Horæ succisivæ, or, Spare-houres of meditations upon our duty to [brace] God, others, our selves / by Ios. Henshaw.

Horae Succisivae , OR SPARE-HOVRES of MEDITATIONS .

MAke God the first and last of all thy actions : so beginne that thou maist have him in the end , otherwise I doubt whether it had beene better thou hadst not begun .

That we brought nothing into this world , is not more every where knowne , than it is of every one beleeved ; but that wee shall carry nothing out of this world , is a sentence better knowne than trusted , otherwise I thinke men would take more care to live well , than to dye rich .

Wealth is not the way to heaven , but the contrary ; all my care shall bee how to live well , and I am sure I shall never dye poore .

Sleepe is but deaths elder brother , and death is but a sleepe nicknam'd ; why should I more feare to goe to my grave than to my bed , since both tend to my rest : when I lye downe to sleepe , I will thinke it my last , and when I rise againe , account my life not continued but restor'd .

Too much labour toyles the body , too much looking the minde : I will deale for my study as for my stomacke , ever rise with an appetite , lest if I once surfet , I ever loath it .

How hard it is for a man to forget his sinne , or remember his God , not to doe that evill which he should not , and not to leave undone that good which hee should doe , every man can tell by experience . I were no man , if I had no sinne , but if I am a Christian I must not delight in sin ; if I cannot avoyd some sinnes , yet I will stand in none .

To doe any thing to thinke to be talk'd of , is the vainest thing in the world ; to give almes and aske who sees , loseth the prayse and the reward : I may be seen to give , I will not give to be seene , that others are witnesse to my piety is not my fault , nor my praise ; I will never bee so ill a friend to my selfe to sell heaven for vaine-glorie .

The obedience of good children proceeds not from feare , but love ; it is a very bad nature will doe nothing without blowes ; to turne to our vomit as soone as God is turn'd from his rod , and aske who is the Lord till a new plague , is a state I know not whether more to be feared or pittied : if I cannot avoyd correction , I will mend with it ; not bee beaten twice for the same fault .

I know not which is worse ; the bearer of tales or the receiver , for the one makes the other : I will no lesse hate to tell then to heare slaunders : If I cannot stop others mouthes , I will stop my owne eares . The receiver is as bad as the thiefe .

With God a Publican goes beyond a Pharisie , a sigh or a groane , that cannot bee uttered , beyond a long prayer with ostentation : Care not how long , or how lowd thy prayer be , but how hearty .

Woman was first given to man for a helpe , since for a remedy , what shall we thinke of those , that turne the remedy into a disease , and hold it in all cases for some , and in some cases for all , not onely dangerous but damnable to marry ; what is this but to teach God what Hee hath to doe ? I have ever counted it safe and wise to leave that indifferent which God hath left so .

GOD cannot endure a Pharisee that saies and doth not : with His disciples , saying and doing must not bee two mens offices ; if thou canst doe but little , promise the lesse ; so though thou maist bee thought niggardly , because thou performest so little , yet thou shalt be knowne just because thou promised'st no more .

A good man would so be honourable , as hee may still bee honest , not broker for preferment ; if not worthy , let him want it , but if deserving , why should he buy his due ? I will neither grow great by buying honour , nor rich by selling it .

In injuries it is better to take many , than give one , in benefits the contrary : I will requite the first with bearing them , the second with requiting them .

Evill communication corrupts good manners . Peter denied his master among the Iewes , whom he confessed among the Apostles : I may have a bad man of my familie , I will never have a bad familiar ; or if at any time of my court , never of my counsell .

So live with men as considering alwaies that God sees thee , so pray to God , as if every man heard thee ; doe nothing which thou wouldest not have God see done ; desire nothing which may either wrong thy profession to aske , or Gods honour to graunt .

Every night is an Embleme of death , in this , that in both we rest from our labours : I will labour to long for my rest in heaven , and I shall never be loth to goe to bed to the earth , who would not desire to dye that he might be with Christ ?

It is good in prosperity , to make roome for adversity , that however it come unsent for , it may not come unlook'd for ; if it doe not come , wee are never the worse , if it doe come we are the better provided ; expectation , if it doe not hinder crosses , yet it lessens them .

Earthly things are like dreames , awake to nothing ; like shadowes set with the sun , wealth and honour will either leave us , or we them . I will labour onely for those pleasures which never shall have an end , and be more delighted that I shall be happy , than that I am so .

'T is a good Signe , when GOD chides us , that He loves us , nothing more proves us His than blowes , nothing sooner makes us His : God can love His children well , and not make wantons of them ; if I suffer , it is that I may raigne . How profitable is that affliction , that carries me to heaven ?

Suffering is the way to glory , sometime in this World : Ioseph had never beene a Courtier , had hee not first beene a prisoner .

Gods children are ever the better for being miserable , and end in that ; It is good for mee , that I have been afflicted ; let God use me how Hee will on earth , so I may have what Hee hath promised to those that love Him in heaven ; Who would not be a Lazarus for a day , that hee might sit in Abraham's bosome for ever ?

Gods Church must be a lillie among thorns , and while I am a member of the Church , I must not looke to fare better than the whole Body , if they have call'd the master of the house Beelzebub , well may it be endur'd to those of the household ; my comfort is if I am reviled for His sake , I shall be blessed .

Prosperity is like Vinum merum , all wine ; it makes drunke the soule , and therefore God mingles it , that He may keep us sober ; feeds His children with a bit and a knocke , ever dishes His sweete meate with sowre sause : if wee did alwaies abound wee would grow proud , and forget our selves ; and if not sometimes , wee would despaire and forget our God : I will pray with Salomon , give me neither wealth nor poverty , but a meane ; or if wealth , grace to imploy it , if poverty , patience to endure it .

Afflictions are the medicines of the minde , if they are not toothsome , let it suffice , they are wholesome ; 't is not required in Physicke that it should please , but heale , unlesse we esteeme our pleasure above our health : let me suffer , so I may reigne , be beaten , so I may be a son . Nothing can be ever too much to endure for those pleasures which endure for ever .

There was never good but was hard to get : the prison and the hatchet , sores and crums leade to Abraham's bosome , and the way thither is by weeping-crosse : if many tribulations will carry me to heaven , on Gods name let me have them ; welcome the poverty , which makes me heire to those riches that never shall have an end .

I will deale for my soule , as for my body , never refuse health because the Phisicke that should procure it , is bitter ; let it distast me , so it heale me .

There are in the world that thinke it too great sawcinesse to be our owne spokes-men to God and therefore goe to St. Some-body to preferre their petitions for them : I shall ever hold it good manners to goe of my owne errants to God , He that bids me Come , will bid me welcome ; God hath said , Come unto me &c. It is no unmannerlinesse to come when I am call'd .

All consciences like all stomacks are not alike how many doe we see digest those sinnes with ease , which others cannot get downe with struggling , one straines at a gnat , when another swallowes a camell : hee that will keepe cleere of great sinnes , must make conscience of all . I will thinke no sinne little , because the least endangers my soule , and it is all one whether I sell my SAVIOVR for thirty pence , with Iudas , or for halfe I am worth , with Ananias ; whether I goe to hell for one sin , or for many .

This life is but a journey unto death , and every day we are some spannes neerer the grave ; how is it that wee which are so neere our death , are so farre from thinking of it ? Security is a great enemy to prevention , and a presumption that wee shall not dye yet , makes men that they doe not prepare to dye at all : it is good taking time while time is ; if it come suddenly and find thee unprepared , miserable man that thou art , who shall deliver thee from the body , & c ?

Therefore hath Nature given us two eares and but one mouth , that we should heare twice as much as wee should speake : with all thy secrets trust neither thy wife nor thy friend , hee that is thriftie of his owne tongue shall lesse feare anothers .

There are that affect not so much to have true friends as to have many , and whisper to that friend what they heare from this , and againe , to this , what from that : and glory to have it knowne , how much they are trusted , whereas they were therefore trusted that it might not be knowne : I have ever thought it a maxime in friendship , that he which will bee intimate with many , is entirely nones ; let me love and be lov'd of all , I will bee inward onely with a few : I had rather have one meane friend that I may call my owne , than the most potent where I must share with others .

He that provides not for his owne is worse than an infidell ; 't is not the blame of charity that it begins at home , it is that it ends not abroad : I am not borne all to my selfe , somewhat to my friend , to my neighbour . I will so care for my owne , as I may relieve others , and so doe for others , as I wrong not my owne .

Much knowledge not much speech , Emblem 's a wise man . I shall ever hold it neither safe nor wise , alwaies to speake what I know of my owne affaires , nor what I thinke of others ; a man may speake too much truth .

Pleasures like the Rose are sweet but prickly , the hony doth not countervaile the sting , all this worlds delights are vanity , and end in vexation ; like Iudas while they kisse , they betray . I would neither be a Stoick nor an Epicure , allow of no pleasure , nor give way to all : they are good sause , but naught to make a meale of , and were given not to fill the belly , but to relish the meate : I may use them sometimes for digestion , never for food .

In crosses these two things must be thought on ; first whence they come , from God , Hee strikes thee that made thee , next wherefore they come , for thy good either to try thee or to mend thee , if they bee harsh , yet they be gainfull : I shall ever count it a good change , to have the fire of persecution for the fire of hell , who would not rather smart for a while then for ever : let me rather have that fire which is rewarded with heaven , than these pleasures which shall be rewarded with fire .

Salomon's , Rejoyce oh young man in the dayes of thy youth , were the finest thing in the world if it were not for that which follows , for all this thou shall come to judgement ; to goe well , lye soft , sleepe hard , if there were noe after-reckoning ; who would not say out of delight what the Apostles did out of amazement , It is good for us to be here ; but when I have a stewardship to account for , and God knowes how soone , my master returning and my talent to seek ; the Bridegroome entering and my oyle to buy , I have more reason to care how to redeeme my time past , than to spend the present .

To grow heavy or lumpish with crosses , argues not so much want of courage , as grace : nothing more soyles the reputation of a Christian , than to have his minde droope with his Mammon ; what if health , friends , meanes , have all forsooke thee , wilt thou lose thy wittes together with thy goods ? all the afflictions in this world , cannot answer the joyes of that other . I will never care whose these pleasures I see be , while those I doe not see are mine , and the fountaine of pleasures whom I shall one day see , as I am seene , shall be mine .

Let another praise thee and not thine owne mouth ; either we are far from neighbours or ill beloved among them , when wee are faine to be our owne trumpet , and blaze our selves : the Iews , not the Centurion , say , He loved our Nation and hath , &c. It is both honorable and humble to heare of our praises , and tell of our unworthinesse .

Many a little make a mickle , every day a mite will encrease our store ; I wil be ever adding to my heape of knowledge , of faith , &c. That when the Master returnes I may be able to say , behold Lord , thy two Talents have gained other two .

The building of the soule , like that of the world , is not done in a day ; grace like Ezekiel's waters , is first to the ancles , then to the knees , &c. In vaine doth any thinke to bee perfect at once , in an instant ; well is it for us , if after many Lessons learn'd , and heard in CHRIST'S Schoole , wee get past the spoone , and with some yeares of teares and prayers come to a stature , a growth ; and with clambering and paines , like Zacheus , get to see Christ time was when it was said to the Apostles , Oh yee of little faith ; and hee was once afraid to confesse CHRIST , that was not afterward afraid to die for him : like Bees , while we are here , we are ever gathering , in His good time wee shall bee perfect , in the meane time LORD suffer us not to bee tempted above that we are able .

God is that to the soule which the Sunne is to the world , light and heat , and with them comforts and stores it : he that hath God hath every thing ; God alone is a world of friends against millions of enemies : then will I thinke my selfe poore , miserable , distressed , left , when He leaves me .

Every thing almost we see , borrowes its nature from its soile ; thus the body and temper of men differ with the aire ; and the soule like the body , commonly savours something of the company it keepes , and we grow familiar with their sinnes , together with their persons ; at first winke at them , then imitate them , then defend them . I will not bee more scrupulous in the choyce of any thing than of this : hee can hardly have a good soule , that hath a bad companion .

Sinne at first is modest , and goes disguised with Saul to Endor , that after a while growes impudent , and dares looke bare-fac'd on the world ; first perswades to civill recreations , thence bids to unlawfull delights . Hee that will prevent the growth of sinne , must resist the beginning ; the remedy is thought of too late , where the disease is past cure ; 't is easier preventing a sicknesse , than recovering it .

Custome as it lessens favours , so it lessens sins ; else the same sinne would still be monstrous , which in time is not taken notice of .

Goodnesse is not the gift of all but some , but perseverance onely of a few ; how many like Ezekiahs sun have gone backward , and forsaken their first love ? How many have we seene , that with Caiaphas , would have rent their cloaths at the name of blasphemie , have afterward sworne by the life of Pharaoh : what we are , is no argument for what we will be ; every man knows his beginning , not his end ; what hee is , not what he shall be ; let him that thinketh he stands , take heed lest he fall .

When I take a serious view of my selfe , and see ( besides inward discontents ) so many outward enemies of quietnesse every where , every minute ; want , sicknesse , dangers , losse of friends , of health , of life , threatning if not pursuing me : and to these my spirituall enemies so strong , my corruptions so many , my infirmities so continuall , and my selfe so overmatched with all these : with Peter I beginne to sinke , and I could wish I had not beene , since I must be miserable , but when I looke up to heaven , and those joyes I am going to , I would not be lesse miserable to be so happie . GOD is my Father , the Angels are my fellowes ▪ Heaven is my Inheritance ; now if my inheritance be in heaven , why is not my desire there ? Where our treasure is , there will our heart be also , where our treasure and our heart is , there shall we be one day : who would exchange his future happinesse for a present ?

Contentation is a blessing , not wealth ; true riches consist not so in having much , as in not desiring more : why ▪ then doe wee so labour to abound , and not rather to be content ? If I have but a little , my account is the lesse ; if I have much , and doe not more good , I shall adde to my condemnation , together with my store : I will ever studie rather to use my little well , than to encrease it .

I will not care to bee rich , but to be good ; this onely is that treasure , that never shall have an end : let mee be rich in goodnesse , and I cannot complaine of povertie : he onely is poore whom GOD hates .

To speake little , is a note of a wise man , to speake well of a good man : goodnesse is not seene in the length or brevity of our speech , but in the matter , the streames of the tongue runs from the current of the heart , and are like the fountaine ; it is a signe we have little goodnesse in us , when there comes little out of us : if GOD were more in our hearts , He would be often in our mouthes , and with more reverence . Though I will never affect to speake of my goodnesse , yet I will shew it in my speech .

He that will be a Criticke of others actions , had need look well to his owne : 't is a foule shame to have that found in our selves , which we would take upon us to mend in others : in this I will ever follow my Saviours rule , first get out mine owne beame , and I shall see better to helpe my brother out with his more .

Injuries , if they dye not , they kill : Here onely a CHRISTIAN must learne to forget : for if wee forgive not men their trespasses , neither will our Father , &c. In this case my care shall be onely how to put them up , and leave vengeance to whom it belongs , God is ever his Iudge , that is not his owne .

The malicious man is so much no mans foe as his owne ; for while he is out of charitie with others , GOD is so with him ; if he lov'd himselfe , hee would not hate his brother . I will love all men for His sake that made them : but the Christian , because he is GODS sonne , I will love doubly , for his owne sake , for his Fathers sake .

GOD lookes not at what we have beene , but what we are : it is no commendation to have beene an Israelite . That we once did well , addes to our condemnation together with our sinne ; and if the righteous man forsake his righteousnesse , his reward is lost : our former goodnesse will not excuse our present evill , the end crownes us : what ever my beginning hath beene , I shall ever pray and endevour that I may dye the death of the righteous ; and my latter end may be like unto his , for as the tree falls , so it lyes .

Man till hee sinned was naked and was not ashamed , clothes are not more our covering than our shame , and wee may justly blush every time wee looke on them , not bragge ; the best ornament of the body , is the minde , and the best ornament of the minde , is honesty : that best becomes , which best beseems , not that which is most us'd , But most decent . I will neither looke what others doe , nor what I may doe , but what I ought to doe , many things are lawfull which are not expedient .

To doe well and say nothing is Christianly , to say well and doe nothing is Pharisaicall ; if the hands bee not Iacobs as well as the voice , wee are but impostors , cheats : If we are good trees , by our fruit they shall know us . I will not lesse hate not to doe good , than to tell of it : my faith is dead if it beare not .

Eating was the first sinne in the world , and it is now the sinne almost of all the world ; and as before the building of Babel so still in this , all the Earth is of one language , what shall we eat , or what shall we drinke , and wherewith , &c. Eating and Drinking have taken away our stomacks to spirituall things : I will never be so greedie as to eat my selfe out of heaven : He loves his belly well , that with Esau will sell his Birth-right for pottage : of the two , I had rather beg my bread with Lazarus , than my water with Dives .

Great mens Words are like dead mens shoos , hee may goe bare-foot that waits for them : I will ever bee a Didymus in these , beleeve onely what I see , so I shall neither be deceived with others promises my selfe , nor deceive others with them .

The good mans word is his Oath , his actions serve only to make good his words : He that promises either what he cannot , or what hee meanes not : is for the first a Boaster , and for the last an Hypocrite ; by such an one , I will bee deceived but once .

Dissimulation is state-policie , and wise men set out themselves as Aristotle did his bookes , not to bee understood at first sight . He that alwayes speakes what hee knowes , is not wise , but hee that doth not alwayes speake what hee meanes , is not honest . As I will not have my heart at my tongues end , yet I will have my tongue speake from my heart , it is not necessary I must be dishonest , or a foole .

Commonly your open eares are open mouth'd , and they that are craving to heare , are apt to tell : I will neither desire to know much of another mans estate , nor impart much of my own ; never any man repented him of saying nothing .

A Parasite of all Trades is the basest , and in two things like an Eccho ; first , that he speakes only what he heares others ; and that he is nothing but voice , words : next to an ungratefull man , I would not be a flatterer .

Sinnes grow like Grapes close , but in clusters : Wee usually say , He that will sweare , will lye ; and he that will lye , will steale ; and hee that will doe all these , will doe any thing . Satan is a Serpent , if the head bee once in , his whole bodie will not bee long behinde .

It is better to goe into the House of mourning , than into the House of laughter , &c. Hee is worse than madde , that with Herod will part with a kingdome for a dance . Hee takes little thought for his sinnes , that thinkes to put them out of his head , as Cain and Saul did with Musicke : Hee that truly considers those joyes which never shall have an end , cannot but desire to have an end of these : Where the treasure is , there will the heart be also .

Gods promises doe not binde Him to keep us in our wickednesse , our sinnes quit Him of His promise , and us of His protection , when wee leave to be of His Family , wee are none of His Charge , His Friendship keepes pace with ours . If thou doest well , shalt thou not bee accepted ? ( sayes Hee to Cain ) doe well , and have well , such as wee behave our selves towards God , such shall wee finde God towards us ; now if we doe smart , thanke our selves .

Wee have too many that have a double heart in one body , but very few that have but one heart to two bodies , yet so is it with friends , the one cannot laugh when the other weepes ; one friend is the looking glasse of the other , where face answers face , when the one smiles the other smiles , when the one is sad the other is trobled , there is no Amity where there is no Sympathy ; If I doe not suffer in my SAVIOVR , I doe not love Him . Can the Head be ficke and the Body not feele it .

There is a time to laugh as well as a time to mourne , we are not deny'd the use of mirth , but the excesse , it is not forbidden Fruit. Hee who gave Oyle to cheere the Countenance , gave Wine also to glad the heart : And I will not say , whether Salomons draught be not sometimes in season ; Drinke , that thou maiest forget thy poverty ; yet so as thou remember thy God . God never intended religion should make men Stoicks , as if to mew up our selves from the World , were to single out our selves to God : And because He hath forbid the abuse of things , not to use them ; thus we should abstaine from drink , because some men have beene drunke : If that which is one mans meate proove another mans poyson , the fault is not in the meate , but in the stomake . If they be so easily abus'd , the more our thankes , our praise , if we doe not abuse them wee shall be commended for our temperance : we cannot for our want of them ; GOD makes us but to use them as wee should , and wee cannot have too much of them .

Where should Ioy be but in the Fountaine of Ioy , or how doe wee partake of that Fountaine and rejoice not ; that Ioy must beginne to fill here that will be full hereafter . Hee shall never sing Halelujah's , that doth not first sing Hosanna's : Hee is no sound Christian that is not taken with the glory hee shall have , and rejoyce in this , that his name is written in the Booke of Life .

God ever helpes at a pinch , when all helpes fail then is He seen , when Iacob wants at home then Ioseph is heard of abroad , and when the prodigall wants abroad then God makes him thinke of home . What if he will not deliver Ionah from the Tempest , yet Hee will from the Whale : If the danger bee great , His Glory shall bee the more ; never despaire then thou drooping soule , why art thou cast down , why art thou so disquieted , & c ? The goodnesse of thy God endureth yet daily .

The Contention of Christs time is the contention of all the world , who shall be the greatest , and most men envy to be out-gone in any thing , even by those they love best : If Ioseph be his Fathers darling , hee is his Brethrens eye-sore : and I doubt me whether Davids brothers were more glad that Goliath was slaine , or angry that by their brother : bad natures whom they cannot reach by imitation , they will by detraction : He casteth out Devills through Beelzebub , was the Pharisees of Christ : it argues very little goodnesse in us when we malice it in others , none but a Cain ( that ever I read of ) will envy , because his workes are evill , and his brothers good ; they are desperately wicked that love not the lookes of godlinesse .

It is an hard matter for a man to know much or have much and know himselfe , and whence hee hath it , if we would think worse of our selves , we should be better thought of , but now our selfe-conceitednesse breaks our necke .

Most men are Pharisies in this , that they love the upermost seats , all would be sonnes of Anak : if their bodies did but swell with their minds . The care of the most is to live honorable not well , their reputation is more car'd for than their God : Occidat modò regnet : With that Mother of Nero , Let them be damn'd so they may be dub'd : what is this but to exchange a heavenly kingdome for an earthly : Hee that will be great upon any termes shall one day repent that He hath beene happie too soone .

My Friends faults as my owne , where I see I will remedie : I may ( happily ) hide or excuse them to others , never to himselfe , this were to kill him with kindnesse , and lest I should lose a friend , lose a soule : I am guilty of the losse of that soule I might save and do not .

Some Friends there are , such as Ionadab to Ammon , Pandors to their wickednesse : Brethren they are but in iniquitie ; He shall be no friend to me that is a friend to my faults : and I am no friend to my selfe , if I think him my enemy that tells me of them , one day , if not now , I shall heare of them to my cost : Men may , God will not winke at small ful●ts .

There is a friend to himselfe , as Nabal , and his charitie beginnes at home , and there it ends ; neere is his coat , but neerer is his skinne ; againe , there is a friend for gain , by Diana wee live , hee shall be their friend that they can live by : So , some love CHRIST , because they feare Him , He can destroy both soule and body in , &c. Others , because they neede him , but if we be true friends , though there were none of these wee would love Him .

Friend of all compellations is the dearest , the sweetest ; and as one of ingratitude , si ingratum dixeris , omnia dixeris : So may I of friendship , call him friend , and you have said all , another selfe , or rather the same selfe multiplied ; skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will he give for his life , and yet a man's life will he give for his friend ; if our love will not follow CHRIST through fire and water wee are but counterfeits .

Therfore did not God at first make many women and but one man , or many men and but one woman , that everie man should not know there were more than one woman in the World ; nor any woman more than one man , they that know more shall not be knowne ; CHRIST shall say , Depart from me , &c. I know yee not .

I see many marriages in the World and never a good , one to his barnes with the foole , another to his board with the glutton , one to his cups , another to his coffers : onely those marriages are blessed from heaven , that are made in heaven , they are ill holpe up , that are married to one another , and not maried to CHRIST .

Beauty is as it hits , if the heart do not answere the face , it were better missed , it will proove a snare which was an ornament : the more any have of this , the more cause they have to pray , Leade us not into temptation .

Earth is a place of penance ; and small drinke and Camells haire doth well ; t is a place of toile and labour , and men goe not to worke in their best cloathes : Men should do well then to pranke up their insides a little better , and let the bodie shift : I never heard any man found fault with for his ragges , I heare it upbraided to one , that hee went in purple .

It is not our meanes , but our sinnes that shuts us out from God ; I will be asham'd of nothing but my sinnes , and proud of nothing but that I am a Christian.

I will never care what I am in mens eyes , but in Gods : Beautie , Wealth , Honour , may make us accepted of men , but 't is onely a broken heart can doe the deed with God : never any man came to Heaven for his good lookes .

Hee is not a Iew that is so outwardly , then had not Hlerusalem fallen : nor he an Apostle , that doth so professe it , then had not Iudas been a cast-away : The washing of the out-side cleane will not quitt us of being Pharisees ; The Kings Daughter is all glorious within , if wee bee good Christians we are best at core .

The good man ever sets God betweene him and harmes ; and sayes , The Lord is on my side , &c. He is no good Christian that thinkes he can bee safe without Him , or not safe with Him .

Never any man was a loser by his God , or left in a danger , and stood to Him : Lazarus may stinke in his grave , but he shall not be seene rot there , neither the dungeon nor the denne can shut us from His providence , His care : Elias Ravens shall serve him in his meate : and Daniels Lyons , since they cannot feede him , shall fast with him , and rather starve than eate a Saint : what cannot God doe where He will ? what will He not do where He loves ? Oh God , they doe not know thee that distrust thee .

To give with hope to receive , is to lend and not to give : or rather to put to use and not to lend : I will give where I cannot be requited , so shall my reward be in Heaven .

Charitie is of that which a man hath , and not of that a man hath not : If the purse will not reach to a Sepulcher with that Counseller of Arimathea , yet a pound or two of spice would bee seene : If Silver and Gold that hast none , yet such as thou hast , a Mite would be spared : Something , hath some savour . Obedience is as well seene in a little as in much ; and if he which gives a cup of cold water shall not lose his reward : I can never be so poore to want this . Where the cruse & meale is low , 't is not look'd that the Cake should be bigge .

As wee must use this World , so we must love it , as if wee lov'd it not : God would have earthly things look'd at and affected with all temperance ; We may not be peremptorie in our desire of them . But as our SAVIOVR of His cup , Father if it be thy will , and yet not my will but thy will . Beggers must not be choosers : Religion will teach us in modestie to submit to Him , and thinke that our best , which God thinkes so .

Seneca an heathen but a Philosopher , could say , hee was better borne , than to be a slave to his body , and they are no better that are continuall factors for it : Every man layes up for a hard winter and a Rainie-day : I will lay up for that day which I am sure will come , and am not suer how soone it will come .

The bare desiring of earthly things , is not unlawfull ; Hee who first taught us to pray , allow'd us this in ; Give us this day our daily Bread ; 't is the excesse , either in using , or in caring for them makes them ill to us , that are not so in them , selves : I will so desire these as I may bee the better for enjoying them and so imploy them , as I may have little to account for them ; Why should I abound to my cost ?

Teares are a second B●●●●sme of the soule ; 〈◊〉 it is rinced anew , as the sinnes of the old worlde , so of this little world , neede a deluge . There is but one sorrow never to be repented of , the sorrow of repentance : only these teares goe into Gods bottle , and thus blessed are they that mourne .

Others eyes are Sermons unto mine , when I see a Peter weeping for his denyall , it puts mee in minde of mine : why should I weepe for the losse of my friends , 〈…〉 my health , or of 〈◊〉 state , and not of my soule .

There are two kindes of teares , of joy and of griefe : and two causes of these kindes : Heaven and our Sinnes ; the one of affection , the other of remorse , the one for what we have done , the other for what we would have , these two shall vie teares in mine eyes , to be forgiven and to be dissolved .

This World is a stage , the play is a tragi-comedy of the life and death of man ; every man playes his part and exit : and it may be he that hath liv'd a begger , would not exchange with the KING when he comes to dye ; for then he is rewarded , not according to what he hath beene , but what hee hath done . I wil not greatly care , what part I play , but to doe it well .

Home is home , be it never so homely , sayes the Proverbe : Men goe forth to labour , and come home to take their ease ; this world is our worke-house , and Heaven is our home , why am I loth to goe to my rest ?

This world is the valley of teares , and we may sooner want them , than cause to shed them : I will bee content to sow in teares , that I may reape in joy .

I reade of Augustus , when ever hee heard of any that dyed suddenly , hee wish'd him and his friends the like * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , similem . happinesse ; he shall not choose for me : Let him and his brother-heathens , pray for their fooles paradise . Our Church hath learn'd us a better Language , From sudden Death good Lord deliver us . I ever thought it not a little blessing to dye by degrees . In this case the farthest way about is the nearest way home .

Mee thinkes it is but th' other day I came into the world , and anon I am leaving it : How time runs away , and we meet with Death alway , e're wee have time to thinke our selves alive : One doth but breake-fast here , another dine , hee that lives longest doth but suppe : We must all goe to bed in another World . I will so live every day , as if I should live no more : 't is more than I know , if I shall .

All goe to the same home , but all goe not the same way ; one falls by the hand of a brother , another by the fall of a house , &c. Againe all goe to the same home , but all goe not the same pace , one dyes in his cradle another on his crutches , to some their life is a prey , to others a burthen : Iob and Ionah are weary of living , and Lot and Hezekiah would live longer : as for the way , I shall ever pray God that I may take my last sleepe in a whole skinne ; but for the pace , Come LORD IESVS , come quickly .

Death was given for punishment of sinne , but is the end of it ; when we lost Paradise , we met with this , and againe when we part with this wee meet our Paradise : they that know whither they are going , cannot but wish themselves gone , and say with our Saviour , but in another sense , Arise , let us goe hence .

Through how many dyings doe wee come to our Death ? And how many deaths may wee come to ? Infinite are our waies out of this life , that have but one way into it : Our life is compos'd of nothing but deaths : for that wee may live , other creatures die ; again , our child-hood dyes and is forgotten when we are growne up : Our youth dyes when wee are men : Our man-hood dies when we are aged ; at last Our age dyes and all dyes , and wee dye with it : every day dyes at night ; now if my life consist of dayes , what doe I else but dye daily ?

Favour is a thing to esteeme , but not to build on ; hee that stands upon others leggs knowes not how soone they may faile him : Greatnesse is not eternall . I will never leane so hard upon any man , that if he breake he shall give me a fall .

The things of this world are in a manner but apparitions , not so indeed : all our Pompe is but like the strowing of Boughes before our Saviour , taken up againe straite , our provision here is like that of the Gibeonites , apt to moulder , open to the theefe , and the moath , to be corrupted , and stole , wee have waters , but like those of Marah , bitter ; we have riches , but we have crosses ; sweete meate but sowre sauce : they make a fair shew but they last not ; I may say of them , what my Saviour did of Israel , their goodnesse is but as a cloude , &c. I will use this world , but I will bee in love with that better onely ; why should I delight to be miserable ?

This world is a region of Ghosts , or of dying men , if not dead ; our life is but one continued sicknesse , and we are ever in a comsumption , wasting : wee now accompany those to the grave , whom shortly wee must keepe company with in the Grave : Every man must have his turne , and GOD knowes whose turne is next ; it may bee thine , it may bee mine , and mine before thine , GOD knowes ; thou hast more yeares , ( it may be ) and therefore as thou thinkest , some strides before ; I am no lesse subject to diseases , and therefore no whit behinde , these threaten no lesse to mee , than age doth to others : Every ache , every stitch tolles the bell in mine eares , for some have dyed of these ; but every strong sicknesse digs the grave , and sayes service over mee , and cries , Dust to dust , &c. Since there is a time to dye , and I know not the time , I will provide for it at all times : Blessed is that servant whom when the Master comes he shall finde watching .

No man thinkes hee shall live ever , yet most men thinke they shall not dye yet ; otherwise , they would dye better , and more care for the heaven they shall have , than the earth they must part with ; this world will not last alwaies .

Our life is but a day , it is now noone : who knowes how soone it shal be night ? I have a great way to goe , and but a little to spend ( a little time I meane ) my care shall be to make it hold out .

As we doe not gather , so wee doe not looke for grapes on thornes , or figgs on thistles : such as the seed is , such will the fruit bee , and such as the fruite is , so will the Harvest be , and one day ( if not now ) God will reward every man according to his workes , and ill shall be ill requited .

Sinne and punishment are like the shaddow and the body , never apart , like Iacob and Esau , they follow one at the heeles of another . Never sinne went unpunished ; the end of all sinne if it be not repentance , is hell : if I cannot have the first , to be innocent , I wil labour for the second , to repent ; next to the not committing of a fault , is the being sorry for it .

That which we usually say of men , is sometimes true of Christians , foule in the cradle , and faire in the saddle ; an unhappie boy may make a good man ; he that should have seene Saul killing , would little have thought ever to have heard him preaching ; we may not judge of the future by the present . He runs farre that never turnes . 'T is not with God , as with men , to say I will forgive it , but I will ne're forget it ; with Him sins repented of are as not done , as a broken bone well set is the faster ever after . God lookes not at what we have beene , but what we are . Repentance makes us frends with God , re-intailes us in the inheritance , and by I know not what strange heavenly slight of hand , doth what you would have it . If we would but downe on our knees and aske forgivenesse all should be forgotten .

Our life is but a walke , wee come hither but to take a turne or two , and away ; and all our life we are going to our home , and we doe not live but travaile . Some gallop it over , others goe a foot pace : The poore man curseth the houre hee was borne while he lives , because he goes no faster ; the rich worldling curseth the houre hee was borne , when he comes to dye , because he can live no longer : it is a like ungodly to bee loth to dye because we are happy , & to desire to dye , because we are miserable ; I have ill learned Christ , if I have not learn'd to be content .

Humility is good to all , best to it selfe ; I doe not heare it said hee that boasteth of his good workes , but he that confesseth his sinnes shall finde mercy : the Publican not the Pharisie goes away justified . God never thinkes well of him that thinks so of himselfe and what he doth : they that scorne to bee humbled , cannot complaine to be scorned .

All men would come to heaven , but they doe not like the way ; they like well of Lazarus in Abraham's bosome , but not at Dives doore , they love heaven well , but they would not pinch for it : silly wretch , al the wealth in the world cannot buy thee into heaven , or out of thy punishment , and this thy glory shall adde to thy torment , that thou are now so well , shall one day be the worse for thee . I had rather wait for my happinesse , than smart for it .

God preacheth to us no lesse in His judgements than His word ; when He strikes offenders , Hee would warne the standers by , and beats some upon others backes ; when I see another shiprack'd before mine eies , it bids me look well to my tacklings . Every man sees himselfe fall in his neighbour : Others harmes threaten me and say with the Apostle , What makes thee to differ from another ? where the sinnes are the same , Oh God , it is thy mercy that thy judgements are not .

'T is not an easie matter for men to beleeve that which they know ; what-ever they doe whereever they are , they are seene : but because GOD is invisible , they thinke they are so too , and hee sees not because hee is not seene : GOD is inclusively in no place , and yet hee is in every place , and heares and sees what is said and done ; if we did but consider this , wee would neither doe nor speake what wee would not have seene and heard : Consideration would tye mens hands , and if they did but deliberat , they would not sinne .

It is no lesse sinne to bee over earnest in purveying for the Body , than over prodigall in pampering it : as well Saint Lukes foole as his glutton ; Nabal as well as Balthazar is condemn'd of folly : and I heare Israel chid not for eating , but for laying up their Manna . Make not hast to bee rich , and make not waste of thy riches . I will neither feare povertie , nor seeke it .

Our Eye extends but to the out-side , the skin , the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisies will quit any of the censure of men . Hee that fasts , prayes , gives , goes for current among us , I may not thinke him otherwise in his heart , that is not so in his behaviour , with us every man goes for what he seemes , wee dare not pronounce any man a Leper till we see the scabbe . It was the evidence our SAVIOVR left us , by their fruit you shall know them . Hypocrites while they keepe their owne counsell , doe not onely grow among the wheat , but goe for wheat . None but God , or a Prophet , God in a Prophet , could give Gehezi the lye , and see his sinne through his demurenesse ; only He who knowes all things , knows who are His , and shal one day gather the wheat into His barne , but shall burne up the chaffe with unquenchable fire .

To how many , under God , doe wee owe our selves for being : to the sheepe , the silke-worme , for food , rayment ; when wee are at our finest , wee are but like Aesop's Crow in stollen feathers , and if every creature should claime his owne , wee must be glad of fig-leaves againe , or ashamed of our nakednesse : Why are wee more proud of our embroyderies , than our Grandfires were of their Aprons ? Since both are but borrowed ; and what hast thou that thou hast not received ? Now if thou hadst received it , Why dost thou glory as if thou hast not received ?

GOD made all the World for man , man for himselfe , other creatures to serve themselves and us ; us to prayse and give thankes to Him ; and He who prepar'd a dwelling for us on earth , is gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven : let us take heede lest by our disobedience wee loose our second PARADISE , as our Fathers did their first .

The Covetous man hath his eyes in his feete , ever poring on the earth , all his care is , to lay up for many yeares : like spiders , men spend their bowels to catch flyes , trifles : toyle and sweate , and all that they may leave a little behind them when they dye : if they have but somewhat to leave behinde them , 't is no matter whether they have any thing to carrie with them . All are for the present , is it not good , if there bee peace in my dayes ? Hee that truly remembers what hee hath lost , cannot be so delighted with what hee hath , then onely mayest thou say to thy Soule , Take thy rest , when thou hast wealth layd up , not for many yeeres , but for ever .

I usually see Parents most affect those Children , that most resemble them ; I am sure it is so with God , they are best lik'd that are most like him , nothing shall ever be able to separate Christ from him , that will not be seprate from Christ .

It is with the soule as with the graine : that which wee sowe pure wheate , comes up with chaffe and straw : there is no fruit but hath it's core , its kernell , its stone : in vaine doe wee thinke while wee live heere to be at our best . It is not look'd wee should bee Angells upon earth : the best have their faults : happie is hee that hath least and fewest : our prayer must bee , Lord keepe us from presumptuous sinnes : for sinnes of infirmitie , like ill weeds , grow apace ; Tares there will be , well is it with us if we be not overgrowne with thornes and briars , surfetting and drunkennesse &c. and the Day of the Lord come upon us unawares .

At usuall things wee lesse admire ; While Moses doth onely what the Magicians can , hee is slighted ; men are taken with something that is not ordinary . All Samaria will runne out to see a man can tell them all that ever they did ; and I doubt whether the Apostles drew not more after their miracles than their doctrine , when they beginne to heale and cast out Divels once , Simon Magus will bee one too ; I will admire GOD for His power : but I will love Him onely for Himselfe .

Two things our SAVIOVR commends to us from His other creatures , Wisedome and Innocencie , from the Serpent and the Dove : The wisedome of the one may stand with the innocency of the other , nay it cannot well stand without it : Innocency without Discretion will make us too forward with Peter , and wrong our selves : Againe Wisedome without Innocency will make us unjust stewards , and wrong our Master : both doe well , and onely both doe well .

The poor man is Gods lottery : cast in earth , and yee shall draw heaven ; cast in a mite , and ye shall draw without measure ; for God returnes not tenne in the hundred , but a hundred for tenne . I will bee an Vsurer only to GOD.

Give and it shall be given to you : He that commands the one , promises the other . Almes never made their owner a bankerupt ; Charitie is not so ill a servant , as to leave the master a begger . That cruse and meale shall never waste , that the Prophet hath a Cake of .

It is an easie matter not to desire that which we have not ; to complain when wee have no cause , scarce speakes us men , muchlesse Christians , but when all failes to stand our ground , and looke to heaven for a handfull of supply , speakes our faith : At a Lions denne , or a firy furnace , not to turne tayle is a commendation worthy a Prophet . It is no honour to overcome , when it is no danger to fight . Adversity best speakes a Christian in prosperity , it is as easie a matter to finde friends , as not to neede them ; but when wee have nothing left , not to leave GOD , nor so much as whimper , but chide downe our distrust with a Deus providebit : My Sonne , God will provide , tryes our temper . Then is our valour commendable , when wee can endure to bee Iobs .

When our Saviour would put to silence the distrusters of his time , He points them to the Lilies and the Crowes : the Lilies of the field , not of the garden , which are digg'd and dung'd ; but of the field which have no gardiner , but the Sun , no watering pots but the clouds , and your heavenly Father ( sayes He ) clothes these : Doth my Father provide for others , and will he see me goe naked ? What will He thinke too much for His sonnes , that is so bountifull to strangers ? How will Hee cloath them , that so cloathes the grasse ? If Salomon in all his royalty was not arrayed like one of these , the Sunne in all his height , shall not shine like one of us ; when He shall have chang'd our vile bodies , that they may be like unto His glorious body .

Distrust is a sinne which custome hath almost made commendable . Every man layes up Manna for to morrow , forgetting that if that be not wormes , they themselves may be so . As if there were no heaven , but pleasure and abundance : no other hell but affliction and want ; if their purse grow light , their heart grows heavy , their mirth ends with their store , and they think no man can say to his soule , take thy ease , that hath not wealth layd up for many yeares : but we are not yet what wee should bee , if wee cannot be content to be what we are , what ever it be . Beggers must not be chusers ; 'T is not for us to teach God which way He shall bring us unto heaven , let us thanke Him that we come thither any way , and if He will have us suffer before we shall raigne , downe on our knees , kisse the rod , and not a word , not a sob .

Whereever God is , there are these two , increase and multiply ; Abraham and Lot cannot dwell together while they dwell with him , and I see Israel once to bigge for Goshen , that is now too little for Bethlehem , give a man God and throw him into the Sea , with Israel , Ionah , and he sinkes not ; needs must he swim that is held up by the chin .

In apparell we are not to respect meerly necessity , but decency . God never meant religion should make men slovens or Stoicks , as if a man could not weare good cloathes and goe to heaven , or a Christian were ever bound in conscience to be out of fashion : We are not tyed to wander , or to weare sheep-skins and goat-skinns , because the Apostle tels us some did , some of whom the world was not worthy , God meant that those holy men should bee patternes of piety , not of fashions . I will never be niggardly of another mans purse , deny my selfe that which God hath not .

There may be pride in the meanest things in the world ; no lesse the Cynick of his tub , than Alexander of all the world besides : Sackcloth and Ashes in the same bill with purple and fine linnen , both condemn'd of pride ; to fast and to fare deliciously is strange but true ; and so much worse is that pride than this , by how much it hath a better face ; small drinke and Camels haire goes away Sainted , though but counterfeited when open pride is cryed downe of all hands : and of the two the least suspected is the more intolerable , I am sure the more incurable . A knowne disease is every mans cure , which when it lyes hid is never medled with : There is lesse hope of an Hypocrite than an Atheist .

Afflictions are Gods mould in which He casts His Children , spare the rod , and spill the child is as true in grace as nature . God receiveth no sonne whom He chastiseth not , but t is with a gentle hand , He leaves no markes behinde , and He hath soone throwne away His rod , if with unfained resolution you will doe so no more . God though He beate many of His Children till they cry , yet He never beates any for crying .

There is a double life in man , and must bee a double nourishment , men live as if there were no more to bee done , but feede and be warme , food and rayment are the maine businesses of the World : 'T is true , wealth and friends and health are things to thanke God for , but better desires better becomes Christians ; the Christian man lives not by bread onely , &c. Meate for the belly and the belly for meate , but God shall destroy both it and them , every good mans meate and drinke is to do the will of Him that sent him .

God hath given us this aire to breathe in , it doth not give but continue life , 't is the meanes of living not the Author of life : God gives it us to use , not to serve . How many make this world their God , and serve it : and God ( as it were ) but their World to make use of ? I will never be a servant to my slave .

God though He be ever the same in Himselfe , He is not alwaies so in us , though Hee love those whom He doth love unto the end , yet not without Intermission . Men commonly never know the benefit of a thing but by the absence of it ; wee could not so well esteeme of health , if it pleased not God we were sometime sicke : the long absence of a desired friend makes him more welcome at his returne ; thus Christ is pleas'd sometime to withdraw His presence , that with more earnestnesse we might be drawne to seeke Him : Tell mee Oh Thou whom my soule loveth where thou feedest , &c.

As when many eyes are fixed upon one pictture , every one thinkes the eyes of the picture to be fixed on him ; so with our soules , all looke together at God , but every one must appropriate Him to himselfe . To know that God is the God of Abraham , the God of Isaack , and the God of Iacob , is but a weake assurance that He will provide for me , unlesse also He be my God ; our faith as our charity , must begin at home , and say , My Lord and my God .

Our Saviour doth not say , doe unto others as others doe unto you , but , as you would have others doe unto you . If thou wouldest have thy neighbour do thee right , doe so to him though he have done thee wrong . Lex talionis was never a good Christian Law ; If I forgive not , I shall not be forgiven .

As he cannot rise againe the resurrection of the body that doth not first dye the death of the body : no more can he be borne the birth of the soule , that doth not first dye the death of sinne . It is necessary that hee which will bee borne twice , should dye once while he lives , and hee that will once rise the resurrection of life should dye twice . That I may live ever I will dye daily .

That two contraries cannot consist in the same subject , is as good Divinity , as it is Philosophy ; Good and evill are like Fire and Water , ever contending till the one be conquered ; either my sinns and I must part , or God and I : I cannot be at once Gods Church , and the Divels chappell .

It is the fault of a great many , if God beare with them in their sinnes , they thinke hee countenances them : if they be not presently striken dead with Vzzah , they goe on ; when they smart not , they beleeve not , and he is not fear'd till felt . Sicknesse is not thought of till death , nor that till hell : forgetting that the long sufferance of God should lead them to repentance , he forbeares us that hee might forgive us ; shall I sinne because grace abounds ? God forbid .

God as He is infinite in mercy , so is He in justice ; and as His mercy extends to thousands in them that love him , so do His judgments to many generations of them that hate Him . That He is long in comming is no argument that Hee will not come , forbearance is no acquittance : the longer our time , the greater our account , if we have liv'd long and liv'd not well , of young Saints prove old Divells , wee had beene better have gone to heaven young , than to have lived to these yeares to goe to hell : miserable is that mans case whose latter end is worse than his beginning .

The relation betweene sinning and falling is so neere , that they are us'd promiscuously the one for the other . Now it is a hard matter to fall without hurt , and once downe , it is not an easie matter to rise without helpe : Where it is so dangerous to fall , and so hard to rise ; if we love our selves we will looke to our footing .

Most men feare to heare ill , that feare not to doe ill ; the arrantest hypocrite in the world would not be thought so , he would not be censur'd for sinne , that feares not to be damned for it , and is afraid of holding up his hand to the barre , that is not afraid of standing at the Tribunal seat of God All the care is how to sleepe in a whole skinne , not so much to live well , as to die safe , keepe without the compasse of the Law , though they come within the teach of hell . If this bee not to feare men more than God , I know not what is .

I should wonder many times to see sin so smugge to here a Iudas at his haile Master and kisses ; did I not remember of what Sire they come , the Divell : and that he can stil personate that goodnesse he once had . He would be more shunn'd , if he could not bee mistaken , that is not suspected in a disguise where the adversary is so subtile , they had need bee wise as Serpents , that would be innocent as Doves .

Charity so forgives offences , that it is ready not only to pardon the offender , but to doe for him , and thinkes it selfe not innocent that it starves not it's enemy , while it sees him starve . What little difference is there in Religion betweene not saving and killing ? we are not commended that we require not evill with the like . We have not forgiven injuries if wee doe onely not revenge them , if wrongs tye our hands from doing good where we ought and may , they prove sinnes to us , that were but crosses ; and we wrong our selves more by not doing than by suffering : and God shall so forgive us our trespasses : For with what measure I mete unto others , it shall be measured unto me againe .

God deales by us as He would have us deale by others , and we must doe by others , as we would have them doe by us , and all of us deale one with another , as we would have God deale with all of us . As I cannot love God and hate my brother , so can I not bee loved of God ▪ How iustly is the fire of Envy punished with the fire of Hell ?

It cost God more to redeeme the world , than to make it : He that made mee with a word speaking , when he redeemed me , spake , and wept , and bled , and dyed to doe it : what can I thinke too much to endure for his sake , that was made a curse for mine .

It is with us heere as with Gedeons fleece ; one while the ground is wet , and the fleece is drye , another while the fleece is wet , and the ground is drye . Sometime wee have Raine , and Faire Weather would doe better ; anon it is Faire , and Raine would be welcommer : And it fares with our bodies , as with our estates , now happily we have health , and want meanes , then againe wee have other things , and want health ; all our delight here is like our selves fading : and many times with Balthazar , we are fetch'd off in the mids of our jollitie : Nothing here but ebbing and flowing , tumult and alteration ; in heaven onely shall we rest from our labours : now if wee love our ease , why doe we so love our lives ?

The good man takes his God as he doth his wife , for richer , for poorer , in sicknesse and in health : we may not alwaies judge of Gods favour by His bounty . I am but a novice in Religion , if I thinke I cannot be Gods sonne and miserable .

Commonly those men are hottest in the pursuit of honour that least deserve it ; While deservednesse sits still , and bides his leasure that gives and takes where he list , and when , and how , and to whom ; and at last is importun'd to the place , not for the good he shall receive , but for that he may doe : he will not be great upon all termes , but will rather endure poverty , than part with his honesty , and not sell his soule to buy a purchase What will it profit a man to gaine the world and lose his soule ?

Christ is in us , as the soule is in the body , hee gives life ; wee are in Christ , as the branches in the Vine , whence we receive life . Let our care be to offer up our selves living sacrifices to him , of whom wee live and moove : 'T is all hee requires , an egge of his owne Bird , some minutes of that time which hee hath given us . What can I doe lesse ? one good turne requires another , if I love not those that love mee , I come short of Infidells .

Selfe-conceitednesse is the sinne in fashion , 'T is a hard matter not to thinke well of our selves ; I am not behinde the least of the Apostles ( yee know the Voice ) and if he had not beene buffeted , hee had beene exalted above measure , and carried higher in conceite , than he was before in his extasie : he that well remembers from what he once fell , cannot but be ashamed of what hee is and fall yet lower : Oh Lord , I am lesse than the least of thy mercies .

Malice never wants a marke . He who hath nothing , hath something to bee envied for , and if nothing else , he is envied for this , that he is content with his nothing . It is hard to bee prosperous , and bee loved at once : Those that will be great , shall be envied ; it is hard but safe , to be contented with a little : but if I cannot avoyd ill tongues , my care shall be no to deserve them ; and then , let Shimei curse .

I seldome see sinne but in a religious tire : Nay but I reserv'd them for sacrifice , was Sauls to Samuel : for sacrifice not for prey . Goodnesse is the best disguise of evill , either seeme what thou art , or be what thou seemest : God is not mocked .

Their sinne is more unpardonable that sinne of purpose : malice leaves the owner as without excuse so without hope : Sinnes of ignorance excuse a tanto , save some blowes . I may and doe sinne dayly against my will , I will not against my knowledge .

What more glorious Master than God ? What better Mother than the Church ? How glorious is that calling that at once serves such a Master , and such a Mother ? As it is our glory to serve them , so it must be our glory to doe them good service . God in us sets the world copies of piety , and wee must live to others no lesse than preach : As we are more eye , so we are more look'd at , motes in others eyes are beames in ours : many things are lawfull that are not expedient , and some things are expedient in respect of the person , that are scandalous meerely for the chaire ; that which is reproveable in another , is in us a reproach : seeing it is so , what manner of men ought we to be .

Promotions are neither from the East nor from the West , but from God : He that hath them and not of His gift , hath them with a vengeance who would not rather wish to want , than to be great so .

There was never any that was not ambitious : every man is borne a Corah , onely some more superlative than other . But of all men I most wonder at those that are ambitious onely to be talk'd of , and since they cannot bee notable they would bee notorious , and with Cain bee mark'd though for murtherers . Whether I know much , or am knowne of many , it matters not , onely this I will care for , that God may not say to me in the last day , I know thee not .

Pride is good to none , worst to it selfe : when Adam would better his knowledge , hee lost his dwelling in Paradise ; and when those builders of Babel would mend their dwelling , they lost their knowledg . The itch of being great , potent , or pointed at , how many hath it undone ? I will never care to be or to know , that which I know shall repent me : what commendations is it to have beene some-body ?

The tongue is the only betrayer of the minde : The foole while he is silent is not discovered . I will not be more thriftie of any thing , than of my speech ; I had rather be thought to know a little , than be knowne to know nothing .

There is but one thing a Christian need desire of God , that 's a cleane heart : Create a new heart , &c. there is but this one thing that God desires of a Christian , his heart : My sonne , give me thy heart ; and this I will onely desire to have , that I may give . A broken and a contrite heart , Oh God , thou wilt not despise .

The Kings daughter is all glorious within , but yet her rayment too is of wrought gold ; our outside , our life must tell the world what we are within . If our lives doe not answere our profession , we are Pharisees , we say and doe not .

It is a common fault to forget what we have beene , when wee are changed for the better : how many have beene resolved for heaven in their sicknesse , that in their whole skinne have disclaim'd it , and requited the recovery of the body with a relapse of the soule To receive good at the hands of the Lord , and not evill , is unreasonable to expect : but to receive good at the hands of the Lord , and returne evill , is wicked and not to be endured . I will never pray more hartily to God for a blessing than for grace to manage it ; Wherefore should I be blessed to my cost ?

With God all things are not onely alike possible but easie , and he can as well of stones make Abraham children as of Iews . I will never despaire of him that can do al things , I cannot be so infinitely sinful as God is merciful . Oh God , if thou wilt , when thou wilt thou canst make me whole ; why should I give my selfe over , where my Physician doth not ?

Workes without faith are like a suite of clothes without a body , emptie : Faith without workes is like a body without cloathes , no warmth , want hear ; Workes without faith are not good workes , & faith without good workes is as good as no faith , but a dead Faith . Then onely are they themselves , when they are together , what God hath joyned let no man put asunder .

Our actions are never pleasing to God , when our light doth not shine before men ; let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes , and glorifie your Father which is in heaven ; that your Father which is in heaven may one day glorifie you .

With men , confesse and suffer is good justice , but with God , the contrarie to confesse our sins is the next way to be forgiven them ; that soule is past hope that lyes speechlesse . I will ever pray ; Oh Lord , open thou my lips , and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise , and my owne sinnes .

Pray for them that curse you , doe good to them that , &c. Is durus sermo , a hard saying , and against the haire ; 't is not so easie a matter to forget an ill turne , as to doe one , yet this must be if we will be Christians : hee that will not be in charity shall never be in heaven . Why should I doe my selfe a shrewd turne because another would ?

It was the divell that first made us enemies to God , and it is still he that makes us enemies to one another ; it is not for nothing ( I have thought ) that he is painted with a cloven foote , hee loves divisions so well , and there is no greater argument of a divell incarnate than a malicious heart : say what thou wilt , but I will never beleeve thee against scripture , that thou lovest God whom thou hast not seene , that lovest not thy brother whom thou hast seene ; if wee love Him we will love one another .

If we will be Christs Disciples we must leave all , but it s not all , wee must take up our crosse too ; be readie to take it up , not of our selves , but if it be layd upon us , we must suffer willingly for Christs sake , we must not suffer wilfully or throw our selves into the fire . He that bids us suffer , bids us flye , If they persecute you in one City , flye , &c. It is our commendation to endure to stroke or the Faggot , it is not to seeke it when zeale runnes without discretion , warrant , it commonly makes more haste , than good speed ; CHRIST would have us innocent , but wise too , Serpents as well as Doves , lay downe our lives for His sake , but not fling them downe ; we must neither goe like beares to the stake , nor like mad-men , neither runne to our martyrdome or from it : Pray with our SAVIOVR , if it be possible to misse the cup , or but to kisse it , but still not my will but thy Will , we must submit all to God , and thinke that fittest for us which Hee thinkes so .

That which I heare from David , I would heare from every good man , Thy word is a Lanterne to my feete , &c. To his feete , not to his eyes alone ; if we use the Word of God onely to gaze on , and see fine stories , to discourse by , not live by it ; wants his use , and wee want our goodnesse , and shall want our glory : knowledge without practice adds to our punishment together with our sinne . How many Pharisees have sate in Moses , that shall never sit in Abrahams bosome , onely for this , because they knew and did not .

Workes of piety must never goe without humility ; he that prayes and is not humbled , like the Pharisie in the parable , goes away worse than hee came . When thou prayest , thou askest blessing , and doe it on thy knees , if to your earthly father , how much more to your heavenly : Men have inverted the course now , they drinke their health upon their knees , and pray for their health upon their tailes , God shall answere such men according to their manners , proudly . Why should GOD stoope to their wants , that stoope not to their owne ? we cannot bee too humble when we are to speake to that Majestie , whom we cannot see and live , and whom wee shall one day see and live to our cost , if we be not humbled ; thanke God thou hast knees to howe , how many would that have not ; why shouldest thou bend and cringe and bow , to thy father or thy friend , or thy betters , and not to thy God .

Prayer is the Iacobs ladder of the soule wheron it goes up and downe to God , and conferres with Him ; in our praiers wee blesse Him , and by our prayers wee blesse our selves : there is no part of Gods worship more acceptable or more profitable than this of prayer , and none more slighted , men come to prayer as to a thing indifferent ; wilfull negligence in leaving it undone , and coldnesse in doing of it , are the sinne almost of who not , only , Oh Lord , doe thou be mercifull to the neglect of thy people .

There are many services and many Masters , and yet no man can serve two masters , that is , two of a contrary disposition ; for there is the world , the flesh , and the divell , and ye may serve all these at once , nay yee cannot serve one and not all , the glutton he serves his belly & with Esau sells his birthright his blessing for pottage : the drunkard he serves I know not well what , whether the drinke , or the company , or his appetite , or all , but instead of quenching his thirst , drownes his soule : the envious man , and the furious man are alike in this , both serve the passion , onely here they differ , the envious man with Sampson , will braine himselfe so hee may braine others ; the furious man braines others so long till at length he be brained himselfe : the usurer he serves his gold ; the adulterer he serves his lust , but all serve one chiefe Lord , one Master , the Divell , and shall all receive the same Wages , which is the wages of all sinne , death ; Why should God pay them for their paines , that goe not of His errands .

FINIS .

SPARE HOVRES of Meditations . The Second Part.

BLessed are the poore , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven : How are they poore that have a Kingdome ? or what Kingdom is wealthy , if not that of heaven ? or why complain'st thou of that povertie , that saints thee ? that is a happy soule that makes even with God every night ; and every morne begins the World anew .

God is love , and hee that loveth is borne of God , & God loveth him ; so there is no love lost ; by this are we knowne to be Gods sons and Christs disciples , if we love one another : I may love others for other respects , my enemies that they may bee good to mee , or my friends because they are so : but God I will love , because I will love Him , and because He is to be beloved .

When I at first looke out into the World , and see many men ( and those none of the best ) in better case , I think my selfe forgotten , & wish for more : but when I remember my account , I feare I have too much & forget those wishes ; It may bee if I had more wealth , I should be more riotous : outward losses are somtimes gainfull , and it is good for us that wee are afflicted ; it would be worse with us , if it were not sometimes thus bad ; many if they were not kept short of these would come short of Heaven . He knowes us that keeps us , & if He wil have us Lazar's & not Dive's , bring us to Heaven that way rather than another , His will be done ; let Him give my goods to the poore , and my body to be burn'd , and bring me to Heaven , though in a firy Chariot ; I cannot complaine of the foulenes of that way that carries me to God .

Things which wee come easily by , we easily part with ; lightly come , lightly goe ; true friendship , as it is hard to find , so it is hardly lost , and therefore hardly lost , because hard to find : I will put up many injuries before I put off one friend ; small faults I will swallow : others I will winke at ; and if he will not be my other selfe , I will be his , and change my nature before my friend : friends like stones , get nothing by rolling .

We are content with a little , when we are by our selves ; who puts on scarlet , and resolves not to be seene ? or is serv'd in plate , when there is none to take witnesse of it ? Nature if it would but be private , it would not be so costly , most men are therefore covetous , because they are ambitious , and love the stage ; and desire to have much , that they may have much to shew , and set their land upon their cupboards ; I thinke they would shew more of their wit , if they shewed lesse of their substance , they doe not so much shew that to their guests as themselves , and are admir'd at , not for the abundance of these , but the want of the other .

Pride and Vncharitablenesse are sinnes in fashion , and the one the cause of the other , many thinke they should want for their pride , if they should but be charitable ; I have often wondred and grieved to see a rich porch , and a poor Christians walls cloath'd , and men goe naked . Say what thou wilt , but I am sure with the Apostle , That hee cannot love God whom he hath not seene , that loves not his brethren whom hee hath seene , and can indure to see miserable .

Many are therefore friends to others , that they may befriend themselves : and like leaves in winter , fall from the trees when they begin to wither , and with Saint Peter , know not the man . How many doe we nick-name friends at large , that prove but strangers at a pinch ; that will be your servants in a complement , and not know you in a businesse ? I will not desire of God not to have friends , but not such friends , or not to need them .

We owe more to God for redeeming us , than for making us ; His Word made us , but when it came to redeeme us , that Word must be made flesh , and that flesh must suffer ▪ in our creation He gave us our selves ; but in our redemption He gave us Himselfe ; and by giving Himselfe for us , gave us our selves againe that were lost ; so that we owe our selves , and all that wee have twice told : and now what shall wee give unto thee , ô Thou Preserver of men , for our selves thus given and restored ? If we could give our selves a thousand times over , yet what are we to God ? and yet if wee doe give our selves to Him and His service , such as we are , and such as we can , Hee accepts it , and will reward it . I will never grudge God His owne . I have nothing that is not His ; and if I give it to Him , He wil restore it againe with interest , never any man was a loser by God .

The best ornament of the body is the minde , and the best ornament of the minde is honestie ; I will care rather how to live well , than how to go fine . I may have an ill garment , and come to Heaven ; I cannot , and have an ill soule . He who first bid us cast our care upon Him , did not so meane , as if we should take no care our selves ; it will not come to our share , to sit still and cry , God helpe us : Salomon hath read his fortune , that will not worke in summer ; therefore shall hee starve in winter : It was the destinie sinne brought upon the world , in the sweat of thy browes thou shalt eate thy meat , and thanke God we can have it so : He that made us without our selves , will not keepe us without our selves ; it is mercie enough for us , that we eat with sweating . I will never thinke much of my paines , where it is rewarded with a blessing .

If an Asse do but speake once in a world , as Balaam's did , a beast have any part of a man in him , we wonder , and justly ; but let a man have every part of a beast , goe upon all foure , & wallow with the drunkard , or lose his speech together with his legges , t is ne're talk'd of . It is the property of a man to speake , as of a beast not to speake : why doe we wonder to heare a beast speake , and not wonder to heare a man not able to speak ? or how justly doth he want the blessing , that cannot aske it ?

It was our Saviours to His disciples , Behold , I send you as sheepe in the middest of Wolves ; blessed Saviour , didst thou not care for thy Disciples ? or if thou didst , why are they not rather sent , as Lions in the middest of sheep ; than as sheep in the midst of wolves ? Even because He loved them , therfore He so sent them , that out of the Lions mouth they might come forth more glorious ; as there shall bee ever some poore to exercise our charitie ; so there shall bee some wicked to exercise our patience ; some bulls of Basan to compasse , &c. Where the enemies are so strong and so many , they had need be wise as serpents , that will be innocent as doves .

Desperately wicked is that of some , if I shall be sav'd , I shall be sav'd : as if Heaven would come unlook'd for , and they should be sav'd , whether they would or no ▪ God never did , nor will save any man in spight of his teeth , or against his will ; as we cannot keepe body and soule together , without sweating ; no more can wee bring our soule and God together with sitting still ; never any got wealth , by barely wishing for it : and as few come to Heaven , by meerely desiring it . There 's a race to be runne , and a battaile to be fought ▪ and as well in religion as in any thing , we must worke for our living .

It is appointed to all men , once to dye : death is a punishment of sinne , not sinne itselfe ; yet sure it is the height of punishment when it is suddaine ; I doe not desire not to dye at all , but not all at once . I know I must dye , and I thinke of my death , yet is it not alwayes in my thoughts ; the best of us all may be taken napping . I will ever pray God when he doth fell me , not to doe it at a blowe , that I may see my selfe falling and bethink me in the fall ; and thus it is a comfortable thing to fall into the hands of the living God .

He that knowes his masters will , and doth it not , shall be beaten with many stripes ; and yet I cannot say whether shall bee worse beaten , hee that may know it and will not , or hee that doth know it , and doth it not ; the one sinnes against his knowledge , the other sinnes because hee will not know , and shall one day not be knowne .

God made this world not barely to looke on , but to contemplate on , and of Him in it : here the Christian & the Philosopher part , they are led by reason , we by faith : they argue , we beleeve : they enquire the manner , how all were made , the Christian , why : He is not curious in the manner , but lookes at the end , for the glorie of God , and the way to our glorie : and useth them not for spectacles , but motives , to the glorifying of him of whom he hath them ; and if wee enjoy these as we should , we shall one day enjoy him from whom we enjoy them .

This World is oft compar'd unto a sea , our life is the Shippe , we are the passengers , the grave is the common haven , Heaven is the shore ; and well is the grave compar'd unto a haven , for there wee unload ; the things of this world are neither borne with us , nor doe dye with us ; we goe out of this world as we came into it , naked : why are wee so covetous of those things , which are so hard to get , and so certaine to be lost ? If I enjoy them all , I shall not enjoy them long : or if enjoy but some , I shall shortly have use of none . I will comfort my selfe against the want of them , with the assurance that I shall one day not have need of them .

Who can but once look backe upon his creation , and dares distrust God for his preservation ? whether is it easier to give , or to continue life ? to keepe thee or to make thee ? If He have given thee the greater , why dost thou distrust Him for the less ? Or if thou distrust Him for earth , how will you take His word for Heaven ? Oh God , they have forgot of whom they live , that distrust thee for their life .

This life is a race , and wee doe not live but travell ; but we have another race beside this , of our soule as well as of our bodie ; since both must bee runne , and the one will not tarrie for the other : I will trie who can runne fastest ; if I have finished my life & not my course , I have made more haste than good speede .

Every thing else hath a beginning , it is onely Gods title , Which was , and is , and is to come : Eternity is only there ; our glory must be , not that wee have liv'd ever , but shall doe so .

If wee looke but out into the World , we shall see almost as many miracles as things , that trees and plants should every yeare dye , and recover ; that the Sunne should only lighten and warme the earth , and not burne it ; that the heavens should distill its raine in drops , and not in rivers full , and drowne us , where they do but wet us ; God is not lesse miraculous in preserving the World , than in making it ; and as His mercie , so His glorie is over all His workes .

Religion with some men is but a matter of fashion . Many are of Agrippa's Religion , almost Christians ; such men shall be saved , as they doe beleeve ; almost : God will never owne : such halfe-fac'd followers . The hypocrisie of a Pharisee , would have shamed thee into an outside of Christianitie , and unlesse your righteousnesse exceede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees , you cannot enter , &c. It is not onely want of grace , but wit , to dissemble where we may be discernd , if I will needs bee a Christian , I will be one to some purpose .

I heare men commended now adaies as the Lord did the unjust steward , because they deale wisely , not honestly ; 't is held no crime to deceive , but to be seene , to be discovered , that 's a foule fault , he is a novice that doth that ; the care of many is , not to live innocent but close , & they cast , how to go ( as Saul to Endor ) to the Divell in a disguise ; but they cosen onely mens eyes , Gods they cannot ; and since they will not be knowne for what they are now , they shall not be knowne for what they would be one day . God shall say unto them , Depart from me yee workers of iniquitie , I know you not .

To dissemble sinne was never the way to be pardon'd it , only he that confesseth his sinne shall finde mercie : never be asham'd to say , what thou wer't not asham'd to do : blush to commit them , but not to tell of them ; it is better that the world note thee for a sinner , than God for an hypocrite .

Some there are that heare onely to tell , and many times make differences , where there were none meant , it is not good alwaies to tell all wee heare ; many a man speaks that in his anger , which in coole bloud , he would not owne ; and we doe a double wrong by relating that which the one is sorrie to heare , and the other to have spoken , when he is himselfe . I will heare all , and report onely the best , he that makes debate betweene others layes a baite for himselfe , it is safe and honest to compose discords , but sowe none . I will labour what I can , to set others together , but not by the eares .

When wee behold ( for who can choose ? ) such a world of sinnes in every corner of the world ; buyers and sellers in the temple , and not whipped out , selling our soules for the provision of their bodies : others with Zimri & Cosbi out-facing judgement ; how , doe we not wonder and blesse our selves that we enjoy so good , so much , some thing , any thing ? that Pharaohs leane kine are not seene amongst us , and the metamorphosis of famine , of the heavens to Brasse , and the earth to Iron ? that either the clouds are not shut , to with-hold their raine , or that the windowes of heaven are not opened , to raine not water , but fire and brimstone ? It is admirable where the fact is so foule , that the reprive is so long ? Oh Lord we have nothing to say for our selves , but acknowledge , it is thy mercie that wee are not consumed .

Good natures are wonne rather with intreatie than curstnesse , if wee doe not more love God , for His goodnesse that He doth preserve us , then feare Him for His power that He can destroy us , His mercies are ill bestow'd and worse imploy'd , wee have not receiv'd the spirit of bondage to feare . I will love God , and honour Him , but I will be affraid onely of offending Him .

God loves timely holinesse , remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth . Nature ever begins at the wrong end , layes in , and layes up indeed , but for the theefe and the moth . With Absalom the first care is taken to leave a monument behind , and when they are setled upon earth , they will see if God have any thing to say to them for Heaven : & the best part is the last provided ; such shall one day have their heaven to seeke , because they will not have it to seeke now . He that will not when he may , &c. You know the Proverbe : He that doth not seeke the Lord , while He may be found , cannot complaine , if he do afterward seek , and not finde .

All sinnes are forbidden trees to us ; and wee are so much ADAMS sonnes in nothing as in our disobedience , ever reaching after that wee should not ; to do good , there is a lion in the way , like Salomons sluggard ; but to evil , how swift are our feet ? So then , it is not going fast that carries us to Heaven , but going right : I will care rather to set my foot down sure , than to take it up quicke ; What am I the neerer to goe a great pace and the wrong way .

Every man is his own worst foe , and his greatest enemies are those of his owne house : we may thanke our selves that we live at no more ease than we doe ; In the sweat of thy browes , thou shalt eate thy meate was of our own procuring . We had never known so much evill , if we had not desired to know too much good , our ambition hindered our preferment ; we were at first made happie , and we made our selves miserable , & now we are miserable . God hath chalked out a way to our happinesse ; now if we love misery rather than blisse , it is fit we should have enough on 't .

A good man , still the longer hee lives , the better he dyes ; men should grow better , as they grow older ; not like a dead hedge , the longer it stands , the rottener . To see a man white in his leprosie leaving the world , and not his avarice ; and with S. Lukes foole ; dye thinking of his barnes , is horrible . I had rather have no portion on earth , than buy it with that I shall have in Heaven ; I will not ( with the Curre in the fable ) part with my flesh , for its shadow .

The way to sweeten death is to thinke of it , every day I live I will remember I might dye ; and I will not desire to live a day longer , than I growe some drammes better : What will it benefit me that I have liv'd some houres which I cannot answere for ?

Worldly minds mind nothing but Worldly things . Laban and Nabal think of nothing but their sheep-shearing , and making merry when they have done ; their businesse is thought on , not their salvation ; for they make that no part of the businesse , onely matter of course ; grudge God His service , and in His service the length of it ; and pay God His due , as Laban did Iacob his wages , with an ill wil ; and would fetch it back again if they could tell how : and yet these men that will steale time from God for their profit and their businesse , will steale time from their businesse for their pleasure : He that will breake the Sabbath for an houres work , will breake off his work for an houres drinking . Thus they prefer the humoring of their soules , to the saving of them . I will never sell Heaven for company , it is better being a good Christian , than a good fellow .

Every man would be thought to bee in love with heaven , and yet most men are loth to shake hands with earth ; here is the difference betweene the heavenly Language and ours ; they cry , how long Lord , how long ? and we crie , how soone ? they think He stayes too long , and we thinke He comes too fast . I will labour to bee a follower of those , with whom I would be partner ; he hath not yet enough conn'd Heaven , that is doth to goe to it ; that voice onely is worthy an Apostle ; I desire to be dissolved , and to bee with CHRIST .

The just man shall live by his faith , and others live by his charitie : true faith is seene in its workes ; he that sayes he beleeves , and doth not shew it , beleeve him not . To make shew of beleeving , and not in thy workes , is to shew thy Hypocrisie , but not thy saith .

Not every one that eats his meat in the sweat of his browes , shal eat bread in the Kingdome of Heaven : and yet it is not eaten but with sweating neither : but 't is such a sweat , as will make thy heart ake , and not thy lims : prizes are not had but with hazard , hee that will drink of the water of the Well of Bethel , with Davids Worthies must thorow his enemies : the water of life is not had , but with hazard of our lives . My comfort shall be , that though I lose my life for CHRISTS sake , I shall not lose my labour . Or , who would not lose this life , which he is ever looking to leave , for that which he is sure ever to enjoy ? Oh Lord , wee want lives to lose ; I cannot endure enough , to come to Heaven .

This life , as if it would never be done , is ever providing for ; Eternall life , as if it would never begin , is never preparing for . I will care for this life , but not dote on it ; I will remember I shall live ever , but not here .

The love of the earth is the disease of the world , and that gulfe betweene Abrahams bosome and us , to forsake house and land &c ▪ that they do not like of ; if Christ would but leave out , that same , leave all , men would doe well enough with Him : they would enjoy this world , but not with the losse of a better . Againe , they would enjoy that , but not with the losse of this ; they would have their Canaan , but they would have their flesh-pots ; they love the blessing , but they would not lose their pottage : with Naaman , they will worship no other god , but yet , the Lord be mercifull , &c. when I enter into the house of the god Rimmon . They would so please God , as they might neither displease others , nor themselves , & would part stakes with God , let such juglers in religion look upon Saul in the Old Testament , and Ananias in the New , and read their judgement : what society hath light with darknesse ? The Arke & Dagon were never friendly householders : thou canst not at once , have two such guests , as GOD and the divel ; If one heaven could not hold them both , how shall one heart ?

No man is so provident for his owne good , as God is for every mans ; every sinner is an Absalom , to Him , and He doth not only wish , Would God I had dyed for thee , &c. But dyed indeed : we doe not so desire our owne salvation , as He doth all ours , promiseth , perswadeth begges our obedience , He leaves no way untried , that He may leave us inexcusable , wash His hands of us , and say , perditio tua ex te , &c. Our destruction if it do come , is from our selves ; if wee could but wish well to our owne soules , we could not but do well : and yet it is not wishing , but doing well that doth the deed . I will do what I can , and I will desire to do what I should and cannot . God accepts a willing mind , and if I am willing beyond my ability , He will either make me able , or accept my wil. O God , thou that workest in me both to will and to do , work my will to thine , and my power to my will , that I may not onely will or desire , but do thy wil.

God doth not looke for every thing from every one : for ten talents where He left but two : onely Hee there exacts much , where He hath given much : if the seed of thorny , or stony ground bring forth no fruit , or withered , it is no marvell ; but where He hath dung'd and gooded , to expect a crop is but reasonable . The more I have , the more I have to answere for ; the greater my trust , the greater my account : Let others care how to get more , my care shall be how to pay for that I have already .

All lands do not yeeld the same things , and the same land doth not yeeld all things : thus God divides His blessings to us , as He doth to these , to some strength of body , to another strength of wit , to one health , to another knowledge , &c. He hath distributed to no man all things : yet , to every man some thing ; he is strangely miserable , that hath nothing ; but this doth not please , if every one have not all , they growe surly . What wilt thou give me , since I go childlesse ? could the best of the Patriarkes say : It is hard and rare to see that in others , which we want our selves , and would have , and be still . Whil'st I am in this world , I shall ever behold this inequalitie , and if I cannot make a covenant with mine eyes , I will with my heart : Since I cannot but see it , I will learn not to repine at it : it is the Lord , let Him do whatsoever He will .

God calls some men to martyrdome , when others would startle at a stake , and yet good Christians too : all men , as all trees , are not fit for fewell , that are fit for use ; every one cannot hold out against the prison , and the hatchet : It is an easie matter to dare affliction before it come , and when it doth come , run away from it . We know not of what spirit wee are , what metall we are made of , our prayer must be , first not to meet with persecutions , and next to endure them ( but not meet them . )

Earth is but our rode to Heaven , and the things of this world , like high-way fruit , are common to all : the sunne shines , and raine falls alike upon the just , and upon the unjust : lest they should bee thought evils , they are given unto the good , and least they should be too well thought of , they are afforded to the evill . There is another good , which is wholly the Godly's , and wholly to be sought for the kingdome of Heaven , and the righteousnesse thereof : they , whose kingdome is not of this world , can see the kingdomes of this world ( with their SAVIOVR from the pinnacle ) and contemn them , or at least not fall downe and worship them . It shall not trouble me that I am out-bid in these things by others , I will bee contented to excell them in better things , the comfort I have , and the glory I shall have .

The covetous man never hath enough : like Pharaohs leane kine , eates but is never the fuller ; toiles and sweats & wakes , and wants for all this ; it is a greater miserie to desire much , than to have nothing ; of no man can it be better said , all is vanitie and vexation of spirit : he is his owne tormentor , and doth at once make himselfe a hell here , and provide himselfe one hereafter ; he is never at rest till hee rest his last , which yet is the beginning of a worse torment ; so he robs himselfe , both of the pleasure of this life , and of a better . It is good to bee covetous of good things , and labour for the food which perisheth not : of this I will never have enough , but pray : Lord give me ever more of this bread , ever and more .

All that God made at first was good ; He made them so , He left them so : if they be not still so , the dishonour may be His , the smart will be ours ; their goodnes consists in their good usage , and our sinne in the abuse of them . God make us but to remember why they were made , and we cannot be to seek how they should be used .

Our Saviours commendation of Iohn Baptist was , that hee was a burning and shining lampe : the hypocrit , like a glow-worme , shines but burnes not ; others , like hell fire , burne but shine not : and must looke to have their portion in the fire , they resemble . We are not excusable , if we doe onely shine and not burne , or burne and not shine ; the one we see condemned in the Laodiceans , because they wanted heate ; the other in the foolish virgins , because they wanted light . Hee must first shine one earth that will after shine in heaven , and burne on earth that will burne in hell .

Rest is the whetstone of labour . And that which we usually say of hope , is true of this , if it were not for rest , the heart would breake : wherefore God hath given for every day a night to rest in , and for every seven , a day and a night . We could not live if wee had not this , yet this must not be our life , to live at ease , he shall never enter into Gods rest , that so loves his owne .

Every one almost , with the Iewes , is weather wise , and prognosticates without booke , when you see a cloud arise out of the west , ye say there comes a showre , &c. hypocrites that can discerne the face of the weather , and not of the times : how vainely are men inquisitive for the provision of their bodies , and let their soules shift ? you will not plant or graft without consulting with your neighbours , and your almanack ; but in the point of salvation huddle on , and the Minister and Gods Word is not intended ? How ill holp up art thou to know the state of the heavens , and not of thy soule ? If thou wilt needs contemplate it , behold it as thy home , not as thy Calendar to better not thy knowledge , but thy life , or thy knowledge of a better life , and thy desire of that place where the Father of life is , and where thou desirest to live .

God made not death , neither delights He in the destruction of the living : ôh God , suffer not that which thou diddest not make , to prevaile over that which thou hast made and redeemed . Man is the glory of His maker , and thy glorie thou wilt not give to another ; and suffer not us to sell that glorie thou hast allreadie given , that we lose not our share of that glorie thou hast yet to give .

In some cases and some things , a man may know too much . It is not good to be prying into the privie Counsailes of God : I doubt whether some mens overboldnesse with the hidden things of God , have not made them an accursed thing to them ; and pressing before their time or leave into the Holy of Holy's have barr'd themselves from ever comming thither at all : why should we call for light , where God will have none , & make windowes into heaven ? I will admire God in Himselfe , and be content to know Him no farther than in His word where this light leaves me , I will leave enquiring , and boast of my ignorance .

What I have alreadie done , was done long before , and what I am yet to do , is alreadie done before God ; this shall be my comfort , that I can neither doe nor suffer any thing , without His knowledge and leave .

God hath given man charge of His other creatures , and His Angells charge over Him , and they are now our keepers , that shall be one day our companions ; great is His love to us in their care , and great should our care be to continue this love ; and since we are alwaies in His sight , and theirs , why doe wee at all that which we would not have seene ? My care shall be , not to shunne His sight , but not to provoke His anger : what I doe , He sees : and I will doe it as I would answer it .

Those that honour me , will I honour : is a bargaine of Gods owne making : Gods honour is the way to ours , wee cannot but be blest , if we will but bee observant . I will care onely to serve Him , and I am sure I shall serve my selfe . Never any man lost in Gods service .

He who dwells not in tabernacles made with hands , will dwell in tabernacles which His owne hands have made , even the hearts of men : and we enjoy Him though wee doe not see Him , for no man hath seene God at any time ; He is invisible , but not insensible . Our blessednesse consists here in feeling of Him , in heaven in seeing of Him , whom yet I doe not see , and shall one day see as I am seene : in the meane time I will doe nothing which I would not have Him see , or may rob mee of His sight .

I have read of the Hart that hee weepes everie yeere for the shedding of his head , though to make roome for a better : thus I see the worldling goe away sorrowfull at that saying ; Goe , sell all that thou hast , though it be for treasure in Heaven ; men do not look at what they are to have , but what they are to part with , and are for one bird in the hand , above five in the bush ; but he that consults with his body for the saving of his soule , will never bring it to heaven . Let me sowe in teares , so I may reape in joy , I will be contented with the heaven I shall have .

Many a man is therefore sinfull , because it is gainfull . By Diana wee live , that shall bee their god , that they can live by ; but he trafficks ill for his soule , that loseth it , to fill his coffers . I had rather be poore than wicked ; it is not thy poverty but thy sins that shut thee out from God ; it is better going to heaven in ragges , than to hell in purple .

It is with the growth of our soule , as with the creation of our bodie , we come up by degrees : First , with Nicodemus , we must be borne againe , and then we must dwell a while at the sucking-bottle , from strength to strength : which the Eunuch , from reading the Scriptures to understanding them ; from understanding to applying , from applying to practising , of hearers we become knowers , of knowers doers of the Word , from perfection to perfection , or rather from imperfection to perfection , from persecuting the Church , with Paul to preaching to it : till we come from Dives doore to Abraham's bosome , from eating and drinking , from marrying and giving in marriage , to be as the Angells in heaven .

Many live as if they came but into this world , to make merry and away , and after some yeares of quaffing with Nabal , die of a drunken fit : it were well for such men , as they have liv'd like beasts , if they could die like them too , never to live againe : but alas they cannot , her 's their miserie ; that they only leave their pleasures behinde them and not their sinnes . I will labour to leave my Sinnes behinde mee , and have my repentance goe before me , and my good workes follow after me , and I shall meet with pleasures that never shall have an end .

The eares are the doores of the soule ; without these we were but artificiall creatures , men onely in shew : hence we know , we discourse , we beleeve , we learne to speake to God , and heare God speake to us ; without these we could not speake , not know , not understand ; in a word , by these ( under God ) we are what we are ; but some ther are that cannot heare , others that will not heare . It is a lesse judgement to want the power of hearing than the will , to be borne deafe , than to become so , they that cannot heare are the more excusable ; but they that will not heare , it were farre better for such if they had no eares .

Every envious man is a mad-man , for he will starve himselfe , to see another thrive , he needs no other lent , than his neighbours well-fare , other mens prosperitie is his gallowes , where hee will hang himselfe a hundred times over , and at last , with Achitophel , once for all : I will not so dedesire of God to have much , as not to cover much : hee that can but thinke his owne enough , will never think anothers too much . I will never grudge any mans going before me , but to Heaven .

Most men look for the theefs Paradise , to meet with CHRIST upon His crosse , Heaven upon his death-bed , and reserves his repentance , as the best bit , for the last : and meane to goe out of the world , and out of their sinnes all together . But how shall God then heare them , that before could not be heard of them ? In this case it is good being formost , why should'st thou put off repentance till to morrow , when for ought thou know'st thy soule is going to hell this night without it ?

God give thee of the dew of heaven , and of the fatnesse of the earth , was Isaaks blessing to mistaken Iacob . First of the dew of heaven , and then of the fatnesse of the earth , ( for alas what is earth without a blessing from heaven ? ) but of Esau quite contrarie , first of the fatnesse of the earth , and then of the dew of heaven ; your Esau's preferre earth before heaven , and therefore have their heaven upon earth , God gives them as much as they care for : Ishmael shall be made a great nation , and that 's enough ; but hee goes a wrong course for his soule , that thinkes preferrement is the way to happinesse . My indeavour shall bee not to leave a name behinde me upon earth , but to finde it written in heaven .

The Sun is plac'd in the heaven , as the heart in this little world of ours , keeping its seate in the middle , lends life to everie part , whereas if it had beene seated above , it would have beene miss'd below , and if below , it could not so easily have communicated above ; so that I knowe not whether wee owe more to God , for creating the Sunne , or for placing it ; not in the lowest sphere then ( like another Phaeton ) instead of lighting the world , it had burnt it ; or did it change place with the higher planets , wee should complaine of cold , so wisely hath God provided for our welfare , with our being , and hath set the Sunne not too neare us , lest wee should complaine of it , nor too farre , lest wee should want it , but in the middle , where it is neither an ill neighbour , nor too great a stranger : when we doe but looke upon what we have , wee cannot distrust God for what wee have not , and would have . Oh God , they deserve to want , that can distrust thee in sight of these .

Whatsoever was necessarie for our preservation was created ; and whatsoever was necessary for our salvation was written . I will neither desire to know more than God hath revealed , nor to have more than Hee hath provided .

Great mens actions are authenticke : If Herod and Caiaphas but begin , Christ shall have fists enough about His eares ; if Abimelech lead the way , every man cuts his bough , and askes no question : with inferiours , Example doth more than Precept , and like men in a streame , they do not swimme , but are carried : Doe any of the Rulers beleeve in him ? is thought argument enough why others should not ; these see but by their candle , and if the light be darknesse , how great is their darknesse ? I will do nothing which I would not have God see , and others learne ; else my light were better under a bushell , unseene , than follow'd where it should not ; thus I shall helpe , not to light others , but to burne them .

Of idlenesse comes no goodnesse , doing nothing will in time come to doing ill , and from beeing idle to bee ill occupied ; the labour that is impos'd upon the soule is not to sit still , but to runne . Good men must not be like Davids images that have feete , and walke not ; then only have wee hope to come to our journies end , when wee keepe going .

Some mens devotion is like hangings , which they can take off , and tack on as they please : outsides of Christians ; their hands and their eyes like some tombe which they have mark'd , are lifted up ; and they talke as the divell to our Saviour , nothing but Scripture : and with the Pharisee give farthings in the market-place ; and yet all 's but alchymie , but counterfeit : these are ill men , but well thought of . If I am not what I should be , yet I will not seeme what I am not , or be an ill man in good esteeme ; what am I the better , to bee a Cast-away with credit ?

What is GOD to me without CHRIST ? and what is CHRIST to me without faith ? and what is my faith to me without charitie ? but a dead faith ? and if my faith be dead , what am I else but a dead man ? As it is vaine-glory to boast of our workes , so it is in vaine to boast of our faith without works .

God as He loves young holinesse , so He loves it old ; ye are those that have continued with me , &c. was the praise of the Apostles ; Perseverance is the pillar of our salvation : if that fail al goes to the ground . What commendation is it to have done well ? If thou hast forsaken thy first love , if thou hast lost thy first hopes . Hee must carrie his goodnes to his grave , that will have it carrie him to heaven .

If we looke but on our bodies , we have matter enough of wonder , to see such a Common-wealth of order ; such a world of varieties in this little world of ours : But when wee cast our eye aside , on that part wherein wee resemble God , the soule ; how doe we blush , and are asham'd at our houses of clay ? that so glorious an Image should dwell so meanly , so pent up ? that the Bodie should bee a companion for the Soule , which shall one day be a companion for Angels ? but thus was God pleas'd to allay our pride . Wee should have thought too well of our selves , if we had not had some peece of us , like other creatures of the earth , earthie . It shal not trouble me what metall my bodie be made of ; if my Soule be heavenly , my body shall one day be so too .

When God sawe the thoughts of mans heart that they were evill , and onely evill , and continually : It is said , it repented Him that Hee had made man ; and that man whom He shall see so still , will have just cause to repent him , that ever hee was made , if he doth not repent him of what he hath done . God make me but truly penitent for my sin , and I shall never repent me of my being .

It is a great way , and requires a long time to come to heaven ; I admire their strength , or rather weaknesse , that talke of getting it at the last gaspe , as if it could be had with a wet finger : I know those that have liv'd some yeares , and taken some paines too , to set themselves forward , and if they come thither at last , wil think they have done well too ; for my owne part , I neither desire , nor hope to enjoy it without a great deale of difficultie , anguish and agonie : and shall thinke it labour well bestowed , that I have it upon any termes .

Men usually measure others by their owne bushels : they that are ill themselves , are commonly apt to thinke ill of others ; since no man is free from slaunders , I will not presently beleeve the worst of any man , but I will speake only the best .

Our greatest enemies are within us : and therefore our greatest victorie is to subdue our selves : there is no such slavery as to be a slave to ones selfe ; it is a strange weaknesse , but ordinarie , to bee at everie mans becke , but our owne .

Olde men are twice children ; and some , as if they were children for yeares againe , as well as for discretion , waxe most worldly when they are leaving the world ; and as their bodies draw nearer the earth , so their minds grow more earthie ; as if they were to live anew againe , or should set up againe under-ground : It is good and commendable to use these things while wee have them , yet still so , as remembring wee must part with them . I will never be loth to part with that which I cannot enjoy long ; for to enjoy that which I shall never part with .

Every man for himselfe , and God for us all , is a common position , but an ungodly one ; that God is all in us , and all in all , is true : but that we should bee all for our selves is wicked ; every man for himselfe , and every man for another . Thou it may bee hast enough , and to spare , another hath not enough to live ; why hath God given thee so much above others , but that thou should'st spare somwhat of thine to releeve others ? It may be thine owne case ; Every man knowes his beginning , not his ending ; in the meane time thank God , that thou art not so , and help those that are .

The barrennesse of the bodie is sometime a curse , but the barrennesse of the soule is accursed ; that is a punishment , this a sin , and punished with hell . We came not into this world , meerely to fill up roome , but to bring forth fruit , not for shew , but for use : Our chiefe studie must be not for ease , for riches , or pleasure , but fruitfulnesse : If we are all for pleasure , our fruit is hell ; and if we are fruitfull , our pleasures shall never end .

Blessed are they which dye in the Lord , for they rest from their labours : in this world , there is nothing but dangers and discontents , vanitie and vexation : then only shall we be at rest , when we cease to bee : If wee thought more of this , we would not thinke much of our affliction . If I am never so beleaguer'd with sicknesse , or want , or famine , or all at once , I will remember I came not into this world to take my rest , but to prepare for it .

That ground is verie hard , where the travellers foot leaves not impression : and that heart 's very stonie , where Gods blessing not only takes no roote , but leaves no signe , as soone forgotten as receiv'd ; 't is all He askes for all He doth , a thankfull heart : With what face can wee expect God should give us our asking , that deny Him His ?

God made other creatures for mans service , man for His owne : them for our use , and us for His glorie : How much , O Lord , do we owe to thee for our selves and them , that hast so abounded to us , above them , and hast not made them but for us ? Teach us to give our selves to thee , for them , who hast given them to us , for our selves .

God is glorified in all His creatures , but not in all alike ; some glorifie Him in their beauty , others in their deformity : His glorie is not lesse seene in our wants , than in our abundance : in striking with blindnesse , than in our aboundance : in striking with blindnesse , than in healing the blinde ; no lesse in Ieroboams arme dryed up , than restor'd : therefore do we see some want their sight , others their feet ; and yet it may be neither for the childs sinne , nor the Parents , as our Saviour told the people , but that the glorie of God might be seene . Againe , we see not only by nature , but by accident , one , with Mephibosheth , by the negligence of a nurse , another with Abimelech by the fall of a stone lose a limme , or their life : when wee see this in others , and not in our selves ; how are wee not thankfull to God for our selves beyond others ? Lepers in Soule ( God knowes ) and it is His mercy we are not so in Bodie ; whereby wee should at once neede the helpe and want the companie of friends , and not onely bee miserable , but shunn'd . I will prayse God not only for the good which I have , but for the evill which I might have , and have not .

Our SAVIOVR knew what He did , when Hee taught us to pray : Our FATHER which art in Heaven , &c. To give us , and to forgive us , for He onely can doe both ; none can forgive sinnes , or give grace , but God alone . Yet doth He not alwaies give with His owne hand , but reacheth grace and salvation in His Word and Sacraments , by the hands of His Ministers ; and because no man can heare His voice and live , Hee speakes in them ; it is the wonder of His goodnes , that He respects not only our wants , but our infirmities , and would so appeare to us , as Hee might teach us , but not fright us : Thus wee see Him speaking to Moses himselfe , to Israel by Moses : He proportions the meanes answerable to our strength ; wee are not like our Maker , if we think scorne to stoope to the weaknesse of our brethren . I will be all things to all , that by any means I may win some .

A good tree is knowne by its fruit ; yet all trees doe not beare the same fruit ; our fruit may bee all good , though it bee not all the same : all are not workers of miracles ; 't is not lookt wee should remove Mountaines , or walke upon the Sea , command the windes , or appease the waters : there are other fruits of the Spirit , that wee must beare : Now the fruits of the Spirit are these , love , peace , joy , long-suffering , &c. GOD make us fruitfull in these , and we shall have no neede of those .

The end of all our SAVIOVRS miracles , for the most part was , see you tell no man : It is one lesson in religion , not to be seen : and yet not precisely not to be seene , but not therefore to doe well , to be seene : our commendations must be to doe , and not say ; or if we say any thing , say , we are unprofitable servants .

As the outward service of the body , without the inward sinceritie of the heart is unprofitable : so the contrary is uncivil ; Gods service requires reverence , as well as holinesse . Many go to God as they do to their companions , not kneeling , but sitting , or lolling along ; as if they were the Iudge , not the petitioner , or were to grant suites , not to begge some ; and that unreverentnesse which they would not , nay , which they durst not use to this or that Mr Gentleman , they use to God : this is neither becomming Christians , nor reasonable , or at least civill men .

It is the fault of envie , that it sees nothing but injuries ; but of charitie that it sees none , or takes no notice of them ; but when one cheek is struck , it turnes the other : and when it can turne no way , lies downe under the stroke : he that will be righting himselfe of every wrong , doth but pluck more fistes about his eares , and set God against him too : who , if hee would but be quiet , wold revenge it to his hands ; unlesse we doubt of His power , wee will trust God with our wrongs ; and stay His leasure , that is the fittest time for our deliverance , which Hee thinkes so ; in this case we are like men in a pit , the more we stirre , the more we are mired .

I see MOSES in the Mount , and with the people with a different face ; open to GOD , veil'd to them ; GOD would not alwaies have us shew our brightnesse to the world : in some cases He loves our talent in a napkin , lapt up and hid . Let it suffice , Hee knowes thee , that will reward thee : others , if they commend thee not , it is because they know thee not ; or if they doe commend thee , there 's all , and it may bee to thy cost . Why shouldest thou lose Heaven for good words ? or what art thou the better , that others commend thee , if God do not ? who therefore doth not , because they do , I will never care to have my praise ascend up to Heaven , but to come downe from Heaven .

Blessed are the mercifull for they shall receive mercie : GOD's promises , though they be gracious , yet they are confin'd : and he only shall receive mercy that shewes mercy ; all the wrongs thou receiv'st , cannot equall one sinne thou committest , and art forgiven : now when God hath forgiven thee thy hundred Talents , which thou owedst , and could'st not pay : do not with the evill servant take thy brother by the throat for two ; be not so cruell to others , that hast God so mercifull to thee : freely thou art forgiven , freely forgive ; with what measure yee mete unto others , with the same shall it bee measured to you againe , and if you give , you shall receive good measure ; not only shaken together and pressed down , but running over .

God as He doth not let goodnesse go unrequited , so doth He not requite it with a little , or inch out His blessings . He never hath done enough for those that love Him ; one good turne drawes on another , and Hee is ever thinking , What could I doe more for my Vineyard that I have not done ? There is no pains of ours which falls to the ground unaccepted , unrewarded , who would not serve that master , whose service is perfect freedome , and the wages eternall life ? I cannot bee more mine owne friend , than by beeing GOD's servant , and the Worlds enemie .

Our bodies waxe weaker , as they waxe older ; our sinnes as they waxe older , they waxe stronger ; I will labour to bee olde in goodnesse , and I cannot complain of weaknesse ; let mee but bee too strong for my sinnes ; and I have strength enough .

Some men doe not revenge injuries , because they cannot , they want power ; others because they want opportunitie , and doe but waite with Esau : the dayes of the mourning for my father are at hand , and then I will slay my brother . It is no god-a-mercie to passe over injuries when we can do no other , he is not innocent that is so perforce : then is our goodnesse commendable , when we may hurt , and will not .

It is the fault of the world , yet it is the fashion of it , to put off God to the last ; the fall of the leafe , will serve his turne : and thinke one sigh at their death , enough for all their lives before ; but true repentance as it is not for a spurt , so it is not done in an instant . He that goes about thorowly to make riddance of his sinnes , shall finde it a long businesse ; sinnes are not like servants , to be gone at a quarters warning .

In many things we offend all , is the voice of an Apostle ; the best have their faults , he is happie that hath least and fewest . I can never be so holy as to have no sinnes : my care shall bee to repent me of those I have ; if my repentance be daily , my score shall never be long .

Youth , and holinesse , doe not meet often , to see a young man dead to sin and ready for death , is admirable , but rare ; it is a good thing to be good betimes , sinnes as they growe old they growe lusty , and if they once get head , they know no master , it is a harder matter to restore to godlinesse , than to make godly ; for there must be a dedocebo te , &c. an unteaching of that evill , which they before learned , before there can be an insertion of that good which they must after practise . Custome will alter nature , and an use of sinning make them in love with sinne ; it is rarely seene that a young divell proves an old Saint . I will so begin , as I would hold out , with GOD ; otherwise , it is ill that I have begun , but worse that I hold not out .

GOD desires not the death of a sinner , but that is not all , He doth not onely not delight in our ruine , but He desires our recoverie . If we repent , He spares us , if we returne Hee receives us : for the first , mercy to forgive ; for the second , an Abrahams bosome to receive ; if we wander , He recalls us , if we be obstinate , he intreats us : if we come but slowly , He will stay for us : in all His workes He is wonderfull ; but in His workes of mercy , He exceeds . I will never despaire of that goodnesse that hath no bounds ; my sinnes are infinite , but not unpardonable . Hee was once a persecutor , who was after an Apostle : and not behind the best of the Apostles , that was once before the worst of the Iewes for cruelty : God is able to make of a cast-away , a convert ; of a theefe , a disciple : of stones , children : of dead men , living Saints , if the disease be desperate , the cure is the glorie of the Physician ; the recoverie is more remarkeable of a dead man to life , than of a sicke man : if the danger were not great , there were lesse praise of our redemption : but when our sinnes are gone over our heads ; when the beame of the timber , and the stone in the wall crie us guiltie ; when thou art possest , and not as Mary Magdalen with a few divels , but with Legions : not one sinne , or small sinnes , or a few sinnes , seven divels , as it is said of her , but past number ; like the starres or the sands ; and of the worst sort of divells too , that cannot easily be cast out , but with fasting and praier , and hast not onely committed them , but lived in them , and art now dead in them : when we have thus lost our selves , and Him , to bee found of Him and brought to our selves , pusles us for thankes : His armes are ever open , onely our hearts are shut : wee receive not , because wee aske not , wee are not received , because wee returne not , or returne to our vomit ; It is but just , when wee turne to our sinnes , that GOD turne to His judgements : either wee must bee cut off in our sinnes , or from them .

Salvation is the gift of God , it is given , and yet it is got with a great deale of struggling ; thou must fast , and watch , and fight ( as Saint Paul saies ) and as Saint Paul did too , not onely with beasts , after the manner of men ( though wicked men are beasts in a manner ) but with principalities , and powers , not the Aegyptians , but the Anakims , Gyant sinnes , growne temptations . My glory shall be not to have no sinnes , but to have the mastery ; not that I am not set upon , but not beaten .

That we shall all dye , we all know ; when wee shall dye , God knowes ; but how any man should be dead while he is alive , is strange wil some think , and would bee glad to know ; yet so it is , sin is a death , and every obstinate sinner is dead for the time . Some with Iairus daughter are not dead but sleepe ; others with Lazarus , are not onely dead , but stinke ; and it is with sinne as with sicknesse , it weakens by degrees ; first it distempers the palate of the soule , or spoiles the stomake , so that either it refuseth meat , or distastes it , or puts it up againe ; and next it takes away the sense that they feele not their sinnes , and then are remedilesse ; and as our Saviour told the Iewes , they wil dye in their sins ; and this is a death men care not to be acquainted with til they be past cure : and then onely thinke of Heaven , when they are going to hell , and after forty or fifty yeares living , know not what belongs to dying , more than , with Ezekiah , to turne their face to the wall , and weepe when it comes : The way to dye willingly is to conne death before hand ; he that hath spent his life in providing for his death , is not troubled at his death how to be provided of a better life . My care shall be not how I may not dye , but how I may live ever .

Prosperitie is a great enemy to goodnesse , how hardly doe those which have riches enter into the Kingdome of Heaven ? I heare Israel praying in Aegypt , quarreling in the wildernesse ? When they were at their bricke-kills , they would be at their devotion , and no sooner are they at ease , but they are wrangling for their flesh-pots ; I think many a man had not been so bad , if he had but been poore . It is the saying of a wise Father , that Salomons wealth did him more hurt , than his wisdom did him good . Trouble , and want do that many times , which faire meanes cannot ; wealth , like knowledge puffes up , when poverty ( as their infirmities did many in the Gospell ) make men flock to CHRIST . I will never pray more heartily to God for His blessings , than for grace to use them , nor to lessen my miseries , but to add to my strength . Though my afflictions be many or often , so my strength be equall , I shall get by them ; the stronger my tryall , the greater will be both my victorie and my reward .

The way to live ever , is to live well , there is no way to everlasting life , but a good life ; it is not living at ease , or at randome , or at rack and manger , in pompe and plentie , mirth and jollity , and with Saul think to drive away the divell with musike . God cares not how rich , or how powerful thou art , but how good . We should so live as wee may have joy of our life , and bee made partaker of those joyes , and that life which are for ever .

There are many dead men and manie deaths ; there is a death in sinne , and a death for sinne , and a death to sinne ; the two first we may thanke our selves for , if wee had not knowne sinne , we had not known death , but the last we must thanke God for , it is from Him that wee dye to sinne , that have deserv'd to dye for it , who Himselfe dyed for us , and hath taken our sins upon Him , and at once delivered us from the sting of death , and the strength of sinne . And thankes be to God who hath given us this victorie , through our Lord IESVS CHRIST .

We are in this world , as Israel in the wildernes : and Christ is to us as Moses was to them ; if He leave us , wee know not which way to turne us ; nature cannot carrie us to God . Here all our sufficiencie is from Him , and we say well in our praier , for thine is the power and the glorie ; and it is by that power , that wee come to that glorie , our strength is but borrowed ; our standing but leaning upon His arme ; our going , but leading in His hand . It is with us as it was with S. Paul upon the way , wee must be led , we must be carried to God ; we must pray , turne us , O Lord , unto thee and wee shall be turned . Of our selves wee are unable to goe , yet drawe us , and wee shall runne after thee ; so shall wee come to thee , with thee , that are rather images , that have feete , and walke not , without thee .

It is betweene some sinners and God , as betweene some men & their creditors ; all their care is how to be trusted , not how to pay . My first care shall be as little as I can to come in Gods debt , and my next care how to come out of it .

Our goodnesse must be that part of the wallet that hangs behinde us , seene of others , not of our selves : our sinnes must bee that part that hangs before us , seene both of others , and our selves . To conceale sinne , was never the way to be forgiven it ; or what art thou the safer , that thou canst conceale it from men , and not from God ? I had rather be censur'd for my sin , than be damned for it .

As in Moralitie so in Divinitie , not to goe forward is to goe backwards ; and not to thrive in goodnesse , is not to be good . When I compare what I am , with what I have beene , I am not a little proud ; but when I compare what I should bee , with what I am , with Peter I begin to sinke ; only here 's my comfort , I shall be receiv'd , not according to what I am ; but what I am in Christ .

Every good heart is accuser , judge , and executioner of its ownfaults : Why should I be afraid of standing at the tribunall of my owne conscience , and not of God ? at one I must ; and if I judge my selfe , I shall not bee judged : I will prevent Gods judgements with my owne , and the feare of what I should suffer , with the sorrow for what I have done ; to him only is the last judgement terrible , that shunnes the first .

Wicked men as they make most shew of mirth , so they have least ; their heart and their face do not agree ; they carrie that in their owne bosome , that spoiles their laughing : they are alwaies pursued by themselves , and encountred with their own thoughts . Their sleepe is dreaming , and they dreame of those judgements in their sleepe , which they have deserv'd waking : every noyse is of thunder , and everie thunder of the last day ; every shadow is a spirit , and their sinnes are so many divels about them ; they have a double hell , they dy a thousand deaths here , and hereafter dye eternally . There is no joy like the joy in the Holy Ghost : Nay , there is no joy but that , and that is as farre above all earthly joy , as our heavenly joy shall be above this . Hallelujah above Hosanna . Let mee but have this within , and I care not how the square goe without ?

Death to the wicked ever comes unwelcome , because they see it in its worst shape , ghastly . Faine they would not goe , and goe they must , it is impossible they should live still , but it is intolerable to be still dying , which is the life they are to live , a living death . I will pray God to season this life to me , as I may not bee in love with it , and so to remember me of my death , as I may not be afraid of it ; and in my life so to prepare me for my death , that at my death I may not onely bee prepared , but assured of a better life .

When I remember the sinnes I have already committed , and some it may be not throughly repented of ; and those which I do hourely commit , and some it may be not taken notice of : so many of infirmitie stealing upon me , and other stronger sinnes breaking in upon me : I doe not will that good which I should , or want power to that will , or perseverance to that power : I am at a stand with the Apostle , and thinke , miserable man that I am , who shall deliver me from this body of death ? Even He that delivered His body to death for me : Oh God , thou that workest in me , both to will and to doe , worke my will to thine ; da Domine quod jubes , &c. Give but power to obey , and what thou wilt command .

Death is as hatefull to man , as old age to beautie ; and we are ever complaining of the shortnesse of our time , unlesse calamitie make it seeme long ; which yet if they be never so little over , they are weary of that which before they wished for , death : as I will not be in love with tribulations , so I will not love my life the worse for them , nor the better for wanting them : if prosperity make me fond of living , or afraid of dying , it had been better for mee , if it had not been so well ; I shall pay deare for my ease .

It is better to go into the house of mourning , than into the house of laughter ; nay , the way to the house of laughter , is through the house of mourning ; so our Saviour , Blessed are they that mourne , for they shall be comforted : Mirth , like Salomons strumpets , leads to the chambers of death ; and the voluptuous man goes out of this World , as hee came into it , crying ; and into another world , where there is nothing but weeping . It is a great weaknesse to defer to doe that , which must be done , if I must once weepe , I will doe it now . It is better to cry for remorse , than for anguish .

There were no such tyrant upon earth , as the envious man , if he had but his will , no man should live a quiet life , or dye a naturall death , but himselfe ; hee sees his neighbours house burning , and warmes him by the fire , and is refreshed : there is no estate that he hath not a quarrell to , no person ; his equals hee hates , because they are his equals ; his inferiors , because they are not his equals ; and his superiors , because he is not their equall : he is an enemy to all mens peace , but most of all to his own , and I think if he were put to it , himselfe knowes not what hee would be , or have others be . It is the greatest vanity in the world , to runne mad for others pleasures : what if I have not the same thing , or in the same measure ? I have enough to serve my turne , if they have more , yet they must account for it , and I will never envy any man , that he hath more to answere for to God , than I have ; I shall not account for the talents which I never had .

Gods blessings , and our thankes must ever goe hand in hand , one good turne requires another . Wee must not thinke to serve our selves of God , and not serve Him ; His blessings are not only encouragements , or rewards , but bonds . Of these , the more we have , the more we owe , and our care must be , not onely to receive , but to repaie . Why should we strive to come out of every mans debt , but GODS .

The charity of forgiving , is more difficult than that of giving , and more worth , by how much our selves are more deare to us than our goods , in the one wee are doers , but in the other sufferers , and many a man would doe for another , that would not suffer for him : I am but halfe a Christian if I have only learn'd to pitie , and not to forgive : we cannot at once , remember our profession , and our wrongs , if they bee small , the matter is the lesse ; if they be great , our glorie is the more : nor only our glorie , but our reward ; it is our owne faults , if wee be not gainers by our injuries .

Gluttony is not onely a sinne , but a disease : not onely to be forbidden , but to bee afraid of ; other sinnes hurt in future , this in present , and robbes not only of eternall life , but of this , and destroies the body together with the soule . Our bodies were not given for cellarage , to lay in bread and beare in . I will remember , that I was not therefore borne , or doe live , meerely to eate and drinke ; but therefore eate and drinke , that I may continue life .

I have seldome known any wickednesse so hainous , that had not clients as well as patrons . Corah had companions with him in his sinne , before in his punishment . But innocency doth not go by voices , I will never looke at my partners , but my cause . I desire no other Advocates , but GOD and the truth .

It was the accusation of the old world , that they were eating and drinking , till they entred , &c. and is still of this , and will be so to the end , though this were not the end of our being , but for the continuance of it : I will use my meat , as others doe their Physicke , onely for health , to satisfie not my desire , but my stomach . I can a great deale cheaper , and safer , feede my belly than my eye .

We see men set not their best wares upon the stalls , but within , lapp'd up ; it is neither commendable , nor wise to shew our excellencies ( as Musicians do ) in all companies ; what are we the better , that we thinke well of our selves while others thinke not so ? Or what are we then worse , that others thinke meanly of us , while we think so too ? Since those art never the better for thy selfe-conceitednes , nor the worse for thy humilitie , why shouldst thou make thy selfe envied for those graces which thou hast , by shewing them , and derided for making shew of those thou hast not , and would'st seeme to have ? and art at once noted of men for a boaster , and of God for a dissembler ? I will be content to be lowly in mine owne esteem , and others , that I may bee high in Gods .

A handsome garment is no argument of a strait body : those are not alwaies the best men that make the most shew of holinesse . Demurenesse may stand with falshood : Pretences are evermore suspicious ; they that are ever perfum'd , 't is to be thought have naturally ill breaths , we must not ever beleeve our senses : goodnesse is plaine , and would be knowne by her workes , but not tell of them , whilest hypocrisie is painted to hide ' its wrinkles , and would bee taken for better than it is , and with the figge-tree , it shall be curst for flourishing ; if wee are true Christians , wee are both sides alike .

Goodnesse doth not go by yeeres ; many times you shall have that from a Samuel in his long coates , which you shall not have from a Saul , at forty yeeres old ; and yet it is not forwardness commends us , but perseverance : Some men , like some fruits promise faire in the blossome , but wither ere they be pluck'd ; others like some graine , lye long in the ground , but grow up the taller ; it is dangerous to deferre long , but it is worse not to hold out . I will love and endevour early holinesse ; yet it is better to begin late , than to have done betimes , there is a penny for him that comes at the eleventh houre : If thy youth have been faulty , it is comfort that thy age is otherwise . It is no disparagement to have beene wicked , but to continue so ; who hath not bin overseen sometime ? Hee was once a Persecutor that was after an Apostle . I will glorie , not that I have never done amisse , but that I am now asham'd of it .

As promotion , so povertie , is neither from the East , nor from the West ; but from God . Hee hath sayd to every man , rule thou here , or worke thou there , bee this , or thus . Why doe men grudge at their wants , when it is not chance but providence ? It is lesse praise to be honourable , than to be content not to bee so : our happinesse is , not to want affliction , but to beare it . The lesse I have , the more I have to come : no Lazarus would change states with that Dives , who if he might but live againe , would bee Lazarus to choose .

Iob in his description of man , sayes , His daies are as the daies of an hireling , now wee doe not hire men to be idle , but to doe our businesses , our life is a long day , and this day hath many houres , and these houres have all worke ; every man is a day-labourer , and must doe his taske , to have his wages . I doe not see the penny given to those that stand in the market place , but that labour in the vineyard : 't is not for us to be lookers on , GOD and the holy Angels are spectators ; we must be actors , doers . I will bee content to do nothing but labour , while I am here , that hereafter I may doe nothing but rest .

The food of the soule , as it is farre more excellent than that of the body , so it is farre more dangerous ; for , where it saves not , it kills : How many ( with Esau ) have eaten themselves out of the blessing in this , and gone from Gods table , as Baltazar did from his condemn'd men ? Not the presence , but the preparednesse makes the acceptance : to come , and not worthily , is to bee more bold than welcome ; it is all one to thee whether God have thy roome , or thy company ; if thou have not thy garment , thou art condemn'd in both ; let others care only to come , my care shall bee to be welcome .

GOD is a God of pure eyes , and cannot behold sinne , and yet He continually beholds us that are altogether sinful . Lord how are we bound to thy goodnesse , that onely thy eye is upon us , and not thy hand ? That thou doest but take notice of our sinnes , and not take vengeance on them ? If wee had any good nature in us , if for nothing else , yet we would be better , because thou art so good ; and dislike sinne , not for our owne sakes , but thine .

GOD , saies the Heathen , hath woollen feet , but iron hands ; yet He hath sometimes iron feet , and woollen hands ; where He would correct , and not in wrath , He makes a great noyse , but doth little , only to fright , not hurt them : Where Hee will judge , and not correct , He treads softly , but strikes home , and is upon them ere they are awares ; there is love in His corrections , but there is wrath in His judgements . I will pray , Correct mee , oh Lord , but not in thy furie , lest I bee consumed and brought to nothing .

There is no living without repenting ; for all sins are against God , and all forgivenesse is from God , and there is no forgivenesse without repentance ; so then without this thou canst neither live comfortably , nor dye peaceably . I will not presently give God and my selfe over , because I have sinn'd ; but I will therefore neither give God over till He have forgiven my sinne ; nor my selfe till I have forgotten it , or remember it with detestation .

I have seldome seene a rich man want friends , or a poore man enemies ; though He have scarce to live , yet he is grudg'd his life , that hee takes up roome in the earth : these men make much of this , for it is all they have to trust to . I will grudge no man this world ; it shall suffice me there is another to come , and that mine shall beginne , when this is ended . I will bee content to want this for a while , that I may enjoy the other for ever .

Holinesse is not borne with us , nor doth growe up with us : sometime , you shall see the hoare-head , come short almost of the long coates . I will never regard how long I live , but how well ; and rejoice , not that I dye an old Christian , but an old man in CHRIST .

Some men drawe nigh unto God , but with their lips , as Iudas did ; others drawe nigh unto Him with their whole bodie , and will for outward complement come short of none : into their sackcloath with Ahab , and downe upon their knees with face with Saul ; they will dye the death of the Righteous as well as any , if wishes will doe it ; but their heart is not sound . Not to drawe nigh unto GOD at all , is open rebellion ; to drawe nigh unto GOD , and not all , by halves is secret dissembling ; then only doe wee come as we should , when wee come ( like S. Pauls Sacrifice , ) our selves , our soules and our bodies : and thus if I draw nigh unto God , He will draw nigh unto me .

If God only saw as we , there were no difference between holinesse in jest , and in good earnest . Ahab is in ashes as well as Ninivie ; nay , what doth Ninivie more than Ahab , to the eye ? What doe the Apostles more than the Pharisies , or Iohns disciples than theirs ? they fast , pray , give : by the out-side wee cannot tell who serves God with his bodie , or with his heart ; wee see they are painted , God onely sees they are sepulchers ; wee see their fairenesse , but not their rottennesse ; onely GOD which sees their heart , shall one day unmaske it , and as they have before been applauded for what they seemed , so they shall then be punish'd for what they are . If I have only the rin'd , the out-side of Christianity , and not the bulke , I am sure to be cast out : what I can , I will so carry my selfe , as I may neither bee condemn'd for beeing worse than I should be , or seeming better than I am .

There is no musike like that of the Word , yet it is not lik'd ; we have piped unto you , and you have not danced ; was the complaint of Christs time : men have eares to heare , but not that ; any musike but that of the Cymbals ; any Harpe but Davids ; any Bells but those of Aaron : they can heare others revil'd , or God prophan'd , or themselves sooth'd ; they have eares to their commendations , but not to their faults : the sluggard hath his eares in his pocket ; the drunkard hath his eares in his pot ; the proud man hath no eares , but to his commendation ; the covetous man hath no eares but to his profit ; the luxurious man hath no eares but to his pleasure ; there is no musike but in trumpets , nor in them but at banquets . But he that will not heare now , shall one day crie and not be heard , and be forc'd to heare that heavy doome , Depart from me , ye workers of iniquitie , into that lake , where there is nothing but crying .

It is strange , no men would be sicke , and yet some men will not bee well ; for they take courses to overthrow their health ; as if God had nothing to doe but to waite on them : they are never well when they are well , but when they are doing of ill ; where the affliction is Gods , wee may challenge Him of helpe ; where the disease is debauchnes , He may challenge us of sinne : when our sicknesse is His correction , it is comfortable , but when we need to bee corrected for our sicknesse it is fearefull : what God laies upon us is to be boarne ; what men bring upon themselves , is not to be answered ; and if in mercy thou art delivered , Go and sinne no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee .

Ill weeds grow apace ; wicked men like Aegyptian grashoppers ly in heaps , when the good , like Noah in his Arke , are two or three in a corner : our blessed Saviour ( as Hee could never say otherwise ) said true , The way had neede be wide that leadeth to destruction , for many there bee that finde it .

They must looke to suffer , that look to reigne ; this world is Gods house of correction for His Children : wee must not think not to have crosses , wee must studie to make the best of them . I will thinke of afflictions before they come , that when they come , I may bid them welcom ; while they tarrie , I will make use of them , and when they go , I will take leave of them , onely as of an Ague , for a well day or two , but to come againe .

In Heaven all vessells shall be full , but none shall runne over ; here on earth I see some runne over , and yet complain of emptinesse ; they have not enough , if they have not all : Thus I have seene some beasts , not knowing when they were well , burst with feeding : they had more than enough , if they could be content another should have more than they ; if they could but be lesse envious , they would be lesse covetous : all Vessels beare not the same sailes , those do but speed a tall Ship , wherewith a Bark is overborn : wee know not our owne strength , submitte ourselves to Him that doth : Hee that gives us all wee have , knowes we have all we should have , and that if wee had more , wee would sinke : that man that thinkes hee is never full , is never thankfull . Whether I abound , or am poore , I will endevour but these two , to be thankfull , and to be content .

Crosses are harsh , but they are the best Physike ; I know not whether prosperity have lost , or adversity recover'd more ; none praies so heartily for His daily bread , as Hee that wants it : miserie like Ionah's fish sends them to their prayers that never thought of GOD under their goard ; it is pitty faire weather should doe any harm ; yet it is often seen , we even adore those Physicians in our sicknesse which being recovered , wee onely salute with a complement ; abundance makes many forget those friends , which want wold make crouch to ; how welcom should that state be which makes us familiar with God ? I will not , I may not wish for afflictions , nor meet them . I am good Christian enough , if I can be content to be poore , and not desirous . Our practice must be not to make much of crosses , but to make use of them ; yet I had rather endure a world of crosses to come to God , than to be crossed in nothing in this world , and once want him : let my sinnes rather be punished , then sooth'd : oh God , let my hell be here .

CHRIST hath many followers , but few disciples ; GOD hath many creatures , but few sonnes . GODS flocke is a little one , one of a family , two of a tribe , like the Prophet Esaiahs tall Tree , heere and there a berrie in the toppe of a bough : there are many of Israel , but few Israelites , many that have Abraham to their father , but a few his children . Many that came out of his loines , but few that shall sit in his bosome . Goodnes goes not by multitude : the many followers may shew thy greatnesse , not thy holinesse ; the most are commonly the worst . How fondly then , how falsely do any boast of the truth of their religion by their multitude ?

Every thing , we say , is the worse for wearing ; it is true of the world ; the older the more corrupt : we are forewarn'd of the last daies , that they shall be notoriously wicked ; the world did almost begin with sinne , but it shall end ( in a manner ) with nothing but sinne , and that in fire : Here 's our comfort , the just are no part of the world .

If we had not knowne sinne , we had not knowne sicknes , and now we know not how to be wel of our sinne , but by Him against whom wee have sinned ; our health is from God , our sicknesse is from our selves : Heale thy selfe , is only for that Physician to whom it was upbraided , it is not Saul and his witch , or Asa and his Physicians can prevent death or a disease , without God ; all is originally from him , yet derivatively by meanes . I will use the one , but I will trust onely the other ; if wee are confident either without them , or in them , we presume .

Whilest we are here , we are in continuall want of somewhat , either our mindes are sicke , or else our bodies , diseases or discontents . How should wee long for that place , where we shall enjoy nothing but rest , and want nothing but a consummation of our rest ?

This world is a lyer , and he will find it so , that serves it : riches like their master , are full of deceit , promise that they have not . How many have we seen that have thoght no joy but in abundance , have , after , ended their joy where they begin to abound , and at last envied the quiet rest and merry meales of their labourers ? To impatient , inconstant mindes , the present state is ever cumbersome , and they would change thogh for a worse ; If wee can but make the best of our owne , and thinke our selves well , even when others thinke not so , wee are happy men . Why should I think that grievous which God thinkes fit ? If there were no providence , I would struggle : but now it is hard to kicke against the prickes . Lord , be it unto thy servant according to thy will .

Pleasures are pleasing , but they are vanishing : the Pharisies were not so truly painted sepulchers , as these , faire but rotten , fading nor onely dying , but killing . Like guilded pills ( save that they are not Physicke ) but small , and ill tasted ; if they were either not short , or but sweet , there were some colour for loving them . But now they are not lasting , and yet unsavoury : Why are we not ambitious of those pleasures , which are beyond al time for length , and all conceit for sweetnesse ?

Some men are afraid to sinne , because they are afraid to smart for their sinne , they would goe on in their sinnes , if they could go away with them ; it doth not so much trouble them to be wicked , as to be tormented , and their study is not that they may not provoke God , but that they may run away from Him . Oh God , if we could runne out of the world , we should run farther into thy judgements . Oh God , if we go downe into hell , thou art there , there is no running from the punishment , till from the sinne .

All sicknesse is not of the body : every leprosie is not in the skinne , it were well for some men it were : every sinne is a disease , our soules are no lesse subject to infection , than our bodies ; some are diseas'd and do not know it , others are diseas'd and doe not care for it : both cases are hard , but the last is desperate . To make light of sin , and because thy soule is sicke even unto death , to say with the Atheist & Epicure , Let us eat and drinke , for we must dye , is to shake hands with vengeance : Hee that will not so much as aske to be heal'd ; how justly shall he dye in his leprosie .

It is strange , but it is ordinary to see every man greedy to continue this life , and not to procure a better : If the head doe but ake , strait to the Prophet with the Shunamite , to the Physicians with Asa : If they bee but talk'd to of dying , with Ieroboam's wife they run and ride , and send ; and as the Cripple to our Saviour , pul downe the tiles to come at him ; but in the matter of their soule , they are deafe to the disease : why are wee not as industrious for Heaven , as for our health ; and to live ever , as to live long ? Alas ! what is age without goodnesse , but a fairer marke for vengeance ? What is Dives the better to out-live LAZARVS , and at last dye and be damn'd ? Let others trouble themselves and the world , how to maintaine this body , my care shall bee how to subject it : whilest I employ my soule only for the setting out of my flesh , what am I else but a glorious slave ?

Diseases though they were the fruit of sinne , and brought upon us by our selves , yet they are not dispos'd of amongst us but by God , they head doth not ake but with his leave : nor leave aking but with His helpe ; it is from above both that wee are sicke , and that wee are made whole ; to whom should I not only owe my life , but bestow it , but to him of whom I live and move ?

As it is in extremities , for men to remember God , but with repining ; so it is hard in prosperity , to remember themselves , and what they have receiv'd of God ; we are apt to forget what wee have bin , when we are chang'd for the better ; Pharaoh's butler hath forgot he was a prisoner : it is too true , that too many love God for their owne sakes , either they are poore , and would be rais'd ; or they are sicke and would bee heal'd ; and like beggers , no sooner are they serv'd but they are gone . I may both love my selfe , and God ; I may not love God for my selfe , I would not love my selfe but for that I am His , and I will love Him but for Himselfe .

When I consider the yeeres I have already lived , me thinkes they are few , but evill ; evill not in respect of affliction alone , but of sin , and I am found guilty : if I consider the present , ( if there be any present , when it is ever passing ) I do but adde to my score , and if I consider the time to come ( if I have any to come , God knowes ) I do but adde to the measure of my owne sinnes , and Gods wrath together with my yeeres ; since I must live , and cannot but sinne , I will study how my sinnes may not hinder me of a better life ; first , I will abhorre them , and then I will abhorre my selfe for them ; and if I could not before break my heart of them , I will now breake it for them : A broken and a contrite heart , O God , thou wilt not despise .

To every one it shall one day be sayd ; Give an account of thy stewardship , &c. It is that which everie man should tell himselfe and one tell another , what the Apostle hath long since told us all , that we must all stand before the tribunall seate of Almightie GOD ; the righteous thinkes long of this day , and longs for it ; because hee is long since provided for it ; the wicked thinks it coms too fast , and yet thinkes not of it till it come ; and when it is come , can think of nothing but that , and is stown'd with the thought of it : his pleasures which were never but shadowes ( yet accounted recall ) then appeare as they were , and not as they were accounted ; and those torments which were ever thought but shadowes , bug-beares , then appeare as they are , and prove reall : the comparing of what he hath enjoi'd , with what he hath lost , and that little lesse than nothing of time which he hath liv'd , with the eternitie of torment , hee is to dye in , makes him curse the time of his birth , since there is a time of death , and another death beyond all time ; so the godly and the wicked differ not more in their lives , than in their deaths , but most of all after death . Oh my God! as thou hast made mee of the best sort of creatures , a man , and of the best of that sort , a christian ; so let mee be yet better , by beeing one of those whom thou hast sorted for thy selfe ; what am I better , if I am only call'd and not chosen .

All bookes are not alike easie ; those that are , are not all alike profitable ; some would profit more , if they did but rellish , others would rellish better , if they were more profitable ; he doth well that doth both , utile dulci ; I will neither drowne my meat in sauce , nor dish it dry .

They are not the only robbers that breake houses , guile is worse theft than outrage ; it is alike wicked to make wine of other mens grapes ( as Ahab did of Naboth's ) and to be drunk of our owne ; hee that will have riches in spight of heaven shall have hell to boote .

The malicious man is his owne moth ; that God is better to him than hee can expect , is nothing , whilest He is better to others than Hee is to him : like Gideon's first miracle hee would have all the ground dry but his fleece ; if Cain's sacrifice miscary , Abel must not bee accepted and live ; no man may bee either greater or better with safetie . I will not looke at what I have , but what I deserve , and I shall never thinke my ▪ owne little , or anothers too much : that is a wicked heart that would have all men worse than it selfe , and hates all those whom others thinke better .

God is therfore bountifull to us , that we might be so to others ; to feast those , that cannot bid us againe , and to build for those that cannot lodge us againe , is the way to that marriage-feast , and those buildings , whose Builder & Maker is God : he alone hath the true use of wealth that receives it onely to disburse it ; if of wealth that receives it only to disburse it ; if men were their owne friends they would make others so with this Mammon ; why should the rust of that gold rise up in judgement against thee , the use of which will set thee with those that shall sit in judgement ?

Persecution is the dore to happines , Canaan hath still the same way , a wildernesse ; who can looke for heaven cheape , that sees his SAVIOVR bleeding ? I may not afflict my selfe , yet I shall suspect my selfe without affliction ; calmes are no lesse dangerous than stormes .

Some men doe not climbe , but vault into preferment at a leape ; I know not their sleight , I mistrust their quicknesse ; few men were ever great and good in an instant . All the harme I wish these , is , that their early rising do them no harme ; they that are their owne brokers in these , are likely their owne theeves in better ; and steale themselves out of heaven .

Favours are more binding , but aflictions are more profitable ; to have much is more glorie , but to be content with that we have is more victory ; there is no conquest like that of our selves , no conquest of our selves like that of want ; it is a hard matter not to find poverty a burden , or prosperity a snare ; this religion obtains us , that if we are not richer than others , yet we are content to be poorer ; he only hath enough that would have no more .

Our endevors are in vaine without God's blessing , yet in vaine shall he challenge a blessing that endevors not ; sloth is no lesse guiltie than coveteousnesse . I can doe nothing without God , yet I will not looke God shall doe all .

The cause of all punishment is sinne ; and the end of all sinne is punishment . Either present or to come ; how then doe we love to be punished , and yet love to sinne ? if we could but be innocent , we could not but be safe ; while I am here I cannot but sinne , but I hope to avoid the punishment through Him who hath borne the punishment and the sinne .

Our life is but a breath ; at first God breath'd upon man the breath of life , &c. And it is gone with a breath , if He breath upon us in displeasure we die , for at the breath of His nostrills wee are all consum'd : since we doe not live but by His leave , why doe we not live to His glorie ? Oh God , I have not liv'd long , yet so much of my life as I have not liv'd to thee , I have liv'd too much ; all I desire is , that as this life was thy gift to me , so it may be my gift to thee ; I I can afford God little , if not His owne .

All punishments are from the same hand , Iobs boyles are no lesse Gods finger than Pharaohs ; but all are not with the same end ; those are but chastnings upon some , that are judgements upon others . God strikes His owne because He loves them , He strikes the wicked because they love not Him ; those Hee corrects but these He executes ; it is a signe Hee loves us when Hee strikes us , and if his strokes bring us to love him , wee may brag with David , it is good for us that we have beene afflicted .

God is all eare and all eye , and all in all ; grant Lord , that as I am alwaies seene of thee , so I may be alwaies heard of thee : and may alwaies heare thee in thy Word , and contemplate thee in thy workes ; that I may one day see as I am seene , and heare and bee heard in that heavenly quire of Hallelujah's , Glorie , and power , and honour be unto the Lambe , and to Him that sitteth on the Throne , for evermore . Amen .

FINIS .