dissolued were to liue with Christ for ay This life is Queene of pride i Esa 47.7 that errors k 2 The. 2.11 foule doth breede A wretched state that is no life but death l Gal. 2.19 in deede We yeeld to Natures m 2 Sam. 14 Heb. 9.27 want and sundry wayes decay Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for ay Is this a life trow ye wherein we plunge n Ecc. 4.3 in payn Puft vp o Deut. 22 15 with euery ioy and snibde p Ioh 3.3 with greefe agayne With foggie ayre infect q 1 Reg. 8.37 and parcht with heat of day Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for aye With seeding fat we grow with fasting long as leane With myrth we mounting are r Mat. 20.12 Amos 4.1 Ier. 5.28 Mat. 6 16. Isai 53.5 with sadnesse drouping Å¿ Eccl. 2.2 cleane With care consumed quite s Sirac 30 21.22 our weakenesse t 23 24 hath no staye v Psal 69.1 2 3 Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for aye As wealth doth prick in pride v Deu 6.12 so want doth cause dismay u Iaco. 1 Youth x Pro. â—0 6 bolt vpright we see and crooking age decay With sicknesse sore we breake y Ps 37.2 Iob. 30.15.16 ibid. 23. with sorrow soone away Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for ay When raging death doth sweepe z Luc. 12 20 and quench our pleasures vaine a Iob 7 11 1 Psal 37.38 It makes an end of all at once and lets no whit remaine That past it had not bene a man may surely say b Iob. 20 6 Ps 37.36 Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for ay This vitall c 2 Sa. 141 142 death of ours and mortall d Reu. 2.2 life with woe e Iob. 14.1 Replete O cursed case and yet a greefe to show How many snarde f 2 Tim. 4.10 Ephes 2.3 1 Ioh. 2.15 1 Tim. 6.9 in sinne shee lureth to her pray g Prou. 14 27 Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for aye And though the blindest man h Ezech. 7 19. Mich. 6.10 may soone espie this geare Yet with her golden cup i Reu. 17.2 3 4 which she in hand doth beare She makes a meny drinke their folly k 1 Cor. 1.17 18 bewray l Mat 6.24 Luc 16 13 Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for ay O rare and happie men that doe dispise her draught m Ioh. 15.18 19.20 Her pleasures vaine eschew n Tit. 9.9.6.7 and shun her snares vncaught Least they by her deceaude deceaue themselues o Iuc 5.1 Eccl. 5.9 I say Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for aye The Translator to the Reader WHere Nouissima or the last things mentioned as well in Deut. as by the Sonne of Syrach are in number foure to wit Death Iudgement the Paines of Hell and the Ioyes of heauen and hauing nowe out of S. Augustine sufficiently intreated of Death Iudgement and Hell I thought it necessary to deliuer likewise out of the same Author vnto the repentant Reader some tast of the ioyes Coelestial to inflame his mind with an earnest desire and a longing after his heauenly inheritance and continuing Countrey the Citie of the great King that supernal Ierusalem and mother of vs all whereby the fleshly desire of carnall men which is corrupt froÌ„ their youth vpward and the loue of the world which is a loathing of God might happily be quenched in comparison of that infinit ioy and glorie that shall be reuealed vnto vs the rather for that euery thing naturally coueteth his complement and chiefest happinesse which the Philosophers call Summum bonum and is nowhere to be either had or hoped for but in that heauenly habitation the fulnesse of our ioye purchased by Christ promised by Scripture and contained in this song of Sion which I haue here translated out of S. Augustines booke of Prayers Chap. 24. into Englishe meeter quoted and confirmed by the testimonie of the word though in deede it be of it selfe nothing els but an abridgement of sundry places of scripture curiously collected and cunningly couched togither for that purpose as the learned Reader may easily perceaue wherefore I haue as neare as I could possibly followed the verie wordes of mine Authour contrarie to the minde of the Poet that sayeth Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres though I coulde not attaine to his perfection and grauitie notwithstanding my hope is that my will may supply my vant therein with the godly Reader that liketh the sence of the minde better than the sound of the eare And therefore simply singeth this Psalme of Sion in this his wofull captiuitie and banishment as followeth O Mother deare Hierusalem Gal. 4.26 Iehouas throne Chro. 9.6 Reu. 20.11 on hie O sacred Citie Eph. 2.19 Queene Ps 43.11 wife Eph. 5.32 Apoc. 9.7 of Christ eternally My hart Ps 16.11 Ps 67.1 doth long to see thy face my soule doth still desire 42.1 Thy glorious 26.8 73.28 beautie to behold my mind is set on fire Psa 84.2 O comely Queene Cant. 1.4 in glorie clad Reue. 12.1 in honour Psa 45.11.15 and degree Soph. 3.20 Al faire Cant. 4.7 thou art exceeding bright Esa 60.1.2.3 no spot Eph. 3.27 there is in thee O pierelesse dame and daughter faire of loue Ps 45.15 Psal 45.11 without annoy Triumph for in thy beautie braue the king doth greatly ioy s Thy port thy shape thy stately grace Can. 4.1.2.3.4.5.12.13.14.15 thy fauour faire in deede Thy pleasant hew and countinance all others doth exceede Psal 45.2 What is thy welbeloued mate thou fairest Cant 3.6 of thy kind My loue is white and ruddie both Ibid. 10.11.12.13 of thousands chiefe assignd For as the pleasant Apple tree Cant. 2.3 amid the Forest greene Surmounts the rest so fares my loue the sonnes of men betweene His shadow me doth couer quite where vnder I do sit His fruite is sweete and pleasant both my mouth desireth it My welbeloued mate did put his hand within my doore Can. 5.4.5 Therfore in him my Lord 1. Tim. 3.15 life Ph. 1.21 my ioy Can. 5.4 encreaseth more I sought him in my bed my ioy Can. 3. alas for loue I die Can. 5.8 I sought him oft and now behold I found him presently Can. 3.4 Now will I hold him fast in deede till he bring me vnto My mothers house and chambers faire I will not let him go For there his dugs Reuel 7.15.16 abundantly I hope to sucke and there I shall be sure to rid my selfe from hunger Esa 49.10 thirst and feare O then thrise happie should my state in happinesse remaine If I might once thy glorious Seate Ps 26.8.27.4 and princely place 84.4 Reue. 21.4 1. Cor. 2.9 Esai 64.4 attaine And
THE GLASSE OF vaine-glorie Faithfully translated out of S. AVGVSTINE his booke intituled Speculum peccatoris into English by W. P. Doctor of the Lawes MORS · TVA MORS · CHRISTI FRAVS · MVNDI GLORIA · COELI QVOD VNI ET OMNIBVS ET · DOLOR · INFERNI · SVNT · MEDITANDA · TIBI · MIHI · HODIE · CRAS TIBI MORS SEPTRA LIGONIE ' EQVAT Sic transit gloria mundi Printed at London by Iohn Windet dwelling at the signe of the white Beare nigh Baynards Castle 1585. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL EDMVNDE HASSELVVOOD of Ringestone in the Countie of Lincolne Esquier W. P. wisheth most prosperous felicitie in this world and in the world to come life euerlasting IF GOD HIM selfe so bitterly inueieth against the extreame ingratitude of his people by his holy Prophet Esaias saying I haue nourisâ—ed brought vp children and they haue rebelled against me yea if hee preferreth bruite beastes in the returne of their duetie before them saying The oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his maisters crib but Israel knoweth not me If the Persians likewise so worthily abhorred this vice of Ingratitude so as they extremely punished such as they found more willing to receiue than readie to requite adiudging them execrable vnto God iniurious to nature and vnprofitable members of a common wealth If the Ciuill Lawe also with good reason bindeth men by nature ad antidora to requite a good turne receiued in duetie I trust no reasonable man will blame me if I seeke by all meanes possible to shunne so foul a blemish as vnthankefulnesse is so hatefull to God so lothsome to man and so repugnant to nature Wherefore finding my selfe deepely indebted by your onely meanes to all the name of Hasselwood and namely to master Edward Hasselwood your good brother and to that vertuous gentlewoman his wife a rare example of godlines and modestie but especialy to your worship both for them and all other your kindnesse curtesie and great frindships shewed towardes mee a stranger And hauing no other way in the world to requite any part of the same then by leauing a publike testimonie to all posteritie of my loyall loue and hartie good will towardes you likewise to stande for the meede of so great a merite I haue presumed to dedicate to your worship this litle booke of S Augustines translated by me into English and with great labor quoted confirmed by scripture in the margeant as you see very profitable to the Christian Reader that can finde in his heart to sequester his mind from the vice of vaine-glory that proceedeth from the ignorance of our owne estate the very snare of Satan the puddle of pride and the fountaine from whence distilleth all kinde of poysoned infection as by the viewe of this glasse may easily appeare Wherfore the premises duely considered I doubt not but that you will of your accustomed curtesye pardon my presumption and of your wonted Zeale to godlines accept of my trauaile herein and thinke me rather vnable then vnwilling any way to discharge my dutie whereof I am carefull as knoweth the Lorde who euer preserue your worship and that vertuous GentlewomaÌ„ your wife long to continue amongest vs with increase of godlinesse and worshippe in his feare Your worships most faithfull friend in the Lord. W P. A PREFACE to the Christian Reader and louing looker in this Glasse of vaine glorie AS those beastes that did not ruminate nor chewe the cud were iudged filthie and vncleane by the law Leuiticall a Leuit. 11 7 Deut. 14 4 5.6.7.8 So no doubt all they that neuer enter into due consideration of their estate and duetie must needes be wicked and vnholy in the sight of the Lorde b Ierem. 12 11. 1. Cor. 10 11 9.10 who most carefully recommendeth this exercise of meditation vnto vs saying These wordes must remaine in thy heart thou c Deut. 6.7 8. shalt meditate vpon them both at home and abroad when thou goest to bedde at night and when thou risest in the morning d Deut. 6 7 22. And againe Teach your children these things that they may meditate vpon them So is Ioshua commaunded to doe by the Lord himselfe e Ioshua 1.8 And so is Timothie likewise by his maister Paule willed to meditate f 1 Tim. 4 15. Haec meditare thinke of these things This meditation hath alwaies bene the ordinarie exercise of the righteous godly g Sirach 14.21 psal 1.2 prou 6 21. Iob 1 5. yea likewise of all wise heathen men h Seneca So did Isaac the patriarch i Gene. 24 63 So did Dauid the Prophet k psalm 119 28 So did Ezechias the King l Isa 38.13 14 And so did Plato the Philosopher m Ieron in epistola ad Heliodorum saying that the life of Philosophers was nothing els but a dayly memoriall of their death and n Seneca epist 147. dissolution o Tim 4.10 The remeÌ„brance whereof made the world that we for want of this meditation so willingly p Ieron ad paulinum epistola 125. imbrace vile and contemptible q Seneca li 18 de nat quoestionib August lib. 13 de ciuitate Dei ca 11 Eccle. 7 16 19 vnto them and auailed greatly to guide them in all r Sirac 7 36 godlines wherefore full well the sonne of Sirach doth say in all thy works whatsoeuer thou doest remeÌ„ber the ende and thou shalt neuer doe amisse s Ion 3 10 How beneficiall it hath bene the Niniuites can testifie z 1 Kinges 21 29 and Ahab can witnesse u Contrariwise howe hurtful the want of this prouidence circumspection hath beene besides daily v Experientia docet experience the wofull destruction of the Sodomites and the vtter ruine of the cittie of Laish x Gen 19 24 Deut 29 23 Isa 13.9 do sufficiently witnesse And God himself by his holy Prophet doeth signifie saying All the earth is fallen into vtter desolation for that there is no man that deepelye considereth these things in his heart z Ier 12 11 Wee wonder greatly not without cause at the madnes of theeues that seeing a many hanged euery day for thefte yet without any regard Reuela 22.11 they continue their practise y Iudg 18.28 and consider not their z, psal 53.1 perill How much the rather ought we to be amazed at the humor of these worldlings how possibly they can be so sottish a Wisdom 54 32. frantike knowing the vanitie of the world b Eccle. 1 1 Rom 8 28. 1 Cor 7 31. and the vengeance c Iuc 3 7. to come as to follow the one so much d Iacob 4 4 and feare the other so e psalm 36 Rom 3 18. little The peacocke is not alwaies tooting on his traine to further his pride but somtimes he loketh downwarde to his legs though it quaileth his courage but man so delighteth
beside a stranger doth possesse Where is thy strength become at length Thy wit thy noble bloud thy worldly care thy daintie fate Doe these thee any good The aunswer I will not faine all is but vaine There is no foode to finde no wit no wealth no hiew no health No hope in graue assigne What wilt thou more my goods in store My land so large and wide my glory gay my braue aray Encreased haue my pride My pride my paine procured againe My paine my griefe alas my griefe my griefe without reliefe My senses doth surpasse My wailing woe no man doth know No tongue can halfe display I freeze I frie exceedingly Alas and well away I weepe I waile I faint I faile I stewe I stampe I stare I dye I dye euerlastingly Farewell by mee beware The mighty shall mightily be tormented Wisd 6.8 O the deadly corruption of mans nature g Gen. 6.5 Iob 15.16 Ierem. 17.9 that where natural loue that man beareth to himselfe h 2. Tim. 3.2 Matth. 19. u 22 23 pricketh him forward to commit all kinde of wickednes with greedines shall not naturall feare consequently that a man ought to haue i Ephes 5 4 19 for the auoiding of his own danger k Matth. 8 25 Mar. 6 49. reclaime him to repentance l Chro. 15 4. and seeinge euery liuing thing naturally abhorreth his own destruction The carelesse Niniuites were m Aristot n Ion. 1.2 moued at Ionas his preaching m Ion. 3.5 the desperate souldiers n Luc 3.14.15 at Iohn his menacies the obstinate Israelites o Acts 7 â— 51 at Peters perswasion p Act. 2 37. Yet are wee so rocked in the cradle of securitie q Isa 47 7. Ierem. 12.4 14.13 that let the charmer charme neuer so wisely r Psalme â— wee stoppe the one eare with our taile and the other with the grounde crying peace peace when sudden destruction houereth ouer our heads Å¿ 1. Thes 5.3 1. Ierem. 11.19 Isa 30.10 and are neuer awhit moued thereat Wherefore the auncient fathers to waken vs out of this deade Lethargie haue written verie large volumes and long discourses so likewise to the same end purpose S. Augustine somtimes Bishop of Hippo a man of God endued with his spirit in greater measure then any man hath bene in my iudgement since the Apostles time amongest the auncient fathers had alwaies in greatest admiration for his singular knowledge and sinceritie of life A bright burning torch in the tabernacle of God though subiect to infirmities somwhat infected with the time yet being read with iudgement a singular instrument no doubt to set forth the gladsome light of his glorious Gospell as from the face of Christ Iesus hath written this little booke in Latine intitiling the same rightly Speculum peccatoris A cleare christall indeede and a liuely looking glasse for all loose liuers perfectly to view themselues and their imperfections therein which being daily practized and duely performed may serue by the grace of v God and his assistance to make them neither idle nor vnfruteful in the knowledge of themselues u Ephes 2 8 9. Ephes 3.16.17 18 20. and our Lord Iesus Christ x Gen. 18.27 but strong as Sampson y 2 Pet 1 8 warie as Dauid x Iudg 13 25 and wise as Salomon a Psal 119 9 10 11 The same book for the benefit of the English Reader haue I translated faithfully and truly quoted in the margeant to my great trauell with places of Scripture and touchstone of the truth which the brightnes of the euerlasting light and the vndefiled mirrour of the Maiestie of God b 1 King 4 29 30 31 from whence this little Glasse hath borrowed his brightnes c Wisd 7 26 as the Moone doth from the brightnes of the Sunne and likewise imparteth the same vnto the beholders to their exceeding comfort Wherefore d Ioh 1 16 accept it willingly view the same â—iligently and reforme thy selfe preâ—ently The ende thereof is to knowe â—hy d 1 Cor. 11 28 2 Cor. 13 5. selfe thereby and not to be ouer wise in thyne owne conceite but to â—eare the Lorde and eschewe e Pro. 3.7 euill â—or hee is a iust f Soph. 3.5 and a g Deut. 7.13 terrible God â—euerely punishing the h Sirach 23 14 15. carelesse the i Pro 18.9 slothfull and the carnall k Galat. 4.21 Christian â—hat maketh christianitie but an outward l Matth. 7.22 Rom 2 13. Luc 13.27 profession and his libertie a cloake to couer his lewdnes m 1 Pet 2.6 Gal. 5.13 Beguile not thy selfe n Iacob 1 26. God is not mocked o pro 15 3. neither shall vnrighteousnes enherite â—his kingdom p Isa 60.19 20 Reu. 22.5 1 Cor. 6.9 If God spared not the Angels his spirituall Messengers q Psal 103.12 Psal 104.4 but for their sinne cast them downe to hel and deliuered them to the chaines of darknes to be kept vnto damnation r 2 Pet. 2. nor Adam our father the image of his Deitie Å¿ Iob. 4 18. Iud. 6. but for once trespasing s pronounced death against him If Moses and Aaron the mirrors of godlines for doubting only at the waters of MeribaÌ„ were vtterly excluded from the land of promise t. Gen 1.26 If all the tribe of Beniamin so furthered of their brethren v Gen. 3.12.17 so fauoured of God u. Numb 20.6 u Number 20.24 Deut. 32 31. so firmely x. Gen. 44 33 x Gen. 43.14 setled in the heatt of Iewry y for the only abusing of a Leuites wife were miserably slaine with the edge of the sword men women and children six hundred excepted by the Lords appointment their cities razed the cattell consumed their houses burnt vp and their land left desolate z Ioshua 18 20 c. If Saule the Lords a, Marke al the storie from Iudg. the 19. to the ende of the boooke Slayne of Beniamin in one daye therefore 25 thousand chosen endued with his spirit b 1 Sam. 9 17. for one trespasse committed c 10 19. 11 12 13. was diuested of his kingdome d 17 28 degraded of his dignitie spoiled e 1 Samuel 16.14 of his spirit giuen ouer to Satan himself to the sword f 1 Samu. 31 4. his children g Ibid 9. 2. Sam 21.9 to the gallowes and his house committed to vtter destruction If Dauid the deareling and faithfull friend of God h 1 Samuel 13.14 coulde not escape punishment for his sinne committed i 1 Chroni 21.13 but felt greeuously what it was to fall into the handes of the Lorde for all his former integritie k 2 Samu 14 what art thou to looke for that wallowest in wickednes l 1 Chro. 29.3 filthy and abhominable and drinkest iniquitie as it were water m 1. Samu. 29 3 for