the victory obtained he willingly remitted the offence which I have therefore inserted that I might teach holy David being a man of an Evangelicall spirit not only to have taken none offence at him but his comming to him to have beene welcome and to have brought him grace and therefore to have beene delighted not exasperated with these his malicious and mischievous despights as being more advantageous to him in the more certaine expectation of a more ample reward of the bountiful Recompencer of all patient forbearance But howbeit he had now proceeded farre in the way of perfection notwithstanding hee sought to attain to it in a higher degree Through the griefe of iniury susteined his heat of bloud was stirred vp in him as a man but by the efficacy of the spirit of grace he overcame like a good souldier at the cōmand of his great generall He indured as a valiant champion but the vpshot of his patience was the expectation of the accomplishment of the Lords promises And therefore he d said Lord let me know the number of my dayes what it is that I may be certified what I haue not e Psal 39.7 attained vnto He seeketh the end of heavenly promises or that end when every one shall rise in his own f Sept. v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The eight verse considered may helpe this sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. which is deliver mee from all my transgressions 1 Cor. 15.23 order Christ the first fruits afterward they that are Christs at his comming then shall be the end For the kingdome being delivered vp to God and the Father and all powers being abolished as the Apostle speaketh perfection beginneth Here therefore is an impediment h Ver. 14. here an infirmity even of those that bee the best and perfect in their degree there is full perfection Therefore for the state of perfection the Apostle pointeth at those dayes of eternall life which are alwayes in being not at those dayes which passe away That so here in this life he may take notice of his wants may grow vp in knowledge to vnderstand what the land of promise bearing perpetuall fruits is what the first mansiō seat with the father what the second what the third is in which every one according to his degree and measure of gifts and graces divine shall rest eternally Wherefore according to his heavenly doctrine not this life which is full of want and errour but that in which is perfection in which is truth is to be sought after evermore to bee desired and aspired unto of us all Here the shadow there the substance here the g Psal 39.6 73.20 1 Cor. 7.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 image and resemblance there the truth The shadow in the law the image in the Gospell the truth in the heavens Before a lambe was offered a calfe was offered now Christ is offered but hee is offered as a man and as it were receiving his passion and hee offereth himselfe as it were a Priest that he may take upon him our sinnes and remit them to us Here in an image and certaine similitude there in truth where hee interposeth himselfe as an Advocate with the Father for us Therefore here we walke in an image wee see in an image there face to h 1 Cor. 13.12 face where is full perfection because all perfection is in the truth CHAP. XLVIII Of treading vanity under foot WHerefore while wee are here let us get and keepe the image that there we may come to the truth Let there bee in us the image of justice let there bee the image of wisdome because we shall come to that day and according to the image then found in us shall wee be judged Let not the adversary find in thee his owne image his image of raging and fury For in these maladyes harboureth mischiefe For our a 1 Pet. 5.8 adversary the divell goeth about like a roaring lyon seeking whom hee may kill and devoure Let him not find in thee the desire of gold the heapes of silver b Iohn 14.30 Sathan non habet quicquam in Christo quoniam nullis erat peccatis obnoxius nec habet quicquam in illis qui Christo sunt conjuncti qui licet peccatis sint obnoxij ex hoc mundo corrupto perdito non sunt sed ex eo selecti super cap. 15.19 animadversio Musculi Haec vera sunt in illis qui non secundum spiritum ambulant Idem Musculus in hunc locum the image and shape of vices let him not deprive thee of the voice of liberty for this is the voyce of libertie that thou maiest say The prince of this world shall come and shall not find ought in me Therefore if thou be secure that when hee commeth to make search he may find nothing in thee thou shalt say that which Iacob the Patriarch sometime said to c Genes 31.37 Laban what of all thy goods hast thou found with mee Worthily blessed was Iacob with whom Laban could find nothing that was his For Rachel had hidden d Verse 34. the golden and silver images of his gods in the camels litter and was sate downe upon them Wherefore if thy wisdome faith contempt of the world if thy grace may cover all thy perfidiousnesse and disloyalty thou shalt be blessed and this may bee a good meanes thereunto if there be no respect to vanities and such unsound dotages wherewith Laban was bewitched Is it a matter of no worth to frustrate the voyce of the adversarie so that not only all authority and power but even all pretence and colour to accuse thee shall bee taken away Therefore he which hath no regard to these or any other vanities is not at all troubled but hee which hath respect unto them is most vainely and idely without any profit accruing to him thereby troubled and molested For what is it to scrape together riches but a vaine thing and nothing furthering the soules welfare For hee that shall dive into it shall hee not find too much vanity in it so much so greedily with such an hungry and unsatiable appetite to gape after this fading soone vanishing and perishing pelfe When thou hast with continuall carking and caring raked it together how knowest thou whether God will suffer thee to possesse it one moment Is it not a vaine thing for the merchant night and day to toyle and tugge upon the seas in a long voyage that by his traffique hee might treasure up many rare and pretious commodities Especially for that when hee hath purchased them with his penny hee is troubled about their price lest peradventure hee undervalew them to his losse such hunting and hearkening out places of Mart where hee may best vent them and againe while hee maketh such open inquirie how is hee frighted with feare of Pyrats and robbers that perhaps envying his so famous negotiation might be stirred
a Exod. 2.12 slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand Salomon also saith deliver him that is b Prov. 24.11 drawne to death Whereby it is manifest from whence either Tully or else Panaetius or Aristotle himselfe borrowed the same albeit likewise Job more ancient then c His duobus viz. Mose Salomone both these hath said d Job 29.12.13 I delivered the poore that cried out of the hand of the mighty and the fatherlesse and him that had none to helpe him the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me Was not this man stronger who so strongly indured the violence of the divell and overcame him in the power of his mind Neither is it to bee doubted of his strength to e Joh 40.2.5.6 whom the Lord saith Gird up mow thy loynes like a man decke thy selfe with majesty and excellency and behold every one that is proud and abase him The Apostle also mentioneth the strong consolation which every Christian ought to have builded upon the stablenesse of Gods promise and the unchangablenesse of his word and oath He is therefore strong which is able to comfort himselfe being under some affliction And in truth that is rightly called fortitude when every one overcommeth himselfe containeth anger is mollified with no pleasure is cast downe with adversity is puffed up with no prosperitie neither caried about with any light wind of vaine rumour concerning the f Eph. 4.14 1 Tim. 6.20 41.1 2 Tim. 4.4 1 Cor. 2.12 2 Thes 2.2 Math. 24.6 mutation of sundry things but remaineth g Eph. 6.10 strong in the Lord and in the power of his might h 1 Pet. 3.14 Acts 28.20 See Saint Pauls fortitude rejoycing under bonds The effects of Fortitude fearing nothing their feare neither being troubled And no marvell For what is more high and magnificent then to captivate the understanding macerate the flesh and bring it into bondage that it may obey government hearken to counsell and that in undertaking labours it may speodily execute the purpose and will of the mind renewed and sanctified by the Spirit of God Here lyeth the first and greatest strength of fortitude and it hath a double worke in this exercise or conflict First it hath the outward things of the body in least account and doth repute them as superfluous and rather to bee despised then desired Secondly those things which are chiefe and all things in which honesty and comelinesse is seene doth it seeke after and pursue with a notable intention of mind never desisting untill it bee effected For what is of so great commendation as that thou so informe thy mind that thou neither place riches nor pleasures nor honours in the highest roome neither that thou spend all thy studies in them Because when thou shalt bee so affected in mind it must needs be that thou then wilt preferre that eminency of honesty and i Illud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comelinesse and wilt thinke so intentively upon it whatsoever shall happen let it bee either the losse of patrimony or impairing of honour or backbiting every whereof is wont to breake the heart of a worldly man as being superiour and above the reach of it shalt have no feare nor feeling thereof Againe that is an undoubted marke of fortitude in the undertaking of danger for the safety and preservation of justice not to bee moved This is true fortitudes triall and ever found in a Christian champion that unlesse hee strive lawfully and with undaunted courage in case of greatest danger for Christs cause hee is not k 1 Cor. 9.24 25. crowned Doth the precept of fortitude seeme a smali matter to thee when the same Apostle openeth the way and layeth out the steps with so great care and diligence by which we must come to it Affliction worketh patience patience experience experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed * Vide quot certamina una corona See how many combats and but one crown Which precept is given by no other man then by him that is l Rom. 5.34 comforted in Christ Jesus and exceeding joyous in tribulation whose flesh had no rest but was troubled on every side fightings without and terrours within And though hedged in with perills m 2 Cor. 7.4 2 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. on every side of waters of robbers of his owne nation and other without number put under many distresfull labours imprisonments stripes tumults stonings and many imminent n 2 Cor. 1.9.10 Wee had the sentence of death in our selves Erepti de ipsa pressura praedicatores resusctatos se dicnut Ambros in hunc locum deaths notwithstanding was not daunted in mind neither was courage broken but stoutly strove that hee might not be brought under the captivity of sin nor drawne from his holy profession by these assaults And hereby in the end hee became Master of the field against all his enemies beate downe his infirmities raised up in himselfe the impregnable fortresse of vertue and bore away the prize And therefore consider how he teacheth such as beare Offices in the Church to despise these worldly things If therefore yee be dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world why as if yee lived still therein doe you contend about the worldl why o Col. 2.21.22 are yee burthened with traditions as touch not tast not handle not which all perish with fising and are all after the traditions and doctrines of men and afterward p Chap. 3.1 if yee be risen with Christ seeke the things that are above and againe q V. 5. mortifie your members which are upon the earth These things are spoken and belong still to all the faithfull But thee O my sonne he perswadeth to the contempt of riches the avoidance of prophane and old r 1 Tim. 4.6.7 wives tales suffering nothing to affect thee but what may exercise thee to piety because bodily exercise profiteth nothing but godlinesse is profitable to all things Wherefore let godlinesse exercise thee to ſ 1 Tim. 6.11 justice to continency to gentlenesse that thou maiest t 2 Tim. 1.22 6.12 flie the lusts of youth and being rooted and grounded in grace maist fight the good fight of faith and not u 2 Tim. 2.4 intangle thy selfe in secular affaires because thou being the Lords souldier thou must warre for him For if hee which goeth to warre under the Emperour is forbidden suits of law pleading at the barre buying and selling in the market and that under the penalty of the law how much more ought hee which doth exercise spirituall warfare abstaine from the use of all worldly negotiation and rest himselfe content with the croppe of his owne small grounds if hee have any if hee have none with the comming in of his salary and stipend For hee is a good witnesse of Gods speciall providence and care toward his servants which saith x Psal 37.25 I
Gospell is given by speciall revelation as to that which is therein manifested of Gods owne essence will and promise of grace transforming of the Gospell into philosophie as the Pelagians and Monkes of old have grossely done transgressing the due bounds thereof and confounding them together without discretion is that which the Apostle would have Christians to beware of It is to bee observed also that he wills not to take heed of Philosophie only but of many other kindes of wiles no lesse perilous to pull away from the truth and sinceritie of the Gospell adding withall vaine deceipt through the f Worshipping of Angels and other beggarly worldly ordinances v. 18. 20. traditions of men according to the rudiments of the world and not according to Christ A third sort likewise there was when the Colossians made a commixture of g Verse 11.16 Christianisme and Iudaisme of baptisme and circumcision of the law and the Gospell which was the common error together with this Church of that of h Rom. 2.27.10.5 Rome and i Gal. 4.10 Galatia k The name of Philosophie is here used not properly but improperly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ostentation of wit vented in painted speech with a purpose to beguile the simple And from this ground did Pelagius himselfe the Semi-pelagians and some of the Schoolemen build up their doctrine of humane merits * Another exposition All these impostures are signified by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to carry away the mindes of the world as a prey and to captivate them under Sathan It followes not therefore from hence the study of Philosophie in the schoole of Christ to be forborne Yea rather if we truly weigh the matter there be among sundry other three singular commodities why it ought to bee specially fostered in the Church First it is an ample witnesse of God and his attributes Next when it and the Gospell bee compared together it bringeth in much light to the comprehending of the severall doctrines contained in them both Lastly the sundry parts thereof throughly learned yeeld no small advantage above such as want them no lesse for more facilitie in opening then for solidity in defending the divine tenets Notwithstanding we confesse that not the wisdome of the l Rom. 8.6 Pbilosophie to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flesh but that of the spirit is it alone which is life and peace For might that bee admitted for a good kind of arguing Philosophie because it is the wisdome of the flesh is death and therefore utterly to bee rejected With the like reason might wee conclude against the sacred bookes for that without faith and the holy Spirit they bring not life and peace Wherefore this taketh not away the good that may bee reaped by the use of Philosophie though in an infinite inferiour degree to that received from the divine Oracles The very name of Vertue likewise how glorious soever seemes to some not to sort with Divivinity and the appellation of good Workes to bee much more proper to it and therefore frequently used and that of vertue rarely and not above once m 2 Pet. 1.5 Phil. 4.8 or twice in the Scriptures The rarity of it is partly because the Scriptures especially of the new Testament have little to doe with warres from which it n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mars is derived and those of the old Testament are styled the o 1 Sam. 25.18 warres of God as his worke and partly because it imports an heroicall spirit extraordinarily inflamed to the enterprizing great adventures and that with a forcible p And therefore termed by the Philosophers habites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and constant inclination which is seldome found S. Peter putting it downe doth evidence the same noting thereby in generall the efficacie of the doctrine of the Gospell and that it passes not away without fruit but stirreth up a fiery affection and firme purpose of performance in the hearers I cannot say that those speciall motions in the Ethnicks Alexander Scipio Augustus and the rest were meerely naturall but rather the worke q Nemo sibi quicquam sumere potest nisi fit datum ei desuper Nullus fuit vir magnus fine afflaru divino Cic. of God to manifest his powerfull presence in ordering of the state Politicall Hence were those noble spirits called the children of the Gods and in that any excelled in goodnesse hee did seeme to bee not of mortall but of r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Plato immortall generation and where God hath not the dominion there to be no ſ Genes 10.9 We must discerne betweene the thing that is politicall order which is of God vitia rei the vices incident thereunto which are from the divell Deus transfert stabilit regna Dan. 4.22 Psal 18.32 Psal 144.1.2 St. Augustine striving that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Septuagints signifies as well contra as coram and thereby collects that Nimrod was an oppressor makes nothing against this that the hand of God set him up to rule yea himselfe confesses the same credibilius est quòd seorsum de illo Scriptura propter ejus emenantiam locuta sit de Civit. Dei Lib. 19. cap. 3. evasion of evill and calamitie The sacred Scripture confirmes this giving to t That they be voluntary of right judgement Nimroth not only the dignitie of a strong hunter but adding withall before the Lord that is the bestowing upon him strength victory and happy successe for the erecting of an Empire to proceed from divine ordinance In these regards therefore the word of God hath good workes and not vertue in common use being much more perspicuous and expressing better the u Psalmista heroicos viros comparat sagittis Validâ manu contortis quae omnia prosiernunt Psal 18.32 properties of humane actions well managed Some workes are of externall discipline and not raised from x magnanimitie and from divine instinct as the efficient these latter are as gemmes and pearles of highest price those common to many as their subject in the one doth appeare nothing but what is of ordinarie forme in the other sundry parts of admiration here no undertaking but what is triviall there such effects and happy successe as is beyond all expectation Howbeit what is heroicall is not in like manner in Ioseph and Alexander David and Scipio For the one sort were moved by the Spirit of sanctification the other not so the one sought the honour of God as the finall cause the other shot at pompe and policie greatnesse of government together with their owne praise as the upshot of all their hopes CHRISTIAN OFFICES CRYSTAL GLASSE OR St. Ambrose Bishop of Millan his Offices Booke II. CHAPTER I. By honesty a blessed life to bee acquired IN our former booke we haue treated of offices and duties
that translation then in custome For it is not in our vulgar death For there the shield of the mighty is cast downe the shield of Saul as though he had not beene annointed with oyle The bow of Ionathan never turned backe neither did the sword of Saul returne empty from the bloud of the slaine and the fat of the mighty Saul and Ionathan were swifter then eagles stronger then lyons Yee daughters of Israel weepe for Saul which cloathed you in skarlet hanged ornaments of gold upon your apparell What mother did ever so bewaile her only sonne as this man bewailed his enemy who could so lay out the commendation of his best friend as hee doth him that layed snares continually for his life How piously did he lament with how great affection and feeling The elements could not without terror behold this horrible slaughter and therefore with-held their influence as a curse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did hee bewaile him The mountaines withered upon his propheticall malediction and the divine power made up in full measure the just sentence of the maledicent In so much that at the spectacle of the kings death the very dumb elements themselves paid the punishment What was the cause of holy e 1 Kings 21. Naboths death but the contemplation of honesty For when Ahab the King required his Vineyard promising him money for it hee deemed such an unworthy bargaine as to be made an instrument to set a price upon the patrimonie of his fathers The Lord f Ibid. v. 3. keepe mee saith he from giving the inheritance of my fathers to thee That is let not God suffer me to fall into so great infamy let him not permit so heinous an offence to be extorted from me From mine own tribe mancipiously that repugnantly to the mind of the Lord to alienate the least portion of inheritance allotted Levit. 25.23 Numb 36.7 Read Tremel Iun. notes Verely the Lords inhibition is not of alienation of Vines for the Lord hath g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur no regard of them nor of earthly possessions but of the right of the fathers after his owne constitution Naboth might have accepted of some other among the Kings vineyards and so have beene inrolled among his best esteemed friends which is reckoned no small preeminence in this world but hee liked not to make profit by such foule worke For wee need not doubt but that hee might have bettered himselfe by commutation Hee liked not to triumph in the ruines of his tribe but liked rather to undergoe perill with honesty Vtility twofold common and speciall Permitteth by connivency if not consent false and forged testimony impudently to passe upon Naboth to his condemnation This hee did though afterward upon judgement denounced against him and his house hee seemed to be sorry for his fact 1 King 21.27 The sinne of these is a skarlet one there falshood and homicide in graine packed by perjury polluted by the effusion of innocent bloud then profit with ignominie When I thus mention profit I meane such as is vulgar and in frequent use with worldlings not such wherein remaines the grace of honesty The King himselfe might have extorted what hee desired but he thinkes it an impudent part and therefore upon his slaughter was touched with griefe Jezabels greedinesse of gaine likewise immanity void of all humanity savage cruelty without the least sparke of cōmon honesty civility was by the horrible scourge of the revenging wrath of God justly requited All fraud therefore is dishonest The very ballance of deceit and the false measure in matters of small worth are execrable For if in the market where all things are vendible and in common commerce imposture is punished may it be without reproofe among the offices of vertue Salomon guided by the sacred spirit censureth and condemneth the ioynt vsage of the great h Prov. 20.10.23 thohabath of thahab signifying abominari or aversari because we turne away from that is uncleane and small weight to a fraudulent intent and so the double measure as i Prov. 11.1 By a borrowed speech to bring it into more detestation and to make knowne his sore hatred against it Prov. 16.11 uncleane and accursed in the sight of the Lord and as an abomination the course and common receptacle of that banefull sin of imposture depriving daily the poore hungry soules of their due bread and releife And on the other side for the incouragement of the honest and vpright heart he highly commendeth true and perfect ballances whatsoever iust weights of the bagge as the worke of Gods speciciall mercy toward the miserable and most pleasing to him being the father of all compassion CHAP. X. That vices ought to be blotted out with vertues comming in and faith to be kept with the perfidious and fraudulent which by the president of Ioshuah toward the Gibeonites is made evident IN all things therefore fidelity is comely iust dealing aceptable the measure of equity pleasant What shall I speake of other contracts and cheifly of the valuation or a buying a Conceptio or coemptio praediorum of lands or transactions b Agreements upon communication and compacts Is not that the right forme of honesty when our buying and bargaining is performed bona fide or vnder a good intent toward our neighbour and when dolus malus a subtile and sinister intent is removed Likewise doth it not well accord thereunto that where guile and falsehood is deprehended the delinquent should be obnoxious to double dammages Every where the consideration of honesty doth overpoise whatsoever opposits among the rest delving fox-like fraud out of her denne discovereth and dislodgeth her Hence it is that propheticall David c Psal 15.3 levied with so steady an hand that dexterously composed sentence of his vniversally to direct in our trading and commerce that he which rightly inioyeth a seate in Gods tabernacle carrieth ever in his recognizance within his brest this embleme doe no euill to thy neighbour Wherefore not only in contracts wherein the faults of whatsoever is to be sold ought to be opened and unlesse the seller albeit hee hath resigned over his right to the buyer shall make knowne they are all voide by the action de dolo malo but also in all dealing of what kind soever betweene man and man no deceipt but sincerity with simplicity and the naked truth ought to be shewed This old forme de dolo which is not so much the forme d The sentence of the Scripture and of the Civill law doe accord in the matter de dolo of the Civilians as the very sentence of the Patriarch doth the divine Scripture evidently expresse in the booke of Ioshuah For when a fame was spread abroad among the people of the Land the water of the red Sea and of Iordan to have beene dried up to give passage to the Israelites a fountaine to have flowed out of a rocke
licentiam necessary fraud was found the only way of keeping the whole tribe from perishing See into what streights sinne doth thrust either dying without of-spring or by unwarrantable course making shipwracke of soule Behold againe that liberty of theirs proceeding from inforcement was a retaliation of their intemperance they tooke the Levites wife by violence to the r Congruo intemperantiae supplicio non videtur vacare same are they in an exigent ſ Et revera dignum fuit ut qui alienum contubernium solverant ipsi nuptiarum amitterent solennitatem Harme doe harme find depriving another they are deprived of their wives using cruelty they reaped it constrained And in truth it was worthily recompenced them upon their heads that they who had made a breach in the marriage bed should themselves be debarred of the solemnity of Matrimonie But how is the history fraught with commiseration There was a man a Levite which tooke to him a t Vir Levita acceperat sibi jugalem yoke-fellow which by u Concubina à concubitu Iudg. 19.8 baiom hachamishi Hebr. the 5 day This notwithstanding may not bee untrue for that vers 9. there is vaiakom from the root kom signifying surrexit which Tremel rendreth tandem surrexit and the Genev. afterward hee arose For this may seeme to implie some more then five dayes and so 7. according to our Author following the Sept. beside he departed not untill the evening which belongs to the next day For God began the creation with the evening companying together I thinke to bee called a concubine which as of old hath beene taking some offence went away from him to her father thither her husband went after her to bring her againe where hee feasted and made his heart merry untill the x Ibid. 19.8 Netoth of Natah declinare seventh day when being earnestly dealt withall to stay because it grew toward y Iudg. 19.24 the declining of the day yet would not bee intreated proceeding therefore on his journey hee came late to Gibeah of Benjamin with his yoke-fellow and servant where while they were refreshing themselves the inhabitants compassing the house where they were and striving to breake in upon them required after a lustfull manner the Levite To satisfie them the Master of the house offered rather then they should commit such villany his owne y Iudg. 19.24 daughter being a virgin and also his guests the Levites yoke-fellow The latter they tooke and abused untill the morning Her Lord therefore tooke her up carried her home and divided her into twelve pieces and sent them to all the quarters of Israel Forty thousand therefore of them wherein appeareth the great and speciall regard they had to honesty drew their swords even against their brethren to revenge the injury of their impudent intemperancy who at length prevailed against them made them pay the price of their dearest bloud for their incontinency and burnt as they justly deserved for their so strange burning in lust their cities into ashes Albeit they received at their hands two sore affronts yet were they not striken with z Tamen nec adversi metu belli procitus populus Israel feare nor through the crosse hazard of battell discouraged But to avenge the violation of honesty threw off a Vindicandae custitatis sequestravit dolorem dismall thoughts rushed valiantly upon the speares point dint of sword and dart prepared with more effusion of their bloud either to wash away so great infamy or utterly to spill it But an honest cause never had a finall doome neither had theirs Thus are the mighty stirred up for the preservation of honesty neither are the weake wanting therein but the very b 2 Kings 6. lepers strive to keepe it There was a great famine in Samaria being besie-by the Syrian host a woman cried to the King making report of the eating of her sonne he threatned Elisha the Prophet as the cause thereof as Ahab did Eliah when himselfe was But prophecying b 2 Kings 7.1 plenty which though it were not beleeved of the messenger sent to him being a prince who was for his incredulity pressed to death yet the foure lepers remaining without the gates for such must dwell apart tasted of it to their exceeding comfort being affamished and imparting the same honestly and faithfully to the city filled their fainting soules with incomprehensible joy CHAP. XV. The prayse of honesty is commended by the magnanimity of Ester the fidelity of Ionathan and Ahimelech WHat did Queene Ester that shee might deliver her owne people which was both a comely and honest part feared shee the vnlimited prerogative or vnbridled wrath of a mighty Monarch said shee a Ester 4.16 not if I perish I perish To be affronted by such a favourite as Haman was enough to daunt the most warlike spirit But an happy successe was ever the companion of a good cause Assuerus the great King of b Ipse rex Persarum ferox tumido corde tamen decorum judicavit indici insidiarum quae sibi paratae forent gratiā repraesentare c. indici insidiarum for indictarum insidiarum such devises as admit no defence to be made against them Persia though of a fierce and swelling spirit iudged it a decency not to deny her a boone in repealing that bloudy decree barring whatsoeuer plea to crosse it for delivery of the innocent and free people from servitude and the drawing out the nocent of such an vnbeseeming and notorious devise to death Trechery was devised not against her nation alone but against her owne person the Monarchs royall consort Shee put her life into his hands to releiue her people appointed to the spoile and he heard her request against him the second in the kingdome and cheifest among all his favorites For when he saw his fraudulent practises not only to derogate from honesty toward his subjects but to be very dishonest even toward himselfe he assigned him a gibbet that loved so well mounting to clime vpon A worthy president doubtlesse in a man of so high a ranke thus to patronage honesty For that favour that friendship is approved which protectes honesty and to be preferred truly aboue all the wealth honour and dominion which this world can afford To put that before which should follow after is to invert order Friendship and honesty sort well together but so that honesty have the preheminence and friendship follow after it Was it not the wisedome of c 1 Sam. 20.32.33 Ionathan thus to discerne when hee had so great respect to Dauids honesty and piety that for the loue thereof he regarded not to retaine his fathers freindship feared not his offence avoided not the peril of death For Saul his father was no ordinary person but a King and had the power of life and death in his hand Was not the same in Ahimelech d Chap. 2.6 who to shew himselfe hospitall to innocent David
mercy seate may find remission Whatsoever fault hath crept into this worke O Christ pardon it Thou hast vouchsafed to make me a dispensor of thy heavenly mysteries we of the ministerie are all thy messengers but not Ex libro ejus 5. cap. 1. de fide equally all because thou hast bestowed thy gifts according to thy good pleasure Wee are all O Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 6.1 Chrys in his Tractat on the shepheard and sheepe coworkers together blessed is hee that bestoweth his talent to the best advantage Blessed is hee that buildeth upon the foundation of faith in thee gold 1 Cor. 3. silver pretious stones If our diligence satisfie not men let it suffice when we shall render our account to thee that we have done our best indevour Make them that reade this learne being purged thereby with the working together of thy sacred spirit from their corruptions to shine as gold tried in the fornace in the beauty of holy duties Thou art the good Samaritan cure the wounds of the people powre in wine and oyle heale the breaches of the land It is overwhelmed with vanity covered with injustice it swarmeth with intemperance lyeth naked and is stripped of zeale fortitude courage and constancy in the cause of the maintenance of thine honour of syncere doctrine vertuous life true practise after much profession many religious exercises and perusing multitudes of godly bookes We acknowledge that this increaseth our sinne heapeth an heavier judgement upon us with-holdeth thy love from us and incenseth thine indignation when wee bring not forth answerable fruits Adde therefore we beseech thee deare Saviour the fire of thy Spirit to warme our affections and by the flames thereof so kindle our spirits that we may bee moved forward with a fervent affection in the way of a pious conversation abounding in all manner of good workes for the great glory of thy Name the credit of our profession the continuance of thy Gospell the turning away of thy judgements long threatned yet hitherto in thy unspeakable mercy with-held from us And because of thine inexplicable love toward us and merits above that we are able to aske or thinke with thy heavenly Father for us our humble duty also binding us thereunto stirre us up through the fervency of the same spirit of strength to seeke continually at thy mercifull hands by hearty and earnest praier the increase of thy speciall blessings upon thine anointed the breath of our nostrels King Charles with his royall consort upon Prince Charles the rest of the royall Progeny the Princesse Palatine likewise and her Princely issue upō the house of Levi and the whole Common-weale of this kingdome from the highest to the lowest Incite us we instantly pray thee in the last place but not with our least but best remembrance unto all thankfulnesse for thy primarie mercy unto us for the same our most religious and vertuous Iehoshaphat the continuance of the pretious jewell of thy Gospell under him our gratious Soveraigne Cause us in sincerity of soule in a burning desire and indevour to render for both these then the which nothing in the world can be greater not unmindfull of whatsoever benefit beside to thee our only Redeemer with the whole undividable most sacred Trinity one in Nature three in Person infinitely worthy to receive of the whole familie in heaven and earth of Angels men and all creatures everlasting honour and glory immortall praise and benediction Amen The translation of St. Cyprians Epistle ad Cornelium fratrem being then B. of Rome de sacerdotibus reformandis IN Deutronomie Deutr. 17.22 the Lord God speaketh saying And the man that will doe proudly and not hearken unto the Priest or Iudge which shall be in those dayes even that man shal dye and all the people when they shall heare it shall feare and shall do no more wickedly In like manner to 1 Sam. 8.7 Samuel when he was despised of the Iewes they have not despised thee but they have despised mee The Lord likewise in the Gospell Luke 10.16 hee which heareth you heareth me and him that sent me and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me who rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me And when he had clensed the leper Math. 8.4 goe saith he and shew thy selfe to the priest And afterward in the time of his passion when hee had received a stroke John 18.22 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a servant of the high priest and when he had said to him dost thou so answer the high priest The Lord against the high Priest answered nothing contumeliously neither from the honour of the priests detracted any thing but vindicating rather and shewing his owne innocencie If I have evill spoken upbraid me of the evill but if I have well spoken why smitest thou me Also in the Acts of the Apostles blessed Paul when it was said to him Act. 23.4 Dost thou so charge Gods high priest in reviling him albeit the Lord being now crucified they began to bee sacrilegious impious and bloudy neither did reteine at this time any of the priestly honour and authoritie notwithstanding thinking upon the very name it selfe howbeit voide and being a certaine shadow of a Priest was affraid I knew not brethren saith he that he was the high Priest For it is written thou shalt not speake evill of the ruler of thy people When these so great and such like and many other examples doe goe before us whereby the priestly authoritie is strengthened by divine verdict what manner of persons dost thou suppose them to be who being enemies to Priests and rebels against the Church Catholike are neither terrified with the threatning of the Lord forewarning them neither with the vengeance of the judgement to come Heresies and schismes whereupon they grow up For neither have heresies risen or schismes sprung up from any other ground then from hence that obedience is not given to Gods Priest Neither one Priest for the time nor one Iudge for the time is thought to bee in Christs stead to whom if according to magisteriall office divine the universall brotherhood would dutifully submit themselves there would be no moving at all against the Colledge of priests no man after divine judgement after the suffrage of the people after the joynt consent of the Bishops would make himselfe a judge not now of the B. but of God No man in the breach of the unity of Christ would rent asunder the Church no man pleasing and swelling apart abroad would build up a new heresie unlesse if there bee any of so sacrilegious temerity and reprobate mind that hee may thinke a Priest to bee made without the judgement and ordinance of God when the Lord saith in the Gospell g are not two sparrowes sold for a farthing and neither of them falls to the earth without the will of your Father when hee saith not the least things to bee brought to passe without the will of God can any one imagine
the chiefest and greatest matters to bee done in the Church of God hee no way knowing nor permitting the same and the priests that is to say the Lords stewards not to be assigned by his owne sentence That is not to have faith whereby wee live By the disposition of God all things are governed namely to give honour to Christ our Lord and God by whose birth and arbitrement we know and believe all things to bee ruled and governed Clearely it appeares Bps. which are without the Church not to be made by the will of God but against the disposition and tradition of the Gospell so the Lord himselfe puts downe and speakes in the twelve Prophets they have set up a King Hos 8.4 but not by me An Index of the context of Scripture which occasionally are expounded in this Volume not otherwise For the number of them in the whole arises in exceeding great quantitie The figures before the Text declare places of Scripture those after where they are found in the worke it selfe What is prefixed afterward for instruction to the Alphabeticall must also be a direction here for the searching them out every one in its due ranke that so it may appeare how they are opened and applied to their proposed ends The old Testament Genesis 1.33 GOd saw all things that hee had made and they were exceeding good Fr. p. 3 2.10 11 12. And out of Eden went a river to water the garden from thence it was divided and became into foure heads Pishon Gihon Tigris Euphrates Intr. p. 2. 2.24 They both shall be one flesh and one spirit Off. l. 1. c. 32. p. 81. 6.5 God saw that the wickednesse of mans heart was exceeding great in the earth c. Fr. p. 14. 10.9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord Pref. in lib. 2. 12.1 Get thee out of thy countrie from thy kinred c. Off. l. 1. c. 22. p. 52. 47.18 But when the yeare mas ended they came againe the next yeare Off. l. 2. c. 16. p. 42. Exodus 12.11 Thus shall you eate the Passeover with your loynes girt Intr. p. 3. 16.12 He that gathered much had nothing over c. Off. l. 1. c. 30. p. 73 74. 20.26 And the second row shall be an Emeraud or Carbuncle Intr. 2. 20.26 Neither shalt thou goe up by steps to mine Altar lest thy filthinesse be discovered Off. l. 1. c. 18. p. 41. Numbers 3.45 Et erunt mihi Levitae c. The Levites shall bee mine Deuteronomie 33.8 Give to the Levite thy Vrim and Thummim Off. l. 1. c. 50. p. 125. Samuel 1.10.10 Is Saul also among the Prophets Off. l. 1. c. 29. pag. 68. 1.28.1 And it came to passe in those dayes that the people of other nations c. 2.18 21. Then said Joab to Cushi goe tell the King what thou hast seene Intr. p. 3. Kings 1.10.10 It was a true word which I heard in mine owne land of thy sayings Off. l. 2. c. 10. p. 28. 1.21.3 The Lord keepe me from giving the Inheritance of my fathers to thee Off. l. 3. c. 9. p. 31. 2.6.22 Thou shalt not smite them whom thou hast not taken with thy sword Off. l. 1. c. 29. p. 28. Iob. 1.21 As it pleased the Lord so comes it to passe c. Off. l. 1 c. 38. p. 39. 19.21 O my friends take pittie on me c. Off. l. 3. c. 16. p. 59. 21.9 They have waxed old and abound in wealth their seed is established according to their desire Off. l. 1. c. 12. p. 21. 32. Yet shall hee be brought to the grave and remaine in the heape Off. l. 1. c. 16. p 32. Psalmes 4.4 Be angry and sinne not Off. l. 1. c. 20. p. 46 47. 6.9 With thee is the fountaine of life Intr. 7. Title Shiggaion of David which hee sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite Intr. p. 3. 7.4 I have recompenced him that rendred mee evill Off. l. 3 c. 9 p. 30. 8.6 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet Off. l. 1. c. 28. p. 64. 23.8 His mercy shall prevent me p. 13. 26.5 I have hated the Congregation of the malignant and I will not sit among the ungodly Add. p. 128. 27.26 The just man is mercifull and lendeth Off. l. 2. c. 8. p. 24. 30.9 What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to corruption Off. l. 2. c. 6. p. 14. 34.11 Come yee sonnes and hearken to me I will teach you the feare of the Lord Off. l. 1. c. 1. p. 1. 37.21.37.25.38.13 J was as a deafe man and heard not and as a dumbe Off. l. 1. c. 5. p. 10. 18. 39.1 I will keepe my wayes that I offend not in my tongue Off. l. 1. c. 2. p. 6. 9. 11 12 13. l. 3. c. 1. p. 1. 39.4 Lord let me know the number c. that I may know what I have not attained to Off. l. 1. c. 49. p. 115. 45.9 Kings daughters were among the honorable women upon the right hand did stand c. Intr. p. 2. 51.4 That thou maist be justified in thy sayings and cleare c. Add. p. 135. 52.2 He cutteth with his tongue like a razor Off. l. 3. c. 11. p. 38. 55.6 O that I had wings like a dove c. Off. l. 1. c. 20. p. 4. 55.13 Thou ô man of one mind with me in religion Off. l. 3. c. 16. p. 63. 55.15.59 10. Let them goe downe quickly into the grave Off. l. 1. c. 12. p. 23. 65.1 Praise O God beseemeth thee in Sion Off. l. 1. c. 20. p. 108. 68.13 Though yee have lien among the pots c. Intr p 2. 72 20 Lord in thy citie thou wilt bring their images to nothing Off. l. 1. c 39 p. 119. 82 4. Deliver the poore and needy Off. l 1. c 16. p. 33. 85.8 I will heare what the Lord God will speake in mee Off. l. 3. c. 1. p. 3. 93.1 The Lord hath raigned he hath put on comelinesse Off l. 1 c. 45. p. 107. 108. 112.5 The good man is mercifull and lendeth and will guide his words c. Off. l. 2. c. 8. p. 24. 119 57. The Lord is my portion Add. p. 132. Proverbs 5.15.17.18 Come eate c. Intr. p. 2. 9 5.12 Drinke thou of the water Off. l. 3. c. 1. p. 1. 2. 10.15.11.26 He that withdraweth corne shall leave it to the nations Off. l. 3. c. 6. p. 21. 22. 14 15. Innocent beleeveth Off. l. 3. c. 10. p. 35. 20.1 Wine is prodigall Off. l. 2. c. 21. p. 54. 20.10 Divers weights and divers measures both these are an abomination to the Lord Off. l. 3. c. 9. p. 32. 23.10 When thou sittest to eate with a ruler c. Off. l. 11. c. 31. p 77. 24.30 I passed by the fields of the slothfull Off. l. 1. c. 31. p. 77. 26.4 Answer not a foole according to his foolishnesse Off. l. 1. c. 10. p. 18. 27.10 Better is a neighbour that
it not written for thee deliver him that suffereth wrong Is it not written for thee deliver the poore i Psal 82.4 and needy save them from the hand of the ungodly Perhaps also it may then bee said to him that hath many children I heaped honours upon thee I have bestowed upon thee an healthy body why hast not thou followed my precepts O my servant what have I done to thee or wherein have I grieved thee Have I not given to thee children conferred upon thee honours bestowed upon thee welfare why diddest thou deny me why diddest thou thinke that thy deedes should not come to my knowledge why diddest thou lay hold of my blessings and despise my commands To conclude thou maist take an example from Iudas the traytor who was both an Apostle and chosen out among the twelve for the stewardship and had the bagges of money for distribution to the poore committed to him lest he might seeme as it were one without honour or for poverty sake to have betrayed his Lord. And did his Lord therefore that hee might be justified in him bestow these preferments yea that he not as one exaspered by injury but as one dealing by collusion under colour of friendship might make himselfe obnoxious to a greater offence CHAP. XVII The Offices of young men and examples proposed and set before the eyes of them of his age BEcause therefore it sufficiently appeareth punishment to bee ordained for Vice praise and recompence for Vertue Let us take in hand to speake of the duties which ought to be found in youth that the studies of good actions may grow together with age It is the part of the younger sort desirous to bee good to have the feare of God before their eyes to honour their parents to reverence their elders to preserve chastity not to despise humility to love gentlenesse and shamefastnesse Which had are an ornament and grace to their younger yeares For as in ancient yeares gravitie in manly age cheerefulnesse so in youth modesty and bashfulnesse is commended as a certaine speciall propertie and dowrie of nature Jsaac fearing God as the towardly sonne of his father the promised and hopefull childe yeelded honour so farre forth to his father that rather then hee would be disobedient to his will he a Genes 22.9 refused not death Ioseph also when he had dreamed that the Sunne and Moone and Stars should doe b Genes 32.9 reverence to him yet with all sedulitie did he obey his father So chast was he that he would not heare an immodest word so humble was he even to the undergoing of servitude so shamefast was hee even to flight when hee was tempted to dishonesty so patient was he even to induring of imprisonment so easily was hee brought to remit injuries and so forgetfull of them that hee recompenced them with c Genes 50.21 remuneration whose modesty was so great that his chastity being assaulted by a woman he chose rather to leave his garment in her hand and flee d Genes 39.22 then to be found unchast and so sinne e v. 9. against God Moses f Ierem. 16.37.18.20 also and g 38.27 Ieremie chosen of God to declare his Oracles to the people which they were able to have done by vertue of the grace and authority they had under the veyle of modesty excused themselves CHAP. XVIII Of the vertue of a Verecundia modesty which chiefly shined in the holy Mother of God and that the gesture of the outward very often shewes the quality of the inward man WHerefore faire is the face and sweet is the grace of the vertue modesty which is not only seene in thy deeds but also in thy speeches themselves that they exceed not the meane that they sound out nothing unseemely For the mirrour of the mind doth for the most part illustrate it selfe in the speech Let modesty so poise the sound of the voyce that being strained it offend not the eare In the matter of song the first discipline is modesty likewise in the whole course of speaking in the degrees of singing to the instrument of musicke or in tuning or composing the voyce or lastly in fashioning sweetly the tongue in the beginning and first entrance blushing and awfulnesse hath ever beene commendable and much graced the proceedings In silence also it selfe wherein is the rest and repose of other vertues modesty beareth no small stroake If it be thought to proceed from childishnes or pride it is accounted a reproach if from modesty it is reputed a praise Susanna was silent in danger did iudge the losse of life to be lesse then the losse of modesty neither did she think that the preservation of her weale was to be bought with the perill of such a wracke Shee poured out her complaint to a Sus v. 41. God to whom was ever a passage given for chastity to open her mouth though abashed closed up when shee beheld the impudent foreheads of faithlesse accusers For there is bashfulnesse in the very eyes that a modest woman cannot looke up on men but avoideth their sight Neither is this the praise of Chastity only for Modestie is the companion of shamefastnesse by whose society chastitie is more secure for shamefastnesse is a good companion for the well ordering of chastitie for lending her hand and leading forward to the preventing of the first and most fearfull assaults suffereth not chastity to be insnared This is that which in her entrance into knowledge is chiefly commended to the readers in the Mother of our Lord and it is laid downe there as a rich testimonie how worthy shee was to be chosen and advanced to so high an honour that being in secret solitary in her c Luk. 1.20 chamber and saluted by an Angell shee held her peace and againe that shee was d v. 29.30 moved with his comming in unto her because the countenance of a virgin is troubled at the sight of the male sex especially of a stranger Therefore although shee were humble and curteous yet for modestie sake hee saluting her shee saluted him not nor rendred him againe any answer untill shee had knowledge of her conception by the Holy Ghost and that to this end that shee might learne in silence the divine qualitie of the fruite of her wombe and lest by her speech shee might happily some way gainesay the voyce of the Angell In prayer also it selfe modesty doth much please and doth procure much grace with our GOD. Did not this preferre the e Luke 18.15 Publican and commend him which durst not lift up his eyes to heaven f Vt vocabula corum defamata deformia cum ipsis viderentur Gellius Therefore hee is more justified and that in the judgement of the Lord then the Pharisee whom presumption fouly deformed and justly defamed Wherefore let us pray in the sincerity of a meeke and quiet spirit which is a thing in the sight of God
much set by as g 1 Pet. 3.8 Peter saith Great therefore is modesty which also when it is more remisse in her right usurping nothing to her selfe challenging nothing and more contract bounding her selfe within her owne power is rich and powerfull with GOD with whom no man is freely rich Modesty h Dives est modestia quia portio Dei est is rich because the Lords portion Paul hath commanded prayer to bee brought to GOD in i 1 Cor. 7.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sobrietas quae in Christianis perpetua est debet species esse jejunij Calv. modesty and sobriety Hee will have this to bee first and the forerunner of prayer that the supplication of a sinner bee not in ostentation but spread over with the vaile of shamefastnesse looke how much more modesty it bringeth in through the remembrance of sinne so much more plenty of favour doth it demerit Modestie likewise is to bee observed in the motion of the body gesture and gate For the disposition of the mind is seene in the state of the body Hence the hidden man of the heart is either lighter or more boasting or more troubled and obscure or contrariwise more heavy more constant more pure and more ripe For the motion of the body is a kind of speech of the mind Yee may remember my sonnes a certaine friend when hee seemed to commend himselfe for his sedulity in duties for this only cause notwithstanding not to have beene received by mee into the Clergie for that hee carried himselfe very unseemly in his gesture Yee may remember also another whom when I found to bee already admitted I commanded never to goe before mee because with the stroake of his insolent gate hee much wounded mine eyes And this I speake because when after an offence hee was restored to his office against this only I toooke exception neither was I deceived For both of them departed from the Church cast off their profession so that what their gesture did bewray the same at length did the trecherie of their mind demonstrate For one of them in the time of infestation of the Arrian heresie forsooke the faith the other lest hee should bee called into question to the losse of his money which hee much desired to keepe denied himselfe to bee a priest after our profession The image of lightnesse appeared in their gate and a certaine picture of runnagate scoffers There bee some which by walking leasurely and stately imitating the gesture of stage-players and as it were certaine Pageants and shewes represented in pompe and triumph that as oft as they steppe forward seeme to keepe certaine measures Neither doe I thinke it fit to walke hastily unlesse when some cause of danger or just necessitie shall require For wee see such as goe apace being constrained to pant and blow to wring and wrest their mouthes and disguise their countenances to whom if there bee wanting a cause of just festination it is a wart in the face of our conversation and of just offence I speake not of those which use properation very seldome and also in the forenamed respects but of such with whom by daily and continuall custome it is turned into an habite and another nature I allow not therefore in those that they should bee as the portraiture and shape of statues nor in these that they should bee as ruines of things shaken and shattered in peeces There is beside these a manner of gate which is approved wherein namely there is the semblance of authority the weight of gravitie the steppe of tranquillitie but so if studie for the attaining and affectation bee wanting and it proceed from a proper pure and simple gift incident to nature not coloured not counterfeit For nothing forged or forced pleaseth Let nature it selfe frame and fashion our motion If there bee any errour in nature let industry correct it admit there be want of due skill to correct yet faile not by some meanes or other to correct and redresse the fault If wee looke more throughly into these things how ought wee to beware and that much more lest any unseemely thing proceed out of our mouthes For this grievously delfileth a man For meate defileth not a man but unjust obtrectation and obscenity of words Hereof even the vulgar sort themselves are ashamed Concerning the duty that wee treate of or belonging to our function of teaching there is no word that falleth dishonestly or disorderly from us but it causeth blushing Nay wee ought not our selves only to utter nothing uncomely but with Ioseph not once to lend our eare to the same or to whatsoever is unsavoury who lest hee might heare somewhat incongruent to his owne modesty fled leaving his garment behind him Because hee that delights to heare provokes another to speake wee are to understand likewise that what is obscene bringeth much shame But to observe if any such thing falleth out by chance how much horrour distresseth what therefore wee dislike in others can wee possible conceive a liking of in our selves Nature it selfe teacheth no lesse and hath explicated perfectly all the parts of the body that it might serve both for necessity and for ornament But notwithstanding those which might bee comely for sight in which the toppe and excellency of the workmanship placed as it were in a tower both the sweetnesse of the forme and the beauty of the countenance might shine forth and the use of exercise might bee more ready shee hath left obvious and open But those in whom there must bee an yeelding to naturall necessitie that they might not exhibite their deformed spectacle shee hath partly corrected and obscured in the body it selfe and hath partly advised and perswaded to cover Is not therefore nature it selfe the mistresse of modesty After whose example the modesty of men which k Modestiae Etymologia est à modo scientiae ejus quod deceat I suppose to have beene denominated from the manner of the knowledge of things as might best beseeme what it hath found hidden in this fabricke of our body it hath shadowed and covered as that dore in the Arke made overthwart the same commanded to just Noe l Genes 6.16 in the patterne in the which is signified either the type of the Church or proportion f our bodyes and therein that by the which as by a dore the refuse of the meates are cast out Therefore the Master builder of all things and Lady nature it selfe hath so provided for our modest carriage hath so preserved that comelinesse and honesty in our body that hee might remove behind the backe as it were the chanells of the scouring of the streetes the emptying and venting of our pipes and might turne them out of the way from the sight of our eyes lest the purging thereof might offend and annoy them whereof the Apostle worthily m 1 Cor. 12.23 Those members of the body which seeme to bee most feeble are most necessary and upon