the Louer and embracer of vertue dooth not abhorre the banishment of Aristides nor the pouertie of Socrates nor the condemnation of Phocion ibidem As of fire and earth the worlde is compounded being necessary elements as Plato saith the earth yeelding solidity and the fire giuing heate and forme so great empires are not obtained except vertue bee mingled with fortune and one be an helpe vnto an other ibidem As that is no true loue which wantes iealousie so hee loueth not vertue entirelie that is not inflamed with the emulation of good deedes done of others ibidem As a Candle light is obscured by the light of the Sunne so the estimation of all corporall matters is obscured by the spendour of vertue Cicero lib. 2. Offic As our bodilie eyes are cleared and purged by certaine Medicines so the eyes of our minde are enlightened by looking vppon vertue Seneca lib. 2. Epist 116. As great Obeliskes are not made without great labour by reason of their hugenesse but beeing once builded they continue infinite ages so it is a hard matter to attaine vertue but beeing gotten it neuer dieth Plin. lib. 36. cap. 29. The tree Lotos which the Latines call Faba Graeca vel Syriaca hath a most bitter rinde but most sweete frute so the first endeuours vnto vertue are most hard but nothing is more sweete then the fruite Idem lib. 24. cap. 2. lib. 13. cap. 17. Saffron thriues the better if it be troden on and therefore that springes vp the best that is set by pathwayes so vertue exercised in extremities dooth thriue the better idem lib. 21. cap. 6. Theoph. lib. 6. cap. 6. The Palme tree because it hath a plaine barke is hard to bee climed into but it hath most sweete fruite so vertue hath a difficult entrance but most pleasant fruit Erasmus in similibus Bees flee to all flowers yet doe hurt none so Vertue and learning are so taken from others that hee is neuer the woorse that dooth communicate them ibidem As the Artes were not perfected as soone as they were inuented so neither is vertue absolute and perfect in vs the first day Seldome or neuer a vaine of gold and siluer is found alone but there is another not farre off so there is no vertue solitarie but one is ioyned to another As lightning dooth blast all trees besides the Lawrell tree as sayeth Plinie lib. 2 so a great calamitie dooth take all thinges away besides Vertue For constant Vertue is a faire beautifull Bay-tree alwayes greene not to bee blasted by any lightning nor to be destroyed by any thunder claps Hector Pintus in cap. 17. Ezechiel As he is not rich that can speake of much wealth but hee that possesseth it so he is not a iust man that canne reason of vertue or knoweth the definition of it but hee that is indued with it and exerciseth it idem in cap. 20. As in the stone Opalum the semblance of manie precious stones is seene as the firinesse of the Carbuncle the purple of the Amethist and the greennesse of the Emeralde and all these shining togither after an incredible mixture so all vertues are contained in the holy Scriptures and doe shine there after a wonderfull manner As there be seuen Planets Luna Venus Sol Mercurius Mars Iupiter Saturn so there are seuen principall vertues Faith Hope Charitie Prudence Iustice Fortitude and Temperance which vertues Heluuicus Theutonicus particularly compares vnto the seuen Planets in his first booke de coelo elementis cap. 84. As there be seuen principall mettals Quicksiluer Brasse Gold Siluer Tin Iron and Leade so there bee seuen chiefe vertues vt suprà which the same Heluuicus particularly coÌ„pareth to these mettals in his second Book de metallis lapidibus cap. 40. As Garlicke hath seuen medicinable qualities in it so haue the seuen principall vertues which the same Authour setteth downe in his third booke de vegetabilibus plantis cap. 81. As there bee fiue outwarde senses the sight hearing smelling tast and touching so there bee fiue inwarde vertues Fayth Obedience Hope Charitie and Humilitie which the same writer compareth togither in his sixt booke de homine eius membris cap. 77. As the bones are the strength of the bodie so vertues are the strength of the soule F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 6. de homine membris eius cap. 77. As the bones are bound togither by certaine ligaments so all vertues are so combined and linked togither that one cannot be had without another ibidem As the bones are nourished by the inward marrow so vertues are nourished by the diuine grace ibidem As the best Wine is in the middest of the barrell so vertue doth consist in a meane Idem lib. 9. de artificibus rebus artificialibus cap. 82. It is to no purpose to light a lampe to burne if oyle be not powred in so it is to no purpose to teach that vertue is to bee embraced if the way and manner bee not deliuered howe to attaine vnto it Plus tarch Euen as a ditcher that by chaunce findeth a precious stone dooth little esteeme it because hee knoweth not the price of it so ignoraunt infidels and prophane worldlye men make little reckoning of vertue and vertuous men because they neither knâ—â—â— the dignitie of vertue nor the esâ—â—◠〈◊〉 of her followers Lodouicus Granat 〈◊〉 Ducis peccatorum The 〈◊〉 called Sileni were vnpolished without but curiously and with great arte wrought within so vertue outwardly seemeth rough when inwardly it is full of beautie ibidem As blood relieueth a distressed heart so vertue comforteth an afflicted soul ibidem Euen as God is a goodnesse so vniuersall that in him alone are found all the perfections of all good so after a certaine maner the same are founde in Vertue ibidem Euen as of the conueniencie and proportion of the members and lineaments and of the humours of the naturall bodie a certaine beautie ariseth which is acceptable to the eies of men so of the order and vertuous frame of the life laudablie led and formed so great a beautie proceedeth that not onelie it is most acceptable to the eyes of God and Angels but it is also beloued of peruerse and frowarde men ibidem If a noble and beautifull woman worthie of a Kings bedde should bee married to a foule Collier it would mooue all men to compassion that behelde hâ—r so much more effectuallie shall hee 〈◊〉 â—oued that seeth vertues woorth 〈◊〉 â—od and diuine rewarde to bee maâ—â— vassals to compasse the drosse dung of this world ibidem He that selleth precious Pearles and rich Gemmes ought verie well to knowe them that hee bee not deceyued in the price and the ouerseer and gouernour of a princes house ought to know the deserts of euery one in the house that he may dispose of euerie one according to his dignitie for otherwise hee shall commit manie errours and offer great inequalitie so a man that
a man then a woman but toucheth not children except famine constraine him and spareth the suppliant and prostrate so a Prince and those that be mighty ought to pardon inferiours to make triall of their strength vpon them whom it is praise worthy to ouer come Plin. lib. 8. cap. 16. As a new seene Comet doth portend to mortall men either great good or greate harme so a new Prince doth bring safety to his subiects if he be good but ruine and destruction if hee bee euill Plinius libro 2. cap. 26. As the sun with his heat cherisheth the earth so a good Prince with his bountie cherisheth schollers and learning An euill Prince AS the lightning is first seene before the sound of the thunder be heard and as the bloud is seene before the wound so an eâ—â—ll prince sometimes condemneth before the party be arrained Plut. As one fault cannot amende another so a foolish and a wicked prince cannot amend his people Idem As the dog-starre is pestilent to euerie body so the power of an euill prince doth hurt all Harts when they set vp their eares are of a very good hearing but when they let them downe then they are deafe so euill Princes heare a far off any thing that pleaseth them but if it be otherwise they vnderstande not albeit thou shoutest in their eares When frogs croke aboue their wont they-presage a teÌ„pest approching so when the speech of euil men preuailes most with Princes then confusion is at hand As an eclipse of the sun doth bring great hurt to mankind so an errour of the king although it bee small doth worke great disturbance in the publike state Plinius lib. 2. cap. 10. A Vine except it be pruned doth largely spread it selfe abroad embracing and infolding all things with her branches so an ambitious Prince is alwaies encroching vppon his neighbours except hee bee restrained Empire AS he ought not to meddle with a lute that is vnskilful in Musick so he ought not to take empire rule vpoÌ„ him that is not endued with wisdome and prudence As of fire and earth the world is compounded as of two necessary elementes according to Plato the earth yeelding solidity and the fire heat and forme so great empires are not compassed nor coÌ„quered vnlesse prowesse be mingled with successe and fortune and one be an helpe vnto the other Plut. They that hunt beasts do put on the case of a Heart they that fowle vse feathered cloathes and euery one takes heede that he doe not appeare vnto wild Buls in purple or red garments or vnto an Elephant in white apparell because by these colours they are prouoked to wrath and rage so he that would tame a fierce and barbarous Nation hee must for the time applie himselfe vnto them both in maners and apparell idem As thou canst not tell whether a vessell be sound or no vnlesse thou powrest water into it so neither canst thou knowe a man except thou committest empyre and rule vnto him idem Power AS hee that rideth a young Colt with a naughtie Bridle is quicklie set besides the saddle so hee that in deuoureth to subdue the common people being not sufficiently furnished with power is quickly cast from his dominion Plut. As the Sun when it is at the highest near vnto the Septentrionall pole seemeth then least to moue so the greater the power is the more the rashnesse of the minde is to be restrained Idem As ill dreames doe somewhat for the time distract the minde but doe nothing else so euill men but without power doe little hurt Idem As the feathers in a birdes wing being cut doe in time growe againe so dooth power except it bee continually curbed and repressed If either Castor or Pollux appeare alone it presageth hurt but if they shewe themselues ioyntly togither it foretelleth good lucke so it is not meete that power should be separated from wisdome for if it bee it is verie pestilent As Saturne who holdeth the highest place among the 7. Planets is verie slowly moued about in his sphere so it is requisite that they that bee in great place and haue great power bee not rash and timerous Plin. lib. 2. cap. 6. As some lightning doth melt brasse and iron but doth not dissolue soft waxe so the diuine power and kingly might doth rage against withstanders but doth spare them that yeeld and giue place As raging thunderbolts do vainely teare in peeces barren mountains to no purpose so foolish strength doth spend it selfe vpon those things which it need not As neither Egypt by reason of the heat nor Scythia by reason of the cold do feele any lightnings or thunderclaps so either great power or extreme pouertie dooth make safe from reproches A Common-wealth AS the temper of the world doth consist of contrary elements after a wonderfull harmonie so a Common-wealth doth stand by the diuerse endeuors of men As a ship is ioyned togither by manie strokes by manie nayles and pinnes and then dooth stand a certaine time till the ioynts bee well setled togither and afterwards dooth cut the seas so a Common-wealth is established by much labour but taking increase and growth in time it yeeldeth a quiet and peaceable life vnto the inhabitants Plut. A gouernour of a ship doth something with his owne handes and somewhat by others so in a Common-wealth one ought not to haue all offices ingrossed in his hands but one ought to haue one and another another for things are done better which are done by the aduices iudgements of many Idem There was a time appoynted vnto the Vestalles first wherein they should learne secondly wherein they should exercise that they had learned and thirdly wherin they should teach others The same thing Dianaes Priestes at Ephesus did so they are to do that are to take the gouernment of a common wealth vpon them idem As Wine doth first serue and obey the drinker but by little and little mixing it selfe with the bloud in the veynes dooth rule ouer the drinker and makes him a drunkerd so he that comes to the gouernement of a Common-wealth at the first applieth himselfe to the humours of the people but afterwardes hee draweth them to his purpose and makes them his subiects and vassals idem As they that haue nothing to do at home walke idly abroad so many moath-eaten Polititians because they haue no priuate busines of their own they prie into prate of Common-wealth matters idem As Spring and Autumne doe endanger our bodies by reason of chaunge so all innouations do offend and hurt a Common-wealth When as brute creatures do leaue their ordinarie course of nature it portendes a tempest that is when Cormorants and Gulles do forsake the seas and riuers when Antes hide themselues or cast out their egges and when wormes craule out of the earth so when the wicked are audacious the religious mute the people wise the Princes dotardes and the Priests togither by the eares for
iarres if it be too high it breakes so the minde of man may bee as well too intent as too remisse if it bee too remisse it runs too slowlie if it bee too intent it runs too fast VVit AS many wilde weedes growing in a fielde although naught of themselues yet are the signes of a fertill and fruitefull grounde if it were tilled so manie affections of the minde beeing naught of themselues do argue no barren wit if it were rightlie ordered Plut. Mortar is to bee straightwaies vsed because it quicklie dryeth so the witte of a childe is to bee forthwith endued with literature and holesome counsell least it growing stubborne and harde doe not admit the hande of a fashioner Plinius libro 36. cap. 24. As Vessels of a narrowe mouth doe more difficultlie receiue but do more surelie retaine the liquor so wits that do more slowly conceiue for the most part do more assuredly remember Quintilianus There is lesser force and vertue in the roots of holesome hearbes when the seede waxeth ripe so the edge of wit and nature waxeth blunt and dul when wee giue our selues to get children The Adamant by one thing is softened for the stroake of the hammer otherwaies it is impenetrable so there is no wit so fierce and barbarous which may not bee tamed by one meanes or other As some trees do fairely flourish but do bring forth no fruit so the towardnesse of some children doth promise great fruit of life which as soone as it growes vp beeing drowned in vaine pleasures it deceiueth the expectation of all men Plin. lib. 16. cap. 26. 27. It is reported that in Albania there are men that haue eyes of a fiery rednes who like Owles doe see better in the night then in the daie so some are more witty in deuising mischieuous matters thē in inuēting things good laudable Plin. li. 7. ca. 2. As those women that conceiue bring forth too soone do soone waxe olde as the Indian Calingae doe that bring forth at fiue yeares of age and die at eight so those wittes that are soone ripe are soone rotten Plin. lib. 7. cap. 2. Trees exceeding fruitfull do soone wax olde so excellent wittes are seldome long liued and the best things among mortall men do soonest decay The Sallow tree doth cast off her seede before it be ripe wherupon Homer calleth it A spoyle fruit so some wittes too soone ripe doe teach and write before it bee meete The Oliue tree is long a growing but it bringeth forth excellent fruit the Sallowe tree presently shooteth vp but it is barren so it is with wittes too soone ripe Plin. lib. 16. cap. 26. in fin lib. eod cap. 27. A couragious horse is fitter for carriage and burthens then an idle iade and yet no man layeth them on so great wittes are fittest for the discharge of great waightie functions but few employ them being contented with dizzards and cow-babies whom they may ouerrule and controule at their pleasure Seneca The earth that bringeth forth salt bringeth forth none other thing so wits fruitfull in learning are not so forcible in other matters The fish Trochus hath coiture with it selfe and doth conceiue of it selfe so some through the happinesse of their wit doe infuse into themselues the seedes of learning whom the Grecians call Autodidactoi teachers of themselues Plin. lib. 9. cap. 52. As small wines in time waxe sowre so vulgar wittes come to dotage in continuance but those that be excellent and wits of proofe doe holde out till the last date of olde decrepit age As certaine groundes haue in them Merle or white earth like Chalk by which they are manured and fatted so an honest wit hath that in it which can better it selfe As fire skippeth to Bitumen as soone as it comes neare it by reason of the cognation it hath with it so wittes borne to learning doe forthwith take it Plin. 2. cap. 108. As wee perceiue the shadow of a diall passed but perceyue it not passing and as it appeareth that a plant hath encreased but wee discerne it not increasing so the going forward of wittes because it stands of small increasinges is perceyued afterwards a farre off As in great Forrestes mightie wilde beastes are bredde so in great wittes great vices are woont to spring vp Plut. in Moralibus The earth the more fruitfull it is by nature the more it is corrupted if it be neglected so wittes the more pregnant they are the more vices they bring foorth if they bee not rightlye instituted ibidem The fire the clearer it burneth the sooner it goeth foorth so wittes the more illustrious and ripe they bee the shorter is their continuance amongst vs. Seneca de consolatione cap. 23. As the sweetest Rose hath his prickle the finest Veluet his brack the fayrest flower his bran so the sharpest witte hath his wanton will and the holiest head his wicked way Iohn Lilie The freshest colours soonest fade the keenest Rasour soonest turneth his edge the finest cloath is soonest eaten with the Moathes and the Cambricke sooner stayned then the course Canuas so the pregnantest wit is soonest peruerted As the fleetest fish swalloweth the delicatest baite the highest soaring Hawke trayneth to the lure so the wittiest braine is inueigled with the suddaine view of alluring vanities He that will carrie a Bull with Milo must vse to carrie him a calfe also hee tha◠coueteth to haue a straight tree must no◠bow him being a twigge so he that think◠to haue wisedome in age must labour to get wit in youth and he that would be vpright in age must not bow downe to vice in youth The Potter fashioneth his Clay when it is soft the Sparrowe is taught to come when hee is young the Iron being hot receiueth any forme with the stroke of the Hammer and keepeth it beeing colde for euer so the tender wit of a childe if with diligence it bee instructed in youth will with industrie vse those qualities in age The fine Christall is sooner crazed then the hard Marble the greenest Beech burneth faster then the driest Oake the fairest silke is soonest soyled the sweetest wine turneth to the sharpest vineger the pestilence doth most rifest infect the clearest complection and the Caterpiller cleaueth vnto the ripest fruit so the most delicate wit is allured with small inticement vnto vice most subiect to yeeld vnto vanitie The Sunne shineth vpon the dunghill and is not corrupted the Diamond lieth in the fire and is not consumed the Christall toucheth the toad and is not poisoned the bird Trochilus liueth by the mouth of the Crocodile and is not spoyled so a perfite wit is neuer bewitched with lewdnes neither entised with lasciuiousnes As he is a Cockescombe that preferreth the blossome before the fruit the bud before the flower and the greene blade before the ripe Eare of corne so is he a foole that preferreth his owne witte before all mens wisdoms As the Sea-crab swimmeth alwayes agaynst
and clasping him fast about the middle asked one Capistranus standing beneath whether it would bee any daunger of damnation to his soule if he should cast himselfe downe headlong with the Dog so hee tearmed the Turke to bee slaine with him Capistranus aunswering that it was no daunger at all to his soule the Bohemian forthwith tumbled himselfe downe with the Turke in his armes and so by his owne death onelie saued the life of al the Citie so the deuil like the great Turke besieging not onely one Citie but euen all mankinde Christ alone like this noble Bohemian encountred with him And seeing the case was so that this Dog the Diuell coulde not bee killed starke dead except Christ dyed also therefore he made no reckoning nor account of his life but gaue himselfe to death for vs that he only dying for all the people by his death our deadly enemie might for euer be destroyed As it was bootlesse for Golias to brandish his speare against Dauid so it little auailed the Diuel to shake his speare likewise in the hand of the soldior against the heart of Christ As Dauid hauing heard Golias prate talke his pleasure when they came to the point at the first stroke ouerthrewe him so Christ with that very selfe same speare which gaue him a little venny in comparison or if it be lawful for me so to speake but a phillip on the side which was soone after recured gaue the Diuell a deadlie wound in the forehead which with al his pawes he shal neuer be able to claw off As Dauid only with his sling slew Golias so Christ only by his death and by the power of his crosse which is the sling of Dauid did conquer and subdue the diuel The Palme tree though it haue manie waights at the top and many snakes at the roote yet still it sayes I am neither oppressed with the waights nor distressed with the snakes Penny royall being hung vp in the larder house yet buds his yellow flowers and Noahs Oliue tree being drowned vnder the water yet keepes hir greene branch and Aarons rod being clung and drie yet brings forth ripe Almonds and Moses bramble bush being set on fire yet shines and is not consumed so Christ the true Palme tree though all the iudgments of God and all the sinnes of the world like vnsupportable waights were laide vppon him yea though the cursed Iewes stoode beneath like venemous snakes hissing and biting at him yet hee was neither so oppressed with them nor so distressed with these but that euen vpon his crosse he did most flourish when he was most afflicted The Phenix though sitting in his neaste among the hote spices of Arabia hee bee burnt to ashes yet still hee saies I die not but olde age dyeth in mee so Christ the true Phenix though lying in his graue among the hot spices wherewith Nichodemus embalmed him hee was neuer like to rise from death to life againe yet hee dyed not but mortalitie died in him and immortality so liued in him that euen in his sepulchre hee did most liue when he seemed most to be dead Epaminondas beeing sore wounded in fight demaunded of his souldiours standing by whether his enemies were ouerthrowne or no. They aunswered yea Then whether his buckler were hole or no. They aunswerered also I. Nay then sayes hee all is well This is not the ende of my life but the beginning of my glorie For nowe your deere Epaminondas dying thus gloriouslie shall rather bee borne againe then buried so Christ was sore wounded but his enemyes death and the Diuell were ouerthrowne and spoyled His Buckler which was his Godheade was whole and vntouched Therefore there was no harme doone His death was no death but an exaltation vnto greater glory As snowe couereth the grounde when it is ragged and deformed so Christ with his coat without seame couereth our sins and though they were as crimson yet hee maketh them white as snow As Gedeons fleece when it was moist the earth was drie but when it was drie the earth was moist so when Christes fleece was moist as a greene Tree then were all we drie like rotten stickes but when his fleece was drie all the bloud and water being wrounge out of his precious side then were wee moistned with his grace As Iacob trauailing towardes Haram when hee had laide an heape of stones vnder his heade and taken a nap by the way was much reuiued with it after his tedious iourney so Christ trauailing towardes heauen when hee had slept a little in that stony sepulchre which was hewen out of a Rocke liued then most Princelie after his paynefull passion As Ionas was in the Whales belly three dayes and three nights so and so long was the Sonne of man in the bowels of the earth yet he had no more hurt then Ionas had As Daniell was not hurt of the hungrie Lions so Christ was not hurt either of the terrours of death or of the horrours of Hell As Adam and Eue both in one daie were expelled out of Paradice about noon when the winde blewe so Christ and the theefe both in one day were receiued into Paradice yea both in one houre of the day about the sixt houre that is about twelue a clocke in the day time As Peters shadow gaue health to the sicke so Christs shadow giueth life to the dead As Elizeus being dead raised vp one frō the dead so Christ being dead was a Phisition to the dead Pliny reporteth that there was a dyall set in Campus Martius to note the shadowes of the sunne which agreeing verie wel at the first afterwards for thirty yeares together did not agree with the sun so all the time of those thirty yea three and thirtie yeares that Christ liued in his hmiliation heere vpon earth you might haue seen such a dyall in which time the shadow of the diall did not agree with the shining of the sunne but thankes bee to God all the better for vs. As the sunne went backward tenne degrees in the dyall when Ezechias went forward fifteene degrees in his life hee liued fifteene yeares longer so the going of this sunne Iesus Christ tenne degrees backewarde hath healed all our sicknesse and set vs a thousand degrees forward and infinitly aduanced vs by his death to euersting life As Rachel died her selfe in childbirth to bring forth her sonne Beniamin aliue so Christ dyed to bring vs vnto euerlasting life As when many byrdes are caught in a net if a Pellican or any other great bird that is among them gette out all therest that are little ones follow after so Christ as a great byrde hauing broken through the net of death all we escape with him As far as the Tree of life excelleth the tree of knowledge of good and euill so far the crosse of Christ excelleth the tree of life As hony being found in a dead Lion the death of the Lion was the sustenance of Samson so Christes gall
how bigly soeuer he braue it begā in earth and shall end where he began As the flower may be knowne by the smel so a man by his wordes As they that are tenants at will beare themselues very euen and vpright so they that vnderstande that the house of their bodie is lent them of Nature for a short time doe liue more temperately and die more willinglie Seneca As an euill tree cannot bring forth anie good fruit as rotten and wormeaten seede cannot ingender any thing but like it self and as from a poysoned and infected vessell wee cannot drawe one drop of good wine so since our lapse wee are not able of our selues to produce any good work but whatsoeuer springeth from vs sauoureth of corruption and pollution As waxe cannot indure before the fire so mans righteousnesse cannot stand perfect before God As Marchants alwayes prayse and esteeme their wares marchandise more then they are worth so man doth his vertues but when they are examined and prised by those which know them as by the spirit of god his prophets they are altogither iudged as old rags torn tied togither patched vp again as old images new gilded ouer which outwardly haue glistering shew but within are nothing but dust and durt or as counterfeit money which is of ill mettall howe goodly a print soeuer it haue Some dream when they are asleepe that they haue found great treasure and haue a great ioy in it but after their wakning they see that all is vanished like smoke wherevpon they vexe and grieue themselues so when man thinketh that hee is righteous this is a dreame which passeth through his spirits and vanisheth as soone as hee is awake and deliuered from the darkenes of ignorance wherin he was asleep buried The arke of the couenant was but a cubite and a halfe high the wheeles of the Cauldron were but a cubite and a halfe high nowe we knowe that a cubite and a halfe is an vnperfect measure so there is no man in this life perfectly perfect seeing that the very highest is as the Arke in Moses Tabernacle or as the wheeles in Salomons Temple but a cubite and a halfe high perfectly vnperfect when hee beginneth vnperfectly perfect when he endeth Euen as the silkworme keeps her bodie spare empty vseth to fast two or three daies togither that she may stretch out her selfe the better better and spin her threed the finer so man must endeuour to bring vnder his body and as I may say to dyet it for the nonce that hee may no longer weaue the spiders web but with the silke worme spin a new threed As the Viper perceiuing her olde skinne to be so stiffe that she cannot easily stretch out her selfe in it strips it quite off so wee which are by nature a generation of Vipers must strip off our old skinne and perceiuing we cannot well do our endeour and stir our selues in the armour of Saule we must with Dauid put it off and put on the armour of light As Fletchers to make their shaftes flie steadily peece them with Sugarchest or Holly or such like heauy wood so wee must adioine to that Aspe or Seruice tree or such other light matter which wee are all made of the sweete Sugarchest of the Holy Ghost that we may not bee vnsteady as arrowes of Aspe nor yet slothfull in seruice but feruent in spirit seruing the Lorde Saint Ambrose reporteth that the Bee being to flie home to her hiue and fearing least if she shoulde bee taken by the waie with the winde shee might perhaps bee blowne about in the ayre counterpeises her selfe with a little stone and so flyes straight home so we must build our selues vpon the chiefe corner stone be grounded vppon the rocke and established with grace that howsoeuer the raine fall or the flouds arise or the windes blowe or what times soeuer come yet we may stande fast in the faith of Christ As Eue deceiued Adam so the flesh deceiueth man Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducis peccatorum The Moon being in the wane is againe renued so is man after his death at the last resurrection The sunne appeareth againe after it setteth so doth man at the sound of the archangell The Sunne the Moone the stars the sea the earth trees herbes brute beastes and among these Bees Auntes and Shell fishes doe forefeele and foresee a tempest so shoulde man forefeele and foresee his owne daunger Plinius libro 8. cap. vlt. As things that are bred vpon the earth are for the vse and commodity of man so one man should be for another As a vessel is known by the sound whether it bee hole or broken so are men proued by their speach whether they be wise or foolish Good Men. AS the Laurel tree is not subiect to lightning nor hurt with that fiers violence so the iust man in the fire of tribulation is neyther hurt nor impaired but alwayes continueth fresh and greene Stella de contemptu mundi As in winter a fruitfull tree cannot bee knowne from one that is vnfruitfull so in this worlde a good man can scarselie bee discerned from an euill man Hermas seu Past. As cockell and darnell springeth vp among good corne so euill men growe vp with good men righteous people with vngodly folk Cyprianus cōtra Demetrianū As a bird soone getteth out of a snare so good men if they fal soone rise againe Origenes hom 5. in Psal 36. As the light of a candle is dimmed by the brightnes of the sun so al the works of good men are obscured by the perfection of Christ Origenes hom 9. in Ezechiel As wrestlers for a prize sustaine heate sweate dust and labour so good men for a crown must beare many things patiently Chrisost hom 1. de resurrectione As we say that that is a good body that can indure heat and cold hunger thirst so we say that hee is a good man that can generously and valiantly beare all the inuasions of sorrowe and greefe ibidem hom 5. de patientia Iob. As a rich subiect compared to a wealthy King seemeth poore so the best men compared to holy angels are foūd sinners Idem hom 4. in 1. Timoth. As the vnderstanding of a sinner is more and more darkened so the mind of a good man is more and more enlightened Idem hom 1 8. operis imperfecti In the vineyardes of Engaddi there is a Tree that when it is pricked ointment commeth out of it but if it be not pierced it smelleth not so fragrantly so it is with a good man Ambrosius in Psal beati immaculati serm 1. As a house built vppon a rocke standes firme against all tempestes so a righteous man building himselfe vppon the rocke Christ stands strong against al the stormes of Sathan the world and the flesh As a tree that is planted by the water side spreadeth out the roote vnto moystnesse neither can the heate harme it when it cōmeth
but his leafe continueth green so a good man that is planted by the waters of Gods grace spreadeth out himselfe vnto euery good worke neither doth the parching heat of persecution hurt him nor the pinching cold of aduersitie benumme him but he alwaies remaineth fruitfull The giftes of men are diuerse AS not euery Painter is skilfull in euerie part of his Arte but one excelleth in mixture of colours an other in drawing of lines an other in due proportiō so among them that professe learning one excelleth in Rhetoricke an other in Logicke an other in the Mathematickes and others in other gifts So many men so many mindes AS Tygers are driuen into madnesse by the sound of a tymbrell or a drum insomuch that they teare themselues in peeces so that which quiets good and ciuill mindes driueth barbarous mindes to furie and rage Plut. As among so many thousand men there are no faces alike in euerie respect so euerie man hath his seuerall humour and a cranke in his brayn that another hath not Erasmus As the hearbe Sagapene is a foode verie acceptable vnto Asses but present poyson to all other liuing creatures so oftentimes that which offendeth one is a pleasure vnto another Plinius libro 24. Cap. 1. As diuerse glasses make one thing to appeare diuersly according to the diuersitie of the glasses so diuerse men doe interprete one deed diuerselie according to the diuersitie of mindes that which seemeth great to one seemeth small to an other one man esteemes it beautifull an other deformed Some see better the thing that is neare them some see better a farre off so some looke better to other mens matters then to their owne and some neglect all mens businesses and solelie intende their owne The continuall burning Mountayne of Chimera is more enkindled with water but abated with haie so some the more you desire them the more inexorable they are and they more you disswade them the forwarder they are Plin. lib. 2. cap. 106 As the Agath stone is fired with water but quenched with oyle so some the more you intreate them the colder they are but if you neglect them of their own accorde they will doe it Plinius libro 36. Cap. 19. Wicked and vngodly men IF a mother should lay in a corner of her house rats bane or some other poyson to kill rats and mice and it should be founde of her children and eaten woulde not that be to the destruction ruine of her house which shee purposed should haue beene a benefit After the same maner wicked men doe preuent all good and wholsome doctrines abusing them for themselues which are deliuered for others alwaies very studiously endeuouring to defende the loosenes dissolutenes of their life Lodo. Granat lib. de deuotione As one rotten sheep infecteth be it neuer so great a flock so one wicked and vicious man impoisoneth bee it neuer so manie folke As a Toade sucketh poyson from the earth so the wicked suck corruption from vices As the salt floud quickly swels vp and as quickly sinkes down againe and turnes to nothing euen so and such is the prosperity of the wicked As the smoke vanisheth and as the wax melteth before the fire so shal the wicked perish at the presence of God As vnder a good tree all beasts may rest but no creatures can rest vnder thornes but onely serpents so by an honest man both good men and euill men may haue peace but by a wicked man none can bee quiet but serpents that is diuels who haue their lodgings in the breastes of wicked men Chrysost hom 19. operis imperf As good meates are vnwelcome to sick persons so are good counsels vnto wicked men Idem hom 4. in 1. Cor. As mad men cannot abide the cure of the Phisitian so wicked men cannot abide the reproofe of a Preacher Theodorus sermo 1. de curandis grae affectibus As sore eyes cannot awaie with the brightnesse of the Sunne so wicked and vngodly men cannot away with the splen dour of the trueth Petrus Chrysologus serm 87. A wheele tilts vp behind and shootes downe before so the wicked are forward to al badnes but backward to al goodnes As a dry thistle flower is blowne awaie with the wind as a thinne scumme is scattered abroad with a storme and as smoake is dispersed here and there so is the hope of the wicked A foole buildes his house vpon the sand so an vngodly man grounds his hopes vpon the vanities of the world As the raging sea cannot rest so a wicked man is neuer of a quiet peaceable mind The heath that groweth in the wildernes is good for nothing but the fire so the wicked are good for nothing but for fuell to make the fire of hell flame VVomen AS Pigeons are taken with beanes and children intised with Balles so women are wonne with toyes As the beast Chimer hath a Lions face but a Dragons tayle so many women haue continent words but vnchast works As the brood-hen that all the day long bestowes her paines in all the dust shee meetes with sleepes at night hungrie and vnsatisfied so doth that woman that bestowes her loue vpon many suters A dumbe Grasse-hopper is a wonder because the whole kind of them is garrulous and yet they saie that there are some such about Rhegyum in Italy so more admirable is constancie and silence in women because their sex is mutable and loquacious and yet they saye that there are some such women in the kingdome of Vtopia As no man knowes where his shoe wringes him but hee that hath it on so no man knowes the disposition of a woman but he that hath maried a wife Plutarchus As a Loadstone by a secrette in nature draweth Iron vnto it so a woman by a Secret in nature draweth man vnto her As fire beeing touched doth burne so a woman being touched doth kindle lust Hieronimus lib. 1. contra Iouinianum As those hearbes do flourish that are planted by the riuer side so those seedes of lust doe sprowte rankly that are nourished in the society and familiaritie of women Nilus orat 2. aduersus vitia The temples of the Egyptians were builded of verie fayre stone and beautified with gold siluer and Iuory but if you searched into them you should finde nothing but a Cat a Crocodile or a serpent so many women are very beautifully adorned without but if you looke into them you shall find nothing but enormous adulterous minds Clemens Alexandrinus lib. 2 paedagogi cap. 2. As stigmaticall brandes are notes of a fugitiue so counterfeit colors are tokens of an whore Ibidem As a golden ring is in the nose of a swine so is beauty in an vnchast woman Salonius in parabolas Salomonis As the stone of Sicilia the more it is beaten the harder it is so women the more they are made of the coyer they growe As a childe is won with a Nut and lost with an apple so is a woman He that
diet them before they runne so he that will be fit for the heauenly race must diet himselfe by abstinence and fasting Ibidem As gluttony doth bring innumerable euils vnto mankind so abstinence and fasting doth bring innumerable good thinges both to the soule and body Chrysost hom de Iona propheta As litle ships swiftly saile ouer the sea but those that are ouerloaden are drowned in the waters so abstinence fasting maketh the minde lighter that it canne easilier sayle ouer the sea of this life and lightlier soare vp to heauen and see that happines which God hath prouided for it Ibidem As he that washeth himselfe and afterwardes tumbleth in the durte washeth himselfe in vaine so hee that fasteth and abstaineth from sin and yet walloweth in sinne his abstinence and fasting is to no purpose Idem sermone 1. de ieiunio As he that recouereth a sicke man vnto health commaundeth him to abstaine frō those thinges that brought his disease so the Lord after baptisme commended and commaunded abstinence and fasting vnto vs against the sinne of gluttony for the intemperance of the bellie disparadic'd Adam Idem hom 10. in Math. As phisicke is many times vnprofitable through the vnskilfulnes of him that vseth it so is fasting and abstinence idem hom tertia ad pop Antioch As horses are to be restrained with bit bridle so our bodies are to be brougth vnder to be kept vnder by abstinence fastinges watchings and prayers Augustinus cap 10. de salutaribus documentis As oyle maketh the raging sea calme so fasting and abstinence extinguisheth the burning and boyling lustes of the body Ibidem As a lampe is without oyle so is abstinence and fasting without charitie Caesarius Arelat hom 32 As the body becommeth vnweildy by gourmandizing so it becommeth weake feeble by too much fasting abstinēce Diadochus de perfectione spiritali cap. 45. As Christ by touching the waters of Iordan sanctified all other waters so by his fasting and abstinence hee hath sanctified our fastinges and abstinence Lodouic Granaten As Apollonius Tyaneus was coūted very abstemious among the Heathen so Emericus the son of Stephen king of Pannonia is for his abstinence registred amōg the christians Praier EVen as a traueller after that hee hath rested himselfe and taken meate beginneth to feele ease is refreshed and recouereth strength to walke trauell further although hee hath no delight in his meate nor contenteth his taste so also Prayer which is the spirituall meate of the soule is the cause of a new fortitude and a new spirit to walke in the way of the Lord albeit oftentimes it yeeldeth no spirituall tast Lodou Granat lib de deuotione Euen as they that inhabit the north partes of the world where the cold is vehement do keepe within doores and in hot houses to defend themselues from the iniury and vntemperatenes of the weather but they that cannot do this come often to the fire being somewhat warmed do returne againe to their labour so also the seruant of God liuing in this cold and miserable region of the world where charity is waxen key cold iniquity doth rage and aboūd must often repaire to the fire of prayer that he may grow warme Ibidem As Sampson was being without his haire so is a man without praier ibidem Euen as there is no essentiall difference between him that speaketh and him that writeth the same thing so also prayer which is a confession of the diuine praises or that I may speake more properly a certaine petition to God for some necessary thing whether this petition bee made with inward wordes or with outward which are the images of internall thinges there can be found no essentiall difference betweene this and that Ibidem As the smith knoweth that his iron is first to be heated and to be made soft before he labour to make a stampe in it so prayer is to be vsed to the softening of the heart that thereby it may be made ready for the keeping of the diuine law Ibidem As the hill is the way vnto the mountaine and the meanes to ascend vnto it so prayer is the waye and the ascending to mortification Ibidem Euen as a diligent and carefull traueller that entreth into an Inne to breake his fast eateth and withall is carefull to make an end of the voyage he hath taken in hande so that although his body be in the Inne yet his hearte and mind is about his iorney so also the seruant of God when he goeth to praye let him on the one side enioy celestiall sweetnes and on the other side let him purpose to beare troubles and molestations for his loue of whom he is so much made of and who will not haue any one to eate his bread but in the sweate of his face ibidem As the children of this world besides their dayly repast haue their extraordinarie feasts and bankets in which they are woont to exceede the maner of other refections so it is also behoouefull that the righteous besides their dayly prayer haue their feasts and spirituall bankets in which their soules may feede not measurablie as at other tymes but may bee filled and stuffed with the diuine sweetenesse and with the plentie of Gods house ibidem As the bodie is dead and waxeth quickly filthie without the soule so the soule without prayer is dead miserable and very vnsauorie Chrysostomus lib. 1. de orando Deum As a Citie which is not compassed and fenced with walles easily commeth into the subiection of enemies so the deuill easily bringeth that soule vnder his dominion which is not fenced and garded with prayer Idem lib. 2. de oratione As trees that haue taken deepe rooting cannot bee pulled vp so the feruent prayers of the faythfull cannot bee beaten backe till they haue ascended into the presence of the highest Idem hom 5. de incomprhensibili natura dei As the roring of a Lion affrighteth the beastes of the Forrest so the prayer of the righteous profligateth the diuels of hell Idem hom 53. contra Apost As the ioynts of the bodie are bound togither by nerues and sinewes so the soules of the righteous are established by prayer Idem lib. 2. de orando Deum As water is the life of a fish so is prayer the life of a Christian ibidem As Golde precious stones and Marble doe make the houses of Kings so prayer dooth buyld the Temple of Christ that hee may dwell in our hearts ibidem When a King entereth into a Citie his Nobles and traine followe after so when prayet entreth into a soule all other vertues follow after ibidem As perfume well confected dooth delight the smell of a man so the prayer of the righteous is sweete in the nostrilles of the Lorde Idem hom 13. operis imperfecti As a Souldiour is no bodie without his armout nor armour without a Souldiour so prayer is nothing without fasting nor fasting without prayer Ibidem hom 15. As there may
bring vpon vs war with a thousand calamities Punishment AS they that are pined away with a long consumption do not escape death but do die lingringly so they that are not forth with punished doe not scape scorfree but are tortured with a long punishmeÌ„t which is bred through a fearefull expectation of it Plutarch Slothful sailers doe lie lazily snorting in the hauen in faire weather and afterwards when the winds be aloft are coÌ„strained to saile with danger so he that punisheth not when he is quiet in mind somtimes is forced to punish when he is angry idem He that taught vs to shoot did not forbid vs to dart but did forbid vs to erre wander from the marke so punishment is not forbidden but is conueniently to bee done in time and place As the gal of the Hiena and the spawne of a Sea-calfe and other partes of hurtfull beastes are very effectuall in medicine against great diseases so God vseth nowe and then the wickedest tyrants for the punishment of vices Plut. As of a Viper a Crocodile and other poisonful beasts Phisitions do make remedies against poyson so punishment doth either driue or recal many from vices For the biting of an Aspe there is no remedy but that the bitten part bee cut off so some vices are onely healed by the punishment of death As a tree lopped of her branches doth spring againe but beeing plucked vp by the rootes doth no more grow so vice if it bee altogether taken away by punishment doth no more encrease Plinius lib. 22. cap. 13. Storkes when they flie into the fielde called Pythonis Come a place of Asia do teare in peeces that Storke that commeth last and that being thus punished the rest are at quiet so the vices and enormities of a multitude are to be corrected and cured by a publike and solemne punishment of some few or one As that Phisick is more to be approued which doth heale the corrupted partes of the body then that which doth cut them off so that magistrate is better which by some moderate punishment doth correct his citizens then he that cuts them off Banishment THere be many meates which are sowre in the mouth and sharpe in the Mawe but if thou mingle them with sweete sauces they yeelde both a pleasant taste and wholesome nourishment diuerse colours offend the eies yet hauing greene among them whet the sight so banishment guided with the rules of Phylosophie becommeth more tolerable He that is colde doth not couer himselfe with care but with cloathes hee that is washed in rayne dryeth himselfe by the fire not by his fancie so hee that is banished ought not with teares to bewaile his hap but with wisedome to heale his hurte As Socrates would neither call himselfe an Athenian neither a Graecian but a Citizen of the world so Plato would neuer accompt him banished that had the sun fire ayre water and earth that hee had before where hee felte the winters blast and the summers blaze where the same sun and the same Moone shined As all the Athenians dwelt not in Colliton nor euery Corinthian in Graecia nor all the Lacedemonians in Pitania so euerie man cannot soiourne in his â—aâ—â—ue soyle As he that hauing a faire Orcharde seeing one tree blasted recoumpteth the discommodity of that and passeth ouer in silence the fruitfulnesse of the other so hee that is banished doth alwaies lament the losse of his house the shame of his exile not reioicing at the liberty quietnes and pleasure hee enioyeth by that sweete punishment The Kinges of Persia were deemed happie in that they passed their winter in Babylon in Media their Summer and their spring in Susis so certainely the exile in this may be as happie as any King in Persia for he may at his leasure beeing at his owne pleasure leade his winter in Athens his summer in Naples his spring in Argos The Pine Tree groweth as soone in Pharao as in Ida the Nightingale singeth as sweetly in the desartes as in the woods of Creete so a wise man liueth as well being exiled into a far country as in his own home The Moone shineth as well at Corinth as at Athens and the Honnie that the Bee gathereth at Mautua is as sweete as that shee gathereth in Hybla so a contented Cosmopolite though banished froÌ„ his owne countrey may liue as well in an other As M. Furius Camillus was banished of the ingratefull Romanes so Bellisarius that valiaunt Captaine was both banished and his eyes pulled out of Iustinianus As Alcibiades beeing banished by the Athenians became chiefe Captaine of the army of the Lacedemonians so Coriolanus was more beloued of the Volscians amoÌ„g whome hee liued in exile then of the Romanes with whom he was a citizen As Cadmus the King of Thebes was driuen out of the selfe same Citie which hee had builded and dyed olde in exile among the Illirians so Theseus whose famous actes are so blazed abrode through all the worlde was driuen out of Athens by the selfe same Citizens which he himselfe had placed and died an old banished man in Tyrus As Solon who gouerned his citizens with most golden lawes was notwithstanding exiled by them into Cyprus so Lycurgus for all his prudent policie in gouerning the city Sparta was constrained by the La cedemonians to lead his life in exile As Sarcas king of the Molossians vanquished by Philip King of Macedonia ended his miserable dayes in exile so Siphax the great King of Numidia seeing his Citie taken and his wife Sophonisba in the armes of his mortall foe Masynissa and that his miserie should bee a trumpet to sounde out Scipioes triumph ended his life both exiled and imprisoned Trauailing AS the wandring starres are not happier then the fixed stars because they wander so a trauailer is not happier then hee that staieth at home in that he doth trauel Plutarch in Moralibus If Antes bee excluded their holes and Bees their hiues they stray far abroade so some if they once go out of their country thinke themselues banished ibidem As snailes alwaies carry their houses about with them so some abhor to trauell into strange countries ibidem As the hearbe Aspalacus liueth no where but in Boetia where it is bredde but presentlie dieth if it be elsewhere transplanted so many cannot by any meanes liue in a forraine Country because they are instructed in no art Erasmus in similibus As the beast Tarandus imitateth in the colour of his haire the colour of all trees plants and places hee lieth vnder or in so he shall be more safe that in trauell imitateth the customes and conditions of that countrie he trauelleth to ibidem As in Africa the south winde is cleere and faire and the north winde cloudie agaynst the nature of all other Countryes so some with the region doe change their maners and conditions ibidem The herbe Empetron called in Latine Calcifraga in English Sampier the nearer the sea it is the lesse
salt it is but the further off it is the salter it is so some in France resemble Germanes but being in Germanie resemble Frenchmen and the further they are from a Countrey the more they resemble it A horse in a Mault-mill is as farre in the morning as at night when hee hath done his dayes worke so many trauellers are as wise when they goe forth as when they come home Many schoolemaisters are as rich when they leaue teaching as when they begin so are many trauellers whether you respect crowns in their purses or knowledge in their minds As the yong scholler in Athens went to heare Demosthenes eloquence at Corinth and was intangled with Lais beautie so most of our trauailers which pretend to get a smacke of straunge language to sharpen their wits are infected with vanitie in following their willes The bird Acanthis being bred in the Thistles will lie in the Thistles the Grashopper being sprung of the grasse will rather die then depart from the grasse so many are so far from trauelling that they cannot abide to leaue the sight of the smoke of their owne chimneyes As the snaile that crept out of her shell was turned eftsoones into a toad therby was forced to make a stoole to sit on disdaining her owne house so the traueller that stragleth from his owne countrey is in short time transformed into so mōstrous a shape that he is fain to alter his mansion with his maners and to liue where he can not where he would No Mosse will sticke to the stone of Sisiphus no grasse hang on the heeles of Mercurie so no butter will cleaue on the bread of a traueller As the Eagle at euery flight looseth a feather which maketh her bald in her age so the traueller in euery country looseth some fleece which maketh him a begger in his youth by buying that with a pound which he cannot sel again for a penie Repentance As wines made of good grapes are more holsome being drawne from their Lees so those which for a good cause depart their country are as men of a singular diuine qualitie to be embraced of all sorts The world AS a house made to dwell in dooth perceiue nothing of it selfe but is subiect to the lord that made it that inhabiteth it so the world perceiuing nothing of it self is subiect to God that made it who made it for his owne vse Lactantius lib. 2. cap. 6. As a Booke deciphers the minde of the authour so the worlde as a written Booke dooth witnesse and contestate the glorie of God and his roiall maiestie Basil hom 1 1. exameron As milke is presently curded so the world presently was Iustinus quaest 3. earum quas gentes ponebant Christianis When we see an excellent peece of workmanship wee praise both the worke and workeman so when we cast our eyes vpon the glorious fabricke of the worlde wee should not onely bestowe commendations vpon it but also magnifie God that made it Theodoretus serm 3. de prouidentia When wee heare an instrument of Musicke melodiouslie tuned consisting of diuerse soundes of Meanes Tenours Trebles Countertenours and Bases we knowe that there is one that dooth thus harmoniouslie order it so when wee see the concordious disposition of the world where things inferiour doe not rise against superiour nor low things against loftie we are to knowe that it is onely God that doth thus moderate them Hector Pintus in cap. 1. Ezechiel When we see in a citie sundrie sorts of people noble and vulgar rich and poore young and olde to liue in loue and peace without iniurying one another we presently iudge that the ruler is iust mightie and wise so when wee view the huge masse of the world and the great concord of so many different things we cannot but wonder at the iustice omnipotencie wisdome of the creator and gouernor of them ibidem Although a tree bring forth many branches yet there is but one roote of all those branches so in the world albeit one man doth propagate and produce another yet there is but one father who hath created al. Chrysost hom 43. operis imperfecti As God is not to be accused of impotencie that he made but one world and not manie so he cannot bee accused of imperfection that he did not make the worlde as soone as hee was himselfe but when hee woulde Iustinus in Resutatione responsionis Gentilis ad 3. quaest Christianorum An husbandman doth sow in one ground wheate in another barly in another other seedes so God hath planted immortality in heauen alteration and change vpon the earth and in the whole world life and motion Trismegistus in Pymandro The loue and vanitie of the worlde AS the fish Lepo or Mole doth sticke vnto sea rockes so many men cleaue vnto the worlde and contemne immortality Clemens Alexandrinus in exhortatione ad gentes As the same cies cannot at one time beholde heauen and earth so the loue of the world and the loue of God cannot dwell togither in one heart Cyprianus de 12. Ascensionibus As children doe more admire and loue a Babie of cloutes then a beautifull woman so worldlinges doe more esteeme the pelfe and trash of this worlde then the pleasures and treasures of heauen Chrysost hom 80. in Ioannem It is in vaine to powre water into a sieue to snatch at the flame of fire and to beate the aire so the loue of the worlde is vaine and extreame vanitie Idem hom 77. in Matth. As pitch doth pollute as lime doth detaine as a snare doth enthrall so doth the loue of the worlde pollute detaine and inthrall Dugo Philonius de scientia bene moriends As the beautie of a whore dooth allure so the garishnesse of the world dooth entice Isaac presbyter de mundi contemptu cap. 2 As the sea doth one while cast shell fishes crampe fishes and weedes vpon the shoare without water and by and by doth suppe them in againe and carrie them into the deepe so the worlde doth sometimes banish vs and sometimes receiue vs and when we thinke our selues safe on the shoare then we perceiue our selues deceyued and tossed with varietie of calamities Hector Pintus in cap. 3. Ezechiel The contempt of the worlde SWallowes as sayeth Solinus doe not build their nests in ruinous houses or in ill-built edifices so neither should men build their Mansions and Tabernacles in this ruinous and tottering worlde Hector Pintus in cap. 10. Ezechiel As they that liue in a shippe are neither fedde nor cloathed of it but haue their maintenaunce from else where so the soules of Christians liuing in this worlde take their celestiall foode and spirituall cloathing not from this Worlde but from heauen Macarius hom 44. A childe when he is hungrie setteth naught by his costly iewelles and sumptuous apparell but onely setteth his minde vpon his mothers dugge whereby he may bee refreshed and nourished so a Christian ought to contemne all the enticements of this
doth vsury Ibidem Vultures kill nothing themselues but seaze vpon it beeing killed of others so Vsurers liue vppon the sweate of other mens browes and enioy the fruit of other mens labours agaynst the ordinaunce of God and man Erasmus in similibus As he that tumbleth in the mire becommeth more foule and filthie so they become more and more indebted that haue to doe with Vsurers Plut. Cholericke men that will not be purged in time dayly increase their humor til dangerously they be diseased so they that suffer vsury to increase and grow vpon thē and do not discharge themselues of it doe run into irrecuperable dāger peril Idem Plato doth forbid to aske water of neighbours vntill thou hast digged thine owne ground to see if thou maist finde a veyne for thine owne vse so wee should trie all meanes to relieue and helpe our selues before we borrow mony vpon vsurre Idem As the fish Sargus doth alwayes follow the fish Alutarius that he may feede on the mud that the Alutarius rayseth so vsurers doe intrude themselues into other mens busines that they may take the fruit and gaine of their labors As Tigres are swift in catching theyr prey so Vsurers are speedie in gathering of wealth F. Ioannes a S. Gemimano lib. 1. de coelo elementis cap. 21. Plime sayth that Eagles feathers being put among other feathers dooth deuoure and consume them so an Vsurers filthie lucre beeing put among an other mans wealth dooth quite dououre and consume it Idem lib 4. de natalibus volatilibus cap. 72. Pigmies are a cubite hie for so their name signifies among the Grecians dwelling in the mountaines of India by the Ocean as saieth Augustine at three yeares they are of perfect and mature age they bring forth at fiue and growe olde when they are seuen Therefore as Pigmies doe soone encrease and soone decrease so wealth gotte by Vsurie dooth soone encrease and soone decrease as it is soone gotten beeing the trade of an idle Merchant to tell out ten and take in eleuen so is it speedily lost and suddenly squādered De male quaesitis non gaudet tertius haeres Idem lib. 5 de animalibus terrestribus c. 1 22. As excommunication dooth not onelie bind them against whom it is denounced but also them that partake with them in cases not permitted so vsurers themselues are not onely odious and cursed but they infect others dealing in the action with them as Notaries and Scriueners that had wont to be sworne at the entring into their office neuer to draw any writte for any case of Vsurie Idem lib 8. de canonibus legibus cap. 76. As a vessell filled with water sinketh to the bottome and is there detained so an vsurer loaden with the burthen of vnrighteous Mammon is pressed downe to the earth and there violently helde downe of the Diuell for euer aspiring to heauen except the miraculous fauor of God vnloose him Idem lib. 9. de artificibus rebus artificialibus cap. 90. As an oxe is solde to the butcher for money so an Vsurer doth sell his soule to the deuill for lucre Ibidem Heresie Heretikes AS they that are bitten of a mad dogge doe not onelye runne madde themselues but doe infect others with madnes so they that are infected with any pestilent hereticall opinion do infect others by their speech and conference As a wolfe cloathed in a sheepes skinne doth the greater harm so doth an heretike that hath his toung tipped with the scripture Ignatius in Epist ad Heronem As Circe changed men into beastes so heresie turneth men into diuels Clemens Alexandrinus lib. 7. strom As wicked scholers shut their masters out of doores so heretikes driue the Prophets from their conuenticles least they should reprehend them Ibidem As the Serpent deceiued Eue promising that vnto her he had not so heretikes pretending great knowledge doe bring death to theyr beleeuers Iren. prologo in lib. 4. As Pilate woulde haue seemed innocent of Christes death by washing his handes so Heretikes pretende truth and scripture when they are as deepe in iniurying Christ as Pilate was Athanasius oratprima As the serpent Dipsas doth poison al the waters he drinks of so heretikes doe deadly poison all the soules that beleeue them Epiphanius Haeresi 34. contra Macosios As the serpent Drynas is like vnto the colour of an Oken leafe whence hee hath his name so Heretikes seeme to bee like Christians when in deede they are as ill as Iewes Idem haeresi 65. contra Paulum Samosatensem As an Ape is like vnto a man and yet is no man so Heretiks are like vnto a Christian Church and yet are no Christian Church Chrisostomus hom 19. operis imperfect As serpents creep vpon their bellies and feed vpon dust so heretikes do all for their bellies and for the vainglorie of their harts and doe feede vpon earth that is vppon earthly and carnall men Idem hom 45. operis imperfect As a member cannot liue being cut from the bodie nor a branch of a tree be greene being hewen from the stocke so all heretikes beeing cutte from the bodie of one Church neither can haue the life of Christ in them neither the greennesse and viriditie of spirituall grace but their Church is desolate and forsaken Idem hom 46. A sparke of fire at the first is scarcely seene but if it get nourishment it consumeth large cities and great Countries so heresie and peruerse doctrine beginning at the first of one findeth afterwardes two or three auditors and being let alone creepeth like a canker by litle litle throughout the body The heresie of Arius at the first was a little sparke in Alexandria but because it was not forthwith smothered it set a fire the whole worlde Hieronimus libro 3. comment in Epist ad Galat. cap. 5. As fowlers by craft catch birds so heretickes by subtilty surprise men Optatus Mileuitanus libro 6. ad sinem contra Parmenianum As the children of Moab and Ammon descended of Abrahams consanguinitie and yet alwaies hated the kindred stock of Abraham so hereticks say that they beleeue in Christ and they alwaies endeuor to subuert the catholicke faith of the christians Rupertus lib. 2. in Sophoniam As Dathan and Abyron conspired against Moses so doe heretickes against the church Eugubinus in cap. 11. Deuteron As Nabuzardan the Chiefetaine of Nabuchodonosor did destroy Ierusalem and profane the vessels of the temple so the hereticks of our time being the Chiefetaines of the diuell doe endeuour to subuert the Church of Christ and to profane the holy vessels of the temple that is the Sacramentes ordained not of Salomon but of Christ Pintus in Ezechielem cap. 4. As the name of Nabuzardan signifieth the speech and message of a strange Lord or of a straunge iudgemente so heretikes doe not sound the idiome and name of Iesus Christ our Lord but of another Lord that is of the deuill whom Christ calleth the prince of