first learne to knowe that we knowe how to liue godly Let vs learne to knowe God and To know Our selues For he that knoweth himselfe knoweth God He that knoweth God shall be made like to God c. Let vs so liue here that hereafter wee To liue may liue with Christ for euer For this life is not to be desired for it selfe but for another life vnto which we must come by the gate of death Therefore that we may euer liue with Christ Let vs learne both to Liue and well Dye We learne to liue well by meditating on death Wee learne to dye well by liuing godly We leare to liue godly by dying happily To this way there is a marke set vz. Eternal life And the way to this marke The mark and the way Ioh. 14. How to know the way is Iesus Christ our Sauiour who saith I am the way the truth and the life we attaine to the knowledge of this way 1. By a right vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures 2. By Illumination of the holy Ghost 3. Wherof ariseth an experience feeling God himselfe working in vs. Begin therefore O man Know and Liue. Begin faint not but goe forward 1. Beginne to enter the way of life The first member which leadeth to the marke of saluation The entry is made by a conuersion The Conuersion is made by An auersion from sinne the worst Conuersion twofold Auersion from sin Euill and by A Reuersion to God the best good 1 In turning from sinne consider O sinner thy miserable estate while thou art yet in thy sinne Thou art an enemie to God and he The miserable state of a sinner to thée A friend to Sathan nay a slaue both to Sathan sinne Beggerly filthy and guiltie of eternal death Beg therefore the grace of God which may preuent thée accompanie thée and follow thée Now Gods grace in the Conuersion of a sinner vseth two meanes The knowledge of sinne and knowledge of sinne A consternation of the mind 1. We come by the knowledge of sin by the lawe which is the rule of righteousnes By knowing how sinne is bread vz. 1. Foure waies inwardly in the heart How sin is bread By suggestion delight consent defence 2. Foure waies also is it performed in worke First priuily next openly without shame Then it groweth to a custome At length it comes either to securitie or desperation Consider also the heinousnes of sinne vz. It is an iniurie to God A grieuous waight casting vs headlong A tyranny of satan A gilt not pardonable if Christ had not died The sonne of God must néedes dye to purge it 2. After the knowledge of sin followeth Cōsternation of mind a consteruation or casting down sorrowing for sinnes committed And fearing Gods wrath Hereof ariseth A feare and A sorrowe A feare thréefold Least we be forsaken of grace depriued of the sight of God Feare and tormented in Hell A sorrow twofold The first for feare of punishment which is called a worldly Sorrow sorrowe The second for sinne and offending of God which is called a godly sorrowe Either of them is wrought by the spirit of GOD but by diuers Instruments vz. The first by the Lawe The second by the Gospell 2. In returning to God we must consider Reuersiō to God the nature of God That he is the chiefe good c. We returne by faith resting in the By faith mercie of God the father in the merits of Iesus Christ his sonne This faith ariseth in our hearts First How it riseth the Illumination of the spirit with an inward sense of our own wretchednesse Secondly succéedeth a hope of pardon that although wée feele not our sinnes yet pardoned we hope they are pardonable Thirdly we shall perceiue an hunger and thirst of the grace that is offred vs in Christ Fourthly thou shalt come to the Throne of grace that there thou maiest finde fauour Now in this accesse thou shalt performe Two things in returning two things Thou shalt confesse thy sinnes generally and specially Thou shalt aske perdon of thy sins with groanes which cannot be expressed Fiftly thou shalt by an assured perswasion imprinted in thée by the holy Ghost apply the premises of the Gospell specially to thy selfe Here looke to the practise of Dauids Dauids practise Delaies dangerous repentance And beware of delaies and long lingring meditate the shortnes of thy life And the manifold dangers of delaies vz. The treasuring vp of wrath The alienation from God An euill conscience The offence of the Angels The engladding of Sathan The tragicall ends of impatient sinners Faint not neither goe backward The secōd member When thou hast in some sort learned entred the way of life walke in it with thankesgiuing take héede thou faint not neither goe backward 1. Resist therefore temptations for Temptations God tēpteth and why God to whom thou art returned will try his new souldier Both to stirre thée vp to long for the rest of thy heauenly country And to draw thée from the loue of the world And that thou maiest knowe from dines whence thou hast power to resist Here thou must haue these helps in a rea Ardent Prayer Constant Hope A strong Patience 2. Sathan thy aduersarie from whom Sathan tempteth thou art fallen will sift thée Though he be most subtile as a Serpent yet listen not to him Neither yet trust thine owne iudgement Though he be very strong as a Lion yet resist him being armed with a true faith in Christ wherby thou shalt quench his fierie darts 3. Often times we tempt our selues Domesticall enemies for we haue our domesticall enemies for euery one is tempted when he is drawne away and enticed with his owne concupiscence Against this inward enemie we must make warre continually by mortificatiō 4. Without vs in the world many Externall enemies temptations are offered which may disturbe our wittes But thou O man shalt ouercome them By shunning or remouing the occasions of euill 5. To conclude thou shalt méete with manifold temptations vz. Manifold temtations 1. The memory of former sinnes which griefe is byting but it is not vnprofitable 2. Sometime the remēbrance of former sins with a delight which is very hurtful 3. The troubles and vexation of a Christian life 4. The contempt of the world striking a certaine shame of our profession into vs or alluring vs by his loue to these temptations are set downe their remedies And the danger of Relapse is shewed least the last be worse than the first Relapse dāgerous Dangers of relapse Relaps is dangerous in three respects 1. On the diuels part who séeketh to returne to his house from whence he went out 2. On Gods part whose spirit is grieued and he as it were deluded 3. On mans part himselfe who getteh a custome of sinne hardly to bee recouered Goe forward or profit To goe forward in the
those businesses and occasions which either hold him in sin or stay him from the race rule of vertue or casteth him into such sinnes as can be by no means excused And so much the greeuouser is the fal as the degree of holines from whence we fall is higher 1. First therefore thou must deliberate Remedies of a newe kinde of life more earnestly to be pursued by a renouation of serious repentance and faith 2. Meditate with thy selfe on thy end which may be sodaine and cannot be auoided and other the last things which follow death 3. Consider that Hypocrisie and dissembling is most odious to God A simple nature saith Bernard such as God is requireth simplicitie of heart woe be to the sinner that entreth the land two waies for no man can serue two maisters 4. Viewe and waigh the life of luke-warme frozen cold men that knowing it thou maiest dislike it disliking it in others thou maiest amend it in thy selfe 5. Cowardnesse and feare must bee Pusillanimitie to be mortified mortified for when a man is entred the way of Christ the mind many times is assailed with griefe either by expectation of some euill or danger approaching or by desperation of safetie or deliuerance from some euil or danger present But bee not dismaied in thy minde Heare and pray to him who saith Say to the faint harted be of good courage and faint not And say with Dauid I Esay 35. Psal 54. did waight for him who saued me from my pusillanimitie of spirit and from the tempest Why fearest thou O thou coward Feare argueth a base minde conceiue a firme hope of the prouidence of God whē Exhortation thou striuest with the anguishes of Pusillanimitie thou must lift vp thy minde to Gods prouidence Resist with a good courage and set thy selfe by the helpe of Gods spirit against the whole rout of phantasies Discusse saith Gregory the mistes of mourning least thou who in the time of tranquillitie didst thinke greatly of thy sefe in the time of perturbation doe confound thy selfe with the terrors of thy base thoughts Peraduenture God will bring thée by this Good effects Pusillanimitie to a studie of humilitie that by it that loftie pride which euen in good actions lieth in waight euen for holy men may be laide flat or hee hath a purpose to purge thy soule of that affection of selfeloue whereby oftentimes thou art wont to please thy selfe more than is méete How be it what is it that thou néedest Comforts against sundry sorts of feare The crosse greatly to feare or be amazed at 1. Is it the Crosse or Affliction If thou be godly the crosse and affliction is to thée ineuitable or not to be shunned it is profitable honorable and glorious it confirmeth thine adoption it renowneth thy vertues it banisheth vices Beare therefore the crosse with a good courage 2. Doest thou feare the anguish of Sicknesse sicknes Thy body is mortall there is no cause then that thou shouldest feare sicknes which leadeth to death Sicknesse bréedeth hollome Philosophy to wit A meditation of death the vices of the mind are cured by the diseases of y◠body thou learnest to abandon selfeloue and the loue of the world and to hope for a better life Faith Hope and Inuocation of God becomes more ardent 3. Art thou afraid of the losse of worldly things Losse of earthly things Trust in God leane on his most holy promises surely Gods truth is immoueable his power impregnable his bountie immeasurable he will not leaue thée nor forsake thée 4. Doth the terror of death trouble Death thy mind Cast off the feare which incredulitie that is to be banished doth strike into thée compare the course of this life with the last period or end thereof Art thou not tossed with perpetuall miserie If thou be wise with the wise man thou Eccles. 1. Commodities of death wilt say Vanitie of vanities al is vanitie Be not afraid of death wherby thou shalt be deliuered from the tyrannie of sinne from the snares of the world from the temptations of Sathan from the rage of false brethren and shalt come to the port of felicitie out of the sinke of euils eternall death shall not touch thee because eternall life is prepared promised sealed and confirmed to thée in Christ Beléeue and thou shalt haue eternall life 5. Dost thou tremble at the assaults of Satan God doth furnish his with strength to resist Satan Being vpholden by the wisdome vigilancie and inuincible power of Christ thy head cal vpon God take vnto thée christian patience cōstancy with the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit and by Gods grace and perseuerance thou shalt be safe 6. Art thou astonied with thy many and great sinnes Sinne. Behold the remission of all thy sinnes purchased by Christ promised giuen and sealed vnto thée why tremblest thou Behold the loue and mercie of God the father the satisfaction and intercession of Iesus Christ and admit the comfort and assistance of the holy Ghost 7. Thou quakest for feare of the last The last iudgemēt Iudgement and Tribunall Be of good comfort and settle thy selfe throughly on the promises of saluation so often repeated in holy Scriptures The loue of God the father and the couenant of his grace through the satisfaction of his sonne Iesus Christ is immutable and he shall bee our Patrone and Aduocate in that iudgement Thou for thy part as often as thou sinnest so often returne to Daily repentance God by a renewed repentance and faith apprehend the grace of God the father the merites of Iesus Christ the consolation of the holy spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance heare the manifold afflictions of this worlde with a patient minde séeing thou hast accesse vnto the Throne of grace powre out thy praiers to thy God sigh and send vp thy affections and thy hope shall not bee confounded but thou shalt enioy vnspeakeable felicitie in heauen Amen The fourth member Profice vlterius Goe yet further forward in attaining righteousnesse VVHen we haue denied vnrighteousnes we must procéede to A transition attaine righteousnes According to that Cease from euil do good vertue must succeed in the place of vice Now in séeking after the way of righteousnes and life beware thou decline not either to the right hand or to the left Let vs then goe forward In vertues and with a good courage In virtutibus In virtute Concerning vertues knowe y◠they are Vertues Gods gifts great goods to be desired for thēselues that they are the gifts of God most precious and with most earnest praier and desire to be begged of him And if thou obtaine them God is to be thanked who hath endowed thée with so great graces The first care must be to attaine them The next is to keepe them when they are gotten Thou shalt both get thē and kéep
commandements and following thy example I may through patience inherite the promise through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull 5. Against Enuie pray thus father who hast commanded vs to loue our neighbours as our selues the poyson against which loue is Enuie which sorroweth at the prosperity of our neighbor and ioyeth at his miserie Giue me grace therefore O Lord to shun this plague which hurteth more the possessor than him that is enuied For the auoiding whereof Grant mee grace to contemne all humane things to long for that heritage which multitude of heires doth not strengthen that I may reckon the gifts of my neighbours as mine owne and communicate my gifts with them that Enuie being set apart we may reckon that ours which they possesse and that we possesse may be theirs as Members of one body whereof Christ is the head O Almightie God and most mercifull father who resistest the proud and giuest Against Pride pray thus grace vnto the humble For as pride is the roote of all euill so it is the ouerthrowe of al vertues and as an infectious disease corrupteth all the faculties of the soule Giue me grace therefore O Lord to beate down this great euill By taking a diligent viewe of my selfe that finding mine owne wants I may lay downe my Pride By conferring my state with the first estate of our first parents I may see from whence I am fallen By knewing the lawe I may knowe my owne infirmities And by setting before me Christes example I may learne Humilitie who when hée was Lord of Men and Angells yet became a perfect patterne of Humilitie and Contempt of the world that we being humbled in our selues might â—e exalted of thée Through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull Against dulnes in 〈…〉 exercises pray thus father I acknowledge my dulnes and lukewarmnes in going forward in the way of life whose effects daily I féele in my selfe For. How often doe I pray without attention and feruencie of spirit How often do Ill effects I meditate diuine things without affection of my minde and therefore without fruit How hardly doe I rid my selfe from ydle companie How seldome doe I returne into my selfe to gather my spirits to examine my own state I looke into my selfe as it were through a Lattice without repentance or amendment of life I talke freely of other men and seuerely censure their déeds and words O how willingly doe I passe my time in vaine showes or outward things to relieue my wearines How often doe I séeke comforts here and there solace my selt with ydle thoghts How grieuously do I bear discipline correctioÌ„ I obey laws but for a fashioÌ„ with lothsomnes vnwillingnes O how often do I auoide labours which are necessary and profitable to saluation I séeke to bee gracious and in fauour with men How doe I neglect the vse of the Sacraments How seldome and negligently doe I heare godly Sermons How carelesse hitherto haue I bene to auoide sinne How presumptuous of mine owne strength How much haue I pampered my selfe making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes thereof I call to minde my olde manners and the pleasures of sinne not with griefe and disliking but with a delight and liking Grant me therefore O Lord thy Dangers of Lukewarmnes grace that I may ouercome this roote of vices I acknowledge the daÌ„ger wherein a Lukewarme man doth stand whom thou hast threatned to vomit out whose state is miserable and end searefull Giue me grace therefore not to fall backe into mine old sinnes that I be not in danger of a greter ruine but that recouering out of the gulfe of these mischiefes I may with a more chéerefull minde runne the way of life Stir vp in me O Lord an Remedies ardent desire of newnesse of life make me continually to meditate on my ende which if it should happen to be sodaine and I vnprouided the things that come after will be more grieuous which my end that it may be blessed I beséech thée for Iesus Christ his sake c. Amen When thou art entred O my soule In case of Pusillanimitie or feare a coÌ„municatioÌ„ with the soule the way of life thou art perhaps grieued either with the expectation of some euill at hand or with distrust of deliuerance from some euill present But pray O my soule with Dauid I expected him who deliuered me from my feare and from the storme Conceiue an assured hope in Gods prouidence and flée to him in the time of trouble Peraduenture he will humble thée by this temptatian to beate down thy pride which assaulteth the godly euen in holy actions or be purposeth to purge thée of selfe-loue whereby thou pleasest thy selfe many times more than is meete But what is it O my soule that thou néedest feare Doest thou feare the Crosse and affliction The crosse not to be feared If thou be godly the Crosse and affliction as it cannot be shunned so it is profitable and glorious to the godly It abateth vices it encreaseth vertues it confirmeth our Adoption c. Beare it therefore patiently and couragiously 2. Doest thou shrink at sicknes Thy Not sicknesse body is subiect to death why then doest thou so grieue at sicknes which prepareth to death which to the godly is a passage to life Moreouer the sicknes of the body doth many times cure the diseases of the soule 3. Doest thou grieue for the losse of Not losse of worldly things worldly things Belieue in God take hold of his promises He will not leaue thee nor forsake thée 4. Doth the terror of death astonish thée Not death Cast off feare which riseth of infidelitie Compare the course of this life with the last periode thereof Art thou tossed with continual miseries Feare not death which shall deliuer thée from the tyranuy of sin from the deceits of the world from the temptations of Sathan Eternall death shall not touch thée because life is prepared for thée in Christ 5. Doe the assaults of Sathan terrifie thée Remember that God doth arme Not Sathan such as be his with power to resist Satan Thou shalt ouercome by Christ our Captaine Call vpon God and arme thy selfe with the Shield of faith the sword of the spirit c. And by Gods grace thou shalt ouercome 6. Art thou amazed with thy many Not many or great sinnes and great sins The remission of thy sins is sealed and confirmed to thee by many and great promises by Christ and in Christ therefore thou oughtest not to 1. Ioh. 2. feare If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate to the father euen Iesus Christ the righteous 7. Doth the terror of the last iudgment Not the last Iudgment make thée tremble Cast off this feare call to mind the loue of God the father in his sonne and that the same Son of God is both thy
to him that repēteth yet he hath not promised leisure to liue till tomorrow to him that sinneth The second member Nedifice Faint not neither goe backward THou knowest hast found the way of life thou art entred into it walke in it with thankesgiuing No man Transitiō by onely knowledge of the way hath attained to the end except he also walke in it Thou art entred the way hold on thy purposed course approach euery day chéerefully to thy GOD by faith in heart by studie of godlinesse by true loue depart further daily from Sathan the world and thy selfe But in fleeing beware of vanitie and inconstancie that thou faint not or goe backward Thy repentance and thy life are determined Repentance and life one end August by the same ends for the whole life of a Christian man is a continual exercise of repentance The action of the second repentance which followeth the first through our whole life which wee lead in this mortal flesh must be vndertakē with perpetual supplicatiō of humilitie 1. because no mā desireth the eternall incorruptible immortall life except he repēt him of this temporal corruptible mortal life Secondly howsoeuer euery mā doth glory that he hath tamed his body so y◠being crucified to the world hee doth chastice his members from all euill workes hauing brought them in subiection yet let him vnderstand that all these thinges are giuen him he hath them not of himselfe Not onely therefore because of our very mutabilitie ignorance and for the malice of the day but also because of the very contagious dust of this world we ought to repent vs daily Here therefore is néede of a continuall Mortification vivification Mortification of the flesh and vivification or quickning of the spirit Faint not beare it out and bée stout thy labour will one day auaile thée The greater thou art the more laborious The greater the greater conflicts shalt thou be being deliuered from Sathan and made the sonne of the highest thou hast gottē an high pitch of glory thou shalt therefore haue the greater conflicts with labour and dangers Nothing Alexāder was more Kingly in Alexander than his labour And to thée being a great Kings sonne now reconciled to thy father nothing ought to be more glorious then this spirituall labour Life life I say eternall giues nothing to men without great labour no man attaineth to the highest without labour Sometimes thou Preoccupation shalt be in danger what then he that attempteth great matters shall be in danger and great things will be enterprised with great perills and the greatest good things are not without some great euils Spare not therefore to bestow thy labour though there be danger where honor and reward are to be hoped for But be wise A minde that knowes how to feare knowes how to aduenture warily be well aduised of the danger and thou shalt be wary to auoide it Two brāches Here two things are to be done We must resist Temptation We must take héede of Relapse When thou art entred the iourney of Temptations Christian Pietie and Charitie thou shalt not be frée from temptations But take a good courage 1. For God to whom thou art returned Causes of temptations God and why will trye his new souldier But God would neuer suffer thée to be shaken in the siue of temptations were it not for his owne greater glory and thy greater profit who art tempted Both that thou mightest be stirred vp to desire the rest of our celestiall countrey and be drawne away from the loue of this presēt world also that thou mightest knowe from whence strength to resist is ministred vnto thée Here thou must haue these aides in a readines First be feruēt in praier that thou maist Aydes Praier Psal 6. Hope say with Dauid Let thy hand now cease Item Lord reproue me not in thy furie Secondly stir vp thy hope of Gods mercie for he that now chasteneth vs is our father who therfore doth now shew himselfe a father that he might not hereafter shewe himselfe a most seuere iudge God 1. Cor. 10. is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that which you are able to beare but will with the temptation giue succes that ye may be able to bear it Thirdly let inuincible patience strengthen thée Whereupon Bernard Patience on the Psal He that dwelleth saith Glorifie and beare Christ in your body A Psalm 9◠pleasant burthen a sweete waight a holsome farthel though it seeme sometime to presse vs down thogh it punch our sides though it whip vs when we winch againe though it pinch our chawes with bit and bridle yet it doth very happily restraine vs. Be thou as a yoked Iumentum or drawing beast that thou maist say with Dauid I am become as a beast vsed to the yoke This similitude consisteth not in brutishnes but in imitation of patience 2. The diuell an aduersary and a tempter wil sift thée and vexe thée whom The diuel and why thou hast forsaken He séeketh the ruine and destruction of thy soule and by infinite engines and great force laboureth to ouerthrow thée But resist and faint not Though he be most subtile yet thou Aides Subtile that art a tender plant of God as Bernard speaketh not hauing as yet thy sences exercised to discerne good and euill followe not the iudgement of thine owne heart abound not in thine owne sence least that craftie huntsman entrap thee being vnwary Humble thy selfe vnder the mightie hand of God take counsel of the holy Scriptures hear the aduise of holy men who knowe better the wiles of that hunter Solicite God by prayers and knocke at heauen gates Though hee be very strong and as a roaring Lion yet be thou armed with Strong faith in Iesus Christ whereby thou maiest daunt the force of Sathan studie to leade a godly life as much as thou canst by Gods grace In all things or aboue all saith the Ephes 6. Apostle take the shield of faith whereby ye may quench all the fiery darts of that wickedone And S. Peter saith Resist the diuel being strong in faith 1. Pet. 5. Though hee be most cruell yet since the triumph which Christ crucified got Cruell ouer him he is become most cowardish Resist the Diuel saith Saint Iames Iames. 5. and he wil flye from you And Gregory He is strong against them that consent to him hee is weake against them that resist him if consent be giuen to his suggestions he is as a Lion if he be resisted he is as an Ante. 3. Oftentimes we our selues doe tempt Our selues our selues being domistical or priuie enemies to our selues by our carnall lusts Euery one saith Saint Iames is tempted Iam. 2. when hee is drawne away by his owne concupiscence and snared as a fishe with a baite Against this inward enemie thou must Aides
vertues are wrapped vp in labours and great expences that thou shouldest get to them by many difficulties Carefull labours or laborsome cares prepare the way to the attaining of faire and honest things Thou hast striuen to enter at the narrow gate procéede in the way giue not thou place to euill but throng on more boldly Pray and take paines and thou shalt ouercome all difficulties Labor improbus omnia vincit vntired labour doth ouercome al But nothing is so easie that seemes not hard if we goe about it with an ill will we clime to honour by vertue nature hath placed nothing so high whither vertue cannot reach They are deceiued with the error of a Vertue hath her delights false opinioÌ„ that think that a godly life is ful of trouble labour paine so that it is altogether voide of swéetnesse pleasure when as vertue is not without delight Christs yoke is swéet his burthen light Let vs heare Dauids experieÌ„ce I haue delighted as much in thy testimonies as in al maner of riches Item The iudgemeÌ„ts Psalm 9. of the lord are to be desired aboue gold precious stones sweeter thaÌ„ the hony the hony comb God himself in his couenant promiseth preseÌ„t helpe I wil giue them a new heart and a new spirit will Gods aide promised I settle in their bowels and I wil take away their stonie heart and giue them â— fleshie heart that they may walke in my precepts and keepe my iudgements and doe them that they may bee my people and I may be their God He therefore who is true and mightie will bring it to passe that thou maiest say with the Apostle Our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroied that wee might no more serue sinne Feare not saith Esay because Esay 40. I am with thee shrinke not because I am thy God I haue strengthened thee and haue helped thee and sustained thee by my right hand Behold all they that striue against thee shal be confounded brought to shame and bee as though they were not c. I am thy Lord God who take thee by the hand saying vnto thee Feare not I haue holpen thee When Iesus our Sauiour commeth And euery valley is exalted and euery mountaine and hill is humbled and the rough waies are made plaine That which thou canst not that shall the holy Ghost aboundantly performe in thée The Lord thy God shall circumcise Deut. 30. thy heart and the heart of thy seed that thou maist loue the Lord thy God with all thy hart and with all thy soule that thou maiest liue Say with Saint Augustine Lord giue that thou biddest and bid what thou wilt Be carefull to kéepe the loue of God and that wil Loue endureth many troubles make thée to swallow al troubles without paine For this is the loue of God that wee keepe his commandements and his commandements are not burthensome for all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world And Saint Augustine He that loueth laboureth not for all labour is contrary to them that loue not onely loue it is that blusheth at the name of difficultie Temptations of the world 4. The world also either with his glory and brauerie will allure thée to loue it or by his contempt and embacing will discourage thee when thou art entred into the way of pietie and charitie or will strike into thee a certaine I know not how to call it impudent shame to professe the truth No small impediments in the way of godlines But learne with me O Christian Spernere muÌ„â—uÌ„ spernere nulluÌ„ spernere to met Spernere te sperni disce beatus eris Despise the world despise no man Except thy selfe perdee Learne to despise to be despisde So shalt thou happie bee Consider with me I pray you how Aydes against worldly felicitie short and transitorie the felicitie of this world is How many and great miseries are mingled with worldly delights How many and great dangers and snares lye in their way that walk through the parching heate of this world Consider the horrible blindnes and Egyptian darknes of worldings Looke on the world thou shalt looke on a filthy dunghill of sin and vncleannes Looke on the world and thou shalt looke into a shoppe of fraude and deceits yea into the house of death Contemne therefore the contempt of this world which being despised despiseth thee but thou shalt be commended of him that is most to be commended euen of God from whom all true praise procéedeth But if thou bee ashamed of the truth Aydes against shaming at truth and blushest at the waies of Gods holy Commandements Remember O man remember that thou must shortly dye and be presented before Christ how great shame shalt thou then be couered with If Christ were not ashamed to hang naked on the Crosse for thee why art thou ashamed to kéepe Christs sayings So many thousands men women haue powred out their blood with their life for Christs sake and art thou ashamed for loue of him to doe any good What wilt thou say in the day of the last iudgement what will he thy shame what confusion of face If thou be ashamed to doe well thou shamest to bee a Christian what shame can be more shameful Thou knowest what Christ saith He that is ashamed of me before men of him will I be ashamed before my father all his Angels Thou knowest also that of the Apostle If I endeuoured to please men I should not bee the seruant of Christ And one saith Why doest thou respect men why doest thou delay to doe those things which are acceptable to God good men Didst thou not promise in thy Baptisme to renounce the diuel and all The vow of Baptisme his workes and onely to loue God into whose name Godhead thou wast baptized Shame therefore to doe the workes of the diuel reioyce to doe the will of God It is a shamefull madnes to blush at well doing for the which we shall bee despised both in heauen and earth and not to blush or be ashamed of euill doing which hath a curse following it and punishment both in this and in the world to come Thou art not ignorant of that saying of our Sauiour The seruant Luc. 12. knowing his Lords will and not doing it shall bee beaten with many stripes What is it I pray thée that thou praiest daily that Gods will might be done and yet to please the world thou doest it not Consider I pray thée that it cannot be By the world vnderstand the wicked that it should bee well with thée concerning God and also concerning the world that thou shouldest please God and the world If other shuld laugh thée to scorne whiles thou séekest for treasure yet thou wouldest not desist from thy purpose for their scorning why then doest thou giue ouer to séeke the treasure of diuine grace and
by the Esay 41. hand and saying to thee Feare not I haue holpen thee Feare not ô Iacob that art a worme He will strengthen thy weake hands and thy feeble knees and make thy feete to step aright But let thy will bee firme to persist in faith and the workes of faith and to resist those things which hinder them First Satan is an aduersarie whom thou must Impediments withstand being stedfast in faith Secondly the very length of time often bréedeth a vaine feare but in thy God thou maiest doe all things Thirdly the world many times affrighteth vs with his bugges or turneth vs aside by his examples But labour thou thou shalt haue thy hyer after wearines followeth rest hope and thy hope shal not confound thée 5. Indue thy mind with méekenesse which may so appease the angry force Meekenesse therof that it offer not violence to reason or remoue her out of her state but may make thée readier to pardon than to reuenge By méeknesse therefore anger must be Anger to be refrained Eph. 4. Tit. 3. refrained or brideled Walke saith the Apostle in all meeknesse and humilitie forbearing one an other and forgiuing one an other in modestie shewing meekenesse to all men Item Let vs behaue our selues in much patience and long suffering and mildnes in the holy Gost By méekenesse desire of reuenge Eph. 4. Colloss 3 which riseth of anger must be restrained or cut off With patieÌ„ce support ye one an other forgiuing one an other if anie man haue a quarell against an other euen as God for Christs sake hath forgiuen you not rendring euill for euill Rom. 12. The effects of meeknes Psal 147. Iudith 9. If thou be méeke thou shalt be acceptable to God The Lord receiueth the meeke he heareth the prayers of such as be gentle The prayers of such as be humble meek haue euer bin acceptable to thee saith Iudith To such he sent his sonne To preach to the meeke he sent me To such hee giues his grace To the meeke he giueth grace Such he directeth in all their actions He shall Esay b 1. Prou. 3. guide the meeke in iudgement he shal teach the gentle his waies 6. Thou owest humilitie to thy soule Humilitie which may make thee not to waxe proud of the store or worth of any graces but in acknowledgement of thine own infirmities to prefer euery one before thy self In humilitie embracing one another Item Decke your selues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde for GOD 1 Pet. 5. resisteth the proude and giueth grace to the lowly Humble your selues therfore vnder the mightie hand of God he shal exalt you in due time My sonne saith Syrach behaue thy selfe humbly apply thy selfe to the lowly for this is Syrach 3. better than all that which the world esteemeth so highly The greater thou art the more humbly behaue thy selfe and the Lord will loue thee for the Lord is the most high and yet he worketh great things by the lowly and afflicted And Chrysostome saith Nothing is to bee compared to the vertue of humilitie for it is the roote the nurce the prop and band of all goodnesse And Saint Augustine If we will attaine to the height of Charitie wee must first thinke of the foundation of humilitie And Basil Humilitie is the safest treasury of all vertues Anselme reckoneth seuen degrées of humilitie The first is to knowe thy selfe to Seuen degrees of humilitie be contemptible The second is to be sory for it The third to confesse it The fourth is to perswade the same to other in time and place The fifth is to beare it patiently when other report it The sixt is to take it in good part when thou art vsed contemptibly The seuenth is to accept desire and loue the same It must néedes be a great strength in the mind that shal ascend to these degrées Though thou do neuer so great matters yet count not thy selfe great Thou shalt become humble if thou contemne all worldly and humane things and doe consider the beginnings of thine own being 2. Concerning the concupiscible or Vertues moderating the concupiscible part lusting part Thou shalt moderate thy soule which is prone to lust by these Christian vertues 3. Temperance Abstinence and Continence 1. Thou oughtest to kéepe thy soule in Temperance Temperance whereby thou maiest refraine and restraine thy lustes thy pleasures delights of the body from which because they be natural we are the more hardly drawne Sundry reasons there are which ought to stirre thée vp to moderate the appetitâ—â— Motiues of iust First because the voluptuousnes of the body doth hinder that God by his word cannot enter into the soule of man to drawe and conuert it to him Secondly because bodily pleasures are vaine slipperie momentanie euen vanitie of vanities leauing behind them remorse sorrow repentance not easily remoued Thirdly because euen in the very moment of time wherein carnall pleasures doth entangle vs with her allurements it doth so bewitch our mindes with her poyson shall I call it or swéete charme that it wholly subdueth vs. Let not sinne Rom. 6. therefore raigne in your mortall bodies that yee should thereunto obey through the lustes thereof But striue against the tyrannie of pleasures which aâ— it were certaine cruell beasts doe deuour the soule and strangle reason if in time they be not preuented Seneca saith It is an easier matter to hinder the first motions of the affections than to rule their violence set thou therefore vpon the roote of lust as it were with a sword 2. If thou loue thy selfe challenge to thy Abstinence sobrietie selfe abstinence and sobrietie and yéelde them to thy soule that thou maiest kéepe the nutritiue power thereof in an holy temperance and moderate vse of meate and drinke Vse sparingly saith Ecclesiasticus Syrach 31 Eccles. 10 those things that are set before thee that thou bee not odious for thy greedines And the Preacher saith Blessed are thou O land whose princes eate in due time for refreshing and not for ryot for he that is moderate in feeding shall prolong his life Item Wine moderately drunke is a cheering to the soule and heart And strong drinke soberly taken is health both to soule and body Let not therefore your hearts Luk. 21. bee ouercome with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life c. Thou must therefore striue earnestly with thy selfe against thy bodily appetities which as it is hard to ouercome so it is glorious to ouercome for the diuell vseth the necessitie of the flesh as a iust patronage to an inward temptation 3. If thou wish well to thy flesh sée Continence and Chastitie thou retaine Continencie and Chastitie and embrace them that thou maiest kéep the generatiue power of thy soule in a holy temperance and lawfull vse ordained of God Cal to mind often these warnings This know ye saith the Apostle and
vp by hardnesse of heart Giue me grace therefore O Lord spéedily to returne to thée for what is the certaintie of my life Or who knoweth the day and hower when thou wilt come to iudgement Blessed is that seruant whom the Lord when he commeth shall find watching Verily he shall be crowned with immortall glory with Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen A prayer not to faint or go backward fitting the argument of the second Member Ne defice Faint not nor goe backward O Almightie God and most mercifull The second meÌ„ber father forasmuch as through thy grace I haue in some sort attained the knowledge of the way of life and haue also by thy grace entred the same giue me encrease of thy grace that I may walke in it For there are many stumbling blocks many snares many temptations in the Temptations in the way of godlines By God way so that we had néede of thy helpe to stay vs that we faint not or fall away 1. If it be thy good will to tempt me O Lord I know it is for my good not to cast me downe but to drawe me from the loue of this present world to stirre me vp to the loue of our heauenly country and that I might know from whence I haue power to resist temptations Giue me grace therefore by faith and patience to humble my selfe vnder thy mightie hand 2. If sathan tempt me I know it is to ouerthrow me yet thogh he be very stroÌ„g By Satan giue mestreÌ„gth to resist him though he be very subtil giue me wisdom to beware of him though he be cruell giue me courage to triumph ouer him through Christ our Captaine who hath spoiled him cast him out and led him captiue 3. If the flesh doe tempt me it is so much the more troublesome as it is By the flesh Memorie of sinne with sorrow more domesticall 1. For sometimes the memorie of my former sinnes hath recourse with sorrow which maketh me to doubt of my true reconciliation with thée which though it be troublesome yet it is not vnprofitable That I might thereby consider the heynousnesse of sinne whereby I haue prouoked thée that thereby I might conceiue a feare and sorrowe for the same that I might blush and be ashamed before thée our father be stirred vp to loue thée so much the more who hast pardoned our sinnes by thy mercie in Iesus Christ 2. Sometimes the memorie of my Memorie of sinne with delight former sinne hath recourse with delight whereby it appeareth that there remaineth some remnant of the olde wounds which memorie is dangerous because it bringeth with it a certaine heauinesse whereby I am excluded from the sweetnesse of my conuersion to thée by delighting in the former lusts of the flesh before my conuersion Giue me therefore O Lord thy speciall grace that I may remember my former sins with sorrowe and not with delight with detestation and not with desire with condemnation and not with iustification Purge my memorie from vncleane phantasies drawe out that filthy sincke Make the purpose of my minde constant in good Grant me to detest inconstancie ydlenesse and sloth As soone as I am prouoked with wicked cogitations grant me earnestly to withstaÌ„d them that with a cleane heart I may receiue thy holy spirit 3. Some times euen in the entry of the way of life my minde is troubled to The cares of a Christian life thinke how many cares and troubles Christian life is tossed with which it séemed to be voide of while I gaue the raines to my lusts whereby the way of godlinesse séemeth hard and difficult Giue me grace therefore O Lord according to thy coÌ„mandemeÌ„t to denie my self and to take vp my Crosse followe thée Deniall of our selues Thou O Christ our guide and standard-bearer hast gon this way This way haue all the Saints troden The way of life is not so hard and difficult where Christ is our guide where hée is our spéede Thou hast promised that thou wilt giue vs a newe heart and a new spirit that we may walke in thy precepts giue vs that thou commandest and command vs what thou wilt 4 If the world either by allurements would drawe me to his loue or by contempt By the world would driue me from my profession with a certaine shame thereof Giue me grace to despise the world and not much â—â— care to be despised for how transitorie is the felicitie of this world how many troubles is it mixed with Giue me grace to remember that shortly we shal all be presented before the tribunall of Christ of whom whosoeuer shall be ashamed before men of him will Christ be ashamed before his holy Angels Grant me grace therefore neuer to be ashamed of any good but to be ashamed of sinne which bringeth shame and confusion from which vouchsafe to deliuer vs through Iesus Christ Amen 5. Moreouer for as much as all relapse into sinne is dangerous least our last be worse than the first Both in respect of Danger of Relapse God into whose fauour to returne it is harder after we haue despised his grace than God into whose fauour to returne it is harder after we haue despised his grace than before we haue receiued it Secondly in respect of the diuell who returneth with seauen worse spirits Thirdly in respect of our selues who by custome engender wicked habites hardly to be cured Grant me therefore grace O Lord that I returne not as a dogge to my vomit least I may seeme to despise thy Maiestie whose mercie I haue so often begged that I might obtaine pardon Least I giue opportunitie to the vncleane spirit to enter againe with seuen worse spirits Least by custome of sinne I growe to an hardnesse of heart to commit sinne with gréedinesse without repentance From those so dangerous euils of relapse stay me O Lord by thy mightie hand through thy mercy in thy sonne Iesus Christ Amen A prayer to profit and goe forward fitting to the Argument of the third Member Profice seu pergredere The third Member Profit or goe forward O Almightie God and most mercifull Ourbackwardnesse in profiting father I acknowledge that it is not in a mans power to direct his owne waies or to reforme his owne life But either we sticke in the beginning of the race or we goe not forward so well or so fast as either we ought or desire Graunt me therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy grace that I may be strengthned by thy spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith that I being rooted and grounded in loue may goe forward in the way of saluation First in denying of my selfe and Next in practising righteousnesse And because all sinne be it neuer so small doth make vs guiltie of punishment Care of lesser sins and defileth the soule doth diminish the seruor of Charitie and weaken the force of