Courteous Reader.

IN the perusall of
this Treatise which
as the Author hath
inlarged and refined
it, is become a new Worke thou
shalt finde such variety of usefull
matter laid downe in an accurate
and methodicall way,
and embellished with such Ornaments
of delightfull illustration,
that it will be hard to say,
whether the Authors Reading
and Paines, or thy Profit and
Delight will exceed: But the
Eare tryeth Words, as the
Mouth tasteth Meat, Job 34. 3. Onely reade it without
prejudice and the Worke will
sufficiently prayse it selfe; if either
Matter or Manner, Argument
or Art can doe it.
Thomas Westfield. D. D.
Daniel Featley. D. D.
Samuel Slater.

To the READER.

NO Humane action can be framed so
perfect, but it shall have some delinquencies;
to prove that more
were in the Comprisor: and it is
almost as easie to finde faults, as to
make them. His bodily presence
say they is meane, and his speech contemptible,
2 Cor. 10. 10. To spie the inconveniences
of a House built, is nothing: but to lay the Plot
well at first, requires the Pate of a good Contriver.
All Alchymists can doe well ill they come
to doing: But there is a further distance from nothing
to the least thing in the World, then between
it and the greatest.
All publique actions are subject to diverse,
and uncertain Interpretations; for a great many
heads judge of them, and Mens censures are
as various as their palats, John 7. Our writings
are as so many dishes; our Readers, Guests.
Books are like faces; that which one admires
another slights. Why? Some will condemne

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what they doe as little understand as they doe
themselves: Others, the better a thing is, the
lesse they will like it. They hate him saith
Amos that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhorre
him that speaketh uprightly, Amos 5.
10. You know Herods festered Conscience
could not endure John Baptists plaister of
truth; A galled backe, loves not the curry-Combe;
A deformed Face, loathes the true
Glasse: Yea, as nothing is more bitter than Hony
to him that hath the Jaundise, so nothing more
hatefull to the desperately wicked, than good
Counsell: with Balaam, they grudge to be staied
in the way to death, and fly upon those that oppose
their perdition. And how should they other
then miscarry, who have a Pirate the Flesh for
their guide? So that if a Man should observe the
Winde of Applause, he should never Sow, or regard
the Clouds of Aspersion, he should never
Reape. But I had rather hazard the Censure of
some, then hinder the good of others: Wherefore
I have added the former selected flowers,
as many more, whence any sedulous Bee may
loade himselfe with Hony.
To fore-relate their variety, and severall
worths, were to imitate an Italian Host, meeting
you on the way, and promising before-hand, your
fare and entertainment. Wherefore let it please
you to see and allow your cheare. Onely, in
generall: my Book is a feast; wherein wholesomenesse
strives with pleasantnesse, and variety
with both. Each Chapter is a severall dish,
stuft full of notable sayings and examples for
that's the meate by which a Man may not onely
become more eloquent, but more wise; not alone,
able to say well, but to doe well; for quaint and
elegant Phrases on a good subject, are baits, to
make an ill Man vertuous. Pithy Sentences, curious
Metaphors, witty Apophthegmes, sweet
Similitudes, and Rhetoricall Expressions
which Aristotle would have, as it were, sprinkled
in the most serious discourses are to the minde,
as Musicke to the body; which next to sleep
is the best recreation. Or as pleasant and delectable
Sauce, which gives a more savory taste to
wholsome and profitable Divinity. And thou
shalt finde but few here, which are not both sinewy,
and sharpe: mucrones verborum, pointed speeches;
either fit to teach, or forcible to perswade,
or sage to advise and forewarne; or
sharpe to reprove, or strong to confirme, or
piercing to imprint.
But alas! most Men regard not what is written,
but who writes; valew not the Metall, but the
Stampe which is upon it. If the Man likes them
not, nor shall the matter. To these, I say little, as
they deserve little: and turne my speech to all that
reserve themselves open, and prepared, to receive
each profitable instruction, and continuall amendment;
to the Ingenuous Reader, that sucks

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Hony from the selfe same flower which the Spider
doth poyson; wishing him to conne that out of
this Treatise, which he did not know before;
and well note what speakes to his own sinne: And
perhaps he may, in this short journey make more
true gaine, then Salomons Navy did from
Ophir, or the Spanish fleet from the West-Indies;
for in so doing, he shall greatly increase
his knowledge, and lessen his vices. In a few
dayes he may reade it, and ever after, be the better
for it.
But me thinks I am too like a carelesse Porter;
which keeps the guests without dores, till they
have lost their stomackes; wherefore I will detaine
you no longer in the Porch, but unlock the
dore, and let you in.