to comprehend the greatest wonders of the diuinity but eschewing the day-light of knowledge he went groaping vp and downe in the dennes and caues of ignorance and blockishnes and remained therein all his life-time hatching this miserable ritches and at the last is become like to a bruite beast For as a beast â—eigheth after his prouender and takes no care but how to feede euen so this man would not stir but for the necessities of the body nay he would scarcely vse that wealth which he had so much coueted being heerein much worse then all other beasts whose vnbridled appetite is satisfied by the vse of those things which they desire 13. O how scandalous and infamous is the life of such people what share haue they in this world or in the next but only shame in this and paine and torment in the other Let them now please themselues in their owne discourse let them grow proud in their wealth let them now a little call to mind the speeches they were wont to vse when they esteemed no man but themselues and their money and held all other men in contempt 14. Behold they are haled into hell like sheep to the slaughter death hath deuoured them and there is nothing left but their bare boanes which rotte in their graues 15. The iust man who with patience endured their pride his turne is now come loe his time is to raigne and he is now at his ease He riseth vp by the breake of day and after he hath giuen thankes vnto God he goes to behold the place where one of those miserable wretches dwelt the place where he was wont to braue and tiranize ouer the world and saies softly to himselfe praised be God who hath clensed the earth from this filth and hath giuen place vnto those which blesse his name This wretch is rotten and his glory with him He is now in torment and no man helps him let him remaine so hardly for death vnto him is a going on but not a comming back 16. As for my selfe ô Lord. I know very well that I must dye the sinne of our first parent hath bound vs to this debt it is the reward of his disobedience we must returne into the earth from whence we came Yet for all that ô Lord thou shalt redeeme me from death and deliuer me from the hands of hell when it would seaze on me Thou wilt not suffer me to goe downe so low thou wilt set me at liberty at the entry of the dore and wilt be satisfied that I should know without suffering the punishment of my deserued bondage and captiuity But what shall be the price of my redemption shal it be the goods of the earth the aboundance of gold and siluer Not so ô Lord. Thou thy selfe shalt be the price of my redemption thou shalt giue vp thine owne body to death to the end to deliuer my soule from hell thou shalt put on the sorrowes of the graue to the end to cloath me with the ioyes of immortallitie I will then hence-forward ô my God haue none other wealth but thou possessing thee I shall enioy the whole world louing thee I shall be in thee and thou in me and being so thou wilt bring thither all the wealth of the world all the strength all the glory of the world and wilt fill mee with an other manner of wealth then that of these poore wretches they know thee not their riches is but the fruite of their sinne which with their sinne shall perrish 17. Wee must not be amazed to see them sodainly wax riche nor account them happy for that if they doe abound in false honor which they hunt after and that they are loden with this vaine and fleeting glory which is nothing but a shew we must not wonder at it much lesse enuie them for it 18. For so soone as they shall kisse the earth and bee clothed with their winding sheete they shall carry away nothing with them but the cloth that couers them nothing shal follow them but their shadow Nay I beleeue that wil leaue them also for the light which causeth the shadow wil faile them insteed of these magnificent shews pompous solemnities wherewith they scared little children grief sorrow anguish pouerty misery shall wrap them about and cast them into the lake of Brimstone 19. And not without cause they tooke their pleasure in this life their happinesse was in this world they obteined what they wisht for wealth came to them by heapes greatnesse and felicitie was a burthen to them they loued none but such as inriched them they made much of none but those which encreased their reuenues they are dead haue nothing left them in the next world for they made no prouision of the wealth that is currant there they satisfied themselues to haue sufficient riches for this earthly life that is now ended and they are in pouerty They desired honor but it was vaine and fleeting which depended onely on the opinion of fooles they had it but they could not well tell how to keepe it They would needs sitte on the top of the wheele it turned round and threw them head-long downe Happy are they which can sitte at the foote thereof constant and vnmooued and behold in safety how it turnes about 20. But these miserable wretches did not so they willingly mounted the top from whence they fell into hell they are now of the number of their fathers they found their Ancestors there from whom they drew their birth and manners they imitated their vices and after death they pertake their punishment They learne but too late and when repentance is vnprofitable what it is to lift themselues vp against God and to resist his glory They learn what it is to afflict the iust to oppresse the poore to deride the afflicted They are confined in darknesse and the light shineth no more before their eyes They heare nothing but horror and gnashing of teeth they breath out nothing but sighs grones they do not moue vp and down but in feare and ttembling 21. When these wretched mad-men were in honor they knew not what it was and became like beasts without vnderstanding But alas this is no true comparison for when beasts die death takes away their feeling of sorrow as well as that of pleasure but these wretches which wold not know wherein their happinesse consisted who would not looke vpon eternall light who stopped their eares at the spirituall word their feeling shall remain for the subiect of their tormeÌ„ts their soule shal liue perpetually to coÌ„ceiue their misery and they shal for euer languish Quam bonus Israel Deus Psalme 72. HOw great is the goodnesse of our God how certaine is his helpe to those which waite on him to those I say who neuer turned away their thoughts from his mercy who holding the eie of their soule fixt on his prouidence haue neuer let slip the hope which they ought
me like a dead man in the caue of obscurity My soule is highly greeued within mee and mine heart is astonished like vnto his who walking with an erected countenance is by misfortune fallen into the bottome of some pit his sences are forth-with troubled he forthwith loseth his reason and torments himselfe hee knowes not what to will or do till calling his wits together he takes notice of the place where he is and the maner how he fell downe for then hee begins by little and little to get vp againe and to climbe with great labour from the place whereinto hee easily fell 5. Euen so I hauing called to memory from farre the remembrance of things past and representing to my selfe in a deepe meditation the workes of thine hands and considering exactly the things which thou hast wrought namely remembring the state wherein thou diddest create vs and then calling to minde that wherein I finde my selfe now as it were crusht downe in the ruines of sinne I curse the houre wherein my mother conceiued mee I detest the daye which first opened mine eye-liddes to cause mee to looke vppon heauen and earth the witnesses of my weaknesse and at last finding nothing in this world which can comfort mee in this distresse I come againe vnto thee 6. I fall downe on my knees before thee I lift vppe vnto thee mine armes and hands and my soule thirsteth after thy grace with as great a desire as the earth gaping with heate waiteth for a pleasing shower of raine in the hottest time of summer 7. Runne then hastily vnto me ô my God for I am already out of breath my courage faileth and loe I fall fainting downe wilt thou tarry till I am dead I am so already if thou make not the more hast for my sences faile by little and little my soule slideth sweetly out of my body leauing it without motion and I am like vnto him who is let bloud in his foote in hot water whose life runnes out with his bloud not feeling the cause of his death 8. Now ô Lord if thou keepest thy selfe farre from me turning thy countenance away I shall become like vnto those who goe downe into the bottome of the graue pale death will discolour my visage and benum my sences and that which is worsse spirituall death ô my God will kill my soule will fill it with feare and horror and bereaue it of the knowledge of thy singular goodnesse and the hope of grace which shineth in thy wonders like a glistering star in an obscure night 9. Cause me then betimes to vnderstand and feele the effects of thy mercy and in the morning when the sunne shall arise vpon the earth let thy clemency rise vpon me to enlighten mine ignorance and to direct mee in the way of thy commandements But let it not doe ô Lord like thy Sunne who at the end of his race plungeth it selfe in the sea hiding his light for a time from poore mortalls but let it perpetually assist me let it bee no more seperated from mee then my soule from my body for thy mercy is far more the soule of my soule then my soule is the life of my body 10. Let it not then leaue me let the brightnesse thereof still direct my pathes in thy waies let it still guide mee in the way which I must walke to come vnto thee For my spirit which hath throwne it selfe into the middest of the briers of this world which hath gonne astray amongest her thickest bushes can no more finde out her right way but walking at all aduentures loseth both her way and her labour going still back-wards from the place whether shee thought to arriue But my GOD I still waite for thy helpe I hope for succour from an high 11. I am prisoner in the hands of the cruellest enemies of my life make hast ô Lord to deliuer mee thou art my refuge receiue mee into thy protection teach mee what thou wouldest haue mee to doe for thou art my God vnto whome onely I now resolue my selfe to doe seruice Away far far from mee deceitfull pleasure which hereto fore diddest bewitch my soule and poyson my mind thou hast by thy lickorish delights inueigled me and with a little honney thou hast made me swallow a most bitter and deadly pill which spredding it selfe thorow my members hath in such sort mortified and made me giddy as there is small difference betwixt mee and a dead person and my body is not only thus mortified but my soule likewise wherein consisteth the originall of my life present and to come 12. It behooueth then thine holy spirit to come vnto me to warme againe my dying soule to take it by the hand to leade it into safety and to quicken it imprinting in it the image of thy righteousnesse which may defend it against the temptation which on eueryside doth beseege it and threaten her ruine 13. Thou wilt come then and at thine arriuall thou shalt draw my soule out of trouble and in shewing mercy vnto me thou shalt destroy all those which haue conspired against me Then shall my greefe haue an end and theirs beginne it shal be a beginning of their forrow which shall neuer end but as riuers rising out of their springs run on stil bigger bigger vntill they fall into the bosome of the sea which hath no bottome euen so shall their miseries encrease and at the last shall heape vpon them extreame torments and infinite distresse In this manner shall all those perish which vex my soule for ô GOD I am thy faithfull seruant whome thou hast remembred and thou wilt not forget those who in disdaine of my Lord haue so shamefully abused me they laughed at my misery but the time drawes on when they shall bewayle their owne Thy vengeance begins to bee kind bee against them and they shall wither like leaues vpon the trees at the approach of winter O GOD what glory shall I giue vnto thy name and how shall I beginne to declare thy praise shall I publish thy goodnesse in the creation of so many wonderfull workes which are vnderneath the sun thy wisedome in thy preseruation of them shall I preach thy Iustice in the condemnation and punishment of the pride of the Angels and disobedience of men Shall I sing of thy mercy in the redemption of those who offending thy lawe had throwne themselues head-long into the bondage of eternall death to what part of thy prayses may the humble sound of my voyce attaine and though my voyce were able what eares are capable to receiue it All things faile mee ô Lord in this businesse except courage and will which full of feruent affection doe crye out vnto thee Ayde with thy grace their weake strength and seeing the teares of my penitence haue washed away the filth of sinne wherewith my soule was heauily loden giue it now the winges of faith and hope which may carry it with a swift flight into thine armes to reunite
things acknowledged the goodnesse and mercy of God and the folly misery and infirmity of men 4. That is the reason why beeing wholy confounded in the admiration of his greatnesse and compassion of our owne weakenesse I thought good forthwith to listen vnto that which my soule taught me and to take carefull heed of those things the knowledge and truth whereof it shewed mee couertly and vnder a disguised forme And after I had carefully vnderstood and examined it I tooke my Harpe in hand and framing my voyce to the sweet tunes thereof I prepared my selfe to commit my conceits to the ayre and to cause my meditations to bee heard of all those which would giue eare vnto them to the end they might bee pleasing vnto God the author of such holy thoughts and serue for a wholsome instruction to the fauorable hearer of my discourse 5. If yee would then know what I said vnto my selfe it was thus what should I feare in the hardest time of my life whereof should I bee afraide though death did lay his hand vppon mee and tooke me out of this world Alasse death is a strange peece of worke I know not any one but would seare him seeing no man can defend himselfe from him How can I shield my selfe from his darts what rampiar can I make against his assaults which vndermines and ouerthrows houses castles Cittyes Kingdomes Empires which thretens the destruction of the world and will at the last giue end vnto himselfe no armour will preuaile but innocency Thereof will I make a strong shield of steele For vnles I looke well to my selfe the traitor sin deaths hired soldiar will dog me at the heeles he will lodge in my concupiscence and will turne mee ouer at the time of the fight into the hands of damnation 6. O deere and pretious innocency thou art onely our safety vnder thy trust wee constantly wayte for all that which may happen vnto vs and wee knowe thee to bee stronge enough to defend vs from death ô foolish madde men which forsaking this trusty protection do strengthen themselues in their power and greatnesse and highly account of their riches and magnificence They reckon vppe the nations which are vnder their gouernment they number the treasure which they haue vnder locke and key but how can all this defend them from death 7. If the brother cannot redeeme his brother with the price of his owne life if being willing to dye for him inexorable death will not accept thereof what shall man then giue vnto death for his owne ransome shal he giue those goods which are not his owne or the Empiers which dye with him nothing lesse God will by no meanes be appeased after he hath pronounced his iudgment against mortal men He will compound with no man man is his creature the clay of his earth from whom when he pleaseth he will draw that spirit which he breathed into him man hath nothing to say against it nor must not dispute with him 8. Let vs I pray you a little rate the price of mans soule let vs see what he will offer vnto God to redeeme it from him let him labour all his life time let him goe to the corners of the earth let him thrust his hands into the bowels of the mynes let him draw drye the golden dugges of both the Indies let him spoile the East of her pearles and hauing heaped all this together let him come and trafficke with God for the prolonging of his life It is eauen as though a prisoner should make offer to leaue his irons if he might haue his liberty Poore wretch that which thou thinkest to be thy safety is the window whereat death enters Death comes of sinne sinne from thy concupiscence thy concupiscence is nourished enflamed and encreased by those trumperies God will talke with thee when thow art starke naked as he sent thee into this world before he will capitulate with thee he wil haue thee to render that which thou hast stolne from him his goods which thou hast mispēt then thou maiest consider whether thou hast any thing of thine owne to pay the double yea the foure-fould for the punishment of thy euill life Alasse poore mad creature if thou commest once to that point what wilt thou say to death seeing that the wisest men haue bended their necks vnder his yoake Thou who neuer madest acount of any thing but of thy corruptible and perrishing ritches dost thou think to be preserued from corruption and the wise man who as much as in him lay did immortalize himselfe in this life and conuersed with the Angells could not shield himselfe from it thou seest him come to his end and yet thou hopest to be immortall no no the wise and the foolish dye both together yet for all that in a diuerse fashion for the wise mans death is but a passage at his returne hee shall finde his Tallent infinitely multiplyed the glory which hee sewed shall growe vp in aboundance and shall shaddow the generation of his children 10. But these poore blinded people who haue euer their eyes fixed on the ground their minde shut in their pursse who haue no more vnderstanding but to loue those things which loue nothing who neglect the Sunne and Moone the chiefe workes of nature to admire stones marble gold and siluer the excrements of the earth shall leaue the wealth which they so much loued and for which they hated all the rest You shall see them striue with death they would gladly drawe their wealth with them to the graue but death will strike them ouer their fingers and make them leaue off their hold Beeing halfe dead they shall open their eye liddes to beehold with halfe an eye their treasures but at the last they must marche away they must forsake all this trashe a stronger power hales them away But vnto whom shall they leaue this store Perhappes an vnknowne stranger shall bathe him-selfe in the sweate of this poore wretched creature vnto whom for a portion shall bee alotted a graue of fifteene or twenty foot at the most that must be his house let him dwell there if he will 〈◊〉 And what is now become of those goodly pallaces where are those guilded roofs those gallant rankes of carued Pillars those marbles so brauely pollished those emblems engrauen in brasse and all his other miracles of vanity is there nothing left for him He purchased lands to continew from generation to generation he gaue names to his houses truely he was a great Lord. 12. Alasse the poore man when he was in honor had not the witte to know it and now he is like to the beastes and resembleth the horse and asse which haue no reason nor vnderstanding For what greater honor could he desire then to haue bene cast in the mould of the diuinity and to be placed amongst the workes of God to command ouer them as his Lieftenant He was little inferiour to the Angells and had a soule able