HEAVENLY MAN

God careth for his as the Prophet David doth say, And preserveth them under his merciful wing: The Heavenly I mean, that his will do obey, and observe his holy commandments in all thing. Yet not for our sakes, nor for our deserving. But for his own name sake openly to declare: that all men here on Earth ought to live in his fear. Yes certainly Sir, that is my name, Unworthy of any such title I do confess: God grant that I may deserve the same, And that my faults I may amend and redress. Therefore now the truth do you here express, Is not the Worldly man your name? Like as Gold and silver is tried in the fire, So faithful men in the furnace of adversity be proved: The heavenly must not live as flesh and lust doth desire, But heavenly things of heavenly men be loved. With no kind of temptation he must be moved. Be it sickness or poverty, or what so ever of God is sent: The heavenly must take it patiently and be therewith continued ̄ tent To be angry without a cause, w to out mends must be eased We will be more earnest then ever we were now. Woe (says our Saviour) to those that are rich, Which therein only have their consolation: He curseth them not be cause they have much, but because they receive it not with contentation. Building therewith to them selves a good foundation, That is to lay here on Earth treasure great store: to purchase a kingdom that lasteth ever more. I have been yung (says David ) and now am old, Yet the righteous forsaken I never did see: Nor their seed begging Bred I did not behold, Therefore your mind to the Prophets doth not agree, Cast all thy burden and care (says Christ) on me. And I will provide to keep Thee from danger and strife: Only seek thou to live a godly and good life. If this be true as undoubtedly it is, What men are more wicked, wretched and miserable: Then those that in riches account their bliss, Being infected with Ambition that sickness uncurable. Though the Worldly man do follow their lust, Crying on Earth is our felicity and pleasure: Yet God doth so rule the hearts of the Just, That their study is, chiefly to get Heavenly treasure. Alas why should you not have that in estimation, Which God hath prepared for his déer elect: Should not our minds rest in full contentation, Having trust in that treasure most high in respect, Saint Paul whom the Lord so high doth erect. Says, it passes the sense, our memories and mind: Much less can our outward eyes the same find. As for the treasure that you possess here, Through fickleness of Fortune soon fades away: The greatest of renown and most worthy Peer, Sometime in the end falls to misery and decay. Record of Dionisius a King of much fame, Of the valiant Alexander, and Ceaser the strong: Record of Tarquinus which Superbus had to name: And of Heliogabalus that ministered with wrong, To resite them all it would be very long. But these be sufficient plainly to prove: How soon and uncertainly riches doth remove. Oh you ancient men whom God hath furnished w to fame, Be you always mindful to walk in the ways of the Just, And and ever more virtue to your honest name, And at no hand be over come with covetous or lust, But in Gods holy promise put confidence and trust. And then double felicity at the last we shall possess: And then in all Earthly doings God shall give good success You poor men and commons walk in your vocation, Banish found fantasies which are not convenient: Settle your minds with enough to have contentation, Considering that that leads to treasures most excellent, For these are uncertain, but they are most parmanent. Your necessity apply with treasure, faith and trust: And you shall have enough always among the Just. Give me your hand then together let us depart: God grant his end, example may be, To all men how their riches they shall use: Make not that thy God, which should be servant unto Thee, For in so doing thou dost it greatly abuse. I pray God (I say) that our covetous we may refuse, And one of us to Love and other, for that pleases God dest: So shall we be sure to inheret the good land of rest. Thanks be given to Thee Oh Father omnipotent, Thy mercies Lord, and not my deserts truly: Hath caused those joys to me to be sent, Grant me grace therefore to praise thy name duly. Thy goodness appeareth to me every day newly. Whilst breath and life prolong my days: My mouth shall not cease thy holy name to praise: O how hard a thing and difficult it is, For them that in their riches do trust: To enter into the kingdom of Heaven or bliss, The words of our Saviour to be true grant we must, it is as easy for a Cammel through and Needles eye to thrust? As for him that on riches hath fixed his mind: The way to eternal salvation to find. Example Hero you see with your eyes, Of the worldly man given to vain pleasure: He promised you herd, from sin to arise. And said he would not Love neither money nor treasure. But as he ought to Love it, that is in a endue measure. But behold how quickly his promise he hath broke: Whereby he kindleth Gods wrath against him to smoke. For now hath he entertained to him Temerity Precipitation and heady Inconsideration: These cause him to work all things hedely, And covet to be had in reputation. Then covetous disguiseth him self on such a fashion. That as Seneca says, he doth good to no man: But hurt, & most to him self as time shall prove when. Exit.