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OF THE tentations that are com∣monly felt in the houre of death, and of the Remedies against the same.
THERE be many anguishes and anieties, which the soule doth commonly feele in the perillous trans & hour of death, this being the moste terrible thing that
can happ vnto vs in this life; sith at that time the soule doth suffer on e∣uery * 1.1 side, and which waye soeuer it turneth, doth finde great cause of corsey and extreame annoye. First, it suffreth in respect of the body, frō which it parteth with no smal pain; it suffreth like-wise in parting from the temporal thinges, which it lea∣ueth here behind; and looke howe much more they were in life time lo∣ued of it, and so much more doo they in that houre of death torment it. It suffreth, through the great dreade it hath of the straite accompt, which it knoweth wel, must forth-with be passed to the dreadful Iudge, of eue∣rye thing it hath done in al her life time. It suffreth, through the horri∣ble vision of the deuils, which in that houre appere; the sight wherof is an intollerable tormēt. And much more doth it suffer through the grie∣uous and bitter assaultes, wher-with
in that houre they farre more fierce∣lye * 1.2 set vpon it, then euer they did tofore. For like as towardes the ende of the world, and time of general iudgemēt, the prince of darknes shal more terribly, and with greater rage and furye assault mankinde, as he knoweth better howe smal a time is then remayning for him to doo the same, and to infest it any longer: In like maner doo the deuils nowe be∣haue them-selues towardes suche as be at the point of death, against whē they bend al their might and maine, al their sleightes and subtilties what∣soeuer; sith they knowe wel, that if the soule, in that last houre doo es∣cape their dreadful clookes, they lose what they pretended to gaine al her life time in this world; for so doo the Doctors commonly saye vpon the sentence of the Apocalips: a 1.3 That the deuil descendeth with great rage, woting wel, that he hath but a smal time left. So that
the anxietie and bitternes of that houre shal-be so great; as no man by wordes can sufficientlye exaggerate. And this doo we plainlye see by an example, that S. Iohn Climacus re∣porteth * 1.4 to haue happed in his time to a religious man, whom he both saw and knew; and saith, how this mā * 1.5 hauing liued some-what looselve in his monasterie, came on a time to the very poynt of death, and then was in such sort rauished in spirite, as he saw the dreadful rigour, and such thinges as passe in the time of judgement, and doome of euery soule; and after∣wardes, comming to him-selfe again, hauing through God his diuine and special dispensation obteined a time of penance, this holy man saith, how the said monke prayed al those that were there present with him, (amon∣gest whom was the same Iohn Cli∣macus) that they would al of thē de∣part out of his sel; wherein he after∣wardes
remained al alone. vntil the houre of his death, which was for the space of xij. yeres after, without go∣ing out at any time, speaking worde * 1.6 to any man, or receauing al that time any other foode then bread and wa∣ter; but continually sitting in this his sel, like a man astonished, and besides him-selse, and hauing his eyes fixed stil in one place, he perpetually re∣uolued in his mind the things which he sawe in his extasie or rauishment, and with the memory therof bedew∣ed his cheekes dayly with streames of bitter teares; And in this maner did he continue til the houre of his death; at what time the saide Iohn Climacus, with al the other religious men that liued there-aboutes in the wildernes came to visite him; who breaking downe the doore of his sel, which he had walled vp; and be∣ing entred in, they al desired him to
geue them some good word of edi∣fication before his departure; to whē he replied this onely; I tel you truely, fa∣thers, (quoth he) if men wist wel, howe dreadful this last transe of death, and howe rigorous the sentence of diuine indgement were, they durst neuer offend God, nor transgresse his moste holy commaundementes. Sith therfore it is so, we ought eftsons to forethinke this houre, and to arme and prepare our selues, at al assaies, for this so peril∣lous a season. Albeit, wel may we hope in that most faithful God our Lorde, that he wil not permitt vs (as S. a 1.7 Paul saith) to be tempted aboue our strength; and that the Angels shal-be no lesse careful, especially, e∣uery mans Gardian, to succoure and helpe in that houre of such extreme necessitie, then the deuils busie to as∣sault * 1.8 and ouerthrowe vs. It shal-be notwithstanding greatly profitable, (as I saye) for eche one to fore-thinke in time the suggestions and tempta∣tions that shal in that houre be pro∣pounded
them; as also the remedies and wepons to defende and releeue them with; that so they may more securely escape so great a peril; and gaine the crowne prepared for the valiant conquerour. It is therefore to be noted, howe-
THE FIRST and principal temp∣tation, * 1.9 wher-with the fiends are wont in that houre to infest those that are redie to geue vp their ghost, is, of fayth, according as S. Ambrose testi∣fieth, * 1.10 which is the foundation of al spiritual building; that the principal * 1.11 foundation once failing, al the whole frame may fal to ruine. Their drift is therfore, to intrap a man in some er∣rour of beliefe, especially, touching those articles, wherwith otherwhiles in life time they assailed, & foūd him som-what feeble. To which tēptatiō thou canst not resist better, then, as I * 1.12 told thee heretofore in the. 26. Chap∣ter; to wit, by despising it; scorning
the deuil; and not regarding to solute his reasons. But if of force thou must needes aunswer som-thing, let it be this: I beleeue firmely what our holy mother the Churche beleeueth, and that which the holy Apostles, Martirs, and Confessours haue beleued and taught. whose faith and doctrine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, (whom none can deceaue) hath confirmed with innumerable miracles: and for the confes∣sion wherof hath so much bloud of Martirs been spilt, of whose holines no man can iustly doubt. Sticke fast to this aunswere, and care not to satisfie his other obiections & demaunds, which he may propound to thee about this matter; and no doubt but by thus behauing thy self, thou shalt remain a Conquerour, and gain the goale thou striuest for. Thus reade we of a seely simple man (albeit * 1.13 in this point wise and considerate y∣nough) who in a much like matter de meaned him-self in like maner. This good man being in conflict with the fiende, shaped him this aunswer tou∣ching an importunate adoo he made, to know his beliefe. I beleeue (quoth
he) al that our holy mother the Chur∣che beleeueth; Why, quoth the diuel, And what is that your holye mother the Church beleueth; She beleeueth, quoth the good man, that which I beleue. And what beleeuest thou, rei∣terated he? the other repeting his for∣mer answer; I beleue (quoth he) what our holye mother the Church belee∣ueth. Neither could the diuel, albeit he questioned neuer so importunate∣lye about this point, driue him from this his first answer; and so gained he the victorie, and put his foe to flight and shameful ignominie. In like ma∣ner maiest thou doo, if thou vse the same means of resisting this tentatiō.
THE SECOND suggestiō, wher-with the wicked spirits are wont to molest * 1.14 vs in this houre, is of blasphemic; per∣suading those that are nowe at point of death, to beleue or think some in∣decent & vnseemly thing of our bles sed L. & God, or of his holy SS. With this temptation, Eusebius S. Ieroms
Disciple was greeuouslye infested. * 1.15 Hereto maiest thou resist, by retor∣ting the blasphemie vpon the Diuel him-selfe, that propoundeth it, in this maner. I am more then assured, that my * 1.16 Lorde God is infinitely good, and woorthy of al soueraine praise and lcue: and that al his holy Saintes are most perfect, and replenished with al vertue: and thou, most wicked fiende, by going about to persuade me these blasphemies, bewras∣est plainly thy peruerse spirite, pufe vp with al impietie, malice, falshood, and deceipt, and ther by most woorthy to be of eche one despised, ac∣cursed, and abhorred. And then turning thine eyes to thy most mild & sweet maker, force thy selfe, to powre out of thy heart right humble blessings and praises in the best wise thou canst vnto him; and by howe muche the more the detestable deceauer shal infest thee with these his abhomina∣ble and beastly blasphemies; by so much the more be thou diligent and attentiue, to yeeld laudes and praises to his moste holy name.
THE THIRD temptation, where∣with * 1.17 the deuils doo tempt such as lye a dying, especially, if they haue beene great offenders, is dispaire; For like as in time of health they litle rought of their sinnes; and through the infinit number of Gods mercies, and hope to doo penance at their lat∣ter ende, made smal accompt therof: so in that houre of death doo their sinnes seeme more greeuous and gret∣lye aggrauated to them, by conside∣ring the rigor of diuine iustce, wher∣to yt belongeth, not to suffer any one sinne vnsifted and vnpunished; and then is it the deuils persuade and make them beleeue, that their contri∣tion in that present houre is of no * 1.18 force and value, as proceeding of ser∣uile and slauish feare. They like-wise in that houre represent al the enor∣mous crimes a man hath committed al his life time; as also the good he might haue done, and by his negli∣gence
hath omitted; and howe he ne∣uer confessed many of his sinnes, or at least wise imperfectlye, and with lesse sorowe then he ought to haue done. In this wise doo they so girde and gripe many heinous sinners, as no doubt but a great number be by that meanes driuen to desperation. * 1.19 This is one of the most terrible vex∣ations, wher-with such as haue wal∣lowed securely in their sinnes, are in this time assailed, and is in very deed so violent and hard to be withstood, as if the ineffable mercy of God did not geue special assistance and ayde in that houre, very few could eschew and ouercome the same. The remedie * 1.20 to releeue thee with, is; to humble thy selfe in the sight of God, and to in∣uocate his diuine clemencie, calling to minde the Passion of thy blessed and benigne Redeemer our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe; whose moste
bitter griefes, torments, and woundes thou must offer vp to his eternal fa∣ther for al thy sinnes what-soeuer, saying: I knowe, my Lorde, and moste gratious * 1.21 God, that albeit my sinnes be great, enormous, and innumerable, yet is the satisfaction, which thy moste obedient sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christe hath geuen thee, both for these of mine, and of al the whole world, farre greater, more pretious, and more infinite. I knowe like-wise, that thine incomprehensible mercie and pietie, doth farre surpasse al my miserie and impietie; and therefore wil I not dispaire, as Cain and a 1.22 Iudas did; especially, knowing, howe this should be, to adde a greater offence to my former tres∣passes; sith dispaire is that, which moste of al displeaseth, dishonoureth, and offendeth thee; yea, rather wil I hope in the multitude of thy b 1.23 mercies, which thou haste vsed towardes other, most vnworthy sinners; and sure I am, that thine eternal truth, and infallible worde, neither can, ne wil, euer deceaue, whereby thou haste
promised to pardon and receaue such as hope in thee, calvpon thy mercy, and vnfainedly turne to thee, being contrite and sorowful for their sinnes, as I am nowe. This is the anker, wher-vnto thou must cleaue fast, and neuer to forsake thy holde, albeit the deuils doo what they may to drowne thee, as is aforesaid.
THE FOVRTH temptatiō is quite * 1.24 opposite and contrary to the former. This being a rash and fond securitie, and ouer-weening a man hath in his owne innocencie; for that (as Cassian saith) when the wilye and coonning fiende can-not induce a man to that excessiue feare and pusilanimitie he thought to haue done, and so to haue driuen him downe to desperation, then doth he craftilye goe about to post him ouer to the other extreame; by drawing him to a daungerous se∣curitie, and blind delite, and pleasing of him-selfe; counterfeiting falslye with him; how he hath fought man∣fullye,
and wel prepared him-selfe to death; and howe he is greatly bounde to God for so many his giftes moste plentifully bestowed vpon him; and so ought to reioyce for hauing done so many good deedes in his life-time, wher-by ful wel may he hope, that a great glory shal-be geuen him in he∣uen; and that by this meanes he maye securely without any feare or dreade depart this life. With this temptatiō is he wont chiefly to assaile good re∣ligious men, or other spiritual per∣sons, such as haue laudably gouerned them-selues throughout the whole course & periode of this their world∣lye * 1.25 pilgrimage. Against the which diabolical deceipt and trecherie, this shal-be a very profitable remedie; to haue such authorities of holy scrip∣ture in readines, as serue to beat down this vaine pleasing, and disordinate confidence in our selues, as is that saying of the wise man: a 1.26 That no man
liuing knoweth whether he be woorthy of loue or hatred, & that of b 1.27 Esay; Al our righteous∣nes is a defiled cloth; and that which our c 1.28 Sauiour him-selfe saide; When you haue done al that is commaunded you, saye ye; we are vnprofitable seruauntes. That also of the psalmist: d 1.29 Thy iudgementes are a great and inscrutable depth; and that sentence of the e 1.30 Apostle; How incomprehensible are the iudgementes of God. By these and ma∣nye moe authorities shalt thou wel knowe, how smally thou oughtest to please thy selfe, or to growe secure, by reason of such good workes, as thou supposest to haue done; sith they may haply be distained with many im∣perfections; and by that meanes be li∣tle grateful or acceptable to God. In * 1.31 doing thus, thou shalt remaine be∣tweene feare and hope (the most assu∣red path to passe to heauen by) fering by reason of thy manifold sinnes and imperfections; and hoping through the infinite goodnes and mercye of
God; so that, looke at what time the diuel goeth about to make thee proud, and to presume of thy selfe; see thou depresse and throwe thee downe with the memorie of suche causes as thou hast to make thee fear; and when on th'other side he would driue thee to dispaire, doo thou ani∣mate thy selfe with the remembrance of such thinges, as iustly may moue thee to haue confidence in our Lord and moste merciful Sauiour. * 1.32
THE FIFT temptation is of im∣patience, through the pains & griefes that sicknes bringeth, especially, if it be of longe continuance. This vice must thou vanquishe, by persuading thy selfe, that whatsoeuer it be thou * 1.33 hast done, or doest now presently suf∣fer, God doth with singuler loue, for the wel-fare of thy soule, sende it to thee; that by meanes of such afflicti∣on; and paines it maye be purged here, and escape the other, farre
more greeuous tormentes, which it shoulde other-wise endure in the world to come; as also, that by means of these paines and pinching griefes in this earthly pilgrimage, thy merite might increase aboue, and thy future glory growe farre greater in heauen.
Besides these temptations alreadie mentioned; wel may we weene, that the wicked spirites doo, with diuers other, molest the soule of man in this houre of transe, and time of so great distresse. It shal neuerthelesse suffice, I hope, to haue set downe the chiefe, and most daungerous, together with such remedies, as are most fitt to be applied against them; wherby, what with them thine owne good prayers, and those of thine assistantes (who shal doo very wel to sprinkle holye * 1.34 water eftsons vpon thee) as also by * 1.35 embracing the crucifix, and calling vpon that moste sugred and sweete name of (IESVS) with faith and fer∣uour,
forcing thee to wrap and wind thy selfe into his woundes; wel may∣est thou, I say, (vsing al these means) hope to be holpen by God, and his blessed Saintes and Angels; and so most happily to gaine a conquest of these, and al other temptations that may assaile thee, and at length arriue most fortunately to that port of eter∣nal rest and quietnes.
The ex∣treme an∣guishes of the soule in time of death.
The fiends most furi∣ous in the houre of death.
Apo. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
S. Iohn Climacus.
An exam∣ple prouing the ex∣treme pe∣rils in the houre of death.
A rare kinde of penance.
1. Cor. 10. c.
The daun∣gers fore∣seene, are more easily a∣uoided
The first temptatiō in the hour of death.
S. Ambrose
Infidelitie.
The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be de∣spised.
The shift of a simple man con∣founding the Diuil.
The second temptatiō is of Blas∣phemie.
Eusebius S. Ieroms Disciple.
A retor∣ting of the fiends sug∣gestion.
The 3. temp tation is dispaire.
Note diss∣gently.
Despaire a most dan∣gerous tcp∣tation.
The Reme∣die against despaire is Christe crucified.
A prayer against desperatiō.
Mat. 27. a. Act. 1. c.
Ps. 105. g
The fourth temptation is too great a securitie.
The Reme∣die against vaine sccu∣ritie and pleasing.
Eccl. 9. a.
Esae. 64. b
Luc. 17. c.
Ps. 35. a.
Rom. 11. d
The best waye to he∣uen lieth betwixt feare and hope.
The 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is of impatience
The Re∣medie.
Holy-water
The sugred name of IESVS.