Cap. 1, O that they were wise, vnder­stoode this, and woulde prouide prudently for the latter end.Deut. 23 29.

FOrasmuch as we are trauelersHebr. 11 13 1. Cro. 29.15 on the high wayPro. 14.12 Proue. 16.25 of this transitoryIob. 7.2 life & our daiesPsal. 144.4. passe away like a shadowIob. 8 9., we had great need2. Thes. 3.7. cōtinually1. Thes. 5.6. 2. Thes. 3.13. to recount that, that the frailtyIob. 8 9 [Page 2] and weaknesseIsa. 31.3 Rom. 7.19 of our nature Rom. 8 3 vrgeth vs so often to forget 2 Cron. 24.22 whereof almightie God (fa­uouring our prefermentEzechiel. 33 11 Malach. 3 18) hath by his holy seruant Mo­ses aduertized vs in these few wordes followingDeu. 32 29. O that they were wise &c. whereby we may easelye see and perceiue what he requires at our hādsMich. 6.8 and how we may shunne and auoide the daunger of deathProu. 14 27 1. Peter. 3 22. if wee obserue this heauenly aduisementSirach. 7.17 Sira. 18.23 Sirarch. 18 24. that he himselfe (in mercy) wisheth vs to fol­lowe, saying, O that they were w se &c. O profitableGal. 6.9. happyNum. 23.10 and heauenly counsell, that may serue the faithfullIsa. 46.8 Io. 10.28. as a Glasse of vaine-glorySirach. 7.36. 2. Cor. 4.18. a safe­gard against sin2. Pet. 1 10. & a perfect [Page 3] pathway to life euerlastinge faithfullyeHebr 12 14 deliuered vnto them by the same wordes: O that they were wise. &c. O hol­some lesson of our sweete Sa­uiourZach 9.9. wher-hence we receiue instruction to wisdome,Luc. 16.8 a ca­ueat to continency2. Samu. 13 12, a precept to ProuidenceSirach. 7 36., arule of righ­teousnes2 Tim. 2.22. Gal. 6.16. Phil. 3.16., a remorse of Con­scienceRom. 2.15, and an atchieuement vnto heauenly gracesTit. 2.11. tho­row Iesus Christ our LordeLuc. 1.17. And therefore he saith. O that they were wise &c. O the won­derful goodnes of our crea­tour, the infinite loueRom. 5.19 of our redeemer1, Io. 4.9.,Psal. 72.1 and the exceeding comfortIohn. 15.26 of our sweet sancti­fierActs 6., we wickedPal. 81.12., negligentRoma. 3.12., & vnprofitable seruantsLuc. 17.10. that by our owne demerits^q haue [Page 4] rather deserued death than lifeRom. 11.32, (behold) are now inui­ted to saluation by God him selfeDeut. 32 19 that pardoneth our in­iquitiesMich. 7.18 and woorketh in vs al in allPhillip. 2 13, who then (vnlesse he were a meere reprobateRom. 9.21 gi­uen vp to vile affectionsRom. 1 26 past feeling, to worke wickednesse with greedinesseEphesi. 4 19) hearinge these most louing wishes of our good God, and well wey­ing the same, would not most vehemently reioice inwardlyPsal. 96 11 and be more gladde than his tongue were able any way to expressePsa 122 1 1 Ch. 29 9 the same, to see what great carePsal. 8.6. &c. and singular re­gardIsa. 1.9., the Almightie GodGen. 17.1, King of the heauensReuel. 19 16 Lord of AngellesPsal. 104 4 and creatour of all thingesReuel. 4. hath to vs ward that are conceiued in sinne, borne [Page 5] in iniquitiePsal. 51 5, poore2 Cor. 8.9, wret­chedPsal 22.6., and miserable sinnersTit. 2.3, hauing our conuersation ac­cording to the course of the world in the lust of our flesh enimies to God, and by na­ture the children of wrath & disobedienceEphesi 2.3. And therefore ought we likewise to haue a speciall care, that aboue all thingsLuc. 10 [...] 27 Deut. 6 5. Leu 19.18 we obey his will dili­gentlyIsa. 6.8. Mar. 1.18, imbrace it duetiful­lyEphe. 5 8, and to the very vttermost of our powers fulfill the same effectually1 Io. 2 3. Hebr. 107, otherwise, if wee do not soDeu. 28 58, there remaineth an euerlasting woe, and mise­rie vnto vsLeuit. 26 14. Lament. 2 17 Malac. 2 2 Baruc. 1.20. pronounced by the Apostle saying, We are of al men most miserable 1. Cor 15 19. &c. In vaine truly and to to purposeCol. 2 22. do we enbusie our selues to obey [Page 6] the LordIsa. 1.11. in any thing, vnlesse that first vnfainedly1 Pet. 4.8 1 Tim. 1.5 we hate those thinges (from the bot­tome of our hartesPsal. 139 21.) that wee knowe to bee lothsome and hatefull vnto himReuel. 2.2.6. and con­trariwise hartely holdReu 2.26, & tru­ly embracePsal 119.47 such things as we perceiue to be both pleasant and acceptable in his sightHebr. 13 21., wherefore hartely & humbly is our heauenly fatherMat. 6 9 to be continually1 Thes. 4, 17. called vpon of vs in the name of his beloued sonne Christ IesusLuc 3 22, that hee would vouchsafe to worke in our hartsPsal. 1.19 14 a liking of his wilPhil. 2.13 and a lothing of wickednesseEph. 5.12 stil reching his helping hand to vs (in his mighte)Mat 14.31. to per­forme that, that (in mercyPhi. 3 21) he exhorteth vs vnto, saying, O that they were wise &c Psal. 86.4.

Chap. 2. The necessitie of this Glasse by the example of Samp­son, Dauid, and Solomon.

WEigh (welbeloued) this lesson that thou readest: for the due cōsiderati­on hereof, is y^e pulling down of prideIsa. 47.7, the extinguishing of enuieProu. 14 30, the medicine of malice1 Pet. 2.1, the flight of fleshlye lustCol. 3.5., the gall of vaine-gloryeEccl. 11.8, an entrance into disciplineEccle. 12.1, a hauen vnto holinesseSira. 7.36, and the neere wayWis. 5.7 (though nar­rowMath 7.13. 1 Pet. 1.4.) that leadeth to life e­uerlastingRo. 6.23., purchased vnto vs by Christ our righteous­nesIer. 23 6. and therefore he saieth. [Page 8] O that they wer wise &c. but a­las, too too few attain to per­fect wisdome, and true vnder­standing in deedeIsa 1.3.: before whose eies the knowledge of their frailtieGen. 6.5, the corruption of their natureIob 15.16 Iere. 17 9 Rom. 3.4, the remem­brance of their sinsPsa 5 3, the me­ditation of their deathSirach. 7.36 Sira. 41.2, or the careful consideration of their owne dangerIa. 1.14., is still in freshe memorieEccl. 12.1 &c Deu. 3 [...].29. Howe profitable then is this Glasse of vaine-glory, that leadeth thee dire­ctly^s to perfecte wisdome, and true holinesse, without the which no man shall see GodHebr. 12 14.: for assure thy self, that if thou faithfully, and often vewest thy selfe herein thou shalt be­come stronger then Samp­sonIudg. 14 8, warier then Dauid1 Samuel 3 [...].32. Psal. 119.9. &c., and wiser than Solomon1 King 3 1., for [Page 9] they neglecting to beholde themselues in this Glasse of vaine-glory, ranne headlong into their filthy and carnall desiresIud. 6 8. Iud. 14.7. 2 Sam 11 4 1 Kin. 11.12 1 Kin. 3.4 without casting of Perrils, or doubt of any fu­ture inconuenience1 Thes. 5 3, but be­came patterns of folly to all the worldeDeut. 3.21., whereby wee learne this much, that if such men, endued with so great wisdome and courage, sustai­ned so great a foileIudg. 16 30 2 Samu 15 14. 1 Kin. [...].14, wee ought with al indeuour wari­ly to walkeRom. 13 13, beeyng of our selues so weakeRom 3 3. and so igno­raunt1 Pet. 2, 11. 1. Pet 5 8 2 Pet. 3.11. &c., for the fall of these three notable Champions is left written, and recorded for our learning2 Tim. 3.16. 2 Timothy 3.17. not to that end and purpose, that it should be vnto any an occasion of sinne [Page 10] to commit the like follyPsal. 78.10 Eze. 20.18 Act. 7.51.: but a mirror rather thereby to be more wary and vigilant, and to take the better heede by o­ther mens harmes1 Cor. 10 1. &c. that we trust not too much (as they did) to our owne strengthEphes, 6.11, or presume too farre in our owne wisdomesRom 12.3, 16, but that we be alwaies fearefull,Phi. 2 12 He. 12.28 Iud. 23. alwaies watchfullLuc. 12 37 1 Pet. 5.8., alwaies sober1 Pet. 4.7, and neuer forgetfull of our owne mortalitieEcc. 12.1, for they that negligently and loosely regard these thinges, are in truth and deed, neither wiseIer. 5.21, nor any way consideratiuePsal 92.6 Psal. 94.8, but thrust themselues as brut beastes (in whom there is no vnderstandingPsal. 49.20 Prou. 4.19) headlong in­to their owne vtter ruine and destruction^s. Therefore God himselfe (to the end that wee [Page 11] shoulde not bee carelesse and drousieLeuit. 20 4 Iosua. 18.3, but rather that our mindes should be alwaies vi­gilant and carefull for the at­taining of true wisedomePro. 8 33.) willeth our welfareEzec, 33 11. and wai­neth vs to warinesse by these words that follow, O that they were wise. Wherefore it is our part likewise carefully to con­sider the samePs. 143 5 Pro. 22.2 [...] and with the inwarde eie of Reason, not sleightly, but seriouslyPs. 78: 2 Pro. 22.19 Pro. 2.1.2 3 4 viewe this mirrour of misery, and weigh well the waight of so holesome an admonitionPro. 2 11: for euen as frankensense yeel­deth no smel, vnles it be in the fire orderly broiled: so sauo­reth no part of Scripture, vn­les it be first in the hart of mā duely digested.Luc. 9.44. Luc. 8.12. Hebr. 4.2

Chap. 3. A viewe of mans miserie, and short continuance.
O that they were wise, vnderstod this, and would prudently pro­uide for their latter ende.

BEhold, beloued in the Lorde, three thinges deliuered vnto vs hereby: to wit, knowledge Dan. 1.17, vnderstanding Psal. 119 34 Hos. 14.10, and prouidence Eccle 9.12, 1 Per. 4 7, whereby it is apparant, that God would haue vs to knowe, to vnder­stand and to prouide for our departure: but first to knowe what? this our life to be blith Iob. 14 5 Ps. 103.15 dangerousIam. 1.14 and shortPsal. 90.9.10, stuf­fed with miseriesIob. 7.1., subiect to vanitiePsa. 114 4, defiled with sinneRo. 5, 12., corrupt with desireRom. 7.7, and e­uer [Page 13] sliding towards anIob. 8.9 end: for there is no defense against the graueSira 41 4. That the more slippery, vncertaine, and mi­serable this life appeareth: it might the rather be contem­ned for the loue and longing, that we ought to haue vnto that life that neuer shall haue endingPhil. 1.23 Col. 3, 1.2, Luc. 18 13.

Likewise, God wisheth vs well to vnderstand, what? our owne estate: that, as naked we came oute of our mothers wombe, so naked we must re­turne againeIob 1.21 Eccle 5 14 Wisd. 7.6.: for as earth we are, to earth eft soones we are to be conuertedGen. 3.19..

With nakednes and wee­ping, we beganne our enter­ludeWis. 7.3 Eccles. 1 4: with paine and vexa­tion, are our partes continu­edSira, 40.1. &c., and now with griefe, and [Page 41] sorow, must we take our fare wellGen. 37.35.

So is our beginning lamen­tableGen. 3.16., our continuance wret­chedEcc. 9.3., & our departure grie­uous: for the only remem­brance of death, is both grie­uous: and bitter to a man that liueth at rest, in his possessi­ons, and hath prosperitie in al his affaires: yet is it the ordi­nance and decree of the Lord ouer all fleshSira. 41.1 &c..

Wherefore vnderstand thy selfe, during thy small abode in this vale of miseryPsal. 23.4, to be here a soiourner, and no citti­zen 1 Chron. 29.15. Heb 13 13 a waifaring manHeb. 12.1 in con­tinuall warrefareIob. 7.1., needie1 Timot. 6.7. Reu. 3.117 poorePsa. 188.15., beggerlyIob 1 21. Reue. 3.17 weakeRo. 8.37, sicklyPsa. 38 3, and miserableIsa. 51.21. Iob. 14.1., and of no continuancePsal. 9.6. Iob. 8.9. Coll. 3.15. Then art thou happie, if thou well vn­derstande [Page 15] thine estate aright, by this heauenly aduisement, and engraue it in his heart, e­uer to continue, obseruing al­so this rule of righteousnesse (that followeth) faithfully.

O blessed is that man, whose heart stil watcheth in this cō ­templationPsa, 119.9 10 15, carefully consi­deringPsa 119 53 howe to bee wise in­deede, how to vnderstande a­right, and prudently to pro­uide against the day of wrath Rom. 2.5. Wherefore praye with the Prophet, and say: Lord, let mee [Page 16] know my ende, and the number of my daies, that I may be certified how long I haue to liue Ps. 39.5. O pro­fitable praier: O heauenly harmony, and request moste requisite: for hereby the holy Prophet craueth not curiou­sly Exod. 19 12. Io. 21.21 Col. 5.1. 1 Tim. 1.4 Hebr 9, 5. to know the secret times and seasons, that our heauen­ly father euerlastingDan. 4.31 and on­ly wise,Rom. 16, 27. 1 Timot. 1 17. hath reserued to his owne proper knowledgeMa [...]. 24.36. Marc, 13 31. Acts. 1.7., but that he might perfectly perceaue, and knowe as he should, his owne estate and condition, viz. himselfe to be here a meere straungerChron. 29.15, a gestIob. 7.1, a traueler in this his so­rowfull banishmentGe. 3.13: & pain full pilgremagePsal. 119 54. a man weake, wretched2 Samu. 14.14., and of no continuanceIob, 8.9. Psal 39.6 Iob. 14.1. Psa. 114 4 O then that man would know, What? his sinnes [Page 17] and wickednes committed, how hurtfull they be: as the Prophet Hierem witnesseth, saying: Know how euill and how hurtfull it is for thee to forsake the Lord thy God. Ierem. 2.19. Euill in of­fence, and hurtfull in punish­ment. O that man would vnder­stand. What? his estate howe vaine it is, as recordeth the Preacher, saying: Vanitie of va­nities and all is but vanitie Eccle. 1 1. And againe, O that man would prouide, What? prouide (I say) with Ioseph, for the barennes to comeGen. 41.48., and for the dayes wherein thou shalt say. I haue no pleasure in them Eccle. 12.1, following the wisemans rule, that saith: In all thy works whatsoeuer thou doest, remember the ende, and thou shalt neuer do amisse Sira. 7.36. Certain­ly, if thou diddest wel consider [Page 18] the vncertainetie of thy lifePsa. 144.4 Isa. 31.3. Isa. 40.47 1 Pet. 1 24 Iob. 8.9., and how farre thou art from faithfull repentanceRoman. 2 45 2. Cor. 4.4 Act 11.18 & true christianitieIoh. 13.14, 15. Ephe. 5, 2. 1, Ioh 3 16 1. Ioh. 2, 6. indeed, for all thy glorious sheweMat. 21.19 Marc. 11.12.13., thou wouldest happily endeuour thy selfe, to watch in thy ward Mat. 24.44, prudentlye prouiding for thy ende & finall departureSira. 14 14. Isa. 47.7., yea possibly forget thy pōps, thy pleasures, thy vanities, thy fleshly lusts, & filthy desireRom. 12. Ro 13.14. 1. Pet, 2.11. Coloss, 3.2. 1 Io. 2.15., in consideration of the immi­nent perrill, and dreadful dā ­ger that houereth ouer thy headeReuela, 18.7. 1 Thesa. 5.3., to cut a sunder thy vitall breathLuc, 12, 19., and to pay the interest of sinne, with the re­ward of deathRom. 6.20.. Wherefore be wise: for he proueth him­self wise in deed, that so thin­keth [Page 19] of punishment afore it commeth, that he may auoyd the danger thereof, whensoe­uer it fallethEccl. 11.8 Eccl, 12, 1.2 3.

Chap. 4. To remember the ende and to prouide for the same.

THerfore, saist thou, I yeelde, & woulde willingly rely vpon the sounde aduise of the almightie, to the end I might both know, vnderstād, yea, and likewise prouide for my departure, if I knew howe to attaine therevnto. Then heare the graue and pithye counsell of the wise man that saith, In all thy workes remember the ende. &c Sira. 7, 36, for the onely re­membrance of thy ende is a [Page 20] bridleSira. 41, 1 and a collarIsa. 38, 12 2 Kin 20 1 2 Chro. 32.24., for the wilde & vntamed flesh of man as followeth fitly in this latine rithme:

Thus englished:

And if thou haste such con­tinual meditations, thou shalt be the happiest amongest a thousandSira. 14.21, yea, all generati­ons shall call thee blessedLuc. 1.42.. A meditation is a dotation, or endowment of the godly mindeWisd. 5.8 9.10. Psal. 119.9.15.97.98. Sira. 14, 2 [...]. but the minde is ne­uer better endowed than whē it is furnished with the tresure [Page 21] of prouidenceProu. 3 22.23. Prou. 6, 6 7 8.

We reade that ArgusOuid. li. 1 metamor. had his head enuironed with 100. watching eies: signifiyng thus much vnto vs, he was euerye way endued with great wise­dome and singular discretion Therefore, if a paganne and a heathen man (by the poets report) so excelled in the atchie­uement of wisdome and pru­dence: How much the rather ought a Christian man to bee well furnished with prouidēce and circumspectionLuc. 12.35.36, 37.38..Sirac. 7.16, 17. Psal. 42.2 Phil. 3.7. Phil. 3.8. Gen. 47.9. Psal. 39.5 Gen. 3.16. Gen 3.17. 2. Tim. 3.1, &c 2. Cor. 11.23. &c. Be thou therefore an other Argus, nay more warie then he, more wi­ly then he, more watchfull & more circumspect thā he, that thou maiest learne to be wise to vnderstand and finally, to prouide for thy ende and last departure.

Chap. 5. Hovv fearful is the hour of death, and how profi­table is the remem­brance thereof.

ANd if you aske what is that final end that thou so carefully arte to consider? I aun­swere: it is that dreadfull and gastly hourePsal. 55.4.5, wherein thy wretched carcasse sheadeth forth his seelie and sorrowfull soule with feare and trem­blingPsal. 35.17. Ps. 18.4 5, Beleue mee (beloued) thou oughtest rather to re­gard and esteeme this gifte of Prouidence against that daye vengeancePro. 11 4 Ezech. 7.19 Zeph. 1, 18 Sira 5, 1, 8, than to gaine the soueraintie of all the worldLuc., 9.25., [Page 23] Wherefore I woulde haue thee so to knowe and vnder­stād things present, that thou finally be not carelesse for the things that shall followeSira, 14.12. &c. 1 Io 2, 15. &c. 2 King, 20 1, but remember the daies of dark­nesse:Rom. 13, 12. feare the LordePro, 3, 7.: co­uet heauenly things2, Cor, 5.23, &c. Coloss. 3.1:Eccl, 11 8 despise the world2 Cor, 5.6 Rom, 12:2 & cast of the workes of darknesseRom. 13, 12.: put on the ar­mour of lighteRo, 13 13, taking no thought to fulfill the lust of the fleshRom, 13 14., but remember thy end and finall dissolutionPro. 3, 7., when as none of thy friendes nor of thy kinsfolkes shall ap­peare to succour or assist thee with shield and spearePsal. 22.11. Ps. 49.7.8: nay, as the Prophet Ieremie saith: Then shall there not be one to com­fort thee, of all thyne acquain­tance Lament. 1, 2, then is there no helpe to be looked for at mans [Page 24] handesIer. 17.5, thy refuge must bee in God only, through the me­ditation of his Sonne Iesus Christ our LordHoss. 13.4 Acts. 4.12 Ephes, 2 5..

Now consider what ho­norIo. 5.23., what loueDeu 30.16, and what reuerenceHeb. 12.28., thou oweste to him, by whose onlye meanes thy sinnefull soule, after the departure, is to enioy eternall saluation1 Pet. 3.10. 1 Pet. 3.12, Then I say, heare him, obey his voiceIer. 26.4 1 Kin 9.4, 1 Ioh. 4.6., which is his chiefest honor1 Sam. 15.22. Eccl. 4.17., and ne­uer let that dreadfullMat. 24.30, and dismoleIoel. 2.2., houre, slippe out of thy minde: but (before thy miserable spirit resigne ouer his borrowed mansion) be­thinke with thy selfe, what thou art, and whether thou goestMath. 7.13 Luc. 13 24? The remembraunce hereof, wil brede in thy heart sorowe.2. Cor. 2.5: sorowe, remorse2. Cor. 7 8. &c.: [Page 25] remorse, repentaunce2 Cor. 7.10: repen­taunce, humilitie2 Cor 7.8 10: humilitie, godlie affectionPs. 18.1., and loue to Godward, wholly resting [...]n the ankar of hopeHe 6.9. Rom. 5, 4. 1 Pet, 5.7,, vnder the protection of his fauourable goodnesPs 21.1., and freeAct. 4.12 Act 15.11 mercie, through a bashfull considera­tion of thine owne weaknesse & miseryPsa, 17.5. Iob 10. &r. And here (gentle Reader) assure thy selfe, that nothing in all the world can enforceWis. 5.7 Wis, 5 8 9 Sira. 7, 36. a man sooner to liue soberly, righteously, and god­ly, in this present lifeTit 2, 12, then the due consideration of his owne infirmitiesRo. 7.18, the certain knowledge of his mortalitiePsa. 89.49. and the often and continuall remembrance of his death, & dissolution and last gaspe, whē as a man becommeth noneRo. 6.2 [...]. Hebr. 9.27 2 Pet, 1.14 Sira 10 12 Sirach. [...]4 12 21. Prou. 11.4 Wisd 5.15 Iob 10, 20. &c. Psa, [...]9.4. Eccl. 7.19., [Page 26] for when once he waxeth sick, and stil by sicknes sickly gro­wethIam. 5.14, then doth a wretched man dispaireGen. 4.13 Mat. 27.4, hauing onely his paine & griefe in remem­branceIob. 17.1.. And his guiltie con­science to accuse himRo. 2.15, nei­ther willing nor able to call for mercie1. Cor. 2.14, his heart doeth quake, his head amazed out of frame, his sēses vanish quite away, his strength decayes, his carefull breast doeth pant, his countenance pale, his fauour bleake, his eares deaf, his nose both sniuely and sharpe, his tongue is furred with filth and fleame, and fayleth quite, his mouth vnseemly driueling is, his bodie dieth and rottes at lengthEccle. 12.2 3 4 5 6 7, &c., his flesh consumes, his beautie stincks, his stately shape of late so faire, so fine, so [Page 27] gallant, & so delicate returnes by natures lore to ashes small, and then in steade and place thereof do filthy wormes suc­ceedeIob 7.5 10.9 13, 28.14, 10 &c..

Beholde a spectacle bothe strange and dreadfullSira. 40.1, 2, 3 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, and assure thy selfe, that there is neither skill, nor meanes of Art, nor any kinde of learning that can be more auailable, to quaile the pride of manSir. 10, 9.14, 12 13, 19, 21 Wisd. [...]5, 8, 9, [...]0, 11 12, 13, cō ­uince his malice, confounde his lust, or abate this worldly pompe, and vain-glorious va­nitie, than the often remem­braunce of his dissolution, [Page 28] O therefore, that they were wise &c. for in all the world there is nothing so yrkesome, no­thing so lothsome and so vile as the carcasIohn. 11.39 Iob. 19.17 Esai 34 3.14.19. Iere. 8.2. Ezech. 39.16 of a deade man whose sent is so tedious, that it may not lodge & continue in a house 3 daies for stink, so intolerable but must needs be cast out of doores as dungezeph. 1.17 Iere. 22.19, and deepely buried in mould for corruptingIo. 11.39. of the aire. Then blush for shamePsal. 31.19 20, thou proud peacocke that art but wormes meateIob. 7.5., and shortly shalt become stinking carri­onEsay. 40.11.47.7. Ierem. 13.9. Wisedom [...] 5.13..

Chap. 6. A vievve of mans vani­tie, and the reme­die thereof.

NOw let verie shame it self pro­cure the proude hautie & vnhap­ [...]e sinner to blushePs. 83.18 Pro. 16.5.21 29 Habac. 2.5. though binded with ambitionIam. 3.1., in­f [...]amed with wrathPr. 26.21 polluted with impatience1 Cor. 10 10, & houen vp with knowledge1. Cor. 8.1, who liketh better of Aristotles philoso­phieCol. 2.8. 1. Tim. 6.20, than of the testimonie of all the appostles, and of the workes of Plato, than of the word of GodIer. 44.5. Heb. 12.25. 1. Cor. 1.18 22 Act. 17.18 1 Cor. 1.22 2.13 14 Act. 24.1. 1. Tim. 6.20, whom no lear­ [...]ing edifieth, no knowledge [...]elighteth, no stile fancieth, [Page 30] otherwise thā grammatically grounded, logically framed, & rhethoritically painted out in colorsIob. 16 20. Thou art very vnwise and vtterly deceiued if thou seest not, that they, that haue plesure in such things & ther­in cōsume their dayes, cōceiue sin, & at lēgth hatch their own destructionIac. 3.15 1 Cor. 1.17 Rom 1.22. 1 Cor. 2, 6. 1 Cor. 1.19 Rom. 1, 21 Iac. 4, 16. 2 Pet. 1.16: for, such as their studie is, such knowledge the [...] getEcc. 1.13, in steede of fruite they reape leauesMat. 21.19, and winde in steede of wisedomEccl 10.14, for thei [...] words become windeIob. 16.3, they beate the aire with babbling they speake with ful mouthes and vaunt of their vanitiesIam. 4.16 2 Pet. 2.13 as the Psalmist saith, They re [...] too and fro, & stagger like a dru [...] ken man: and are at their witt [...] end Psa. 107.27. A drunken mā knowet [...] not what he doth, or whith [...] [Page 31] he goeth, for that he knowethGen. 19 32 Prou. 20.1 Pro. 31.45 1 Sam. 25.36 not himselfe. So foolish bab­blers by meanes of such study tyre thēseluesEcc. 1, 13 14, in deuouring vp vanities, & gathering of sē ­tēces, & flowers (as they terme thē) togither, but to what end? They are vtterly ignorantEccl. 12.12, 13 Math. 15 14 Luc. 6.39: neither do they pore wretches regard to what perplexiti they driue their soules vnto, there­by1 Cor. 8.1, for if they had weyed in equal ballance the shortnesse of their liuesPs. 39.5. Wisd. 5.10 11, 12, 12, the detriment of time euil bestowedEphes. 5 16, 15 Col. 4.5 there­vpon, and how they are at the dreadful daie of iudgement to yeeld an account, not onely of their dead workes, but also of euery idle worde that procee­deth out of their mouthesMat. 12.36.37: I am sure they would bee aba­shed foorthwith, and happily [Page 32] touched with som godly mo­tionCor. 12.6 7 8.9 10.11, to crosse-saile, and bid the vain Sciences of the world adewIer 3.12., to chaunge the studie of vanitieRo. 2.8., for the studie of vertueEphe. 4.25 & vtterly to remoue from the chaire of follyPsa. 1.1., to the seate of WisdomeIbid. 2. from the schole of curiositieAct. 19.19, to the yoke of humilitieMat. 11.25, from the haunt of fleshly lust1. Cor 6.18, to the high way of chastitieIbid. 7.1. Gal. 5.23., from the sect of fornicationAct. 15.26, to the rocke of religionIam. 1.27, which is from the housholde of worldly conuersation, to the hall of heauenlye disci­plineRo. 12.2. Col. 3.2. Pro 4.13. as the kingly Prophet recordeth saying: Take hold of discipline least the Lord be angry and you perishe out of the waye Ps. 2.12. 2. Cor. 2.6.. O how hard & how bitterSir. 41.1 a sentence is this to them, that [Page 33] in time laie not holde vppon true disciplineWisd. 7.14 Pro. 15.5, for they are sore threatned to perish as the Lord likewise witnesseth by Moses saying: Euery soule that humbleth not himselfe this daye, shall perish from amōg the people Leu. 23.29 These words are wel to be no­ted (Euerie soule (saith he) that humbleth not himselfe) by dis­ciplineHe. 10.7 Luc. 5.5., amendment of man­nersRo. 6.4., repentanceMat. 3.2. and sor­row of heart2. Cor. 7.10, with clearing of his conscienceHeb. 10.22 1. Pet. 3.16 Io. 1.20., addinge, This day, that is, euen at this present instance of time: for hee that in this life taketh no time of repentance, after this life shall find no place of par­donLuc. 16.25. Wherefore quake thou sinner, thou proud Peacocke, thou stinking carion, on whō yet aliue, the vile and loath­some [Page 34] wormes that proceede out of thy corruptible carcase doe daily gnawe and feedeAct. 12 22 23, 24, abhorre thy hautinessePsa. 75.4 Rom. 11.18 Iam. 4.16., a­uoide thy vanitiesEccl. 1.1. 1. Sam. 12.21 1 King. 16.26, leaue off thy lustesRo. 13.14, and apprehende discipline1 Tim. 4.13, least thou also come to naught, and perishe out of the waieIob. 20.6 Nu. 15.28. Beholde in this Glasse what thou artPsa. 103.14, & what shall become of theePs. 89.49, whose conception is menstruous and filthie superfluitie of natureWisd. 7.2, that is, whose begin­ning is dirtIob. 20.7, & ende rotten­nesseIob. 17.1.14, O that thou wouldest be wise, &c. Weigh wretch with thy selfe thine owne estateRo. 7.24. Iob. 14.1.7, 1.: causes thou hast of infinit sor­rowes & griefs intollerableLuc. 13, 28 Reu. 14.10 yet wilt thou not lamentIsa. 22. [...]2, &c., but still reioycest in thine ow [...] [Page 35] destructionIsa. 22.13, cōmitting wic­kednesse euen with greedi­nesseEphes. 4.19, curious of other mens liues, but carlesse of thine owneLuc. 21.34, yet couetous & gree­dye of the worlde, that careth not for theeIer. 6.13. 1. Tim. 6.10 Io. 16.33. Gal. 6.14.. Then learne to be wise, & care not for it: but inquire for thy country where thy happinesse consistethColo. 3.2. Heb. 13.14.

Wherefore consider wel the wretched calamitie of thine own miserable estate, & grone with the kingly Prophet Da­uid, saying: Behold, I wil confesse my wickednesse, and be sorie for my sinnes Psa. 38.17 18: And againe, I am set [Page 36] in the plague, and my wickednesse euer in my sighte Ps. 51.3. Ps. 38.4.5., Crie oute with the Apostle, and saie: O wretched man that I am, who shal deliuer mee from the bodie of this death Ro 7.24., This same sentence of the holy Apostle craueth a wise and a circumspecte rea­derWis. 7.23: for as yet he was in the flesh when he termed his body deade: for as much as hee that is wise, vieweth his death present, and nowe hee accompteth himselfe as deade because hee knoweth, that he must needes die.Mat. 16.24 2. Cor. 4 10 1. Pet. 4, 2. Wisd. 5.13 2. Sam. 14.14. Heb. 9.27.

Chap. 7. The miserable estate of a damned soule.

COnsiderLuc. 16.22 then that dreadfull and ter­rible houre where­of we haue hereto­fore [Page 37] mentioned, when thy sin­full soule, O sinner taketh his flight and last farewell out of this worldeLuc. 12.20 Isai. 47.7.: how readie ap­peare those wicked ministers of SathanReu. 12.9, those cursed cai­tifsGe. 3.14., those vglie monstersIsa. 27.29. Iob. 40.20 Re. 12.3.4, those damned spiritesMat. 25.41 Luc. 13.27 those houling helhoundsPsal. 22.16 Reu. 22.15, and roa­ring lions1 Pet. 5.8 Psa. 35.17, prepared for their pray, that is, to deuoure thy wretched, miserable, and sin­full souleReu. 12.4 1 Pet. 5.8.. Then then. I saie, in sight appeare moste griesly visionsIsa. 13.9 Isa. 66.24., most horrible tor­mentsReu. 18.7, gastly confusionsPsa. 132.19, irkesome and fearefull darke­nesseIob. 15.22, a heape of vnspeaka­ble miseriesPsa. 104.11., a troublesome turmoileProuerbs 1.27., chilling feareIeremie 17.18., terrorIob. 15.21., anguisheRom. 2, 9., quaking, [Page 38] sorrowe1 The, 5.3, sighesIsa. 63, 6,, grepinge griefesRe. 18 18, and gnawing of con­scienceRo. 2.15., horrible sighesHeb. 10 27, & a fearefull mansionPsa 21.9 Isa. 5.14., a place of weeping, wailing▪ and gna­shing of teethMat 24.51, where worms do stingeMarc. 9.44.46 48., where goests doe groane for griefeIs 65.14, and howe­lings heardIsa. 51, 8 Isa 16.7., with voices loud that say. Wo, wo, to vs we A­damsIsa 3, 10. Reu 18 10 16, 19. broode. Nowe when as thy wretched, nay most mi­serable and vnhappy souleRo 2, 9, Isa. 47, 11 Ps. 140 11, shal heare and se, these things so strangeLament 4 12 Psal. 11.7. so horrible and so gastlyeIsai 13.9., yea a thousande times more lamentable and wofull than any tongue can tellReu. 14.11. Zach. 14.12, heart can conceiueReu 21.8., or penne can painte it out1 Cor. 2.9. Isa. 64.4., what and how great horrour, [Page 39] and amazednes shall inuiron, compasse, and altogither pos­sesse the same: it can by no meanes be worthely expres­sedPs. 18.4.5. Ps. 22.14.15.16. Psal. 55.4 Iob. 6.3.4. Ma. 26.38 27.46.. Then (I say) what pro­fiteth thee thy vaūt of skillWisd. 5.6.7 8.9 10.11 12.13 14.15? thy pompe? thy vanitie? thy magnificence? thy worldlye wealth? promotions and dig­nitiesIob. 8 9. Psa. 143.4 Pro. 12 5 11.7 Iam. 1.10.? or what auaileth thy lust? thy fare so daintie? thy drinke so pleasant? thy gar­ments so gay? thy pantofles so high? thy hiew so fresh? thy gorge so ful? thy surfeitinges? thy drunkennesseLuc 16.15.19, 20.21.22.23.25. Luc. 12.16 17.18 19.20 21. thy houses braue? thy lordships wide, and wealth so muchEccle. 2.1.2.3, 4, 5, 6.7, 8, 9, 10, 11.? Can any of these, or all the same redeemPsa. 49.6, 7, 8, 6, 10, 11., thy seelie soule (O man) from the gaping iawes of that infer­nall [Page 40] monsterPs. 5.14., or from the griping claws of that old dra­gonPsa. 104.26 Psa. 57.4., the olde enimieMat. 13.39, of mankind. Thou therfore that wallowest in sinne,Ephe. 4.19 2. Pe. 2.22, and arte druncke with too much loue of the worldeMat. 6.24 Luc. 16.13, that regardest dame dalianceRo. 3 13, more than thy darelingePs. 35.17, thy goodesMat. 19.22 rather then godlinesseMat. 19.23, the rearing of thy cattleSir. 7.22. Deu. 23.4., rather than the reading of the Scrip­turesActs. 17.11 1. Tim. 4.13, beholde this Glasse of vaine-glorye▪ that herein thou maiest learne to know thy self to vnderstand aright and in al thy workes to remember thy end1. Pet. 9.10 Isa. 47 7. Wisd. 7.36: viewe hereby thy selfe a perfect patterne of al imper­fectionsRo. 2.19. &c., weigh what thou artePs. 22.6., whence thou camestGe. 3.19. whether thou wiltPro. 5.14., What [Page 41] waie so dangerous? what pas­sage so perrilous? what clou­ches so horrible thy simple, nay sinfull soule, [...]s to passe byIob. 18.14 Ps. 49.14. Psa. 63.9.10 Isa. 24.18., O foolishGal. 3.1. sinner, who hath be witched thee, that ei­ther canst not, or wilte not thinke and consider hereofDeu. 32.29. Therefore pride prickes thee forwardeHab. 2.5., rage rauisheth theePro. 26.12. &c., mallice molestsEphe. 4.31, en­uie woundethIob. 5.2., sluggishnesse slaieth thee,Pro. 21.25 & couetousnesse at length catcheth thee slilie in the snare of that suttle ser­pentTim. 6.9.10, which thou canst not eschewIam. 5.3. [...]. Thou dost not fore­see the iminent daungers that hang ouer thy head, and are readie prepared for thee a­gainst the day of vengeance1. Pet. 4.7 1 The. 5.3 Rom. 2.5. Isa. 47.11., but art become slouthfullHeb. 12.12. & [Page 42] disobedientHebr. 4.1:, outragiousPro. 6.13., and lazye to all good worksPr. 1, 24. Pro. 24 30 which thou performest as negligentlyMat. 26.40.. And why: Be­cause thou hast no minde of that that followethIsa 47.7, nor ca­rest for that that commeth af­terReu, 2.5.. If that venemous ser­pent that old dragon the di­uell and SathanasReu. 14.10. Reu. 12.9. presumed to assaultMatth. 4 1, and tempt our Sa­uiourMatth. 1.21. GodIo. 1.1. and manRo. 1.3. Ioh. 1 14., that pure and immaculate1 Pet. 9.19. Io. 1 29., lambe of GodPsal. 24.10, and King of glory, oughtest thou not that art but flesh and bloudMat. 16.17. Cal. 1.16. 1 Cor. 15.50., sin­fullRom, 7.14,, and weakeMat. 26.41., with feare and tremblingPs. 76.8, to consider how horribly he both dareEphe. 2.2 & wil1 Timo. 3.16. assault thy soule that is altogither infected, scar­lat [Page 43] redRom. 7.17, with sin and iniqui­tie vassall and bond^h to him, euen that forger of deceite2 Cor. 11.3.,Isai. 1.18. 2 Tim 2.26. woorker of iniquitie2 Thes. 2.9., and deadly enimie of mans salua­tionMat. 13.25. Howe canst thou abide the gastlie sight of that canke­res countenanceIob. 41.9 10. 11 12. Isa. 27 1. Reu. 12.3., the stin­king scente of his belching breath, and liering lookes, fowle flaming foorth with fire and brimstone. Assure thy selfe, that the only fearePsa. 55.56 Ier. 17.18. Heb 1.27. Isa, 1 [...].9. Isa. 5, 14. Psal. 11, 7. of that hellish monsterReu 12 3 Iob. 41.10 &c Isa. 5, 14▪ Reu 20.2 [...] excee­deth all kind of torments that may be deuisd in all the world wherevpon the Prophet su­prised with exceeding feare & trembling, poureth foorth his earnest praiers to the almigh­tie to be deliuered therefrom saying: Heare my voice, O God, in my prayer, preserue my soule [Page 44] from the feare of the enimie Psal. 64.1: he saith not, from the power, but from the feare, and why? To shew how greatPsal. 22.12 13 14 15 16. Psa. 133.4 Psal. 22.20 21, howe feare­ful, & how intollerable is the only thought and feare of the enimie. Alas (beloued) if such, and so great be the feare and trembling of the sinfull souleIsay. 1.5.6, and guiltie consci­enceIsa. 66.24 Hebr. 10.27 Rom. 2.15., with imagination and viewe of Sathan, what horror, what paine, what griefeIsa. 3.10. Isa. 65.14. what confusionPsa. 132.19. insueth his conti­nuall companyReuel. 14.11., and felow­shipMath, 25.14..

Chap. 8. The folishnes of man that regardeth not the iudgementes of God against sinners,

HOwe fonde and foolishPsa. 14.1 Psa. 92.6. Psa. 94.8. are the hei­res of Adam1. Cor. 15 22 vainePsa. 39.8 are the children of menPs. 62.9, and liarsPs. 11.7, He that lo­ueth wickednesse (saith the Pro­phet) hateth his own soule, wher­vnto the wiseman agreeth say­ing: The vngodly and his vngod­linesse, are both alike hatefull vn­to God Wisd. 14.9, and likewise to good men, as Dauid sayth: Do I not hate them that hate thee, yea I hate them with a perfect hatred, as though they were mine enimies, Psa. 139 21, [Page 46] And againe: The spirite of God painteth out the indig­nation of almightie God a­gainst sinners, saying: The highest hateth sinners, and shall rewarde vengeaunce vnto the vngodly Eccl. 12 7 Isa 47, 11.: Why then doest not thou beholde and see so horrible so hainous, and so extreame a punishmentHos. 13, 8 Isai. 2, 22.? Why abatest thou not thy Pride, why quenchest thou not thy CouetousnessePro. 23.4 Luc. 12, 15 Heb. 13.5.? Why leauest thou not thy lust1 Cor. 10.6, and amend thy man­nersIsa. 31.6 Hos. 14.2,? Why obeyest thou not the wholesome precepte and commaundement of thy God1. Ioh. 2.3 Iohn. 4.6▪ 1 Kings. 9.4.5? why arte not thou wiseRom, 16.19? why vnderstandest thou notHos. 14.10.? why doest notIam. 4.13 14 Sira, 9, 12. 1 Pet. 4.5. thou prouide for thy depar­ture^r? Therefore almigh­tie [Page 47] God so terribly threate­neth and menaceth theeReue 14.10, for thy sinnes and iniqui­tieReu. 12.8 2 Thess. 1.6, 8., saying: I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke when the thing that you feare shall come vppon you, euen when the thing that you be a­fraide of falleth in sodainelye like a storme, and your misery like a tempest, Prou. 1, 26. Prou. 10.25. yea when trouble and heauinesse commeth vppon youi. O howe fearefull is this se­uere threatening of the Al­mightye^v 1 Thes. 5.3. Isai. 47.11. O that the rea­der here woulde well aduise himselfe^o be wise indeede, and in his heart ponder tho­rowlyPro. 19.20. Pro. 27.9. Pro. 12 15, howe hainous, and intollerable this iudgement and condemnation isIob. 28, 28. Coll. 1, 28. Psal. 130 3. And if hee well regarde the same, he woulde no doubt take bet­ter [Page 48] heede vnto his waies and stepsEphes. 5.15. Colo. 4.5.. But if perhaps thou saiest, that gibing, laughing, & mocking doeth not well be­seemeExo. 15.12. Isa. 40.22 the almightie, neither will his most reuerentPsal. 89.8., ho­lieLeui. 11.44 Psal. 145.18, and perfectMath. 5.48 nature2 Pet. 1.4 admit any such imperfections and ironicall passions of the mindePsal. 102.28 Malac. 3.6 Num. 23.19. How then is it that God speaketh vnto sinners af­ter this sort, I will laugh at your destruction Prou. 1.26. Consider wel [...] the demaund, and marke wel [...] the true answere hereof, I wil [...] laugh at your destruction, that is, whē your end that you de­serued commeth vppon you, I will iudge you worthie to be [...] laughed at to scorneLuc. 16.25. An [...] when sodaine destruction commet [...] vpon you I wil mock, that is, wh [...] the bitternesseSira. 41.1 of euerlasting [Page 49] death shall nippe you. I will condemne you as worthie e­uerlastingly to bee mockedLuc. 12.20.16.25 Pro. 11.2. Ps. 104 26. Then marke well thy iudge­mentSira. 22. Heb. 9.27., O sinner, and be sor­rowfulIsa. 46.8 Ioh. 3.8., and astonied there­atIere. 4.44.: but the cause why thou dost it not, is, thy negligent reading of the ScripturesMat. 22.29 Mark 12.24 2. Pet. 1.9., which are faithfull, and giue wisedome to the simplePs. 19.7.. Thou therefore hast no care at all to amende the life that thou leadestHagg. 2.18 2. Cor. 12.21, lewd and wic­ked, in word and deede, as fo­lowethEzec. 36.31:

These thinges are they that blinde theMat 14.14. Luke. 6 24 2 Cor. 4.4. sight of the wiseRo. 1.22. and seuer them from God:Ier. 5.25. Isa. 59.2. these thinges I say peruert a ChristianSirach. 10.13., whereby he be­commeth an Antychrist^v, for he may well be termed an Antichrist that is not a true Christian1 Io. 20.22. 1 Iohn 4.3. 2 The. 2.4 1 Ioh. 2.19, whiche no man can be, that is in life and con­uersation contrary to Christ^x Alas for pittie,1. Ioh, 4.3 an vnwise man doth not vnderstand this, nei­ther doth a foole considerPs. 92.6. it, and therefore the Prophet sayeth, As well the ignorant as the foolish shall perish Psal. 49.10. I but what diuersitie is betwixt the ignorant and the foolish? An ignorant or vnwise man is he [Page 52] that is without wisedome or knowledgeEph. 4 18. 1 Cor, 15.34. Luc. 18 34 Act. 17 23: euery foole is vnwiseIer. 4.12., but euery one that is vnwise is not straight waies a starke foolePs. 94.8. Psa. 92.6.. Wilte thou knowe who is ignoraunt and who is foolishPsal, 14 1 Mat. 15, 14? I aunswere that he is ignorāt that know­eth not himselfe to bee a Pil­grimeChr. 29.15. Heb. 11.13 bannished from the wayes of ParadiseGen. 3.2. Luc 10 30 or that doth not know himselfe to be a meere straungerEph 2.12.19. in this his painefull pilgremage.Mi. 2.10 Heb 13.14 Syra. 4.1 2 3.4.5.6.7 2. Cor. 5.6 But he is a foole that though hee do knowe these thinges, yet still imbraceth1 Tim. 6.17.18. Eccl. 10.14 these wicked and worldly delightsIa. 5.1.5. Luc. 12 20 there­of, as though it were his pro­per mansion, and continuing CitieCol. 3.1.: and neuer intendeth to forgoe the miseryes and [Page 53] vanities of the sameLuc. 12.19 Rom. 8.28. 1 Cor. 7.31 Iam. 4.4.,Heb. 13.13 14 which he cloketh vnder the name & title of pastimesWis. 2.6. & plesures7 8 9, beeing in deede but meere va­nitiesEcc. 2.1. & the verie extremitie of follyLuc. 12.20 1 Ioh. 2.15 Ioh. 15.19. Ioh. 16.20. Pro. 15.21, considering that the end of al mortall ioy is mour­ning and sorroweProu. 14, 13. Likewise hee is ignorauntAct. 17.23. 1 Cor. 2.8. that know­ethIo. 8.27. or beleeuethLuc. 18.34 not the punishment of the wicked to bee eternall2 The. 1, 8 Math. 25, 41., and the ioye of the righteous euerlastingReuel. 21, 4.. But hee is a foolePsal. 14, 1. that al­though hee doe knowe and beleeueRo. 1, 21, it: yet to auoyde e­ternall deathIud. 7, 1 Th. 5.3,, and to at­taine vnto life euerlastinge, doeth not call for graceWis. 12.19, Ro. 7, 25., to repent him of his sinnes past, [Page 54] & hereafter to shew mercy to do iustice, & to walke with his GodMich. 6.8, by whose iust iudge­mēt both the ignorant & the fo­lish perish alike. Psal. 49.10. Wis. 6.26 Gal. 6.3. Wherefore let vs so beholde our selues in this Glasse of vaine-glory, that vpon the viewe of our owne estate therein: we may knowe our selues to be but miserablePsa. 9.20 Psal. 39.6. and of no continuance,Isai. 59 2. and vnderstand our sins & wick­kednes against God to be in­finite^l & to cry for vengeance against vs according to our desertGen. 4.10. Gen 18·20 that at length feelinge our own imperfections & the weight of our sinnePsa. 38.6 Rom. 7.24. Gal 3.22. Rom. 10.4 Gal. 3.24., maye prouide aforehand in this ac­ceptable timeGal 6.10. of our visitati­onMath. 19.44. both by faithfull repen­tance to auoide eternal death and destructionLuc. 3.7. Math. 3, 7., which God [Page 55] hath ordained for the wicked and reprobateSira. 40.9 10. children of vnbeleefeEph. 2 2, who dandled in the lappe of follyeEcc. 10.1 4. Wisd. 5 4., neuer feare the fall of future incō ­ueniēce^e,Iud. 18 27. til being serued with the Writ of present penāce,Mat. 25.12 Luc. 12.19 Luc 12.46 they find little leisure to repēt Dan, 3.10. And how also we maye faith­fully and effectually lay hold of our saluationEph. 2.8. by fayth vn­fayned1 Tim. 1.5 that worketh through loueGal. 5.6. Iam. 2.26 whereby wee attaine to that immortall kingdomeDan, 3.10. which God hath ordained for his elect before the foundati­on of the worlde was laydeMat. 25.34. Through the merites1. Timot. 1 9. 1 Pet. 1.3. Gal. 3.19. 1 Pet. 1.19 Reu. 5.9. of our Lorde and sauiour Iesu Christ to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all honour, and glory for euer and euerTim. 1 17. Amen.