Peacocks do reason great wrong when as they so do clothing him with such talke as vtterly disgraceth him and maketh him odious And beleeue me it is a very hard thing for these men to come any thing neere this holy Philosophie or wisedome which dwelleth amongst the graces that garde and enuiron her on euery side Tertullian who is desirous to haue vs learne how greatly mildnesse and simplicitie serue vs to prepare our selues to receiue the gifts and perfections of the holy Ghost saith precisely that he appeareth oftenest in the shape of a Doue to shew vnto vs that he dwelleth not but in such as are without gall as a Doue is but are very gratious and gentle Now because that for the most part it commeth by reason of our infirmitie as thinking to fly one sinne we fall into another we are to feare that because we are not well confirmed in vertue thinking to hold vs in humilitie we fall to become very cowards when as in deed we should rather fall to banding charging And therefore it shall not be amisse that we adde vnto that which we haue spoken of temperance and mildnesse certaine considerations to raise vs vp to be most couragious whē as it shall stand vs in hand to be so Which wil principally serue vs to keep vs in a straite and an assured course against all whatsoeuer shall offer it self to amaze and turne vs from obeying the commandements of God For first we shall on the one side haue rash presumption to egge vs forward to desire more then that wherevnto God hath called vs and oppose our selues vnto his constant and firme purpose Our happie successes and prosperous encounters or accidents will so tickle vs as that they will make vs laugh our good hap will promise vs high and great things and yet for all this we will not once change our visage nor countenance We will scornefull behold and looke vpon and that with a leering eye the presents of fortune if I may so say like vnto the faire fresh coloured Apples which grew neere to the lake of Ghomorre but they were no sooner touched but that they fel forthwith into powder and ashes But if reason telleth vs that we must take them we will then vse them with great equalitie of minde and facilitie of maners and make none other estimation of them On the other side we shall haue afflictions dangers griefes and pouertie which in the iudgement of the common people wrappeth vp all manner of miseries And it is against these enemies chieflie that this vertue must boisterouslie stretch forth her armes It is through them that she must make way if she meane to come to the end of her purpose Howbeit if we our selues stand in no feare and she not before such time as we see the enemie what mischiefe may they do vs Forsooth they will spoile vs of all our goods and so we shall go the lighter seeing then that the reward is reserued for him that commeth first and shall the longer while enioy the immortall goddes which soonest commeth thether shall we then feare to lose the baggage for the obtaining of such a glorious victorie And now behold the breach is made and our Captaine within that calleth vs and we our selues busie our selues to shoote at him that arresteth vs by the cloake and put our selues in hazard to remaine prisoners in the hands of the enemie that will cause vs lose both cloake and honour and the fruite also of all our trauell We are threatned with death and what other thing else is it that we seeke after We haue not clothed our selues with this transitorie and mortall life but onely to pay the tribute and discharge the tolle at the comming in of euerlasting life These are good newes seeing we are called vpon to pay for it is a token that we are come on shore But what is this death that thus terrifieth vs What is he so to be feared as that he will make vs turne our backs vpon him forsake the field of vertue lie slily hid in the trenches or rather in the sand holes of slouthfulnesse and cowardise If we thinke it an euill thing it is because we feele it to be so or else because others thinke so of it Haue we not heard the plaint of those who haue couragiously died either for the honor of God or els for the seruice of their king or for the defence of their countrey Was there euer yet any nation so barbarous so voide of humanitie or as we commonly say so farre from the sunne as that commend not with great praise the valure and worthinesse of those that haue spent their liues for the common-wealths sake Hath not the memorie of posteritie taken them out of their graues to make them aliue againe in the remembrance of men And if we should come to number out the parts of the life of man shall we recken the time which they haue bestowed in eating drinking and sleeping or rather principally bring into a short accoumpt the dayes wherein they haue most valiantly fought for vertue And therefore that which we call life is but a death because it dyeth without leauing any memory therof for that which we call death is in very deed life because it is that which maketh vs to be continue for euer Neither are we to regard how long we liue but how wel we liue neither commeth death too soone if he bring honor with him neither is it for the only opinion of another and for the honor which we shall get by well dying that ought to make vs contemne death but for the loue of that second life whereinto we must enter The Druydes had some forefeeling of the immortalitie of our soules which caused them to be more valiant then all the people of the world for they made a skorne to saue their liues saying that they made no more accoumpt of them then of the head of a willow tree And the Philosophers who made a iest at them confessed yet that they held a blessed error Howbeit we say that their wisedome was blessed by tasting of this opinion whereby they found groping in the darke the very resting place of felicitie and had found out the counterpoyson which driueth away and slayeth feare the very poyson of our soules which drieth vp and feeb lisheth our hearts and minds But we being brought vp and taught in a better Schoole then they were do not only know but constantly beleeue and not only beleeue but are glad also as a man would say of this second immortall life For we haue a spirit lodging in the inward part of our soule which sayeth and soundeth continually if so be we will heare it nothing else but this life to come And vnto this voyce it is that so many millions of Christians haue in the middest of their afflictions and torments followed the standard or ensigne of their Captaine spilling and sheading their bloud in
thy selfe my God attend and looke that when I shall come before thee that I wil make a rampaâ—… of mine innocency and that I am so voyd of vnderstanding as that I would iustifie my selfe in thy presence Alas ô Lord I right well know that I was not yet borne and that I was also nothing but sinne my mother likewise thought to be deliuered of a childe â—nd was brought abed of sinne But â—t had beene a great deale better for â—er that she had beene deliuered â—efore her time of such monstrous â—…uite which shameth the tree that â—are it and the earth that nursed it â—nd heauen that ripened it I was â—urâ—ed of sinne within my mothers womb â—nd suckt her milke and behold it is â—o growne vp with me as that it shaâ—oweth my head and blindeth mine yes 6 But when I see the eyes of my â—odie so seeled vp with sinne that is â—bout me I then open the eyes of my â—…ule and begin to see a farre off the cames of thine infallible truth and â—cknowledge thy maruellous secret â—isedome which thou hast manifeâ—…ed vnto me And then my soule forâ—…king the impuritie of my bodie lifâ—eth herselfe vp vnto heauen and â—erceth through the incredible brightâ—esse thereof and casting her eye upon the booke of eternitie shee â—erein readeth the draught of the â—ewe couenant which thou art to make with men and then returning into her miserable body she filleth heâ— selfe with hope and ioy and promiseâ— vnto her selfe assured victorie ouâ— her sinne 7 For she hath learned in heauâ—… that thou wilt take into thine haâ—… the Sprinkle of sweet smelling hysopâ— and sprinkle vpon me cleane and pâ—rified water Thou shalt wash me aâ—… I shall become whiter then snowâ—… and none shall see vpon me no not 〈◊〉 much as the very trace and steps 〈◊〉 sinne But ô Lord what lees shall thâ—… be that shall be made of the ashes 〈◊〉 my sinnes consumed with the fire 〈◊〉 thy loue with the water of the teaâ—… which my repentance shall distill froâ— mine heart and in the Sunne of thâ— grace wipe away teares and caâ—… a spirituall reioycing to growe in 〈◊〉 and in the end make vs white wiâ—… the puritie and brightnesse of righâ—…ousnesse that we may one day shiâ—… farre more excelleÌ„tly then the staâ—… of the firmament 8 and then shall we heare nothing but the pleasant sound of the Troâ—…â—et of saluation which shall deliâ—… out grace and mercie vnto all those that will receiue the same Then shall we see the rotten and consumed bones rise againe and take theyr fleshie bodie vppon them to partake that vniuersall ioye whereunto thou hast called the whole world 9 Now to the end I might then appeare so honorably apparelled before thee as such an honorable magnificence is worthie of I beseech thee my God to cast downe all my sinnes vnder thy feete and burie them all in the middest centre of the earth that no eye may be able to pierce through to see them and seperate me for euer from mine iniquitie which at this present I repudiate and do sweare an irreconciliable diuorce betweene me and them 10 Thou seest heere my Soule what an offer I make vnto thee and therefore make thy selfe pure and â—eate reneue in mine heart a newe spirit which will conceiue nothing but holinesse and righteousnesse O Lord my God establish therein an house for thine holie spirit to the end I neuer hereafter either thinke breathe or vtter foorth any thing but the prayses of thee my God and let thy will be alwayes printed in my minde and. thy glorie written vppon my lips 11 When thou hast thus clothed and furnished me with pietie and integritie I shall be then verie assured that nothing shall keepe me from thy presence and then as the Eagle naturally looketh full vpon the Sunne euen so will I fixe my sight and eyes vppon thine euerlasting face and so thereby I shall see in thy wonderfull countenance all the perfectioÌ„s which I at this present am no way able to conceyue neyther shall thine holie spirit euer dwell out of mine hart for it is he that vnder the wing of a zealous loue shall carrie me euen into thine armes to associate me vnto this heauenly ioy 12 Make me therefore rightly to taste the sweete pleasures of this immortall life Saue me speedely from the rocks of this world which on euerie side threaten my soule with wracke And as the Marriner when he is come to the hauen crowneth the maste of his Ship with floures in token that he is in safetie euen so O Lord crowne thou me with the pretious gifts of thine holie Spirit as pawnes of thy euerlasting blessednesse which thou hast promised me With the gifts I say of that Spirit of thine which reigneth amongst thy faithfull which distributeth faith vnto thine elect loue vnto thy best beloued and hope vnto those whome thou hast predestinate to euerlasting life 13 Now all the while that my soule resteth thus banished looking still to be called home agayne vnto thee I will teach the wicked to walke in the way that may best please thee and set them also in it for feare they hurt not them-selues in the darkenesses of this world against the stumbling blocks which they may suddainely light vppon lying before them And so they will beleeue me and returne vnto thee ô Father of lights and with all their hearts embrace thy faith and walke in thine obedience 14 I know O Lord that there will be some such found as will stop their eares at my words and will obstinatly continue in their sinnes coniure my death and defile their barbarous crueltie with my bloud O my God deliuer me out of their hands and reserue me to declare thy righteousnes and to pronounce their condemnation I will foretell them their miseries and they shall feele them and I shall no sooner hold my peace but that thy hand shall be vppon them and thy hand shall no sooner haue stricken them but that they shall be broken to fitters and be vtterly destroyed 15 And then thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall set forth thy victorie for the ayre shall be still the winds shall be calme and the flouds shall be quiet to hearken vnto my resounding voyce which shall sing out the wonders of the eternall God For thy prayse ô Lord shall be the sacrifice that I will alwayes offer vp vnto thee and which thou also wilt euer haue good liking of 16 I would gladly haue embrued their Aulters with the bloud of a great number of cattell I would gladly haue cut the throats of a thousand oxen and of a thousand lambs to haue done thee honor but bloud stinketh in thy nostrels neither takest thou pleasure in the flesh of beasts The smoke of such offerings the winds carrie away so as they neuer ascend vnto thee But the voyce onely of a iust man passeth aboue the heauens and the Angelles present the same before
wherof is able to keepe him backe froÌ„ comming to the point of his felicitie When man saw himselfe thus defaced he was displeased with himselfe cursed his life as a gulfe of miserie where he saw nothing before his eyes but coÌ„fusion and darkenesse And all his animaduersions were nothing but of euils and all his hope of nothing but of calamities For God being nothing but righteous and man nothing else but sinne what measure or end could there be of his punishment Howbeit the eternall wisedome who wrought with God in the creation of man hauing compassion of the losse destruction of such a worke came as Tertullian sayth to lay a steepe the poison of death in his own blood to wash cleanse vs besides to turne away the iust wrath of his Father that he might haue mercy vpon vs and so turne vnto vs againe Thus we see how we are entred againe into grace with our God purified by his mercie called againe vnto the knowledge of his truth and the beholding of his glorie Howbeit we are so peruerse obstinate in our cursednesse so great enemies to our owne felicitie as that so soone as this eternall light would begin to appeare and shine vppon the clearenesse of our consciences there to expresse and reimprint the face of his Deitie and relieue and recharge the lineaments of this deuine wisedome which are so shamefully defiled and as it were vtterly defaced as that we make a thousand foule blemishes rebound vpon our selues which blind and defile vs and thrust them selues betweene vs and the grace which should enlighten vs. We must therefore as often as we defile our selues so often also lay too our hands to wipe away our foule and filthie staines for the cleansing and clearing of our soules so that we thereby being polished the beames of our principall bountie and goodnesse may cause the clearenesse of vertue and truth most clearely shine and brightly burne vpon vs. Here then we see the meanes which we herein must hold and keepe let vs now looke what the cause of this euill is and then let vs also wisely consider of the remedie for the same In very deede our peruerse and corrupt iudgement is the very fountaine of all our offences and the spring-head of that pestilent humor which so infecteth and spoyleth vs. The things which spoyle and trouble vs are the delightes and pleasures which on euery side alure vs and make vs drunke before we are fully awake This licour then being mixed amongst our tender senses by reason of the infirmitie of our age so delicately seasoneth vs as that we can neuer after lose and forget the sauour thereof We content not our selues with moderatly drinking but we will be ouer head and eares also tarrying still by it as if we would haue the tide ouerflowe vs leauing our selues drowned as it were vpon the swallowing quicksand of miserable old age Now these sweet licours wherewith we so fill and glut our selues turne by and by into bitternes and fill our harts and minds with a venemous humor which infecteth and corrupteth vs. For the affection which we beare vnto the beauty of these created things being entertained and flattered by vs changeth it selfe into a furious and mad lust which peruerteth and ouerthroweth our sentes for the flattering and dissembling desire which we haue vnto these worldly riches turneth it selfe into a blinde and senslesse passion and are none otherwise to be esteemed in this world but as the ordure and excrement of the earth and the loue of false honor conuerteth it selfe into a foolish desire to be farre more then the rest of the world and chalengeth vnto it selfe the reuerence and seruice that is due vnto God himselfe The pleasure which we take in our feeding is turned into beastly and shamelesse gluttony The care that we take in preseruing our bodies delicately groweth into beastly vncleannesse and filthy lust and the worthinesse that we beleeue too too much of our own courage and valure turneth it selfe into outragious choler and rashnesse And surely our minds being stopped and oppressed with so foule and slimie humors can neuer breathe forth any thing that is pure and cleane Now for the purging of all these subtile and mortall passions and poysons of the minde we must see what remedie we can finde out for them and it may be it will be to good purpose to vse the counsell which a good auncient Father gaue vnto a religious nouice of his house Like as wise nurses sayd he when they will weane their children will rub the neble of their teate with wormewood and other bitter druggs euen so must we be dealt withall for the making of vs lose the taste of our delightes and pleasures for wee must set downe vnto our selues a certaine punishment for our lusts and change the houres of our pleasures into rigorous and austere exercises and at that time we are wonted to take our foolish and dissolute recreations let vs examine with all humilitie what paynes and torments our sinfull and detestable life deserueth I cannot tell whether this good old Father in speaking this thought vpon the custome which the Hebrewes vsed who made a solemne feast vpon that day that they began to weane any of their children or whether they reioyced in that their children left their weaker foode and fell to more strong and marâ—owye meates either else to stirre them vp by their example vnto a new kinde of dyer For we may verie fitlie applie this example vnto the instruction of our minâ—es if 〈◊〉 we will weane our selues from the milke of our delights and sweare an irreconciliable diuorce betweene vs and our sinnes inuiting our selues vnto the like feast as he amongâ—… those â—olie religious men of whome Phylo in the booke of a contemplatiue life maketh mention did They met together at this banquet and the first principall and most delicate and sweet dishes were the most beautifull and best tasting fruites of true wisedome which were presented vnto them by a most elegant preaching of the Prophets and commaundements of God as pure and vndefiled vessels Their reioycing was consolation their pastime austeritie their delicate dishes abstinence Their mindes being satisfied with such marrowy meate they were in a maruelous great and firme tranquillitie to be at leysure to follow their most happie contemplation And surely this exercise would become vs all very well neuerthelesse we had need euery one of vs particularly to accomplish this our purging of the soule which we call repentance by meanes whereof our soule returning into her selfe shall be able to wipe out spot by spot the blots that there most filthely do sauour Seeing then that this repentance should be vnto vs as it were the entrance and preface of a good and perfect life which should make vs cleane we should therein exercise our selues both carefully and ordinarily For seeing we are determined to erect a Temple in our soule wherein to lodge the
further it 23 They borrow and neuer pay againe all is fish that commeth to net and all is theirs that they may gayne by neither leaue they any thing behinde which they are able to carry away and yet notwithstanding all this profiteth them nothing for as the aboundance of meates fatteth not him that is in a consumption because the radycall humor of his life is dried vp euen so is the blessing of God which is the roote of all prosperitie withholden from the wicked But contrarywse the iust which is mercifull and full of compassion geueth his goods and dealeth liberally distributeth his money and is as the course an running of a liuely water which neuer dryeth vp 24 This is a blessing which is promised vnto all those that blesse the name of God that they shall enherit the land that is to say they shall haue a good title vnto the land as it were by enheritance And although they are striuen agaynst for it yet shall they neuer lose it For they are as Gods deere children whome hee hath created and therefore they are of a good and sure ground that they shall hold the same But they which blaspheme agaynst his name are disinherited of his grace and as vnthankefull children depriued of theyr fathers inheritance so as they hauing his curse can not choose but perish 25 For there is no saluation in this world but by trusting in God and by committing our selues vnto his tuition For he so directeth the wayes of a good man and so guideth all his actions as that it is impossible to be amended He aymeth his will at godlinesse and turneth away his eyes from the baytes of sinne he bringeth back the windings and crosse wayes of voluptuousnes into the broad beaten hye wayes of vertue and setteth it in the way of his commaundements 26 For this is a faire and smooth way wherein are no stones ne yet lets for it is altogether playne and smooth So as although the wicked one or the father of lyes casteth his leg before the iust man to make him trip stumble or yet set a snare for him thou thy selfe O Lord standest hard by him to life him vp againe and wilt not suffer him to be frushed and crushed And with thy mercifull hand yea euen with a most gentle and euen hand thou shorest him vp and redressest him 27 I haue bene yong and now an old and yet as far as I can remember I can not call to minde that euer I saâ—e God forsake the righteous man nor his children driuen to beg their bread Well may he haue sometimes a little trouble come vpon him to proue his constancie and to try his strength but â—t passeth and tottereth on without aâ—y fearing of him 28 I haue seene a man that hath â—one nothing all day long but geue â—…d lend so as a man would haue sayd â—hat he had taken great pleasure in â—cattering abroad his goods and yet â—e more abounded in wealth them eâ—er he did before He resembled proâ—erly the pipe of a pumpe which draâ—eth water by casting of it out for the â—ulnesse thereof can not abide that aâ—y emptinesse should be in it And so â—he rightuous man geueth and God â—orthwith filleth him againe his posteâ—itie feeleth no want of his largenesse â—or the blessing of God causeth his â—…one to bud forth euen as the Sunne maketh the fruits of the earth and â—ultiplieth an hundred for one 29 Seeing then that God is so good â—…d so liberall if thou louest to haue â—is fauour bethinke thee how thou â—ayest please him for it is the verie meane to turne him from doing hurt â—nd to do good For God loueth such a one as imitateth him for loue commeth of resemblance and his actions are to do good for he busieth hâ—…selfe about nothing else and he â—…gan this worke euen from the first bâ—ginning of the world and was 〈◊〉 wearyed therewith And therfore let 〈◊〉 do like vnto him and so long as 〈◊〉 shall dwell here in this world whâ—… he hath graunted vs meanes to seâ—… for his glorie and for the profiâ—… of our neighbors let vs neglect no â—…casion at all to discharge both the 〈◊〉 and the other and in so doing we shâ—… be sure to obteyne his fauour which 〈◊〉 the richest treasure that we possâ—… can recouer 30 For there is nothing that pleâ—seth him so much as to deale vprighâ—… and iustly for thereby we conseâ—… his workemanship as much as in 〈◊〉 lyeth and allow of his wise counsell 〈◊〉 rendring vnto euery man that whiâ—… is appoynted him and distributed 〈◊〉 the vniuersall law of the world whâ—… we call Nature and to thinke thâ—… when we iudge others we adminiâ—… his power and looke what iudgemeâ—… we geue against others the like will 〈◊〉 also geue against vs wheÌ„ as he shal â—…ter into his Throne to iudge the 〈◊〉 world Not that he can iudge corruptly as we do but will make vs feele by his iudgement the corrupt dealing which we haue made others feele by our owne For he will neuer forsake his holy ones he will gather them together at the end and couer them from the vniust dealing of men and will expressely enter into his iudgement seate to iudge all those that oppressed them 31 And there will he pronounce heauie iudgemeÌ„t against the vniust make the wicked perish They shall be fast bound in infernall paines where they shall be heard houle amiddest their torments and the paine shall exceed abound ouer their heads euen vnto their posteritie and their childreÌ„ shal draw their fathers sins after them and beare part of their miseries 32 And at that time shall the grace of God spread it self aboundantly vppon the righteous because their prosperitie might be a second paine vnto the wicked filling their harts with enny which shal coÌ„tinually gnaw the for they shal see the good godly me possesse their laÌ„d in peace their generatioÌ„ reigne in most assured rest and flourish as the tree planted fast alongeâ— hard by the pleasant riuers side which casteth our his branches at length anâ— spreadeth forth his boughes into the ayre flourish beautifully bring forth leaues aboundantly and fructifie moâ—… excellently 33 But what shall be the fruites oâ— the rightuous man shall they be his goods which he hath scraped and scratched together or the castles and goodly houses which hee hath built Nay nay they are fruites most vnworthy oâ— such a tree which will wither away aâ— the very first feeling of any frost yea fruites that will fall at the first blast No no they are those good and sweet sauouring fruites which growe within the beautifull and fat greene soyle of the diuine wisedome They shall be holie and religious thoughts meditations full of zeale and deuotion by the which hee shall ioyne his spirit vnto God and withall opening his soule shall receyue the beames of the holie Ghost which shall animate in him a thousand gratious and vertuous actions as the