a man then his owne child Was not Hushai Dauids frend true to him when Absalon his sonne was a traytor to him A man loues his child well yet hée had rather sometyme haue his children iniuried then his frendes Lot had rather haue his daughters defloured then his frendes abused Gen. 19.8 Some wemen loue their husbandes so intierly that they had rather die then depart with them Admetus hauing a disease running vpon him which could not be cured without the death of an other could find none that would gladly dye for his sake but his wife Alcesti Arthemisia did drincke the ashes of hir husband after his death because shée would haue her owne body 〈◊〉 bee her husbands graue In the country called Getica the weâ—â—n desire to die on their husbandes bodies and to bée buried with thâ—â— and because their custome is to marry many wemen there is great striuing which shal haue the preferment and prâ—â—se herein Yet one frend hath done for another as much as this I haue read of Orestes and Pylades how Orestes was conâ—eâ—â—ed to dye and the Iudge not knowing one from another Pylades sayd his name was Orestes to saue his freâ—â—â—s life Tanta est vis amicitiae that as Tully saith a true frend is tanquam alter idem Quod difficile dulce as a 〈◊〉 rare to find so it is a great treasure to attaine one as no doubt a true frend is the 〈◊〉 of earthly ioy Yet a good Name is fâ—r better then the best frend for the best frendes of all will forsake vs when we dye but a good Name will remaine after death Post fatum fama triumphat Sithence a good Name is more excellent then any thing Wée must not looke to get it by sinister but by singular meanes not by vile but by vertuous actions not by vayne but by valiant attemptes The Philosopher saith well Nec vero clarorum virorum post mortem honores permanerent si nihil eorum ipsorum animi efficerent quò diutius memoriam sui teneremus for it is the commendable actions of a man in his life that makes his Name renowned and memorable after death As for example if a good man die what will the people report of him If he be a godly Maiestrate THey will thus commend him He was in the common wealth like Ioseph prouident in foreséeing in geuing iudgement like Samuel iust without bribes in cases of counsell like Salomon prudent in aduising amongst his inferiours like Saul little in hys owne sight Hée stood not vpon the countenance but accomplishment of his office he was full of piety much pitifull nothing parciall he was obeyed more for loue then feare his blessed death bewrayed his godly life and our bad desertes were meanes to abridge his dayes If he be a good Minister THey will report of him He was a good Phisition for hée not onely fed our soules with many good sermons but hee refreshed our bodies with many good meales hee was beloued and honoured of all not so much for his title as integrity He was right Pauls successor for hee was plaine in his habite without pride painefull in his calling without repyning A pastor for deuiding the woord A patterne for direction of life He might boldly reproue vs for our sinnes because he liued blamelesse in our sightes If he be a vertuous rich man THey will thus describe him He was not onely rich by reason of his wealth but well doing his house was an Inne for the straunger an hospitall for the poore a repast for his neighbours his purse was prostrate for euery good purpose hee imitated Iob for integrity Abraham for hospitality Moses for humility hée was louing to his equals lowly to his inferiors liberall to all men We might well forbeere many misers that be about vs but we haue a great misse of such a man to liue amongst vs. If he be any other of what practise profession faculty or function so euer he must expect like commendation according to his conuersation obseruing the dignities degrées giftes and graces of euery one for as the Cedar trée is further séene then the shrub so the higher a man be in place the greater is his report the more noble the more notorious is the Name like a lampe which is further séene vpon a tower then in a trenche I will for breuity omit millions of woorthy men whose Names are famosed by their apparant workes and writings and because as Cicero saith the actes and not the same should first be considered I referre you to their actions to iudge the worthinesse of the Authors If I should enter into authenticall examples how many haue left renowned Names to the world as it is recorded in the word it were too prolixious and néedelesse because they be very perspicuous yet I will infer a few as an introduction to the rest It is written of Ioshua that hée was 〈◊〉 through all the world Iosh 6.27 Samuel that he 〈…〉 and nâ—â—e 1. Sam. â— 26 Dauid that his Name was mâ—â—e grâ—â—◠〈◊〉 vnto the Name of the great 〈…〉 2. Sam. 7.9 Salomon that he 〈…〉 1. King 10. Iob thâ—â— there was 〈◊〉 like hym iâ— the earth Iob. 2.3 If I should 〈…〉 of such as 〈…〉 worthy Names in this 〈…〉 them Yet amonâ—â—â— many 〈…〉 then any respâ—â—â—â—â—g 〈◊〉 â—â—bility of the sexe what a rare report hath our Souerâ—â—â—â—â— Lady Queene Elizabeth deserued Whose patience in 〈◊〉 crosses whose piety in mainetayning the Gospell whose prouidence in foreséeing for her Countries whose pitty dispersed to all her subiectes hath made her Name so renowned that it is not onely carryed into the South for Saba to woonder at but into most partes of the world for all to admire at Her fame maketh forrayners to stand in feare of her her Maiesty maketh the Pagans to be amazed at her her Regiment maketh all nations to maruaile at her Blessed is she that hath so many blessinges happy are we that haue so rare a Phenix Accursed be they that wish ill to such a creature As shée hath deserued an admirable Name by her life Sic tandiu laudabitur dum memoria rerum Anglorum manebit If a good Name gotten by laudable meanes doth magnifie a man an ill Name procéeding of misdemeanor must néedes infamize him For as the same tallow which doth cherrish the light doth extinguish it if it be turned downeward so the same mouth which dooth praise one dooth depraue him if his actions bee odious as for example if an ill man die what will they say of him If he be an vngodly Gouernour They will thus report The Towne hath a happy turne by his death for it had no dâ—â—â—â—te by his life he did conuert the publike commodity priuately into his owne coffers he was ready to hang a man like Haman for bowing of a knée or moouing a cap he stood so much vpon his Magistracy that hee cleane forgot himselfe to be a man In his Office he would many wayes
By the old Law none 〈…〉 to a stranger but to sâ—â—e â—f his own stocke to no other 〈◊〉 but to presâ—rue their Names Deut. 25. For this cause dâ— Boar a 〈◊〉 of great wealth take Ruth a poore woman to his wiâ—e becaâ—â—â— hée was her next kinsman And for this cause was Onan cut off because he would not â—oo the office of a kinsman to Tamar after his brothers death Gen. 38. By the same Law none might 〈◊〉 his Inheritance but to some of hys kindred because it might stir vp the Name of the dead Ruth 4.5 It was this that made Naomi and Ruth come out of Bethelem because they might not sell their parcell of land to a straunger and for this cause was Naboth vnwilling to part from his Vineyard though it was requested by a king because it was his Inheritance 1. King 21. So common a principle of experience hath it beene in all ages and amongst all estates that rather then they would haue their Names extinct they omitted nothing that might be a meane to maintaine them The Romaines as Boetius maketh mention had a Table of brasse in which the Names of famous and noble men were vsed to be written for a perpetuall fame or memory and if any of them afterward were conuicted off fellony or any egregious offence hée was presently strooke out of the Table and that was called the death of prescription Some for want of issue builde glorious habitations and call their Landes by their Names The Psalmist obserued that in his time psal 49.11 Absolom erected a pillar and called it by his owne Name because he had no sonne to kéepe it in remembrance 2. Sam. 18.18 Some build or buy whole Citties and Townes and call them by their Names The Israelites did so 1. Chro. 6.65 or by their childrens Names as Caine did who built a Citty and called it by his sonnes Name because his vile act was an vtter coinquination of his owne Name Gen. 4.17 What excéeding ioy was there at the birth of Obed the text saith because the Name of the dead should bee continued in Israell Ruth 4.14 héereof many are deâ—â—rous of children because by their ofspring their Names are after a sort reduced from death Many Monarches Kinges Princes and persons of renowne haue sumptuous Sepulchers and costly Tombes vppon their graues pro memoria mortuorum not so much for the royalty of their estates as for a remembraunce of their Names Iaacob set vp a pillar vppon his wiues graue and it is called the pillar of Rahels graue to this day There be others that haue â—â—iâ—â—phes and Epigrams engâ—â—uen vpon their Graue-stones for no other cause but that theyr Names might be remembred when they are read Then séeing there is none but is desirous of a Name how blessed is hée aboue other that deserues a good Name for Salomon saith the memoriall of the iust shal be blessed A good Name is to be accounted a great blessing for God promiseth to the godly that he will exalt them in Prayse in Name and in Glory Deut. 26.19 Amongst many other blessings bestowed on Abraham the Lord saide hee would make his Name great Gen. 12.2 A good Name post funera viuit it doth not onely reuiue the dead but reioyce the liuing by remembring it addeth a commâ—ndation to the deceased and a consolation to his successors S. Augustine saith if a man lead a good and honest lâ—â—e it is profitable to himselfe but a good Name or report is profitable to others For there is nothing more excellent of an earthly blessing then a good Name A good Name is better then Riches WHat more estimable amongst 〈…〉 Riches I haue read of some as Anaxagoras 〈◊〉 hauing sent him from king Alexander thirty thousand tallents of goâ—d he refused it returning 〈◊〉 sweare that it wâ—s for kinges to vse monâ—y and not for Philosophers and Constantinus a mighty monarche had riches so much in contempt that hee thought 〈◊〉 rich â—hâ—ough by gouerning such as had thâ—â— though be possessed none This iron age of ours affoordes not many so affected but it is true that Tully saith maxime admiraâ—â—ur cum qui pecâ—mia non monetur for mony is such a â—â—â—tall as most 〈◊〉 desâ—re 〈◊〉 sure and no man can wâ—â—t without misery absque pecunia miseâ—è viuitur saith Terence Tantum quantum habes sis a mâ—ns credite is according to his wealth doth not experience teach this that the gentleman carrieth many a give that hath nothing but his birth to brag on the scholler taketh many a skoffe that hath nothing but his bookes to boast on the souldier is little set by that hath nothing but his buckler to shield him Quid non pecunia potest siluer aunsweareth to all saith the Preacher Eccles 10.19 and true it is for by it all other wants whatsoeuer are supplied Is not the foole thought wise if hee hath wealth and the wise foolish if he want it who will reiect an Asse if he come laden with gold when few will accept a man if hee hath nothing but his wit Doo not riches oftentimes preferre men to honour for that cause Labans sonnes enuied Iacob because hée had got honor by their fathers goods Gen. 31.1 Doo we not sée that such as haue béene much renowned when they had riches haue lost theyr dignity when they decayed who was more reputed of in prosperity then Iob but when his goods were gone hee could say Iob. 19.9 that he was spoyled of his honour Therefore Riches are of great price and praise they were one of the giftes God gaue Salomon yet he possessing as great plenty of siluer as stones could say A good Name is to be chosen aboue great Riches Prou. 22.1 A Philosopher yéeldeth a pretie reason Riches may bee recouered when they are lost but a good Name can neuer for as Plautus saith the infamy of a man is immortall shée liueth when you thincke her lost A good Name is better then pretious ointments WHat more soueraigne for many vses in Phisicke then ointments dayly experience approoues it In the time of the old law ointmentes were so costly in compounding so artificiall in composing so precious in accompt that they were called holy ointments Exod. 30.23 because they â—â—serue for certaine vses of the Tabernacle It is said that Mary annointed the féete of Christ with a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly the sauour whereof filled the whole house Quéene Saba brought pretious odours and oyntmentes for a present to king Salomon for ointments are part of a kings treasure therefore Salomon had men of purpose appointed to that office 2. King 20.13 and so had Hezekiah Loue is an excellent thing yet the loue of brethren is likened to the pretious ointment that ranne downe Aarons beard as appéereth in the Psalmes The Church is greatly to be exalted yet the Church resembleth her good Name to ointments as appéereth in the Canticles Ointments in respect of their necessitie in vse
efficacie in operation and odoriferous sauours are to bee accompted very pretious and profitable Yet saith the Preacher A good Name is better then a good ointment Eccles 7.3 and it standeth wyth reason for oyntments may preserue and pleasure such as liue but they cannot benefite a man when his body is dead A good Name is better then long life WHat more desired amongst men thâ—â— length of dayes vita incundissima a 〈…〉 all he hath to prolong his life aâ— appâ— by the diseased womâ—n which spâ—nt all thi◠〈…〉 â—tions Mark 5.26 And certes although the 〈…〉 ashes Ice congealed of 〈…〉 conuert to 〈◊〉 and man made of earth must dissolue 〈…〉 for omni aetati mortem esse communem And albeit the best Pippâ—◠〈…〉 then the Crab the swéetest flower sooner 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 and the better man shall sometime sooner die thâ—◠〈◊〉 despâ—rate Abel was cut off when Cayn was permitted 〈◊〉 liue to his reproach Yet commonly in the Sâ—riptures the benefite of a long life is accompted a great blessing so a mans déedes be aunswearable to his dayes otherwise the more old the more â—â—ible Prou. 16.31 there is nothing more reprochfull saith Seneca then an old man which hath none other argument to prooue he hath liued long but onely his yeares for it is saide of the godly hee shall goe to his graue in a full age as a ricke of corne commeth in due season into the barne Iob. 5.26 The Lord promised the people of Ierusalem this blessing there shall yet olde men and olde wemen dwell therein and euery man with his staffe in his hand for very age Zach. 8.4 It is said of Abraham he died in a good age an old man and of great yeares Gen. 25.8 Isaack hee died and was gathered vnto his people being old and full of dayes Gen. 35.29 Dauid hee died in a good age and full of dayes 1. Chron. 29.28 Iob he died being old and full of dayes Iob. 42.17 Now it is said concerning the wicked that he shall not liue out halfe his dayes Psal 55 23. but shall bée cut off before his tyme Iob. 15.32 We haue example in Saul when hee killed himselfe and in Iudas when he hanged himselfe the Lord layeth this as a iudgement vpon Ely there shall not bee an old man in his house 1. Sam. 2.31 Yet a good Name is better then a long life the Wiseman sheweth a reason A good life hath the dayes nombred but a good Name endureth for euer Eccles 41.13 the common state of life as Dauid saith is 70. or 80. yeares but say that none liuing euer saw any should attaine the age of Methushelah 979. yéers yet his dayes are definite and determinable but his Name remaynes memorable to all posterities A good Name better then a Frend. WHat man can want the societie and solace of a true frend the Whale must haue his fish to direct him and man his frend to delight him Without a frend to participate withall there is nothing so delightfull to the eye so delectable to the eare so ioyfull to the hart that could procure vs any pleasure What more necessary then a frend in wealth to accompany in wo to comfort in any estate to communicate with Dauid was often in daunger of his life but for Ionathan Onesimus was a great frend to Paul in his distresse the wounded man had béene dead but for the Samaritane What is comparable to a true frend if we search into all sectes and sortes of people Amongst the common sort THeir loue is more light then loyall in crosses like the Marigold which close with euery cloud in wealth like the Drone which draweth from the Bée in both like the Pâ—lipe which chaunge with euery obiect such as gaue Christ good entertainement at his comming to Ierusalem could cry Crucifâ—â— to haue him to the crosse Amongst neighbours THeir frendship is more 〈◊〉 then faithfull if they bée rich they can hardly dâ—ell together Lot could not away with Abraham because their riches were so great If rich and poore dwell together then the 〈…〉 to the wâ—ll Diues could not abide Lazarus because he was poore If artificers and tradesmen dwell together then they be 〈◊〉 according to the common saying Figulus figulum odit Amongst kinsfolkes THere goodwill is as commonly cold as kinde like the Colewort which fléeth from the vine though it bee planted neuer so néere for the common prouerbe is verified Many kinsfolkes few frendes Saul could not abide Dauid for all he married his daughter nor Laban loued not Iacob Amongst Brothers ALas it is lamentable that those which bée nighest in bloud should bée furthest from beneuolence some carry malice till oportunity may effect it as Esau did toward Iacob because his father was liuing Gen. 27.41 Some conspire death as Iosephs brethren did against him because his father loued him best some commit murder as Cayn did to Abel because his sacrifice was better accepted of God Gen. 4.4 such is the loue of brethren that it may well be true that Salomon saith A frend is neerer then a brother Prou. 18. Amongst parents and children IT is horrible to expresse the vnnaturall practises of such whome nature hath appropriated so néere was not Senacherib slayne by his owne children and did not Nero murther Agrippina his owne mother Betwene man and wife THis of all other is the néerest coniunction and yet a man is crost with a collop of his owne flesh What a torment was Iobs wife to him in his trouble was not Ahab brought to confusion by Iezebels counsell did not Delilah séeke Sampsons destruction when he satisfied her desire I know there be many els God forbid that perfourme all the dueties of loue and nature within the former described kindes but they are vsed and executed not by those which are enemies but Frendes for a frend saith Salomon loueth at all times Prou. 17.17 and without loue there is none so néere ingraffed by nature but liue disseuered and at discord by enmity therefore a frend is most to be preferred What is hée will doe so much as one frend for an other Some brothers are very naturall Ioseph did kindly nourish his brothers in their age which would cruelly haue killed him in his youth Gen. 50.21 and Iudah did offer to stay in a strange countrey as a pledge for his brother Beniamin and was in great daunger of displeasure Gen. 44.23 Yet one frend hath done more for another then this I haue read of Damon and Pithias how the one béeing condemned to die and crauing some liberty to sée his countrie before his death the other staid behind as a suertie for his safe returne and to receiue his punishment if the other broke promise Some children are very duetifull yet they will sometime doo as much for their frend as their father Ionathan loued Saul well yet he loued his frend Dauid as his owne soule though his father could not abide him A frend wil sometime do more for
and so maist thou bée but say thou art as cléere from sinne as Christ yet take ensample by thy Sauiour for he disdained not the company of Publicans and Sinners which in those dayes the Iewes accompted the very ofscummes of the earth A very speciall Note HE that wil be strickt in reproouing must not be stayned in his liuing for Tully saith it is the property of a foole to spie faults in other and forget his owne He that doth register others escapes should not be rechlesse himselfe and to twit one by that which either he or his haue bene toucht withall is a méere point of impudency With what force canst thou vtter in disgrace of thy penitent brother There goes a drunkard when many can tell thée thou hast beene ouertaken with drinke With what boldnesse canst thou say There iets a proud person when thy gate gesture and gouernement are great presumptions of pride With what credite maist thou report There goes an Adulterer when thou thy selfe art accompted an incontinent liuer With what countenance canst thou say There goes an Vsurer which takes but tenne in the hundred for mony when thou takest after thirty in the hundred in thy trade With what shame maist thou publish There goes a blasphemer when thou thy selfe hast béene touched with hereticall blasphemy I speake not to the mainetenance of any obstinate and vncorrigible sinner but to crosse these cauilling spirites which spend their mouthes in spighte against others when their owne woorkes may accuse them of vanity in their wordes The Apostle doth not exclude them when hee reprooueth him that speakes against stealing yet playes the thiefe Ro. 2.21 It is not inuaighing spéech can varnish a vitious man nor a hiâ—â— looke can couer a dishonest life nor a brasen face can hide a bad fact but he that respecteth no person but his piety no titles but integrity no excuse but simplicity will not onely reueale such as be euill but reuenge it here or in the world to come Some will obiect they haue not fallen into the like offence their brother haue what then hath he sinned by incontinency you by couetousnes he in pride you by oppression hée by bribing you by blaspheming hée one way you an other yet ye be both liable to a like verdite for hée that sayes the one shall not come in heauen will not suffer the other to inherite without repentance Gal. 5.20 c. Some are crossed with losse of their goods as Iob was many with vntoward children as Eli was and with death of their children as the woman of Sarepta was others with diseases of body as Naomi was with leprosie some with losse of their Name as Cain was who liued to his reproach although God doth not infliâ—t these in like manner and measure to all yet sithence few or 〈◊〉 are frée from these afflictions one ought not to applaud in an others misery For he that reioyceth at destruction shall not go vnpunished saith Salomon Prou. 17.5 Euery one should square his spéech by the rule of charity waigh his desartes in the ballance of equity then he shall find that if his owne faults were branded â—n his forehead he shall hardly escape without a blemish on his face if he pull not his hat somewhat low ouer his browes Sibi quisque proximus euery man can looke forward to his neighbours faults but hath not an eye to his owne such as these can straine a gnatt but swallow a camell stomble at a straw but leape ouer a blocke like hypocriticall Iewes who could tith minte but ouerâ—â—ip great matters If some of them did examine and compare their owne actions with others they might say as Iudah did of Tamar She is more righteous then I. Gen. 28. and many of them may offer sacrifice euery day with Iob for their vitious and voluptâ—â—â—â— châ—â—dren they may heare many ill reportes of them as Eli 〈◊〉 of his sonnes but they can suffer thâ—m to procéede â—n without punishment when an other shal be persecuted in the lâ—â—st trip of his life The Conclusion LEast he that hath a good Name should be too glorious or he that hath an ill Name should be too much disgraced I thought good to ad this conclusiue caueat by the way A good Name although it be excellent yet it is earthly though it be memorable yet it is momentany though it be committed to Rolles of record by Chronologiers or engrauen in brasse as they vse in some countrey yet both the Actors wrytinges and all will weare away in time the Philosopher could say Quà m multos clarissimos suis temporibus viros scriptorum inops deleuet obliuio Such as be experienced by age can tell how many men that in their time were noble and famous be now cleane forgotten and out of memory Whereby we may sée the fraile fruition of euery temporary thing which is soone decided with the circle of time so that no perpetuity in this life can be presumed of the most pretious thing A good Name therfore we must not labour or looke to eternize our Names vpon earth but rather couet and craue that we may be in the nomber of those whose Names are written in heauen for as the Lord sayth in the Prophet Esay that is an euerlasting Name which shall not be put out Esay 56.5 and albeit many shall haue their Names blemished in this life blessed are they if they be not blotted out of the boke of life The Marchant will barter his reffuse ware with hys best the Vintner will draw his decayed wine with his better If thy brother of infirmity fall actiones cum fama expendito thou art to consider not onely the offence which procured il report but by how many other actions he is worthy praise and so ballaÌ„ce one against an other for this course is commonly vsed in the Scriptures You shall find Abrahams folly to be recorded aswel as his faith Noahs ebriety aswell as his integrity Salomons wantonnesse aswel as his wisdome Pauls persecuting aswell as his preaching Peters periury aswell as his penitency yet their euâ—ll factes be not applied to their infamy but infirmity neither be their Names extinguished but eternized If Princes Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles haue their faultes meruaile not so much at their inferiors if they fall and therefore as we terme not that trée to be ill which is many times blasted so it beareth good fruite to the end so we must not take that man to be infamous which many times falleth so he riseth by repentance to his death Certaine pithy and profitable Apothegues directing men to thriue not so much by their goods as gouernement WHen the Lambe is by the Lyon there is no feare of the Wolfe He that is shrouded vnder his superior is in lesse daunger of displeasure for he shal be sometime spared when others are spighted many waies pittied when others are oppressed Ioseph could neuer be in â—â—â—et vntill he had got in fauour vnder Pharaoh