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.

¶ Other kind of remedies against Luxurie.

BEsides those remedies, which commonly are wont to be de∣liuered against thys vice, there are others also more effectu∣all, and more particuler, of which wee will also speake in thys place. Let thys therefore be the first, stay the beginnings, kill the Serpent when it is young: for if the enemy be not repelled at the first onset, he increaseth and becommeth stronger. For, as Saint Gregory sayth, after the desire of pleasure is kindled and encreaseth in the hart, it suffereth a man to thinke on nothing els, but on filthy pleasures and vncleane lusts. Forthwith there∣fore the motiues of vices must be killed in the mind, whilst they are yet but onely in thought: for euen as wood preserueth fire,

so the thought preserueth and nourisheth desires & concupi∣scences: and if the thoughts be good, they doe kindle the fire of charitie;* 1.1 if they be euill, they stirre vp the flame of lust. It is needfull also, that all the outward sences, but especially the sight, or the eyes be most diligently kept, least they see that, which may procure danger; for oftentimes a man simply seeth that, which when it is seene, woundeth the soule. Therefore vnad∣uisedly to looke on women, eyther peruerteth, or weakeneth the constancy of the beholder. Therefore Ecclesiasticus doth giue thee very good counsaile:* 1.2 Gaze not on a Mayde, that thou fall not by that that is precious in her. Goe not about gazing in the streetes of the Citty, neyther wander thou in the secret places thereof. Turne away thine eye from a beautifull woman, and looke not vpon others beauty.

To perswade this, that doctrine of holy Iob ought to be suf∣ficient, who although he was a most iust man, yet neuerthelesse he did keepe his eyes most diligently,* 1.3 as he speaketh of himselfe, neyther did he trust to himselfe, neyther to the long experience of his good life. But if this be not sufficient for thee, ad also the example of Dauid; who although he was a most holy man, and a man according to Gods owne hart, yet when he beheld a wo∣man, he fell into three most greeuous sinnes, into adultery, scan∣dall, and murder. Thy eares also must be carefully kept, least they heare obscene & vnhonest speaches; which if thou at any time shalt heare, let them displease thee; for a man is easily brought to effect that in his deede, which he with ioy heareth with his eares. Refraine also thy tongue, that thou speake not filthy and vncleane words: for euill words corrupt good man∣ners. The tongue doth discouer the hart of a man, and bewray∣eth his affections: for the tongue speaketh out of the aboun∣dance of the hart. Let thy hart be alwayes busied with holy thoughts, & thy body with godly exercises: for deuils cast into an idle soule dangerous thoughts, sayth Bernard, with which it is occupied, that although the offence be not in deede, yet it is in thought.

* 1.4 In euery temptation, and most of all in this, set before thine eyes thy Angel, who is thy keeper, and the deuill thine accuser, who are alwayes & euery where with thee, and see all thy works,

and present them before thy Iudge, who seeth all things. For this cogitation will worke that in thee, that thou darest not pre∣••ume to doe any filthy thing in their sight. For how darest thou doe that, which thou blushest to doe, if a wretched man see thee doe it, thy keeper, thine accuser, and thy Iudge looking vp∣pon it.

Consider also that dreadfull tribunall, strict iudgement, and flame of eternall torments: for euery punishment is ouercom∣med with a punishment more greeuous, none otherwise then one naile is driuen out with another. And by this meanes the heate of luxury may be extinguished by the thought of hel fire.

Furthermore take heede,* 1.5 that as sildome as possibly it may be thou alone speake with a woman alone, especially in thy su∣spected yeares. For, as Chrisostome sayth, then the deuill more boldly insulteth ouer men and women, when he espieth them alone; and where many feareth not the reprehendour, hee is the bolder, and the tempter commeth the nearer: beware ther∣fore, to conuerse with women, when no witnes is by; for solita∣rines inuiteth to all mischiefe. Doe not rely vpon thy strength and vertue past,* 1.6 albeit it be auntient and stable: for we know how those olde men were inflamed with the loue of Susanna, who alone was seene of them in the garden.* 1.7 How great Bishops and excellent Clarks after great combats and victories, sayth Augustine, haue beene knowne to haue made shipwrack with them all, when they would sayle in a slender and weake ship? What strong Lyons hath this one delicate infirmity, which is luxurie, tamed, which being vild and miserable, yet maketh a pray of those that be great? And in another place: Beleeue me assuredly, I speake by experience, before the Lord I lye not, I haue knowne the Cedars of Libanus, the guides of the flocks to haue fallen by the pestilence of luxury, whose falls I did no more suspect, then I suspected the shamelesse rebuke of Am∣brose and Ierome. Fly therefore all suspected company of wo∣men: for to see them doth hurt the hart, to heare them doth in∣flame thy mind, to touch them doth prouoke thy flesh; to be briefe all that that is done with women, is a snare to that man that is conuersant with them. This is that which Gregory ad∣monisheth vs of: Let not them presume to dwell with women,

who haue consecrated their bodies to continency,* 1.8 least they de∣uoure the bayte before they be aware, for the presence of beau∣ty doth sodainly entrap. Fly therfore the familiarities, visitati∣ons, and gifts of vvomen: for all these be as lime-twigs, by which the harts of men are ensnared; & as a bellowes, by which the fire of concupiscence is blowne, when as otherwise perhaps the flame would faile and dye. If thou wishest well to any ho∣nest and deuou•• vvoman, let it be done in thy minde, without often visiting, & too familier conuersing with her. For the chiefe of this busines consisteth especiallie in flying and auoyding occasions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The out∣ward sences are to be kept.
• * 1.2

  Ecclesi. 9.
• * 1.3

  Iob, 31.
• * 1.4

  The pre∣sence of God, of thy Angell, and of the deuill is to be thought vpon.
• * 1.5

  It is dange∣rous for a man alone to speake with a wo∣man alone.
• * 1.6

  Dan. 13.
• * 1.7

  August. of the words of our Lord.
• * 1.8

  Greg. in the 3, booke of his Dia∣logue. ch. 7.