

And although the houre, day or yere of Christes last comming be to vs vn­knowen, yet hath he giuen vs certeine tokens whereby we may assuredly know when it approcheth or draweth nigh. For thus he writeth: Learne a Mat. 24. Mar. 13. Luke. 19. parable of the figge tree vvhen his branche is yet tender, and the leaues sprong, ye know that sommer is nigh. So likevvise vvhen ye shall see these thinges come to passe, be ye sure that it is nere euen at the doores. And true­ly, dearely beloued there is nothinge mentioned there by Christ to come be­fore the last day, or by the holy Ghost in any other place of the Scriptures but it is euidently euen to the eye of al faithful people fulfilled, so that for a­ny [Page] thing that we know to the contra­rie, we may loke for it euen this yere, euen this moneth, euen this day, euen this houre, and I beséeche almightie God déepely to impresse this cogitati­on into our hearts, that we may saye with S. Hierome VVhether vve eate or vvhether vve drinke, or vvhatsoe­uer vve doe, vve may seeme to heare Matt. 24. Mar. 13. Luke. 19. this voyce of the Archangel continu­ally sovvning in our eares, Surgite mor­tui venite ad iudicium. Aryse ye dead and come to iudgement. In the Gospel Christ first noteth these signes and to­kens that shall appeare before the later day, in the sunne, the moone, the starres and planets, in the ayre, in the water, in the earth, in the Church, in the state of principalities and king­domes, in the life & behauiour of mē, which if I shoulde stande to rehearse particularly, and for proofe adde the testimonie of times and witnesse of histories in this latter age, an whole day would not suffice for y ^e declaration thereof. Haue we not had within this [Page] few yeres aboue an hundred eclypses of the Sunne and of the Moone? haue we not sene many Cometes and other strange and wonderous fierie impres­sions in the ayre? haue we not had many horrible tempestes of winde, rayne, hayle, snowe, thunder and ligh­tening▪ to the great hurt of man and beast? What shal I say of the greatde­luges of water, at Naples, at Rome, in Germanie, in Flaunders, in Eng­land? snowe hath fallen twentie Cu­bites déepe, the Sea about Pontus hath bene frosen to the thickenesse of thirtie cubites, Earthquakes, in Ita­lie diuers, in Gréece, in Asia, in Bar­barie, in Spaine, in England & many other places. As for monsters both by sea and by land, of men & of beasts, a marueilous number▪ [...] mainie of which are recorded and put in writing with the note of their times, places & signes, and of these maner of figures before spoken sundrie haue lighted here with vs in this Realme, so that we can not say but God forewarneth [Page] vs by the as deepely as he hath done a­ [...]e Nation. But these things are pas­sed away with sleight consideration, because they haue causes Incident to nature whereby they may be thought to come. But christians ought not so lightly to let flippe those signes and forewarninges which our mercifull Lord and gracious Sauiour the true­est Prophet that euer was hath giuen vs to stirre vp our faith and expectati­on of his last comming, that our mai­ster when he commeth sodainely may not finde vs as lewde seruants slée­ping in securitie, and contempt of God and godlynesse, and so being taken be cast into that place, where shalbe we­ping and gnashing of téeth, for euer to continue in y ^• portion of hypocrites. Who is ruler of that nature? and dis­poser and gouernour of those seconde causes, vnto which they attribut these extraordinarie euents? is it not our Lord and God maker of heauen and earth, who guydeth al things that be done, not onely by nature, but suchs [Page] also as séeme to vs to fall by chaunce? For if a sparowe fall net, or a little worme of the earth créepe not, or a rude Asse wander not without his certeine prouidence, much more ought we to beleeue that so strange thinges as I haue spoken of before, are not disposed by any other power to fall in these or those dayes but by his onely, to veryfie the promises, threatnings and forewarnings, that his sonne our Sauiour hath giuen vs of his last cō ­ming to iudgement. By the like con­tempt and misinterpreting of those signes and wonderous tokens that God sent before the destruction of Hierusalem, the stubbourne Jewes by gods iust iudgment, hardened their heartes, and foaded foorth themselues with vaine hope vntill the very daye that the wrath of God in most dread­ful maner did light vpon thē, with the vtter destruction of their citie and de­solation of their people. There appea­red a Comet and other firie impres­sions, but they assigned the causes to [Page] nature as we doe. A man seuen yeres together neuer ceased crying, VVo be to Jerusalem, vvo be to Jerusalem, and they imputed it to madnesse.

The great brasen gate of the tem­ple which twentie men might scant open, beeing fast barred and locked, without handes sundrie times rushed open, and they saide it was a signe of Gods fauour and of great prosperitie to come vnto them, but in the end, as I haue said, they were surprised with most miserable desolation. Christians should beware by their folly. For sure­ly I thinke that the ende of the peo­ple of the Jewes, and the destruction of their citie and Temple is a type and figure of the last day, and of those things that shall then happen in the Church, as I coulde more largely de­clare if time would suffer me. But be­cause this kinde of signes is so neglec­ted with mante, and finde such shiftes in mans reason to auoid the significa­tion of them, for the assured proofe of the approching of the last daye, I will [Page] rest onely vpon thrée or foure places of the worde of God, which shall bring so euident testimonie thereof, as no mā that hath anie sense of a true chri­stian, and is not altogether caried a­way with the loue of the worlde, and luftes of the flesh can with safe consci­dence denie it. The first is Daniel. To whom when it pleased God in a visi­on Dan. 7. to declare that state of the worlde that should be euen to the end thereof, by the figure of the foure beastes, he described y ^• foure Empires, that should follow one the other before the ende. The Babylonians by a lyon, whiche should be destroyed and eaten vp by the Beare of the Persians, and that consumed and wasted by the foure Leopards of the Gretians, and that rent and torne, and trampled vnder foot by the terrible monster of the Ro­manes, after which there is no menti­on made of any other Empire but one­ly that litle horne, that grewe out of the Romanes Empire to great might and power, by which is ment the king [Page] dome of Antichrist that shall fight a­gainst the Saints of God in the latter ende of the worlde. Which kingdome of Antichrist now this many yeares hath shewen it selfe in the power of the Turke and of the Pops. Now derely beloued waigh these things. The Empire of the Babylonians continu­ed not long after this vision, but was subdued by the Persians. The Empire of Persia continued. 231. yeares and was conquered by Alexander and the Gretians. The Gretian empire in A­lexander and his successours deuided into foure kingdomes prospered about 300. yeres, and after great and longe warres was consumed by the Ro­manes which in growing & declyning hath now continued aboue a thousand yeres and an halfe and is come euen to the last pinche, euen to the féete and toes mixed with brasse and claye as the same Daniel descriueth it Chap. 9. to note the weakenesse and small strength thereof in the ende. For who séeth not nowe y ^• the empire is almost [Page] nothinge, and consisteth onely of a fewe free Cityes in Germanye? For all the residue, it hath left vnto the worlde, as all men may sée, the po­wer of the Turke and of the Pope which both haue rysen, and continued very neare about one time. For Ma­homet in Arabia, and the Pope in Rome beganne their vsurpation with­in twelue yeres together. Nowe im­mediately in the ende of the Romane Empire and power of Antichrist, Da­niell describeth the comming of Christ to iudgment. And I beheld (sayth Da­niell) Dan. 7. vntill the thrones vvere set vp, and the ancient of dayes did sit, and so forth, in suche sort as you shall after heare in the description of the laste iudgement. Seing therefore experi­ence of times hathe taught vs the trueth in the former part of this pro­phesie, touching the rysing, succession, and decaye of other kingdomes, we must néedes beléeue, if we haue any Christian fayth in vs, y ^• the same spirit of God will performe the like trueth [Page] in the residue, and that the ende of the worlde, and the last iudgement shall folowe vpon the decaye of the Ro­mane Empire, and by the comming of our Sauiour Christ, vtterly destroy and pull downe the power of Anti­christe.

The seconde testimonie of the holy Scriptures, for the aproching of the last daye, in S. Paule to the Thessal. Let no man deceiue you, sayth he, by 2. Thes. 2. any meanes. For the Lorde shall not come, except there come a falling a­vvay first, and that the man of sinne be reuealed first, the sonne of perdition. what doth S. Paul meane thinke you by falling avvay? vndoubtedly a great and wonderfull reuolting, and falling from the fayth of Christ.

Nowe call to your remembrance that within a meane number of yeres after Christes ascention, all the thrée partes of the worlde submitted them selues to the fayth of Christ, as the hy­stories do euidently declare. All Asia, euen to the vttermost partes of the [Page] Indians. All Affrike, euen to the ex­treame borders of the Aethiopes. All Europe without exception of any part. Adde also the Iles about the mayne land, among which we of this Realme of England are. Conceiue wel in your mynde this general profession of Chri­stian fayth, that then was ouer all the earth, and then viewe and consider in your myndes, the state of Christiani­tie at this day, and vndoubtedly you shal perceiue a maruellous reuolting and falling from the fayth of Christe, to haue bene nowe a good many yeres. The furthermost partes of Asia east­ward, fallen againe eyther to heathe­nishe Idolatrie, or to such superstition as doth not much differ from it. All the residue of Asia, together with a great part of Affrike, adde also no small por­tion of Europe vnder the Turke, re­uolted to the wicked blasphemie of Mahomet: so that the countries of the world that nowe professe Christe, are not the tenth part of them that before time haue bene christian. Yea and a­mong [Page] them that professe the christian religion in Europe, for the more part a number of yeres haue bene caried a­way with the superstition and idola­trie of the Antichrist of Rome. In so much that if Christe doe nowe come, in comparison of the multitude of mis­creants, he shal find true that he spake in the Gospel: vvhen the sonne of man Luke. 18. shall come, doest thou thinke he shall finde any fayth in the earth? Seing therfore we sée now y ^• general apostacy and reuolting from the fayth nowe in our time fallen out, the want whereof principally S. Paul accounteth in his time to be the staye of Christes com­ming, we must néedes be persuaded that it can not be farre off.

As touching the latter part of S. Paules wordes to the Thessal. Of the reuealing of the man of sinne, the sonne of perdition, vvhich is an aduersarie and is exalted aboue all that is called God, so that he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shevving him selfe that he is a God: because the full [Page] discourse for the profe of the comming of this Antichriste woulde require a long processe, and more then this time woulde beare, for the tryall thereof, call to your remembrance this briefe note. That since the declination and decay of the Romane Empire, for the space of certeine hundred yeres, you haue séene euen in the church of God, euen in Italy, euen in the seate royall of the Empire of Rome, a certeine po­wer, which vnder the pretence of ho­lynesse, hath aduanced it selfe aboue al kings and princes of the earth, that hath claymed the full power of both swordes, and to that purpose hath she­wed it selfe in open procession, the one day in his pontificall ornaments, and the next in armour like a prince: that hath also auaunted, that he hath al po­wer immediately from God, and all kings of the earth by mediation from him: that hath put the same in practise by deposing princes, & altring of titles at his pleasure in Arragon, in Naples, in Sicilie in Englād, in Fraunce, in the [Page] Empire it selfe, and welnere in al pla­ces of Christendome: that hath had Emperours, Kings, and Princes to holde his bridle, to goe at his stirrop, to kysse his féete, to stande at the gates of his citie whole dayes together bare­footed, and coulde not haue grace to come to his presence, that hath driuen the noblest Prince in the earth, to put his head vnder his féete, and he in the meane time with outrageous blasphe­mie, caused this verse of the Psalter to be song: Super aspidem & Basiliscum ambulabis, conculcabis Leonem & Dra­conem. As if he should haue sayd, behold here is that proude Antichrist, that the Scriptures witnesseth, shoulde treade vnder his féete the most noble state of Emperours, & in the fare of the world, apply vnto him selfe that verse which the Prophet ment of the sonne of God, and sauiour of the worlde Christ Jesu. Call I say further to your remem­brance, that you haue séene this power shewe him selfe as proudly towarde God, as he hath done to princes of the [Page] earth, that he hath called hym selfe the heade of the vniuersall church, Christes Uicar in earth, that he hath taken vpon him for money and brybe­rie, to sell remission of sinnes, to dis­pence with most horrible vices against the lawe of God, to deliuer from hell, to dismisse out of purgatorie, to com­maunde the Angels of heauen, to al­ter the ordinances and institutions of Christ. That hath suffred his parasites to proclaime that he hath a diuine po­wer in him, aboue the nature of man, that he can not erre, that he is another God in earth, that he is neyther God nor man, but a monster betwéen both. These properties I say cal to your cō ­sideration, and compare them with the discriptions of Antichrist, made by the Prophets and Apostles, and then dout, if you can, whether the man of sinne, the sonne of perdition, be come into the world or no, and consequently, whe­ther the end of the world, and the com­ming of the last dreadfull iudgement, be euen at hand or no.

[Page]The thirde testimonie is taken out of the words of Christ, Luke. 17. where he sayth, As it vvas in the dayes of Noe, so shall it be also in the daye of the sonne of man, they did eate and drinke, they married vviues and vvere married, euen vnto the day that Noe vvent into the Arke, &c. Like­vvise also as it vvas in the dayes of Loth, they did eate, they did drinke, they bought, they solde, they planted, they builded, vntill the same day that Loth vvent out of Sodome, and so­deinly it rayned fire and brimstone from heauen and destroyed them. Euen thus shall it be in the day that the sonne of man shal be reuealed. &c. Why you will say vnto me it is no of­fence to eate, to drinke, to marry, to plante, to buy, to sell, to builde: and those things haue bene vsed in al ages. True it is that you say, neyther doth Christe this to reproue those things in them selues, but in those words he no­teth the great securitie that was a­mong men at those dayes, and the ex­cessiue [Page] delight that they had in these pleasures & ornamentes of the world, reposing suche confidence in them, as though the world should for euer haue continued, and as if there had béene none other heauen to haue rested in but this. And in the trust hereof dyd they neglect the preaching, warning & calling to repentance vsed by Noe and Loth, euen vntill Gods wrath came vpon them: and euen in like maner doth Christ signifie that it should be in the ende of the worlde. And when I praye you was there, since the worlde was first made, so great securitie in sinne, such contempt of godlinesse, such confidence in worldlye prosperite, suche feasting, banquetting, and daintie feeding, such gorgeousnesse in apparell, such sumptuousnesse in buil­ding, suche vnseasonable marrying, such planting, such building, such buy­ing and purchasing, suche raking and scraping together of worldly pelfe, as if men did determine to abyde still vp­on the face of the earth, or as if euerie [Page] man did striue to passe other in riot & sensualitie, & whē they haue consumed them selues with monstrous excesse in all pleasure, then not contented with that they haue, by hooke or by crooke they pull from other, euen from the ministers of Christe, euen from the church of God, euen from the prechers of the Gospell, and poore seruantes of God, which euen among the heathens haue alwayes had their honourable portion left vnto thē. Wherfore howe they doe estéeme the true worship of God in these days, men do shew, when they declare suche impietie towardes his ministers. And when they are re­proued for these enormyties, it is so farre off that they doe repent and a­mende, that they scoffe and ieste, they rayle and slander, they taunte and re­proue, as if they were at defiance with God and his messangers, or as if they had made a couenant with death and with hell, to be out of their danger. But when they say peace, peace, all is sure, then sodainly, as Paule sayth, shall destruction come vpon them, as [Page] the Deluge did vpon the sonnes of mē in the dayes of Noe, and fire from hea­uen vpon Sodom, in the time of Loth. For euer before the horrible plagues of God, obstinate securitie, and con­tempt of Gods calling, hath gone be­fore as a messanger, and shewed it self in the lyfe of men.

The fourth testimonie of the spée­dy comming of the last daye, is the wordes of Sainte Paule. 2. Tim. 3. Knovve you this (sayth he) that in the latter dayes shall be perillous times, for men shall be louers of them selues, couetous, boasters, proude, blasphe­mers, disobedient to parents, vnthank­full, vngodly vvithout naturall affec­tion, truce breakers, false accusers, ryo­tous, fierce, despisers of them that are good, traitors, headie, high minded, lo­uers of pleasures, more then louers of God, hauing a fourme of godlines, but denying the povver thereof.

Who would not thinke that Saint Paule did in spirite, foresée the ma­ners of this time, and these dayes [Page] into which we are falne, and those wicked vices, wherwith the world is now ouerwhelmed. What state of men is there in which most of these vices doe not shew them selues, and that in such maner, as neuer in any age the like? what slacke and corrupt gouernment in Magistrates? what stubbournesse and disobedience in subiectes? what pryde and selfe liking in the riche and wealthy? what spite and enuie in the poore and beggerly? what loosenesse and wantonnesse in youth, what couetous­nesse and waywardnesse in age? what cockering and euill ensample of life in parentes? what dnnaturalnesse and vnkyndnesse in children? what heady­nesse and fiercenesse in maisters? what negligence and vntruth in seruantes? what craft, subtiltie, and deceyte, what counterfayting and dissymuling, what false and vniust dealing, almost in all men? Trueth and sinceritie is bany­shed, cousoning and falshoode is estée­med wisedome, and christian simplici­tie is counted péeuishe follie. A man [Page] would in these dayes maruell to heare of that playne dealing that in old time hath bene. I haue hearde that the gy­uing of a mans hande, should haue as­sured his heart, and tyed his fayth and trothe, but nowe all the bondes that mans wit can deuise, will scantly hold that whiche one couenanteth with another. If there were no other argu­ment, but the ripenesse that sinne and wickednesse is nowe growen vnto, it should sufficiently proue that the glory of this world must shortly fall & decay.

There is an olde saying of much cre­dite among the ewes, and is called dictum domus Eliae, the saying of the schole of Elias, and is attributed to the sonne of the widowe, which Elias ray­sed from death to lyfe. The summe of it is, that the worlde should remayne sixe thousande yeres, that is, two thou­sand before the law, two thousand vn­der the lawe, and two thousand vnder Messiah. The first foure thousande we sée by iust computation fulfilled before Christe, of the last two, one and more [Page] then an halfe is passed, nowe if we call to our remembrance, that Christe him selfe hath promised that for his electe sake, because of the excéeding trouble, miserie, and wickednesse, the latter dayes should be shortned, we shall easi­ly gather, that the world hath not ma­ny yeres to continue, and howe fewe we knowe not, for howe much or how litle he will abridge them, we are vn­certeine.

Nowe séeing the proofes be so eui­dent, that the last day can not be farre of (for séeing the figge trée leaues be spreade, Sommer must néedes be at hande) the nexte is (the more to moue our dull hearts) diligently to consider, howe and in what maner it shall be. The story thereof Christ briefly com­prehendeth, Mat. 25. VVhen the sonne of man (sayth he) shall come in his glo­ry, and all the holy Angels vvith him, then shall he sitte on the throne of his glory, and before him shall be ga­thered al nations, and he shal separate them one from another, as the shep­hearde [Page] deuideth his sheepe from the goates, and he shall set the sheepe on the right hande, but the goates on the left, & so forth as there foloweth. Chri­stes first comming was with al méeke­nesse, lowlines & simplicitie, according to y ^e saying of the Prophet, Behold thy king commeth to thee meeke, and sit­teth Zach. 9. vpon an Asse. He came then to saue sinners, and therefore he shewed him selfe altogether in mercy and gen­tlenesse, but his latter comming shall be with great power, maiestie and glory, for then he commeth as a dread­full Judge, to reward in iustice the vn­repentant sinners, that contemned his great mercies offered at his firste comming. But let vs examine the ma­ner of his comming somewhat more particularly. After those signes and tokens, that goe before his comming (whereof I haue already spoken) there be other also ioyned with the verie time of his latter appearing. The sun shall be darkened, the moone shall lose her light, the starres shall fall from [Page] heauen, and the povvers of heauen shall be moued, the earth shall burne, the firmament shall melt away, and the last trumpe shall blowe, and the voyce of the Archangell shal be heard, summoning as it were all people, aud sounding in their eares, Surgite mortui & venite ad iudicium, arise you dead and come to iudgement, whiche Matt. 24. 25 26. Mar. 13. Luke. 19. voyce S. Hierome thought he hearde euer ringing in his eares. Then shall the sonne of mā appeare in the cloudes with great Maiestie as is sayde, and the dead shall rise, and they that be ly­uing, in the twinckling of an eye shall be changed, and caryed into the ayre to appeare before the Lorde, who com­meth to iudge the worlde in ryghteous­nesse.

This maner of Christ his comming beside his owne wordes in sundrie places of the Euangelistes, is witnes­sed 2. Thes. 1. by S. Paule. 2. Thes. 1. VVhen the Lord Iesus Christe shall be reuealed from heauen vvith the Angels of his povver in flaming fire rendring ven­geance [Page] vnto them that knovve not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. The very place whence he shall be reuealed giueth a great authoritie and maiestie vnto his comming to iudgement from heauen, saith S Paule, that is, from the seate and habitation of the eternall and e­uerliuing God, where is al power, wisdome and iustice. From thence, saith he in another place, doe we looke for our sauiour, the Lorde Jesu. And the Angell, to the Disciples at the ascenti­on Phi. 3. Act. 1. of Christ, VVhy stand you, saith he, gasing vp into heauen, this same Iesus vvhich is taken from you into heauen shal so come euen as you haue sene him goe into heauen.

And therefore all christians in their beliefe confesse that Christ is ascended vp into heauē, from whence, say they, he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead.

In the witnesse of the Apostle aboue rehearsed the power and ende of his comming is noted, vvith the Angels [Page] of his povver, saith S. Paule, and to this end, That he may be reuenged on them that knovve not God, nor haue not beleeued his Gospel. Which thing muste néedes be most terrible to the wicked, as it is in the same place more precisely noted. But of all other the Prophet Daniel most gloriously discri­beth the maner of his comming. I be­held Dan. 7. (saith he) til the thrones vvere set vp, and the Auncient of dayes did sit, vvhose garment vvas vvhite as snow, and the haires of his heade like pure vvool, his throne vvas like firie flame, and his vvheles as burning fire. There issued forth before him a firie streame, a thousand thousande ministred vnto him, and ten thousand stoode before him, the iudgment was set and the bo­kes were opened, &c. First the Pro­phet sayth the Thrones vvere set vp, whereby it may appeare there be moe Thrones then one, & that this Judge shal haue a great number of assistan­ces to be as witnesses of his iustice a­gainst the wicked, and these shalbe the [Page] number of his saintes, as it is witnes­sed in sundrie places of the Scriptures Verely verely I saye vnto you, saith Christ, That vvhen the sonne of man shal sit in the throne of his maiestie, you that haue follovved me in rege­neration shal sit also vpon twelue seats iudgig the twelue tribes of Israel. This iudge is noted by Daniel to be An olde man vvith his haire as white as vvool, Therby to signifie the reuerence, wis­dome and experience y ^• is in him, & that Mat. 19. he cā not let passe any thinge by igno­rance, errour, or follye: his garmentes as white as snowe declare vnto vs his securitie, vprightnes and integritie in iudgement, not respecting any per­son nor being corrupted with fauour, hatred or money. The firie stream e y ^• issueth forth before him, & the flaming throne that he sitteth in, signifie the dreadfull force and pearsing strength of his iudgement which no creature is able to resist. As fire consumeth all things & is consumed of nothing, so doth the straight iudgement of God con­sume [Page] all the wicked of the earth, For God, as the Scriptures saye, is a con­suming fire.

And the Prophet Esay saith, The Lorde shall comme in fire, and his Esay. 66. chariot shall be like a vvhirle vvinde, that he may recompence his vēgeance in his vvrath and his indignation in a flame of fire. For the Lord shal iudge all fleshe with the fire and vvith his svvorde. The assistance of an infinite number of saints and Angels set forth vnto vs the wonderfull maiestie and power of the sonne of God in iudge­ment, for if one Angell in one night were hable to destroye 185000▪ of the host of Senacherib, of what vnestima­ble power is he, which hath a thousand thousand, that is an infinite number of Angels and Archangels, of powers and principalities, and dominions at­tending on him at his commandemēt to execute what soeuer iudgement he shal appoint them? The Bookes that are laid open doe descriue vnto vs the detection of al mens faultes, and the [Page] opening euen of their secret thoughts and déedes. For the iustice of God hath kept, as it were, a perfite register of al things euē of our idle thoghts & words so that our consciences shall be at that day straightly burdened and charged with them al.

Not muche differinge from these wordes of the Prophet is that discrip­tion of Christes comming whiche S. John vseth in his Reuelation. And I Apoca. 19. savv heauen open and behold a white horse and he that fate vpon him vvas called Faithful and true, and in righ­teousnes he doth iudge and make bat­taile, his eyes were as a flame of fire, & on his head were many crownes, & he had a name vvriten, that no man knew but himselfe. And he vvas cloathed in a vesture dieped in bloud, & his name is called the vvorde of God. And the armies that vvere in heauen follovv­ed him vpon vvhite horses cloathed vvith vvhite and pure raynes. In this discription the white horse issuing out of heauen is the pure and sincere doc­trine [Page] of the Gospell sent from God in these latter dayes before the last ap­pearing of Christ. For by y ^e preaching of the Gospell as by an horse or chari­ot Christ is caryed. He that sitteth on this horse is Christ himselfe beeinge faithful in all his promises and verie trueth it selfe, who commeth to iudge the world in righteousnes and in bat­tell by force of trueth to ouercome Antichrist and all his enemies. His eyes like flaming fire, declareth his wrath and vehement displeasure a­gainst the aduersaries of his trueth. He hath many crowns vpon his head, to declare that he is king of kings, and Lord of Lordes, that al power both in heauen and earth is giuen to him and that it is in his power with the crown of glorie to rewarde all his faithfull seruants that haue constantly fought vnder his banner against the deuil & Antichrist. His garment dieped in bloud signifieth that the conquest of his enemies consisteth in his passion & sheading of his most precious bloud, for thereby sinne was taken away, [Page] and the power of Satan ouerthrowen. The armies of heauen follovving him on vvhite horses and apparelled in vvhite and pure reynes: Be the num­ber of his saints and faithfull profes­sours of his Gospel which in this vale of miserie haue constantly fought a­gainst the enemies of his trueth. The sworde that issueth out of his mouth is the woorde of God, and principally that two edged sworde of his sentence at the latter day, by which he shal pro­nounce on the one side, Goe ye blessed of my father & inherit the kingdome that hath bene prepared for you since the foundation of the vvorlde, and cō ­trariewise vnto the wicked ones on the left hand, depart from me ye cur­sed into euerlasting fire vvhich is pre­pared for the deuil and his Angels.

By this discription of the last iudge­ment left vnto vs by the holy Ghoste in the scriptures of god we may know that at that day we shal not haue to do with a common & fraile man, but w ^t a most dreadful Lord & terrible Judge, y ^• [Page] knoweth the verie secretes of mens heartes, and iudgeth according to per­fite righteousnes: Whom (as Augu­stine saith) neither fauoure can per­uert, nor mercie bend, nor money cor­rupt, nor satisfaction and repentance at that day can aswage.

Whose beautie and brightnesse is such, as darkeneth euen the starres of heauen, whose might is so great as it melteth mountaines and the whole frame of the worlde before him, whose wisdome is so perfect that by it the wisell of the worlde are intrapped in their owne craftinesse, whose puritie is so excellent, that in respect of it all things are vncleane, whose iustice is so exquisite, that the verie Angels are not able to abide that straight mea­sure of it. Before this God I say, be­fore this Judge shal the whole worlde at that day appeare, and yéelde a most straight accompt of all things that e­uer they haue done, spokē, or thought. Oh dearely beloued, let vs followe therefore the counsaile of that good. [Page] father Ephrem the Syrian, Prepare­mus nos sine macula inueniri in terribili il­lo Christi examine, &c. Let vs prepare our selues that in that dreadfull exa­mination of Christe, we may be found without spot. For then al our thoughts wordes and déedes, shall be reproued and conuinced of corruption, yea our idle talke, our lose and vncomely ge­stures, and all our smallest offences shall be layde to our charge. Yea those things wherein in this lyfe we did put our greatest pleasure and glory, shall then be vnto vs our greatest griefe and torment. Let vs therefore in time repent, and before hande enter into a straight account with our selfe, for as the same father addeth, omnia dura, & aspera & amara occurrent hijs qui poeni­tentiae tempus perdiderunt. All thinges shall be harde, grieuons and vnplea­sant to them that léese the time of their repentance in this life. In that day, sayth Bernarde, for the wicked to hide them it shal be vnpossible, though they desire the mountaines and rockes to [Page] fall vpon them, and to appeare before the Judge, it shall be vntollerable. For in so great distresse their owne consci­ences shall torment them, and the se­cretes of their heart shall vexe them, while their owne heartes shall force them to be their owne accusers, and with trembling spirits they shal stand, looking for that moste grieuous and dreadfull sentence, Goe you cursed in­to euer lasting fire. If there be any so obstinat, wicked, and forlorne in sinne, as he trembleth not at the cogitation of these things: Let him imagine that whiche shall be most certemly true, that he heareth that hydeous sounde of the last trumpe and voyce of the Ar­changell, summoning all fleshe to the iudgement seate of God, that he séeth the heauens melting with fire, and the whole world burning about him, that aboue him he seeth the sonne of God, comming with the glorious armie of his Saintes and Angels, that before him he seeth layde open the booke of all his wicked thoughtes, wordes, and [Page] déedes, that within him he féeleth the worme of his conscience gnawing with perpetual torment, that beneath him he séeth hell mouth readie to swal­lowe him, that he séeth in euery quar­ter the Angels of God gathering toge­ther his electe, and reiecting him as a wicked reprobate, that on his right and left hand he beholdeth cruel fendes watching vpon the sentence of the iudge, to carie him to that place where shal be perpetual flame without quen­ching, wéeping and gnashing of téeth without ending, darkenesse without light, griefe without ease, sorow with­out comfort, where death shall be wi­shed for and neuer obteined, where shall be nothing but lothsomnesse, hor­ror, stench, and that of all other shal be moste grieuous, endlesse sense of the wrath of that God and iudge, before whom he standeth.

This maner of iudgement is, as you sée, most terrible, the spéedie apro­ching thereof is verie certeine, the signes and tokens can not deceiue vs, [Page] they are vttered by the Prophete of God, by the Apostles of Christe, by Christe our Sauiour, by the spirite of God, by trueth it selfe that can not lye, we therefore may be well assured, sée­ing al things to be performed, that the yere of our account is nigh, that that dreadfull Judge is comming, that the day of Gods wrath is at hande, and euen in our neckes we know not how soone. Therefore I most heartily pray you, and in the feare of God and loue of your selues, desire you spéedily to cast away the care of the worlde, the loue of the fleshe, the delight of sensuall pleasure and iolytie, whiche holdeth your myndes in suche wicked and de­testable securitie. Set before your eies the image of his comming in such Ma­iestie and terror, thinke you heare con­tinually the voyce of the Archangell sounding in your eares. If feare of pu­nishment may driue you to it, he is a seuere Judge: If assurance of reward may encourage you, he is a bountifull Lord: If hope of forgiuenesse, before [Page] hand asked, may comfort you, he is a mercifull Sauiour. Delay not there­fore, nor loose not this time of repen­tance.

Séeing then it is most certein there shall be a general iudgement, and that the time thereof must néedes be verye nighe, and that before a Judge of so great Maiestie, and the examination and account so straight, to al them that shall neglect the time of their repen­tance: It behoueth all that haue any sense of God, to be carefull for their soules, and to prepare them selues for the comming of that dreadfull daye. Oure preparance consisteth in these thrée things, whereof Christe him selfe warneth vs, Mar. 13. Cauete, Vigilate, [...] ­rate. Beware, watch, pray.

The first is a caueat or a thing to take héede of, for feare of that danger that may come thereby. And what it is Christ had shewen a litle before. False Christes (sayth he) and false Prophetes Mar. 13. shall ryse, and shall shevve signes and vvonders to deceiue, if it vvere possi­ble, [Page] euen the verie elect. Sed cauete, but take heede, beholde, I haue shevven you all things before. This is that we muste beware of in these latter dayes. Of the like Christ putteth vs in mynd, when he sayth in another place: Be­vvare of false Prophetes vvhich come Matt. 7. vnto you in sheepes cloathing, but in­vvardly they are rauening vvoulfes. There can no more mischief and dan­ger come to the people of God, then by false and corrupt doctrine, for without true fayth and religion, no holynesse of lyfe, séeme it to the worlde neuer so glorious, can be acceptable in the sight of God. Among these false teachers principally we haue to take héede of the Papist, and of those shéepe skinnes wherewith he wrappeth him selfe, least we be deceiued by them, let vs lift vp his goodly apparell, and we shall sée vnderneath, the panche of a gréedie woulfe, and the clawes of a cruell Ly­on. Bée not abashed then nor asto­nied, when you heare the goodly names of the Catholike Church, the greate [Page] multitude of suche as be of their opini­on, the long continuance of many yeres. For if these had ben good groūds of mens consciences, they might well haue serued for the Jewes and false teachers, against the true Prophets of God in olde time, and after for Annas and Cayphas, against Christ him selfe and his Apostles. For where were the Prophetes staine? where was Christe put to death? where were the Apostles persecuted and kylled? was it not in Jerusalem the citie of God? was it not among the Jewes the chosen people, and in déede, the churche of God? had not they among them the lawe of God and his ordinances? did not they crye against Jeremie, the Temple of God, the Temple of God is with vs, we haue the couenant that God made to our forefathers, euen as nowe the pa­pistes doe alledge that the Church of God, the Church of God is with thē, they can not erre, they haue the pro­mises of Christ, that his Spirit should neuer fayle them. The false Prophets [Page] had a thousand, for one that did folow the true Prophetes. Yea, Elias thou­ght that he had bene left alone. The Scribes and Pharises in the ende had a great number, and in déede a gene­rall consent in comparison of that litle number and sinall flocke that folowed Christe and his Apostles. Therefore take héede of these things, y ^• you be not miscaried by them, they are but lambe skinnes, wherein the wolfe of Rome hydeth him selfe to deceiue thée. Remē ­ber that all which say they haue Abra­ham to their father, are not by and by the true séede of Abraham. Remember that the Scribes and Pharises some­time sit in Moses chayre, and beare the countenance of the lawe of God. Re­member that Saint Paul telleth thée and doth giue thée warning, that the sonne of perdition, Antichrist himself shoulde in the latter dayes sit in the Temple, that is, the Churche of God. Remember that the same Paule tel­leth for certeintie, that in the latter 1. Tim. 4. dayes should come certeine teaching, [Page] the doctrine of deuils, hauinge their consciences marked with an hot iron, forbidding to marrie and to eate such meats as God hath prepared to be re­ceiued vvith thankesgiuing.

Consider whether the Pope hath for­bidden Priests to marrie, and denoun­ced it a grieuous sinne if men doe eate flesh vpon certeine dayes, and then ga­ther whether they be the Churche of Christ, or vnder that colour in déed the Synagogue of Antichrist. Oh say they the doctrine of the Gospel now taught is a new doctrine neuer heard of in y ^• Church before these late yeres. This is not a sheepe skinne (good people) but it is a venimous tuske of a poysonous Bore with blasphemous lying, striken into the Gospell of Christe thereby to wounde it, and make it hatefull. But the Gospel that we teache is the same Gospel that was first from the begin­ning by the Spirit of God reueiled to the Patriarkes, and Prophets, and after spred into the worlde by Christ himselfe and his Apostles. So that our [Page] doctrine is as auncient as the Pro­phets, as Christ himselfe, as his Apo­stles, yea, as the worlde is auncient.

For it procéeded from God himselfe at the beginning, when he spake to the Serpent and sayd, That the seed of the vvoman should breake the head of the Serpent, That is, that the true Messi­ah should come of the séede of the wo­man, and destroy the kingdome of siune and Satan. This Gospell was renued vnto Abraham, and confirmed with the seale of circumcision. When he said, In thy seede all the nations of the earth shalbe blessed, &c. This Go­spell was preached by Father Jacob, in his death bedde saying, This scepter Gen. 49. shal not depart from Iuda, &c. Vntill Silo come & he shal be the expectatiō of the Gentiles. This Gospel preached Moses also, The Lord thy God (saith he) to the children of Israel, shall rayse vp to thee a Prophet out of thine own Deut. 18. people, and from among thy brethren and him shalt thou heare. This Gos­pel was renued by God himselfe vnto [Page] Dauid most euidently, and afterward by al the Prophets, Esaie, Ieremie, E­zechiel, Daniel, and al the residue. So that our doctrine and the Gospel that we preache (as I haue said) is as aun­cient as the Apostles, as the Prophets and Patriarkes, as the worlde it selfe is auncient.

For our Gospell is none other but this, that we haue remission of sinnes, and are reconcyled to the fauoure of God onely by Christ and by his death, that he onely is the mediatour and in­tercessour betwene God and vs. That he onely is propitiation and full sacri­fice for our sinnes, that by him onely we be made the children of God, and heires of eternal lyfe. All doctrines a­gréeing with this we receiue, all doc­trines repugnant to this we reiecte & say with S. Ambrose, Quaecunque Chri­stus non docuit iure damnamus: What­soeuer. Christ hath not taught we iust­ly and worthily condemne. Therefore doe we iustly condemne the most part of the papistical doctrine as newe and [Page] phantastical, because it doth not agrée with this auncient Gospell of Christ vttered from the beginning by God himselfe, but resteth vpon the obser­uation of mens traditions, and vn­writen verities, deuised within the space of a fewe hundred yeres vtterly against and beside the worde of God.

Satan in these latter dayes to worke suspition to the doctrine of the Gospel at this time by Gods great goodnesse renewed, hath raised also manie other peruerse and wicked teachers, as the Arrians denying the deitie of Christ. The Anabaptistes, beside manie other errours improouinge the grace and strength of baptisme in infants. The Libert ines dissoluing all true confes­sion of faith and practise of godly life. The familiars of loue in whome Sa­tan turneth himselfe into an Angel of light, and vnder pretence of holy life bringeth in most pernitious errours and heresies. Therefore, I saye vnto you of al these, beware, and take héede that you be not seduced, and settle [Page] your consciences vpon that sure foun­dation and stronge rocke of Christes Gospell whereof before I haue tolde you.

The next parte of our preparance Mat. 24. 25. Mat. 13. Luk. 12. 21. 1. Pet. 5. 1. Cor. 16. 1. Thes. 5. is▪ Uigilate, which precept Christ, often and in sundrie places repeateth. S. Peter also Sobris estote & vigilate, Be sober and vvatche, and S Paule, vvatch and be stronge in faith, & to the Thes. Let vs vvatch and be sober. To watch is to be carefull and diligent, vtterly contrarie to that securitie and care­lesse wretchednesse wherewith the worlde at this daye is ouerwhelmed, & drowned as it were in the delights and lustes of worldly pleasures. We are willed therefore to cast away this sinfull securitie, and to haue an ear­nest care of our selues. Well saith in Gen. c. 2. Chrisost. Decet nos esse sobrios & vigiles &c. It becommeth vs to be sober and vvatchful and to haue a perpetual and continuall care of our soules. For it is the part of a Christian alvvay to stand in battaile against the lustes of the [Page] flesh, and that the louers & preachers of our Lord and master should alvvay ring in our eares. And againe, Omnes vos vigilare & sobrios esse oportet, &c. It behoueth you al to vvatche and be sober and neuer to sleepe in securitie. Because there is no set time vvhen our enemie vvil assault vs. Therefore let vs alvvay be vvatchful, let vs alvvaye In Gen. ca. 6. be carefull of our saluation and so vve shall neuer bee taken vpon the so­daine,

Christ our Sauiour teacheth vs Luke. 13. how we should watch and after what maner we should be in readinesse. Let your loynes be girded about you and your lights burning in your handes and ye your selues be like vnto men that vvaite for the comminge of their Lord, vvhen he vvill returne from the vvedding, that vvhen he shall come and knocke they may open vnto him immediatly. Happy are those seruants vvhom, vvhen the Lord commeth, he shal find vvaking. In that he saith we must haue our loynes girded, he spea­keth [Page] after the maner of the East coun­ [...]reyes where they vse long garments and when they goe any iourney, they girde themselues and trusse their gar­mēts about them that they may iour­ney more hastely and readily. By this therefore we are taught that in this worlde and vale of miserie we are but as pilgrimes and wayfaring men, and as Paule saith, haue no citie nor place long to abide in, For our countrey & dwelling place is in heauen, whence we looke for our Lord and Sauiour Christ Jesu. VVe be citizens of Hea­uen and of the housholde of God: Where we belieue assuredly for euer to dwel. We must therefore cast away the loue, the care, and y ^• remembrance of this life, & dayly go on in our way to heauen there to enioy the heritage of that kingdome where Christ our Sa­uiour after his resurrection and ascen­tion hath taken possession to our be­houfe. For as he naturally, so we by adoption are heires of Eternall life. So long therefore as we be here going [Page] on our iourney we must remember S. Paules counsaile, that is, That the time of this life is short, and therefore 1. Cor. 7. they vvhich haue vviues must be as if they had none, and they that vveepe as though they vvept not, and they that laugh as though they laughed not, and they that vse this vvorlde as though they vsed it not. Whereby it is ment that we must vse the things of this life onely of necessitie for the time, and that neither aduersitie or wéeping, nor prosperitie and laughing nor marriage, nor the pleasures and possessions of this life, should so occu­py our hearts, that they shoulde make vs to forget our countreye and king­dome vnto whiche we are passinge through the wildernesse of this wicked and sinful worlde. Our Conuersation, as Paule saith, should be in heauen, & our whole or principall care shoulde be vpō heauenly things, neither must y ^• immoderate loue of this world cause vs ouer gredely to loke back to the de­lights & pleasures therof, as Lots wife [Page] did to Sodom, least as she was turned to a Salt stone without sense, So the iust iudgement of God d [...]e cast vs of as reprobates and turne vs into stony hearts that shal haue no sense of God and godlinesse, let vs therefore guide our selues and go on constantly in our purposed iourney. But vve must haue light in our handes, that is, we must haue the knowledg of Gods holy word and our mindes must be diligently in­structed therewith. For that is the light that doth teache and instruct vs and in deede truely directe vs which way we shal take to heauē. Thy word (saith Dauid) Is a Lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my steppes. By the worde of God onely we are direc­ted the true way. If we be guided by the duskie light of mans reason, vn­doutedly we shall wander out of the way, and take some bye path that shal lead vs to eternall perdition. This light of Gods worde we may not ca­rie in our mouthes, nor set on our [Page] heades, nor hange on our girdles, but we must carie it in our hands, that is, it must appeare in our liues and shew it selfe in our workes and doings ac­cording Mat. 5. to that Christ saith, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good vvorkes and glori­fie your father that is in heauen. And surely if we haue the right vse to féede the lampe it will vndoubtedly burne and with faire light shew it selfe, that is if through Gods good spirit working in vs by his holy worde we come in a right and true faith in the promises of God, certeinly it will shine in our life and with great brightnesse set foorth the glorie of God. This oile because the holy virgines lacked, & had not in readinesse, when the Lorde came so­dainely in the night, the doore of eter­nal Mat. 25. life was shut against them, & they excluded vnto perpetuall darkenesse where is wéepinge and gnashinge of téeth. We ought therefore according to the direction of this true light eue­ry man carefully to walke in his cal­ling, [Page] and as good and diligent seruants with al obedience doing those things that the Lorde hath appointed, as to looke for his comming, because, as is before declared, he wil come sodainely at that houre that we thinke not, we must be ready to open whensoeuer he knocketh. He knocketh by the prea­ching of his holy worde and calling to repentance, he knocketh by signes and tokens from heauen, he knocketh by troubles and afflictions, he knocketh by sickenesse, & lastly of al he knocketh by death. Whensoeuer he knocketh to come in, and dwel in our hearts, if we open not it is dangerous, but if we o­pen not when he knocketh lastly by sicknesse and death, vndoubtedly he then passeth from vs for euer, and lea­ueth vs as the possession of Satan to eternal fire prepared for him & his An­gels. But it is exceding perilus to defer y ^• opening of y ^• gates of our hearts vn­til that y ^• last pinch, for litle know we whether God will suffer vs then to be hable to open, séeing we haue so often [Page] before either negligently or stubburn­ly, and obstinately refused to open whē he hath by al louing meanes ten­derly and mercifully called and knoc­ked to come in.

Our last preparation is to pray. Ui­gilate, saith Christ, & orate, VVatche and pray least you enter into tentati­on. The worlde is flattering, the fleshe is fraile, the deuil readie and continu­ally As a roaring lyon going about & seeking vvhom to deuoure. Séeing then our enemies be so strong and we so weake & féeble, it behoueth vs con­tinually to cal for helpe where it is to be had, But euerie good thing, and e­uerie gratious gift commeth from a­boue from the father of lightes. This father of lights is y ^• eternal God y ^• fa­ther of our Lorde Jesus Christ, of this father therefore we must by most ear­nest and continual prayer desire assi­stance and the strength of his holy spi­rit to helpe vs that we be not caried away from the carefull cogitation of our dueties by the allurements of the [Page] deuil, the flesh, and the worlde. Woor­thely saith that good father and Mar­tyr Ciprian: Incumb amus gemitibus as­siduis, Lib. 1. epi. 1. &c. Let vs be earnest vvith con­tinual gronings and often prayers, for those are the heauenly armour that make vs to stand strongly & valiantly to cōtinew, those are the spiritual wea­pons that do defend & saue vs. And a­gaine, Let vs aske & vve shal receiue, and if there shal be any delay or tary­ing, Lib. 4. epi. 4. because vve haue grieuously of­fended, let vs knocke and the doore of Gods mercifull goodnesse shalbe ope­ned, especially if vve knocke at the doore vvith prayers, groninges and bitter teares vvherein also vve must abide and continvve. Let vs therfore continually lifte vp the handes and armes of our harts vnto God, as Mo­ses did his armes in the battaile be­twéene Israel and the Amalachites: and then, in that strong battaile that is within vs betwéene the spirit and the fleshe vndoubtedly the spirit shall vanquish & ouercome, but if we faynt [Page] and holde downe our handes, surely our enemies wil wa [...] euery day stron­ger then other, and so at the last giue vs the ouerthrowe. Let vs not fainte therefore but praye continually vnto God, in the name of Christ Jesu our Lord. Thus if we doe as men wel pre­pared, we shal abyde, warily, watche­fully, and constantly lookinge for the last comming of our good Lorde and Christ to iudgement. And then he that commeth to the wicked as a dreadful and terrible iudge, shall come to vs as a bountifuf Sauiour and redéemer, as in whose merite and Passion we haue alway put our whole trust and confi­dence, though that daye be to the wic­ked so terrible as before I haue descri­ued, yet it shal be to vs the daye of our chiefest ioye and comfort, and there­fore our Sauiour Christ willeth vs when the signe [...] of that day be [...]come, to lift vp our heades because our re­demption Mar. 13. is at hand. For then we shal not onely be deliuered from all those afflictions, troubles & dangers which [Page] in the continuance of this fraile world we haue suffered, but also we shall be by him adiudged to the fruition and enioying of that heritage whiche he hath purchased for vs by his bloud: wherefore the greater that the maie­stie of his comminge is, the greater confirmation shall it be to our fayth. For therin we shal both acknowledge the trueth of his worde, who long be­fore hath tolde vs it shoulde be so, and also we shall euidently sée, that he is that mightie Lorde and God, that, ac­cording to his promise, is able to per­forme all that he hath sayde, and vtter­ly to vanquish, subdue, and treade vn­der foote, all these powers, whatsoeuer y ^t are enemies to his electe and chosen flocke. The worlde they sée destroyed before them: death ended and consu­med, sinne confounded, Satan and all his powers euen at the last cast, and looking presently to be throwen into that lake of fire, that is prepared for him and for his angels. Whē we haue then nothing to feare, howe should we [Page] not be in moste perfite ioy. All those things bréed comfort to the godly, that cause terrour to other. Though the ex­amination & account be verie streight, though Satan shall lay before vs the booke of our own consciences to accuse vs, we shal easily disburdē our selues, by acknowledging the things, and by cōfessing that there is in our selues no iustice in confidence, when we dare that day stand in iudgement, and that oure whole trust and confidence, is in the innocent death of that immacu­late Lambe, that dyed to take away the sinnes of the whole worlde: and for assurance thereof, we shall shewe acquittances of his most blessed pro­mises, and vpon them with the hande of our fayth, lay sure hold. For he hath sayde, God sent not his sonne into the vvorlde to iudge the vvorld, but that the vvorlde shoulde be saued by him. He that beleeueth in him is not iud­ged. And agayne. So God loued the vvorld, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, that vvho so euer doth beleeue [Page] on him, should not perishe, but haue lyfe euerlasting. And agayne, He that heareth my vvorde, and beleeueth in him that sent me, hath life euerlasting, and commeth not into iudgement. but passeth from death to life. And if Satan shall lay any false thing vnto vs, or charge vs with the weaknesse of our fayth: to oure vnestimable com­fort, we shall sée on our right hande as it were the fruites of our faith, she­wed in christian charitie, which the iudge him selfe shall not onely testi­fie to be done, but acknowledge them to be done vnto him selfe, by saying, I vvas hungry, and ye gaue me to eate, I vvas thirstie, and ye gaue me to drinke, I vvas a stranger, and you in­terteyned me, &c. So often as you did one of these things to the smallest of your brethren, I acknovvledge it to be done vnto my selfe. And therefore we shall ioyfully looke for that blessed and comfortable sentence: Come ye blessed of my father, and enter into the kingdom that is prepared for you, [Page] before the beginning of the vvorlde, there shall we still beholde, as Basile sayth, the numbers of Angels, the as­sembly of our first Fathers, the seates of the Apostles, the thrones of the Prophetes, the scepters of the Patriarkes, the crownes of the Martyrs, the pray­ses of the iust. Yea, there shall we pos­sesse suche ioyes, as neyther eye hath séene, nor eare hath hearde, nor tongue can tell, nor penne is able to expresse, vnto which endlesse ioyes, our Lord and Sauiour Christe bring vs, to whome with God the Father and the holie Ghost be al ho­nour. &c.