A spiritual doctrine conteining a rule to liue vvel, vvith diuers praiers and meditations. Abridged by the Reuerend Father Levvis de Granada of the holie order of preachers. And deuided into sixe treatises, as is to be seene after the prefaces. Nevvlie translated out of Spanish into English.

Thursdaie night. Of the date of iudgment.

THIS daie thou shalt meditate vppon the daie of the general iudgement, that by meanes of this consideration, those tvvo principall affections maie be stirred vp in thy soule, vvhich euerie faith full Christian ought to haue, to vvit the feare of God, and abhorring of sinne.

Consider first vvhat a terrible daie that shalbe, [ 1] in vvhich the causes of al the childrē of Adam shalbe examined, the processes of al our liues concluded, and a definitiue sen∣tence giuen vvhat shalbe of vs for euermore. That daie shall comprise in it self al the daies of al ages, as vvel present and past, as to com; because in it the vvorld shall giue accoumpt of al those times, and in it shall almightie God povver out his anger and indignation, vvhich he hath gathered & laid vp in al ages. Hovv violentlie shal the maine floud of Gods indignation breake out at that daie, conteining in it so maine flouds of anger

and vvrath, as there haue ben sinnes com∣mitted since the creation of the vvorld.

Secondlie cōsider the fearful signes vvhich shal goe before that daie: [ 2] for as our Sauiour saith, before the comming of this daie, there shalbe signes in the sunne, in the moone and in the starres, and finallie in all the creatures of heauen and earth, for they all shal haue as it vvere a feeling of their end, before they end in deede; and shal tremble and beginne to fal, before they fal in deede. But men (saith he) shal goe dried vp and vvithered for feare of death, hearing the terrible rorings of the sea, and seeing the great vvaues and tempe∣stes vvhich shal rise in it, and foreseeing by this the great calamities and miseries vvhich such feareful signes dooe threaten to the vvorld. And so shal they goe astonied and a∣mazed, their faces pale and disfigured, them selues dead before death, and condemned be∣fore sentence be giuen; measuring the perils imminent, by their ovvne present feares, & euerie one so occupied vvith his ovvne af∣fairs, that none shal think of others, no not the father of his sonne. None shal then haue to doe vvith anie, or for anie, because none shalbe sufficient for him self alone.

Thirdlie consider that vniuersal floud of fier that shal com before the iudge, [ 3] and that

dreadful sovvnd of the trompet vvhich the A changel shal blovv to sommon and call al the generations of the vvorld to assemble together in one place, and to be present at there iudgement, and aboue all that dread∣ful maiestie vvith vvhich the iudge shall com.

After this consider the streight accoump: vvhich shal there be required of euerie mā. [ 4] Trulie (saith Iob) I knovv it is so, and that no man can beiustified, yf he be compared vvith God. If he vvil conted vvith him (in iudgement) of a thovv∣sand things (that he shall charge him vvithal) he shal not be able to ansvvere vnto one. VVhat then shal euerie vvicked person think at that time vvhen God shal enter vvith him into this examination, & shal there vvithin his ovvne conscience saie thus vnto him. Com hither thou vvicked felovv, vvhat hast thou seene in me that thou shouldest thus despise me, and goe to mine enimies side? I haue created thee to my image and likenes: I haue giuē thee the light of faith & made thee a Christiā, & redeemed thee vvith mine ovvne propre bloud, for thee haue I fasted, traueilled from place to place, vvat∣ched, laboured & svveat droppes of bloud, for thee haue I fusfred persecutions, scout∣gings, blasphemies, reproches, buffetings,

dishonours, torments, and the Crosse. VVit∣nes be this Crosse and nailes vvhich appeare heere. VVitnes be these vvounds of my hāds & feere vvhich remaine in mie bodie. VVit∣nes be heauen & earth before vvhom I suffe∣red. Novv vvhat hast thou donne vvith this thy soule vvhich I vvith my bloud purcha∣sed to be mine? In vvhose seruice hast thou emploied that vvhich I bought so deerelie? O foolish and adulterous generation! VVhie vvouldest thou rather serue this thy enimie vvith paine, then me thy Creator & Redee∣mer vvith ioy? I called you often times, & ye vvould not ansvvere me; I knocked at your gates, and ye vvould not avvake; I stretched out my hands on the crosse, & ye vvould not behold them. Ye haue despised my counsels vvith al my promises & threatnings: vvher∣fore speake novv o ye Angels, iudge ye other iudges betvvixt me and my viniard, vvhat could I haue donne more for it then I haue donne?

Novv vvhat ansvvere can the vvicked make heere? such as scoffe at holie things? such as mocke vertue? such as contemne sim∣plicitie? such as haue made more accoumpt of the lavves of the vvorld then of the lavves of God? such as haue bene deaffe at al his callings, vnsensible to all his inspirations,

rebellious against his commandements, ob∣durate and vnthankful for al his chastise∣ments & benefits? vvhat vvil those ansvvere vvho haue liued, as if they had beleeued that there vvere no God; and such as haue made accoumpt of no lavve, but onlie of their ovvne interest and commoditie? VVat vvil ye dooe (saith the Prophet Isaie) in the daie of visita∣tion and calamitie vvhich commeth from afarre? Vnto vvhome vvil ye flie for succour and help, and vvhere vvil you leaue your glorie; that ye be not caried avvaie prisoners, and fal vvith those that at dead?

Fiftlie consider after al this that terrible sentence vvhich the iudge shal thunder out against the vvicked; [ 5] and that dreadful saying vvhich shal make the ears of al that shal heare it to glovve and tingle. His lippes (saith the Prophet Isaie) ar ful of indignation, and his toung like a consuming fiar. VVhat fiar shal burne so hoat as these vvords; Depart from me ye vvicked and cursed into euerlasting fiar, vvhich is prepared for the diuel and his Angels; In vvhich vvords and eche of them thou hast much to feele & think of as of that doleful departing; of that malediction and curse; of that fiar; of that companie of diuels and vvicked spirites; and that vvhich is aboue al, of that eternitie vvhich shal neuer end.

Notes

• Luc. ••1.
• Iob 9.
• Isai. 30.27.
• Isai. 10.3.
• Math. 25.41.