IT is not more triuiall then true , Nimia familiaritas parit contemptum , Too much familiaritie breedeth contempt . Plenty breedes loathing of what wee most desired , and wearisomnesse in what we most delighted , custome causeth facilitie , and that againe produceth carelesnesse , and neglect . Necessitie searcheth and findeth out necessaries , Art beautifieth , but out of Art springeth idle curiositie that marreth all . What integrity is there in any thing ? When the world was cleane purged by waters , and the wicked swept all away , yet there remained a secret Cham lurking in the righteous familie , and in Lots house one that looked back to the rich plaine of Sodome . The purest quintessenee extracted from the purest body by the p●ecisest subtiltie , hath in it semen corruptionis , an insensible beginning of corruption . The Church being cleansed of her leprosie , and restored to her antiquitie comely ▪ and beautifull , groweth so curious on the one side , and so Atheistically sacrilegious on the other side , that who is a good man , who a wise man , sub iudice lis●est . We are falling from comely sobriety , to proud ouer-weening curiosity , and phantasticall leuitie , like those that thinke a thing neuer to be well , till it be spoiled with too much fingering , whitling , and hammering . Too much playing with the phantasie , ( the disease of these times ) marreth a good vnderstanding . For as a learned man saith , it is mater erroris , the mother of errour leading vs from naturall portraitures to anticks , the like whereof ( for illustration sake ) is to be seene in our apparrell , and putting on thereof , and should be seene in our bodies , if they were of aerious substance , and changeable at our will . Much preaching we haue , and much hearing , ( a peculiar blessing on this nation ) we are ripe of conceit , and glib of tongue , euery thing is easie , nothing difficult , and how many thinke themselues able to teach their teachers , and gouerne their gouernours ? Surely , if the Pulpit , and place of authority , were granted them , we should haue so many new coyned Churches , and polities , that the diuine , true , and naturall portraiture of both should be lost , and all of vs left in a maze , and as creatures translated out of their proper element into another . Much haue we in times past desired the sober , and plaine preaching of the word , for knowledge of the truth , and right practise of duties towards God , and one towards another , but the ficklenesse of many is weary of both . They cannot tell whom they would heare , what they would heare , what forme they would haue , and as the sicklie man , and want on childe would haue they know not what . Many are so rauished with their owne anticks , and conceit of their owne knowledge , and all-sufficiency , that it is enough for them to heare for varietie , and comparison sake , new instruments , new voyces , to looke the Preacher in the face , but in the meane while , like Cut-purses , to haue their sacrilegious hands in his pocket , and to salue the smarting sore with a dinner or a supper , sawced with oyly words , with deceitfull hollow courtesies , which fill the eye and the phantasie ( bewitchingly ) but drie vp the bloud in the veines ; for wee are fooles , but they are wise . Their heart goeth after their pride , after their couetousnesse , Ezech. 33. 31. Plenty of the word hath bred loathing thereof , and plenty of Preachers contempt of them . Many haue heard , and seene Christ enough , yet finde neither profit ●or pleasure in him , he hath neither forme nor beautie ; therefore vncleane spirit returne home againe , foxe to thy kinde , dogge to thy old vomit , sowe to thy wallowing in the mire . Heathenish deuotion is meere madnesse ; Popish deuotion is superstitious , and foolish sober hearing and well doing is wearisome : What remaineth but Epicurisme ? And what is that but to make an Idoll of the corruptible body , the most rotten Idoll of all ? Surely , neither Pagans , nor Popish Churches and houses were euer so filled with Idols , as they are now . For the belly , body , or person , is the Epicures Idoll , as the Apostle saith , Phil. 3. 19. And how this Bel , and Iezabel , the corruptible carke is should be more adored , and deifyed , than now it is , I conceiue not , neither can any Cooke , or Tailor imagine , for in deuising new follies they fall into the old vnawares . Now what will be the ripenesse of this swinish wallowing in the lees of concupiscence , but backsliding into Paganisme , or rather a progresse into Atheisme , when all good wisedome and vnderstanding is depraued through lust ? So that in the end , we shall be worse Ignorants , or rather worse miscreants , then euer we were , according to that principle in Philosophie , Bonum optimum corruptum fit pessimum .

Considering the season ( beloued Father in God ) I was in doubt whether it were better to haue exercised my selfe in the Prophet Ieremie , whose prophesies are well befitting this last end of the world , drawing neere to the vniuersall iudgement , as the particular nation of the Iewes did towards theirs , for their wilfulnesse , hard-heartednesse , contempt of their Prophets , carnality of their Priests , confidence in their owne strength , couetousnesse , oppression , &c. But because I feared both meanes and health would faile me in so long a worke , I vndertooke this , which is of like nature ; and intent , namely to withdraw men from the transitory world , and the perishing lusts thereof , euen from this loathsome Belly-Idolatry , spirituall Mastupration , Selfe-harlotry , to the feare of God , and obedience to his commandements , considering the proud presumption ▪ want on securitie , the ciuill filthinesse , modest leuity , courteous Chuch-robberies , and the fruitlesse i●ngling professions of many , whose pratling , and hearing is endlesse , but good workes in humility , and loue , to which God hath elected and redeemed vs , are farre from them , Ephesians 1. 4. Titus 2. 14. which caused wise , aged , experienced Solomon to say , Eccles. 12. 12. Be admonished by these my Sonne , for of making bookes there is no end , and much reading is a wearinesse to the flesh . But he that is not a forgetfull hearer , but a doer of the worke , this man shall be blessed in his deede , Iam. 1. 25. For this is totum hominis , the whole duty of man , Ecces. 12. 13. Surely , if blessednesse be to be found in the deede , then in much writing , reading , speaking , hearing , there must needes be wearinesse , if not to the body , yet to the conscience , which in these outward exercises onely , can neuer finde true comfort , or assurance of Gods loue .

Now I haue made choice of your Lordship , to whom I might Dedicate this worke ; and that for sundry causes : First , that I might exhibite it to you as a New yeares gift , the best that I haue , in token of my sincere loue and duty , and earnest desire of your prosperous and happie welfare , who as you were studious your selfe , when once you were Fellow of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge ; so were you a speciall fauourer , and furtherer of the Studious , whereby you purchased speciall loue , both in your owne Colledge and abroad also , and the same through your perseuerance , and prudent gouernement is still continued amongst vs that liue vnder your Iurisdiction . Another cause is , that it might finde the better passage vnder your patronage , and kinder entertainement vnder your name , that though it be defectiue in selfe-desert , yet for your sake the indifferent , beneuolous , and generous eye , respecting the strong , might ingenuously passe by the we●ke . Moreouer , being desirous to shew forth some testimony of my thankefull minde for your Lordships great fauour towards me ; I thought good to offer that , which onely I am able to giue , and which I know you are most ready and willing to receiue , euen the fruits of my Ministeriall labours to you , a speciall fauourer of faithfull Ministers . Lastly , as tokens of small weight , but of great value , are more acceptable then great Summes , I trust that this small gaine of my one Talent , which I present to your Lordship , as a token of my sincere affection , obedience , and seruice , shall counteruaile a ponderous volume . And what I am lesse able this way to performe , I shall recompence with my continuall and hearty prayers for your temporall and eternall happinesse .

1. To be in a calling , according to Gods generall decree ; Gen. 3. 19. Otherwise a man is a belial , a sluggard , a dissolute , disperst , incompact member , out of fauour with God and man , and his owne conscience , and lyeth open to many miseries , as he is the fittest subiect to be sentina malorum , the sinke of euils .

2. To labour in that lawfull calling , to exercise his talent , that his Lord may receiue his owne with aduantage .

3. To labour with diligence , Chapter 9. 10. of this booke . Hereby many bodily miseries , and occasions of spirituall temptations also are auoyded . For a man to be negligent in his businesse , is to be brother to a waster , as Solomon saith else where .

4. To comfort and solace the body with the fruits of our labours , all the creatures from the highest heauen to the centre of the earth , seruing to no other purpose then the reparation & conseruation of the soules fraile , corruptible vessell : For the soule her self is enliued , fed & conserued by another World , the Word of God effectuall by the spirit that speaketh therein . The body is ex limo terrae , of the slime or seede of the vniuerse ; but the soule is ex alia propagine , progenie .

5. As we haue receiued good ▪ so to be faithfull dispensers thereof , viz. to communicate to others , wherein the essence of charity consisteth . Communicating of mutuall duties , is the bond of ciuill or sociable life , whereby a man in any condition of life , in harmefull occurrences , and vnfortunate accidents , is preserued , helped , relieued , and the beneuolous aspect of neighbours congratulating his prosperous state , is a lightsome , pleasant , and comfortable thing . Moreouer , danti dabitur , & qua mensura metimini , vobis metietur . But this communicating is of all gifts and duties , towards equals , superiours , and inferiours , euen of euery one in their place and calling towards others , in oeconomike , ethike , politike state . Thus farre the Heathen man goeth , but here he makes a stand , he cannot transcend his Orbe . All things are made for man , saith Cicero , and man is borne for man , to be seruiceable and comfortable one to another in sociable life . Therefore all these degrees doe but as it were constitute the vessell of the quickning spirit .

6. The sixt and last degree therefore of felicity , is piety towards God , sincerity in diuine worship , briefly shut vp in this word , Feare God , and keepe his Commandements . It is totum hominis , or totus homo , the whole man , without which he is but praestantissimum brutum . What this feare , and obedience is , is set downe in the Law of Moses at large , which is more largely and plainely expounded by the Prophets , and they againe by the life and doctrine of our Sauiour Christ , and that againe by the Apostles , and they by Pastors and Teachers to the Worlds end . This is that compleate soueraigne good , of soule , body , and state , positiuely taught in this Treatise . Which in a word is this , the wise demeanor of a man towards himselfe , towards others , towards God , in things concerning his owne body , and person , concerning communicating , or sympathising others , concerning diuine worship according to the direction of Gods Word . These degrees must not be sundered , but kept intire of him that would be compleatly happy , so farre forth as happinesse can be obtained in this confused , enormous World . Men being ignorant of this sixe-fold vnion , fall into many errours , run out into many extremities , and plunge themselues into a gulfe of miseries , yea , and digladiate among themselues , praysing , dispraysing , blaming , excusing they know not what , euen tossed in a labyrinth . But he that builds on this ground , and walketh in this light , riddeth himselfe and others out of many , euen infinite errours , and miseries of this vaine life . One man will be very deuout and zealous , but what inconueniences runneth he into , when he neglests his particular calling ? and of the practise of how many duties and goods that by him might be done , is he depriued ? Cert● in quo peccaueris , in eodem puniêris . Wherein a man sinneth , therein shall he be punished ; pouerty , debt , imprisonment , &c. shall fall vpon him , and the obiecting of his profession to scandall , is no small matter . Sed peccat in tutiorem partem ; But I say , what inforceth that offence at all ? He that saith , Deum timè , feare God ; saith also , Mandata eius serua , Keepe his commandements ; whereof diligent labour in a calling is one . For want whereof a man omitteth much good , and offers himselfe to many temptations , and snares . Another laboureth diligently , and worshippeth God , but neglects the duties of charity , whereof in these dayes there are not a few . Saint Iames complayneth of such . Another insisting on duties of charity , neglecteth the duties of piety . But to reckon vp the extremities , and errours of men in the breach of this vnion , which yet would all be wise , and seeme happy to themselues , is an endlesse worke . A sound and prudent spirit within a man , is better then a World of Bookes . Therefore Saint Iohn saith , that those few leaues of the Gospell by him penned , among a World of Bookes that might haue beene made of Christs sayings and doings , are sufficient , what needeth more ? Neither the whole Scriptures , nor the Volumes of the Fathers , nor what can be vttered by voyce , can preuaile , where an heart is wanting . And who can giue man an vnderstanding heart , but God onely ? yet are men presumptuous , therefore they come not to the fountaine of wisedome , and so liue and die in vanity . Thus haue I briefly declared the very life , and substance of this Treatise of the wise and aged King , whose sentences , though they seeme to be difficult and independent , collected by some that haue taken them from his mouth , vpon occasions vttered ; yet are they doubtlesse a continued speech , purposely penned , euery thing orderly cohearing , and methodically colliming at the same obiect . The more wise and aged , most commonly the lesse discoursiue ; and much talking is tedious , their sentences are briefe , fundamentall , and pithy , and their words seeme oft times very independent . Besides this , Solomon , without regard to artificiall structure , vttereth his experiments , and that from the heart to the heart , not from the braine to the eare , ( as common vse among many is in these heartlesse dayes ) and also as the sanctifying Spirit of God moued him . Therefore are his words pure without tincture , altogether of spirituall rellish , and without any taste of the caske . For his maine drift is to cast man wholly out of himselfe , that he might be found in Christ alone , or else be vtterly lost . Cap. 12. 13. Phil. 3. 8. 9. 10.

Now my earnest desire , reuerend , religious , and learned Gentlemen , louers of learning , speciall fauourers , and friends of the learned and vertuous , is , that you would iudge these labours of mine amongst others , worthy your acceptation , rather valuing the same in your generous spirits , according to the mind of him that honoureth , and loueth your vertues , then respecting the dignity of the worke it selfe , which notwithstanding shall be such like as it shall please you to accept , and the Lord to worke by it in the hearts of the Readers without whose quickning Spirit , the whole Scripture is but a dead letter , but into whose nostrils the Lord shall breathe againe the breath of eternall life , it is to them no nose of waxe , as the Papists say , but a plaine euen way , a lanterne to the feete , a light to the paths . Howsoeuer , we are vnto God the sweet sauour of Christ in them that are saued , and in them that perish ; 2 Cor. 2. 15. And vnto you this publike testimony of my obseruance , and loue for your loue to our gifts and calling , I trust shall be acceptable ; which I shall recompence againe with my continuall and hearty prayers to Almighty God , the Father of lights , and fountaine of all good , that the true felicity and chiefe good reuealed to , and penned by Solomon , and here explained , may be plentifully conferred vpon you , to your greatest comfort here in your spirits , soules , bodies , states , and perfect glory of all in the Kingdome of glory .