The sinners guyde A vvorke contayning the whole regiment of a Christian life, deuided into two bookes: vvherein sinners are reclaimed from the by-path of vice and destruction, and brought vnto the high-way of euerlasting happinesse. Compiled in the Spanish tongue, by the learned and reuerend diuine, F. Lewes of Granada. Since translated into Latine, Italian, and French. And nowe perused, and digested into English, by Francis Meres, Maister of Artes, and student in diuinitie.

Of the second instruction and aduice, which that man must follow, who will come to the seruice of God. CHAP. II.

THE second instruction and document is (seeing that the busines is of so great dignity and worth) that a man offer and yeeld himselfe with a merry and cheerefull hart, to beare all the blowes and strokes of aduersity and tribu∣lation,

which customarily are wont to happen to thē, who lo••e God; so that he account all things base and vild, and willingly contem••e them for the loue of God, that he may victoriously returne from this glorious combat; setting this before his eyes that nature hath brought forth nothing into the world, excel∣lent, and precious, which hath not some difficulty.

Because in that moment, wherein man purposeth to relin∣quish and forsake his vices, and to follow and embrace vertues, the powers of hell are troubled, the Prince of darknes mustereth his forces, and armeth his Catchpoles, fiends, and all his dam∣ned crew against this fresh-water Souldier of Christ. Forth∣with the flesh a louer of all filthy and obscene pleasures, inclined to euill from the very birth, after it was infected with the dead∣ly poyson of that infe••••all Serpent, with great importunity sol∣liciteth him, assaying by all possibilities to bring him backe to his accustomed delights. The custome also of corrupt manners, which can doe as much,* 1.1 as Nature herselfe, doth hardly brooke this alteration, and sheweth that it will be most difficult to bring it to passe. For euen as it is very hard to with-draw a great riuer from his naturall course,* 1.2 which by many yeares it hath been ac∣customed to, to another current; so also it is very ha••d ••••a••a man should change his life, which many yeares he hath led, and should assume another.* 1.3 The world also, which is more cruell and fierce then the most furious and tyrannous beast, & which is armed with very many most pestilent and pernicious exam∣ples, which are in it, will come tempting this new Souldier of Christ with her pomps and vanities, and soliciting him with her euill and lewd examples of sinners, or terrifying him with her persecutions, which are procured of euill men and wicked ty∣rants. And as though this were not sufficient,* 1.4 not any whit be∣hind these, that most subtill, mighty, and auntient deceauer the deuill will hasten, who will impugne thee no lesse perniciously then the rest, and he will doe according to his wont, that is, he will with all might and meane persecute and set vpon these, which are of late become his enemies, and casting off his yoke haue newly begun to rebell.

On euery side therfore difficulties and warres wil grow and arise, all which temptations it is requisite that he expect as pre∣supposed

and fore-seene, that if at any time they inuade and im∣pugne him, they may not seeme vnto new or vnthought of, and that he remember that most prudent counsaile of the Wise∣man: My sonne,* 1.5, if thou wilt come into the seruice of God, stand fast in righteousnes and feare, and prepare thy soule to temptation. For this ought to be most assured vnto him, that comming to the seruice of God, he commeth not to playes & pageants, not to banquets or feasts; but he must take vp his shield and speare, being har∣nessed with his coate offence for the battaile. For albeit that it is true, that we haue many helps and supportations in this life, as we haue sayd before, neuertheles it cannot be denied, but that many difficulties doe offer themselues in the beginning, which the young Souldier of Christ ought to haue premeditated, least they come as at vnawares and discourage him: and let him al∣wayes haue in mind the reward and price, for which he fighteth, that it is of so great value, that it deserueth this, and much more.

But least this feare inflicted of his aduersaries should discou∣rage him,* 1.6 or dash him out of countenance, let him thinke that they are much moe, and more powerfull that are for him, then they that are against him. For althogh on that side that sin stan∣deth there area great multitude of cōspiratours, yet on Vertues side the fauourers and defenders are stronger and more power∣full. For, as we haue sayd, the Diuine grace is opposed to our corrupt nature; God to the deuill; good custome to euill; an army of Angels to the multitude of euil spirits; good examples and the fellowship of the Saints, to euill examples and persecu∣tions; and the consolations and comforts of the holy Ghost, to the delights & pleasures of the world. Neyther is it to be doub∣ted, but that euery one of these is stronger and mightier then his contrary. Because grace is stronger then nature, God then the deuill, good Angels then euill, and spirituall delights and pleasures are much more forcible and effectuall then carnall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Euill cu∣••to••e
• * 1.2

  A simili∣tude.
• * 1.3

  The world.
• * 1.4

  The deuill.
• * 1.5

  Ecclesiast. 2,
• * 1.6

  Moe for vs then against vs.