The harmonie of Holie Scriptures vvith the seuerall sentences of sundry learned and vvorthy vvriters : collected for the comfort of all such as are desirous to seeke after theyr soules health / by I.B.

§. 1.

FRet not thy selfe, (saith Dauid,) be∣cause* 1.1 of the vvicked, [or vngodlie,] neither be thou enuious against the euill dooers.

For, they shall soone be cut downe like* 1.2 the grasse, and shal wither away, as dooth the greene hearbe.

They are exalted for a little; but shortly* 1.3 are they gone, and are brought lowe as all others: they are destroyed & cut off, euen as the top of an eare of corne.

Though they florish in the world for a* 1.4 season, yet is their safety in the same, alwaies most vncertaine: and, when they perswade themselues to be farthest from perrill, then commeth theyr confusion speedily vppon them.

They haue (as the Prophet affirmeth,)* 1.5 theyr portion in this life.

They liue for a time in most prosperous* 1.6 estate; they enioy vvealth according to their wish, and haue chyldren at theyr de∣sire: they spend whole months in mirth & banquetting, and fill themselues with all varietie of delights: but at vnawares, they end theyr dayes in sorrow; and die without any hope of the felicitie to come.

Therefore shal not the wicked be able* 1.7 to stand in iudgement, nor sinners in the assemblie of the righteous: for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the wicked shal perrish.

His owne iniquities shal take the wicked* 1.8 himselfe, and hee shal be holden vvith the cordes of his owne sinne. Hee shal die for faute of instruction, & goe astray through his great folly.

Lewde things are in his hart: hee imagi∣neth* 1.9 euil at al times, and raiseth vp conten∣tions. Therefore shal his destruction come hastilie vpon him: & he shal be destroyed suddainly, without recouery.

§. 2.

As for my selfe, (saith Dauid,) my feete* 1.10 were almost gone, my steps had wel-neere

slipt. For, I fretted at the foolish, when I* 1.11 saw the prosperitie of the wicked.

For, there are no bandes in theyr death,* 1.12 but they are lustie and strong. They come into no misfortune like other folke, ney∣ther are they plagued like other men.

Therefore, pride is as a chayne vnto thē,* 1.13 and crueltie couereth them as a garment. Theyr eyes stand out for fatnes: and they haue more then hart can wish.

They trust in their goods, and boast* 1.14 themselues in the multitude of their riches.

They see that wise men die, and also that* 1.15 the ignorant and foolish perrish, and leaue theyr riches for others: Yet they thinke, theyr houses & theyr habitations shall con∣tinue for euer: euen from generation to generation, and call theyr landes by theyr names.

Theyr seede [also,] is established in their* 1.16 sight with them, and theyr generation be∣fore theyr eyes.

Theyr houses are peaceable vvithout* 1.17 feare, and the rodde of God is not vppon them.

Theyr Bullocke gendereth, and fayleth* 1.18 not: theyr Cowe calueth, and casteth not her calfe.

They sende foorth theyr chyldren by* 1.19 flocks, and theyr sonnes leade the daunce. They beare with them Tabrets & Harps, and haue instruments of musicke at theyr pleasure. They spende their dayes in wel∣thines, and suddainely they goe downe to the graue.

They say also vnto God, Depart from* 1.20 vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes. VVho is the Almighty, that vvee should serue him? and, what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?

They are licentious, and presumptious* 1.21 boasters. They sette theyr mouth against heauen: & theyr tongue walketh through the earth.

Loe, these are the vvicked: yet prosper* 1.22 they in the world, and haue riches plenti∣fully in possession.

§. 3.

Then thought I, (saith the Psalmist) to* 1.23 know this; [or to vnderstand the reason of thys matter,] but it was to hard for me▪ vn∣till I went into the Sanctuary of God: then vnderstood I the end of these men.

Namely, how the Lord hath sette them* 1.24 in slipperie places, & casteth them downe into desolation.

Oh howe suddainly doe they consume,* 1.25 perrish, and come to a fearefull end!

Euen as a dreame when one awaketh, so* 1.26 shall God make theyr image to vanish out of the Cittie.

§. 4.

I my selfe (saith hee) haue seene the vn∣godly* 1.27 in great power, and spreading him∣selfe like a greene Bay-tree. Yet he passed away, and lo, hee was gone; and I sought him, but hee could not be found.

Therefore yet a little while, and the wic∣ked* 1.28 shall not appeare: & thou shalt looke after his place, and he shall not be found.

Doubtlesse, vvith thine eyes, shalt thou* 1.29 behold and see the reward of the wicked.

For, the Lord hateth all them that work* 1.30 iniquitie.

And his face is against them that doe e∣uil,* 1.31 to cut off their remembrance from the earth.

§. 5.

The vvicked (saith Dauid) practiseth a∣gainst* 1.32 the iust; & gnasheth vpon him with his teeth: but the Lord shall laugh him to scorne; for hee seeth that his day is com∣ming. Though he haue drawn his sword, and haue bent his bow, to cast downe, the

poore and needy, and to slay such as be of vpright conuersation; yet shall his sworde goe thorow his owne hart, & his bow shal be broken.

§. 6.

My hart (saith the Prophet) sheweth* 1.33 mee the wickednes of the vngodly: that there is no feare of GOD before his eyes.

For, hee flattereth himselfe in his owne* 1.34 eyes, till his abhominable iniquity be found out. The words of his mouth are vnrigh∣teous, and full of deceit: he hath left off to vnderstand and to doe good.

Hee imagineth mischiefe vpon his bed:* 1.35 hee setteth himselfe vpon a way, that is not good, and doth not abhor to doe euill.

He is so proude that hee seeketh not for* 1.36 GOD: hee thinketh alwayes, There is no God. His wayes alway prosper; and the iudgements of the Lord are hie aboue his sight: therefore defieth he all his enemies.

He saith in his hart, I shall neuer be mo∣ued,* 1.37 nor be in any danger. His mouth is ful of cursing, deceit, and fraude: vnder his tongue is misciefe and iniquity.

Hee sitteth lurking in the theeuish cor∣ners* 1.38 of the streets; and in the secrete places doth he priuily murther the innocent. His

eyes are bent against the poore. Hee lyeth in waite secretly: euen as a Lyon, so lur∣keth hee in his denne, that hee may spoyle the poore.

And heapes of thē doe fall by his might.* 1.39 Hee hath [also,] saide in his hart, Tush, God hath forgotten: hee hideth away his face, and will neuer see this.

Notwithstanding: God hath seene al his* 1.40 dooings. For hee [from whose eyes no se∣crete can be hid,] beholdeth mischiefe and wrong: that hee may take the matter into his hands.

And, when hee maketh inquisition for* 1.41 blood, hee remembreth it; and forgetteth not the complaint of the poore.

But vvill recompence the vngodly, ac∣cording* 1.42 to theyr vngodlines; and destroy them in theyr owne malice. Yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.

For it is a righteous thing vvith him, to* 1.43 recompence tribulation to them that trou∣ble his seruaunts.

§. 7.

And though (as Salomon saith,) hand* 1.44 ioyne in hand, yet shall not the vngodly escape vnpunished.

But] his mischiefe shall returne vpon his* 1.45 owne head; and his crueltie shall fall vpon his owne pate.

For the right hand of the Lord, shall not* 1.46 spare the vvicked, neither shall the sworde cease from them, that shed innocent blood vpon the earth.

§. 8.

Knowest thou not this of old? and since* 1.47 GOD placed man vpon the earth, (saith Iob,) that the reioycing of the vvicked is short, and that the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment?

Though the excellencie of the vngodly* 1.48 man mount vp to the heauen, & his head reach vnto the clowdes, yet shall he perrish for euer, like his dung: & they which haue seene him, shall say, VVhere is hee?

Hee shall flee away as a dreame, & they* 1.49 shall not finde him: and shall passe away as a vision of the night.

So that the eye which sawe before, shall* 1.50 haue no more sight of him: neither shall his place know him any more.

His children shall be faine to agree with* 1.51 the poore: and his hands shall restore his substance. His bones are full of the sinne

of his youth, & it shal lie downe with him in the dust.

§. 9.

The riches that hee hath deuoured, hee* 1.52 shal pa••brake againe: for God shall drawe them out of his belly. He shal suck the gall of Aspes, and the Vipers tongue shall sley him: So that he shall no more see the riuers and brookes of hony and butter.

The things that other men haue labou∣red* 1.53 for, he shal restore againe: & shall not eate them vp. Great trauaile shall he make for riches, but he shal not enioy them. And why? hee hath oppressed the poore, and not helped them: houses hath hee spoyled, and not builded them.

Surely, hee shal feele no quietnes in his* 1.54 body: neyther shall hee reserue of that which hee desired. There shal none of his meate [or substance] be left: therfore none shal hope for his goods. When he shall be filled with his abundance, hee shall be in paine; and the hand of all the wicked shall assaile him.

(According to that sentence of Erasmus,* 1.55 where hee sayth: It pleaseth GOD many times, to make one wicked man his instru∣ment, to plague another for his iniquitie.)

Hee shall be about to fill his belly, but God shal send vpon him his fierce wrath:* 1.56 & shal cause his indignation to raigne ouer him: so that if he flee from the yron vvea∣pons, he shal be shot with the steele bow.

§. 10.

Affliction and anguish shall make him* 1.57 afraide: they shal preuaile against him as a King ready to the battaile.

Fearefulnes shal make him afraid on eue∣rie* 1.58 side, and shal driue him to his feete.

Though hee dwell in desolate Citties, &* 1.59 in the houses which no man inhabiteth, but are become heapes of stones, yet shall hee not be rich, neither shall his substance con∣tinue, or increase vpon the earth.

All darknes, [or, all feare and sorrowe,]* 1.60 shall be hidde in his secrete places: the fire that is not blowne shal deuoure him, and that which remaineth in his Tabernacle, shal be destroyed.

Hee shal neuer come out of darknesse:* 1.61 the flame [of Gods anger] shall dry vp his branches: and vvith the blast of Gods mouth hee shall be taken away.

The heauen shal declare his wickednes,* 1.62 & the earth shall rise vp against him. The increase [also] of his house shal passe away:

it shall euen perrish & be consumed in the day of the Lords wrath.

§. 11.

Hee beleeueth not that hee erreth in va∣nitie,* 1.63 therefore vanitie shall be his recom∣pence. Hee shall perrish before his time be vvorne out; and his branch shall not be greene.

God shall destroy him, as the Vine doth* 1.64 her sower grape: and shal cast him off, as the Oliue doth her flower.

His light shal be quenched, & the spark* 1.65 of his fire shal not burne. The light shal be darke in his dwelling, and his candle shall be put out with him.

The steps of his strength shall be restrai∣ned,* 1.66 and his owne counsell shall cast him downe.

For, his feete are taken as it vvere in a* 1.67 Net, and hee vvalketh vppon dangerous snares. The grenne as he goeth, shall catch him by the heele: and ere hee is aware, the theefe shall come vppon him.

§. 12.

Hunger shal be his strength, & destruc∣tion* 1.68 shall be ready at his side. It shall de∣uoure the inner parts of his skin, & the first borne of death shall consume his strength.

His hope shal be rooted out of his dwel∣ling;* 1.69 and shal cause him to go to the King of feare.

Feare shal dwell in his house because it is* 1.70 not his: and brimstone shall be scattered vppon his habitation. His rootes shall be dried vp beneath, and aboue, all his bran∣ches shal be cut downe.

His remembrance shall perrish from the* 1.71 earth, and hee shall haue no name in the streete. They shall driue him out of the light vnto darknes, and chase him cleane out of the world.

Hee shal neyther haue sonne nor Ne∣phew* 1.72 among his people, nor any posteri∣tie left in his dwellings.

§. 13.

If his chyldren be in great number, the* 1.73 sword shall destroy them: and his posteri∣tie shall not be satisfied with breade. His remnant shal be buried in death, and his widowes shal not weepe.

Though hee should heape vp siluer as* 1.74 the dust, and prepare rayment as the clay; hee may prepare it, but the iust shall put it on, and the innocent shal deuide the siluer.

His confidence also shall be cut off, and* 1.75 his trust shal be as the house of a Spyder.

He shall leane vpon his house, but it shal* 1.76 not stand: hee shal hold fast by it, yet shall it not endure.

Hee shall see with his eyes, his owne de∣struction* 1.77 and misery approching: and hee shall bee made to drinke of the fearefull vvrath of the Almightie.

Destruction shall take hold vpon him, as* 1.78 a fierce water flood; & a tempest shall take him away by night. A vehement East∣winde shall carry him hence: and a migh∣tie storme shal pluck him out of his place. It shall rush vpon him, and not spare him, though he would faine flee from the force thereof.

This is the portion that the wicked man* 1.79 shall haue from God, and the heritage that tyrants shall receiue of the Almighty.

For, the most High hateth the wicked,* 1.80 and vvill repay vengeance vnto the vn∣godly: hee also keepeth them, against the day of horrible vengeance.

§. 14.

In the hand of the Lord, (saith Dauid,)* 1.81 there is a cup, and the wine therein is red; it is full mixt, and hee powreth out of the same: Surely, all the wicked of the earth,

shall vvring out and drinke the dregges thereof.

God shall raine vppon them snares, fire,* 1.82 and brimstone, and stormie tempest: thys shal be the portion of their cup to drink.

God shal bring them downe, into the pit* 1.83 of corruption: the blood-thirsty & deceit∣full men, shall not liue halfe their dayes.

They shall be euen as stubble before the* 1.84 winde: and as the chaffe that the storme carrieth away.

They shall be as the grasse growing vp∣pon* 1.85 the house toppes, which withereth a∣fore it commeth forth.

And, as the whirle-winde that speedilie* 1.86 passeth, so shall the vngodly be no more.

For, God will take vengeance on his ad∣uersaries:* 1.87 and hee reserueth wrath for his enemies.

Hee will surely wounde the head of his* 1.88 enemies: and the hearie pate of him that walketh in his sinnes.

So that the vngodly, shal haue the yeeres* 1.89 of theyr life diminished.

And all the workers of iniquitie shall be* 1.90 destroyed.

They shall be destroyed (as the Psalmist* 1.91 saith) for euer.

And there shall be no end of plagues to the euill man.

§. 15.

VVoe vnto them [therfore] that sinne,* 1.92 and keepe not the commaundements of GOD: for, the Lord himselfe hath pro∣mised, that he will not spare them.

VVoe vnto them that imagine iniqui∣tie,* 1.93 and deuise wickednesse vppon theyr beddes: thinking to performe the same vvhen it is day-light, because their hands haue power.

VVoe vnto them that ioyne house to* 1.94 house; and lay fielde to fielde; till there be no place left by them, for the poore to dwell in.

VVoe vnto them that dravve iniquitie* 1.95 with cordes of vanitie: and sinne as vvith cart ropes.

VVoe vnto them that are wise in theyr* 1.96 owne eyes, & prudent in their own sight.

VVoe vnto them that are bounde with* 1.97 theyr sinnes, and couered with theyr ini∣quities, as a fielde is hedged in with bushes, and the path thereof couered with thornes, whereby no man may trauaile.

VVoe vnto them that speake good of* 1.98 euill, and euill of good: which put darke∣nesse

for light, and light for darkenes: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for sower.

VVoe vnto them that excell in gluttony* 1.99 and drunkennes: which iustifie the vvic∣ked for a reward, and take away the righ∣teousnes of the righteous from them.

For, as the flame of fire deuoureth the* 1.100 stubble, & as the chaffe is consumed of the flame, so shal theyr roote be as rottennesse, and theyr blossome shall vanish avvay like dust: because they haue cast off the Lawe of the Lord of hostes, and contemned the word of the holie one of Israell.

§. 16.

There is a way (saith Salomon,) vvhich* 1.101 seemeth right to a man: but the issues ther∣of are the wayes of death: Euen in laugh∣ing the hart is sorrowfull, and the ende of that mirth is heauinesse.

Doubtlesse, the Wiseman in this speech of his, meaneth the way of worldly plea∣sures. VVhere-into * 1.102 the wicked beeing once entred, they are daily so ledde away vvith the vaine delights thereof: that they neuer regard godlines, till the deceits of iniquitie bring them to destruction.

For, the end of all worldly pleasure, is* 1.103 sorrow and paine.

And, the stipend or revvard of sinne,* 1.104 is death.

Not the death of the body onely, for that* 1.105 (as all men knowes) is naturall and ordina∣rie; but the death, both of body and soule, which is endlesse and eternall.

§. 17.

Through the sundry subtilties of sinne,* 1.106 and the contempt of Gods law, (saith Ori∣gen,) many thousands in this world, passe after death to perpetuall perdition.

And, vvho-soeuer refuseth to followe* 1.107 righteousnesse, shall for his recompence, dwell with confusion.

For, destruction shall be to the workers* 1.108 of iniquitie.

And the man that wandereth out of the* 1.109 way of wisedome, shall remaine in the con∣gregation of the dead.

§. 18.

The hart that is obstinate, shall be laden* 1.110 with sorrowes: and the wicked man shall heape sinne vpon sinne.

Because he hath refused knowledge, hee* 1.111 shall be refused of the Lord.

And, for that he hath left the way of vn∣derstanding* 1.112 and life: he shal fal into diuers dangers, by the deceits of false doctrine.

For, errour and darknesse are appoyn∣ted* 1.113 for sinners.

And they that worke wickednes, shal be* 1.114 wrapped in euils.

§. 19.

Inquisition, (saith the Wiseman) shall be* 1.115 made for the thoughts of the vngodly, & the sounde of his wordes shall come vnto God for the correction of his iniquities.

The wicked deedes which he hath done,* 1.116 shall stand vp to declare against him: and the reward of his vnrighteousnes, shall be powred vppon him.

His vnquiet conscience shal be his chie∣fest* 1.117 accuser: and the sinne of his owne im∣pietie, shall bee most forward to conuict him.

§. 20.

The vngodly shall be punished accor∣ding* 1.118 to theyr imaginations for they haue despised the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.

They haue thought euill in theyr harts* 1.119 against the godly, and haue gone astray through theyr owne folly: for theyr owne wickednesse hath blinded them: and they doe not vnderstand the misteries of God, neither hope they for the reward of righ∣teousnes:

nor can discerne the honour of the soules that are faultlesse.

The way that they walke, is as the dark∣nes:* 1.120 they know not wherein they shal fall.

They meete with darknes, euen in the* 1.121 day time: and grope at noone day, as in the night.

The hope that they haue, is indignation.* 1.122 * Affliction dooth followe them. * And theyr desire shall perrish.

Theyr hope is a false hope. Like vnto the hope of * Siseras mother: vvho plea∣santly* 1.123 perswaded herselfe, that her Sonne was gorgiously attyred in roabes of needle worke; and very busie (after the battell) in deuiding the spoyles of Israel; when hee lay sencelesly sleeping in * Iaels tent, with* 1.124 a nayle driuen through his forehead.

Or, like the hope of Haman: * Who* 1.125 proudly thought in his hart, that King A∣hashuerosh would doe honour to no man, more then to him: vvhen contrariwise, all the glory which he wisht vnto himselfe, he was cōmaunded to shew vnto Mordeca••; (the man, whom aboue all men els he most hated,) and * the euill death, vvhich hee* 1.126 prepared for the same man, was his ovvne latter ending.

§. 21.

All iniquitie, (saith Sirach) is as a double* 1.127 edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.

Dishonour, shame, euill death, & dam∣nation,* 1.128 waite vpon pride, enuie, murther, and such other like vices.

And, the match that kindleth against* 1.129 vngodly people the fierce wrath of God, is their owne wilful persisting in sinne and iniquitie.

For, as theyr harts wexe harder and har∣der,* 1.130 through theyr custome in sinning, & daily more and more impenitent, so they hourely heape vp displeasure vnto them∣selues, against the day of Gods wrath, and the terrible appearing of his iust iudge∣ment.

§. 22.

Oh howe vnhappy then are the liues of* 1.131 all those men, that leaue vertue to follovve vice; and forsake wisedome, to embrace wickednesse!

For they thereby make theyr mindes vn∣apt* 1.132 to receiue any goodnes, and clog theyr consciences vvith many molestations.

They liue alwaies doubtfull of their own* 1.133 safetie in the day time: and theyr sleepe is

vnquiet, and full of feares in the night.

The morning is euen to them, as the* 1.134 shadow of death.

And they buy hell, dearer then good* 1.135 men buy heauen.

§. 23.

They are ready to flee, when none pur∣sueth* 1.136 them.

And are very often dreading, that some* 1.137 deserued danger will suddainely fall vpon them.

The reason is, for that all wickednes in it* 1.138 selfe is full of feare.

And the conscience that is touched, doth* 1.139 alwayes fore-cast cruell things.

For, there can be no greater trouble to* 1.140 the vngodly in this lyfe, then the inward vexations of their own guiltie conscience.

The testimony whereof, is as a thousand* 1.141 witnesses against them: and the doome of it, is euerlasting damnation.

Insomuch, that the consciences of the* 1.142 wicked, which are wounded & ouer-bur∣dened with the weight of sinne, doe most certainly feele, euen in thys world, part of hell torments.

And, many times the sting or gnawing* 1.143 vvorme thereof, enforceth the miserable

offender, cleane to remooue all his con∣fidence from the comfort of Gods mercie, and wretchedly to end his dayes in anguish and desperation.

For, saluation is farre from the vngodlie,* 1.144 because they seeke not the statutes of the Almightie.

But ceaselesse sorrowes, and perpetuall* 1.145 paines continually doe attende them: as a iust reward ordained of GOD for theyr loue of vnrighteousnes, & carelesse neg∣lecting the knowledge of his waies.

For, they that plow iniquitie, and sowe* 1.146 wickednes, shall reape the same.

And such as forsake the Lord, shall bee* 1.147 consumed.

§. 24.

These few, & many moe such like spee∣ches (to expresse the wrath of God against the wicked) are set downe, not onely in the sacred Scriptures, but also in the works of diuers worthy Writers: which being right∣ly considered, wee may well be mooued at the remembrance thereof, to say with Ori∣gen: * Farre better were it for the vngod∣ly,* 1.148 that they had neuer beene at all, then to be borne into the world, and not liue as they should doe.

For, besides all the former places to this purpose already recited, wee finde it fur∣ther (to the terrour of the vnrighteous) by seueral sentences affirmed: * That the vn∣godly* 1.149 man, and his vngodlines, are both alike hated of God.

And that a wicked mans life is his soules* 1.150 death.

That, hee that committeth sinne, is of* 1.151 the deuill.

And the vengeance belonging to the* 1.152 vnrighteous, is fire and wormes.

That, hee which worketh wickednesse,* 1.153 shal be wrapped in euills, & shal not know from whence they come vnto him.

That, malice shall sley the vngodly man,* 1.154 and they that hate the righteous, shall per∣rish.

That, the congregation of the vvicked,* 1.155 is like towe wrapped together, and theyr end is a flame of sire to destroy them.

That, the transgression of a wicked man,* 1.156 is his snare.

And he that soweth iniquitie, shall reape* 1.157 affliction.

That, hee which diggeth a pit, shall fall* 1.158 therein: and he that layeth a snare for ano∣ther, shal be taken in it himselfe.

That, the way of the vngodly, is made* 1.159 plaine with stones: but at the end thereof, is hell, darknes, and paines.

That, as the dry ground and heate con∣sume* 1.160 the snow waters, so shal the graue the sinners.

That, when the vngodly man dyeth his* 1.161 hope perrisheth, & the confidence of the wicked shal come to nought.

That, although men mourne for theyr* 1.162 body, yet shall the wicked name of the vn∣godly be put out.

That, their portion shall be cursed in the* 1.163 earth.

Theyr name shall rotte.* 1.164

Theyr dwelling places shal not remaine.

Theyr destruction shal come suddenly.

Theyr houses shal be destroyed.

And they themselues shall be no more remembred.

That, hee that is wicked, shall fall in his* 1.165 owne wickednes.

And hee that transgresseth, shall be ta∣ken* 1.166 in the sinne of his transgression.

That, the curse of God, is in the habita∣tion* 1.167 of the vngodly.

And the vnrighteous mans substance* 1.168 shall be dryed vp like a riuer.

That, vvicked men, wanting the feare of* 1.169 GOD, are hunted of euill, to theyr owne ouerthrow and destruction.

That, as vnto the good, theyr goodnesse* 1.170 is a reward, so vnto the wicked theyr owne euill is a punishment.

That, the eyes of the wicked shall fayle,* 1.171 theyr refuge shall perrish, and theyr hope shal be sorrow of minde.

That, such as seeke to get wealth by any* 1.172 wicked meanes, shall possesse there-with more vnquietnes then profit: and the sub∣stance that by sinne is attained, shall by some misfortune be consumed.

That, the robbery of the vnrighteous* 1.173 shall destroy them.

And the riches of the vngodly, are layde* 1.174 vp for th〈…〉〈…〉st.

That, ••••e Lord will be a swift witnesse* 1.175 against the Southsayers, and against the a∣dulterers, and against false swearers, and a∣gainst those that wrongfully keepe backe the hyrelings wages, and vexe the widow, and the fatherlesse, and oppresse the stran∣ger, and feare not to offend him.

That, the vngodly are kept vnto the day* 1.176 of destruction, and shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

That, for vnrighteousnes, & other mis∣chieuous* 1.177 deedes, the soules of the vngodly shall (after this life) be greeuously tormen∣ted in hell.

That, when the vngodly shall say, Peace,* 1.178 and safetie: then shall come vppon them suddaine destruction; as the trauaile vpon a woman vvith childe, and they shall not escape.

That, the wicked haue no gaine by the* 1.179 death of Christ, but all the benefites (com∣ming to mankinde by his Passion,) vvhich they haue despised: doe most iustly con∣demne them.

That, outwardly they receiue the Sacra∣ment* 1.180 of Christes body and blood, but the thing it selfe, inwardly in theyr harts, they haue not: and therefore they eate & drink thevr owne iudgement.

That, the wicked, [by reason of their vn∣quiet* 1.181 conscience which alwaies tormenteth them,] are like the raging Sea, that cannot rest: whose waters cast vp mire and dyrt.

And the Lord himselfe hath said it, that* 1.182 there is no peace to the vngodly person.

That, the Lord hath made all things for* 1.183 his owne sake: yea, euen the vvicked for the day of euill.

And as] all that is of the earth, shal turne* 1.184 to earth againe: so the vngodly goe from the curse to destruction.

That, as GOD greatly delighteth in the* 1.185 louers of his Law; so hee highly contem∣neth the peticions of the disobedient.

That, the chyldren of the vngodly, are* 1.186 abhominable chyldren.

And the of-spring of the vnrighteous,* 1.187 shall not obtaine many branches.

That, God will lay vp the sorrow of the* 1.188 [wicked] father for his children.

And the posteritie of the vngodly gene∣ration* 1.189 shall haue a perpetuall shame.

That, if the vnrighteous, happen to liue* 1.190 long, theyr sorrowes at theyr death shall be the greater.

And according to the number of theyr* 1.191 sinnes here on earth, such shal be the quan∣titie of theyr punishments in hell.

That, as GOD vnto the godly is most* 1.192 sweet, gentle, and louing: so vnto the wic∣ked, proude, and disobedient; hee is verie seuere, sharpe, and rough: specially appea∣ring and felt for euer vpon them, in the ter∣rible day of damnation and vengeance.

That, as euerlasting felicitie doth quick∣ly* 1.193 follovv the godly, after the short race of

theyr ••orldly miserie: so euerlasting wret∣chednes, speedily followeth the vngodly, after the short race of their earthly felicitie.

That, all such as for the multitude of theyr sinnes and wickednes are hopelesse,* 1.194 and such as haue committed thefts, mur∣ders, adulteries; or any other the like of∣fences: the iustice of GOD, and theyr owne deserts, damne them after thys lyfe ended, vnto euerlasting destruction; from the which they shall neuer be deliuered.

§. 25.

VVoe [therefore] be vnto you, ô yee* 1.195 vngodly, which haue forsaken the Law of the most high God; for, though you in∣crease, yet shall you perrish. If ye be borne, ye shall be borne to cursing: if ye die, the curse shal be your portion.

For, the fearefull and vnbeleeuing, the abhominable and murtherers, the whore∣mongers,* 1.196 and sorcerers, the idolaters & all lyers; shall haue theyr part in the Lake vvhich burneth vvith fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

VVhere, there shall be weeping & gna∣••ning* 1.197 of teeth.

VVhere, theyr worme dyeth not, and* 1.198 the fire neuer goeth out.

For, the breath of the Lord, like a Riuer* 1.199 of brimstone doth kindle it.

And the smoake of their torment, shall* 1.200 ascend euermore: and they shall haue no rest, day nor night.

§. 26.

Good men, (saith Lactantius,) haue* 1.201 theyr hell in thys World, that they may knowe there is a heauen after death to re∣ward the vertuous: but wicked men escape torments in this life, because they shal find there is a iudgement to come, wherein all vnrighteous people sha•• be punished, ac∣cording to the measure of their iniquities.

For, eternall death is the reward of all* 1.202 wickednes; & hell is the place of punish∣ment, which God hath appointed for re∣probates after this life.

So that, when the godly shall haue their* 1.203 full entrance and beginning to euerlasting blessednes, and make theyr happy change from mortalitie to immortalitie; and leaue the corruptible drosse of this life, for trea∣sures incorruptible: for golde, glory; for siluer, solace without end; for vaine ap∣parrell, roabes royall; for earthly houses, eternal pallaces; with mirth immeasurable, pleasure without paine, and felicitie end∣lesse:

then also shall the estate of the vvic∣ked be most lamentable; then shall hastilie come vpon them theyr iust reward of ven∣geance; then shall they, with the end of this worlds vaine felicitie, enter into eter∣nall damnation and miserie; then shal they cry, woe, woe, woe, vnto themselues, with endlesse sorrow, for theyr carelesse life, & worldly securitie.

§. 27.

Then, (saith the Lorde,) shall they haue* 1.204 pitty of themselues which now haue abu∣sed my waies: and they that haue cast them out despightfully, shall dwell in paines.

For, such as in theyr life haue receiued benefites and haue not knowne mee, but* 1.205 haue abhorred my lawes, while they vvere yet in libertie, and when they had yet ley∣sure of amendement, and would not vn∣derstand but despised it; they must be taught it after death by payne.

§. 28.

Then shal the wicked, [seeing the righ∣teous, whom in this life they contemned, receiued into Gods kingdome, and them∣selues kept out,] be enforced through in∣ward anguish, to breake foorth into this following complaint, saying: * Wee haue* 1.206

erred from the way of truth, the light of righteousnes hath not shined vnto vs, and the sunne of vnderstanding rose not vpon vs. We haue wearied our selues in the way* 1.207 of wickednes & destruction, and we haue gone through dangerous waies: but as for the way of the Lord, we haue not knowne it.

VVhat good hath our pride done vnto* 1.208 vs? or vvhat profit hath the pompe of ri∣ches brought vs? All those things are pas∣sed away like a shadowe, and as a messen∣ger that rideth post.

As a ship that passeth ouer the waues of* 1.209 the water, which when it is gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found, neyther the path of it in the floods.

Or as a byrd that flieth thorow the ayre,* 1.210 and no man can see any token of her pas∣sage, but onely heare the noyse of her winges, beating the light winde, parting the ayre through the vehemencie of her going, and fleeth on shaking her winges, whereas afterward no token of her way can be found.

Or as when an arrowe is shot at a mark,* 1.211 it parteth the ayre, which immediatly com∣meth together againe, so that a man cannot

knowe where it went thorowe.

Euen so wee, as soone as we were borne,* 1.212 wee began to draw to our end, and haue shewed no token of vertue, but are consu∣med in our owne wickednes. Such words, (saith Salomon) shal they that haue sinned, speake in hell.

Where, theyr complaints shall be boote∣lesse,* 1.213 and theyr repentance vnprofitable.

For, theyr punishment shal be endlesse,* 1.214 and theyr paynes vnceaseable.

§. 29.

And, to the end (saith S. Gregory,) that* 1.215 the damned wretches in hell, may be the more seuerely punished, for their obstinacy and wicked deeds done in this world, there shall all the miseries and torments that pos∣sibly may be deuised, be heaped together vpon them.

There shal be fire vnquenchable, colde* 1.216 intollerable, the worme of conscience that cannot die, and a most horrible stench that cannot be abidden. There shal be palpable darknes, whyps of tormentors, visions of foule fiendes and vglie deuils, confusion of sinnes, and desperation of all goodnes.

There, they shal haue teares in their eyes,* 1.217 gnashing in theyr teeth, stinch in theyr no∣strils,

howling in their mouthes, mourning in theyr throats, terror in their eares, bonds and manicles vpon theyr hands and feete: and eternall fire burning all theyr parts and members.

Yea, such a fire, so stored with cruelty & torment, (through the wonderfull heate & vehement strength therof,) that, as S. Au∣gustine* 1.218 saith, there is as much difference betweene naturall fire, and the fire of hell, as there is betweene painted fire on a wall, and the ordinary fire which we daily vse.

§. 30.

Besides; the rigour of their paine in that* 1.219 tormenting fire, shall be so great, that de∣spising life, which all so deerely loue, they shall earnestly desire death, which all men hate, but it shal not come at them, nor neere them.

For, all helpe shal be wanting: the gate* 1.220 of Gods mercy shall be shut against them: and the righteous, which then shall behold them in their restlesse torments, shall neuer be mooued thereat to any pitty or compas∣sion; but rather reioyce the more at theyr destruction, and greatly giue thankes vnto God, for his vpright iustice shewed vpon them.

Also; that they may bee the more cer∣tainly* 1.221 assured, that this horrible fire in hell, shall neuer be quenched, the deuils haue alwayes in charge to blow the same, and to keepe it cōtinually burning: who, as they be immortall, so shall they neuer cease, or be wearie of blowing therein.

And though they should be weary, yet is* 1.222 there the blast of the Almightie and euer∣liuing GOD to maintaine it, which shal neuer be wearie.

§. 31.

Rightly therefore is hell termed the hold* 1.223 of horrour, distresse, and misery: and the Cell of torment, griefe, and vexation.

Wherein, nothing els is to be heard, but* 1.224 onely the furious raging of hellish tormen∣tors, and the ruthfull lamentations of dam∣ned persons.

Where, all hope of ease and comfort, for* 1.225 euer is exempted; & no redemption from thence may be expected.

For, after the vvhole company of most* 1.226 miserable damned vvretches, haue there suffered torments both in soule and bodie for their sinnes, as many thousand yeres, as there haue been dayes since the beginning of the vvorld, or as there be drops of water

in the deepest Sea, yet shall they then (not∣withstanding) haue as farre to the ende of theyr punishment, as they had the first day of theyr entrance into those greeuous ca∣lamities. And, as long as Almighty God shall be GOD, which is for euer and euer, world without end, so long shall the wic∣ked burne in the tormenting lake of fire & brimstone, vvithout mittigation of theyr miseries, hope of heauenly fauour, or like∣lihood of any releasement.

From the which pit of endlesse perditi∣on, and stinking dungion of eternall dark∣nesse, hee that is the Father of mercies, and God of euerlasting glory, deliuer all those that belong vnto him, for his beloued Sonne Iesus Christ his sake, our only Lord and Sauiour. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psalm, 37, 1,
• * 1.2

  verse, 2,
• * 1.3

  Iob, 24, 24,
• * 1.4

  Cyprian.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 17, 14,
• * 1.6

  Basill.
• * 1.7

  Psal, 1, 5, 6,
• * 1.8

  Prou, 5, 22, 23.
• * 1.9

  Prou, 6, 14, 15,
• * 1.10

  Psalm, 73. 2,
• * 1.11

  Psal, 73, 3,
• * 1.12

  verse, 4, 5,
• * 1.13

  verse, 6, 7,
• * 1.14

  Psal, 49, 6,
• * 1.15

  Psalm, 49, 10, 11,
• * 1.16

  Iob, 21, 8,
• * 1.17

  verse, 9.
• * 1.18

  verse, 10,
• * 1.19

  Iob, 21, 11, 12, 13,
• * 1.20

  Iob, 21, 14, 15,
• * 1.21

  Psal, 73, 8, 9,
• * 1.22

  Psal, 73, 12,
• * 1.23

  Psalm, 73, 16, 17,
• * 1.24

  verse, 18,
• * 1.25

  Psal, 37, 19,
• * 1.26

  verse, 20.
• * 1.27

  Psalm. 37. 35, 36,
• * 1.28

  Psal. 37. 10.
• * 1.29

  Psal. 91. 8.
• * 1.30

  Psalm. 5. 5.
• * 1.31

  Psal, 34, 16,
• * 1.32

  Psal. 37. 12, 13, 14, 15,
• * 1.33

  Psal, 36, 1.
• * 1.34

  verse, 3, 4,
• * 1.35

  Psal, 36, 5,
• * 1.36

  Psal, 10, 4, 5,
• * 1.37

  Psal, 10, 6, 7,
• * 1.38

  Psal, 10, 8, 9,
• * 1.39

  Psal, 10, 10, 11.
• * 1.40

  Psal, 10, 14,
• * 1.41

  Psal, 9, 12,
• * 1.42

  Psal, 94, 23,
• * 1.43

  2, Thes. 1, 6,
• * 1.44

  Prou, 11, 21
• * 1.45

  Psal, 7, 16,
• * 1.46

  2. Esd. 15. 22
• * 1.47

  Iob, 20, 4, 5.
• * 1.48

  Iob, 20, 6, 7,
• * 1.49

  verse, 8,
• * 1.50

  Iob, 20, 9,
• * 1.51

  verse, 10. 11.
• * 1.52

  Iob, 20. 15, 16, 17.
• * 1.53

  verse, 18, 19,
• * 1.54

  Iob, 20, 20, 21. 22,
• * 1.55

  Erasmus.
• * 1.56

  Iob. 20, 23, 24,
• * 1.57

  Iob, 15, 24,
• * 1.58

  Iob. 18. 11,
• * 1.59

  Iob. 15, 28, 29,
• * 1.60

  Iob, 20, 26,
• * 1.61

  Iob. 15, 30,
• * 1.62

  Iob. 20, 27 28.
• * 1.63

  Iob. 15, 31, 32,
• * 1.64

  verse, 33,
• * 1.65

  Iob, 18, 5, 6.
• * 1.66

  verse. 7.
• * 1.67

  Iob. 18. 8. 9.
• * 1.68

  Iob, 18, 12, 13.
• * 1.69

  Iob. 18. 14.
• * 1.70

  verse, 15. 16.
• * 1.71

  Iob. 18. 17, 18,
• * 1.72

  verse. 19.
• * 1.73

  Iob. 27. 14, 15,
• * 1.74

  verse, 16. 17.
• * 1.75

  Iob. 8, 14.
• * 1.76

  Iob, 8, 15,
• * 1.77

  Iob, 21, 20,
• * 1.78

  Iob, 27, 20, 21, 22,
• * 1.79

  Iob. 27, 13,
• * 1.80

  Eccl{us}, 12, 6.
• * 1.81

  Psal, 75. 8.
• * 1.82

  Psalm, 11, 6,
• * 1.83

  Psal. 55. 23,
• * 1.84

  Iob, 21. 18.
• * 1.85

  Psal, 129, 6,
• * 1.86

  Prou. 10, 25.
• * 1.87

  Nahū. 1, 2,
• * 1.88

  Psal. 68, 21,
• * 1.89

  Prou. 10. 27
• * 1.90

  Psalm 92. 9.
• * 1.91

  Psal. 92, 7,
• * 1.92

  2, Esdr. 15, 24, 25,
• * 1.93

  Micah, 2, 1.
• * 1.94

  Esay, 5, 8,
• * 1.95

  Esay, 5, 18,
• * 1.96

  Esay. 5, 21,
• * 1.97

  2. Esd. 16, 68,
• * 1.98

  Esay, 5, 20,
• * 1.99

  Esay, 5, 22, 23,
• * 1.100

  Esay. 5. 24.
• * 1.101

  Prou. 14. 12 13.
• * 1.102

  Euagoras.
• * 1.103

  Theophilact.
• * 1.104

  Rom, 6. 23,
• * 1.105

  Rauisius.
• * 1.106

  Origen.
• * 1.107

  Virgilius.
• * 1.108

  Prou. 21. 15
• * 1.109

  Prou, 21, 16
• * 1.110

  Eccl{us}, 3. 29.
• * 1.111

  Hosea. 4. 6.
• * 1.112

  Gueuara.
• * 1.113

  Eccl{us}. 11, 16
• * 1.114

  Eccl{us}, 27. 27
• * 1.115

  Wisd, 1, 9,
• * 1.116

  Bernard.
• * 1.117

  Pet. Lomb.
• * 1.118

  Wisd. 3. 10.
• * 1.119

  Wisd, 2, 21. 22.
• * 1.120

  Prou. 4. 19,
• * 1.121

  Iob. 5. 14.
• * 1.122

  Prou. 11, 23 Prou, 13. 21 Psal. 112. 10
• * 1.123

  Iudges. 5. 28 29. 30.
• * 1.124

  Iudges. 4. 21
• * 1.125

  Ester▪ 6, 6, 7. 8. 9. &c.
• * 1.126

  Ester. 7, 10.
• * 1.127

  Eccl{us}. 21. 3.
• * 1.128

  Pa••••••ius.
• * 1.129

  Cicero.
• * 1.130

  Arnobius.
• * 1.131

  Constantius.
• * 1.132

  Plotinu••.
• * 1.133

  Pet. Lomb.
• * 1.134

  Iob. 24. 17.
• * 1.135

  Gregory.
• * 1.136

  Prou. 28, 1.
• * 1.137

  P••t. Mart.
• * 1.138

  Orosius.
• * 1.139

  Wisd. 17, 10
• * 1.140

  Tremelius.
• * 1.141

  Marlorate.
• * 1.142

  Mart. Bucer▪
• * 1.143

  Erasmus▪
• * 1.144

  Psalm. 119. 155,
• * 1.145

  Cyprian.
• * 1.146

  Iob. 4. 8.
• * 1.147

  Esay. 1. 28.
• * 1.148

  Origen.
• * 1.149

  Wisd. 14. 9.
• * 1.150

  Chrisostome.
• * 1.151

  1. Ioh. 3. 8.
• * 1.152

  Eccl{us}. 7. 17.
• * 1.153

  Eccl{us}. 27. 27
• * 1.154

  Psal. 34. 21.
• * 1.155

  Eccl{us}. 21. 9.
• * 1.156

  Prou. 29. 6.
• * 1.157

  Prou. 22. 8.
• * 1.158

  Eccl{us}. 27. 26
• * 1.159

  Eccl{us}. 21, 10
• * 1.160

  Iob. 24. 19,
• * 1.161

  Prou. 11. 7.
• * 1.162

  Ecc{us}. 41. 11.
• * 1.163

  Iob. 24. 18.
• * 1.164

  Prou. 10, 7. Iob. 8. 22. Prou. 24. 22 Prou. 14, 11 Iob, 24. 20.
• * 1.165

  Prou. 11. 5.
• * 1.166

  Prou. 11, 6.
• * 1.167

  Prou, 3, 33.
• * 1.168

  Eccl{us}, 40, 13
• * 1.169

  Boetius.
• * 1.170

  Hermes.
• * 1.171

  Iob, 11, 20,
• * 1.172

  Plato.
• * 1.173

  Prou. 21, 7,
• * 1.174

  Prou, 13, 22,
• * 1.175

  Mala, 3, 5,
• * 1.176

  Iob, 20, 30,
• * 1.177

  Socrates.
• * 1.178

  1, Thes, 5, 3,
• * 1.179

  Cyprian.
• * 1.180

  Augustine.
• * 1.181

  Esay, 57, 20,
• * 1.182

  Esay. 48, 22,
• * 1.183

  Prou, 16, 4,
• * 1.184

  Eccl{us}, 41, 10
• * 1.185

  Hillarius.
• * 1.186

  Eccl{us}, 41, 5,
• * 1.187

  Eccl{us}. 40. 15
• * 1.188

  Iob, 21, 19,
• * 1.189

  Eccl{us}. 41, 6.
• * 1.190

  Pet. Ramus.
• * 1.191

  Mar. Bu••er.
• * 1.192

  Plotinus.
• * 1.193

  Lactantius.
• * 1.194

  Vincentius.
• * 1.195

  Ecclus, 41, 8. 9.
• * 1.196

  Reue, 21, 8,
• * 1.197

  Math, 25, 30
• * 1.198

  Mark, 9, 44,
• * 1.199

  Esay, 30, 33,
• * 1.200

  Reue, 14, 11
• * 1.201

  Lactantius.
• * 1.202

  Gregory.
• * 1.203

  Pa••••••iu••.
• * 1.204

  2, Esdr, 9, 9,
• * 1.205

  2, Esd, 9, 10, 11, 12,
• * 1.206

  Wisd, 5. 6,
• * 1.207

  Wisd. 5. 7.
• * 1.208

  Wisd, 5, 8, 9
• * 1.209

  verse, 10.
• * 1.210

  verse, 11,
• * 1.211

  verse, 12,
• * 1.212

  verse, 13,
• * 1.213

  Pet. Mar.
• * 1.214

  Phil. Mel.
• * 1.215

  Gregory.
• * 1.216

  Gregory.
• * 1.217

  Fulgentius.
• * 1.218

  Augustine.
• * 1.219

  Bullenger.
• * 1.220

  Cassianus.
• * 1.221

  Granado.
• * 1.222

  Granado.
• * 1.223

  ••rasmus.
• * 1.224

  Cassi••dorus.
• * 1.225

  Gregory.
• * 1.226

  Anselmus.