God is the true and chiefest life ; in whom , from whom , and by whom , all thinges created are blessed and made good . Ibid.

It is God from whom to bee auerted is to fall ; to whom to bee conuerted is to arise ; in whom to abide , is to stand fast ; from whom to depart , is to dye ; to whom to returne , is to reuiue ; It is God whom no man leeseth , but he that is deceiued ; no man seeketh but hee that is taught ; no man findeth but hee that is cleane . August .

There is no refuge from God displeased , but to God pleased . Ibid.

God is neuer wanting ; yet farre from his Enemies thoughts : neither when he is farre off is hee wanting : for where hee is not by Grace , he is there by Iustice ; God is euery where present and can hardly be found ; we pursue him standing , but are vnable to apprehend him . Greg.

As there is no Time , wherein wee enioy not the benefits of Gods mercy and goodnesse , so should there bee no moment without remembrance of his presence : for all Time wherein God is not remembred , wee must reckon as vtterly lost . August .

Whatsoeuer is besides GOD , is neither sweet nor sauory : whatsoeuer my Lord God will giue mee , let him take it all againe from me , and giue mee himselfe . Aug.

Farre bee it from thee ( O LORD ) that in thy Tabernacle the Rich should be preferred before the Poore , or the Noble before the Ignoble ; seeing thou madest chorse of the worlds weaklings , to confound the strong and potent .

I had rather bee blamed of any , then praised of a Flatterer ; for a louer of Truth is neuer afraid of a fault-finder ; but a Flatterer , both erres himselfe , and confirmes others in their errours . Aug.

Nothing so easily Corrupts the minde , as Flatterie ; yea , more hurt doth the tongue of a Flatterer , then the sword of a Persecutor . Hier.

Ambition is a foolish Disease , a secret Poyson , a lurking Plague , a worker of Deceit ; the mother of Hypocrisie , the begetter of Enuy , the spring of Vice , the moath of Holinesse , the blinder of Hearts ; breeding diseases of remedies , and turning medicines into malladies . Ibid.

The Ambition of power , depriued an Angell of his Felicitie ; the appetite of knowledge robbed Man of his Immortalitie . Ibid.

Eus was not beguiled with the Apple , nor did shee forget the Commandement , but the Ambition of promised Honour beguiled her . Ibid.

Ambition is the Ape of Charitie ; Charitie suffreth for Eternall thinges , Ambition for Earthly ; Charitie is benigne to the poore , Ambition to the rich ; Charitie sustaines all for veritie , Ambition for vanitie ; both of them beleeue all , but after a farre different manner . Pet. Rauen.

That is euer lost with much Lament , which is possest with much Loue .

There bee two Loues which build vp two Cities : the loue of God builds vp Hierusalem , the loue of the world , Babilon ; Let euery one aske but of himselfe , what hee loues , and hee shall soone finde of which Citie hee is . August .

They are happy that haue all they would haue , and wish for no more then what they should haue .

Peace is not sought that Warre may come thereof , but warre is made that peace may ensue : Bee you therefore peaceable in Warre , that you may the better reduce those to Peace , against whom you haue gotten victorie .

To bee a Souldier is no fault , but to bee a Souldier for booties sake , is a sinne . Aug.

No lesse doe they sinne who blaspheme CHRIST raigning in Heauen , then did they , who Crucified him walking vpon Earth .

The roote of all good is Charitie , the roote of all euill Cupiditie , these two can neuer be together ; for vnlesse the one bee rooted out , the other will neuer be planted .

In vaine takes hee vpon him the name of a Christian , that doth not imitate the life of Christ : for ( alasse ) what is it for you to bee called that you are not , or to vsurpe anothers name ?

A Christian is hee that thinkes himselfe a Stranger in his owne house ; our Countrey being aboue , our home at Heauen .

Will you walke ? Christ saith I am the way ; will you not bee deceiued ? I am the Truth ; will you not dye ? I am the life . Aug.

As the many branches of a Tree doe grow from the roote onely , so many virtues spring from Charitie alone : nor hath the branch of a good worke any life , or greennesse , if it abide not in the roote of Charitie . Greg.

Say not that you carry chaste mindes , when you haue wanton eyes ; for a wanton eye is the messenger of a wanton heart . Hierom.

Among all Christian conflicts those of Chastitie are the sharpest ; for there is continuall batterie , and rare victorie ; Beautie and Chastitie seldome lodge together . Ibid.

Confession is the health of Soules , the destroyer of Vices , the scourge of Deuils ; briefely , it stops the mouth of Hell , and opens the gates of Paradice .

A cleere Conscience is that which can neither bee justly accused with what is past , nor vniustly delighted with what is present . Aug.

You should rather thinke of what you want , then of that you haue ; what you haue beware you leese not , and that you want pray God for : Consider in what you are lesser , not in how much you are greater ; for if you compute onely wherein you are , or haue beene excellent , that may ingender vanitie and pride in you , which is to be feared ; but if you reckon wherein you are or haue beene lesse , or defectiue , this will breed humilitie and teares in you which are to be wished : And doubtlesse if you striue to bee humble , you shall walke more safely , you shall not runne headlong , your foote shall not slippe .

God is aboue you , the Beasts are vnder you : acknowledge him that is aboue you , that they may acknowledge you , which are vnder you : Therefore when Daniel acknowledged God aboue himselfe , the Lyons acknowledged him aboue them .

O Man ! if thou didst consider what comes from thee by thy mouth , by thine eares , by thy nostrils , by thy pores , & other euacuations of thy body ; Thou wouldest confesse neuer to haue seene a more vile and loathsome dunghill , then thy selfe . Aug.

To giue a simple man Counsell is Charitie ; to a Wise man Presumption : but to giue it in case of peruersitie , or necessitie is Wisedome . Greg.

Among the Sages , one was wont to say , that a good Custome is neuer diswonted without shame , and that good Communication runnes into affectuall habit : according to that ; who fore-goeth Vertue being young , shall not know how to forbeare Vice beeing olde . Basil .

Let not your heart vary from your face or Countenance : carry not a face vpward and a heart downward . The heart is little , and desireth much ; it is scarse enough to giue a Kite his breakfast , and yet the whole world is not able to satisfie it . Bern.

Open Sinne before all , requireth open Punishment for example of all . Aug.

Impunitie is the of-spring of negligence , the mother of Insolence , the roote of vnshamefastnesse , the Nurse of Sinne.

Couetousnesse is the roote of all mischiefe ; it commits Sacriledge and Theft ; it rauins and deuoures ; it makes warre and murther ; it buyes and fels by Symonie ; it asketh and receiueth wrongfully ; it negotiates and floords vp vniustly ; it is at hand with all fraud and deceit ; it dissolues pacts and violates oathes ; it corrupts Witnesse and peruerts Iustice .

Three thinges are most affected ; Wealth , Pleasure , and Honour ; of Wealth comes wickednesse , of Pleasure turpitude , of Honour vanitie ; for wealth breeds Cupiditie and Auarice ; Pleasure breeds Lust and Gluttony , Honour fostereth Pride and Ostentation . Innoc.

Let no man distrust , nor any sinner despaire of Gods mercy : for God knowes how to change his Iudgment , if you know how to change your life . Aug.

Desperation holts the gates of the Eternall Citie , Hope vnbolts them ; but Faith sets them wide open . Chrysost.

The heart lifted vp to God corrupteth not ; if your Corne were layde in vnder-romes , to saue it from moulding , you would remoue it higher : you raise your graine to higher losts , so lift vp your hearts to Heauen . But now should this bee done say you ; what strong Cords , what Ladders , what Engines will bee required to this ? Isay , the first step is your affection , the lest of your labour is your will : by Loue you ascend , by neglect you descend , and when you loue God , you are in Heauen vpon Earth .

The Deuill is euery where ready to hurt euery one , but that his power is restrained by a greater power ; for if he could but what hee would , there should not a Iust soule bee left to breath . Aug.

The DEuils office is to suggest ; ours not to consent : as oft as wee resist euill ; so oft wee ouer come it ; wee glad and glorifie the Angels ; wee honour God , who visites vs that wee may fight , helpeth vs that wee may conquer , and aydes vs that we may not shrinke . Bern.

O wretch that I am how much am I bound to loue my God , who Created me when I was not , and redeemed me being lost ; for I was not , and hee made me of nothing ; yet hee made me not a stone , not a tree , not a meere Animal , but a Man : hee gaue mee to liue , to feed , to vnderstand ; hee deliuered me from bondage , redeemed mee from seruitude , and called mee by his Name , that I might remember him for euer .

CHRIST annoynted mee with the Oyle of gladnesse , wherewith himselfe was annoynted ; that of the annoynted I might bee annoynted , and of Christ bee called a Christian . August .

To learne that which is fit , no time is to late ; and though it become feare Age rather to teach , then to learne , yet it is better to Learne then to beelgnorant . August .

I wish , and thinke nothing more fit for mee , then to learne to the last houre of my old age : for no Age was euer long enough to learne . Greg.

By all meanes auoyd chiding or contention in wordes ; for with your equall it is dangerous , with your better it is madnesse ; and with your inferiour especially with a Foole , it is base : and to fall out with him that is Drunke , is to fall out with him that is absent .

Whatsoeuer you doe well with discretion , is Virtue ; whatsoeuer without discretion , is Vice ; for vndiscreet virtue , is of no better account then Vice . Ibid.

If worldly wealth bee wanting , yet seeke it not by any ill meanes in the world ; but if you liue in aboundance heere , then lay vp by good workes for your selfe else-where , in Heauen .

A manly Christian minde , should nener shew higher for Wealth , nor lower for Want .

The rich man begging in Hell was not heard , because hee heard not the poore man begging on Earth .

Earthly riches compared to Heauenly guifts , are rather trouble some then comfortable : Temporall life in respect of Eternall , sin rather Death then Life .

When Diues was a dying , he had taken all his wealth with him , had hee but giuen to him that asked when he was liuing ; for all earthly thinges which may bee lost by keeping , are preserued by giuing . Greg.

Gold and Siluer , in respect of the soule , are thinges indifferent , neither good nor bad : yet the vse of them may be good ; the abuse is naught , the Care worse , the vnlawfull gaine of them worst of all .

If Art and vse bee seperated , Vse is better without Art , then Art without vse ; for Art in vnprofitable without vse , and Vse vnaduised without Art . Greg.

If Doctors Preach the Faith , and deale themselues vnfaithfUlly ; they giue peace to others , but none to themselues ; they praise the truth and practice falshood ; Let vs receiue their Doctrine , not their ill manners : The Bees gather not vpon Weedes , but vpon sweet Flowers ; so let vs gather the flowers of their Doctrine , and leaue the weedes of their Conuersation .

Drankennesse is the mother of all mischiefe , the matter of offence , the roote of vice ; it is the Heads perturbation , the Senses subuersion , the Tongues tempost , the Bodies storme , shipwracke of Chastitie , and losse of Time ; it is a voluntary madnesse , a disgracefull diseafe , a filthy fashion , a shamelesse life , the infamy of Honour and Honestie , the Soules corruption .

A Drunkard whilst he soakes in Wine ; the Wine soakes him : hee is of God abhorred , of Angels despised , of Wertue forsaken , of Men derided , of Deuils confounded , and scorned of all .

A Drunkard destroyeth Nature , leeseth Grace , escapeth Glory , and incurreth eternall Darnnation . August .

Noah in one houres Drunkennesse , discouered his secret parts , which hee had couered sixe hundred yeares together . Hierom.

The Church hath this propertie ; to flourish when it is persecuted , to grow being oppressed , to profit being despised ; being beaten it ouercommeth , being blamed it vnderstandeth ; and stands fast when it seemes to fall . Hillar.

If you can giue , giue ; if you cannot , yet make your selfe affable and willing ; for God Crowneth inward willingnesse ; where he findes not out ward ablenesse : Let no man answer I haue not for you ; Charitie comes not alwayes out of a bagge . Aug.

Who layeth vp his treasure in Earth , hath nothing to looke for in Heauen .

The hand of the Poore is the treasury of CHRIST ; what the Poore receiueth , CHRIST accepteth . Therefore giue your Land to the Poore , that you may get a Kingdome to your selfe ; giue a Crumme to haue a Crowne ; I say giue that you may recoine , for whatsoeuer you giue to the poore , you shall bee sune to haue againe , and that which you will not giue , another shall beceine . Pet. Rouen .

It is great impietie to deshone the goods of the Poore upon the Rich , and to curry fauour with the mightie at the poores cost ; It is to drayne water from the dry ground , and to bestow it where is no need . Isid.

I aske you if you beleeue ? and you answer Crede , I doe beleeue : doe as you say , and it is beliefe .

Lay arguments aside where Faith is required : Logicke is now at rest , and silent , in the Schooles , where Fishermen are beleeued , not Logicians . Ambrose .

Great is that Glory which increaseth by no praise , and diminisheth by no dispraise . Cass .

The vaine glory of this world is sweet and deceiptfull ; a fruitlesse paine , a perpecuall feare , a perilous Throne ; it begins with improuidence , and ends with impenitence .

The glory is not so great of sitting high , as the griefe is extreame in falling lowe ; nor so much the triumph which attends vpon Victory , as the shame and reproach that followeth Destruction .

If you loue Wealth , lay it vp where it cannot perish ; if Honour , esteeme it where none are vnworthily honoured ; if health , speake to enioy it , where nothing is feared ; if Life , then loue it where it cannot end with Death .

If GOD haue giuen you Grace because hee would giue it freely ; then Loue you God freely , not for reward , but for himselfe .

Why Gods grace is bestowed vpon one and not vpon another , the Cause may bee vnknowne , but it cannot bee vniust . Aug.

All that is done is lost , if Humilitie bed wanting . Greg.

Humilitie is a Virtue , by which in knowing , wee learne age esteeme our selues . Bern.

Fasting is knowne to bee the Tower of God , the Castle of Christ , the wall of the Holy Ghost , the shield of Faith , the tryumph of Sanctitie .

Though Fasting expell the sicknesse of Vice and Sinne , cuts off Passions , and driues away the causes of offence ; yet without the oyntment of pittie , without the streame of 〈◊〉 and the cost of Almes , it brings no perfect health to the Soule : Fasting cureth the wounds of the soule , but without mercy , it leaues the scarres behinde . Pet. Rouan .

It is laudable to bee patient in our owne wrongs , but to dissemble the iniuries of God is impious . Chrysost.

Enuy is the Daughter of Pride , and that mother Pride is neuer barren , but euer bearing : strangle that mother , and there will bee no more such Daughter . August .

The ignorance of Iudges for the most part , is the misery of Innocents .

I say vnto you Sweare not at all ; least Swearing breed a facilitie of swearing ; facilitie Custome , and custome lead you to Periurie . August .

As that Tree hath no fruit which first had no blossome ; so that Age hath no honour , whose Youth had no Discipline . Cyprian .

Very many haue I seene fall into sinne by speaking , but seldome any by silence ; and doubtlesse , it is harder to learne how to bee silent , then how to speake . Ambrose .

O Infernall wantonnesse of the Flesh , whose matter is Gluttony , whose flame is Pride , whose sparkles are lewd Speaches , whose smoake is Infamie , whose end is Hell fire . Hier.

It is great vertue not to hurt , him that hurts you ; it is no lesse fortitude when you are hurt to forgiue ; but to spare him whom you may hurt , is great glory , Ibid.

I remember not to haue read of any that dyed an ill death , who had freely vsed the workes of mercy in his life ; such a one surely hath many intercessors , and impossible it is , that the prayers of many should not bee heard . Hier.

Good men are called away betimes , that they may no longer bee vexed of the wicked ; and wicked persons are cut off , that they may persecute the iust no further .

Hee cannot Dye ill , that hath Liued well ; and hardly can hee dye well , that hath liued ill . August .

A Sinner should be astonisht with this note ; that when hee dyeth , hee may forget himselfe , who whilest hee liued forgot God . Caesarius .

To maintaine a poore wife is very hard , to endure a rich one is a torment : what booteth a diligent watch ? seeing a dishonest woman will not bee kept in , an honest should not : Necessitie is but a false keeper of Chastitie , and shee onely is truly to bee reputed chaste , that might haue sinned and would not . Hier.

If it bee a sinne to put away a Wife , and a torment to keepe her , then of necessitie wee shall incurre danger of Adulteries by the one , and suffer continuall brawles by the other . Chrys.

The Fetters of this world are truely rough and troublesome , the Pleasures false , the Sorrowes certayne , the Ioyes inconstant , the Labours hard , the Rest doubtfull , the Wealth accompanied with Care , and the hopes of Earthly happinesse vaine . August .

The World proclaimes , I will fayle you : The Flesh cryes out , I will infest you : The Deuill roares , I will betray you : But CHRIST saith , I will refresh you . Bern.

Who would not be ashamed to say , What will you giue mee that I may doe you Iustice ? Is it not as much as to say , what will you giue mee to deny my selfe , to forget my place , and to sell God Almighty ? Chrys.

A Christians chiefest libertie to God-ward , is to bee no seruant to sinne ; his chiefest Noblenesse , to excell in Vertues . Hierom.

Prayer is talking to GOD : when you read , God speakes to you ; and when you pray , you speake to God ; Therefore pray with attention ; for the prayer which man intendeth not , God heareth not .

God is neither forced nor mooued by a crying voyce , but pleased and appeased by an vpright Conscience ; for hee is a hearer not of the voyce , but of the heart .

Many there are whom God heareth not to their intentions , that he may heare them to their saluations . Chrysost.

The onely perfection of any , is the knowledge of their owne imperfection . Hier.

Seeing that Sinne must not scape vnpunished , punish you it , least it punish you : euer let your sinne finde you a Iudge ouer it , not a Patron for it .

Vaine is that Repentance which is spotted with ensuing sinne ; Laments auayle nothing where sinne is doubled : It is to no purpose to aske forgiuenesse , and fall into the same sinne afresh .

The practice of right Conuersation , is not to presume to Command , before wee haue learned to obey ; nor to impose that vpon our Inferiours , which wee yeeld not to our Superiours .

So farre should a Prelates behauiour transcend the Peoples , as a Shepheard transcends his Flocke .

If hee shall bee cast into the Fire , that giueth not of his owne , what may wee thinke will become of him that robbes another ? If hee burne with the Deuill , that cloathed not the naked , where shall hee burne that strippeth the Poore ?

What you haue found , and not restored , you haue carryed away by force ; for what you could doe , you did ; and you did no more , because you could not ; hee also that denyeth to another his owne , as much as in him lyes , robbes him .

Sinne is not remitted , vnlesse debt bee restored , if it may bee . August .

Wee that liue vpon the oblations of the Faithfull , which they offered for their sinnes , doubtlesse if wee eate and bee silent , we feed vpon their sinne .

Consider ( O Brethren ) how damnable a thing it is , to receiue wage for no worke ? what a crime to take the price of sinne , and to Preach nothing against sinne . Greg.

Whatsoeuer yee retayne of the Altars , besides simple Food and Cloathing ; it is rapine , it is Sacriledge . Bern.

Who affirmeth to haue knowledge being ignorant , is rash ; who denyes that knowledge hee hath , is vnthankfull .

An Olde mans discourse should not onely bee weightie and graue , but withall short or not very long . Aug.

An Old man heareth the messengers of Death , and will not beleeue them ; the messengers are three ; Casualtie , Sicknesse , and old Age it selfe : Casualtie propounds thinges vncertaine ; Sicknesse thinges sorrowfull ; old Age thinges certaine : Casualtie shewes death lurking ; Sicknesse death appearing ; old Age death present : From vncertaintie of Death proceeds feare ; from paine of Sicknesse , griefe ; and from the certaintie of old Age , should come not obstinacy and stiffenesse , but Mortification and Humilitie . Hug.

As it becomes not a Bishop to sell that hand hee layeth vpon others , so the ordayned Minister , must neither set his Tongue nor his Pen to sale .

When a Bishop purchaseth vndue Order with money , whereby his inward man is cast off ; his Body receiueth honour , and his Soule loseth honestie . Ambrose .

Euery one is so much the more vnwise inwardly , as hee striueth to bee thought wise outwardly . Greg.

If a Rich man proud , bee scarce tollerable , who will suffer an insolent Begger ? Aug.

Pride precipitateth from the highest Heauen , to the deepest pit of Hell : Humilitie exalteth from below to aboue : an Angell fell from Heauen into Hell ; Man from Earth ascendeth to Heauen . Bern.

The vicious for the most part , loue such as are like themselues ; onely one proud body , can neuer indure another . Inno.

Present feare , begets eternall securitie ; now feare God aboue all thinges , that you need not be affraid of Man .

Let Man vnderstand , that GOD is a Physitian , and tribulation a Medicine to Saluation , not a preparatiue to Damnation .

In the Furnace , Strawe burneth , Gold purifieth ; the one consumeth to ashes , the other is purged of drosse and corruption : the Furnace is the World ; the Gold is the lust ; the Fire is Tribulation ; the cunning workman is GOD : What the workman willeth I doe ; where and when hee appoints I suffer : hee that appoints mee to endure , knowes when I shall bee pure : though the strawe burne and set mee on fire , yet when it is turned to ashes , I shall bee cleane without spot or staine .

Our LORD saith Forgiue , and you shall bee forgiuen : say not with your tongue you forgiue , and differ with your heart ; for God knowes what you say and thinke together ; Man heares what you say , but GOD sees what you thinke : It is much better to forgiue heartily and say nothing , then to carry a faire golden mouth , and a false froward heart . Aug.

So mercifull is our Lord IESVS , that hee would haue pardoned Iudas , if hee had but craued pardon and hoped for CHRISTS mercy . Ambr.

Truth is both sweet and bitter ; sweet when it spareth , bitter when it cureth . Aug.

What booteth a cleane Body with a corrupt Minde ? an humble Wife is better then a proud Virgin .

Virginitie surpasseth the condition of humane nature , by which men are made like vnto Angels : yet greater is the victory of Virgins then of Angels ; for Angels liue without Flesh , but Virgins triumph in Flesh .

Virginitie is the Sister of Angels , the Conquest of Lusts , the Queene of Vertues , the Treasure of Goodnesse . Cyprian .

Vertue , the more it contemneth , the more it is esteemed . It is great Vertue to striue with Prosperitie , and great Prosperitie not to bee ouercome by it .

The minde can neuer enioy the kingdome of Vertue , vnlesse it first shake off the yoake of Vice . Aug.

There is no such persuasion , to Vertue , as often to remember the vglinesse of Sinne. Chrys.

There is nothing well-done , vnwillingly , though the thing done bee neuer so good .

If you steale not because you are affraid to bee seene , yet inwardly in your heart you haue stolne , and are to bee held guiltie thereof , though you take nothing away . Bern.

When you will you cannot , because when you might you would not ; so as through an ill will past , you haue lost a good beeing present . Aug.

With GOD ( who knoweth all thinges before they be done ) a resolued will to doe well , or ill , is reckoned for the deed done . Aug.

His braine is taken away whom GOD intendeth to punish , least hee should by prouidence auert the intended plague .

He that makes an vndiscreet Vow is foolish , and hee that keepes it is impious . Hier.

Alwayes breake vnlawfull Promises , and change vngodly Vowes .

What good you haue vowed freely , that you are bound to performe justly . Bern.

A greedy Couetous man who deuoureth all like Hell , would haue none left aliue but himselfe , that hee might possesse all . Aug.

When God rewardeth Merites , hee crowneth nothing but his owne Guifts : in the merite you doe nothing ; in the worke , you worke alone ; your Crowne is of God , your worke of your selfe , yet not without Gods assistance . Aug.

Many good things doth God in Man , which man doth not ; for Man doth nothing which God doth not , that Man may doe it . Ibid.

All our merites are in such manner the guifts of God , that Man is for the same more indebted to God , then God to Man . Bern.

Merite and Grace are at this oddes ; that Grace will neuer enter , where Merite takes the vpperhand . Bern.

I know well , that by no vertue , no merite , he shall euer bee saued , who by the Passion of CHRIST is neuer moued . Aug.

Whensoeuer Ideuoutly remember and meditate the Passion of CHRIST , I shall be safe . Ibid.

Not any one vpon earth is so rich , as hee desireth nothing but God : and he is the Almes-man of CHRIST , that is out of loue with the world . Aug.

Among thirtie thousand men , scarse one of those shall repent truly , who driue of Repentance to the last cast .

Hee is farre enough from Faith , that deferreth his repentance till his Death . Greg.

In a sound man Penance is sound , in a sicke man it is sicke , and in a dead man it is dead .

Reckon from Adam to the last Iust man , and you shall find none to bee saued , but by very hard and rough wayes .

Alwayes in your heart eschew ill Company , and when you cannot auoyde them , conuerse very warily amongst them .

The vertue of the Sacraments , is not abated by the viciousnesse of the Priest .