faith to beleue hym Let his goodnes prouoke the to loue him his maiestie to worshyp hym his wisedome to beleue him If a man dooe well consider those thinges which Christ coÌ„mandeth he shall find all done for our profite in so muche that who so feeleth him selfe to beleue rightli that perceiue it is to his own great profite goodnesse and comforte As there is nothyng more plesant to maÌ„ than to be beleued so it is euen to god for no man caÌ„ thinke wel of him to whom he committeth hym selfe afraid of hurte The foundacion of our saluacion is to beleue god to beâ— father and Iesus Christe his onely sonne to be our law maker and the holy goste to bee breathed out of bothe without whom we do nothiÌ„g we thinke nothing that can profite vs. The true woorshyppyng of god is to clense and purify the soule from all diseases and vnclene lustes to be tourned as neere to his similitude as wee maie so that we bee as he him selfe is clene and holy that we hate no man but rather studie by all meanes to profitte all men The more thou transposest thy self from thynges corporal vnto thynges incorporate the more godly life shalt thou leade Thus shall it bee broughte to passe that God maie acknowlage our nature as of kynne and lyke vnto hym and maie delite in it makyng it his true and right temple muche more acceptable to hym than churches made of lyme and stone The temple of god is holye which are you as witnesseth saynt Paule So noble so worthy a guest muâ—â— with alcare diligence tendernes be reteined He may not through the foule â—â—ynke of synnes be driuen to chaunge his lodgeyng Bodily workes be vnsauery except they haue sauce from the herte Knowe that thou haste god in the moste secrete parte of thy hert as witnesse and iudge of all thy â—houghtes in so muche that if thou feare his presence thou wilt not onely auoyde all naughtinesse outwardely but also thou wilte not suffre vncleane thoughtes to enter into thy minde Loue towardis god ought to be suche that thou esteme hym aboue all thinges and that his glory and honour be derer vnto the then all this lyfe all honour and commoditâ—es therof And as whan one frende remembreth another he is moued with a frendly and honest ioye so let all diuine thynges seeme frendly vnto the that is moste acceptable pleasant be thou conuersaÌ„t in them most gladly As ofte as thou hearest God named see that a greater and a more excellent thyng strike thy remembrance and mynde than mans knowlage can attein to Heare the saiynges that bee spoken of him and of his faintes not as thou hearest vayne fables but with great admiration of mynde Iudge nothynge rasshely nor pronounce thou any thynge of god and his workes but thou do it with reuerence and feare It is wickednesse to â—este vpon holy thynges or to vse the saiynges of holy scripture as foolyshe toies and triflinge tales and scoffynges euen as a man shoulde sprinkle durte in a medicine adornâ—d for recouery of helth But to apply it to filthy communicacion or baudry is a thynge abhominable and in no wise to be suffred It becometh all thynges there to bee meruaiâ—ed at and to â—ee receiued with worthy reuerence into our hertes Bee presente at readyng and preachyng of goddis woorde and all that holy is and vnderstande that what so euer thou either seest or hearest there is moste pure most holy and apperteigneth vnto goddes maiestee whiche as we may easyly worship and adore so we can comprehenâ—e it by no meanes So that thou maieste alwaies iudge more higher thinges to be hydde in that diuine wisedome than the strength of maÌ„nes wit is able to aspire vnto We reuerence the saiynges of wyse men ye although we doe not will vnderstande them howe muche more than dothe it beseme vs to geue condigne reuerence vnto godly saiynges As ofte as thou herest Iesus Christe named remembre thou his inestimable loue towarde the and let the rehersall of his name be vnto the full of swetenesse and veneracion Whan thou hearest any title or propre name gyuen vnto Christe lifte vp thy selfe vnto the contemplacion therof and praie vnto hym that he wyll shewe hym selfe euen suche a one towardes the. As whaÌ„ thou herest him called merciful meke or gentill praie that thou maist proue hym the same vnto the wheÌ„ he is called almighti desire that he maie shewe it in the makynge the of the most wretched sinner a good lyuer of an ennemie his soonne of nothyng some thyng whan thou hearest him called terrible intreate him to feare theym of whom thou art feared Whan thou callest hym lorde loke thou thou serue hym WhaÌ„ than callest him father see thou ioue hym and see thou shew thy self a child worthy to haue so noble a Father There is nothynge in all the worlde whose originall whose begynnyng whose power and vertu if thou behold but it may giue the matter highly to praise hertely to worshyppe god the autour of all together Begyn nothynge but thou firste call for the helpe of God For God in whose power art all thynges geueth prosperous furtherance and finyshyng vnto suche actes as we doe begyn in his name What so euer thou shalt go a boute euer haue an eye to the ende thereof and whan thou haste taken good counsell be not carefull but put thy truste in hym in whose hande resteth the lucke of all thynges And holinesse remaineth in the secrete partes of the hertes labour therfore to vnderstande what thou praiest that thou maiest lose no tyme in lippe labour And whan thou praieste lette thy herte thy mynde thy tongue and all thy gesture agree together that all thy hole action maie moste excellentely agre in it self Diuine scripture accurseth him that dooeth the workes of god negligently If it bee shame for a mynstrell to synge one thynge and plaiâ— an other not consonant to that he syngeth it is muche more shâ—me for vs to saie one thyng with our mouth and thynke an other in our herte Let our desyres be sober and of such sort as be worthie to bee asked and meete to be geuen of god leaste our vnmeete and fonde desyres offende hym Whan thou goest to meate remembre the infinite power of god whiche made all thynge of nought remembre also his wisedom and benignitee which susteygneth the same and finally call vnto mynde his mekenesse and clemencie whiche feedeth yea his extreme ennemies Ponder and way how great a thyng it is to prepare diuers and sufficient vâ—tayâ—es to so many mouthes as be in the worlde what a thing it is to coÌ„serue al thynges and kepe them from distruction whyther they fast bowe of theyr inclinacion No wisdom of man nor yet of angel were able in any wise to perfourme this thynge â—o nor yet ones vnderstande howe it is brought to passe Seyng therfore that thou lyuest of his giftes consider what cursed
as they that loue all thynges Nothynge is more wretched than to hate by the whyche affecte the diuelles bee moste miserable Trewe loue weieth all a like where true loue reygneth no man seketh preferment no man stealeth from his well beloued accomptyng all suche thynges to be with hym selfe which are with his frende Loue contendeth not with his dere brother nor thynketh not that he doothe hym any iniurie at any tyme and therfore he neither remembreth displesure ne enuyeth hym because he loueth hym no man reioyceth in the mysfortunes of his frende neither is greeued at his prosperitee but contrarywise he ioyeth with them that reioyce and wepeth with theim that wepe accordyng to the saying of the Apostle And this dooeth he not fayntly but with all his herte for as muche as he esteemethe those thynges whyche appertayne to hym whom he loueth as his owne The moste sure sounde and true example of this maner of lyuyng are the actes of Christ set before aur eies For the sonne of God came downe from dâ—auen to teache â—s the right trade of liuing not onely in worde but also by exaumple of lyfe that we might our hertes being illuminate by that his clere soonne beame of veritee discerne the truthe of euery thyng First he beyng exercised in all kyndes of paciencie what moâ—eracion of mynd dyd he shew notwithstandyng his infinite power and myght and albeit he was assauted with so many and greuous iniuries yet neuer gaue he any euil worde agayn teachyng all onely the waye of God and abhorryng the contrary He suffered hym selfe to bee bounde whiche myght haue ouerturned the hole worlde with a becke How paciently suffred he his false accusers Finally he so behaued hym selfe that no man myghte perceiue he had any power bâ—â— all oâ—ely to helpe other The king and lorde of all by whom the Father made this worlde how lowlye suffered he hym selfe to bee made equall with the vilest sorte of men haâ—yng no ther house for him self nor sustenance for his beloued ministers The maker and gouernour of nature was partaker and felt all the miseries of the same he hungred he thyrsted he was weried and ofte dyd mourne Why suffered he these infirmities but onely for our instruction So greatly loued hepeace concorde and charitee that he pursued no synne more than pryde arrogancye ambycion contencion striues and priuy hatredes whiche springe out of the sayde pryde shewynge that there is nothynge why a man shoulde take any thynge vppon hym arrogantly by reason of these outwarde or elâ—es bodyly gyftes seyng they are comyng and going not of our owne nature neither are these thynges deriued from the inwarde powers of man or of vertue but geuen and taken awaie by god because no man shuld auaunce hym selfe for suche gyftes or forget from whens they come neglectyng those menne for whose reliefe he receyued them of God And to subdue the synne of pride and that no man shoulde stande in his owne conceite though he had been obedient in all pointes of religion and fully obserued the lawe of the gospell Christe saieth these wordes Whan ye haue doone all that I haue commaunded you saie that ye are but vnprofitable seruantes Howe great therfore is their foolishnes which glory as perfecte Christians preferryng theÌ„selues as concernyng the obseruacion of the law before all other wher as oft times he whoÌ„ thou thinkest very naughty in comparison of thy selfe is muche richer in vertue than thou destinate to saluacion whan thou shalt be appoynted to eternall miseries God that hath taken all iudgement of men from manne because the one is blynde and ignorant in the secretes of an others hert reseruyng the knowlage of hertes only to hym self The outward thinges whiche the eye of man onely beholdeth are bâ—t weake and vncertayn tokens of the inwarne secretes Wherfore it is not laâ—ful to giue full sentence of any mans vertue vice or disposicion by cause ye haue twise or thrise beÌ„ in his company ye can geue no sentence of him though ye haue ben with him a hundred times No though ye haue ben of longest familiaritee togither Uery depe and darke are the dennes of maÌ„s hert and what mans sight is so quick to perse thorough so greatte a myste of darkenes And seâ—yng that god hath redemed all mankynde and that with so great a price from the seruitude of the deuill lette no man be so bold to contemne or deceiue his owne soule whiche god so entierly loued that he shronke not to giue his life therfore The lorde was crucified for vs all and for eche one of vs. Thinke not that thou canste please god if thou hatest hym whom god loueth For he requireth none other thankes but that we do loue and shewe our selues frendli to our felow seruantes as he being our lord loued vs whan we were leude and naughty and deserued muche euill Here beganne he the mutuall bonde of loue betwene manne and man and men towardes god that is to saie here he laid the fondacion of mans felicitee and fenisheth the same in heueÌ„ This is the lyfe and grace of Christ wisedom exceding mannes capacitee agreyng in equitee to theym that haue vnderstanding and alluryng all men to goodnesse Let no man thynke hym selfe a right christian or to be in the fauoure of god yf he hate any person seing that Christe hath commended al men to our loue and frendeshyp Be frendely to man whom god wiâ—leth the to fauour if he bee woorthy loue hym for his worthynes if he be vnworthy yet loue hym because god is worthy to be obeied Neyther fastynges nor yet great richesse bestowed amonge poore folkes make a man acceptable to god Only Charitee toward maÌ„ bringeth this to passe as the Apostle hath taughte vs. Thou oughtest to loue euery man as thy naturall brother reioycynge of his prosperitee and sorowyng for his aduersitee being alwaie ready to helpe him to thy power Lette neyther nacion citee nor kinrede let not profession state ne condicion of lyuyng let not wyt dimynisshe this affecte of loue for there is one father of all God whom thou art taught of Christ to call father daily which wol acknowlage the to be his childe if thou in lyke maner knowlage al his children to be thy brethern Be not ashamed to take him for thy brother whom Christe disdeigneth not to take for his sonne God brought peace concord and loue into the worlde the diuell as moste experte artificer inuented partakynges quarelling priuate profit dissencioÌ„s debate and warre God willyng our saluacion sprinkeleth amonge vs beneuolence the diuell willynge one distruction soweth hatred and enmitee Small substance encreaseth where concorde reygneth by discorde great thynges ar scatered and come to naught They that studie to make peace and concorde betwene maÌ„ and man stablishyng the same with all theyr myght shall he called the children of god and they that dooe the contrary the children of the diuel as Christe him selfe plainly testifieth The highest
doothe the wronge and hym that suffereth it Therfore geueth he this commandement Leaue the reuengemente of thyne ennemies to me and I wyll see thâ—im paied For seeing the iniurie is in the herte and not in the deede onely god knoweth what thy herte was and what belongeth therto It behoueth thâ— not onely to loue thy selfe but also to shewe thy selfe worthy to be had in reuerence so that thou maiest bee ashamed of thy selfe whan thou goest about to do any thyng vngodly wickedly filthily impudently foolishly We ofte take that for an iniury whiche in very dede is none folowynge in suche wise our parciall affections that we can by no meanes ritely examin the truthe of matters but are dryuen to geue such sentence and iudgement as they wyll what a mans behauiour ought to be towardes hym selfe ESteeme and beleue more the iudgemeÌ„t of thine own conscience than the gloriouse reporte of the multitude whiche commonly is bothe tude and ignorant and vnaduisedly both approueth and condemneth thynges vnknowen A troublesom conscience tuâ—menteth the mynde a quiet conscience is high felicitee passing al worldly tresure and dignitee This is it that god promyseth in the gospel vnto his welbeloued children that they shall receyue euen in this lyfe much more pleasure than they haue forsaken for his sake Fame shall nether profite the wicked person ne infamy hurte the good What pâ—ofite shalte thou haue more of thy greatte fame whan thou arte ones departed hense than the preysed picture of Apelles or the horse that hathe the victorie in Olympia The sayde fame littell profyteth any man in his lyfe time if that he knowe 〈◊〉 not and yf he knowe it what profite I praie you bryngeth it a wyse man will despise it and it causeth fooles more to embrace foly The witnesse of Conscience is true sound and permanent and shall be of great auctoritee whan God shall syt in that his dredful iudgement â— is a maistresse of great gouernance euen in this life This conscience is as the poet featly nameth it a brason wal to stand betwixt vs and all dangers of this worlde neither is there any thynge so terrible that can shake hym whom this wall defendeh beyng coupled and knit vnto god with herte and mynde puttyng his trust in him only knowyng that he hath taken the peculiar charge of hym to whome all thynges obey It is great shame for the to be better knowen of other men than of thy selfe Is it not enough for the to be knowen of thy selfe and of god They that caste away the regarde of god and lie still without feare in sinfulnes artwise to be condemned because they regarde neyther god nor man All suche are iniurious to theyr owne conscience derâ—dyng and deludyng the same as thoughe they had therefore dispysed the fame of the worlde bycause they wold the more freely frame and facion theym selfes vnto theyy owne conscience whiche nowe renneth at large in synfulnes bycause it is not bridled with feare He loueth hym selfe that with all his endeuour and feruente praier desyreth of god that he vouchesafe to garnysshe the mynde the moste excellent partâ— of man with her true and naturall ornamentes that is to wite with Religion godlines He loueth not hym selfe â— whiche setteth his mynde vpon rychesse honours worldly pleasures or any other bodily thiÌ„g for so muche as the moste precious part of man is the mynde Neither loueth he hym selfe â— whiche for lacke of knowlage of his owne misery deceiueth hym selfe or suffereth other to deceiue hym beyng glad as hauynge those giftes whereof in very dede he hath none at all Suche loue in a man is not to bee counted the loue of hym selfe but a blynde beastly and inordinate loue of the bodye hurtfull both to hym selfe and to other The whyche loue Socrates conplained to bee the originall beginnyng of all mischeues For in dede this taketh away frendshyp betweene man and man wherby aryse all myserye all mischiefes amonges men He that ouermuche loueth hym selfe after this maner he loueth no man no man hym The proude man agreeth not with the meke and muche lesse with men of his owne disease Our sauiour by his heauenly wisedome briefly declareth vnto vs bothe what it is a man to loue and what it is a maÌ„ to hate him selfe saiyng after this maner He that hatâ—th his soule and dothe not suffer it to be intangled with the pleasaunt intisementes of the worlde he trewely loueth his soule and willeth it to be saued Contrary wise he that loueth his soule settyng it vppon voluptuousenesse the same hateth his soule and woll it com to nought Who excepte he be madde woll refuse labour and peynes to obteine the rewarde eternall in heauen seing that these wretched and transitorye thynges without great labour and peynes can not be obteind The lawe of Adams children is to lyue in labor and the curâ— due belongyng to babes borne of Eue is to suffer afflictionâ— and trouble Therfore we must ned is labor what waie so euer we turne vs How much better than is it to endeuor with all our power to haue for our labor an ample reward as eternall ioy than to haue a sklender and a vile recoÌ„pence that shortly vanysheth sorowe euerlastyng What also that it is an easier surer quiâ—ter and much more pleasanter a lighter thyng to do well than to doo euill wherin is so muche feare sorowe and care Syn is the deaeth of man so that he mai well seme to sle him selfe whiche falleth to syn for he withdraweth hym selfe from God our lyfe and from the quietnes of conscience a thyng moste blessed most full of comforte and ioye Thou shalt wasshe awaie the spottes of synne with teares with repentance and by the inuocacion of the mercy of god cleauyng holly trustyng to it Lette all maner of occasions of synnes bee cut awaie and eschued with all diligence For the wise man sayeth He that loueth peril shal perishe therin And the dyuell alwayes wayteth vppon all occasions that we can neuer be carelesse We muste warre with hym stylle mannes lyfe vpon earthe is as Iob truely seyeth a continuall warfare And for as muche as our ennemy is so mighty so stronge so subtyll so craftye and of so great experience hauyng so many policies of warre agaynste vs that we can by no meanes craft ne power matche him let vs castyng away all affiaunce of our owne nature and power flee vnto god for succour For this cause our lorde ofte commandeth his disciples to pray and desyre their holy Father with pure herte mynde that they may not be ledde into temptacion that is to saie into fight into hande grypes with their aduersarie And in the praier that he taught vs this is the last point which knitteth vp all togyther Ne nos inducas in tentationeÌ„ Leade vs not into temptacion but deliuer vs from our aduersary that stille lieth in wayte for vs. Let vs therfore alwaies dooe as men
armed in warre keping diligent watche and ward not lettyng occasions slip away by slepe and sluggishenes And where as this lyfe flâ—eth so fast awaie being of such vncertayntee that no man lyuyng to daie can make sure promise of to morow it is a great point of foolyshenesse and very dangerous in hope of long life not to prepare vs to our finall iorneie seyng that we ar called vpon euery houre and yet know nothyng of the tyme whan we shal be compelled to this iorney whether we woll or no. Let vs therfore hast to prepare vs tresure vnto the lyfe to com beyng alwaies redy with diligent attendance that whan we shal be called we be not founde vnredye oppressed with heauy and dull sluggisshenes that we depart not sad and sorowful but as men beyng ful satisfied and wery of this worlde reioicyng in hope through faith in Christ wherby we knowe god and as far forth as the power of man maie we imitate folowe and fynde hym without this thyng what is a man but a beast immortall As one day of maÌ„s life is worthy to be preferred before the loÌ„gest age of Rauen or Hart so one daie spent after the example of Christ is better than to lyue eternally not folowynge right religion This is eternall lyfe sayeth Christe our lorde to knowe the father and whoÌ„ he sent among vs Iesus christe his soonne This is the course of moste absolute wisedome wherof the first steppe is To know thy â—elfe and the laste of all To knowe God To the immortall and inuisible kyng of the world to God onely be all honour and glory Amen Finis Here foloweth certayn floures of most not able sentences of wyse men gathered together by Erasmus of Roterodam and translated into englishe Thales Be obedient to thy prince Proue thy frend er thou haue nede Absteyne from wicked dedes Specially loue peace Do so that thou maist be coÌ„mended of all folke If thou haue a tale beaâ—er in thy house auoyde hym out It that thou art a shamed to do before an other thou shouldest not be so hardy to do alone as though thy selfe than were witnesse If thou pourpose to dooe a thyng kepe it secrete lefte anie shulde let the. He augmenteth his grefe that feareth that that can not be â—schued Better it is to be rebuked of a foe thaÌ„ falsly praised of a freÌ„d To muche is nought for mesure in all thynges is best Solon HOnour god Woorshyppe thy father and mother Succour thy frendes Maynteyne truthe Be obedient to the lawes Brydle thynâ— angre Enuy no persone Mynde that is rightuous Commende vertue None is lucky but he that dieth welthfully Moste sure amitee is that resteth betwene equalles The guerdon of vertue is veraie honour not the reward of fortune Commende thy frende openly but whan he erreth correcte hym secretely More clere is the noblenesse whiche thou through thine own vertues doest obteyn than that that happeth vnto the by the ymages of thy forfathers If desteny can not be auoyded what profiteth to knowe it If it bee vncertayne it is folyshenes to feare whan thou knowest not whether it wylle come or not Chilo KNowe thy selfe Use temperance Gette thy good truely Let thy maners be alowable With such skele the life shuld be moderate that thy inferiors drede the not whiche is tyrannie Nor thy superyours dispise the whiche is a castâ—a syde Lyue clene and pure as thou shouldest dye this daie Gyue thy selfe to honest studyes as thou shuldes lyue euer Bost not thy good dedes but let other commende them Flouring old age is most like vnto youth Waywarde youthe is moste lyke vnto olde age Pitacus THose thynges that thou purposest to dooe crake not of before if thou caÌ„st not bryng theym to passe thou shalte be laughed to scorne The thynges that can not be doone looke thou defyre not greatly It is no lesse crafte to kepe silence than to speake It forceth not howe manie but what they bee that prayse the for to bee praysed of euyll persones is disprayse It is foolyshnes to be greued with the felicitee of them that be yuell as though wealth rested in goodes vulgare As foolishe it is to reioyce tâ— see theim that be yuell in celamitee as thoughe before they were not vnwelthy That thou ordeinest other to dooe obserue thy selfe In tyme of prosperitee thou shalte haue many frendes But in aduersitee fewe frendes remayne but they be true Bias. BEhold thy selfe in a myrror if thou appere beautyfull doo that beseemeth thy fairenesse If thou by disfâ—rmed that that wanteth in thy visage accomplishe with beautee of good maners Heare muche and speke little Set or apply the in youthe to sobrenes in age to wysedome He is not ryche that muche possesseth but he that is coÌ„tent with that he hath Euery couetous man is poore who hathe not that he hath A woman without dowry is inough endowed if she be chast The propertee of a prudente man is not to be reuenged whaÌ„ he might An yuel man although he can not yet he desyreth to hurt Cleobulus THat thou hatest thou shuldst not do to another Threten no man for that is a womanly tatche Sooner visite thyne infortunate than fortunate frendes False detraction hurteth the lyfe All that be prudent and wyse hate liers The more mighty thou arte the more beware thou syn not And the more men for thy principalitee or rule permytte the to do the lesse take vpon the. Wealthe yuell gotten dureth not longe Be mylde to other to thyne owne selfe rough The preyse of the forefathers goeth not by enherytaunce to theym that come after But yet often tymes the chyldren are blamed for the faultes of the parentes Pâ—riander NOthynge is profitable that is not honest The richer one is the more carefull he lyueth He is a wretche who for weâ—ines of his lyfe desireth death but he is more wretched that dredeth death It that muste of necessitee bee done make as thou diddest it gladly He that is drad of many must nedes feare many Though fortune be fauourable be neuer the higher minded Though thou haue aduersitie haue a valiant mynde Aristippus SEke the suche richesse whiche if the shyp breake maie swym foorth togither with the owner The goodes of fortune be taken awaie by sundrye casualtees but the goodes of the miÌ„de which be only the true goodes can be taken awaie neyther by fier nor by shipwracke Lerne whan thou art a childe suche thynges as shall bee profitable to the whan thou arte a man Theophrastes TIme is the moste precious coste that a man can bestowe Antisthenes IT is gyuen to a kynge though he doe neuer so well yet to be euill spokeâ— of It is better of the twein to fal amoÌ„ges a sort of raueÌ„s than amoÌ„gs flatterers The raueÌ„s eat a man whan he is dead but the flatterers eate hym quicke That â—uste doth to yron that doth enuy to man The concorde of bretherne iâ— surer than any stone wall The chiefest
maner of speche whiche is accordyng to learnyng wherewith he maie exhorte by holsome doctrine reproue theim whiche wylle speake to the contrary Bostyng BE thou praised of an nothers mouthe and not of thyne owne Let a straunger commend the anâ— not thyne owne lippes ¶ Nothyng doth more minishe a mans commendacion than much auauntyng the successe of his actes ¶ It is a foule thyng a man to tell muche of him selfe specially that whiche is false and with mockes of theim whiche dooe here him to seeme to resemble the bostyng souldiour Chastitee IF thyne eie be simple or cleane all thy body shall be bright ¶ Chastitee is the beautee of the soule or of the kingis doughter whiche is from within ¶ Where necessitee is laid vnto chastitee authoritee is geuen to lecherye for neyther she is chaste whiche by feare is compelled nor she is honest whiche with mede is obteyned ¶ Chastitee without charite is as a lamp without oyle take the oyle awaye the lampe geueth no nyght take awaie charitee than pleseth not chastitee ¶ There bee sixe thynges that do preserue chastitee sobrenesse in diete occupacion sharpenes of the inner apparayle refraynynge of the sences that is to saie the fiue wittes Also selde communicacion and that with honesty and eschuyng oportunitee of the persone the place and the tyme. Charitee IF I had the spirit of prophecy knew all misteries and all manerr of cuÌ„â—yng Also if I had all faith in so much as I could translate and cary away mountaines yet were I nothynge if I lacked charitee Moreouer if I dyd distribute all my goodes in fedyng poore peple although I gaue my body to be burned hauyng no charitee it nothiÌ„g auaileth me Charitee is pacient geÌ„til Charitee hath enuy at no man it doth no thyng amisse it is not puffed vp with pride it is not ambicious she seketh not hir profite she is not moued she thynketh none yll she reioyseth in no mischief she ioyeth with truthe all thyng she suffereth all thyng she beleueth all thynge she hopeth all thyng she beareth Charitee neuer faileth Constance AS well to muche reioysyng in prosperitee as to muche sorowe in aduersitee betokeneth lyghtnesse ¶ What so euer is doone by necessitee is shortly dissolued that whiche is willyngly receiued of long time abydeth ¶ He that is constaunt feeieth no trouble and is without heuynesse ¶ Nothyng so well becometh a man as in euery enterprise and takyng of counsaile to be sure and constant ¶ What is so great foly or so vnworthy a wyse mannes constance and grauitee as is false opinion or boldly to defende that whiche he doth not vnderstande well and sufficiently Carnall appetite CArnal appetite is alwai a hungred and of that whiche is passed a man is not satisfied ¶ It agreeth not with reason that he whom feare can not vanquishe to be subdued with couetise or he whiche can bee ouercome with no peine to be vanquisshed with carnall affection ¶ Carnall appetite more often leaueth behynd hir cause of repentance than of remeÌ„brance ¶ Carnall appetite ennemie to reason letteth all counsaile and dusketh the eyen of the mynde nor with vertue wyll haue any medlyng Consideracion HE that intendeth to dooe any thyng leat hym consyder not only how conuenient is the thyng that ought to be doen but also what power he hath to bryng it to passe ¶ If we will consider what excellencie and preeminence is in the nature of man wee shall well vnderstande howe horrible a thynge it is to flowe in excesse and to be wanton and delicate how â—ayre and honeste it is to lyue warely continently sadly and sobrely ¶ He whome fortune neuer deceiueth doth not without cause remembre the vncertaintee of sundry adâ—entures ¶ If thou consider wel thyngs that bee passed thou shalte the better geue counsaill in thynges that may happen ¶ Remembrance of actes passed sheweth to vs wherin wee offende and conferryng it with thynges that be present we are taughte howe to refourme it Confession COnfessioÌ„ is the remedi of soules the coÌ„founder of vices the restorcr of vertues the vanquysher of dyuels what wyll you more It stoppeth helles mouth and setteth wyde opeÌ„ the gates of paradise ¶ The vengeance of god ceasseth where mannes confession timely preuenteth ¶ Confession is the lyfe of a synner the glorie of good men to offeÌ„dours necessary and yet vnto iust meÌ„ not inconuenient ConteÌ„pt of worldy thinges THe worlde is a sea and euery mannes couetous desyre is nought els but a tempest Dost thou loue god than walkest thou on the sea and the feare of the worlde is vnder thy feete louest thou the worlde and he will fwalowe the for he can tolle his louers vnto hym but he can not beare theym Therfore whan thy herte flittereth in couetous appetite call to thyne ayde Christes diuinitee that thou mayste vanquyshe thyne inordinate foly ¶ The pleasure of this worlde is vanitee whiche with muche expectacion is looked for and whan it is come no man can holde it ¶ Bost not of tomorow thou wottest not what the daie wyll bryng whan it cometh ¶ Set littell by rychesse and thou shalte bee ryche set littell by renoume and thou shalte be famous Care not for afflictiones and thou shalte ouercome theim passe littell on reste and quietnesse and thou shalte obteine theym ¶ In thynges perteinynge to man nothyng is so diligentely don but that as wel by the puissaunce of man it may bee vndoen for the workes of men mortall also be mortall ¶ Nothyng is so happy that it is without feare Where ther is suspicion the lyfe is vnpleasaunt ¶ He that is dedicate to the hasardes of fortune he prepareth for hym selfe muche mattire to trouble whiche wyll not shortly be slacked ¶ There is one way to go surely that is to set littell by thynges worldely and a manne to hold hym contented onely with honestee Custome IN thynges wherof holy scripture hath determined no certaintie the vse of goddes people and statutes of fathers are to bee holden for lawes and likewyse as transgressors of goddes lawes are to be punisshed so contemnours of ecclesiasticall customes ought to be chastised ¶ The wounde often renued is harde to be healed ¶ Custome teacheth that to bee littell which semeth to be great ¶ Educacion and discipline formeth good maners and men sauoreth alway of that thynge which in youth thei haue lerned ¶ In truthe whiche appeereth openly custom must geue place to veritee Correction HE that byndeth a frantike man and waketh hym that hath the letargie or slepyng liknesse displeaseth both loueth both and healeth bothe both whyles thei be sicke dooe disdayne hym and whan they be hole yet both doe thanke hym ¶ Correcte not a scorner leste that he hate the