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
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
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
Chtistian is ioyned with charity and without Charity is the Faith of the Deuill Flattery TAle bearers rioters glozers flatterers ar more to be abaÌ„doned theÌ„ opeÌ„ enemies Better is the stroke of a faithfull friend then the false kisses of them that flatter thee The best natures soonest beleeue and by flattering persons are soonest destroyed God IN the hart of man be many deuises but the will of God neuer altereth They that fear God wil beleeue his word and such as loue him will keepe his commandementes The eyes of God are more bright then the Sunne for he seeth the secretes of the hart and searcheth the raines Gâ—ace GRace is giuen for three causes that the â—aw be fulfilled that nature be restored and that we by sin be not subdued By grace we are freed from the bondage of sinne Grace bringeth vs to the hauen of eternall happinesse Without the grace of God no flesh can be saued Humility hVmblenes banisheth pride winneth loue and bringeth vs into the fauour of God As pride pride is the roote of all destruction so humility is the welspring of eternâ—ll blisse Pride cast Lucifer into the gulfe of damnation but by humilitie we shal attaine saluation Suffer not pride to rule thy witte for then will it spoile thy sences God hateth the proud but the humble hee exalteth Honour HOnours ouer great wherein is pride or ouer much statelines be suddeÌ„ly thrown downe like high trees in a great â—empest Honour-nourisheth cunning and with praise mens wits be kindled to studie Ignorance IGnorance excuseth not sinne The onlie enemy to knowledge is Ignorance By Ignorance al absurdities are nourished Ignoraunce is the image of blindnesse the mother of errours and the Nurse of all follie Ingratitude EVill shall neuer depart from the house oâ— him that rendreth an euil turn for a good He that doth all things well cannot bee vnkinde The hope of a person vnthankfull shall relent like winter yce vanish away as a sudden floud Idlenesse IDlenesse weakneth strength but exercise encreseth the same As ruste consumeth yron euen so idlenesse wearieth strength Idlenesse without learning is death the graue of a quicke man Idlenesse bringeth beggerie and causeth men with hatred to fall into miserie Idlenesse teacheeth all vnhappinesse Where Idlenesse beareth â—way all vertues decay Loue. LOue couerâ—th the multitude of sinnes Loue pleaseth God and winneth the hearts of men Liberality LIberality consisteth not in the quantity of the thing that is giuen but the manner of the giuer for he giueth according to his abilititie and substance He giueth late that giueth not till hee bee asked Liberalitie is the only meanes for a prince to aduaunce his honour and to keepe the faithfull heartes of his true subiectes As the Adamant draweth yron so liberalitie winneth the hearts of men Lechery LEcherie is an enemie to God and subuerteth all good vertues He that delighteth in Lecherie wearieth his body consumeth his abilitie and damneth his soule If we consider the excellent work of God in vs wee shall easilie perceiue how foule filthie a thing it is to be resolued in lecherie and to liue wantonlie Lecherie hasteneth olde age and withereth the bodie Malice BY malice a man slayeth his owne soule Malice hurteth them most that doe retaine it Malice is compassed with no limmites of reason Nobilitiâ— THe chiefest Nobility before god is to excell in all vertues True Nobilitity scorneth to do seruice to sin He that boasteth of his ancestors declareth himselfe not worthy of praise Iphicrates a valiant Captaine but the sonne of a shoomaker being there with imbrayded of Hermodius a Noble man borne answered in this wise My blood beginneth at me thy blood of Generosity endeth in thee The onlie welspring of true honor is vertue Obedience IT is a generall decree made by mankind to be obedient to kinges howe much more vnto god which gouerneth all creatures Better is obedience then Sacrifice If thou wilt be wise be thou euer obedience for it is written desirest thou wisdome then keep the commandements and God wil giue her vnto thee The contempt of superiours is the original fountaine of mischiefe in euery publik weale That country is euer wel gouerned where people wel know how to obey Faithfull obedience in subiectes maketh louing and kinde hearts in Princes Patience BY patience Iob ouercame his woonderous miseries and afterward enioyed all wished prosperities He that patiently suffereth the troubles crosses of this life shal after be endued with al felicitie Patience comforteth the heart quieteth the minde and best pleaseth God Most happy is he whoÌ„ no misery troubleth Patience causeth much peace and breedeth quietnesse twixt man and wife Pouertie BEtter is a little in the feare of God then great treasures with a troubled Spirit The patience of poore men shall surelie bee rewarded The life of man is not in aboundaunce of wealth great riches and high pompe but in vertue and faith for he is onely rich that to Godward is rich Be poore in spirit so shalt thou see God so shalt thou praise God when thou doest good so shalt thou lay the fault vpon thy self when thou doest euill Pouertie plucketh downe the hearts of the proud and often times bringeth them home to God He that liueth after his owne opinion wil neuer be rich but God will blesse him that with his riches praiseth the Lorde in doing almes and maintaining vertue godlinesse Prayer VVIth fasting corporall passions are to be cured with praier the pestilence of mans mind is to be healed Thy prayer is thy speech vnto God when thou readest God talketh with thee when thou prayest thou talkest with God By prayer the Niniuits were preserued By prayer Ionas was deliuered out of the Whales bellie Earnest and feruent prayer doeth oftentimes pacifie the wrath of God The froward nature of men is by humble peâ—ition and prayer rectified Prosperitie THe worlde is more dangerous laughing then lowring Liue so in prosperity as though thou shouldest fall into misery Let not prosperitie make thee proud least God for saking thee thou be pluckt into the narrow straites of pinching necessity When God suffereth euill men to haue great prosperity theÌ„ his indignation is much more grieuous If thou haddest the wisedome of Salomon the beautie of Absalon the strengh of Sampson the long life of Enoch the riches of Croesus the power of Octauiaâ— what can al this auail thee when finally thy body is giuen to wormes thy soule vnto deuils to be with the rich man in paine euerlasting Perfect prosperitie is the vse of vertue Promise AL honest promises are to be performed but these are not to be kept which are either compelled by feare or By craft deceiued O the shameful confession of fraud