A05817:179
The Practice of Piety
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
London: printed for John Hodgets, 1613London: printed for Iohn Hodgets, 1613
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Whilst he is thus summoned to appear at the great Assizes of Gods Judgement, behold, a Quarter-Sessions, ⟨p. 97⟩and Gaole-delivery is held within himself, where Reason sits as Judge, the Devil puts in a Bill of indictment, as large as that Book of Zechariah, 1wherein is alleged all thy evil deeds that ever thou hast committed, and all the good deeds that ever thou hast omitted: and all the curses and judgements that are due to every sin. Thine own Conscience shall accuse thee, and thy Memory shall give bitter evidence, and Death stands at the Bar ready, as a cruel Executioner to dispatch thee. If thou shalt thus condemn thy self, 2how shalt thou escape the just condemnation of God, who knows all thy misdeeds better then thy self? Fain ⟨p. 88⟩wouldest thou put out of thy mind, the remembrance of thy wicked deeds, that trouble thee: but they flow faster into thy remembrance, and they will not be put away, but cry unto thee, We are thy works, and we will follow thee. And whilst thy Soul is thus within, out of peace and order, thy children, wife, and friends, trouble thee as fast, to have thee put thy goods in order; some crying, some craving, some pitying, some cheering, all like Flesh-flies, helping to make thy sorrows more sorrowful. Now the Devils, who are come from hell, 3to fetch away thy soul, begin to appear to her, and wait, as soon as she comes forth, to take her, ⟨p. 89⟩and carry her away. Stay she would within, but that she feels the body begin by degrees to dye: and ready like a ruinous house to fall upon her head. Fearful she is to come forth, because of those Hell-hounds which wait for her coming. Oh, she that spent so many days and nights in vain and idle pastimes, would now give the whole world, if she had it, for one hours delay, that she might have space to repent, and reconcile her self unto GOD. But it cannot be, because her Body which joined with her in the actions of sin, is altogether now unfit to join with her in the exercise of repentance; & Repentance must be of the whole man.