WHatsoeuer thinges are written, for our lear­ning and instructon are written, that by paci­ence, and consolacion of the Scriptures, we might haue hope.

IT behoueth a man to knowe, in what or­der, with what affection, with what in­tent, and what thinges they are whiche he ought to know: That is, in what order, That he doo first learne throughly that whiche is [Page] most in season, or fitte for time, tendyng vnto welfare. With what affection, That he learne suche matter as is more feruent and more vehement to make him in loue with knowledge. To what intent, That a man not for vaine glory, neither for curiositie, or any such like, doo take any thing in hand to know or make knowen, but only to the ende that God may thereby be glorified him selfe, and his neighbours edified.

THere is nothing in this life perceaued, or felt more sweeter, there is nothing taken more greedely, there is nothing which so se­questreth a mans mind from the loue of the world, nothing so strengtheneth and fortifi­eth the mind against temptations, nothing so encourageth a man, and furdereth to the accomplishing of euery worcke and of euery trauell, more then the study and zeale of, and vnto the sacred scripture.

A Wyse man that heareth wysedome, shal become therby more wyser then he was.

THere is knowen to be in the Sea a con­fused noyse, a continuall feare to such as sayle there, an infatigable beating togeather one waue with an other, an vnconstancie continuall: and euen so fareth it with the world.

THY way and thy pathes are in the seas in many waters.

THis life of ours is replenished with such euils, that in the comparison therof, euen death it selfe is thought to be a remedy, and not a punishment vnto vs.

THey are all confused and ashamed, all the woorkers of wickednesse are togeather [Page] gone to confusion.

THey being confusedly scattered, are not confounded, and are nothing ashamed of their wickednesse.

THE small number of soules that liue well, tryeth the danger of this world, and so dooeth the multitude of them that persist and goe through the same.

IN the troublesome sea of this world (sayth he) we must greatly feare, least that eyther the sturdy violence of the tempest doo carry away our shippe, or that the flowing streame doo sincke and swallowe it vp, either els leste that some cruell Pirate, or Rouer doo seaze vpon it as his prize, and so leade it away with him into perpetuall thraldome.

THE Sunne and the Moone are depri­ued of their light, and the starres of the Firmament haue withdrawen their glitte­ring hue.

THey haue all gone out of the way, and are altogeather become vnprofitable.

FOR with one chayne and bond of dark­nesse, were they all bound togeather.

I Haue slyded away into temporall and worldly matters, which are vaine and tran­sitory, and see, I was beset with darknesse.

HE that reacheth after the cuppe wherein is poyson, dooth as it were sippe vppon the brimme of the cuppe for the Hony sake: because he would feele how sweete it is, and not because he feareth how deadly an ende it bringeth.

HOw dimme of cullour is the gold be­come, the best colour therof is faded and changed: the cheefe stones of the Sanctua­rie [Page] are dispersed in the vpper end of the streetes.

THey are blind them selues, and the gui­ders of such as are blind.

THE prosperous and happie thinges counted in this world, haue with them a certaine vnfained bitter taste, a deceitfull pleasantnesse, a sure and certaine heauinesse or sorowe to trust vnto, and an vncertaine pleasure to be delighted withall.

FOR sure (I suppose) that aduersitie doth more profite men, then prosperitie.

VErtue shineth clearely, when man is in aduersitie.

FOrtune distributeth all thinges as plea­seth her, and taketh away the same againe at her pleasure: he is sodenly made a lanke and sclender person, which euen nowe was a graunde paunche.

LET a man desire the temporall goodes of this transitorie world, and he shal euer­more be vexed and disquieted with the desyre thereof.

EVen as those thornes, are not thornes in deede whiche pricke not, so are those rit­ches no ritches worldly, whiche doo not dis­quiet the mind of man.

YT is not at all to be doubted, but grea­ter is the vexation of mind vnto that co­uetous man whiche enioyeth all thinges at wyll, then of the poore man whiche almost hath nothing at all.

THE children of the vnwyse, and of base degree, dyd suppose and deeme, that plea­sures were hidden vnder thornes.

THerfore is the crying of the Sodomites and Gomorrheans increased, and their sinne is too too much greeuous in the sight of the Lord.

THE lyfe of sinne profereth vnto suche as enter in thereto, the Hony mixed with bitternesse to such as goe forwards therein, gall and vineger, and vnto them that passe out of the same lyfe, the poyson of Adders in­curable.

I Know where thy dwelling place is, where also thy seate is Sathanas.

FEare and trembling, a deepe pitte, and a lake is ouer thee which inhabitest on the earth.

NAbuchodonozor carried away Ioachim and the kynges Wyues, the kynges Eunuches, & Iudges of the land, the strong Men, the Artificers, and warriers out of Hierusalem, into the land of Babylon. So nowe in like maner by the suggestion of the Deuil, many Christians are miserably cari­ed captiues from the state of grace, into bon­dage of sinne.

I Ecclesiastes, was the kyng of Hierusa­lem, and purposed in my mind wysely to seeke and searche out, as touching al thinges that are doone vnder the Sunne.

I Haue exalted and magnified my workes, I haue heaped togeather vnto mee siluer and gold, and the substance of kings and pro­uinces, [Page] I made to be ordeyned mee singers, and singing women, and all the delites fitte for the sonnes of men: and all thinges which my eyes desired, haue I not denyed nor for­bidden them from my hart, but that it should enioy all maner pleasure. And when I had turned me agayne vnto al those works which my handes had made, and vnto those labours wherin I had vainely toiled, I then saw, that in them all there was vanit [...]e, and disquiet­nesse of mind, and that there was nothing of durance vnder the Sunne, and I sawe that wysdome differed so much from foolishnesse, as the light dooth from darknesse.

HE had to wyues, which were al queenes, seuen hundred, and three hundred Con­cubines. And when he nowe waxed aged, his hart was so depraued by women, that he folowed after strange goddes.

THE bread of Salomon was dayly .xxx. quarters of meale, tenne stalled Oxen, and twentie out of the pastures, & an hundred Sheepe, besides Hartes, Buckes, and wylde Gotes, and Capons. And Iuda and Israel [Page] dwelt without feare, euery man vnder his Vine, and vnder his Figge tree, from Dan to Beerseba, all the dayes of Salomon.

WHether doo these wicked accursed ex­ercises drawe thee, if notwithstanding thou perseuer and goe forwards so to addict and geue thy selfe to them, that thou lea­uest thee nothing of that whiche is thyne owne. Thou dooest but lose time in those thinges wherein there restes nothing but la­bour, vaine disquietnesse, and vexation of the spirite: for what is the fruites thereof els, but the webbes of Spiders. One day vtte­reth an others brablinges, and one nyght adiudgeth the malice of an other.

THey haue conceiued labour and trauell, and haue brought foorth iniquitie, they [Page] haue hatcht the Egges of Adders, and haue wouen the webbes of Spiders, their works are vnprofitable, spoyle and repentance are in the wayes of them, and the way of peace haue they not knowen.

WHEN on a tyme this man (being one of the seuen Sages) was demaun­ded, what thing was hard: he answered, A man to know him selfe.

DIscend, and returne vnto consideration of thyne owne hart, and wysely discusse of thy selfe, and consider from whence thou commest, whither thou goest, howe thou fra­mest thy lyfe, howe much thou dooest dayly profite, or how much thou dooest disprofite.

THOV sonne of man, there are vnbe­leeuing people, and subuerters of the trueth with thee, and with Scorpions dooest thou inhabite.

A Man of rare diuersitie, is eyther made good or bad, only by meanes of keeping company with others.

DEpart thou from the company of the vn­iust man, and that which is euill shall de­part from thee.

THE worlde is there conuersant, where as is much malice, and small wysedome, where as all thinges are slammy like Birde lyme, all thyngs frayle and brittle, al things couered with darknesse, besette with snares, where soules are put in ieopardy, and bodyes destroyed, whereas also is vanitie, and vexa­tion of the spirite.

THERE is no trueth, there is no mer­cie, and there is no knowledge of GOD vppon earth, but cursing and lying, man­slaughter, [Page] and thefte: yea, and vnto adulte­rie haue they ouerwhelmed them selues, and blood hath medled with blood: for this cause shall the earth mourne, and all fleshe shalbe brought lowe that inhabiteth the same.

ROugh prosperitie hath borne me away perforce from beholdyng the wholsome lyfe.

ƲNto you, O ye kyngs therfore, doo these my woordes appertayne, that you may learne wysedome, and not walke out of this prescribed boundes.

NOwe ye kynges be wyse and learned, ye that iudge the earth, serue the Lorde in feare, and reioyce before him with trem­bling. [Page] Lay hold vpon discipline in time, least that the Lorde be angry at any tyme, and then you perishe out of the right way.

VSed dayly to admonishe and instruct his scholler TRAIANE the Emperour, in foure seuerall thinges. The fyrst, to feare GOD, and honour him duely. The second, in discipline of necessary duety towards eche degree. The third, that he should make much of them that were in aucthoritie vnder him. And the fourth, that he should protect and de­fend his subiectes from all violence and iniu­ries: for thou (sayth he) shalt handle all thynges woonderous well, yf thou dooest not digresse from thy selfe: yf thou fyrst frame thy selfe to a decent lyfe, and yf thou disposest all that is in thee vnto vertue, all thinges shal prosper well with thee.

A Prince ought to be a woorshipper of GOD, because men doo lesse feare that the Prince can away with that which is euil, yf they thinke he be a man that feareth God.

HE that can not gouerne or guide his owne soule, which is but one only, howe [Page] shall he gouerne and guide a multitude of soules.

A Cheefe poynt of wysedome in a King, is to gouerne him selfe.

THERE shall not dwell any within my house, which shall doo after the maner of pride, or arrogancie: my eyes are vppon the faythfull in the land, that they may sitte with me. And he that walketh in the vndefiled way, shall minister vnto me, or serue me.

IEHV the Prophete sayd vnto Iosaphat the kyng of Iuda, Thou geuest helpe vnto the wicked man, & ioynest amity with them that haue hated the Lord, and therefore true­ly hast thou deserued the displeasure of the Lord.

THIS man being one of the seuen Sa­ges of Greece, sayd, It behoueth him that beareth soueraigne rule, to be gentle and curteous, that his subiectes may rather haue him in reuerence and honor for his clemencie, then feare him for his crueltie.

THERE is no defence of armed men to be counted safe and without daunger in respect: but it rather ought to be enuironed with charitie and good wyll of the Citezins, and not with armour.

IETHRO sayd vnto Moyses, (Who was the Ruler, graund captaine, and iudge of sixe hundred thousand men?) Why sittest thou all alone, and all the people committed to thy charge, looketh for thy presence, from the mornyng, vntyll the nyght. Thou shalt be consumed and vanquished with this thy foolishe labour, yea, both thou and this peo­ple which is with thee. Thou hast more to deale withall, then thy habilitie can well dis­pose withall, and thou being but one man, [Page] canst not beare this heauy burden: but heare my woordes, and the counsell I shall geue thee. Doo thou choose out of euery tribe, men of wysedome, and suche as feare GOD, in whom trueth remayneth, and which shall de­test couetousnesse. And then let ordeyne cer­tayne of them to serue as Tribunes, or gene­ralles, and Rulers ouer a certayne number, and Rulers of fyfties. And let be also ordey­ned Deacons, which shall sitte in iudgement seate ouer the people at all times conuenient: and what so euer shalbe of weyghtier impor­tance, that let them referre vnto thy dealyng therwith, and let them selues haue iudgement of lesse matters: And yf thou doo this thyng, thou shalt perfourme the Lordes kingdome. And Moyses dyd as he was thus wylled.

THIS man, one of the seuen Sages, be­ing demaunded by what meanes Cities, or theyr Kynges myght be gouerned, made this answere. Yf the Elders and Rulers of the same, framed theyr lyues accordyng to theyr lawes.

I WYLL reward euery one of you accor­dyng to your woorkes.

GEVE vnto them accordyng as theyr woorkes haue deserued, and accordyng to the iniquitie of their inuentions, reward them oh Lorde.

FOR the wicked are become cruell in that thing which they haue fynnished.

DOO not thou grudge to see the glory and wealth of the vngodly: for in deede thou knowest not what maner subuertion is com­ming vpon them.

FOR Cambyses was of a strange seuerity in iudgement, which caused the skinne of a [Page] certayne wicked Iudge to be flayne of from the body, and commaunded the Iudges owne sonne to descend in iudgement sitting thereup­pon: for this barbarous kyng ordeyned that cruell and newe kind of punishment vpon this iudge, least that any other afterwardes should in lyke maner offend.

THose are abhominable vnto the Kyng whiche doo wickedly: because in iustice shall his throne be established.

I Wyll doo vnto them accordyng to theyr wayes, and accordyng as they geue iudge­ment, so wyll I iudge them.

THE administration of the office of a Prince sheweth what maner of person [Page] him selfe is: euen as he is to be accompted woorst, which not only vseth the instrumentall meane of malice towardes him selfe, but also towardes others. So that Prince is to be re­puted a good prince, which not only towards him selfe procureth the vse of goodnesse and vertue, but also whiche manefesteth the same vnto others.

EAche man becommeth freende vnto his equall, and therefore a good man can not fauour an euyll man.

I Haue not set before myne eyes the thyng that is vnrighteous, I haue hated such as haue done wickedly, and him haue I persecu­ted, which hath slaundred his next neighbour.

Opto placere bonis prauis odiosus haberi.

WE must excite and prouoke, or rather encourage suche as we would haue to doo vertuously, by promising and perfour­ming of rewardes: but altogeather must we denounce and determinate the punishment [Page] without redemption, vppon suche as are of them selues euyll disposed.

IT standeth with the office and duetie of a Kyng, to keepe downe and represse euyll persons, and to exalt and promote them that are good.

FOR by auncient histories is it approued, how and by what meanes of the euyll sug­gestions (which certaine persons haue prac­tized) the cares and enterprises of Kynges, myght be depriued of good successe.

AS in the ordinances made by the euyll Magistrate, that man is reputed parta­ker of the offences whiche are committed by meanes of the same ordinances so by hym made. So as touching the ordinances made [Page] by the elect and holy ones of GOD, he that hath ordeyned that which is good, is a parta­ker of the righteousnesse thereof.

SAyth Daniel to Cyrus Kyng of Persia, O Kyng, be not deceaued, couet to be in­structed in the historie it selfe, and not in the glose thereof.

THE charge in gouernyng a ship, ought not to be committed vnto him which kno­weth not howe to hold the sterne.

IT is not the best way to make euyll men Lordes and Rulers in a Kyngdome, be­cause them selues had more neede of others to ouersee them, then they to ouersee others.

IT is a matter impossible that euyll and negligent persons in aucthoritie, shoulde be diligent seruantes.

THE Cleargie ought euery where to haue regard in euery age and degree, as well those that are learned, as that are vnlear­ned [Page] (so farre as standeth with the Ecclesia­sticall charge) that in such sort they liue, as though a man myght without cares dis­charge his duety, when he shall come to take charge vpon him ouer them.

THERE is nothing that more offen­deth, or trespasseth vnto the Churche of GOD, then that vnwoorthy persons should atteyne vnto the charge of cure ouer soules.

O GOD the Gentiles are come into thy heritage, they haue spoiled thy holy tem­ple, they haue. &c.

PHARAO exalted and preferred Io­seph, because of the goodnesse and wyse­dome which was in him. And so dyd Nabu­chodonozor preferre Daniel, although these twayne were their bondmen, and very stran­gers of other countreys.

IOsaphat dwelt in Hierusalem, and on a time going out of the Citie vnto the people of Barsaba, euen vntill the mount of Ephra­im, he called them againe vnto the considera­cion of their Lorde God and King: and dyd let ordeyne Iudges of the lande to be placed in euery citie within the land of Iuda in eue­ry circute, and gaue the same Iudges in charge, thus. Take good heede (sayth he) to your matters that ye haue to deale in: and neyther shall you doo and execute the iudge­ment of men, but of God: and what so euer you shall adiudge and determine, shall re­dound vnto you, and vpon your owne heads. Let the feare of the Lord remaine with you, and doo you all thinges with diligence: for truely there is none iniquitie with our Lord GOD, neither accepting of any person in iudgement, nor coueting after bribes or re­wardes. And he also constituted Leuites and Priests in Hierusalem, and Rulers ouer the [Page] housholdes of Israel: to the end they shoulde handle the iudgement, and cause of the inha­bitantes there. And he moreouer charged them, saying, Doo you so behaue your selues faythfully in the feare of God, in a perfect and vpright hart, declare the lawe vnto the people, that they do not transgresse and sinne agaynst the Lorde: and least that his wrath come vpon you, and vpon your brethren. Be you therefore of good comfort, and handle your dueties with diligence, and the Lorde shall be with you. &c.

WHO so euer honoureth me, I wyl ho­nour him, and they also that doo des­pise me, shalbe brought lowe.

AS that man which obserueth the lawe, is the best liuing creature: so is he the [Page] woorst of all creatures liuing, whiche liueth without order of lawe, and digresseth from iustice.

IOiada made a league betweene all the people and the kyng, that they should be­come the seruantes of God.

THERE shall be a reuerence vnto iu­stice, euen of those whiche are layde a sleepe, and a safety vnto them for euer.

IT is best for a Citie to liue in vnitie and concord, after the rules of amity and frend­shippe.

WIthout iustice, it is impossible for men to dwell togeather.

THAT man can not be faythful towards men, which sheweth him selfe vnfaythfull to GOD.

THERE is no comparison to be made vnto a faythfull freend.

FOR Dauid, and all the whole house of Israel, delighted in GOD with all ver­tue and godlinesse.

IT is better to be gouerned by a good king, then by a good lawe.

EVEN as the captayne is the defender of the hoste, so reason with skil and know­ledge, is the guide of humane lyfe.

MEN were woont to feare theyr kyng, when they sawe that he feared GOD.

THE cheefest poynt in a Kyng of wyse­dome, is that he be able to gouerne hym selfe.

MY Lord and Kyng, vppon thee are the eyes of all Israel wholy bent, to beholde thee. The Queene of Saba sayth vnto Sa­lomon as it is written.

FOR that cause that the Lord hath loued Israel for euer, therefore hath he annoyn­ted thee to be kyng ouer them, to the ende thou shouldest execute iudgement and iu­stice.

BVT the Kyng shall reioyce in GOD, and the daughter of Sion shall reioyce in their King.

THE King shall raigne, and he shalbe en­dued with wysedome, and shall execute iudgement and iustice vpon earth.

YOV shall pray for all men, fyrst and specially for all Kinges, and for all suche as are appoynted to beare cheefe rule vnder them.

EVEN as there are ordeyned ouer vs both Princes and Prelates, for whom we [Page] ought specially to pray, (for of, and by theyr good disposition and well gouernement, de­pendeth the common wealth of eache estate) so is it of good right, that we encline our selues to liue quietly and peaceably vnder their gouernement in all godlinesse and cha­stitie. And not only ought we thus to pray, for Christian Princes, but also for the Infi­dels vnder whom Christians remayne cap­tiued.

THERE shalbe offered sacrifices of thankesgeuing vnto the mighty GOD for the Kyng and his chyldren, and the peo­ple shall pray for their liues. &c.

THE Prince ought to be a woorshipper of GOD, because men doo lesse feare that the Prince can away with that which is euyll, yf they thinke he be a man that feareth GOD.

THE fyrst duety of Iustice, is to be ioy­ned with the ordinance of GOD, the second, is to be ioyned with the lawe of man. Let the Iudge therefore so execute iustice, that he doo not offend GOD, and iniurie his neyghbour.

AND wylt thou haue all thinges subiect vnto thee, doo thou then submit and yeeld thy selfe to reason: for euen reason shall go­uerne many Kinges, and thee also.

HE shall haue to iudge of an other mans offence, whiche hath not in him selfe that he may condemne by equitie: least when he iudgeth an other man, he geue sentence vpon him selfe also.

IT happeneth for the most part, that he sit­teth in seate of iudgement, whose lyfe is [Page] leaste agreeable vnto the woorthynesse [...]f that place, and it oftentimes comes to passe with him, that he condemneth the guiltles, and saueth those that are guilty.

THE Kyng which in trueth iudgeth the poore, shall haue his throne established for euer.

HEARE, O ye Princes and Rulers of Iacob, and you Captaynes of the house of Israel: is it not your part to knowe what iudgement and iustice is, which do hate that that is good, and loue that which is euill.

THE greatest policies are dissolued and violated, by reason of the transgression [Page] and offence committed in dooing iustice.

IVstice is the Lady and Mistresse of all thinges, and the Queene of Vertues.

THE iustice of the Kyng, is the peace of his people, the sauegard and defence of his countrey, the ioy of men, the solace of poore men, the inheritance of children, and vnto him selfe this iustice, is the very hope of blessednesse in time to come.

THE lawe is nothing els but a straight and perfect reason, whiche proceedeth from the cleare light of the day, commaun­ding such thinges as are honest, and prohibi­ting suche thinges as are contrary. There­fore we ought (as Virgil saith) to obserue the fidelitie or faithfulnesse in the lawes pre­scribed.

TAKE away Iustice, and what els are Kingdomes but great spoyles of robbe­ries.

PEace shalbe the woorke of Iustice, and there shalbe a reuerence vnto Iustice, euen [Page] of them whiche are layd to sleepe, and they shall dwell in safetie for euer.

THE Kyngdome shalbe translated from one nation vnto an other, by reason of their iniust dealinges and iniuries, and by meanes of their reproches, and because of the diuers deceiptes which they practize.

THEY haue wrested iudgement back­wardes, and Iustice hath stoode a farre of, because trueth hath fallen downe in the streetes, and equitie coulde not enter there, and trueth was made a guste of forgotten freendship, and the man that departed from dooing euill, felt the smart of a prized spoile.

BEholde, I deliuer before you the way of life, and the way of death: doo your iudge­ment [Page] in due time, and bring the oppressed soule out of violence, least that my displea­sure and wrath, doo haply depart from me, towardes you, as a consuming fyre, and so burne you, that there ve none to quenche the same, by reason of the malice of your inuen­tions.

WIcked Iudges, euen after the maner of Woolues, do rauen and make hauocke of all thinges.

NAbuchodonozor eateth me vp, and gree­dely dooth as it were deuoure me.

BRibes and rewardes doo blind the eyes of Iudges, and as a gift in the mouth dooth stoppe their reprehencions.

HEARE this, ye Princes and Rulers of the house of Iacob, and you Iudges of the house of Israel, whiche haue abhorred to doo iustice in iudgement, and doo peruert all thinges that are good: because you build vp Sion with bloodshed, and Hierusalem with iniquitie, their Princes shall geue iudge­ment for rewardes: for this cause shall Sion be furrowed vpon, euen as a feelde.

THE simple people are more greeuously torne in peeces of the euyll Iudges, then of their most cruell enimies: For there is no robber so greedy of other mens goodes, as a wicked Iudge is amongst those whom he hath aucthoritie of.

IN so much as the mischeefe of couetous­nesse waxeth nowe so ripe, that euen of custome the very lawes are bought and solde, iudgementes are corrupted, the very sentence it self is set to sale for mony, & there can be no cause without care and vexation tryed.

WOO be vnto you whiche iustifie the wicked for bribes and rewardes, and doo wrest the iust mans cause from him.

HEARE me, O ye of hard harts, which haue sequestred your selues farre from Iustice.

YOV haue forsaken those two most graue respects of the law, that is, the one iudge­ment, the other mercie.

FOR nowe Iustice is made none other thyng, but a common marchandize.

NOW, O ye Kynges be wyse and lear­ned, you that iudge the earth.

IT is the office and duety of kinges, to keepe vnder those that are euil, and aduance such as are good subiectes.

ANtiochus saide, I wyll be reuenged vp­pon them whiche haue corrupted the land. &c.

IN this poynt doo Kinges serue God, yf in theyr kingdomes they commaund and esta­blishe that whiche is good, and forbid that which is euil, not in matters only parteyning to humane society, but as concernyng deuine religion: for neither liue they at ease free from cares of mind, and trauels of the body: but bestowe their tyme in great disquietnesse and labour, vntill such time as they haue accom­plished their functions and dueties to all per­fections.

THE hardest iudgement shall be mini­stred vnto them whiche beare aucthoritie ouer others.

BLessed is that land, whose King is of no­ble race.

VErtue and malice doo determine and handle matters betweene bondmen and freemen, betweene noble men, and those of base degree.

NObilitie and Vertue, are in few persons to be found remayning togeathee.

MY song shalbe of mercy and iudgement, to thee, oh Lord. Idem. I haue done indifferent iustice, and executed iudgement, I haue hated the workes of iniquitie. &c.

I Haue clothed me with Iustice, and with my iudgement haue I apparrelled me as it [Page] were with a garment, and Dyadem of ho­nour, I haue been in steade of an eye to the blind man, and as a foote to helpe the lame: A father haue I also been of the poore, and such cause as I was vtterly ignorant in, haue I diligently searched for the certeyne trueth thereof: I haue destroyed the labours of the vniust man, and out of his Iawes haue I ta­ken the spoyle.

BLessed are they whiche hunger and thyrst after righteousnesse, because theirs is the kingdome of Heauen.

FOR as from day to day there is a conti­nuall thirst and hunger renewed in our sto­mackes after meates and drinkes corporall: so ought there appeare in vs a freshe and new appetite, or affection inseperable after iu­stice, in correcting of offences committed.

SEleucus Prince of Locria, on a time be­ing in the cheefe Citie thereof whiche he had, established & protected with most whol­some and profitable lawes, when as his sonne was condemned for adulterie, accordyng to the lawes whiche he him selfe had ordeyned, that such offender should be depriued of both his eyes: and that the whole Citie for the ho­nour of their Countrey, did for a certayne space withstand and gaynesay to dispence with necessity of punishment in this respect. The father being throughly ouercome with the instant requestes of the people: because he would doo some moderation of iustice, and borowe the lawe in some part, executing it at full in an other, first causing one of his owne eyes to be quite pluckt out, and then after­wardes one of his sonnes eyes, left vnto them both but two eyes to see with. So farre dyd he perfourme a due measure of punishment, with a woonderfull temperature, as the equi­tie of the lawe might require, making hym [Page] selfe partaker in the punishment wholy due vnto his sonne, perfourmed him selfe a mer­cifull father, and iust distributer of the law in this maner.

LET vs liue soberly, iustly, and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and glory of the mighty God.

BLessed is the man which hath the name of the Lord for his hope, and hath not beheld nor looked after vanities and mischeuous falshoodes.

BEhold the man which hath not taken God for his helper, but hath trusted in the mul­titude of his ritches, and preuayled in his va­nitie, the hope of the vngodly shall perishe.

WHat madnes is this where men doo de­sire to forsake plaine and simple dea­linges, for double double dealinges. Where is the couetous man, where is the lecherous person, where is the ambicious and vayne glorious, where is the vnthankfull person that whineth at the fe [...]icitie of this world: because howe much the more God hath be­stowed his benefites vpon such one, so much the lesse feareth he to offend him, and repu­tyng not him self beholdyng in duety for the benefites of God receaued, doth rather more impugne and withstand him.

WHOM the Lorde hath loued, is puft vp with fatnesse, and hath spurned a­gainst the Lord his maker.

THEY are troubled and mooued vnto mischeefe as a drunken man.

THE thing that thou desirest to enioy, is like vnto a Mouse trappe, whyles thou seekest to catch thy desyre, thou thy selfe art [Page] snared: whyles thou holdest that which is an other mans, thou art holden caytiue of the de­uill.

WHAT dooth GOD punishe, or what dooth he hate, but a mans selfe wyll in sinfulnesse. Let selfe wyll in sinfulnesse cease, and there shal be no hell ordeined for thee. &c.

THE foolishnesse of this world, is coun­ted wysedome before God.

YOV foolishe dotyng Galathians, who hath bewitched you, that you wil not obey the trueth.

WHERE are nowe become thy wyse men, the Princes of Zoan are [Page] become fooles, the Princes of Noph are de­ceaued: euen they that were reputed the cheefe stay thereof, haue deceaued Egypt: in the midst of it hath the Lord powred the spi­rite of wickednesse, yea they haue deceaued Egypt in euery woorke thereof, euen as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

EVen seeing it with my eyes, my selfe wittingly and willingly doo perishe, and am vndone.

O You louers of the world, for what cause doo you goe to warres with your selues: Can your hope be greater in the world, then that you become freendes vnto the worlde? what other thyng els can you finde there, but a frayle and brittell vessell full of dangers. All these things let them perishe, let vs geue ouer these vaine thinges, and let vs goe ano­ther way to the wood, to the searching foorth of those thinges which haue none end.

HE that is poore in the purse, and ritche in good conscience, sleepeth more soundly in the Cottage, the [...] the ritche man that en­ioyeth [Page] gold and purple at pleasure.

THE world passeth away, and the concu­piscence thereof. Whether hadst thou lea­uer loue temporall thynges, and with them passe away in time, or loue Christe, and with him liue for euer.

WHO was he at any time so mindful of the world, that hath been mindfull of Christe as he should be.

I Beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims, that you absteyne your selues from carnall desyres, which fight agaynst the soule.

STrangers and Pilgrims doo harbour them selues in many & diuers Innes, but they finde no freendship by their soiournyng at all.

THE innocent and iust men haue taken part with me.

VNtyll I dye wyll I not depart from my inno­cencie.

HAVE thou no delight in wicked chil­dren, yf they shalbe multiplied vpon the earth: for one childe that feareth GOD, is better then a thousand of the vngodly, and it were better to die without issue, then to leaue [Page] wicked children behind thee.

THE innocent shalbe saued. Idem CAP. 3. What innocent person did euer yet pe­rishe at any time.

A Man is knowen and discerned in his children.

WIthdraw not discipline from thy child, for yf thou beate him with the rod, he shall not dye.

THE dissolute or loose life of the children, is referred vnto the negligence of the pa­rentes.

IT is needefull that vertues haue a master and teacher of them: but as for vices, they [Page] are learned of vs without any teacher, be­cause vertue is a thing wherein difficulty consisteth.

THE bringing vp of children, and the dis­cipline, or awe of correction wherein they stand, doo confirme theyr maners and con­uersation, and euery childe hath a taste & per­seuerance of that which he hath learned.

THE doore is set open for vs, but there is a manifest daunger before our eyes, and we haue many aduersaries·

NONE shall be crowned with the gar­land of victory, but he that hath fought it out to the vttermost.

I Doo arrogate and callenge vnto my selfe a most foolishe victory, yf I doo not fyght, and I clayme a crowne without victory.

TO doo euyll, is an easie matter, but to doo well, it is hard for vs.

THE beginnyng of vertue in a man, yea the cheefe vertue selfe, is to embrace ver­tue. &c.

BE not you deceaued in your owne doings, God is not mocked withall: what so euer a man soweth, the same also shall he reape.

WHO so soweth iniquities, shall reape to him selfe that which is euyll.

IF thou hast not geathered togeather some store in thy youth, howe shalt thou fynde wherewith in thy aged yeeres to helpe thee.

A Chylde is knowen by his studyes and trauelles.

FOR innocencie is the defencible armour of God, which yf thou hast, thou and all thyne shalbe in sauety.

IT lyeth in vs to gette the victory, if we wyll endeuour our selues therevnto, and out of this battell or conflict, none of vs a­gaynst our wylles shalbe deiected.

AS thou growest in yeeres, so let grace in­crease with thee more and more: let iu­stice increase, as the number of thy yeeres increaseth, and how much the elder thou art, so much the more perfect let thy fayth ap­peare in thee.

THERE is no greater vertue can re­mayne in man, then to bridle and came vices.

I Passed by the feelde of the slothfull man, and there grewe vp thornes which couered his woorkemanship.

HE that soweth in teares, shall reape in ioy.

GLorious is the fruite of good labours.

THere is nothing vyler, then he which toy­leth, and wyll haue all thinges that he doeth to be counted good, and yet he him selfe laboureth not to be reputed a good man.

THE slothfull man would not plowe be­cause of the colde weather, he shall there­fore goe a begging in the sommer, and no man shall releeue him.

EXcept a man doo with all endeuour trye out the mastry to the vttermost, there is no superfluous triumph of victory to be had.

O True pronounced safe battle in Christes cause, and for Christes loue is that con­flict wherein neyther is a man wounded, cast vnder foote, nor stricken downe, neyther yet being slayne a thousand times (yf it were so possible) shall he be frustrated and deceaued of the victorie: so that he stand to it manful­ly, and start not away.

HIS bones shall be fylled with the vices of his youth, and with hym shall they sleepe in the dust.

THE continuall custome of transgressing and offendyng, hath made the way of ver­tue vnpleasant and sharpe vnto vs.

IF the blacke a More may change the cul­lour of his skinne, or the Leopard her spec­kled heare, euen so is it possible with man to doo well, when he hath learned alredy to doo euyll.

THere is nothyng more precious then tyme: alacke there is nothyng at this day deemed more vyle. The dayes of mans [Page] lusty and healthfull tyme passe away, and no man thynketh of the well bestowing thereof: for euen as there shall not perishe one heare of the iust mans head, so neyther shall there escape hym one minute of tyme vncounted vpon. All the tyme that on thee is bestowed, shall be required at thy handes, in what man­ner thou hast spent the same.

BEtter are the stripes of him that loueth thee tenderly, then the deceitfull kysses of hym that hateth thee.

THE young man shall walke in the way that I haue prescribed him, and when he waxeth olde, he shall not depart therefrom.

THE beauty and deformity of mans mind, is prescribed in the quality, eyther of the [Page] vertues, or of the vices thereof.

IT is a hard thing to be brought to passe, nay it is a thyng altogeather impossible for deuine vertue, where once the yoke of sinne is taken vppon vs, to shake it of from our shoul­ders: because he that committeth sinne, is the seruant and bondman of sinne.

HE hath fallen, and hath not taken holde wherevpon he myght aryse vp agayne.

I Haue more easely founde out who they be that haue obserued innocencie of baptisme, then whiche repented theyr sinfull lyues as they ought to haue done.

THAT man recouereth vp with muche a doo, whom the massy weyght of euyl cu­stome keepeth vnder.

CVstome and countenaunce in maner of li­uyng, confyrmeth the maners of lyfe, and the vse of the yoke, is as the inclination of nature.

THAT best order or rule of lyfe is to be chosen, whom custome shall make plea­sant and sweete vnto vs.

BE you conuerted, and repent you of all your iniquities, and your iniquities shall not be the cause of your destruction.

MAKE no tarriance to turne vnto the Lord, and deferre not of frō day to day: for suddenly shall his wrath come, and in his wrath he shall destroy thee.

AN euill cogitation bringeth foorth a noughty delectation: the delectation, a consent: the consent, a deede: the deede, a custome: the custome, an euyll necessity.

HOWE comes it to passe, that certayne haue the penury and scarcity of spirituall grace, when others haue the plentifull abun­dance. Vndoubtedly he that is the distribu­ter and bestower thereof, is neyther couetous to keepe it to him selfe, nor bare and needy to such as he thinkes woorthy of the bestowing thereof: But where as empty vessels for the purpose are wanting, there must the oyle want her vse. The loue of the world showueth her selfe in to euery corner with her consola­cions, nay rather desolations, shee keepeth and obserueth the maner of her comming to a man, shee rusheth in at the wyndowes of the mind, shee possesseth the mind of man, but not his mind that hath saide, My soule hath not refused to be comforted, I haue ben mind­full of GOD, and I am delighted in him: for surely the sacred delight forsaketh and de­clineth from the minde that is exercised in worldly desyres: neyther can thinges true, be mixed with thinges that are vayne: ney­ther thinges eternall, with things frayle and transitory: neyther yet corporall things with spirituall thinges. It is thus to be concluded [Page] for principall, that a man ought to be wyse in thinges that are aboue, as well as in thinges vpon earth.

IT seemeth there is this difference betwene the delightes of the body and of the minde, as, the corporal pleasures, when they are not enioyed, do kindle a greeuous desire towards them selues, and being enioyed, they turne all thinges to destruction. And on the other part, the delightes of the soule are quite con­trary: because howe muth the more the taste of them is sauoured, so muche the more the same is esteemed, to the ende they may be be­leeued with more auidity or greater desyre: and therefore not being enioyed, they can not be embraced or beloued, because the taste of them is not knowen or approued.

TAste and see howe sweete the Lorde is, and this he meaneth (as who would say) you haue no perceauerance of the Lorde, ex­cept you taste and feele the goodnesse of him.

THeir soule hath abhorred all meates, and they haue drawen neare vnto the gates of death.

OVR soule perprabraketh vppon the re­ceipte of this light meate.

THERE is no torment greater then the torment or vexation of the conscience. And wylt thou then neuer be sadde or mole­sted, lyue well. A mans mind that is secure, dooth easely sustayne and away with sadnes: A good lyfe hath euer ioy among.

IOY shalbe mixed with sorowe, and there is euer mourning foloweth extreme ioyes.

THOV Lorde hast commaunded, and it comes so to passe, that there is a torment due vnto euery inordinate mind that can not measure it selfe.

SVrely there is no man whiche ought, or may thinke, that there aryseth greater fe­licitie of the mind, in, or by the vse of vices, then there dooth in and by the exercise of vertue.

THE holy and elect children of GOD, haue conquered kingdomes by fayth, haue wrought equitie and iustice, and haue a­dopted them new promises of sauing health.

IF humane minde, with a strong and fyrme desyre be directed towardes God: she estee­meth euery bitter thing to be sweete, and thinkes euery thing to be as it were a quiet rest, whiche dooth molest her. And moreo­uer, she earnestly desyreth to passe ouer this [Page] life by death, to the end she may the more ful­ly obteyne lyfe.

IT standeth most with equitie, that we doo loue him aboue all thynges, which hath lo­ued vs aboue all thynges.

WHEN he had receaued meate, he was comforted.

MAN dooth not liue by bread only, but by euery woord that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD.

MY Soule is replenished as it were with marowe and with fatnesse.

LET your handes receaue comfort, and be you the children of valiant and coura­gious [Page] mindes.

PRayer is a sauegard of the Soule, a so­lace and consolation to the good angell, a scourge vnto the Deuill, and an acceptable obsequy or sacrifice of man vnto God.

THE fortitude or courage of the repro­bate in this world, is enclined to the loue of transitorie thinges, and neuer stinteth that affect: but without reason (not knowyng what shee dooth) hardneth her selfe agaynst the scourge of the maker of this world. The fortitude or courage of good and godly per­sons, is bent to ouercome the fleshe, and to goe against her owne pleasure: to extinquish the delectations of this present lyfe, to em­brace the sharpe and bitter stormes of this worlde, for and in consideration of the euer­lasting remuneracions: to contemne the flat­teryng allurementes of prosperitie, and man­fully to vanquishe in the hart all feare of ad­uersitie.

EXcept thy conscience be pure and cleane from sinnes, thou shalt not be heard of God: then make cleane the chamber of thy hart onely, and thou shalt fynde him within that wyll heare thee at full.

HOwe many are there whiche enter into the house of God to pray vnto God, how fewe are there heard of him, howe many are there which cal God theyr father, as in their prayer, (Our Father. &c.) which are not his chyldren, but the fathers children of whom it is written: You are of the father the Deuill, because they are not the chyldren of GOD, which haue lost his grace and fauour, but are rather the Deuils children, who hath begotten them in malice, and nourisht them in mischefe.

EVen as fyre and water can not be both togeather in one substance at once, so ney­ther can the delites of the body & of the soule abide to dwell togeather.

A Good conscience is the tytle and signe of religion, the Temple of Salomon, the feelde of blessing, the breeder of delites, the golden reclaiming meane of a transgressor, the ioy of Angels, the Court of God, the ha­bitackle or dwellyng place of the holy ghost, the booke opened and shut, which shal be ma­nifested in the day of iudgement.

WHAT is there thought may be ob­teyned, where as a good conscience is lost.

THere is no man more corrupt in life, then he that seemes to him self to be cleare and sound in lyfe.

LOoke vppon the mind, scanne vppon the maners, marke and be mindful of thy do­inges, for euer in them, and by or of them, shalt thou knowe what thou art.

IT is a poynt of foolishnesse properly for a man to prye and looke neare into other mens faultes, and to forgeat his owne.

I Wyll smite the Shepheard, and the sheepe of the flocke shalbe scattered one from an other: the integritie of them that beare rule, is the health of the Subiectes.

IT falleth out nowe and then, that one man hath power ouer an other to his owne hin­derance.

THE Citie shall reioyce in the wealth of iust and vpright Rulers, and there shal be ioy ouer the destruction of the wicked.

MAN is neuer in state of honour with­out dolour and sorowe: in pleasure with­out payne, in aucthoritie without vanitie.

I Wyl geue them children for their princes, and such as are of womanish mindes, shall beare aucthoritie ouer them, and the people shall perishe.

THY Shepheardes are chaunged into fleesers of their flocke, thy Lambes into Woolues, thy defenders, into dispersers of the flocke, and they that should be sober, are dayly geuen to drunkennesse: they that should be chaste, are vicious liuers: for godly Prelates, thou shalt haue wicked Pilates: and they that ought to be god [...]y inducers and teachers of thee, shalbe seducers, and fetchers of thee from the right way.

DAVID, the second Kyng of Israel, dooth surely shine in mankind, as it were [Page] a certayne brightnesse that would dazell our eyes. In what man at any time were there found togeather these two thinges: that is to say, so great aucthoritie conceaued with so great humility, so great courage, so great clemencie, so great a care as he conteyned to­wardes the disposing of his worldly affaires, so pure and deuoute contemplacion, or medi­tating of spirituall matters: to kill so many men, and to shed teares of repentance: to fall into so great offences as he dyd, and to per­fourme so good repentance.

I Am delighted in the way of thy testimo­nies, as in al the riches and worldly wealth which I haue.

DElight thou thy selfe in the Lord, and he shall rewarde thee euen to the desyres of thy owne hart.

WEre it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe, I shoulde then perhappes haue perished in my owne humilitie. Lorde, my hart is not puffed vp, neither are my eyes lifted vp, neither haue I walked in greate thinges, nor in woonderfull thinges aboue [Page] my reache. Lord remember Dauid, and all his mercie.

WIth exhorting thee (good brother) I beseeche thee, that vnto euery seruaunt of thy housholde, from the greatest vnto the least, thou wouldst be a messenger of loue and sweetenes towardes the obteyning of that heauenly kingdome, and denounce vnto them the horror and trembling that is in the infer­nall pit of hell: and that thou be wyse thy selfe for theyr welfare, and be as a watche man vnto them: because for euery seruaunt which is within thy house, thou shalt render an ac­count.

DEpart ye wicked from me, and I wyll searche foorth the commaundementes of my God.

FOR the louers of euill men are woorthy of death.

GOE away from the wicked man, and there shall no euill come neare thee.

I Haue written vnto you, that you should not entermingle your selues with fornicators, with offenders, specially whiche haue com­mitted fornication against God. And this dyd I vnto that end, that eyther they myght be confounded, or amended.

HEarken not you vnto the false prophetes, whiche may come vnto you in Sheepes clothing.

IN nature of worldly things (saith he) thus falleth it out: that so ofte as the euyll man is a companion vnto the good man, the euill man is not made better by the good man, but by the euyll man, the good man is made woorse.

THERE is nothing so much hurteth a man, as dooth euyll company. I thinke it [Page] a thing more then possible, that that man can any longer continew in dooing well, whiche is dayly conuersant with euyll men.

BLessed is the man which hath not walked in the counsell of the wicked, and hath not stand in the way of the vngodly, nor hath not sit in the chayre of pestilence, but hath repo­sed his wyll and desyre in the lawe of the Lorde.

WIth the holy, thou shalt be holy, and with the froward, thou shalt learne fro­wardnesse.

WHiche matter is prooued by auncient histories, and by suche persons as they are accomplished dayly, how by the euill sug­gestions of certaine which are in aucthoritie [Page] about some princes of the world, the trauels and affaires of those Princes are brought to yll passe.

IOAS the King of Iuda dyd that whiche was acceptable in the syght of the Lord, so long as Ioiada the high Priest liued: but of trueth when Ioiada dyed, the P [...]inces of Iu­da entred into the fauour of Ioas the K [...]ng, and did honour the King as a God: who be­ing ouercome with their flattering seruices, gaue eare vnto them, and both the King and his Counsell then forsooke the Church of the Lorde, and dyd woorship vnto the starres of the Firmament, and grauen Images, and the wrath of the Lorde was mooued vppon Iuda and Hierusalem for this offence.

I Wysedome haue my dwelling in the coun­sels of men.

ROboam the King, forsooke the counsell of the Elders of the kingdome: wherevp­pon it came to passe, that of twelue tribes which ruled in Israel, he lost ten of them.

THE counsels of the vngodly are meare deceiptfull snares vnto them selues.

I Haue hated the vniust liuers, and I am ab­horred of them.

THERE is risen vp a light in place of darknesse, to suche as are of a true hart.

FOR with one chaine or band, were they all linckt.

THVS sayth the Lorde, Keepe equitie, and doo right: for my sauing health shall come shortly, and my righteousnesse shall be opened.

PVT thou no confidence in fortune of this world, for in a moment is the Sea altered and chaunged.

THE great surges of temporall thinges, carrieth with them the iudgement of eter­nall damnation.

IT is not possible for a man to enioy both the present felicities of this life, and of the life to come: and here to fyll his belly, and there to satisfie his mind, and from pleasures to pleasures to passe his appointed course, that he may be both happy and blessed in hea­uen and earth togeather.

IF we wyll seeke for the sweete, it is requi­site that wee doo suffer and tollerate the sower.

THEY shall walke as the blind doo, be­cause they haue sinned against the Lorde.

AND Moyses lifted vp his handes vnto Heauen, and there was made horrible darknesse for the space of three dayes, vppon the whole land of Egypt, so that no man kn [...]we his owne brother, neither knewe he in what place him selfe was: but contrary­wyse▪ where so euer the children of Israel had their abiding, there appeared light vnto them.

THE light shineth in the darknesse, but the darknesse comprehendeth it not.

THE people that walketh in the darke­nesse, haue seene a great light appeared vato them: there is light arysen vp vnto them that dwell in the shadowe of death.

TO lighten those that sitte in darknesse, and in the shadowe of death.

A Light from Heauen compassed him, shining rounde about him: and when he opened his eyes, he sawe nothing.

FOR their owne malice hath blinded them selues.

THERE is great labour and trauell ordeyned for all men, and a yoke of gree­uous [Page] painefulnesse, which shall be laid vpon the sonnes of Adam from their birth day, vn­till they shall returne vnto the Earth their graue, the mother of all thinges: euen from the degree of him which beareth the scepter, and weareth the Diadem or Crowne, vnto that lowe degree of him that is clothed in sackecloth: fury, zeale, hurlyburly, trem­bling, and the feare of death burning in ire­full indignation and contencion, shall molest him, and when he would take his rest in his bedde, the dreame of the night passed, shall take away his vnderstanding.

MAN which is borne of a woman, hath but a short time here to liue, and is filled with many miseries, with heate, colde, and hunger, and neuer remaineth in one estate, because he is nowe in good health, straight­way sicke. &c.

HOO ritche Lorde art thou in mercie, howe mighty in iustice, howe bountifull in grace: O Lorde our GOD, there is none like vnto thee.

BVT those that seeke foorth the Lorde, shall not be put to confusion in euery good enterprise: wherevppon saith Cassiodorus, When we loue the Lorde, we finde al things in him, he is one onely to be sought for: but he is that one wherein all thinges are con­teined. Oh woonderfull gaine, oh singuler sallary, or steepend for our paines: why then doo we wearie our selues by diuers meanes: but let vs with one vnitie of mind make haste vnto him, who being had, let vs seeke for none other felicities besides him, but let vs holde him with fixed faith.

THOV hadst very little before that I came vnto thee, and nowe thou art made riche by me, and God hath blessed thee at my entrance vnto thee.

AT all times and seasons doo thou geue praises, and pray vnto God, and desire of [Page] him that he would direct thy wayes, accor­ding to his wyll.

THERE is nothing more like vnto the woorkes of the Deuils, then to be conti­nually at strife and debate one man with an other.

SEe that you haue vnitie in the bond of peace, because there is not a more liuelier shape and fourme of Angelicall conuersati­on, then is brotherly vnitie of one man with an other.

GOD loueth the bonde of concorde and vnitie.

THERE is nothing more precious with God, then the vertue of loue: there [Page] is nothing that the deuill desireth, more then the extinguishing of charitie and loue.

THERE is nothing hard or difficult vnto those that doo loue, there is no tedi­ous trauell in loue. Let vs therefore loue Christe, and what so euer thing is hard of it selfe vnto vs, wee shall thinke it very easyly to be atcheeued of vs.

THE labours and trauelles of louers can not by any meanes be tedious and burde­nous vnto them, but euen them selues are de­lighted therein, as they that haue a delight eyther in hunting, fowling, or fisshing.

WHAT man so euer he be that shall perfectly discerne the burden of sinne, and the wound of his soule or conscience, shal eyther very little or nothing at all feele the payne, or vexation of his body, neyther shall he thinke much of the labour bestowed, wherein he shall vnderstand howe to deface and wype away his sinnes doone and past, and learne to take heede how he commit any more such offences in time to come. &c.

BEtter is that medicine preserueatiue, then that which is curatiue.

ALL haynous offences and horrible, whiche man dooth by custome commit, are eyther thought by him to be but small, or none at all: so as not only they are not to be cloked and couered, but also doo require to be published and openly detected.

CErtaine persons there haue been so ac­customed to feede vpon very poyson, that they haue taken it for their onely meate.

GOod custome ought to shake out and re­iect those thinges, which the euyl custome hath put in vre, and trayned in man.

IT is a hard thing for man to resist & with­stand custome, because she is made so like nature in her proper vse: yet notwithstan­ding it is an easier thing for vs to alter and chaunge custome, then naturall inclination.

ONE depthe calleth vpon an other, they haue prolonged their iniquitie.

O Most wicked presumption, from whence art thou descended?

O Thou my soule, whiche art the badge of a Christian, made noble after the image of God, decored with equall forme, spoused vnto him in fayth, endowed with the spirite, redeemed with his blood, made heyre with angels, receauer of blessednesse, the child of [Page] grace, and partaker of reason, what hast thou with thee, as touching thy frayle fleshe what may be saide, hast thou not found it an vnsauery and noysome dounghil?

O Cleare white vnspotted Lilly, oh thou tender and delicate floure, there are vn­beleeuing people abidyng with thee, and such as seeke thy subuertion, and with Scorpions hast thou thy dwelling. Take heede, and see that thou walke warely amongst the thorns, because the worlde is full of thornes: they breede on the earth, they are in the ayre, and they are in thy fleshe. To be therefore con­uersant amongst these, and by them not to be hurt, consisteth in the power deuine to with­stand, and not in any vertue that thou hast.

O Howe is that Soule vnhappy, which is sequestred from the cheefe felicitie, and ouer whom the deuill hath sway, she is made voyde of lyght, and enuironed with darke­nesse, she is consumed with pleasure, and made drunke with bitter waters, she loseth life, and fyndeth death. &c.

BEcause I doo acknow­ledge myne iniquitie, and my sinne is alway a­gainst me.

BVT they that com­mit sinne and iniqui­tie, are enimies to their owne soule.

THERE should no aduersitie or mishap hurt vs, yf there dyd no iniquitie con­demne and adiudge vs woorthy therof.

MY iniquities are gone ouer my head, and as a great burden are they heauy vppon me.

SInne maketh the people become misera­ble.

WHAT can be more miserable, then the wretched worldling which hath no compassion of him selfe.

I Wyll vizite the landes with diseases, and agaynst the wicked wyll I goe with theyr in [...]quities.

AS the Lion is euer lurking for his pray, so dooth the sinnes of man lye in wayte for them that woorke mischeefe.

SInne is defined, to be any thyng spoken, or any thyng done, eyther any desyre striuing agaynst the lawe of God.

O Howe wretched is the state of sinners, which esteeme of the sonne of God, as of a Swineheard.

YOur iniquities haue set enimity betwene you and your God, and your sinnes haue couered his face from beholdyng you with mercie, and that he shoulde not heare you when you pray vnto him.

OVr iniquites are multiplied before him, and our sinnes haue made answear vnto vs.

DAVID spake these woordes touching Ioab, The Lorde recompence the euyll man, according to the mallice of his mis­cheefe.

THOV hast hated all them that doo woorke wickednesse.

SInne is the ransacking spoyle of the good grace receaued, and a corruption natural­ly grafted in man.

BVT the wicked and vngodly in the land, shalbe destroyed.

THE way of the vngodly, is as the darke­nesse, they knowe not where they fall.

OVR sinnes haue debarred and prohibi­ted the good graces of God from vs.

IN the woorkes of his owne handes, is the sinner snared and taken.

MANY plagues are there ordeyned for sinners, but mercy shall compasse him rounde about, that putteth his trust in the Lorde.

BE ashamed (oh my Soule) and blushe at thy folly: thou hast chaunged thy deuine shape and forme, into a brutish and beastly forme.

THERE is nothing more beastly, then that man which is endewed with reason, and vseth it not.

HOw much the more a man shall sinne, so much the lesse shall he knowe what sinne is, and in deede so much the more shall he be delighted therewith.

SInne is the issue, or generation of the de­uill, the parent of death, the corruption of nature, and the deformation, or defilyng of the soule.

WHAT greater poynt of madnesse can there be in man, then for a very little pleasure of the flesh, to make him self a bond­man vnto euerlasting punishmentes.

WHAT yf thou wouldest desire of God that thou mightest heare the voyce of this thy Lorde and God speaking vnto thee, that thou shouldest obserue and accomplishe all that he commaundeth. The Lorde shall strike thee with madnes, and with blindnes, [Page] and with fury of the minde, that thou shalt stumble at the noone day, as the blind man is woont to stumble in the darknes, and thou shalt not guide thy footesteppes, but shalt al­waies suffer reproche, and be oppressed with violence, neyther shall there be any man to deliuer thee free from his fury.

THEY haue trembled with feare, where there was no feare at all.

IF so be that you wyll not heare me, ney­ther doo all that I haue commaunded you, but shall despise my lawes and ordinances, I wyll set my face agaynst you, and you shall perishe before the face of your enimies, and you shalbe cast vnder foote of those that haue hated you. The King shal put them in feare, [Page] yea, the noyse of a leafe blowen from the Tree, shall make them afraide: they shal fall downe to the earth, when there is no man to strike them.

THE way of the vngodly, shall deceaue them: the deceitfull man shall finde none aduantage.

THERE is prepared a dwelling place for all the Deuils, and a place of custody for euery vncleane spirite.

THEY are become abominable, euen as those idols that they haue embraced and had in honour.

THE belly of the wicked person, is neuer satisfied.

THEY haue walked as the blinde that sawe not, because they haue sinned against the Lorde.

HIS foote path is hidden in the earth: feare and trembling shall make him a­fraide on euery side.

THE praise of the vngodly shal be but for a small seazon, and the ioy of an hypocrite is like vnto the poynt of a swoord: yf his pride shall lift it selfe vp vnto the heauens, and that his head doo touche the cloudes, yet in the ende it shall be destroyed, euen as the filthy dounghil, and as a dreame that is vani­shed, shall it not be found.

THE reward of sinne, is death.

HIS spirite shall goe foorth, and shall re­turne into his owne land: in that day shal all his cogitations perishe.

THE wicked man being once dead, there resteth no further hope vnto him.

O Thou Soule of man, not with precious golde or siluer, but with the blood of the Lambe of GOD redeemed: Why wylt thou deliuer thy selfe into destruction, seeing Christe (for the loue that he beareth vnto thee) hath shed his most precious blood.

THE Soule that sheweth not her selfe nete and clearely shining, indewed with the garment or robe of holy life: is not the Soule espoused vnto Christe, but the Deuils darling.

HAppy is that Soule which shall so ende­uour her selfe to gouerne her life, that she may through Christe deserue to receaue and entertaine Christ as her geste and inhabiter within her.

BE sorowfull and heauy for thy Soule.

THE zeale of thy house Lorde, hath euen as it were eaten me vp.

THERE is none that soroweth for my state.

THE wicked are hardly chastized to a­mendment, and the number of fooles is infinite.

BEcause mercie hath come vppon him, he shall with mercie be chastized.

THE lewde and dissolute life of the child, shalbe imputed the negligence of the pa­rentes.

BVT the oyle of a sinner shall not hurt my head.

FOR euery pounishment and correction ought to be without reproche, neither to the reproche of him whiche so punisheth, or chastizeth any person: but to be referred only for the commoditie and profite of the weale publique.

THE wrath of GOD is then greate, when the offender is not by due chastise­ment reclaimed: but suffereth him selfe to [Page] runne in further offence, by taking a wan­dring libertie.

REmember thy last dayes, and thou shalt not doo amis for euer.

IF a man doo liue many yeeres, and in all this time shall reioyce and be meery, yet he ought to remember the dayes of darknesse, and the daies of many, which shal then come, shal plainely testifie, that the dayes past were the dayes of vanitie.

THE true and perfect life, is to be med [...] tating howe to dye well.

HE that considereth with him selfe what maner of person he shalbe when death as­sayleth [Page] him, is euermore fearefull in his af­faires to offend.

THE Lorde shall bring all thinges to re­ceaue iudgement, that are done vnder the heauens.

REmember the Lorde in thy life time, be­cause death detracteth no time.

WE ought to knowe, that neyther the iust man, nor the vniust, the child, nor the olde man, are exempted, but be dissolued by death the soule from the body, before they be in that state of goodnesse or euill, beyonde the which, yf they should heare liue alway, they shoulde neuer passe further to any feli­citie. &c.

OH death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee vnto a wicked man, hauing peace in his ritches.

OH life, howe many hast thou deceaued, whiche whyles thou fleest and passest a­way, art as nothing: whyles thou art seene of vs, thou art as a shadow: whyles thou art [Page] made much of, thou art as a vanishing smoke: sweete art thou vnto fooles, and bitter vnto wyse men: therefore thou art to be shunned, thou art to be feared, because thou art daun­gerous. So fareth it with man in this lyfe, euen as a man that soiourneth in an other mans house, not knowyng when it shall be sayde vnto him, arise and depart from hence.

BY meanes of sinne, death entred into the worlde.

THE true death in deede, which men doo feare, is the separation of the soule from God, who is the life of our soules.

WHY art thou proude, O thou Earth and Ashes.

A King to day, and to morowe dead: and when a man dyeth, he shall become the heyre of Serpentes, Beastes, and Wormes.

DVst thou art, and into dust shalt thou re­turne againe.

WE dye dayly, and we are changed day­ly, and yet we thinke our selues to be eternall, euen this very woord that I speake, that I write, when I eate, when I drinke, or what thing els so euer I doo, somewhat ther­by is my life time shortened.

MAn is made like vnto vanitie, his dayes doo passe away as a shadowe.

MAN dooth not know his end, but as the fyshes are taken with the hooke, and the birdes are catcht in the snares, so in the euill dayes are men snared, and yet notwithstan­ding this man knoweth not whether he de­serue more to be hated or loued, but the vn­certainetie of thinges are reserued till a fur­ther time.

THE vngodly and wicked shall die in his sinnes.

WHAT thing can be more miserable vnto vs, which are cast foorth into this life as all bare and naked, fraile in body, weake in mind, doubtfull and full of disquiet­nesse, slowe to take paines, prone and redy to pleasure.

IT is a foolishe thing for a man to liue in that case, wherein a man dare not aduen­ture to die, and he is of better courage which slumbreth and resteth with one deadly sinne, going no further, then he that waigeth battel with seuen enimies.

MIscheefe shall fall vpon, and ensnare the wicked to his destruction.

IT is better for sinners that doo euill to dye, then that they shoulde remaine still long in sinne.

OF all fearefull thinges, death is the most fearefull.

THE graue is their dwelling place and last end, they shall leaue their ritches vnto others to possesse.

RItches shal not profite nor preuaile them that haue abused them in the last day of reuenge, but iustice shall deliuer a man from [Page] death of hell.

FOR horrible is the death of the vnrigh­teous generation.

EVery man feareth the death of the fleshe, but fewe doo feare the death of the soule.

ONE generation passeth, and an other commeth.

BEhold, we all taste of death, and are as it were water cast vpon the earth, which re­turneth not from whence it is sent: so do we fall away.

THERE is no suruiuing memorie of them that went before.

THE memorie of them is perished, as it were with a sodaine noyse.

I Am yeelded vp vnto obliuion, as a man that is dead from his owne hart.

WHERE are the Princes of the na­tions become, which were lordes ouer the beastes of the feeld, which delighted them [Page] selues in the foules of the ayre, whiche haue hoorded vp their siluer and gold wherein men do put their trust, and those neuer linne sear­ching for the same, which doo woorke there­vpon, and are busie therein: their dayes are ended, and them selues are gone downe into the deepe pit.

IT is a nation without aduise or counsell, and without wysedome: would God they would once be wyse and haue vnderstanding, and woulde prouide for [...]heir later dayes. Which woords being more amply discussed by saint Bernard, he saith, Would God they would be wyse in three thinges that are past, that is to say, In the losse and lacke of good thinges, whiche are brought to passe vnder [Page] mortall power, or in dooing those thinges which they haue neglected to doo. 2. That they woulde be wyse in not constituting the wicked in aucthoritie, whereof the number is infinite in the worlde. 3. And that they would be circumspect and carefull in the losse of time, then which thing there is nothing to be coumpted more precious.

And sayth saint Bernard, Would God they would vnderstand three things that are present: that is to say, 1. The shortnesse of our life: because we haue neither certaine day nor houre how long to rest here. 2. The difficulty of our saluation: because straight is the way that leadeth therevnto, and fewe there are which walke in thereby. 3. And the small number of them that are to be sa­ued: because there are many called, but fewe are chosen.

And againe he saith, Woulde God men would prouide for those three things that are to come: that is to say, 1. Death, then which nothing is more bitter. 2. The iudge­ment that shall be generall at the last day, then whiche nothing shalbe more horrible to heare. 3. Eternall punishment ordeyned for the vngodly, then the which nothing shal­be [Page] more sharper.

BE mindful of death, because when he com­meth, there is no stay with him.

THEY are wyse ynough to doo wicked­ly, but to doo well, they haue no know­ledge at all.

I The Lorde am he that doo transport wyse men backwards, and doo make their perse­uerance to become meare foolishnesse.

MY dayes are passed away, my cogi­tations are dispersed, disquieting my hart, they haue changed the night with me into day, and againe yet after darknes, I hope to see light.

TELL me, where are the louers of this worlde become, whiche a fewe yeeres be­fore passed were with vs, there is nothyng remaining more of them at this day, but dust and woormes.

Had they not their appoynted time to drinke with thee, to eate with thee, and to laugh with thee? And so esteemed they of their dayes spent in their wealth and ritches, and in the ende they are gone downe into the neathermost pit.

Their fleshe is here in the earth bestowed vpon the woormes, and in hell, there theyr soule vnto the flaming fyre, tyll being againe lincked in that vnhappy familie, they are tos­sed in perpetuall burning flames.

THERE is ordeyned a most vyle death for sinners.

HE shall dye that hath not receiued disci­pline.

FOR the most highest is a pacient rewar­der of the wicked, for those that he hath long suffered to sinne, to the ende that they might be conuerted and repent. The same persons not being conuerted nor repentyng, he dooeth more greeuously adiudge them to the greater damnation.

THE iust man, though he be ouertaken with death, yet shall he finde rest.

THERE is nothing so much deceaueth man, as the vayne hope to liue longer.

ƲNcertaine death doth preuent and steale vpon many amendementes of mislyfe (that are deferred) or euer they be aware.

DEath shall feede the euyll men, euen as sheepe that are throwen into the lake of hell: they shall desyre to dye, but death shall flee from them. &c,

PRecious in the syght of the Lorde, is the death of his Saintes.

DEath vnto those men is happy and wel­come, when she seemeth not to plant more pleasure at one time then at an other, and be­ing often called for, he comes sodenly to the sorowfull.

TRuely to dye well, is for men to dye wyl­lingly.

THere is nothing more withdrawes man from sinne, then the often meditating and thinking of death.

THE Lorde hath wrought woonderfull thinges in the death of man.

THere is nothing shall profit thee so much vnto temperance and moderacion of all worldly thinges, nor cause thee so much to contemne them, as the dayly forethincking and meditating of death.

REmember from whence thou art fallen, and be wylling to repent thee thereof.

DIspose and set in order all thinges within thyne house, because thou shalt dye and not line.

And Ezechias turned away his face vnto the wall, and prayed vnto the Lorde.

And Ezechias wept with bitter teares.

WE haue this experience, because y^e minde of man is more familier and in­vred with the diuers intisementes of this world, and ouercome with the concupiscen­ces, or lustes thereof: that therefore she re­fuseth to be occupied in well dooing, requi­reth pleasure: and scarcely is she brought to this poynt, that she shalbe able to exclude and reiect from her selfe, the custome of her for­mer [Page] lyfe. But when she shall once fall in rec­koning howe necessary it is to thinke vpon the latter day, & of the efficacie, of the iudge­ment whiche shall then be: being stirred vp and prouoked, eyther with hope of reward, or with feare of pounishment, she proclaymeth wylfull warres against her good mocions and passions whiche shoulde resist the same, and assaulteth her auncient former good de­syres, and forecibly as it were striueth with her selfe to subdude her selfe.

THE wicked and vngodly men haue no mind vppon the day of iudgement: but they that seeke the Lord, doo consider therof.

TRuly Lord thou art righteous, notwith­standing in thy iudgementes, yea, yf I should dispute with thee what the cause is, that the wicked in their wayes doo florishe.

WHY doo the wicked liue still vppon earth, and are so exalted on high? they leade their liues in wealth, and yet in the end they goe downe into hell.

THere are some godly persons, before whose faces their owne euils haue come to light, as though they had offended with the wicked. And there are also some vngodly persons whiche liue with suche securitie, and thinke them selues so safe, as though they had the woorkes of godly disposed persons with them. And I haue perceaued, that af all the woorkes that the Lorde hath done, man can not comprehend and finde out the reason.

O The woonderfull height of the ritches of the wysedome of GOD, and of his knowledge, howe incomprehensible and in­scrutable are the iudgementes of his way.

O What tormentes haue all the elect of GOD suffered, that they might safely [Page] come vnto the obteyned victory, ordeined for martyrs.

WOe be vnto Assur, which is becomr the rod of my fury, and the staffe it selfe of reuenge, in their handes is my heauy dis­pleasure. But according to the opinion of Saint Augustine: when the father hath cor­rected the childe in mercy and iustice, he then casteth the rod into the fyre.

THE Lorde dooeth knowe when in due time to take hence those that are godly: but as for the wicked, he leaueth them for the day of iudgement, to pounishe them then ac­cording to their desertes.

LOrde, I haue been mindfull of thy iudge­mentes, and I am comforted.

Were it not but that my meditation is in thy lawe, then shoulde I perhaps haue peri­shed euen in myne owne humilitie. &c.

CHriste hath suffered for vs, leauing vs an example, that we shoulde all folowe his steppes.

OVght not Christe to haue suffered death, and [...]hat he shoulde so enter thereby into his glory?

THE holy ones and elect of God by faith, haue co [...]quered vnto them kyngdomes, haue wrought the woorkes of equitie and righteousnesse▪ & haue purchased them selues newe promises of sa [...]yng health: But some others hauing tryed the scornefull dispites and scourges of this worlde, and mo [...]eouer the b [...]n [...]es and imprisonment, haue been sto­ned to death, haue been d [...]smembred, haue been tempted, and haue been put to death with the swoord.

ADuersities are meanes to reclayme and remedy the diseases of the soule. Sicknes woundeth the fleshe, but cureth the defect of the mind.

THE Lorde looketh for vs, to the ende he would haue mercie vpon vs.

BVT because the Lorde is pacient, euen for this purpose let vs repent the more, and let vs with teares craue his pardon.

HE had compassion of the obstinate and wicked person, and he hath not learned to feare our righteousnes.

SAY not thou with thy self, I haue sinned, and what mishap hath chaunced vnto me, by meanes of forgeuenesse of thy sinnes, be thou not therefore the more without feare: for mercy and displeasure soone passeth away from him, and his wrath dooth beholde those that sinne.

THOV art vtterly ignorant, that the great good wyll of God bringeth thee to repentance: but according to the hardnes of [Page] thy hart, and as thou art impenitent, thou heapest vp wrath vnto thee in the day of wrath, and when the iudgement of the iust God shalbe reauealed, whiche rendreth to euery man according to his woorkes.

AND dooest thou despise the ritches of his goodnes, of his pacience, and longa­nimitie? Thou dooest then heape vppon thee his wrath against the day of wrath.

FOrsake me not Lord in the day of my tri­bulation.

I Wyll not feare any euyll thinges, because thou Oh Lord art with me.

TRuely because the Lorde was not with me, therefore haue these euils and mis­cheefes come vpon me.

THE Lord is with you to helpe you, be­cause you are abiding with him: yf you shall seeke him, you shall finde him, but yf you forsake him, he shall forsake you.

IF God be on our side, who shall be agaynst vs.

MY soule liueth, euen because of thy lo­uing fauour.

THE Lorde shall geue vnto his chosen both grace and woorship.

HE shall geue grace to the humble and lowly in hart.

GRace shall remaine amongst the iust and vpright in hart.

THere shall be ordeyned a iudgement of euery soule, according as he hath done in this lyfe time.

O Man remember thou my iudgement, for euen so shall thine be: with me it was [Page] yesterday, and with thee shal it be to morow.

LET him sprinckle him seuen times: that is, to be cleansed from his offences, that he may be purged by the lawe.

NEyther let him enter into the Sanctua­rie, vntyll suche time as the dayes of his cleansing shalbe fulfylled.

BVT euery man shall receaue his owne reward, according to his labour and tra­uayle.

THere shall be also apyointed a measure of punishment, according to the measure of the offence and sinne committed.

FOr their woorkes shall folowe them when they are gone hence.

THou shalt render vnto euery one accor­ding to his woorkes.

HOwe becommest thou ignorant what the way of the spirite is? Dooest thou so not vnderstand the woorkes of God, which is the woorkemaster of all thinges?

FOR who is he that can vnderstand the mysteries of God.

THere shall sodenly come a plague vppon thee, which thou knowest not of.

WE beleeue to be saued by the grace and fauour of God.

IF so be that I knewe my reward were laid vp for me in hell, I would pray no more for it, then I would doo for the deuill.

THere is not any man acknowledged or knowen to haue gone downe into hel, and haue returned thence againe.

MArke and beholde alwayes this rule, that after the Lorde hath long spared sinners, he dooeth more greeuously seeke to be auenged of them.

LET the dust of mans corrupt nature re­turne vnto y^e earth from whence it came, and let the spirite returne againe vnto God, who hath geuen the same.

SHall any man take vpon him to teache the Lord knowledge, which iudgeth thy high­er powers? The strong and lusty men are subiect to death, yea the rich & happy of this world.

BVT an other man dyeth in the bitternes of his soule without any woorkes of re­pentance: and yet notwithstandyng they shal sleepe altogeather in the dust, & the wormes shall couer them.

THE eternal lawe of God hath ordeyned nothing better vnto man, then that we haue all one kind of enterance geuen vs ther­by into this life, and diuers maners of death.

MY iudgementes shall passe foorth from me, as the light out of the Firmament.

HOw, many people doo liue in this world, I know not: but of the dayes to come, it is written, That the Lorde shall iudge the secrete dooinges, and vnknowen deal­linges of men, and shall geue light euen vnto the dungeons of darknesse, and shall disclose the counsels of mens hartes.

ALL thy iudgementes are iust, Oh Lord.

FOR I haue been afrayde of thy iudge­mentes, Oh Lorde.

MAke redy thy righteousnesse that thou canst lay for thy selfe, before the iudge­ment of the Lord be summoned.

BRethren, let vs be enflamed vnto repen­tance, let vs examine our consciences, let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our sinnes by earnest repentaunce in Christes bloodshed, crauing his gracious fauour to es­cape the horrible iudgement of the liuyng GOD. &c.

REmember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, and before the time of afflicti­on shall approche, and the dayes wherof thou mayst haue cause to say, these dayes doo not lyke me.

REmember the wrath of the Lorde, be­cause it shall not be foreslowed.

REmember the Lordes wrath in the day of the end of the world, and remember the time of pouertie, euen whyles thou art in thy wealth.

REmember thou the later dayes, and cease of to doo mischeefe: for there is blessed­nesse and death approching in the prescripti­ons thereof.

MY soule is in my handes alwayes. &c.

BVt of that day and houre when the Lord shall come to iudge the world, no neyther Angel, nor the Sonne of man knoweth, but the Father him selfe. Take you heede therefore, watche, and pray.

WAtche therefore, because you knowe neither the day nor the houre wherein the sonne of man wyll come.

DOo not you loue the world, which you see can not abide for euer, because the great day of the Lord is neare.

THE day of desolation draweth neare, and the times of the latter dayes do spee­dely hasten on.

THere shalbe iudgement geuen vpon him without mercie, because he hath not shew­ed mercie. &c.

ANtechriste shalbe borne in Babylon, out of the tribe of Dan, according to the say­ing that Iacob mencioneth: Let Dan be made a Snake in the way.

ANd those dayes shalbe such, and so trou­blesome, as the like haue not been from the beginnyng of the creation of man, vntyll nowe: neyther shall there be any more suche afterward.

And except the Lorde had shortened those dayes for his elect sake, there should haue been no saluation vnto frayle mankind.

ALL those that wyll liue godly in Christ, must suffer persecution.

BVT who so shall persist constant vnto the end, shalbe saued.

IT shalbe destroyed (meanyng of Babylon) without force of strength of the hand.

THen shall that wicked Antechriste be re­ueyled, which the Lorde Iesus shall de­stroy with the breath of his mouth.

NOw are there many Antechristes come into the world, whereby we knowe that we are in the later dayes.

THere shall come deceitfull woorkers of mischiefe in the later dayes, walking af­ter their owne lustes.

THere haue many members of Antechrist gone before vs, and their proper workes doo well agree with the ryngleader of their mischiefe, according to the Apostles saying, which affirmeth: that they haue perfourmed the woorkes of iniquitie, yea before that their cheefe captaine was manifested to the world.

ANd in the end of the kingdome, when the wicked are come to the full of their ini­quitie: that is to say, In Gluttony, Lechery, and Couetousnesse, a kyng of a fierce coun­tenance and vnderstandyng, with hard sen­tences shall stand vp. &c.

IN the later dayes there shall come decea­uers, which shall walke after their owne de­syres in wickednesse. These are they whiche shall assemble them selues togeather as li­uing creatures hauing no Soule in them. These are Cloudes without water, whiche are caried about with the windes. These are Trees growing somewhat before Winter, vnprofitable, whiche being twyce dead, are plucked vp by the rootes: for whom the mystes of darknesse are to be kept for euer and euer.

THere shall goe before him a consuming fyre, and it shall scortche his enimies round about him.

WHyther shall I goe from thy spirite? and whyther shall I flee from thy pre­sence?

THere is a fyre kindled in my fury, and it shall burne euen vntill the very last day in Hell.

THere shalbe no time for them to flee a­way which shall saue them.

THere shalbe signes in the Sunne and in the Moone, and in the Starres.

IN those dayes after that tribulation, the Sunne shalbe darkened, and the Moone shall not geue foorth her light, and the Stars of Heauen shall fall from thence, and the vertues or powers of the Heauens shalbe changed, and then shall they see the sonne of man comming in the Cloudes of Heauen with great power and glory.

THere shall goe before thee a deuouring fyre, and a consuming flame.

BLowe vp the Trumpet in Sion, Reioyce you that dwell vpon my holy hill. Let all the inhabitantes of the earth be troubled and [Page] disquieted, because the day of the Lorde is at hand, because the day of darknesse and of smoothering heate draweth neare, the cloudy and troublesome day.

BEfore his face shall goe a deuouring fire, and after him shal folow a burning flame [...] for the day of the Lord is a mighty day, and a very fearefull day, and who shall abide the same: neyther is there any man which shall escape it.

BE you therefore conuerted and turne vnto me saith the Lorde, with all your whole hart, in fasting, in mournyng, and in bitter teares, and you shalbe saued.

AND the sea gaue out from her the dead bodyes that were buried in the bottome thereof: yea death and hell it selfe sent foorth their dead gohstes, and there was sentence of iudgement pronounced vppon euery one ac­cording to their woorkes.

I Wyll geather all nations togeather, and I wyll bring them into the vale of Iosaphat, and wyll dispute with them.

TRuly we shall ryse againe at the iudge­ment day, but we shall not all be immuta­ble or vnchanged, euen in a moment or twinckling of the eye in the last blast of the Trumpe.

HOwe or in what maner the Lorde wyll geue iudgement, is not presently mani­fested to the world: neither hath he woorthe­ly rewarded euery man, neyther hath he pu­nisht them accordingly, but the accomplish­ment thereof resteth behind in his handes, as touching the body and the soule, and as tou­ching the desert of prayse or punishment.

VNtill we shall al runne togeather in one course, with vnitie of fayth and woorship­ping the sonne of GOD, growing vp to one perfect man, in measure of the fulnesse of the aige of Christe.

ANd I sawe as well the great, as smal bo­dyes standing openly before the throne, and the bookes were opened.

AGaynst whose comming all men shall be warned to aryse with their bodyes out of the earth.

WHO shalbe able to consider of the day of his comming? or who shall endure to behold the sight of his presence?

WHO is able to warrant me that thou wylt protect my soule in the neather­most hell? and hide me vntill the furie of thy displeasure shalbe passed: and that it wyll please thee to appoint me a time when thou wylt remember me. That day is the day of wrath and calamitie, yea the great day of mi­serie very bitter.

BVT terrible and fearefull is the looking for of the iudgement and feruent heate of the fire, which shall destroy all his enimies.

FLee you away from the face of the Lorde because the swoord is a reuenger of iniquities.

THen shall they see the sonne of man com­ming in the Cloudes of Heauen.

WHO shall stand against thy iudge­ment, oh Lord? or who shall come be­fore thy presence as a reuenger vppon the wicked ones of this world.

THE Lord wyll not spare any flesh in the day of reuengement, neither wyll he be pacified with the entreaty of any person, nei­ther wyll he take great rewardes to redeeme any soule.

BEcause his mercie is enduring for euer.

IF only the lawe and iudgement of mortall creature and fraile flesh, which shalbe tur­ned into dust, be with such care [...]hroughly trembled at and feared. With what carefull feare ought we to prouide for the iudgement of the deuine maiestie?

I Wyll sing of mercy and iudgement vnto thee, oh Lord.

O GOD, geue thy iudgement vnto the King. &c.

THY iudgement, oh Lord, is as the light of the mid-day.

AND behold, the dead were called vp to be iudged (as touching those things that were written in the bookes) to receaue their reward according to their woorkes.

BEholde (sayth the Lord God of hostes) I come vnto thee, and wyll discouer thy shamefulnesse, euen in thine owne face, and wyl shewe thy nakednesse vnto the nations, and reproche vnto other kingdomes, and I wyll poure out vpon thee thy owne abomina­tions, and will smite thee with reproches.

BVT the righteous shal liue for euermore, their reward also is with the Lord, and the care for them is with the highest.

IN that day of the Lordes reuenge, we shal haue nothing to answeare for our selues: for the Heauen, the Earth, the Sunne, and the Moone, the Dayes, and the Nightes, and all the whole Worlde it selfe shall stand a­gainst vs, to beare witnesse against vs of our sinnes and wickednesse.

YOur ritches are become rotten, and con­sume [...]: your garmentes are eaten with the Moth, your golde and your siluer is be­come rusty, and the rust thereof shalbe a wit­nesse against you.

THE stone in the Walle shall crie out a­gainst you, and the Tymber betweene the Rooffes of your houses, shall answere a­gainst you.

THE conscience of man is as a booke shut, whiche shalbe opened in the day of iudgement.

HEare, O ye Princes of the house of Ia­cob, & captaines ouer the house of Israel.

LET the high Hilles heare the iudge­ment of the Lord.

GEVE a reckonyng of thy Steward­shippe.

THere shalbe a most sharpe iudgement or­deyned for such as beare aucthoritie ouer others.

THE Prelates are woorthy to dye so ma­ny deathes, as they geue euill examples of death vnto their people committed in charge vnto them.

HEare me, oh you of hard hartes, whiche are farre of from dooing iustice.

MY people is become a disobedient peo­ple, their Sheepheardes haue led them [Page] a wrong way.

INiquitie is gone out from Babylon, euen from those that were the elder Iudges, which were seene to beare rule ouer the peo­ple, and they haue turned away their vnder­standing, and haue withdrawen their eyes from beholding the Heauen, neither would they remember the iudgementes of the iust.

FOR we all must needes be manifested and openly reuailed before the tribunall seate of Christe, that euery man may reape that whiche he hath done in his body, be it good, or be it bad.

BEhold the day of the Lord shal come, that cruell day and full of indignation, wrath, [Page] and furies, to put the earth in feare, and her sinners to be ouerthrowen by her: because the Starres of Heauen, and their glit [...]ering hue, shall not geue foorth light vnto them.

THE end commeth, it shall stand vp as a watchman against the: sorowe shal come vpon thee which dwellest vppon the Earth: the time is come, the day of death is neare at hand, and not of the ioyfull sound of the Hils. Now euen at hand foorthwith, wyll I powre out my indignation vppon thee, and wyll ac­complishe the desire of my fury vppon thee, and wyl iudge thee according to thy wayes, and wyll lay vppon thee as a burden all thy wickednesse, and my eye shall haue no com­passion vpon thee, neither wyll I shewe thee any mercy, but wyl lay vpon thee thine owne wicked wayes.

THen shall he say to those which shal stand vpon his left hand, Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre, whiche is prepa­red for the deuil and his angels.

SInners doo lincke them selues in amitie with the Deuill, as they which are by the [Page] prouidence of God saued, are made coequals with the holy angels: So such as perishe, are compared vnto the angels of the Deuil.

HEreby also is it manifest, that the same fire is geuen by ordinance for a pounish­ment vnto men and deuils.

IT belongeth to the iustice of a straight Iudge, neuer to withdrawe pounishment from them, whiche of their owne mindes in this life, would neuer withdrawe them selues from sinne.

VNderstand this, you that haue forgotten God, least that at any time he take you a­way by force, and then there be no man to take you out of his handes. &c.

COme you, the blessed of my Father, pos­sesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

FOR the holy ones of God, whiche haue wrought the woorkes of righteousnesse, haue alredy taken for their hyre, the inheri­taunce on the right hand of GOD (for their woorkes of righteousnesse) wherein consistes both rest and glorious triumphe.

LAbour in worldly matters, will discou­rage thee from comming vnto God: but behold the Heauens whiche haue learned the first commaundement, they fulfill the same.

THE Lorde GOD of Heauen shall re­warde thee with ioy and comfort, for y^e werisome trauel that thou hast endured.

FOR this ioye and comfort that we haue conceaued, is a witnesse of our conscience within vs. &c.

BE you glad in the Lord, and be ioyful you that are iust. &c. and reioyce you in the Lord. &c.

WAtche therefore, because you know not the houre when the Lord wyll come.

IT was not requisite that y^e Apostles should haue the day of the foreknowledged com­ming of Christe reuealed vnto them, that by reason of theyr earnest looking for of his com­ming, they not knowing when, yet might al­wayes beleeue that he would come, whom they knewe not howe soone he would come.

WHat man seemeth to watche in deede, which to beholde the brightnesse of the true light, keepeth open the eyes of his mind. That man watcheth, who obserueth that or­der of dooing well, which he beleeueth is ac­ceptable before God. That man watcheth, which driueth from him the darknesse of do­lour and negligence.

O Ye generacions of Vipers, who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to ome. Doo you therefore shewe foorth woor­thy fruites of repentance.

EVen as the wounded bodies sleeping in their graues: that is to say, The sinners of whom there is no further memory, and those are repulsed out of thy handes.

DEpart from dooing that is euill, and doo good.

REturne and come againe, oh you that haue frowardly walked after your owne hart.

O How strait shall then be the way for the reprobate: aboue in the Heauens, shall sitte the Iudge full of displeasure: belowe in Hell, shalbe an horrible confusion: vpon the right hande, shall stand our sinnes to accuse vs: vpon the leaft hand, infinite numbers of [Page] Deuils, which shall drawe vs to the tormen­ting place: within vs, the gnawing of our conscience: and without vs, the Wo [...]ld bur­ning rounde about. Whyther then shall the sinner flee: To appeare to iudgement, shalbe intollerable for him: and to hyde him setfe, shalbe impossible.

I Haue remembred these, and I haue pow­red out myne owne soule before me.

BVT thou discreete Reader, marke and consider, that both the punishments which are ordeyned, are eternall: and that the euer­lasting ioyfull life hath in it no maner of de­cay or ruine.

BE mindfull of the wrath of the Highest, because he wyll not long foreslewe the time.

FEare not ye those that haue power to slay the body onely, but rather feare you him which is able to destroy both body and soule, euen in the very Hell.

BVT we see all such as loue this present life temporall, and which is soone ended, so to labour for the same: that when the passi­on of death approcheth them, they make all the shift they can, that they not be taken away with death, and by all meanes seeke to pro­long their life. If then men doo with suche la­bour and such care endeuour th [...]m selues, to the ende they would liue a litle longer: howe and by what meanes ought they to labour and be carefull for the life euerlasting. And yf such men be accompted wyse, which trye all maner wayes howe they may deferre death, and prolong life for a short time. How foolish are those whiche liue so, as thereby they lose the life euerlasting: surely such may be cal­led most fooles of all other.

THey are corrupted, and become abomina­ble in their studies: it is time Lord to be­sturre thee: they haue dispersed and wrested thy lawe.

I Wyll pray vnto the Lord, who reproueth the wyse men of this world in their crafti­nesse, and dooth disperse the counsels of the wicked.

HE hath forsaken the right way, and wal­keth through the darke places.

THey geue not sentence in fauour of the Orphane, and the complaint of the Wy­dowe hath not come in before them.

DIssemblers, and lukewarme worldlings, doo pro [...]re the wrath of God vpon them.

THE mouth of them that speake mische­uous thinges, is stopped. Let the deceit­full lips be come dumbe, and not able to vtter their speache.

THe children of this world are in their ge­neration wyser, then the children of light.

THey are troubled as a drunken man, and all their wysedome is vtterly consumed.

FOR wysedome shall depart and perishe from the wyse of this world: that is to say, from such as are reputed wyse men, and their vnderstanding shall be darkened, because it is said:

THey are wyse enough to woorke wicked­nesse: but to doo well, they haue none vn­derstanding.

SVrely thou hast found out wisdome aright, yf thou canst esteeme of all things as they be, namely of sinne and vices, as thinges that are vyle, and altogeather to be shunned: Of [...]emporall thinges, as that whiche is fraile and transitory, and therfore to be smaly made accompt of: but of eternall thinges, as that which is best, and therefore aboue all others c [...]eefely and specially to be desired and im­braced.

THey shall walke as the blind in darknes, because they haue sinned against the lord.

THus sayth the Lorde, In an acceptable time haue I heard thee, and in the day of health, haue I helped thee.

WE exhort you brethr [...]n, that you re­ceaue not the grace of God in vaine: for he saith, Behold the acceptable time, Behold now the day of your sauing health.

ANd he swore by the God that liueth for euer, because there shal not be any longer time.

FOR all things shalbe sought for in their time.

IT is a nation wanting the counsell, & voyde of the wysedome of the highest: Would to God they would once be wyse and geather [Page] vnderstanding, and that they would prouide for the later dayes. &c.

HEare this al ye nacions, marke and geue eare, heare this you that inhabite the world.

THe great day of the Lord is at hand, it is very neare, and too too swiftly comming vpon vs: ye heare tell y^t the day of the Lorde shalbe bitter: [...]hen shall the strong man be troubled. That day shalbe the day of wrath, the day of tribulation and of sorowe, the day of calamitie and of trouble, the day of the Trumpe, and the sound of the Trumpe vpon the strong defended cities, and vppon the an­gels on an hie: and I wyll vexe all flesh, and they shall walke as the blinde doo, because they haue sinned against the Lord.

BVt their siluer and their gold shall not de­liuer them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. All the earth shalbe consumed with the fyre of his indignation.

SO oft as I consider vppon the day of the Lordes iudgement, I quake for feare in [Page] euery part of my body: and whether I eate or drinke, or what thing so euer els I doo, mee thinkes I heare the fearefull Trumpe alwayes sounding in myne eares, Aryse vp you dead, and come to iudgement. &c.

THOV shalt renue the face of the earth, when the sinners shall perishe, thou shalt see it.

THese shall depart into the perpetuall tor­ment.

THE light of the Moone shal shine foorth as the Sun doth, and the Sun shall geue foorth his beames as the light of seuen dayes together: euen vpon that day when the Lord shall binde vp the woundes of his people, and shal heale vp the scarre of the stripe: and be­hold, [Page] the name of the Lord commeth from a farre: whott shal be his wrath and indignati­on, and greeuous to be susteyned.

THE Heauens shall shewe foorth their beauty, in the day when the glory of the sonne of man shalbe seene.

NOwe in deede is the time when the spi­rite shall say, Let all flesh rest from their labours.

THE Lorde knoweth best times when to take away and deliuer the godly from the temptations of this world, and to keepe the wicked ones to be tormented at the day of iudgement.

THe iudgementes of the Lorde are as the ballance and the weightes.

FEare an [...] trembling haue come vpon me, and the darke places haue enuironed me round about.

FALL to repentance whyles thou art i [...] health, and yf thou shalt so doo, I say vnto [Page] thee, that thou shalt be safe: because thou hast repented thee, whyles otherwyse thou migh­test haue trespassed: for yf thou wylt in time repent thee when thou shalt not haue power to sinne, sinne shall forsake thee before thou forsake them.

WHen thou art greeuously handled in bo­dyly sicknesse, thou canst scarse thinke vpon any other thing, then vppon the payne thou feelest: for thyther is the cogitation of the minde caryed, where as is the force of payne and perplexitie most greeuing a man.

BEhold thou art now made whole & sound, doo thou not hencefoorth sinne any more, lest some other woorse euill happen vnto thee.

THere are many called, but fewe are cho­sen.

ENter in at the narrowe gate, because brode is the gate, and wyde is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are which enter there aub [...]ry narrowe is the way that i [...]adeth vnto lyfe, and fewe there are which finde the same.

THE whole fulnesse and effect of wyse­dome, is to feare God.

IN many thinges we all offend.

THE most safest thing for man, is to feare nothing els but God only.

BLessed is the man that liueth alwayes in the feare of God.

FEare the Lorde, all his saintes: Let all the seede of Israel feare the Lord. Blessed are all they that feare the Lord.

NOthing enflameth so the hart of man vnto loue, as the continual remem­bred passion and effabili­tie of our Redeemer: be­cause he tooke vpon him therby to make vs a new creature a freshe loue, and to haue newe and vnaccustomed consolations in him, and of consequence, to tas [...]e by his death and passi­on a certayne new estate of sweete life, in as much as he seemed to be a fore runner of the [Page] glory predestinate vnto him selfe.

HE hath loued and washed vs from our sinnes in his blood.

WHere is the safe and fyrme rest for our imperfection to be founde, but in the woundes of our Sauiour: so much the safer doo I there dwell, how much the more therby he is of power to saue me. The world rageth, the fleshe keepeth me vnder, the Deuill lyeth in wayte for me, yet fall I not, because I am established vppon the rocke: I haue sinned, thy conscince is troubled, but it shal [...] not be tormented, because I haue remembred the death and passion of the Lord.

EVen from my childehood, because of the huge heape of desartes (which I know to be wantyng in me) I haue carefully endeuo­red this little bundle of Mirh to haue geathe­red, and layde it [...]p in my brostes, which is gathered euen of al the anguishes and smarts of my Lord God. This (said I) should teache me wysedom [...], the perfection of righteousnes and fulnesse of knowledge.

SET me Lord as a marke or token of re­membrance before thy brest.

CAll him agayne and agayne vnto your mindes, who hath suffered such reproche done vnto him by the sinful: for you haue not as yet withstood touching his blood shed for you, to fight agaynst sinne, and you haue for­gotten the comforter whiche speaketh vnto you, as vnto his children, saying, Good chil­dren, despise not the correction of the Lorde, nor be thou aweary at suche time as thou art reprehe [...]ded: for whom the Lord loueth, him chasteneth he.

YOV shal drawe vp waters with ioy out of the springes of your Sauiour: that is to say, all kinde of vertues and graces are to [Page] be founde in the precious bloodshedding of Christe.

CHriste hath suffered for vs, leauing vs an example to folowe his steppes, who hath not committed any sinne, neyther was there any guyle found in his mouth.

ANd none of you haue suffered as a mur­derer or robber, for your euyll deedes, and agaynst your wylles.

IN euerduring good wyl haue I loued thee, therefore haue I drawne thee vnto me, ta­king compassion vpon thee.

WHAT is there so much helping thee to doo well, whiche is not more saluing thy sore in the death of Christe.

HErein knowe we that the loue of God is in vs, because he hath geuen his lyfe for vs. &c.

PLentifull redemption is geuen vnto vs in the bloodshedding of our Redeemer: great abundance of sweetenes and grace, or rather fulnesse and perfection of vertues.

IN all my aduersities I finde not any suche and so effectuall remedie, as I finde in re­membring the death and passion of Christe: for out of these I taste sometimes the potion of healthfull bitternesse: and againe, I feele howe sweete and supple is this oyle of conso­lation. These, betweene ioy and sadnesse, ad­minister vnto my present life (whyther soeuer I be tossed) a safe abidyng and refuge: This is my more profound wysedome, then any other that I reioyce in, to knowe Christ, and him crucified. Who euer heard of the lyke thing, or who hath seene at any time the lyke of this: he suffered death him se [...]f for his eni­mies, and for the sinfull, rather choosing to passe by death into the Heauens, to the ende this sweete freend, wise counsellor, and migh­ty helper, might also transpasse vs into the Heauens.

FOrget not thou the frendship of thy Sure­tie, for he hath pawned his lyfe for thee.

SO long as I reposing my confidence in God, doo vsurpe vnto my selfe that whiche lacketh, by and through the woundes of my Lord Iesus: because he aboundeth with mer­cie towardes me, I ought not be voyd of well deseruing, so long as the Cesterne of his mer­cies is neuer empty towardes me.

ALL the proude people sprong of the lin­nage of Adam, laboured by all meanes to atteyne vnto the prosperous thinges of this world. To shonne and eschewe al aduersities, flee from reproches, and folowe after pompe and glory. The Lorde came amongst them, choosing to take vnto him aduersitie, fleeing vayne pompe and glory, despising prosperi­tie, and embracing reproches.

YF the passion of Christe be called of vs rightly into our mindes, there is nothing so greeuous vnto vs, but thereby it shalbe to­lerated of vs with pacient mind.

HE shewed him selfe humble and lowly, being obedient to death, euen vnto the death of the crosse.

I Liue nowe, yet not I, but Christe liueth in me.

HE is wounded for our iniquities, and torne in peeces for our sinnes: the disci­pline of our peace is vpon him. Lorde there­fore, take from vs our stony hart, and geue vs a fleshly hart.

O Good Lord Iesu, oh that the reproches of those whiche put thee to death, hadde light vpon me, that they might haue moued my hart vnto compunction and harty sorow.

LET vs also goe and dye with him.

CAll me agayne to thy memorie, and let vs be iudged togeather: Declare thou for thy part what thou canst, & then see what thou hast to iustifie thy selfe of.

O Sweete Iesus, the bitter cuppe whereof thou dydst taste, hath made me to loue thee aboue all other thinges: a woorke per­fourmed for our redemption once for all.

This being oftentimes duely pondered, dooeth easely callenge our loue vnto it, no­thing more delectably allureth our deuotion vnto it, more iustly perfourmeth our duety, more deepely bindeth, nor more vehemently surpriseth our affectes. He hath taken great paynes for vs, and yet in all the woorkes that euer he wrought as touching the worlde, this the aucthour of our life, was neuer in any thing so turmoyled: For in that he suffered for vs, in steade of saying trueth, he was con­trolled with gayn [...]sayinges: for his good deedes, he had those that looked nearely vn­to him: when he felt extreame paynes, he was scorned of them: and when he dyed, he [Page] suffered the reproche of his enimies.

THY passion Lorde, is our last refuge that we haue to cleaue vnto, and our sin­guler remedy.

THERE is none ende of the treasures ther [...]of.

THE passion of Christe, being set before our eyes, woorketh all vertue in vs, both for the time present, and to come: and fulfyl­leth all health of soule and body.

And when we receaue the remembrances of the passion of Christe, streightway thereby all the deuils in Hell are put to flight, and all our deserued punishmentes for our offences are dispenced with, and forgeuen.

HE had brought such weapons vnto thee, which (hadst thou not first reiected) might haue defended thee with an inuincible strength.

BE you comforted in the Lord, and put vp­pon you the armour of God, in the power of his vertue, that you may be able to with­stand [Page] the deceiptes of the Deuill.

YEa, there is an infinite quantitie of trea­sure hidden for men, wherein who so euer are possessed, are made partakers of y^e freend­ship of God.

MAnifest therfore and openly, expresse vn­to him your hartes and your soules, that you may seeke for your Lord God.

IF you seeke for him, you shal finde him out: but yf you refuse to seeke him, and forsake him, he wyll forsake you.

MY soule is heauy, euen vnto death.

OH howe bitter is death, whose only pre­meditacion caused Christe to sweate wa­ter and blood.

AND his sweate became as the drops of blood running downe to the earth: for his blooddy sweate doo expresse the sorowes of his hart.

WHom so euer I shall kisse, the same is he, hold him fast.

THen all the Disciples hauing forsaken him, fled from him.

BEhold thy Christe in his face.

HE tooke vp with him, Peter, Iohn, and Iames, and feare and tediousnesse came vppon him, in so much as he trauayled with sorowe, teaching vs by example, or as it were figuratiuely, what maner companions and disciples a man ought to haue with him in such perplexities, as he that wyll then pray, is or ought to be like affected: for euen as a theefe hearing an outery, presently taketh his heeles, and therevppon the neyghbours be­sturre them to remedy the case. Euen so by mans feruent prayer, the Deuil fleeth away, and the holy spirite of God entreth with good [Page] meditations to comfort man.

O Father, yf this cuppe may not passe me, except I fyrst drinke thereof, thy wyll be done.

THis voyce of the head, is the health of the whole body: this voyce hath instructed al the faythfull, hath inflamed all the confessors of Christe, and crowned all the Martyrs of Christe: for what is he that is able to ouer­come the hatred of the world, the troubles of temptations, and the terrors of persecutors, but only that Christe in all, and for all, should say vnto his Father, Thy wyll be done.

THen they spitted vpon his face, and buffe­ted him.

THE Euangelist expoundeth those most reprochefull handlinges, in this maner. Nothing abashed was he to suffer them: be­cause we might imprint them in our hartes with continencie, and in them reioyce▪ or take comfort.

HOwe much the poorer he made him selfe by his humilitie, so muche the ritcher he shewed him self in goodnesse: and how much more base he was in the sight of the world, so much the more deare beloued is he vnto me.

OH humble hart, and yet most hygh ma­iestie, and oh most highest and last ioy of humane kind: oh reproche of men, and glory of angels: no man more noble, and yet none more despised: Who coulde refraine from teares to heare such wicked handling.

TO con [...]inue in sinne, dooth increase wic­kednesse.

ONE depth calleth vpon an other.

THe sinne that is not extinguished by ear­nest and true repentance, straightway, [Page] with the efficacie thereof, dooth [...] more sinne.

PEter remembred, and thought vppon the woordes of Christe.

NOthing so muche healeth the sore of sinne, as when we continually think vp­pon the Lord in our mindes.

HE went out, and wept bitterly. &c.

WHAT shall I render agayne vnto the Lord, for all that he hath bestowed vp­pon me.

THEY haue rewarded me euyll thinges for good.

IVdas sinned more in that he dispayred, then in that he betrayed Christe. Couetous­nesse is the snare of the deuill, by meanes whereof he han [...]eth vp all couetous persons.

THey brought him foorth with his handes bound behind him, and deliuered him vn­to Poncius Pilate the cheefe Iudge.

I Haue seene howe paynefull the priestes haue been about mischeefe: they haue wat­ched all the nyght long, because they woulde spill the blood of the innocent.

WHich of these two wyll you that I let loose vnto you: Barabbas, or Iesus, which is called Christe.

AND all the whole company cryed out to­geather, Take this man, and let Barab­bas goe at libertie.

OH fury of mad men, oh blindnesse of the Iewes: what more peeuishly coulde they haue done, then to slay him who hath raysed vp the dead from their graues, and to let goe a theefe, whiche after his libertie might doo more mischeefe.

THE Iewes earnest request remayneth vntyll this day a memori [...]ll (when they lost the kyngdome of Heauen:) because they had leuer haue a sedicious Prince to gouerne them: that is to say, the Deuil, then the Lord GOD.

BEcause I am prepared for the scourge.

THE most louely young man, elegant and gracious, of more excellent feature, in respect of the sonnes of men, was bound to a pi [...]ler and scourged with the greeuous and sorowfull whippe of most vyle persons. That tender fleshe of his most vndefiled and fayrest flowre of all fleshe, and of all humane kinde most innocently was greeuously scourged, wounded, and torne in peeces of them.

IT is smal to purpose, that the Iewes with their mis [...]heeuous handes so crucified thee: but that thy soule before was replenisht, and with gohstly consolations illuminate. O elect childe of GOD, what hast thou trespassed, which deserued such bitternes and confusion: Doubtlesse nothing at all, I silly soule that I am, haue been the cause of all thy affliction and persecution.

IF he went not from hence without the scourge, who came into the world without sinne: Howe doo they deserue to be scourged which haue offended euen tyll this day.

FRom the soule of his foote, euen vp to the crowne of his head, was there not remay­nyng one free spot▪

HE washed vs from our sinnes, by the shed­dyng of his blood.

AND they makyng a crowne of thorne, put it vppon his head, and gaue him a Reede in his right hand: and bowyng theyr knees before him, laughed him to scorne, saying, HAYLE KING OF THE IEVVES.

HEare hath our Sauiour powred foorth vpon vs the abundance of all charity, and plenitude of all his godlinesse. And here a­gayne hath he powred foorth, the heauy in­dignation of his inspeakeable wrath.

SAyde the Theefe. Lord, rememmber me when thou shalt come into thy Kingdome. Iesus said vnto him, Verely I say vnto thee, This day shalt thou be with me in paradyse.

O What a fayth, and what a perfect con­uersion or turnyng to the Lorde had this Theefe: he had nothing left him at his owne libertie but his hart and his tongue, whereby he declared his inward r [...]pentance: and (be­ing inspired with this good motion towards God) obteyned no doubt, all that he found in [Page] his owne free desyre remayning.

OH most godly Iesus, what haue we tres­passed vnto thee, and thy death, and thou hast not mourned for it: what haue we ben in­debted vnto thee, and thou hast not thy selfe paid it: Thy loue, and our iniquitie, hath so made thee lowly and weake for our sakes.

THey ledde him f [...]orth to crucifie him.

IF any man wyll come after me, let him take vp his crosse and folowe me.

THE Crosse of the Lorde is not onely meant that which was of wood, wherevp­pon he was crucified: but also the Crosse of Christe is called that, whiche in all the tyme of our life is made equall with vertues, suffe­ring all maner corrections.

FAther, forgeue them, for they knowe not what they doo.

THE Iewes cryed, Crucifie him. And Christe cryed, Forgeue them. Lord, how great is the multitude of thy sweetenesse, Oh [Page] Lord, howe shalt thou drinke of them in the flood of thy pleasure whiche delight in thee, and desyre thee: which powrest out so abun­dantly the oyle of thy mercy, to [...]utch as hate thee.

BEhold the abundance of charity, and won­derfull pacience in our Sauiour: He com­maundes vs to pray for our enimies, and see­keth no reuenge: why then should that little creature the Ante, the Moth of the earth, and woorme: that is to say, the hart of man, seeke reuengement, and deferre of to forgeue.

ABout the ninth houre, Iesus cryed out with a loude voyce, saying, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

SVrely these were the woordes, signifiyng what a carefull and troubled spirite he had [Page] for vs, which are beset with troubles, and in them expresseth a certaine tendernesse of bit­ter passion and sorowe, proceeding out of his so deepe sithes, entire lamentation, and bitter plaint: whiche might suffice to molefie vnto compunction and remorse, a very iron brest might cleaue in sunder, a stony stomacke might humble and bowe the hart of wood to­wardes loue, and finally moysten a very bra­sen hart towards contemplacion in this case. Neyther let man marueyle, yf he doo suffer tribulations: because he is so comforted in Christe, his head and cheefe captaine.

AND when he had cryed agayne with a loud voyce, he gaue vp the gohst.

AND bowing the head, he gaue vp the gohst.

THE Sauiour of the worlde bowed his head at his death, that he might kisse his welbeloued Mother, and the Disciples then and there present. And wee doo so oftentimes kisse him, as we are compunct and throughly stirred vp to the hartifull remembraunce of his death.

THE Heauens stoode astonished at his death, the Earth was amazed: What dooest thou then, oh Man? Neither is it a thing to be marueyled at: yf the shinyng Sunne became perplexed, that thou shouldest be also perplexed: yf els the Earth became sadde and pensiue, so thou shouldest likewyse be sadde and pensiue: yf the Stones were rent in sender, that thy hart be rent in sonder: yf those that stoode by the Crosse dyd weepe, thou shouldest weepe as well as they.

BEhold, when Christe dyed, euery creature had compassion vpon him: but man alone hath not had any compassion at al vpon him, for whom in deede Christe dyed.

AND they tooke the body of Iesus, and wrapped it in linnen clothes, and spiced [Page] it with Balme and sweete odours.

MAry, the mother of Christe, was the ex­ample of sorowe and compassion, vnto all those that loue Christe.

BEhold, oh man, what I suffer for thy sake: see the paynes and troubles that I endure for thee: see the nayles wherevnto I am fa­stened, and whyle I endure for thee such out­ward sorowe: yet notwithstandyng my in­ward gronyng is more greeuous, whyle I trye thee and finde thee an vnthankful freend vnto me.

CRucifiyng agayne vnto them selues the sonne of God.

THey crucifie Christe, and are found re­prochefull vnto him, which contemnyng his grace, doo sleepe in their sinnes.

I Knewe not (sayth he) that Christe so loued me, I ought not to be therefore reproche­full vnto my self, which so manifestly see that God was crucified and suffered death for me, which haue been so acceptable vnto him, that [Page] he chose rather to dye for me, least that I should otherwyse perishe.

OH precious Soule, not with gold nor sil­uer redeemed, but with the blood of the lambe of God: why wylt thou cast thy selfe so into perdition, seeing Christe for thee shed his precious blood, haue remorse ouer thyne owne soule, seeking to please God.

COuld not GOD repare his pretended woorke of grace in Man any other way, but by this so great danger of his owne lyfe? Yes truely he might otherwyse haue reme­died this matter: but he had rather woorke this meanes, though it were to the preiu­dice of his owne person: because he woulde not finde any further hatefull vice of ingrati­tude in man, but that he would make man a [Page] debter vnto him of manifolde loue that he ought vnto his Sauiour, and hereby shoulde encourage him to be thankfull vnto him, whom the felicitie of his creation had made lesse gratefull: when as this our Creator for our sakes but spake the woord, and al things was done: he commaunded it should be, and they were created.

THerefore God was able, being a man al­so, to satisfie for man: but yet he was not bound to any man so to doo. But man was, and is bounden to satisfye the wyll of God, and coulde not, nor can not: therefore it was needefull that God should be a man: that is to say, because in that he was Christ, he was able to satisfye as God, and was not boun­den as man.

HE that made vs of nothing, yea yf it had pleased him, coulde haue redeemed vs without his death, or passion.

THere could not haue been any more fitter meanes wrought to heale our miserie, then that Christe should dye for vs.

WHen I shall [...]eepely excogitate what­soeuer I am of my selfe, & whatsoeuer I can doo of my self: is it not thincke I with my selfe, in respect as a Starre to be compa­red to the Sunne: a sparcke of fyre, to the heate of a whole furnace: a droppe of wat [...]r, in comparison of a flood: a litle stone, in res­pect of a hill: a grayne of Corne, to a whole heape: and a handfull, to all the worlde? Therefore Lord, I haue but two small pow­ers in me, nay they are very litle that I haue: that is to say, the one my body, the other my soule, or rather I haue but one onely litle power: that is to say, my good hart and wyl­lyng mind, whiche thou hast made and geuen me. And shall I not bestowe it in recom­pence of thy good wyll, who being such a one as thou art, hast bestowed so much for me, [Page] and hath as it were preuented me at once with so great benefites, who hath in thy selfe comprised me wholy: or otherwyse yf I shall retayne these to my selfe, and not bestowe them of thee, with what countenance, with what eyes, and with what mind or conscience doo I goe vnto the bowels of the mercie of my God: and I do see that same most strong safegard or defence of myne, is altogeather gored, whereby Israel is kept: and that his blood, not as droppes, but as flooddes from the fiue partes of his body, hath been shedde for the price of my redemption. &c.

O All you that passe by the way, marke well and see, yf there be any sorowe like my sorowe.

BEhold, oh man, with the eye of thy mind, in what duetifull debt of recompence, thou art bound vnto the Lorde suffering death for thee.

O Howe shewed he mercy, more then he ought to haue done, howe thankfull and tryed loue dyd he expresse towards vs: what vnlooked for woorthynesse bestowed he vpon vs, what admirable sweetenesse, what inuin­cible mildnesse and humilitie: in that he be­ing the king of glory, should geue him selfe to the handes of his enimies, for the most vy­lest person of the world to suffer death.

THE symple soule of man shall finde in the death and passion of Christ such foode and repast, as shal make y^e same most health­full and strong.

AWake thou, oh my soule, and more dili­gently behold with the eyes of thy minde this man, as one borne before the time, and so conceaued, as though no man regarded him, and as one in the sight of the world, vn­woorthy, deformed, and leprous.

HEare me, I beseeche you all you people, and behold my sorowe and anguishe.

GOD forbyd that I shoulde glory but in the death of our Lord Iesus Christe, by whom the world is crucified vnto me, and I am crucifyed vnto the world.

HE that loueth thee from the hart Lord, is wounded for thy sake, and is content to suffer langwors, and as it were a dead man from the woorkes of the worlde, is made strange vnto the world: for thy loue is strong as death, and thy heauy wrath is as the pitte of hell.

WHO is not caryed perforce vnto hope and confidence of obteyning his desire, [Page] which geueth due and attentiue regard to the disposing of his body. And vouchsafe thou, oh Lorde, to receaue and accept my spirite commended into thy hands: and so strike my body and pearce my hart with the swoord of charitie, and print therein the woundes of thy body, that after the course of this lyfe, I may freely commende into thy handes my soule, as banished and mere strange vnto the worlde.

I Beseeche thee good Lorde, so pearce and wounde this my soule, with the sharpe point of thy accustomed feruent loue, for whom thou hast vouchsafe to dye, that with the most mighty weapon of thy loue, & with the staffe of thy entyre good wyll, shee being chastized, may more deepely consider of thy mighty vertue, and plentifully yeelde foorth her flooddes of brynishe teares both day and night.

VOuchsafe, oh Lord and heauenly father, to looke downe from out of thy Sanctua­rie, and from thy heauenly habitation: behold the pledge which thy sonne our Lord GOD [Page] and high Priest Iesus Christ offereth for the sinnes of his brethren, and be fauourable to the multitude of our wickednesse.

REmember nowe, oh Man, and although thou knowest thy self to be created of no­thing, yet notwithstandyng thou hast to ac­knowledge, that thou art not redeemed for or by nothing. The Creator, Redeemer, and Sauiour, in sixe dayes made all thinges, and thre amongst all thinges: but in thirtie yeere space: that is to say, In his liue time vppon earth dyd he woorke thy saluation. Oh what paynes hath he endured then for thy sake.

ALL thinges are by him made, and without him, is nothing made.

HEareby knowe wee the loue of God to­wardes vs, because he hath geuen his life for vs.

NO man hath greater loue in him, then he that woulde geue his life for his freendes.

OF trueth sweete Iesus, thou hast hadde greater loue, whiche hast geuen thy lyfe, euen for thy persecuting enemies.

FOR you are bought with a great price.

NOT according to the woorkes of righ­teousnesse which we haue done, but ac­cordyng to his mercie hath he saued vs.

THY wrath is come, and the time of the dead to be iudged, and to render a reward aswell vnto thy seruantes the prophetes, as to thy holy ones, to those that feare thy name small and great, and to destroy those whiche haue corrupted thy land.

THOV haste made all thinges in wyse­dome.

GOD is a iust Iudge, strong and pa­cient.

DEpart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre, whiche is prepared for the deuil and his angels.

AND they shall goe to euerlastyng pou­nishment.

WHo so shall happen to descend vnto hel, shall not ascende vnto the heauens.

If I had a hundred tongues, and as many mouthes, and a voyce as strong as Iron, I could not comprehend to declare al the kindes of mischeefes, and for the pounishmentes thervnto due, they are so many, that I might rather seeme to passe the names of them with scilence, then to resite them at full.

I Wyll heape mischeefes vpon their heades: that is to lay, all kindes of tormentes: and I wyll fulfyll the number of my arrowes of displeasure vpon them.

FYre, Tempest, Famine, and Death, all these are ordeyned for a reuenge of the Lord against the vngodly.

IT raigneth snares vppon sinners: Fyre, Brimstone, and Tempest.

FOr as the droppes of rayne are innumera­ble, so are the pounishmentes due vnto the wicked.

EVen as the eye of man hath not seene, his care hath not heard, neyther hath it ascen­ded into the hart of man, what God hath pre­pared for them that loue him: So vndoubted­ly ought we acknowledge, that mans eye hath neuer seene, neyther hath the eare of any tra­uayler heard, neither hath it ascended into the hart of man how many euils there are, which God hath prepared for them whiche trespasse against his deuine Maiestie.

ACcordyng to the saying of naturall rea­son: Euen as the kyng hath a fayre Hall for his freendes, a Kitchin and Stable for his [Page] seruauntes and Cattle, and a place of pou­nishment for guyltye persons: So God the kyng of kynges, hath prepared Heauen for his freendes and the elect, the world for time seruers and transgressors, and hell it selfe for those that are dampned.

THEY shall stand in great constancie a­gainst those whiche haue molested them, and whiche haue defrauded them of their la­bours: They seeing this, shalbe troubled with horrible feare, & shall marueile at them in the suddennes of an vnhoped for health, thus saying amongst them selues, repenting when it is to late, and mournyng for very an­guish of soule, saying, These are they whom we sometimes despised and disdained to beare rule (who being out of our wittes) esteemed their life to be madnesse, and their ende with­out honour. Behold how they are reckoned amongst the sonnes of God, and their lot fal­leth among the Saintes: therefore haue we erred from the way of trueth, and the light of righteousnesse hath not shined vnto vs, and the sonne of vnderstandyng hath not appea­red vnto vs: we haue gone astray in the way of iniquitie and perdition, and haue walked [Page] difficult wayes, but the way of the Lorde haue we not knowen. In our malignitie are we therefore consumed: suche thinges shall they say in hell which haue sinned.

SInners shalbe conuerted vnto hell: that is to say, shall feele the tormentes thereof.

THE Lorde hath mollefied my hart, and the Omnipotent hath layd troubles vpon me.

LET the vexed mind fyrst behold the pu­nishment due for sinne, before she doo of­fend: and let her set before her eyes the so­rowes, in respect of carnall concupiscences, which were woont to folowe the sinner at the hard heeles, and there shall no sinne delight her, neither shal any carnall delectation moue her to offend God.

LET vs breake the bondes of them in sunder, and cast from vs their yoke.

LET his sorowe returne vpon his owne head, and let his iniquitie lyght vpon his owne pate.

HE that hath eares to heare, let him heare what the spirite sayth to the congregati­ons.

BInde him hand and foote, and cast him in­to the vttermost darknesse.

THey shalbe geathered togeather, as in a congregation of one solempne feast, and shall be shut in perpetuall prison.

THey shalbe tormented night and day for euer and euer: Oh howe voyde of perce­uerance and blind, are the hartes of sinners, not considering these things: for sinners shall there say, What hath our pride profited vs, or what hath our boasting in our wealth brought vnto vs. They are all vanished as a shadowe, and we are consumed in our owne malignitie.

ORder is a certayne disposition, which di­stributeth equalitie & diuesity vnto euery thing, equall or vnequall.

GOD hath sett nothing in the world with­out order, therefore he appoynteth a con­uenient place for euery thing, accordyng to the measure thereof: but that which is tedi­ous or burdensome to the body, is delectable, and embraced in the soule, and in reasonable creatures.

THE body is euen so carried about with tediousnesse, as the soule is with delecta­tion.

THere is nothing hard for them that loue, there is no hard or difficult matter in loue. [Page] Let vs then loue Christ, and euery thing shal seeme easy vnto vs, which otherwyze is hard to be atcheeued.

THere is nothing more precious vnto God then the vertue of loue: and nothing more desirous vnto the deuil, then the extinguishing of loue.

HE that soweth in the flesh, shall reape the corruption of the fleshe.

FOR they that liue after the flesh, doo sa­uour of those things which are of the flesh: that is to say, they esteeme carnall things to be better then spirituall thinges.

AS the mercie of God beareth her selfe to­wardes good and bad, so dooth his iustice [Page] likewyse beare her selfe towardes the repro­bate and vngodly. Therefore as they are the chosen chyldren of heauenly heritage, whiche in their loue haue preferred heauenly things before earthly thinges: so are the reprobate deputed for hell, because they haue preferred earthly thinges before heauenly thinges, and thinges carnall, before thinges spirituall.

MY loue is my labour, therewith am I carried whether so euer I am carried.

THat same burnyng flame reuengeable, hath with it a certayne fierie consuming of vices, but hath no light at all: there the fire casteth no light to comfort the tormented foules: and yet notwithstandyng, it geueth light to an other purpose, to the end it might more and more torment the dampned soules: for the followers thereof are plainely to be perceaued therewith seene in the torment, by meanes of whose affection they haue tres­passed.

YOV shall serue strange goddes, whiche shall not suffer you to take any rest nyght nor day.

AND there shalbe after these thinges, seene those that shall slide away without [...]onor, and liue in reproches amongst the [...]ead for euer, and they shalbe laid waste, euen [...]to the very last man.

THE pounishment is by the ordinance of God distinguished, according to the mea­ [...]re of the fault committed.

THERE is most wicked pouertie in the mouth of the vngodly.

HE shall cast vp agayne the wealth and ritches that he hath swalowed vp and de­uoured.

THey shall leaue their ritches for stran­gers to posses.

WIthin one houre are they bereaued of such substance.

THeir ritches shall not auayle the wicked in the day of vengeance: he that trusteth in them shall haue a fall.

ALL sorowe violently russheth in there vpon him.

THere is no other man more acceptable vnto GOD, then he that contempneth worldly ritches.

OH foolish blessednesse happening vnto man by brittle wealth, which when hee hath gotten hee then becommeth secure and careles therein.

AND there shall a fire consume them, which shall not cast any light.

THE fyre of hell shall both geue light vn­to the augmentation of the payne for the wretched soules, to the end they may see that shalbe to their sorowe, and also shall not geue light to their comfort, because they shall not [Page] see that may be to ther ioy.

THE people shalbe as the foode of fyre.

THE wicked haue death in hell that shall neuer dye, want without want, ende with­out end (because death there) is immortall penurie neuer fayling, and the ende of their paines infinite.

EVilles haue compassed me rounde about, whereof I am not able to resite the num­ber.

GOD shall strike thee with neede, or pe­nurie, sicknesse, and colde, with heate and drought, with corrupt ayre, and with rust of the earth.

WHich of you shalbe able to dwell where the deuouring fyre hath his force.

BVT yet shalt thou consider before thyne eyes, and shalt see the reward that shalbe geuen sinners: I wyll remember and beare in mind these thinges, and my spirite waxeth faint therefore.

MY sonne, remember thy ende, and thou shalt not sinne for euer.

BEcause a thousand yeeres are before thine eyes as yesterday, which is passed.

THou shalt be cast out also from the heri­tage that I gaue thee, and I wyll subdue thee vnder the heauie bondage of thyne ene­mies, in a land that ye know not: for ye haue ministred fyre to myne indignation which shall burne euermore.

IN this present life, temporall pleasures are counted sweete, and troubles are coumpted bitter: but who is he that despiseth not the voluptuousnesse of this worlde, thirsting or longing after the felicitie of the life euerla­sting: [Page] or who would not willingly drinke the cup of tribulation for Christe in this world, fearing the euerduring torment of the fyre in hell.

IF it be a tedious thing for the healthfull man to lye waltering in his bed all day and all night long, and in the softnesse thereof to wallowe him selfe at wyll: so vnto a young dissolute person, it happeneth likewyse a thing ircksome to keepe company long tyme with fayre Women. These and suche other like, which were woont to be doone for sport and pleasure, doo with continuall vse thereof bring lothsomenes. Alacke therefore, why do such sinners slumber in sinne, why rather doo they not awake, and why doo they not consi­der before, that horrible tormentes in hell are prepared for them which shall endure a thou­sand thousand yeres after, yea for euerlasting.

AND thincke we then brethren, that the power of God haue foreshewed vs these thinges in sport? or that the Apostl [...]s haue told vs of these things in a laughing m [...]ode? that the iudg [...]ment of the deuine Maiestie is newly begun and determined without discre­tion? But these are no sporting plaies, when paynes doo passe herevpon, yf they haue suf­fered pounishment in midst of their ioy, they are yet notwithstandyng beleeued of vs to haue spoken these thinges but in iest, and not in earnest.

SAra was sawen in peeces, Danyel was throwen amongst the Lyons, Paul was beheaded with the swoord, Peter was han­ged vppon the Crosse, after the same manner that Christe was: and all this tendeth to that ende, that with their doctrine and good lyfe, they might reuoke and withdrawe vs from our sinnes.

WHerefore (sayth the sayde Robart) Oh wicked, oh peruerse, oh deceitfull, and oh deuelishe cogitation of them, which doo e­steeme and suppose that there is no hel at all. [Page] Oh thou hard and stony molded soule, oh thou bewitched, oh thou vicious soule: what dooest thou? or whyther wandrest thou? why dooest thou make such haste to hell wardes, wheras thou shalt liue most miserable for euer. Nowe therfore returne thou vnto the Lord thy God which shal deliuer thee▪ and graunt thee both grace and glory in Heauen.

PO [...]der well in thy mind, what so euer so­rowes or vexations of torments are ordey­ned for sinners, what so euer pounishmentes of this world, or els whatsoeuer bitter gripes of sorowes assayle thee: yf thou comparest such like altogeather vnto the state of hell, all that thou sufferest shall seeme light and easie vnto thee.

FEare to breake the appoynted feastes, and the solempne feastes of the soule from sin, and refraine the wicked labors of thy hands: but these thinges are thought easie to be done or accomplished, by him that hath mind vpon the euerlasting fyre in hell.

WHAT man is he that liueth, and shall not taste death, or shall saue his soule from the neathermost hell.

DOthe not all the tyme of this our lyfe▪ (wherin we seeme to take our pleasures) manifestly appeare a mainteyner of pleasure and lust, as the sleepe of one onely night, in respect of the felicitie in the lyfe eternall.

ALL the good thinges, or euill thynges which we enioy in this world, are enter­mixed with their contraries, neyther haue they any fyrme or certayne degree of their perfection, but eyther may they be encreased or diminished: eyther els may they be enioy­ed or had of vs somewhat more or lesse, as it is euident in euery vertue & vice, and as well in eury good or euyll part of the body, as in [Page] euery good or euyll cogitation or affect of the soule. Neyther is there ioy found here with­out feare, nor sorowe or sadnesse with conso­lation: neyther perfect health without disea­ses, or some hurtfull harme: neyther yet vali­ant courage of body and mind, without debili­tie or feeblenes of nature. But in heauen are all good things, not mixed with contrarietie, and those are certayne to trust vnto with most perfect consolation: in hell likewyse are all euyll thinges quite contrary.

CErtaynely there is one onely fyre of tor­ment in hell, which we ought to beleeue is ordeyned for the wicked, but all shall not be tormented alike in one maner: for euery one, accordyng as the qualitie of his trespasses hath required, shall there feele the smart of the pounishment due for the same.

THE world passeth away, and the concu­piscence thereof: oh man, what wouldest thou haue. Whether hadst thou leuer to loue temporall thinges, and so slide away with time transitory, or loue Christe, and with him liue for euer.

THis world is more dangerous when she flattereth vs, then when she loureth vpon vs. There can be no greater madnes then for momentany pleasures to loose eternal ioyes, and to euthrall thy soule vnto perpetuall tor­ment. Oh how happy is that man that hath not walked after the glory of this world, and the dissembling madnes of the same.

THE wysedome of this world, is counted meare foolishnesse before God.

IN the multitude of thy worldly affares, when thou art occupied, the very inwarde partes of the body are replete with iniquitie.

THE poyson against loue and charitie most pernicious, is the lust after temporal pleasures.

OH my soule, what feare shall then take hold of thee when all these thinges haue forsaken thee, whose presence are so pleasant vnto thee, so acceptable in sight, and so fami­lier to dwell togeather. Altogeather fearefull and trembling, thou alone shalt enter into a strange countrey, when as those most vglye and fearefull monsters all vpon an heape shal runne vpon thee.

THose eyes which the offence hath shut vp and made to wincke at, the same shall the due pounishment for suche offence, open and make to see plainely.

IF I shall endure this vexation, hell it selfe is my house ordeyned, and in the darcknesse haue I made my bed: I haue sayde vnto cor­ruption, thou art my father, and my mother: and to the woormes, thou art my sister. Where is then my recouerie and helpe be­come: all that I haue in possession, shall goe downe into the deepe pit of hell. Therefore geue me leaue to depart, that I may bewayle my sorowe, before I shall goe hence, and not returne vnto the darke land couered with the [Page] heate of death: the land of miserie and dark­nesse, whereas is the shadowe of death, and no order of lyfe, to say euerlasting horror in­habiting there.

HE that feareth onely for a small tyme to put his finger in the fyre, why rather fea­reth he not both in soule and body to be tor­mented. Oh howe great is this madnes of man for these frayle and transitory things, to suffer perpetuall pounishment both in soule and body.

DEclare thou howe many, and what ages haue been, or are spent in ryot and carn i [...] pleasures: what times and seasons passed in vayne delightes, whiche are to be compared vnto the euerlastyng paynes of hell. If thee lyst, bestowe thou an hundred yeeres in suche [Page] delectacions, yea adde there vnto an hundred yeeres moe, or rather tenne hundred yeeres moe, what shall this or that be in respect of the lyfe euerlastyng.

AWake thou that sleepest, and ryse vp from the dead, and Christe shall lighten thy steppes.

FOR all thinges are had, by seekyng for them in their due tyme.

KEepe thee therefore within thy bondes, and establish thy soule: stand to thy tack­ling with a good courage, and thou shalt see the helpe of God vpon thee.

HE that dyeth, and dooeth not repent him of his sinnes eare he depart out of this lyfe, dyeth not at all, but liueth in eternall torment.

MY Soule is alwayes before me.

HE shall geue victory to him that conten­deth for victorie, who hath emboldned the wrastler.

WOulde God they once in their dayes would be wyse, and haue vnderstan­dyng, y^t they might prouide for the last day.

WOe be vnto you riche men, which haue all your consolation in your riches here vpon earth.

BLessed are they whiche doo mourne after godlines in this life, because they shall be comforted.

WHat shall it preuayle man yf he gayne vnto him selfe all the world, and loose his owne soule.

FOoles doo esteeme of greatest thinges, least in value to be cared for, & haue grea­test [Page] regard vnto very small thinges. They take more care howe to keepe and cherishe their diseased corrupt body, then howe to fo­ster and cherish the precious soule. Yea, they are more carefull howe to batten and [...]eede the flesh with fatnesse and good likyng: but the kirnell of the soule, or the hart of the spirituall man, they doo oftentimes destroy.

THey surely that are not diligent in their vocations (as men ought to be) are par­takers of the deuils them selues in their tra­uayles.

THere can be no labour deemed tedious: neither any time seeme long vnto vs, wherein the euerlasting glory is obteyned.

NO doubt, sinners doo dayly heare the scriptures, promising as well vnto those that loue God, the most blessed graces of his good prouidence: and contrariwyse they heare the scriptures, which doo threaten vnto such as care not for GOD, the plagues and pounishmentes by him for them ordeyned. And yet geue they no regard therevnto, ney­ther wyllingly do they heare God thus spea­king [Page] vnto them, when he gently entreateth them, nor when he seuerely threatneth them, but rather doo resist him with their euyll and wicked dooinges.

THE wyse man also, as well as the foole, shall goe to the graue.

MEN doo more wyllingly toyle them selues for the desire they haue vnto plea­sure, then for the loue that they beare to ver­tue. Most men are naturally geuen to be feareful and timerus in paines taking in sus­tayning troubles, pouertie, and other daun­gers, wherewith humane kind was wonte to be molested. But yf they were wyse in deede, and vnderstoode the excessiue calamities or­deyne [...] for sinners without ende, they woulde then be farre more fearefull to offend in this lyfe.

THey that feare a frost vpon them, shall haue a snowe come to them.

WHen they shall say, Peace and security is with vs, then by and by shall a so­dayne destruction come vppon them, as the pange of a woman trauayling with chylde, and they shall not escape away.

MAke thou no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde, and prolong not of from day to day: for sodaynely shall his wrath come, and in time of reuenge he shall destroy thee.

FOr you haue said, We haue made a league with death, and with hell we haue made a couenant.

BE you not deceaued in your owne doo­inges, God is not mocked withall: what thing so euer a man shall sowe, the same shall he also reape agayne.

THey haue rather chosen death then lyfe·

THey haue drawen neare, euen vnto the gates of death.

THere is a most vyle death ordayned for sinners.

REmember to dye, because death wyll not tary long.

I Tremble and quake for feare of the iawes of the infernall beast, yea tyl [...] I be deliue­red from the body of hell, from the roaring feendes prepared to their meate. Alacke, oh my mother, why hast thou conceyued me the child of sorowe, the childe of bitter bale, in­dignation, & eu [...]rlasting lamentation? Why was I l [...]lled in thy lappe? why was I foste­red with thy dugges: I was borne the meate for woormes, and foode of the fyre.

YOur laughter sh [...]ll turne into mournyng and your ioy into sorowe.

SO much as he hath vaunted and reioyced him selfe in his ritches: so much torment and mournyng let him haue administred vn­to him.

THere shalbe a certayne prescribed rate of pounishment, according to the measure of [Page] the offence that euery man hath done.

BReethren, let vs be enflamed to repen­tance, let vs examine our consciences, and let vs be encouraged to take reuenge of our selus, by repentāce to y^e end we may be able to escape y^e horrible iudgement of y^• liuing God.

WHY dooest thou cry out so vppon the contrition of thy soule: thy sorowe is incurable, by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities, and because of thy greeuous sins haue I done this, sayth the Lord.

THE moderacion of Gods displeasure, the duetie of godlinesse, seeketh onely for our returne, and desyreth that we may be sa­ [...]ed by this long forbearance of his goodnes: [Page] If we wyll not be conuerted, yf we be stiff [...] necked, and yf we continewe still in our syns vnlawfully, euen tyll our death. Let vs trust vnto it, God wyl not shewe mercie vnto those that continually perseuer in their sinnes.

I Tremble to thincke vppon the gnawyng woorme, and the death that neuer dyeth. I shiuer and quake euery ioynt of me, to fall in­to the handes of that death that endureth, and of that l [...]fe that dyeth.

THE w [...]cked shall dye the death euerla­styng.

IF at that instant, when a man purposeth to sinne, he would with diligent mind consider what pounishment claymeth to be done to­wards those that are taken in trappe for their mischeefts: what torment shoulde vexe the conuict soules, what feare would shake their members and ioynts in euery part, and what wanne and pale colour would dumpe theyr hauty countenances: and finally, how execra­ble reproche and ignominie it selfe the sen­tence denounced vnto suche sinners woulde duely re [...]der I knowe not whether he would [Page] take any such delight, or frame him selfe vnto such vices and wickednes yea or no.

BEholde, the Bridegrome commeth, and they that were prepared to wayte vppon the Bridegrome, went in with him vnto the wedding.

IF thou, oh wicked man wert wyse and did­dest vnderstand what ioye this were, thou wouldest oftentimes consider herevpon, and speedely run to repentance: neither wouldest thou lose or forgoe the acceptable time, and the dayes of thy saluation, through thy ban­quetting, dayly ryot, and idlenesse, without profiting body or soule.

WHO shall geue water vnto my head, & a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes, that I may weepe night and day, when I be­hold the children of the people committed to my charge.

LET vs craue his pardon with teares.

THE iustice of the Omnipotent hauing foreknowledge of thinges to come, let or­deyne [Page] to be made the fyre of hell, euen from the first creation of the world: He whiche is of his owne mercifull goodnes contrary to this fire, who is enflamed with loue of the heauenly God, he is the fire whiche is neuer extinguished, neither is he with mans loue consumed, nor with wood noryshed.

WHat is more horrible to thinke vpon, then death: what is more feareful▪ then iudgement: what more intollerable, then the pai [...]es of hell fyre: what more ioyfull, then the glory of Heauen. &c.

MAN dooth not compre­hend in faith or beleeue, what God hath prepa­red for them that loue him: neither is it a thing that can be hoped suffi­cient, nor desired as it ought to be, yet may it be obteyned: but it can be sufficiently esteemed, valued, or dee­med, according to the due value thereof.

HOW dearely beloued thy tabernacles of vertues are: Oh Lorde my soule hath de­siered [Page] to knowe within thy Courtes, and yet hath it fayled thereof.

ENter tho [...] into the ioy of thy Lord.

EVery man is made blessed in the country of the heauenly kingdome, as well within doores, as without: within, that is to say, in the contemplac [...]on of the diuinitie of the Cre­ator: without, to say, in the incarnation and beholdyng in Heauen his Sauiour.

BLessed are they which dwell in thy house, oh Lorde, they shall praise thee worlde without end.

THere are glorius sayings of thee, oh thou Citie of God.

O Lorde, I haue loued the beautie of thy house, and the place of thy habitation.

BLessed shall I be, yf the rest of my seede might hereafter see the bright clearenesse of the Citie Hierusalem. The gates of Hie­rusalem are builded of the Saphir and Sma­ragd stone, and of diuers precious stones: [Page] yea, of precious stones is the compasse of the walles thereof.

THe heauenly Hierusalem hath the walles thereof in measure, an hundred and foure and fourty cubites, after the measure of man, which is of the angel that measured the same, hauing twelue foundacions: that is to say, all beautified with eache kinde of most precious stones. And the first fundacion was of Ias­per stone: the second, of Saphire: the third, of Calcedony: the fourth, of Emerald: the fifth, of Sardonix: the sixth, of Sardius: the se­uenth, of Crysolity: the eight, of Berill: the ninth, of Topas: the tenth, of Crysophrasus: the eleuenth, of Iacinth: and the twelfth and last fundacion, of an Amethist.

AND the streetes of the Citie resembled a golden world, shining clearly as bright as glasse. And the Temple thereof, dyd I not see: for the Lorde God, euen the Almighty, he is the Temple thereof, and the Lambe. And the Citie neyther wanted Sunne nor Moone to geue light therein: for the beauty of the liuing God hath illuminated the same, and the light thereof is the Lambe. And the [Page] gates thereof are n [...]t shutt by day time: for there shall no night be seene there. And thy­ther shall they bring glory and honor out of the Nacions. There shall nothing that is de­ [...]owled enter in therat, neither any thing that woorcketh abomination, or maketh leasings: but such as are written in the booke of the life of the Lambe.

THere is a ioy that is not geuen vnto the wicked ones, but vnto those thankful ones whiche honor thee, whose ioy thou thy selfe art.

MY people shal rest them in the Taberna­cle of faithfulnesse, in the beautiful court of peace.

AND there shalbe none end of peace.

OH heauenly house of Hierusalem, whiche art ful of light: vnto thee breatheth my peregrination, that he might possesse me in thee, which hath made both thee and me.

ETernall blessednesse consisteth in two pointes: to say, in the necessarie absence of all euyl, and in the necessarie presence of al good. If we aske what good, there is at all to be found: otherwyse it may not be answe­red, but what so euer good thing may be, is there to be found, and what so euer euyl there is, or may be in any place, is not at al to be found there.

ONE day in thy Courtes, is better then a thousand.

A Thousand yeeres, are in thy sight but as one day.

FOR who would loue that which he kno­weth not: wherevpon the Psalmist admo­nisheth vs, saying, Taste, and see how sweete the Lord is. And yf he manifestly declare his sweetenes, yet you knowe him not, because [Page] you haue not tasted of him.

SVch is the beauty of Iustice, so much is the pleasauntnes of eternall light: that al­though we had but one day, and no longer li­mitted vs to tarry there, euen for this cause only (yf there were none other) might in-nu­merable yeeres of this life be despised, which are passed full of delightes in the abundance of temporal wealth, and that but of right and with iust cause.

PRosperity, the Stepdame of vertues from the fyrst beginning of the world, hath been proffering vnto her guestes sweete things to drincke: that when men haue been drunke with the dregges of her wine, she might en­termingle them, her deadly poyson therewith.

VNhappy and voyde is the hope of them, their labours are without fruite: but glo­rious is the fruites of the labours of the good men.

WHat madnes of soules is that to lose life, and take death to gett wealth, and lose heauen.

IT is better to be compared vnto the brute Cattell, then continually to be borne into this world: For naturally to be boyde of rea­son, is a thyng intollerable, but for a man that shoulde be adorned with reason, to liue without reason, is and may be wel counted a trespassing life.

MAN being in honor, hath none vnder­standing, but is compared vnto the brute beast [...]s: yea, vnto the vnwyse, and is made like vnto them. &c.

THE carnall delectation darkeneth and obscureth so that mind which she doth in­fect, that she can not see the clearenesse of the true light, but therevpon is more deuilishly [Page] delighted, so as thencefoorth she suffereth fie­rie flame, euen ascending vpward.

WE all are geuen to be wary in least matters, and negligent in greatest thinges.

BEcause thou wouldest be such one, that no earthly thing delighteth thee at all: be­leeue me thou shalt see euen at the same mo­ment of time, that thing which thou desirest.

IF we would consider what and how great benefites these be which are promised vs in the heauens, we should thinke in our mindes that all thinges are vyle and base whiche wee enioy vppon earth: for the earthy substance being compared vnto the heauenly felicitie, is a burden heauy for vs to beare, and not a treasure to enioy. The temporall lyfe, being compared vnto the life eternall, is rather to be called death then lyfe: for that same dayly diseaze of corrupt nature, what other thing els is it, then a certaine proloxitie, or circum­staunce of death.

THere shall no man take away your ioy from you.

OH thou house of God, the Citie of the great kyng: what woonderful ioyes are there in thee: howe much, and what great gladnesse, how blessed are thy inhabitantes.

I Wyll sing of mercy and trueth vnto thee, oh Lord.

FOR what is there for me in heauen, and what would I haue of thee vpon earth: I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all my ritches: my hart hath refused to be comforted in worldly thinges.

I Haue been mindfull of my God, and I am comforted.

THY consolacious, oh Lorde, haue made my soule glad.

FOR vnto the image and similitude o [...] God, is eu [...]ry reasonable soule made. It may be better exercised, then all other crea­tures: but in very deede it can not be satisfy­ed at all.

I Shall be satisfyed when thy glory shall ap­peare.

THE soule that is entrenched with the flowres of vertues, and with the deawe of heauenly grace, is called the Paradise of the Lorde.

THE v [...]permost trenche possesseth the soule, when she is afflitted with the desire of the heauenly kingdome, euen with salte teares: but the neathermost trenche doth she enioy when she throughly feareth, by her so­rowe and teares, the tormentes of the pitt of hell.

FOR our naturall bodyes are compa [...]t of foure Elementes, wherevpon with foure fould qualities shall they be remunerate: for the Earthy Elament shal be turned to eter­nall [Page] immortalitie: the Watry Elament, in­to al maner of vnabilitie in suffering: the Ay­rie Elament, into a speciall agillity or swift­nes: and the Fyry Elament, into most bright clearenes. And then shall these shine as the Sunne, and as the sparckes out of a flaming Furnace, shall they disperse them selues a­brode, because the Lorde shall wipe away all sorowe from their eyes.

WHere so euer the spirite desireth to be then, there altogeather shall the body be also. &c.

AND there is a fruition of blisse, whiche shall endure for euer, and that in diuers [Page] maner: not vpon the behalfe of euery perti­culer soule which shall enioy the same, but on the behalfe of such as shal posses them soules: for the bles [...]ed and elect of God, howe muche the more perfectly they are enobled with the light of glory, and by the same il [...]ustration or noblenesse, the more conformable made: So muche the more sharpe contemplacion haue they of the deuine essence, and in the same contemplacion the more are they delighted.

THere is one light of the Sunne, an other light of the Moone, and an other lyght of the Starres: but euery Starre differeth in hrightnesse eche from other, and so shall the resurrection of the dead differ one soule from an other.

NO inferior, shall enuie his superior, euen as now, no other angel inferior, doo not enuie their superior in heauen: for some one shall haue a larger gift of blessing, and some other a lesse. So as notwithstanding what so euer gyft, eyther of them haue in the blisfull state of heauenly ioy, he shall hold him selfe content therewith, and shal not at any tyme wyshe or desyre for more. &c.

LEt therfore the greatnes of the rewards▪ layd vp for thee in heauen, encourage t [...]y [...]oule: but let not the force of the conflict in Christes fayth terrifie thee: for no one man shal be c [...]owned with the ga [...]l [...]nd of victory, but he that hath rightfully [...]ought it out to the vttermost.

THat is, y^• alone true, and only ioy which is not conceaued of the Creature, but of the Creator, whiche when a man possesseth, there is no man shal take the same away [...]rō him. Whereunto, yf we compare all other sweetenesse, the same may be co [...]mpted to a mindful p [...]rson: al sweetenes a sorr [...]we, eue­ry bit [...]er thing sweete euery comely thing fil­thy: and fina [...]ly, whatsoeuer other may seeme to delight vs, the same in deede is but gree­uous and intollerable.

I Desire to be dissolued, and to be with Christe.

ALL my comforters seeme vnto me [...]e [...]i­ous and burdensome: They vex [...] me, but comfort me not: I seeke for my Creator, and [Page] it is greefe to me to behold euery Creature.

THis is my rest, for euer and euer wyll I dwell here, because I haue chosen the same.

COnsider wel, thou faythful soule, what in­estimab [...]e honor it shalbe for thee to be crowned of the cheefe King of Kinges with his owne handes, and to be adurned with the Dyadem of eternal glory, not in the doung­hill of this world, but in the Pallace of Hea­uen, in the sight of innumerable Ang [...]ls, and of al the Sainc [...]es, in your stoole of immorta­litie, and with splendant royal ornamentes to be inuested.

LTT them receaue the kyngdome of ho­nor, and the Dyadem of dignity, euen at the handes of the Lord.

OH thou my soule, yf it be so that we must needes suffer tormentes euery day: yea, to suffer the very horrible hel it selfe a long time, so that we might afterwards see Christ our sauiour in his glory, and with his saintes euermore accompanied: should we not onely suffer all sorrowe and paine, to be made par­takers of such glory and good graces?

BEloued brethren, in the perplexity of this worldly pilgrimage, we suffering the so­rowes of our exile, as it were with want of all goodnes are defiled, and suffer the dispo­sing of all incombrances, the snares of sinnes laide for vs in euery place, fearing the subtel deceiptes of our enimies: but not sufficient, watchfully, or diligently preuenting them as we ought, forbearing detrimentes and vexa­tions, and not able to shake from vs calami­ties, swelling in vices, enclined to vanitie in steade of veritie, enduring exile for our coun­trey, taste pouertie in steade of abundance, vyle thinges for want of glorious thinges: and doo so loue this world with a miserable blindnes, or rather foolishe madnes, that we are vtterly ignorant of that same glory of the [Page] holy ones of God: whervnto lyfting the face of our mind and inward man, we then behold the ioyes of eternal lyfe, that we might some what surely sauour in our hartes the sweete­nesse thereof.

OH that I knew what I my selfe am, and what thou art, oh Lorde. Oh yf a man knewe what him selfe were, and what GOD were, he would suffer a thousand deaths yf it wer. &c.

BEholde the perpetuall goodnes of the re­ward for such as feare God.

BEhold w^t your eies [...] forasmuch as I haue laboured a little, and I haue found great rest vnto my selfe: Let your hart reioyce in his mercie. Be dooing what you can before the time, and he shall geue you your reward in due time.

THE Apostles went from out of sight of the people which gaue counsell, because they were coumpted woorthy for the name of Christe, or in his behalfe to suffer reproches.

WE wyll reioyce with the elect of God, and we wyll suffer tribulations of the world with them: for surely they that would not imitate the holy ones in this manner, shoulde not attaine vnto their renowne and glory.

FOR euery one shall receiue his owne re­ward, according to his labour and trauell: but many for the most, not meanyng to liue well, desire to dye well, knowyng how preci­ous in the sight of the Lorde, is the death of his sainctes.

Is he the God of the Iewes onely? is he not also of the Gentiles? yes of the Gentiles also.

IF any man shal thincke the way paynefull to liue wel, such a one is the excuser of his owne slouth and negligence: for yf Mari­ners, and Seafaring men soppose the raging floods of the Sea to be threatninges of dan­ger vnto them: yf the season of Winter be thought a hinderance vnto husbandmen: yf woundes and slaughter of Souldyers seeme a thyng tollerable: and yf most greeuous stripes and blowes seeme thinges easie to be borne withal of very champions them selues, for the hope of temporall thinges and transi­tory commodities: much more when heauen is prepared for a rewarde, of the godly we ought not once to thincke any thing of these present calamities, neither ought a man to looke that this way is streyt, but whyther it bringes a man: neyther ought we to seeke for any other beeause it is brode, but where the same finisheth.

AND being bidden to the supper, they be­gun euery man to excuse them selues.

FOrgeue vs Lorde, forgeue vs, we excuse our selues, we woorke al against y^e graine: [Page] so as there is scarce any man whiche wyl be made practized (as he may w [...]ll be) in those thynges which parteyne vnto thee. They all sauour earthly thinges, they seeke that which is theirs, and not that which is partei­nyng vnto Iesus Christe. They embrace vi­ces, they flee vertues, and they waxe v [...]le to­geather as the brute beast, through filthynesse of their sinnes.

THe godly man perisheth vpon the earth, and there is not any one amongst menne, that liueth aright. &c.

THere shal be the cheefe securi [...]ie, the safe tranquility, the tranqiul or safe sweetenes, the sweete felicitie, the happy eternitie, the eternall blessednesse·

OH heauenly Citie, thou safe M [...]nsion place, a countrey fully c [...]n [...]eyning wh [...] so euer may be delightful▪ a people without murmuring, quiet inhabitance, men hauyng no neede of any thing.

THE deuine bountie of the most highest, shal replenishe all the receptacle of the soule with all goodnesse: that is to say, the angry and irefull soule with power and dig­nitie: the greedy and couetous soule, wi [...]h de­lightes: and the reasonable soule, with wys­dome, that there may therein appeare pow­er without contradict [...]on, dignity without comparison.

THE feare of the Lorde, is the Well of lyfe.

LET the loue of this present Wo [...]lde de­part from thee, wherein no man is so borne that he may not dye, and let the loue of the worlde to come take place in thee, wherein al men are made liuing, so as thence foorth they shall not dye, where no aduersitie [Page] shall trouble thee, and no gree [...]es disquiet thee, but whereas euerlastyng ioy and glad­nesse raigneth for thy perpetual comfort.

THe [...] sayd I, Lorde how lon [...], H [...] answered, vntyl the Cities be vtterly wasted without inhabitantes. &c.

THey shall obteyne ioy and gladnesse, and sorowe and lamenta [...]ion shall flee from them.

OH howe good is the God of Israel vnto such as are true of hart.

MOYSES sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel. Consider, that this day I haue [Page] set before thee in thy sight, both lyfe and good: and of the contrary part, death and euyll.

I Take this day, Heauen and Earth to witnesse, that I haue set before you lyfe, and good, blessing, and cursing: choose you therefore lyfe, that you may lyue.

I marueyle, and greatly marueyle, that man (whiche aboue others is a creature en­dued with reason) dooeth not in any thyng followe the iu [...]gement of reason, despi [...]yng wholesome thynges, and embrasing daunge­rous thinges, seekyng and desyring deadly and hurtfull thinges.

OH eternall GOD, what is the cause of suche dotyng foudnesse in man: what reason is there of such foolishnesse and mad­nesse: Why dooeth he desyre the death of the soule with so wicked a hart. &c.