4. SACRIFICE. A Thankesgiuing for all those benefits which we reape by the ascension of Christ.
LIft vp your eies (O you sonnes of Adam) and beholde your Sauiour ascending vp into the clouds: bitter was his death, his resurrection victorious, but his ascension glorious. He died like a Lamb, he rose againe like a Lion, but hee ascended like an Egle. By his death did he quicken vs to life: By his resurrection did he raise vs to faith: By his ascension did he lift vs vp to glorie. The resurrection of Christ is our hope, but the ascension of Christ is our glorification. He ascended into heauen; but how? he shut not the gates of heauen vppon vs, but of purpose went thither to make the way plaine before vs. His bodie is in heauen, but his maiesty abides vpon earth. Here hee was once according to the flesh, and here he is still according to his diuinitie. Absent is Christ from vs, yet is he still present with vs. Wouldst thou see him? Wouldst thou touch him? Wouldst thou embrace him? Thine eies haue sight too weake to pierce thorow the clouds; his brightnes is too great, and would strik thee blind with dazeling: thy hands are too short to reach vp to the seat where he sits; and thine armes not of compasse bigge enough to bee throwne about his bodie. But let thy faith open her eyes, for shee can behold him: let thy faith put out her hand, and with the least finger she can touch him. As our forefathers held him in the flesh, so we must hold him in our hearts. By his ascending vp into heauen are we sure that he is the very Son of God: for none can ascend thither, but hee that comes from thence. Celebrate therefore this his ascension with faith, and with deuotion, and thou shalt presently be in heauen with him. There he sitteth at the right hand of his father, like an Atturney in our behalf, pleading for mercy; and like a petitioner, stil preferring vp our prayers and complaints to his heauenly father. How happy is man to haue such a speaker for him? How miserable were man, if Christ were not his Intercessiour? Sithence then that our Redeemer hath begunne so happie and glorious a voyage, onely to kindle in vs an ambition to follow him; let vs therefore hoist vp all the sailes of duetie and obedience, of zeale and holinesse, to arriue in that same hauen. The ladder which must reach vp to heauen, and by which wee must climb, hath many steps of righteousnes; the burdens which keepe vs from getting vp, are infinite in number, and they are our sinnes. Giue vs strength, O Lord, to throw them down. Giue vs grace to lay hold on the other. The reward of this conquest shal be ours; the glory shal be thine: the path which we must tread to the land of happines is beaten out by thy Sonne, but our welcome must be from thy lippes. Say therefore vnto vs, come you blessed: enter the citie of the Lord; fall downe before his Throne, and cry, Glory, glory, glory, now and to the worlds end. Amen.
5. SACRIFICE. A Thanksgiuing for all those benefits which we are to receiue by Christs comming in glory.
BEhold the gates of heauen stand wide open: Armies of Angels are mustred together, the Apostles keepe their places, the Euangelists their offices, the Saints their degrees and all are attendant vpon our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus; who sittes vpon a Throne of maiesty, and is comming to iudge the world. The wicked at sight of this tremble, and call for mountaines to couer them; but the godlie reioyce and are proud of this high day of triumph. The Goats howle, for they are to be sent to hell, with Goe you cursed; but the Lambes skippe vp and downe for ioy that they shall heare a voice crie, Come you blessed. Who therefore would not put on his wedding garment to meete such a bridegroome? Who would not put on the Armor of faith, to fight vnder such a banner? Vpon this daie shall we behold him that in himselfe is Alpha and Omega: In the world is the maker and the maintainer: In his Angels is their power and their beautie: In the Church is as a father to a Family: In our soules as a bridegroom to a bride: To the iust as a bulwarke: To the reprobate as a Battry. What eie hath seene, what eare hath heard, what vnderstanding can comprehend the excellencies of this heauenly Citie; from whence the King of it (so ful of Maiestie) comes in person, and in progresse to conduct vs thither? There is security without feare; peace without inuasion; wealth without diminishing; honours without enuie: there is all blessednes, all sweetenes, all life, all eternity. Thy hunger shall there be filled with bread of life; thy thirst with the fountaine of goodnesse; thy nakednesse clothed with a garment of immortalitie. The comforts wee shall receiue vpon this blessed day of peace are, that wee shall see and behold our God, who hath created vs; our Lord Iesus, who hath redeemed vs; and the holy Ghost that hath sanctified vs. Come therefore speedily, O God, for thine Elects sake hasten to this great and generall Sessions: and grant, O mercifull Father, that our accounts may bee found so iust, that we may receiue the rewards of good Stewards. Make vs, O LORD, to be Doues in our liues, innocent and without gall: to be Eagles in our meditations, cleere sighted, and bold to looke vpon thee: to be Pellicans in our workes, charitable and religious: and last, to be as the Phoenix in our deaths, that after we haue slept in our graues, wee may rise vp in ioy with thy Son. Ascend with him vp into heauen, and there at thy hands receiue an immortal crowne of euerlasting glory. Amen.
FINIS.
Short and pithie Sentences, fit to be applied to those purposes, for which the former Prayers are made.
1. GOd is to thee all things: if thou art hu¯gry he is thy bread; if thou art thirsty, he is thy drinke; if thou art in darkenes, he is thy light; if in nakednes, he puts vpon thee the garment of immortality. Aug.
2. God the true and only life: in whom and from whom, and by whom all good things are, that are good indeede. God; from whom to be turned, is to fal; to whom to turne, is to rise again; in whom to abide, is to dwell for euer. God; from whom to depart, is to die: to whom to come againe, is to reuine: and in whom to lodge, is to liue. Idem.
3. Whatsoeuer is not of God, hath no sweetenesse: Whatsoeuer he wil giue me, let him take all away, so he giues mee onely himselfe. Idem.
4. God in himselfe is Alpha & Omega, (beginning & ending) In the world, he is the Ruler: In Angels hee is their Glorie: In the Church, hee is as a Father in his Family: in the soule as a Bridegroome in his bed chamber: in the good, hee is as a helper and protector: in the wicked as feare and horrour. Idem.
5. If God heare our prayers, he is merciful: if he will not heare them, yet is he iust.
6 God is length, bredth, heigth, and depth. Hee is length in his Eternity: bredth in Charity: heigth in Maiestie: depth in Wisdome. Bernard.
7. Hast thou a desire to walke? I am the way (saith Christ:) Wouldst thou not be deceiued? I am the truth: Wouldst thou not die? I am the life. Aug.
8. No man can take Christ from thee, vnlesse thou takest thy selfe from him. Ambrose.
9. Christ (our Redeemer) in his birth was a man: in his death a lamb: in his resurrection a Lion: in his ascension vp to heauen an Eagle. Greg.
10. Christ is honny in the mouth, musicke in the eare, and gladnesse in the heart. Bernard.
11. In Christs doctrine is found true wisedome: in Christs mercie is found iustice: in his life is found temperance: in his death is found courage. Idem.
12. Christ is so much the more worthie of honour amongst men, by how much he suffred the more dishonor in the behalfe of men. Gregorie.
O man, see what I suffer for thee. There is no griefe comparable to this of mine on the crosse: I that die for thee, cry vnto thee: see what punishments I endure, see how I am nailed, and how I am pierced. If my outward sorowes be so great, the grief that is within me must needs bee greater, because I find thee vnthankefull. Bernard.
14. In vaine doeth hee weare the name of a Christian who is not a follower of Christ. What good is it for thee to bee taken for that which thou art not? and to vsurpe a title which is not thine owne? if needs thou wilt bee a Christian, doe those things that belong to Christianity, and then challenge the name. Augustine.
15. Hee is a Christian, that euen in his owne house acknowledgeth himselfe to be a stranger. Our countrie is aboue: in that Inne we shal not be guests. Idem.
16. A Christian can take no hurt by beeing throwne into [Turkish] captiuity; for euen in those his fetters, wil his God come to him. Idem.
17. A Christian is not so much to stand vpon beginning, as vpon the end. Gregory.
18. Thou art a fresh-water souldier (O thou that art a Christian) if thou hopest to ouercome without a battell, or to triumph without a victorie. Chrysostome.
19. It is not such an honour to bee good amongst those that are good, but to bee good amongst them that are euill. Gregorie.
20. A godly conuersation ouercommeth thine enemie, edifieth thy neighbour, and glorifieth thy maker. Isidore.
21. Hee that waiteth on Christ, must bee of such a conuersation, that his outward manners may bee but the glasse to shew the inward mind. Bernard.
22. Such as wee are our selues, in such companie wee delight. Hierom.
23. Our lookes and our eyes cannot put on maskes close euough to hide a bad conscience: for the wantonnesse of the mind is drawen in the face, and the actions of the bodie, betray the conditions of the soule. Idem.
24. Woe to the heart that is double, it giueth one halfe to God, and another to the diuell. God (being angry that the diuell hath a share in it) giueth away his part too, and so the diuell hath all to himselfe. Augustine.
25. The heart of the glutto¯ is in his belly: of the adulterer in his lust: of the couetous man, in his vsurie. Idem.
26. Amongst men, the heart is weighed by the words; but with God, our words are weighed by the heart. Bernard.
27. Let not thy face and thy heart be of two colors: thy face lookes vpward, let not thy heart looke downward. Idem.
28. The heart hath foure offices to look to, viz. What to loue, what to feare, what to reioyce in, and for what to bee sad. Idem.
29. Amongst all the creatures that liue vnder the Sunne, there is none hath a heart more excellent then that of man, nor more noble, nor more like to God: and that is the reason that God asketh nothing at thy hands, but thy heart. Hugo.
30. The heart of man is of it selfe but little, yet great things cannot fill it: it is not big enough at one meale to satisfie a bird, and yet the whole world cannot satisfie that. Idem.
31. The diuell hath a will to hurt, but not power because a greater controles this; for if hee should doe asmuch hurt as hee desireth to doe, there would not be left one righteous man liuing. Augustine.
32. The diuels seruice is the worst of all others, because he is neuer pleased with any duetie is done to him. Gregory.
33. Where discord dwels, God neuer commeth neere the dore. Aug.
34. As God taketh delight in nothing so much as in loue: so the diuell taketh pleasure in nothing more then in the death of charitie. Gregory.
35. No miserie is greater then to leaue God for the loue of gold. Hierom.
36. What good can a chest full of riches do thee, if thou cariest about thee an emptie conscience? Thy desire is to haue goods, but not to bee good. Blush therefore at thy wealth, for if thy house be ful of goods it hath a master to it that is naught. What profit doth a rich man get by that which he hath, if hee haue not God too, who is the giuer? Hierome.
37. The disease of riches is pride. Idem.
38. Riches are not sin, but it is sin, not to let the poore haue a part in them. August.
39. So liue, that whatsoeuer thou doest, may bee as if it were done in presence of thine enemie.
40. There is nothing more high then humilitie, which (as if it were alwaies in the superior) knoweth not how to be extolled higher Amb.
41. Our contrie is aloft, the way to it is below: if then thou wouldst trauell vpward, why doest thou goe out of the path that leadeth thee thither? [which path is humilitie.] Aug.
42. Humilitie is a glorious robe, which pride her selfe doeth desire to put on, lest she should bee disdained. Bernard.
43. It is more honour to auoid an iniurie by silence, then to get the better of it by words. Gregory.
44 If thou wouldst bee reuenged, onely hold thy to¯gue: & thou giuest thine enemy amortal wou¯d. Chr.
45. He that maketh his belly his god, maketh to himselfe a new God. So many sinnes as wee haue, so many gods wee haue. I am angrie: anger is then my god. I haue seene a woma¯, & haue lusted after her; I make lust my god. Whatsoeuer we desire and make much of, that we make our God. Hierome.
46. When man is proud, it is a great miserie; but when God is humble, it is a greater mercie.
FINIS.
THE GULS HORNE-BOOKE
Stuliorum plena junt omnia.
Al Sauio meza parola, Basta.
By T. Deckar.
Imprinted at London for R. S.
1609.
TO ALL GULS IN GENERALL, WEALTH AND LIBERTIE.
WHOM can I choose (my most worthie Mecaen-asses) to be Patrons to this labour of mine fitter the¯ your selues? your hands are euer open, your purses neuer shut. So that you stand not in the Common Rancke of Dry-fisted Patrons, (who giue nothing) for you giue all. Schollers therefore are as much beholden to you, as Vintners, Players and Puncks are. Those three trades gaine by you more then Vsurers do by thirty in the hundred: You spend the wines of the one, you make suppers for the other, and change your Gold into White-money with the third. Who is more liberall then you? who (but onely Cittizens) are more free? Blame me not therefore if I pick you out from the bunch of Booke-takers, to consecrate these fruits of my braine (which shall neuer die) onely to you. I know that most of you (O admirable Guls!) can neither write nor reade. A Horne-booke haue I inuented, because I would haue you well schooled. Powles is your WALKE; but this your Guid: if it lead you right, thanke me: if astray, men will beare with your errors, because you are Guls. Fare-well.
T. D.
TO THE READER.
GENTLE Reader, I could willingly be content that thou shouldest neither be at cost to buy this booke, nor at the labour to reade it. It is not my ambition to bee a man in Print, thus euery Tearme; Ad praelum, tanquàm ad praelium; Wee should come to the Presse as we come to the Field (seldome.) This Tree of Guls was planted long since, but not taking roote, could neuer beare till now. It hath a relish of Grobianisme, and tastes very strongly of it in the beginning. The reason thereof is, that hauing translated many Bookes of that into English Verse, and not greatly liking the Subiect, I altred the Shape, and of a Dutchman, fashioned a meere Englishman, it is a Table wherein are drawne sundry Pictures: the callors are fresh: if they bee well laid on, I thinke my workmanship well bestowed: if ill, so much the better, because I draw the pictures onely of Guls.
T. D.
PRAEMIUM.
I Sing (like the Cuckooe in Iune) to bée laught at: if therefore I make a scuruy noise, and that my tunes sound vnmusically (the Ditty being altogether lame in respect of the bad féete, and vnhansome in regard of the worme-eaten fashion) you that haue authority vnder the broad seale of mouldy custom, to be called the Gentle Audience, set your goodly great hands to my pardon: or else because I scorne to be vpbraided that I professe to instruct others in an Art, whereof I my selfe am ignorant, Doe your worst: chuse whether you will let my notes haue you by the eares or no: hisse or giue plaudities, I care not a nut-shell which of either: you can neither shake our Comick Theater with your stinking breath of hisses, nor raise it wt the thunder claps of your hands: vp it goes in Despetto del fato: ye motley is bought, & a coat with foure elbowes (for any one that will weare it) is put to making in defiance of the seuen wise maisters: for I haue smelt out of the musty shéetes of an old Almanacke, that (at one time or other) euen he that iets vpon the neatest and sprucest leather, euen he that talkes all Adage & Apothegme, even he that will not haue a wrinckle in his new Satten suit, though his mind be vglier then his face, and his face so ill fauoredly made, that he lookes at all times as if a tooth-drawer were fumbling about his gommes with a thousand lame Heteroclites more, that cozen the world with a guilt spurre, and a ruffled boote, will be all glad to fit themselues in Will Somme• his wardrob, and be driuen (like a Flemish Hoy in foule weather) to slip into our Schoole, and take out a lesson. Tush, Caelum p•timus stultitia, all that are chosen Cunstables for their wit go not to heauen.
A fig ther
efore for the new found Colledge of Criticks. You Courtiers that do nothing but sing the Gamuth-Are of complementall courtesie, and at the rusticall behauiour of our Countrie Muse, will skrew forth worse faces then those which God and the Painter has bestowed vpon you, I defie your perfumd scorne: and vow to poyson your Muske cats, if their ciuet excrement doe but once play with my nose. You ordinary Gulles, that through a poore and silly ambition to be thought you inherit the reuenues of extraordinary wit will spend your shallow censure vpon the most elaborate Poeme, so lauishly, that all the painted table-men about you, take you to be heires apparant to rich Midasle, that had more skill in Alchimy, then Kelly with the Phylosophers stone: (for all that he could lay his fingers on, turned into heaten gold) dry Tobacco with my leaues (you good dry brained Polipragmonists) till your pipe offices smoake with your pittifully stinking girds shot out against me. I coniure you (as you come of the right Goose-caps) staine not your house; but when at a new play you take vp the twelue-penny roome next the stage, (because the Lords & you may seeme to be haile fellow wel met) there draw forth this booke, read alowd, laugh alowd, and play the Antickes, that all the garlike mouthd stinkards may cry out, Away with the Foole: As for thée Zoylus, goe hang thy selfe: and for thée Momus chew nothing but hemlock, & spit nothing but the sirrup of Aloes vpon my papers, till thy very rotten lungs come forth for anger. I am Snake-proofe: and though with Hanniball you bring whole hogs-heads of vinegar railings, it is impossible for you to quench or come ouer my Alpine-resolution: I will saile boldly and desperately alongst the shore of ye Ile of Guls: & in defiance of those terrible blockhouses their loggerheads, make a true discouery of their wild (yet habitable) Country.
Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker Page 226