forbeare the felowship familiaritie and company of vnthrifts let him not willingly be at any sumptuous and excessiue bankets feasts or meetings vnlesse hee bee in manner compelled And if he must needes be at them let him be well ware of himselfe that he neyther do nor say any thing there whiche may iustly as ill become a Christian as it may perhaps well become the libertie of feasting At a word let the godly man indeuer this at all times and all places that as sayeth Sainte Iames he may keepe him selfe vndefyled of the world Although this be easier to be spoken than to be done yet may it be done in part by the help of Gods grace Let vs streyne our selues earnestly to the vttermost of our power and out of al doubt God wil further our indeuour Let vs remember how Saint Iohn sayeth that the worlde passeth away with the lust thereof but hee whiche doeth the will of God indureth for euer Wherefore let vs not loue the worlde nor the things that are in the world though they seeme neuer so fayre and full of all kind of sweetenesse Of which forte are these things wherewith the world is wōt to intrappe men vnwares filthy pleasures shamefull lecherie glittering and sumptuous furniture of feastes deyntinesse of meates riches welth dominion power honor greatnesse glory dignitie and to knit vp the matter in fewe wordes the delightes of the flesh the pleasurings of the senses the allurementes of the eyes and the pride and pomp of life As for all these things the wel disposed man that feareth God deemeth them not to be true and substantiall goodes as they be commonly taken to be but emptie images of good things or rather some iuggling trickes and euen as a poysoned and deadly hony or else a deathfull draught of methe as the Prouerbe sayth and therefore he refuseth forsaketh and skorneth them and as Saint Iames counselleth keepeth him selfe vnstayned of the world and as sayth Saint Peter fleeth from the corruption of lustes that is in the world He knoweth that all the world is set vpon naughtinesse as Iohn witnesseth Therefore according to Saint Paules doctrine he seeketh the thyngs that are aboue hee careth for the things that are aboue he passeth not for earthly thyngs nor for the things that are put to him by the world whiche he is not ignorant that hee renounced in baptim togither with all the pompes allurementes and pleasures thereof And all these things dothe the wel disposed man streyne him selfe to doe vppon trust of Gods help But yet for all that it is a thing of great difficultie and labor by reason of the naughtinesse and sinfulnesse that is throughly settled and rooted in his corrupt nature wherethrough it commeth to passe that looke what leawdnesse and wickednesse so euer the Worlde occasioneth and offereth the Fleshe dothe greedily catche holde of them out of hande without sticking at it For the senses and thoughts of mans hart are forwarde to naughtinesse euen from his childhoode and all the imaginations of his minde are bent at all tymes vnto euill as that graue Authour Moyses witnesseth in Genesis Great therefore and paynefull alwayes is the godlye mans fyghting agaynste the pronenesse of his owne fleshe vnto sinne whiche is vtterly incredible and against his owne weakenesse in withstanding the allurements of the worlde by reason of the vnweeldie and vnbrideled moodes of the flesh which willingly followeth I will not say outrunneth whithersoeuer the world calleth it giueth no eare eyther to the souereintie of the minde or to the commaundementes of God in so muche that Paule sayde truely I knowe there dwelleth no good in me that is to say in my flesh for to be willing is present with me but I find no abilitie to doe thee good for I doe not the good which I am willing to do but I do the euill which I am loth to do And a little after I agree to Gods lawe sayth he as in respect of mine inward man but I see another law in my members which warreth against the law of my minde and leadeth me prisoner to the law of sinne that is in my members Wretched man that I am who shall set me free from this body of sin I thanke God through Iesus Christ our lord Thus much hitherto Now then that the world doth both marre with examples and vndo with stumbling-blocks for asmuch as it is out of all doubt I neede not to vse many wordes to make it playne A poore womā sees a ritch Lady glittering in golde and purple and clad in apparell of sundry colours and by and by she being inflamed with desire of like gaynesse stretcheth hir selfe beyonde hir abilitie hathe no measure of hir costlinesse and superfluitie So great mischiefe is there in example wherof the world yeeldeth occasion In the meane while there is no more regarde had of that which the Apostle Saint Peter sayth than of the man in the Moone as sayth the prouerbe His will is that the attire of Christian women shoulde not be outwarde in brayding of their heare in wearing of golde and in apparel of costly rayment but inwarde and secret that the inner man whiche is in the harte bee cleare from all corruptnesse so as the minde bee mylde and quiet c. Also Paules minde in his Epistle to Timothie is that wiues shoulde clad themselues in sobre apparel and attyre with shamefastnesse and chastitie not with curling of their heare not with golde not with pearle nor with sumptuous rayment but as becommeth women that shewe foorth godlynesse by good workes Besides this the vice wickednes and leaudnesse wherwith the world doth alwayes swarme and ouerflowe do often hurte by example castyng stumblingblockes in mens wayes and ministring occasion of falling as Lauish and ryotrous expences dayly bellycheere gloryous and fine furniture of feasting rauishing and deflowring of maydens aduoutry incest Church robbing blaspheming of God and specially these swerings cursings bannings by the crosse woundes and bloude of Christ which alas are too too breeme and rife nowadayes I omit howe the world inhonoreth vyces with the names of vertues calling ryot liberalitie vnshamefastnesse valyant corage stubornes stoutnes crafty deceitfulnes fynenesse of wit. Contrariwise they deface vertues with the names of vices calling stayednesse sturdinesse thriftinesse nigardlinesse shamfastnesse sheepishnes mildenes cowardlynes and warenesse fearefulnesse How manie bee there thinke you which to eschewe the reporte of too much sparing and nigardship doe after the example of other men mayntayne princely cheere and fare for a Pope with al sumptuousnesse and royaltie Thus the world minystreth both cause occasion wherthrough they that else woulde liue soberly thriftily and stayedly do liue ouerdaintily fynely sumptuously too the intent too scape disprayse So likewise ye shal finde other some which to eschewe the reporte of cowardlynes faynthartednesse bycause it is coūted an vnseemely thing for a man to be so wil rather reuenge iniurie than
natures Seneca sheweth in a certaine place saying manners are taken vp of conuersation and like as certaine diseases passe from one bodie into another by touching so dothe the minde conuey ouer his vices too such as are neerest about it The drunkard draweth his companiō too the loue of wine The companie of vnchast folke effeminateth an honest man though he be neuer so constante Couetousnesse sheddeth his poyson into suche as are next about him In like case is it with vertues on the contrarie part and so foorth But yet for al that neither good bringing vp nurture be it neuer so duly ministred nor the study instruction of the best sciences nor the continual companie with the best mē can bring to passe or attain that the vices whereto eche man is naturally most inclyned should be so vtterly rooted vp as no inclyng of his owne disposition may remaine behinde For rightly doth Lucretius say Wee muste not thinke that vices can be pluckt vp roote and rynde To furious wrath more hastly one bursteth out by kinde Another is to soone inclynd to bashfulnes feare A third is ouerfondly giuen all iniuries to beare Nowe although the vices that are planted in vs by nature bee not vtterly taken awaye by the meanes aforesaide yet are they repressed by them and as it were restrayned with a brydle ▪ so as they doe not easly burst out into acte Accordingly as it is reported of Stilpo that wheras he was naturally giuen to wine and women yet he did so subdue and bridle his vicious nature by learning as no man euer sawe him delight in wine nor perceiued any inclyng of lecherie in him as Cicero writeth of him The like is reported of Socrates if my memorie fayle mee not But now let vs come to the reckening vp of the vices and faultes of the flesh First formost our inward homebred enimy which is called the flesh neuer cesseth to intice vs to foule vnhonest lustes to filthy plesures to whordom wātonnesse malapartnes all other suche things Greeuous vndoubtedly paynful in this case is the incounter of a Christian man against the fleshe insomuche that he is fayne to fight after a sorte with him selfe by reason that the flesh lusteth against the spirite and the spirite against the flesh For the man that feareth God knoweth that whoredome is to be eschewed as Paule or rather as the holy ghost teacheth by Paule He knoweth that he ought to liue chastely and honestly as God biddeth in the ten commaundments Therefore his desire is to followe Gods wil and commaundements as heauenly hestes But the infirmitie of the flesh being ouerforewarde to shamefull voluptuousnesse carryeth him another way against his will doe what he can What should the wretche do in this case or whither may he turne him selfe in this temptation and assault of the fleshe which withstandeth the spirite Truely if he be wise he wil without delay flee to the heauenly father for helpe and by godly studyes honest exercises and often howbeit moderate fastings endeuer to bridle the rage of his flesh by some meane or other and to suppresse and subdue the wantonnesse of it with continuall temperaunce of life For I take that to bee both an excellent and an helthfull remedie aboue others to keepe lust in awe And for this cause doeth our sauiour among other things will vs to beware that our hartes be not ouerloden with surfetting drunkēnesse commaunding vs also to watche and praye lest we fall into temptation The apostles likewise exhort men to sobrietie and stay of themselues forbidding them gluttonie and drunkennesse Yet are not those the only meanes to coole and quench lust it must be matched with the help and ayde of the holy ghost and specially with earnest mindefulnesse of Gods word with faith aud with prayer For first of all in our temptations God muste bee called vpon and that feruently and hartilye Gods threatenings must be set before the eyes of our minde to fray vs from sin We must forthinke what euil may insue vpon the committing of wickednesse Wee muste call to minde the examples of Gods wrath whereof there is store in the holie scriptures Then is not the ouerlustinesse of the fleshe restrayned allonly by fasting and spare dyet but muche rather as I saide afore by indeueriug to subdue or as the apostle termeth it to mortifye the lustes sinfulnesse of the flesh by arming our selues with Gods worde faith prayer and with the rest of the spirituall weapons wherof saint Paule speketh to the Ephesians And if all these meanes boote thee not howbeit that thou must not leaue off though thou speede not at the first the last shote anker that remaineth forthee to flee vnto is honest laufull mariage graūted of God to such as haue not stay of themselues according to this saying For auoyding of whoredome let euery man haue his wife and againe It is better to marrye than to burne But what if the fleshe be stil inclyned prone to aduoutrie euen in mariage as sometimes it hapeneth God almightie shielde vs of his mercie from so greate mischiefe and from so cursed and ougly wickednesse For surely that were not nowe a simple prouocation of the fleshe whose infirmitie wedlocke might remedie but rather a temptatiō of the diuel inforcing to wicked and abhominable lecherie And therefore with great stoutnesse must that enimie be withstoode so as we must neuer giue him leaue to find vs idle or weltring in sloth full ease but be alwayes occupyed in godly exercises and labours And in especially wee must take diligent heede that we out of hand discharge our mindes of all filthye thoughts and of what so euer else the diuel prompteth vs withall and putteth in our heades so as we feede not our owne humor with them ne stand long musing vpon thē but flee apace to Gods helpe pouring out our prayers before him and dryuing out those euill thoughtes with better thoughtes as one nayle is driuen oute with another Call to mynde the shortenesse of this life the approching of death euery minute of an houre the Iudgemente seate of the Lorde the paynes of hell the fyre that shall neuer bee quenched And contrarywyse the innumerable benefites of God the crosse of Christe the dwelling of the holie Ghost in vs and the Angels that are appoynted of God to shield vs the shame and reuerence of whom ought too restrayne thee alwaies from wickednesse for asmuche as they are euer present with thee hauing a continuall care of thee and furthering thee vnto al goodnesse Also bethinke thee of the sayings of holy writ whiche do threaten Gods wrathe too whoremongers aduouterers al others that are defiled with like wickednesse For what meaneth the sixth cōmaundement by saying Thou shalt not commit aduoutrie Uerily it forbiddeth all vncleannesse and vnhonest lustes and it requireth honestie and chastenesse and therewithall temperance and sobrietie whereby this cleannesse bothe of minde and
forgiue and forget it and rather go to lawe than lose any peece of their right For the world doth commonly terme patience by the leude name of cowardlynesse and lasinesse and deeme the desire of reuenge to be a kinde of valiantnesse and stoutnesse meete for a man To be shorte after the same sort there are innumerable who to eschewe the brute of pouertie bycause they take that to be reprochfull doe seeke goods by all meanes possible whither it be by periurie vsurie or any other leude slightes not passing at all howe they come by them so they may haue them For if any do heap vp riches by hooke and by crooke and inforce themselues to the vttern oâ—t to get abundante of welth those doth the world deeme to be men of forcast and pollicie and it taketh almost them only to bee wise and only worthie to be accounted of As for honest pouertiâ— it despiseth it making no reckening of such as eschew it not by al meanes possible And so by inflaming meÌ„ with dâ—sire of welth and riches it bringeth to passe and obteyneth that like as in all other things so also in this men direct the doings and deuices of their whose life cheefly by the iudgement of the world and neglect the commaundementes heauenly doctrine of God running blyndly and madly into al sin corrupted by example one of another Looke what I haue sayde of riches thinke the same to be spoken of power dominion and authoritie to the atteynment of which things whosoeuer do beÌ„de theÌ„selues with all their harte them doth the world gape gaze at aboue all others as men of greatest corage Whiche dealing when well dispozed men and such as feare God doe see who else are woont to despize such things and to make none account of them they also are somwhat moued at it and tickled with a certaine desire of the same things the whiche notwithstanding they doe easily put away and shake off by and by in respect of Gods will which they labour to obey To be short which way so euer a man turne him in the worlde vndoubtedly he shall euery where meete with somewhat whereby the mindes of the godly may be sore offended if they take not heede and which may wonderfully defyle atteynt and mar them with the foule infectioÌ„ of noysome example bee they neuer so pure sound and cleere so as a man may rightly say that the worlde is after a sort the wide gate broad way that leadeth to destruction and is woont to be alwayes troden haunted of most men wherof our Sauiour maketh mention in the Gospel But I will not stande any longer vpon these things Of the Diuell THen let vs come to the third enemy which is at deadly foade with vs continually Uerily he is the old serpeÌ„t which is called Satan and the Diuel as Iohn writeth in the Apocalips This is hee that raungeth continually vp and downe in Christes sheepefolde as an hungerstaruen Lyon seeking whom to deuour whom Peter willeth vs to withstaÌ„d stoutly by fayth This is he that seduceth the whole worlde This is the author of sinne which allured the first father of mankinde into deceyt This is he whoÌ„ our sauior witnesseth in a certaine place bothe to haue bene a murtherer from the beginning and also to be a lyer and the father of Lyes This is hee of whome Iohn saith The diuell sinneth from the beginning This is bothe the prince of the world as Christ termeth him in Iohn also the euill wherefro we desire in the Lords prayer to be deliuered He therefore to come to the matter not only tempteth vs to the meane vices and wicked doings suche as I haue rehersed alredy and wherevnto both the fleshe of it owne accord is foreward and the world ministreth innumerable causes and occasions but also laboreth to driue and inforce vs to some greater sinnes and horribler wickednesse as Epicurish contempt of God the neglecting of gods woord vnbeleefe distrust often despayre false perswasion of ourselues trust of our owne strength wilfull stubornnesse in euill blaspheming of God the withstanding of the knowen truthe hypocrisie superstition Idolatrie periurie treason aduoutrie inceste murther kylling of a mannes owne father or mother impoysonyng witchcraft and other infinite sinnes such wicked and vngodly deedes as cannot be conteyned within any number He laboreth to infeeble our trust in God and also to weaken or rather to take quite away the hope of our saluation and to quenche our loue towardes God and our charitie towardes our neybour To bee shorte hee neuer leaues assaulting of vs both within and without hee preasseth and pursueth vs and neuer giues vs any respite at all And whome he cannot ouercome by sodaine assault them he indeuoreth to tyre with long continuance and with holding on stil. He prompteth our mindes with filthy shamful and wicked thoughtes and inflameth vs with sundrie heates of lustes within and afterward he trumpeth such things in our way outwardly as may easily eyther corrupt vs by example or offend vs vnwares eyther in word or deede Finally he trieth al the ways to the woode that looke to what vice a man is most prone by nature and custome hee may throwe him headlong into it and so finally destroy him And not that onely but moreouer he laboureth by all meanes to coniecture and knowe what euery man thinketh in his owne minde by some outwarde signes and tokens Therefore of all things it is the hardest for a man to resist his so sundry greate temptations vnlesse god helpe our infirmity And the diuel assalteth vs not only in respect of the minde that is to witte by prouoking vs to innumerable sinnes and by thrusting vs headlong oftentimes into most horrible wicked deeds but also indeuoreth to the vttermost of his power to hurt our bodies to appaire hinder our helth to procure sicknesses to infect the ayre to rayse noysome tempestes to stirre vp deadly warres great vprores and troublesome seditions and to minister causes and occasions of hatred hartburning and enimitie both publique priuate wherof diuers times doe rise very great slaughters And he is not more to be feared when he assaulteth vs openly than when he stealeth vpon vs as it were by vndermining neither is be more to be dreaded when hee sheweth himselfe as he is than when he transformeth himselfe as sayth the apostle into an angel of light He dealeth with vs openly when he goeth about to driue vs to outwarde sinnes and wicked deedes as rape aduoutrie incest manslaughter witchcrafte and such like And he stealeth vppon vs by vndermyning when he assayleth vs vnwares by secrete traynes making vs negligent and in manner carelesse in hearing of gods woorde and slowe and slouthfull in trew godlynesse and honest dooings as in the deedes of charitie in praying to God in giuing him thankes and in executing euery man the dueties of his owne vocation and so oppresseth vs as it were in a sleepe And
concorde ielosie cutteth off friendship Thou art compelled to speake euill whiche the Lawe of God forbiddeth Thou art driuen to sweare which is not lawful So many persecutiōs doth the mind dayly suffer and with so many dangers is the hart distressed and yet doth it delight thee to stand stil heere among the diuels swords when thou shouldest rather wishe and desire to hye thee vnto Christe by the helpe of speedie death and so foorth Now like as thou muste not be proud if thou haue at any time ouercome thine enimy through the helpe of God so must thou not bee out of harte though he ouerthrowe thee as it were dash thee against the ground but thou must ryse vp againe the lustilier against thine enimie and not suffer him to go his way vnfoyled And that shalt thou do if thou praye often and hartily vnto God and craue the helpe of the holy ghost at God the fathers hand for Iesus Christs sake henceforth loke more neerly to thy self walking circumspectly and warely in all things and looking euery way aduizedly about thee that thou offend not vnwares ne dash against any thing if thou be strong in the Lord by the power of his strength as sayth the apostle finally if thou alwayes and aboue all things bee mindfull of mans frayltie that wheras thou seemest to thy selfe to stande thou loke throughly substantially to it that thou fall not and imploy thy selfe to thy saluation with feare and trembling But to returne to our former matters in the diuels tempting of vs when he pricketh vs foorth to any of the things aforesaide wee must first and formost take to vs the sword of the spirit which is gods worde after the example of our sauiour Iesus Christe who being tempted of the diuel resorted to the mistical scripture by meanes whereof he brought to passe that the diuel went away vanquished and did let him alone as the storie of the gospel witnesseth The like must we do As for example therby to make the thing more manifest if he go about to bring a mā to the neglecting of Gods worde of holy assemblies the man of God by and by fearing himself must bethinke him of his saying to S. Iohn He that is of God heareth gods worde c. My sheepe heare my voyce If he goe about to driue vs to dispayre for the vnmeasurable number of our sinnes Let vs call to remembrance this saying of our Sauiour in Iohn God so loued the worlde as he gaue his only begotten sonne to the intent that whosoeuer trusteth in him should not perishe but haue life euerlasting And this saying of the same our sauiour in Mathew Come vnto me all yee that are weerye and ouerloden and I will refresh you Also this whiche is written in the first Epistle of S. Iohn If any of vs sinne we haue an aduocate with the Father euen Iesus Chryste the righteous and he is the attonement for our sins Again herein appeared Gods loue towards vs that God sent his onely begotten son into the world too the ende that we might liue by him c. So likewise in all other of the Diuels temptations and suggestions the godly man muste as I sayde afore take to him the spirituall sworde to incounter his enimie withall and he shall go away with victory in all cōflictes through the helpe of god For without Gods grace mans indeuor is vaine and to no purpose For al our abilitie commeth of God it is Gods euery whit of it as saith that blissed man Cyprian Neither can wee hope for any victory against the Diuel by reason of the feeblenesse and infirmitie of our owne strength vnlesse God helpe vs And that is the very cause why our Lord commaundeth vs to desire of God the father that he should not leade vs into temptation but as oft we flee vnto him deliuer vs from that euil wyght whiche suffereth vs not to be in rest and quiet one minute of an houre The same Lorde of ours exhorteth vs to watch and pray least wee fall into temptation Yea the Apostle Peter quickeneth vs to sobrietie and watchfulnesse bycause of our aduersarie the Diuell who goeth about like a roring Lyon secking whom to deuour But nowe to finish this part of the diuels temptation I will breefly set downe what Tertullian sayth of that most sturdie enimie of mankinde He neuer suffereth his malice to rest saith he he matcheth he assaulteth he beseegeth if he may by any meanes eyther strike the eyes with fleshly concupiscēce or snare the minde with worldly intycementes or ouerthrowe fayth with feare of earthly authoritie or writhe one from the sure way by vntowarde traditions he spareth no stumbling-blockes he spareth no temptations To the same purpose also maketh this of saint Cyprian Our aduersary with whō we be at warres is old on auncient enimie It is ful sixe thousand yeeres ago since the diuell did first fight against man He hath now learned all kinds of tempting and al slights and trickes to ouerthrowe euen by the long continuance of his practise If he fynde Christes souldyer vnprepared rawe not heedful nor watching with all his harte he windeth about him vnwitting it he beguyleth him vnwares he deceyueth him for want of skill But if a man that keepeth Gods commaundements sticketh stoutly vnto Christ do cope with him he must needes be ouercome bycause Christ whō the man confesseth is vnvanquishable The same man in another place saith thus Wee must keepe watch my deere brethren and labour with al our power that we may with all heedfulnesse and wakernesse withstande our enimie in his rage who shooteth his dartes at vs to strike vs and wound vs in al parts of our body He goeth prying about euery one of vs and like an enimie that beseegeth the walles of a towne hee spyeth and tryeth whither any part of our members he lesse stedie and assured than it shuld be that he may breake in at it to the inner partes He offereth the eyes alluring shapes and delightfull pleasures to destroy chastitie by sight He tempteth the eares with shirle musik that the sweetnesse of the sounde may lozen and soften the corage of the Christian by heering He prouoketh the tong to misspeaking he pricketh foreward the hands to malapertnes of slaughter through prouocation of wrongs Too make a manne a deceyuer he faceth him with vniust gayne Too catch the soule with couetousnesse hee thrusteth in hurtfull commoditie To bereeue a man of the heauenly honour he promiseth him worldly honour To steale from him the true things he sheweth him the false things And when hee can not beguile couertly hee threateneth openly and apertly manacing with terror of troublesome persecution as one that is alwayes enimie to Gods seruants always restles in seking to subdue them In peace he is slye in persecution violent Therfore my deerebeloued brethren our minds must stande armed weaponed as wel against all the
diuels deceitfull slights as against all his open manaces as readie alwayes to fight against him as our enimie is alwayes redie to assayle vs Thus much sayeth saint Cyprian And this enimie is so much more to be feared than the flesh or the world not only bycause he almost neuer ceasseth to assault vs on al sides al our life long but also putteth vs to our plundge at the point of death when we be readie to giue vp the ghost At that which instant he laboreth to driue vs to dispayre by setting our sinnes before our eyes by inhauncing them wonderfully aboue mesure Moreouer at the same time he bringeth importunately to our remeÌ„brance the iudgment seate of the Lord the tormeÌ„ts of hell the fire that shall neuer be quenched furthermore Gods rigour the examples of Goddes dreadfull wrath in punishing of sinners that he may driue the wretched ma to dispayre of his saluatioÌ„ Also he casteth in a chokepeare to make him dout of gods mercie and putteth perilous thoughtes in his heade of predestination To be short he striueth to weaken the beleefe of the thynges that are to be beleued and maketh to cal al the whole doctrine of our Religion into doubt that he may so at length throwe him headlong into endlesse damnation Or if he perceiue hym selfe to win nothing that way then he transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light and whom he could not perchaunce driue to dispayre him he stirreth vp to a certaine vngodly selftrust and to a presuming vpon his own desertes and so laboureth to oppresse him vnwares with carelesnesse yea and euen standing in a fond conceyt of his own good deds Of the whiche matter forasmuch as I haue spokeÌ„ sufficiently in my booke of the comforting of the sick I wil adde no more of it here These are almost al the things that came to my mind coÌ„cerning the conflict of the Christen maÌ„ against the flesh the world the diuel which I thought good too put forth Great vndoubtedly is mannes vnabilitie to resist these enimies but yet as I sayde wee bee able to doe al things through him that strengtheneth vs and that is the sonne of God our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ. Be of good cheere saith be I haue ouercome the world Therefore let vs be of good corage and call continually vpon God for help and as our sauiour counselleth vs let vs not be weery of praying let vs eschew al occasions of sinning let vs forthw t stop the teÌ„ptations at their first enterance let vs neuer suffer them to gather strength For when men stand or tarry any thing long vppon filthy thoughtes they runne in daunger of being ouercome at the length When we haue gotten the vpper hande let vs buckle our selues new againe to the battell and not imagine the conflict to be come yet to a finall end For wee muste looke still for one temptation in anothers necke And if we be ouercome let vs not be out of hart for it For as it is true that one said that is too wit that the man which runnes away may fight againe so is it as true that the conquerour hath oftentimes bin ouercome of the vanquished Let vs doe our indeuor that whatsoeuer occasion our enemye giueth vs of sinning wee may take holde of it to doe well and as the prouerb sayeth lette vs cut his throte with his owne sworde Right hard and difficult surely is the combate with our enimie but yet is the victorie easie by the helpe of god Only let vs withstand him manfully and with stoute corage and God will helpe our indeuor that I may vse the Apostles words he wil treade downe Satan vnder our feete When our enimie tempteth vs let vs alwayes call to mynd the shortnesse and vncertaintie of this lyfe the presentnesse of death at all times and in all places the perill of vnrepentantnesse the endlesse punishments of hell but specially and aboue all thinges Gods being present euerywhere and the presence of the Angels whome our most mercifull father hathe appointed to keepe vs Let vs beare in minde that we be the temple of God â–ª and that Gods spirite dwelleth in vs Therefore let vs not I say let vs not vnhallow Gods holie temple neither let vs as sayth the Apostle greeue the holy spirite of God by following our filthye lustes and running foorth whithersoeuer oure enemie the Diuel calleth vs Let vs not driue away the Angels whom God hath set to be our kepers for the mayntenaunce of welfare the reuerence of whoÌ„ ought of right to call vs backe from sin and wickednes Let vs be ashamed to do those things in the sâ—ght of the angels which we would be loth to doe in the sight of a man Let the purenesse and holinesse of the Angels keepe vs somewhat in awe from sinning Nay rather let God himselfe who is present euery where who is the searcher of mens raynes and hartes and which looketh into the innermost conceyts of our mindes let him say I â—ray vs not onely from al leude wicked deedes but also from thinking vpon any thing that is vnhonest filthy or vncleane if wee be not vtterly godlesse stark Epicures Finally let vs indeuer to bee sobre beware that our harts be not ouercharged with surfeting and drunkennesse But as the Church of God sing in hymnes I say more sparely let vs vse Our words our meate and eke our drinke Our sleepe and Play that we may stande More stiffly stil vppon our garde And let vs shunne all naughtie things â–ª Which ouerthrowe the wauering mindes â–ª And let vs giue our wily foe No roome to vse his tyrannie Last of all let vs assure ourselues that in this harde and daungerous incounter against our inbred coruptioÌ„ pronenes to sin against the innumerable inticements of the world against the prince of darknesse and god of this world whiche maintaineth vnreconcylable war against vs the holy ghost helpeth not the cowards hartles sort nor the sluggards and slothful sort nor such as sit loytring and ydle as it were with their armes folded one within another Therefore let vs not soothe our selues in our owne weaknesse neither let vs cocker our owne nycenesse but being armed weaponed with the spirituall furniture that saint Paule maketh mention of in the Epistle too the Ephesians lette vs ioyne battell cherefully as valiant in the Lord and by the mightines of his strength as saith the apostle Let vs not giue brydle wilfully to our affections neither let vs at any time shrinke wyllingly from Gods grace They that streyne themselues are helped from aboue as they say God giueth his holy spirit for Christ the meadiators sake to them that craue it Through whose ayde and helpe mans infirmitie which else had bin vtterly vnable through the only powers of nature is nowe inabled by power from heauen if it submit it selfe thereto at leastwise so wee fayle not ourselues but beware