❧ A premonition for every disposition: Published for the profit of all if it be well applied. By Charles Gybbon.  
❧ TO THE READER  
Art thou 

Jnsolent, or ignorant of thy estate,  
Jnticed, or inclined to evil,  
Jntangled, or overcome of evil.   behold 

Thy apparent misery.  
God's pronounced judgement.  
God's promised mercy.   And it may 

Humble thee in presuming.  
Terrify thee in attempting.  
Comfort thee in despairing.    

A Map of man's misery.  I know mine own wickedness, and my sin is ever before me. Psal. 51. 3. 

WHat is man, whereto serveth he? Ecclus, 18, 6  
He is like a thing of nought. Psalm, 144, 4  
He is made of the dust of the ground. Gene, 2, 7,  
He is shapen in wickedness and conceived in sin. Psalms, 51, 5,  
He is by nature the Child of wrath. Ephe, 2, 3,  
He is by his own knowledge but a beast. Jere, 51, 7,  
He cannot of himself think a good thought. 2, Cor, 3,  
The earth was cursed for his sin. Gene, 3, 17,  
Dum creatures are destroyed for his cause. Zeph. 1. 3  
It repented the Lord that he had made man. Gene, 6, 6,  
He is borne unto travail as the sparks fly upward. job. 5, verse 7,  
His days are sorrows and his travail grief. Eccles, 2, 23,  
His glory is but dung and worms. 1, Mala, 2, 62  
His help is but vain. Psalms, 60, 11,  
His time is like the shadow upon the earth. 1, Chro, 29, 15,  
His life is but a span long. Psal. 39, 6,  
When he hath done his best he is but an unprofitable Servant. Luke, 17, 10,    

A Mirror of God's justice.  If thou o Lord straightly markest iniquities who shallbe saved. Psal. 130. 3. 

IT is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. Heb. 10,  
As his mercy is great so is his punishment. Ecclus, 16, 12  
He is a great God mighty and terrible. Deu, 10, 17,  
He is a God of revenge. Deut, 32, 35  
He is able to cast both body and soul into hell. Math, 10  
If a man sin against the Lord who shall plead for him. 1, Sam, 2, 25,  
Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense (saith the Lord) Deut. 32, 35,  
Every man shall have reward according to his work. Ap. 22  
The reward of sin is death. Rom, 6, 23  
He that committeth sin is of the devil. 1, Ioh, 3, 8  
The face of the Lord is against such as do evil. 1, Pet, 3, 12,  
There shallbe no end of plagues to the evil man. Pro, 24, 20  
He spared not the Angels that had sinned, but cast them in to utter darkness. 2, Pet, 2, 4,  
He destroyed Kings for all they be as Gods upon the earth. Acts, 12, 23,  
He punished rich men for all they had the wealth of this world. Luke, 16, 23,  
For with him is no respect of persons. Act, 10, 34,    

A mention of his mercy.  According to the multitude of thy mercies put away mine iniquities. Psal. 51. 1. 

IT is better to fall into the hands of God then of men, (for his mercies are great.) 2, Sam, 24, 14  
As his greatness is so is his mercy. Ecclus, 2, 21,  
He is a gracious God and a merciful. Micha, 4, 2  
He is a God of patience and consolation. Rom, 15, 5  
He is rich in mercy. Ephe, 2, 4,  
His mercy is above all his works. Psalms, 145, 9,  
He is ready to forgive. Esay, 55, 7,  
Before they cry I will hear, and whilst they are yet thinking what to speak I will answer (saith the lord) Esa, 65, 25  
He taketh no pleasure in the death of sinners. Ezech, 18, 32  
He maketh as though he saw not the sins of men, because they should amend. Wysd, 11, 20  
He sent his own son to call sinners to repentance. Mat, 9, 13  
Though sin aboundeth, grace superaboundeth. Rom, 5, 15  
He pardoned David for all he had commiteed both whoredom and murder. 2, Sam, 12, 13  
He received the prodigal son into favour again. Luke, 15, 22  
He received the thief into Paradise for all he was a most heinous malefactor. Luke. 23. 43  
For at what time a sinner doth heartily repent him, the Lord hath promised to forgive him. Ezech. 18. 21. 22.    

Our life we lead Gods laws to learn, with will to do the same:  
We read to know, and know to live, and live to praise God's name.   

❧ A caveat for richmen: Be rich in Faith.  
¶ To the end you may use and bestow your goods to your own good, and his glory that gave them, consider of these sentences pronounced against such as abuse them. And  
Amongst others, read 

Esay, chap. 5. verse. 8.  
Amos, chap. 8. verse. 4.  
james. chap. 5. verse. 1.   Like Sheep they lie in grave, Death devoureth them. Psalm. 49. 14.  

¶ Special causes to dehort you from such greediness in gathering, and griplenes in keeping your goods.  
1. The desire of money is the root of all evil. 1. Tim. 6. 10.  
2. A man's life standeth not in his goods though he have abundance. Luk. 12. 15  
3. When he dieth he shall carry nothing away with him. Psalm. 49. 14. 17  
4. His goods will not avail him in the day of wrath. Prou. 11. 4.   

¶ Having goods, you ought to give and do good with them, partly to this end.  
1. For the glory of God. Honour GOD with thy riches. Proverbs. 3. 9  
2. For good example to others. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works. Math. 5. 16.  
3. For a sign of the sincerity of your procession.  
A good Tree bringeth forth good fruit. Math. 7. 18. james. 2. 18.   
If you would know to whom you should give, read 

job, chap. 31. verse, 16.  
Esay, chap. 58. verse, 7,  
Luke, chap. 14. verse, 13.   Zacheus gave the one half of his goods to the poor. Luke. 19 verse 8.  
Why you ought to give to the poor. 

Because God hath commanded ye should give. Deu. 15. 10.  
Give to the poor for commandment sake. Ecclus. 29. 9  
Because he hath made them as his instruments to try your hearts & charity, as appeareth. Deu. 15. 11. Mat. 26. 11    
How you ought to bestow your benevolence. It must be done 

Simply.  
cheerfully.  
Liberally.   

For GOD loveth no vain ostentation. Math. 6. 2.  
For he loveth a cheerful giver. Ecclus. 35. 10  
For it is a plague to a rich man to want a liberal heart. Eccles. 6. 1. 2. etc.    

¶ What good ensueth in giving to the poor.  
1. He that giveth to them dareth to the lord. Pro. 19 17. and shall not lack. Pro. 20. 27  
2. He layeth up a good store for himself against the day of necessity. Tob, 4, 9  
3. He shall have great reward in heaven. Math. 25. 40.   

¶ What hurt followeth by withholding from such.  
1. He that hideth his eyes from them shall have many curses. Pro. 28. 27.  
2. If they curse thee in the bitterness of their soul their prayer shallbe heard. Ecclus. 4  
3. He that stoppeth his ear at their cry, shall cry and not be heard. Pro. 21. 13.  
4. He that showeth no mercy, shall have merciless condemnation. jam. 2. 13.   

¶ Therefore do good whilst ye may, remembering this saying.  
What shall it advantage a man to win the whole world, and afterward lose his own soul. Luke. 9 25.    

❧ A comfort for Poormen: Be poor in spirit.  
¶ To the end thou mayst bear thy poverty more patiently, enter into this consideration.  

1. Hast thou not a house to hold thy head in. Our Saviour Christ himself had not whereon to rest his head. Math. 8. 20.  
2. Hast thou little food or raiment. Paul suffered hunger & cold, & yet (saith he) I have learned in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content. Phil. 4.  
3. Hast thou any thing at all. Solomon saith, better is a little with the fear of GOD, then great treasure and trouble therewith. Prou. 15. 16.  
4. Hast thou nothing at all. David saith, he that seeketh the Lord shall lack no manner of thing that is good. Psalm. 34. 10.  
5. Hast thou a few crosses and cares in this world. We must by many enter the kingdom of heaven. Acts. 14. 22.  
6. Hast thou many miseries & afflictions. All that we suffer here are not counted worthy the glory of the life to come. Rom. 8. 18.   
Thy poverty may be laid upon thee 

For trial of thy faith & patience,  
For thine amendment.   As it was upon 

job. job. 1.  
The prodigal son.    

¶ Seeing poverty and riches come of God, use these three things in thy extremity.  
1. Prayer. Not to despair of God's providence. For he is faithful, & will lay no more upon thee than he will make thee able to bear. 1. Cor. 10. 13.  
2. Patience. to take thy cross thankfully. For it is an easy thing in his sight, suddenly to make a poor man rich. Ecclus. 11. 21.  
3. Labour. to get thy living if it be possible. For better it were to die than beg. Ecclus. 40. 28 and it is a blessed thing to give rather than receive. Act. 20. 35.   

¶ If thou dost consider what inconveniences and evils be incident, and come oftentimes with prosperity and riches, thou wouldst be better contented with thy poor estate.  
David said in his prosperity he should not be moved. Psalm. 30. 6.  
Riches often times 

Withdraw us from well doing.  
Move us to security.  
Be the means of our misery.   as appear by the parble of 

The young man. Mar. 10.  
The rich man. Luk. 12.  
Dives and Lazarus.    
hereof it is said. A rich man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven. Mat. 19 23.   

¶ Therefore comfort thyself with these consolations, remembering this saying:  
Godliness is great riches if a man be content with that he hath. 1. Tim. 6. 6.     

AT LONDON Printed by I. C. for Thomas Gubbin. Anno. Dom. 1588.