not to him but that he attends not to God According to the things a man reades is the profit he reapes those things we read should not be so prolixe as profitable I doe not say that Maro or Cicero should absolutly be abandoned but that Thomas a Kempis other pious Writers should be likewise perused lest with S. Hierom we be accused before the tribunal of Christ to haue been rather Ciceronians then Christians S. Augustine long sought for the truth amongst Logicians and Sophiâ—…ers which he was so farre from finding amongst them that he fel into the Manichaeâ—… dotage Nor could he be reclaimed til he nead the epistles of Paulus Tarsensis EDESIMVS What books therefore doe you thinke are chiefly to be read For it often happeneth that many both yong and old are much deceaued in their choice In my opinion books and meats are not to be chosen alike as if those which are most sauory should nourish most PARTHENIVS I allow of your iudgement we should not read to please our tast but to reape fruit nor to become learned but vertuous therby Infinit is the number of pious books in this our Age and yet they daily increase But behold I giue you a very briefe Catalogue of those I thinke more profitable then a thousand others both for youth riper age and for men in yeares 1. The motiues of vertues 2. The considerations of Eternity 3. The imitation of the most B. Virgin Mary The last of these was written by Francis Arias al whose workes to you I likewise commend But let that booke be first which I named in the first place to wit Stimuli virtutâ—m The motiues of vertues of which this is my opinion that I know not any booke in most libraryes of the world more profitable for yong men From this proceed to the second and vpon the foundation therof let Eternity be placed But whilst I perswade the reading of these few I deny not but others are very profitable namely Lewis Granatensis intituled The guide of sinners and other bookes of his which are indeed very learned and pious That of Thomas a Kempis of the following of Christ The liues of Saints written by Zacherias Lippelous The Christian Zodiacke of twelue signes of Predestination The Horology of the Angel guardian Cardinal Bellarmines booke intituled The Ascension of the mind to God The same authour of the Eternal felicity of the Saints likewise his Degemitu columbae and the Art of dying wel written by the same man Albertus Magnus or Iames Aluarez of vertues The first and second part of Spiritual workes written by Luca Pinellus The Manual of the Sodality set forth by Francis Veron The foure parts of Francis Bruno of the most Blessed Virgin of the life and death of Christ The six parts of Meditations of Lewis de Ponte Behold a great many and yet I haue named but a few in respect of those that are extant make your choice Most of them you may buy for a smal charge and read with facility Doe so my EDESIMVS you wil neuer repent you of my counsel EDESIMVS I wil obey you but I likewise expect some documents for reading PARTHENIVS I wil giue iust as many as the bookes I assigned Three things seeme to me chiefly to be auoided in reading pious bookes 1. Celerity 2. Variety 3. Vanity And lest my wordes may seeme riddles I explane them §. III. The pious Reader must before al things principally beware of Celerity I haue spoken of his already Let not him that desires to profit himselfe read much but a little with much attention I approue not of those readers who fly through bookes as a cock would through hot coales They speedily slubber ouer many things stay vpon nothing read nothing aduisedly Let pious reading be scrious deliberate and often interrupted that what is read may be pondered by meditation and by inuoluing better vnderstood There are some that doe not eate but deuoure and Plantus speaketh properly of them Tuburâ—iâ—antur doe â—ourmandize they hastily take in great morsels and without chewing straight swallow and deuoure them To these meat is not so much a nourishment as detrimet So he that swalloweth much by reading but disgesteth nothing by pondering reades without discretion or profit There are showers soft but soaking which falling mildly and by little drops sâ—…ke into and make fruitful the earth But a stormy and sodaine shower doth seldome fertilize the soile So hasty reading without some mixture of meditation like a sodaine deluge ouerwhelmes but doth not penetrate water the parched earth If you read any thing that may tend to the better ordering of your liâ—e suffer it I beseech you to penetrate thinke whether you haue been or in â—ithe to come shal be such an one You read in vaine if you read not with deliberation Moreouer Variety for the most part in al reading is vtterly to be coÌ„demned The multitude of dishes impaires the health of many who otherwise would perfectly enioy it Multiplicity of medicines shortneth the life of many sicke men So in like sort variety and excesse in reading hindreth the proficient in solid vertue The reading of al manner of bookes causeth a certaine confusion and instability of mind That man who is euery where is no where nor is it wholesome to take diuers sorts of different medicines It is the property of a queasy stomacke to be stil tasting seueral meats which being of so distinct and diuers quality corrupt rather then nourish Many dishes beget many diseases so in like manner it is a fault in a reader to seeke in bookes rather his pleasure then his profit Polibius compareth these men to licorish fellowes and glurtonous Epicures who tasting heer and there a bit of al sorts of meats set before them haue little or no pleasure for the present nor future nourishment or profit Let vs so read my EDESIMVS that we not only delight our palate with those things that are sauory but likewise with those that are for instruction and profit with that rather which is commodious then delightful Vanity likewise in reading is not to be tolerated I cal that vanity which a man reades not to practise but only to know to please the vnderstanding rather then to incite the wil. Ah my EDESIMVS not our science but our practise shal be approued of in heauen To what end doe I read much if I neuer purpose to put any thing in practise What doth it auaile vs to read sacred and practise prophane things Why are pious bookes daily in our hands if we haue not so much as the very shadow of piety in our liues Why doe I entertaine my mind with the precepts of chastity if I refuse to put them in practise When we begin to read we ought to haue an ingenuous and firme determination to execute in each respect whatsoeuer a pious booke by diuine inspiration shal dictate either to be followed or eschewed An Angel did not only
the rest so the vices being remoued we must learne by what meanes to auoid thē in time to come And for that it is very difficult to purge purifie mens soules tainted with an inueterate disease it is a point of great prouidence in him who hath once receaued a Medicine to be no lesse careful in recouering health then preseruing To this end doth this booke so readily addresse it selfe to you to preuent for I presume there is no need to take away the disease of Incontinency Now why present I not a booke of greater bulke a guift more graceful and seemely then this is I grant But beare I beseech you with the slender abilitie of the giuer and likewise with the vices of our Age which if you seriously take a view of you wil not deny there are manie impurities great corruptiōs of manners now in euerie place you wil freely acknowledged the world growne sicke and chiefly of incontinencie We must not set before a sicke man great morsels or grosse meat in large platters but rather nurse him vp with little pittances of lightest meates and smal messes of potage The Same must we doe in this case And if we consider the Genius of this Age the world can hardly now be otherwise cured Volumes prolixe bookes this fastidious Age hardly wil digest wherefore wee must now in a manner cursorily intimate those things which are wholesome Compendious bookes briefe discourses although not so polite may with lesse difficultie correct those that are forgetful of honestie But whatsoeuer others haue said or written this vice of incontinencie ought to be pursued without meane or measure for it is excessiue without bound or limit And because incontinencie a pleasing but pestilent venom infecteth the most part of the world I could wish that manie might partake of this medicinal booke which of right ought to be short lest the malady it should cure by lingring be rather more and more encreased Besides if I respect the Sodalitie of the most Blessed Virgin for whose honour and good this little booke is written I ought not to make tedious exhortations There is a certaine kind of men so docible that they learne those things that are taught them without any long instruction and apprehend good things so soone as they heare them These so capable of vertue wel desposed of their owne accord are ordinarie in the familie of the Most Blessed Virgin Wherefore I beseech you my most intirely beloued Associates vouchsafe this little booke of myne the entertainment of a new guest it requires not any exquisite entreatie but such as you are wont not to deny bookes of pietie And for that I make no question but you are feruently in loue with chastity and continencie I am confident you wil with fauourable eyes and eares accept this president of Nicetas triumphing ouer incontinencie So I most humbly recommend my selfe to al your chast prayers From Monachium the day of the purification of the most Blessed Virgin the yeare of Christ 1624. The Seruant of you al in Christ Hieremie Drexelius of the Societie of IESVS TO THE WELWISHING READER I present vnto thee gentle Reader an heroical act admirable to precedent succeeding Ages I present Nicetas an Aegyptian a yong man a singular and admirable subduer of himselfe his owne lust who by a stupendious stratagem obtayned the victory I am of opinion that in al Christendom there is not the like found Verily we may with much more truth affirme of this yong man what was said of Vlisses He sayled past Scilla and was nor deuoured touched at Caribdis was not swallowed tasted of Circes cup and was not transformed set foot amongst the Lothophagi but staied not heard the Sirens but approached not a Madarren◠de Deo Socr. fine I wil adde more he was bound tied bereft of al weapons yet could not be ouercome yea he heard and came nere or at least was compelled to come nere the most deceitful Siren yet was he not drowned His tongue fought his tongue ouercame whereby we are al in a manner vanquished Yet this did he not by volubilitie of speech but by a painful mayming of his tongue Wouldest thou know Reader the vncomparable proiect of this most generous Nicetas read this little booke but let me request thee to read it with repose recollection of mind willing to reape benefit thereby Our endeauour here is to compose manners not words to profit mens soules not to please their eares The scope of my writing is that which I desire should be likewise thyne in reading to destroy the extreamest of al euils the most capital of al plagues the deepest sourse of al vices Incontinency the pregnant mother of al sinnes diffusing herselfe into al shapes He that is an enemie to chastitie is in a manner a friend to al vices Neuer was there anie man denounced warre against chastitie who had not first entred a league with more then one enormitie Whosoeuer is minded compendiously to attaine to the knowledge of vices let him but make himselfe a scholler to Lasciuiousnes and he shal shortly wonder to see himselfe of a scoller become a maister No man can liue vertuously if he liue not chastly And good Reader deceaue not thy selfe it is not for yong men only these things are written not for Virgins nor those only of the Sodalitie who are batchlours This belōgeth to euery state Sex age and degree for of necessitie must the widow the wife the husband and wife keepe Chastity each in their kindes Hardly shal he keepe the lawes of wedlocke who knowes not how to preserue those of chastity Yea I dare boldly avouch that man must haue an exact knowledge of the lawes of chastity who wil obserue those of wedlocke It is not lawful for any order of men of what age soeuer to goe beyond the bounds of chastitie How can a man agree wel with vertue who is at variance with modestie the onlie feat of vertue So that these things which are said of auoyding incōtinencie are necessarie for euerie one to know I adde more that manie things are taught in this booke auailable for maintaying al manner of vertue And to the intent thou maist know my Reader that I here purpose a Summary of holie instruction whatsoeuer I discoursed of in the yeare 1621. in presence of the most excellent Electour Maximilian and his most gratious wife the Ladie Elizabeth cōcerning the presence of god in al places during the time of the sacred Aduent of our Lord I haue here briefly collected and as it were drawne forth the quintessence thereof which I haue set downe for thy vse in the tenth chapter of the second booke And what I spake out of Pulpit in the yeare 1633. before the most excellent Duke and Duchesse of Bauaria their Courtlike Attendance cōcerning the nynefold torment of infernal Eternitie I giue thee here compendiously touched in the selfe same latter treatise the
eleauenth chapter And albeit this booke is but little it was none of those written in post-hast or vpon the suddaine It is the aduice of Horrace what thou wouldest expose to light and publike view ought to be nyne yeares laboured a De arte poeticaâ—… propius finem I haue obserued it and that with aduantage The argument and order of my booke is as before I haue declared Foure and twentie chapters in al are assigned to both bookes The first sheweth in twelue what the allurements and effects of incontinency are The secoÌ„d in as many chapters yealdeth Antidotes for the same vice The original cause as likewise the tenour and scope of my writing is Nicetas that Miracle of continencie and Spectacle worthie of Heauen My desire was gentle Reader these things might be known to thee and that thou make the best benifit of them THE FIRST BOOKE THE ENTRANCE Into the discourse CHAP. I. PARTHENIVS and EDESIMVS speake PARTHENIVS I had in my hands the other day S. Hierom that great Linguist of al ancient Writers the most learned the very Oracle of the world of whom not without cause it was said Neminem scisse quod Hieronimus ignorares No man knew what Hierom was ignorant of EDES You both briefly and copiously coÌ„mend that Doctour a man most worthy of al praise whose only Epistles if you doe but pervse you shal find them a great treasure of learning PARTHEN Those very Epistles I read amongst which in the third booke he inserteth the acts of Paul the first Eremite and maketh mention of an Egyptian yong man whose heroical vertue I thinke no Ages can euer paralel or sufficiently admire EDESIMVS This not long since I perused and was astonished What are we Parthenius to those heroical Spirits PARTHENIVS Verily much inferiour But I beseech you if you please produce more of this matter take that stoole let vs make an end of the discourse we haue begun for I know you are not of the Sect of the Peripateticks and it was the ancient opinion of Dion that as a bowe harpe so men are streÌ„gthned quickned with rest It is the saying of Aristotle a Aristot l. 7. Phys by sitting stil resting the mind becometh more iudicious EDES But being to discource of Chastity is rest so much to be commended You know wel what 's said of Egisthus the adulterer desidiosus erat he was slouthful PARTHENIVS I perswaded repose my EDESIMVS not idlenes nor slouth But to come to the matter let vs a little neerer looke into the conflict of our Nicetas EDES Vpon this condition that you become my Theseus through the whole Labyrinth of this exposition I wil take S. Hierom read him verbatim expecting the interpretation from you §. I. Another flourishing in the youthful vigour of his age was commanded to be brought into a Garden there to be throwne vpon a delicate downe-bed amongst fresh lillies sweet roses and lest he should depart thence to bee left bound with silken cords a streame of water passing by with a geÌ„tle murmuring the wind breathing with a soft whispering noise through the leaues of the trees To which place after al were departed came a beautiful harlot and tooke him about the neck with lasciuious embraceings that by prouokeing his body to lust she might obtaine a shamelesse triumph ouer his soule What should this Souldier of Christ doe How should he behaue himselfe Was it probable that pleasures should ouercome him whom torments could not At last by inspiration from Heauen byting of his tongue he spit it in her face that kissed him So the greatnes of the paine that ensued ouercame al sense of coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce a Hier. in the life of S. Paul the first Er. c. 30. Bar. An 253 Decij Imp. 10. PARTHENIVS O fact vnheard of in al former Ages of al succeeding to be admired this is manfully to fight indeed this to ouercome this to triuÌ„ph The selfe-same history I haue lately takeÌ„ out of Nicephorus b Lib. 7. cap. 30. in a different langage to exercise my stile doe you please to heare it EDES With al my hart though you relate it to me a thousand times ouer you shal neuer satiate these eares of myne PARTHENIVS You wil me therfore to recite it EDES I both wil command you PARTHENIVS Apply then both your mind and eares THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS act of Nicetas related somewhat at large CHAP. II. THe ancient Age bosteth the liberty of Anaxarchus who being bound and tortured sheering asunder his tongue with his teeth spit it in the Tyrants face Be not proud Anaxarchus shal I compare men with thee Or with thee Mufius Aquilius or Regulus Our children and women are oftentimes not only your equals but by farre euen in the straightest guiues surpasse you Witnes Nicetas that Aegyptian yong man whose more then heroical liberty and fortitude non can sufficiently I wil not say commend but admire The Macedonian King said of Achilles O happy thou who hast gotten Homer for the Proclaimer of thy vertue The same may I more rightly pronounce of this yong man O thrice happy thou Nicetas who hast S. Hierom for the Panegyrist of thy vertue See I beseech you amongst how many deceitful snares this our most chast Achilles professed his liberty he acted now vpon a farre more perilous stage then that Champion did His bed was softer and more delicate then that of Sardanapalus or the boulster of Heliogabalus stuffed with downe of swannes vpon this couch the yong man being cast was bound not with iron but with silken cordes Thou wouldest now haue said there had beene no hope to preserue his chastity amongst so many ambuscadoes Round about did pleasure cast her alurements by reason whereof it was almost impossible for a modest mind not to loose it's intended chastity The trees flourished with their greene leaues and besides their cheerful smels and pleasant shades with soft motion of their armes made a kind of whispering and delightful melody A purling streame more cleare then cristal plaid with it's wandring streames and with a murmuring noyce glided amongst the little pible stones that you would haue thought it a kind of musical harmony Vpon both sides were flowers Round about blew the mild westerne windes Here froÌ„ the verdant medowes smilled the siluer-shining lillies there the purple roses here the sanguine and golden Hyacinth there snowy and iuory-burnish'd Narcissus and from euery side breathed a most soft and pleasant gale of wynd Alas poore Christian Souldier what wilt thou doe on euery side thou art inuited to pleasures euen by the sweet odours and fragrant flowers thou art allured How canst thou resist these voluptuous charmes how canst thou dissolue so many fetters Behold there stealeth vpon thee a woman with a wanton countenance who wil cast vpon thee as many snares as words and like a Basiliske kil thee with her only aspect Alas poore young man how wilt
an example At nunc Post finem autunmi mediâ de nocte supinum Clamosus iuuenem pater excitat accipe ceras Scribe puer vigila causas age perlege rubras Maiorum leges c. Iuuenal Sat. 14. vers 190. The clamorous father doth in winter raise His Sonne at midnight take thy booke he sayes Write boy and watch read ancient rubrick lawes Or get a Captaines place or plead some cause Great Captaines when they see their souldiers disobedient keepe them vnder with labour or entertaine them with some kind of trauaile They that are engaged in businesses are neuer at leasure to play the wantons In very truth Otia si tollas periere Cupidinis arcus Contemptaeque iacent sine luce faces Ouid. ep â—6 Both Cupids bow and shafts contemned lye His fire 's put out if Idlenesse you fly For as the same Master instructeth vs QuaÌ„ platanus riuis gaudet quaÌ„ populus vndae Et quà m limosa canna palustris humo Tam Venus otia amat As planes loue riuers reedes the moorish soile As poplars lakes so Venus slouth no toyle Hee that is idle as most truely said the Roman wiseman liues not to himself but wich is most abhominable to his belly sleep and lust § I. I wil produce grauer witnesses That mellifluous Doctour S. Bernard sayth that a Serm. de Sact. Andrea as through some smal chinke in the pumpe of a ship the water vnawares to the mariners entreth and encreaseth til the vessel by negligence is wholy sunke so by slouth and sluggishnes wicked cogitations concupiscences are multiplied til the ship of our hart giuing way vnto them runneth into manifest danger of sinne Know you that S. Bernard was a capital enemy of idlenes The sinke saith he of al tentations euil cogitations is slouth the greatest mischiefe of the mind the foule channel of al euils death of the soule a Ep. ad frat de Monte Dei. And that it might be knowne how much the louer of chastity should beware of idlenesse he further saith Luxury quickly deceaueth them who are giuen to slouth and burneth most outragiously those it findeth idle to industry labour it giues place b Ser. 51. de modo bene viuendi Laurentius Instinianus a man as holy as learned saith that as water which wanteth motion and lyeth in pits is soone putrifyed so doth a mans body that is corrupted with the rottennesse of slouth bring forth concupiscence and nourish the brutishnesse of carnal pleasures c Lib. de perfection is grad cap. 9. lib. de ligno vita cap. 5. Which he coÌ„firmeth in another place Euenas saith he by teÌ„per are labour the hot motions of the flesh are supprest so by Idlenesse they are nourished and increased The lasines of Kookes in great mens Kitchins hath found out a compendious way when their fire groweth slacke to prouoke it to flame by powring butter into it the same doth the subtilty of the diuel in vs when he perceaueth the fire of lust somewhat allayed he enkindleth it with oyle pitch butter Too much abundance of meate drinke is oyle abscene bookes pitch foule Idlenesse is soft butter by the nourishment of these the flame doth easily breake forth He that is out of loue with his chastity let him fal in loue with idlenesse §. II. Idlenesse hath been the destruction both of Kings and fortunate citties a Catul. ad Lesb. Sluggish and languishing slouth only delighteth in ease and rest then which nothing is more lothsome nothing that more resembleth our graue Idlenesse without study or labour is the death and burial of a liuing man b Seâ—… ep 82. Verily otium vitium idlenesse and vice are nere allied to one another Multam enim malitiam docuit otiositas Idlenesse hath been the mistresse of much mischiefe c Eccl. cap 23. vers 29. So that she may rightly be called the mother of vanity and the step-mother of al vertue There neuer redoundeth any profit from idlenesse but alwayes great detriment Idlenesse is the 〈◊〉 enemy to al discipline Idlenesse is so farre from getting new vertues that she wasteth those that are gotten and you shal scarcely find any thing that doth open so easy and plaine a way to the iawes of hel as idlenesse which euen sweetly thrusteth forward those into diuers vices who are the most indowed with fortitude Multam malitiam docuit otiositas It was excellently wel written by Portius Cato It is a thing of necessity that euery one set downe vnto himselfe a certaine course of life which no man can doe vnles he be industrious and a louer of labour And certainely it is requisite for the course of a holy life that a man goe forward and increase for by trifling he waxeth dul and fainteth He that wil passe his life dishonourably let him follow idlenesse and he shal not misse of his purpose Idlenesse is a downright and ready way to al villany Wil you haue the true description of this monster Idlenesse is the most succiuct abridgment and Epitome of al Vices The mind that is idle runnes into a thousand mad enormities Multam malitiam docuit otiositas EDES For the most part we are al very eloquent in dispraise of idlenesse and often tragically inueigh against it But in the meane while we ourselues are very wel contented to take our ease and can sooner reprehend then auoid it We see and approue the better and follow the worse PARTHENIVS We are so much the more debawsh'd as we growe more and more in loue with this euil the worst of al others And therefore Multan malitiam docuit otiofitas This may hitherto suffice concerning idlenesse THE SECOND ALLVREMENT to Incontinency Dainty fare surfeiting and gluttony CHAP. IV. IT is a thing apparant and long since confirmed Sine Cerere Libero frigere Venerem that without meate and wine Venus soone becomes cold For whil'st the whole habitatioÌ„ of the interiour man inuironed with meate and drowned with wine laboureth in the decoction of excrements to what is it more subiect then to lasciuious thoughts Then the lasciuious man doth not so much as seeke the least veile to couer his wickednesse He that is shamelesse publisheth his disease he that is wanton hath no temper at al in his hand and although euery vice lay itself open in a drunken man yet Concupiscence most of al. For when the body is stuffed and the belly throughly pampered Lust before al other vices startes vp yea oftentimes that which for the space of many yeares remained mortified or at least qualified and kept vnder taketh new strength specially when they tipple wine in pots ingrauen with adulteryes as though drunkennesse of itself were not sufficieÌ„tly able to instruct them in Lust when they desire to be lasciuious vnlesse they carrouse out of libidinous cups Nor doth the old saying faile heerein Post epulas choreae after feasting followes dancing According to which
at al. Doest thou heare that pestilent Poet himself cryes out touch me not get thee gone depart he foretelleth the danger he denounceth and proclaimeth the mischief before hand fly stand aloofe lest thou be infected Yet thou intrudest thy self and breakest in vpon them and giuest no eare neither to thy friends that recal thee nor thine enimyes that repel thee thou touchest readest them ouer and ouer againe more carefully then holy scripture Therefore iustly is that voice thundred out against thee from Heauen Eccl. c. 12. vers 1â— who wil take compassion of the Inchanter stung by the serpent or of any that come nere to beasts Therefore touch not these whosoeuer you are that wil not be infected and perish for these most pernicious bookes are likened by Origen to Egyptian frogges by S. Hierome to acornes and huskes by S. Augustine to Auernuâ— the riuer of hel into which the greatest part of mankind doth miserably ingulfe themselues and sinke into eternal perdition §. I. But perhaps thou maist say From hence I select phrases by these I polish my style learne eloquence and attaine to the knowledge of ancient customes The truth is thou wouldest learne to speake wel and liue il or rather to speake il and liue worse for cut of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh Matth. cap. 12. vers 34. What need hast thou to seeke for gold in these puddles Shalt thou benefit thy self my youth gather so much from this dunghil as though the Muses had only liu'd and died with these venereous companions Admit it were so that learning might not be gotteÌ„ without these were it not better to be without it then voyd of modesty and rather to be lesse learned then lesse chast This is but a cloake and a vaine pretext that no science no style no eloquence can subsist without these obscene writers If I EDESIMVS drinking to thee in miskadine powred into a cup of gold or precious stone should first bruise a foule spider into it wouldst thou pledge me wouldest thou esteeme so much of that delicious wine or rare art workmaÌ„ship of the bowle that whil'st thine eyes denounce certaine danger of death thou wouldst not credit them but giue way to thy alluring appetite I assure my self thou art not so stupid a soâ—te The like for al the world is to be found in these bookes The phrase stile and elocution like the Goblet flatter the eyes the couer of the booke shining with gold purple their pictures cut in brasse their faire and flourishing wordes their fables and pleasant historyes their customes of ancient times like delicious wyne an hundred yeares old inuite vs to drinke and read them greedily But thinke what a rank spider floateth therein There lasciuiousnesse concupiscence and luxury are lurking death hath belched into these cuppes A man should rather be thirsty then drinke his owne bâ—ne Verily dishonest bookes are more pestilent and pernicious then any serpents poison For an obscene Writer is a perpetual Pander there is no time wherein he inuiteth not a man to impure thoughts stirreth vp sensual motious and finally infecteth with a deadly plague those that are seruilely led thereby and curious in searching after their owne destruction Hence it cometh to passe that infinit is the mischeef of these wanton bookes and pictures for as the one ingenuously inuoluing ribauldry allureth a man to incontinency so the other laying lime-twigges vpon his eyes deceaues and entangles his chastity In a word what doe those authours no lesse then if they should infect fountaines and common wells with poison and become thereby guilty of al their deaths that drinke thereof §. II. 〈◊〉 a certaine Captaine of the Parthians hauing slaine Erassus with many of his souldiers children found amoÌ„gst the spoile the Milefian fables of Aristides and for that respect most seuerely treated and insulted ouer the Romanes What wil the wicked Spirit doe at the houre of their deaths who with so great industry read lasciuious bookes when he shal present to their dying eyes their Oâ—ids Amadises and such like for which perhaps they easily foolishly omitted the seruice of God Thou knowest my EDESIMVS how in times past the Iewes cryed out before the Romane tribunal â— Non hunc sed Barâ—bbam not this man but Barabbas In like manner doe the readers of lasciuious bookes with as loud a voice by their particular daily practise cry Not this not the booke of the imitation of Christ nor that of the motiues of vertues nor Claudius Vuxmontius of pennance nor Dominick Candâ—lâ— of virginity not Francis Bruno of Christ or Christ his mother not Lewis Granada who wrote many bookes of piety not FraÌ„cis Arias who discourseth of the imitatioÌ„ of the Blessed Virgin nor Lewis Richeom of the Pilgrim of Lâ—ureto not these no away with them We wil not haue Dâ—dacus de stella of the contempt of the world nor Gabriel Inchinus of the last things nor Martin Delrius his worke of the Blessed Virgin Mary nor those holy mediatious of Lewis de Ponte none of these but Barabbas but the french Amadis that copious and illustrious Authour who wrote aboue foure and twenty bookes giue vs the Heliodori the Arbitri the Madaurenses the Fausti we would haue commerce with these not with those other peeuish writers Can you so easily renounce Christ and Christian bookes admit Barabbas seeke and cherish these murdering bookes that infect and destroy your soule I sayd before these bookes were like the frogges of Aegypt which hideously croaked in euery house defiled their very tables disturbed their rest and fowled their chambers So saith the holy scripture Exod. c. 8. vers 3. They shal enter into they house and thy very bed-chamber and vpon thy bed c. They may wel be said to enter into our beds For both when wee are about to sleep and when we are asleep such like obscene frogges present themselues vnto vs. Hence it proceedes EDESIMVS that oftentimes euen sleeping we are not without sinne and our sleep itselfe proueth offensiue to God and to vs because whilst we were awake we were not without offence And tel me I beseech you how great is this madnesse of ours Our next neighbours house is al ready on fire and our chimney begins to cast forth flames and yet we make hast to cast in rosin and oyle What need haue we to enkindle lust with these bookes it â—ageth already too much in mens bodyes by that deadly bit their forefather tasted Verily it were better euen to be without eyes their make so il vse of them §. III. Iosephus recounteth Lib. 12. Antiq. In laic cap. 1. that Theopompus for hauing sifted too curiously into the law of God was for the space of thirty dayes distracted in mind and that Theodecles the Poet attempting to insert somewhat out of holy scripture into a certaine tragedy of his had his eyes ouer shadowed with a kind of dimnesse Ah EDESIMVS
til noone and then hauing taken our fil of wordes let vs goe to dinner The first wordes of the verses are these Corpus debilitat This poison of concupiscence doth not only affaile the mind but also weakneth and corrupteth the body it self depriuing it both of strength health Heere I must moderate my discourse for that this belongeth to the art of Phisitians and therefore ought to be confirmed by their testimonyes I wil only produce one witnesse which may speake for a thousaÌ„d and shew how great an enemy the vse of venery is to mans health Hyppolitus Guariâ—oâ—…us a man euen for his writings very famous amongst Phisitians in the yeare of Christ 1610. published a booke wherein be deploreth the manifold destruction of mankind partly in their liues partly in their manners This authour in his fifth booke before the sixt chapter prefixeth this title A natural demonstration and confirmation that nothing 〈◊〉 more pestilent then Venery for the corruption of mans strength deflowring his youth and shortning his life Before the 62. chapter of the same booke he hath this inscription The famous and illustrious testimonies of the principal Naturalists and Phisitians that there is not a greater mischiefe in the world then Venery to cause an vnseasonable suddaine death Of the 63. Chapter in the same fifth booke this is the title That continency and chastity is not only the best and most excellent remedy to preserue long health and life but also nobler more agreable and worthyer of humane reason then either the vnlawful vse of Venery or lawful marriage Dost thou heare my EDESIMVS what testimony this remakeable and prime Phisitian hath in times past giuen in the behalfe of a single life against venereous dishonesty euen in the titles only of the Chapters before rehearsed The waight of his reasons and arguments I omit §. I. Vnto this man I adioyne S. Chrysostome as a witnesse these are his wordes Tom. 5. Hom. Quod â—eâ—o laeditur c. They that lead their lines in pleasures luxury carry about with them infirme wasted bodyes replenished with infinite infirmityes they lead their liues euermore amongst phisitians and medicines and their very seâ—…es are dul heauy stupid and as it were already buryed aliue A pregnant witnesse for the matter we treat of at this present And contrariwise out of this most cleare fountaine of Chastity proceed not only the inablements of the mind but also a life more healthful an old age not hastned a flourishing comely vigorous body So that worthily may continency glory in this manner Eccl. 24.23 25. My flowers are fruit of honour and honesty in me is al grace of life I aske of thee my EDESIMVS what thou thinkest of so many Anchoretes who diuers yeares prolonged their liues with such spare diet did they not chiefly attaine to this length of life by chastity Siâ—eon Stilites that miracle of the world who stood vpon his feete both day and night through continual fastings arriued to the hundreth ninth yeare of his age but know this he neuer had a wife That great Anthony to whem the world seru'd as a booke liued an hundred and fiue yeares but neuer knew what belonged to a wife S. Paul the fiâ—st Eremite liu'd an hundred thirteene yeares but alwayes remained a virgin S. Hillarion a poore Monke one who neuer vsed to take any repast but after sun-set of the age of 84. neuer had any wife Panuplnus who for many yeares togeather liued only vpon bread arriued to the age of foure score c ten yeares neuer acquainted with wedlocke Macarius exceeded the ninetieth yeare of his age continuing in perpetual fasts neuer knew what marriage was Arsenius the master of Arcadius Honorius liued to be sixe score yeares of age and none euer sung his Epithalamium Romuald by nation an Italian arriued to this age a man very austere both in his food and clothing alwayes honoured virginity preferred the candour of his mind farre before the inticements of mariage Franciscus de Paula refreshed himself once a day with bread water but not before sun-set notwithstaÌ„ding he exceeded the ninetieth yeare of his age with entire chastity flourished Hieronymus Stridonensis drew forth his laborious old age exhausted with hunger euen til the eightieth yeare of his age was no lesse entire in keeping theÌ„ copious in praising of chastity Beda liued a virgin in religion from the seauenth yeare of his age til he was foure score and twelue altogeather ignorant of mariage Remigius continued Bishop of Rhemes seauenty and foure yeares a very rare thing I cannot tel whether the like euer hapned to any other whereupon he was called Iubilaeus as being of the age of minety six compleate when he died and neuer touched marriage bed al the dayes of his life Martinus Tuâ—…ensis liued foure-score and sixe yeares Vdâ—…ricus Bishop of Padua an hundred and fiue Epiphanius an hundred and fifteene These most holy men vsed often fasts and obserued perpetual virginity It were too long to name innumerable others whom chastity temperance and moderation of those things which vse to stirre vp mens appetites haue preserued and brought to a long and flourishing old age You shal find euen at this day very many who with good reason ascribe their venerable old age partly to abstinence and partly to chastity Enter into Monasteryes and religious houses you shal find very many who haue endured sixty seauenty eighty yea euen ninety winters hauing their liues so much the more lengthened as they were eminent in chastity Not many yeares since I went to see a certaine Aunt of mine a religious woman in a poore monastery and falling into talke with her I asked how many yeares she had now serued God in that place She answered fourty I was astonished there at and after when I had seriously beheld her I could not by sight haue taken her to haue been more then a virgin of twenty yeares of age Therefore said I be mindful to render humble thankes to God for out of Religion you would neither haue been so vigorous nor wel coloured but would either haue been dead ere this or at the next doore to it This is likewise the reward of continency that it maketh those long liu'd who preserue integrity of body And tel me my EDESIMVS what man is there though of iron or brasse who shackled in the fetters of wedlock 〈◊〉 liue so sound and healthy amongst the daily discoÌ„forts of so many cares griefes vexations and misfortunes as he thâ—… takes no further care but only to serue and please Almighty God Those that are married must cloaâ—h so many bodies food so many bellies cure so many diseases deplore so many calamities bewaile so many funerals dye as it were so many deaths as they lose either children or grand-children But let vs omit this losse of life and health in wedlocke how many both yong and middle-ag'd men goe to
pray thus liue who desireth to profit in this manner We are altogeather or for the most part beholding to pious reading for those two Illustrious Patriarchs S. Dominick and S. Ignatius of which the former may rightly ascribe the prime cause and motiue of his sanctity to the collations of the Fathers the later to the liues and examples of Saints Both of them were not only changed but euen made other men by reading of pious bookes That Great Anthony hauing heard these wordes read out of the Ghospel Matth. 19.21 Goe sel al thou hast and giue to the poore and thou shalt haue a treasure in heauen and come follow me tooke them as spoken to himselfe by the celestial Oracle and therupon instantly leauing al transitory things he abaÌ„doned the world and al the vanityes therof Augustine that miracle of wit had neuer doubtles been S. Augustine had he not by meanes of reading begun his holy course of life which he thus testifyeth of himselfe I thought saith he Lib. 8. Conf. c. 12. I was held by them meaning the delights and sinnes of his former life and I vttered lamentable wordes How long how long to morrow to morrow why not now why should I not at this very houre giue ouer dishonesty of life These things I said and wept with most bitter contrition of hart And behold I heard from the next house a voice as it were of some boy or girle I know not whether which singing said and often repeated Take vp and read Take vp and read Wherupon without further delay I tooke vp the new Testament and read this which did first occurre Not in Chamber-workes and impudicities not in contention and emulation But put on our Lord IESVS CHRIST and make not prouision for the flesh in concupiscences Rom. c. 13. â—eas 13. Heereupon an admirable light was infused into the Readers breast and the former Augustine became a new and quite altered man O how often must we inculcate this Take vp and read Take vp and read to these idle pratlers Sleepy loyterer take vp some pious booke looke vpon it read somewhat shew that thou hast not as yet wholy lost thine eyes why doest thou consume whole dayes in vaine discourses §. I. The holy Scripture commendeth the Treasurer of Candacâ— Queene of Ethtopia for his industry in reading the Scriptures And he returned sitting vpon his chariâ—t and reading the prophet Isaias Act. 8.28 Saint Chrysostome S. Hierom admire his so pious and diligent endeauour therin Behold say they Chris Hom. de Lazaro Hieron ep 103. ad Paulin a Barbarous man a man fraught with cares enuironed with negotiations ouerwhelmed with innumerable businesses notwithstanding he read although he did not vnderstand what he read neuertheles he read that on the way in his chariâ—t If he were so diligent in his iourney what may we thinke he did when he was quiet at home Nor haue there wanted Princes Kings and Emperours who heertofore with their illustrious examples haue traced this way Famous is that most watchful lamp of the Emperour Theodosius the yonger Niceph l. 14. c. 1. so artificially composed that moued and poysed by little waights it supplyed itselfe with oyle without mans helpe and serued it's vigilant Master with perpetual light for his reading And so industrious was he in perusing pious bookes that though he were vnwilling to breake the sleep of any of his seruants yet oftentimes for a great part of the night he depriued himself thereof Alphonsus King of Arragon no lesse delighting in pious bookes read ouer both the Testaments forty times Anton. Panor in vita lib. 1. yea I may say forty times to that not slightly or in hast but seriously and with Comments What doe we EDESIMVS what doe we that can compare with this We see pious bookes in Kings and Emperours hands yet we negligent fellowes as we are spend our time that is so pretious most idlye which might most profitably be bestowed in reading The actes of Great Anthony were written by Athanasius who for the faith of Christ became a wandring banished man throughout the whole world This booke S. Augustine read and with a high spirit said as followeth Lib 8 confess c. 8. What is this what hast thou heard There rise vp vnlearned men and snatch heauen from vs. And we hartles men with al our learning behold how we wallow stil in flesh and bloud What are we ashamed to follow because they lead vs the way The same life of that B. Anthony perswaded two of the court of Theodosius the Emperour to a more holy course of life with a change as speedy as admirable They were determined to spend some howers of the afternoone in walking And as they wandred in the open fields to auoid the heate retired themselues into a little monastery and at leasure viewed the poore furniture of the house Heer by chance one of them tooke into his hand that life of B. Anthony written at large Curiosity perswaded him at first to open and looke vpon it and deuotion afterward for the better spending of his time to read it First of al he is strucken with admiration sometimes he makes a pause and meditates a little then beginnes to be delighted by degrees he is drawne and by little little inflamed To conclude this Courtier was so enkindled by reading that casting his eyes vpon his fellow he said I pray thee what is the vtmost ambition of al our labours Al our hope aymes no higher then at the Emperours fauour and how long wil that continue Through how many daÌ„gers doe we trauel to a greater danger We are the world's bondslaues and oftentimes become the diuels Martyrs and after we haue spent the flower of our youth our health and life vpon this vaine trifling what gaine we thereby I wil become the freind of God now whilst I am able Thus he spake and began againe to read seriously pondering in his mind with a hard conflict At last cryed out I haue broken through I haue now determined I wil begin this very houre and in this place serue my God Then turning to his fellow he said May it please you Sir to ioyne with me and follow my example At least oppose not for you shal find me no changeling Vnto whom the other replied I wil be your inseparable companion I wil stil follow you They begun wel they perseuered piously and ended happily Both of them had their spouses who seing this admirable change were themselues likewise altered and vowing to God their virginity were espoused to the Celestial bride-groome These things are the more credible in that they are confirmed by the vndoubted testimony of S. Augustine Lib. 8. Conf. c. 6. §. II. Behold my EDESIMVS how powerfully pious reading preuailes It is a most true saying of S. Augustine When we read God talketh with vs. He that profiteth nothing by reading let him not say that God speakes
his hunger In the holy weeke he fed vpon nothing els but lupines a bitter kind of pease Out alas shal so great a Prince impose vpon himself such rigid lawes of fasting and yet we who in comparison of him haue strong and able bodies our bloud boiling and prone to lust so much abhorre abstinence that if our belly be not alwaies wel stuffed we straight dreame of death or sicknesse whereas hunger is the best remedy against al diseases §. V. In Italy the chiefest medicine for euery disease amongst the skilfullest phisitians is hunger and fasting These things stand with very good reason For the principal cause of al diseases is gormaÌ„dizing and excesse which is only best cured by abstinence Therefore as hunger cureth diseases of the body so it doth of the soule being a soueraigne Antidote against al the vices thereof Doe you not see how hunger breaâ—es the neck of a proud man The couetous is perswaded by hunger to draw forth is rusty treasure The angry pinched with want becomes gentle and tractable An idle man by hunger is pricked forward to worke He that auoides the mill auoides likewise the mealing of his clothes And whereas hunger is not so loathsome as superfluity that causeth surfets it drawes a glutton from his dainty viandes to frugality a luxurious man from obscene lust to be sober and continent Hunger maketh resistance against al vices but chiefly against luxury There haue been armyes saith Seneca Epist 17. that haue suffered extreame want of al things they haue liued on roots and herbs and by hunger haue endured that which is euen most loathsome to be spoken Al these things haue they suffered which you may maruel at onlie to subdue anothers kingdome and shal any one for deliuering his owne soule from the thraldome of carnal concupiscence think much to endure hunger Rusâ—us Aquileiensis relateth a thing worthy of memory Lib. 3. apud Râ—svâ—eid â— 62. There came a certaine person to visit a religious old man and said vnto him Father what shal I doe I am not able longer to endure so many obscene cogitations wherwith I am troubled they so fil my mind with abhominable impurityes To whom the old man answered I remember not that euer I haue been subiect to such vncleane thoughts The other tooke his answer in il part and iudged it almost impossible How said he can that be that you should neuer be infested with these troublesome cogitations The old man answered that from the time he had put on the habit of a Monke he had neuer eaten his fil of bread neuer drunke his fil of water neuer taken his fil of sleep By which meanes hauing neuer been satiated I rather desire sleep or meat and so am neuer tempted by carnal suggestions This yong man gaue eare and profited very much by this modest commendation of abstinence I inculcate my former saying and so make en end Hunger is a friend to virginity THE SEAVENTH ANTIDOTE against Incontinency Labours and the loue of exercise CHAP. VIII EDESIMVS You haue said enough of fasting PARTHENIVS More ought to haue been said but I imagine you conceaue how neere abstinence is allied to chastity But doe you remember our verses Lectio flagra preces confessio lympha labores Bookes prayers stripes confession labours fasting I haue expounded what the meaning of Lympha and fasting is Doubtles abstinence to lust is the same which water is to fire But let vs goe forward I wil demonstrate in few wordes that labour is as great a freind as idlenesse an enemy to chastity You may find some perhaps that wil not endure to be termed idle persons notwithstanding they labour in such sort that it may be doubted whether it be better to be idle then so employed They prattle and talke of nothing but vaine matters and this they cal discourse and serious conference they sport themselues walk vp and downe drinke read ouer no good bookes but only looke vpon them for curiosity they ouercome tediousnesse with idlenesse spend the day with a thowsand fopperyes and in doing al things doe nothing at al. And to vse Seneca's words Epist 15. they are men occupied between oyle and wine who spend the day according to their desire and thinke they haue laboured when they haue sweat soundly powr'd in as much drinke as they haue sweat forth humours O how much of our life slippeth away whil'st we are idle how much while we are ilimployed But I wil furnish you with other labours whereby you may defend your chastity You know Diana was fained to be a virgin because she hated idlenesse and exercised her selfe daily with her Nymphes in hunting Amongst this company of virgins the Nymph Salmacis was taxed for that whil'st the rest perpetually spent their time in labour she only very idly imployd either comb'd her haire burnish'd her face painted her cheekes prancked herself in her glasse laid in order the pleites of her garments or gathered flowers Not withstanding perswaded herself she did more then al the rest and that 〈◊〉 were more holy then she Ouid speakâ—… very elegantly of this Nymph Li 4. de Metam Sape suas illi faâ—… est dixisse sorores Salmaci vel iaculum vel pictas sâ—me pharetras Et tâ—a cum duris venatibus otia miscâ— Nec iaculum sumit nec pictas illa pharetras Nec sua cum duris venatibus otia misceâ— As fame reportes her sisters often said Salmace thy dart or painted quiuer take Mixe hunting-sports with rest thou slouthful maid But she nor dart nor painted quiuer tooke Nor for their hunting toile her â—ase forsooke These speeches must often be repeated to a yong man il imployed Why loyterest thou sluggard doe doe something vnfold thy paper take thy pen note exercise thy stile compose epistles make orations sing poemes Hast thou written another while take thy booke â—eâ—d commit it to memory Hast thou read pray sometimes treat with God meditate oâ— pious and sacred things Hast thou prayed recal thy self againe to reading or writing Nature hath bestowed nothing vpon mortal men without great labour By daily labour and long exercise al thinges are acquired Yet I wish you not alwaies to hang ouer your booke or writing There must be some intercourse for recreation of your mind but so that it may not too much dissolue but rather breath and recreâ—te a man Hast thou breathed returne to thy labours take againe thy pen paper and bookes and goe forward in thy businesse Heer we must obserue a circle in our course of life either â—o labour or else take some little breathing by desisting from labour yeâ— in tâ—king breath we must not be altogether idle but in idlenesse itself 〈◊〉 hâ—…d of idlenesse §. I. Vpon a time S. Anthony grew weary of the wildernes and as they write with great anguish of mind cryed out I desire to be saued but mine owne cogitations are against me Whil'st he was thus
children of men Pro. 15.11 If thou deny thy sinne before men saith S. Ambrose thou shalt confesse it before God and though thou would'st deny it thine owne conscience thoughts wil conuince thee Lactantius very wel admonishing vs heereof saith Lib. 6. de vero cult c. 24. What doest thou what goest thou about to what and doest thou conceale any thing He that obserues al followes thee Doest thou thinke mad man thoâ— shalt be able to escape the eyes of al men What doth it auaile thee to haue no man priuy to it if thou thy self hast a conscience Paternus Deo vndique we lye open vnto God on euery side Therefore Quocunque perrexeris memento te deprehensum Deus videt omnia Whithersoeuer thou goest remember thou art taken God seeth al things §. IX EDESIMVS May I aske you a question PARTHENIVS I would haue commanded you if you had not done it of your self In the interim I 'le take the opportunity and breath awhile EDESIMVS From whence I pray you proceed daily so many foule and hainous offences amongst Christians Doe they not beleeue al those things whereof you haue discoursed concerning God's Vbiquitary presence PARTHENIVS 'T is true they beleeue but with so slender faith as if they beleeued not at al. I knew a certaine Postilion a bold and desperate fellow who being accustomed to ride post and make his iourneyes as wel by night as day would sometimes force his horse through stony rough wayes and precipices and being admonished of the danger that he might at least haue a care of his life if not of his horse he laughing at them said I shut mine eyes wheresoeuer I trauaile al waies are plaine and euen to me They are like this man who beleeue that God is present in euery place but doe nothing at al worthy of this presence They shut their eyes and rush into euery way that cometh next them Such wretches were those sensual old men that lay in wait for another man's wife solliciting the chastity of Susanna They were inflamed with the concupiscence of her and subuerted their sense and diclmed their eyes that they might not see heauen nor remember iust indgements Dan. 13.9 Dauid commending this very grauely to Salomon his sonne said 1. Par. â— And thou Salomon my sonne know the God of thy father serue him with a perfect hart and a voluntary mind for our Lord searcheth al harts and vnderstandeth al cogitations of minds If thou seeke him thou shalt find but if thou reiect him he wil forsake thâ—… for euer An admonitioÌ„ very worthy of the eares of Kings But Salomon becoming vnmindful of his fathers discipline losting after women that were strangers fel so farre into dotage and impiety that he forgot the God of his father and so loued the fraile beauty of another that he grew out of loue with his owne soule And from whence proceedeth this corruption of life but by perswading our selues foolishly and wickedly that God beholdes not our sinnes or if he doth wil easily pardon them O darknes of man's soule This eye which seeth al things is seen of no body wil in time bring to light whatsoeuer lies secret and hidden This eye wil discouer how many dead bodies Toby buried by night this eye wil manifest how many throats priuately how many publikely were cut by cruel Herod this eye wil declare to the world what that Bishop Nicolas was who by night with a bagge of money charitably rescued a poore maides chastity from imminent danger this eye wil make knowne to al it was Ioseph that solicited his Mistresse to wickednes but that she importuned him this eye wil declare how Elizabeth daughter of the King of Hungary in a priuate corner of her garden washed the scall'd head of a poore begger this eye in time wil bring to light al the most secret actions of mankind Things passe oftentimes in this world with extreme partialitie somtimes very wickedly Some deuoure the figges and accuse others the guilty are pardoned and the innocent condemned The crowes offend without punishment and the poore pigeons pay for it These things wil not be concealed There is nothing so secret which shal not be manifested nor so hidden which shal not be knowne and come to light Luc. 8.17 Therfore Christ saith Matth. 6.18 And thy Father who seeth in secret shal restore vnto thee Therefore Quocunque perrexeris memento te deprehensum Deus videt omnia Whithersoeuer thou shalt goe remember thou art surpriz'd God seeth al things There is no thought that ouerslippeth him no word that soundes not in his eares Eccl. 42.20 But to the intent we may neuer be forgetful heerof we ought for helping of our memory to set before our eyes some obiectes which may daily admonish is a picture in our chamber some notable sentence written in our study or some part of our garment for that purpose exposed to our sight a ring vpon our finger or that daily saying of the Priest in the holy Masse Dominus vobâ—seuâ—… Our Lord is with you Whatsoeuer it be we are daily to be admonished thereby that God present in euery place beholdeth al things Adde the closing sentence of that learned man and holy Martyr Seuerinus Boethius who with these words sealed vp that his golden little booke of Philosophical Consolation Lib. 5. consol Philos fine libri There is a great necessity impased vpon you of honesty and vertue if you wil not dissemble for so much as you liue before the eyes of a ludge who seeth al things Either we are stones or we shal be moued with these wordes Deus videt omnia God seeth al things THE NINTH ANTIDOTE against Incontinency with the nine punishments of eternity CHAP. XI HEer I had rather weep then speake since whatsoeuer we say wil be too little We shal neuer expresse with words nor fully conceaue in thought that vnspeakeable Eternity of the damned I know many haue discoursed at large concerning the torments of the damned but in vaine is writing in vaine is al speach while the mind is not attentiue by a serious and profound consideration We read and heare of those torments we set them painted before our eyes and belleeue they shal come to passe but al quickly vanished away vnles we often ponder them in our imagination and fix them seriously in our mind Out alas my EDESIMVS many are those vnspeakeable paines which I shal heer both for thine and mine owne meditation compendiously respresent vnto thee THE FIRT punishment of hel to be feared to wit vnspakeable Darkenes This is the chiefe the greatest and most vnspeakeable torment of al others But vnderstand what darknes I meane which depriues thee of a glorious vision O how great and true delight wil it â—e to behold Almighty God for al eternity We take some pleasure in seeing a proper and comely man but admit Almighty God should create a man infinitly
telleth me it is high noone But I pray you let both of vs exercise our memory and patience before we sit downe to the table by making a summe and catalogue of what we haue spoken of that most wonderful victory of Nicetas Vnlesse my memory faile me we haue obserued this order The principal subiect whereof we treated was Nicetas that true conquerour whom we can neuer sufficiently extol Whatsoeuer enticements whatsoeuer art or fraud what engines soeuer Incontinency had in store or coÌ„cupiscence could iâ—uent were imployed to surprize our Nicetas Wanton Cupid attempted al chast Nicetas ouercame al. He discouered al their deceits arts subtile plots and stratagemes he withstood their open violence and finally defeated al their crafts ambushes and combinations By a rare incomparable proiect by singular and admirable fortitude he vanquished his enemyes Whilst we ful of admiration congratulated this victory of his our discourse sweetly inuited vs to treat of the Aâ—…ory of Incontinencie Heere we found weapons of two kinds her Allurements and Effects by those she oppugneth by these she killeth The first weapon wherewith Incontinency inuades vs is Idlenesse a feareful engine enemy to al good actions Her other wapon dipped in oyle that it may the more easily penetrate is Gluttony Concerning this that saying of S. Ambrose is wel knownes Saturity ouerthroweth chastity Serm. 40. Questionlesse Gluttony killeth more theâ— the sword â— nourisher of many mischiefes The third and fourth weapon of Inconiency is Bookes and lasciuious Pictures it is a thing very rare to touch them not to be wounded The fift is Liberty of Eyes I thinke I haue sufficiently demonstrated how much venom we sacke into oâ—r â—oules through our Eyes Happy is he who being master ouer them suffers not himself to be seduced The sixt speedy prouocation to Incontinency is lasciuious Wordes This mischiefe is manifold both in respect of the hearers and speakers The seauenth huge massy weapon of Incontinency is Wicked company In â—…yng from this timeâ— bush no man can be too caâ—… loue â—or too wel guarded By iâ— examples and familiarity of others 〈◊〉 men periâ—hâ— who of themselues knew not that precipice of ineuitable perdition §. II. With al these weapons did coÌ„cupiscence oppugne Nicetas The first encounter in this battle began with ease and idlenesse in the Garden when this valorous yong man was brought to that soft bed that he might there sweetly repose at mid-day where the garden had displayed variety of pleasures and amongst the rest a table ready furnished with a delicious banquet No sooner was the yong man throwne vpon his backe and tenderly bound on the bed but that the smooth-fac'd wanton harlot farre more pestilent and pernicious then either bookes or pictures impudently presented her self to his most chast eyes In this dangerous plight either to heare or see to touch or â—e touched was a thing extreamly perilous To delude his eyes her beauty to prouoke his mind her flattering wordes were very powerful and plausible What danger I pray could be greater then this where a man al alone is constrained to be in company of a woman Notwithstanding al these allurements to incontinency Nicetas victoriously triumpheth although bound on a most delicate bed he was not idle but stood at vtter defiance resisting those enchanting pleasures not curious in beholding a woman more painted then pictures but blind to al enticements of his eyes and deafe against the sugared charmes of her wordes shewing himself against the venereous assault a valiant inuincible and victorious aduersary As those encounters of incontinency wherwith she is wont to oppugne vs were defeated so likewise were the other wherewith she is wont to kil vs. Doest thou remember my EDESIMVS how many Effects we set downe of Incontinency These are her armes wherewith she killes those whom she vanquisheth The first Effect of Incontinency is to exhaust and weaken a mans body the other to draine his purse the third to destroy his soule the fourth to stupify dul his wit the fifth to taint his fame and lastly the sixt to extirpate al vertues I haue handled these though briefly and somewhat out of order yet as the verses suggested Now our dinner stayeth for vs vpon the table come along with me you shal this day be my guest but not shot free I wil propound vnto you three questions which wil not be much vnseasonable for table discourse nor the subiect we haue spoken of The first shal be Why bees those vnmarried creatures and as a man may tearme them virgin-birds are called the hand-maides of Ceres what the the flowers are which they abstaine from what kind of men they sting not and what flower they most of al delight in It is not impertinent to know also what is virgin-hony what virgin-paper and thirdly what virgin parchment EDESIMVS Is this but one question PARTHENIVS But one composed of many parts The other question What herbe is good both for eyesight and chastity and what birdes are most chast as wel liuing as dead or which are chast both of their owne nature and for our eating Besides what should be the reason that religious men for the most part daily feed on lettices and barley EDESIMVS I see you come vpon me with a thousand questions PARTHENIVS Doubt not we wil find answers for them al. The last question is what things are most pretious and what not to be repaired You wil preuent me and name virginity Let vs goe vnlesse you be a Camelion and liue by aire Of the rest we wil speake when we haue dined A PETITION TO THE Virgin-Mother O Holy Marie Mother of God and mercie Mirrour of puritie Pattern of sanctitie Model of innocencie Example of perfection obtaine for me the vertue of Chastitie and angelical purity o my deare Aduocate obtaine it for me of our Sauiour thy Sonne IESVS I beseech thee through thy IMMACVLATE CONCEPTION Alas most Chast Virgin shal I alwayes liue in the slauerie of this impure flesh of mine And shal I euer be vexed with these vnchast cogitations which so afflict my vnwilling soul Who wil deliuer me from the body of this death this vncleane body Thou o Potent Virgin canst deliuer me from al impurity Deliuer me o Virgin-Mother that my hart replenished with vnspotted affections may neuer be refractorie to the loue of IESVS but only thirst after him the fountaine of al perfection goodnes beauty sweetnes sanctity purity O that my hart were once wounded with this chast loue of thy Sonne IESVS o most Pure Virgin that then I might truly and ioyfully sing Sat est IESV vulnerasti Sat est totum penetrasti Sagittis ardentibus Procul procul hinc libido Nam Caelestis hic Cupido Vincit ignes ignibus THE SECOND BOOKE THAT S. BENEDICT MAY be called the brother of NICETAS famous for the like illustrious act CHAP. I. PARTHENIVS Pliny recounteth Lib. 23. Nat. hist c. 8. that in the cabinet of Mithridates
that great King subdued Cn. Pompeius found in a peculiar note vnder his owne hand the receit of an antidote the ingredients whereof were two dryed nuts as many figges twenty leaues of Rue braied together with a graine of sak and that whosoeuer tooke it in the morning fasting should be preserued that day from poison In the fore-noone we made a collection of seueral poysons shal we noâ— my EDESIMVS seeke for the antiâ—ote EDESIMVS Your intreaty is neeâ—… I haue already satisfyed my self with your good cheere but not yet with your discourse Weaue out the web my PARTHENIVS you haue begâ—n You haue brought me acquainted with the poison I would also learned the Antidote Be my Mithridates The same authour relateth how the familyes of the Marsi Ophiogenes and Psilli were a terrour to serpents and that they cured those that were stung by them euen with their medicinable touching or sucking Incontinency is a serpent fraught with venom and who is there whom she hath not wounded with her venomous sting PARTHENIVS Shew thy self one of that family and with thy healing-touch help those that either are or shal be stung therewith PARTHENIVS You insinuate so wel that you compel me Let vs therefore goe forward in the discourse we began and now once againe congratulate with Nicetas in whose behalfe there are none but wil with clapping handes say Nicetas hath gotten the victorie let him exult Let Nicetas triumph What Seneca of his Mutius I may more truely affirme of our Nicetas he accomplished a warre without either armes or legges with his tongue bitten off discomfited put to flight the whole army of Venus EDESIMVS He ouercame after an excellent manner and surpasseth the highest pitch of our praises and in a word is vnimitable For who dares wish such a warfare though he might be paralell'd with him in crowne victorious trophies There is nothing more dangerous then to encounter in that manner and yet on the other side nothing more glorious then to obtaine the like victory I thinke Nicetas hath not his equal heerin his exploit was matchlesse and incomparable PARTHENIVS But he may haue an equal others may be coÌ„pared vnto him this maketh his praise the greater that his fight was in such manner that he also animated others to sight taught them by his exaÌ„ple how to behaue theÌ„selues in such like martial affaires S. Benedict the great Patriarch of that most holy family next to Nicetas encountred with good successe He had no visible enemy that opposed him He ouercame himselfe and visibly triumphed ouer an inuisible Cupid Wil you haue a briefe narratioÌ„ of this battaile likewise EDESIMVS Should you not condescend to this willingly I would endeauour in a freindly manner to constraine you Goe forward the more prolixe you are the more attentiuely wil I listen PARTHENIVS S. Benedict's combate was not without bloud-shed and in some respect he almost outstripped Nicetas for he did not only embrew his mouth but his whole body with bloud couragiously rowling himselfe amongst pricking thornes And I pray thee giue me leaue my EDESIMVS to dwel somwhat longer vpon the description of this battaile of S. Benedict §. I. But before I proceed any further I thinke good to satisfye a question which some may propound What wil they say doth so impure a beast insult ouer a man so pure free from al wickednesse and of so vpright a life Was lasciuious Cupid so bold to prouoke S. Benedict likewise This seemeth not consonant to his sublime and singular sanctity I answer It rather confirmes and warrants his transcendent vertue which neuer would haue been so great had it not been tried by temptations Maruel not my good EDESIMVS and if you are ignorant learne thus much euen of this ancient writer Those saith Seneca Lib. de Prouidentia whom God approues and loues he hardneth correcteth and exerciseth he makes no darling of a good man but tries mouldes and shapes him for himself Why doe you maruel Good men are strucken that they may be corroborated the more There is no wel rooted tree but that which the wind often shaketh that it may take deeper root and be consolidated by such tempestuous conuulsions What vertue is there but wil decay if it be not opposed CoÌ„trarywise prouoked stirred vp with iniuryes it gathereth forces becometh more vigorous it is strengthned by inuasions fortifyed by being fiercely assaulted reputing afflictioÌ„s but exercises necessary trials Such a man was S. Benedict who was not to be daÌ„dled nor cockered being elected Captaine General in so important a warfare Moreouer what power haue we to prohibit these intestine rebellions and insurrections of the flesh No more certainely then Menelaus had to defend himselfe from that shaft of Pandarus who by stealth shot at him lurking couertly amongst his fellowes And so long as the soule and body are vnited with a certaine kind of harmonious discord so long as the fleshly lump that seekes to be pampered with delicious viandes as Possidonius saith is ioyned with the spiritual substance they alwaies are in coÌ„petition for principality the one with the other Both partyes ambitiously striue for a Kingdome and that most which hath least right or title vnto it Earth endeauoureth to exalt itself aboue fire the terrene part aboue the celestial Hereupon arise those contentions and turmoiles between these Leaders and Captaines Reason Opinion The one fights for the soule in the soule the other for the body in the body S. Benedict was subiect to these assaults as being a man equaly mortal with vs. But he only felt them yealded not vnto them He was sensible of the commotions in this intestine warre but neuer departed from his station or timorously suffered himselfe to be vanquished He stood his ground ioyn'd foot to foot hand to hand with his aduersary and against himselfe tryed his strength which can neuer be certainly secured of its owne ability if many difficultyes doe not on euery side assault it This is the trial this that touch-stone of a resolute mind indeed that wil neuer giue backe or yeald to its enemy See therefore Benedict fighting against Benedict himself against himself obserue the flourish before the combate §. II. There presents itself a bird but a black one such as are in Plutoes denne There presents itselfe from hel a certaine Messenger as it were one of the skirmishers to giue the alarme and summon to the battle hauing been first instructed by that blacke Master who at his departure gaue him a hellish fare wel Iâ— performeth therefore what it was commanded and cunningly executeth the office wherabout it was sent it flyeth and in a dallying manner houereth ouer the holy mans head whispereth and suggesteth I know not what kind of blandishments We may wel cal it flattery or rather treachery seeing ambuschadoes were laid to bereaue him of his life saluation Stil it coÌ„tinueth flying with short turnes about S.