The diamond of deuotion cut and squared into sixe seuerall points: namelie, 1 The footpath to felicitie. 1 2 A guide to godlines. 81 3 The schoole of skill. 181 4 A swarme of bees. 209 5 A plant of pleasure. 245 6 A groue of graces. 283 Full of manie fruitfull lessons, auaileable to the leading of a godlie and reformed life: by Abraham Fleming.

The second Chapter.

1 Of the waie of the righteous. 2 No∣thing 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 Whol∣some counsels and admonitions.

THen, since it is appa∣rent 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 trea∣dings stedfast. How then is it pos∣sible for the godlie man to miscar∣rie, hauing the Lord God his gra∣tious gouernour?

2 What afflictions can alter his happines, that hath the King of glorie to be his helper? What wea∣pon 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 cut∣teth in sunder whatsoeuer it smi∣teth, 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 vou∣chethsafe to gouerne: as he contra∣riwise is most miserable and ac∣cursed, whom the spirit of the Al∣mightie hath forsaken.

4 Examples hereof are in the holie Scriptures, most plentiful∣lie to be gathered. For let vs but looke vnto the two first sonnes of Adam, Caine and Abell, who be∣ing brethren, and both comming of the loines of the same parents, were notwithstanding contrarie in all respects: the one a murthe∣rer, 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 re∣ceiued: 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 foote∣path 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 scrip∣ture: 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 vp∣right man of his time. Salomons aduice ought not onelie to be recei∣ued, 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 ex∣presselie noted by the holie Ghost to be righteousnes, which is the greatest riches that anie Christian hart can wish. This waie of righ∣teousnes 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 imperfecti∣ons, to walke: for it is a sanctified and holie waie, and therefore no∣thing 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 be∣séech the Lord that he would guide our paths, and direct vs in our waies. Let vs harken to the coun∣sell of Dauid, and praie as he prai∣ed: 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.