One man is become a VVolfe to an other Further as the Desart is waste and barren and besides ouergrowen with Bushes Bryars and Thornes so is thys World manured with no knowledge of God at all but is altogither barren and vnapte to yeelde foorth anye good fruite nay contrariwise scrawleth euerye where ful of the briars of Sinnes and Vices whereby we are so grieuously mangled and torne that commonlye and for the most parte we keepe the scarres of them to oure dying daye I might stande here to shewe howe some of vs nay all in a maner are choaked with the cares of this world and with the deceitfulnesse of riches some caughte in the pitfall of Pride and Ambition some snared wyth the Thornes of Couetousnesse some ouer heade and eares in the Bryars of Voluptuousnesse some saped in the suddes of Sensualitie some smouldered wyth the smoake of Vanitie some drenched in the dregges of Drunkennesse some be-smeared wyth the mudde of Maliciousnesse some imbrued with the bloude not of Beastes but of Men and in a worde not some but a great summe stifled in the stench of all Sinne and Wickednesse I mighte shewe in like maner howe there is nothing vnder the Sunne so excellent no worke of God so wonderfull no blessing so bountifull no creature so beneficiall holesome and good but that through the malice of Sathan and our owne miserable corruption it is tourned cleane contrarye vnto oure greate harme and discommoditie yea euen into a present poyson to infecte vs wythall and into a Scorpion as it were to sting vs to death As much might be said of our own selues in whom there is no parte nor power either of soule or bodye but that through sin they are become euen so manye deadly enimies to hale vs to destruction And herein forsooth appeareth by the way the strangenesse or rather vnnaturalnesse as I may so say of our warfare cleane contrary to the warfare of the worlde For whereas worldly Souldiours take weapon in hand chiefly against forrainers and strangers but neuer againste their owne persons wee on the other side muste not looke so muche what oure enimies do abroade as we muste haue an eye what traytours are at home I meane in our own bosoms that so letting others goe in peace by vs wee maye bende all oure whole force and artillery to the battery of oure owne selues Not as though it were lawfull for anye man to cutte himselfe shorte by vntimely death as manye diuellishe and desperate persons doe but to the intent to gette the mastery ouer our affections to bridle oure lustes to mortify oure olde man to kill oure concupiscence to subdue oure nature and finally to submit all our wil wisedome reason vnderstanding and all that euer we haue either within vs or without vs to the rule and obedience of Gods holy Worde and to the gouernment and direction of his holy Spirite But I feare leaste I haue exceeded alreadye the compasse of an Epistle I will therefore bee as briefe as is possible We haue seene then if I be not deceyued how wofull our originall state and condition is what infinite perils and calamities wee are subiecte vnto what mightye and vnrestfull enimies wee are continuallye matchte wythall and howe little refuge or succoure wee haue to looke for in this worlde or in any thing belonging to the Worlde For the VVorlde passeth awaye and the luste thereof but hee that doeth the will of God abideth for euer The vse of all whyche thynges is to teache euery one of vs howe earnestly we oughte to laboure and contend euery man according to his present necessitie to learne well the lesson taughte vnto Nicodemus namely to be borne againe and to be renued in the spirite of our minde so as we may couet the sincere milke of the word to the intent to grow thereby to be remoued I say from the loue of these earthly things here belowe and to stye vp by the wings Fayth into Heauen where Iesus Christe sitteth on the right hande of God the father finally to purchase the certaintie of a better inheritāce and the assuraunce of a better Country by cause as the Apostle saith VVee haue here no continuing Citie but wee seeke for one to come To the obtayning of all whiche graces as Faith alone in the word and promises of God is sufficient so attaine wee to Faith by no other meanes than by conceyuing the free mercy of God in Christe through the reading hearing and meditation of the holy Scriptures The reason is bycause that Iesus Christe beeing the onelye obiect of oure faith and substance of the whole Scripture we apprehend in him all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome and what soeuer else is necessary to eternall saluation For Hee is of God made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption and euen all in all as the Apostle speaketh Who seeth not then what incomparable treasures in comparison whereof all the pompe and glory of the Worlde is nothyng but dung and drosse are comprised in the sacred Scriptures But I maye not stand to amplify this point as by occasion otherwise iustly I mighte considering in very deede a Preface will not beare it I must therefore of necessity referre all this whole matter to the consideration of the godly Reader who may finde euery where in reading plentifull furniture tending to this purpose Only thys I wil adde by way of conclusion that forsomuch as al the holy Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable as Paule saith to teach to conuince to correct and to instructe in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute and made perfite to al good workes and againe that whatsoeuer things are written aforetime are written for oure learning that we throughe patience and comforte of the Scriptures mighte haue hope that therefore I say it behoueth al sortes and degrees of men and women whatsoeuer if at leastwise they stand in neede to be taught and informed in the wayes of the Lorde if they haue neede of dayly correction and amendment of life if they be desirous of continuall comforte and consolation and finally of eternall happinesse and saluation to be in loue with the holy Scriptures to embrace them to reuerence them to reade them to heare them to meditate in them and aboue all to liue after thē and euē to expresse them in their whole lyfe and conuersation Whiche godly diligence and indeuour as I wishe vnfainedly from my very hearte to be wrought effectually in mine owne selfe so make I mine humble prayers vnto the Lord that he would vouchsafe in his great mercy to kindle and stirre vppe the same in the heartes of all people to awaken them out of the sleepe of sinne and securitie to drawe them out of the dirty dregges of Popery and superstition wherein Sathan hath of long tyme and yet still keepeth a great number to scatter the cloudes and mistes
¶ THE COVRSE of Christianitie or As touching the dayly Reading and Meditation of the holy Scriptures very requisite and necessary for all Christians of what estate or condition soeuer TVVO BOOKES Translated out of Latine into English by Iohn Ludham Vicar of Wethersfeld 1579. The commaundement of God in the olde Testament Deut. 6. 11. These wordes whyche I commaunde thee this daye shall be in thine heart and thou shalte rehearse thē continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou tariest in thine house and when thou walkest by the waye when thou lyest down and when thou risest vp c. The commaundement of God in the nevve Testament Ioan. 5.39 Searche the Scriptures for they they be that testifye of mee Printed at London by Henry Bynneman 1579. TO THE RIGHT VVorshipful Vertuous and my very good Lady the Lady Mary Wroth late vvife to the right vvorshipful Sir THOMAS WROTH Knight of godly memorie deceassed Iohn Ludham wisheth continuaunce of health and al things prosperous in Christe Iesus WHat greate cause there is right worshipfull and my very good L. why all men of all sortes should be exhorted and earnestly excited to the daily readyng and meditation of the holy Scriptures the infinite perilles and calamities wherevnto we are al of vs continually subiect do moste plainely and plentifully declare For why who seeth not howe combersome and perillous a state they enter into that take vpon thē to trauaile in the Wildernes in the night season without the helpe either of Moone or Starres or any other light to direct them by Goe they not oftentimes out of the way Doe they not manye tymes stumble and stagger like men berefte of their senses Are they not euer and anone caughte in the Bryars and there pitiously tattred and torne Be they not like from time to time to run themselues either againste some Rocke Blocke or Tree standing before them wherby they get one while perhaps a shrewde rushe on the sides an otherwhile a curst thwacke ouerthwarte the shinnes now and then a sore bounse on the breaste by and by a dreadefull duste on the necke and shoulders straightwayes and odde blowe crosse the face and euen immediately an auke rap vpon the nose or some one dash or other in the eies eares or teeth But what are these in comparison of the rest very fleabitings For if they escape either with some or with all these hurts and annoyances which we haue now mētioned they may say and that truly they haue played the tall fellowes But ouer and besides these they light many tymes vppon some daungerous quagmire foregrowne Lake or Pitte wherein they sticke faste and are not able to winde themselues out againe no not to the death What shall I say of the huge multitude of Beastes so fierce and terrible in their kindes Are they not like euery moment to be deuoured of them Howe is it possible they should escape so many roaring Lions so many rauening Wolues so many bloudy Beares boy sterous Bulles cruell Tygres Panters Pardals Leopardes Serpentes Dragons and suche like and not become a pray vnto them I say nothing all this while of a daunger as greate as any other namely of the theeues and robbers cormorants and caytifes that lurke in obscure places gaping for the spoile of wayfaring men of whom notwithstanding they are cruelly rifled and haue oftetimes their throates miserably cut But who is able to expresse all the harde happes and hazardes whyche they throw themselues into that iourny by night in the Desart as is aforesaide Verily I suppose not Syluanus hymselfe Nowe then if incace the state of these menne be so difficulte and daungerous that are in hazarde onely of a bodily death howe muche more perillous and pernitious is the case of all those that remaine in suche continuall ieopardy bothe of bodye and soule Suche doubtelesse is the plighte of all Adams children euen from the tyme of their byrth to the daye of their death Such is the case and conditiō both of high and low rich and poore noble and base bonde and free Iewe and Gentile al and some one and other For why so soone as wee are borne we enter into thys worlde as into a huge Wildernesse where we are eftesoones environed with innumerable straites of the body with innumerable perplexities of the soule As touching the bodye we come naked into the worlde without either mantell to couer vs or strength to defende vs or discretion to guide vs or prouision to succour vs in whiche behalfe the very brute beastes do far-away surmount vs And wee be no sooner crawled foorth of our mothers womb but wee sette oute oure throates and crye euen thereby bewraying bothe oure present misery and oure wretchednesse to come As we growe vppe in yeares so increase oure troubles Troubles within vs troubles withoute vs troubles aboue vs troubles beneath vs troubles behinde vs troubles before vs troubles on the righte hande troubles on the lefte and euerye where troubles Within vs all manner of maladies and disseases proceedyng of inwarde causes whyche in verye deede are so manye in number as the verye Phisitions themselues coulde neuer as yet find oute propre names ynoughe for them much lesse prescribe any sitte remedies to heale them Without vs all kinde of outwarde crosses and distresses as hunger thirst colde nakednes woundes soares botches blaynes blindenesse lamenesse deafnesse dumbnesse perills of sworde perilles of fyre perilles of water c. Aboue vs are the Heauens as yee woulde saye armed againste vs the Firmament frownyng vppon vs the Ayre distempered the Windes wrastling the Thunders roaring the Lightnings flashing the Comettes and blazing Starres lowting the Sunne eclipsed the Moone depriued of hir light and all tokens of calamities vnto vs. Beneath vs is the earth oftetimes trembling and quaking many times sindged and scorched diuers times ouerflowen surrounded sometimes opening and swallowing vp all that euer is not seldome times breathing out pestilent vapours and exhalations to the destruction of whole Cities and Townes Behinde vs are al troubles vnlooked for Before vs all troubles foreseene On the right hande our friendes On the lefte hande oure foes Yea and which way soeuer we turne vs troubles vppon troubles trials vpon trials one vexation vppon an other and euen death it selfe cōtinually pursuing vs And thus fareth it with vs as touchyng our bodies But as concerning our soules the case is so muche the more dangerous as the enimies are pernitious and calamities grieuous whervnto they are subiect Subiect I say not by creatiō but by deprauatiō or rather by originall corruption For in deede if they be considered accordyng to that excellent nature wherein they were first created before the fall of Adam it will appeare that as in substance spirituall and in qualitie immortall so were they indued also with singular ornaments and heauēly vertues as whereby they resembled the image euen of God himselfe But alas euer since that fatall ruine and dismall
decay of our great vnhappy graundfather Adam they haue not onely bin depriued of all those ornamēts and graces which before they had but also infected with contrary vices and deformities so as in stedde of light they are become darke in stedde of pure they are become obscure in stedde of holy they are become prophane in stedde of vprighte iust perfit happy blessed the image of the eternall God they are become pieuish peruerse vnperfect vniust accursed the Image of the infernall Sathan And this forsooth generally is the state wherein we stand both in respect of our soules and bodies For the more manifest proofe wherof the Scriptures are plentifull especially where they painte foorth man in his naturall coloures and set him vp as it were on a stage to be seene For they teache that there is no sounde or whole parte in him from the crowne of the heade to the soale of the foote For why VVe are all the sorte of vs corrupte we haue all gone astray wee are all become abhominable there is none that vnderstandeth or seeketh after God there is none that doth good no not one Our mindes are distract within vs our memories are maymed oure reason vnreformed our vnderstanding vnperfite our wisedome foolishnesse oure heartes vncircumcised our iudgementes vniuste oure wils waywarde oure thoughtes vaine oure imaginations wicked our conceites carnall our fansies frustrate oure affections euil oure lusts vnbrideled our throats an open sepulchre our tongs haue vsed deceit the poison of Aspes is vnder our lippes our mouths are full of cursing and bitternesse oure handes are filled with cruelty and our fingers with iniquitie our feete are swifte to shed bloude destruction and calamitie are in oure wayes the way of peace we haue not knowen and there is no feare of God before oure eies These and such like are the excellent titles and prerogatiues wherewith the holy Ghost adorneth vs in the Scriptures These are in deede the true markes and monuments of our antiquitie the peculiar badges of our brauery the right Coat-armour of al Adams offspring Whereof leaste any man shoulde doubte and pretende I wote not what priuiledges for himselfe as thoughe he were exēpted out of the common aray of all fleshe the Scripture dealeth yet more plainely with vs and telleth vs that we are not only wretched and miserable by nature as being all conceiued of vncleane seede and all borne the children of wrath and perdition but also that wee haue al sinned where this worde All is referred to euery particular person whether he be Iewe or Gentile and are depriued of the glory of God that we are al workers of wickednes al shrinking and rebellious children lyars and lighter than vanitie it selfe all hatchers of Cokatrice egges and weauers of the Spiders webbe as the Prophet speaketh and to be shorte all subiect to the curse and malediction of God and so consequentlye to endlesse confusion both of soule and body For the rewarde of sinne is death and euery soule that sinneth shal dye saith the Lorde These things thus brieflye premised although they may seeme sufficient to strike as it were an Alarum into al mens consciences and to make them looke about them if haply they may espy any remedy yet ouer and besides these if wee will weigh and consider what an vnmercifull number of spirituall ennimies we haue to deale and encounter with how subtilly they lye in wayte to entrappe vs howe vncessantly they assayle vs howe greedily they gape to deuoure vs wee shall bee muche more inflamed as I thinke to prepare oure selues to the battaile and to stand vppon our guarde if at leaste we haue either anye care of oure owne welfare or dread of our own distruction For if so be wee haue not vnfitly compared the worlde vnto a Wildernes where men wander in the middest of innumerable dāgers are euen subiect cōtinually to a thousande deathes then maye it appeare sufficientlye what oure lotte and portion is in this life and howe hardlye we are like to be dealte withall vnlesse wee walke maruellous warily and circumspectly and bee throughlye fenced and fortified at all assayes We haue to consider that as there the wayes and pathes are verye doubtefull and vncertaine by reason of manifolde crinkes and turnings so here we are to mete with infinite Mazes Labyrinths of superstitions and false opinions so as there is nothing more harde and difficult than for a man amongst them to keepe the straighte course to eternall saluation Againe as the desart places are ful of horrible daungers as well in respecte of the wilde and fauage beastes as also of the Theeues and Robbers that lurke in them euen so are wee in this worlde enuironed about on euery side with farre more grieuous enimies as which for their crueltie and more than bloudy desire of destroying all that euer come in their wayes doe far-awaye exceede the saluagest beastes and cruellest cut-throates that bee For euen amongest vs rangeth that olde manqueller the Diuell who as Peter sayth goeth aboute like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure And hee is not alone but hee hathe an infinite rable and euen the Deuill and all of wicked Angels and vncleane Spirites to do him seruice so as he is not without good consideration called a Potentate the Prince of darknesse the Gouernour of this world the spirite that ruleth in the Ayre c. to note vnto vs the wonderfull force and puissance that he is of like as in other places for his malice and subtilty he is termed a Serpent for his crueltie a Lion and for all togither a greate redde Dragon hauing seauen heades and ten hornes and seauen Crowns vpon his heads c. There are also belonging to his hellish conduct and Kingdome an innumerable sorte of wicked doers whiche hauing vtterly reiected all sense of Humanitie and Godlinesse are degenerated into wilde saluage beastes For we may see euery where a ranke route of leacherous monsters to grunt like Hogges and Swine a huge throng of wrathfull Termagaunts to yell out lyke Beares a beastly company of Backbiters to barke abroade like Dogges a rauening sorte of Cormorants to houle out like Wolues a fierce and frantike multitude to take on like vntamed Tygres a number to play the parts of the nimble sighted Lynxes a slie and subtill sorte to fare like Foxes a tetchy and kicking kinde of Asses to bray a venemous sighte of Serpents to hisse and to be shorte such a huge rabble of stinking Goates bellowing Bugles puffing Panters and all manner of vncleane Beastes that a man shall walke muche safer in the Wildernesse amongst the wilde beastes in deede than hee can doe in the world amongest men of so beastly conditions neyther haue we to feare so great danger from the very Beasts themselues as we haue to doubt and dreade those that are of the selfe same nature with vs Insomuch that the olde fathers said not without a cause
the sonnes of men reioyceth to be named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to saye the Word and the same preaching without intermission or ceasing hath declared the wil of his heaueÌ„ly father Prouerb 8. Ioan. 1. Heb. 1. And moreouer amongst the things that are exercised in the Church the Word holdeth the chiefe place yea and euen the very force and dignitie of the mysticall actions or Sacramentes dependeth vppon the worde of god Wherevppon it pleased some of the learned fathers and especiallye Augustine vppon Iohn in his Sermon 80. and against Faustus booke 19. Cap. 16. to tearme the same very Sacramentes visible wordes What néede anye long circumstaunce GOD by his worde openeth bothe himselfe and all his benefites and graces vnto man and by faith in the worde man is ioyned vnto GOD and made partaker of eternall blessednesse Wherefore we maye moste truely auouch that to reade the holy Scripture with a godly affection is euen all one to talke and conferre with GOD and to heare God talking and conferring with vs Certes as often as thou readest of precepts exhortations promises threatnings iudgements rewardes punishmentes and other things of like sorte so ofte doest thou heare God himselfe of a truth speaking vnto thée Againe as ofte as thou readest of any confession of sinnes crauing of pardon prayer giuing of thanks or anye suche like so ofte dost thou thy selfe speake vnto god For in these pointes chiefly do consist the naturall commonings betwixte God and men and in these things resteth the substaunce of all sacred sayings and sentences Wherefore then to goe aboute to forbidde or withholde anye man from the reading hearing and vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures is euen as much in effecte as to commande him to dissemble or deny himselfe to be a man that so he mighte be depriued of the power of speaking and of the fruite and benefite of reason Hierome maruelleth and stomacketh the matter and counteth it intollerable if anye man shoulde so presume Forsomuch saith he in the proheme of his exposition of the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Ephesians as we differ from all other creatures in this point chieflg that we are endued with reason and haue the vse of speaking and al reason and holy speach is contayned in the bookes of God by which we both learne to know God and also to what ende wee be created I maruaile greatly at some who either giuing themselues to slouthfulnesse and slepe wil not learne the things that are excellent or else seeke to reproue others that bend themselues that waye Which men whereas I might more straightly stop their mouths shortly send theÌ„ packing either eased or pleased in vouching that it is much better to reade the Scriptures than to gape so greedily after the encreasing and hourding vp of riches I will content my selfe onelye in saying this whiche I maye obtaine euen before a moste incompetent Iudge namely that my vocation from labor and quiet solitarinesse of mind is more pleasant vnto me than al other solemnities whatsoeuer Hitherto Hierome Where if so be nowe it belongeth to mans duetie to loue and learne the words of God declared at large in the holy Scriptures forasmuche as we haue giuen vnto vs of God the power and vse of speaking howe muche more ought we wholly to be addicted vnto them which professe our selues to be ChristiaÌ„s For truly how honorable the name of Christian is and what thinges it putteth vs in minde of it shoulde be good for vs oftentimes and déepely in minde to consider He that nameth a Christian comprehendeth in one worde whatsoeuer maye be added to the dignity of a man He that nameth a Christian vnderstandeth a man to be of the number of those whome God himselfe hath pronounced to be a chosen generation a kingly Priesthoode a holy Nation a people freely purchased Exod 19.1 Pet. 2. He that nameth a Christian signifieth a man to be choseÌ„ of God the father before the foundations of the worlde were layed to bée deliuered by the son of God Iesus Christ out of most miserable captiuitie and out of the bondage of most cruell Tirants the Diuel Sinne and Death to be regenerate by the holy Ghost into the Churche of CHRISTE to bée adorned wyth newe Righteousnesse wyth Fayth Loue and other vertues and spirituall graces vnto whome lastely is appointetd prayse and immortall glorie and also eternall felicitie bothe of bodye and soule bringing with it more bountifull and large benefites than the eie of anye man can sée the eare heare or the hart be able to conceiue Ephes 1. Rom. 8. Esay 64.1 Corinth 2. Suche and so greate is the excellencie of a Christian man But whence I praye you taketh a Christian this name Thou wilt say I am sure of CHRIST Act. 11. But howe then commeth a Christian man by those incomparable benefites and by euerlasting blessednesse Forsooth euen by the knowlege of GOD the father and of his sonne oure sauiour IESVS CHRIST This is eternall life saith our sauiour Christe Ioan. 17. To knowe thee the onely true GOD and Iesus Christe whome thou haste sente And Peter Act. 4. saith There is no other name giuen vnto men vnder Heauen wherein wee can bee saued but onely the name of Iesus Christe Paule in like maner 1. Corinth 1. saith CHRIST became vnto vs the wisedome of GOD and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption But there is no maÌ„ that can distinctly and without ambiguitie know GOD the father or his sonne Iesus Christe the authour and beginner of Christianitie oute of that former booke Concerning the nature of things or out of anye inuentions of mans wisedome whatsoeuer but onely and alone by the reading of the holy Scripture reuealed from aboue Whiche thing to be true oure Sauioure Christe himselfe testifyeth Ioan. 5 saying Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifye of mee And to the intents the sonne oure Sauioure might be the better knowen of his Disciples he interpreteth many places of the Scriptures as touching his owne person The like did the Apostles also and Euangelistes with greate diligence Therefore whosoeuer he be that desireth to be saluted by the name of a Christian and to be accounted among those that knowe Christe and that looke for saluation promised in Christe him truely it standeth vppon to acquainte himselfe with the holy Scriptures and to make them as familiar vnto him as is possible As no manne can make the Iewes beléeue that he is of the Iewish secte which holdeth none of the traditions of their Thalmud and as the Turkes will receiue none for a worshipper of Mahomet that cannot alleage at the leaste some of his decrées oute of their Alcoran â—o is it not likely that he in good earnest and from his hearte shoulde be a Christian that cannot in some measure oute of the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles declare who Christe is and what inestimable benefites he hathe purchased to mankinde For in verie
controuersies risen among men wisely to publish and set forth lawes and ordinaunces to reléeue the afflicted especiallye widowes fatherlesse children and all persons in generall that are vnworthily oppressed and neither for fauoure nor for hatred to tourne aside from equitie to take vpon thée the defence indifferently both of the poore and riche weake and mightye small and greate it shal become thee before all men continually to reade the holye Scripture wherein are founde moste waightie examples and preceptes which maye in all thine actions and dealings putte thée in remembraunce of Iustice and equitie Reade in especially Exod. 18.23 Leuit 19 Deut. 1.10.15.16.17.22.24.27 Iudg. 2.3.1 King. 1.2 Paral. 19. Prouerb 18.24 Psalm 82. Ies 5. Iere. 5.22 and other places moe else where So highly oughte all good men to estéeme of the worde of GOD that they shoulde couet to haue the lawes putte forthe by Emperours and Kings tried and examined by the rule thereof and if anye clauses be founde not throughly to agrée wyth the doctrine of Christ that those then either to be corrected or vtterly to be excluded from the compasse of Christian equitie But howe shall anye Iudge perceiue whether the ciuil lawes doe aunswere to the rule of that doctrine or no if so bée he hathe neuer at any time bestowed any study in it for if a man shall content himselfe onely with the lawes once broughte in and established and without anye further triall of them haue no regarde at all to the sacred Scripture verily this man maye bée iudged to be in no better case thâ—n a Pagan or Miscreante But it pleased the moste godly and wise Princes Constantine Valentinian Theodosius Lotharius and manye others otherwise to determine Who séeyng many lawes to be more hard and sharpe than that they ought to enioine Obedience to men that professe Christ and true Religion chaunged some of them and othersome they vtterly abolished For in déede they truly iudged according as the case requyreth that the worde of GOD oughte to be preferred before all mannes lawes whatsoeuer and that inferioure lawes cannot be taken for iuste and vpright that are founde in anye parte to varie from the highe and supreame Lawe of GOD. But if thou professe thy selfe to be a Souldiour then soothly euen for this cause forsomuche as nowe in these dayes through the negligence of Captaines the good ordinaunces of warlike discipline are for the moste parte disanulled thou standest in more néede to taste of the holye Scriptures and euen by little and little to drinke them in as I may so saye with full draught For oute of them shalte thou learne to stande in awe of GODS Maiestie and shalte be admonished verye earnestlye not so vngratiouslye héereafter to abuse as Souldiors doe nowe euerye where common souldiours especially more vile than anye barbarous and hyred Carian one while the moste holye name of GOD and otherwhile other thinges whyche oughte to be moste highlye estéemed of all and not withoute a certaine reuerence and signification of Honoure and Feare once to be named or spoken of O howe horrible and vnspeakeable blasphemies doe these common Campe followers and sellers of all manner of riffraffe daylye vomite oute of their mouths Verily I whollye quake and tremble and am afraide leaste the earth shoulde open so ofte as I stande or sitte in companye where some thinges are discoursed as touching the vncredible crueltie of these newe kinde of Souldioures for doubtlesse to the people of old time I suppose that such were not known Why do they not therfore at the length take the holy Scriptures into their handes and oute of Moses Deut. 11.12.13 oute of Iehosua 23. oute of the Psalme 144. oute of Iohn Baptiste Luke 3. and other places moe learne with what fidelitie integritie and discipline they oughte to be conuersant in warre and with what conditions to looke for ioyfull victory at the hands of Almighty GOD If by no other meanes yet truelye euen by the vngodlynesse alone of the souldiors of thys tyme GOD beyng prouoked to anger iustely sendeth downe vpon the earth which now al prouinces do féele and bewayle euen the vttermoste of all extremities and calamities Doubtlesse I am persuaded that it cannot come to passe that those Chieftaines shoulde euer obtaine anye glorious victory and triumphe ouer their enimies being garded and enuironed with wicked souldiours and now and then fighting without cause why caste themselues headlong into wonderfull daungers For the sinne of one false harted souldiour whiche had priuily kept to hymselfe some of the thinges that were commaunded to be destroyed all the whole hoste of GODS people was broughte into greate hazarde Iehosua 7. Then what may we looke for where so huge a rablement of moste vile and treacherous souldioures are dayle hyred for the warres But I remember that whyche Anacharsis on a time demaunded of one namely Whether those that saile ought to be counted among the quicke or deade And hée added the cause that when they are thought to be in greatest safety of all they are no further off from death than the thickenesse of the shippe borde that is a three of foure fingers breadth Whiche reason Iuuenall in his Satire 12. forgate not to render saying Goe nowe thy waye and to the Windes thy lyfe and soule commit And truste vnto a brittle borde as thoughe full safe on it Thou mightste remayne when further off from death thou shalte not be Than ynches foure or seauen at moste Be et nere so large a tree And surely euen as doubtfull and vncertayne is the life of those men that serue vnder the standerdes of any Emperoure or Capitayne whatsoeuer within the sight of their enimies Campe. For among so manye weapons of the enimies so many Darts and Halberds so many Swordes and as nowe the manner is amongst innumerable bullets of Gunnes whyche are shotte verye swiftely and very farre off who can be sure of hys life so muche as one moment of an houre Alas howe often commeth it to passe that a manne sitting in his Tent dores or being in the Towne and Castell besieged or at home in hys house doyng of some worke and thinking of nothyng lesse than of death is sodainely taken awaye with one of these bullets There is no regards or difference of the Emperoure Marshall of the hoste Standerd-bearer common Souldiour pezaunt Scullion Moreouer as nowe adayes for the moste parte warres are made and Souldiors doe liue all verye dissolutely and intemperatelye ofte tymes it happeneth that contagious disseases doe spreade abroade throughe all the troupes and bandes by means whereof many moe are consumed with burning agues with inflamations with perillous flixes wyth the pestilence wyth hunger wyth thyrste with colde than wyth the force of theyr 〈◊〉 Wherefore like as in tymes paste there were some that counted it a happy thyng in case they mighte dye in battell and winne as greate renowne after their deathe as didde the Latines or worthy Romaynes whereby