A certain Gallant had three Friends: two of them flattered him in his loose humours; if in this, I may not rather call them Enemies: The third, lovingly dissuaded him from his follies: on the two flatterers, he spent his Patrimony; the third he castes off with contempt: his riot and wealth gone, his Friends went too; for they were friends to the Riches, not to the Rich man: Debt was required, he arrested, and the Prison not to be avoided: in this calamity, he studies refuge; hence bethinks himself of his two Friends, of whom he desires relief: the first's answer is cold and short, Alas, I can not spare it, you should have prevented this erst: The other speaks a little more comfort; I have no Money to help you, yet I will bear you company to the Prison-doer, and there leave you: The distressed man finds small satisfaction in all this; therefore as his last refuge, he calls to mind his third Friend, whom he had ever scorned, wronged; and after much wrestling betwixt shame and necessity, he sends to ⟨p. 34⟩him, with no less earnestness, then humility, discovers his exigents, requires help: the Message scarce delivered, he comes with speed, pays the Debt, sets him at liberty, nay repairs the ruins of his estate. The Rioter, is Man; the two flattering Friends, are Riches and Pleasures; these the soul of man embraceth, spends her strength and time, most precious Riches, on them: The third Friend, that rebukes his sins, is Christ; this because distasteful to blood and flesh, without regard to his saving health, is rejected: at last, all the time of Grace spent, the soul (so far) in Gods debt, is arrested by one of Gods Sergeants, Sickness, or Calamity, or an afflicted Conscience; then those Friends begin to slink; Pleasure is gone suddenly, so soon as the Head begins to ache: Riches (perhaps) will offer to go with him to the Prison doer the gates of Death, the preparation to the Grave: the fainting Soul fore-seeing their falsehood, weakness, aggravation of his miseries; with an humbled Heart, remorseful Conscience, Tears in his eyes, Prayers and Cries in his tongue, solicits his neglected Saviour, to pity his distress, and have mercy upon him:
A certaine Gallant had three Friendes: two of them flatter'd him in his loose humours; if in this, I may not rather call them Enemies: The third, louingly desswaded him from his follies: on the two flatterers, he spent his Patrimony; the third he castes off with contempt: his ryot and wealth gone, his Friendes went too; for they were friendes to the Riches, not to the Rich man: Debt was required, hee arrested, and the Prison not to be auoyded: in this calamitie, he studies refuge; hence bethinkes himselfe of his two Friends, of whom he desires reliefe: the first's answere is cold and short, Alas, I can not spare it, you should haue preuented this •arst: The other speakes a litle more comfort; I haue no Money to helpe you, yet I will beare you company to the Prison-doare, and there leaue you: The distressed man findes small satisfaction in all this; therefore as his last refuge, hee calles to minde his third Friend, whom he had euer scorned, wronged; and after much wrastling betwixt shame and necessitie, hee sendes to ⟨p. 34⟩him, with no lesse earnestnesse, then humilitie, discouers his exigents, requires helpe: the Message scarce deliuered, hee comes with speed, payes the Debt, sets him at libertie, nay repayres the ruines of his estate. The Rioter, is Man; the two flattering Friends, are Riches and Pleasures; these the soule of man embraceth, spends her strength and time, most precious Riches, on them: The third Friend, that rebukes his sinnes, is Christ; this because distastefull to blood and flesh, without regard to his sauing health, is reiected: at last, all the time of Grace spent, the soule (so farre) in Gods debt, is arrested by one of Gods Serieants, Sicknesse, or Calamitie, or an afflicted Conscience; then those Friends begin to slinke; Pleasure is gone sodainely, so soone as the Head begins to ake: Riches (perhaps) will offer to goe with him to the Prison doare the gates of Death, the preparation to the Graue: the fainting Soule fore-seeing their falshood, weakenesse, aggrauation of his miseries; with an humbled Heart, remorsefull Conscience, Teares in his eyes, Prayers and Cryes in his tongue, sollicites his neglected Sauiour, to pittie his distresse, and haue mercie vpon him:
