CHAP. I. A short line how to leuell your life.

WHen thou risest, let thy thoughts ascend, that grace may descend: and if thou canst not weepe for thy sinnes, then weepe, because thou canst not weepe.

Remember that Prayer is the wing wherewith thy soule flieth to heauen; and Meditation the eye wherewith we see God; and Repentance the Supersedea [...] that dischargeth all bond of sinne.

Let thy sacrifice be an innocent heart: offer it dayly a [...] set houres, with that deuotion that well it may shew, thou both knowest and acknowledgest his greatnesse before whom thou art. So carrie thy selfe as woorthie of his pre­sence.

Where thou owest, pay duetie: where thou findest, re­turne curtesie: where thou art knowen, deserue loue. De­sire the best: disdaine none, but euill companie. Grieue but be not angrie at discourtesies. Redresse, but reuenge no wrongs. Yet so remember pitie, as you forget not de­cencie.

Let your attire be such, as may satisfie a curious eye; and yet beare witnesse of a sober minde.

Arme your selfe with that modestie, that may silenc [...] [Page] that vntemperate tongue, and controll that vnchaste eye, [...]hat shall aime at passion.

Be mindfull of things past; Carefull of things present; Prouident of things to come.

Speake as you would be heard: And when you goe to bed, read ouer the carriage of your selfe that day. Reforme that is amisse; and giue God thanks for that which is order­ly: and so commit thy selfe to him that keepes thee.

Teach me O Lord to number my daies, and to order my life after this thy direction.

CHAP. II. Amortified mans melancholy expressed in the person of Heraclitus, who alwaies wept.

LEt him that laughes come weepe with me: for that which mirth neglects, teares doe learne: It is the afflicted minde that is the touchstone of faults committed: and the guilt which securitie ouerseeth, a troubled minde doth soone discouer.

Be sorie that thou canst not sorrow; thou that art begot in filthinesse, nourished in darknesse, brought foorth in pangs of death; thou whose infancie is a dreame; whose youth a frensie; whose manhood a combate; whose age a sicknesse; whose life miserie; whose death horror.

[Page]Thinke, ô thinke, and bethinke thy selfe, from whence thou camest, where thou art, and whither thou goest, for thou art here in an obscure land, gouerned by the prince of darkenesse, where vice is aduaunced, vertue scorned, where pleasures are few, paines infinite: where want is mi­serable, plenty full of perill: in a vale of teares, enuironed or all sides with vnplacable aduersaries: where if thou sub­due lust, couetousnesse assaults thee; if couetousnesse be vanquished, ambition will second hir; if ambition be sur­prised, anger succeeds: in a world of mischiefe, where enuy breaketh peace, iealousie sundreth friendship.

Thou hast a silly, poore, yet powerfull soule, a soule of no­ble substance, of exceeding beautie, inspired by God the Father; redeemed by God the Sonne; sanctified by God the holy Ghost: this is the careful charge committed to thy charge to keepe hir. Where wilt thou finde security for hir,

But now exiled from hir-selfe, and as a widow depriued of hir espoused fellowship, committed to thy safe conduct where wilt thou secure hir? in heauen the angels fell in God [...] presence: in paradice Adam fell from a place of pleasure in the world Iudas fell in the schoole of Christ: and if tho [...] sufferest hir to fall, the fals to eternall perdition, for th [...] sword of Gods iustice hangeth alwaies ouer our soules rea [...]die for our sinnes to diuide vs from eternall blisse.

Let the foore of him that sits vpon the rainbow be thy arke of securitie in this deluge of miseries; be not like the vncleane Crow, that can finde footing on euery carion, with little care to returne againe: but rather imitate the in­nocent Doue, that lothing abode without this arke, can finde no rest; and with the wings of a longing desire and penitent heart, flicker at the window of this arke, till thy heauenly Noah put out his mercifull hand to take thee in.

Let hir not drinke of the fluds of the vanities of this life, but as the dogs doe of the riuer Nilus, that drinke running, least while they stay to take a full draught, they be stung with scorpions: for she liues in thy bodie no otherwise than as a lazar on his death bed, vncertaine of life, but in appa­rent danger of endlesse death; within she makes her solace full of sadnesse: hir hope full of hazard, and all hir waies strowed with Coccatrice egges, faire without, and foule within, make hir carefull of hir steps. Thou hast the exam­ple of Christ: which way wilt thou goe? he is the Way: whither wilt thou goe? he is the Trueth: where wilt thou stay? he is the Life. If this Way lead thee thorow austere passages; if this Trueth teach thee true contrition: if this Life be not atchieued but with a dolefull pil­grimage; for where doest thou reade that Christ laughed? then Woe be to you that laugh, for you shall mourne: and hap­py are you that lament, for you shall be comforted.

CHAP. III. A patheticall speech of the person of Diues in the tor­ments of hell.

O Death, how sudden was thy arrest vnto me? how vnexpected? while my bodie was strong, while my intrals were full of fat, and my bones were watered with marrow; while I had rest in my substance, and peace in my riches; in one night my soule was ta­ken from me, and all my joy was turned into mourning.

I saw my friends forsake me in a moment: I felt how hard a thing it was to seuer two such old acquaintances as my soule and bodie: I wanted no view of the vanities wherein I had delighted. On the one side hung a register of my sinnes committed; on the other side lay a catalogue of good deeds omitted: within me boiled my conscience con­fessing and accusing me: Before me stood the iudgements of God denounced against sinne so mustered in ranke, as I might well perceiue my dangers were certaine, and de­struction imminent. In this extasie while I desired but one houres delay, I was caried with a motion Torrenti simili, as swift as the torrent before the tribunall seat of God.

[Page]To this tribunall seate attended me my euill works, where Christ shewing himselfe, laid open vnto me the be­nefits he had bestowed vpon me, the rewards he promised me, the torments he suffred for me; all which the diuell confessing, concluded me to be his; for that though he neuer loued me', yet I serued him, though hee neuer gra­tified me, yet I obeied him, without wooing he wan me, performing what he suggested, embracing what he pre­ferred, affecting euerie thing he cast in my way, all which my conscience acknowledging, censured me to this bot­tomlesse depth, to this profound lake, to this sinke of the world, whither all the afflictions and vnpleasant things in the world draine and vnite themselues to take reuenge of sinne.

To this Chaos of confusion, to this Well of perdition wherein I am coarcted, to this burning lake of fire and brimstone wherein I lie burning, but not consuming; la­menting, but not pitied; where vomit out the riches which I deuoured; in paine, without ease; in torture with­out intermission; where my lasciuious eies are afflicted with most vgly and fearefull sights of griesely diuels; my eares that once were delicate, are laden now with the hide­ous noise of damned spirits; my nose that once was daintie, is cloied with the stinke of vnsupportable filth; my taste that sometimes was curious, and surfeited with plentie, is now tormented with want; my imagination is vexed with apprehension of paines present; my memory grieued with the losse of pleasures past; my vnderstanding affected with the consideration of felicitie lost, and miserie found. Thus comparing senses pleasure with incumbent ioy, I finde my ioies abortiue, perisht ere they bud, my paines euerlasting, during beyond eternitie.

Wherefore as one past cure, deiected beyond hope of redemption into endlesse perdition, rather condoling my misfortune, than expostulating my mishap whereof my selfe was authour, I call to you, the glory of your age, the meat of time, who proud in your errours, tread the path of worldly pleasures, wherein I was impathed: Frustra, ô fru­stra haec aliò properanti.

It was a condition annexed to our Creation: Intrasti v [...] ­exires, thou wert borne to die. Nothing more sure than thy dissolution: no time more vncertaine than thy time of sepa­ration. Be alwaies readie to preuent that enemie, that is al­waies in readinesse to take aduantage. Qui non vult in vit [...] prouidere mortem, non potest in morte videre vitam. Who while he liues will not preuent eternall death, shall neue [...] after death inherit eternall life

Hoc est momentum temporis vnde pendet aeternitas. The carriage of thy selfe in this life, is the beame whereof thy welfare for euer dependeth. Deferre not thy amendment:

Turpe est eo statu viuere, in quo non statuas mori. In vaine thou liuest in that estate of life, in which thoue meanest not to die. Make, ô make your saluation sure vnto you by good works. Encline your heart to doe good: for the reward thereof is infinite: for he is comming and commeth quick­ly, and brings his reward with him, to distribute to euerie one as he hath deserued, euen according to his workes. Omission and commission brought my confusion.

Cautior exemplo tu. Let my example prouoke you to de­test that wherein I tooke delight, lest you also come hither to be tormented not onely with oppression of eternall pu­nishment, but with omission of euerlasting ioyes, which I admire now, carendo non fruendo: which if I might redeeme by suffering all the torments that either tyrants haue inuen­ted, or martyrs suffered; if with my tongue I might licke out the print of my feet out of the way of sinners; if with teares of blood and water I might purge my vncleannesse to worke my redemption: Ecce Domine paratum aegrum habe­res in omnem medicinam. Beholde, ô Lord, thou shouldest [Page] haue a patient fit for any cure. I would wring my drained eyes, vt facilè sentires paratum ad omne supplicium ipsum ha­bitum orantis Christiani. But since my glasse is run, and my sun set; since death hath ouershadowed me, and that there is no pleading after sentence; since that serò ducit suspiria, qui ron expectat remedum: since my affecting what I should haue desired, is turned into a feeling of that I lost; quia ex infer no nulla redemptio, quia poenarum nullus sinis, suppliciorun nulla defectio; because there is no end for my hell, nor sa­tisfaction for my punishment: Therefore to you I call, to you that carelesse liue, that feele not with what sense speake. Consider, Whence you came, Where you are, and Whither you go. You are parts of that God that created all things for you, and you for himselfe. You liue on the stage of the earth, Vbi spectaculum factiestis Deo, Angelis, & hominibus, Where you are in the view of God, angels an [...] men. And you are going, ô looke to your going, Non est vit [...] momentum sine motu ad mortem. There is no mouing of [...] without a motion to death. You go and are alwaies goin [...] to make your appearance before the tribunall seat of Go [...] where euery man shall receiue according to his works. Qu [...] lis vita, finis ita: vt cecideris, ita eris. As you fall, so he find [...] you: as he findes you, so he censures you: and as he ce [...]sures you, so he leaues you for euer and euer. Wherefor [...] quia arbor ad eam partem moriens cadit, ad quam partem [...]uens ramos extenderat, because as a tree falles, that way swayes while it is in growing: if you desire to fall righ [...] learne while you are in your growth, to sway the right wa [...] Iudge your selues, that you be not iudged, Vt sementum [...]ce [...]is, ita metes: What you sowe that you reape, eithe [...] crowne of glorie, quam nemo scit nisi qui accepit, or a chaos confusion, in qua sempeternus horror habitat, whose worth can not be expressed, but of him that enioyes it, or a masse of confusion in which eternall horror doth inhabit.

CHAP. IIII. Who liues most honestly, will die most willingly.

SWeet (saith Chrysostome) is the end to the labourers: willingly doth the traueller question about his Inne: often casteth the hireling when his yeeres will come out: the woman great with childe will often muse of her deliuerie: and he that knowes his life is but a way to death, will sit vpon the thresholde with the poore prisoner, expecting to haue the doore open to be let out of so lothsome a prison, looking for death without feare, desiring it with delight, and accepting it with deuotion.

For it is onely death that vnlooseth the chaines, and sers vs free from our domesticall enemie. It is onely he, that wafts vs forward in this sea of calamities, the danger whereof is shewen by the multitude of those that perish by the gunshot of the diuels assaults, and by the rarenesse of those that e­scape shipwracke.

It is onely death that brings vs into harbour, where our re­pose is without trouble, our comfort without crosses, where our teares shall be turned into triumph, our sadnesse into ioy, and all our miseries into perfit felicitie.

[Page]It is for brutes to feare death, whose end of life is con­clusion of their being. It is for Epicures to feare death, whose death is the beginning of their damnation. It is for such as trafficke vanities, to looke to gaine griefe; for such as haue sowen sinne, to looke to reape miserie; for those of a desperate life, to looke for a damnable decease: but the good man that did sowe in teares, by death shall reape in ioy; for his iudge is he who knowes our weaknesse, and will acknowledge our infirmities: his accusers are made dumbe by former repentance; his conscience is cleared by former confession; hope is his staffe, to keepe him from sliding; grace is his guide, to keepe him from erring; faith his assurance, to strengthen his resolution: and what doth he ose, but fraile and tickle life, a vapour that soone vani­sheth, a drie leafe carried with euery winde, a sleepe fed with imaginarie dreames, a tragedy of transitory things and dis­guised persons, that passe away like a poste in the night, like a ship in the sea, like a bird in the aire, whose tract the aire closeth?

Who can he in his studie and looke on his houre-glasse, and say not to himselfe, Vt hora, sic fugit vita? that thy life is spent with the houre? Who can walke in the Sunne, and looke on his shadow, and not say with Pindarus, [...], Vmbrae somnium homo, Man is but the dreame of a shadow? Or who can see the smoake dispersed in the aire, and not say with the Poet, Sic in non hominem vertitur omni [...] homo Canst thou feele the wind beat on thy face, and cans [...] thou forget that thou holdest thy tenement by a puffe o [...] winde? canst thou sit by the riuer side, and not remembe [...] that as the riuer runneth, and doth not returne, so is the lif [...] of man? Canst thou shoot in the fields, and not call to min [...] that as the arrow flieth in the aire, so swiftly doe thy daye [...] [Page] passe? Or canst thou walke in the fields, and see how some grasse is comming, some newly withered, and some already come, and doest not remember that all flesh is grasse? Mi­ser homo, cur te ad mortem non disponis, cùm sis pro certo mori­turus? Miserable man, why doest thou not dispose thy selfe to death, since thou art sure thou canst not liue? Nostrum viuere, è vita transire: our best life is to die well: for liuing here we enioy nothing: things past are dead and gone: things present are alwayes ending: things future alwayes be­ginning: while we liue we die; and we leaue dying, when we leaue liuing. Our life was a smoake, and is vanished; was a shadow, and is passed; was a bubble, and is dissolued. The poore mans life is led in want, & therefore miserable. The rich mans ioy is but vanity: for he is poore in his ri­ches, abiect in his honours, discontented in his delights. This made Hilarion say, Egredere: quid times, anima? octo­ginta annos seruisti domino: Thou hast serued thy God foure­score yeeres, and therefore feare not now to goe take thy wages. And Ambrose, Non mori timeo, quia bonum habeo do­minum, Who feared not to die, knowing that he that came hither to buy vs an inheritance, is gone before vs to prepare it for vs.

CHAP. V. Speculum vitae. A sinners glasse.

WHat is the life of man but a continuall bat­tell, and defiance with God? what haue our eies and eares beene, but open gates to send in loades of sinne into our minde? What haue our powers and senses beene, but tynder to take, and fewell to feed the flame of concupiscence? What hath thy body beene but a stewes of an adulteresse, but a forge of Sathan, where the fire of our affections kindled with wicked suggestions, haue en­flaired the passions of our heart, and made it the anuile to turne vs to most vgly shapes of deformed sensualitie? What hath our soule, which is the receipt of the blessed Trinitie betrothed to Christ in Baptisme, beautified with grace, or­deined with the fellowship of angels to eternall blesse, what hath it beene, but a most vile broker, presenting to thy will allurements of sinne? what hath our will beene, but [...] common harlot lusting after euery delight, wherein sh [...] tooke liking? what is our memorie, but a register of mos [...] detestable and abhominable facts committed by vs? wha [...] hath our reason beene, but a captiued vagabond, subdue [...] by euerie passion?

So that by this metamorphosis we are become more od [...]ous to God then the diuell himselfe: for the diuell by cre [...]tion was more beautifull then we: it was sinne that defo [...]med [Page] him, and that sinne that made him odious, makes vs detestable: for our sinnes are woorse then his, and we not so good as he: for his sinne was one, & ours are infinite: he sinned before the stipend of sinne was knowne, ours after notice & experience of it: he sinned created in innocencie, we sin restored vnto it: he persisted in malice being of God reiected, we continue in hatred against him that recalled vs: his heart was hardned against him that punisht him, ours obdurate against him that allureth vs. So that our case is now such as infinite goodnesse detesteth, and infinite loue can­not condole. The earth was created for a place of pleasure, the aire was created temperate, creatures were made to be obedient to man, all things framed to his best content: but see how sinne hath transformed pleasure into plagues, fa­mine and murders many in number, grieuous in qualitie, and ordinarie in experience, which indeed are but Initia dolori [...] for the damned suffer death without death, decaie without decay, enuie without enuie; for their death euer liueth: their end euer beginneth, and their decay neuer ceaseth, but are alwaies healed to be new wounded, dying but neuer dead, repaired onely to be new decaied.

CHAP. VI. The vnion of Mercy and Iustice.

THere be two feet whereon God walketh on the hearts of men; Mercie and Trueth, which a sinner must fall downe with Marie and kisse, that in respect of Gods Iustice we may reteine feare, and in regard of his Mercie conceiue hope: for all the waies of God are Mercie and Truth; Mercie, that we may not de­spaire, and Trueth, that we may not presume.

Because God is mercifull, wilt thou build a nest of sinne, as the Psalmist saith, vpon his backe? thou canst not seuer his Mercie from his Iustice, and then Iustice will sentence, Tarditatem poenae, grauitate supplicij. Is God a iust God, a terrible God, into whose hands it is a horrible thing to fall? Thou canst not separate his Iustice from his Mercie: she wil proclaime Misericordiam Dei super omnia opera sua, his mercy exalteth hirselfe aboue his iudgements, Vult enim omnes homines saluos sieri. He that can that he will, will not the death of one sinner, but that he may turne from his wic­kednesse and liue for euer: he offreth his mercy to all, but neuer vseth his iustice but vpon necessitie. I will sing vnto thee, ô Lord, mercy and trueth together, not mercy alone, as not fearing thy iudgements, nor trueth alone, as despair­ing in thy mercies: but thy mercies shall breed a loue, and thy iudgements shall make me feare to impath my selfe in the way of sinners.

CHAP. VII. Iugum meum suaue.

IT is well obserued by one, That the rodde of the roote of Iesse flowred, that the sweetnesse of the flower might mittigate the seueritie of the the rodde. The diuell is neuer suffred to punish vs farther then is for our benefit: for either he corrects vs [Page] [...]or our former offences, or else to preuent our future infir­mities. Neither is euery one that spareth, a friend, nor euery one that striketh an enemie: but the words of a friend are better then the flatterings of a foe, and he that loues with austeritie, is better then he that killes with delicacie. It is the diuels common course to kill our soule, while he flatters our fancie. For as the theefe that can not by open violence catch his bootie, seeketh by shrowding himselfe in valleies and bushes to take the trauellers vnprouided: so the diuell, when by open pursuit he can not preuaile, he coutcheth himselfe in briers and shadowes of worldly vanities, entrap­ping vs before we preuent his traines. For albeit with a smooth flight and euen wing he lessen himselfe into the clouds, as an eagle delighted to view the sunne: yet is he but a rauening kite, soaring in the aire, the better to see how to seaze vpon his pray. God borroweth not the Syrens voice, when he would sting with a Scorpions taile, and when he bites with the tooth of a lion, he vseth not the teares of a crocodill, but as the husbandman lops his vine least the iuice should be spent in leaues: so least our mindes should be imploied in vaine and superfluous pleasures; our wits which without profit would be diffused, are by him kept in compasse by tribulation. For where he purposeth to heale, he spareth not to launce: and if he see thou be foste­red by the world thy naturall nurse, he can annoint hir teate with the bitternesse of discontent, to weane thee from hir: for he that bindes the franticke, and awakes the lethargee, is troublesome, but friendly to both.

[Page]Be not discouraged; thou art a Christian, whose captaine is a Crucifixe, whose standard the Crosse, whose armour Pa­tience, whose battell Persecution, whose victorie Death. Whether God fostreth thee as a weakling, or exercise thee as one stronger, or checke thee as one vnruly; yet he ten­dreth all as his owne children. Behold thy Sauiour with his head full of thornes, his eies full of teares, his eares full or blasphemies, his mouth full of gal, his body full of wounds, his heart full of sorrow; and blame him not, if ere thou find him, he giue thee a sippe of the chalice whereof be drunke so full a cuppe. Thy loue must be great, when his sorrow is more at thy ingratitude, then at his owne affliction, when he lost himselfe to winne thee: a worke without example, a grace beyond merite, a charitie surpassing measure. Where­fore whether he set thee to seeke him in the pouerty of the crib and manger, or in the agony of his bloody sweat in the garden, or in the middest of reproches and false accu­sations before the tribunall, or in the torments of a shame­full death; yet thinke thy selfe as deepe in his fauour fo [...] be [...]ng tried by the torments of his passion, as those that ar [...] called by the testimonie of his glorious transfiguration.

CHAP. VIII. That feare to die is the effect of an euill life.

IOhannes Patriarch of Alexandria, whose fre [...]quent deeds of charity gaue him this Ep [...]thete, to be called Iohannes Eleemosynarit [...] hauing his tombe in building, gaue his pe [...]ple in charge, that it should be left vnfin [...]shed, and that euerie day one should [...] him in minde to perfect it. His meaning was, that by th [...] meanes hauing his thoughts fixed of the doore of death, [...] might the better prepare himselfe for the passage throu [...] it. The Pope that day he is chosen, hath one comes to [...] [Page] with foure marble stones, as patterns to choose of which his tomble shall be built. He that raketh vp vertue in the [...]shes of the memorie of death, shall finde hir force so vni­ [...]ed, that when they come to be vnraked, they shall finde that hir heate will so encourage vs, that when our soule fin­ [...]eth a vent to mount vp to hir naturall Sphere, she will [...]lame in the firmament, and shine most oriently to our ex­ [...]essiue comfort, and hir Creators inestimable glorie: for he whose life was a studie to die, well knowes that death hath [...]ost his tartenesse by passing through the veines of life: he [...]eares not his cold sweats, nor forgoing gripes, but taketh [...]hem as throwes in childe-bed, by which our soule is [...]rought out of a lothsome body into eternall felicitie. He [...]eares not the diuels, whose temptations he hath valiantly [...]esisted: the graue is no horror to him, for he knowes he [...]wes the body in corruption to reape it againe in immor­ [...]litie. He that liueth well, shall make a good end, and in [...]he day of death his decease shall be blessed, for he rest­ [...]om his labours, and his works doe follow him. But to him [...]at liueth ill, death is an euer dying death: he lies tormen­ [...]d with the pangues of the dying flesh, amazed with the [...]orrosiue fittes of the minde, frighted with terror of that is [...] come, grieued with remorse of that which is past, stung [...]th the gnawing of a guiltie conscience, terrified with the rigor of a seuere iudge, vexed with approch of a loth­some sepulchre. They made their prison their paradise, their bellie their God, their ap­petite their guide: so sowing sinne, they reape miserie, traffiking vanities, they gaine griefe: detestable was their life, and damnable is their decease.

CHAP. IX. That affliction is the coate of a Christian.

IF we be Christians, asfliction is our coat, and the Crosse our cognizance, In hoc signo vin­ces: Christs clouts comfort not those that walke in side robes. The stable and manger are no refreshings to such as loue the highest roomes in the Synagogue. Our arke lieth not in papilionibus, but in praesepio. If we be members of that head which was prickt with thornes, let the rest of the parts sympathize with it: let the Mount Caluarie be our schoole, the crosse our pulpit, the crucifixe our meditation, his wounds our letters, his lashes our commaes, his nailes our full-points, his open side our booke, and Scire Christum crucifixum, our whole lesson. By his nakednesse, learne to clothe thee; by his crowne of thornes, how to adorne thee; by his vinegre and gall, how to diet thee; by his praying for him murderers, how to reuenge thee; by his hanging on the crosse, how to [...]epose thee. Heere learne, that death reui­ueth, sorow solaceth, an ecclipse enlighteneth; that out of the deuourer there came meat, and out of the stronger issu­eth sweetnesse. And since our sinnes (like fierce Samsons) haue murdered the lion of the tribe of Iuda, let our repen­tant thoughts (like bees) sucke at the flowers of his passion, and make hony to delight our selues and prouoke others. Let vs seeke Christ, not inter cognatos & natos, nor with the spouse in the Canticles, in lectulo meo quaesiui quem amaui, nor with them in Osee, that looke him in gregibus & armentis; but seeke him with Moses in the desert, with Daniel in a firy throne. His delight is to see Nineue in sackcloth, Iob on the [Page] dunghill; he expects a perfect demonstration of a seruice­able minde, for an Eamus & nos, vt moriamur cum illo: for losse of felicitie searcheth the force of affection. It is neither prosperitie that tries a friend, nor aduersitie that concealeth an enemie. This is that true God that chiefe life, in whom, by whom, and from whom all things doe flow, from whom to reuolt is to fall, to whom to returne is to rise, in whom to stay is to stand sure, from whom to depart is to die, to whom to repaire is to reuiue, in whom to dwell is to liue: that God whom none loseth but deceiued, none seeketh but admoni­shed, none findeth but are cleansed, what euer is not of God is not good: giue me thy selfe, & take all things els from me.

CHAP. X. A theme to thinke on.

COnsidera, ô homo, Quid es in natura, Quis in persona, Qualis in vita. Consider, ô man, what thou art in nature, who thou art in per­son, what an one thou art in life: for thou art not in nature as a stone hauing onely be­ing, nor as a plant hauing onely being and growing, nor as a brute hauing onely being, growing, and sense; but as a man who to these imperfections hath the per­fection of a liuing soule added.

And the same God that created thee of nothing, pre­serues thee from all things that might annoy thee; giues thee health and plentie, and subiecteth all things to thy ser­uice, that thou mightst serue him in holinesse and righte­ousnesse [Page] all the dayes of thy life: for if God had not created thee, thou hadst not beene at all: if Christ had not redee­med thee, the diuell had deiected thee in the fall of Adam: if the Holy Ghost should not comfort thee, thou couldest not be preserued as thou art. Since therefore thou art Gods by creation, redemption, and preseruation, looke what time thou bestowest out of his seruice, thou stealest from him who made it for thee to serue him in it, and art a thiefe. If thou b [...]est more enamoured of any of these blessings which he bestowes on thee to win thy loue, than of himselfe, who shewes his loue in bestowing them on thee, thou commit­test idolatrie, and art an idolater. If thou bestowest good houres in ill actions, or great blessings to bad purposes, thou committest treason, and art a traitor.

Tui pe est benè natis male viuere, & plantatis benè peiùs fru­ctificare. Thou art created after his owne image; make no impression vnworthy that character. Pulchra siut oportet quae ex eius animo procedunt, qui in Dei habitaculum est praeparan­dus. Thy soule is the temple of the Holy Ghost, thou must not pollute it with brutish appetites, but prepare it with gra­cious meditations, most fitting food wherewithall to enter­taine so heauenly a ghest. He hath made thee in person e­rect, that he might put thee in mind to rectifie thy thoughts and actions. O leuell thy life to the straightnesse of the line of thine owne portrature. Staine not the beautie of thy parts, lest thou susteine miserie in this life with the losse of eternall life: for the stipend of sinne is death, and the merit of transgression is eternall perdi­tion.

CHAP. XI. Morning Meditation, with sixteene sobs of a sorowfull spirit, which she vsed for mentall prayer, as also an addi­tion of sixteene staues of verse taken out of Peters complaint; which she vsually sung and played on the winde instrument.

Happie is the man whose life is a continuall prayer.

O God to whom nothing is so great as can re­sist, nothing so little as is contemptible: O Christ the guide of those that seeke thee, the light of those that finde thee: O Holy Ghost that both fillest and includest all things; I am ashamed to be seene of thee, because I am not assured to be receiued by thee, hauing neither deserued pardon for my faults, nor participation of thy glorie: yet sweet Iesu supply my defects, that by thy mercie I may obtaine remission, and by thy merits deserue saluation. Let thy passion worke compassion for me,

LOrd, I am depressed with the burden of my sinnes, and oppressed with the feare of the punishment belonging to them; hauing neither power to resist thy wrath, nor pa­tience to endure thy indignation: wherefore I am becomes as it doth become me, thy humbie suppliant. Lord be mer­cifull [Page] to me a sinner. My abiect countenance witnesseth my distressed minde, my words are seasoned with sighes, and bathed with teares. O let the deaw of my deuotion be drawne vp with the beames of thy remorse: for behold, as a hunger▪ starued begger doe I knocke at thy gate, ò honora­ble housholder. Open, ô open the gates of thy mercies, to the greatnesse of my miseries.

PReserue my body from eternall death, reserue my soule from euerlasting damnation: let me neither vngrateful­ly remember thy benefits, nor vngratiously forget thy se­uere iudgements: for albeit, there be no folly which hath not had his seat in my minde, and left his footstep in my actions; yet for that thou lookest for my amendment, that I may haue thy fauour, grant me thy fauour that I may haue amendment.

COnforme my life, confirme my faith, endue my soule with thy loue, subdue my flesh with thy feare: Let me not dieere I begin to liue: giue me time to repent, & occasi­on to amend: direct my reason: regenerate my wil: lead my desires, that I may seeke thee: illuminate my vnderstanding, that I may finde thee: let my ioy be in enioying thee, in whom desire wants no satiety, nor satiety breeds discontent.

LEt thy maiestie appeare in thy mercy, couer my sinnes, and I am recouered of my infirmities: for my consci­ence accuseth me, my memorie giues euidence against me, and my reason condemneth me. Conuert ô Lord, conuert my life, and diuert my punishment.

OVt of a maze of amazements doe I crie out vnto thee, ô God my Sauiour and Redeemer: Grant, ô Lord, that I may firmely resolue, speedily begin, constantly con­tinue in performing thy will: let me honour thee as a Crea­tor, loue thee as a Redeemer, expect thee as a Sauiour: for by thy goodnesse I was created, by thy mercy redeemed, by thy power preserued, and by thy grace I shall be glorified. Grant, ô [...] God, that wast mademan, that men might [...] the sonnes of God, that I may liue in thy feare, [...] our, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, remaine in thy glorie for euer and euer.

[Page]GRatious God, whose honour is more in sauing through pitty, then in condemning through iudge­ment, thou that canst mitigate griefes present, and canst turne away dangers to come: pardon, I beseech thee, my sinnes past, aide me against all temptations to come, and I shall praise thy name for euer and euer.

GOod Lord, make me couet those things that be plea­sing to thee, let me finde them easily, and search them wisely, know them truely, and exercise them effectually, to thy glory and my saluation. Dispose the course of my life, that it may accomplish that which thou requirest: Lay forth thy passions that I may feele them; satisfie me in thy mer­cies, that I may reioice in them: remooue from me all lets to serue thee, and giue me those things that may draw me to thee: instruct my iudgement, rule my affections according to thy will, in the depth of thy mercies confound the deui­ses of my enemies against me.

LOrd thou hast deliuered me out of the iawes of death and redeemed my [...]oule out of the gates of perdition sanctifie my life, that it may be a witnesse of my thankeful [...]nesse; let my memorie be a record to shew thy goodnesse [Page] so shall my lips shew forth thy praise, and my heart shall be possest with the glory of thy greatnesse.

GIue me, ô Lord, sorrow for my sinnes, thankefulnesse for thy benefits, feare of thy iudgements, and loue of thy mercies: giue me an vnderstanding heart, that I may conceaue a right loue of thy lawe, that I may desire to per­forme it, strength of thy spirit that I may haue power to ex­ecute it: and because by thy grace I am that I am, let thy demaunds be no greater then thou hast giuen me grace to performe. Lord giue what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt: let the greatnesse of thy mercies supplie the wants of my miseries: that my heart may reioice in the Lord, and thy sauing health may be knowne among all nations.

HAue mercy vpon me, ô Lord, haue mercy vpon me, according to the multitude of thy mercies, doe away [...]hy offences: wash me from my wickednesse, and clense me [...]rom my secret sinnes: for I acknowledge my faults, and my sinnes haue made me odious to my selfe. Be mercifull, [...] Lord, be mercifull vnto thy seruant, and let not the gates [...]f hell preuaile against him: for though the stipend of his [...]nne is death, and the merit of his transgression eternall [Page] perdition; yet is thy mercie aboue all thy works, and thou canst forgiue more, than he could offend: thou that wilt not the death of a sinner, denie not the request of a repen­tant sinner: thou which hast giuen me repentance, which is the seale of forgiuenesse, grant me forgiuenesse, which is the assurance of repentance.

OVt of the depth of my soule do I crie vnto thee, Lord put me not to rebuke in thine anger; let not thine hand [...]resse me, neither chasten me in thy displeasure; for I consesse my wickednesse, and am sory for my sinne; suf­fer not my name to be touched with dishonour, neither giue me ouer to be clothed in rebuke: cleanse my heart from corrupt thoughts, and purge my mouth from all vn­cleannesse, and impath me in that course that is best plea­sing to thee.

PRaise the Lord, ô my soule, ô let all that is within me praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, ô my soule, and let not the least of his benefits be forgotten: for he hath de­liuered thy body from death, and thy soule hath he redee­med out of the estate of damnation: for he hath created thee after his owne image, and breathed a liuing soule into thee, to praise his name for euer and euer: for his proui­dence [Page] hath preserued thee, his strength defended thee, his mercie comforted thee, and his grace shall glorifie thee. O therefore praise his holy name; O let all that is within me sing praises to my God, my Sauiour and Redeemer.

GIue me, ô Lord, an vnderstanding heart, that I may haue a true feeling of the greatnesse of thy benefits, in­struct thou my lippes, and my mouth shall shew foorth thy praise: for my heart desireth to haue hir loue knowen, and my spirit reioiceth in God my Sauiour: I will magnifie thy holy name, for thou hast heard my voice, and not suffred my foes to triumph ouer me: thou hast relieued my wants, and giuen me plenty when I was in necessitie. I will lift vp my hands vnto the king of glory, euen vnto his mercies sea [...] from whence is my redemption; for I know the weak­nesse of our flesh, and acknowledge there is no helpe that comes not from aboue.

I Giue thee thanks, ô most mercifull father, for all thy be­nefits bestowed vpon me, desiring thee long to continue them, and to make me thankfull for them: direct the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, the actions of my body, that they may be pleasing to thee, and profitable for me: Lord heare my voice, accept this my sacrifice of [Page] thanksgiuing, which thy bountifull goodnesse hath exto [...] ­ted. Let not the world, the flesh, nor the diuell preuaile against me, but let thy gracious spirit conquer them in all my conflicts. Lord I haue reposed my whole trust in thee, let no: thy seruant be put to confusion.

LOrd, though I can neither praise thee as becommeth me, nor pray to thee as I ought to doe; yet accept I be­seech thee, these my halting speeches brokenly vttered, as an oblation for my most grieuous offences: looke vpon me in thy mercies, and let the blood of that immaculate lambe Christ Iesus, stand betwixt me and thy iudgements. Lord, into thy hands do I commend my soule, and my body into thy custody, Lord Iesu receiue them: Lord blesse me and al that belongs vnto me from this time foorth for euermore. Sweet Iesu sanctifie my life, & blesse me with sorrow for my sinnes, thankfulnesse for thy benefits, feare of thy iudge­ments, loue of thy mercies, mindefulnesse of thy presence, that liuing in thy feare, I may die in thy fauour, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, remaine in thy glory for euer and euer.

CHAP. XII. A Madrigall made by Berny Grymeston vpon the conceit of his mothers play to the former ditties.

CHAP. XIII. Euening Meditation. Odes in imitation of the seuen poenitentiall Psalmes, in seuen seuerall kinde of verse.

CHAP. XIIII. Memoratiues.

THe darts of lust are the eyes; and therefore fixe not thy eye on that which thou mayest not desire.

Opportunity kindleth the fire of concu­piscence.

In all temptations it is safer to flie, than to fight with Satan.

[Page]Shun occasion of doing euill, and thou hast halfe ouer [...] him.

Affections are the feet of the minde; and therefore set [...]atch ouer them, left they make hir miscary.

Examine thy thoughts. If thou findest them to be good; [...]re is the spirit: Quench not the spirit. If bad; forbid [...] entrance: for once admitted, they straightwayes for­ [...]e and are expelled with more difficultie, than not ad­ [...]tted.

Epicurisme is the fewell of lust; the more thou addest, [...] more she is inflamed.

There is no moment of time spent, which thou art not [...]untable for, and therefore, when thou hearest the clocke [...]ike, thinke there is now another houre come whereof [...]ou art to yeeld a reckoning; and by endeuouring to end one houre better than another, thou shalt come to me better perfection in Christianity.

He that considereth the ioyes of heauen that good men [...]pect, or the dread of torments which the bad shall suffer, [...]ll hardly sinne.

The end of a dissolute life is a desperate death. There as neuer president to the contrary, but in the theefe in the [...]ospell: In one, le [...]t any should despaire: in one alone, lest [...] should presume.

Thinke from whence thou camest, and blush: where [...]ou art, and sigh: and tremble to remember whither thou [...]alt goe.

Desperate thoughts are fit for such as feare shame, and [...]ot for such as hope for credit.

Euill thoughts are the diuels harbingers: for he lodgeth [...]ot, but where they prouide his entertainment.

The whole world is as an house of exchange, in which Fortune is the nurse that breeds alteration.

Mishap is the touchstone of friendship, and aduersity [...]he triall of friends.

Indifferent equality is safest superiority.

[Page]Where proportion keeps not the doore, there confusio [...] will quickly enter.

Where passions encrease, complaints multiply.

It is neither freedome to liue licentiously, nor liberty to liue without labour.

Labour in youth, giues strong hope of rest in olde age.

Carefulnesse and diligence are the keyes of certeinty.

A malefactor hath feare for his bedfellow, care for hi [...] companion, and the sting of conscience for his torment.

In contention, aduised patience, and opportunity well ta [...]ken, are the best weapons of aduantage.

Thanks waxe olde when gifts are had in possession.

So giue, as that thou mayest alwayes be giuing, and ne [...]uer be sayd to haue done giuing.

Giue to the poore, but not beyond thy power.

If thou giuest a benefit, keepe it close; but if thou rece [...]uest one, publish it: for that inuites another.

Let thy wit be thy friend, thy minde thy companion, th [...] tongue thy seruant.

Let vertue be thy life, valour thy loue, honour thy fame and heauen thy felicity.

In differences rather chuse to purchase by perswasion than to enioy by violence.

He that leaues his wife a goldefinch, may hap at his re [...]turne finde hir a wagtaile.

On the anuill of vpbraiding is forged the office of vn [...]thankfulnesse.

True nobility descending from ancestry proues base [...] present life continue not thy dignity.

The longer we delay to shew our vertue, the stronge [...] the presumption that we are guiltie of base beginning.

Who may doe all that he will, will doe that which h [...] should not.

Let thy speech be the shadow of thy deed.

He is not woorthy to finde the trueth, that deceitful [...] seeks hir.

[Page] [...]ocencie groweth in despight of oppression.

[...]ominion is alwayes attended by enuy.

[...]ortune is alwayes a friend to a froward minde.

He neuer giues in vaine that giues in zeale.

Courtesie is the true character of a good minde.

Anger is the cradle of courage.

Looking eyes haue liking hearts.

Trueth is the centre of religion.

Dominion is safest, where obedience is best nouri­ [...]d.

Let the eyes be sentinels of the body.

By being silent, thou shalt both know other mens imper­tions, and conceale thine owne.

Charity and humility purchase immortality.

Age may gaze at beauties blossomes, but youth climbes tree and enioyes the fruit.

Death is the tribute all flesh must pay.

He dies most willingly that liued most honestly.

Who liues to die, dies to liue.

Time is the herald of Trueth: and Trueth the daughter Time.

Who climbes by priuie sinne, shall fall with open [...]me.

Who swimmes in vice, will sinke in vanity.

The yoong man may die quickly, but the olde man can liue long.

The chiefe properties of wisedome are to be mindfull of [...]gs past, carefull of things present, prouident of things [...]ome.

The longer God stayeth, not finding amendment, the [...] he scourgeth when he come to iudgement.

Whoso passeth many yeeres, and purchaseth little profit, [...] had a long being, and a short life.

Let thy apparell be cleanly without singularitie: thy [...]ch such as may mainteine loue and win affection.

Vse such affabilitie and conuenient complements, as [Page] common ciuilitie and vsuall courtesie most requireth, with­out making thy selfe too cheape to thy friend, or him too deare to thee.

Be not at any time idle. Alexanders souldiers should scale molehilles rather than rest vnoccupied: it is the wo­man that sitteth still, that imagineth mischiefe: it is the rol­ling stone that riseth cleane, and the running water that re­maineth cleare.

Standing water is soonest frozen, and he that sitteth still is quickliest ouercome with sleepe.

Thoughts are the buddes of the minde; and words the blossomes of their desires; and deeds the fruits of their e­uent: and therefore he that will not suffer ill thoughts to fructifie, must crop them in the bud.

There be foure good mothers haue foure bad daugh­ters: Trueth hath Hatred; Prosperity hath Pride; Security hath Perill; and Familiarity hath Contempt.

He that refuseth to take counsell good cheape, buyes re­pentance too deare.

Let thy loue hang on thy hearts bottome, not on thy tongues brimme.

Mistrust no man without cause, neither be credulous without proofe.

Suspition may enter a false action, but it is proofe brings in the good plea.

When we are most miserable, then Gods grace is most fauourable.

Who thinkes before he doe, thriues before he thinke.

A peruerse man is like a sea crab that alwaies swimmes a­gainst the streame.

Wisedome is that Oliue that springeth from the heart, bloometh on the tongue, and beareth fruit in the actions.

The end of trecherie is to haue no trust.

He that makes a question where there is no doubt, must take an answer where there is no reason.

[Page]Where marriage rides on the saddle, repentance will be on the crupper.

Before thou sleepe, apparell thy remembrance with that thou didst waking.

It is lesse paine to learne in youth, then to be ignorant in old age.

Better not to be, then to be slaue to passion.

Innocency is the best good, and a guilty conscience the woorst euill.

Humilitie raiseth when fortune depresseth.

He receiues a benefit that bestowes it woorthily:

Curtesie in maiestie bindes affection in dutie.

Delay in punishment is no priuiledge of pardon.

The law of feare is melted by Christ in the mould of loue.

Euerie man is the workeman of his fortune, and fashio­neth hir according to his maners.

[...] is that mishap whereby we passe to better perfe­ctio [...] ▪

[...] that contenteth is best riches.

Death and misfortune come soone inough if slow [...]nough.

So loue as thou maiest hate.

So hate as thou maiest loue, and both without chal­lenge.

Opinion iudgeth that the best, that it least enioieth.

Iudges opinions make suites immortall.

[...] g [...]od beliefe bringeth foorth a good life.

[...] greater comfort then to know much: no lesse labour [...].

No [...] misery then to fall into vnknowen miserie.

[...] breedeth ignorance, and aduersitie bringeth foorth knowledge.

He cannot iudge of pleasure, that neuer tasted paine.

He findes best helpe in aduersitie, that seekes it in pro­speritie.

[Page]The man is happiest that liueth least his owne, and most his neighbours.

A little streame driues a light mill.

A small summe paies a short reckoning.

Giue a lazie clarke a leane fee.

In little medling lieth much rest.

Where opportunitie opens the shop dore, the ware is best sold.

A wanton eie lighteth where it leueleth.

Iealousie is the herbinger of disdaine.

He that will stirre affection in others, must shew passion in himselfe.

Lingering is lothsome where necessitie requireth haste.

Carelesse men are euer neerest their owne harme.

After the vnlawfull getting of a couetous father, soone followeth the riotous spending of a prodigall sonne.

The vertue of a prince is the chiefest authoritie of his magistrate.

A milde answer reconciles displeasure.

A wanton eie is the messenger of an vnchast heart.

There is nothing swifter decreasing, then youth while it is increasing.

The soule is the greatest thing in the least continent.

Let the limits of thy power, be the bounds of thy will.

A faire woman is a paradise to the eie, a purgatorie to the purse and a hell to the soule.

The death of an euill man is the safetie of a good man.

What harme the heart doth thinke, and hand effect, that will the worme of conscience betray.