you because yee desire these temporall ioyes yee shall suffer though most nilling the paines of hell Behold ye haue but a litle time remaining fill vp the measure of your wickednesse that all the wrath of God may come vpon you Enioy this short time in sports drunkennesse and dancings and wantonnesse let not your time bee spent without these Why delay you whilst yee liue gather for your children riches honors preferments increase your nobilitie and name that your children also may fulfill that which ye haue done that yee may altogither suffer the greater tortures in hell But some man will say the Lord is good and mercifull and receiueth in mercy euery sinner that commeth vnto him This is true indeede I confesse the Lord is better than he is thought to be he spareth as is meet euery one that commeth vnto him Is he not a most kinde God that tolerateth so great iniuries done vnto him by sinners giuing them space to amend But thou must know this that as he is kinde in forbearing so he is iust in punishing But some man perchance will say again he which hath done euill all his life becomming penitent at the very point of death obteineth pardon of the Lord. O how false an opinion and how false a meditation is this Scarce one of a hundreth thousand whose life hath bin alwaies ill hath found this fauour at the Lords hands A man begotten and altogither nourished vp in sinne which hath neither seene nor knowne God neither hath bin willing to heare of him neither taketh notice of his sins nor what repentance is being altogither bound vp in secular businesses whom the strait of forsaking his sonnes presseth whom weaknes paineth whom the sorrow of riches and temporall goods now about to be lost shaketh when he seeth that he cannot enioy them any longer can such a man make repentance acceptable vnto God who would not repent if he did thinke that he could be healed I may verily conclude truly that he which doth not feare to offend God whilst he is young and sound shall not be found worthy in death of the Lords pardon What repentance is that which a man receiueth only because he seeth that he can liue no longer who if he should recouer from his sicknesse againe would become worse than he was before I know no meane monyed men who hauing repented them in their extremide haue waxed well againe in bodie and worse in life I hold this I thinke this to be true and haue learned it by manifold experience that he atteineth no good end that hath alway led an ill life which hath not seared to sin but hath alwaies liued in the vanities of the world Pretious saith he in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and most accursed the death of the wicked And therefore my beloued sonnes gird your selues with power be ye mighty sonnes and feare not the slender power of the rich mighty here in the doing of righteousnesse For he that suffereth for righteousnesse is blessed and if he suffereth death he is more blessed If thou desirest to haue life through Christ feare not death for Christ for thou canst not indure those things for Christ which are worthy of the glory to come which shall bee reuealed when our glory which is from aboue shall appeare Let him not looke for a reward that doth not labour the name of a Christian alone doth not suffice but if thou beest a Christian imitate Christ Hee hath in vaine the name of a Christian who followeth the Deuill He is no Christian but an Antichrist according to that of Iohn Ye haue heard that Antichrist commeth now there be many Antichrists Wilt thou therefore reigne with Christ then suffer with Christ If Christ the Lord and King who hath a name aboue all names ought to suffer that he might enter into his glory what hope hast thou to enter without paines O how foolish are we and slow of heart to beleeue We will here passe our time in pleasure with the world and afterwards reigne with Christ Seeing the master entred naked shall the seruant expect to enter being laden with the superfluitie of apparell of gold and pearles He was full of fastings this man of surfets and ryotings he died vpon the crosse for him this man sleepeth vpon a delicate bed Shall seruants do that which the Lord doth not The Lord promiseth his kingdome to the sonnes of Zebedee if they could drinke the cup that he should drinke Be yee wise come hither and heare me and I will tell you the things which I haue heard and knowne It is good to cleaue to the Lord and to walke as he hath walked Euen as Christ hath laid downe his life for vs so we if need be ought to lay downe our life for the truth which is God himselfe He that loueth his life in this world shall loose it Christ hath suffered for vs leauing vnto vs an example that we should follow his steps Let him not thinke himself a Christian which doth not finde himselfe ready to die for Christ Let the minister of Christ follow Christ Answer me ô thou man which art a Christian onely in name and in word dost thou hold and preach the faith of Christ this is a good thing but where be thy workes faith without workes is dead Let mee tell thee truly thou which praisest Christ with thy word and not with thy worke doest indeed denie who if thou didst beleeue his sayings thou wouldst at the least be afraid and blush to commit sinne And if thou dost beleeue and dost euill thou art to be punished an hundreth fold more Is not the sin which is done out of malice infinitely worse than that which is done out of ignorance The Angell sinned and the man sinned the one could finde pardon the other not For what cause the Angell sinned out of malice man sinned out of the Deuils suggestion Where vpon say I thou doubtlesse canst haue none excuse if thou saist that thou sinnest by the Deuils suggestion euen as he did because thy suggestion is not like vnto his He knew not yet what the Deuils suggestion meant neither how greatly sinne would displease but thou knowest well and beleeuest as thou saist and yet cōmittest so many thousand fins And what shall I conclude they that are such Christians beleeue him in word and lye vnto him with their tongue but their heart is not right with him neither haue they faith in his testament If any man loueth Christ if any man be a true Christian specially a Priest in whom as it were in a glasse perfection doth shine he must deny himselfe that he may be altogither dead vnto the world because that vnlesse a graine of corne falling vpon the earth dieth it remaineth alone He wandreth in the way that hastens to goe by riches and delights It is a signe of manifest damnation to follow the pleasures of this world and to
if thou wilt come vp to him Whatsoeuer a man doth saith Chrysostome if there bee not humility Chrysost Matth Hom 15. but vaine-glory the soule suffereth shipwracke though it be euen in the hauen of tranquility Et quid infoelicius potest homini accidere quam in ipsa tranquilitatis portu naufragium facere By humility then shee sat safely in the hauen and saw the shore she gat vp vnto the step and beheld God her faluation Fiftly she was annoynted with due subiection to her owne husband as Sarah 1 Pet. 3.6 who reuerenced her husband whose example is most carnestly by S. Peter commended to all wiues promising that thus they become the daughters of Sarah not being terrified with any feare Whetfore hauing this vertue also added shee was doubtlesse without feare stedfast in the faith of her saluation Vnruly wines like vnto Rachel the wife of Iaacob Gen. 30.1 quarrelling with their husbands 2 Sam. 6. or like Michol the wife of David mocking their husbands or like lezabel the wife of Ahab 1 Kin. 21. imperious ouer their husbands and helping them forward in sin or like Peninnah the wife of Elkana puft vp 1 Sam. 1. because of their fruitfulnesse or like the daughters of lerusalem vainely decking themselues without end in superfluous implements to the needlesse cost of their husbands these and the like haue such a mist or dark clowd of blacke sinnes before their eyes as that they cannot see this saluation they may haue hope indeede but their hope is presumption the end of which is damnation Now as this elect seruant of God was beautified with these graces in her health so they remained in her without being dimmed in her last sicknesse 1. For heauenly zeale shee gaue a sure instance heereof in the beginning of this sicknesse by commanding her seruants not to trouble her with any worldly affaires for now she would wholly be setled to heauen And indeed shee lay in her sicke bed as in heauen full of heauenly speeches and of heauenly comfort Now all her practise was praying confessing of sinnes singing Pâ—almes and godlâ— conference 2. For wisdome when strength of body falled her this was strong yet in he euon vnto the end most wisely shee spake to euery thing with much vnderstanding producing sundry places of the holy Scriptures Being much troubled for her sinnes and buffetted by the temptations of Satan she sayd that shee had yet much assurance because that Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee saith the Lord all you that are weary and beauy laden and I will refresh you Hee biddeth to come sayd shee and come all yea euen such wretches as I am Againe Lue. 10. Mary said shee that had chosen the better part was promised that it should neuer be taken from her and the gifts and calling of God are without repentance And againe the Church saith Come and the Spirit saith Come who so will and drinke of the water of life freely Another time being dealt withall about willingnesse to depart out of this world yea said shee Lot was a worthy man yet he was faine to bee pulled out of Sodom Another time after great trouble of mind being restored againe to comfort by prayer Thou art a God sayd shee that hearest prayer therefore to thee shal all flesh come with many like sayings excellently applied which I cannot repeat againe 3. For true loue that still abounded in her towards God her loue did wonderfully shew it selfe by the great care which she had all the time of her painfull sicknes that nothing in her passions might proceed from her to scandalize that holy profession which she had entertained wherby God might bee dishonoured and by her great remorse and sorrow for any behauior amisse in her greatest extremity No heart could bee pricked more for sinne then her tender heart was for her slips in her greatest passions shee wished rather to bee as Lazarus then to bee any way a scandall or meanes of the opening of wicked mouths against the Gospell Oh that we had all in our health and freedom from distractions that tendernesse of heart and affection towards Gods glory so should not blasphemous mouths bee set so wide open to speake euill of our Christian profession neither should so many stumble and be hindered from the right way She exceeded also still in loue of her neighbours as her almes were alwayes great so now much more willing that both money and cloath should bee plentifully giuen to the poore round about She thewed a right mother like affection to her children commending to them in patticular the feare of God and the loue of the vertuous and charity to the poore with many other good exhortations to her maidens likewise she had memorable speeches of instruction and admonition and the like 4. For Humility shee did with all patience beare her sicknesse no discontented speeches no impatient complainings no distempered groanings were heard to come from her but when shee had greatest pangs her mourning was inward and when shee had any little time of respit she was very cheerefull singing and talking comfortably A most happy woman then was she Simeons most delightfull sight was her sight in health and sicknesse to the last with her eies shee did see her saluation 2. For the ioy Now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Lettest depart or dismissest or lettest loose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euen as a man let loose out of prison or held longer then he would from the place which hee desireth to goe vnto but now sent away Inpeace that is in ioy and comfort for such as depart in peace goe away comfortably Doct. Note that Simeon obtaining this fauour to see the Lords saluation did ioyfully dispose himselfe to goe out of this world and euery Simeou that is euery faithfull person is likewise ioyfull and comfortable against the terrours of death whensoeuer it commeth The changing of their haires into gray in olde age the wrinckling of their faces their deafe eares dirnme eyes their lame and aking limbs summoning to death doe not dismay them If their streights be such as that they see nothing but death before their eyes yet they reioice with Paul saying I haue fought a good fight I haue runne a good race now remaineth for mee the crowne of righteousnesse c. And great reason is there that the faithfull should cheere vp themselues when death approcheth because there is nothing in death to hinder but all things to further their ioy For death is nothing but a letting loose of the soule to goe to Christ for which cause Paul speaking heere of saith Phil. 1.17 desiring to bee loosed and to be with Christ which is best of all Now who would be grieued to bee let loose and not rather reioice to be let loose from the streight prison of the body that the soule may enioy the liberty of its proper Countrey viz. heauen from whence it came 2. Death is
comforting in reforming and in praying was all in effect spoken by her if a register heer of had beene made And I haue made this addition the rather that all the world may know that in what faith and hope and affections and iudgements good Christians amongst vs dye now a dayes in the same faith and affections the most learned and holy seruants of God died twelue hundred yeeres agoe For let who so will look with a single eye into this Treatise and he shall plainly see that Ierom held a particular faith prayed only to God professing great boldnesse for that Christ was his brother renounced all merit of his owne workes and beleeued to passe immediately to be auen being shaken with no feare of purgatory fire with many poynts more which may easily bee gathered But I forget my self I write too long an Epistle before so briefe a worke I conclude therefore and pray the God of comfort to fill you with true heauenly comfort to the end Amen Your Worships in all duty to be commanded in the Lord. I. M. Luk. 2.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation THese are the words of Simeon an old man that feared God who in all likely-hood by reading the Prophesie of Daniel Chap. 1.9 finding out that about this was the time of the Messiah prayed to the Lord that he might bee so happy as to see him before his death wherunto the Lord condescending promiseth that he should not die before he had seen his Sauiour And accordingly moouing him by the Spirit to goe to the Temple when his Sauiour being now a childe of fourty dayes olde was brought thither with an offering according to the Law he granted him his hearts desire and gaue him a sight of him whom for ioy he taketh into his armes and yeelds himselfe to dye in singing Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart c. In these words are two things Simeons sight and Simeons ioy His sight Mine eyes haue seene thy saluation His ioy Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to to thy Word For the first Mine eyes that is not onely the eye of my minde with which I saw him long agoe but also the eies of my body Thy saluation that is thy Sonne by whom the saluation of the Elect is wrought who for this excellency aboue other sauiours is called Saluation Doct. Hence we may obserue that some obtain so great fauour at the hands of the Lord as to see with their eies whilst they liue in this vale of miserie the Sonne of God and their eternal saluation wrought by him This fauour had Simeon and Anna and many faithfull both men and women in those daies who not onely with the eies of their minde but euen with their bodily eies also saw their saluation And all the faithfull in all ages both before and since the birth of Iesus haue beene made partakers of this fauour with their eies to see their saluation Of Abraham the the Lord saith Ioh. 8.56 Abraham desired to see my day and saw it and reioyced And of the rest S. Paul to the Hebrewes saith Heb. 11.13 They all diea in faith and obtained not the promises but saw them a farre off And since the death of Iesus all the beleeuers haue seene and haue heerein beene more blessed then they which seeing with their bodily eies beleeued According to which the Lord Iesus himselfe teacheth when Thomas would not beleeue till he had seen with his bodily eies Iesus risen againe and felt him with his hands saying O Thomas thou hast seene Ioh. 20.29 and beleeued blessed are they that haue not seene and yet beleeue So that it is a greater fauour not to see with the eyes of the bodie and yet to beleeue then to see with these eies and so to beleeue And of this fauour did this our deere sister partake whilst she liued in this world her eies did see her saluation shee did constantly heleeue in Iesus Christ and only relied vpon him for the obtaining of euerlasting life And whereas some things doe trouble the sight of the eies and some things againe do help and cleere it shee that obtained a more cleere sight by remouing the hinderances and vsing the helps most carefully The things that trouble the sight are sins and the thing that helpeth is the eye-salue of the Spirit that is the annoynting of the Holy Ghost For the Church of Laodicea liuing in sin is reproued as miserable Reu. 3.17 18. poore and blinde and for remedie is counselled to buy eye-salue of the Spirit Euen as the bodily eye saith S. Augustine which is made to behold the light Aug. Mat. Hom. 18. if dust or any offensiue thing rusheth into it it is so troubled as that it is not only not able to behold the light but must be hidden from it as not able to indure the light for that it now becommeth hurtfull to the eye so the eye of the minde by sinne is made vnable to behold the Lords Saluation yea it is rather troubled at it This excellent Saint of God knowing this did alwaies most carefully shunne all sinne keeping a most diligent watch ouer her waies and by the daily humble acknowledgement of her infirmities had her eyes cleered from the dust of sinne And as touching the annoynting this was plentifully diffused vpon her soule there being in her a most fragrant smell of all Christian graces First she was annoynted with a heauenly zeale as Mary the sister of Lazarus Luc. 10.42 who thought that one thing necessary her delight was to sit at the feet of Christ with all diligence to heare him preaching in the ministry of his holy word Neither the length of the way the cold and wet of the winter neither the businesses of the world could hinder her feet from comming to the house of God Vpon the Lords daies vpon Lecture-daies and vpon euerie occasion of preaching she was seene with the forwardest about the Lords Seruice In her priuate familie praiers morning and euening reading of the Scriptures and singing of Psalmes were neuer wanting in manie yeeres Besides that the Sermons were most carefully rehearsed seruants and children duely enstructed and manie heauenly speeches by her continually ministred to the breeding of grace in the hearers By this heauenly exercizing of her selfe then shee had her conuersation in heauen Phil. 3.20 and so could not but see her saluation there laid vp Sicut corpus quod aëris puritate perfruitur c. Euen as the bodie faith Chrysostome which liueth in pure and cleare aire Chrysost Matth. Hom. 2. enioyeth health and a more cleere sight but if in a thicke or smoakie aire it is much annoied hereby So the soule which is exercised in heauenly seeth the things of God more cleerely wheras the smokines of manifold worldly businesses much troubleth the sight Secondly
Amen Soone after midnight shee sayd that shee had agreat conflict neither could wee conceiue what shee felt but soone after most comsortably He is come said she hee is come the Diuell is ouercome the world is ouercom and the slesh is ouercome Into thy hands ô father I cemmend my spirit and so fell asleep her eyes being shut and teeth set But breath being perceiued to be in her they stroue to reuiue her which was a great trouble vnto her Yet through the mercy of God shee obtained her olde comfort againe by many signes testifying her assurance to the end and departed vpon the Mun day-night quietly falling at it were into a sleepe And so shee is departed in peace and resteth in ioy with her beloued Sauior So then happy is she but woe is vs from whom she is departed we may iustly weepe and lament Her husband may lament from whom is departed a heauenly wise humble louing and obedient wife Her children may lament from whom is departed a mother by nature a mother by grace who as the Apostle laboured till Christ was formed in them The poore may lament from whom is departed a faithfull Patronesse full of good workes towards them Wee Ministers may lament from whom is departed a carefull hearer yea an helper in our labours Women may lament from whom is departed the ornament of women And al the neighbours round about may lament both men and women from whom is departed a great light a starre shining in a darke place following which wee may bee sure to see light Shee is departed but her memory diueth and shall liue for the memoriall of the iust shall be blessed Pro. 10.10 And let her memory liue in vs as long as we liue we treading in the same steps and being transformed into the same image of heauenlinesse wisdome loue and humility that when wee shall be infeebled and death shall approach we may also ioyfully dispose our selues heereunto and say Lord now lettest thou thy sevuint depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue seene thy saltiation Which the Lord grant vnto vs for his mercies take in lesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost bee all honour and glory now and for cuermore Awen The last words of that holy and learned father Ierom who died the 96 yeere of his age Anno Dommi 422. translated out of Latin and transferred hither as most a uaileable to stir vp true Piety and to mortifi worldly Vanity and to prepare to a comfortable departure WHen the time of his death was now come through a hot burning-Feuer he willed his sonnes to come together about him whom like young-plants hee had established from their youth vp-ward Whose mourning when his graue countenaÌ„ce beheld through piety and mercy being moued a little while hereat hee sighed in his Spirit and weeping lifting vp his eies he spake thus O my sonne Euse bius why dost thou shed those vnprofitable teares is it not a vaine thing to shed teares ouer the dead What man liuing is there that shall not see the dissolution of this mortall body Darest thou speake against that which the Lord hath once spoken and thou hast heard seeing thou knowest that no man can resist his will Now I beseech thee O sonne walke not according to the flesh cease to weepe surely the weapons of our warfare are not carnall Then with a merry countenance and chearefull voice hee said vnto the rest Let sadnes cease let mourning bee put away let there be one voice of ioy amongst you all for behold the acceptable time behold the day of iubilation and of gladnesse aboue all the daies of my life in which the faithfull Lord according to his word doth open his hand that he may call backe to the supernall Countrey recouered by the pretious death of his owne sonne my soule hitherto in banishment in the prison of this deth for the guilt of my forefather Alam O most dearely beloued sonnes doe not hinder my ioy doe not seeke to keepe from the earth that which helongeth vnto it For ye ought as the Ministers and houshold Seruants and friends of God to aspire after spirituall things that yee may be an example vnto others Why doe yee that are spirituall poure out those so many vnfruitrull teares Let the remembrance of sinne make you alwaies to weepe bee as ready to weepe as you haue beene to offend Weepe if any man dieth in sinne for if when a wicked man ari seth from death by repentance the Angels reioyc in heauen surely if any man that hath bin good dyeth in sin the Angels sorrow But bewaise not me as one dying but reioyce with mee as one touching the hauen of saluation What is weaker than the miseries of this life which is compassed bout with so many troupes of sorrowes and passions as that there is almost no houre wherein any liuing man whatsoeuer may passe free from sorrow If the rich man bee pressed on euery side with feare lest hee should loose that which he doth possess if the poore man be neuer it rest that hee may get â—iches if a good man doth on this side feare the daager of the Deaill and on that side lest the ship of this mortall body should suffer shipwracke in the sea of this world and no age or sex or condition doth passe free from sorrow as long as it remaineth in the misery of this life If ye know any thing in mee an hinderance to my iourney sorrow Alas how many of those that saile through this great spacious sea in which are so many diuers kindes of enemies wrestling togither according to the quantitie of ech ones strength after much happinesse in sayling after many victories thinking euen now to obtaine their wished for end haue come in this very houre into the snare of perditict by some diabelicall suggestion Alas how many doth both life and same here recommend ouer whom by the onely consenting vnto sinne cruell death and ruine hangeth Therefore whilst yee liue feare ô brethren the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom our life is a warfare vpon earth he that ouercommeth here shall be crowned else-where Whilst wee are coucred with this skin v. e haue no complete victorie If our forefather had feared he had neuer fallen Presumption of a mans selfe is the beginning of all euils and he that feareth not doth presume vpon himselfe How can any man laden with gold goe securely amongst theeues What other thing doth our Sautour teach vs but to feare when he saith Watch for yee know not at what houre the theefe will come S. Peter saith 1 Pet. 5. Be yee sober brethren and watch bicause your aduersarie the deuill goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom hee may deuoure No man dwelleth securely amongst serpents He which is more holy and more wise let him alwaies feare more for he which is higher if he falleth receiueth the greater fall
most deare sonnes serue the Lord with feare and reioyce before him with trembling lay hold vpon his righteousnes least yee perish from the right way Taste and see how sweet the Lord is The rich haue wanted and beene hungry and such as haue slept here in their riches and pleasures haue found nothing but such as seek after the Lord doe want no good thing I haue bin yong and now am old yet neuer did I see the righteous forsaken to the end nor his seed wanting bread Be yee followers of pouerty that ye may be his followers who when he was in the likenes of God vpholding all things by the word of his power in whose house are riches and glory yet he abased himself taking vpon him the forme of a seruant and was borne poore and penurious and was more than poore and penurious all the time that hee liued here and died most poore and was buried whereupon The foxes saith he Luc. 10. haue holes and the birds of the ayre nests but the Sonne of man hath not whereupon to lay his head He also biddeth the Apostles not to carry scrip or satchell and he aduised the yong man to sell such things as he bad and to giue to the 〈◊〉 it is impossible 〈…〉 and in riches and to 〈◊〉 Christ Is there 〈◊〉 There riches be 〈…〉 is more 〈◊〉 Doe not all euils aâ—â—e out of pride as out of one roote For when a man is made rich and the glory of his house is increased doth he not wax proud and if he be proud are not his wayes euer polluted and then the rich man sitting in secret with his riches doth deuise how he may slay the innocent His eies look vpon the poore and he layeth wait in secret that he may catch him as a Lion in his den saying in his heart God hath forgotten he hath turned away his face and will neuer see But when the Lord through patience doth vse more delay in executing iudegment he is more full of anger and therefore hee is an hundreth times more to be feared when he doth patiently tolerate euils than when he doth hastily punish For God doth sometime suffer the good to be vexed of the euill and of the proud so that they make long furrowes vpon their backs continue in their wickednes But though the Lord seemeth a litle to forget the poore yet he will not euer forget to be mercifull for he is the helper of the fatherlesse and the protector of the poore he resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble He breaketh the arme of the sinner and wicked one and heareth the desire of the poore and iudgeth the cause of the fatherlesse and of the humble that the proud man vpon earth may not exalt himself any more Wherfore my most dearely beloued sonnes if ye will be poore be humbled vnder the mighty hand of God that yee may not loose those things which yee doe Pouerty is no whit acceptable vnto God without humilitie Hee chose rather to take flesh of blessed Mary for hir humilitie than for any other vertue For as out of the onely root of pride all euils do arise so out of the onely roote of humilitie all good things are bred Learne of our Sauiour who being gentle and humble in heart abased himselfe for vs becomming obedient euen to the death of the Crosse For which cause I say vnto you if ye will be humble be obedient to euery humane power for Gods cause He is not obedient but negligent who expecteth to be bidden the secoud time it is said that Peter and Andrew at the voice of one bidding left their nets and all that they had and followed the steps of the Lord. True obedience alwaies wisheth in nothing to follow a mans owne will but the will of another For Christ left this for an example vnto vs in his last supper when hauing washed the feete of his disciples he said vnto Peter that vnlesse he would yeild vnto him he should haue no part with him Wherefore my most beloued sonnes as yee haue one name so haue one wil and one will for it is a good and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Let no man be greater or lesse amongst you but after the example of Christ let euery man be greatest in humility Let the greatest amongst you in humility become a fellow to the least when he doth well but when he sinneth let him lift vp himself against vice through the zeale of righteousnes Neuer make any couenant with sinne let a man be loued so as that his vice may be hated It is a great signe of loue to reproue a man in all the least offences Vaine humilitie doth oftentimes much hurt It is no true humilitie to suffer vices by holding a mans peace Cry out cease not lift vp thy voice as a trumpet saith he to Esay tell my people of their sins and I would to God that euery creature could cry out against sinne because that although the sinner doth not feare God he would yet be afraid of men The negligence and vaine humilitie of the shepheard makes that the Wolues can bee bold against the Lambes Looke not vpon the countenance of the mighty for there is no acceptance of persons before God Do in all things that which is iust ye must rather obey God than men If yee conceale the truth for feare of the mighty do yee not consider in your selues that your righteousnesse doth not exceede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees Do not honor a rich man more than a poore man vnlesse he be better Yea that I may speake truly honor rather a poore man for in a poore man doth shine the image of Christ in a rich man the image of the world We all come from one roote of flesh we are all bred members of one another in the same body whereof the head is Iesus Christ What honor then hath the rich and mighty man merited more than the poore man Peraduenture because he is rich and mighty but if it be thus why do wee preach that the glory of the world is to be despised Surely I thinke that no man is to be honoured for the vse of euill things If thou honourest the rich more than the poore thou preferrest the world before God and if thou louest any thing in the world more than God thou art not worthy of God Giue I pray you the things of God vnto God and the things of the world vnto the world Let goodnes euery where be honoured let wickednes be euery where disgraced But because I am speaking of those that do glory in their fading riches and of those that are proud of a certaine nobilitie of the filthy flesh which is soone to returne to ashes and of vaine and light power and dignitie for they are lifted vp by the blast of some foolish titles and doe tread others vnder feete through contempt and by this they thinke