knowledge wherein who so walketh he shall haue roome enough and when he runneth he shall not stumble or fall 6 In this waie once were placed our great progenitors Adam and Eue if they could haue béene content but they for sooth so busie were they and inquisitiue after another waie which the diuell put into their heads forsooke the first waie which was the safe-waie and tooke a second waie which was the waie of death wherevnto they were persuaded by Sathans subtill suggestion and ouercome at length by his malignitie and hellish vndermining tasted of the trée of life wherevpon did growe the fruite which they were bidden not so hardie of their hearts so much as once to taste Ah fooles void of wisdome and destitute of grace why did you so fie vpon your follie which hath purchased immortall shame Were you placed in the waie of perfection in the waie of plentifulnes in the waie of felicitie in the waie of blessednes in the Lords owne waie and yet would be better but sée the iudgement of God the earth by this meanes became accursed and all the ofspring of man subiect vnto death 7 There haue béene that haue walked in this waie of the Lord some though in number not manie whose names for perpetuall memorie are recorded in Scripture Among these were Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Iacob oMses Aaron Phinees Iosue Caleb Samuell Nathan Dauid Salomon Elias Elizeus Ezechiell Isaias and diuers other whome by name to rehearse were labour necessarie I confesse but for tediousnes That these men walked not in the waie of the Lord who dare be so bold as to affirme séeing the singer of the holie Ghost hath registred the same in the euerlasting courtrolles of the holie Scripture the vnchangeable word of the eternall God whereof not so much as one iot or tittle shall passe when all things else shall be consumed and vtterlie come to naught 8 Thinke you that this waie of the Lord is anie other thing than the rich treasure hid in the field which when a man hath found he departeth for ioie and selleth all that he hath for readie monie to purchase that field Or is not the waie of the Lord that rich and pretious pearle which liked a Merchantman so well that he was content to make an exchange of all that he was worth for the same Or is not the waie of the Lord that pure and fine siluer seauen times tried in the fire and purged from all kinde of drosse so that nothing is comparable therevnto Or is not the waie of the Lord that same rich iewell house wherein are laide vp for all such as walke therein gifts of excéeding great valuation yea so excellent as that they cannot sufficientlie be commended I thinke yes and to warrant me herein I haue the expresse word of God 9 We reade in the Gospell that Iesus Christ walking vpon the sea was supposed and thought of his disciples to be a spirit for the resolution whereof Peter among the rest required to come vnto him vpon the water which being granted he lept out of the ship and walked on the waues toward Iesus but a mightie winde arising Peter was afraide and began to sinke Why was this euen because he wanted the walking-staffe which euerie one that would go in the waie of the Lord ought to hold in their hand and that is faith For had not Christ stretched out his hand and supported him he had perished had he had a thousand liues 10 Christ passing vpon a time betwéene Samaria and Galile opened the waie of his father vnto ten lepers Among these ten there was one Samaritane who onlie and alone notwithstanding the benefit which they receiued was generall had this walking staffe whereby he kept his féete right in the way of the Lord. For the other nine as soone as they were cured forgat themselues and returned not to giue thankes vnto him by whose helpe they were healed Such lepers there are among vs not a few who from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote haue no sound place but all intected lothsome and filthie that is ouergrowne with sinne in so much that there is no part of their soule but it is attainted If among this great and infinite number one Samaritane might be found some signe it were that the graces of God are not powred vpon vs in waste neither his benefites ill bestowed 11 But it is so far vnlike that anie of vs should be a Samaritane that we shew and proue our selues rather to be Gadarens vpon whome the common prouerbe is iustlie verefied that it is no casting of pearles before swine It is now twentie and odde yeares since we haue had among vs the iewell of Gods word than the which nothing is more pretious vnto the which anie thing compared appeareth méere mucke by the which anie thing tried is found lighter than vanitie This word notwithstanding it be the trumpet whereby we are called into the waie of the Lord and continuallie moued to treade the footepath to felicitie is contemned neglected and despised the preachers of the same derided the prophaners thereof preferred the professers of it abused the suppressers thereof mainteined so that it is no maruell though the waie of the Lord be so little naie nothing at all in comparison frequented or vsed séeing the ordinarie meanes whereby we are called and lead therevnto is so careleslie reiected 12 Among manie that were healed of their infirmities deliuered of diuels and restored to their right wits we reade of thrée women namelie Marie Magdalen Ioanna and Susanna these saith the holie text ministred vnto Christ of their substance thereby acknowledging the benefits which they had receiued and declaring in like maner by their perceiuerance and knowledge of God that they were in the waie of the Lord. Is it not a shame that women which are the weaker vessels should put vs in minde what we ought to do That which they receiued was temporall it was corporall it was transitorie and yet they shewed themselues thankefull we haue had at Gods hands the riches of his truth which are spirituall and euerlasting subiect to no change vnder no alteration yet we haue not the grace to glorifie and praise God as we ought for the same naie rather we loath the truth we surfet of it such fulnes we haue thereof we are wearie of hearing it taught we prefer vanities yea diuelish vanities before it whereby we bewraie our hellish inclination and manifestlie proue how far wide we wander out of the Lords waie and leaue the footepath to fclicitie we knowe not in what corner 13 To passe through this waie we must be content to carrie the crosse euen the crosse of Christ I meane afflictions and persecutions for his holie name sake otherwise we shall not bée thought woorthie followers of him We must renoūce our selues we must forsake friends and kindred we must cast awaie wicked mammon we must refuse no tribulation no
esteemed otherwise we shall seeme to preferre the shell before the kernell the barke before the pith the shadowe before the substance yea most absurdlie we shall refuse wheate for chaffe pure gold for drosse cleere wine for dregs and in conclusion repent our want of grace It were behoofull therefore for vs first and principallie to see to our mind which is chiefest part of our essence and being that the same after some serious studie and contemplation desiring to be refreshed be not fed with fond fansies fables dotages imaginations dreames I cannot tell what idle and vnfruitefull discourses which kindle the affections and set the flesh a gogge but rather with holie exercises and godlie meditations such as are and may be prouided for the purpose to reuiue the spirit and quicken the new man if the partie be gratiouslie affected Thou hast heere therefore presented vnto thine hand good Reader a plant of pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall flowers called by the name of holie Hymnes and spirituall Songs to reade at thy leasure for thy recreation and not so much for thy recreation as for thy profit which I haue put partlie in rythme and partlie in prose for the satisfaction of sundrie Readers desires some beeing addicted to this and some delighted in that kind of writing I would to God it were in me to frame my wit to the will of the well disposed in all points I haue done what I could the Lord knoweth what I would his name be praised for all whose glorie to seeke and set foorth I beseech him giue vs all grace so shall the faithfull reioice and clap their hands but shame shall fall vpon the reprobat force them to hang downe their heads Abraham Fleming A Plant of Pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall Flowres ¶ The first Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition vnto God for the remission of sinnes 2 A description of Gods greatnesse 3 Of his habitation and that he seeth all things A. 1 AS the Sunne is the soule and life of the world so is thy word O God the comfort of my heart Be gratious fauourable vnto me thy seruant that I may be freé from the malice of mine enimies Reward me not according to my deseruings O Lord for I am full of sinne and in me there is no righteousnesse According to thy louing kindnesse therefore O mercifull father blot mine offences out of thy register and pardon me Haue mercie on me O founteine of all mercie cleanse me from the corruption of sinne and wash me with the water of thy word Am not I a reasonable creature indued with knowledge and vnderstanding O Lord to whom should I then come but to theé 2 Men beasts fishes and foules they are the works of thine hands by the vertue of thy word they were created and made From the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same I will continue in the contemplation and view of thy greatnes Lighten the eies of my hart O Lord that they may seé the mightines of thy maiestie in thy creatures Endlesse is thy glorie and thy power is incomprehensible wonderfull art thou in thy iudgments Maruellous things are wrought by thine omnipotent hand day by day the eies of all people are witnesses of thy power 3 In heauen is thy dwelling place from whence thou beholdest the commings in and the goings out of all men Nothing is hidden from thine eies O Lord the brightnesse of thy maiestie can not be absent Giue me grace O God to leade my life in the loue of thy lawe so shall I not miscarrie The second Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 A commemoration or remembrance of the benefites of Christes death and passion 2 A petition for thankefulnesse 3 A confession of Gods greatnesse and almightinesse B. 1 AL people praise the Lord with faithfull heart and voice Be bold to magnifie his name and therein to reioice Remember well the worke which he for vs hath wrought And laud his name accordinglie in word in deed and thought Hell gates he hath shut vp in spite of Sathans power And saued the soules of sinfull men from torments sharpe and sower Most mightie is his arme his greatnesse hath none end From force of foes that vs assault all his he doth defend 2 Lord lighten thou our hearts that we may praise thy power Eternallie which flourisheth and worketh euerie hower 3 Most mightie is thy word thy maiestie surmounts In glorie none so excellent as scriptures cast accounts No Prince nor Potentate may once with thee compare Giue vs thy grace no lesse to learne O Lord with Christian care The third Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A request for assistance against our aduersaries 2 A confession of our vilenesse by reason of sinne 3 A petition for true mortification and regeneration 4 Of the pretiousnesse of mans soule R. 1 ACcording to thine vnmeasurable mercies O God heare my praier and let thine eares be open to the crie of my complaint Be my sauiour and deliuerer from danger and distresse bridle thou the desperatenesse of mine aduersarie that he do me no mischefe Rebuke them O Lord that go about to raise reproches against me chastise them that they may seé wherein they haue offended As for me I will withstand them in their maliciousnesse for I hope thou wilt arme me with the spirit of fortitude and patience Holie one of Israell heare the supplication of me thy seruant and in the time of necessitie assist me 2 A worme and no man I confesse my selfe to be yea more vile and contemptible than anie vnreasonable creature for sinne hath sâ—oong my soule My heart is defiled with a thousand corrupt cogitations yea the thoughts which are hidden in my heart are not so infinite as they are wicked From mine infancie and cradle I haue bene blemished with sinne and as for righteousnes or iustice there is none in mine entrailes Lord I am so ouerwhelmed in sinne and iniquitie that I stand in continuall feare of thy punishment Oh giue me grace to repent Euening and morning I call my sinnes to memorie and they are more in number than the haires of my head yet O Lord be mercifull 3 Make me a new creature by the inspiration of thy sanctifieng spirit and let mine inward man be circumcised with the razour of mortification Increase in me godlie desires and let all carnall concupiscences be quite quenched in me that I may long after nothing but the loue of thy lawe 4 Nothing is more pretious in thy sight O Lord than the soule of man O let not sinne preuaile against it Grant me thy grace euen to the last houre of my life that I may haue in heauen mine inheritance purchased by Christ his death and passion Amen The fourth Flowre called a Spirituall Song conteining 1 A glorifieng of God 2 An exhortation to praise him 3 A repetition of certaine properties in him 4 A protestation or vow of Christian
THE DIAMOND of Deuotion Cut and squared into sixe seuerall points Namelie 1 The Footpath to Felicitie 1 2 A Guide to Godlines 82 3 The Schoole of Skill 181 4 A Swarme of Bees 209 5 A Plant of Pleasure 245 6 A Groue of Graces 283 Full Of manie fruitfull lessons auaileable to the leading of a godlie and reformed life BY ABRAHAM FLEMING Psal. 119. verse 72 127. ¶ The Lawe of thy mouth O Lord is deerer to use than thousands of gold and siluer ¶ I loue thy commandements aboue gold and pretious stones ¶ Printed by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater Noster Rowe being the assigne of William Seres 1581 Cum Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis COMME IE TREVVE TO THE Right Worshipfull Sir GEORGE Carey Knight Knight Marshall of hir Maiesties most Honorable houshold Sonne and heire apparent to the right Honourable Lord HENRIE Lord of Hiâ—â—sdon c. AND To the most vertuous and godlie minded Ladie the Ladie ELIZABETH his wife long life and happie daies NOT VNADVIsedlie Right Worshipfull but vpon singular circumspection did the ancient Greekes call Hercules by the name of Musagetes It is also recorded as a thing memorable that Fuluius Nobilior at the great spoiles of Ambratia preserued harmeles and vndamnified the images of the nine Muses and conueieng them into Hercules Temple kept them there verie carefullie Now right worshipfull vpon what consideration those worthie Seniours did this I scarselie vnderstand vnlesse this might be the reason because they perceiued and sawe that betweene the affaires of learning and the exploites of valiantnes there is a certaine intercourse of dutifulnes and a necessarie kinde of seruice interchangeablie required For they wiselie no doubt foresawe and preciselie noted this as a warranted principle that the liberall sciences stood no lesse in neede of the fauorable patronage of Great men for their supportation and maintenance than the strategemes and noble actes of Great men of the liberall sciences for the reuiuing of their renowme and the continuing of their remembrance For Bookes are dedicated vnto such as be of Worship and Honour that vnder their tutele-ship and protection as vnder the couert of Mineruas shield they might lodge in safetie and be sufficientlie defended against the venemous teeth of malicious mouthes and the commendable vertues and valiant actes of woorthie Gentlemen are registred and sealed vp in the monuments of the Muses that by their incessant vtterance and perpetuall speech they might be exempted and set free from the enuious shot of consuming time Plinie presented his naturall Histories vnto Vespasian Lucane his historicall poeÌ„trie vnto Nero Oppian his golden Booke of fishes vnto Antonine and Iulius Pollux his volume of the names and termes of things vnto Commodus of whome they were so well accepted that they do at this instant and shall for euer heereafter remaine euen to the end of the last generation The example of which aged writers and the vsuall manner of our moderne Polygraphers both strangers-borne home-bread as heeretofore I haue bene induced so presentlie I am persuaded to folowe for two alowable reasons First because the hypothesis or argument of this Booke is generallie appliable to euerie priuate person and will I hope requite the trauell of the vnderstanding Reader with reasonable profit and aduantage Secondlie for that your Worship hath the common name and report to be indued with sundrie singular gifts of minde as vtterance of foraigne tongues varietie of knowledge in the Artes of greatest difficultie iudgement in affaires of policie beside the gifts of bodie and fortune which if I might deseruedlie decipher though I spake the truth yet should I incurre suspicion of Gnatonisme time would first faile me before I could make an end But aboue all which is the foundation of my hope and confidence for that your Worship is so noblie minded as with rare courtesie to fauour and incline vnto such as professe themselues learned or not professing are so reputed or not reputed appeare so to be by some extrinsecall testimonie exhibited to the open world But desirous to knit vp that breeflie which were it not for the abusing of your Woorship with vanitie of words would be written at large I beseech you fauourablie to accept this my trauell being a mixt treatise partlie theologicall and partlie morall and to vouchsafe it your Woorships protection Which I craue so much the more instantlie because the patronage of such so worshipfull so learned so deuout and studious will be meanes to prefer this booke and to bring it the more in vse and exercise being to speake allegoricallie a Ship of safegard wherein euerie Christian high and lowe rich and poore yong and old may saile through all seas and streights of this troublesome and wicked world without running vpon the rocke of repentance and come at last by a direct current to the port of endles peace and happines euen the kingdome of Heauen whereof the Lord God make you and all your Worships affinitie and consanguinitie partakers for the merits of his Sonne Iesus Christ Amen At your Worships commandement alwaies most dutifull Abraham Fleming THE FOOTEPATH to Felicitie VVhich euerie Christian must walke in before he can come to the land of Canaan BY ABRAHAM FLEMING Psal. 25. 11 12. 11 What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the waie that he shall choose 12 His soule shall dwell at ease and his seede shall inherit the 〈◊〉 Apoc. 22 14. 14 Blessed are they that do Gods commandements that their right may be in the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the Citie AT LONDON Printed by Henrie Denham c. 1581 A Preface to the true Christian Reader THere is some reason why this first Treatise beareth the name and title of the Footepath to Felicitie although some more captious than cunning pretending notwithstanding a singular secrete knoweledge and iudgement condemne manie Bookes by their outward face being nothing seene in the bowels of the same and vtterlie ignorant to what issue the conueiance of the matter is like to growe But to leaue them in their owne follie albeit they would be counted wise and to touch the name of this present discourse called The Footepath to Felicitie I thinke it not vnnecessarie The present treatise whereof this for fault of a better may be the Preface is named The Footepath to Felicitie and not without speciall reason For to growe in fauour with Princes Potentates and Gouernours of prouinces we see there is a waie after the which diligent inquisition and search must be made and being found it must be walked in with sinceritie and vprightnes of mind Some by this gift some by that ornament either of minde or bodie become gratious and acceptable in the eies of their Lords and maisters in which waie whiles they keepe their feete with integritie and simplenes they are so much the more fauoured by how much their good gifts are well and rightlie vsed and in this
mentall as with welth wisedome strength comlines possessions children knowledge vnderstanding faith honestie credit estimation and such like Consider of this excellent blessing be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie If thou haue a house to hide thy head in lodging fit for thy naturall nightes rest and quietnes cloathing to couer thy shame and nakednes sustenance to preserue thée aliue substance to mainteine thy house and familie Consider of this excellent blessing be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie The sixt Chapter 1 What we ought to do when God punisheth vs with aduersitie 2 Affliction in bodie and conscience with an exhortation to patience 3 Of what behauiour we should be in the alterat ion of our state 4 Considerations for him that is disfranchised either for some offence committed or otherwise 1 MOreouer if thou be punished of the Lord for thy sinne either in thy wife children or anie other thing that thou possessest despaire not therefore neither let diffidence or mistrust ransacke thy soule and drowne thée in disquietnes Consider of this fatherlie chastisement be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 2 If thou be afflicted in thine owne bodie and pricked in conscience at the horrour of thy sinne cal to God for comfort beséech him to mitigate and asswage thine anguish and to set thée at libertie Let this be thy meditation dailie in patience pitch thy pauilion be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 3 If thou wast once rich and now art poore once in plentie now in penurie once a maister now a seruant once a commander now an obeier once fauoured now forsaken once clothed now naked once a harbourer now harbourles once a man now a wretch Consider thy condition God can raise thée vp as he hath throwne thée downe murmur not at his chastisements for he punisheth his children in compassion like a Father and not with rigour like a Tyrant in anie case be thankefull and giue him the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 4 If thou hauing bene sometimes a Citizen art now an alien be not therewithall discontented he can worke thy restitution by whose sufferance thou art fallen into that condition Consider whereof this alteration sprang either from some offence which purchased vnto thée this punishment or from a good cause as the quarell of Christ and his holie gospell the profession whereof hath brought thee into such extremitie O be ioiful and glad in this respect thy banishment is libertie thy heauines is comfort thy bitternes is swéetnes thy shame is fame thy dammage is aduantage thy losse is lucre thy death is life Consider this throughlie faint not vnder the crosse but praie vnto the Lord to arme thée with constancie and patience shewing thy selfe thankefull giuing vnto God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie The seuenth Chapter 1 The dutie of all such as beare office in a Common-wealth principallie towards God and consequentlie towards man 2 Admonitions for fathers of families and housholders concerning domesticall gouernement 3 Lessons for all estates and degrees 4 Exhortations vnto the rich and the poore 5 The peruerse state of the world 6 Of the waie of death and of such as walked therein 7 Of the waie of life and what is to be done of such as would walke in the same 1 FUrthermore if thou bearest office in the Common-wealth and hast autoritie to command by vertue of thy place praie to God to direct thy spirit by his spirit of equitie and iudgement that thy vocation may be so followed and discharged as that by thy sinceritie and vprightnes thou maist become a mirrour to all magistrates and officers Praie instantlie that this may so come to passe it is his speciall blessing be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 2 If thou be a housekéeper and hast hanging on thy hands wife children seruants and a familie first sée that God be sincerelie serued and then thou thy selfe honoured In the morning powre foorth thy praiers vnto God vnfeignedlie beséeching him to guide thée thy whole houshold in his faith feare and loue trulie and vprightlie to followe their functions and callings at their handiworke or other exercise whatsoeuer it be put them in minde of Gods goodnes and instill into their eares wholesome precepts of Christian knowledge At noone tide preparing to dinner laie before them in plaine speach according to their slender capacities the tender care and fatherlie loue of God in prouiding for them such foode as is requisite toward the supportation and maintenance of life wherevpon put them in minde to haue alwaies in their hearts a reguter of Gods care ouer his déere children whose bowels of compassion are so farre extended that he will not sée his people perish through penurie and want of necessarie prouision The like exercise also vse at supper and at euerie ordinarie and extraordinarie refection that as the externall elementarie sustance which entreth in at the mouth and goeth downe the stomach where after it is digested it is dispearsed by iust measure and proportion to the nourishment of all their bodilie members so their minds may be fed fat with the foode of the soule that is with spirituall exercises holy meditations godly thoughts Christian conuersation obedience whatsoeuer else is acceptable in the sight of God When the night approcheth by reason of the declining and shrinking of the Sunne to the westerne angle of the world call together like a good shepheard thy whole familie or flocke and thou among them as a perfect patterne of pietie knéeling downe with humilitie thanke God for the vse of the daie past for the luckie successe of your labours for his louing kindnes in preseruing you from perill and beséech him with integritie and holines of heart to make this night comfortable vnto you to ouershadowe you with the shield of safetie when you are asléepe that you may by no meanes be indangered but as you lie downe so you may rise vp the beloued of the Lord and the adopted children of your heauenlie Father Consider these circumstances and account them all Gods blessings ascribe nothing to thy selfe which art a lumpe of sin but attribute all vnto Gods prouidence which hath wrought all in all be thankefull for it and giue the glorie to his eternall name This is the footepath of faith which leadeth the high waie to heauen 3 To speake of all states and degrées of people generallie and inclusiuelie If thou be King or Quéene noble or vnnoble forren or frée maister or seruant rich or poore acknowledge thy selfe but dust and ashes be not proude in thine owne conceite glorie in nothing vaunt of nothing bragge of nothing remembring the saieng of Paule what hast thou that thou hast not receiued and that of Iob
and guided by them to square and frame the whole course of our life by their rule we shall not onelie not walk in the wais of the wicked to eate with them in hel fire the bread of affliction and to drinke the dregs of torments but we shall tread in the footepath of the godlie at last enter into the Common wealth of Israel the kingdome of heauen which God grant Amen The tenth Chapter 1 Of waies the sundrie kinds 2 Of the way of life opened by authoritie of Scripture 3 A lesson how to be perfect and vpright 4 The safetie of such as walke in the Lords way 5 The benefites flowing from this way 6 The mischiefe folowing the transgression of Adam and Eue. 7 Notable mens names remembred who walked in Gods way and of the eternitie of the word 8 The excellencie of the Lords way set forth by similitudes 9 Peters boldnesse in venturing to tread the Lords way without the staffe of faith 10 Of ten leapers and the thankefull Samaritane 11 That we of England are like to the Gaderens 12 Of Marie Magdalene Ioanna and Susanna and what we may learne of them 13 What we must doe if we meane to walke in the Lords way and of the merchant and the husbandman by way of example 14 Of Nichodemus who sought the way of the Lord by night 15 Of the pretiousnesse of our soules 16 The way of the Lord and the waies of the world are quite contrarie 17 How they differ is proued by things that vtterlie disagree 18 All creatures couet places correspondent to their nature of the Salamander and the Hydra with an application of this doctrine 19 The immortalitie of the soule and a lesson for all Christians to learne 20 A praier or request that it would please God to guide our feete in his way 1 THere is a waie for the birds in the aire a waie for the beasts in the field a waie for the wormes in the earth a waie for the fish in the sea There is a waie for the winde a waie for the raine a waie for the sunne a waie for the moone There is a waie from the East a waie from the West a waie from the North a waie from the South There is a crooked waie a streight waie a rough waie and a plaine waie There is a sandie waie a stonie waie a soft waie and a hard waie There is a waie aboue a waie beneath a waie before a waie behinde a waie on the right hand and a waie on the left There is an open waie a secret waie a darke waie a bright waie There is a waie to hell a waie to heauen a waie to death and a waie to life Of this last waie I meane to open the commoditie and so to make a conclusion 2 The waie to life euerlasting is the waie wherein we all should walke it is the safe waie for the soule to saue it from all annoiances all other waies this onelie excepted are dangerous to enter for they are darke lanes as it were leading to the dungeon of death The excellencie of this way is such as that it cannot be described For it is the way of God euen his owne way established in righteousnesse and perfection And therefore the Prophet verie notablie speaking of this matter hath this worthie sentence My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are my waies your waies saith the Lord. As if he should say your thoughts are vncleane corrupt earthie vile vnpure vnperfect sinfull abominable wicked variable momentanie vncertaine wauering for they are ingendered in your hearts which are nothing else but a sinkehole of sinfulnesse a dunghill of naughtinesse a puddle of filthinesse a lake of vncleannesse and what is worst that is your heart As for your waies they are no better Thus by an antithesis or opposition the Lord teacheth vs what his waies are euen the waies of truth righteousnesse puritie and perfection wherein who soeuer walketh no doubt he is in the high way to heauen and treadeth the footepath to felicitie 3 Abraham being nintie nine yeares old was instructed and taught how to become perfect the Lord appearing vnto him and giuing him his lesson in that behalf I am God all sufficient walke before me that is kéepe thée within the compasse of my paths wander not this way or that way but walke in one way euen my way and be thou vpright There was no meanes either for Abraham or anie other holie man to vse wherby to attaine and come to vprightnesse but onlie the walking in the way of the Lord as we may sée prooued confirmed in this place by Gods owne mouth How preposterouslie therefore they goe to woorke which séeke sinisterlie and indirectlie to recouer perfection and vprightnesse some building vpon traditions of men some vpon custome some vpon ceremonies some vpon Paule some vpon Apollo some vpon Cephas some vpon good woorkes some vpon merits some vpon pardons some vpon indulgences some vpon pilgrimages some vpon professions all which to be but sand Christ the rocke refused a blind man may discerne For is this to walke in the waie of the Lord nothing lesse 4 This waie of the Lord is the waie of beautie peace saith Salomon it is the waie of holinesse saith Esaie it is the waie of streightnesse éeuennesse plainnesse and smoothnesse saie Ose and Ieremie in this waie whosoeuer walketh the moone shall not hurt him by night nor the sunne annoie him by day the pestilence shall not touch him the arrowes of the hunter shall not wound him he shall not stumble nor hit his foot against a stone the Lord will ouershadowe him with the shield of safetie the Lord will be his defence his buckler his speare against all his enimies no lightning from aboue no earthquake beneath no consuming fire on this side no raging sea on that no element no planet finallie no creature shall do him anie harme This honor will the Lord vouchsafe all such as walke in his waie which is the waie of life the high waie to heauen and the footepath to felicitie 5 Dauid oppressed with the crueltie of his enimies and fearing great dangers calleth vnto God for succour His petition consisting of manie partes whereof some concerne himselfe othersome his aduersaries this is one thing which he craueth at the hands of his maker Make thy waie plaine before my face saith that good man Giuing vs to vnderstand that by walking in the waie of the Lord we haue our felicitie fulfilled as by the contrarie the measure of our confusion and cursednes is made vp Yea to walke in the waie of the Lord is the rule to make our crooked waies streight the plainer to make our rugged waies smooth the lanthorne to make our darke waies bright and lightsome according to that saieng of the Prouerbewriter The waie of the righteous shineth as the light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect daie This is the waie of wisdome and
thee the Lord of Lords and the King of kings creating at the beginning ruling all things euermore in heauen and earth according to thy wonderfull wisedome and power and our selues to be thy poore seruants the worke of thy hands and the shéepe of thy pasture subiected to thy Maiestie and depending vpon thy fatherlie prouidence for all things 2 Neuerthelesse séeing thou in thy wisedome annointest Kings and Quéenes appointing them to rule ouer thy people to sit as Lieutenants in thy seate to minister iustice and most of all as Fathers and Nurses to mainteine and cherish thy Church commanding vs not onlie to obey and honour them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good 3 We therefore beséech thée for the great mercies sake and for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospell but especiallie we praie thée to blesse our most gratious Queene and gouernour Elizabeth thine handmaid with all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus and with all temporall blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thy effectuall loue she may more and more finde great increase of vertue and wisedome and strength in Christ Iesus to the faithfull and happie discharge of her dutie that her holinesse and ioie and zeale of thy house may be multiplied and euerlasting 4 And séeing it hath pleased thée of thy singular mercie to giue her this speciall honour first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterward miraculouslie deliuering her out of the hands of her enimies to set a crowne vpon her head and to make her the instrument to aduance thy glorie and Gospell for which she suffered and to bring it out of darkenes into light out of persecution into this great and long peace 5 As we giue thée most hartie thankes for this singular benefite so we beséech thée to make her and vs euermore thankefull for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue her for the continuance of these blessings towards vs with all increase from time to time to thy glorie the benefite of the Church and her infinite peace in Christ Iesus the prince of peace 6 And furthermore we praie thée for her and the estate that such as be enimies of the Gospell and her enimies also for the defence thereof may not despise the peace offered them to repentance but that they may account thy long suffering and her peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfeigned loue to the truth and their mercifull souereigne Otherwise if they still remaine disobedient to the truth rebellious to her highnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of our saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies waxe wearie with looking and their hearts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beséech thee but a blessed and a long reigne to her and peace to Sion for euermore 7 Also deare father so blesse so loue so in thy spirit sanctifie and kéepe her that she may in the spirit of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namelie this her Commonwealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as palme trées in beautie and in strength giuing aide and helpe one to another that in the Church the glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flowe with milke and honie and true peace abound therein as in the triumphant reigne of Debora 8 These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnworthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy Sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing them into the bottome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlie ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lord and beloued of the Lord. 9 Yea Lord that thy graces may abound as the waters of the Sea in the Prince and in the people in the Church and in the Common-wealth from daie to daie till the daie of our translation into thy kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where also we shall inhabite and reigne with thée according to thy promise for euer Graunt these things O mercifull father for thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hand praieng furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to praie Our Father which art in heauen c. The third Branch of Thankesgiuing Generallie deciphering in a pithie and ample meditation Gods great goodnes manifestlie appearing in the diuersitie of the blessings wherwith he hath crowned man Also a praier for grace to be thankefull The contents more particularlie lie open in the sequeale The first Blossome 1 An inuocation or calling vpon God ioined with submission 2 An acknowledgement of Gods manifold blessings and his prouidence 3 A petition for the gratious gift of thankefulnes 4 Testimonies of Gods infinite loue and of the effects of the shining Sunne 5 The sundrie vses of Gods good creatures appointed for mans releefe 6 Ornaments of the minde 7 A request for true knowledge and perceiuerance with the operation of the same 8 Another for thankefulnes 9 What sacrifice God delighteth in 10 A supplication for grace to offer vp the same 1 SEtting before vs O most mercifull louing father the godlie Patriarches the holie Prophets the true Conuerts the constant Martyrs all such as haue loued thy glory far aboue their owne life we prostrate our selues with all submission on of soule and spirit before thy throne of Maiestie humblie beseeching thée for Iesus Christ his sake who is the fulnes of our tore and comfort to bend downe thine eares and to heare the praiers which we powre foorth before thée and for thy sonne sake in whom thou art well pleased grant the request of thy seruants made vnto thée at this present 2 We know most gratious God and louing father yea we cannot but in conscience acknowledge and with tongue confesse that manifold yea innumerable are the gifts which thou hast heaped vpon vs yea so manie are they that we can not with voice vtter neither yet in heart conceiue the greatnes and worthines of them For wheras all other creatures are made framed and fashioned to serue the vse of man and to yéeld themselues obedient and tractable to his commandement and gouernment onelie man representing and bearing thine owne image and likenesse ruleth as a Lord and reigneth as a king ouer all creatures indued with life yea there is nothing within the compasse
way to make her an harlot 87 Be warie how thou viewest the beautie of a woman too narrowlie least thou be taken in her loue and so fall to follie 88 Be chaste in communication and talke for manie times the heart giueth vtterance to the tongue 89 Be carefull to kéepe thée in one place and continue in thy calling if thou intend to be thriftie 90 Be more desirous to saue than to spend least in the time of néede thou haue not to serue thy turne 91 Be a true paimaister of thy hired seruant and let him haue his wages for his worke 92 Be courteous and gentle so shall such as be absent commend thée and they that be present shall reioice in thy companie 93 Be merrie at thy meate and giue God thankes for the same so shalt thou haue alwaies enough 94 Be mindfull of thy dutie to God euerie morning euening magnifie his holie name 95 Be sober and continent among yong women in the presence of thy wife least she burne in gealousie ouer thée 96 Be in thy conuersation humble and gentle and haue a regard to the whole course of thy life 97 Be in thine apparell modest in thy communication honest in thy behauiour sober and in all thy doings discréete 98 Be to the stranger courteous to thy neighbour friendlie to all a wellwiller to none an enimie 99 Be to thy prince trustie and loiall to the magistrate obedient and to thy betters dutifull 100 Be thankefull to God for all his benefites and let his praise be alwaies in thy mouth harlot 16 Be not suertie for a stranger and for him whome thou knowwest not be not handfasted 17 Be not in thy neighbours danger if thou be humble thy selfe and with thy friends intreate thy creditour 18 Be not sluggish but consider the Emmet and by her example learne to be wise 19 Be not slouthfull and idle least pouertie créepe vpon thée and beggerie ouertake thée as a traueller 20 Be not proud of countenance abhorre a lieng tongue and detest hands that shed innocent bloud The seuenth Honicombe yeelding most whoalsome dehortations from vice and vitious life 21 BE not haunted with an hart that is full of wicked imaginations for that is the next waie to mischiese 22 Be not a false witnesse that bringeth lies nor a sower of discord among brethren 23 Be not a companie kéeper with a faire woman least thou be taken and intrapped with her faire lookes 24 Be not familiar with an harlot for she bringeth a man to beggerie but an honest woman is worth gold 25 Be not a tempter of thy neighbours wife to lewdnesse least thou runne in danger of Gods cursse 26 Be not a blasphemer of the Lords name least he be sharplie auenged of thée for thy presumption 27 Be not a reprouer of the scornfull least he owe thée euill will but rebuke a wise man and he will loue thée 28 Be not of the number that saie Stolne waters are swéete and the bread that is priuilie eaten hath a good taste 29 Be not a gatherer of goodes wrongfullie for they profit nothing in the end 30 Be not a stirrer vp of hatred and strife but embrace loue for loue couereth the multitude of sinnes 31 Be not a much babbler for therein is great offence but refraine thy lips so shalt thou be wise 32 Be not double of tongue and a dissembler for the Lord abhorreth the counterfeite hypocrite 33 Be not an extortioner nor an oppresser of the poore for the Lord will take their cause in hand 34 Be not fugitiue and lightfooted from place to place but continue content with thine owne estate 35 Be not gealous ouer thy faire and youthfull wife least thou turne her loue into hate 36 Be not couetous and gréedie of monie for in time both thou and thy wealth shall awaie 37 Be not delicate and nice for that is the propertie of women but auoid all such vanities 38 Be not inquisitiue after things aboue thy knowledge least thou be counted a busie bodie 39 Be not a mainteiner of wrong iudgement least the Lord confound thée in thy wickednesse 40 Be not ouer carefull for thy life least thou fall into mistrust despaire of Gods prouidence The eight Honicombe yeelding most whoalsome dehortations from vice and vitious life 41 BE not a talebearer from care to eare least thou be forsaken of thy friends and made an outcast 42 Be not vniust in buieng and selling let thy balance be euen and thy weights without fault 43 Be not a dissembler nor a discouerer of secrets but faithfull of heart and trustie in counsell 44 Be not a purchaser of thy neighbours house ouer his head for in so doing thou suckest his bloud 45 Be not suertie for a stranger least thou smart for it for he that hateth suertiship is sure 46 Be not a worker of deceiptfull workes but a sower of righteousnesse so shalt thou receiue thy reward 47 Be not corrupt in heart for such doth the Lord abhorre but in such as are of an vndefiled conuersation he hath pleasure 48 Be not ouer bold to trust in thy riches least thou haue a fall but vse them in the feare of the Lord. 49 Be not a sower of disquietnes in thine owne house least thou haue wind for thine heritage 50 Be not malicious least thou be insnared with thine owne mouth but be méeke of spéech so shalt thou be honoured 51 Be not a medler in other mens matters least thou be ill thought of and haue small thanks for thy labor 52 Be not hastie in vttering thy wrath least thou be counted a foole and in the end thou discouer thine owne shame 53 Be not a slanderous person for such a one woundeth like a sword but a wise mans tongue is wholesome 54 Be not an imaginer of euill for commonlie mischiefe doth followe but be a counseller of that which is honest 55 Be not a lier and a forger of vntrueths for such doeth the Lord abhorre but they that deale trulie please him 56 Be not a sluggard faine to haue and not to get but be diligent and thou shalt haue plentie and abundance 57 Be not proud for after pride followeth strife whilest thou thinkest none comparable in worthines vnto thy selfe 58 Be not a getter of thy goodes by vanitie for they are soone spent but they that are gathered together with the hand shall increase 59 Be not desperate and out of hope in thy heauinesse for that is the next waie to kill thy hart 60 Be not a bolsterer of the wicked in his wickednesse least thou be partaker of his punishment The ninth Honicombe yeelding most whoalesome dehortations from vice and vitious life 61 BE not deceitfull for such a one shall not roste that he tooke in hunting but the riches of the iust are of great value 62 Be not shamelesse in sinning least the vengeance of the Lord ouertake thée and thou be crushed in péeces 63 Be not sparing in vsing the rod
Lord when I am cited to appeare before the Sathanicall synagogue which presumptuouslie call the professours of thy Gospell to a reckoning of their religion O be thou mine assistant Make them ashamed of their malicious imaginations and in their owne snares let them be intangled ouerwhelme them in the pit which they haue prepared for others so shall I magnifie thy heauenlie power Increase in them the spirit of wilfull blindnesse because they haue not béene harbourers of thy faithfull ministers and because they haue contemptuoustie withstoode thy word which is the liquor of life Neuerthelesse if it be thy pleasure such as féele anie remorse of conscience and be sorie for their obstinacie vouchsafe to receiue them into thy fauour that they may be witnesses of thine vnspeakeable mercie God the father God the sonne and God the holie Ghost heare my praier and let my crie be considered for thine owne sake and for thy sonnes sake O God looke downe from aloft and shew thy louing kindnesse to all people The eight Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 The chiefest comfort in this life 2 The meanes whereby to obteine blessednesse 3 The cause of a quiet conscience and how it is come by 4 An exhortation to glorifie GOD. F. 1 AMid so manie miseries depending on our life Behold a comfort namelie this with sinne to be at strife 2 Resisting of concupiscence subduing fleshlie lust Are meanes to come to blessednesse enioied of the iust 3 Hereof the true tranquillitie remaining in the minde According to her qualitie doth flourish in her kind Most mightie Ioue be praisd whose grace doth compasse this For no deserts of ours whose liues are dailie lead amis 4 Land we his holie name as doth vs best become Exalt him in his holinesse O nations all and some Make all your mirth and glee on him alone to rest In him reioice and clap your hands oblations such are best Nothing so much becoms a Christian than deth this Grant vs the same O gratious God that liuest aloft in blis The ninth Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition for repentance and remission of finnes 2 A deliuerance from our enimies 3 An inuocation vpon God for present help 4 A depâ—ecation against the aduersaries of Gods truth L. 1 A Penitent heart O God thou wilt not despise O teach me thy statutes that I may sée my sinne Be fauourable vnto me whose iniquities are gone ouer my head O heale my sores and vlcers which stinke in thy sight 2 Rise vp thou holie one of Israell like a Giant in triumph and rescue me from the irruptions and inrushings of mine enimies According to thy greatnesse deliuer me O set me frée from the furiousnesse of my foes from the furiousnesse of my mortall and deadlie foes Horrible are the mischéefes which they haue imagined against me but thou which art omnipotent wilt ouerwhelme them in their maliciousnesse 3 As for me I will be confident vpon thy prouidence will I depend vpon an assured hope of thy heauenlie helpe will I attend O Lord. Make no long tarieng O my King and my God for vpon thée onlie doth the anchor of my saluation rest thou art my health and my safetie Forsake me not in the time of néede least mine enimies taking courage against me scorne at me in their pride and saie where is thy God 4 Let not the enimies of thy truth beare vp their bristles against thée and contemptuouslie cast thy glorie to the ground O Lord destroie both them and their deuises Euen as the Sunne consumeth snowe and as waxe wasteth in the fornace so let them be put to silence in the rigour of thy wrath and iudgement Make them like vnto Sodom and like vnto Gomorrha make them like vnto Pentapolis and Babylon that they may knowe thou liuest which art Lord ouer all Inlarge their torments far aboue the torments wherwith they haue persecuted thy people deale with them according to thine own pleasure Not my will but thy will be fulfilled O father according to thine owne decrée deale with them either in mercie or in iudgement Giue them proofes of thine omnipotencie that they may knowe thée which sittest aboue whose eies sée their deuises and art able to reuenge thine owne cause The tenth Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 An exhortation to praise the Lord. 2 That all states and degrees ought to stoope before him and do him reuerence 3 Wherein our mirth and melodie should consist 4 That all creatures must magnifie Gods Maiestie E. 1 ATtend ye nations giue eare O learne to laud the Lord Behold his wondrous works and praise his name with one accord 2 Rich poore weake strong old folke yong approch and praises sing All people dwelling in the world to God oblations bring High potentates and all estates the king that crowne doth weare And subiects sworne to loialtie the Prince of Princes feare 3 Make all your mirth aud melodie his honour to resound Feare him in truth and faithfulnesse whose blessings do abound Let euerie thing lift vp their voice and laud his holie name 4 Each creature drawing vital breth extoll and praise the same Magnificent and wonderfull yea onlie God is hee In these his works before our eies his puissance we may see No time therefore let vs omit in publishing his praise Giue glorie oh heauen oh earth and sea to him which liues alwaies The eleuenth Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition to God vnder a continued allegorie for a renewed life 2 The weedes of the heart 3 The good and wholesome hearbes of the soule M. 1 AS siluer is purged from drosse by the force of the fire so by thy mercie O Lord GOD let me be purged from mine offences and sinnes Be fauourable vnto me an vnfruitefull bough of old Adams rotten and putrified stocke O water thou me with thy sanctifieng spirit Raine downe from heauen vpon me I beséech thee O let the drops of thy grace fall vpon me that I may bud and beare blossoms As for the wéedes of wickednesse and sinne let them wither and die in me that I may leade an vpright life in thy sight and glorious presence Husband me in such wise O Lord that I may fructifie and increase abundantlie that I may bring foorth thirtie sixtie and an hundred fold according to thy good pleasure A riuer of pleasantnesse be thou vnto me whereby I may be filled full of sap and flourish continuallie like the gréene Baie trée Make my leaues neuer to wither or vade let not the Sunne scortch or drie them to the losse of their beautifull colour and séemelinesse From all stormes and tempests shéeld and ouershadowe me that my roote may be replenished with pith and my branches spread abroade Let not the blustering blasts of winter do me anie harme but as my lips and my tongue gratte in me a desire and delight to speake the truth iustlie vprightlie and Christianlie Lighten thou my waies and
direct all my goings let the deaw of thy blessed spirit drop into my heart so shall I be obedient vnto thy lawe 4 Enter not against me in iudgement and rigour but let thy mercie preuent thy iustice so shall I be sure to escape shame reproch and confusion 5 My heart my tongue and my voice shall become instruments of praise to sound out thy greatnesse and goodnesse in the cares of all people and nations In my bed will I meditate of thy commandements at my meate thy lawe shall be in my mouth thine ordinances statutes shall be my dailie exercise Neither gold nor siluer neither precious stones neither robes of roialtie nor princelie treasure delight me like thy word Gréedilie will I séeke after the loue of thy lawe at morning and at euening yea at midnight will I comfort my soule in thy gratious Gospell The fourteenth Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 Sententious exhortations from sundrie sinnes 2 To liue according to Gods lawe 3 Not to mistrust his power in the time of trouble 4 The reward of them that do after Gods will 5 To esteeme the Preachers of the Gospell 6 To take no euill thing in hand G. 1 ABsteine from fleshlie lust and spirituall peace possesse Be slowe to followe wanton waies all wicked thoughts suppresse Reuolt from vitious workes forbidden deedes detest Alluring lookes and lieng lips in silence let them rest 2 Haue God before thine eies who searcheth hart and raines And liue according to his lawe then glorie is thy gaines 3 Mistrust not thou his might when sorrowes thee assaile For he is of sufficient force in perils to preuaile Laie vp within thy heart his testament and will 4 Eternall life is their reward that do his lawes fulfill 5 Make much of such as teach and preach his gospell pure In them if thou attend their talke God will thy peace procure 6 Nothing attempt in hast which hurtfull may be found Growe daie by daie from grace to grace so shall thy blisse abound The Conclusion Not onlie with tongue and sound of thy voice But with thy whole hart in IESVS reioice FINIS A Referendarie to the premisses for the godlie Reader SOme liue in fleshlie pleasure And some in courtlie brauerie Consuming lands and treasure About a golden slauerie Whose sweetenesse whiles they couit They cannot choose but loue it Some neuer ceasse lamenting Because they are in penurie And alwaies are inuenting Their end by mortall iniurie Whereas they should content them With that which God hath sent them But be thou better learned Which louest Christ his veritie Whereby thou hast discearned That euerie thing is vanitie The world and all within it Though worldlings sweate to win it And when conuenient leasure Doth serue for recreation Then vse these plants of pleasure And grifts of consolation Yea then and alwaies vse them And at no time refuse them A Groue of Graces Supplied with plentie of Plants appliable to pleasure and profit Whereof whosoeuer be disposed deuoutlie to take a view they shall haue the choice of fortie and not so few godlie exercises of Christian dutie ordinarilie to be vsed before and after their dailie diet BY ABRAHAM FLEMING 1. Tim. 4. ver 4 5. ¶ Euerie creature of God is good and nothing ought to be refused if it be receiued with thankesgiuing for it is sanctified by the word of GOD and praier AT LONDON Printed by Henrie Denham Anno Dom. 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader AS the benefits of God are manifold or rather infinite bestowed vpon man from the time of his creation euen so ought the fruites of his obedience thankefulnesse to be aboundant and plentifull For if a man hauing diuers good friends but some more beneficiall than othersome sheweth himselfe most officious and dutifull to them of whome he hath receiued most commoditie by how much the greater reason ought we so to behaue our selues in all kinde of holie seruice towards God who hath heaped vpon vs more blessings than the tongue of anie man can vtter or his memorie conteine We see that all things are created by God all things nourished by him all things increased by him all things multiplied by him and all things preserued by him for the vse of man vnto whose gouernement he hath committed them put him in full possession and giuen him a lordlie title ouer them to vse and dispose at his pleasure requiring at his hands for this singular bountifulnesse nothing but an vnderstanding hart a renewed mind and religious lips which might tell abroade the great goodnes of so louing a God and stir vp others to magnifie his name And although we ought to glorifie God at all times according to the continued course of his compassion and kindnesse shewed vnto vs from the daie of our birth vntill this present houre sundrie and manie waies as well in clothing vs as also in nourishing and feeding vs besides other inuisible graces which not appearing to the world can not so well be remembred yet because my purpose is particular and stretcheth no further than to Christian dutifulnesse proper vnto God for his dailie blessings presented vnto vs all vpon our ordinarie tables I would not wish thee good Reader to looke for anie other matter at my hands than the verie title of this treatise doth import which I haue called by the name of A Groue of Graces For as in a Groue there do growe manie plants of great varietie and choice the weakest and slenderest whereof may in due and conuenient time do some good and necessarie seruice euen so gentle Reader thou hast heere in this Groue sundrie good Graces put into thine hands some in verse and othersome in prose all and euerie of them tending to Gods glorie as blessings and thanksgiuings vnto his diuine Maiestie for his vnspeakeable clemencie and fatherlie prouidence which he hath ouer vs sinfull and wretched creatures whereof the Lord giue vs grace to continue mindfull and keepe vs in the reuerent vse of his good gifts for Iesus Christes sake our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen Abraham Fleming A Groue of Graces The first Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner ALmightie God thou giuer of all good things blesse we beséech thée the meate which is set before vs for our repast and vs the receiuers of the same that we may prosper with it and that the substance thereof conuerted into nourishment may make vs strong and able of bodie to endure and goe through our dailie labour Open our eies also O Lord that we may sée from whome all things do come and séeing may extoll and magnifie thy name through Iesus Christ Amen The 2. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner BRethren and Sisters assembled and refreshed with the blessings of God forget not to giue him thankes for the present vse of these his comfortable and nourishing creatures beséeching him to continue them among vs and to make vs thankefull partakers of the same for his sonnes sake Iesus
Christ our Lord Amen The 3. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper REason requireth and dutie demandeth that in partaking of these good creatures of God we vse a Christian reuerence haue before our eies the feare of his diuine Maiestie which we beséech thée O God to vouchsafe vs for his sake in whome thou art best pleased Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The 4. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper A Thankefull hart which is the sacrifice that thou requirest O Lord graunt vnto vs thy seruants nourished and fed at this present by thy prouidence Open our mouthes that we may sound foorth thy praise and also with one consent glorifie thy diuine Maiestie saieng Blessed be thou O eternall God in all thy gifts and extolled in all thy workes All glorie honour power and dominion be ascribed vnto thée world without end Amen The 5. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner HEre we sée most manifest and apparant signes of Gods loue and fatherlie care ouer vs who dailie féedeth our mortall bodies with nourishment conuenient and agréeable to our nature Let vs therefore soberlie receiue them as preseruatiues against hunger and forget not to magnifie his goodnes which so mercifullie and fauourablie tendereth our weakenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The 6. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner ALl praise and thankes be giuen vnto thée O God omnipotent which hast fed vs not onlie this daie but the whole tearme of our life We bring vnto thée the bullocks of our lips beséeching thée to accept our oblation of thankefulnesse offered and presented vnto thée for thine vnmeasurable and vndeserued bountifulnesse This we do O Lord in his name who for our sakes became accursed Iesus the righteous who with thée and the holie Ghost be euermore glorified Amen The 7. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner MOst gratious God the giuer of all good giftes without whome nothing is nourishable be it neuer so delicate we beséech thée that these thy creatures procéeding from thine almightie prouidence and set vpon this table for our sustenance may turne into wholesome substance of flesh and bloud in our bodies And because manie times euen thy good creatures through our intemperance turne into poison and by our owne abuse bréede sundrie diseases graunt we beséech thée that we may moderatelie eate and drinke that which is dailie ministred vnto vs for our reléefe and giue thée continuall thankes for these and all other thy benefits through Christ our Lord Amen The 8. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner FAther euerlasting continuall thankes and praise be ascribed vnto thée which from our creation and first comming into the world euen till this present daie houre hast giuen vs all things necessarie for our bodies grant we beséech thée that as we haue receiued corporall food and sustenance from thy hands so we may be faithfull and true partakers of the spirituall Manna whereby our soules are susteined to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen The 9. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner LOrd God whose dailie hand deth feed the beast the foule and fish Vouchsafe to blesse and sanctifie this boord and euerie dish That as we touch taste the things proceeding from thy grace Our bodies to susteine and feed our flesh in euerie place So we may yeeld thee thanks therfore and giue thy name the praise Which doth deserue of all the world extold to be alwaies Amen The 10. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner ETernall God thy name be blest which doest vs dailie feed And soule and bodie satisfiest when as they stand in need The bodie by the staffe of bread which giueth strength and power The soule with sweetnesse of thy word and gospell euerie hower Thy holie name perpetuallie be magnified therefore As hath ben since the world began and shal be euermore Amen The 11. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper MOst gratious God which cloathest the Lillies of the field with beautie far aboue the roialtie of Salomon and féedest the little Sparrowes which fall not to the ground without thy prouidence be present we beséech thee at this table and season with the salt of thy blessing these thy creatures that in receiuing them as becommeth Christians we may also be sanctified and in all our eatings drinkings euermore remember to confesse and acknowledge thée in thy benefites from whome all good things procéede for the succour of thy seruants and receiue them according to the rule of true Christianitie through Christ our Lord onlie Sauiour So be it The 12. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper IN so much as it hath pleased thée O mercifull father to call vs to the communicating and partaking of thy creatures and by them hast refreshed vs at this present we giue thée hartie thankes for this thy bountifull liberalitie beséeching thée to kindle in vs a Christian care and compassion of them that are in necessitie that we considering their poore and succourlesse estate may with pitifull eies tender their pouertie and with charitable hands reléeue them in miserie alwaies remembring that whatsoeuer is done to thy néedie and naked members thou doest accompt it done to thine owne bodie Graunt this O gratious God for Iesus Christes sake thy sonne our sauiour Amen The 13. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper NO grace the gluton nor his gests amid their deintie fare Vouchsaft to shew to Lazarus a begger poore and bare Their seruice was superfluous their meate was ouermutch Poore Lazarus who scarse could go or stand without a crutch Lay begging at the gluttons gatâ— some crumbes for his releefe But none there was that of his case were toucht with anie greefe His dog laie licking of his limmes the botches biles and blaines And with his tong did seeke a meane and waie t' asswage his paines This deede of pitie in the dog condemneth such as saue All for themselues and for the poore and needie nothing haue God grant that we may not be such as this rich glutton was Least we with him in pit of Hell crie out wo and alas From thence the Lord deliuer vs and guide vs by his grace That when we die in earth in heuen we may possesse a place The 14. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper GOod Zache enterteining Christ became a ioifull man His soule to feede on foode of life with faith and hope began Then called he to streight account his thoughts his words deeds His conscience and his life misseled and thus in speech proceeds â—ord if I haue done anie man 〈◊〉 turne or offred wrong Or causd the poore to make coÌ„plaint with sobs and sighings strong Lo restitution I will make and fourfold them reward With readie purpose so to do â—o 〈◊〉 and hart prepard 〈◊〉 Zaches speech ponder it