authority are fit only for men that are both wise and vertuous for the wicked stil seek to destroy and not to maintaine godly and ciuil gouernment Ambition is a lurking plague a secret poison a subtil mischief the mother of hypocrisie the forger of deceit the nurse of enuie the wâ—lspring of vices the moth of deuotion the blinder of Arts making diseases of remedies and sicknes of salues Ambition breaketh the league of godly society pincheth the purse stirreth strife daunteth vertues and layeth her selfe open to all vice and wickednes The ambitious man so litle regardeth his dutie that he wisheth the death of his own father to enioy promotion yea seketh the subuersion of a whole kingdom in hope once to sit in the chaire of pompe Abstinence ABstinence is the curer of many maladies in the bodie a due corrector of filthy lustes of the flesh and a ready directer of the soule to sempiternal felicity By Abstinence thy purse is saued thy body preserued thy soule blessed better is a man patient then strong for he that can rule his affections is a great conquerour They that abstaine from vice glorify God and preserue their soules to eternall blisse Nature is content with a liâ—le and he that oppresseth her with excesse hurteth himself and displeaseth God They that drink wine in youth double the flame of carnal desire Keep thine eies from vaine sights least it be caried from thine eies to thine heart Let not thy conceipt imbrace the image of lust for thereby thy heart is stirred to vaine follie Yeeld not to the motions of the flesh for it poysoneth thy soule and bringeth thy bodie to a miserable end Aduersitie HIde thy misfortune that thine enemie reioyce not at thy fall As the Potters vessels are tried in the furnace euen so good men are known in aduersitie Vertuous men finde some solace in greatest sorrowes In al thine aduersities remember these thâ—e things hard things may bee mollified straite things may be loosed and heauie thinges by custome are made little or nothing troublesome to such as beare them hansomly Trouble is cause of patience patience maketh proofe proofe bringeth hope and hope is neuer rebuked Coales being in the fire doe burne consume but the gold is tryed the one is turned to ashes and the other is fined the forge is the world good men are the gold aduersities the fire and God the workman Dispaire not in aduersitie for he that caste thee downe can raise thee vp againe As our sinnes prouoke the wrath of God whereby we are forced to sustaine all calamities so repentance with amendment of life restore vs to our former prosperities I iudge him most miserable that neuer knew miserie for good men are tried like fiâ—â— gold but the wicked are left like dyâ—tie drosle By many tribulations wee shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that hath not taken vp his crosse and followed Christ shall not inherite the kingdome of Christ. Afflictions and crosses are as necessarie for the soule as warme cloathes and dainty fare for the bodie My childe neglect not the punishment of God because it bringeth thy soule to all eternitie Blessed is he that patiently taketh that corrections which God layeth vpon him Aduersities cause good men to be better make wicked men worse He that neuer felt aduersitie is not worthy of prosperitie It is better to suffer aduersity in this life hereafter to enioy eternall life then here once to seeme to be blessed and hereafter to be euer cursed Troubles in this life being patiently taken encrease solace to life eternall but being stubburnlie borne and taken as a wrong at the hands of the Almightie bring all heauinesse and sorrow to eternall death Almes deede ALmes deliuereth thee from sin and from death and will not suffer thy soule to enter into darknesse Blessed is he that considereth the poore and needie for the Lorde wil deliuer him in the day of trouble He that stoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore he shall crie and God wil not hear him He that vseth alms offereth sacrifice to the Lord. Charitie is not perfect when crauing exhorteth it Perfect compassion is to preuent the hungrie before the begger desire The Almes of the hart is much better then the Almes of the bodie for God loueth a chearâ—uâ—l giuer As the fiery lake is prouided for the niggard euen so the ioyes of heauen are prepared for such as delight in charitable giuing The Almes of charity without worldly substance sufficeth but that which is corporallie giuen without a mercifull heart is not sufficient but worse then nothing He that vseth Almes doeth offer sacrisice to the Lord Charity is not perfect when crauing exhorteth it Accusation HE that accuseth not the wicked is condemned with him It is better that an euill man bee accused then to be suffered to go vnpunished The wicked accuse no man because they would goe free Arrogancie PRide is the mother of many mischiefes for it nourisheth theft it maintaineth adultery it bringeth foorth disdaine and causeth men to forget God Pride breedeth idlenesse prouoketh lust and leaueth the soule in the filthy puddle of eternall damnation The congregation of proud men shall neuer prosper He is an arrogant person and still counted most dissolute that setteth litle by that which good men deeme of him An arrogant man heareth not the wholsome counsell of such as are graue wise and vertuous Apparell THe apparell laughter and gate of a man do shew to the world what hee is Vertuous conditons are the only braue laudable ornamentes that can set foorth anie Christian. She is not well apparelled that is not wel manered Shee that painteth her face with materiall collours putteth out the true picture of god Foule maners are worse then dyrtie apparell but faire conditions surpasse vestures of gold As too much sluttishnesse and exquisite nicenes are detestable vices so a decent comlinesse is a laudable vertue Babbling IN much babbling lacketh no sinne but hee is wise that can temper his language A babbling enemie shall lesse annoie thee then he that is secret One thing often times spoken troubleth the hearer So talk with men as if God did hear thee so talke with God as if men did hear thee Battell WArre ought only to be taken in hand that peace may ensue Such as are oppressed are forced to vse warre for their owne defence Octauian the Emperour was woont to say that warre should not bee stirred without surety that the gaine should be more then the charges Victorie resteth not only in a great armie for the strength of battell commeth from heauen Sobernesse in a Captaine is no lesse commendable then strength and hardinesse A carefull souldier is neuer idle but alwayes busied in his attemptes Boasting LEt a stranger commend thee not thine owne lips
we enioy such is the end all doth betide That in this vale of all annoy mongst mortall men doe once abide Though Nestar's yeares we can attaine though thousand ages yet we haue The wormes to feed we must be faine and fill we must the gaping graue Not Hercules not Sampson strong not Pompey stout nor Caesar braue But forced were to lie along and take the blow which Death them gaue Not Cato that in wit did flow not Salomon that did excell All mortall wights from high to lowe in wisedoms court that bare the bell The tyranny of death could daunt or make his griesly face to blush For he doth boast yea brag and vaunt and holds our force not worth a rush Behold rich Croesus with his wealth could not the dart of death defend Behold great Monarks want their health and all do trudge with death in end He spareth none he taketh all both yong and old of each degree Both rich and poore both free and thrall he paies to eu'ry one his fee. The Calamities of hell HE throwes the wicked headlong down to Lymbo lake where is no rest Where damned soules look grim frown and are with endlesse paine opprest This is the place that darkened is this is the place of bitter paine This is the place void of all blisse this is the place where deuils raigne This is the place of chillest cold this is the place of endlesse fire Whose forces great none can vnfold both tongue and pen though he do tire If monsters fell thou wouldest see which in this place make their abode Thy hart then daunted so would be that none thy feare could then vnlode If to thine eares their hellish sound should once be brought I thee assure Thy sences all it would confound but oh none can the same endure These grieâ—ly ghosts such tortures haue such pinching paine doth them oppresse That some reliefe still doe they craue but neuer can they get redresse They weep they â—ry they wring their hands their mâ—series they doe bewaile They gnash their teeth in wofull bandes this is the gaine of their retaile They roare like Lyons in their dens like dogges they howle in kennels staide Like filthy Swine they lie in fennes and thus all reprobates are paid Their filthy place no tongue can tel no pen can wel the same descrie The stincke is such where they doe dwel that all it slaies that passe thereby Their entrie is of chillest yâ—e their doores and gates of fiery brasse Their house more hote then Etna thrice thats full of fire and euer was Their walke on fierie serpents is which plucke the marrow from the bone So is their comfort and their blisse to mourne to weep make great mone O wretched soule what is thy state vvhat shall at last become of thee Of greater griefe who can delate what greater woe or paine can be Yet worse there is I tell thee plaine thy body must to iudgement rise And with thy soule it must sustaine more torments then can heart deuise Because in earth both did offend because the lawes of God they brake Together therefore without end must both be drownd in fiery lake All sinners would this day eschue all sinners wish their perill past All sinners hearts the same must rue all sinners must it find at last Behold it commeth now with speed behold the sun that shined bright Is darkened ouer all in deed Behold all things appeare as night Behold the starres as withered leaues in windie Autumne down do fall Behold the Moone God eke bereaues of light and shining brightnesse all Behold the hearts of men doe faint behold their wits are scant their owne Behold with feare they make complaint be hold with griping griefe they grone Behold their faces are but pale behold their bodies vveakened be Behold their doubt of endlesse thralle behold their flesh consumes we see Behold what griefe doth men oppresse behold they cast their heads on hie But to lament they can no lesse marke vvell all men doe seeme to die Marke how both trees and branches all doe sweat foorth blood against their kind Marke all things are opprest with thrall marke nothing hath a quiet mind The roaring sea doth fret and fume her waues she flings aboue the land She shewes all things are out of tune she cries Gods day is nigh at hand The earth of late hath shakt her selfe as wearie of her sinfull burne Which is our selues with worldly pelfe but oh thereby we are forlorne Of late she svvallowed in her gulfe twelue thousand out of London towne By sudden plague like rauening Wolfe yet are our hearts not once pluckt down Her wrath yet is not it appeasde our friends from vs she taketh still Our sinnes so much haue God displeasd that she reuenge doth vse and will Her fruits also she doth detaine and hath done fourtie moneths and moe Yet few of vs in heart complaine nor for our sinnes are prickt wit woe The skies also with misty cloudes are ouer cast and gush out teares Whereby the earth hath had grat flouds and with their noise haue fild our eares The blustering windes doe puffe and blowe they sob they sigh in raging sort They force high tres to lie ful lowe they tempests stir in euerie port They range with furie East and West from North to South they also run They know not where to take their rest But beat the aire as Cannon gun The stoutest hearts their faces hide both rich and poore are much dismaid No flesh Gods iudgment can abide but seek where they may find some aid All liuing things for help doe crie both sauadge beasts and birds also The wormes which in the earth do lie do wish for legges with speed to goe The earth doth quake and mountaines all both hearbs and roots their vertues lose Great toures long flat downe do fall and odours sweet do leaue the Rose Dame Nature in her furie strong receiues a curse and gins to quaile Her forces all do lie along whereby all things their vertues faile The Angels all with Saints most blest the Cherub and the Seraphin All sinners that haue life possest both quick and dead that earst haue bin Assembled are and dreadfully with terrour great our Lord expect And waite his comming from on hie for then each thing shall be perfect Behold both heauen and earth doe bow behold thev downe and prostrate fall Behold Iehouah commeth now all flesh before him for to call In glorie commeth he and state his trumpets through the earth do sound All sinners suddenly t'awake in cuery coast that may be found In aire most fiery flouds appeare vvherein he comes most gloriously Which sight the mountaines great do feare and melt down flat vvhich were on hie The seas eke tremble at his sight and dried are most strange to see Whose waues did seeme in sand most bright but now bare sandes there onely bee The craggie rockes
Nothing doth more diminish a mans commendation then much vaunting the successe of his actes Benificence BEnefite the godlie and thou shalt find recompenee if they cannot requite thee yet God will remember thee Those benefits are most thankfull which a man findeth readie and are bestowed with out tarrying but onely the shame fastnesse of him that shall take them Charitie CHarity is patient and gentle and enuyeth no man If I had faith in so much as that I could carie away mountaines yet were I nothing if I lacked Charitie If I should distribute all my goods giue them to the poore and although I gaue my body to be burned hauing no charitie it nothing auaileth me Charitie doeth nothing amisse it is not puffed with prid it is not ambitious she seketh not her profit she is not mooued shee thinketh no euill shee reioyceth not in miss chiefe she suffereth all thinges shee ioyeth in trueth shee beleeueth all thinges shee hopeth wel of al things Charitie neuer fayleth Chastitie CHastitie is the beauty of the soule or of the Kings daughter that is abroad Chastity without Charitie is like a Lamp without oyle Where necessity is laide vnto Chastity where authoritie is giuen to Lechery there vertue is put to exile The absence of women causeth chastitie amongst men A chaste eie sheweth an honest mind Constancie COnstancie doth surelie perform the thing determined He that is constant â—eeleth neither trouble nor heauinesse Constancie keepeth and still preserueth things well gotten but goodes euill gotten neuer continue long Carnall Appetite CArnall appetie leaueth behind her more cause of repentance then of remeÌ„brance â—â—lthy lust wil haue no affinitie with vertue The fleshlie mind is neuer satisfied A carnall woman euer wisheth without contentment Carnall appetite dulleth the wit dimmeth the eies letteth good counsell spoileth the mind and with vertue wil haue no medling Heshly lust consumeth the body and damneth the soule Confession COnfession is the only remedy for sinne The vengeance of God ceaseth where mans confession timely preuenteth Confession is the life of a sinner the glorie of good men to all offenders necessary and not inconuenient to the godly Confession is the confounder of vices the cleanser of soules the restorer of vertues the vanquisher of deuils what will you more It stoppeth hels mouth and setteth wide open the gates of Paradâ—ce Discorde IF they which make peace bee called the children of God without doubt the disturbors of peace be the children of Satan Discord is the root of all confusion the spring of desolation Discord is an enemy to nature and a shorteâ—er of the life of man They that sustaine one part of the citie neglect the other lowe the wicked seedes of sedition and discord By concord small thinges are made great but by discord the most greatest are brought to nothing Warre is soone made but not quickly discussed for he is not sure to finish it that first toke in hand to begin it Dignitie HE is most honourable that disdaineth to erue or be subiect to vices True Nobility consisteth noâ— of great patrimonies and rich possessions but of godlie vertuous actions If thou wilt esteem a man truly know him plainly viewe him naked and let him lay aside authority possessions and other fortunes finallie respect not his bodie but behold his soule then shalt thou see what he is of himselfe and what he hath of others Dolours THere is no sorrowe but the length of time doth diminish make more easie As a moâ—h consumeth a garment euen so heauinesse hurteth the heart of man It is to be considered in all griefe and heauinesse that nothing bee done vnaduisedlie nothing rashlie nothing fearfulâ—ie nothing desperatly nothing wretchedlie or any thing foolishly Ouer much sorrowe breaketh the heart and killeth the bodie Sorrowes bring solace to the godlie but they vtterly ouerthrow daunt the wicked Sorrowes are most necessary to all sinners for they bring amendement of life Doctrine DOctrine is an ornament to the rich and Noble but to men without wealth a happie refuge and succour As faire legges bee in vaine to a Cripple so vnseemely is Doctrine in the mouthes of fooles Learning is a treasure which water cannot drown fire burn theeues steale nor dice lose As learning in good men is the armour of vertue so in wicked and corrupted persons it is a spurre to doe mishciefe We teach our children liberall Sciences no because these Sciences may giue any vertue but because they make the minde apt to receiue vertue As the right vse of learning adorneth the soule euen so the abuse therof spoyleth both bodie and soule Diet. IN diuers meates is occasion of sicknes and greedy feeding is a token of choller When the sicknesse is in his force then sparest diet is best Vâ—cleane bodies and they which be not well pâ—rged of supeâ—fluous humours the more you nourish them the more you hinder them Ouermuch euacuation or ouer much filling of the body is dangerous for too much of any thing is enemie to Nature To him that is fallen into a distemperance in heate or colde it is expedient to giue him things of contrary qualities Stomackes in winter and spring time bee hottest and sleep then is longest wherefore in those times meat should be taken in greatest aboundance You must not only remember that contrarie thinges be cured by their contraries but also consider in euery contrarie the true dose and quantitie Vâ—e moderate exercise for so shalt thou helpe Nature Ouer much ease maketh Nature feeble that shee cannot resolue that which by Arâ—e was not purged Drunkennessâ— DRunkennes maketh men seem as beasts â—oâ— it depriueth them of reason and stirreth them to all filthinesse The drunken man shall neuer be rich The Drunkard consoâ—ndeth Nature loseth both grace and honour runneth headlong into â—uerlasting damnation Eâ—uie THe enuious man pineth to see the prosperity of his neighbour Enuie seeketh dayly to subuert the state of the godâ—ie Enuie is blind can doe nothing but dispraise vertue Enuie is an excremeÌ„t of Satan which poisoneth the hearts of all such as once touch it Enuie cannot endure the vertuous but seketh their confusion The enuious man wisheth wel to no man but worst to himselfe for his filthy conceites drowne his soule in the filthy puddle of eternall damnation Faith AS the bodies is dead wherein is no spirit euen so that faith is dead which bringeth foorth no good workes By faith wee see God by faith we beleeue in God and by faith wee haue our saluation from God A liuely faith is the badge of a perfect christian Let all godly beleeuers endeuour to excell in good workes True Faith confirmeth thy wordes with workes Not the hearers of the Law be righteous in the sight of God but the doers of the lawe shall be iustified The Faith of a