Minding of the day of Judgment, an excellent means to prevent Sin. [ 1739]
IT is reported of a certain Christian King of Hongary,* 1.1 who being on a time marvailous sad and heavy, his brother that was a resolute Courtier, would needs know what he ailed; Oh brother, quoth he, I have been a great Sinner against God, and I know not how I shall appear before him, when he comes to Iudgment; These are, (said his brother) Melancholly fits, and so makes a toy of them, as Gallants use to do: The King replies nothing for the present; but the custome of that Coun∣try was, that if the Executioner of Iustice came and sounded a Trumpet before any Mans door, the Man was presently without any more ado, to be had to Execution: The King in the dead of the night, sends for his Deaths-Man, and causeth him to sound his Trumpet before his brothers dore; who seeing and hearing the Messenger of Death, springs in pale and trembling into his brothers presence, and beseeches the King to tell him wherein he had offended him: Oh Brother, replies the King; Thou hast loved me and never offended me, and is the sight of my Executioner so dreadfull to thee? And shall not so great a Sinner as I, fear to be brought to the Iudgment seat of God? Thus, did but Men stand in S. Ieromes posture, alwaies hearing the Trumpet sounding in their ears, Surgite mor∣tui, venite ad judicium, they would make more Conscience of their waies, they would then strike upon their thigh, and cry out, quid faciam? What shall I do? And thus in all their doings remembring their latter end, they would never do amisse.