A progresse of pietie. Or the harbour of heauenly harts ease to recreate the afflicted soules of all such as are shut vp in anye inward or outward affliction. By Iohn Norden.

A motion tending to praier, that al estates may go∣uerne themselues accor∣ding to their duties.

WE often offend all the sorte of vs in this point, name∣ly, in attributing more vnto our welth, our world∣ly wisedome, our offices, our pla∣ces

and high titles,* 1.1 our callings, and our skill, in whatsoeuer art or facultie, then indeed we ought: for by ouer good conceit of any of these, we imagine that all good successe commeth of our selues: in∣so much, as the wealthy seeme to be secure, in regard of their aboū∣dance of all things, and think they haue need of nothing, and therfore seldome or neuer flie vnto God for succour, but seeke it in their chests.

The politike and wise accor∣ding vnto the world, are carelesse of the counsell of God, of his di∣rections and assistance, because in their generations, they are wiser than the children of light, and so deepe are they in their owne selfe iudgement, that it is impossible for them to bee deceiued. They that haue high, profitable and honou∣rable offices, which is in this life the greatest worldly gift that God bestoweth vpon man, what auai∣leth it if they execute such high places without the due obseruati∣on of the sinceritie of conscience, violated with corruption and vi∣olence towardes inferiours, and

with crueltie towards such as of∣fend them?* 1.2 These high callings, honourable or profitable offices, wil render vnto the abusers of the same, the reward of eternall igno∣minie in the end.

The baser sort of men,* 1.3 such as in their arts, faculties, and manu∣all occupations, do exceed other in skill and excellencie, they waxe ar∣rogant, and eleuate themselues a∣boue other, and in their conceites despise other, yet in the end besot themselues, and fall into miserable contempt, euen of the most basest.

Sith then that these high gifts often times make vs to forget our selues and God:* 1.4 it is good & most expedient for euery man in his cal∣ling, to looke into the ende for which hee was called thereunto, and to proceede vnto the perfor∣mance and execution thereof, ac∣cording to the commandement of God, in truth, in zeale of a good conscience, and in all humilitie and meekenesse: knowing this, that otherwise our callings wil be crossed, and that in iudgement▪ Saule was worldly wise and a

mightie king and one that stood in the place of high honour and dignitie: Yet because he thought his wisdome better than in deed it was, the Lord pulled him down from his kingly throne, to igno∣minie and shame. Iob was welthy yet hee was brought to extreme pouerty,* 1.5 to shew the vncertaine estate of rich and wealthy men. Achitophel was wise and politike, in so much as his counsel was ac∣counted as the Oracle of God,* 1.6 yet because it was not seasoned with the truth, in the feare of God, it turned to his owne shame,* 1.7 and at last his counsell being contemned, hee hanged himselfe. The Judges that accused Susanna falsly, were men of authority, yet for that they abused their authoritie, they were found worthy of death. Demetrius was a cunning artificer, and vnder collour of his skill, and by reason of the gaine which he got by the same, hee was moued to driue o∣thers of the same mysterie, not ha∣uing the fear of God, not onely to forsake religion, but to raise tu∣mult against Paule. So that wee

see▪ that not one of these excellent gifts or rare qualities,* 1.8 are of them selues able to cōfort or releeue vs, but rather of them selues to draw vs into diuers euils, yea and breed in vs greater inconueniences than if we were destitute of them. And therefore it behooueth euery one of vs, to craue the assistance of god, & the direction of his grace, that we may guide our professions, and vse his gifts wisely, reuerētly, & hum∣blie, knowing that it commeth not of our selues to performe any good in what place or calling soeuer we be, howsoeuer rich, howsoeuer glorious,* 1.9 howsoeuer wise, howso∣euer cunning we are, without the feare of God we are yet poore, ig∣nominious, foolish and ignorant, and verie sots, and nothing that we take in hand shall prosper to the end, howsoeuer it fare with vs for a time.

We may not shewe our selues swine, who seeke their draffe and acornes, and their whole nouriture from the earth, neuer looking vp to the hand that giueth it, nor to the tree from whence they fall. We

liue not by bread onely, that wee sowe and reap of the earth: we get not our wealth by our owne wise∣dome, but by the prouidence of God, by his word, and by his pro∣mises which we apprehend and re∣ceiue by the hande of faith: and therefore must wee looke vp vnto the hil, from whence commeth our help, we must flie vnto the Lorde, who blesseth our wealth, our wisedome, our authoritie, our knowledge, and our occupations: for he setteth in authority, and pul∣leth downe, hee giueth wisedome, and besotteth it, hee instructeth vs in artes, sciences, and in our occu∣pations, and he blesseth and cur∣seth vs in them, as wee shewe our selues in dutie obedient vnto him, so he sheweth himselfe readie wil∣ling, and able to blesse and help vs.

It is not ynough to be able in some measure to discharge our du∣tie, in our offices and callinges, but we must pray that wee may dis∣charge the same truely, which we cannot doe without the blessing of God. Except the Lorde builde the

house,* 1.10 they labour in vaine that build it. Except the Lord keepe the cittie, the watch men wake in vaine. All our endeuours and la∣bours are to no purpose, except the Lorde blesse the ende. It is in vaine for vs to rise earlie, and to go to our rest late, and in griefe to eate our breade,* 1.11 vnlesse the Lorde giue a blessing vnto our labours and studies.

Wherefore let vs repayre vnto our good God, with humble harts in faithful supplications: that hee will giue vs ablenesse to performe our callings skilfully and religi∣onslie, that in quiet of conscience wee may eate the fruites of our la∣bours, and so prosper in al that we take in hand, that our brethren be neither deceyued by vs, nor our selues forced to vse any vnlawfull thing for our owne reliefe, which may offend the Lord.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Our good liking of our high e∣states, dan∣gerous.
• * 1.2

  A sincere conscience must ac∣companie a high of∣fice or cal∣ling.
• * 1.3

  Too good opinion of our skill in manuall occupati∣ons, dange∣rous.
• * 1.4

  Euery m•••• must con∣sider why he was pl••∣ced in his calling.
• * 1.5

  Iob. 1. 3.
• * 1.6

  2, Sam. 16. 23
• * 1.7

  ••, Sam. 17. 23.
• * 1.8

  Our cal∣lings them selues can not re∣leeue vs.
• * 1.9

  No calling without the feare of God pros∣pe••eth e∣uer.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 127. •• 2. &c.
• * 1.11

  vers. 20