him that writeth the same thing so also prayer which is a confession of the diuine prayses or that I may speake more properly a certaine petition to God for some necessary things whether this petition be made with inward words or with outward which are the images of internall things there can bee found no essentiall difference betweene this and that ibidem As the Smith knoweth that his Iron is first to bee heated and to bee made soft before he labour to make a stampe in it so prayer is to be vsed to the softning of the heart that thereby it may be made ready for the keeping of the diuine law ibidem As the hill is the way vnto the mountaine and the meanes to ascend vnto it so prayer is the way and the ascending to mortification ibidem Euen as a diligent and carefull traueller that entreth into an Inne to breake his fast eateth and withall is carefull to make an end of the voyage he hath taken in hand so that although his body bee in the Inne yet his heart and mind is about his iourney so also the seruant of God when he goeth to pray let him on the one side enioy celestiall sweetnesse and on the other side let him purpose to beare troubles and molestations for his loue of whom hee is so much made of and who will not haue any one to eate his bread but in the sweate of his face ibidem As the Children of this world besides their daily repast haue their extraordinarie feasts and bankets in which they are wont to exceed the manner of other refections so it is also behoueful that the righteous besides their daily prayer haue their feasts and spirituall bankets in which their soules may feed not measurably as at other times but may be filled and stuffed with the diuine sweetnesse and with the plenty of Gods house ibidem As the body is dead and waxeth quickly filthy without the soule so the soule without prayer is dead miserable and very vnsauory Chrysostomus lib. de orando Deum As a Citie which is not compassed and fenced with walls easily commeth into the subiection of enemies so the Deuill easily bringeth that soule vnder his dominion which is not fenced and garded with prayer idem lib. 2. de oratione As trees that haue taken deepe rooting cannot be pulled vp so the feruent prayers of the faithful cannot be beaten backe till they haue ascended into the presence of the highest Idem hom 5. de incomprehensibili natura Dei As the roring of a Lyon affrighteth Beasts of the Forrest so the prayer of the righteous profligateth the Deuils of of hell Idem hom 53. contra Apost As the ioynts of the body are bound together by nerues and sinewes so the soules of the righteous are established by prayer Idem lib. 2. de orando Deum As water is the life of a fish so is prayer the life of a Christian. ibidem As Gold precious stones and Marble doe make the houses of Kings so prayer doth build the Temple of Christ that he may dwell in our hearts ibidem When a King entereth into a Citie his Nobles and traine follow after so when prayer entreth into a soule all other vertues follow after ibidem As perfume will confected doth delight the smell of a man so prayer of the righteous is sweete in the nostrills of the Lord. Idem hom 13. operis imperfecti As a Souldiour is no body without his armour nor armour without a Souldior so prayer is nothing without fasting nor fasting without prayer Ibidem hom 15. As there may bee something without a smell but there cannot be a smell without something so a worke without prayer is something but prayer without a good worke is nothing and if thou prayest thou prayest not of Faith Idem hom 18. As fire doth scowre off the rust from Iron so prayer doth scowre our soules from the rust of sinne Idem hom 42. ad pop Antioch As no medicine can cure a wound if their on remaine within it so no prayer profiteth his soule who hath deadly hatred festring and rankling in it Augustinus de rectitudine Cathâ—licae conuersationis Plato writeth that the Lacedemonians were neuer heard to pray for any thing but that which was good and profitable so a Christian should neuer pray for any thing but that which is good in the eyes of God and profitable for himselfe Isidorus Claurius orat de fructu orandi tom 1. Almes deeds AS the Princes of this world determining a voyage doe send their furniture treasure and prouision before them and they themselues follow after so wee are to deuide our goods amongst the poore that they may prepare an entrance into life for vs. Stella de contemptu mundi As water sprinkled vpon an hot glowing gad of iron although it seeme to coole the hot burning iron yet at the length it causeth it to burne the more vehemently so the workes of mercy albeit at a blush they seeme to make the soule lesse feruent by reason of the sundry businesse which happen in exercising them yet they make it more earnest and vehement in the wayes of the Lord. Lodouicus Granatensis lib. de deuotione Euen as nothing is more naturall vnto God then to doe well vnto all his creatures so hee that participateth more of the spirit and goodnesse of God he is more ready to doe good vnto others ibidem As in a treasurie they vse to mingle no false money which outwardly hath a little gold and seemes to be good yet inwardly is a mixture of most base metals euen so and no otherwise are the works and almes deeds of Hypocrites who outwardly appeare iust as if they were no sinners when inwardly they haue seared and foule deformed consciences Stella de contemtu mundi As water quencheth burning fire so almes deeds resisteth sinnes Clemens Alexand. lib. 3. paedagog cap. As seed cast into the earth bringeth forth profit to the sower so bread cast into the lap of the poore will in time to come yeeld great commodity Basil. hom in ditescentes As corne kept in thy garner is deuoured of vermine but being cast into thy land is not onely preserued but increased so riches kept in thy Chest vnder locke and key doe wast and fade but if thou disperse them into the bellies of the hungry they doe not onely not vanish but rise to greater value Chrysostomus homil 7. de poenitentia As an vnfruitfull Elme giueth moysture to the Vine that the Vine may bring forth fruit both for it selfe and for the Elme so let thy substance further the relief of the poore in this world that their sanctitie may further thee in the other Chrys. hom 12. operis imperfecti As hee that writeth an Epistle to a friend whilest he writeth seeth in his heart the person of his friend to whom hee writeth so hee that giueth almes for Gods sake seeth no man in his heart but the person of God alone for whom
open onely to one thing that is to God who hath already entered into it and enlightened it with his Spirit As at the window of Noahs Arke there entred in no mist no water nothing else but one thing onely which is light so at this East gate no mist of humane errours no water of worldly cares may enter in but onely the light Heauen and a santified desire to bee fast knit and perfectly vnited by faith and â—ue to God As the Alter of perfume was place close to the Golden Censer very neare the Mercy seate so a Christian heart which is a spirituall Alter of perfume and a sweete sauour to God must alwayes approch nearer and nearer vnto the Throne of Grace and continually higher and higher aduance it selfe to him that is the highest and holiest of all As in a Well except there bee some water in it we cannot easily see the baggage that lyeth in the bottome so in the depth of the heart without teares wee cannot see our sins CONSCIENCE AS Hony is not onely sweete of it selfe but also it maketh that sweet which before was not sweete so a good conscience is so merrie and so pleasant that it maketh all the troubles and tribulations of this world seeme pleasant and delightfull Lodo. Granat lib. 1 Ducis peccatorum As they that sit at a banket are made merrie by the variety of meates and daintie câ—tes and by the presence of their friends with whom they liue so the righteous are made merrie by the testimonie of a good conscience and by the sweete fauour of the diuine presence ibidem As the tast of delitious meate cannot sufficiently bee expressed nor discribed with words to him who heretofore hath not tasted of it so neither the ioy and comfort of a good conscience to him that neuer felt it ibid. As the morning Sunne when it is scarcely risen and is not yet seene enlightned the World with the nearenesse of his brightnesse so a good conscience although it bee not fully and plainely knowne yet it reioyceth and gladdeth the soule by her good testimony ibid. As a shadow doth alwayes follow the body so feare and desperation in all places and at all times doe waite vpon an ill conscience As persecution procureth a death to the body so a conscience despairing assureth death to the soule As the herbe Nepenthes so much commended of Homer being put into Wine driueth away all sadnesse at a banket so a good conscience being placed in vs doth abolish all tediousnesse of life As true loue towards a women doth not desire a witnesse but hath a enough if it enioy her alone so is a wise man contented only by the the testimonie of a good conscience Plut. As a beautifull face is gratefull and acceptable in the sight of man so is a cleare conscience beautifull in the eyes of God Chrisostomus hom 6. operis imperfecti If thou castest little a sparke into a great deepe it is soone quenched so a good conscience doth easily mittigate all griefe idem hom 25. de via recta As there is no raine without clouds so there is no pleasing of God without a good conscience Marcus Eremita de his qui putant ex operibus iustificari As a brazen walls is a good defence vnto a Citie so a good conscience vnto a man Lodouicus Vines introductione sapientiam capitc vltimo As gowtie diseases are full of feare so are ill consciences full of suspition Plut in Apophth 231. As the shadow followeth the body so an euill conscience doth follow a sinner Basilus apud Antonium in Melissa part 1. sermon 16. Doctors and Doctrine EVen as a plaister is of no vse if it be not applied to the wound and to the diseased place neither are precepts nor Doctrine auailable if by education they be not applied to the life Lodouicus Granat lib. 1. Ducis peccatorum If thou wilt put any good thing into Bottles and Bladders thou must first put the wind and the aire out of them so thou must put pride and disdaine out of his mind whom thou wouldest teach Plutarchus As the seed of a sallow tree cast away before it bee ripe doth not onely bring forth nothing but is a medicine to procure sterilitie in women that they may not conceiue so the speeches of them that teach before they be wise do not only shew themselues to be fooles but doe infect their auditors and make them indocible Plin. lib. 16. cap. 27. As a consort consists of diuerse voices so erudition is a mixture of diuerse disciplines Seneca The meate that swimmeth in the stomacke is no meate but a buhen but the same being digested doth passe into blood and strength so those things which thou readest if they remaine vnconcocted in thy memorie they doe thee small good but if they be digested into thy disposition then they make thee better learned Seneca The earth which bringeth forth salâ— bringeth forth none other thing so wittes fruitfull in learning are not of such validitie in other matters Plin. lib. 31. cap. 7. Wine powred into vessels made of Yew becomes deadly so erudition otherwise wholesome if it fall into a pestilent nature becommeth dangerous by his manners As a Lawrell alwayes continueth greene so the fame of learning doth doth neuer waxe old nor whether Plin. lib. 15. cap. 30. As they that are of a ranke smell doe sauour more rammish when they are annointed so the rumour of naughtinesse is more filthy when the celebritie of learning maketh it more conspicuous and more common in the mouthes of men As a precious stone is a little thing and yet is preferred before great stones so learning and doctrine is but little in shew and ostentation but great in value and price Artes and disciplines AS they that often frequent theaters and play houses with their pleasure doe also reape some profit so Artes and Disciplines besides their pleasure and dignitie doe bring also profit and commoditie Plut. A tree of her own nature doth bring forth but one only fruit but by grafting it becomes loaden with fruits of diuerse kinds so hee that followeth his owne nature is alwayes the same but hee that is guided by Art is like himselfe Plin. lib. 17. cap. 14. The Turbot the Skate the Ray and the Puffen being most slow fishes yet haue often found in their bellies the Mullet being the swiftest of all fishes which they take by cunning and policie so many by Art and skill doe farre excell those that bee mightier in riches and strength Plin. lib. 9. cap. 42. Plutarch testifieth that hee saw in Africa dogges carrying stones into the water till the water was risen so high that they might lappe of it the like hee reporteth of a dogge casting little stones into a pot of paâ—â—age till they rose so high that hee might eate them so that which is wanting vnto vs in strenght is to be supplied by Art As great waights which can be lifted vp by no mens strength
deuouring the fruit neither doe they know whence they come or whither they goe so certaine doe neuer appeaâ—e but when they hâ—ue neede of our helpe neither doe they visit their friends but when some necessity doth vrge them Plin. lib. 10. cap. 27. As thou canst not retaine hurtfull meate without offence nor cast it vp with griefe so if thou retainest an euill friend hee hurteth neither canst thou cast him off without enmity and tumult as if thou shouldst cast forth choler Plut As Creon did nothing helpe his daughter but embracing her did perish with her in the fire so many not enioying happy friends do perish with those that are infortunate ibidem As those that be vnskilfull in swimming whilst they would helpe them that are in danger of drowning doe drowne together with them and doe hurt more then they profit so doe those friends that in aduersitie doe onely lament and sorrow with their friends Idem As flies doe not remaine in those vitling houses where there is no sauors nor smels so the vulgar and popular friends of rich men doe â—arry no longer then profit continueth Idem Mice doe gnaw the meate and doe liue vnder the same roofe with men yet they doe not conuerse with them so â—ome friends sâ—arse current neither doe forsake by reason of commodity neither doe loue or repose affiance As the fish Scolopidus in the floud Araris at the waxing of the moone is as white as the driuen snow and at the waning as blacke as a burnt coale so a fained friend in prosperity is very louing but in aduersity exceeding lowring As all coynes are not good that haue the image of Caesar nor all good that is coyned with the Kings stampe so all is not truth that beareth the shew of godlinesse nor all friends that beare a faire face As the Rauen which Noah sent forth of the Arke made no longer reckoning of him who had saued her from death and maintained her in the Arke one hundred and fiftâ—e dayes then shee stood in need of him so many friends doe now esteeme delight prayse and often visite thee because they would supply some of their present necessities by thee which being compassed they are no longer for thee As a fruitfull tree is so long cared for â—s it brings forth store of fruit but when it failes to bring the wonted encrease no man cares for it so and no otherwise stands the case with thâ—â— while thou hast riches credit and art in prosperity thou shalt bee sure to be beloued honoured and visited but if thy state impaire and need catch thee by the back then the world no longer smiles vpon thee farewell poore forsaken man no more fruit no more friends As there is great conformitie and vâ—ion between Gold and Quicksiluer yea such and so much as when the Gold is purified in the furnace the Quicksâ—lueâ— being conuerted into smoke is sought of the Gold in what part soeuer of the fire it be to vnite it selfe therewith yet notwithstanding all this affection and friendship whensoeuer the Gold is taken forth of the fire it forsakes and leaues the Quicksiluer there behind conuerted into smoke and there ends the kindnesse so at what time thou shalt enter into the fire of tribulation the friendship thou hadst with many will be turned into smoake and so shalt thou bee left in the furnace of affliction As there are many current riuers which in winter time are full of water when as there is no necessitie of water yet in summer following are dried vp when euery one standeth most in need of water which dried vp riuers helpe not the thirsty traueller but when hee comes to drinke and finds none returneth thence deceiued like to such riuers are fained counterfeit friends who in time of prosperity and when no neede is promise much but when time of aduersitie commeth and that there is manifest necessity to be seene performance commeth short all friendship is dried vp and not a drop to bee found As the Marigold opens early in the morning being fresh and faire but at night shuts vp againe as halfe dryed and withered euen so the worlds friendship soone fayles and withereth the Sunnes heate perisheth the flower and afflictions triall putteth downe all loue and friendship As Ixion prosecuting Iuno fell into a cloud so many doe runne into counterfeit and fained friendship Plut. As Choak-weede is an enemy to Ciches and Orobos as Cockle is hurtfull vnto Wheate as wild Otes is noysome vnto Barley as Henbane is mortall vnto Lentilles and all these doe kill by embracing so the friendship of some is more pestilent then their enmitie Plin. lib. 18. cap. 45. The swallow which in Summer creepeth vnder the eues of euery house in winter leaueth nothing but durt behind her the Humble Bee hauing sucked Honie out of the faire flower doth leaue it and loath it so a fained friend hauing got what commodity hee can â—eaueth his friend in the suds The comparison of a friend and a flatterer AS Patroclus going to the battaile tooke all Achilles armour beâ—ides his speare which hee touched not by reason of the waight and bignesse so a flatterer doth take vpon him all the signes and tokens of a true friend besids the libertie of admonishing Plutarchus As a Physitian doth his endeuour to maintaine and encrease health so also doth a friend but a flatterer dealeth superficially and suggesteth that which onely delighteth Ideâ— A flatterer is like that Schoolmaster that chideth his Scholler for his stile and paper and neuer blameth the barbarisâ—es and solaecismes he committeth Idem He is like also to an ill oratour answering nothing to the arguments but â—arping at the voyce and the bookes negligently written idem As if a man seeming a Physitian should cut the haires and nailes of a man diseased with blaines botches and fistulaes so a flatterer vseth libertie in those things in which there is no need Idem As a sweete odour smelleth well and so also doth a medicine but that is profitable for nothing but to delight this besids the odour hath also greater profit so also a flatterer is onely pleasant but a friend is profitable and necessarie Idem As a picture hath pleasant colours and Medicines haue also acceptable colours so a friend doth therefore delight that hee may helpe but a flatterer onely delight Idem Where the body is swelled and puffed vp with corrupt and vicious humours there arise botches and impostumes so what a friend is angriâ— with loueth or hateth that the flaâ—terer inuerteth to a crosse end idem A Medicine applyed to a wrong place doth afflict without fruit so doth admonition being vsed out of due time And the same doth a friend with griefe which the flatterer doth with pleasure for both of them doe hurt idem Mariage AS Chaines and Fetters take strength by being linked together so doth the stare of the family by the consent and agreement of man and wise Plut. in
As the Chrysolite being worne on the finger of an Adulteresse so detesteth the crime as it cracketh in peeces by meere instinct of nature so the Vnicorn is such a foe to adulterie and such a friend to chastitie as he alwayes presurueth the one and killeth the other Munster writeth in his second Booke fol. 45. that in some part of England and Scotland there is great store of the best kind of Ieat stone If any body drinke the powder of this stone in water if the same partie bee contaminated with libidinous actes the same body out of hand shall be enforced to make vrine and shall haue no ability to keepe it backe but if a virgine drinke of it there is no power to make vrine follow so the iuyce of the Basco leasâ— so abhorreth vnlawfull lust as it will not by any meanes bee digested in the stomacke of a Strumpet As Teundâ—zillus King of Spaine for committing violent adulterie with a Lady of a Noble house was depriued both of life and Kingdome so Galeatiâ—s Maria Duke of Millaine committing adulterie with a Citizens wife of the same was by the same Citizen slaine being at a Masse As Anthonius Venerâ—us Duke of Venice caused his owne sonne to dye in prison because hee had rauished a maide so Hippomenes taking his daughter Limon in adulterie caused her to be deuoured of an hungry horse The Egyptians for adulterie cut off the mans priuy members and the womans nose so the Armenians for the same act gelded the men and after open whipping branded the women with a hot Iron As God appointed stoning and burning for adultery so the Arabians Tartaâ—ians Turks Athenians Tenedians Crotoniates old Saxons Parthians â—ncient Britaines as writeth Iohn Capâ—raue and now the Geneuians punish â—t with death As Opilius Macrinus Emperour of Rome ordained that adulterers should be punished with fire so Iulius Caesar the Emperour made a Law that adulterours should be put to death with the sword As among the Thracians this was the law that such as were taken in whoredome should be stript naked and be bound to a post and so with arrowes pearced and striken to death so among the Indians such as bee taken in adulterie are led vp to some high rocke and cast downe headlong that their neckes may be broken As the Mitylenians strangled all such as were taken in adulterie without any mercy shewed so the Mantuans beheaded the adulterers As most of the Gentiles seuerely punished adulterie so most of the Christians laugh at it Munster writeth that the Indians doe vse naturall coniunction together openly and Sansonius in his Booke de Regnis sayeth that certaine franticke people in Fez accustome to vse women forcibly in publique places and in the presence of many so the Spaniards in America rauished the women both their owne bands and the Indians beholding them and at Insull a Towne in Flaunders three of these Gallants entered a Citizens house wholy of their faction where two of them held the husband whilest the third rauished his wife in his presence a fact that many bruite beasts deâ—est and abhorre as among foure footed beasts the Elephant who as the same Munster sayeth neuer couereth the female but in secrete who as Plinie and Soline write neuer vseth any adulterie and among fowles the Storke who neuer treadeth his female but in her nest which may teath men and women to vse wedlocke-worke with honesty and shame-fastnesse and neuer treadeth any but his owne female Aristotle saith which may teach euery one to abhorre adulterous copulations Iealousie AS an Egge the more it is heated it waxeth the harder so iealous suspect the more it is credited the worse it is for vs and the lesse wee regard it the greater is our quiet As the Mole being in the deepe earths obscuritie strayes about euery way passing thorow the hardest molde she meetes withall but so soone as she comes to the day light all her force and strength immediately fayles her euen such is the iealous opinion hid within the darke clowde of an afflicted minde it neuer ceaseth to remoue fresh thoughts with infinite perturbations but when truth doth discouer it it is presently nothing As there is no content to the sweetnesse of loue so there is no despaire to the preiudice of ielousie Inconstancie AS the Chamaeleon is an vncleane creature and forbidden in the law because he changeth himselfe into all colours that are laid before him so are all they vncleane that are mutable and vnconstant and are figured by this beast Vuconstant people may fitly be resembled to hunting dogges who follow two Hares and take neither to a tree that is often transplanted and therefore hardly increaseth to a wound that is slowlier healed because the medicines are daily altered As birds that doe both swimme and flie in the holy Scriptures are counted vncleane so are all vnconstant persons that halt betweene two opinions that as Weather-cockes are turned to and fro with euery wauering blast of vnconstancie Euen as the Sea swelleth when the Moone encreaseth and ebbeth when it decreaseth so doe they that are gouerned by the the flux and reflux of the uariety of occurrences As waxe is plyable to working and wiers to wresting so are women to inconstancie As the beast Hyaena and the Rat of India called Ichâ—eumon are sometimes males and sometimes females so many are vnlike themselues now boasting valourously now pulling tenderly now being Phylosophers now becomming Ruffians sometimes friends sometimes foes As weaker bodies doe more feele the fluxe and refluxe of the Sea and the encrease and decrease of the Moone so inconstant and wauering minds are more vehemently mooued with contrarierie of things As Pitchers are carried about by the eares so many are haled too and fro with euery wind and euery word Plutarch Among the Troglodytes there is a lake that thrice in a day is salt and bitter and thrice againe sweete and pleasant and as oftentimes in the night whereupon it is called The madlake so some inconstant people are sometimes moody sometimes milde sometimes liberal sometimes niggards sometimes louing and sometimes loathing Plin. 31. cap. 2. lib. 2. cap. 6. Herodotus lib. 4. Inconstant women are like the winds that rise in the shoares of Lepanthus which in the Morning send forth gusts from the North and in the Euening calmes from the West their fancies are like Aprill showers begun in a Sun-shine and ended in a storme their passions deepe Hell their pleasures Chimeraes portraytures suddaine ioyes that appearing like Iuno are nothing when Ixion toucheth them but dutkie and fading clouds As the breath of man vpon steele no sooner lighter on but it leapeth off so are inconstant persons in the beginning and ending of their loues As Salt-peter fireth at the first and yet proueth but a flash and as deaw vpon Christall no sooner lighteth on but it leapeth off such is the heart and thoughts of vnconstant people The Riuer Hypanus being the chiese of the Sythian Riuers
he giueth it Idem homil 13. operis imperf As worldly men by Vsury encrease their pelfe to their damnation so spirituall men by almes deeds encrease and multiplie the loue of God towards them to their saluation Chrysost. hom 7 in Epist. ad Rom. As no man sorroweth to receiue a Kingdome grieueth to haue remission of his sinnes so let no man sorrow to lay out his money vpon maintenance for the poore because he shall receiue great gaines by it Idem Homil. 21 in Epist ad Rom. As rich mens sonnes for an ornament doe weare Gold Chaines about their neckes as a signe of their greatnesse and Nobility so we ought alwayes to bee arrayed in the roabes of bounty that we may shew our selues to be the Sons of him who is mercifull who causeth his Sunne to arise both vpon the good and bad Idâ—â—â— hom 1. ad Philippen As in physicall confections one herbe is predominant so in spirituall matters almes deeds are in especiall account with God idom hom 9. ad Hebraeos As Iudges hauing receiued gifts doe not suddenly proceed to pronounce sentence but endeuour to agree the parties so the Lord dealeth with them whose gifts are giuen to the poore August ser. 146. As we are not once to doe well but alwayes so wee are not once to giue almes but alwayes Chrysoft hom 1. in Epist. ad Philippen A lumpe of vnmolten Lead put into a vessell full of holes doth rest in one side of the vessell but if it be melted with fire it filleth all the holes so an heape of money being frozen with the cold of auarice lieth in the chest profitable to no man but if it be melted with the fire of diuine loue and powred out it floweth to all parts of the poore and relieuing the needy it filleth all the holes and crannies of pouertie Hector Pintusin cap. 5. Ezech. 37. As the Sea is fed by land Riuers which hath no neede of them when as the land is left dry so many bestow their largesse of bountie vpon them that haue no need and let the needle and distressed perish idem in cap. 18. As sheepe and oxen are not eaten except they bee dead and dressed so many Churles giue no almes but when they are dead and buried idem in ca. 16 As mount Oliuet according to Augustine was a mountaine of oyntment and vnction of fatnesse and refection of medicine and cure by reason of the abundance of oyle there growing so a mercifull man may be fitly resembled to this mountaine by reason of his almes which are the oyle of mercy and pitie As that seed is the best which is white within so are those almes deeds the best which come from a pure intent F. Ioannes à S. Geminiano lib. 3. de vegetabilibus Plant. cap. 20. As one Torch borne before doth giue more light then soure borne behind so one good deed done in life time is more acceptable vnto God then fortie after death Polancus in Methodo adiuâ—andi eos qui moriuntur Deuotion HEe that would haue Iron alwayes to glow and shine redde hot it is necessary that hee alwayes applie it to the fire for if hee take in from the fire forthwith it returneth to his naturall coldnesse so the most noble affection of Deuotion so dependeth of that that man bee continually vnited vnto God by actual loue and contemplation that if hee turne himselfe but a little from him forthwith hee slideth backe to the bosome of his mother that is to the old disposition which before hee had Ladouic Granat lib. de deuotione As a furnace if it bee well heated in the morning is kept hot all the day after with a little fire but if it grow cold againe it requires a great deale of fire before it bee thorowly heated againe so Deuotion being well heated by prayer preserues heate a long time but through dissuetude of pâ—ayer it growes cold and requires much prayer to heate it throrowly againe ibidem As sweete water standing in an open vessell hauing no couer doth foâ—â—hwith lose the sweetnesse and grace of the sent so the sweete and precious oyntment of Deuotion doth loose all the vertue and efficacy when the mouth is loosed and dissolute that is when the tongue doth lauish and supers bound in too much talke and prattle ibidem As fire cannot be kindled not kept in wet and moist matter so nether can Deuotion in the delights and pleasures of the body ibidem As in a harpe we are to obserue that the strings bee neither stretched too streight nor loosened too slacke for then they are either broken or yeeld an vntuned and an vnpleasant sound so in the celestiall exercise of deuotion it is meet that the body by neither macerated by too much hunger nor fatted by too much plentie for both of them bring very much hurt to this exercise Ibidem Euen as fire or any odoriferous or fragrant smell the more it is couered and kept close the more longer it preserueth the sent and keepth the heat so also the loue of God and deuotion ibidem As nature is not content with the deaw that in the night time falleth vpon the earth but also now and then it raineth and that plentifully not for a weeke but oftentimes louger for so it is necessary that the heauens should be now and then more liberall towards the earth and should so glut it that neither the Sunne nor the wind may make it dry so also our soule besides the common and daily deaw ought to haue certaine peculiar times in which our eyes may doe none other thing then showre downe most plentifull teares of deuotion by which our soule may bee so filled with the vertues of iuyce of the holy Ghost that all the tribulations and all the winds of this world may not dry it ibidem The feare of the Lord. EVen as a ship is not safe without ballace or lastage for it is easily tossed with euery wind now on this side and now on that to the great danger of the ship so is the soule endangered which lacketh the burthen and ballace of the diuine feare which poyseth the soule that the winds of worldly-fauour or of diuine graces doe not tosse and puffe it vp and so ouerthrow it Lodon Granat lib. 1. Ducis Peccatorum As Fennell hath an opening vertue as Plato saith so the feare of God openeth the way vnto loue As the needle leadeth the threed so feare introduceth loue August As Serpents by the tast of Fennell put off old age so the feare of God putteth away inueterate sinne F. Ioannes à S. Geminiano lib. 3. de vegetabilib phâ—nt cap 77. As among the kinds of precious stones called Berylli that is the best which is the palest so among men hee is the best that feareth the Lord. Idem lib. 2. de Metallis lapid cap. 37. As the precious stone Beryllus being opposed to the sunne beames doth burne the hand of the holder so the