Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	death_n	sin_n	wage_n	4,184	5	11.8525	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09628	Tvvelve rules, and vveapons concerning the spirituall battel Together with a briefe exposition vpon the sixteene Psalme: with two most worthie epistles, written in Latin by that most worthy and noble gentleman Iohn Picus Earle of Mirandula. And translated into English for the benefite of all good Christian souldiers in the spirituall battaile.; Selections	Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494.; W. H., fl. 1589.	1589 (1589)	STC 19898A.3; ESTC S110418	18,502	40

TWELVE RVLES AND VVEAPONS CONCERNING THE SPIRITVALL BATTEL Together with a briefe exposition vpon the sixteene Psalme With two most worthie Epistles written in Latin by that most worthy and noble Gentleman Iohn Picus Earle of Mirandula And translated into English for the benefite of all good Christian Souldiers in the Spirituall battaile Imprinted at London by Iohn Windet for Iohn Daldern and are to be sold in Canon lane at the signe of the vvhite horse 1589. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL MY VERY GOOD VNCLE SIR NICHOLAS BAGNOLL KNIGHT KNIGHT MARshall of Ireland one of her Maiesties councell of Estate in that Realme THat our life is a fight and battell vpon the earth my very good vncle both the holy Scriptures our daily experiēce doe teach vs but how litle wee regarde the warre whereunto we are waged the sacred honorable vow and profession of Souldiers that we haue taken the noblenes excellēcie of the Generall that commaundeth vs the iustnes and importance of the quarrell entred into by vs the inexplicable reward and triumph if we conquere proposed vnto vs the might malice and pollicie of the forces bent against vs the endlesse dishonor and ruine that we run into if they doe vanquish vs the ambushes that to that ende they lay for vs the stratagems that they vse towards vs the hote and violent charges that they geue vs the volue of mischiefes that they discharge at vs the defection that they practise in vs the battery that they plāt against vs the breach that they make in the innermost houlde of vs and the fierce nd furious assaults wherewith they assaile vs their ample and often conquestes our most miserable captiuities do too too much testifie From the which though dayly raunsomed by the bountie of our Generall to allure vs to more value and vigilancie wee vngratefull and vngratious to our perpetuall shame if we amend not become more dastardlie and secure Whereof foure causes proceeding from one Fountaine the wante of Gods grace may me thinkes be aptly produced The first ignorance of the warre and enemies that doe encounter vs. The second defect of fortitude resolution in the function vndertaken by vs. Thirdly the lack of armour and weapon and other necessaries that should furnish vs. Fourthly the want of martiall skill and discipline that in any part and action of our seruice should direct vs. For the first we ought to consider that there are three mightie campes enuironing of vs the flesh the world and the infernall forces for we fight not onely against flesh and bloud but also against principalities against powers against the worldly gouerners the princes of the darkenes of this world and against spirituall wickednesses which are in the high places These vnder Sathan their soueraigne whose kingdome is calamitie whose scepter is sinne whose lawes are lies whose triumphe is torments whose wages to his souldiers is eternall woe and curtesie to his captiues is endlesse death and destruction doe warre with vs in foure seuerall places First generally against our head and hole armie then particularly against the legion and Phalange wherein wee are inrolled next peculiarly against the statiō which we are appointed vnto lastly they rayse ciuill warres in our selues Our Sauiour and soueraigne Christ Jesus whose kingdome is euerlasting blisse whose scepter is righteousnesse whose law is trueth whose triumphe is glorie whose wages is celestiall ioy and whose mercie to his elect is eternall life and saluation hath himselfe in person encountred with these our enemies and breaking their force strength to the r confusion and ouerthrowe hath after his most royall and blessed victory ascended into the Capitoll and triumphant part of his kingdome the heauenly and celestiall Hierusalem leauing vs such directions as if we follow we shall also become through him victorious and so accompanie him euerlastingly in his triumph Jn the meane time as it is laide downe by the Cronicler of this conquest S. Iohn Reuel Cap. 12. The dragon in his rage and furie preuayling neither against the head nor against the whole bodie of this armie the better part whereof now in triūph with their Generall is out of gunshot pursueth his malice against the remnant of the host which keepe the commaundements of God and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ These he assayleth first in a generalitie euen the whole Militant Church for whose good estate wee ought to labour and striue in praiers and supplications vnto God both defend and enlarge the boundes thereof to our vttermost power Next with force and fraude by himselfe and his instruments his vicar generall Antichrist and his deluded kings and potentates he attempteth the ouerthrow of euery principall part and phalange of her most excellent maiestie and her dominions her highnes being in the same the Lords lieutenant in whose most blessed gouernment and legions most conspicuous we are enrolled wherein we ought with all care fortitude and industry to resist both his practises secrete and his open hostilitie Thirdly in the station appointed vs and functiō that we are called vnto he stirreth troubles to afflict vs enuy and malice to spight vs detraction and slaunders to annoy vs perils to enuiron vs the flesh to puffe and yet to pine vs the world to allure and yet to abhorre vs troubles we must ouercome with patience enuy and malice with vertue perils with magnanimitie the flesh with the spirite the thornes and nettles of this world with the lillies and roses of the future the hatred of men with the loue of God Lastly he worketh a rebellion in our selues stirring vp the vices and corruptions of the first Adam of whom we are borne in the flesh whose workes are adulterie fornication vncleannes wantonnes couetousnes idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions heresies enuy murders drunkennes gluttony and such like against the vertues and perfections of the second Adam of whom wee are regenerated in the spirite whose fruite is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenes goodnes faith meekenes and temperancie He besiegeth vs from without with an army of temptations vnder the banner of worldly vanitie and assaultetb vs within with our owne sclanes vnder the ensigne of fleshly frailty Against these villaines let vs redouble our vigor with indignation and slaying them with the sword of the spirite let vs sally out and discomfite vnder the standard of our Soueraigne both the worlde and the deuill and all their complices let vs herein shew our selues resolute vertuous and valyant and say with the Spaniard No virtud sino vencar no verdadera gloria sino victoria There is no vertue but in vanquishing there is no true glory but in victorie Let vs labor to be endued with perfect fortitude let vs consider that it beseemes not a noble and generous minde to ground his value either vpon hope of gaine for that is marchant-like and mercenarie or vpon feare of punishment for that is abiect and compulsarie or vpon

the ambushes of thy enemies if thou desirest to be accepted of God and so at length to become happie see that no daye passe wherein once at the least thou makest not thy prayers vnto God and prostrating thy selfe with the humble affection of a godly minde criest not out with the Prophet not outwardly from thy lips but inwardly from thy heart Remember not the offences and ignorances of my youth but according to thy mercie for thy goodnes sake remember me O Lord. The spirite shall teach thee which maketh request for vs and also necessitie euery houre what thou shalt aske of God sacred reading shall also helpe which I pray thee most earnestly vse setting aside the vaine fables and triflinges of Poets There is nothing more acceptable with God nothing more profitable for thy selfe as day night to haue in hand the holy Scripture In it there is a certaine celestiall and heauenly power liuely effectual which doeth transforme the minde of the Reader so that he vse it purely humbly into a diuine godly loue by a most wonderfull vertue But I haue now exceeded the limits of an Epistle the matter and the affection drawing me therto which I haue alwais had toward thee especially from that houre wherin I was first certified of thy most godly purpose Lastly I will admonish thee of that which when thou wast with me I haue often spoken of to thee that is that thou neuer forget these two thinges the sonne of God to haue died for thee and that thou though thou liue long art shortly to die With these two as it were with two spurres the one of feare the other of loue driue thy horse through the short race of this momentary life vnto the gole of eternall felicitie when as we neither ought nor can prefixe any other ende vnto our selues as then to enioy in both body and soule perpetuall peace without end by the infinite goodnes of him which is both God and man Christ Iesus Farewell Feare God John Picus Earle of Mirandula wisheth health to Iohn Franciscus his Nephew THou art happy my sonne when as GOD hath not onely geuen thee grace to lyue well but by liuing well in the meane time to heare ill at wicked mens hands specially because thou liuest well It is an equall praise by the commendable to be commended and to be condemned of the condemnable But I therefore account thee not happie in that this reproache is glorious vnto thee but because our Lord Iesus Christ is true yea trueth it selfe affirmeth that our reward shal be aboundant in heauen when men shall speake euill of vs and shall falsly say all maner of euill saying against vs for his names sake This is an Apostolicall dignity to be accounted worthie to suffer reproch for the gospels sake We reade in Luke that the Ahostles went out reioysing from the sight of the counsell because they were thought worthie to sustain and endure reproch and contumelie for the name of Iesus Let vs therefore reioice if that wee are accounted worthie with God so great glorie as to haue his glorie manifested by our ignominie and if we sustaine any thing hard or troublesome of the world let that most sweete voice of the Lord cōfort vs If the world hate you knowe ye that it hated me before you If the world hated him by whom it was made shall we most vile men and if we consider our wickednes most worthie all reproches if any detract or speake euill take it greeuously and to stop the wicked tongue shall wee beginne to liue wickedly Let vs therefore rather content our selues ioyfully with their bad reports and if our felicity be not such for vertue sake for true h to suffer stripes bonds prisonmēt sword as our nobles and worthies haue done before vs. Yet let vs thinke it goeth well with vs if we suffer reproches backbitings and hatred of wicked men lest that all occasion of good endeuors being taken from vs there be no hope of blisse left for vs. Furthermore if men praise thee for thy wel liuing this thy vertue as it is a vertue makes thee like vnto Christ but in as much as it is praised it makes thee vnlike who for a rewarde of his vertue receiued of men the death of the crosse therfore God saith the Apostle exalted him and gaue him a name which is aboue all names Therefore it is rather to be wished to be crucified of the worlde and exalted of God then to be exalted of the world and condemned of God The world crucifieth vnto life God exalteth to glory The world exalteth to ruine the Lord iudgeth to hell To conclude if the world flatter and fawne vpon thee it can scarce be that vertue which altogether erected vpward ought to haue God onely for to please doe not encline it selfe somewhat to the plausible fauor of men and if it loose nothing of his integritie yet it looseth somewhat of his reward because when it beginneth to bee performed in earth where all things are little the lesse shal be rendered in heauen where all things are great Happie are the reproches that cause safetie that neither the floure of righteousnesse wither with the pestiferous winde of vaine glorie nor the stipende of eternitie be diminished by the vaine applausure of popular fame Let vs my sonne embrace these contumelies and as seruants of the Lord with a most holy kinde of ambitiō Let vs triumph but in the ignominie of the crosse of Christ We preach saith S. Paul Christ crucified to the Hebrewes an offence to the Gentiles foolishnes but to vs the vertue wisdome of God The wisdom of this world is foolishnes with God and the foolishnes of Christ is that which ouercommeth the wisdome of the world by the which it hath pleased God to saue as many as beleue If thou doubtest not them to be mad which detract thy vertue and cal Christian life that is heauenly wisdome madnes remember then how great thy madnes would be to be seduced from thy determined course in liuing well by the iudgement of mad men whereas euery error is to be taken away by correction not enlarged by imitation Let them neigh let them baule let them barke goe thou on lustely thy iourney and weigh by their wickednes how much thou art indebted vnto God who hath enlightened thee that satest in the shadowe of death and translated from their companie who wandered and wallowed here and there out of the waye without a guide in most obscure darkenes hath associated thee with the sonnes of light Let that most sweete voyce of the Lord alwaies sound in thy eares Let the dead burie their dead follow thou me They are dead which liue not to God and in the time of temporall death most painefully and labouriously purchase to themselues eternall death of whom if thou demaundest whether they goe how they apply their endeuors works and cares and to conclude what end they haue prefixed

and prescribed to thēselues by the attaining wherof they are become happy they haue either nothing at al to answere or els they speak words of repugnance and contrarietie to themselues as it were the dotings of phanatical persons neither know they what to doe but according to the maner of them that swim in flouds by the force of an euill induced custome they are carried as it were with the rage of a streame on the one side iniquitie blinding them on the other side Sathan prouoking them to euill fall downe headlong into all mischiefe being blinde guides of the blinde vntill death vnawares take them and it be said vnto them Frend this night will they require thy soule of thee but whose shall those things be which thou hast prouided Then they commend those whom they condemned then they praise those whom they despised and would imitate those when they cannot whom when they might ensue they had rather pursue Listen not my deare sonne to what men shall either say or thinke of thee account it nothing only view in thy mind the iudgement of God which he will geue to euery man according to his workes in his reuelation from heauen with Angels and powers taking vengeance on al with fiery flames which haue not knowen God obeyed his Gospell which as the Apostle saith shall bee destroyed for euer from the face of God and from the glorie of his vertue when hee shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be made wonderfull in all them which haue beleeued It is written Feare not him which is able to destroy the body but him which is able to cast thy soule downe to hell But how much lesse art thou to feare them which are able neither to hurte the body nor soule who if they now backbite thee gouerned by reason they will not the lesse backbite thee if thou shouldest leaue to be vertuous and come to be vicious not because vice displeaseth them but because the vice of backbiting alwayes pleaseth them Shunne if thou hast any care of thy soules health shun as much as thou canst their companie and returning to thy selfe often pray thou in secrete vnto thy most mercifull father crying out with the Prophet Vnto thee O Lord haue I lift vp my soule my God in thee doe I trust I will not be ashamed though mine enemies mocke me and scorne me for all that hope and trust in thee shall not be confounded Let them be confounded that doe wickedly teach me thy waies O Lord and shew me thy paths direct me in thy trueth and teach mee for thou art God my Sauiour in thee will I alwaies trust See also that thou remember death to be at hand and the small time wee haue to liue yea lesse then a geometricall poynt then how euill that auncient enemie is which promiseth vs the kingdomes of the world that hee might take from vs the kingdome of heauen how false pleasures are which imbrace vs to the end to strangle vs how deceitfull are honors which lift vs vp to cast vs down how deadly are riches which the more they feede vs the more they poyson vs how short how vncertaine how wauering how false how fantastike is all that which all these together had at wish are able to accomplish vnto vs. How great things are promised prouided for these which despising the presents seek that Countrey whose king is Deitie whose law is charitie whose maner is eternitie With these and such like cogitations occupie thy minde which will stirre thee vp sleeping kindle thee cooling confirme thee staggering and yeeldeth vnto thee winges of godly loue tending to heauen that when thou shalt come vnto vs the which we al expect with earnest desire we may not only see thee whom we would but also such as we would Farewell and loue God whom thou hast so begun FINIS