Ros cœli. Or, A miscellany of ejaculations, divine, morall, &c. Being an extract out of divers worthy authors, antient and moderne. Which may enrich the mean capacity, and adde somewhat to the most knowing iudgement.

Ejaculations and Meditations , Divine , Moral , Political .

AChristian in his lowest ebbe of sorrow is the Childe of God , as well as when hee is in the greatest flow of comfort : onely the Sunne of Righteousnesse darts not the Beames of his Love so plentifully ; and he can shew no more than God gives him . When God hides his face , needs must Man languish : His withdrawings are our miseries : His presence our assured joy . Sin may cast the Good man in a trance , it cannot slay him : it may bury his heat for a time , it cannot extinguish it : It may make him in the Waine , it cannot change his Beeing : it may accuse , it shal not condemn him . Though God deprive him of his presence for a time , he will one day re-inlighten him , polish him , and crowne him for Ever .

HEe that when hee should not , spends too much , shall , when he would not , have too little to spend . Diogenes wittily asked a half peny of the Thrifty man , and a pound of the Prodigall : because the first , he said , might give him often ; but the other , ere long would have none to give . As to be too neere , having enough , is sordid basenesse ; so to spend superfluously , though we have abundance , is one of Follies deepest over-sights . There is better use to be made of our Talents , than to cast them away in waste ; God gives them not to spend vainely , but to imploy profitably .

A Full delight in earthly things , argues a neglect of heavenly . Though the pleasures , profits , and honours of this life may sometimes shuffle a Christian out of his usuall course ; yet like the Needle in a Dyall , remooved from his point , he wavers up and downe in trouble , runnes to and fro like Quick-silver , and is never quiet , till hee returnes to his wonted life and inward happinesse : there he sets downe his rest , in a sweet unperceived inward content ; which , though unseene to others , he esteemes more , than all that the world calls by the name of felicitie .

PRide and Avarice usually attend great Fortunes : 't is justly matter of amazement , for a man to grow rich , and retaine a minde unalter'd ; yet are not all men changed alike , though all in something admit variation . The same Spider kills the man , that cures the Ape . High Fortunes are the way to high Mindes : Pride is usually the Child of Riches . Contempt too often sits in the Seat with Honour , causing arrogant spirits to contemne and scorne those , which but of late they thought as worthy as themselves , or better . And of all Vices , nothing doth so debase a man as Avarice ; it makes a Master slave to his servant , drudge to his slave ; putting him under all , whom God placed over all . Miserable is the man that so cares for Riches , as if they were his owne , and yet so uses them as if they were anothers : that when hee may bee happie in spending them , will be miserable in keeping them ; and had rather , dying , leave wealth to his enemies , than living , relieve his friends . Doubtlesse , true Noblenes esteemes nothing more sordid , than for a mans minde to be his Monyes mercenarie .

WHile bloud is in our veines , sinne will be in our nature : Our corruptions are diseases incurable ; while wee live , they will breake out upon us ; wee may correct them , wee cannot destroy them . They are like the feathers in a Fowle , cut them , breake them out , yet will they come againe : onely kill the Bird , and they will grow no more . A weake Christians life is almost nothing but a vicissitude of sinne ; he sinnes first , and after laments his folly : Like a negligent Schoole-boy , hee displeaseth his Master , and then beseecheth his remission with teares . Since wee cannot avoid sinne , wee should learne to lament it : true sorrow for sinne , is the onely darke Entry that leades the way to the faire Court of Happinesse .

THere are no familiars so infectious , as the angry Man and the Drunkard : Anger is the fever of the Soule , which makes the tongue talke idle ; it puts a man into a tumult , that hee cannot heare what counsell speakes : 't is a raging Sea , a troubled water , that cannot be wholesome for the use of any . Which he well knew , that advised us , Not to make friendship with an angry man . The Drunkard hath no memorie at all , Excesse hath utterly consum'd it ; so that friends and foes , familiars and strangers , are for the present of equall esteeme . Hee forgetfully speakes that in his Cups , which if he were sober , should be buried in silence : first he speakes he knowes not what , and after remembers not what he spake ; his minde and his stomacke are alike , neither can retaine what they receive . Whatsoever friend wee make choise of , should be sure to have these two properties , Mildnesse and Temperance ; otherwise , 't is better to want companions , than be annoyed with a mad man or a foole .

NOthing makes us more wretched , than our owne uncontrouled Wills : A loose Will fulfilled , is the way to worke out a woe ; for , besides the folly in beginning wrong , the greatest danger is in continuance : like a Bowle running downe , which is ever most violent , when it growes neere its Centre and period of aime . Mans Will , without discretion , is like a blind Horse without a Bridle , that should guide him aright : hee may goe fast , but runnes to his owne overthrow ; and while hee mends his pace , hee hastens his owne mischiefe : when the reines are given too loosely , the affections runne wildly on , without a guide , to ruine . It should be our vigilance , to curbe desires betimes , that so they may not wander beyond moderation ; our owne Will being a blinde Conductor : good Precepts to an ingenious Nature , are Bitts that restraine , and hurt not .

AN Eternall Kingdome is often lost , for the gaine of toyes and vanities : Who is there , that hazards not his soule for the pleasures or profits of sinne ; which when they have , what have they got , but shadowes and vexations ? The wealthie man is like a Pouder-Master , who hath provision against an Enemie , but is ever in danger to be blowne up himselfe . And as for the best of Earthly pleasures , they are farre sweeter in the expectation , than in the enjoyment ; the most excellent , wee shall finde but lame , and halting . It is great vanitie , to cast away our Soules on such transitorie Trifles , which when wee have , wee are neither sure to enjoy , nor to finde commodious .

HE that reacheth promotion , without Gods calling him , may flourish a while , but cannot thrive : He that is most fit for a place of note , seldome seekes it so much , as hee is sought to for it ; whereas ever the Bramble , that is low and worthlesse , cryes out aloud , Make me a King . Many would be Magistrates , that know not how to be men : but the understanding man knowes , that 't is better to live in the Valley , where the times tempests blow over him , than to be seated on a Mountaine top , where every blast threatens both his ruine and fall . Howsoever others measure him , hee knowes his owne height , and will not exceed it . It is better live honestly , though meanely , than by unlawfull practises to usurpe a Crowne .

GReat is the wisdome and goodnesse of God , in hiding from evill men and spirits those meanes & seasons , which taken , might proove most prejudiciall to his Owne : wee had beene oftner foiled , if Satan could have knowne our hearts . Sometimes we lye open to evills ; and 't is our great happinesse , that H●●●●ely knowes it , that in stead of tempting , pitties us : And how just is it with God , that those that seeke mischiefe to others , finde it to themselves ; and even whilest they are spreading of Nets , are ensnared ; their deliberate plotting of evill , being surprized with a sudden judgement .

EVery gracious heart is in some measure scrupulous , and findes more safetie in feare than in presumption : For hee whose strictnesse commands a restraint from things unlawfull , surely dares much lesse take free scope to evill ; and by how much that state is better , where nothing , than where all things are allowed , by so much is the strict and timorous better than the lawlesse Consciences . There is hopes of that man who is scrupulous of his wayes , while he that makes no bones of his actions , is apparantly hopelesse .

OF all moral vertues Humility is most beautifull , she both shunnes Honour , and yet is the way to it : she rocks Debate asleepe , and keepes Peace waking , yet doth foster and cherish her . It is a vaine thing to continue in strife : hee that lives most quiet , lives most secure from death and danger . 'T is better be accounted too humble , than esteemed a little proud : The purest gold is most ductible ; 't is commonly a good blade that bends well .

THe Winter is far harder to the Grashopper than the Pismire , who before having stored her Garner , is now able to withstand a famine . When a mishap comes suddenly and unlooked for , it distracteth the minde , and scares both the faculties and affections from their due consultation of remedie : whereas an evill foreseene is halfe cured , because it giveth warning to provide for danger .

IF there be any Nectar in this life , 't is in the sorrowes we endure for goodnesse : for they are but for a time , transient , and momentany . The Israelites shall not live alwayes under the tyrannie of Pharaoh , or the travells of the Wildernesse . That God we fight for is able enough to vindicate all our wrongs ; and the more abundant our sorrowes are here , the more plentifull shall our joyes be hereafter ; our teares shall return in smiles , our weepings in a stream of pleasures . God doth not recompence with a niggardly hand , we shall finde our joyes as an overflowing sea , and our glory beyond thought exuberant . Death shal be our happiest day , and as a Bridge from woe to glory : though it be the wicked mans shipwrack , it is the good mans putting into harbour , where striking sailes and casting anchor , hee returnes his lading with advantage to the Owner , namely his soule to God , leaving the Bulke still moored in the haven , who is unrigged only to be new built againe , and fitted for an eternall voyage .

GOod parts ill employed are weapons , that beeing meant for our defence , wee madly turne their edges , and wound our selves : they may make us faire in shew , but in substance more polluted : they are but as a saddle of gold to the back of a galld horse , adorn us they may , better us they cannot ; Grace onely can make a man truly happy , what shee affordeth can content sufficiently , and easily furnish the vast rooms of the mind . Without her all are nothing ; with her even the smallest is true sufficiencie . We should never think our selves the neerer heaven , for possessing much on earth : a weake house with an heavy roofe is in most danger . He that gets heaven hath plenty enough , though the earth scorn to allow him any thing : hee that failes of that , is truely miserable , though shee give him all shee hath ; for it is a poore reliefe in misery , to bee only thought well of by those that cannot helpe us . Our outward gifts may winne us applause with men ; but inward grace wanting , wee shall never gaine approbation with God .

WE are not rich or poore by what wee possesse , but by what we desire : for hee is not rich that hath much , but he that hath enough ; nor is he poore that hath little , but hee that wants more . If God make us rich by store , wee should not impoverish our selves by covetousnesse : but if hee make us poore by want , wee should enrich our selves by content .

HE ne're was so good as hee should be , that doth not strive to be better than hee is ; neither will he ever be better than hee is , that doth not feare to be worse than hee was : For it is the greatest of all sinnes , alway to continue in sinne ; and where the Custome of sinning waxeth greater , the Conscience for sinne growes the lesse . It is easier to quench a sparke , than a fire ; and safer to breake the Cockatrices egge , than to kill the Serpent .

IT is a competent estate onely , that yeelds the quiet of content : Abundance , is a trouble ; want , a miserie ; basenesse , a scorne ; advancements , dangerous ; disgrace , odious . Wee should not climbe , lest we fall ; nor lye on the ground , lest wee are trod on ; wee are safest , while our legges beare us . It is madnesse , to desire either to freeze , or burne ; a competent heat is most healthfull for our bodies .

REsolution without Action , is a sloathfull folly ; Action without Resolution , is a foolish rashnesse : first , know what 's good to be done ; then doe that good , being knowne . If fore-cast be not better than labour , yet labour is not good without fore-cast : our actions should not be done without , nor against knowledge .

NAture hath sent us abroad into the world , and wee are every day travelling homeward : if wee meet with store of miseries in our way , discretion should teach us a religious haste in our journey : and meeting with pleasures , they should pleasure us onely , by putting us in minde of our celestiall pleasures at home ; which should teach us to scorne these , as worse than trifles . A pleasant journey is deare bought , with the losse of home ; and a troublesome life is oftner a blessing than a Curse : wee may as well die of surfet , as of hunger .

EAch Night is but the past dayes Funerall , and the Morning his Resurrection ; Why then should our Funerall sleepe be other than our sleepe at night ? Why should we not as well wake to our Resurrection , as in the Morning ? Death rather borrowes our life of us , than robbes us of it ; and the glory of the Sunne findes a Resurrection , why not the Sonnes of Glory ? Since a dead man may live againe , we should not so much looke for an end of our lives , as wait for the comming of our change .

COntention is very dangerous , especially with great Ones ; as we may be too strong for the weaker , so we must be too weake for the stronger : we cannot so easily vanquish our Inferiors , but our Superiors may as easily conquer us . We should do much to be at peace with all men ; but suffer much ere we contend with a Mighty man .

THere is no heart of flesh that at some time or other relents not : neither flint nor marble but in some weather will stand on drops . Good motions barely better not the man ; the praise and benefit of those gusts are not in the receit , but in the retention . A good heart is easily staied from sinning , and is glad when it finds occasion to be crost in ill purposes : those secret checkes that are raised within it self , do readily conspire with all outward retentives ; it never yeelded to a wicked motion without much reluctation , & when it is overcome it is but with a halfe consent . Whereas obdurate sinners , by reason of their full delight in evill , and having already in conceit swallowed the pleasures of sinne , abide no resistance , but keep a headlong course in spight of opposition , not weighing how neere their jollitie is to perdition . Doubtlesse it is but just with God , that they who live without grace , should die without comfort .

IT is no measuring of men by the depth of purse , by outward prosperitie ; for even the best deservings may want temporal rewards . Servants are oftentimes set on horsebacke , while Princes go on foot . Shall we contemne his necessity , who perhaps is so much more rich in grace , as he is poor in estate ? Neither doth violence or casualtie more impoverish a man , than his poverty somtimes enricheth him . He whose wilfull folly hath made him miserable , is justly rewarded with neglect ; but hee that suffers for good , deserves so much the more honor from others , as his distresse is more .

MAny speake fair that mean ill : but when the mouth speakes foule , it argues a corrupt heart . Though with Saint Iames his verball Benefactors we say , Depart in peace , fill your bellies ; we shall answer for hypocriticall uncharitablenesse : but if we revile and curse those needy soules we ought to relieve , we shall give a more fearfull account of savage cruelty , in trampling on those whom God hath humbled . If not healing with good works be justly punishable , what torment is there for those that wound with evill ?

IT is ill hurting the children of God ; for though he suffers them not to sinne in revenging , yet hee suffers not their adversaries to sin unrevenged . He that saith , Vengeance is mine , I will repay , repayes oftentimes when wee have forgiven , when we have forgotten , and calls to reckoning after our discharges . Wherfore it is dangerous offending the meanest servant of Him , whose displeasure and revenge is everlasting .

THat God whose the earth is , makes roome for His every where , and oftentimes provides for them a forreine Home more kindely than the Native . It is no matter for the change of our Soile , so wee change not our God : if wee can every where acknowledge him , He will no where be wanting to us .

THose who cannot fear for love , may chance to tremble for feare . And how much better is awe than terror ? prevention than confusion ? Destruction is never neerer than when security hath cast away feare . There is nothing more lamentable than to see a man laugh when hee should feare : God shall laugh when such a ones feare commeth : for as in mercy he forgets not to interchange our sorrowes with joy , so neither doth he the joyes of the wicked with sorrow . 'T is an unreasonable inequalitie to hope to finde God at our command , when we refuse to bee at his ; or to looke that he should regard our voice in trouble , when we would not regard his in peace .

CVstome makes Sin so familiar , that the horror of it by some is turned into pleasure : To make a right use of Gods judgements upon others , is to beare them in our selves , and finding our sins at the least equall , to tremble at the expectation of the same deserved punishments . God intends not onely revenge , but reformation , in his execution : as good Princes , who regard not so much the smart of the evil past , as the prevention of the future ; which is never attained but when we make application of Gods hand , and draw common causes out of his particular proceedings .

THe best intent cannot excuse , much lesse warrant us in unlawfull actions : What we doe in faith it pleaseth our God to winke at , and pitty our weaknesses : but if we dare present him with the well-meant services of our owne making , we runne to his indignation : for Gods busines must be done after his owne formes , which if our best intentions alter , we presume . There is nothing more dangerous than to be our owne carvers in matters of Religion . It is better be too fearfull than too forward , in those things which doe immediately concerne God . As it is not good to refraine from holy businesses , so 't is worse to doe them ill : Awfulnesse is a safe interpreter of his secret actions , and a wise guide of ours .

THe first piece of our amends to God for sinning , is the acknowledgement of our sinnes : he can doe little , that in a just offence cannot accuse himselfe . If we cannot be so good as wee would , it is reason we should do God so much right , as to say how evil we are . It is strange to see , how easily sinne gets into the heart , and how hardly out of the mouth ! Is it because Sinne , like to Sathan , where it hath got possession , is desirous to hold it , and knowes it is fully ejected by a free confession ? or because thorow a guiltinesse of deformity , it hides it selfe in the brest where it is once entertained , and hates the light ? or because the tongue is so fee'd with self-love , that it is loth to be drawn to any verdict against the heart or hands ? Or is it out of an idle misprision of shame , which whilest it should be placed in offending , is mis-placed in disclosing our offence ? How ever , sure it is that God hath need even of racks to draw out Confessions ; for scarse in death it selfe are we wrought to a discovery of our errors . O Lord , since wee have sinned , why should we be niggardly of that action , wherein we may at once give glory unto Thee , & reliefe to our soules ? Whatsoever the sore be , never any Soule truely applied this remedy and died : never any Soule escaped death that applied it not .

TO know evill by others and not speake it , is somtimes discretion : to speak evill of others and not know it , is alwayes dishonesty : he may bee evill himselfe that speaks good of others upon knowledge : but he can never be good himselfe , that speakes evill of others upon suspition . To speake all we know shewes too much folly : to speake more than wee know shewes too little honestie . He that spends all that is his owne , is an unthriftie Prodigall : but he that spends more than his owne , is a dishonest Vnthrift . Wee may sometimes know what wee will not utter , but should never utter what wee doe not know .

HEaven being our Home , and Christ our Way , wee should learne to know our Way , ere wee haste to travell to our Home . He that runnes hastily in a Way he knowes not , may come speedily to a Home he loves not . Seeing Christ is our Way , and Heaven our Home , wee should rather chearefully endure a painefull Walke , than sadly want a perfect Rest .

AS it is not against reason to be passionate , so wee should not be passionate against reason : as wee should both grieve and joy , if we have reason for it , so we should not joy nor grieve above reason ; but so joy at our good , as not to take evill by our joy ; so grieve at any evill , as not encrease the evill by our griefe .

THe Widowes Mite was of more worth than the Riches of superfluitie : Hee gives not best , that gives most ; but he gives most , that gives best . If we cannot give bountifully , yet we should give freely ; and what wee want in our hand , supply by our heart . He gives well , that gives willingly .

HE that contemnes a small fault , commits a great one . Many drops make a shower ; and what difference is it , to be wet either in the Raine , or in the River , if both be to the skin ? There is small benefit in the choice , whether wee goe downe to Hell by degrees , or at once .

THe Devill is not more black-mouth'd than a slanderer , nor a slanderer lesse malicious than the Devill : for to have themselves thought as good as any other , they will not have any thought good that dwells neere them . He is to be suspected as scarce honest , that would with a slander make us to suspect another as dishonest : the worst of tame beasts , is the flatterer ; and the worst of wilde beasts , is the slanderer .

I Admire with reverence the justice and wisdome of the Lawes , but deplore with compassion the abused practice of them ; and resolve rather to beare with patience a haile-shower of injuries , than to seek shelter at such a thicket , where the brambles shall pluck off my fleece , and doe me more hurt by scratching , than the storme would have done by hailing . That Physick is not to be chosen , which makes the remedie worse than the disease .

TO be good , is now thought too neere a way to contempt . Hee that lives vertuously and piously , the world commonly hates , and his reputation shall be traduced by the ignominious aspersion of malevolent tongues . None can scape the Lash of Censure . He that is never so profuse and vicious , shall be loved of some , though not of the best . A supposed honest man found lewd , is hated as a growne Monster . Privat sinnes are often punisht with publike shame : for sinne is a concealed fire , that even in darknesse will so worke , as to bewray it selfe . 'T is impossible to have every ones good word , because howsoever wee carry our selves , some Cynicks will barke at our courses . I had rather live hated for goodnesse , than be loved for vice : he does better that pleaseth one good man , than he that contents a thousand bad ones . I care not for his friendship that affects not vertue , since it must needs be partly fained : for diversities breed nothing but disunion , and sweet congruitie onely is the Mother of true Love .

VIce is an infallible forerunner of wretchednesse . All our dishonest actions are but Earnests layd downe for griefe , anguish , or confusion . Sinne on the best condition brings repentance ; but for sinne unrepented is provided Hell . He is in the highest degree of madnesse , that desires to buy his vexation . We should force our selves to want that willingly , which wee cannot enjoy without future distaste . The Bee chuseth rather to goe to the flower of the field for Honey , where shee may lade her thighes securely , and with leisure , than to the Apothecaries shop , where shee gets more , but makes her life hazardable .

WOrks without faith , are like a fish without water ; in which , though there may seeme to be some quick actions of life , and symptomes of agilitie , yet they are indeed but the fore-runners of their end , and the very presages of death . Faith againe without works , is like a Bird without wings ; who , though shee may hop with her companions here on Earth , yet living till the worlds end , shee 'l never flye to Heaven : When both are joyned together , then doth the soule mount up to the Hill of eternall Rest . Faith is the foundation , good works the structure : the foundation without the walls , is of slender value ; the building without a Basis , cannot stand . We should first labour for a sure foundation , saving faith ; but equally seeke for strong walls , good workes : for as the house is judged by the edifice , more than by the foundation ; so not according to his faith , but according to his works , shall God judge man .

HE lives truly after death , whose pious actions are his pillars of remembrance ; though his flesh moulders to drosse in the grave , yet is his happinesse in a perpetuall growth : no day but addes some graines to his heape of glory . Good works are seeds , that after sowing returne us a continuall harvest . A vertuous man shining in the purity of a righteous life , is as a light house set by the Sea side , whereby the Mariners both saile aright , and avoid danger : But hee that lives in noted sinnes , is as a false Lanthorne , which shipwrackes those that trust it ; or like one dying of the Plague , who leaves an infection to the whole Citie . Doubtlesse he runnes a wofull course , that lives lewdly , and dies without repentance .

SEcrecie is a necessarie part of policie ; divulged intentions seldome proceed well : Things untold , are yet undone ; Than to say nothing , there is not a lesse labour . The Fig-tree , whose fruit is most sweet , bloomes not at all , whereas the Sallow , that hath glorious Palmes , is continually found barren . We should first be so wise , as to be our owne counsellors ; and next so secret , as to be our owne counsell-keepers .

IT falls out oft in this world , that Gods people are like Israel at the Red Sea , invironed with dangers on all sides ; and are then like poore Hagar , who when the bottle of water was spent , fell a crying , when there was a Fountaine close by , but her teares hindred her from seeing it . When things goe ill with us in our Trades and Callings , and all is spent , then our spirits droope , and wee are at our wits end , as if God were not where hee was . God will never forsake them that are his ; his eyes are open , to look upon their condition ; his eares are open to their prayers ; a Booke of Remembrance is written , of all their good desires , speeches , and actions : hee hath Bottles for all their teares , their very sighes are not hid from him , he hath written them upon the palmes of his hand , and cannot but continually looke upon them .

TRue Religion consists in the outward dutie and the inward man joyned together : What the heart doth not in Religion , is not done : an emptie title will bring an emptie comfort at the last : it was cold comfort to the rich man in flames , that Abraham called him Sonne ; or to Iudas , that Christ called him Friend : God cares for no retainers , that will onely weare his Liverie , but serve themselves .

THe price of the Pearle is not knowne till all else be sold , and we see the necessarie use of it : and the worth of God in Christ is never discerned , till we see our lost and undone condition without him ; till Conscience flyes in our faces , and drags us to the brinke of Hell : then , if ever , we taste how good the Lord is , and will say , Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord .

IF Christians regenerate truly knew the power they have in Heaven and Earth , nothing would discourage them , neither were any thing able to stand against them : It is no wonder that Faith should overcome the world , if it overcome Him that made the world . God is content to be out-wrestled and over-power'd by a spirit of Faith , as in Iacob and the woman of Canaan . Where unbeleefe is , it bindes up Gods power ; but where Faith is , there it is betweene the soule and God ( as betwixt Iron and the Loadstone ) a present closing and drawing of one to the other .

IF we be carefull to preserve communion with God , wee shall be sure to finde in him whatsoever wee denie for him ; Honour , Riches , Pleasures , Friends , all : so much the sweeter , by how much we have them more immediately from the Spring-head . Wee shall never finde God to be our God more , than when for making of Him to be so , we suffer any thing for his sake .

IF God should bestow his mercies upon us unasked , wee would forget them , and his hand would not be acknowledged in them . What blessings wee win by prayer , wee weare with thankfulnesse ; and those wee get without prayer , wee commonly spend and use , without any lifting up of the heart to God , in praysing him for the same : All Gods Treasures are locked up to such as doe not call upon his Name ; Prayer opens the doore to them all , and is effectuall to furnish us with those wee have occasion to use .

I Have seene some as happie as the world could make them , but never any more discontented : for at the best they were but as a good day betweene two Agues , or a Sunne-shine betweene two tempests : It is no great happinesse , to have lost mirth , and found wealth ; in which case , all wee can boast of is , at once to have ceast to be merry and poore . When Satan tempts us to any evill , with All these will I give thee ; wee should repulse him with Saint Peters answer , Thy Silver and thy Gold perish with thee .

MAny had beene greater , had they cared to be better : It is just , to be crost in what we would , when we will not what we ought . Those that honour me , I will honour : It is an high favour , to have grace to honour God : but because men honour God as a dutie , that therefore God should honour men , is to give , because he hath given . It is a favour of God , that Man is honoured of Man like himselfe ; but that God allowes of our endeavours as honour to himselfe , is a greater favour than that wherewith he requites it .

FLatterie and Trecherie is but one Vice , though drest in two sundry Sutes of Evill : Trecherie aimes at the bloud , Flatterie at the vertues of Princes : That takes them from others , This bereaves them of themselves ; That , in spight of the actors , doth but change a Crowne , This steales it from them forever : So that it had beene better for some great ones not to have beene , than to have beene in their owne conceits more than men .

GOds charges are oft times harsh in the beginnings and proceedings ; but in the conclusion , alwayes comfortable . True spirituall comforts are commonly late , and sudden : God deferres on purpose , that our tryals may be perfect , our deliverance welcome , our recompence glorious . Isaac had never beene so precious to his father , had he not beene recovered from death : Abraham had never beene so blessed in his Seed , had hee not neglected Isaac for God . The onely way to finde comfort in earthly things , is to surrender them with a faithfull carefulnesse into the hands of God . I would not doe that wilfully which Iacob did weakely , on condition of a Blessing : He that pardoned his infirmitie , would curse my obstinatenesse ; I love his Blessing , but I hate his Lye .

BLesse me also ( my Father ) saith Esau : Every miscreant can wish himselfe well ; no man would be miserable , if it were enough to desire happinesse . He should have wept rather to his Brother for the Pottage , than to Isaac for a Blessing : if hee had not sold , hee had not needed now to buy . It is just with God , to denie us those favours which we were carelesse in keeping , and which we undervalued in enjoying .

IAcob wrestled , and wrencht his thigh . It is a favour to halt from God ; yet this favour is seconded with a greater : hee is blessed , because hee would rather halt than leave ere hee was blessed . That man may goe away sound , but miserable , that loves a Limbe more than a Blessing . Surely , if Iacob had not wrestled with God , he had beene foiled with Evils .

A Christian is a Man of another World , and here from home ; which hee would forget , if he were not exercised here , and would take his passage for his Countrey . But though all Christians agree , and meet in this , That through many afflictions wee must enter into Heaven ; yet according to the diversitie of place , parts , and grace , there is a different Cup measured to every one .

SAtan is all for casting down : hee was not ashamed to set upon Christ himselfe with this temptation , and thinks Christs members never low enough , untill he can bring them as low as himselfe . But God is often neerest to his children , when he seemeth farthest off : In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seene . God is with them , and in them , though the wicked be not aware of it ; even as the Moone , at what time it is least visible to us , is then neerest the Sunne .

HE that shunneth labour , procureth trouble . An unimployed life is a burthen to it selfe . God is a pure At , alwayes working , alwayes doing : and the neerer our Soule comes to God , the more it is in action , and the freer from disquiet . Men experimentally feele that comfort , in doing what belongs unto them , which before they longed for , and went without .

WE ought not to be over-hastie in censuring others , when we see their spirits out of temper : Many things worke strongly upon the weake nature of man ; and wee may sinne more by harsh censure , than they by over-much distemper : as in Iobs case , which was a matter rather of just griefe and pittie , than great wonder or heavie censure .

IN all our troubles we should looke first home to our owne hearts , & stop the storme there : for wee may thanke our owne selves , not onely for our troubles , but likewise for overmuch troubling our selves in trouble : if wee will prevent casting downe , let us prevent griefe , the cause of it ; and sinne , the cause of that .

A Dejected man is indisposed to good duties ; it makes him like an Instrument out of tune , like a Body out of joint , that mooveth both uncomely and painefully : It unfits him to duties towards God , who loves both a chearefull giver and receiver . Dejectednesse makes a man forgetfull of all former blessings , and stoppes the influence of Gods grace for the time present , and that to come : it makes us unfit to receive mercies . A quiet Soule is the seat of wisdome : therefore meekenesse is required , in receiving of that ingrafted Word which is able to save our soules . It is ill sowing in a storme : A stormie spirit will not suffer the Word to take place . Men are deceived , that thinke a dejected spirit to be an humbled spirit : yet it is so , when we are cast downe in the sense of our owne unworthinesse ; and then as much raysed , in the confidence of Gods mercie .

SAtan hath never more advantage than upon discontent , it disposeth us for entertaining any Temptation : It damps the spirits of those that walke the same way with us ; when as we should as good travellers cheere up one another both by word and example . In such a case the wheeles of the soule are taken off , or as it were want oyle , whereby it passeth on very heavily , and no good action comes off from it as it should , which breeds not only uncomfortablenesse , but unsetlednesse in good courses : for a man will never goe on comfortably and constantly in that which he heavily undertakes . So much as we are quiet and cheerfull , so much we live , and are as it were in Heaven : so much as we yeeld to discouragements , we lose so much of our life and happinesse : Cheerfulnesse being as it were the life of our lives , and the spirit of our spirits , by which they are more inlarged to receive happinesse , and to expresse it .

THere is an art or skill in bearing troubles , without over-much troubling our selves : As in bearing of a burthen , there is away so to poise it , that it weigheth not over-heavy : if it hang all on one side , it poiseth the body down : The greater part of our troubles we pul upon our selves , by not parting our care so , as to take upon us only the care of duty , and leave the rest to God : and by mingling our passions with our crosses , and like a foolish Patient , chewing the Pills which we should swallow downe .

WHy should wee dwell too much upon griefe , when wee ought to remove the soule higher . Wee are neerest neighbours unto our selves : when wee suffer griefe like a Canker to eat into the soule , and like a fire in the bones , to consume the marrow , and drink up the spirits , we are accessarie to the wrong done both to our bodies and soules ; we waste our owne Candle , and put out our owne Light .

IN great fires men looke first to their Iewels , and then to their Lumber : No Iewell is so precious , no possession so rich as the Soule . The account for our owne soules , and the soules of others , is the greatest account ; and therefore the care of soules should be the greatest care .

A Godly mans comforts and grievances are hid from the world ; naturall men are strangers to them . If we be troubled with the distempers of our hearts , it is a ground of comfort unto us , that our spirits are ruled by a higher Spirit ; and that there is a principle of that life in us , which cannot brooke the most secret corruption , but rather casts it out by an holy complaint , as strength of Nature doth poyson , which seekes its destruction . Hee wants spirituall life , that is not at all disquieted : hee abates the vigour and livelinesse of his life , that is over-much disquieted .

A Burning Ague is more hopefull than a Lethargie ; so is hee that feeles too much , more happie than hee that feeles not at all : for hee in all his jollitie , is but as a Booke fairely bound , beautifull to the eye while it is shut ; but being opened , is full of nothing but Tragedies : despaire to such , is the beginning of comfort ; trouble , the beginning of peace . A storme is the way to a calme , and Hell the way to Heaven : 'T is fit that sinne contracted by joy , should be dissolved by griefe . A Christian should neither be a dead Sea , nor a raging Sea . Affections are never well ordered , but when they are fit to have communion with God ; to love , joy , trust , and delight in him above all things : for they are the inward movings of the soule , which then move best , when they move us to God , not from him .

A Carnall man is like a Spring corrupted , that cannot worke it selfe cleare , because it is wholly tainted ; his eye and light is darknesse , and therefore no wonder if he seeth nothing . Sinne lyeth upon his understanding , and hinders the knowledge of it selfe ; it lyes close upon the will , and hinders the striving against it selfe . That which a carnall man doth for by-ends and reasons , the godly man doth from a new Nature ; which if there were no Law to compell , yet it would moove him to that which is pleasing to Christ .

WE cannot say , This or that trouble shall not befall ; yet we may by helpe of the Spirit say , Nothing that doth befall , shall make me doe that which is unworthy of a Christian . If wee expect the worst , when it comes , it is no more than wee thought of : if better befalls us , then it is the sweeter to us , the lesse wee expected it .

IN the uncertaintie of all events here , we should labour to frame that contentment in and from our own selves , which the things themselves will not yeeld : frame peace , by freeing our hearts from too much feare ; and riches , by freeing our hearts from covetous desires : frame a sufficiencie out of contentednesse . If the soule it selfe be out of tune , outward things will doe no more good than a faire shoo to a goutie foot . A man shall never live quietly , that hath not learned to be set light by of others . He that is little in his owne eyes , will not be troubled to be little in the eyes of others . Men that set too high a price upon themselves , when others will not come to their price are discontent .

THe state of our soules ought carefully to bee lookt unto . What a shame is it , that so swift and nimble a Spirit as the soule is , that can mount up to Heaven , and from thence come downe into the Earth in an instant , should , whilest it lookes over all other things , over-looke it selfe , and be ignorant of its owne estate ? What we are afraid to doe before men , we should be afraid to think before God . If we cannot prevent wicked thoughts , yet we may denie them lodging in our hearts : No sinne but is easier kept out than driven out . Little risings neglected , cover the soule before we are aware .

AS in prosperity God mingles some crosses , to diet us ; so in all crosses , there is something to comfort us . As there is a vanitie lyes hid in the best worldly good , so there is a blessing lyes hid in the worst worldly evill . God usually maketh up that with some advantage in another kinde , wherein we are inferior to others ; and deserving nothing , we should be content with any thing .

IT is no selfe seeking , when wee care for no more than that , without which we cannot comfortably serve God . And because some enlargement of condition is that estate wherein we are best able to doe good in , we may in the use of meanes lawfully desire it .

THe disorders of the soule were not naturall , in regard of the first Creation ; but since the Fall , they are become naturall . Adams person first corrupted our Nature ; and Nature being corrupted , corrupts our persons ; and our persons being corrupted , increase the corruption of Nature , by custome of sinning , which is another Nature in us . As a streame , the farther it runs from the Spring head , the more it enlargeth its Channell , by the running of lesser Rivers into it , untill it empties it selfe into the Sea : so corruption , till it be overtopped with grace , swelleth bigger and bigger .

MEns hearts tell them , they might rule their desires , if they would : Fore-tell a man of any Dish which hee liketh , That there is poyson in it , and he will not meddle with it . So tell him , that death is in that sinne which hee is about to commit , and hee will abstaine , if hee beleeve it to be so : if hee beleeve it not , it is his voluntarie unbeleefe and Atheisme .

WEre it not that God , partly by his power suppresseth , and partly by his grace subdueth the disorders of mans nature , for the good of Societie , and the gathering of a Church upon Earth , corruption would swell to that excesse , that it would over-turne and confound all things , together with it selfe . For although there be a common corruption that cleaves to the nature of all men in generall , as men , ( as distrust in God , selfe-love , a carnall and worldly disposition , &c. ) yet God so ordereth it , that in some there is an ebbe and decrease ; in others ( God justly leaving them to themselves ) a flow and encrease of sinfulnesse , even beyond the bounds of ordinarie corruption ; whereby they become worse than themselves , either like beasts in sensualitie , or like Devils in spirituall wickednes , Lord circumcise our hearts , and wash us with cleane water ; write thy Law within us , and give us thy holy Spirit when wee begge it , that it may be a never-fading Spring of all holy thoughts , desires , and endeavours in us , subduing the seed of the Serpent , and drying up the issue and spring of our corrupt nature .

MAny , out of a misconceit , thinke that Corruption is greatest , when they feele it most ; whereas indeed , the lesse wee see it , and lament it , the more it is . Sighes and groanes of the soule , are like the pores of the body , out of which , in diseased persons , sick humours breake forth , and so become lesse . Vpon every discoverie and conflict , Corruption loses some ground , and Grace gaines upon it . The Doctrine of the Crosse hath the Crosse alwayes following it , which corrupt imagination counteth the most odious and bitter thing in the World ; whereas indeed it is the chiefe course which God takes , in bringing men to Heaven .

IT is an evidence that a man lives more to Opinion than Conscience , when his griefe is more , for being disappointed of outward good things , than for his mis-carriage towards God . It marres all in Religion , when wee goe about heavenly things with earthly affections , and seeke not Christ in Christ , but the World . Imagination is apt to breed false feares , and false feare brings true vexation .

WE should not bring God down to our imaginations , but raise our imaginations up to God : for by forging matter out of it self without ground , the imaginarie grievances of our lives are more then the reall . Many good men are in a long dreame of miserie , and many bad men in as long a dreame of happinesse , till the time of awaking come ; and all because they are too much led by appearances .

A Naturall man is ever weaving Spiders webbes , or hatching Cockatrices egges ; that is , his heart is exercised either in vanitie or mischiefe : for not onely the frame of the heart , but what the heart frameth , is evill continually . Every other creature is naturally carried to that which is helpefull unto it ; onely Man is in love with his owne bane , and fights for those lusts that fight against his soule .

IDlenesse is the houre of temptation , wherein Satan joynes with our imagination , and sets it about his own work , to grinde his Greefe ; for the Soule , as a Mill , either grindes that which is put into it , or else works upon it selfe .

THe ministring of some excellent thought , from what wee heare or see , often proves a great advantage of spirituall good to the Soule . Whilest S. Austin , out of curiositie desired to heare the eloquence of S. Ambrose , hee was taken with the matter it selfe , sweetly slyding together with the words , into his heart .

SOme conceit , they may embrace Christ , without his Crosse ; and lead a godly life , without persecution : They would pull a Rose , without pricks : But though it may stand with their owne base ends for a time , yet will it not hold out in times of change , when sicknesse of body , and trouble of minde shall come : emptie conceits are too weake to encounter with reall griefes .

IT is a strong argument , that the Spirit hath set up a Kingdome and order in our hearts , when our spirits rise within us against any thing which lifts it selfe up against goodnesse .

THere is nothing that more mooveth a godly man to renew his interest every day in the perfect righteousnesse and obedience of his Saviour than the sinfull stirrings of his soule , when hee findes something in himselfe alwayes enticing and drawing away his heart from God , and intermingling it selfe with his best performances .

WE may with better leave use all the comforts which God hath given , to refresh us in the way to Heaven , than refuse them . The care of the outward man bindes Conscience so farre , as that wee should neglect nothing which may helpe us , in a chearefull serving of God , in our places , and tend to the due honour of our bodies , which are the temples of the Holy Ghost , and companions of our soules in all performances : but the intemperate use of the creatures , is the Nurse of all passions ; because our spirits , which are the Soules instruments , are hereby inflamed and disturbed ; and it is no wonder , to see an intemperate man transported into any passion .

SAtan and his instruments , by bewitching the imagination with false appearances , mis-leadeth not only the world , but troubleth the peace of men taken out of the world , whose estate is layd up safe in Christ : Who notwithstanding passe their few dayes here , in an uncomfortable , wearisome , and unnecessarie sadnesse of spirit ; being kept in ignorance of their happie condition , by Satans juggling , and their owne mistakes , and so come to Heaven before they are aware . Some againe passe their dayes in a golden dreame , and drop into Hell before they thinke of it .

AS the distemper of Fancie disturbing the act of Reason , oftentimes breedes madnesse , in regard of civill conversation ; so it breeds likewise spirituall madnesse , carrying men to those things , which if they were in their right wits , they would utterly abhorre .

MEn whose Wills are stronger than their Wits , who are wedded to their own wayes , are more pleased to heare that which complyes with their inclinations , than a harsh truth , which crosses them ; this presageth ruine , because they are not counsellable : Wherefore God suffers them to bee led through a fooles Paradise , to a true Prison ; as men that will neither heare themselves , nor others , who would doe them good against their wills .

WHat an unworthy thing is it , that wee should pittie a beast over-loaden , and yet take no pittie of a Brother ? Whereas there is no living member of Christ , but hath spiritual love infused into him , and some abilitie to comfort others . Dead stones in an Arch uphold one another , and shall not living ? After Love hath once kindled love , then the heart being melted , is fit to receive any impression . Vnlesse both pieces of the Iron be red hot , they will not joyne together : two spirits warmed with the same heat , will easily solder together .

AS God loves not emptie hands , so he measures fulnesse , not by the hand , but the heart : A Widowes Mite is prefer'd before the Temples Treasure , by Him who never askes how great , but how good our offerings are .

GOod fellowship doth no way so well , as in our passage to Heaven : Many sticks layd together , make a good fire ; which being single , lose both their light and heat .

REmove the beame from thine owne , if thou wilt clearely see the mote in thy brothers eye : first learne , then teach . He gathers , that heares ; he spends , that speaketh : and if we spend before we gather , we may soone prove bankrout .

THe Devil alledged Scripture , to tempt our Saviour ; and therefore no marvell though hypocrites make a faire shew , to deceive with a glorious lustre of holinesse , since we see from whence they have it . No Devill is so dangerous as the Religious Devill , which turnes the Tables of God into traps to catch Soules .

SAtan makes the ruggedest way seeme smooth , while we tread in his paths : but turne thy feet unto holinesse , hee blocks up the way with temptation . For never man endeavoured a common good , without opposition ; and 't is a signe the Worke is holy , and the Agent faithfull , when hee meets with strong affronts .

SOmetimes the world under-rates him , that findes reason to set an high price upon himselfe : Sometimes againe it over-values a man , that knowes just cause of his owne humiliation . If others mistake us , this can be no warrant for our error . We cannot be wise , unlesse we receive the knowledge of our selves by direct beames , not by reflection : unlesse wee have learned to condemne unjust applauses , & scorning the worlds flatterie , frowne on our owne vilenesse , with , Lord , I am not worthy .

GOd gives to his poore conscionable servants a kinde of reverence and respect , even from those men that maligne them most , so as they cannot but venerate whom they hate : contrariwise , no wit nor power can shield a lewd man from contempt ; for the wise providence of God commonly payes us with our owne choise : So that when we thinke we have brought about our owne ends , to our best content , we bring about his purposes , to our owne confusion .

HErod had so much Religion , to make scruple of an Oath , though not of a Murther . No man casts off all justice and pietie at once ; but whilest he gives himselfe over to some sinnes , he stops at others . It was Lust that carryed Herod into Murther . The proceedings of sinne are more hardly avoided than the entrance : who so gives himselfe leave to be wicked , knowes not where he shall stay .

OVr hood-winkt progenitors would have no eyes , but in the heads of their ghostly Fathers ; and we are so quick-sighted in our owne eyes , that we pittie the blindnesse of our able Teachers . It is the boldnesse of Nature , upon an Inch given , to challenge an Ell : for finding our selves graced with some abilitie , wee strait flatter our selves with a facultie of more .

IT hath ever bin Gods wont , by small Precepts to trie mans obedience ; which is so much the more , as the thing required is lesse : hee 'l trie thee with a trifle , before hee trust thee with a talent ; and obedience ever meets a blessing .

IT is most seasonable in our worst , to thinke of our best estate : for both that thought will be best digested , when wee are well ; and that change best prepared for , when farthest from us .

HOw indulgent is the wicked rich man , in studying his owne miserie : Famine is his food , and Toyle his recreation ; Cares are his cheeres , and Torment his glory . Hee remembers not , that his wealth hath wings , which pluckt or cut , flye away : or that his Soule hath so : but , Thou foole , this night , and it flyes from thy Riches to Hell .

I Like silent speaking well , when our actions supply the office of our tongue . Give me the Christian that 's more seene than heard ; for a loud tongue and a silent hand never escapes the brand of an hypocrite .

SAtan hath most advantage in solitarinesse , and therefore sets upon Christ in the Wildernesse , and upon Eve single ; and it is added to the glory of Christs victorie , that hee overcame him in a single combat , and in a place of such advantage . Wherefore , those that will be alone , ( being cast downe by any spirituall temptation ) doe as much as in them lyeth , tempt the Tempter himselfe to tempt them .

AS wee ought not to reject the comfort of our friends in adversitie , so should we not build too much upon humane comforts : Men being at the best , but Conduits of comfort , and such as God freely conveyeth comfort by ; taking libertie often to denie comfort by them , that so hee may be acknowledged the God of all comfort .

WE must not goe to the Surgeon for everie scratch : opening of our estates to others is not good , but when it is necessarie ; and it is not necessarie , when wee can fetch supply from our owne store : For God would have us tender of our reputations , except in some speciall cases , wherein we are to give him the glory , by a free and full confession .

A Wicked man , beaten out of earthly comforts , is as a naked man in a storme , and an unarmed man in the field ; or as a Shippe tossed in the Sea , without an Anchor , which presently dasheth upon Rocks , or falleth upon Quick-sands . But a Christian , when hee is driven out of all comforts below , nay , when God seemes to be angry with him ; he can appeale from God angry , to God appeased ; he can wrestle and strive with God , by Gods owne strength ; fight with him with his owne weapons , and plead with him by his owne arguments , till he obtaine the comfort he desireth .

IT is an infallible rule of discerning a man to be in the state of Grace , when he findes every condition draw him neerer unto God : For thus it appeares , that such love God , and are called of him , unto whom all things worke together for the best . Grace dormant without exercise , doth not secure us . The soule without action , is like an instrument not plaied upon , or like a ship alwaies in the haven . Even life it selfe is made more lively by action : and by stirring up the grace of God in us , sparkles come to be flames , and all graces are kept bright .

WHen the soule suffers it selfe by somthing here below to be drawne away from God , 't is his mercy tous , that we should find nothing but trouble & unquietnes in any thing else , that so wee might remember from whence we are fallen , and returne home againe : and it is a good trouble that frees us from the greatest trouble , and brings with it the most comfortable rest . The soule naturally sinks downewards , and therefore had need to be often wound up : but after that Gods spirit hath touched the soule , it will rather be quiet till it stands pointed Godward ; in whom there is both worth to satisfie , and strength to support it . If we resolve in Gods power , and not our own , and be strong in the Lord , and not in our selves , then it matters not what our troubles or temptations be , either from within or without : for Trust in God at length will triumph .

GRace , like oyle will ever be above : and though the soul be overborne with passion for a time , yet if grace have once truly seasoned it , it will worke it selfe into freedome again . The eye , when any dust falls into it , is not more tender and unquiet till it bee wrought out againe , than a gratious soul being once troubled : The spirit , as a spring , will be cleansing it selfe more and more ; whereas the heart of a carnall man is like a standing poole , whatsoever is cast into it , there it rests : trouble and disquietnesse in him are in their proper place : It is proper for the sea to rage and cast up durt : and God hath set it downe for an eternall rule , That vexation and sinne shall be inseperable .

IF Man withdraw himselfe from Gods gratious government of him to happinesse , hee will soone fall under Gods just government of him to deserved misery : If he shakes off Gods sweet yoake , hee puts himselfe under Satans heavy yoake , who as Gods Executioner hardens him to destruction ; and so while hee rushes against Gods will , he fulfils it , and whilest he will not willingly doe Gods will , Gods wil is don upon him against his will .

FOr setling our Faith the more , God taketh liberty in using weake meanes to great purposes , and setteth aside more likely and able means ; yet sometimes he altogether disableth the greatest meanes , and worketh often by no meanes at all . Nay God often bringeth his will to passe by crossing the course and streame of meanes , to shew his owne soveraigntie , & to exercise our dependance .

THere is nothing so high , that is above Gods providence ; nothing so low that is beneath it . Nothing so large , but is bounded by it . Nothing so confused , but God can order it . Nothing so bad , but he can draw good out of it . Nothing so wisely plotted , but God can disappoint it ; as Achitophels counsel : nothing so weakly caried , but he can give a prevailing issue unto it . Nothing so natural , but he can suspend its operation , as heavy burdens from sinking , fire from burning , &c.

WHere a fearful spirit , & a melancholy temper , a weak iudgement and a scrupulous conscience meet in one , there Satan and his , together with mens owne hearts , ( which like Sophisters are continually cavilling amongst themselves , ) worke much disquiet , and makes the life uncomfortable . But in this case , wee should wholly resign our selves up unto God , with Davids words : Here I am , let the Lord deale with me as seemeth good unto him . For God oft wraps himselfe in a cloud , and will not be seen till afterward . Where wee cannot trace him , we ought with Saint Paul to admire and adore him ; for all Gods dealings will appeare beautifull in their due season , though wee for the present see not the contiguitie and linking together of one thing with another .

NOthing should displease us that pleaseth God , neither should any thing be pleasing to us that displeaseth him . A godly man in all estates and conditions , sayes Amen , to Gods Amen , and puts his fiat and placet to Gods . As the sea turnes all rivers into his owne rellish , so he turnes all to his owne spirit , and makes whatsoever befalls him , an exercise of some vertue . Thus hee inioyes heaven , in the world under heaven : and Gods kingdom comes , where his will is thus done and suffered .

AS beasts that cannot endure the yoke at the first , after they are inured a while unto it , beare it willingly , and carry their worke more easily by it : So the yoke of obedience makes the life regular and quiet . The meeting of authoritie and obedience together , main - the order and peace of the world .

SAlvation comes to bee sure unto us , whilst by Faith looking to Gods promises , ( and to God himselfe freely offering grace therin ) the soule resignes up it selfe to God , making no further question from any unworthinesse of its owne : for doubtlesse he will make good whatever he hath promised for the comfort of his children . And what greater assurance can there be , than for Being it selfe to lay its being to pawne ? and for Life it selfe to lay life to pawne ? and all to comfort a poore soule . By the bare word of God it is alone , that the Covenant of day and night , and the preservation of the world from any further ouerflowings of waters , continueth : which if it should fail , yet his Covenant with his people should abide firm for euer , though the whole frame of nature were dissolved .

GOd ( simply considered ) is not all our happinesse , but God as trusted in ; and Christ as we are made one with him . The soule cannot so much as touch the hem of Christs garment , but it shall find vertue comming from him to sanctifie and settle it : God in Christ is full of all that is good : when the soule is emptied , inlarged and opened by Faith , to receive goodnesse offered , there must needs follow sweet satisfaction .

NOne can know the truth of God , so as to build upon it , but by the Truth it self , and the spirit revealing it by its owne light to the soul . And that soul which hath felt the power of truth , in casting it downe and raising it up againe , will easily bee brought to rest upon it . Wee must apprehend the love of God and the fruits of it , as better than life it self , and then chusing and cleaving to the same will soon follow . Perfect faith dares put the hardest cases to its soule , and then set God against all that may befal it . There is no readier way to fall , than to trust equally to two stayes , whereof one is rotten , and the other sound : God will be trusted alone , or not at all : those that trust to other things with God , trust not him , but upon pretence to carry their double minds with lesse check .

WHen the darkenesse of the night is thickest , then the morning beginnes to dawne : deep extremities are to the wicked a ground of utter despaire ; but to him that is acquainted with the ways of God they are a rise of exceeding comfort : for infinite power and goodnesse can never bee at a losse ; neither can Faith , which looks to that , ever be at a stand : in a hopelesse estate a Christian will see some dore of hope opened , because God is ever neerest to us , when we stand most in need of him . Gods truth and goodnesse is unchangable , he never leaves those that trust in him .

AS God commands us to trust him in doing good , so should wee commit our soules to him in wel-doing , and trust him when wee are about his owne works , and not in the works of darknesse : wee may safely expect God in his waies of mercy , when wee are in his waies of obedience .

THe heart is never drawne to any sinfull vanitie , or frighted with any terrour of trouble : til faith first loseth the sight and estimation of divine things , and forgets the necessitie and excellencie of them : when the great things of God are brought into the heart by faith , what is there in the whole world that can out-bid them . Faith preserves the chastitie of the soule , and cleaving to God is a spirituall debt which it oweth him : whereas cleaving to the Creature , is spirituall adultery .

WE cast away floures after once wee have had the sweetnes of them , because there is not still a fresh supply of sweetnes in them : whatever comfort is in the creature , the soule will spend quickly , and looke still for more , whereas the comfort we have in God is undefiled , and fadeth not away . Outward things are onely so far forth good , as we doe not trust in them . Thornes may be touched , but not rested on , for then they will pierce : wee must not set our hearts upon those things , which are never evill to us but when wee set our hearts upon them .

WHere affections to any thing below get much strength in the soule , it will by little and little bee so over-growne , that there will bee no place left in it either for Object or Art , God , or Trust in him , which is ( as it were ) the mother root and great veine , whence the exercise of all graces have their beginning and strength . An Heire doubts not but his father will provide him food and nourishment , and give him breeding sutable to his future condition . It is a vaine pretence to beleeve that God will give us Heaven , and yet leave us to shift for our selves in the way .

PLants move not from place to place , because they finde nourishment where they stand : but living creatures seeke abroad for their food , and to that end have a power of moving from place to place ; and this is the reason why trust is expressed by going to God with an humble boldnes , which carries the soule out of in selfe , to rely wholy upon his all-sufficiency .

THose that take liberty in things they either know or doubt will displease God , shew they want the feare of God , & the want of feare shews their want of dependancie , and therefore want of trust . Dependancie is alwaies very respective , it studieth contentment , and care to comply : and therefore he that commits his soule to God to save , wil commit his soule to God to sanctifie and guide in a way of wel pleasing . Not only the tame , but the most savage creatures will bee at the becke of those that feed them , though they are ready to fall violently upon others : Disobedience therefore is against the Principles of Nature .

GOd can convey himselfe more comfortably to us when hee pleaseth , without means , than by means : and true Trust , as it sets God highest in the soule , so in dangers and wants it hath present recourse to him ( as the Conies to the rockes ) patiently waiting his leisure : for God seldome makes any promise to his children , but he exerciseth their trust in waiting long before , as Abraham for a sonne , David for a kingdome , the whole world for Christs comming , &c.

A Ship that lies at anchor may be somthing tossed , but yet it still remaines so fastened , that it cannot be carried away by winde or weather : the soule after it hath cast anchor upon God , may bee disquieted a while , but this unsetling tends to a deeper setling : the more we beleeve , the more we are established : Faith is an establishing grace , by faith wee stand , and stand fast , and are able to withstand whatsoever opposeth us : for what can stand against God , upon whose truth and power faith relyes .

IT requires a great deale of selfe-deniall , to bring a soule either swelling with carnall confidence , or sinking by feare and distrust , to lie levell upon God , and cleave fast to him : Square will lie fast upon square , but our hearts are so full of unevennesse , that God hath much adoe to square our hearts sit for him ; notwithstanding the soul hath no true rest without this .

A spirit set in tune , and assisted by a higher spirit , will stand out against ordinary assaults , but when God ( who is God of the spirits of all flesh ) shall seem contrary to our spirits , we shall then find small relief elsewhere . Needs must the soule be in a wofull plight , when God seemes not onely to be absent from it , but an enemy to it .

SIn is nothing so sweet in the committing , as it is heavy and bitter in the reckoning . There is not the stoutest man breathing , but if God set his conscience against him , it will pull him downe and lay him flat , and fill him with such inward terrors , that hee shall bee more afraid of himselfe than of all the world beside .

THere is something in the very greatnesse of sin , that may encourage us to goe to God : for the greater our sinnes are , the greater the glory of his powerfull mercy in pardoning will appeare . The great God delights to shew his greatnesse in the greatest things , hee delighteth in mercy , it pleaseth him , nothing so well , as being his chiefe Name . His mercy is not only above his own works , but above ours also : if we could sin more then he could pardon , then wee might have some reason to despaire . Despaire is a high point of Atheism , it takes away God and Christ both at once . Iudas in betraying our Saviour was occasion of his death as man : but in despairing he did what lay in him to take away his life as God . Wherefore we should never thinke the dore of hope to be shut against us , if we have a purpose to turn unto God . Invincible mercy will never be conquered ; and endlesse goodnesse never admits of bounds or ends . If Christ be the Phisitian , it is no matter of how long continuance the disease be : hee is good at all diseases , and will not endure the reproach of disability to cure any .

AS in the sinne against the holy Ghost , feare shewes that we have not committed it : so a tender heart fearing lest the time of true repentance is past , shewes plainly that it is not past . God is more willing to entertaine us , than we are to cast our selves upon him . As there is a fountaine opened for sin and for uncleannesse ; as it is a living fountain of living water , that runs for ever , and can never be drawne dry .

ALl men are not affected with a like sorrow for sin : God giveth some larger spirits , and so their sorrowes become larger . Some upon quicknesse of apprehension , and the ready passages betwixt the brain and the heart , are quickly moued : where the apprehension is deeper , and the passages flower , there sorrow is long in working , and long in removing : the deepest waters have the stillest motion . Iron takes fire more slowly than stubble , but then it holds longer . It is fitter to leave it to Gods wisdome to mingle the portion of sorrow , than to be our owne chusers .

IF wee grieve that we cannot grieve , and so far as it is sin , make it our grief , it should not hinder us from going to Christ , but rather drive us to him : God delights not in our sorrow ; if we could trust in him without much sorrow , then it would not be required : and though want of feeling be quite opposite to the life of grace : yet senciblenesse of the want of feeling , shewes some degree of the life of grace . When that which is wanting in grief for sin , is made up in feare of sinning , there is no great cause of complaine of the want of griefe : for this holy affection is the awe-band of the soule , whereby it is kept from starting from God and his waies . That measure of griefe and sorrow is sufficient , which brings us and holds us to Christ .

WE should grieve for our sins , and rejoice for our griefe : and though wee can neither love nor grieve , nor ioy of our selves as we should , yet are we often guilty in giving a checke to the spirit , stirring these affections in us : which is the maine cause of the many sharp afflictions wee endure in this life , though Gods Love in the maine matter of salvation bee most firme unto us .

GRiefe is no farther good , than it makes way for ioy : which caused our Saviour to ioyne them together : Blessed are the mourners , for they shall be comforted : it is one maine end of Gods leaving us in a sorrowfull condition , that we may live and die by faith in the perfect righteousnesse of Christ , whereby we glorifie God more , than if we had perfect righteousnesse of our owne .

OVr corruptions are Gods enemies , as well as ours : therefore in trusting to him , and fighting against them , wee may be sure he will take our part in vanquishing them . The looking too much to the Anakims and Gyants , and too little to Gods omnipotency , shut the Israelites out of Canaan , and put God to his Oath , that they should never enter into his rest : And it will exclude our souls from happines at length , if looking too much on these Anakims or great corruptions within and without us , we basely despaire , and give over the Field : what coward will nor fight , when hee is sure of helpe and victorie ?

THough God be of pure eyes , yet he looks upon us his poore Creatures , in him who is blamelesse , and without spot , who by vertue of his sweet smelling sacrifice appeares for us in heaven , and mingles his odors with our services ; and in him will God be knowne to us by the name of a kinde Father , not onely in pardoning our deserts , but accepting our endeavours .

WHatsoever comfort we have in goods , friends , health , or other Blessings , it is all conveied by God , who still remaines , though these bee taken from us : And we have him bound in many promises for all that is needfull for us : we may sue him upon his owne bond . Can we thinke that hee who will give us a Kingdome , will faile us in necessary provision to bring us thither , who himselfe is our portion .

DEparture of friends should not be grievous unto us : A true Beleever is unto Christ as his Mother , Brother and Sister , because he carries that affection to them , as if they were so indeed to him . As Christ makes us all to him , so should wee make him all in all to our selves . If all comforts in the world were dead , wee may enioy them still in the living Lord .

HEalth is at Gods command , and sicknesse stayes at his rebuke . The time of sicknesse is a time of purging from that defilement we gathered in out health , till wee come purer out : which should moue us the rather willingly to abide Gods time . Blessed is that sicknesse that proves the health of the soule : we are best for most part when wee are weakest . Then onely it truly appeares what good proficients we have been in the time of health .

IN all kinde of troubles , it is not the Ingredients that God puts into the cup , so much afflicts us , as the Ingredients of our distempered passions mingled with them . The sting and coare of them all is sinne : when that is not onely pardoned , but in some measure healed , and the proud flesh eaten out , then a healthy soul wil beare any thing : when the conscience is once set at liberty , we cheerfully undergoe any burthen . But it is a heavy condition to be under the burthen of trouble , and under the burthen of a guilty conscience both at once . When men will walke in the light of their own fire , and the sparks which they have kindled themselves , it is iust with God that they should lie downe in sorrow .

IN all sorts of injuries which we suffer , we should commit our cause to the God of vengeance , & not meddle with his prerogative : he will revenge better than we can , and more perhaps than we desire . The wronged side is the safer side . If in stead of meditating revenge , we can so overcome our selves as to pray for our enemies , and deserve wel of them , we shal both sweeten our owne spirits , and prevent a sharp temptation which wee are prone unto , and have an undoubted argument , that we are sons of that Father that doth good to his enemies , and Members of that Saviour that prayed for his persecutors : and withall , by heaping coles upon our Enemies heads , wee shall melt them either to conversion or confusion .

WEe are not disquieted when wee put off our clothes and go to bed , because we trust Gods ordinary Providence to raise us up again : And why should wee be disquieted when we put off our bodies , and sleep our last sleep : considering we are more sure to rise out of our graves , than out of our beds . Nay we are raised up already in Christ our Head , who is the Resurrection and the life ; in whom we may triumph over death , that triumpheth over the greatest Monarchs , as a disarmed and conquered Enemy .

THat which belongs to us in our calling , is care of discarging our duty : that which God takes upon him is assistance and good successe in it . Let us do our work , and leave God to do his owne . Diligence and trust in him is onely ours , the rest of the burthen is his . He stands upon his credit so much , that it shall appeare wee have not trusted him in vaine , even when we see no apparance of doing any good . Peter fished all night & catcht nothing : yet upon Christs word casting in his net again , he caught so many Fish as brake it .

COvetousnesse ( when men wil be richer than God wil have them ) troubles all , it troubles the house , the whole family , and the house within us , our pretious soule , which should be a quiet house for Gods Spirit to dwell in , whose Seat is a quiet Spirit . If men would follow Christs method , and seeke first the Kingdome of Heaven , doubtlesse all other things should be cast upon them .

GOd is neerest to us in troubles : when our enemies on earth conclude our utter overthrow , God is in Heaven concluding our glorious deliverance , Vsually after the lowest Ebbe , followes the highest Spring-tide . Christ stands upon Mount Sion , and will worke our raising by that very meanes by which our enemies seeke to ruine us . There is no condition so ill , but there is Balme in Gilead , Comfort in the God of Israel . The depths of miserie are never beyond the depths of mercy . Naturall men from the common light of Nature discovering there is a God , will in extremities run unto him : and God as the Author of Nature will sometimes heare them ; as he doth the young Ravens that cry unto him . But comfortably and with assurance those onely have a familiar recourse unto him , that have a sanctified sutable disposition unto God , as being well acquainted with Him . It is an excellent ground of sincerity , to desire the favour of God , not so much out of self-aimes , as that God may have the more free and full praise from us : considering the soul is never more fit for that blessed duty , than when it is in a cheerfull plight .

IF we seriously think of what is our Duty , God will surely thinke of what shall bee for our Comfort : we shall feel God answering what we look for from Him , in doing what he expects from us . Can we have so meane thoughts of Him , that wee should intend his glory , and he not much more intend our good . Yet many doe grossely mistake , in taking Gods curse for a blessing : To thrive in an ill way is a spirituall iudgement , extremely hardening the heart . There can neither be grace nor wisdome in setling upon a course , wherein we can neither pray to God for successe in , nor blesse God when he gives it .

WHen we are at the lowest , yet it is a mercy that we are not consumed : wee are never so ill , but it might be worse with us : whatsoever is lesse than Hell is undeserved : and it is a matter praise worthy to God , that we yet have time and opportunitie to get into a blessed Condition .

THe Apostle thought it the first duty in affliction , to pray . Is any afflicted , let him pray : Is any joyfull , let him sing Psalmes . Praising of God is then most comely , ( though never out of season ) when God seems to call for it by renewing the sence of his mercies in some fresh favours toward us . If a Bird will sing in Winter , much more in the Spring . If the heart be prepared in the winter time of Adversitie to praise God , how ready will it be when it is warmed with the glorious sun-shine of his Favour .

OVr life is nothing but as it were a Webbe woven with interminglings of wants and favours , crosses and blessings , standings and failings , combat and victory : therefore there should be a perpetuall intercourse course of praying and praising in our hearts . We should often apply these generalls of Holy-writ to our selves , to stir up our hearts to praise God : He will never leave nor forsake us : he will be with us in fire and water : the issue of all things shall be for our good : we shall reap the quiet fruit of righteousnesse , and no good thing will he withhold from them that live a godly life . If wee had a spirit of Faith , to apply such like generall promises , wee should see much of Gods goodnesse in particular toward us . God promiseth the forgivenesse of sin , and yet thou findest the burthen thereof daily upon thee ; Neuerthelesse cheere up thy selfe , when the Morning is darkest , then comes day ; after a weary weeke comes a Sabbath , and after a fight , victory will appeare : wee must endure the working of Gods Physicke : when the sick humor is carried away and purged , then we shall enioy desired health .

PRaising of God may well be called , Incense : because as it is sweet in it selfe , and sweet to God , so it sweetens all that comes from us : Wee cannot love and joy in God , but he wil delight in us ; when we neglect the praising of God , wee lose both the comforts of his Love and our owne too . Our praising God should not bee as sparkes out of a flint , but as water out of a Spring , natural , ready , free , as Gods Love to us : as Mercy pleaseth him , so should praises please us ; For unthankfulnesse is a sin detestable both to God and man : and the lesse punishment it receives from humane lawes , the more it is punished inwardly by secret shame , and outwardly by publicke hatred , if once it prove notorious .

THe living God is a living Fountaine , never drawne dry : he hath never don so much for us , but he can and will doe more : If there be no end of our praises , there shall be no end of his goodnes : by this means we are sure never to bee very miserable : how can he be dejected , that by a sweet communion with God , sets himselfe in heaven ? nay maketh his heart a kind of heaven , a Temple , a Holy of Holies , wherein Incense is offered unto God ? A thankfull heart to God for his Blessings is the greatest Blessing of all : But were it not for a few gratious Soules , what Honour should God have of the rest of the unthankfull world ? which should stir us up the more to be Trumpets of Gods Praises in the midst of his Enemies ; because this ( in some sort ) hath a Prerogative above our praising him in Heaven : for there God hath no Enemies to dishonor him .

GOd is Salvation it self , and nothing but Salvation : and though our sins for a time may stop the current of His Mercy , yet it being above all our sins , will soone scatter that cloud , remove that stop , and then wee shall see and feele nothing but salvation from the Lord , all his wayes are Mercy and Peace , to a repentant Soule that casts it selfe upon him . We should not therefore so much looke what destruction the Devill and his threaten , as what salvation God promiseth . Canot he that hath vouchsafed an issue in Christ from eternall death , vouchsafe an issue from all temporall evills ? He that brought us into trouble can easily make a way out of it when he pleaseth : this should be a ground of resolute and absolute obedience even in our greatest extremities ; considering God will either deliver us from death , or by death , and at length out of death .

CAinish hypocrites hang downe their heads when God lifts up the countenance of their brethren : when the countenance of Gods children cleers up , then their enemies hearts and looks are cloudy ; Ierusalems joy is Babylons sorrow : It is with the Church and Her enemies as it is with a ballance , the scales whereof when one is up , the other is downe : The reason why wicked men gnash their teeth at the sight of Gods gratious dealing , is , that they take the rise of Gods children to be a presage of their ruine . Which lesson Hamans wife had learned .

SAlvation is Gods own work , humbling and casting down is his strange Worke , whereby he comes to his owne worke . For when he intends to save , he wil seem to destroy first : whom he will revive , he will kill first . Grace and Goodnesse countenanced by God , have a native in-bred majesty in them , which maketh the face to shine , and borroweth not his lustre from without ; which God at length will have to appeare in its own likenesse , howsoever malice may cast a vaile thereon , and disguise it for a time .

WHat comfort was it for Adam when hee was shut out of Paradise , to looke upon it after he had lost it : the more excellencies are in God , the more our grief if we have not our part in them : the very life-bloud of the Gospell lies in a speciall application of particular mercy to our selves , without which we can neither entertain the Love of God , nor returne Love againe ; whereby we lose all the comfort God intends us in his Word , which of purpose was written for our solace and refreshment .

PRetend not thy unworthinesse and unabilitie to keep thee off from God ; for this is the way to keep thee so still . God bids us draw neer to Him , and Hee will draw neere to us . Whilst we in Gods own wayes draw neere to Him , and labour to entertaine good thoughts of Him , He will delight to shew himselfe fauourable unto us : whilest we are striving against an unbeleeving heart , Hee will come in and helpe us , and so fresh light will come in . God alone must help us , and if ever Hee helpe us , it must be by casting our selves upon him : for then he will reach out himselfe unto us , in the promise of mercy to pardon our sin , and in the promise of Grace , to sanctifie our Natures .

SPirituall Comforts in distresse , such as the world can neither give nor take away , shew that God lookes upon the soules of his , with another eye than he beholdeth others : He sends a secret Messenger , that reports his peculiar Love to their hearts . He knowes their soules , and feeds them with his hidden Manna : the inward peace they feele is not in freedome from trouble , but in freenesse with God in the midst of trouble .

SEchem had not sinned , if Dinah had not tempted him . Immodestie of behaviour makes way to Lust , and gives life unto wicked hopes . Lust commonly ends in loathing . But Sechem would salve up his sinne with an honest satisfaction : but actions ill begun , are hardly salved up with late satisfaction ; wheras good entrances give strength to the proceedings , and successe to the end . Dinahs brethren pretend Religion , ( we cannot give our sister in mariage to an uncircumcised man : ) here God is in the mouth , and Satan in the heart . A smiling malice is most deadly , and hatred doth most ranckle the heart , when it is kept in and dissembled . Iacobs sonnes think of nothing but revenge , and which is worst , begin their crueltie with craft , and end their craft with Religion . Bloudiest projects have ever wont to be thus coloured ; for the worse any thing is , the better shew it desires to make ; and contrarily , the better colour is set upon vice , the more odious it makes it : for as every simulation addes to an evill , so the best addes most evill : Indeed filthinesse should not have bin wrought in Israel , nor should murther have been wrought by Israel : Cursed be their wrath , for it was fierce , and their rage , for it was cruell . To punish above the offence , is no lesse injustice than to offend : and to execute rigor upon a submisse offendor , is more mercilesse than just . The idle curiositie of Dinah bred all this mischief : what great evills arise from small beginnings ? Ravishment followes her wandring ; upon her ravishment , murther ; and upon the murtner , spoile . It is holy and safe , to be jealous of the first occasions of evill , either done or suffered .

IF Thamar had not put off her widowes apparell , Iudah had not taken her for a whore : Immodestie of outward fashion or gesture , bewraies evill desires : the heart that means well , will never wish to seem ill , for commonly we affect to shew better than we are , and it is no trusting of those which wish not to appeare good . Thamars belly swells , and Iudahs heart swells with rage , Let her be burnt . How easie is it to detest those sinnes in others , which wee flatter in our selves ? Even in the best men nature is partiall in it selfe : it is good to sentence others frailties with the remembrance of our owne : Iudah no sooner sees the signals , but confesseth his shame ; She is more righteous than I. God will find a time to bring his children upon their knees , and to wring from them penitent Confessions ; and rather than he will not make them soundly ashamed , he will make them Trumpets of their owne reproach . There is nothing more thankelesse or dangerous , than to stand in the way of a resolute sinner : that which doth correct and oblige the Penitent , makes the wilfull mind furious and revengefull .

MEe thinks it is torment enough for the poore man to want , and yet I see every man ready to adde to his affliction by neglect . Proud Haman was hanged , and poore Mordecai raised to his honour . There is no man so fixt in greatnes , but may fall : nor any so low in miserie , but may rise : why then should wee slight any mans meanes , since we know not his destinie . Nothing doth so powerfully call home the conscience as affliction : neither need wee any other act of memorie for sinne , than miserie .

Actions salved up with a free forgivenesse , are as not done : and as a bone once broke is stronger after well setting ; so is Love after reconcilement . Yet as wounds though healed leave a scar behind them ; so injuries ( though remitted ) leave a guilty remembrance in the actors , and it must bee a great favor that can appease the Conscience of a great injurie : for a guilty conscience seldom thinks it selfe safe .

COrruption when it is checked , growes mad with rage , as the vapour in a cloud , which would not make that fearefull report , if it met not with opposition . A good heart yeelds at the stillest voice of God ; but his most gratious motions harden the wicked . Many would not have been so desperately setled in their sins , had not the Word controlled them . Any thing seems due worke to a carnall minde , save Gods service ; nothing superfluous , but religious duties . Christ tells us there is but one thing necessarie ; Nature saith , there is nothing but that needlesse .

REligion doth not call to a weake simplicitie , but allowes as much of the Serpent as the Dove . Lawfull Policies have from God both liberty in the use , and blessing in the successe . A wicked heart never looks inward to it self , but outward to the Reproover : if that afford exception , it is enough : as Dogs run first to revenge on the stone . What matter is it to me , who he be that admonishes mee ? Let me looke home unto my selfe , and also to his advice ; if that be good , my shame 's the more to be reproved by an evill man . As a good mans allowance cannot warrant evill , so an evill mans reproof may remedy evil .

NOthing but innocencie and knowledge can give sound confidence to the heart . Ignorance as it makes bold , intruding men into unknowne dangers , so it makes men often causelesly fearfull . Herod feared Christs comming , because hee mistooke it ; had the tyrant known the manner of his spirituall regiment , hee had spared both his owne fright , and the bloud of others . And hence it is that wee feare death , because we are not acquainted with the vertue of it .

WOrdly Cares are fitly compared to Thornes ; for as they choke the Word , so they prick our Soules : Neither can the word grow up amongst them , nor the heart rest upon them : Spirituall Cares are as sharp , but more profitable . They paine us , but leave the soule better : they breake our soule , but for a sweeter rest : we are not well , but either while we have them , or after wee have had them . It is impossible to have spirituall health without these , as to have bodily strength with the other . Hee lives most contentedly , that is most secure for this World , most resolute for the other .

SAtan never feares us , but when we are well imploied : and the more likelihood hee sees of our profit , the more is his envy and labour to distract us : he is ever busiest in our best actions , and most in the best part of the best , as in the end of prayer , when the heart should close up it self with most comfort . We should therfore strive so much the more towards our own good , as his malice strives to interrupt it . We do nothing if we contend not when wee are resisted . The Devill steals upon us suddenly by temptations , because he would foile us : and if we be not armed ere we be assaulted , wee shall be foiled ere we can be armed .

HE that intermits good Duties , incurreth a double losse : of the blessing that followeth good , and of the faculty in doing it . Want of use causeth disabilitie , as Custome , perfection : He that omits prayer in his closet , can hardly pray in publique , but with a cold formalitie . Hee that discontinues meditation , shall be long in recovering ; whereas the man inured to this exercise , performs both well and with ease .

CHristianity is both an easie yoke , and a hard : hard to take up , easie to beare when once taken . The heart requires much labour ere it can be induced to stoop under it , and finds as much content when it hath stooped . The worldling thinks Religion great servitude : but the Christian knowes whose slave he was , till he entred into this service , and that no bondage can bee so ill , as freedome from these bands . Every good action hath his let , and hee can never be good as he ought , that is not resolute . The regenerate Christian both is , and knowes himselfe truly great , and thereupon mindeth and speaketh of spirituall , immortall , glorious , Heavenly things : but every Worldling is base minded , and therefore his thoughts creepe still low upon the earth . The more the soule stoopeth to earthly matters , the more unregenerate it is .

ALl our future good wee hold only in hope : and the present fauour of God , wee have many times when we feele it not . The stomacke finds the digestion , even in sleep , though we perceive it not : We are most happy when wee know our selves so : But miserable were many Christians if they could not be happy , and know it not . It is not a mans naturall parts , but his graces that crown him : honest sottishnesse , is better than prophane eminence : None ever did so much mischiefe to the Church , as those that have been excellent in wit and learning : others have been spitefull enough , but were not able to accomplish their malice . That Enemy is most to bee feared , that hath both strength and craft to hurt us .

THe Conscience can have no perfect peace , while sinne is within to vexe it , no more than an angry swelling can cease throbbing & aching , while the Thorne or corrupted Matter lies rotting underneath . Time , that remedies all other evils of the mind , encreaseth this : which like to bodily diseases , proves worse with continuance , and growes upon us with our age . Sin is a perpetuall Make-bait betwixt God and man , betwixt a man and himselfe , ever working secret unquietnesse to the heart . The guilty man may have a seeming Truce , a true peace hee cannot have : which makes the galled soule seek refreshing in varietie of pleasures , places , and companies ; yet after many such vaine wearyings , finds no rest , but complaines of remedilesse and unabated torment : for alas what availes it to seeke outward reliefes , when our executioner is within us . Nero after so much innocent bloud shed , may change his Bed-chamber , but his Friends being as parts of himselfe , will ever attend him . The soule may flee from the body , but the Conscience will not flee from the Soule , nor sin from the Conscience . It is a divine Power only , that can uphold the mind against the rage of inward troubles . When therefore thy Conscience like a sterne Sergeant shall catch thee by the throat , and arrest thee upon Gods debt , let thy only plea bee , that thou hast alreadie paid it : Bring forth that bloudy acquittance sealed unto thee from Heaven by Faith in Christ , and streight way thou shalt see the fierce and terrible looke of thy Conscience changed into friendly smiles ; and that rough and violent hand that was ready to drag thee to prison , shall now lovingly embrace thee , and fight for thee against all the wrongfull attempts of any Spirituall Adversarie . But the time wil come when the carelesse sinner shall bee plunged in woes , and shall therefore desperately sorrow , because he sorrowed not sooner for sin : He may feast away his Cares for a while , and bury them with himself , in wine and sleep ; but after all these frivolous evasions , they will returne again , nor will they be repelled , but increased hereby . Sin owes him a spight , and perhaps will pay him when hee is in worse case to sustaine it ; Namely , up - his Death-bed , which shall prove very grievous unto him , for his many wilfull adjournings of Repentance .

HE said wel , who when some skilfull Astrologer upon calculation of his Nativitie , had foretold him some specialties concerning his future estate ; answered , Such perhaps I was borne , but since that time I have been born again , and my second Nativitie hath crossed my first . The Power of Nature , is a good Plea for those that acknowledge nothing above Nature : but for a Christian to excuse his intemperatenesse by his naturall inclination , and to say , I am borne cholericke , sullen , Amorous , &c. is an Apologie worse than the fault : For wherefore serves Religion , but to subdue or governe Nature ? We are so much Christians as wee can rule our selves , the rest is but forme and speculation .

THere is no difference but continuance , betwixt Anger and Madnesse : for raging Anger is a short Madnesse , else what argues the shaking of the hands and lips ; the palenesse , rednesse , or swelling of the face , glaring of the eies , stammering of the Tongue , stamping with the Feet , unsteadie motions of the whole Body , wilde distracted Speeches , and rash Actions , which we remember not to have done . Doubtlesse a milde Madnes is more tolerable , than frequent and furious Anger .

OVr Cowardlinesse and unpreparednesse , is Deaths chiefest advantage : wheras true boldnesse in confronting him , dismayes and weakens his forces : Happy is the Soule that can send out the Scouts of his thoughts before-hand , to discover the power of Death , a far off , & then can resolutely incounter him at unawares upon advantage : such a one lives securely , and dies with Comfort : Death argues not Gods displeasure : Abel whom God loved best , dies first , when the Murtherer Cain is punished with living .

COntentation is a rare Blessing , because it either arises from a fruition of all comforts , or a not desiring of some wee have not . We are never so bare , as not to have some benefits : never so ful , as not to want somthing , yea , as not to bee full of wants . God hath much adoe with us , either we lacke health , or quietnesse , or Children , or wealth , or company , or our selves in all these . Nature is moderate in her desires , but Conceit is insatiable . Who cannot pray for his daily bread , when hee hath it in his Cup-bourd ? but when our owne provision failes , then not to distrust God is a noble triall of Faith . All grudging is odious , but most when our hands are full . To whine in the midst of abundance , is a shamefull unthankfulnesse : it is a base cowardise , so soon as ever we are called from the garrison to the field , to think of running away : then is Fortune worthy of Prayse , when wee can endure to be miserable . O God , I have made an ill use of thy mercies , if I have not learned to be content with thy corrections .

NO benefit can stop the mouth of impatience , if our turne be not served for the present , former favours are either forgotten , or contemned . No marvell wee deale so with men , when God receives this measure from us . One Moone of ill weather makes us over-looke all the blessings of God , and more to mutine at our sence of evill , than to praise him for our variety of good . It is an unfound praise that is given a man for one good action . Many distrust God in their necessity , that are ready to follow his guidance in their welfare : if wee follow God and murmure , it is all one as if wee staid behinde . We can think him absent in our wants , yet cannot see him absent in our sinnes : It is wickednesse , not affliction that argues him gone : for he is most present , when he most chastises . And the sorrow of repentance comes never out of season , all times are alike unto that Eternity where to we make our spirituall moanes : that which is past , and that which is future are both present with him . It is neither weake nor uncomely for an old man to weep for the sins of his youth . Such teares can never bee shed either too soon or too late .

THere is scarse a vicious man , who name is not rotten before his Carcasse : Contrarily , a good mans name is often heire to his life , either borne after the death of the Parent ( Envy not suffering it to come forth before ) or perhaps so well growne up in his life time , that the hope thereof is the staffe of his age , and the joy of his death . The name of the wicked may be feared a while , but is soone forgotten , or cursed : The good mans either sleepes with his body in peace , or wakes ( as his soule ) in glory . Vertue is not propagated : Children naturally possesse only , as bodily diseases , so the vices of their Parents . The grain is sowne pure , yet comes up with chaffe and huske : Hast thou a good son ? he is Gods , not thine : Is he evill ? nothing but his sinne is thine : Help by thy prayers and endeavours to take away that which thou hast given him , and to obtaine of God that which perhaps thou hast , and canst not give ; else maist thou name him a possession , but finde him a losse .

SPirituall gifts are so chained together , that who excels in one , hath alwaies some eminency in more : Faith is attended with a Bevy of Graces : he that beleeves cannot but have hope : if hope , patience : he that beleeves and hopes , must needs have joy in God : if joy , love of God : hee that loves God , cannot but love his brother : his love to God breeds piety and care to please , sorrow for offending , feare to offend . Vertues goe ever in troopes , and that so thicke , that sometimes some are hid in the crowd , which yet are , but appeare not .

IT is a rare evill that hath not something to sweeten it , either in sence or in hope : otherwise men would grow desperate , mutinous , envious of others , weary of themselves . The better the thing is wherein we place our comfort , the happier we live : and the more we love good things , the better they are to us : The worldling laughs more , but the Christian is more delighted : Thou laughest not at the sight of an heap of thy gold ; yet thy delight is more than in a jest that shaketh thy spleene . As griefe , so joy is not lesse , when it is least expressed . It must needs be a strong and nimble soule that can mount to heaven , possessing abundance of earthly things . If thou finde wealth too pressing , abate of thy load , either by having lesse , or loving lesse : or adde to the strength of thy activity , that thou maist yet ascend . It is more commendable , by how much more hard , to climbe up to heaven with a burthen .

THe meaner sort of men would be too much discontented , if they saw how far more pleasant the life of others is : and if those of higher ranke could looke downe to the infinite miseries of their inferiours , it would make them either miserable in compassion , or proud in conceit . It is good sometimes for the delicate rich man to looke into the poore mans Cup-board ; and seeing God in mercy lets him not know their sorrows by experience , yet to know it in speculation . Which will teach him more thankes to God , more mercy to men , and more contentment in himselfe . I never saw Christian lesse honoured for a wise neglect of himselfe : If our dejection proceed from the conscience of our want , it is possible wee should be as little esteemed of others , as of our selves : but if we have true Graces , and prize them not at the highest , others shall value both them in us , and us for them , and with usury give us that honour we withheld modestly from our selves . I never read of Christian that repented him of too little worldly delight : he that takes his full liberty in what he may , shall repent him : how much more in what hee should not . The surest course in all earthly pleasures , is to rise with an appetite , and to be satisfied with a little . That mans end is easie and happy , whom death findes with a weake body , and a strong soule .

HErein as much as in any thing the perversnesse of our nature appeares , that wee wish death , or love life upon wrong causes : we would live for pleasure , and die for paine . Iob for his sores , Elias for his persecution , Ionas for his Gourd would presently die , and outface God that it was better for him to die than to live . Wherein we are like to garrison souldiers , that while they live within safe walls , and shew themselves once a day , rather for ceremony and pompe , than need and danger , like warfare well enough : but being once called forth to the field , they hang the head , and wish themselves at home .

THe shipwrack of a good Conscience , is the casting away of all other excellencies : It is no rare thing to note the soule of a wilfull sinner stripped of all her Graces , and by degrees exposed to open shame : for since he hath cast away the best , it is just with God to take away the worst ; and to cast off them in lesser regards , which have rejected him in greater .

THe tongue will hardly leave that to which the heart is inured : if we would have good motions to visit us in sicknesse , we must send for them familiarly in health : for such as a mans delights and cares are in health , such are both his thoughts and speeches commonly on his death-bed . And no marvell though the worldling often escapes earthly punishments : God corrects him not because hee loves him not ; he will not doe him the favour to whip him . The world afflicts him not because it loves him : for each one is indulgent to his owne . God uses not the rod , where he meanes to use the sword : the Pillory or scourge is for those Malefactors which shal escape execution .

LAughing is proper to Man alone . amongst all living creatures : though indeed he ought ever to be weeping , because he ever sins ; and the beasts might rather laugh to see man so much abuse his most excellent part , his reason . Doubtlesse if man knew before he came into the world , what should be his portion in the world , he would feare his first day more than his last : wherefore we ought to moderate our affections , and in imitation of our great Lord and Saviour ( who was a man of sorrows ) we should not be altogether composed of mirth .

SEldome hath any man got either wealth or learning with ease : and the greatest good is most difficult in obtaining : he must not thinke to get Christ , that takes no paines for him : If men can endure such cutting , such lancing , and searing of their bodies , only to protract a miserable life for a short time ; how much should we care , what we doe , or what we suffer , so wee may win Christ : No paine should bee refused for the gaining of Eternity .

MVch ostentation , and much learning , seldome meet together : The Sun rising and declining makes long shadows , but being at the highest makes none at all . Skill when it is too much shewne loseth the grace ; as fresh coloured wares that are often opened , lose their brightnesse , and are soiled with much handling . It is better to applaud our selves for having much of that we shew not , than that others should applaud us for shewing more than we have The conscience of our owne worth should cheare us more in their contempt , than their approbation comfort us , against the secret check of our knowne unworthinesse . Every man hath an heaven and a hell ; Earth is the wicked mans heaven , his hell is to come : contrarily , the godly have their hell upon earth , where usually they are vexed with many afflictions and temptations by Sathan and his complices ; their heaven is above in endlesse happinesse : Though they sow in teares , they shall reape in joy , though their seed time be commonly waterish and lowring , and their spring wet , they shall bee sure of a cleare and joyfull harvest . It is no marvell if the wicked have peace in themselves , being as sure as temptation can make them . Princes wage not warre with their owne subjects . The The godly are still enemies , and must therefore looke to be assaulted both by stratagems and violence . Wherefore nothing should more joy us than our inward unquietnesse . A just war is far more happy than an ill conditioned peace .

EVery good prayer knocketh at heaven for a blessing , but an importunate prayer pierceth it , though as hard as brasse , and makes way for it selfe into the eares of the Almighty . And as it ascends lightly up , carried with the wings of faith , so it ever comes laden downe againe upon our heads . In prayer our thoughts should not be guided by our words , but our words by our thoughts . Good prayers never came weeping home ; and by fervent prayer we are sure to receive either what we aske , or what we should aske .

VErtuous actions are a mans best monument . Foolish is the hope of Immortality and future praise , by the cost of sencelesse stone , when the Passenger shall only say , here lies a faire stone , and a filthy Carkasse . That only can report us rich , but for other praises our selves must build our owne Monuments alive , and write our owne Epitaphs in honest and honourable actions : Which are so much more noble than other , as living men are better than dead stones . We should either procure such a Monument to bee remembred by , or else wish to be buried in oblivion : for it is better be inglorious than infamous .

NO man is so happy as the regenerate Christian ; when he lookes up into heaven hee thinkes , That is my home , The God that made it and owes it , my Father : the Angels , more glorious in nature than my selfe , are my attendants . Yea , those things that are most terrible to the wicked , are most pleasant to him . When hee heares God thunder above his head , he thinkes , This is the voice of my Father . When he remembreth the Tribunall of the last judgement , he thinkes , It is my Saviour that sits in it . When death , he esteemes it but as the Angel set before Paradise , which with one blow admits him to eternall joy . And ( which is his greatest comfort ) nothing in earth or hell can make him miserable .

AN evill man is Clay to God , Waxe to the devill , God may stamp him into powder , or temper him anew , but none of his meanes will melt him . Contrariwise , a good man is Gods Waxe , and Sathans Clay ; hee relents at every looke of God , but is not stirred by any temptation , knowing , that earth affoords no sound contentment . For what is there under heaven not troublesome , besides that which is called pleasure ? And that in the end we finde most irksome of all other .

THe spirits of Christians are like the English Iett , whereof we reade , that it is fired with water , quenched with oyle . And these two , prosperity and adversity are like heate and cold , the one gathers the powers of the soul together , and makes them abler to resist , by uniting them : The other diffuses them , and by such separation makes them easier to conquer . The Sun more usually causeth the Traveller to cast off his cloake than the Winde . I hold it therefore as praise-worthy with God , for a man sometimes to contemne a proffered honour or pleasure for conscience sake , as on the Rack not to deny his profession .

THere is no vice doth so cover a man with shame , as to be found false and perfidious : cleare and round dealing is the honour of mans nature . Certainely it is heaven upon earth , to have a mans minde move in charity , rest in providence , and turne upon the poles of truth .

THat man which studies revenge , keepes his owne wounds greene , which otherwise would heale and doe well . Revenge is a kinde of wilde justice , which the more mans nature runs to , the more ought Law to roote it out . In taking revenge a man is but eaven with his enemy , but in passing over an injury he is superiour .

CHildren sweeten labours , but they make misfortunes more bitter : they increase the cares of life , but they mitigate the remembrance of death . Parents joyes are secret , and so are their feares and griefes : they cannot utter the one , nor will they utter the other . The perpetuity by generation is common to beasts : but memory , merit , and noble workes are proper to men .

HEE that hath wife and children , hath given hostages to fortune , for they are impediments to great enterprises either of vertue or mischiefes . Vnmarried men are best friends , best Masters , best servants , but not alwayes best subjects , for they are light to run away , and almost all fugitives are of that condition . A single life doth well with Church-men : for charity will hardly water the ground , where it must first fill a poole . Grave natures led by custome , and therefore constant , are commonly loving husbanda . Wives are young mens mistresses , companions for middle age , and old mens Nurses .

CErtainly great persons had need to borrow other mens opinions to thinke themselves happy ; for if they judge by their owne feeling , they cannot finde it so . Men in great place are thrice servants , to the Soveraigne or State , to fame , and to businesse : so as they have no freedome , either in their persons , actions , or time . It is a strange desire , to seeke power with losse of liberty ; or to seeke power over others , and to lose power over a mans selfe . The rising unto paines is laborious , and by paines men come to great paines . Great persons are the first that finde their owne griefes , but the last that finde their owne faults . The vices of authority are chiefly foure , delaies , corruption , roughnesse , and facility . And it is an assured signe of a generous spirit , whom honour amends : for honour is or should be the place of Vertue .

GOodnesse of nature is a character of the Deity , and without it a man is a busie , mischievous , and wretched thing , no better than a Vermine . Goodnesse answers to the Theologicall Vertue , Charity , and admits no excesse but error . Seek the good of other men , but be not in bondage to their faces , for that is facility or softnesse , which soone taketh an honest minde prisoner .

HEE that denies a God , destroyes Mans nobility : for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body : and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit , he is a base and ignoble creature . And doubtlesse hypocrites are the greatest Atheists , who are ever handling holy things , but without feeling .

HEE that travelleth into a Country before hee hath ●●●e entrance into the language , goeth to schoole , and not to travell . Things to bee seene and observed in travell , are , the Courts of Princes , specially when they give audience unto Embassadours : The Courts of justice while they sit and heare causes : And so of Consistories Ecclesiastick , the Churches and Monasteries , with the Monuments that are therein extant : the Wals and Fortifications of Cities and Townes , with their havens and harbors , antiquities and ruines : Libraries , Colledges , Disputations and Lectures , where any are : Shipping and Navies , houses and gardens of estate and pleasure neare great Cities , Armories , Arsenalls , Magazins , Exchanges , Burses , Warehouses , exercises of horsmanship , Fencing , training of Souldiers , and the like : Comedies , such as whereunto the better sort of persons doe resort . Treasuries of Iewels and Robes , Cabinets and rarities , and to conclude , whatsoever is memorable in the places where they goe .

THe minde of man is more cheared and refreshed by profiting in small things , than by standing at a stay in great . It is a miserable state of minde to have few things to desire , and many to feare . And yet that commonly is the case of Kings : who are like to heavenly bodies , which cause good or evill times : having much veneration , but little or no rest .

THere is no greater wisdome , than well to tune the beginnings and onsets of things , that so neither hast may harme thee , nor delay deceive thee of what thou desirest . As in races it is not the large stride or high lift that makes the speed ; so in businesse , the keeping close to the matter , and not taking of it too much at once , procureth dispatch . True dispatch is a rich thing : for time is the measure of businesse , as money is of wares ; and businesse is bought at a deare hand , where there is not dispatch .

SEeing God hath given us an uncertaine life , and a certaine death , we ought to preserve the one , and shun the other , seeing the one failes us so soone , and the other infallibly will come .

I Had rather with charity help him that is miserable , as I may be , than despise him that is poore , as I would not be : They have filthy and steely hearts , that can adde calamities to him that is already but one entire Masse thereof . Our estates are then best , when they are neither distended with too much , nor narrowly pent up with too little . Wee may be at ease in a roome larger than our selves ; in a roome that is lesse we cannot .

HEE that can be a worthy enemy , will , reconciled be a worthier friend : he that in a just cause can valiantly fight against thee , can in a like cause fight as valiantly for thee . And he that wilfully continueth an enemy , teacheth a man to do him a mischiefe if be can .

SOme people cozen the world , are bad , and are not thought so : In some the world is cozened , beleeving them ill when they are not . No man can either like all , or be liked goodnesse lies not hid in himselfe alone , he is still strengthning his weaker brother . Good workes , and good instructions are the generative acts of the soule , and hee ungratefully slinkes away , that dies , and doth nothing to reflect a glory to heaven . Though all cannot leave alike , yet all may leave something answering their proportion and kindes . They be dead and withered graines of corne , out of which there will not one eare spring .

SVrely the world would bee much happier if there were no such thing in it as gold : but since it is now the fountaine whence all things flow , I will care for it as I would for a Passe , to travell the world by without begging : If I have none , I shall have so much the more misery , because custome hath played the foole in makeing it materiall when it needed not . For the greatest worth without wealth , is like an able servant out of imployment : he is fit for all businesses , but wants wherewith to put himselfe into any : he hath good materials for a foundation , but misseth wherewith to reare the wals of his fame .

CErtainly he that thinkes seriously of lifes casualties can neither be carelesse nor covetous : like leaves on trees , we are the sport of every puffe that blowes , and with the least gust may be shaken from our life and nutriment : we should never care too much for that we are not sure to keepe .

THere is no greater vexation to some , than to be advised by an inferiour . Strange pride , that we should be ashamed of any honest meanes that may benefit us : He is sick to the ruine of himselfe , that refuseth a Cordiall because presented in a spoone of Wood . That wisdome is not lastingly good , that will command and speake all , without hearing the voice of another . Even the slave may sometimes light on a way to enlarge his Master , when his own invention failes . We thinke not Gold the worse because it is brought us in a bag of leather : no more ought we to contemne good counsell , because it is presented us by a bad man , or an underling .

A Discontented man is a Watch over-wound , wrested out of tune , and goes false . Griefe is like Inke poured into water , that fils the whole fountaine full of blacknesse and disuse : like mist , it spoiles the burnish of the silver minde . It casts the soule into the shade , and fils it more with consideration of the unhappinesse , than thought of the remedy . Nay it is so busied in the mischiefe , as there is neither roome nor time for the wayes that should give us release : Nor is the minde alone thus mudded , but even the body is disfaired , it thickens the complexion , and dyes it into an unpleasing swarthinesse : the eye is dim in the discoloured face , and the whole man becomes as if stated in stone and earth : but above all , those discontents sting deepest , that are such as may not with safety be communicated : for then the soul pines away and starves for want of counsell that should feed and cherish it . Concealed sorrows are like vapours , which being shut up occasion earth-quakes , as if the world were plagued with a fit of the cholick . That man is truly miserable that cannot but keepe his miseries , and yet must not unfold them . Vexations when they daily billow upon the minde , froward even the sweetest soule , and from a dainty affability turne it into spleene and testinesse .

TArt jests are never good : Bitternesse is for serious potions , not for health and merriment , and the jollities of a pleasant feast . An offensive man is the devils bellows , wherewith he blowes up contentions and jarres . The souldier is not noble that makes himself sport with the wounds of his own companion . Flouts proceed from a kinde of inward contempt ; and nothing cuts deeper into a generous minde than scorne . A man may spit out his friend from his tongue , or laugh him into an enemy .

WHosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wilde beast or a god . Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad , whereby the Imagery doth appeare in figure : whereas in thoughts they lie but as in packs . Better were it for a man to relate himselfe to a statue or picture , than to suffer his thoughts to passe in smother .

Suspitions among thoughts , are like Batts among Birds , ever flye by twilight . And certainly they are to be expressed , or at the least well garded , for they cloud the minde , lose friends , and check with businesse , whereby it cannot goe on currantly and constantly . These dispose Kings to tyranny , husbands to jealousie , wise men to irresolution and melancholy . They are defects not in the heart , but in the braine , taking place in the stoutest Natures . The best meanes to cleare the way in this wood of suspitions , is frankly to communicate them with the party we suspect , for thereby wee shall bee sure to know more of the truth of them than we did before , and withall shall make the party more circumspect , not to give farther cause of suspition .

CErtaine things are to bee privileged from jesting , namely , Religion , matters of State , great persons , any mans present businesse of importance , and any case that deserveth pitty . Certainly he that hath a Satyricall vaine , as he maketh others afraid of his riot , so he had need be afraid of their memory . Speech of touch towards others should be sparingly used : for discourse ought to be as a field , without comming home to any man . Discretion of speech is more than eloquence , and to speake agreeably to him with whom we have to deale , is more than to speake in good words , or good order . He that questioneth much , shall learne much ; but especially if he apply his questions to the skill of them whom he asketh , for hee shall thereby give them occasion to please themselves in speaking , and himselfe shall continually gather knowledge .

TO forsake or destitute a Plantation once in forwardnesse is a great sin , for besides the dishonour , it betraies many commiserable persons to utter ruine . The Planters chiefly ought to be Gardeners , Plowmen , Labourers , Smiths , Carpenters , Ioiners , Fishermen , Foulers , with some few Apothecaries , Surgeons , Cookes , and Bakers . When the Plantation growes to strength , then ( and not before ) it is time to plant with women as well as men , that so the plantation may spread into generations , and not be ever pieces from without .

AS the baggage to an Army , so is riches to Vertue , it cannot be spared , nor left behinde , but it hindereth the march ; yea , and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the Victory . Beleeve them not that seeme to despise riches ; for they despise , that despaire of them , and none worse when they enjoy them . Seeke no proud riches , but such as thou maist get justly , use soberly , distribute chearefully , and leave contentedly . A great State left to an heire is as a lure to all the Birds of prey , round about to seise on him , if he be not the better established in years and judgement .

AMbition is like choler , as that is an humour which makes men active , earnest , full of alacrity , and stirring , while it hath vent ; being stopped becomes adust , and thereby maligne and venemous . So ambitious men , if they finde the way open for their rising , and still get forward , they are rather busie than dangerous : but if they bee checkt in their desires , they become secretly discontent , and looke upon men and matters with an evill eye , being best pleased when things goe backward . He that seekes eminence among able men hath a great taske ; but that is ever good for the publique . But he that plots to be the only figure among Ciphers , is the decay of a whole age .

MAns nature runs either to herbes or weeds , therefore the one should be seasonably watered , and the other destroied . In Custome , whatsoever a man commands upon himself , let him set houres for it : But what is agreeable to nature , let him take no care for any set times , for his thoughts will fly to it of themselves . A mans nature is best perceived in privacy , for there is no affectation in passion , for that puts a man out of his precepts : and in a new case or experiment , for there Custome leaveth him .

A Man should not force a habit upon himself with perpetuall continuance , but with some intermission , for both the pause re-enforceth the new onset ; and if a man that is not perfect be ever in practise , he shall as well practise his errors , as his abilities , and induce one habit of both . He that seekes victory over his nature , should not set himselfe too great nor too small taskes : for the first will deject him by often failings ; and the second will make him a small proceeder , though by often prevailings : at the first he should use helps , as young swimmers doe bladders and rushes : but after a time let him practise with disadvantages , as dancers doe with thick shooes : for it breeds great perfection if the practise be harder than the use . Nature is often hidden , sometimes overcome , but seldome extinguished . Force makes nature more violent in the returne , doctrine and discourse makes it lesse importunate : only Custome doth alter and subdue it .

MEns thoughts are much according to their inclinations ; their discourse and speech according to their learning and infused opinions ; but their deeds are ever as they have been accustomed . Wherfore we should by all meanes endeavour to obtaine good customes in our younger yeares , for those customes are most perfect , and this we call education , which in effect is but an early custome .

FOrtune is to be honoured and respected , and it be but for her two daughters Confidence and Reputation : for those two felicity breedeth : the first within a mans selfe , the later in others towards him . Certainly there are not two more fortunate properties , than to have a little of the foole , and not too much of the honest .

VErtue is like a rich stone , best plaine set , and sutes best in a comely body , though not of delicate feature , but hath rather dignity of presence than beauty of aspect . Neither is it almost seene , that very beautifull persons are otherwise of great vertue : As if nature were rather busie not to erre , than in labour to produce excellency : And therefore they prove accomplished , though not of great spirit , and study rather behaviour than Vertue . But this is not alwaies though for the most part . Beauty like summer fruits , is easily corrupted , and cannot last , and commonly it makes a dissolute youth , and an age a little out of countenance : but againe , doubtlesse if it light well , it makes vertues shine , and vices blush . Deformed persons are commonly eaven with nature ; for as nature hath done ill by them , so doe they by nature , being for the most part ( as saith the Scripture ) void of naturall affection , and so they have their revenge of nature . Whosoever hath any thing fixed in his person inducing contempt , hath also a perpetuall spur in himselfe to rescue and deliver his person from scorne : wherefore almost all deformed persons are extreame bold ; first as in defence of themselves , exposed to scorne , but in processe of time by a generall habit . It stirs up also industry , especially of this kinde , to watch and observe the weaknesse of others , that they may have something to repay .

IN civill government it is good to use men of one ranke equally : for to countenance some extraordinarily makes them impudent , and the rest discontented , because they may claime a like due . To be governed by one is not safe , for it shewes softnesse , and gives a freedome to scandall and disreputation : for he that would not censure or speake ill of a man immediatly , will talke more boldly being so great with him , and perhaps wound his honour . Yet to be distracted with many is worse : for it makes men to be of the last impression , full of Change . To take advice of some few friends is very honourable : for lookers on many times see more than gamesters , and the Vale best discovereth the hill .

STudies perfect Nature , and are perfected by experience : for naturall abilities are like naturall plants , that need proyning by study . And studies themselves doe give forth directions too much at large , except they be bounded in by experience . To spend too much time in studies , is sloath : to use them too much for ornament is affectation : to make judgement wholly by their rules is the honour of a Scholer . Crafty men contemne studies , simple men admire them , only wise men use them . Studies serve for delight , ornament , and ability : their chiefe use for delight is in privatenesse ; for ornament , in discourse : and for ability , in judgement and disposition of businesse : for expert men can execute and perhaps judge of particulars one by one : but the generall Councells , and the plots and marshalling of affaires , come best from those that are learned . Reade not to contradict and confute , nor to beleeve and take for granted ; not to finde talk and discourse , but to weigh and consider . Some bookes are to be tasted only , others to be swallowed , and some few to bee chewed and digested : That is , some are to be read only in parts , others cursorily , and few wholly and with diligent attention . Reading makes a full man , Conference a ready man , and Writing an exact man . Wherfore he that writes little had need have a great memory : he that confers little had need have a present wit : and hee that reades little had need have much cunning , to seeme to know that he doth not . History makes men wise , Poetry witty , naturall Philosophy deepe , Morall , grave : Logick and Rhetorick able to contend . There is no stone or impediment in the wit , but may be wrought out by fit studies : like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises ; bowling is good for the stone and reines : shooting for the lungs and breast : gentle walking for the stomach ; riding for the head , &c. So , wandring wits should study the Mathematicks ; for in demonstrations , if fancy bee drawne away never so little , they must begin againe . Let a wit not apt to distinguish or finde differences , study the School men . And he that is apt to beat over matters , and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another , should study Law Cases : so every defect of the minde may have a speciall Receit .

OVr behaviour should bee like our apparell , not too straite or point device , but free for exercise or motion . Men had need beware how they bee too perfect in complements ; for be they never so sufficient otherwise , their enviers will be sure to give them that attribute , to the disadvantage of their greater vertues .

Opinion many times perverteth verity : Praise from the vulgar sort is commonly false : because they understand not many excellent vertues : the lowest vertues draw praise from them : Middle vertues astonish them : but of the highest vertues they have no sence or perceiving at all . Certainly fame is like a River , that beares up things light and swolne , and drownes things weighty and solid . Vaine glorious men are the scorne of wise men , the admiration of fooles , the Idols of Parasites , and the slaves of their owne vaunts . Vaine glory sutes best with Commanders , and souldiers : for as iron sharpens iron , so by glory , one courage sharpeneth another .

IVdges ought to bee more learned than witty , more reverend than plausible , more advised than confident : and ought also to remember , that their office is Ius dicere , and not Ius dare ; to interpret Law , and not to make or give Law . Else will it be like the authority of the Church of Rome , which under pretext of exposition of Scripture , doth not sticke to adde and alter , pronouncing what they doe not finde , and by shew of antiquity doe produce novelty . The principall duty of a Iudge is to suppresse force and fraud : Force being most pernitious , when open ; and fraud when it is close and disguised . One foule sentence doth more hurt than many foule examples : for these doe but corrupt the streame , the other corrupts the fountaine . In cases of life and death Iudges ought ( as far as the Law permitteth ) in justice to remember mercy ; and to cast a severe eye upon the example , but a mercifull eye upon the person . Patience and gravity of hearing is an essentiall part of Iustice : and an over speaking Iudge is no well-tuned Symbal . It is strange to see that boldnesse of Advocates should prevaile with Iudges : whereas they should imitate God , who represseth the presumptuous , and giveth grace to the modest . The place of Iustice is an hallowed place , and therefore not only the Bench , but the footpace and precincts thereof ought to be preserved without scandall or corruption . For certainly ( as the Scripture saith ) Grapes will not be gathered of thorns , nor Figs of thistles : Neither can Iustice yeeld her fruit with sweetnesse , among the Briars and Brambles of catching and polling Clerks and Ministers . An ancient Clerke , skilfull in Presidents , wary in proceeding , and understanding in the businesse of the Court , is an excellent finger of a Court , and doth many times point the way to the Iudge himselfe .

ANger is certainly a kind of basenesse , as it appears well in the weaknesse of those subjects in which it reignes . Children , women , old folkes , sick folkes : Only men must beware that they cary their anger rather with scorn than feare , so that they may seeme rather above the injury than below it ; which may easily be done , if we can master our Passion by Reason . The prime motive of anger is to be sencible of hurt : and therefore tender and delicate bodies must needs be oft angry , having so many things to trouble them , which robust natures have little sence of .

PVblique reproofe is like striking a Deere in the Heard ; it not only wounds him to the losse of inabling blood , but betrayes him to the Hound his enemy , and makes him be pushed out of company by his fellows . To be plaine in reproofe argues honesty , but to be pleasing argues discretion : Sores are not to bee anguisht with a rustick pressure , but gently stroaked with a Ladied hand .

CHristian society is like a bundle of sticks laid together , whereof one kindles another : as solitary men have few provocations to evill , so againe have they fewest incitations to good . So much as doing good is better than not doing evill ; will I account Christian good fellowship better than an Hermitish and Melancholy solitarinesse .

AMbitious men are like poysoned Rats , who having tasted of their baine cannot rest till they drinke , and then rest much lesse till their death ; for ambition affoords as much discontentment in enjoying as in want . It is better to live in the wise mans stocks in a contented want , than in a fooles Paradise , to be vexed with wilfull unquietnesse .

SVrely we deceive our selves , to thinke that on earth continued joyes would please : It is a way that crosses that which Nature goes : nothing would be more tedious than to bee glutted with perpetuall jollities . Were the body tyed to one ( though most delicate ) dish alwaies , after a small time it would complaine of loathing , and saciety ; and so would the soule if it did ever Epicure it selfe in joy . I know not well which is the more usefull : Ioy is to be chosen for pleasure ; but adversities are the best for profit : and sometimes these doe so far help us , that wee should without them want much of the joy we have .

VAlour is then best tempered , when it can turne out of a sterne fortitude , into the milde straines of pitty . For though pitty be a downy vertue , yet she never shines more brightly than when she is clad in steele . A Marshall man compassionate , shall conquer both in peace and war , and by a twofold way get victory with honour .

WIth a generall swallow death still gapes upon the generall world : It is a sleepe eternall ; the bodies dissolution , the rich mans feare , the poore mans wish , an event inevitable , an uncertaine journey , a theefe that steales away Man : Sleepes father , Lifes flight , the departure of the living , and the resolution of all .

THe idle man is like a dumbe Iack in a Virginall ; while all the other dance out a winning musick , this like a member out of joynt , sullens the whole body with an ill disturbing lazinesse . It is action only that keepes the soule both sweet and sound , whilest lying still doth rot it to an ordured noysomnesse . There is no creature but is busied in some action for the benefit of the restlesse world : Nor is the teeming earth it selfe weary , after so many thousand yeares productions . Men learne to doe ill , by doing what is next it nothing : for while we want businesse , wee are ready to drown in the mud of vice , and sloathfulnesse . The soule growes bright with use and negotiation : and beleeve it industry is never wholly unfruitfull , if it bring not joy with the in-comming profit , it will banish mischiefe from thy busied gates : There is a kinde of good Angel waiting upon diligence , that ever carries a Laurell in his hand to crowne her : but the bosomed fist beckens the approach of poverty , and leaves besides the noble head ungarded : while the lifted arme doth frighten want , and is ever a shield to the noble director .

CErtainly they worke by a wrong engine , that seeke to gaine their ends by constraint : You may stroke the Lion into bondage , but you may sooner hew him in pieces than beat him into a chaine . Easie nature and free liberty will steale a man into a winy excesse , when urged healths doe but shew him the way to refuse . The noblest weapon wherewith man can conquer , is love and gentlest curtesie . Nature is more apt to be led by the soft motions of the musicall tongue , than the rusticke threshings of a striking arme . How many have lost their hopes , while they have sought to ravish with too rude a hand . Little fishes are twitched up with the violence of a sudden pull ; when the like action cracks the line whereon a great one hangs . I have knowne denials that had never been given but for the earnestnesse of the requester : Vrge a grant to some men , and they are inexorable : seeme carelesse and they will force the thing upon you .

THe best object of bounty is either necessity , or desert : the best motive , thy own goodnesse : and the limit is , the safety of thy state . It is for none but him that is all , to give to all abundantly . To live well of a little , is a great deale more honour , than to spend a great deale vainly . It is not good to make our kindnesse to others , to be cruelty to our selves and ours .

CErtainly if there bee any Dalilah under heaven , it is in bad society : it bindes us , betrayes us , blindes us , undoes us . Many a man had been good that is not , if he had but kept good company . Ill company is an engine wherewith the devill is ever practising to lift man out of Vertues seat : It is the spirituall Whore , which toyes the good man to his soules undoing . Good company should be cherished as the choice of men ; or as Angels that are sent for Guardians : but we should study to lose the society of the bad , lest by keeping them , we lose our selves in the end .

THe jollities of the villanous man stagger the religious minde : They live as if they were passing through the world in state , and the streame of prosperity turning it selfe to rowle with their applauded wayes : when how miserable is despised vertue , and how stormy is her sea ? Certainly for the present the good man seemes to be in the disgrace of heaven : he smarts and pines , and saddens his incombered soule , living as it were in the frowne and nod of the traducing world : so that to view the vertuous but with natures eye , a man would think they were things that Nature envyed ; or that the whole world were deluded with a poisonous lye , in making only the vertuous happy . Innocence is become a staire , to let others rise to our abuse , and not to raise our selves to greatnesse . How rare is it to finde one raised for his sober worth and vertue . Iosephs goodnesse alone brought him to the stocks and irons : whereas if he had coaped with his enticer it is like he might have swom in Gold , and lived a lapling to the silkes and dainties . Doubtlesse we may finde a soule within our soules which tels we doe unnobly , while we love sin more for the pleasure of it , than we doe vertue for the animall sweetnesse she yeelds in her selfe .

SVrely cowards have soules of a courser mixture than the common spirits of men . The coward really meets with far more dangers than the valiant man : Every base nature will be ready to offer injuries where they thinke they will not be repaid : he will many times beat a coward , that would not dare to strike him if he thought him valiant . An unappalled looke doth daunt a base attempter , and oftentimes if a man hath nothing but a couragious eye , it protects him : the brave soule knowes no trembling : and indeed valour casts a kinde of honour upon God , in that wee shew we beleeve his goodness , when we trust our selves in danger upon his care only . Wheras the coward eclipses his sufficiency , by unworthy doubting that God will not bring him off , so unjustly accusing either his power or his will , while he would make himselfe his owne Saviour , he becomes his owne confounder : For , it is just with God to leave Man when he distrusts him . No armour can defend a fearefull heart ; when hee would runne away , feare arrests him with a sencelesse amasement , which betraies him to the pursuite of his foes . I had rather have a minde confident and undaunted , with some troubles , than a pulse still beating feare in the flush of prosperity .

IT is comparison more than reality , that makes men both happy and miserable . Were all the world ugly , Deformity would be no Monster . In those Countries where all goe naked , they neither shame at their being uncovered , nor complaine that they are exposed to the violence of the Sun and Windes . Many never finde themselves in want , till they have discovered the abundance of some others : and many againe doe beare their want with ease , when they finde others below themselves in happinesse : Our adversity is lessened by seeing our enemies in worse estate than our selves . We pick our owne sorrowes out of the joyes of other men ; and out of their sorrowes likewise we assume our joyes . When we see the poore toiling Labourer , we looke upon our selves with gladnesse : but when we eye the distributers of the earth in their royalty , then what poore Atomes doe we count our selves , compared with those huge piles of State .

THe proud man and the cholerick , seldome arrive at any height of vertue . They are sometimes borne to good parts of nature , but they rarely , are knowne to adde by industry . It is the milde and suffering disposition that oftnest doth attaine to eminence . Temper and humility are advantagious vertues for businesse , and to rise by . Pride and Choler make such a noise that they awake dangers , which the other with a soft tread steales by undiscovered . Temper and humility are like the Foxe when hee went into the Garner : he could creep in a little hole , and arrive at plenty : Pride and Choler are like the Foxe offering to goe out when his belly was full , which enlarging him bigger than the passage , made him stay and be taken with shame . They that would come to preferment by pride , are like them that ascend a paire of staires on horseback , it is ten to one but the beast will cast them before they come to tread their chamber . Pride is an enemy to it selfe , the proud man cannot endure to see pride in another . Pride and Choler are both base vices , as being both awed by the most abject passion of the minde , feare : we dare neither be proud to one that can punish us ; nor cholerick to one much above us . Why should we live like beasts , pusht at by all the world for loftinesse ? or like Waspes , stinging upon every touch ?

BEnefits are so long gratefull , as we thinke we can repay them , but when they challenge more , our thankes convert to hate : it is not good to make men owe us more than they are able to pay , except it be for vertuous deserts , which may in some sort challenge it . The Malefactor which thou savest , will if he can condemne thee . Some say that Cicero was slaine by one , whom his Oratory had defended when he was accused of his Fathers murther . Whatsoever favours thou impartest , let them be to those of desert : It will be much for thy honour , when by thy kindnesse men shall see thou affectest vertue . It is only in rank grounds that much rain makes weeds spring : where the soile is cleane , and well planted , there is the more fruit returned for the showres that did fall upon it .

VErtue gives us a safe conduct through all the various casualties of Mortality ; and therefore when fortune meanes to ruine us , she flatters us first from this Altar ; shee cannot hurt us till we be stript of this habiliment ; then shee doth both wound and laugh . It is for the most part true , Fortune first fooles the man she meanes to foile . The vertuous man is the only cunning Fencer , no man can either give a blow so soon , or ward himselfe so safely .

FOolish bashfulnesse betraies us to all inconveniences : it brings a foole in bond to his utter undoing : how many maids are undone by it , even blushing oftentimes brings them to their devirgination ; making their faces lures to enkindle lewd mens loves , which being expressed by large gifts , doe so work upon their Natures , as they know not how to deny , so rather then be ungratefull , they oft become unchast . In friendship it is an odious vice , and lets a man run on in absurdities , for feare of displeasing by telling the fault : Yet surely the Graces sojourne with the blushing man . Modesty is an excellent vertue to curbe and keep us from the stray and offence . I am perswaded many had been bad that are not , if they had not been bridled by a bashfull nature ; divers have hearts for vice , which have not face accordingly . Bashfulnesse , with a silent kinde of Majesty ( like a Watch at the doore of a Theeves Den ) makes vice not dare peepe out of the heart , wherein it is lodged . Modesty in women should be like the Angels flaming sword , to keep vile men out of the Paradise of their chastity .

SVspitious thoughts , like new Wine , boile in our breasts , to the hazzard of the hogshead , for want of venting . The wise and honest are never fooled with this quality ; hee that knows he deserves not ill , tentment royall , that we know we are alwaies in the hands of a noble Protector , who never gives ill but to him that hath deserved it .

VAinglory at best is but like a Window Cushion , specious without , and garnished with the tasseled pendant , but within nothing but hay or some such trash , not worth the looking on . Where the heart is full the tongue is seldome liberall : the tongue is the hollow instrument that sounds lowdest . Whatsoever good worke the hand builds , is again pulled downe by the folly of a boasting tongue . To doe well is as much as a good man labours for : The honest man takes more pleasure in knowing himselfe so , than in knowing that all the world approves him so . He that remembers too much his owne vertues , teacheth others to object his vices . We disgrace the worke of vertue , when we goe about any way to seduce Voices for her approbation .

HOpe is both a flatterer and a true friend ; it is the miserable mans god , which in the hardest gripe of calamity never failes to yeeld him beames of comfort : It is the presumptuous mans devill , which leads him a while in a smooth way , and then makes him breake his neck on the sudden , Hope is to Man , as a bladder to a learning swimmer , it keeps him from sinking in the bosome of the Waves , and by that help he may attaine the exercise . But when it makes him venture beyond his heigth , and breakes , or a storm arises , he drownes without recovery . How many would die did not hope sustaine them ? How many have dyed by hoping too much ? She dandles us into killing flames , sings us into Lethargies , and like an over-hasty Surgeon , skinneth dangers that are full and foule within . Againe , he that hopes for nothing , will never attaine to any thing . This good comes of over hoping , that it sweetens our passage through the world , and sometimes so sets us to worke , as it produces great actions , though not alwaies pat to our ends .

THe end of Policy is to make a mans selfe great : the end of Love is to advance another . Therfore a Polititian is one of the worst sorts of men to make a friend on : give me one that is vertuously wise , not cunningly hid and twined to himselfe . Policy in friendship , is like Logick in truth , something too subtill for the plainesse of disclosing hearts . For a friend to converse withall , let me rather meet with a sound affection , than a crafty braine : one may faile me by accident , but the other will doe it out of fore intent . The soundest affection is like to be where there cannot be expectation of sinister ends : and doubtlesse love encreaseth by adversity .

THe Cup is the betrayer of the minde , and leaves the soule naked : Reason only distinguisheth Beast from Man , and that it robs him of : He that would anatomize the soule , may doe it best when Wine hath nummed the senses : Certainly , for confession there is no such racke as Wine ; nor could the devill ever finde a cunninger bait to angle both for acts and meaning . Indeed drunkennesse besots a Nation , and beastiates even the bravest spirits : I like a cup ad hilaritatem , but continuance dulls them : It is lesse labour to plough than to pot it . I had rather be disliked for not being a beast , than bee good fellowed with a hug for being one . Let the drunkards pleasure crowne him , and his mirth abound , the next day he will stick in mud .

HEE that is perfect and marries not , may in some sort be said to be guilty of a contempt against Nature : when the husband and wife are together , the world is contracted in a bed ; and without this , like the head and the body parted , either would consume without a possibility of reviving . A wise wife comprehends both Sexes , she is woman for her body , and she is man within , for her soule is like her husbands . Questionlesse a woman with a wise soul is the fittest companion for man , otherwise God would have given him a friend rather than a wife . It is the crowne of blessings , when in one woman a man findeth both a wife and a friend . Poverty in Wedlock is a great decayer of love and contentation : Above all , therefore the generous minde should beware of marrying poore ; for though hee cares least for wealth , yet will he be most galled with the want of it . Single life is to be liked in those who can suffer Continency , but should all live thus , an hundred yeares would make the world a Desart .

NOthing makes a man more like to God than Charity . As all things are filled with his goodnesse , so the Vniversall is partaker of the good mans spreading love . Wealth in a Misers hand is uselesse , as a lockt up treasure : It is charity only that makes Riches worth the owning . To every thing that hath sence there is a kinde of pitty owing : Solomons good man is mercifull to his beast . Surely he that is right , must not think his Charity to one in need , a curtesie , but a debt , which nature at his first being bound him to pay ; yet should we not water a strange ground to leave our owne in drought .

MVsick is good or bad , as the end to which it tendeth : they that wholly despise ●t may well be suspected to be something of a savage Nature : Light Notes are sometimes usefull , as in times of generall joy , and when the minde is pressed with sadnesse : whose dull blood will not caper in his veines , when the very aire he breathes in frisketh in a tickled motion ? We finde Halelujahs are sung in heaven : and doubtlesse Musick is a helper both to good and ill : it is therefore to be honoured when it moves to uertue ; as to bee shunned when it would flatter into vice .

REpentance is so powerfull , that it cannot be but a gift of the Deity : he is not to be pittied in his sufferings , that may escape a torment by the compunction of a heart and teares . Sometimes a returne after failing is a prompter to a surer hold . S. Ambrose doubts not to say , that Peter by his fall found more grace than he lost , his faith being thereby much stronger . The devill sometimes cosens himselfe by plunging man into a deepe offence . A sudden ill act grows often abhorred in the minde that did it : yet a man should beware the steps he once hath stumbled at . Doubtlesse that is the best life that is a little sprinkled with the salt of crosses ; the other would quickly be ranke and tainted . There are whose paths are washt with butter , and the Rose bud crownes them : but surely it is a misery to live in oily vice , when her waies are made slippery with her own slime . Heaven is not had without repentance , and repentance seldome meets a man in jollity , in the careere of lust , and the bloods lose riot .

COmmanders in war should be wise , valiant , and experienced : Experience puts a credit on their actions , making them far more prompt in undertakings . And indeed there is a great deale of reason why we should respect him , that with an untainted valour hath growne old in armes , and hearing the drum beat . When every minute death seemes to passe by and shun him , he is as one that the supreame God hath cared for , and by a particular guard defended in the haile of death . It is true , it is a life tempting to exorbitancy ; yet this is more in the common sort , that are pressed , as the refuse and burthen of the land , than in those that by a nobler breeding are abler to command . Want , idlenesse , and the desperate face of blood hath hardened them to outrages . Nor may we wonder hereat , since even their life is but an ordered quarrell , raised to the feud of killing . Wars have the same nature with offences , they must be , yet are they mightily in fault that cause them . When a just cause and a just deputation meet for war , I shall ever thinke this one of the noblest and most manly wayes of dying .

BLots appeare fouler in a strict life , than a loose one : no man wonders at the Swines wallowing : but to see an Ermin mired is a prodegy : Where doe vices shew so foule as in a Minister ? When he shall be heavenly in the pulpit only ? Certainly they wound the Gospell , that preach it to the world , and live as if they thought to goe to heaven some other way than that they teach the people . How unseemly is it when a grave Cassock shall be lined with a wanton Reveller ? and with crimes that make a loose one odious ? We should not professe that wee will not strive to practise . Surely God will bee severest against those that will weare his badge , and seeme his servants , yet inwardly side with the devill and lusts : They spot his honour , and cause profane ones to jest at his holinesse . Other offences God may punish , this he must , left the enemies of his truth triumph against him . If thou beest unsound within , soile not the glorious robe of truth by putting it upon thy beastlinesse . This is to be religiously rude : and even all the Church of sincerest good men suffer in a seeming good mans fall . Let not thy actions sight against thy tongue or pen : one ill life will pull downe more than many good tongues can build .

THe best way of speech is to be short , plaine , materiall . Tedious admonitions dull the advised , and make the giver contemptible . It is a short reproofe that staies like a stab in the memory : and many times three words doe more good than an idle discourse of three houres . A limitlesse tongue is a strange unbitted beast to worry one with : A talkative fellow is the unbraced drum , which beats a wise man out of his wits . Surely Nature did not guard the tongue with the double fence of teeth and lips , but that shee meant it should not move too nimbly .

GOod men have most right to the best of Gods creatures : and seeing Wine was given to cheare the heart , why should I not use it to that end : for surely the merry soule is freer from intended mischiefe , than the thoughtfull man : and a bounded mirth is a Patent adding time and happinesse to the crazed life of man ; without which he is but a meere lumpe of quickned care : For as there are many that in their life assume too great a liberty : so doubtlesse there are some that abridge themselves of what they might lawfully use : forgetting what Solomon saith , That the only profit to a man , is to eat , and drinke , and delight his soule in his labour ; for this is the hand of God .

I Never yet found Pride in a noble Nature ; nor humility in an unworthy minde . Arrogance is a Weed that ever growes in a dunghill ; it is from the ranknesse of that soile she hath her height and spreadings . To be humble to our Superiours is duty ; to our equals curtesie ; to our Inferiours noblenesse . If ever Pride be lawfull , it is when it meets with audacious Pride and conquers : for then many times the affronting man by his own folly may learne the way to his duty , and wit .

Vlee is a myery deepnesse : If thou strivest to helpe one out and doest not , thy stirring him sinkes him in the farther . Fury is the madder for his Chaine . When thou chidest thy wandring friend , do it secretly , in season , in love . Certainly he is drunke himselfe , that prophanes reason so as to urge it to a drunken man . To admonish a man in the height of his passion , is to call a Souldier to councell in the heat of a Battell : Let the Combate slack , and then thou maist expect a hearing . Who blowes out Candles with too strong a breath , doth 〈…〉 a stinke , and blow them 〈◊〉 againe . And many times the tartnesse of speech makes a reprehension worse than the fault .

TO finde friends when wee have no need of them , and to want them when wee have , are both alike easie and common . And certainly it is not the least part of mans misery , that hee can neither bee truly happy without a friend , nor yet know him to be a true friend without his being unhappy . Our fortunes and our selves are so closely linked that we know not to which of them our friends love al●es , till one of these two shall part , I confesse he is happy that findes a true friend in extremity ; but hee is happier that findes not extremity wherein to try his friend .

INfidelity is the cause of all our woes , the ground of all our sins : not trusting God , we discontent our selves with feares and solicitations ; and to cure these , we run into prohibited pathes : Vnworthy earthen Worme , to thinke that he that grasps the unemptied provisions of the world in his hand , can be a niggard to his Sons , unlesse he sees it be for their good and benefit . O my God , let me finde my heart dutifull , and my faith upon triall stedfast , that I may but serve thee , and depend upon thee , and then I need beg no farther supply ; for these will bee ground enough for sufficient happinesse while I live here .

NEither example nor precept ( unlesse in matters wholly religious ) can be the absolute guides of a discreete man ; It is only a knowing and a practicall judgement of his owne that can direct him in the Maze of this life , in the bustle of the world , in the twitches and twirles of Fate : for mans life is like a State , still casuall in the future : and he that lives alwaies by booke Rules , shall shew himselfe affected , and a foole . I will doe that which I see is comely , ( so it be not dishonest ) rather than take grave advice to the contrary .

VIce ruleth as a god in this present evill world , and it is impossible to live and not encounter her : Wherefore it is good to be acquainted with Vertue also ; that the true beauty of the one may draw our affections from the ugly deformity of the other : And happy is hee that makes other mens vices , steps for him to climbe to heaven by .

THe good man is he to whom life and death is indifferent : for he knowes , while he is here God will protect him ; and that when hee goes hence God will receive him . Certainly we are never quiet in any thing long , till we have conquered the feare of death ; every spectacle of mortality terrifies , and every casuall danger affrights us . Feare of death kils us often , when death it selfe can doe it but once . But he that would not die when he must , and he that would die when he must not , are Cowards alike : And why should we feare to doe that at any time , which we know wee must doe once . But what wee cannot do till our time comes , let us not seeke to doe before . He that hath lived well , will seldome be unwilling to die : for death hath nothing in it terrible , but what our life hath made so . Good men never die , but as the Phoenix , from whose preserved ashes one or other still doth spring up like them : for surely nothing awakes our sleeping vertues like the noble acts of our predecessors .

COntemplation seconded by action , makes men happy ; without the first the later is defective : without the last the first is but abortive . Contemplation like Rachel , is fairest ; but Action like Leah , is most fruitfull . I will neither alwaies bee busie and doing ; nor ever will I be shut up in nothing but thoughts : yet that which some would call idlenesse , I will count the sweetest part of my life , and that is my thinking .

VErtue were but a kinde of misery , if fame only were all the Garland that did crown her : but in heaven is laid up a more glorious and essentiall recompence . For a mean man to thirst for a mighty fame is a kinde of fond ambition . Great fames are for Princes and such as are the Glories of humanity ; good ones may crowne the private : the same fire may be in the waxen Taper , which is in the staved Torch , but it is not equall either in quantity or advancement .

A Prince that leaveth law , and ruleth himselfe and others by his owne appetite and affections , is of all creatures the worst , and of all beasts the most furious and dangerous : for that nothing is so outragious as injustice armed , and no armour is so strong as Wit and Authority : whereof the first he hath as he is a Man ; and the other as he is a Prince .

LEt this be my advice , and thy instruction : Shun verbosity , speake seldome , and then to the purpose : have a pure conscience , and pray often : study much , and be familiar with few : shun superfluous discourse : follow the steps of godly and devout men : regard not from whom thou hearest what is good , and having heard it , forget it not : what thou readest or hearest , cease not till thou dost understand : be resolved of doubts , and search not too far into things which are not lawfull to know .

THose sins are greater which are committed through lust , than those which are committed through anger : for he that is angry seemes with a kinde of griefe and close contraction of himselfe to turne away from reason : but he that sins through lust , being overcome by pleasure , doth in his very sin bewray a more impotent and unmanlike disposition . For the angry man sinneth by anothers injury that provokes him : whereas the other doth of himselfe meerly resolve upon any evill action .

IT should be every mans duty to confine all his thoughts and cares to the attendance of that spirit which is within himselfe , namely to keepe himselfe pure from all violent passion and evill affection , from all rashnesse and vanity , and from all manner of discontent : knowing that all things happen from Him from whom himselfe came : And with all meeknesse and chearefulnesse to expect death , as being a thing not to be feared , because common to Nature , and nothing that is according to Nature can be evill .

AN absolute Puritan may justly bee called a Church rebell , or one that would exclude Order , that his braine might rule . But methinkes the reading of Ecclesiastes should make him undresse his braine , and lay off all those phanatique toyes that gingle about his understanding , causing him through a needlessenicity to be a Theefe to himselfe , of those benefits which God hath allowed him . Mans wisdome connsists not in the not using , but in the well using of what God and the world affords him .

EXtreame poverty is worse than abundance : the best estate is that which partakes of both , and consists of neither : he that hath too little , wants feathers to flye withall : and he that hath too much is but combred with too large a taile .

IMprisonment is nothing such a mischiefe as most do thinke it : the greatest is , in that the eye is debarred the delight of the worlds vanity . And I see not but a locall restraint , without want or enforced imployment , may very easily be converted to a happinesse , unlesse men will let their mindes run against the tydes of Reason . It is no other but a place of retyring , or sequestration from the world , which many of the wisest have voluntarily put upon themselves ; and surely while a man is tossed among men and businesse , he cannot so freely enjoy himselfe as when hee is secluded from them both : and it is a misery , when a man must so apply himselfe to others , as hee cannot have leisure to account with himselfe . Besides , be he never so at large , he doth but run over the same things , hee sees but the like world in another place . If he hath but light and any prospect , he may see by that what the rest is , and enjoy it by his boundlesse minde . Indeed the most burdensome imprisonment is to be prisoner to diseases ; because for the most part these hold us , not without paine and the great trouble of our friends about us .

A Perfect soule in an imperfect body , is like a bright Tapour in a darke Lanthorne : the fault is not in the light , but in the Case , which curtaines it with so dull an outside , as will not let the shine be transparent . And we may see this even in those that have been both able and ingenious , who after a hurt received in some vitall part , have growne mopish and almost insencible , that defect keeping the intellectuall so under , that it appeareth not to the outward apprehension . Inward defects also , either in Nature or Generation , do often eclipse the lustre of noble spirits : yea , even from the wombe some malignant humour may interpose the true operation of the spirits internall .

CErtainly God hath made man to dwell in doubt , that hee might bee awed to good by feare and expectation . We are led along by hope , to the ends that are appointed us , and by an uncertaine way we come at last to a certaine end , which yet we could neither know nor avoid . The great Creator wisely put things to come , in the mist and twilight , that we might neither be overjoyed with the certainty of good , nor overmuch terrified with the assurance of an unavoidable ill . If Fate be certain , it can be no good to know it , because we cannot prevent it : If it be uncertaine , we search in vaine to finde out that which but may be . He that lives vertuously needs not doubt of finding a happy Fate : If our lives please God , the successe shall surely please us . Vertue and Vice are both Prophets , the one of certain good , the other either of Paine or Penitence .

WIthout charity a man cannot be sociable : and take away that , and there is little else that a man hath to doe in the world : Certainly if there be any thing sweet in meere humanity , it is in the intercourses of beloved society : a reverend humility towards God , and Christian charity toward our Neighbours , will give us a peace that shall fit us for whatsoever befalls . He that hath these graces shall not feare himselfe , for hee knowes his course is Order : he shall not feare the world , for he knowes he hath done nothing that hath angerd it : he shall not bee afraid of heaven , for he knowes he shall there finde the favour of a Servant of a Son , and be protected against the malice and spleene of hell .

AS no Physitian can be so abstemious , as to follow strictly all his owne prescriptions , so I thinke there is no Christian so much his mindes Master , as to keepe precisely all his resolutions : they may better shew what he would be , than what he is . Nature hath too slow a foot to follow Religion close at the heele : Who can expect our dull flesh should wing it with the flights of the soule ? He is not a good man that lives perfect , but hee that lives as well as he can , and as humane frailties will let him : he that thus strives not , never began to bee vertuous , nor knowes he those transcending joyes that continually feast in the noble minded Man . All the externall pleasures that Mortality is capable of , can never inkindle a flame , that shall so bravely warme the soule as the love of vertue , and the certaine knowledge of the rule we have over our owne wilde passions .

I Never yet could meete the man that complained not of something . Every one hath his turne of sorrow , some more , some lesse , all men are in their times miserable . Wherefore it is wisdome before sorrow comes to prepare for it , when it comes to welcome it , and when it goes , to take but halfe a farewell of it , as still expecting its returne .

THe ill wishes of our impatience are oft-times heard : as those good things are not granted us which wee pray for without care , so those evils that we pray for and would not have , are often granted : the eares of God are not only open to the prayers of faith , but to the imprecations of infidelity . It is dangerous wishing evill to our selves or ours . It is just with God to take us at our word , and to effect that with his will , which our lips speake against our heart .

SWeetnesse of Contemplation is a great helpe toward the good entertainment of an admonition . Roughnesse and rigour many times harden those hearts , which meeknesse would have melted to repentance . Whether we sue , or convince , or reprove , little good is gotten by bitternesse : Detestation of the sin may well stand with favour to the person , and those two not distinguished , cause great wrong either in our charity or justice : for either we uncharitably hate the creature of God , or unjustly affect the persons of Men .

IT is madnesse in a man not to be warned , but to run upon the same judgements wherewith he sees others miscarry , and not to beleeve till he cannot recover . Our assent is purchased too late when wee over-stay prevention , and trust to that experience we cannot live to redeeme : Nor is it wisdome to stay till a judgement come home to us , for the only way to avoid it is to meet it halfe way . There is the same remedy both or war and of danger : To provoke an enemy in his owne borders is the best stay of invasion : and to solicite God betimes in a manifest danger , is the best antidote against the greatest evils that can be fall us .

IT is a good signe when God chides us : his round reprehensions are ever gracious forerunners of mercy ; whereas his silent connivence at the wicked argues deep and secret displeasure . Fond Nature thinkes God should not suffer the winde to blow upon his deare ones , because her selfe makes this fond use of her own indulgence . But wheresoever God chastises , there he is , yea , there he is in mercy : Nothing more proves us his than his stripes , he will not bestow whipping where he loves not .

HEE that commonly gives us power to crave , sometimes gives us without craving , that the benefit might be so much more welcome , by how much lesse it was suspected ; and we so much more thankfull , as he is forward : When he bids us aske , it is not that he needs to be entreated , but that he may make us more capable of blessings by desiring them : and where he sees fervent desires , he seldome staies for words : but how much more will he give when we aske , that so freely gives before we aske .

BY contrary paces to ours it pleases God to come to his owne ends , looking oft the contrary way to that we move . No man can measure the conclusion of Gods acts by his beginnings : hee that fetches good out of evill , often raises the glory of men out of their ruine . Wee love to goe the nearest way , and often faile : God commonly goes about , and in his owne time comes surely home . Necessity will drive us to seeke all helpes , even those which our wantonnesse despised . It is a safe course to make much of those in our peace , whom wee must make use of in our extremity : else it is but just that we should be rejected by them we have rejected .

VOws are as they are made , like unto Sents , if they be of ill composition nothing offends more , if well tempered , nothing more pleasant : either certainty of evill , or uncertainty of good , or impossibility of performance , make Vowes of no service to God . When we vow that we cannot , or what wee ought not , wee mocke God in stead of honouring him : It is a vain thing for us to goe about to catch God hoodwinkt : for there is no comfort in Peradventure I may please God .

IT fals out often , that those times and occasions which promise most contentment , prove most dolefull in the issue : as contrarily , the times and events which we have most distrusted , prove most beneficiall . It is good in a faire morning to think of the storme that may arise before night , and to enjoy both good and evill fearefully .

AS it becomes not children to be too forward in their choice , so Parents ought not to bee too peremptory in their deniall . It is not safe for children to out-run their Parents in setling their affections ; nor for Parents , where the impediments are not very materiall , to come short of their children , when their affections are once setled : the one is disobedience , the other tyranny .

THe curtesies of the world are ever hollow and thanklesse , neither doth it ever purpose so ill , as when it shewes fairest : None are so neare dangers as those whom it entertaines with smiles . Whilest it frownes wee know what to trust to , but the favours of it are worthy nothing but feares and suspitions : open defiance is better than false love .

INdulgences of Parents is the refuge of vanity , the bawde of wickedness , the bane of children . How easily is that Theefe induced to steale , that knowes his Receiver ? When the lawlesnesse of youth knows where to finde pitty and toleration , what mischiefe can it forbeare ?

GOod dispositions love not to pleasure themselves with the disadvantage of others , and had rather be miserable alone , than draw in partners to their sorrow : for the sight of anothers calamity doth even double their owne , and if themselves were free , would affect them with compassion . As contrarily , ill mindes care not how many companions they have in misery ; they can be content all the world were inwrapped with them in the same distresse .

IT is no love that cannot make us willing to be miserable for those we affect : the hollowest heart can be content to follow one that prospereth . Adversity is the only furnace of friendship ; if love will not abide both fire and anvile it is but counterfeit : And in our love to God we doe but crack and vaunt in vaine , if we cannot bee willing to suffer for him .

THe Rich exchanging their almes with the poore for their blessings , have no cause to complaine of an ill bargaine ; our gifts cannot be worth their faithfull prayers . Therefore it is better to give than to receive ; because hee that receives hath but a worthlesse almes , he that gives receives an unvaluable blessing .

WEE cannot better please an adversary than by hurting our selves . This is no other than to honour envy , to serve the turne of those that maligne us , and to draw on that malice which will weary us . Whereas carelesnesse puts ill will out of countenance , and makes it withdraw it selfe in a rage , as that which doth but shame the Author , without the hurt of the Patient . In causelesse wrongs the best remedy is contempt .

GViltinesse is commonly clamorous and impatient ; whereas innocence is silent and carelesse of misreports . It is naturall to all men to wipe off from their names all aspersions of evill ; but none doe it with such violence , as they which for most part are faulty . 'T is a signe the horse is galled which stirs too much when hee is toucht .

EVen the best may erre , though not persist in it : when good natures have offended , they are unquiet till they have hastened satisfaction . It cannot be spoken how much ease and joy the heart of man findes , in having unloaded his cares , and poured out his supplications in the eares of God , since it is well assured , that the fruit which is faithfully asked , is already granted in heaven . The conscience may well rest when it tels us we have neglected no meanes of redressing our affliction : for then it may resolve to looke either for amendment or patience .

THose which are dearest to God , doe oft times with great difficulty work out those blessings which fall into the mouthes of the carelesse . The just disposer of all things holds it fit to keep us short of those favours we sue for , either for the triall of our patience , or the exercise of our faith , or the increasing of our importunity , or the doubling of our obligation .

THose hearts which are truly thankfull doe rejoyce no lesse in their restraint than in their receit ; and doe as much study how to shew their humble and fervent affections for what they have , as how to compasse favours when they want them . Their debt is their burthen , which when they have discharged they are at ease .

WIcked men are upon all occasions glad to bee rid of God , but they can with no patience endure to be rid of their sinnes ; but whilest they are weary of the hand that punisheth them , they hold fast the cause of their punishment : their false hopes cost them deare . They could not bee so miserable , if their owne hearts did not deceive them with misexpectations of impossible favour .

IT is hard not to over-joy in a sudden prosperity : and to use happinesse is no lesse difficulty than to forbeare it . Nature is too subject to extremities , and is ever either too dull in want , or too wanton in fruition : it is no easie matter to keepe a meane either in good or evill .

THe mercies of God draw more teares from his children , than his judgements doe from his enemies : There is no better signes of good nature and grace , than to be won to repentance by kindnesse . Not to thinke of God unlesse we be beaten unto it , is servile ; No warning will serve obdurate hearts ; wicked men are even ambitious of destruction : Iudgements need not goe to finde them out , they run headlong to meet their bane . God will never acknowledge any convert that stayes in a known sin : Graces and vertues are so linkt together that hee which hath one hath all : the partiall conversion of men to God is hatefull hypocrisie , and the triall of our sincerity is the abandoning of our wonted sins .

PRide and wantonnesse have marred these times : Great Parents account it a dis-reputation to imploy their sons in courses of frugality , and their pampered children thinke it a shame to doe any thing , and so beare themselves , as those that hold it the only glory to be either idle or wicked .

GOd never imployed any man in his service , whom he did not inable to the worke he set him , especially those whom he raiseth up to the supply of his owne place , and the representation of himselfe . It is no marvell though Princes excell the Vulgar in gifts , no lesse than in dignity : their Crownes and their hearts are both in one and the same hand : if God did not adde to their powers as their honours , there would be no equality .

GOds children cannot by any means be discouraged from their honour and love to his Ordinances , if they see thousands struck downe to hell by the Scepter of Gods kingdome , yet they will kisse it upon their knees ; and though their Saviour be a Rock of offence , and the occasion of others falling , they feed temperately on that whereof others have surfeited to death . Nothing but grace can teach us to make use of others judgements : for wicked men are not moved with ought that falls beside them , they trust nothing but their owne smart , and notwithstanding the daily representation of Gods judgements , their peremptory resolution takes no more notice of them than if God had never shewne a dislike of their wayes .

HOw easie is it for us to mistake our owne estates ? to rejoyce in that which we shall finde the just cause of our just humiliation : the end of a thing is better than the beginning : the safest way is , to reserve our joy till we have good proofe of the worthinesse and fitnesse of the object : what are we the better for having a blessing , if we know not how to use it ?

GOd may be angry enough with us while we outwardly prosper : It is his wisdome to take his best advantages ; he suffers us to goe on till wee should come to enjoy the fruit of our sin , till we seeme past the danger either of conscience or punishment , then ( even when we begin to be past the feeling of our sins ) we often begin to feele his displeasure for our sins : but this is only where he loves , for where hee meanes utter vengeance , hee lets men harden themselves to a reprobate senselesnesse , and make up their owne measure without contradiction , as purposing to reckon with them but once for ever .

WEE should ever dislike sins , but should not alwaies shew it : discretion in the choice of seasons for reproving , is no lesse commendable and necessary , than zeale and faithfulnesse in reproving . Good Physitians use not to evacuate the body in extremities of heate or cold . Wise Mariners doe not hoise their sailes in every winde . And as all times are not fit for reproofe , so all persons are not fit to bee reprovers : hee that casts a stone at an offendor , should bee free from the offence , otherwise he condemnes and executes himselfe in another person . The conscience stops the guilty mans mouth , and choakes him with that sin which lies in his owne breast : which having not come forth by a penitent confession , cannot finde the way out in a reproofe : and if he doe reprove , he doth more shame himselfe , than reforme another .

A Mans heart can best judge of himselfe , others can best judge of his actions : As another mans conscience and approbation cannot beare us out before God , so cannot our owne before men ; for oft-times those actions are censured by the beholders as wrongfull , wherein we applaud our owne justice . Happy is the man that can be acquitted by himselfe in private , in publike by others , by God in both . Standers by may see more : it is very safe for a man to looke into himselfe by others eyes : in vaine shall a mans heart absolve him , that is condemned by his actions . A good conscience will make a man undauntedly confident , and dares put him upon any triall : where his owne heart strikes him not it bids him challenge all the world , and all commers . How happy a thing is it for a man to be his owne friend and Patron : he needs not feare forreine broiles , that hath true peace at home : but he that hath a false and soule heart , lies at every mans mercy , lives slavishly , and is faine to daube up a rotten peace with the basest conditions . Truth is not afraid of any light , and therefore dares suffer her wares to bee carried from a dim Shop-board to the Street doore . Perfect Gold will be but the purer for trying , whereas falsehood being a worke of darknesse , loves darknesse , and therefore seekes where it may worke closest .

THe greatest earthly Monarchs ought to walke by a Rule , which if they doe transgresse , they shall be accountable to him who is higher than the highest , and desires not so much their precept as example . For the sins of our Teachers are the Teachers of sin : the sins of Governours doe both command and countenance evill .

HYpocrites rest only in formalities ; if the outward act be done , it sufficeth them , though the ground be distrust , the manner unreverence , the carriage presumption . But God will have no worship of our owne devising , we may only doe what he bids us , not bid what he commands not . Never did any true piety arise out of the corrupt puddle of mans braine ; if it flow not from heaven it is odious to heaven : The only way to bring comforts , and to intaile a comfortable prosperity upon our Posterity , is our conscionable inward obedience to God .

The services of our love to Gods Children are never thanklesse : When wee are dead and rotten , they shall live and procure blessings to those that never knew perhaps , nor heard of their progenitors . If we sow good workes , succession shall reape them , and wee shall be happy in making them so . Doubtlesse that childe is happy , whose progenitors are in heaven ; for he is left an inheritor of blessings together with estate : whereas wicked Ancestors lose the thankes of a rich Patrimony , by the curse that attends it .

A Good heart hath learned to frame it selfe unto all conditions , and can change his estate without change of disposition , rising and falling according to occasion : whereas the worldly minde can rise easily , but knowes not how to descend either with patience , or safety .

OF all creatures , Christians should have least interest in themselves , but should live as given to benefit of others : not caring much for what they have , and nothing for what they have not : seeing all worldly things , though they require long labour in getting , yet affoord but a short pleasure in enjoying them .

WIcked men that know the filthinesse of their soules , dare not so much as view them , but shift off all checks of their former iniquity with vaine excuses of good fellowship . Whence it is that every small reprehension galls them , because it calls the eyes of the soule home to it selfe , making them see a glimpse of what they would not : Like a foolish and timorous Patient , who knowing his wound very deepe , cannot endure the Surgeon should search it : whereof what can ensue but a festering of the part , and a danger of the whole body . The old proverbe is true , Oft and even reckonings make long friends . Many prodigall wasters runne so far in bookes , that they cannot abide to heare of a reckoning . Happy is he that summes up his estate often with God : he shall thereby know what he hath to expect and answer for : neither shall his score run on so long , that he shall not know his debts , or feare an account , or despaire of paiment .

FEw men feare to doe ill , every man to suffer ill : wherin if we consider right , we shall finde that wee feare our best friends : for Prosperity usually makes us forget our death ; Adversity on the other side makes us neglect our life . Now if wee measure both of these by their effects ; forgetfulnesse of death makes us secure , neglect of this life makes us carefull of a better : So much therefore as neglect of life is better than forgetfulnes of death , and watchfulnesse better than security , so much more beneficiall should wee esteeme Adversity than Prosperity .

T Is a base thing to get goods only to keep them : wee see that God ( who is only infinite rich ) holdeth nothing in his own hands , but gives all to his Creatures . But if wee wil needs lay up , where should wee rather repose it than in Christs Treasury , which is the poore mans hand : There should all our superfluity bee hoarded up , where doubtlesse it shall be safely kept , and surely returned us : If our money were anothers wee could but keepe it , onely expending it shewes it our owne : t is better to lay it out well , than to keep it safely .

NO worldly pleasure hath any absolute delight in it , but as a Bee , having honey in the mouth , hath a sting in the taile . Why then should wee be so foolish to rest our hearts upon any of them ? and not rather labour to aspire to that one absolute Good , in whom is nothing savouring of griefe , nothing wanting to perfect happinesse .

EVery man acts his part upon this worlds Theatre : The good man is a Comedian , who however hee begins , ever ends merrily : but the wicked man acts a Tragedy , and therefore alwaies ends in horrour . Who sees an Oxe grazing in a fat and rank pasture , and thinks not that hee is neere to the slaughter ? whereas the leane beast that toiles under the yoke is farre enough from the shambles . The best wicked man cannot bee so glorious in his first shewes , as hee is miserable in the conclusion .

THat affection which is grounded on the best and most Heavenly vertue must needs be the safest ; for as it unites man to God so inseparably , that no temptations , no torments , no not all the gates of hell can sever him : so it unites one Christian soule to another so firmely , that no outward occurrents , no imperfections in the party loved can dissolve them . Hee that loves not the childe of God for his owne and his Fathers sake , more than a friend for his commodity , or a kinsman for bloud , never received any sparke of true heavenly love .

IT happens to Christians in their pilgrimage to a better life , as it doth to Travellers , who meet with many hosts , but few friends . Good friends are a great happinesse , and therefore should not easily bee lost ; nor must they bee used as suits of apparell , which when wee have worne thred-bare wee cast off and call for new . Nothing but death or villany should divorce us from an old friend , we should still follow him so farre as possibility or honesty can guide us , which if he chance to leave , we should yet leave him with sorrow .

THere is no man so pure in whom we may not mislike somewhat : and who may not as justly mislike somewhat in us ? Our friends faults therefore , if little , should bee swallowed and digested : if great , they should be smothered , at least winked at to others , yet lovingly notified to him .

WHy should we vexe our selves because another hath vexed us ? Injuries hurt not more in the receiving , than in the remembrance . A small injury should goe as it comes : great ones may dine or sup with us , but if they lodge with us , we shall finde them very irksome .

A Friends death as it may moderately grieve us , so it may another way much benefit us in recompence of his want , for it should make us think more often and seriously of earth and of heaven : of earth , for his body which is reposed in it ; of heaven , for his soule wch possesseth it before us : of earth , to put us in minde of our like frailty and mortality ; of heaven , to make us desire , and after a sort emulate his happinesse and glory : and it is a true saying , he which hath himselfe hath lost nothing .

IT is better not know , than by knowledge to bee made miserable : he that never tasted the pleasures of sinne , longs least after those deceitfull contentments . 'T is easier to deny a guest at the first , than to turn him out having stayed awhile . The senselesse man knowes not what joy hee loseth , when he fondly lasheth into new offences . While the Conscience is unspotted it can make us smile even on the Rack , and in Flames ; but that once wounded , our joyes are buried at once , and wee throw a jewell from us which is richer than the worlds wealth : happy is he that desires to die unexperienced in the sweets of such sin he knowes not .

HE is not worthy of thanks that professeth kindnesse for his owne ends : hee that loves me for my gift sake , loves my gift above my selfe ; and if I should happen to light on Adversity , I should not finde him then to appeare , there being no hope of a gainefull requitall : friendship won by large gifts resembles a straw fire , that having matter to feede upon burnes brightly , but let new fuell be neglected , it dies , consumes , and quite goes out .

A Good life is a Fortresse against shame , and a good mans shame is his benefit ; the one keepes it away , the other when it comes makes it prove profitable : for nothing more saddens the soule of a good man , than the serious apprehension of a just shame : and by how much his honesty was more noted , by so much will his shame and griefe bee more ; because all will now bee ready to brand him with the odious and stygmaticall name of an hypocrite . Wee should first strive to be voyd of the act may bring shame , and next not to cast it in the dish of the penitent . If our sufferings bee unjust , wee shall bee sure in the end to finde them comfortable .

BEtweene friends it cannot be but discurtesies will appeare , though not intended by a willing act , yet so taken by a wrong suspect , which smothered in silence increase daily to a greater distaste , but once revealed in a friendly manner , oft meet with that satisfaction which doth in the disclosure banish them : There is not any thing eates out friendship sooner than concealed grudges : Conceits of unkindnesse harboured and beleeved , will worke even a steady love to hatred . If a private thought of unkindnesse arise betweene my friend and my selfe , I presently tell it , and be reconciled : If he be cleare , I shall like him the better when I see his integrity : if faulty , confession gaines my pardon , and bindes me still to love him . Fire almost quencht , and laid abroad , dies presently ; put together , it will burne the better : a little shaking helps the trees growth ; every such breach as this may unite affection faster .

HOnour and high place upon earth can confer nothing unto us that may make our life more truly happy : if it add to our joys , it increaseth our feares : if it augment our pleasure , our trouble and care is the more : great persons are like flags in the tops of Shipmasts , as more high and more visible , so more and ever open to the winde and stormes . What a snare hath wealth proved to many ? that like the Sun , have in the morning of their time mounted themselves to the highest pitch of perspicuity and brightnesse ; which when they have once attained , they decline , fall , vanish , and are gone , leaving nothing behinde them but darke night , black reputation . The Theefe that meets with a full purse , takes away it , and returns a stab ; whilest the empty pocket makes the life secure . Hee is not a compleat Christian that cannot be content with what be enjoyes : we should rather settle our mindes to a quiet rest in that we finde , than let her wander in a wearied solicitude after ungotten plenty : we should ever esteeme that estate best which God gives us : though we cannot thinke so , yet doubtlesse it is so , and to thinke against knowledge is a foolish suspition .

AS Providence is the mother of happinesse , so Negligence is the parent of misery : No vice so soone steales on us as the abuse of things in themselves : It is good the Vine should flourish , but let it alone , and it ruines it selfe in superfluous branches . Our pleasures are sometimes the inlivenings of a drooping soule , but they easily steale away our mindes , making us with a mad affection dote upon them to our destruction : We should ever be most circumspect in things veiled either with goodnesse or sweetnesse : for nothing steales more soules from God , than lewd courses that are outwardly glorious .

THe formall amity of the world is confined to a face , or to the possibility of a recompence , languishing in disability , and dying in the decease of the party affected : It is true love , that , over-living the person of a friend , will be inherited of his seed : but to love the posterity of an enemy , in a friend is the miracle of friendship : That love was ever false , that is not ever constant , and the most operative , when it cannot be either knowne or requited .

WE should not nourish the same spirits in our adverse estates , that we found in our highest prosperity : what use have wee made of Gods hand , if we be not the lower in our fall ? Gods intent is , we should carry our Crosse , not make a fire of it to warme us by : It is no bearing up of sailes in a Tempest , nor is there a more certaine way to glory and advancement , than a lowly dejection of our selves under Gods chastisements .

IT is one of the mad Principles of wickednesse , That it is weaknesse to relent , and rather to die than yeeld : even ill Causes , once undertaken , must be upheld , although with blood : whereas the gracious heart , finding its owne mistaking , doth not only remit of an ungrounded displeasure , but studies to bee revenged on it selfe , and to give satisfaction to the offended .

THere can be no fitter invitation to temptation , than the down-bed of idlenesse : the industrious man hath no leisure to sin ; the idle hath neither leisure nor power to avoid sin . Exercise is not more wholsome for the body , than for the soule , the omission whereof breeds matter of disease in both : the water that hath been heated , soonest freezeth ; and the most active spirit soonest tyreth with slacking : The earth stands still and is all dregs ; the heavens ever move and are pure . Wee have no reason to complaine of the assiduity of worke ; the toile of action is answered by the benefit : if we did lesse we should suffer more . Satan , like an idle companion , if he findes us busie flies back , and sees it no time to entertaine vaine purposes with us : We cannot please him better , than by casting away of our worke to hold chat with him ; we can not yeeld so far & be guiltless .

THere can bee no safety with that soule , where the senses are let loose ; hee can never keepe his covenant with God , that makes not a covenant with his eyes . It is an idle presumption to thinke the outward man may be free , while the inward is safe : he is more than a man , whose heart is not led by his eyes : he is no regenerate man whose eyes are not restrained by his heart .

THe griefe that goes before an evill , for remedy , can hardly be too much ; but that which followes an evill past remedy , can never be too little : Even in the saddest accident , Death , we may yeeld something to Nature , nothing to impatience . Immoderation of sorow for losses past hope of recovery , is more sullen than usefull : our stomack may be bewrayed by it , not our wisdome .

THere is no enmity so dangerous as that which comes masqued with love : open hostility calls us to our guard , but there is no fence against a trusted treachery . Wee need not bee bidden to avoid an enemy , but who would run away from his friend ? Thus spiritually deales the world with our soules , it kisses us , and stabs us at once : if it did not embrace us with one hand , it could not murther us with the other . Only God deliver us from the danger of this trust , and wee shall be safe .

WIcked Politiques care not so much for the commission of villany , as for the notice : Smothered evills are as not done : If oppressions , murther , or treasons may bee hid from view , the obdurate-hearted offender complaines not of remorse : So vast are the gorges of some Consciences , that they can swallow the greatest crimes , and finde no straine in the passage .

THe perfections of speculation argue not alwaies the inward powers of self-government : the eye may bee cleare , whilest the hand is palsied : it is not so much to bee heeded how the soule is informed , as how she is disciplined : the lighted of knowledge doth well , but the order of the affections doth better : there can bee no safety upon that soule where there is no strait curb upon the desires : if our lusts be not held under as slaves , they will rule as Tyrants : nothing can prevent the extremity of our miscarriage , but early and strong denialls of our concupiscence : A competent estate well husbanded , is better than a vast patrimony neglected .

THere is no presuming upon time , or meanes , or strength : how many have begun , and proceeded well , who yet have shamed themselves in their last stage : If God uphold us not we cannot stand , if God uphold us we cannot fall : when wee are at the strongest , it is good to be weake in our selves : and when at our weakest , strong in him in whom we can doe all things . Lord bee thou strong in our weaknesse , that our weake knees may be steady in thy strength .

THere are some whose speeches are witty , whilst their carriage is weake ; whose deeds are incongruities , whilst their words be apophthegms . It is not worth the name of wisdome that may be heard onely and not seene ; Good discourse is but the froth of wisedome , the pure and solid substance of it is in well framed actions : and knowing these things , happy are we if we do them .

AS he is a foole that hath a price in his hand to get wisedome , and wants a heart ; so is hee unthankfull that hath a heart to get wisedome , and hath no price in his hand , a price not countervailable to what he seekes , but retributory to him of whom he seekes : It is a shame to come with close hands to them which teach us the great mysteries of salvation .

EXpectation is no better than a kinde enemy to good deserts : We lose those things we over-looke : Many had been admired , if they had not been overmuch befriended by Fame , who now in our judgement are cast as much below their ranks , as they were fore-imagined above it .

EVen our very permission appropriates our ruine : wee need no more guiltinesse of any sin , than our willing toleration : Every accessary to sin is filthy , but the first authors of sin are abominable . And if the followers and abettors of evill be worthy of torment , no hell is too deep for the leaders of publique wickednesse .

GEtting and saving are not ever the waies to abundance , but sometimes giving : the mercifull God crownes our beneficence with the blessing of store : It is a good signe of a wel meant devotion , when we can abide it chargeable : as contrarily , in the affaires of God , a niggardly hand argues a cold and narrow heart .

SOmetimes God strikes in favour , but more often forbeares out of severity : the best are fittest for heaven , the earth is fittest for the worst : this is the region of sin and misery , that of immortality : It is no argument of disfavour to be taken only from a well fed life , as not of approbation to age in sin .

GOd oft winkes at weaknesses , where he sees Truth : O how pleasing a thing is sincerity , that in favour thereof the mercy of a God digests many an error . Lord let our hearts goe upright , though our feet slide , the fall cannot ( through thy grace ) be deadly , however it may shame or pain us .

WEE cannot easily put upon God a greater wrong than the alienation of our trust : earthly meanes are for use , not for confidence : we may , we must imploy them , we may not , we must not rely upon them . Policy and Religion doe as well together , as they are ill asunder ; the Dove without the Serpent is easily caught : the Serpent without the Dove stings deadly : Religion without Policy is too simple to be safe : Policy without Religion is too subtle to be good : being matched they make themselves secure , and many happy .

THere is not alwaies the greatest efficacy where is the greatest noise : God loves to make way for himselfe by terror , but he conveyes himselfe to us in sweetnesse : It is happy for us , if after the flashes and gusts of the Law , we have heard the soft voice of Evangelicall mercy : It is fit they should be first humbled by his terror , that would be made capable of his mercy ; and by both won to repentance .

NOthing is more odious to God , than a prophane neutrality in maine oppositions in Religion : To goe upright in a wrong way is a lesse eye-sore to God , than to halt betwixt right and wrong . The Spirit wisheth that the Laodiceans were either hot or cold : either Temper would bee better borne than neither , than both . In reconcileable differences nothing is more safe than indifferency , both of practise and opinion : But in cases of so necessary hostility , as betwixt God and Baal , he that is on neither side , is enemy to both : Lesse hatefull are they to God that serve him not at all , than they that serve him with a Rivall .

FOolish men are plagued for their offences , and it is no small part of their plague that they see it not . The only common disturber of Men , Families , Cities , Kingdomes , Worlds , is sin : There is no such traitor to any State as the wilfully wicked : the quietest and most plausible offender is secretly seditious , and stirreth quarrels in heaven . Our hearts are Wells of bitter and venomous Water ; our actions are the streames : In vaine shall we cleanse our hands , while our hearts are evill . If the fountaine bee redressed , the streames cannot be faulty ; as contrarily the purity and soundnesse of the streame availes nothing to the redresse of the fountaine : Reformation must beginne at the Well head of the abuse : the order of beeing is a good guide to the method of amending .

AS there are sometimes beardlesse Sages , so are there oft times gray-headed Children : not the ancient are wise , but the wise is ancient . It is vaine to looke for good of those Children wee have neglected ; and as vaine to grieve for those miscarriages in elder age , which our care might have prevented betimes . Children are such as their institution : Infancy is led altogether by imitation : it hath neither words nor actions but infused by others ; their full growth in good or ill is but borrowed , and the shame or thank is due to those that lent it . Next to being good , is the happinesse of conversing with them that are so : for if we be not bettered by their example , yet are we often blest by their protection .

THe contempt of honest callings in those which are well borne , argues pride without wit : humble resolutions are so much the more heroicall , as they fall into higher subjects . We may freely come to God , but wee may not come too neare him : when we meditate of the great mysteries of the Word , wee come to him : we come too neare him when we search into his Councels . A man may be too lowly in his dealings with men , even unto contempt : with God hee cannot , but the lower he falleth , the higher is his exaltation : And I never finde that any man bragged to God , although in a matter of truth , and within the compasse of his desert , and was accepted .

IT is a great skill to know what is enough , and great wisdome to care for no more . As in words , much talke argues a braine feeble and distempered ; so affectation of superfluity , is in all things a signe of weaknesse .

IN all humane things indifferency is safest : if our doubts be equal to our desires , our disappointment shall not be grievous , because our expectation was not peremptory .

DEceit is gracious company , for it alwaies studies to be faire and pleasant : but then like a theefe , having trained us from the road , it robs us ; where all the benefit we have left is this , that if we have time to see how wee are couzened , we may have so much happinesse as to die repenting .

SEeming wise men may make shift to get opinion , but I would wish no man to choose them for imployment : for certainly you were better to take for businesse a man somewhat absurd , than over-formall .

THere is but one way wherin a man may commend himselfe with good grace , and that is in commending vertue in another , especially if it bee such a vertue whereunto himselfe pretendeth .

HE that resteth upon gaines certaine , shall hardly grow to great riches : and hee that puts all upon adventures , doth oftentimes breake and come to poverty . It is good therefore to guard adventures with certainties , that may uphold losses . ⁂

FINIS .