offence and from the iust hee takes away the occasions of his sinne Epirus King of Arcadia for breaking vp of Neptunes Temple was strooken blind Mardorus spoyling Circes temple was strooken mad with all his souldiers Alexanders souldiours seeking to spoile the Temple of the same Goddesse vvere slayne with lightning The Sibarites desirous to know frō Apollo howe long their prosperity should last were aunswered that so soone as they beganne to prefer men before God theyr state should be destroied Brennus the captaine of the French entring the Temple of Apollo and spoiling it was strooken with madnes and slew himselfe Scipios souldiers that robbed the Temple at Tolossa dyed all myserably As it is impossible with one the same eye to behold heauen and earth so it is as impossible with one disordinate wil to loue God the world Like as God surmounteth all other creatures so the remembrance of him surmounteth all other imaginations God is hie if thou lift thy selfe vp vnto him he flieth from thee but if thou humblest thy selfe vnto him he commeth downe to thee Gods doctrine is the rule of prudence his mercy the worke of iustice and his death the standard of patience Bernard The Resurrection of Christ to the deade is lyfe to the Saints glory to sinners mercie Simonides the more hee studied to knowe what God was the harder still it seemed vnto him If God helpe hee is mercifull if not vvee must not thinke hym vniust Diuinitie cannot be defined The operation of God is threefold creation formation consumation God is eternitie and therefore not founde but of such as continually seeke him God although he be omnipotent could neuer make a creature equall to himselfe The Lorde of hosts is called God the Father the Sonne is the image of the Father The Father the Sonne knowne the goodnesse of them both which is the holy Ghost is made manifest Augustine Iupiter est quodcunque vides quocunque moueris Quae Deus occulta esse voluit non sunt scrutanda quae autem manifesta fecit non sunt neganda né et in illis illicité curiosi et in istis damnabiliter inueniamur ingrati Of Heauen Defi. Heauen is generally taken for that part of the world which is ouer our heads a place full of diuine residence and that Land where the faithfull after this lyfe expect their portion and inhearitance HEauen is the seate of GOD and the Earth is his foote-stoole Heauen is the seate of glory the habitation of Angels the resting place of the faythfull fayre beyond thought and glorious beyond report VVe deeme it hard to knowe the things on earth and finde the obiects of our eyes wyth toyle but who can search the secrets of the heauens Heauen is neither infinite in forme nor figure but one in nature Heauen as it had his creation of nothing so it shal be dissolued to nothing The disposition and places of the Heauens are not of power to expresse our good or bad fortunes No man knoweth the property of the fixed starres neyther their natures therefore no man can iudicially speake of their effects Neither hath the eare of man heard the eye seene nor the tongue able to expresse vvhat ioyes the Elect possesse in heauen As Hell is the place of all horror so Heauen is the Hauen of all rest Heauen is the habitation of the Elect the throne of the Iudge the receit of the saued the seat of the Lambe the fulnesse of delight the inhearitance of the iust and the reward of the faythfull From Heauen our soules receiue their sustenance diuine Heauen is the church of the Elect the soule of the iust field of the faithfull Hee is most myserable that is denyed to see the Sunne shine and hee is most accursed to whom God denyeth his heauenly fauours It is hard to liue well easie to die ill hard to obtaine Heauen easie to keepe from thence None knoweth better how great is the losse of Heauen then they that are iudged to lyue continually in Hel. A good lyfe begetteh a good death and a good death a glorious inhearitance in heauen The way to heauen is narrower thē the way to hell In gloria caelesti mira serenitas plena securitas aeterna felicitas Esque Dei sedes nisi terra et pontus et aer Et coelū et virtus superos quid querimus vltra Of Angels Defi. Angels are indeede nothing els but the diuine messengers of the will of God for so much the word signifieth ANgels at all tymes and in all places behold the face of our heauenly Father Selfe-loue the ruine of the Angels is the confusion of men Angels are carefull of mens actions protectors of their persons lightners of their soules and conductors in theyr iourneyes Angels were created of God immortall innocent beautifull good free and subtile of the essence of God hymselfe Angels haue theyr habitation in Heauen theyr eyes fixed on the maiestie of GOD theyr tongues formed to his prayses and themselues onely in him The Angels exceed not in desire desire not because they want not vvant not in beholding theyr Creator Ambr. Angels intende two thinges the first is the glory and seruice of God the second is the health and saluation of hys Chyldren Angels are the comforters instructers and reformers of men Angels are Tutors of the Saints Herralds of Heauen and Gardiants of our bodyes and soules The Angels haue charge to conduct men wisedome to instruct men and grace to preserue men Angels vvere the first creatures that euer God made Angels wheresoeuer they are sent doe alwayes behold the face of God There are nine orders of Angels Angels Archangels Vertues Powers Principalities Dominations Thrones Cherubins Seraphins Tho. Aqui. Angels vvere of the light created with the light ordayned to serue God who is the Lord of light Angels Sunne Moone starres and other celestiall motions confirme and approoue a superior Dietie The diuine nature of Angels suffereth neyther change nor end for they are immutable and diuine All the world is the Temple of God and all Angels his ministers Euery true Minister is a true Angell and their tongues bear the embassage of the most high God The loue of men is written on the bosoms of Angels Angeli sic foris exeunt vt internis contemplationis gaudijs non priuentur Apostatae Angelo similis efficitur homo qui hominibus esse similis dedignatur Of Vertue Defi. Vertue is a disposition and power of the reasonable part of the soule which bringeth into order decencie the vnreasonable part by causing it to propound a conuenient end to it owne affections and passions whereby the soule abideth in a comly and decent habit executing that which ought to be done according to reason briefely it is a proportion and vprightnesse of lyfe in all poynts agreeable to reason HE that desireth to be called vertuous it is first requisite that he be good therfore in the account of reputation it is
worst God did not couer nor hide the truth vnder a Mountaine to the ende that none but such as toyled for her might finde her but as with the heauens hee hath enuironed the earth and the hells so hath hee couered the truth with the vaile of his charitie which whosoeuer will knock at the heauenly dore might enter in The end of Grammer is to speake aptly and agreeably and the ende of speach society of Rethorick to carry all mens minds to one opinion of Logicke to finde a truth amidst many falshoods all other Arts doe likewise tend to truth Speech is but the shadow of effect which as Euripides sayeth agreeing with the truth is single plaine without colour or counterfait Pharamonde the first King of Fraunce was named VVarmond which signifieth truth Truth feareth nothing more then to be hid shee careth for no shadowing but is content with her owne light Truth is a vertue that scaleth the heauens illumineth the earth maintaineth iustice gouerneth common-weales kils hate nourisheth loue and discouereth secrets Truth is a sure pledge not impaired a shield neuer pierced a flower that neuer dyeth a state that feares not fortune and a port that yeelds no danger Cicero Truth is health that is neuer sick a life that hath neuer end a salue that healeth all sores a sunne that neuer setteth a moone that is neuer eclipsed an hearb that is neuer withered a gate that is neuer lockt and a voyage that neuer breeds wearines Truth is such a vertue that without it our strength is weakenes our iustice tyrannous our humility trayterous our patience dissembled our chastity vaine our liberty captiue and our piety superfluous Truth is the Center wherein all things repose the card whereby we sayle the wisedom whereby we are cured the rock whereon we rest the lampe that guideth vs and the shield which defendeth vs. Truth is the ground of Science the scale to Charity the tipe of eternity and the fountaine of grace By truth the innocent smyleth before the Iudge and the traytor is discouered before he is suspected Truth is a good cause and needs no help of oratory and the least speach deserues the best credite Qui veritatem occultat et qui mendacium prodit vterque reus est ille quia prodesse non vult iste quia nocere desider at August Non boue mactato coelestia numina gaudent Sed quae praestanda est et sine teste fides Of Conscience Defi. Conscience generally is the certaine and assured testimony which our soules carry about with them bearing witnesse of what we speake thinke wish or doe it is to the wicked an accuser a Iudge a hangman and a rope to the godly a comfort reward and ayde against all aduersities A Guilty conscience is a worme that biteth and neuer ceaseth The conscience once stained with innocent blood is alwayes tyed to a guilty remorse Conscience is a worme that fretteth like the Seres vvooll secretly and deepely easily gotten and hardly worne out VVhere the conscience is drowned vvith worldly pompe and riches their wisedome is turned to foolishnes He that frameth himselfe outwardly to doe that which his conscience reproueth inwardly wilfully resisteth the law of God Plato writeth that many when they are in health doe thinke all but toyes which is spoken of hell but at the point of death when their conscience pricketh thē they are troubled and vexed out of measure calling their former life into minde The conscience is wasted where shipwrack is made of faith A good conscience is the onely liberty The conscience is a booke wherein our daylie sinnes are written A good conscience is a continuall quietnes Although the consciences of many seeme to be seared with an hote yron as if it were voyde from all feeling of sinne yet at the point of death it is awakened yea and it driueth the miserable soule to desperation VVe shall carry nothing with vs out of this life but either a good or a bad conscience Discerne discreetly and practise reuerently those thinges that are good that thine owne conscience may be cleere and others by thy dooings not offended A cleere conscience needeth no excuse nor feareth any accusation None is more guilty then hee whose conscience forceth him to accuse himselfe To excuse ones selfe before he is accused is to finde a foule crack in a false conscience Conscience beareth little or no sway where coyne brings in his plea. The conscience loaden with the burthen of sinne is his owne Iudge and his own accuser VVhereas any offence is cōmitted through ignorance or any other violent motion the causes that increase the same beeing cut off penitence and remorse of conscience presently followeth The Philosophers account those men incurable whose consciences are not touched with repentance for those sinnes which they haue committed There is no greater damnation then the doome of a mans owne conscience The conscience of the wicked shall tremble lyke the leafe of a tree shaken vvith euerie wind but the conscience of a good man shall make him bold and confident The violence of conscience commeth from God who maketh it so great that man cannot abide it but is forst to condemn himselfe The Furies which Poets faine to reuenge euils figure the torments of euil consciences A wicked conscience pursueth his Maister at the heeles and knoweth how to take vengeance in due time Nulla paena grauior paena conscientiae vis autem nunquam esse tristis bene vire Isodorus Heu quantum paenae mens conscia donat Sua quemque premit terroris imago Of Prayer Defi. Prayer as some Diuines affirme is talke with God crauing by intercession and humble petition eyther those things necessarie for the maintenaunce of this lyfe or forgiuenesse of those things which through frailety we daily commit THe iust mans prayer appeaseth the wrath of GOD. Prayer must be freely giuen neuer sold. Prayer is the oblation of a thankful hart the token of a contrite and penitent mind Prayer is not to be attempted with force violence of heart but with simplicity and meekenes of spirit Augustine Happy is that man whom worldly pleasures cannot draw from the cōtemplation of God and whose life is a continuall prayer Prayer kindeleth inflameth and lifteth vp the hart vnto God and the incense of meditation is pleasing in his eyes The prayer of the poore afflicted pierceth the clouds Prayer is the wing wherewith the soule flyeth to heauen and meditation the eye wherby we see God Prayer is a vertue that preuaileth against temptation and against all cruell assaults of infernall spirits against the delights of thys lingering life and against the motions of the flesh Bernard Praier engendereth confidence in the soule confidence engendereth peace and tranquility of conscience Fayth ioyned with prayer maketh it more forcible but humility coupled with it maketh it benificiall and effectuall Vertuous and godly disposed people doe daily pray vnto God for the clensing of the
for spight vvorke most iniustice for they bend theyr accusations against the mightiest persons Kings because they can doe most are in accusation the worst though they runne into ills by compulsion Great men too much graâ—st vse rigor and accuse humility of dulnes Minions too great in power accuse Kings too weake to rule Hee that accuseth himselfe is a iust man Chrisostom Good must not be drawne from Kings by force nor accusation by threats Fooles weepe when great men are accused as pittying the fall of honor Hee that accuseth himselfe and afterwards aunswereth not tempteth God August Generall calamity accuseth Princes of generall imbecility It is danger to accuse a wicked man Demo. VVhen great men are accused condemned guiltie vassailes are hopelesse and desperate No man may bee both the accuser and iudge Plut. Princes indangered seeke theyr peace by any meane priuate persons iniured seeke reuenge many times by false accusation The greatest wrongs that euer vvere effected were then performed when Princes feared to fall by surmize or accusation The accused is not guilty vntill he be conuicted Lactan. Leontius the Emperour after hee had put Iustinian to flight caused two of his tale-bearers to be burned Ex defendendo quam ex accusando vberior gloria comparatur Accusator nocere monitor prodesse reprehendendo studet Of Slaunder Defi. Slaunder is a part of enuie and euerie whit as vile and dangerous it is the superfluitie of a cankred hart which inraged with choller after an iniurie receaued or after some report thereof wanting other meanes of reuenge dooth with slaunderous and reprochfull speeches giue testimonie of his hate and malice FOule-mouthed detraction is his neighbours foe The nature of a slanderer is to call all things into question and to approue nothing VVe kill hurtfull Vipers if we spy them but we nourish slaunderers till they kill vs. Slaunder lying and flatterie are sworne companions together As Rats and Mise eate gnaw vpon other mens meat so the slaunderer eateth gnaweth vpon the life and flesh of other men A tale vnaptly told may be depraued He is a lothsome wretch worthy shame that vvrongs his louing friend behinde his backe He that hurteth his neighbour by his tong woundeth his owne soule by his words They that speake euill and slaunder the dead are like enuious dogges which bite and barke at stones Zeno. The corrupt hart breaketh out by the lewd tongue and such as speake euill by all men are monsters amongst good men VVhosoeuer vseth to listen much to misreport deserueth eyther to loose his hearing or his eares A common slaunderer striuing to bring other men into hate becoms odious himselfe Slaunder may blemish truth but truth will discouer slaunder Beleeue not euery report neyther be thou mooued by vaine suggestions least through light trust thou loose friends or vvhich is more bad be counted a foole There are three sorts of man-slayers they which kill they which hate and they which detract Itching eares doe swallow many wrongs Hee that trusteth to lewd tongues is eyther swolne with hate plagued vvith enuie consumed with thought endangerd by reuenge or lost in hope Nature hath giuen vs two eares two eyes and but one tongue to the ende wee should heare and see more then we speake Though the tongue be but a small member yet it many times doth more hurt then the whole body besides Pittichus A good tongue is the best member and an ill tongue is the vvorst member that a man may haue Keepe thy friend and keepe thy tongue for few words couereth much vvisedome and a foole being silent is thought wise Diuersitie of meates hurt digestion and changeablenes of reports beget slaunder Long promises are figures of crueltie and large slaunders the signes of great enuie The armes of Princes stretch farre but the scandall of report endureth from generation to generation Slaunder offends the liuing gnawes vppon the dead The slanderer doth euer vniustly accuse ought to be punished in the same sort as the party accused should haue beene if the accusation had been found true Slaunderers in auntient time haue beene marked in the fore-head with a hote yron The slanderer is compared vnto him which bloweth the powder that flasheth into hys owne eyes and hindereth his seeing Greg. Detraction is the poyson of frendship Aug. Patience is tryed by detraction Apelles after he had escaped a false slaunder hee thus by his Art described her in a table painted Hee pictured a Iudge with the eares of an Asse hauing on the one side two Ladies Ignorance and Suspition before him false Accusation with a countenance full of furie holding in the left hande a burning torch with his right hand pulling a young man by the haire who lifted vp his eyes and hands to heauen neere vnto him was a man looking pale earthly and a squint which was Enuy two damsels folowed false Accusation named Treason and Deceit behind whom stood a Lady wayling and mourning called Repentance which fastened her eyes vpon a very fayre Lady called Truth declaring by this that vvee ought not lightly to beleeue euery accusation slaunder that is brought vnto vs. Aut in infamia vulneribus aut morte desinit calumnia Detractor vno verbo tres simul iugulat homines seipsum aâ—scâ—ltantem et eum cui detrahit Of Scoffing Defi. Quips or scoffes are deprauings from the actions of other men they are the ouerflowings of wit and the superfluous skummes of conceits TO play the scoffing foole well is a signe of some wit but no wisedome All kinde of mockery ought to be shunned which is a reproch couered with some fault and which accustometh the mocker to raile and lye and mooueth more then an iniurie when it proceedeth from a will to outrage a malice without necessity An Adder keeps his venome in his taile but the poyson of a scoffer is in his tongue VVhat is sweet in the mouth is bitter in the stomack and scoffes pleasant in the eare are harsh to the best vnderstanding Tis too late to preuent ill after ill committed or to amend vvrong after indignitie receaued A fault wilfully committed by scoffing can not be amended by repentance Hee that mocks a vvise man with flatterie mocks himselfe with insufficiencie Scoffes haue no reward but disdaine nor prayse but ill imployment To haunt the company of scoffers is to be stained with scoffes Scoffes without feare proceed of folly To mocke the man which loues vs is monstrous villany Good and euill follow one another so doe scoffes and hatefull estimation It is a good horse that is not subiect to stuÌ„bling and hee is a happy man that lyues free from idle tongues The least man can doe some hurt and the obscurest tongue can disparage He which most scoffeth shall be most scoffed at for his reward To iest is tollerable but to doe harme by iests is insufferable Tis better to doe well then speake well but easier to reprehend then to amend
sound of harmonie is made which reioyceth the spirits vnloadeth griefe from the hart and consisteth in time and number THE most commendable end of musick is the praise of GOD. Disagreeing musick and vaine pastimes are the hinderances of delight The brutish part of the soule depending of the feeding beast vvithout reason is that which is pleased and ordered by soundes and musicke Musick is fitter for funeralls then feasts rather meete for passions of anger then dalliance and delight Eurip. Musicke vsed moderatly like sleepe is the bodies best recreation Loue teacheth musicke though a man bee vnskilfull Plutar. Musick is the gyft of God The better musicke the more delighted in To sing well and to lyue ill is abhominable before God Nothing rauisheth the minde sooner then musick and no musicke is more sweete then mans voyce There is no lawe to be compared with loue nor any Art to the Art of musick The ignorance of musick hindereth the vnderstanding of the scriptures August One day takes from vs the credite of another and one musick extinguisheth the pleasure of another Musick and pleasure are euer counted best when they cost deerest Musick ouercommeth the hart the hart ruleth all other members Beautie is no beautie without vertue nor musicke no musicke without Art Musick is a comfort to the mind oppressed with melancholie Diuersitie and change is Natures chiefest musicke That musicke looseth most his sounde and grace which is bestowed vpon a deafe man It is impossible with great strokes to make sweet musick Patience exceedeth knowledge musick begetteth patience The loude sound of Drummes and Trumpets is counted a Captaines vvarfaring musicke Musicke which comforts the minde hath power to renue melancholie Eurip. Shame and danger are prides musitians Hope is grieâ—es best musick and ouercomes the desires of the soule Musicke ouer our soules is both Queene Mistresse All things in this world is but the musick of inconstancie All thinges loue theyr likes and the most curious eare the delicatest musick Too much speaking hurts too much galling smarts and too much musicke gluts and distempereth Musick is the world of sciences for it imbraceth all discipline without which it cannot be perfit Architas inuented a certaine musical instrument to stay the running with of chyldren Youth ought to exercise themselues in musicke and to employ theyr time in those harmonies which stirre vp to commendable operations morrall vertues tempering desires greedines and sorrowes forasmuch as musicke consisteth in certaine proportions and concords of the voyce Musick is the Load-stone of fellowship the cheerfull reuiuer of dulled spirits the sole delight of dauncing Siluestres homines sacer interpresque Deorum Caedibus et faedo victu deterruit Orpheâ—s Dictus ob id lenire tigres rabidosque leones Vt quidam magnetes ferruÌ„ attrahunt at Theamedes qui in Aethiopia nascitur ferrum abigit respuitque Ita est musices genus quod sidet affectus est quod incitet Of Dauncing Defi. Dauncing is an actiue motion of the bodie which proceedeth from the lightnesse of the hart iudicially obseruing the true time and measure of musicke TIme Dauncing are twinnes begot together Time the first borne beeing the measure of all mouing dauncing the mouing of all in measure Dauncing is loues proper exercise Dauncing is the child of musick loue Dauncing lyke Loue his Sire whom paynters make a boy euer flourisheth in lustie youth Loue brought foorth the three Graces vvith hande in hande dauncing an endlesse round and with regarding eyes that still beware that there be no disgrace found among them Ganimede Hebe and the nine Muses ryde on the Zodiack for pleasing loue vvith dauncing Bacchus taught the people of East-India to honour heauen and heauens great rouling eye with daunces Duncing is the faire character of the worlds consent the heauens great figure and the earths ornament The virgins of Basill on the festiuall dayes vse to daunce publiquely without the company and leading of men and to sing chast songs And by this meanes effeminacie idlenes and lasciuiousnesse beeing auoyded they become the mothers of vvell knit and manly chyldren Ramus King Dauid to shew his cheerefull hart for the returne of the Arke daunced before it Pirrhus play which he inuented in Creete for the souldiours to exercise themselues in Armes wherein he taught diuers iestures and sundry shyfts in mouings whence first proceeded much the vse of warres was a kinde of dauncing in Armes as Dionisius Halicarnassaeus in his 7. booke testifieth The Ethiopians vsed songs of diuers tunes and dauncing before they went to warres The dauncing of Herodias daughter cost Iohn Baptist his head Progne the wife of Tereus in a daunce dyd finde fit time and place to murther her sonne Itis VVhen the Mermaides daunce and sing they meane certaine death to the Marriner VVhen the Dolphins daunce some dangerous storme approcheth The soberer and wiser sort among the heathen haue vtterly disliked dauncing and among the olde Romaines it was counted a shame to daunce Dauncing is the chiefest instrument of ryot and excesse Salust No man beeing well in his wits wil daunce neyther will an honest man daunce openlie if he might get thereby very great inheritance Cicero Semphronia a Romaine Lady although fortunate in husband chyldren famous for her knowledge in learning yet was blemished with note of lasciuiousnes for more then necessary expertnes in footing a daunce Plato and Aristippus beeing inuited to a banquet of Dionisius being both by him commaunded to array themselues in purple and to daunce Plato refused with thys aunswere I am borne a man and know not how to demeane my selfe in such vvomanish effeminacie Aristippus arrayed himselfe in purple prepared himselfe to daunce with thys aunswere At the solemnities of our Father Liber a chast minde knoweth not hovve to be corrupted Clisthenes King of Sicyon hauing a daughter marrigeable commaunded that it should bee proclaimed at the games of Olympus that he that would bee counted Clisthenes son in lawe shoulde within threescore dayes repaire to Sicyon VVhen many wooers had mette together Hippoclides the Athenian sonne of Tisander seemed the fittest but when as hee had trode the Laconique and Attique measures and had personated them with hys legs and armes Clisthenes stomaking it sayd O thou sonne of Tisander thou hast daunced away thy marriage Albertus the Emperour father of Ladislaus was wont to say that hunting was the exercise of a man but dauncing of a woman Fredericke the thirde Emperour of Rome would often vse to say that hee had rather be sicke of a burning Feauer then giue himselfe to dauncing Alphonsus that most puisant King of Aragon and Sicily was wont to taxe the French men of great lightnes who the more auncicient in yeres they waxed the more they delighted themselues vvith vaine and franticke dauncing The same Alphonsus when he had beheld a woman daunce very lasciuiously and impudently Behold quoth hee by and by Sybilla will deliuer an Oracle
fight is continuall and the victory rare A chast eare cannot abide to heare that which is dishonest nullâ reparabilis arte Laese pudicitia est deperit illa semel Lis est cum formá magna pudicitiae Of Content Defi. Content is a quiet and setled resolution in the minde free from ambition and enuie ayming no further then at those things alreadie possessed COntent is great riches and patient pouertie is the enemy to Fortune Better it is for a time with content to preuent danger then to buy fayned pleasures with repentance He that cannot haue what hee would must be content with what he can get Content is a sweet sauce to euery dish and pleasantnesse a singuler potion to preuent a mischiefe A merry countenaunce is a signe of a contented minde but froward words are messengers of mellancholie Content is more woorth then a kingdome and loue no lesse worth then life The ende of calamitie is the beginning of content after misery alwayes ensues most happy felicitie Plut. A vvise man preferreth content before riches and a cleere minde before great promotion Misery teacheth happy content VVhat can be sweeter then content where mans life is assured in nothing more then in wretchednes Content makes men Angels but pride makes them deuils Many men loose by desire but are crowned by content Plato To couet much is misery to liue content with sufficient is earthly felicitie To will much is folly where abilitie vvanteth to desire nothing is content that despiseth all things The riches that men gather in tyme may fayle friends may waxe false hope may deceiue vaine-glory may tempt but content can neuer be conquerd By desire we loose time by content wee redeeme time Solon Content is the blessing of nature the salue of pouertie the maister of sorrow the end of misery To lyue nature affoordeth to liue content wisedome teacheth Displeasures are in our owne handes to moderate and content is the procurer of peace Content though it loose much of the world it pertakes much of God To liue to God to despise the worlde to feare no misery and to flye flatterie are the ensignes of content VVhat wee haue by the worlde is miserie what we haue by content is wisedom Aur. The eyes quiet the thoughts medicine and the desires methridate is content To bee content kills aduersitie if it assault dryes teares if they flowe stayes wrath if it vrge winnes heauen if it continue He is perfectly content which in extreames can subdue his owne affections No riches is comparable to a contented minde Plut. Hee that is patient and content in his troubles preuenteth the poyson of euill tongues in theyr lauish talkings Content and patience are the tvvo vertues which conquer and ouerthrow all anger malice wrath and backbiting To liue content with our estate is the best meanes to preuent ambitious desires Nemo quam sibi sortem Seu ratio dederit seu sors obiecerit illa Contentus viuit Horac Viuitur paruo bené Of Constancie Defi. Constancie is the true and immouable strength of the mind not puffed vp in prosperitie nor depressed in aduersitie it is sometimes called stabilitie and perseueranâ—e sometimes pertinacie the last of the parts of fortitude IT is the part of constancie to resist the dolors of the minde and to perseuer in a wel deliberated action Arist. Constancie is the health of the minde by which is vnderstood the whole force and efficacie of wisedome Cicero Constancie except it be in truth and in a good cause is impudencie He that hath an inconstant minde is either blinde or deafe Constancie is the daughter of patience and humilitie Constancie is the meane betweene elation and abiection of the minde guided by reason Plato Constancie is onely the Nepenthes vvhich who so drinketh of forgetteth all care and griefe Constancie euer accompanieth the other vertues and therefore iustice is defined to be a constant will to render to euery one what is right Nothing in the world sooner remedieth sorowes then constancie and patience vvhich endureth aduersitie violence without making any shew or semblance Agrippa It is the lightnesse of the wit rashly to promise what a man will not nor is not able to performe Cassiodorus It is not enough to say what shoulde bee done or what should not be doone but it behoueth to put it in practise The blessed life is in heauen but it is to bee attained vnto by perseuerance It is a great shame to bee weary of seeking that which is most precious Plato Many begin well but fewe continue to the end Ierom. Perseuerance is the onely daughter of the great King the end and confirmation of all vertues and the vertue without the vvhich no man shall see God Bern. Perseuerance is the sister of patience the daughter of constancie the friende of peace and the bond of friendshyp Not to goe forward in the way of God is to goe backward The constant man in aduersitie mourneth not in prosperity insulteth not and in troubles pineth not away In vaine he runneth that fainteth before he come to the goale Greg. The constant man is not like Alcibiades tables fayre without and foule within Constancie hath two enemies false good things and false euill false good things are riches honours power health long life false euill are pouerty infamy diseases death The only way to constancie is by wisdome A constant minded man is free from care griefe despising death and is so resolued to endure it that he remembreth all sorrowes to be ended by it Cic. Constancie is the ornament of all vertues Cato rather then hee would submit himselfe to the Tyrant Caesar hauing read Plato of the immortalitie of the soule slew himselfe Pomponius Atticus was much renowned for his constancie Marcus Regulus Fabricius Marius Zeno Anaxarchus and Epichatius Laeena for theyr rare and wonderfull constancie are woorthy to be recorded in bookes of brasse leaues of endlesse tymes Hee is not to bee reputed constant whose minde taketh not fresh courage in the midst of extreamities Bern. Rarae faelicitatis est celeritas et magnitudo rarioris diuturnitas et constantia Demost. Tardé aggredere et quod aggressurus sis perseueranter prosequere Of Religion Defi. Religion is a iustice of men towards God or a diuine honouring of him in the perfect true knowledge of his word peculiar onely to man it is the ground of all other vertues and the onely meanes to vnite and reconcile man vnto God for his saluation NO error is so dangerous as that which is committed in Religion forasmuch as our saluation quiet happinesse consisteth thereon Man was created for the seruice of GOD who ought aboue all things to make account of Religion If it bee a lewde part to turne the trauailer out of his right way and so to hinder him in his iourney then are such as teach false doctrine much more to bee detested because through such a mischiefe they leade men to destruction August
moneth into dayes and called them Festos profestos and Intercisos the first dedicated to the gods the next to men for dispatching of theyr busines the last as common for theyr Gods as men A day natural hath twenty foure houres a day artificiall hath twelue houres The day beginneth vvith the Egyptians at sunne-setting and vvith the Persians at the sunne-rising The Athenians count all the time from the setting of the sunne till the setting of the sun againe but one day The Babylonians count their day from the sunne rising in the morning till the sun rising the next day The Vmbrians an auncient people in Italy count theyr day from noonetide till no one-tide next following The vvicked and euill-liuing man loueth darknes and hateth the light One day taketh from vs the credite that another hath giuen vs and the last must make reckoning of all the rest past By daily experience we wax wiser wiser Hee that refuseth to amend his life to day may happen to be dead ere to morrow Aure. Let no day be spent without some remembrance how thou hast bestowed thy time Vespasian thought that day lost vvherein he â—ad not gotten a friend One day the hardy broode Of Fabius sent to fight Thus sent one day Did see them nobly dead ere night The Romans called Iupiter Diespiter which signifieth the father of the day or light Light is some-times taken for day and darknes for night No day commeth to man wherein he hath not some cause of sorrow Quintil. The entrance of adolescencie is the end of infancie mans estate the death of youth and the morrow dayes birth the ouer-throw of this dayes pride Light is the Queene of the eyes Aug. GOD in the beginning made tvvo great lights one for the day another for the night Day is the image of life night of death Aug. The pleasure of the day is the sunne called of the Philosophers the golden eye and hart of heauen The light of learning is the day of the minde Aug. Euery day that passeth is not to be thought as the last but that it may be the last Seneca The sunne melteth wax and hardneth clay Abbreuiare dies poteris producere nunquam Abbreuiare tuum est sed prolong are tonantis Optima quaeque dies miseris mortalibus eui Prima fugit subeunt morbi tistisque senectus Et labor et durae rapit inclementia mortis Night or Darknes Defi. Night is the houres of rest and peace after labours beeing commonly that part of the day naturall in which the sunne is hidden from vs cheering the Antipodes THe longer the night is in comming the more it is desired of the oppressed yet no sooner seene then wisht to be departing Night is the benefit of nature and made for mans rest Liuius Suspition and feare are nights companions This our life is as it were night Aug. Darknes is not euill but in comparison of the light Aug. Euery light hath his shadow and euery shadow of night a succeeding morning The darknes of our vertues and not of our eyes is to be feared Aug. It is not darknes but absence of the light that maketh night Darknes cannot be seene Aug. The breath wee breathe in the morning is often stopt and vanished before night Night followeth day as a shadow followeth a body Arist. Night is more comfortable to the miserable then the day Night is the cloake to couer sinne and the armour of the vniust man Theophr Night which is the nurse of ease is the mother of vnquiet thoughts Night which is all silence heares all the coÌ„plaints of the afflicted The deeded of the night are lothsome to the day neyther hath light to doe with darknes Night is warres enemy yet is it the onely finder out of martiall stratagems A darke night and a deadly resolution begets cause of the dayes lamentation Night vvhich is most foule begets day vvhich is most faire a contrary of a contrarie Night begets rest and rest is the refreshing of tired spirits VVhat euer is ouer-wearied by the dayes exercise is as it vvere nevve borne by the nights rest and quiet Tully Night and sinne hold affinitie and ioyntly ayde each other It is impossible to weare out the day in trauaile if some part of the night be not spent in rest Vt ingulent homines surgunt de nocte latrones vt teipsum serues non expergisceris Horatius Interiores tenebrae caecitas mentis exteriores infernus Of Wickednes Defi. VVickednes is any sinne vice or euil committed or imagined in the whole course of our liues and the meane by which we loose Gods fauour and expose our selues to the danger of hell fire THe prosperity of euill men is the calamitie of the good VVhen wicked men reioyce it is a signe of some tempest approching It is the corruption of the good to keepe company with the euill Reioyce as often as thou art despised of euill men and perswade thy selfe that their euill opinion of thee is most perfit praise Ill men are more hasty then good men be forward in prosecuting their purpose Hee that worketh wickednes by another is guilty of the fact committed himselfe Bias. It is better to destroy the wickednes it selfe then the wicked man Vnexperienced euils doe hurt most The remembrance of euill thinges is to be obserued by the contemplation of good matters Phillip K. of Macedon assembled together the most wicked persons and furthest from correction of all his subiects and put them into a Towne which hee builded of purpose calling it Poneropolis the Citty of vvicked persons Continuance of euill doth in it selfe increase euill S. P S. A wicked life is the death of the soule Chris. VVho can be more vnfortunate then hee which of necessity will needs be euill VVho soeuer hee be that spareth to punish the wicked doth thereby much harme to the good Anachar It is a praise to the godly to be dispraised of the wicked and it is likewise a dispraise to be praised of them Sinne blindeth the eyes of the wicked but punishments open them Greg. The wicked man is daily drawne to punishment and is ignorant therof The minde of an ill disposed person is more vnstable then the superficies of the water VVhen wicked men be in the midst of all theyr iollitie then some misfortune comes knocking at the doore VVhen the euill man vvould seeme to be good then is he worst of all He is euill that doth willingly associate him selfe with wicked men VVicked men are the deuils shadowes Vertue is health but vice is sicknes Plato The wicked man attempteth thinges impossible Arist. The wicked man is euer in feare Plato Hee vvrongeth the good that spareth the wicked A good sentence proceeding from a wicked mans mouth looseth his grace The progeny of the wicked although it be not wholy infected yet it vvill sauour something of the fathers filthines As vertue is a garment of honour so vvickednes is a robe of shame Cursed is