The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4.Latimer, Hugh
Religion
The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Latimer, Hugh
Bible. Isaiah XXVI -- Sermons; Judgment Day -- Sermons; Sermons, English
For when a man dies without faith in Christ, all the masses in the whole
world are not able to relieve him; and so to conclude, all the travails
that we have had in time past by seeking of remedy by purgatory, and all
the great costs and expenses that may be bestowed upon any soul lying in
the state of damnation, can avail nothing, neither can it do any good. For
as I said before, the judgments of God are immutable, that is—as you die,
so shall you rise. If you die in the state of salvation, you shall rise so
again, and receive your body, and remain in salvation. Again, if you die
in damnation, you shall rise in the same state, and receive your body, and
return again to the same state, and be punished world without end, with
unspeakable pains and torments. For our natural fire, in comparison to
hell-fire, is like a fire painted on a wall; but that shall be so extreme,
that no man is able to express the terrible horror and grief thereof.
O what a pitiful thing is it, that man will not consider this, and leave
the sin and pleasure of this world, and live godly; but is so blind and
mad, that he will rather have a momentary, and a very short and small
pleasure, than hearken to the will and pleasure of Almighty God; who can
take away everlasting pain and woe, and give unto him everlasting
felicity! That a great many of us are damned, the fault is not in God, for
“God would have all men be saved.” But the fault is in ourselves, and in
our own madness, who had rather have damnation than salvation. Therefore,
good people, consider these terrible pains in your minds, which are
prepared for the wicked and ungodly, avoid all wickedness and sin: set
before your eyes the wonderful joy and felicity, and the innumerable
treasures which God hath laid up for you that fear and love him, and live
after his will and commandments; for no tongue can express, no eye hath
seen, no heart can comprehend, nor conceive the great felicity that God
hath prepared for his elect and chosen, as St. Paul witnesses. Consider,
therefore, I say, these most excellent treasures, and exert yourselves to
obtain the fruition of the same. Continue not, neither abide nor wallow
too long in your sins, like as swine lieth in the mire. Make no delay to
repent of your sin, and to amend your life, for you are not so sure to
have repentance in the end. It is a common saying, “Late repentance is
seldom sincere.” Therefore consider this thing with yourself betimes, and
study to amend your life: for what avails it to have all the pleasures of
the world for a while, and after that to have everlasting pain and
infelicity?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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