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 daunger : and musing , I could not finde anie text in the scripture that did not reprooue sinne , vnlesse it were in the Apocrypha , 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 , bee wantons still : let them that be careles prelates , be careles still : let them that be vsurers , be vsurers stil : but saith Solomon , Remember thy end , that thou shalt be called to iudgement at the last for altogether . This is the counsell of Salomon the wisest then liuing : what a counsel is this for a wise man , such a one as was Salomon ?

In the beginning of his booke he saith , All is vanitie , and in the end he saith , Feare God & keepe his commaundements , in the 12. Chapter he saith , Remember thy maker in the daies of thy youth . But heere hee sayth , Reioyce O yong man in thy youth . Here hee speaketh like an epicure , which saith , Eate , drinke , and be merrie : here he counsels , and heere hee mockes : yet not after the maner of scorners , although they deserued it in shewing their foolishnes , as it is in the first of the Prouerbes , He laughed at the wicked in derision : As in the 2. Psalme , God seeing vs follow our owne waies . For when he bids vs pray , wee play : and when he bids vs runne , wee stand still : and when hee bids vs fast , wee feast : and send for vanities to make vs sport : then he laughes at our destruction . Therefore when Salomon giueth a sharpe reproofe , and maketh you ashamed in a word , he scoffinglie bids you do it agayne , like a Schoolemaster which beateth his Scholler for playing the truant , he biddeth him play the truant againe . O this is the bitterest reproofe of all . But least anie Libertine should misconster Salomon , and saie that he bids vs be merry and make much of our selues , therefore he shutteth it vp with a watchword , and setteth a bridle before his lips , and reprooueth it as hee speaketh it before hee goeth any further , and sayth , But remember that for all these thinges , thou must come to iudgement . But if wee will vnderstand his meaning , hee meaneth when hee sayth , Reioyce , O young man , Repent , O young man in thy youth ; and when he sayth , Let thy hart cheere thee , let thy sinnes greeue thee : for hee meaneth other-wise then he speaketh : he speaketh like Michal in the booke of Kinges 2. Chap. Go vp and prosper , or like as Ezechiell , Go vp and serue other Gods , or as Saint Iohn speaketh in the Reuelation , Let them that hee wicked , bee wicked still . But if there were no iudgement daye , that were a merrye world : therefore sayth Salomon , When thou art in thy pleasures flaunting in the fieldes , and in thy braue ruffes and amongst thy louers , with thy smyling lookes , thy wanton talke and merry iestes , with thy pleasant games and loftie lookes ; Remember for al these thinges thou shalt come to iudgement .

Whilest the theefe stealeth , the hempe groweth , and the hooke is couered within the baite : we sit downe to eate , and rise vp to playe , and from playe to sleepe , and a hundreth yeeres is counted little enough to sin in : but how many sinnes thou hast set on the score , so many kindes of punishments shall be prouided for thee . Howe manye yeares of pleasure thou hast taken , so many yeeres of payne : how many drams of delight , so many poundes of dolour : when iniquitie hath playd her parte , vengeance leapes vpon the stage , the comedie is shorte , but the tragedie is longer : the blacke guarde shall attend vpon you , you shall eate at the table ofsorrowe , and the crowne of death shall bee vpon your heads , manye glistring faces looking on you , and this is the feare of sinners : when the deuill hath entised them to sinne , hee presumeth like the olde Prophet in the booke of Kings , who when he had entised the yong Prophet contrary to the commaundement of God , to turne home with him and to eate and drinke , he cursed him for his labour , because hee disobeyed the commaundement of the Lord , and so a Lyon deuoured him by the way . The foolish virgins thinke that their oile wil neuer be spent : so Dina stragled abroad , whilest she was defloured : what a thing is this to saie reioyce , and then repent ? What a blanke to say , take thy pleasure , and then thou shalt come to iudgement ? It is as if he should say , steale & be hanged , steale & thou darest , strangle sin in the cradle , for all the wisedome in the world will not help thee else : but thou shalt bee in admiration like dreamers which dreame strange thinges , and knowe not how they come . He saith , Remember iudgement : if thou remember alwaies , then thou shalt haue little list to sinne : if thou remember this , then thou shalt haue little list to fall downe to the diuell , though hee woulde giue thee all the world , and the glorie 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 periurie , periurie breedes hautines of hart : hautines of hart breedes contempt : contempt breedes obstinacie and brings forth much euill . And this is the whole progresse of sinne , he groweth from a lyar to a theefe , from a theefe to a murtherer , and neuer leaueth vntill hee haue searched all the roomes in hell , and yet hee is neuer satisfied , the more hee sinneth , the more hee searcheth to sinne : when he hath deceiued , nay he hath not deceiued thee : assoone as he hath that he desireth , he hath not that he desireth : when he hath left fighting , hee goeth to fighting agayne : yet a little and a little more , and so wee flit from one sinne to another . While I preach , you heare iniquitie ingender within you , and will breake forth as soone as you are gone . So Christ wept , Ierusalem laughed : Adam brake one , and we breake ten , like children which laugh and crye , so as if wee kept a shop of vices , now this sinne , and then that , from one sinne to another . O Remember thy end sayth Salomon , & that thou must come to iudgement . What shall become of them that haue tried them most ? be condemned most : Reioice O young man in thy youth . But if thou marke Salomon , he harpes vpon one string , he doubles it againe and againe , to shewe vs thinges of his owne experience , because we are so forgetfull thereof in our selues , like the dreamer , that forgetteth his dreame , and the swearer his swearing . So we begge of euerie vncleane spirit , vntill wee haue bumbasted our selues vp to the throat , filling euerie corner of our hartes with all vncleannes , and then wee are like the dogge that commeth out of the sinke , and maketh euerie one as foule as himselfe : therefore saith Salomon , If any one will learne the way to hell , let him take his pleasure . Methinke I see the dialogue betweene the flesh and the spirit , the worst speaketh first , and the flesh saith , Soule , take thine ease , eate , drinke , and goe braue , lye soft , what else should you doe but take your pleasure , thou knowest what a pleasant fellow I haue beene vnto thee , thou knowest what delight thou hast had by my meanes : but the soule commeth in , burdened with that which hath been spoken before , and saith , I pray thee remember iudgement , thou must giue account for all these thinges , for vnlesse you repent , you shall surely perish : no saith the flesh , Talke not of such graue matters , but tell me of fine matters , of soft beds and pleasant things , and talke me of braue pastimes , Apes , Beares and Puppits , for I tell thee the forbidden fruite is sweetest of all fruites , for I doe not like of your telling mee of iudgement : but take thou thy iewels , thy instrument , and all the stringes of vanitie will strike at once , for the flesh loues to bee braue , and treade vpon corkes , it cannot tell what fashion to be of , and yet to be of the new fashion . Reioice O young man in thy youth .

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

Pleasure is but a spurre , riches but a thorne , glorie but a blast , beautie but a flowre , sinne is but an hypocrite , honie in thy mouth , and poison in thy stomacke : therefore let vs come againe and aske of Salomon in good sooth , whether he meaneth in good earnest , when hee spake these wordes , O ( saith Salomon ) it is the best life in the world to goe braue , lie soft , and liue merelie , if therewere no iudgement . But this iudgement mars all , it is like a dampe that puts out all the light , and like a box that marreth all the ointment : for if this be true , wee haue spunne a faire threed , that wee must aunswere for all , that are not able to answere for one : why Salomon maketh vs fooles , and giueth vs gawdes to play withall : what then , shall wee not reioice at all ? yes , there is a godly mirth and if we could hit on it , which is called , Bee merrie and wise : Sara laughed , and was reprooued : Abraham laughed , and was not reprooued . And thus much for the first part .

But remember that for all these thinges thou shalt come to iudgement .

This verse is as it were a dialogue betwixt the flesh and the spirite , as the two counsellers : the woorst is first , and the flesh speaketh proudlie , but the spirit comes in burdened with that which hath beenespoken . The flesh goeth laughing and singing to hel , but the spirit casteth rubs in his way , & puts him in minde of iudgement , that for all these thinges : now endes reioyce , and heere comes in but : if this but were not , wee might reioyce still , if young men must for all the sportes of youth , what then shall olde men doe , being as they are nowe ? surelie if Salomon liued to see our olde men liue now , as heere he saith of young men , so high as sinne rageth , yet vengeaunce fits aboue it , as high as high Babell . Mee thinkes I see a sword hang in the ayre by a twine threed , and all the sonnes of men labour to burst it in sunder . There is a place in hell where the couetous iudge sitteth , the greedie Lawyer , the griping Landlord , the carelesse Bishop , the lusty youth , the wanton dames , the theefe , the robbers of the common-wealth , they are punished in this life because they euer sin as long as they could , while mercie was offered vnto them , therefore because they would not bee washed , they shall bee drowned . Now put togither reioice and remember : thou hast learned to be mery , nowe learne to bee wise : now therefore turne ouer a new leafe , and take a new lesson : for now Salomon mocketh not as he did before , therefore a checke to thy ruffes , a checke to thy cuffes , a checke to thy robes , a checke to thy gold , a checke to your riches , a checke to your beauty , a checke to your mucke , a checke to your graues : wo from aboue , wo from belowe , wo to all the stringes of vanitie : doest thou not nowe maruell that thou hadst not a feeling of sinne ? for nowe thou seest Salomon saith true , thine owne heart can tell that it is wicked , but it cannot amende : therefore it is high time to amend : as Nathan commeth to Dauid after Belzebub , so commeth accusing conscience after sinne . Me thinks that euerie one should haue a feeling of sinne , though this day bee like yesterdaie , and to morrowe like to daie , yet one day will come for all , and then woe , woe , woe , and nothing but darkenesse : and though God came ; not to Adam vntill the euening , yet hee came : although the fire came : not vpon Sodome vntill the euening , yet it came and so comes the Iudge although hee be not yet come , though he haue leaden feete , hee hath iron handes : the arrow staieth and is not yet fallen so is his wrath : the pit is digged , the fire kindled , and all thinges are made readie and prepared against that day , onelie the small sentence is to come , which will not long tarrie . 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 looke about thee , and doe nothing but that thou wouldest doe openlie , for all thinges are opened vnto him : Sara may not thinke to laugh and not be seene : Geheza may not thinke to lie and not bee knowne : they that will not come to the banquet , must stande at the doore . What , doe you thinke that God dooth not remember our sinnes which we doe not regarde ? for while wee sinne , the score runs on , and the Iudge setteth downe all in the table of remembrance , and his scrole reacheth vp to heauen .

Item for lending to Vsury . Item , for racking of rents . Item , for deceiuing thy brethren . Item for falshood in wares . Item , for starching thy ruffes . Item , for curling thy haire . Item , for painting thy face . Item , for selling of benefices . Item , for staruing of soules . Item , for playing at cardes . Item , for sleeping in the church . Item , for prophaning the Sabboth day . With a number more hath God to call to account , for euery one must answere for himselfe . The fornicator for taking of filthie pleasure , O sonne , remember thou hast taken thy pleasure , take thy punishment . The careles Prelate for murthering so many thousand soules . The Landlorde for getting money from his poore Tenants by racking of his rentes : see the rest , all they shall come like a verie sheepe , when the Trumpet shal sound , and the heauen and earth sh●l come to iudgement against them : when the heauens shall vanish like a scrole , and the earth shall consume like fire , and all the creatures standing against them : The rockes shall cleaue a sunder , and the mountaines shake , and the foundation of the earth shall tremble , and they shall say to the mountaines , couer vs , fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of his anger and wrath , whome wee haue not cared for to offend : but they shall not be couered & hid : but then they shall goe the blacke way , to the snakes and serpents , to bee tormented of deuils for euer : O paine vnspeakeable ! and yet the more I expresse it , the more horrible it is , when you thinke of a torment passing all tormentes , and yet a torment passing all that : yet this torment is greater then them , and passing them all .

Imagine you see a sinner going to hell , and his somner gape at him , his acquaintance looke at him , the Angels shoute at him , and the Saintes laugh at him , and the deuils raile at him , and many looke him in the face : and they that said they would liue and die with him , forsake him , and leaue him to pay all the scores . Then Iudas woulde restore his bribes . Esau would cast vp his pottage . Achan woulde cast downe his golde , and Gehezi woulde refuse his giftes . Nabuchadnezzar would be humbler . Balam would be faithfull , and the Prodigall sonne would be tame .

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

And Iudas running to the high Priests , saying : hold , take againe your money , I will none of it , I haue betraied the innocent bloud .

And Esau crying for the blessing when it is too late , hauing sold his birthright for a messe of pottage .

Woe , woe , woe , that euer we were borne . O where is that Diues that would beleeue this , before hee felt the fire in hell , or that woulde beleeue the poorest Lazarus in the worlde , to bee better then himselfe , before that dreadfull day come when they cannot helpe it , if they woulde neuer so faine , when repentance is too late ? Herod shall then wish that he were Iohn Baptist. Pharaoh woulde wishe that hee were Moses , and Saul would wish that hee had beene Dauid . Nabuchadnezzar , that he had beene Daniel . Hammon to haue beene Mardocheus . Esau would wish to bee Iacob , and Balam woulde wish hee might die the death of the righteous : then hee will say , I will giue more then Ezekias : crie more then Esau : fast more then Moses : pray more then Daniell : weepe more then Mary Magdalen : suffer more stripes then Paul : abide more imprisonment then Michai : abide more crueltie then any mortall man woulde doe , that it migh bee , Ite , goe ye cursed , might become yee blessed . Yea , I would giue all the goods in the worlde , that I might escape this dreadfull day of wrath and iudgement , and that I might not stand amongst the goe . O that I might liue a begger al my life , and a Leaper . O that I might indure all plagues and sores from the top of the head , to the sole of the foote , sustaine all sicknes and griefes , that I might escape this iudgement .

The guiltie conscience cannot abide this day . The sillie sheepe when shee is taken will not bleate , but you may carrie her and doe what you will with her , and she will bee subiect : but the swine , if shee be once taken , shee will roare and crie , and thinkes shee is neuer taken but to bee slaine . So of all things , the guiltie conscience cannot abide to heare of this day , for they knowe that when they heare of it , they heare of their owne condemnation . I thinke if there were a generall collection made through the whole worlde , that there might bee no iudgement day , then God woulde bee so rich , that all the world would goe a begging , and bee as a waste wildernes . Then the couetous Iudge woulde bring forth his bribes , then the craftie Lawyer woulde fetch out his bagges : the Vsurer would giue his gaine , and the idle seruant would dig vp his talent againe , & make a double thereof . But al the mony in the world wil not serue for one sin , but the Iudge must answere for his bribes , hee that hath money , must answere how he came by it , & iust condemnation must come vpon euery soule of them , then shall the sinner bee euer dying and neuer deade , like the Salamander that is euer in the fire and neuer consumed .

But if you come there , you may say as the Queene of Saba said of King Salomon , I beleeued the report that I heard of thee in mine owne countrie , but the one halfe of thy wisedome was not tolde mee . If you came there to see what is done , you may say , Now I beleeue the report that was told me in mine owne countrie 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 wil stande amongst you blessed , or amongst you cursed : whether you will enter while the gate is open , or knocke in vaine when the gate is shut : whether you wil seek the Lord whilest he may be found , or be found of him when you would not be sought , beeing run into the bushes with Adam to hide your selues : whether you wil take your heauen now here , or your hell then there : or through tribulation to enter into the kingdome of God , and thus to take your hell now here , or your heauen then there in the life to come with the blessed Saints & Angels , so that heereafter you may lead a new life , putting on Iesus Christ and his righteousnesse .

IN a sicke and euill affected bodie ( dearelie beloued ) wee vsuallie see preparatiues ministred , that the maladies maie bee made more fit and pliable to receiue wholsome medicines . The like , yea , and greater regard ought we to haue of our soules which being not crasie onlie , or light ly affected with sinne , but sicke euen vnto death , had neede to be prepared with threats and exhortations , comforts and consolations , one way or other , that they may be made fit , not to receiue the preparatiue , but the perfection of happie saluation . And for this cause haue I made choise of this part of Scripture , as of a light to shine vnto vs in darkenesse , a direction to our steps , and a lanthorne to our paths , while we wander through the boistrous waues of this wicked world . The text is playne , and obiect to euerie mans capacitie , naturally budding vnto blossomes : The first contayning our duetie which we are to performe towards God . The second , Gods promises , if we performe this duty .