victorie by the helpe of his Captaine and so long as hee is a souldier vnder him hee shall alwaies haue the victorie for the diuell himselfe is afraide of this Captaine the world will flie at his presence and thine owne affections will fall downe before thee if hee come CHAP. 35. Be not hurt by a little temptation THere is another thing which I must admonish you of that ye be not ouercome of a little temptation for that is the basest thing in the world euen as if a great Captaine should bee ouercome of a meane souldier that had neither might nor policy which must needes returne with shame to the Captaine But it is much more shame for a Christian that hath vowed to forsake the diuell the world and his owne affections to bee ouercome by the weakest of them all There be many that thinke if the diuell ouercome them not in a great sin all is well though that indeede he set them on work continually on trifles and by this meanes keepe men in some deuice or other Hee cares not what they doe so they serue not God and so he may blindfold them that they cannot see their owne sinnes And thus they are in a very dangerous and euill case and know not what they doe yet they shadow their folly that the world may not perceiue it then they thinke it is well enough Thus the diuell leads them quietly to hell and they neuer know whither they are going till they come there euen as a winde carrieth a ship and they that are in it know not where they shall bee set on shore For the diuell is a cunning fowler he will neuer lay a great baite where hee knowes a little one wil serue the turne and hee is so full of policy that hee seeth a great baite would make the partie afraide to come neere it but thus doth the diuell first hee giueth a little baite and saith to him whom hee meaneth to catch I warrant thee thou maiest take this goe neere it taste of it it will not hurt thee many swallow a greater baite then this and thou seest no hurt come of it as hee said to Eue It is but an apple it may doe thee much good to bring thee to knowledge and make thee like a God And therefore now wee see wee had neede set a speciall watch ouer our selues that we may spy the diuel when hee goeth about thus to intrap vs in his engines with his alluring baits and returne his baits againe and when hee offereth vs any of them may say I defie thee Sathan and by Gods grace haue knowledge that thou art a wicked serpent and diddest deceiue our first Parents with an apple I will not play with thy baits bee they neuer so sweete pleasant or beautifull I know thy subtiltie and I know that I serue a Captaine Christ that thou art afraide of and he will bring vs to a happier Paradice then thou didst put vs out of and hee will make mee like a God and renue the image that thou didst decay in vs. Thou didst scoffe at mee and saidst I should haue knowledg when thou wouldest haue vtterlie ouerthrowne mee yet I haue this knowledge I thanke the almightie God for it that now I can see thy policy and how thou camest to our Parents when they were alone thou thoughtest they could not stand by themselues but thou shalt neuer finde mee alone I know I cannot stand by my selfe and therefore I draw neere vnto my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by faith and I will attend vpon him and will not leaue his Commaundement vndone for all thy baits and alluremēts thou canst shew mee in the world where thou callest thy selfe Prince but thou gettest it by wicked policy and thou rulest it by a wicked tyranny destroying the good and maintaining the wicked bestowest thy trash on them not for any loue thou bearest to them but to make them thy wicked instruments that thou maiest doe the more hurt by them And as soone as they haue serued thy turne a while thou wilt bring them to shame in this world and euerlasting destruction in hell fire And therefore now I would haue thee know that I haue knowledge and perceiue that all these vsurping tyrants haue learned all their mischieuous policies of thee vsing all meanes they can possibly to destroy the good and with their paltrie trash which they call their wealth they winne the wicked to their wils and when they haue their purpose a while they will picke some quarrell against them although they haue no reason for it and although they follow their wicked wils neuer so much yet in the ende they will ouercome them And so Sathan dost thou deale with all that serue thee and therefore thou art an vsurping tyrant for the earth is my Lords who hath made it and all that is therein and that which belongeth vnto thee is nothing but that trash that he careth not for it is like tares and the worser sort of graine more fit to feede swine then for the children of so mightie a King as my Lord is who hath such treasure for those that belong vnto him as thou shalt neuer come neere Yet this is thy despight and enuie because thou canst get none of it thy selfe thou wouldest haue mee haue none of it neither But thou shalt not deceiue me with these earth then baits which one day my almightie God shall set on fire about their eares that loue them so well when themselues shall be suddenly strangled with the smoak thereof and it makes mee maruell how thou shouldest deceiue so many as thou dost with them for once my gracious Lorde drowned them all that loued them many times he sinketh very much trash in the sea that Pirats might see they shall sinke one day and all those that sell their soules for such trash except they turne speedily vnto my Lord and and Sauiour Iefus Christ who is a Sauiour and will saue all sinners that turne vnto him But thou art a destroyer and wilt destroy all those that follow thee thou knowest my Lord burnt Sodome and Gomorrha with other Cities which were full of the glistering drosse to shew that hee cared no more for it then Kings do for counters for if he had respected it he would neuer haue burnt it and consumed it with fire Yet thou Sathan doest deceiue worldly wise-men giuing them drosse for gold which is no better then copper counters and in the mean time thou makest thē deceiue themselues of an euerlasting treasure Earthly treasure may bee compared to glasse which is so brittle a metall it can neuer continue long for as it might bee now a man hath it to doe him good and in the turning of a hand it is broken and worth nothing euen so it is with the trash and pelfe of this world and the life of man which is but a breath and what can be of lesse power then a breath The
applying the promises of God to himselfe hath great cause to feare that his heart is not true and right before God And therfore if thou canst not pray priuately or feelest thy selfe cold in prayer for to helpe thy selfe thus thou shalt do CHAP. 17. Helpes against the former lets EVery morning so soone as thou canst for the sooner the better before the world get hold on thee either with profit or pleasure for these are the diuels baytes or before thou feedest thy bodie for the body is a great deal more subiect to the Spirit when it is not pampered nor fed at it owne will then I say goe into some priuate place and fall downe on thy face as the Publican did and see thy selfe a farre off and say God bee mercifull to mee a sinner O Lord I acknowledge that I cannot pray pardon mee deare Father for Iesus Christs sake and quicken mee with thy holy Spirit giue me faith to call vpon thee and I beseech thee graciously to remēber thy promise which sayeth Come vnto me all yee that labour and be heauy laden and I will ease you Oh Lord I am loaden with my sinnes and against all reason they keep me from seeking pardon for them and grace to shunne them Good Father for Christs sake remooue my sins far from mee and giue me faith in thy Sonne which may assure mee that thou doest accept of me as of thy seruant in him And though I bee most vnworthy in my selfe yet by thy promises in Christ which shall neuer faile I pray thee accept mee Furthermore for the better stirring thee vp to pray reade some Chapter of the Testament as namely the 6. of Mathew or some other wherein thou mayest heare the promises of GOD in Christ to strengthen thy faith Take heede of idlenesse and slothfulnes which is a great hinderance I know that all sinnes are hinderances to prayer but idlenesse and following the world either for profite or pleasure are wonderfull mighty ones CHAP. 18. To pray often NEuer make account of thy selfe as a diligēt seruant of God if thou doest not twise a day at the least come priuately to God and acknowledge thy infimities and confesse that thou canst not pray and desire GOD to giue thee grace to doe it faithfully When thou feelest a motion to pray doe not ouer-slip it for any cause in the world for thou knowest not what graces or blessings GOD meanes to bestow vpon thee at that time for it is the Spirit of God calling thee and therefore finde no delayes but goe for the nature of man of it selfe will neuer be stirred to priuate prayer But howsoeuer thou doest be thou Master or bee thou seruant bee thou at home abroad or in what condition or place soeuer thou bee doe not sleepe at night till thou hast humbled thy selfe before God on thy knees in prayer for night is a time when the world leaues a man as it were for a while and when the world leaues him the diuell hath not so much power ouer him for the world is a great Instrument for the diuell to worke by Therefore when the world is asleepe as it were the diuels power is weakened and then bee sure thou prayest to God to deliuer thee from the diuell and from the world The world is like Pharaoh which by no meanes would suffer the children of Israel to goe to serue the Lord so doth the world if it know that thou goest to serue God it will bring thee backe againe if it bee possible and therefore it is best to pray priuatly though thou doe it but weakely for within a while this weake prayer wil strēgthen greatly thy faith Pray when the world is asleepe for assoone as it is awake it will cry and call on thee as Pharaoh did on the Israelites to attend it it will bring thee more worke still as hee did to them And as that Tyrant told the Israelites that they should goe and serue their God but when the time came hee would not let them but stil found imploimēt for them euen so will the world doe by any that will beleeue it it will promise At such a time thou shalt goe serue God and When such a thing is done thou shalt go pray but when the time commeth it will finde more worke for him still and will not let him goe Pharaoh is the very figure of the diuell and the diuell calleth himselfe the god of this world And if the diuell hath to do with this world as no doubt but hee hath then it is certaine that the world will neuer giue vs leaue to serue God Our owne nature is as the nature of the Israelites for they had rather haue tarried with Pharaoh who was the very image of the diuell and haue been his slaues stil then to haue gone thorow the red-sea and the wildernes to the promised land of Canaan which was the figure of heauen and euen so had wee rather bee slaues and drudges to the world which will take all from vs and cast vs to the Diuell as Pharaoh would haue done by the children of Israel then we will leaue the world and all his baites and goe to our God euery day and humble our selues at his foote and confesse our selues to bee weake in faith and acknowledge our frailtie and call earnestly for the helpe of God to ouercome the world for vs and to strengthen vs by his power against the diuell the world and our owne frailty and wicked fleshly lusts and yet except we doe call continually to God for his grace and helpe we can no more ouercome these then the children of Israel could ouercome Pharaoh or goe thorow the red sea without drowning for it was God that ouercame Pharaoh for them and also all their enemies deliuered them out of the red sea and so it must be God that must ouercome the Diuell and all thy enemies in the world and deliuer thee that thou sinke not in the sea of thy owne sinnes CHAP. 20. Not to neglect priuate Prayer WHerefore I desire you and euery one of yours to the worlds end that whatsoeuer seruice of God you omit you doe not neglect priuate prayer for many may heare the Word of God as Adam did and disobey it presently after some heare the Word of of God as Adam did after his fall and had rather bee further off as hee had then But priuate prayer is to offer thy selfe and thy seruice to God confessing thy own imperfections and to call to God for his assistance Now when a sinner by himselfe calleth his owne wayes to remembrance and confesseth his particular sinnes then he seeth what sinne his owne nature is most subiect vnto and prayeth earnestly against that sinne wherwith he is most infected and confesseth his owne weaknesse and wondreth at himselfe that hee is not able to ouercome that one sinne as well as some other sinnes of as great force The reason is this the
in your vocation and be sure you pray morning and euening and at noone and at all times heare and read the Word of God meditate on that day and night and follow Christ and take holde on him by faith let that be all your care and for your bodily goods take no care If you dare not trust God with your bodies who feedeth them as you see euery day how dare you trust him with your soules which you cannot well discerne by reason of your earthly nature You haue a promise for your bodies if you wil serue God and keepe his Commandements and yet many dare not trust him they vvould serue him with all their hearts if they durst trust his Word If they should loose their mortall bodies it were but a small matter for they must haue an end And for your soules you haue but his Word and promise vpon condition that you follow Christ and take hold of him by faith now if you neglect the condition the promise is void and yet you say you durst trust God with your soules vvhen you neuer goe about to keepe his Commaundements you neuer follow Christ nor take holde of him by faith nor haue you any experience by your bodies for you neuer durst trust Christ. David saith I haue killed a Lion a Beare and therefore I dare venture on this vncircumcised Philistine If he had suffered the Lion and the Beare to haue ouercome him hee had neuer ouercome the Giant then had he neuer bin made the Kings sonne So if thou wilt ouercome that great Goliah thou must first kill the Lion and the Beare thou must first ouercom the temptations of the world if thou meanest to ouercome the diuell and so bee made the Kings sonne of heauen CHAP. 39. Against immoderate care OVr Sauiour saith Care not for to morrow let tomorrow care for it selfe the day hath enough with his owne griefe Heere you see that our Sauiour pitties you that you will take such care and willeth you that you should not take care for the next morrow because you do not know whether you shall liue till then or no for Christ sainh Thou foole this night will they take away thy soule from thee As if Christ should say I thou dyest with taking care for this world thou losest the kingdome of heauen and thou shalt lye burning in hel fire Then doest thou not shew thy selfe a foole to take so much care for this world since thou knowest that hell fire is before thee and thy goods are behinde thee and thou knowest not who shall inioy them If thou thinkest thy children shall thou knowest not whether they shall liue or no or spend and waste them wickedly as thou perhaps hast gotten them or whether they shall bee other waies depriued of them or no. A thousand wayes may separate thy sonnes and their goods asunder thou knowest not but that the world may end thou knowest not what shall become of thy goods or whether any body shal inioy them or not and to say the truth some of you make sure worke that none shall inioy them for whosoeuer getteth thē were better bee without them if they bee not gotten in the feare of GOD and then they cannot bee enioyed in the faith of Christ for it is vnlawfull to haue stolne goods in thy house and thy goods may bring a punishment vpon thy children and therefore thou art a foole to take any care at all for or about these things and thou art a foole because thou doest care yea and spend all thy care about these things Thou knowest if thou doest not spend thy tune in the feare of God which is but the beginning of wisedome and in the faith of Christ which is the end and finishing of wisedome thou thy selfe thy body and thy soule shal lye burning in hel fire for euer and euer and there is no meanes for thee to be deliuered Thou maist turne thee and tumble thee in the fire of hell and canst neuer get out wonder at thy selfe that thou wert such a foole to take care for those things which thou shouldest neuer know what became of them and take little or no care for thy self when thou knewest thou shouldest come to this miserable and wretched ende that should neuer ende Here in the world none dare call a rich-man foole but Christ saith he is a foole that setteth his heart on these worldly things But if by taking care for worldly things he misse heauen fall into hell hee will call himselfe a thousand millions of fooles that omitting better things he would take care for this world which is worth nothing nay it is worse then nothing for his own conscience wil tel him if he had had nothing hee should haue cared for nothing and so hee might haue serued GOD and gone to heauen and hauing something his care was so much to compasse more that indeede he had gotten nothing but euerlasting torment And now he knoweth not what to doe sometimes he thinkes I would I might creepe thorow tenne thousand hells and bee ten thousand millions of yeares in crawling thorow them to go to Christ and then get faith take hold on Christ for he knoweth now that none can come to God but by faith in his sonne for the which hee would now take all the paines that could euer bee deuised to obtaine that faith in the end and yet he thought whilest he was in this world that one Sermon in a moneth would haue serued him to haue gotten that faith but hee seeth he would not beleeue the word of God for Gods owne word willed him that he should not labour for the meate that perisheth but for the foode of euerlasting life And least hee should doubt of these things which God saith Christ saith Consider the Lillies of the field they labour not neither spinne they I say vnto you that Salomon in all his glory was not cloathed like one of these If God so cloath the grasse which is here to day and to morrow is cast into the furnace will hee not do much more for you Oh yee of little faith Heere Christ tels them that will not beleeue his promise and follow his counsell they are of little faith And the holy Ghost telleth vs that faith commeth by hearing of the vvord preached and Without faith it is impossible to please God and there were neuer any saued but by faith nor there were neuer any damned but for want of faith For the holy Ghost saith Hee that commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that he is a rewarder of them thot seeke him He did not beleeue that God would prouide for him in this world and saue him in the next because he wanted faith And he wanted faith because his delight was not as Maries was to leaue his worldly affaires to heare the Word preached Hee could not pray that hee might profit by the
THE MOTHERS BLESSING OR The godly counsaile of a Gentle-woman not long since deceased left behind her for her CHILDREN Containing many good exhortations and godly admonitions profitable for all Parents to leaue as a Legacy to their Children but especially for those who by reason of their young yeeres stand most in need of Instruction By M ris DOROTHY LEIGH PROVERB 1.8 My sonne heare the instruction of thy father and forsake not the lawe of thy mother Printed at London for Iohn Budge and are to be sold at the great South-dore of Paules and at Brittaines Burse 1616. TO THE HIGH and excellent Princesse the Lady ELIZABETH her Grace daughter to the high and mightie King of great Brittaine and Wife to the illustrious Prince the Count Palatine of the Rhine D. L. VVisheth all grace and prosperity here and glory in the world to come MOst worthy renovvned Princess I beeing troubled and wearied with feare lest my children should not find the right way to heauen thought with my selfe that I could doe no lesse for them then euerie man will doe for his friend which vvas to write them the right way that I had truely obserued out of the written word of GOD lest for vvant of vvarning they might fall where I stumbled and then I should think my selfe in the fault who knew there were such downe-falls in the world that they could hardly climbe the hill to heauen without helpe and yet had not told them thereof Wherefore I writ them the right and ready way to Heauen wel waranted by the scriptures of the olde and new Testament which is the true word of God and tolde them how many false paths they should finde how they should finde them and what care they should haue to shunne them if they tooke a false way what a trouble they should haue in turning againe what danger if they went on and of many doubts which the world would make without a cause and how silent it would bee in danger Thus when I had writtē vnto them of these things I was at much peace quiet and contentment But as no contentment in the world continueth long so sodainly there arose a new care in my minde how this scroule should bee kept for my children for they were too young to receiue it my selfe too old to keepe it men too wise to direct it to the world too wicked to endure it Then in great griefe I looked vp to heauen from whence I knew commeth al comfort and looking vp I saw a most Angelicall throne of Princely Peeres and peerelesse Princes prepared for heauen and yet by the appointment of God were heere to comfort vs on the earth then I perceiued that this Throne was the ioy of England then I considered that the highest blud had the lowest mind then I sawe humility looking downe-ward while the sweet slips of her vertue grew vpward then euen then Princely Lady I beheld your mild and courteous coūtenance which shewed your heart was bent to doe good to all wherefore without feare and with much faith I aduentured to make your Grace the protectresse of this my Booke knowing that if you would but suffer your name to bee seene in it Wisedome would allow it and all the wicked winde in the world could not blow it away The Lord multiply his graces more and more on you and vouchsafe vnto you a numerous posterity in whom your Grace may receiue much ioy and comfort and GODS Church and true Religion continuall defence and propagation Your Graces in all humble and obseruant duty D. L. TO MY BELOued sonnes GEORGE IOHN and WILLIAM LEIGH all things pertaining to life and godlinesse MY Children God hauing taken your Father out of this vale of teares to his euerlasting mercy in CHRIST my selfe not onely knowing what a care hee had in his life time that you should be brought vp godlily but also at his death being charged in his will by the loue and duty which I bare him to see you well instructed and brought vp in knowledge I could not chuse but seeke according as I was by duty bound to fulfill his will in all things desiring no greater comfort in the World then to see you grow in godlinesse that so you might meet your Father in heauen where I am sure hee is my selfe being a witnesse of his Faith in Christ. And seeing my selfe going out of the world and you but comming in I know not how to performe this duty so well as to leaue you these few lines which will shew you as well the great desire your Father had both of your spirituall and temporal good as the care I had to fulfill his will in this knowing it was the last duty I should performe vnto him But when I had written these things vnto you and had as I thought something fulfilled your Fathers request yet I could not see to what purpose it should tend vnlesse it were sent abroad to you for should it be left with the eldest it is likely the youngest should haue but little part in it Wherefore setting aside all feare I haue aduentured to shew my imperfections to the view of the World not regarding what censure shall for this bee laid vpon mee so that heerein I may shew my selfe a louing Mother and a dutifull Wife and thus I leaue you to the protection of him that made you And rest till death Your fearefull faithfull and carefull Mother D. L. Counsell to my Children MY Sonnes the readers of this book I doe you not intreate To beare with each misplaced word for why my paine 's as great To write this little booke to you the world may thinke indeed As it will be at any time for you the same to read But this I much and oft desire that you would doe for mee To gather hony of each flowre as doth the labourous Bee Shee lookes not who did place the Plant nor how the flowre did grow VVhether so stately vp aloft or neere the ground below But where she findes it there she workes and gets the wholsome food And beares it home and layes it vp to doe her Country good And for to serue her selfe at need when winter doth begin VVhen storm and tempest is without then she doth find within A sweet and pleasant wholsome food a house to keepe her warme A place where softly she may rest and be kept from all harme Except the Bee that idle is and seekes too soone for rest Before she filled hath her house whereby her state is blest And then as she did rest too soone too soone she sorrow knowes VVhen stormes and tempests are without then she her selfe beshrowes She looketh out and seeth death ready her to deuoure Then doth she wish that she had got more of the wholsome flowre For why within her store is spent before the winter's past And she by no meanes can endure the stormy winters blast Shee looketh out and seeth death and findes no lesse within
theron it doth the soule no more good then meate and drink doth the body being seene and felt and neuer fed vpon for as the body will dye although in see meate euen so will the soule for all the hearing reading of the word if that ye doe not meditate vpon it and gather faith and strengthen it and get hold of Christ which if ye doe Christ will bring you to the kingdome of his Father to which you can come by no meanes but by faith in him CHAP. 8. The sixt cause is to perswade them to teach their children THe sixt reason is to entreate and desire you in some sort to commaund you that all your children be they Males or Females may in their youth learne to read the Bible in their owne mother tongue for I know it is a great helpe to true godlinesse And let none of you plead pouerty against this for I know that if you bee neither couetous prodigall nor idle either of which sins will let no vertue growe where they come that you need not faile in this but if you will follow the commaundement of the Lord and labour sixe dayes and keepe the seuenth holy to the Lord and loue him with all your heart soule and strength you will not onely be willing but also able to see them all brought vp to read the Bible Salomon that was wise by the Spirit of God sayd Remember thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth And ye are also commanded to write it vpon the walls of your houses and to teach it your childern I know sayth God that Abraham will teach his children and his childrens children to walke in thy commandements Also I further desire you because I wish all well and would be glad you should do as much good as could be in the wildernesse of this world that if any shal at any time desire you to be a Witnesse to the baptizing of their childe that then you shal desire the person so desiring to giue you his faithfull word that the child shall bee taught to read so soone as it can conueniently learne and that it shall so continue till it can read the Bible If this will not be granted you shall refuse to answer for the child otherwise doe not refuse to be a witnesse to any for it is a good Christian duety Moreouer forget not whether you answere for the child or no to pray that the child baptized may receiue the holy Ghost with all other children of the faithfull especially vvhen you are where a child is baptized for it is your duty to pray for the increase of the Church of God Pray for the peace of Ierusalem saith the Psalmist let them prosper that loue thee CHAP. 9 The seuenth cause is that they should giue their children good names THE seauenth cause is to entreate you that though I do not liue to be a witnesse to the baptizing of any of your children yet you would giue me leaue to giue names to them all For though I doe not thinke any holinesse to be in the name but know that God hath his in euery place and of euery name yet I see in the Bible it was obserued by GOD himselfe to giue choyse names to his children which had some good signification I thinke it good therefore to name your children after the names of the Saints of God which may bee a meanes to put them in mind of some vertues which those Saints vsed especially when they shal read of them in the Bible and seeing many are desirous to name both their owne children and others after their owne names this will be a meanes to increase the names of the Saints in the Church and so none shall haue occasion to mislike his name since hee beareth the name of such a Saint as hath left a witnesse to the world that hee liued and dyed in the true faith of IESVS Christ. The names I haue chosen you are these Philip Elizabeth Iames Anna Iohn and Susanna The vertues of them that bore those names and the causes why I chose them I let passe and only meane to write of the last name Susan famoused through the world for chastity a vertue which alwaies hath been and is of great account not onely amongst the Christians and people of God but euen among the Heathen and Infidels insomuch that some of them haue written that a woman that is truly chaste is a great partaker of all other vertues and contrariwise that the woman that is not truely chaste hath no vertue in her The which saying may well be warranted by the Scripture for who so is truly chaste is free from idlenesse and from all vaine delights full of humility and all good Christian vertues who so is chaste is not giuen to pride in apparell nor any vanity but is alwaies either reading meditating or practising some good thing which she hath learned in the Scripture But she which is vnchaste is giuen to be idle or if she do any thing it is for a vaine glory and for the prayse of men more then for any humble louing and obedient heart that shee beareth vnto God and his Word who sayd Sixe dayes thou shalt labour and so left no time for idlenesse pride or vanity for in none of these is there any holinesse The vnchaste woman is proud and alwayes decking her selfe with vanity and delights to heare the vaine words of men in which there is not only vanity but also so much wickednesse that the vain words of men and womens vainenesse in hearing them hath brought many women to much sorrow and vexation as wofull experience hath and wil make many of them confesse But some wil say Had they onely lent an eare to their words they had done well enough To answere which I would haue euery one know that one sinne begetteth another The vaine words of the man and the idle cares of the woman beget vnchaste thoughts oftentimes in the one which may bring forth much wickednesse in them both Man sayd once The woman which thou gauest mee beguiled me and I did eate But wee women may now say that men lye in waite euery where to deceiue vs as the Elders did to deceiue Susanna Wherefore let vs bee as she was chaest watchfull and wary keeping company with maides Once Iudas betrayed his Master with a kisse repented it but now men like Iudas betray their Mistresses with a kisse repent it not but laugh and reioyce that they haue brought sinne and shame to her that trusted them The only way to auoid al which is to be chaste with Susanna and being women to imbrace that vertue which being placed in a woman is most commendable An vnchaste woman destroyeth both the body and the soule of him shee seemeth most to loue and it is almost impossible to set down the mischiefes which haue come through vnchast women Salomon sayth that her steppes lead to hell
forsake me whereas if you haue vviues that you loue not I am sure I will forsake you Do not your selues that wrong as to marry a woman that you cannot loue shew not so much childishnesse in your sexe as to say you loued her once and now your mind is changed if thou canst not loue her for the goodnesse that is in her yet let the grace that is in thy selfe moue thee to do it and so I leaue thee to the Lord whom I pray to guide both thee and her with his grace and grount that you may chuse godlily and liue happily and dye comfortably through faith in IESVS Christ. CHAP. 14. How to deale with seruants YEt one thing I am to desire you to doe at my request and for my sake and though it bee some trouble to you to performe it yet I assure my selfe you will doe it If God shall at any time giue you or any of you a seruant or seruants you shall aske them if they can reade If they cannot you shall at my request teach them or cause them to be taught till they can reade the tenne Commaundements of almightie God And then you shall perswade them to practise by themselues and to spend al their idle time in reading that so they may come the better to know the will of God written in his Word Remember your seruants are Gods seruants as well as yours if they be not say as Dauid sayd There shall not an vngodly person dwell in my house he that loueth or maketh lyes shal depart out of my sight It is not for you by any meanes to keep any vngodly profane or wicked person in your house for they bring a curse vpon the place wherein they are and not a blessing neither will they bee taught any goodnesse but you must keepe those that bee tractable and willing to serue God that hee may blesse you and your houshold For God doth not delight in that Master that will suffer his seruant to blaspheme his name or to mis-spend his Sabbaoths for God commaunded the master that he should see his seruants to keepe holy the Sabbaoth day and if hee keepe that day holy he will learne to spend all the other dayes in the weeke well in following the duties of his calling I pray you keep the seruants of God and then remember they are your brethren vse them wel and bee as ready to doe them good as to haue their seruice Be not chiding for euery trifle for that wil hinder good liuing and nothing enrich you Be carefull that they be godly for Godlinesse hath the promise of this present life and of the life to come godlinesse is great riches if a man be contented with that hee hath for wee brought nothing with vs into this world neither shall we carry any thing out of the world if wee haue food and rayment let vs therewith be contented CHAP. 15. Patience is necessary for Gouernours of families LIue godlily and patiently in your house if you cannot bee patient neuer think to liue godlily for if Sathan see you of a froward mind he wil soon finde matter enough to set you on worke Pray faithfully with your seruants twice a day and liue so godlily that you may be an example to them to follow you Pray often priuately faithfully and zealously vnto GOD in the name of Christ so as may bee well warranted by his Word for that is a true marke of the childe of God Many heare the Word as our Sauiour witnesseth but few follow it Many pray openly as the Pharises did to bee seene of men but Christ sayth they haue their reward This was not because Christ misliked publike prayer but because he sawe their hearts and so knew that they praied more to be seene of men then for any true faith they had in him Christ sayth When two or three be gathered together in my name I will be with them And this mercifull promise is enough to make any man pray for though hee doe it very weakely and coldly yet he sheweth his humility and obedience to God and confesseth his owne weakenesse and calleth to God for his assistance and grace to serue him One is also helped by the prayer of another and the weaker is made partaker of the praiers of the stronger for Christ taught vs to pray one for another Forgiue vs our trespasses When Christ sayth If two or three be gath'red together in my name I will be with them he doth not say With some of them but I will be with them that is with all of them that are ioined together in my name Though some bee weaker and some bee stronger yet they all shew their obedient hearts and God will accept them in Christ. And this is a great means to stir vp their hearts to praier for it is the hardest thing that is for any man to performe rightly truely and faithfully CHAP. 16. Meanes to further priuate prayer NOw all things are to bee vsed that are meanes to stirre vs vp to priuate prayer and all things are to bee shunned that hinder vs from it Those things that may further vs to it are hearing the Word reading it praying publikely and being in company with others when they pray for all these help to increase and strengthen faith and without faith it is impossible to pray aright either publikely or priuately or to take hold of the promises of God in Christ beleeuing that our prayers shall be accepted and granted so far forth as shall bee to Gods glory and our good and the true seruant of God will neuer desire more then hee knoweth by faith in Christ which hee hath learned by the promises of the Gospell that he shall haue CHAP. 17. Le ts THere bee many things that will hinder both man and woman from this duetie The diuell will doe what hee can to hinder vs the world is our hindrance continually and a mans owne friends are oftentimes hindrances too yea a mans owne nature will neuer bee willing to talke with God for by nature wee run away from him with Adam and rather hide our selues with figge-leaues and excuses then come to God and fall downe before him on our faces confesse our sinnes acknowledge our vnworthinesse craue pardon for Christs sake of God for all of our transgressions Yet Adam had more cause to runne away then we haue and wee haue more cause a great deale to come to God then hee had for hee knew not then that God would call him backe againe and giue him his pardon in Christ who should tread downe the head of the Serpent which beguiled him but we know that GOD hath called Adam and all his posterity giuen them pardon in Christ if they wil come and ask it in faith and repentance Hee therefore that doth not often and priuately fall downe and humble himselfe before God and confesse his owne sinnes crauing pardon in Christ by faith
him till they feele the spirit of God working in their hearts and that will stirre them to continuall praier But the wicked want faith to goe in the name of Christ and this is the cause there are so many wicked praiers in the world for they that make them haue no faith in Christ and without him they haue no promise to be heard and therefore wanting faith to come to Christ they goe to the Saints to pray for them and yet the Saints did neuer promise them so to doe neither doe they know whether the Saints heare them or no. Againe some pray in latine when they doe not vnderderstand what they say nor what they pray for but the holy Ghost saith Pray with the spirit and pray with the vnderstanding also Why say they God knowes our harts we pray with the heart God knowes indeede that their hearts are vaine and foolish because they doe not pray with vnderstanding and therefore they haue no promise to be heard yet they will haue a paire of beades and tell how many prayers they say though they cannot tell what they say I dare vndertake a parret might pray as well they doe if it could speake all the words They pray while they liue that they may goe to purgatory and when they die they giue much goods to others to pray that they may come out of purgatorie againe these are most vaine praiers neuer warranted by the word of God They pray also to our Ladie to helpe them much as the Israelites praied to the Queene of heauen and as the Israelites praiers were accepted so are theirs But I pray God for Christs sake that you nor none of yours may make such praiers And I pray God to blesse his whole Church that their praiers may bee right and faithfull for prayer is the key which openeth vnto vertue Oh Lord let not our praiers be turned into sinne for then the gates of thy mercy shall bee shut against vs. Wherefore wee humbly beseech thee giue vs the spirit of truth that we may pray rightly which if we doe wee must needs search the scriptures see there how Christ teacheth his Disciples to pray When ye pray pray on this manner Our Father which art in heauen c. And whatsoeuer praier is not on this manner is wicked and vngodly And yet here you see there is neither praying to Saints nor Angels neither praying for the dead nor to the dead and therefore all such praiers are wicked and are the ouerthrow of those that vse them But Christ saith When thou prayest enter into thy chamber and when thou hast shut thy doore pray vnto thy father in secret and thy father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly vse no vaine repetitions as the heathen doe for they thinke to bee heard for their much babling but whatsoeuer yee aske the father in my name that will hee giue you Aske and you shall haue seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shal be opened vnto you If your children aske you bread will ye giue them a stone or if they aske you fish will you giue them a serpent If ye which are euill can giue your children good gifts how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost vnto them that aske it And this was a great mercy in Christ not onely to bid vs pray but also to promise that whatsoeuer we aske the Father in his name wee should haue it and hee appealeth to our consciences how wee would deale with our children if they aske vs any thing and giueth vs warning wee should vse no vaine babbling and telleth vs wee should aske in one word the holie Ghost without the which wee are miserable wretches which if we haue we inioy all happines and peace for hee must bee our Comforter and bring vs vnto Christ and hee will bring vs vnto his Father Christ also willeth vs to aske the Spirit of truth because hee will inlighten vs and shew vs the way of all happinesse and because our faith should be strengthened to aske the holy Ghost hee also promised vs to send him to teach vs all things and bring all things to our remēbrance without which we are like a house which is built faire on the outside but there are no windowes to shew any light at all into it and then the house is good for nothing because there remaines nothing but darknes in it euen so darke is to earth of Adam which we are made of that though wee seeme neuer so faire on the outside yet if wee haue not the holy Ghost within vs we can neuer see to finde the way to Christ and then it is vnpossible to come vnto the Father and so consequently wee must needs perish for Christ saith No man commeth to the Father but by mee And heere you see that those that put their trust in Saints to pray for them haue no promise to be heard and it shewes that they are not inlightned by the holie Ghost to see the way to Christ and they themselues will confesse thet they dare not goe to Christ which sheweth that they haue no faith to beleeue his promises nor will to obey his Word For Christ saith Come vnto mee all yee that labour and are ladē I wil ease you Here you see that he leaues out none but cal's all sinners vnto him and promiseth that he will ease them I humbly beseech God to giue you and euerie of you to the worlds end grace to pray to God for the holy Ghost And I pray you let me request you to pray to God continually to inlighten you with the holie Spirit that the holie Ghost may bring you to Christ so Christ to bring you to his Father and then shall you raigne with them for euer and euer world without end Which God grant for Christs sake our only Mediatour and aduocate CHAP. 31. The benefit of the holy Ghost SEeing some pray not at all and others pray falsely doe yee often and earnestlie pray for the holie Ghost for I will tell you what hee will doe hee will inlighten you and vnite you to Christ and giue you grace to rule ouer all your affections and make you able to bee masters of your selues where on the contrarie side they which haue not the holie Ghost written within them are mastered and ruled by their owne filthy affections and so become seruants to them but if yee haue the holie Spirit yee shall bee able to say to your selues as the master saith to his seruants Thou shalt doe this and Thou shalt doe that Thou shalt not sweare nor blaspheme thy God Thou shalt not drinke and swill like a beast neither shalt thou come in companie among such c. Reason thus I will ouercome thee by Gods grace thou earthen potsheard which broughtest mee nothing and wouldst thou now confound all these excellent graces which it hath pleased the
must aske yet thou refusest to doe it Enter into thy chamber saith he and shut thy doore Although euerie place will serue yet it pleaseth Christ to name thy chamber because he would haue a man without accumberances Euery man findeth one place or other to lodge in let them then finde the same place or some place else to pray priuately in Shut the doore saith Christ as if he should say shut thy selfe from the world and shut the world from thee it may bee thou hast some thing to say to mee that thou wouldest not haue the world to heare Oh the mercy the wonderfull mercie of Christ of man how hee became man for man And hee knew the nature of man that hee would bee loath that euerie one should know the corruption which was in him and therefore said come to me alone shut the doore no body shall know what is betwixt thee and me I know thy sinnes alreadie but I would know whether thou knowest them or no for manie a man sinneth and knoweth it not because hee knoweth not my word but if thou knowest them confesse them to mee and I will giue thee pardon for them and if thou wilt leaue them canst aske helpe of me I will giue thee grace to ouercome thē for I haue ouercome them all for thee euen in thine own flesh and thou through mine help shalt doe a greater worke for thou being a sinner shalt ouercome in thy self which is a greater worke then for me whicham God and without sin to ouercome sin and yet not you but I your Sauiour who dwell in all those that lay hold of me by true faith for without me yee can doe nothing therefore come to me follow my counsell come secretly let no body know of it for hindring you or for feare vaine glorie should follow you no man shall neede to know of it for I wil reward yon openly Oh the wonderfull mercies of Christ to man neuer able to be set out he knew that man would be desirous to haue it known that he serued such a worthy master as none could serue a better that euery one shold say he serued Christ he serued the son of God who will bring him to prefermēt Euerie one desireth to haue it knowne that hee serueth a noble master and therefore he will weare his cognisance vpon his sleeue that it may be knowne what an excellent man hee serues for it is a great credit to serue a worthie master and a man shall bee verie well accounted of for his sake but he that serueth a wicked and vngodly man shall neuer bee so well thought of because his master is wicked he is oftentimes ashamed of his masters doings so that he will neuer bee a credit vnto him and therefore neuer serue a wicked man although hee bee neuer so rich for the desire of man is to serue a master of credit and that Christ knew he knew also that man was loath to haue his sinnes openly knowne and therefore out of his great mercie and wonderfull wisdome he appointed man to confesse his sinnes priuately without which there can be no good praier He told man that he should not neede to make shew of it vnto the world for he would reward him openly and make it knowne that he serued a good master indeede for hee would giue him such graces and blessings as all that knew him should perceiue that he had them neither of the world the flesh nor the diuell nor of his owne nature but it should appeare they were onely the gifts of the almightie God Hee did not promise earth and earthly things you may see for euery venemous earthworm is full of these the vsurer that is as farre from heauen as it is to hell where if hee take not heede in time hee may finde his part he I say may bragge of his gold the extortioner whom God hateth may bragge of his siluer the couetous person whom God abhorreth hee may bragge what a deale of earth and earthly durt hee hath purchased as the Prophet saith they loade themselues with clay he doth not say God giueth it them but they loade themselues Among these foolish and abominable people whom the scripture speaketh so much against as against no man more nor so much I thinke strumpets and whores who for couetousnesse sake sell their soules and bodies and make themselues such filthie vessels in this earth that it is most loathsome to thinke of may bragge as well of their iewels and costly apparell that the world bestoweth vpon them as anie other of these couetous wretches whom God abhorreth and giueth warning that no man shall speake well of them for the holy Ghost saith Speake not good of the couetous whom God abhorreth And that thou maiest know it is no worldly trash that God bestoweth on thee know that the diuell calleth himself the prince of this world and so one would think he were for these outward things are most commonly bestowed vpon the wicked but that which God will bestow on thee is a treasure which the wicked ones haue not nor are neuer like to enioy except they leaue their wicked waies and goe priuately to the Lord Iesus Christ and lay open their miserable estate to him and craue his pardon and grace to liue a new life and then he will giue thee the greatest treasure that man can imagine euen a most heauenly treasure hee will giue thee faith which will bring thee to the euerlasting kingdome of heauen he will giue thee patience to beare al the crosses troubles in the world hee will giue thee humilitie which will fill thee full of grace and make thee in fauour with God and man he will giue thee his grace so plenteously that thou wilt speake alwaies the truth and keepe thy promises though it bee neuer so much to thy hinderance in the sight of the world Nay in the sight of the world it must needs be a praise to thee for the world seeth that euery earth-worm can breake their promise or turne it so that it is worse then a promise breaking for it sheweth that they are full of hyprocrisie dissemblers and would serue the world and would not haue the Diuell know it but the diuell will not bee so deceiued hee maketh account the world is his and hee hampereth all those that loue it in chaines and hee will haue the world know it that it may bee a witnesse on his side at the day of Iudgement Nay his owne conscience will bee a witnesse against him at the day of iudgement that breaketh his word euen at that dreadfull day when the trash for which hee so lightly regarded his promise shall bee consumed with fire brimstone then will hee wonder hee could thinke it would bee so long before that day would come and now seeing it is come hee fully perswadeth himselfe that his paine will neuer haue an end If thou thinkest that
leaue my Lands Lordships and Tenements with you in trust till I come again let thē to my friends let thē such pennyworths that they may well liue vpon them let your owne friends some part of them deale so in it as at my cōming home I may finde you faithfull Now if this seruant should neglect his charge neglect his owne friends and his masters and go for a little more rent which his master cared not a whit for let his lands and tenements to his vtter enemies who growing rich with the Lands and goods of this noble Lord would bee ready to bidde him battle at his returne home to strike at him with his owne sword iudge you would not this Lord think he had dealt very euill with him nay would not euery honest man that should but heare of it thinke say that he had dealt most vildly with so good a Lord and Master and that he were neuer meete to come in the company of an honest man againe Thus hath Christ dealt with vs When our wicked father and vngodly mother Adam and Eue cast vs into the puddle of sin ran away left vs there where we should neuer haue beene able to haue gotten out Iesus Christ the onely Son of the high and mighty God our mercifull Lord and Sauiour came by and washed vs and brought vs vp at his own cost charges and we haue nothing but frō him he taught vs himselfe in all good doctrine and being gone to ouercome the enemy of his King and Country he hath left his goods with thee bids thee to deale well with his seruants and let them good penny-worths and deale not with his enemies neither make any mariage with thē yet thou for a little money wilt buy and sell marry and giue in marriage with them yea thinkest because thou findest thē more rich in the world they are better for thee to deale withall yet they are the vtter enemies of thy Lord and will bee ready at his comming to bid him battle and strike at him with his owne sword CHAP. 45. The right use of goods HEere thou seest what cause thou hast to loue Christ and his seruants and how thou oughtest not to loue thine own but to vse it as the Lord hath appointed thee whose indeede it is If thou dealest not with thy Lords goods and lands as he hath appointed thee art thou not in a great fault Surely thou hast nothing to say for thy selfe saue to appeale to his mercy confesse thy sinnes amend thy life But if a Preacher whō God hath enlightned to see what he was out of Christ what he is in Christ and hath willed him to tell the people from his mouth how he and they should now behaue themselues inwardly in their hearts outwardly in their goods and substance if he I say Whom God hath set vpon a hill to giue light to many if he I say whom God hath giuen much vnto and of whom much shall bee re-required if he I say whom the sunne of vnderstanding should arise vpon nay if he I say in whose heart the glorious Sonne of God should shine will darken his glorie with the thicke clouds or rather thicke clods of this earthen world his sin is great but what did I say darken their light nay they darken the light of the Gospell that all should see to goe by nay they darken the glorious light of the Son of God ecclipse his glory wheras they should draw many vnto Christ by thier liberalitie and true preaching they driue many from Christ by loue of their owne as they say by their idlenes negligence in preaching as I say I say this loue of their own as they call it is a thousand times worse in them doth a multitude more of hurt then in other ordinarie men who loue the world as well as they but there are not so manie that looke on them and God hath not set them for a light as hee hath done the Preachers And the reason why the Preachers are many times ouercom is this because the enemie doth bend all his forces against them not vnlike the enemy to the Israelites vvho sayd Fight neither against more nor lesse but against the King of Israel So doth our enemy the Diuell hee fighteth neither against more nor lesse but against the Captaines of the Church namely the Preachers for he knoweth that if they bee once ouercome then the whole armie will soone bee confounded and brought to nought Bee you all vpholders of them which by no meanes can bee done but by prayer for as our preachers should pray for al so all should send vp their praiers to Almightie God in the name of his Sonne to send his holie Spirit into the hearts of the Preachers to sanctifie them throughout that they maybe holy in bodie minde following the exāple of our Sauior Christ vvho said to Peter his Apostle whom he had appointed to be chiefe Preacher to the Church of the Iewes Peter Peter Sathan hath sought to winnow thee like wheat but I haue praied that thy faith faile not Againe S. Paul appointed by the Son of God to bee cheefe Preacher to the Church of the Gentils vvitnesseth of himselfe saying The messenger of Sathan was sent to buffet me but I besought the Lord Iesus that hee might depart from mee Now in these tvvo great combates made betvveen the diuell the deare children of God ye see that praier is the vveapon vvhereby the Tempter is ouercome Wherefore I earnestlie entreat you let your praiers alvvaies be sent vp to God through Christ for the Preachers all such as are in high places that so they continuing firme and stedfast your faith may by thē be more confirmed And the blessing of God Almightie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost be with you all from this time euen to the worlds end Amen FINIS 1. Tim. 5.8 Mat. 6 33. Num. 11.3 Ioh. 6.27 Gal. 4.4 Math. 4.23 Rom. 4.25 Heb. 2.14 Ioh. 17.24 Es. 49. 15. Gal. 4. 19. Rom. 9. 3. Ioh. 6. 27 Mat. 20. 6. Reu. 14. 13 Ioh. 5. 35 Ioh. 12.8 Math. 19. 24. Iam. 5.1 1. Tim. 6. 10. Math. 16. 26. Ioh. 11.25 26. Psal. 1. 2. Rom. 14.8 Eccl. 12.1 Deut. 11. 19.20 Gen. 18.19 Psal. 122.6 * The story of Susanna though it be not canonicall nor to be equalled to those books that are yet it may bee true and of good vse as many other histories written by men are Exod. 20. 9. Gen. 3 12. Prou. 2.18 Gen. 3.15 Ioh. 6. 53 Gen. 3.6 1. Sam. 19. 12. 1. Sam. 25. 3. Gen. 29.17 1. Sam. 1. 10.11 Pro. 22.6 Gen. 2.18 Gen. 6.2.3 1. King 11.4 1. Ioh. 2. 15. 2. Cor. 6 14. 1. Pet. 3.7 Gen. 2.24 Psa. 101.7 Ex. 20.10 1. Tim. 4.8 1. Tim. 6 6.7.8 Matt. 22.14 Mat. 6.16 Mat. 18.20 Mat. 6.12 Luke 18. 13. Mat. 11.28 Num. 11.5 Es. 48.22 Psa. 3. 5. Mat. 28.26 Iohn 21. 25. 1. Thes. 5. 17.18 Mat. 7.7 Iob. 1.9 Iob 1.9 Ioh. 15.8 Mat. 5.16 Ioh. 16.23 Luk. 6.25 Mat. 5.16 Math. 5.19 Psa. 50.23 Mat. 16 24 1 Cor. 1.4.15 Mat. 6.9 Mat. 6.6.7 Ioh. 16.23 Mat. 7.7 Mat. 7.9 10.11 Iohn 16.13 Iohn 15.26 Mat. 11.27 Mat. 11.28 2. CO. 12.7 2. CO. 12.9 Iohn 14. 26. Iam. 4.6 1. Cor. 6. 18. 19. 2. Thes. 3. 10 Eph. 6.16 Mat. 7.7 Mat. 6.6 Therewards of Christs seruice are heauenly Hab. 2.6 The danger of breaking promise Matth. 16. 17. Luk. 18.10 Luk. 18.2 Matth. 11. 28. Matth. 26 41. Iam. 4.7 Iam. 4.14 Lu. 12.20 Exo. 20.9 Ro. 14.23 Ephe. 516 1. Cor. 3. 6. Psal. 56. 12. Matth. 19. 24. Ioh. 6.27 1. Tim. 4. 8. 1. Tim. 6.6 Mat. 6.33 Mat 6.34 Psal. 37.5 Matth. 12. 20. Mat. 16.24 Ro. 8.32 Iam. 1.15 Ro. 7. 24. 1. Sam. 17 34. 35. Lu. 12.20 Psal. 39.6 Prou. 1.7 Matth. 6. 28. 29. Ro. 10.17 Heb. 11.6 Mat. 27.5 1 Cor. 6. 13. Luk. 21.34 Mat 6.31 32. 1 Ioh. 2. 15. Matth. 12. 36. 1. Sam. 15. 22. Ro. 13.8 Psa. 37.21 1. Ti. 5.8 Iam 4.8 Mat. 18.20 Prou. 29. 18. Matth. 9. 37. 38. Phil. 2.21 1. Cor. 9. 16. Esay 56. 10. 11. Ioh. 17.9 Col. 3.1 The danger of dealing with wicked men Iob 31.29 Mat. 26.27 Gen. 6.12 Mat. 26.26 Eph. 3.18 19. Gal. 3.13 Iohn 14.7 Iohn 8.36 Eccl. 7.29 Iohn 3.16 Ioh. 11.25 Mar. 16.16 Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 19 12 Ro. 14.23 2. Cor. 6.14 Tit. 2.1 Mat. 5.14 Luk. 12.48 1. Tim. 4. 16. 1. King 22 31. Luk. 22.31 2. Cor. 12. 7.8