hard Therefore let vs kill sinne in the beginning then shall we not sinne in concupiscence much lesse in practising of sinne and delighting in sin The other cause is the malice and watchfulnesse of the Diuell by which he holdeth 2 Tim. 2. 26. fast his seruants captiues for he which committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne and is held in captiuitie with the snares of the Diuell as the Apostle teacheth euen at his will The diuel is that strong Luc. 11. 21 armed man which with great care diligence standeth vpon his guard wherevpon Saint Augustine faith Hee is not so strong by his owne strength as by our owne negligence although his power be very great yet hee taketh not so much by force as by his subtill suggestions for which cause hee did not aske leaue of our Sauiour Christ that hee might cast him downe from the pinnacle of the Temple but Mat. 4. sought rather to perswade Christ to cast himselfe down headlong The Serpent in like manner sought not by force to cramme Eue but allured her to take it her selfe Gen. 3. that shee might as it were with her owne knife cut her owne throate The Diuell will not breake open the doore vpon vs but hee must find it open empty swept and garnished and then hee Mat. 12. will enter and that hee may thus make our selues the instruments of our owne miserie and woe hee ceaseth not to tempt vs neither day nor night Saint Gregory saith he may win vs at the least-wise by his tediousnesse When hee hath thus brought vs to his lure then his care is to hold vs still in his bondage and for feare that we should make conscience of sinne and so turne to the Lord by repentance he putteth a faire vizard ouer the vglie face of sinne and so disguizeth her that the proud person which exceedeth in apparell saith that his or her pride is clenlinesse and decencie the whore-monger and fornicator taketh his filthy life to be but the course of youth the drunkard and riotous person perswadeth himselfe that his excesse is but good fellowship the couetous person beleeueth that his couetousnesse is good husbandry the idle person which spendeth his whole time in Dice Cards and such like pastimes neglecting his vocation in the true seruing of God flattereth himselfe that his time thus wickedly spent is honest recreation whereas if the Diuell had not blinded them so as they might see sinne in her colours she would seeme such a deformed monster as they would loath her for euer Her eyes are ful of adultery her eares are very large and great open to heare al deuices and vaine delights her tongue swollen with lying and deceit her throate is an open sepulcher and a swallowing gulfe her lips are inuenomed with the poyson of Aspes her hands are large to receiue bribes her belly hath a timpany of surfetting and gluttony her backe is laden with idlenesse and yet her seete are swift to shed bloud With her heart shee thinketh vpon nothing but how to betray the innocent and oppresse the widdow and the fatherlesse yea from the very top of the head vnto the sole of the foot shee is full of botches and sores and hath no whole part What man will be coupled with this monster which is the monster of all monsters who hath no other dowry and portion of her father the Diuell but hell fire Let him then that hath been enchanted with her adulterous eies diuorce himselfe betimes from her company without delay for it is very perillous to stay long her handmaide securitie will peraduenture flatter vs and say it is too soone to depart with this sweete vnsauoury companion and so to craue further company This is the weakenesse of fraile flesh which fancy feeds the vaine thoughts who say all shall be well but it is the Diuels voice and if wee continue therein and withstand not our vnbridled thoughts which the fraile flesh doth yeeld vnto but still hearken to the Diuels voice hee will serue vs as hee serued Adam and Eue and will lay open our nakednes and shame to the confusion of body and soule if wee suddenly doe not repent and amend vs of our vngodly courses Delaied repentance is the cause of the absence of the Holie Ghost from vs for as the spirit of the Lord dwelling in our hearts maketh the way of vertue easie and sweete in so much that the Prophet Dauid saith I haue as great Psal 119. delight in the way of thy Commandements as in all manner of riches and I haue ruâ—ne the way of thy Commandements when thou hast set my heart at libertie Euen so contrariwise the absence of the Holie Ghost maketh the same way hard and vnpleasant And as the light of the Sun cheareth vp mens spirits to goe to their labours euen so the Sunne of righteousnesse shining in our hearts with the bright beames of his grace maketh vs to haue a delight in the way of his Commandements The first outward meanes of Saint Pauls conuersion was the great light which hee sawe from Heauen then hee was cast downe to the ground and humbled he heareth a voice and acknowledgeth it to be Gods voice and then ariseth vp and saith What shall I doe It is the celestiall illumination that worketh our Acts 9. 6. 26. 12. conuersion vnto God and frameth our hearts to his obedience And therefore the Lord saith by the mouth of the Prophet Osea thus to sinfull men Wâ—e vnto them when I shall depart away from them Ose 6. 12. and by the Prophet Ieremie Vnderstand and know what a grieuous thing it is that the Lord thy God hath forsaken thee The Apple is not so eaten of wormes nor the garment so eaten with mothes as the powers of the soule are corrupted with sinne and wickednesse the vnderstanding is darkened the iudgement dulled and the will depraued whereof it commeth that now to liue a holy and godly life is a very hard and painefull matter Who seeth not then in what peril and error they are who putting off their repentance and conuersion from day to day do thinke that the same which is now hard vnto them they shall finde afterwards more easie when all the causes of difficultie and hardnes are encreased when they haue encreased the causes of their labour and difficultie by adding sinnes vnto sinnes and when an euill custome hath taken more deep roote shall not the Diuell then more fortifie his Castle which is thy soule shall not GOD which is thy light depart further off from thee shall not the powers of thy soule then hauing receiued many wounds bee made more weake and insufficient to goodnesse Beside this thou must greatly hazard the losse of heauenly treasures by a long delay GOD hath thought vpon vs and loued vs from euerlasting and hath prepared for vs an eternall reward with what face then canst thou holde from God a little momentanie seruice
zeale of â—ur importunity wâ—ll proâ—ure his Omnipotent Maieâ—â—ie to graâ—t audience If our words and prayâ—ers will not preuaile then â—et vs ioine thereto our â—eares that GOD may say to â—s as he said to Ezekiah I â—aue seene thy teares They â—re so powerful messengers â—hiefly if they be done in the â—â—nceritiâ— and singlenesse of â—eart No sooner can the thought â—ppeare crauing his merciâ—ull aide but the eye of his compassion and goodnesse â—s vpon them Then who is it that wilâ— not worship and serue thiâ—â—ouing Master being so readie at our call to receiue ouâ— Petitions into his hands oâ— mercie Dâ—â—id saith that God haâ— heard the voice of his weepingâ— Teares and sorrow for ouâ— sinnes doe cause the eares oâ— GOD to open vnto our godâ— lie requests Therefore let vâ— glorifie this good GOD with our bodies in true humilitie and serue him in spirit and lift vp our soules with Dauid and our hands with Moses our eyes with Peter â—â—d our voices with Dâ—bâ—râ— Thus seeking wee shall find thus knocking it shall bee oâ—ened vnto vs. â—et vs giue our Petitious but the â—â—ght voiâ—e to aske with guestionlesse there is no â—oubt but GOD will heare â—s in his mercie to our imâ—easurabâ—e comfort and â—oy It must not be the dumbe â—nd silent which must giue â—n eye to seeke with it must â—ot bee the blinde and careâ—esse which giues an hand to â—nocke with it must not â—eare to molest and disquiet â—ot onely the doores but all â—he Treasures and Iewels in â—he Kingdome of Heauen â—hich will bee opened vnto â—hose his chosen And whiâ—her our blessed SAVIOVR â—oth hâ—â—â—elf iâ—nuite vs Come â—nto â—ee all 〈◊〉 that labour â—nd are laden O this is a loue withouâ— example where the King â—imselfe not onely comman deâ—h but desireâ— our appearance Who then shall keepâ— vs backe where he comman deth Open ye gateâ— of rightcousnesse and be ye opened ye euerlastiâ—g doores O what a blessed and comfortable saying is this vnto sinnefull man by so great â— Lord and King Who theâ— shall oppose themselues against vs What need we to haue a Mediatour an Intercessor or friend when bee himselfe hath giuen his voice and freely calles vs to himselfe alone Though the frankenesse and bounty of his loue hath yeelded acceâ—â—e vnto hiâ— heauenly Maiesty this great 〈◊〉 four good GOD vnto â—â— must not eâ—bolden vs with â— lesse respect or reuerence in shewing our dutie in the true seruing of him which loue of his doth deâ—erue more in a farre greater degree then our vaine and â—raile flesh can yeelde vnto â—is Omnipotency and State that fitâ— in glory at the right â—and of his Father And whereas we are poore â—ormes creeping vpon the â—oote-stoole of this Earth â—ray wee that his Maiestie will bee so gracious as to â—ouchsafe we should speaâ—â—â—nto him as it were face to â—â—ce to poure out our petitiâ—ns with our owne voices â—â—to his most blessed and saâ—â—ed earâ—â— All know by 〈◊〉 experâ—ence that the Kings of thâ— earth keep themselues witâ— in a strict watch and waâ— râ—gard and their persons aâ—â—â—ull of Maiestie and terroâ— and not spoken vnto bâ—â— with difficulty and frienâ—ship besides the infinite dâ—straction of suites and buâ—â—nesses more then the cares 〈◊〉 any mortal man can receiuâ— driue them of necessity 〈◊〉 the deputation of subordâ—nate Ministers But in GOD who rideâ— vpon the Cherubins aâ—â— maketh his enemies 〈◊〉 foote stoole there is neithâ—â— dange of his person nor dâ—fect in his hearing For hâ— that â—lanted the eare doâ— he not heare He that stâ—â—deth and knocketh at 〈◊〉 〈…〉 for â—â—â—rance when wee knocke at â—is will he not grant enâ—rance In earthly Courts among which wee liue wee may haue many impediments â—ew will hardly fauour vs but many may hinder vs before we can deliuer our message But at these Heauenlie Gates at which we must alwaies call the LORD alone â—s Porter For when the friend knocked in the Parable of Luke â—t mid-night the heauiest 〈◊〉 deadest houre of the night â—e who was neerest the gate â—irst awaked if hee slept at all and first answered How willing is hee to grant that is so willing to â—e disquieted Now glad to heare our knocke that hatâ— placed his bed so neere thâ—â— gate Hew truly may we say that hee was not oneâ—â— nâ—cre the gate but thâ—â—ord himselfe and the verâ— gate who when his Chiâ— dren were fast asleepe thâ— cares of Angels and Saint shut vp hee first and at thâ— veâ—y first call nâ—y onely he among the rest made answâ—â— vnto it The LORD is alwaieâ—â—eerer vnto vs then we arâ— vnto him Psal 10. Hee â—â—â—reth the desire of the poore Hâ— first prepareth the heart anâ— setteth it on worke to pray and when hee hath so donâ— he bendeth his care vnto â—â— giuing vnto vs both thâ— cause and the effect boâ— the blessing and meanes â— â—e blessings The true stand â—ost effectual messenger we â—aue to send our Petitionâ—â—y is Prayer poured forth â— the zeale and singlenesse four hearts If we send vp merites the â—arres in Heauen will disâ—aine it that we who dwell â—t the foote-stoole of GOD are presume so farre when â—e purest Creatures in Heaâ—en are impure in his fight If we send vp feare and diâ—rust the length of the way â—ill tire them out and with â—he weight sinke to the â—round before they come â—alfe way vp to the Throne of saluation If wee send vp blasphenies and curses all the Creautes in Heauen and Earth â—ill set themselues against vs the Sunne and the Mooâ— will raine downe bloud thâ— fire hot burning coales thâ— aire thunderbolts vpon ouâ— heads But Prayer is a Messenger freed from all these imperfections whom neitheâ— the irksomnesse of the way or tediousnesse of the passage can hinder from hâ— purpose quicke of speedâ— faithfull of trust able â—â— mount aboue the Eagles â—â— the Skie into the Heauen 〈◊〉 Heauens as a Chariot of fiâ—â— leading vs alost into the prâ—sence of GOD to seeke hâ—â— assistance and grace The least finger of hiâ— right hand is of more puissance then the whole arâ—â— of flesh or armie of spiritâ— yea then the whole liueâ— hole substances of Angels Men of siluer gold silke â—urple and all other Creaâ—â—res So that Prayer shall walke â—â—rough life death withâ—ut controllement If it find Angelâ— Principâ—â—ties Powers things present â—nd things to come or any â—ther Creature in the World â—opping her passage and reâ—uking her forwardnesse â—â—e shall cleere her way notâ—ithstanding and climbe â—â—to the presence of her GOD and in his eares deliâ—er her message Be wee in sicknesse To â—im the true Phisicion that â—nowes both the cause and â—he cure shee comes for â—ealth Be wee in imprisonment There she sollicites a releaâ—â— from him the Lord of libeâ—tie Be we opprest with pâ—uertie or want The Earth the LORDS and all thâ—â— dwell therein to him she comes for the blessing 〈◊〉 the Lord maketh rich Are wee afflicted aboâ—â—
the thing is more secret and profound then mans vnderstanding being placed in the prison of the body can reach vnto This is the cause that the Philosophers worldly-wise-men haue fallen into so many and sundry sects dissentions about things euen of least moment and and they doe so contend among themselues vntill falshood hauing put on the habite and vizard of truth deceiueth them all Hereunto accordeth the saying of the Preacher Chap. 3. God hath set the World in their heart or God hath giuen them the world to dispute of yet cannot man find out the worke that God hath wrought from the beginning euen to the end Be not curious therefore saith Syrach Chap 3. Vers 24 in superfluous things for many things are shewed vnto thee aboue the capacity of men and yet we see that the most ignorant doe many times soonest offend herein rushing into those matters wherof they haue no knowledge and nothing belongeth vnto them They will build Tabernacles with Peter and lay platformes for the Church whereof they haue no skill But a greater miserie as yet holdeth our actiue and practising vnderstanding for how many meanes how many reasons and wayes doth it deuise to climbe vp higher and to grow in the opinion and estimation of men For which cause the Prophet Dauid in his â—salmes saith That our whole life is like a Cobweb for as the Spider is occupied all his life time in weauing of cobwebs and draweth out of his owne bowels those threads wherewith he knitteth his nets to catch flies and often times it commeth to passe that when the Spider suspecteth no ill a Seruant that goeth about to make cleane the house sweepeth downe the cobweb and the Spider and throweth them together into the fire Euen so the greatest part of Men consume their whole time spend all their wit and strength and labour most painefully to haue their nets in a readinesse with which they may catch the flies of honors and riches and when they glory in the multitude of flies which they haue taken and promise vnto themselues rest in time to come behold Death Gods handmaide is present with the broome of diuers sicknesses and griefes and sweepeth these men away to hell fire they being fast asleepe in the chaire of securitie and so they worke together with the Workemaster in a moment of time to perish Neither is the man of meanest capacitie and least vnderstanding free from miseries Who can number the suspitions the hatreds the iealousies the enuies the cares the desires the vaine hopes the griefes and anguishes of mans mind If he doe euill hee feareth the Iudges banishment whipping reproches and torments If hee doe well hee feareth euill tongues Who is able to expresse with what insatiable desires all men are inflamed In so much that no man liuing is contented with his estate but we are all like vnto sicke men which tumble and tosse first from one side of the bed and then to the other and yet neuer find rest After this let vs behold and consider all ages how weake is infancy how ignorant is childhood how light and inconstant is adolescency how rash and confident bee young men how grieuous and irkesome is old age What is a young boy but as a brute beast hauing the forme and shape of a man What is a flourishing younker but as an vntamed horse What is an old man but the receptacle of all maladies and sicknesses And in all these ages with how great a heape of miseries necessities are we ouerwhelmed Wee must daily eate drinke and sleepe wee are daily compelled to serue many other necessities and which is much more miserable and vnhappy we must of necessitie purchase vnto our selues these occupations with infinite labours and sweatings Now who is not astonished if hee consider how all the creatures which compasse vs round about do bend their whole force and fight against mankinde as if the things which haue beene already repeated were not sufficient to fill the bosome of mans heart with miseries That same most cleere brightnesse which wee call the Sunne which is as a certaine generall Father to all liuing things doth sometimes so scorch with his beames that all things are parched and burnt vp with the heate thereof at another time he taketh his course so farre from vs that all things die with cold The Earth also which is the Mother of vs all how many men doth shee swallow vp with her downfals gulfes and quakings And what doe the Seas How many doe they deuoure Verily they haue so many rocks so many slattes and sands so many Syrtes so many Charybdes and so many perillous places that it is a most hard thing of all other to escape the danger of shipwracke and they which are most safe in the shippe haue but the thickenesse of a planke betweene them and death What shall we say of our aire Is it not many times corrupted and doth it not ingender and gather cloudes thicke mists pestilences and sicknesses As for the brute beasts they yeeld no reuerence to Man their Prince and not onely the Lyons Beares Tygers Dragons and other greater wild Beasts but the very flies also gnats fleas and other of the most small sort of liuing Creatures doe wonderfully and very vehemently trouble vexe afflict and disquiet Man It were to be wished that wee had no worse enemies then the brute beasts and that wee had no cause to stand in feare of men themselues But these also are full of fraudes deceits iniuries euil practices then the which what can be more intollerable And what meaneth so much armour pikes bowes bils swords and gunnes with diuers other instruments of Mans malice Doe not these destroy and consume moe men then doe sicknesses and diseases Histories report that by one onely Iulius Caesar which is saide to haue beene a most curteous and gentle Emperour there were slaine in seuerall battels eleuen hundred thousand men if a man of mildnesse and meeke spirit did this what shall wee looke for at the hands of most cruell Men Neither Lands nor Seas nor desert places nor priuate houses nor open streetes are safe from ambushments conspiraâ—ies hatreds emulations theeues and pirates Are there not vexations innumerable persecutions infinite spoyling of fields sacking of Cities preying vpon mens goods firing of houses imprisonments captiuities gally slaueries renegations of Christianitie by torments inforced beside death it selfe which men daily suffer at the hands of men And yet this is that ciuill and sociable Creature which is called humane borne without clawes and hornes in token of peace loue which he ought to embrace Moreouer not onely enemies but also friends and the maintainers of peace and Iustice are fierce and cruell against men O Man the very store-house of calamitie and yet thou canst not be humbled but art proud still Neither haue we onely those foresaid corporall enemies which wee may see and shunne but which is more perillous we haue also ghostly