WHen I should haue preached vnder the Crosse , I mused what text to take in hand to please all , and to keepe my selfe out of danger : and musing , I could not finde any text in the Scripture that did not reproue sinne , vnlesse it were in the Apocrapha , which is not of the Scripture : this text bids them that be voluptuous , be voluptuous still : let them that be vaine glorious , be vaine glorious still : let them that be couetous , be couetous still : let them that be drunkards , be drunkards still : let them that be swearers be swearers still : let them that be wantons , be wantons still : let them that be careles prelates , be careles still : let them that be Vsurers , be Vsurers still : but saith Salomon , Remember thy end , that thou shalt be called to Judgement at the last for all together .

This is the counsell of Salomon the wisest then liuing , what a counsell is this for a wise man , such a one as was Salomon ?

In the beginning of his book he saith , All is vanitie , and in the end he saith , Feare God and keepe his Commaundements , in the 12. Chapter he saith , Remember thy maker in the dayes of thy youth , but here he saith , Reioyce O young man in thy youth : Here he speaketh like an Epicure , which saith , eat , drinke , and be merry : here he counselles , and here he mockes : yet not after the manner of scorners , although they deserued it in shewing their foolishnes , as it is in the first of the Prouerbs . He laughed at the wicked in derision . As in the second Psalme , God seeing vs follow our owne waves : For when he bids vs pray , we play : and when he bids vs runne , we stand still : and when he bids vs fast , we feast , & send for vanities to make vs sporte : then he laughes at our destruction . Therfore whë Salomon giueth a sharpe reprose , and maketh you ashamed in a word , he scoffingly bids you doe it againe , like a Schoolemaister which beateth his Scholler for playing the truant , he biddeth him playe the truant again : O this is the bitterest reproofe of all , but leaste any Libertine should misconster Salomon , and say that he bids vs be merrye and make much of our selues , therefore he shutteth it vp with a watchwoord , and setteth a bridle before his lips , and reproueth it as he speaketh it before he goeth any further , and saith : But remember that for all these things thou must come to Iudgement . But if we will vnderstande his meaning , he meaneth when he saith , reioyce O young man , repent O young man in thy youth : and when he saith let thy hart cheere thee , let thy sinnes greeue thee : for he meaneth otherwise then he speaketh , he speaketh like Michai in the Booke of Kinges . 2. chap. Go vp and prosper : or like as Ezechiel , Goe vp and serue other Gods , or as S. Iohn speaketh in the Reuelation . Let the that be wicked , be wicked still : But if there were no ●udgment day , that were a merry world : Therfore saith Salomon when thou art in thy pleasures slaunting in the feelds , and in thy braue rusts & amongst thy louers , with thy smiling lookes , thy wanton talk and merry iests , with thy pleasant games and lostye lookes : Remember for all these things thou shalt come to Iudgement .

Whilste the theefe stealeth , the hemp groweth , and the hook is couered within the baite , we sit down to eate and rise vp to play , and from play to sleep : and a hundreth yeres is counted little enough to sin in , but how many sins thou hast set on the score , so many kindes of punishments shall be prouided for thee : how many yeres of plesure thou hast taken , so many yeeres of paine : how many drammes of delight , so many pounds of dollor : when iniquitie hath plaid her parte , vengeance leapes vpon the stage : the Comedye is shorte , but the Tragedie is longer : the blacke guarde shall attend vpon you , you shall eate at the table of sorrowe , and the crowne of death shal be vpon your heads , many glistring faces looking on you , and this is the feare of sinners : when the deuil hath entised them to sinne , he presumeth like the olde Prophet in the booke of Kinges , who when he had entised the young prophet contrary to the commaundement of God , to turn home with him and to eate and drink , he cursed him for his labour , because he disobeyed the commaundement of the Lord , and so a Lyon deuoured him by the way . The foolishe Virgins thinke that their oyle will neuer be spent : so Dina stragled abroad whilst she was defloured : what a thing is this to say reioyce , and then repent : what a blank to saye take thy pleasure , and then thou shalt come to iudgement : it is as if he should saye , steale and be hanged : steale and thou darest , strangle sinne in thy cradle , for all the wisedome in the world wil not help thee else : but thou shalt be in admiration like dreamers which dreame strange thinges and know not how they come : he saith Remember Iudgment , if thou remember this alwaies , then thou shalt haue little list to sinne : if thou remember this , then thou shalt haue little list to fall downe to the deuill , though he would giue thee all the worlde , and the glorye thereof : Salomon saith , the weede groweth from a weede to a cockle , from a cockle , to a bramble , from a bramble to a brier , from a brier to a thorne : Lying breedes periury , periury breedes hautines of hart , hautines of hart breedes contempt , contempt breedes obstinacie , and bringes forth much euill . And this is the whole progresse of sin : he groweth from a lyar to a theefe , from a theefe to a murtherer , and neuer leaueth vntill he hath searched all the roome● in hell , and yet he is neuer satisfied : the more he sinneth , the more he searcheth to sinne : when he hath deceiued , nay he hath not deceiued thee : assoone as hee hath that he desireth , hee hath not that he desireth : when he hath lest fighting , he goeth to fighting againe : yet a little and a little more , and so we slit from one sinne to another . While I preach , you heare iniquitie in gender within you , and will breake forth assoone as you are gon : So Christ wept & Ierusalem laughed : Adam brake one , and we break ten , like Children which laugh and crye , so as if wee kept a shop of vices , now this sin and then that , from one sinne to another . O remember thy end saith Salomon , and that thou must come to Iudgement . What shall become of them that hath tryed them most , be condemned most ? Reioyce O yong man in thy youth . But if thou mark Salomon he harpes vpon one string , he doubles it againe and againe , to shew vs things of his owne experience , because we are so forgetfull therof in our selues , like the dreamer that forgetteth his dreame , and the swearer his swearing . So we beg of euery vncleane spirite , vntill we haue bumbasted our selues vp to the throate , filling euery corner of our harts withal vncleannes , and then we are like the Dogge that commeth out of the sinke , and maketh euery one as soule as himselfe : therefore saith Salomon , if any one will learne the way to hell , let him take his pleasure : me thinkes I see the dialogue betweene the flesh and the Spirite : the worst speaketh first , and the fleshe saith : soule take thine ease , eate , drinke , and goe braue , lye softe , what else should you doo but take your pleasure , thou knowest what a pleasant fellow I haue bene vnto thee , thou knowest what delight thou hast had by my meanes : but the Soule commeth in , burdened with that which hath bene spoken before , and saith , I pray thee remember Iudgement , thou must giue account for all these things , for vnles you repent , you shall surely perrish : no saith the flesh , talk not of such graue matters , but tell me of fine matters , of softe beds and pleasant thinges , and talke me of braue pastimes , Apes , Beares , and Puppits : for I tell thee the forbidden fruit is the sweetest of all fruites , for I doo not like of your telling me of Iudgement : but take thou thy Iuels , thy Instruement , and all the stringes of vanitie will strike at once , for the fleshe loues to be braue , and tread vpon corkes , it cannot tell of what fashion to be of , and yet to be of the new fashion .

Reioyce O young man in thy youth .

O this goes braue , for while wickednes hath cast his rubs , and vengeance casts his spurres and his foote , and thus she reeles and now she tumbles , and then she falles , therefore this progresse is ended .

Pleasure is but a spurre , riches but a thorne , glorye but a blast , beautye but a flower , sinne is but an Ipocrite , honye in thy mouth and poyson in thy stomacke : therefore let vs come againe and aske of Salomon in good sooth whether he meaneth in good earnest , when he spake these words : O ( saith Salomon ) it is the best life in the worlde to goe braue , lye softe , and liue merily , if there were no Iudgement But this Iudgement mares all , it is like a damp that puts out al the light , and like a boxe that mareth all the ointement : for if this be true , we haue spunne a faire thrid , that we must answere for all , that are not able to answere for one : why Salomon maketh vs fooles , and giueth vs gaudes to playe withall : what then shall we not reioyce at all ? yes , there is a godlye mirth and if we could hit on it , which is called be merrye and wise : Sara laughed , and was reproued : Abraham laughed and was not reproued . And thus much for the first parte .

But remember that for all these things thou shalt come to Iudgement .

This verse is as it were a dialogue betwixt the flesh and the spirite , as the two counsellers , the worst is first , and the flesh speaketh proudly , but the spirit comes in burdened with that which hath bene spoken . The fleshe goeth laughing and singing to hell , but the spirite casteth rubs in his way , and puts him in minde of iudgment , that for all these things now endes reioyce , and heare comes in but , if this but were not , we might reioyce still , if young men must for all the sportes of youth : what then shall olde men doo , being as they are now ? surely if Salomon liued to see our olde men liue now , as here he saith of yong men , so high as sinne rageth , yet vengance sits aboue it as high as high Babell . Me thinks I se a Sword hang in the aire by a twine thrid , and all the Sonnes of men labour to burst it in sunder : there is a place in hell where the couetous Iudge sitteth , the greedy Lawyer , the griping Landlord , the careles Bishop , the lustye youth , the wanton dames , the theefe , the robbers of the commonwealth , they are punished in this life because they neuer left sin as long as they could , while mercy was offered vnto them : therefore because they would not be washed , they shall be drowned , now put together reioyce and remember , thou hast learned to be merrye , now learne to be wise : now therfore turne ouer a new lease and take a new lesson , for now Salomon mocketh not as he did before , therfore a checke to thy russes , a check to thy cusses , a check to thy robes , a check to thy golde , a check to your riches , a checke to your beautye , a check to your muck a check to your graues : woe from aboue , woe from belowe , woe to all the stringes of vanitie : doost thou not now maruel that thou hadst not a feeling of sinne ? for now thou seest Salomon saith true , thine owne hart can tell that it is wicked , but it cannot amend : therfore it is high time to amend : as Nathan commeth to Dauid after Belsebub , so commeth accusing conscience after sinne : me thinkes that euery one should haue a feeling of sinne : though this daye be like yesterday , and to morrow like to day , yet one day will come for all , and then woe , woe , woe , and nothing but darkenes : and though God came not to Adam vntil the euening , yet he came : although the fier came not vpon Sodome vntill the euening , yet hee came , and so comes the Iudge although he be not yet come , though he haue leaden feete , he hath iron handes , the arrowe flyeth and is not yet fallen , so is his wrath : the pit is digged , the fier kindled , and all thinges are made ready , and prepared against that day , onelye the small sentence is to come , which will not long tarry : you may not thinke to be like to the theefe that stealeth and is not seene : nothing can be hid from him , and the iudge followeth thee at the heeles , and therefore , whatsoeuer thou art look about thee , and doo nothing but that thou wouldst do openly , for al things are opened vnto him : Sara may not think to laugh , and not be seene : Gehezi may not think to lye , and not be knowne : they that will not come to the banquet , must stand at the doore . What , do ye not think that God doth not remember our sinnes which we doo not regarde ? for while we sinne , the score runs on , and the Iudge setteth downe all in the Table of remembrance , & his scrole reacheth vp to heuen

Item , for lending to Vsury . Item , for racking of rents . Item , for deceiuing thy brethern . Item , for falshood in wares . Item for starching thy ruffes . Item for curling thy haire . Item for painting thy face . Item for selling of Benifices . Item , for staruing of Soules . Item , for playing at Cardes . Item , for sleeping in the Church . Item for prophaning the Saboth day , with a number more hath God to call to account , for euery one must answer for himselfe : The fornicator for taking his filthy pleasure , O Sonne , remember thou hast taken thy plesure , take thy punishment . The careles Prelate , for murthering so many thousand Soules . The Landlord for getting money from his poore Tenants by racking of his rents : Se the rest , all they shall come like very sheep , when the Tromp shall sound and the Heauen and earth shall come to iudgement against them : when the heauens shall vanish like a scrole , & the earth shall consume like fier , and all the Creatures standing against them : The rockes shall cleaue asunder , and the mountaines shake , & the foundation of the earth shall tremble , and they shall say to the mountaines , couer vs , fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presens of his anger and wrath , whome we haue not eared for to offend : but they shall not be couered & hid : but then they shall goe the black way , to the snakes and serpents , to be tormented of deuills for euer : O paine vnspekable , and yet the more I expresse it , the more horrible it is , when you think of a tormente passing all tormentes , and yet a tormente passing all that : yet this torment is greater then them and passing them all .

Imagine you see a sinner going to hel , and his somner gape at him , his acquaintance looke at him , the Angelles shoute at him , and the Saints laugh at him , & the deuills raile at him , and many looke him in the face : and they that said they would liue and dye with him , forsake him , and leaue him to pay all the scores . Then Iudas would restore his bribes . Esaw would caste vp his pottage . Achan would caste downe his golde , and Gehezi would refuse his gifts . Nabucadnezzar would be humbler . Balam would be faithfull , and the Prodigall sonne would be tame .

Me thinks I see Achan running about where shall I hide my golde that I haue stolne , that it might not be seen nor stand to appeere for a witnes against me ?

And Iudas running to the high Priests saying : holde , take againe your money , I will none of it , I haue betrayed the innocent blood .

And Esaw crying for the blessing when it is too late , hauing solde his birth-right for a messe of pottage .

Woe , woe , woe , that euer we were borne . O where is that Diues that would beleeue this , before he felt the fire in hel , or that would beleeue the poorest Lazarus in the worlde , to be better then himselfe , before that dreadfull day come , when they cannot help it if they would neuer so saine , when repentance is too late . Herod shall then with that he were Iohn Baptist. Pharaoh wold wish that he were Moses , and Saule would wish that he had beene Dauid . Nabuchadnezzar , that he he had bene Daniell Hammon , to haue bene Mardocheus Esaw would wish to be Iacob , & Balam would with he might dye the death of the righteous : Then he will say , I will giue more then Ezekias : cry more then Esaw : Fast more then Moses : pray more then Daniell : weep more then Mary Magdilen : suffer more stripes then Paule : abide more imprisonment then Michai : abide more crueltie then any mortall man would doe , that it might be , Item , goe ye curssed : might become ye blessed . Yea , I wold giue all the goods in the world , that I might escape this dred full day of wrath and iudgement , & that I might not stand amongst the goe : O that I might liue a beggar all my life , and a leaper . O that I might indure all plagues and sores from the top of the head to the sole of my foot : sustaine all sicknes and griefes , that I might escape this iudgement .

The guiltie conscience cannot abide of this day : the silly sheep when she is taken will not bleate , but you may carry her and do what you will with her , and she will be subiect : but the swine , if she be once taken , she will roare and crye , and thinks she is neuer taken but to be slaine . So of all things the guiltie conscience can not abide to heare of this day : for they knowe , that when they heare of it , they heare of their owne condemnation . I think if there were a general collection made through the whole Worlde , that there might be no iudgement day : then God would be so rich that all the worlde would goe a begging and be as a waste wildernesse : Then the couetous Iudge would bring forth his bribes : then the crafty lawyer wold fetch out his bagges : the Vsurer would giue his gaine , and the idle seruant would digge vp his talent againe , and make a bubble therof : But all the mony in the world will not serue for one sinne : but the Iudge must answer for his bribes : he that hath money , must answer how he came by it , and iust condemnation must come vpon euerye soule of them : then shall the sinner be euer dying and neuer dead , like the Salamander that is euer in the fier and neuer consumed .

But if you come there , you may say as the Queen of Saba said of King Salomon , I beleeued the report that I heard of thee in my own Country , but the one halfe of thy wisdome was not tolde me : if you came there to see what is doone , you may say , now I beleeue the reporte that was tolde me in my own Cuntry concerning this place , but the one halfe as now I feele I haue not heard of : Now chuse you whether you will reioyce , or remember whether you will stand amongst you blessed or amongst you cursed : whether you wil enter while the gate is open , or knocke in vaine when the gate is shut : whether you wil seek the Lord whilst he may be found , or be found of him when you would not be sought , beeing runne into the bushes with Adam to hide your selues : whether you will take your heauen now heare , or your hell then there : or through tribulation to enter into the kingdome of God : and thus to take your hell now heare , or your heauen then there in the life to come with the blessed Saints and Angels so that hereafter you may lead a new life , putting on Iesus Christe and his righteousnes .