and was born for the Salvation of all denyed not his proud fellowes request neither resused to enter into his House although he was ambitious but down at the Table sate the Son of God made Man for the Salvation of Men. He was conbersant among Men he did eat and drink with Men he offered himself a helper to every one shewing unto all his goodnesse without exception of any Now he being set at the Table there came one unto him in shape like a Woman but in courage a Man who by the brute of the whole City was counted a great Sinner and very ill-reported of the World and such a one indeed as every Body mocked and pointed at with their fingers But yet in the sight of God she was in great honour not because she was an hainous Sinner but because she was Predestinated and elected of God from the beginning to raign with him in his Heavenly Kingdom This Woman hearing by report the renown of our Redeemer and that he shewed himself sweet and bountifull to all sinners defending them against the malicious slanders and mocks of the proud and arregant Pharisies and promising to every one that believed in him the Kingdom of Heaven this Woman was inspired both outwardly and inwardly by our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ to see and hear him preach Then did she by outward speech express how she was inwardly affected and moved in mind and seeing her Soul sore sick and diseased her heart full of iniquity and sin her Conscience defiled with all kind of vice her self frustrate and void of all hope of health and devising how to recover this malady addressed her self to seek him who is the only Physitian of all sick Souls she sought for grace at the Well of Mercy and though she was a shamefull Sinner yet was she received of him which came into the World to save Sinners She came not pompously arrayed nor yet came with a train she came alone and not empty handed for she brought with her a Box full of most precious Ointment of a sweet smell representing the Faith Hope and Charity lodged in her heart What could this be but the sweet smell of Vertue For what represents the Box of Alablaster-stone but holy Faith founded upon the true Corner-stone Iesus Christ wherein is conserved all Vertues and without which it is unpossible to please God Came she alone being accompanied with Faith Hope and Charity Humility and Repentance She entred the House uncalled where was her Physitian and putting apart all shame which might hinder her together with the mocks of the proud Pharisies which sate at the Table she craved Comfort and Health for her sick Soul acknowledging her griefe and that being certain he to whom she came had power to help her Vnto this Physitian she could not have come without Faith she was not so bold and hardy as to look Iesus in the Face but sell at his seet upon Her knees sementably Weeping and with the flood of Her Hears washing his seet and wiping and drying them with Her hairy locks then she kissed them and with her Precious Oyntment she 〈…〉 All this while her vaice was not heard but her Heert spake unto the true Son of God saying I have no need to declare with my tongue my inward 〈◊〉 or to express the cause or thy coming hither seeing thou knowest the 〈…〉 to thee I come O Christ 〈…〉 to thee my sorrowfull Heart 〈…〉 working well weighed 〈…〉 heartily sorry for her offences For her 〈◊〉 eyes and her sair face which was wont to be painted with costly Colours for the adorning of Her beauty to allure licentiens Lovers and to extice Voluptuous Worldlings is now turned into Tearn Her body which afore-time was given to delights is now asisicted with Fasting Her lauging is turned into weeping and as Her first life was wholly bent to please the World so now it is more behemently and earnestly disposed to please God With Her fair flaxen Hair which she was wont to keep daintily she hath dryed our Saviours Feet her sweet lips wherewith she used to kisse her Lovers hath kissed his feet Her Odoriferous Oyntment wherewith she beautified Her face in wantonness hath anointed our Saviours feet Now all this was a sure fign of Faith Hope and Charity And thus you see how we ought to repent Surely we should do according to Saint Pauls Doctrine which is that our Members which have consented to commit iniquity should be offered unto the Lord as Instruments of righteousness to receive sanctification As for example to make the matter more manifest Hast thou been a Drunkard Become now Sober Hast thou keen a Glutton Now fast Hast thou been proud Be now humble Hast thou been Coverous Now gives Alms. Hast thou been wrathfull Be now gentle Hast thou been envious Be now charitable Hast thou been Traiterous Be now Faithfull Hast thou been Leacherous Be now Chast Hast thou been blasphemous Be now fearfull to speak any thing but Truth And so consequently to every Vile Vice lay a meet medicine which may serve for thy sickness and expel the poyson of sin But now let us see what may be thought and judged of this Pharisie who so saucily besought our Lord and Saviour to come into his House Surely he seemed as he was a Vain-glorious Hypocrite For when he saw the Wofull Woman faln at the feet of our Saviour with her Tears washing them with her hair Wiping them with her mouth kissing them and with her Precious Ointment anoynting them he blamed not only her in his heart but also our Lord for suffering her Then the Lord took the sick Woman healed her of her sickness in the presence of this proud Pharisie and with-held Physick from him whose Heart was wounded to the death with the dart of Vain-glory then he shewed himself frantick and as one that had lost his understanding not knowing his griefe nor what Medicine would do him good But what said he in his foolish Heart If this Man quoth he were a Prophet he would quickly know what Woman this is that toucheth him for she is a great Sinner This Pharisie is of the race of the Vain-glorious of whom the Prophet Esay speaketh in their person saying Come not near me for I am clear or as another Translation saith Get thee hence and meddle not with me for I am holier then thou Even so surely it is not unlike if the Woman had come near the Pharisie he would have used these words and have said Stand back and touch me not for I am holy but thou art known for a hainous Sinner Certainly true righteousness and holinesse hath compassion upon poor Sinners whereas on the contrary false righteousness and Hypocrisie hath them in Hatred and Disdain But let us listen with what sentence this sond Pharisie was convicted and reproved by our Saviour to be worse then this sinfull Woman The Lord then to shew that he was not only a Prophet but
compassion upon thee Where be the Worldlings the would not be sorry for their sins Where are they become Are they not condemned to everlasting torment in Hell fire O think then that sin doth greatly offend God Think what punishment God hath ordained for sin which makes Man an Enemy to God and a friend to the Devil Secondly think that at this present time thou art in Gods favour by the means of his Grace who made thee a child of God and an Heir of Heaven by Hope so that now thy Conscience is quiet Think what good Consolation thou hast received by devour prayer think what spiritual instructions Gods Grace hath given to thee think all the pleasures of the World are mingled with Sorrow think that this World shall pass away with all the pomps and pleasures of the same think that thy present Estate is the high way to Heaven and so shalt thou keep perseverance Thirdly think that the just judgment of God is to come which is to the good to give Heaven and to the evill Hell Think thou must dye and that at thy death thou shalt not receive so good consolation as thou hast had of Vertue and Gods grace Think that at thy death thou must leave behind thee Wife Children Goods and Mony whether thou do good or evill Think that thou must go to a Region unknown and to a place where thou hast never been and if thou be sound to have dyed in sin without repentance the Devils will attend to take thy damned Soul and will carry it into the dungeon of Darkness there to seel eternal torments But if thou be sound with Perseverance in the Palace of Vertue millions of Angels will go before thee and with great joy will bring thee to heaven O think upon the just judgment of God to come when every one shall be judged according to his deeds For God fahoureth neither Kings Princes nor People high nor low rich nor poor without respect of persons be will chuse the good and condemn the evil at the day of doom when we must appear personally without excuse or exception before him then every man must be his own Atturney when the just Iudge at that day will shew himself terrible to the Perverse which have followed Voluptuousness and have not heartily repented but will be gentle mercifull and good unto those that have been sorry for their offences O think what torments the un-repentant shall suffer both in body and soul perpetually whereas all such as have persevered in goodness to the end shall receive joy and the fulness of God and of Heaven In such sort to persevere in goodness to the end do thine utter endeavour and thou shalt see that God will be ready with his grace to arm thee with constancy in thy Christian purpose CAP. XI A protestation which Good Understanding taught the Knight to make every day for the avoiding of temptations and how he ought to humble himself before God and what he should ask in his prayer MY Son alwayes I wish thee to keep perseverance with thee by whom thou mayest avoid temptations which would induce thee to sin and force thee to forsake the true Faith and also to transgress the holy Commandements of Almighty God This to avoid I wish thee every day to repeat the promises which thou hast made to God in thy Baptism which follow thus in effect O Most high most excellent and holy Lord God I protest that I will live and dye in the true Catholike and Apostolike faith revealed in thy holy Word and that I will do my utmost endravour to keep thy holy Commandements which heretofore I have wilfully and carelessy transgressed wherefore I am sorry and do heartily repent me for the breach of them and in token thereof I make my Confession saying I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceived by the holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Sufferred under Pontius Pylate Was crucified dead and buryed He descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The communion of Saints The forgiveness of sinnes The resurrection of the body And the life everlasting Amen Then say Lord God give me grace most heartily I beseech thee without doubting to confess and believe the articles of this my Christian Faith and in the same to persevere to the end And so rehearse the Ten Commandements of Almighty God which are these The same which God spake in the xx Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Ægypt out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven above nor in the Earth beneath nor in the water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandements 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man servant thy maid servant thy catell and the stranger that is within thy gates for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it 5. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 6. Thou shalt do no murther 7. Thou shalt not commit Adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour 10. Thou shalt not cover thy Neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his servant nor his maide nor his ox nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Then considering the tenour of that which thou hast said crave grace at Gods hands to walk after his will using the same prayer which Christ taught thee and saying Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass
set down by Moses in the 13. of Deut. and by S. Peter in his 2 Epistle chap. 2 and by our Saviour Iesus Christ in the 24 of Matthew And though we live in the later times when many Sects do abound and Vertue and truth in many places do fail yet let us listen what our Saviour saith Whosoever believeth to the end shall be saved Fourthly and lastly thy Faith must be quick and lively that is it must be linked with love and charity which is the life of faith as the Soul is the life of the hedy And therefore abuse not thy self as some do saying I have Faith and I shall be saved whatsoever chance No no assure thy self that if thy Faith be not quickned with Love and Cherity it is nothing Worth and therefore unable to atchieve true Blessedness as S. Paul well noteth in the first Epistle the 13 chap. to the Corinth Even so when our Lord in the Gospel attributeth salvation unto Faith and S. Paul justification this is to be understood of an holy lively and Evangelical Faith working with Love and Charity Likewise when our Saviour saith in the Gospel that he which believeth and will be Baptised shall be saved that is meant of such a Faith as love quickneth and Charity reviveth The holy Scripture in many places expresseth that none shall be saved unless he observe and keep the Commandements of God Now none can keep the Commandements without Love and charity Ergo none can be saved without Love and Charity The sum and effect of all is this That whosoever renounceth Sin and imbraceth a quick and lively Faith and liveth in Love and Charity he cannot perish but shall find in the end perfect and everlasting Felicity in the Kingdom of Heaven CAP. IV. The Description of Hope and how we ought to hope in Almighty God NOw Sir Knight know this that Hope is a Vertue whereby Happiness or Blessedness both spiritual and eternal are hoped for And as Faith is of things not seen so is Hope also For Saint Paul saith Hope that is seen is no Hope because we have possession of it already It is common to Faith and Hope to be of things unseen and yet Hope is distinguished from Faith not only by name but by reason For by Faith we believe as well evill things as good that is Hell as Heaven We believe that Adultery is a very wicked sin we believe also Charity is a very good thing all these things good and bad we believe but we Hope only for good things and not for bad Again Faith is of things past present and to come For we believe the death of Iesus Christ which is past we believe also that at this present he sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven and we believe that Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead But under correction I think that Hope is of things present as when I Hope that I am in Gods favour and of things past as when I Hope my Sins be forgiven me and of things to come as when I Hope to have eternal life This is true that Faith hath an eye generally unto that which is spoken in holy Scripture believing that all the promises without exception which God made shall be accomplished without descending to particular or special Persons but Hope applyeth unto her self those same promises waiting for the accomplishment of that which God hath promised And therefore it is requisite for assured Salvation that thou believe thou shalt be saved but to Hope so is not sufficient For Faith in it self importeth an infallible assurance and certainty of things as when we firmly believe all the Articles of our true and Christian Faith and all things contained in the holy Scriptures to be more certain then man is man but the hoping of it is not so requisite For if we have a firm assiance in the goodness of God touching our Salvation and doubt not a whit of the remission of our sins it is enough There be two degrees in Hope which are two contrary extremities The one being the most highest is the infallible assurance of eternal Blessedness The other being the basest and lowest is to despair of Salvation Between these two extremities consisteth Hope But the more that a Man approacheth to the highest extremity which is an infallible assurance of Eternal life and the more he rejoyceth from the lowest extremity which is desperation the more perfect he is in hope As it sufficeth the hoping Man that believes anâ— loves God that he hath a firm affiance and confidence that God of his good grace will give him whatsoever he hath promised to his Elect hoping that he is of their number So it is necessarily requisste that we have a perfect infallible certainty of our Salvation Now for that in the Definition of Hope it is said that by her we Hope and look for the eternal Happiness it is to be noted that Hope hath two Objects the first the perfect enjoying of Gods presence the other is all the necessary means to come unto the clear seeing and enjoying of God and these means are remission of Sins through Gods Grace justification Faith unfained and charitable deeds and agreeableness unto God Now all that we hope for we ought with prayer devoutly to crave of God as his Kingdom the remission of our sins justification encrease of Grace and Vertue deeds of faith and Charity But concerning goods temporal forasmuch as we may use them well and ill they may be said to hinder the Salvation of Man rather then to surther it And therefore the good Christian ought not to ask them nor covet them excessively indeed so much as will necessarily serve him for sustenance in this life he may lawfully ask and here by the way it is a lesson worthy the Learning namely that it is necessary for us to do good Works because it hath pleased God to enrich us with Goods which Goods ought well to be employed Now unto him properly belongeth the merits of the works which he worketh in us For all our good works are the gift of God howbeit he doth not deny us his Grace whereby we consent to do the good works which he only moveth in us And therefore every one ought to the uttermost that he is able to do good works considering that they come of God who is the Author of all good works and without whom we are not able to think so much as one good thought much less do a good deed For otherwise to hope in doing ill to go to heaven without good works springing from a firm faith is not hope but a flat presumption And therefore thou oughtest to enforce thy self to do good works hoping that thou and thy works may be acceptable unto God nevertheless thou must not in any case trust upon thy merits or good works but altogether to the infinite goodness of God For otherwise thou fallest into that curse
Magnanimity Constancy Hope Assurance Patience and Perseverance With this Vertue the Martyrs of all Degrees and Ages were endued grounded upon a firm Faith contemning the world and setting light by the torments of Lyrants imbracing death rather then to deny Christ Gods Prophets were armed with Fortitude who without siattery reprehended the Kings of Israel and Juda of their fals worship of God and feared not their furies The Apostles of Iesus Christ were armed with Fortitude who feared not to controll the wisdom of the wise and vanquish such as were in high places that they might with contented mindes carry the yoak of Christ This they did not with mans power or warlike weapons but with dibine Doctrine not defiring to kill any one but to die themselves It is a great worlds wonder that so few simple souls unarmed unlearned and having no humane policy should vanquish the wisdom of the World confound earthly policy and strength and subdue Kings and bring them in obedience to the Faith of Christ revoking the People from false Religion and Adoration of Debils With this Vertue of fortitude Kings ought to be Armed not fearing any danger for the Defence of the Faith of Iesus Christ but being of one mind with the holy Martyrs of God With this vertue ought Preachers to be armed worthily defending the word of God against all Hereticks and Enemies of the same not fearing the threatnings of Persecutors whatsoever But you must understand that fortitude is not a dealer in the committing of unlawfull deeds as to beat hurt or kill thy brother unless it be justly done in thy own defence or for thy Countries cause otherwise it is a mere Malice Moreover such as desperately dispatch themselves as Wretches weary of Life they do it not by Fortitude but by the Lemptation of the Devill who is permitted of Gods sufferance to tempt some even to the making away of themselves Such People are not Valiant for it is not fortitude unless it be in lawfull deeds as in the defence of thine own Person the Magistrate thy Country or the Faith of Christ for the which to suffer death is excellent fortitude Temperance saith S. Austen is an affection to resrain the appetite when a Man is excessively inclined Temperance hath rule over pleasures and delights resusing to meddle in any thing which cannot be done without offending God and not falling into any excess whatsoever wherein a man may pass the rule of reason To live in Temperance is to dispose every thing according to the right use whereto it was appointed These four Vertues have four Vices clean contrary unto them by the which Vices the Vertues are corrupted and destroyed Prudence by Folly Justice by Covetousness Fortitude by Pride and Temperance by Inconstancy is defaced These Vices are signified by the sour plagues which consumed the Goods of Job namely The Sabees the Chaldees the force of Fire and the Violence of a vehement Wind. The Sabees of Folly made havock of Prudence Oxen. The Chaldees of Pride led away the Camels of Fortitude The fire of Lechery made waste of Temperance Sheep And the boysterous winde of Covetousness overthrew the Houses of Justice The four Vertues likewise are devoured of their adversary Vices according as Joel complaineth against the Wicked Jewes under sour notable things decyphering the four Vices Opposite and against the sour Vertues before-named These sour things are the Caterpillar the Grashopper the Locust and the Blasting all which four things being vent to wastfullness leave nothing unspoyled By the Caterpillar is meant foolish bragging which destroyed the Vertue of Prudence By the Grashopper is meant Pride which destroyeth the Vertue of Fortitude By the Locust is meant Covetousness which destroyeth the Vertue of Justice And by Blasting is meant Lechery which destroyeth the Vertue of Temperance For foolish bragging destroyeth the Vertue of Wisdem Pride corrupteth the State Avarice devours Justice Lechery spoyleth Temperance Now therefore Sir Knight I wish thee to refrain from these insatiable Vices lest thou lose the enjoying of these four notable Morall Vertues thou knowest what company thou hadst in the Palace of Vertue there thou sawest Gods Graces Faith Hope Charity Prudence Justice Fortitude Temperance and that goodness which none know but they who have had experience CAP. VIII How Faith from the top of the Tower sheweth unto the Knight the City of Heaven AFter Good Understanding had delivered these good words I was ravished in my mind I felt not my self I lost my taste I neither regarded meat nor drink and most of all I marvelled that Night approached not because many hours were consumed Being in that amaze Vertue told me that darkness had nothing to do where she dwelt Then Memory put me in mind what Gods Grace told me by the way saying that by the works of Faith which are the fruits of the same I might perceive and see the City of Heaven wherein is comprehended true Felicity Then Faith led me to her Tower and all the other Vertues kept us company For Faith properly is not without Hope nor Hope without Charity and therefore they must go all together And though these Vertues have several properties yet they joyn hands and are never asunder S. Hierom saith that Abraham was furnished with Faith Job with Fortitude and patience David with Humility and so conseouently Then Faith from her Tower shewed me a high Hill whereon was Luilt a marvellous sumptuous City and she told me it was the City of Heaven wherein is comprehended true Blessedness and perfect Felicity In that City I saw never a Temple which made me marvel untill that Faith told me that the Lord God Almighty was the Temple of that City There needs no shining of the Sun no brightness of the Moon no glittering of the Stars to give them light for Almighty God is their true Light himself None enters into this City but such as are written in the book of Life Furthermore Faith told me that there was no Adversity no sin no iniquity no fear no sorrow no shame no darkness no pain no unquietness no ill no grudging finally nothing that savoureth of mortality but there was Prosperity Perfection Vnity Love Gladness Quietness Charity sure Rest perpetual Felicity and everlasting joy in God with eternal Happinesse There was mirth without Sadness Rest without Pain Abundance without Want Life without Corruption In this City God is seen Face to Face there is the endless light shining the Saints alwayes singing blessed Souls rejoycing and ever beholding God yet still coveting to see him without dulness of destre The Citizens of this City of Heaven are Co-heirs of the eternal Deity the Father Son and holy Ghost They are made immortal according to the promise of our Lord and Saviour Christ saying Father those that thou hast given me I will that they be with me where I am that they may see my brightness What can I say more In this City is our King without death and
for his Vertue to be a God so that the matter by my Counsell quoth Folly turned to Idolatry For they offered Sacrifice unto him and honoured him in form of an Ox or a Calfe the like also did the Children of Israel in the Desarts with their Idol which afterwards was named Seraphis But as yet France and Germany were not infected with Idolatry howbeit I did my Endeavour to make it more Vniversall and ceased not till that shortly after this Pestilence had taken Root For the above-named Ninus Sonne of Bell King of Babylon married Semiramis that wonderfull Woman who as it is written devised that all the Male Children should be gelded of her Body begat he one Sonne named Ninus the Second and by another wise he had another Sonne called Trabeta who by Right of Succession should have enjoyed the Crown of Babylon but that his Mother-in-Law kept him from it and took the Government and rule unto her self and kept it in the behalfe of her young Sonne Ninus Trabeta then fearing his Step-Mother fled from Babylon and after long travell he arrived in France not farr from the River of Rhene where he founded a City and called it Treves which is yet a very ancient City At that time was Gallica Belgica and all the Country about it which we call Low Almaine first Infected and Poysoned with Idolatrry which was 1947 Years before the Incarnation of Iesus Christ There Trabeta by my Counsell made the Picture of his Grand-father Bell the Sonne of Nimroth the great Gyant and first Saturn of the Babylonians to be Worshipped in the City of Treves But afterward Bavo who founded the City Pelges otherwise called Bayvoy in Hainot had taken by Force the City of Treves and victoriously brought to Bavoy all the Treasure of Treves and their Idols wherewith also he brought his own Idols from Phrygia By this means the errour of Idolatry was more authorised For by my counsell he built with the spoyles of his conquest seven marvellous and mighty Temples in his City which had seven doors according to the seven Planets they had also a thousand Towers every one an hundred cubits high and eighteen foot broad By what I have related quoth Folly you may perceive that the Babylonians the Aegyptians the Phrygians the French-men and the Germains followed my counsell but as for other Nations they were not as yet infected with Idolatry For the good Patriarch Noah otherwise called Janus having dwelt in Italy fourscore and two years and being 950 years old 370 years after the Floud he dyed before the Incarnation 1976 years This good Man was lamented and bewayled through all the World generally but chiefly of the Italians then called Lanigenes and of the Armenians over whom be first raigned These People presently after they knew of Noahs death they honoured him as a holy Man For in those dayes all holy Men were counted Gods as it is often mentioned in the holy Scripture I have said ye are Gods and ye all are children of the most high And which is more they made him Temples and Altars as now adayes Idolaters do unto the Saints of Heaven I quoth Folly made the simple people assure themselves that his Soul was removed into some of the Heavenly bodies for the which they called him the Sun and the seen of the World the Father of Gods the greater and lesser the God of Peace Iustice and Holinesse the driver away of evill things and the preserver of all good things Again they called his Successours Janus Geminus Quadifrons Enotrius Ogiges Vertumnus Jupiter Optimus Maximus Then I perswaded the People to offer Sacrifice unto him as unto God by which deed they became all Idolaters for if they had esteemed him no better then a holy Man they had not finned in that for indeed he was a holy Man Mark what Austine saith in his tenth Book of the City of God It is not lawfull saith he to offer any sacrifice to any Saint be it Man or Angel but only to God After the destruction of Troy Aeneas came into Italy bringing with him his own Idols and the Gods of Troy hereupon Idolatry took force and encreased more and more I think quoth Folly that this which I have told thee already may suffice to declare how Idolatry entred the world first Thou best heard also how I governed Angels and Nations Now thou shalt understand how I have ruled and ordered particular persons After the Floud I first ruled Cham Noahs Son who being wholly given to the Magicall Art obtained and had the name of Zoroaster He hated his Father because he loved his own brother better then him in revenge whereof upon a day he found his Father Noah drunk lying fast asleep upon the ground unhonestly he discovered his Fathers Privities and by my counsell he presumed to touch those his secret parts and enchanted them by his Magicall Art so that ever after for want of ability he could not joyne issue with any woman to beget Children His Father being angry thereat abandoned him for a season After that he became the first King and Saturn of Aegypt insomuch as the holy Scriptures called Cham the first King of Aegypt Again by my counsell he trayned up his People according to his own Nature in all villany and filthiness openly affirming that Men might lawfully use and have to do with their own Daughters and Sisters as was the custome before the Floud and also to commit many other unlawfull deeds which I am ashamed to declare by the which doctrine natural Virginity was oftentimes violently assaulted and ravished Then my friend Cham went into Italy and Vsurped the Realm to himself And whereas other Princes of his Linage in Germany Spain and France gave good examples to their Subjects instructing them in good and godly Lawes he contrariwise spoyled all the Youths in Italy corrupting them with all kinds of Vices as Leachery Theft Mutther Poysoning and Enchantment whereof he himself was the first Inventer as all Historiographers hold Opinion But when his good Father Noah understood of it he came into Italy and hunted him from thence If I should write of all the evill deeds of Cham it would be a weighty piece of work and the matter would seem monstrous But at the last he conveyed himself over among the Bactrians a People inhabiting towards the Indians where by his Enchantment the People became his Subjects and he raigned over them with great Force and Power Yet at the last he was Vanquished and Slain in Battel by Ninus King of Babylon which descended of his race by his Son Chus Thus quoth Folly I lost my Friend Cham sirnamed Zoroaster Saturn of Aegypt the common Enemy of God and Man and one of the most perverse and untowardest Tyrants that ever was in the World I governed Bell the second Ring of Babylon and his Sonne Ninus into whese heads I put a disordinate raging so that they desired to rule alone in the World
only remained with me This Earth-quake yielded such an Air of Brimstone that the like hath not been felt then I perceived that I was far from the pleasant Palace Gardens Orchards and Vine-yards of Voluptuousness and rather in a beastly Bog sticking fast and nothing near me but Serpents Snakes Adders Toads and Venomous wormes Such was my perplexity in this case That I fell into despair being not able to speak one word I was so sore amazed but when I came again to my self revived from death to life and found my self in that beastly Bog I tare my hair I rent my cloaths I wept I wailed I howled I cryed I wrung my hands I struck my breast I scracht my face I bit my Armes and spake thus O Wretch O Ass O Miserable Fool O Captive O Fondling where is now thy Palace of Worldly Felicity Where are now thy brave Chambers hanged with cloth of Arras Where are now thy gallant Gardens Orchards thy Meadowes thy Corn-fields thy Coffers of Coin thy Ladies so lovely thy hawks thy Hounds thy Horses thy Oxen thy Servants thy soft beds thy good chear thy Wives thy Musick thy Pleasure and all the things which thou hast abused Alas wicked Wretch how hast thou been deceived thou thoughtest thou hadst been in the Palace of true Felicity and for Felicity thou findest Vanity Thou hast been wickedly enchanted thus to find evill in stead of good Herewithall I turned my self toward Folly and railed at her saying O cursed cruell and deceitfull beast O monstrous mocker of mankind O filthy Bawd O Venemous Viper Is this the good hap I should have Is this the palace of Felicity whither thou wouldest bring me Cursed be the day that ever I saw thee cursed be the day that ever I heard thee cursed be the day that ever I believed thee cursed be the day that ever I followed thee It is even so that thus thou governest even beastly and damnably Is it even so that thou leadest people even to Perdition Where is the Felicity thou promisedst me Where is the good hap I should have by thee It is chanced to me even as I doubted by the way when thou discoveredst thy filthy Feats beginnings and proceedings howbeit thine enchantments and thy flattery caused me to keep thee company when full fain God wot I would have been rid of thee But such was my arrogant ignorance and ignorant arrogancy that I followed thy dangerous Counsel When I had thus scolded and took on the lewd lossel loudly laught me to scorn Whereat being in a rage I offered to draw my sword but it would not be then I spurred my horse but he could not lift up his legs Notwithstanding for all this I carryed the mind still I might get out not having help even by mine own strength and industry But be you sure of this that after a Man be once sunk in and drowned in fleshly Voluptuousness he shall stick fast and not be able to recover himself unless he have the help of Gods Grace which he of his goodness give us all Amen CAP. XIV The Author cryeth out bitterly against worldlings and their Felicity O Wicked Worlding O Traytour O Lyar O damnable deceiver armed with filthy fraud and cursed craftiness having a face like a man but a tayle like a Dragon who with thy pestilent prating promisest that which thou never wilt nor canst perform to wit peace rest assarance blessing and felicity Whereas contrariwise thou shewest thy self Vain Cruell unquiet uncertain cursed and desperate And because thou wouldest bestow thy peysons and not be perceived thou coverest it with a little honey of delight O foolish Worldlings and lovers of Voluptuousness why suffer you your selves to be so fouly abused Why fly you not from her since you know she is damnable Why do you believe a Lyar Why do you follow a deceiver Why become you acquainted with such a Murtherer Why do you not purge your understanding of Erronious Opinions Why consider ye not what the World is with a perfect Iudgment If you did all this you should find your selves out of the way For Worldly goods Voluptuousness and Pleasure are mingled rather with Sowre things than with sweet In following Voluptuousness you are not happy but unhappy not Wise but flat Fools Saint John saith All that is in the world is Concupiscence of the flesh Concupiscence of the eyes and Concupiscence of Pride The world and all her Concupiscence shall pass but he that doth the will of the Lord shall continue eternally Hearken ye foolish Worldlings hearken you Vessels of Voluptuousness This teacheth you assuredly wherein consisteth all your Felicity and how it is damnable Consider Saint Johns words That the world shall pass and the Concupiscence of the same What meant he by the World nothing else but as Saint Austen saith All worldlings and lovers of Voluptuousness which preferr visible things before invisible the flesh before the Spirit Satan before Iesus Christ even as commonly we call a house good or bad according to the usage of them that dwell in it The eye the flesh and the pomp of life is the Worldlings Felicity that is their Heaven In all goodness come of God as sure the coucupiscence of the eye the flesh and the pride and pomp of Life cometh of the Devil are not they deceived that think â—t good or sir their affection to follow it I could say there is a gnawing Conscience to terment the Worldings I could say that the Voluptuous man hath the wrath of God hanging ever his head I could say eternal death is reserved for his reward A for excessive eating and drinking centes farfets Head-ach lass of wit dropstes loss of appetite griping of the guts palsies weakning of the body infamy and shame Now to Venery wherein the Voluptuous Man taketh such pleasure as in nothing more First what gains what forrows what torments and anguish hath the Lewd Lover before he can compass his desire his dessire cannot be atchieved without loss For we see that Leachery and Gluttony breedeth poverty which is a very heavy burthen But imagine it costeth nothing as oftentimes it chanceth among such as be rich yet notwitistanding they feel even what so lowes namely loss of Body and Soul Touching the sin of Leachery a man therein is like unto a beast for in his blind delight he is deprived of reason and therefore the deed declareth it self to be damnable This Sin bringeth her reward in this World as Dropsies Palsies Leprosies Gowts Burnings Batches and French Pox which is the very worst the commenist the loathsomest and the most infectious disease of all besides that banishment from all honest company decay of Strength and loss of good Name and Fame Do you account him a happy Man which spends his dayes in Drunkenness and Leachery having here so many Hâ—ls abstinence or forbearance doth not warn them to take heed thereof though it be the only medicine Now touching Concupiscence of the eyes
It is an easie matter for a Man of himself to fall into Hell but it is impossible for him to get out again unless by the help of Gods Grace I term him to be in Hell who lives in continuall wickedness committing Sin with delight For if he dye in that Estate Hell is his reward but in this lise if he repent there is hope of Salvation For by Gods Grace he may be comforted and delivered Therefore Man of himself falleth into Perdition but without Gods Grace he cannot rise up again God therefore seeing his Creature given to all Vanity led with Ambition of Worldly honour and not ceasing his sinfull Life oftentimes sends Adversity Diseases Dishonours and confusion in the World to make him humble and so open the eyes of Reason which Voluptuousness had shut up whereby he may come to the knowledge of his Sins and confess the same to God All this is figured in the Gospel where our Lord Iesus raised the Widdowes Child which was carryed out of the City of Naim to be buryed he commanded the Bearers to stay and having touched the Cossin of the Corps with a loud Voice he said Young man arise and straight way the dead body rose up and spake Which done the Lord delivered him to his sorrowfull Mother The mourning Mother mystically represents the Church lamenting for her dead Children to wit Wicked Worldlings and Voluptuous Christians which are worse than dead Corses The Widdowes child representeth souls dead in Sin The Coffin representeth the naturall body wherein lyeth the sinfull Soul The four Bearers carrying the dead Soul to Hell represent hope of long life custome of sinning delaying of repentance and contempt of Gods words Nevertheless when our Lord will raise to life this dead Soul he commandeth the Bearers to stay afterwards toucheth the Body sending upon Sinners Adversity Diseases and Misfortunes but all that sufficeth not unless the Lord say unto the Soul Soul I say unto thee arise Do not we see oftentimes People visited with afflictions murmur against God cursing him that afflicted them These by impatiency being unable to arise of themselves is it not necessary that God say to the soul Arise There is no difference between his saying and doing for what he saith he doth And therefore if the Lord say once Arise to the Soul she ariseth and then he delivereth her to her Mother the Church which was sorrowfull for her sins In like manner God to raise me from my Sins sendeth Adversity to the end I should acknowledg mine iniquity and with humility turn unto him which I cannot do without his Heavenly grace much less atchieve true Felicity and Blessedness unless he help Then was I warned by the scourges of God that living Worldling like and following Voluptuousness I was not happy but unhappy being full of filthiness and infection tumbling in the mire of all iniquity from the which I could not withdraw my self for that the eyes of Reason were closed up by Voluptuousness which afterwards were opened by Gods grace To see the pitious Estate wherein I was and the Vnderstanding which Folly bad darkned made me the wofullest wretch in the World neverthelesse when I was whipped with Adversity I perceived my knowledg somewhat cleared and lightned so that I found in Conscience that I had accustomed my self greatly to unhonest things and when I saw the sequel that there was no retiring of my self without Gods grace I lifted mine eyes to Heaven and wringing my hands all ashamed and confounded I lamented with a loud boyce and humbling my self before the Face of God whom I had grievously effended I made my moan saying O Lord God Father and Maker of all things I am not worthy to lift up mine eyes towards thee nor to ask pardon for those infinite Sins whereof I confess my self guilty Nevertheless O God of all goodness and Father of mercy I beseech thee not to punish me in thy great rage nor to condemn me among the Reprobates I acknowledge my evill and crave pardon for my misdeeds my former life displeaseth me greatly and my heart quaketh for fear of thy Judgments O God forsake not thy Creature which is a sinner but aid and assist me with thy Heavenly grace whereof if I may taste the Vertue I shall need none other Succour O grant this for the glory of thy great Name and for the love of thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all Honour and glory for ever and ever Amen As I was thus praying with a willing mind shedding tears striking my breast conceiving sorrow for my Sins suddenly I saw a Lady descending down from Heaven setting her self before me fast by the Bog where I stuck fast This Lady was of a Marbellous Majesty and Wonderfull Courteous she appeared to me in a Garment of White Satten a Cloak of blew Damask imbroydered with Gold Her face shined like the Sun so that I was amazed at so sudden a Vision not knowing what she was yet I took heart a grace supposing some help came from Heaven to draw me out of the Bog wherein I lay In the end with all reverence I made my Petition unto her saying O good and gracious Lady whatsoever thou be I most humbly beseech thee if thou canst that it would please thee to help me out of this beastly Bog of filthy infection For nothing is near me but Venemous Serpents and noysome Vermine In the name of God therefore I crave thy help To the which my request she answered O Fool thou seest now what reward Voluptuousness yieldeth thee for following her If thou hadst believed my daughter thou hadst not been in this misery Then I asked her who was that Daughter of hers She answered the Gentlewoman which admonished thee eleven dayes past to leave Voluptuousness and to follow her whom because thou believedst not but neglectedst her Counsell thou liest in this unhappinesse By this speech of hers I knew she was Gods grace and the mother of Vertue Then fell I on my knees and Weeping thus I said O dear Lady my cursed Counsellour Folly drew me from thy Daughter and I most unhappy wretch believed her which deed of mine grieves me and now I cry thee mercy most humbly desiring thee of thy clemency to deliver me out of this filthy mire to follow thee For although I deserve Damnation for my misdeeds yet thou being by nature mercifull wilt spare me Gods grace hearing this my Lamentation of her mercy stretched forth a Golden Rod and commanded me to lay my hands upon it which when I did I rose from my Saddle and so was out of the Bog where I left Temerity my Horse and Folly my Governess to fish for Frogs Thus you see that Gods Grace draweth us from sin without any merit of ours howbeit not without an inward heart-grief and sorrow for sin which is a special gift of Gods grace CAP. II. Gods grace sheweth Hell unto the Knight with
without change without beginning and without Ending In this City there is no Night there is no limitation or term of life but continual day most brightly shinning For in this City dwelleth the Father of Lights even God himself whose brightness no darkness can over-shadow The Citizens of this City are partakers of unspeakable grace of endless joy and of such persection as thereunto there can be added no more Vnto this place shall the just be advanced as for the wicked their promotion is in the Lake voyling with Fire and Brimstone CAP. IX The desire that the Knight had to come to Heaven and how Gods Grace brought perseverance HAving seen from the Tower of faith the City of Heaven and heard by her the manner of it I was ravished of my wit and esteemed nothing at all of the World For I selt not my self methought I was walking in Heaven Hereupon I destred Faith that I might remain still in her Tower the which willingly she granted me insomuch that I was never weary out of her lower Window to behold Heaven yea the more I beheld it the more beautifull it seemed Then I was loath to live in this World and desired that I might dye the sooner to have the sight and enjoying of Christ my Redeemer and kneeling by my self all alone I made this Prayer saying O How happy is the soul that is out of this earthly prison and resteth in Heaven most joyfull seeing his Saviour face to face That soul is without fear and affliction O how happy is the soul which is in the company of Angels and holy Saints singing prayses unto the Most High Such a Soul surely is laden with abundance of joy O happy society of Citizens O happy company of Saints which lamented in their mortall life but now raigne with God immortally O sweet Jesus let me come to thy pleasant City where thy Citizens see thee daily to their great delight O let me come there where nothing is troublesome to hear or understand what melody hear they without ending And how happy were I if I might hear the Songs or be admitted to sing a Song of David in the holy Hill of Sion O that I being the least of thy Servants may by thy grace put off my fleshly burthen and come to thy happy City to accompany the holy and happy assembly of Saints to see the glory of my Creatour and to behold his amiable Majesty That I may be made meet for this so sweet a blessing grant I beseech thee O gracious God that I never look back upon this shadow or valley of tears that I remember not the false pleasures of this wicked world that I esteem not this corruptible and evill life O how can we here be happy where the Devill alwayes assaults us where the world flatters us where the soul is blinded and where all men sinne After which great evills death doth follow as the very end of all vain pleasures and then they are esteemed as if they had never been What recompence may be made unto thee O God which givest us consolation in the midst of all our extrencities by the wonderfull visitation of they Divine Grace Behold me miserable wretch filled with sadness when I consider my sins when I fear thy judgments when I think on the hour of death when I remember the pains of Hell when I am ignorant what punishment I deserve when I know not where nor in what Estate I shall end my dayes In all these things and many other I appeal to thy gracious goodness knowing that thou art ready to give me consolation against all these sorrowes Thou liftest up my soul full of anguish above all Mountains thou makest me receive thy great love charity and goodnesse by the which thou recreatest my heavie spirit and rejoycest my sad heart in revealing unto me thy heavenly delights This Prayer ended I rested my Soul upon the anchor of hope Then as I was kneeling Gods grace appeared unto me accompanyed with another Lady which I had not seen before And after I had given her thanks for all her benefits she delivered me this Lady named Perseverance to continue with me charging me on keep her with me if I meant to be a Citizen of Heaven For said she all other vertues without her are as nothing to win braven For it is written who so perseveres unto the end shall be saved And therefore if thou wilt be saved then must continue Hereof we have many Examples in the holy Scripture but I will only touch two When Saul was first annoynted King of Israel he was as lowly as the child of one year old but he continued not above two years in his goodness For after he had once put Perseverance away he became evill and grew to be a cruell Tyrant insomuch that he slue many of the Lords Priests and persecuted good David But what was his end He was vanquished of his Enemies and being given over of God he killed himself upon the Mount Gilboa Again touching the same matter Judas at the first when God made him an Apostle was good and dutifull but when he had put Perseverance away he became a Thief and by Covetousness he vetrayed and sold his Master Christ and being forsaken of God he became a Reprobate fell into desperation and with a Halter hanged himself When I heard Perse verance say so for fear lest the like should befall me I desired the counsell of Good Understanding to shew me the means how I might keep Perseverance alwayes with me that in so doing I might not be deprived of the glorious City of Heaven To which request of mine the good Hermit Understanding tendring the safety of my Soul and having a carefull regard to all my Endeavours did yield and spake to me on this wise CAP. X. Good Understanding sheweth the Knight how to keep perseverance alwayes with him MY Son the last point of thy Souls health quoth Good Understanding is to know how thou art now without going back which if thou desire then must Perseverance never leave thee for if she forsake thee then must thou needs lose the pleasures of Lady Vertues Palace wherein thou art now From whence if thou go back thou shalt be sure to lose the joyes of Heaven Thou must therefore remain constant without wavering the which to do thou must by devour and continual prayer faithfully crave helpof Gods grace And to accomplish all this thou must remember three things the first is thy Life past the second thy life present and the third thy lise to come Those three confiderations will encourage thee to stay where thou art and as it were with a bridle will keep thee from recoyling First think what thou hast done before time in following Folly how thou livedst vainly yielding to every vain concupiscence whereby thou didst fall into the filth of sin and endangeredst both thy body and Soul O where hadst thou been if Gods Grace had not taken