THe gentleman ( frendly reader ) to whom this booke in the english tongue was dedicated , and who for the excellencie thereof reserued it for his owne priuate Reading without suffering it to bee published , is now deceased : The worke thereupon comming to the handes of a gentleman his kinsman , he is desirous by my presse to make thee partaker of it , as of a worke vnworthie to be obscured ; Take then to thy profit ( gentle reader ) this booke which being writen by a famous author , summarilie containeth precepte in what soeuer necessarie to humane knowledge either concerning bodie o● soule : The preface of no lesse importaunc● for instruction , then the booke it selfe : I prai● the also looke into , and be thankfull to o● learned countrey-man the traslator for hi● trauaile herein . And so fare thou well in the lord , who prosper thee in thy good and vertuous studies .

AFter that I had atchiued the enterprise of the translation of this litle booke ( right worshipfull ) to the end I might communicate , illustrate , and explanate the same to them which vnderstand not the latine tongue , aswell for the commoditie of the studious reader , as the commendation of Leuinus Lemnius the learned author : I called to mind a certain brief & graue poeme of Rhianus the Greke poet concerning the imprudencie & inconstancie of some men , whiche cannot moderate their troublous affections & perturbations of mind with equanimitie , which is a singular vertue & soueraign remedie of al griefes incident vnto humane life : which moderation of mind whosoeuer wanteth is either puffed vp with prosperity , or discouraged with aduersity . We , saieth that poet , do erre & iudge amisse concerning the manifold giftes of God , and receiue them foolishly and vnaduisedlie . For he that is poore & destitute of liuing , doeth with sorow , griefe , & heauines of heart , lay great blame on the determination and appointment of God : but he neglecteth the vertue , industrie , and apt inclination of his owne mind : neither dare he for feare say or do any thing where rich men bee in presence , but bashfulnes & pensiuenes do consume his heart . Contrariwise he which liueth in prosperitie , to whom God hath giuen riches , preeminence , & authority , often times forgetteth his condition , beginning , education , and mortalitie : and eleuating himselfe with arrogancie and depraued hautines of hart , thundereth like Iupiter : & though somtime he be of little stature , he stretcheth vp his head on high , & with amiable armes wooeth faire Minerua , and seeketh to attaine to the top of Olympus . When I had well pondered this pithie poesie , I was animated and encouraged therby to dedicate these my little labours & lucubrations to your worship , as a testification of my prompt wil , readie mind , & grateful hart : So that I was dismaied neither with the consideration of my poore lowe estate , neither with the feare of some such highminded men , as the poet here doeth reprehend : who being aduaunced and adorned with worldly welth , wisdom , dignity , & prosperitie , & euery daie expecting and desiring most exquisit and pleasaunt nouelties , will peraduenture contemne this rude , and vnpolished peece of worke . Therefore submitting the same to your fauour and protection , I attempered my penne , not to be plausible to the learned , whereunto I am not able to attaine , but to please and profite the meane & vnlearned multitude , which is my only desire . And although I know there be an infinite nmber of learned students , whose diligence herein might haue bene farre more commendable in polishing this translation with perfect and excellent Rhetoricall skill , and so could haue come nearer to the elegant stile of the learned author : Yet I thought it better , thus boldly and rudely , as I could , to attempt the same , then that it shouldly hidden from the vnlearned , for whose instruction , admonition , and exhortation it was meete and requisite to dinulgate the same . For to what end is a man borne & brought forth into the light of this life , but by his industrie to glorifie his Creator , and to benefite his neighbour ? He hath liued long inough whosoeuer hath liued vnto nature wel and sufficiently , vnto himselfe & his owne saluation blessedly and happily , vnto the comfort of others profitablie , vnto the glorie of God acceptablie and thankefully . Hee hath not liued , which hath left no issue proceeded of him , which graffeth not trees for another age to come , and so profite his posteritie , which sheweth not some good and profitable doctrin vnto the people that shal be born after him . For as we at this day are the better stablished & more surely confirmed & grounded in the true faith , because we haue learned and receiued the same into our harts of Christ , of his Apostles , of the fathers , of the primitiue Church , and likewise of this last Church , which was a disciple and scholler of sinceritie and veritie Euen so our posteritie shall learne and acquire vnderstanding and knowledge of this our age , & of their auncestors & fore-elders , and will be glade to heare of our consent and agreement in true religion , and our mutuall confirmation and establishing of our assured and liuely faith in Christ Iesus , and will be delighted with the proper erudition of humanitie , and profitable precepts of morall doctrine , which we deliuer and leaue vnto them . Therefore trusting your worship will accept this fruite of my studies , be it neuer so vnripe , so vnseasonable and vnpleasaunt , and wil regard rather the beneuolent affection of the giuer , then the gift it selfe : I am therevpon emboldened to present the same vnto you , as a token of this good and happie newe yere & many moe , and also as a declaration of my willing and dutifull mind towards you , if able power were correspondent to the same . Truly I haue good and iust cause to assure my selfe of your fauour , prompt readines , & alacrity towards me in condescending to this my humble request , & haue as it were the hope thereof in my hands , when I consider your courtesie , affabilitie , and bountie towards all men but specially towards them , in whome some signification and token of Godlie zeale , vertue , and industrie , not coloured with hipocrisie , doth appeare : So that if your christian modesty would suffer your praises to be emblazed to your face your bountifulnes in the propagation of the gospell of Iesus Christ , & the preferment of good learning ( you being a benigne patrone of them both ) deserueth to be more highly condecorated , than this my barbarous epistle can possibile reach vnto . Wherfore your worshipp vouchsafing to graunt this my humble sute in the chearful acceptaunce of this my trauaile , I shall thinke my selfe most bound to your benignity , & shal haue great cause , during life , to pray to God the father for his son Christ Iesus sake , to increase in you great plenty of his good & gracious giftes , and to lift vp his merciful and louing countenance vpon you , all the daies of your long life led in holinesse & righteousnes acceptable vnto him , & to accumulate & blesse you with worship , renowne , prosperity , & felicitie : And when our bodies shall be restored to a far better state of life , and ioyned togither to their soules , to giue you the most happie fruition and possession of eternitie , immortalitie , and most blessed life , that shall neuer in euerlasting continuaunce of time be chaunged . Amen .

THe whole sum and effect of all diuine and humane philosophie , wherein all kinde of excellent and exquisite knowledge consisteth , tendeth chiefly vnto this scope , and may be comprehended brieflie in these two cardinall and principall precepts , namely : To know God , and , To know a mans selfe . For these two exceeding great and large branches of wisedome , reaching by faith ( but not by curiositie ) euen to the throne of the Maiestie of God aboue al heauens , Ephes. 4. and spreading and stretching forth themselues ouer all the workes of God in nature , are not only verie necessarie vnto vertuous life , and godly conuersation , but also verie expedient & behouefull vnto euerlasting life and saluation . These be the two readie steps , by which we must ascend vp vnto the onely perfect and true doore of eternall life , euen Iesus Christ , the Authour , Captaine , and finisher of our faith : by whom whosoeuer entreth , he shall be saued , and shall go in and our , and finde pasture , that is , Iohn 10. shall enioy the gift of grace , the treasure of truth , the food of immortalitie . The knowledge of God is acquired by two maner of studies or meditations . First by the contemplation and consideration of his glorious , excellent , and wonderfull workes : for the inuisible things of him , that is to say , his eternal power and Godhead , Rom. 1. are seene by the creation of the worlde , being considered in his workes . Secondly , God is knowen by his word , and he will be found of them which seeke him therein diligently and desirously . Prou. 8. For so sayth the wisedome of God by Salomon , I loue them that loue me : and they that seeke me early , shall find me . Vnto them therefore which studiously meditate in the holy Scriptures , and attentiuely heare the Gospel preached , God doth reueale and make knowne the richer of his glorious mysteries , which riches is Christ m●… the hope of glorie . For by the sincere preaching of him euery man is admonished , Coloss. 1. & euery man is taught in all wisdome , that euery man may be presented perfect in Christ Iesus . The knowledge of a mans selfe is attained likewise by two intentiue cogitations , and diligent considerations , which do both proceed from the most pure fountaine of the infallible worde of God . The one is , if a man ponder and consider well the excellencie of his creation . Gen. 1. Coloss. 3. 1 Cor. 11. Iam. 1. The other is , if a ma● beholde himselfe in the worde of God , and looke i● the perfect lawe of libertie , and continue therein . For Gods worde is a glasse , wherein we must behold our selues , and become like vnto him . And therin he shall see , Eccles. 17. that as the wise man sayth , God hath created man of the earth , and turned him vnto it againe . He hath giuen him the number of daies and certaine times , and power of the thinges that are vpon ●arth . He clothed them with strength as they had need , and made them according to his image . Hee filled them with knowledge of vnderstanding , and shewed them good and euill He set his eie vpon their hearts , declaring vnto them his noble workes . And gaue them occasion to reioice perpetually in his miracles , th●… they should prudently declare his workes , and tha● the elect should praise his holie name together . The Philosophers hauing some taste and feeling of this knowledge , euen by the lawe and instinct of nature ( although they were destitute of the law of the holy spirite and of grace , that commeth by the faith of Iesus Christ ) called this studious meditation a contemplatiue life , or speculatiue science : wherin whosoeuer doth employ his trauaile and diligence industriously and giue his heart to search and finde out wisedom by all things that are done vnder the heauen , Eccl. 1. that is to say , of all the workes of God in the wonderfull workmanship and creation of the world , so far forth and so much as the lord God the giuer of wisedome and of all good giftes , doth distribute and deuide to euerie man , in such maner as it pleaseth him , & such measure as he knoweth euery man hath neede of : he shall surely find , and vndoubtedly proue , yea euen by experience , that in this life ther is no felicitie , Genes. 47. Hebr. 11. 1. Ioh. 5. Iob. 14. Galat. 5. Eccles. 2. that this world is nothing els but a perillous pilgrimage , a maze of miserie , a surging sea of sorowes and troubles , a continual conflict , a wretched warfare , a gulfe of greefes , a huge heape of iniquities , and a wast wildernes full of vanities and vexation of the spirite , & that there is no profite vnder the sun . For thus hath it pleased the lord the Creatour and conseruatour of all things by his excellent wisedome , Eccles. 1. to humble the heart of man in this sore trauaile , that he hath giuen to the sonnes of men , & in the consideration of mans fraile state and miserable condition : and to eleuate , extoll , and lift vp his mind in looking and aspiring vnto heauenvly things , to the end that he should , Cic. 4. Acad quest. & in Somn. Scip. as Cicero saieth , with an high , noble , and inuincible heart , contemne these humaine , visible , corruptible , earthly , mortal , caducal , traunsitory & momentanythings : & as the Apostle saieth , Philipp. 3. follow hard toward the marke for the prise of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus : sighing & desiring to be cloathed with our house which is from heauen : 2. Cor. 5. And seeke those things which are aboue , & set our affections on heauenly things , Coloss. 3. & not one things which are on the earth : and direct & erect al our cares , studies , cogitations , desires and delights vnto Christ Iesus , which sitteth at the right hand of God : that our conuersation may be in heauen with him . And for him that true , incorruptible and vnspeakable treasure to iudge all these things to bee but dung : Philipp. 3. And for the winning of him to thinke and count al these things but losse , that we may be found in him that is , not hauing our owne righteousnes which is of the lawe , but that which is through the faith of Christ , euen the righteousnes whiche is of God through faith : 2. Cor. 4. And that wee should not looke on the things which are seene , but on the thinges which are not seene : Mat. 6. And that like the foules of the heauen , and the lilies of the field , which liue and growe without care and toile of this life , wee should not weary our selues in labouring for the meate which perisheth , but labour for the meat which endureth vnto euerlasting life , Ioh. 6. which the sonne of man shall giue vnto vs . For as the Israelites walked , iourneyed , and wandered in the great wildernes fourtie yeares , Psal. 66 , & 107. and passed through manie probations & tribulations , before they did goe in and possesse that good land that flowed with milke and honie , which the lord had promised , and sworne vnto their fathers to giue them Euen so the same our good God , which so conducted his peculier people , and proued them with many miseries & afflictions , before he brought them to that plentifull land , doth in like maner by his fatherly prouidence and fauourable protection , leade vs his adopted children , Galat. 4. Ephes. 1. whom he hath receiued by grace , through the great wide wildernesse of this wicked & wretched world : In which our iourney towardes that happie and heauenly countrey , that continuing citie to come , Heb. 11. & 12. he trieth vs with manie kind of troubles and calamities , Psal. 66. & 78. Ioh. 14. and causeth vs , as the Psalmist saieth , to go through fire & water , before he bring vs forth to that welthie place , that pleasaunt land , that celestiall habitation , those eternall mansions , that supernall Ierusalem the mother of vs all , Galat. 4. Coloss. 1. Act. 14. the euerlasting kingdome of his deare sonne Iesus Christ , vnto which we must enter through many tribulations . This is that precept which our Sauiour doth inculcate into the eares and hearts of all them which will folow him , and become his true disciples , Luc. 9. namely to forsake and denie themselues , & take their crosse paciently , that is to say , to suffer constantly all tribulations that the lord laieth vpon them : Hebr. 12. 1. Cor. 9. And to cast awaie euery thing that presseth downe , as riches , cares , and voluptuousnes : And so abstaine , that they may get the maisterie : and finally so runne , that in Christ Iesus they may obtaine victoriously , and be crowned with him triumphantlie . Vnto this continuall bickering and warfare , wherein the church of Christ militant here on earth is continually exercised , he himselfe being our most mightie and puissant Capitaine , doth animate and encourage vs most comfortably with these wordes , Ioh. 16. Be of good comfort ( saieth he ) I haue overcome the world . For he hath conquered the Deuil , the world sin , damnation , death , and hell for vs , and hath loosed all our sorowes . Therefore this holy , heauenly , & diuine contemplation raiseth & lifteth vp our harts , our cogitations , our studies , our sences , desires , and loue from vaine pleasures vnto the true and euerlasting treasures , according to that effectual and pithy praier of Dauid : O turne awaie mine eyes , least they behold vanitie . For indeede all things are vaine , Psal. 119. Wis. 13. except the knowledge of God , and most miserable are they that are destitute thereof . Now as concerning the Knowledge of a mans selfe , wherewith euery Christian ought to be instructed & endued : there is almost no naturall , mortall and earthly man no not commonly among the heathen , much lesse among true Christians , but that by the vse of reason and quicknes of wit infused by nature , he vnderstandeth and perceiueth himselfe to be created and ordeined of God to a far better , happier , and more excellent end & purpose , then all other creatures voide of reason , wit , & iudgment , ouer whiche creatures God the creator hath made and constituted man lord , ruler & gouernour : Psal. 8. And in the creation of him , which , as Dauid saith , is wonderfull and fearefull , he hath made the fashion , Psal. 139. forme , & shape of his body straight vpright towards heauen : wherby he is admonished to lift vp his heart vnto heauen , & set his loue on heauenly things : and not to fix and cast down his cogitations vpon earthly things only : but to haue mind continually on that diuine , Genes. 1. spirituall , and immortall substaunce , whereof his soule is a likenes and image : And to consider , that in this his meruailous creation , hee excelleth all other liuing creatures , whose bodily shape is in forme prone and groueling downe towardes the earth , being created and ordained vnto corruption , Rom. 8. and subiect vnto vanitie , and destinated to perish with the earth : whereas contrariwise , man is appointed and assigned thorowe faith in Christ Iesus vnto immortalitie and eternall felicitie in heauen . This certaine persuasion and true opinion the poet vndoubtedly seemed to haue fixed and stablished in his mind , declaring the same in these elegant verses . Ouid. in . 1. lib. Metamorph . Os homini sublime dedit , coelumque videre Iussit , & erectos ad sydera tollere vultus . which may be englished thus , God gaue to man a face on high , And heauen to behold , And visage straight lift vp to th' starres Commanded him he should . But whosoeuer will knowe him selfe rightly , and perfectly , must consider , that man consisteth of two parts , namely the bodie and kthe soule : whereof the one is subiect to corruption , the other is incoruptible , the one perceiued sensible , thother inuisible , the one subiect to death , the other immortall , the one a deuine , spirituall and heauenly substaunce , the other a grosse and fraile lumpe of earth , which turneth into earth againe . In euery faithfull , vertuous , and godly Christian the soule ( which is the highest or chiefe●… part of the mind or spirite or power intellectiue ) being led by the Spirite of God , ought to rule the body and the lustes , appetites and desires therof : And the bodie as a seruaunt or minister vnto his lord & maister , ought alwaies to be obedient to the good and godly motions of the Spirite , as the Apostle teacheth , saying If ye mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirite ye shall liue . And a little after he saieth , Rom. 8. The same Spirite beareth witnes with our spirite , that wee are the children of God . So that wee haue two witnesses , that is to say , Gods spirite , and ours , which is certified by the Spirite of God : which must haue domination ouer the affections , lustes , perturbations , will , desires , & concupiscence . For if at any time the bodie beeing not thus kept in subiection , do happen to rebell and make insurection against the Spirite , and like an vntamed colte which casteth of his rider , do throwe awaie the yoke of obedience , and make war against the honest , good , godly , & vertuous desires of the mind , surely then the whole man bothe bodie and soule must needs run , euen as though he were caried hedlong , into all kind of vices , wickednes , and sin , and so consequently bee throwne downe into the guife or pit of eternall damnation and destruction . Of this most perillous and pernicious fall the Apostle giueth vs a very good and profitable admonition , saying , Let not sin reigne in your mortall bodie , that yee should obey it in the lusts thereof . For the bodie , Rom. 6. that is subiect to sin , presseth downe the soule that museth of many things , and cloggeth , darkneth , & dulleth the vnderstanding , so that it cannot lift vp it selfe in godly meditations and heauenly contemplations . Vnto this place that precept of Cicero seemeth not altogither vnfit to be referred , when he saieth , Rationi appetitus pareat . Let the appetite be ruled by reason . Cic. 1 lib. Offic. Cic. ibidem . And againe he saieth , Naturam optimam viuendi ducem sequamur . Let vs follow nature the best guide of life . In these two briefe documents the whole summe and scope of all morall philosophie , in my iudgement , may well be comprehended . For when the gentiles , which haue not the lawe , doe by nature the things conteined in the law , Rom. 2. they hauing not the lawe , are a lawe vnto themselues , which shewe the effect of the lawe written in their heartes . I feare lest this may iustlie be spoken to our great shame in these daies , which being professed Christians , and peyfectly instructed in the lawe of God , and many of vs very skilfull not onely in humane , but also in heauenly , sacred , and diuine philosophie , are so led with selfe-loue , and so caried awaie from God with worldly vanities and momentanie delights : Mat. 10. and seeke so much to saue our liues , as our Sauiour saieth , that wee lose our liues ▪ for we prefer our liues before the glorie of Christ : And knowing our maisters will , and not preparing our selues , Luc. 12. neither doing according to his wil wee shall be beaten with many stripes : I feare , I saie , lest the heathen or gentiles , which in the time of nature without lawe , liued vertuously , shall condemne vs , whiche in the time of grace , hauing the lawe of God do liue vitiously .

To the end therefore to awake vs from our sleepy senceles , and sinfull securitie , where with many of vs are heauilie oppressed and deeply drowned : I haue thought good by bringing this little booke abroad vnto the commune commoditie , I trust of all then that reade the same , to stir vp the mindes of such as are drowned in voluptuousnes , and cast downe into the deepthe of the earth with cares of this life , and to raise them vp vnto the consideration of their sta●e and vocation , wherein God hath placed vs , like vnto souldiours , which must euery one looke surely and attend diligently to his order , araie , standing place , and watching in this our continuall conflict , bick●ing , and warfare : wherin bycause we haue many tyranious enimies , many pernicious perils are i●…inent and incident vnto euery one of vs , 1 Pet. 5. vnlesse wee warily , watchfully , and circumspectly , withstand and resist the assaults , inuasions , and irruptions of our malicious and pestiferous aduersaries , which continually by all meanes possible , do seeke , deuise , and worke our ouerthrow and vtter destruction . The authour of this booke being a very learned man , as it appeareth by his writing , was no doubt greatly inflamed with the godly zeale of Christianitie and honestie , of true religion and integritie of life : because herein he hath left vnto vs such a worthy worke ? Wherein is contained the way and meanes , how wee may and must acquire and obtaine the assuraunce of our soules health and saluation , which is a thing most necessarie for all men to know . And this doctrine hath the author comprehended in a fewe chapiters so breifly and compendiously , that the reader may gather and receiue as sufficient instruction and vtilitie by meditating in the same , as in perusing the whole Bible , and all the expositions and paraphrasticall explications of the holy Scriptures , written by the auncient and learned fathers . Mat. 5.6 For like as our Sauiour reduced the whole summe of all the lawe & the prophets into a sweete short sermon , Mat. 22. yea into two short commaundements of perfect loue towards God and towardes our neighbour , Rom. 13. and therein hath knit vp the knot of all righteousnes , & tied the bond of perfection : Euen so this author hath obserued the same order , and vsed the like methode in this compendious forme of exhortation . Moreouer he being a very expert and skilfull phisicion , hath also prescribed vnto the studious reader an excellent briefe dietarie for the conseruation of the health of the bodie : which whosoeuer will deligentlie keepe and folowe , he shall , I dare be bold to say , haue as many good precepts necessarie and profitable inough for the preseruing of bodilie health , as in reading all the great volumes of Hippocrates , Galen , Auicenna , Rhazis , and whatsoeuer others , that haue learnedly and largely written of Phisicke .

And lastly of morall philosophie , or doctrine of maners , and politique regiment of life , he hath written so pithilie and witrily , that these fewe leaues do afford as much good & wise instruction concerning vertuous and honest conuersation , modestie , temperaunce , sobrietie , and prudent gouernaunce of all mens publike and priuate actions , as Plato , Aristotle , Cicero , and all other Philosophers and humane writers ( the reading of whose workes were a tedious & infinite labour ) do conteine . In this booke therefore the reader shall reape a triple or threefold commoditie : namely , the health of bodie , the saluation of soule , and the integritie of life , as an inseparable companion of them both . This booke is an Epitome , that is to say , a short summarie or compendious collection of diuine , humane , naturall , and morall Philosophie : So that in the litle labour of reading the same studiously , and meditating and ruminating the preceptes thereof diligently , the reader shal be delighted and profited exceedingly . And bicause according to the corruption of our depraued nature wee are more prone , more inclined , more diligent and carefull to seeke the health of our bodies , then the salfetie and saluation of our soules , & take more thought , and make greater prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes of it , Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. then to desire and acquire the sincere milke of the word of God , which being receiued with meekenesse , is able to saue our soule●… Therefore of these two things , namely , health of bodie , and saluation of soule , which are both indeede worthie to be desired ( but yet the one much more then the other ) that which is a great deale more worthie to be sought & laboured for , is in this books verie orderly and aptly first set downe , according to that diuine and principall precept of our Sauiour , Mat. 6. Seeke yee first the kingdom of God & his righteousnesse . Whereby we are admonished , that as the soule , being as I said before , a diuine , spirituall , and immortall substaunce , doth farre excell the bodie , which is nothing els but dust , earth and ashes : Genes. 18. Euen so the sacred , and eternall foode and assured saluation of the soule ought to be acquired with far greater care and more earnest studie , zeale , loue , desire and affection , then the health and welfare of the bodie . But alas , how lamentable a thing is it in these dayes , wherein the light of the Gospell shineth so clearely , to see the preposterous peruersitie of many of vs , whose minds like vnto brute beastes , are fixed vpon present and caducall things , and are plucked and cast downe from heauen and heauenly desires vnto earth and earthly vanities , and do care and trauaile incessantly for the pampering and cherishing of the bodie , but are so slouthful , careles and negligent in seeking the saluation of our soules . 1. Cor. 2. And albeit I confesse with the Apostle , that no man knoweth the thinges of a man , saue the spirite of a man which is in him : Neither doth any man knowe and vnderstand the heartes of men , but God onely : Psal. 33. Mat. 12. yet bycause a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good thinges ▪ and an euill man out of an euill treasure bringeth forth euill thinges : for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh : Therefore by the outward man , may the inward man be perceiued of them which intentiuely looke thereupon , & examine the conuersation of men by the lawe of God , and trie the spirites , whether they be of God , 1. Iohn . 4. by the touchstone of truthe . And againe , although wee ought not to iudge any thing of our brethren before the time vntill the Lord come , 1. Cor. 4. who will lighten things that are hid in darkenes , and make the counsels of the hearts manifest : lest wee our selues by iudging be iudged , and in condemning be condemned : Luke . 6. Yet if wee looke not euery man on his owne thinges , but euery man also on the things of other men : Philipp. 2. and behold some mens sinnes that are open before hand , and go before vnto iudgement : 1 Tim. 5. and take heed both vnto our selues , and to all the flocke , whereof the holy Ghost hath made vs ouerseers , Act. 20. to feede the Church of God , which he hath purchased with his owne bloud : ( I speake to them that are called thereunto ) wee may easily and euidently see , 1. Iohn . 5. if wee will not winke one at anothers faults , that the whole world lyeth in wickednes , that is , all men generally , as of themselues , lye as it were buried in euill , and that many wicked people forget God , Psal. 9. and therefore , as the prophet sayeth , shall be turned into hell . For of two detestable iniquities & most grieuous enormities , namely maliciousnes , and forgetfulnes of God , we haue in these our dayes two manifest arguments , apparent signes , and plaine tokens , to wit , mens negligence , coldnes and slackenesse in the inuocation of God by praier , and their ingratitude in not ascribing praise and giuing thanks to the Lord of life for his benefits bestowed vpon vs . These two kinds of impietie do spring from two most horrible and filthie fountaines of all iniquitie , namelie ignorance , and securitie : Ignorance , when a man knoweth neither God , nor him selfe rightly , nor his due obedience to God : Securitie● when a man knoweth , and yet regardeth not , but contemneth the iudgements and law of God . Therefore as all the faithfull ministers of the word of God in fulfilling their functions diligently & faithfully , 〈◊〉 rebuking the people for their disobedience and iniquities meekely and modestly , 1. Tim. 5. 2 Tim. 2. must needes see a●… note these foure pernitious and pestilent maladie●… wherewith the flocke of Iesus Christ is moste mi●…rably assayled , daungerously depraued , and dea●… annoyed by that auncient , malicious and subtile serpent , and do like good Physicions apply wholesome medicines of the worde of God vnto these cruell wounds of the enuious enimy , and after the example of that mercifull Samaritaine , cure and comforte the wounded & afflicted consciences , Luke . 10. giuing two pence vnto the host for the reliefe and succour of him that is thus robbed and spoyled of the grace of God that commeth by Iesus Christ : which two pence are the two testaments , which our Sauiour hath deliuered vnto the host , that is to say , to the faithfull preacher and syncere disposer of the secrets of God , commanding him to take care & cure of his members , which are desttiute of the knowledge of God , and to minister vnto them the most comfortable meditine of his mercie in the merits of Iesus Christ : So I being one of the lest of the ministers of Iesus Christ ( which ●…m not worthie to be called his minister , bycause I ●m not any waie at all able to fulfill the due office perfectly , nor do the dutie throughly of that high , holy , worthie , excellent & reuerend vocation ) seeing and ●amenting the ignoraunce and negligence of the people of God , the flock of Iesus Christ , my brethren ●y adoption and grace in Christ , was moued and in●lamed with zeale of the Lordes house to bring somwhat vnto the buylding thereof by writing , sith that cannot by preaching , being not called to the diuine , ●acred and reuerend function . Mat. 25. Luke . 19. For as our Sauiour ●ayeth , he that receiueth but one talent , ought not to ●…igg and hide the same in the earth , or lay it vp in secret . Cic. pro Arch. poe. And as Cicero saith in his oration Pro Archia Poeta Caeteros pudeat , siqui ita se literis abdierunt , vt nihil ●…ssint ex his neque ad commimen● afferre fructum , neque 〈◊〉 aspectum lucemque proferre . That is , Let others be shamed , or , other men maie be ashamed , if any such ●ere bee , that haue so studyed in secret , that out of ●…eir studies they can neyther affoorde any thing vnto the commoditie of the common wealth , 〈◊〉 bring any thing abroade into the sight and light of the world . Let such be admonished of theyr charge , and excited and stirred vp vnto diligence and vigilancie with this sage sentence of Cicero Cic. Cornific . Famili 12. Nulla lassi●… impedire officium & fidem debet . That is . No wearyne●… ought to hinder men in doing theyr dutie duty fully and faithfully . Therefore let vs not bee wearye 〈◊〉 well doing , but labour to reape the fruit . I write 〈◊〉 this , to dispraise or reprehende the negligence of any man , or to commend mine owne industrie , which were a point of errogancie , but to animate and encorage them , whom duety byndeth , and the gift of knowledge enableth , hauing receyued many tale●… of the Lord , to labour in the Lordes vineyarde diligently and faithfully , which is a part of charitie . For the Lord God , who searcheth the hearts and rei●… and looketh into mens thoughts , Eccles. 23. whose eies are 〈◊〉 thousand times brighter then the Sunne , beholding all the wayes and workes of men , he , I say , knowet● all the minde , will , intent , desire and affection of 〈◊〉 faithfull seruants ? Psal. 38. and their gronings are not hidd●… from him Surely all the faithfull disposers and towards of the holy mysteries and secrets of God , 〈◊〉 of the manifold graces of Iesus Christ , haue gr●… cause to lament these euill and woful daies , Reuel. 12. wherein the diuell is come downe to the inhabitants of the earth , that is , to those that are giuen to the wo●… and fleshly lusts : and to bewaile the blindnesse 〈◊〉 hardnes of mans heart , whose imaginations are 〈◊〉 euen from his youth : Gen. 8. and the great wickednesse 〈◊〉 man on the earth , so that the earth is corrupt before God , Gen. 6. and filled with crueltie , because all flesh 〈◊〉 corrupt his way vpon earth . For euen as it was in 〈◊〉 dayes before the deluge or floud , when those ob●…rate and obstinate Giants contemned the preachi●… and despised the warnings of Noe , the friend of God the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse , 2. Pet. 2. 1 Pet. 3. yea rather were disobedient vnto our Sauiour , who in spirit preached vnto them by the mouth of Noe : So now it is to be feared , Ierem. 9. yea rather with heades full of water , and with eyes that haue a fountaine of teares , the pastours of Christs flocke haue cause to weepe day and night , because so many wanton worldlings lie weltring in wickednesse , and turne the grace of God into voluptuousnesse , Iude. beeing fulled asleepe in carelesnesse , and caried headlong to perdition with contempt of the worde of God . Ephes. 2. 2. Tim. 2. Now vndoubtedly is the time come , wherein the prince of darkenes beareth such sway in the children of disobedience , and holdeth so many disobedient wretches captiue at his will . Now doth that malicious aduersarie that roring lion walke and let about , 1. Pet. 5. seeking and gaping for his pray most perniciously , deuoureth so many sillie miserable and succourles soules cruelly . Now because the hirelings ( of whom we haue to too many ) care not for the sheepe , Iohn . 10. but leaue them without succour and defence , and flie from them : the woolfe commeth vpon them with insaciable rapacitie and greedinesse , and catcheth and scattereth the sheepe and maketh lamentable hauocke of the poore afflicted flock of Iesus Christ . Now verelie , yea euen now at this present , Reuel. 12. the great Dragon that olde Serpent , called the diuell and Satan , sheweth his rage , and hath great wrath , because he knoweth that hee hath but a short time . Mat. 4. For hee is the Prince of this worlde : which title he vsurpeth and chalengeth to himselfe , and he rideth vpon wanton wicked worldlings , as it were vpon a horse . And this is the cause , that there bee so many workers of iniquitie , Mat. 7. 2. Thess. 3. so little faith on earth , so fewe faithfull followers of Christ . We are they vpon whome the ende of the worlde is come : for whereas the Apostle sayth , Hebr. 9. that Christ in the ende of the worlde hath appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe . To which wor● the Apostle Saint Peter agreeth , 1. Pet. 4. and saith , Nowe the end of all things is at hand : how much more now may this our time and age bee called the ende , si● that we are come so much nearer vnto the day of the Lord ? For now all those euils , calamities & sorrowes which our Sauiour foretolde should come vpon the earth , are come in deed , and those true prophecies of the infallible truth it self are now most certeinly fulfilled , Mat. 24. and most manifestly verified . For , iniquitie is increased , yea it aboundeth , and hath the vpper hand vpon the face of the whole earth . Charitie is cold , yea it is extreemly frozen . The Disciples of Christ are afflicted , yea they are hated and persecuted euerie where among all nations . And although indeed here in England the light of the louing & mercifull countenance of our good , gracious , & long suffering God , doth now at this present shine among vs most confortablie , ( blessed be his holy name therfore : ) yet it is to be feared , yea surely it is rather to be expected , that our sinfull securitie , noughtie negligence , and horrible ingratitude , will verie shortly , and sooner then many thinke , turne away his fauourable face from vs , and set his face with heauie displeasure and indignation against vs , and take away these his great blessings of peace , tranquillitie , trueth and prosperitie from vs . For when they shall say peace and safetie , 1. Thess. 5. then shall suddaine destruction come vpon them . Ought not we then to looke dailie and continually for these imminent perilles and punishments ? Seeing therefore that all these calamities and afflictions present are iustly come vpon this wicked worlde , and manie m● grieuous sorrowes are to be looked for : 2. Pet. 3. what maner persons ought wee to bee in holy conuersation and godlines , looking for , and hasting vnto the comming of the day of God ? Howe great cause haue wee to watch , that we may be readie for the comming of the Lord ? Happie are those wise virgins , who hauing oyle in their lampes , Mat. 25. are readie to meete the blessed bridegroome Iesus Christ , and do enter with him vnto the glorious mariage of him that most louing husband with his Church , that is , the congregation of all faithfull soules dispersed vpon the face of the whole earth , and knit together in one by faith , and by the confession of his holy name , through the operation of his holy Spirite : Ephes. 5. Which Church hee hath sanctified and appointed to bee his spouse or bride , holy , chaste , and without reprehension . Mat. 22. Happie are those ghests that come in thither , clothed and adorned with the most precious wedding garment of his righteousnesse , of a pure affection , and vpright conscience , wherewith all they are inuested that assuredly and constantly beleeue in him , and in whome by his righteousnesse grace reigneth vnto euerlasting life . Happie are those seruants , whom their lord when he commeth , shall find well doing . Mat. 24. Luke . 12. & . 19. For such good faithfull seruants wil the Lord himselfe commend in the presence and hearing of their brethren , and make them partakers , possessours of his vnspeakable ioyes . Happie are they that so continue to the end , for they shal be saued . These are they that be clothed with white garments , euen with the innocencie , sinceritie & perfect righteousnes of that immaculate lambe , Reuel. 7. whom he hath purged , washed , cleansed and purified with his most precious blood . These are they whom hee that rideth on the red horse persecuteth , Reuel 6. euen Satan with his blooddie tyrannie . But the Lord will for their sakes shorten these euill , wofull , miserable , Mat. 24. and sorrowfull dayes : for so he prouideth for his children in the middest of their troubles . Yet a verie little while , Hebr. 10. and he that shall come , will come , and will not carie : as he himselfe promiseth , saying , Reuel. 22. Behold I come shortly , and my reward is with me , to giue euery man according as his worke shall be . Therefore he will come shortly ; to comfort vs which haue the 〈◊〉 fruits of his Spirit , Rom. 8. which mourne in our selues , and looke and waite for the adoption . euen the deliuerance of our bodie . Philipp. 3. 1. Thess. 4. And he will come , to change o●… vile bodies , and make them like vnto his glorious bodie , & to receiue vs vp in glorie , that we may euer be with him . Bur we must beware , that we esteeme not the length nor shortnesse of the Lords comming by our owne imaginations , but with all pacience ●… be constant and reioyce in all our tribulations : 2. Pet. 3. for the Lord is not slacke concerning his promise . O how ioyfull shall his comming bee to all them that looke for the same paciently and faithfully ! O how terrible and dreadfull shall the fight of him bee to them the pierced him , Zach. 12. Phis . 3. 2. Tim. 3. Heb. 6. Luke . 16. & . 17. Marke . 16. Luke . 16. & . 20. Ioh. 12. Rom. 9. Rom. 2. Mat. 25. 2. Cor. 5. to the enemies of his crosse , to them that resist the truth , to them that crucifie him afre● , to the hypocrites and vnbeleeuers , to them that ●…stifie themselues , and haue not attained the righteousnesse of faith ! Vpon them shall that elect and precious stone fall , and all to grind them to powder . Vpon them shall come indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill . When the sonne of man commeth in his glorie , and all the holy Angels with him , then shall he sit vpon the throne of his glorie ; and before hi● shall be gathered all nations . Therefore remembring and considering that we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ , that euery man may receiue the things that are done in his bodie , according to that he hath don , whether it be good as euill : It behooueth vs , as the Psalmist saith , to number our dayes , Psal. 90. that wee may applie our hearts v●… wisdome . The daies of our pilgrimage ( as Iacob saith ) are few and euill , Gen. 47. which when they are past , wee can not call againe , as the Poet hereunto alludeth : V●… irreuocabile tempus . Let vs therefore follow the admonition of the Apostle , Ephes. 5. and redeeme the time , because the dayes are euill : and recompence the race of lewde life that we haue runne , with godly conuersation all the residue of our age . And forasmuch as wee commonly consume and lose the most and best part of our age and life time , especially youth in vanities and friuolous delights : wee must beware , Luke . 21. least our hearts be oppressed and ouercome with cares , with sensualitie , with intemperance , with concupiscence , and voluptuousnes , and so death come hastily vpon vs , and preuent vs , Eccles. 12 before we remember our creator now in the dayes of our youth , wealth and prosperitie : 1. Thess. 5. and least the day of the Lord comming as vncertainly and suddenly as a theefe in the night , take vs vnwares , and finde vs vnprepared and prouided . But let vs watch diligently and continually for the defence and safegard of our houses , that is to say , of these our earthly and transitorie tabernacles , Mat. 24. our fraile bodies , and let vs not suffer them to be broken vp and digged through , and the treasures of our soules dearely bought , Hebr. 9. and our consciences purged with the bloud of Iesus Christ , to be spoyled and caried away vnto perdition by the vncleane spirite , which neuer resteth vntill he returne vnto the place from whence he came out , Mat. 12. if he can find ingresse and regresse possibly , and maketh the end of his captiue farre worse , and more miserable then the beginning . And let vs through assured faith in Christ Iesus , Mat. 6. lay vp for our soules incorruptible and vnmoueable treasures in heauen : and whilest we are in these tabernacles , let vs keepe surely and safely the same treasures of the grace of Christ Iesus in these our earthen vessels . 2. Cor. 4. Happie are they that haue their loynes girded about , and waite for their master , with their lights or lamps burning in their hands : Luke 12. the light whereof shineth to the glorie and praise of God , and to the good example of men , and edification of the Church of Christ , whose godly , vertuous , and honest conuersation euen the Gentile , superstitious , & idolatrous people beholding , 1. Pet. 2. are moued and induced thereby to extoll and magnifie the name of god , in the day when God dooth mollifie , open , and illuminate their blind and hard harts , by the light of the Gospel of Iesus Christ . If we would consider howe short , momentanie & miserable our life is , we should neuer bee drawne with any earthly pleasures , and worldly delights ( which indeed are nothing else but miseries ) from the most comfortable contemplation , cogitation , and desire of that life to come , which so farre excedeth this , as no heart is able to conceiue , nor tongue expresse . For , as the Apostle sayeth , The thinges which eie hath not seene , neither eare hath heard , 1. Cor. 2. neyther came into mans hart , are , which God hath prepared for them that loue him . Esai . 64. So that no mortall man can thinke Gods prouidence towards his . The eternitie of which incomprehensible and inexplicable felicitie may be perceyued by these wordes , Eccles. 18. lyke as drops of rayne are vnto the sea , and as a grauell stone is vnto the sand , euen so is a thousand yeares vnto the daies euerlasting . But as for our life what is it els but a vapour , Iam. 4. that appeareth for a little tyme , and then vanisheth awaie ? Dauid very aptly likeneth and resembleth the life of man somtyme to a spanne , Psal. 39. Psal. 90. somtime to a shadowe , somtime to sleepe , sometime to a wind that passeth ouer , and commeth not agayne , sometime to a dreame , somtime to a tale that is told , Psal. 49 62 102 & 103 73. & 78. the remembrance whereof is soone and suddainly gone , sometime to vanitie , sometime to a flower , to hay , to grasse , to beasts that perish . And therefore he oftentimes complaineth of the shortnesse of his age and life time . Full well in deed may our life be likened to a dreame , the delights & pleasures therof do so soone vanish away , euen as commonly it commeth to passe in a dreame when one awaketh . For a man dreameth , that he hath great plentie of delicious meates and banketting cheare , & when he awaketh , he feeleth nothing but hunger . Againe , in sleepe a man weeneth , that he hath abundance of riches , golde and siluer , and worldly wealth , and being awaked , findeth nothing but pouertie . Euen so all the glorie , beautie , brauerie , pompe , pride and pleasure of this world , passeth and vanisheth away like a dreame or a traunce , like a phantasie or most vaine vision . Therefore the earth is as it were a stage , whereon euery man liuing in his state , condition , order and degree , doth play his part : Some representeth and beareth one person , some another . Emperours , kings , princes , presidents , lieutenants , bishops , Iudges , magistrates , philosophers , learned men , and all they which being placed in any degree of dignity , do rule & gouern the common wealth , Psal. 39. are not in deed those persons , which in the eie of the world , and light of the common wealth they shew themselues to bee , neither are they in very deed indued with such good things as they seeme to haue . No surely , they are but plaiers vpon the scaffold for a short time : yea according to this common saying , Homo bulla , they walke in a vaine shadow . And therefore their felicitie , Psal. 39. be it neuer so glorious in the eies of men , Eccle. 1. is nothing else but vanitie . For the riches of this world is euen beggerie : and the wisedome of men what is it else but foolishnesse ? 1. Cor. 1. They that take paine and haue pleasure and delectation in reading , not onely the sacred monuments and holie histories conteined in the Bible , but also the strange mutations , alterations , subuersions and ruines of the greatest Monarchies , famous Kingdomes , roiall realmes , and flourishing common wealths , and of the suddaine decay and passing away of the pompe & pride of this world , which prophane writers haue chronicled , and left vnto their posteritie , may well consider and easily see , how fraile , fickle , and transitorie the glorie of all famous antiquities , and renowmed monuments hath beene , wherof n●… in these daies scarcely any token or memoriall is le●… in the worlde to bee seene : which fading away of all these goodly flowers , a verie learned writer in these our dayes hath pithily and pretily comprehended in this elegant Distichon , or couple of verses : Laurentius Humfredus in lib. de vita & morte Ioan. Iuelli . En fuit , en non est Babylon , nec Persicae pompae , Nec Graecum imperium nec Latialis honos . Lo Babylon was , but now is not , nor pompe of Persian land , Nor Empire of the Greekes , nor wealth of roiall Rome doth stand .