esteemed otherwise we shall seeme to preferre the shell before the kernell the barke before the pith the shadowe before the substance yea most absurdlie we shall refuse wheate for chaffe pure gold for drosse cleere wine for dregs and in conclusion repent our want of grace It were behoofull therefore for vs first and principallie to see to our mind which is chiefest part of our essence and being that the same after some serious studie and contemplation desiring to be refreshed be not fed with fond fansies fables dotages imaginations dreames I cannot tell what idle and vnfruitefull discourses which kindle the affections and set the flesh a gogge but rather with holie exercises and godlie meditations such as are and may be prouided for the purpose to reuiue the spirit and quicken the new man if the partie be gratiouslie affected Thou hast heere therefore presented vnto thine hand good Reader a plant of pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall flowers called by the name of holie Hymnes and spirituall Songs to reade at thy leasure for thy recreation and not so much for thy recreation as for thy profit which I haue put partlie in rythme and partlie in prose for the satisfaction of sundrie Readers desires some beeing addicted to this and some delighted in that kind of writing I would to God it were in me to frame my wit to the will of the well disposed in all points I haue done what I could the Lord knoweth what I would his name be praised for all whose glorie to seeke and set foorth I beseech him giue vs all grace so shall the faithfull reioice and clap their hands but shame shall fall vpon the reprobat force them to hang downe their heads Abraham Fleming A Plant of Pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall Flowres ¶ The first Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition vnto God for the remission of sinnes 2 A description of Gods greatnesse 3 Of his habitation and that he seeth all things A. 1 AS the Sunne is the soule and life of the world so is thy word O God the comfort of my heart Be gratious fauourable vnto me thy seruant that I may be freé from the malice of mine enimies Reward me not according to my deseruings O Lord for I am full of sinne and in me there is no righteousnesse According to thy louing kindnesse therefore O mercifull father blot mine offences out of thy register and pardon me Haue mercie on me O founteine of all mercie cleanse me from the corruption of sinne and wash me with the water of thy word Am not I a reasonable creature indued with knowledge and vnderstanding O Lord to whom should I then come but to theé 2 Men beasts fishes and foules they are the works of thine hands by the vertue of thy word they were created and made From the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same I will continue in the contemplation and view of thy greatnes Lighten the eies of my hart O Lord that they may seé the mightines of thy maiestie in thy creatures Endlesse is thy glorie and thy power is incomprehensible wonderfull art thou in thy iudgments Maruellous things are wrought by thine omnipotent hand day by day the eies of all people are witnesses of thy power 3 In heauen is thy dwelling place from whence thou beholdest the commings in and the goings out of all men Nothing is hidden from thine eies O Lord the brightnesse of thy maiestie can not be absent Giue me grace O God to leade my life in the loue of thy lawe so shall I not miscarrie The second Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 A commemoration or remembrance of the benefites of Christes death and passion 2 A petition for thankefulnesse 3 A confession of Gods greatnesse and almightinesse B. 1 AL people praise the Lord with faithfull heart and voice Be bold to magnifie his name and therein to reioice Remember well the worke which he for vs hath wrought And laud his name accordinglie in word in deed and thought Hell gates he hath shut vp in spite of Sathans power And saued the soules of sinfull men from torments sharpe and sower Most mightie is his arme his greatnesse hath none end From force of foes that vs assault all his he doth defend 2 Lord lighten thou our hearts that we may praise thy power Eternallie which flourisheth and worketh euerie hower 3 Most mightie is thy word thy maiestie surmounts In glorie none so excellent as scriptures cast accounts No Prince nor Potentate may once with thee compare Giue vs thy grace no lesse to learne O Lord with Christian care The third Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A request for assistance against our aduersaries 2 A confession of our vilenesse by reason of sinne 3 A petition for true mortification and regeneration 4 Of the pretiousnesse of mans soule R. 1 ACcording to thine vnmeasurable mercies O God heare my praier and let thine eares be open to the crie of my complaint Be my sauiour and deliuerer from danger and distresse bridle thou the desperatenesse of mine aduersarie that he do me no mischefe Rebuke them O Lord that go about to raise reproches against me chastise them that they may seé wherein they haue offended As for me I will withstand them in their maliciousnesse for I hope thou wilt arme me with the spirit of fortitude and patience Holie one of Israell heare the supplication of me thy seruant and in the time of necessitie assist me 2 A worme and no man I confesse my selfe to be yea more vile and contemptible than anie vnreasonable creature for sinne hath sâ—oong my soule My heart is defiled with a thousand corrupt cogitations yea the thoughts which are hidden in my heart are not so infinite as they are wicked From mine infancie and cradle I haue bene blemished with sinne and as for righteousnes or iustice there is none in mine entrailes Lord I am so ouerwhelmed in sinne and iniquitie that I stand in continuall feare of thy punishment Oh giue me grace to repent Euening and morning I call my sinnes to memorie and they are more in number than the haires of my head yet O Lord be mercifull 3 Make me a new creature by the inspiration of thy sanctifieng spirit and let mine inward man be circumcised with the razour of mortification Increase in me godlie desires and let all carnall concupiscences be quite quenched in me that I may long after nothing but the loue of thy lawe 4 Nothing is more pretious in thy sight O Lord than the soule of man O let not sinne preuaile against it Grant me thy grace euen to the last houre of my life that I may haue in heauen mine inheritance purchased by Christ his death and passion Amen The fourth Flowre called a Spirituall Song conteining 1 A glorifieng of God 2 An exhortation to praise him 3 A repetition of certaine properties in him 4 A protestation or vow of Christian
deliuered before at large A Listning eare that loues to learne how to amend that is amisse By grace diuine shall haue the choice of that which good healthfull is Resist the force and strength of sinne with spirituall artillerie Absteine froÌ„ noisome lusts This is the footepath to felicitie Haue alwaies in rememberance Christ Iesus crucifide to death And let the same thy comfort be till vtter gaspe of life and breath Meeke minded be all pride detest and learne of Christ humilitie Forbeare thy furious foe This is the footepath to felicitie Lament the lacke of faith and truth which lies forsaken and forlorne Exhort to peace where it doth want and of the needie thinke no scorne Make much of such as pleasure take in fostring loue and charitie In such is hope of grace This is the footepath to felicitie Nothing so much doth like the Lord as louing of his heauenlie lawe Giue eare therto and from the same let no alurement thee withdrawe An vpright life delight to leade thy lust keepe in captiuitie By vertue honour seeke This is the footepath to felicitie Reuolt not from the word of truth but euen to death the same professe And make account that thy reward will be eternall happinesse Hell is the hire of euerie one that is to truth an enimie A true beleeuer die This is the footepath to felicitie Marke what reposed is in heauen for such as do their maisters will Free libertie from thraldoms yoke and blessed Angels food their fill Lord lighten thou our mistie eâ—â—s that we may loue the veritie Extend to vs thy spirit This is the footepath to felicitie Make vs to ioie in nothing more than in thy word procuring peace I meane thy Gospell full of grace the loue whereof O Lord increase New harts new minds create in vs and make vs like thy maiestie Good like thy selfe so shall we finde the footepath to felicitie Amen FINIS A Guide to Godlinesse diuided into three speciall branches namelie Confession Petition Thanksgiuing and their seuerall blossomes A Christian treatise and no lesse sweete and comfortable than necessarie and profitable to be read both for common and priuate vse c. BY ABRAHAM FLEMING 1. Timoth. 4 8. Godlines is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that which is to come ¶ Printed at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the Starre 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader AMong all the meanes which God hath ordeined to bring man to the state of blessednes I finde praier to be pretious profitable and necessarie Pretious because it is the incense which we are commanded to burne vnto the Lord in the sanctuarie of our harts pretious I saie because thereby we obteine at the hands of God whatsoeuer tendeth to the good estate of the soule and yet once againe pretious because the Lord God at the ascending thereof vp into heauen stretcheth foorth his bountifull hand and largelie bestoweth vpon vs whatsoeuer is beneficiall for our mortall bodies Profitable because it procureth vnto vs the ministration of all maner commodities behoofull for this life For it is the onlie instrument which we are commanded by Christ in the Gospell to vse if we stand in neede of anie thing either temporall or spirituall during our pilgrimage in this life as the verie words of our sauiour seeme to import in this sense saieng Whatsoeuer ye aske of the father in my name it shall be giuen you Againe Aske and ye shal haue as if he said If ye aske not ye are worthie to want because you neglect the vse of the precept Now who is so ignorant but knoweth that the asking which Christ meaneth is praier For to aske of God is not to aske after the maner of men with a kind of carnal and corruptible affection the end where of is to staie the force of concupiscence or desire and the obteining of that which is required but it is an inward secret heauenlie by we are so farre from profiting that of our selues we should waxe worse and worse 3 For the more light of knowledge is shewed the blinder would we remaine the greater obedience is taught the frowarder and stubberner would we become if thou by the mightie working of thy holie spirit shouldest not cause it to be fruitefull And although we haue this naturall corruption in common with the whole rotten race of Adam yet we confesse that in vs it hath budded and shot forth so much more than in others as we haue had mo meanes to kill it and to cause it to wither than others haue had 4 Where first of all the gratious offer of the treasure of thy holie Gospell vnto vs maketh vs guiltie manie waies For where passing by manie other nations thou hast trusted our nation withall yet with a number of vs it hath found as small entertainment and felt as great resistance as amongst them at whose gates it neuer knocked For a great portion of the land partlie neuer yéelding themselues to the obedience thereof and partlie falling from it after they had once yéelded stand proudelie as it were at the staues end with thée The rest which make profession of their submission vnto it do it not accordinglie For first there bée heapes of our people which either through a déepe rooted affection and loue to Popish religion or through a wicked opinion which they nourish of embracing the truth set foorth are so nousled blinded and misled as that they still abide in an vtter ignorance of the truth it selfe in such fort that although there be no want of preaching yet they are as rawe in the knowledge of the true seruice of thée as they were expert before in the seruice of the diuell 5 And where knowledge is to anie such sufficiencie as is requisite for the inheritors of the kingdome of heauen there is it for a great part ioined with such hypocrisie as maketh them more detestable before thée which searchest the verie reines than if they had still continued in their ignorance Now for the remnant of vs which through grace haue trulie and faithfullie beleeued it is with so great weakenes of faith and so small reformation of manners that our glorious profession of the Gospell supported and borne out with so small shewe of good fruites which the excellencie therof doth require maketh not onelie the enimies to condemne vs but our selues to suspect one another whether we belong vnto thée or no. 6 Wherein O Lord we acknowledge that to be our great and horrible sinne that being put in trust with this vnspeakeable treasure of thy holie Gospell and preferred before our neighbors professors about vs yet we are in thankefull obedience vnto thee behinde them all first in knowledge last in zeale before them in the doctrine of thy holie Gospell behinde them in the discipline of the same 7 The yoke of the slauerie of our bodies which the Popish religion
this life or of the life to come both those which we either haue or yet hope to enioie from the greatest to the smallest from the kingdome of heauen to one onelie drop of water that we are worthie of all the plagues which either haue heretofore seazed or bene yet possessed of vs. Yea if thou shouldest ransacke all the hid and secret treasures of thy fearefull iudgements which in thy lawe thou threatenest against the breakers thereof not onlie to the rasing and swéeping of vs from the face of the earth but also to the throwing of vs headlong into the bottomles pit of hell yet would we therin also acknowledge thy righteous iudgements For to vs belongeth shame and confusion of faces but vnto thée glorie and righteousnes The third Blossome conteining 1 An appeale to Gods promises in Christ for the remission of our sinnes 2 The bloud of the Lambe washeth vs wooll white 3 A praier in the behalfe of the dispersed Church against Papists and Heretikes and for godlie vnitie 4 Gods blessing maketh our land fruitefull and that we are the Lords sheepe our vnworthinesse notwithstanding 5 A request for the continuance of his loue and mercie 6 To what end it is to be desired 1 ALl this both guilt of sinne and desert of punishment notwithstanding O father of mercies and God of all comfort we trusting vnto the promises which thou hast made vs in Iesus Christ are bold through him humblie to call for the performance of them And first we humblie desire thee to forgiue vs all our sins Thou hast said that if we confesse our sinnes thou art faithfull to forgiue vs them We acknowledge the debt cancell therefore the obligation let not the multitude of them preuaile against vs but where our sinne hath abounded let thy grace more abound and as we haue multiplied our sinnes so we praie thée to multiplie thy mercies 2 And although we haue by continuance in them so soked ourselues that thereby we are not onlie lightlie stained but also haue gotten as it were the scarlet and purple die of them yet let them all we praie thée being washed in the bloud of thy swéete Lambe be made as white as the snowe in Salmon and as the wooll of the shéepe which come from washing And to conclude as our sinnes haue magnified themselues in an infinite length breadth deapth and height so let thy mercies which passe all vnderstanding of all sides and assaies outreach them 3 Therefore also we most humblie desire thée O Lord that the sinne being pardoned thy wrath which is alreadie declared may be appeased towards all the Churches of our profession and especiallie towards vs that the manifolde breaches of the Churches and Commonwealthes maie be made vp that those being receiued into the bosome of the Church which belong to thine election the rest of the Papists and Heretikes may be vtterlie rooted out and that our enimies in religion béeing slaine we may to the vttermost thinke all one thing in the honest and peaceable gouernement of the Commonwealth 4 Upon which vniting of vs in all truth and honestie the curses of the plague and barrennesse being remoued a waie may be made to thy blessings which as the hills do the vallies may make our land holesomelie fruitefull And that not onlie the wrath which is alreadie kindled may be quenched but that which hath bene latelie threatened may be caused to retire For the graunt whereof vnto vs we beséech thée to remember that how vnworthie soeuer yet are we thy people and the shéepe of thy pasture whome thou hast redéemed with thy most pretious bloud watched ouer with a carefull eie defended with a mightie hand despise not therefore O Lord the workes of thy hands 5 And séeing thou hast loued vs when we hated thée visited vs when we desired thée not then acknowledged vs when we knewe thée not now that there be a number of vs which loue thée desire thine abode and acknowledge thée hold on thy loue still depart not from vs denie vs not O thou God of truth which art the God that sinne by the assistance of Gods spirit 6 For the due examination of our thoughts and an vpright hart 7 For conuersation fit and agreeable to our calling 8 For constancie in our profession against all temptations and impediments 1 O Mercifull and heauenlie Father we thy seruants do humblie prostrate our selues before thy diuine Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sight our hainous offences committed against thine omnipotencie séeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them We féele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereof euen the verie least being but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake 2 Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnes against vs. of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie and senslesse blindnes running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eies The thoughts of our hearts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy Maiestie condemneth vs the wickednes of our déedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and déedes with the inward corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and loade of sinne lie heauie vpon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to Hell 3 We do dailie grone vnder the burthen of them inwardlie lamenting our owne follie so gréedilie running into them In heauen earth or hell we sée none able to susteine the weight of them but euen thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ who in mercie intinite and compassion endlesse hath susteined and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therefore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thée being fullie assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that full recompense which he thy deare son hath made for vs as a iust ransome for all the sinnes of all those who with a true faith take hold on him In him therefore we sée thine anger towards vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paied 4 Increase in vs good Lord we beséech thée this liuelie and féeling faith for we féele it oftentimes in vs verie weake and troubled with manie doubts increase it in vs O Lord that we maie through thy holie spirit be assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fullie in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele this â—ame in our soules and consciences that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that we are graffed into his bodie and made one with him and therefore fellow heires with him of eucriasting life Let vs not onelie haue these words in our mouthes good Lord but through thy holie spirit let vs feéle the comfort of them in our hearts fullie sealed and setled in vs
plentifullie powred vpon vs from generation to generation Glorie be to thée O Father glorie be to thée O Son glorie be to thée O holie Ghost from age to age from posteritie to posteritie and let all people saie Amen Amen The ninth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the gratious gift of the Gospell O Almightie God which in thy due and appointed time didst abrogate the lawe of Moses by planting in the place thereof the Gospell of thy Sonne Christ whome when the fulnes of yeares was come thou didst send downe from heauen that he might for our safetie accomplish the summe of thy diuine pleasure and will We giue thée most hartie thankes for that it hath pleased thée of thine especiall goodnes to admit vs among the number of Gentiles vnto whome the same Gospell which he brought from the bosome of thée his heauenlie father is preached and the mysteries of the same reuealed We magnifie thy most excellent and right glorious Name for that thou hast called vs to this state of godlie life lightening the dimme eies and opening the dull eares of our vnderstandings by the finger of thy grace whereby we are put in possession of the iewell of true Christian ioie euen thy sacred and holie word the key of knowledge conducting vs therevnto Giue vs we beséech thée O mercifull father such measure of thy spirit that we may highlie estéeme of this most pretious pearle and shew our selues not vnthankefull with the Gadarens vnto whome thy sonne did disclose the vertue of his diuinitie but thankefull with the Samaritane whome he cured of the leprosie In the meane time we praise thée and as we haue hitherto magnified thée though not as we should yet as we could so will we extoll thy goodnesse which is praiseworthie world without end Amen The tenth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the safetie of the Church O Eternall God who from the beginning didst so tenderlie loue thy little flocke that as the henne couereth her chickens so thou ouerspreadest thy people with the wings of thy prouidence Example we haue of Noah and his familie of Lot and his kindred and of diuers other whome thou preseruedst from imminent perill when the contrarie part euen the wicked thine enimies were vtterlie confounded We giue thée the glorie due vnto thy most blessed Name for sauing the ship of thy Church shaken with the tempests of tyrannous tempestuous seas for protecting it from the malice of spitefull pirats who with the gunshot of their bloudthirstines séeke to sinke this thy little vessell and to ouerwhelme it in the waues that the remnant of thy beloued may be rooted out and vtterlie destroied Praise and thankes be ascribed vnto thée for rescuing thy sellie shéepe from the chops of rauening wolues whome it hath pleased thée whiles they haue attempted the ruine and vndoing of thy little houshold to ouerthrowe and to cast the shame of their owne enuious deuises in their owne faces confounding thy foes who bragged of triumph by making flesh their arme and crowning thy souldiers with garlands of victorie contrarie to hope and expectation Beséeching thée to continue this thy care and kindnes to thy congregation cooped vp in narrowe and streight corners of the world and trenched about with thousands of enimies who watch a due time to mingle our bloud with our owne sacrifices From the which vnhappie hour deliuer vs encreasing our number strengthening our power and fighting for vs thy people For vnto thée onlie we appeale who art able to preuent all the policies of Sathan and euerie member of his ministerie So shall we sing songs of thankesgiuing in thy sanctuarie and lift vp our voices of praise both euening and morning vnto thée the holie one of Israell Hosanna in the highest Amen FINIS THE Schoole of Skill OR The rule of a reformed life Digested into three sententious sequences of the A B C. Wherein the weake haue their full measure of pure milke and the strong their iust weight of sound meate BY ABRAHAM FLEMING Matth. 7 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should do to you euen so do ye to them for this is the Lawe and the Prophets ¶ Printed at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the Starre 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader IT is the custome of parents disposed to traine vp their children in learning and knowledge of tongs artes and sciences first in their infancie to commit them to some honest schoolemaister vnder whome they might be taught the principles of their owne naturall tongue and afterwards in tract of time as their capacitie increased the 〈…〉 of foraigne speeches For he that determineth to erect and build a dwelling house beginneth not at the roofe but at the foundation otherwise as it were a preposterous kinde of attempt so all the world would iudge it fond ridiculous Againe we see and experience teacheth no lesse that the expertst and valiantst Captaine that euer fought in field was not a perfect warriour borne though peraduenture there was in him some vehement inclination to martiall policie and prowesse but first he had his slender beginnings and simple trainings vp fit and conuenient for the nature of his age which trainings vp in militarie knowledge warlike actiuitie continued the learner becommeth more skilfull and couragious and at last by frequenting the field and envring himselfe to trials of valiantnes proueth a passing souldier Euen so we whome nature indeede hath adorned with a goodlie likenes with amiablenes of countenance and with apt proportion of bodie but yet thrust out into the world with polluted soules if we be desirous to please God and not to offend man we must endeuour our selues to leade a life agreeable to the written word of the Lord. The waies and meanes to atteine herevnto do stand vpon certaine principles or positions whereof some being affirmatiue and some negatiue dooe iointlie teach vs what we ought to followe and what to eschue These principles or rules leading vs to the knowledge and practise of a godlie and vpright life I haue thought good to call The Schoole of skill For as to neglect the due obseruation of such precepts and vtterlie to contemne the vse of so wholesome counsels is a manifest reason and argument of follie so to esteeme of them as of acceptable treasures and to order the course of life according to their prescription and platforme is an euident signe and token of good skill Now the Schoolemaister whose Schoole I entitle this to be is such a one indeede as being taught by the holie Ghost from aboue hath had the vse and practise of a godlie and blamelesse life the commoditie whereof and incomparable sweetnesse issuing from thence when he had tasted and sawe that the end of the same was the reward of eternall life he pitied the miserable state of men walking in blindnesse ignorance and destruction and to reuoke them or rather instruct and teach them knowledge
kingdome of heauen 6 To be short and to speake summarilie in this pit is the portion of all such as haue cast the commandements of God contemptuouslie behind them couetous persons robbers adulterers swearers rebels blasphemers bloud-suckers extortioners vsurers idle liuers wantons enimies to Gods truth Antichristians liers false disciples teachers of diuelish doctrines prophaners of holie things superstitious persons sowers of sects and schismes in the Church Atheists Nullifidians Apostataes mainteiners of erronious opinions Papists and to conclude all that liue after the flesh blundering like Bitelles in blindnes hating the light like Bats and Owles whose lot is to drinke the dregs of Gods wrath and vengeance out of a full cup to their comfortlesse condemnation The second Chapter 1 Of the waie of the righteous 2 Nothing can hurt them whom the Lord defendeth 3 Of the power of God and his grace also who are fortunate and who miserable 4 The same opened and prooued by one speciall example instead of manie 5 What we must do if we will walke in the waie of the Lord. 6 Of the waie of righteousnes and who walke in the same 7 Wholsome counsels and admonitions THen since it is apparent by this recitall of offenders who they be that walke in the wide waie that leadeth to destruction it is soone to be gathered who they be that abhorre and auoide who they be that detest and defie it woorse than a Scorpion which stingeth vnto death 1 The waies of the righteous are in the hands of God and he disposeth the footesteps of the iust he is at the elbowe of the faithfull to staie them from falling and by his spirit he maketh their treadings stedfast How then is it possible for the godlie man to miscarrie hauing the Lord God his gratious gouernour 2 What afflictions can alter his happines that hath the King of glorie to be his helper What weapon can wound his soule that is armed at all points with the spirit of fortitude and strength What temptations can ouercome him whose right hand holdeth fast the sword of Gods word which cutteth in sunder whatsoeuer it smiteth and pearseth betwéene the marrowe and the bones 3 With whome Gods power is present nothing can turne to his annoiance Before whome the grace of God breaketh the yse his passage cannot be perillous and therefore that man is most happie and fortunate whome God vouchethsafe to gouerne as he contrariwise is most miserable and accursed whom the spirit of the Almightie hath forsaken 4 Examples hereof are in the holie Scriptures most plentifullie to be gathered For let vs but looke vnto the two first sonnes of Adam Caine and Abell who being brethren and both comming of the loines of the same parents were notwithstanding contrarie in all respects the one a murtherer the other a Martyr the one bloudthirstie and violent the other mercifull and innocent the first a persecuter the second a sufferer the elder refused the yonger receiued Caine accursed Abell blessed Héere we sée the effects of Gods grace and his iudgements in one example for manie 5 But to returne vnto the footepath of felicitie which is nothing else but the waie wherein the Lord hath commanded vs to walke it is necessarie that we heare the counsel of the holie scripture namelie that if we will be perfect we must walke before the Lord as Noah did who for so doing was called the iust and vpright man of his time Salomons aduice ought not onelie to be receiued but also folowed who teacheth vs a néere and readie waie to the footepath of felicitie exhorting vs in all our waies to thinke vpon God and he will direct our steps 6 There is a beginning of this good waie which the wicked haue not the grace to attaine vnto but it pleaseth the Lord to reueale it to the iust This beginning is expresselie noted by the holie Ghost to be righteousnes which is the greatest riches that anie Christian hart can wish This waie of righteousnes is the Lords waie it is the holie waie wherein the Iewes in Esaies time and in them we and our posterities after vs are commanded to walke without shrinking aside either to the right hand or to the left 7 In this waie being the waie of perfection it is not possible for vs vnlesse we put off our imperfections to walke for it is a sanctified and holie waie and therefore nothing that is common or vncleane can treade in the same Let the counsell of Tobie teach vs what to do in this case namelie to beséech the Lord that he would guide our paths and direct vs in our waies Let vs harken to the counsell of Dauid and praie as he praied Staie my steps in thy paths O Lord that my féete do not slide For the saieng of Salomon is most agréeable vnto truth That the heart of man purposeth his waie but the Lord doth direct his steps Let vs therefore go vp to the Lords hill and to the house of the God of Iacob and he shall teach vs his waies that we may treade in his pathes The third Chapter 1 The maner how we ought to examine our selues whether we walke in the waie of the Lord or no and first of our Christian beliefe 2 Of the keeping of the commandements and how we haue discharged our duties therein 3 Of the violating of the sabboth daie and how it is prophaned 4 The sundrie waies whereby concupiscence is kindled 5 A testimonie and token of ae cleere and vnguiltie conscience HOW shall a man persuade himselfe that he walketh in the waie of the Lord and is guided and conducted by his grace Let him enter into his own conscience and call to examination his continual trade of life conuersation thus communing with his owne heart 1 Hast thou perfourmed the solemne vowe which thou madest with God in thy baptisme Hast thou renounced and detested the diuell and all his workes Hast thou beléeued in God the father in God the sonne and in God the holie Ghost Hast thou bene a mainteiner of the ancient and apostolicall faith which acknowledgeth the incarnation of Iesus Christ his passion his descension his resurrection his ascension and his glorification 2 Hast thou bene an vnfeigned worshipper of God and not mingled his diuine and sincere seruice with mens imaginations vaine ceremonies irreligious rites superstitious traditions and hereticall constitutions Hast thou not bene derogatorie in thought word nor déede to the honour of God whereby he hath bene depriued of some part of his glorie Hast thou not bene a worshipper of images a fauourer of idolatrie a popish canonist an anoiled sacramentarie a Franciscane a Dominicane a Trinitarie a popish Sectarie a Iesuite a seede of Antichrists seminarie a bringer in of nouelties into the Church to the sowing of sectes schismes and heresies Hast thou not bene a swearer a forswearer a blasphemer a lier a dissembler an hypocrite and false-hearted whereby thou hast taken the name of God in vaine and abused
the messenger of death but a wise man will pacifie him The heart of man purposeth his waie but the Lord doth direct his steps Uiolence and tyrannie are the ruine of a Realme but mercie vpholdeth the Kings throne Upbraide not thy better with contumelious talke least thou heape hot coles vpon thine owne head Without counsell thoughtes come to naught but in the multitude of counsellers is stedfastnesse Wisedome resteth in the heart of him that hath vnderstanding and is vnknowne in the minds of fooles Yeald to the magistrate dutifulnes and with thine equall vse courtesie Yong or old rich or poore strong or weake thou art not thine owne but Gods who made thée Zacheus the Publicane offering to make restitution if he had done anie man wrong teacheth the rich of this world what their duties should be Zerubbabell shall laie the highest stone of the spirituall temple his hands haue laid the foundation of the same The third sententious sequence of the A B C deliuering diuers doctrines of vertue and vice to be folowed and auoided A Sound heart is the life of the flesh but enuie is the rotting of the bones A faithfull witnes deliuereth soules but a deceiuer speaketh lies An angrie man stirreth vp strife but he that is slowe to wrath appeaseth strife Better is a dinner of gréene hearbes where loue is than a stalled oxe hatred therewith Better is a litrie with the feare of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therwith Better is a drie morsell if peace be with it than an house full of sacrifices with strife Childrens children are the crowne of the elders and the glorie of the children are their fathers Contemne not anie that is in authoritie for that is the readie waie to runne into Gods wrath Chasten thy sonne whiles there is hope and let not thy soule spare for his murmurings Diuers weights are an abhomination vnto the Lord and deceiptfull balances are not good Depart from the foolish man when thou perceiuest not in him the lips of knowledge Destruction shall light vpon them that imagine euill but to such as thinke on good things shall be mercie and truth Enter not into lawe with a rich man for it is in him to peruert equitie and right Exercise thy selfe in that which is honest so shall no shame followe there vpon Exempt thy selfe from the companie of wanton women for they leade thée the waie to hell Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall driue it awaie Frowardnesse is the token of a foole and inconstancie is a signe of little trust Followe not the counsell of the wicked least thou be partaker of their punishment Giue admonition to the wise and he will be the wiser teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning Good vnderstanding maketh acceptable but the waie of the disobedient is hated Grudge not to giue of thine abundance to him that is néedie least God be angrie He that mocketh the poore reprocheth him that made him and he that reioiceth at destruction shall not escape vnpunished He that is slowe vnto anger is better than the mightie man and he that ruleth his owne mind is better than he that winneth a citie How much better is it to get wisedome than gold and to get vnderstanding is more to be desired than siluer In the mouth of the foolish is the boasting of pride but the lips of the wise will beware of such It is a great abhomination when Kings are wicked for a Kings feare should be vpholden with righteousnes If thou sinitest a scornefull person the ignorant shall take better héede and if thou reprouest one that hath vnderstanding he will be the wiser Kéepe thy selfe from strife for therein consisteth a mans honour but they that haue pleasure in bralling are fooles euerie one Kings ought to be feared as the roaring of a Lion who so prouoketh him vnto anger offendeth against his owne soule Kindle not contention betwéene neighbour and neighbour for the Lord will roote such out of the land Laie no priuie wait wickedlie vpon the house of the righteous and disquiet not his resting place Let not thy wrath and gelousie moue thée to follow the wicked and vngodlie Like as the cold of snowe in the haruest so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him for he refresheth his maisters minde Make not thy boast of to morrowe for thou knowest not what may happen to daie Manie there be that séeke the princes fauour but euerie mans iudgment commeth from the Lord. Mercie in a King is like a pearle of great value in a golden crowne O happie is the land that hath such a King Nourture thy sonne with correction and thou shalt be at rest yea he shall do thée good at thine hart Neuer trust a flatterer with anie secret for such a one can not kéepe counsell Notwithstanding thou be poore and yet hast wisedome thou shalt be had in reuerence One poore man oppressing another by violence is like a continuall raine that destroieth the fruit Oppresse not the fatherlesse and widowe for the Lord himselfe will take vengeance Ouercome euill with good so shall the Lord blesse thée in all thy procéedings Put thou nothing vnto the word of the Lord least he reprooue thée and thou be found a lier Plentie bringeth lothsomnes and forgetfulnes of God O well is he that kéepeth measure Pitch not thy tents among the wicked least thou be ouerthrowne in their destruction Quéenes and Kings are to be feared of their subiects O well is he whose heart is obedient Quench the wrath of thine aduersarie with patience so shall his anger asswage Quicklie reforme thy selfe if thou haue offended and excuse not the thing wherin thou hast done amisse Riches and honour wait vppon wisedome yea excellent goodes and righteousnesse Receiue knowledge before siluer and vnderstanding before the finest gold Remoue from thée all malice and enuie for the heart of the froward is a tormenting hell Some men are rich though they haue nothing againe some men are poore hauing great riches Séeke wisdome in thy youth so shalt thou be honoured in thine age Set aside all slouthfulnesse and walke vprightlie in thy vocation and calling The lawe is a well of life vnto the wise that it may kéepe him from the snares of death The righteous eateth and is satisfied but the bellie of the vngodlie hath neuer enough The poore is hated euen of his owne neighbours but the rich hath manie friends Uisit thy friend in the time of his aduersitie so shalt thou shew thy faithfulnesse Uaine are all things vnder the Sunne onelie the word of God lasteth for euer Unto the counsell of the wise let thine eares be open but flée the conuersation of the wicked When it goeth well with the righteous the citie is merrie and when the vngodlie perish there is gladnesse Wéepe ouer the sinnes which thou hast committed and praie to God penitentlie for pardon Where pride is
Lord when I am cited to appeare before the Sathanicall synagogue which presumptuouslie call the professours of thy Gospell to a reckoning of their religion O be thou mine assistant Make them ashamed of their malicious imaginations and in their owne snares let them be intangled ouerwhelme them in the pit which they haue prepared for others so shall I magnifie thy heauenlie power Increase in them the spirit of wilfull blindnesse because they haue not béene harbourers of thy faithfull ministers and because they haue contemptuoustie withstoode thy word which is the liquor of life Neuerthelesse if it be thy pleasure such as féele anie remorse of conscience and be sorie for their obstinacie vouchsafe to receiue them into thy fauour that they may be witnesses of thine vnspeakeable mercie God the father God the sonne and God the holie Ghost heare my praier and let my crie be considered for thine owne sake and for thy sonnes sake O God looke downe from aloft and shew thy louing kindnesse to all people The eight Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 The chiefest comfort in this life 2 The meanes whereby to obteine blessednesse 3 The cause of a quiet conscience and how it is come by 4 An exhortation to glorifie GOD. F. 1 AMid so manie miseries depending on our life Behold a comfort namelie this with sinne to be at strife 2 Resisting of concupiscence subduing fleshlie lust Are meanes to come to blessednesse enioied of the iust 3 Hereof the true tranquillitie remaining in the minde According to her qualitie doth flourish in her kind Most mightie Ioue be praisd whose grace doth compasse this For no deserts of ours whose liues are dailie lead amis 4 Land we his holie name as doth vs best become Exalt him in his holinesse O nations all and some Make all your mirth and glee on him alone to rest In him reioice and clap your hands oblations such are best Nothing so much becoms a Christian than deth this Grant vs the same O gratious God that liuest aloft in blis The ninth Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition for repentance and remission of finnes 2 A deliuerance from our enimies 3 An inuocation vpon God for present help 4 A depâ—ecation against the aduersaries of Gods truth L. 1 A Penitent heart O God thou wilt not despise O teach me thy statutes that I may sée my sinne Be fauourable vnto me whose iniquities are gone ouer my head O heale my sores and vlcers which stinke in thy sight 2 Rise vp thou holie one of Israell like a Giant in triumph and rescue me from the irruptions and inrushings of mine enimies According to thy greatnesse deliuer me O set me frée from the furiousnesse of my foes from the furiousnesse of my mortall and deadlie foes Horrible are the mischéefes which they haue imagined against me but thou which art omnipotent wilt ouerwhelme them in their maliciousnesse 3 As for me I will be confident vpon thy prouidence will I depend vpon an assured hope of thy heauenlie helpe will I attend O Lord. Make no long tarieng O my King and my God for vpon thée onlie doth the anchor of my saluation rest thou art my health and my safetie Forsake me not in the time of néede least mine enimies taking courage against me scorne at me in their pride and saie where is thy God 4 Let not the enimies of thy truth beare vp their bristles against thée and contemptuouslie cast thy glorie to the ground O Lord destroie both them and their deuises Euen as the Sunne consumeth snowe and as waxe wasteth in the fornace so let them be put to silence in the rigour of thy wrath and iudgement Make them like vnto Sodom and like vnto Gomorrha make them like vnto Pentapolis and Babylon that they may knowe thou liuest which art Lord ouer all Inlarge their torments far aboue the torments wherwith they haue persecuted thy people deale with them according to thine own pleasure Not my will but thy will be fulfilled O father according to thine owne decrée deale with them either in mercie or in iudgement Giue them proofes of thine omnipotencie that they may knowe thée which sittest aboue whose eies sée their deuises and art able to reuenge thine owne cause The tenth Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 An exhortation to praise the Lord. 2 That all states and degrees ought to stoope before him and do him reuerence 3 Wherein our mirth and melodie should consist 4 That all creatures must magnifie Gods Maiestie E. 1 ATtend ye nations giue eare O learne to laud the Lord Behold his wondrous works and praise his name with one accord 2 Rich poore weake strong old folke yong approch and praises sing All people dwelling in the world to God oblations bring High potentates and all estates the king that crowne doth weare And subiects sworne to loialtie the Prince of Princes feare 3 Make all your mirth aud melodie his honour to resound Feare him in truth and faithfulnesse whose blessings do abound Let euerie thing lift vp their voice and laud his holie name 4 Each creature drawing vital breth extoll and praise the same Magnificent and wonderfull yea onlie God is hee In these his works before our eies his puissance we may see No time therefore let vs omit in publishing his praise Giue glorie oh heauen oh earth and sea to him which liues alwaies The eleuenth Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition to God vnder a continued allegorie for a renewed life 2 The weedes of the heart 3 The good and wholesome hearbes of the soule M. 1 AS siluer is purged from drosse by the force of the fire so by thy mercie O Lord GOD let me be purged from mine offences and sinnes Be fauourable vnto me an vnfruitefull bough of old Adams rotten and putrified stocke O water thou me with thy sanctifieng spirit Raine downe from heauen vpon me I beséech thee O let the drops of thy grace fall vpon me that I may bud and beare blossoms As for the wéedes of wickednesse and sinne let them wither and die in me that I may leade an vpright life in thy sight and glorious presence Husband me in such wise O Lord that I may fructifie and increase abundantlie that I may bring foorth thirtie sixtie and an hundred fold according to thy good pleasure A riuer of pleasantnesse be thou vnto me whereby I may be filled full of sap and flourish continuallie like the gréene Baie trée Make my leaues neuer to wither or vade let not the Sunne scortch or drie them to the losse of their beautifull colour and séemelinesse From all stormes and tempests shéeld and ouershadowe me that my roote may be replenished with pith and my branches spread abroade Let not the blustering blasts of winter do me anie harme but as my lips and my tongue gratte in me a desire and delight to speake the truth iustlie vprightlie and Christianlie Lighten thou my waies and
Christ our Lord Amen The 3. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper REason requireth and dutie demandeth that in partaking of these good creatures of God we vse a Christian reuerence haue before our eies the feare of his diuine Maiestie which we beséech thée O God to vouchsafe vs for his sake in whome thou art best pleased Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The 4. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper A Thankefull hart which is the sacrifice that thou requirest O Lord graunt vnto vs thy seruants nourished and fed at this present by thy prouidence Open our mouthes that we may sound foorth thy praise and also with one consent glorifie thy diuine Maiestie saieng Blessed be thou O eternall God in all thy gifts and extolled in all thy workes All glorie honour power and dominion be ascribed vnto thée world without end Amen The 5. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner HEre we sée most manifest and apparant signes of Gods loue and fatherlie care ouer vs who dailie féedeth our mortall bodies with nourishment conuenient and agréeable to our nature Let vs therefore soberlie receiue them as preseruatiues against hunger and forget not to magnifie his goodnes which so mercifullie and fauourablie tendereth our weakenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The 6. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner ALl praise and thankes be giuen vnto thée O God omnipotent which hast fed vs not onlie this daie but the whole tearme of our life We bring vnto thée the bullocks of our lips beséeching thée to accept our oblation of thankefulnesse offered and presented vnto thée for thine vnmeasurable and vndeserued bountifulnesse This we do O Lord in his name who for our sakes became accursed Iesus the righteous who with thée and the holie Ghost be euermore glorified Amen The 7. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner MOst gratious God the giuer of all good giftes without whome nothing is nourishable be it neuer so delicate we beséech thée that these thy creatures procéeding from thine almightie prouidence and set vpon this table for our sustenance may turne into wholesome substance of flesh and bloud in our bodies And because manie times euen thy good creatures through our intemperance turne into poison and by our owne abuse bréede sundrie diseases graunt we beséech thée that we may moderatelie eate and drinke that which is dailie ministred vnto vs for our reléefe and giue thée continuall thankes for these and all other thy benefits through Christ our Lord Amen The 8. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner FAther euerlasting continuall thankes and praise be ascribed vnto thée which from our creation and first comming into the world euen till this present daie houre hast giuen vs all things necessarie for our bodies grant we beséech thée that as we haue receiued corporall food and sustenance from thy hands so we may be faithfull and true partakers of the spirituall Manna whereby our soules are susteined to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen The 9. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner LOrd God whose dailie hand deth feed the beast the foule and fish Vouchsafe to blesse and sanctifie this boord and euerie dish That as we touch taste the things proceeding from thy grace Our bodies to susteine and feed our flesh in euerie place So we may yeeld thee thanks therfore and giue thy name the praise Which doth deserue of all the world extold to be alwaies Amen The 10. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner ETernall God thy name be blest which doest vs dailie feed And soule and bodie satisfiest when as they stand in need The bodie by the staffe of bread which giueth strength and power The soule with sweetnesse of thy word and gospell euerie hower Thy holie name perpetuallie be magnified therefore As hath ben since the world began and shal be euermore Amen The 11. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper MOst gratious God which cloathest the Lillies of the field with beautie far aboue the roialtie of Salomon and féedest the little Sparrowes which fall not to the ground without thy prouidence be present we beséech thee at this table and season with the salt of thy blessing these thy creatures that in receiuing them as becommeth Christians we may also be sanctified and in all our eatings drinkings euermore remember to confesse and acknowledge thée in thy benefites from whome all good things procéede for the succour of thy seruants and receiue them according to the rule of true Christianitie through Christ our Lord onlie Sauiour So be it The 12. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper IN so much as it hath pleased thée O mercifull father to call vs to the communicating and partaking of thy creatures and by them hast refreshed vs at this present we giue thée hartie thankes for this thy bountifull liberalitie beséeching thée to kindle in vs a Christian care and compassion of them that are in necessitie that we considering their poore and succourlesse estate may with pitifull eies tender their pouertie and with charitable hands reléeue them in miserie alwaies remembring that whatsoeuer is done to thy néedie and naked members thou doest accompt it done to thine owne bodie Graunt this O gratious God for Iesus Christes sake thy sonne our sauiour Amen The 13. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper NO grace the gluton nor his gests amid their deintie fare Vouchsaft to shew to Lazarus a begger poore and bare Their seruice was superfluous their meate was ouermutch Poore Lazarus who scarse could go or stand without a crutch Lay begging at the gluttons gatâ— some crumbes for his releefe But none there was that of his case were toucht with anie greefe His dog laie licking of his limmes the botches biles and blaines And with his tong did seeke a meane and waie t' asswage his paines This deede of pitie in the dog condemneth such as saue All for themselues and for the poore and needie nothing haue God grant that we may not be such as this rich glutton was Least we with him in pit of Hell crie out wo and alas From thence the Lord deliuer vs and guide vs by his grace That when we die in earth in heuen we may possesse a place The 14. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper GOod Zache enterteining Christ became a ioifull man His soule to feede on foode of life with faith and hope began Then called he to streight account his thoughts his words deeds His conscience and his life misseled and thus in speech proceeds â—ord if I haue done anie man 〈◊〉 turne or offred wrong Or causd the poore to make coÌ„plaint with sobs and sighings strong Lo restitution I will make and fourfold them reward With readie purpose so to do â—o 〈◊〉 and hart prepard 〈◊〉 Zaches speech ponder it