Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	holy_a	spirit_n	worship_v	3,077	5	9.0447	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00940	A monomachie of motiues in the mind of man: or a battell betweene vertues and vices of contrarie qualitie Wherein the imperfections and weaknesses of nature appeare so naked, that anie reasonable soule may soone see by what spirit he is lead: herevnto also, besides sundrie deuout praiers necessarilie interlaced, diuers golden sentences of S. Barnard are annexed: and also a briefe conclusion of his vpon this theame, that victorie is obtained by resisting temptation. Newlie englished by Abraham Fleming.; De conflictu vitiorum et virtutum. English	Autpertus, Ambrosius, d. 784.; Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607.	1582 (1582)	STC 11048; ESTC S102283	102,654	342

wisedome of thee ô Lord who canst and wilt pull awaie the fig-leaues from our filthines and discouer our secret shame O good God we humblie beseech thee therfore to keepe and defend vs from this detestable sinne whervpon dependeth a most heauie iudgement prophesied by the mouth of thy seruant Iob to light vpon all hypocrites and dissemblers namelie that Their hope shall perish their confidence be cut off and their trust decaie like a spiders web that they shall not once appeare in thy presence they shall be desolate and fire shall consume their dwellings their ioie shall last but a moment their excellencie become as vile as doong they shall vanish like a dreame or vision in the night and their finall reward shall bee euerlasting torments in hell fire where shall be weeping wailing gnashing of teeth From this sinne ô Lord and the plagues due therevnto deliuer vs for thy mercie sake Amen 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vertue following MEate sauoureth in the mouth and the praise of God in the hart It is to small purpose to magnifie the Lords name with the voice onelie without anie meaning or intent of the mind For God from whom nothing is hid that is vnlawfullie done requireth not the shrilnes and cleerenes of the voice but the cleannes and purenes of the hart Wilt thou therefore worship God aright doo him true and alowable seruice and shew thy selfe an imbracer of pure religion Then worship him in spirit and truth with singlenes of hart with a sincere and vpright mind visit the fatherles maintaine the widowes right followe the example of Christ and keepe thy selfe vnspotted of the world This is true worship this is pure religion 2 The REPVLSE giuen by true WORSHIP and pure RELIGION O Man take héede in anie case of counterfeting forging thy selfe to be that thou art not For to séeme before men otherwise than thou art what else is it but meere damnation Remember therefore the words of our Sauior Christ spoken to this effect Wo be vnto you Scribes Pharisies hypocrites for ye make cleane the out-side of the cup or platter but within you are ful of robberie and vncleannes O thou blind Pharisie first make cleane the in-side of the cup or platter that the out-side of them may be cleane also And the words of our Sauior vttered in the verie same sense with an often repetition or rehersall Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisies bicause you are like vnto painted sepulchres which appeare outwardlie to the eies of men gaie and beautifull but are full within of dead mens bones and all filthines Euen so you likewise séeme before men iust and righteous but within you are full of hypocrisie and wickednes Vpon whom this sentence of our Sauiour is verified They come vnto you in shéeps clothing but inwardlie they are rauening woolues 3 A praier for the former vertue O Eternall God without whose aid and assistance all our actions are turned into sinne bicause they are not seasoned with the salt of thy spirit but leauened rather with the dowe of the flesh we beseech thee of thine entire goodnes to teach vs the true worship of thee and the sincere seruice due vnto thy diuinitie O suffer vs not to be misled by the imaginations and traditions of men which highlie offend thy Maiestie but vouchsafing to open the eies of our vnderstanding with the keie of thine heauenlie knowledge direct vs how and in what sort we may walke religiouslie before thee Roote out of our harts good God all sinister seruice and dissembled adoration lead vs by the hand into thine holie temple and make a passage for thy spirit of sanctification into our dull and darke capacities that being reformed therby we may worship thee in spirit and truth knowing that thou art a spirit and therefore wilt admit none other worship to be done vnto thee but that which is true vnfeigned sincere and spirituall We knowe how thou hast abhorred the hypocriticall holines of the Gentiles of whom thou complainest by thy Prophet Esaie that they 2 The ASSALT giuen by DISOBEDIENCE O Man consider thine owne dignitie worthines Thine estate is honourable and thou art better than the best To serue and obeie is an abasing of thy vocation it is a signe of inferioritie and subiection To be a maister carrieth some title of authoritie but to be an vnderling or seruant is an argument and token of an homelie and course calling Account of thy selfe therefore and of thy reputation What art thou that thou shouldest do homage to such as are woorse than thy selfe It were more méete for thée to command and gouerne and they to obey and be ruled considering thou art so excellent in all respects that there is not one to be found comparable vnto thée either in wit policie diligence or anie other good qualitie Cast off the yoke therefore of subiection for to obeie is seruitude and bondage slauerie thraldome yea to be inferiour to such as are not thy betters is a token of a base mind and a cowards hart Therefore estéeme of thy selfe Lord-like and not seruant-like stoope not vnto anie cap not crouch not for a man is but a man and thou being a rare man and matchlesse néedest not passe a point for the proudest pecocke for all his fine feathers and trim taile And rather than thou shouldest be at commandement like a seruant trie maisteries for superioritie and get it by vsurpation For a loftie looke and an hautie hart doo best béecome a man 3 A praier against the former vice O Most louing Father who hatest all kind of disobedience frowardnes stubbornes rebellion contumacie obstinacie and contempt which are the fruits of the corrupt flesh and hast declared also thy hatred by denouncing most terrible plagues against so detestable sinne we beseech thee to plow vp the sandie soile of our harts with the cultre of thy sanctifieng spirit that wee may beecome tractable mild gentle lowlie and obedient as it becommeth vs. We knowe by the information of thy holie word that who so disobeieth thee is subiect to manie curses and who so resisteth a iudiciall magistrate is punishable with death euen by thine owne ordinance and lawe We know that thou detestest nothing more than the sinne of disobedience and transgression of thy commandements though the intent seeme neuer so good honest and tollerable to mans iudgement and reason This is prooued ô eternall God in Saule whom thou by the mouth of Samuel didst charge with a precise commandement that he should kill Amalek and make a common spoile and hauocke of all that came to his hands who being incensed with couetousnes spared the verie best things and conuerted them to his owne vse and possession contrarie to thy will But thou in thy iustice didst shew thy vengeance vpon him in not onelie reiecting and casting him out of thy fauour but also in disgrading him of his dignitie and taking from him his kingdome We beseech

put in trust but also the interest of the same at that great audit and generall session when all flesh shall be summoned to appeare before thee the Iudge of iudges Grant this for Christes sake thy son our sauiour Amen 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vertue following TRVTH in the inward parts is the thing that God requireth Truth and equitie are the things which he loueth The diuell was a manqueller from the beginning and why bicause the truth was not in him Truth is the fruit of light as for lieng it is a worke of darknesse Truth is to be honoured because it ouercommeth all things truth is to be imbraced because it defendeth from shame truth is to be aduanced because it endureth for euer truth is to be regarded because it is blameles truth is to be obeied because it preuaileth As for equitie let this suffice thee ô man in few words that the greatest equitie that can be is to behaue thy selfe lowlie to thine vnderling reuerentlie to thy better and louinglie to thine equall to deale vprightlie to depart from euill and do good For the equitie and iustice of a plaine-dealing man shall direct his waies and if thine eie be single all thy bodie shall be full of light as for a double minded man he is wauering in all his waies 2 The REPVLSE giuen by TRVTH and EQVITIE O Man be not deceiued God is not mocked neither can he be deluded In séeking to deceiue him thou deceiuest thy selfe For the mouth of him whosoeuer he be that speaketh lies be it with neuer such cunning sl●nes slaieth the iouie and all liers shall haue their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Doest thou not remember O man the words of the Prophet Dauid comprised in an answere to a demand of his making Lord saith he who shall dwell in thy tabernacle or who shall inhabit in thy holie hill The resolution followeth wherein among other there mentioned he that hath vsed no deceipt in his tongue nor done euill to his neighbour is rehearsed to haue his portion To this purpose serueth the saieng of the sonne of Sirach A lie is a wicked shame in a man yet shall it be euer in the mouth of the vnwise A théefe is better than a man that is accustomed to lie but they both shall haue destruction to heritage The conditions of liers are vnhonest and their shame is euer with them By which words O man thou maist if thou hast anie grace in thee perceiue what an odious and accursed sin lieng and dissembling is and what danger they run into that vse them And therefore be warned to auoid such a rock as maketh shipwracke of the saluation of thy soule and though thou be assalted with the swéetnes of the same yet take héed how thou puttest thy selfe in aduenture to becom acquainted therwithall To terrifie thée the more from accustoming thy tongue to such a pestilent vice set before thine eies the example of Ananias and Saphira his wife both possessed with the spirit of lieng and dissembling to the holie Ghost and therefore rewarded with sudden death O horrible iudgement of the highest God! whereby O man thou maist be instructed if thou wilt that God is the author of truth and righteousnes the louer of equitie and innocencie and a detester of double dealing and hypocrisie To conclude this matter O man followe the counsell of the Apostle giuen to the Colossians his hearers To put off the works of darkens and to walke in light to leaue lieng one to another and to speake the truth euerie man to his neighbour 3 A praier for the former vertue O God the Father of heauen the beholder of all things visible and inuisible which seest our inward and cloked thoughts be they neuer so secret darke yea which seest the issue of thē before they are conceiued much more our actions or deeds wherein is greater manifestation and appearance we beseech thee first of all to bind our manifold and innumerable sinnes in a bundell and casting them behind thy backe to drowne in the bottome of the sea that they may sinke and neuer come againe in sight Secondlie we craue at thy bountifull hands the spirit of vnderstanding and knowledge which may lead vs as it were by torch-light or rather sunne-shine to the waie of truth and equitie which ought to be the bounds and limits of a Christian life For we confesse as we can not otherwise choose in reason and conscience that we haue not girded our loines about with veritie that we haue not spoken plaine truth one to another nor vsed interchange of vpright dealing in the necessarie affaires incident to our particular vocations as we are exhorted by thine holie Apostle S. Paule And therefore being sorie that wee haue shewed our selues such past-graces partlie through carnall weaknes partlie also through want of spirituall strength but cheeflie through the subtiltie of Satan who incessantlie pitcheth his tents of trecherie about the castle of our soules we come home againe with wet and waterie cheekes with our bosoms full of teares with our harts rent and torne with the hookes of heauines with wearie knees wearie yea and wearie againe with wandering in wicked waies bowing them before thy mercie-seate and beseeching thee to be good Father vnto vs vngratious froward children Hitherto indeed yea hitherto in verie deed we haue neglected the rule of obedience and charitie the one towards thee ô Father the other towards our neighbours And though we knowe that we ought to serue thee in truth to maintaine nothing contrarie to truth to doo nothing against truth but all for and in the behalfe of truth yet how far we haue gone beyond these bounds thine is the iudgement ô Father thine is the vnderstanding As for vs we are vtterlie ignorant and senseles and therefore submit our selues to thy mercifull censure crauing gentle correction though we haue deserued sharpe chastisement if it be thy pleasure to punish or suing for remission and forgiuenes though vtterlie vnwoorthie of such grace and fauour if it be thy good will to grant vs pardon Finallie wee humblie beseech thee to increase truth and equitie in vs that being led and conducted thereby on the right hand and the left we may neuer start aside like a broken bowe but keepe on in a right course till we come to the kingdome of heauen which grant ô Father for his sake whom thou louest best Iesus the Sauiour of soules Amen The xix Combat 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vice insuing GLVTTONIE and leacherie serue the pleasure of the flesh The aire the land the sea do scarselie suffice gluttonie For gluttonies sake it commeth to passe that poore people are spoiled that robberies are committed that extortions are practised that the hunger of the needie is turned into the fulnes of the wealthie O ye sonnes of men how long will you be heauie-hearted by reason of this your grosse and

thee therfore ô King of glorie to roote out of our harts this ranke weede of disobedience which in holie Scripture is reported to be as the sin of witchcraft O good Lord dig it vp quite we praie thee out of the depth of out harts that there may no relike thereof remaine but that euerie fiber and thred growing about it may bee plucked out and remooued For if it be not vtterlie supplanted we must needs looke and make full account to receiue a iust recompense and reward according to the determinate sentence of thy holie word Deliuer vs ô Lord from this heinous sinne and the desart due to the same for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Amen 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vertue following THE vertue of obedience ô man doth alwaies march vnder the banner of truth Obedience directeth our footsteps ordereth our goings and deserueth the grace or reward of holie conuersation For if a contrarie lawe be in our members by disobedience who knoweth not that continencie or staiednes is giuen by obedience This is the vertue that can tell what belongeth to mercie this teacheth thee patience this bringeth thee to the full and complete knowledge of thine owne condition Learne of Christ who submitted himselfe to his Disciples the Maister to his seruants the Sauior of the world and verie God to miserable men the word and wisedome of the father to mortall creatures Blush ô earth and ashes blush and be ashamed ô dust and woorms-meate 2 The REPVLSE giuen by SVBMISSION O Man remember that if thou owe anie dutie to God there is also a dutie required of thée to discharge towards men For God must haue his right and Caesar likewise his tribute Doost thou not knowe O man what the Lord himselfe saith in the Gospell He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me It is conuenient thou wilt saie O man so to doo prouided that hée which gouerneth be of the Lords allowing and appointing Listen O man to the words of the Apostle deciding this case There is no power saith he but it is of God the powers that be are ordeined of God whosoeuer therefore resisteth O good Lord be so fauourable vnto vs as to bring vnder subdue the vnrulie and rebellious motions of our mind which oftentimes driue vs to the committing of manie a wicked offence not onelie in talke and communication but also in deed life and conuersation least shaking from our necks the yoke of obedience submission and neglecting the true obseruation and fulfilling of thy lawe we fall into flat rebellion against thee and so prouoking thee to anger feele the force of thine outstretched arme striking vs in thy furie with the sword of vengeance Direct vs good Lord by thy spirit that we may submit our selues to all our gouernours and magistrates without murmuring grudging or repining knowing that all authoritie regiment superioritie and countenance proceedeth from thee who bestowest thy gifts according to thine owne counsell not looking vpon the person of the receiuer least thou mightest seeme parciall in the distribution of thy gifts Thou hast said and expresselie charged that we should be subiect to the higher powers yea euen to the Scribes and Pharisies sitting in Moses chaire whom thou cōmandest vs to heare and to doo according to their persuasion and counsell but not to make their course of life and trade of dealing a patterne for vs to followe and imitate Arme vs therefore with true knowledge that may lead vs to perfect and acceptable obedience which thou esteemest more than the fat of rams or the smoke of incense O suffer not anie suggestion of Satan to withdrawe vs from dooing our dutie in this case least by disobeiing we purchase to ourselues eternall death and damnation Grant this for thy mercie sake Amen The fift Combat 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vice insuing DEsirest thou ô man to knowe a venemous eie a wicked eie a bewitching eie Consider enuie For what is enuie but a make-bate What is spitefulnes but a moouer of mischiefe If the serpent had not beene enuious and spitefull death had neuer entred into the world by that vile vice Wo to thee ô wretched man bicause thou didst not fore-spie the enuious serpent Let vs doo our verie best to presse downe and ouerswaie this sinne whiles we liue if after death we would be loth to stand in feare of the worker of so great wickednes And ô man whosoeuer thou art spite not at thy brothers prosperitie if thou tender thine owne For if where enuie is there is death also then doubtlesse thou canst not be spitefull and liue too And therefore take heed of au enuious eie 2 The ASSALT giuen by malicious EMVLATION and ENVIE O Man remember thy selfe make much of thine estimation and loose not one inch of thy right In what respect art thou not so good as this man or that man Naie wherein art thou not better Why then art thou not equall with them or rather aboue them Thou art able to bring manie things to passe whereto they can not laie their hands And they are able to doo nothing but it is in thée to amend it to go through stitch therewithall It is not requisite therfore that anie should be thy superiour or at least no more than thine equall 3 A praier against the former vice O Eternall truth thou sonne of the liuing God and wisedome of the Father which by thine Apostle Paule that excellent preacher of thy Gospell to the Gentiles diddest teach the Romans and in them all Christian people to cast awaie the works of darknes to put on the armour of light and to walke honestlie as in the daie not in drunkennes and gluttonie chambering and wantonnes strife and enuieng roote out of our harts we beseech thee all corrupt affections and speciallie wicked emulation and enuie the nurse of all contention We knowe and confesse that so long as emulation strife debate enuie and grudging reigne among vs we are carnall walke as men in the corruption of our owne nature And there is nothing truer than that sentence of thine Apostle S. Iames that where enuieng and strife is there is sedition and all maner of euill works Wherefore ô thou comfortable Physician of sick soules deliuer vs from so foule and detestable a sinne least all our enterprises and endeuours displease thy sacred diuinitie and heape vpon our owne heads the hot burning coales of vengeance and condemnation Now then ô thou paterne of loue thou treasure of all vertue godlines and integritie put into our minds Christian cogitations thoughts guide our eies from the view of vanities hold backe our hands from euerie iniurious deed and consecrate all that is within vs to thy selfe that we may as thou hast taught vs doo good to our enimies loue them that hate vs and praie for such as seeke our destruction and vndooing referring the iudgement of our cause and the reuengement

to amend in vs whatsoeuer is amis We are taught that there is a hatred which thou requirest namelie the hatred of our selues and of all things pretious and deere in our owne eies but that hatred is as hard for vs to digest as was the doctrine of regeneration to Nichodemus O therefore thou comforter of thy chosen and lifter vp of thy seruants heads in the time of heauines instruct vs in the waie of thy truth and reforme our harts make them new ô Lord that they may harbour no worke of darknes neither hatred nor anie other vice which may offend thee thorough Christ our Lord Amen 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vertue following CHARITIE is a goodlie thing yea it is a thing that will not shrinke in anie tribulation in anie greefe iniurie wrong or abuse In few words what thinke we comparable therevnto seeing it is preferred before martyrdome and counted better than a faith that mooueth mountaines By charitie man dwelleth in God and God in man Charitie bringeth libertie driueth awaie feare feeleth no toile looketh on no desart requireth no reward Charitie is the mother of men and of Angels pacifieng and making attonement betweene things in heauen and things in earth This is the vertue which reconciled God to man and brought man into the fauour of God 2 The REPVLSE giuen by true LOVE and CHARITIE O Man doth it necessarilie followe that bicause manie vices in thée deserue well and woorthilie to bée hated that therefore the image of God in thée ought not to be loued As Iesus Christ nailed vpon the crosse and there hanging loued his enimies and before his death and passion admonished his disciples in this maner saieng Loue your enimies doo good vnto them that hate you and praie for them which persecute you slander backbite and vpbraid you that you may be the children of your Father which is in heauen So likewise by the mouth of Salomon and Paule these words are spoken If thine enimie hunger giue him meate if he thirst giue him drinke For in so dooing thou shalt heape coles of fire vpon his head Vnto which sentence the Apostle addeth somewhat of his owne saieng Be not ouercome of euill but ouercome euill with good It is contrariwise thus written by S. Iohn against such as hate their brethren He that hateth his brother is a man-slear and ye knowe that no man-slear hath euerlasting life remaining in him Againe He that hateth his brother walketh in darknes and is yet in darknes not knowing whither he goeth bicause darknes hath blinded his eies But thou saiest O man It is enough that I loue such as loue me For why should I beare good will or be beneficiall vnto them that haue deserued no such thing at my hand Heare O man the Lord speaking vnto thée in another tune for If you loue them that loue you what reward shall you haue Doo not the Publicans the same What art thou able O man to obiect against this Doubtles He that hateth his brother abideth in death And he that loueth his brother abideth in God and God in him Spue vp therefore all the bitter gall of hatred doo what thou canst to swallowe downe the swéet honie of loue For nothing is more pleasant nothing more happie and blessed Saint Iohn saith God is charitie And S. Paule that excellent preacher of the Gentils affirmeth that The loue of GOD is shed abroad in our harts by the holie Ghost which is giuen vnto vs. Whervpon it is concluded and not without iust cause that loue or charitie is said to couer the multitude of our brethrens offences as it is written Charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes 3 A praier for the former vertue O Eternall GOD which by the mouth of thine Apostle Paule hast said that Although we speake with the tongues of men and Angels and yet are void of loue we are like to sounding brasse or as a tinkling cymbal yea albeit we had the gift of prophesie and knew all secrets yea if we had all faith so that we could remooue mountains and yet wanted loue we were nothing heare vs we beseech thee and by the heate of thy loue set on fire and kindle our cold and frosen loue We confesse that the cause why iniquitie and sinne aboundeth is the lacke of loue which in holie Scripture is called the bond of peace We acknowledge also that to loue our neighbour as our selfe is a sacrifice much more acceptable than burnt oblations incense We can not denie but that the Apostle speaketh truth saieng that Who so dwelleth in loue charitie dwelleth in thee ô GOD and thou in him But bicause it is not in vs to liue in loue and charitie knowing that they are the works of light vnlesse thou assist vs by thy grace sanctifie vs and cleanse vs from all intrinsecall and hidden corruption wee therefore bend the knees of our harts before thee humblie beseeching thy diuine Maiestie that as thou art the fulnes and perfection of loue yea loue charitie it selfe so it would please thee to conforme and make vs like vnto thee which delightest in nothing that is euill And bicause charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes fulfilleth the lawe is the end of the commandement and commended vnto vs as a most necessarie adiument helpe to obteine and laie hold vpon euerlasting life vouchsafe we beseech thee to plow vp our stonie harts and to soften them with the showers of thy grace that being mollified and soupled they may be able to receiue the seed of loue and charitie and thereby fructifie in all good works through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The seuenth Combat 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vice insuing AS the confession of sinne hath the promise of remission so the excusing and cloking of sinne is threatened with punishment Againe it is no dissembling with God who abhorreth all sinne and much worse the excuse of sinne which is more heinous than the sinne it selfe As for slander and flatterie I wish wise men to beware of both Moreouer whether to slander or to giue eare to a slanderer be more damnable I can not easilie tell This is certaine that death entreth in at our windowes so often as we with our itching eares and tongues contend and striue to drinke one to another out of the full poisoned and deadlie cup of slander The Lord saue my soule that it fall not into the hands of slanderers 2 The ASSALT giuen by the excusing of sinne and by SLANDER O Man persuade thy selfe that thou art not the most heinous offender aliue Thou hast not béene as other men be an extortioner a vsurer a turne-cote a mercilesse murtherer or such like There be sinners that haue committed all these transgressions with gréedines Who can laie to ones charge or kéepe close the abhominable déeds that such a lewd fellowe and such a wicked person hath done but he that hath béene accessarie and giuen his consent

and painfull yet in consideration that they are preparatiues to health they are receiued well taken and suffered And therefore ô Lord vouchsafe vs the grace of thy holie spirit wherby we being guided conducted and gouerned may not murmur at the admonitions reprehensions and corrections of our brethren though they rebukes vs sharpelie but may most thankefullie take their reproofes knowing that the end and scope of their labour so imploied is for the edification of our soules in Christ Iesus to whom be praise for euermore Amen The tenth Combat 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vice insuing SWelling loftines is a selfe-liking of ones owne excellencie and hath attending vpon hir two waiting maids broken to hir owne bowe the one is blind pride the other vaine pride whereof the first is a fault of the vnderstanding the second of the will For by that the eie of reason is deceiued and by this the desire of will abused Blind pride maketh a man beleeue he is better than he is whereby he swelleth in the opinion of his owne excellencie boasting of himselfe and giuing no glorie at all vnto God Vaine pride bewitcheth a man in such sort that he braggeth not onelie in that which he hath but in that which he hath not and is more delighted in his owne commendation than in the praise of God But why swellest thou ô dirt and doong Why art thou loftie All flesh is grasse and all the glorie thereof as the flowre of haie He that planteth is nothing nor he that watereth What hast thou that thou hast not receiued and why then art thou so loftie 2 The ASSALT giuen by swelling LOFTINES O Man if thou haue anie busines to doo anie affaires in the world to deale in anie matter wherin to meddle to it with a good stomach and feare not the face or looking on of anie maner of person Followe thine owne counsell and determination For another mans wit is not so good but thine may be much better And therefore abase not thy selfe but compare with the best Let not thine opinion and iudgement bée schooled by anothers aduise and consultation What shouldest thou submit thy selfe to the censure of men Hast thou not God in heauen an eie-witnes and ouerséer of thy dealings Why then shouldest thou care what men suspect and misdéeme of thée in earth 3 A praier against the former vice O Mercifull God cast the light of thy countenance vpon vs which are nothing but mist darknes that the same shining vpon vs may illuminate vs outwardlie and inwardlie to the sanctifieng both of our soules and bodies which thou hast created to set foorth the glorie of thy most holie name And bicause good God there are manie conueiances of vices in our harts and manie holes and corners for sinnes of sundrie sorts to lurke in the least wherof deserueth death and condemnation we most humblie craue of thy diuine Maiestie that it would please thee to crush out of our entrailes as out of a sponge all such filthie and stinking defilings as haue euer since the daie of our natiuities lien there soking and soupling to the vtter putrifieng consuming both of soule and bodie Speciallie most mercifull Father be vnto vs so good a physician as to minister but one dram or scruple of thy grace that swallowing the same downe into the stomach of our soules we may vomit and spue out all swelling loftines which puffeth vs vp like wind blowne into a bladder O heale vs thou most carefull and cunning leach of mankinde which knowest and onelie vnderstandest what maladies are incident to this our mortalitie with what medicines they are to be expelled Suffer not so dangerous an humor to abound in vs least ouer-ruling vs it preuaile and carrie vs as it list from woorse to woorse till we be brought at last euen to the gates of hell as Nemroth Nabuchodonisor Pharao Antiochus Herod the rest of that ambitious proud race were euen at the verie ripenes of their pompe when they thought all things safe and in perfect securitie Wee craue it so much the more instantlie ô Father bicause thou hast threatened to cast downe the high mountains and to make them eeuen with the lowe plaines to lop the tall ceders of Libanus and to make them equall with the base bulrush that thou onelie maiest be honoured in thine excellencie and that all creatures stooping vnto thee may do homage and reuerence to thee their Creator Humble me ô Lord in this maner and pull downe the pinacles of my proud hart that my soule may be made a mansion for thy Maiestie to dwell in thy Sonne to abide in and the holie Ghost to continue in to whom be all honour and power for euermore Amen 1 S. BARNARDS golden sentence of the vertue following FOlowe after me saith Christ passe through me drawe neere to me after me bicause I am the truth through me bicause I am the waie to me bicause I am the life Againe he saith Who so will come after me let him denie himselfe take vp his crosse and followe me Wherein he laieth three things before vs bondage basenes hardnes Bondage in denieng himselfe basenes in taking vp the crosse hardnes in following Christ whose life was tempered with no kind of worldlie pleasure By this we are taught to humble our selues and to be lowlie in our owne eies to be reformed when we are rebuked and not to hold scorne of correction when we are blame-woorthie For the waie to be perfect is to learne how to amend that which is vnperfect if we neglect this we shall neuer come to that 2 The REPVLSE giuen by humble LOWLINES O Man thou must giue no occasion of slander or euill speaking no suspicion of priuie whispering secret talking but if thou be guiltie of such faults as thou art charged withall confesse them that thou maiest amend when thou art rebuked if not denie them with humble lowlines and cléere thy selfe by the true protestation of an vpright conscience bicause the Apostle admonisheth thée that thou oughtest not to giue anie occasion to the aduersarie of speaking slanderouslie Which thing the Apostle detested euen in them that knowing the Christian faith sat downe notwithstanding to eate meates offered vnto idols And although they estéemed an idol as a toie or a thing of naught yet taking vnto them and tasting idolatrous meates as altogither harmeles and nothing at all offensiue they did tie the weake consciences of their vnstaied brethren to the damnable rites and ceremonies of idols by this their euill and vnchristian déed 3 A praier for the former vertue O Almightie euerlasting God which from the beginning of the world hast throwne the thunderbolts of thy iustice and vengeance at such as obstinatelie haue continued in their sinne without remorse of conscience or feare of thy iudgements we most humblie beseech thee to heare the praiers of vs thy seruants and to grant the petition of our lips O