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 â—eeleth 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 remeÌ„brance â—â—lthy 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 Paradâ—ce 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 shorteâ—er 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 moâ—h 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 fearfulâ—ie 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 Vâ—cleane bodies and they which be not well pâ—rged of supeâ—fluous 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 Vâ—e moderate exercise for so shalt thou helpe Nature Ouer much ease maketh Nature feeble that shee cannot resolue that which by Arâ—e was not purged Drunkennessâ— DRunkennes maketh men seem as beasts â—oâ— it depriueth them of reason and stirreth them to all filthinesse The drunken man shall neuer be rich The Drunkard consoâ—ndeth Nature loseth both grace and honour runneth headlong into â—uerlasting damnation Eâ—uie THe enuious man pineth to see the prosperity of his neighbour Enuie seeketh dayly to subuert the state of the godâ—ie Enuie is blind can doe nothing but dispraise vertue Enuie is an excremeÌ„t 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 abaÌ„doned 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 Gâ—ace GRace is giuen for three causes that the â—aw 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 eternâ—ll 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 suddeÌ„ly thrown downe like high trees in a great â—empest 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 â—way all vertues decay Loue. LOue couerâ—th 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 peâ—ition 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
perfect feeling then we know here eke remaines by destinies O glorious God that hast assign'd these pleasures all vs to content Inspire our hearts that thou maist find our soules with thee still to consent What greater ioyes can be exprest what sweeter blisse what pleasure more Can be conceiu'd in humaine breast then here haue bene rehearst before Yet more then all is ouerâ—ast which one is all I dare well say For faâ—e to face we shall at â—â—st Our Sauiour sweet see night and day And ioy in him with perfect blâ—sse and liue with him that death hath sâ—aine In loue and peace which are endlesse and neuer toucht with woe or paine No gooâ— can be but there is found no good without him is possest All best delights do there abound each fight doth yeeld a perfect rest The Angels there most glorious are then humaine eyes can well behold More bright they shine then any star and still Gods mercies they vnfold What place more stately can there be for greatest Princes to enioy Then follow heires with him to be that grants all blisse without annoy Behold the time which once hath bin behold the time which present is Behold also each future thing most plaine are there with God in blisse O knowledge deep O heauenly light O sence most cleare that so can reach That so can bring all things in sight and so all saints and Angels teach O blessed state where malice sleepes no one is here of base degree O glorious Lord that Princes keeps his loyall seruants for to be O seat of ioy O sâ—e of blisse O happie house of all pleâ—sures O state which neuer doth amisse O blessed place which so endures O place which yeeldeth all contents O place which neuer wracke sustaines O place which need ne lands ne rents O place which still in blisse remaines O woondrous place of all the best O place which endlesse comfort brings O place of ioy and quiet rest O place whence chiefest goodnes springs O place the nurse of loue and peace O place the fountaine of all faith O place where strife and discord cease O onlie place of life and breath O glorious Lord that there doth raigne and only giuer of all blisse O happy we if we maintaine and keepe his lawes in righteousnesse O happie we to whome the light and knowledge of his word is brought O happie we that liue in sight of such a Lord in word and thought O happie all that doe imbrace this famous Lord in word and deed For they shal comfort get and grace and on his Manna shall they feed O Manna sent from God aboue O Manna sweet that bringeth blisse O onlie food of godlie loue that mends all things that are amisse O heauenly iewell of all the best O pearle passing glittering gold Wherein all Christian soules do rest and with all ioy the same behold No difference there of persons is Each one doth liue in like degree Each one possesseth heauens blisse all face to face our Lord do see O man to thee now must I call the end where first I did begin That ioyes that blisse that paine and thrall may keep thy soule and mind from sin Thy heart will melt on them to thinke if any grace in thee remaine And from all filthy sinfull sinke thy heart and hand thou wilt refraine Vaine pleasure all then wilt thou scorne when heauens blisse thou doest behold For they with damned spirits are torne that make a treasure of their golde When grieâ—ly death doth the assault it is too late for to amend Wherefore in time confesse thy fault and God to please see thou intend For when this liâ—e is gone and past there is no cure for any sinne Then as we are so shall we last in ioy or paine as we begin Wherefore thy life see so thou frame that it may please our Sauiour sweet And alwayes praise his holy name then thou in blisse shalt Angels meet And with them euer shalt thou be all peace all ioy with them shalt haue Surpassing pleasures stil shalt see and nothing euer need to craue Which blessed place none can possesse till from this finfull life they goe None to the same can haue accesse vnlesse in godlinesse they flowe FINIS A PRAIER TO ESCHVE worldly vanities FOr asmuch O bountifull Iesus and most sweete sauiour of mankind the frailtie of our corrupted flesh is still more ready to yeelde to the vain allurements of this wicked world and fond fancies of this wretched vale then to the sweet and comfortable perswasions of thy constant worde reuealed in the holy Gospell the food of our soules the bread of our liues and the strength of our saluation I most humblie beseech thee euen in the bowels of thy tender mercies to turne thy fauourable countenance towards me so poure in me the dewe of thy heauenly grace that I may euen hate and eschewe the vaine inuentions and fonde pleasures of this loathsome laberynth walk in the waies of the godly according to thy holy lawes coÌ„mandements Be thou O merciful God my strong castell and refuge against the wicked assaults and most filthy temptations of Satan and all his hellish hoste for they secretâ—ly dig pits for my soule and seeke continuallie to entrappe the same in the snares of eternall damnation and leaue nothing vnattempted that may worke my most miserable destruction Wherefore o most sweet and tender Father so mortify old Adam in my fond affections that despising the vncertainty frailtie of this momentaneous life I may not delight my self in the ioyes of any earthly pleasures or looke for any comfort of this present life but withdrawe my mind and soule from things of fickle stay to fix my hart to solace and delights vpon the hope of beholding the maiestie and beautie of they glorie wherein ioy shal be ful and nothing wanting for euer Graunt O blessed God and most merciful Father that art the mighty monark of heauen and earth and onely giuer of all goodnesse that my soule may as a Doue speedily flie vnto the sweete bosome of thy deare sonne and there with him receiue the happie rest which he by shedding of his preeious bloud hath purchased and prepared for the same to whome with the father and the holie Ghost be all glorie praise dominion and power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to escape the calamities of hell BEholding with the eies of my heart O blessed Lord the cruell tormentes and dreadful terrors of the pit of hel which thou hast appointed to be a iust guerdon for sin and a fit punishment for such as forsake thee and daylie seeke by infidelity to dishonour thee and knowing that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I should receiue nothing but death and damnanation I here prostrating my selfe before thy diuine Maiestie most humbly beseech thee of thy gracious fauour to caste downe the eyes of Mercie vpon me to