the â—salmist All creatures when thou hast most neede will faile thee and therefore it is a vaine thing to repose any confidence in the things of this world If thou trust in men looke often to be deceaued for their wont is after a long and great seruice to make but a simple recompence Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and withdraweth his heart from the Lord Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sonne of man for there is none helpe in them saith the Psalmist Haman trusted much in the fauour of King Ahashuerosh of which he was soone depriued and brought to a most infamous and miserable end To be in fauour with great men of this world it doth vs little good and surely it vanisheth as nothing if not afore yet at the point of death What stabilitie canst thou promise thy selfe I pray you in a broken staffe of reede Euen such is man O Lord of hostes blessed is the man that trusteth in thee saith the Psalmist Happie is hee which loueth God with his whole heart and putteth his trust in him the Lord will deliuer that man from all trouble But forasmuch as true hope is founded vpon a good conscience the Psalmist doth say that is not enough in God to trust but besides a man must worke that which good is according to that Blessed is he that iudgeth wisely of the poore againe sayeth the wise man The hope of the wicked shall perish because it is not grounded 〈◊〉 on a good foundation To trust in the Lorde as some say they doe and yet dayly to sinne what is it but rash and vndiscreete presumption â—ut thy confidence in God for if thou for thy part doe that which thou oughtest doubt thou not but God of his infinite goodnesse will giue thee glorie for hee neuer for saketh them which trust in him It is a vaine thing liuing ill to presume vpon hoâ—e to repent thee heereafter whereas thou art ignorant whether thou shalt liue any longer than to day or no. Thou oughtest by and by to reforme thy life and to haue good hope that God will giue thee of his glorie since it is most sure that he neuer denied it to any which fulfill that which he commaundeth Hope still in thy God saith the Scripture so wiâ—l he deliuer thee from al thy troubles For hee is a shield to them which put their trust in him Dauid put his trust in the Lord and he was holpen Blessed is the man which feareth the Lord he will not be afraide of euil tydinges Happy is the man which falleth not from his hope happy is the man whose force and strength and refuge God is such an hope shall neuer be in vaine in the daies of trouble Consider the old generations of men ye children saith Ecclesiasticus and marke them well was there euer any confounded that put his trust in the Lord or who hath continued in his feare and was forsaken or whom did he euer despise that called vpon him Is it not good reason that the sicke man should put his trust in the Physition that healeth all diseases It is the Lord saith the Prophet which healeth all thine infirmities The Lorde is neere to all that call vpon him yea to al that cal vpon him in truth CHAP. 6. God is to bee loued aboue all THou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thine heart with all thy soule and with all thy minde saith the Lord. If so thou wouldest doe then is it not sufficient for thee to leaue the euill way vnlesse thou walke by the good way through the detestation of worldly vanities Loue God aboue all Thou canst not liue without loue seeing therefore of force thou must loue then louâ— that which of all is most sweete and pleasant Thou maiest not so loue the world that thou offend God For what proportion is there of God his excellencie vnto the profite of the world For as God infinitely surpasteth his creatures so the holy loue of God without all comparison is more excellent than all other loue Who should reape the fruite but he which planted the tree The Apostle saith Wâ—o planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit therof WhoÌ„ shouldest thou loue but him that hath giuen thee power to loue He onely is to be loued of whome thou receiuest abilitie to loue Flie therefore the corruption of the world and embrace the loue of GOD with al thine heart Runne vnto the loue of God as vnto a refuge and defence Nothing so soone will make thee to despise the vanitie of earthly things as the loue of God but because thine heart was neuer touched throughly with the fire of his loue thereof it groweth that thou art so in loue with the corruptible goods of this wretched world Hence is it that thou art so troubled with cares and griefe of minde and hence thou settest not thine hart vpon the loue of God O that thou hadst but some small taste of Gods spirit to begin withall It is the nature and propertie of loue to make his account of that which it loueth That is well verified here in this worldly loue where we see many times that for the attaining of that which they loue they make no reckoning either of goods honor or name they forget themselues through musing vpon the thing beloued After their example therefore thou which sayest thou louest God giue thy selfe wholy to loue him and casting aside all other matters of the world occupy thy selfe wholy and altogether in his seruice So did the holy Fathers in times passed showe themselues they were transformed into a heauenly nature they thought not of themselues nor of the world for which cause they were iudged of the world to be very fooles not to haue so much as common sense Let it be thy chiefest exercise that God and thy soule may agree well together as though there were nothing besides vnder heauen to bee done and as though thy selfe besides wert nothing so that thou mightest truely say as the Apostle did I liue yet not I now but Christ liâ—eth in me Be not so taken with the thinges of this worlde as to make them the end of thy loue since all that thou canst loue in this world is more perfectly a great deale in God than in the world If thou loue any thing because it is beautifull why louest thou not God the fountaine of all beautie If goodnesse bee the thing wherevpon thine heart is fixed what is better than God None is good saue one euen God God is purely good in his essence and substance The goodnesse of a creature is so farre good as it receiueth some little drop from that infinite sea I meane from the incomprehensible goodnesse of God the creator thereof If thou dost so much loue any creature for some showe of goodnesse that thou
euen deuoure and eate vppe the poore the waues of the sea bee neuer at rest but alwayes are mouing and working so the hearts of worldlinges they are neuer quiet but are continually beaten vp and down with the heauy thoghts cares of the world This made the Prophet Isaiah to say The wicked are like the raging sea that cannot rest whose waters cast vp mire and dirt Daniel hee saw the foure windes of the heauen striue vpon the sea The companion of honor is care and with riches go carefulnesse â—nd among the dignities and â—anitieâ— of the worlde is mixed pride and arrogancy for the most part You shall see few rich men but they haue store of sinnes few men of greate calling but they are proud few that followe the trades in the worlde that loue God from their heart yea a wonder were it that a man wrapped among the busines of this world should put his confidenc in the inuisible God Happie is that man which setteth not his heart vpon the vaine thinges of this world which are so full of daungers and trappes and drawe hedlong vnto hell If thou wouldest bee deliuered fâ—om them flie with Eliah into the wildernesse of true repentance Much trouble in the world thou mightest auoide if diligently thou didest thinke thereof but he that doth not somuch as feare them falleth into them ere hee be aware When there is a calme in the sea the Sailers be in good safetie but when such a storme doth arise that doth hazarde the ship and all therein then is it their manner for the sauing of their liues to throwe their goodes ouer boorde If then for the safetie of the bodie men will euen throwe awaie their temporall riches how much the rather should wee doe the same if they bee an impediment to the spirituall proceeding Preferre not therefore I pray you these momentaâ—y and transitory things to those true riches and eternall And seeing the world is like in many respectes to a tempestuous sea where daunger is present looke well to thy self that with Pharao the King of Egypt thou bee not drowned therein CHAP. 9 Men are not to bee without care of their saluation liuing in this dangerous world ELiah lay and slept vnder the iuniper tree saith the Scripture Way fairing men doe vse to rest them and to sleepe vnder the shadow of a tree as they iourney by the way and when the shadow is gone and they beginne to awake they finde themselues all in a sweat by reason of the parching heate of the Sunne Are not all the things of this world as a shadow in which the seruantes of this world doe lie and rest themselues while being forgetful of their owne saluation they repose confidence in the vaine honours of this worlde If thou trust in the fauour of princes thou sleepest vnder a shadowe which soone is gone for their fauor continueth not and quickly mayest thou come into disgrace with them if they do liue but if they die being honoured before of some thou shalt then be forsaken of all Cursed bee the man that trusteth in man saith the scripture Put not your trust in princes nor in the sonne of man for there is none helpe in him You can promise to your self nothing certaine from these men for if they fauour you to day they may abhorre you to morrow Sleepe not vnder the buckler of strange friendshippe or of riches for these last not Trust not in bewtie for as a vapor it vanisheth soone away Put no confidence in the glory of this world For as the winde it is quickly gone As for honours alas they passe away euen as a smoake and as a shadow Whatsoeuer things are in this world they slide away and are transitorie euen thy selfe man shortly shalt be carried to the graue Saul he put his trust in the strength of his men and weapons which hee had about him and therefore betooke himselfe to sleepe to the â—azarding of his person Euen so many men reposing trust in the strength of their bodies and youth put off the amendment of their liues securely from time to time whereby they fall into the danger of leesing the life of their soules for euer and euer The Sonne of Saul Ishbosheth hee slept at noone day on his bed in a troublesome time where hee was smote slaine and beheaded Take heede that the like come not vnto thee as it can hardly bee auoided if thou sleepe securely in the vanities of this world Death it will come at the length and being awaked out of thy slumber of sinne thou shalt find thy selfe â—ast headlong into that vnquenchable fire of hell At the point of death how wilte thou be troubled in minde when all the thinges wherein thou trâ—stedst thou shalt see coÌ„uerted into a smoke and shadow Sleepe not therefore in the shadowe of worldly vanitie least in death thou finde thy selfe enuironed with sundrie afflictions and torments CHAP. 10. It is a miserable slauerie to serue the world BEcause your fathers haue forsaken me saieth the Lord c. yee shall serue other Gods day and night They which giue themselues to the satisfying of their owne desires they shall suffer such torments as be intollerable The fained loue of Delilah it was the cause why Sampson did leese both his eyes and his liberty beeing made a slaue to grinde in the prison house Thou art like vnto blinde Sampson whosoeuer thou art which sub duing the vnrulie passions of his heart through the discipline of the worde Doth it not argue great folly in that man which beeing free to the preiudice of his owne libertie will enter into matrimonie with a womaÌ„ that is bond And is it not as greate foolishnes despising the feare of God for the will to submit it selfe to the seruitude of creatures and the bondage of the world Did not Sampson declare a great ouersight in that knowing himselfe often to be deceaued by Delilah and that she ment nothing more then to deliuer him into the handes of the Philistines his enemies yet had rather with the danger of bondage to serue and obey her as it fell out to his vtter ouerthrow than to crosse her desire or to bridle his owne affections Into the same reproach thinke not but thou shalt fall if thou beleeue the enticements and falsehood of this flattering worlde Take heede least the world do make a sale of thee as Delilah did of Sampson If it doe with Sampsons thine eyes shal bee plucked out so that thou shalt not beholde the deceipts the cares and troubles of the world nor taste any whit how sweet the yoake of thy Sauiour Christ is Oh how much better is it to serue God and so to raigne than by seruing the world to feele that intollerable hunger and thirst in the pit of hell Being warned therefore by the danger of other men casting off that most grieuous yoake of the worlde put thou vpon
tasted the pleasures of the same but it leaueth them comfortlesse This knewe the Prophet Baruch right wel when crying out he said Where are the Princes of the heatheÌ„ such at ruled the beasts vpon the earth They that had their pastime with the fouls of the heauen that hoarded vp siluer gold wherin men trust make none end of their gathering For they that coyned siluer and were so careful of their work whose inuentioÌ„ had none ende are come to naught and gon down to hâ—l other men are come vp in their steades Soone passed the glory of this worlde from them euen as in a moment What brought their great promotion in the world vnto them but a miserable death and infamous ruine The glory of the worlde it passeth soone away the goodes thereof are like floures that soone doe vade to which small trust is to be giuen for they will sooner be gone than you would thinke If thou be exalted one high take heede thou be not throwen downe againe as the hangmaÌ„ vseth to deale with condemned persons Know you not how the worlde dealeth so with such as it doeth aduance That great whore af Babylon spoken of in the Reuelation of S. Iohn vaunted her selfe exceedingly of her soueraigne prosperitie in the worlde but when shee thought her selfe most sane she tooke a shamefnll faâ— That couetous rich man also as we read in the Gospel after S Luke he gloried immoderatly in his riches but straight away God said vnto him O foole this night will they fetch away thy soule from thee then whose shal those things be which thou hast prouided The children of Israel were scattered abroad throughout al the lande of Egypt for to gather stubble in the steeâ—e of strawe Al men do seek for riches al men are obedient to mony and in this respect no friende is known and after they had sought about they were well dribasted for their labour so done they might bee throwne out of that ioyfull paradise euen as the prophet Ieremy doeth say Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause Worldly pleasures great promotions what are they but a baite many times laied by the Deuill or his instrumentes to bring vs into his snares When the world doth make much of thee then doth it hunt after thy soule vnlesse thou take the better heed thou wilt soone be taken with the deceipts of the same Contrarily God when he inuiteth vs he seeketh our welfare And although his call is very sweet kind yet heard is it not many times because the loue of the word shutteth the gates against him And seeing that great is the sture and noyse in the soule of a sinner maruell it is not if the knocke of the Lord bee not heard within The spiritual crying is the earnest desire of the soule and the godly praâ—â—r vttered with zeale strength of the mind Moses prayed and though his lips went not at all yet the Lorde saide vnto him Wherfore criest thou vnto me Hannah the mother of Samuel she praied vnto the Lord yet did her lippes onely moue her voice was not heard Lord thou hast heard the desire of the poore thou preparest their heart thou benâ—est tâ—ine eare to them saith Dauid Great is the noyse and cry among them that giue themselues to the matters of this world the desires of promotion they alwaies make a foule sturre and therefore no maruell if the noyse of God bee not hearde in an house so ful and so oppresâ—ed with disordered appetites which can neuer be satisfied according to that of Horace The more they drinke the drier they are For the thirst of couetousnes is neuer quenched Content thy selfe with that thou hast considering both the shortnesse of this present life the poor estate of Iesus Christ this will cause thee to keep all the vnquiet appetites of thy mind in peace and tranquility Driue from thine heart the loue of this world so with Iâ—b thou maist say Thou shalt call me and I will aunswere thee CHAP. 22. The wicked are made of but the godly are persecuted in the world IF ye were of the worlde the world would loue his own but because yee are not of the world but I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you saith the Lord It is no new thing that the wicked do persecute the good and worldly men the seruantes of Christ. For so persecuted was Abel of Caine Isaac of Ismael Iakob of Esau Ioseph of his brethren Anna of Peninnah Dauid of Saul Helias of Iezabel The vertuous life of the children of God being a secrete reprehension of the wicked behauior of vngodlie persons what maruaile if the wicked through â—atted doe pursue the good The saintes in this worlde may not vnfithe be compared vnto babes dead borne who bee readie to be borne away and buried so soone as they are borne but the vngodly are like those children which come into the world aliue and therefore it is a place for them to liue and deale in The theeues which breake by night into a house to robbe they will first afore other things put out the light that they bee not discried so deale wicked men with the godly who are the light of the world For euâ—ry man that euill doeth hateth the light Dauid through spirituall ioy leaped and danced before the Arke of God and Michal Saules daughter despised him in her heart for so doing It is the custome of naughty persons to scorne at the actions of well disposed men So wickedly were the people inhabiting within the land of Iudah giuen that they were so farre from building the temple of the Lorde according to the expresse commaundement of King Darius that they hindered that good worke and discouraged such as set their handes therunto Euen so doe the men of the worlde at this day they will neither doe that which good is themselues nor further them that would but so much as in them lieth hinder all good actions and enterprises But the true and godly Israelites were not discouraged for all this but went forward in the businesse of the Lord They did the worke with one hand and with the other helde the sword This example may teach thee not to giue ouer a good worke for the malice of il men but to prâ—ceede in the race of true religion and in the exercise of vertue defend thy selfe in patience against thine aduersaries whosoeuer they be It is an argument that thou art not good if thou canst not quietly put vp il patience my friend it will doe thee no hurt but it maketh greatlie for thy commendatiâ—n For as it redounâ—eth to thy discredite when thou art extolled of the wicked so it is to thy great prayse when the vngodly and none else cannot abide thee Then is our life commendable
and so be fitte as a chaste spouse to welcome the bridgrome Christ. CHAP. 40. Vnspeakable is the happines which the men of this world shall forgoe THey contemned that pleasant lande said the Prophet of worldly men It is a wonderfull thing that with all diligence and studie wee seeke not for glorie which of all things exceedingly is to be desired There is nothing which naturally wee so desire nor sooner may loose nor for which men will spende so much as for the glorie of this world whereby many are depriued in this life of spirituall consolation and in the other world of eternall life Many good thinges doe they want and great ioyes doe they goe without which giue themselues to serue the world And because they set their mindes vppon corruptible things they are depriued of that heauenly society of Iesus Christ and the diuine contemplation of spirituall things It is much to bee lamented that men can finde sweetnesse in the vnsauorie and sowre things of this world and yet haue no taste at all of the matters of God the pleasure whereof is soueraigne The taste of the diuine loue is so delicate that worldly pleasures giue no relish at all where that hath a place Happie is that man which is onely refreshed with the loue of God and rauished with the pleasures of holy vertues Flye from henceforth from the vanitie of this worlde for the more thou estrangest thy selfe from the same the greater comfort shalt thou perceiue in thy soule and the lesse dealing thou hast in the worlde the more fauour shalt thou haue with God Why therefore doest thou not approch neere vnto the Lord why lingerest thou It is a lamentable thing that the loue of such vile trash should keepe thee backe Shall the shadow of good things in this world so preuaile with thee that thou wilt forgoe those all sweete and delectable ioyes in the life to come For whatsoeuer in this worlde thou louest it is nothing in comparÃson of the treasure of delights in the kingdome of heauen Giue thy selfe wholy therefore to loue God and the vnuisible good things buy for smal great for transitorie eternal for vile precious for base glorious for miserable comfortable for sowre sweet and to speake in a worde for nothing all things Let not the apparance of these corruptible thinges deceiue thee neither suffer the vanitie and pleasure of this present life to darken thy knowledge vnderstanding of heaueÌ„ly matters If thou contemne the vanitie of this world thou shalt enioy the loue of God Consider how little it is that God would haue thee to do how much hee promiseth Renounce therefore the vile thinges of this worlde that thou mayest attaine that precious pearle of inestimable price Seeing in comparison of the life to come which is perpetuall this present life is but a moment as it were delight not in this short and corruptible to the end thou mayest haue ioy in the euerlasting life A foole were he that hauing many faire Lordships and pallaces of his owne would yet for all that continue in a stable euen such a base thing is this miserable world in respect of the glorious and celestiall citie Ierusalem which is aboue Seeing therefore God himselfe of his most holy loue doth inuite thee and open the gates of paradise against thou come bee not so carried away with the loue of the shadow of good thinges that for them thou canst be content to goe without those true and most sweete goods of the other life for the enioying whereof thou wert created Liue so in this world as in the way as in the world to come thou mayest raigne for euer as in thy proper countrey The end of the second Booke THE Thirde Booke declaring howe the vanitie of this world being renounced wee should giue our selues to the seruice of Iesus Christ. CHAP. 1. The whole world cannot satisfie the desire of mortall man THE Lions do lacke and suffer hunger but they which seek the Lord shal want nothing that is good saith the Psalmist He that hath God hath all that good is but hee that hath him not is very poore Without God all pleasure is paine all ioy is sorowe all abundance is penurie and scarsitie God alone the creator of our soulâ— doeth satisfie the desire they are aâ— vaine that seeke consolation in thâ— things of this world There is nothing in this life which is not full of bitternesse nothing so precious so good and delectable besides God himselfe that it can either deliuer from all euill or bring vnto felicitie The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want saith the prophet The Princes of the world themselues the more mightie they seeme the more they doe neede nowe and then for thâ—â— maintenance of their honour and his estate Onely the seruant of God can say I shall not want Hee whome God ruleth liueth quiet and merâ—ie life The beastes of the worlde are fed with dry hearbes among thornes and briers the waters thereof are poysoned and the hearbes haue a secreâ— poyson in them The diuell to our first parents reached out pleasant meate and they had no sooner tasted of the same but they were poysoned The childe of â—his worlde eateth the hearbe of pleaâ—â—re but the eating thereof is vnto his â—estruction hee is allured wiith the â—aite of honour and riches and â—raight-way is taken in the snare â—e he be aware It is written by the Psalmist God the strength of mine heart and my â—rtion for euer He is happie whom â—od feedeth and putteth no trust in â—an Happy is hee which seeketh â—OD with his whole heart and from â—m seeketh consolation Taste thou neuer so much of the â—ters of these worldly honours and â—nities yet thy thirst shall neuer bee â—enched but thou shalt still bee like â—e that hath a dropsie who the more â—e drinketh the more hee thirstâ—â— The eyes of al wait vpon thee thou â—est them meate in due season The prodigall childe had no sooâ—â— separated himselfe from God but â—ight hee confessed that hee was â—â—d well neere for hunger Vice 〈◊〉 wickednesse doe alwaies bring afâ—tion to the will whereas vertue on 〈◊〉 other side bringeth ioy and conâ—tion Eate thou not the breade of him that hath an euil eye neither desire his dainty meates For as though he thought it in his heart so will he say vnto thee Eate and drinke but his hart is not with thee saith the wise man He that sayeth that in vice there iâ— nourishment and satietie beleeuâ— him not for thou shalt find it cleaâ— contrarie The Nigromancers and inchaunters will make a shew to thine eies of pleasant gardens and fruitfull trees but if thou once gather and taste of them thou shalt perceiue them to bâ— nothing such as they seeme to be 〈◊〉 the world it laboreth to perswad woâ—ly men that the things it propoundeâ— are such as they seeme to the viewâ— but in
vnto him from heauen and willed him to spare the child In all the seruice that pertaineth vnto GOD hee looketh for a discreete and a wise handling of the same And as meate though it bee otherwise neuer so good yet vnlesse it bee well seasoned it is neuer gratefull vnto the tast so thy seruice it pleaseth not God vnlesse it bee well seasoned with the salt of a good conscience and of discretion CHAP. 29. Hee that feareth God neede feare nothing SErue the Lorde in feare and reioyce in trembling saith the Prophet He that feareth God feareth nothing besides and he that feareth not God is afraid of all things When Kaine had lost the seare of GOD hee was so faint-hearted and weake that hee said Whosoeuer findeth me shall slaie me Maruel not heereat at all because hee that hath lost the feare of God which gaue him strength must needes become weake hearted and feare euerie thing but he that feareth God is valiant and besides God feareth nothing at all This feare of God emboldened Moses and Aaron to goe vnto King Pharaoh and boldly to say vnto him as from the Lord Let my people goe that they may celebrate a feast vnto me in the wildernesse Eliah feared the Lord and therefore he said vnto King Ahab I haue not troubled Israel but thou and thy fathers house in that yee haue forsaken the commaundements of the Lord and thou hast followed Baalim Elisha with great seueritie tooke vp Iehoram the King of Israel and with greater aucthority did S. Peter in the behalfe of himselfe and of his fellow Disciples make aunswere to the Rulers and Elders and Scribes that were gathered together in counsell at Ierusalem and stoutly did the Apostles and Marters speake vnto the great men of the world If thou fearest God care not for man Greater is hee that is on thy side than hee that is against you But because thou fearest not God thou art afraide of man and euerie small infirmity maketh thee to tremble The King that is garded with men of armes standeth in no feare but sleepeth securely and other men also of meaner calling bee without feare when they goe strongly armed in the company of valiant men Then how should they be affraide that haue God for their salfe-gard The Lord is with mee therefore I will not feare what man can doe vnto mee The Lord is with mee among them that helpe me therefore shall I see my desire vpon mine enimies saith the Psalmist The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare The Lorde is the strength of my life of whom shall I be affraide The wise man saith The wicked flee when none purâ—â—â—th but the righteous are bolde as a Lyon â—s the worldly men that doe euill doe liue full of feare and suspicion so good men which put their trust in God they are stoute like the Lyons so that they feare not men He that feareth God is not afraid of man and if thou feare God many good thinges shalt thou bee sure to haue But if thou arme not thy selfe with his holy feare thine house it cannot long continue By the feare of God we contemne the goods of this world The Marchauâ—nt through the feare which he hath of loosing his life is content to throwe his riches into the sea If thou dread God thou wilt cheerefully for the sauing of eternall for goe thy temporall goods It is great follie to passe the time without the feare of God especially liuing among so many perils as the Scripture speaketh of CHAP. 30. God is to be obeyed and those whom hee doth send for Gods sake WHAT man is this that both the windes and the sea obey him said they of our Sauiour Christ See that thou obey him whom the verie insensible creatures doe obey It is a wonder that man will not obey him whom the windes and seas obey The greatest signe of a mortified man is obedience there-in standeth the contempt of a mans owne selfe when a man for Christ his sake denieth his owne will Thinke it not much to be in subiection vnto him that is thy gouernour seeing it is written of our Lord that he was subiect vnto his mother and Ioseph If thou doe consider how much more mightie Christ was than they whom hee obeyed thou wilt not thinke it a grieuous burden to obey them that be meaner than thy selfe Why shouldest thou complaine of thy subiection vnto man though some waies thine inferiour for the Lordes sake seeing Christ God and man for thy sake obeyed simple and sinnefull man Though it bee greeuous to obey thy superiors yet the loue of God will conuert all that sharpenesse into sweeetenesse If thou doest but annoynt the lock of thy doore with oyle when it openeth not kindly it will open and shutte to no paine of the opener so if to thy murmuring thou adde the oyle of the loue of God thou shalt proceede in peace and in the quietnesse of the Spirite shalt doe those thinges which thou art enioyned Christ saieth vnto his Disciples Hee that heareth you heareth mee and he that despiseth you despiseth me and hee that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me The preacher of the worde is in the place of God and that which hee commaundeth God himselfe doth commaunde when hee commandeth nothing which is not contrarie to the lawes of God When thou doest reuerence him thou doest in him honor God and although in respect of his person hee bee not alwaies good yet in respect of his office hee is holy Dauid obeied Saul as his king and gouernor though a wicked man and reiected of God and because hee touched the lap of his garment and that but once his heart was touched for so doing of the Lord. How thinke we shall they escape the chastisement of the Lord that doe rent all the garments of their princes and gouernors by murmuing and sedition being sinners as Saul was Recommend thy Magistrats vnto God and obay them cheerefully in all things that are lawfull Much is the obedience of Abraham commended in the Scripture For when God had promised him that in Izshak should his seede be called and yet for all that commanded him to offer vp in sacrifice the same Izhak Abraham vsed no contradiction but held his peace and obeyed committing the whole matter vnto the prouidence of God For hee that is vnreinedly obedient although that which his superiours command him doe seeme vnto his carnall capacitie a fonde and absurde thing yet if it implie no sinne in it hee will yeeld obedience thereunto subduing his owne wit and making it agreeable vnto the commandement of such as be set ouer him Thou must not be the iudge of the gouernour nor take on thee to know the cause of that which is commanded thee for God will haue inferiors not to bee busie inquirers but humblie obedient Doe not
thou curiously dispute and reason about that which is commaunded thee The beginng of al mans miserie and mischeefe it came from the womans curious disputing with the serpent about the commaundement giuen vnto our first parentes of God For when the Diuell reasoned thus with her Yea hath God indeede saide Yee shall not eate of the fruit of the trees of the garden If shee had done well shee would haue taken vppe her aduersarie short and saide I wot well what God hath commaunded me to doe euen that I forbeare from eating of the forbidden frute when hee hath doone so I may not enquire but seeing he hath commanded I must giue obedience thereunto because he is my God and creator but shee ouerthrew her selfe because she would enter disputation with Satan It is not the duetie of a subiect to argue but to obey Holde thy peace and obey neither make answere to thine aduersarie otherwise thou shalt bee ouercome Let thy will be all one with thy superiors will For though the man that commaundeth thee bee of an euill life yet if that which hee commaundeth thee bee good thou shalt by obeying both giue a good ensample vnto others and profite thy selfe The obedient subiect liueth at great case when the troblesome person is neuer without troubles Remoue away the burden of thin owne will which so doth tire weary thee and laie the same vppon the shoulders of thy gouernour so shalt thou liue in security and quietnesse For it is great quietnesse to liue with out care that so thou maiest the more freely addict thy selfe vnto the Spirite Onely the men of high authority in the world they may lament and mourne that they want this priuiledge But worldlings they comprehend not yet the sweetenesse of holy obedience Hence it is that many which would seeme religious hauing not thoroughly perceaued howe pleasant a thing it is to obey for Christs sake they both couet prelacy and shunne the quietnesse of the Spirite and while they thinke to finde ease they fall into troubles and are tyred continually with cares and molestations Onely therefore the good soules which bee religiously obedient they get the freedome of the Spirite and liue with ioy and comfort Many of their owne free will doe chuse out places of comfort for themselues where beeing once come they finde themselues voide of all ioy and comfort But the Godly doe euen there finde most consolation where they thinke to haue no comfort at all To bee short look not to finde any true comfort but in God which dwelleth in the heart of the obedient person If thou bee truely obedient thou shalt finde comfort wheresoeuer thou shalt dwell because God is with thee but if thou bee led by thine owne affection what place or land soeuer thou chusest to dwell in euen there shalt thou finde an hell where thou thinkst to haue paradise For thether shalt thou carry thine own will which offereth bloudy battell vnto thy soule in all places thether shalt thou carry thy affections which night and day wil vexe and trouble thee But submitting thy selfe vnto the authority of others as thou shouldest thou shalt make thy selfe a Lord and ruler ouer all thinges CHAP. 31. Pouerty is great riches BLessed are the poore in spirite for theirs is the kingdome of heaueÌ„ saith our Lord For the obtaining the custody of some strong castle or place of defence a warrant signed with the hande and seale of the Lorde or Prince of the same shall doe thee more good than a great deale of mony for vppon the sight of the warrant the captaine of the castle will giue thee possession of the same which no mony could get at his handes Pouerty in spirite is the warrant or bill assigned by the great King of heauen whereby the poore in spirite shal enter into paradise seeing the Lord doth say Theirs is the kingdome of heauen This warrant is more worth for the getting of heauen than all the temporall riches of the worlde Well said our Sauiour Christ Blessed are the poore in spirite For if he is to bee counted blessed which coueteth nothing sure the greedy gatherer of worldly riches is not blessed for hee coueteth much The poore in spirite lacketh nothing saue that hee will not haue what hee wil hee hath and that will hee not haue which hee desireth not Theirs is the kingdome of heauen saith Christ. Pouerty is a treasure that is easely kept for no man wil or can bereaue vs of it It is a sure possession which none will chaleng or lay claime vnto Hee that is so poore that hee hath nothing needeth neuer to feare that dreadful sentence against the vnmercifull rich men I was a stranger yee lodged me not I was naked and yee clothed me not sicke and in prison and yee visited me not Hee that hath not to giue is not bound vnto these workes of mercy Had not the poore estate liked God the Angel had neuer in particulars tolde the shepheardes that they should finde the Sauiour of the world swadled and lying in a cratch The apostle saith of Christ that Hee being rich for your sakes became poore that ye through his pouerty might be made rich Christ was poore at his birth in his life poore and poore at his death If the onely begotten sonne of God for thy sake became poore why art thou ashamed to become poore for his sake A good pouerty is great riches to bee thoroughly mortified it is necessary that thou despise this salfe riches and to with-draw thine hearte from the inordinate desire of them They which stand vpon the ground are nearer vnto heauen then they which liue belowe in vauts vnder the ground So they be nearer vnto God that despise the riches of this earth than are the couetous which serue the world haue made themselues slaus vnto the same Reioyce therefore if thou mayest heere-in bee a companyon of Iesus Christ who hanged on the crosse poore and naked to make thee a partaker of those inestimable riches and glory in his celestiall kingdome CHAP. 32. We are to continue in doing good workes ANd yee brethren be not weary of well dooing saith the apostle A good work is neuer without a rewarde For if thou liue in the state of grace thou shaâ—t come vnto heauen but if thou art not in such a state yet shalt thou not loose the good which thou dost Hee that liueth euell and doeth no good deedes shal hardly after become a vertuous man get therfore the custome of doing well that by the vse the thing may bee made easie Let vs not therefore be weary of well dooing saith the apostle For in due season we shall reap if we faint not Christ seeing a figge tree in the way hee came vnto it and finding nothing there-on but leaues onely said to it Neuer fruit grow on thee hence-forward â—nd anon the figge tree withered Therefore is it good