Meditations collected and ordered for the vse of the English colledge of Lisbo by the svperiovrs of the same colledge.

THE FIRST MEDITATION. Of the paines of Hell in common.

1. COnsider first, that as it is said of the ioyes of heauen. Nec oculus vidit, nec auris audiuit, nec in cor hominis ascendit, quod praeparauit Deus diligentibus se; neither the eie hath seene nor eare hath heard, neither hath it as∣cended in to the hart of man, vvhat God hath prepared for them that loue him. So of the paines of hell it may be as truely sayd, that neither the eyes nor heart of man can conceiue or ima∣gine them. Some risen from death, and others in visions haue seen them, who affirme that all the tortures and torments imaginable in this world, are but toyes and trifles in respect of the least of those, and that they had rather suffer all these together till the day of iudgement, then the least in hell for a day. Diuines define beati∣tude a perfect, and neuer-ending state of all that is good, without the least mixture of ill, or con∣trariety: if damnation therefore be the opposite state and condition, it must needs be an euer∣lasting deluge of all that is ill, without the least glimpse of good, ease or comfort; a chaos of all

miserie, and a totall priuation of good. The af∣flictions of this world, come but one by one, & after a time end, at least vvith death, but the paines of hell come all together, and endure for eternitie.

Conclude and conceiue a wholesome feare of hell, which may withdraw thee from sinne, which onely can bring thee thither: and won∣der at the blind securitie of worldlings, fea∣ring the sting of a gnat and laughing at the fire of hell.

2. Consider secondly, a poore sick man bur∣ning with a pestilent feauer, together with an vniuersall paine through out his whole body; his breast on fire, his head rent a sunder, his eyes ready to fly out. his teeth raging, his sides pier∣ced with stitches, as with swords or kniues; his feet, and ioynts racked with the gout; & finally his heart euen bursting with anguish: and hee crying out for one drop of water to coole his tongue: vvhat heart vvould not relent and melt with compassion of such a sight? And yet this poore creature might haue some mixture of ease and comfort; as a bed to lie in, a friend to comfort him, and grieue for him; a good con∣science to ease him, and a vvill resigned to God: finally, that these torments vvould once end, at least with death. But in hell are millions of tor∣ments together without the least fancie of comfort: for his bed a fiery cauldron of lead & brimstone; for his companions, tormenting de∣uills; his soule racked with sinne, his will in a

perpetuall hatred of God: and finally without all hope that euer his paines shall end, or relent.

Conclude seriously, to doe for the auoyding of these torments, what thou or any prudent man vvould, to free himselfe from the sad con∣dition of our sick man: vvhich if thou doe, thou mayst be confident and secure.

3. Consider thirdly, that God in all his attri∣butes is infinite, and as vvee may say, euery vvay a God; as in vvisedome, in povver, in goodnes, in mercy, in iustice: hee is a God as vvell in hell, as in heauen; as vvell in chastising the obstinate, as in revvarding the penitent: noe vvonder then if S. Paul sayd, Horrendum est incidere in manus Dei viuentis; it is horrible to fall into the hands of the liuing God. Who onely hath povver and skill to punish the foulenesse of sinne, as it deserueth. By the vvorkes of his mercy here, vvee may measure, vvhat vvill be the effects of his iu∣stice then: by his mercy vvee see his onely Son∣ne become man, exposed to torments & death for vs; by his mercy he pardoneth the greatest sinnes, for the least act of true sorrovv; by mer∣cy he expecteth, and re-expecteth the conuer∣sion of a sinner to the last gaspe, neuer leauing to inspire & inuite him therevnto: vvhat novv can vvee thinke his iustice, his anger, & vvrath vvill be tovvards the obstinate and impenitent? certainely to reuenge his Sonnes death, and his ovvne contempt, most grieuous and terrible.

Conclude a timely repentance out of these vvords of S. Paul; An diuitias bonitatis eius, &

patientiae, & longanimitatis contemnis? ignoras, quoniam benignitas Dei ad paenitentiam te addu∣cit? secundum autem duritiem tuam & impaeni∣tens cor thesaurizas tibi iram in die ira, &c. dost thou contēne the riches of his goodnesse, & patience; & longanimitie, not knovving that the benignitie of God bringeth thee to penance? but according to thy hardnesse, and impenitent hart, thou heapest to thy selfe vvrath in the day of vvrath &c.