onelie to insnare and intangle a flie what is the issue of our pensiue cares of gathering worldlie goods but miserable seruitude slauerie of soule They are got with care kept with feare and lost heauinesse 〈◊〉 11 They know not what they doe but they woorke without witte like the builders of Babel Clauous is canonized for a famous foole by common consent for coaping his golden and embrodered harnesse for brasen and pelting armour Reuben and Gad Num 32 and halfe Manasseh were grosse he besotted doting vppon Gilead because it was good meddowe grounde verie fit for Pasture preferring a plotte of paltrie Pasture for their Cattell before the mellifluous and pleasant lande of Canaan which flowed with milke and honie The children of Israell were like simple children Num. â—1 who had rather toyle like drudges in the lande of Egypt vnder a cruell tyrant then to liue at libertie in the lande of Promise vnder a gentle father The Gergesines who preferred their swine before Christ Matt. 3 what were they else but swinish and sensuall Aeneas when famous Troy was vanquished being permitted with the rest of the Citizens to cary away with him anie one thing which he most of all esteemed did choose and take away the gods of his Countrie teaching vs by his choise that God to him was better then his goods that God was to be preferred aboue the best Wherfore what a lewd and lost child was this who preferred the moste vilde and accursed creature before his onelie and most blessed Creator Who had rather conuerse contrarie to nature with this farmers swine then to bee in companie with his fathers seruants that preferreth emptie husks a swinish fodder which his maister dooth denie him before the Nectar and Ambrosia of his God which his heauenly father offereth him The Israelites preferred their grosser diet their Onions their Garlicke their flesh pottes of Egypt before Angels foode the celestiall Manna which God rained downe among them Luk. 1â— The guests that were inuited to the great Supper did choose rather to follow their priuate businesse which they thought more profitable Both thâ—se sorts of people are to be condemned yet were they more reasonable by much then this man for these men had their pleasure and profite to misâ—rie â—hem but this mans action had neyther of them both For what pleasure or profite did succeede his enterprise the hystorie nowe sheweth vs. First of all casting off the sweet yoake of Christ and his easie burthen in all seruile obsequie he enthraâ—leth himselfe vnto the intollerable thraldome of the diuell who forthwith most cruellie and despiteful ie entreateth him baselie and abiectlie reputing of him transporting and binding him to his begeerly faâ—me to feede filthie swine where loades of afflictions were layde vpon his shoulders and were as great burthens too heauie for him to beare What contagious and abhominable sauours was hee constrained to sucke vp what irkesome scritchings clamours and grunrings was he enforced to induce Last of all what a fearefull famine did tormeÌ„t him when as he would haue crammed himselfe with huskes a foode rather burdensome then nourishable to his bodie Here was a strange and admirable alteration His nostrels which before were continuallie delighted with incense and perfume with the redolent and fragrant odours of his fathers court were now choaked vp smothered and poysoned with all most ranke and detestable smels fuming vp into them in his maisters farme His eares sences which before were â—â—â—kled with the Shackbut Dulcimer and all instruments of Musicke were nowe so grated with all swinish discorde as hee could not heare a more odious and hatefull noyce His foode which before was of the finest flower was now of the coursest and grossest graine Finallie degenerating from a man into a beast hee was worthilie dieted and fedde among beastes O consider this ye that forget God what punishments and afflictions hee hath prouided for you If ye rebell with this man yee shall bee plagued with this man If ye depart with him from God Assoone as a sinner departeth froÌ„ God he falleth into the hands of the Dâ—uell Rom. 6. ye shall fall with him immediatelie into the thraldome of the Diuell Knowe ye not sayeth the Apostle of the Gentiles that to whome yee haue giuen your selues as seruauntes to obey yee are made this seruaunts whome yee doe obey Euerie sinner vppon his departure from God foorthwith falleth into the handes of the Diuell For a sinner is the captiue and bondslaue of the Diuell hee hath taken him in the warres and hee is his prisoner A similitude As a ship without a Pilot saileth not whither she should but whither the windes and tempests driue her so a man destitute of the grace of God and forsaken of God doth not that he should but that which the diuell draweth him vnto A similitude Sinne is like vnto strong wine which soone ouercommeth vs and casteth vs down headlong into the temptations of the diuell And when we are once in his clawes and subiection what misery and calamitie doth he lay vpon vs The miserie of a sinner fallen from God into hands of the diuell He tieth vs vp to the racke and manger he hath a faire farme for vs his swine are our felow seruants or rather our quarter maisters whom we must attend vpon and bee glad of their reuersions When Nebuchadnezzar had taken the king of Iudah prisoner 2. King â—5 hee handled him most miserably he boaâ—ed out his eyes hee murdered his children hee bound him in chaines and carried him to Babylon when the diuell taketh anie sinner prisoner he dealeth so with him he putteth out the eies of the inwarde man that hee may not see his sinne hee keepeth him fast bound with the manacles of sin that he cannot depart from him and last of all hee carrieth him with him into Babylon the place of confusion Iudg. 1â— A liuely example like vnto this may Samson bee vnto vs whom the pretended loue of Dalila beguiled so much as he fel into his enemies the Philistins hands who plucked out his eies bound him to a post handled him like a slaue putting him to a sore and tyrannous taske to grind in the mill The like case almost was the case of the Israelites who seruing vnder Pharao that sound citizen Exod. 15 he tired and almost spent them with successiue extremities putting their shoulders to the burdens and their hands to the making of the pottes their whole bodyes to hard labour in the myre and in the clay Iocob his estate was but a little better vnder his vnnaturall vncle Laban Gen. 31 hee toyled out of measure in his harde seruice vnder him both night and day and he chaunged his wages ten seuerall times togither This is the condition of all such who serue the diuell or embrace this present world they neuer haue any rest They that serue the diuell and the world
neuer haue anie rest Iob. 9 the bread of affliction and water of trouble is the portion of their cup. Wee may take vp the complaint of Iob in this case and say He will not suffer mee to take my breath but filleth me with bitternesse It is sayde in the Reuelation that those who adored and worshipped the beast found no rest Reuel 14 so wee are sure wee shall neuer haue rest so long as we serue the diuell and our beastlie affections All things turne to sorrow to him that is a sinner All thinge turne to sorrowe to a sinner If hee bee in prosperitie hee feareth he may loose it if in aduersitie hee despayreth to ouercome it Hee sleepeth of both sides in the middest of the sea If he receiueth an iniurie good God with what importunitie doth hee follow it Hee repayreth home tumbleth vpon his bedde hee turneth his face to the wall with Achab and pyning in his minde he pineth his bodie refuseth his meate sendeth for his friends gathereth al his power speedily to â—euenge it And this argument might be exaggerated by diuers other circumstances but it is a matter needlesse in a case so manifest beeing as cleare as the Sunne If al were now aliue which haue euer died since the beginning of the creation and they were asked this question whether that in this life they so liued in pleasure as they tasted not of sorrow or enioyed prosperitie without following aduersitie I am sure that they woulde not or coulde not affirme it The slauerie of sin is so grieuous and importable as God by the mouth of his Prophet Hieremie saith of it Ye shal serue other Gods which shal not let you rest day nor night Iare 6 A similitude Gen. 13 Hee that serues the Diuell is like the wheele of a clocke which neuer standeth still The world mooueth discorde betweene Abrahams and Lots heardsmen and will not by anie meanes let them dwell togither 〈◊〉 4. The worlde is like to Agar or mount Sinai in Arabia which gendreth vnto bondage if we will be free let vs looke vp to Hierusalem aboue which is the mother of vs all This is confirmed by the suffrages and testimonies of the liuing and of the deade Salomon liuing enioyed all the pleasures which the world could yeeld him 〈◊〉 8 I did build houses saith he I did plant Vineyards I made gardens and orcâ—â—rds and hee leadeth vs along with a large discourse of his seuerall doings but this is the Epitaph hee writeth vpon them all All is vexation and anguish of spirit The testimonie of the dead is recorded and set downe in the booke of Wisdome Wis 5 where the damned ghosts in hell doe crie and hâ—wle saying Wee haue wearied our selues in the way of iniquitie we haue walked hard wayes and we haue not knowne the way of the Lord. Let vs therefore loath that which is so bitter and vnholsome to vs otherwise it will tend to our great danger That sicke man is in no small perill A similitude whose stomack can brooke nothing but vnholsome meat so will it bee no lesse daungerous to the soule if thou canst sauour nothing but thy vnholsome sinnes Thou mayest not in this worlde without forfaiture of them A similitude carrie into straunge Countryes thy corne thy wine thy wares forbidden by the lawes of the lande thy sinfull worldly wealth and temporall pleasures are wares forbidden thou mayest not carrie them with thee vnto heauen Let not the dung of this worlde therefore put out thine eyes as the dung of the Swallow did put out Tobias Tob. â— his eyes that thou mightest not see the slauerie which thy sinne leadeth thee into For the remembrance of it will bee grieuous vnto vs and the burthen thereof intolerable We that serue this citizen with the prodigall sonne Tendimus in Latium sedes vbi fata quietiâ— Nulla dabunt There is no quietnes or rest to be hoped for but they daunce in a circle they are turned round about like vnto a whele and as a doore is rolled by the hinges so are they rolled with perpetuall perturbations The xiii Chapter A comparison betweene the seruice of God and the seruice of the diuell wherein is shewed how easie Gods seruice is and how hard the other is vnder the hardnes of the prodigall sonne his seruice who could not obtaine the off all and reuersion of the swines â—â—sks IT was the hardest seruice euery kind of way that this man did endure His labour was as great as his wages small his thraldome most exceeding but his reliefe most slender as in drudgerie exceeding all so in hunger oppressed aboue all He was round about griped and galled with grief wearied and wasted with al woful bondage He was fiercelie assaulted by two bellish fiends most extreame â—ormentors of his distressed soule labour and famine which so enfeebled his mind subdued his Sâ—â—y as he was now almost absorpt consumed of them they â—ad well nigh quite wasted him and drawn him dâ—â—â— and sucked out the blood out of his vaines and his marrow out of his bones Was there euer in the world such a maister heard of who commaunded so much and rewarded so little who would haue all his worke done and wil allow neither money nor meate for the dooing it This is our estate if with this man wee will serue such a maister and rather like rebels turne to the enemie then dutifull subiects performe obedience to our liege and souereigne It were well therefore that wee weighed the conditions of both our maisters before wee leaue one and cleaue vnto the other that wee woulde compare the sweetnesse of Christs yoke which we so loath with the sowrenesse of the diuels seruice which we so loue the hardnesse of the one with the easinesse of the other the recompence of the one with the wages of the other He that layeth siege and batterie to a towne A similitude hath this carefull foresight if so be he be wise that the charge of this attempt exceedeth not the woorth and value of the towne looke to it afore hand that thou payest not too deare for the diuels seruice it is at a deare rate it will cost thee the price and woorth of thy soule Our freedome was bought with a greater price euen the bloud of Iesus Christ take wee heede therefore that wee giue not our selues as seruants to the Diuell A coÌ„parison between the seruice of God the seruice of the diuell The prodigall sonne his seruice liuelie setteth foorth the nature and condition of the diuels seruice in these three poynts First his precepts and commands are difficult he sendeth him to his farme he seruilely coÌ„straineth him to attend vpon his swine Secondly he grudgeth him his needful diet and giueth him no food he denieth him the light and empty huskes the reuersion of his hogs Thirdlie hee payeth him no kind of wages as a recompence of his
of God acceptable and perfect As before he had giueÌ„ vp his members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne Rom. 6 so now giuing them vp as weapons of righteousnesse vnto God He is no more proude in his own eyes but his soule is humbled euen as a weaned child Psal 131 casting down himselfe before his mercie seate and in feare worshipping towardes his holie Temple comming with a rente heart aswell as rente garmentes Ioel. 2. Psal 84 and turning vnto the Lorde his God desirous to bee a doore keeper or a hired seruant in the house of his God rather then to conuerse in this miserable condition in the tents of the vngodly And this his sute hath speedy good successe his father beholding him a farre off with the eye of mercie and graciouslie embracing him when he was in presence with the armes of pittie For hee did put off his sackcloth and girded him with gladnesse hee adorned him with a ring dignity and greate worshippe did hee laie vppon him he richlie did decke a Table for him in despight of his enimies he did finallie make him glad with the ioy of his countenance and did wipe away al teares from his eyes The allegorie â—he allegoâ—â—â— of this â—â—rable and morall application of this parable without constraining it seemeth to be this The father is God these his two sonnes are two sortes of people in the Church of God The one of them orderlie and of good gouernment contented to abide in his fathers house liberties of this church the other exorbitant refractorie and disloyall gadding abroad after his owne fancies yet humbled by discipline and by chastisement reformed The far Country which he traced was his far departure from his fathers Lawes by his wicked lustes The substance which he wasted was the riches of his grace which he deuided to him The famine hee sustained was the want of the breade of eternall life and infinite other defectes and wants vnto which a sinner is subiect when he is gone from God The cruell tyrant whom hee serued was the Diuell whome he obayed this farme of his which hee attended was this present euill worlde in the which the Diuell raigneth The swine which he kept were vncleane spirits vngodlie companions the hearde into which the Deuils doe enter and doe violentlie throwe into the sea of all euill The huskes which rather burdened then relieued his stomacke were the light and idle vanities of this worlde His sinnes wich hee did feede vppon the alluring baites and inticementes of the Deuill His returne home was his returne from sinne by speedy repentaunce his welcome home was the gracious acceptance of this his repentaunce His first roabe was his first royaltie which Adam lost and Christ redeemed for vs. The seruaunts who did fetch it were the ministers of his holie worde who bring his graces to vs. The ring was the seale of Gods holy spirit and a token of his dignity whereby he crieth Abba father and is sealed vnto the day of redemption The shooes of his feete were the preparation of the Gospell of peace The fat Calfe that was killed was Christ slaine from the beginning of the worlde for him and vs all his prodigal children The heauenly banket mirth and musicke is the ioy and happines which we shal bee partakers of in the kingdome of heauen all which shall bee orderlie prooued vnto vs in their proper places Now of this parable there is a manifold vse The vse of this parab A similitudâ— whether we respect the matter or maner of this history It is like to a great peece of money which containeth in it the value of manie peeces It is full of mysteries and matters of much moment albeit in our grosse and carnall mindes we cannot conceiue them It is often seene that thinges of great price of those that are ignoraunt of the vertue of them are vtterlie reiected which by men of iudgement who doe know their nature are verie much accounted of A similituâ—â— A base Countrey man passeth by a King and doth him no reuerence because hee knoweth him not A similituâ—â— A simple Pesant as he walketh in the fielde trampleth vnder foote many holsome simples which the skilfull Apothecary carefullie gathereth vp and maketh of them many healthfull confections In this fielde wherein we walke many hearbes and flowers of forcible operations fit to bee applied to all wounded consciences may bee gathered of vs. There is no one bedde in the Lordes Eden no place of holie Scripture in the whole Bible which yeeldeth more sauory and comfortable doctrine then this place doeth For first the manner and forme of this parable delighteth very much as shrowding his matter vnder a parable and borrowed speech and allegoricall discourse and this is the common custome of Gods spirit for very good causes First it serueth to strengthen our weake memories â—hy Christ â—ormeth by paraâ—s that thereby wee may better keepe in minde his holesome instructions For euen as the stomacke vnlesse it hath a retentiue facultie to retaine and digest the meate and nourishment that is put into it 1. 〈◊〉 helpe 〈◊〉 weake â—mories â—militude vntill it hath passage through the vaynes and partes of the whole bodie to cherish and to battle it it receiueth no good so vnlesse wee laie vp and keepe in our hearts such needefull pointes of doctrine as are taught vs from the word all preaching is in vaine and our hearing is vnprofitable vnto vs. â—â—â—ilitude As precious pearles and iewels are fastened vnto ribbandes that they might not bee lost so Gods heauenlie worde an incomparable treasure and a pearle of greatest price is set out in parables that it might not be lost of vs. You shall haue manie olde persons that shall verie manie yeeres remember a familiar example or similitude borrowed from such things as we haue here common vse of which they shal heare from a preacher when as many other deepe poynts and matters of more substance then examined and discussed shall be quite forgotten and onelie because prouerbes and plausible similitudes drawne from dayly pracâ—ize do take deeper roote and impression in their mindes And for this cause God doth often open his mouth in parables and declare vnto the people hard sentences of olde A second cause moouing him thereunto 2 That wee may better vnderstand that which is taught vs. is to lay open and vnfolde more plainlie that which is â—aught vs that wee maie the better conceiue it and â—earne it Aristotle the Philosopher prescribeth â—his course Vt à notioribus ad minus nota procedamus That in our way of teaching by plaine and â—nowne things we leade our schollers to the betâ—er vnderstanding of those that are vnknowne â—owe because things visible obiect to our senses â—re better knowne then those that are inuisible â—nd remooued from the same and those that are â—orporall are better conceyued then those that are â—pirituall hence is it
that parables and borrowed speeches from vulgar and knowne matters â—erue as midwiues to further our trauaile in heaâ—enlie knowledge and do helpe exceedingly and â—erue our capacities And as this Argument is mouing in it selfe in â—espect of the forme and maner thereof This parable is the abridgment of the Gospel so doth it manie wayes instruct and comfort vs in regarde of the subiect and matter thereof For I maie well tearme it the Epitome of the Gospell the abstract and compendium of the whole woorke of our redemption For these two poynts are the summe of our doctrine and our preaching The doctrine of Repentaunce The forgiuenesse oâ— sinnes The summe of the Gospel Repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes Vnto Repentance properlie doe belong the whole bodie of sinne and our entire conuersion from our sinnes to God The forgiuenesse of our sinnes naturally compriseth the free grace of God our iustification and whatsoeuer else appertaine to our Redemption Nowe these and each of these liuelie are depainted as it were in a Table in his fresh colours in the image and counterfeit oâ— the prodigall sonne the matter and argument oâ— this famous hystorie The second Chapter Of the common condition of parents in their children vnder the person of the prodigall sonne his father and therewithall of the estate of the militant Church THe person of the father by due order being first intreated of his pitifull estate in his children is remembred For being the kindest and best father that might bee as bearing the person of God the father hee is a spectacle of the vnhappiest father in one of his children He had but two sonnes but this fewnesse I steeme no small part of parents happinesse For â—hildren being so chargeable in their bringing vp â—â—e number of them howe so euer well inclined â—re mainlie burdensome vnto manie poore paâ—â—nts and doe vtterlie vndoe them as well in their â—ood intendements of their ciuill education as of â—heir putting foorth to their godlie informatiâ—â—n But heerein is all miserie that out of â—wo there muste needes bee one in whome all â—ewdnesse and vngraciousnesse should abide of 〈◊〉 most rebellious vnnaturall and desperate disâ—osition This mans estate is set out as a looking Glasse A Glasse for fathers wherein many fathers may beholde themselues â—r this is no rare or straunge example but such a â—ne as is rife and common in these dayes as in â—mes of olde For ancient recordes of holie writte â—oe shewe how pestilentlie and that commonâ—â—e the holie fathers haue beene plagued and tortuâ—ed with their children Gen. 4. Of the first brace of sonnes which the worlds eie did see was not Caine one of â—hem A branded runnagate from the face of the â—arth vnnaturall to his father vnmercifull to his â—rother hereticall towards God as supposing his â—loudie fact could be hidde from God flattering â—imselfe in his owne wickednesse vntill his abhominable inuentions were found out and last of all fulfilling the measure of his sinne dreadfully dispaiâ—ing of the mercie of his God But from Adam to descende to Noah was 〈◊〉 lucke more fortunate or his comfort in his childrâ—â— greater Of his lease of sonnes was there not Cham Gen. 9. whome neither the good counsaile of 〈◊〉 tender father coulde keepe in compasse nor tâ— fearefull example of Gods horrible vengeaunceâ— the raging floud could reduce to order but tâ—king an aduantage of his fathers weakenesse ouâ—whelmed with wine and throwne into a sleep blowed open his skirts and discouered his nakeâ—nesse and made him the argument of his sport anâ— pastime and a scorne and derision to those thâ— were about him What shall we say of Abraham our father oâ— whose heedefull care of the well nurturing Gen. 18. anâ— training vp his children God himselfe is witnesse If his lot did fall into a fairer ground he hath causâ— to reioyce but his eie was not so watchfull anâ— iealous ouer them but of his two sonnes the basâ— begotten Ismael was a scoffing eluish and inordinate companion To this calamitie was Isaac also subiect whâ— was heauilie vexed with his vnhappie Esau But a load of afflictions was laid vpon Iacob by his childrens misgouerment Gen. 34. His onelye deare daughter and darling Dinah was rauished of Shechem Gen. 35. Gen. 37. Gen. 38. Ruben his eldest son defiled his fathers bed His Cockney Ioseph was solde as a bondslaue by his sons to the Ismaelites and transported into Egypt His sonne Iudah committed incest with his daughter in lawe Thamar And thus was hee â—ade a myrrour of of miserie by his childrens inâ—icitie Of this matter we haue a cloude of witnesses â—t it is needelesse to heape vp examples in a thing 〈◊〉 manifest Helie his two sonnes Hophney and â—hinees Dauid his two sonnes Ammon and Absaâ—â— do confirme the same Wherefore let the diligent regard of these and â—â—ch like examples prepare vs vnto patience when â—â—euer it shall please God to make the disobediâ—â—ce and rebellion of our children the chastisement â—f our sinnes Our vnnaturall children bee giuen vs as spectaâ—â—es to helpe our blinde eyes A similitude that will not see our â—â—lues By seeing their vndutifulnesse vnto vs their â—â—thers wee may see our owne vndutifulnesse vnto â—od our Father Isay 1. For he hath nourished and brought 〈◊〉 children but they haue rebelled agaynst him It is â—â—erefore a iust punishment laid vpon vs that they â—hould forget vs because we doe forget God Aug. li. 5 cont Iulian. cap. 2. It is Gods common course to punish sinne by sinne â—nd one sinne as Augustine sayth is the punishâ—ent of an other and God permitteth one sinne 〈◊〉 take vengeance of another as afterwardes shall â—ee prooued more at large in his due place But â—hat ende soeuer the Lord aymeth at by this kind â—f iudgement it is no straunge thing for which we â—hould be wondred at or bee a Prouerbe or by worde in mens mouthes because of our euill quaâ—â—fied and disposed children Parents must not â—eare the iniquitie of their children and their dissolute liues must not bee simplie laid vnto their châ—â—ges For their eies wil be euill though they be gooâ— an habit and custome which is got of sinne is anâ—ther nature and cannot be forsaken Furthermore in the estate of this father in 〈◊〉 children we may perfectly behold the conditioâ— of the Church We are not to feuer our selues from the Church because of the wicked which are in the church thereby not obscurely shadow and prefigured For his two sonnes are two kind of people good and badde mingled here togithâ— and resorting to the Church It is not to bee lookâ— for that the militant Church should be withoâ—â— blemish and corruption in this world For it is tâ— Lords field wherein the tares do grow vp with tâ—â— wheate Matth. 13 Matth. 3 and the Lords fâ—â—â—re wherein the chaffe mingled with the wheate Matth. 13 and the draw not whâ—â— gathereth togither al kinds
vppon the earth with the other at one time Dagon cannot stande before the Arke of God wee cannot worship God and the Idoll of this worlde â—uke 10 One thing is necessarie as Christ telleth Martha A similitude If thou grauest with one knife or sewest with one needle thou shalt ridde and dispatch a great deale more worke then thou shouldest if thou wroughtest with two togither for one of them will hinder an other so much riches will hinder thy religion and the further thou goest from the world the neerer thou commest vnto God There be manie Cities and townes corporate which are endowed with customs priuiledges differing from others yet are they not so contrarie but one may haue the freedome of diuerse of them at once But Babylon and Hierusalem heauen and earth God and Mammon are at such mortall and deadlie foade togither as they may not be matched and combined togither We cannot be a free Denison in heauen aboue and be a bond seruant to this wicked world beneath There can be no fellowship betweene righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse Coâ— 6 no societie with light and darkenes no vnitie and agreement with God and Beliall We cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord 1. Cor. 10 and of the table of Diuels We read in hâ—lie scriptures how the Samaritanes would haue confounded these extremities and mangled Gods religion 2. King 17 and mingled therewithall their idolatrous superstitions Naaman the Syrian was such a kinde of fellowe hee was content to offer incense 2. King 5 and sacrifice to God but with it hee woulde keepe still the fauour of his Prince and the credite of his place he woulde repaire betweene times with his maister into the house of Rimmon Nicodemus was willing to be a professor Iohn 3 and to becom Christs disciple but he would not come by day but by stealth in the night for feare of the Iewes of the losse of his authoritie and good estate in this world The gallaunt young Gentleman Matth. 19 that shewed so much zeale of the Kingdome of heauen as if hee had meaned presentlie to haue gone thither woulde not depart with his worldlie possessions for the purchase of that kingdome Hee was of that mind to haue heauen and the world or to haue no heauen at all But this could not bee Matth. 6 for they are two imperious and contrarie maisters whom no man can serue togither at one time As the people of Israel neuer had Manna Exod. 16 and the flesh pottes of Egypt at one tyme so is it not permitted vs to taste at one time of the delightes of heauen and the pleasures of the worlde for the loue of the one breedeth the loathsomnesse of the other As the stomacke if it be distempered with rawe humours it cannot rellish well sauourie meate A similitude so our soules oâ—â—rburdened with worldlie grosse affections we cannot taâ—e of heauenly consolations Exod â— When as Pharaoh gaue commaundement to the Hebrew people to offer sacrifice to their god in Egypt Mosâ—s made answere that it could not so bâ— Shall we saith he offer vnto God the abhominations of the Egyptians Iohn 2 When Iesus entred into the Temple of Hierusalem and chased out the prophane Marchants and copesmates from thence hee did by that example not obscurely teach vs that there is no roome for such in the Church whose godlines is their gaine who trade themselues wholie to the affaires of this worlde Inasmuch therefore as this mans prosperitie puft him vp with pride and drew his heart farre from his due obedience to his gracious father let vs that stand take heed least we fall and greatly stande in feare that when the worlde fauoureth vs the diuell will most tempt vs and estrange our hearts from the seruice of God Let vs not therefore fâ—â— the loue of out earthlie and worldly portion fâ—â—sâ—ke our heauenlie father who is a better portion H s house is little Zoar â—â—n 19. the citie of refuge vnto which Lot fled and was presâ—â—ted when Sodome was destroyed In his house are many dwellings his house is made of golde and his gates of precious stones If we abide there we shall haue riches at our desire For riches and plentiousnesse is in his house and at his righ hande are aboundant pleasures for euermore When as Gorgias came in battell against Iudas 1. Mat. 4 and Iudas made his solemne oration to the Iewes that were in the camp among other things which he charged them hee peremptorily commaunded them that they should not be too greedie of the spoile of their enemies but should stande to it like men and first fight manfully ouercome the enemie there would be time afterward inough and inough to diuide the pray among them so forasmuch as our life is a warfare Ephes 6 and we fight not only against flesh and blood but against principalities against worldly powers against spiritual wickednes which is in high places let vs not too couetously seeke worldly wealth Let vs first gird vs with our swords vpon our thighes and march against our enemies the world the flesh the diuel let vs first kill them who seeke to kill vs and after the victorie and conquest is ours we shall all of vs in heaueÌ„ with ioy and gladnes diuide the spoyle among vs. The eight Chapter Of the waste which the prodigall sonne made of his portion Vnder which how transitorie worldly ryches are euidently is declared THe holie Prophet well perceiuing the bias of the world how fondly it is fixed vpon imaginarie pleasures momentanie delights thus grauely vehementlie reprooueth their foolishnes O ye sons of men â—sal 4 how long wil ye blaspheme mine honor and haue such pleasure in vanitie and seeke after leasing He accounteth worldly pleasures but vanitie and leasing because they promise vs ioy and do giue vs sorow they promise vs continuance and dissemble like hypocrites and suddenly do forsake vs. This is plainly seene in the hystorie of this man for be rufled not long in his iollitie and excesse but he suddenlie did sinke and from a great flood came to a low ebbe his part was soone plaied and like to a game-player hee departed from the stage to put off his vesture For the text sheweth howe not long after as he parted from his father so he departed from his fathers substance In him is fulfilled the saying of the Psalmist Psal 37 I my selfe haue seene the vngodlie in great power and flourishing like a greene Bay tree and I went by and hoe he was gone I sought him but his place could no where be found The regard therefore of this so mutable and transitorie a condition of this present worlde is argument inough if there were no other reason to weane our soules from the loue thereof to the onely loue of God A similitude The world doth serue vs as the hangman doth
the theefe who as soone as hee hath mounted him to the top of the Gibbet he throweth him downe violentlie and so dispatcheth him A similitude A man knoweth not his ende but euen as a fish is taken with the hooke and as the bird is snared by the not and their destruction commeth of a sodaine so sodainely wee do perish and come to a fearefull end euen as a dreame when a man awaketh and euen as flowers that scone doe fade and do loose their vertue The spider of the drie slime that commeth from his body weaueth a webbe with exceeding much labour to catch a flie and a little puffe of winde or a huswiues broome sweepeth downe all and all that labour perisheth so we with dayly tormenting our bodies and vexing our spirits doe weaue vs nettes to intangle men and to bring in ryches which when wee haue obtayned wee neede not much to boast for we haue gotten but a flie an Egyptian flie that is alwaies buzzing about vs and molesting vs and that which is woorst of all wee can not keepe our wealth when we haue gotten it but a little puffe of wind going out of our bodies we returne againe vnto our dust and all our thoughts perish It is sayd of Hanniball that hee knewe well inough how to get a victorie but hee knowe not howe to keepe it We knowe infinite deuices and fetches to attaine to riches but wee know no way howe to keepe them long when we haue attained to them Death serueth vs as traitours A similitud For he not onelie depriueth vs of our liues but despoyleth vs of our goods Dan. 4 Whilest Nabuchadnezzar was stalking in his gallery vaunting himself of the brauery of his court and statelines of his Palace saying Is not this great Babell which I haue built suddenly his kingdome was taken from him and was expulsed the companie and societie of men and driuen among beasts Dan. 5 Whilest Baltasar was quaffing out of his maine Bowles and surfeiting himselfe with his sinful pleasures immediately he descried a hand-writing vpon the wall which was the definitiue doome of his destruction Luk. 52 The Epicure in the Gospell whilest hee talked to himselfe of his store of come which he had hoorded and heaped in his Graineryes as a store for manie yeares flattered himselfe in a foolish supposall of continuance to expende them but his hope deceyued him and bee not onelie was pronounced a foole but the euent prooued him one for his soule euen that night was taken from him his treasures and his pleasures could not abide with him The whore of Babylon was exceeding drunken with her worldlie prosperitie â—euel 18 but like vnto strong drinke it made her so giddie as shee not onelie stumbled but came tumbling downe therewith 〈◊〉 similitude Whilest many waghalters and vngracious boies â—reake unto an orchard and gather much fruit and doe lade their powches and sloppes wirh them suddenly commeth the Gardiner and taketh away all which they had couetously lurched and dry basteth theÌ„ so dismisseth theÌ„ with their iust reward Whilest this vngracious yonker had gathered togither his riches his portioÌ„ there were diuers scouts and gardiners that took him napping wrought a speedy wracke and consumption of his substance The Israelites vexed and turmoiled their bodies in gathering of stubble Exod. 5 and when they came home loden with their grieuous burdens they were lodeÌ„ with stripes vntill they roated out for very anguish of heart This tyrannous world like another Pharao putteth vs to our taske and enioyn thys dayly to seeke to bring home the stubble of this earth which wheÌ„ we haue done we are chuâ—lishly intreated and despitefully punished for we get our welth in tract of time and â—â—â—fe it in a moment Man walketh saith Dauid in a vaine shadow Psal 49 and dâ—sâ—â—â—eteth himselfe in vaine he heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them It hath been an ancieÌ„t it is a true prouerb Fortuna vitrea est quae cum splendet frangitur Fortune is a brickle and weake vessell a glasse that often when it shyneth breaketh If thou wilt gather vp thy wits and wilt not be blind with thine eyes open thou shalt find such inconstancie in the whole course of the world as thou shalt haue smal cause to put affiance in it A similitude It casteth down one to exalt an other it impouerisheth one to enrich an other and herein it is not vnlike vnto an houre-glasse which emptieth one part to fill an other when one is ful it is turned vp and the other that is emptie is turned downe We often see how that a glaring A similitude and bright shiâ—ing morning breedeth a gloomie and rainie day The Sunne shineth cleerly early in the morning and of a sudden it is condensed and obscured with clouds and foggie ayre This expresly shadoweth 〈…〉 world in the which there is no certaintie oâ— stay If we haue friends to day wee haue none to morrowe for times do change and men change with the times Matth. 21 Christ who at one time was welcoÌ„med in the way with greene bowes at an other time was openly whipped with drie roddes Matt. 2â— Mat. 11 At one time to honour him they strowed the floore with garments Mat. 17 at another time to shame him they stripped him of his garments One time they crie Hosanna Matth. 2â— Mat. 27 and doe call him blessed an other time contrarie wise they yell and howle saying Crucifie him crucifie him A similitude There is no wise man who will build vppon a ground which is not firme where the windes that blowe and the raine which fall may beate vpon that house and the fall of at will bee great but hee will build vpon a sure foundation which shall not stirre for the rage of any tempest Let God bee our Booke vpon whome wee builde Psal 325 and then as Dauid sayeth wee shall bee like vnto mount Sion which cannot bee remooued but standeth fast for euer Let vs not builde vppon vncertaine ryches for they are like vnto the broken staffe of Egypt vpon which who so leaneth it falleth a peeces A similitude How â—â—â—sitorie and briefe our worldly ioyes are 〈◊〉 be more plainly euidently shewed then â—y the â—aite by which the fish is caught and by the snares by which the birde is suddenlie deceyued The fish when hee seeth a Worme in the water skuddeth vnto it swalloweth it vp greedilie But this baite is her bane for the hooke the instrument of present death is couered with it and her ioy woundeth her The bird flieth hastily to kurnels of corne scattered in the way and she is fettered with lime-twigges or intangled with a net which was spred in the way for her The wise man sayth thus I said of laughter Eccles 2 thou art madde and of ioy what is that thou doest Labour thou not therefore
for the meate that perisheth Iohn 6 but for the meate which endureth vnto euerlasting life Heb. 11 And couet thou with Moses rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of god then to inioy the pleasures of sinne for a season We are born weeping and we shall die sorrowing and woulde we liue reioycing More sorrow then ioy doth that father taste of A similitude who in one and the selfe same day seeth his sonne both to be borne and buried and to haue no continuance The prodigal sonne spilt his goods like water that runneth apace it melted like wax before the heat of the fire it was no sooner gathered but it was scattered what ioy then could he haue therin when as coÌ„fort lasted but the twinkling of an eie but sorows endured for a loÌ„g season Wherfore for asmuch as this is our condition we are soon depriued of the grace of God our portion in this worlde lasteth not with vs The mirth of tabrets resteth Esai 24 the noyce of them that reioice endeth the ioy of the harp ceaseth 1. Cor. 9 Let vs vse this world as though we vsed it not vsing worldlie substaunce as wee vse oares to rowe with A similitude which wee vse to lay aside when wee come to land and as stanes in our hands whilst we trauaile by the way laying them away at our iourneyes ende The ninth Chapter Of the maner howe the prodigall sonne lauished out his portion vnder which the damnable effectes of whordom and riotous liuing are displaied THis ding thrift not only spent but mispent his portion he deuoured it with whores as it is in the clause and riotously concocted it as it is inserted in the beginning of the history It had beene well with him if hee had sustained but a temporall losse and had not lost God as well as his gold But running ouer the shooes he rested not till he was ouer the eares Beeing once impudent he grew past grace being fallen into Châ—ribdes hee desperately plunged himselfe into Scylla the merciles gulfe of perdition and destruction Oh how is it to be wished and feruently prayed for that worldlings who go spoiled of their riches to the graue might not goe spoiled of all vertue into hell Hee is taxed principallie for two grosse sinnes Whoredom and Ryot the very froath and fome of all sinne Hee liued riotously and the story sheweth how euen by lashing it on vppon harlots and knaues and inordinate companions And such mates such kind of men alwaies doe cull out For like will to like as it is in the olde prouerbe Such as are wantonly cockered from their cradles and are suffered to liued â—sely without awe or gouernment as they growe in yeares so will they grow in wantonnesse they will be then conso ted with none but wanton companions In that the story saith that he liuâ—d in ryotousnes Ryotousnes and Whordom the cause of all sinne it is as much as if it had saâ—â— that he liued in al wickednes For what wickedâ—es doth ryotousnesse omit or what mischiefe doth it not â—ommit It mispendeth all the giftes and graces of God in must fearful maner there is no grace of God to be found in such who wallowe in the mire and puddle of this sinne The Doue going out of the Arke of Noah Genes 8. finding no place for the sole of hir foote but vncleane carcasses would not rest there Math. 3 but returned to the Arke so the holy spirit of God who descended like a Doue willing to remaine and dwell in our hurts if he findeth them polluted with this carrion which is all abhomination it will sâ—e away from vs and not abide with vs. As the nature of Dones is to delight in cleane houses so the nature of Gods spirit is to delight in clean soules Aspicis vt veniant ad candida tecta columbâ—e Ouidius Accipiet nullas sordida turris aues This fire of the flesh is the fire of hell Note thâ— saying our ryotous diet gluttony and drunkennes are the coales that kindle it the flame therof is filthines the ashes vncleannes the smoake infamy the end of it a torment to the soule a destruction to the bodie a shortning of our life the corruption of good manners and an absolute transgression of the whole law of God Let one fire therefore put out another for the greater fire doth ouercome the lesser Ouercome this lesser fire which burneth in thy bodie by setting before thine eies the greater fire of hell which vtterlie shall burne thy body and thy soule Hee that keepeth not himselfe from this fire in earth shall bee sure to burne in the other fire in Hell for the Apostle hath flatâ—e concluded it That they that doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God The grieuousnesse of this sinne may be iudged of sufficiently by the grieuousnes of the punishment The grieuous punishment of whoredom Aug. lib. 2. â—ont Donaâ—stas which God at al times hath inflicted vpon it Hereupon saith saint Augustin Quis dubitauerit hoc esse sceleratius commissum quod est grauius vindicatuÌ„ Who doth doubt that that is hainously committed which is of the Lord so seuerely punished â—â—n 7 â—â—n 1â— For Ryot and Whoredome the Lord ouerwhelmed the first world with water and Sodome and Gomorrha and the cities round about he burnt vp with fire â—â—n 38 â—â—n 3â— He did smite Onah with suddaine death he wasted and destroied the city of the Sichemites and almost vtterly extinguished and raced out the whole tribe of Beniamin â—â—g 20. â—â—m â—3 â—in 11. â—â—g 16. 〈◊〉 13 This brought Ammon vntimely to his death Salomon to idolatry Samson to his blindnesse the aduersaries of Susanna to their iust destruction 2. Sam. 12 Num. 25 and Dauid Gods seruaunt vnto manifolde afflictions This caused a miserable massacre among the Israelites for by reason of this sinne three and twenty thousande soules were murdered without mercie and did fall in one day Nay further what may we thinke of this sinne which hath beene thus punished when as diuerse others verie grieuous sinnes haue escaped vnpunished Howe manie sinnes vngraciously committed in Christes sacred societie by his domesticall disciples did hee mercifullie remit and doe we reade how Ryot or Whoredom hath beene tolerated in any of them Incredulity is a foule fault Iob 20 yet Thomas Didymus was stained with this blot and al the disciples were tainted with this Mark 16 whome Christ doth vpbraide because of their vnbeliefe Ambition and Pride is a venemous Viper and doth more mischiefe then any man canne deuine Yet the two brethren Iames and Iohn swelled therewith Matth. 20 and the other tâ—nne were not a little blown and puffed vp with disdaine Finallie at the Passeouer and last supper what a broile Luke 22 and bitter brawle did breede among them about the primacie whilest each of them did striue for
farmer to a hard tyrant then an owner in the house of a merciful father â— Secondlie what oddes are in their seruice herein appeare in that the one pineth vs with hunger and the other filleth vs with the plenteousnesse of his house Betweene the hoggish huskes and heauenlie delicates there is no proportion and yet this kind of meat so mean and miserable could not be granted him O horrible slauerie and thraldom of the diuell who draweth vs vnto his seruice with faire words promising much and performing nothing promising ioy but bringing pain promising credit but bringing shame promising life and leading vnto death giuing one thing for another as Laban serued Iacob giuing him Leah when hee promised him Rachel Genes 29. The worlde and the Deuill do nothing but beguile vs the pleasures are but vaine which they do shew vs and yet they keepe them from vs after they haue shewed them wee cannot serue more niggish and spitefull maisters for they wil part with nothing Such a one was Pharao Exod. 5 who when as the Israelites had plodded in his claie and tyred themselues in his slâ—uish worke he denied them strawe and yet woulde abate nothing of his set taske and tale of his bricke Also such a terrible tyrant was Holofernes who when as he laide siege to Bethulia Iudith 7 hee stopped vp the streames and fountaines of water which ranne thorough the citie whereby the distressed inhabitants of that place pinched and oppressed with the penury of water receiuing euery day a portion by a measure the scarcity of it did rather torment theÌ„ then any way comfort them and rather inflaming then slacking their thirst This is the wonted guise of the worlde and the Diuell It presenteth to our eies a bewtiful woman A similituâ— only to be with vs and ensnare vs with her beauty and forthwith he snatcheth her out of our sight suffereth vs not to haue comfort in her companie thereby to adde more affliction vnto vs. Thou canst not bee filled with the pleasures of this worlde they doe rather famish thee then any way feed thee How greedy and vnsufficed is a couetous man hee is hungry like a dog as Dauid saiâ—h and goeth about the Citty he hath neuer his content but complaineth still of want hee is of all needy the neediest man for he wanteth not onelie that which he hath not but also that he hath for he hath no grace to vse it The Poets speake of the like torment which Tantalus endured and sustained in hell who was thirsty in the midst of the water that streamed by his lips to which effect the Poet writeth thus Tantalus a labijs sitiens fugientia captat Flumina quid rides mutato nomine de te Fabulanarratur But God contrariwise plentifullie replenisheth our hungry bodies Luk. â— and filleth our soules with goodnesse He filleth our mouth with good things as the blessed virgin in hir heaueÌ„ly himn acknowledgeth and the eyes of all wayte vppon him Psal 145 and he giueth them their meate in due season as Dauid prophecieth Open thy mouth therefore wide and I will fill it saith the Lorde Ephraim is fed with the wind saith the Prophet Osea â—ea 1â— The thinges of this worlde are windie and swelling like the hoggish huskes that the prodigall young man woulde haue crammed himselfe with they onely puffe vs vp and make vs looke big we doe not battle and thriue by them They are like the charmed and enchanted meat oâ— â—imilitude Nigromancers which hath only but a bare shew of meat without any taste or sauor in it Wherfore for this cause let vs forsake the world and renounce the diuel who sterneth famisheth vs and cleaue we only to the Lord our God who is our portion and inheritance for euer The last marke of difference between these two masters is in the wages which they giue vnto their hired seruants the only point which seruants are to stand vpon There is no man who yeeldeth to serue anie master but first of all hee indenteth with him for his wages if thou wilt needes bee a seruant to the worlde and a slaue to the Diuell serue not for nothing consider how thy labour and paines shal bee recompensed which if thou doest thou shalt haue smal incouragement to appertaine to them for their stipend and wages is death Rom. 6 Psal 13â— They doe render thee euill for good to the great disquiet of thy soule When as Samson was vnder the subiection of the Philistins what reward had he of al his labors Iudg. 16 and trauaile among them but al despightful vsage they boaring out his eies and constraining him most slâ—uishly to grind at the mill When as the Israelites toiled out of measure Exod. 5 and were cleane out of heart in bringing in of stubble this their harde sweate and sorrow was as hardlie recompenced for they had nothing but stripes at their wearisome returne of their cruel taske-maisters Gen. 31 Iacob serued Laban a long time in all simplicitie and faithfulnes he was a most profitable seruant vnto him yet for al that he could not haue his due but his wages was changed ten times and hee was very vnciuilly and churlishlie intreated This is the Bias of the wicked worlde and the deuils fashion do we neuer so much for them it is either not at all or very badly regarded 1. Sam. 2â— They serue vs right as Nabal serued Dauid who required his benefits with horrible vnkindnes like a cruell Carle churlishlie refusing to relieue his necessitie hauing receiued many fauours at his hands hoggishly according to his clownish nature and grantingly answering the seruants of Dauid who is Dauid and who is the sonne of Ishai there be many seruants now a daies that breake euery man from his master shall I then take my bread and my water and my flesh that I haue killed for my shearers and giue it vnto men whom I know not whence they bee Nabal by interpretation a foole and is a liuely figure of this present world who in the time of neede forsaketh them all who haue stoode them in most stead in former times â—miâ—â—â—ude The world and the deuill are like to an vnkind Inkeeper who maketh no account and reckoning of his guests after they are gone yea scarce knoweth them when they come againe although they haue often resorted to that Inne and haue spent much money An Inne keeper will sooner knowe thee by a wrong then by a benefit which thou doest him If thou strikest him with thy fist and giuest him a blow which may sticke to his ribs and ill intreatest him he wil long remember thee but spend thy thrift with him and shew him al kindnes and he wil soone forget thee Wherefore since this seruice must cost thee to much paine and doth so little pleasure thee I warn thee to be wiser and not to toile with the Spider A
Ahashuerosh disposed himselfe to bee merrie with his Princes and shew the riches and glorie of his kingdome and the honour of his Maiestie hee feasted them an hundred and fourescore dayes togither therefore infinite will the ioy and triumph bee in the court of heauen when the king of all kinges shall feast his deare Saintes not for a time but for all eternitie and shall shew them his heauenlie dignitie and felicitie which is prepared for them It is vsuall with many to celebrate with mirth the memoriall of their birth Gen. 40 Mark 6 when it rather occasioneth vs with Ieremie Ierem. 20 and Iob Iob. 3 to bee heauie for it Pharao solemnized the day of his natiuitie with triumphant feasting and so did Herod yet this myrth and musick was mixed with mourning for the one at that time hanged his chiefe Baker and the other beheaded innocent Iohn the Baptist But in heauen when we solemnize our newe birth wee shall haue all ioy without mixture of sorrow there can neuer any more miserie or calamitie befall vs. The wise men of the East were exceeding glad when they saw but the Starre Matt. 1 which prognosticated and foreshewed the natiuitie of our sauior Therefore when wee in heauen shall bee partaker of his glorie then must needes our heartes be filled with laughter and our tongues with ioy We see how the birdes of the aire are ioyfull at the arising of the sunne chirping and singing and leaping vpon the branches Wherefore when the sonne of righteousnesse appeereth comforting our hearts how ought we to skip like a Hart to leape vp and downe like a yong vnicorne Gene. 2 It was a ioy to Adam when he was in his prosperitie in his earthly Paradise in his created holines but afterward when he had transgressed the mandate God gaue him and did degenerate from his first creation â—â—b 30 his harp was turned into mourning and his organes into the voice of them that weepe What ioy then will it be vnto vs when we are in heauenly paradise where we can sinne no more and so consequently can sorrow no more where are all kindes of pleasures in aboundance at the right of the father for euermore The foure leapers when they entred into the Aramites campe â—ing 7 and shared out their goods they mutuallie ioyed one an other for that happe Oh therefore let vs be ioyfull togither let vs reioyce in our beddes For our ioy is as the ioy of haruest 〈◊〉 9 and as men reioyce when they diuide a spoyle For the hoast of our sinnes shal then be discomfited when we are in heauen Sathan shal no more haue ought to do with vs death shall bee destroyed and swallowed vp in victorie all our enemies shall flie away before vs and wee of Gods housholde shall diuide the spoyle Though we hung our harpes vpon the willowe trees when we sate by the waters of Babylon yet now O man of God call for thy instrument awake lute and harpe and let vs awake earlie and let vs sing the Lords song in our owne land If he that hath matters of law depending in iudiciall courts A similitude cannot but be glad when his case is put to his counsellor and aduocate to be comprimitted and awarded for he is thereby sure that it will goe wel on his side Why then deere Christian comfort thy sobbing and sighing soule for this is thy case thy sinnes that pleaded against thee at Gods barre and were like to condemne thee are put to Christ thy sauiour redeemer to vmper and determine so as we need not feare for though we sin we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the iust 1. Iohn 1 he is the propitiation for our sinnes our sinnes shall rather adorne vs then disgrace vs because of him For it is no disgrace to haue a rent garment if so be it may be hidden and couered with a lace our sins are rents and the red blood of our sweet sauiour is the redde lace which hath couered the scame and rupture of our sinnes If the men of Bethshemeth reioyced with themselues because they had espied the ark of the Lord 1. Sam. 6 wee shall haue much more matter of myrth affoorded vs when we shall see the verie heauens open readie to receiue vs and we shall espie Iesus at the right hand of his father who hath prepared a place for vs. A glad man was Zacheus when so good a guest Luk. 19 as Christ diuerted into his house but gladder may we be that he will vouchsafe to enter into our souls that we shall dwell with him and he with vs in his fathers kingdome world without ende Mat. 13 The husbandman when he found the treasure in the field he could not rest for ioy but forthwith departed made a sale of all that he had in the worlde beside to make purchase of the field But all the treasures of God the father in his sonne Christ shal be giuen vnto vs. Base therefore in our eyes is the vanitie of this world we willinglie renounce it to make so good a change and wee are glad of such successe King 1 When Salomon was aduaÌ„ced to his fathers crown and dignitie all the people piped with pipes and reioiced with great ioy so that the earth rang with the sound of them We shall see our Christ the king of peace who hath triumphed valiantly who hath put downe all his enemies vnder his feete verie exceeding glorious crowned with maiestie and honour our heartes therefore shall be glad and our tongs shall reioice for the staffe of our shoulder the yoke of our burden the rod of our oppressor shal be broken as in the day of Midian Wherefore reioice in the Lord alwaies â— 9 and again I say reioice Let the flouds clap their hands and let the hils reioice Let the singers go before and the minstrels folow after and let the damsels come playing with their pipes Let the Leuites daunce before the arke and let the priests be clothed with gladnes and let vs all sing praises vnto the holy one of Israel FINIS Imprinted at London by P. S. for Nicholas Ling. 1599.