Certain Meditations of Perfect Consolation, Title page – Table of contents 2
¶ A treatice cō teining certain meditatiōs of trew & perfect conſolatiō, declared in two tables, ye firſt, is the cō ſideratiō of ye eueles, whiche happē to vsus, ye ſecond of the good which we receiue, ſet forth for ye conſolatiō & cō fort of all thoſe yt are ladē & do labour to be eaſed.
Wrytten in the Frenche tung, and tranſlated in to Engliſhe by Robert Filles.
TO THE RIGHT …norable & my ſinguler good …de, the Lorde Roberte …ley, Mayſter of the Queenes …ſties Horſe, Knight of the moſte no…dre of the Garter, and one of the …nes Maieſties priuy Councel, Robert Filles wiſheth increace of Honoure longe to indute.
IN reading ouer dyuers bookes in the time of the late perſecution, ther came one litle treatiſe too my handes wrytten in the Frenche tunge wherein (aboue the reſt) I toke moſte pleſure and found cheefeſt comfort in that miſerable time, and being not fully ſatiſfied with the often readyng thereof: I took in hand for to tranſlate it into the Engliſhe tunge, for mine own vſe only, thinking therby to imprint it the more liuely in my minde, beig not determined to hauehave publiſhed it abrode vntill a certaine freend by chaunce found it among other of my bookes, wylled mee, and as it were vrged mee not to keep backe ſo excellent a treſure from the people of God. At laſt (being overcome) I condeſcen…ed to ſet it forth in print, deuiſing with my ſelfe to chooſe a patrone whoſe honorable name & renoume might be an occaſion ſomewhat to ſtop the mouthe of the ſicophant & priuy biter, I could not deuiſe one more meeter, and to whome this wurk more aptlier dooth agree nor whoſe eſtate is more liuelyer paited for the: then is in this litle volume, wherfore taking courage of your accuſtomable beneuolent kindenes towards me, I hauehave per fourmed my deuice, deſiring your honour to accept my meaning and to be are with my rudenes.
…he apoſtle. In the 15. to the Ro…nes, declaring the cheefe con…ionRo. 15. of a chriſtian, ſaith. My br…n. What ſo euer thinges are …ten aforetime are written for learning, that by pacience and …ſolatiō in ye ſcripture we might …ne hope. In whiche woordes he …clareth, that wee ought to ſeeke …r comfortes In the holy ſcriptu…s. But we muſt take heed, for ye …riptures doo oft vſe a double fy…re or maner of ſpeaking, ſhew…g vntounto me as it were a double …irrour to look in, of thīgꝭ tēpered … mīgled to gether (that is to ſay) …f good and euell, as the wiſe man …ith, in the day of euel: remember …he good, and in the proſperous dai…s remember aduerſity. The holy …hoſt knowing the affection of mā … be without meaſure, and to eſty…ate things according to his own …pinion, aſſaieth with all poſſible meanes too withdrawe man from his vaine eſtimation and affeccion of erthly thingꝭ ſo that the affection beeing taken away, all things wilbe indifferent. But ſuche an alteration and chan̄ge can not come but by the wurd ōf God, and of good right we ought too ſeek no other cō ſolation or rule to guide vsus but the ſcripture, whiche in the daye of aduerſity bringeth vsus to conſider the proſperitye whiche eyther is preſent or to come, and likewiſe in the day of proſperity doth call vsus back to cōſider aduerſity. Alſo the ſpirit of God ſpeaking it by the mouthe of wiſe Salomon, geueth vsus too vnderſtand that the ioy of man is cō paſſed with ſorow, and alſo ſadnes, ſorow and diſpleaſure, be alwaies ioyned and linked together wyth ſome mirth & pleſure, that hardly can man declare ye end of one or the beginning of the other, in ſuch meruelous wiſe is anger, ſorow & …es, aptly ioyned and linked wt … bewtiful colour of ioy and ple…, and not only linked or ioined: … rather mingled or confoūded … one into the other, ſo that it is …poſſible to finde in this mortall …e, any litle ſpark of the one: but is mengled with the other, the …ery Hethen knowe this. For a …reeke Poet ſaid that the pleaſure …f this world was not the true ple…re: but was ſorow clothed in pleſures garmentꝭ, and ſheweth in …is maner. He ſaid that when the …eſſel yt Pandora brought on earth was opened, whereby all the miſcheefes and humaine miſery wēt forth & then pleſure went forth alſo, & going a brode in the world: he began by all meanes to draw men …nto him, who began to folow him in ſuche ſorte that none went any more into heauen. Wherfore Jupiter thought to take pleaſure frō the earth and to bring him againe into heauen, and therupon ſent the nine Muſes for hī, whoo with their melody drew him againe into heauen cauſing hī yet before, to leaue his apparel behinde him on earth, becauſe into heauen entreth no corrupt deckinges. Sorow in this meane time wandring abrode in the world, found this apparel, and thinking that yf hee clothed hym ſelf therin, he ſhould not ſo be chaced and driuen from eueryevery man, & not being knowen: he put it on his back, & ſo euer after he hath gone about the world clothed in pleaſures apparel, deceiuing men continually. Meaning by this yt all thinges yt men take for pleaſure bring them ſorowe, and the pleaſurꝭ of this worlde, too be none other but ſorowes clothed and couered with a very ſmall delite, whereby men … deſceaued eudeuour them … to ſeeke them and finde in ye …ore ſorow then delite. And …s the holy Ghoſte ſayth, that … accompanied with ſorow, he …eth according to our rude vn…nding. The eye of our mindꝭ …e ſoone be daſeled with the be…ng of ſome ſudaine ioy, yet in …tinent it ſhall perceiue that his …ine ioy is accompanied with …we, euen as is the ſhadow folo…g the body, and how contrarye …er theſe thinges ſeeme to bee, … neuertheles they be euer knyt …ether, but this can not be per…ued but wt a chriſtian eye, lighte …d by faith and whiche is excerſi…d to contemplate this deuine ſun …ning in the holy ſcriptures, the …ly ghoſte teacheth vsus this coniūc … in a number of places in the …ripture, but if this coniūccion be …eruelous, let vsus not muſe at it, For the woorker is meruelous. For if in one perſonne he knew how to ioine the diuinitye and humanity: wherfore can he not aſwel ioine in vsus, ſorowe and ioy, heuines & gladnes, ſweetnes and bitternes? Hath he not by a ſupernatural coupling vnited, death and life, hell and heauen, and in generall all other thinges, whiche be directly contrary after our iudgementes? This is the incomprehenſible deuine wiſdome of God, whiche maketh vnequall thinges equall, in ſuche maner as our dull vnderſtanding can neuer comprehende ſuche a meruelous diſcord, according. The holy Ghoſt is the onelyonly ſcoolemaiſter to teache …s this leſſon in the holy ſcripturꝭ.
The kingly Prophet Dauid, declareth theſe thinges notably, ſaying. Alas Lord, how great are the tribulations which thou haſt thewed mee? and beeing conuerted haſt …ened me, and alſo ſaith. Thou … taken mee out of the depth … earth. Conſider theſe words …e emport on the one ſide ex… diſpaire and fearful trouble: …n the other ſide ſinguler mer…d conſolation. And what ſhall …eak of King Czechias? whiche …er hee was ouerwhelmed with …neſſe and death, looking for de… vengeaunce) crying out vntoo …, and ſaid, Alas Lorde anſwer …me. And ſudēly cried what ſhal …y to him? or what anſwere ſhal … made for me? It is he that hath …ought this euel vponupon me. Thꝰ be …g opreſſed with ſorow and greef …nfeſſed that no man coulde deli…r him, and ſaid. I will yet hauehave …y recourſe vntounto God, and in thus …ying: he declareth a certain firm …d ſure truſt and hope, yet ſuden… he ſaith. Alas, Lord anſwere for …e, and againe as one being caſt of & diſcomfiited coplaineth moorningly, I know wel yt none other but he cā deliuer me, but what thē? it is he him ſelf yt purſueth me, he hath pronoūced my death, what ſhall I ſay vntounto him to cauſe him too reuoke the ſentence? what ſhall he ſay vntounto me? He is my counterparty, and my iudge. Heere we may ſe theſe two paſſions, directly contrary in one ſoule. Now conſidering theſe two contrary operations within a man and the tormoiling between hope and diſpaire, whiche bē ſo out ragious, ſudaine and vnmeſarable ſo that there is no man, but it maketh him amaſed when he cometh to conſider it as it is. Saint Paule to the Romains, after that he had incloſed all vnderunder ſin and dampnation, as one being rauyſhed beſide or aboue him ſelf, cried out, ſaying
O prōfound greatnes of the wiſdome, riches & knowledge of God. …ow incōprehenſible are his iudgementsRo. 11▪ and his waies paſt finding …ut? And ſo concludeth, that all …hinges be of God, by God and in God. It appereth that S. Paul felt …underful thinges in himſelf. For …udenly from the depth of Hel, and …he knowledge of ſin, he erecteth …im ſelf vp aboue the heauens, and …andreth, in his ſpirit contempla…ing the high and meruelous diui…itye of God after an vnſpeakable maner. Now heere may we learne …ot too be careful for our ſelues or to hauehave reſpect to our owne miſery …or infermitye, but aſke of God our good father and he wil not faile vsus but with ſpeede wil exalt vsus into ye moſte bleſſed and happye fruition of his deuinity. But we cannot rightlye deſire the mercy and goodnes of God, except we hate oure own ſinful wicked life: and we can not hate our ſinne and wickednes: except we hauehave ye true knowledge & feeling thereof. And wee cannot know it nor feel it: with out his contrary, whiche is the great mercy and infinite goodnes of God. But ſo long as our ſoule doth dwel and abide captiue & deteined we in this miſerable body of finne as a wanderer in the deſert or as a pilgrim or wayfaring man: there ſhalbe alwaiſe relikes of ſin remayning wt in vsus. The ſpirituall Philiſtines & amalechites doo warre continually againſt vsus vntil we come to ye land of promiſſion during whiche tyme: it wil be needefull for vsus to knowe our owne miſery and euils, alwayes aſpiring too the mercy and goodneſſe of God. And by this meanes this contradiction aforeſaid ſhalbe to vsus both more tollerable & eaſy to be borne, whiche as we hauehave ſaid ceaſſeth not too ſtriue in a chriſtian …. And that man whiche fee…t this within him ſelf is but … ſouldioure, and rather a …n, in name: then in conuer… and good life. O Lord God …uely is this contradiction a…id proued and founde heare …g vsus in this common welth of …and? For in what quietnes & …quillity hauehave we liued ſence th… … of our moſte noble Queene? … what ſecurity hauehave we lulled …elues a ſleep, and looking as it … for Mountaines of golde? for …ing God and his woorde, or at … making no great account of …n, and all ſudenlye, in the mid… of our ſecure life: wee are ſtri… with Hunger, Peſtilence, and …oord. The like plagues for ſin … often to bee ſeen in the ſcriptu…. For in the time of king Dauid …ong the Jewes common welth …n they had ouercome their enemies brought home ye arke of God and were become welthy & ri…che then they grew into ſecuritye, and all ſudenly the Plague of God fell vponupon them, and there dyed in Iſrael ſeuenty thouſand men, and God would hauehave deſtroied all Jeruſalē likewiſe, had he not in the middeſt of his fury remembred mercy. I pray you, what hathe welth and ſecuritye brought vsus vntounto heere in Englond? Hath it not brought cō tempt of the Miniſters and woorde of God? Nay hath it not brought contempt and diſobedience both of the Magiſtrate and the lawes?
Where euer was there ſo much▪ crying out againſt ſinne? ſo many exhortacions? ſo many good bookes ſet forth? and all for the ſuppreſſion of wickednes & ſinne: but neuer the better but rather the worſe. Altogether (afew exceptid), from the hieſt to the loweſt, hauehave as it were …ent them ſelues and determined …o bring to pouertye and in to con…empt the Miniſters of the woord of God. What meanes is daily inuē …ed to catch & rake from thē, by im …ropriations, leaſſes, firſt frutes and tenthes with many other ſimo…icall meanes, to impoueryſhe them and diſcourage other whiche would enter therintto? But thoſe that laboure and bee ſo diligent too diſpute and reaſon their cace (pretē …ing to bring the miniſtery too the ſame rule and eſtate that Chriſte & his Apoſtles were) wil in the ende ſay as the Jewes ſaid of Chriſte & his Apoſtles, away with theſe felowes they are not wurthy to liue among vsus, ſhal theſe beggerly raſkalles teache vsus our duetye? this wilbe the end of your pretence. O Lorde in what reuerence had the Jewes their Miniſters? How were they prouided for? Likewiſe in the primitiue Chriſtian churche how were they adourned with reuerēce and liuinges as is yet too be ſeene? yea the very Heathen and Infidelles had their miniſters in eſtimation and prouided for thē, and ſhal we now that proffes ſo much chriſtianity ſeek by all meanes to ouer throwe and bring to nothing our miniſters? the Miniſter being contemned: his preaching ſhalbe little eſtemed. This is the way to ouerthrow the wurd of God, and bring vsus too brutalitie, for where preaching ceaſſeth the people periſhe, as ſaith Salomō. But ſome wil obiect and ſay, that riches corrupteth the Miniſters and hindreth their vocation and that they become couetous and more careful then any other, and that a poore eſtate is beſt for them. I anſwere that my meaning is not to enriche any greedy or couetous Miniſter, but wiſhe …hat when any ſuche ſpringeth vp …n welthe whereby his vocation is neglected: that ſome good ordinaun…is were prouided in that behalfe for to ſuppreſſe and keep backe the greedy deſire of ſuche. And my deſire is that thoſe Pariſhes where reaſonable liuinges and ſtipendꝭ were appointed by good men, in time paſt for a Miniſter: might be reduced and brought againe to the right vſe, & that Miniſter or Paſtor, whiche would not continew and be reſident amonge his flock: ſhould be depriued and hauehave no lyuing there. Hoſpitality is incident to preching, & the Paſtor muſt aſwel feed their belies as their ſoulꝭ, or els hee ſhall doo but litle good among a number. But ſuche as intende to bring the Miniſtery to ſlauery, by thruſting themſelues into their liuinges: I truſt our merciful and louing God, wil preuent them and cut them of, from their wicked purpoſes and take mercy of his people. But now me thinke I heare the enemies of true religion the Papiſtes ſay, theſe plagues are come vponupon vsus for your new lerning. I anſwere, in the time of Papiſtry, yea when popery was moſt hieſt had ye no plagnes? Read Polichronicon and ye ſhall finde that theſe be but trifels, in reſpecte of thoſe peſtilencis, yea ſome that felt within this lx. yeere. And I pray you had ye no War in thoſe daies? Read ſence Cxx. yeers and ſee what ſlaughter, what ciuil diſcordes with hunger and penurye happened, …ea when ye ſang maſſe moſte hyeſt and when your holy Fathers pardones were moſte holieſt, that men buried them with thē in their graues, but what ſhall I ſay now to the City of London? The plague hath long beene there among them, I beleeue verely and dare affirme, that God is as dilygently ſerued, and his wurd as ſincerely preached and obeyed as euer was in this realme, (of a good numbre there) But as the holy Ghoſte ſaieth. Judgement beginneth at the houſe of GOD. God dooth vſe moſte commonly to beginne with his owne houſe, but after that he ſcoureth his enmies, and as our ſauioure Chriſte ſaied, by thoſe vponupon whome the towre of Silo fel. Suppoſe ye (ſaith he) that thoſe were greater ſinners then the other? I ſay nay, but except ye repent ye ſhall like wiſe periſhe. So may I ſay. Suppoſe ye that Lō don hath more greuouſly offended then other Townes and Cyties in England? I ſay nay, but except ye repe…t and that with ſpeed, ye ſhal not eſcape Gods heauy hand, hys ſwoord hangeth euen ouer your heddes ready to ſtrike, therefore lette vsus wt Dauid preuent Gods wrath wt harty prayer & eueryevery man enter into his owne conſcience and ſay. It is I (Lord) that hauehave cauſed thy heauy wrath and diſpleaſure. And leaue our olde Adamiſhe excuſes and vaine ſhiftꝭ. Let vsus call back againe, oure ſelues to true faſting and praier with harty repētance, but I feare mee popiſhe faſting hat almoſte ouerthrown the true faſt, and ſuperſticious latten praying hath blemiſhed the right vſe of praier, ſo that there remaineth but onelyonly the names of faſting & prayer (to a numbre) but the effect is vnknown. God bring it againe to the right vſe, and geue vsus hartes diligently to learne, and faithfully to practiſe it, ſo that we may turne to the Lorde with all our hartes, that hee may hauehave mercy vponupon vsus and turne away thoſe greuoꝰ plagues that wee hauehave (thorow our ſecure and diſobedient life) moſte iuſtely prouoked to fall vponupon vsus. Heer… hauehave I according to my ſmall hability and knowledge declared the minde of Thauthour, & rendred ye very wurdꝭ of his text in as plain engliſh as I could expreſſe, ſuche homely ſtuffe as it is, I beſeeche your honour and all other yt fear… God to accept it. And if ought be amiſſe eyther thorow my negligēc… or the printars recheleſnes to bear with vsus, or at the leaſt to let vsus vnderſtand it, that if it bee poſſible it may be amended, & I ſhall hartely pray for your honourꝭ proſperoꝰ eſtate long to continew that as ye hauehave Godly begonne not onelyonly to profeſſe and folow: but alſo to defende and maintaine the true profeſſors and folowers of Chriſtes religion, ſo ye may cōtinew to the ende. Amen.
Now leaſt by my not ſufficient extolling and declaring your noble and excellent vertues (whiche God hath endued you wt) I ſhould rather ſeeme to darken or ſhadow them, then condignly to ſet them forth: I leaue to the Godly reader to call to minde and conſider in them ſelues, more then I can expreſſe in wurdes, deſiring GOD that as he hathe hether to fortified you with ſinguler giftes of his holy ſpirite: yt hee wil likewiſe arme you with the inuincible conſtancy vntounto the end. For I am not ignorant how God hath tried and excerciſed you wt many hard and ſharp batt…iles of afflictions the whiche your honour I know wel dooth not forget, but rather looketh for toabide a more ſharper aſſault then any that is paſt, if God lay it vponupon you. Now hauing learned by long …perience how neceſſary it is that …od ſtretche forth his hand to help …s, it ſhalbe moſte needfull to call …pon him to graunt vsus the gift of …er ſeueraunce and conſtancy, and …or my part, I wil call vponupon the …orde Jeſus our King, to whome GOD the Father hath geuen all …owre in heauen and earth, and in …hoſe hand hath put all the ſpiri…uall treaſures. That it may pleaſe …im to preſerue and maintain you, long time among vsus to the aduauncement of his kingdome and continew your honour in hauing the victory and triumphing ouer Sathan and his band to his glory.
Amen.
¶ A table of the Chapiters of the firſt part of this booke.
The firſt Chapiter of the firſt conſideration whiche is the inwarde euel. Fo. 1.
The ſecond Chapiter of the ſecōd conſideration whiche is the euell to come or before vsus. Fo. 4.
The third Chapiter or third conſideration whiche is the euel paſſed or behinde vsus. fo. 8.
The fourth of the fourth conſideration whiche is the euel or miſery vnderunder vsus. fo. 11.
The fift Chapiter of the fift conſideration whiche is the euel or miſery on our left hand. fo. 14.
The ſixt Chapiter of the ſixt conſideration of the euell or miſery on the right hand. fo. 18.
The ſeuenth Chapiter of the ſeuenth conſideration, whiche is the euel or miſery aboue vsus. fo. 23.
The table of ye ſecond part.
The firſt Chapiter of the firſt cō …eration whiche is the good with … vsus. fo. 27.
The ſecond Chapiter of the ſe…ond conſideration, the whiche is …he good to come or before vsus. fo. 33.
The third Chapiter of the third …onſideration whiche is the good …aſſed or after vsus. fo. 38.
The fourth Chapiter of ye fourth conſideration of the good vnderunder vsus. folio. 42.
The fift Chapiter of the fift con…ideration of the good on the left …and. fo. 46.
The ſixt Chapiter of the ſixt conſiderations of the good on the right hand. fo. 50.
The ſeuenth Chapiter of the ſeuenth cōſideration of ye good which is aboue vsus. fo. 54.
Finis.
To the king of worldes immortall inviſible, to God onelyonly be honour and glory eternally. Amen.