The contempte of the vvorld, and the vanitie thereof, written by the reuerent F. Diego de Stella, of the order of S. Fr. deuided into three bookes, and of late translated out of Italian into Englishe, vvith conuenient tables in the end of the booke

THERE IS NO TRVST TO be had in thinges of this vvorlde, f•••• at our most neede, they be gone avv•••• from vs, onlie God is to be loued: a•••• in hym is our trust to be placed, for •••• neuer forsaketh them that trust in hym but is alvvayes a readie helpe for th•••• in all their afflictions. CHAP. 5.

TRVST in God, and doe w•••• (sayth the Prophet.* 1.1) A•••• thinges that be created, d•••• fayle vs at our most need•••• and for that cause it is va••i¦tie to put any trust in them▪ If thou doest trust in men thou shalt ofte•• be deceyued. After good seruice, th•••• gyue but sclender rewardes: yf thou do e••¦trust in them thou shalt finde discomfor•••• thereby, for it is written, cursed is he th•••• putteth his trust in man.* 1.2

Trust not in princes,* 1.3 nor in the sonnes of men, in which there is no saluation, saith Dauid the Prophet. Amon did put greate ••onfidence in the fauor that he founde ••t kinge Assuerus hand, but at last he came ••hereby vnto a miserable end. They that ••yue in most fauor of the world, they com∣monlie loose all their fauor agayne at the ••••st, and they which were most beloued, ••ecame to be after as much hated, accor∣••ing to the common course of the worlde. ••he world doth alwayes turne aboute, & ••••oughe a man were so fortunate to con∣••••nue all his lyfe in good grace and fauor, ••hat good will▪ that doe hym, when death ••••meth and catcheth hym. Thinke not ••••ou to haue any sure stay in a staffe that made of reede,* 1.4 & no better trust is there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be had in any mortall man.

In the psalme it is written: happie is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that putteth his trust in our Lorde:* 1.5 hap∣••••e is he that loueth God with his whole ••••rt, and putteth his trust in hym, for he ••••il deliuer him in the time of his distresse. ••••t because that true hope is founded ••••on a good consciēce the Prophet saith. ••••at he sholde not onlie trust in God, but ••••so doe well.

The hope of the wicked (sayth the ••yse man) shall perish,* 1.6 because it is not ••••unded vpon good workes. They lyue ••••delie, and yet hope that God will gyue ••••em glorie. If thou hopest that God will ••••ue thee his blisse, when thou daily offen∣dest

him, it is rather rashe presumption i•• thee, then any well ordered hope. Trus•• thou in God, for in fulfillinge on thy part that which longeth vnto thee, God of h•••• infinite mercie, will not fayle to gyue the•• glorie, since he neuer forsaketh them th•••• doe put their trust in hym.

Salomon sayth of a diligent Christia•• thus:* 1.7 He putteth his handes vnto strong•• labors, & his fingers haue not refused th•• spindell. Vpon the distaffe doth remay•••• that which is to be sponne, and that whic•• is alreadie sponne, is vpon the spind•••• and so that which wee haue labored fo•• and trauailed to get, is now vpon the spi••••dle, and that which hangeth still on th•• distaffe, remayneth yet to be wrought an•• labored. He setteth his fingers to the spi••••dle, that trusteth in God vpon that whic•• he hath done alreadie, and he taketh th•• distafe in hand, that is in good hope vpo•• that which is yet to be done.

It is a verye vayne thinge for thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leade an euill lyfe, and then to truste vpo•• pennance to be made after at leasure, w•••••• thou knowest not surely whether th•••• shalte lyue vntill to morowe. These ha•••• in their handes their distafes, where•••• hangeth that which they haue to work•• which they neuer goe aboute to make a•• ende of.

Thou oughtest by and by to reform•••• thy lyfe, and to haue good hope that Go•• will gyue thee of his glory, since it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉

sure, that he neuer denieth it to any which doe that which he commaundeth. So in fulfilling of the commaūdements of God, ••hou mayest make full accompte that he will gyue him selfe vnto thee, to the ende ••hat by thine enioying of him, thou maiest ••lwayes be happie.* 1.8 Trust alwayes in God sayeth the scripture) and he will delyuer ••hee from all thy temptations: saying by ••he mouth of Salomō.* 1.9 That he is the shild ••f them that put their trust in him. Dauid ••ut his truste in God, and he was holpen.

Happie is he that putteth his trust in God,* 1.10 and feareth nothing the malice of men.* 1.11 Happie is he that had no feare in his mynde, neyther fell from his hope at all. Happie is he whose strength is God hym ••elfe, for in the tyme of tribulation,* 1.12 his ••ope shall not be vayne.* 1.13 Ecclesiasticus ••aith, cōsider o ye mortall men, and knowe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for certaine, that neuer any trusted in ••ur Lorde and was confounded, nor per∣seuered in his commaundemētes and was forsaken.

The sicke man hath good cause to trust ••n that Phisition for his health, that cureth ••ll disseases:* 1.14 Our Lord (saith the Prophet) is he which healeth all thy sickenes, and saueth thy lyfe from death. He is neare vnto all those that call vpon hym.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 36.
• * 1.2

  Iher. 17
• * 1.3

  Psa. 117. Hest. 7
• * 1.4

  1. Re. 18.
• * 1.5

  Psa. 38. Prou. 10.
• * 1.6

  Prou. 16.
• * 1.7

  Pro. 31.
• * 1.8

  Ose, 12.
• * 1.9

  Pro. 3.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 2.
• * 1.11

  Eccl. 1.
• * 1.12

  Isa. 25.
• * 1.13

  Eccl. 2.
• * 1.14

  Psa. 145.144.