that is often beaten verse 10. cannot be without some skarre so hee that sweareth and nameth GOD continually shall not be faultlesse But as hee blasphemeth the Name of Sigismund GOD by his often swearing so he dailie procureth vnto himselfe many plague for his punishment Yea the man that vseth much swearing Ecclê° 23 11 shall be filled with wickednes the plague shall neuer goe from his house when he shall offend his fault shall be vppon him and if hee acknowledge not his sinne hee maketh a double offence if hee sweare in vaine he shall not be innocent but his house shall be full of plagues Vse not thy mouth therefore to ignoraunt Ecclê° 23 13 rashnesse for therein is the occasion of sinne ¶ Of sanctifying the Sabaoth-day §. 1. REmember thou keep holy the Sabaoth Exod 20. 8. day Sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe But the seuenth day is the Sabaoth of the verse 9. Lord thy God in it thou-shalt do no manner of worke neither thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter nor thy man seruaunt nor thy mayd seruaunt nor thy cattell nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen verse 10. and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it §. 2. If saith the Almighty thou turne away Esay 58. 13. thy foote from the Sabaoth from doing thy will on mine holy day and call the Sabaoth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord shalt honour him not dooing thine owne wayes nor seeking thine ovvne vvill nor speaking a vaine vvord Then shalt thou delight in the Lorde verse 14. and I will cause thee to mount vpon the hie places of the earth feede thee vvith the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it But take heede to thy foote when thou Ecclesi 4 â—7 entrest into the House of GOD and be more neere or ready to heare then to giue the sacrifice of fooles for they know not that they doe euill ¶ Of honouring our Parents §. 1. HOnour thy father thy mother that Exod 20 12 thy dayes may be prolonged in the Land which the Lord thy GOD giueth thee Honour thy father from thy whole hart Ecclus 7 27 28. forget not the sorrowes of thy mother Remember that thou wast borne of them and how canst thou recompence them the things that they haue done for thee Obey thy father therfore that hath begotten Prou 23 22. thee and despise not thy mother when shee is old For the Lord will haue the father honored Ecclus 3 3 of the children and hath confirmed the authoritie of the mother ouer them §. 2. It is the first lawe euen of nature saith Val. Max. Valerius that we should in all kindnes and affection deerelie loue our parents And the honour which wee owe vnto Chilo them is no otherwise to be vnderstood but to iudge discreetly reuerently and honourably of them to esteeme wel of all their dooings not onely because they are our elders but chiefely because they are our parents whom it pleased God to vse as instruments to the intent that by them wee might haue our first beginning and naturall entrance into this world by whom also after our birth wee be most tenderlie brought vp carefully attended on naturallie beloued and most daintily fedde and nourished both in sicknes in health Also in dutifully honouring of our parents Chilo wee doe not onely honour the great vertue and power of God but also the excellencie of his goodnesse whereby we are made men and borne into the world euen of the blood of man §. 3. Honour thy father thy mother saith Ecclê° 3 9 10. Sirach in deede and in word and in all patience that thou mayst haue Gods blessing and that his blessing may abide with thee in the end For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of the chyldren and the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations Helpe thy father in his age and grieue Ecclus 3 13 him not as long as he liueth And if his vnderstanding faile haue patience verse 14. with him and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength For the good intreatie of thy father shall verse 15 not be forgotten but it shall be a fortresse for thee against sinnes And in the day of trouble thou shalt be verse 16. remembred thyne iniquities also shal melt away as the yâ—e in the faire weather §. 4. Who so honoureth his father his sinnes Ecclê° 3 4 5 shall be forgiuen him and he shal abstaine from them and shall haue his daily desires And he that honoureth his mother is like one that gathereth treasure VVho so honoureth his father shall verse 6 haue ioy of his owne chyldren and vvhen hee maketh his prayer he shal be â—eard Who so honoreth his father shall haue a verse 7 long life and hee that is obedient vnto the Lord shall comfort his mother But hee that forsaketh his father shall Ecclê° 3 17 come to shame and hee that despiseth his mother is cursed of God Hee also that curseth his father or his Exod 21 17 mother shall die the death And that childs light shall be put out Prou 20 20. in obscure darknes ¶ Against Pride §. 1. THere are sixe things as Salomon saith Prou 6 16. 17 18 19. which the Lord hateth yea his soule abhorreth seauen namely these hautie or proude lookes a lying tongue the hands that shedde innocent blood a heart that imagineth wicked enterprises feete that be swift in running to mischiefe a false witnes that speaketh lyes and him that raiseth vp contentions among bretheren §. 2. Pride as Pacuuius saith is a subtile Serpent Paâ—uuius which slilie insinuateth her selfe into the mindes of men and the very cheefe cause of all superstition and enuie It is an vgly and lothsome monster both Plato in the sight of God man continually accompanied with these foure bad companions Folly Rashnes Audacitie and Impudencie The beginning of mans pride is to fall Ecclê° 10 13 away from God to turne away his hart from his Maker For pride is the originall of sinne he verse 14. that hath it shall powre out abhomination till at last himselfe be ouerthrowne But the rewarde of humilitie and the Prou 22 4 feare of God is riches honour health §. 3. Pride enuie and impatiencie are the Augustine three capitall enemies of mans constancie And it commonly falleth out that hee Arnobius which is proud himselfe thinketh it a matter vnpossible for any man to be humble Pride is also such a turbulent euill to him Ambrose that is possessed there-with that it maketh his maister like a shyp
be searched out He only hath immortalitie dwelleth in 1 Tim 6 16 the light that none can attaine vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see He is Alpha and Omega the beginning Reue 22 13 and 1 8. and the end the first and the last which is and which was and which is to come euen the Almightie §. 5. Before me saith the Almightie there was Esay 43 10 11 13. no God formed neither shall there be after me I euen I am the Lord and beside me there is no Sauiour Yea before the daie was saith he I am and there is none that can deliuer out of mine hand I am the first and I am the last saith the Esay 44 6 Eternall without or besides me there is no other God I am the Lord that made all thinges that Esay 44 24 spred out the heauens alone and stretched out the earth by my selfe Yea I saith the euer-liuing God haue Esay 45 12. made the earth and created man vpon it Surely my hand hath layde the foundations Esay 48 13 of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the heauens when I call thē saith he they stand vp together §. 6. Vnderstand therfore this day cōsider Deut 4 39 as Moses saith in thy hart that the Lord our God he is God in heauen aboue vpon the earth beneath there is none other Hee is God of Gods Lord of Lords Deut 10 17 a great GOD mightie and terrible which accepteth no persons nor taketh rewarde who doth right vnto the fatherlesse widdow and loueth the stranger giuing him foode and rayment Yea the Lord our God as the same Moses Deut 6 4 saith vnto Israell is Lord onely And there is as the Apostle truelie affirmeth 1 Cor 8 4 none other God but one Though there bee that are called Gods 1 Cor 8 5 6 whether in heauen or in earth as there be many Gods and many Lords yet vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him ¶ Of the mightie power of God §. 1. THE Lord raigneth saith Dauid Psal 93 11 is clothed with maiestie the Lord our God is clothed and girded with power Who is like saith he or may be compared Psal 113 5 vnto the Lord our God which hath his dwelling on high Which couereth himselfe with light as Psal 104 2 3 4 5. with a garment and spreadeth out the heauens like a Curtaine VVhich layeth the beames of his Chambers in the waters and maketh the clowdes his Chariot and walketh vpon the winges of the wind Which maketh his spirits his messengers and a flaming fire his ministers Which giueth the Sunne for a light to Iere 31. 35 the day and the courses of the Moone and of the starres for a light to the night Which breaketh the Sea when the waues thereof do roare His Name as saith the Prophet is the Lord of Hostes Hee as the Psalmist saith is high aboue Psal 113 4 all Nations and his glory aboue the heauens Hee hath prepared his throne in heauen Psal 103 19 and his kingdome ruleth ouer all Hee by his power hath placed the earth Lactantius vpon her firme foundations And he hath set bounds about the vvaters Iob 26 10 vntill the day night come to an end §. 2. There is a GOD saith Cicero which Cicero doth rule and gouerne all thinges which maintaineth the course of the Starres the changes of times the alteration order of all things beholding both Sea and Land Who also plainely seeth both the liues and doings of all men that dwel vpon the earth and whatsoeuer else hath any being in the vvorld The same God is our God as Baruch Baruch 3 35 the Scribe saith and there shal none other be compared vnto him For hee it is vvhich hath prepared the Baruch 3 32 earth for euermore hath filled the same with foure-footed beastes Hee it is which by his ovvne almighty Mar. Bucer power hath created all kinde of creatures and by his wonderful prouidence they liue and are preserued Yea hee as Daniell saith is the liuing Dan 6 26 God remaineth for euer his kingdome shall neuer perrish and his dominion shall be euerlasting Hee also it is which rescueth deliuereth verse 27 and he worketh signes and wonders in heauen and in earth VVhen hee sendeth out the light it goeth Baruch 3 33 and when hee calleth it againe it obeyeth him with feare The starres also shine in their watch and verse 34. reioyce and when hee calleth them they say Heere wee be and so with cheerefulnesse they shewe light vnto him that made them §. 3. He that formeth the Mountaines sayth Amos 4 13 Amos and createth the winde and declareth vnto man what is his thought vvhich maketh the morning darknesse and walketh vpon the hie places of the earth the Lord God of Hostes is his Name Nahum 1 3 He hath his way in the whirle-wind and in the storme and the Clowdes are the dust of his feete Psal 104 32 He looketh on the earth it trembleth hee toucheth the Mountaines and they smoake Esay 40 22 Yea hee sitteth as Esay sayth vpon the circle of the earth the inhabitants of the whole world in comparison of him are as it were a companie of Grashoppers Hee stretcheth out the heauens as a Curtaine spreadeth them out as a Tent to dwell in verse 23 24. Hee bringeth the Princes to nothing maketh the Iudges of the earth as vanitie As though they were not planted as thogh they were not sowen as though their stock tooke no roote in the earth For as soone as he bloweth vpon thē they wither and fade away as the stubble doth in a whirlewind Hee also is wise in heart and mightie Iob 9 4 in strength For vvho as Iob saith hath been fierce against him hath prospered Hee remooueth the Mountaines and they verse 5 6 7 8. feele not when hee ouerthroweth them in his wrath he remooueth the earth out of her place that the pillars thereof doe shake He commaundeth the Sunne and it riseth not he closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens and walketh vppon the height of the Sea c. He doth great things and vnsearchable Iob 9 10. 11 12 yea meruailous thinges without number Loe when he goeth by mee I see him not and when hee passeth by I perceiue him not Behold when hee taketh a pray who can make him to restore it Or who shal say vnto him What doost thou For all Nations before him are as nothing Esay 40 17 and they are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanitie §. 4. Againe The Lord our GOD as Dauid
make whole and there is none that can deliuer out of mine hand I destroy the tokens of the Soothsayers Esay 44. 25 and make them that coniecture fooles I turne the Wisemen backward and make theyr knowledge foolishnes I forme the light and create darknesse Esay 45 7. I make peace and create euill I the Lord saith hee doe all these things §. 8. Our God is in heauen faith Dauid and Psal 115. 3 he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him The heauen is his seate and the earth is Esay 66. 1. his footestoole Hee remaineth for euer his throne is Lam. 5 19. frō generation to generation * And there 1. Sam. 2 2. is no God like our God For hee as Salomon saith hath the Wisd 16. 13 power of life and death he leadeth down euen to the gates of hell and bringeth vp againe §. 9. God that made the world and all things Acts 17 24 25. that are therein saith the Apostle seeing that he is Lord of heauen and earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giueth to all life and breath and all things For in him we liue and mooue and haue verse 28. our beeing Yea hee as Plato saith by his almighty Plato power is in all things and in euery part of the world by his prouidence all things are preserued gouerned and moued and hee himselfe is of none other either mooued or gouerned but is the first incomprehensible mouer The eyes of all things waite vpon him Psalm 145. 15 16. and he giueth them theyr foode in due season hee openeth his hand and filleth with his blessing euery liuing thing But if he hide his face they are troubled Psalm 104 29. if hee take away their breath they die and returne to their dust For in his hand is the soule of euerie lyuing Iob 12. 10. thing and the breath of all mankind §. 10. The earth is the Lords saith Dauid and Psal 24. 1 all that therein is the world is his and so are all they that dwell therein Prosperitie and aduersitie life and death Ecclus 11 14 15. pouertie and riches come of the Lorde Wisedome and knowledge and vnderstanding of the Lawe are all of the Lord loue and good workes come of him For hee only is the Authour of all goodnesse Hermes and the giuer of all good gifts Yea euery good and perfect gift as Saint Iames. 1. 17. Iames saith is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whō is no variablenesse neyther shadowe by turning For the diuine nature and substance of Aristotle God suffereth neither change nor end because as Aristotle truly sayth it is both immutable and infinite §. 11. To come to preferment also is neyther Psalm 75. 6 7. from the East nor from the West nor yet from the South but the Lorde as Dauid saith is the Iudge hee putteth downe whō he will and hee setteth vp whom hee pleaseth It is the Lorde that giueth and it is the Iob 1 21 Lord that taketh away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so commeth things to passe §. 12. VVe read in the second booke of chronicles that when Asa King of Iudah was 2. Chron. 14 9 10 11. vrged to giue battaile against an Armie of tenne hundred thousand Ethiopians first before he beganne the fight hee made his humble supplication to the Almighty and in his prayer to shewe that the conquest consisted not in the great companie of his enemies souldiers but only in the might power of him that made both heauen and earth he said Help vs ô Lord our God It is nothing with thee to saue with manie or with no power helpe vs ô Lorde our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name saith hee are wee come against this multitude Ionathan likewise venturing by stealth 1. Sam. 14 6 to set vppon the Philistians garison at vnawares and beeing accompanied with none but onely his Armor bearer for his better encouragement he told him that it was not hard with the Lord to saue with many or with few For the victorie of the battell dependeth 1. Mac. 3. 19. not on the many thousands that are in the host but the strength commeth from heauen And is onely at his pleasure to be disposed whose power as * Iudith saith standeth Iudith 9 11. not in the multitude of Souldiers nor his might in strong men As may more at large be perceiued by reading the happy successe which folowed the enterprises of the aforesaide King Asa and Ionathan the Sonne of Saule against theyr enemies §. 13. Another example also concerning the power of Almightie God in this poynt is set downe in the booke of Iudges where Iudges 7 12 Gedion beeing appointed by the Lord to goe fight against the Midianites which were so mightie an host that as the Text sayth they lay in the valley like a company of Grashoppers and theyr Cammels were without number as is the sand by the Sea-side for multitude mustred vp an Armie Iuges 7. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. of thirty two thousand men And when he had done thus the Lord God called vnto him and said Gedion the people that are with thee are too many for me to giue the Midianites into theyr handes least Israell make their vaunt against me say Mine hand hath saued me Now therefore saith the most Mightie proclaime in the audience of the people and say Whosoeuer he be that is timerous or fearefull let him returne and depart Then saith the Text there departed of the people twentie two thousand and ten thousand remained And the Lord called againe vnto Gedion and sayd The people are yet too manie bring them therefore downe vnto the water I will try them for thee there and of whom I say vnto thee this man shal goe with thee the same shall goe with thee and of whomsoeuer I say vnto thee this man shall not goe with thee the same shall not goe So Gedion according as he was commaunded brought downe the people to the water and the Lord said vnto him As many as thou shalt see to lap the water with theyr tongues as a dogge lappeth put thē by themselues and euery one that shal bow downe on his knees to drinke put them likewise apart Now among those tenne thousand that came to the water to drink there was found but onely three hundred which lapped the vvater by putting their handes to theyr mouthes by which 300. men God most miraculously saued Israel deliuered the Midianites into their hands So that both by this example the former that sentence of our Sauiour is verified where hee sayth * The things which Luke 18 27 are vnpossible with men are possible with GOD. And surelie as Plato sayth hee alone is Plato most worthy to be taken for
also to the former part of the Apostles speech in the afore-saide chapter concerning the comming of Christ to iudgement with the resurrection of mens bodies and the immortality of the soule speaketh holy Iob in the 19. of his booke with a confident and perfect hope thereof saying * I am sure that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19 25 26 27 and that he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see GOD in my flesh whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my raines are consumed within mee The aforesaide S. Paule likewise comforting the Thessalonians with the remēbrance of the resurrection of the body and last Iudgement saith thus * I vvould not 1. Thes 4 13. 14. 15. 16 c. Bretheren haue you ignorant concerning them that are a sleepe that ye sorrow not euen as other which haue no hope For if we beleeue that Iesus is deade and is risen euen so them which sleepe in Iesus vvill God bring with him For this say we vnto you by the worde of the Lorde that vvee which liue and are remaining at the comming of the Lorde shall not preuent them which sleepe For the Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a showte and with the voyce of the Archangell with the trumpet of GOD and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then shall we which liue remaine be caught vp with them also in the Clowdes to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall wee euer be vvith the Lord. By the testimony of vvhich places it plainely appeareth that at the last iudgement there shall not onely bee a generall raysing vp of all mens bodies which from the beginning of the vvorld haue already departed out of this life but also a suddain changing of all mens bodies then liuing on the earth which change shal be vnto them in sted of death And then shal the saints of God presently after the finall sentence frō Christ our Iudge pronounced enter both body soule into endlesse pleasure the wicked both body and soule into eternall paine ¶ of the vncertaine time of the last Indgement §. 1. NOvv for that the time of this day is vncertaine the houre of Christes comming vnknowne our Sauiour himselfe his beloued Apostles haue therefore vouchsafed to leaue behind them many forewarning speeches as a very necessary meanes to make vs more wary watchfull of the same Affirming that suddainly * and in an houre that we think not Math 24. 44 will the sonne of man come But of that day and howre saith Christ Math 24 36 knoweth no man no not the Angels of heauen but my Father onelie But as the dayes of Noe were so likewise Math. 24 37 38 39 shal the comming of the Sonne of man be For as in the dayes before the floode they did eate drinke marry and giue in marriage vntill the day that Noe entred into the Arke and knewe nothing vntill the flood came and tooke thē all away so shal also the cōming of the sonne of man be Likewise also as it was in the dayes of Luke 17 28 29 30 Lot they eate they dranke they bought they solde they planted they built but in the day that Lot went out of Sodome it rained fire brimstone from heauen and destroyed them all After these ensamples shal it be in the day when the sonne of man is reuealed At that day he that is vpon the house Luke 17 31 his stuffe in the house let him not come downe to take it out and hee that is in the fielde likewise let him not turne backe to that he left behind Then two shall be in the fieldes the one Math. 24 40 41 42. shall be receiued the other refused two women shall be grinding at the Mill the one shall be receiued and the other shal be refused Watch therfore for yee know not what houre your Maister will come Whether at euen or at midnight at the Mar 13 35 Cock-crowing or in the dawning Of this be sure saith Christ that if the Math 24. 43 44. good-man of the house knew at what time the thiefe would come hee woulde surelie watch not suffer his house to be digged through Therfore be ye also readie for in the houre that ye thinke not will the sonne of man come If thou wilt not watch saith hee I vvill Reue 3 3 come on thee as a theefe thou shalt not know what houre I will come vpon thee §. 2. These and sundry other such like speeches are set down in the New-Testament as admonishments to forewarne vs caueats to make vs careful how we spend our time least at that houre wee be found with the fiue foolish Virgins vnprouided For * the day of the Lord will come as a theefe 2 Pet 3 10. in the night in the which the heauens shal passe away with a noyse and the elements shal melt with heate the earth with the works that are therein shal be burnt vp Seeing then that all these thinges must be 2 Pet. 3. 11. 21 13 14. dissolued what manner of persons ought we to be in holy conuersation godlines looking for and hasting to the comming of the day of God by vvhich the heauens beeing on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heate But vvee looke for newe heauens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Wherfore beloued seeing that yee looke for such things be diligent that yee may bee founde of him in peace without spot and blamelesse c. And take heede to your selues least at Luke 21 34 any time your harts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and least that day come on you at vnwares For as a snare shall it come on all them verse 35 36 that dwell on the face of the vvhole earth VVatch therefore and pray continually that ye may be counted woorthy to escape all those thinges that shall come to passe and that ye may stand before the Sonne of Man And those things that I say vnto you I Mar 13 37 say vnto all men vvatch For blessed is that seruaunt whom his Math 24 46 Maister when he commeth shall finde so dooing ¶ Of Christ Why hee came into the world and of the profit vvee haue by his Death Resurrection and Ascention IOHN 17. verse 3. To know GOD and Iesus Christ whom he hath sent is life euerlasting ¶ Of Christ. c. §. 1. AT sundry times and in diuers manners Heb 1 1 2 saith the Apostle God spake in the old time to our Fathers by the Prophets in these last dayes hee hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne vvhom he hath made heire of all things by whom also he made the worlds Who beeing the brightnesse of the glorie
honoureth and obeyeth Tertullian his Prince honoureth and obeyeth God for the Prince is Gods Vizegerent here on earth and representeth amongst men vsing his authoritie as hee ought the glorious state and high Maiestie of GOD in heauen §. 9. Obey them saith the Apostle that haue Heb 13 17 the ouer-sight of you and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue accounts that they may doe it with ioy not with griefe for that is vnprofitable for you The Elders that rule well saith hee are 1 Tim 5 17. 18 woorthy of double honour specially they that labour in the Word doctrine For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne and The labourer is worthy of his wages Nowe therefore we beseech you brethren 1 Thes 5 12 13 that yee knowe them which labour among you and are ouer you in the Lord and admonish you that yee haue them in singuler loue for their workes sake * And Philip. 2. 29. make much of such §. 10. Honour all men loue brotherly fellowship 1 Pet 2 17. feare God honour the King For the Kings wrath is like the roaring Prou 19 12 of a Lyon but his fauour is like the dewe vpon the grasse And as Princes are men before God so Lactantius are they Gods before men This alwaies yet remember That vvee Acts. 5 29. ought rather to obey God than man ¶ A further declaration of diuers other speciall commaundements which we finde contained in the Booke of GOD concerning our dutie towards him and our loue towards our neighbour With many profitable sayings tending to the same effect and purpose collected foorth of the workes of sundry learned and worthy Writers ¶ Against the worshipping of Images and false Gods §. 1. THus spake the Almightie vnto Israell Exod. 20 1 2 3. in the twenty chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lorde thy GOD which haue brought thee out of the Lande of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other Gods but mee Thou shalt make thee no grauen Image verse 4. neyther any similitude of things that are in heauen aboue neither that are in the earth beneath nor that are in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bowe downe to them Exod 20 5 nor serue them for I am the Lorde thy God a ielous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vppon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate mee And shewing mercy vnto thousands in verse 6. them that loue mee and keepe my commaundements §. 2. To vvhom saith Esay vvill yee liken Esay 40 18. GOD or what similitude will yee set vp vnto him Hee is a King euerlasting immortall 1 Tim 1 17 and invisible * And there is none like vnto Deuâ— 33. 26 to him Take therefore good heede vnto your Deut 4 15 16. selues for ye saw no image in the day that the Lord spake vnto you in Horeb out of the middes of the fire that yee corrupt not your selues make you a grauen image or representation of any figure whether it be the likenes of male or female The likenes of any beast that is on the verse 17 18 earth or the likenes of any fethered foule that flieth in the ayre The likenesse of any thing that creepeth on the earth or the likenes of any fish that is in the vvaters beneath the earth c. For the Lord thy GOD is a consuming Deut 4 24 fire and a ielous God §. 3. Confounded be all they saith Dauid Psalm 97 7 that serue grauen Images and that glorie in their Idols Miserable are they and among the dead Wisd 13 10 is their hope that call them Gods which are the workes of mens hands For the worshipping of Idols vvhich Wisd 14 26 ought not to be named is the beginning the cause and the end of all euill The inuenting of them was the beginning Wisd 14 11 of whoredome and the finding of them is the corruption of life For they were not from the beginning verse 12. 13 neyther shall they continue for euer The vaine-glory of men brought them into the world therefore shal they come shortly to an end They haue mouthes and speake not Psalm 115 5. 6. 7. they haue eyes and see not they haue eares and heare not they haue noses and smell not they haue hands and touch not they haue feete walk not neither make they any sound with theyr throate They that make them are like vnto theÌ„ and so are all they that put theyr trust in Psal 115 8 them But cursed be the Image the image-maker Wisd 14 8 hee because hee made it and it because that beeing a corruptible thing it was called God §. 4. VVho-soeuer saith S. Augustine adoreth or maketh his prayer beholding an Image Augustine hee is so moued thereby in his owne minde that he thinketh the Image heareth him and also hopeth that it will performe his peticion An vnhappy memory therfore is that which to remember Christ vvho neuer Carolus magnus ought to depart out of the hart of the iust man standeth in neede of a sightfull conceite nor otherwise can haue the presence of Christ within him vnlesse hee haue his Image painted on a vvall or expressed in some other matter for such a memory as is nourished and kept by Images proceedeth not of harty loue but necessitie of eye-sight And out of all doubt there is no true religion Lactantius to be looked for wheresoeuer an Image hath any abyding ¶ Against swearing §. 1. THou shalt not take the Name of the Exod 20 7 Lord thy God in vaine for the Lorde will not holde him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine Yee haue heard that it was saide to them Math 5 33 of old time Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt performe thine oath vnto the Lord. But I say vnto you sweare not at all neither verse 34 35 by heauen for it is the throne of God nor yet by the earth for it is his footestoole neyther by Ierusalem for it is the Cittie of the great King Neyther shalt thou swear by thine head verse 36. because thou canst not make one hayre white or blacke But let your communication bee Yea verse 37 yea Nay nay for vvhat-soeuer is more then these commeth of euill §. 2. Aboue all thinges my brethren sweare Iames 5 12. not neither by heauen nor by earth nor by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay least yee fall into condemnation Accustome not thy mouth to swearing Ecclê° 23 9 for in it there are many falles neyther take vp for an ordinary vse the naming of the Holy one for thou shalt not escape vnpunished for such things For as a seruaunt
theyr fruites Beleeue not euery spirit but try the spirits 1 Iâ—h 4. 1 whether they are of God or noâ— for many false Prophets are gone out into the vvorlde Yea many deceiuers are entred into the world which confesse noâ— that Iesus Christ 2 Ioh 1 7 is come in the flesh Hee that is such a one is a deceiuer and â—n Antichrist §. 2. I beseech you Brethren saith S. Paule Rom 16 17 18 marke them diligently which cause diuision and offences contrary to the doctrine which yee haue learned and aâ—oyde them For they that are such sâ—rue not the Lorde Iesus Christ but theyâ— owne 〈◊〉 and with faire speeches and flattering deâ—eâ—ue the harts of the simple Yee are deerely bought be not the seruaunts 1. Cor 7 23 of men But stand fast and keepe the instructions 2. Thes 2. 15 which you haue beene taught eyther by word or by our Epistle If any man teach otherwise and consenteth 1 Tim 6 3 4 5. not to the wholesome wordes of our lord Iesus Christ to the doctrine which is according to godlines he is pufâ— vp and knoweth nothing but doateth about questions and strife of words whereof commeth enuie strife raylings euill surmisings vaine disputations of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth vvhich thinke that gaine is godlinesse From such separate thy selfe §. 3. Brethren saith the same Apostle be Phil. 3 17 followers of me looke on them which walke so as yee haue vs for an ensample For many walke of whom I haue tolde verse 18 19 you often and now tell you weeping that they are the enemies of the Crosse of Christ whose ende is damnation vvhose God is theyr belly and vvhose glorie is to their shame which mind earthly things But our conuersation is in heauen from verse 20 whence also we looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ Who shall change our vile body that it verse 21. may be facioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the working whereby hee is able euen to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe §. 4. Let vs henceforth be no more chyldren Ephe 4 14 15. wauering and carried about with euerie winde of doctrine by the deceit of men with craftâ—nes wherby they lay in waite to deceiue But let vs follow the truth in loue and in all things grow vp vnto him which is the head euen Christ And beware least any man spoyle you Colos 2 8. thorow Philosophy and vaine deceite after the traditions of men and according to the ordinaunces of the world and not after Christ For whosoeuer transgresseth and abydeth 2 Ioh. 9. 10 not in the doctrine of Christ he hath not God He that endureth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne If there come any vnto you and bring verse 11. not this doctrine receiue him not to house neither bid him God speede For hee that biddeth him God speede is partaker of his euill deedes ¶ Against the choyse of meates and difference of dayes §. 1. LEt no man saith the Apostle trouble Colos 2 16 17. your conscience about meate drink or in respect of an holy-day or of the new Moone or of the Sabboth dayes vvhich are but shadowes of thinges to come but the body is in Christ It is a good thing that the hart be stablished Heb 13 9 with grace not with meates which haue not profited them that haue been occupied therein For the kingdome of God is not meate Rom 14 17 nor drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost For whosoeuer in these thinges serueth verse 18. Christ is acceptable vnto God is commended of men §. 2. One beleeueth that he may eate al things Rom 14 2 and another that is weake eateth hearbs This man esteemeth one day aboue another Rom. 14 5 day and another man counteth euerie day alike Let not him that eateth despise him that Rom 14 3 eateth not and let not him vvhich eateth not iudge him that eateth for God hath receiued him Let euery man also be fully perswaded Rom. 14 5. 6. in his minde that hee which obserueth the day obserueth it to the Lord and hee that obserueth not the day obserueth it not to the Lord. He that eateth eateth to the lord for he giueth God thanks and he that eateth not eateth not to the lord and giueth God thanks Meate maketh not vs acceptable to God 1 Cor 8 8 For neither if we eate are wee the better neither if we eate not are we the worse VVhat-soeuer is solde in the Shambles 1 Cor 10 25 26 eate ye aske no question for conscience sake For the earth is the Lords and all that therein is §. 3. And seeing that GOD hath created all Erasmus things for the vse of man requireth nothing of vs but holinesse what forceth hee whether vvee eate flesh of foure-footed beastes or of fishes or of Birds that flie There is none of all these that eyther maketh or marreth holinesse neither putteth any thing to it or taketh any thing from it The choyse of these things and the putting Erasmus of difference betweene one and another may make a man superstitious to haue vaine religion in himselfe but it cannot make him holie Christ taught no difference heerein therefore it may bee counted great rashnes if a wretched man should goe about to burthen charge any man with such ordinances Let euery man eate what hee liketh as his body requireth so it be doone soberlie measurably and for all thinges let him giue thankes vnto God For to beleeue that meates are euill or Augustine causeth euill or sinne to them that receiue them it is the propertie not of Christian men but peculiarly of the Hierarchies Maniches which were heretiques §. 4. VVherefore if yee be dead with Christ Colos 2. 20. 21. 22 from the ordinaunces of the world vvhy as though yee liued in the world are yee burdened with traditions As Touch not Taste not Handle not Which all perrish with the vsing are after the commaundements and doctrines of men VVhich things haue indeed a shewe of Colos 2. 23 wisedome in voluntarie religion humblenesse of minde and in not sparing the body neither haue they it in any estimation to satisfie the flesh But I know am perswaded through Rom. 14 14 the Lord Iesus that there is nothing vncleane of it selfe but vnto him that iudgeth any thing to be vncleane to him it is vncleane Vnto the pure all things are pure but Titus 1. 15. to them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure but euen theyr mindes and consciences are defiled §. 5. Nowe the Spirit speaketh euidently that 1 Tim 4 1 2. 3. in the latter times some shall depart from the fayth and shall giue heede vnto spirits of errour and
make one wicked man his instrument to plague another for his iniquitie Hee shall be about to fill his belly but God shal send vpon him his fierce wrath Iob. 20 23 24 shal cause his indignation to raigne ouer him so that if he flee from the yron vveapons he shal be shot with the steele bow §. 10. Affliction and anguish shall make him Iob 15 24 afraide they shal preuaile against him as a King ready to the battaile Fearefulnes shal make him afraid on euerie Iob. 18. 11 side and shal driue him to his feete Though hee dwell in desolate Citties Iob. 15 28 29 in the houses which no man inhabiteth but are become heapes of stones yet shall hee not be rich neither shall his substance continue or increase vpon the earth All darknes or all feare and sorrowe Iob 20 26 shall be hidde in his secrete places the fire that is not blowne shal deuoure him and that which remaineth in his Tabernacle shal be destroyed Hee shal neuer come out of darknesse Iob. 15 30 the flame of Gods anger shall dry vp his branches and vvith the blast of Gods mouth hee shall be taken away The heauen shal declare his wickednes Iob. 20 27 28. the earth shall rise vp against him The increase also of his house shal passe away it shall euen perrish be consumed in the day of the Lords wrath §. 11. Hee beleeueth not that hee erreth in vanitie Iob. 15 31 32 therefore vanitie shall be his recompence Hee shall perrish before his time be vvorne out and his branch shall not be greene God shall destroy him as the Vine doth verse 33 her sower grape and shal cast him off as the Oliue doth her flower His light shal be quenched the spark Iob 18 5 6. of his fire shal not burne The light shal be darke in his dwelling and his candle shall be put out with him The steps of his strength shall be restrained verse 7. and his owne counsell shall cast him downe For his feete are taken as it vvere in a Iob. 18. 8. 9. Net and hee vvalketh vppon dangerous snares The grenne as he goeth shall catch him by the heele and ere hee is aware the theefe shall come vppon him §. 12. Hunger shal be his strength destruction Iob 18 12 13. shall be ready at his side It shall deuoure the inner parts of his skin the first borne of death shall consume his strength His hope shal be rooted out of his dwelling Iob. 18. 14. and shal cause him to go to the King of feare Feare shal dwell in his house because it is verse 15. 16. not his and brimstone shall be scattered vppon his habitation His rootes shall be dried vp beneath and aboue all his branches shal be cut downe His remembrance shall perrish from the Iob. 18. 17 18 earth and hee shall haue no name in the streete They shall driue him out of the light vnto darknes and chase him cleane out of the world Hee shal neyther haue sonne nor Nephew verse 19. among his people nor any posteritie left in his dwellings §. 13. If his chyldren be in great number the Iob. 27. 14 15 sword shall destroy them and his posteritie shall not be satisfied with breade His remnant shal be buried in death and his widowes shal not weepe Though hee should heape vp siluer as verse 16. 17. the dust and prepare rayment as the clay hee may prepare it but the iust shall put it on and the innocent shal deuide the siluer His confidence also shall be cut off and Iob. 8 14. his trust shal be as the house of a Spyder He shall leane vpon his house but it shal Iob 8 15 not stand hee shal hold fast by it yet shall it not endure Hee shall see with his eyes his owne destruction Iob 21 20 and misery approching and hee shall bee made to drinke of the fearefull vvrath of the Almightie Destruction shall take hold vpon him as Iob 27 20 21 22 a fierce water flood a tempest shall take him away by night A vehement East-winde shall carry him hence and a mightie storme shal pluck him out of his place It shall rush vpon him and not spare him though he would faine flee from the force thereof This is the portion that the wicked man Iob. 27 13 shall haue from God and the heritage that tyrants shall receiue of the Almighty For the most High hateth the wicked Ecclê° 12 6. and vvill repay vengeance vnto the vngodly hee also keepeth them against the day of horrible vengeance §. 14. In the hand of the Lord saith Dauid Psal 75. 8. there is a cup and the wine therein is red it is full mixt and hee powreth out of the same Surely all the wicked of the earth shall vvring out and drinke the dregges thereof God shall raine vppon them snares fire Psalm 11 6 and brimstone and stormie tempest thys shal be the portion of their cup to drink God shal bring them downe into the pit Psal 55. 23 of corruption the blood-thirsty deceitfull men shall not liue halfe their dayes They shall be euen as stubble before the Iob 21. 18. winde and as the chaffe that the storme carrieth away They shall be as the grasse growing vppon Psal 129 6 the house toppes which withereth afore it commeth forth And as the whirle-winde that speedilie Prou. 10 25. passeth so shall the vngodly be no more For God will take vengeance on his aduersaries NahuÌ„ 1 2 and hee reserueth wrath for his enemies Hee will surely wounde the head of his Psal 68 21 enemies and the hearie pate of him that walketh in his sinnes So that the vngodly shal haue the yeeres Prou. 10. 27 of theyr life diminished And all the workers of iniquitie shall be Psalm 92. 9. destroyed They shall be destroyed as the Psalmist Psal 92 7 saith for euer And there shall be no end of plagues to the euill man §. 15. VVoe vnto them therfore that sinne 2 Esdr 15 24 25 and keepe not the commaundements of GOD for the Lord himselfe hath promised that he will not spare them VVoe vnto them that imagine iniquitie Micah 2 1. and deuise wickednesse vppon theyr beddes thinking to performe the same vvhen it is day-light because their hands haue power VVoe vnto them that ioyne house to Esay 5 8 house and lay fielde to fielde till there be no place left by them for the poore to dwell in VVoe vnto them that dravve iniquitie Esay 5 18 with cordes of vanitie and sinne as vvith cart ropes VVoe vnto them that are wise in theyr Esay 5 21 owne eyes prudent in their own sight VVoe vnto them that are bounde with 2. Esd 16 68 theyr sinnes and couered with theyr iniquities as a fielde is
and wretchedly to end his dayes in anguish and desperation For saluation is farre from the vngodlie Psalm 119. 155 because they seeke not the statutes of the Almightie But ceaselesse sorrowes and perpetuall Cyprian paines continually doe attende them as a iust reward ordained of GOD for theyr loue of vnrighteousnes carelesse neglecting the knowledge of his waies For they that plow iniquitie and sowe Iob. 4. 8. wickednes shall reape the same And such as forsake the Lord shall bee Esay 1. 28. consumed §. 24. These few many moe such like speeches to expresse the wrath of God against the wicked are set downe not onely in the sacred Scriptures but also in the works of diuers worthy Writers which being rightly considered wee may well be mooued at the remembrance thereof to say with Origen * Farre better were it for the vngodly Origen that they had neuer beene at all then to be borne into the world and not liue as they should doe For besides all the former places to this purpose already recited wee finde it further to the terrour of the vnrighteous by seueral sentences affirmed * That the vngodly Wisd 14. 9. man and his vngodlines are both alike hated of God And that a wicked mans life is his soules Chrisostome death That hee that committeth sinne is of 1. Ioh. 3. 8. the deuill And the vengeance belonging to the Ecclê° 7. 17. vnrighteous is fire and wormes That hee which worketh wickednesse Ecclê° 27. 27 shal be wrapped in euills shal not know from whence they come vnto him That malice shall sley the vngodly man Psal 34. 21. and they that hate the righteous shall perrish That the congregation of the vvicked Ecclê° 21. 9. is like towe wrapped together and theyr end is a flame of sire to destroy them That the transgression of a wicked man Prou. 29. 6. is his snare And he that soweth iniquitie shall reape Prou. 22. 8. affliction That hee which diggeth a pit shall fall Ecclê° 27. 26 therein and he that layeth a snare for another shal be taken in it himselfe That the way of the vngodly is made Ecclê° 21 10 plaine with stones but at the end thereof is hell darknes and paines That as the dry ground and heate consume Iob. 24. 19 the snow waters so shal the graue the sinners That when the vngodly man dyeth his Prou. 11. 7. hope perrisheth the confidence of the wicked shal come to nought That although men mourne for theyr Eccê° 41. 11. body yet shall the wicked name of the vngodly be put out That their portion shall be cursed in the Iob. 24. 18. earth Theyr name shall rotte Prou. 10 7. Iob. 8. 22. Prou. 24. 22 Prou. 14 11 Iob 24. 20. Theyr dwelling places shal not remaine Theyr destruction shal come suddenly Theyr houses shal be destroyed And they themselues shall be no more remembred That hee that is wicked shall fall in his Prou. 11. 5. owne wickednes And hee that transgresseth shall be taken Prou. 11 6. in the sinne of his transgression That the curse of God is in the habitation Prou 3 33. of the vngodly And the vnrighteous mans substance Ecclê° 40 13 shall be dryed vp like a riuer That vvicked men wanting the feare of Boetius GOD are hunted of euill to theyr owne ouerthrow and destruction That as vnto the good theyr goodnesse Hermes is a reward so vnto the wicked theyr owne euill is a punishment That the eyes of the wicked shall fayle Iob 11 20 theyr refuge shall perrish and theyr hope shal be sorrow of minde That such as seeke to get wealth by any Plato wicked meanes shall possesse there-with more vnquietnes then profit and the substance that by sinne is attained shall by some misfortune be consumed That the robbery of the vnrighteous Prou. 21 7 shall destroy them And the riches of the vngodly are layde Prou 13 22 vp for th 〈…〉 st That â—â—e Lord will be a swift witnesse Mala 3 5 against the Southsayers and against the adulterers and against false swearers and against those that wrongfully keepe backe the hyrelings wages and vexe the widow and the fatherlesse and oppresse the stranger and feare not to offend him That the vngodly are kept vnto the day Iob 20 30 of destruction and shall be brought forth to the day of wrath That for vnrighteousnes other mischieuous Socrates deedes the soules of the vngodly shall after this life be greeuously tormented in hell That when the vngodly shall say Peace 1 Thes 5 3 and safetie then shall come vppon them suddaine destruction as the trauaile vpon a woman vvith childe and they shall not escape That the wicked haue no gaine by the Cyprian death of Christ but all the benefites comming to mankinde by his Passion vvhich they haue despised doe most iustly condemne them That outwardly they receiue the Sacrament Augustine of Christes body and blood but the thing it selfe inwardly in theyr harts they haue not and therefore they eate drink thevr owne iudgement That the wicked by reason of their vnquiet Esay 57 20 conscience which alwaies tormenteth them are like the raging Sea that cannot rest whose waters cast vp mire and dyrt And the Lord himselfe hath said it that Esay 48 22 there is no peace to the vngodly person That the Lord hath made all things for Prou 16 4 his owne sake yea euen the vvicked for the day of euill And as all that is of the earth shal turne Ecclê° 41 10 to earth againe so the vngodly goe from the curse to destruction That as GOD greatly delighteth in the Hillarius louers of his Law so hee highly contemneth the peticions of the disobedient That the chyldren of the vngodly are Ecclê° 41 5 abhominable chyldren And the of-spring of the vnrighteous Ecclê° 40. 15 shall not obtaine many branches That God will lay vp the sorrow of the Iob 21 19 wicked father for his children And the posteritie of the vngodly generation Ecclê° 41 6. shall haue a perpetuall shame That if the vnrighteous happen to liue Pet. Ramus long theyr sorrowes at theyr death shall be the greater And according to the number of theyr Mar. Buâ—er sinnes here on earth such shal be the quantitie of theyr punishments in hell That as GOD vnto the godly is most Plotinus sweet gentle and louing so vnto the wicked proude and disobedient hee is verie seuere sharpe and rough specially appearing and felt for euer vpon them in the terrible day of damnation and vengeance That as euerlasting felicitie doth quickly Lactantius follovv the godly after the short race of theyr â—orldly miserie so euerlasting wretchednes speedily followeth the vngodly after the short race of their earthly felicitie That all such as for
I loue them exceedingly §. 6. Againe The Lavve of the Lorde our Psalm 19 7 8 9 10. God as the Psalmist saith is perfect conuerting the soule the testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedom vnto the simple the statutes of the Lorde are right and reioyce the hart the commandement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eyes The feare of the Lorde is cleane and endureth for euer the iudgements of the Lord are truth they are righteous altogether and more are they to be desired theÌ„ gold yea then much fine golde they are sweeter also then Honey and the Honey combe By them ô Lord saith he is thy seruant Psal 19 11 made circumspect in keeping of them there is great reward §. 7. VVhat-soeuer thinges are written afore Rom 15 4 time are written as the Apostle sayth for our learning that vvee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope For the whole Scripture saith hee is 2 Tim 3. 16 17. giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be absolute beeing made perfect vnto all good workes Yea vvhat-soeuer is required for our saluation Chrisostome is already contained as S. Chrisostome saith in the holy Scripture He that is ignorant shall finde there what hee may learne hee that is stubborne and a sinner may find there scourges of the iudgements to come the which he may feare and hee that is troubled may finde there the ioyful promises of euerlasting life through the beholding of the which hee may be stirred vp to doe good workes Finally the Scripture of God as S. Basill Basill saith is like vnto an Apothicaries shop full stored with medicines of sundry sorts so that euery man may there choose a conuenient remedy for his disease And surely as Beda saith without the Beda vnderstanding of the will of God by the sacred Scriptures our sight is but blindnes our knowledge ignorance our wisedom foolishnes and our deuotion deuilishnes §. 8. Nowe although indeede as Granado Granado saith wee must confesse with Saint Peter that there are some places in the Booke of God * hard to be vnderstood yet may we 2. Pet. 3 16. likewise saith hee say with the same Apostle that those places are hard to such as are vnlearned and vnstable which peruert and wrest them to theyr owne destruction For euerie worde of God as Salomon Prou 30. 5. saith is pure And the precepts of the Lord are plaine Prou 8 9. to him that vvill vnderstande and easie vnto all them that desire to finde knovvledge Nay more It cannot be possible saith Vincentius that that man vvhich with earnest studie and feruent desire often readeth Vincentius the holy Scriptures should euermore be forsaken or left vvithout vnderstanding of Gods holy will For although he want the instruction of learned men yet God himselfe from aboue entering into his heart by his holy Spirit lightneth his minde poureth his beames of grace into his wits openeth those things that before were hidden and becommeth vnto such a man a Schoolemaister of that he knew not only if he wil do so much as lieth in him Besides the holy Ghost as S. Augustine Augustine saith hath by his wisedome so notably and wholsomely tempered the Word that hee might with the easie places thereof satis-fie the greedy hunger of men and vvith the darkest places of it take away our lothsomnesse For there is no point almost founde of the darkest meaning in one place but it is plainly spoken of and easie to be vnderstood in another So that if the Gospell of Christ bee yet hid it is hid as the Apostle saith * to them 2 Cor 4 3 4. that perrish whose mindes sathan the god of this world hath blinded to the end the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the Image of GOD should not shine vnto them The certaine truth of which Gospell is so highlie to be esteemed and reuerentlie regarded that if an Angell from heauen Gala 1 8 should come and preach vnto vs any other doctrine then what we finde therein alreadie contayned we ought for his tydings to count him accursed ¶ Of the workes of God §. 1. THE workes of Almightie God although Chrisostome of themselues as S. Chrisostome saith they are infinite in nuÌ„ber yet may they all be reduced into these fiue heads following namely his worke of Creation his worke of Conseruation his vvorke of Redemption his vvorke of Iustification and his vvorke of Predestination §. 2. By the vvord of the Lord saith Dauid Psal 33 6 9 were the Heauens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth For hee spake and it was done he commaunded and it stoode As soone as hee saide Let the Earth be 2 Esdr 16 47 made it was made Let the Heauen bee created and it was created By his vvorde also vvere the Starres verse 48 established he knoweth the number of them Yea hee * counteth the number of the Psal 147 4. starres and calleth them all by their names At his commaundement likevvise the Ecclê° 39 17 water stoode as an heape and at the word of his mouth the vvaters gathered themselues He also hath shut the sea in the midst of 2. Esdras 16 50. the vvaters and vvith the vvorde of his mouth hath hee hanged the earth vppon the waters §. 3. Thy worde ô Lord saith Dauid endureth Psalm 119. 89 90 91 for euer in heauen thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another thou hast layd the foundation of the earth and it abideth They continue euen to this day by thine ordinaunces for all thinges serue thee The Heauens are thine the earth also is Psal 89. 11 thine thou hast layd the foundation of the World and all that therein is Thou spakest expresly in the first creation 2 Esdras 6 38. euen the first day and coÌ„maundedst that the Heauen Earth should be made and the vvorke followed thy word c. Vpon the second day thou createdst the 2 Esdr 6 41. heauenly ayre and commaundedst it that going betweene it should make a deuision betvveene the vvaters that the one part might remaine aboue and the other beneath Vpon the third day thou coÌ„maundedst that the waters should bee gathered together 2. Esd 6 42. in the seauenth part of the earth sixe parts hast thou dryed vp and kept them to the intent that men might sowe and occupie husbandâ—y therein Vpon the fourth day thou createdst the 2 Esdr 6. 45. 46. light of the Sunne and of the Moone and the order of the Sâ—arres and gauest them a charge that they should doe seruice euen vnto Man that was for to be created Vpon the fifth day thou sayd'st vnto 2 Esdr 6. 47. 48. the seauenth part where
the waters vvere gathered that it should bring forth beasts as foules and fishes and it was so For the dumme waters and without life brought foorth lyuing thinges at the commaundement of GOD that the Nations might prayse thy wonderous works Vpon the sixth day thou gauest commaundement 2. Esdr 6. 53 vnto the Earth that before thee it should bring forth beasts cattell creeping things And besides this Adam also whom verse 54 thou madest Lorde ouer all the workes vvhich thou hast created Of him come wee all and the people also whom thou hast chosen §. 4. Hee that liueth for euer made al thinges Ecclus. 18. 1 2. together saith Sirach the Lord who onlie is iust and there is none other but hee and hee remaineth a victorious King for euer He ordereth the world with the power of his hande and all thinges obey his will for hee gouerneth all things by his power and deuideth the holie thinges froÌ„ the prophane O hovve delectable saith he are all the Ecclus 42 22 23 workes of God and to be considered euen to the sparkes of fire they liue all and endure for euer and when soeuer neede is they are all obedient They are all double one against another verse 24 25 he hath made nothing that hath any fault the one commendeth the goodnesse of the other and who can bee satis-fied with beholding Gods glory For all the workes of the Lord our God Ecclus 39 33 34 are good and hee giueth euery one in due season and when neede is So that a man neede not say this is worse then that for in due season they are all worthie praise §. 5. The heauens declare the glory of God Psal 19 1 2 saith Dauid and the firmament sheweth his handie worke Day vnto day vttereth the same and night vnto night teacheth knowledge The Sunne also a meruailous instrument Ecclus 43 2 3 4 when it appeareth declareth at his going out the worke of the most mightie God At noone it burneth the earth and who may abide the heate thereof It burneth the mountaines three times more then hee that keepeth a fornace with continuall heate It likewise casteth forth fierie vapours and with shining beames it blindeth the eyes Great is the Lord our God that made it Ecclê° 43 5 and by his commaundement hee causeth it to runne hastily For it turneth round about heauen in 1 Esdr 4. 34 one day and runneth againe into his owne place The Moone also hath hee made to appeare Ecclê° 43 6. 7 according to her season that shee shoulde be a declaration of the time and a signe for the world The remembrance of solemne feasts are verse 8. appoynted by her she is a light that diminisheth and increaseth againe The month is called after the name thereof and shee groweth wonderously in her changing The Armie of Heauen also is in the Ecclê° 43. 9 height in the firmament of heauen it giueth a cleere and glorious shine This is the cleerenes of the starres the beautifull apparrell of heauen and the ornament that shineth in the high places of the Lord. By the commaundement of the Holie verse 10 one they continue in their order and not one of them faileth in his watch Looke vpon the Raine-bow and prayse Ecclê° 43. 11 him that made it very beautifull is it in the brightnesse thereof It compasseth the heauen about vvith a verse 12 glorious circle and the handes of the most High haue bended it Through his commaundement also hee Ecclê° 43 13 maketh the snowe to fall and the thunder of his iudgement to smite speedily At the worde of his mouth the treasures verse 14 are opened and the clowdes flee foorth as the fowles For in his power hath hee strengthened Ecclê° 43 15 the clowdes and by his might hath he broken the haylestones The Mountaines melt at the sight of verse 16 him and the South-winde bloweth according to his will The sounde of his thunder beateth the Ecclê° 43 17 earth so doth the storme of the North The vvhirle-winde also as byrds that flie scattereth the snow and the falling downe thereof is as the Grashoppers that light vpon the ground The eye meruaileth at the beautie of the verse 18 whitenes thereof and the heart of man is astonished at the raine of it Hee also poureth out the frost vpon the Ecclê° 43 19 earth like salt and when it is frosen it sticketh on the toppes of pales When the colde North-winde blovveth verse 20. an Ice is frosen of the vvater and it abideth vpon all the gatherings together therof couereth theÌ„ ouer as it were with a breast-plate It likewise deuoureth the mountaines Ecclê° 43. 21 and burneth the Wildernesse and destroyeth that that is greene like fire But the remedy of all these saith Sirach verse 22 is when a clowde commeth hastily and when a dew commeth vppon the heate it refresheth it §. 6. VVith all manner of liuing beastes as the vviseman saith hath the Lord our God Ecclê° 16 30 couered the face of the earth and they shal all be turned into it againe In the desert likewise hath hee made 2 Esdras 16 52 53 springes of vvater and Pooles vppon the toppes of Mountaines to poure out floods froÌ„ the high Rocks to water the ground Yea he hath made Man also and put his hart in the midst of his body and giueÌ„ him breath life and vnderstanding So that among all the vvorkes of God Augustine his creation of Man as S. Augustine saith is the cheefest and hath the most principall or first place For in creating all other creatures but Ambrose Man hee saide FIAT Let this be and that be but in creating Man hee spake in the person of the Trinitie saying FACIAMVS Let * vs make Man according to our similitude c. But heere by the way vvee ought thus much to vnderstand that Man as Beza Beza â— saith is the Image of God neyther as touching his body neyther yet as touching his soule but as touching the principalitie and dominion that God hath giuen him For GOD calleth the principality and Chrisostoms lordship that he gaue to Adam his Image and likenes because hee made him Emperour Ruler ouer all things vpon earth Besides the Image of Almighty God in Man is referred as S. Augustine saith vnto Augustine the workes of righteousnesse and true sanctification of our liues As the speech of God himselfe importeth in the Law where he sayth Be * ye holy because I the Lord Leuit 19. 2. your God am holy And the very wordes likewise of the Apostle testifie asmuch vnto vs vvhere hee saith * Put yee on the new man vvhich Ephe 4 24 after God is created vnto righteousnes and true holines Moreouer God hath created Man as S. Bernard saith foure seuerall waies The Bernard first without Man and Woman as
flash and the largest date of his daies to no longer abiding then a bauens blaze And with good consideration also dyd that Wiseman silently make aunswere who beeing demaunded what he thought of the life of man Suddainly turned himselfe about before them that asked the question Solon and presently departed out of their sight Giuing them thereby to vnderstand that our life is no more but onely a turne about and of short continuance §. 5. Short is Mans life saith Aurelius and Mar. Aur. vpon very short and suddaine vvarning we are commaunded to leaue the Worlde to close our eyes and to follow the common course of death Yea assoone as thou art borne to possesse the earth incontinent Death issueth Basill out of his Sepulcher to finde thee and although thou art vncertaine and knovvest neyther when nor where he will meet thee yet must thou remember that alwayes and in euery place he seeketh for thee And when thy last howre is come necessitie Polion carrieth thee hence though thou bee neuer so much vnwilling to depart For Death is a thing that cannot bee Pythagoras eschewed and therfore it ought of all men the lesse to be feared §. 6. VVhat man liuing in this vvorld saith Thales Thales can eyther by his power or policie preuent the suddaine stroake of death or vvho can assure himselfe of so much certaintie as to performe tomorrow what he left vndone to day For man hath no assurance of his owne life but liues vncertaine of his last howre finding nothing in this world that he may boldly leane or trust vnto Hee vvanders alwayes vp and downe Socrates among most vncertaine and doubtfull chaunces onely comforting his mind with hope but neuer knowing certainlie vvhat shall befall him or howe when or where he shall leaue his carkasse When hee goeth out of his house hee is Seneca not sure to returne into the same againe and when he entereth into his house hee is asmuch vncertaine to goe foorth againe Likewise when he sitteth downe to meate he knoweth not that he shal rise vp againe and lying down in his bed at night he cannot promise to come safe from thence the next morning But this thing onely of all other in the Demonax world is most certaine to man that death is common to all though to some one way and to some another §. 7. Lastly if we well weigh with our selues how fraile short and vncertaine the life of man is we shall finde small cause to blame Zerxes that great King of Persia for weeping wheÌ„ from the toppe of an high Hill hee behelde his whole Army and fell into this remembrance with himselfe that within fewe yeeres following there should not one man among so many thousands in that huge company be left aliue With as little reason also may vvee reproue Thales the Philosopher for saying The life of man is no more but euen as it were the shooting of a starre that passeth at a trice and is quickly gone out of sight and within a little vvhile after the verie signe thereof which was left behind vanisheth out of sight also So fareth it vvith man For within few daies after he is dead the very remembrance of him dyeth with his life though the party in this worlde were neuer so great and honourable Besides this is very certaine that there is Salust nothing in this tottering world among meÌ„ perpetuall nor any thing firme stable but all thinges passe repasse continually like vnto the ebbing flowing of the Sea And all things at the last haue an end by Mar. Aur. Death saue onely Death himselfe whose end is vnknowne For black vglie Death maketh al things Augustine subiect to the rigour of his Law And as there is nothing among men â—laeto more certaine then death so is there nothing more vncertaine to man then the howre of his death ¶ Of the many miseries happening to Man in this life §. 1. GReat trauaile saith Sirach is created Ecclus 40 1 2 3 4. for all men and an heauy yoake vppon the sonnes of Adam from the day that they goe out of theyr Mothers vvombe till the day that they be buried in the earth the common Mother of all things Namely theyr thoughts and theyr feare of hart theyr imagination of the thinges they waite for and the day of theyr death Euen from him that sitteth vpon the glorious throne vnto him that is lowest the most simple vpon earth From him that is gorgiously arrayed and weareth a Crowne Ecclus 40. 5 6 7 8 c. euen vnto him that is but homly porelie clothed there is nothing but wrath enuie trouble vnquietnesse and feare of death with rigorous anger and strife Also in the time of night vvhen Man should take his rest vpon his bed the sleep changeth his vnderstanding and knovvledge so that little or nothing is mans rest in his sleepe as well as in the day of his labour For hee feareth and is disquieted in the vision of his hart like vnto one that runneth out of a battaile And when all is past he awaketh out of his sleepe and meruaileth that the feare was nothing Such things as these happen vnto all flesh both man and beast but seuen times more vnto the vngodly And this also is the state or condition of Mans life sette downe by the holy Ghost himselfe in the booke of Iob That while Iob. 14 22. man liueth he shall be sorrowfull and so long as his soule is in him it shal mourne Onely the Sunne the Moone the starres Marlorate the Sea the Land are pleasant because they are by nature beautifull but all other thinges are doubtfull and greeuous And Man aboue them all for if any good thing happen vnto him hee feeleth vndoubtedly there-withall somâ— inward sorrowe and discontentment Yea the whole life of man is of it selfe a Menander most greeuous thing ful fraught with miserie and continually accompanied vvith innumerable cares and griefes So that it is counted no better thing but Plato euen a miserable fetter which chayneth the pure and euerlasting soule to the vile sinfull and corruptible body §. 2. Certainly saith Hermes God hath so Hermes ordained for man-kinde that vvee should liue in care For wee see by often experience that among all things liuing moouing vpon earth none is more miserable or wretched then Man All manner of beastes are during thys Menander life farre more happy wiser then man For behold the Asse of beasts no doubt a most simple and miserable creature yet hath hee no harme through his owne default saue what doth hap to him by nature But wee besides our naturall euils dailie procure vnto our selues many other For vvee are angry for euery little misfortune displeased at euery euill worde amazed at euery strange chaunce and afraid of euerie shadowe Yet is there none either so great
for all the companie of the faithfull in the kingdome of his Father And thus much likewise witnesseth the words of S. Iohn in the Reuelation where hee sayth * Blessed and holy is hee that Reue. 20 6◠hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power Blessed also are the dead which hereafter Reu◠14 13 die in the Lord euen so saith the Spirite for they rest from theyr labours and theyr workes follow them ¶ Of the last Iudgement after death commonly called the general iudgement or Doomes day When the body and soule of euerie Man departed out of this life beeing by the power of God ioyned againe together shall with the rest of all mankind then liuing receiue the finall sentence either of eternall pleasure or paine §. 1. AFter death saith Esdras shall the 2 Esdras 14. 35. day of Iudgement come vvhen we shall liue againe and then shall the names of the righteous be made manifest and the workes of the vngodly shall be declared And many of them that sleepe in the Dan 12 2. dust of the earth shall awake Some to euerlasting life and som◠to shame and perpetuall contempt §. 2. But before the comming of this day saith Christ there shall be great warres Luke 21 10 11. troubles in the worlde For Nation shall rise against Nation and Realme against Realme There shall also be great Earthquakes in diuers places and pestilence and hunger and fearefull things appearing frō heauen and many other great signes and wonders There shall be signes in the Sunne and Luke 21. 25 26 in the Moone and in the starres and vpon the earth trouble among the Nations with perplexitie The Sea and the waters shall roare and mens harts shall fayle them for feare and for looking after those thinges which shall come on the World For the powers of heauen shall be shaken §. 3. After this shall appeare the signe of the Math. 24 30. sonne of man in heauen and then shall all the kindreds of the earth mourne Then also shal the wicked goe into the Esay 2 19 holes of the Rockes and into the Caues of the earth frō before the feare of the Lord and from the glory of his Maiestie vvhen he shall rise to destroy the earth Then shall they beginne to say to the Luke 23 30 Mountaines fall on vs and to the Hils couer vs hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the Reue 6 16 17 wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand In those dayes men shall seeke death and Reue 9 6. shall not finde it and shall desire to die death shall flee from them And they shall see the Sonne of man Math. 24. 30 come in the clowdes of heauē with power and great glory Who beeing ordained of Acts. 10 42 * God to be the Iudge both of the quicke and deade shall sende his Angels vvith a Mat. 24 31. great sound of a trumpet and they shal gather together his Elect from the 4. windes and from the one end of heauen vnto the other §. 4. Then shall Christ sitte vpon the throne Math 25 31 32 33. of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall seperate them one from another as a sheepheard seperateth the sheepe from the goates And hee shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left The shall the earth restore those that 2 Esdr 7 3◠haue slept in her and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in silence and the secret places shall deliuer the soules that were cōmitted vnto them And they shall come foorth that haue Iohn 5 29. doone good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation For Christ our righteous Iudge vvill Math. 16. 27 then giue to euerie man according to his deedes And reward euery one according Reue 22 12 as his worke shall be Hee will then say to the righteous whom Math 25. 34 35 c. hee hath placed on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherite yee the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world For I was hungry ye gaue mee meate I was thirstie and yee gaue me drinke I was a stranger and yee lodged mee I was naked and yee clothed mee I was sick and yee visited me I was in prison and yee came vnto mee Then shall the iust say Lord when haue we doone these things vnto thee And the King shall answere Verily when you did them to the least of my bretheren you did them to mee Then will he say to the wicked standing Math. 25 41 42 c. on his left hand Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuill and his Angels For I vvas hungry and ye fed mee not I was thirstie and ye gaue mee no drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged mee not I was naked and you clothed me not I was sicke in prison and ye visited me not Then shall they also aunswere saying When ô Lord haue wee seene thee hungry or thirstie or a stranger or naked or sicke or in prison and haue not ministred vnto thee And he shall aunswere Truly I tell you inasmuch as yee haue not doone it to one of the least of these my bretheren yee did it not to mee And these men shall goe into euerlasting paine and the righteous into life eternall §. 5. Miseries saith Esdras shal then vanish away 2 Esdr 7 33 34. and long suffering shall haue an end Iustice onely shall cōtinue the Truth shal remaine and Faith shall be strong The worke shall follow and the rewarde verse 35 shall be shewed the good deedes shall be of force and vnrighteousnes shal beare no more rule For the day of Iudgement shall be the 2 Esdr 7 43. end of this world and the beginning of the immortalitie to come wherein all corruption shall cease Then shall no man bee able to saue him 2 Esdr 7. 45 that is destroyed nor oppresse him that hath gotten the victory §. 6. VVe finde in the New Testament that Saint Paule the Apostle vvriting to the Corinthians to prooue the resurrection of the dead and the second cōming of Christ vseth many arguments to expresse the same and neere vnto the end of his chapter he thus concludeth * Behold I shewe 1 Cor 15 51 52 53 you a secret thing vve shall not all sleepe or die but wee shall all be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised vp incorruptible and we shall be changed For this corruptible must put on incorruption And this mortall must put on immortality c. According
the disciples that they shoulde as then tell no man that he was Iesus the Christ And from that time forth hee began to verse 20. shewe and fore-tell them of his Passion Death and Resurrection saying * The Mark 8 30 31 sonne of man must goe vnto Ierusalem suffer many things of the Elders and of the High-priests and Scribes be slaine and rise againe the third day Also in the 20. of Mathew the ninth of Luke 9 44. Marke and the eyghteene of Saint Luke besides sundry other places he ceaseth not to instruct and perfect them in this poynt bidding them * marke his words diligentlie For it shall come to passe saith he that the Sonne of man shall be deliuered into the hands of men c. Likewise being in the way going toward Mat 20 17 18 19. Ierusalem hee tooke the twelue Disciples apart and began againe to tell them what things should come vnto him saying Behold Marke 10 32 33 34 we goe vp to Ierusalem the sonne of man shall be deliuered vnto the High-priests Luke 18 31 32 33 and to the Scribes and they shall condemne him to death and shall deliuer him vnto the Gentiles And they shall mocke him and scourge him and spet vpon him and kill him but the third day he shall rise againe * For as Ionas was three Mat. 12. 40. dayes and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the sonne of man be three dayes three nights in the hart of the earth And as Moises lift vp the Serpent in the Ioh 3 14 15 wildernesse so must the Sonne of man bee lift vp that who-soeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perrish but haue euerlasting life §. 2. After all these seuerall fore-tellings of his Passion Iesus entered into Ierusalem and Marke 11 11 15. vvent into the Temple and began to cast out them that sold and bought therein and ouerthrewe the tables of the money-changers and the seates of them that solde Doues Saying vnto them Take these thinges Iohn 2 16 hence make not my fathers house a house of merchandise For it is written My house shall be called Mat. 21. 13. the house of Prayer but ye haue made it a denne of theeues Also hee taught daily in the Temple Luke 19. 47 And the High-priestes the Scribes and the cheefe of the people sought to destroy him But they coulde not finde vvhat they verse 48 might doe vnto him for all the people hanged vpon him when they heard him §. 3. Then one of the twelue named Iudas Math 26 14 15 Iscariot vvent vnto the cheefe Priestes and said VVhat will ye giue mee and I vvill deliuer him vnto you And when they heard it they were glad Mar 14 11 and promised that they woulde giue him Math 26 15 16. money namely thirtie peeces of Siluer And from that time he sought opportunitie to betray him §. 4. Now hee that betrayed Iesus had giuen Math. 26 47. 48. them a token saying VVhom-so-euer I shall kisse that is hee lay hold on him And forth-with hee came to Iesus and said GOD saue thee Maister and kissed him Then the Bande and the Captaine and Iohn 18. 12. 13 14. the officers of the Iewes tooke Iesus and bounde him ledde him away to Annas first for he was father in lawe to Caiphas which was the high Priest that same yeere And Caiphas was he that gaue counsell to the Iewes that it was expedient that one man should die for the people §. 5. The cheefe Priestes therefore and the Mat. 26. 59. 60. 61. Elders and all the whole Counsell sought false witnesse against Iesus to put him to death but found none And though many false witnesses came yet founde they none whose witnes agreed together But at the last came two false witnesses saying Mark 14 56 57 58 59 VVee heard this man say I will destroy this Temple of God made with hands and within three dayes I will builde another made without hands But theyr witnes yet agreed not together Then the high Priest stood vp amongst Math 26 63 64 65 66. them and sayde vnto Iesus I charge thee by the liuing God that thou tell vs if thou be Christ the Sonne of God And when Iesus had told him the truth of that which he asked hee beleeued him not but presently rent his clothes saying Hee hath blasphemed what haue wee any more neede of witnesses Behold now ye Mark 14 61 62. 63 64. haue heard his blasphemy What think ye And they all condemned him to be vvorthie of death §. 6. Then spate they in his face and buffetted Math. 26. 67 Luke 22 63 64 65 him And * the men that helde Jesus mocked him and strooke him And when they had blindfolded him they smote him on the face saying Prophecie vnto vs ô Christ who is hee that smote thee And many other thinges blasphemously spake they against him Besides when the morning vvas come Mat 27 1 all the cheefe Priestes Elders of the people tooke counsel against Iesus to put him to death And they led him away bounde and deliuered verse 2. him vnto Pontius Pilate the Gouernour And they began to accuse him saying Luke 23 2 Wee haue founde this man peruerting the people and forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar saying That hee is Christ a King c. §. 7. Pilate after hee had examined Iesus and Luke 23 4 7. 11. 15. coulde finde no fault in him sent him to Herod Herod with his men of warre despised and mocked him and arrayed him in white and sent him backe againe to Pilate Pilate seeing nothing woorthy of death was done vnto Iesus by Herod assembled together the Iewes demaunded of thē Math 27 22 23 what * hee should doe with Iesus vvhich was called Christ Then aunswered they all at once saying Let him bee crucified And when he asked them saying What euill hath hee doone they cryed the more vehemently Let him be crucified So Pilate willing to content the Iewes Mark 15 15 loosed vnto them Barrabas a malefactour whō they desired and after hee had scourged Iesus deliuered him vnto the Souldiours that he might be crucified §. 8. The souldiours of the Gouernour hauing Math 27 27 28 29 Christ in theyr custody led him into the Common-hall and presently gathered about him the whole Bande and they strypped him and put vppon him a Scarlet robe Then platted they a Crowne of thornes and put it vppon his heade and a Reede in his right hande and bowed theyr knees before him mocked him saying God saue thee King of the Iewes They also spate vpon him smote him verse 30 31 on the heade with the Reede And after they had mocked him they tooke the robe from him and put his owne rayment on him and led him away to crucifie him And as they came out they found a
the old time Thou shalt not kill for who-soeuer killeth shall be culpable of iudgement But I say vnto you whosoeuer is angry verse 22. with his brother vnaduisedly shall be culpable of iudgement If any man kill with a sword he must be Reue 13 10 killed by a sword And who so sheddeth mans bloode by Gene 9 6 man shall his blood be shed for in the Image of GOD hath the Almightie made man §. 8. Cease from anger and leaue off wrath Psalm 37. 8. 9. fret not thy selfe also to doe euill for euill dooers shall be cut off and they that waite vpon the Lorde they shall enherite the Land Be angry but sin not let not the Sunne Ephe 4 26 27. goe downe vpon thy wrath neyther giue place to the deuill If thou haue not so much power ouer Hermes thy selfe as presently to refraine thine anger yet striue to dissemble it and so by little and little forget it For hee that is slowe to anger is better Prou 16 32 then the mighty man and hee that ruleth his owne minde is better then he that winneth a Cittie §. 9. Beware of strife and thou shalt make Ecclus 28 8 thy sinnes fewer for an angry man kindleth strife The more wood there is the more vehement Ecclê° 28 10. is the fire and the mightier that a man is the greater is his wrath the longer the strife endureth the more vvrath is enflamed An hastie brauling kindleth a fire and verse 11. an hastie fighting sheddeth blood Meddle therefore as little as thou mayst Thales vvith the man that is not able to rule his owne anger for eyther by his company keeping thou shalt be made like him or else on the suddaine thou shalt receiue some vnloo-ked-for-euill by him §. 10. Striue not with a mighty man least thou Ecclê° 8 1. 2 3 happen to fall into his hands neither make any variance with a rich man least hee on the other side wey downe thy weight for gold and siluer hath destroyed many and hath subuerted the harts of Kinges Striue not with a man that is full of words neyther lay thou any sticks vpon his fire Trauaile not by the way with him that is Ecclê° 8 15 rash least hee doe thee iniurie for such a man will follow his owne wilfulnes and so shalt thou perrish through his folly As innocent Abel perrished by the Gene 4 8 hands of his elder brother Caine in his vnaduised rage and furie §. 11. If thine enemie haue threatned thee be Plutarch not too hastie to giue credite to his flattering speeches for Serpents neuer sting so deadly as when they bite without any hyssing Hee that hateth will counterfet with his Prou 26 24 lippes but in his hart hee hourdeth vp deceit VVherefore if hee speake thee fayre verse 25 beleeue him not for there are many abhominations in his hart Blood is as nothing in such a mans sight Hermes and when thou least thinkest harme hee wil then be most ready to hurt thee As may for example be perceiued by the trecherous dealing of Ioab with Abner 2 Sam. 3. 27 and 20. 10. Amafa whose blood hee spilt Iudas-like saluting theÌ„ with outward signes of peace and inward intent of murder ¶ Against Sloth and Idlenes §. 1. LOue not sleepe saith Salomon least Prou 20 13 thou come to pouerty but open thine eyes that thou mayst bee satisfied vvith bread Let not laborious worke seeme tedious Ecclê° 7 15. vnto thee neyther the husbandry vvhich the most High hath created Seeke not excuses when thou shouldest Ecclê° 10 27 doe thy work neyther be ashamed thereof through pride in the time of aduersity For slothfulnesse causeth a man to fall a Prou 19 15 sleepe and a deceitfull soule shall suffer hunger §. 2. Idlenes saith Cicero is the onely nurse Cicero and nourisher of all sin and the sole maintainer of fleshlie affections It is an enemie to all vertuous endeuours Plotinus and the very traine or high-way to want ruine It is a vice that greatly dulleth a mans vnderstanding Gallen breedeth melancholie increaseth many bad humours in the bodie choketh the braine hindereth thrift and prouoketh the anger of God §. 3. God as the holy scripture testifieth hath generally commaunded that man should labour all the dayes of his life saying first vnto Adam after hee was cast out of Paradice * In the sweat of thy face shalt Gene 3 19. thou eate bread till thou returne vnto the earth from whence thou camst Wherefore if there be any that refuseth 2. Thes 3 10. to labour let him not eate For idle people in a Common-vvealth Thales are as hurtfull to be suffered as Drones among the Bees §. 4. By slothfulnes saith Salomon the roofe Eccle 10 18 of the house goeth to decay and by the idlenes of the hands the house droppeth through As a doore saith hee goeth too and fro Prou 26 14 vppon his hinges so turneth the slothfull man vppon his bed Hee hideth his hand in his bosome and Prou 26 15 it greeueth him to put it againe to his mouth Hee is wiser in his owne conceite then verse 16. seauen men that can render a reason Hee sayth a Lyon is without I shall be Prou 22 13 slaine in the streete Hee will not goe to plowe because it is Prou 20 4 Winter therefore shall hee begge in the Sommer but haue nothing § 5. Suffer not thy selfe saith Aurelius to be Mar. Aurel. subiect to sloth and idlenes for if thou vse thy selfe thereto thou shalt not bee able to endure labour in time of neede Though thou maist liue at ease because Tertullian thou hast store of riches yet forget not to labour sometimes of thine owne accord for if it chaunce thee afterward to be compelled thereto thou shalt away with it the better §. 6. Employ thy selfe alwayes about some Mar. Aurel. laudable exercise and let not idlenes haue any rule ouer thee For idlenes may vvell be counted the graue of liuing men It is an euill wherein life dyeth and the soule of man is thereby twice buried in him once in his body next in his sloth This odious sinne also of idlenes is the Mar. Aurelâ— very sinke that receiueth in to it selfe all the filthy channels of vice whatsoeuer which beeing once brimme full suddainly runneth ouer thorowe the whole Citty or Country and with his pestiferous ayre infecteth and poysoneth a great multitude of people before it can be remedied Yea neyther the filth of secrete chambers Alex. Seue the stinch of pumps in ships nor the ordures of whole Citties do so much corrupt the ayre as idle persons do infect the people Hee therefore that passeth his life in a Plato Common-wealth vvithout profit ought as one vnworthy to liue to haue the rest of his life taken from him