The holy love of heauenly vvisdome. With many other godly treatises: Newly set forth, perused, and augmented by the author. Translated out of French into English, by Tho. Sto. gent.

A MEDITATION vpon the seauen Psalmes, of the Consolation of Dauid.

The Lord is my light &c. PSALME. 26.

1AFter I had layed in soake mine hart in my tears, & sighed a thou∣sand times with sorrowe in the reckning vp of my sinnes, I thought, ô Lord, that I had appaised thy wrath, and thereby forth∣with to haue ended my miseries. But alas, as I looke vnto the world, and thinke with an innocent life, to con∣uerse amongst men, I see their enuie turned vpon me, and all their purposes & drifts directed to do me hurt. So as I

stand in doubt whether I be reconciled vnto thee or no, and whether thou be satisfied with this my repentance. But in turning mine eyes euery way, I per∣ceiue that this affliction is common to me, and to all honest and good men, by the parts that I see playd them on euery side, and how their constancie is alwayes in danger: and contrarywise, to see how the wicked easily regorge pleasure, and all maner of benefits, maketh me confounded and astonied. For, on the one side, I call to mind that thou art the great and mightie God of Iustice, whose eye seeing all things, knoweth the deepest & secretest cor∣ners, and whose almightie hand rea∣cheth vnto the farthest parts of the world. And on the other side, I see those that lift vp their heads against thee, and oppresse thy poore and inno∣cent seruants, prosper in thy sight, and dayly pride vp them-selues in the hap∣pie successe of their vngodlynes. I con∣fesse, ô Lord, that I stand like a block, and as one being blindfolded with this sight, am not able to pierce through these thick mists, which thus enuiron the eyes of mine vnderstanding. But

in the end, ô Father of lights, thou vn∣seeledst mine eye-lids, and enlightning me with the beames of thy wisedome, hast made me vnderstand why thou so vsest them, and deliuering me from the payne and care wherein I was, hast fil∣led me with the assurance of my sal∣uation, and geuen me a most certaine consolation & comfort. So as I do not only at this present care for the thret∣nings of threatners, and disdaine their insolencie, but being rampard with wonderfull constancie, and great cou∣rage, I offer my selfe vnto the combat, and cry with a loud voyce, Come who so euer will and dare, for, I now feare nothing. For, although God for a while exerciseth his faithfull seruants, yet forsaketh he them not whē they stand in need, but in such sort compasseth their aduersitie with their forces, as that they become alwayes conquerors in this fight. And to say truly, so long as I am assured of his mercie, what oc∣casion can I haue, euer to feare?

2 He hath now taken my life into his protection, and couered me all o∣uer with the wings of his power, who can enforce him to set me ashore?

What shall I need to feare, seeing that all the world feare and dread him which defendeth me? his forces are not the armies of men, but legions of Angels: his ministers are not Princes and Captaines, but thundring, light∣ning, and stormes: his wrath is not blowes and hurts, but earthquakes, swallowing vp of Cities, and drowning of whole Countreys. Thou hast alrea∣die, ô Lord, all these armyes and hosts in thine hand, and art readie to thun∣der them against the proude bold∣nesse of the wicked, that haue con∣iured the ruyne of good men. But because my God thou holdest back for a time the arme of thy diuine ven∣geance, comfort mee in the meane while with a sure hope, that thou wilt neuer forsake mee: And mee thinketh, that thou sayest continu∣allie vnto mee, tarrie a little, for, the time is not yet come which I haue appointed, and in the meane while, trust thou assuredly vnto my promise, and looke whatsoeuer affliction thou shalt endure, be thou assured that I will geue thee strength to ouercome it. My courage, ô Lord, encreaseth,

whē as I feele thee thus to second me: and this thine exhortatiō emboldneth me more vnto patience, then all the applause of the people doth him that fighteth a combat, whē he is most strōg and lusty in his fight. There is nothing now that I am afeard of: for, all these conspiracies, all these slanderous re∣ports against mine head & honor, seme to me like vnto the soming raging bil∣lowes of the sea, who roring far off, su∣riously breake them-selues against the foot of a rock, and scatter them-selues abroad at the first stroke, and the blow is but a vaine sound, which is the end of all these great threats. Certainely, the conscience of an innocent man, founded and grounded vpō thy grace, is more stable & sure, then all the grea∣test rocks, & cannot be shaken nor mo∣ued by any iniurious brags.

3 What shall I now feare any more? Shall I feare a rout of the wicked, that goe about to beset me round, and cluster about me, to see if they could take me? They geue out some∣time one signe, sometime another, to assay if they can lay hold on me. Behold, and see diligently how they

note and marke me, and how they bend theyr browes, and grind theyr teeth at me: I verely beleeue, that the greatest thing which they desire, is to eate me with their teeth, to teare me in pieces, to fill them-selues with my flesh, to gnawe my bones, and to drinke my bloud. O cruell and sa∣uage beasts, how can you thus despise your owne flesh, how can you thus ab∣iure all humanitie? Do you think that although you haue forgotten God, that God hath forgotten his seruants? Do you thinke that his seruants are so far from his hand, as yours is farre from iustice?

4 Well go too, yee haue like mad Tygres fomed out vpon me your poy∣son, yee haue cried out, and houled at me, fastned your teeth & clutches vpō me: howbeit, all your blowes slip ouer me, as it were ouer a most cleare chry∣stall, they cannot hurt me, mine inno∣cencie is not to be wounded with all that ye can deuise, but are in the end enforced to retire all wearied, and gas∣ping for breath, lying vpon the belly, ye bay, grin & mutine with very anger, but it is without power: and there is

but one weapon amongst all the rest ••e••t you, and that is, a will to do ill. But neuerthelesse, because your voyce is abhominable before God, and that with your threats ye blaspheme him vnto his face, he will vtterly roote ye out, and throw vpon you the moun∣taines which your ambition and coue∣tousnesse haue heaped vp so hye, thin∣king thereby to scale his Throne, and to rob him of his glory.

5 O Lord, what a spectacle hast thou made for mine eyes to behold? nay, I am now so assured of thy mercie, so comforted by reason of the care which I see thou hast of thy faithfull ser∣uants, as that although I should see the greatest armye that possibly could be, yet would I not be afeard of it. Let there an armye be brought against me, composed of all the nations of the world, and let there be placed in the vauntgard on the right hand, a battell of Scythians, and on the left hand a battell of Ethiopians, and in the reregard the East India, and America, and all the rest of the world in the middest to serue for a battell, and adde thereunto whatsoeuer Arte

and skill for the killing of men, was ••∣uer able to finde out or deuise, a•…•… yet, if my God be my conductor a•…•… leader, I will passe through them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without any feare. Agayne, if he bee angry with the world, and sha•• like him to serue him-selfe with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hands, to be aduenged of them f•…•… theyr vngodlynesse, I my selfe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cut them all in peeces, not lea∣uing so much as a tayle of any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them.

6 Nay, I do now reioyce when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I heare saye that the wicked ba•…•… them-selues against mee, and doo as∣sure my selfe, that it is God which •…•…∣lend me matter wherein to glorie. For, be thou, O Lord, onely nee•…•… mee, blesse my weapons, and mine enemies are confounded. But what weapons? verely do thou but blowe onely vppon this people, and tho•• shalt scatter them all, as a great winde driueth the dust too and fro: neuer∣thelesse, O Lord, I beseech thee blo•…•… not vppon them the wind and blast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy curse, but tarrie a little while 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou please, to see if thy patience will bring them backe to do their du∣ties.

And as for my selfe, although I ••e couered ouer with their wounds, and defamed with their iniurious dea∣••ings, yet had I rather haue them sub∣••ect vnto thy mercie, then vnto thy ••ustice: and desire, if thou thinke it good, that their iniustice might rather ••erue to try me withall, then for their condemnation.

7 Thou knowest, O Lord, my de∣sires, thou readest them in mine hart, neither haue I euer called vppon thee ••or vengeance: my vowes coniure no∣thing but thy mercie, and my thoughts ••re addressed vnto nothing but vnto ••eace. Wouldest thou vnderstand the ••umme of my desires, and the end of ••ll my prayers, it is, O Lord, that I ••ay passe my dayes in seruing thee faithfully, and that, thou wouldest graunt me thine holie house to dwell •…•…n, and that all the while that I am ••eperated from thee, and a great ••ay off from thine heauenly Taber∣••acle, tyed vnto the earth by rea∣son of the counterpoise of my bo∣••ye, I might vnite and tye all my ••houghtes vnto thee, and conforme ••nd frame my selfe wholy vnto thy

will. O blessed habitation, that is able to couer vs from all worthly passi∣ons, from all the lusts of the flesh, and to be short, from all the assaults of the Deuill. For, there ô Lord, thou art present with vs, and comm•…•… downe from the heauens to keepe companie with vs, and fillest vs with thy selfe, that we might be voyd o•• sinne, and conuertest our carnall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into a liuing and quickning spirit, that we might effectually feele thy maruellous works, comprehend thy mercies, and conceiue of thy power and almightinesse.

8 Suffer therefore, my God, tha•• I being incorporate into thee, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 farre-forth as mine infirmitie, a•…•… thine infinitenesse will permit, I may be enlightened with the beames of thy wisedome, to the end that mine vnderstanding being enlightened, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may learne mee to knowe thy wi•…•…. For this is the thread; ô Lord, which may assuredly guide me through the windings and turnings of the labe∣rinth of this world, and this is the passeport which must bring vs vnto that euerlasting life, which we so in∣cessantly

gape and sigh for. Reueale vnto me therefore this thy will, and lay it vp in my soule, that I may there keepe it most dearely, and in the mid∣dest of thy Church, I may set vp an Aulter in my mouth, presenting the same dayly vnto thee for an offering, vnder the holie vayle of thy most ho∣lie word.

9 For, seeing ô Lord, thou hast mor•…•…ized mee within thy holie Ta∣bernacle, shewing me the holie my∣steries of thy diuinitie, that in the har∣dest time of mine aduersitie, thou hast gathered, hid, and drawne me vnder thine Aulter, yet not content with that, hast made me to enter into •…•…e holie of holiest, and bottomes of •…•…y Sanctuarie, where thou wast wont ••o reueale the greatest secrets of thy will, graunt that I may so well co••∣••eiue them, as that I may cause thy faithfull seruants faithfully to vnder∣stand them.

10 For, sith thou hast aduaun∣ced mee into so eminent and high 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place, as one set vpon an hye rocke, ••o be seene of the whole world, and ••onored aboue all mine enemies,

let the foundation of my faith be a•• firme as any stone, and the gr•…•… which thou shalt bestow vpon me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be a testimonie of thy righteousne•…•… making me worthie and capable of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 benefits which it shall please thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vouchsafe me.

11 As for my selfe, O Lord, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 take paines reue••entlie to vse t•…•… ministerie which thou hast comm••∣ted vnto mee. Thou knowest how 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue carried my selfe therein. I ha•…•… turned my selfe euery way rekno••∣ledge that which might best like th•…•… I haue most willingly offred vnto th•…•… calues and sheepe in sacrifice: I ha•…•… willingly bathed thine Aulter wi•…•… bloud, but that was too too small an •…•…¦fring for thee. I haue, ô Lord, sacri•…•…∣ced mine hart, consecrated mine affe••∣tion, vowed my thoughts, and hauing pluckt them from the verie bottom 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mine heart, I haue offered them v•…•… thee with my voyce, whereby thou h•…•… vnderstood whatsoeuer my soule ha•…•… desired, which was nothing else but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 please thee in all mine actions. My cry¦ing out then hath bene my offring which thou diddest gratiously accep••

opening the heauens to gather them together, and to receiue them. And therefore, ô Lord, I will all the dayes of my life, sing thy prayse, and recite an Hymne of thy glorie.

12 Heare, ô mercifull God, my songs, and receiue in good part the voyce which testifieth thy goodnesse, and publisheth thy mercies. Encrease my strength and courage, that I may strayne my cryes and spirits to thee. And sith thy mercie is neuer deafe vn∣to those which sincerely call vppon thee, encline the same to me: for, all sorts of felicities follow her continu∣ally. Incline the same, I say, ô Lord, for thou hast promised it vnto all those that call vpon thee.

13 How often hast thou heard mine heart, I say mine heart, and ••ot my mouth: for, I speake not vn∣••o thee but with mine heart, which ••ryeth our, saying vnto thee: O Lord, why haue I sought thee so carefully ••ay and night, both in peace, and warre, in quietnesse, and in trouble. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue desired nothing in the world, ••ut to see thy face, I meane nor, O Lord, thy diuine face, wherein is

imprinted that fearefull Maiestie, which shineth as the lightning, which no mans eye is able to abide to be∣hold, but that face at the least, which is couered and courtayned with thy workes, which, although no man is able to see but the verie hinder parts thereof, and that verie hardly also yet me thinketh it to be most won∣derfull, and maketh me beside my selfe as it were. Sith then, O Lord, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou be that increated word which hath created al things which doth pa•…•… of thy will, and thy will, a part of thy selfe, doth it not represent it selfe vnto me, as thy face, for me to note & ma•…•… therein, such a great number of bea••∣tifull and excellent lineaments of Di∣uinitie, which shine most brightly in euery part thereof? O Lord, I am in loue with this rare beautie, ney∣ther haue I any other care & thought, but that I may enioy this thy pre∣sence, which offreth it selfe vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in thy word, as in a looking glasse of thy Deitie.

14 Seeing then that thou see•• mine holie and sincere loue, depriue me not then of this holie obiect, which

sanctifieth and blesseth my cogitations and thoughts. And although my sinnes which are most foule and filthie make thee to be displeased with me, yet I most humbly beseech thee, not to be angry with me, neither turne thou away this thy faire and wonderfull face from me. For, thou O Lord, art angry with none, but with such as glo∣rie in their sinnes, and stubburnely persist in their iniquities. But I, thy seruant, my God, humble my selfe be∣fore thee, and do acknowledge, most vnworthie sinner that I am, not once to dare appeare in thy presence, if thy louing kindnesse did not bring me in vnto thee. And therfore thou art not to reiect me: for, if thou shouldest, thou must also therewith reiect thy mercie whereunto I am coupled, and so fast linked, as that as it cannot be seperated from thee, so is it also now fast linked vnto my repentance.

15 And therefore thou shouldest, if it might so please thee, dwell and re∣mayne with me, and seeing it hath li∣ked thee to allow me for thy seruant, and to thrust me into this combat, thou art not to leaue and forsake me

in it, for if thou shouldest, my destruc∣tion would turne to thy shame, where on the other side, my victorie will turne to thy glorie. And therefore, O Lord, I beseech thee to help me euermore. For, as mine infirmitie stri∣ueth commonly against me, so also haue I need to haue continuall help on euery side of me. For, if thou keepe thy selfe neuer so little awhile from me, my soule will euen vanish away, and so will also my bodie, if my soule be once gone. For thou, O Lord, art farre away more, the soule of my soule, then my soule, is the soule of my bodie. I right well knowe that thy Diuine Maiestie hath a most vn∣worthie dwelling place in mee, but yet I humblie beseech thee, disdaine nor to come into it: for, where thou once entrest, all magnificence a∣boundeth, and there is alwayes ho∣nor sufficient where thou art. And besides, O Lord, thou receyuest no honor by comming to visit me, but I thy poore seruant am honored by thy presence. Why shouldest thou leaue the glorious bright Heauens, and bright shining Starres, and to

come downe heere belowe, to seeke for nothing that can bee sayd to bee honorable? But it is, as I thinke, be∣cause thou wouldest haue thine An∣gelles knowe and vnderstand, that they ought not to pride vp them∣selues in theyr magnificence, seeing they are thy creatures, and that thou canst make the most vile enhabi∣tant on the earth, as honorable as any one of them. This is it why thou commest downe from the heauen of heauens, to haue mercie vppon vs, and hauing the like feeling of our miseries, thou commest to reestablish vs in our auncient perfection. And because that wee, as much as in vs ly∣eth, haue defaced the image of the Deitie, which thou haddest imprin∣ted in vs, thou commest to recharge and recouer the liniaments of our first nature halfe defaced. It is thou then, who as thou wast our Creator, so also wilt be our Redeemer, and, as thou hast beene our Father, so also wilt be our protector and defender. And it is thou, O Lord, who, although the whole world hath reiected vs, yet hast stretched out thine armes, and

gathered vs together vnder the wing of thy louing kindnesse.

16 And so is it most meet, for I knowe not whither else to goe. My Father and my Mother haue forsa∣ken mee, I meane, the Father that begot mee, and my Mother that ten∣derly nursed me, and brought me vp, did abhorre mee, when as they sawe mee set my whole hart vpon thee, and leaue the vanities of this world. They neuer looked on me, but with griefe, and held me but for a castaway. My brethrens making much of me, turned into disdaine: the kinde and sweet a∣mitie of my sisters chaunged into con∣tempt, and the gratious meetings of my deerest friends, were turned into mockerie. Whither then must I flye? If my dearest friends entreate me af∣ter this sort, what will mine enemies doo vnto me, whose mouthes are full of gall, and their tongs full of dead∣ly poyson, whose ordinarie actions and exercises are nothing else but doing of wrong, and speaking con∣tumeliously? But euen then, when I am most geuen ouer, then art thou neerest vnto me, embrasest me most

fauourably, and powrest vpon my head the treasures of thy mercie, most largely.

17 Now, seeing it hath pleased thee, thus to enlarge thy grace towards me, that I might be conserued, teach me, I beseech thee, how I may serue thee: Learne me what thy law is, and how I must direct my steps, that I may con∣tinually walke a right in that narrow and thornie path, which must conduct me vnto the port of saluation. For, it is long sit hence, O Lord, that I left that broad and easie way, sowed with the pleasures of this world, and which bringeth all those that follow the same, vnto destruction & damnation. Shew me therefore, my God, thy way, for vn∣der such a guide, I can neuer stray, shew it me, O Lord I say, for if I go ne∣uer so little out of it, I am vtterly vn∣done, mine enemies lie in waite to surprise me, and to make me subiect, to dishonour me, and so consequently, thy selfe, O Lord, because they know that I serue thee faithfully.

18 Deliuer me not therefore into their hands, that they may deale with me according to their hearts desire.

For then were mine honour at an end. They haue already made strong their part, suggested a thousand accusati∣ons, and framed a world of witnesses, but their leasings haue returned vpon their owne heads, and borne witnesse against themselues, for lying cannot be hid, she is full of crackes on euery side, & truth pierceth it on euery part. For she is made of many odde peeces, which fall away one from another, as∣soone as they are touched, and in op∣posing her selfe vnto innocencie, she melteth away as snowe against the Sunne.

19 But although they had me euen as themselues would wish, oppressed with slaunders, quelled vnder the bur∣then of their iniuries, yet would I not for all that be discouraged. I haue not, O Lord, put my trust in the benefits and honours of this world, for that is almost alwaies the portion of the wic∣ked, and are as it were, the rewards of their vnfaithfulnesse, dissimulati∣ons, and wicked dealings: this is the marchandise which most commonly, is not bought but with this money. My hope, O Lord, is altogether in

thee, the world is not capable to be able to containe it, the fruite of my labours groweth not in the land of the dying, but that which I looke to ga∣ther together, O Lord, is in the land of the liuing, there is that I hope to see my felicitie, nay rather thine, my God. Others looke for the fruite after the budding and blooming time, but I O Lord, looke for it, after the fall of the leafe. For, after the leafe of the body shalbe fallen, I hope and trust that my soule shall bud in new fruit, & be clothed againe with the euerla∣sting verdure of immortalitie for euer.

20 And therefore, my soule, haue patience, and carry thy selfe man-like, redouble thy courage valiantly, and attend vntill my God commeth vn∣to thee. Be not astonied or affeard, to see the prosperitie of the wicked, neither be thou amazed to see them oppresse the godly, but stand to it to the end. And when thou seest O Lord, that I am not of my self strong inough, assist me, and lend me thy shoulders, for feare the afflictions of the wicked cause mee to depart from my stand

where thou hast placed me, second my feruentnesse and zeale, that hauing couragiously fought at the place where mine enemies assaulted me, I may be found at the gate when thou openest it, to enter with thee in tri∣umph, sitting at thy feet, when as thou shalt iudge both the quick & the dead. Then shall we see what a great change there is betweene our life and theirs, and what paiment tarrieth for them: they haue had their felicitie in this world, therefore then shall it be said vnto them; Stand aside (for yee owe the rest, and consider that yee shall render an accoumpt of those benefits which were giuen you to keepe, and be amerced for your abusing of them. Your habitation prepared for you as you deserue, depart into euerlasting paines and torments: yee haue beene many times told of the rigour there∣of, yet haue you not so much as a very little turned away from your cursed liues, & therfore shall ye now feele it, seeing you would not as then any whit feare it. And as for those, ô Lord, which haue bene pacient for thy names sake, and suffered for thine honor, the rage

of the wicked, thou shalt say vnto thē; Come yee blessed children of my fa∣ther, enter into the Tabernacle of glo∣rie, that yee may iudge with him both the quick and the dead. Comfort thy selfe now therefore my soule, with this expectation and hope & trust in God, euen in the almightie and most mer∣ciful God, who neuer forsooke the iust in aduersitie, nor stopped his eare a∣gainst the oppressed innocent.

I will at all times blesse the Lord, &c. Psalme. 34.

1 BLessed be thy name, ô Lord, which hast cō∣forted me in misery, & bles∣sed be he for euer, that hath holpen me in mine affliction. All things haue their time, and all mens actions are distri∣buted by times and seasons, change serueth for rest, and rest, for the re∣freshing

of the ordinary labour of the liuing: neither can any thing conti∣nue without rest in any occupation and trade. Neuerthelesse, here in this rule faileth, that is, I do blesse, and for euer will blesse, thy name, O Lord: at the sunne rising, I wil praise thy name, and at his going downe, I will praise the same, at that, will I begin both moneths and yeares, and at that also will I end them. O eternitie, I haue no feeling of thee in this world, but in this my will, to praise and glorifie my God for euer. My body melteth away with age, and my forces va∣nish and decay, but my soule which stoutly standeth against humaine cor∣ruption, dooth not onely continue, but also dayly encreaseth in this holy affection. For if I thinke to take my rest, mine heart stirreth my thought. And if I thinke to stop my mouth, my soule is ready to breake out betweene my lippes, and forceably frameth my voice to set foorth the glorie and praise of my God. My soule, who maketh thee so eager to praise thy God? Thou knowest right well, and I also see it very well, that thou hast

had thy being from him, and lookest by him to be glorified: what vsurie makest thou with him? Thou giuest vnto him a parcell of his praises, and by this meanes thou lookest that he should associate thee with the riches of his glory. For from him alone, thou must hope to haue some honor. The heauens shall passe, and weare away like an old garment, and be changed as men change a couering. But God shall continue still triumphing ouer the destruction of the world. The peaceable and meeke people shall sit by him, and heare the triumphant hymnes which shall be song in his victorie and conquests, and all full of melodie and reioicing, shall ioyne their voices vnto the trumpets of the angels.

2 Let vs begin therefore betime, to learne to sing the praises of his glo∣rie, magnifie him, and exalt his name, as high as our voices will serue vs, let vs straine out our cries, to the end they may ascend as high, at the least, as we are able to see, so as the ayre being filled with our songs, it may cary them vpon the wings of the winds vnto the

vttermost parts of the earth, to the end that euery one may be awakened with the sound of our notes, and reioyce in hearing the name of the Lord of hea∣uen and earth, thus sounded out, who is the most faithfull and most assured helper of all those which call vpon him.

3 I haue fought after him, and he forthwith hath vnderstood me. I knew not my selfe whither to go, and after I had turned mine eyes on euery side, and being forsaken of the world, could see nothing which was able to helpe me, I returned into my selfe, and piti∣fully beheld my selfe, bewailing my ca∣lamitie: and all at once, he gaue me courage and strength, & making mine heart to leape our of the gulfe of hea∣uinesse and tribulation, which had swallowed me vp, said vnto me; trust in me, for loe here I am. Then cried I out and said, O Lord, where art thou, make hast to helpe me quickly. And I had no sooner spoken, but that his spi∣rit descended into me, and as a strong and mighty winde driueth the cloudes before it, euen so did it driue from round about me, all manner of griefes

and afflictions.

4 Come therefore and runne vn∣to him: come then, for the way is easie and open on euery side, he sheweth himself in all places, and in what place soeuer we are, he calleth vs vnto him. He is so afeard of vs, that we would go astray, as that he commeth downe from heauen to carry a lampe before vs, to giue light vnto our feet, he is also the father of lights, which more cleer∣ly and purely lighteth our soules then our bodies. For the light which ligh∣teth our eyes, is to cause vs to see that which we are either to follow or to es∣chew, but this light of all goodnesse and bountie, enlighteneth our soules, and of it selfe, putteth farre from vs, and driueth away whatsoeuer may hurt and offend vs. Come therefore, and draw neere therevnto, for so long as it shineth vpon vs, you shall be sure to go vpright, and nothing shall be able to do you hurt, your strength shall renew in you, and nothing shall confound you: for if your sinnes shall appeare, it shal disperse them, and if your enemies come thither it will send them back and ouerthrow them.

5 Will you see a most excellent proofe of his aide and singular mercy? Behold then this poore and miserable caitife, who is held to be an especiall vnhappy man, yea such a one as is thought to be a man without all hope of recouerie, the onely comfort of all miseries, who hath but a very little cried out vnto God, and he forthwith heard him, and deliuered him out of the misery wherein he was, he hath brought him to the port, and setled him in a place of safety.

6 He sendeth his angels to helpe his seruants, who compasse them a∣bout as a most sure guarde, and will not suffer them to stirre a foote from them, before such time as they haue rid them out of danger. For, as he him∣selfe is great, so hath he also mighty & strong ministers, and although he of himselfe is able to do all things, and yet notwithstanding all his greatnesse, he executeth his will, by his creatures, gouerning the lesser by the meaner, the meaner, by he higher, and the higher by himselfe.

7 Taste thou and consider a little, how kinde and fauourable his good∣nesse

and mercy is, and how blessed he is that putteth his trust in him. The Swallow is very carefull of her yong ones, and yet she oftentimes leaueth thē to cry by reason of hunger, & som∣times she giueth them the sower with the sweet, but our God commeth at the first call, nay, at the first signe we make, yea at our first wish, & so soone as he seeth vs thirst for his helpe, he putteth his most sweet & delicate dugs and breasts of his bounty, vnto our mouthes, & streameth the sweet milke of his grace into our lips, which stan∣cheth & cooleth the thirstinesse of our infirmity, & quencheth the heat which our sin, as foule & filthy vlcers & sores, haue engendred in our consciences.

8 And therfore, seeing he is so good & gratious vnto vs, and denieth vs no∣thing that we aske, looke somwhat vn∣to your selues I beseech you, I speake vnto you, vpon whom he hath bestow∣ed so many benefits, whom he hath sanctified with his holy blessings, and whome he hath set a part to be his e∣lect, and partakers of his loue. And be∣ware yee offend him not with your vnthankfulnesse, & thereby make you

vnwortthie of his benefites, through distrust and incredulitie of his benefi∣cence▪ For, they that feare him wa•…•… nothing, in fearing him, they trut i•• him, and they feare him with a feare that proceedeth of loue, not with a feare that he will do them some ill, but with a feare, not to offend him, but ra∣ther with a fatherly reuerence, who is farre readier to do vs good, then we are carefull to demaund of him. For, he knoweth of himselfe what is most necessary for vs, and preuenteth forth∣with our desires, if they be agreeable vnto his will, and enricheth vs when we are most poore, and maketh vs va∣liant when we are most weake.

9 And contrariwise, the richmen•• of the world, whose goods he hath not blessed, they I say, are not worthy of their riches, but starue with their a∣boundance, their goods melt into po∣uerty, their great magnificences va∣nish away into smoake, and become like vnto a streame, whose spring-hea•• is dammed vp, his bed becommeth parched with drinesse, the skirts of his garments lose their beauty, and his trees which he hath planted on a row,

wither, and drive vp. But such as haue recourse vnto God, and forsake him not, and referre all vnto his honour, shall neuer want any good thing, be∣cause the spring head of all goodnesse which is the loue of God, floweth ouer their soules, and spreddeth it selfe throughout all the parts of their bo∣dies.

10 Now, sith that you see, that the feare of the Lord bringeth so great profit, and that his feare is it, which re∣concileth vs vnto him, his conciliation getteth vs grace, enlargeth our felici∣ty; come ye vnto me, that I may learne yee how yee shall feare him as a most good & merciful father, who neuer de∣nieth mercy vnto him which acknow∣ledgeth his sinnes, and giueth himselfe to walke in the way of well doing.

11 Desire ye to please him, and by that meanes to liue in his grace, that is to say, to liue blessedly, and passe your dayes with a quiet minde, and aboun∣dance of whatsoeuer is necessary for this life, and yet to go forward on the way of this immortall life, which at∣tendeth vs after we shall be departed from hence. To be short; desire ye his

blessing, that is to say, firme and assi∣red prosperitie, which engendreth i•• you spirituall reioycing, which lai•…•… your heart continually open to brea•…•… out his honor, & cōtentedly to vse t•…•… benefits which he lendeth vnto yo•• here in this world? I will deliuer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto you in few words, how yee sha•…•… attaine vnto this meanes. For I know wherewith he is pleased, and what a•…•…ons of ours they are, that are agree∣able vnto his liking.

12 The first thing that ye shall do, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this; Keepe your tongue that it speak•• nothing to the dishonor of God, no•• •…•…∣ter any bitter & angry talke. Mark wh•…•… a small and little thin member this i•• & yet it is the sterne of our life, which turneth and windeth our spirit which way soeuer it pleaseth. For when it i•• once filled with corrupt & filthy spee•…•… it carrieth the passions of our hear•• from whence they are conceiued, eu•…•… into the bottom of our vnderstanding▪ and in such sort watereth them, as tha•• they are like vnto an earthen potou•…•… much soaked in water, & so loseth the•…•…by the forme and shape of the reas•…•… which God had breathed into it. S••ty

not that one sparke of fire setteth an whole house on a burning flame? Euen so the tongue, as the baite of sinne, gi∣ueth it an entrance into vs, bringeth it deafly in, & setting by that means our soules on fire, wasteth and consumeth whatsoeuer good thing is within vs. Let vs then commaund our lips to re∣ceiue nothing but the bare and sim∣ple truth, and banish lying & deceit for euer from them. For, if we keepe in fast shut, the wicked thoughts which may arise in our hearts, without giuing thē vent, they will in the end choke them∣selues, euen as fire that hath no ayre.

13 And therefore, let vs first of all, put all lying & deceit farre away from vs, for the true praise which God looketh for at our hands, is, that we should i∣mitate him as much as our nature will permit. Now, he is the God of truth and of iustice, who can neither loue nor make much of vs, so long as lying which is contrary to him, shall dwell in vs. Secondarily, we must e∣strāge our selues frō all sin whatsoeuer: for, to eschue ill, is the beginning to do well: and alwaies prouided, that if God findeth vs void of wicked intents,

he will fill vs with good ones, and teach vs that which we ought to wish and procure, and the thing which we ought principallest to desire, he teacheth vs. And that is peace, which he would haue vs desire with all our hearts. First, peace with him, which is the store∣house of all goodnesse, which we can neuer haue, except we yeeld him that obedience which we owe him. And then, peace amongst our selues, with∣out the which we can neuer haue his For, he hath commanded vs to loue our neighbours as our selues, so as, if in stead of this, we breath out nothing but bloud & spoiles, what peace would we haue with him, whose lawes and commaundements we infringe and breake? And withall, that warre is no better then the blossome of iniustice, which is, abhominable before God.

14 His eye, which is this well fra∣med and louing eye, beholdeth none but the inst and righteous: his light, enlighteneth none but them, neither are his miracles shewed but in fauour of them, and his eares are not open but vnto their praiers: and we may properly say, that his iustice is on his

side, that examineth the life of those which offer themselues vnto him, and to him recommendeth their praiers which are of an vpright heart.

15 And as for those that take pleasure in ill dooing, he looketh vpon them indeed, but it is with a furious burning eye, whose beames are like the arrowes of paines and miserie, wherewith he woundeth their soules, filling them with feare and astonish∣ment, besides a thousand other mise∣ries, which he laieth on them, as ear∣nests of torments which attend them. He dreameth not of them otherwise then of the rooting out of their me∣morie from the face of the earth, and by iustice to wash the arrowes of their polution, which are left: for he suffi∣ciently knoweth their impenitent hearts, which haue insolently neg∣lected his holy mercy.

16 Now, the righteous haue not so done, for they haue in good time returned vnto God, and calling vp∣on his clemencie, haue in the end ob∣tained it, they reioyced therein, and it remained with them, as it were their portion, he hath deliuered them our

of all their troubles wherein they were plunged, and receiued them vn∣der his grace, as vnder a brasen wall, so as no violent mischiefe what so∣euer, can be able to make them false hearted.

17 Vndoubtedly, God is maruelous good & fauourable, thou mightest say, that he is alwaies fauourable vnto the afflicted which call vpon him, and for∣saketh him not day nor night. For no sooner hath our griefe & sorrow hum∣bled vs, and made vs know what need we haue of him, but that he is by and by ready at hand to saue vs.

18 In very deed the righteous are afflicted with strange calamities, and a man might properly say, that they are the very subiect and matter of mise∣ries to worke on, there are so many mischiefes come tumbling in, one in anothers necke, to oppresse them. But this is not to any other end, saue to make the mercy of God shine more gloriously in them. For the greater that the tribulation is, the more doth the pitty and compassion shine in the preseruing of them.

19 For he keepeth euen the very

least bone they haue, nay there shall not one haire of their heads fall, nor be pluckt in sunder, but by his expresse will, neither should that euer once come to passe, but for their onely good and benefit. And yet more then that, for he hath all their goods, and al their trade & traffick in his protection, and when it pleaseth him, he will multiply their store, cause his blessings flourish in their houses, and make their riches and possessions encrease, according to their owne hearts desire.

20 But contrariwise, the liues of the wicked shall be most miserable. And although for the prouing and in∣uiting of them to turne vnto him, he lend vnto them the goods and com∣modities of this life, yet shall their deaths be most lamentable, yea such a death as shall deliuer them vnto e∣ternall torments, and plunge them in the bottomlesse depths of inextingui∣shable fiers, there to be deuoured, and neuer consumed, and there continu∣aly languishing, without euer dying. This shall be the end of the wicked, and of those that make warre against the iust.

21 And in the meane while, thy poore seruants, whome thou hast so dearely redeemed from the hands of death and of sinne, shal enioy the bles∣sed saluation, which thou hast purcha∣sed for them, and holding death and sinne enchained vnder their feete, within the chaines of thy mercy, will trust in thee so long as they shall be in this exile of the world, and after they shall haue departed hence, shall enioy that euerlasting blessednesse which thou hast promised them, beholding in thy face, this fountaine of brightnesse, bountie, and beauty, wherewith thou framedst heauen and earth, and all in them contained.

Grudge not to see, &c. Psalm. 37.

1 SEeing that the prouidence of God, president of the gouerne∣ment of the world, is to re∣ward euery man

according to his desert, I am somtimes astonied to see, how those men who bend their whole study to do il, receiue so many fauours in this life, & exceed and abound in so many sorts of bene∣fits. But as mine heart began to breath our despightful words, and to be angry within it selfe, me thought I felt the spirit of God comming to me to touch me, and very gently pulling me by the eare, said vnto me; Alas gentle poore wretch, thou vndoest thy selfe with wa∣ding to farre in this so deepe and dan∣gerous discourse: comfort thy selfe in me, and enuy not the prosperity of the wicked, neither be thou iealious ouer those that worke iniquity.

2 For, that which thou takest to be their chiefest felicity, is but a very sha∣dow, a false & counterfet image, which will lose it self whē it is between their hands, and flie away from them when as they thinke to haue it most sure. As grasse which hath bin cut downe with the sithe, withereth in a moment, euen so in a moment, shall the magnificēce of the wicked lose that glorious shew, & wax pale & wan, as if they were tain∣ted. The herbs & flowers in the gardēs

are not so quickly withered, as thou shalt see the ritches of the wicked de∣cay and come to naught: hast thou not considered the Emerocall, a very beau∣tifull flower truly for one day, which in the morning hath a fresh ruddy co∣lour, and keepeth his fine ruddinesse all day long, and at euening becom∣meth so drie & withered, as that a man would thinke, it had beene tainted by the Isie teeth of the winter? Euen so, the prosperitie of the wicked, if their prosperitie may be so called, is but a laughing or smiling deceiuer of an outward apparant felicity, and may be most properly likened vnto this flowre, for it withereth so suddenly, altereth in so short a time, & is transformed into such a fashiō, as is wonderful to behold.

3 Put thy trust therefore in God, & beleeue verily, that the insolencie of the wicked shal neuer be firme, so long as the iustice of God shal rule & reign, and beleeue also that the iust shall ne∣uer be forsaken, in what affliction so e∣uer they be. And therefore be not dis∣couraged, but continue in well doing, for he that shal perseuer, shalbe saued. Dwell in the land which the Lord

hath giuen thee, and content thy selfe with the graces which he hath bestow∣ed vpon thee, neither enter thou into iudgment with him, for thou shalt find in th'end, that the riches of the wicked are but in y^e keeping of their own hāds.

4 But reioice thou in the hope which thou hast in thy God, & put away the greeuous care which possesseth thine heart, & which as rust consumeth the same. For when thou shalt haue once powred out thy spirit, and lifted vp thy thoughts vnto the Lord, he wil accom∣plish all thy desires, and make thee en∣ioy whatsoeuer thou wouldest wish.

5 Neither come thou before him as it were waueringly nor mistrustingly, ne hide thou thy thoughts from him, but lay open vnto him the very bottom of thine heart, and discouer vnto him all thy waies and cogitations. For it is impossible for thee to deceiue him, and a dangerous thing to trie him. For he seeth and marketh all things, especially, a double and vnbeleeuing heart, which he abhorreth of all the rest, but receiueth and embraceth the poore and humble spirited man, hea∣reth his praiers, and graunteth him

before hand that, which he is determi∣ned to craue.

6 For he that standeth in his grace and fauour, shall neuer want either wealth or honour, if thou please him once, he will make the glory of thy righteousnesse shine as a cleare light, and cause the equitie of thy iudge∣ments, shine as bright as the sunne at noone daies. For euery man shall see in each place, the people following thee, blessing thine house as a temple of iustice, commending thy speech as an oracle, and reuerencing thee, as the very cause of their tranquillitie and li∣bertie. All men shall exalt thine inte∣grity, as the Tutrix of all good men, & sure defence of the afflicted. And yet thou shalt haue more than all this, for thou shalt receiue both honor and glo∣rie, and therefore humble thy selfe the more vnder the hand of thy God, and acknowledge this benefit to come from him, & so yeeld him homage. Now y^e homage which he requireth of thee, is nothing else but thy mouth & hands; Thy mouth, to offer him praise and thanks, and thy hands to serue him ac∣cording to his commaundements.

Heere yee see what the spirit of God, as me thought, sayd vnto me by word of mouth, which I will communi∣cate with you my friends, and make ye partakers of these holie aduertisemēts, to the end, that if ye shall see any man hereafter prosper in his affayres, and blaspheme in his life, ye be not offen∣ded threat, neyther be ye angrie and grieued in your selues, if ye see a man that dealeth vniustly, abound in all kind of wealth.

8 Be still therefore, and qualifie that bitter humor which pricketh and hammereth so in your heads, and then no doubt, ye will neuer haue the hart to do him any hurt for all this. For, the requitall of good men, is not only to do good for good, but to require also good for euill.

9 And all such as are carried away with an impatient heat, to the procu∣ring of anothers hurt, and all they, who in stead of leauing vnto God the re∣uenge which he reserueth vnto him∣selfe, will vsurp the same, shall be roo∣ted out for euer: and as insolent and saucie seruants, which take vpon them the authoritie of their maister, shall be

shamefully and hardly punished. But hee that possesseth his soule in pati∣ence, and constantly attendeth the iudgement of God, he will commend and blesse his obedience, and after that he hath punished the wicked for their vnmercifulnesse, he will also con∣fiske their goods and possessions, and make himselfe maister and possessor of them all.

10 Wait but awhile, and yee shall see the time come, that hee whome yee haue seene to be so mightie and great, and benefited himselfe so great∣ly by his sinnes, and by his wicked and crafrie deuises, stored vp an in∣finite number of goods, and as hee him-selfe thought, was in the hye way to heauen, shall passe away like a running brooke, where the water fleeteth away in great billowes, where nothing shall bee seene saue mire and dirt, and there shall not re∣mayne onely so much, as any marke of the place where hee had beene, nor no more remembrance of him, then of the winde that blew the som∣mer past.

11 But contrarywise, humble and mercifull men, shall enioy his place, be the successors of his wealth, and reigne most assuredly in the land, lea∣uing his goods in succession to his children, and peace shall be with his as an inheritance. A ritch peace, and a plentifull inheritance, which ••auou∣reth all the rest of the goods, without the which all the remaynde•• is naught else but torment and affliction. A peace that is sweeter then oyle, and the honie that is most sweet, which hatcheth in thy bosome all maner of pleasures and delightes, which ma∣keth vertue sprout out flower, and nourisheth and ripeneth his holie fruites.

12 Now this peace is the gift of God, and none can geue it vs, but his goodnesse, and nothing can moue his goodnes to do it, saue the reformati∣on of our wicked liues. For, so long as there is warre within vs, and sinne, which is the seed of discord, shall lodge with vs, we can not hope, or yet looke for either peace or rest. But cōtrariwise, if we can be at peace with God, we shall be sure to be forthwith

at peace with men, and be in firme, and most assured rest.

13 I right well know, that there will be alwayes some wicked men, whose abhominable wills will go euen to the graue with them: And I right well know, that they wil euer haue a watch∣full eye, to surprise good men, and to take part against them: they will gnash their teeth at them, and grin like ro∣ring Lions, for their hatred is so ex∣treame against the good and godly, as that when they behold them, they cast downe their countenance, and are more like beasts then men.

14 But the Almightie God, who hath ordeyned that which hath bene, shall be, and must be, and whose ordi∣nances are vnchangeable, laugheth to scorne these their deuises, and smileth at the vaine deuises of these miserable false wretches, which rush into the ayre, and flourish with their swords against the winde: he seeth their end draw neere by degrees, which will car∣rie them away as a great whirle winde.

15 For, when as they shall thinke them-selues to be maisters, and make a reckning to haue all in their owne

then shall they be in greatest danger. Ye shall see these miserable sinners with their naked swords in their hands, bending their bowes, and taking their ayme to ouerthrow the innocent: They will make their part strong, dispose of their people, lay their ambushes, haue their watch∣word, and in a iollitie and meriment will say in their harts, Tush, wee haue him now in hold, he shall neuer escape.

16 They will massacre the poore, the needy, and innocent, and take vp∣pon them to roote out all such as are of an vpright soule and heart. For, it is they, with whom they meane to deale, it is they, whome they bid warre vnto, because they stop the execution of their purposes, and whose innocencie is a perpetuall reproch vnto them.

17 They haue already put their kniues to the throats of the poore in∣nocents, their blowes were numbred, they had shot their arrowes, and the traine had already takē fire, and loe, by a wonderfull accident, the points of their swords are turned vppon theyr owne breasts, their owne arrowes stab in them, their bullets rebounded, and

lighted vpon them-selues, their bowes brake all to shiuers in their hands, and in the end they were slayne with their owne weapons. Thou hast sayd ô Lord, alwayes right well, that wicked coun∣sels light vpon the authors of them, to their owne destruction. Thou hast rightly foretold, that the wicked are takē in their own snares, and thou hast rightly fore-iudged, that the wicked in the end abide the same punish∣ment which they had prepared for others.

18 It is not therefore, ô Lord, the worldly power, greatnesse, & authority which make men happy, neither yet the troupes, nor the armies which do assure them, & make thē conquerors. For, that little that the iust man hath, who by his sinceritie hath obtained thy grace, standeth him in better stead, then the aboundance of all sorts of goods which the wicked do any way get, stand them in stead. The litle that a iust man hath, swelleth & riseth as a peece of dough, & his force redoubleth against the charge, euen as the arme of a Palme tree doth: for his strength taketh roote in thee, who art the foun∣dation

of all force and power.

19 But, as for the arme of the sin∣ner, how stiffe and stout soeuer it be, yet shall it be shiuered in peeces, and his strength shall be troad vnder feet, for, it is but a vaine outward shewe, which swelleth and puffeth it selfe vp as a glasse in the furnace, for it is puf∣fed vp by the blowing of the worke∣man, groweth and looketh very cleare, but the more it groweth and waxeth bright, the tenderer and britler it is, so as it breaketh in peeces with the first knocke it hath, and after the noyse of the breaking and fall, there is no more seene of it but the small peeces. But as for the iust man, he is compared vnto a Diamond, for the more it is rubbed, the cleerer it is. And that, which affliction taketh a∣way from an innocent man, is no∣thing else but his beastlinesse, his or∣dure, and his excrements: for, the na∣kedder that he is, the more beautifull he is.

20 Lastly, whatsoeuer it is that God layeth vpon the godly, it is alto∣gether for their saluation. For, he kno∣weth both the dayes & the life of those

that are pure and cleane, and geueth vnto them that which is needfull for them. Their blessednes is prepared for them from all eternitie, and shall pos∣sesse it vnto all eternitie. Not as an earthly inheritance, but as an heauen∣ly inheritance, whose ritches are infi∣nite and eternal, and inheritance, which being deuided amongst all his chil∣dren, will continue sound and whole, for euer and euer, whose parts shall be as great as the very whole enheritāce. For, this is that glorious enheritance, which enriching so many people, fil∣leth all with eternall blessednes, and remayneth alwayes one, and alwayes infinite.

21 Now, although the hope of the seruāts of God be not tied to the earth, yet neuerthelesse, so long as they shall be here in this world, yet will not God let them want that which is necessarie for their liues. For, whensoeuer the ill time shall come, and that vengeance shall rise vp against men, and that the waters ouer flow, stormes reigne, and heauen poure downe fire like rayne, yet shall the righteous be then at rest and peace in the middest of the tem∣pests,

dry amongst the shipwracks, and safe and sound in the hotest of the flames. And againe, whensoeuer any hideous famine shall come to deuoure the people, yet shall they haue Manna rayne downe from heauen to satisfie them. For, the wrath of God is but a∣gainst the wicked, and his anger is not kindled but against them. But as for the godly, the neerer that they thinke them-selues vnto danger, the neerer are they vnto saluation and health.

22 It fareth not with them, as it doth with the enemies of God, who are mightely exalted and honored on hye, that their fall might be the grea∣ter, and the more shamefull, because no man can leape a great leape, but such a one as standeth very hye. The falls of hye Towres shutter all to pie∣ces, and are brought as it were vnto dust. Howbeit, it is farre worse with the wicked: for when they haue once had their blow, they fall not only vnto dust, but vanish into smoke, nay they be∣come nothing at all. Behold how the cloudes come foorth as if it were the thunder out of the mouth of a great Cannon, they grow into heapes, in∣crease,

and lye out so broad and thick, as that a man would say, they would fill the emptinesse of the ayre, and roll vp the Sunne: But after they haue by little and little gotten higher vp, ye see them by and by to waxe thin, and in the end scatter, and consume, so as a man shall not see so much as any signe or token that euer they had bin▪ And such is the mightinesse of the wic∣ked, whose substance is nothing else but sinne, and whose mouing is no∣thing but vanitie, it groweth suddain∣ly, and it is gone as suddainly, and what soeuer they are able to do, for to think to conserue the same, they can by no meanes any way further it.

23 They borrow and neuer pay a∣gaine, all is fish that commeth to net, and all is theirs that they may gayne by, neither leaue they any thing be∣hinde, which they are able to carry away, and yet notwithstanding, all this profiteth them nothing, for, as the a∣boundance of meates fatteth not him that is in a consumption, because the radycall humor of his life is dried vp, euen so is the blessing of God, which is the roote of all prosperitie, with∣holden

from the wicked. But con∣trarywse, the iust, which is merci∣full, and full of compassion, geueth his goods, and dealeth liberally, distribu∣teth his money, and is as the course an running of a liuely water, which neuer dryeth vp.

24 This is a blessing which is pro∣mised vnto all those that blesse the name of God, that they shall enherit the land, that is to say, they shall haue a good title vnto the land, as it were by enheritance. And although they are striuen agaynst for it, yet shall they neuer lose it. For they are as Gods deere children, whome hee hath created, and therefore they are of a good and sure ground, that they shall hold the same. But they which blaspheme agaynst his name, are dis∣inherited of his grace, and as vn∣thankefull children, depriued of theyr fathers inheritance, so as they ha∣uing his curse, can not choose but perish.

25 For, there is no saluation in this world, but by trusting in God, and by committing our selues vnto his tuiti∣on. For, he so directeth the wayes of a

good man, and so guideth all his acti∣ons, as that it is impossible to be amen∣ded. He aymeth his will at godlinesse, and turneth away his eyes from the baytes of sinne, he bringeth back the windings and crosse wayes of volup∣tuousnes, into the broad beaten hye wayes of vertue, and setteth it in the way of his commaundements.

26 For, this is a faire and smooth way, wherein are no stones, ne yet lets, for it is altogether playne and smooth. So as although the wicked one, or the father of lyes casteth his leg before the iust man to make him trip & stumble, or yet set a snare for him, thou thy selfe O Lord, standest hard by him to life him vp againe, and wilt not suffer him to be frushed and crushed. And with thy mercifull hand, yea euen with a most gentle and euen hand, thou sho∣rest him vp, and redressest him.

27 I haue bene yong and now an old, and yet as far as I can remember, I can not call to minde that euer I sa••e God forsake the righteous man, nor his children driuen to beg their bread▪ Well may he haue sometimes a little trouble come vpon him, to proue his

constancie, and to try his strength, but ••t passeth and tottereth on without a∣••y fearing of him.

28 I haue seene a man that hath ••one nothing all day long but geue, •…•…d lend, so as a man would haue sayd ••hat he had taken great pleasure in ••cattering abroad his goods, and yet ••e more abounded in wealth them e∣••er he did before. He resembled pro∣••erly the pipe of a pumpe, which dra∣••eth water by casting of it out: for the ••ulnesse thereof can not abide that a∣••y emptinesse should be in it. And so, ••he rightuous man geueth, and God ••orthwith filleth him againe, his poste∣••itie feeleth no want of his largenesse, ••or, the blessing of God, causeth his •…•…one to bud forth, euen as the Sunne maketh the fruits of the earth, and ••ultiplieth an hundred for one.

29 Seeing then that God is so good •…•…d so liberall, if thou louest to haue ••is fauour, bethinke thee how thou ••ayest please him, for, it is the verie meane to turne him from doing hurt, ••nd to do good. For God, loueth such a one, as imitateth him: for, loue com∣meth of resemblance, and his actions

are to do good, for, he busieth h•…•…¦selfe about nothing else, and he •…•…¦gan this worke euen from the first b••¦ginning of the world, and was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wearyed therewith. And therfore let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do like vnto him, and so long as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall dwell here in this world, wh•…•… he hath graunted vs meanes to se•…•… for his glorie, and for the profi•…•… of our neighbors, let vs neglect no •…•…¦casion at all to discharge both the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the other, and in so doing, we sh•…•… be sure to obteyne his fauour, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the richest treasure that we poss•…•… can recouer.

30 For, there is nothing that ple••¦seth him so much, as to deale vprigh•…•… and iustly: for thereby, we conse•…•… his workemanship, as much as in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lyeth, and allow of his wise counsell, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rendring vnto euery man that whi•…•… is appoynted him, and distributed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the vniuersall law of the world, wh•…•… we call Nature, and to thinke th•…•… when we iudge others, we admini•…•… his power, and looke what iudgeme•…•… we geue against others, the like will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also geue against vs, whē as he shal •…•…¦ter into his Throne to iudge the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

world. Not that he can iudge corrupt∣ly as we do, but will make vs feele by his iudgement, the corrupt dealing which we haue made others feele, by our owne. For, he will neuer forsake his holy ones, he will gather them to∣gether at the end, and couer them from the vniust dealing of men, and will expressely enter into his iudge∣ment seate, to iudge all those that op∣pressed them.

31 And there will he pronounce heauie iudgemēt against the vniust, & make the wicked perish. They shall be fast bound in infernall paines, where they shall be heard houle amiddest their torments, and the paine shall ex∣ceed & abound ouer their heads, euen vnto their posteritie, and their childrē shal draw their fathers sins after them, and beare part of their miseries.

32 And at that time shall the grace of God spread it self aboundantly vp∣pon the righteous, because their pro∣speritie might be a second paine vnto the wicked, filling their harts with en∣ny, which shal cōtinually gnaw the, for they shal see the good & godly me pos∣sesse their lād in peace, their generatiō

reigne in most assured rest, and flou∣rish as the tree planted fast alonge•• hard by the pleasant riuers side, which casteth our his branches at length, an•• spreadeth forth his boughes into the ayre, flourish beautifully, bring forth leaues aboundantly, and fructifie mo•…•… excellently.

33 But what shall be the fruites o•• the rightuous man? shall they be his goods which he hath scraped and scrat∣ched together, or the castles and good∣ly houses which hee hath built? Nay, nay, they are fruites most vnworthy o•• such a tree, which will wither away a•• the very first feeling of any frost, yea, fruites that will fall at the first blast: No, no, they are those good and sweet sauouring fruites which growe within the beautifull and fat greene soyle of the diuine wisedome. They shall be holie and religious thoughts, medita∣tions, full of zeale and deuotion, by the which hee shall ioyne his spirit vnto God, and withall opening his soule, shall receyue the beames of the holie Ghost, which shall animate in him a thousand gratious and vertuous acti∣ons, as the fruit of life: and holynesse

passing from his hart into his lips, shall make his talke to be both righteous, and full of equitie.

34 For he shall haue the law of God alwayes imprinted in his soule, as a most iust and sure rule, wherewith he shall encompasse his talke, neyther shall hee need to feare for euer going out of the right way, or yet to haue his foote at any time to slip, for, the foun∣dation thereof is ouer-strongly layd, and the scituation therof too too sure, and the path thereof most excellently directed: for, the law of God, is soun∣der and surer, then either steele or iron, it is an inflexible rule, and an vn∣changeable light: this is such a place of assurance, where a man is not onely rightly guided, but also in as great safe∣tie, as if he were betweene two brasen walles.

35 For, marke and behold awhile the wicked, what ado he maketh to lye in ambush to surprise the innocent, and consider also what preparation he maketh to take from him both his ho∣nor and his life, and marke, if he hath forgotten any thing for his purpose.

36 And yet God neuer leaueth a

good man into what danger soeuer he falleth, he neuer geueth him ouer into the sacrilegious hands of these cruell murderers, neither yet into their blou∣die craftie doings, nor shamelesse sclanders: for, he is Iudge, and full of all power, he his also a witnesse, and the knowledge of all truth is in him, and thereforee, sith he knoweth the truth, and both can and will iudge the inno∣cent, shall not he be iustified by his sen∣tence geuing?

37 Wait vpon him therefore allye righteous, for his help is sure, neither let it grieue ye to attend vppon him: for, he knoweth what ye haue need of better then ye your selues. For, he ma∣keth slow haste many times, because hee would prooue your patience▪ and sometimes because hee would glorifye you. Walke therefore in his wayes, and see that ye carefully keepe yee in them: set yee strong hedges about his wayes, and edder the•• with the thornes of your paynes, with the briers of your tribulations, for feare that voluptuousnesse enter no•• in at them, and that pleasure trayne yee not vp in them, and so bre••ke

•…•…d spoyle your way. Perseuere still in your course, euen vntill you sweate both bloud and water, to the end yee may come vnto the aboad of your rest, where God will exalt ye far aboue this ••isible world, yea, far aboue his glo∣rified Angells: for, he will cause you leade sinners in triumph, and make you see the land purged of their ini∣quitie, assigned out for the portion of good and godly men.

38 I am many times astonyed to see the wicked & naughty man aduanced •…•…o all honor & dignitie, and holding al the whole land as it were subiect vn∣der his feet. The Cedar tree of Lyba∣non hath not an hier nor an vprighter head, ne yet seemeth to be more glo∣rious, euen then when he is clothed with his greene & tender boughs, and putteth forth his new buds and bran∣ches, as is the wicked mā in the strēgth & power of his pomp & magnificence.

39 But as I passed by whereas I had left him, I was abashed that I could see him no more, for I saw the place of his greatnesse, & it was become like vnto a wildernesse. I demaunded what was b•…•…ome of him that was so lustie and

braue, and that was so redoubted an•• feared, and loe, there was not a ma•• that could tell me what was become of him. I sought after him in euery place, to see and if I could haue met with him, and I could neither hea••e either tale or tidings of him, all was melted away with him, so as there was not so much as any note or marke of him, it seemed that the fire had runne ouer him and consumed him.

40 We must therefore learne b•• the example of their miserie, to es••h•…•… their sinnes, and in following another kinde of life, we may come to••abe•…•… end. Be innocent therefore, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 die to be vpright, and loue equitie and righteousnesse: for the peaceable and reasonable man leaueth rest to his fa∣milie, and is renued in his posteritie.

41 It fareth not with him as it doth with the reprobate, who is forgotten in a moment, and none commeth af∣ter that once vouchsafeth to name him, without it be to curse him. Their race is gone at once, and swallowed vp as it were in a bottomlesse depth, for the first blow he geueth them, turneth them cleane ouer, for they haue no

help but from them-selues, and God hath long sithence geuen them ouer.

42 For, he helpeth only the righte∣ous which put their trust in him. For on him they attend, and therefore it is reason that they should find comfort at his hands. They gather them-selues together vnder his wing, as poore chic∣kens, whome the kite pursueth, there shall they finde couert, defence, and consolation.

43 He will help them out of the strongest part of the battell, yea, and although they were enuironed on e∣uery side, yet will he come and de••iuer them as it were by his miraculous po∣wer and might: he will runne through the prease, to pluck the righteous out of the hands of the wicked. Why doest thou, ô Lord, after this manner, so af∣fectionately support the righteous? Forsooth, it is because that they haue put their whole trust and confidence in thee, and not put their hope in the fraile and corruptible goods of this world, but in thy infinit goodnesse and clemencie, which is neuer voyd of help vnto all those that call vpon thy holy name. Seeing then, ô most righteous

and mercifull Father, it hath plea∣sed thee for a time to endure the wicked to enioy the wealth and honor of this world, and to set theyr feet vppon the throats of good and god∣ly men, and sufferest them by theyr cursed threats, and craftie deuises, to torment thy good and innocent seruants. Frame we beseech thee our affections so, as that we be not offen∣ded at their prosperitie, and not en∣uie theyr deceytfull ritches, but cou∣ragiously to beare whatsoeuer afflic∣tion thou shalt lay vppon vs, pacient∣ly attending till thou shalt come to iudge theyr consciences, and search out the bottoms of their counsels, and with the seueritie of thy iustice, imprint vppon theyr foreheads the shame which they haue iustly deser∣ued, abolishing their infamous me∣morie from aboue the earth, destined vnto the seruice of thy glorie: and in the meane while so to keepe out harts, as that we trust in none but in thee, and make no reckning of what∣soeuer is here in this world, to set our loue thereon, but on thy grace and blessing.

Iudge me O Lord. &c. Psalme. 33.

1 LOrd, be my Iudge, take knowledge of my cause, and bee thou iudge of all the sclanders wher∣of the wicked ac∣cuse mee. Deliuer mee, O Lord, from the hands of the vnrighteous, and from deceiptfull lips. For they haue assembled them∣selues together to imagine mischiefe against mee, and haue set vp them∣selues against mee to oppresse and ouerthrowe mee. They will hang vp a cloake of righteousnesse before theyr theeuish purposes, and vnder pretence of lawe, vndoe and defame mee. But, ô thou diuine Iustice, who with an all-seeing eye, scatterest the clowdes of sclaunders abroad, and grauntest day vnto the innocent, shine vpō me a little, & make them vn∣derstand that truth pierceth through, and beholdeth all their crafty iugling,

and maketh way to appeare before thee, ô thou seueare and vncorrupt Iudge, the only comfort of the afflic∣ted.

2 Thou art my strength and my de∣fence, and vppon thee alone resteth mine innocencie. I made readie my selfe to fight against the craftie deui∣ses of these deceiuers which assayle me, and haue dreamed of a thousand arguments to conuince them withall, and do make an accompt rightly to deduct my reasons. But when as I had throughly considered that thou kee∣pest in minde the knowledge of my cause, as my God, my gardian, and pro∣tector. I haue sayd alone to my selfe for what purpose serue all these good•• syllogismes? for, my Iudge knoweth the truth of the fact, and vnderstan∣deth the equitie of my cause. What can be hid from him who is present at all things? and what can any man de∣clare and shew vnto him that is righ∣teousnesse him-selfe,? who hath esta∣blished lawes, and vnto whome it be∣longeth to interpret them? I there∣fore put my selfe into thy armes, my God, my strength, and refuge. Iudge

my cause, and rid me from the sclaun∣ders of the wicked. But why reiectest thou me, my God? I haue a long while called vppon thee, and yet thou hast not come vnto me. In the meane while mine enemies oppresse me, and I am no more able to abide. But now thou my sweet, yea my most sweet soule, why art thou so heauie and sad? and God be some-what slacke in comming to help thee, all the while the wicked are afflicting of thee, why losest thou thy courage thus, and geuest thy selfe ouer vnto sorrow and griefe? That that is deferred, is not altogether lost, for he will come, seeing he hath promi∣sed it.

3 Come therefore, my Lord my God, and spread out the beames of thy diuine light vppon me, and seeing thou art the father of truth, leaue not this thy poore captiued daughter in the wicked and vniust hands of her ac∣•…•…sers. If thou louest innocencie, de∣liuer her then from the bonds of these false accusations. For now, O Lord, mal••ce lieth hidden in the darke, and if thou let her haue day light, she is o∣uercome, and if she be acknowledged,

she is vndone. I beseech thee there∣fore, O my God, let thy light and truth assist my righteousnesse: for, I haue lo∣ued them all my life long, and from my youth, haue I made much of them. They haue bene they, my Lord, which first led and guided me before thee, and presented me vnto thee vppon thine holie mountaine, set me in the middest of thy Tabernacle, brought me into thy Church, and gaue me an honorable place in thine house.

4 There it is ô Lord, where I haue chosen my mansion, and mine aboad is with thee. My rest, ô Lord, is onely in thee, and all my glory is to serue thee. Assuring my selfe then vpon thy sup∣port & stay, and trusting in thy grace, I will present my selfe vnto thee, who knowest my conscience, and in kno∣wing it, iudgest it, in iudging it, estee∣mest it, and in esteeming of it, thou confoundest the common enemies of mine honor, and of thy seruice. I will goe vnto thine Aulter which I haue se•• vp to blesse & sanctifie thy name, and call vppon thee my God, which fillest my youth with gladnesse, and inspiring in minde heart the holie flame of thine

holie loue, doest heape vpon me plea∣sure, delight, and ioy.

5 And therefore will I sound out vpon mine harp in mine hand, the con∣fessing of thy magnificence, and tune with my voyce the sweet notes of thy prayse, one while I wil sing thy immea∣surable power, one while thy excee∣ding goodnesse, and another while thy infinite clemency, and in the end, I wil f••nish with this wonderful iustice which hath saued me frō the oppressiō of the vngodly, and made the shame of their wicked purposes, rebound & leape vpō their owne faces. Why wilt thou then be sad my soule, why vexest thou mee thus? and takest in ill part the oppro∣bries and sclanders of the wicked, as if their venemous tongs could any way hurt an innocent conscience? No, no, a burning torch thrust into the water can no sooner be extinquished, then the sclanderous reports of a man that leadeth an innocent life.

6 Trust therfore in God, ô my soule, & reioyce in his fauour, for I right well knowe, that he is well pleased with his prayses by my lips. All my life long ••ill I prayse him, and declare and

confesse him to be the God of truth, the God of iustice, God, the tutor of the innocent, God, the father of sal∣uation, and God, mine only defence. I will haue mine eye alwayes fixed on him, and my face continually turned towards him: for, I haue found no sal∣uation but in him. O my God, who from the beginning of the world rea∣chest out thine armes vnto the af∣flicted, which hast alwayes receyued into thy protection, the oppressed, and comfortest the iust vniustly tormen∣ted, graunt me, O Lord, both com∣fort and courage, to the end that I taking my spirits vnto me againe, which were halfe in a dead sleepe through affliction, may glorifie thee with all my force, and strangle by the strength of my voyce, the blasphemies of the wicked, which goe about to defame thine honor, and not being able to reach thee, rush and runne vppon the good and godly men tha•• faithfully serue thee.

All people harken and geue &c. Psalme. 46.

1 COme vnto mee all yee stronge nations, d••awe neere yee people that are farthest off, & come ye•• from all coasts to heare that which ye shall neuer heare else-where. Passe ye the seas & moun∣taines, and let not any hardnesse of tho way stop ye, for, the prize of your na∣uigation shall be greater, then he ••hat sayleth from the East to the West, l••den with pearles and diamonds. And the reward of your sweatings shall be more pretious, then the Trophees of those that conquer the nations of the earth. Shore vp your eares therefore, & harken attentiuely vnto that which I shall now say vnto you. O I would to God that ye were all eares, and that all the rest of your benummed senses might strengthen your hearing, to conceiue that which I will deliuer vn∣to you.

2 Come, come, all ye that call your

selues the children of the earth, which thinke to attribute your originall be∣ing vnto nothing but vnto the earth, and your being borne, vnto none but vnto your fathers, and suppose nothing to be more auncient here in this world then they, and nothing greater then your selues. In very deed, yee are the right children of the earth, for, ye are as insensible as it is, and of no more vnderstanding, then images made of clay, and annealed in the fornace. Come and open your eares, that I may open the spirit, close vp the eyes of your bodies, that I may make your soules so clearely forsake this stepmo∣ther of earth, that I may make you know your heauenly father. Come ye therefore together both poore & rich, for ye are vnworthy of the goods that I meane largely to bestow vpon you.

3 Come, for I go about to discouer & lay wide opē vnto you, the treasures of eternal wisdom. And in opening my mouth being inspired with the grace of Almighty God, I meane to vnfold vnto you in my words his wonderfull wisedome. I haue long held my soule in a deep thought, and after I had a great

while dreamed, I conceiued in the end of a strange discourse of Gods wise∣dome, by which I vnderstood his good∣nesse and mercie in all things, and the folly, misery, & infirmitie of mankinde.

4 Whereupon, I being as it were be∣side my selfe, about the wondring at his greatnes, & the feeling of our own infirmitie, I was forthwith desirous to geue eare vnto that which my spirit taught me, and began carefully to con∣sider of those things which it couertly shewed me, & vnder a disguised maner the knowledge & the truth. And after I had carefully vnderstood & examined the same, I tooke my harp in my hand, & according my voyce vnto the sweet tune of my harp, I was ready to put a∣broad my conceits, and to make my meditations to be heard, vnto all those that would heare them, that they might be acceptable vnto God, the author of so holie thoughts, and whole∣some instruction vnto the fauourable hearer of my discourses.

5 If thou wilt then know what I sayd within my selfe, this I sayd, what shall I feare in the hardest time of my life? Why should I feare when death shall

come to lay hold on me, and to cause me to get me out of this world? Alas, deat is a strange busibody, I know not who should not feare him, seeing no man can keepe him-selfe from him. How shall I be able to defend my selfe from his arrowes? What armour shall I put on against his pick-axe, which o∣uerthroweth and razeth Castels, Ci∣ties, Kingdomes, and Empires: yea, which threatneth to bring the world to an end, and who at last shall make an end of him-selfe? I shall need no kinde of weapons but innocencie, that is able to be a steely, & an assured buckler for me: for, if I take not good heed vn∣to it, that traytor sinne, whome death hath appoynted, will neuer be from my heeles, will lodge in my concupiscēce, and deliuer me presently at an assault into the hands of damnation.

6 O deare and wholesome inno∣cencie, in thee alone resteth all our assurance, vnder thy faith we constant∣ly abide whatsoeuer shall come vp∣pon vs, and we beleeue that thou art strong inough to defende vs from death. O foolish and mad men, who leauing this faithfull protection,

assure them-selues in their greatnesse and mightinesse, make an accompt of their ritches and magnificences. They accompt the Nations which are vnder their gouernments, and recken vp the treasure which they keepe vnder lock and key, and to what purpose serueth all this against death?

7 If one brother can not redeeme the life of another for money, nay, and if one would dye for another, yet in∣exorable death will not receyue him, what then shall man geue vnto death for his owne ransome? Shall he geue the goods that are none of his, or his dominions which he loseth as soone as he is dead? No, no, there is nothing which hee hath left vnto him-selfe wherewith God is appaised, and pa∣cified when his iudgement is once pronounced against mortall men. He ••ill not compound with him for any thing whatsoeuer. This is his creature, this is the slime of the earth, out of ••hich hee will take when it pleaseth him, the spirit of life whcih he brea∣thed into him, and therefore man can no way gaynsay, nor yet reply a∣gainst him.

8 Let vs I beseech thee a little, va∣lue the soule of man, and let vs see what he will offer vnto God for his ransoming of him, let him trauell a little all his life long, let him go and trauell awhile all the dayes of his life, let him goe and ferrit out all the cor∣ners of the earth, let him go and dra•• out the bowels of the mines, let him draw dry the golden dugs of both the Indies, let him dispeople the Easterne parts of the world of all her pearles, and when he hath heaped vp all this geare, let him then come and bargain with God for the prolonging of his life, and wee shall heare his reasons▪ What other thing shall he be, but like vnto a prisoner, which offreth to cast off his bolts and shackles, if he might haue libertie geuen him? O mise∣rable man that thou art: for, that thing which thou thinkest should serue thee for thy safegard, is the very win∣dow whereat death must enter. For, death commeth by reason of sin, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by reason of concupiscence, and th•• concupiscence is nourished, encrea∣sed, and kindled by all these. For, God will speake all naked vnto thee euen a••

••e placed thee here in the world, and will, before he begin to capitulate with thee, haue thee deliuer vnto him that which thou hast robbed him of, I meane those graces and benefits whcih thou hast misused, & then shalt thou thinke with thy self whether thou hast of thine owne to pay him double, yea quadruple, for the punishment due vnto thee for thine ill life.

9 Alasse poore senselesse thing, if thou once commest to that, what shalt thou be able to say against death, see∣ing that the wisest and valiantest men are enforced to be courbed vnder his yoke? Shalt thou who hast made no accompt but of corruptible and peri∣shing ritches, shalt thou, I say, be pre∣serued from corruption, and the wise man, who sought by all the meanes possible he could, to immortalize him∣selfe here in this life, & conuersed with the Angels, cannot warrant himselfe from him? Thou thy selfe seest him come to an end, and hopest thou to be immortall? No, no, for both wise men & fooles dye, but after a diuerse & sun∣dry manner: for, the death of the wise man shalbe but a passage, & he shal f••nd

at his returne his talent infinitely multiplied and encreased, and the glo∣rie which he hath sowne, shal encrease aboundantly, and ouershadow the ge∣neration of his children.

10 Howbeit, all these poore wret∣ched blind soules, who continually hold down their heads vnto the earth, and whose spirits are shut vp in their purses, who haue none other vnder∣standing, but to loue those things which are not to be beloued, who neg∣lect and contemne both Sunne and Moone, the verie principall works of nature, to admire stones, and marble, gold, and siluer, which vainely scatter and disperse the vertues of intelligēce and vnderstanding, for the getting to∣gether, and heaping vp of the excre∣ments of the earth, shall forgoe the ritches which they haue so greatly lo∣ued, and for which, they hated all the rest. Ye shall see them hale and pull a∣gainst death, and draw their ritches with them euen vnto the graues but death will set them vpon their fingers ends, and cause them to leaue them euen when they haue gotten them. They that are halfe dead, shall goe a∣bout

to lift vp a little their eye lids, to ••ee & if they can find their treasure at ••he wykes of their eyes, but in the end ••hey must be packing, they must leaue ••his worldly pomp, because a mightie power hath pluckt them away. But ••nto whome shall they leaue this pre∣paration & furniture? forsooth it may ••e vnto a stranger whome they neuer •…•…ew, or euer yet once dreamed of, ••ho shall bath and blesse him selfe in ••he sweate of this miserable ritch cay∣••ife & churle, who shall haue no more ••eft him for his portion, but a graue of •…•…teene or twentie soot long at the ••ost, and this shall be his house for e∣••er, wherein let him keepe him selfe if ••e will.

11 What is become then of these ••raue waynscotted palaces, these guilt ••autes, these beautifull ranks of choyse ••illers, these so faire curled marbles, ••hese emblemes & sentences engrauen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 brasse, and all the rest of these won∣••ers of vanitie? What? is nothing of ••ll this left for him? he had established ••is lands and possessions from race to •…•…e, from generation to generation, •…•…d called his houses by his owne

name: surely, this must needs be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great man.

12 Alasse poore man, for, when h•• was in honor, he knew not himselfe neither had he any knowledge, & he s•• caried himself, as that he is brought t•• be of the number of the bruite beas•…•… & made like vnto Asses & horses, wh•• haue neither wit nor iudgement. For what greater honor could he desire 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wish to haue, then to be made and for∣med vnto the fashion of the Deity, a•…•… to be placed amōgst the works of Go•• there to command as his lieutenant he was not as it were lesse then A•…•…gels, & had a spirit to comprehend th•• greatest wonders of the Deity: but b•• flying from the day and light of kno•…•…ledge, he hid himselfe in the dens a•• caues of ignorance & blockishnes, a•• remained therein all his life long, ha•…•…ching there I know not what mis•…•…rable ritches, & was found in the e•…•… to become like vnto the bruite beast•• for, as they neuer neigh & bray but •…•…ter otes, and neuer trauell but for p•…•…sture, euen so this man neuer bestir•…•… him selfe, but about the getting of n•…•…cessarie things for the bodie: nay, 〈◊〉〈◊〉

did worse then so, for he could not prouide, and vse, for the entertay∣ning of him selfe, the goods which he so eagerly coueted, but became therein farre worse, then all the rest of the beasts of the field, whose vn∣ruly appetites were satisfied with the vse of those things which they de∣sired.

13 O, what an infamie and of∣fence are the liues of such kinde of men, who are so shamelesly brutished? What remayneth then more for them both here in this world, and in the world to come, but shame in this, and payne and torment in the other? And besides, let them runne on in deligh∣ting them selues in their vayne dis∣courses, and priding of themselues in their ritches. Let them now a little remember the speeches which they haue, whereby they seeme to esteeme of none but of them selues, and their money, making no better accompt of all other men, then of the rushes vn∣der their feet.

14 Thus we see how they draw them selues vnto hell, euē as sheep led to the Shambles, death is come who hath de∣uoured

them, and nothing left of them but their pitifull bare bones, which canker and are worme-eaten in the graue.

15 And loe, the iust man who pa∣tiently endured their insolencie, his time is now come to reigne, and is at ease, he is vp by the breake of the day, and after hee hath geuen thanks to God, he goeth to see if he can finde the place where one of these miserable caytifs dwelt, and where he is placed, for insulting, brauing, and tyrannizing of the whole world, and sayth a part vnto him selfe, Thanked be God, for cleansing the earth of such off-scou∣ring, and placing such as blesse his name. For, this wicked churle with all his glorie is become rotten and putti∣fied. He is now in torment, and there is not one to help him, and so let him remayne there hardly: for, death is a passage for him, neuer to returne.

16 And as for me, ô Lord, I right well know that I must dye, for, the sin of our first parent hath bound vs to pay that debt, it is the reward for his disobedience, we must go againe into the earth, and returne from whence

we came. Neuerthelesse, ô Lord, thou shalt redeeme me from death, and de∣liuer me from the hand of hell, when it would lay hold on me. Thou wilt not suffer me to go downe all below, but wilt deliuer me euē at the very mouth thereof, and be contented that I ac∣knowledge it, without suffering the punishment of my deserued thraldome and captiuitie. But what shall be the price of my redemption? shall it be the goods and possessions of the earth, and the aboundance of gold and sil∣uer? No, ô Lord, for hell is full there∣of, it maketh no reckning of this gea••e: for thou thy selfe shalt be the price of my redemption, thou shalt deliuer thine owne body to death, that my soule might be deliuered from hell, Thou shalt put vpon thee and cloth thee with the dolors of the dead, that I might be clothed with the ioyes of im∣mortalitie. And therefore I will not from henceforth my God, haue any o∣ther ritches but thee, and in possessing thee, I shall possesse the whole world, and in louing thee, I shall be in thee, & thou in mee, and thou being there, shalt bring thither all the goods,

strength, and glorie of the world, and fill me full with other manner of rit∣ches, then the ritches of these mise∣rable carles which will not acknow∣ledge thee: for, their ritches, are but the fruite of their sinne, which shall pe∣rish with their sinne.

17 No mā ought to be abashed to see them all at once suddainly enriched, ne yet to esteeme thē to be any whit the happier therby: for, although the false honor which they so greedily hunt af∣ter, exceedeth & excelleth, and are fil∣led with this vaine and vanishing glo∣rie, which carieth with it but a glori∣ous glittering outward shew, yet must we not be in an admiration thereat, much lesse enuie the same.

18 For, although they shall at any time haue kissed the earth, and put on the round compasse thereof, yet shall they carry away nothing of it with thē saue their winding sheet, nothing shall follow them but their shadow, and yet I beleeue, that it will also leaue them, for the very selfe-same day which ma∣keth the shadow, will forsake them, and they shall want the ordinary light, and in stead of these magnificēces, pomps,

and swelling ostentations, wherewith they make little children afeard, shall wrap them vp in sorrow, griefe, dolor, anguish, pouertie, and miserie, and cast them into Mercuries heape.

19 And is it not great reason that it should be thus? for, they haue taken their pleasures here in this life, and haue had their felicitie in this world, and whatsoeuer they haue desired, hath falne vnto them, goods haue come rolling in by heapes vnto them, the felicitie of their greatnesse was a burden vnto them, they esteemed of none, but of such as did help to enrich them, neither loued they any but such as gaue them, and made much of none, saue of those that encreased their re∣uenues. They are like to those mē, who because they would haue a great stock, sell the proprietie of their goods vnto others, they dye, leauing nothing be∣hinde for the world to come, hauing made no prouision for any goods that are there in request, but content them selues with the goods that serue for this earthlie life, which being ended, they are left verie poore. They haue desired honor, but a vaine

and slipperie honor, which hangeth and resteth but vpon the opinion of fooles; they had it, but they could not tell well how to keep it. They would gladly haue sit vppon the top of the wheel, & that being turned about, they are now downe in the bottome therof, but blessed and happy are they which can keepe them sure and immoueable vpon the scaffold, and see them selues safe both aboue and below.

20 But these miserable caytifes haue done nothing so, for they haue made the leape them selues, they haue voluntarily climbed vp to the steepest place, from whence they haue bene cast downe backward euen vnto hell, they are at this day in the number of their forefathers, there haue they found their Auncesters, from whome they receyued their birth and condi∣tions, they were imitators of theyr sinnes, and when they are dead, they shall be also partakers of their punish∣ment: for, when repentance commeth too late, they then learne but out of season, what it is to lift them selues vp against God, and oppose them selues vnto his glorie: then they learne what

it is to afflict the iust, to oppresse the poore, and to scorne the afflicted. They are confined in the darke, and the light geueth no more s••ght vnto their eyes. They hare nothing but horror, and gnashing of teeth, they breath out nothing but sighes and groanes, and they neuer stirre, but with trembling and fretting.

21 When these poore senselesse people were in honor, they could not vnderstand it, but became like vnto brute beasts, which haue neyther sense nor iudgement. But yet alasse they are farre vnlike, for death, in bereauing the beasts of their liues, taketh from them aswell the feeling of their paine, as of their pleasure: but as for these poore fooles, who would neuer vnder∣stand wherein their chiefe blessednes consisted, but closed vp their eyes a∣gainst the eternall light, and stopped their eares against the spirituall word, shall haue their sense as an argument or subiect of torments, and their spirit shall liue, continually to conceiue, and eternally to languish their miseries.

O how good is God. &c. Psalme. 73.

O How great is the goodnes of our God, and how assu∣red is his helpe vnto all those that wait vpon him? Vnto those, I say, who haue neuer tur∣ned away their thoughts from his iu∣stice and mercie, and who hauing the eyes of their soules alwayes fixed vpon his prouidence, neuer gaue ouer the hope which they should haue in his grace. And how greatly blessed are they, whome the sundry ill haps of this world could neuer shake that con∣stant assurance which they ought to haue of Gods righteousnesse: O, how greatly, I say, is the constancie of such men to be commended!

2 For, to say truly, my foot often∣times began to slip in the way, and I glided oftentimes as it were euen readie to fall to the ground. Much like vnto them that climbe vp a steepe thornie hill, who, so soone as they feele the briers and brambles begin to

prick and raunch them, or rub off the skinne against any flint stone, lay hold with theyr hands for verie griefe vpon the crampons and rests which help them to climbe vp, and then forthwith tumble quite & cleane downe, if they be not the sooner stay∣ed: Euen so my God, whilst I would vnderstād the iudgemēts of thy works, & behold how thou dispensest thy gra∣ces, as one pricked & wounded to see the wicked prosper, I make many false steps & strides, and am ready to fal into this steep breakeneck of not belieuing thy wisedome and righteousnesse.

3 What, say I, shall become of the people which know not God other∣wise then to blaspheme him, who think that they haue taken a pawne to serue their lusts and peruerse affectiōs, who wil none of him but to haue him serue thē as a moment, to serue their wicked doings, & for a maske to serue their in∣iquities, & for a lure to serue their de∣ceits, & yet get together the fruit of his grace, and possesse in peace & rest the chreame of his benefits? I confesse my God, that I am iealous of their prospe∣ritie, and do enuie this their case,

and me thinketh it to be altogether a∣gainst all reason.

4 For, who is he that seeth them, that would say they should dye? Who would not thinke but that they had bought of thee for a certaine summe the right of immortalitie here in this world? Who would not say but that they were partakers with thee of euer∣lasting and constant felicitie? More∣ouer, we see that all things alter and change here in this world, which shew∣eth, that in successe of time all these things must come to an end, but we see their prosperitie to be so firme, and of so great equalitie, as that a man would thinke that if they continually encrease in such sort as they do, they will grow at last to be as infinite as thy selfe, and place them selues in thy hea∣uenly Throne: for, there is no likely∣hood that any thing can do them hurt, neither yet that any the least and only mishap is able to rest vpon the skirt of this so glorious magnificence. It is in∣credible, that any thing can be able to hurt their pretious bodies, enuironed with such aboundance of so excellent ritches.

5 As for other men, they are made crooked with labor, and trauell is their ordinarie course of life: they are borne with groanes, they grow vp with s••ghs, they waxe old with lamenting: the Sea is oftner without wind, then their liues are without torments, a man shal not see so many shot about a white, as he shall see miseries and afflictions fast tyed round about all other men. But these men alone are shielded and ex∣empt from all these, and in an equall and constant course of life, they swimme at pleasure in the delights of this world, and make the calamities of good men, and such as feare God, their pastimes and sports. Hast not thou seene a Tyrant vpon the top of a Theatre, looking vpon poore slaues fighting against Lions and Tygres, fee∣ding his eyes and cruell hart, with see∣ing a poore man pluckt quite & cleane in pieces, and dismembred? After the same manner do the wicked feed their desires, in beholding the troubles which scourge the innocents.

6 O, how prowd and arrogant doth this make them? for they thinke that the earth was made for them alone,

nay, they suppose, that it is not great enough to hold them. As for other men, they looke ouer their shoulders at them, and it should seeme that they enuie them because they liue, and dis∣dainfully say in murmuring wise, Shall we alwayes see this raskall before vs? Shall this bundle of miserable wret∣ches be euer still in our eyes? And besides, when they are alone, they say, What begger is this? What beast is it? Thus we see how they are louers of them-selues, without companion, and they know no good thing here in this world, but them selues, none wor∣thie desert but them selues, and taking them selues as Gods, they adore them∣selues, seruing nothing but their owne lusts, and reuerencing nothing but their owne passions, so as they are co∣uered ouer from top to toe, with pride, iniustice, and impietie.

7 They are fat with nothing but with wickednes, and their bodies are not fatter with grease, then their soules are with sinnes & iniquities. All man∣ner of villanies and abhominations rumble & tosse vp and downe in their cōsciences, all their desires & thoughts

tend to nothing but vnto some fi••thi∣nesse, or malignitie, at this their eyes leere and gleere, at this it is, that their hands itch, hereon is all their heart set, other affection haue they none, they are moued with nothing but with malice, a man would say, that this were it, which stirreth and embold∣neth their bodies.

8 Thou shalt see, that after they haue along while forethought themselues of their sinnes, after they haue chawed down their wicked purposes, & execu∣ted any cursed enterprise, how they glory therin, braue all the world, speake of Authority, they haue law to do what so euer they do, there can nothing be so stoutly or yet so proudly imagined as they do, but if they had any shame at the least, & that being contented licē∣tiously to outrage men, yet might they cōteine thēselues frō most villanously blaspheming the holy name of God.

9 But what shall I say my God? they haue lifted vp their heads against hea∣uen, & disdainfully looked vpō the seat of thy mightines, as if they would haue sayd, who is like vnto vs? which do here in this, world what we lust: yea euen we,

vnto whose bowes all men bend them∣selues, and vnto whome nature her selfe serueth for a walking staffe. And as for the earth, they will not so much as once vouchsafe as it were to looke on it: but in the end, casting their eyes vpward, by way of commiserati∣on, say, what is all this that we see, but that, whose abundance is noysome to vs, and whose fertilitie troubleth vs?

10 This is in very deed, the cause ô Lord, why all the people, being asto∣nied, assemble them selues together to behold this monstrous sight, men run euery where vnto this spectacle, and know not what to say, when they looke vpon this wonderfull shew: for they are there fast tyed, gaping and looking on it.

11 And in the end, they lose their patience, and begin to murmure, and why? doth God which seeth all things say they, perceiue this? Is not this he which hath that great seeing eye, which sawe all things before they were made, seeth them in their being, and foreseeth them to bring them to their end? Is this he, whose prouidence is sayd to be as great in the gouernment

of the world, as his goodnes was great in the creation of the same? If he ••ath disposed all things by compasse, and created all things by measure: If his iustice be presidēt, and hath the chiefe place in the gouernment of this world, what doth he at this present, how is it, that he is now asleepe?

12 Behold how the wicked spoyle his goods, and possesse the ritches of the world: a man would say, that all things are cre••ted for them, goods rayne downe vpon them as they would desire, honors roll in by heapes ••nto their houses, felicitie holdeth them whether they will or no, they desire, and haue, they wish, and it commeth vpon them.

13 And in the end I my selfe thus sayd also, what now, my God, what a thing is this? for the iustifying of mine hart, and the ruling of mine actions according to thy commandements are all in vaine? I gaue ouer all mine owne affection, because I would loue none but thee, I haue circumcised mine hart of all his wicked desires, and fettered my will with the shackles of thy loue, because it should serue nothing else

but thy glory: and in eschuing both sinnes and sinners, I haue kept com∣panie with the innocents, and washed mine hands amongst them, and not the hands of my body only, my God, but the hands of my soule, that are mine affections, which I haue washed and purified with the brookes of my teares.

14 I haue embraced repentance, & scourged my selfe all day long, bea∣ting mine hart with cōtinuall sorrows, pricking it with sharp and piercing contritions, and driue from it with many sorrowfull sobs all that ill and cursed humor which hath engalled my will. Euery morning when I rose I cry∣ed thee mercy for my sinnes, and dete∣sted mine iniquitie, and thinking to a∣mend my life, I continually watched ouer this purpose, and thereupon I be∣gan my dayes worke.

15 I sayd within my selfe whē I was alone, loe, as for my selfe, all that I am able to say, is this, that in the end, they which feare God, and serue him, are af∣flicted, and they that blaspheme his name, liue at all ease & pleasure. And therupon, I began ô Lord, to detest the

condition of all those who glorifyed them selues in being thy children and chosen people, and began to say, Are these they that are called the children of the Almightie God? verely, these are the children of reprobation, for loe, the other sort, possesse the inhe∣ritance of their Fathers, and these men liue in extreame pouertie. But the others are they that abound in all wealth, and vnto whome God is so fa∣uourable and indulgent, which are his children; it is they vnto whome this name belongeth, seeing they enioy his benefits, and are masters next vnto him selfe, of his works.

16 As I my selfe, ô Lord, verely thought, that I knew it to be so, and to say truly, I was told that it was so in∣deed. I could not hold me from vexing & tormenting my selfe, saying, Ah my God, how doth this fall out? Is it pos∣sible that it should be thus? con∣sidering how thou hast threatned the wicked, and how thou hast also pre∣pared punishment for them? To be short, I became strangely and won∣derfully perplexed, when I considered of this geat••.

17 But I at last perceyued thy mind and purpose, and hauing entred into the depth of thy sanctuary, me thought I was come into thy holie consistorie, and vnderstood thy councell therein. For, after I had resolued with my selfe to see the end whereunto thou had∣dest prepared those peoples, I forth∣with saw that thy iustice is most true, and that although it sometimes ma∣keth slow haste, yet it payeth home at the last with seueare punishment, and therefore I verie stedfastly waited and looked what should become of them.

18 And truly, in the end, thou pay∣edst them thorough stitch, and rewar∣dedst them according to their craftie and wicked dealing. For, when they thought them selues at the highest de∣gree of honor, behold, thou ouer∣threwst them, and castedst them down headlong in a bottomlesse depth of miserie. For, all their pomps, mag∣nificences, and ritches, were nothing vnto them in the end, but an high and eminent scaffold, to bring them vp vn∣to that steepe and high breake-necke, from whence they were most shame∣fully rolled downe ouer and ouer.

19 O most true God, what a desola∣tion & discomfort is this? There is no∣thing but weeping about them: for, all they of their guards, and all their pen∣tioners, do nothing else but beate their brests, holding down their heads as the Lilly holdeth downe his when it is sore rayne-beaten, and hauing compassion of those whome they were wont to en∣uy. They most lamentably looke vpon the ruine of their idoll, and consider with them selues how foolish they were to make a mortall and miserable man their God, who was no better then wind or smoke. For, if a man conside∣reth and marketh their end, he shall see them dispatcht and gone in a mo∣ment, neyther is there any thing that commeth more speedily to an end, then the way of their greatnesse brin∣geth them thereunto, and they haue bene so suddainely changed, as that there could be nothing possibly to be seene of them. Behold and looke on them, for once they were, and now they are not, hardly can a man see their footsteps, and marke, whither their sinnes haue brought them, it was a great while before the snare or grin

could be made fit for them, but loe in the end, they lighted into it. For, du∣ring the time that the foundation of the house was in vndermining, they climbed the higher, that their fall might be the greater. They conti∣nually clambered vp higher and high∣er, and thought, that whatsoeuer was below them, was theirs only, but in the end they clambered vp so high, as that they lost them selues in the ayre, before they could get againe to the earth, so as they were caried away with the wind.

And loe, they became as dreames when men awake: for, as a man sayth when he awaketh, I dreamed well to thinke of such a thing, euen so shall it fare with you, for, when such men as ye are shall vanish away and come to naught, the people will then say, surely the greatnes of these men, was but as a dreame, and a very meere, vaine, and inconstant folly. For, thou wilt make them of so little worth, as that they shall be neuer once thought of, but as in a mockerie, and in discommending and condemning their pride and inso∣lencie, will say, See how their houses

are ruined, behold the place where these outragious Sirs dwelt, who ca∣red neither for God nor men, which delighted in nothing but in filthinesse & wickednes, who haue built so many, and so many houses with the boanes of the poore, and cimented their palaces with the bloud of the needy, and loe, there remaineth nothing of all that they had, but the markes and notes of their ignominie, for, the tempest hath passed ouer them, and there is not so much as any one tittle or iote re∣mayning of them.

21 Thus we see, ô Lord, that we must not rashly iudge of thy proui∣dence, and therefore who so euer will iudge therof, must patiently wait vnto the end, and suffer himself to be led by thy spirit, & must call vpō thee also for the comforting & addressing of him: for, notwithstanding that I fret, fume, chafe, sigh, & grone, and haue set euery part of my body in a sweat with sore la∣bor, and brought my selfe as it were e∣uen to deaths dore, yet am I neuer a∣whit the better for it: and after I had tormented my selfe, I found my selfe as resolute as I was before.

22 I was so vexed and grieued I say, as that I knew not whether I was a man or a beast, nay, I was in very deed like a beast, and could no more com∣prehend the same, then if I had vtterly lost mine vnderstanding. Howbeit, I still stand to that hope which I haue in thee, and the more I see my sense and iudgement fayle me, the speedelier runne I vnto thee, and humbly be∣seech thee to open my spirit, that I may know and vnderstand what thy will is.

23 Thou hast taken and held me fast by the hand, and set me gently a∣gaine in the way of thy will, and ma∣dest me vnderstand the purpose and mind, nay, thou hast done more then that, for me thinketh, thou hast ope∣ned both mine eyes, and the heauens all at once, that I might see the migh∣tinesse of thy glorie: Thou hast I say, ô Lord, made me to see it, for, this is a thing, whereunto no mortall man without thee, is able to reach.

24 For alasse, should I, poore weake thing that I am, go to seeke for that in heauen, which I cannot very well see at my feet, who cannot perceiue, but

••ith much ado, that which is here o•…•… •…•…th before me? The eyes of my bo∣••e are very duskish and mistie, and •…•…e eyes of my soule farre worse, and ••ens though••s are maruellous vncer∣••ine and weake, for the earthly and •…•…rruptible body, dulleth and maketh •…•…le our spirits, and ••yeth and bindeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 senses fast vnto the earth, in so •…•…ch as that without thee, I can not ••ope for any thing here below in the ••orld, nor yet promise vnto my selfe ••y certaine knowledge of what thing •…•…uer. What am I able, being here •…•…on the earth, to iudge and discerne ••hout thy ayd, and without it plea∣•…•…h thee to enlighten my spirit with •…•…se things which thou hast ordey∣•…•…d in heauen, in the seate of thine e∣•…•…itie? But thou also, ô Lord, hast •…•…plyed my want, and led me by the •…•…d, to make me see the counsels of ••e eternall wisedome, thou hast as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ere made me in loue with thee, •…•…d hast heaued and thrust my spirit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of my body, to make it capable of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heauenly light, and of thy wise ••poses.

25 Surely, when I consider of these

wondrous things, I am cleane gone, my hart is taken from me, and I am fallen into a swound, ô God. What is this my God, which thou hast made me see? O thou the God of my hart, of my thoughts, & of my hope, and thou, ô God, whome I esteeme to be my on∣ly felicitie, and whome to loue, I haue from henceforth destined all my affec∣tions. I now know, ô Lord, what thou art, how iust, and how puissant, I will now neuer be abashed more, ne yet astonyed, to see the strange and wonderfull things of the world, whereof I am not able to compre∣hend the reason. For, thy counsels are maruellous high, and thy wise∣dome terrible profound. But in the end, ô Lord, whatsoeuer thou dispo∣sest off here in this world, is finished by Iustice.

26 For, as many as withdraw them selues from thy obedience, and e∣straunge them selues from thy grace, shall perish most miserably: and all they which breake the faith of the couenant which they haue sworne, to serue theyr concupiscences and filthie lustes, and goe an whoring

••ith the earth, and with their carnall ••ffectiōs, all they that defile their con∣sciences, and prostitute their soules ••nto wicked and impio••s cogirations, hall be rooted out, and passe through the fury of thy reuenging hands.

27 But as for me, ô Lord, I will neuer depart from thee, neither hope for any other felicitie, but so to cleare & stick fast to thy sides, as that I will neuer de∣part thence. I will so stedfastly looke ••pon thee, as that I may obserue the twinklings of thine eyes, and so con∣firme my selfe vnto whatsoeuer thou desirest of me, & follow ranke by ranke whatsoeuer thou commandest me: I intend to put my whole trust in thee, and seeing I know thee to be altoge∣ther good and almightie, and as I assu∣redly beleeue that thou louest me, so also will I constantly beleeue that thou wilt assist me, and geue me all things that are necessary for me. O, how ex∣cellēt & most assured is that hope, that is built vpon the promise of the most good & almighty God, who hath geuen me such a number of earnest pence of his beneficence, so many pawnes of his liberalitie, that he might make

me beleeue, that I shall be assured of the reward which he hath promised me, if I serue him faithfully. Why do∣est thou, my God, most liberally be∣stow vpon me so many benefits, why doest thou promise me such infinite∣nesse, seeing there is in me nothing but sinne and infirmitie?

28 I right well see, ô Lord, that it is to the end that I may be the man to declare abroad euery where, thine immensurable mercy, and vnspeake∣able goodnes, and publish thy prayse throughout all the gates, places of re∣sort, and secret corners of Syon, thine holy Citie. To the end that I, going vp into thine holy hill amongst those whome thou hast assembled in thy Chu••ch, for the receyuing of thy bles∣sings, and seruing of thy glory, might make them vnderstand the secrets of thy wisedome which thou hast vouch∣safed to reueale vnto me. And that in addressing my voyce with that stile which thine holy spirit hath framed in the same, I might vnfold the holy my∣streries of thine incomprehēsible wise∣dome, to the end, that euery one hea∣ring me discourse of the knowledge

wherein thou hast instructed mee, might be had in admiration, not of me, who am but an hoarse instrument of thy glory, but of the maruellous ef∣fects of thy quickning spirit, who shall embolden me vnto this glocious, h•…•…y, and solemne worke. But ô Lord, after thou hast for a while, entertained vs here in this estate, vpō this terrestriall Syon, lift vp our eyes vnto that hea∣uenly Syon, embolden and encourage vs vnto the attayning of that blessed aboad, and teach vs, which are they vn∣to whome thou hast promised the same. And teach vs also, how we must carry our selues to be made worthy of so excellent, holy, and glorious a dwel∣ling place.

O Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle, &c. Psalme. 15.

1 THE world, ô Lor••, sith it hath so plea∣sed thee, is vnto vs a tedious pilgri∣mage, wee dayly walke therein, and

cannot finde any nights rest for our wearyed members. For, if we thinke to lay downe our heads vpon the pillow or bolster to geue our eyes sleepe, our afflictions importune vs like flyes, yea, and the very passions which are bred within our flesh, do swell & puffe vs vp, and venome vs like dangerous scorpi∣ons, and kill vs, if we presently kill not them. What are we like to hope after, seeing that as we lack strength, so must the miseries also needs grow vpon vs? seeing that which way so euer wee turne, or are any way able to turne vs, we shall finde our selues altogether in the middest of the world: and this world, find it how and where we will, is onely full of misery. Where then shall we finde rest? we shall neuer find it in this miserable life, where-into we are put as chief wrestlers, to striue against all manner of aduersities, but rather, ô Lord, in thy Tabernacle, in the holy dwelling place of thy Godhead, where our labors shal be crowned. O blessed, yea thrise blessed is he, for whom thou hast prepared this so goodly and plea∣sant a withdrawing place, for the miti∣gating and comforting of his paines

and griefes past, within the bosome of thy grace, and resteth himselfe be∣tweene the armes of thy mercy. But, who are they that shall one day dwell with the companions of thy blessednes & glory? for, to heare that which is said of it, this is not a place for all the world to come vnto, for this is a place of a monstrous height, and of an infinite largenesse, and compassed & adorned with incredible magnificence. I know not what else to say vnto thee, but that this is a very high hill, vppon the top whereof, is a maruellous beautifull Garden, beset and furnished with all sorts of delicat & fine flowres, wherein also are plāted many rowes of trees, of infinit sorts of fruites, and moystned & bedeawed with most liuely and cleare running waters. Certainly, this is a ve∣••y hye hil in deed, for who soeuer com∣meth there, must on euery side runne through grieuous and hard tribulati∣ons, yea, an hundreth times harder then either the flint or rocky stone. And he that will come there, must be alwayes farre from the center of the earth, that is to say, hee must no be too too farre in loue with

himselfe, but must tread vnder his feet all sensuall and earthly affections. This is in truth like a most flourishing Gar∣den, for in it are resident, the seeds and causes of all things, which dayly bring forth most infinit goodly effects, and most noble and excellent works: for, the partitions and deuisions thereof, there is a goodly disposing of the par•…•… of the world, so iustly and euenly measured, as possibly can be deuised. The frutes thereof, are the pleasant and sweet sauouring contemplations of wisedome, wherewith it nourisheth and satisfieth the soules there dwel∣ling. The running waters thereof, are the spring heads, issuing from the e∣ternall bountie, which spreadeth it selfe from an high ouer all the parts of the world, and cōtinually batheth and refresheth them. O most beautifull & holy hill, who shal ascend vnto thy top, and who shal rest in the bosome of this so glorious and delightfull an abiding place?

2 Euen he that is purified within the sacred flames of an holy and de∣uout zeale: that hath so eased his soule of the dregs of the world, that there

is nothing left to hinder his course from going that way. For, when the desire of our soule is left naked and bare, it draweth right on vnto the ••nd of her wishes, euen towards the seate of her felicitie. And it is euen then, when being out of loue with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selfe, which is the verie seducer of our vnderstanding, it iudgeth alto∣gether vprightly, and rendereth to e∣very thing that duety which nature commandeth, conseruing peace by iu∣stice, maintaining all things as they were in their creation, and directing them vnto that end for the which they were brought forth. And to say truly, the iust man is nothing else, but the •…•…or of nature, who defendeth her l••wes, and fighteth for her owne con∣seruation, maintaining in rest & peace that, which was by wisedome created. And therefore, ô thou Iustice, the mo∣ther of peace, thou art, next vnto in∣nocencie, in the first degree, to as∣cend vnto the hill of eternall bles∣sednesse.

3 Next after, Truth followeth thee, clearely shining on euery side, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a most firme and durable rock, a∣gainst

the which the cloudes of sclan∣ders kick in vayne, and at the first encounter which they spurre in her flankes, they are all cleane scattered and gone. And Veritie, who presenteth her selfe second, marcheth to get into that blessed harbrough. For, ô beauti∣full and holy Truth, whensoeuer any one loueth thee, and hath set his hart on thee, thou thy selfe art by and by in his hart, and after goest into his lips; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there adornest thou him with most sin∣gular beauty. And to say truly, that beauty is nothing else but the eternall truth, which shineth in the works of the word of God, which made al things frō the beginning. He then which hath embraced this pure truth, shall ascend to that top, he hath ioyned in thought with her, set vp an Aulter in his lips, driuen frō him deceit & lying, & rooted them cleane out of his hart & mouth. For, lying is the very mortall poyson of the soule: it is a slymy & cleauing hu∣mor, which ouerslowing the eye of vn∣derstanding, engendreth therein as it were a filme, which taketh away both sight and iudgement.

4 No, no, he that will ascend into

that hill, must cast from him all va∣nitie and lying, for these ragges will catch hold on euery nayle: he must also be purged of this venemous malignitie, which is alwayes busie and readie to do ill vnto his neigh∣bour, the very poyson of humane societie. For, seeing it hath pleased thee, ô Lord, that men which liue together, should serue, as all the rest of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 works do, the ministerie of thy glory, he that cutteth off good will, which as a firme band ioyneth thē to∣gether, doth not he break thy law, & of∣fend thine honor? what shal become of him then, who not contēt to suffer the •…•…re of charitie to was dead in his hart, but enforceth himselfe besides to de∣fame his good name?

5 And therefore, ô Lord, he that will ascend vnto thee, and stretcheth out his hand to enter into this bles∣sed habitation, must alwayes abhorre these pestilences, which being full of bloudy malice, thinke of nothing but of the infelicitie of their neighbours, & take pleasure in nothing but in dis∣pleasing and grieuing of them, as by their very countenāces may be seen 〈◊〉〈◊〉

for, when they weepe, then are their neighbours in good estate, and when they laugh, then goeth it ill with them. No, no, their imaginarie greatnesse, their pride setled vpon their extorti∣ons and deceits, will not suffer them to abide an honest man, for, they are but white painted sepulchres, whose filthi∣nesse and infection, will one day disco∣uer it selfe, when it shall please thee, my God. But knowest thou who they are that will make accompt of an ho∣nest man? Euen they that feare and serue thee in holinesse of life, and sim∣plicitie of hart.

6 They, I say, ô Lord, who thinke thee to be alwayes present, not only at their actions, but in their most se∣cret thoughts, they that inuiolably keepe their faith, whose word is a sure pawne of truth, vpon whose promise his friend assureth him selfe, and ac∣compteth it alreade done which he hath promised: for, such a man, ô Lord, beleeueth verely that his saluation de∣pendeth of the promise which thou of thy meere fauour and grace, hast made vnto him, and that he shall not be wor∣thie to receiue the effect of thy holie

promise, if hee render not vnto his neighbour, the sure effect of his owne. He will not heare Vsury once named, but abhorreth that wicked theeuery, which putteth another mans necessity to ransome, putteth the help which he oweth vnto his neighbour to sale, and selleth time, dayes, moneths, & yeares. But much lesse will he be corrupred, to condemne the innocent, to sell the goods of another man wrongfully, and defile the sanctuary of Iustice for filthy gayne: but holding his eyes al∣wayes open, that he may vnderstand the poynt of reason, and leaneth but vnto that side where the law iudgeth rightly. Neither doth auarice make his hand shake, nor fauour to hold vp his hand to take, but keepeth him selfe alwayes equall and vpright, and faith∣full and iust vnto all others, geuing by his wisedome, authoritie vnto his iudgements.

7 He that shall thus liue, shall wi••h∣•…•…t doubt, ascend vnto the height of this happy hill. The Angels shall carry him vp in their armes, guide his feet for feare of stumbling, and in the end, place him before the face of the eter∣nall

truth, where he shall for euer en∣ioy the pleasant abiding place of this most excellent hill, lifted vp aboue the heauens, to be the habitation of glo∣rified innocencie, and be reunited vnto the principall of his being, which is that euerlasting Deitie, and diuine eternitie. All things here below, al∣ter and change, haue an end, and are consumed: but he, whose vertue shall haue lifted him vp vnto this heauenly blessednes, shall continue in most glo∣rious estate, and vanquish all times and ages. Strengthen therefore, ô Lord, our courages, and comfort vs in these worldly afflictions. And see∣ing it is thy good will and pleasure, that good men shall goe this way, through the insolencies and iniuries of the wicked, susteine thou their hope which is shaken by their afflictions, and by the prosperitie of the wic∣ked, and graunt them constancie to continue vnto the end, that they may see the repayment both of the good and of the bad.