dissembling and so thereby to winne fauour to winne wealth to winne friends countenance in their dealings that me thinke I cannot stand anie longer in the innocencie of a good conscience but I must doe as they doe that I may get what they get Yet knowe I this to be diuelish but I am Frailtie by name and I feare mee by nature I shall be no lesse Thirdly when any vnquietnesse growes in towne and countrie or any iarring vnkindnesse I see such hazard in dealing betwixt them such subtilties and fetches to make a man a partie in that which his soule hated and so to trouble him and let the best be supposed I see vsually so small thanke gotten of either partie but euen the cōtrarie that I assure you I sit still and let them bate the fire that made the fire and themselues waste one an other and a thousande moe too for mee if they wil. Notwithstanding my conscience accuseth mee secretly that this is not wel doone of mee And thus indangered without and accused within me thinke my case is harde and grieuous But I wil not wearie you with any moe of my infirmities For I euen shame to shewe you these but that you are Faith a friend where you take strong and comfortable and gaue me libertie to be thus boulde with you before Faith In déede Frailtie you are when these things thus flowe vpon you yet Frailtie may you cease to be by the grace of God if you wil diligently wey what strength in the scripture is ministred against them For to begin with you first letting store of other scriptures passe to kéep me stil in this fift of Matthew euidently it may there appéere that the Lord knewe it would assault his children and therefore vttered this sentence no doubt of purpose to confirme them still that Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercie Wherein if it were well marked there is comfort hidden euen sufficiēt against this vile suggestion For shall the Lord of heauen set a blessing vpon the head of a thing and we not be mooued with it Nay shall it not more mooue vs than al the spéeches or conceites in the worlde to the contrarie tending What though a dull heart say let all men perish so I may be safe or what though a thousand policies pricke to a priuate regarde aboue measure of priuate welbeing doe we not heare with our eares and sée with our eies the spéech of truth which shall stand when heauen and earth shal fall Blessed is the merciful Either then make God false or this blessing assured to the vertue euer And if it be assured then neuer regarde the conceits of a witlesse world but consider the vertue in it selfe and what it shall pull vppon you Then to the imagination of want that may growe by this grace and to the sting that ariseth vpon their ingratitude whom we haue béene mercifull vnto oppose the promise that followeth in the place For they shall obtaine mercie Doth a man obtaine mercie when he is in this world made worse and in the world to come no better No you know he doth not and therefore it must néedes folow that this promised mercie implieth a greater good than euer can come harme by a liberall and mercifull hande in order either in this world or in the other or in both And it hath confirmation also of scriptures beside For I haue beene yong saieth the Prophet Dauid and nowe am olde yet sawe I neuer the righteous forsaken nor his seede begging their bread But the righteous is euer mercifull and lendeth and his seede is blessed And againe in another Psalme A good man is merciful and lendeth and he shall neuer be moued but had in euerlasting remēbrance Whereby it is plaine plaine inough that let the worlde and her chickens be as churlish as they may be yet mercie is gainefull by the promise of the Lord vnto the mercifull And more should we regarde what our God liketh loueth blesseth than what with worldly wretches getteth rewarde Yet euen here also it hath his praise as you may sée by proofe in Iob and others manie though not peraduenture euer in all that are most bound vnto it Wherfore euen a thousand times we shoulde contemne this rude nature of vnreformed worldlings and lette them be as vnkinde as vngratefull and as peruerse as their corruption can make thē if the Lorde soften our hearts and giue vs this vertue of mercie our rewarde is certaine the bill of our blessednesse is signed and we as we could euer desire assured to be gainers Sincke it then Frailtie in your heart if I may obtaine anie thing of you and heare not these things without any profit Ponder the good promised in your minde and ponder the trueth of him that promiseth it God of heauen earth If the good counteruaile your hurt as a thousād times it doth your temptatiō is strengthned and if he neuer deceiued that hath giuen his worde for payment of you it is more strengthned but both of these are true and therefore God giue you vse of them the blessing of mercifulnesse to al that truely néede your helpe is assured This were inough then if you be not vtterly fallen out with mée and will credite nothing that Faith telleth you to stay your steps in this godly duety of mercie yet regarding your nature rather than the néede of the thing adde vnto al this but some litle view in your minde of the vertue it selfe in it selfe and it may be you shall finde strength increased by it Is it not in his nature thinke you an assured vertue that God maketh euer anie promise of rewarde vnto Or can it make miserable that the Lord saith maketh blessed Or is it not cause ynough to continue you euer in the practise of it that the Lord so often so earnestly and so generally to all estates commaundeth it Surely it is and therefore mercie in it nature is a most notable vertue Is it not to be honored that maketh men in whome it is so renowmed as that all ages speake and write of their names and natures for it But this vertue of mercie hath béene such to many and therefore in all truth a notable vertue For proofe of my assertion I let passe the multitude of the faithful whome either scriptures or stories or present practise as yet amongst vs honorably speake and think of And I remember you onelie of his name whose nature in this action being an heathen hath often well liked me Alexander the great Whom when one Petillus humblie besought to helpe him with some money towardes the bestowing of his daughter in mariage by and by he commaunded 50. talentes to be giuen vnto him and when the man refused so great a gift saying that ten talentes would suffise beeing tolde of it he also aunswered that it behooued a good nature not onelie to consider what an honest friende
for thée that when the hower commeth we may neither feare nor faint in faith but ioyfully without anie skrikes and cries of desperation and of a troubled and vexed conscience passe away in full hope and assuraunce that all our sinnes are wiped away in the bloud of Jesus Christ and we to thée in him so reconciled that life for euermore is certaine vnto vs. Last of all good father with most humble and heartie thankes for thy goodnes to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so kéepe vs bodie and soule that being occupied in our seuerall callinges we may be safe by thée from al our enemies liue to thée or die to thée as it best shal please thy gratious goodnes These thinges O Lorde and whatsoeuer else we haue néede of graunt vs for Christ his sake in whose name we aske them saying as he hath taught vs OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our dailie bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Let thy mightie hand out stretched arme O Lorde be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnes in Jesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy worde our instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the ende and in the end Amen The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towarde vs and this day and euermore vouchsafe to sende vs his peace Amen The blessing of God alminghtie the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be amongst vs and remaine with vs both nowe and for euer Amen ¶ An other for the same at night O Immortall God creatour of heauen and earth before whome all creatures feare and tremble were it not that thou hast commaunded vs neuer durst we appeare before thée so corrupt is our nature and so manie are our sinnes But good Lorde thou doest bid and therefore we obey thou doest call and therefore we come giue vs spirites to pray aright First then héere met together déere father we yéelde thy maiestie most humble and heartie thankes for all the mercies that euer thou hast bestowed vpon vs in bodie or minde in our selues or in ours priuate or common temporall or eternall Manie and meruelous haue they béene and still are vpon vs yea euen good Lorde past finding out This day what thou hast done for vs which of vs knoweth or is able to expresse Father of heauen forgiue vs that wée cannot acknowledge them or praise thée for them as we ought and quicken vs in this duety more and more Pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer wée haue offended thée withal this daie or euer before either in thought worde or déede yea euen our secret sinnes such as we haue committed and knowe not of remit them vnto vs for Christs sake Change vs O Lorde and wee shal be changed Create in vs cleane hearts and renew a right spirite within vs. Breake the strength of sinne that would subdue vs more and more And O mercifull father so frame these harts of ours within vs that we may more delight to liue according to thy will than to enioy all the worlde and all the pleasures therein Laie it often good Lorde before our eies by thy remembring spirite that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into vs that we should liue as wée list but that in holinesse and righteousnesse wée shoulde walke before thée all our daies Laie it before vs O Lorde that the time will come when the trumpe shall sounde the dead shall rise and we euen wée here mette together at this time all and euerie one of vs shall most assuredly stand before thy iudgement seate with naked hearts with open and vnfolded consciences there to giue an accompt howe wée haue so doone In which daie O the ioie O the endlesse ioie that they shall haue who waining themselues from the glistering shew of this wretched world in heart trueth haue sought serued thée Come come ye blessed of my father to their comfort shal they beare possesse the kingdom prepared for you But woe woe to all carelesse liuers in that flerie daie they shall drinke the wine of the wrath of God be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holie Angels and before the lambe they shall haue no rest daie nor night and the smoke of their torment shall ascende for euermore Father of hauen haue mercie vpon vs knit these hearts of ours fast vnto thée and now whil we haue time giue vs grace rightly to thinke of these things O continue thy worde of truth amongest vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof nowe sowen in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heat of persecution cause it to wither nor the thornie cares of this worlde riches or voluptuous liuing choke it but as séede sowen in good grounde it may bring foorth fruite according to thy pleasure O father giue grace that whē we heare or finde by thy word anie sinne that is in vs touched we maie striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God y t wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our own true knowledge becōming seruers of time and deniers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnes of hart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie increase true loue amongst vs more and more stay our heady wrathful and wicked affections more and more And euerie waie good Lorde renew vs to thy liking Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessarie this parcel of it our natiue land and countrey déere father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Lessen in it daily the number of blinde and wilfull Papists prophane Atheists increase the number of thy true children O presse vs not déere God with the weight of our ingratitude whose liues and knowledge answeare not the daies that we haue had worke with vs hence forward for thy mercies sake Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord our gracious prince gouernour multiplie thy spirite vpon her that still more and more she may séeke and sette out kéepe and maintaine that which pleaseth thée Giue to her honourable counsell graces necessarie for so high a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole bodie of this realme with true heartes to thée and this country Increase in Israel the number of true watchmen whose harts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glorie or commoditie Bring to thy tolde by them such wandring remnants as are thine and O Lorde be gracious to our kinred and friendes in the flesh lighten their heartes with the sunne of vnderstanding that they and we acknowledging
one truth may glorify thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the daies of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and graunt vs peace if it be thy pleasure in our daies Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we readie to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts that the graue is almost readie for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open anie more againe or no Lorde therefore receiue vs into thy handes wée all here nowe commend our selues bodie and soul we bequeath vnto thée kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call for vs. Heare vs O Lorde O God and father mercifull in these our petitions for thy sonne Christ Jesus sake our Sauiour in whose name we al together beg these mercies saying O Our father which arte in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauē giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still our defence thy mercie and louing kindnes in Jesus Christ our saluation thy true and holie word our instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs. The Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towarde vs and sende vs euer his peace Amen The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the loue of God the Father the most comfortable felowshippe of the holie Ghost be with vs all blesse vs and kéepe vs this night and for euermore AMEN Iob. 3. Syrach 13. 16. Luke 6 20. Non magnum est sua sed se relinquere Exo. 22. 25. Deu 15. 10. Iob 26 15. Psal 9. 9. verse 12. verse 18. Psal 10. 17. Psal 21. 24. Psal 107. 22. Prouerb 28. 6. 22. Esay 25. 4. 66. 2. Luke 4. 18. Matth. 11. Luke 4. Iames 2. 5. Ruth 1. Kings 17. 2 Kings 4. Tobias 4 21. 1. Tim. 4. 6. Gen. 4. 5. verse 11. 12. 1. Sam. last 2. Sam. 17. 23 Acts. 1. Psal 6. 6. Rom. 15. 4. Luke 19. Rom. 9. Psalm 74. 9. Mich. 7. 2. Micheas 7. 2. Luke 6. Numb 11. 12. Ierem. 15. 10. Ierem. 20. 7. 1. Sam. 3. Luke 1. 38. 2. Timot. 2. 25. Psal 25. 9. Galat. 5. Math. 11. 29. That we hurt our selues also in earth by heat of affections Chap. 5. 1. Cor. 4. 11. 2. Cor. 11. Mat. 13 38. Verse 5. 37. 25. 112. 5. 31. 20. Prou. 11. 26. Mich. 6. 6. Colos 3. 12. Note Luke 6. Math. 18. Marke 6. Luke 10. Matth. 6. Matth. 3. 1. Cor. 11. 29. Rom. 12. Cor. 15. Howe mercifulnesse is wrought in men Experience Heb. 2. 17. 4. 15. Sight a worker of mercifulnesse Exod 2. Matth. 14. Marke 6. Luke 7. Luke 10. Luke 18. Iames 2. 13. Scripture against it Esay 2◠Psalme 12. 1. Pet. 2. 1. ◠Sam. 18. 21. ◠Sam. 20. 16. Psalme 34. Psalme 32. Psalme 15. Fathers against it Simplices qua si sine plicatione Anselm in Rom. 9. Lib. 1. Ad Caelant Heathen against it Cic. Offic. 2. Syrac 8. 19. 13. 9. De Sacerdotio lib. 1. Scriptures teach vnitie Psalm 133. 1. 2. 3. 4. Iohn 34. Ephes 4. 1. Thinges in nature teach vnitie Hose 2. 22. Deuter. 28. 32. 1. Tim. 5. 23. Actes 14. Apoc. 4. Psalme 119. Psalme 27.
A briefe Conference betwixt mans Frailtie and Faith VVherein is declared the true vse and comfort of those blessings pronounced by Christ in the fifth of Matthew that euery Christian man and woman ought to make and take hold of in their seuerall tentations and conflicts Laide downe in this plaine order of Dialogue to helpe if it please God the conceit and feeling of the simplest By Geruase Babington PSALME 119. O hovve svveete-are thy vvordes vnto my throte yea svveeter than honie vnto my mouth AT LONDON Printed by Henry Midleton for Thomas Charde 1584. The Contentes of this Booke Strength and comfort out of the worde of God against Pouertie and want pag. 4 Vncheerefulnesse pag. 22 Heat of affections pag. 34 Want of Iustice pag. 52 Vnmercifulnesse pag. 60 Dissimulation pa. 79 Doscoragement to make peace pag. 97 The crosse persecution pag. 113 To the Right Honorable and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Marie Countesse of Penbrooke his verie singular good Ladie and Mistrisse G. B. wisheth al mercy and comfort in Christ Iesus both here novv and for euer IT is sayde of Salomon euen in outwarde matters Right Honorable and my verie singular good Lady that if a man haue riches treasure and honour wanting nothing for his soule of all that it desireth and yet haue not an heart both to feele in comfort the goodnesse of his God therein towardes him and also to vse the sayde blessinges liberally to his owne good and others helpe it is but a vanitie and an euill sickenes yea a price in the hand of a foole as it is saide in an other place that hath no heart That is it is a mercie of God which hee hath no right and true vse of So necessarie in verie outward things is both feeling and faith the one to conceiue the other to applie and both of them to yeeld vs the true profit comfort and good intended into vs in the same by the Lord. Much more Madame in spirituall matters respecting the life of bodie and soule for euer And by name much more in the worde of God which we now so freely and so plentifully vnder the gratious gouernement of our most gracious Prince enioye For if wee reade it ouer ten thousand times our selues heare it of others carefully continually and yet feele not the sweete spirite of the Lorde by it secret power as it were with a dropping dewe piercing and mollifying shaking and comforting our soules by the same assuredly we want what we seeme to haue and for all our reading or hearing of it neuerthelesse it remaineth a sealed booke vnto vs. This proueth Caine that cursed caytise both heere and euer who though he knew the promise of certaine safetie by the seede of the woman hearing it no doubt often in wordes tould and seeing it by sacrifices shadowed out vnto him yet wanting a heart to feele and faith to applie vnto himselfe the benefite of the same wanted also to his woe what he so inioyed So did Esau Saul Achitophell and others all whatsoeuer they were who together with the worde receiued not a touch a tast a very rent as it were in their heartes to feele as also piercing eyes a clasping faith to see and take hould of the hidden sweete comprised in the same Which weying often with my selfe my verie good Ladie together with the place where I spend my time and the burning desire which both his honorable Lo. and your selfe haue that I should doe good amongest them I bowe the knee both of bodie and heart vnto the Lorde for them and I often begge that in that bottomelesse heape of his mercie wherein he euen swalloweth vp himselfe it might please him to see it good to ioine vnto the outward ministerie of his worde which he nowe voutsafeth them that inward touch power and might of his spirite that maketh it both a mortifying sworde and a comforting grace vnto his children For so shall my labours be life vnto them and euer as I speake deliuering but the word their consciences shall approoue and confesse within them that it is a truth Yea further I haue often secretly in my selfe intended to ioyne vnto prayer some further indeuour and according to that measure of mercie which the Lorde should voutsafe me to make some plaine applications of such portions of scripture as I shoulde iudge in vse practise fittest for thē That seeing in them by example the true vse of the worde of God and howe to sucke out strength in their seuerall needes from it they might from one place to manie and from many euen to all without any further guide than the guide of guides Gods mercifull spirit passe with feeling comfort and true concept of the good therin contained intended to vs all And falling by course of reading at last vpon that notable Chapter the 5. of Mathewe and seeing by some further meditation vpon those blessings therin contained such wisedome taught such faultes reprooued such comfort ministred and such matter handled as for thē and all the world is most necessarie I resolued with my selfe euen there to beginne to put in practise my named purpose and to make a tryall if by such indeuour I might profit any Which Inowe haue done presenting the same vnto the Lord with humble prayer for his blessing to mine owne and others with hartie request of Christian acceptance to your honorable L. as to a meanes that shall make it more acceptable to all and especially to them that I chiefely intende it vnto so greatly honoring with all dutie and liking the manifoulde mercies of God in you I am not able Madame to doe with content what ten thousande times I am bounde to doe with all care namely to shew my selfe mindfull and thankefull as I ought for all your La. honourable dealings with me But this I protest in the eies of the Lorde that I would if I could and in witnesse thereof I deliuer vnto the worlde this affirmation and to your selfe these fewepapers most humblie beseeching your Honour that since my want is in abilitie and not in will this small testimonie of the same may according to your accustomed clemencie be accepted of and finde a supplie therein of any want wherewith it may be charged So cease I to adde any further thing leauing your La. to the Lord of heauen to strengthen you still in that happie course of the studie of his worde and all other good learning of the practise of duty to your God of cheereful incouragement to your seruants and of honorable clemencie to all men which is at this daie a crowne vpon your head aboue manie others and a glorious ornament about your necke in the eies eares and tongues of all men that either see you heare of you or speake of you and my selfe remaine to perfourme all dueties that euer I shall be inabled vnto euen with all the power both of bodie and minde as I am most bounde The Lorde open the
woman in the world euen in the midst of al their worldly wantes be they neuer so great Yet hath it annexed for our further ioie the consent of other places manie and experiences of the same in knowne examples not a fewe As If thou lend to my people that is to the poore I wil blesse the saieth the Lorde The Lorde deliuereth the poore in al his afflictions The Lord wil be a defence vnto the poore euen a refuge in due time of trouble He remembreth and forgetteth not the complaint of the poore when he maketh inquisitiō for bloud The poore shall not alwaies be forgotten neither the hope of the afflicted perish for euer Lorde thou hast heard the desire of the poore thou preparest their heart and thine care hearkeneth thereunto He hath not despised the lowe estate of y e poore but they shal eate and be satisfied I am poore and in miserie but the Lorde careth for mee Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnesse than he that peruerteth his waies though hee be rich That which is to be desired in a man is his goodnes and better is such a poore man than a lier God regardeth the poore and is their strength And vnto whom againe saieth the Lorde shall I looke and haue regarde but vnto him that is poore and of a contrite spirite and trembleth at my wordes The spirite of the Lorde is vppon mee and hath annointed mee to preach the gospell to the poore And the poore do receiue the glad tidings of the Gospell Call the halt and lame poore to the Supper And hath not God chosen the poore of this world saith Iames c. with a number such like testimonies The comfort whereof if they be rightly considered and the blessing of them vnto our heart by humble praier begged at the Lordes hands no tongue of man is able to expresse For the Lord our God is not a man that hée should repent nor as the son of man that he should change but if hée loued the poore when these things were spoken he loueth them still and to the end he will loue them and if he regarded them he forgetteth not vs and euen amongst our selues if he sée you he beholdeth also me and if he comfort mée hée will doe no lesse for you for there is no respect of persons in his eies Yet adde vnto these the experience of examples and they wil be more swéete Naomi and her daughter Ruth how did the Lorde regarde blesse comfort and prouide for The poore widow of Sareptha whose meale and oile were at an ende and yet the dearth foretolde much to come howe regarded he and fedde during all y e time The other pore widow also helped by Elisha to pay her debts and to liue afterward with comfort of the rest how sheweth it the care of the Lord ouer the poore that are godlie and howe mightily shoulde it encrease our faith What an example is old Tobiah and his familie and what a spéech of faith was that to his sonne Feare not my Sonne because we are made poore for thou hast manie things if thou feare GOD and flie from sinne and do that thing which is acceptable vnto hym Howe loued the Lord the offering of the poore widowe that cast in but two mites How chose he Disciples and folowers of his trueth euer of the poorer sort Howe chose he his parents of the very meanest certainly of a multitude and howe himselfe hath he honored the estate of godlie pouerty for our eternal comfort hauing not so much in this world as the Foxes and Birdes borne in a stable wrapped in ragges laide in the manger and yet the God and Lord of heauen and earth and the disposer of all the glorie in them both O my heart and hand howe is the one too narrowe to conceiue this heauenly swéet and the other vnable to laie downe but euen that little that I doe féele Shall anie worldlie want make vs thinke God loueth vs lesse when wée sée the most loued that euer was in the greatest want shall anie discountenaunce dissauour discredite causelesse shall any snubbes checkes taunts scorne contempt rumours or the very power of y e spite of hel driue vs out of hope in our gratious father when we sée examples in his dearest of them all O Frailtie Frailtie open thine eies looke vpon thy God weigh his nature marke his dealings with his dearest heare his promises make him no liar but gather strength increase in hope and the Lord in mercie graunt it to vs euer Lette the changes and chances of this worlde be what they will or rather what it pleaseth God let our orderly walking in our places with true paines heart and meaning with due carefulnesse with no vnthriftinesse vp early downe late and whatsoeuer meanes that good are to liue and laie vp by for our selues and ours yet want their ende of such reasonable store as we desire let vs neuerthelesse trust in our God and hang vpon his hand and neuer measure his fauour towardes vs by these things for they are no iudges of it being as we sée oft graunted to the wicked and restrained greatly from the most beloued Onelie let our pouertie make poore our spirites and breake the secrete pride of our hearts and then feare not we haue a warrant of truth Blessed are the poore in spirite for theirs is the kingdome of heauen And a broken and contrite hart O God thou shalt neuer despise The contrarie now might as greatly be amplified to our comforte if I thought it néedefull For as his mercifull promises are manie and swéete as we haue heard to the poore so are his fearefull threatnings to the rich not a fewe and as great is the good that is wrought in the childe of God by this crosse of want so feareful are the faults that are giuen vnto the soules of many by their store of wealth Let it suffice to marke what this same our Sauiour saith by the mouth of Luke and opposeth ouer against the promise spoken of nowe alreadie Woe be to you that are rich for you haue receiued your consolation saith he and after him his apostle Iames again Go to now ye rich men weepe and houle for your miseries which shall come vpon you your riches are corrupt and your garments motheaten your golde and siluer is cankred the rust of them shall be a witnesse against you and shal eate your flesh as if it were fire c. And Paul againe Gaine is not godlinesse but godlinesse is great gaine if a man be content with that he hath for we brought nothing into the world and it is certaine that we can carie nothing out Therefore when wee haue foode and rayment let vs be therewith content for they that will be rich fall into temptation and snares and into many foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in
doe not then as mightilie ministreth it an argument againe of woe alas and endlesse woe vnto vs. Secondlie to be méeke is a true imitation of Christ for Learne of me saieth he I am meeke and lowly in hoart But he that treadeth the steps of this Lorde and God shall neuer die and therefore blessed are the méeke Contrariwise to be hastie furious and intemperate is to followe Caine Esau and all reprobates which whoso followeth shal neuer liue and therefore cursed is the contrarie Thirdlie the Lorde careth for vs if wée be méeke and watcheth ouer our wronges séeing all the wordes déedes and verie thoughtes conceiued against vs and the Lorde will pay our debtes if we leaue it to him and iustle him not out of his throne sitting downe our selues therein as iudges and reuengers of our owne causes He knoweth our vprising and downe lying he is about our bed and about our pathes and spieth out all our goinges and séeth hée not when we are wronged He hath taken a reckoning of the verie heyres of our heads he putteth our teares into his bottle and are not our wronges thinke we noted in his booke O therefore how should we our selues learne to be méeke to forgiue and to referre our selues euer to him since we haue such a iudge The wife whilest her husbande liueth quieteth her selfe from forren toyles and leaueth all incumbrances to him for he careth for them but if he by death depart from her then she her selfe because she hath lost her aide Nowe we if we be indéede as wee thinke wee are the children of the Lorde we are the spouse of an husbande that neuer dieth but in life is permanent in power sufficient in care still vigilant and therefore how should this consideration kill our affections mortifie our hastie heartes and handes and altar vs daily to an heauenly temperance patience and méekenes The Lorde is our aduocate to put vp our sute the Lorde is also iudge to giue sentence of our wrong and Frailtie then howe can any escape that hurteth vs if we would be méeke and leaue it vnto him Me thinke me thinke I could euen dwel continually in this consideration it is so comfortable What madnesse should moue vs to harbour our hurt to hatch vp our harme and to kéepe matters boyling and festring within vs vnforgiuen and vnforgotten when wee haue such a Judge God strengthen vs and giue vs victorie of our selues But why Frailtie standest thou yet so mute Beléeuest thou not all this If thou dost yet hang in the bryers of thy vnreformed passions adde hereunto some further proofe of passed practise and experience let that as mightie to perswade confirme and comfort thée to this vertue if it be the Lordes will The Israelites in AEgypt oppressed and harmed could not with right counternaile might but as patiently and méekely as God made them able abid it and cried vnto the Lord and what folowed The Lorde heard them Moses was sent they were deliuered and Pharaoh with all his host drowned in the sea Sée with your own eies the reward of méekenesse Dauid oppressed by Saul his father in lawe whom at home and abroade hee truely serued and honored sought no reuenge but euen refused it when it laie before him and with all méekenesse mildnesse and patience committed it to the Lorde and Saul had his punishment Dauid the kingdome Iacob being threatned destruction by his brother conceiued not by and by the like towardes him againe but leaueth his countrie and fathers house putteth vp the wrong possesseth his spirit in patience and meeknesse and what insued The Lorde was with him both daie and night the Angels of heauen are his seruantes the Lord giueth him wiues and wealth comfort strength euerie where and Esau liueth to die for euer as the fatted oxe is prepared for the slaughter Ioseph horribly slaundered for his faithful seruice bare his grieuous crosse méekely and honour is his ende euen great and rare honour O harts of ours then where are they What a God serue we whose mercie vppon méekenesse hath thus shewed it selfe beside in numbers moe Shall it not mooue vs Shall it not pierce vs Nay shall it not change vs God forbid wée shoulde be senselesse and therefore you sée Frailtie what must be done and what soueraigne helpe the Lorde laieth downe for your infirmitie be your occasion publike or priuate at home or abroad with manie or few affections certainely must be brideled and euen fought withall till they yéeld and become more quiet otherwise we run vpon our ruine both in heauen and earth For the one thus as you sée is prooued and truly the other is as true For what gouernment are they worthy that wil not gouerne as they possibly can themselues well What trueth can they know that can not abide to heare indifferently both parties No euery man shal frame him selfe to their humours till his turne be serued and truth shall neuer dare to appeare before them What daunger can be preuented or what guilefull guest cā be discouered when heate doth thunder out threates ere the time serue to take knowledge of the matter The enimie is armed the friend is discouraged and iudge your selfe then howe strength is impaired What seruant if God rule not in him mightily will truly serue where comfortable countenance either giueth not hope of conuenient rewarde or at least presently accepteth what is done in fauour What one that hath anie gifts friends or abilitie will euer abide with a louing and true hart where reproches and discomforts are his daily death No no it will neuer be nor it cannot be Well may a worldlie minde in regard of passed time and charge make men rubbe out and carie coales till they can do better or may get a cheate but the heart being alienated and the true faithfull kinde affection that is aboue golde worne away with oftē rebukes which being not digested send vp at times as tokens of their remaining a bitter tast all is but hollowe all is but in regarde of themselues and if time shoulde serue to néede them God knowes howe their snubbed harts would call their snubbes to remembraunce whereas méekenesse gentlenesse comfort and countenaunce maketh a seruant true in his dealings painefull willing constant in his place and readie euen to die in the seruice of them whose louing vsage hath pierced his soule with a permanēt affection if he be of any good nature and if he be not the same vertue of méekenesse watcheth loketh heareth and considereth all things wisely not bewraying himselfe till he haue found indéede a hollow seruant and then wéedeth out iustly so ill a member Therefore I saie againe whatsoeuer your occasiōs be of disorder in your affections be they at home or abroade truely Frailtie fight with your selfe and neuer suffer your infirmitie to preuaile For God requires it and euen worldlie wisedome requires it and the verie hardest things are made easie by some
vse Nowe you haue a God to helpe you beside vse who with his blessed mouth hath promised help and with his mightie spirit shall assist you if you praie Frailtie Yea but the course of the worlde serueth not for this counsel For I tell you nowe adaies who suffereth a little shall suffer more and who putteth vp one wrong shall put vp 20. Men can not liue nowe and either get or keepe if they be so gentle as you woulde haue them Faith O Frailtie howe are you deceiued And howe still sauour all your spéeches of your nature I pray you tell mée if God would saie to you be méeke and I would confirme thée in this world both with sufficient maintenaunce and continuance in the same be the practises neuer so péeuish against thée would you not beléeue him Frailtie Yes for I knowe he is able to doe it if he saie he will do it and I am not yet so weake to doubt his power Faith Uerie well and I pray you what followeth in this verse of Christ which now we handle Is it not a flatte promise that the méeke shall inherite the earth If you will then stande to your speech and beléeue the Lorde vppon his worde doe it nowe then and euer hereafter for here you see his promise The whole world may rage against vs and yet shal we inherite the earth in dispite of them all if we will be méeke That is we shall both get and kéepe that portion which the Lord thinketh méet for vs will they nill they that doe trouble vs neither euer shal the force of foe further preuaile against vs than shall be good one waie or other for vs. Blessed father of heauē what a promise is this and how contrarie to mans reason and sense yet repeated ouer and ouer in the scripture for further assuraunce as you may sée if you reade but that one psalm the 37. confirmed to vs by Paul who saith he had nothing and yet possessed al things and by the experience of all the godlie that euer was Therefore euen a thousande times marke it Frailtie and laie it vp The worlde pitieth these méeke ones and calleth them Gods fooles but the Lord blesseth them and his blessing maketh wise The worlde iudgeth méekenesse the verie high way to beggerie and yet you heare the Lord euen flatly say they shall inherite the land that haue the same were all the worlde against them Therefore to go no further conclude nowe with your heart Frailtie to vse this remedy of the Lordes laid downe to bridle fraile affections and trust his worde Certaine now you sée it is for the Lord hath said it Blessed are the meeke And euen by that holde that I for my parte haue taken of this promise I pronounce vnto you againe that the very day and houre of your birth you may blesse if the Lorde giue you victory ouer your affections and make you méeke and so I leaue you to his mercie The fourth temptation arising of want of iustice in our causes c. Frailtie I Cannot denie but your perswasions are vpon true warrant they ought greatly to mooue yet me thinke you doe not fullie marke my case For if I sought anie thing either at home in my house of my familie or abroade in the worlde of others which were not bothe meete for a Christian to demaunde and in trueth mine owne flat right I could see mine anger to be faultie patiently learne to put vp the matter I trust in time But I tell you Faith I doe not so I seeke nothing but as I haue saide mine owne due what I ought to haue and what I truely pay for and therefore I tell you in this case my choler hath more warrant than you well marke For it woulde touch anie bodie to loose his right And a man were better out of this worlde than to bee robbed thus of iustice and lawfull fauour as I am It makes mee wearie of my life and I tell you I feele it stirre within mee euen to strike handes with the wicked and to doe as men may like me that I may be quiet Faith Softlie Frailtie softlie your tongue tumbleth too fast and your nature I tell you plaine breaketh out too much Shall I loose my labor with you and preuaile nothing with either spéech or good will Are you not ashamed with this affirmation that if you sought anie thing vnlawefull you could beare in méekenesse the deniall Why no thankes to you Thus could a Turke or Heathen doe and almost the Diuell common reason woulde make them But I tell you except your méekenesse excéede this you shall neuer be saued For the scripture is plaine there is no praise to bee patient when a man deserues of mā his paine but if when we doe well wee suffer wrong and yet be méeke patient this is acceptable to God saieth the Apostle And euen in your verie case of sutes and demaundes that are but right if iustice be not had yet must this vertue of méekenesse remaine in vs as may euidentlie appeare in the verie next verse of Matthewe For there the Lord knowing the nature of fraile flesh how it would startle and storme at this matter and be tempted by it to forsake his trueth as it were of purpose hitteth your obiection on the mouth with his hande and biddeth it stande backe as not worthie to appeare and be hearde For Blessed saith he are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall bee satisfied That is blessed are they that notwithstanding they so moderate their desires as neuer they seeke or wish but what is iust and right and their owne due debt yet as hungrie and thirstie liue in patience cannot be satisfied with recept of iustice for their owne Blessed I say are these and they shalbe satisfied Where you sée euē with both your eyes except you wil winke y e euen in our owne right we must want right somtimes in this world yet must be méeke and godly and faithful stil And in the ende we shalbe satisfied either of man or God or both as surelie as wee liue Therefore Frailtie if it bee possible cease to be Frailtie and gouerne affections by these swéete promises of eternall trueth No want of iustice no wrongfull oppression no crosse and vnconscionable dealing of men must make vs fall out with our God or strike handes with the wicked God forbid Shall we serue God no longer than hee will rule his wisedome by our wisedome and serue our desires fitly But wordes bee but wordes and yet I tell you these wordes are true reason Notwithstanding consider you for your confirmation what godly men in the scriptures haue euer done and if God will haue mercie vpon you reform your nature to their alowed course I pray you if a man serue at the altar is it not reason that he liue of the altar that is if a man spende himselfe his bodie his minde his goods
kingdome diuided in it selfe can neuer stande And that other also of the Poet. By concorde small to muche is brought And discorde great thinges brings to nought Upon al which then gather this conclusiō that if this great vertue of peace and loue be to the Lorde himselfe so acceptable and to all estates in the world so profitable must it not néedes be in it selfe howsoeuer the worlde accepteth it a most singular thing and a most deserued praise to a man to be a peace-maker amongest men Certainelie it must But we neede not to gather it by conclusion For the Lorde Christ himselfe hath saide it in the same 5. of Matthewe as preparing strength before hande for this verie same temptation that nowe you féele That blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God And neuer as I haue nowe often saide doeth he set a blessing vppon the heade of anie thing but the same in it nature and before his maiestie is a worthie thing Wherefore this place shoulde bee to you euen a thousande argumentes to confirme your obedience in so Christian a duetie as peacemaking is and a thousande spurres to pricke you dailie to it when opportunitie is offered and occasion giuen to the same For Frailtie what can you resolue this speach of Christ into if you marke it wel but into this sense As if he should haue saide to his disciples in this order I knowe the manifolde discomfortes that shall bee giuen to all men and especiallie to you ministers in that duetie of peace-making which yet both belongeth to al men and especially to your calling notwithstanding euer to indeuour so farre as power shall serue And therefore least hereafter when it shall so fall out either you or anie other should be tempted through mens vnthankefulnesse to the giuing ouer of that so thrise néedeful a thing I forewarne you here before hande and euen giue you in charge as I am your Lorde and maister that you neuer regarde cleaue and sticke in the acceptaunce or thankefulnesse of men for your paines and trauell in this matter For if you doe you shall be discouraged But euer looke you vppe to heauen what is there thought of it and to the better sort of the worlde also whome the Lorde hath giuen eyes to discerne good things with al. And whatsoeuer you finde at mens handes for so godlie a labour you shall well knowe it finde it and féele it that with the Lorde in heauen blessed for euer shall bee the peacemakers and both of him and his true children heere in earth that knowe what is what they shall be counted taken and acknowledged for the sonnes of almightie God that shall liue with their Father for euermore Which is inough Frailtie if there be either touch or tast or anie féeling in the worlde in vs to staie vs for euer in this dutie be the peruersenesse of men neuer so much For what can we desire more than to haue our doinges accepted of the Lorde and our selues assured of euerlasting rewarde at his handes for men Let men be mad and mad againe let their crooked affections worke and writhe them whither they can and euen all vnthankefull spéeches burst from them against vs for our good-will that may be imagined my God is pleased shoulde a Christian heart thinke with my indeuour and his acceptaunce is my satisfaction his content is my rest and a sufficient requitall of all my paines Otherwise Frailtie I pray you euen earnestlie consider it What loue of God is that in vs that the loue of man driueth out of vs what care to please him is that that mens displeasure quencheth Fie fie it is too grosse and ten thousand wonders may it be that euer anie of vs can sléepe with this imagination that wee loue God aboue all and yet in such thinges as by name are commaunded and by promises commended to vs wholie guide our obedience according to mens acceptance or not acceptance liking or misliking Wherefore on still Frailtie with this dutie and indeuor to reconcile disagréeing mindes in the name of God and were the bitter gaule the spitefull péeuishnesse and all the vnthankfulnesse of the Diuell and his whole hoast in euerie man and woman you deale withall yet haue you comfort inough if either the Lords acceptance can content you or your owne promised rewarde and blessing please you or good accompt to bée one that God hath chosen for his childe with the better sort of the worlde comfort you Nowe by the way of a little digression in hope I doe not wearie you I would also wish you a little to consider that if this peace and agréement amongest neighbours in towne or countrie be such and so swéet in the sense of the Lorde as that euen the preseruers of it and restorers when it is broken are so heartily blessed and accompted for it the sonnes of God must it not néedes followe that those thinges likewise are in high accompt before his maiestie which being in men and women doe most mightilie maintaine this blessed vertue in all and euerie societis vnder heauen Surely it must néedes followe And what are they Manie and diuerse are they if one should make a curious recitall but for my part when I marke the course of thinges and the causes of good agréement in anie place I thinke but euen especiallie of these thrée First a patient and méeke nature in our selues able to beare and tolerate something without mounting into the house top immediatly and flashing out all on fire by and by vppon the sight or hearing of it Secondly a wel iudging heart of others till wée be certaine of the contrarie And lastly a good tongue Must not I say if peace be so pleasing to the Lorde these things also be pretious in his eies which all the worlde knoweth to be nourishing nurses of the same wheresoeuer they are If peace-making pull a blessing vppon vs as the Lorde liueth these so great preseruers of peace shal haue a happy reward And if this be true then on the other side againe the contrarie vices for their contrarie effect must néeds be as loathsome hatefull and accursed Namely an impatient hastie fierce frowarde furious nature y e is as short as mosse that hath neuer fought withall and foiled anie affection but cleauing still in pure naturalles is vnregenerated and euer casteth out the sauour of old Adam vpon euerie occasion be it but a trifle Secondly a suspicious misdéeming mind of euerie bodie that they say thus of vs worke this against vs or at least thinke thus of vs when in trueth it is nothing so O poison of peace in anie kingdome countrie towne house or person liuing in the worlde this misdéeming minde And to a mans selfe there is no more twitching tormēt vnder the son For it is euen a worme that is euer gnawing and euer biting and can neuer be contented Lastly an euill tongue a peaceles tongue that can neuer be
quiet from prittle prattle from scanning this neighbours wealth that neighbours wit this mans doings and that mans sayings and from coursing euen the whole country ouer til al men haue béene within the spéech of our tongues drawen out of vs by the power peraduenture of a pot too much or such a like influence Must not these things I say and the owners of them be accursed as sure as they liue if peace and loue and good agréement amongst men be of the Lorde blessed They must they must Frailtie For all the world knoweth the venome of these things in anie towne and their mightie working against vnitie and therfore I praie you and I praie you heartily consider of it and cast euen a long looke vppon them such an one as we doe when we would marke a thing indéede and beare it away And I doubt not but God shall giue you strength against your temptation There is no one thing so great a nurse of two of them namely of a misdéeming mind a pratling tongue as idlenes is when a man hath nothing to doe and to applie himselfe vnto but to sitte on a bulke in the stréete or bench in a tauerne or an ale house and to wet his tongue with drinke and drie it with talking or when a woman hath no setled gouernment of her selfe in house but is in the number of those that the Apostle Paul speaketh of which beeing idle learne to goe about from house to house Yea they are not onely idle but also pratlers and busie bodies speaking things which are not comelie Therfore whosoeuer wil be a preseruer of peace he must be an enimie to these curses assuredly and heare more with two eares than he speaketh with one tongue But I weary you with this digressioÌ„ which is longer than I meant and therefore I cut it off againe and againe requiring of you that you neuer hang vpon the accompt of men in anie thing that euer you goe about béeing commaunded by the expresse worde of God but fullie suffice your selfe with the acceptance of God and that which you haue here an assuraÌ„ce of if you be a peacemaker Blessed shall you be and euer accompted both with God and his true children the son of God And if this wil not coÌ„tent you quicken you strengthen and stay you in this vertue but that worldlie ingratitude shall quench you and drawe you to such extremitie as you spake of certainely Frailtie you deceiue your selfe there is no true godlinesse in you but euen your name is too gentle for your nature you are become plaine infidelitie But I hope the best and performe you no lesse if you regarde your owne comfort Sufficient is this yet once againe if you be the Lords Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God The eight Temptation Frailtie ONce more woulde I trouble you Faith if I might before we end it is in this I feare my nature if persecution shoulde arise for religion And what shoulde I doe to obtaine strength Faith There are manie treatises of this point godlie and comfortable wherevnto for larger discourse I referre you and wish you to peruse them For mine owne part whensoeuer I thinke of this matter these and such other considerations séeme most swéet vnto me as yet Further trial shal giue further assault but God will be euer good to Israel First it is ratified decréede and established by the Lorde our God that through manie tribulations wée must enter into the kingdome of heauen And therefore since it must be so so be it in the name of God be it vnto vs as it pleaseth him necessarie things are to be borne necessarily and with chéere For in vaine doe we grudge to doe what wée must néedes doe or grieue to beare what we must néedes beare Heathens and Pagans haue made a comfort of necessitie and shoulde Christians in better cause bewray more weakenesse No God forbid But let it euer be our spéech rather than theirs in such matters as our God sendeth and laieth vppon vs Ferenda quaecunque sunt They are welcome what soeuer they be Secondly this decrée course that the Lord hath laid down for his children thus to kéepe procéedeth not of anger and displeasure or of a minde delighting in our woe and séeking to punish vs but of great loue and most fatherly affection toward vs and in déede wonderfully worketh our better being and therefore tenns thousand times welcome shoulde this good will of his be to vs and very farre from shaking vs from the true profession of his name and trueth For his affection we heare his owne mouth speake it that whome he loueth he rebuketh and chasteneth many a time repeating the same that we might remember it And for the other we sée it and knowe it by the proofe of euery daies experience For what maketh vs sée the gaule of Sathans heart towarde vs and euen our euerlasting ouerthrowe sworne of him by his diuelhood if by anie meanes hée can worke it to the ende we may perfectly hate so perfect a foe and yet so â—â—â—ring a friend The crosse What rowseth vs out of dull securitie and colde conceit of our owne wantes or the necessitie of Gods protection and succour and maketh not only our tongues to speake but the fire to kindle and burne within vs and so our prayers to haue spirite and power before the Lorde The Crosse What killeth this intemperancie of our affections and this blustring impaciencie of our natures and maketh vs méeke milde humble gentle and like lambes not lyons appointed to the slaughter The crosse What worketh the decaie euen of the whole olde Adam in vs with all his lustes concupiscence and venome and daily raiseth vp as a meanes the newe man with al his swéete motions heauenly and reformed actions The Crosse What maketh vs spitte in the face of this flattering worlde whose loue causeth losse both of body and soule in the worlde to come and to be content to part with her paps and to bid al her pleasures adue The crosse Lastly what maketh vs teare our bellies from the earth whereto they cleaue so fast and lift vp our heades to heauen long for the life that lasteth and desire heartily to be clothed with our house which is froÌ„ aboue The crosse Wherfore then since it is decréed and that in loue to our so great good that all which will liue godlie in Jesus Christ must suffer persecution what cause haue we would the Lorde voutsafe vs eyes with the crosse to be discouraged and driuen from the Lorde Thirdly it neuer hapneth to vs by fortune and chance or by ignoraunce in our God or inabilitie to let it if it pleased him but by his knowledge by his will and by his hande and he is our father bounde vnto vs in league and couenant of loue that of his part shall neuer be broken while wee hang of him The mother may forget
y e childe that is her flesh before he can forget vs and aswell can a man suffer the apple of his eye to be pricked as he vs to be hurt if we cleaue to him then iudge if his crosse shoulde euer dismaie vs. Fourthly it is no strange thing or vnhearde of or vnséene before that befalleth to vs when we are persecuted but such as all our brethren haue tasted founde and felt before vs and why then should we faint when we drinke but of the same cuppe that the déerest saintes and soules nowe blessed with the Lorde haue begunne to vs in Cast your eyes about sée the course of times although I knowe you knowe it well ynough Beganne not Abell vnto vs in this cup and course assoone as euer the Lord bewrayed his loue vnto him before his brother Followed not the Patriarkes and Prophetes men and women elde and young in their times and measures euen till Christ came Then was it not the cuppe that his owne selfe beganne to his children in and the baptisme wherewith he was baptized Followed not his disciples sent out into the world as shéepe amongst wolues whipped and beaten checked and snubbed imprisoned and cheyned c. Followed not againe after them those thousandes of his children vnder the primitiue persecution some scalded some burned some broyled some hanged some headed some throwne down from the rocks vpon stakes some stabbed in with forkes some racked and torne in péeces their tongues cut out their eyes bored out their fleshe twitched off with pinsons womens brestes seared off with hoat yrons pricked vnder the nayles with néedles and a thousande waies tormented Yea was it not euer true with the godly In hoc vocati estis For this ende were yee called And good Lorde then why should not a common case be a cōmon comfort Why should any man or woman that loueth God séeke or wishe a priuiledge aboue all the children of God that euer were and euen aboue the sonne of God himselfe Christ Jesus Is it not honor ynough mercy ynough and fauour ynough to be dealt withall as they were Therefore the communitie of it to vs with all our brethren and sisters and euen with our eldest brother Christ Jesus should stay our hearts whensoeuer it pleaseth the Lord to sende it Fiftly the cause being not ours but the Lorde our Gods and good should also confirme vs. The short time that it can indure were it suppose as long as we liue should comfort vs. For our life is but a flower as grasse as smoke as a bubble of the water and as the vainest fickle fading thing that you can imagine Againe that passed promise from the Lorde of life and trueth sealed with the bloud of his owne sonne vnto vs the swéetenesse whereof all the tongues of men and Angels can neuer expresse That hee will neuer lay more vppon vs than hee will make vs able to beare should be like a thousande staies rounde about vs to houlde vs vp The promises of peace comfort and quiet for euermore aboue measure and concept of man in heauen if we continue faithfull to the end should hould vs vp That sentence passed in the Lords court of bastardie and consequently of depriuation of all inheritance if we be without correction should hould vs vp And what should I goe any further The examples of our brethren of al rallings of all ages men and women that haue constantly caried their crosse and neuer deliuered it vp till they deliuered soule and all to their God should hould vs vp Wherefore Frailtie euen as Iudas the Machabee could incourage his men not to feare the multitude of their enemies neither to be afraid of their assault but to remember howe their fathers were deliuered in the redde sea when Pharaoh pursued after them so say I to you and to my selfe let vs neuer feare affliction nor the euill day for our momentanie crosse causeth an euerlasting weight of glorie But let vs remember the firme faith of our fathers of our mothers of our brethren and friendes let vs looke vpon their paciencie vppon their constancie their hope beséech the liuing God we may followe their good steppes and staie in strength vppon his mercy whatsoeuer he sendeth vs knowing it as we know we liue that though our braines cleaue to the wales though our bones be strowed in the stréetes and our bloud runne downe euerie chanell yet shall we rise againe restored by the power of our God be gathered into his barne as his pure wheate our bloud reuenged we crowned and our tongues sounde the praise of him that sitteth vpon the throne with maiestie and honour aboue all concept of anie earthly heart Frailtie O but Faith the worlde will giue such a spitefull censure of a man or womans life religion honestie wisedome and such like as that it is euen a hell to heare them when the Lorde doth exercise vs. For it was euer and I thinke euer will be the concept of flesh and bloude that a good man and woman truely religious truely honest and sufficiently wise cannot bee so plagued as they tearme it of God at anie time and therefore the crosse must needes testifie to the worlde a want in all these Faith It is most certaine and daily found what you say yet is there nothing vnder heauen more absurde than that opinion For loued not God Abell Abraham Isaak and Iacob loued he not his Prophets loued he not his owne sonne and all that followed his steppes to this day Were none of them of a true religion of an honest life and wise ynough to take that course in the worlde that God allowed Yet all of them plagued he as they call it And neuer any further humbled in this world than Christ himselfe and therefore prosperitie or aduersitie may not be taken for signes euer of fauour or displeasure But the worst man most quiet often in this worlde and most honored loued promoted and renowned his deserued torment being deferred to an other day and the truest christian most troubled tossed reiected and humbled his comfort and rewarde remaining for him in an other worlde But beside all this plaine demonstration of a tried trueth vse with your selfe Frailtie to oppose against that concept of the worlde the sentence of the Lorde our God next following in the fifth of Matthewe after those that nowe haue béene considered of Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen And thinke with your selfe as I haue nowe often sayde that if our God set a blessing vpon it what skilleth it what the whole worlde and ten thousande worldes moe if they were extant doth iudge Shall the voice of man be the guide of our course and the line of our life Shall mans iudgement or Gods iudgement stande in the later day O Frailtie we may not hang vppon so broken a réede as flesh and fleshlie wit is Wee may not be lifted vp with
windowes of heauen and powre his mercies out vpon your La. the Lorde confirme you in all good workes giue you a true sight of this vaine world make your heart shake at his iudgementes melt with a fruitefull feeling of grace assured to holie life and the Lord to profite make you thinke you euer heare that voice ARISE YOV DEADE AND COME VNTO IVDGEMENT and yet in faith to saie with cheerefull heart COME LORDE IESVS COME QVICKLIE So be it London this first of December 1583. Your Honors most humble bounden to death Geruase Babington A Conference betwixt mans Frailtie and Faith Frailtie O Wicked worlde and wretched state I stand in O heauy hart sorowing soule how should I comfort you I haue it not I see it not I feele it not what any way might ioie mee and howe then can I giue it you The contrary I see in fullest weight and measure and wo is me ten thousand times that euer I sawe this light yea let the day euen perish wherin I was borne and the night when it was saide there is a manchilde conceiued Let that daie be darknesse let not God regard it from aboue neither let the light shine vppon it But let darkenesse and the shadow of death staine it let the cloud remaine vpon it and let them make it fearefull as a bitter day let darkenesse possesse that night let it not be ioined vnto the dayes of the yeare nor let it come into the accounts of the moneths Yea desolate be that night and let no ioy be in it Let the stars of that twilight be dimme through darkenesse of it let it looke for light but haue none neither let it see y e dawning of the daie because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe nor hid sorrowe from my eies Why died I not in the birth or why died I not when I came out of the wombe Why did the knees preuent me and why did I sucke the brests For so shoulde I nowe haue lien and beene quiet I should haue slept then and beene at rest Or why againe was I not hid as an vntimely birth either as infants which haue not seene the light Woe is me I liue woe is mee I doe not die and wo I feare much more when ended is my course Faith Why Frailtie what in the name of God meaneth this fearful impatiencie or what case can there be in the life of man and woman so vncomfortable as that in regard thereof they should thus cris out Open your selfe and conceale not your griefe for the verie speaking of it shall giue some measure of ease Frailtie Alas I knowe not almost howe to doe it For my conceites doe so oppresse me and euer as I thinke of one miserie still the remembraunce of an other thrusteth it selfe so into my minde and at last the heape appeares so huge as all amazed I faint vnder the beholding of them and my cogitations are so distracted as it is not possible for me to make an orderly rehearsall of my woe Yet since I haue met with you I wil performe it as I can committing my selfe to that mercie that hath no measure and to your selfe as an instrument to applie his comfortes to me begging it euen with teares tenne thousand times at your handes I consider then that I am created heere in this worlde a reasonable creature consisting of bodie and soule both subiect to dreadfull and endlesse woe if I finde not mercie with the Lorde which I confesse vnto you I comfortablie cannot assure my self of as yet bicause the hand of God me thinke more heauily presseth me diuers waies than I imagin it would do if he loued me Faith And wherein I praie you doe you thinke you are pressed ouer heauily Pouertie the first temptation Frailtie ALas in manie things and yet God laie not my pleading with him to my charge To begin with some thing I must needes confesse vnto you that my lowe estate in the world is a maruellous temptation to me manie a time For God knowes I am poore and euen verie poore notwithstanding all my paines carke and care which is not a little My charge also is great for such an one as I am and their want as good reason bindeth is my continuall woe Yet if this were all me thinke I could wrastle with it and by Gods helpe get the victorie but these companions of pouertie are they that sting me so sore to wit disdaine and contempt both of me and mine of my doinges sayinges or any thing that proceedeth from me and that reiection which is made of me out of all meetings and companies those whisperinges that I heare reproches that I carrie euen at their handes that I little thought would haue done it and that scornefull pitying of me which often appeareth with such like For in deede if euer anie found it I finde it true that by wise Syrac was saide so long agoe There is euen as much peace betwixt the riche and the poore as betwixt Hyena and the dogge But looke howe the wilde Asse is the Lions pray so are the poore meate for the riche And looke howe the proude hate humilitie so doe the rich abhorre the poore If a rich man fall his friendes set him vp againe but when the poore falleth his friendes driue him away If a rich man offende he hath many helpers hee speaketh proude wordes and yet men iustifie him but if a poore man faile they rebuke him and though he speake wisely yet can hee haue no place When the riche man speaketh euerie man holdeth his tongue and looke what he sayeth they praise it to the clouds but if the poore man speake they say What felowe is this And if he doe amisse they will destroy him These these companions of my pouertie are the thinges that euen cut my heart a sunder and wil I nill I it breaketh euen vpon mee by force as it were to thinke that if the lord loue a man hee should neuer suffer him for want of worldly trash so despitefully to be intreated in this worlde and so generally This is but one thing that troubleth me besides which I haue manie moe but helpe me if you can ere I go anie further Faith Nay goe on vtter your gréefe fullie and then your minde wilbe the fitter to heare a great deale For otherwise you will be musing of the rest when I shall he speaking to you for your ease in this Frailtie An other verie daungerous torment then I must needes confesse is that continuall vncomfortablenesse which is still in me by reason of diuerse thinges as by a weightie and stinging sense of mine owne sinnes by sight of other mens loose course and grieuous dishonouring of God in euerie place giuing thēselues to flatterie dissembling and all manner of holowe dealing with God and man by meditation of the fierce wrath of God and most dreadfull iudgementes which assuredly hang ouer vs for these thinges