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Show The-Préface. The Preface. --<$<$<$--- Ob by what plots, by whatforfwexringsbetrayings, opprefsions imprifonments, tortures,poy] onings and conder what reafons of State,and politiquesf ubtlery pane venthefe forenamed Kingsboth[trangers.and of our one Nation ; pulled the minigeance of GOD pon themfelues,vpontheirs, and upon their prudent and fers !andin the end haue brought thofe things to paffe for their enemies , ‘feene an effect fo direétly contraryto all their owne-counailes and cruelties,as the d; if one could nener bane hoped for themfelies,and the other neuer hane neceede ener: it ormed andperf it no fuch oppofition had ener been made. G OD bath faid Perdam{apientiam fapientum, | will deftroy the wifedome ofthe wile. But what ofall this ¢ and to what end doe we lay before theeyes of the lining, thefall andfortunes ofthe dead :feeing the worlds thefamethat it hath bin; e the children ofthe prefent time, Will flill obey theirparents ¢ It is intheprefent time,thatall the wits of the world are exercifed. To holdthe times ee haue, wee hold all things lawfull: and either we hope to hold them for ewer; or at leaSt wee hope, that there is nothing after themto be hopedfor. For as tyee are content to forget our owne experience, andto counterfeit the ignorance of our owne knowledge , inall things that concerne our[elues; or perfwade ourfelues, that GO D hathgivenys letters patents to pur{ue all our irreligious affections, witha non obftante : fo we neither looke bebind ys whatbathbeen, nor before vs what{hall be. Itis true,that the quantity which we haue.is ofthe body : weeareby it ioyned tothe earth : we are compounded of earth . and we inbabiteit. The Heauens are bigh,farre off, and ynfearcheable: we haue fenfe andfeeling of corporall things; and of eternall gracebut by reuelation, Nomaruaile then that our thoughts are alfo earthy ; and it is leffe to be wondyed at,that the words of worthleffe men can- not cleanfe them : feeing their doctrine and inftruétion, whofe tunderStanding the Holy Ghoft vouch{afed to inbabite, have not performed it. For as the Prophet at cryed out long agone, Lord whohath beleeued out reports ?_Andont of doubt,as Efay complained then for himfelfe and others :fo are they leffe beleened, eneryday after other. For although Religion, and the truth thereof, be in enery mans mouth,yea,in the difcour/e of euery woman,who for thesreate/t number are patvorins but Wdols ofvanity : whatisit otber than an uninerfall difsimulation ? We prochascenro feffe that we Know GO D: but by Workes we deny him. For Beatirude doth not confift in the knowledge ofdiuine things,but in a diuine life: for the Diuells know them better thanmen. Beatitudo non eft diuinorum cognitio fed vita diina. And certainly thereis nothing more to be admired and more to bee lamented, than the prinate contention, thepa/Sionate difpute the perfonall hatred and the perpetuall war,maffacres and m urthers, for Religion among Chriftia ns : the difcourfe whereof bath fo occupied the World,as it hath well neere drinenthe pra- Oo i of a World. Who would notfoone refolue, that tooke knowledge nut the religious difputatio? g ‘their Ii { { , that there wereno atk thine GeUFdass Daa BBue, AYiiber il that the World itfelfe werebut vfed as it ought. and Hioo a an Inne or place, piace whereitt cok torepofe our felues in pa/Sing on toward pan 5 our celeftiall habitation ? when. on the contrarypbefides the difcourfe andoutward profe/Sion, the foule hath nothing but by bac rife. We are all (in effe&t) become Comediansin relivion « anid hile wee act in gofture and voyce, dinine vertyes in all the iof sar fi ae nounce our Perfons, ) and the parts wee pl ‘i FFor Charity'; play. rk wan qo Tuftice,iid and Truth, Tv h bane anita tnoesecnem bane but thejr being ancexmes,likethehilo/ophéxs Materia ptima. $$ Neitheris it that wifedimée, which Saloman definethto be the Schoole-Mis ftrefleof the knowledgeof Gody\ that hath-valnationsmabe world : itis e- noigh that svegiuestadrgood word: but.thefame Which +s altogetherexercifed in the, féruidevof the World,» asthe gathering ofriches chiefly, by which We purthafe andsobtaine bonounjwitha he mary re[pects which artendit. Thefe indeedbe the markes\which(when we haue bent ounconferences to the highe/t) weallfhoote at.\ For theiabtaining whereof itsstrue, thatcthecare ts ounowne the care oir owneinithisdife the peril cur omnein thefuture: and yet when.we haue gathered thegreateftaboundances se ourfelyes entoy nomone thereof,than fomuch as belongs to'one man.For thexe/t,Fletbathad the:gneate/t wifedome ;andthe greateft abilitythat ener man had:, bath olds thac thts isthe rofe : When goods in- p. fec<x6 creafe \(/aith Salomon) sthey alfo increafethateate them,and what good comaacth tothe Owners, but the beholding thereof with their eyes.2 4 for thoferhatdenourethe reft, andfollow vs in faire weather »they againeforfake cos inthe firft tempeft-nfmisfortune andfteere away before: the Seaand Winde, leauing contotle malice of ourdejtinies. Of thefe,among.a.thoufand examples; I willeakedatone.out of.:Ma/ter-Dannet,and vfe his owne words : Whileftthe Emperour (barlesthefift,afterthe refignation ofhis Eftates;ftaied at Vlothing forwinde y:totarry himhis laft iourny into Spaine; Hee conferred on atime with Seldius;bis brother Ferdinands Embafladour,till the deepe of thenight: And when Seldias fhould depart: the Emperour calling for fomeéofhis {eruants;and no body. anfwering him (for thofé that atten- ded vpon him, were fome goneto their lodgings, andall the reft afleepe) theEmperour tookevp the candle himfelfe,; and went before Seldius to light him downe:theftaires; & fo: did, notwith{tanding all the refiftance that Seldius couldmake.And when He was come tothe ftaires foote,Hee faid thusvnto him :Seldius ,.rememberthis ofCharles the Emperour, whieh hefhall be dead andgone;That Him, whom thouhaft knownein thy timeenuironedwith fo many mighty Armies,and Guards offouldiers,thowhaftalfo-{eene alone,abandoned; and forfaken, yea euenofhis ownedometicall {eruants,&c.I acknowledge this change of Fortune to proceed from themighty hand of G O D;which I will by no meanes goe about to withftand. But yourwill fay that there are fome things elfe,and of greater regard than the former. Thefir(tis the renerendrefpeétthat is beld of great men,andthe Elonour done conto them byall forts of people. Andit is true indeed: prouided, that an 1nwardloue for theiriuftice and pity, accompany the outward worfhip ginen to their places and powerswithout which what is the applaufe of the Multitude, but as the out-cry of an Heard of Animals , who without the knowledgeof any true caufe, pleafe themfelyes with the noy/e they make? For feeing it isa thing exceeing rare;to diftingnifh Vertue and Fortune:the moft impious (if profperous bane exer been applauded.the moft vertuous (if vnprofperous) haue euer been de Spifed. For as Fortunes manrides the Horfe, fo Fortune herfelfe rides the Man. Who, when be is defcended andon foote: the Man taken fromhis Beaft, and Fortune from the Man ;4bafegroome beates the one,anda bitter contempt [purnes at the otherwith equall leberty. B3 The |