Nothing doth more diminish a mans commendation then much vaunting the successe of his actes Benificence BEnefite the godlie and thou shalt find recompenee if they cannot requite thee yet God will remember thee Those benefits are most thankfull which a man findeth readie and are bestowed with out tarrying but onely the shame fastnesse of him that shall take them Charitie CHarity is patient and gentle and enuyeth no man If I had faith in so much as that I could carie away mountaines yet were I nothing if I lacked Charitie If I should distribute all my goods giue them to the poore and although I gaue my body to be burned hauing no charitie it nothing auaileth me Charitie doeth nothing amisse it is not puffed with prid it is not ambitious she seketh not her profit she is not mooued shee thinketh no euill shee reioyceth not in miss chiefe she suffereth all thinges shee ioyeth in trueth shee beleeueth all thinges shee hopeth wel of al things Charitie neuer fayleth Chastitie CHastitie is the beauty of the soule or of the Kings daughter that is abroad Chastity without Charitie is like a Lamp without oyle Where necessity is laide vnto Chastity where authoritie is giuen to Lechery there vertue is put to exile The absence of women causeth chastitie amongst men A chaste eie sheweth an honest mind Constancie COnstancie doth surelie perform the thing determined He that is constant âeeleth neither trouble nor heauinesse Constancie keepeth and still preserueth things well gotten but goodes euill gotten neuer continue long Carnall Appetite CArnall appetie leaueth behind her more cause of repentance then of remeÌbrance ââlthy lust wil haue no affinitie with vertue The fleshlie mind is neuer satisfied A carnall woman euer wisheth without contentment Carnall appetite dulleth the wit dimmeth the eies letteth good counsell spoileth the mind and with vertue wil haue no medling Heshly lust consumeth the body and damneth the soule Confession COnfession is the only remedy for sinne The vengeance of God ceaseth where mans confession timely preuenteth Confession is the life of a sinner the glorie of good men to all offenders necessary and not inconuenient to the godly Confession is the confounder of vices the cleanser of soules the restorer of vertues the vanquisher of deuils what will you more It stoppeth hels mouth and setteth wide open the gates of Paradâce Discorde IF they which make peace bee called the children of God without doubt the disturbors of peace be the children of Satan Discord is the root of all confusion the spring of desolation Discord is an enemy to nature and a shorteâer of the life of man They that sustaine one part of the citie neglect the other lowe the wicked seedes of sedition and discord By concord small thinges are made great but by discord the most greatest are brought to nothing Warre is soone made but not quickly discussed for he is not sure to finish it that first toke in hand to begin it Dignitie HE is most honourable that disdaineth to erue or be subiect to vices True Nobility consisteth noâ of great patrimonies and rich possessions but of godlie vertuous actions If thou wilt esteem a man truly know him plainly viewe him naked and let him lay aside authority possessions and other fortunes finallie respect not his bodie but behold his soule then shalt thou see what he is of himselfe and what he hath of others Dolours THere is no sorrowe but the length of time doth diminish make more easie As a moâh consumeth a garment euen so heauinesse hurteth the heart of man It is to be considered in all griefe and heauinesse that nothing bee done vnaduisedlie nothing rashlie nothing fearfulâie nothing desperatly nothing wretchedlie or any thing foolishly Ouer much sorrowe breaketh the heart and killeth the bodie Sorrowes bring solace to the godlie but they vtterly ouerthrow daunt the wicked Sorrowes are most necessary to all sinners for they bring amendement of life Doctrine DOctrine is an ornament to the rich and Noble but to men without wealth a happie refuge and succour As faire legges bee in vaine to a Cripple so vnseemely is Doctrine in the mouthes of fooles Learning is a treasure which water cannot drown fire burn theeues steale nor dice lose As learning in good men is the armour of vertue so in wicked and corrupted persons it is a spurre to doe mishciefe We teach our children liberall Sciences no because these Sciences may giue any vertue but because they make the minde apt to receiue vertue As the right vse of learning adorneth the soule euen so the abuse therof spoyleth both bodie and soule Diet. IN diuers meates is occasion of sicknes and greedy feeding is a token of choller When the sicknesse is in his force then sparest diet is best Vâcleane bodies and they which be not well pârged of supeâfluous humours the more you nourish them the more you hinder them Ouermuch euacuation or ouer much filling of the body is dangerous for too much of any thing is enemie to Nature To him that is fallen into a distemperance in heate or colde it is expedient to giue him things of contrary qualities Stomackes in winter and spring time bee hottest and sleep then is longest wherefore in those times meat should be taken in greatest aboundance You must not only remember that contrarie thinges be cured by their contraries but also consider in euery contrarie the true dose and quantitie Vâe moderate exercise for so shalt thou helpe Nature Ouer much ease maketh Nature feeble that shee cannot resolue that which by Arâe was not purged Drunkennessâ DRunkennes maketh men seem as beasts âoâ it depriueth them of reason and stirreth them to all filthinesse The drunken man shall neuer be rich The Drunkard consoândeth Nature loseth both grace and honour runneth headlong into âuerlasting damnation Eâuie THe enuious man pineth to see the prosperity of his neighbour Enuie seeketh dayly to subuert the state of the godâie Enuie is blind can doe nothing but dispraise vertue Enuie is an excremeÌt of Satan which poisoneth the hearts of all such as once touch it Enuie cannot endure the vertuous but seketh their confusion The enuious man wisheth wel to no man but worst to himselfe for his filthy conceites drowne his soule in the filthy puddle of eternall damnation Faith AS the bodies is dead wherein is no spirit euen so that faith is dead which bringeth foorth no good workes By faith wee see God by faith we beleeue in God and by faith wee haue our saluation from God A liuely faith is the badge of a perfect christian Let all godly beleeuers endeuour to excell in good workes True Faith confirmeth thy wordes with workes Not the hearers of the Law be righteous in the sight of God but the doers of the lawe shall be iustified The Faith of a
Chtistian is ioyned with charity and without Charity is the Faith of the Deuill Flattery TAle bearers rioters glozers flatterers ar more to be abaÌdoned theÌ opeÌ enemies Better is the stroke of a faithfull friend then the false kisses of them that flatter thee The best natures soonest beleeue and by flattering persons are soonest destroyed God IN the hart of man be many deuises but the will of God neuer altereth They that fear God wil beleeue his word and such as loue him will keepe his commandementes The eyes of God are more bright then the Sunne for he seeth the secretes of the hart and searcheth the raines Gâace GRace is giuen for three causes that the âaw be fulfilled that nature be restored and that we by sin be not subdued By grace we are freed from the bondage of sinne Grace bringeth vs to the hauen of eternall happinesse Without the grace of God no flesh can be saued Humility hVmblenes banisheth pride winneth loue and bringeth vs into the fauour of God As pride pride is the roote of all destruction so humility is the welspring of eternâll blisse Pride cast Lucifer into the gulfe of damnation but by humilitie we shal attaine saluation Suffer not pride to rule thy witte for then will it spoile thy sences God hateth the proud but the humble hee exalteth Honour HOnours ouer great wherein is pride or ouer much statelines be suddeÌly thrown downe like high trees in a great âempest Honour-nourisheth cunning and with praise mens wits be kindled to studie Ignorance IGnorance excuseth not sinne The onlie enemy to knowledge is Ignorance By Ignorance al absurdities are nourished Ignoraunce is the image of blindnesse the mother of errours and the Nurse of all follie Ingratitude EVill shall neuer depart from the house oâ him that rendreth an euil turn for a good He that doth all things well cannot bee vnkinde The hope of a person vnthankfull shall relent like winter yce vanish away as a sudden floud Idlenesse IDlenesse weakneth strength but exercise encreseth the same As ruste consumeth yron euen so idlenesse wearieth strength Idlenesse without learning is death the graue of a quicke man Idlenesse bringeth beggerie and causeth men with hatred to fall into miserie Idlenesse teacheeth all vnhappinesse Where Idlenesse beareth âway all vertues decay Loue. LOue couerâth the multitude of sinnes Loue pleaseth God and winneth the hearts of men Liberality LIberality consisteth not in the quantity of the thing that is giuen but the manner of the giuer for he giueth according to his abilititie and substance He giueth late that giueth not till hee bee asked Liberalitie is the only meanes for a prince to aduaunce his honour and to keepe the faithfull heartes of his true subiectes As the Adamant draweth yron so liberalitie winneth the hearts of men Lechery LEcherie is an enemie to God and subuerteth all good vertues He that delighteth in Lecherie wearieth his body consumeth his abilitie and damneth his soule If we consider the excellent work of God in vs wee shall easilie perceiue how foule filthie a thing it is to be resolued in lecherie and to liue wantonlie Lecherie hasteneth olde age and withereth the bodie Malice BY malice a man slayeth his owne soule Malice hurteth them most that doe retaine it Malice is compassed with no limmites of reason Nobilitiâ THe chiefest Nobility before god is to excell in all vertues True Nobilitity scorneth to do seruice to sin He that boasteth of his ancestors declareth himselfe not worthy of praise Iphicrates a valiant Captaine but the sonne of a shoomaker being there with imbrayded of Hermodius a Noble man borne answered in this wise My blood beginneth at me thy blood of Generosity endeth in thee The onlie welspring of true honor is vertue Obedience IT is a generall decree made by mankind to be obedient to kinges howe much more vnto god which gouerneth all creatures Better is obedience then Sacrifice If thou wilt be wise be thou euer obedience for it is written desirest thou wisdome then keep the commandements and God wil giue her vnto thee The contempt of superiours is the original fountaine of mischiefe in euery publik weale That country is euer wel gouerned where people wel know how to obey Faithfull obedience in subiectes maketh louing and kinde hearts in Princes Patience BY patience Iob ouercame his woonderous miseries and afterward enioyed all wished prosperities He that patiently suffereth the troubles crosses of this life shal after be endued with al felicitie Patience comforteth the heart quieteth the minde and best pleaseth God Most happy is he whoÌ no misery troubleth Patience causeth much peace and breedeth quietnesse twixt man and wife Pouertie BEtter is a little in the feare of God then great treasures with a troubled Spirit The patience of poore men shall surelie bee rewarded The life of man is not in aboundaunce of wealth great riches and high pompe but in vertue and faith for he is onely rich that to Godward is rich Be poore in spirit so shalt thou see God so shalt thou praise God when thou doest good so shalt thou lay the fault vpon thy self when thou doest euill Pouertie plucketh downe the hearts of the proud and often times bringeth them home to God He that liueth after his owne opinion wil neuer be rich but God will blesse him that with his riches praiseth the Lorde in doing almes and maintaining vertue godlinesse Prayer VVIth fasting corporall passions are to be cured with praier the pestilence of mans mind is to be healed Thy prayer is thy speech vnto God when thou readest God talketh with thee when thou prayest thou talkest with God By prayer the Niniuits were preserued By prayer Ionas was deliuered out of the Whales bellie Earnest and feruent prayer doeth oftentimes pacifie the wrath of God The froward nature of men is by humble peâition and prayer rectified Prosperitie THe worlde is more dangerous laughing then lowring Liue so in prosperity as though thou shouldest fall into misery Let not prosperitie make thee proud least God for saking thee thou be pluckt into the narrow straites of pinching necessity When God suffereth euill men to haue great prosperity theÌ his indignation is much more grieuous If thou haddest the wisedome of Salomon the beautie of Absalon the strengh of Sampson the long life of Enoch the riches of Croesus the power of Octauiaâ what can al this auail thee when finally thy body is giuen to wormes thy soule vnto deuils to be with the rich man in paine euerlasting Perfect prosperitie is the vse of vertue Promise AL honest promises are to be performed but these are not to be kept which are either compelled by feare or By craft deceiued O the shameful confession of fraud
and the common mischief of man more credit is giuen to mens signets then to their soules The honesty of men consisteth in the true performance of their promises Quietnesse THe paeient man enioyeth most quietnes and a quiet mind keepeth the body in temperance It is better to liue with a little quietly then with aboundance troublesomlie Quietnes maketh a merrie heart and a fat bodie Remembrance IT is good to remeÌber our faultes that we may first repent vs of them and then specdilâ amend them There is nothing more coÌfortable to the heart of man then the remeÌbrance of sorrows past in prosperitie present Reason Nothing in a man is better then reason for by that hee goeth before beastes and followeth the gods A perfect reason is that good which properly belongeth to man all other thinges are to him common with beasts For if he bee strong so is the Lyon if faire so is the Peacocke if swift so is the horse Reason maketh a man full of felicity Man by reason killeth the wilde Boare stayeth yea slayeth the light footed Stagge By reason one man gouerneth another for the subiect by reason is brought to obey the Prince the Prince with clemeÌcie through reason ruleth the subiect and long raigneth ouer them Riches RIches make place for losse for such as possesse much must loose much Not Riches but good deeds shall deliuerâa man from damnation Riches are the âause of sin and sin of death Riches draw men to hurtâull desires anâ drown their soules in the gulfe of perdition Sapience THe roote of wisedome is to feare God and the branches thereof be of long life The ardent desire of wisedome bringeth a man to the euerlasting kingdome A wise heart will abstaine from euill deeds and he shal prosper in the works of iustice The thoughtes of a wise man can not bee depraued A wise man is neuer troubled with the tempests of heauinesse Wisdome excelleth strength the prudent person is preferred before the puissant Wisedome is the Nurse of peace and the mother of all other vertues Sicknesse SIcknesse patientlie taken is a perfect token of the loue and fauour of God for therby we see our frailtie and weaknes and also the omnipotent power of the highest Sicknesse causeth great men to remember God and poore men to acknowledge their offences Sicknesse is more necessarie then meat for by the one the body onelie is maintained but by the other both body soule are coÌforted Silence SIlence to follie is great wisdome Vse few words and much wit Offende rather in silence then in babbling Silence hurteth none but many words are hated of all men An euil man is soner vanquished by silence then with answers and malice sooner stirred with words then reformed A man which cannot keep silence is like a citie whose gates stand wide open wherein the aduuersarie entreth at his pleasure Truâth MAnie wordes commonly scatter trueth to nothing Truth seeketh not corners All the wayes of God are mercy truth Time trieth trueth trueth pleaseth God Let thy tongue âee ignorant of lying and swearing and so well see thou loue trueth that what soeuer thou speakest thinke that thou swearest the same Trueth surmounteth all earthly things for God himself is very trueth Trueth floweth from God as from the only fountaine of the same Trueth cannot hide it self for it shineth in darknesse and banisheth the dimme cloudes of ignorance As Satan is the father of lies so is God the authour of trueth Truth flourisheth amongst the godly but all such as beare lying lips are banished from that societie Let all thy talke be mixed with modestie and trueth Vertue Vârtue is godlie inclination of the minde to eschew euill and imbrace godlinesse Vertue is to restraine anger to mittigate desire and to refraine carnal pleasures The fruits of the Spirite are charitie chastitie humilitie ioyfulnesse peace patience bountifulnesse goodnesse long sufferance saith temperance continence and meeknes Vertue adorneth thy minde decketh thy thy soule and winneth loue to thy âody Vertue is euer one with most deep rooâs perfectly planted and can with no violent means be destroyed It beseemeth vertue to be free from dread and subiect to no seruitude Vertue cannot serue because she is free Virginitie VIrginity flourisheth as the greene lawrel and can by no tempestuous blastes of aduersitie be quailed Virginitie is sister of Angels vanquisher of lustes Princesse of Vertue and possessour of all good things Virginity beââtifieth the body preserueth strength and leadeth the soule to eternall happinesse The woman vnmaried the Maiden vncorrupted thinke on thinges pertaining to God to the intent to bee holy in bodie and soule The seruants of Virginitie are sobrietie modesty continencie silence and lenitie Virginitie scorneth Pride banisheth malice daunteth enuiâ imbraceth all vertues Virginitie is the garland of al Vertues the garden of comfort and the court of all praise For there is no godlie motion but she affecteth no flower of comfort but shee possesseth no earthlie praise but she deserueth Witte A Wise man doth all things by counsell a foole soone discouereth his follie Wit consisteth in the knowledge of things good and euill Seperate them from thee that do craftilie flatter thee and imbrace them with kindnes that faithfullie loue thee least ill men haue most profite by thee The help of god is not onely gotten with wishing and praying but by vigilant studie diligent executing and wise counselling all things come to passe Preuent as a wise man the daungers that may fall vpon thee A wise man foreseeth future mishaps and suffereth none to afflict him A wise man winneth wealth both to comfort himselfe and his posteritie but a foole looseth his patrimony and can get nothing Witte refuseth hastines wrath because they be enemies of counsel Wit gouerneth affections and putteth all vices to flight Wit is the gift of God and the brightnes thereof banisheth all the darke cloudes of ignorance Wit adorneth her self with th the sweet pleasant flowers of all vertues she refraineth from sin and imbraceth all godlines she prepareth vs to hansomnes and teacheth vs to eschue the filthy way of beastlinesse Witte is the mother of patience the daughter of wisedome the sister or modesty and temperance and the careâull Nurse of well doing FINIS What can it auaile thee to win althe world loose thine owne soule This life is a miserable vale The sandes oâ the sea the grasse of the field are sooner numbred then our woes No man was euer happie in this life All estates â this world most miserable ââe frailty ât this life The certenty of death The noise of damned soules The lothsomnes of hell The torâents of âody and âoule togeâher âokens of the seconde âomming âf the lord The last gret plague in London The hardnes of our âeares The Angels wait the comming of the âârd The Lord sitteth in iudgment The reward for the wicked The comfort of the Godly âhe Anâels shew âhe mercies âf God There is no remedy for sinne after death The end of ãâ¦ã the first entraÌce to eternall blisse Baânard Salomon Seneca Salust ââegoriâ Barnard Gregorie Seneca Salomon Salomon Seneca Paule Augustine Seneca Paulâ Salamon Dauid Salamon Salomoâ âââlesiast Augustinâ Idem Augustine ãâã Salomon Aristotle Salusâ Solomân Augustine Seneca Paule Augustinâ âugustine Augustine Hierome âregorie Cicero Salust Salomon Augustine Solomen Seneca Hieronim Galen Hipocrat Galen Hipocrat ãâã Augustine Hierome Salomon Augustine Barnard Augustine Barnard âlutarch âully âgustine Salâmon Seneca Seneca Hieronim Salomon ãâã ãâã Plutarch Aâgustine Hieroniââ Chrisostoâ Salust Osoriuâ Augustine Salomoâ Barnard Ambrose Augustine Solomân Augustine Barnard Hieronim Aâgustine Hieronim Aristotle âully Senecâ plutarch Seneca plato âully âully Salomoâ Paulâ ãâã Augustine Pithag Chrisostom Hâeronim Dâuid Hierome Augustine Barnard plato Paule Chrysost âully Aristotle Cyptian Augustine Paule Aâbrose Cyprian Salomen âully Socrates Salust plato Democrit Socrates Salomon Salust Ambrose