quiet minde for there is a manifold vse that commeth of them First they serue notablie to curble our proude mindes and to tamâ—â—â—e wanton lusts of the flesh which in our prosperitâ—e is ouermuch pregnant insulting and preuayling ouer the motions of the spirite When as Peter was commended by his Maister Christ for his good confession Matt. 16 hee was so perte and proude of this prayse as hee presumed afterwarde most malapertlie to gainesay him The spouse in the Canticles Cant. 3 being commended by her bridegroome for her suspassing beautie in comelines resembling the tents of Kedar and the Curtaines of Salomon grew thereby so audacious as shee talked and communed so familiarlie with him as one friend with another putting forth questions asking him where he fed and where he did lay at noone Zebedeus his two sonnes Matt. 20 because they were so happie as by fleshlie consanguinitie to bee allyed to Christ they presentlie were so bolde as to clayme a prerogatiue and libertie by it to chalenge the left hande and right hand in his kingdome Wherefore because worldly fauour and prosperitie do so puffe vs vp with pride as wee forget our selues it is exceeding good that we fall into temptations which are good schoolmaisters to traine vs vp in the knowledge of our selues A similitude The maister that hath a seruant lying sicke if hee seeth that wine is hurtfull for him giueth commandement to alay it with water which may abate the heat operation of the wine so God our good maister seeing vs his seruants to be very sicke of sinne and perceiuing that the wine of worldlie prosperitie is poysonable vnto vs hee slacketh the power and hurtfull effect of it by mixing the water of tribulation with it A similitude That Gentleman that hath a Hawke of great account will vouchsafe the paines himselfe in attending and dieting him hee will coy and stroke him with his owne hand and smooth his feathers and taketh great delight in the often looking on him but as he doth thus so he likewise hoodeth him fâ—st tyeth him by the feete vnto the Pearch If this seemeth strange to him that hath no skill is not acquainted with the reason of it but shall first demaund why he tendeth and tendereth him so much Answere will be made because hee so loueth him If further it be asked why then he hoodeth lyeth and fettereth him it will be answered leâ—st the Hawke which he so loueth should escape and flie from him so the Lorde dealeth with his beloued people hee feedeth and cockereth vs because we are his darlinges and hee greatly loueth vs but hee hoodeth vs and bindeth vs therewithall vnto aduersitie because wee should not depart away from him roauing and scouting after our owne libertie Thus heedfullie did he tende and looke vnto Dauid as any man can looke vnto his hawke 1. Sam. 16.17 prosecuting and following him with fauour vpon fauour caâ—ling him from a shepheard to the gouernment of a kingdome putting a new heart into him and indewing him with the spirit of prophecie in verie ample measure in giuing him a famous field against Goliah so renowning him by the slaughter of the Philistins as his name grewe most glorious and hee became the staffe and subiect of the dittie of the damsels of Israel who playing vppon their pipes and musicall instruments sung with one consent and with sweet concent Saul hath slaine his thousand but Dauid his tenne thousand These things God did for him because hee so loued him But least hee should bee too proude by them the Lord hooded him and tied him to the pearch in stirring vp Saul to be his persecutor by whose persecutions he was so insnared and surelie tied as he could not flie away for the verie snares of death did ouercome him and the paines of hel it selfe did ouertake him Ioseph was his fathers onelie birde God made him not onlie gracious in the eyes of his father but also amiable and delightfull to his mistresse nowe least this culling him shoulde bee a meane as it were to kill him as by hurting his soule and alluring him from God hee was solde from his father by his brethren into Egypt Gen. 27 Gen. 29 and was quite cast out of fauour by his mistresse and by his maister fast bound in the prison as a hawk vnto the pearch 1. King 19 The Lord was euer louing to Elias and hee vsed familiarly to talke with him as a father with his sonne or one friend with an other now least he should be ouermuch conceited with this abundant kindnes and be too fond vpon this fauor the Lord mixed trouble with prosperitie and sent Iezabel to persecute him Ezechiel Ezech. 2. was mightily inspired with the spirit and had manie reuelations but that these should not make him dote vpon himselfe and to esteeme too highlie of himselfe hee heard this voyce alwayes sounding in his eare Sonne of man that for all this fauour and loue of God he should knowe himselfe that hee is but man Paul had a liuelie feeling hereof â— Cor. 12 as hee himselfe acknowledgeth for least the abundance of Reuelations shoulde extoll him the Angell of Sathan was sent vnto him to buffet and humble him Afflictions therefore serue verie well to tame and keepe vnder our sinfull affections Secondlie God sendeth afflictions to his Saints that not being burthened with earthlie prosperitie wee might goe the lighter and speedyer vnto God and flie as it were a birde vnto the hill It so often happeneth to wayfayring men that espying in their trauelling a delightfull greene hill A similitude they take occasion to slacke their iourney to goe out of the way to sit downe and rest themselues vpon that hill Wherefore to preuent and cut off such occasions of lingring and loytring whilest we are in this life which is as it were out way hee taketh away from vs all vaine shewes of pleasures that not beeing miscarried with the vanitie of such flowers which adorne this greene hill we might still goe forwarde and make more haste to heauen As God permitted Pharaoh to afflict the Israelits Exod. 1 that they might haue a longing of their departure from Egypt and loue the land of Canaan so God would haue vs his children to be afflicted that wee might desire to depart froÌ„ the Egyptian bondage of our sinne and couet our spiritual inheritance and Canaan in the kingdome of heauen If a man that trauelleth into a farre land maie there obtaine his hearts desire and liue as him listeth he wil not much desire to returne to his own Countrie to liue in aduersitie For Iacob was willing inough to soiorne with Laban so long as Laban well entreated him but when he was vnciuilly demeaned and his face was not towarde him as it was before he forthwith resolued vpon his departure and acquainted Rachell with it Thirdly God exerciseth his seruants with afflictions to terrifie them
fell vpon the sworde High mindes exalted with pride vnto heauen shall bee throwne downe to Hell Other sinners do depart from God for commodity or pleasure but the vaine proude man without anie of them both groweth gracelesse and past shame and willinglie renounceth euen God himselfe similitude Wherefore slaie this Serpent in the egge and tame this Iade which will otherwise cast thee in thy iourney to Hierusalem whilest hee is a Colt Cut down this euil weed as soon as he sprouteth out as it were in the first grasse before it bladeth and groweth higher 〈◊〉 similitude Selfe loue is the captain which giueth the onset and maketh all the parts of the body and the mind to wait vpon it and is like the heart that is in the body which commandeth the flesh the siâ—ewes and the veines He that louâ—th himselfe more then God is like a traitor in the highest degree 〈◊〉 â—â—ilitude that deserueth to loose both life and goods A man that standeth vpon his owne will A similitude and resolueth with himselfe This will I doe is like a rude fellowe brought vp at home that preferreth his base and beggarly house of claie before the stateliest Princes pallace that is builte of Marble There is nothing that hurteth so much as the hauing of our wils ouerthrowe this foundation and the proud wals of Hietico our worldly pleasures wil come tumbling down Two loues do builde two Cities the one is the loue of God which buildeth setteth vp the contempt of thy selfe the other is the loue of thy selfe which frameth and erecteth a contempt of God Betwixt these two God and thy selfe standeth thy wil the nearer thou art vnto thy selfe the further thou art from God and the nearer thou art to him thou art further from thy selfe Rom. â— Therfore the Apostle saying before that nothing should separate him from the loue of God it was no maruaile that he said afterward Our coÌ„uersation is in heaueÌ„ Phil. â— He loued God much and therefore hee loued himselfe but little Wherefore subdue and kil thy selfe loue if thou wilt haue God to abide in thy soule Mat. â— For Herod must be dead before that Christ will returne into Iudea the tyrannous law of sinne that ruleth in thy members must be truly mortified before thou canst enioy the presence of Gods spirit Wherefore Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred from thy fathers house Gen. 12. as the Lorde willed Abraham embrace this sweet counsaile which the holy spirit giueth thee to the same effect saying Harke o daughter consider encline thine â—are forget thine own kindred Psal 46 thy fathers house so shall the king haue pleasure in thy beauty for he is thy Lord God and worship thou him If we haue departed from our fathers house the church of the liuing God and haue forsaken God to follow Ashtaroth and haue peruerted the words of Christes prayer and haue saide Not thy will but our willes be doone heere vpon earth If with this sinner wee haue preferred our owne vngodlie lusts before gods holy lawes if we returne not with him in the end our ende wil be worser then his beginning was Gal. 5. For if we liue after the flesh wee shall die Wherfore follow we not Saul who fauored Agag 1. Sam. 15 and put him in prison when he was commanded to put him to death Let vs not keepe our affections within vs as close prisoners seeing God hath charged vs to mortifie and destroy them Against the â—oliticians 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 There bee too many sensuall and carnall spirits who in these dreadful daies of security wherein we now liue do leane too much to the broken reede of Egypt and do run vnto the mountaines of Samaria relying wholy without respect of religion and care of conscience vppon outwarde policie carnall wisdom humane reasons doing what they wil and not what they should loathing Manna which they loue not and sauoring only of the grosse meat of Egypt which they should not If they proceede not so farre because they dare not as with Nabal and Dauids foole to say There is no God but doe confesse him with their lips yet they doe vtterlie denie him in their hearts they are reprobate and abhominable and to euery good worke vnprofitable But howsoeuer they flatter themselues a while in their wicked thoughts with their present prosperity thinking as railing Rabsakah that our God deceiueth vs in whom we trust the time shal come when they shal howle and mourn for the miserable aduersity which shal com vpoÌ„ theÌ„ for they are but fatted to the day of destruction as weathers and Capons and other fowles are against a great feast which is a great day of slaughter The s xt Chapter Of his hastines and rashnes not hauing a wise foresight and prospect to the end another cause of his departure from his father MAn being in honour hath no vnderstanding Psal 49. but is coÌ„pared vnto the beastes that perish saith the kingly Prophet This harebraiâ—d young man by his rashnes and foolishnes ran himself violently into al vnhappines He was Epimetheus not Prometheus afterward wise when his former folly had taught him more wisdom If there had been any wisdome or discretion in his doinges he would haue weighed the ende with the beginning and woulde haue aswell thought vppon the future daungers as hee did vppon the present pleasures of his sinnes But his humor was so stirring and he was so rashly resolute as he was fullie bent vpon his present delight neither fearing nor caring for any sorrow that might ensue 〈…〉 not vnfitly resembling such foolish idle boyes who wil venture a whipping rather then they will loose one iote of their pastime with their â—amâ—soâ—â— companions That which a wise man doth in the beginning a â—â—le doth commonly in the latter ending It is the â—art of wisdom to forecast al things but folly doth euery thing without any regard 〈◊〉 When the woman that was taken in adulterie by the Jewes was conuented by them before our â—auiour Christ and they appealed to his iudgment for hir due punishment hee stooped downe and with his finger did write vpon the grounde before hee woulde denounce anie doome against her Whereby he insinuateth that we shoulde not rashly determine of a thing but deliberatelie debate and demur vpon the case and point at euerie circumstance which hangeth thereupon with the finger of discretion Wisdome and foresight doe preuent such euils which vsually do follow our folly and rashnes 〈◊〉 When the Israelites came to Moses to be resolued in any doubtful and perplexed matters Moses did take time to consider of an aunswere and did leaue them in suspence vntil he had conferred with the Lord about them was certified of his mind If we woulde do the like and especially when wee feele any motion vnto sin as to a priuate reuenge to any ambition
not therefore take heede hereof and take no other course Therefore assoone as anie temptation dooth arise consider in the beginning vnto what daunger it may leade thee in the ende Take it by the ende as Iacob tooke Esau by the feete and by the ende Haue God alwaies before thine eyes and thou canst not doe amisse so saith Dauid Psa 16 I did set God before mine eyes therefore I can not faile wherefore my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope The Mathematicians doe esteeme the circular figure as the perfect figure because in a circle the beginning and the ende doe meete togither therfore that we may bee made perfect let vs in all actions lay the beginning and the ende togither And let God who is the Alpha and beginning be Omega vnto vs and the ending likewise And let vs account all things but doung to gaine Iesus Christ Phil. 3 so shall we abide alwayes in our fathers house and our trust shall bee in the tender mercie of God for euer and euer The seuenth Chapter What the prodigall sonne did when hee had receyued his portion from his father IF riches increase set not your heart theron â—sal 61 saith the heauenly Psalmist It is great riches not to couet riches and he possesseth much who desireth little To be worldly rich is to be verie poore to be poore in spirit is the greatest riches That must needes be vaine whose ende is vaine and we ought to haue that in greatest detestation which hindereth the course of our eternall saluation And this riches do For as the Falcon that is full gorged 〈◊〉 â—militude will not come to the lure so will not we in our worldly prosperitie seeke after God For God is lost in prosperitie and found in aduersitie â—â—d is lost â—rosperiâ—â—â— and â—â—uersity The prodigall sonne when he had got wealth at will did shake off all obedience and compassed the worlde trauailed vnto the vttermost coasts of the earth as farre as there was ground and as farre as he could from his fathers house He is carried farre that rideth vpon the diuell for sinne leadeth him furie and rebellion spurreâ—h him forward Aug quaest euang qâ—ast 33. Regio longinqua saith Augustine fuit obliuio dei The farre country which he sought was his heart farre from God his vtter forgetfulnes of his fathers seruice He went far from God by his sin and wickednes For by godly obedience we draw neer to God by the contrarie he departed farre from him He departed farre from him How we are said to go far from God First of all by an opposite and farre differing disposition God his Volo being his Nolo his will being his nill and so of the contrarie omitting that which hee shoulde commit and doing that which should be vndone preposterouslie peruerting and disordering Gods precepts making them negatiue which are affirmatiue and affirmatiue which he hath negatiuelie propounded Of this departure our Sauiour Christ speaketh Matth. 15 vsing the selfe same phrase of speech in the same sence taxing the hypocrisie of the Scribes and Pharisies This people draweth neere vnto mee with their lippes but their hearts are verie farre from mee When as wee see two sitting and talking togither and the one varieth from the other in opinion wee vse to say that the one of them is farre from the other And in this respect maye this prodigall sonne and euerie sinner bee properlie saide to go farre from God Secondlie he is saide to haue gone farre in regarde of the great and manie sinnes hee did commit which the more they were the further they did lead him For euerie sinne being a manifest defection and departure from God they may bee rightlie said to depart lesser or further the lesser or more sinnes they doe commit A similitude As he may bee said to go further then an other that taketh more paces or greater then another This mischiefe was in his farre departure that the further he went the lesser reckoning hee made of his father There was nowe such a space by his farre trauaile betweene the obiect and the sence betweene his eye and his fathers house as his sight failed him the onely great God did nowe seeme the least to his carnall eyes A similitude For a thing which is great in his owne nature if we behold it saâ—e off seemeth little vnto vs Our eye beames the further they are dâ—lated and extended the thinner they seeme and at the last they vanish quite away and are no more seene The Sunne which by the learned iudgement of Astronomers is farre greater then the earth being so farre distant and remooued from our eyes seemeth but of a foote or two bignesse vnto vs. Is not our case the same Haue not we all like lost sheepe departed from the Church the sheepe-fold of the Lord and from Iesus Christ the great sheepheard of our soules who would if we woulde haue remained with him safely brought vs into the greene pastures and would haue led vs to the waters of comfort Haue not wee all of vs gone verie farre from him by wilfull disobedience starting a side-like a broken bowe Haue we not followed euen our owne lustes and made little reckoning of God and his religion It is too manifest that wee haue And what hath beene the occasion of all this but onelie because wee haue beene glutted and forfeited with Gods goodnesse God hath too liberallie dealt vs out our portions and wee haue beene too proude of our ouermuch prosperitie Vngodlie men we are Iude. who haue turned the grace of our God into wantonnesse and haue denied God the onelie Lord and our Lord Iesus Christ As this was the iniquitie and ouerthrowe of Sodome fulnesse of bread and idlenesse so worldlie felicitie is our onlie infelicitie the onelie Carbuncle and destruction of our soule A similitude As the serpent will kill them with his poyson which culled him and cherished him with their heate so worldly goods which through the immoderat heat of our minds we doe gather togither will gnawe our consciences and like a greedie worme that neuer dyeth will euer bee feeding vpon our bodies and our soules My elect people saith God waxed fat Deut. 32 and what then they forsooke God that made them and regarded not the strong God of their saluation The Prophet Esay taketh vp the selfe same complaint Esai 5 saying The Harp the Timbrell the Pipe are in their feasts but they respect not the woorke of the Lord neither do they consider the operation of his hands If the people doe but sit downe to eate and drink we heare by and by that they rise vp to play Exod 32 Wherefore if thou hast a minde to serue God set not thy minde vpon this present euill worlde Thou canst not looke vp to heauen with one eye We cannot inioy God the woâ—ld â—ogither and
seruice to helpe himselfe with all This is the practise and manner of the Deuill as Christ his custome and propertie is quite contrarie Howe hard and extreame his commandements are The easines of Christes commandements largely hath beene shewed in the former chapter let vs rather therefore shewe the easinesse and lightnesse of Chrâ—st his preceptes for his burden is no burden but it is a burden not to beare his burden If Christ his burden be anie thing heauie it is the heauines of our sinnes which causeth it A similitude A burden of feathers of it selfe is light but it is made heauie with putting lead vnto it sin which hangeth vpon vs heauier then leade maketh Gods commaundements too grieuous vnto vs. A similitude The birde is not burdened by the burden of hir feathers but shee flieth much more the lighter by them then if she were without theÌ„ Christ his yoke and burden make not men to stoupe to be dull and heauy but iocund and pleasant and to bee pliable to euery good worke A similitude If a king shoulde giue commaundement to his huntsman to hunt were it a hard commandement if therewithall he should furnish him with al things necessarie as houndes horses and such like or were or were it not rather a verie easie charge so is it with vs for where as Christ laieth his commandements vpon vs he assisteth vs with needfull graces thereunto so as wee may say with the blessed Apostle Wee are able to doe all thinges in him that strengtheneth vs. Gods lawes are light and comfortable vnto vs in a double respect Gods lawâ— light in a double respect August First for the magnificence of the rewarde Secondlie for the assistance of his holie grace Indixitopus promisit mercedem As hee enioyneth vs our taske so hee paieth vs our wages Si labor est attende praemium magnum si non est gratis accipis praemium If it be a labor consider thy reward if not thou hast thy rewarde for nothing Were the seruice of God neuer so laborsome yet I suppose that it is not worth the exceeding waighte of glorie which shall bee laide vpon vs whilest we looke not vpon the things that are seen but the thinges that are not seene for the thinges that are seene are mortal but the things that are not seene are eternal Christ will giue vnto thee for the keeping of his commandements eternall life in respect whereof all other things are of no account We shoulde bee most willing to endure any thing for that Iacob serued Laban seuen yeeres for the loue of Rachel Gen. 29 and they seemed vnto him but a few daies because he so loued her the reward made his labor seeme no labour vnto him So for the reward that is laide before thee endure any crosse sustain anie shame for the reward will counteruaile the charge and aboundantly requite thee in the latter end Moreouer he will strengthen vs with his good spirit wherby whatsoeuer in it selfe is hard shall be easie vnto vs. Therfore doth he cal his commandemeÌ„ts a yoak because a yoak is born by two beasts and the one doth helpe and ease the other The lesâ—â—â— oxe beareth the heauier part of the yoak Christ the most lowly humble in spirit hath taken vpoÌ„ 〈◊〉 the greatest burden that thou maist haue the lighter â—imiliâ—â—â—â— A couch or horselitter which is heauy of it selfe is easily borne and caried with two horses so is Gods law howsoeuer in his owne nature it seemeth combersome very light and easie if Christ ioyneth with vs and draweth this chariot if hee doth aid vs and support vs with his spirit â—militude Againe if Christ his commandements seem hard it is because thou doest preposterouslie peruert them and doest contrarie vnto them There is no lawe seemeth rigorous but that which maketh against our affections If thou puttest on a garment with the rough outside nexte vnto thy skin and the inward soft linnen outward it is no meruaile if it be grieuous vnto thee and yâ— canst not go with it but put it on right and weare it as thou shouldest and thou shalt not complaine of it Iudge of Gods lawes and commandements aright and measure them not by thy carnall affections and thou shalt not mislike with them Wheras God doth charge the rich of this worlde with their liberall almes to relieue the poore the poorer sort like well of this commandement and approoue it as good when as they would gainesay it and mislike it as much if they themselues were rich as experience proueth If thou doest an iniurie or wrong vnto any man immediatlie thou desirest it might be forgiuen thee but if another doth offer it vnto thee the like motion that is made to thee seemeth vnreasonable It is harde to thee which thou supposest to bee easie in an other because thy nature and affections doe withstand it Amor meus pondus meum amore feror quocunque feror Aug. de ciuit de 〈◊〉 11 c. 28 My lust is my loade whither soeuer I am led by affections I am led Christ Iesus hath made his fathers burden easie for our shoulders For the yoake of our burden and the staffe of our shoulders Isai 9 and the rod of our oppressor hath he broken as in the day of Midian But our seruile flesh which fighteth against the spirit our euill and sinfull lustes which resist his holy lawes haue such preheminence and dominion ouer vs as they wholy carrie vs to the obedience therof in regard wherof his precepts are most paineful his light and easie yoake is most intolerable vnto vs. That burden which is light to a sounde and strong man A similitud is too heauie to him when hee is sicke and weake Psa 74 Our sinnes haue gone ouer our heades and are as great burdens too heauie for vs to beare The life and duties of a Christian man seemeth only hard to those who do not know them and are not vsed to them Acquaint thy selfe with them and meditate thereon and let thy study and delight be in them and they wil seeme easie and gentle vnto thee A similitude When a man first putteth on a newe doublet it seemeth too streight for him but it fitteth him verie well when he hath worne it a while Let vs put on Christ Iesus our mariage garment and let vs walke as he hath commanded vs if this garment pincheth at the first assaie and we cannot goe in it vse and custome will widen it well inough and make it easie for vs. A similitude Whilest the Wood is greene the yoake must needs be heauy that is made of it but continuance of time that maketh it drie will make it likewise light What reason then and wit is in our choise when as we forsake the beaten and easie way and follow crooked and cragged paths when as wee prefer a cruell bondage before easie liberty and had rather be a
Balaamite Bishop Bonner the bloudie Bull of Basan not contented with his simple abiuration demaunded the signature of his hande and seale vnto a prescribed forme of recantation which hee gaue him which this simple poore soule accordinglie consigning and redeliuering the schedule to the Bishop departed from him But returning home hee conceiued such sorrowe and repentance of his sinne as it working by a zealous and inuincible faith he reuersed his handwriting resigned his consignment and willed the tyrant to doe with him what he list Let vs therefore be armed with this armour and we shall bee more then conquerors in him that loueth vs. Bee wee sorrowfull for our sinnes and haue wee faith and sure hope of the forgiuenes of our sinnes Faith without repentaunce is meere dissimulation and repentaunce without faith causeth desperation Matt. 3 The Baptist who preached to the Sadduces of iudgement and shewed them the axe that was put to the Tree to cutte them off by reason of their sinnes doth also comfort them with a song of mercie pointing with his finger at the Lambe of God ohn 1 who shoulde take awaie the sinnes of the world Peter after that he had pricked the hearts of the Iewes by grating their eares with a rehearsall of the circumstances of their crueltie in desiring a murderer to bee giuen them and in crucifieng the Lorde of life hee healed immediatelie these woundes againe Jeâ— 3 and gaue them a plaister to laie vpon their soares willing them to repent and perswading them to the faith of the forgiuenes of their sinnes Paule when hee was a Saule was no sooner stroken downe and felled vnto the grounde by a light which appeared vnto him at noone day but hee was raised vp againe with a heauenly voice which comforted and instructed him what hee should doe Let vs therefore walke in the kinges high waie betweene feare and hope Let feare afright vs with the feeling of our sinnes and let vs bee comforted with the hope we haue of the remission of our sins The knowledge of our sins together with Gods mercie which pardoneth our sinnes beeing duely considered maketh vs degenerate and lost children with the prodigal sonne to returne home vnto our Father The fourth Chapter Of the benefit of afflictions an especiall mean which God vseth to worke our repentance and to cause our returne to our fathers house with the prodigall sonne BVt the meanes which this louing and mercifull father vseth to drawe home his wandring and farre gone sonne are meete to be considered of which there are manie and seuerall kindes but they may all of them summarilie be reduced vnto these two chiefe heades The first is his externe and outward calling the second is his interne and inwarde lightning vs. From the first roote springeth these branches His calling vs by his worde whereby hee teacheth vs his will and our duetie His priuate admonitions which are either giuen vs by our friendes for our good in kindnesse to winne vs or else by our enemies in their bitter affections verie forcible in regarde of the hurt they intende vs of themselues to reclaime vs. Adde hereto his punishmentes his signes of anger his most dreadfull iudgments which are infinite and vnspeakeable shewed in the heauen the water and the earth all which are sounde alarums and loude thunderpeales to rouse vs out of the deade sleepe and securitie in which we liue But these neither seuerally nor iointlie take effect vnlesse our heartes bee inwardly mollified naturallie obdurate and of themselues most deafe vnto all outwarde warninges There must bee a lightening and illumination inwarde before wee will bee mooued with the calling which is outwarde Of the which purposing peculiarlie to entreate in his fit place in the third Booke vpon the occasion offered by his fathers seeing him a farre off I leaue it at this time for our drift is now to shew the vertue force and manifold vse of his outwarde iudgements what deepe impressions they make in mens affections altering and reclaiming their degenerate dispositions The fulnesse of bread and aboundance of pleasures which this yong man had at will in his fathers house puffed him vp with pride made him wilde and wanton and bred in him a loathsomnesse and contempt of them Hereupon he gaue himselfe to all riot and excesse he became a trauailer spending without ceasing without order and discretion vntill all his portion and patrimonie was consumed Immediatelie he came to a lowe ebbe he fell suddenly into all calamitie and this affliction gaue him vnderstanding and wrought his conuersion For being in the toppe and height of his prosperitie God first of all punished him with want and scarcitie whereby hee that bought the constrained courtesies of manie mens knees with the expences of so manie pounds being out of his money he was out of request they who before did reuerence him as a God did now reiect him and despise him as a dogge Forthwith slauerie ouertooke his beggerie his bondage as most noysome so was it most grieuoussome for it brought leannesse euen vppon his soule one might tell all his bones and his strength failed him beeing now forgotten as a deade man and vtterlie forsaken Hee became a worme and no man an abiect from the companie and fellowship of men liuing among beastes hunting after husks louing nowe asmuch the fragments and reuersion of hogges as he loathed before in his fathers house the varietie of all delights of the sonnes of men These meanes God vsed as motiues to stirre vp his dull spirits and to quicken him a fresh to pluck him by the eares and to lift him vp from his horrible dunghill of mire and clay and filthie swine and to set his feete in a large roome to place him among princes euen the princes of his people This is the course which commonlie God Afflictions â—o bâ—ing vs home to God taketh with his vnrulie and rebellious children to bring them home againe Voluit pater flagellare longinquum Aug. â—â—m 8 in Psal 138 August ibid. vt reciperet propinquum His father would scourge him a farre off because hee would receiue him neere at hand Nam sibene mihi esset sine te nollem forsitan redire ad te For if I might doe well without thee I would not doubtlesse returne vnto thee Wherefore because afflictions doe weane vs from our sinnes and bring vs vnto God it is most needfull that God should humble vs with afflictions A similitude And hee doth thereby as the tender mother with her young child who rubbeth the ends of her breasts with mustard or some other thing to make the infant forsake his milke and to leaue the dug If a mightie Prince should promise vnto anie all his wealth and treasure which is in his treasure-house similitude who coulde vnlocke and open the doore of it and should therewithall giue vs two keyes the one of golde which could not open it and the other of