THis Gospel (beloued) intreateth o [...] the second comming of our Sauiour Ie­sus Christe vnto [...] iudgement: & it con­firmeth that article of our fayth, by which we confesse, and beleeue, that y^e same Iesus, which take fleshe of the virgin, which suffered vn­der Pontius Pilate, which was buried which rose againe the thirde day from the dead, and which ascended into hea­uen, shal come againe at the end of the world, to iudge the quicke, & the dead: [Page 5] when all that are in the graues shall [...]e [...]re the voice of the Sonne of God, Iohn. 5. [...]9. [...]d shal come foorth: they that haue [...]ne good, to the resurrection of life; [...]d they that haue done euil, to the re­surrection of damnation. Wherof our Sauiour tooke occasion to speake, by [...]eason of the talke that he had with his [...]sciples about the temple of Ierusalē. For when the disciples wondered at [...]he gorgeous decking of the Temple with goodly stones, and costly iewels, [...]e sayd, that the time shoulde come, Luke. 21. [...]. in which it should be destroied, that there should not be left one stone vpon ano­ [...]er, that should not be throwē down. Then the disciples asked him, saying: Maister, when shal these things be? And [...]hie tolde them of certain signes and to­kens which should goe before, lest they should faint, by reason of those troubles which were at hande. This doone, our Sauiour taketh occasion to speake of the vniuersal, and latter iudgement, & likewise declareth what tokens and [...]es shal goe before the same. There [Page] shalbe (sayeth hee) signes in the Sunne and in the Moone, and in the starres, & in the earth, the people shalbe at theyr wittes ende, through dispaire. The sea and the water shall roare, and men hartes shall faile them for feare: and so foorth. In which péece of scripture w [...] haue to consider: First, of the comming of Iesus Christ vnto iudgement: Secondly, of the signes and tokens that shal goe before his comming: Thirdly, of the maner of his comming: Fourth­ly, of the cause of his comming: And fiftly, how wée ought to order, & to pre­pare our selues against his comming.

It is a thing firmely to be beléeued, that God hath set a certain time of the worlds destruction, though vnknowe [...] vnto vs, bicause by the sinne, and wic­kednes of vngodly men, being meruel­lously polluted and accursed, it doth to­gether with all other creatures subiect to the same corruption, Rom. 8.22. desire a deliue­rance. Howbeeit wicked and vngodly men, whose delight is to liue carelesly in this worlde, suppose that the worlde [Page 6] shal stil continewe as it is, and that it [...]l neuer haue end. But wonderful is [...] and execrable, that among the people of God shoulde bée Saducées; & among Christians such kind of men, which of [...]et purpose, against the manifest worde [...]f God, dare boldly affirme, that the world shal haue no end, that there shall [...]e no resurrection of the flesh, no life af­ter this life, no rewarde for wel doing, [...] punishment for euil doing, and that the world, as it is now, so it hath bene, and shal continue for euer. Which kind of men are plaine Atheistes, men which neither beléeue there is any God, or di­uine prouidence at all. Against which apparant dotage, and wicked cogitati­ons of wicked men, through want of true knowledge, by the instinct of Sa­tan, wée haue to arme our selues with the worde of God, and to confirme our consciences by the testimonies of holy scripture. For the scripture doeth eui­dently prooue vnto vs, that one day the sonne of God Iesus Christ shal come to iudge the quick & the dead, that all flesh [Page] shal rise, and that the worlde shal h [...] an ende.Es. 13.9. Esay saieth: The day of th [...] Lorde shal come, terrible, full of indi [...] nation, furor, and wrath, to make th [...] lande waste, and to roote out al the si [...] ners that are therin. Es. 66.15. The lord wil com [...] with fire, and his chariots like a whirlewind, that he may recompence his anger with wrath, & his iudgement wit [...] the flame of fire: for the Lord wil iudg [...] with fire, and with his sworde all fleshe [...] Daniel sayeth,Dan. 7.18. I sawe in a vision b [...] night: And beholde, there came one i [...] the cloudes of heauen like the sonne [...] man, to whome was giuen power an [...] dignity regal, that all people, tribes, [...] tongues shal serue him.Mal. 4.1. Malachy saith▪ The day commeth that shal burne a [...] an ouen, and al the proude, yea and al [...] such as doe wickednes shalbe strawe, and the day that is to come shall bun [...] them vpp.Psal. 96.13. The Prophete Dauid saieth: For hee commeth, to iudge the earth, and with righteousnesse to iudge the worlde, and the people with his trueth. And this which the Lords [Page 7] forshewed by the mouthes of his holy [...]phetes, our Sauiour Iesus Christ [...]th confirmed. For in the 13. chap. af­ [...]r the gospel of S. Matthewe hée saieth [...]:Mat. 13.41. The sonne of man shal send forth [...]s angels, which shal gather out of his [...]ingdom al things that offende, & them [...]hat do wickednes, and shall cast them [...]to a fornace of fire, there shalbe wee­ [...]ng, and gnashing of téeth. And there [...]e lykeneth the kingdome of heauen to [...] draw net cast into the sea,Mat. 13.47 which whē [...]t is full, men drawe to lande, and sit [...]wn, and gather the good into vessels, [...]t cast the bad away. So shall it bée (sayeth Christ) in the end of the world. [...]e that there is nothing more certaine [...]hen that Christ shal come vnto iudge­ment: Nothing more certain then that the fashion of this worlde shalbe chan­ged.1. Cor. 7.29. Rom. 8. [...]3. The fashion of this worlde that [...]ow is, shal vanish: Not onely the crea­ture, but wee also that now [...] mourne in our selues, and wayte for the adoption of the children of God, euen the deliue­rance of our bodies, shalbée deliuered [Page] from the bondage of corruption, i [...] the glorious liberty of the sonnes [...] God, at the comming of the Lorde I [...] sus Christ vnto iudgement. Howbe [...] wicked and vngodly men can not b [...] perswaded touching the comming [...] Christ vnto iudgement, of whome S▪ Peter prophesied long tyme ago.2. Pet. 3.3. The [...] shal come (saieth hee) in the last daye mockers, which will walke after they owne lustes, and say: Where is the promise of his comming? For since the fathers dyed, all thinges continue in th [...] same estate wherein they were at th [...] beginning. But this they knowe not, [...] that willingly, howe that the heauen [...] a great while agoe were, and that th [...] earth that was in the water appear [...] vp out of the water by the word of god by the which things the world that th [...] was perished, being ouerrunne with water: But the heauens and earth tha [...] now are, are kept by the same word in stoare, and reserued vnto fire, again [...] the day of iudgement, and perdition o [...] vngodly men. Dearly beloued, bée n [...] [Page 8] ignorant of this one thing, howe that [...]e day with the lord is as a thousand [...]re, and a thousand yéere as one day. The Lorde that hath promised, is not [...]ack to fulfil his promise, as some men [...]nt slacknes: As who should say, Let [...] mā thinke that therfore Christ shall [...]euer come vnto iudgemēt, bycause he [...]th procrastinate, & put of for a tyme, but let him thinke that he doeth it, for y^t he is patient to vs ward, & would haue no man lost, but would receaue al men to repentance.Rom. 2. [...]. Despisest thou the ri­ches of Gods goodnes, patience, & long sufferance? And remembrest thou not, howe that the kindnes of God leadeth thée to repentance? Which lenitie of [...]od, if thou doest abuse, thou heapest thée together the treasure of wrath a­gainst the day of vengeance, when shal­be opened the righteous iudgement of God, which wil rewarde euery man ac­cording to his deedes.

And to the end that this thing might she rather sinke into our hartes and myndes, and lest wée shoulde be altoge­ther [Page] vnprouided, our sauiour hath to [...] vs of certaine signes, and tokens th [...] shal go before his comming. There sh [...] be signes (saieth hee) in the Sunne a [...] in the Moone and in the starres, and the earth the people shalbee at the [...] wittes end thorowe dispaire. The sea the water shall roare, and mens hart [...] shall faile them for feare, and for lo [...] king after the things that shal come v [...] pon the earth: For the powers of he [...] uen shal moue. These fiue signes sh [...] goe before the comming of Christ vn [...] iudgement. First, there shalbe sign [...] in the Sunne, and in the Moone, and [...] the starres: that is, as S. Marke wr [...] teth:Mar. 13.24 The Sunne shalbe darkened, th [...] Moone shal not giue her light, and t [...] starres of heauen shall séeme to fall. Secondly, in the earth the people shal [...] be at their wittes end thorow dispain [...] That is, as S. Marke againe doeth u [...] terprete,Mar. 13.8. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdome against kingdome. Thirdly, the sea and the water shal [...] roare: that is, there shalbée cruell tem­pestes, [Page 9] vehement, and vnaccustomed [...]des. Fourthly, by reason of these, [...]ens hartes shal faile them for feare, & [...] looking after the thinges, that shall [...]ne vpō the earth. Fiftly, the powers [...]f heauen shal moue, that is, there shall [...]ee straunge sightes in the heauen: and [...]n the earth there shalbee earthquakes [...] al quarters. Briefly, the heauen, the [...]rth and sea, shal witnes and declare, the day of the lord to be at hand. Now (beloued) wée our selues may witnesse that most of these signes, and tokens [...]re passed alreadie. For wée haue séene [...]trāge Eclipses of the Sunne & moone, [...]ée haue séene nation to rise against [...]tion, and kingdome to rise against kingdome, we haue heard of cruel tem­pestes, vehement, and vnaccustomed [...]indes, with other strange thinges. And therfore wée may iustly prognosti­cat, yea and beléeue that the ends of the worlde are come vppon vs, and that it wil not be long before Christ wil come vnto iudgement. Beholde (sayeth our sauiour) the figge tree, and all other [Page] trees, when they shoote foorth the buddes, ye see, and know of your ow [...] selues that sommer is nigh at hand. [...] likewyse yee also, when yee see the things to come to passe, be ye sure th [...] the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand But wée haue séene most of these come to passe, and therfore let vs thi [...] no otherwyse but that the kingdom God is nigh at hand, and that the lor [...] is ready to take his fanne in his hād,Mat. 3.12. purge his floore, to gather his wher [...] into his barne, and to burne the cha [...] with vnquenchable fire. Other toke [...] there are besides these, to prooue vn [...] vs that the end of the world hangeth [...] uer our neckes: among which, in i [...] iudgement, the preaching of the G [...] pel is not the least. For as our sa [...] sayeth in the 24. chapter after the G [...] pel of S. Mathewe:Mat. 24.14 The Gospel of [...] Kingdom shalbe preached thorow e [...] the world, for a witnes vnto al nation and then shal the end come. By wh [...] words the Sonne of man doth plai [...] declare, that about the time of t [...] [Page 10] worldes destruction, the true, and com­fortable doctrine of Christ shoulde bée preached. Whereby it is gathered, that the same was obscured and darkened, & almost defaced by reason of the false Prophetes & Apostles afore that time. But nowe againe by the vnspeakeable grace and mercy of God, we do plainly perceaue such a cleare light of the Gos­pel to shyne ouer the whole world, that in spite of the deuil, and his adherents, it casteth his bright beames ouer al na­tions. And therefore what other thing may wee looke for, but (as Christ did foretel) a sodaine downfal of this mise­rable and wretched world. Another to­ken of the ouerthrow of the world is, because wee doe plainely perceaue all things dayly to wax worse and worse, and to decrease in their vertue. For ex­ample: The ayre is oftentimes cor­rupt, sometime w^t vntimely showres, sometime with vnprofitable drynesse, nowe with too much colde, and nowe with extreame heate: The fruitfulnes of the earth is not such as it hath béene [Page] afore tyme. Moreouer, wée may think [...] and perceaue the foundations of the world to be worne out, and the same to bée falling vppon our shoulders, whe [...] we sensibly perceaue our selues to li [...] in those daies of which our Sauiour hath foreshewed: I meane, eating an [...] drinking, marrying and married, buy­ing and selling, planting and building. For neuer more did men eate & drinke, neuer did they faster marry wyues i [...] the dayes of Noe: neuer more did they buy and sell, plant and builde in th [...] dayes of Lot than they doe now; which may prooue vnto vs, that the endes o [...] the worlde are come vpon vs. For as our Sauiour sayth: After these exam­ples shal it be, Luke. 17.30. when the Sonne of man shal appeare. And if wée compare th [...] tyme present with that which is past, and set the manners of men before our eyes, wée shal perceaue wickednesse to haue his ripenes, and to raigne almost euery where without cōtrolment. For notwithstanding that God thorot. A [...] vnspeakeable mercy in these latter [Page 11] dayes hath giuen vs the vse of his most [...]ly worde, whereby we shoulde frame [...]r lastes and affections, according to [...] most holy will; what desire of righ­ [...]usnesse, what loue of vertue, what [...]e of godlynesse, or what zeale of re­ [...]ion is there to bée founde? yea who is [...]t in Christianitie, eyther colde, or [...]arelesse? Wée may nowe plainely see greatest vice to bée counted for chiefest [...]ertue, and those men to bée most com­mended, which of al other for impietie [...]ght most to bée dispraysed. For the [...]rafty deceitful men are counted wise, [...]he couetous are called good husbands, [...]he prodigal are called liberal, and rich men are déemed the best men. Besides S. Paule foresheweth, that in the last dayes shal come perillous tymes.2. Tim. 3.1. For men (saieth hée) shalbe louers of them­selues, couetous, bosters, proude, cur­ [...] speakers, disobedient to father and [...]ther, vnthankeful, vnholy, vnkind. [...] so foorth. And when did men more [...]et by themselues? When were they [...]re couetous? When were they more [Page] proude? when more giuen to cursed speaking? when more disobedient to fa­ther and mother? when more vnthank­ful? when more vnholy? when more vnkinde? And to bée short: when more geuen ouer to worke wickednes,Eph. 4.16. & that with al kind of gréedines, then at thes [...] dayes? And therfore it must néedes fol­low, the comming of Iesus Christ vn­to iudgement to bée nigh at hand.

Whose comming shalbe in a cloude with power & great glorie. In the first, of y^e Acts,Act. 1.9. after the talke that our saui­our had with the Apostles, whiles they beheld, hee was taken vp, and a cloude receaued him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly vp to Hea­uen as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stande yée gasing vp into heauen? This same Ie­sus which is taken from you into Hea­uen shal so come, euen as ye haue séene him to goe into heauen. But hée went in a cloude into heauen, and therefore hée shal come in a cloude from heauen, [Page 12] with power, and greate glory: euen as [...]. Paule wryteth in the fourth of the [...] Epistle to the Thessalonians. 1. Thes. 4.16. The [...]orde shal descend from heauen with mighty shout, with the voyce of the [...]rchangel, and trumpe of God. Such [...]albe the manner of the comming of [...]esus Christ vnto iudgement.

And what shall there then ensue? S. [...]aule sayth: Then shal we which liue, [...] remain, be caught vp in the cloudes [...] [...]iete the Lord in the ayre. But (say [...]u) shall not they that are aliue, and [...]maine in the comming of the Lorde [...]nto iudgement dye? Yes no dout. For [...]therwise S. Paule shoulde bée contrarie [...] himself in that he sayeth, writing to [...]he Hebrewes: Heb. 9.27. It is decréed that al men [...]hal once dye. But they that so remain, [...]nd are aliue in the comming of the Lorde, shall not dye by distaunces of [...]ymes, as they who are spent and con­ [...]ed with diseases, and are buried. For they shall not bée buried, neyther [...]hal they dye being wasted, and consu­med with long sicknes, but foorthwith [Page] being extinguished, forthwith they sh [...] be chaunged, and shalbe caught vp [...] the cloudes to méete the Lorde in th [...] ayre. Euen as also the Apostle writet [...] in the 15.1. Cor. 15.51. of the first epistle to the Corinthes. We shal not all sleepe, but we shal al be chaunged, and that in a moment, and in the twinkling of an eye, a [...] the sounde of the last trumpe. Bu [...] what shal there become of those bodie which were loosed from the soules before the comming of Christ vnto iudg [...] ment?1. Thes. 4.16. Héere S. Paule answereth: Th [...] dead in Christ shal first aryse: meanin [...] that the bodies that before the com­ming of Christ vnto iudgement ste [...] in the graues, shall rise out of th [...] graues, at the sounde of the trumpe, a [...] the voyce of the Sonne of God.1. Cor. 15.52. Fo [...] the trumpe shal blowe, & the dead shal [...] rise incorruptible, & they shalbe changed. For this corruptible shall put [...] incorruptibilitie, and this mortal sha [...] put on immortalitie. And this is th [...] which the Apostle againe, concernin [...] this mutation and change, writeth t [...] [Page 13] the Philippians. Phil. 3.20. Our conuersation is in heauen, whence wee looke for the Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, which shal change our vile bodies, that they may be like to his glorious body, ac­cording to the mighty working wher­by hee is able to subdue all thinges to himselfe. And therefore the Saducees haue fouly erred, that denyed the resur­rection of the dead: whereof Iob béeing fully assured, saieth thus:Iob. 19.25. I knowe that my redeemer liueth, and that I shall rise out of the earth in the last day, and shal be couered again with my skinne, and shal see God in my fleshe, yea and shal beholde him, not with other, but with these same eyes. For if there were no resurrection of the dead (which the Saducees affirme) then mark you what S. Paule inferreth:Mat. 22.23. 1. Cor. 15.16 if the dead (sayeth he) rise not againe, then is Christ not risen againe. If Christ bée not risen againe, then is your fayth in vaine, and yet are you in your sinnes, and they also that are fallē a sléepe in Christ are perished. And if in this life onely wée beléeue on [Page] Christ, then are wée of al men the most miserable. And what auailed the great patience of Christians in al their trou­bles, and cruel persecutions, if this do­ctrine of the consummation of y^e world, and of the comming of the Lord, with al that belongeth theretoo, were but a vayne imagination of Christ, of the prophetes, and Apostles, and of all the blessed martyrs in the Church of God? What did it aduantage the godly, of al others in the world most miserable, to suffer most cruel tormentes, to bée rac­ked,Heb. 11.35. to bée stoned, to bée hewen asunder, to walke vp & downe in sheep skinnes, and in goates skinnes, in néede, tribu­lation and vexation, which the worlde was not woorthy of, wandring in wil­dernesses, in mountaines, in dennes, and caues of the earth, and woulde not bée deliuered, were there not hope to re­ceaue a better resurrection? That I haue fought (saieth Paule) with beastes at E­phesus, 1. Cor. 15.32. after the maner of men, what a­uantageth it mee, if the dead rise not a­gaine? But wée meruel howe the dry & [Page 14] rotten bones can bée fetched out of the [...], out of the earth, and ashes agayne. [...] that fetcheth the sunne out of his [...] euery morning: he that quickneth [...]he dead moone euery moneth: hée that [...]sed Aaron his rod,Num. 17.8. that had béene many yéeres dryed, in one night to bud [...]ssom, and to beare rype Almondes, [...] also bring the dry bones out of the graue, sea, and ashes, and cause them to [...]care ripe, and perfect fleshe. And why [...]hould we doubt that of a rotten body a perfect body may spring, since we sée by dayly experience that of rotten corne, perfect corne doeth growe, and that of rotten séedes, and kernels, perfect séedes and kernelles doe come.Rom. 8.11. If the spirite of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead, dwelleth in you: euen hée that raysed vp Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bodies.1. Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all do dye, so in Christ shall all bée made alyue.1. Cor. 15.49. As wée haue borne the image of the earthy, so shall wée beare the image of the heauenly. As for the soules, after they bée once loo­sed from the bodies, they reigne, eyther [Page] w^t Christ, or w^t Satā, eyther in etern [...] glory, or in euerlasting sorrow. Whic [...] maketh to the vtter subuersion & ouerthrow of y^e popish purgatory, & of tw [...] dānable opiniōs of twoo sortes of Here­tikes, the one called Arabici, & the othe [...] Dormitantij: the one affirming, that [...] soule doeth dye together with the body, and that in the resurrection they shall both bée raised vp together. The other affirming that the soules doe sléepe till the day of iudgement, then to bée awa­ked, and then to receaue, either damna­tion, or saluation. Both which opini­ons are most wicked, and contrary to scripture. For first, y^t the soule liueth, that it is immortal, and incorruptible, after that it is once loosed from the bo­dy; the examples, and testimonies of holy scripture doe declare. Dauid, no doubt, beléeued the immortalitie of the soule. For when hée perceaued that the child was dead, hée wept no more, but saide:2. Sam. 12.23. I shal goe to him, but he shal not come againe to mée. The widowes sonne of Sarepta fel sicke, and dyed, and Elias tooke him out of her bosom,1. Reg. 17.19. and [Page 15] laid him on the bed, and stretched him­ [...]fe vpon the childe thrée tymes, and [...]led vnto the Lord, praying that the [...]es soule might come into him a­ [...]ne. And the Lord heard the voyce of [...]e Prophet, and the soule of the childe [...] into him againe, and hée reuiued. The soule therfore doeth not dye with [...]he body. The wyse man sayeth, that [...]he body (which hée nameth dust) shall returne to earth as it was;Eccles. 12.7. but the spi­rit, vnto the Lord that gaue it. And in [...]he second of Wisdom, Wisd. 2.3. intreating of the [...]aginations of the wicked, which say: That after this life their bodyes [...]halbe as ashes that are quenched; and that their soules shal vanish away as the soft ayre, hée sayeth: That they doe not vnderstand the mysteries of the Lord, that they haue no hope of the rewarde of the righteous, & that they regard not she woorship, that holy & blessed soules shall haue.Wisd. 3.1. And in the chapter follow­ing, speaking of the soules of the righ­teous, hée saieth: That they are in the handes of God, and that the feare of [Page] death shal not touche them. Luke. 16.22. The pa [...] ble of the rich man, and Lazarus, [...] euidently, and plainly proueth vnto that the soule doeth not dye with body. For the soule of Lazarus was ried by the Angels into Abraham bosom, and the soule of the riche [...] was buried in hel. Our sauiour in [...] 10. of Matth. Mat. 10.28. comforting his discipl [...] willeth them not to feare them t [...] kil the body, and bée not able to kill soule. The soule therefore doeth not d [...] w^t the body: Secondly, that the sou [...] doe not sléepe til the day of iudgeme [...] the testimonies of the scripture doe d [...] clare. In the 23. of Luke, Luke. 23.43. our Sauio [...] sayd to the theefe that did hang on t [...] one side of him vpon the Crosse: Th [...] day thou shalt be with mee in paradis [...] As much to say: Thou shalt bée wi [...] mée in a place of singular quietnes a [...] pleasure, not there to sléepe till the da [...] of iudgement, but without all pera [...] uenture, to liue, and to raigne wit [...] Iesus Christ in eternall glory.Apo. 6.9.10. And [...] the 6. of the Reuelation it is declared [Page 16] that Iohn sawe vnder the altar the [...]les of them that were killed for the [...]ord of God, and for the testimony [...]hat they had, crying w^t a loude voice, [...] saying: Howe long tarriest thou (Lord, holy, and true) to iudge, and to [...]auenge our blood on them that dwell [...]on the earth? The soules then doe not [...]éepe til the day of iudgement, neither doe they perish with the bodies: but be­ing loosed by death from the same, are carried eyther vnto eternall ioy, or els [...]to euerlasting sorrowe, vnto which [...]he bodies shalbee gathered in the last day, to receaue euery one according to that which they haue done, whether it bée good or euill. For it standeth with she eternal iustice of the eternall God, she righteous iudge, that euery man shal receaue according to his desertes. Heereof Daniel prophesied, whose wordes bée these.Daniel. 12.2. Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall a­wake, some to euerlasting life, & some to perpetual shame and reproofe. And in the third of the Prophet Malachy. Mal. 3.5. I [Page] myselfe wil come, and bée a swift v [...] nes, against witches, against aduou [...] rers, against false swearers, yea and [...] gainst those that wrongfully kéep b [...] the hyrelings dutie, which vex the w [...] dowe, and the fatherlesse, and oppre [...] the stranger, and feare not mee, saye [...] the Lord of hoastes.Eccles. 11.9. In the 11. chapt [...] of the b [...]oke of the Preacher it is sayd Be gladde (o thou young man) in th [...] youth, and let thine hart be mery in th [...] yong dayes, follow the wayes of thy [...] owne hart, and the lust of thyne eye [...] But bee thou sure that God shall brin [...] thee into iudgement for al these thing [...] Hee derideth those that set their deligh [...] in worldly pleasures, as though Go [...] woulde not call them to account, the [...] which nothing is surer. For we must a [...] appeare before the iudgement seate o [...] Christ that euery man may receaue th [...] workes of his body, 2. Cor. 5.10. according to tha [...] which hee hath done, whether it be good or bad. Hée wil come shortly, an [...] his reward is with him,Apo. 22.12. to geue euer [...] man as his woorke shalbée.Rom. 9.7. Prayse, honour, [Page 17] and immortallitie to them that [...]time in well doing, and séeke eter­ [...]ll life; but vnto them that are rebel­ [...], and disobey the trueth, shal come [...]ignation, & wrath, tribulation, and [...]she, vpon the soule of euery one [...]t doeth euill, of the Iewe first, and [...] the Gentile.2. Thes. 1.6. For it is verily a righte­ [...]s thing with God, to recompence [...]ibulation to them that trouble you; [...] to you which are troubled, rest [...]th vs, when the Lorde Iesus shall [...]we him selfe from heauen with his [...]ighty Angelles in flaming fire, ren­ [...] vengance vnto them that know [...]t GOD, and to them that obey not [...]to the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christ, which shall be punished with e­ [...]erlasting damnation from the pre­ [...]ence of the Lorde, and from the glory [...]f his power, when he shall come to bée [...]lorified in his Saints, and to be made [...]eruellous in all them that beléeue. [...]ohn saw by Reuelation the dead,Apoc. 20.10 both [...]eat and smal, stand before the Lorde, [...] the booke to be opened, and the dead [Page] to bee iudged out of that which wa [...] written, according to theyr deedes And hée that was not written in th [...] booke of lyfe, was cast into the lake [...] fire.Iude. 1.14.15 And no doubt the time draweth when this that Iohn saw by Reuelation shall bée fulfilled: when the Lor [...] shall come with thousandes of Saint to giue iudgement against all men, an [...] to rebuke al the vngodly among them of all their vngodly déedes, which the [...] haue vngodlyly committed, and of a [...] their cruell speakinges, which vngod [...] sinners haue spokē against him: whic [...] it must néedes followe, as a necessar [...] consequent, that the state of good me [...] in the comming of Iesus Christ vn [...] iudgement, shalbe most glorious, an [...] the state of the wicked most miserabl [...] Which commeth to passe cleane co [...] trary in this wicked world, whe [...] most cōmonly the godly are with tr [...] bles tormented, with banishment p [...] nished, with the losse of goodes impo [...] rished, & w^t all miseries ouerwhelme [...] But contrariwise the wicked are wi [...] [Page 18] delycat fare nourished, with goodes inri­ [...]d, with offices preferred, & for auto­ [...]e honoured, as y^e Prophet Dauid in [...]se words doth bitterly cōplaine.Psal. 37.4. My [...]ete were almost gon, & my treadings [...]ad well nigh slipt. And why? I was [...]reued at the wicked, to see the vngod­ [...]y in such prosperitie. For they are in [...]o perill of death, but are lusty and [...]rōg. They come in no misfortune like [...]ther folk, neither are they plaged like [...]ther men. Their eies swel with fat, & [...]hey do euen what they list.Ʋers. 12. And a litle [...]ter: Beholde, these prosper in the [...]orld, these haue riches in possession. Iob. 21.9. The houses of y^e wicked (saith Iob) are [...]eaceable without feare, and the rodde [...]f the Lord is not vpon them. Their [...]ullock gendreth and fayleth not, their [...]we calueth, and casteth not her [...]alfe. They sende foorth their chil­ [...]ren like Shéepe, and their Sonnes [...]eade the daunce. And therefore there [...]st be of necessitie an other life after [...]his lyfe, in which, according to the [...] iudgement of GOD, euery one [Page] may receiue according to their work [...] be they good, or bad, eternall glory, or euerlasting infamie: euen as Dauid againe to the comforting of him self [...] and the Church, telleth vs in thes [...] wordes: Then thought I to vnderstan [...] this, Psal. 73.16. but it was too hard for me, vnti [...] I went into the sanctuarie of God, and considered the end of these mē: Namely, how thou settest them in slipperi [...] places, that thou maist cast them dow [...] headlong, and destroy them. O ho [...] sodenly do they consume, perish, an [...] come to a fearefull ende? Yea, euen a [...] a dreame when one awaketh, so makes [...] thou their Image to vanish out of th [...] Citie. And because the infirmitie o [...] the godly is great, whiles they carr [...] this earthly tabernacle about them, that they cannot but feare, by reaso [...] of those fearefull tokens that shall go [...] before the ende, and consummation o [...] the worlde: therefore our Sauiour t [...] their comfort and consolation speake [...] vnto them in this wise.Luke. 21.2. When thes [...] things beginne to come to passe, the [...] [Page 19] looke vp, and lift vp your heades, for [...]r redemption draweth nigh. Mea­ [...] that they should not faint, but [...] plucke vp their heartes, and bée [...]rry, for that they do prognosticate [...] declare how that their redemption [...] at hand, when they shalbe deliuered, [...] raunsomed, as it were from the [...]series of this lyfe, in the comming [...]f the Sonne of God vnto iudgement. [...] consideration whereof Paule cal­ [...]h this day the day of Redemption. Eph. 4.30. [...] of this his deliueraunce he glori­ [...] in these wordes:2. Ti. 4.7. I haue fought a [...]od fight, & haue fulfilled my course, [...]d haue kept the fayth. From hence­ [...]rth is layde vp in stoare for mee a [...]owne of righteousnesse, which the [...]ord that is a righteous Iudge, shall [...]eme at that day not to me only, but [...]to all them also, that loue his com­ [...]ing. And therfore the day of the Lord [...]ht not to be terrible to the godly, [...]ither ought they to feare his cōming, [...] that he commeth to deliuer them, to [...]t them at ease; but to render to the [Page] wicked eternall paine. And I do firme­ly beléeue that the godly haue a thirst [...] and a desire to enter into the courte [...] of the Lordes house;Psal. 84.2. that they desir [...] the day of Redemption; Luke. 11.2. that they still crye: Let thy kingdome come: Tha [...] they still cry,Apoc. 22.20. Come Lorde Iesu: Tha [...] they looke vp, waighting his comming,Phil. 3.21. which shall make their vile bodyes like to his owne glorious body▪ That they desire,Apo. 21.2. euen a litle shew [...] that holy citie, new Ierusalem, descen­ding from heauen, prepared of GOD as a bryde garnished for her husband For they certeinely beléeue that the [...] there shall bée a full and complete end [...] of all their troubles. But the troubles of the wicked shall then begin [...] The wicked shall sée aboue them a [...] angry Iudge, beneath them an horryble pytte of hell, without them [...] burning worlde, within them a gnawing conscience, on the ryght hand [...] theyr sinnes accusing them, on th [...] lefte hande the deuiles halling the [...] to torment. The wretched sinners th [...] [Page 20] s [...] are besette, where shall they go? [...]h then where shall they flée?Ps. 139.7. Oh then [...]re shall they hide? Oh whether [...]ll they go then from his spirit? or [...]hether shall they goe then from his [...]sence? If they clime vp into heauen, [...]is there: If they goe downe to bell, [...] is there also: If they take the wings [...]f the morning, and remaine in the vt­ [...]rmost part of the Sea; euen there [...] shall his hand leade them, and his [...]ht hand shal hold them. If they say, [...]e darkenesse shall couer vs, then shall [...]heir night be turned to day. For the [...]rkenes is no darkenes with y^e Lord. The night is as cléere as the day, the [...]rknesse, and lyght vnto him are both [...]ke. Oh with what terrour shall the [...]cked be stroken in the day of the Lord? Oh in what feare shall they be?Ap. 6.16. They shall say to the hyls and rockes, Fall vpon vs, and hide vs from the pre­sence of him that sitteth on the seat, and from the wrath of the Lambe: for the great day of his wrath is come, & who is able to abide it? The mockers which [Page] haue saide:2. Pe. 3.4. Where is the promise o [...] his comming? shall then sée, and fée [...] his comming, to their great gréef [...] shame and confusion, when as, too la [...] repenting them selues, they shall sa [...] Tedious wayes haue wee gone,Sap. 5.7. but [...] for the way of the Lorde wée haue [...] knowne. What good hath our pr [...] done vnto vs? or what profit hath th [...] pompe of riches brought vnto vs? L [...] these thinges are passed away like [...] shadowe, and thus are we consumed [...] our owne wickednesse. For the hope [...] the vngodly is like a dry thistle flower [...] or dust, that is blowne away with th [...] winde, lyke a thinne fome that is scat­tered abroade with a storme, and a [...] the smoake that is dispersed with th [...] winde, and as the remembraunce of [...] straunger that tarryeth but for a day, and then departeth. But the righteou [...] shall liue for euermore, their reward [...] with the Lord, and their remembran [...] with the highest. Therefore shall the [...] receiue a glorious kingdome, and a [...] beautifull crowne at the Lordes hand: [Page 21] For with his right hand shall hee couer [...], and with his holy arme shall hée [...]fend them.Mat. 25.32 For when the Sonne of [...] shal come in his glory, and all the [...]ly Angels with him, then shal he sit [...]pon the seate of his glory, and before [...] shall be gathered all nations, and [...]e shall separate the one from the o­ [...]her, as the Shephearde deuideth the [...]héepe from the Goates. And hee shall [...]et the Shéepe on his right hand, and [...]he Goates on his left hand: that is to [...]y, the wicked, whom hée compareth [...]to Goates. For as the Goates are [...]thy and stincking beastes: so the [...]icked, by reason of their sinnes, do [...]tincke in the sight of God. And as the Goates do stricke the gyltlesse shéepe with their hornes, so the wicked do pu­nish and afflicte the godly with their tyranny. And as the Goates do de­stroy the orcharde and garden, so do the wicked destroye the vineyarde of the Lorde: as it is sayde in the thirde of the Prophet Esay: Esay. 3.14. Ye haue eate vp the Vineyarde, the robberie of the [Page] poore is in your house. These Goate [...] hée shall set on his left hand. And the [...] shall the king saye to them on hi [...] ryght hande: Come, blessed childre [...] of my Father, inherit the kingdom [...] prepared for you from the beginning [...] Then shall the king say to them on the left hand, Departe from me, ye cursed, into euerlasting fire, prepared for the deuill and his angels.

Oh then how happy shal they be tha [...] shall heare this ioyfull and happy sen­tence of Christ, Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdō prepared fo [...] you from the beginning of the world. Oh then how vnhappy shall they bée, that shall heare this terrible and fear­full sentence: Go cursed into euerlas­ting fire, prepared for the deuill, and his Angels! Would God men did consi­der of these things, and think vpon this streite iudgement in the fearfull day of the Lord, and as often as they consider hereof, whether they eat or drinke, or what euer they do, to think that the ter­rible trump of the Lord stil soundeth [...] [Page 22] theyr eares: Arise ye dead, come away to [...]dgemēt. But what do they? Though [...]y heare it preached, that the day of [...]e Lord is at hand, yet they continue [...]elesse, they eat, they drink, they ma­ [...] & are married, they plāt, & they bild. They build as though they should lyue [...] euer, & they eate & drinke as though [...]ey should dye to morrow, saying:1. Cor. 15.23. Let [...]s eate, and drinke, for to morrow wee [...]all dye. Wheras if they did but think [...] the world to come, and remember [...]w that euery one must geue an ac­ [...]unt of him selfe vnto God, they could [...]t, they would not liue so wickedly, so [...]sually, so carelesly, & so vngodly, as [...]ey do: they would not vex the father­ [...]esse, the widdow, nor the orphane, and [...]traunger, as they do: they would not [...]ake all fish that commeth to the net: they would not draw wickednes vnto [...]hem with a coard,Esay. 5.18. and sinne as it were with a cartrope: They would prepare [...]d make redy themselues to méete the bridgrom: They would obserue the ad­ [...]ition and counsell of our Sauiour: [Page] who bicause hee foresaw that iniquiti [...] should ouerflowe the worlde before hi [...] comming, and that men would be carelesse about the time of the worldes destruction, least we should be taken napping, telleth vs what we must do, an [...] how wee must prepare our selues a­gainst his comming. For as it is [...] great griefe vnto an earthly father t [...] léese his Sonne, for whome hée hath prouided but a meane inheritaunce, s [...] is it a great griefe to our heauenly Fa­ther, to léese any of vs his children, for whome hee hath prouided, not a [...] earthy,1. Pe. 1.18. but an heauenly inheritaunce purchased not with golde and siluer, which are corruptible, but with the effusion of the most precious blood of the immaculate and vndefiled Lambe Iesus Christ. The admonition, or counsell of our Sauiour is this: Take heede to your selues, least your hearts be ouercome with surfetting & dron­kennesse, and cares of this lyfe, & that that day come not on you vnwares. For as a snare shall it come on all them [Page 23] that dwell on the earth. Watch there­ [...]re continually, and pray that you [...]y obtaine grace to flee all this that [...]all come, and that you may stand be­ [...]e the Son of man. In which wordes [...] willeth vs first to be sober. Take [...]de (saieth he) vnto your selues, least [...]ur hearts be ouercome with surfet­ [...]g & dronkennesse. Among other cre­ [...]res God hath geuen to none so litle [...]outh, as he hath giuen vnto man, [...]cording to his quantitie: which sig­ [...]eth, no doubte, that man should [...] more temperate in meates & drinks [...] al other creatures. Besides, the [...]uth of a man is not bent to the earth [...] are the mouthes of vnreasonable [...]eatures: to signifie that man should [...]t eate and drinke after the manner [...]hrute beastes, but should moderate­ [...] vse those creatures, which GOD [...]th geuen, as necessary, and néedefull, [...] the preseruation of lyfe.V. Max. lib. de insti. an­tiquis.

The auncient Romaines were went [...] eat their meates in the open stréetes, [...]d were not ashamed to let the people [Page] to sée what they did eate, that by the example they myght learne to bee [...] ber. For there is not a more v [...] and pernicious thinge, than surf [...] ting, and dronkennesse. By surf [...] ting (saieth Ecclesiasticus) man [...] haue peryshed.Eccl. 37.30. Wine and dronkenesse (saieth Oze) take away [...] heart.Oz. 4.11. Let the dronkardes and volu [...] tuous Epicures hearken vnto th [...] which is written in the fift of the Pr [...] phet Esay.Esai. 5.11. The wordes bée these: Woe bee to them that ryse vp earely giue them selues to dronkennesse, a [...] set all their myndes so on drinkin [...] that they sit sweating therat vntil it night. The harp, the lute, and shaul [...] and plentie of wine are at theyr fea [...] but the workes of the Lorde they d [...] not beholde, nor yet consider the op [...] ration of his handes.Esai. 5.22. Woe bée to the [...] that are mighty to drinke wine, [...] to them that are expert to aduan [...] dronkennes. Awak ye dronkards (s [...] the Lord,Ioel. 1.5. by the Prophet Ioel) & w [...] and howle al ye wine suppers, beca [...] [Page 24] [...] [...]he new wine: for it shalbe pulled [...] your mouth.Pro. 23.31. Looke not (saith Sa­ [...]) vpon the wine how red it is, & [...]at a coulour it giueth in the glasse: [...]eth downe softly, but in the end, it [...]eth like a serpent, and stingeth like [...] Adder.Gala. 5.19. S. Paule in the fift to the [...]lathians reckoneth gluttonie & drō ­ [...]nesse among the déedes of the flesh, [...] coupleth them with Idolatrie, for­ [...]cation, murther, witchcrafte, and [...]ch like, most gréeuous and detesta­ [...] vices, and saieth, that they that [...]mit such thinges, shall not inherit [...]e kingdome of God. And therfore let [...]t our heartes bee ouercome with [...]fetting and dronkennesse.1. Pe. 4.3. Let it [...]e enough and sufficient for vs, that [...]ée haue spent the time that is past [...] the lyfe, after the will of the Gen­ [...]les, walking in wantonnesse, lustes, [...]onkennesse, in eating and drinking, [...]d in abhominable Idolatrie, wherin [...]seemeth to them a strange thing, that [...]e runne not also with them to the [...]e excesse of ryot, and therefore [Page] speake they euill of vs, which shal g [...] accountes to him that is ready to i [...] quicke,1. Pe. 4.7. and dead. The ende, no d [...] of all thinges is at hand: And th [...] fore let vs be sober:1. Thes. 5.6. Let vs not [...] as other do, but let vs watch and be [...] ber. For they that sléepe, sléepe in [...] night, and they that bee dronken, [...] dronken in the night. But let vs wh [...] are of the day,Ro. 13.11. be sober. It is time th [...] we should now awake out of slee [...] For now is our saluation néerer, th [...] when we beléeued. The night is pass [...] and the day is come nigh. Let vs th [...] fore cast away the déedes of darkene [...] and put vpon vs the armour of light [...] Let vs walke honestly as in the d [...] light, not in eating and drinking, ne [...] ther in Chambring and wantonne [...] neyther in strife and enuying: But [...] vs put on the Lorde Iesus Christ, a [...] make not prouision for the flesh, to f [...] fill the lustes, and desires of it. For is the will of God (as the Apostle [...] clareth vnto Titus) that we should [...] nye vngodlinesse,Tit. 21.2. and worldly lust, a [...] [Page 25] th [...]e should liue sober minded, righ­ [...]y, and godly in this presēt world, [...] for that blessed hope, and glori­ [...] [...]ppearing of the mighty God, and [...]r Sauiour Iesus Christ. Se­ [...]ly, our Sauiour willeth vs to flée c [...]res of this life, for that the loue [...]re of temporall things, doth draw [...] quite away from the loue and de­ [...] of heauenly, and eternall thinges.Ecc. 10.9. [...]ere is not a more wicked thing, then [...]man to be in loue with mony.Mat. 6.24. No [...] can serue two maisters: for ey­ [...] he shall hate the one, and loue the [...]r, or he shall cleaue to the one, and [...]ke the other. Ye cannot serue God [...] Mammon. Who so euer will be a [...] of the world,Iam. 4.4. is made the enimy [...]. If thou wilt be perfect (saide [...]t to the rich man) go and sell all [...]t thou hast, and geue it to the poore,Mat. 19.21. [...] thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, [...], and followe me. But when [...] heard that saying, he would none of [...]t went his way mourning, for hée [...] great possessions. These worldly [Page] cares were also the cause,Luke. 14.18. why [...] came not, that in the Gospell were c [...] led to the great supper.1. Ti. 6.9. The sayin [...] S. Paule vnto Timothy is most tr [...] They that will be rich, fall into tem [...] tation, and snares, and into many fo [...] lish and noysome lustes, which drow [...] men in perdition and destruction. F [...] couetousnes is the roote of al mischi [...] which while some lusted after, haue [...] red from the faith, and intangled the [...] selues with many folde sorrowes. 1. Ti. 6.17. A [...] therefore he willed Timothy to cha [...] them that are rich in this world, y^t th [...] trust not in vncertein riches, but in [...] liuing God, which giueth vs abundā [...] all thinges to enioy them, laying vp [...] store for them selues a good foundati [...] against the time to come, that they [...] obtaine eternal life. But when our S [...] uiour willeth vs to flée the cares of th [...] life, his meaning is not, that we sho [...] leaue a necessary,1. Ti. 5.3. and godly ca [...] (which who so hath not, hath den [...] the fayth, and is worse than an [...] fidell) but that wée should not so [...] [Page 26] drowned in the cares of this lyfe, as [...]h wée had no care of the worde of [...], of the hasting of Christ vnto iudg­ [...]t, or of the world to come. Hée [...] right well, that gurmandise, [...] cares of this life, would abound a­ [...] the time of the worldes destructi­ [...] and that men would be apt and redy [...]llow such vices, euē to the last cast. [...] therefore he saieth: Take heede to [...]r selues, least your heartes be ouer­ [...]e with surfetting and dronkennes, [...]d cares of this life, and that that day [...]e not on you vnwares. For as a [...]re shal it come on all thē that dwell the earth. Eccles. 9.12. As the fish is taken w^t the [...]e, and as the birdes are taken with esnare, so are men taken in the peri­ [...] time when it commeth sodenly v­ [...] them. For though it be certain that [...]s Christ shal come vnto iudgment; of the yeare, the hower, & time of his [...]ing vnto vs, is altogether vncer­ [...]e. For as our Sauiour doth saye [...] the 24. chapter after the gospell of Mathewe: Of the day, Math. 24.36. and hower [Page] knoweth no man, Mark. 13.32. no not the Angels o [...] heauen, but my father only: no not th [...] sonne him selfe, as he was man. Mat. 24.27. But [...] the lightning commeth out of the Ea [...] and appeareth in the West: so shall th [...] comming of the Sonne of man be.

As the dayes of Noe were,Math. 24.37. so shall th [...] comming of the Sonne of man be. Fo [...] as in the daies of Noe, that went befo [...] the floud, they did eate and drink [...] marry, and were married, euen vnty [...] the day that Noe entred into the Ark [...] and knew not till the floud came, an [...] tooke them all away: so shall the comming of the sonne of man be. Likewi [...] also as it chaunced in the dayes of Lo [...] They eat,Luke. 17.28. they drāk, they bought, the sold, they planted, they built. And en [...] the same day that Lot went out of S [...] dom, it rayned fire and brimstone fro [...] heauen, and destroyed them all. Aft [...] these exampls shal it be, when the S [...] of man shall appeare. The Apostl [...] when they asked Christ,Act. 1.16. saying: Lo [...] wilt thou at this time restore again th [...] kingdome to Israel? Hée saide vn [...] [Page 27] the [...]: It is not for you to knowe the [...]s, and seasons, which the father [...]h put in his owne power. The day the Lord shall come as a théefe in the [...]ht: For when they shall say, peace,1. Thes. 5.2. [...]ace, all thinges are safe: then shall so­ [...]e destruction come vpon them, as [...]ow commeth vpon a woman in her [...]auell, and they shall not escape. And [...]refore (beloued) take héede to your [...]es, that your heartes be not ouer­ [...]e with surfetting and dronkennes, [...] cares of this life, and that that day [...]e not on you vnwares. Which ex­ [...]tation teacheth vs not only how to repare our selues against the com­ [...]ng of Christ in the last day: but also [...]w euery particular man should order in self against the comming of death. For death is wont to set vpon men, [...]hen they thinke least thereof, when [...]ey thinke to be most mery, and when [...]ey promise them selues that they [...]e many dayes to liue. An example [...] haue in the 1. of Samuel,1. Sa. 25.36. in the .25 [...]pter, of Nabal, who held a feast, like [Page] the feast of a king, and his heart [...] mery within him, for hee was v [...] dronke. Now in the morning w [...] Abigail his wife after that y^e wine [...] gone out of his head) had signified [...] to him the purpose of Dauid, his he [...] died w^tin him, & he became as a st [...] Likewise in the xii. of Luke,Luke. 12.16. we re [...] how that the ground of a certaine r [...] man brought forth plentifull frutt [...] And he said within him self, what [...] I do? I haue no roome to lay my fruit in: I will destroy my barnes, [...] buyld greater, I will say to my soul [...] Soule, thou hast goodes layde vp i [...] stoare for many yeares. Take no [...] thine ease, eate, drinke, and be merr [...] But God said vnto him. Thou fo [...]l [...] this night they shal fetch thy soule fr [...] thée. Take héede therefore, for eue [...] when yée thinke not vppon, God wi [...] send his messenger death, to call vs away. Now that our Sauiour hath tolde vs what we should not do against the day of his comming: Hée likewise sheweth vs what wée must do. Watch [Page 28] (saith hée) and pray continually. Fyrst [...]deth to watch.Math. 25.1. In the 25. of Ma­ [...], our Sauiour lykeneth the king­ [...] of heauen vnto tenne virgins, [...]ch tooke their lampes, and went to [...]te the bridegrome. But fiue were [...]he, and fiue were wise. They [...]t were foolishe tooke their lampes, [...] tooke no oyle with them. But the [...] tooke oyle in their vesselles, with [...]r lampes also. Now whiles the [...]egrome taryed, they all slumbred [...] slept. And at midnight there was [...]ry made: Beholde, the bridegrome [...]eth, go out to méete him. Then the [...]gins arose, & made redy their lamps. [...] y^e foolish said vnto the wise, Geue vs of your oyle, for our lāps are gone out. But the wise answered, Not so: least there be not enough for vs, and you. But go ye rather to them that sell, and [...]ye for your selues. But whyles they went to buy, the brydegrome [...]e, and they that were ready, [...]at in with him vnto the mariage, [...]d the gate was shutte vp. Anon [Page] after came the other virgins and sai [...] Lord, Lord, open to vs. But he ans [...] red, and sayd, Verily I say vnto you [...] know you not. Watch therfore: for know neyther the day, nor yet the h [...] wer, wherin the Sonne of man sh [...] come.Luk. 12.35. Let your loynes be girded abou [...] and your lightes burning, and ye yo [...] selues like vnto men that waight f [...] their master, when he wil return fro [...] the wedding; that when he commeth and knocketh, ye may open vnto him▪ For happy are those seruantes, who [...] the Lorde when hée commeth findet [...] waking. If he come in the secōd watch or third watch, & finde thē so, happy ar [...] those seruantes. Verely, he shall g [...] him selfe, and shall make them to s [...] downe to meate, & shall walke by, and minister vnto them.Luk. 12.39. This vnderstand you; If the good man of the house knew what howre the théefe would come, hée would surely watch, and not suffer his house to be broken vp. Euen so, if we knewe in what day or hower the Lord would come, we would surely watch, [Page 29] we would be prepared, and adourned, [...]e would haue lightes in our handes, [...] oyle in our Lampes. But we doe [...]t know the day, nor hower, nor shal [...]now. And therfore let vs be prepared, [...] man hower that we thinke not,Mar. 13.35. wil [...]e sonne of man come. Watch (I say) [...] ye know not when the maister of [...]e house will come, whether at euen, [...] at midnight, whether at the cocke [...]wing, or in the dawning, least if hée [...]me sodēly, he should find you sléeping. Now if the euill seruant shall say thus [...] his heart:Math. 24.48. Tush my maister will de­ [...]re his comming, and shall begin to [...]uite his fellow seruants, and shall be­g [...]n to eat and drink, and to be dronken, [...]e same seruants Lord shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hower when he is not ware, & shall geue him his portion with hypocrites, there shalbe wéeping, and gnashing of [...]eth. But contrariwise,Luke. 12.44. if the Lord shal find his seruāt wel doing, he shal make him ruler ouer al his houshold. Watch therefore, and pray continually, that [Page] we may obtein grace to flee al that shal [...] come, and that we may stād before th [...] sonne of man. Let vs pray that our flight be not in the winter, nor on th [...] the Sabboth day:Mat. 24. [...]0. For so our Saui­our counselleth in the 24. of Saint Mathewe. For to walke in the win­ter, it was not good, and vppon the Sabboth day, it was not lawefull. Meaning, that we should pray, and that with a stedfast, and ardent fayth, that the day of the Lord come not vppon vs vnprepared. For if it doe, wée shall not escape the euilles that then shalbe, nor yet be able to stande safely before the Sonne of man. Beloued, we haue bene warned to leaue our surfetting, & dronkennesse, and to forsake the super­fluous cares of this life. We haue bene exhorted to watchfulnesse, and to pray­er, and stil are we called vpon for these matters: Howbeit wée are lyttle or nothing the better.Mat. 12.4 [...]. The men of Niniue shall arise at the day of iudgement to condemne vs. For they amended at the short preaching of Ionas. We haue [Page 30] bene called vpon with often, and long [...]eaching, and yet cannot frame to lay [...]r [...]m vs the old man,Ephe. 4.22. that marreth him se [...]fe with deceiuable vanities. But let v [...] thinke, and beléeue, that the neg­le [...]ting of Gods holy spirit speaking in his prophets, can not but prouoke Gods heauie wrath, and indignation spedily to bée powred vppon vs. The heauens, the earth, and sea, haue al­ready witnessed the same against vs, which (vnlesse wée conuert) in the mea­sure of our sinnes he will power foorth vpon vs, and so wee shall perish in his iustice vtterly, that in mercy refused to imbrace his trueth obediently.Mat. 3.10. Now is the axe put to the roote of the trée, so that euery trée that bringeth not forth g [...]d fruite, shall bée hewen downe,Mat. 12.33. and cast into the fire. Eyther then make the trée good, and his fruit good, or make the trée euill, and his fruite [...]ill also. For beholde,Iames. 5.9. the Iudge stan­deth before the dore. It is tyme for vs to awake out of sléepe, and to gyrde vp our loynes, and to be ready with [Page] oyle in our lampes, and to be adorne with our wedding garments, that w [...] may finde entraunce to the Lords marriage. For sith it is most certaine tha [...] Christ shall come to iudge both quic [...] and dead,Rom. 14.12. sith that euery one of vs shal geue account of him self to God,2. Pe. 3.10. sith th [...] heauens shal passe away in manner [...] a tempest, sith the elements shall me [...] with heate, sith the earth also, and th [...] workes therein shal burne, sith al thes [...] things shall perishe, what manner per­sons ought we to be in holy conuersati­on & godlinesse, looking for, and hasting vnto the comming of the day of God, [...] which the heauens shall perish with [...] ­er, & the elemēts shalbe consumed with heate. [...]. Pe. 3.13. Neuerthelesse we looke for a new heauen, and a newe earth, according to his promise, wherein dwelleth righte­ousnesse. Wherfore (beloued) séeing we looke for such things, let vs be diligent, that we may be found of him in peace, without spot and vndefiled, growing in grace, & in the knowledge of the Lord, and Sauiour Iesus Christ, that in the [Page 31] ende of the world, when he shall come in [...] clowds, with power and great glo­ [...] we perish not with the vnbeléeuers: which the Lord graunt for his infinite [...]ercy, and goodnesse, and for his chosen [...]e, shorten these vnhappy dayes, that [...]rruptible may be swallowed vp of in­ [...]rruptibilitie, and mortall of immor­ [...]lity: And that as in this woful Egypt, [...]e haue foūd him a louing father, so in [...]he world to come, we may behold him [...] merciful Sauiour,Mat. 25.34. & may receiue that [...] and happiest blessing that neuer a­gain shal be reuoked: which thing like­wise the father of al comfort and conso­lation, spéedily bring vpon vs al, for the tender loue of his beloued sonne Iesus Christ: to whome with the holy ghost, thrée distinct persons in trinitie, but one eternal, immortal & most glorious God, be al praise, honour & glory, now and for euer. Amen.