CHAP. XXIV. Of Iudgment, and the punishment of Sins.

IN all things have a special aim to thy end, and how thou wilt be able to stand Page  59 before that severe Judg to whom nothing is hid, who is not pacified with gifts, nor admitteth any excuses, but will judg ac∣cording to right and equity. O wretched and foolish sinner, who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry Man; what answer wilt thou make to God who know∣eth all thy wickedness! Why dost thou not provide for thy self against that great day of judgment, when no Man can excuse or answer for another, but every one shall have enough to answer for himself? Now are thy pains profitable, thy tears accepta∣ble, thy groans audible, thy grief pacifieth God, and purgeth thy soul.

2. The patient Man hath a great and wholesome purgatory, who though he re∣ceive injuries, yet grieveth more for the malice of another, than for his own wrong; who prayeth willingly for his ad∣versaries, and from his heart forgiveth their offences; he delayeth not to ask for∣giveness of whomsoever he hath offended; he is sooner moved to compassion than to anger; he often offereth an holy violence to himself, and laboreth to bring the body wholly into subjection to the spirit. It is better to purge out our sins, and cut off our Page  60 vices here, than to keep them to be punish∣ed hereafter. Verily we do but deceive our selves through an inordinate love of the flesh.

3. What is it that that infernal fire feeds upon, but thy sins? The more thou spa∣rest thy self now and followest the flesh, so much the more hereafter shall be thy pu∣nishment, and thou storest up greater fe∣wel for that flame. In what thing a Man hath sinned, in the same shall he be the more grievously punished. There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning goads, and the gluttons be tormented with great hunger and thirst. There shall the luxurious and lovers of pleasures be bathed in burning pitch and stinking brimstone, and the envious like mad Dogs shall howl for very grief.

4. There is no sin but shall have its pro∣per torment. There the proud shall be filled with all confusion; the covetous shall be pinched with miserable penury; one hour of pain there shall be more bitter than a Thousand years of the sharpest pennance here! There is no quiet, no comfort for the damned there; yet here we have some intermission of our labors, and enjoy the Page  61 comfort of our friends. Be now sollicitous and sorrowful because of thy sins, that at the day of judgment thou mayest be secure with the company of blessed souls. For then shall the righteous with great boldness stand against such as have vexed and oppres∣sed them; then shall he stand to judg Men, who doth now humbly submit himself to the censures of Men. Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence, but the proud Man shall be compassed with fear on every side.

5. Then will it appear that he was wise in this world, who had learned for Christ to be a fool and despised. Then shall every affliction patiently undergone delight us, when the mouth of iniquity shall be stop∣ped up. Then shall the devout rejoyce, and the profane shall mourn. Then shall he more rejoyce that hath beat down his own flesh, than he that hath abounded in all pleasure and delight. Then shall the poor attire shine gloriously, and the preci∣ous robes seem vile and contemptible. Then shall be more commended the poor cottage, than the gilded palace. Then will constant patience more avail us, than all earthly power. Then simple obedience Page  62 shall be preferred before all worldly wis∣dom.

6. Then shall a good and clear conscience more rejoyce a Man than the profound learning of Philosophy. Then shall the con∣tempt of riches weigh more than all the worldings treasure. Then wilt thou be more comforted that thou hast prayed de∣voutly, than that thou hast fared daintily. Then wilt thou be more glad thou hast kept silence, than that thou hast talked much. Then will good works avail more than ma∣ny goodly words. Then a strict life and severe repentance will be more pleasing than all earthly delights. Accustome thy self now to suffer a little, that thou mayest then be delivered from more grievous pains. Prove first here what thou canst en∣dure hereafter. If now thou canst endure so little, how wilt thou then be able to en∣dure perpetual torments? If now a little suffering make thee so impatient, what will hell fire do hereafter? Assure thy self thou canst not have two Paradises, it is im∣possible to enjoy delights in this world, and after that to reign with Christ.

7. Suppose thou hast hitherto lived al∣ways in honors and delights, what would Page  63 all this avail thee if thou wert to die at this instant? All therefore is vanity, but to love God and serve him only. For he that loveth God with all his heart, is neither afraid of death nor punishment, nor of judgement, nor of hell; for perfect love gives secure access to God. But he that takes delight in sin, what marvel is it if he be afraid, both of death and judgment? Yet it is good, although love be not yet of force to withhold thee from sin, that at least the fear of hell should restrain thee. But he that layeth aside the fear of God, can never continue long in good estate, but falleth quickly into the snares of the Devil.