Viaticum animæ or, VVholesome repast for the soule in her pilgrimage towards Ierusalem which is above Prepared, and made ready, by the diligent search, & paynes of Iohn Hodges, priest, M. of Arts and vicar of Shakerstone in Leicester-Shire.

A (Book A)

PROVERBS 16.31.

AGE is a Crowne of Glory when it is found in the way of Righteousnes.

FIrst MAN is a venerable Creature, but then especially when

antiquity prescribes: what a shame then is it, when those Silver locks which God hath appoynted to bee the Emblemes of honor, are by his best Crea∣tures made the Pa∣geants of cōtempt? We worthilie honor old men for their tempe∣rance, moderation, ex∣perience, &c. But whē their tottering Taber∣nacles are stuft with drunkennesse, lust, and

boyish thoughts how shall we honor them then? It is meere mockery for a boyish minde to be suited in the colours of Age;* 1.1 and whilest old men doe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 youth it; they become children of yeeres, and GOD makes their old Age most despised.* 1.2

Wouldst thou then have others honor thy graie haires? doe thou first honor them by a

godly life:* 1.3 for those yeeres onely are truly honorable which good works, and not hoarie haires onely doe beau∣tifie and adorne. Desire not therefore so much to live long, as to live well: wast not the time, which of it selfe hasteth too fast, least thou be constrained to confesse, that though thou hast reckoned many yeeres, yet thou hast lived but a short

time, which can no waies comfort a wick∣ed life, but this Testi∣mony of a well spent life, is a Crowne of dignity and a most comfortable Posses∣sion.

ALL that thine hand shall finde to doe, doe it with all thy power: for there is neyther worke, nor invention, nor knowledge, nor wise∣dome in the Grave whither thou goest

Eccles 9.10.

2 THIS life is a life for mercy, neyther is there any crying, or calling for mercy after it: and therefore our Saviour Christ sayth, the night commeth (to wit of death) in which no man can worke.* 1.4 Iohn 9.4. Wherefore that thou mayst finde the gate of Mercy open unto thee at thy depar∣ture hence, shew mercy and doe good present∣ly,

and heere;* 1.5 for as the Tree falleth so it ly∣eth, and thou canst neyther imagine, nor doe any thing for thy salvation, and peace in the pit of darknesse, and of death.

ASKE not of the Lord preheminence, ney∣ther of the King the seate of honor. Ecclus. 7.4.

3 EVERY estate is blessed to a good man, who doth not so much consider what or how

much he enjoyeth, as whence, and from whom he receiveth it: whether hee abound, or want, he knowes it is from the Lord, 1. Sam. 2.7.* 1.6 And he hath learnt therewith to be content. But when we once begin to give am∣bition feete to trample on the good we have, wee are easily carried to a seate as tickle and slipery as the seate of Eli. 1. Sam. 14.18.* 1.7 There∣fore

if the Lord hath graunted thee the re∣quest of Agur, Pro. 30.8.* 1.8 And setled thee in such an estate, as hee knowes best for thee, blesse GOD for the same, and seeke not to climbe those Pinna∣cles, of the Court where thou canst ney∣ther rest without feare, nor come downe, without falling.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chrys. in Heb. Hom 7.
• * 1.2

  Vere sene∣ctus illa vene••abilis, &c.
• * 1.3

  Ambro: Epist. 60.
• * 1.4

  John. 9 4.
• * 1.5

  Eccles 11.3.
• * 1.6

  1 Sam. 2 7
• * 1.7

  1 Sam. 14 18.
• * 1.8

  Pro. 30, 8.