Page  [unnumbered]

The Preface to the Reader.

THe whole sum and effect of all diuine and hu∣mane philosophie, wherein all kinde of excellent and exquisite knowledge con∣sisteth, tendeth chiefly vnto this scope, and may be com∣prehended brieflie in these two cardinall and principall precepts, namely: To know God, and, To know a mans selfe. For these two exceeding great and large bran∣ches of wisedome, reaching by faith (but not by cu∣riositie) euen to the throne of the Maiestie of God aboue al heauens,* and spreading and stretching forth themselues ouer all the workes of God in nature, are not only verie necessarie vnto vertuous life, and god∣ly conuersation, but also verie expedient & behoue∣full vnto euerlasting life and saluation. These be the two readie steps, by which we must ascend vp vnto the onely perfect and true doore of eternall life, euen Ie∣sus Christ, the Authour, Captaine, and finisher of our faith: by whom whosoeuer entreth, he shall be saued, and shall go in and our, and finde pasture, that is,* shall enioy the gift of grace, the treasure of truth, the food of immortalitie. The knowledge of God is acquired by two maner of studies or meditatiōs. First by the con∣templation and consideration of his glorious, excel∣lent, and wonderfull workes: for the inuisible things of him, that is to say, his eternal power and Godhead,* are seene by the creation of the worlde, being consi∣dered in his workes. Secondly, God is knowen by his word, and he will be found of them which seeke him therein diligently and desirously.* For so sayth the wisedome of God by Salomon, I loue them that loue me: and they that seeke me early, shall find me. Vnto Page  [unnumbered] thē therefore which studiously meditate in the holy Scriptures, and attentiuely heare the Gospel prea∣ched, God doth reueale and make knowne the richer of his glorious mysteries, which riches is Christ m•… the hope of glorie. For by the sincere preaching of him euery man is admonished,* & euery man is taught in all wisdome, that euery man may be presented per∣fect in Christ Iesus. The knowledge of a mans selfe is attained likewise by two intentiue cogitations, and diligent considerations, which do both proceed from the most pure fountaine of the infallible worde of God. The one is, if a man ponder and consider well the excellencie of his creation.* The other is, if a ma• beholde himselfe in the worde of God, and looke i• the perfect lawe of libertie, and continue therein. For Gods worde is a glasse, wherein we must behold our selues, and become like vnto him. And therin he shall see,* that as the wise man sayth, God hath created man of the earth, and turned him vnto it againe. He hath giuen him the number of daies and certaine times, and power of the thinges that are vpon •arth. He clothed thē with strength as they had need, and made them according to his image. Hee filled them with knowledge of vnderstanding, and shewed them good and euill He set his eie vpon their hearts, decla∣ring vnto them his noble workes. And gaue them oc∣casion to reioice perpetually in his miracles, th•… they should prudently declare his workes, and tha• the elect should praise his holie name together. The Philosophers hauing some taste and feeling of this knowledge, euen by the lawe and instinct of nature (although they were destitute of the law of the holy spirite and of grace, that commeth by the faith of Ie∣sus Christ) called this studious meditation a contem∣platiue life, or speculatiue science: wherin whosoeuer doth employ his trauaile and diligence industriously and giue his heart to search and finde out wisedom by all things that are done vnder the heauen,* that is Page  [unnumbered] to say, of all the workes of God in the wonderfull workmanship and creation of the world, so far forth and so much as the lord God the giuer of wisedome and of all good giftes, doth distribute and deuide to euerie man, in such maner as it pleaseth him, & such measure as he knoweth euery man hath neede of: he shall surely find, and vndoubtedly proue, yea euen by experience, that in this life ther is no felicitie,* that this world is nothing els but a perillous pilgrimage, a maze of miserie, a surging sea of sorowes and trou∣bles, a continual conflict, a wretched warfare, a gulfe of greefes, a huge heape of iniquities, and a wast wil∣dernes full of vanities and vexation of the spirite, & that there is no profite vnder the sun. For thus hath it pleased the lord the Creatour and conseruatour of all things by his excellent wisedome,* to humble the heart of man in this sore trauaile, that he hath giuen to the sonnes of men, & in the consideration of mans fraile state and miserable condition: and to eleuate, extoll, and lift vp his mind in looking and aspiring vnto heauēly things, to the end that he should,* as Ci∣cero saieth, with an high, noble, and inuincible heart, contemne these humaine, visible, corruptible, earth∣ly, mortal, caducal, traunsitory & momentanythings: & as y^e Apostle saieth,* follow hard toward the marke for the prise of the high calling of God in Christ Ie∣sus: sighing & desiring to be cloathed with our house which is from heauen:* And seeke those things which are aboue, & set our affections on heauenly things,* & not one things which are on the earth: and direct & erect al our cares, studies, cogitations, desires and de∣lights vnto Christ Iesus, which sitteth at the right hand of God: that our conuersation may be in heauē with him. And for him that true, incorruptible and vnspeakable treasure to iudge all these things to bee but dung:* And for the winning of him to thinke and count al these things but losse, y^t we may be found in Page  [unnumbered] him that is, not hauing our owne righteousnes which is of the lawe, but that which is through the faith of Christ, euen the righteousnes whiche is of God through faith:* And that wee should not looke on the things which are seene, but on the thinges which are not seene:* And that like the foules of the heauen, and the lilies of the field, which liue and growe without care and toile of this life, wee should not weary our selues in labouring for the meate which perisheth, but labour for the meat which endureth vnto euer∣lasting life,* which the sonne of man shall giue vnto vs. For as the Israelites walked, iourneyed, and wan∣dered in the great wildernes fourtie yeares,* and pas∣sed through manie probations & tribulations, before they did goe in and possesse that good land that flo∣wed with milke and honie, which the lord had pro∣mised, and sworne vnto their fathers to giue them Euen so the same our good God, which so conducted his peculier people, and proued them with many mi∣series & afflictions, before he brought them to that plentifull land, doth in like maner by his fatherly prouidence and fauourable protection, leade vs his adopted children,* whom he hath receiued by grace, through the great wide wildernesse of this wicked & wretched world: In which our iourney towardes that happie and heauenly countrey, that continuing citie to come,* he trieth vs with manie kind of troubles and calamities,* and causeth vs, as the Psalmist saieth, to go through fire & water, before he bring vs forth to y^t welthie place, y^t pleasaunt land, that celestiall habitation, those eternall mansions, that supernall Ierusalem the mother of vs all,* the euerlasting king∣dome of his deare sonne Iesus Christ, vnto which we must enter through many tribulations. This is that precept which our Sauiour doth inculcate into the eares and hearts of all them which will folow him, and become his true disciples,* namely to forsake and Page  [unnumbered] denie themselues, & take their crosse paciently, that is to say, to suffer constantly all tribulations that the lord laieth vpon them:* And to cast awaie euery thing that presseth downe, as riches, cares, and voluptu∣ousnes: And so abstaine, that they may get the mai∣sterie: and finally so runne, that in Christ Iesus they may obtaine victoriously, and be crowned with him triumphantlie. Vnto this continuall bickering and warfare, wherein the church of Christ militant here on earth is continually exercised, he himselfe being our most mightie and puissant Capitaine, doth ani∣mate and encourage vs most comfortably with these wordes, *Be of good comfort (saieth he) I haue overcome the world. For he hath conquered the Deuil, y^e world sin, damnation, death, and hell for vs, and hath loo∣sed all our sorowes. Therefore this holy, heauenly, & diuine contemplation raiseth & lifteth vp our harts, our cogitations, our studies, our sences, desires, and loue from vaine pleasures vnto the true and euerla∣sting treasures, according to that effectual and pithy praier of Dauid: O turne awaie mine eyes, least they behold vanitie. For indeede all things are vaine,* except the knowledge of God, and most miserable are they that are destitute thereof. Now as concerning the Know∣ledge of a mans selfe, wherewith euery Christian ought to be instructed & endued: there is almost no natu∣rall, mortall and earthly man no not commonly a∣mong the heathē, much lesse among true Christians, but that by the vse of reason and quicknes of wit in∣fused by nature, he vnderstandeth and perceiueth himselfe to be created and ordeined of God to a far better, happier, and more excellent end & purpose, then all other creatures voide of reason, wit, & iudg∣ment, ouer whiche creatures God the creator hath made and constituted man lord, ruler & gouernour:* And in the creation of him, which, as Dauid saith, is wonderfull and fearefull, he hath made the fashion,* Page  [unnumbered] forme, & shape of his body straight vpright towards heauen: wherby he is admonished to lift vp his heart vnto heauen, & set his loue on heauenly things: and not to fix and cast down his cogitations vpon earth∣ly things only: but to haue mind continually on that diuine,* spirituall, and immortall substaunce, whereof his soule is a likenes and image: And to cōsider, that in this his meruailous creation, hee excelleth all o∣ther liuing creatures, whose bodily shape is in forme prone and groueling downe towardes the earth, be∣ing created and ordained vnto corruption,* and sub∣iect vnto vanitie, and destinated to perish with the earth: whereas contrariwise, man is appointed and assigned thorowe faith in Christ Iesus vnto immor∣talitie and eternall felicitie in heauen. This certaine persuasion and true opinion the poet vndoubtedly seemed to haue fixed and stablished in his mind, de∣claring the same in these elegant verses.

which may be englished thus, But whosoeuer will knowe him selfe rightly, and per∣fectly, must cōsider, that mā consisteth of two parts, namely the bodie and kthe soule: whereof the one is subiect to corruption, the other is incoruptible, the one perceiued sensible, thother inuisible, the one subiect to death, the other immortall, the one a de∣uine, spirituall and heauenly substaunce, the other a grosse and fraile lumpe of earth, which turneth into earth againe. In euery faithfull, vertuous, and godly Christian the soule (which is the highest or chiefe•… Page  [unnumbered] part of the mind or spirite or power intellectiue) be∣ing led by the Spirite of God, ought to rule the body and the lustes, appetites and desires therof: And the bodie as a seruaunt or minister vnto his lord & mai∣ster, ought alwaies to be obedient to the good and godly motions of the Spirite, as the Apostle teach∣eth, saying If ye mortifie the deeds of the body by y^e Spirite ye shall liue. And a little after he saieth,* The same Spirite beareth witnes w^t our spirite, y^t wee are the children of God. So that wee haue two witnesses, that is to say, Gods spirite, and ours, which is certified by the Spirite of God: which must haue domination ouer the affections, lustes, perturbations, will, desires, & cōcupiscence. For if at any time the bodie beeing not thus kept in subiection, do happen to rebell and make insurection against the Spirite, and like an vn∣tamed colte which casteth of his rider, do throwe a∣waie the yoke of obedience, and make war against y^e honest, good, godly, & vertuous desires of the mind, surely then the whole man bothe bodie and soule must needs run, euen as though he were caried hed∣long, into all kind of vices, wickednes, and sin, and so consequently bee throwne downe into the guife or pit of eternall damnation and destruction. Of this most perillous and pernicious fall the Apostle giueth vs a very good and profitable admonitiō, saying, Let not sin reigne in your mortall bodie, that yee should obey it in the lusts thereof. For the bodie,* that is sub∣iect to sin, presseth downe the soule that museth of many things, and cloggeth, darkneth, & dulleth the vnderstanding, so that it cannot lift vp it selfe in god∣ly meditations and heauenly contemplations. Vnto this place that precept of Cicero seemeth not altogi∣ther vnfit to be referred, when he saieth, Rationi appe∣titus pareat. Let the appetite be ruled by reason.* And againe he saieth, Naturam optimam viuendi ducem se∣quamur. Let vs follow nature the best guide of life. In Page  [unnumbered] these two briefe documents the whole summe and scope of all morall philosophie, in my iudgement, may well be comprehended. For when the gentiles, which haue not the lawe, doe by nature the things conteined in the law,* they hauing not the lawe, are a lawe vnto themselues, which shewe the effect of the lawe written in their heartes. I feare lest this may iustlie be spoken to our great shame in these daies, which being professed Christians, and peyfectly in∣structed in the lawe of God, and many of vs very skilfull not onely in humane, but also in heauenly, sacred, and diuine philosophie, are so led with selfe-loue, and so caried awaie from God with worldly va∣nities and momentanie delights:* and seeke so much to saue our liues, as our Sauiour saieth, that wee lose our liues▪ for we prefer our liues before the glorie of Christ: And knowing our maisters will, and not pre∣paring our selues,* neither doing according to his wil wee shall be beaten with many stripes: I feare, I saie, lest the heathen or gentiles, which in the time of na∣ture without lawe, liued vertuously, shall condemne vs, whiche in the time of grace, hauing the lawe of God do liue vitiously.

To the end therefore to awake vs from our sleepy senceles, and sinfull securitie, where with many of vs are heauilie oppressed and deeply drowned: I haue thought good by bringing this little booke abroad vnto the commune commoditie, I trust of all then that reade the same, to stir vp the mindes of such as are drowned in voluptuousnes, and cast downe into the deepthe of the earth with cares of this life, and to raise them vp vnto the consideration of their sta•e and vocation, wherein God hath placed vs, like vnto souldiours, which must euery one looke surely and attend diligently to his order, araie, standing place, and watching in this our continuall conflict, bick•∣ing, and warfare: wherin bycause we haue many ty∣ranious Page  [unnumbered] enimies, many pernicious perils are i•…i∣nent and incident vnto euery one of vs,* vnlesse wee warily, watchfully, and circumspectly, withstand and resist the assaults, inuasions, and irruptions of our malicious and pestiferous aduersaries, which conti∣nually by all meanes possible, do seeke, deuise, and worke our ouerthrow and vtter destruction. The au∣thour of this booke being a very learned man, as it appeareth by his writing, was no doubt greatly infla∣med with the godly zeale of Christianitie and hone∣stie, of true religion and integritie of life: because herein he hath left vnto vs such a worthy worke? Wherein is contained the way and meanes, how wee may and must acquire and obtaine the assuraunce of our soules health and saluation, which is a thing most necessarie for all men to know. And this doc∣trine hath the author comprehend ed in a fewe cha∣piters so breifly and compendiously, that the reader may gather and receiue as sufficient instruction and vtilitie by meditating in the same, as in perusing the whole Bible, and all the expositions and paraphra∣sticall explications of the holy Scriptures, written by the auncient and learned fathers.* For like as our Sauiour reduced the whole summe of all the lawe & the prophets into a sweete short sermon,* yea into two short commaundements of perfect loue towards God and towardes our neighbour,* and therein hath knit vp the knot of all righteousnes, & tied the bond of perfection: Euen so this author hath obserued the same order, and vsed the like methode in this com∣pendious forme of exhortation. Moreouer he being a very expert and skilfull phisicion, hath also prescri∣bed vnto the studious reader an excellent briefe die∣tarie for the conseruation of the health of the bodie: which whosoeuer will deligentlie keepe and folowe, he shall, I dare be bold to say, haue as many good pre∣cepts necessarie and profitable inough for the pre∣seruing Page  [unnumbered] of bodilie health, as in reading all the great volumes of Hippocrates, Galen, Auicenna, Rhazis, and whatsoeuer others, that haue learnedly and largely written of Phisicke.

And lastly of morall philosophie, or doctrine of maners, and politique regiment of life, he hath writ∣ten so pithilie and witrily, that these fewe leaues do afford as much good & wise instruction concerning vertuous and honest conuersation, modestie, tempe∣raunce, sobrietie, and prudent gouernaunce of all mens publike and priuate actions, as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and all other Philosophers and humane wri∣ters (the reading of whose workes were a tedious & infinite labour) do conteine. In this booke therefore the reader shall reape a triple or threefold commo∣ditie: namely, the health of bodie, the saluation of soule, and the integritie of life, as an inseparable companion of them both. This booke is an Epitome, that is to say, a short summarie or compendious col∣lection of diuine, humane, naturall, and morall Phi∣losophie: So that in the litle labour of reading the same studiously, and meditating and ruminating the preceptes thereof diligently, the reader shalbe de∣lighted and profited exceedingly. And bicause ac∣cording to the corruption of our depraued nature wee are more prone, more inclined, more diligent and carefull to seeke the health of our bodies, then the salfetie and saluation of our soules, & take more thought, and make greater prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes of it,* then to desire and acquire the sincere milke of the word of God, which being re∣ceiued with meekenesse, is able to saue our soule•… Therefore of these two things, namely, health of bo∣die, and saluation of soule, which are both indeede worthie to be desired (but yet the one much more then the other) that which is a great deale more worthie to be sought & laboured for, is in this books Page  [unnumbered] verie orderly and aptly first set downe, according to that diuine and principall precept of our Sauiour,* Seeke yee first the kingdom of God & his righteous∣nesse. Whereby we are admonished, that as the soule, being as I said before, a diuine, spirituall, and immor∣tall substaunce, doth farre excell the bodie, which is nothing els but dust, earth and ashes:* Euen so the sa∣cred, and eternall foode and assured saluation of the soule ought to be acquired with far greater care and more earnest studie, zeale, loue, desire and affection, then the health and welfare of the bodie. But alas, how lamentable a thing is it in these dayes, wherein the light of the Gospell shineth so clearely, to see the preposterous peruersitie of many of vs, whose minds like vnto brute beastes, are fixed vpon present and caducall things, and are plucked and cast downe frō heauen and heauenly desires vnto earth and earthly vanities, and do care and trauaile incessantly for the pampering and cherishing of the bodie, but are so slouthful, careles and negligent in seeking the salua∣tion of our soules.* And albeit I confesse with the A∣postle, that no man knoweth the thinges of a man, saue the spirite of a man which is in him: Neither doth any man knowe and vnderstand the heartes of men, but God onely:* yet bycause a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good thinges▪ and an euill man out of an euill treasure bringeth forth euill thinges: for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh: Therefore by the out∣ward man, may the inward mā be perceiued of them which intentiuely looke thereupon, & examine the conuersation of men by the lawe of God, and trie the spirites, whether they be of God,* by the touchstone of truthe. And againe, although wee ought not to iudge any thing of our brethren before the time vn∣till the Lord come,* who will lighten things that are hid in darkenes, and make the counsels of the hearts Page  [unnumbered] manifest: lest wee our selues by iudging be iudged, and in condemning be condemned:* Yet if wee looke not euery man on his owne thinges, but euery man also on the things of other men:* and behold some mens sinnes that are open before hand, and go be∣fore vnto iudgement:* and take heed both vnto our selues, and to all the flocke, whereof the holy Ghost hath made vs ouerseers,* to feede the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his owne bloud: (I speake to them that are called thereunto) wee may easily and euidently see,* if wee will not winke one at anothers faults, that the whole world lyeth in wic∣kednes, that is, all men generally, as of themselues, lye as it were buried in euill, and that many wicked people forget God,* and therefore, as the prophet sayeth, shall be turned into hell. For of two detestable iniquities & most grieuous enormities, namely ma∣liciousnes, and forgetfulnes of God, we haue in these our dayes two manifest arguments, apparent signes, and plaine tokens, to wit, mens negligence, coldnes and slackenesse in the inuocation of God by praier, and their ingratitude in not ascribing praise and giuing thanks to the Lord of life for his benefits be∣stowed vpō vs. These two kinds of impietie do spring from two most horrible and filthie fountaines of all iniquitie, namelie ignorance, and securitie: Igno∣rance, when a man knoweth neither God, nor him selfe rightly, nor his due obedience to God: Securitie• when a man knoweth, and yet regardeth not, but contemneth the iudgements and law of God. There∣fore as all the faithfull ministers of the word of God in fulfilling their functions diligently & faithfully, 〈◊〉 rebuking the people for their disobedience and ini∣quities meekely and modestly,* must needes see a•… note these foure pernitious and pestilent maladie•… wherewith the flocke of Iesus Christ is moste mi•…∣rably assayled, daungerously depraued, and dea•… Page  [unnumbered] annoyed by that auncient, malicious and subtile ser∣pent, and do like good Physicions apply wholesome medicines of the worde of God vnto these cruell wounds of the enuious enimy, and after the example of that mercifull Samaritaine, cure and comforte the wounded & afflicted consciences,* giuing two pence vnto the host for the reliefe and succour of him that is thus robbed and spoyled of the grace of God that commeth by Iesus Christ: which two pence are y^e two testaments, which our Sauiour hath deliuered vnto the host, that is to say, to the faithfull preacher and syncere disposer of the secrets of God, cōmanding him to take care & cure of his members, which are desttiute of the knowledge of God, and to minister vnto them the most comfortable meditine of his mercie in the merits of Iesus Christ: So I being one of the lest of the ministers of Iesus Christ (which •…m not worthie to be called his minister, bycause I •m not any waie at all able to fulfill the due office perfectly, nor do y^e dutie throughly of that high, holy, worthie, excellent & reuerend vocation) seeing and •amenting the ignoraunce and negligence of the people of God, the flock of Iesus Christ, my brethren •y adoption and grace in Christ, was moued and in∣•lamed with zeale of the Lordes house to bring som∣what vnto the buylding thereof by writing, sith that cannot by preaching, being not called to y^e diuine, •acred and reuerend function.* For as our Sauiour •ayeth, he that receiueth but one talent, ought not to •…igg and hide the same in the earth, or lay it vp in se∣cret. *And as Cicero saith in his oration Pro Archia Poeta Caeteros pudeat, siqui ita se literis abdierunt, vt nihil •…ssint ex his neque ad commimen• afferre fructum, neque 〈◊〉 aspectum lucemque proferre. That is, Let others be shamed, or, other men maie be ashamed, if any such •ere bee, that haue so studyed in secret, that out of •…eir studies they can neyther affoorde any thing Page  [unnumbered] vnto the commoditie of the common wealth, 〈◊〉 bring any thing abroade into the sight and light of the world. Let such be admonished of theyr charge, and excited and stirred vp vnto diligence and vigi∣lancie with this sage sentence of Cicero *Nulla lassi•… impedire officium & fidem debet. That is. No wearyne•… ought to hinder men in doing theyr dutie duty fully and faithfully. Therefore let vs not bee wearye 〈◊〉 well doing, but labour to reape the fruit. I write 〈◊〉 this, to dispraise or reprehende the negligence of any man, or to commend mine owne industrie, which were a point of errogancie, but to animate and enco∣rage them, whom duety byndeth, and the gift of knowledge enableth, hauing receyued many tale•… of the Lord, to labour in the Lordes vineyarde dili∣gently and faithfully, which is a part of charitie. For the Lord God, who searcheth the hearts and rei•… and looketh into mens thoughts,* whose eies are 〈◊〉 thousand times brighter then the Sunne, beholding all the wayes and workes of men, he, I say, knowet• all the minde, will, intent, desire and affection of 〈◊〉 faithfull seruants?* and their gronings are not hidd•… from him Surely all the faithfull disposers and to¦wards of the holy mysteries and secrets of God, 〈◊〉 of the manifold graces of Iesus Christ, haue gr•… cause to lament these euill and woful daies,* wherein the diuell is come downe to the inhabitants of the earth, that is, to those that are giuen to the wo•… and fleshly lusts: and to bewaile the blindnesse 〈◊〉 hardnes of mans heart, whose imaginations are 〈◊〉 euen from his youth:* and the great wickednesse 〈◊〉 man on the earth, so that the earth is corrupt before God,* and filled with crueltie, because all flesh 〈◊〉 corrupt his way vpon earth. For euen as it was in 〈◊〉 dayes before the deluge or floud, when those ob•…∣rate and obstinate Giants contemned the preachi•… and despised the warnings of Noe, the friend of God Page  [unnumbered] the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse,* yea rather were disobedient vnto our Sauiour, who in spirit preached vnto them by the mouth of Noe: So now it is to be feared,* yea rather with heades full of water, and with eyes that haue a fountaine of teares, the pastours of Christs flocke haue cause to weepe day and night, because so many wanton worldlings lie weltring in wickednesse, and turne the grace of God into voluptuousnesse,* beeing fulled asleepe in carelesnesse, and caried headlong to perdition with contempt of the worde of God.* Now vndoubtedly is the time come, wherein the prince of darkenes bea∣reth such sway in the children of disobedience, and holdeth so many disobedient wretches captiue at his will. Now doth that malicious aduersarie that roring lion walke and let about,* seeking and ga∣ping for his pray most perniciously, deuoureth so many sillie miserable and succourles soules cruelly. Now because the hirelings (of whom we haue to too many) care not for the sheepe,* but leaue them with∣out succour and defence, and flie from them: the woolfe commeth vpon them with insaciable rapaci∣tie and greedinesse, and catcheth and scattereth the sheepe and maketh lamentable hauocke of the poore afflicted flock of Iesus Christ. Now verelie, yea euen now at this present,* the great Dragon that olde Ser∣pent, called the diuell and Satan, sheweth his rage, and hath great wrath, because he knoweth that hee hath but a short time.* For hee is the Prince of this worlde: which title he vsurpeth and chalengeth to himselfe, and he rideth vpon wanton wicked world∣lings, as it were vpon a horse. And this is the cause, that there bee so many workers of iniquitie,* so little faith on earth, so fewe faithfull followers of Christ. We are they vpon whome the ende of the worlde is come: for whereas the Apostle sayth,* that Christ in the ende of the worlde hath appeared once to put Page  [unnumbered] away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe. To which wor• the Apostle Saint Peter agreeth,* and saith, Nowe the end of all things is at hand: how much more now may this our time and age bee called the ende, si• that we are come so much nearer vnto the day of the Lord? For now all those euils, calamities & sorrowes which our Sauiour foretolde should come vpon the earth, are come in deed, and those true prophecies of the infallible truth it self are now most certeinly ful∣filled,* and most manifestly verified. For, iniquitie is increased, yea it aboundeth, and hath the vpper hand vpō the face of the whole earth. Charitie is cold, yea it is extreemly frozen. The Disciples of Christ are af∣flicted, yea they are hated and persecuted euerie where among all nations. And although indeed here in England the light of the louing & mercifull coun∣tenance of our good, gracious, & long suffering God, doth now at this present shine among vs most cōfor∣tablie, (blessed be his holy name therfore:) yet it is to be feared, yea surely it is rather to be expected, y^t our sinfull securitie, noughtie negligence, and horrible ingratitude, will verie shortly, and sooner then many thinke, turne away his fauourable face from vs, and set his face with heauie displeasure and indignation against vs, and take away these his great blessings of peace, tranquillitie, trueth and prosperitie from vs. For when they shall say peace and safetie,* then shall suddaine destruction come vpon them. Ought not we then to looke dailie and continually for these im∣minent perilles and punishments? Seeing therefore that all these calamities and afflictions present are iustly come vpon this wicked worlde, and manie m• grieuous sorrowes are to be looked for:* what maner persons ought wee to bee in holy conuersation and godlines, looking for, and hasting vnto the comming of the day of God? Howe great cause haue wee to watch, that we may be readie for the comming of the Page  [unnumbered] Lord? Happie are those wise virgins, who hauing oyle in their lampes,* are readie to meete the blessed bridegroome Iesus Christ, and do enter with him vn∣to the glorious mariage of him that most louing hus∣band with his Church, that is, the congregation of all faithfull soules dispersed vpon the face of y^e whole earth, and knit together in one by faith, and by the confession of his holy name, through the operation of his holy Spirite:* Which Church hee hath sancti∣fied and appointed to bee his spouse or bride, holy, chaste, and without reprehension.* Happie are those ghests that come in thither, clothed and adorned with the most precious wedding garment of his righ∣teousnesse, of a pure affection, and vpright consci∣ence, wherewith all they are inuested that assuredly and constantly beleeue in him, and in whome by his righteousnesse grace reigneth vnto euerlasting life. Happie are those seruants, whom their lord when he cōmeth, shall find well doing.* For such good faithfull seruants wil the Lord himselfe commend in the pre∣sence and hearing of their brethren, and make them partakers, possessours of his vnspeakable ioyes. Hap∣pie are they that so continue to the end, for they shal be saued. These are they that be clothed with white garments, euē with the innocencie, sinceritie & per∣fect righteousnes of that immaculate lambe,* whō he hath purged, washed, cleansed and purified with his most precious blood. These are they whom hee that rideth on the red horse persecuteth,* euen Satan with his blooddie tyrannie. But the Lord will for their sakes shorten these euill, wofull, miserable,* and sor∣rowfull dayes: for so he prouideth for his children in the middest of their troubles. Yet a verie little while,* and he that shall come, will come, and will not ca∣rie: as he himselfe promiseth, saying,* Behold I come shortly, and my reward is with me, to giue euery man according as his worke shall be. Therefore he will Page  [unnumbered] come shortly; to comfort vs which haue the 〈◊〉 fruits of his Spirit,* which mourne in our selues, and looke and waite for the adoption. euen the deliue∣rance of our bodie.* And he will come, to change o•… vile bodies, and make them like vnto his glorious bodie, & to receiue vs vp in glorie, that we may euer be with him. Bur we must beware, that we esteeme not the length nor shortnesse of the Lords comming by our owne imaginations, but with all pacience •… be constant and reioyce in all our tribulations:* for the Lord is not slacke concerning his promise. O how ioyfull shall his comming bee to all them that looke for the same paciently and faithfully! O how terrible and dreadfull shall the fight of him bee to them the pierced him,* to the enemies of his crosse, to them that resist the truth, to them that crucifie him afre•, to the hypocrites and vnbeleeuers, to them that •…¦stifie themselues, and haue not attained the righte∣ousnesse of faith! Vpon them shall that elect and pre∣cious stone fall, and all to grind them to powder. Vpon them shall come indignation and wrath tribu∣lation and anguish vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill. When the sonne of man commeth in his glorie, and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit vpon the throne of his glorie; and before hi• shall be gathered all nations. Therefore remem∣bring and considering that we must all appeare be∣fore the iudgement seate of Christ, that euery man may receiue the things that are done in his bodie, according to that he hath don, whether it be good as euill: It behooueth vs, as the Psalmist saith, to num∣ber our dayes,* that wee may applie our hearts v•… wisdome. The daies of our pilgrimage (as Iacob saith) are few and euill,* which when they are past, wee can not call againe, as the Poet hereunto alludeth: V•… irreuocabile tempus. Let vs therefore follow the admo∣nition of the Apostle,* and redeeme the time, because Page  [unnumbered] the dayes are euill: and recompence the race of lewde life that we haue runne, with godly conuersa∣tion all the residue of our age. And forasmuch as wee commonly consume and lose the most and best part of our age and life time, especially youth in vanities and friuolous delights: wee must beware,* least our hearts be oppressed and ouercome with cares, with sensualitie, with intemperance, with concupiscence, and voluptuousnes, and so death come hastily vpon vs, and preuent vs,* before we remember our creator now in the dayes of our youth, wealth and prosperi∣tie:* and least the day of the Lord comming as vn∣certainly and suddenly as a theefe in the night, take vs vnwares, and finde vs vnprepared and prouided. But let vs watch diligently and continually for the defence and safegard of our houses, that is to say, of these our earthly and transitorie tabernacles,* our fraile bodies, and let vs not suffer them to be broken vp and digged through, and the treasures of our soules dearely bought,* and our consciences purged with the bloud of Iesus Christ, to be spoyled and ca∣ried away vnto perdition by the vncleane spirite, which neuer resteth vntill he returne vnto the place from whence he came out,* if he can find ingresse and regresse possibly, and maketh the end of his captiue farre worse, and more miserable then the beginning. And let vs through assured faith in Christ Iesus,* lay vp for our soules incorruptible and vnmoueable treasures in heauen: and whilest we are in these ta∣bernacles, let vs keepe surely and safely the same treasures of the grace of Christ Iesus in these our earthen vessels.* Happie are they that haue their loynes girded about, and waite for their master, with their lights or lamps burning in their hāds:* the light whereof shineth to the glorie and praise of God, and to the good example of men, and edification of the Church of Christ, whose godly, vertuous, and ho∣nest Page  [unnumbered] conuersation euen the Gentile, superstitious, & idolatrous people beholding,* are moued and indu∣ced thereby to extoll and magnifie the name of god, in the day when God dooth mollifie, open, and illu∣minate their blind and hard harts, by the light of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. If we would consider howe short, momentanie & miserable our life is, we should neuer bee drawne with any earthly pleasures, and worldly delights (which indeed are nothing else but miseries) from the most comfortable contemplation, cogitation, and desire of that life to come, which so farre excedeth this, as no heart is able to conceiue, nor tongue expresse. For, as the Apostle sayeth, The thinges which eie hath not seene, neither eare hath heard,* neyther came into mans hart, are, which God hath prepared for them that loue him.* So that no mortall man can thinke Gods prouidence to∣wards his. The eternitie of which incomprehensible and inexplicable felicitie may be perceyued by these wordes,* lyke as drops of rayne are vnto the sea, and as a grauell stone is vnto the sand, euen so is a thou∣sand yeares vnto the daies euerlasting. But as for our life what is it els but a vapour,* that appeareth for a little tyme, and then vanisheth awaie? Dauid very aptly likeneth and resembleth the life of man som∣tyme to a spanne,* somtime to a shadowe, somtime to sleepe, sometime to a wind that passeth ouer, and cō∣meth not agayne, sometime to a dreame, somtime to a tale that is told,* the remembrance whereof is soone and suddainly gone, sometime to vanitie, sometime to a flower, to hay, to grasse, to beasts that perish. And therefore he oftentimes complaineth of the short∣nesse of his age and life time. Full well in deed may our life be likened to a dreame, the delights & plea∣sures therof do so soone vanish away, euen as cōmon∣ly it cōmeth to passe in a dreame when one awaketh. For a man dreameth, that he hath great plētie of de∣licious Page  [unnumbered] meates and banketting cheare, & when he a∣waketh, he feeleth nothing but hunger. Againe, in sleepe a man weeneth, that he hath abundance of riches, golde and siluer, and worldly wealth, and be∣ing awaked, findeth nothing but pouertie. Euen so all the glorie, beautie, brauerie, pompe, pride and plea∣sure of this world, passeth and vanisheth away like a dreame or a traunce, like a phantasie or most vaine vision. Therefore the earth is as it were a stage, whereon euery man liuing in his state, condition, or∣der and degree, doth play his part: Some represen∣teth and beareth one person, some another. Empe∣rours, kings, princes, presidents, lieutenants, bishops, Iudges, magistrates, philosophers, learned men, and all they which being placed in any degree of dignity, do rule & gouern y^e common wealth,* are not in deed those persons, which in the eie of the world, and light of the common wealth they shew themselues to bee, neither are they in very deed indued with such good things as they seeme to haue. No surely, they are but plaiers vpon the scaffold for a short time: yea accor∣ding to this cōmon saying, Homo bulla, they walke in a vaine shadow. And therefore their felicitie,* be it neuer so glorious in the eies of men,* is nothing else but vanitie. For the riches of this world is euen beg∣gerie: and the wisedome of men what is it else but foolishnesse?* They that take paine and haue pleasure and delectation in reading, not onely the sacred mo∣numents and holie histories conteined in the Bible, but also the strange mutations, alterations, subuersi∣ons and ruines of the greatest Monarchies, famous Kingdomes, roiall realmes, and flourishing common wealths, and of the suddaine decay and passing away of the pompe & pride of this world, which prophane writers haue chronicled, and left vnto their posteri∣tie, may well consider and easily see, how fraile, fickle, and transitorie the glorie of all famous antiquities, Page  [unnumbered] and renowmed monuments hath beene, wherof n•… in these daies scarcely any token or memoriall is le•… in the worlde to bee seene: which fading away of all these goodly flowers, a verie learned writer in these our dayes hath pithily and pretily comprehended in this elegant Distichon, or couple of verses:

*The Lord hath cast downe the thrones of proude princes, and set vp the meeke in their stead. Seeing then that God hath thus cut down and ouerthrowne all the proude nations, euer since the beginning of the world: will he not likewise destroy that man of sinne, euen the sonne of perdition, which exalteth himself so high,* that he sitteth as God in the templ• of God, and sheweth and boasteth himselfe that he is God? Yes no doubt, the Lord will consume him with the spirite of his mouth, that is, with his worde, yes and that shortly:* for he promiseth so, and saith: Sure∣ly, I come quickly. Amen Euen so come Lord Iesus, Et citò conteras, oraemus illum fumosum saeculi Typh•…. And beate and breake downe quickely that smokie pride of the worlde, Lord we pray thee. And then God the father will exalt and set vp for euer and euer throughout all worldes, and all endlesse e∣ternitie the kingdome of the meeke and lowlie Prince,* euen his deare son Iesus Christ: with whom is no respect of persons, but among all men he that feareth God, and worketh righteousnesse, is accep∣ted with him. And when hee hath put downe and subdued all his enemies, and ioyned his chosen vnto Page  [unnumbered] himselfe, spiritually and corporally, then will he de∣liuer vp to God his father that peaceable kingdome,* that is to say, those whom hee hath redeemed with his owne blood,* and they shall shine as the Sunne in his heauenly kingdome. There they shall see the e∣ternall fountaine, and (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* that is) forme of the highest excellencie, of the most principal beautitude of the chiefest goodnesse communicating himselfe with them all: vnto whom things that be past, do not passe, nor things to come do succeede, almightie, in∣comprehensible, whom the Angels desire to behold. None lame, or blinde, none deformed or maimed, shall be there. Life shall be without ende, loue shall not languish, ioy shall not decrease, nor youth waxe olde. No griefe, no paine, no sorrow shall be felt, no mourning shall be heard, no grieuous thing seene, no danger of sinne, no rebellion of the flesh, no night, no sleepe the image of death, no meate or drinke the helps of humaine infirmitie, no trafique or marchan∣dise, no artes or sciences, no money the cause of dis∣cord, and the roote of all euill: but all goodnesse, immortall peace, and perfect tranquillitie, vnspeake∣able felicitie, the most blessed presence of the diuine maiestie shall be all in all, to whom be all prayse, power, glorie, honour, might, and ma∣iestie for euer and euer, through∣out infinite eternitie.