The hauen of pleasure containing a freemans felicitie, and a true direction how to liue well : profitable and del[i]ghtfull to all, hurtfull and displeasing to none, except it bee to such pecuish dames as do either foolishlie reiect, or carelesly neglect the dutie of chast matron[e]s / gathered out of the best approued authors.

To what Artes the studies of humanitie do open vs the waie. Chap. 18.

THe studies of humanitie and liberal sciences doe not onelie polishe the toung with inti∣sing wordes and sweet sentences, but also a∣uaileth to get the pro••itable and necessari•• Artes of this life: to wit, Physicke, Surgeri••, and the Ciuill Lavve, and (in which the minde of man taketh great ioy and pleasure) Phylosophie, not onelie hu∣maine, but also Diuine, vvhereby through Christe to come to the knowledge, loue, and Faith in God. For all Artes in vvhich manne diligentlie exerciseth him∣selfe, must be referred hither, and onelie ayme at this white.

The professors of vvorldelie wisedome cou••de ne∣uer attaine to this: vvho wandering from the veritie

did thrust into mennes minds falshood for truth, vaine conceits for sounde opinions, forgerie for synceritie, doubtes for certaintie, and harmes for helpes: and all because they wanted the spirite of God. Now seeing that among all other artes, there are onlie three which bring not onelie honour and profit to the professours, (albeit profite shoulde not bee so much regarded) but also is of great vse to maintaine the liues of the com∣mon sort of people: thou muste betimes deliberate vvhich of them thou haste a desire to follovve, and to vvhich by Nature thou art moste apte and sitte. Theologie (that is, the knovvledge of Diuinitie, giuen by the inspiration of the holie Ghoste) frameth the minde to godlinesse, and instructeth thee vvhich vvaie, or after what forte GOD will bee vvorshipped, and painteth out vnto thee the vvaie of thy saluati∣on, vvhich so it bee soundlie deliuered) leaueth all o∣ther Artes so farre behinde it, as Heauen is distaunt from the earth, or as stronge thinges differ from the weake. That part of this knovvledge which indueth the minde with faith shewed out to the Worlde in the workes of Charitie, is necessarie for all menne to ob∣taine their saluation, as I haue elsevvhere more at large shevved: For by faith in Christe, vvee haue ac∣cesse and entrance in one spirit vnto the Father. Phy∣sicke prescribing a spare and temperate diet, proui∣deth for healthe by the vse of vvholsome receiptes, and healeth all diseases. This as Plutarch witnes∣seth, is of such accompt amongste the liberall Scien∣ces, that for honour and pleasure, it is nothing at all inferiour to Ciuill and politique gouernement. And it bringeth suche profite vnto the studentes thereof, that besides the increase of all thinges belonging vn∣to house keeping, it is most healthfull for the bodye,

which is more excellent then large possessions. But what delight and profite the diligent se••ing into the nature of herbs bringeth, together with the knoledge of their force and strength, and what pleasure and de∣light is in the anatomising and cutting vp of men and vvomens bodies, and in the diligent obseruation of their partes: no man can be easilie perswaded, vnlesse by vse & exercise he hath practised it. Now the know∣ledge of the Ciuill lavv hath alwaies bin had in great prize and estimation, vvhose office is to rule Cities by counsel, to establish good Lawes in them, and to cor∣rect and amend them with iudgements.

Consulere in medium, ac r••bus succurrere fessis, Parcere subiectis & debellare superbos.

Which is,

To counsell men indifferenthe, and bring the wrongd to right▪ To spare the humble and throw down proud trusters in their might.

Which order if any man thinke to contemne, he (as Cicero saith) not onelie violentlie taketh avvay the bonds of true iudgement, but also of common profite and life. For by the helpe of the law we see Common wealthes to be vpheld, and all controuersies betvveen Citizens and Countrie people, to bee ended in peace and tranquilitie, and that onelie by the authoritie of good lawes: whereby princes and magistrates do ex∣ercise iustice, and receiuing povver from God, do pu∣nish malefactors and wicked persons: and on the con∣trarie, defend those that are good. And therefore it is, that God will haue great honour and obedience per∣formed to kings, such as gouern the commonwealth, so they command thinges that bee iust and agreeable with Gods vvord.

Notes

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• ••om. 13