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 ye 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 •• 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 yt 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 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, 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 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 • 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 wt 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 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 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 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 ye 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, 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 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 • 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 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 ye 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 & 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 wt Chriſt, or wt Satā, eyther in etern • glory, or in euerlaſting ſorrow. Whic • maketh to the vtter ſubuerſion & ouerthrow of ye 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, yt 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 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 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 • wt 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 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 wt 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 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, 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 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, & wt all miſeries ouerwhelme • But contrariwiſe the wicked are wi • delycat fare nouriſhed, with goodes inri ••• d, with offices preferred, & for auto •• e honoured, as ye 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 ye 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 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 • 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 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 •• 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 ye 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 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: 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 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 〈◊〉 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: 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 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 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 ••• 〈◊〉 • 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 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 •• 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 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, yt 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 〈◊〉 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 wt 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 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 •• 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 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 ye wine 〈◊〉 gone out of his head) had ſignified 〈◊〉 to him the purpoſe of Dauid, his he •• died wtin 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 (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. 〈◊〉 ye 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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.