to the Parents will a law to them nor sealing with awfull consent what they determine I shall haue loue with a vengeance no kindnesse without a curse and yet in future time I or mine stand ingaged to them for the good turnes done by their Ancestors without them I must thanke the Kite for my hens well brooding her chickens I would not haue him of the lowest condition my selfe being fairely forfortunate for such imparitie is like a change that hath one linke of Iron another of thread which being vsed is of no durance as there is no comparison betweene our estates so cannot he prosecute any frienely office for me to the credit of my cause the cause that I trust him withall being his greatest credit Neither can his loue bee in the incorrupted nature of true friendship toward me but as the Touchstone to the gould that vpon euery triall takes away some of the substance he will loue mee for that I haue so that what I should loue in him hee hath not neither trustinesse nor loyaltie But I would haue him indifferently estated single discreet and faithful that by the first I might vse him vpon occasion to couer my fortunes imperfections like a two leaf'd curtaine with all keeping his owne vndiscouered for beeing by by loue vnited as two flowers vpon one stalke it is naturall to receiue our nourishment from the same roote one soule to quicken two bodies and with that better part all secondary and inferiour things to bee made common for our sustentation else were he but as painting to nakednesse that will not hide it but make it seene the more for notice taken of our loue◠but that it is weakest in the most vsefull operation doth marke vs out for Elephants cast vpon the ground that being downe cannot raise themselues Single that he may bee vacant for me aboue all others his affectious free to himselfe not distracted with diuers obiects nor surprised with the mistaken merits of strangers that I might be to him a wife a friend an ally a selfe and all in one whose seuerall fruition were more troublesome vncertaine commonly interlaced with solicitude and griefe So should hee haue most of his wealth in one Iewell that is lighter of carriage and my selfe be an happy heire of so many loues yet would I not be so iniurious to his vertues nor selfe-louing to stop vp that cunduit to mine only vse whose springs might pleasure others and me at my pleasure before others nor desire to confine the Sunne to mine owne Garden Let him be curteous friendly and affable vnto all so I liue vnder his Equenoctiall to bee cherished with his most forcible and liuely influence or haue him alwayes for my Zenith If I seeme partiall in my desire to haue him single to me as I cannot bee to him this shall suffice that where two or more stand bound the Obligation is the surer In counsell and difcretion as a Seamarke to the Marriner that by obseruing him in both I may beware all dangerous passages keepe a loofe from the extreames of Rocks and quicksands guide the ship of my body safely betweene them both And I will requite him with this conceite that I am neuer secure but when I haue him in view In fidelity like a Butlers Box whose heart none may open to take account of my secrets but my selfe True faith is rare on earth with all Saith wise but faithlesse Inuenall Aboue the Phenix builds that Swan That neuer lookes so low as Man It makes Arabia fortunate Alone to haue a matelesse mate The world besides is not so blest To make this bird true faith a nest Among the inferiour Court Relatiues there is scarce one to be found so hardy as a Nightingale that will for his friend endure his brest against a thorne or be so watchful to doe him good in his necessity but like the subtile Hiena they are euer gaping toward the coast that is cleerest turning with the Helitrope onely to the Sun if they stand in need of you for the furtherance either of their credit or commoditie then you shall find them actiue in the addition of fractions piecing vp many broken termes of Art to make one haulting incredible sentence and in multiplication of no simple numbers of promises when the product shal be nothing but two semilunes with a Vacuum interstitium And if they doe profer an example of their gratitude their fingers are so contracted with the crampe of couetousnes that they cannot without much ado be rid of it which is as much correspondent to the true rule of friendship as a straw to the strength of Hercules There is another kind of politicians whom vnion that mother of necessary peace hath made vs acquainted withall amōg whom if we will obteine a friend but enioy him long we cannot we must deale as for trash at Fayres giue money for him and hee will afterward bee to vs as Esops Snake to the husbandman when we haue relieued franked him then he explode scorne vs. There is a sort of gentry among whom if you tast a friend you shal find him like mustard sauce for most kinds of meat which some like and some loath to much of him will make your eyes run ouer euery one that list may enioy him in like maner measure but one graine of him is better then a spoonfull for relish he is aloes couered with sugar hath nothing sweet but the superficies If you beleeue him you are sped of a friend as Paris was of Hellen that was faire enough but if you weigh him he becomes altogether as light he wil make you freely two firme premises in Darij frō whence you shal expect to gather somwhat for your turne but wil conclude like the former in celarent with a nihil minus to these this is also coincident with the rest that reproofe and aduice will be like a fly in a dogs eare they will make them thē fly from you or at lest like a thorne in a horses foot cause them to halt so long as you vse thē If you seeke in a paire of hie shoes for a friend you shal find one in apperāce of a simple ingenuous honest composition but hee will stand you in no more stead then an addle egge which seemeth faire in the shell till it be broken then it smelleth his head shal be so foxfurred with old fragments of Law preuenting suspicions that it wil be hard for you vpon triall to escape from him with any matter of curtesie or if you doe he will make you smell of it FINIS
to liue deliciously 2. Pet. 2. They iudge Christ and condemne themselues according to that of St. Augustine Qui pro modica delectatione dat illud pro quo Christus se tradidit stultum Christum reputa◠mercatorem They repute Christ no better then a vaine merchant whilest for bubling delights they giue their soules into the iawes of death for which he gaue himselfe that he might redeeme them from death But now let the faithfull of the Lord look vp though in the extreamity of Egyptian seruitude though in the fire of persecution though vnder the rage of enuy and speak cheerefully to their soules Why are ye cast downe Why are ye disquieted Trust in God For they haue a two-fold cause of reioycing in the Spirit Gaudendum est de ijs quae expectamus gaudendum de ijs quae sustinemus Present sufferings and hoped glory are both matter to feed their ioy It was the hope of a better resurrection that so notably confirmed the faith of our Ancients and made them ioyfull in all sorts of trials refusing deliuerance If it were not for this we are saith S. Paul of all men the most miserable 1. Cor. 15.19 but now as he should so conclude the most happy Touching the other There is no chastning for the time seemeth to be ioyous but grieuous yet whither it bee inflicted for siune if ye endure it God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto Sonnes and in the end it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to them that are thereby exercised Hebr. 12. Thus much we gather from the confession of that holy King Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keepe thy word It is good for me that I have beene afflicted that I may learne thy Statutes Psal 119.67.71 Or whither they bee afflictions laid vpon vs by the malignant Church for Christs sake they tend most directly and infallibly to the eternall tranquility and saluation of our soules for this cause that miraculously conuerted seruant of God after hee knew the holy ghost had witnessed concerning him that bands and afflictions did abide him in euery Cittie for the name of Christ set light euen by life it selfe which hee no longer counted deere vnto him so that he might fulfil his course with ioy and his Ministration to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God Act. 20.24 He accepted them as a tempest raised to further him towards his wished Citty For there is no reigning with Christ vnlesse there be first a suffering for Christ For hereunto ye are called for Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steppes 1. Pet. 2.21 By patience and Faith in tribulations and persecutions we are counted worthy of the Kingdome of God for which we suffer 2. Thess 1.5 Then let vs be manfull in our Christian profession and so suffer not suffering any longer that ignominious imputation on vs wherewith we are iustly blotted Solus homo non compatitur pro quo solo Christus patitur If we be his members effectually ingraffed wee will doe any thing wee may for the glorie of our head as hee hath done and doth still for vs in so much that the Spouse daily tasting the matchlesse comfort of his mercifull presence is so more and more inflamed with delight that she is euen sicke of loue Whose cure he vndertakes and performes by holding his left hand vnder her head and with his right hand embracing her Cant. 2.6 Where can she haue a more wished repository then in the bosome of her beloued or what ioy may be compared with hers She finds it is incomparable For he is the chiefest of tenne thousand Cant. 5.10 His arme supporting her is the strength of her life the exile of feare her warrant of prosperitie the other encompassing her a bed of rest a Paradise of full content the port of safetie an vnpregnable fortresse of perpetuall protection so that she shal neuer perish neither shall any man take her out of his hands Iohn 10.28 Fight principalities and powers with the mad threatning Sodomites of this world against the righteous Lots of Gods heritage vntill the passage of their fiery darts offend them and their violent prouocations discruciate and perplex them it is but a customary combate they haue and the more vsuall the better it is for them seeing all things work together for best vnto them Rom. 8.28 and their ioy is neuer so exceeding as whē their faith is held in exercise with diuers tentations Iam. 1.2.3 they being permitted either to dispossesse or preuent securitie that they may not decline from a watchfull care and pious obseruation of him through whom they haue victorie 1. Cor. 15.51 and restitution vnto peace and perfect liberty Arise my loue my faire one and come away for behold the winter is past the raine is changed and gone away Cant. 2.10.11 which his husbandly tendernesse and propitious eye continued to the happy experience of all that loue him allures their subscription to those testimonies and honourable euidences which his Apostle Paul hath left of him That all things are but losse and no better then dunge in respect of the knowledge of Christ being found in him Phil. 3.8.9 That the glory which hee will henceforth reueale vnto them in the kingdome of his Father farre passeth the worthinesse of al present sufferings Rom. 8. and consequently that there is nothing so good nor so desiderable as to be with Christ which is best of all That great Sophy who diligently imployed his heart as is said in the curious exploration of all things sounded a faire and fearfull palinody from the loue of pleasure when he descried his owne aberration therein from the fundamentall principle and beginning of true wisedome The feare of the Lord. Prou. 1. And his father before him valued it his most eminent glory that he could safely say The Lord is my portion and the inheritance of my cup. Psal 15. Thou art my house of defence and my Castle thou art my hope from my youth Psal 71. Howbeit he might otherwise haue largely boasted of his strength and valour of humane amplitude and dignities forasmuch as in Christ nothing auaileth but a new Creature Gal. 6.15 therein standing a patterne vnto vs whereby we should endeuour before all things To put on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. We haue all things in Christ and Christ in vs is all things saith Saint Ambrose therefore vpon our righteous seeking of him are we assured of a conuenient supply of all necessaries that though the Lyons starue and suffer hunger wee shall want no manner of thing that is good Psal 34. But shall cate the good things of the Land Isa 1.19 Wee shall possesse the earth and haue our delight in the multitude of peace Psal 37.11 Saint Bernard glorifies him by the stile of Thesaurus indeficiens an incorruptible neuer failing treasure So is
therewith content neither hee himselfe receiueth the brethren but forbiddeth them that would and thrusteth them out of the Church 3. Epist Ioh. 9.10 Furthermore it is in our Aduersaries the mother and Nurse of strife raylings euil surmisings and vaine disputations which beget in the minds of the vnresolued often doubtings concerning the truth and sometimes translating them into the fearefull state of Apostasie whereof examples are not scant this day If any man saith S. Paul teach otherwise and consenteth not to the wholesome words of our Lord Iosus Christ and to the doetrine which is according to godlinesse hee is puft vp through ambition and knoweth nothing but doteth about questions and strife of words c. from such separate thy selfe 1. Tim. 6.3 But if any Greatnesse should heere enter an Apology for Ambition saying they could not rise without it forasmuch as nothing is more prosperously atchieued then what is attempted with importunate desire and dignitie is the life of nobilitie it may suffice for farther resolution that such an earnest will to aspire to ciuill dignity before sufficiency and desert make way vnto it whereby there may be a likelihood of the answerable performance of those weightie duties which are required in so high a calling is contrary to true contentation which being one of the most notable vertues of a resolute Christian that other by consequence is iustly branded for a hatefull sinne and therefore vnworthy the entertainement of Noble hearts whither S. Bernard as a carefull Watch-man for the good of the Church highly commendeth a better guest in this his feeling confessiō of him Dignus est plane morte qui tibi Christe recusat vinere qui tibi non sapit desipit qui curat esse nisi propter te pro nihilo est plane nihil est Christ onely must bee the obiect of our wisdome of our life of our being that wee may liue to bee wise in him and be wise to bee found in him or else our sentence ends not in dignus morte but in morte morieris Thou shalt dye the death for whilest we delude-our selues in the glory of a fleshly wisedome we incurre not onely the censure of being fooles but that more strict one Nihil sumus whatsoeuer wee are wee are nothing in estimation with God To aspire vnto Christ with the wing of spirituall graces and celestiall vertues is the onely true Nobilitie and the beauty of both the other of the natural which is deriued from Parents and of the ciuill which is imposed by supreme Authority Nobilitie saith Boetius est laus quaedam proueniens ex merit is parentum It is a certaine praise issuing from the merits of the Parents Thereby insinuating our Ancestors to haue gone through the Temple of Vertue to the Temple of Honor and deseruedly to haue reached their dignitie which so long continueth an honourable praise to their posterity as they hold on a correspondency with them in vertue but if otherwise they inherit their Nobility and not the soule by which it liues they doe not onely demolish the Trophe of their Fathers worthines but open the passage of iust dishonour to themselues For who seeing a letter of Gold in a mud wall wil not iudge it out of its place and where grace and vertue haue not their character in the forehead and polish the actions that face is to foule that heart to vnworthy of the faire titles Christian and Noble A great Man should be like the Sunne which as it is more excellent then the other Planets so it sendeth forth more light that he may say as Paul Brethren be ye followers of me and looke on them which walke so as yee haue vs for an ensample Phil. 3.17 It is memorable of him that beeing a King thought nothing could suit better with Maiesty then wisedome to gouerne his people and therefore the Ambition of all other things seposed he asked of God only that wherewith honor and riches stand bound but are not the principal The affluence of honour and riches which are to vertue no better then iniusta nouerca checking her ouer precisenesse for awaking the conscience to looke scornefully vpon Ambition and Auarice are not to be sought or coueted of those that stand charged with the administration of a common-weale but wisedome principally to dispossesse and cleanse the heart of those choaking corruptions that it may be free for the lodging of equitie iustice and liberalitie For they being as it were the East which Aristotle cals Dextrum Coeli or for them more aptly dextram Reipublicae it is naturall to their high ascent and dexterious location for vertue to rise but neuer to set in them What could be more preiudiciall to the States of Israel then that the Prophet hauing nominated those duties which are pertinent chiefely to their eminent qualitie and he expected to haue found in them should through their dissolute distemper and extreame corruption be enforced to complaine the contrary But they haue altogether broken the yoake and burst their bonds Ier. 5. in not seeking the truth nor executing Iudgement by which two the man in authoritie is knowne to be Gods lawfull and approued delegate and Minister When Dauid heard that Saul was about to come vp to Keilah to destroy the Cittie for his sake he inquired of God Will the Lords of Keilah deliuer mee into his hands He made a question though it concerned the ruine of their Cittie and liues whither they would betray his innocency 1. Sam. 23.12 noting the dutie of good Gouernors that they should be so chast constant and faithfull in defence of integritie of the truth and of a well deseruing cause as that no hazzard should impell them to peruert iustice Although Balack offer large gifts to blind the eyes and allure them to curse where they should blesse yet must they answer as Elisha to Naam in I will not receiue it 2. King 5.16 and as Michaiah to Nahabs messenger who prayed him to speake good vnto the King his Master as the false Prophets had done Whatsoeuer the Lord saith vnto me that will I speake 1. King 22.14 If thou wilt giue me thy house full of Siluer and Gold I will not passe the commandement of the Lord. Numb 22.18 which is to do iustly to loue mercy and to walke with God Mich. 6.8 The tooth of auarice for the most part biteth like a fiery Serpent to the death of the soule hauing made impression it so inflameth that no earthly medicine can preuaile to asswage it Riches of all others seeme the surest Lenitiue which yet worke a contrary effect Non satiando sed irritando as Seneca kindling where they should quench and laying on more load where they should exonerate lighten for which our dignities haue to cast their eyes on the brazen Serpent of their Nobilitie which if it bee right by participation of Grace wil cure it by fundamentall extirpation For the Nobles of Berea when Grace saluted Greatnesse