VICTOR HILTON PENCOMBE HALL I ' Digitized byjhe Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://archive.org/details/christianszodiakOOdrex PERKINS LIBRARY Duke University Rare Dooks * ! --TOT-- TWXLUE .SlG ixe^ of PrecWii naiiotL tfcnio Life eiterWtiing 5 . Wrl#t Xa-ttin. e>- remifi JLONUON Printedfor William -W&tfon Atmo Bom': {fa fin ilUUbrarih The Author to the Reader. Prefent thee here {pious Reader) with 12 fignes of Vivine PredeJiination y colleBed at /pare houres out of the J acred Scrip- tures and holy Fathers $ which for thehdpeofme- mdrie beare each one their Device or Impxes in the front ofthemThis Glafe, ifthonjhalt takt ^h into thy hands Jo drejje thyfelf therein , and diligently mar\ how many of thefe fignes thou dtfcovereji in A 2 thy S«4 '^2 [To the Reader. thy felfe 5 whether all, or none^one^or butafewjhou Wilt he able' if thou alt ere ft no- thy ccurfe ) to give a nearconjeUurein whether isi/o^e thj name bee writ* ten > either of Life . or Death : which booker are for thefrefint fhp nffiok to bee opened, till the lafi Generallday $ when thofe, who (hall not be found re- corded in the book of Life, fyallbe cafl into the dread" full lake of Fire : whereas thofe^whofe names are re* gijired in Heaven., Jfjall participate of a joy > which neither know es a Meafure nor m End, I Series Series Signorum, L I. "THEfirftfigtie ofPre&ftf. 1 nation , u An intcrnill light \ which beans for it's De- vice, a burning Taper. The Motto » ; Thy Word is a Lanthornc to my feet , and a light unto my paths, p/hl. ii$. i r; 2. ^ re^dinejfe to dye. The De- Wee, A dead mans Scull. The Motto : I defire to be diflb'ved, and to be with Chrift. Phil. I. III. j. Presentation of Sacra* ments. Device, The facred Eucha- fifi : The Motto : He that eateth af this bread fhal not dye. Joh.6. IV. i 4. Contempt of world'y things, The Device, A hire Altar difpoy- ed of all its ornaments. The Mot- :o u : But what things were gain o me, thofe I counted lofle for Uritf. Phil 3: 7. A 3 V. Pa- V. X.De. I 10. Dcteftation of our faffed finnes. The Device, A rod and Scourge. The Motto: IwiUcpme prefemly -to thee^and remove thy candleftiek oat of it? place, un- lefie thou doe repent. Jpoc. 2. XL it, Propenfionof ourw !1 .o Good. fffc Device' An Anchor* The Motto: I have inclined my heart to fulfill thy ftatutes for e- ver. Pfal. 1 19. XII. I2 # Moderation of our paffi- ons, or the victory *of temptati- ons. The Device, A ftrwigLute, The Motto : Thy defire (hall bee fubjedfc unto thee, and thou flialc mailer it, Cjw. 3. r he Coronidesc/rk-ZodiaVe, Is afhort dftourfe tf tbc fcarciry of the Fndeft man. A 4 The lity- Word is a Candle unfo myfeete &c aLighljmf o iny trathetf. Pfdlnue, 119 Vios' i Par.i ififHiipwwl The Chriftian ThefirftSigne.of Tredefiination^ Is a Burning Taper* The Motto : 7% wottf *V # Ld/7f ». £om /o myfeet&nd a light un- to my paths. Pfai, 1 1 9, (Y the burning Taper is fet forth that inter- ?£1. 119- #*# tight , which fo • farrc forth fhewes us Gods beuefits, the worlds vanity, lifes fhottneffe, fins.filthinefle, the fading fhadowes of all plca- A 5 furcsj, The Chrifiian fares j that, whofocver begins to fee them , breaths after heaven, and cr es with the Kingly Pro- Pial.4r. P^etj My foul e th-rfietbfor the firong God , for the liv ng Cfod : When Jh will come an d appear e he- P£l.4,& 88. fore theprefer.ee of God ? There be many that [ay> who reft fhrw us any gcod ? Lord lift thou up the I'gkt of thy countenance upon us : and in this light of thy countenance willTveTvallie. i. A N-a terto teach us,there is within bs, the light of Reafonj which God of his bounty, deri- ving from his own countenance, hath placed in the better part of man ; and this light doth not onely diftinguifti us from beafts, but makes us like uiuoGod.This light imprinted in mans under- fianding, is an indehb'e Sermon, which teacheth us , rot to doe that to another , whichtvee would ?i(/t have done to ourfelves 5 in- afmuch as we can hope for from artorh, r, none othcrwife tha our idves have done to ethers IV th tchatmcafure ye mete, it Jhatl bee iC ' 6 - meted to you agat?:e< Hence it is, that Zodiake. gPafcl. that wee rnuft neither violently nor deceitfully impaire either^the - goods of others, or their chafti- ty. This light fhewes us all the creatures 9 and (though darkly) G d himfelfethe * reator, ha- ving all things perfect, moil blcf- fed, eternall, fufficient forhinv felfe and all ethers, the begin- nings middle and end, which dwells in the light that none can approach unto ,- in his wo'ks andguts, no leffe amiable than powerfull, whofc VVil: and Work are the fime:he wichis al mer- cy and goodnefle; yet an holy, feve re, incorrupt Iudge, and not to be rlatrercd .* He which is all I uft ice, whofe (hapc and ^reat- nefle is beyond expreflion j whofe like n ithermay wee fee, nor conceive that at any ti e we fhal- fee. All pleafant 2nd beau- rifull things compared with him, be no better than meere dai -kne$ 5 and a poore fhidow 5 which lovely tranfeendant beauty de- lights in nothing rr o»:e than to bt beloved. Thislight-mamfeu's unto tti the w«m of cur Crea- tor X.Sig. 4 The Chrijiian tor, the interchangeable rule of day and night , the fta- bright eye of the Heavens Maiefly, the long iournies of Sun and Moon, earths fruitfull wombe, the fpa- tious compaffings of Rivers, the dreadful! Lordmip of the Sea, the fever all kinds of living crea- tire*, andtheincreafe of fruits. All which, God made without hands, or any labour.* onely he willed that they mould be made, and they were made. ^ Alfo this light of Reafon and Faith fhewes : ans chiefcft hap- pinefleto confift in this, if as much as is poflii>le hce become like his Maker : for like unto like is ever acceptable ; and fure- ]y no livelier image is there than that which is moft like him whofe image it is. But this mall be not here^but in another place, in another world,in the land of the living, ttondumapparuit quid. erimus,(?c. It is not as yet appa • rent (T ith Sr. $obn what wes ohtt 3. fall be, onely this we &<>■&, that' when heappcarcs, roe JhaUbcccmc li^eunto him , in that wee Shall beheld Zodiake. 5 Far. i behold him truly as he &.From the thought of this , feconded by re- fulgent light , the will conceives an incredible content , hope rai- feth up its felf to a mod eminent heightjandthe affe&ion mounts up, ail inflamed unto Almightie God ; for what can be more ra- vifhing fweet unto a foule, than to confidents felfe> the lively I- mage offo infinite a beautie,anc£ have the affurance that it ismoft deare to its refemblance.But this light is not fo bountifull of its raies to every one,for which rea- fon, the royall Prophet, who well knew by experience, that all were not participant of this con- folation 3 doth congratulate with himfelfe , forfo high a preroga- P1U8S. tive, Signatum eftfuper ws lumen vuhus tuiDomine, QLordfaith. he) the light of thy countenance, is imprcfed on m 3 thou Ufi^ aiven me joy in my heart, not in the hearts of others , but in mine owne,andof fuchonely (0 thou foveraigne goodnefle ) whom thou haft predeftinarcd toctcr- nalllife^or this we will gladly walfee 2 . Sig. 6 The Chrifiim walk in this light of thy counte- nance y and rejoyce in thy Name all the day Iong,for being delive- red out of darknefle,and rendrei capable of underftwiding every day more and more of thy holy will,and by a dearer anditraigh- ter bond of alliance united unto larucb. 4. thee Beatl fumw, olfrael^c. O Ijraelhotp blejfedarc roe ( faith the Prophet^ tohavethcfe things mamfeficd mi to us, -which are pie a- fivg to Almighty God ? And Job when all both in heaven and earth did feem toconfpire againft" him ^ yet remcmbring of this light^was not a little comforted, lob, 29. splendebat lucerna eius fuper d- put me urn, (j-c His lampe ( faich he) didjhir.e over my head, and l did wal\e in dar\neff< by the light thereof: Wherefore you f faith The Sonne of Syrac) -who fear e the Eccl. 4. Lord, love him , and your hearts If Jhall be inligkt?:ed. Lux vefira in y ' 5 ' tenebfhorietur&c. Tour' light Jhall [bine forth in dartyejfe , and cur Lord jhall befton* upon you a pcrpetuaU refi , and r plcxifh your Soules with fplendours. Whereas if Zecliake. 7 Par. % if you once fcparate your felves from God, you will bee involved in Egyptian darkneffe on every fide : Hamtrror et tenebrepecca- tvribw comreatx f%nt : for er- rour ani darkneffe are joyntly created with wicked men. The x. Paragraph. 'T/Hia dixerunt in inferno hi 9 qui peccaverunt. Thu vas wif. ^ the Difoourfe of finners in hell, and tell mee what was their dif- courfejO holy Spirit ? for it will appeare no vainenor idlecurio- fitie to bee inquilitive what the damned-fay in hell , and for us who are fo covetous of newes, what is done in this Kings Pal- lace , in this Princes Court , to heare what is done in hell, if k be not ungratcfull, will much lefl'e be unprofitable , efpccially fince thefe are no uncet taine hu- mours , fuch as commonly pane currant in reporting newes 3 What therefore are the difcour- fes of the damned ? Ergo er avi- yft£ 5 . mus } 4 v ; d vmtdtiS) (? luftift* lumen Sig. 8 The Chrijiian lumen non luxit nobis. Therefore we have erred {Cay they) /row the -way of truth, and the light of righteovfnejfe hath not fhined up- on us. Therefore we have erred : This is the confequence , but where is the antecedent to it ? Venite #* fruamur bonis , qu* punt 5 vivo preciofii &* unguent o ms impleamus, & tie prcetereat vos fios tempork, coronemus nos Rofis, antequam marcefcant * nul- lum pratum fit y quod von pertran- feat luxuria nofira. Come (fay they) andlet us enjoy thofe com- modities which are 3 let us ta\t our fll of pretious wine and Jweet perfumes ^andlet us not lofe the flower of our time y let m crown our f elves with Kofes before they fadeawayjet no meddow he untra- verfd by our riotoufneffe. What could Kine or Oxen doe more, than invite one another in this manner unto the flowry Med- dowes ? And this is the antece- dence they put in the world 3 un- to the confequence , which they make in hell. What miferablc Logick is this? Where they made their Zediake* 9 Par. % their antecedence, there they fhould have added the confe- quence,and when they faid, come let us enioy thofe commodities tvhkh are, they ought inftantly to have concluded: Therefore yvee have erred, (mcc either wee mull repent in this life, orburne for it in the next ; this is a place to repent our felves of our fins, and not to make no end of finning, wee are rather now to thinke of Crofles than delights , here wee are put to fight a wee muft expect to triumph in another place, Thereforeyou have erred > it is a good,and true confequsneej but all too late, and the light of righ- teovfnejfe hath not jhined upon you , and what is this light of righteoufnelTe ? If it bee righte- oafneffe, as Lawyers affirme, to afford every one hisrighr,then is it likewife a part of righteoufnes. to fet a right value and efteem on things, whence that light ofour Soule, whereby wed fcerne what account we are to make of them, is defervedly Med the light of righteousness our underftanding, . and 2.Sig. 10 TheChrifiian and this is that which the dam- ned fo lament they were deprived of. To judge of pleafant wines, jo crown their heads with choife garlands, to pleafe their palats withexquifite fare, and purfue their pleafure through every pleafant gror*, none were more exactly skil'd than they ; but that all thefe pleafures were n > ways to bee preferred unto eternall ones 3 they wi? fully chufe for to be ignorant of 4 TThey were fo addi&ed to their vaine,and igno- minious paftimes, as all the joyes of theblefT«d feemed of fmall moment, b »t compared to them, they afFe&ed fo paflionat'y their delicious VVines,their Banquets, Rofes, and Voluptuoufneife,that they ever dared tocontemne the felicity of heaven, and made no account of all eternity in comp - rifonofthat liberty of finning which they had} but this was a mqft unjuft eflceme of things, as the light of underftanding e- videhtly declares, which teaches us to p?ize eternity at fo high a rate as for its fake alone to defpie Zodiafa ii Par. 2. defpife all other things* There* fore you htve erred , the event doth plainly (hew it 9 and the light of Righteoufnejfe hath not Jbont uponjouy now it is too apparant. Many there are, who whilft they ©bftina ely follow their depra- ved waves, refufe utterly to learnewhat it is to goe aright, but ^re content to be {omifled by their wilfull and ingratefull ig- norance : andfuch as thefc were you, Oyeemifecable wretches, wherefore now crie, and howlc, for yeu are like everlaftingly to fing no other note, but ergo erra- nitrous ^therefore wee have erred,, therefore the tight of rightcouf- nejfe hath not fhined upon us* This is the ditty of the damned foules, this is t'oe mournful! fong they (hall figh for h for all eternity. the I.Slg. 12 TheChritfUn The i . Paragraph. QChriftians, therefore taie ^^need that v you deprive not your fe] ves of this fame heavenly *«*. i. light, May our Lord beftwupon M hu venue , an t inlighten out W.forbythclMftgJimpfcof this light of underftanding,.t wil be no hard matter to apprehend that wee are not to make more' account of men than God * ofri: ches then of conference, nor to let more by humane favour, than divine 5 that no pleafure whatfo- ever is to be preferred to heaven, nor thefe inftable things uato c- tcrnall ones. And truely faies St Cbyfiftome. He can find nothing on earth to beftov his uffeifion on\ nhohath but once favoured of «-! kfliaU things. J This light of undemanding ourgood God was pleafed mould finne mod plentifully on Sc v«- Awfoule, when being advi- fed fayes he) to ma\e reflexion en myfelfj entred into tbeirrmofl of all myfelfe, and there fan with fuch ZodJake. 13 Par. 3 fitch an eye as my fouk afforded me, the Invariable light of (jod, -which whofoeverfaowes, doth know e- termty,and I perceived myfdfe. to befofarre eft rar.ged from thee , in an uncouth land < and r%ot much unlike Co this light of anderflan- ding, was thai light oidevouon, of which St Bernard peaketh. Befeechfor thy /elf e, ( fa> es hee) the tight of devotion > a bright Sunny-day together nub a Sab- both and re to fe of mind, -where like on old fbuidier priviledg'd mtbreft, for his long ferviee 3 thou maiftpaffe over all the labours of tbylife,without any-labour at aU, tn running -with a dilated heart the way of the lommandementsof God, whence it will arrive, that war at foj} t jj 6u m derwenteft mthfoue and bltternefeofmivd. thou Jhalt afterwards performs roith much fweetnetfeandcovfo- lut on ; to which lifcewife the r °yallpfalmift invites us, where he fayes , Accedite ad eum y ($> illuminamivi* Tafle and behold the fweetnejfeof outLtird. And this is ihe delightfull light of heart 9 2.Sig. J 4. ThtChrifiian heart , that flame burning with the very fpirit of plea- fure, which God makes us eve- ry day more and more partakers of, and with proportion to this light mkindled in our bo- fomcs : God, who is incapable of all augmentation, and and every wayimmcnfe, doth yetafter a won- drous manner re- ceive increafe himfelfe. * * The Embletjie II |a preparation io death. I & fjfc cum Cbrtfio 3 I am li hil i» n a ft f digbt betwixt two, havit'g idefireto be dijfolved s and to he with Chrifi. Etvos [unites e- dote homnibus txpiQAvtibus 'Dominum fuufflt&c, and be you f.'ayes our Saviour,) like to men iwaytiog their Lord at his re- :urne from fome Nuptiall fcait, :hat when he comes and knocks, :hey may firaight wayes open into him. Then fayes St G,c~ \orie y it is that our Lord ao.h cnocr, whea by villcingus with my gucvousficknes, he dei.oun- :et!i Hiiro us that death is* nee re it hand, and ihcn Svte readily C opew Sig. 16 IheChrifiian open unto him, when we enter- raine his fummonswiiha friend- ly welcome : That guilty perfon makes fmall hafte to open the judge the doore, who dares not ifitie out of his bodies ptifon to meet with him, neither can bee with any fe entity behold his countenance whom he knowes he hath affronted in fuch unwor- thy manner, whereas he, whom his hop:* and anions have ren , dered fccurc,wi!l prefently ope/i unto him when he knocks,he wil be glad, and take it for an ho- nour that hee calls him 3 and be cheerefuli in the midit of tearcs, in confideration of hjs future ui u recompence. .Why then doe we not d< fire (witk the Apofll-) to be diJJolvtdar:d be with Chrift, feeing it is every wayts bttcerj than to Jive here prolonging of our wofull baniihmcnr. Itisim- pofiiblcthat h? fhou d dye iV t r * - 11 ?" who hath lived well, neither on the contrary that he fheuld dye well , who hath lived ill , and, whit is our lie, which wee $*c Co fearefulltobe deprived of^ bu-c Zffdrake. 1 7, Par. but a fccnc of rrec' eries,a fea of mifcrtes, where, in what (hip f© • ever weembarkc our feJves,whe- tJicr decked with goi^fiiver, and ptetioui ftoncs , or but CimpU wood^aHs ene, there is no avoy- 4ingofthe fwelling wives, of being often diihsd againft the opposite rocks,and oft ner groun- ded o» peril lous flats and (holes. Happy i$ he who hathpafied this dangerous fea, happy he who is fafely landed in the haven, an J hatn «io more reafon to com- plained ho chances ( o dyt before he is well flruckin yeers, than one for comming too foon to his journies end. u hy then rfhould we feaie death which is but the end ofoiirlabori,the beg nnin<* of our recompence/ It is th? fudgementofGod upon all flefh, * bich none in former ages could :veravoyd , nor ever wil 1 in any bluing times,all mutt follow as nany as went before, and we are til borne on this condition, for o tend thuhcr where every hinguuftgo.Lcathistheendof • }\i to many a remedy,and every V a gooj p.Sig. 1 8 TheChrijiian good mam wifh,as be ng to god- ly men , no other than a delire- rance from all paine and griefe, and the utmoft bound beyond which no harm of theirs can ad- vance apace«What madnefie then were it in us.to oppofc our iclves tofach an univerfal deere of Al- mighty Gods, to rcfufc to pay a tribute, that is duely exacted of every one, and pretend to an ex- emption that is granted to none? How much more fublimc is the Chriftian rbeotogy , which tea- cheth us to make life the mbjecl of our patience, and death of our the fruition of an endielle joy So did that whit'- aged fwai holy Simeon 9 welcome his ap proachmg death with this me lodious fong, Nunc dimittit&c Lord ,wpc> letteft thou tb/fervan depari in peace: and why the; fhou d we lament when thispoc cor ZoMaie. i 9 p ar-I cottage ofoors doth h\ to mine as i f we were ignorant that when this honfe oi earth , our habita- tion here,dccaycs,God will pre. pare us a better one in heaven, a houfe not made by hands,but an everlatfjng one. The fir fi Paragraph. T/T/Hofocverlyesina hard, Z* \* nd ? ainfuII ^makei little difficulty to rife at any :ime,onely they feek excufes and -r y u S J Wholyebiin S in ^« ottelt downe >a nd are unwillmg I for g°e their warmer neftsJs tylifeirkometotheeM tiufl hen thou wilt not be f->rry to >aflctoa better one; haft thou hy hearts content ? in my opini- »n then it is high time for tbfe o dofc up thy dayes, before thy »rofpcnty overwhelme thee ( as thath many more) with fome liliflerous ruine at the lafl : Vhcrefore ( fayes TertuMan) we re no waves ta fear that which j B B fecureth 2. S';g; 20 The Chrijlia* fecnreth us from all other feares. God delivers that man from a loftg torment, to whom he al- io wes but' a fhort terme of life, Which con 1 deration made the holy Martyr Saint Cypriw ,whcn the Emperour Valeria* pronoun- ced this femrDcea^ainft him .• )Vc command that Thracius Cy- prian bee executed by the/vord; to lift up his hands and eyes to heaven, aad cheerefully anfwer, 1 < u bm» Gddbe everpryfid, who vouch- -.,',•., fafetb to deliver we from the ftt- tert of this bod/ tfmise. St. Am~ brofe could aot but wonder at fouc,who when they were to dk^ would rather expeft till they were thr uft o ut by force , than leave their bodyes prifon wiU liriglv 5 and wr- at if therein this world & life, fayeshejbut ftrife, with anger, luft, and gluttony, and the like/ Of the fame opi- nion was St.Chryfoftomz, when .'»: i.«jJ he demands: O m3n,what canft thou fay ? Thou art invited to a ' Kinodome, to the Kingdome o: the fonne of God > andartthoi fo ftupid to ftani drugging a Zodiakg* 2 1 Far. 2 if like a lazy flugsard,and doubt whether thou t'houldft accept of it or no? Ifthouwcrt dayly to txpofethy fcjfc for fuch a for- tune t . a thoufand deaths, oughteft thou not to encounter With them a)l / And whi ctt there is nothi -g, thou wouldii n t attempt regime fome petty Phncedome on the earth , wih thou at ontdarc a tbonfand Avords, Wilt tlioa not leap into the fire, to become a joynt-iahe- rircr with the onely Sonne ef God? nay out of a too inordinate love aato this body of thine,thcu do ft even lament and weep fctf to b.e t, ken hence, and clingft unro the .pome commodities of this prefent life ^ can it be that death fhould appearc unto thee fuch a Iprnd thing? Without doubt th • negligence, and plea- lure thcu liveft in is the caufe thereof, for thofe who live in mjfery,defire nothing more than to be freed from the thrall of li- ving, and fly e a W ay to reft. Me thinks we can be compared *o nothing more fitly than to birds, 4 4 fluggifh 3.Sig. 22 ThtChrifiian fiuggi fn young ones , who by their good wills would ''.ever leave their nefb,and yet the lon- ger they abide in them^tiie more faint and unweldy they become, and with good reafon I compare this prefent life to fuch a ncft, whofebeft materials aie ftraw, and daft, for mew me your molt munificent Pjtllaccs, and even thofe Courts ef Princes which ihine the bri^hteft with bur- niihtgold , and precious ftones, and I will account them nothing fuperiomr to the fw allow es neft, Ence at the firft approach of w i nter you (hall behold them all come dropping downe- *ven fo (S.O ryfomc tlxu gol- den Orator ) rrn fo it is, at laft they muft all fal indeed, and we for company, and for the naoft part they are the fafeft who get the (ooneit dowue. In w ich re- gard the wife man congratulates with the Tuft , that he was ravL ihed away before maliee had in- fe&ed his undemanding , and xht Angels fo fharply reprehended bim who fnewed f ch unwilling, nfie Zodiake. 53 Par. r. nefle to dye : Tou are afeardfo [itf- fer (fayd he) and niflnot depart, what Jbaff I do nithyou fHe hath no faith of the future rtfurre&ion, who makes no fpeed to a better Jiff. If our houfc threatned us with ruine, fhould wee not ail avoydit prefently? if our Ship m the midftof a ftormy Sea.ihould be in dangei of making wrack, would not our longing wifhes be all fet on land ? In this world we heare the fearefufl cracks of ru- ines every where^the dreadfutl ro- nnn of Stormes and tempefts on eveiyfide.andwhy then doe we not feek to make for land ? Why doe we not retire our (elves unto our heavenly Father for fecun y, where all our deare friends expect cur comming, fecure of their own fafety, fol cttous of ours. ? O hap- py dead who die in our Lord., in that they reft in his bofome as if they dyed, and in thit delightful! fl jrnber do dye no otherwife 5 than if they wenctoreft. So St.Steven in themijft of fuch a violent A ^ mower of Scones, of fuch a noife 7 * and murmur of thofe that ftoned B 5 him, i.Sig, 24 JheChriftan him, did notwithstanding fall a- ikep in our Lord, sis the Scripture alb 11. tcftifieth. The Ike our Saviour lufcfelfe affirming of £^aw a whom he loved To well, Z.*^ir»r the holy lervant of Almighty God at bis appointment dyed, and even is a tendt r mother kifTes her child thats fleepmg in her armcs^ ?.nd withdeare imbraces hies him downet© reft, fo there wants not fome who affirme that pafl'age of Sc- ip:ure to beare fuch a fence as - if GodtliCuM have taken La\a- rar, like a fleepmg infant in his aim'S,andinmidftof his tender ktfles,3nd imbracements,layd him Ffai. rs*» downe in Abrahams bofome, as in abed to relt : for fo, turn d:dc- 2 if dilcfliifuls fommniy ecce hxre- Ait as 'Domini 5 tvhen bee bath layd hisbeloied to Jteep, btb id ( hee beftowes on him) his inheritance 5 thrice happy arc fuch dead as Apoc. 4. theft, of whom the Spirit can fay, {rem henceforth now they reft from 'their labour s^or their rvorksfoUow thm> no othei wife than fervants ddethcir Lotds/hildren their Pa* refits] , icdiake. 2 5 Par. 3* ret ts,Noble men their Princes,& attend upon them even to the very throne of God. They ufher and condudi *hem to Gods fupremeil . CourtjWhere nt vei any attendants under their ranke and dignity are admitted in • whofoever then is predefunat^d to everl aft iogf life, will pr^yfe death as the mod ex- cellent invention, which nature -ruta 3 as knowiag that they c*n arive unto it by no other way, And fuch a one who is alwayes prepared to dye, will keep himfeif in appetite by fuch like Difcouries ) as thefe. The z. paragraph, WHy fhonld I fbr? to dye 5 *as but co goc the way which my pathe;s went before, nay more, tiie common beaten road of eve- ry thrng : What privilege is ih s, . which I alone of all others doe pretend unto, when I doQ ihunne to dye ? Had I no^ better doe that wilimgly, which I mufl doe whe- ther i will or noMksce the perfor-» WAazc 13 light of that which is willing!? 26 7 he Chrijlian willingly undertaken, and necf fll- ty givtspUce, where cur will be- comes a pmy. Ratruf why fliould I nonrr,br2Ce that will n^- ly,by beneht cf which I (hall ceak co be mortall, which I have u-millingly beene fo long,I recei- ved my body upon no other cond - ti )n ) than to r^ftore it bncke a- gjine, and am to refiorc it for no other end than to require it a- g?ine to rF.y more commodity. I have been detained hitherto from bi holding of my God, onely by the tarduielleof my ekath, which is but the ft re-iimne* of that better life, and that day which fo many (tend in fcare of, z% the hft cf alLtheirlife , k but the birth- day of an eternal! one 5 and I tike it no wayc s heavily, that the ^ui>ne tets upon me here$ fince I exrcci the d^wnirgof a light a- grinei vvhich never ihall be c b cu- red by any gloomy night. O how ghdly fliaiil embrace that d y, which fa'tt adignc me my habi- tation, ^"d reps?nc meem Para- diff , d^ ,ver( d from hence, and loofnt'd frcm thofe bonds which detaynd Zodiakg. 27 Par. 2. detail me here Co long ? I am Bot ignorant that I irandf;uihy, and conviacd of many crimes, but thy mercy, O my God, is an Ocean, and a boundleTc iea : n- to which deithfhall bee no rea- dier coprecipitate me off of th s turfe of earth, whereon I (Und, than I to commit my felf unto the vaftbofome of fod«are a fea, as frail fct a period to all the mife* nesof my morcali life. OGod, that death would mend its pace 5 it can never come fo fuddenly, Co at unawares, as nottofinde mcc ready, and defirous to goe to refts I am not fuch an enemy of rcpofe to bee fony when a holy day comes , wiirch may bring with it a ceffition from 1 roubles and af» fr&itms, but will rather re Joyce for fo good an opportunity, of ihutting up this wrfecched (hap of life, fraught with fo many and innumerable nuferie* ,to (hake off the heavy ybak of death,and for- tune, and begin with a day which frail never end in night. O what Happy tidings will it be to heare, that my King calls for mcc out of 28 The Ckrifiian of this prifon where I am , and ranks roe in a ftate of higher dig- nity. Open but the cage unto a bud, and there will be no need to chafe it out, but it will flye out of its owne accord: Even f o I will willingly ifiue forth into tbofe a- zureptawes, a« one who long fince have beene over cloyed with b ft. Touching the place, or hour of'my death, I am nothing folj. citous , |et him who rn^de mee difj-ofe of me as hee pleafc>his wil (ball be both the rule of life and death to me, neither can I expedi a iy thing of him, who is all good* nefse,but thebeft. Andisitncc in the potters hands, afA*c!J to frame the vefsell oa his aft »ve wheele, as to new mould ir, if it feem good unto him ? I am a vef- fcllof that great potters making, and what rcafonhave 1 to com- plaine, if he who made me pleafe to unmake me ? or to fpeak more properly, to make me new again, and render mec happy , who was miferable before? lshcepkafel to have me live ? then I will bve as long as it \ leafes him : U he lie plefed that I mould dye ? I 1 will not defire to have my death refpied a moments fp*cej both my beginning and ending ate wholly depending on bis ho- ly will. Wherefore I wi!l not onely embrace willingly, but alio gladly wha r :oever he (hall ordain. CMibivivere Chtifius efi, £? moii ?h\\.i* lucrum -; for unto met to live is Cbrifi'y to dye is gaine. 1 love thec, O my moft amiable God,& dt fire jecto love thee more ardently: O that nay heart might wholly meh away in the flame of fuch alo\e , fincc nothing can mike me happy belide thy felfe. And when and where*, O my God 3 (hall I take my flight hc/K e unto pee ? I will follow thee, O moft lot ing father, and at ncerer di- It n:e ch©a (hale call mee, the more readily I will obey thy call. The third paragraph HTH is feeling he hath of death, who defiresto bee tranfpcr.ed unto heavcn.and live with Chrift, neither ig. 3° TheChrijlian neither fs this fuch an uncouth thing, for as a Phyfithn ffayes Thcoubjlafl ) when heepercei/es bis patient to have an averlion fee ra the food and phyfick which he doth preftribe, doth firft take sn affay of them himfclfe, to in- couiage his patient to an appe- tite j lo Chrift vouchfafed to tafte firft ofdeath himfclfe, that Chri- itians might have no horrour of dying afttr him. And why then dear Chrift ian,t ho thou be of m- ture never fo timorous at the ap- prehenfion of death, wilt thou noj put on fuch a refolution, as that which I have fee before thine eyes, and with an afsured and un- daunted mind , burit forth inc3 rf. thefecx.L amnions j Ctlictm fa- lutarem aicipiam>& nomm Domini invocabo. JwiU receive the cup of fc. and (ball I not drink of the Chalice which my father hath prcfented mee withall , which Chrift himfelfe hath drunkeof to mp, and fild me out again;am I a mortall man, and (hail I not karne to die ? Alexander lying \ once dangeroufly fick , fome of his friends more fohcitous than needed for his health , advifed him to beware of Fhil'tp hisPhy- fitian, as one who had a defigne to poyfonhim The King, ,the next time the Phyfitian ViGted him, with a potion he had pre- pared to adminifter unto him > did no more but receive the po- tion in one hand, and reach him ous 32 The Chrtfiian out in the other the letter to read , containing the advics which his friend had given ham§ and whilft he prepared himfelf, to drinke it off, hee ftedfaftly- regarded the Phyluians face, to note whether in the reading thereof he might difcover any fignes of guiltjnefie , but per- ceiving the innocencte of the a>an, from the conftancy of his countenance , without any more delay he drunke it up. in this manner receiving that cuppe which Chrift my onely Phyfitiaa and Saviour hatb ordeyned, and prefentcd me withal 1, to call me into a profound ; K and quiet flecp, I will fatten ray eyes upon my Phyfitian whilft I drinke it off 5 1 will fledfaft- ly regard the countenance of n y crucified Lord , wherein I fliall read written in lively Cha- racters the countenance of thit mfin telovehe bearesme, and with a conftant and unapplied mind will I drinke it up ; wh * «©» «•&> *"■£* <#» «&* ngaSW 1&8B8 Xixiblexne. 3, rFretjtjeTititid of Tr ; «5a,er*inerit. *j&*2> Zodiake. 3 5 Par. fc The third Signe, Of Predefttnatien, IS the frequent ufe of the hoi/ racrament , which is expreft by the facred Eucharift. The words, fto ej? p^/f de €Ce i fa > fcendevs,& fi quisex ipfo mandu- caverit non moriatur. This is the %read that came donwe from hea- ven ; hethateateth thereof /haU not dye. It is faidof the anci- ent C hriftians , that they perfe- vered in the do&rine of the A- poflle$,r,nd communion of brea- king bread, as it hath beene pi. oufly obferved , that with pro- portion, as this cultome grew cold in the primitive Churchy fo their fervour of Spirit , the ♦fire of Charity, andconfequent- ly aH fan&inc decayed. Jt is 'wondcrfull hew the devitl beltirs him here, and what plots the crafty f I 3- Slg, 36 The Christian .~ ; crafty enemy hath on foot, to divert as many a* i$ pofllble from the frequent ufe of the holy Eucharift. YVhat barres doth he oot fet in our .way, what prctcn - cionSjwhat impediments doth he not devife to hinder us ?. Now he faggefts unto us doubts in poynt of faith, which when he kc$ us with a kind of horrour to reject , he then perfwades us to abftainc for reverence fake, or would make us believe , that we fhould find the more guft in « the more feldome we frequent it. If this does not take , he prepofes to our imitaticn the example of fome ( other wife ,good Chriftiam) who in this are nothing {o a&iduall as they cughtjthen he objects what men will fay, and what offence they may conceive thereat 5 now he willpcfter you with a world of bufinefle, now ftore you with plenty of ftrange cogitations, and fcruples of confeience , and now againe fet you at mutuall jarrcs with others , whtlil he blowes the coales of hate and diflcn- Zodiake* 37 Par. I daflentioh. He renders ones ir\inde dry and aride , and foaks out of it all gufts of fpirituall things, and others troubled and difquieted; fo that nothing is more irkfome unto it than to puthimfelfe in way of prepara- tion to the holy Sacrament : In a third, if he can prevaile no o- ther way, he muftersup whole troupsof extravagant thoughts, that fo at leaft he may exclude him from this facred banquet. Some other there are againe whom he deceives under I know not what religious pretext , and perfwadesthemat leaft to defer it, though not to omit it quite ; and thus the wicked impoftour coynes a thoufand falfc preten- ces, andiliift, to 'eferre from day to daythefrequentation of the holy Sacrament, and heaps delay upon delay , addes vur- pofc tspurpofe .- appoyntsthis day, then the nc*t , whileftin the meane time both wecket, monethv, and year.. s are patted over by us without repairing un- to our Maker, unie He it be very v:ry 3. Sig« 38 The Chritfian very rarely, and then top only of force and neceffi ty. Thefirfl Paragraph. ™ *' -C^/dfrcr: <*»^ jfAj began aM to excufethemfefoes, faith the G«- fpell. This had bought a farm, this a yoke of Oxen, that other was newly marricd,fo that none is at lcafure to repaire to Chrtft : but examine t: efe ex cufes, and for all their faire dotfe, you w ill findthcra meere lencelerTe ones, for what were it for one of us, foraihorthoures fpace to leave his c:*res athisfarme, his oxen in the {table , and his wife at home , and apply our fclves to that which fo necrely concerneih our falvation 5 If wee were re- qucfted to prune a vineyard , or to. till the groundjwe might with good reatbn chufe" rather to fleep at home,than work abroad: But when we are invited to a banquet, to be guefts of our Saviour Chrtft', where our food is to be no other t.>an himfelfe, tc Zodiake* 39 Par. toexcufeourfelves, and refute togoe, fliewesamoft rufticall behaviour, and fpcakes us either extrcamly mad or impudent. We mould appears right Adams ofF-fpring, if wc fliund God Al- mighties fight, when he were angry , but to avoyd him thus, when out of his great mercy he beholds us with fo gracious an ;ye, when he calls, and loving- ly invites us to his Table, fo ichly furnimed with all celefrial •antics, is the part of brute >eafts,and not of men. But to et offour excufe with a fairer co- our, we pretend nothing dimo- left, or lefle becomming us, as heft, adultery, or the like, but xcufe our offence and negli- ;ence with as fake pretences as an be imagined. For what harm 5 there fay you, in matrimony, ndthefolicitudeof our dome- ticall affaires, in buying cartel!, mrchafing of land ; and what ,ood can there be in thefe,when >ncc they avert us from the sveraignlt good of all, from our bnles falvations ? We are fo to C cherUb 3.Sig. 40 TheChrifiian cherifh our bodycs as our fouler receive no detriment the while, Co to purchafe land,as not to de- prive our felverof Heavenjwhcn we are invited to this great fup- per,weou t ht prefently to goe, laying afidc the care of all other things,no thought of our farmes, our oxen, our wives, no folici- tude of any bu ineffe ought to interrupt us then, when we cn- tertaioe difcourfe, ac th jS royall banquet with the King of An- gels, but alfo many many times we become fo impudent as noi to be a(hamed to anfwer flatly, non pojfum venire , I cannoi come, and what is that buttc fay, I will tot come-, Oh dean Chnftians,isthisthe waythinl ycu,to obtasne his favcur ? mife rable as we are, and to none mot injurious than to our feivei what is this but to flye fron th fire when we freeze for cole to abufe our Phyfitian when w lye defperately fick, the moi needing his helpr, the lefiefei fible we are of our owne ^nfii mity, and to have the fwcet an del Zodiak?* 41 Par. 2. delicious Manna in loathing, Krhilft we paffionately long after ?dr/i;4 and Onions. God for- nerly tignified unto the people £ l/rael by SNto/ei, that they oould gather Mann a every day > xeept the Sabbotb, on which they oere appoynted to fafe their reft . rhisholy Sacrament isomMan- aky infinite degrees more ex- cllent then theirs which wee lay take our fill of during our Jarmeoflife, till theSabboth f death invite us to our reit. ut what doe we the while but nitatc our firft parent, for as he "ayes Gerfon) not eating of the ee of life whdft hee might,wa$ terwardsjuftlypufiifhed in be- ig debarred to eate of ir, when : dedred it ; So we behave our tvesfofaft,dioufly, as we will >t approach unto this holy re- gion , whilftwemay, but kilft we gladly accept of the ift invitation to anothers >>rd, we never come ro this of ir Saviour, but very rarely and uchagainft our wills. We are gligenr in nothing fo much ; s C % in g.Sig. 42 TheChrifiian in the point of our falvation in this we are onely careleflc, in other things we are vigilant e- nough. For this refpcd God ih v thefe words tends us to fchdole unto the Ant , Vade ad Prov.tf. flrmkdttfi&r , & difie fapu entiam. (joe thou (luggard urn to the Ant , andharr.e wifedom of her. This little creature can cell onely by inftinft of nature, that winter is no fit feafon tc makeprovifion in, and there* fore it provides its felfe of foot in the rummer , which it hoordi up till then, how far more dili gent ought we to he than they iince our Saviour commend in; unt© us this food of lmmorta lity , doth affirm e that, Si qu\ manductwerit ex hoc put to nounfh us, and as we mamtainc our bodieshealtb, by duely receiving of ourcorpo- rallfood, who otherwife by that natural) heat which is pre- dominant in us fhould be con- *-.- fumed away f fo likewifc the foule by repairing often to this f od isconferved in life, which otherwife would be deftroyed by the impure fire of his cpneupi- fcence Hence it is that Saint Iri'ocetitius fo carefully admo- niftiesus, to take heed leaft by deferring too long the receaving of this holy Sacrament, wee might mcurre re danger of a fpiritual death And SMilarion to the fame effect, it is to be fear'd (fayes he ) leaft thofe who farre abfent themfelves fron the body of Chrift,be hkewife fareftran- ged from their falvation vFor whofocver abftaines from in- ning, ceafeth not to communi- cate , butthisis that which we defire, this is but our common impediment, we rather chufe to z>[i*m<2 from holy communion jhen fromfinnC) and wilfooverleivc C 3 off 3- Sig. 44. The Chrijiian of to freq uent this table, then our lewd behaviour. Even this way which of all others our Saviour invented as the moft fweec & ef- ficacious., we cannot be brought to correct our manners, and a,- rr end our lives. We believed the lying Serpent affirming to us,we mould become like to God, and yet hardly credit our Sav our the truth it fclfe,who allures us that by eating of this food, we {hall be changed into him, r^ui man- John. 6. ducat meam camera & bibit meum favguimmjn me manet, (3* ego in eo y Our Saviour Chrift appoynts us to receive this Sacrament in memory of his dearh , and who can doubt but he commends witkall the often frequenting ie, yet we w ho on the one fide can- not but approve bis ordination as moft juft, on the other tranf- greffe it by -oar tardy receiving it. All the holy fathers commend moft carneftly unto us the fre- quent ufe of this holy myftcr) > and wee attribute much unto their counfel and authoritie, but more unto or owne vitious inclinations ; ZoJiake. 45 Par. 2. inclinations $ wee have many Saint-hke and holy men for guides, we fee the lights of their good examplcs,but will not fol- low them. The fecond Paragraph* IF as often as one received the bis fled Sacrament he mould improve by fome great furnme of money his temporall eftate, there were no need to perfwade any to frequent it oft , none but would bee fenfible enough of fuch golden reafons, nay it would be rather recjuifite to take fome order to reprefle the multi- tude of co nmunicants, than to invent motives to incite them for to come. Miferable blindnefle I wee fee gold , and are taken with ir, and we defpife the hid- den trjeafuies of the Eucharii?, ontly becaufe we doenotconfi- der *hem. And what is all the gold in the world, but a little dull compared to this peerclcffe lewel^which no living erea ure can value to its worth I This C 4 facred 3. Sig. 46 The Chrijiian facreel Eucharift proteð us from committing deadly finnes, it enervates the vitious propenft- ons of the mind, enlightens our underftanding , excitates our will, ferenefh our confcience^ arrnes us againft the alfaultsof the enemy, enables us to with- ftand adverfity, defends us from falling in profperity, and care- fully directs not to fail in going right. This holy Sacramenc gives us a pledge of future glory, andwithali begets in us a con- tempt of death, and a dcfire of Heaven, the moderation of our paffions, a horror of finne , a love of vertue, an entire vi&ory over rur felves,and perltverance in sood. But you will fay, perhaps my minde is fo aride, vaine,'tepid, and defiled, as I even tremble to repaire unto it* Thiscxcufationis either evill, or none at all, thi mor.*of thefe imperfections thou difcovereft in thy k\h , the more neceilary it is thou (houldft frequent this holy Sacrament . Is thy mind polluted ? make hafle then unto this Zodiake. 47 Par. % this Sacrament, which is the ve- iv fountaine of purity. Art thou ill difpofed ? it is a foveraigne re- medy 3 an approved antidote a- gainii al! thedifeafes of the mind. Art thou hungry ? behold the ( bread of Angels. Art thou be- numbed with cold? make fpced u.ko it, it is an ardent fire. Doe thine enemies moleft thee? take courage, this Arfenail will furnifh thee with ail forts of weapons to de^nd thy felfc. Art thou for-' rowfull and afflicted ? this is that wine which cl eeresthe hearts of rrca. Dolt thou feck often dain- ties ? they arc no where to bee found but here in this banquet^ trrc repaft of Kings. Doft thou long to bee in heaven ? here thy charges are defraid,herc thou-wilt be furni bed with farre bctterpro. vifion for thy journey than Ettas vsa , travelling towards Mount Konh ; If the very touch of our Saviours garment couU flop a bloudy fluxe,what difeafeis there which the touch of his facrcd body cannot cure ? But I am un- worthy you will reply again, who C j approach 3 .Sig. 48 ThtChrifiian approach too often to this facred Communbn, which I can never ie:eive with reverence enough. Dcare CI nftians for his blefled fake , let us not entitle our w;nt of revet ence to our flothfulne^: believe St.Tbcmas that Arg Il- eal) DocVr,we/ini" eft ex cmere ac- cederc qtam extimore abftinere. It is bee er to reraire to it out of love* than to abflaine for fe&re s And Saint Ambrose interpreting th fe words of our Savio'-ir, pd- nem noflrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, of the blefled Sacrament; If ic be our dayly bread (fayes he) why is it a yeare before you re« •tie it ? rather why dee yoH not receive th3t dayly , which day If will profinou? live fo as you may woitfeily 1 eceivc it every da/, forhee who is unv\crthy to re- ceive it every day,wil foi be wor- thy to receive it once a ye*e. And in another place, if our Sa- viours blood ( fayes be ) as often as it is flied, is fticd for the remif- (ion of fiones , I ought always to be receiving, that alwayes my finnes may be remitted me, and k behove* Zodiake. 49 Par. 2. behoves me whoever finne, to bs ever providing rres of a remedy* Cennadius Marfdienps fayes y I Lib. de ^ neither pnife nor difpraifc the do S m ' Ecc l* cuflome of cenmunicaringevery f*^' 1 ^ d ly 5 but this I wo jld advife and counfai'e all to communicate eve- ry Sunday, al way es provided that wee come with no determinate will of finning anymore, which kinde of pr< pa ration is more ea- sily prefcribe d, than the riddance of our mind of all affe&ion to any vitioufnefl'e , that is , never thereafter to offend God more 5 for certainly he fhould (hew him- fclfe very uqgratefull towards his Maker, who would notatleaft have a will for his fake never to ftaine his conference with any fin, for touching fuch as thefc, the Ma^er of the feaft with good leifon pro felled, dico vobis quod ne.mO'virorum illorum guftahitca- nam meam. I fay unto you , that none 0] thofe mtnJballtAfie of my Supper. But alas , O Lord , are they nor the fclfe fame men who refused to tafte of t'iy Supper ,and doft thou now decree it in puail;- meat g.Sig. 50 The Chriflian mer.t of tbeir offence I Even fo it is, that which they defiteis their owne torment 3 and v\h ;t wickcd- mflethey voluntarily embrace, is nothing clfe but their owne pu- n .inner t. Samaria being oppiellcd vtuh the mifery of a grievous fa- mme^thc Prophet Eii^tus fore- told that inertly they mould fee the price of corne incredibly abated : v\ hereupon one of the Nobles in deriding his Prophefie Si fiubet pregnantifsme frumenti pluantf •unquid ideo farim tarn vi- liseritp (tit: If the clouds,(Taid hee ) {hould bee great with coins and raiat it downc upon us > yet icwculd never be fold at fo vile a pricej to whom Ei^e^xanfwered: Thou fhait ftt it rcith thy onvnt eyts^burfbaltnotaiteofitiZnd fo Jt came to pjfle.This is right the panilhmentof many in theic days 9 they fee plenty of this heavenly bread but never tafle of it. They fee men communicating in every Church they looke into , but Communicate not themfelves : They arc bid Depart t becaufe ckey will gee whether the Piieft will Zodiake. 51 Par. 3, will or no. They arc excluded ft om this holy Table, for no o- therreafon, but becaufc they ex* elude themfclves. Tht third paragraph. AS for the Holy men to be deprived long of this bread of Life, they like true Somes of GOD interpret it as a figne of tfoir Fathers high difpleafure, and indignation : farre they are from neglefting any occa- £o;i of receiving it , for they arc not ignorant with how great sni Fatherly a providence Al- mighty GOD hath provided lor every feverali Creature their proper food 5 Eagles prey on Ufler Fowle, the Whale de- votees the lefser Fifli , the Ly- ons other favage Beafts , Hor- fes and more Domeftick Cat- tell feed upon Oates and Hay. And for Man , bread growing on 3«Sig. 52 rheChriJiian on the Earth is ordained for Food of fuch as have no higher ambition but to bee^fonnes of men $ but for thofe who afpire to become fonnes of God t this bread defcending from heaven is their chiefeft fuftenance j this ceicftiail bread , this bread of the Sonnes ef God, this bread of Angels with an ardent defire, with a humble affection , with a tender reverence they receive moft frequently , and rather chufe out of piety to incurre the note of preemption by declaring them- felves Children , than of ene- mi s, out of a too faulty bam- fuinefle. During which ban- qnet , if our bleffcd Saviour frnuld ade'reffi his fpeech in this manner to any of the number of predeftinate : Confider ferioufly what 1 have fuffered for the love of thee, thou mayft well count the thornes my head pierced, but canft never nurrber thofe torments I have fuftained for thee in every part of me befides $ my body was all goard with bloudy whips and nailes ; but how Z&diake. 53 Par. 3. how much my heart hath (uttered is beyond expreflion. It was little leiTe than 1 death, I (uttered for thee even in the garden, when the angutlh of my minde drew as much bioud from mee, as the Souldieis afterwards in my fla- gellarionrAnd now confider with tny felfe , what mine enemies inflated 01 me, when even my beft friends fpared me not ; thou knoweft upon how hard a bed I was content for thy fake to ren- der up my Ghoft, and my love (that thou maiil: know what an ardent one it was) would refolve on no death to dye for thee, but the moil bitter and ignominious of all , when it finding none more bitter and ignominious than the Crofle made choyfe of it . And thus behold how I have dyed for thee, and have been ftill ready to dye for thee a thoufand tirresi Wherefore tell me, what wilt thou fuffer for mee againe ? if thou defireft that my love to thcMhould be perpetuill , thou jnuft love me againe, who have fo loved thee. For my part, I have g.Sig. 54 TheChriftian have loved thee unto death, even unto the death of the Croilr, it refts that thou wilt declare 3 how farre thcu wilt extend thy love f or me agaihe. Who now all of that happy company wilt not pre- sently anfwer him , all bathed in affectionate leares, even unto the death , O my mod loving Lo d, even unto the CrofTe it felf, fo it bee thy divine pleafure my love (hall extend it felfe; And who lhall grant unto me that hap- pineffe to dye for thee, O Ufus* my faeeteft lefts ! or who am I, that I (houid be thought worthy for to dye for thee 1 O what a love was this of thine my deareft life , that thou wouldeft fuffer thus, that thou wouldcft dye thus for me, without any the lesft me- rit or defert of mine j fuch fighes as thefe , fuch moft chafte afpi ra- tions ufc commonly to bee the table talke at thisfacrcd banquet, *nd thus a foule becomes inti- mately united umo Almighty God. Fc r which reafon wee place this frequency of Communion ( p.o- Yideo Zodtake. 55 Pai\?. ided that L our affe&ions be fin* :re at leaft , though otherwife iOt fo inflamed as wee could ifli ) among the principall gnes of Predeftination. But [as, there are hut too too many »hriftians yet; who whatfoever ; delivered to them byway of :rmon, or of written books ;are >dead afleep in the Lethargy f their deboymt lives , as nei- icr the examples of the more ious fort, nor admonitions of aly Saints, can flirre them up > a more frequent ufc of this oly Sacrament. O Chriftians, what Rocks of c, what deadly cold is that hich freexes up your hearts, tat thus yoa avoyd the com- irtable beames of this all-chee- ng Sun ? Do you not perceive lat this is nothing elfe than the leere ftratagems of your enc- iy, who endevours all h$ can > extinguish wholly in us the re of this divtneft love, to the id that being all ltiffly frozen itli this pernicious cold of indjWC may live no otherwife than 3>Sig. 56 The Chrifiian then if we were wholly dead,pe r;(h iu the filth and fordidneffi of 1 nne, and never arrive to th< kingdom of the l.ving? but ihofi who love our Saviour Chrif with conftant affections, art delighted with nothing rnor* than in often repairing to him for as Cajftodorus faith admi rably well, Inaudita eft dileftt qua amicum amat, & prtefmia ejus non amat. Icisfuch an a! feftion as was never heard of, that one fhould love his friend , and not be delighted in his company. Th Zodiake. 59 Par. 1 The fourth Signe, Of FrcckftiHatfon, ISanintire renunciation of all we have, which hath for its 7)evtce 9 a bare A 1 tar difpoy- led of its ornaments with this Motto , ^ua mihi fuerunt Lu- era, h*c arbitratut fum propter ph " # 3* fchriftum detrimental But what things were gaine to me y thofe I counted lojfe for Chrift . Our Sa- viour proclaims aloud 5 <§>ul non renuntiat, (s*c. whofocver re- nounced! not ail he Hands poffeft of, cannot be my Difciple, Hec commands to relinquim all, hee counfells us to difpofleflc our felves of every thing, and who then that hath any Ghriftan blood in him , but will put on this refo'.ution. I had rather become poore than Gods enemy j I had rather be depri- ved 4.Sig. 60 TheChriSlUn vedof all my fubftance then of his holy grace. Poverty hath made many merchants, not of fpiccs, Drape- ries,or fuch commodities,but of heaven, Simile efiregnumccelo- rum homini negotiatori, (?c. The Kingdom of heaven, ( faith our Saviour ) is U\e a Merchant tra- vailing in quefi ofricbeftpearlcs, Mho having found one more pre- cious than all the refi , goes and fcUs all that hee bath to punhafe it. And fuch a Merchant as this is fo farre from thinking he hath received any detriment by departing with all he had, as he accounts his fteck excee- dingly improved, by the pur- chase of alewellof fuch ineiti mable price. He but receives a bill of exchange of our Saviour Onft upon the delivery of thofe flight comm rides, the paiment of which wil Lender him happy above meafure, he hath the whole Kingdome of heaven morgaged unto him upon the venture of a fmall fumme of Gold, and purchjfes himfelfe a mighty Zodiake. 61 Par, I, mi. hty Kingdome , not onely rithi leaving a few acrc$ of land, iut alfo by his preparation of ninde of leaving it. The owner faith St. chryfoftom) of fuch a >ear!e, though it lye concealed n fomc fmall cabinet, and all be g orant of his treafurc , is iorignor nthimfelfe how rich I man t e is. We come into the world to tram que , and not to fend our time m idlenefle, nei- ther is there any one fo poor and needy who hath not fufficient f advance his fortune by this cierchandife , ( fincc as Saint Auftm faith, God onely requires our (elves, an cares not but in regard of our fclves,for any thing we havej nor any « ne fo rich ?nd wealthy, wr.o in prudence can thin e much to depart with all he hath to purchafe fuch an ineitimable gemme. Yet this s a kindc of traffique , which ex- acts not fo much of us , to de- part from our goods, as to bee ready w!. en occasion (hall i e of- fered to depart from therft , it coniit not fo much in depriving 4. Sig. 62 The Christian us of our fub fiance^ as in brin gitt^ us to this refolution: rathe; to ipare our foules than money when need requires, to become ; begger , rather than an enemy o God. It farremore becomes uj to be prodigal of our moneys tc fave our fou'es, ( either in freel) bellowing it , or bearing patt< tntly the ,loffe thereof ) than to be prodigal! of our foules 3 and fave cor money. And this wee avouch to healigneof Predefti- nation, which not onelybythe light of Chriftianfaith,but even of reafon it fclf doth manifestly ap t eare. The fir ft paragraph. OTi'pon having loft together *^witr his Count ey, his wife and children, and i leaping him- felfe, the onely, bm happy re- mainder of the publike rune, was demanded of Dmetriut whether he had 1 ft all hee had or no ? To whom heanfwered, he had loft nothing at all ; for Omni* ma mtwnfunt, I carry with Zodiakg. 6 3 Par. i* with me, faith he, all the goods 1 have : The like Bias ( m the like mifrhance, ) affirmed of himfelfe, that he earned hi, fub- fhnce not on his moulders , but inhisbreaft, not whrre mens eyes might fee it,but where their minds may judge of it. This CGn- :empt of earthly thing5,which in Heathens was accounted the ?gneof a great fpirir, in Chri- Itians isanaflured figne of Pre- leitination to crernall life ; and ie is a valiant fouldier indeed of eftn Chnft, who after fome nighty !ofie can fay, Omnia xnca vecum porto, I beare all my ri- hes along with me 5 my God 5 all« It is reported of St Francis of fsfum that with incredible de- ight he paiiedover wnole nights sgether, in the onely confidcra- on , and with often repeating f trufe foure fhort words,Dcwf [eus &> omnia j My God and alt. 'he example of which admi- ible Saint we ought all to imi- ite^aaato glone with him in 1 our neccffitieSjiniayingjZ)^^ I) mus j.. Sig. 64 The Chrijiian mus (& omnia. Let others feek after what other things they pleafe, let them be taken and de- lighted with what elfe they will, I feek for Goiialene: God is onely my defire, all my delight, T>ius meus &* omnia. I free- ly refigne to others all (hare in honours & all my part in what- foever pleafures and delights 5 give me my God,and I fhal have every thing. I furrender whole worlds to others, and envy them not their mountaines of gold, and precious {tones 5 1 care not for their cxqui(:te delights ; my God is unto me in place of all. There is nothing fo good , no-* thing fo delicious or fo fair which the chiefeft and (up remeft good doth not furpafl'e both for good, faire, and delicious by infinite degrees; 7)em meus & omnia ? Alashow many defires do often inflame my breaft? with whal feverall fires , forthemoft part doe I burne, what a tide of va- rious fancies doe carry my rearl away, infomuch as like the fran- Matth. 17. ii que. youth in theGofpe!,fome- timcj Zodiake. 65 Par. times I am dragged into the wa. ter, fometimes into the fire, and whatare all thefe things which f purfue with fo much eagemes, but vaine, fading, and for the moft part infamous , fuch we never nave any long aflfurance of, but either they foone dye untd their owne, orhemuftdyc to them. O my God, my love, and myall, what is it that Icanpof- fibly defire, whofe want thou canft not abundantly fupply ? O God art thou not all u ito m t my drink,my food, my reft, my joy, my pleafure, the height of all my honour? O God, thou art all and more than all to me. For though I feed on thofe vi- ands which moft take my appe- tite 5 refrefti me with that drink which beft relifhes my tafte 5 enjoy that pleafure which moft" affects my mind ; yet what is all this feeding, this refreshing, this joy to me ? T>eus meus & omnia. Ah one refreshing of thine, one enjoying of thee, is to be refre- fhed indeedjis to enjoy the quin- teffence of every good. But in D z the 4« Sig. 66 The Chrijiian the meanc whilc,labour oppref- fcth, giucfe afrliðj cares di- ftractus, our riches dimimih, our friends forfake us, our lives confume av% ay ^ and we become the fubjvCliof other sin ju lies and fcorne : Rvtbirg of alt this tau- ASs 2Ct ches myfearc ( laves the holy A- poitle ) neither doe I ma\ j . my life more precious than myfelfc y fo that I may corfummatcmycourje, neither can all thefejthough they altogether rufh upon roc, any wayes indammagc me, if God thatfoverajgne good undertake but the defence of me,2)e«;we- vs (if omnia. I hou art unto rne^O my gosd God ; O good- nefl'c itfelfe,reft in my labours, pleafure in nygnefe, fecuriry in my cares , and t e onel, true richer in my poverty. Thou art my (Irong Bulwark againft all the fui'ous atfaults of mcn,thou art my refuge ^vhatfoever evill •. oppreflei> me , and finally thou art all unto me whatfoever I c3n wifh fo;-, or defice - All aboun- dance which is not God , I will account but as meere beggary. V^hereiore Zodiake, 6 J Par. I Wherefore then doe we fcek to enench our thirft with th-eie Kiuiddy ftre3ms,when'we havt Co Cryftall a fountain head as ihts, where we may drin'< our fills' tn having God we have all whatfo- ev whilft thou art fiercely afr faulted with tempt mons, for, whit were that but tocondemne the holy Apoftle of imprudence, who thus exhorteth us ; Omni gaudium txifiimati fiatrw met T i ames / cum in ttntationes varias incideru tii. Tfetre brethren^ efieem it all youi joy when you (ball fall into fun- dy temptations. There h no man more unhappy than he who never experienced any adverfity, for it is an evident figne that God re- jects bi^n as a faint-heated fouL dier,. The fight againft adverfi- > ty is onely worthy to be prefented . on honours Theater* Therefore it is an afsured token of ourfyture beatitude 3 to rejoyce in our fuf- fc rings, 5«Sig. 74 iheChrifiian feiing?> and even then when we arc baited with evills on every fide, to lift up a cheer full and e- rec?ud romd to heaven, the u.,h our tcares in the rreane time run trickling down e ourchteks. Our Saviour Chrift well knew that we were onely rich in our futferngs, that vsehsdno fclid joy excepc the hope of cur future r corn- pence, and yet he confidently bids us 5 gaud, t & exuttaie , to ex- ult and tcjoyce as it ahesdy ve Were compie -tiy happy, Whereas on ihecontr. ry , how often doe we vainly lament and afflict our ft Ives ? how often hke little in- fants doe v. e child t illy make our moane* and fhrinke afide cut of purefeare at every blow ? not ha- ving apprchenllon enough todif* cerneihat it is the fatherly and health-reitoring hand of God, writ h Luicethus, whereas no chx'dbuc hath difcrttion enough, to kbovr that the gafhes which Cbirmgeons nuke are our cures, and ririt overtures of our reeoveiy. And fcinlikeirannerGod only Idunces u» to cure us and recover i: US, Zodiake. 75 Par. i* *s, and no wayes to deprive us of >ur l;ve c , *s S:,Peter witntfi'eth, it quid pstiimmi propter jufiitiam ' ret- 3. fcfa/7, Ifyou fuffer any thing fo: JghteoafnePe fske ( fakh hejyou 1. e ha^py n it $ for it is a lingular »racc if* a?y of you fufcr, and •hatunjulHy any tribulation for iic conscience of God , other- *rfe what were it to fuffer ia- tir es when you doe amifle ? Hicif you tol rate them patiently "or doing v\ell > you will become *r,icious with Almighty God. i o-which efFcft St. Gregory hke- ■ft f i h : It often happeneth shat the cled,who are directed on ihe way of cternall felicity, are "ubject here toperpctuall adverti- ses, in being delpifed by every one, and aecourred unworthy of ill worldly favour jwhilitin the iiernc time their vermes fet them Dff molt brightly in the e/es of their f^re'e Iudge, and they ih:ite moft gloriously in the merits of their lives, they refufed not to b: d.fpifed , whhi they feareto be honoured , they extenuate their bodyes with contiiuney, whilifc in j^Sig. 7^ TheChriftian in their foules they Angularly en-, crcafe in their diledion, they al- wayes inure their minds to pat i- ence, and rejoyce with an erected mind as often as they fuffer inju- ries for righteoufne lie fake. I Tht fr ft paragraph. T is not the won t of the cte rnalL providence tonourtfh a vertuous perfen in delights , but it tryes- hardens and a pts him to its pe- culiar ends: Yetfo, as in the mcane while it allures him, Cum tranfieris per aquas tecum ero : When thou ill a It paffe by waters I will be with thee,and the flouds, (hall not overwhelme theej when thou walkeft in fire thou (hale not bume , neither mall the flames (orch thee 5 for fo God ufes to drench us both in water and fire, but furTers us neither to be burnt nor fwallowed up,he makes triall of us both in freezing cold, a»4 glowing heat, but for thofe whom he hath predeftiaated to ererlafting life, he neither permits the £re to confume them , nor waters drowne the m, for God is faithful 1 Zodiaks. 77 Par.i. fefrft/ifif faith theApoftle)»&0'»*7 tot /iifer you to bee tempted above thdt which you are able, hut will m&keyour profit of temptation that you may be able tofuftaine. Biofius doth treat excellent vtfell of this {Igne of predeftination, where he affirmesthat there is bo more infallible {igne of divine e* le&ion, than when a man under* goes affliction or what elfc ad- ver(ity,notonely without repug- nance, but with patience and doc fabmiflion, fince nothing , faith he 3 is rn° r e; profitable for him than to fufFerj And this is the ineftimable jewell of that ring, with which Godefpoufes to him- felfe a pious foule j whofe prero- gative is fo great as St, Chtyfa- fiome doth folemnly affirms. Ni- hil e/e melius quam malepati pro m pter 2}«<>«.That nothing is better thantofufFer evili for Almighty God. For then the elect may wel befaid to drink? of the torrent m 'f** 1 ^ the way^for which their he ads fhalt he exMtedy afterwards even to heaven. (Now they are preffed downe atari trodden under foot, that 5.Sig. 78 TheChriftian th'it f.fterwartfs like palmcs they they may life the I i_,her for :t: It is i verity which God woulf h iv t- us thro'JghJy penetrate, that the good which wee afpire to , « infinite andotdiffiale 3CCcfc,zrd t' erefote n( t to be atraired to tu by nuchpiine and labour, Marcur. in Conformity to which that holy **ncbo>itg fiid excellent weP, that Ged well knowirg otr im« becsllify c?oth ufe to bifto.v 110 remarkable favour \iv n n sny one whom he hath not firft apted for the receiving of i: by (rnre or orher f tucknt calamity. So OAo» fts had no foonrr Foiiaken the Court of pbaraobby the evprefs to rmind of God himfelfe , but prefem'y both poverty, ignominy, aid contempt, with the extreme danger cf his life^by the procu e- men of the King : And laftly, rh flight and banifhme^tdid all onfpreto woikhis deftrurtion. We ra iy perceive faith Sr, Gregc- ry } th->fe whom God e'e^s by th^n pious actions , aid bitter fufTciings j whom like wi ft- it may ie gahered how li.oroufl/ 01 r mit Zodiake. yg Par. I, jtift ludge will punim the repro- bate at the latter c4ay,when he is fofevere now towards thofe, wh m hecafFeð aioft. Wherefore thofe Chilians Joe much deceive themfelves ; *ho imagine to goe whole ( as t were) to heaven, withoorbe- ng well bruifed before, for let hem but take a general! view of >f all , and they will find, that he richer men ar> in vertue,the nore they are ftored with tribu- aiions, and that thofe common- y who mod abound in wealth, md are the greateft favourites »f for une, are thofa who mbft xcell in wickednefle r uch bea'ls saiv de gnedforthe fnambles, /e fee are i'uffered freely to grafe 11 the belt paltures.whilil others retired out with toyle and la. >our; even fo thofe wh i ar pre- leftinated to heaven, and not afferetf at liberty to disport hemfelves , but are alwayes nth afflictions. Infomuch as he fame Bkfius truely affirmes ton the authority of another tolyperfon. Qutmcuvque, T>eus otioribus- dms exoritare fib It- 5.Sig. 80 The Chriflian miter que trans formare decrcvi^ turn non blmuU & mol iter Uvf our fhorc fujfcrance here. 4thanafms being condemned to »anifhment by lulhn the -<*/>e- ftara. 5-Sig. 82 The Chrifian flata^nd perceiving the Chri rhans of Alexandria to weep bit t?rlyac hisccpnrturCjbade then be of good comfort 3 for (faid he this is buta little cloud whic will bee tlowne over prefemlj and truely all tha-tfeems mol terrible in this mortall life, 1 but as a hovering cloud, tha will foone be diflipated art c anged into etcrnall ferenity The ancients had their /tpiUt fo mduftiiou*, a& h;- never omit ted day , wherein hce had nc drawnc fomc line ; fo in life manner, all Christians wh would live exemplarly, ought t dtfir^ that no day might pad without fuch clouds - s theft wherein they might fuffer fom< whatforGod Almighties iak* The h avens appeared to hoi lob, not onely cloudy but eve as ob-iurate as Tro , and yet (* Tert llianfayes) he refilled th -enemy with a? great variety c patience, as he of calamities ai faulted binvnfomuch,as neithc all his fubllance made a prey uj tp the enemy, nor all his chil Zodiake. 83 Par. 3 renoppr.fled in one univerfaU line, nor laftiy his bodies in- >llciable infirmine*, could any ayesremove him from his pa- ence : Oh I w hat a trophe did iodertd of that man, to his lcmies (hamc 1 what a glorious andai d cf him did he advance ! hen at the report of each one f his heavy ioffts, he anfwered ithiagcUe, but GoA.be than fi- (, a laying in which God re- J'ccd , and the deviil was con- •unded utterly; a faying for hich hee defcrved to have all jubly reftorcd to him againe : ercfore we may conclude that 1 fuffering, we doe but .( as ic ert J by great iournies .make to . ards our heavenly Countri ;. The 3. Parag aph. AMong thofe many waves ^whichlead to heaven, there none more fure , nor direel, purified ; afr whilfttheone is converted in afhes,the other isburnimedfro itsdrofle. This furnace is tl world,in which the iuft are gol i tribulationisthefi e, and tl Gold-fmith Almighty Got now if gold had fence and fpee without doubt it would fa let the workman difpofe of r as he pleafe , I will endu wherefoevec he places me , a let the ftraw burne as much as will 3 with intent wholly to co fume me , I (hall but becor the more refined for it, whi it (hall vanifh away in flit fmoake : wherefore marine w «Aug. in Pf. all you who are gold , all y- $0. whoaretut draw , in that v< fireia whi:k the ftraw biases w3y to nothing*, the gold 1 comes more bright : and fo t wicked blafphemes and ac< fes C/od for' fending him t fame affli&ions, for which 1 pati< Zodiake. 85 Par. 4, *aticnt man doth glorific him :nemorc, andtfaey enc cafe in length in the mi dft of adverfi- ies , as fires waxe greater, tl e more the windcdoth blow p ani become more forcible by thar, ivhich threatens wholly tcj Jxtinguifli their. Crefiitadvsrjls agitata virtus. D Eckon mc up all he iaft *Vmcnfrom the beginning of , the world, and you fhall find none of them without this mark tf I redefinition , God proved them, and found thim worthy of wi r - him. Abraham was varioufly ' : ^fttided and perplexc : Iofeph fold by his owne brethren: Da- iiidm oft unnaturally perfecated by hi* fon: Efa'tas Tawed afunder fntherridft: E\tc'iai dragged Upon craggy rocks, till his brans were da ^ed out : Weremiab ftonedto dear: CH : cheus exe- cuted by thefvvord: Amos had a naile driven into his remplts: 2to/f/wascaft unto the Lions ; Mxba ib buried in a heap of ftones : 5-Sig. 86 The Christian ftones • lilt\euP derided, ?o> fo ulcerous, as out cf mser< deteftation , he was fpit upon Tobias deprived ©■ his ight Innocent Sufanva , condemn\ to die,and hundredsm re,whoa 'I could reckon up. B^fides, c what adverfities had i ot S-- Fau h s part ? As for the reil o* tru Apofiles,were they i ot fc .urged crucified, and divcifly put tc death ? In fine, G; d flares non< whom he afceis , r^ucm cmn Heb. i \ diligit Za minus caftigat ifligeUa< autcmomvcmfiliumqucm rccxpit, For God chaitifes whom he< loves i andfeour es every chili whom he reeves, cv ry on? exceptmgnone j Forafiwbo cfirt 2 Tim. 5. to livepicujly in lefus t, briftjbal fufferperfecution. T'e. r ourth Paragraph. ^Y'Herefore let every fer-an of thine (O God) afsun himfelfe,thatif he lhali have pa r m th s life, thisprobac on , h< ihall bee crownei for it in th( next 5 fincen is thy manner o proceeding to fend a calme am . ferenir Zodia^e. 87 Par. 4. fcrenity r,fter tformes 3 and afar teares and iorrow to replemm a Joule with confolacion. Where- fore Beat us homo qui corrip'itur a job. a t Dco J O t c. Bieisci is t at man Job".// whom God rebukes 5 for if wee 2 Tim * *• ftifteine any thing for mm, we fhalllikewife reigne with him. Let none therefore feare this fcourge of God, I ut rather fcare :his disinheritance j by thefe fripes we are but prepared for >ur eternal I inheritance, leaft if »therwife we mould be toocon- erfant wiih thofe delights which >ccur c unto us here ip>n our ray, we mould infcnfJbly forget bofe we afpire unto , at our eleftiall home : If thou beeft Kem^ted from correction (faith aint Auguftine ) thou art alfo scluded out of the numb:r of le formes of God r be not then < inconsiderate or childifti, c* ■ to utter fuch complaints as efe : My father cheriffceth my Q the more than me, fince J permits him to do? what he I i whilft if I but itirre without s command, I am chaftifed for E h: S.Sig, 88 TheChrifiian it 5 but you ought rather to glory in your fuffcnngs, finca it is an evidert Cgnethat he rcferves ail . his inhenta cc for you , whil( thofe whom he fpares for th( prefer. t , I e intends afterward to punilh eternally : 1 hofe wfcj lunnc on the way of this life profperiti-sto their deitru&ion are but like mea lead to prifoi lob 5. (faith St. Gregory) thorow fom pleafant fields. It hath been obferved, that the,Rofe neve favours more fweetly thsnwh&j it is planted ncare to gailick^ne; ther doth our heaven y Gardn< want his fragrant Rofes here c thofe whom he hath predeftin. ted for Paradife , whom he ( difpofesfor the molt part, ; they are ftill annoyed by tl neig' bourhoodof others, w| whom they have the greateft 1 tipathy, in that the more verti ousaman is, the more fubie he is to the fcorne of the wi ked,the more open he Iie^ un adverlities 5 and thus thefe Rol become the more odoriferous i tfleaire^which ether ungratefi 4U c d< Zodukf. 89 p ar . 4 , odours breath. It is hkewife an ^bfcrvation thatfueh Rofes, as by art grow without prickle^ have no fccnt at all 5 and even fo the fweet odour of vertue is loft, fpecially of patience,when we fuffer nothing of advciiicy. AiFuredly none can knosv hoW much he profits but by affiicli- on , neither doe any begin to underftand themfelvcs, till they become acquainted with mifery;' for as the itarres lye hid by day, and oncly become tranf- parant by night, f o true vertue, which rarely appeares in pri>- fperity, (nines forth raoft bright- ly in adveriity. Neither is our Lord halfe fo delighted with the glorious exployts of his fer- vams, as when he fees them fuffer cheerefully, and confi- dently Tribulations , as the Eagle doth prove its young ones b/ expormg them faceun- 10 the Sunne , as the Gold- fmi h by the touchftone tiyes chegoodnefle of the metal], fo God Almighty experiences his £ a fervants j.Sig. 90 The€hriftian fcrvants in the furnace of affli- ction, whence with much more reafon then the Romans wee way fay, er- lum e Dc'i 9 & cuftodtunt illud. Bleffedare they who heare the Word of Cjo& and keep it. They keep it invainem their memo* ries who keep it not in their lives, and there are fome who whilft they are carefull nor to forget it after once they have heard it, have no eare in the meane time in conformity unto it 3 ro amend their lives. T he whilft the Pi edeflinate conceive P£*f ,H i in their mindes an ardent Ion- - '■"■■■* ging afte divine and facred things, infomuch as bying afide all bulines^and interrupting their fports, they even preferrc their appetite of hearing the word of God, to that of the neceifary fuftenance of their lives : their affections carrying them away to Zodiake. ' 95 Par.r co Church without admitting any :xcufe at all : no tempeftuous weather can hinder them, nor : aire divert their minds , but e- rcn then chufing rather to paffe pert times m the clofe vaults of he Churches, than in the open ieldf, whilft they are ftill follicu oustoheare, with hearing yet hey are never fatiated. dutis bo- Ecc j „ •laaudiet cumomni eoncupfiextU %pientiam. A good eare hearts mfedome with all avidity. And where is it more infallibly to bee : oundj than in the Word of God? rhe fouJe, faith St. Bemardfeeks ifter that word , by confenting Ser ' 8 ** ** into the which it is bettered, by 4n * whefe illumination it is inftru- fled, by whefe fupport it is ren- ted vd tuous 3 by whofe refor« ■nation it becomes wife, unto which to conforme it felfe,itis its rhiefeft ornament, ?ni to enjoy it, its onely happinefle. O how often doth a ioule high fed with fuch food! as this, exciaime with the Prophet Immiah, Invent funt pj €i ^ fermones tui, & comedi e0f,67*c/~ Lhave found thy words and eate E $ them. Oert. 6.Sig. 9^ JheChriJiian them up, and thy woad is become Cbryfofl. the joy and dehg he of my heart. Him. 14. in For Co as witnetfeth St. Cbry- fifiome, even as it is a Cgi e of 'pei fed health of body to bee a hungry, fa to be difirous cf the Word ot God , is a msine argu: ment that we are well in Rule. tbefijft paragraph, ANd who will account ilich an one not difeaftd in foule who vvill lend no earc to trutb> whilft he wholly beftoweth them upon frivolous things^nd v* hilft Tices by words in Churches are in- veighed agamft, by his ceeds, commits them . frequently aj heme! who in lieu of pious ex» hortanons > gives himTelfe wholly tG drinking or gaming, or elfe in hunting or hawking trifles out hi$ time 5 or laftly, whilft the Psea- cher is hotly in the Pulpit repre- hending vice, lyes wallowing iri his toft bed, all drowfie and Ian- guiQiing, and is not afhamed,iike a flecpy Dor«moufe 10 be taken at FiOon day ? yet buiied in his fea- theric Zodiake.. 97 Par.l fchcrie Scpulcher. It is a flumefull thing I know , to write this of Chriftians , but it is a greater (hame for Chriftians to be guilty of fo great abufe. Thefe are but figncs of men in defperate eilate, and farre different from thofe by which the Prcdeftinne are Jtnowne ; Faflum eft cutem cvm Luke*}. turb «f auiirent vcrbum T>ei>(?c Itcameto paffc, that the multitude prefled upon him to heare the word of God. Their holy hunger was fo vehe- ment, that neither the circuit of the Synagogues, nor Temple could conrine them, no noi the fpatious walls of the City it felf,. but they even thronged out into the open fields, as a place onely capable of fo great a multitude, and whilft they might fatisfie theirdefire of following and hea- ring him, not one, cither man or woman, made any difficulty to go to any place how folitary or defert foever t were , whereas wee doe oftentimes think much,even wh?a we live nigheft theChurcbjt-ifth* afoot out of d DOi cs to heare that Wttich ie. 98 ThsChnJiian which is neceiTaiy for the refer* naatioicr cur lives , fo far wee are from running even halfe fa- rt iOnd after the P eachcr unto t c Sea ftcta cr WiiderntiTe, wee a e even con-e to t'-at paue as there is nctbi.tg fo ted.ous to us, as to hcare the word cf Gcd : there is no want now a dayes of Preachers ^ bir of aaditorf,whiift they faim a hundred excufes to abfent t "en f;lves,and rather ihan failcor" any .there want notthofe v. bo of pu pofe sbft3ifie from frequcr.ti tg Sermons, for fearc their wrcrchlere Conference fhould perchance be touched : fo £;arefull guilty men are even toft, and unto the judgement of them- felves,. as they dare not appeare before the tribunail of their, owne coi.fci nces. The Prophet leremuh fayesin his Larteatations,that tke wayes of Syon made their moane > for thatnone repaired to her foleroni- tics; andtrucly the w*y.$cf the Church have no leffe caufc now a dayej to make the fame com- plaint, fince the wayes of gaming and Zodiafy. gg Par. I and Tavernes have all the fre- quency 5 there is no thronging to heare the preacher now, whereas if a prating Mountebanke but pro- mife to make us fome ridiculous fport , if any publike fiire or af- fembJy invke our cariofity^we can prcfently finde our legs, we be- flow cur eyes and eares wholly uponuy and go flocking by heaps unto the fpcfta:le : whereas in the meane time, if thofe who preach the word of God ,. can but fcape the being derided for their la- bours, they think e it well, though for the reft we make never fo light account of what they fay $ an a- bufe of which tke holy Scriprure doth, grievoufly compkinc. Yet we cannot deny>but there are ma- ny who g.ye willing e>re to Scr~ rnons , although the number of chofe is but fmall, who endevour to become the better for what they heare : they have eares, but they want hands, they heare what they ought to dee, but doe it nor, and fo receive no benefic by hea- ring it. Another fort there are, wHo frequent fermons onely to fatisBc 6.Sig. 100 TheCkrijlian fatis^e their pious cuiiofities , o" thers onely to pafle away the time : fome out of cuftome, o- thers to become at leaft the (ear* neder, though not better for what they heare : fome againc frequent the Church onely to bee feene and other to have the commodity of feeing certaine petfons there, of whom chcy could not fo com- modioufly come to a fight abroad. Some finally there are who goe onely to laugh, and carpe at that which they (hall heare , others who rcfort thither with intent to fleep, or entertain fome idle dif- C9Urfe the while , or at moft to afford the Preacher fuch an eare^ as is fo furred with taking in other impertinent things, as it is able to receive no more. There are but a few, and thofe onely of the more vertuous fort, who carry thither a minde prepared to seceire initru- clion, and have no other intenti- on , thaji to depart from thence better than they came^ who learn not to better their knowledgc,bue their lives, who hearfcvn as if thtir cares were chained to the Picacherj Zodiake. ioi Par. 2, Preachers words , and willingly give not over hearing,til they find themfelvrcs more vertuoufly iacU- ncd than they wire before. Nemo adeoferus eft qui non miuf- cere pofsity Si modo culture, pmentem accom- Modet aurcm. There's none hut's tamd, how wild fo ere he were. If bee to's cure but lends a patient eare. The fold of Chrift are difcemed from other Graying flocks, by this diftin&ion in their care , in that they heare and obey he word of God with great avidity. Thefecond paragraph. THit fericms faying of St, 4u~ guftine makes a deep impref- fioninthe minds of the Predefti-~ nate 5 That they arc guilty of no lelTe acrime who negligently bear t'hcWord ofGod>than thole who thorow their carelefncile fufter the body of Chiift to fail unto the ground. 6.Sig. 1 03 TheChriftian oround; Wherefore we are nor fo much to regard in the Prea- cher, who it is ihat fpcaks,as who it is that di&atea to him what he is to f ;y 5 fince he fayes nothing, butwhat he hath hr charge to de- liver from Almighty God him- • m* ,„ Tcife. For my owne particular &*%• (fayes Saint Auguftim) what am 1 but a fowers basket, into which he vouebfafed to poure the feeds, which I am but to fcatter among you againe, and fo you are not fo mu:h to confidcr theunworthi- nefle of the basket as the worth of the feeds, and the Towers dig- nity. A good Chriftian gathers fome- what for his inftruftion out of every thing, and is al/viycs ma- king his profit out of it , and hemay takethis for aclearefigne ofPredeftination, rf fitting with Mary MiagdJen at the feet of out blcffed Lord, he ie:naines fo faft harging on his words by the ftrong chaines of his attention, as no care of any domefticall bufi- ne;se > no lifters murmurarion,noi no allurements of any friend can roffibl) Zodiake. 1 03 Par. 2. >offibly draw him thence* Yet ^either to heare the Word of jod onely., nor what is rri re^to eraember it , is any fuch Signe f predeflination, unleflewith- I v/e proceed to put that which ire have heard in execution. For rHat availesit us to have eaten ny thing, ifasfoonaswe have vailowed it wccaft it up again. The Mother of Cjod among ther her rare vertues was par- cularly prayfed for confirming t thefe xvordr , a v\& laying them Iufcc a * pin hr heart. And the royal! falmift fayes, In corde meoabm :ondietyuU tun , ut nan pt:cem 'hi. I have hid thy word in I heart,rhat 1 mould not finne ?ainft thee* Thofe w ho hearing I this word doe confcrve it in a are and pious heart, and bring >rth fruit thereof in patience, I fitly compared to a fruitful! >yle « and like as to read and not > underfhnd,even fo to hear,and n to remembei what they have card, is as good as wholly to ► have neglefted it. Th it pa n- r doth both lofc his time and labour, 6..Sig. 104 The Chrijlian labour, vhichdiawes out upon a tabic fomc curious picluie in light water colours . which prefently with a fpunge he doth deface again : And even as great a folly is itthofe Chriftians,whc heaiing do prcfently forget whai they have heard. We are there- fore to ftrive to remember r and that in fuch a manner , as i be no dead remembrance nei ther, but rather aquickc an< active one, which may urge tha on to performance which we Iohn ih have heard- Si htefcitujeatier, tufifceerituea: no man ever ai rived to heaven by knowin whatwa to be done, but by d< in^it: and heisfarre fiomacl on", who wrll not fo much : give eaie to what he is to do.Tl books of the. h ly Scriptures a efall others the pureft lounta of know edge, out of whit though never fo many draw, ai that never fo often , yet it is 11 poffible for to draw it dry: fl fucb is the nat ;re of this ril veine , that the deeper ycu m into it, the more it abounds wj divi Zodiake* 105 Pan 2. ivirie fence, and can never bee Jthauft. A s the Ant makes pro- ifionof food in the fummer,a- i ; nft the winter feafQnjfoChri- ians, during the calme of their Etires 5 mould ftore themfelves ith the Word of god againft ie ftormes of future calamities, 'his is moft certaine, that never ly yet contemned to make his tnefit in this kind , but they ere at laft fo punifhed for it by Imighty God, that both thein- Ives to their coft did feele it, id others evidently perceived lefame. God hath fo ordeined, lat one man mould learne of a^ ather, and fubmit himfelfe to s dire&jon \ and fo we fee that ing T)amd although of him- Ifc he was moft wife and pru- int, and had befides in many lings, ever the helpe of the ho- Ghoft for his inft ruction, did ot yet open his eyes to repent >rhis grievous danes of mur- fer and duhery ( although he Mild not but know that they erefeverely forbidden b the aw)untill the Prophet HatUn had 6.Sig. 1 06 TheChriflian had marply reprehended him. Our Saviour didfas we may hy) preach hi* fclf out ofthe Cloudf unto S.paul, and yet hefenthinc to Ananias for bis further inftru ftions ! Corntiim was certified b] an Angel , that his prayer an* almes-deeds were acceptable t< Almighty God, find yet he inti mated unto him withal' , tha he was to repaije to St. Pett for his better information Quce Can darts Treafurer, whi ft h read the Prophet lfaiah in h Coach,ha:. noi an Angel afligne him for his inftru&our , bi Saint Philip the Apoftle .* An finally, Mcft; , who in regard* hisneare fan iliarity with A mighty God, may well be ftil« of his privy Counfell, was no withftanding inftru&ed by h fathe; inlaw, a fcrraincr, 1 otherwife than a little Chi and taught, not without mai b tter taunts how he mould b havehimfclf in poyntof govc ningthe Children of Urael:. 3 evenChrifthimfelfe, the e« nail wifedomc wouLd fit amo t Zodiake] 107 Par. be Do dots demanding their iccjfo as tbere are none of what :xc,of what eftatc or condition jever they be,that are exempted rom hearing the word of God: Thetfcrd Paragraph. yVt you will fay perhaps you ■^have the reputation of a lear- cdman, I know it well, and hat fcqueHs fuch great Doctors fe to inferre from thence. Be- old the proud erudition of a lortall wit ! and who I pray ever rrlved to fuch a height of now ledge or ycares , as not to e ignorant of farre more than rer he had learnt! but grant that 9u were the learnedft man a- ve 3 and had fuch a preheminen* f of under {landing above all the aft, as you could heare nothing t a fe> mon you had not known cfore : But what becomes of our wil and memory the while? Fe they never to be inflamed, ever to be ftirred up, is not the ne fome times to be incited, the ther afreih renewed ? how eafie ;:t for the memory to miftake, and fj.Sig. '1 08 The Chritfian and how prone to errour is th will, unlefle there be dayly help invented to re&ifie the hrft , an rightly informe the fecond : fo which reafon it is not only ve ry profitable,but even abfolutel; necefTary, that all doe repaire * fermons: the evi! for their arced ment , the good for their pel fcverance, the ignorant for thei inllruftion , and the learned t revive the memory of what the know 5 that fo at leaft if the learn nothing a new , they ma not forget the old. Audiens fa Prov. 1.18. />*»>/? entlorer'r, & au \s fi pitntium qutrit &> Zioftrinam the wife man by hearing be comes more wife , and the ear* of the wife are ftill feeking al ter learning. Herod , though c therwife infamous for his mani foKi wickednefle, yet in this wi not fo rude 3nd barbarous,as ne tohea;e willingly the ordinar preacher of his Court, and do many things at his inftigation Mach. 6. (fit enter audiv't, (? audita t multafackbat. Whence we ma perceive, that there was in Here no Zodiake. 109 Par. 3. lot onely as great wiilingnefle :o beare, but alfo an unwearied >atienccthewhilft.- forcertain- ly Stloh.Baptip could never haye noved him to have done fo much anleflehe had beth frequently heard him, and that too in to»- :hing many particulars 5 for we are not indeed to imagine that he would onely in grofie admonifh the King of his many flagitious crimes, but he at large by' maine Force of reafons confuted them, and both fee his vices before his eyes,and withail powerfully dif- Uvaded him from the commit- ting thcm.lt was impoffible that St. lobn with one onely fermon could fufficiently argue the Kings inceftuous adultery, and his other grievous crimes, but it was requih'tc that he mould be- ftow a fermon upon each one of tfeem, or rather indeed many in onely taxing one; for his mind ©bdurate in wickednefTe, was by an often iterated battery to be expugn'd , and neverthelefle //- bentsr eumauduhat ; he gave wil- ling care unto him. °And aN though 6.Sig. HO TheChriUian though Sti lobn often publiklj cxprobrated unto hi* face his im- piety in retaining of his brother! wife, non licet tibihabert uxor em fratrutui 9 and without doubt with abundant reafons prove* the unlawfulneflc of the fa& . yet ftill libenter eum audiebat. Sq great a defire had Herod of hea- ring him, w hilft the Sain pern*, fted with fo great a confhncy io reprehending him j neither arc we to think,that he fmother ; d ifl the meane time,undcr a political filence the reft of hi* enormous crimes^no, Sr^Lr^eis his wit- neflcjwhere l^fayes that Heroa Luk. 5. t fo Tetrarch was reprehended b) him, both for Herodiana hi* bro- thers wife > as alfo for the reft 1 thz evill which he did. So as he neither fpared to tell him of hij tyranny in fo many civill flaugh- ters, of hisexa&ionon the peo^ f>le,in taxes &impcfts,norlailly * of his riotous fpendine it again* for the maintenance of his iuft, •and yet for all this, libenter eum audebat 5 and fo great was He- *rod> patience in hearing him, at ueidei Zodiake. Ill Par. J. wither at his iirft fermon , the noft vehement of all, nor his fe- :ond or third,! or any of the relr, ic ever fh wed Umferf offended* ar agneved,but Ubetrrercim laine,and fimpie for the popir- ar care : libentcr eum audiebat (3* lud'itoeomultafuciebat ; fo that veil he might compiaine^that he 'erfevered not in the perform nance of ch.n which the Saint Co :arneftly inculcated , but never 'with Seneca) that fortune had nvicd him the knowledge of the ruth.Et movftrabotibicui reita- U-d s benef. wrent nutgyafaftigiz quid omnia c ' 5% Wsi -evtibus defir , friicet , Me 'ui verum dicat Nov vide quem- dmodum ill n s in prceccps agat ex-. wQcl libertas, dum nemo ex vimifui ftntentia fuader.di/fha: krqjje t W unuTi amicoruw omnium fficium eft, ura comc*tio y quit irind'fnme faUat ? i will unfold : into you, fayes be, the difcon- nodities which great men are abjeft to, and wbati wanting £ to 6. Sig. 112 TheChriJlian to thofe w ho poffeflc every t ! ing; that is,one to tel them the truths doe you not perceive how for wantofthat liberty they aie all driven to mine? whilft they have no faithfull friend either to per- fwade or diflwade them any thing, fcuc all take it for their du- ties, 3nd make it their ftudies to deceive htm with their fe.vilc flatteries. A crime winch St.lobn for his part in regard of Herod was fo far from being guilty of, as he feemed to be ncapablc of nothing more,than concealing of the truth , whilft he performed the duties of a tanhfull ad r oni- fher with all fincenty of heart, and liberty @f ipeecb,(iill plying the Kings eare with wow licet tibt Rhodes - } nui Licet tibt : it u net Uvjulfv thce,0 Hen d, it is rot la-KJiSjoribce : and that ro keep hi .n ft;i fcnfsble of his offence. /nd where- now are thofe nice and dainty eares,whoif they bat imigm* thmfclvesglanc't at by any words 3 thcgh m>ut-ilnp not Hcrud in wickednes^ or ic i lince whilft they rerule as well ishe to amend theulive^they abftain Vom fermons, die ©nely re ned'ies to Lmcnd chem j which HerW woutd lever doe«He who refufeth to be per- Waded by his teac ier,doch but yeeld ihe perlwafiouof the enemy, and ommenis ^utafchollcr to a fool es lire&iofr; who will be taught by r.o »ther than himfclfe : fo whofoever onceives fo highly of himfclfe ?s to corne all other Mailers befUes, fiewesmore arrogancy in it than eru- ition. Neither can there be any love f vertuetn him who either hates or. lefpife* the knowledge of « ; eavenly hings. The beginning of eftranging urfelves from God, is our difdaine f hearing his wordjand h loves not 5od, who is not defirous of fpirituill iftrudion 5 for as gold is trye i by be touch itone, fo are the thoughts of aan revealed by the Gofpell of ielus :hrift. The Embleme^II And liee ^aue euepr maji Coraacle ment Gonccrangjiis neiobour. Zocliake. I F 5 Par, I The feventh Si^ne, , Of Predejlination, IS dimes-deed-} beftowed w-'th a tender affe£ho'n« The device is the Bat fame / w,of moil foversugn g cc i. ij, vertue, especially for the cure of wown s And ulcers. The Motto Ityi* cu> que mm davit T^ens depftix'tmo fuo. Go hath committed rlr-careof his rei^h tour u>m evm one. P&jftfly i> a gr' €V0U u ^ er °* ^ fcl -^yj^wt fin a more grievous one o| rl-.e f.uiej to the cure of cither , Almc>- needs doe wonderfully ronfer;c,chiefe!y ii't ey goe 3CCompinye • with a r ady mind. This we learneof the Ap -title \lvdm- tevofvifcen mifiricordte ficut eicfliCaioC. 2 'Dei, I veftyourfelves, fayes he, with the bowels of mercy r, as becomes the f? - ictled of /timighty God\ where he requires not one'y the helping hand, bucaifo the willing mind of him who gives, and heistruely happy who hath a right understanding ot the po -r and n edy, for God will deli er him in the day of evill. A verity confirmed E I by 7* ^ig. U6 IfseChrijlian byaclere argument drawnc out of Pfa/. 4c. ho y Scripture ; ^«i arerpit mvtuvm, few us iji fa Keratitis: he who borrows becomes a fervant of him who lendsj but our rroft rich God borrowes of us in the pnfens of the poore 5 whence the concluf;on may eai.ly be deduced. As for the minor of this ColoH 3. Syllogifme ,Jt is Stlonws in efftd : F a veraturDemvo,qui m ife re tut taupe r#,He takes ufury of the Lord (which is the fame,a- God borrowes of him) who hath^itty of the poor. Cbrifi by. the mouth of St. Augufiine in this manner begs an Almes of us ; Befto w fomewhat upon me of that which I have given chetJLaskt but part of that which is all mine owne : in givi g you make hut reft itution, and oblige me jour debtor for whar you give, whom you had a benefactor of all you have Give me but temporall things, and I will repay you with c- Grae. de 4- ternall ones : tc>pfum t'th'% reddatn, »or e Pan£. quar.dote mih't reddidcro . and Saint Gregory Ha^iati^en fayes j look that thou bee 1 a God to the calamitous, in imitating the mercy of God in their tehalfe,for man hath rothing in him more divine, than the power tooblige other men unto hm by his bent fits. The poore is committed to thy Zodiake. I 1 7 Par. I. thy charge, as to another God, and fuch a God on earth was holy lob: Pater eram pauperum^ caufam quam jj, fief etc bam diligent if sime inveftigabaW) ocular fui c &q°J3* fes claudo, I vv as (faycs he) a Father of thepoor^and 1 diligently informed myfelf when I diu not throagly underftand their cafe : 1 was an eye unto the blind,and feet unto the lam*. And Toby .hit man fo deare unro Almighty God, elefwofinzab omnipeccato (? a mortt 10 ^' 4* l.iberat,0*c, Almes deeds, faycs he he, delivers us both from uii and death, and fufFers not a foule to de- fcend into darkneiie , fiducia magna 7 ^» erit coram fammo *DeQ elcemcfyna, om- nibus facientibvs earn. Almcs-deeds will be a great caufc of confidence to all thofe who have evcrafd it, when tkey ftial ftand before Almighty God. The firfi Paragraph. MEliut eft bant arum dandi elee- ■. „ J r r * ~ Horn. *<>.&. m&frnamftm, qunuejfe re gem, ^ ad ? 9 .J- ft yes St Cbrjfofiome , it is better to be conveifanc in this art of be flow- ing Almcs , than to be a King ; as that whxh builds us everla^ing man- sions in heaven, and teaches us the way to becoiielike toGqd. It is a F 4_ great Sig. u3 The thrift* an great thing to be a man, rut to be a ;•>* 22. jmercifull rran is a pretious thing, qui prows eft ad rnifernordieim^ewcdr cetur^L paribus oiimfuis dcditpaupe" ri,h who is prone to mercy, (hall be bit fled, for he hath beftowed his bread upon the poorv. Wherefore his bemfictnee (to fpeak ftill w th the fame golde: mouth'dSt tbryfoftcme) is that which rcfembleti u to God : this is the Mother o Chanty 5 ondthe proper badge of Ci riftian perfection, which diUsniUilhfsehnitsDifciples from other nun. This i that which cures our infirmities,* hicb wail.es a- way the itaines of our foule : this, that ladder whi h was r< ared up to Heaven theft riirew w ay o gathering riches togcthcr,yp^^€re- be l.btrall of it, you were tniita en hitherto, the way to become rich is to give \our wealth away, and not 10 hoard it up he w o in this world dinributes hi treafuve am^ng thepoore, dothbutUyit up fo his owne uie rn the next. Nei- isit nccelVary tlvat we difcharge our money by whole hand fulls on the pooie Zodiake. 119 Par. 1 p Ore j give but hnlfe- pence, give but farthings, ( r a cruft of bread, ( fo you do it freely and willlingly)aodin inter- change thereof you thai receive whole worlds of treafjie and potfeflions. The Cenfoms in ancimt time were VMont now and then to vifit the Citi- 2 nshoufes.and furvey t'^cir garments, Co fee whether they were not moath- eiten, their bread mouldy, meat tain- ted, or the hke , neither v\uhout rea- fon 5 and 1 feare me that if nny fuch Vifif Oiould bee mad ■: now a diyes, there would be fome found who feed vtrmine w ith thar they hi?c 3 rather than they will beflo^v it orithe poore. But now we know how 10 difpofe fo of our fubftance , as neither ruft, naoat'p, a>r any ocher vermi .lec.n an- noy it Tbefyn^ztevohu pxfauros in Mattb. tf. | mfa, ubi fiequc erugo, neque tinea de- mnlitur&c. Lay up t re lure for, your felves in heaven, where nether ru&, nor moath can do it inyhirrre J w! ere n ith?r any thief can break i.-i ?hd fteal itt'icnce. Mtmad'd not corrupt, »n- lelie it waslayd up for the next dzy t neither doth any itc«:k fo much diu4- ■till ascheirs, who are too c::rcfuit to pfrrVe »t fti'il entire i you cai feare ir no better w.ty. than by railing u in the funds of the poore and their Oo- F 5 snacks Sig. i$o ihtChrifiian roacl"S>aithebcft Gcapa^kf to ftacke up t ur cornc , fiace thue it is kcure f.om fire, aiidyc ate Cute to recede it with mcreafe agine H.d ^bf&icra but cut his blight trefies off, his haire had heme ap ornament to his head, and not the occaiu n of its confuficn 5 and Co if the wealthier foit would but contribute pari of their fubfhnce to- wards the maintenance of ihc poore, they mould have as many friti-.ds at conmand, as now they have crowncsj whereas now thty affed nothing by their cove tcuine fie , but that tht more money they have, in the more d. nge- rous eftate they live in. The Tonne of Smic&pe; (Wades us, PerJeie pecuni m iccl. 19. p r< jptcr jratrem i & ami cum tuum y & non abfeondis ilium fab lipid? in perdi- ticnm : To ccfi array cur mon;y for (the behiije of , *ur friend and brotbtr, 6 nd not to hide it u*i r a (lone to our wn perdition 1 and oui Saviour Chrift bids us dare>(p ddbiturvcbU>To give, that tve may receive againe. We lis become fowle, if they be not often ufed , arc* the more water you draw from tht m ; the more pure you render them. Th< Predeftinate, if it were pofEble, wher they befi ow an almes, would give thei hearts withall, Co w lllirgly they lmpai their fubftance to the peore, and ii thi j'Eccl.29. Zodhlg. i2 1 Par. a this fence our blefsed Saviour pronoun- ces the mercifull to be blehYd, to wit, not ondy fuch ashavcabsliry to afford rrmch,t uc alio thofe who have j defire 'o be beneficial! unto all. It was pjL thagoras opinion , f.mAia» non nifiafi- milibiv Ompre be»e!i* That ,'i^e was not attaimdbut by itstifaand fo it happens in this kin.Je of Merchandife, where one commodity is not purchaftil , buc by e- change cf the Time commodity *% ^ne. Oleum emitur oleo : wilt thou bbraine mercy ? by works of mercy it i* to be purci afed. But you will Cay re- h ips, by giving unto ether? you m t iy h ppen to impovei ifh your ftlR? what a vaine caution is this , rather to truft toourowne fo-ces than to the promi- ses of C!iri ft ? How many have been .Beggered by their covetoufnefse,whilft never any was undone by charity to the poor ? God contends with us in libe- ral ty, and vm! not give over but on the b-tfcr hand. The poore widow gained Kine M more by £ iasthm his (lender refrcfli- KinsJ/2 mentcame to,and EHfeut hoftcfle was ; more obliged to him, than he to her. Thefecond Paragraph. HTHere are nvny ( but thofe not o/ * the number of the picdeflinate) vviio 1 22 The Chrifiian who give rarely any .dmes but malfg- mn;ly : To give mal;gnantly,is to be- ftow thac oncly ©n the poore which we hive our le)Ues in loaihmg,which Wc know no thew otherwise to be rid of, it is fo wholly unt foranyufe, fuch , it they h-ve any treat tainted with long keeping , if the breod bee mouldy:or the drinke be fowrt,vf they hive any thing in niie ib loath(bme,fo (linking, as they could not find in their hearts to beftow it on a dog, can then tbinke of giving it to the poore,i great benevolence no doub \ Alas deire Chriftuns I how often with foothing peifwafionsdoe wc deceive our fclvesf This is not(as the Prophet Baruch ex- probratrd to fome) to offer oyle, but encly the OUve itones.. And what was the renfon that God rejccVd Cain and his otfi rings, but one ly beemfe having ability to offer better fruits of the earth, he offered him the woift: Our good wills or gtv ng more, fuffices when we have n')t much to give, but if wc have large ability,we are inexcu* ia!.U,if we g:vc fparingry. When thou cvnfi: not h;ip the poor with thy deeds, ar Jm {rlv.-u canft not fuccour in thy ■f^/^as : ne:tha t.;ofe Ifraeites , nor tleir Zoduk$. 12$ Par, tb ir offer nt>s weredtfpiftd.who p>e- frntedwniy nover, gnats hale, and bnlU 5, becauieit was alltruy weie able co bellow 5 wbc-e s (;sS • C'>r>- ^//we mresj (hould they h ive p; < fei- ud nothing elfe,who had at ihty to of- ft r morejtbey had incurred by ic i bea„ wy nnUdi&inn. Oihc-s there -ue for- v. a:dse iotigli in giving Mms , but chilli thty arc r.olefse prone to t eir dry pkafires , than to *lmes, they dv file the oyle of mercy, wirh the for- didiufseof (heir licentious lives. The ^na^urboii, a people of CUicia , were wont to . tt biuse their fertility of O- Iivcs to their Virgios ch-ftines, for which canfe they iuf?ertdnO:>e to ma- nure xnd plant them but onely then. For Chnrtians let them afiurc rhem- r ft Ives, that there is futh an antipathy I betwixrthis Olive of mficy, and Te- 1 nus la civ ous Myrtle, that in one com- mon imlo ure they can never be con- : t;uW. and chat Aines which goes ac- companied with dithonett hfey^nnor bephaHng to Almighty God -> neither will he regard the liberally of cur binds, which is proceeding from a li- bidinous mind. Others Againe there are who) y not wallow n:> like thofe in jfcemire of carnall fleams, but vet in ch: t :ht:y afea prayfe , and a kinde of 124 TheCbrifiian of oftennuonin their Almes, tfiey effect nothing VMch all their bootlefse paynes, bat onely profufe tkr* oy/e of Iiberi'.iry And whydeire Chriftian, tPtlt thou let thy UJt hand bepriiy to ■what thy light hand doth ? as i; fuch as thofe were not julily , by that myi- ror of patience, holy Zo^corrpued to the Olive catting cf its flowers which , tree, according to St. Gregory, though it never bee i> well r ken with blof- foms, yet if itbeirrt with any bleake •lyre, becomes wholly delUtute of fuit ; Even fo s although thou beeft ne- ver fo charitable to the poore, if thou doll ir becaule others fee thee,or to be fcene by others , the breath of their comir.end*tioas blafts all the fruit thereof. As for the Almes whih the Fteds/Iittte bellow, no living eye is eoufciousof t, except that frcm wheh nothing can be hid , nei:h rdoe they cxped any praife for it, but ondy his, from ^whorn they hope likewife for their re.vard. And SuChryfoftometcz* chethj though Almes have golden wing s. f yet they are not of the nature of the Peaco ks, to Court admiration he re, w hi lft the reward w! i-h attends it is in heaven, but thither it fcares up upon its glittering wings, and takes its Q^nd before our Saviour Chrii*, • who n Zodiakt. 12 5 whom it acknowledges in the perfoD of ihepoorc 5 yes, their Alnus-deeds is fo fa: re from the defire of divulging of it f;lfe, as if it were poflible it would be L tent tothofe whodifpofc o c tt } fo lntle doth a good man car e hov? few be of counfaik to what he dotb,fo lc ng as he is fure, that he is n t igno- rant of it, who onely can and will re- ward him for it. For which leafon St. Cyption calls a mind thus propenfe un- to the poore,a mo ft furecautitn of our fecurity , whereby wee have engaged God our debtor, and endeared our felvcsinto the favour of our foveraigne ludge. The third Paragraph AT the day of ludgement we (hall be molt rigoroufly examined on this particular, when thofe who (hall be convicted to have beene fterne,hard hearted, ardunmejcifull totfccpoorej (hall be condemned by a leg all , and moft terrible (cntencc $lte maledi&i in ignem ateirum > Goe ye accurftd into tvertafiing »e- Onthecontrary.thofe whom the divine predeftination had from all eternity deOgncd for the So- ciety of Angels, may approach unto the Iudge, and confidently fay, deale ' Lberaity 11 6 Tf)e Chrijiian liber lily ro^ with is, as we have de U wuh Qth-rs '■ beftow thy felfc up< n us , (ince foi" thee wee h<.ve be- ftojved our Almes uoon t! c pOore,v\e have h "d comp.iiion of others,wbeifc- fore how have comp ffion on us a- gainc, we have performed thar v h cli thou didft require, it rcfts tht thou performc t>ac which thou h. pffefe your /(jTfgdinn^^ njoy your hearts de fires. I rcmenVcr my promifes,-ind commend your d«.ferts s wh.ch worthily preftrrc you to fo great a rcco m pence , come and receive your reward, iraeririin ^ble i-id-ite, invaluable in wor.li ; all the good offices you did to my pocre,w re do^ie uato my felfe, your charity pro- vided me of mc it and dnnkc , yc. U taou wJt J r \lit, •lay the wife Merchant indeed,forgoe kom. 13, h r h:ch thou cantt not keep pof tflion of in exchange fthatwhich hou canft never lofe 5 depart with 3 little* Sig. 128 The Chrifiian little, fo the returne of a hundred fold j give a piece of money to the poore, to obtame a whole Kingdom for it of Can ft our Lord ; beftovv a bit f bread , to receive forgivenefle of thy fi s, disfurn (h thy felfe of a flight g emerr, to merit by it a ftole oflafliug glory 5 give thefc defpicabte tlings, to purchafe eternall ones. M*t.$* What extreme folly is it,fayes Saint CbyfbftowtJtic tua reliever*, unit txituruses: & Hue non prtmittett quaes , to leave thy fubftancc then behiud thte,fio«i whence thou art te depart, rather than to fend it before thee thither where thoa art to goe : , wherefore let it it be our chiefeft cart to furmfh thut p'ace with our trca- fures, wl ere afterwards we are to make our refidence. TIk Xmbleme'V ilL Selfe-Cbfltempi Ixcepiyee become AS little Qiilderen.jyou ikill uoi enter inio v e Xinaclome of Hearten. Zodiake. 131 Par. 1 The Eighth Signe, Of Fredejiination, IS an abjeft opinion of or felver, which bcaro for its Imprefa the Cypreffe f >fe,whith this Motto Ni- fiejficitminiypcutparvulivon intrah>- Matth 18. tit tn regvum cceloritm, T/nkjfe ye b - fowc //^ ow oftbeje lit tie ones, yejball in no wife enter into the kingdom of Heaven. This tree remainc* al waves fragr int and flounfhing.and not t-W* (y admits not corruption in itfelfe, but alto preferves all other things from noyfomc favours, which are imbalmed with it, and therefore with »ood reafon it ferws for the expref- ion of thi abjeft opinion of 0'*r /dues , nhich both dcltroyes this worme of >hde in us, and preferves us from >ein : rotted and corrupted by felfe- :omplacence,afort of infetfjon of all >th;r$ moi* contagious. Odifuperbos fr arceo 9 dTc: jabhorn , andrejefi pfal IQJ> he proud ( faith theroyail Prophet) mtherJh'Mbcuvbofe affionsfawtr of my pride, whabite in the midfi of my Houfe. Sig. I32 TheChrifiian Houfe. There is rarely any phyfick as they fay, that is fbvcraignly medici* nail indeed, that hath not its mixture of fome poyfon,or fop'' indicated drug. This I am fure, there is no vice thit is not compounded of fome fecret pride 5 as you mall percei c if you but con f, dertherh • Irittum omms peccati, :,l0# efifuperbia 3 0'c lt The beginning of every fmnc is pride, and he who per- (ifts in it (hall have his fill of Male- dtcijon; and it wil be his ruine in the end, Pride is thenuzlerof a dan- gerous wit,and from thence it breads forth into various and exorbitant vi- ces at every turne 5 now of hate, now love^butchiefely of envy, whiUl it is obnoxious to the diftrcflcs of all cafualities , for there are not more anxious, or fubjett to more continu- all difquietjthan.thofe who onely co - vet prayfe,but think it abfolutcly due to their deferts : fines they are ever apt to imagine themfclves con- temned, when that debt is not paid to their expedation, and in the mean while, wreakc their pight of others contumelies fas they conceit J with fretting and inward repining on themfclves. TheyLve in a^darke an ignorance of others vertues, as of chcirowne defects, and out of this £wolne Zodtake'. 12 3 Par. fWne atrogancy of theirs , bre.ke with all piety and fidelity , and in a word , with whatsoever fhould bee noftdeare unco a man , for a little' ime and covetoufnefle of efteeme. \nd whereas the fubjeft of other vi- :er, are bur commonly ab;ed and ig- loble things,thac of pride ordinarily I ! the rnoft excellent,it making a prey >* all worth) adions, of emmency nany knowledge, and evenofvertue «d fanct,ty it fell , much likerhofe ittle worms which iye gnawing at he coares of every better fruit A remd man represents the devils man •ersmoft unto the life, for as one" rughr to equally himfelfe unto fie highefr, fo the other will not nely Hand in competency, but even |fc to be preferred to all Sed r.vf- uam nvrefiftit fitperhu Tear But rod never failes to refill the proud,' eean throw him downe with more lie from hi higheft aymes , than •meftour defendant itand.n^ upon e bmismenrs of a rower, doth tofe who fcalethe walls, and cut rem cfFwithas much facility, a< a ardner crops offwith a hght hand ofe little fprouts which (hco: out ovetherelt. Saul in his hum.lity « advanced untoa Throne, fro n whence 8.Sig. 134 The Christian whence in his pride he was tumbled downe agame. I here are f ire who have a natural! aver:on from Cats. fpiders, or fome particular food l\ is natural! to God to execrate anc abhoire the proud. Abom'natio domi m eft omws arrogant, immundus m apud 7?eum evinis qui exaltat corfuum As the molt contagious difeaies dot ufe to breakout in feverall parts 01 man, f) pride will not be ftinted tc any 1 articular place : but now »t ex prefles it fife in our eyes , now i takes pofleffion of our tongues,it ap propnates this mans hands unto M ufe in anothers garments it tfeth tc cloathitfelfe, a d fits with fo mud fettled gravity in a others carriage a an hundred Preachers could not re move it thence : fome againe then are, who affc& fuch a kind of carelei behaviour, as if >ou did not know th fccrei arts ihey have topiofefle thei pride,and fumptuofitks in banquets edifices, their children* breeding, th fpUndor of their retinue, and thei; farnitute, yon would imagine then fworne enemies of fo much v nit) Inf3much,as thevcrv ayre we breath ,s pride in all w do, though ito< li delicate as it is fcarce perceptabb Now we defcend even below ab jtctio Zodiake. 1 35 Par. je&ion it feife, our words are metre honey and rofes , wee utter nothing but the pure filkent phrafes of the Court, we crouch unto all , to make our way by indirect meanes to rife, and aving rea:hed that height once, which we afpired unto , we neither jndure equalls,nor faperiors. What makes theefo proudly arrogant tou filty duft, and a J es, when the leaft blaft of death can fcatter all thy greatneffe ? In what canft thou re- ceive fuchfelfe complacence, who ftink'ft fo odioufl/ in the noltnlls of men, of Angels, and of God ? and wrhilft thou breatheft nothing but farth,(6limbeof Adam as thou art,) thou even poyfone'} theay're with the (tench of Lucifer I But if thou canft be as well delisted with the goodly 'eight of the Cyprefle , as with its Jratefull fmell, thoumaift ciimbe up >n the condition, that from thence hou reflect a difdainfull eye on none >ut on thy fclfe ; and ti is is true •rearncfle, true magnanimity, to cn« ertaine in high places humble hoi:ghtJ,and asfaftasthou art ex- ited, todebafe thy felfe 5 and ("which 1 1 ore proper to the Predeftinatej to ouch heaven with their merits, whilft 1 their owrie corceit they yet lye Q groveling 8. Sig. 1 36 Tlx ChriftUn groveling on the ground. Divin*. 4 ft. grdtujctmiUarU ejfe ftkt humtlitas. pram'f* &c. Betwixt divine grace and hu- */. mihti«( fayes St. Bernard ; there 11 a ftrait league of friendibip. What f fublime humility is that, which ho. nour cannot remove, ror glory mak< arrogant ? For a defpicable pcrfor to abafe himfelfe, is not m ;ch, bu hum tin as hcrmata j humility in ho-. nour is a rare venue indeed. Doe yoi hcareth.s O yee Kings,yee Prince^ a id Potentates of the earth? Do you heare this, \ ou who are no lefTe lear< ncd than arrogant, you whofe pcflef fionsmake you defpifeall ether men Rttra virtus eft bumilitas honoratajm rr.ihty in honour is a venue defcrvinj all admiration. It (S the proper effe* • of tiue humility, to make thofe con demne themfelves by their owne ve^ didsformoft unworthines, v/ho i: the judgment of heaven areeftecme, for giea ell fan&ity. So Abraham, imn moft acceptable Co Almigh; God, accounted himfelfe no othe than dufr and ames : St. Pete r,th Rock upon whom Chrift built hj Church, openly and ingcnuouily,prCj felled himfelfe afirjfvllman-St.PaU\ that vcflUl of election and Prin^ i&jtpytksi reputed himfelfe but | Zodiake. 137 p ar an abortive flue , andtmwor t hy ihe tide of an Apoflle. This hoJd for certaine , the bafe of all true height and dignity, is no other than humility, and a contemptible opinion of car felvcs. Thefirfi Paragraph: p. Ride is the ruine of all vermes, 1 and the fteep precipice of Angels ind of men. Good God, what a •hange , what a commutation was hen between heaven and earth,whcn he raoft glorious amongit Angels ras can headlong downe from hea- en to earth, whilft the mifcrableft knreft foule on earth was elevated - iy the hands of Angels unto heaven? ucifer through his pride did fall ' om tocace, whither poore ulcerous mmus was exalted for his humility, 'ho it is credible did not fo often Umber his vermes as his fores 5 n o aubt out of genuine felfe con- mpt of his , feemed more patient no nll,than unto himfelfc, It is a ry true and fignificant faying of a rtaine Sainr, t, arum V0 fe f ^ ui jr £ a ^ \td valere cenfet , nil penitus valet life multum valere automat. He is brch but little who in his owne G £ account 3*Sig. 138 TheChrijlian account fecms to u e wrth any thing and he nothing at all, who conceit himfelfemuch worth. With whom Si Bernard doth well accord, where h faith, OmniaiU'- d <{ui mbil fl deejfepwat, That be wants aH, wb imiir.es btmfelfe to want ttotbttig And we may add , that they fcarcel feeme to be borne for heaven , wh whilft thty arc fclfe. conceited c their ownc aftions, become as ihar cenfurers of others lives, as they ar foolifh admirers of theirowne >an whilft with an affiled blindr.efs the bleare their owne judgements < tbcmfelnsjcan never judge aright c other n.en. Out upon this vanity Can we think that heaven will ev< give admittance unto fuch pride ; this? no, it is ontlyfor the predeft nate, who cenfure nones lives to r goroufly as their owne : who ortn< fat in judgement on their owne mai ners. than on other mem, and are; farre mo.e ftvere unto them tlv thantoailbefides, astheycafily pa don others,never them(e Ives, vvn. they have dene amilfe. Miferable wcariWhobeingbutduft and lh dow sdayly eliding away after the whoarevsnifhed before/an yet glo in our own Progenitors,* few 01 lodiak?* i?9 Par. i ranged {fotutes of our Anceftour*, is if he were a man who can number (nor? men of his linage paft. Homo vir.itati fimiis faCfus eft , die ejus (icutumbnp'tetaeunt^an is become like unto vanity, and his dayes doe yanithaway like a fhadow. Where- foever we tetiectoureyes, we finde caufe fufficienr todifiolve thorn into tearrs. If we fixe them on heaven, whilii we behold our Country alo^f we cannot burconfider our felves in baniihment,; ifonearth,it is but the upbraiding remembrance of our grave, and i owever we betrample it for the prefent wish ourfcet,u makes fu'l account to have the difpohin: of our heads at bit : final!/, ii on our. Je'ves, O what a fair and i uddy ru.ii but alas al wo-' ne-caten within j where ordour , flench, corruption, death it felfe have taken their lod- gings up. If weconi crour ovvne hearts, what a foule a'oyflV, and depth iris all befet with knotted beds of Snakes and Add rsfwoe, woe's us, we ev:n fwarme with vices , and yet ca not cone mne our ielvcs; we kc x>ppr fled with a world of tollies, -mifcrie ,and fmnes,andyci rrf .&. the ■reputukn of wi'e, happy, learned, and holy m$n. The pre.dcilinate the G| while 140 TheChrijijan while convertail this unto their grea- ter profit,& out bf the confidera: ions of their daily nclions and themfelves, doe draw forth motives of their own contempt i befc can eafily with St. Paul be induced to flight and c«n- remne all other things, who have firft leirned 10 flight and conterrne themfe'ves ) Vis bdng fo, whofoe- ver defires to be finely happy indeed, mult jr. o cure to take diligently out this -leflbn of his owne contempt 5 from whence he is to proceed ( ex. cep-ing God ) to contemne all other things. The Predeftinate can beft reliih that excellent faying of Ssint Cbrjfefiome , Minimum de fcfcnfijfe tarn magram eft> quam cs maxima* fe- tiftjt is at great matter j or a man t$ tctQurt hut I'ttlc cj birnfdf at tc h#m expiated mighty tbirgr. As alio that of our Saviour Chrifljhc who afpires to be greiteft among you,H*al. be the leaft in the Kingdome of heaven ( if cvtr they arrive to fo much happi- ncs 3 They are not ignorant how the way of humility is craggy and paine- fuli at the firft 4 but afterwards it be- comes more ea^e and delightfome. They know there refts <-f their jour- ney but this one fteep afceht, and fo grate full unto all who direft them on their Zodiake. 14I Par. 1. their way, they climb it up with all alacrity. I hey love to be contemned, they afte&ionately imbrace the occa- fions , theyrcioyce to fee themfelves defpifed, and more infult over them» felves in tht mcane time than any e- nerny. Thefe when they are injured are Co far from revenging their quar- rcll bythefword, as they utter not a word m their ownc defence* Htre none (tretches forth aw arrr.c,or hraa- dtiheth a fword to vindicate a wrong, as- knowing the more profit redounds unto them , the more they are con*- temncd.The preMefUnate-only knosv, as atn deeply read inrhe fchoole of Chriitom Saviour, that they are ne- ver th? worfefor mens deriding, nor lefle tor tbeir contemning them Tan- tus e(t twufquifque, quanruseft in oc tulii Dei: A man u no more than yj ft as heeappeares in God Almighties eyex vonpilQmajor y &c* not a haire greater, neither doth God judge by mens eft i- matiotJ* When we fecme little to our felves we feeme great to God^ and then leaft to him when wc ap- peare thegreateft to our felves. The deeper a WelU*, the more purer is its water : and the more vile efteem one eonceiveth of bimfelf, the more gratefull he is unto Alroiehty God 1 G * Ml I. Kia K s 16* 1 8. Sig. 1A2 The Chrifiim All which fcems eminent in u$, is to be abated, cur high fpints level ed with the ground, am the nniverfall fabrick of our pride buried under the heaps cf our miferies,ignoi3nces,and irn perfections. Musk, as they fay, having loil its favour, by being bu« ryed in Co Tie ftink»ng dunghill reco- v. is it gain- 5 and fo if we t ut true- ly enter into the consideration of our ownc vilenefle and furquedy,we mal 1 > hale not any fuch odour as we did before, hut that cf the amendment of our fdves , the onely conducing n eanes to our falvation. The fee on d Paragraph, A Holy religions man being de« •" manded once, which in his opi- nion was the moft expeditious, way to heaven, anfwered . Si ft homo fern • , de . ptraccufat, For a man ever to accu/e Ki. W *' b' m filfe» And this according to St. duguftive , is the very fum of all Chriftian learning ; and St Ambrofe avouches, Siznum eleftorum eft male de ,'efenttre, (? vukmsfuum agvof ce- re. That it is an infallible iigne of the £ie& when one acka wedges his infinr.ities„andthinks contemp- wblyof himfelfe : on the contrary* Refrobotum yodiafe 143 Par. a* T^prokonim efi pr opt turn /neper prava *»> c - 5- «m ague, ts* nuflquam quce egetint retra- flare, &c. hyts $t,Gregory, It is the cuftome of the reprobate to bee aU way es committing evill,and never wil- ling to amend their wickednetTcj but they pafle over all they doe in the blkidnefle of theirminds.and nothing but punifhment can makcthem fen- fible of the harmcthey doe 5 whereas the eleft doe dayly like oat their actions to the very fountaines head of thofe thoughts, from whence they fprung. Neither for this are they ever the more fecure a (ince they know there are many things may efcape their ob« fervation , (which onely the all-fear- ching eye of Almighty God perceives. Toe Sonne of Spach counfailcs us, qiMnto m&gnus es humilia iein omnibus cc ' ^* & coram Azo invenies gratiam. The greater rhouarr, humble thy felfethe more in every thing , and thou (halt finde grace before Almighty God 5 feeing the power of God is onely great, and rite is honoured in the hjmble. Afiuredly among all others it is the greateft perfection to have' a true knowledge of our owne imperfe- ftions 3 and that foule merits more of true pra'fe, in understanding it felfe,. Q 5 ihaiv £.Sig. J 44 The Ckrijiian t'can in neglecting that , to know thciourfe cf the Starres , the li- mits of the Earth, trfe venues of Plants , the abflrule fublimity of Heaven, and the Earths unfatho- t* med profundity ; Wouldft thou con- trive Tome edir.ceof eminenr altitude? thinke fnft of laying tl c foundation in Humility $ all naturally afpiie un- to the top, but .Humil tjr is the fi.ft fttpuntoit. Our Coumrey is higb > the way unto it low j and who can (eriouQy with to anivt unto it , who refufethtogoe the way i But alas, it is a mifery, which Saint HUrom doth npr. <•,;/?. worthily deplore, CMulti huvMitatU 2 7- unhram , veritatem pauci fiifantur^ th.u many follow the fhadow of hu- mility ,but few the fubftance j few in- deed > but thofe few cnely happy, thofe tew of the Predeftinate, who the more they behold y the more tkcy difl.ke themfelvcs j and thofe tire more pretious in the eyes of God,the more they aopenre contemptible in fcrej. hb. their owne. Qui minus fe indent, mi* 133 n.cral. nut fibi difpliunt , fayes Saint Gtegoty. K Sr Thofe who leait cenfider themftlves, are thofe who difpleafe themfelvesthe leaft 4 Many whi/lt they know many dings are ignorant of themfelves,ani . in 7.oMak§. 145 Par.21 in Gods eyes feemc the lcfTc,the grea- ter they feemc in their owne« To con- clude, the beft and fa feft afcent to Al- mighty God, is by the way of the knowledge of our owne unworthi- nefle ; and Cafciodoms faid excellent well* defcendendo ccelum afcendi- p&l tur 9 That by defending wee afcend to heaven. *%* mm m S-&1 The X^* •£» «>£» «©» «<&» «$> not overcome q£ euill Utf ^-r tome-euillV^pood. kom. jj.Y^j & Zodiak§. 147 Par. i, The Ninth Signe, Of Predejlinationy IS fa tove e«r enemies. The *Dfuice is, two thwarted Launees combined w *«**»■ in the middle , with an Olive wreath ; thofe fignifying Hofiility, this ( ufed by the Ancients as an Embieme of peace) their being united in the hond of amity. T he Motto is,Noli vind a malo } fedvt7fice in bono malum* Be not overcome with evill 5 but overcome e> viil wich good. Chrift our Saviour doth commend unto us a moft fo- lemne manner, Ego autem duo vobis, ditigtte inimicos veftros, &c. Xfay un- tsyou love your Enemier* bee SknefiuK to thofe who hate you, and pray for thofe who perfecuteyou, and > dominate you, that fo you may be fons of your lather which u in heaven. You will fay per* haps it is difficile and painable. I giant itj but she more difficile it is, the more gratefull it is to Goi 3 the more available to your feif. There are divers wayes to exprefle our charity, a 11 much conferring , 148 Tht Chriftian conferring to the remiflion of our finSj but among all none more efficatious than fiom «uc heart to forgive thofe who have offended us* Our Saviour Chrift hanging extended on theCvofs, and having no part of his Sacred body entire from (titpes and wounds, but -onely his WefFed tongue, made it his firft care to imploy that member in interceding for thofe who crucified him in their words and aftions 5 and fo be- came a moit potent and prevailing Advocate for his enemies. In which do&rine dictated from the CrofejOur bleffed M'-fter hath had but a few dif- ciplcs,it is true , but yet never wanted fome 5 and to inftance in onely onej did not the heavens open whilft Saint Steven was praying for his enemies^as if all the heavenly Citizens had floe* ked to the fight of fo noble a fpe&acle? and whilft the fame holy Protomaitjr prayedlor him fclfe landing, but for his enemies with bended knees,did he not inftmtly behold the heavenly cur* taincs dr awn , and /eyfe (landing at the right hand of his fathers virtue and omnipotency ? In which,deare Lord, if I may expostulate thy meaning without preemption j what URufuall manner of proceeding h this to award him a juft triumph, and the reward of viclorj Zodiakt. 149 Par. victory before the fight ? hee hath fcarfely opened his mouth ro fpcake and the heavens are open already § he is not yet departed this life , and not- withstanding hee enjoyes thy bleflcd vifion* How comesit that that beati- tude even i flues forth of the gates of heaven to encounter this happy Many* on his way ; which other Saints mud penetrate to the moft interiour retire* ments of thy manfions to behold? He is yet but in the lifts, yet expofed unto the perill of the fight,yet praying j but his prayer is in behalfe of his enemies* O happy, O potent prayer I Let ui now confiderl be fee ch you, the reafon cf this has antedated favours andrecon> pence, which without doubt is no o- ther, buc that Almighty God is fo ta- ken with the rare vercue of fuch an one who freely remits offences, and hearti- ly petitions for an enemy, as our moft gracious Lord even layes his own Ma- jefty afide, and priviledgcs his Cham- pion fo highly , as not to fuffer him to expect his Crowne, till he b* feated in his Kingly Throne 3 but hee antici- pates againft all former prefident> his felicity, and commands his faireft bca* titude^notonely to attend him at his Pall ace gates, but even to lffne forth, and prefent this happy w amour 0:1 his way, I50 The Chrifiian way, with the honour of fo extraordi- nary a triumph -, for having tmbraccd with a moft affectionate love his chad- lyeft enemies, and fpent his 1 aft bceath and tearesia befeeching their pardon, who were the Authors of his untime- ly death. And this is that high preroga- tive with which the heavenly King in* dowes all thofe who forgive their E- nemies 5 fo as not hee who fuffers a wrongibut he who offers one,fuitaines the injury. David who had incountted and overcome the moft fkreeft Lyons and favage beafts, who was fo valo- rous, as he was never daunted with the apprehenfionof anyfeare, yet ha- ving ^g/hiscapttall enemy more than once at his mercy usder his I ;velin$ poynt, did rather chufe to pardon him than take his life, and itfeems that the burthen of all his triumphant fcngs, was no other thanthis, si rediidi re- pibuentibus mibi mala decidam merith nb inimicu mm inanh. If even 1 have requited thofe, who ruve afforded me «vill, may I fall helplelfe by mine ene- mies defervedly. And St. FauJ that generous Champion, who dared unto theCombate, not onely whole troops of armed men,bat even death and htU it frlfe, was nevertheleffe (o milde, fo indulgent to his enemies r j as he af- hin.es Zodiake. 151 Par. 1 firmes of hirafclfe : maleditimur & beneduimus , pcrftcutionem patimur r cor. 4. & fuftinemuS) blafphemamur (s* obfe- tramus :wc arecurfed, and we bleiie thole who curfe us 5 we are perfecu- ted, and endure it patiently ; wee are blalphemed , and humbly intreat thofe who blafpheme us. Tbefrft paragraph IT is ©fall others the moft gene- rous and noble kind of victory, to pardon thine enemies when thou haft opportunity to revenge thyfelf, and is farre more glorious to over- come an adverfary by file nee , than by open conteftation : honor eft bomini quife feparata contentiombwi I it is p rov#20 , honourable for a man to dec'ine con- tentions t and vindicate fe non eft 40u$fortitudwu,fedabje&ionU (& ti~ Lib.u Of. tnidttatis, faith st. Ambnfi ; to re- &' *• &- venge ones felfe is no ait of valour, but of a bafe and cowardly minde 5 and he who vindicates himfelfeis ra- ther overcome by his enemy,, then a- vercomes. Neither was that Prince of Philofophers of other opinion: sicut debetu eft ftomacbi eibum durio- rem non pojfe, concoquere, it a bom* *Anft. lu* n id pujilanimu eft verbum duriufculum Ethic - Ct M von 9# Sig. 152 The Chrifiian non pojfefufthere , as it is a 6gne ef a queafie ftomach ({aith he)not to be able todigeft olid meats, fo is it of a pufillanimous man, not to be able co brook h\r(h and ofrenfive words. We can give no clearer teftimony that we arc Chnftians,tban by loving our enemy. To be well exercifed in ver- tuc^we haveneedeitherof afaithfull fricnd,or a malitious cncmy,3nd may reft allured that none can ever injune us, but they muft doe themfelves a Chnf.Hon*.®™ 1 ™ in ^ Ur,e | n " dt ? a '? Cwit P°' W.i?^4Ct.' : ¥? a voeentioreft vipera : for revenge \Afosf. (fayesSt. <'hryfofimt) unto that heart which harbours it , is more pernicious than a viper; nether is it a lefic crime to req uite an injurie, than to be before hand with one. Haft thou frruck irrne enemy ? then t« ou haft mortally wounded thy felfe, and as he who fnatcheth up burning coalesoutof the herth to throw ae others, frift burnes his owne hands 5 even fo thofe who endevour to harmc others, are ever the firft on whom it lights,, and moft commonly the bit, when tbofemift the danger whom we intend to mifchiefe , and fo thee blowes turne upon our felves.Who* foever conceives hatred againft ano- ther, doth firft of all wound his own foule, Zodiake. 153 Par. Jt>til and he who lives out of Charity, hath but death for his refidence. Yet it is hard ('let them fay what they wilj it is hard for one to love his enemy. It is true, but it will be more hard to burneir hell with fo many enemies 5 it is difficile to love him , whom we account fcarfe worthy of our hate:but it will be more difficile to heare thofe terrible words ; nemdediSHin ignem eteraum ; (joe yeecurfed into evcria- ftingfire: Can I fuffer him to fcape harmlefle, who hath fo often beene the cccafion of harming me ? Thofe who decline all ftcep afcents will ne- fer mount up a hill 5 and he doth but eftrange himfelfe from heaven, who refufes to forgive his enemies. There are, that will undertake long pilgri- mages, from whence commonly they returne more vicious than they went$ we make our offerings at the Altar, but all this while our whole hearts are ftone j we are carefull to defire Gods mercy,and pardon , whilft we ftill ur^e on revenge to execut on. O deareChriftian, God hath afforded thee a plenary Indulgence in thy felf, th©u maifl gaine k with one word fpeaking : doe but fay ignofco^ I par- don.and thou haft obtained a full re- miflion of all thy RnsyD twitted dim mitutuf 1 54 The Chriftiau mittetur tibi. Otheiwife, if thou (bait deliver thy body to the fire, and in the mean time haft no charity, e« ven for thine enemies, all will avail t thee nothing. Hee according to the worlds account is moft rich, who hath mod debtors. Thine enemies owet;.ce fatisfa&ion for many inju- ries j keep them ftill thy debro s ,an d foennch thy felfe. Make up thy ac counts , fee wrut thou oweft to o- thers, and what refidue is remaining for thy felfe 5 without doubt thou would t efteeme thy felfe a wealthy wan if all thy debts were cleared. Ho.v deeply art thou indebted to Al- mighty God? infomuch as through thy negligence thou art wholly un abled to give him Lnsfaftion ; take thenapruvidtntcourfe 5 affignehim over to the debtors, and fo by their inte vehtion quit thy b^nds,wrnch of thy &l(t thou couldft never have can- celled. e Dimitti y 0* dimittetur tihi> forgive thy neighbour when he of. fends agsmft thee, and then at thine humble petition thin? owne ounces flial ! be forgiven thee j if thou forget thofefmAll reckonings betwixt thee and thy neighbour, God will releafe the. thy mighty arrerages. You ki ow well tbar faying of St Hknm t $ or~ midsUfl Zodiake. 155 Par. midolofa fententia, &c. O horrible fentence (fayes he) God will not re- mit u< our great debts, imlefie we remit our brothers their fmallcr ones; and we are to expect at Gods hands againe fuch pardon, as we afford our enemies. Thcfecond Paragraph. \X7H>refore, whofoever thoa art, have compaflion at leaftof thy ielfe , and ruber than to hatethine ownefefe, love t u ine enemy : the pica ure of revenge is trior t, but that ef mercy is perpetual! : Wherefore Noli vinci a malo^fed v'ree in bono mar turn : Be not overcome ( I befeech Rom * ,a you)ofeviU,but overcome cvill with good. If thine Enemy be a hungry, fceftow food upon him : if thirfty, ai- fwage it but with a draught of water, a d thou Jhalt heap hot bur ving codes upon kis head. , and God mjt reward p K>v» 2< thee for it : vivee in bono malum, St Cbryfofictne fpeaking of this vi&o- ry fa yes, that in the Olympic^ gam s, where the T>e r Ji(l was pre (idem , it was enacted, .Male faciendovincere, *»*■ 12. That the/ ihould overcome by vio- Kem ' lence, and all fou e meanes : but in thofc where Clr.fi prefides, there is a decree ig. 156 The Chri&idn a decree quite oppofitc to this, where not he whoftrikes , but he who is ftiackcn mcriteth a Crowne. If we did ftrive to excell in meeknefle, how invincible (hould we be , how farre above all iniurie and wrong ? O then nevei utter fuch odious words as theie, reddam malum y I will repay ac*» evill, but expeffa *Dominum & libera- hltte,&Qz buc expect our Lord , and he will unden ake thy caule. Neither fay,! will deale with him a< he hath dealt with me Alas, why to your ownc lofle (hould you feek anothers harme and detriment why doe you bite thofe (hones which are throwne at you, like fome Maftfffc Cur, and not rather turne upon the hand which threw thro*/ Ridiculous blind- neflcl why art thou 10 furious again ft is 16 thine enemy ? r> imitte eum , utmale- dtcut : dom'rius enim pr&upit ei ut waledicerit tibi: let him revile thee flill, for it is God who hath appoyn* red him. Thofe who are condem- i nedrodye* are not angry with the 1 Executioner , but with the Iudge 5 1 and why, (illy as thou art, doit thou bend thy forces agatnft him who in- 1 fliers upon thee thy furTerings,md nut rather coi fiicr by whofe warrant it is done ? U it not God, wiio for thy 1 greater Zodiake. 157 Par. greater good hath tingled thee out fuch an adverfary as this , to the end topumfli thee for thy paffed crimes? The Devill could rsot have bereaved iob of one herd of cattell, but by ex- 7o ^ preffe permiffionof Almighty God: wherfore he faid well, (not the devil) but the Lord befto wed them on me, and deprived me of them againe.Our Saviour Chnft cold Pilate when he gloried in his power: non baberespo* *°hn 19. teftaterriy&c. I hou (bouldtl have no ■power over me, unlefle it were given thee from above. And this were an excellent anfwer to give an enemy. Divers have more profited by their enemies,thanby their dcartft friends. The Church had had no Martyrs ii all its Tyrants had bcene extirpated : and mould we have no enemies, we ftiould be deprived of many a glori- ' dus Crowne. T>hcUfitn didnoleffe advance and propagate the Church by his inhunane cruelty, than Con- ftitvftne by his reverence towards it ind liberality. That rich Karmer in :he Gofpell commanded that both he corne and weeds fliouli be AifFe- ■ed to grow up together t Siviteutra- juecrefcere-, whereas we over-hafty md violent toourowne perditions, 10 fooaer can efpy a weed above the ' ground, Sig. 158 TheChrHfian ground, but w eery out presently, « the fire with thefe Thiftles, let thu Darnell be burnt, let our enemies b< deftroyed. Stay , ftay oeare Chrffli. ans,we ought not to take this violea courfe as yet : when the harvcf comes, there will be order given t< the husbandman, together, firft o all , the Cockle and Darnell int< bundles, and caft them into the fire and why then mould we difcredjt ©ui owne zeale wuh our owne in con'i derate bafte ; why are we fo forwan todragour enerries to deferved pu mfhmcut ? Never feare it , fuel weeds as thefe mall not efcape th< fikle& the firejbutasyet the'harvef ttktf. i^notcome,cxpefta whle. Our Sa vioarChnft teaching his Difciples i forme of primer , confiding of fe< ven Petitions to his heavenly Father doth not without profound myfter] particularly repeat and expound thai which concernes the forgive nee o ofience , rofigmfie thereby withou doubr, rhatfor the reft it might fuf fice te have only infinuated them unt< then , but that this could never bet inculcated enough / Nunquamemn itimh dicitur, quod nutif am fitis di titur Andeven in this refped thi !• 1 18. royall F (aim tit enlarges hirnfcl fe *t commen Zodiake. 159 Par.2 commendations of the law t Latum man datum tuum nmu i thy law ( faith he ) O Lord, is excecdin ., broad, in- deed fo broad j as to command us to extend the bofome of cur loves a noe onely to our acquaintance , but to meerc Grangers, as well to ouradver- faries,as thofe who are beneficial!, to »s, to the worthyandiinwo«hjr 5 unto friends and enemies alike. No exte- riour marke of any dignity doth to teitific a man to be learned, wealthy, or noble, as the aftuall loving of our Enemies-doth us, to be the Sons of Almighty God But, wio( you will abject J is fo abfolute a under of iumfelfc, as not to be tranfported ometimes, through violence of paf- jon & danger,to fome extraordinary •xpreffion of our aver: on from an e- lemy. But we muft know that it be- romesa ChrHbai, to refrain:: his tnger,andcurbfuch violent motions is thefe, St. Augu/tim fayes rarely veil Audi fit CQv%itium> vent us eft* Ser - \ ratus es tjluftas eftTexto igiturfim- vjlij^' e,fluttu (urgente pmilitatur 'riavit y crhlitatur cor tuum : auditoconvrtia rindhari vis, & eccc vindicando te uiftinaufragium, T) oft thou beare thy clfe illfpcfien of ? ( fayes he ) it u ut a &md : art tbon offended at it? it H u 1 60 The Chrijlian is but a hi Mow ; but when this wind and blUovces meet,thy heart is in jcepat djfy the poor ejhp is in danger to be ca± erway y Thou refelvcfi to revenge th felfe for thofe offenfive trends, and bi bold it is the wrac^ of thee. And h proceeds to give the the reafon forir £T quare hoc ? Why is al! this ? faye he ; quia dorrrit in re C^fi^i ebiitu es Cbriftum nmhumexcid.it tibi Chri ftum 1 um crucifigcretur inimicis fui ?wn Crucem,fed veniam a patre lachri mis exorajfe BecaufiCbrift isa/Ieep h thee, tbcu baft forgotten Chrift,tboi dofl not remember how C hrift , trbm he was crucified, be/ought Lis Fatbe, even with teares, topardon i and not tt puniflj his enemies. And now heroic now C hrift is a flcsp in thee, whe taught thee not orely to watch,but e« ven to dye to pleafure thine enemies O therfcre awake Chriit within thee by-export ulating in this manner with thy felfe : And who am I, that 1 fhould revenge me of mine enemies? Who knowes whether I may not foo- ner meet with death,tban my revenge can meet with them? and then O mi - ferable as I am, what will become of me, when Chiitt (ball difclaime my departing foule, wh.n he mall reject flfie, who hath taught mildnefiTc, rot ang plubeat irasgeruti It is the faihion now o: the richer brr, if you doe them any pleafure a heir thanks are lighter than a fea- her, for it 5 but if once you difpleafe hem the memory of it lyes as heavy sjead upon their galled mindes. Vhere he feemes to .have lively dif- iphered fuch as now a dayes fuffer leir friendships to be blown awavj nd vanifh with the leaft wind of an ffence,whillt they rivit the hate of an ijury as deeply in their minds, as if were fodered there with facets of ad OChriftians for O-.arpc be more rone to pardon , leaft Ve be found lore defedive herein than very Hea- ttns themfelvcs , leaft we be con- H * vi need Sig. 162 TheChriJiian vinced with fo many clearc examples and teftimonies of theirs, as to have no colorable excufe lefc to pretend for pardon at that laft general! day, pomfey the great is no leffe famou s inhiftory, for his conftancy to hi s friends, his eafineffe in forgiving of. fences, and facility in admitting of a- nyfatisfa&ion,than for his three glo- rious triumphs over ihc third part oi the univerfall world. Augvfttu. Cgfat inthtfe exprdle tearmes pardoned Cinva,v/ho had con(pired againft his life ; Cinna, once more I grant thet thy life 5 the fir ft time a* to an Enemy, koto as to a Tray tor and a Paracide j and hereupon he beftowed upon him the Confukr dignity: and the ifluc oi this his clemency was, thathe expe- rienced him ever after moftloyall to him,and Cinr.a dying, left him inheri- tor of all he had. Pboctin, a man oi muft innocent life,and one who had borne Offices of higheft dignity in the Common wealth,being condem- ned to dye, forne of his fnends,as the hang-man was prefenting him with the poyfoned Cup, asked him , What fer vice he would command them to hu Son ? Ho thing ( faid he ) but that hi rvQuldncvcr cal to mindvhat a draught the Athenians in force me thu day n drin^e. Zodiakc. 163 Par. 3. fringe. It is recorded of \ul\mCxfar % *bat hew ai unmindfuft of nothing but Wjuriet* But who is there of u<, who would not think it a blemifhto tbeir reputations, to have fuch an opinion isthisconcet/d of them?how frrfhly doe we beare injuries in mind ? how rcnfible are we of them, and whilft we write down benefits in light duft> we record them in folid flint , manet iltd' mente repSftum : neither can the authority of Almighty God Hmfeif prevaile,to bring usto reconciliation. &od long agoe hath feverely prohibi- ted all revenge,in declaring , met eft Deut , J2 , ultio (3* ego rctribuam in te tpdre'iKe* vetige belongs to me, w ^ oni after he had declared ic.Pear.' k ,s agrievances^as the manner is 3 with itbeiit'.'x. ^ ex 2ggnationof circumftance, he icPaUad. befought him to let him declare him» i *ru \ *" cI ^ a man » 3nd avenge himfelfe. The »*?a ** ame with a * inQa «c> of prayer defired him not to (hew himfelfe fo farre a nan, as to become a Dcvill : For his revenge, God would have care to dif- pofe all for his greater good ; where- fore he was to commit it wholly unto him 3 and even according to true for- titude r,hi$ was the fufficienteft re- venge that he could rake, who might afl'ure himfelfe that his enemy inould never efcape the divine hands unpu- ni /Led. The other replyed, Father I am fully refolvfd nerer &o pardon him, nor to deHft till I have required him with the like injury.for heavens love, anAvered the holy man , be a man, but fo as you be a Chriftjan ivitfaallja-udconfidermore what rea- fojj may perfwade you, than what your Todiake* j<55 pour violent paflion B*ay fuggeft .• Why, faid the other , it is no other than reafon which puts me uponthis resolution , not tofpare^um , who cares not for fparing any. O bur, faid Si/ovim, youcannot determine your mvne right your felfe, nor execute wfeat you have determined 5 it is onc- I in Gods power to punim his crea- tures,he is the Lord of vengeance,and therefore may freely tafce revenge 5 for us we ought not intermeddle in it. Bcfides I am furc you are not igno- rant how/ hr'fi hath not only counfcl- led but even comanded us to pardon, nay to pray for, to love, and do good unto our enemies. Father, fayd he, never perfwade me , my heart is 3 rempdiuous fca, & can never be cal- med untill I have taken vengeance of mine enemy. Then a'ifwered Sifiviut, finceyouarefo refolvedjrefpitacleaft your anger cnnll we have commen- ded ou i'elve to God in prayer. And the eupon they both fell down upon thiir knees : when the holy man be- gan,prelcnbing unto the other ( as it were) chib for i e of Prayer. O God webavexoneed of thy afs> fiance ary wore^n either dee we reqaejt thee here- after to be folititous foi l*?i We will fuffa entlyprovi efnr r>ur fclvss *, rc» H 4f ver.ge 1 66 TheC.hrijiian vcvgebelongs untous.and-we mil re ward our jets as they difeive. Beholc ever, now we are upon thepoynt 0} fub- jetting our emmhs as foot- ft coles un- der our feet. Theft words Co live!) touched the heart of that other man that calling hi mfelfe all along at Sifih viuifeetjhe vewed with many teaiei there in the place, lb wholly to lay a- fide all thought of his revenge,as nd ver thereafter, by the leaft word tc call it to mind againe. And this i! that, which he, who orely by excel- lence isyuft,commnnded uijthisisthe peculiar diftinftion of the formes oi God, notoncly to make no difficul« ty to remit offences , but even to re- compence them with benefits. Videti r.equii main pro malo atkei redder 3 &c, locke ( fayesthe Apoftle ) that none of you require evill for cvill, but al» wayes that which is good, purfue to- wards each other, and towards al'j But our Saviour (Thrift in more ex* prcfl'e termes dorh oblige us unto m or e p e r f e ft i on * Vobii duo qu i audi* tit.&c. to you I fay that doe heare an Uve yo r enemy es doe good to them that bate you , and ble/fe thofe who c'H'cfcyoui and according as you wiU that men doe to you y doe youalfo the* li^c to them agave i And x tf j ou love, them Zodiake. i6j Par. 4? th,m that love you y -what thanks is it to you ? for fmners love tbo/e who love them .' and if you doe good to thofe s who doe you good > r&hat thanks is it to yon ? For finners alfo doe the li\e 5 lut doeyou love ytur enemies idnd your rervardfba/l he much , and you Jhal be Somes of the higbeft, becaufe bimfelfe u beneficial/ to \be evill a&d vngratejuU. This with »ood reafon tbou doft cnjoyne us, :fais with great liberality thoudGftpro- nife us. But, O deere Lord, how raa- ly are there who will not heare thee ? 3ow many that care .fo little for 'hy Commandement, as their hates, md lives have both but one peri- >d ? They proteft againft that efftmi. late bafene{Te,as they title it, to be ea- aly perfwaded to put up a wrong For ■heir parts they mould account it their anly felicity to repay the injurer in his awne coynagame : and if Solomon-like hey might be m after* of their wifl: , a lundred times rather than Wifedomc, ;hey mould defire Revenge. Thefe are :hcy who never ceafe to importune Almighty God : 'Damihi'Domineini* nicorum meorum animaa -, Grant me ? Lord the foules of mine enemies; as For the reft I referre it unto thee. This is th< true fpirit of revenge indeed, nei- ther tareeard the Law of God, nor to H 5 bee j 68 The Chrijitati beterrifkd wih his threats, to. bee f<> far from putting up an injury , as toMX- turneitasfcoaeasitisorfercd them j at every light word to vcnc their cbo- Itr, and when anger hath once {tirrod themup, to follow every impulfe of their enraged minds, feeking wi h all earneflneUe their enemies detfru&ion. fJ<£C ulcifctndi libfdo according to Ter- luliiin, mgotium curat aw glori? aut ma'tvee * fed gloria ubiquevan&eft,& militia Domino cdio/a 5 hoc quidsm low maximt , quiar/ialumdupltctt quod ft- melfafium efi. This lull of vengeance doth labor either to fatisfie its malice, or defne of go y : for glory it is a mecre vanity, a»d malice is an odious thing to Almighty God, efpecially'in thefe circumft -nci.s where of a (ingle offence we make a double en?. All the differene btwixt him who provokes unto an injury ;?nd him who is provo^ ked, is onely this , that the one hath his fcand fir it in mi r chiefe , the other LA? and both are alike guilty of offen- fimg God. For be couafailes us,whe« Mare are bracken on the one cheek, pro fenrlv to oft'er the cther,arid not to oe« fift till wc have tyred out our enemies malice with our p~tun:e : aflu'hg cur telves th t fo we flull ;>nnoy him mote ? th«n if wee put our ieives upon cur ZGtliake. 169 Par. 5 our owne cU fence , fince he for whofe fake we fufferall, wiii for our fai«$ chaftice him with defirved punifh- mtnc. Why then mould wee arrogate into out ('elves the right of our defence, whichGod unto our greater glory hath refcrved unto himfelr?He is the under- taker for our patiencejwhofoever tiufts him with his wrongs, he will revenge thenii with his lofles he will redreflfe them ; with his griefes he will remedy tnem 5 finally with his death, and he will rcftore him unto life againe. The 5. paragraph. T* Vt you will object with the Poet : /««. i,Sai Semper ego auditor tnntum nun- quutn neteponam Vexatm totics ? Slial i I bee 11 ill a hearer vext fo oft, and ne're requite them ? Never (deare Chriftian) never, al- though a hundrc !, although a thoufand times if thou wilt declare thy felfe a true Son of God, commit thy caufe to Bamc h 1 him, and the while fufFer , and be fi- «"*"•*• lent.Hocentes pcrlbunt qui tevexaverut & qui gratulati fmt in tua ruina pa- wn tUr : The wicked who have vexed thee mall perilled thofe who rejoy- Cfd iinhyrumeihaUbepunimed. He ^ Olou who hath done in injury , (h '11 be re- warded .xcoiding to his rmfdeeds.You J/0 7 he Ckrifian will fay perhipsj I 3m content to for- give mme enemy , but ) et I will not forg'vt the injune , I will r-emembcr hiriv If i his be ;1I thy charity, be allu- red th.t God will requite thee with jhelikc; tfo>«0 komivi refervat nam,, (if a 7)10 qu oait medelam ? {jfc. May to v. tf»(fajth the Son of tyrach refcrvctb crigii, and doth bee fee^ for remedy of God ? He hath rot mercy of a man, li/^e unto himfelfe 3 and doth be intreat for h'n own fanes ? be, flejlj as be is, refer- vetb anger, ard doth be demand propiti- ation of God? yyho frail obtain any thh S jvr b'u [in by prayer ? It is but a vaine pretext of clemency to by, I will noc rcv.ngc my fcife, bui yet withall I wil nocfdigc. the ir.j-urie ■. either give that w:i:h:h u rtfolvelt to give, without any refer? a-:ion at all, or never expect by ittopurchafe heaven. You know what chreatning language our Saviour vCcs y . Sic & Pater meus cxiefiu faciet vobu a (pc. So my beaiwly Father rciM dcrtt by yen if each of you doe not for* give your brother from your hearts^ c. Bat you Will fay for my part I fhculd be ready enough to pardon him y nei- ther a-n I !b jealous for mine ownc i onour 5 but that rub'ike office which 1 luftaltaine is mtereft in it , that no injury cfeted so my private perfbn do pafTc Zodiake. 171 Par. pafe unpunifhed*For Gods Iove 3 dearc Chriftians, let us not ftand too much on ceremonies, in things which fo nearely conceme our faivation j this is but a flour im o£ a few ayry words. Stephen was a publike officer as well as you, and yet we fee hee was no wayes imboldned by u, to take up ftones,and dealebyhis pcrfecutois as they dealt by him : neither did he fuppofe that a- ny convenient courfe to defend his dig- nity, but with a moft fincere heart feee cryed out, Domine /efu ne ftatuas ittti hocpeccatum : O Ufm doe not impute this fin unto them. And fo our crucified Lord, not onely as he was fon of man, but of Almighty God , befought his Father, even with teares,to pardon his enemies* pater dimitteillU. No,there is no mortal creatures of Co high a dig- nity co whom it can be any lofle of reputation to forgive an injury.cfpcci- ally if it conceme no other than him- felfe • .non quxrai ultionem nee we- iCv *t. if mora is injmix Civium tuorum y doe not feeke for vengeance nor beare in minde the injuries of your owne Ci- tizens. Eut you will fay, he bath in* jured you without a caufe. Had ic notbeene caufeleffe^ ic had been no injury j where both are alike faulty, neither are injured* But what doe lialke IJ2 The Chrijiian Italfccofcaufe? What caufc did /0- fepb give unco his brethren in only ma- king relation of his dreame ? And yet afterwards being chiefe Governour of Eg}pt> m a generous kind cf filence^ he buried all offence. But thisof yours is of exorbitant (train. And wherefore all this exaggeration ? If the offence Were light, your reward for pardoning of it would bs but fmall. We can ne- ver rife to 3ny eminent degree of per- fect i 3 n, but by the w?.y of fufleiig great injuries. Harken what S*. H e- rome faith in this paiticular: Deus fa- 'bereft, inimici lima fan , t? maffeii quibus nosiltt expurgat Sanflofque fail* pit. God is the rUiuary 9 and our ene- mies are his chitiells and hammers, with which he polimes us, and m kei us into Saints. Huh your enemas el ver ftonedyou, :$ they did Sa.ntP.;u/, orfcourged and crucified you, as they did our Saviour Chrift ? But you will aliedgeycu are noble, 2nd h. who in- jured ycu is but fome bafe borne pe- fant fome Son of t»he earth. O Sami~ an Pot-fheard art thou not of the fame Cby (or little betterj of which thine enemy is made? thou ruble ? if thou permits thy r elfe once to be over- come 6y ^his appe.ue of rcvengc,!tnow thou art no longer the oft- fp. iri^ of a noble Zoduk*' 173 Par. 5. iioble family •> but the Have of finne. Wherefore be advifed by the wife man: M merit novifomorum is* define iwm~ g catii Remember the laft things, and €c ,2 J ceafe to bee at enmity. You will tell me, thoagh you would never fo faine forgive your enemy, yet you cannot o- vercome yourfeLfe therein The reafon is>becaufe you will take no paines to get the viftory. I know that as long as you nourifh grudgings in your mindes, all your thoughts which ariie from thence, tafte of nothing but bit- ternefle , whilft your bofome is no 0- ther but a nurceiy of netclcr, thorncs, and bryars, with which your ulcerated Confcienccis ftung,and fmarts unto the very bloud, Doe you burne with defire of revenge Phaftewith *llfpeej to extinguish the flame, leaft in de- barring our owne entrance into hea- ven, you but accelerate the fire of bell, where you {hall burne for all eternity. The fuftaining of injuries is the gates of heaven, and, qui vindicari vult y a 'Domino inventet vind&am & peccata jBc C Jt.*$, Win fervent fervabit s he who will be revenged, (hall finde vengeance of our Lord, and with great obfervancy he will keep his finne.Vou can take no fleep perhaps , nor have an appetite to any food, as long as you behold a &l$rdtoheut Jig* 174 TheChriJlian Mardocbeus fitting fecurely at the Pal- lace gate 3 as long as yon fee your ene- my uncontrolled, confpiring your ru- ine.How bravely we deceive our (Uves to our owne perdition ? E^ie/ tells of cerraine Souldiers , qui pofuerunt t 3*« giadios (uosjttb capitibusfuu,&* de/cert" derunt adinfernum cum armufuu^ho layd their (words- under their heads, and fo defcended together with their, weapons into hell: behold a new man- ner of piliow^to fleep on f words. A ni truelf they take their reft upon no ether,who are fo defirous of revenge,, as they never reft but when they are. fighting, quarrelling, harming of o- ther men. In this manner Cain, that* prinitve difciple of theDevili (as Su Bafil tearmes him) for no other end- fought his brothers deftruction,but up- on the ruine of his glory for to build his own,though the effect was far con* trary to hisexpedation. Eftn found' no p^ace for any mercy, although hee fought it with inftancy of many tears:- UftfHcb.n (o Saul, fo Antiochus were {harmfully repulft even from the Altar of mercie^ to which they fled 5 and that deferved- ly^finec they never fpared any whom ! they held for enemies : Judicium fine pccUi** m'tJmcQidia fet ilii qui uonftcerit mifz- tiwdimiHQt flullhaYe judgement. pafle Zodiake. iy$ Par. paffeupon him without any mercy, who hath not afforded mercy unto o- thers 3 whereas KiBg David redoub- led his wickednes with afoul relapfe, and dyed his infamous Adultery in bloud,andyet he nofooner began to (hew himfelfe contrite,he had no foo- ner pronounced thefe two fhort words Feccavi t Domino y \ have finned againft a K » B S the Lord, but he heard prcfently from the mouth of the Ptophtt Nathan Do- minmpeccatum tuum tranflultt. The Lord hath remitted your fin. How often did Antiochus confeffe that he had finned,and with grievous cries im- plore the Divine pitty , vowing offe- rings to the Temple, & promifing for the time to come an intire convcrficng |and yet his petition never would be heard; and from whence proceeded (this diffcreecc of favour, but from their different carriages towards their enemies? For David wilft he was in* feriour to no King, inprowene snd deeds of armes> was fuperior unto all in pardoning his foes^infomuch as he iefteemed revenge the moft unworthy his dignity of all other crimesjwhere- as that other Tyrant behaved himfclf in more than hoftile manner towards his ownCiti2ens,breathing forth no. . thing but fwords, hre,bloud, flaugh- icr,and revenge. Tht Sig. 176 TheChrijlian The 6 Paragraph. 'T'Hough Phyfitians molt common- 1 lyufenot to give over t eir pati- cntsnll they fee them fo faint as they require a to-nbe ( as it were) to leane their bones agamft ; yet there are feme maladies fo peftiferous as at firft fjg% of the patientyhe can fay, He is bm a dead ia n,go and provide him a grave. In like manner though in this life we are not to difp'airc oi the falvation of any,how wicked fo- ever they be 5 notwithftandiig this isfuch an incurable difeafe,w her the vitiated bowels even fwim with gal, and the mode is tort, red with the pangs of hatred,andde're of revenge, '&n $• that St. lobn plainly declares his opi- nion of fuch an one : Make ready a Scpulcher fcrthis mifcrable wretch, for Ibis finne is mortall > and to the death; neither would I advifeanyto pray for him. They rarely recover who are once obfhnate in revenge, and there is no fcofe , w^ere there is . 21. nothing but bitterneffe But aitnough all the wife and learned men m the world cryc cue againii us: though all the Prophet* thrc a en us, Angels ei- hort us to bury our injuries in for- getfulnefle, and enter into league of friendfliip with our enemies, yet we Zodiake. 177 Par. £, vc defpife them all ^ and defperatiy >erfever in purfuit of our revenge. -a(}ofalI,theLearnedft and wifeft >f all wife and learned men, the in. Iruaionof Prophets, and King of \ngelswith foveraigne power, fa- •rcamc authority , doth vifit us him- blfe not fo much by way of perfwa. ion as by authority to bring vs to acr ord,not to give us counfaile, but an bfolutelaw, and yet with extreamc udacity we rcmaineftill obftnate, Jut mark this T>ialogue> how Chrift ttrSoveraigne King commands, and iow his fubie ts contrary his comand. fcre ftands our Saviour Chrift, & in is fathers name commands them:C/0 M . utemdicovohtSydiUgite inimicosre- x,ulce6?* host I fay untoyou, love your enemies. here ftands his rebellious fubiecls, nd anfwer him prefumptuoufly a- ain: O Chrift this is left labour ou do command in'vaine. To you I h \e> toyou who arc Cbriftians . Wee de our ielves presently wich Hea- iens,and none gives eareto Chrift. fay unt9you, refifi not evilly So we iall be counted cowards and weak urited. Pray for thofe who perfected? iktmmate you. How feldome, & how ojd this prayer isj That you may he ins of your Father who is in Heaven* We 178 TheChriftjan We {ball buy this title at too decre a price. Doe good to thofe -who hatt you.lt is againft our natures, O Lord command uWomewh3t more tolle- rable. Forgive others, and you fhal bi forgiven yourfeives. It is impofliblej content your fclf>e cannot do it. lr bricfewcwill no/reftrain our anger! bridle our felve*, nor contame oui harioVasioriour thoughts, how is ii poflible to governe them I Ifyoufhai remit to men their offences , your hea- venly father wiH remit you yours. Foi us, we arc refolved to perifh, fo out enemies perifh with us. They. Paragraph. r\ Chriftiam , and is Heaven then ^-^fuch an odious thing as you rr.nfl needs make fuch impetuous hafte t nos dimit- timus 3 And forgive us our trefpajfes. Oi-we forgive? Do you not perceive' your obligation from hence, to Jove your enemy, under parne of binding your fclfe unto the forfeiture , as of- ten as you fupplicate Almighty God to forgive you , as you forgive ethei men, when you do but fay in a man- ner , For mej. am refolved to pardon no man y but ta tafe revenge on all) and perfecute Zodiakg. 179 wfecute them with implacable hatred the death 5 wherfore dothou } Lord ftboupteafe, requite me with the life. ^o this is the language of the rcpro- >ate, the predeftmateare of a far (lif- erent llraine: it is impoflible to pro- voke them by any injury beyond their :uftom of interceding in this manner or their enemies 5 Father forgive hem , and impute not this fin unto ;hem $ for my part , I freely pardon iherrijl freely forgive them, without ill thought of ever revenging it. This is the ftile of the Predeltinate. And iere, before I draw to a conduGon, I .vould defire to know of thee whofo- ;ver readeft this , and yet beareft a grudge unto thine enemy in thy mind,whether thou believe all this to be true or no? without doubt you will not deny it , unlcfle you can be- lieve the truth would confpire with falfehood to deceive you,Chrift with untruth. Suppofing then that all is true; as tuoft true it is, what impious contumacy is this in you ? what ob- ftinate contempt of the Law of God? What prefumptuous contradicting of the will of Chrilt?Chrift exhorts you with all ear ne fine fle to pardon, for- give, and love not only y ur friends, but even your enemies , be they whon g.Sig. 1 80 The Christian whom they will j and yet doc your* maineobftinate, yet doe you hat your foes > Will you yet affor -tin **» c£<» #&» «£* «iSo -v The Emblem eX Dei estciti on c£ ItoiH come unto fkee qpictif and fcmouc%rcdftdleiiicXe oirf of his Vi^ct excepifhou repent Zediake. 1 83 Par.i The Tenth Signe, Of Predejiination^ IS the deteftaton of our pa fed fins. The 'D.vice is, .-in aged man bea- ring his crojfe. I"he MottoJ'tviam tihi citOy O* rnovebo candelabrum tu- Apo c « 2. urn >nec cqt igatpecca- tafolidat 3 nontoMt He that beates hi ^ ■'*>'?' breaft, and doth not amend his life, "" rather ins oors his fins more in him, than e tirpates 'them.The royal Pro phet affirmes of him ft It" in the total! of his hmentjxio )* 3 pecc j' ii mu l Q'?~ m&ws/t femper^thw. hi. fms vvtre al- ways agiintt him ; and thcref ;rc he befeeches God wuh uch inftancy of I trsyer ic. Sig. i 84 7hc Christian prayer, to create in him 3 new heart, and renew * right fpint in him : C07 Ffal. 50. mur.dum ere a in me Sew 6"° fpintum rectum in'toyd in wf a ityv '/he is A nd fuch as thole ac onely ttuely happy, who imitate this Holy forrow , and prole'ute their linne with fuch 3 ge- net ous hate as this ; who grieve only, becaufe tiny are grit v. d no more 3 ap.d afflict themfc Ives , becaufe they doe not affiid themfeives enou.h. This is a true forrow indeed, according to Almighry. God_ ) which(to fpeak wnh "the Apollle) ma\eth repentance unto fiivatioVy not to be repented of. Where we are manstely to conliderthe w rd info bilcmfalutcm, to hft'vg and per- manent falv.it on , tofuivit'on nit to berepe- tedof-: Fcrmanyby Recen. tancencqiurethe {tare of Salvation, but a!as their falvation is not perma- nent and lafting. For whic'n eaule our Saviour expreiTely aamoniflicth us^ '3-' tsifip&mtemiam btbueritit, omresfi- milker pcribitis , J nleife yec have re- pmtance, ye ihall ail hkewife p r ihi .hvie he in' nuates unto us 3 that it l~ not er.OJgh to repent, but we muft : fo h; ; vc repentance, that is, be con* EtfaTit in it ', neither is it to be un- rrake ~ or.ety at certaine times, and tfeen intermitted, fo. fj long aga-r.e; tut ZodiaJ^e. 185 Par.ij but we are ftill to a&iute our felves therein, with a fume pu a deeds ; mighty of our tongues and feeble of our hands 5 we bend the bow, hue never tho t the arrow ; we purpofe much,but never petforme a- ny thing j we arc forry when we are falJen iuroanyfin, but ufe no d.li. genccin providing not toiallagaine. t\hi as thole who with to have their wounds cured, but apply not the re- mecyjfo_«re would avoyd the falling into fins, but divert not the tfrcam of affeftions which carries us towards them ^ge find > ui fttll prccraftina- ting, and fee king of delayes jour li r e haite? away, \vh\lft we doe nothing, bur purpofe,and make faire promifes, and is paft before we put them in execution j when death arrefts us in ratdftor our long purpofes, and de- rives us for having confumedfo many yeares in refolving what to do, with out doing anything Such an one was St Augu ji> re once : bat not long fuch an one : he ldnot difcrre thattilihe was old,wl.uch no man can undertake too y©ng : 2>iitbamapud me intus,Ec~ I &nfj;.it. ce m , : d o y atimQ dofiat : Et cum verbo ..jam ibam in pluitum , jampene face- bAWy & no* fa rich am vec reiabebar' taken irp-'fHra, fed de p gximofi.t bum , & nfpjdbam. fomebavt me ruga ?w Todiakg* 187 vug a migaruw , & vamtatavavita- tumantiquce arnica me*,?? fuccuik* bant veftem m earn earn earn (& fubmur- m.rabant : dmittis tie not } I laid in my feife (faith he) behold I wil doe ic ihorrly,and u 1 only it fhall be done. A»£ hiving faid this,' was famfied, I was even upon the poynt of perfor- manc -jbut performed nothi -g 5 yet I returned not wholly to my old cu- ftomes again , but ftood panting not Bf°> I was flayed and detained by, thofe old friends of mine,tbe coyes of toyes, and vanities of vanities ; and (hating me by this fame veftmewt of fleflijthey muttered theft- words, Will youforfake us then? ¥e* trucly he forfooic you, and wholly discarded Pj he (hook off your, imoller.ble foke,and detcfted in (\ic\\ manner the waves of his former life, as he never thereafter fet foot in thean againe. The fecond Paragraph. ^Y^E often undertake a better courfe of life; but we perfever not in it, ind Co whilit we goe not forwards with our web, it unravels againe, and becomes as mj hapenas it was before. Ne want not (as we may well fup- >of fy ) mmy pious endev urs , ho y :houghts, pure inrentions,and wife ieliberatioas 5 and in all which, wee I 3 ate ■-._ ic.Sig.i88 TheChrifiun are but like the Athenians, who ena* dcd excellent lawcs, but were ftarkc nought to urge them on to executi- on, 01 provide they might not be an- tiquated by the times abufc. We pre- icribc to ou< (elves a moft laudable ccurfeor life, and mo't conducing to our falvat;on ; but at every little tc- diouf wile, and molcftation we ciefift f.om it ; we fortifieour felves with irany holy, and fiery purpofes, but at th firfl pirlcyof our rebellious flefli, set the mil foliutation of < w al'unng tnen- y, fectiitdlri with bihftff of that flattering crew , we render UP ou* felves, "and without any rtfiftance CutTcr our felves to be trailed into the filthy puidleofour former (Innes, fo upconftant is o r Repentance, and fc little durable. O deare Chrilian, thou haft refjlvtd to lead a life mofl pure, to decline all occa : ons whicr may blemifh it,to refrain thine eyes the fo'licitorsofluft, and mortjfu the unrubnefle of thy flefh, and thoi doft well therein. Thou beginneft t< deb:r thy tongue from mif-beleemin< words 5 to harbour an avetfion fren reading lafctvious books. And all thi very well Thou putpofeft to fuppref thy anger, to moderate thy paflions to icjed ail enmity, and bamm env / wboli vhollyfrom thy mindjand thou deft excellent well. Thou refolveft to be norereftrved infpeech, to be filent vhilft orhersare detracted of,andpa- ient when th (clfc art injured 5 and ill this excelLnt well. But how fir nore excellent were it roremairritill nriibnt to cur purpofei? whereas, las how many arc there,who ye iter- lay could bridle their tongues", con- aine then- lubricities, fufpprefl'e their ngers , and overcome themfclvcs, vho to day arc wholly cfTu&d on heir former lice -tioufnene, and in eceivingaaimc the feiyile yoke of prply I uit, and a icennous tongue, nd giving the ftrntfs dftheir i uncus affionsj become as very 11 tves to vi- es as they were before Itisnotrue Spenranc,wihich isnoc ftahle, and trnianenr , b-^t rather lnconltaiicy nd light volubility of mind. We are kt thofe cowardly fencer*, who at lunt can handle their weapons skil- lly a *nd make greai flour lilies , but ting challenged to tac field at (harp, tte.glaunce of thenaked weapons fo a*les their eyes, as they run daftard- raway, and expofe their backs to lofe wounds which make them tarefully turne away their face. We re like unex pert toot men, who ac I 4 tfeck lO.Sig.190 TheChriJlim their firft fettingout do keep a mi'gh* ty adoe, ut they are prefentiy all ma fweat, and forced ro take-up, b fore they have halfe run the race. How often doe we undertake matters of g r eatconfequcnce , which we begin laudably, and for a tinve hopefully proftcure, until, by degrees wee lan- guifb, afterwards come to fall, and at the length lye groveling all along? Thst Tree makes vaine oftenution of blcfTomSj which onely promifes fiuic, b t never produces a.^y/ That Architect lays but a L ootlcfle founda- tion on whsch he never rafeth a buit- tiing up - 3 and what doth it availe a Mai'ipcrtd hoife up fayle, weigh An- c£sor,and betake him to the fterne } if he never put tofea, orelfemakc for Inn i againe, as foon as he is out of the hivens month ? A nd w hat do we buclavtbe foundation with this Ar- u: for my partx hold him the fooli- m ft of all : for other Animals are ver wary after they have once reel- ed harme: The Fox is never taken in he f i.ne Gin againc : the Wolfe flums he pit- fall , thedogacudgell the fe- ond time 5 but onely minis lo un- vary, fo oblivious a thing, as frofn ime to to time he falls mod common- y into the fame fins ;gatne. The third Paragraph, GOJ co-nplunes by the Prophet •faiah, N on po fuifii b^c t (^c.Thcu haft not tal^n rbii to heart , ndtb i-dneflfe, we mike our merimenr 3 Vi *&■&'$&•• .pttefumamtuvitittm, & impteatzur t '■' i'tyrietate, & ait petit hodLe,fit, (3" era fcr muttb ampl'iut, Come give us fomi wine, and let us uke cur fill of drun kenneile, as we doe to d 7, fo let us t morrow ; and that with ads a uage. W are juft of Pharaohs condition^ for he as foon as he perceived the raine^hailc and thunder to be palled over,began t< finne more Icen iojfl/ trun before ; vve 3 after we have obtaircJ r^mhlio/ for our former firs, doe commonly fa) into more grievous ones. How ofcei doe we fceme Limbs in the morning. anj Zodiafe. 193 ^ ar -3 ft become Lyons before night, wea- ing Tygres natureSjmisk.d ui der hu- lane fliapes ? How often doe we af- |eare Angels when we nfcjand yet be- 3:c :h. evening beconv: fcarcely men? o ottcn we change vte 'ids, and enoft bmmonly the molt ugly gi that which •eft pleafeth us. And thus of vcfleh or Ky, ilas, with too frequent change, iid viciflitude, we become the vefiells >f ignominy and fhame: Sicut ant em rgrotantes t (Ciiir> C l nyfoftome)m{> fcm- ***>». 3. 4 tr ordinate vixertnt nulla ipfis difcu *■ '* 'ifciplmtper tres nutquatuor dies fer- iata utilitas,fic & pea antes pifl fim~ m/obtti fint 3 nihi'pafe)t ipfis duorum, itit triumdieivmcorreftio. As infiime >eifons } unIefse they have lived order- y before^ receive no benefit by tetn- Kwting thf aiTeives onely for a day r £ wo: founlefse (inners doe get a ha- > teof matuiiry , the amendment of hree or foute dayts will nothing pro- fit them Have yoj not marked young Chicken*, how whilft they are ftrag- Kg up and downe to pick up wormes, and flies, the Kite To uing aloft,fingles du: one of them,aud (looping fuidain,- ly (notches it away with her, wh ; not onely every moneth , but every week, nay often everyday have their increafe,waine,exccfses, anddefeds 1 How many tides doe dayly ebbe andr flow within the Euripus of a narrow* bread? How often from fruitfull O- hvts doe we degenerate into wild and fav^ge plants ? O volubility, O incon- ftancy of ours , more variable than fortune it felfe , which when it ceaferb to be good, onely by degrees 3 at leaft' becommeth bad. Irnplm facit epui te- flabiie, The worke of the impious i« unconftant and wavering. But on the contrary, the pathc$ of the juft are like a refplendant 1 ght, Froceditidf enfeitujque tdperfrftum diem>which gains of theskie encreafes to apcrfe never>alt hough it imported he loflc of his life, and all he had, to lefiie his confidence with any deadly Pfcl.uf- In luravi(f ftatui cuftodirc judicia uftttice tu£.l have refolved and fworn [fa yes the royall Prophet) to obferve he judgements of thy righteoufnes$&» h lehn> ^uodficor noftrum, (fc. If Iohn 5. jur owne hearts reprehend us not, :hen we may confid ntly have our re*. :ourf: to God. Father Lewis of Gra- nado affirnici that it is a iigne of ail o- tbers tkc moft evident of reprobanon, when one doth eafily, and without a- ny fenfe of forrow ral into mortal fin» He is hut coo far gone in wickednes, who Sig. 200 TheChriftian who will not Co much as feiioufly de- j ^ to rctuim to good 3 whereas, tc be willing to become good, is a greai partot goodm-fle. For ihe predefli- nate 5 as they would nothmg which ia cvil,io would they nothing but what ispleafing to God. Whetfore with h St. Paul every hourcarrchnonunt the) are crying oat 3 'Domint, quid mc v\ Aware, O Lord what would you have me to doe? th re is nothing whiii for you.; fake 1 will refufe, nothing wh.ch Hhallcflcem too harbor d.£ hci W,nothing Co painfull or gffi v j us. bar in having you for help and g\ritfej i will with my fuftcra ce overcome it a! $ md there where m ■ ability co.nes iljortjF will fupnly with the ai dency of my defirts 5 where my feet connon carry me, ] will mount upon the wm c :s of my cognations, an J as the Hett tr op to its beloved Son, fo J, O Lord,wd. wholy con^rt my wjH to i h 1 ne. In capitc t'brifenptu >, eft de me, ut faerem volant at em tuam, in ththcrwncrgofthe bool^ it h written ojme. that I Jh uli doe thymU^ if hath been mine oneljr defirc my Lo;d> &e. I have obtained to place thy 1-aw inthemiddeft of my heart, in themiddeilof my memory,my under- Standing, and my will. Si, Bernard (out 39 Zodidke. 20 1 Par. I eever ready preft for to obey the vine V! i\\)piuperimus ego(hyc*> he) rbabeo "c. arm your fel vcs > and be mighty funs , th; you may fight againft thefe nations f againft the frequent affau'ts of vi cesjbut as it ihali be the will of hej ven, fo be it done. The frfi Paragraph. T N Cities according to the princip; ■f clock the common ones ufe ordin; nly to be fet,and why likewife fhoul not the wills of every man conform thcmfelvcs like little clocks, unto th great celeftiall one onely,thc Will c almighty God? Sieut fuerit volut. tat in ccelo, fie fiat. As the Will ma be m heaven; fo let it be. It is in ere ible how j ratefull unto God; fuch an id as this. God congratujs ted with himfelfe, as for fome cxtrz ordinary happinefVe : Invert David} lum Icjfeviruni fecurdum cor meu r. qui faciet omnei volavtates me as, have found David the fonnz of I fife, man according to mine owne heart ,rvk per formes my will in every thing. Go h d long fought for fuch a man , h layd wayt for one of that mind an difpofition , who in all occurrence inoul Zodiake. 203 Par.i. iould propofe unto himfclfe, no o- ter aime than the performing of his il $ and having found fuch an one, 'en like one overjoyed, our moft Iraafifull father cryes out^lnvem qui tiet omnesvotuntatesmeas. I have iund him who will doe my will in ery thing. And this was the reafon by the Son of God was fo exaci mfelfe in fulfilling his fathers will: tftendlde ceelo nowut faciam volun- tern meam.fed voluntatem e]us 3 q i iohn 6. fame* I have descended from h a- n,rio,t to doe mine owne will, but e will of him who fent me From ie rule of this direft and foveraigne il), they arc t>ut too farre fwaryed, ho not onely not obey at a beck, it ever ftir not for its abfolute com- and ; Sapiens timet ty declinat a p Wgftvtm trap fait & confdit, the *** . ife man feares andfoefcapes eyrll, hilft ihe foole is confident and >ldly leaps into it. And this is as eScripture fayes , comedere ac ter Proyt ~ I re gs 1 dicer e van fum operatus llum, to eate and wipe their mouth san againe, and fay I have done no rm.Thofe who are of this mind do it laugh whiKt they engage their tiles unto th-e devill 5 they lofe eir part of heaven, and do not feele the Sig. 204 The Chri&idn the lo r e,as accounting it;buc a lie and trivial! one, T he fa ond Paragraph. x BVc on the contrary, the predei natedoelay fo.fure a founuati of vertuc in their minds, that tfc conceive a. honor from all kindc offence, and from the leaft (hadow any Cm , & never confent to takepl fure in that whichma> be difplcafi to Almighty God , but they put thisfirme ieloluticn to perform tl which may be moft acceptab e ui God, although tnereby they fhoi incirre the dilpleafure of all 1 world Thither they bend all th thoughts, and hence 'all difcourfe derived . neither may we doubt, t from their inflamed wills with gn ter ardor the nip fietus did,they w burft forth into thtfe lowdet eve mations.O my God, and my love, fa be it from &e> that I Jbould not ei have the fame w>.# with thee : vojio, rviH is thine, or rather indeed I have will logger 0] mire owvc, fi/ice al have is tbire. ^??dmw of xeceffit) mufi fellow thy wil,fince it is all I ba> 1 r either doe , nor ought to defire t thir& O my God, hut that which pi feth t lee Hit thy fleafure then ri IbeJicf-Jtlezbeit/b; orpcore?* Zodiake. 205 Par. pat too; to endure much p am? and hat \ would/} thou have mee fi/Jfer optumelies and iujuries ? I amrefU- m to be defpifed and contemned , . hich I moft affeel I although It is oft hard to depart with that -we love, II lifawrfe will fin ce thou wilt have UO; wit thou have tie dyel.of all Woik things, this is moft dijficik^ id yet 1 fyould vot rcfufe to dye a. \eufind times, fo\ might-nt 4^-atb Waft i- 'be dea e armes of thy moft tredw II: and that a violent dcat> ? | fpight of nature j -would embrace root w it thou have me a Saint in ?aver ? O my god, it is my hearts de- p ; or a damred foule in Hell ? aIos eet ' efm if ever thou hadft bcene fo nded, it had beeve dune, jmce I have r e ila 5 am in heaven, orelfe 1 dm r.ed Sig. 206 The Christian ntd, and thy blefed will fulfHed 3 t God,Ifhould ma\e no difficulty to to, elude, that it were fane bettepfor m to be damned, thtn thy will left under But i thou foveraignz goodnefi I am pure thou defueft not my deat fince thou waftpleafed that thine ow Son fhould dye, to the end that I mig live I befeech thee therefore, bt venly father z for the moft hitter dea of that oncly $onof thine , that tb would ft prefer ve mee from ete>n death ioo^upon thofe wounds, lot upon that bloudwhich for my fa\e w Jacrifced , when to [pare thy ftrvat thou would [I not fpare thy fonne. 1 — hold me thy humble ft fervant , t\ immortaU t^ing at the ieaft pgne of 1 goodpleafurejeady at thy command 5 that^fha'be moft trateju'l unto i which proceeds from venue of thy h wiU'i Paratum cor meui , Deu^] 1. 127. ratom,cor mcum, myheart,myG t u prepared, my heart u ready. Si fervarmas thefe their heavenly n flcf hath in huh eftecm.,, who w fuch a vigilant eye obferve every U figne of hii facred pleafure , as tl make it no other than a law to the And with a cheare'ull c^untena are ever ready to fay, ^omir.us 1 quod bor.um eft w ocvlts jatiat, £ r Zodiake. 207 £ee is our Lord , let him doe that /vhtch is beftpleafingin his eycs,for here is nothing better than to have egard to Gods Commaadements. The third Paragraph. He Grecians doe commend that celebrated faying of their*, equidnimid, not too much of any King 5 but thou, O Lord, haft ex- reflely commanded , mandata tun iftodiri yiimh) that thy commande- lents mould be very much obferved. rod would have all his fervants fo :adyand prompt at every command Fhis, at every beck , as they mould sver paffe a day, no not fo it uch as at whereon they ftiould fuffer the •eatett affli&ion, without repea- ng over this fhort fentencc a thou- nd times both in heart and mouth, lodifultDeusfiatfbcit as itpleafes od 5 and by this meanes the will 'men fo vertuoufly difpofed he- mes to be the will of God himfelf, ice they hold themfelves conftant this refolution, never to Will any ing which maybe difpleaiing jo s Divine Mi jelly 5 whence 11 comes at whatfoever they defice, they tai^iC 5 imce they defire nothing e than onely to conformc them- ves to the will of God, as know- K ing II.Sig.cjc8 rheChripan in^rhat to be moll true which S- Hwoint writeth unto PMi upon tl occafion of 3letMs death. God gooj, (faus he )and therefore of n ceflity being fo good as he t$,al nl be like wile good,which he ordiirw neither can men of Godreccive : ny thin; in ill pat t, which isptoce ding from h good a Go-d. Are n in health? they render than s th to their Maker for ic; are they dift fed ? even in this th?y ac now led and ftaife- their Makers will j a thev deprived of their deareft tnem they cannot cut bewayie fo tad accident, bur vet in rerrembring tl Godhach diiWea ltfo, they be, then lofles with-anequallmiii. Ijl death raviintd a « ay an onely chil a Itfle how ever grievous , yet to fuitained, fince he who lent it , < mandsit back again? 5 are they vcrtaken with extreamcpoveity , more grievous infirmity , afflicted be contemned , and opprobrioi dealt withalt, (ubiefttoa thcufl injuries and fcornes ? For all t you (hall never haare them utter thcr words, but leutTfomivbplas irifdclum eft, it a bene ja&um, ct jnbGchu.ieturDtus. God hath d as itpkafedhnn, and therefore Z" fiaJfe. 20$ Par.3 ath done well, for which cvjfc cysn i this be he l&ewife blefl'ed and r yfed 5 Bercdiffus T>cus in eter- um> God be bleflcd forever. Who- ever are faflned to God,, as by. an .nchor with fuch a Will 3$ this, coe vayt their laieft hourc with all fe. cunty, and account all misfor- tune* in the rneane time forfhor-t 3 which wh'h fo fortunate an end arc tobeclo* (td up, *** 2. J^2L ; *Z £&L «*» *#» **> **» :) Ka Ti ic EmbleirLeXII. JrjA unto iiiee fh&ii- beeliis deiiie duidikoxi fhall rule Todiake. 2 n Par, i. The twelfth figne, 0/ Prectejitnation. IS t!~e moderation efourpafsiont^r the v/^or/ 0/ temptations , The 7)evUe is a £f »»/ £»/e ; the itf or- c»,/a£ fe erif appetitus tuut.is* tu do* mmaberk illius , 7*Jfc> df/*re $«# £ee Gcrl 3' ^ityefl a»fo thee, and thoujbalt mafier It* Thofc who are of Chrifl: ("as the A poftle confidently avers) have mor- tin«d their fit ft with its vices and concupifcenccs 5 and St Bernard e- legantly represents our Saviour invi ting Wy^ui vutt venire poft me abne- Serm.d* S, m femetipfum 5 ac ft dieat qui me w4W * tefiderat s fe dejpui*t i & qui vult fa- :ere voluwtatemmeam, di feat ft anger t (ham, thofc that will follow me let :hem deny themfelv«s ('as much as to "ay) let thofc who would love me,dc- rpifc themfelvesjA thofe who would rulfiJlmywill^ learneto break their >wn*That which moft fatigatesusin he fight, is that which moft crownes is being Conquerors/ and we have fro way to become abfolute Ma* Icrs of our lives , but by dayly kil- ling i2»Sig, 212 TheChrifiim ling our afFe&ionsin as. For whilft thryliTe, our rcafon is cither dead, er obfcured quite* Forwhich eau<~e the Royall Prophet btftought Al- mighty God to unvaile his eyes that he might behold the.wonders of the La v : rcviiaosculos meos, & confide- rab« mirahilia d% kge tti*. I khow, O Lord , thac thtre are great and fubhne cat ts ontained in this ho- ]y bw^ but alas, for as much as I am a man burilvned with the load of my flclli, and fub/c-ct to varictie of pjfli-jns andarTcdtions, and am not i^nor in withail what a powerful faftion there is of t.icm whodifquiet and blind- my heart j it is thy piety aVone which muft cpen mine eyes, and difperfe thofe thick mills of paf- f/ons which encompaflfc them. Sevc-, ca treating of thefc pa/lions of ours, *f.%$.&t\6 Faciiius eft ivitia eorum prcbtbere, qvdm impctum revere; nam ficut in precept dxioctrpcri nulum fui avbim trium eft nee refiftere dejetfumpotcft, fed om>econfilium irrcvocabilis pre- cipitatio.'U'fLidir, it a animus fi m iram, | amorcm, ahofue affeSus fe pro]ecerit s >ton facile nprmet impetum^t^ c. l%_ is tafier to prevent them m the be- ginning, than a ter wards to mode- rate tkeir violence , for as a body rouling Zodiake. 2 1 3 Par, roulins; downe forae fteep difcent, is utterly unable to contune it felfe,by rcafon his irrevocable fall hath deprived him of all ule of force ur deliberation j even fo a mmde once precipitating it felfe into angcr^love, or any other pafiion, can with great difficulty refill their violent motions, fince it is the nature of vice never toreitj rill it tvath tumbled us into the very depth of all calamity. Wherefore it 1$ ueft to begin even wihthe firlt feed of thefe paffions tf» root them < ut. We arc to make head againft our enemies , on rhe frontiers of ourdominion^Ult fthcy mak- imprtllion unto the htarc thereof, they accept of no conditions from thofe they have vmqaimed. How much btter nit to bee a pati- ent ,. than a mighty man , an ovcr- commer pf hnufclfe than a vauqui- iher of Cities ? Malior eft patievs «ut- rofortiy (g* quidominatur ammo fuo expugnatore urbium The firft Paragraph. gLefled are tbofe ( fayes St. Avgu (line ) who make peace within themfelves \vho fo goveme all the motions of their mind as to render them obfequious unto reafonj and bkfied are thofe who in fubduing. K 4 !>&€ i2.Sig. 214 TheChriftim the concupifcences of their fleuS, become the Kingdome of Almigbtj God^ where the mind enjoyes anab- ie-iiate dominion>thecorporalJ fenfes bung all in due fubordinatioo, and asinfeiiour ferv.nts no wayes refi. ftmg to that fuperiour power I his is that peace which the Angels pro- claimed at Chrifts Nativity a to which ne vertheleffe none can attaine, but by warre and violence. Hence it is, that Go i delivered the Commande- mentst© JJff/f^atthe found of war* like Tiumpets,when we Ihould ima- gine that foft and harmonious mufick iliQuldhave better fympathiied with thofe religious Rites to which the lawes had peculiar reference $ that trumpets had more proportion with warres, than with the Church. But Co it is ( deare Chriftians } we are draw ne forth into the field, we arc preft unto the wars by this our hea- venly Law-giver , neither can any truely obferve his Lawes, who refufes to fight againft thofe who impugne them. None can overcome their fletfi by cherifhing it, none without a bat- tail e conquer ihe tempting enemy,or the frowns or fmiles of the inccn- fiant world : We arc to hold every affection for an encnr.y^w hich the ad- verfar 2ediak$. 215 Par. verfaries of the divine Law (hall op» pofe againft us, and as fuch refift it with our uttermoft power. He that is offended at his crimes,and yet favours his paflions 3 doth but lop the bran- ches from an eyili trte , whilft hee permits the root to furaim the ftock With mode. St.Cbyfoftomc in por*. dering thefe words of ourbleffed Sa» viouti qui videtit mulierem ad concu- pifeendam illam fit c*YLz who mail be* hold a woman to lufVafrer her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart , fay es , non mode morbum , fed&ntorbi radicem eve Hit Chrifim, &c. Chriftdoth not onely takea- way the difeafe , but even the root thereof* The root of adultery is this evill of concupifcence, and fo together with adultery he condemnes the mo- ther of it, concupifcence.In like m an- nexe dotii not onely prohibite mar- ther > but Lkcwife anger which pro. vokes us to it , and the firebrands of anger 3 opprobnous fpeech. Of all pafll- ons two of the moft vehement are love & anger, & without extream rigor ne- ver to be icftrainM Gentlcnes & mild perfwafion can doe no good with themjand as for anger it doth not im- portune the mind like other vices, but carries it away headlong with it« K. < Who l3.S5g. 216 The Chriflian Who would defire to wound his ene- my on that condition to leave his h aid incorporate in the wound, and not be abie to wLhdraw it backe i and yet iuch :s tl - nuure of anger tc eng ge us To .aire as we can ncvei comecle. rely oft icame* Icvfijl noi ft^k t any w»ckedutfit, «nu v r »o .ever it hathekfisntdto Hr»ke ai wur . .Its thunder, it is never appe i o , tili it h:vt difch-vged upon bum a dcadlj wound. H. yv.omiuuls s 'ke the ftone called pyntts , which is (ct or tire whercfo^v.-.r y uitnk it m trie Prov. 29. fl, nt# j{ n angrie vus pruxv^e (u »- tel/SiO&dbe who is apt to fo|e tpccii i- Oris, -will be the readier to fim$e. \\i\.il and anger are execrable t 'ings, anc there is icarfely any phgue h*th cot m^nkinde io deare, jor Vnumflultuv. inter fitit it aniridia, & pariulum occi ait outdid. Angci ktlUththe foole,, and envie murdeeth the iittle one Wherefore, deare brethren ( (ayes St Lib.^deci- Augujiine) neobfecro tantwn malum txt.zxt*. 6. nobis indttcamw >& c. I befetchyoulc; us not call u>ch a plague upon oui fclvesjthe foule* ficknes, »he night oj reafon> an alienation from God, ob- livion or" frendfhip , the overture of war, the plenitude of calamity, & the worft ofdeviilsi which is the mate wa- ril/ tc Xodiak?* 2i 7 Par. to be avovded,more ir infeels with n$ day]? incur (ions. In owner petfnts hie ardefcit nam arida ftintWamquoqutfoveat u/que ad incen- dium. This pafsion ( fayes Seneca) S&fy ft. conceive? a heat burning againft all fores of perfons , and is begotten as Well out of loxc as hate, no lefsfrom ferisus bufinefsts than fpons and mciirocnt : neither are we fo much to regard from what caufe it arifes, as in- to what bofome it lights ; for fo k makes no matter how great the fire fee, but where k takes, flnceany dry thing will nounfli,even a fpaike till it qv^xe a mighty fire. But ( fayes hee in anothc place) there is nothing yet fo hard and difficile, which the mind of msn cannot overcome , and there are n© p^ffions fo head-ftrong and vio- lent which cannot bee refrained by &k Ifull managing, $a dcunquefihiim- r xd .„ t Ji tteravli animut obtinuit , let but the mind abfolutely command, and it will jbtaine any thiag. What a happinefse were it rhento be delivered from fuch eighty cvills, as anger wkh ftcnay, rage Sig. 218 The Cbrijlian tage and cruelty, furioufnefs and other the like paffions with which it ever goes accompanyed. T befecond P aragrapi < T^Hat which this wife Ttyman faid of anger , we may alfo apply to pride and envy, thofe two ordinary furies which ham humane breads, as like- wife to thofe eqaali filters in wicked- nes 5 and to conclude, to all the other crew ofvicious affections. And fay, what a happines were it, to be delive- red from fuch maine evilJs, and have our mind compofed to a blefsed tran- quillity to a certame harmony, and concordance of all our cupidities ? He therefore is blefsed, who is the lefse indulgent of liberty to his arTeftions, the more free hee defiresto bee him- felfe from vices ferviiude, who to fe- curereafons dominion in him, cruci- fies his unruly paflions. For Gaily- flaves they have fome cefsation from labour, fome time , though never fo (hort allotted them to reft 5 but thofe who are flaves to their affe&ions doe never en j ^y any reft, but their mind if in continual agitation,by the turbulent motions of their reftlefse thoughts. 16, Strvktis diis alienitdit ac nofte* qui ncn dabuvt vobu requiem , you (hall ferve 'ftrangc Gods day aad night, which Ztdidke. 219 Par. 2 which will not give you reft. And therefore the fonne of Syrach advifes e^i. t t % us j poft concupifcentias tuas non eas 9 doe not follow thy concupifcence; but as a head-ftrong horie is to be reined hard, and one that is ready, pricked on with the fpurre j fo wee are to ma- nage our affections , by urging fome^ whtift, for the moft part , we do curb the reft. None can more true ly hate himfelfe , than hee who loves him- felfe with fuch a pernicious love 5 as becomming by it wholly dif- foived in voluptuoufiiefse , he is nei- ther able to obtaine any thing of him- felfe, or deny himfelfe anything. Let fuch as thete confider what the A- fag/i poftleprefagesoftbem: Si fecundum carnem>&c* If you live according to the fiefti, (fates he) you (hall dye, but if you (hall mortifie the works of the flefh,you (hall live. The command of ones felfe is the greateft Empire as man can afpire unto, & confecjuently to be fab/cd to our paffions the moft grievous flavery j neither is there any triumph more glorious, then that of the victory obtained of our felves, where whtift the confljd is but (hort, the reward (hall ever laft. He over- comes his affections , who refutes to fervcthem, and he ferves them , faith Saint 12 Sig. 220 TheChriflia* l '2 d i c $^ m b r0 f e iQ£ i6tin i mttufrnngttutiXu frvitabelta deUftationejrrethuryveUupitatibus du- ct tur, vel indignation e exafperatur^ vel maroredeiicitur :who(ocvcx is difmay- c4 by feare, enthralled by pleafure, in- veigled with defircs ; exafperatedbyof- ffences,or dejected wuijifadnes. Neither is there any nler fervuudc, according * 7, ) to Seneca than that which is volunta- rily undergone, where one ferns his laftj anorhcr hi* avarice, a third \ mbi» tioni A&°°d maf * (as wirnefUs Saint ^sduguftfne ) albeit htefe.ve, is fee, .wietea^. a r wicked , ahhough hee be a Monarch, is a flaye, and that not to one nun aUne, but ( what is more imoller *ble ) to, as many Mafteri .«$ he hath vices. The defires of men are as various as rheir vifages , and out- ward lineaments j and even as m thole among men of the Drae kinde, there is ftrange diverfity , To is. there no lefle in the affe&ions and propenfi-. ons of our mind : here one burnt s in the fire of concupifcence , another is led captive in golden chains j a third consumed with envy, this by drinking dqftroyes his health, this too much gi- ven to gamning,and this to idlenefle, the whilft, none will ever be perfwa- ded, fas if one could not be drowneta eft viflortd. Let but a Mofes with his rod check the waves of the fca, and for the reft'G O 'D will provide that the children di//^ rtff/may finde a iafe palfage thorow them , whilrt they (wallow up the whole hofts of the Egyptians. Let us but tike armes, a;id inure our felyes to fight, and we fhallrepulfe the ^mmontes and the Cann'amte^ 7*1 from impelling us ? Militia eft vit0 bomwis fupra terrm , mans hie is (but,) a warfare on the earth And above all let each one hold himfelfe fufpcdedjfince no man r.aih 3 more trayreroos enemy. There is no. co na- ming to any agreement with thi* foe 3 notrufting te any treaty orcomp ifi- tion, but onely that day will fet an end to his hoftility, wbich clofes up our Zodiake. 22% Par. £< •ur lives. !t is a divine fentence of Q t Cyprian, I'oluptanm vicijje voluntas * ft qitximdy r.zc ulli major eft viiiorh^ qu.tm ea %ux 4 cupidiratibus refertur . Qui trim hoftcm vtcjt.fortior fun aU tero; qui vcro Ubidintm nprcjfmt fertiorfuitfcffoiThcrc is no greater pleafire ihin to fubdue our plca- fu e, nor truer vi&ory, than that we obtaine over our deGrcs. For he who overcomes his enemy is onely {hun- ger than another man , hut he who refills his libidinoufnefle isftrongcr thanhirrifelfe. A curious Mufitian never leaves tampering with his in- ftrumcnt,till it be in tune,and fothe predcltinate ceafes not to compofe his affections, till they agree among themfelves in a harmonious peace. If we will believe Plato the bedy is but a Lute , and the foule the Lute- nift , which now tunes one firing, now another, as it finds occafion : now it moderates the eyes, and now the tongue ; now it conraines the tares, and now the hands 5 and whenfoever the paffion of anger, or lu urie chance torife too high, it re- duces them to the right pitch of rea- fon agame. He was a skilfull Mufi- tian indeed who faid ; Qaftigo corpus m:um & infervitutemredigojehafife l Cor. $* my Sig. 276 TheChriflian my body, and bring it into fubje&i- on. And fo the principal care of the prcdeftinate , is, daily to examine the inftrument of his affections, and now to ftrive sgaiftft his choler, now repreffe t is envy , now excitate his drowfineffe , now moderate his fad- nefle , and now refraine his joy 5 he is flillpraftillng. on it 3 and folong tunes up fome firings, and lets down ethers, till it agree in perfect hirmo- ny # The predeftinate permits no- thing to his affections , he favours none lefle then himfelfe, n >r Puffers any the leaft offence of his , to paflc unpunished. Therefore to con- clude, itisatruefi^neof prede- itination, and that they are of Chrift who crucific their fle&, with its vices and concupi- fcences. Fhe Zodiake. 227 Par. I A Trcatife added as a Crowne to the twelve figncsof Predcftmation, Of the great fear city of the predeflinate. TO crown that which hath been fayd, Mellifluous St. Bernard Sethi. a. 5 furnifoes us with an excellent «fot*fik* difcoMrfeothis: * Our Lord knowes * Cfaith he) who are belonging unto * hifn,and he only knowes whom he * hath elc&ed from the beginning ; 'neither is there any who can tell 'whether hce bee worchy of love or « hate. Seeing then fas it is moftcer- « taine^) we have no cerrainty,ought it c not to hemoft grate full to u^, to fj gather fome probable figne of this e our ele&ion f or can our fpirit take e any reft , as long as it hath no tc- f ftmony of its predeltination ? ' Therfore it is a faithful fpeecb,and ' worthy of allaccepta~ion,which in- 'folds the teftimon/ of our falvatton. The 13-Sig. 228 TheChr&ijn * The word of w'jich both affords c great comfort to the-.eU & and diC * wr nifties the Reprobate of all ex- 'cule : toi the (ignesof life bein^ c once tnanifed . whcfcjtver ne^Ie.-: * them, is clearely couvinced to have 'received nis f-.ule in vnine , and 1 fL^niy to efleem." of that dehrable c land. None van juiUy aceufe any bur liimfeife, if he perceive in him no fig. e of Predeftination : fot Gocihath not prede ft mated ary by chance ci hazard. unto heaven 01 ^- hel , finct notum a foculo eft 'Domino cpui tuwiy t y work is bown unto our Lord from eternity 5 but in fore- fceing the merits of ever, one, he hath alotted th--rn accordingly,either jefp. -$.adc, reward or punishment, as St. Profper fact. Galli- mo ft truly ays, It imply* no titceflity ' that men fhould prrifti, becaufc they are not predeit mated. But they are nor predcftinited becaufc God fore .. faw that by their own wil full perver- f/V.l 2!™' fitythcy needs would peri m, And St. V7o5« Auguft.wouches tbeDo&nne,where he faith, that God hate:! not &fau, as a man, but Efou "as a firmer, f-nce God detcfts nothing m mm but fin. And againe onely'fin (fayts he)doth render the way to heaven, inaccef- (iblc. VVhrht all of u$ tend untp one oncly Zodiake. 229 Par. 1 onelygaole, alas whae direrfity is there inthofe wayes we gee,we ruri, and we penih in ? 1 he way of life is narrow, that of perdition, broad ro- ne^ pleafanrj'here we muft ctimbe up a craggy dirt, here we flide eafily downeinto adile a faeifir defeenfus Avtrvi, the defecne' to Bell is cade. Truth cryes out unto us exhorts 3 and , admoniflies us : Ivtrate per avguftam port am, &c F.ter by the narnw gate, fivce the gate is broad > and the way fpitious whxh lends to perdition, and many there are who enter by it 3 where- as the gate is firaigh , and the way naro which conducts to life a and there arefe- who finde it. And it incul- cate:* the fame againe, Xnforc your frtves to enter by the narrow gat e,F or I fay unto you, there are mayxy who are. ^^ 7 ' dejircus to enter in y and yet cannot. A e I5 ' narrow way indeed 1 it H: whicfi wee cannot goe Sut alone, and unaccom - panyed ; each one of as is to render account unco God Almighty onely q°I"* 2 '" of himfelf; each o e to undergoe his ( cor. a. Bwnc burthen 5 each one according to his works that he hath done fhail receive reward And this is that winch made cut Savitur break forth intothofe dolefull words, Midtifuvt vocati, piita veroelcfti, Many are called. ig.Sig. 230 The Chrifiidn called,b»t few are chofeR. How ma ay by the force of this one word f>*«*i,/c»>,have, *s it were by form fudden thunder clap been awakee out of the dead trance of their hcen tious lives ? How many at the ban report therof have retired themfelvei into folitary caves and defarts fron all fociety, and commerce with men; How many thoufcnd Martyrs hath ii made expofe themfelves to wracks, prifons, fires, torturings, gibbets wild beafls,andthe executioners ut moft rage and cruelty , whilft yoi might heare from them no cthei voyce than this, If U no hard matttx to dye for «, who are to live againt * movg ihofe jew of the elett 5 fhutl your [words in our bodies, and/pan notjoiong as our foules may he mm< bred among tbofe few, but happy wbi arejaved. Who of them would noi find courage enough to fay : Could 1 be extended on a hundred Crofies, I would not (hi inke to efcape one o them 5 had Iahu .dred neefcs 5 I would ilretch thew all out under the Axe j it mould be my paftime to dye a hundred time* , and I il ould eiteem my torments only as reftorativeslo as I mavbeaimittedafterallinto Para- diU in company of tfcofe few who arc Zediake. 231 are predeftmate ? from hence procee- ded that generous fa ing of that glo- rious Martyr Saint Ignatius > Let ait ctojfes come, fire, rtild bafts , and as many torments as the devil can invent foot I may en'toy my thrifty 1 care not, How many hath this fame thunder of our Saviours words/hisonely one WQid 3 pauci y -afeT0j recalled from the rank- meddowes of luxury to the houfe of forrow and repentance they chuGng rather to be faved wirha few, than periih with many, fince they penfh no leffe who perifh in Co>Tipany 2 »o« minus perit aw petit in turba ? And of this great fcai city of thofe who are faved, we have for our warning had frequentexamplcs in e- very age. T his was the onely fuhjc& of Hoah's preaching* that Herald of juftice s fjt5 S. Faul termeshimJ)for an lundred years & mote • and yet men were fo obdurate m their wicked- les, as out of that infinite multitude hen alive 5 onely eight foulc3 were fa- jedin that wooden arke or pnfon,& >f thofe few, impious Cain was one 5 br fo you (hall as rarely find any fo- :iety of good without the admixture >f fome bad , as the fragrant rofe v ithout the bryer cleaving to it. And b Gad being upon thepoyntof de» L ftroying .232 ThiCforifiian ftroying theLandof^oiora and Gd~ morrah) was yet content with - bra. bam; requeft co hold his hands and fparethe } if hccculd but have pickt him out tenj-ft men of fuchin: ame- rable multitudes as they were , and yet fo great was the fcarcityof the good, as they were not to be found 5 whereupon the Angels advifeth Lot t Feftixat? faivate , to make fpeed and fave himfelf 5 and foonely thiee perfons were pr-vferved from fo ge nerall a calamity as was the burning of two fuch mighty Cities,whofe ru- ines are even extant to this day , the monuments of the wrath of Almigh- ty God. Neither in more ambiguous manner is the paucity of the prcde- ftinate expreft in thatpaflage of fa« cred Scripture , wlen Mofts leading under his conduct out of o/Egypt 600:00. feghting men, befdes wo- men and children , and others pro- mifcou/ly without number of lefiei note, but onely two of fuch a world of people arrived unto that plentifu land of promife; all the reft being buried in that mighty Scpulcher oi thst vaft defart, the receptacle of fc many thoufa d dead. As tor Pkaraol who followed them with fuch war- like prepa>ation, torettraine them o{ theit Zodiake. 233 Pan I their liberty againe a he together with all his army was buryed in the red Tea, the gaping fepulcher of fuch a migh- ty koa&:quis mn timebit te 6 Rex gen* e Xo «j. jj, tium, who will not ftand in awe of fte O Lord of the Gentiles? Befides or their falling into a&uall idolatry Vofes proclaymed among the chil- Iren oflfiuel : Si qui s eft Domini tun' \itur mibi, &c. whofoerer is our -ords, Iethim^oyne with me, and hey flew that day of them a$coo. lamentable ifiueof one ad of Ido- «ry 5 to fignifie how much God Umighty doth deteft one mortall n« So lofuah having taken by that lyfterious ftratagem'the City of leri- 9 put all the men and living crea- ire in it unto the fword and fire,and ) that mighty City , like fome car- iffe in its funeral 1 fire, was all unto heap of afties confumed away, only nc houfe furviving fo great a ruine, j great a calamity. And gedeon in his^ :pedition againft the Midianites 3 owt I 52000. chofeonely 300. out f r at prefent enterpnfe } a n ddifmifled 1 the reil* For God hath no reject r,,J £*7« any number, buc of the goodjnei*. er is the way to hell fo long,buc in le breath it may be gone by cow. itting of one mortall fin, whereby L 2 we Sig. 234 TbiChriftian we become traytors to the Divine Majefty , and meriting eternallpu- nifhment. So in former timei for one libidinous aft 40000. Hebrew;, and 50600. Bwjamtes were flaine $ and how deare did the Bevjamites with the lofle of fo many thoufand ibules, pay for the euriofity of their eyes. when they looked with too great ir- reverence on the Arke of God? Nei- ther is this great ilarciiy of the pre- deftinatclcfle clearly (tt before out eyes in the facred hiftory of the tfprgSi where Abfolon leading an Ar- my of rebells againlt the King his fa« ther,a meffengcr in all hafte ran to let Tfavid underitand,that all \frttt with their whole heart did fellow abfolon, cinas.K. toto corde umverfus Ifrad fequim Ah/alcn :and Seba feditioufly ftimn$ up a fortof tumultuous people againfl the King, there comes another advic< to 'David, that all Iff ad was revoltec from him,and followed Seba.-Separa • ,. tiiseftowtu ifraeld 'David feeutu/q b Kiogs 20. efi J^ Doc ^ bat b£hold the world . & you will even fay as much of itjfo: Cbrift, another 'David dotb trace u: out che way with his owne bloud with his owne gored foot- fteps, ha vin* his head crowned with thornes, his Shoulders charged with the infa- AOUS mous burthen of the croffe, his dying eyes floating with bloudand teaies, in which doleful! equipage be afcends mount calvary and invites us to fol- low him 5 bat alas how few are they who doe accompany him , who are conrent to be crucified with him , ac- cording to their feverall conditions ? So as we may lawfully fay > that all the world isfet upon malice : tot in mundus in mattgno pafitus c/?,and with their whole hearts follow, not Seba 3 but rather Satan, and leave our Savi- eur in Mount GolgQtha alon-. To this purpofe likewife maybe applyedthae other paflage of holy Scriptures, where 70000. Israelites are recorded to have been confumed by peftilence, only becaufe e Davidoutc& aprefump- tion of his owne forces did caufe the people to be muftred All which ex- amples were but the firft draught,and fnadow of the wonderfull fcarcity of the predeitinate, which our Saviour afterwards in his Sermons fo lively , painted forth. Reckon all the Jgvces according to the computation of the Apoealjps, from Abraham to the day of Judgement predeft inate to be fa" ved,and you (hall find onely 1 44000* of them,fcarcely the thoufand part to pale on that account. And that which L 1 is l3*Sig. 236 TheChriftian is faid, of them maybe applyed witi acertame proportion unto all pthei Nations 5 for the praedidions of oui Saviour have reference unto all,foraf much as hee affirmed not oncly ©j the Iewes, that few of them mould walk in the narrow path of life, bui he direftx his fpeech general'y to all ; pauci invenient earn? few mall find it, In confirmation of this verity , the Prophets are every where frequent, HeUbath dilatedits /e«/c(faies Ifeiab) and opened its mouth houndlejfe vide ; and that becaufe impiety i\\e afire im- braces(fi\.) \tjb*ll eon/ume the tborne and bryar 9 the very thic\et of tht grove fbaR be burnt ,and the pride oftbejmoaft /hali route along 5 for thorns and bryers fhali overgrow the univerfaU eartbt And where mall you not find whole wildernefles of briars of libidinouf- nefTe and luxury ? what place is free from the pricking thornes of cares, anjd folicituJe , not Co much of pur- chafing heaven, as wealth?So as truly we may fry, the earth is infeSed » itb its inhabitants jjn that they have tranf- grejfedtheUwes 7 altered right, and avtiquated an eternal league 3 all are eddtffed to their ovonewyeSy and each one unto the moft new f angled, And f 3* Uiertmy in no lefle a mournfull ftrainc Todiake. 257 par. I ftraine bcwayles this great penury of the good / Circuit the veayes of Httru- fatem and heboid , and obfervc , and fearchintbefireets, doe ym find a turn that doth luflice and regards his faith* Bra ft and Iron there is corruption in alt. Not only the rich,butC what you will more wonder atjeven the poor are in • fc&ed with pride andriot©ufnes { and poverty no /vis in league wih vices too, a generall corruption hath tain- ted all^iwd braffe,as filver 5 and more rich mineral!*. And the Prophet ex- ploring the origen and fourf cf all this evill fayes,! attended^ndl frned^ and no man/peaks of any good^whkh h fo much verified in thefe times of ours) no man doth repent for his fins, Hier. 9. faying mhat have I done ? alt are at- tcntto their qms. CC-ifc; , ^e h&fes tujhingfuriovjly into the battaile. Woe to the earth, woe to the men thereof, The whole world h fi&ed with adulte- ries. Neither dmh Mtcbtas leffe la- ment chis exceffive dearth of vei'tue .• Woe unto mc(iTiyesht) there is not one Mich. 71 cluflerof grapes fit to be eaten , the Saint is pen/he don tar th y and the up- right is not (to be found) among wen. J Which confideration made the royall I Prop Set fried fo abundant teares : sjod I (fayth hc)hatb looked imjiefromfyea- FC13.JH L 4 mn H •4. I3..8ig. 238 TheChriJtitin men ox the fons of men tobeholdif thet were any that would nnderfland, am fce^afterGod^ (but) all weredepra vzd t atl were become wholly u profitable, there is no man, no not fo much as ore, thit doth any good* And truely who- foever doth but confider thele lamen- table dayesofours, and the varietj of corruption 3 which is crept into our m3nners,he would be of the fame opinion with this holy King , and conclude our Age moft refembling to that immediately before the deluge, When there was nothing but eating t and drintyngi mzrrying>an A giving in marmge 3 till thai day 9 when Noah en- trcdinto the ^r\e : neither had they any underfianding, till the deluge came upon them, and defiroyed them aQ. E- ven foyou will imagine, tfigt. Ycr;ue. were wholy banimed fom the earth, or if perchance any vouchfafeto har- bour faer^it is but only in pafling,aad by way of cour tefie, not that fhc can challenge right to any habitation of her owne 5 which is the reafon fheis no where permanent ; whilfl vice doth fo fway ail , and hath fach abfolutc dominion, as it is no longer able to reckon how many kingdomes itftands poflefsedof 5 masked inju- stice , and prying envy , cxployting boldly Zodiake. 2$$ Par. boldly whatfoever theypleafe, & thaf filthy vice of Luxurie, odious to hea- ven, and pernicious to earth 5 with an incredible kin de of audacity. So tbac comparing the number of the good, reduced unto fo few , unto fo many Myiiadetof evill,we may wel fay with SiaiiRariboniypravip'urimi'} and St. ^mbrofe to this effect j in comparifon of the reprobate (fayes he) the num- ber of the JBleft is but very fmall, fee- ing you fhall find every where multi- tudes offinners, every where whole troops of them in the way of perditi- on, fo as it may be truely fayd indeed, TbattbewayesofSfon Lament 3 whM Xameti. the paths of Babylon do laugh. And really whofoever but reflets the eyes of his mind upon the way which he buts up- on, the precipice of hell, he fhall per- ceive it fo frequente^fo thronged with paffengers 3 ,as one ftiores another for- wards out of a kind of fport ot joky ; and provoked by one anothers ex- amples, they make as muchhafte to the torments of hell , as they would doe unto fome folcmne feaft. The whilft the way to vices is not onely procliye, but even precipitious . on the other fidc,the way which tends to vertue is but narrow,frecjuented but by few,and thofe for the moft part of private qua- L $ lity, i^.Sig. 240 the ChriftUn lky,as ifaiah did infinuate in that Proi pheticall complaint of his, ThefeJhaM W»* ' be Uthemidft of the earthen the mid ft of the people > juft as if a few Olives which are remaining Jbould be Jhafan out of the Olive tree , and grapes when the Mintage is ended. W her: the (car- city of the good may be underflood by thofc few fcattcring bunchesjof grapes, by thefe fewOlircs which were left to be gleaned ,whiift the reft were ga- thered, and the excf (live multitude of evillhythe precedent plentifull har- veft of grapes and Olives ; For there u L- no truth (fay es the Prophet O /ecu) then *' it no mercy \there is no knowledge of God en earth 9 butjlanderivg 3 lying,murther$ theft, and adultery doefaawtt 3 6r* fan* guisftrtguinem tetigit. This fcarcity of the good is but too apparcnr,which the Prophets thus deplorejuntowhofe tearesfuccced the ApofUes complaint* in the new Tcftamenr, where St. John ^affirmes all the world to be fet en ma- tyh. 1$. lice : totus mundus in mdtgno pofitus eft s and St. peter in this manner for* rowfully argues, Sijuftus vixfalvabi- tur y peccator (s* impius ubi apparebunt? If the juft ftnll fcarcely be faved,where ftall where one part of the good feed,is faid to lie withering away among the ftones , a- nother cheaked among thornes and bryarsj a third 1 ghts in the high way, where it is troden under foot : and fcarcely a fourth part meets with a fruitful! foyie. So Ukewifcof ten Le- pers whom our faviour cleanftd^onely one returned to think him for curing i im 5 of thofe who were invited to the ftartj not one but found an excufe to abftnthimfelfe, and as often asthe filh ^o->Ie was itirred by the Angcl^of fo many difeafed perfons, who lay a- wair ngthe occafion , onely one was cured j 'Onely a Nicodemus of all the Magistrates of the Tewes would ven- ture to privite coafe.encewith our Sa- viour Chrift ; and of fo many covetous and wealthy Citizens of Unco . of fo rrany l3.Sig. 242 The Chriftian many Camels (to ufc ScBflfophrafeJ laden with their wealth 3 cnely one Zacktus would difcharge his bunchy back of his rich load,and restoring all which he had anjuftly got, a flay to en* ter by the narrow gate j OBcly one Matthew from his intricate accounts j onely one CMagdalenfcom her diffolutc life, is recorded to bee converted to a more innocent one. St.Paul preaching before a frequent aflembly of people at FbiHppi a City, of Macedonia, onely ©ne Lydia approved hi . Do&rinejano- thev time difcoHrling of Chnflian Re- ligion at Athens > m the publike pal* lace before a great and learned audi- * tory, onely Dezys^nd 7)amatu a (Ten- ted to what hec fsid 5 the reft for the mof! pirt mocking and de.iding him : \ and in that renamed affembly of 72. 2 ,- qfthekwith Magtiirates, theie was fcaiCeone or two found, who thirfted^ not after our Saviours precious blcod : Likewife at his Crucifying, there were many fptttator:> but lovers,and imita- tors of bis CroJJe a very few. So in thefe our dayesjthere arc many Sermons,but rarely any who amend their lives for them j vices ate fumciently inveighed aga.inf7,but (eldomc fufhciently amen- ded j nay men arefo far from defiring to amcadthem, as they cannot en- dare dure to have them mentioned. Multi vocati, pauci eieffi, there arc many cal- led, but few chofen: alas but few in- deed 1 There are many (fayesSt. Gre- gork ) adjoyne themfclves unto the faith, but few make ufe of it to attaine to heaven. And as upon the floore you ihallfind more ftraw than corn, more leaves than fruit upon the trees, more prickles than rofcs on the bryais,every where flints,bur a few precious Itonesj even fo the number of :hofe whom the Divine providence promotes to beati- tude is but InaalL compared 10 the mul- titudes of wicked men. How true!/ hath iwmy prcphtfied, TtejoUtim de- folata eft omntiterra&t.Mi the world iswafkdwiih a defection , h^caufe there is none who cenfiders in his heart : there is none who confiders in Jb,s he^rt indeed,fince the thoughts of o.r hearts are fo fleeting and incon- ' ftant,as they are ftill wandering, and never can apply themfelves long to any thing that is good and vertuous. And this ts the reafon why wee have no more apr*chenfionof helljno more defire and long: ng after heaven. This, accufationmay bee urged as well a- gainft Chriftiahs , as any other men, that they make no account of the de- finable Land : pro nibilg haHerunt tmm bSig. 244 TheChrifiian p 105. tetram defiderabilem , for »** is more to be defiredt ban heaven ? and yet by reafon wee have fo kctlc commerce vvith it in thought, we either conceit thiskingdomeof the bleflfed as fome tedious thing, orelie defire itnorhina To fervently as we ought. From thence the devil conceives fuch hopes, and ac- quires fuch force againft us as lob a f. t* hrmeth of him>Ecce nbforbebit fiuvi-l umt&e. Tba t heJhaHnot -Bonder ifhe'i JvaKon up a mud , and bee tonfides to have lordanfio* into his mouth. A nd for this rtafon (faith that mirrour of ; patience; verebar omnia opera mea fci~ .; tnsquodnm pareeres delinquent! j I was fufpitious of all my actions, as knowing that thou fpareftnot the de- linquent, I have all my words,workj, «nU even my thoughts fufpetfted, when I confider the rigid Iuftice of Almigh- ty God This was the motive of St ffilarions, who (as Sx.Hierome recouo! »eth)wasmoft grievoufly perplex t ac the Article of death , and in a deadly feare to pref-nt himfelfc before the ■ tribunal! of Chrift. There remained bat a hrtle vitall heatunperiftiedin bis feeb'.ebkciy, and excepting hi? ftnees, there were no fignes in htm of a lmng man, w/en fadly lifting up his ryes and voj ce together, Egreieie(taid he) quid Z&diake. 245 Par, quid twits ? tgredere aninta mea , quid iubitcs ? Septuaginta prope amis fer- viifii CbrifiOy & mortem times ? De- part (fayd he) what doft thou feare ? depart my foule,wbat doft thou doubt? .Thou haft ferved Chrift almoft thefc fevemy yeaTes,and now at laft art thou afraid to dye ? No, his foule was not fo much appalcd at death, as that the approach of that judgement it was to undcrgoe. And now let every Chrifti- ancorfider with himfelfe, with what fecurity he can revell and take his plea- furej whilft fuch Saints as they doe tremble, when they come to dye 3 let them if they think good , hoard up treafures of gold and filver , mifchiefe and ruineone another with mutuall enmity and hate, hunt after honours, arid bauk for foarieg ejory ; deny no* thing to their humours 2nd delights, alleaging forfooth> that God allotce-d the c :rth,of which you are inhabitants to the ufe of thcfonnes of men, and referred (he heavens to be difpofed by the foveraigne Lord thereof. Take then your liberties in feeing,thiaking, and doing every thing you have a f *n- cy to , m?.keastrany figanea as you lift, think every thmg lawful! - hick you have a mind unto , let your body take its fill of contentment, hi furc to live igSig. 246 TheChrifiU live at your eafe,walke in the wayesoi your heart, and take your owne eyes ?ccl. 1 1. fW. des ; Et f cit <>K IMdpro omnibus Dtzadducet vet Z)eus in judicium,®* c But yet be affured, that for all thefe you muft render an account to God $ and though a man live never foroaay yeares, and have paft them all over to his hearts content, yet hee is to bee mindfuilof the difm all time, of thefe !»* manydayes, which when they arrive, will argue all that is paft of vanity. Wherefore let your endevour rather be to procure by your good works a cer- tainty of your vocation and flection. Satagite ut per bsna opera cert am ve* Bt. t. fl**m vecatimm &> tkttknem faciatis. What the fignes of predentin ^ion are' you have already unJerftood. 1. Not only to leve cur friends, but our ene- mies. 2. To relive the poor,nor only by the bounty i f oar hands, but alfo with the afifctficn of our minds. 3. To endure all affl ftions paciently , and praife G^d Almighty for fending thero. 4. To fctbghtby the goods of fortune, in regard of heaven; 5* ?nd «. To con/idcr how finally it availes wsto hearken to the mterour ad- monitions of God , or eweriour of men, if vve atgie& to put them in exe- cution; Zodiake* S47 Par. fj cution. 7. Soto dete& our former fins a as never to commit the like &« gain, 8« To imagine we are not plea- 1'ng to Qodjimtil we become diu>lea~ fing to oyr felves 9. Not to perfwade our felvei that we love Iefus Chrift, So long as wc love and cherifli not his prefence within our felves. 10. To refift ftoutly our vitious inclination*, cfpecially at firft, fiflcc then every one can overcome them if he lift Hi To lay a furc foundation of vertue in our minds, Jeft otherwife we be alwayes wavering/ 1* To become fo family ar wiih death by often thinking of it, as we maytheleife feare it when we come to dye ; for he never dyts unwillingly who dayly and ferioufly imagines that he muft d^e atlaft;And this it the wSy to that life , who!-' ly devoyd of death. And now let each one take a furveigh of hisowneconfeience, whether thefe fignes of Predeftinations, whereby he may conceive a certtaine hope that he is not ltrayed from the way of the good, which leadeth into heaven, be extant in him or no* As for the way of the wicked, although for'the prefent it feemeth fmooth and levelled, yet it ends in hell and utter datknefle at, thelaft : and notwithstanding, by reafsn g. H% TbeChrifiian reafon the entrance to it feems I commodious and del ighcfome, ther are fo many Mock unto it to thei perditions, as our own eyes may te ftifie that true faying of our Saviou ^hritt.Laupvr&L&fpeciofavia el qu* ducit a;perditiQftevi } &>c. thattb gate is vide , and the nay fpaciou tfibteb leads 1 per dit ion; and mwy (tot Many alas) aretbofewbe enter by it It is reportei.by divers credible Au £ ? rs ,V hatacertainc hol y ***bm, beheld in a vifion foulcs falling a thick into hdl as flocks of fnow , of drops of raine, infomijch as the dam- ned all amazed ac their multitude. not without good reafon imagine*' the world to be at an- nd,a^ thinking itimpoffible,confidering their num. bet who defended into n«II, ±li |. ny more perfonsmauld be left alive] St. Vincent Ferrerius of Sc, T>om *k\s order,that mirrour of preachers and religious men, did once in a pub- like fermon difcourfe with great ef. ficacy of the fcarcity of the predefti- nate, and confirmed it witb a Won- derful I example . whofe words in re- verence of fo great aperfoiri will be as exaa In reporting^ the d.fferencc ©/language will give me leave. Be- fore our Saviours commiag into the worU Zodiake. 24.9 Par. 1 wor!d(fays heV'n humane flefli,more s. Vine. B4 than five thoufand yeares were alrca- J*£ji dy paft,and except fome of few of the ^^imUum children of //>**/> all the reft of the^ world was damned, Imagine with your ftlfe be fides , in the time of the Lzw of Mofes how" many Children have dyed without Circumcifion 5 as alfo in the time of the Law of Chrift how many without Baptifmej of all which number likewife not one is fa- ved.Moreover how many }ewe$ 9 Sd- T*\tns % Fagans, and Jvfielt , how many wicked Chnftiaas ( for faith and Baptifmc cannot fave a man un- lefle they be accompanyed with good life)and how many other Chriftianf art there befides, who although they have faith* are yet proad, avaricious, of lewdlife,and given t^many other vicesj&c. And here note the example of the Arch.deaconof Lie&j.who ha- ving reOgned his Benefice undertook a courfe of aufterc pennance for for- ty yeares together in the wildemefle. This holy man after his death appea- red to the Bifhop of L yons,who defi- ring of him to difcover feme what un- to him of the other world: the Saint anfwered, that thirty thoufand in the world had dyed the fame day with hinjiWherof only 5 . were faved, him- felfc 1 3. Sig. 2 50 The ChrijtUn felfe, and St. Bernard being two c them. This is the reafon why oar S a viouradvifes us with fo much folici tude to enter by the narrow gate : $n traitor a gttftdmportam; This nae row gate cf paradifeis the wil of Go. to w nich every one mail conform himfclfe who defires to enter into pa radifc. The broad gate is our owm will, and the fpatious way is worldl; convcrfation;astaeate and drink oui fill* to follow our luitfill appetites. take our pleafure,rcvenge our felves o thofe who have injured us, and th< like : So as pttuci flint ele6ti>b\\t a fen are faved : To which exhortation ol S*.Fimnt % we will add another e» , ample recounted by an approved Author. A famous Preacher in Germany named Bert eld of Saint Francis Or- der, inveighing once in a great audi* ence with much vehemency of fpcech againft a certaine vice,a woman there prefent, confeious of her owne guil- tineflc therein, conceived fo great a terrour at hh words, that on the fud- dain in the midil of fo great a throng fhe fell downe for dead .• But after- wards being reftored to lifeagain>by the joynt mediation of rhe peoples prayes,ihe declared unto them , how &e Zodukf. 251 Par.i. (he had bin prefented before the judg- ment feat of Almighty God ; ad a- tnong many other particulars, how of 600 00. of all nation, afwell Cnrifti- ans as iafidels,who by d vers forts of death had departed this life at the rame inftant with her onely a, . foules Dffohuge a multitude entred iaeaven, md al the reft damned to eternal fire. D how true is it, that many enter in- deed by the large and fpatious way of perdition! St. chryfoftome grounding himfelfe on the fence of thele words of our Saviour Chrift,doth confident- ly affirm 5 that the number is far grea- ter ofthofe who got to heH 9 but jet the \ingdome ofQod, though it hath fewer Inhabitants is mere capacious : Multi funtplures ghennam ingredieites $ fed ™' 9% lm miius eft Deiregnum licet habeatpau- cos> And tel me 3 faith he, how many think you of thofe,w ho live in this ci- ty fhal be fated? I kn w that which I thai fay wil < ifend your eare>,but not- withstanding I wil tter it.Of fo ms, iiy thoufmdjfcarcely one hundred; 8t 1 doubt me whether I have not been too large in my account: For alas how much malice is there now a cayes in the younger fort y in the elder how much negligence, &c This was the difcomfe of (bat mod prudent and Saintly [j.Sig. 252 TheChritfia* faintly man , that Dofrour of th Church, and light of the world St Chrjfoftonte , in that mighty and po pulous City of Antioch, and that to< in fuch a time, when the fervour wa not yet extinguifhed of the Frimitivt Church, and who then (hal wonder i S Paul with fo much folicitude dotl admonifh us to worke our falvatior d Vhil.u w j t j 1 £ earc aQt j tr ^ m bling, cum men (3* tremorg v firamfdutera operamini and our Saviout Gl rjft ia fuch ex« prefte tearmes exhorts us to cndevom ?• te enter by the narrone gate* Truth cryes cue unto us, ftrive to laboi r and endevour with all your forces toentet into this gate by w :>rks worthy of re- pentanccj into which we c.nuot bee admitted without much induftry, and a ref lution to overcome all difficul- ties whtfoeverj and thofe who falter and-§o4i»gring on, may never hope to arrive u>to it -For unlcfs the minds intention be fervent indeed,faith St. Bide, and a man forcibly overcome hirafelfe,he wii ca'ily recoylCjand be wholly unable tuperfev r in fo nar- row a pafsage : fo great h the effufion of the unruly appetites of his nctfi,to fay nothing of the tent at ions, and perfections which theworld,andthe devill-p rocwu tfrofc who cidsYour to enter Zodiakg. 253 Par. I, inter by this aarrdwmy. And even Hi water-man who rowes againft heftrearaemuft adde fo much the iiore force uato his Oare* , fo ihofe fhofteereon their foules towards feaven, infpightofthe pra&ifes o£ |ie enemy, muft enforce tfiemfelves f'uh all the vertue they Have to'o- ercome the violence they find with reater violence, for feare their foules lould be carryed away by force of m ftreamc like boats into irrecove- ibleerrour: evigilate Itaque juftu , Cor -J T retire peccarc , Wherefore all you ? utare juft be watchfull,and do not n .- neither is any to bee accounted atchfui,but fuch as in al places,at al mes fo lead thur hves,as if each day ere the lift they mould ever fee,and ave fo wary an eye over their confei- ice in all thcughrs and works, as if icy were inibntly to dye. Let us lerefore doe that whillt we may, Inch (otherwife) when we may no »nger, wc mall wifh to have done 5 'iutftminaverithomo htc ($> mttet, man mall reap, onely that which he ithfowne, andfohe who fowes in 1$ flcOidoch reap corruption from s tlefli againe j whereas hee who ©ai. :.