Nothing doth more diminish a mans commendation then much vaunting the successe of his actes Benificence BEnefite the godlie and thou shalt find recompenee if they cannot requite thee yet God will remember thee Those benefits are most thankfull which a man findeth readie and are bestowed with out tarrying but onely the shame fastnesse of him that shall take them Charitie CHarity is patient and gentle and enuyeth no man If I had faith in so much as that I could carie away mountaines yet were I nothing if I lacked Charitie If I should distribute all my goods giue them to the poore and although I gaue my body to be burned hauing no charitie it nothing auaileth me Charitie doeth nothing amisse it is not puffed with prid it is not ambitious she seketh not her profit she is not mooued shee thinketh no euill shee reioyceth not in miss chiefe she suffereth all thinges shee ioyeth in trueth shee beleeueth all thinges shee hopeth wel of al things Charitie neuer fayleth Chastitie CHastitie is the beauty of the soule or of the Kings daughter that is abroad Chastity without Charitie is like a Lamp without oyle Where necessity is laide vnto Chastity where authoritie is giuen to Lechery there vertue is put to exile The absence of women causeth chastitie amongst men A chaste eie sheweth an honest mind Constancie COnstancie doth surelie perform the thing determined He that is constant â—eeleth neither trouble nor heauinesse Constancie keepeth and still preserueth things well gotten but goodes euill gotten neuer continue long Carnall Appetite CArnall appetie leaueth behind her more cause of repentance then of remeÌ„brance â—â—lthy lust wil haue no affinitie with vertue The fleshlie mind is neuer satisfied A carnall woman euer wisheth without contentment Carnall appetite dulleth the wit dimmeth the eies letteth good counsell spoileth the mind and with vertue wil haue no medling Heshly lust consumeth the body and damneth the soule Confession COnfession is the only remedy for sinne The vengeance of God ceaseth where mans confession timely preuenteth Confession is the life of a sinner the glorie of good men to all offenders necessary and not inconuenient to the godly Confession is the confounder of vices the cleanser of soules the restorer of vertues the vanquisher of deuils what will you more It stoppeth hels mouth and setteth wide open the gates of Paradâ—ce Discorde IF they which make peace bee called the children of God without doubt the disturbors of peace be the children of Satan Discord is the root of all confusion the spring of desolation Discord is an enemy to nature and a shorteâ—er of the life of man They that sustaine one part of the citie neglect the other lowe the wicked seedes of sedition and discord By concord small thinges are made great but by discord the most greatest are brought to nothing Warre is soone made but not quickly discussed for he is not sure to finish it that first toke in hand to begin it Dignitie HE is most honourable that disdaineth to erue or be subiect to vices True Nobility consisteth noâ— of great patrimonies and rich possessions but of godlie vertuous actions If thou wilt esteem a man truly know him plainly viewe him naked and let him lay aside authority possessions and other fortunes finallie respect not his bodie but behold his soule then shalt thou see what he is of himselfe and what he hath of others Dolours THere is no sorrowe but the length of time doth diminish make more easie As a moâ—h consumeth a garment euen so heauinesse hurteth the heart of man It is to be considered in all griefe and heauinesse that nothing bee done vnaduisedlie nothing rashlie nothing fearfulâ—ie nothing desperatly nothing wretchedlie or any thing foolishly Ouer much sorrowe breaketh the heart and killeth the bodie Sorrowes bring solace to the godlie but they vtterly ouerthrow daunt the wicked Sorrowes are most necessary to all sinners for they bring amendement of life Doctrine DOctrine is an ornament to the rich and Noble but to men without wealth a happie refuge and succour As faire legges bee in vaine to a Cripple so vnseemely is Doctrine in the mouthes of fooles Learning is a treasure which water cannot drown fire burn theeues steale nor dice lose As learning in good men is the armour of vertue so in wicked and corrupted persons it is a spurre to doe mishciefe We teach our children liberall Sciences no because these Sciences may giue any vertue but because they make the minde apt to receiue vertue As the right vse of learning adorneth the soule euen so the abuse therof spoyleth both bodie and soule Diet. IN diuers meates is occasion of sicknes and greedy feeding is a token of choller When the sicknesse is in his force then sparest diet is best Vâ—cleane bodies and they which be not well pâ—rged of supeâ—fluous humours the more you nourish them the more you hinder them Ouermuch euacuation or ouer much filling of the body is dangerous for too much of any thing is enemie to Nature To him that is fallen into a distemperance in heate or colde it is expedient to giue him things of contrary qualities Stomackes in winter and spring time bee hottest and sleep then is longest wherefore in those times meat should be taken in greatest aboundance You must not only remember that contrarie thinges be cured by their contraries but also consider in euery contrarie the true dose and quantitie Vâ—e moderate exercise for so shalt thou helpe Nature Ouer much ease maketh Nature feeble that shee cannot resolue that which by Arâ—e was not purged Drunkennessâ— DRunkennes maketh men seem as beasts â—oâ— it depriueth them of reason and stirreth them to all filthinesse The drunken man shall neuer be rich The Drunkard consoâ—ndeth Nature loseth both grace and honour runneth headlong into â—uerlasting damnation Eâ—uie THe enuious man pineth to see the prosperity of his neighbour Enuie seeketh dayly to subuert the state of the godâ—ie Enuie is blind can doe nothing but dispraise vertue Enuie is an excremeÌ„t of Satan which poisoneth the hearts of all such as once touch it Enuie cannot endure the vertuous but seketh their confusion The enuious man wisheth wel to no man but worst to himselfe for his filthy conceites drowne his soule in the filthy puddle of eternall damnation Faith AS the bodies is dead wherein is no spirit euen so that faith is dead which bringeth foorth no good workes By faith wee see God by faith we beleeue in God and by faith wee haue our saluation from God A liuely faith is the badge of a perfect christian Let all godly beleeuers endeuour to excell in good workes True Faith confirmeth thy wordes with workes Not the hearers of the Law be righteous in the sight of God but the doers of the lawe shall be iustified The Faith of a
Chtistian is ioyned with charity and without Charity is the Faith of the Deuill Flattery TAle bearers rioters glozers flatterers ar more to be abaÌ„doned theÌ„ opeÌ„ enemies Better is the stroke of a faithfull friend then the false kisses of them that flatter thee The best natures soonest beleeue and by flattering persons are soonest destroyed God IN the hart of man be many deuises but the will of God neuer altereth They that fear God wil beleeue his word and such as loue him will keepe his commandementes The eyes of God are more bright then the Sunne for he seeth the secretes of the hart and searcheth the raines Gâ—ace GRace is giuen for three causes that the â—aw be fulfilled that nature be restored and that we by sin be not subdued By grace we are freed from the bondage of sinne Grace bringeth vs to the hauen of eternall happinesse Without the grace of God no flesh can be saued Humility hVmblenes banisheth pride winneth loue and bringeth vs into the fauour of God As pride pride is the roote of all destruction so humility is the welspring of eternâ—ll blisse Pride cast Lucifer into the gulfe of damnation but by humilitie we shal attaine saluation Suffer not pride to rule thy witte for then will it spoile thy sences God hateth the proud but the humble hee exalteth Honour HOnours ouer great wherein is pride or ouer much statelines be suddeÌ„ly thrown downe like high trees in a great â—empest Honour-nourisheth cunning and with praise mens wits be kindled to studie Ignorance IGnorance excuseth not sinne The onlie enemy to knowledge is Ignorance By Ignorance al absurdities are nourished Ignoraunce is the image of blindnesse the mother of errours and the Nurse of all follie Ingratitude EVill shall neuer depart from the house oâ— him that rendreth an euil turn for a good He that doth all things well cannot bee vnkinde The hope of a person vnthankfull shall relent like winter yce vanish away as a sudden floud Idlenesse IDlenesse weakneth strength but exercise encreseth the same As ruste consumeth yron euen so idlenesse wearieth strength Idlenesse without learning is death the graue of a quicke man Idlenesse bringeth beggerie and causeth men with hatred to fall into miserie Idlenesse teacheeth all vnhappinesse Where Idlenesse beareth â—way all vertues decay Loue. LOue couerâ—th the multitude of sinnes Loue pleaseth God and winneth the hearts of men Liberality LIberality consisteth not in the quantity of the thing that is giuen but the manner of the giuer for he giueth according to his abilititie and substance He giueth late that giueth not till hee bee asked Liberalitie is the only meanes for a prince to aduaunce his honour and to keepe the faithfull heartes of his true subiectes As the Adamant draweth yron so liberalitie winneth the hearts of men Lechery LEcherie is an enemie to God and subuerteth all good vertues He that delighteth in Lecherie wearieth his body consumeth his abilitie and damneth his soule If we consider the excellent work of God in vs wee shall easilie perceiue how foule filthie a thing it is to be resolued in lecherie and to liue wantonlie Lecherie hasteneth olde age and withereth the bodie Malice BY malice a man slayeth his owne soule Malice hurteth them most that doe retaine it Malice is compassed with no limmites of reason Nobilitiâ— THe chiefest Nobility before god is to excell in all vertues True Nobilitity scorneth to do seruice to sin He that boasteth of his ancestors declareth himselfe not worthy of praise Iphicrates a valiant Captaine but the sonne of a shoomaker being there with imbrayded of Hermodius a Noble man borne answered in this wise My blood beginneth at me thy blood of Generosity endeth in thee The onlie welspring of true honor is vertue Obedience IT is a generall decree made by mankind to be obedient to kinges howe much more vnto god which gouerneth all creatures Better is obedience then Sacrifice If thou wilt be wise be thou euer obedience for it is written desirest thou wisdome then keep the commandements and God wil giue her vnto thee The contempt of superiours is the original fountaine of mischiefe in euery publik weale That country is euer wel gouerned where people wel know how to obey Faithfull obedience in subiectes maketh louing and kinde hearts in Princes Patience BY patience Iob ouercame his woonderous miseries and afterward enioyed all wished prosperities He that patiently suffereth the troubles crosses of this life shal after be endued with al felicitie Patience comforteth the heart quieteth the minde and best pleaseth God Most happy is he whoÌ„ no misery troubleth Patience causeth much peace and breedeth quietnesse twixt man and wife Pouertie BEtter is a little in the feare of God then great treasures with a troubled Spirit The patience of poore men shall surelie bee rewarded The life of man is not in aboundaunce of wealth great riches and high pompe but in vertue and faith for he is onely rich that to Godward is rich Be poore in spirit so shalt thou see God so shalt thou praise God when thou doest good so shalt thou lay the fault vpon thy self when thou doest euill Pouertie plucketh downe the hearts of the proud and often times bringeth them home to God He that liueth after his owne opinion wil neuer be rich but God will blesse him that with his riches praiseth the Lorde in doing almes and maintaining vertue godlinesse Prayer VVIth fasting corporall passions are to be cured with praier the pestilence of mans mind is to be healed Thy prayer is thy speech vnto God when thou readest God talketh with thee when thou prayest thou talkest with God By prayer the Niniuits were preserued By prayer Ionas was deliuered out of the Whales bellie Earnest and feruent prayer doeth oftentimes pacifie the wrath of God The froward nature of men is by humble peâ—ition and prayer rectified Prosperitie THe worlde is more dangerous laughing then lowring Liue so in prosperity as though thou shouldest fall into misery Let not prosperitie make thee proud least God for saking thee thou be pluckt into the narrow straites of pinching necessity When God suffereth euill men to haue great prosperity theÌ„ his indignation is much more grieuous If thou haddest the wisedome of Salomon the beautie of Absalon the strengh of Sampson the long life of Enoch the riches of Croesus the power of Octauiaâ— what can al this auail thee when finally thy body is giuen to wormes thy soule vnto deuils to be with the rich man in paine euerlasting Perfect prosperitie is the vse of vertue Promise AL honest promises are to be performed but these are not to be kept which are either compelled by feare or By craft deceiued O the shameful confession of fraud
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
THE GARDEN of Prudence Wherein is contained A patheticall Discourse and godly meditation most brieflie touching the vanities of the world the calamities of hell and the felicities of heauen You shal also find planted in the same diuers sweet and pleasant Flowers most necessarie and comfortable both for body and soule Printed at London by Richard Iohnes at the signe of the Rose Crown next aboue S. Andrewes Church in Holborne 1595. To the Right HonoRABLE THE MOST VERTVous and renowmed Lady Anne Countesse of Warwick B. C. wisheth in this life all prosperity and in the life to come sempiternall felicity in the blessed kingdome of God AS amongst all humane things right Honorable and most renowmed Lady vertue learning are most excellent euen so in mine opinion the daintiest Diamond set in the purest golde of this world is not any way coÌ„parable to the worthy graces which spring of either of them Wherfore hauing made trial of the most honorable affection godlie zeale you beare to them both and knowing how wonderfullie and laudablie the rare flowers of the same deck and adorne you on euery side I thought good by your singular and most splendent vertues therunto moued and perswaded so much to imbolden my self as humbly to beseech your honor to vouchsafe the patronizing of this slender pamphlet and to take vpon you the keeping of this litle sweete Garden that neither the wilde Boare destroy it neither carping Knights or any of Momus wightes deuoure it but that it may haue free passage by your Honourable assistance amongst all godly Christians And they viewing the same maye the easier see the abhominable vices and vaine vanities of this lothsome Laborinth and the better perceiue the most miserable calamities and endlesse tortures and torments of hel that fierie lake and kingdom of Satan And also beholding the vnspeakeable felicities most gladsome ioyes of heaueÌ„ may so run their course in this life that they may eschue the vanities of the one and after death escape the dangers of the other with the holy Angels saints of God eternally enioy all happy and most comfortable felicities in the blessed kingdom of heauen The premises therefore dulie considered and my good meaning discreetly pondered I doubt not but that you will according to your accustomed curtesie towards all men pardon my presumption and of your woonted zeale to godlines accept of my triuiall trauell which in my idle houres I bestowed herein and thinke me raâ—her vnable then any way vnwilling to discharge my duetie whereof as I ought so I haue bene euer most carefull and pleasing God will during life so remaine Thus referring my labours to your godlie censure I beseech the Almighty to graunt you whilest you liue in this troublesome soile most prosperous health and perfect strength of body to gods glorie and your hearts desire and after this life ended most happy arriual vnto the blessed hauen of eternall felicities and that your soule may there with the holie Angels and Saints of God for euer haue the pefect fruition of all ioyes Your Honours most humble in alll duty to command Bartholmew Chappell To the Reader health and peace in Iesus Christ. XErxes that mightie Monarch and Emperour of the Persians gentle Reader beholding from an high the hugenesse of his Armie which was in strength inuincible in qualitie diuerse in number infinite and in euerie degree surmounting all that euer were before or since yea couering the whole face of the earth in whose courage force â—ight he reposed the strength of his kingdome the safegard of his person and the glorie of his Empire could not but gush out most bitter teares conâ—idering that of all the woonderfull multitude that he saw after one hundred yeares there should not a man be left And shall not we that be Christians at least wise in name viewing from the depth of our conceits our selues our pompe our honour our glorie our magnificencie and renowne our wealth our substance our beautie our friendes our strength our great possessiont and territories our knowledge our witte our brauerie and politique dealinges wherein we repose all our felicitie and happines be nothing mooued with due consideration that this world and all things therin contained are but fickle and vaine and that our bodies â—e they neuer so faire be they neuer so high be they neuer so strong valiant can not escape the dart of death but must be resolued to earth wherof they were framed and know not when how soone or how suddenly for this is the indgment of all flesh thou shalt die the death and the couenant of the graue is not reuealed to any for our life appeareâ— as a bubble of water and suddenly passeth it vanisheth into the ayre as smoke it slideth as a ship that sâ—yleth with a full winde or as a bird swift of flight yea swifter then an arrow mightilie shottâ— out of a strong bowe for as soone as wee are borne foorthwith we decay our first entrance into this life is our first step to death and draweth vs towards an end shewing nothing but the frailtie and ficklenesse of our estate the weaknesse and wickednes of our flesh whose impietie dayly draweth vs from vertue to vice from carefulnes to carelesnes from the chaire of godly studie to the cradle of vaine securitie but the rewarde hereof is nothing but death and damnation in vtter darkenesse for euer where our drinke shall be turned to sharpe vinigrâ— and our bread to bitter gall Wherefore view and with al diligence marke most curteous reader the sweet and comfortable flowers which thou shalt finde to adorne this little Garden and regarde not the slender workmanship of the vnskilfull Gardener but weigh in the ballance of thy deep discretion the singular vertues and most diuine operations both of the plants hearbs and flowers inserted in the same for so maist thou eschue the vaine vanities of this wicked world so shalt thou escape the miserable calamities of that fyerie lake the kingdome of Satan and finallie most happily attaine the ioyfull felicitie of most gladsome Paradice in the blessed kingdome of God Thus desiring â—nelie thy loue for my labours I bid thee hartily farewell Thine in the Lord. B. C. Of the Vanities of the WORLD VVHat wilfull rage what furious fit what madnesse pearste the worldes braine To serue in thrall once for to sit in Chayre of pompe that is so vaine Whose glittering glee is deckt with woe whose fickle weale we all do see As flitting streame from thee doth goe and can no time remaine with thee For all thy pleasures sorrowes bring all thy delights most bitter paine All thy conceiptes turne thee a ring wherein to run but all in vaine For when thou doest thy selfe assure that thou doest sit in state most strong When thou doest thinke still to endure then suddenlie thou liest along When thou in Center of thy blisse with Salomon hast thee enthroand When ioy and peace thou
we enioy such is the end all doth betide That in this vale of all annoy mongst mortall men doe once abide Though Nestar's yeares we can attaine though thousand ages yet we haue The wormes to feed we must be faine and fill we must the gaping graue Not Hercules not Sampson strong not Pompey stout nor Caesar braue But forced were to lie along and take the blow which Death them gaue Not Cato that in wit did flow not Salomon that did excell All mortall wights from high to lowe in wisedoms court that bare the bell The tyranny of death could daunt or make his griesly face to blush For he doth boast yea brag and vaunt and holds our force not worth a rush Behold rich Croesus with his wealth could not the dart of death defend Behold great Monarks want their health and all do trudge with death in end He spareth none he taketh all both yong and old of each degree Both rich and poore both free and thrall he paies to eu'ry one his fee. The Calamities of hell HE throwes the wicked headlong down to Lymbo lake where is no rest Where damned soules look grim frown and are with endlesse paine opprest This is the place that darkened is this is the place of bitter paine This is the place void of all blisse this is the place where deuils raigne This is the place of chillest cold this is the place of endlesse fire Whose forces great none can vnfold both tongue and pen though he do tire If monsters fell thou wouldest see which in this place make their abode Thy hart then daunted so would be that none thy feare could then vnlode If to thine eares their hellish sound should once be brought I thee assure Thy sences all it would confound but oh none can the same endure These grieâ—ly ghosts such tortures haue such pinching paine doth them oppresse That some reliefe still doe they craue but neuer can they get redresse They weep they â—ry they wring their hands their mâ—series they doe bewaile They gnash their teeth in wofull bandes this is the gaine of their retaile They roare like Lyons in their dens like dogges they howle in kennels staide Like filthy Swine they lie in fennes and thus all reprobates are paid Their filthy place no tongue can tel no pen can wel the same descrie The stincke is such where they doe dwel that all it slaies that passe thereby Their entrie is of chillest yâ—e their doores and gates of fiery brasse Their house more hote then Etna thrice thats full of fire and euer was Their walke on fierie serpents is which plucke the marrow from the bone So is their comfort and their blisse to mourne to weep make great mone O wretched soule what is thy state vvhat shall at last become of thee Of greater griefe who can delate what greater woe or paine can be Yet worse there is I tell thee plaine thy body must to iudgement rise And with thy soule it must sustaine more torments then can heart deuise Because in earth both did offend because the lawes of God they brake Together therefore without end must both be drownd in fiery lake All sinners would this day eschue all sinners wish their perill past All sinners hearts the same must rue all sinners must it find at last Behold it commeth now with speed behold the sun that shined bright Is darkened ouer all in deed Behold all things appeare as night Behold the starres as withered leaues in windie Autumne down do fall Behold the Moone God eke bereaues of light and shining brightnesse all Behold the hearts of men doe faint behold their wits are scant their owne Behold with feare they make complaint be hold with griping griefe they grone Behold their faces are but pale behold their bodies vveakened be Behold their doubt of endlesse thralle behold their flesh consumes we see Behold what griefe doth men oppresse behold they cast their heads on hie But to lament they can no lesse marke vvell all men doe seeme to die Marke how both trees and branches all doe sweat foorth blood against their kind Marke all things are opprest with thrall marke nothing hath a quiet mind The roaring sea doth fret and fume her waues she flings aboue the land She shewes all things are out of tune she cries Gods day is nigh at hand The earth of late hath shakt her selfe as wearie of her sinfull burne Which is our selues with worldly pelfe but oh thereby we are forlorne Of late she svvallowed in her gulfe twelue thousand out of London towne By sudden plague like rauening Wolfe yet are our hearts not once pluckt down Her wrath yet is not it appeasde our friends from vs she taketh still Our sinnes so much haue God displeasd that she reuenge doth vse and will Her fruits also she doth detaine and hath done fourtie moneths and moe Yet few of vs in heart complaine nor for our sinnes are prickt wit woe The skies also with misty cloudes are ouer cast and gush out teares Whereby the earth hath had grat flouds and with their noise haue fild our eares The blustering windes doe puffe and blowe they sob they sigh in raging sort They force high tres to lie ful lowe they tempests stir in euerie port They range with furie East and West from North to South they also run They know not where to take their rest But beat the aire as Cannon gun The stoutest hearts their faces hide both rich and poore are much dismaid No flesh Gods iudgment can abide but seek where they may find some aid All liuing things for help doe crie both sauadge beasts and birds also The wormes which in the earth do lie do wish for legges with speed to goe The earth doth quake and mountaines all both hearbs and roots their vertues lose Great toures long flat downe do fall and odours sweet do leaue the Rose Dame Nature in her furie strong receiues a curse and gins to quaile Her forces all do lie along whereby all things their vertues faile The Angels all with Saints most blest the Cherub and the Seraphin All sinners that haue life possest both quick and dead that earst haue bin Assembled are and dreadfully with terrour great our Lord expect And waite his comming from on hie for then each thing shall be perfect Behold both heauen and earth doe bow behold thev downe and prostrate fall Behold Iehouah commeth now all flesh before him for to call In glorie commeth he and state his trumpets through the earth do sound All sinners suddenly t'awake in cuery coast that may be found In aire most fiery flouds appeare vvherein he comes most gloriously Which sight the mountaines great do feare and melt down flat vvhich were on hie The seas eke tremble at his sight and dried are most strange to see Whose waues did seeme in sand most bright but now bare sandes there onely bee The craggie rockes
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
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
authority are fit only for men that are both wise and vertuous for the wicked stil seek to destroy and not to maintaine godly and ciuil gouernment Ambition is a lurking plague a secret poison a subtil mischief the mother of hypocrisie the forger of deceit the nurse of enuie the wâ—lspring of vices the moth of deuotion the blinder of Arts making diseases of remedies and sicknes of salues Ambition breaketh the league of godly society pincheth the purse stirreth strife daunteth vertues and layeth her selfe open to all vice and wickednes The ambitious man so litle regardeth his dutie that he wisheth the death of his own father to enioy promotion yea seketh the subuersion of a whole kingdom in hope once to sit in the chaire of pompe Abstinence ABstinence is the curer of many maladies in the bodie a due corrector of filthy lustes of the flesh and a ready directer of the soule to sempiternal felicity By Abstinence thy purse is saued thy body preserued thy soule blessed better is a man patient then strong for he that can rule his affections is a great conquerour They that abstaine from vice glorify God and preserue their soules to eternall blisse Nature is content with a liâ—le and he that oppresseth her with excesse hurteth himself and displeaseth God They that drink wine in youth double the flame of carnal desire Keep thine eies from vaine sights least it be caried from thine eies to thine heart Let not thy conceipt imbrace the image of lust for thereby thy heart is stirred to vaine follie Yeeld not to the motions of the flesh for it poysoneth thy soule and bringeth thy bodie to a miserable end Aduersitie HIde thy misfortune that thine enemie reioyce not at thy fall As the Potters vessels are tried in the furnace euen so good men are known in aduersitie Vertuous men finde some solace in greatest sorrowes In al thine aduersities remember these thâ—e things hard things may bee mollified straite things may be loosed and heauie thinges by custome are made little or nothing troublesome to such as beare them hansomly Trouble is cause of patience patience maketh proofe proofe bringeth hope and hope is neuer rebuked Coales being in the fire doe burne consume but the gold is tryed the one is turned to ashes and the other is fined the forge is the world good men are the gold aduersities the fire and God the workman Dispaire not in aduersitie for he that caste thee downe can raise thee vp againe As our sinnes prouoke the wrath of God whereby we are forced to sustaine all calamities so repentance with amendment of life restore vs to our former prosperities I iudge him most miserable that neuer knew miserie for good men are tried like fiâ—â— gold but the wicked are left like dyâ—tie drosle By many tribulations wee shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that hath not taken vp his crosse and followed Christ shall not inherite the kingdome of Christ. Afflictions and crosses are as necessarie for the soule as warme cloathes and dainty fare for the bodie My childe neglect not the punishment of God because it bringeth thy soule to all eternitie Blessed is he that patiently taketh that corrections which God layeth vpon him Aduersities cause good men to be better make wicked men worse He that neuer felt aduersitie is not worthy of prosperitie It is better to suffer aduersity in this life hereafter to enioy eternall life then here once to seeme to be blessed and hereafter to be euer cursed Troubles in this life being patiently taken encrease solace to life eternall but being stubburnlie borne and taken as a wrong at the hands of the Almightie bring all heauinesse and sorrow to eternall death Almes deede ALmes deliuereth thee from sin and from death and will not suffer thy soule to enter into darknesse Blessed is he that considereth the poore and needie for the Lorde wil deliuer him in the day of trouble He that stoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore he shall crie and God wil not hear him He that vseth alms offereth sacrifice to the Lord. Charitie is not perfect when crauing exhorteth it Perfect compassion is to preuent the hungrie before the begger desire The Almes of the hart is much better then the Almes of the bodie for God loueth a chearâ—uâ—l giuer As the fiery lake is prouided for the niggard euen so the ioyes of heauen are prepared for such as delight in charitable giuing The Almes of charity without worldly substance sufficeth but that which is corporallie giuen without a mercifull heart is not sufficient but worse then nothing He that vseth Almes doeth offer sacrisice to the Lord Charity is not perfect when crauing exhorteth it Accusation HE that accuseth not the wicked is condemned with him It is better that an euill man bee accused then to be suffered to go vnpunished The wicked accuse no man because they would goe free Arrogancie PRide is the mother of many mischiefes for it nourisheth theft it maintaineth adultery it bringeth foorth disdaine and causeth men to forget God Pride breedeth idlenesse prouoketh lust and leaueth the soule in the filthy puddle of eternall damnation The congregation of proud men shall neuer prosper He is an arrogant person and still counted most dissolute that setteth litle by that which good men deeme of him An arrogant man heareth not the wholsome counsell of such as are graue wise and vertuous Apparell THe apparell laughter and gate of a man do shew to the world what hee is Vertuous conditons are the only braue laudable ornamentes that can set foorth anie Christian. She is not well apparelled that is not wel manered Shee that painteth her face with materiall collours putteth out the true picture of god Foule maners are worse then dyrtie apparell but faire conditions surpasse vestures of gold As too much sluttishnesse and exquisite nicenes are detestable vices so a decent comlinesse is a laudable vertue Babbling IN much babbling lacketh no sinne but hee is wise that can temper his language A babbling enemie shall lesse annoie thee then he that is secret One thing often times spoken troubleth the hearer So talk with men as if God did hear thee so talke with God as if men did hear thee Battell WArre ought only to be taken in hand that peace may ensue Such as are oppressed are forced to vse warre for their owne defence Octauian the Emperour was woont to say that warre should not bee stirred without surety that the gaine should be more then the charges Victorie resteth not only in a great armie for the strength of battell commeth from heauen Sobernesse in a Captaine is no lesse commendable then strength and hardinesse A carefull souldier is neuer idle but alwayes busied in his attemptes Boasting LEt a stranger commend thee not thine owne lips