reÌ„negates which walked no more with Iesus working their destruction by the very doctrine of saluation whereas firme professors will say with Peter Maister Ioh. 6.68.69 to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life and we beleeue and knowe that thou art that Christ the Sonne of the liuing God Many will salute the Brethren for a time and labour for the truth and promote the Gospell of Christ Col. 4.14 2. Tim. 4.11 but when the perillous scirmishes come they will flee with the dastardly souldiour and with Demas forsake Paul and cleaue to this present world Many will say Lord I will follow thee whithersoeuer thou goest but when they heare that Foxes haue holes and the birds of the heauen nests but the Sonne of man hath not wherein to lay his head and when they call to minde their worldly businesses they will first goe and burie their father and they will first bid them farewell that are at their house and then they will follow Christ Luk. 9.17 c. But no man that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh backe is apt to the kingdome of God When the Philistines sent home the Arke of God setting it on a carte drawne with heifers whose calues were shut vp at home they tooke this for a signe that it was Gods Arke and that they were plagued for kéeping it if those heifers whose calues were so shut vp at home did goe on directly into the land of Israel 1. Sam. 6. did not returne vnto their calues till they had brought the Arke into it owne proper place So when the faithfull soule suffereth much for Christ and his faith and doth much good it is an argument that they are workes of godlines if we directly and still proceede in good workes walking from vertue to vertue Psal 84.7 till we appeare before the God of Gods in Syon But the soule that returnes to the Calues shut vp at home that is to sensuall passions and appetites and affections and reliques of the old man it shewes that it beares not the Arke nor is the true and liuing Temple of God When the Apostle saies Rom. 13.14 Gal. 3.24 that we must put on the Lord Iesus Christ and that as many as haue bene baptised into Christ haue put on Christ he commends vnto vs the vertue of perseuering For what else meanes the scripture by putting on of a thing but to be so ioyned vnto it as neuer to depart therefrom So the wicked man that delights in cursing is laid to be cloathed with it as with a raiment and to be couered with it Psal 109.18.19 as with a garment and to be compassed with it as with a girdle so Christ that is the absolute patterne of all righteousnes Isai 11.5 is said to be girded about the loines with iustice and girded about the reynes with faithfulnes so the obstinate sinner Iob. 8.22 that bewraies his hatred towards God by continuance in sinne is said to be cloathed with confusion and shame whereby wee may learne that to put on Christ is to be apparelled with the new man and to be so arraied with the Armour of God as not to put it off againe but to be found harnessed therewith It may be said of many that they are like new broomes that for a little space sweepe cleane but they daily decrease and decline shewing themselues not to haue a true affection to godlines and the heauenly wisedome Ecclus. 24.24 for she protesteth that they that eaâ—e heâ— shall haue the more hunger and they that drinke her shall thirst the more When the painter Euphranor had vndertaken to paint twelue Gods at Athens Val. Mar. l. 8. c. 12. he delineated the Image of Mercurie with as excellent colours of Maiestie as he could making shew as though he would haue represented Iupiter with greater dignitie but al his endeuour being consumed in the former worke his latter attempts could not rise to the height at whiâ—h they aimed For though Nature do often suffer Arte to imitate her power yet sometimes she smiles at the vaine enterprise of Arte as Euphranors pensill did truly prooue But God in working out our saluation followes not the order of Arte but of Nature procéeding from that which is imperfect to that which is perfect As in the whole matter after the letter and ceremonies of the law he gaue the lawe of grace and the Spirit kéeping the good wine with the bridegroome of Cana vntill the end of the feast so in particular Ioh. 2.10 God procéedes from the good vsing of a smaller grace to the bestowing of a greater Nature by continuall operation brings forth an high trée of a small plant or séede and the drop of water frets the stone not by force but often falling and the fire is maintained by continuall putting of fewell thereunto so the God of Nature by his grace as by a séede and by a perpetuall influence doth produce admirable vertues in his elect causing the latter ende euer to be better then the beginning 1. Cor. 15.46 For that is not first which is spirituall but that which is naturall is first and after succéedes that which is spirituall God commanded that in Aarons garment beneath vpon the skirts there should be made pomegranats of blew silke and purple and skarlet round about the skirts thereof and bels of gold betwéene them round about that is Exod. 28.33.34.35 A golden bell and a Pomegranate round about vpon the skirts of the robâ— The bels were that when he ministred and went into the holy place before the Lord and came out his sound might be heard and why may not the Pomegranates expresse the perfection and consummation of vertue and godlines in that the Pomegranate among al other fruits séemes to haue the resemblance of a crowne and the end is the glorie and crowne of the worke and this crowne as it were was set not in thâ— highest part nor in the most but about the lowest edge or skirts of the high Priests to be and why may we not gather hereby that we must abide in godlines vnto the last gaspe and continually speake well and doe well Yea but how may we obtaine to this constancie and perseuerance By earnest praier to God For the spirituall Armour by which we ouercome the wicked Eph 6.10 Phil. 1.6 Phil. 2.13 and quench his firie darts is the Armour of God God that hath begun this good worke in vs will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ God worketh in vs both the will and the déed euen of his good pleasure 1. Thes 5.24 1. Pet. 5.10 Heb. 13.21 Eph. 3.16 2. Thess 1.1 2. Thess 2.16 3.3 God is faithfull which calleth vs who will also doe it God will stablish vs. God makes vs perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in vs that is pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ God graunteth vs
by thy self and thy friends to performe that condition This life is as it were an houre neither canst thou assure thy self of one houre it is promised thee of God that thou shalt obtaine the euerlasting in heritance if thou watch and pray Why then dost thou cease to watch against sin to pray for Gods grace mercy that thou maist be counted worthy to escape all these things to staÌ„d before the Sonne of man That is to appeare boldly to obtaine fauor of the iudge and not to be reiected either in the general iudgment when all flesh shall receiue their doome or in the particular iudgment of thy soule when it shal be separated from the tabernacle of the bodie by death But perhaps because thou seest many to liue long thou doest promise to thy selfe ling life therefore dost deferre to prepare for thy iudgement And doest thou not also sée that many are takeÌ„ hence in their flourishing Age and on the sudden Who will not beware of a madde Dogge that bites all that passeth by Death is like a furious Dogge that spares none and warnes fewe But in this regard we are like vnto Swine For when Swine sée their fellowe killing and heare his grunting they all run about him and grunt and make a great sturre but when their Fellowe is killed and cryes no more presently they returne to the dyrt and dongue and care no longer for it So worldly carnall and voluptuous men when one of their acquaintaÌ„ce dyeth as long as the Funerals last they are mooued and serrified and troubled but anon after the Funerals are finished they soone forget it and returne againe to the filthinesse of their pleasures and former iniquities The deferring of repentance and doubling of sinnes is most perillous A Shippe bâ—eares many burdens yet it may be laden so long till it sincke againe God is gratious but if he be prouoked euery day he will whet his sword and bend his Bowe and shoote his Arrowes against the obstinate offenders Patience too much wronged Psal 7. â—â— is turned into Furie at last It is reported of the Diamond that it is the hardest of all stones but when it is broken it is scattered into most smal pieces that can hardly be discerned with the eyes and can neuer be ioyned together againe Let vs beware that the Lord be not by so much the more seuere against vs if we abuse his louing kindnes by how much the more fauour he hath formerly shewed vnto vs. He that heares the Thunder is afraid of the lightning The preaching of the word is a thundring of the iudgemeÌ„t to come Let vs next feare the lightning of the iustice of God The loÌ„ger we haue liued and the more punishments we haue escaped that were due to our sinnes the more let vs expect the iudgement that will come spéedily and surely Tâ—eramenes a Citizen of Athens when he had auoided the fall of an house which fell as soone as he was out of it cryed out Aelian de vaer histor l. 9. O Iupiter cuinam metemporâ—reseruea ô God for what time doest thou keepe me And anon after he was compelled by the thirtie Tyrants to drinke poyson and so dyed The like thing must the sinner expect that remaines impenitent and hath not yet felt the hand of God Wherefore say not Ecclus â— 4 5.6.7 I haue sinned and what euill hath come vnto me for the Almightie is a patient rewarder but he will not leaue thee vnpunished because thy sinne is forgiuen be not without feare to heape sinne vpon sinne and say not the mercie of God is great he will forgiue my manifold sinnes for mercy and wrath come from him and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners Make no tarrying to turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy securitie thou shalt be destroyed and thou shalt perish in time of vengeance Thirdly Let vs sée to what the remembrance 3. To what the remembrance of the iudgement auaileth the Feare and the expectation of the last iudgement auaileth To meditate on the day of iudgement will bridle and refraine the desire and delight in sinning And therefore Saint Basil saies well If thou perceiue thy selfe to be prouoked to any sinne saith he call to minde that fearefull iudgement of Christ which no mortall man may endure and stay thy soule as it were with this bridle For as the Sunne obscures and darkens all the Starres with his brightnes In Psal 33 So the remembrance onely of this iudgement puts out all the concupiscences of the soule by the terriblenes thereof And therefore the Prophet Dauid shewes that the forgetting of this iudgement is the cause of sinne For when he had said that the vngodly doeth persecute the poore make boast of his owne hearts desire is so proud that he cares not for his God hath his mouth full of cursing deceit and fraude He yéeldes the reason Psal 10.6.11 when he saies That Gods iudgements are farre aboue out of his sight For he hath said in his heart God hath forgotten he hideth away his face and will neuer see it I shall neuer be mooued nor be in danger Therefore when we are allured and tempted to euill let vs resist temptations and say to our selues I will not doe this euill and I will not commit this sinne For a day will come wherein I shall not be able to answere for it in which the Heauen and Earth the Aire and water and whole world will stand vp and giue witnesse of my sinnes and though all things should hold their peace yet my very thoughts and workes shall be before mine eyes and shal accuse me before the Lord. When Sathan shall perswade vs that we shall finde fauour in that day though we persist and wallow in vngodlines let vs oppose and set against this assault the sort and qualitie of the last iudgement which shall be horrible intollerable vnauoydable sudden and wherein the iudge shall not be miscarried by fauour and entreatie For on the right hand shall be sinne to accuse On the left hand infinite Diuels to torment Vnder the hydeous Gulfe of Hell Ouer an Angrie Iudge Without the World flaming Within Conscience burning There the Righteous shall onely be saued Ah wretched Sinner whither wilt thou flie being so taken To be hidden it is impossible To appeare it is intollerable Nothing can be so auaileable to leade our life in the feare of God Ambros de Gffic as firmely to beléeue that he shall be the iudge whom no secret thing can deceiue and none offence hurt and who is delighted with vertue godlines the feare of the Lord. And if when our cause is to be heard of an earthly iudge we be so heedefull to prepare an Aduocate and to make readie all prooâ—es that may doe vs good how diligent should we be to haue our faith fixed
hee is faint and his soule longeth So shall the multitude of all Nations be that fight against Mount Zion This is true generally of all the ioyes of the vngodly although Literally the Prophet compares onely the glorie and power of the Assyrians and their Adherents that oppugned the Churche of GOD to the pleasure of those that dreame they eat drinke whereas it is a false and illuding pleasure In a Mappe or Chart are seene Kingdoms and Prouinces and Cities and Seas and diuerse Countreyes and yet all this is paper and ynke which is blurred corrupted with one drop of water The heart of man possessed with the vaine delites of the world is such a map Hee that thinks that he shall or doth possesse Towers and Castels and honors and Treasures and what not shall find all these to be but as paper and yuke and a table painted in the imagination which one Ague or other sicknes by the approching of death vtterly defaceth and dissolueth Let the wicked flatter himselfe neuer so much Iob. 20.6.7.8.9 yet his reioycing is short and the ioye of Hypocrites is but a moment though his excellencie mount vp to the Heauen and his head reach vnto the clowdes yet shall he perish for euer like his Dung and they which haue séene him shall say where is he He shall flie away as a Dreame and they shall not finde him and shall passe away as a vision of the night so that the eye which had séene him Hom. 2. ad popul Antioch shall doe so no more and his place shall sée him no more Therefore S. Chrysostome affirmes that in he hath laughed at the follie of some men who in their last Wils and Testaments haue bequeathed the vse of some Houses and Fieldes to one man and the Lordship of them to an other man whereas in trueth the vse onely of these things is granted vnto men and not the Lorship For the earth is the Lords and all that is therein Howsoeuer men perswade themselues yet we are in this life but Guests Strangers and Pilgrims and we haue the world for a lodging place not for an abiding Citie Let vs therefore vse this world as if wee did not vse it for the fashion of this world passeth away Let vs not set our hearts on riches though they encrease Let vs not set our affections on earthly things but on heauenlie things Fixing our heartes there where true ioyes are found Againe on the other side when we are afflicted we must not be dismaied but we must remeÌ„ber that afflictioÌ„s are very profitable vnto vs For they stirre vs vp to praier they trie and prooue our Faith whither it be true or temporarie onely they worke Patience in vs which the holie Ghost powreth into our hearts by suggesting and affoording manifolde consolations They cause vs to yéeld obedience to the commaundements of God they humble vs in that they shew vnto vs our weaknes and enforce vs to depend vpon God they mooue vs to repentaÌ„ce clense away the drosse of iniquitie that hangs so fast on they bréed at length the praises of God in our minds mouthes and instruct vs both to comfort other with that comfort wherewith wee our selues are comforted of God and to Sympathize and be compassionate towardes them that are in other or the like case And who will not with patience endure afflictions if he consider that they are sent from the gratious prouidence of God which measureth them out vnto vs according to our strength and as hee foreséeth that they will redound to our saluation For as the best and skilfullest Physitians do heale dislike diseases by dislike curings remoouing some by swéete medicines some by bitter though to some they applie searing to some launcing to some oyle to some gentle Plaisters yet by most variable meanes they seeke one and the same health So GOD if hee scourge vs seuerely hee cures our soules as it were by Searings and cuttings if he refresh vs with prosperity hee comfortes vs as it were with oyle and pleasant plaisters working by diuerse courses one and the same saluation If Tribulation pricke thée and thou wilt deriue the name thereof from a †Tribulus Thistle yet the Lord will so order it that it shall but pricke thee to amendment and forsaking of sinne or pricke thee to runne the race that is set before thee to eternall life with more diligence and watchfulnes Or if thou account Tribulation to be as a Threshing-toole as the * Triâ—â—la name thereof also may seeme to importe Yet as the Threshing toole doeth not crush or bruise the good graine but onely exempts it from the dâ—â—r and chaffe that after the Chaffe is separated and blowne away from the good Corne it may be conuerted to Bread the strengthening of mans hart So Tribulation by the gratious appointmeÌ„t of the Lord shall not extinguish our Faith and godlines but by little and little abandon and chase away the relicts of our naturall pollution that our vertue and good workes may bee layde vp in Gods garner and we obtaine the ende of our Faith euen the saluation of our soules This is euidently declared by Saint Peter when he saieth that Affliction is layed vpon vs for the triall of our Faith 1. Pet. 1.7 that it being much more pretious then Golde that perisheth though it bee tried with Fire might be found to our praise and honor and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ And he vseth a most apt similitude in comparing affliction to a fire For as fire workes diuerse effects vpon things of diuerse natures for it melts waxe and hardens claye it purgeth gold and burneth drosse so affliction hath diuerse operations according to the persons on which it is inflicted for it consumes the wicked with impatience or obdurates them with distrust but the godly are thereby mollified to mortifie their concupiscence to cal on God to fashion themselues to his holy will to manifest their faith in taking tribulation patiently that the Lord may temper the bitternes thereof with his loue and gentlenes If then affliction be but a purging fire it is to be feared of chaffe and not of pure metall For it is the chaffe that is burnt and turned into ashes in the fornace but gold is there purified and refined Aug. in Psal 60. The fornace is the world the gold are the righteous the fire is tribulation the goldsmith is God The goldsmith doth what he listeth and when he punisheth we must suffer for he commaunds vs to suffer and he knowes how to purge vs. Although the chaffe flame to burne and consume vs yet the chaffe is turned into ashes and we are made cleane thereby And therefore séeing affliction is so beneficiall to our saluation and God vseth it as a remedie to reforme our imperfections it must be so far off from our hearts to suppose our selues miserable in wrestling with tribulations that with the
Dathan and Abâ—ram that conspired against him and from the people that murmured against him and to rest well pleased with Gods appointment and therefore when wrath was gone foorth from the Lord and the plague begun to say to Aaron Num. 16.46 that he should make an attonement for the people with his censer filled with incense and kindled with fire of the Altar and that he should stand betwéene the dead and them that were aliue that the plague might stay This consideration made Dauid to curbe the reuenging of his seruants that would haue smitâ—en Shimei that cursed him and to humble himselfe vnder Gods rod 2. Sam. 16.10 Psal 38.12.13.14.15 acknowledging the iudgement of God in that behalfe and saying He curseth euen because the Lord hath bidden him curse Dauid And therefore when his life was sought after and snares laid and his enemies went about to doe him euill and talked wicked things and imagined deceit continually he became as a deafe man that heareth not and as a dumbe man that openeth not his mouth and vttereth no reproofes and because it was Gods doing to chastice him he waited on the Lord his saluation And what should make Paul to call himselfe the prisoner of Iesus Christ Phil. v. 1. but this consideration Act. 21. For he was deliuered by the Iewes into the power of Caesar and reserued to the examination of Augustus and yet because his affliction was ordained and ordered by God and for the aduancement of Christs Gospell and the edifying of the Church he turneth his thoughts from the Iewes malice and Caesars authoritie and termeth himselfe the captiue of Iesus Christ Wherefore since our portion of affliction is duely proportioned vnto vs by the vnspeakable wisedome and decrée of God for his owne glory and our good and the encouragement of other by our constant faith and patience 2. Tim. 2.3.4.5.6.11.12 let vs suffer affliction as good souldiours of Iesus Christ coueting to please him that hath chosen vs to be souldiours and remembring that as if any man striue for a maisterie he is not crowned except he striue as he ought to doe and as the husbandman must labour before he receiue the fruit so if we will liue together with Christ we must die with him and if we will raigne together with him we must also suffer affliction with him Let vs not thinke it straunge when we are afflicted as though some strange thing were come vnto vs 1. Pet. 4.12.13.19 but let vs reioyce inasmuch as we are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glorie shall appeare we may be glad and reioyce and let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their soules to him in well doing as vnto a faithfull Creator Iam. 5.7.8.9.10.11 Let vs be patient vnto the comming of the Lord behold the husbandman waiteth for the pretious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill the former and the latter raine Let vs be patient therefore settle our hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth néere behold the Iudge standeth before the doore Let vs take the Prophets for an example for suffering aduersitie and of long patience which haue spoken in the name of the Lord Behold we count them blessed saith blessed Iames which endure We haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lord made for the Lord is verie pittifull and mercifull Finally Matt. 7.24 that our house may not be founded on the sand and so fall when the raine falls and the flouds come and the windes blowe and beate vpon it but may be grounded on the rocke that no tempest nor waue can shake or remoue let vs sticke fast and cleaue firmely to this consolation and promise of our Redéemer Sauiour Christ Iesus that though while we soiourne in these brittle tabernacles of claie we shall wéepe and lament and be in sorrowe yet in this life the assistance of Gods spirit will support prop vs vp that our harts shall reioyce in the midst of tribulation shal be replenished with true sound gladnes that no man shall take from vs that though affliction fal vpon vs as trauel vpon a woman with child yet as the mother forgets her paine of trauell wheÌ„ a child is borne into the world so after these transitorie troubles and trauels are vanquished and vanished we shall reioyce for the eternall inheritance that is reserued for vs in heauen Amen A LETTER TO A PENSIVE FRIENDE ALthough I doubt not but your owne wisedome and feare of God doe procure you comforte in your discomforte yet as a Friend I am bound to giue you aduise in the Lord. Now God calleth you to repetitions to make you shewe your former profiting by what you haue both heard and read out of his word and after the example of the blessed Virgine Luk. 2.19 laide vp and pondered in your heart Declare your selfe therefore a good Scholler and one that firmely remembers this lesson Act. 14.22 That wee must through manie Afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God As you daily pray that the will of God may be done so now it is done murmure not against Gods will But say with the mirrour of patience Iob. 1.21 Blessed be the name of the Lord. Can we auert Gods decrée Are we stronger then he May not his purposes be likened to the decrees and statutes of the kings of the Medes and Persians Est. 8.8 Dan. 6.15 which might not be reuoked or altered Happie then is the man that beares patiently and thankefully that he must néedes beare We must not resemble flies that sticke fast vpon sores and boyles but slide and flip from sound places so we must not still muse on our miseries but we must reflect our thoughts on the good things past be animated with hope of good things to come Iob. 2.10 Shall we receiue good at the hand of God and not receiue euill Is not heauenly ioy worth affliction that in respect of eternitie lasteth but the twinckling of an eye Shall marriners endure the threatning flouds of the Sea husbandmen beare the stormes and tempests and souldiours suffer wounds and daungers and champions contemne blowes and buffets for the hope of temporall and perishing commodities And shall we repine and grumble at the aduersities of this momentanie life hauing heauen set before vs for a reward and those vnspeakable and eternall blessings If there be no triall there is no crowne if there be no striuing there is no prize if there be no endeuouring there is no honour if there be no tribulation there is no triumphing Take away raine and cloudes and frost and winter and what haruest will there be Now is our tempest now is our frost now is our winter and therefore let vs beare the stormes and winter of aduersitie patiently that we may reape in the haruest of glorie plenteously and that we may
our hearts that otherwise would rebell against his decrées and because he comforts vs both by the swéete promises reuealed in his word and by that comforter Ioh. 14.16.17.26 and Ioh. 16.13 that abideth with the godly for euer euen the spirit of truth who shall leade into all truth and teach the faithfull all things requisite to their saluation and bring all things to remembrance that Christ hath told vs. Matt. 5.4 Christ saies expressely Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted One Prophet thus comforts the Iewes Sorrow and mourne Micah 4.10 ô daughter Zion like a woman in trauell for now thou shalt goe forth of the citie and dwell in the field and shalt goe into Babel but there shalt thou be deliuered there the Lord shall deliuer thee from the hand of thine enemies And another Prophet thus Isay 54.7.8 for a little while haue I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee for a moment in mine anger I hâ—d my face from thee for a little season but wâ—th euerlasting mâ—rcie haue I had compassion on thee saith the Lord thy Redéemer And another Prophet thus Come Hos 6.1.2 and let vs returne to the Lord for he hath spoyled and hee will heale vs hee hath wounded vs and hee will binde vs vp after two daies will he reuiue vs and in the third day wâ—ll hee raise vs vp and we shall liue in his sight These words are fully fraught with heauenly consolation and may be appropriated to all and euery one of the faithfull Sée the truth héereof in the beggar Lazarus who though he were full of sores in this world yet he was after this life in Abrahams bosome but the rich glutton though he fared deliciously and were clad gorgeously euery day yet after this life he was in hell tormented in firie flames And héereof Abraham yéeldes no other reason but this Sonne remember Luk. 16. â— 26. that thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasures and likewise Lazarus paines now therefore is he comforted and thou art tormented Wherefore as in the workes of nature God declares his prouidence not in taking away diseases vtterly from mens bodies but in prouiding fit remedies for all maladies so in the workes of grace God declares his goodnes in that he hath not altogether taken away tribulation from his elect neither would he haue them exonerated from all sorrowes but against all afflictions and crosses he hath giuen vs the certaine expectation of the life to come as a shield and rocke of defence and therefore Christ saith your sorrowe shall be turned to ioy As it is appointed for the godly to be sorrie in this world and then to reioyce so on the contrarie the vngodly reioyce héere but at length their gladnes is chaunged into sorrowe Isay 65.13.14 So saith the Lord by the Prophet Isayah Behold my seruants shall eate and ye shall be hungrie behold my seruants shall drinke and ye shall be thirstie behold my seruants shall reioyce and yee shall be ashamed behold my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart and ye shall cry for sorrowe of heart and shall houle for vexation of minde Reu. 18.6.7.8 Ihon the Diuine saith of the great whore of Babylon reward her euen as she hath rewarded you and giue her double according to her workes and in the cup that she hath filled to you fill her the double in as much as she glorified her selfe and liued in pleasure so much giue you to her torment and sorrow for she saith in her heart I sit being a Queene and am no widdowe and shall see no mourning therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrowe and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for that God which condemneth her he is a strong Lord. As it is said of the godly Matt. 5.4 Luk. 6.25 Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted so also it is said of the vngodly woe be to you that are full for ye shall hunger Woe be to you that now laugh for ye shall wayle and weepe Worldlings desire to conforme and fashion themselues according to this present world to fulfill the lusts of the flesh to walke after the flesh to reioyce in strife enuying chambering wantonnes drunkennes gluttonie deceit guile lying couetousnes backbiting reuenge hatred malice anger These are the workes of the old man these are the desires of the world these are the reioycings of the vnregenerate of the children of disobedience But all this what is it but to heape vp wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust Iudgment For though the wicked act their parts neuer so plausibly yet when the Tragedie is ended and the stage broken downe then they shall crie out one to another We haue wearied our selues in the way of wickednes and destruction Wisd 5.7.8 c. and wee haue gone through dangerous wayes but wee haue not knowne the way of the Lorde What hath pride profited vs or what profite hath the pompe of Riches brought vs All those things are passed away like a shadowe and as a Post that passeth by As a ship that passeth ouer the waues of the water which when it is gone by the trace thereof cannot be found neither the pathes of it in the Floods or as a Bird that flieth through the Ayre and no man can sée any token of her passage but onely heare the noyse of her wings beating the light winde parting the aire through the vehemencie of her going and fléesh on shaking her wings whereas afterward no token of her way can be found or as when an Arrow is shotte at a marke it parteth the Aire which immediatly commeth together againe so that a man cannot knowe where it went thorough Euen so wee as soone as we were borne we beganne to drawe to our ende and haue shewed no token of vertue but are consumed in our owne wickednes And how can it be otherwise For the hope of the vngodly is like the dust that is blowne away with the winde and like a thinne fome that is scattered abroade with the storme and as the smoke which is dispersed with the winde and as the remembraÌ„ce of him passeth that tarrieth but for a day Is the matter euen so why then it is vanitie to trust in the ioyes of the world For all the imaginations of worldlings of their golde and siluer of their honors and promotions of their houses and possessions of their wiues and children of their Banquets and sportes doe fade away in a moment as if they had nere bene What are the ioyes of the world but the dreames of them that sléepe For so saith the Prophet Isay 29.8 And it shall bee like as an hungrie man dreameth and behold he eateth when he awaketh his soule is emptie or like as a thirsty man dreameth and loe he is drinking and when he awaketh behold