make him learned, but they
make not him good: cunning, but not wise. I say more. The more a
man knowes, the more knowes he that he knowes not: the fuller
the minde is, the emptier it findes it selfe: forasmuch as
whatsoeuer a man can knowe of any science in this worlde is but
the least part of what he is ignorant: all his knowledge
consisting in knowing his ignorance, al his perfection in noting
his imperfections, which who best knowes and notes, is in truth
among men the most wise, and perfect. In short we must conclude
with _Salomon_, that the beginning and end of wisedome is the
feare of God: that this wisedome neuerthelesse is taken of the
world for meere folly, and persecuted by the world as a deadly
enemy: and that as who feareth God, ought to feare no euill, for
that all his euils are conuerted to his good: so neither ought
he to hope for good in the worlde, hauing there the deuil his
professed enemy, whom the Scripture termeth Prince of the world.

But with what exercise soeuer we passe the time, behold old age
vnwares to vs coms vpon vs: which whether we thrust our selues
into the prease of men, or hide vs somewhere out of the way,
neuer failes to find vs out. Euery man makes accompt in that age
to rest himselfe of all his trauailes without further care, but
to keepe himselfe at ease and in health. And see contrariwise in
this age, there is nothing but an after taste of all the fore
going euils: and most commonly a plentifull haruest of all such
vices as in the whole course of their life, hath held and
possessed them. There you haue the vnabilitie and weakenesse of
infancie, and (which is worse) many times accompanied with
authoritie: there you are payed for the excesse and riotousnes
of youth, with gowts, palsies, and such like diseases, which
take from you limme after limme with extreame paine and torment.
There you are recompenced for the trauailes of mind, the
watchings and cares of manhoode, with losse of sight, losse of
hearing, and all the sences one after another, except onely the
sence of paine. Not one parte in vs but death takes in gage to
be assured of vs, as of bad pay-maisters, which infinitely feare
their dayes of payment. Nothing in vs which will not by and by
bee dead: and neuerthelesse our vices yet liue in vs, and not
onely liue, but in despite of nature daily growe yoong againe.
The couetous man hath one foote in his graue, and is yet burieng
his money: meaning belike to finde it againe