either for that hee hath vertues more then humane or that hee is so contemptible and meane in respect of Man that he is vnworthy to approach neere him But let him know which doth affect solitarinesse because he doth surpasse all men in vnderstanding and vertue that he ought to repell that humour and to condescend by humilitie and meekenesse to the imperfections of others labouring for the good of the Church or Common Wealth either by word or worke For what are all those perfections more then shaddowes and obscure traces of those perfections that are in Iesus Christ notwithstanding he tooke vpon him our shape and conuersion among men that thereby he might saue them and winne soules to heauen Therefore to conclude this point If to flie from the World bee a vanity how much more to follow it If vices and torments do harbour in the desart how much more in presses and throngs of people Truely if vanity bee in euery place let vs say that all is torment and affliction of Spirit CHAP. XI Of old and decrepit age BVt in the meane time that man is busied about al these vaine conceits while he is pushing time with his shoulder endeauouring nothing all dayes of his life but to rise and to goe to bed to apparell himselfe and to make himselfe vnready to fill his belly and to euacuate his stomacke which is no more then a circle of the selfe same importuning occupations much like vnto a Millers horse that alwaies treads one compasse While he is thus busied with such occasions behold old age stealingly arriueth to which few doe attaine and all desire But if any doe peraduenture gaine that time they desire to haue it prolonged to the vtmost this age being as Grapes which haue lost their iuyce and as the sincke of mans life is without question the most vnhappy for those men that are worldly as no the contrary it is most blessed for such as are godly For worldly men in this age are doubly possest with way wardnes their feare and distrust doth increase their iudgement waxeth weake begins to diminish Wherefore we do wrongfully call a melancholy humor wisedome a dis-abilitie sobriety because old age leaueth not pleasure but pleasure leaueth it And therefore he doth vndeseruedly complaine that the time and manners of men are changed into worse while nothing is changed but himselfe for in his youth all things pleased him if they were neuer so bad in his old age all things dislike him if they were neuer so good Like vnto those which being in a Ship thinke that the banks moue when it is onely themselues It is also a vice incident to this Age to speake much because they are no more able to performe any thing and that they also thinke themselues most fit to propose precepts to youth and to declare things of time long since Like vnto a declining State as that of the Romane Empire where there are many talkers but few valiant not much different from the aged time of the world where are many curious disputers but few of the true Religion In this Age also doth increase the loue of wealth and earthly cares doe summon new forces against man he waxeth all gray and euery thing in him beginneth to wither onely his vices excepted That auncient man of whom the Apostle maketh often mention beeing ready to dote waxeth not old in worldly age but then he is in full vigour He therefore feareth approching death and holdeth his life like vnto an Eele which slideth away In the meane time he determineth of tedious designes and heapeth vp riches as if death stood a farre off and durst not appeare But now that age is come and the time that he ought to rest his griefes and dolours are renewed the heart afflicted the braine troubled the face withered the body crooked the sight dimmed the hayres falne and the teeth rotten and to be short the body is as it were asimilitude of death yet doth he prepare himselfe least to gaine the future blisse and though many times death takes for a gage one part or other of his body as an arme an eye or a legge to serue for an aduertisement that he will shortly fetch the rest yet he is so affianced to the earth that he is vnwilling to goe to it when nothing remaineth in him but euill CHAP. XIII Of DEATH THus after Man hath sorrowed all his dayes vnder the heauy burthen of his sinnes and in conclusion of all this vnprofitable wearisome trauell behold the approch of death before he hath learned to liue much lesse to dye The most part beeing taken out of this world before they know to what end they entred in they would willingly prolong the date of their life but death admits no composition for it hath feet of wooll but armes of iron it cōmeth vnsensibly but hauing taken once hold it neuer looseth her prize To this pace or step man commeth so slowly as possibly he can For if a Ship should sinke among the waues two hundred leagues from Land notwithstanding euery Passenger would striue to swim not with an intent to saue his life but to repell death for some minutes and to render nature her last ineuitable tribute Euery man trembleth at this passage and laboureth to settle himselfe here yet is forced at last to yeeld vnto Death and yet by no meanes may bee knowne after what manner hee shall end his life Some there bee that are forced to dye by hunger others by thirst others by fire others by water others by poison others are smothered others are torne in pieces by wilde beasts others deuoured of the Fowles of the aire others are made meat for Fishes and others for Worms yet for all this Man knoweth not his end when hee thinketh himselfe most at rest hee sodainly perisheth What a dreadfull sight is it to see him lying in his bed that is oppressed with the paines of Death What shaking and changing of all the bonds of nature will he make the feete will become cold the face pale the eyes hollow the lips and mouth to retire the hands diminish the tongue waxeth blacke the teeth doe cloze the breath faileth the cold sweat appeareth by the violence of sicknes All which is a certaine token that nature is ouercome But now when it commeth to the last gaspe or at the sorrowfull departure that the soule maketh from his habitation all the bands of Nature are broken Besides when the Diuell or wicked spirit is assured of our end what furious assaults will hee make against our soules to make vs despaire of Gods mercy It is the houre when as Satan doth his power to striue against GOD for to hinder the saluation of mankind and he is more boisterous in these latter dayes for that he knoweth that his time is but short and that the end of his kingdome is at hand and therefore he is the more enflamed for he neuer
thee O thou Vsurer and thou that grindest the faces of the poore thy gold cannot ransome thee Then thou mighty man that rackest the Widdow and circumuentest the Orphane of his successiue right thy honour cannot priuiledge thee then thou murtherer adulterer and blasphemer thy colourable excuses will not purge thee Then O thou vncharitable Churle who neuer knewest that a rich man treasures vp no more of his riches then that he contributes in Almes Thou that neuer imbracedst the counsell of that reuerend Father who cryes Feede him that dies for hunger Whosoeuer thou art that canst preserue and wilt not thou standest guilty of famishing then I say in that day shalt thou pine in perdition Then O thou luxurious Epicure that through the fiue senses which are the Cinque-Ports or rather sinner-ports of thy soule gulpest downe delightfull sinne like water they will bee to thee like the Angels bookes sweet in thy mouth but bitter in thy bowels Then O thou gorbellied Mammonist that pilest vp congestest huge masses of refulgent earth purchased by all vnconscionable courses yet carriest nothing with thee but a Coffin and a winding sheete Thy faire pretences will be like Caracters drawne vpon the Sands or Arrowes shot vp to Heauen-ward they cannot release thee from Satans inexpiable seruitude Then O thou Canker-worme of Common-wealthes thou Monster of Man thou that puttest out the eye of Iustice with Bribes or so closely shutst it that the clamorous cry of the poore mans case cannot open it Thou that makest the Law a nose of Waxe to turne and fashion it to thine owne priuate end to the vtter disgrace of conscionable Iustice and to the lamentable subuersion of many an honest and vpright cause thy quirkes dilatory demurres conueyances and conniuences cannot acquit thee but thou shalt be remoued with a Writ into the lowest and darkest dungeon of damnation No no the Lord of heauen and earth who is good in infinitenesse and infinite in goodnesse will winnow garble and fanne his corne the choyce wheate he will treasure vp in the garners of eternall felicitie but the Chaffe and Darnell must bee burnt with vnquenchable fire There must you languish in torments vnrelaxable there must you fry and freeze in one selfe-furnace there must you liue in implacable and tenebrous fire which as Austin defines shall giue no light to comfort you Then will you wish though then too late that you had beene created loathsome Toades or abhorred Serpents that your miseries might haue clozed vp with your liues but you must bee dying perpetually yet neuer dye and which enuirons mee with a trembling terrour when you haue languish't in vnexpressible agonies tortures gnashings and horrid howlings ten thousand millions of yeeres yet shall you bee as farre from the end of your torments as you were at the beginning A confused modell and misty figure of hell haue wee conglomerate in our fancy drowzily dreaming that it is a place vnder earth vncessantly Aetna-like vomiting sulphurious flames but we neuer pursue the meditation thereof so close as to consider what a thing it is to liue there eternally For this adiunct Eternall intimates such infinitenesse as neither thought can attract or supposition apprehend And further to amplifie it with the words of a worthy Writer though all the men that euer haue or shall be created were Briareus-like hundred-handed and should all at once take pens in their hundred hands and should doe nothing else in ten hundred thousand millions of yeeres but summe vp in figures as many hundred thousand millions as they could yet neuer could they reduce to a Totall or confine within number this Trisillable word Eternall Can any Christian then vpon due cōsideration hereof forbeare to prostrate himselfe with flexible humility before the glorious Throne of Grace there with flouds of vnfaigned teares repentantly abiure and disclaine the allurements of carnall corruption the painted pleasures of the world and the bitter sweetnesse of sinne which is the death's wound of his soule for a Weapon wounds the body and sinne the soule For what profits it a man to winne the whole world and lose his owne soule The soundest Method therefore to preuent our exclusion from the Throane of Gods mercy is to imagine we still see him present in his Iustice whatsoeuer or when soeuer we attempt any blacke designe Let vs but adumbragiously fancy as one hath it the Firmament to bee his Face the all-seeing Sunne his right Eye the Moone his left the Winds the breath of his Nostrils the Lightening and Tempests the troubled action of his Ire the Frost and Snow his Frownes that the Heauen is his Throne the Earth his Footstoole that he is all in all things that his omnipotence fils all the vacuities of Heauen Earth and Sea that by his power hee can vngirdle and let loose the Seas impetuous waues to o'rewhelme bury this lower vniuerse in their vast wombs in a moment that hee can let drop the blue Canopy which hath nothing aboue it whereto it is perpendicularly knit or hurle thunder-bolts thorow the tumorous cloudes to pash vs precipitate through the center into the lowest dungeon of Hell These allusiue cogitations of Gods omnipotent Maiestie will curbe in and snaffle vs from rushing into damnable actions if we vnremoueably seat them in our memories Make then a couenant with thine eyes and heart O man lest they dote on earthly grasse surfeit on the sugared Pils of poysonous vanities and so insensibly hurle downe thy better part into the gulph of irreuocable damnation if not for thy selfe sake yet iniure not thy Creatour who halh drawne thee by his owne patterne moulded thee in his owne forme and to make thee eternally happy hath infused his owne essence into thee for thy soule by the Philosophers confession is infusion celestiall no naturall traduction and in that respect another calls it an arrachment or cantell pulld from the celestiall substance which cannot terminate it selfe within a lumpe of flesh Euen as the beames of the Sunne though they touch the earth and giue life to these inferiour creatures yet still reside in the body of the Sunne whence they are darted So thy soule though it bee seated either within the filme of the braine or confined in the center of the heart and conuerseth with the sences yet it will still haue beeing whence it hath its beginning Remember then thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth call vpon him while it is called to day for as the Poet no lesse sweetely then discreetly sung Who knowes ore night that hee next morne shall breathe Then take Dauids Early in the morning not the Deuils Stay till to morrow for thou knowest God will bring thee to Iudgement yet thou knowest not when nor in what yeere nor in what moneth of the yeere nor in what weeke of the moneth nor in what day of the weeke nor in what houre of the day nor in what minute of that houre nor in what moment of
seekest by thy inticing flatteries to deliuer vs to an enemie farre vvorse then the Philistims which is the Diuell himselfe Such pleasures are like vnto guilded pils which vnder their externall beauty include bitternesse They are also like vnto fresh Riuers that end their course in the Sea losing their sweet rellish in an ocean of saltnes True zeale cannot flourish vnder so nice and delicate a gouernment nor can the perfect knowledge of God which is a celestiall gift be subiected to the belly it cannot remaine amongst swine that habitation is onely agreeable to the diuell who by the permission of Iesus Christ hauing entred into a Herd of swine compelled them to runne headlong to their owne ruine and who as it is recorded in the holy Writ nourisheth prodigall children vvith the husks of pleasures in stead of their parents bread It behooueth the Husbandman when the trees are yong to vphold them and to lop the o're-weighty branches if afterwards he intends to gather any fruit Likewise it is necessary for Parents to reforme correct the vices that raigne in Youth lest afterwards it returne to their shame and reproach But there are at this day many fathers and mothers who for not hauing well instructed their children in their youth doe receiue much sorrow and griefe in their age a iust reward for such Parents who although they be said to be nourishers of the bodies are the destroyers of the soules of their children If Ely was grieuously punished vvith his children for that hee did not so sharpely chastice them as their offences did require what shall become of those fathers and mothers which in stead of correcters are the childrens corrupters Such Parents may well bee compared to Apes which kill their yong ones by too much clasping them between their armes and keeping them so deare and this is the cause that so many fall into the hands of the Hangman which is to them reformer and correcter Many there bee that in stead of giuing good exhortations to their Family doe shew them first themselues naughty and wicked examples For the first commandement that they giue them how to liue well is to blaspheme sweare exercise gluttony and drunkennesse to spoile the substance of their youth to bee fornicators and to kisse women and maidens in their presence There bee also many mothers heere that learne their Daughters to Dance to vse Rhetorick termes to haunt companies to scoffe and flout to paint and colour their faces to decke their fingers with Rings and their necks with Iewels as though they were Iewel-sellers pretending to keepe a shop but in the end it will happen to them as it did to the Prophet Dauid 2. King 13. 15. whose sinne was punished in his children which were most of them so wicked that the one of them defloured his owne Sister and the other killed his Brother and afterwards sought the death of his owne Father and chased him out of his Kingdome The ancient Philosophers maintained this argument that all sinnes committed in this world vvere punished in the World to come except the sinne that Man committed in the bringing vp of his children and for that hee suffereth punishment in this world for the father can giue nothing to his child but fraile and mortall flesh by the corruption whereof the life taketh end but by good learning and knowledge eternall praise memory is gotten Therefore to conclude if children haue been in great misery being nourished with spotted milke yet the misery doubleth in those that should cause them to bee instructed for the food of the body is more vile then the food of the soule CHAP. III. Of Mans ripe Age. HAuing finished this our second discourse Man is growne to his full perfection both of strength and discretion and his heat being allayed by age behold other vanities which attend on him although not altogether so violently scorching yet more opinionated and troublesome for hee entreth into deeper cogitations and trauell in the spirit It is requisit therefore that hee frequent publike places that he haunt the company of those that are touchstones for to know the good from euill If he be come of a great and Noble stocke hee must make many enterprises of Warre put himselfe in perils hazzard his life and shead his bloud to die in the way of Honour or else hee shall bee reputed a dastardly Coward and vtterly despised of all men If hee be of base estate and that hee be called to the knowledge of Arts Sciences and needfull trades yet for all that he runneth into a thousand dangers trauailes paines and troubles as well of the body as of the soule hee toileth day and night and sweateth water and bloud to get a maintenance during his life and oftentimes it is seene that what paines soeuer man taketh for his liuing yet it is scant sufficient to serue his necessitie Let him be of any Vocation or Calling whatsoeuer there come vnto him irremoueable cares domesticke troubles or the knowledge of husbandry or contentions in Law or the labour of painfull Mechanick Arts all to the end that he may get somwhat for his children who sucking from him it may be all that he hath is onely requited with ingratitude and reproch These infelicities are the occasion that man is alwayes wearied with the things present desiring onely things to come and continually endeuouring to catch at somewhat that is already escaped whereas if by chance they obtaine it it dissolueth to nothing as it is in their hands or if they enioy it yeelds no contentment nor doth any wise appease their feare or satisfie their desire It is not therefore without cause that M. Aurelius was wont to say when hee considered the misery of mankinde I mused in my mind said he whether there might bee found in any age a man that could vaunt that in all his life-time he neuer tasted aduersitie and assuredly if there might bee such a one found he would be such a fearfull monster vpon earth that all liuing things would bee amazed to behold him Then he concluded after this sort saying And in the end I found my owne thoughts true for hee that vvas yesterday rich was to day poore hee that was yesterday in health was to day sicke he that laughed yesterday did to day weepe he that was yesterday in prosperitie was to day in aduersitie and he that was yesterday aliue was to day dead But let vs now returne to our former matter and set downe our discourses in order What liuing man is he in al the world that hath giuen himselfe to any Science or otherwise to liue but that at one time or other hee disliked of his owne profession and is weary thereof And for the better vnderstanding of the same we will particularly discourse the miseries and troublesome liues of all the principall estates liuing vpon the bosome of the sinfull earth Searching into all estates of men we shall finde that aboue all
Pill Within a sweet and ciuet lurking body often is imprisoned a loathsome stinking soule Murther is accounted but manly reuenge and the desperate Stabber cares no more to kill a man then to cracke a Flea Vsurie and Extortion are held laudable vocations Couetousnesse is stiled thrift Luxury and whoredome are reputed but youthfull trickes And as for Drunkennesse why that 's a tolerable recreation Doe not men pursue it with such inordinate affection that they oft neglect their functions bid farewell to that domesticke care they ought to entertaine dislodge that humane prouidence which should be shut vp in the Cabinet of their reasonable part and solely prostitute themselues to quotidian carousing till their breaths smell no sweeter then a Brewers apron whilest their families are wrung and grip't in the clutches of pouerty lockt vp and imprisoned from those necessarie supplements which should keepe both breath and body together at vnion This is a worthy Fathers opinion That a man possessed with a Diuell may be thought to be in a more hopeful state then a Drunkard for albeit that he be possessed yet is it compulsiuely and against his will but the Drunkard wholly adopts and dedicates himselfe with all the powerfull faculties of his soule voluntarily to the seruice of Satan S. Augustine likewise describes three fearefull properties in a Drunkard It confounds nature saith he loseth grace and consequently incurres Gods wrathfull indignation to be powred out vpon the imbracer thereof Swearing and blaspheming Gods great and glorious Name is reckoned for a morall vertue the grace of birth and honour the cognizance of an high-bred spirit What Christian can refraine that hath any sparke of Diuine intellect in him to vnsluce the flood-gate of his eyes and let his melting heart gush through with teares when in the streets he shall heare little Children scarce able to goe or speake to be vnderstood volley foorth most fearefull oathes and with such procliuitie as if they had bin tutored in their mothers wombes whilest their parents standing by offer not to check them with so much as a sowre reproofe but seeming rather to solace themselues in their Childrens sinnes and delight in their owne damnations like those who dye in a Sardinian laughter If the penall Law of Lodovicus were put in practice who hearing one sweare seared vp his lips with an hot iron scarce ten in as many Parishes but would be glad to be in league with the Apothicaries lippe-salue How many miraculous Iudgemēts hath God shot out against the blasphemers of his sacred Name whose instances would be too prolixious What sinne can be more damnable yet more practised None can sooner plunge the soule into the implacable gulfe of perdition and yet no sinne by intentiue endeuour more easie to be cropt off and weeded vp for that it is no incidentall issue of naturall corruption but an accidentall monster inegndred of corrupted custome A learned Father confesseth That at euery other word he once vsed to sweare but at length endeuouring to locke vp the doore of his lips to set watch before his tongue imploying diuine assistance therein and entreating moreouer his friends to smite him with the rod of reprehension in forty daies he vtterly lost the abusiue vse thereof So that now saith he nothing is more easie to me then not to sweare at all It is recorded that Lewis the 7. King of France diuulged an Edict that whosoeuer was knowne to warr against heauen with oathes should be branded in the forehead as a capitall offender Should not then euery Christian labour to set a watch before his mouth keep the doore of his lips that no rebellious words salley forth against his Creator If not for feare of temporall Iustice yet lest the God of Iustice should brand his soule with the dreadfull stigme of eternall damnation which no salue can heale Haliacmons Floud wash out nor length of time weare off O lamentable when the Turkes and Ethnicks out-strip vs in their cloudy and ignorant zeale they will dispute in the heart of their highest Streets about their Alcoran and Mahometish religion with holy intended deuotion But what voice is heard in our Streets Nought but the squeaking out of those obsceane and light Iigges stuft with loathsome and vnheard-of ribauldry suck't from the poisonous dugges of sinne-swelled Theaters controuersall conferences about richest beere neatest wine or strongest Tobacho wherein to drowne their soules and draw meager diseases vpon their distempered bodies And tell them moreouer that by their nocturnall superfluities and insatiable quaffings they set but feathers in Times wings and as a worthy home-bred Author saith spurre but the gallopping horse hasten on their speedy deaths and digge their owne vntimely graues More haue recourse to playing houses then to praying Houses where they set open their eares and eyes to sucke vp variety of abominations bewitching their minds with extrauagant thoughts and benumming their soules with insensibility whereby sinne is become so customary to them as that to sinne with them is deem'd no sinne at all consonant to that Theologicall Maxime The custome of sinning taketh away the very sense and feeling of sinne And semblable to Pythagoras his conceipt of the Sphericall harmony Because saith he we euer heare it wee neuer heare it Many set faire out-side colours vpon their professiō of religious honesty but beeing strictly lookt into by the penetrating eye of practise and performance proue seldome di'de in graine Some glitter like gold in their conuersation but put once to the Touch are found but counterfeit Alcumy Others will needs seeme a substantiall body in integrity of life but shaken and sifted with the hand of tryall become but an Anatomy of bones To giue almes is thought but a phantasticall ceremony and to refresh the comfortlesse Lazarus is deem'd but the maintenance of idle and exorbitant vagabounds O where is Charity fled Is she not whipt foysted out of great mens Kitchens glad to keepe Sanctuary in straw-cloath'd Cottages Are not larger beneuolences often distributed at the doore of one russet-clad Farmer then at ten mighty mens Gates The Magnificoes of this world reare vp sumptuous buildings onely for shew and ostentation whiffing more smoke out of their noses then their chimneys and it begets more wonder to see them shake downe their bounty into the poore mans lap then to see a Court-Lady vnpainted or to finde an open-fisted Lawyer that without a Bribe will faithfully prosecute his Clients cause Notwithstanding al this so parcimonious are they in their domesticke prouision that not a Rat of any good education but scornes to keepe house with them In those golden times of yore Charitie was the rich mans Idoll for they did emulate each other in supplying the Widdowes want in comforting the Orphanes misery and in refreshing the Trauellers wearinesse And it was their earthly Summum bonum to be open-hearted and handed to each hungry stranger This inscription commonly engraued vpon the front of their gates O gate
death for death is the path of life a Gaole-deliuery of the soule a perfect health the hauen of heauen the finall victory of terrestriall troubles an eternall sleepe a dissolution of the body a terrour to the rich a desire of the poore a pilgrimage vncertaine a thiefe of men a shadow of life a rest from trauell an Epilogue to vaine delight a consumption of idle desires a scourge for euill a guerdon for good it dis-burdens vs of all care vnmanacles and frees vs from vexation solicitude and sorrow Of all those numberlesse numbers that are dead neuer any one returned to complaine of death but of those few that liue most complaine of life On earth euery man grumbles at his best estate The very elements whereby our subsistence or being as the secondarie cause is preserued conspire against vs the fire burnes vs the water drownes vs the earth annoyes vs and the aire infects vs our dayes are laborious our nights comfortlesse the heat scorcheth vs the cold benummes vs health swels vs with pride sicknesse empaleth our beauties friends turne Swallowes they will sing with vs in the Summer of prosperitie but in the winter of tryall they will take wings and be gone Enemies brand our reputations with deprauing imputations and the enuious man hurleth abroad his gins to ensnare our liues who would then desire to liue where there is nothing that begets content for this world is a Theater of vanities a Chaos of confusions an Embassador of mischiefe a Tyrant to vertue a breaker of Peace a Fauorite of Warre a friend of Vices a coyner of Lies an Anuile of Nouelties a table of Epicurisme a furnace of Lust a pit-fall to the rich a burthen to the poore a Cell of Pilgrims a den of Theeues a calumniator of the good a renowner of the wicked a cunning Impostor and a deceiuer of all How is the progresse of poore proud mans life violently agitated like the riuer Euripus with contrarious motions The pleasure of the wyly world thus inueigles him Come vnto mee and I will drowne thee in delight The corruption of the luxurious flesh thus ingles him Come vnto me and I will infect thee the Diuell he whispers this in his eare Come vnto mee and I will cheate and deceiue thee But our sweet and sacred Sauiour Iesus Christ with perswasiue inducements thus intreates him Come vnto me I pray thee that art heauy laden and I will receiue and exonerate thee and with the mighty arme of my mercy and compassion lift off that vnsupportable loade which crusheth downe to Hell thy groaning soule Study then to liue as dead to the world that thou maist liue with God for the iust man is said neuer to liue till after death Endeuor thy selfe to march faire through this worlds Labyrinth not to squander and looke asquint vpon the Circean allurements thereof But without turning either to the right or left hand runne straight on in that Eclipticke line which will conduct thee to that celestiall Ierusalem where with that immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ thou shalt enioy pleasure without pain wealth without want rest without labour ioy without griefe and immensiue felicitie without end Moreouer the contempt of the world born of the loue of God shall at length grow to hatred of the world when that besides the vanity and misery of it he shall contemplate the mischiefe and enmitie against the Almighty vvhich there raigneth when besides that vanity which some doe lay open to the view of all hee will represent to himselfe the iniquities which are closely kept and the Treasons Adulteries Murthers which are priuately and lurkingly committed when he shall consider the vials of Gods wrath and displeasure powred generally vpon all man-kinde for in the consideration of this world it behooueth vs to leaue out no part of it but to obserue all manner of nations and people amongst which there are many Pagans which not onely by a consequent but also by expresse profession adore the deuill The East Indies dedicate their temples to him and reuerence him with all respect The West Indies are afflicted and tormented ordinarily with euill spirits In most part of the North lurking deceits and assuming strange shapes are very common among the Inhabitants Sorcery is there an ordinary profession and the Diuell reigneth without contradiction In that Countrey which did once flourish where the Apostles had planted so happily the holy Ghost the Churches are now changed into Mosques and Temples of Idolatry In the West the head of the visible Church is become an earthly Monarch and banks are erected in those places where in times past was the House of God Amongst those erroneous and enuious people are scattered the Iewes which blasphemed against Iesus Christ and hauing persecuted him in his life doe iniuriously wrong him after his death The Countrey from whence came Decrees and Orders for Religion hath in it publike Brothel-houses and Sodomy is there an vsuall custome Here it is also where doubts in Religion that concerne a mans faith are decided in the middest of corruption There onely remaineth in the world a handfull of people which serue Iesus Christ in truth and verity and they can scarce receiue breath in this ayre which is so contrary to them beeing here as fishes without water as the remainders of great Massacres as pieces of boords scattered after the breaking of a great vessell and yet neuerthelesse among these few that are substracted out of the rest of the world corruption doth increase as a Canker or Vlcer Quarrels Vanity Superfluity in Apparell Auarice Ambition Sumptuousnesse which spendeth foolishly doth infect the one part of this small troupe for GOD is ill serued in priuate families their almes are cold they pray seldome and reade neuer IN briefe a contagion of vices by conuersing with our aduersaries doth infect vs which is the first steppe to superstition for errour creeps in to vs by vice and spirituall fornication by corporall If therefore where God is most purely knowne hee bee there ill serued how much more amongst the rest of the world If vices doe harbour in the Sanctuary how much more in the body of the church and habitation of the wicked Therefore Christ doth rightly call Satan The prince of the world and Peter doth iustly write in the second of the Acts Saue your selues from that peruerse generation for Satan lieth in ambush for vs all This age is infectious vices are like vnto glue temptations strong our enemies mighty our selues feeble and ignorant and the way of saluation narrow and full of thornes And few there bee saith Christ that finde it And those which finde it doe not alwayes keepe it but many hauing knowne the trueth doe leaue it and returne to their vomit Let vs know then a place so dangerous that wee may passe by as strangers which doe not onely passe but also runne from it flying from the world to come vnto God for wee shall neuer haue repose vnlesse wee rest
our selues vpon him The heauen moueth alwayes and yet it is the place of our rest On the contrary the earth resteth alwayes and yet it is the place of our motion The Quadrants and Horologies imitate the motion of heauen but the faith of the beleeuers doth imitate the Rest which is aboue all Vlysses did more esteeme the smoake of his owne house than the flame of anothers How much more then would he esteeme the flame of his owne chimney than the smoake of anothers Wee are heere strangers this is not our house our habitation is in heauen Let vs compare the smoake of this strange house and the darkenesse of the earth with the beauty and splendor of our owne dwelling which is the in Kingdome of heauen Here is the reigne of Satan there the Kingdome of God here is a valley of teares there the height of mirth here wee sowe in sorrow there wee reape in ioy here wee see the light of the Sunne through two little holes which are called the eyes there wee receiue light from God on euery side as if wee were all eyes Therefore because God is all in all to him be honour and glory in this world and in the world to come Amen FINIS ON THE WORTHY NAME OF MY NOBLE and learned Author that excellent Diuine Monsieur PIERRE DV MOVLIN the Mirror of our age PRaise mis-bestow'd on him t' whom none belongs ILl fits the Praised and the Praiser wrongs ERror in praising may the prais'd defame RAising vp worth on an vnworthy Name REst weake-wing'd Muse striue not this worth to raise ELated by its selfe its selfe can praise DV MOVLIN'S worth I meane whose sacred skill VNder ha's brought Romes Champion to his will MY Muse bee mute forbeare his worth t' expresse O! Wrong not that by praise to make it lesse VNto the world's broad Eye what riches rest LOck't in the closet of His pious brest IS cleerely seene and specially appeares NOw more transcendent in 's Heraclits Teares Deuoted to your Vertues ABR DARCIE THE TRANSLATOR TO the vnpartiall Reader all Prosperity ALl is corrupt and naught all eu'ry where BElow high Heau'n Ther 's not a corner Cleare RIch subtill worldlings wise cramd with wealths store ARe but the fooles of Fate exceeding poore HOnor Wealth Beauty Pompe i' th' best degree ARe subiect all to change no State liues free MONARKS nor Kings the glory they liue in DEath shall deface as if th' had neuer bin ATtend faire Vertue then Vice dis-respect REbuild thy sunke foundation Architect CLimbe Heau'n braue spirits let your Teares expell IN faire Repentance showr'd the worst of hell EVer to gaine those Ioyes no tongue can tell FINIS * This Princely Dame is a blest branch of these famous Trees of Honour the most ancient House of Derby and the Noble family of the Spencers * Honorable branches of Honour sprung from the Noble House of Bridgewater * Noble Twigs of vertue issued from the Illustrious family of the Paulets Marquises of Winchester Eccles 12. 12. Pyrrus King of Epirots that valiant and victorious warriour is killed by a silly woman with a tile stone He who had filled the earth with the Trophees of his deedes and triumphs of his victories Alexander of Macedonia that most famous Monarch died impoysoned by his owne seruants The chiefe of the Greekes hauing escaped so many perils in the Troyans warres is cruelly murdered before his Castle Great Pompey hauing shunned the bloudy hand of his enemies is killed by his deare obliged friend That victorious French Monarch Henry of Bourbon the 4. of that name whose inuincible valour made Spaine quake Rome treÌ„ble is in time of peace lamentably murdred in his Coach in the midst of his Royall citie of Paris These examples do euidently shew the worlds mutability and inconstancie Eccl. 1. 14. Of Infancy Of Youth Youth compared to yong trees That Kings and Soueraignes are not more free from misery then other inferiour persons The inuenters if new Patents Enuious insatiable Courtiers Wealth inticeth men to sinne New Duels doe adde to one much reputation for as it is a shame for a man to come into the world so they hold it an honour to send him out of it Mens reward for those follies and deboistnesse committed in their Youth Magistrates and wicked Iudges A Notable adâ—ertisement for Judges and Magistrates The Author as before craues pardon of all modest Religious and vertuous women whose vertue hee doth honour and reuerence Mat. 15. 36. 6. 27. 1. Tim. 6. Couetousnes the source and originall of all wickednes and abomination Of Enuie that cruell abominable and bloudy vice which doth generaly raigne now in this our degenerate age Of Ambition the cause of our fall and ruine Bernard Ambitiosorum Arcana sunt periculosissima Maledictus superbus est tam impudens voluntartè se separeta Deo Mans felicitie and happinesse doth not depend onely vpon greatnesse and degnity for contentment exceedeth riches Take Fees with both hands gull their Clients and make them like bare-headed Vassals pray and pay soundly for their importunate bawling An excellent Simile The vanity simplicitie and folly of aged men Hee that knowes much and knowes not himselfe knowes nothing Simile Such minds incite whores rather then chaste and vertuous women With good reason S. Austin said That Man pleaseth God the best that circled with beauties in the mids of Princes magnificent Palaces could fly their alluring temptations A notable comparison to confound the folly of men who thinke to auoid temptations by rendring and making themselues Anchorites and Hermites Non quaere-Christus Iesus glariam suam omnia Igitur relinqnere debes etiam te ipsum spernere abnegare vt frauris amicitia Ihesu Christi Simile A pittifull example of Mans Wolfe-like appetite his insatiate desire of riches and vgly terror of deformiâ—y Than the Day of Death there is nothing more certaine nor nothing vncertaine * Nota. This is weighty to be obserued not ouely of the poore and inferiour persons but more to be apprehended with feare by theÌ„ most mighty Soueraignes and greatest men of this world that they may not build their happinesse vpon the deceitfull ground of their riches and transitory possessions Death is a terrour to those ignoble minds whose pride of life makes them weake timerous most vndoubted Cowards to the least obiect Death shal present The Rich vnprofitable Mizerburns in Hell for his Auarice while his sonne in the world dancing a Whore on his Lap sets all prodigally flying Tunc Post vnam voluptatem sequuntur mille dolores Simile Most worthy to be read and considered with terrour and true repentance Ver Aeternum plenisfima delitiarum quam pura es The Maiesty of God in the generall Judgement Day shall be more terrible to the impious Monarks of the earth then either the world on fire round about them Hell gaping to swallow the vgly Fiends to torture or the paines of Hell can affright them Remember Hell t is not a feined but a place most fume most fearefull Poenitentia sera raro vera How Gods incomprehensible Prouidence frustrates the designes of men making their enterprises of no validity Luke 9. 99. Consider the subtilty of Satan and mans sudden ruine Memento decimo sexto die Octobris â—â—ilo Antiquo quinto die Octob. slilo Nouo MDCXXIII Of the vaine glory of men most corruptible and transitory The iust reward of Kings proud mounting Fauorites Necessitas non habet legem Of the vanitie of humane thoughts desires and iudgements Idle most vnprofitable thoughts Read Swetons Worke. A true Simile of those that build Castles in the Castles in the ayre A principall and most worthy obseruation The profit of solitarinesse Death terrible to the foole Mans vncertainty where to rest Foolish and vaine desires Despaire animates man to hasten the destruction The strong operation of conceit The vaine and superstious follies of ignorant Idolaters Grosse errors which like a foggy mist blind and confound the sight and sense of men Adherents of the Church of Rome We must not thinke to make with our wealth and worldly riches a composition and truce with Death for Nature requires a tribute at our hands * A Simile worthy of obseruation a Wee are so rooted in this worlds abomination that we prefer a minute of worldly pleasure before heauens euerlasting ioyes incomprehensible and immutable Men ought not to be regarded not respected for their gallant and gorgeous apparell only but more for their vertues Man Iull'd in the Labyrinth of pleasures knowes not how to get out The custome of the world Marriage without loue and meanes breeds the most wofull experience of a miserable life Worldlings most wise in knowing the way to get riches but to seeke after the riches of Heauen dull Animals Omnia sub sole vanitas Happy the man that followes this blest example The world 's a Where full of deceitfulnesse There is no true friendship but among good men very scant in this Age. God in his infinite mercy ruinates the building of sinne in the body to re-build the Soule an euerlasting Mansion in Heauen The Alpes be inexasible high great Mountains which diuide France from Italy Man borne in misery most miserable euen froÌ„ his Cradle Mans life assaultod by peril I and eminent dangers No man free from sorrows miseries There is a time pre-ordained for euery thing Humilitie the Queene of Vertues Pride the Princesse of Vice * Belarmine He also by his most excelent and admirable Booke intituled The BVCKLER OF THE FAITH doth vtterly confound the Romane Church And many Iesuites in presuming to dispute with this rare Diuine are put to their Non plus vltra Yea the most famous of theÌ„ Mr. Arnoux the Iesuite is put to his Shifts and Euasions