For our time is as a shadowe that passeth away , and after our end there is no returning for it is fast sealed so that no man commeth againe .

Come therefore let vs enioye the pleasures that are present , and let vs cheerefullie vse the creatures as in youth .

Let vsfill our selues with costlie wine and ointments , and let not the flower of youthe passe by vs .

Let vs crowne our selues with rose buddes , afore they be withered .

Let vs all be partakers of our wantonnesse , let vs leaue some token of our pleasure in euerie place , for that is our portion and this is our lot .

Therefore let vs oppresse the poore that is righteous , let vs not spare the widow , nor reuerence the white heares of the aged . O debate not on this wise with your selues , but flie from euill and doo good : for God regardeth thee deeds of euerie man .

Call to remembrance the perillous times wherein we liue , and the vncerteintie oflife . How neere Gods iudgements ( if not his generall iudgement ) approcheth vs . If we with a sound discretion consider it , we shall find great cause to feare it , and prepare our selues to preueut it . Our liues ( as by hourlie experience wee proue ) hangeth by a slender twine by reason of our mortalitie incident to al men generallie . But our liues hangeth by a weaker twine , incident to vs in England ( as our case now standeth ) especiallie . Which are compulsionsforcible inough to draw reasonable men to integrity of life and holy conuersation . Yet fareth it with vs as with senselesse pictures , that haue eies and see not , eares and heare not , heads and conceiue not , the iminent dangers hanging ouer our heads . We harden our harts with Pharao against the God of Israel , they are not touched with threates , nor terrified with torments , till they be inflicted vpon vs , as now they are too too neare vs .

Now the xxxiii . Sunne most happily inuironeth in the firmament , since our blessed deliuerance out of the power and greeuous thraldom ofPharao and Egypt . The gouernesse of this thrice happie lande ( for so it may bee said in regard of such a gouernesse ) being not only the instrument of our so happie deliuerance : but also the sole and absolute cause ( vnder God ) of this our matchlesse tranquilitie . Our God by hir as by one for whose sake we ( beyond the measures of the graces of our brethren and the prosperous course of our fathers ) inioy this peace and plenty , hath in the aboundance ofhis ineffable grace and mercy , continued and prospered the same vpon vs hitherto . And what other blessings he hath like the dew ofHermon distilled vpon our Sion ( as that of the free passage of the gospell and infinite others ) the whole world can witnesse , and we to our vnspeakeable consolation haue experienced . He hath not left vs an Anarchy , and hedlesse dissolution , as to the Canibals a most preposterous and mishapen gouernment , streming with blood , and smoking with the mist of palpable error and ignorance . Nor as to the Antichristians , seared in the forehead with the mark of the image of the gret whoore of Babylon . Not a barbarous wast and heathenish estate , as to the Tartarian heards of curssed Cham and vnto the miserable inhabitantes of Meschech , or to the rauenous swarmes and turbulent hosts of Tubal-gog . But contrariwise hee hath by hir ledde vs foorth as a flocke of sheepe , and fed vs vpon the pastures of his owne Gosen , giuing vnto vs for warres , peace : for barbarous brutishnesse , humanity and gentlenesse : for grosse ignorance , pro found knowledge : for painted superstition , sincere religion : for scarsitie , plentie : for vnprouidence , ciuill policie : for iarring discord , vniformity & concord : making vs to dwell in safety vnder hir gratious gouernment as vnder the winges of his Almightie protection .

In these hir blessed yeares hath been seene , the golden daies of hir father Dauid , & the no lesse prosperous then peaceable regiment of Salomon . The earth hath yeelded hir fruitfulnes , the sea hir store , the clouds their drops , the heauens their orientall beautie , the sun his heat , the yeare his increase , the val lies couered with corne , the furrowes moistened , the woods and groues crowned with ioy . The mountaines singe with mirth , our folds replenished with cattell , our sonnes and daughters flourish like the ceadars of Libanus , our yoong men see visions , and our olde men prophesie . Whilst the sworde of the destroier hath smitten the neighbour nations , from the first borne sitting vpon the princes throne : vnto the slaue grinding at the handmill , whilest the firme landes adiacent haue beene ouerflowne by the rage of the seas , our Iland haue dwelt in peace , sente hir ships into Ophir for gold , and prepared hir Nauie against the enimy . This worthy instrument then of Gods goodnesse , and expresse image of his maiestie , haue been and yet is ( as erst I said ) the onlie organ and instrumental cause of al this our fore remembred felicity ; and who is also the very breath of our nostrils , the lighte of our eies , and the totall summe of our welfare . If then it pleased God in the seueritie of his iust conceiued displeasure against our sinnes , to call hir from this hir earthlie Monarchie , to raine with him in his heauenlie Hiarchie : what day I pray you might the daie ofhir departure be called ? might it not be properlie saide to be a day ofiudgment ? a day of dole , of wrath and of vengeance ? It mighte well be so called , for the effects proceeding from it . For if our liues and liuings , and consequentlie all that here content or delight vs , depend vppon hirs ( as truelie they doo ) that pretious life ( which I pray God long maintain ) giuing place to nature , as once needs it must . For Death is the way of all fleshe . Tell mee I praie you , in what predicament were we , where were then our liues , our liuinges , our pleasures and contentments ? where is then our tranquillitie , peace and plentie ? where is the gouernment become , whereby the nobles were kept within their compas and the commons slept in safetie . Where is then the feare of maiestracie and the regard of our prelacie . Where is beecome the due execution of wholesome lawes and statutes and the force of our statutes whereby the common-weale did flourish like a Palme and spred hir branches ouer the whole bodie of this realme . Where is the knowledge of mine and thine : and lastelie where is the due administration of Gods worde and sacraments whereby he was glorified and our consciences comforted : are they not all to bee feared ( excepte God be now merciful then we deseru ) last the violence of forraine inuasion , or the sword of domesticall dissention should cut them of , and quite subuert them . Wel wantons well , I feare your comicall progressions would be then changed into tragicall conclusions . For my own part so my wish might be with Gods good will ) I would I might not liue to see that daie , though I am perswaded not onely my life but manie thousands more would be euen determined with that day , that yet notwithstanding ( with long desires ) expect that daie . But foule befall ( as dayly do befall ) such wild bores of the forrest , that would so faine ( if so they durst without danger ) spoile this vinyard whiche Gods owne right hand hathe planted , confounded bee they and put to shame togither with as manie as haue euill wil vnto our peace . But how far these callamities are from our considerations , our perseuerant pride , and peruerse behauiours dayly do manifest which the more God blesseth vs with earthly benedictions , the more freelie we runne into our owne destructions . How true it is , our manifold rebellions against God & his annointed dayly do testifie : Such and so great is mans improuidence , that he is onely carried awaie with the prosperitie of the time present , but the calamities of the time future , he neuer thinketh vpon , vntil their sodaine approche , admitting no tyme for repentance ) drowneth the simple secure liuer in many seas of miseries : euen so were the daies ofNoah , & such were the wicked ones in those dayes , they did wallow in the mire of sin and iniquitie , as we doo now : they eat and drank and made merrie as we do now , they bought and solde , and chopt and changed as we do now , they had prosperitie , peace and plentie , as we haue now , they abused and mispended the same as wee doo now : they were vnthankfull for those benefites and blessinges as we are now : they prouoked God by their licencious liuing : as we do now , they were disobedient to hys word as we are now : they mocked his prophetes , and beleeued not their threatnings , as we do now : they hardned their heartes , to effect their misdeeds as we do now : they liued secure and carelesse as we do nowe , and all was husht as it is now : and Gods vengeance came vpon them vna wares , as it maie do now . O therfore think vpon these & such like examples mentioned in the mirror of trueth , Gods blessed booke and true chronicle , and so thinke vpon them , that we may profit by them : that is , to learne by their harmes to auoid the like : for though Gods plagues be long in comming ( by reason ofhis great patience ) yet when they come , they come with a witnesse , they come with a terror , they fal with a mighty & insupportable waight , yea with such a waight as on whom soeuer they light , they wil grind to powder .

Much more might be here incerted , touching the seueritie of Gods iustice , and our sinfull carelessnesse . But what hope may I conceiue , that my perswasions ( beeing a man as corrupt as the corruptest ) shoulde preuaile with the wantons of this worlde , when neither the powerfull perswasions , sweet promises , sugred allurementes , nor thundring threates , which ( with an heauenvly eloquence ) are written ( by the spirit of truth ) in the sacred bible , togither with so manie learned and godly treatises , all tending to this purpose now extant cannot preuaile : no not in the least measure , with this froward generation : Howe be it though there bee nothing more common then bookes of suche importance , yet haue I thought it conuenient to publish this briefe , bearing my selfe in hand , it shall rather amend manie then offend anie : except suche as vnto whome Christ himselfe is become an offence . For suche as I couet not to please , so care I not to displease .

A contemplation full of heauines of minde and anguish ofspirit it is , to consider the hugenesse of the iniquitie of this present age , the waight whereof makes the earth to grone as not being able to sustaine so intollerable a burden . It compelles euerie man regenerate and truely mortified to saie . O that my soule had winges like a doue , that I might flie awaie from this wicked and stiffnecked people , and escape the vengeance to come , this people of vncircumcised hearts and eares , whose consciences are seared with hot irons , Phil , 3 , 19 , whose God is their bellie , whose glory is their shame , and whose endes are damnation . They do as it were oppose themselues against the Lord of hostes , and with might and maine persecute his saintes . They are so fraught with pride , lust , enuie , and gaullie bitternes , & so full of mischief , & diuelish practises , that they offer violence to their own soules , in effecting their abhominations , and stand at open defiance with heauen , the sempiternall seate of the highest . Their vineyard is the vinyard Deu. 32 , 32 , 33 ofSodomites , their grape is the grape of gall and their clusters of grapes are most bitter . Their wine is the gall of Dragons , and the poison of Cockatrices vncurable . They put their Esaie. 59 , 4 , 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 trust in thinges of nothing , and doo talke vanities , they conceiue labour and bring foorth iniquitie : they breake the egges of serpentes , and weaue the webbes of spiders : he that eateth their egges dieth the death , and that which is hatched thence is a Cockatrice : their webs make not cloth to couer them , for that their workes are al vnprofitable , and the work of iniquitie in their handes . Their feete runne to euill , and they make haste to shedde innocent bloud , their thoughtes are wicked thoughtes , desolation and destruction is in their pathes .

The waie of peace they knowe not , & there is none equitie in their goinges , they haue made them crooked pathes : whosoeuer goeth therein shall not know peace .

Therefore is iudgement farre from vs , neither dooth iustice come neere vnto vs , wee wait for light but loe it is darkenes for brightnesse , but we walke in darkenes .

We grope for the wall like the blind , & we grope as onewithouteies , we stumble at the noone day as in the twilight , we are in solitarie places as dead men .

Weroare all like Beares and mourne like Doues , we lookefor equitie but there is none , for health but it is far from vs .

But O sacred Souereigne , and my peereles Princesse , in whom , for whom and by whom wee enioy these blessed benefits of peace and plentie , with infinite others . Let it please thy Royall Maiestie , of thy superaboundant clemencie , to take in good woorth these few aduisementes fent from the senter of a poore subiects heart , that reuerenceth thee ( as it is moste bounden ) in greater measure then wordes can posfibly expresse . And albeit the rare and admirable discretion , which is alwaies resident in thee ( as in the locall place , where it of right ought to be ) togither with the moste sound aduise of those prudent Senators , whiche are of the councell , can and doo foresee with great circumspection , the imminent dangers insuing thy absence and cut off ( with such due regard as wel befeemeth them ) al occasions that may preiudice thy sacred life , crowne , and dignitie : yet ô yet giue thy poore subiect leaue ( with all humility prostrate vpon my face , I beseeche thee ) to mind thee of that , whiche ( in respect of earthly welfare is our summum bonum : namely , thy safetie whereon dependeth the safetie , liues , and liuinges of so manie thousandes . If then the head cannot perish , but the members must needes come to naught , and that the losse of thy dear life , is the catastrophe of ours . It standeth me in hand to the vttermost of my power , to practise by all possible indeuours ( though conscience compell me not ) all that might tend to the preseruation of the same . And therefore I beseech your maiestie , in the bowels of a dutiful and loyall heart , to restrain the accesse to your princely presence , of such as may anie waie be suspected of disloialtie , be they high or low , or of what condition soeuer . and althogh my request seem vnto your great wisedom needlesse in respect of your owne proper care , yet haue I some reason to minde you of this , for that it is well knowne you haue bene heeretofore ( with your mercifull leaue bee it spoken ) too too affable vnto the bloudthirstie , and ouerbold with suche as haue intended your destruction and ours , which although it be a gratious disposition in you : yet to vs your poore subiects it is no smal danger , & although the innocencie of your hart make it void of feare and suspition , how be it in regard of our sinnes , and Gods iustice , be yet the more circumspect .

And albeit ( by reason of humaine ignorance ) you cannot vnderstand the thoughtes of their heartes , that intend mischiefe , yet with heedefull regard ( the power whiche haue hitherto preserued you pulling their maskes from their faces , and discouering their handes ) you shall apparantly perceiue their trecherous countenances , and plainly descrie their butcherly handes imbrued with bloud , and all outragious villanie . Take heede therefore good Queene againe I saie , take heed , giue not the vnknowne or suspected opportunitie , least the Lorde in the heate of his wrathe now iustly kindled by reason of our sinnes , depriue vs of you , to the end he may be auenged on vs as on a people vnworthie of so praise-worthie a princesse , and so pay vs home with such insuiug plagues & calamities as since the calling home of our grand ancestors to humaino ciuilitie , was neuer seen in our land . Therfore ô sweete comfort of Israel , as muche as in you lieth , preuent these miseries if not so muche for your owne sake , yet for your poore subiectes , and the gospell sake , that wee may liue in safetie , and long inioy this thrice happie tranquilitie .

ANd you Ladies of honour and others , that liue vnder hir obeysance , speake honourablie , and thinke reuerently of hir : for whose sake and by whose meanes you are so highlie honoured and reuerenced . Backbite hir not , no not in your priuie chambers : for the doore-cheekes of those clossets wil blab it abroad , to your perpetuall shame and deserued destruction . Please God and this renowmed Paragon , by your vnfained obedience : so shall you preuent these calamities , wee shall liue in safetie , and inioy this blessed peace and tranquilitie .

ANd you ô ( noble Lords of England ) let neither the cause of conscience , ambitious desire of honour and soueraigntie , conceiued vnkindnesse or secret enuie , nor ought besides that may be imagined , falsifie the faith and allegeance you owe to hir maiestie , hir crowne and dignity , but preuent these calamities , in being honorably resolued to die in defence of hir , and your country , containing your selues within the lists of loialtie . So shall wee hir subiectes liue in safetie , and inioy this blessed peace , and matchlesse tranquilitie .

YOu Lordes spirituall vnto whose vigilant regard our soules are committed : see well to your charge , and as your callinges are , so let your conuersations be , instruct your flock'es as wel by workes as words , Plant sound and sincere doctrine , that it may fructifie and increase knowledge . Abandon slouth and couetousnesse from your houses . In steede whereof entertaine holy exercise and hospitalitie for their reliefe and comfort that are in aduersitie . Suffer none ( by any meanes ) to enter the ministerie , but such as you shall find by the touchstone of trial , to be sufficient for so high a function , whose giftes may euery waie answere the sinceritie of their calling , and ifyou maie or can expell all those that are alreadie entred , whiche either are vngodly or vnlearned . Set your affections on thinges inuisible ( for so it well beseemeth you ) and not on thinges mortal : for so the heathen doo . And for that our merciful God manie times conuerteth the practises of the wicked , to the profit of the godly , and woulde that they should make the most of this profit . Imagine it pleased him ( in his inscrutable wisdom ) as knowing what is most behouefull for you , to suffer a pack of puritants ( falsly so called ) to reuile and slander you , yea and to put foorth libels against you , therby to awake you , and to make you attend the worke of your vocation more diligently and carefully . Now therefore , let this be to you an aduantage make your profit heereof , and if you so doo , reioyce and bee glad , for great is your reward in heauen , for so slandered they the Prophetes and Apostles whiche were before you , and practise hencefoorth by preaching and praier to preuent these calamities , that wee and you may liue in safetie , and long inioy this peace and tranquilitie .

OYe graue and learned Iudges of this land , peruert not the lawes for loue of lucre , let not the glorious glasse of golde , whiche is but painted earth , dazell the eies of your vnderstanding & corrupt the secret corners Wild. 6. 2 , 3. 4 , 5. 7. of your consciences . For Salomon the prince of prudence speaketh vnto you on this maner . Giue eare yee that rule the multitude , for the rule is giuen you of the Lord , and power by the most high , which will trie your workes and search out your imaginations , because that yee being officers of his people , haue not iudged aright , nor kept the law , nor walked after the will of God .