all the Palace Lady Venus and her waiting maids tending upon me But every one departed after I was in Bed saving only Venus the Goddess of Love with whom I lay all night CAP. XII The Authour declareth how the wandring Knight and such like Voluptuous livers in this world transgress the ten Commandements of Almighty God underwritten SO long as the Knight continued in this pestilent Palace of Worldly Desire following his own Fantasie by Vain Voluptuousness enticed he did no other thing but play the tool Dance Leap Sing Eat Drink Hawk Hunt Fish hunt Whores and such like as did the Prodigal Son and lead a dissolutè life for the space of eleven dayes which signifies a marvellous mystery and unfortunate For the Number Eleven by the Opinion of Christian Doctors and Philosophers is a wicked and unlucky number for that the number ten signifies the ten Commandements of God the number of Eleven which is one more prophesieth and sore-telleth the transgression of them Wherefore the Knight having remained eleven dayes in the Palace grievously transgressing the will of God letting loose the bridle of his own affections without refraining any of them if you note well the premises and see into the senuel you shall find that such as live after the order of the Palace of worldly Felicity being given to follow the pomp and Pride of the World with the Pleasures and Voluptuousness of the same and seem willing to lead that life without purpose of change nay rather triumphing and rejoycing therein I say truly that such are Transgressors of Gods Lawes Contrariwise such as account themselves here to he but Pilgrims and fix their affection on the other World where Iesus Christ raigneth in glory reputing this life an exile and destring to be delivered out of it to the end they may enter in at the Pallace of the heavenly King shall enjoy the fulness and happiness thereof As this World yields a great deal of Temporal goods and Transitory Honour so doth it also make an end of them Now these that use these gifts to the glory of God are Gods people Contrariwise those that do use them voluptuously are Vessels of the Devil and transgressours of the Lawes of God as may appear by the Ten Commandements which I have set down for that purpose Wherein all Worldlings may perceive that by living voluptuously they grievously transgress Gods Laws to their own destruction And as the Ten Commandements were written in two Tables even so are they divided into two parts The first comprehends four concerning the Love of God The second six touching the love of your Neighbour And therefore who so loseth his Life Worldling-like and fixeth his Felicity in Voluptuousness is doubtless a Vessel of the Devil and loveth not God nor his Neighbour because he transgresseth the Law of God which followeth in due and convenient order I Am the Lord thy God thou shalt have none other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above nor in the Earth beneath nor in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Load thy God am a jealous God and vifit the Sins of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandements 3. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in Vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in Vain 4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy Son and thy Daughter thy Man servant thy Maid servant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy Gates for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it 5. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 6. Thou shalt do no murther 7. Thou shalt not commit Adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour 10. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife nor his servant nor his Maid nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is his This is the Law of God by which you may perceive that such as live in the Pallace of Worldly Voluptuousness are Transgressours of the same Contrariwise such as seek for Heavenly Felicity are Gods beloved and they shall have the possession thereof Now hearken what hapned unto the Knight having lived eleven dayes in the Pallace of Vain and worldly Felicity CAP. XIII The Knight rode to recreate himself and view the warrens and Forrests which were about the pallace of worldly Felicity anon he saw it sink suddenly into the Earth and perceived himself fast in the mire up to the saddle AFter I had sojourned eleven dayes in the Pallace transgressing Gods Commandements and leading a beastly life I desired to ride into the Forrests thereabouts not intending to give over my Voluptuous life but for my pleasure because I was weary of making good chear For although Worldlings delight to eat drink dance leap sing ride run and such like yet notwithstanding they cannot continue in this trade of Life without intermingling it with some other recreation wherefore they often leave by constraint their pastimes though they intend to return thereto again They do not utterly abandon them but break off for a season to procure them better appetite I then being weary was willing to see the Warrens and other pleasures which when my governess Folly understood she told the same to Lady Voluptuousness and she consented to Hunt or Hawk with me whereof I was right glad Then I apparelled my self in Hunters guise instead of my Helmet a Hat full of Feathers for mine Armour an Horn and I leapt upon Temerity my Horse Voluptuousness had a Hobby Folly a Ienner and the other Ladies every one of them a Palfrey There came the Huntsmen with Grey-hounds and Mastives hooping hollowing and galloping together some one way some another The dogs were at a beck up starts the Hare the cry was pleasant to hear But in the midst of all our pastime I chanced to breathe my Horse and turning towards the Palace of Worldly Felicity suddenly I saw it stuk into the Earth and every Body therein But what lamentable Out-cries they made you that have reason are to judge then did there arise amongst us a Whirl-wind with an Earth-quake which set us all asunder in so much that I and my Horse sunk in mire up to the Saddle all this while my mistress Folly
compassion upon thee Where be the Worldlings the would not be sorry for their sins Where are they become Are they not condemned to everlasting torment in Hell fire O think then that sin doth greatly offend God Think what punishment God hath ordained for sin which makes Man an Enemy to God and a friend to the Devil Secondly think that at this present time thou art in Gods favour by the means of his Grace who made thee a child of God and an Heir of Heaven by Hope so that now thy Conscience is quiet Think what good Consolation thou hast received by devour prayer think what spiritual instructions Gods Grace hath given to thee think all the pleasures of the World are mingled with Sorrow think that this World shall pass away with all the pomps and pleasures of the same think that thy present Estate is the high way to Heaven and so shalt thou keep perseverance Thirdly think that the just judgment of God is to come which is to the good to give Heaven and to the evill Hell Think thou must dye and that at thy death thou shalt not receive so good consolation as thou hast had of Vertue and Gods grace Think that at thy death thou must leave behind thee Wife Children Goods and Mony whether thou do good or evill Think that thou must go to a Region unknown and to a place where thou hast never been and if thou be sound to have dyed in sin without repentance the Devils will attend to take thy damned Soul and will carry it into the dungeon of Darkness there to seel eternal torments But if thou be sound with Perseverance in the Palace of Vertue millions of Angels will go before thee and with great joy will bring thee to heaven O think upon the just judgment of God to come when every one shall be judged according to his deeds For God fahoureth neither Kings Princes nor People high nor low rich nor poor without respect of persons be will chuse the good and condemn the evil at the day of doom when we must appear personally without excuse or exception before him then every man must be his own Atturney when the just Iudge at that day will shew himself terrible to the Perverse which have followed Voluptuousness and have not heartily repented but will be gentle mercifull and good unto those that have been sorry for their offences O think what torments the un-repentant shall suffer both in body and soul perpetually whereas all such as have persevered in goodness to the end shall receive joy and the fulness of God and of Heaven In such sort to persevere in goodness to the end do thine utter endeavour and thou shalt see that God will be ready with his grace to arm thee with constancy in thy Christian purpose CAP. XI A protestation which Good Understanding taught the Knight to make every day for the avoiding of temptations and how he ought to humble himself before God and what he should ask in his prayer MY Son alwayes I wish thee to keep perseverance with thee by whom thou mayest avoid temptations which would induce thee to sin and force thee to forsake the true Faith and also to transgress the holy Commandements of Almighty God This to avoid I wish thee every day to repeat the promises which thou hast made to God in thy Baptism which follow thus in effect O Most high most excellent and holy Lord God I protest that I will live and dye in the true Catholike and Apostolike faith revealed in thy holy Word and that I will do my utmost endravour to keep thy holy Commandements which heretofore I have wilfully and carelessy transgressed wherefore I am sorry and do heartily repent me for the breach of them and in token thereof I make my Confession saying I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceived by the holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Sufferred under Pontius Pylate Was crucified dead and buryed He descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The communion of Saints The forgiveness of sinnes The resurrection of the body And the life everlasting Amen Then say Lord God give me grace most heartily I beseech thee without doubting to confess and believe the articles of this my Christian Faith and in the same to persevere to the end And so rehearse the Ten Commandements of Almighty God which are these The same which God spake in the xx Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Ægypt out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven above nor in the Earth beneath nor in the water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandements 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man servant thy maid servant thy catell and the stranger that is within thy gates for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it 5. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 6. Thou shalt do no murther 7. Thou shalt not commit Adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour 10. Thou shalt not cover thy Neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his servant nor his maide nor his ox nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Then considering the tenour of that which thou hast said crave grace at Gods hands to walk after his will using the same prayer which Christ taught thee and saying Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass
point to decipher it for it consisteth not in Angelical knowledge much less in mans wit wholly to comprehend so noble a mystery none knows it but he who hath proved it you may be sure that there are not as in the Palace of Worldly pleasure chambers hanged with Silk Tapestry and every corner sumptuously and superfluously adorned No no but there were Histories of the Old and New Testament to view and mark I found not their Coffers full of Gold and Silver Cup-boards of Plate Presses of Silks all manner of Mercery-ware neither dainty Dishes delicate Drinks bawdy Songs wanton Musick the Lady of Love her Son Cupid nor any thing that Worldlings imbrace but I found a thing far supassing all that is in the World This good this joyfull this comfortable this unspeakable this incomprehensible-thing cannot be named worthily enough but of good and bad he is called God even he who is the only Soveraign good above all things reasonable and unreasonable Peradventure you will say this is stoange news that you Sir Knight should see God in the Palace of Vertue How is it strange seeing he is every where not only in Heaven but also in Earth and in Hell Truly I confess that God is every where but I deny him to dwell every where and yet I know that by his power and invincible presence he is every where though not every where by the fulness of his greatness and his gifts it followes then that he dwelleth every where I pray you what profiteth it the damned that he is in hell by his power Iustice and Vengeance Truly by such presence of God they have no joy no consolation no benefit or selicity for that all are cursed in whom God dwelleth not by his grace whatsoever they be be they Kings Princes or Popes who have all other riches and delights in the World But all they that have the grace of God are happy or at least wise in hope though they live even in a loathsome prison and are poorer than Lazarus which desired to be refreshed with the crums that fell from the evil rich Mans Table Now when we pray to God we say Our Father which art in Heaven for that is the place where God gives the enjoying and possession of himself to his elect and that is their dwelling prepared by the grace of God That is that God speaks of by the Prophet Esay saying Heaven is my seat and the Earth is my foot-stoole For asmuch saith God as I dwell in mine Elect by Grace I will tumble at my feet those that love Voluptuousness rather then their Maker In the book of Wisdom it is written That the seat of wisdom is in the soul of the just God is wisdom and the just soul his seat God is in every place where he dwelleth but he dwelleth not in every place where he is This is most true though marvellous for the evil are alwayes where God is but yet God dwelleth not in them Wheresoever the wicked are they cannot hide themselves from God and yet they are not dwellers with God nor God a dweller with them They are where God is as the blind man in the Light of the Sun the Light is not in him because he hath not the use of it But the good are alwayes with God and God dwelleth in them as in his Temple Saint Paul saith That the temple of God is holy And therefore is ye live well as he commands you you are his Temple And God himself saith I will be in them I will walk amongst them I will be their God and they shall be my people Now therefore you see that although God be every where in his power yet he dwelleth no where but where he is by grace It is plain that where Vertue is there God inhabiteth by grace which is the only consolation of all reasonable Creatures Is it possible that any Man can find in Heaven or in Earth such Soveraign good as is in God who is the most excellentest and chiefest good and the true joy of all reasonable Creatures Now can that body fail in any goodness which hath God by his Grace resting in his Heart who is the only Authour of all goodness and the giver of all true Ioy and persect Felicity But some will say that they see good People in the World oftentimes suffer misery deprived of their goods and put by the pleasures of this world which appeareth in the sadness of their countenance for they seem to be conceived with sorrow and as it were to labour and travel in heaviness as a Woman in Child birth I confess it to be so but yet if you say that they are not surnished with all good and true joy and Felicity you err greatly For the Soveraign good which is God dwels in the just soul for evermore although foolish Worldings say in their Hearts and thoughts Can it be that those miserable men which are afflicted with poverty or imprisonment have more possession of true Felicity than we that wallow in Wealth and are without want of any Worldly pleasures But they consider not that true Ioy consisteth in the Soul But be you sure that as the Soul is the most precious part of the body so ought the goodness of the Soul to be greater than the goodness of the body The Ioy of the Iust and Righteous is more inward than outward for all his goodness is in the soul as the joy of wanton Worldlings is outwardly in the body This just Man suffereth outward extremities but yet inwardly he hath more joy than the Voluptuous Man And though the just man being alwayes afflicted maketh shew of sadness all his life time yet at the hour of death their joy and consolation appeareth with hope of eternal life whereas contrariwise the Wordling goeth his way with grudging and despair The just man esteems Gold and Silver to be coloured Earth worldly wealth and Voluptuous seeding to be Famine and Filth Honour Dignity and Delight to be smoak which the Air consumeth suddenly to be short he maketh all the World no better than an exile and although his body be detained here for a season yet all his thoughts cares desires and meditations are conversant among the Orders of holy Angels and the happy Assembly of Saints in Heaven singing Psalms and Prayses incessantly So that whatsoever we esteem evill in this World God turns it to good For he makes us rejoyce in Tribulations taking them for medicines to purge our corruptions and not accounting our Persecutors as our Enemies but rather as Helpers to salvation The just Man esteems simple fare sufficing nature better than abundance of delicate or excessive Drunkenness or Gluttony They take more pleasure in kneeling praying and fasting then worldlings do in dancing and singing wanton Songs Finally that they do or suffer God turns it to good And therefore Saint Paul saith that all things turn to the good of those that love God The eye never seeth the
only remained with me This Earth-quake yielded such an Air of Brimstone that the like hath not been felt then I perceived that I was far from the pleasant Palace Gardens Orchards and Vine-yards of Voluptuousness and rather in a beastly Bog sticking fast and nothing near me but Serpents Snakes Adders Toads and Venomous wormes Such was my perplexity in this case That I fell into despair being not able to speak one word I was so sore amazed but when I came again to my self revived from death to life and found my self in that beastly Bog I tare my hair I rent my cloaths I wept I wailed I howled I cryed I wrung my hands I struck my breast I scracht my face I bit my Armes and spake thus O Wretch O Ass O Miserable Fool O Captive O Fondling where is now thy Palace of Worldly Felicity Where are now thy brave Chambers hanged with cloth of Arras Where are now thy gallant Gardens Orchards thy Meadowes thy Corn-fields thy Coffers of Coin thy Ladies so lovely thy hawks thy Hounds thy Horses thy Oxen thy Servants thy soft beds thy good chear thy Wives thy Musick thy Pleasure and all the things which thou hast abused Alas wicked Wretch how hast thou been deceived thou thoughtest thou hadst been in the Palace of true Felicity and for Felicity thou findest Vanity Thou hast been wickedly enchanted thus to find evill in stead of good Herewithall I turned my self toward Folly and railed at her saying O cursed cruell and deceitfull beast O monstrous mocker of mankind O filthy Bawd O Venemous Viper Is this the good hap I should have Is this the palace of Felicity whither thou wouldest bring me Cursed be the day that ever I saw thee cursed be the day that ever I heard thee cursed be the day that ever I believed thee cursed be the day that ever I followed thee It is even so that thus thou governest even beastly and damnably Is it even so that thou leadest people even to Perdition Where is the Felicity thou promisedst me Where is the good hap I should have by thee It is chanced to me even as I doubted by the way when thou discoveredst thy filthy Feats beginnings and proceedings howbeit thine enchantments and thy flattery caused me to keep thee company when full fain God wot I would have been rid of thee But such was my arrogant ignorance and ignorant arrogancy that I followed thy dangerous Counsel When I had thus scolded and took on the lewd lossel loudly laught me to scorn Whereat being in a rage I offered to draw my sword but it would not be then I spurred my horse but he could not lift up his legs Notwithstanding for all this I carryed the mind still I might get out not having help even by mine own strength and industry But be you sure of this that after a Man be once sunk in and drowned in fleshly Voluptuousness he shall stick fast and not be able to recover himself unless he have the help of Gods Grace which he of his goodness give us all Amen CAP. XIV The Author cryeth out bitterly against worldlings and their Felicity O Wicked Worlding O Traytour O Lyar O damnable deceiver armed with filthy fraud and cursed craftiness having a face like a man but a tayle like a Dragon who with thy pestilent prating promisest that which thou never wilt nor canst perform to wit peace rest assarance blessing and felicity Whereas contrariwise thou shewest thy self Vain Cruell unquiet uncertain cursed and desperate And because thou wouldest bestow thy peysons and not be perceived thou coverest it with a little honey of delight O foolish Worldlings and lovers of Voluptuousness why suffer you your selves to be so fouly abused Why fly you not from her since you know she is damnable Why do you believe a Lyar Why do you follow a deceiver Why become you acquainted with such a Murtherer Why do you not purge your understanding of Erronious Opinions Why consider ye not what the World is with a perfect Iudgment If you did all this you should find your selves out of the way For Worldly goods Voluptuousness and Pleasure are mingled rather with Sowre things than with sweet In following Voluptuousness you are not happy but unhappy not Wise but flat Fools Saint John saith All that is in the world is Concupiscence of the flesh Concupiscence of the eyes and Concupiscence of Pride The world and all her Concupiscence shall pass but he that doth the will of the Lord shall continue eternally Hearken ye foolish Worldlings hearken you Vessels of Voluptuousness This teacheth you assuredly wherein consisteth all your Felicity and how it is damnable Consider Saint Johns words That the world shall pass and the Concupiscence of the same What meant he by the World nothing else but as Saint Austen saith All worldlings and lovers of Voluptuousness which preferr visible things before invisible the flesh before the Spirit Satan before Iesus Christ even as commonly we call a house good or bad according to the usage of them that dwell in it The eye the flesh and the pomp of life is the Worldlings Felicity that is their Heaven In all goodness come of God as sure the coucupiscence of the eye the flesh and the pride and pomp of Life cometh of the Devil are not they deceived that think â—t good or sir their affection to follow it I could say there is a gnawing Conscience to terment the Worldings I could say that the Voluptuous man hath the wrath of God hanging ever his head I could say eternal death is reserved for his reward A for excessive eating and drinking centes farfets Head-ach lass of wit dropstes loss of appetite griping of the guts palsies weakning of the body infamy and shame Now to Venery wherein the Voluptuous Man taketh such pleasure as in nothing more First what gains what forrows what torments and anguish hath the Lewd Lover before he can compass his desire his dessire cannot be atchieved without loss For we see that Leachery and Gluttony breedeth poverty which is a very heavy burthen But imagine it costeth nothing as oftentimes it chanceth among such as be rich yet notwitistanding they feel even what so lowes namely loss of Body and Soul Touching the sin of Leachery a man therein is like unto a beast for in his blind delight he is deprived of reason and therefore the deed declareth it self to be damnable This Sin bringeth her reward in this World as Dropsies Palsies Leprosies Gowts Burnings Batches and French Pox which is the very worst the commenist the loathsomest and the most infectious disease of all besides that banishment from all honest company decay of Strength and loss of good Name and Fame Do you account him a happy Man which spends his dayes in Drunkenness and Leachery having here so many Hâ—ls abstinence or forbearance doth not warn them to take heed thereof though it be the only medicine Now touching Concupiscence of the eyes
whereby covetousness and desire of Riches is understood First though Gold and silver be but Earth what vexation hath the covetous Man to atchieve it He saileth over tempestuous Seas he climeth over Monstrons Mountains he diggeth deep into the bowels of the Earth he suffereth hunger thirst cold heat and a thousand mischiefs One is drowned another killed the third robbed and he that hath obtained his purpose liveth in fear to lose it the covetous Man suspects every body It is not Coffers full of Coin that can make men happy Our Saviour terms it Trash and Thornes because it pricks the heart and corrupteth both Body and Soul Saint Paul saith He that wisheth Wealth in this World falleth into temptation Is not Judas an Example who in case of covetousnes hanged himself Now to Coucupiscence of Pride He that hath Honour Authority Might Estimation and Dignity in this World thinketh he is happy but such are loden with unhappiness for what pains labour and vexation endureth the ambitious Man before he can come to dignity Honour and Authority And when he hath it with all these vexations he is not sure how long he shall enjoy it We see oftentimes Fortune turns her Wheel and that the Ambitious end their Libes with infamy Take an Example of Priamus King of Troy who flourished in Friends and Riches Honour Might Kindred and Children did not he and his Off-spring the greatest part of them dye most miserably as for the rest they became Servitors and were at length killed in Troy Croesus King of the Lydians as rich and mighty as he was after he had raigned fifteen years he was Vanquished by King Cyrus lost his Realm was carryed away Captive and led all the rest of his life like a Slave Dionyfius the cowardly King of Sicill was hunted out of his Realm and became so poor that he kept a Schoole in Corinth and by teaching little Children he got his living very poorly God wot and beggerly Mithridate King of Pontus a rich and mighty Prince he subdued twelve Nations wherein some say all Languages were spoken yet he for all that after he had wearied the World with Wars was forsaken of his own People pursued by his own Son and overcome by subtilty insomuch that he was glad to desire a Frenchman to kill him who did so and that was his end Valerianus the great Emperour of Rome even he that persecuted the Christians and did much mischief was taken by his Enemy the King of Persia who against the Law of Arms made him lye down whiles he trode on his back to leap on his Horse Bajazet the fourth King of the Turks was Vanquished by Tamberlane a Tartarian and King of Scythia who kept him in a Cage like a beast and with a Golden Chain led him like a Spaniel throughout all the Army yea he was glad to feed under Tamberlanes Table like a dog And therefore let this be a conclusion that Honour Authority and Dignity is no Inheritage Moreover what Labours Trabels Verations and Perils do Princes pass through even at the present to maintain themselves in their Estates What Wars and slaughters have been committed partly to get and partly to keep rule and Regiment Ambitious Worldlings cannot play with their pleasures if they have not first passed some of these Vexations In youth men run their race without regard of Conscience but when age comes on and nothing left for Lust when White hairs a Walking staffe or crutch a pair of spectacles Cotton put in their ears when none of these things can help them then must they endure the gnawing of Conscience which Voluptuousness kept hidden a long time Whatsoever is pleasant to youth the same is unpleasant to Age. And what comfort may an Old Man conceive when he can think upon no time of his youth that was well spent and Vertuously bestowed What discomfort is it when Conscience accuses the old man of his young years wickedly wasted But as the Elect live in hope so do the Reprobate in despair He that followeth Voluptuousness is Gods enemy For Saint James saith He that loves the World hateth God You may well think that Sin is hated of God when he suffered his only Son to dye upon the Altar of the cross for this end that Sin should not be unpunished And why was it but because the Sins of Adam encreased as Generations multiplyed The evill rich Man that lived at his lust was Tormented in Hell with fire and thirst in whom the words of our Saviour Christ are verified saying Woe unto you that now laugh for you shall lament and weep Go to you foolish Worldlings therefore and you Vain Voluptuous persons vaunting your selves happy in following your fleshly appetites when for such pleasures you shall suffer torments not in this World but in the World to come you will sing a new note But now to our Knight whom we left in the mire and deep ditch of Sin I refer you to the Psalms of David and chiefly the 36.98.72.143 and there you shall find the truth that Worldly Felicity is no other thing than Vanity dreams and meer aâ—uses and also that Worldlings are accursed and unhappy Wherefore I beseech you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ to use the goods of this world as Pilgrims use their Lodgings and such fare as they find in their Voyage that is not to set your hearts upon them nor so to love them that nothing be lest for the Lord. For as the Knight saw the Palace of wordly Felicity sink suddenly with all her people and pomp even so shall it happen unto all Voluptuous worldings at the dreadfull day of Iudgment unless they return from their wicked wayes forsake Sin embrace a new lise and serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness VVherefore let us bridle our affections refrain our own pleasures repent with true sorrow of heart attend wait and hope for the mercy of God by the intercession of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ that he may make us happy Possessors of true and everlasting Felicity to whom be all honour and glory world without end The end of the first part of the Voyage of the wandring Knight THE VOYAGE OF The Wandring Knight The Second Part. CHAP. I. Gods Grace draweth the Knight out of the filth of Sin wherein he stuck fast I Have declared in the first part of my Voyage how being governed by Folly in contemning Vertue and following Voluptuousness I entred into the Palace of false Felicity there resting my self for a certain season and transgressing all the Commandements of God in leading a diffolute and worldly Life thinking that by living so I might be happy whereas indeed I was unhappy And why because that in stead of Felicity I found Vanity For as I thought to recreate my self in hunting I saw the Palace of Voluptuousness sink and come to utter confusion and my self also plunged into the pit of Sin even up to the saddle