The Anatomy of Abuses Part 2, Title page – Encomium
THE Second part of the Anatomie of Abuses, conteining The display of Corruptions, with a perfect description of such imperfections, blemishes and abuses, as now reigning in euerie degree, require reformation for feare of Gods vengeance to be powred vponupon the people and countrie, without speedie repentance and conuersion vntounto God: made dialogwise by Phillip Stubbes.
Except your righteousnes exceed the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharises, you cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen.
LONDON. Printed by R. W. for William Wright, and are to be sold at his shop ioining to S. Mildreds Church in the Poultrie, being the middle shop in the rowe.
To the christian Reader, grace, merciemercy and peace.
THere was neuer any age, or time (christian reader) since the beginning of the world how corrupt so euer, that was comparable to this our thrise vnhappie age in all kind of corruption, wickednes, and sin, with greefe of conscience I speake it, with weeping eies I behold it, and with sorrowfull hart I lament it. And therefore seeing wickednesse doth so abound, the Lord (least his children frosen in the dregs of their sinne should perish with the wicked) raiseth vp in his merciemercy good men (as we see he hath done our good brother the author hereof) to plucke off the visors of sinne from their faces, and to lay them open to the view of the whole world, to the end that euerie one seeing the dung of his wicked waies, and the filthie dregs of sinne throwne in their faces, may blush at the same, be ashamed, repent, amend, and turne to the Lord Iesus, and so eternally be saued To this end and purpose hath the author hereof (for whose singular towardnes in his primar yeres the Lord Iesus be praised) taken in hand the compiling of this little treatise, conteining a summarie of certeine corruptions and abuses, as well in the temporaltie, as in the clergie. Wherefore good Reader read ouer the same mature, aduisedly, iudge of the same imparcially, and at no hand condemne not temere, rashly, but compare eueryevery thing with the truth of Gods word, and the state of time, and as it shall agree or disagree from the word of God. so to like or dislike of the same. For I am persuaded that there is nothing comprised in this whole booke, but what is agreeable to the word of God, sauing that in a few points the author bearing with the infirmitie of the time, hath somwhat qualified both his stile and matter, in hope of speedie reformation to insue, which God grant. Therefore gentle Reader, let me obtaine thus much at thy hands, as to accept his good meaning, as well towards the truth, as towards the professors thereof, to rest thankfull to God for him, and to helpe him with thy praiers, that as hitherto euen from his youth he hath borne a zeale to the truth of Christs religion, so he may continue to the end, expressing (as he hath begun) in life and conuersation for euer through Christ Iesus our onlie Lord and Sauiour. Amen.
Thy fellowe laborer. I. F.
¶ To the Right HONORABLE, and his singular good Lord Phillip Earle of Arundell, Phillip Stubs wisheth all prosperitie in this life, with increase of honour, and eternall felicitie in the heauenlie hierarchie by Iesus Christ.
HAuing made the first part of the Anatomie of abuses (Right honorable, and my verie good Lord) and dedicated the same to your good Lordship, I thought I should then hauehave taken mine Vltimum vale, for euer-needing to write anie more of this argument againe. But seeing the diuell our ancient aduersarie in the fulnesse of his malice hath since spued out his poison▪ and powred out his filthie dregs of infinit corruptions, blemishes, and abuses (al which to comprehend in number were Infinitum finito comprehendere) amongst vsus of late daies more than euer were heard of before. I was compelled for the health of their soules, and benefit of my countrey, to take in hand afresh this new tractation, intituled The display of Corruptions, wherein are laid open diuers and sundrie abuses, corruptions, and blemishes crept as well into one sort of men as into another. And hauing finished the same, and committed it to the presse, I stood in suspense, douting to whom I might dedicate the same, as well for the argument, and matter which it handeleth (being a …otch, which some frosen in the dregges of their sinne cannot in any wise abide to be touched) as also for the inhability and indignitie of the author But at the last considering with my selfe the proximitie, the semblance, and neerenesse of the arguments, as well of my first booke of the Anatomie of abuses as also of this the Display of Corruptions, I could doe no lesse than to dedicate the same to your excellent Lordship, to the end, that your Honour (whom the Lord hath made the mirrour of true nobilitie) might see, as it were in a glasse) a briefe summarie of the corruptions and abuses that reigne in these daies. And not onelyonly for this cause was I incited to commit the defense of this little treatise to your Honourable Lordship, but also and in especiall, in demonstration of my thankfull hart, and vnfained goodwill towardes your Honour▪ in that it pleased the same (farre beyond either my desart or expectation) not onelyonly to accept, and take in good part my former simple booke of the Anatomie of Abuses, but also most honourably to shield the same vnderunder the wings and guardance of your Lordships protection. In recompense whereof, if mine habilitie were answerable to my faithfull hart, and goodwill borne to your Honor, then should this present gift be as great, as now by reason of the contrarie it is small and contemptible. And although I may be adiudged of som to be ouer presumptuous in dedicating this booke vntounto your Honour, yet if they will consider, that such treatises as this (and especially in these corrupt daies, wherein no man can abide to heare of his faults) are not to be dedicated to eueryevery one without exception, but to such whom GOD hath blessed (as his glorious name be praised therefore he hath done your Honour) with all graces and gifts. either spirituall, or corporall whatsoeuer. And therfore hauehave I had a special regard, that as this my booke doth discouer and lay open to the view of the world, manie and sundrie corruptions, abuses, and blemishes in eueryevery degree, so I might dedicate the same to one free from all the same blemishes and corruptions, least otherwise it might happily be a pricke to his eies▪ and an offense to his mind. For this (right Honourable and my very good Lord) I hold for a Maxime, that he who is licenciously and dissolutely inclined, can hardly in any sauce brooke or disgest good bookes, which reprooue such things as he so greedily thirsteth after. This maketh many a one of a giltie conscience (when he cannot abide to heare his faults ript vp, bicause he is faultie) to cast away good bookes, and to contemne both them and the authors, who with great studie labour and paines hauehave finished the same for the glorie of GOD▪ and benefit of their country. But had eueryevery one tasted of the fauourable acceptation of their patrones, to whose tuition they commend their labours, as wel as I hauehave of your good Lordships not onelyonly acceptation, but also most bountifull remuneration, they should not neede to feare any refusall of their faithfull good wils in exhibiting good works vntounto their protection and defense. Which thing though I can neuer sufficiently in effect regraciate, yet in affect I will not faile (Christ willing) to the end of my life faithfully to supply. And truly not without great cause am I bound so to doe, and not onelyonly I, but euen all that in any respect hauehave to deale with your honorable Lordship. For what is the common bruit noised of your Honour? Truly this. That your Lordship for gentlenesse and affabilitie (whereof I hauehave tasted to my singular comfort) is surpassing any, in good conscience, merciemercy, and compassion inferiour to none, in noble prowesse, valiancie, & magnanimitie comparable with the best. In wisedome and vnderstanding singular, in zeale to the truth and christian religion famous, in defending of equitie and iustice renowmed. Finally, in all kind of vertue equall with any, so as I will not feare to call your good Lordship a perfect patterne of true nobilitie in all respects. Thus hauing rather as the peinter doth, to draw the lineaments of your Lordships vertues with my rude pensill, than to display the liuely proport on of the whole bodie thereof, which is vnpossible, I will surcease the same For if I should take vponupon me to discipher foorth the whole bodie of your Lordships deserued commendations, I should rather not knowe where to end, than where to begin. But least I might seeme to aggrauate your sacred eares, occupied with grauer and sager matters than these, I will draw to an end, most humbly beseeching your good Lordship to receiue this little treatise into your Honors patronage▪ with like plausible alacritte as your Honor receiued my former dedication. And not only to receiue the same into your Lordships protection, but also to remaine the iust defender thereof against the filthie crew of flowting Momus, and railing Zoilus, with their complices of bragging Thrasos, and wrangling Phormions, to whom as the Greeke prouerbe saith: foreign, It is easier to carp, & to find fault with, than to imitate, or amend. And thus crauing pardon at your good Lordships hand, for this my bold attempt, I most humbly take my leaue, committing your Honor with my good Ladie your wife, and all the rest of your honorable progenie, and aliance to the tuition and protection of the blessed God, who keepe and preserue the same, in his faith, feare, and louelove all the daies of your life, with increase of much honour, and eternall beatitude in the heauens by Iesus Christ.
Your Honors most humble, and Obedient to command, Phillip Stubbes.
The Author to the gentle Reader.
I Am constrained (gentle reader) before I go any further to make this request vntounto thee. That wheresoeuer thou shalt chance in the reading of this little treatise, to finde any faults or escapes either in the print, or in the matter (as there be too many) thou wilt either friendly beare with them, or else curteously amend them with thy penne. And if it be so, that any position or assumption in any part of my boke doe seeme strange vntounto thee (as manye things may doe peraduenture at the first blush, especially being vttered in these dainty daies) that thou wilt of thy friendly curtesie, and zeale which thou bearest to the truth, to the glorie of God, to good letters, and to the edification of the church of GOD, either expunge them with thy penne, qualifie them with the oile of thy fauorable iudgement, or else at the least so to construe & interpret them as they both may stand with the truth, with the time, and with the minde, good meaning, and intent of the author, whose minde was (I call heauen and earth to witnesse) to profit all, and to offend none. And therefore if any bee offended at any thing in this booke, it is Scandalum acceptum, non datum, Offense taken, not giuen. For the auoiding whereof (God is my iudge, who knoweth the secrets of all harts) I hauehave abstained from some things which I ought to hauehave spoken of, and othersome which I hauehave spoken of, I hauehave so qualified, that I may seeme rather to beare with the corruption of the time, than the truth of the cause, aud rather to louelove any thing better than schismes & dissentions in the church of GOD, about matters of small importance. Therefore (good Reader) in christian charitie I beseech thee to respect my simple meaning, which was to set foorth the glorie of Christ Iesus, and the truth of his word, to the edifieng of his militant church vponupon the earth, and withall to consider the marke that I shoot at (namelie, to insinuate the truth, and to weede out all corruptions, &c.) the end, and purpose of my drift, and to defend this little booke against flouting Momus, bragging Thrasos, and wrangling Phormions, Quibus omnia bona odio habentur, to whom al good things are had in contempt. Thus I commit thee to God (most Christian reader) and to the power of his might, who blesse thee with all graces spirituall and corporall in this life, that long maist thou read, and much maist thou profit, and in the end grant thee eternall life in the heauens, thy inheritance purchased with the bodie of Christ Iesus, to whom be praise, glorie, honour, and dominion in all congregations for euer. Amen.
Thine to is power in the Lord to command, Phillip Stubbes.
I.S, in commendation of the Author, and his booke.
THe state of these vnhappie daies,
alas lament we may:
Sith that the same so fraughted are,
with wickednes ech way.
O England deere, my natiue soile,
I sorie am for thee:
For that thou wilt not leaue thy sinne,
and eke repentant bee.
But day by day, from naught to worse,
thou daily dost proceed:
Both temporaltie and clergie they,
to worke sinne hauehave decreed.
Hast thou forgot there is a God,
that wickednesse doth hate:
And who will one day punish it,
in ech degree and state?
And dost thou not remember well,
the dangers manifold:
Wherein of late thou stoodest (alas)
more than can well be told?
And hast tbou also cleane forgot,
and out of mind let fall:
How that the goodnes of thy God,
deliuerd thee from all.
Praise him therefore with hart and voice,
shew not thy selfe vnkinde,
And let not these his mercies great,
fall out of gratefull minde.
His iudgements great are towards thee,
his mercies are much more:
And all to allure thee from thy sinne,
his name be praisd therefore.
Let either thone, or thother then,
mooue thee to leaue thy sinne:
Then God to powre his blessings store,
vponupon thee shall not linne.
Read ouer then this little booke,
and that with single eie:
And thou the state of this our age,
as in a glasse shalt see.
Be warnd therefore, thy life amend,
while thou hast time and space:
That in the end in heauen blisse,
thou maist hauehave thy solace.
Thine in the Lord. I.S.