the gaule of their consciences there riseth more greefe and trouble and more ielousie and suspicion from an hired and time seruing lemman then from a lawful and trusty wife being maried And albeit in this estate as in many other pleasant things are mingled with sower things bitternesse with sweetenesse pleasure with sorrow and griefe with ioie and that there is in marriage no want of brawles contentions chidings iealous affections as in deed there is no estate of life whatsoeuer euery way perfect yet is there no fault to be laid on the institution of mariage For albeit many discommodities attende on this estate and great sorrow care and trouble of mind both in bringing vp their children and as Paule saith in ordering of a house 1 Cor. 5 yet doth mutual loue mittigate and aswage all these sorrowes by procreating of children according to the ordinance of God For children are a great reioicing and singular delight in marriage by whose meanes the loue of the married is increased and nourished a great comfort riseth to them both But if it happen contrary to their minds and wils that they haue no children and that they haue no hope to leaue a posterity behind them yet must the bond of mariage be kept vndefiled and the society of this life main tained one propping and holding vppe the other as fruitfull trees set in a ranke doe the vine who leaning on them and as it were marrying and fastning it tendrels to them climeth the very toppes of them and so spredeth it selfe abroad For as a vine destitute of props and bearers is weake and falleth to the ground so marriage vnlesse it be propped vp with the mutuall labour of man and wife decaieth and cōmeth to ruine And if there be any fault in this fellowship any disorder suspicious falings out discords it is rather to be ascribed to the stubborne affections of the man or the woman or both then to this holy and sacred ordinaunce for these are not the faultes of marriage but of a noughty nature and troublesome minde drawn from the infection of originall sinne from whence all euill springeth By what meanes a man forseeing death by nature may not be afraid of it Chap. 56. SEing that of all thinges in this worlde there is nothing certaine and sure but that all thinges are vanishing fraile and weake yea the moste beawtifull things that are must come to ruine there is no reason why any one should so greatlie esteeme them or so greedilie vsurpe them or be more affected to thē then necessity requireth but rather lifting vp his heart and mind to heauen should meditate and looke after thinges perfect and euerlasting For whosoeuer hath faith in GOD the Father through Iesus Christ he is led with a certaine hope and expectation of immortalitie and such a one feareth no imminent chaunces or discommodities such a one feareth no disease calamitie daunger no nor death it selfe which is greatlie feared of those that are destitute of the spirit of GOD and vvere neuer indued vvith any knowledge of his deitie For such as put their trust in GOD being strengthened by the holie Ghost doe couragiouslie and vvith stoute stomackes resiste all aduersities Rom. 8 2. Tim. 1. Galat 4 1. Iohn 4. because vvee haue not as Paule saieth receiued the Spirit of bondage and feare but the Spirit of adoption and the Spiritte of power and loue by vvhich wee boldlie crie Abba Father In this saith Iohn is our loue perfect in vs that we haue hope in the day of iudgement Feare is not in loue but perfecte charity reiecteth all feare because feare bringeth trembling and torment Wherefore to the ende wee may shake off all feare of deathe from our mindes Colos 2 and all terrours that it maie bringe vnto vs let vs cast all our cogitations hope vowes and truste on our mercifull Father and on Iesus Christ who hath reconciled vs with his bloud and hath deliuered vs from sinne and the tyrannie of death blotting out the hand writinge that accused vs whereby wee were bounde and pledged to the Diuell and as the Dutch man saieth In hem ghehouden Teghens hem verbunden that is helde fast and tyed to him But to the ende Christ might strengthen our fearefull and tymerous mindes and declare all our hope and trust to consiste in him hee saieth Be of good comforte Iohn 16 Iohn 12. for I haue ouercome the worlde Nowe the Prince of this worlde is iudged that is hee that brought deathe into the worlde is by my death ouercome beeing condemned in iudgemente and strypped of his power to hurte The Prince of this worlde commeth but hee hath nothing in me With which comfortable words hee declareth Sathan and those which are confederate with him in this worlde through sinne to haue no power either against Christ or anie of his members that cleaue vnto him and are ingrafted into him by faith These sauing and quickning speeches doe worke this in the mindes of men which doe leane vnto his helpe that shaking off the feare of death doe cheerfully arme themselues against all troubles that happen vnto them which maketh them inuincible and with bolde courage to breake out into these wordes Mine eies waite alwaies on the Lorde Psal 3. Psal 22 because hee hath plucked my feete out of the snare The Lord is my light and my saluation of whom then shal I be afraid The lord is the protector of my life whom shall I then feare If whole armies come against mee my heart shall not feare I will not bee afraid of thousandes of people that compasse me about if warre be raised against me in him will I trust yea although I should walke in the shadowe of death yet will I feare none euil Iob. 13. because thou art with me Albeit he kil me yet wil I put my trust in him that is if he set before me the shadow of death that he take away my life from me yet wil I trust in him who with his prouidence wil finde some meanes to preserue me Psal 117. Heb. 11 Cap. 17 The Lorde is my helpe I will not feare what flesh can do vnto me And that saying of Ieremy Beholde they say where is the worde of the Lorde let him come and I will not bee troubled following thee my shephearde And thou knowest I haue not desired the day of a man that is I desire helpe no where else then of thee so that I lightly regarde and nothing feare them which threaten death I am not afraide of thee which art my hope in the day of mine affliction let them feare I am nothing afraid Paul also inflamed with the same feruēcy of faith and trusting vpon the helpe of God boldly pronounceth There is nothing so horrible and fearefull that can bring a terror into godly mindes or can remooue from thē the loue and trust in God For I am certainlie perswaded Rom. ◠saith he that neither
al thy actions by knowledge of thy selfe gouerned I shal not onelie say with thy selfe that thou liuest wel but that thou shalt also die well and at the day of iudgement with Christe farewell Yours so long as you are in subiection to your Husbands I. T. The Hauen of pleasure very profitable and pleasant for all sorts of People We must carefullie fixe our eies and lift vp our mindes to God the Father thorough our Lord Iesus Christ Chapter 1. WHosoeuer is desirous of his owne saluation and coueteth to prouide vvell for himselfe and whosoeuer in this life affecteth with diligent watch and warde boldly and confidentlie to withstand such imminent casualties and discommodities as doe violentlie assaile vs euerie moment let him fasten his eies vpon God our heauenlie father thorough Christ and let his mind be alwaies erected towards him from whom as from a most plentifull fountaine it was first deriued and let him not elsewhere looke for or followe after anie other helpe of his saluation but lette him trust and leane to this God alone let him worship reuereÌ„ce and loue him and let him in confidence and faithe of his Sauiour require from him all things that appertaine to his saluation Afterward let him earnestly sifte and attentiuelie meditate with himselfe vvhat liberalitie God hath vsed tovvards mankind with vvhat ornamentes and guiftes of Nature hee hath adorned him vvith vvhat dignitie and authoritie he hath set him out and to vvhat honour and glorie he hath exalted him that was formed but out of the earth What great thinges God the Creator of all things hath bestowed on man Chapter 2. AS the form and external shape of mans bodie being lostie and boult vpright tovvardes heauen whereby hee may learne to lifte vp his eies to that place from vvhence he had his beginning is more notable and more artificiallie and comelie made then anie other liuing creature whatsoeuer so his invvarde shape doeth so vvonderfullie adorne him that hee is conformed and made like to the verie Image of God himselfe that is hee doeth represent and resemble the verie essence of his maker yea and approcheth verie neere the Nature of his Creator Which excellent and infused povver from aboue consisteth vvholie in his minde and soule which vvas dravvne out of his first patterne euen the treasurie of Goddes ovvne Diuinitie By vvhich heauenlie guift man obtained to bee indued with reason 1 Cor. 3 iudgement and vnderstanding vvas made capeable of heauenlie doctrine and was vniâ—ed vnto him by the knowledge of him and faith in him and so is wholie transformed into him And this chiefly aboue all other notable prerogatiues hath man obtained that seeing God hath made all other creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is altogither dumbe and destitute of speech and vtterance God hath giuen vnto man the guift of speaking vvhereby to communicate with others the thoughtes of his minde and to be able to shevv the conceiptes of his heart And which is chiefe of all and moste acceptable to God with his voice to magnifie his Creator and to honour him whose knovvledge hee hath conceiued by faith in his heart with al praise laude and glorie For by this meanes not onelie the Maiestie and glorie of Gods name is extolled but also as farre as mannes wit is able to stretch he rendâ—â—th all thankes for benefites receiued shewing a testimonie of a thankfull and readie minde tovvarde so liberall and louing a father Psal 15. For seeing God hathe no need at all of our goods he requireth nothing of vs but loue and thankefulnes That there is nothing more deare vnto God then man and that all thinges were made for his vse Chap. 3. BVt as God is not onelie especiallie affected tovvards manne and hath adorned his soule mind in which his Diuinitie shineth with manye and notable Ornamentes but also furnished and garnished it aboundantlie vvith externall guiftes and large possessions of those things that nature as the minister of god doth plentifullie poure vppon him and hath giuen vnto him power and authoritie ouer the whole earth Cenes 1 yea euen to the poorest Cobler and meanest man in the world vvho doth no lesse enioye the liberalitie of his Creator and the visible pleasure of the vvhole vvorlde then any King abounding in wealth and riches so that hee is not conuersant in the large Theater of this worlde as a stranger or tenant that is alienated from the possession of vvorldlie goods Cosmopolites but as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a Citizen and free holder of this world and lord of all things that the earth bringeth forth For to his vse profit and obedience were al things created vnder the Cope of heauen or vvithin the compasse of Sea lande Which Dauid wondring at confesseth the vvorkes of God in these verses Psal 8. O Lord our God how wonderfull is thy name through all the vvorlde because thy glorie is exalted aboue the heauens What is man that thou art so mindfull of him and the sonne of man that thou so carest for him Thou hast made him but a little lovver then God or his Angels thou hast crovvned him with glory and honor and hast made him ruler ouer the workes of thy hands thou hast brought all things vnder his feete Wherby he shevveth vvhat estimation God hath of man nexte after Christ and hovv he regardeth him to vvhom all the vvorlde is seruiceable and obedient Rom. 8 so that not onlie all thinges created were made for his vse and commoditie but also Christe vvas subiect to death for his sake by vvhose grace and merites the father giueth vs all things abundantlie What great thankfulnesse man oweth to Godward Chap. 4. BVt aboue all other thinges this ought to stir vp the mind of man to giue vnto god a more then ordinary loue reuerence that when he vvas estranged from GOD and through breach of his commandement cast into eternall death our heauenlie father through the singular fauour and merits of Iesus Christ receiued him againe into grace For Christ pitying mannes destruction hath reconciled him to his father by purging him vvith his bloud and ouercomming death and shaking of the tyranny of his most deadlie enimie to whom he was bound and as it vvere tied with an earnest penie set him at libertie by his resurrection and restored him againe to his inheritance of the kingdome of heauen So that as Paule vvitnesseth vve are no more the alians or strangers of God but citizens and heires yea and friends and houshold seruants with him that is built vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and Apostles Ephes 2 euen Christ Iesus the head corner stone by whome vvee haue accesse and entrance by one spirit vnto the father Wherefore Titus 3 vvhen any one by the helpe of found doctrine thorough faith and the vvashing of our redemption is ingrafted into Christe and as Paule saith by the renevving of the holy Ghoste 2
vvhich vvaie or after what forte GOD will bee vvorshipped and painteth out vnto thee the vvaie of thy saluation vvhich so it bee soundlie deliuered leaueth all other Artes so farre behinde it as Heauen is distaunt from the earth or as stronge thinges differ from the weake That part of this knovvledge which indueth the minde with faith shewed out to the Worlde in the workes of Charitie is necessarie for all menne to obtaine their saluation as I haue elsevvhere more at large shevved For by faith in Christe vvee haue accesse and entrance in one spirit vnto the Father Physicke prescribing a spare and temperate diet prouideth for healthe by the vse of vvholsome receiptes and healeth all diseases This as Plutarch witnesseth is of such accompt amongste the liberall Sciences that for honour and pleasure it is nothing at all inferiour to Ciuill and politique gouernement And it bringeth suche profite vnto the studentes thereof that besides the increase of all thinges belonging vnto house keeping it is most healthfull for the bodye which is more excellent then large possessions But what delight and profite the diligent seâ—ing into the nature of herbs bringeth together with the knoledge of their force and strength and what pleasure and delight is in the anatomising and cutting vp of men and vvomens bodies and in the diligent obseruation of their partes no man can be easilie perswaded vnlesse by vse exercise he hath practised it Now the knowledge of the Ciuill lavv hath alwaies bin had in great prize and estimation vvhose office is to rule Cities by counsel to establish good Lawes in them and to correct and amend them with iudgements Consulere in medium ac râ—bus succurrere fessis Parcere subiectis debellare superbos 〈…〉 Which is To counsell men indifferenthe and bring the wrongd to right To spare the humble and throw down proud trusters in their might Which order if any man thinke to contemne he as Cicero saith not onelie violentlie taketh avvay the bonds of true iudgement but also of common profite and life For by the helpe of the law we see Common wealthes to be vpheld and all controuersies betvveen Citizens and Countrie people to bee ended in peace and tranquilitie and that onelie by the authoritie of good lawes whereby princes and magistrates do exercise iustice and receiuing povver from God do punish malefactors and wicked persons and on the contrarie defend those that are good And therefore it is that God will haue great honour and obedience performed to kings â—om 13 such as gouern the commonwealth so they command thinges that bee iust and agreeable with Gods vvord That we must cleaue to some setled profession Chap. 19. SEing the most delectable studies do so please manie that they onelie spend their time and waxe olde in them neuer bending themselues to anie sound profession I thought it not amisse to aduertise all men that desire to receiue anie fruit by learning and would not spende their cost and labour in vaine to addict themselues to that profession wherunto they are most fit by nature least they should seeme to attempt any thing altogither againste Nature then earnestlie to applie the studies of their professions whereunto they are addicted and vvith all their force to attaine to the perfection thereof that applying their studies after this sort they may so it may be gotten attaine to a ful and perfect knowledge therein And for other delectable studies let him prooue them sometimes by fits as it were breathing or resting himselfe from his setled labour and yet with such a condition that he quickly returne againe to the taske and office of his vndertaken profession and call home againe his mind to his intermitted studies What studies and exercises are most profitable and fruitful and what are hurtful and pernicious Chap. 20. WE must also bevvare of that which diuers do practise in manie professions which is that we bestow not too much labour and paines about difficult obscure and altogither vnprofitable thinges but if thou spende much care and studie vppon thinges that bee honest and worthie to be knovvne I will highlie commend thee For there are some which busying themselues in some studies bestow all their paines in those thinge which are ful oâ— toile doubtes and griefs and yet returne no profite to their labour as is that ouer â—urious marking and iudging of the starres a vanitie fetched from the Chaldeans to which our rash professors leaning vnto do certainlie tell what shall happen to men to vvhat fortune they are borne vvhat shall be the ende and successe of all their actions neuer asking counsell at the Prouidence of God by vvhose will the whole worlde is gouerned whose rash and doubtfull predictions Esaiâ— quippeth and laugheth to scorne such as aske counsell and demande an Oracle or sentence from such deceiuers Cap. 44 47 For thus he derideth them Let the soothsayers which contemplate the starres of heaâ—en salute thee and let them reckon the moneths and thence tel thee things to come Cap. 10 Iereâ—â—e also doth the like Learn not of the Gentiles nor feare not the signes of heauen which the Gentiles feare because the lavves of them are vaine and their demonstrations are deceitfull and foolish By which words the holie prophets doe not altogither condemne and reiecte Astâ—ologie vvhich hath also her vse and profit but they scorne such professors of it vvho vnder counterfait and deceiueable colours of Diuination or telling of Fortune doe blind the common sort of people and deceiue them that are credulous with a vain expectation of things to come A neere kinsman to this is Chiromancie or Palmestrie which by looking on the lines and wrinkles of the hande telleth woonders The smoke and deceipt also of Alcumistrie where the trifling Alâ—umist perswades himselfe he can turne siluer bâ—asse and manie other thinges into gold And which is vvorse then all these Necromancie or Coniuration vvho are wont to raise dead bodies out of their graues and of them to aske Oracles and answeres 1 Kin. 29 as vve read Phytonissa did who to gratifie Saule brought Samuel or rather a counterfait and fained shape of Samuel to be seene of him Of the saide nature also are those Diuinations which call spirites to appeare in water and fire which we may call Hydromancers and Pyromancers and manie other iuglinges of diuelles and inchauntments of Sorcerers Hariolation Aruspitiation Auguration Auspication that is Diuination by seeing into the bowels of beastes and foretellings by the chirping and songes of birdes To which also I referre al such witches wisardes hagges and Sorcerers as doe hurt and annoie their neighbours Cattell and vvith the helpe of the Diuell doe steale avvaie their milke and butter spoile their haruest and vintage and take awaie strength from men and maketh them so feeble and weake that they are altogither vnable to performe the dutie of marriage of which strong men haue often complained to mee lamenting that they vvere
death nor life neither Angels nor the inuisible creatures neither principalities nor powers neither thinges present nor things to come nor any other creature can seperate mee from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord so that Paule boldly pronounceth Psal 50 that he which is grafted into God though Christ will boldly withstande all terrors whatsoeuer happen vnto him against the rage and fury of the enemy against the horrour of death whether it bee procured by the enemy or by sicknesse or whether it come by the course of nature Seeing then there is nothing of more force to take away the feare and terrour of death out of mens mindes then by a firme faith in GOD through Christ by which wee haue a certaine hope of our resurrection and an expectation of euerlasting happinesse hither should all men hasten and desire to come euerie one should embrace and followe this wholesome doctrine imprinte it in their mindes and strengthen themselues in all daungers when they are brought to extremities herewith shoulde they quiet their consciences and by thinking on this remooue all griefe of heart shaking off all sorrowe and lamentation which commeth to them by the death of their parentes and friendes Hitherto tendeth that liuely comfort of Paule Thes 4. wherewith hee incourageth the Thessalonians with the expectation of the resurrection and a certaine hope of eternitie willing them to staye their teares and not to mourne for their friendes departed out of this life after the manner of the Gentiles saying I woulde not haue you ignoraunt brethren concerning them that are a sleepe as it were but fallen a sleepe and not dead that you greeue not at them as those that haue no hope of the resurrection For if wee beleeue that Iesus is dead and risen againe so also can God raise them with him that are fallen a sleepe and bring them to their former estate Our conuersation saith he is in heauen from whence vvee looke for our Lorde Iesus Christ who vvil transforme our vile bodies Phil. 4 and make theÌ„ like to his glorious bodie according to his power wherewith hee subdueth all thinges In which wordes Paule vvarneth all men that they comforte and strenthen then themselues in afflictions with the loue and desire of immortalitie and that they feare nothing in the whole course of this life that may withdrawe them from a better life to which Christ hath opened vs the waie by the power of his resurrection Wherefore vvhen wee come to the last daie of our life and death presseth vppon vs vvhich is fearefull to al men vnlesse Christ doe holde them vppe or where there commeth any thought of death to them that are founde and in perfecte health or if pouertie oppresse vs or any disease or any other discommodities of this life trouble vs let vs cast all our hope desire and prayers on Christ who hath payed the punishment due vnto vs by his death who hath pardoned all our offences who is the propitiation for our sinnes who is our aduocate as Iohn saieth and mediatour vvith GOD the Father Colos 3 1. Iohn 2. 1. Tim. 2 Esay 50 Ephet 2 Colol 1. Iohn 1 who is the reconciler of GOD and man and who as Paule saieth hath giuen himselfe to bee a redemption and sacrifice for vs. In him standeth our saluation and the resurrection of life by him wee haue accesse and entraunce in one Spirit to GOD the Father by his bloudshedding wee haue obtayned redemption and remission of sinnes because it pleased the father that al fulnesse should dwel in him and make all thinges pleasing vnto him by his bloudsheading Seeing therefore wee haue an high prieste as the Authour saieth to the Hebrewes Heb. 4 who hath pearsed the heauens euen Iesus Christ the Sonne of GOD who tempted in all things and yet without sinne was affected with the feeling of our infirmities Let vs come with saith to that throne of grace that wee may obtaine mercie of him that will helpe vs in due season beeing sustained with the helpe of so greate a guide and attended on with so sure a guard we shall be able to resist the monsters of the Diuell who so soone as the light of the Gospell appeared vanished awaie yea wee shall preuaile against sinne Death and Hell and shall bee carryed out of the vncertaine state of this life to the desired hauen and to a blessed habitation And if it fallout in the course of this life that anie discommoditie or misfortune happen vnto thee if it chaunce thou fall into any incombraunces of this life if oppressed with pouertie greeued with diseases troubled with thy enemies if oppression and calamitie come vppon thee if wickednesse abound if the innocent bee iniured and their liues taken awaie from them if sounde and wholesome doctrine bee contemned if heresies and wicked opinions doe bud forth and naughtie errours are sowne abroade in such a confusion of thinges wee must go vnto Christ and require of him the helpes of our saluation let vs rest wholie on him let vs as it were with an Anchor take fast holde on him And to bee shorte let vs haue that saying of Dauid in our mindes Psal 15 I will alwaies sette the Lorde before mine eyes because hee is on my right hande that I cannot bee remooued In which wordes hee sheweth hee had his eyes alwaies fastened on GOD and trusted to his helpe not doubting nor carryed awaie with euerie blast of doctrine but was stable and constant Ephe. 4. Hebru 1 Psal â—â— and coulde not bee remooued from the faith he had in God and that onelie for this cause that hee hadde tryed GOD to bee his propitiation and to assist him in all thinges so that hee boldelie brake out into these speeches Beholde the Lorde is my helpe my heart hoped in him and he helped me my flesh reioiced in him and I wil willingly confesse him Of the greatnesse of the name of Iesus Christ his maiestie and power wherewith we must only resist magicall inchantments and ouercome the illusions of the Diuel or any other hurt that shall happen to body and mind Chap. 57. SEeing that a little before I haue shewed inchantmentes and magicall artes are to be rooted vppe and no man should vse sorcery and witchcraft It remaineth that I shewe by the way with what force and power with what wordes and praiers minds assailed afflicted and intangled in the iuglings of the Diuel may bee cured Then by what meanes wichcraft may be taken away which the ministers of the Diuell do bring vpon men and vexe their mindes and bodies They enter secretly into mans bodie and do violently assaile his nature and spoile the same of power or at least wise weaken it These euill spirits do enter into our meate and drinke and breath which we take from the aire and into such thinges as we receiue into our bodies and wherewith we liue and all other things that