hinder a good mind the one by vexing and tormenting it by need the other by calling seducing it from vertue and honsty by delights and delicacy A hedghog foreseeing a tempest hideth himselfe in the earth so when a chaung of fortune happeneth the minde is to be fortified with precepts of philosophy As an archer somtimes hitteth the white sometimes shooteth neare it so fortune sometimes seaseth vppon our selues and sometimes vpon our goods Maximus apud Stobaeum ser 18. As a glasse sheweth what the face is so fortune sheweth what the man is Euripides apud Stob. 88. Grasse so long as it is greene doeth couer the mountaines and adorne the medowes and through the beauty doeth delight and refresh the eies of the beholders but when the heate of the sunne hath dryed vp the moysture and consumed it then it is many times made fewell for the fire so as long as fortune smileth and giueth health riches friends honours and dignities so long man florisheth his acquaintance are delighted and refreshed by him and all men behold him with admiration but when the heate of persecution hath scorched his glory or the frost of aduersitie hath pinched his wealth or the infirmity of sicknesse hath decayed his health thē he fadeth as a flower and many times he becommeth fewel for the fire of hell F. Ioan. a S. Gem. lib. 3. de vegetab et plan cap. 26 The vse and abuse of a thing PRometheus seeing a Satyre kisse the fire at the first sight of it admonished him that if he touched it it woulde burne him but if he vsed it as it should be vsed it was profitable both for the heat and light so the same thing as thou vsest it is either dangerous or profitable Plut. If many be made drunke with wine not therefore are the vines to be digged vp by the rootes as Lycurgus caused thē but rather more water is to bee vsed to allay the wine so if many abuse Poetry it is not forthwith to be banished but a caution is to bee vsed that it may bee wholsome Idem As in the nature of thinges those that are the most beautifull doe soonest wither decay as Roses Lilies Violets when as other last longer so in the life of man those thinges that are most florishing are verie quickly abused and diuerted into a contrarie vse Plinius lib. 9. cap. 15. The fish Polypus otherwise a stupide creature vseth great cunning intaking other fishes so many men are very wise for their owne lucre and gaine but in other things very blockish brute beasts Plin. lib. 9. cap. 29. As wines poured into vessels made of the tree Taxus become mortall and dead-in so wholsome erudition and instruction falling into a pestilent and bad nature becommeth hurtfull and dangerous Plin. lib. 16. cap. 11. As the salt sea water is vnwholesome to drinke but yet carieth a ship better then the fresh riuer which is wholesome for drinke so euery thing hath his vse if it bee vsed in the right kind As the Phylosopher that sent the tongues sent the best and the worste meate so riches are verie good if they be well vsed but starke nought if otherwise Plutarchus Wine doth comfort those that are in health and liue moderately as the scripture saith it maketh mery the hart of man but if he drinke it that hath a feuer it bringeth death and destruction vnto him so it commeth to passe that the same thing vsed diuersely doth bring life to one and death to another Origenes in libro Iudic. homilia quinta As the satiety of hony procureth vomit so good things being not wel vsed become hurtful Greg. Nazianzenus li. 1. de Theolo Riches ALthough it is necessary needful to eat for the reliefe sustentation of the body yet superfluity of meate doth very much hurt And although the life of man consisteth in the bloud yet too much abundance of bloud is the cause of death oftentimes killeth men so riches although they be necessary for the maintenance of life yet superfluity of temporall goods is no lesse hurtfull to the soule then too much meate to the body or too much bloud to the life Lod. Granat lib. de Deuotione A trauailer for his prouision in his voyage carieth his mony in gold for so is he richer and is troubled with lesse weight so the Lord doth lighten his children laying vpon them but easie burdens but yet sufficient and that which may content them ibidem As those kingdoms cities which the diuell shewed to our Sauiour Christ vpon the mountaine were not true riches but fantasticall and sightly in the eye euen so all the riches honours and glorie of this worlde are no perfect goods but fained dissembled as saint Iames saith a vapour that appeares a while and in a moment is dispersed As the full gorged Faulcon wil not know her maister and turne vnto him so the rich man that is pampered with prosperitie doth forget God and doth separate himselfe from him Euen as the children of Reuben and Gad desired Moses that he would leaue thē there in the country of Iordan where was good feeding for their cattell neuer caring to go to the land of promise in like maner there are many that refuse the kingdome of heauen promised them in perpetual possession for the loue of riches and corruptible goods they enioy in this false world Stella de contemptu mundi As in good and sauory meates poyson is often receiued and they that haue eaten thereof are forthwith ready for the graue so sweet are the riches of this world to such as loue them yet vnder them is death hidden because they make a man proud and vicious which bringeth him to eternall death Ibidem As the children of Israels Manna would haue corrupted and beene filled with vermine if it had bin saued so this worlds vaine riches are no way sooner lost then by too much sauing them ibidem As smoake mounted on high is quickly out of sight euen such is prosperity it beares a shewe for a while and at length comes to nothing ibidem As vpon the mountaine of Gilboa perished the noble and great men of Israel so doth prosperitie lead men vp as it were to a mountain and suddenly thence tumbles them headlong downe ibidem As the Gentiles vainely adored the Idoll Mercurie each of them carrying a stone in the honour of their Idoll euen so they that honour worldly prosperitie steale the honour which is due to God and bestow it on a base Idoll ibidem As a wise man is not hurt of a serpent because he keepes him farre from him but a foole taking him by the taile is bitten so riches being receiued of a wise man doe not hurt him because hee knowes how to vse them but if a foole lay holde on them they bite him because he gripes them too hard Clemens Alex. lib. 3. paedag cap. 6. As a land flood is soone vp and soone downe so
lib. de deuotione As twice in a day we refresh our bodies that is at dinner and at supper so also twice a day wee ought to giue due nourishment vnto our soules Ibidem As ordinary nourishmēt is necessary for the body because the naturall heate doth alwaies consume and wast the substaunce of man and therefore it is necessarie that it be repaired on the one side as it is decaied on the other so the soule hath in it a pestilent heat which is the concupiscence euill inclination of our appetites consuming and wasting all good therefore it is needeful that that be daily repaired by deuotion which is wasted decaied by that hurtfull and pestilential heat ibidem As they that haue the charge keeping of a clock are wōt euery day twice to wind vp the plūmets for they of their owne proper motion do by little and little descend and draw towards the ground so they that desire to keepe their soules vpright and well ordered ought at the least twice a day to erect and lift vp her weights seeing that our wretched nature is so inclinable to things below that it alwaies endeuourēth to sinke downwards ibidem As a precious stone is not inclosed in earth but in gold so doth not God put his souerain balme but into a pure soule clean and free from filthy and enormous corruption ibidem As a liuing body not only feareth death but also feuers wounds yea and the itch scabs albeit they be small so a soule that liueth in grace not only feareth abhorreth grosse and hainous sinnes but also those that seeme of lesser moment and do make way and entrance to those that bee grosser ibidem As a still and calme water is fitter and more disposed to represent the images shapes of things no otherwise thē a glasse so also in a quiet and calme soule al things are represented most cleerely and perfectly ibidem As two seasons are necessarie for corne cast into the earth a colde season that it may bee hardened and take deepe rooting and a warme that it may increase and sproute aboue the earth so are both seasons necessarie for our soules a warme season that they may increase in charity a cold that they may be rooted in humility ibid. As ground wel watered in the morning by the coolenes temper doth al that day defende the hearbes planted in it from the heat of the sun so let the soule of the righteous be watered in due season by praier be wel moistned in God that it may alwaies haue in it selfe the continuall coole of deuotion by which it may be defended from the loue of the world ibidem As the body is the instrumēt of the soule so the soule is the instrument of God Plut. As a tame bird if she be long nourished in a cage and be let go yet endeuoureth to returne thither againe so our soule being long resident in this body is not easily separated from it but the soule of a childe doth easily depart hence Idem As a torch put out if it bee forthwith put to the fire by and by recouereth light so a soule the lesser time it staieth in the body it sooner becommeth like vnto it selfe Idem They that are manumitted and set free doe nowe those thinges of their owne accorde for themselues which they were wont to doe for their Lordes so now the soule doeth nourish the bodie with much labour and many cares but afterwardes beeing free it doeth nourish it selfe with the contemplation of the truth neyther canne it bee sundred from it Idem As they that haue their feet vnder other mens tables and dwell in other mens houses are vexed with many discommodities and do alwayes complaine of one thing or other so the soule doth now complaine of the head now of the feet now of the stomack now of one thing now of another signifying that she is not in her owne house but that she must go hence very shortly Senec. The Minde AS an euen ballance is alike inclined to either side and swaied of it selfe to neither so is a doubful mind Plut. As they that pound Frankinsence albeit they wash their hands yet a good while after do smell of that odour so the minde beeing long conuersant in honest businesses wil long preserue a pleasant memory of it idem As those beastes that haue their hoofes hardned in rough sharpe waies can easily abide any waye whereas the hoofes of those beastes are easily broken that are fed and fatted in ranck and fenny pastures so the minde that is accustomed to brooke hardnes is not easily offended Seneca A flame can neither be held down neither can it reste so an honest minde and well disposed is by a naturall inclination caryed vnto those thinges that be honest Seneca Young trees are bended which waye we will heat doth vnwarp crooked bords that which is borne for some other vse is brought to our bent so much more doth the mind receiue any forme beeing more flexible obsequious thē any humor Sen. As a disease in the body is vnderstoode before hand by heauines and indispositiō so a weak mind by some disturbance doth foresee some euil that is cōming vnto it Se. As first the humor is to be purged whēce madnes proceedeth afterwards the mā is to be admonished otherwise he that admonisheth a mad man how hee ought to go and how to behaue himselfe abroad is more mad then he that is frantick◠so first the minde is to bee freed from false opimions and then the precepts of Philophy are to be instilled in to it Seneca As when children learne first to write their handes are helde and directed and afterwardes they are commanded to followe their copy so first the minde is to bee led by rule vntill it canne rule it selfe Seneca If Iron be placed between an Adamant and a load stone it is now caried this way now that way so a doubtful and wauering mind is sometimes caried to that which is honest and sometimes by headstrong affections it is haled to the contrary As Venus had her mole in her cheeke which made her more amiable Helen her scar in her chinne which Paris called Cos Amoris the Whetstone of Loue Aristippus his Wart and Licurgus his Wen so in the disposition of the minde either vertue is ouershadowed with some vice or vice ouercast with some vertue Iohn Lily The goods of the Minde THe Sun-beames although they touch the earth yet they are there whence they are sent so the minde of a wise man although it be conuerfant here and there yet it is with himselfe Seneca As the foolish vulgar people with great labour and with great cost doe seeke for remedies and medicines which growe in the furthest Indies and in Aethiopia when that springeth in their gardens which can better cure them so with great endeuour we seeke for abroad the furniture of a happy life in Empire in riches and
had Lodouicus Granat lib. de deuotione As a furnace if it bee well heated in the morning is kept hot all the day after with a little fire but if it growe cold againe it requires a great deale of fire before it bee thorowly heated againe so Deuotion being well heated by prayer preserues heate a long time but through dissuetude of prayer it growes colde and requires much praier to heat it thorowly againe ibidem As sweet water standing in an open vessell hauing no couer doth forthwith lose the sweetnesse and grace of the sent so the sweet and pretious oyntment of Deuotion doth loose al the vertue and efficacy when the mouth is loosed and dissolute that is when the tongue doth lauish and superabound in too much talke prattle Ibidem As fire cannot be kindled nor kept in wet and moist matter so neither can Deuotion in the delights and pleasures of the body Ibidem As in a harpe we are to obserue that the strings bee neither stretched too streight nor loosened too slacke for then they are either broken or yeelde an vntuned and an vnpleasant sound so in the celestiall exercise of deuotion it is meet that the body be neither macerated by too much hunger nor fatted by too much plentie for both of them bring very much hurt to this exercise Ibidem Euen as fire or any odoriferous or fragrant smell the more it is couered and kept close the more and longer it preserueth the sent and keepeth the heat so also the loue of God and deuotion Ibidem As nature is not content with the deaw that in the night time falleth vpon the earth but also now then it raineth and that plentifully not for a weeke but oftentimes longer for so it is necessary that the heauens should be now and then more liberall towards the earth and should so glut it that neither the sun nor the wind may make it dry so also our soule besides the common daily deaw ought to haue certain peculiar times in which our eies may doe none other thing then showre down most plentiful teares of deuotion by which our soule may bee so filled with the vertues iuice of the holy ghost that al the tribulations and al the winds of this world may not dry it ibid. The feare of the Lord. EVen as a ship is not safe without ballace or lastage for it is easilie tossed with euery wind now on this side now on that to the great dāger of the ship so is the soule endangered which lacketh the burthen and ballace of the diuine feare which poyseth the soule that the windes of worldly fauour or of diuine graces doe not tosse and puffe it vp and so ouerthrow it Londou Granat lib. 1. Ducis Peccatorum As Fennel hath an opening vertue as Plato sayth so the feare of God openeth the way vnto loue As the needle leadeth the threed so feare introduceth loue August As serpents by the taste of Fennel put off olde age so the feare of God putteth away inueterate sinne F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 3 de vegetabilib plant cap. 77. As among the kindes of precious stones called Berylli that is the best which is the palest so among men hee is the best that feareth the Lorde Idem lib. 2. de Metallis lapid cap. 37. As the precious stone Beryllus beeing opposed to the sunne beames doth burne the hande of the holder so the feare of the Lord being heated with the loue of Christ doth burne the hand of the bearer so that it maketh him to labor in his vocation very ardently Ibidem As Princes haue Porters that keepe out vnruly people from their pallaces so the soules of the righteous haue The feare of the Lord for their porter to keepe sinnes from them Idem lib. 10. de actib Morib Human cap. 80. As he that hath his body fastned thorow with a naile cannot easily doe any thing without griefe so hee that hath his soule pierced thorowe with the feare of God cannot easilie commit any filthy offence Basil in principium Prouerb As by a bridle a Horse is helde from his rage so by feare the soule is kept from sinne Chrysostomus De verbis Isayae homil 5. As an Oake deepely rooted is not ouerthrown by the force of the wind so a soule deepely founded in the feare of the Lorde is not ouerwhelmed by the windes of temptation Idem Hom. quinquagesima tertia in Ioan. As a beame of the Sunne entring into a house by a crannie doth enlighten all thinges in the house so if the feare of the Lorde bee in the soule it sheweth vnto it all her sinnes albeit they bee very small Climacus De discretione gradu 26. Perseuerance AS it doth not profit to haue sailed succesfully and prosperously a long voyage if at length we make shipwrack in the Hauen so it profiteth not to haue liued religiously without final perseuerance Lodouic Granat lib. 2. Ducis Peccatorum Euen as a student in the liberal sciences if he daily make progresse in good letters and diligently frequent the Schooles in a very short time commeth to the perfection of the artes he studieth so on the contrary part he that often much intermitteth breaketh off his study either very late or neuer becōmeth learned idē lib. de deuot As he that hath a journey to go must not sit down in the midst of his way and there leaue off so he that trauelleth to heauen must not only begin to liue honestly but must continue so til death Chrysost hom 4. ad Ephes As a Rhetoriciā doth not only begin his oration but also doth ende it so a christian must begin in vertue and ende in vertue Idem hom 24. ad Hebraeos As that physicke is vnprofitable which doth not restore the sicke to health so that life well lead is to no purpose which doth not so continue to the end Ibidem As that debtour doth not satisfie his creditour that payeth part but he that paieth all so he doth not please God that giueth part of his life vnto him but hee that bequeatheth all Greg. lib. 22. Moral cap. 6. As no man obtaineth victory but hee that goeth thorow stitch so no man attaineth vnto glory but he that continueth in vprightnes vnto the ende Ibidem As that seede is sowne in vaine whereof the reaper filleth not his hande in the haruest so an honest life is ill begun and to no purpose except it perseuer vnto the end Caesarius Arelatensis hom 25. As light is necessary for corporall eyes that they may enioy their ende and vse so perseuerance is necessary for all them that are predestinated and called to the kingdome of heauen Laurentius Iustinianus cap. 1. de perseuerantia As the eye is opened in vaine without the light so he runneth in vaine that doth not perseuer to the end of his life ibidem Hard stones are pierced with soft drops great Oakes hewne downe with many blowes so the
dealeth with the woorth and value of vertues is to knowe the price and dignitie of them that comparing them betweene themselues he may see which is to bee preferred before others and render and tender to euerie one her due honour ibidem Euen as wee make greater account of an heape of Gold then of Siluer and doe more esteeme an eye then a finger so also it is meete and requisite that with greater endeuour and diligence wee shoulde applie our selues to the worthier vertues and with the lesser to the lesse worthie lest we disturbe the spirituall businesse Idem lib. 2. Ducis peccatorum As in all thinges as well artificiall as naturall there are founde some truel and some seeming and appearing so but are not so in deede and as there is both true Golde and that which is false lawfull money and counterfeite coyne true Gemmes and false Gemmes so also among Vertues some are true and some that appeare to bee so but are not so in truth ibidem As the foule Toade hath a faire stone in his heade the fine Golde is founde in the filthie earth the sweete Kernell lyeth in the harde shell so Vertue is manie tymes harboured in the heart of him that most men esteeme mishapen As the precious stone Sandastra hath nothing in outwarde appearance but that which seemeth blacke but beeing broken powreth foorth beames lyke the Sunne so Vertue sheweth but bare to the outwarde eye but beeing pierced with inward desire shyneth like Christall Faith AS a childe that learneth his first elements ought to beleeue that his maister teacheth him and not to aske the reason whie this Letter is called A and that B so in the mysteries of Fayth wee must not aske the reason howe this may bee and that may bee but wee must giue credite to the Scriptures Lodouicus Granat in lib. de deuotione As he that hauing neuer seene glasse before seeing a curious and an excellent vessell made of it and set before his eyes can not bee induced to beleeue that it was made of a certain kind of straw and sand and that only by the breath of man so is it in matters of Fayth being considered of by the light of reason ibidem As wee cannot imitate nor well vnderstande the Arte of Bees in making their honie combes and tempering their honie nor the Arte of Spiders in weauing their Webbes nor the Arte of Silke wormes in spinning their Silke so much lesse can wee imitate the diuine workes or comprehende in our reasonable vnderstanding the mysteries of Fayth ibidem If thou hast life thou hast heate so if thou hast a liuely Fayth thou hast good workes Nazianzene As fire cannot be without heate nor the Sunne without light so a iustifying Fayth cannot be without iustifying workes As a riuer commeth from a fountaine so faith commeth from the Lord. As water maketh the earth fruitfull so fayth enricheth the soule with good works As the Carbuncle shineth in the night and in darknes casteth light vnto the eies so faith shineth in the darknes of heresie and in the night of persecution neither can it be ouercome or extinguished of either As there are twelue kindes of a Carbuncle so there are twelue Articles of our saith Isidorus As a garment touched with the stone Amiathon doth resist fire if you hang it ouer the fire it will not burne but become brighter so the soule beeing endued with Fayth dooth resist the heate of persecution and by it becomes more glorious Isidorus As Quicksiluer is the Element or matter of all mettals according to the Philosopher so Faith is the foundation of all vertues As the Almond tree flourisheth before any other tree so Faith ought to flourish before any other vertue As we cannot liue without the elements so we cannot attaine knowledge without Faith Clemens Alexandrinus li. 2. Stromat As nothing is delectable vnto men without light so nothing is acceptable vnto God without Fayth Origenes lib in Iob. As a light is not lightned of Oyle but is nourished by Oyle so Fayth doth not growe of workes but is nourished by workes Chrysostomus hom 18. operis imperfecti Hope EVen as an Anchor fastened into the earth keepeth the shippe safe which stayeth in the midst of the waues and maketh it that it feareth not the billowes of the raging sea so liuely Hope being firmly fixed vpon the heauenly promises preserueth the minde of the righteous vnremoued in the middest of the waues of this world maketh it that it contēneth and despiseth al the storme and tempest of the winds Lod Granat lib. 1. Ducis peccat Euen as a sonne in all his troubles and necessities which happen vnto him trusteth and affiaunceth his repose in his Father especially if he be riche powerfull that his helpe and fatherly prouidence will not at any time faile him so shoulde man haue this heart of a sonne to God his father who both can and will helpe his children better then all the fathers in the world Idem lib. 2. Ducis peccatorum As a ship by the anchor is kept from the violence of tempests so the soule by Hope is kept from the rage of temptations F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 9. de Artificib reb Artif cap. 70. As a staffe doth support a man so doth Hope ibidem As the husbandman soweth his land in hope of fruit so men performe the duties of Christianity in Hope of heauen Macar hom 14. As a Merchant taketh paines to furrow the vast Ocean in hope of earthly gains so a christian strugleth through the waues billowes of this life in hope of heauenlie reward Basil in Psal 1. As the hope of a crowne and victorie maketh the discommodities of war tollerable so the hope of heauen maketh the griefes and turmoyles of this life portable Chrysost lib. 3. de prouidentia dei As an helmet defendeth the head so Hope defendeth the soule idem homilia nona in priorem ad Thessalonicenses As pillers support and vpholde earthly buyldings so Hope supporteth and vpholdeth spirituall buildings Laurentius Iustinianus in ligno vitae cap. 2. de spe As it did not hurt Rahab to dwell with the people of Iericho but her faith kept her safe so sinne doth not hurt them that in Faith and Hope doe expect their redeemer Macarius hom 31. As without sustenance the body would sinke so without hope the heart woulde burst As Abraham begat Isaac so faith begets hope Charity AS the Phisitian hateth the disease yet loueth the person of the diseased so we must loue that in our neighbour which is good and made of God and abhor that which man and the diuel haue made euil Lod. Granat lib. 1. Ducis Peccat As the members of the same body albeit hauing diuerse duties and functions and differing also in forme do tenderly mutually loue one another be cause they liue by one the selfe same reasonable soule so much more ought faithful Christians to loue one another who
as Isidore saith so couetousnesse hath a triangular mouth that is three waies of ill getting to wit by rapine theft and vsurie whose trunke is vnsatiable desire with which it sucketh out the blood of the poore as it manifestly appeareth in vsuries by which when it hath filled the purse then it vomiteth it forth againe that is it putteth that gaine out againe to vsury that it may gaine more Idem lib. 5. de Animalib Terrestrib cap. 10. As a dogge lying vpon hay eateth none himselfe nor suffereth others to eate so doth a couetous man Ibidem As certaine serpents keepe Balsamum but haue no vse of it nor suffer others to vse it so doe couetous men their riches Ibidem As Bees gather honie of flowers and die in the dregges so doe couetous men ibidem As a spider in a short tyme maketh her webbe which the wind as soone breaketh so a couetous man soone gathereth a great deale of wealth togither which misfortune soone scattereth Ibidem As an Ape huggeth her young ones so a couetous miser huggeth his wealth Ibidem As the leaprosie corrupteth al the members so couetousnesse infecteth all the affections Idem lib. 6. de homine membris eius cap. 10. As a leaper hath diuerse spots so a couetous man hath diuers vices Ibidem As the ancient Greeke and Latine poets made Tantalus a mirrour of couetousnesse who was tormented with hunger thirst notwithstanding he stoode in a riuer vp to the chin and had goodly Apples hanging ouer his nose continually so our English modern Poets note aboue al others Iustice Randoll of London to be infected with the same vice a man passing impotent in bodie but much more in minde that dying worth many thousands leauing behind him a thousand pounds of golde in a chest full of olde bootes and shooes yet was so miserable that at my Lord Maiors dinner he would put vp a Widgen for his supper and many a good meale did he take of his franke neighbour the widow Penne. As pride is the soules timpanie and anger the soules phrensie so couetousnesse is the soules dropsie Luxurie AS wood preserueth fire so the thought preserueth and nourisheth desires and concupiscences Like as fire worketh wood altogither into fire so lust wholie alienateth man into lasciuiousnes As smoke driueth away Bees so luxurie driueth away spirituall graces Basilius hom 1. de ieiunio As fire chaungeth hard and cold iron and maketh it as fire so lust tameth iron and hardie minds F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 1. de caelo elementis cap. 47. As out of two flints smitten together there comes out fire so out of the vnchaste touch of man and woman there comes out the fire of concupiscence and luxurie Ibidem As a wal although not burnt of a candle yet it is blacked so if women cohabitate with men the Diuels Bird-lime shall not be wanting Hieronymus As wee may easily fall into a pitte but not so soone get out againe so wee may easilie fall into the sinne of luxurie by reason of our naturall corruption but wee can hardly get from it As sulphur is hot and therefore soone fired so is luxurie As God hath giuen eyes vnto vs not to looke for our pleasure but for things necessarie for our life so hath he giuen vnto vs genitors for none other cause but to encrease the world as the name of them may teach vs. Lactantius lib. 7. cap. 25. As drunkards doe spue forth lewd speeches so luxurious persons do vtter lasciuious and obscene wordes Chrysostomus oratione 5. aduersus Iudaeos As a Pilot making shipwrack in the hauen obtaineth no pardon so pollution of wedlocke-state in marryed persons hath no defence either with God or man Idem hom 3. de Ozia As he that was possessed of the Diuell liued among the graues and cut himselfe with stones so luxurious persons liue among harlots who are full of stinch filthines cut themselues with vices which are sharper then any stones idem hom 29. As it is vniust through couetousnesse to encroach vpon any mans liuing so is it vniust through lust to subuert the limits of good maners Augustinus lib. 15. de ciuitate Dei Fire is extinguished two waies either by withdrawing the fewell or by casting on water so the fire of luxurie is quenched two wayes eyther by withdrawing the fomentations of the flesh or by casting vpon it the colde water of repentant teares Hugo Victorinus lib. de carnalibus nuptijs vitandis Enuie AS a worme bredde in woodde consumeth it so also is enuie bredde in the heart and the heart is the first thing that it excruciateth and when it hath corrupted the heart it also taketh away the naturall colour of the countenance The serpent Porphyrius hath poyson but because hee is without teeth hee hath it onelie for himselfe so some doe enuie and malice but they hurt no bodie but themselues because they want abilitie Take away the fewell and the fire goeth forth so take away the occasion and enuie ceaseth Plut. Dogges barke at the vnknowne but are gentler towardes them they knowe as Heraclitus sayde so enuie dooth most annoy men newly aduaunced but is not so raging agaynst those whom it hath bin acquainted with Idem As venome doth deuoure Iron so doth enuie consume the possessours of it Basil hom de inuidia As Vipers are brought foorth by tearing in peeces their dammes bellie so enuie dooth gnaw in sunder the soule of the conceiuer Ibidem Vultures and Flies flie ouer sweete Oyntments and pleasant Medowes and seaze on carion and vlcers so enuious persons do passe ouer that which is well done and onely busie themselues with errours infirmities and imperfections Ibidem As the Phoenix burneth herselfe so doth an enuious man August sermone 18. ad fratres in Heremo As that water is venemous which serpents liue in so is that soule poysoned in which enuie dwelleth Palladius in historia de Stephano lapso As a worme is not bredde in Cedar so enuie is not begotten in the heart of a wise man Hector Pintus in cap. 19. Ezechiel As the Flies Cantharides are bredde in the soundest wheate and in Roses most flourishing so enuie dooth most oppose it selfe agaynst good men and proficients in vertue Antonius in Melissa parte 1. serm 62. As toothache springeth from three things as saith Auicen from the substance of the teeth from the nerue which is in the roote of the teeth and sometimes from the gums so enuy springeth from three things from personall prosperitie from aduanced honour and from massie wealth F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 6. de homine eius membris cap. 37. As there is no Larke without a crest so there is no wit without naturall borne enuie Stobaeus serm 36. ex Plutarcho Where there is no light there is no shadow so where there is no felicitie there is no enuie Plut. Bauins are knowne by the bands Lyons by their clawes cocks by their combes so
flatterer in silence doeth commend by his countenance and gesture Idem As hunters do the more easily deceiue wilde beastes when they assaulte them as though they wer doing some other thing so a flatterer doeth most of all then clawe and glauer when he seemeth not to praise Idem As the running streame is of no certaine colour but alwaies resembleth the colour of the grounde it glideth ouer so a flatterer is alwaies vnlike himselfe fitting himselfe to the present occasion Idem In a Comedie of Menander a false Hercules is brought in bearing a bumbast and a counterfeit club without substance or solidity so the libertie of a flatterer is hollow and vnsound Idem As a glasse doeth imitate whatsoeuer obiect is opposed against it so also doth a flatterer Idem As a shadow doth go whither thou goest and seemeth to doe what thou doest so a flatterer doth follow thee whither soeuer thou turnest thy selfe Idem As a Chamaeleon doth chaunge himselfe into all colours except it be into white so a flatterer will imitate thee in all thinges except it be in that which is honest Plin. lib. 8. cap. 33. As vnskilfull painters when they cannot delineate those things that are beautifull do blaze their portraitures with warts wrinckles so a flatterer doth represent the intemperancy and wrath of a friende Idem As there be meates and condimentes which neither doe make bloude nor begette spirite neither doe strengthen the sinewes nor encrease the marrowe but onely doe procure lust maketh the belly flatuous and doe swell the body such also is the speach of a flatterer it onely stirreth vp and prouoketh vnto vice and wickednesse but barren to any good Idem As painters by shadowes and obscurities doe illustrate thinges that be glorious and brighte so a flatterer praising diuers vices in others that are absent doth nourish and cherish them in his friende that is present Idem As Oratours do sometimes bring in another person speaking either that they may procure more credit or that they may auoid enuie so a flatterer reporteth what hee hath heard of others as concerning his friend albeit he hath hearde nothing at all Idem As wine being mingled with the iuice of hemlocke doth make the poyson vncurable which of it selfe is an antidote against this aconite because the heat of the wine doeth presently carry the strength of the poyson vnto the heart so a flatterer vnderstanding that liberty of speach is a remedy against flattery doth mingle it with his adulation that it may be the more hurtfull Idem Glasse doeth wonderfully imitate chrystall a base thing that which is most precious so doeth flattery imitate friendship a vile thing that which is most excellent Plinius libr. 9. cap. 29. et libr. 37. capite 2. As the libarde through his sweete sauour doeth allure other wilde beastes vnto him and so doth kill them so flatterers through their faire speaches doe allure men vnto them and do destroy them Plin. lib. 8. cap. 17. As the beaste Hyaena counterfeiting mans voice and by hearkening doth learn ones name whome she calling foorth deuoureth so flatterers by faire speech doe allure til they haue drawn into destructioÌ„ Plin. lib. 7. cap. 2. As all fishes are not allured by one bait but some with one some with another whereupon skilfull fishers doe especiallie fish with that baite which they are delighted with so a flatterer finding the dispositioÌ„ of a man what he delighteth in and what he abhorreth with that thing he tickleth and gulleth him in which he taketh greatest pleasure As the serpent Cerastes is not bred by the Cipres tree by reason of bitternes nor by the Boxe tree by reason of hardnes so the plague of flattery doth flie from graue and seuere dispositions but doth sease vppon effeminate and delicate natures Plin. lib. 7. cap. 24. As Panthers haue a sweete smell but a deuouring mind so haue flatterers Straight trees haue crooked roots smooth baites sharpe hooks the fairer the stone is in the Toades head the more pestilent is her poison in her bowels so flatterers talke the more it is seasoned with fine phrases the lesse it sauoreth of true meaning Hypocrisie Hypocrites AS the Tyger when hee hunteth for his prey doeth hide his clawes so hypocrites for their commodity speake faire when they meane ill As the Pyrit stone is then most horte when it looketh most cold so when hypocrites looke the most demuâ—e they meane the most mischeefe As Ianus was double faced so hypocrites are double hearted As sepulchers are beautious without but full of corruption within so hypocrites seeme outwardly religious but inwardly are replenisht with iniquitie As he that takes the muster of men doth diligently viewe their bodies and agâ— to see if they be sit for the warre so the Lord making choice of soules for the spirituall warfare doeth search into their wils and if he finde any hidden hypocrisie â—he reiecteth the man as vnsitte to bee enteâ—alned but if he finde him worthie hee bestoweth his grace vppon him Cyrllus Ierosolymit catechesi 1. As the fish Polypur to catch his prey uâ—neth himselfe into the color of euery stone he meets with so hypocrits to satisfie their wils turne themselues into the condition of euery company they are sober with the sober vntemperate with the vntemperate irreligious with the Atheist and precise with the puritan Basil hom 7. exameron As foolish women when they lacke naturall beauty doe painte themselues so wicked hypocrites when they wante inward vertues assume outward semblances Gregorias Nazianzenus orat in funere patris As the Chamaeleon assumeth all colours but white that in the meane while I may speake nothing of Proteus the Aegyptian sophister so an hypocrite is all thinges but a good christian simple hearted and honest such an hypocrite was Iulianus Apostata Idem orat 1. in Iulianum A sepulcher seemeth beautifull so long as it is shut but when it is open it is stincking and horrible so hipocrites so long as they are not known seem iolly fellows but when they are laid open they are abominable Chrysost hom 45. operis imperfecte As a stage player taketh vpon him an other mans person sometimes being a seruant and sometime a Lorde so an hypocrite taketh vpon him the person of an honest man when indeed he is a very knaue Idem in sermone de Ieiunio As he that represents Agamemnon is not Agamemnon so an hypocrite seeming an honest man is no honest man Augustinus lib. 2. de sermone domini in monte The Estrich seemeth as she woulde flie yet hath no vse of flying so hypocrisie seemeth to haue the image of sanctity but is ignorant of a sanctified life Gregorius libr. 7. moral cap. 15. Bull rushes and sedge haue a show of greennes but beare no fruit so the life of hypocrites Idem lib. 8. cap. 27 As Symon Cyrenaeus caried Christes crosse of constraint and not willingly so hypocrites do the worke of Christ vnwillingly executing that openly