him to blaspheme God Ioseph felt his part of miserie when he was solde of his brother and imprâ—soned without cause Noah felt his part of miserie being grieuouslye mocked and persecuted of the wicked Poore Lazarus was both sicke â—oâ—e hungry and thirsty Father Iacob complayned that his daies were fewe and euill Dauid said hee was a worme and no man Solomon was weary of his life because all that euer he saw vnder the Sunne was nothing but vanitie miserie and vexation of minde Father Ierom complayned that Satan sought to ouerthrowe him and that his weake fleshe was readie to consent The Prophet Ieremy cursed the daye of his birth Ionas said it was better for hâ—m to die then liue Chrisostome called the daies of his life the daies of his sorrowe Naziensen wept that his mother had brought him forth to see such miserable daies Such trauell hath God giuen vnto men vnder the sunne to be exercised therin Chapter IIII. Of the breuitye of mans life and certaintye of Death ANd as the dayes of this our painefull pilgrimage are vayne and miserable so are they short and tedious The one foote no sooner on the ground but the other readie to slip into the graue Man that is borne of woman saith Iob hath but a short time to liue and is full of miserie He springeth as a flower fadeth like a shadowe and neuer continueth in one state My daies saith he are more swifte then a runner We bring our yeares to an ende saith Dauid as it were a tale that is tolde We are dying continually all our life long euery yeare day and houre Our infancie lasteth a small while and dyeth Our youth florisheth a time and vanisheth Our manhood a time and departeth Our age a time and by and by it is gone The dayes of our life saith the Psalmist are three-score yeares and tenne and though men bee so strong that they rubbe out till foure score yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow so soone passeth it away and we are gone The life of man is aptly compared to a vapour to the trace of a cloude to a shippe passing ouer the waues of the sea tossed and beaten with tempest to a birde that flyeth in the aire or a shaft that is shot at a marke and neuer staieth till it light vpon the ground Euen so man assoone as he is borne beginneth immediately to draw to his ende The godly Patriarkes who liued in the firste age of the world saw many yeares yet at last the dyed Death was alwaies the ende of their song Adam lyued 930-yeares Seath 912 Enoch 905 Kenan 910 Mahelaell 895 Iared 962 Mathusala 969 Lamech 777 Noah 950 and they died saith the text ABraham the father of the faithfull Dauid a man according to Gods owne hart Iohn Baptist of whom our Sauiour Christ said there hath not risen a greater amongst the children of women yâ—t they dyed All the Prophets Apostles and godly martires were greatly in Gods fauour yet they died Rich and poore wisemen and fooles learned and ignorant godly and vngodly all must follow the dauÌ„ce of death Many are gone before the rest must followe after when God doth call nature must obey Wise Salomon rich Iob strong Sampson and faire Absolon haue trode the path of all flesh Great Alexander Conquered the whole world yet could hee finde no weapon to conquer death The stiffest steele yeeldeth to the hammer the strongest oake to the axe and the stoutest heart vnto nature And therefore king Phillip of Macedonia wallowing in worldly wealth and prosperity commaunded his chamberlaine euery daye at his vp rysing sadly to repeate vnto him these wordes Remember king Phillip and forget not that thou art a man subiect to mortality All flesh is grasse and euerye man the flower of the grasse the grasse shall be withered and the flower shall fall away And as death is a thing of all other most certaine and sure so is the time of dâ—ath most vncertaine and doubtfull The Lord in his word hath reueaâ—ed vnto man many notable lessons touchâ—ng the knowledge of his wâ—ll yet not the day of death bâ—cause he would haue vs liue so as euery day migâ—t be the day of death Knowing that as the course of this life is the râ—ce vnto death so is death the gate to eternal life And therefore as at night we do willingly put of our garments in hope the next morning to put them on againe so ought wee willingly to put of these our mortall bodies assuring our selues that after we haue slept a while in tâ—e dust to receiue them againe immortall O homo Nosce Teipsum The wheat and other seede though it dye and rot in the ground yet springeth vp more beautiful then before It is written how certain summer birds lye dead all winter and reuiue in the spring The Phenix being burnt vnto ashes yet of the same ashes is bred to liue againe So though our bodies layd shall be to rot in lothsome graue Yet afterwards in glorious state more bewty they shall haue When death hath held them downe awhile Anon they shall arise Eternally in ioy to liue With Christ aboue the skyes Chapter V. The passage to Paradise is aptly compared to a warfare PLato calleth a Philosophers life a meditation of death But it may truly be said that the whole race of a Christian mans life is nothing else but a continuall warfare For as the Israelites by bodily resistance did assaile fyght against and ouercome seuen Nations before they could obtaine a temporall inheritance in the land of Canaan so must Gods children by spirituall resistance assaile fight against and ouercome their lewd lustes wicked appetits and fleshly affections with the hole host of vicâ—s enemies most odious to God and dangerous to man before they can come to inioy their eternall inheritance in the kingdome of heauen The chiefe Captaine generall in this continuall conflict is the mighty Lion of the tribe of Iuda the prince of peace the conqueror of death hell and sinne the great Iudge of the world and bishop of our soules which is Christ himselfe The grande Captaine of our ennemyes part is the great red Dragon the old crafty serpent the deceauer of the world accuser of his bretheren and gouernor of darknes which is Satan himselfe Mighty in power subtil in pollicy skilfull in war Apt and ready what in him lyeth to hinder the glory of God and saluation of man Who like a ramping and roring lyon seeking continually whom he may deuoure knoweth how to vse both riches and pouerty prosperity and aduersity health and sicknesse strength and weakenes bewty and deformity as instruments and weapons to serue his purpose Hee tempted Adam to eate the forbâ—ddeÌ„ fruit Aaron to make the goldeÌ„ Calfe Dauid to commit adultry and murther Iudas to betray Christ Peter to forsweare him
them And often times those thinges which are taken for punishmentes are rather profitable medecins For euen as the Nurse by annointing her brest with Aloes doth weane hir Infant from sucking so doth God by tribulation and aduersity weane his Children from sensuall delightes And as Moses by striking the hard stonie Rocke with his Rodde brought forth plenty of Water euen so GOD by stryking the stony Hart of Man with affliction bringeth foorth teares of contrition And as in the Gold-smithes Forge the golde is fined while the Coales are burned so in the Forge of temptation and trouble the faithfull are tryed and fined while the wicked are hardned and consumed And as the seed which is cast vpon the land vnlesse it indure the coldnesse of raine frost and snowe can bring forth no fruit no more can man vnlesse he do patiently beare the crosse of tribulation and aduersity bring forth true fruites of the Gospell The patient abiding of the righteous saith Salomon shall be turned into gladnesse The Lorde correcteth all those whom he loueth and scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth So as there is no greater temptation then neuer to be tempted nor sorer whip then neuer to be scourged Yet such is the naturall infirmitie of man that it God beginne a little to chastice wee sorow and lament as though there were none other hell And if we florish a little in prosperity we laugh and sing as though there were none othâ—r heauen Hauing more respect how the world is inclined then what the Lorde hath commaunded Whereas wee shoulde not so much regard what we are here as what here after wee shall bee Not what we haue now but what we shall haue in time to come For all that Christ dyed for is yet behinde His kingdome is not of this world The effect of his death is not to make vs florish in this life The ioy of Gods children and sorrow of his enimies beginneth not till after death Hoc momentum vnde pendet eternitas This is a place of temptation and triall a moment of time whereof dependeth eternity of life to come The figure of this life withall the glory pompe and vanity thereof shall vanish and passe away and all thinges must be new New heauen new earth new bodies new mindes and all thinges new such as neither eye hath seene eare hath heard nor heart hath vnderstand before Chapter XVI Of the ioyfull state of Gods children after the laste iudgement AS the worlde had a beginning so shall it haue an ending The heauens saith the Apostle shal passe away in manner of a tempest the eliments shall melt with heat and the earth with all thinges therein contained shall burne with fier and be consumed But the Lord will creaâ—e newe heauens and a new earth and the former saith the prophet shall not bee remembred nor come to minde I saw saith the Euangelist a newe heauen and a newe earth for the first heauens and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea And I saw the holy citie new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband And I heard a great voyce out of heauen saying beholde the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he himselfe shall bee their God with them and shall wipe awaye all teares from their eies And there shall bee no more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there bee any more paine for the first things are gone And there shall be no night there and they neede no candle neither light of the sunne for the Lorde God giueth them light and they shall raigne for euermore Thy sonne shall neuer go downe saith the Prophet and thy name shall not be taken away for the Lorde himselfe shall be thine euerlasting light and thy sorrowfull daies shall be ended The moue saith he shall then be as light as the sunne and the sunne light shall be increased seauen folde and haue as much shine as in seauen daies besides And as the newe heauens and newe earth which I will make shall remaine before mee saith the Lorde so shall your seede and your name continue and from moneth to moneth and from Saboth to Saboth shall all fleshe come and worshippe before me saith the Lord and they shall go forth and looke vpon the karcases of the men which haue transgressed against me for their worme shall not die neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall be an abhorring vnto all flesh As the gold is desolued in the fire saith S. Augustine not to perish but to make it more fine and pure so the first heauen defiled with the pride of Angels and the first earth corrupted with the wickednesse of man shall vanish passe away and be no more seene Not altered in verity and substance but changed in fashion forme and shape So as the nature qualitie and complexion of corruptible Elemenâ—s agreeable to these our mortall bodies shall then be transformed to agree with our immortall and purified bodies and so remaine for euer And as we are now clothed with the Image of Adams corruptible bodie subiect to death and miserie so shall wee then bee clothed with the Image of Christes glorified bodie chaunged into perfection and sincerity When Christ shall appeare saith the Apostle wee shall be like vnto him and see him as he is And though wee shall not then as now bee maintained and fed with elimentall foode but as the Angels in heauen Yet our bodies of the same humaine nature shape and fashion of flesh and bones with all partes and members of a man as in this life Not altered in substance but chaunged in property Behold my handes and my feete saith our Sauiour his Disciples for it is euen I my selfe handle mee and see for a spirite hath not flesh and bones as you see me haue Yet such was his bodie as he entred the chamber where they were assembled tâ—e dores being shut Anselmus affirmeth that y e glorifieâ— to ies of the iust shall be so pure and pâ—rfect as may easily pearce or penitrate any other body without resistance or danger and in beautâ—e shall shine as the sunne And as we shall be new men so shall we haue new sences to vnderstand thinges not as they seeme but as they are in deede And beholde the diuine mysterie of God face to face The fruition of whose glorious presence as the originall fountaine from whence all wisedome gladnes ioye vertue and true felicitie do proceede shall so rauish content and satisfie euery member power and sence of bodie and minde with fuâ—l perfection of pleasure and delight as neither eie hath seene eare hath heard tongue can expresse nor heart imagine In comparison whereof all the vaâ—ne pleasures of this world are
but fained shewes or darke shadowes There was in the temple at Ierusalem and so in the tabernacle two vales The first in the sanctuarie and the second in sanctum sanctorum The outward vale did signifye the couering and concealing of those mysteries glad tydings of the Gospell or doctrine of grace pertaining to the church militant Which at the death of christ to shewe that the same was then reueiled the fierie sword which kept the gate of Paradise remoued and the way to God the Father vnto all true beleeuers laid open did rent and teare in sunder The inwarde vale did signify the couering and concealing of those diuine mysteries which after the generall iudgement shall bee reuealed when we shall see his glorious maiestie face to face as he is Which vale had foure colours signifying the foure Elements being impediments and lets to keepe vs from the sight of those heauenly substances which our immortall and glorifyed bodies shall then behold And as our Sauiour Christ laide aside the paâ—t of maiestie tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant and hauing performed due obedience and subiection vnto his father is now aduanced to the highest dominion and crowned with honor and glorie that all knees shall bow vnto him So after the last day when he hath performed the officâ— of a mediator hee shall yeelde vp into the handes of his Father both the kingdome name and crowne of glorie and bee content with that same glorie which he inioyed before the creation of the world that God may be all in all A Meditation of the Lords prayer Our Father which art in heauen halowed bee thy name THy sacred word oh heauenly father wherby thou art knowne the onely Lorde of mercy and iudgement bee halowed and saÌ„ctified in vs. That by meanes of hearing thine euerlasting truth And viewing thy wondrous worâ—es most glorious in their kind all states and degrees of people may continually be moued with humble thankfull and obedient heartes to extâ—ll praise and magnify thy infynite goodnes for euer That all may turne to thy glory and our saluation Thy kingdome come INcrease most louing Father thy faithfull family vpon earth and make hast to deliuer vs from this present euill world Come Lord quickly to shorten these our sinfull daies and bring our miserable pilgrimage to an end That all may turne to thy glorie and our saluation Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen OH mercifull God whose eternall will and pleasure is to glorify them that glorify thee in themselues We beseech thy fatherly goodnes so to frame our hartes in due obedience to thy heauenly wil as our cheefe study care and delight may be wholly applyed to the suppressing of falshod and vice th' aduauncing of truth and vertue and bearing with patience the crosse of our louing Redeemer after him That al may turn to thy glory and our saluation Giue vs this day our daily bread OH most bountifull and gratious Soueraigne at whose mercyes seat all mankind must call and cry for grace at whose almes-basket both King and Keaser are driuen to begge their bread at whose bountifull handes all liuing creatures in due season expect theâ—r food We humbly beseech thee so to coÌ„fort norish and releeue our soules with thy true and holesome bread of life as the promise of remission of sinnes and redemption in Christ may assuredly bee sealed in our hartes and conscience And at thy good will and pleasure giue vs thy daily blessing of food and raiment with all thinges needfull for our bodily sustinance in this life Not desyring with couetous worldlings to wallow in superfluity but with Salomon a meane contented liuing to aide necessity That all may turne to thy glory and our saluation Forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. OH mercifull Father who hast promised free pardon and forgiuenes of synnes coÌ„ditionally that we do humbly acknowledge our faultes amend our liues and shew like pity and compassion to our bretheren that offend vs. We humbly beseech thee so to relent and mollify our hard stony harts with the piercyng oile of thy interior grace as our loue and charity towards them may declare the same promise to bee thankfully receiued of vs. That all may turne to thy glory and our saluation Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill WE pray and beseech thee most gratious Soueraigne to bridle and restraine the furious rage of Sathan our mortall enemy Who like a ramping and roring Lyon seeketh continually to seduce and lead vs into errâ—r sinne and vtter distruction Strengthen our weakenesse quicken our dulnesse pardoÌ„ our neglâ—gence increase our faith and keepe vs in all truth godlinesse and vertue That we may alwâ—ies render vnto thy glorious maiesty wâ—thout beginning change or end all honor power and dominion for euer Amen A most godly and comfortable prayer in time of aduersity OH eternall and most louing father thou God of mercy and iudgement to whom all thinges in heauen and earth do bow and obay At tâ—e countinance of whose glorious maiesty the whole woâ—ld doth tremble and quake Who hath fashioned man of slime earth couered him in his mothers wombe and redeemed him from death and hell Who seeth the very secrets of mans harte vnderstandeth his thoughtes and spiest out all his wayes To thee oh heauenly king I humbly bowe the knees of my hart beseeching thy fatherly goodnes in Iesus Christ to heare me poore wretched child of Adam begotten and borne in sin disquieted with troubles wrapt in aduersity oppressed with misery Yet by thy secret purpose pertaine to thy kingdome An vnruly sheepe of thy fold by election and calling an vnprofitable seruant of thy houshold by obedience and duty And vnworthy sonne of thy family by adoption and grace I will call mine owne waies to remembrance confesse mine iniquities against my selfe and power out my complaint before thee Gâ—ue eare to my prayer O Lord consider my distresse and ponder the voice of my humble desires Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my hart be alwaies acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redemer I haue sinned most greeuously Oh mercifull God against heauen and before thee I haue sore prouoked thyne anger oh Lord thy wrath is waxen hot thy heauy displeasure is sore kindled against me And now in the vexation of my spirit and the anguish of my soule Remembring thy fatherly kindnes towards penitent sinners I appeale to thy eternall mercy acknowledge my wickednes and lament my greuous offences My hart is broken with sorrows my life waxeÌ„ old with heauines and my yeares with mourning How long wilt thou be angry with thy seruant to Lord how loâ—g shall I seeke counsell in my soul and be so vexed in my spirit How long shall I poore sinfull wretch be