Hee was borne at Antwerp in his fathers Embassage : 1579. the 20. day of Iulie : and was made immortall , 1605 ▪ the 23. of October .

Nature hath wept out the teares shee had : Now let reason ; and piety weepe their partes , for they haue their springs of sorrow as well as the other : though not so fluent , not so abundant ; yet more pure , more excellent , more eternall . When Nature hath drain'd the source of her teares dry , then come these two , and supplie sorrowes current .

What , shall I then speake out my woes , or shall I entombe them in silence ? I had but one one onely sonne , perhaps I shall neuer haue more . This sonne , our God bestowed bountifully vpon our vowes : and this same sonne ( our God ) our vowes returned dutifully vnto thee , and that instantly after . Hee was but now borne , thou hadst but now giuen him vs , when wee gaue him back againe to thee : he but now sawe the world , when the world saw him thine in his education , and our dedication . Grace hir selfe was the gracewoman , the Midwife that receiued him from his Mother , gaue him Milke , and attended his first houre of birthe : so did Piety his infancie , Learning his childhood , Vertue his youth , Honestie his fuller growth and firmer age . And yet so kinde was this contention of the corporall and mentall vertues , being all enranged & enrooted in him , that neither did his strength make him decline vnto pride , his good shape to loosenesse , his learning to vanitie , his valour to cruelty , or his loue of vprightnesse vnto any sowrenesse of manners : his towardnesse so happily preuented his education , his fruite stept in before his flower , and true grauitie tooke place in his heart , ere any little downe had spred it selfe on his face . So graciously were these contraries gathered together , each one to bestowe the proper grace , without endamaging the residue . And already now began hee to be stiled the Staye of his Parents , the Starre of his countrie , that I ( faine foole ) was a saying . My roote is spred out by the waters , and the dew shall lie vpon my branch . My glory shall renew towardes me , & my bow shal be restored to my hand . In him I am renewed , in him I am reniued , that was otherwise halfe dead , and more then halfe dust . But behold ! thou breathed'st but vpon him , & as the downe of a flower he flew away in fleeces . Iob. 14. 3. & 15. 33 He shot forth as a flower , and is cut downe : thou hast taken him away , as the vnripe grape : thou hast cast him off , as the Oliue doth her flower .

Here , is the heart-strings of comfort , all cut ! here ( LORD ) how can I speake inough , though I were all tongue ! how can my stupid silence bee sufficient , were I all flint ? Thy Ionas , Lord , for whom thou preparedst a goord , in the shadow wherof his faint sadnes might be refreshed , as soone as the touch of the worme turned the verdure into canker , and the beames of the Sun beat vpon his head , his courage , at an instant , conuerted into faintnesse , Ionah . 4. 8. It is better for me ( saith he ) to die then to liue . Thus this great Prophet grew in passion against thee for shewing thy power vpon his poore shelter , vpon that little shade he sat in : what then shall poore I say to one so potent ? I , that am sodden in sorrow , and yet my boyling brought to no end ! exposed to the sonnes fierie rigor , neuer to bee remooued , neuer to bee refreshed ! Oh my LORD ! I feele a rebellious battell within me ! keepe downe my tongue , let it loose to no language , but those sounds of the Psalmist : I am dumbe ; and do not open my mouth , because thou hast done it . Psal. 39. 10 But thou Lord , laye thine hand vpon my mouth , that my redoubling dolour burst not out into outragious murmure ; and I beeing a foole my selfe , charge GOD with foolishnesse . Iob. 1. 22.

My sonne , when as yet his child-hood swayed his estate in nature , bent his full endeuour to the attaining perfection in the principall tongues , and all honest and honourable disciplines : hee neuer wanted instigation , but rather inhibition , his forwardnesse was so toward , and his towardnesse so forward : and still as his growth enabled him , so hee enured himselfe to all illustrious exercises , sharing his time betweene the splendor and light of learning , and the thunder and lightning of warre : that Mars did seeme to grudge that Minerua had so great a part in his perfections . His youth saw him a traueler in most countries Christian , extracting what euer made for vertue , where euer he found it , and expelling vicious affect farre from him , where euer he met it .

The industry , and ornament of each peculiar , was in his obseruation ( as in a store-house ) carefully reposed for practise : the defects and exorbitance of each , obserued also , but without the slightest acquaintance and with the carefullest auoydance of their least touch , or tainte .

But now , growing to one degree rearer the ful man , & beholding France her pacification with a minde not minding peace , resoluing to set forth his vertue vpon the quest of Honor , away he departeth to Holland , ( the worlds Theater or the sepulcher whether ? ) to giue his valour action vnder Prince Maurice , the Fortrazer of this our age , and there duely performeth all the dueties of a future captaine , and a present-hearted souldior . For hauing had command in diuers seruices vnder the vnconquered King of France , by his especiall appointment , hee was firmely resolued to write in wounds vpon his enemies bodies , that he was worthy of that enstalment from so worthy an aduocate . Many held his resolution too hot , and heady , but that he would haue left , had he liued : the tempera●e affects that attend vpon the years of maturity would haue allaied his youthful feruor , had he surniued to haue seene maturty . Meane while , all these illustrious instruments of industrious verture , stored he togither , for the glory of his God , the seruice of his King ▪ the benefit of his country , & the defence of honesty , in euery son of hirs : they were also prepared by piety , so seasoned by equity , and so preserued by charity : it was admirable to see Zeale haue so faire an harbour in such a youthfull and fiery spirit : and Piety to stand ▪ supported with diuine studies , higher by the head and shoulders then al the other ( though high & honorable vertues . Here againe began I to set vp my rest , and trust vpon him , as on a stay to my feete and a staffe to mine age : O my Lord ( said I ) Thou of thy louing kindnesse hast made my mountaine to stand strong : Ps. 30. 7. thou ( Lord ) art the shadow on my right hand . Ps. ● 21. 5. But ah ! behold : the thing I feared , is fallen vpon mee : the thing I was afraid of , Iob. ● . 25. is befallen mee .

Here is a sad breach of natures order , for the father to prepare the funerall of the Sonne : for the father to bee the sons suruiuer . Iob. 7. 10 All the thoughts of my heart are now turned into confusion . All my affaires in my house , in my heart , all quite cofounded : vtterly out of frame ! Goe then and guird thy selfe with sackcloth ( wretched man ) wallow thy selfe in ashes , ●erem. 6 27 make lamentation and bitter mourning . Why , let mee goe meete with death also , what delight is there in delay ? I , I , that haue out-liued so many sorrowes , so many perills , nay now the losse of mine owne bowells , and nerues , and yet liue to record the cutting of mine owne heart-stringes , nay my heart it selfe ? Thou hadest a King ( LORD ) and Israell had a light , who when hee heard of the death of his Sonne , albeit hee was a rebell and would haue beene a parricide , yet burst out in a full presence , 2 Sam. 18 and cried : O Absalon my sonne , would God I had died for thee : 2 Sam. 18 O Absalon my son . Thus turned hee the safety of his people into teares and mourning , and shamed the faces of all his seruants , beeing so loath to leaue the dust hee layd in , that Ioab was faine to threaten him with the sedition and departure of the people from him . What then shal I do ? ah what shall I not doe ? hauing lost an only sonne , a companion , a kinsman , a brother than ! whom , ( choose which of these you can ) neuer man had a better ! what life is worth loue , nay what death is not worth life to mee in this helplesse extremity !

Oh but , my soule , my soule , returne a little vnto thy rest : mans waies , nor his life thou knowest are in his hand : In the Lords hand is the breath of euery liuing thing and the soule of all mankinde . Iob. 12. 10. And GOD cutteth of the daies of man : Iob. 14. 16. for in his hand is in the number of his monethes : Iob. 24. 12 which none either preuenteth , or surpasseth , and yet doth not GOD decree any thing with follie .

Therefore say rather to thy selfe and bee not sorie for saying so .

I am dumbe , Psa. 39. 1. and doe not open my mouth , because thou hast done it .

But thou ( LORD ) keepe a bridle within my mouth , be sure ( Lord ) that thou see , that my lips be not let loose to impute vniustice vnto thee : oh no but let them euer oppose iniquity , & attribute righteousnesse vnto my maker .

Ah! but ( my gracious Lord ) I am full of ( dolorous ) matter : my spirit swells within me , and compells mee ! Behold , my belly is as the wine that hath no vent : & wanting vent , resembles the embotteled aire that breakes through all that bindeth it in .

Therefore I wil speake ( I thinke it bee best ) that I may take some breath , against this abundant excesse of sorrowe . Thou knowest ( LORD of all mine , and all others life ) what I aymed at , in my Sonne , my scope in him was not excluded from thy supereminent vnderstanding . Had I any thought , any intent but to imploy his lustre wholy to the illustration of thy glory , the Churches good increase , and his Kings & countries grace ? no , no , I consecrated his yeeres in their fullest maturity , his vnderstanding , in the greatest perfection , wholy and soly to those sacred employments . At that , all my vowes leuelled ; vnto that , all my prayers tended ; with that , all mine instructions concluded ; & in y● , all mine endeuours were bounded : that , ah ! nothing but that , was the center from which all my cogitations were drawne , and the circle to which they tended . But it was thy pleasure ( Lord ) in the meane space , to make mee the point , the marke , where-at thou wouldest shoote , so that I am now become mine owne burden . Nay thou hast shot me thorow , & that through the sides of mine onely sonne : striking Father and childe starke dead both at one stroke . Alas , thou Lord of mine , are thine eares become deafe ? is thine heart growne obdurate also : is that that eternall , neuer-dried fountaine of thy free mercy , frozen with colde , or dryed with heate , when I come to drinke , and vnto none but mee ? It is true ▪ Lord that If I should dispute with thee , Iob. 9. 3. & 12. I should not answere thee to one thing in a thousand ! Thou art wise in heart , and mightie in strength : When thou takest a prey , who can enforce thee to restore it ? who shall say vnto thee , why didst thou thus ? I , but I do not sticke in the courts of thy power Lord , I presse in , vnto thy very sanctuarie , and looke all about mee , vpon thine exceeding power , commixt and contemperate with thine vnmeasured goodnesse , and thine inscrutable wisdome . Psal. 73 , Thou Lord art righte●us in all thy wayes , & mercifully ) holy in all thy workes : Psal. 145. 17 , Nay , thy mercy is aboue all thy workes . Therefore are thy iudgements deep , & thy mercies a boundles , a soundlesse depth : thou giuest these , as Cauterismes in Phisick , not as hurtes in hostilitie . Wee thoght thou hadst not heard our vowes , and see thou hast heard them truer then wee were aware of : our wordes it may bee thou refusedst , but our intents thou hast admitted : and signed both our desires with a better condition to vs both : to our sonne thou hast done better , in taking backe as thy iust due , him that thou hadst but lent vnto vs during thine Almighty pleasure , and seating him in Heauen , whome thou hadst but shewen ( and scarcely that ) vnto the Earth : to vs thou hast done better , in taking him out of the dangers of the worlds deuouring whirle-pittes , wherein perhaps wee might ( vnto our more excesse of sorrow ) haue seene him swallowed , and haue swum after that Funerall in a Sea of more bitter teares .

Once againe , here Lord , seale vp my lippes : once more , here binde mine organs of speech : for the flesh rebels , and compels me , nor see I meanes to bridle it , it is growne so head-strong , and so impatient of suppression . It bids mee say , why tookest thou him away ere his time ? thou inexorable creditor that wouldest not stay thy day , but catche him vp ere his fate was ready to call him .

True , thou fraile flesh and bloud : why was it not his time to take him , that was Times Creator ? and what is fate , but the will of GOD the Father ? And what better limite hath life in any of vs all , then the rest from all our labour ? And what matter is it whether the ship of our mortality bee brought to the hauen by a sterne tempest , or a gentle gale ? by winde , or by tide ? had not hee that from all eternitye predestinated the moment of his birthe , the same power to decree the houre of his death by ? If thou haue any reason to complaine that thou lost him so soone , the same cause hast thou to expostulate why thou hadst him no sooner , or no later , but e●en then when hee was giuen thee : and doost thou thinke hee hath not liued long enough , whose life his countrie extolleth , & whose funerall song the purest Christ of God singeth ?

This , as vertues desired rewarde , haue many worthye men bestowed much toyle to attaine , hardly deseruing it in their declining age , and their frostiest part of nature , which hee gotte signed him , ere hee gotte out of his youth , ere his age was at the Summer Solstice : namely his wish , and want , in the hearts of al such as honor goodnesse ?

Therefore thou talkest like a foolish Woman : goe and learne better language of the wise : Wis. 4. 10. It is not length of time , but wisdome , a life well lead , a course well runne in the Lord , come wee neuer so soone to the stake , that is the true grauitie .

The sanctified man , dye hee neuer so soone , Psal. 116. 15. hath had a long time : Precious in the sight of the Lord , is the death of such as hee holdeth deare : and that for euer .

But thou hast no measure , thou fraile corruption , thou art in my bosome againe with an other friuolous obiection . Hee was all , all the sonnes I had , and now ; I haue neith●r sonne nor daughter amongst my people : Iob. 18. 19. nor any posteritie in my dwellings . No , GOD knowes not I : and in the meane while , the imaginers of mischiefe , such as like Moles , digge groueling in sinne , vntill they haue cast vp a mount of hatefull enormitie against Heauen , Their seede is established before them , Iob. 21. 8. and their generation stands strong in their sight . It doth : O but stand , stand a little , and cast an eye about . Now tell mee how many great Princes and Potentates thou seest to sit debarred from the fruite of progenie , and the fruition of children , in so much that the whole world seemes to stagger for want of stayes from their loynes , and to endeuour to make them fruitfull by bathing their barrennesse in fulnesse of teares . And what hast thou foregone that thou shouldest so grieue at ? a modell of vertue , whom all men respected more then hee in whom it was resident : a patterne of honorable honesty , forcing praise from others , and following nature in himselfe : Ah fixe thy fickle heart and giue the Deity his due praise ! How often are the branches of the wicked , shiuered in sunder with the winde . Nay let vs grant them ( that which God seldome granteth , ) their full growth : the fruite they bring , is vnprofitable , not relishing any taste , nor befitting any vse . But call thy thoughts home to thine owne issue : why in him , his sweetnesse of fruite thrust his sweete blossome from the stalke , his vnparalleld vertue pressed out the delicious iuice of his sweete fruite , and left it to bee casked vp by all succeeding posteritie . And now the tents of the godly are perfumed with his rare , and redolent fragrancie : his heate , nay and that in the height , his ardor , armes , and animates them all to emulation of vertue . Time ranked many with him in respect of age , and gaue his fore-lock into diuerse hands assoone as his , yet were there not any of his time that knit that lock into so many knots of vertue as he did : what canst thou grumble further at ? yet mee thinkes thou art not satisfied : oh thou wouldst faine haue had him , as thou thoughtst thou hadst begotten him , to beene the heire of thine intents , to haue beene enfcoffed in thy determinations , and haue suruiued to haue inherited thine honest and goldy endeuoures .

I pray thee now looke after him once for mee , that hast longed so for him in thy selfe . Now , blind man , hath he not discerned his heritage himselfe , and is he not now seized of that reall inheritance where thou wouldest share with him with all thine heart ? hath hee not left thee , his countrie , and the church possessed with as plentifull and as pleasant fruit , as such a greene stock as his could possibly bring to perfection ? yes : and GOD himselfe hath layde it vp in his Granary : & that I thinke makes thee most melancholie , because thou thinkest that God hath lost the more absolute vse that thy sonnes farther yeares might haue affoorded him .

Goe to , keepe thy selfe content , and let Gods losses lye vpon his owne hand : it is in his power out of this heape of stones , to rayse himselfe seruants , the country souldiers , and the Church supporters : cannot he fill the heauens with legions of Saints , the earth with hoasts of Protectors , and his Church with millions of assistants , but hee must bee faine to take a corruptible mans direction , and stand drawing out the life of this man or that , longer then his eternity liketh ? ah farre bee it from true sence to bee so beesotted .

Why so then , I am satisfied : giue mee leaue , I will now take the bitte out of my mouth my selfe , and plead the cause of the all-sufficient Creator , euen against mine owne soule . Why doost thou not see then ( deere wife ) how all the worlde like a Bowle , is ouer-swayed by the ouer strong byas of iniquitie , & bends ( despite all opposition , ) to black corruption ? oh how seculent , how pestilent a vapour of sinne drawes euery man in with the first breath hee takes , attracting vices as innumerable as Attomes , euen in his first moment of respiration : and the longer hee liueth to draw his breath , the surer foote-hold hee giueth viciousnesse in his foule bosome , and settleth the contagion in his soule : which the deuill is sure of , though he be sencelesse of : Sathan hath a beadroll of those impious , and daily increasing inhabitants , though the poore Land-lord taketh no note of their entrie to possession , nor receiues any rent of them but ruine : happy hee ( too few so happy ! ) that can bring his action against them before GODS bench , or in that celestiall starre-chamber , and remooue them from possession by a bill of repentance : but few such suites go forward : the world comes with one bribe , and the flesh with another : & either too easily ( GOD knowes ) can perswade the poore plaintiffe to let his action fall : for this flesh , let the soule , let the spirit come neuer so fresh , neuer so zealous , neuer so hot in that zeale from the hand of God , it will finde one angle or other in , wherein it may sow the seed of sin , & plant a too fruitefull infection . And when the soule is once dipped in worldly delights , what should deliuer it from being drowned therein ? What hold hath any one that is once ouer the shooes in iniquity , vpon any thing that may saue him from slipping in ouer the shoulders ? & what priuiledge had the court of heauen granted our sonne more then another ? had he a lease of his soules life letten him ? none .

And wee see , ( and might learne by sight of it ) that vertue when it is exalted , and eleuate , if it begin once to drawe damnation in , it becometh graduate in the most extreame degree of viciousnesse . Yes . yes , when goodnesse once misseth the true tract , and lights into the broade way of blacke destruction , it will hardlye heare of any reclaime , but maketh the more speede to mischiefe , and runnes headlong to euident ruine .

So then , was it not better for our sonne to haue taken paye for a little space in the Campe of Vertue , then to haue beene enranked as an olde attendant in the Court of vice ? and had hee not better haue beene exposed to an houres sharpe toyle , then to a yeares subtle temptation ? Thinke but of him as hee was indeed . A youth of an egregious alacritye , a penetrating spirit , and an vnbounded ayme . His vigorous vertue would enter vpon any enterprise , and generally the effect would answere his endeauour : his valour found no obstacle so obstinate but it would through it , and bring glorie through it againe ? breaking the squadrons of the most sollid oppositions , and mounting his honor vpon the rubbish of their ruined forces .

Now beeing such an one ( and such hee was indeed ! ) his heart lay open to all the assaults of affect , of glory : desire of renowne ( you know ) might soone haue put him out of the pace that vertue had taught him : ambition is a great fowler , and of exceeding cunning in her baytes : why might not hee haue start out , and haue slipt into one of her sprindges ? might not that ( holy ) hunger after honor haue turned his wrong side outward and haue led him cleere out of the sight of sobriety in affection ? yes , and this hunger is most commonly an vtter enemie to the temperate diet of vertue , and cannot endure to eate any thing that moderation prouideth .

Besides , lofty spirits ( if they bee really eleuate ) can neuer brooke the horrible decay of honorable worth in these declining times , and this Sunne-set of the world , but will sometimes flie out , and aduance their spirit in his ful freedome against these ages neglect of the deseruing worthie , and then comes porte and power , together with their appendants or hangbies , and treades out the light of their most glorious lustre : Ah this is too true , and thus might our sonne haue beene lost , had hee liued any longer .

But indeede true sorrowe will alwaies build vpon false grounds to augment it selfe , if it bee not taken vppe in time , and if it once gette heade , it will haue a reason to shewe for any vnreasonable passion that it shall entertaine . In truth it is true .

For hee that greeueth vnfainedlie , greeueth also that any one should hold his griefes cause not sufficient to procure a greater affect of sorrow then hee endureth . But tell mee now I pray thee ( louing wife ) wouldst thou not haue lost thy sonne ? no , wouldst thou not haue had him transported from this ruined state that earth standeth in , vnto that excellence of eeternity that heauen affordeth ? yes . Why , now then , seeing that thou seest hee hath preuented thine expectation , and is gotten vp thether long before thou thoughtst hee should , why hast not thou reason to say with the wise man : Wis. 4. 10. 11. He pleased God , and was beloued of him , so that where as hee liued amongst sinners , hee translated him : This was Henock ( wife ) a man that was full of the feare of God . And hee was taken away least wickednesse should alter his vnderstanding , and least deceite should haue beguiled his minde . And thus , and no otherwise but thus , hath our glorious GOD taken away our Sonne , like a good Father , who seeing his Sonne placed in the broadest beeach of peruersenesse , takes him out of danger in time , least hee should bee drawne into too euident danger , and bee strucke downe by one shot or other from the assaylant enemy : The deluge of wickednesse , hath almost couered the highest mountaine of Godlinesse , and good manners ; and therefore blessed be God that hath set our son in a place of so blessed security .

The sonnes of men growe more and more peremptory against the prescriptions of the highest , the monuments of goodnesse are so weather-beaten , that iniquity and antiquity hath almost left no character thereof vndefaced : the rust of irreligiousnes hath eaten into the most steely tempers of our age : & had our son ( thinkest thou ) any especiall protection promised him ? no , effect in others confirmeth this to vs . Wipe away those teares once more that gush out in such aboundance ( seeming as if hee were not dead already , to drowne him in his graue : ) and consider but this : How inumerable and almost ineuitable trap-falls are set in the tract of vertue , in all her walkes ? Here you shall haue one that will kisse the visar of vertue : but shew them her true face , and you turne all their kisses vnto curses .

You shall haue other some that while shee is vnderfoote , will lend her a hand to helpe her vp : but when shee is vppe and hath gotten wing , and mounteth , then they either suspect hir themselues , or buzze suspicions of her into the heads of others .

Affording hir all their diligent culture while shee is a springing , but growing once aloft , they make haie of her ere shee come to her hight , and rend her vp by the rootes .

And then there is that pestilence reigning euer amongst men of equallity , in what ranke soeuer , I meane Envye : and her nature , and consequently her practise is euer to persecute that good which shee cannot paralell . That hight which she cannot mount vnto , shee presently vndermines , setting all her Pioners , cauillation , detraction , and derision on worke vpon the ruine of that glorie which shee cannot reach : it is her food to bee felt heauy vpon the highest fortunes . And this is the source of all the grudges , malice , and altercations that haue beene the pestilence which hath swept such multituds from the bosome of our mother France : this malice , oh this madnesse of the Nobility , that ( for ought I can see ) are now but bastards to their ancestours valour : these adulterous births , haue obscured the rising glory of France , with the mystes arising from the bleeding bodyes that haue fallen in this fatall warre : wherein with thoughts more bloudy piercing then their armes , Religion , and all respect of goodnesse beeing thrust ou● of the true place , the brother ranne head-long vpon his brother , as vppon his fiercest enemie .

And looke now ; our sonne is acquit from hauing any hand in these desperate hacksters actions , and sittes aloft , looking downe , and laughing at this little lumpe of earth , ( so ouergrowne with Spuma Cerberi , and the weedes of the Diuels haruest ) which he hath left beneath him .

But what comfort canst thou haue of this , or I , that share with thee in this sorrow if wee stand shaking our hands , or arming our hearts against GOD , who is the onely consolation in the extreamest agonie , and anguish of heart ? Are not wee of them that haue receiued the seale of the Lion of Iudah ? are we not Christians ? Downe , downe , perturbed spirit ! thou abortiue of misery .

Why ? but God might haue shielded him from all these encounters of vicious extreames . You neede not tell mee that : I know hee might : but had hee not made him a fraile mortall ? nay , and had hee not appointed him a place in warres , and instilled a Military vigor into him ? Being euery day betweene the chaps of death , why might hee not be catcht at length ? is it possible to stand in a shower of hailstones , & haue not one to touch him ?

GOD had made him valorous : the likelier to bee ouerha●dy in daring of death , and so ouer-taken in his too much heat , and too little dread . God had made him with an heart that put forth his rigour in all the endeuoures of masculine vertue :

Alas , what was hee in this , but a fayre shotte-marke for foule Enuie ? a rocke for the vntaught billowes of iniurious suspect to beate against , and perhaps ( though breaking manie of themselues first ) at length to shake downe into ruine ?

Didst thou looke to haue him miraculously lifted vp from his seate in this sea of deprauation ? What warrant hath GOD giuen the for that ? what bargaine had Fate made with thee , or mee , including any such condition ?

How much more com for t should we finde , and how much more easily should wee settle the rebellious affects that keepe this coyle in our bosomes , if wee would steppe a little out of this wildnesse of conceite , and suffer our imaginations to bee guided vnto Truth by the sette order of nature , by mans fraile estate in this order , and by the reall cause of this frayltie of state ?

Death ending man in this order , time bringing him on to death , and originall sinne ( the due deseruer of death ) bringing man forth to his first moment of time ? Such considerations as these , were farre more fitte for vs , then to cast off our thoughts at randon , to suffer them flye beyond the pitche of our obedience to our maker .

And now tell mee true ( consideratis considerandis ) and all accompts beeing cast , is not our sorrow exceedingly lightened , to see our beloued sonne deliuered from those complete armed Battailions of deadly dangers , that enuironed him on euery side ? Tell mee now thou vile and mis-beleeuing flesh , hast thou not now reason to turne ouer a new leafe , and to say with that holy singer : I acknowledge O Lord , that thy iudgements are iust : and that thou hast afflicted me , for my faith : for tryall of my faith . God is ( euer ) good vnto Israel , and pure in heart .

He is so , and when his wrath seemeth to threaten vs in most terrible thunder , then raigneth hee his mercy vpon vs in a most mellifluous dew . I will therefore turne mee , ( I will leaue all and turne mee ) to my GOD , and on him will I build my confidence .

And now shall my mouth bee shutte no more : but I will turne it into a Trumpet , in the cause and quarrell of the Almightie : This will I resound , and of this shall all the world returne an Eccho , Thou hast done it O Lord , and well hast thou done it .

Well hast thou done it : for thou canst doe nothing but well : being thy selfe the neuer dryed Well of goodnesse . Vnto the good , nothing befalls but good : come it in neuer so horred a shape of mischiefe ; in a forme neuer so fearefull .

Well hast thou done vnto our sonne , in taking him out of the perillous conflicts where-into hee had nowe set foote ( and that was all , if hee had done that ) and bestowing his freedome gratis vpon him nay and besides , crowned him with a Garland of such glory . Had hee liued longer , hee might haue runne astray the more , the larger weight of worldly experience might haue bent him downewards , and haue fixed his affections vpon fading glories . For there was Salomon , whose eminence of wisdome is by the diuinity of wisdome it selfe eternized vnto all after ages , as also his fall is , beeing the more amazefull vnto all posteritie , by reason that is was from such an admired height of vniuersall vnderstanding .