May we be proud of martial affairs, as of strong Castles sure holds, mighty Bulwarks, great Guns, sharp Spears, swift arrows, two edged swords, innumerable thousands of valiant Soldiers? Howe unapt these things are to have any perfect affiance or trust reposed in them, who so readeth the Histories of the holy Scripture, shall easily perceive.1 Let this one History of the proud Tyrant Holofernes suffice ⟨image 31⟩for this present, which conquering all the world, was at the last moo•t miserably slain of a woman, & all his men put to flight. A king shall not be saved, saith David,2 by his own great host, neither shall a giant be holpen in the abundans of his own strength. A horse is but a deceivable thing to save a man, it is not y• power of his strength, that can deliver him. Behold, the eyes of the LORD are upon them that fear him, & put their trust in his mercy Verily except the LORD build the house,3 he laboureth in vain that buildeth it. Except the LORD keep the city he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.4 What shall we say of the favour of great men? May we glory, boast, & be proud of that? Read the History of Amon, which was so high in his kings favour, that he might do, what he list, kill, save, exalt, depress, lift up, pluck down, and ⟨image 32⟩as we say commonly,5 bind bears, & yet was not he shortly after caste out of favour on such sort that he was immediately hanged on the same gallows, which he had newly prepared for another? May sumptuous mansions and delicate fare cause us to be proud?6 Na verily. For what other thing is costly building, than a great heap of stones gathered together,7 pleasant for the time, but shortly returning again unto dust? As for the most delicious meats that can be gotten, after they be once chewed & digested, what is more vile, more stinking, more unsavoury, less pleasant to the eyes,8 and more odious to the nose? shall I speak of gorgeous apparel and goodly beauty? whereof so many now a days very vainly and no less foolishly boast and glory? Is any thing in them, wherefore we may lift up our bristles, & advance our ⟨image 32⟩selves before other, even the most vile & deformed? I pray you what other thing is gay and gorgeous raiment than a very instrument of pride, as a certain learned man saith.
Maye we be proude of martiall affayres, as of stronge Castelles sure holdes, myghtye Bulwarkes, greate Gunnes, sharpe Speares, swyfte arrowes, two edged sweardes, innumerable thousādes of valeaūte Souldiours? Howe vnapte theise thinges are to haue ony perfecte affiaunce or truste reposed in them, who so readeth the Histories of the holy Scripture, shall easelye perceaue.1 Let this one History of ye proud Tyraunt Holofernes suffice ⟨image 31⟩for this present, which conqueryng all the world, was at the laste moo•t miserably slayne of a woman, & all his men put to flyght. A kynge shal not be saued, saythe Dauid,2 by hys owne great hoost, neyther shal a gyaunt be holpen in the abundans of his owne strength. A horse is but a deceauable thyng to saue a man, it is not y• power of his strength, that can delyuer hym. Beholde, the eies of the LORDE are vpō them yt feare hym, & put theyr trust in his mercy Uerely excepte the LORDE byld the house,3 he labourethe in vayne that bildeth it. Excepte the LORDE kepe the citie he watcheth in vayne that kepeth it.4 What shall we saye of the fauour of great men? May we glory, boste, & be proud of that? Rede ye History of Amon, which was so hye in his kynges fauoure, yt he mighte do, what he lyst, kyll, saue, exalte, depresse, lyfte vp, plucke downe, and ⟨image 32⟩as we saye commonlye,5 bynde beares, & yet was not he shortely after caste oute of fauoure on suche sorte that he was immediately hāged on ye same gallowes, which he had newly prepared for another? Maye sūptuous mansions and delicate fare cause vs to be proude?6 Na verely. For what other thyng is costly byldynge, than a great heape of stones gathered togyther,7 pleasaunt for ye tyme, but shortely returnyng agen vnto duste? As for the moost delicious meates that can be gotten, after they be once chawed & digested, what is more vyle, more stynkyng, more vnsauery, lesse pleasaunt to ye eyes,
- 1Judith. xiii.Iudith. xiii.
- 2Psal. xxxii.
- 3Psal. cxxvi.
- 4Of the favour of great men. Esther. vii.Of the fauour of gret menne. Hester. vii.
- 5Omnium rerum vicis situdo est.
- 6Of sumptuous mansions, & delicate fare.
- 7Note.
- 8Of gorgeous apparel & goodly beauty.Of gorgious apparel & goodly beutye.
