THE MOTHERS BLESSING OR The godly counsaile of a Gentle-woman not long since deceased left behind her for her CHILDREN Containing many good exhortations and godly admonitions profitable for all Parents to leaue as a Legacy to their Children but especially for those who by reason of their young yeeres stand most in need of Instruction By M ris DOROTHY LEIGH PROVERB 1.8 My sonne heare the instruction of thy father and forsake not the lawe of thy mother Printed at London for Iohn Budge and are to be sold at the great South-dore of Paules and at Brittaines Burse 1616. TO THE HIGH and excellent Princesse the Lady ELIZABETH her Grace daughter to the high and mightie King of great Brittaine and Wife to the illustrious Prince the Count Palatine of the Rhine D. L. VVisheth all grace and prosperity here and glory in the world to come MOst worthy renovvned Princess I beeing troubled and wearied with feare lest my children should not find the right way to heauen thought with my selfe that I could doe no lesse for them then euerie man will doe for his friend which vvas to write them the right way that I had truely obserued out of the written word of GOD lest for vvant of vvarning they might fall where I stumbled and then I should think my selfe in the fault who knew there were such downe-falls in the world that they could hardly climbe the hill to heauen without helpe and yet had not told them thereof Wherefore I writ them the right and ready way to Heauen wel waranted by the scriptures of the olde and new Testament which is the true word of God and tolde them how many false paths they should finde how they should finde them and what care they should haue to shunne them if they tooke a false way what a trouble they should haue in turning againe what danger if they went on and of many doubts which the world would make without a cause and how silent it would bee in danger Thus when I had writtē vnto them of these things I was at much peace quiet and contentment But as no contentment in the world continueth long so sodainly there arose a new care in my minde how this scroule should bee kept for my children for they were too young to receiue it my selfe too old to keepe it men too wise to direct it to the world too wicked to endure it Then in great griefe I looked vp to heauen from whence I knew commeth al comfort and looking vp I saw a most Angelicall throne of Princely Peeres and peerelesse Princes prepared for heauen and yet by the appointment of God were heere to comfort vs on the earth then I perceiued that this Throne was the ioy of England then I considered that the highest blud had the lowest mind then I sawe humility looking downe-ward while the sweet slips of her vertue grew vpward then euen then Princely Lady I beheld your mild and courteous coūtenance which shewed your heart was bent to doe good to all wherefore without feare and with much faith I aduentured to make your Grace the protectresse of this my Booke knowing that if you would but suffer your name to bee seene in it Wisedome would allow it and all the wicked winde in the world could not blow it away The Lord multiply his graces more and more on you and vouchsafe vnto you a numerous posterity in whom your Grace may receiue much ioy and comfort and GODS Church and true Religion continuall defence and propagation Your Graces in all humble and obseruant duty D. L. TO MY BELOued sonnes GEORGE IOHN and WILLIAM LEIGH all things pertaining to life and godlinesse MY Children God hauing taken your Father out of this vale of teares to his euerlasting mercy in CHRIST my selfe not onely knowing what a care hee had in his life time that you should be brought vp godlily but also at his death being charged in his will by the loue and duty which I bare him to see you well instructed and brought vp in knowledge I could not chuse but seeke according as I was by duty bound to fulfill his will in all things desiring no greater comfort in the World then to see you grow in godlinesse that so you might meet your Father in heauen where I am sure hee is my selfe being a witnesse of his Faith in Christ. And seeing my selfe going out of the world and you but comming in I know not how to performe this duty so well as to leaue you these few lines which will shew you as well the great desire your Father had both of your spirituall and temporal good as the care I had to fulfill his will in this knowing it was the last duty I should performe vnto him But when I had written these things vnto you and had as I thought something fulfilled your Fathers request yet I could not see to what purpose it should tend vnlesse it were sent abroad to you for should it be left with the eldest it is likely the youngest should haue but little part in it Wherefore setting aside all feare I haue aduentured to shew my imperfections to the view of the World not regarding what censure shall for this bee laid vpon mee so that heerein I may shew my selfe a louing Mother and a dutifull Wife and thus I leaue you to the protection of him that made you And rest till death Your fearefull faithfull and carefull Mother D. L. Counsell to my Children MY Sonnes the readers of this book I doe you not intreate To beare with each misplaced word for why my paine 's as great To write this little booke to you the world may thinke indeed As it will be at any time for you the same to read But this I much and oft desire that you would doe for mee To gather hony of each flowre as doth the labourous Bee Shee lookes not who did place the Plant nor how the flowre did grow VVhether so stately vp aloft or neere the ground below But where she findes it there she workes and gets the wholsome food And beares it home and layes it vp to doe her Country good And for to serue her selfe at need when winter doth begin VVhen storm and tempest is without then she doth find within A sweet and pleasant wholsome food a house to keepe her warme A place where softly she may rest and be kept from all harme Except the Bee that idle is and seekes too soone for rest Before she filled hath her house whereby her state is blest And then as she did rest too soone too soone she sorrow knowes VVhen stormes and tempests are without then she her selfe beshrowes She looketh out and seeth death ready her to deuoure Then doth she wish that she had got more of the wholsome flowre For why within her store is spent before the winter's past And she by no meanes can endure the stormy winters blast Shee looketh out and seeth death and findes no lesse within
anie of you should aske me if it were not as euill in another man as in a Preacher I answer no for it is a very dangerous and indeede a damnable estate to loue the world I know what I say I doe not say to be couetous or desire to bee rich wherby one is moued to vse vnlawfull meanes to get goods but I say to loue lawfull goods which God hath giuen thee and to neglect the seruice of God about them if it be but in thinking of them and to bee at anie time more loth to lose thy lawfull goods then to go to law to the hurt of thy brother whom Christ died for it is a wicked sin in anie man To set a rent or price of any of thy lawful goods or lands more then thou in such a case wouldest bee willing to giue it is a wicked sin To let or sell any thing to any man for sinister respects that thou doest not thinke to be the true and faithfull seruant of God if thou maist let it well to those that are is a sin But to let a Farme to anie that thou doest not think to bee the true seruant of God but because he is richer or is better able to pay thee or wil giue thee more for it is a great sin For the earth is the Lords and all that is therein he hath set thee as a steward ouer some part of it and thou art by his appointment to let it to his children seruants that loue him and because many things haue many prices he bids thee deale in all his businesse as thou wouldest bee dealt withall in such a case Hee biddes thee deale liberally with thy brother that his soule may blesse thee yet thou wilt neglect thy brother whō thou seest carefull to serue God in Christ let it to one that hath little or no Religion in him because thou seest that hee can deale more warily in the world or more wisely as the world cals it though indeed it bee more wickedly before God yet because thou seest he is more able to pay thee thy rent thou wilt let it to him who is indeed Gods enemy and for whō God neuer made it for God made these things for his children and seruants he doth neither loue God as his Father nor obey him as a seruāt neither will be more becom obedient to God seruiceable to his Church if thou let him a good peniworth whereas if he thriue not of it he will raile on thee and on thy religion which is indeede against God for he knoweth not that it is God that giueth power to get goods and that it is God again that keepeth men short althogh sometimes with his mouth he speaketh it yet the true knowledge of it dwels not in his heart and if he grow rich vpon it he will not bee liberal to the poore children of God considering their wants as if they were his owne for he hath no naturall affection towards them because they are not his brethren Loe heere thou seest what to do with thine own or as somesay Gods and thine owne or as the truth is Gods and not thine own and therefore thou maist offend God in it for thou art but a tenant at the wil of the Lord and art to depart at an instant yet thou hast a great title vnder God for thy time and thy title is good lawfully thou maist inioy them yet the loue that thou bearest vnto them is vtterly vnlawfull for it is the loue that thou bearest to these worldly goods that maketh thee to let them to such a tenant as wil neither serue God nor doe good to the poore seruants of God The man to whome thou lettest it may be a ciuill honest man in the world for among the heathen yea among the Iewes that would kil Christ again if they had him hate the children of God there are such as in the world wil deale ciuilly and pay at their day perhaps better then some Christian. But if thou beest the true childe of God thou must haue a discerning eye of faith w ch euery one hath not and know the childe of God from a ciuill man neither maist thou iudge the other for all that but pray for him and hope that though he be not the true seruant of God now yet in good time by Gods grace he may bee Thou maiest not impart the benefits of God as neere as thou canst but to those whō thou knowest to be the lords true seruants and thou must do it for the loue thou bearest to God Why shouldest thou not loue Gods childrē much more then any goods thou hast There is great reason to doe it able to perswade any man if his heart be not of stone For GOD made vs most excellēt creatures according to his owne image Satan came by stelth and subtiltie through enuy stole away that excellent image from vs and made vs most ougly persons deformed diuels so that we were ashamed of our selues ran away and hid our selues and wee were good for nothing but euil for all things fit for nothing but firebrands of hell into the which we were ready euery houre to fall God had said that if we suffered the diuel to deceiue vs hell should bee our portion the diuel stood gaping to receiue vs wert thou not in a miserable case then I tell thee we were all in this miserable case And I tell thee true I am sorry at the heart when I see any that doth not consider the case wherein he was and I am afraide lest any of you should forget the state wherein ye were and so become vnthankefull and fall into it againe Oh the danger is great But tell me wouldest thou not loue him that would come and make thee like a God againe and wash away al thy filthy poyson and deliuer thee frō the slauery of the diuell from the fire of hel and set thee in Paradice againe yea in such a Paradice as the diuell can neuer haue power to deceiue thee and for thy better assurance bids thee hold thee by him and thou shalt neuer need to feare If thou shouldest not loue him and al his thou wert greatly to blame But I know now in thy distresse thou dost not make so much question whether thou shouldest loue him or no for thou thinkest it vnpossible but that thou shouldest loue him and all his do whatsoeuer he would bid thee If thou wert once in Gods fauour againe thou wouldest not disobey him for all the diuels and worlds that euer were But ôn the misery heere is the thing how is it possible that thou shouldest be helped God is thine enemy the diuell is thine enemy the world can doe thee no good nor make thee cleane for al the bloud within thy veines is corrupted thy hart bloud is becom most filthy poyson thou art become most vgly deformed like the diuell and thou art a
Wherfore bring vp your daughters as Susanna's Parents brought vp her teach them the lawe of the Lord continually and alwayes perswade them to embrace this vertue of chastity It may be that some of you will maruaile since I set downe names for the imitation of their vertues that bore them why I placed not Mary in the first place a woman vertuous aboue all other women My reason was this because I presumed that there was no woman so senselesse as not to looke what a blessing God hath sent to vs women through that gracious Virgin by whom it pleased GOD to take away the shame vvhich EVE our Grandmother had brought vs to For before men might say The woman beguiled me and I did eate the poysoned fruit of disobedience and I dye But now man may say if he say truly The woman brought me a Sauiour and I feede of him by faith and liue Here is this great and wofull shame taken from women by God working in a woman man can claime no part in it the shame is taken from vs and from our posterity for euer The seede of the woman hath taken downe the Serpents head and now whosoeuer can take hold of the seed of the woman by faith shall surely liue for euer And therefore all generations shal say that she was blessed who broght vs a Sauiour the fruit of obedience that whosoeuer feedeth of shall liue foreuer and except they feed of the seed of the woman they haue no life Will not therefore all women seek out this great grace of God that by Mary hath taken away the shame which before was due vnto vs euer since the fall of man Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost and with all goodnesse and yet is called the blessed Virgin as if our God should as he doth indeed in briefe comprehend all other vertues vnder this one vertue of chastity wherfore I desire that all women what name so euer they beare woule learne of this blessed Virgin to bee chaste for though shee were more replenished with grace then any other and more freely beloued of the Lord yet the greatest title that she had was that shee was a blessed and pure Virgin which is a great cause to moue all women whether they be maids or wiues both which estates shee honoured to liue chastly to whom for this cause God hath giuen a cold and temperate disposition bound them with these words Thy desire shall be subiect to thy husband As if God in mercy to women should say You of your selues shal haue no desires only they shall be subiect to your husbands w ch hath been verified in Heathen women so as it is almost incredible to be beleeued for many of them before they would be defiled haue been carelesse of their liues and so haue endured all those torments that men would deuise to inflict vpon them rather then they would lose the name of a modest mayd or a chaste Matrone Yea and so farre they haue beene from consenting to any immodestie that if at any time they haue been rauished they haue either made away themselues or at least haue separated themselues from company not thinking themselues worthy of any society after they haue once bin deflowred though against their wils Wherfore the woman that is infected with the sin of vncleannesse is worse then a beast because it desireth but for nature and shee to satisfie her corrupt lusts Some of the Fathers haue written that it is not enough for a woman to be chaste but euen so to behaue her selfe that no man may thinke or deeme her to be vnchaste Wee read that in the Primitiue Church when there were warres betweene the Christians and the Pagans if at any time the Pagans had gotten the victory that then they would seeke to deflowre the Virgins to the which sinne before the Christians would yeeld they would continually laye violent hands vpon themselues in so much that the Doctours of the Church were often-times constrained to make diuers Sermons and Orations to them to disswade them from that crueltie which they inflicted vpon themselues rather then they would suffer themselues to be deflowred such a disgrace did they think it to haue but one spot of vncleannesse and yet none of these were so holy as this Mary this pure and vndefiled Virgin Some godly and reuerend men of the Church haue gathered this that there were fiue women of great vertue in the time of the Lawe the first letters of whose names doe make her whole name to shewe that shee had all their vertues wholly combined in her as namely Michal Abigail Rachel Iudith Anna She was as faithfull to her husband as Michal who saued her husband Dauid from the fury of Saul although hee were her father and her King not preferring her owne life before the safety of her husband She was as wise as Abigail who is highly commended for her wisedome amiable in the sight of her husband as Rachel stout and magnanimous in the time of trouble as Iudith patient and zealous in prayer as Anna. Seeing then that by this one name so many vertues are called to remembrance I thinke it meete that good names be giuen to all women that they might call to minde the vertues of those women whose names they beare but especially aboue all other morall Vertues let women be perswaded by this discourse to imbrace chastity without which we are meere beasts and no women CHAP. 10. Reasons of giuing good names to Children IF ye shall thinke me too teadious about the naming your children I tel you that I haue some reason for it and the first is this to make them reade in the Bible the things which are written of those Saints and learne to imitate their vertues Secondly because many haue made a God of the virgin Marie the Scripture warranting no such thing and haue prayed to her though there they shal find that she was a woman yea and a comfort to all women for she hath taken away the reproch w ch of right belonged vnto vs and by the seed of the womā we are al saued it was therefore fit I should speake largely of that name Thirdly seeing many haue heretofore and now doe make Images of Saints to put them in minde of the Saints and so by little and little haue at last worshipped the workes of their own hands and for feare of forgetting the Saints haue forgotten the second Commandements I thought it better to haue you remember them by bearing their names and by reading what they taught vs in the Scripture and how they led their liues then by looking vpon a painted piece of Paper or a carued stone And this by the way may bee maruelled at that they which loue to worship Images neuer loue to name their Children after the names of the Saints for if they had so done by this time wee should haue had no other names but
Mathew Marke Luke Iohn Timothy and such as followed Christ faithfully Then Moyses and his mildnesse would bee more talked of Samuel and his obedience would bee more sought after Abraham and his faithfulnesse would be more followed Lastly this I will tell you that there is no man but will be ashamed to do any thing w ch shal disgrace the good name after which is called as if one should say Is this a Moyses Is this an Elias and haue such qualities as these CHAP. 11. Children to bee taught betimes and brought vp gently I Am further also to entreate you that all your Children may be taught to reade beginning at foure yeeres old or before and let them learne till ten in which time they are not able to do any good in the Common-wealth but to learne how to serue God their King Country by reading And I desire intreat and earnestly beseech you and euery one of you that you will haue your Children brought vp with much gentlenesse and patience What disposition so euer they be of gentlenes will soonest bring them to vertue for frowardnes and curstnesse doth harden the heart of a child and maketh him weary of vertue Among the froward thou shalt learne frowardnesse let them therefore be gently vsed and alwaies kept from idlenesse and bring them vp in the Schooles of learning if you bee able and they fit for it If they will not bee Schollers yet I hope they will be able by Gods grace to read the Bible the lawe of God and to bee brought to some good vocation or calling of life Salomon saith Teach a childe in his youth the trade of his life and he will not forget it nor depart from it when hee is olde CHAP. 12. Choyse of Wiues NOw for your wiues the Lord direct you for I cannot tel you what is best to be done Our Lord saith First seek the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all things else shall be ministred vnto you First you must seek a godly wife that she may be a helpe to you in godlinesse for God sayd It is not good for man to bee alone let him haue a helper meet for him and shee cannot bee meete for him except she be truly godly for God counteth that the man is alone still if his wife bee not godly If I should write vnto you how many the Scripture maketh mentiō of that haue beene drawne to sinne because they married vngodly wiues it would bee tedious for you to read The world was drowned because men married vngodly wiues Salomon who was not only the wisest man that euer was but was also mightily indued with the Spirit of God by marrying idolatrous women fell for the time to idolatrie Neuer thinke to stand where Salomon fell I pray God that neither you nor any of yours may at any time marry with any of those which hold such superstitions as they did or as some doe now as namely to pray to Saints to pray in Latine to pray to go to purgatory c. Let no riches or mony bring your posterity to this kinde of tradition The beloued Apostle of Christ saith Loue not the world nor the things that are in the world for he knew well that a little that a man loueth not would suffice him a little with a godly woman is better then great riches with the wicked Rebecca saith I shall be weary of my life if Iacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth as if she should say If my Sonne marry an vngodly wife then all my comfort of him and his is gone and it will bee a continuall griefe to mee to see him in league and friendship amongst the wicked If such a shame and sin commeth vpon my Son as can by no meanes be helped nor I by no meanes comforted what auaileth me then to liue Bee not vnequally yoked saith the holy Ghost It is indeed very vnequall for the godly and vngodly to bee vnited together that their hearts must be both as one which can neuer bee ioined in the feare of God faith of Christ. Loue not the vngodly marry with none except you loue her and be not changeable in your loue let nothing after you haue made your choise remoue your loue from her for it is an vngodly and very foolish thing of a man to mislike his owne choise especially since God hath giuen a man much choyse among the godly and it was a great cause that mooued God to commaund his to Marry with the godly that there might be a continuall agreement between them CHAP. 13. It is great folly for a man to mislike his owne choyse MEe thinkes I neuer saw a man shew a more senseles simplicity then in misliking his owne choyse when God hath giuen a man almost a world of vvomen to choose him a vvife in If a man hath not witte enough to choose him one whom hee can loue to the end yet me thinkes hee should haue discretion to couer his owne folly but if he want discretion mee thinkes hee should haue policy which neuer failes a man to dissemble his owne simplicitie in this case If he want wit discretion and policy hee is vnfit to marry any woman Doe not a vvoman that wrong as to take her frō her friends that loue her and after a while to begin to hate her If she haue no friends yet thou knowest not but that shee may haue a husband that may loue her If thou canst not loue her to the end leaue her to him that can Mee thinkes my sonne could not offend me in any thing if hee serued God except he chose a wife that he could not loue to the end I need not say if hee serued God for if he serued God he would obey God and then hee would chuse a godly wife and liue louingly and godlily with her and not doe as some man who taketh a woman to make her a companion and fellow and after hee hath her he makes her a seruant and drudge If shee bee thy wife she is always too good to be thy seruant and worthy to be thy fellow If thou wilt haue a good wife thou must goe before her in all goodnesse and shew her a patterne of all good vertues by thy godly and discreete life and especially in patience according to the counsell of the holy Ghost Beare with the woman as with the weaker vessell Heere God sheweth that it is her imperfection that honoureth thee and that it is thy perfection that maketh thee to beare with her follow the counsell of God therefore and beare with her God willed a man to leaue Father Mother for his wife This sheweth what can excellent loue God did appoynt to be betweene man and wife In truth I cannot by any means set downe the excellency of that loue but this I assure you that if you get wiues that be godly and you loue them you shall not need to
way to heauen to himselfe And what promises hee hath made to vs to intise and draw vs to come vnto him and what threatnings and warnings hee hath giuen vs to shun hell it is impossible for mee and all the Writers in the world to write Saint Iohn saith If all things which Christ did were written the world would not containe the Bookes But I am sure if all the Writers in the world had written what Christ hath done for vs they could not sufficiently declare it If all the sea were inke and all the iron in the world were pennes and all the creatures writers they could neuer declare the great benefits the great blessings and the great mercies giuen vnto vs in Christ Iesus our Lord Sauiour What is man without Christ more then a firebrand of hell and what an excellent creature a man is in Christ can hardly bee expressed and yet there are many that are angry because there are so many bookes Reading good bookes worketh a mans heart to godlines for euen as the fire warmeth the wax and maketh it fit to receiue a good fashion euen so good bookes written of the mercies of God in Christ are the way to Christ and teach vs how to shun the way that leads from Christ. But because I would haue you writers of the mercies of God in Christ I will tell you what good writing of bookes doth It maketh the the way to Christ easie to those that desire to goe in it And I will tell you who are they that are angry with writing of bookes they are such as are ignorant and the more ignorant they are the more angry they are those that loue the world so well that they cannot finde leasure to read bookes Saint Iohn saith Loue not the world nor the things that are in the world for the loue of the world is an enmity to God And here you see that they are enemies to God for they loue not to haue him so much written of And they that loue not many bookes loue not many Sermons neyther doe they care so much to know what Christ hath done for them and how they should follow Christ they are stalled with it they loue the earth they can talke of it yeere after yeere and they are neuer weary In truth it would weary a heauenly minded Christian to heare an earthly-minded man how continually hee will talke of the earth and earthly things the very time that hee is in the Church hee can hardly hold his peace from talking of some earthly thing or other and the whole Sabbath which God sanctified and rested himselfe and in mercie to him commanded him to rest that will neuer rest from these earthly and transitorie things for heauenly rest hee neuer respecteth Truely I thinke he meaneth to make himselfe sure of hell heereafter for Christ saith Hee that loueth the world is an enemy to GOD And he that is an enemy to God can neuer come to bee an inheritour of the kingdome of heauen except hee returne and reconcile himself to God through Christ and hee cannot bee thus reconciled except he leaue his earthly affections and attend vpon Christ for God loueth none but those whom he seeth waiting and attending vpon his Sonne then the Almightie God accepteth him as his sonne and bids him call him Father and whatsoeuer hee needs he is ready to furnish and relieue him withall but if hee be obstinate and will not attend vpon Christ but attends his owne businesse and worldly affaires GOD neuer respecteth him how many friends soeuer hee hath in the world nor how mightie soeuer they are and then are his riches and his friends nothing worth neither can they doe him the least good as can be thought of Now hee that loues not writing of bookes nor hearing of Sermons hee hath little leasure and lesse desire to pray this I assure you is true and his owne conscience will tell him so much let him examine it when he will for Sermons and reading good bookes are the only means to bring a man to praier and praier is the only meanes to helpe vs to the mercies of God in Christ for if we heare Sermons and do not pray earnestly to GOD for Iesus Christs sake to send the holy Ghost to inlighten our vnderstanding and to sanctifie our hearts and follow that which wee heare we are neuer the better for many heare and vnderstand not and many vnderstand and follow it not but there is none that praieth faithfully to vnderstand and for grace to follow it that obtaineth not if hee continue in true praier The holy Ghost saith Pray alwaies and in all things be thankefull and the promise is made Aske and ye shal haue that is whatsoeuer you goe about pray to God to blesse it and thanke God in prosperitie and aduersitie or howsoeuer it pleaseth God to deale with you for it commeth by his prouidence therefore bee thankefull to God what crosse soeuer it pleaseth him to lay vpon thee Doe not as they which rage and sweare at the losse of a few earthly things but thanke God againe and againe that it is no worse If it bee but for the losse of some earthly thing it cannot bee ill for the childe of God for Iob neuer honoured God so much nor did so much good in the Church of God while hee was rich as when hee was poore for when hee was rich the diuell himselfe told God that Iob serued him not for nothing As if hee should say Thou hast giuen him many blessings if he should not bee thankefull it were a maruell CHAP. 24. The vnthankefulnesse of rich men a great sinne OH this will bee a witnesse against many rich men which receiue many great blessings and yet they bee vnthankefull for the diuell thought that he which receiued gifts and blessings could not chuse but bee thankefull and yet when Iob was rich he neuer did God so much honour nor seruice in his Church as when his goods were gone for before hee was a rich man and liued well and gaue somthing to the poor what should hee haue done w th his goods else so did many more besides him But when all his goods were taken away hee did not as worldly men do he did not say I am bewitched or it is the negligence of my seruants but he said The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh and as it pleaseth the Lord so it commeth to passe blessed be the name of the Lord And thus hee became thankefull for his losses This is a thing that euery one cannot doe and hee was so patient and thankefull what crosses soeuer it pleased God to lay vpon him that he glorified God in his obedience and shewed that he loued God and that his loue was not set on this worldly wealth So he might haue God without the world he cared not hee was none of those that must needes haue God and the world together or
Word preached because hee had no knowledge by the vvord to see his wants He had no knowledge because hee did not continually heare and read the word which would haue taught him to haue knowne God and himselfe If hee prayed sometime without knowledge and faith his prayers were vaine and friuolous And thus he seeth it was his owne negligence that brought him to hell because hee would not labour for the meat that perisheth not and now hee is so vexed at himselfe because he did not follow the counsell of our blessed Sauiour Christ that took such paines for him and gaue him so many warnings and told him how hee should finde it if he would follow his counsell that hee would now if it were possible bee reuenged on himselfe as Iudas whē he had done that which Christ had warned him of and saw that now it could not be vndone hee laid violent hands on himselfe to be reuenged vpon himselfe But when they see they cannot bee reuenged on themselues nor no way can mitigate their torment then they are ten thousand times more tormented with torments which cannot bee expressed then they will defie Sathan crie out against the world they loued so well and say Sathan laid all his baites by the things which are in the world yea manie baits hee laid and tooke manie euen with things that were lawfull to bee vsed in the world by the appointment of God as you shall see Meat is ordained of God for the nourishment of man and yet how manie doth Sathan take with the sinne of gluttonie and therefore take heede that thou eatest temperatelie Meat is ordained for the belly and the belly for meat but God will destroy both them and it Drinke is verie lawfull yet how manie doth Satan take with the sinne of drunkennesse and therefore Christ saith Take heede lest at anie time your hearts bee ouercome with drunkennesse and surfetting and cares of this world Mark this counsel of Christ Lest at anie time As if hee should say bee continuallie carefull lest thou art ouercome with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this world for thou mayest surfet and bee drunken with anie thing thou takest care for in this world And therfore Christ saith Take no care and doe not say What shall wee eat and what shall we drinke and wherewith shall we bee clothed for after these things seek the Gentiles And your heauenly father knoweth you haue neede of these things But first seeke the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these things shall bee ministred vnto you Oh the mercie of God which would tell you that your heauenly Father knew that you had neede of these things and hee would giue you that he knew sufficient Seeke ye the Kingdome of heauen and these things shall bee ministred vnto you Seeke yee the heauenly treasure and a little of this earthly trash wil serue the turne And if you knew all and how Sathan hath poysoned most of it you would be afraid to take anie of it But if you take nothing but at my hands saith Chirst Sathans poison shall neuer hurt you but if you beginne to bee your owne caruers Sathan will so sawce it with sweet poison that hee will deceiue the wisest worldling in the world And therfore see you take nothing but at the hands of the Lord for Sathan hath spred his net as the spider doth her webbe Now the spider lieth close hidden in a darke hole vntill the sillie flie bee entangled and then hee comes and taketh her as his owne and euen so Sathan lieth close vntill hee see you entangled within the things of this world and then hee claimeth the world and you and all for his owne CHAP. 40. The poyson of outward things SEe how Sathan hath poysoned all things in this world as apparel with pride honour with haughtinesse beauty with vanity recreations with swearing riches with couetousnesse a thing clean against reason for the naturall man would thinke that hee which is rich neede not be couetous and yet it is commonly seen the more rich the more couetous Yea and euen our vertues how doth Sathan seeke to poyson them as for liberality how doth hee seeke to poyson it with prodigalitie and honest labour with carefulnesse And therefore S. Iohn saith Loue not the world nor the things that are in the world for the loue of the world is enmity to God Then some worldly man will say What shall we doe nothing Yes but see how soone the Diuel will lay a snare to entangle the withal that thou maist be idle the verie bait with the which hee catcheth all for many desire goods that they may bee idle and the Diuell hath most leisure to talke with a man when he is idle and idlenesse bringeth a man to manie vaine recreations and so to much eating and drinking and to manie wicked sinnes The holy Ghost saith that we shall giue account for euery idle word that wee speake and therefore thou maiest not bee idle by anie meanes Thou must labour sixe daies for GOD hath commanded thee so to doe and thou must doe it not for anie care thou hast of the world but because GOD commanded thee and thou must shew thy selfe obedient to him and all thy care in thy labour must bee how to please him and leaue the successe of thy labor to him and thou must be carefull in thy labour that thou takest no care for thine owne profit nor thine owne pleasure but how to please God and then let it please thee but be sure it please not thee and offend God And thus thou must labour sixe daies and follow the commandement of God and his example after whose image thou wert made and whom thou art to imitate hee laboured and made in sixe daies these things for thee labour thou to obey him hee laboured and looked ouer his worke and saw it was good So thou must labour and looke ouer thy worke and see that it bee good before God Though there are manie imperfections in thee yet because thou art reconciled to GOD in Christ and now shewest thy humble obedience to his commandement that thou wilt neither bee idle nor yet labour for thine owne profit nor plesure nor doe thy owne wayes but see that thou dost those things that hee hath appointed thee taking hold of Christ by faith hee accepteth them for good through Christ who hath fulfilled all for thee for obedience is better then sacrifice Then also thou must rest the seuenth day for so for thy ensample he rested commanded thee to rest that day and to keepe it holy to the Lord. Now he commandeth thee to leaue all earthly businesse and attend vpon him and heare what further instructions hee hath for thee how to strengthen thy faith how to take hold on CHRIST and how to come to his kingdome Now thy care must be how to learne at his mouth to keepe his commandements