WHerefore came I out of my mothers womb , ●…ier . 20. that I might behold sorrow and payne ? and that my dayes might be consumed in confusion . Yf he whome our Lord God dyd sanctifie in his mothers womb , dyd speake thus of him selfe , what shall I then saye of my selfe whom my mother hath begotten in sinne ? Ah las for me , O mother ( may I well saye ) wherefore hast thou begotte●… or conceyued me the sonne of bitter sorrow and payne ? Wherefore dyed I not in my mothers wombe ? Or wherefore dyd I not perrish , euen as sone as I came forth of the same : Wherfore was I receiued betwene hir knées , suckled with hir teats , & yet borne to become meat for worms , and fuell for Fyer ? Oh that I had béene slayne in hir entrales , and that she had become my Sepulcre , & hir womb●… had bene my last conception . Then had I bene as if I wer●… not , transferred from the Wombe to the Tombe . Who therefore will geue me a Fountayne of teares to myn●… eyes , that I may be wayle the miserable entrie of mans condicion , the culpable proceding of mans conuersacion , & th●… damnable ending of mans dissolucion . Let man then ( with teares ) consider whereof he is made , what he doth , & what h●… meaneth to doe . Suerly he shall fi●…de that he was formed and facioned of the Earth , conceiued in sinne , borne vnto misery , & that he dothe lewde thinges which are not lawfull , filthy thinges which are not comely , and vayne thing●… which are not expedient . He shal be made fewell for Fyer , meate for wormes , and matter for corruption . But let m●… expound these wordes more playnely : I should better hau●… sayed , Man is formed and made of Dust , Clay , Asshes , and a matter much vyler , which for modestie I doe not name , con●…eiued in concupisence of the fleshe , in the feruent heate o●… lust in the loathsome stinck of desyre , ( and that worse is ) in the blot and blemish of sinne , borne vnto payne , sorow , and fear●… , yea and ( that which is most miserable ) vnto death . He doth lewd thinges wherby he offendeth God , his neighbor , and him selfe . He doeth filthy facts , whereby he defileth his good name , his conscience and his person , and he doth vayne thinges , wherby he neglecteth serious , profitable & necessary things . He shal become the fewel for fier , which alwayes burneth and can not be quenched , the foode of worms , which euer gnaw and féede vpon him , & the continewall masse of corruption which alwayes stincketh , & is filthie , odious , and horrible .

Then our Lord God hath formed man of the ●…ime of the Of the vilene●… of mans substance . Earth , which is more vile then the rest of the Elements , as it appeareth in the second of Genesis , He made the Planets and Starres of the Fyer , the blastes and wyndes of the Ayre , the Fisshes and Fowles of the Water , and Man and beast he made of Earth : Then if he consider of the creatures created in the water , he shall perceiue him selfe to be vile . Considering the creatures made of Ayre , he shall finde himself more vile , & considering the creatures of fyer , he shal fynd himself most vyle : Neither shal he make him self equal with the heauenvly creatures , nor dareth prefer himselfe before the creatures of the Earth , for he shal finde him selfe equal vnto beastes , and shall acknowledge himselfe lyke vnto cattell , sithence th end of man and cattel of the feild is all one , and their condicion and estate are equall , neither can man doe any more then a beast . From the Earth they sprang and rose , and to the Earth they shal retorne together . These are Eccle. 3. not the wordes of any worldly man , but of the wysest euen Salomon . What is man then but slyme and dust ? and thervpon he sayth vnto God : Remember ( I besech thée ) that thou hast made me lyke vnto Earth , and shalt bring me into Iob. 10. dust againe , and thervpon also God sayth vnto man . Thou art dust , and shalt retorne into dust . I am compared ( sayth Gene. 3. Iob ) vnto Clay , and am lykened vnto Imbers and Asshes . Clay is made of Water and dust , and both the substaunces doe remaine therein , and Asshes are made of Fyer & woode , and bothe the substances doe fayle . An expresse mistery , but to be expounded in an other place . Then what is Clay to be prowde on ? or whereof doest thou extoll thy selfe , O dust ? O Asshes , whereof doest thou glory ?

Peraduenture thou wylt answere , that Adam him selfe Of the vice of Conception . was fashioned and formed of clay , and that thou art procreate of the séede of man . But he was formed out of virgin Iob. 14. clay , and thou art procreate of séede , which is vncleaue , for who can make that cleane which is conceiued of vncleane séede ? What is man that he may seme vndefiled ? or that which is borne of man may seme iust ? For behold , I was Psalm. 50. begotten in iniquitie , and my mother conceiued me in sin . Not onely in one iniquitie , nor in one onely transgression , but in many iniquities , and in many transgressions , yea , euen in strange iniquities and transgressions , for there are two kinde of conceptions , one of séede , an other of nature . The first is made in such factes as are committed . The second , in such thinges as are purchased and gotten , for the parents commit in the first , and their issue doe purchase in the second . For who is ignorant that the act of generation ( yea euen betwene maried folkes ) is neuer committed without prouocation of the fleshe , without heate of l●…st , or of concupisence , wherevpon the séedes which are conceiued be vncleane , be blotted , and made corrupt , and the sowle beinge therewith ouer flowed dothe purchase the spot of sinne , the blot of gilt , and transgression , and the blemish of iniquitie , euen as liquor is corrupted beinge thrust into an v●…cleane vessell , and beinge once poluted , is defiled , euen by the first touch therof . For the sowle hath thrée natural powers , or three natural forces , that is to say , a reasonable power to deserne betwene good and euill , a passionate power to reiect the euill , and a power of appetite to desier that which is good . These three powers are originally corrupted with three opposite and contrary vices , the reasonable power ●…y ignoraunce that it may not deserne betwene good and euill , the passionat power by wrath and anger , that it may reiect the good , & the power of appetite by the concupisence that it may desier that which is euill . The first of these vices begetteth transgression , the last bringeth forth sinne , & the midlemost ingendereth both sinne & transgression , for it is transgression to doe that which is not to be done , & it is sinne to indeuor that which is not to be indeuored . These thrée vi ●…es are purchased and gotten out of corrupted flesh , by thrée allurements , for in carnall copulation the vnderstanding is lulled on slepe , to th ende that ignorance may be sowed , the prouocation of lust is styrred vp , to th ende that anger and motion of mynde may be spred a broade , and the affection of voluptuousnesse is satisfied , to th end that concupicence may be obtayned . This is that Tyran fleshe , the lawe and ruler of the members of man , the norishment of sinne , the languishment of nature , and the fodder of death , without the which no man is borne , and without the which no man dyeth , the which although it passe ouer at any tyme in state of accusation , yet it remayneth alwayes in acte . For if we say that we haue no sinne , we beguyle our selues , & the trueth is not in vs . Oh greuous misery and vnhappy estate & condition , 〈◊〉 . Io. 1 before we sinne we are bound and wrapped in sinne , and before we transgresse , we are caught in transgression . By one man sinne entered into the worlde , & by sinne death Rom. 5. tooke hold of all men , for dyd not the forefathers eate a sower Grape , and their childrens téeth are set on edge .

Wherfore then was light geuen to him that is in wretchednesse Of the weaknes of the 〈◊〉 . & lyfe lent to such as are in bitternes of the sowle ? Oh happie they are , which dye before they are borne , which tast of death , before they know what lyfe is , for soure are borne so deformed and prodigious , that they seme not men , but rather abhominations , vnto whom nature ( perhappes ) should much better haue foresene , if she had neuer suffered them to be sene , for they are demonstrate and set to shew as monsters and shewes , and some againe lacking some of theyr members & sences , are borne vnperfect , to the grefe of their freindes , the infamy of their parents , and the abashinge of their neighbors . But what nede I speake perticularly of these imperfections , sithence all men generally are borne , without knowledge , without speach , without vertue , without power ? wéeping , wayling , weake , féeble , and but little de●…eringe from brute beastes , or rather hauinge lesse perfect●…ō in many things then they haue , for they goe as soone as they be borne , but we can neither goe straight vpon our féete , no nor crepe vpon our hands if nede were .

We are all borne crying , that we may thereby expresse our Of the pai●…e of child berth & the crying out of the Infan●… . misery , for a male childe lately borne , pronounceth A. and a woman childe pronounceth E : So that they saye eyther E. or A : as many as discend from Eua. And what is Eua , but Heu , Ha ? eche of these soundes is the voyce of a sorowful creature , expressing the greatnesse of his grefe , & here vpon before Eua sinned , she was called Virago , and after she sinned she deserued to be called Eua , when she hard sayed vnto hir , Thou shalt bring forth in sorrow and payne , for ther is Gen. 〈◊〉 . no payne to be compared to that which a woman abydeth in hir labor . Wherevpon Rachel with ouer great grefe of Cen. 35 laboring , dyed , and at hir death shee called the name of hir sonne Benony , which betokeneth the sonne of sorrow or payn . The wife of Phinees : faling sodeynly in labor , brought 1. Reg. 4. forth a childe , & dyed withall , & euen at the instant of death , she called hir sonne Icabod . But a woman ( licke vnto one Ioan. 16. that hath escaped shipwrack ) is sorowfull & sad , whiles shee laboreth , but when she hath brought forth a childe , then remembereth she not hir paynes , for ioye bicause a man child is borne into the world . Then she conceiueth with filth and vncleannesse , she bringeth forth & is deliuered with paine and heauinesse , bringeth it vp and nowresheth it with toyle and carefulnesse , and kepeth and preserueth it with dread & fearefulnesse .

Man commeth forth naked , and shall retorne naked , he Of the nakednesse of man . Iob. 1. commeth poore , and he goeth poore . Naked ( sayeth Iob ) I came out of my mothers wombe , and naked shall I returne thether , we brought nothing into this world , and doubtless●… we can carry away nothing . But if any man depart out of 1. Tim. 6. this world clothed , let him marke well what kinde of clothing he bringeth , filthy to be spoken , more filthy to be heard , and most filthie to be sene .

O vile vnworthinesse of mans estate and condicion , & O What fruites a man bringeth forth . vnworthy estate of mans vilenesse . Search the trees & the herbes of the Earth , they bringe forthe boughes , leaues , flowers , & fruits . A man bringeth forth nitts , lyse & worms . They distill & powre out , Oyle , Wyne , and Balmes , and a man maketh excrements of spettle , pisse , and ordure . They smell & breathe all swetenesse of smell and pleasauntnesse , whereas man belcheth , breaketh wynde and stincketh , for such as the tree is , such fruites it bringeth forth , and an euil tree can not bring out good fruit . Then what is man ( according to his shape and proporcion ) but a tree turned topsie turuey ? whose rootes are his heares , the stub of the roote is his head and his neck , the body of the tree , is his breast , belly , and bulke , the boughes are his armes & legges , and the little braunches and leaues , are his fingers and toes . This is the leafe which is tossed with the wynde , and the stuble which is dryed vp with the Sunne .

In the first age of Man , it is read , that he lyued nyne Of the discomodities of age , and the shortnesse of lyfe . hundreth yeares and more , but when mans lyfe began by lyttle and lyttle to declyne , then our Lorde GOD sayd to Noe : My Spirit shall not remayne with man for euer , because he is fleshe , and his dayes shall be one hundreth Sapi. 9. and twenty yeares , the which may be vnderstoode aswell Eccle. 1. by the tearme of mans lyfe , as by the space to repent him , for from that tyme forthwardes fewe are read of which lyued any longer . But when mans lyfe was dayly more and more P●…alm . 89. shortned , then was it sayde by the Psalmest , The dayes of his tyme are seauentie yeares , or if it be a stronge body●… , foure skore yeares , and then theyr payne and sorrow increaseth . For shall not the small number of my dayes be finished in smal tyme ? Our dayes doe passe away more swiftly then the webbe , is cut from the weyuers hand .

A man borne of a woman , lyuinge short tyme , replenished Iob. 10. with many miseries , commeth forth lyke a flower , and is plucked vp , and flyeth away lyke a shadowe , and neuer contineweth in one estate . For now a dayes , men doe lyue forty yeares , and very fewe doe reache sixtie yeares . But if man doe attayne vnto age , immediately his hart is afflicted , his head is troubled , his spirites languishe , his breath stincketh , his face is wrinckled , his body is bowed , his eyes are daseled , his féelinge faylleth , and his quickenesse quayleth , his teeth become rotten , and his eares are closed vp .

An olde man is soone prouoked , but hardly reuoked , beleauing quickly , and mistrustinge laysurely : co●…etous , and greedy , heauy , and needy . Swyft to speake , and s●…owe to heare , praysing thinges of antiquitie , and dispysinge what is vsed presently , blaminge the tyme present , and allowing the tyme past , he sigheth and is vexed , he waxeth weake and is aston●…ed , as Horace sayth . Multa senem circum 〈◊〉 in comod●… . To conclude , neyther let olde men glory against yonge men , nor yet let younge men waxe insolent and disdayne olde men , for they haue béen as we are , and we shall one daye be as they now are .

The Byrde is created to flye a lofte , and Man is borne Of the paines and labors of men . to be weryed with toyle and labour . All his dayes are full of labours and paynes , neyther can his mynde be quiet in the scilent night , and what is this but vanitie , there is no man without labour vnder the Sunne , nor without defectes and imperfections vnder the Moone , nor without vanitie vnder tyme . Tyme is the delay of thinges subiect vnto change , the vanitie of vanities ( as the Preacher sayth ) and all is vanitie . O how variable are mens studies , and how diuers be theyr exercises , and yet they haue all o●…e ende , and one selfe same effect , euen labour , payne , and vexacion of the mynde . There is much businesse created for all men , and a great yoke is layd vpon the sonnes of Adam , from the day that they come forth of their mothers wombe , vntil the day of their Sepulture , in the earth , which is mother to all lyuing creatures . Let wyse men search narrowly , Of the study of wise men . let them héedely consider the height of the heauens , the breadth of the yearth , and the depth of the Sea , let them argue and dispute euery one of this , let them handle them all ouer , and let them alwayes eyther learne or teach , and in so doing what shall they fynde out of this busie toyle of our lyfe , but traueyle and payne ? that knewe he by experience , which sayed : I inclyned my hart to know lear●…nge , & prud●…ce , error , and folishnesse , and I perceyued that all was labor & affliction of the spyrite . For asmuch as in great wisedome and knowledge there is great disdayne , and be which increaseth knowledge increaseth also payne & trauayle , for although whilest that he sercheth it out , he must sweat many tymes , and watch many nightes with sweat and labor , yet is there scarcely any thing so vyle , or any thing so easy , that man can fully and thorowly vnderstand it , nor that he can clerely comprehende it , vnlesse perchaunce that is perfectly knowne , that nothinge is perfectly knowne . Although euen thereby also doth rise an indissoluble argument . But surely the body that is corrupted dothe aggreuate and ouercharge the Sowle and mynde , and this earthly habitacion doth oppresse a thought that pondereth many thinges . Harken what Salomons opinion was vpon that point . All things ( sayth he ) are ●…ard and difficult . No man can expresse them by wordes . Some man doth neyther geue rest vnto his eyes by daye nor by night , and yet can he neither fynde the caus●… nor the reason of Gods workes , yea the more he laboreth to seeke it , so much the lesse shall he fynde it , therefore they faile in the searching , how narrowly so euer they search , because man may waxe proude , but God shal be exalted . For be which searcheth the Maiestie of God , shall be oppressed with his glory , & the more he vnderstandeth , that more he doubteth , yea , and he séemeth to know most , which in déede knoweth least . Therefore it is one part of knowledge and wysedome to know that he is ignorant , sithence God first made man , and he hath wrapped him selfe in sundry and infinite questions .

Men roue and roame about , by high waies , and by pathes , Of the sundry studies of m●… . they clyme the hilles , and passe ouer the mountaynes , they flye ouer the rockes , and cowrce ouer the Alpes , go thorough caues , and enter into dreadfull dennes . They rifle vp the bowels of the earth , and the bottome of the sea . They mark the tydes of the floodes , and wander in the woodes and wildernesse . They put their bodies to the wyndes & tempestes , thunders , lightenings , raynes , waters , waues , seas , fluds , & whirlpooles . They melt & stampe mettalls , they graue and pollish stones , cut and carue woodes , weaue and warpe webbs , make and weare garments , buyld houses , plant orchardes , till feildes , dresse viniards , heat fornaces , and set milles on worke . They hunt , they fyshe , and they fowle . They thinck , and m●…se , they councell and ordaine , they stryue and complayne , they take away and steale , they buy and beguyle , they frowne & smyle . With innumerable other such things , to heape vp riches , and multiply gaynes . To gett estimacion , to extoll theyr dignitie , and to inlarge theyr aucthoritie : & beholde all these are but labour & vexacion of the mynde . If you beleue not me , yet beleue Salomon . I haue ( sayde Eccle. 2. he ) magnified my workes , I haue buylded houses , planted viniardes , made gardeyns and orchardes , replenished them with all manner of fruites and trées , I made sumptuous fishepondes , from whence I might water the beds of my swete blossomes , I kept seruants and handmaydes , and had a great household , with great heardes of cattell , and flockes of shepe , aboue all others that had bene before me in Hierusalem , I heaped vp golde and siluer , and the substaunces of kingdomes and prouinces . I had singing men and musitiōnes , & the delightes of the sonnes of men , I had great pottes and pichers to powre oute wine abundantly at the table , & I excéeded all man in welth which had bene before in Hierusalem . And when I turned vnto all that my handes had made , and vnto the labors and paynes where in I had toyled & sweat in vayne , I sawe in all things vanitie & vexsation of the mynde , and the nothing was permanent vnder the Sunne .

What and how many are the cares which torment men , the thoughts which afflict them , the gréefes which molest Of s●…ndrie gree●…es . them , the dreads which afflight them , the tremblinge which tosseth them , the horrour which amaseth them , the sorowe Iobe . 19. which consumeth them , the heauinesse which ouerchargeth them , and the troubles which vex them ? poore and rich , maister and seruaunt , wedded man and bachelor , ( to conclude ) good & badd , all of them are disquieted with worldly tribulations , and troubled with worldly disquietnesse . Beleue him that hath had experyence . For if I be ( sayth he ) wicked , then of right maye I say : woe be vnto mée , yea thoughe I be iust , yet will I not hold vp my head , being continually toyled with affliction and misery .

The poore are pressed with penury , tormented with The misery of the poore and ritch man . trouble , thyrst , honger , colde , and nakednesse . They séeme vile , they are dispised they crowch , and are ouerthrowne . ( O miserable estate of the begger . ) If they craue , they are confounded with shame , but if the craue not , they are consumed with néede . And are compelled by necessitie to begge . The worst sorte of them accuse God as vnequall , because he hath not rightly deuyded the welth of the world , they blame their neighbor as vnequall also , because he doth not minister vnto them lardgly , they disdayn , murmur and curse . Compare and marke the sentence of the wyse man vpon this . It were better ( sayth he ) to die then to néede . Yea the poore shal be also odious vnto his neighbour . All the dayes of the poore are euell , for his owne brethren hate him . Furthermore his frends went farre from him . As is said Cum fueris felix , multos numerabis amicos Tempora si fuerint nubila solus eris . Fye for shame , the person is estemed accordinge to his fortune , whereas fortune shold rather be estemed according to the person . A man is reputed as good as he is riche , and as euell as he is poore . Whereas he rather ought to be reputed , as riche as he is good , and as poore as he is wicked . But the ritch man becommeth dissolute by superfluitie , and is vnbrydeled through boast & vayne glorie . He runneth vnto all that is delightfull , and falleth into all that is vnlawful , yea those thinges that were the attonements of faults , are become instrumentes of more punishment and correction . Since labour in getting , feare in possessing , and gréefe in losing therof doe alwayes afflict and werie the mynde of man , For where thy treasure is , there is thy hart also , but hereof Mat. 6. we will intreat and speake more at lardge hereafter . The seruaunt wayteth , is wearied with charge and office , is afflicted with stripes , and despoyled of his riches . For if he haue nothing he is compelled to haue , and if he haue any thinge he is then constrained not to haue . The masters fault is the seruaunts paye , but the seruauntes fault is the masters paye . Quicquid delira●…t Rege●… , plectuntur Achiui . The wild Asse is fayne to be the Lyons chase in the d●…rt . So the poore are the pastures of the ritch men . O extreme bondage , nature made vs frée , but fortune appoynteth ser●…tude , the seruaunt is co●…strayned to suffer and no man is suffered to haue compassion , he is compelled vnto lamentation , and no man is suffered to take any 〈◊〉 on him . So that neyther is he his owne , neyther hath any other pertayninge vnto him . They are in a 〈◊〉 case which folow cowrts , for it is miserable to liue vpon an other mans pray and spoyle . If the Lord or master be crewill he must he feared . For the wickednesse of his subiects and vassalls . If he be méeke , it happeneth ofte that he is contempned through the insolence and pryde of his 〈◊〉 . So that dreade afflicteth him that is seuere , and vyle●…sse setteth light by hym that is méeke and gentle , for crueltie breadeth hatred , and famyliaritie bréedeth contempte , famyliar care wearyeth , and domestycall carefulnesse molesteth . For a man must alwayes be readye armed on all sydes , that he may foresée the sub●…ilties of the malicious , propulse iniuries , terrefye enemies , and defend his subiectes . Neither is the mallice of one day sufficient for the same , but day vnto day vtterith payne and labour , and one night sheweth and teacheth carefulnesse to another , so that the dayes of man are called laboursome , & the nights are spent without sléepe or quiet .

If it be possible that fyer myght be kept from burning , Of the misery of maryed & vnmaryed folkes then may flesh also be kept from concupisence , for how much soeuer it be punished , yet can that Iebuseus be neuer expelled . Naturam expellas furca , licet vsque recurret . I will not ( sayth he ) that all men vnderstand this woorde , Mat. 19. but he which can vnderstand it , let him vnderstand it . Whervpon Exod. 28. when God him selfe had commaunded that Moyses and Aron should cloath them selues , with all the rest of the apparell perteyning to the high Priestes onely , he gaue no commaundement of the womens garments , but sayd , that they ( them selues ) should vse the woomens garments , when they went into the Tabernacle of witnesse . The Apostle sayth also : Deceue not one an other , vnlesse it be by consent 〈◊〉 . Cor. 7. for a tyme , that you haue leysure to pray , and then againe returne vnto the same , least Sathan tempt you for your incontinence . For it is better to marry then to burne . So that the Angels of Sathan doe fight againste continence , which carnally prycketh and prouoketh , kyndling the fyer of nature , with the blastes of suggestion , putt fewel therevnto , geue leaue , and minister opportunitie . Yea the Angell of Sathan doth fight by helpe of bewty , which sodeynly se●…e is easely desyred . Wherevpon when Dauid walked in the 〈◊〉 . Reg. 12. Tarrase of the Kinges pallace after noone , and beheld Bersabée washing hir ouer against him , he sent for hir , and had hir , and lay with hir , for she was an exceding faire woman . Likewise , he which hath a wyfe , is carefull for worldly ryches , 1. Cor. 7. and is troubled . For he is vexed and tossed , by many cares , & is deuyded and torne in péeces with sundry doubts , that he may get and administer thinges necessary for his wyfe , his children , his seruantes , and his handmaydes : So that the tribulacious of the flesh haue such thoughtes . The wyfe doth stryue to haue precious Iewells , and change of apparrel , so that hir ornaments are often times more worth then hir husbands substance . For otherwyse by night & day she will morne , sighe , tattle , and murmure . There are thrée thinges that suffer not a man to abyde in his owne house . Smooke , Rayne , and an euil wyfe . She : sayth she ( meaning by some of hir neighbors wyues ) goeth better apparreled , and is better estemed of all men . But I am most miserable in all places where I come , and therefore am despised and contempned of all men . She will onely be loued & lawded . Affirming the loue of an other to be the hatred of hir : And the prayse of another , she suspecteth to be hir disprayse . You must loue all that she loueth , and hate all that she hatethe . She will haue the vpper hand and ouercome , but she cannot abyde to be ouercomen . She will not be maystred , but she aspyreth to mayster . She wold haue power to doe all thinges and would want nothing .