it I will thinke of them as they bee and neuer set my affection to them as the center of my hope Now am I in the prime of my youth Youth neither haue mine eyes as yet seene by two degrees three decades of yeeres shall I reioyce in this my youth Eccles 11.9 because I am but yet in my youth in the flower and spring time of mine age No no 10. I know that Childhood and youth are altogether vanitie I count this al but losse seeing that this age is prone to fill my bones with sinne Iob 20.11 and to carrie the fire and fuell of iniquitie in my bosome and therefore with Dauid much more iustly may I pray Psal 25.7 Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions Ierem. 31.19 for I am ashamed and confounded because I doe beare the reproch of my youth The strength Strength and agilitie nimblenes and agilitie of youth which some doe glorie in I count likewise but as losse for the strong man may not glorie in his strength Ierem. 9.23 Iudg. 16. and Sampsons strength pulled downe the house on his owne head and let a man bee neuer so strong yet the time will soone approch Eccles 12.3 when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men bow themselues The Lord alone is my strength Psal 27. Ephel 6. and my desire is that I may bee strong in him and in the power of his might Of all the temporall benefits in this life bestowed on vs Health Menander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is none more excellent then Health and this by the gratious goodnesse of my good God toward me I doe enioy as much I thinke as any yet can I not reioyce in this I count it but a losse for well I know that whē thou Lord doest begin to chastise man Psal 39.11 then health and all consume away like a moath fretting a garment The Moone is not more variable in his changing nor the sea in her ebbing then man in the change of his estate Long life I neuer looke for Long life Gen. 47.9 Few and euill haue hitherto bin the daies of my pilgrimage and were I sure of long life I should be so much the more sorrie for it for what is length of life but as to a sick and pained mā a long winters night the longer I liue the more I encrease the score of my sinnes I know that whiles I am heere at home in the body 2. Cor. 5.6 Philip. 1.23 I am absent from the Lord I desire therefore to be dissolued and to bee with Christ Prosperitie Prosperitie if it shine vpon me as well as others I see no cause why I should much esteeme it Matth. 5.45 for the iust God maketh his Sunne to arise on the euill and the good and sendeth raine on the iust and the vniust Gen. 27.39 And wee see that Esau hath the fatnes of the earth for his dwelling place watered with the dew of heauen as well as Iacob As for friēdship Friends I could cōmend it if I could know where to finde a faithfull friend Ierem. 9.4 But let euery one take heed of his neighbour and not trust in any brother for euery brother will vse deceit and euerie friend will deale deceitfully How many be there who as Augustine ingeniously doth of himself confesse may complaine of friendship O nimis inimica amicitia August Confes lib. 2. how dangerous a thing it is that they haue bin linkt in friendship Single life I finde vncomfortable Single life Mariage Children Psal 127.3 and mariage full of trouble Children indeed are the inheritance of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward and by experience I finde it an extraordinarie fauour to haue them like oliue branches about our table Psal 128.3 yet the gaine of this I see it is but losse for how can I tell whether my Beniamin will prooue Benonie Gen. 35.18 Ruth 1.20 or my Naomi will be Mara vnto me If they proue towardly Impes yet is the future hope of them doubtfull the comfort variable the continuall care most certaine and infallible Surely then all the world is vanitie lay all the pleasures of it in the ballance and they shall be found lighter then vanitie it selfe Psal 62.9 And what ioy can I haue in any of these things whiles I walk here in this vale of teares Learning I reuerence Learning 1. Cor. 8.1 but not adore for knowledge puffeth vp making men to swell like a windie bladder Eccles 1.18 He that encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow and wel I know that vnlesse it be sanctified it is like Vriahs letter against himselfe and be a man neuer so well skild in all Arts and Sciences yet must he needes confesse as one of the learnedest in that kinde doth Hoc vnum scio Socrates me nihil scire Onely this I know that I know nothing Wit I like Wit and policie but not extoll policie I commēd but cannot deifie For if we take the waight of mans wit in ciuill things Dan. 5. it will be found like Balthasar too light but lay his naturall vnderstanding vpon the ballance with spirituall things and it shall be found lighter then vanitie it selfe Psal 26. Doth not wit many times beguile it selfe and policies proue snares to intrap thēselues withall There is one aboue that catcheth the wise in their own craftines Iob 5.13 1. Cor. 3.19 and the Lord knoweth that the thoughts of the wisest are but vaine Psal 94.11 I see some reioyce in their memorie Memorie me thinks it proueth but a faithles seruant retaining those things which she should reiect and reiecting those things which shee should retaine like the sieue that holdeth fast the course bran but lets the fine flower fall away They are without iudgement Iudgement in my conceit the boast so much of their owne iudgement when humane knowledge is but opinion and the iudgement of the most expert prooues many times but a vaine Idaea of idle speculations If I should reckon vp all this worlds vanities which notwithstanding by worldlings are hunted after as the onely treasures I should take in hand an endlesse taske seeing of the same there is no end O wretched world what art thou but an arke of trauell a schoole of vanities a seate of deceit a labyrinth of errors what is here in the world that should deserue mine heart to be set vpon it If the Diuell should carrie me to the toppe of a mountaine Matth. 4.8 and shew me all the kingdoms of the earth and all the glorie of them if hee should offer or could performe the proffer of them all vnto me what could from thence bee presented to mine eyes but false delights true asperitie certaine sorrow vncertain pleasures trauelsome labour fearfull rest Shall my soule stoope then to
1. Sam. 1.8 mine Elkanah is better vnto me then many sonnes Farewel affected knowledge and learnings lore 1. Cor. 2.2 for I esteeme not to know any thing saue Iesus Christ and him crucified Farewell humanists and artists studies my studie shall be in the Librarie of the holie Ghost Psal 1.1 and therein will I meditate day and night Fare well Philosophie and diuing into Naturall causes I will erect my thoughts vnto him that is the primum mobile Gen. 1.1 the cause of causes Farewell the knowledge of the Law and quirkes of earthly statutes the gleaning of Theologie is better then the whole vintage of Iustinians facultie Farewell Physicke the lengthner of mens liues Luke 5.31 Iohn 15.5 my Physitian is the same that is my life Farewell Geometrie and measuring of the earth Philip. 3.20 I will now measure the celestiall Globe of heauen in my thoughts Farewell Astronomie acquaintance with the Starres soare vp I will aboue the starrie skie Reuel 1.16 to know him that in his right hand holdeth the seuen starres Farewell Arithmetique the Art of Numbring Lord teach me to number my daies Psal 90.12 that I may applie mine heart to wisedome Musicke farewell my musicke shall be hencefoorth Halleluiahs to the King of Heauen Reuel 19.4 Farewell this world for a moment and welcome Christ Iesus for euer THE WORLDS Wonder TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND Worshipfull Ladie the Ladie Mary Ley. MAdame Master Richard Greenham Master Ioseph Hall they which haue proceeded Graduats in the Art of Meditation doe commend the infinite obiects in the Theater of the world as the most fit subiect of Meditation Reason sheweth this their position to be most true for where may wee haue either more varietie of matter for our minds to worke vpon or more readie meanes to set the same on worke then in the great varietie of the worlds wonders which are continually obuious to our eyes The whole world is a table wherein is portraited foorth vnto vs infinit wonders in the seuerall natures of all the creatures not for vs to view alone but with a fruitfull vse to meditate vpon All the creatures are made for Man and shall not we be led by the prospect of them to wonder at the mercifull respect God hath to so poore a creature as Man There is none of all the creatures but readeth vs a lecture in this common schoole and shall we be such idle truants as to learne nothing of so many masters The workes of the Lord are great Psal 111.2 and ought to bee sought out of them that loue him Vers 4. He hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance O that wee vsing the creatures so continually as we do would make better vse of them then vsuallie we doe I haue here set downe a little paterne of meditation in this kinde had some skilfull Apelles hand been in it to draw and polish the lines of it it might peraduenture bin worth the perasall Now in this colour as it is though I my selfe be silent in crauing pardon for it or excusing it yet you might iustly say vnto me as Apelles said to an vnskilfull Painter Though thou hadst said nothing yet may I easily gesse by the workmanshippe that it was done in haste As it is Madam I make bold to consecrate this little Treatise to your name the rather for that besides all other respects of duty which doe oblige me vnto your Ladiship you vouchsafed such kinde acceptance vnto the first fruits of my labors in this kinde which vnder your name was sent to see the world In hope of the like acceptation of these my poore endeuours and fauourable pardon of my boldnesse I commend this meditation following to your better meditations and your selfe with all your holy meditations to the Almighties good blessing Your Ladiships in all Christian duties G. W. THE WORLDS Wonders PSAL. 8.9 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world PAul the Apostle of the Gentiles disputing with the Athenians the most wise learned amongst the Gentiles Act 17.22.23.24.27 when hee saw their blind deuotions in ignorantly giuing worship vnto God vnknowne as by the inscriptiō on one of their Altars he did perceiue wondred much at this their ignorance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that this great God should be to thē vnknowne seeing that by groping after him they could not chuse but finde him in the very workes of wonder which hee had done For albeit the heauen is his throne Isai 66.1 1. King 6.1 and the earth his footstoole neither dwelleth hee in Temples made with hands Act. 7.48 Deut. 4.15 16. and no man hath seene any similitude or likenes of him at any time Act. 14.17 yet hath hee not left himselfe without sufficient witnes not onely in his word but also in his works yea The inuisible things of him that is Rom. 1.20 his eternall power and Godhead are seene by the creation of the world being cōsidered in his works that men might be without excuse Which when I think vpon I cannot chuse but wonder at the Buzzardlike Atheists soule-blinded monsters of our age Against Atheists who in their hearts do say Psal 14.1 There is no God and whose vnderstanding is so darke and dimme that they cannot discerne themselues nor see a God that is the fountaine of all Natures in so cleere a glasse as the mirrour of his creatures They see an Heauen abundant in varietie of influences ouer them an Earth so plentifull in al sorts of commodities vnder them a Sea so full of wonders by thē they see a world which is a building infinitly admirable for the firmenes capacitie vse order and motion of it and in themselues may see themselues a little world or abridgement of the greater world and yet cannot surmise a God that was the compactor of this Heauen and the endower of this Earth and the controller of the Sea the worlds both the greater and the lessers Creator Isay 1.2 O ye heauens be astonied at this you bruit and senselesse creatures conuince these reasonable creatures vnreasonable and void of sense Isay 6.9 Rom. 11.8 They are possessed with the spirit of slumber and wilfully they winke with their eyes like the Idols of the Heathen Psal 133.15.16.17 Eyes haue they but see not eares but heare not hearts but cannot vnderstand As for my part I can no where fixe mine eyes but that I doe behold a liuely Idoea of the incomprehensible Deitie the whole world being a booke or large volume Du Bartus in oper sex dierum and euery kinde of the so many kinds of creatures being a leafe or page wherein in grand characters and great capitall letters are engrauen the wonders of our God most wonderful so that he which runneth by cannot chuse but reade it For first The Heauens wonders when I look vp to the heauens
earth commeth bread to strengthen man Psal 104.15 and wine to make glad his heart and oyle to make him a cheerful countenance Vers 6. Vers 17. The stones thereof are a place of Saphirs Pearles Rubies Topazes and pretious Iewels are taken out of her rocks And shall I theÌ„ tread vpon so rich a Theater as the earth and not acknowledge the wondrous Maiestie of God the founder O no senselesse and brutish creature were I then Therefore this my soule must euer bee the burthen of my song O Lord how manifold are thy workes Psal 104.24.25 In wisedome hast thou made them all The earth is full of thy riches so is the sea also great and wide wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great Which when I do behold The Seas wonders and know that it is but water and that is an humor naturally spreading and yet see it higher then the earth Gen. 1.10 against its owne nature without limit solid Lord thinke I then how wonderfull are thy workes thou mightie controller of the Sea How could this be How commeth this to passe Surely thou hast set vp the Sea with doores and inuironed it with bars Iob 38.8.10.11 thou hast said hitherto shalt thou come but no further and here shalt thou stay thy proud waues They that goe downe into the sea in ships Psal 106.23.24 25.26.27.28.29 and occupy in the great waters they see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe For he commandeth and raiseth the stormie winde and it lifteth vp the waues thereof They mount vp to the heauen and descend to the deepe so that their soule melteth for trouble They are tossed to and fro and stagger like a drunken man then they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble and hee bringeth them out of their distresse He turneth the storme to calme so that the waues thereof are still In this liquid region goe the ships there play the infinite multitude of fishes both smal and great Psal 104.26 there remaineth that Leuiathan The Whale Iob 41. whose skales are like stroÌ„g shields whose bones are like barres of iron his heart as strong as a stone Vers 6. Vers 15. and as hard as the nether milstone his neisings make the light to shine and his eyes are like the eye lids of the morning Vers 9.10.11 out of his mouth goe lamps and sparkes of fire his breath maketh coales to burne he maketh the depth to boyle like a pot and the Sea like a pot of oyntment Hee maketh a path to shine after him Vers 22.23.24 one would think the depth as an hoare head in earth there is none like him no neither so great riches nor so many wonders as in the sea How full of wonders then both heauen and earth and sea the eye of man beholdeth but a part of them neither can mans heart conceiue the least part of Gods mightie power in them But for whoÌ„ were all these things made All these wonders for mans sake Gen. 17.1 and why did God ordaine such wonders in the wonders in the world Surely not for himselfe for he had no need of these things Ast 17.28 being himselfe the alsufficient essence from whom all things haue their being Neither were these things created onely for a shew but for the vse of man whom God made in his owne image according to his own likenes to rule ouer the fish of the Sea Gen. 1.26 and ouer the foule of the heauen and ouer the beasts ouer euery thing that creepeth and mooueth on the earth which when I do consider Lord say I then what is man that thou art mindfull of him Psal 8.5.6 and the son of man that thou visitest him thou hast made him heere on earth as a Demigod c rowned him with glorie and worship Thou hast made him to haue dominion in the worke of thine hands thou hast put all things vnder his feete yea thou hast made him the chiefest of all thy works of wonder For man being the last of all the workes created The wonders in man Sanctius his animal mentisque capacius altae dâ—erat ad huc and the end for whose sake the rest of the creatures were created could not but be the chiefest and most perfect worke of all these worldlie creatures and therefore is made by the eternal God as an epitome of the whole world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in regard of the perfect analogie and resemblance betweene him and the great worlds frame is not vnfitly tearmed the lesser world There being nothing in the vast compasse of the vniuersal circumference The resemblance betweene man and the whole world whose likenes or liuely representation is not summarily comprised in man as in a most perfect compendium or abridgement whose reason as the most powerfull mistris power of the soule subdueth to her dominion and direction the seruill vnder-faculties and sensuall appetites like as the first moued sphere carrieth with his motion the subiect inferiour circles The Souie resembleth the Primum mobile whose heart hauing the middle part of the body for his habitation giueth life and heate vnto all the rest of the parts of the bodie The Heart whereby they bee preserued inabled to performe their naturall and proper functions like as the Sunne The Sunne which being situated in the middest of Heauen illighteneth all things with his raies and cherisheth the whole and all things therein contained with his life preseruing heate The fabricke of whose bodie doth consist of that neuer sufficiently admired temperature of all the foure Elements and no part of all his bodie but so miraculously composed that euery part thereof may serue for a work of wonder Who can sufficiently expresse or wonder enough at the excelleÌ„cie of man so little a creature made but of the dust That he by contemplatioÌ„ should soare vp to the skies and be able to discourse of the motioÌ„s aspects and effects of the celestiall orbe that he should ride vpon the Seas and search and passe ouer the liquid floods that he should vendicate both earth and sea vnto his profit and domineere ouer the beasts and know the nature of all the creatures that he should contriue the Arts and Sciences to a methode and being absent to speak to men farre distant by letters written that hee should in this mortalitie seeke after immortalitie and haue a seate prepared for him in heauen after life ended here on earth O God how wonderfull are thy workes euen in our selues No tongue is able to expresse though I did nothing else but wonder I cannot sufficiently admire it Psal 116. Psal 92. Psal 111.2 Surely this is the Lords doing and it is maruellous in our eyes O Lord how glorious are thy workes Vers 4. An vnwise man doth not vnderstand it and a foole taketh no notice of it But well I wot the gracious
himselfe of no reputation and take vpon him the forme of a seruant Galat. 4. to make vs that were children of the bondwoman to be heires Rom. 8.17 euen the heires of God and fellow heires with himselfe that hee in whom was the fulnes of riches Ephes 2.7 2. Cor. 8.9 Ioh. 6.35 should become poore that hee might inrich vs that hee who was the bread of life should suffer hunger to feed vs Luke 4.2 Deut. 18.15 that hee who was the fountaine of liuing waters should suffer thirst to satisfie vs that hee who was the light of the world Ioh. 4.7 Ioh. 7.37.38 Iohn 8.12 Iohn 11.9 1. Cor. 1.22 should liue obscurely to illighten vs that he who was the power of God should be tempted that he might strengthen vs that he who was the life of the world Matth. 4.1 Iob. 1.4 should die that he might quickē vs that he who himselfe was innocent Galat. 3.13 should sustaine the curse of the law that he might deliuer vs Isai 53.5.9.10.11 and be wounded to heale vs and bee broken for vs to stop vp our breach Who can heere but acknowledge the infinitenes of his snspeakeable loue who can chuse but say with Paul O the deepnes of the riches both of the wisedome and mercie of God Rom. 11.33 how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his waies past finding out Who can chuse but say with Dauid O Lord Psal 8.4 what is man that thou art so mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him Who can but with the Church in the Canticles confesse that his name is a pretious ointment powred out Cantic 1.2 because of the sweete sauour whereof our hearts must needes bee allured to loue him and admire him Especially if wee but meditate vpon that neuer sufficiently admired loue of his Came into the world Gen. 1. who being the God of Nature to free vs from the corruptiō of our nature Rom. 7.5 took vpon himself our nature came into the world to saue vs from the destruction of the world me thinkes this one thing might bee sufficient to woe and winne our loue to him when wee consider that he who had his seate aboue the Heauen of Heauens Psal 148.4 should vouchsafe to come downe and dwell vpon the earth his footstoole Isai 66.1 that he might draw vs after him to heauen that hee who was equall to the Father Philip. 2.7.8 should humble himselfe to bee a seruant that he might purchase for vs the right of sonnes that hee which was God Iohn 1.1.2 should not disdaine to become that which wee are that hee might make vs partaker of that place where he now is The meditation of which in generall though it bee enough to adde wings to the minde that is most dull and worke an impression in the soule that is most voide of sense yet if we take a further suruey in the particulars therof and note the vnkinde entertainment of him so kind a guest vnlesse our heart were an heart of flint it can not chuse but melt For ah alas he was in the world Ioh. 1.11.12 and the world was made by him and the world knew him not he came vnto his owne and his owne receiued him not The Bethlemits Luke 2.7 amongst whom he was borne would not affoord him houseroome Luke 4.29 but such as their oxen and asses were wont to lodge in The Nazarites his countrimen by education driue him out of their citie to the top of an hill to throw him thēce downe headlong And we yea all of vs Isai 53. for whose sakes he came into the world what gaue wee him but the heauie burthen of our sinnes for his welcome His entrance into the world was obscure his being heere dolorous his departure hēce ignominious The place of his birth little Bethleem Mich. 5.2 one of the least of the many thousands of Iudah Matth. 2.6 the chamber where hee was borne but a stable the cradle in which hee was laid but a manger the swadling bands wherein his sacred bodie was wrapt Luke 2.16 but homelie ragges the parties that first came to greete him but sillie shepheards All things in the natiuitie of him so great a one euen below the lowest degree of meanes Thus grew he vp as a branch and as a roote out of a drie ground Isai 53.2.3 hauing neither forme nor beauty whē men did see him that they should desire him Despised was he and reiected of all men a man full of sorrowes and one that had experience of our infirmities No sooner was hee borne Matth. 2.16 but Herod fought to destroy him no sooner was he baptized Matth. 5.1 but the Diuell set vpon him to tempt him no sooner was hee in his publique preaching Matth. 15.40 Matth. 9.34 Luke 6.7 but the Pharisies enuy him the Sadduces accuse him the Scribes slander him the common people scorne him Matth. 13.55 the high Priests send their officers to intrap him Ioh. 7.45 his owne Disciple spareth not to betray him Marth 26.48 Matth. 26.60 false witnesses are suborned to belie him and tost he is from Pilate to Herod Luk. 23.7.8 and from Herod back againe to Pilate to mock him and make sport of him Matth. 27.28.32.35 neither did they leaue vntill that after much buffeting torturing and tormenting by a cruell death they had made away with him So cold an entertainment found he in this world to shew that his kingdome was not of this world He had no legions of men or angels to bee his guard no chariots nor horsemen to be his pompe no palace to bee his court He wore no crowne but that of thornes no Scepter but that of Reed no throne but that of his crosse In his life time not hauing so much as a foxes hole to couch in at his death not hauing a shroud but what was left him to bee wrapt in nor a tombe but what was borrowed to be buried in What shall I here recount his grieuous paines and direfull maladies which while he was in the world hee sustained heere My soule gush out with teares of blood whiles thou doest call to minde the sorrow of his soule when in Gethsemane his soule was heauie euen to the death Matth. 26.36.37 38. when though an Angell from heauen appeared to comfort him yet his agonie was so bitter that his sweate was like drops of blood trickling downe to the ground Luk. 22.43.44 O let mine head be full of water and mine eyes a fountaine of teares Ierem. 9.1 that I may weepe day and night for the afflictions which he endured who was afflicted for my sinnes Matth. 26.49 when I call to mind those dismall daies wherein my Sauiours owne seruant did betray him with a kisse Vers 55. and the High Priests catchpoles came foorth with clubs and staues and
or with Heraclitus I should rather weepe One maketh his heauen of the drosse and rubbish of the earth The diuers vaine delights of the most part his muckie wealth and so becommeth a slaue vnto his slaue Another maketh his bellie his god Philip. 3.19 reposing his chiefest felicitie in pampering of his guts An other toadlike swelleth with ambition seeking after vainglorious honour as children after feathers flying in the aire tossed about hither and thither with the blast of manie mouthes Another like Narcissus becomes inamoured on Natures dowrie his beautie Ouid Metam or Natures shame his cloathes An other seateth his chiefest pleasure in a Dog another in a Kite another in a Horse another in a smoake euaporating weede The better sort at least wise to mans eyes the more ingenious either like Pharao glorie in their wit Exod. 1.10 2. Sam. 16.23 Act. 24.1.2.3 or like Achitophel in their policie or like Tertullus in their eloquence or like Babels Monarch Dan. 4.27 proud Nebuchadnezzar in their building or like Zenacherib in their greatnes 1. King 18. 1. Sam. 17.5 1. King 12.8 or like Goliah in their streÌ„gth or like Rehoboam in their birth Iohn 7.48 or like the Pharisies in their knowledge Iosh 9.3 or like the Gibeonites in their cunning or else in some accidentall gifts as we call them of Nature wit or fortune Arist Ethic. lib. 2 All these with a thousand more men pleasing pleasures and delights A censure vpon the former delights which worldlings value at so high a rate were they tenne thousand thousand times better then they are I see no reason why I should count them any better theÌ„ apparant losses bitter sweets gliding shadowes gaudie toyes yea but chips drâ—ffe and dung in comparison of those inestimable treasures and delights which are to be had in Christ Iesus For besides that if wee would compare them together they are past coÌ„parison Psal 103.11 and as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so much more excellent is Christ Iesus vnto the soule then any earthly solace can be in the world what reason is there if we had no hope at all of heauen or expectation of greater happinesse in another world why wee should set our hearts or fixe our affections vpon any thing here in this world what gaine can I make what contentment is it possible that I shuld find in any of these things whose goodnesse is but in shew Isai 40.6 whose pleasure is but in opinion whose glorie is but as a flower of the field with which the minde is neuer satisfied the affection neuer quieted the appetite neuer contented but if we had the experience of them all together we should prooue his testimonie of them all to be most true who had experience in them more then any Eccles 1.2 They are vanities of vanities vanitie of vanities nothing else but vanitie I cannot chuse but wonder at the Anakims of our age Nobilitie that carrie their heads aloft and speake with a presumptuous mouth Numb 13.29 Psal 78.5 because they stand vpoÌ„ their blood and bragge of their Nobilitie when as I see that Nobilitie it selfe bee it neuer so pretious a pearle in the worlds eye is but a name without a nature a shadow without a substance make the best of it it is but the daughter of rottennesse Iob 17.14 and the sister of wormes the glorie of it is but a nominall credit begged froÌ„ dead men a trifling title raked from their graues who are long since dissolued into dust and ashes Gen. 3. No blood so noble but is attainted with Adams shame and when the pedigree is fet as farre as possibly it may bee Luke 16. poore Lazarus may shake hands with rich Diues and call him cosin Me thinks it is but madnes and a fretting phrensie which I see in many whose onely marke they aime at is their honour Hanor when as Honour what art thou but a bubble quickly vp on a suddeÌ„ down a very blazing starre dreading the minde with presaging ruine O yee ambitious aspiring spirits what caÌ„ you see in Honor that you should affect it when it most frowneth vpoÌ„ her seruants and casteth downe those whom it lifteth vp The greatest honors are exposed to the most dangerous aduentures enuying censures Dignities doe but digge thorow the heart with cares Offices are but seruices Psal 49. and man being in the greatest honor may be compared to the beasts that perish yea you Demigods shall turne to dust as well as other Psal 82.6.7 And as for Beautie Beautie is but losse fooles they are in my conceit which please themselues with it when they see it in themselues or endanger their soules for it when they behold it in others For vaine is beautie Prouerb 31. and deceiueable is the fauour of the countenance The fairest face in the world rase it ouer but with a little scratch and the grace thereof is gone let an Ague visit it the flower thereof is decaied let the soule depart from it but halfe an houre and this louely face is pale grimme and gastly to looke vpon O ye glittering Ladies and dainty Dames whose glorie is your beautie and whose labor is your vanitic that face of yours vpon which the winde may not blow nor the Sun shine nor the ayre breathe those vermillion cheeks so streaked either with natures sanguine blush or else bedaubed with counterfeit colours borrowed froÌ„ a dissembling art That bodie so trimly adorned with rich apparell costly ornaments what are they but the food of vermine and the crawling place of wormes the inheritrix of rottennesse and subiect of putrifaction The time is comming yea the time commeth on apace when the keepers of the house shall tremble Eccles 12.3.4.5 and the strong men shall bow themselues and the grinders cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out at the windowes and dust returne to dust againe What madnesse then is it to glorie in our carcase Apparell or to take pride in our bodies vestments as if a malefactor should be proud of his halter or a begger bragge of his rags the very ensignes of his base estate The apparell that we weare wee are beholding to the dumb and vnreasonable creatures for it worse then beasts we if wee take pride in that which beasts haue worne before vs. For our Wollen we are beholding to the sillie Sheepe for our Linnen to a Weede for our Silkes vnto the very excrements of Wormes our Gold is but the dregs of the earth our pretious pearles wee borrow from the fishes and bee our cloathing neuer so costly Matth. 6.29 yet none no not Salomon himselfe in all his royaltie is cloathed like the lilies of the field There is an euill sicknes vnder the Sun Riches and it is much amongst men to compasse sea and land for hoarding vp of
so vile a subiect as the world shall I be staied from the noble seruice of my God for the loue of any earthly vanities No no all these I will trample vnder feete and reckon of them no better then they are And now my soule mount vp aloft vnto the place where all thy treasure lieth I will lift vp mine eyes to the hils from whence commeth all my help Psal 120. Luke 17.37 Eagle like will I soare aloft where my soules food is and fixe my thoughts on none but Christ he is the center from whence all my cogitations are drawne and the circle to which they tend let the Marthaes of this world comber thēselues about many things ful well I know there is but vnum necessarium Luke 10.41.42 one necessarie thing God graunt mee with Mary to chuse the better part As for other pleasures I count them but bitter sweetes in regard of the ioyes of heauen where is fulnes of pleasures for euermore As for other riches Ephes 1.18 I count them all trash in respect of the glorious riches of the inheritance of Saints all other honour I esteeme as base in respect of my glorious calling in Christ Iesus all other nobilitie I count obscure in respect of new birth and regeneration by the holy Ghost Iohn 44. all other beautie I esteeme but foule Psal 84. in respect of the beautie of Bethel which is made by Christ Iesus without spot or wrinkle all other buildings I deeme as ruines in respect of that building which is not made with hands 2. Cor. 5.1 but eternal in the heauens Matth. 10.37 Father and mother sister and brother sonne and daughter must needes giue place to the loue of Iesus or else I were not worthie of him my Sauiour Let others reioyce in their wit and policie my reioycing shall be the testimonie of a good conscience that in simplicitie and godly purenes and not in fleshlie wisedome but by the grace of God I haue had my conuersation in the world 2. Cor. 1.12 Let others be puft vp with knowledge of humane Arts and Sciences yet I esteeme no knowledge to the knowledge of Christ Iesus and him crucified 2. Cor. 2.2 by which knowledge I may be able to comprehend with all Saints Ephes 3.18.19 what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge Stoope downe all earthly happines to this in regard wherof all other gaines are but losses all other priuiledges are but trifles yea doubtlesse I think all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord Philip. 3.8 for whō I haue counted all things losse and doe iudge them to be dung that I may winne Christ and might be found in him O sweete Iesu how great and innumerable be the gaines which I finde in thee Psal 42.1 As the Hart braieth for the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee O Christ my Lord my God my Sauiour and my Redeemer Psalme Whō haue I in heauen but thee and who is there on earth that I desire in comparison of thee Cantic 1.2 Thy name is as an ointment powred out Isai 9.6 therefore the virgins loue thee Thy name is Wonderfull Counsellor the mightie God the euerlasting Father the Prince of Peace Reuel 1.5.8 Thou art that faithfull witnesse that Prince of the Kings of the earth that Alpha and Omega the first and the last which hast the key of Dauid Reuel 2.7 and openest and no man shutteth Reuel 1.18 and shuttest and no man openeth yea the very keyes of hell and of death Heb. 13.8 Iesus Christ yesterday and to day the same for euer O thou whom my soule loueth Christ the true gaine Philip. 1.21 my only gaine Christ Iesus thou art to mee both in life and death aduantage In life for thus I liue and yet not I but Christ liueth in mee In this life and in that I now liue in the flesh I liue by faith in the sonne of God Galat. 2.20 who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me So that here what expert Arithmetician can reckon vp my gaines euen in this life receiued by him Remission of sins Ephes 1.7 By him I haue redemption through his blood euen the forgiuenes of my sinnes according to his rich grace Imputation of his obedience for our iustification He is made vnto vs of God wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and his full perfect and alsufficient obedience is made a gaine to me sillie simple vile and sinful creature by imputation By him we haue accesse through faith vnto his grace Accesse to God Rom. 5.2 wherein we stand and reioyce vnder the hope of the glorie of God Adoption Rom. 8.15 By him I am adopted to be the childe of God yea heire of happinesse and eternall blisse By him I doe recouer backe againe that right and title to his creatures Right vnto the creatures Ephes 2.15 which was lost by Adam By him the curses of this life are turned into blessings Afflictions good Rom. 8.26 for all things worke together for the best to them that are in him And what shall I say more All that we haue wee haue in him who is made all in all vnto vs hee hath taken our pawne and left vs his seale he hath taken vpon himself our sinnes Ephes 2.16 Reuel 1.6 and inuested vs with his merits he hath made vs Kings and Priests vnto God and euen in this life hath giuen vnto vs the earnest of his spirit Matth. 28. with a full assurance that hee will neuer faile vs. But if in this life only wee had hope in Christ Christ is ourgain in death 1. Cor. 15.19 we were of al men the most miserable Blessed be he the author of our blessednesse who as he is our gaine in life so is he also our gaine in death in as much as he hath taken away the sting of death and hath changed the condition of it by making it of the gate of hell the priuie portall of eternall life O death 1. Cor. 15.55.56.57 where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law but thankes be vnto God that hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Yea after death in him doth rest our chiefest gaine for then shall we finde the vertue of his resurrection in raising vp our dusty bodies into flesh again which neuer shall corrupt who shall change our vile bodie Philip. 3.21 that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the mightie working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe And euen then when all other gaines shall proue mens losses he to his will proue the onely gaine For what shall it profit a man to win
and fixe mine eyes on those superiour Orbes me thinketh these very heauens abundantly declare the glorie of God Psal 8.3 Psal 19.1 and the firmament sheweth his handy work whose huge proportion when I behold like molten glasse Iob 37.18 and meditate vpon the varietie of influences in the same managed by so admirable a consort of diuers motions which thwart and yet disturbe not one another then saith my soule within it selfe O Lord my God Psal 104.1.2 thou art exceeding great thou art clothed with glorie and honor Psal 104.1.2 which couerest thy selfe with light as with a garment and spreadest out the heauens like a curtaine O how beautifull Caelum beatorū how glorious how admirable must the heauen of heauens be seeing there is so glorious a lustre in this lower heauen that is so obuious to our eyes Here he The Sunne 1. Iohn 1. Gen. 1.16 who is all light himself hath placed his two glorious lights the greater for to rule the day and the lesser to be a nightly Torch Here hath he set a Tabernacle for the Sun which commeth foorth as a bridegroome out of his chamber Psal 19.4.5.6 and reioyceth like a giant to runne his race His going out is from the end of the heauen and his compasse is to the end of the same nothing is bid from the heat thereof It riseth and goeth down Eccles 1.5 and draweth to his rising place againe who can expresse the greatnes of this Planet Plato in Epinar Cicero 2. de natura Deorum whose raies do illighten the whole globe of the earth and therefore though it seem but smal vnto our eyes yet reason demōstrateth that it must needs surmount in greatnes al the earth Plin. lib. 2. c. 11. Who can describe his circular motiō in his neuer wearied race Basil homil 6. in Hexam who can track his yeerely beaten path thorow the Zodiack or the milke-white way what Eagle-sighted eye dareth to confront his beames and is not dazeled at his lustre what tongue is able to describe his influence or paint foorth his wonderfull effects Come we from this Landlord of light the Sunne vnto his Freeholder The Moone Heauens lesser light the Moone Gen. 1.16 and who would thinke so full a bodie to our eyes should be so many degrees inferiour to the Sunne in greatnes Plin. lib. 2. c. 11. were it not for her neernes who can record the influences of this palefaced president of the night or sufficiently admire her wainings and encreasings her often changes and eclipses who can but wonder at her more then strange effects in the sad and silent time of night Psal 104.20.21 when the beasts of the forrest come abroad and the hungrie lions rore after their pray The more I fixe mine eyes vpon the firmament the more mine eyes are dazeled with the great varietie of wonders in the same The Starres when I behold the glorious glittering canopie of Heauen so decked with stars Gen. 1.17 as with siluer spangles or pretious stones Lord thinke I then how great a God art thou which countest the number of these starres Psal 147.4 and callest them all by their names For what man is able to discourse of their number partition order or situation Can we restraine the sweet influences of the Pleiades Iob 38.31 32 33 34. or loose the bands of Orion Can we bring foorth Mazaroth in their times or guide Arcturus with his sonnes No no it is the Almightie alone that knoweth the course of heauen and hee that in his right hand holdeth the seuen starres Reuel 1.16 that can sufficiently declare the wonders of the stars He it is that sheweth his wonders in the Heauen Meteors fierie Inel 2.30 The Bolides Comets Blasing Starres blood fire and pillers of smoake heart-dreading Comets and doome presaging blazing starres are flagges of his imperiall standerd and who can but admire his diuers coloured Bow the ensigne of his couenant The Rainbow Gen. 9.16 Behold our God is excellent and ful of power neither can his wonders be sufficientlie admired at The earth trembleth and quaketh when hee is angrie The Lightning the foundations also of the mountaines shake at his displeasure a smoake goeth out at his nostrils Psal 18.7.8.9.14 and a consuming fire out of his mouth coales are kindled thereat He sendeth foorth his arrowes and scattereth thē his fierce lightnings flash from the one end of the heauen to the other The Thunder Iob 37.3.4 After that a noise soundeth hee thundreth with the voyce of his Maiestie and his Demicanons rore so terribly through the clouds that the vndantedst Caligula cannot chuse but quake and tremble at the noise thereof Sueton. in vita Caligula Loe these are a part of the waies of God Iob 26.14 Meteors atrie but how little a portiō haue we heard of him and who can record the one halfe of his workes of wonder The windes Psal 104. Eccles 1.6 It is our God that bringeth the windes out of his treasurie and walketh vpon the wings thereof euen the winde which goeth towards the South and compasseth towards the North and whirleth round about The whirle winds and dreadfull blasts are the wings vpon which hee doth flie The whirlewind Psal 18.20 The Earthquakes Ariff metcor lib. 2. Psal 18.17 19.6 with the drie and cold vapors whereof passing thorow the cranies of the earth he maketh the earth to tremble and the foundations of the mountaines to shake he maketh the wildernesse to tremble and the Cedars of Lebanon to be rooted vp Hearken vnto this Meteors watrie The clouds Iob 37.37.25 O man and consider the wondrous works of God Who can number the clouds by wisedome Iob 26.8 who can sufficiently admire these bottels of heauen how the waters are bound vp in them and the cloud not broken vnder them The Dew how they are stuffed with watry vapors lift vp into the ayre Iob 38.28 and how the spouts thereof are diuided to powre down raine vpon the earth how wonderfull is the generation of the drops of dew The Mists Psal 77. which ariseth out of the earth like a sweat or of the dew-dropping Mists which like an hoarie mantell ouershadeth the earth What a wonderfull thing it is to consider the opening of the windowes of heauen The Raine Gen. 7.11 Iob 28.26 Psal 104.13 and the distilling of the raine frō aboue whereby the earth is watred and the thirstie lands do quench their thirst The Snow How admirable is the snow which the Almightie scattereth abroad like wooll Psal 147.13 and which like a sheete is spread vpon the earth Eccles 47.18 The eye maruelleth at the whitenes of it it dazeleth the eye with the glistering shining of it Et quae me genuit mater mox gignitur ex me the senses stand astonished to see it beget againe
the mother of which it selfe was begotten No lesse wonderfull is the Haile which the Almightie casteth forth like morsels The Haile Psal 147.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifieth haile in that place though our trāslations reade it frosts Exod. 9.23 a liquid thing being made solid and it selfe being nought but water yet by an Antiperistasis of heate and cold a thing in Nature admirable is conglobated into a stone deadly to the herbes and noxious to the trees of the field What shall I heere speake of the Frosts Meteors partly earthy partly watrie or of the glassie wonder of the Ice when the earth groweth into hardnes and the clods like iron are fast together Frost The hoare frosts lie vpon the earth like ashes Iob 38.29.38 Psal 147.16.17 Ice who can abide the cold of the ice When the North winde bloweth an ice is frozen of the water it abideth vpon the superficies thereof Syracides cap. 43 19.20 and clotheth the waters as with a breastplate the Sunne ariseth and it melteth and is dissolued as it was before These and many more then these are thy wonders O Lord from aboue O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in al these things In wisedome hast thou made them all Psal 8.1.2 and they declare thy mightie power No lesse are thy wonders to be seene here below through the whole circumference of the earth and in the deepe For first to begin with the very Earth it selfe The Earths wonders which albeit in comparison of the Heauen it be but as a prick or point Iob 38.18 yet who can perceiue the breadth of it or reckon the circuit of the same The Earth is set vpon a foundation immoueable Aristot 2. de coe lo ait Mathematicos sui temporit attribuisse terrae 40. myriades stadiorum Later Astrologers describe the whole circuit of it to be 2000040 miles and yet the foundation thereof is a thing of nought hanging in the middle of the ayre whose figure although it bee sphaericall like a globe or bowle yet by the alprouident dispositiō of the Almighty Creator is so interlined with hils and dales and woods and riuers that in a wonderfull excellencie wee cannot but admire the infinite varietie Psal 104.5 Iob 26.7 Here wee see the loftie mountaines giuing statelie prospect from their aspiring tops here Mountaines Psal 104.8 Vallies Psalme Riuers the humble Vallies to laugh and sing with corne and grassie profits here the crystall springs and siluer riuers sliding sometimes more silently sometimes in a basser sort sometimes in a shriller note making musick amongst the pepbles And as we walke by the way O what a glorious spectacle it is to view the flagrant Meddowes cloathed with grasse Meddowes and enameled with al sort of eye-pleasing flowers Woods Thickets lined with most pleasant shade of diuers sorted Trees Trees Trees richly decked foorth with leaues and swelling in varietie with their seuerall kindes of fruites Birds Oh what an heauenly consort out of the Wood-quire resounds vnto our eares from the cheerfull chirping of the many well tuned Birds How sweete a prospect it is vnto our eyes to looke vpon the great varietie both in kind and qualitie of the Beasts Beasts To see the harmelesse Sheepe feeding with sober securitie Sheepe Lambes and their pretie Lambs skipping with bleating choragy Oxen. To see the strong necked Oxen laboring in the furrow and plowing the vallies after vs and the stately Horse Iob 39.12 Horses for all his fearefull neyings to submit his back vnto vs when I fee these strong and sturdie beasts so ouerruled to yeeld their backs to seruing and their liues to feeding weake and feeble man Lord thinke I then of how vnmatchable power and vnbounded wisedome art thou which couldest subdue without repining these so great to this so little But when I further think vpon those greater and wilder beasts which God hath placed in the earth in the maiestie of the creature how can I but admire the incōparable maiesty of the Creator Behemoh Iob 40.10.11.12.13 Behold Behemoh whom hee hath made to licke grasse like the oxe whose taile is like the Cedar Vers 17. his bones like staues of brasse and his small bones like staues of iron can the trees couer him with shadow or can the willowes of the riuer compasse him about The Lions The great and princely Lions roring after their pray doe seeke their meate of God Iob 39.1.2 when they couch in their places and remaine in the couert to lie in wait He appointeth the time when the wilde goates bring foorth yong Iob 39.4.5 and numbreth the moneths for the Hindes to calue Vers 12. Who can tame the Vnicorne and bring him to the crib What pleasant wings hath God giuen to the Peacocks Vers 16. what wings of brasse vnto the Ostrich what length of daies vnto the Hart swiftnes vnto the Hare wilinesse vnto the Fox properties admirable euen in euery sort of the beasts vnreasonable who can number their seuerall kindes or describe the seuerall natures of them But leaue wee these Little beasts and creeping things and cast our eyes but on the lesser creatures which one would thinke but Natures excrements meere superfluities and yet good Lord in them how many workes of wonders The wisest of either Heathen or Christian Sages sendeth vs to little Pismires Emmets Ants or Emmets to learne diligence for they hauing no guide Prou. 6.6.7.8 gouernour nor ruler prepare their meate in summer and gather their foode in harnest What a sweete decorum in their order obserue the sillie Bees Bees the fabrick of whose celles or houses and the glory of whose merchandise cannot be matched by any wit or art of man What Spinster can make a webbe like the contemned Spider Spider or Weauer frame vpon his woofe so exquisite a forrell Silkeworme as the little Silk-worme weaueth out of his bowels If I should reckon vp al the mightie wonders in these little creatures how endlesse would the subiect be No these are cōmon and triuiall before our eyes which euery where on earth below wee see Eccles 3.11 Psal 111.3 Loe God hath made euery thing beautifull in his time and where may we cast our eyes but we may behold his works of wonder Should I meditate of all the fruitful seeds and trees and buds from the Cedar vnto the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall Vertues of herbes 1. King 4.33 O how secret hidden vertue may we behold in most of them what especiall vse in each of them Yea diue wee downe into the bowels of the earth what store of proiects wonderful lie hidden there There the Siluer mineral hath his veine Iob 28.1.2 and the burnished Gold his place Iron is taken out of the dust and Brasse is molten out of the stone Vers 5. out of the same
and application August de verb. Dei serm 28. To rest on the full assurance of the forgiuenes of thy sinnes is not arrogancie but faith to acknowledge what thou hast receiued is not pride but deuotion Doest thou not heare the Apostle counselling thee neuer to rest vntill thou hast gotten the full assurance of this so great a benefit 2. Pet. 1.10 2. Cor. 13.5 Doest thou not heare thy blessed Sauiour perswading thee aboue all other things to reioyce in this assurance Luke 10.20 And doest thou not heare him checking thee for this thy doubting O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Remember Abraham Rom. 4.20.22 how he did not doubt of the promise of God through vnbeliefe but was strengthned in faith Rom. 8.38 being fullie assured and Paul that went not by hope well but by knowing certainly and Iames Iam. 1.6 that willeth vs to be constant in faith and not to wauer Remember the powerfull promise of God himself who to as many as belieue in him hath giuen power to be the sonnes of God namely Ioh. 1.12 to them that belieue in his name O but the multitude of my sins stand vp as a rampier or mount against me and biddeth me feare The multitude of our sinnes may not debarre vs from the truth of this assurance Rom. 11.20 and Satan telleth me that this full perswasion is but only a fantasie and strong imagination of mine owne head and that my nature being thus rebellious I should not stand so much on mine assurance Psal 42.11 but feare Why art thou so cast downe O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within mee Cheere vp thy selfe thou hast not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe Rom. 8.15.16 but the spirit of adoption whereby thou criest Abba father and this spirit beareth witnes with thee that thou art the childe of God For know wrangling Satan that I stand not vpon weake tearmes or blinde presumptions Assurance of saluation not easie to be had in all Luke 12.32 Matth. 7.14 like many a carnall Gospeller which notwithstanding hee heareth that Christs flocke is small and that in comparison few shall be saued yet thinks this assurance of saluation to be an easie and a triuiall thing No no I take notice of the full assurance of my saluation vpon a surer foundation I flatter not my self in mine owne conceit but haue the testimonie of a twofold witnes the spirit of God beareth witnesse with my spirit Rom. 8.26 that I am the child of God For loe Tokens of the assurance of saluation 1. Ioh. 4.13 Rom. 8.16 what pregnant testimonies to this purpose finde I vnto my selfe By this I know that I dwell in Christ and hee in me because he hath giuen me of his spirit which maketh me with boldnes to crie Abba father vnto him and this very spirit helpeth mine infirmities Vers 26. that whereas I know not to pray as I ought the spirit it selfe maketh request for mee with sighes that cannot bee expressed 2. Cor. 7.10 By this I know that my sinnes are vndoubtedly pardoned Galat. 5.17 in regard that for sinnes past I feele a godly sorrow for sinnes present I finde a fighting and striuing of the minde against them 1. Ioh. 5.18 for sinnes to come I endeuour with religious care for to preuent them By this I know vnto my selfe the assurance of life eternal Iohn 7.37 because I beleeue in him that is the author of life eternall I hunger and thirst after him and so highly doe I value him that all things else I esteeme but dung in regard of him Philip. 3.4 By this I know the assurance of my sinnes remission because my desire is to keep his commandements 1. Ioh. 2.3 not as if poore I in any sort could performe a perfect obedience vnto them but because in his acceptance the will of the beleeuer is taken for obedience The loue to God and his children is another testimonie of our translation frō death to life 1. Ioh. 3.14.19.21 For hereby wee know that wee are of the truth and shall before him assure our hearts and if our hearts condemne vs not then may we haue boldnes towards God Away then vile Satan that faine wouldest driue mee to despaire and you maleuolent Satanists that would haue me turne my assurance into doubting For this is a true saying I haue the sure testimonie of the Prophets for it and the double witnes Gods spirit and mine owne to seale it I haue the pledge and earnest of it alreadie therefore I will reioyce in it O let this worthie sentence be writtē in mine heart as in a book And by all meanes worthie to be receiued let it bee grauen with an iron penne and printed euer in my minde with the point of a Diamond For what sweeter comfort can I finde Iob 19.23 what more ioyfull newes can I muse vpon What can be more acceptable then the welles of water to a thirsty soule What more delightfull then in warre to heare of peace in miserie to heare of mercy in the midst of death to heare of life and yet all this and more then this wee finde heere in this true saying most worthie by all meanes to be receiued that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners No newes like to this no such ioyfull tidings euer was heard of in the world Well might the heauenly newes carrier of the birth of this vnto the Bethlehemetish shepheards giue this encomium of it to their eares Luke 2.10 Behold I bring you tidings of great ioy that shall be to all people Well might the Quire of Heauen chant foorth their Christmas Carroll vpon the relation of it Luk. 2.13.14 Gloria in excelsis Glorie be to God in the high heauens peace in earth and towards men good will Well might old Simeon for a lullabie vnto his Sauiour sing his Nunc dimittis Luke 2.28 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation for there is no solace like to this no ioy to be compared to it The more I thinke vpon it the more I doe admire it That Christ Iesus and stand amazed in the meditation of it especially when I call to minde the author and finisher of this our comfort Heb. 12.2 Reuel 1. who being no lesse then Iesus Christ the Sonne of God and Prince of peace Isai 9.6 whose name is Wonderfull Counsellor the mightie God and euerlasting father whose being is from euerlasting Reuel 1.8 the Alpha and the Omega the beginning the ending which is which was and which is to come euen the Almightie Why this rauisheth my soule beyond all admiration that he who was the heire of all things Heb. 1.2.3 the brightnes of his fathers glorie and engrauen character of his own person Philip. 2.7 should make
But what should I speake of the losse of these toyes and trifles they must part with life it selfe Iob 2.4 Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will hee giue for his life But all the wealth and riches in the world cannot purchase one houres lease of longer life Death will claime his due an inexorable creditor which when it cannot chuse but breede an horror in the heart of him that lieth a dying so will it fill his soule with direfull griefe to call to minde the vaine attempts of his forepassed life whē they shall sigh for griefe of mind and say within themselues O senselesse we and more then frantick fooles We haue wearied our selues in the way of wickednesse Syracides 5.1.3.7.8.9 and wee haue gone through dangerous waies but we haue not knowne the way of the Lord. What hath our pride profited vs or what profit hath the pomp of our riches brought vnto vs all those things doe passe away like a shadow 2. Cor. 5. and as a post that passeth by At that day will God be knowne of them to be a terrible God and dreadfull Hee will then write bitter things against them Iob 13.26 and make them possesse the sinnes of their youth The conscience will come in then with her bill of accounts and shew many old reckonings and arrerages of sinnes and Satan will shoote foorth many millions of canons of desperation against the sicke besieged soule and lay before his eyes the large bedrole of their sinnes which when the guiltie conscience cannot denie O how it filleth the heart with horror and souseth the dreadfull soule with feare How bitter and lamentable is that parting farewell which they make to their departing soule Aelius Adrianus Animula vagula blandula quae nunc abibis in loca pallidula frigida nudula c. like that of Adrian the Romane Emperour when he was now a dying My darling soule poore soule poore fleeting wandring soule my bodies sometimes best beloued ghest and equall whither art thou now going pale wanne and naked into places vgly dismall full of horror and tribulation Yet happie yea thrice happie were it The wicked haue no peace after death if death were the Catastrophe of the sinners Tragedie and the end of their being might come with the end of their earthly liuing Their soules posting to hell happy were it for them if like to dogges and toads and beasts they might perish and bee no more but loe their chiefest woe is yet to come for when they lie in the graue like sheep Psal 49.14 Iob 19.26 death gnaweth vpon thē whiles wormes destroy their carkase hell fire seaseth vpon their soules and vexeth them with torments What shall I heere recount the sudden dreadfull passage of their soules from the bodie to their doome dragd downe by furious fiends of hell vnto their place of torment 2. Pet. 2.4 Iude 6. where they shall be in euerlasting chaines vnder darknes vnto damnation and to the finall iudgment of the great day At which day good Lord what horror amazement will affright them when the vngodly whose bodies are rotten in the dust of the earth The horror of the wicked at the day of resurrection Matth. 25. shall on a sudden be roused from their deadly sleepe by the Trumpet of an Angell and like guiltie malefactors they shall come foorth of the filthie dungeon of rottennes to appeare at the tribunall for their triall 2. Cor. 5. What a dreadfull day will that bee for those that haue passed their time securely here in this world how will they be amazed at the suddennes of this their rousing vp from the bed of death What a sea of miseries and terrors shall rush vpon them when on a sudden being raised vp Matth. 24.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37 and apparelled with the same robes of their bodies so long laid vp in the wardrope of the dust they shall heare about their eares so hideous a noyse of Trumpets sound of waters motion of all the elements when they shall see the earth reeling and tottering the hils and dales skipping the Moone darkned 2. Pet. 3.12 the Starres falling downe from heauen the firmament shiuered in peeces and all the world in a flaming fire If Adam Gen. 3.8 after his eating of the forbidden fruite would faine haue hid himself from God walking in the garden at the coole of the day how shall the desperate forlorne sinner then abide the presence of the Iudge 2. Thess 1.7 not walking in the coole of mercie but comming in flaming fire and sitting in his throne of Maiestie Matth. 25.31 Reuel 20.12 when the books shall be opened when not onely they shall be called to account for their grosse and hainous sinnes Matth. 12.36 but shall be compelled to giue account for euery idle word Rom. 2.16 and their verie secret thoughts shall be brought to iudgement 1. Cor. 1. Alas what wil those wise people doe then that now liue in delights and count a christian conuersation foolishnesse What shift will they make in those extremities what will they answere for themselues doubtlesse they shall not be able to answere him one of a thousand Iob 9.3 whither will they then turne themselues Will they hope that the Bill of their Inditement may be lost Reuel 2.23 They haue small hope of that for he who is their Iudge searcheth the heart and reines yea all things are naked and open to his eyes Hope they that their greatnes shall countenance them out Behold he findeth no stedfastnes in the Angels Iob 4.18.19 how much lesse then in them that dwell in houses of clay and whose foundation is in the dust Doe they perswade themselues that they can bribe the Iudge Loe Prou. 11.4 Matth. 16.16 riches auaile not in the day of wrath and what shall a man giue for a recompence of his soule Doe they hope vpon a Psalme of mercie or a pardon There was a time indeed when that was offered vnto them if with repentant mindes they would haue accepted of the same but now there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin Heb. 10.26.27 but a fearfull looking for of iudgement which shall deuoure the aduersaries Good Lord then what will the wretched sinner doe at that most dolefull day what shift will he make He shall euen drie vp for very feare Matth. 24. Hee shall seeke death and death shall flie from him Reuel 6.15.16 He shall crie to the hils to fall vpon him and to the mountaines to couer him But all in vaine for there shall hee stand a desperate forlorne caitise wretch vntill he receiue that dreadfull and irreuocable sentence Matth. 25.41 Goe thou cursed wretch into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his angels Which finall sentence once pronounced The endlesse miserie of the wicked after the day of iudgement me thinks my heart doth quake to thinke