rms, judgment, council, and hell-fire. These three terms do signify
nothing else but three divers punishments in hell, according to the
offences. Judgment is less in degree than council, therefore it
signifieth a lesser pain in hell, and it is ordained for him that is
angry in his mind with his neighbour, and doth express his malice neither
by word nor countenance: council is a less degree in hell than hell-fire,
and is a greater degree in hell than judgment; and it is ordained for him
that calleth his neighbour "brainless," or any such word, that declareth
his ire and malice: wherefore it is more pain than judgment. Hell-fire
is more pain in hell than council or judgment, and it is ordained for him
that calleth his neighbour "fool," by reason that in calling his
neighbour "fool," he declareth more his malice, in that it is an earnest
word of ire: wherefore hell-fire is appointed for it; that is, the most
pain of the three punishments.

Now you have heard, that to these divers offences of ire and killing be
appointed punishments according to their degrees: for look as the offence
is, so shall the pain be: if the offence be great, the pain shall be
according; if it be less, there shall be less pain for it. I would not
now that you should think, because that here are but three degrees of
punishment spoken of, that there be no more in hell. No doubt Christ
spake of no more here but of these three degrees of punishment, thinking
they were sufficient, enough for example, whereby we might understand
that there be as divers and many pains as there be offences: and so by
these three offences, and these three punishments, all other offences and
punishments may be compared with another. Yet I would satisfy your minds
further in these three terms, of "judgment, council, and hell-fire."
Whereas you might say, What was the cause that Christ declared more the
pains of hell by these terms than by any other terms? I told you afore
that he knew well to whom he spake them. These terms were natural and
well known amongst the Jews and the Pharisees: wherefore Christ taught
them with their own terms, to the intent they might understand the better
his doctrine. And these terms may be likened unto three terms which we
have common and usual amongst us, that is to say, the sessions of
inquirance, the sessions of deliverance, and the execution-day. Sessions
of inquirance is like unto judgment; for when sessions of inquiry is,
then the j