when he imagineth no hurt towardes him But God with his Arrowes mightely shot shall pay home again the guilfull and deceitfull tongue As Arrowes are at the commaundement of the owner to be vsed So children at the commandement of Godly parentes And as Arrowes are an excellent Weapon of defence to a strong and a mighty man that can shoote them with courage So children godly brought vp are a speciall protection and defence to their Parents And as the strong mans quiuer the better it is furnished with chosen shaftes the better defence hee hath So the more such Children the greater is the happinesse of the parents Asse MAn if he looke backe to his byrth and consider how little wisedome a silly new born Babe bringeth with him into the Worlde shall see that the Asse Colt which of all other beasts â—s counted the veriest dullard bringeth more wit and ability to helpe him selfe then hee So that whatsoeuer we haue we haue it afterwards â—y the gift and liberality of God Axe WHen we see men hewe down wood with Axes wee are to remember that they whose ministery seruice God vseth to destroy to plague others are so in y e hand of God as the hatchet in the hand of the hewers or workman As therfore on the one side we are to comfort our selues in affliction because God is the moderator thereof so on the other if God vse vs against others we must take heed of pride and of exalting our selues against him that mooueth vs. As men throw away their worne broken tooles so God when he hath finished his woorke then casteth away them whom onely he vseth as instrumentes of his wrath Ballances THose that buy and sell whensoeuer they looke vpon their ballances are to remember these admonitions of the holye Ghost that false ballances are an abhomination vnto the Lord and a perfect waight pleaseth him Diuers waightes and diuers measures both these are abhomination vnto the Lorde and deceitfull ballances are not good You shall haue iust balâ—lances true waightes a true Ephah and a truâ— hin for I am the Lord. Bagge WHen rich men looke among their baggeâ— let them call to minde that except thâ— seeke diligently for the kingdome of God thâ— are like those that put their earninges into broken and bottomlesse bagge Bandes THe bandes of the godly are by God tourned to the preferment of the Gospell When we see broken Bandes then are we to thinke of them who when they haue knowne the way of the Lorde and the iudgementes of their God yet haue broken his yoake and burst his handes Barrennesse THe Barrennesse of a woman that after a long time childeth signifieth vnto vs that though Gods people be neuer so few and the Church neuer so small in number yet God will multiplye and encrease it Our sinnes procure and prouoke God to make our fruitfull land barren For when the earth deceiueth vs and doth not yeelde her fruit sure it is because the inhabitants thereof haue transgressed the lawe chaunged the ordinaunces and broken the euerlasting couenaunt for then the heauen ouer vs shall be Brasse and the earth vnder vs Yron Beastes WHen we see wilde Beastes deuour that that hath beene diligently planted and preserued and now is neglected and vnfenced Let vs tremble and quake at the iudgementes of God againste his owne people and Church who after he hath heaped all maner of benefites vpon them for their ingratitude and vnkindnes giueth them ouer into the handes of those that waste and spoyle them Also let vs be thankfull to God for his meruailous goodnesse who when wild cruell raging beastes are abroade all night seeking their pray doth so terrifie them with the light that in the morning they retire themselues and couch in their Dennes that the day may be commodious for man to goe to his worke and necessary labour abroad Wild and fierce beastes are often by the industrie of man tamed and loose their desire to hurt which when we see we are to consider that as they are by nature so we be glad and desirous one of anothers hurt till God worke an alteration in vs by his holy spirit and reforme vs. Men if God do not illuminate them but leaue them to their owne knowledge are like brute beastes The Teachers in the Church if they seeke not the Lorde he pulleth away their vnderstanding so that they become no better then beastes When we see any Beast ouer-laden and readye to sincke vnder his burden except there be present helpe at hand to ease them then are we to thinke what a great and grieuous burden of sinne we beare and what daunger we stande in of sincking into the pit of perdition and let vs flye to Christ who onely and alone can vnburden vs and ease and refresh vs. Beastes and Birdes maye be tamed but the tongue is so vnruly that no man can tame it Men whome God hath aduaunced to honour and dignitie and yet vnderstande not how much and how greatly they are beholding to God are no better then Beastes whose ende is vtter destruction Banner A Banner borne in triumph shoulde admonish Warriours that in confidence of none other thing but of God they should aduaunce their standerdes And when God by them doth giue victorie to his Church and people againste their enemyes then let them acknowledge that God gaue them their Banner to fight vnder Further Gods Standerd is aduaunced when people that know not God are stirred vp to war vpon and destroye other wicked Nations that haue beene plagues to the people of GOD. Christ is also set vp of GOD for a Standarde not onelye for the dispersed of Israell and the scattered of Iudah to assemble to from the foure corners of the earth but also for all Nations to seeke to Beare A Beare robed of her whelps is meeker a maÌ„ may meet her with lesse danger theÌ„ an angry raging foole They that flye from the Lorde are like them y t flying from lions light vpon beares Bible AT the sight of the Bible we shoulde call to minde that whatsoeuer is written is written for our learning and therefore should be stirred vp diligently to learne those thinges which God would haue taught And further we must remember that the examples of Gods iudgementes and wrath therein contayned are writ for vs vppon whome the endes of the worlde are come that we might be afrayde to prouoke God as our Fathers did Birdes AS the Birdes falleth not into the Snare where no Fowler is so God reuealeth not his secreates to his people but by his Prophets Sparrowes and other small birdes taken by the Fowler and offered to be sold should make vs cal to mind how prouident and carefull a Father we haue in heauen whose prouidence stretcheth it selfe to
Also we which professe the name of Christe are to looke for none other in the worlde but to be hated of all men for his name sake Heauen IF man by search can not finde out the height of Heauen much lesse is it possible to attaine the perfection of God But beholding the Heauens with the visible creatures therof we should wonder that God woulde vouchsafe to giue such worship glory and dominion vnto man being but earth and dust For the Heauens declare the glorye of God and the Firmament sheweth his handie worke Yet though heauen be his Palace and throne his eyes will consider his eye-lids will try the children of men Though his dwelling be on high yet he abaseth him self to behold things here belowe in earth His mercies shewed to them that feare him surmount the heauens in height This heauen and this earth shall perishe and passe awaye but euery iote and title of his worde shall be fulfilled But God will create a new heauen and a new earth which we looke and waite for according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse So long as man can not measure the height of heauen nor search the foundations of the earth so long I say God wil neuer forsake his whole Church The heauens that now are and the earth are reserued by the word in store vnto fier against the day of iudgement and of the destruction of wicked men Wherefore the godly should not seeke nor sauour earthly thinges but thinges in heauen aboue where Christ beeing risen againe sitteth at the right hand of God Hedge MEn Hedge their groundes round about to keepe them from beeing spoyled with cattell euen so God doth fence those which feare him rounde about that they may be defended against all euils And as the groundes are eaten wasted deuoured and rooted vp when the hedges and fences therof are neglected and suffered to lie open so fareth it with them that professe the name of God when God prouoked with their sinnes withdraweth his friendly defence and fatherly protection Heape WHen we see great Heapes of rubbishe and meruailous ruines where great and famous cities haue beene we are both to glorifie God who is of such might and power and to fear least we by continuall prouoking of his wrath bring our land and cities into the like case Haires WHo can nomber the Haires of his head but his sinnes in number farre exceedeth them how great then ought the troubles and sorrowes of his mind and heart to be therefore But God hath nombred all the haires of our head which is a speciall comfort vnto vs seeing his prouidence stretcheth vnto the smallest thinges and vouchsafeth to haue care of those thinges which we lest regard Henne THe Henne clocking and calling her Chickens togeather and louingly spreading her wings to kepe them vnder and to protect and defende them from all thinges that woulde iniure them and hurt them shoulde make vs consider how louingly God continually by the preaching of his holy word doth call men to the embracing of his mercy Helmet AN Helmet saueth the head of a souldier in the day of battaile so saluation which commeth from L the ord saueth and protecteth vs frō the deadly woundes of our spiritual aduersaries Hartes THe Hartes desire the water brookes euen so should our soules long after God As the Harte when he can finde no pasture is poore and bare of flesh and voyd of strength when he is hunted and pursued so are the princes and rulers of those countries which by the iust iudgement of God are oppressed and ouer runne with forraine nations Heath AS Heath in the dry and desolate wildernesse where no habitation is is apt and good for nothing and yet easie to be consumed with fier So the man that putteth his trust in man and maketh flesh and bloud his strength and defence and passeth not on the Lord shal not see any good but shall perish together with his helpes Heresies WHen we see Sects and errours growe amongst the people then we should remember to walke the more carefullye and heedfully because GGD him selfe appoynteth such dayes and times for the tryall of his Hire THy workemans Hire shall not abyde with thee till morning Thou shalt giue him his hire for his day neither shall the sunne go downe vpon it for he is poore and therewith sustaineth his life For otherwise he shall cry vnto the lord or rather the hire that he is defrauded of shal cry and shall enter into the eares of the Lord. As hired seruauntes will not tend mens sheepe and cattell longer then there is mony and profite comming to them for it so they which serue in the Church of God if their ende be their owne profit and promotion then they surely giue ouer and chaunge their copie when dayes of prosperitie faile and when stormes and persecution for the word begin to grow Honie FAyre wordes are like the Honie combe sweetnesse to the soule and health to the bones As Home is good and the honie combe sweet vnto the mouth so also is the knowledge of wisedome vnto the soule Holde WHen men in times of trouble and of warre are compelled to flie to hold then are they to remember that there is no holde so strong as the Lord is to them which put their trust in him Holiday WHen we see our Holidayes spent and consumed in idle pastimes and belly cheare then are we to remember that as the children of Israell tooke that corruption from the Egiptians so to vs it is come from popish idolaters and idolatrous Papistes Hooke AS in fishing when the Fishe deceiued with the baite haue the Hooke in their mouthes men draw them and make them follow whither soeuer please them so God withdraweth mightye tyrauntes from executing their deuises and from obtayning their enterprises Houses WHen we see wonderfull great Houses containing many roomes and costly furniture and rich aray large and sufficient to receiue manye princes with their traines of Nobles then are we to remember how large a palace the house of our heauenly father is what multitude of mansions there are and that there is one head and captaine Christ who in his good time will come for vs and bring vs all thither where he is for there is rome and prouision sufficient Againe the carefull and cleane keeping of those houses do admonish vs how carefully we should keepe the house of God whose house are we if we holde fast the confidence and reioycing of the hope vnto the ende Housholder AS a carefull Housholder is not onely content with prouision for the present time but prouideth a fore hande and hath by him store of thinges needefull both olde and new as well for his housholde as for the entertainement of his friends so he that is a Teacher
which haue seene him shall say where is he The tokens then of pryde that abound and are plentiful amongst vs do shew sharpe vengeance and iudgementes at hand Because the Daughters of Sion are hautie and walke with stretched out neckes and with wandering eyes walking and minsing as they goe and making a tinckling with their feet Therefore the Lord shal make the heades of the Daughters of Sion balde and the Lord shall discouer their secreat partes For god doth resiste the proud and giueth grace to the humble and meeke Pleasure WHen we see foolishe men drowned in voluptuousnesse and pleasures and not hauing any regarde to godlinesse honesty or comelinesse then are we to remember Salomons admonition that pleasure is neuer comely for a foole and most commonly the immoderate loue of pastime bringeth them to pouerty and beggerie Raine THe Raine maketh the new mowen grasse freshly to spring againe and showers so comfort the earth that it yeeldeth the fruites thereof Euen so shall Christe refreshe foster nourishe and cherishe his people As a raging Raine beateth the Corne downe and washeth away al before it so when one poore man oppresseth an other commonlye it is without pittie or mercy Raine and snow falling from heauen retourneth not thither againe but watereth the earth and maketh it fruitfull Euen so the worde that commeth out of Gods mouth shall not retourne voyde but shall accomplishe and bring to passe that which God will and shall prosper in that wherevnto he sent it The raine falling from Heauen and causing the earth to yeelde her fruit was at all times and is still to all ages an open and a plaine euident testimonye of the goodnesse of God so that no man can excuse him selfe of ignoraunce The earth that drincketh in the raine that commeth oft vppon it and bringeth foorth nothing profitable for the vse and behoofe of man sheweth what is to be hoped of that man whome the knowledge of the Worde doth in no part reforme Rasour AS a sharpe Rasour with the least touch that can be shaueth and cutteth so doth also the tongue of a mischeuous lying man Rebellion WHen we see a stubborne frowarde and vnruly Woman brawle skoulde chide and rebel against her husbād we are diligētly to look into our selues how y e case standeth betwixt vs God for commonly y t expresseth vnto vs our vnrulinesse rebellion against God but all that resist God shal be confounded for rebellion is as y e sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatry Therefore Samuel saide to Saule because thou hast cast away the worde of the Lord therefore the Lord hath cast away thee from being king To resist man whome God hath set ouer men is to rebell against GOD. Wherefore God him self hath set vpon rebellion and contumacy against magistrates parentes no lesse penalty then death His wonderful iudgments against such are to be seene in Core Dathan and Abiron and also in Absolom Reede A Reede shaking too and fro with euery little small winde declareth the inconstancy and mutability of the common sort of people whome euery small trifle doth cause to alter their minde and iudgement When wee see any passe by a brused reede and not breake it we are to remember that our sauiour Christ did beare with many infirmities in those which were his least hee shoulde breake of or quench those good thinges which began to appeare in them And of him we are also to learne by bearing and forbearing to cherish and foster such good as we see beginneth to liue and growe in our weake brethren Reward AS the price or best game for running cannot bee obtained of any that eyther runne not or else giue ouer afore they be at the end of their race so none canne attayne the celestiall Crowne of glory but they which perseuer in the right trace of Christianity vnto the end And as they which runne in a race hauing onely regard to the reward make them selues as light and as nimble as they can and therefore throw awaye whatsoeuer is heauy or may hinder their swiftnesse so we in our course to heauen hauing that glory onely before our eyes shoulde throw from vs sinne which like an heauy burthen hangeth vpon vs and whatsoeuer else may hinder vs in the way and course to life euerlasting Yet in this course the greatest paines that can bee taken and the greatest perfection which is possible for men to attaine vnto is not meritorious neither can deserue life And therefore our Lorde and sauiour teacheth vs when wee haue done all that is commaunded vs to say and confesse that we are vnprofitable seruaunts though hee of his meere liberality for our better comfort and encouragement in all good things hath promised large and liberall rewards Robbery WHen we see men which haue no conscience in getting liberall to the poore and to other things in common intendment good Then are wee to put them in minde that God hateth and abhorreth to accept robberye or theeuerye for burnt offerings To loue gifts and to hunt after rewardes in princes and men of Authority is cozen germain to robbery Rockes AS y e rocks that are hard to be clambred vnto are good refuges for the afflicted to fly vnto from the face of their pursuers So God is the safetye of all such as in distresse do flye to him for succour As hee that setteth the foundation of his howse vpon a firme rocke may bee sure that the Foundation shall bee able to beare the waight of that which shal be set vpon it and that no raine or floude shall wash it away so hee that buildeth his faith vpon Christe as he is set out and preached vnto vs in the gospell shall be sure that hell gates that is all the power force and cunning of the Diuel shall neuer be able to preuaile against him Rodde SO oft as the childe seeth the rodde he is to cal to minde these lessons following First that it is fit for the back of him that wanteth wisdome and that therefore correction is necessarye for him that is to be enstructed and taught For correction and instruction is the very way and path to life Wherefore they must thinke that if Father or Master spare his rodde that he loueth not his Childe but that then hee loueth him when he beginneth to chasten him betimes For naturally folly is bound to the heart of euery childe But the rod of correction doth driue it or scowre it away Therefore parents should not with-hold correction from their children For as the commō prouerb is birtch breaketh no bones neither moderate correction bringeth daunger or death but oftentimes it bridleth and keepeth backe him that otherwise woulde runne headlong into hell and so is a meane to saue his soule For it bringeth him
if they be compared with Christe seeing as they are not worthy so much as to vnbuckle his shoes Sicknesse WHen we are grieuouslie sicke we are to call to minde the greatnesse of our sinnes For if there be nothing sound in our fleshe it is because of Gods anger And when there is no rest in our bones it is because of our sinnes Yet we are with this to comfort our selues that it is Gods louing chastisement to the ende that we should not be damned with the worlde Therefore though sinne be the cause of our affliction and sicknesse and though we be brought euen vnto deathes doore yet let vs with true and vnfained repentaunce crye vnto the Lorde he will heale vs and deliuer vs from our griefes And let vs looke about that our vnreuerent abusing of the holy misteries of Christes body and bloud be not a cause that many be sicke and many dye amongest vs. Siluer AS pure as Siluer is beeing seuen tymes tryed and fined so pure is the worde of GOD. With such labour and diligence as we would seeke for Siluer and search for treasure with the like we shoulde studye for the knowledge of God in his Worde For the wisedome therein learned is more worth then Siluer more gainefull then Gold more precious then pearles and without all comparison to be preferred before any thing which we can desire He that loueth siluer shall not be satisfied with siluer and he that loueth ritches shall be without the fruit thereof Though wicked couetous men do heape siluer togeather as dust and gold as the mier of the streats yet the Lord shall spoyle thē Further the sight of siluer and golde and such like as passing throgh the fier consume not shold admonish vs to endeuour that our workes maye be such as maye abyde the touch-stone of the Word and the fier of Gods examination Moreouer it was neither siluer nor golde neither anye other earthly thing how precious soeuer it was that could redeeme vs but onely the bloud of the immaculate and vnspotted lambe Iesus Christ. Schoole-maister AS a Schoolemaister serueth not for his scholler continuallye but till such time as the scholler may grow to some good abilitie to goe forward at his booke by his owne study So the Lorde feareth his people with his lawe not alwayes but till such time as they haue sufficiently learned to know them selues and therefore to flie from them selues to Christ Iesu who freeth them from the cursse and condemnation of the law Sleepe AS often as we rise from sleepe hauing our weary limmes refreshed and as it were reuiued so that we feele our selues in better case and abilitie to do anye maner thing then before so often we should remember that death vnto the godly is but a resting of their weary bodyes and bones till they rise againe exceedingly bettered by immortalitie and glory and therefore termed by the name of sleepe But loue not sleepe least thou come to pouerty Open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread Sleepe is sweete to him that trauayleth and taketh paines whether he eat little or much Silence SIlence in open places is to be obserued of women as a token of their dutifull subiection where vnder God hath put them Men also ought to be swift to heare and slow to speake for in much speaking sinne cannot be wanting Smoake AS Smoake vanisheth and commeth to nothing so the wicked and vngodly perish at the presence of God As smoake vanisheth and passeth away so heauen and earth and all that in them is shal vanish and passe away Sparrow IN time of persecution when we cannot be suffered to frequent the assemblies of those which truly serue the Lord. The state of the poore sparrow or swallow which are there suffered to build their nestes and haue their young seeme to vs more happy then our owne so great a desire haue we if we be godly to be with them among whō or at whose meeting Christ hath bound himselfe by his promise to be present The sale of sparrowes and such other small birdes in markets or other places shoulde bring to minde that seeing these fell not nor were caught without the prouidence of God it can not be but that he whose prouidence extendeth and stretcheth to such smal thinges should also haue a speciall care regarde and eye to those that are his Speaking AS it were a madnes or at the least a great folly for one man in communication with an other to speake in a tongue which the other vnderstandeth not so is it much more for a man to speake to a multitude or a whole congregation in that sort or order And where God graunteth not to people to haue his word so spoken and preached vnto them that they may vnderstand it is a manifest token of his anger and wrath against them for their vnbeliefe Spottes AS spottes deface the things they light on which ought to be cleane so false prophets and false brethren defile and staine the societye and felowship of Christians Snaile AS a Snaile melteth and consumeth to slime and earth so shal God consume the wicked and bring them to naught Snares WHen we see diuers and sundry snares and engines set for beastes vermine and foules and we see those that haue escaped diuers in the ende to be trapped in one or other then are we to remember that though some wicked doe at times seeme to escape the heauie iudgements of God yet in the end they shall be snarled Sodome WHen we here read or by any means remember the heauy fearefull and terrible iudgements of God vpon Sodome and Gomorrha and the places adioyning which God destroyed with fier and brimstone from heauen Then are we to looke about and to consider what and how much more intollerable estate and condition remayneth for vs if we continue contemptuous refusing and misusing the messengers of God now sent to vs. Sunne WHen we see the sunne shine in his full brightnesse and beauty then we are to remember that that light is but for a season But that God which is for euer and euer is the euerlasting light of his Church But in the meane season the constant course of the Sunne accordinge to the appointmente of God in the beginning teacheth vs our obedience to our creator That the Sunne staide his course in the dayes of Ioshua that it returned backwarde in the dayes of Ezechias and that it withdrewe his lighte at noone daies in the death and passion of our Lord and sauiour sheweth the glory and omnipotency of God who canne whensoeuer it pleaseth him chaunge the whole course of nature and make it serue whatsoeuer turn pleaseth him Souldier A Souldier taketh wages of them for whome he fighteth and goeth on warfare Therefore a minister of the gospell may lawfullye
the smallest thinges vppon the earth for not one of these poore birdes are caught without the will of our heauenly Father When we see birdes flie to their nestes then are we thankfully to remember to how vile pore and base estate our Sauiour Christ abased himselfe that he might enriche vs seeing he had no place of his owne in the earth to rest his head in So that in worldly respect he was worse prouided for then poore birdes Further our preposterous care in heaping vp goodes for our selues and our posterity is rebuked by the poore foules of the ayre who notwithstanding they looke but for their present necessitie yet God feedeth them Bitte AS a sharpe Bitte put in the Horse mouth maketh vs able to rule his whole body and compelleth him to obey vs so he that can bridle his tongue shall the better rule all his other affections Blindnesse WHen we see long continued Blindnesse and ignoraunce begunne to be taken away by preaching of the word then we are to acknowledge that the time of y e kingdom of Christ is come which Esay prophecied of saying the eyes of the blinde shall be lightned and the eares of the deafe shal be opened The groping of a blind man for the wal when he knoweth not how to come by a guide plainly expresseth the heauy iudgement of God vpon vs Where are such numbers ignorant and destitute of leaders not knowing by whom to be guided Further when we see them that take vppon them the place and state of leaders to be as blind as the best then let vs know that the vengeaunce threatned to the Church by the Prophet Esay is come vpon vs seeing our watch-men are blinde and haue no knowledge they are dumbe dogges they can not barke Those that content them selues to be led by them shall perish with them Therefore Christ counselleth vs to leaue them Bloud MEn that delight in blouddines shall haue their recompence with bloud Without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sinnes but it is impossible y e the bloud of Bulles and goats should take away sinnes wherfore it was necessarye that the bloud of Iesus Christ Gods own Sonne should cleanse vs from all sinne The stone cryeth out of the wall the Beame out of the timber shall aunswere it woe to him that buildeth a towne with bloud and erecteth a Citie with iniquity Bodie THe body compacted of many members setteth before vs the vnity that ought to be amongst all true Christians who are the misticall body of Iesus Christ. The multitude of the members of our body with the varietie of their vses and offices declareth the varietie and measure of Gods gifts diuersly distributed to the particuler members of the Church according to the good wil of the giuer That euery member hath need of an other and euery office of each member is profitable for the whole body teacheth that euen so the varietie of giftes diuerslye distributed vnto the Church are giuen to profit withall and to edifie the whole body of Christ in loue Further that those members which seem most vile carry a meruailous necessity with them that they cannot be spared It admonisheth vs to beware of diuision which groweth often by contempt of those who want the greater and more excellent giftes and yet whome the Church can not spare Lastly as the bones beeing the stronger beare vp the skinne and fâ—eshe which is the weaker so we whome GOD hath endued with greater strength should learne to bear with many infirmities in others When we see any vile or loathsome body then let vs remember that it expresseth our present miserable estate which notwithstanding shall be chaunged by him that is able to subdue al things to him selfe to a glorious immortall state Bondmen By Bond-men and bondwo-men compared with the state of those which are free we learn the difference of the two Testamentes and the freedome that wee are called vnto by Christe with the slauery that they remaine in which are not of the Church of God Barrelles BArrelles newly tunned with Liquor that worketh if they haue not vent breake which sheweth how painfull a thing it is for that man to holde his peace that loueth to speake and is delighted to here him selfe Bowes LIke as a Bowe bent with an arrowe ready set in it to shotte at any thing So are the deuises of the wicked against the godly As he whose Bowe breaketh in drawing misseth his marke So the enterprices and endeauours of the wicked euen then when they thinke to destroy the godly are broken and come to naught Brandes WHen wee see Brandes-endes burning which very shortly will be burnt out or quenched out Then we are to remember that the holy ghoste compareth to them the deuises attemptes and threatninges of wicked Kings when God doth not establishe and ratifie their Councells Bread BRead should bring to our minde that Christ is the Bread of life And as Bread perishing nourisheth vs in this life for a small time so Christe the Breade that perisheth not but endureth for euer norisheth to euerlasting life Therfore our labour and paynes for the Breade that perisheth shoulde warne to take greater paines for the breade that came from Heauen And as hee that will bee nourished by Breade must eate it So hee that will bee benefited by Christe must beleeue in him Further the properties of the bread eaten representeth vnto vs the properties of Christes fleshe in whome wee beleeue Fynally wee are admonished what vnitie shoulde bee amongest our selues by eating of one bread made of many graines Bookes THe sight of a booke clasped shoulde make vs feare the vengeance of God for our vnkinde contempt of his worde least hee leauing vnto vs the Bookes of his Lawe yet take away our wit and vnderstanding so that y e hauing of the bookes profite vs as much as the looking on the backside of the booke doth benefite them that cannot open it or the looking of the inner side doth to them that cannot reade or knowe a Letter Bottelles AS easy as it is for men when they haue filled Bottelles with Wine to spoil and break them by dashing them together So easy is it for the Lorde to fill all estates and sortes of them that dispise him with dronkennesse And then by setting debate and dissention amongest them vtterly to destroy them As newe Wine with the strength of the working thereof will breake old bottelles so that if in them it shoulde be turned it were but spilte and lost so those who haue placed righteousnesse in the outward exercises of religion can-not sauour taste or receiue the Doctrine of righteousnesse by fayth onely in Christ. As an earthen bottell when it is broken to peeces the shardes cannot be set together agayne So when God is disposed to punish wicked people
are framed at his good pleasure and will Pismire THE nature of the Pismire is to be diligent in gathering and carrying to her Hillocke in Sommer that wherewith shee shoulde liue in winter wherfore Solomon sendeth the slouthfull idle man to the Pismire to learne to labour in season for his liuing Pillowes WHen wee see men sowing soft Pillowes and cushions for men to leane on or sit on then are we to remember to be heedefull that wee be not perswaded by false and lying Prophetes to looke for at the hands of God peace and prosperity when our contemptuous and obstinate sins deserue the contrary physition PHisitions for the body should put vs in minde of the heauenly Phisition of our soule And as they that are in health haue no neede of the Phisition and therefore seeke little or nothing after them so they that know not the dangerous diseases of their soules but thinke themselues in case good inough doe seeke little after Christe and set little by him It is daungerous also for them that are bodily sick to trust to the cunning of the Phisition and not to seeke the Lord. Plants IN rooting out vnprofitable Plants and throwing them out of our Garden wee are to remember that euerye Plant which God hath not planted shall be rooted out of the Church Planting WHen we see men in their gardens diligent in Planting and watring and taking great paines vpon hope of the fruit thereof Then Ministers are admonished what paines they owe vnto the church of God and other men are thankfully to remember what paines God hath layde vpon his Ministers for the sauing of their souls As it is reason that he which planteth a vineyard should eat of the fruit thereof so also it is reason that the teacher of the gospell shoulde haue a liuing of them whom he teacheth for him selfe and his charge Place WHen we see men glad to hide them selues in secreat places from peerill and daunger Then are we to remember that there is no secreat place so safe for vs to flie vnto as is our good God Plowing THE discretion to take time fit to Plow sowe the skill to vse the diuersitie of instrumentes belonging to Husbandry and the wisedome to make choyce of ground apt and sitte for euery kind of seed commeth of the teaching and instructing of God and therefore is to be thoght vppon with a thankfull and kind remembrance As plowing reaping and eating the fruit doe successiuely follow one an other so he that ploweth wickednesse shall reape iniquitie and eat the fruit of lyes Without breaking vp of our fallow groundes it is but a folly to lay on seed and when the followe is broken hath his due tilth which is the hardest part of the plowgh-mans worke then such as he soweth he is like to reape When we see men waxe wearie of the plow giue ouer labour and paines then we are to remember that he that continueth not in the vocation wherein God hath planted him for the benefite of the Church is not apt for the kingdome of God Poore ARte thou poore miserable and afflicted there is no such waye as to crye vnto the Lorde for he will deliuer thee and ridde thee out of all troubles The miserable estate of men to whome the glad tidinges of Christ their deliuerer out of all those miseries are welcome are set out vnto vs by poore broken harted men captiues blind and bruised If God haue blessed thee with wealth and graunted thee to liue in delightes and giuen thee both aboundaunce and delicacie of fare dayly take heede of beeing vnmercifull and let not poore Lazarus be neglected much lesse despised at thy gate least thou follow the ritch glutton into hell For he that despiseth or mocketh the poore reprocheth him that made him And pouertie is the more patiently to be borne because it was consecrated in Christ who beeing ritch for our sakes became poore that we through his pouertye might becomme rich And a little with the feare of the Lorde is better then great treasure and trouble therewith But if any of our brethren fall to pouerty we must neither harden our hartes nor close our handes Post. THe speed that Postes make on their iourney doth admonishe vs with what speed and hast our dayes of this miserable life do passe and haste away Pitte MEN that deuise mischiefe and seeke by subtiltie to hurt others are at euery Pitte they passe by admonished to feare the iust iudgements of God who oftentimes maketh them to fall into the pit which they digge for others Further pits and snares do admonishe vs to take heed of prouoking God to anger For when he will punish he that escapeth one punishment shall surely fall into an other Deepe pits and yet drye in the Bottome should bring vs to minde that God will deliuer his Church out of all daungers how great soeuer they seeme to vs to be Preaching WHere the Word is preached and yet men growe not in vnderstanding and knowledge but continue the same or worse then they were before still then the iudgementes of God are to be feared least he will not haue them conuerted and so saued For so the Prophet concludeth against king Amaziah saying I know that God hath determined to destroye thee both because thou hast done this and hast not obeyed my counsell Prickes AS he that beateth his heeles and kicketh againste sharpe prickes doth nothing but hurt his owne heeles so he that striueth againste God preuayleth nothing but harmeth himselfe Prophets THe killing stoning and misusing of the prophets of God sent vnto men is an euident token and a most certaine fore-shew of their destruction in short time following How be it how soeuer the rage and crueltie of men seme to make hauocke of the Prophets and people of god yet they shal not so root out the Church of God but that God will alwayes haue some remnant according to the election of grace remaine to him selfe Prophets at this daye are such as labour to expounde and applye the doctrine of the Word Follow after loue and couet spirituall giftes and rather that yee may prophecie For he that prophesieth speaketh vnto men to edifiyng to exhortation and to comfort Pride WHen men feele them selues exalted in hart proude and high minded then let them know that their destruction is at hand and their fall draweth neare For God scattereth the proud in the imagination of their harts and putteth downe the mighty from their seates Hereof haue we example in king Nabuchadnezer and in Hamman who prepared the gallous for Mardochaie that he was hanged vpon him selfe Therfore though a mans pryde mount vp to the heauens and his head reach the cloudes yet shall he perishe for euer like the dung and they