pardon my sinnes to forgiue mine offences and to renew thy holy Spirite in mee that I may so passe my time in this life that through thy grace fauor I may neuer waÌ„der in the most filthy streetes of eternall death and destruction but for euer escape the daungerous and stinking gulfe of hellish calamâ—ties and damnation Consider O Lord consider I beseech thee the weaknesse and frailty of my sinful flesh and according to the multitude of thy mercies receiue my soule into thy fauour and put all my wickednes out of thy remembrance Cleanse me O sweet Sauiour and so shall I be cleansed and made whiter than the snowe in thy sight Strengthen me O God streÌ„gthen me that the gates of hel preuail not against me neither let Satan death or hell euer haue power to triumph ouer me but let mee that am thine be thine stil and be thou mine Grant this O most victorious triumphant Lord for thy tender mercies sake and for thy deare sonnes sake our onlie mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Prayer to attaine heauenly felicitiâ—s THis worlde O Lord is a dungion of darknes a mountaine of miserable martyrdoms a lewd laberinth of loathsom lusts a canckred course of choking calamities a place of all vanities quite void of all vertues Wherfore make me strong O sweet Sauior to walke vpright in this wretched wildernes and arme me blessed Lord with thy holy armour let me haue O tender Father thy righteousnesse for my breast-plate a liuely faith in thee for my target a firm hope of thy mercies for my helmet and the true knowledge of thy word for my banner so that I may be strong against all the fond allurements vaine fancies and most wicked assaultes of the world the flesh and deuill the mortall enemies both of my body and soule and after the ende of this fraile life I may participate with thee and thy holie Angels the perfect ioyes of heauenly felicities in eternall life but feeling the heauie burthen of my sinne and calling to memorie the grieuous punishment which thou hast often time laid vpon sinne as when thou diddest send fire vpon Sodom and Gomorrha for sinne when thou diddest cast foorth Adam out of Paradice for sinne when thou diddest harden the heart of Pharaoh for sin when thou diddest cast Lucifer foorth out of heauen into vtter darknes for sin yea when thou didst persecute Salomon in himself his posterity with Dauid thy own seruant and many others to our example al for shameful sin O Christ most mercifull I beseech thee that art the lamb of God and takest away the sins of the world to blot out al mine iniquitiâ—s which I coÌ„fesse O Lord to be more then al theirs let not mine offences be witnesses against me in the great day for then I know that both death and euerlasting damnation shal be my reward Wherefore I beseech thee O most mighty God and mercifull Father that the pittifull passion of thy deare son may be a sufficient ransom for al my sins a ful satisfaction for all mine offences Grant me O Lord thy holy spirite of thy louing kindnes turne thy fauourable countenaÌ„ce towards me that I may for euer in all my thoughts words and deeds praise glorifie thy holy name after this life attaine the felicities and ioyes of thy blessed kingdome and there with thee to raigne eternallly To whome with the father the son and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen Sweet and comfortable Flowers for soule and body Auarice THe chariote of Auarice is carried vppon foure wheeles of vices which are Faint courage Inhumanitie contempt of God and forgetfulnesse of death The two horses that drawe the same are Rauine and Niggardship to them both is but one Carter which is a desire to haue the whip which the carter vseth hath two cords and they are a greedy mind to get and a fearful heart to forgoe As hell and perdition are neuer filled euen so the minde of a couetous person is neuer contented Riches hastily gotten shall soone diminish but that which by honest trauel is by litle and litle gathered shal dayly increase and continue long He that maketh hast to bee rich and beareth enuie to others litle knoweth how soon pinching necessitie shall summon him to the base court of pouertie Endlesse woe is the rewarde of him that greedily doth gather to maintaine his house that his nest may stand on high and thinketh to escape the great strok of vengeance The couetous person neuer taketh rest for in this life his mind is vexed and his soule shall euer burne in the fiery lake of eternall perdition O with what difficulty shall they that are in loue with mony enter into the kingdome of heauen Verily I say vnto you more easie is it for a Cammell to passe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen Such as be rich or couet much wealth sal no doubt into most wicked temptations and are taken in the sâ—ares of the deuill yea by greedy and vnlawfull desires are drowned in the stinking gulfe of sempiternall death damnation Pouerty lacketh many things couetousnes al things the niggard â—o no man is good â—ut to himselfe worst Money is a seruant and drudge to a wise man but to a foole a Ladie and Mistresse Inordinate desire of riches and rule is the onlie fountaine whence springeth all mischiefe for couetous appetite subuerteth credit honestie humility clemencie patience benignitie with all other vertues Riches to a wicked man are instruments of mischiefe As the fire euer desireth more fewell that it may consume it euen so a man that is couetous craueth more welth that he may hoord it the fire to his comfort because it is therby maintained but the man to his misery be-because he is thereby damned Riches to the vertuous and godly that vse them wel are a token of the sweet mercies fauour of God but to the wicked that abuse them a perfect signe of their reprobation losse of Gods loue towards them Ambition THe Deuill did fall only because he wold rather be a prince then a subiect An aspiring mind neuer inioyeth quietnes He that desireth to be aboue others often times falleth and is set with the lowest Such as are infected with ambition are desirous of honour must be enforced to possesse such treasures only as are vnspotted and cleane from all mischiefe which may not of any enemy be corrupted of any friend misliked nor of any man slandered All such as exalt themselues shall surely be daunted and set low Who so liueth in authority let him weigh in the vpright ballaÌ„ce of his clear conscience in what sort he came vnto it and comming wel vnto it how he ought to liue wel in it to the end he may gouern wisely let him cal to remembrance his owne infirmity Rule
perfect feeling then we know here eke remaines by destinies O glorious God that hast assign'd these pleasures all vs to content Inspire our hearts that thou maist find our soules with thee still to consent What greater ioyes can be exprest what sweeter blisse what pleasure more Can be conceiu'd in humaine breast then here haue bene rehearst before Yet more then all is ouerâ—ast which one is all I dare well say For faâ—e to face we shall at â—â—st Our Sauiour sweet see night and day And ioy in him with perfect blâ—sse and liue with him that death hath sâ—aine In loue and peace which are endlesse and neuer toucht with woe or paine No gooâ— can be but there is found no good without him is possest All best delights do there abound each fight doth yeeld a perfect rest The Angels there most glorious are then humaine eyes can well behold More bright they shine then any star and still Gods mercies they vnfold What place more stately can there be for greatest Princes to enioy Then follow heires with him to be that grants all blisse without annoy Behold the time which once hath bin behold the time which present is Behold also each future thing most plaine are there with God in blisse O knowledge deep O heauenly light O sence most cleare that so can reach That so can bring all things in sight and so all saints and Angels teach O blessed state where malice sleepes no one is here of base degree O glorious Lord that Princes keeps his loyall seruants for to be O seat of ioy O sâ—e of blisse O happie house of all pleâ—sures O state which neuer doth amisse O blessed place which so endures O place which yeeldeth all contents O place which neuer wracke sustaines O place which need ne lands ne rents O place which still in blisse remaines O woondrous place of all the best O place which endlesse comfort brings O place of ioy and quiet rest O place whence chiefest goodnes springs O place the nurse of loue and peace O place the fountaine of all faith O place where strife and discord cease O onlie place of life and breath O glorious Lord that there doth raigne and only giuer of all blisse O happy we if we maintaine and keepe his lawes in righteousnesse O happie we to whome the light and knowledge of his word is brought O happie we that liue in sight of such a Lord in word and thought O happie all that doe imbrace this famous Lord in word and deed For they shal comfort get and grace and on his Manna shall they feed O Manna sent from God aboue O Manna sweet that bringeth blisse O onlie food of godlie loue that mends all things that are amisse O heauenly iewell of all the best O pearle passing glittering gold Wherein all Christian soules do rest and with all ioy the same behold No difference there of persons is Each one doth liue in like degree Each one possesseth heauens blisse all face to face our Lord do see O man to thee now must I call the end where first I did begin That ioyes that blisse that paine and thrall may keep thy soule and mind from sin Thy heart will melt on them to thinke if any grace in thee remaine And from all filthy sinfull sinke thy heart and hand thou wilt refraine Vaine pleasure all then wilt thou scorne when heauens blisse thou doest behold For they with damned spirits are torne that make a treasure of their golde When grieâ—ly death doth the assault it is too late for to amend Wherefore in time confesse thy fault and God to please see thou intend For when this liâ—e is gone and past there is no cure for any sinne Then as we are so shall we last in ioy or paine as we begin Wherefore thy life see so thou frame that it may please our Sauiour sweet And alwayes praise his holy name then thou in blisse shalt Angels meet And with them euer shalt thou be all peace all ioy with them shalt haue Surpassing pleasures stil shalt see and nothing euer need to craue Which blessed place none can possesse till from this finfull life they goe None to the same can haue accesse vnlesse in godlinesse they flowe FINIS A PRAIER TO ESCHVE worldly vanities FOr asmuch O bountifull Iesus and most sweete sauiour of mankind the frailtie of our corrupted flesh is still more ready to yeelde to the vain allurements of this wicked world and fond fancies of this wretched vale then to the sweet and comfortable perswasions of thy constant worde reuealed in the holy Gospell the food of our soules the bread of our liues and the strength of our saluation I most humblie beseech thee euen in the bowels of thy tender mercies to turne thy fauourable countenance towards me so poure in me the dewe of thy heauenly grace that I may euen hate and eschewe the vaine inuentions and fonde pleasures of this loathsome laberynth walk in the waies of the godly according to thy holy lawes coÌ„mandements Be thou O merciful God my strong castell and refuge against the wicked assaults and most filthy temptations of Satan and all his hellish hoste for they secretâ—ly dig pits for my soule and seeke continuallie to entrappe the same in the snares of eternall damnation and leaue nothing vnattempted that may worke my most miserable destruction Wherefore o most sweet and tender Father so mortify old Adam in my fond affections that despising the vncertainty frailtie of this momentaneous life I may not delight my self in the ioyes of any earthly pleasures or looke for any comfort of this present life but withdrawe my mind and soule from things of fickle stay to fix my hart to solace and delights vpon the hope of beholding the maiestie and beautie of they glorie wherein ioy shal be ful and nothing wanting for euer Graunt O blessed God and most merciful Father that art the mighty monark of heauen and earth and onely giuer of all goodnesse that my soule may as a Doue speedily flie vnto the sweete bosome of thy deare sonne and there with him receiue the happie rest which he by shedding of his preeious bloud hath purchased and prepared for the same to whome with the father and the holie Ghost be all glorie praise dominion and power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to escape the calamities of hell BEholding with the eies of my heart O blessed Lord the cruell tormentes and dreadful terrors of the pit of hel which thou hast appointed to be a iust guerdon for sin and a fit punishment for such as forsake thee and daylie seeke by infidelity to dishonour thee and knowing that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I should receiue nothing but death and damnanation I here prostrating my selfe before thy diuine Maiestie most humbly beseech thee of thy gracious fauour to caste downe the eyes of Mercie vpon me to
and the common mischief of man more credit is giuen to mens signets then to their soules The honesty of men consisteth in the true performance of their promises Quietnesse THe paeient man enioyeth most quietnes and a quiet mind keepeth the body in temperance It is better to liue with a little quietly then with aboundance troublesomlie Quietnes maketh a merrie heart and a fat bodie Remembrance IT is good to remeÌ„ber our faultes that we may first repent vs of them and then specdilâ— amend them There is nothing more coÌ„fortable to the heart of man then the remeÌ„brance of sorrows past in prosperitie present Reason Nothing in a man is better then reason for by that hee goeth before beastes and followeth the gods A perfect reason is that good which properly belongeth to man all other thinges are to him common with beasts For if he bee strong so is the Lyon if faire so is the Peacocke if swift so is the horse Reason maketh a man full of felicity Man by reason killeth the wilde Boare stayeth yea slayeth the light footed Stagge By reason one man gouerneth another for the subiect by reason is brought to obey the Prince the Prince with clemeÌ„cie through reason ruleth the subiect and long raigneth ouer them Riches RIches make place for losse for such as possesse much must loose much Not Riches but good deeds shall deliuerâ—a man from damnation Riches are the â—ause of sin and sin of death Riches draw men to hurtâ—ull desires anâ— drown their soules in the gulfe of perdition Sapience THe roote of wisedome is to feare God and the branches thereof be of long life The ardent desire of wisedome bringeth a man to the euerlasting kingdome A wise heart will abstaine from euill deeds and he shal prosper in the works of iustice The thoughtes of a wise man can not bee depraued A wise man is neuer troubled with the tempests of heauinesse Wisdome excelleth strength the prudent person is preferred before the puissant Wisedome is the Nurse of peace and the mother of all other vertues Sicknesse SIcknesse patientlie taken is a perfect token of the loue and fauour of God for therby we see our frailtie and weaknes and also the omnipotent power of the highest Sicknesse causeth great men to remember God and poore men to acknowledge their offences Sicknesse is more necessarie then meat for by the one the body onelie is maintained but by the other both body soule are coÌ„forted Silence SIlence to follie is great wisdome Vse few words and much wit Offende rather in silence then in babbling Silence hurteth none but many words are hated of all men An euil man is soner vanquished by silence then with answers and malice sooner stirred with words then reformed A man which cannot keep silence is like a citie whose gates stand wide open wherein the aduuersarie entreth at his pleasure Truâ—th MAnie wordes commonly scatter trueth to nothing Truth seeketh not corners All the wayes of God are mercy truth Time trieth trueth trueth pleaseth God Let thy tongue â—ee ignorant of lying and swearing and so well see thou loue trueth that what soeuer thou speakest thinke that thou swearest the same Trueth surmounteth all earthly things for God himself is very trueth Trueth floweth from God as from the only fountaine of the same Trueth cannot hide it self for it shineth in darknesse and banisheth the dimme cloudes of ignorance As Satan is the father of lies so is God the authour of trueth Truth flourisheth amongst the godly but all such as beare lying lips are banished from that societie Let all thy talke be mixed with modestie and trueth Vertue Vâ—rtue is godlie inclination of the minde to eschew euill and imbrace godlinesse Vertue is to restraine anger to mittigate desire and to refraine carnal pleasures The fruits of the Spirite are charitie chastitie humilitie ioyfulnesse peace patience bountifulnesse goodnesse long sufferance saith temperance continence and meeknes Vertue adorneth thy minde decketh thy thy soule and winneth loue to thy â—ody Vertue is euer one with most deep rooâ—s perfectly planted and can with no violent means be destroyed It beseemeth vertue to be free from dread and subiect to no seruitude Vertue cannot serue because she is free Virginitie VIrginity flourisheth as the greene lawrel and can by no tempestuous blastes of aduersitie be quailed Virginitie is sister of Angels vanquisher of lustes Princesse of Vertue and possessour of all good things Virginity beâ—â—tifieth the body preserueth strength and leadeth the soule to eternall happinesse The woman vnmaried the Maiden vncorrupted thinke on thinges pertaining to God to the intent to bee holy in bodie and soule The seruants of Virginitie are sobrietie modesty continencie silence and lenitie Virginitie scorneth Pride banisheth malice daunteth enuiâ— imbraceth all vertues Virginitie is the garland of al Vertues the garden of comfort and the court of all praise For there is no godlie motion but she affecteth no flower of comfort but shee possesseth no earthlie praise but she deserueth Witte A Wise man doth all things by counsell a foole soone discouereth his follie Wit consisteth in the knowledge of things good and euill Seperate them from thee that do craftilie flatter thee and imbrace them with kindnes that faithfullie loue thee least ill men haue most profite by thee The help of god is not onely gotten with wishing and praying but by vigilant studie diligent executing and wise counselling all things come to passe Preuent as a wise man the daungers that may fall vpon thee A wise man foreseeth future mishaps and suffereth none to afflict him A wise man winneth wealth both to comfort himselfe and his posteritie but a foole looseth his patrimony and can get nothing Witte refuseth hastines wrath because they be enemies of counsel Wit gouerneth affections and putteth all vices to flight Wit is the gift of God and the brightnes thereof banisheth all the darke cloudes of ignorance Wit adorneth her self with th the sweet pleasant flowers of all vertues she refraineth from sin and imbraceth all godlines she prepareth vs to hansomnes and teacheth vs to eschue the filthy way of beastlinesse Witte is the mother of patience the daughter of wisedome the sister or modesty and temperance and the careâ—ull Nurse of well doing FINIS What can it auaile thee to win althe world loose thine owne soule This life is a miserable vale The sandes oâ— the sea the grasse of the field are sooner numbred then our woes No man was euer happie in this life All estates â— this world most miserable â—â—e frailty â—t this life The certenty of death The noise of damned soules The lothsomnes of hell The torâ—ents of â—ody and â—oule togeâ—her â—okens of the seconde â—omming â—f the lord The last gret plague in London The hardnes of our â—eares The Angels wait the comming of the â—â—rd The Lord sitteth in iudgment The reward for the wicked The comfort of the Godly â—he Anâ—els shew â—he mercies â—f God There is no remedy for sinne after death The end of 〈…〉 the first entraÌ„ce to eternall blisse Baâ—nard Salomon Seneca Salust â—â—egoriâ— Barnard Gregorie Seneca Salomon Salomon Seneca Paule Augustine Seneca Paulâ— Salamon Dauid Salamon Salomoâ— â—â—â—lesiast Augustinâ— Idem Augustine 〈◊〉 Salomon Aristotle Salusâ— Solomâ—n Augustine Seneca Paule Augustinâ— â—ugustine Augustine Hierome â—regorie Cicero Salust Salomon Augustine Solomen Seneca Hieronim Galen Hipocrat Galen Hipocrat 〈◊〉 Augustine Hierome Salomon Augustine Barnard Augustine Barnard â—lutarch â—ully â—gustine Salâ—mon Seneca Seneca Hieronim Salomon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Aâ—gustine Hieroniâ—â— Chrisostoâ— Salust Osoriuâ— Augustine Salomoâ— Barnard Ambrose Augustine Solomâ—n Augustine Barnard Hieronim Aâ—gustine Hieronim Aristotle â—ully Senecâ— plutarch Seneca plato â—ully â—ully Salomoâ— Paul◠〈◊〉 Augustine Pithag Chrisostom Hâ—eronim Dâ—uid Hierome Augustine Barnard plato Paule Chrysost â—ully Aristotle Cyptian Augustine Paule Aâ—brose Cyprian Salomen â—ully Socrates Salust plato Democrit Socrates Salomon Salust Ambrose
are turnde to dust his furious wrath none can abide God stil will fauour all the iust but sinners seeke themselues to hide Ocursed soule how art thou vext how art thou chok'd with wofull care Hovv doest thou quake when as the text of sinne doth vvill thee to beware When all these dreadfull sights appeare before thine eyes and are at hand Hovv doth thine heart then shake and feare hovv doest thou care to flie the land Thy body novv doth rise also like griâ—sly ghost from out the graue And in the same thy soule must goe and with the same due paines must haue Before thee sits a Iudge seuere vvhose vvrathfull rage thou must abide Behind thee Sprites they soule to teare accusers eke on euery side Aboue thee hangs a dreadâ—ull sword to cut thy body to the pot Which is of God the mighty word but woe to thee that hath this lot Below the fierie pot doth stand which filled is with boiling lead And will consume both heart and hand and euery limme from foot to head Most filthy brimstone is the fewel thâ—t makes the lead like burning fire Of wicked men this is the iewell of damned soules the perfect hire Yet worse then this remaines behind their hope is past of all redresse For dying still themsâ—lues they find yet liue they must a time endlesse Behold thou canst no mercy win behold thy foes haue thee beset Behold thy soule condemnd for sin in Stâ—gian lake must pay thy debt O dolefull doome of sinne the meed O wretched soule that doest repent But too too late thus doe we read for time of grace is past and spent Wherefore in vaine thou now doest crie with Diues that is vext in hell Thy birth thy life thou doest defy because with deuils thou must dwell Which raue with rage which firebraÌ„ds cast which rome which run still in their kind Which only fiery trumpets blast this is the ioy which sinners finde Of the felicities of heauen BVt come beholde the ioyfull place behold the comfort of the same Behold where Saints and soules of grace all ioy possesse quite void of blame Behold who can conceiue in heart beholde what tongue can els expresse What pen can well discrie in part the woondrous ioyes of heauen blesse Where Angels bright with Christ do raign where honours hie doe flourish still Where darknesse all is banisht cleane where all things haue their wished will Where heat nor cold do once oppresse where thirst and hunger haue no place Where paine and sorrow alwaies cease where loue and peace haue all their grace Where heauinesse is turned to ioy where all conceipts do comfort bring Where nothing is that breeds annoy where perfect blisse doeth alwaies spring O caitiffe wight this place behold which doth surmount the reach of thought Whose gates are fram'd of finest gold whose wals of diamoÌ„ds clear are wrought Behold the citie where it standes whose pauements are of pearle fine Whose springs brings comfort to all lands for stil they run with oile and wine There all things bath in ioyful blesse There milke and honie doe abound There all men haue chiefe happinesse there musick hath her sweetest sound The lambe of God is there inthroand in chaire of state shining most bright Which all the wicked doth confound and brings the godly to his light The light is such as would obscure both Sunne and Moon if they were there And so for euer will endure most happie he that is his heire There flowes a pleasant siluer streame wherein the life of man doth run Which glittereth as faire Tytans beame yea much more bright then is the Sunne There growes a tree on either side which sauing health and comfort brings Whereby in peace we alwaies bide and from the same all mercie springs The â—ap thereof doth iustice nurse the leaues as reliques left behind Do stil maintaine each Christians purse whose soules in fine our Lord doth find The blosâ—oms of the same doe cease all worldlie strife euen in one houre The seeds thereof bring heauens blesse the fruits do showe Gods mighty power No time can well consume the barke it stronger is then time can wast The substance eke appeares so staâ—ke that death it doth subdue at last The Song of the Angels and of all the Saintes of God A Famous Quire there is also whose godly songs do sound most sweet Sanctus Sanctus and Lans Deo thus in their harmony they meet The â—ingers Angels are most bright the Cherub and the Seraphin The holy Saints are eke in sight and all consent in well tuning Most happie he yea ten times blest amongst these Saints that beares a part In heauens high sure is his rest and hath all ioy plac'd in his heart There is also a pleasâ—nt field wherein all vertues flourish still Their humblenesse which oft doth yeeld and patience that gets good will Fideliâ—y there eke doth raigne with her is ioin'd Dame Prudence graue Good gouernment for to maintaine whereby at last good rest we haue There Sapience sage with Modesty there faithfull Loue doth come in place There Friendship deare with curtesie which fauour wins without disgrace There Probity her selfe doth stay a vertue rare I you assure There Piety remaines alway which bringeth blisle which will endure There Summum bonum shal we find the strongest Anchor of our hope There chiefest treasures for mankinde there of all blisse the only scope This summum bonum is the well whence godly vertues al doe spring Wherin each faithfull seeks to dwell and there with gladsome ioy to sing O Fountaine cleare O blessed spring whereby all vertues flourish still Most happie he in euerie thing that vertue loues and euer will By vertue honours here we haue By vertue faithfull hearts we win By vertue cleane we are and braue by vertue purg'd of all our sinne Wherefore lets all with might and maine Embrace the course of Vertues lore That we in blisse with Christ may raigne where vertues spring for euermore O famous place that doth excell that doth al earthly blisse surmount Where Saints and Angels only dwel whose pleasant ioies no man can count Each saint is higher in his place and brighter also in our sight Then Sun or Moon whose glittering grace our eyes refuse they are so bright What glory there where glory is and doth in highest state abound Thrise happy hee that can see this most blessed they that haue it found Here Patriarkes and Prophets all here godlie martyrs weare the crowne Here Virgins pure are freed from thrall here sacred Saints haue all renowne Here sences all are fullie fed with their delights in highest degree 1. Here musick seeks to fill thy head with sound as sweet as sweet may be 2. Most fragrant smels here eke abound to please thy nostrels in their kind 3. Here tastes most sweet are also found to please thy palate yet behind 4. Surpassing sightes here are also as obiectes for thy Christall eies 5. More