authority are fit only for men that are both wise and vertuous for the wicked stil seek to destroy and not to maintaine godly and ciuil gouernment Ambition is a lurking plague a secret poison a subtil mischief the mother of hypocrisie the forger of deceit the nurse of enuie the wâ—lspring of vices the moth of deuotion the blinder of Arts making diseases of remedies and sicknes of salues Ambition breaketh the league of godly society pincheth the purse stirreth strife daunteth vertues and layeth her selfe open to all vice and wickednes The ambitious man so litle regardeth his dutie that he wisheth the death of his own father to enioy promotion yea seketh the subuersion of a whole kingdom in hope once to sit in the chaire of pompe Abstinence ABstinence is the curer of many maladies in the bodie a due corrector of filthy lustes of the flesh and a ready directer of the soule to sempiternal felicity By Abstinence thy purse is saued thy body preserued thy soule blessed better is a man patient then strong for he that can rule his affections is a great conquerour They that abstaine from vice glorify God and preserue their soules to eternall blisse Nature is content with a liâ—le and he that oppresseth her with excesse hurteth himself and displeaseth God They that drink wine in youth double the flame of carnal desire Keep thine eies from vaine sights least it be caried from thine eies to thine heart Let not thy conceipt imbrace the image of lust for thereby thy heart is stirred to vaine follie Yeeld not to the motions of the flesh for it poysoneth thy soule and bringeth thy bodie to a miserable end Aduersitie HIde thy misfortune that thine enemie reioyce not at thy fall As the Potters vessels are tried in the furnace euen so good men are known in aduersitie Vertuous men finde some solace in greatest sorrowes In al thine aduersities remember these thâ—e things hard things may bee mollified straite things may be loosed and heauie thinges by custome are made little or nothing troublesome to such as beare them hansomly Trouble is cause of patience patience maketh proofe proofe bringeth hope and hope is neuer rebuked Coales being in the fire doe burne consume but the gold is tryed the one is turned to ashes and the other is fined the forge is the world good men are the gold aduersities the fire and God the workman Dispaire not in aduersitie for he that caste thee downe can raise thee vp againe As our sinnes prouoke the wrath of God whereby we are forced to sustaine all calamities so repentance with amendment of life restore vs to our former prosperities I iudge him most miserable that neuer knew miserie for good men are tried like fiâ—â— gold but the wicked are left like dyâ—tie drosle By many tribulations wee shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that hath not taken vp his crosse and followed Christ shall not inherite the kingdome of Christ. Afflictions and crosses are as necessarie for the soule as warme cloathes and dainty fare for the bodie My childe neglect not the punishment of God because it bringeth thy soule to all eternitie Blessed is he that patiently taketh that corrections which God layeth vpon him Aduersities cause good men to be better make wicked men worse He that neuer felt aduersitie is not worthy of prosperitie It is better to suffer aduersity in this life hereafter to enioy eternall life then here once to seeme to be blessed and hereafter to be euer cursed Troubles in this life being patiently taken encrease solace to life eternall but being stubburnlie borne and taken as a wrong at the hands of the Almightie bring all heauinesse and sorrow to eternall death Almes deede ALmes deliuereth thee from sin and from death and will not suffer thy soule to enter into darknesse Blessed is he that considereth the poore and needie for the Lorde wil deliuer him in the day of trouble He that stoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore he shall crie and God wil not hear him He that vseth alms offereth sacrifice to the Lord. Charitie is not perfect when crauing exhorteth it Perfect compassion is to preuent the hungrie before the begger desire The Almes of the hart is much better then the Almes of the bodie for God loueth a chearâ—uâ—l giuer As the fiery lake is prouided for the niggard euen so the ioyes of heauen are prepared for such as delight in charitable giuing The Almes of charity without worldly substance sufficeth but that which is corporallie giuen without a mercifull heart is not sufficient but worse then nothing He that vseth Almes doeth offer sacrisice to the Lord Charity is not perfect when crauing exhorteth it Accusation HE that accuseth not the wicked is condemned with him It is better that an euill man bee accused then to be suffered to go vnpunished The wicked accuse no man because they would goe free Arrogancie PRide is the mother of many mischiefes for it nourisheth theft it maintaineth adultery it bringeth foorth disdaine and causeth men to forget God Pride breedeth idlenesse prouoketh lust and leaueth the soule in the filthy puddle of eternall damnation The congregation of proud men shall neuer prosper He is an arrogant person and still counted most dissolute that setteth litle by that which good men deeme of him An arrogant man heareth not the wholsome counsell of such as are graue wise and vertuous Apparell THe apparell laughter and gate of a man do shew to the world what hee is Vertuous conditons are the only braue laudable ornamentes that can set foorth anie Christian. She is not well apparelled that is not wel manered Shee that painteth her face with materiall collours putteth out the true picture of god Foule maners are worse then dyrtie apparell but faire conditions surpasse vestures of gold As too much sluttishnesse and exquisite nicenes are detestable vices so a decent comlinesse is a laudable vertue Babbling IN much babbling lacketh no sinne but hee is wise that can temper his language A babbling enemie shall lesse annoie thee then he that is secret One thing often times spoken troubleth the hearer So talk with men as if God did hear thee so talke with God as if men did hear thee Battell WArre ought only to be taken in hand that peace may ensue Such as are oppressed are forced to vse warre for their owne defence Octauian the Emperour was woont to say that warre should not bee stirred without surety that the gaine should be more then the charges Victorie resteth not only in a great armie for the strength of battell commeth from heauen Sobernesse in a Captaine is no lesse commendable then strength and hardinesse A carefull souldier is neuer idle but alwayes busied in his attemptes Boasting LEt a stranger commend thee not thine owne lips
pardon my sinnes to forgiue mine offences and to renew thy holy Spirite in mee that I may so passe my time in this life that through thy grace fauor I may neuer waÌ„der in the most filthy streetes of eternall death and destruction but for euer escape the daungerous and stinking gulfe of hellish calamâ—ties and damnation Consider O Lord consider I beseech thee the weaknesse and frailty of my sinful flesh and according to the multitude of thy mercies receiue my soule into thy fauour and put all my wickednes out of thy remembrance Cleanse me O sweet Sauiour and so shall I be cleansed and made whiter than the snowe in thy sight Strengthen me O God streÌ„gthen me that the gates of hel preuail not against me neither let Satan death or hell euer haue power to triumph ouer me but let mee that am thine be thine stil and be thou mine Grant this O most victorious triumphant Lord for thy tender mercies sake and for thy deare sonnes sake our onlie mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Prayer to attaine heauenly felicitiâ—s THis worlde O Lord is a dungion of darknes a mountaine of miserable martyrdoms a lewd laberinth of loathsom lusts a canckred course of choking calamities a place of all vanities quite void of all vertues Wherfore make me strong O sweet Sauior to walke vpright in this wretched wildernes and arme me blessed Lord with thy holy armour let me haue O tender Father thy righteousnesse for my breast-plate a liuely faith in thee for my target a firm hope of thy mercies for my helmet and the true knowledge of thy word for my banner so that I may be strong against all the fond allurements vaine fancies and most wicked assaultes of the world the flesh and deuill the mortall enemies both of my body and soule and after the ende of this fraile life I may participate with thee and thy holie Angels the perfect ioyes of heauenly felicities in eternall life but feeling the heauie burthen of my sinne and calling to memorie the grieuous punishment which thou hast often time laid vpon sinne as when thou diddest send fire vpon Sodom and Gomorrha for sinne when thou diddest cast foorth Adam out of Paradice for sinne when thou diddest harden the heart of Pharaoh for sin when thou diddest cast Lucifer foorth out of heauen into vtter darknes for sin yea when thou didst persecute Salomon in himself his posterity with Dauid thy own seruant and many others to our example al for shameful sin O Christ most mercifull I beseech thee that art the lamb of God and takest away the sins of the world to blot out al mine iniquitiâ—s which I coÌ„fesse O Lord to be more then al theirs let not mine offences be witnesses against me in the great day for then I know that both death and euerlasting damnation shal be my reward Wherefore I beseech thee O most mighty God and mercifull Father that the pittifull passion of thy deare son may be a sufficient ransom for al my sins a ful satisfaction for all mine offences Grant me O Lord thy holy spirite of thy louing kindnes turne thy fauourable countenaÌ„ce towards me that I may for euer in all my thoughts words and deeds praise glorifie thy holy name after this life attaine the felicities and ioyes of thy blessed kingdome and there with thee to raigne eternallly To whome with the father the son and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen Sweet and comfortable Flowers for soule and body Auarice THe chariote of Auarice is carried vppon foure wheeles of vices which are Faint courage Inhumanitie contempt of God and forgetfulnesse of death The two horses that drawe the same are Rauine and Niggardship to them both is but one Carter which is a desire to haue the whip which the carter vseth hath two cords and they are a greedy mind to get and a fearful heart to forgoe As hell and perdition are neuer filled euen so the minde of a couetous person is neuer contented Riches hastily gotten shall soone diminish but that which by honest trauel is by litle and litle gathered shal dayly increase and continue long He that maketh hast to bee rich and beareth enuie to others litle knoweth how soon pinching necessitie shall summon him to the base court of pouertie Endlesse woe is the rewarde of him that greedily doth gather to maintaine his house that his nest may stand on high and thinketh to escape the great strok of vengeance The couetous person neuer taketh rest for in this life his mind is vexed and his soule shall euer burne in the fiery lake of eternall perdition O with what difficulty shall they that are in loue with mony enter into the kingdome of heauen Verily I say vnto you more easie is it for a Cammell to passe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen Such as be rich or couet much wealth sal no doubt into most wicked temptations and are taken in the sâ—ares of the deuill yea by greedy and vnlawfull desires are drowned in the stinking gulfe of sempiternall death damnation Pouerty lacketh many things couetousnes al things the niggard â—o no man is good â—ut to himselfe worst Money is a seruant and drudge to a wise man but to a foole a Ladie and Mistresse Inordinate desire of riches and rule is the onlie fountaine whence springeth all mischiefe for couetous appetite subuerteth credit honestie humility clemencie patience benignitie with all other vertues Riches to a wicked man are instruments of mischiefe As the fire euer desireth more fewell that it may consume it euen so a man that is couetous craueth more welth that he may hoord it the fire to his comfort because it is therby maintained but the man to his misery be-because he is thereby damned Riches to the vertuous and godly that vse them wel are a token of the sweet mercies fauour of God but to the wicked that abuse them a perfect signe of their reprobation losse of Gods loue towards them Ambition THe Deuill did fall only because he wold rather be a prince then a subiect An aspiring mind neuer inioyeth quietnes He that desireth to be aboue others often times falleth and is set with the lowest Such as are infected with ambition are desirous of honour must be enforced to possesse such treasures only as are vnspotted and cleane from all mischiefe which may not of any enemy be corrupted of any friend misliked nor of any man slandered All such as exalt themselues shall surely be daunted and set low Who so liueth in authority let him weigh in the vpright ballaÌ„ce of his clear conscience in what sort he came vnto it and comming wel vnto it how he ought to liue wel in it to the end he may gouern wisely let him cal to remembrance his owne infirmity Rule
perfect feeling then we know here eke remaines by destinies O glorious God that hast assign'd these pleasures all vs to content Inspire our hearts that thou maist find our soules with thee still to consent What greater ioyes can be exprest what sweeter blisse what pleasure more Can be conceiu'd in humaine breast then here haue bene rehearst before Yet more then all is ouerâ—ast which one is all I dare well say For faâ—e to face we shall at â—â—st Our Sauiour sweet see night and day And ioy in him with perfect blâ—sse and liue with him that death hath sâ—aine In loue and peace which are endlesse and neuer toucht with woe or paine No gooâ— can be but there is found no good without him is possest All best delights do there abound each fight doth yeeld a perfect rest The Angels there most glorious are then humaine eyes can well behold More bright they shine then any star and still Gods mercies they vnfold What place more stately can there be for greatest Princes to enioy Then follow heires with him to be that grants all blisse without annoy Behold the time which once hath bin behold the time which present is Behold also each future thing most plaine are there with God in blisse O knowledge deep O heauenly light O sence most cleare that so can reach That so can bring all things in sight and so all saints and Angels teach O blessed state where malice sleepes no one is here of base degree O glorious Lord that Princes keeps his loyall seruants for to be O seat of ioy O sâ—e of blisse O happie house of all pleâ—sures O state which neuer doth amisse O blessed place which so endures O place which yeeldeth all contents O place which neuer wracke sustaines O place which need ne lands ne rents O place which still in blisse remaines O woondrous place of all the best O place which endlesse comfort brings O place of ioy and quiet rest O place whence chiefest goodnes springs O place the nurse of loue and peace O place the fountaine of all faith O place where strife and discord cease O onlie place of life and breath O glorious Lord that there doth raigne and only giuer of all blisse O happy we if we maintaine and keepe his lawes in righteousnesse O happie we to whome the light and knowledge of his word is brought O happie we that liue in sight of such a Lord in word and thought O happie all that doe imbrace this famous Lord in word and deed For they shal comfort get and grace and on his Manna shall they feed O Manna sent from God aboue O Manna sweet that bringeth blisse O onlie food of godlie loue that mends all things that are amisse O heauenly iewell of all the best O pearle passing glittering gold Wherein all Christian soules do rest and with all ioy the same behold No difference there of persons is Each one doth liue in like degree Each one possesseth heauens blisse all face to face our Lord do see O man to thee now must I call the end where first I did begin That ioyes that blisse that paine and thrall may keep thy soule and mind from sin Thy heart will melt on them to thinke if any grace in thee remaine And from all filthy sinfull sinke thy heart and hand thou wilt refraine Vaine pleasure all then wilt thou scorne when heauens blisse thou doest behold For they with damned spirits are torne that make a treasure of their golde When grieâ—ly death doth the assault it is too late for to amend Wherefore in time confesse thy fault and God to please see thou intend For when this liâ—e is gone and past there is no cure for any sinne Then as we are so shall we last in ioy or paine as we begin Wherefore thy life see so thou frame that it may please our Sauiour sweet And alwayes praise his holy name then thou in blisse shalt Angels meet And with them euer shalt thou be all peace all ioy with them shalt haue Surpassing pleasures stil shalt see and nothing euer need to craue Which blessed place none can possesse till from this finfull life they goe None to the same can haue accesse vnlesse in godlinesse they flowe FINIS A PRAIER TO ESCHVE worldly vanities FOr asmuch O bountifull Iesus and most sweete sauiour of mankind the frailtie of our corrupted flesh is still more ready to yeelde to the vain allurements of this wicked world and fond fancies of this wretched vale then to the sweet and comfortable perswasions of thy constant worde reuealed in the holy Gospell the food of our soules the bread of our liues and the strength of our saluation I most humblie beseech thee euen in the bowels of thy tender mercies to turne thy fauourable countenance towards me so poure in me the dewe of thy heauenly grace that I may euen hate and eschewe the vaine inuentions and fonde pleasures of this loathsome laberynth walk in the waies of the godly according to thy holy lawes coÌ„mandements Be thou O merciful God my strong castell and refuge against the wicked assaults and most filthy temptations of Satan and all his hellish hoste for they secretâ—ly dig pits for my soule and seeke continuallie to entrappe the same in the snares of eternall damnation and leaue nothing vnattempted that may worke my most miserable destruction Wherefore o most sweet and tender Father so mortify old Adam in my fond affections that despising the vncertainty frailtie of this momentaneous life I may not delight my self in the ioyes of any earthly pleasures or looke for any comfort of this present life but withdrawe my mind and soule from things of fickle stay to fix my hart to solace and delights vpon the hope of beholding the maiestie and beautie of they glorie wherein ioy shal be ful and nothing wanting for euer Graunt O blessed God and most merciful Father that art the mighty monark of heauen and earth and onely giuer of all goodnesse that my soule may as a Doue speedily flie vnto the sweete bosome of thy deare sonne and there with him receiue the happie rest which he by shedding of his preeious bloud hath purchased and prepared for the same to whome with the father and the holie Ghost be all glorie praise dominion and power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to escape the calamities of hell BEholding with the eies of my heart O blessed Lord the cruell tormentes and dreadful terrors of the pit of hel which thou hast appointed to be a iust guerdon for sin and a fit punishment for such as forsake thee and daylie seeke by infidelity to dishonour thee and knowing that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I should receiue nothing but death and damnanation I here prostrating my selfe before thy diuine Maiestie most humbly beseech thee of thy gracious fauour to caste downe the eyes of Mercie vpon me to
and the common mischief of man more credit is giuen to mens signets then to their soules The honesty of men consisteth in the true performance of their promises Quietnesse THe paeient man enioyeth most quietnes and a quiet mind keepeth the body in temperance It is better to liue with a little quietly then with aboundance troublesomlie Quietnes maketh a merrie heart and a fat bodie Remembrance IT is good to remeÌ„ber our faultes that we may first repent vs of them and then specdilâ— amend them There is nothing more coÌ„fortable to the heart of man then the remeÌ„brance of sorrows past in prosperitie present Reason Nothing in a man is better then reason for by that hee goeth before beastes and followeth the gods A perfect reason is that good which properly belongeth to man all other thinges are to him common with beasts For if he bee strong so is the Lyon if faire so is the Peacocke if swift so is the horse Reason maketh a man full of felicity Man by reason killeth the wilde Boare stayeth yea slayeth the light footed Stagge By reason one man gouerneth another for the subiect by reason is brought to obey the Prince the Prince with clemeÌ„cie through reason ruleth the subiect and long raigneth ouer them Riches RIches make place for losse for such as possesse much must loose much Not Riches but good deeds shall deliuerâ—a man from damnation Riches are the â—ause of sin and sin of death Riches draw men to hurtâ—ull desires anâ— drown their soules in the gulfe of perdition Sapience THe roote of wisedome is to feare God and the branches thereof be of long life The ardent desire of wisedome bringeth a man to the euerlasting kingdome A wise heart will abstaine from euill deeds and he shal prosper in the works of iustice The thoughtes of a wise man can not bee depraued A wise man is neuer troubled with the tempests of heauinesse Wisdome excelleth strength the prudent person is preferred before the puissant Wisedome is the Nurse of peace and the mother of all other vertues Sicknesse SIcknesse patientlie taken is a perfect token of the loue and fauour of God for therby we see our frailtie and weaknes and also the omnipotent power of the highest Sicknesse causeth great men to remember God and poore men to acknowledge their offences Sicknesse is more necessarie then meat for by the one the body onelie is maintained but by the other both body soule are coÌ„forted Silence SIlence to follie is great wisdome Vse few words and much wit Offende rather in silence then in babbling Silence hurteth none but many words are hated of all men An euil man is soner vanquished by silence then with answers and malice sooner stirred with words then reformed A man which cannot keep silence is like a citie whose gates stand wide open wherein the aduuersarie entreth at his pleasure Truâ—th MAnie wordes commonly scatter trueth to nothing Truth seeketh not corners All the wayes of God are mercy truth Time trieth trueth trueth pleaseth God Let thy tongue â—ee ignorant of lying and swearing and so well see thou loue trueth that what soeuer thou speakest thinke that thou swearest the same Trueth surmounteth all earthly things for God himself is very trueth Trueth floweth from God as from the only fountaine of the same Trueth cannot hide it self for it shineth in darknesse and banisheth the dimme cloudes of ignorance As Satan is the father of lies so is God the authour of trueth Truth flourisheth amongst the godly but all such as beare lying lips are banished from that societie Let all thy talke be mixed with modestie and trueth Vertue Vâ—rtue is godlie inclination of the minde to eschew euill and imbrace godlinesse Vertue is to restraine anger to mittigate desire and to refraine carnal pleasures The fruits of the Spirite are charitie chastitie humilitie ioyfulnesse peace patience bountifulnesse goodnesse long sufferance saith temperance continence and meeknes Vertue adorneth thy minde decketh thy thy soule and winneth loue to thy â—ody Vertue is euer one with most deep rooâ—s perfectly planted and can with no violent means be destroyed It beseemeth vertue to be free from dread and subiect to no seruitude Vertue cannot serue because she is free Virginitie VIrginity flourisheth as the greene lawrel and can by no tempestuous blastes of aduersitie be quailed Virginitie is sister of Angels vanquisher of lustes Princesse of Vertue and possessour of all good things Virginity beâ—â—tifieth the body preserueth strength and leadeth the soule to eternall happinesse The woman vnmaried the Maiden vncorrupted thinke on thinges pertaining to God to the intent to bee holy in bodie and soule The seruants of Virginitie are sobrietie modesty continencie silence and lenitie Virginitie scorneth Pride banisheth malice daunteth enuiâ— imbraceth all vertues Virginitie is the garland of al Vertues the garden of comfort and the court of all praise For there is no godlie motion but she affecteth no flower of comfort but shee possesseth no earthlie praise but she deserueth Witte A Wise man doth all things by counsell a foole soone discouereth his follie Wit consisteth in the knowledge of things good and euill Seperate them from thee that do craftilie flatter thee and imbrace them with kindnes that faithfullie loue thee least ill men haue most profite by thee The help of god is not onely gotten with wishing and praying but by vigilant studie diligent executing and wise counselling all things come to passe Preuent as a wise man the daungers that may fall vpon thee A wise man foreseeth future mishaps and suffereth none to afflict him A wise man winneth wealth both to comfort himselfe and his posteritie but a foole looseth his patrimony and can get nothing Witte refuseth hastines wrath because they be enemies of counsel Wit gouerneth affections and putteth all vices to flight Wit is the gift of God and the brightnes thereof banisheth all the darke cloudes of ignorance Wit adorneth her self with th the sweet pleasant flowers of all vertues she refraineth from sin and imbraceth all godlines she prepareth vs to hansomnes and teacheth vs to eschue the filthy way of beastlinesse Witte is the mother of patience the daughter of wisedome the sister or modesty and temperance and the careâ—ull Nurse of well doing FINIS What can it auaile thee to win althe world loose thine owne soule This life is a miserable vale The sandes oâ— the sea the grasse of the field are sooner numbred then our woes No man was euer happie in this life All estates â— this world most miserable â—â—e frailty â—t this life The certenty of death The noise of damned soules The lothsomnes of hell The torâ—ents of â—ody and â—oule togeâ—her â—okens of the seconde â—omming â—f the lord The last gret plague in London The hardnes of our â—eares The Angels wait the comming of the â—â—rd The Lord sitteth in iudgment The reward for the wicked The comfort of the Godly â—he Anâ—els shew â—he mercies â—f God There is no remedy for sinne after death The end of 〈…〉 the first entraÌ„ce to eternall blisse Baâ—nard Salomon Seneca Salust â—â—egoriâ— Barnard Gregorie Seneca Salomon Salomon Seneca Paule Augustine Seneca Paulâ— Salamon Dauid Salamon Salomoâ— â—â—â—lesiast Augustinâ— Idem Augustine 〈◊〉 Salomon Aristotle Salusâ— Solomâ—n Augustine Seneca Paule Augustinâ— â—ugustine Augustine Hierome â—regorie Cicero Salust Salomon Augustine Solomen Seneca Hieronim Galen Hipocrat Galen Hipocrat 〈◊〉 Augustine Hierome Salomon Augustine Barnard Augustine Barnard â—lutarch â—ully â—gustine Salâ—mon Seneca Seneca Hieronim Salomon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Aâ—gustine Hieroniâ—â— Chrisostoâ— Salust Osoriuâ— Augustine Salomoâ— Barnard Ambrose Augustine Solomâ—n Augustine Barnard Hieronim Aâ—gustine Hieronim Aristotle â—ully Senecâ— plutarch Seneca plato â—ully â—ully Salomoâ— Paul◠〈◊〉 Augustine Pithag Chrisostom Hâ—eronim Dâ—uid Hierome Augustine Barnard plato Paule Chrysost â—ully Aristotle Cyptian Augustine Paule Aâ—brose Cyprian Salomen â—ully Socrates Salust plato Democrit Socrates Salomon Salust Ambrose
doest possesse when Croesus wealth to thee is bound When all things els that world can yeeld at thy command and becke do stand Then commeth Death like Mars in field and pluckes thy life into his hand Thy landes thy rentes thy wife most graue thy daughters clad with Venus hoe Thy sonnes adoâ—n'd with vertues braue thou art compeld to bid adue Thy houses high thy castles strong thy gardens square in each degree Thy pleasant courts and towres long all to forsake thou forst must be Thy lambes thy goates thy fatlings all which feed themselues in pastutes green Thine Oxen eke within thy stall thou wilt then wish hadst neuer seen Thy horses which in stable stand and praunce most stately in their kind Thine oxen eke that plow thy land thou art full loath to leaue behind Thy Deere which raunge thy forrest wilde and brouse on boughes in winter cold And such as rome abroad the field doe please thee well though thou bee old Thy tender youths and seruants graue which on thee wayt in comely glee No longer with thee must thou haue but leaue them al thus must it be Thy brothers kind and sisters deare thy kindred all that lou'd thee best Hereafter may not keepe thee here but trudge thou must among the rest Contemne therefore all worldlie wealth and craue no more then may suâ—fise So God wil blesse thy soule with health which stil shal dure without surmise But if with want thou be opprest if pinched eke with pouertie Let all by sufferance be redrest when it shal please our God on hie For Iob by patience wan great praise cruel Pharaoh could not Dauid daunt By patient hope they both had ease and al their foes could not once vaunt Or say loe here we haue preuaild loe here is he whom we subdude But Peacocke like they al were quaild and forste to flie in sort most rude Let these examples mooue thy hart al woes al paines for to endure For heauens blisse without great smart none can atchieue I thee assure All crosses who so doth imbrace all miseries who doeth sustaine Adorn'd is hee with diuine grace with Angels eke shall he remaine But he that liueth wantonlie he wicked Mammon that doth loue He that desires to climbe on hie forgetting God that sits aboue And he whose mind is puâ—t with pride whose heart with malice great doth swell With Lucifer still shal abide and with the Furies must hee dwell Wherefore O man O wretched wight this wicked vale seek thou to scorn Thy latter end haue still in sight least soule and corpes be both forlorne For what can it thee ought auaile if all the world thou doe possesse Sith grieâ—ly graue is thy reraile where worms thee gnaw without redres Yet worse then that doth it remaine when Spirits thy silly soule shall rent In fiery flame with hellish paine Which neuer staies nor will be spent In dungion deepe when thou shalt lie a place from God that's farthest cast Where damned soules both houle and crie where fiery chaines doe hold them fast Wherefore with Salomon I crie O sonne remember thou thine end Then wilt thou wicked sinne defie then wilt thou neuer God offend Now sith thaâ— we compassed be with dreadfull death on euery side And that the same all creatures see what of vs all shall now betide May not we call this wretched life a vale whose corne is bitter woe The crop whereof we reape with strife in age which lustie yeares did sowe The worms which vexe our minds be cares most griping griefe our bodie presse And sicknesse takes vs in his snares whereof we hardly get redresse Our bodies are a cursed ground our skin is like to withered hay Our humours weake and watrish found which filthie wormes shall suck away Behold now marke you what we are Behold but dust and brittle glasse Behold a streame that fals like starre behold a wind that soone doth passe Behold here are we turnde and cast Behold we often times do change Behold from piller to the post both to and fro are forst to range The sands in sea the grasse we see in â—ertile lands and fields most faire With all the starres may reckoned be that glister in the healthsome aire Much sooner I doe tel thee right then al the woes and pinching paine Which stil on men doe fal and light that in this loathsome vale remaine Amongst mankind was neuer one that euer here on earth did dwel Of miseries that taste had none or once could say all things run wel Although he were in glorious state although he liu'd in high degree Yet forst was he to blame his fate and say I see it wil not be But if both poore and indigent thou be and canst not wealth attaine Thy life thy breath thou doest repent and stil in sorrowe doest remaine If that a suckling babe thou be but euen now if thou were borne Thy life is death we all do see thou art a silly wretch forlorne And when a tâ—nder childe thou art thine age is chiefest spring of woe Ten thousand griefs oppresse thy heart and stil on euery side they floe If that by yeares thou be a man most great mishaps on thee will fall And dangers will sare now and than cast thee and thine int'wofull thrall When crooked age comes stealing ou then haue we lost all worldly blisse With pinching paine and sicknesse strong then all our bodie troubled is If that a wedded man thou bee then art thou tide to blocke of paine Then art thou bound which once wert fre and so for ay thou must remaine If thou a single life doest lead then sunke thou art in all annoyes And drownd in grieâ—e although indeed thou thinkst to swim in sea of ioyes Although thy bodie thou adorne with glittering gold and pearle bright Yet is thy mind with care forlorne because in sorrowes thou art pight What life thou wilt do thou prosesse of want and woe thou shalt haue store Be what thou wilt thy cares to cease thy dolors yet are as before Vnconstant is the state of man his life as brittle as the clay And is compared to a spanne for in short time it fades away It to a bubble likened is which to our sight appeareth hie And in the time thou canst say this flat with the water doeth it lie The man that late in wealth did flowe in pouerty is now and thrall And is constrain'd to lie full lowe vvhich lately vvas the prince of all Whom God in mercie hath extold and set in golden chaire of blisse Death plucketh downe in sort most bolde and vnto him least partiall is He liues to day quite void of paine no griefe hath he nor yrksome care Passing the time in pleasures vaine vvith iolitie and daintie fare To morrow dead and turnde to dust to morrow put in mournfull tombe And to the earth his corpes he must commit till dolefull day of dombe Such is the state which
we enioy such is the end all doth betide That in this vale of all annoy mongst mortall men doe once abide Though Nestar's yeares we can attaine though thousand ages yet we haue The wormes to feed we must be faine and fill we must the gaping graue Not Hercules not Sampson strong not Pompey stout nor Caesar braue But forced were to lie along and take the blow which Death them gaue Not Cato that in wit did flow not Salomon that did excell All mortall wights from high to lowe in wisedoms court that bare the bell The tyranny of death could daunt or make his griesly face to blush For he doth boast yea brag and vaunt and holds our force not worth a rush Behold rich Croesus with his wealth could not the dart of death defend Behold great Monarks want their health and all do trudge with death in end He spareth none he taketh all both yong and old of each degree Both rich and poore both free and thrall he paies to eu'ry one his fee. The Calamities of hell HE throwes the wicked headlong down to Lymbo lake where is no rest Where damned soules look grim frown and are with endlesse paine opprest This is the place that darkened is this is the place of bitter paine This is the place void of all blisse this is the place where deuils raigne This is the place of chillest cold this is the place of endlesse fire Whose forces great none can vnfold both tongue and pen though he do tire If monsters fell thou wouldest see which in this place make their abode Thy hart then daunted so would be that none thy feare could then vnlode If to thine eares their hellish sound should once be brought I thee assure Thy sences all it would confound but oh none can the same endure These grieâ—ly ghosts such tortures haue such pinching paine doth them oppresse That some reliefe still doe they craue but neuer can they get redresse They weep they â—ry they wring their hands their mâ—series they doe bewaile They gnash their teeth in wofull bandes this is the gaine of their retaile They roare like Lyons in their dens like dogges they howle in kennels staide Like filthy Swine they lie in fennes and thus all reprobates are paid Their filthy place no tongue can tel no pen can wel the same descrie The stincke is such where they doe dwel that all it slaies that passe thereby Their entrie is of chillest yâ—e their doores and gates of fiery brasse Their house more hote then Etna thrice thats full of fire and euer was Their walke on fierie serpents is which plucke the marrow from the bone So is their comfort and their blisse to mourne to weep make great mone O wretched soule what is thy state vvhat shall at last become of thee Of greater griefe who can delate what greater woe or paine can be Yet worse there is I tell thee plaine thy body must to iudgement rise And with thy soule it must sustaine more torments then can heart deuise Because in earth both did offend because the lawes of God they brake Together therefore without end must both be drownd in fiery lake All sinners would this day eschue all sinners wish their perill past All sinners hearts the same must rue all sinners must it find at last Behold it commeth now with speed behold the sun that shined bright Is darkened ouer all in deed Behold all things appeare as night Behold the starres as withered leaues in windie Autumne down do fall Behold the Moone God eke bereaues of light and shining brightnesse all Behold the hearts of men doe faint behold their wits are scant their owne Behold with feare they make complaint be hold with griping griefe they grone Behold their faces are but pale behold their bodies vveakened be Behold their doubt of endlesse thralle behold their flesh consumes we see Behold what griefe doth men oppresse behold they cast their heads on hie But to lament they can no lesse marke vvell all men doe seeme to die Marke how both trees and branches all doe sweat foorth blood against their kind Marke all things are opprest with thrall marke nothing hath a quiet mind The roaring sea doth fret and fume her waues she flings aboue the land She shewes all things are out of tune she cries Gods day is nigh at hand The earth of late hath shakt her selfe as wearie of her sinfull burne Which is our selues with worldly pelfe but oh thereby we are forlorne Of late she svvallowed in her gulfe twelue thousand out of London towne By sudden plague like rauening Wolfe yet are our hearts not once pluckt down Her wrath yet is not it appeasde our friends from vs she taketh still Our sinnes so much haue God displeasd that she reuenge doth vse and will Her fruits also she doth detaine and hath done fourtie moneths and moe Yet few of vs in heart complaine nor for our sinnes are prickt wit woe The skies also with misty cloudes are ouer cast and gush out teares Whereby the earth hath had grat flouds and with their noise haue fild our eares The blustering windes doe puffe and blowe they sob they sigh in raging sort They force high tres to lie ful lowe they tempests stir in euerie port They range with furie East and West from North to South they also run They know not where to take their rest But beat the aire as Cannon gun The stoutest hearts their faces hide both rich and poore are much dismaid No flesh Gods iudgment can abide but seek where they may find some aid All liuing things for help doe crie both sauadge beasts and birds also The wormes which in the earth do lie do wish for legges with speed to goe The earth doth quake and mountaines all both hearbs and roots their vertues lose Great toures long flat downe do fall and odours sweet do leaue the Rose Dame Nature in her furie strong receiues a curse and gins to quaile Her forces all do lie along whereby all things their vertues faile The Angels all with Saints most blest the Cherub and the Seraphin All sinners that haue life possest both quick and dead that earst haue bin Assembled are and dreadfully with terrour great our Lord expect And waite his comming from on hie for then each thing shall be perfect Behold both heauen and earth doe bow behold thev downe and prostrate fall Behold Iehouah commeth now all flesh before him for to call In glorie commeth he and state his trumpets through the earth do sound All sinners suddenly t'awake in cuery coast that may be found In aire most fiery flouds appeare vvherein he comes most gloriously Which sight the mountaines great do feare and melt down flat vvhich were on hie The seas eke tremble at his sight and dried are most strange to see Whose waues did seeme in sand most bright but now bare sandes there onely bee The craggie rockes