WHich of us tiro are of the Ancienter House ? the Earth is our mother . This creature may plead antiquity of nature , I of sinne . My originall Polution makes this so loathsome to the sight . I am beholden to it , for ▪ bearing so patiently some part of my burthen . By nature I am as full of poyson as It. Every sinne is not onely venemous , but mortall . In my corrupted nature , I doe appeare in the Eyes of God as ugly as this deformed beast . It would perhaps be better if it could ; I may bee , if I will . This creatures deformity comes from mee ; mine from my selfe and Satan . How am I beholden to that God , that did not , though hee iustly might have made me so . How am I bound to praise Him , who to make mee comely , le ts the whole creature suffer under vanity . Rom. 8.

IS it not pity such a Ros● should have such a Canker ? so faire a face such a Blemish ? But what Saint is priviledged with the state ●f Perfection here ? This ●●ll ( as it proved ) was but for is surer standing , better ●eed taking . The greatest ●●enesit ( I see ) that God ●nds to recover Him , is a ●od Sermon preacht , and Well ●pplyed by a Worthy and well ●arned Prophet . send ( O God ) such alwayes ( upon ●eed ) in the Courts of earth●y Princes . They deserue there ●laces with reverence , with ●espect . No Member of Christ can expect a Freedome from tentation ▪ Our head ●ad his trialls , and those ●harpe ones too , by that wick●d One. the fairest Sunne sometimes meetes with Cloudes . So the purest lights of the Church want 〈◊〉 their blemishes ( O God● let not me so much 〈◊〉 that he fell , as reioyce 〈◊〉 he did in time recover . 〈◊〉 me looke well to my self For I may be sure , that if S●tan durst invade such a religious Crowne . He will not 〈◊〉 the weaker subiect . The be● course to keepe out Satan to avoyd idlenesse .

WHat ? but two ●●thr●n in a who● World ? and they together 〈◊〉 the eares . What 's the ●uarrell ? for wealth ? or ho●●o● ? the one was not knowne , ●he other not affected . Was 〈◊〉 religion ? this would have ●aught Cain love , not revenge . This was an early persecution , ●he divell began Warr be●imes ; goodnesse can no soo●●er be begun , but it shall ●●eete with opposition . We must not loose our religion , though we bleed for it by our 〈◊〉 brethren ; All in a family 〈◊〉 not the children of the 〈◊〉 father , Grace is not tyed 〈◊〉 the first-borne . God may ●hoose the youngest , leave the ●ldest . Cain scornes to hate ●nder blood-shedding . The divell is a murtherer from the beginning . Brethrens divisions especially in matters of Religion are hardly reconciled , But though this one dyes , God knowes how to bring up another , goodnes shall be sure of Enemies but it cannot be utterly rooted out . Abell hath had abundance of brethren , Cai● did not so much kill Abeas himselfe . It is a true Maxime that Sanguis m●●rti●rum semen Ecclesiae . S. 〈◊〉 shall conclude it in thi● saying . That he that 〈◊〉 borne after the flesh persec●●ted him that was borne afte● the Spirit .

SEe what may fall out by the way . I doe verily suppose when these two began there journey , they little thought to have had such a good Companion to have gone along with them . But God takes his advantagious opportunities . There discourse is politicall , yet fearefull ; commendable from the subiect , they talkt on ; relishing of distrust , from the party they spoke too . It s not safe opening the Closet of our hearts to every Traveller , wee may lend our eares and our tongues to many whom wee will not trust with our hearts . ( O God ) I doe entreat thee in all places let my words be such as relish of sanctification . In the high way upon my journeying ; as well as at other times , good society makes tedious things seeme pleasant , and is a Whetstone to give an edge to a doubting soule . Thou dost ( O Saviour ) allow us wisedome with the Serpent , as well as innocence with the Dove : we may safely discourse of thee , but we must not deny thee : our policy must not exclude our faith . I doe intreate thee to take that advantage of every one that doubts of that high point of thy resurrection , or his owne , as to catch him and confirme his wavering heart in that point of faith . Lodge thou Oh Saviour in my soule , so I shall know thee truly , and raig● with thee eternally .

THe malice of this Crea●ture is great , but it 〈◊〉 wisely limited . His poner , and his will are not proportionable ; though being chain●● he cannot bite with his teeth yet his barking showes what he would doe at liberty . Admirable is that divine Powe● of God limitting , permitting that great Dogge of Hell● when he persecutes by bonds imprisonment , and captivity ▪ then he bites sore : when he slanders , reviles , and envies , then hee sn●rles , and barkes onely . If God should not permit this Curre , few would feare his justice : if he should not limit him , many would question his mercy . It shall be my comfort to know that my greatest Enemy is at my Fathers disposing : if I bee barked at , or sorely bitten , I know it is his malice , and Gods permissive Will , I will not feare him , though I will endeavour to shun him . Sennacherib was a whelpe of this litter , let loose , but sodainely puld In againe ; he may bee to warne me , not to worry me : He shall speed never the better though God 〈◊〉 him . I doe not much griev● that there is such a Dogg nor doe I much feare hi● breaking loose , being s● strongly chaind by such a wise master . My prayer to God shall be , to tie him up shorter , and I could wish h● were alwaies musled , but Gods will be done .

SEe the power of Law and justice transgressed ! That Party broke his ●bond , wants Bayle , and is fallen into the pawes of a mercilesse Creditor . What can bee expected but a full satisfaction , or else a Perpetuall imprisonment . It was no otherwise ( O God ) with thy Law and thy Iusti●● by all transgressed , we bro●● our Bonds , and our Covenants , and so fell into th● danger of that great jayler Satan did plead for a writ● and an execution at th● Barre of thy Iustice , and being seald turn'd Serieant and arrested us . Wee all wanted sufficient Bayle , and were not able to give Satisfaction . This grand executioner seizd upon all . But ( Oh Eternall Saviour ) we are for ever bound to love thee who of thine own● mercy and free love diddes● rescue us from our Creditors hands , by thy merits paiedst the Debt and set us wholy free , how Carefull ●ught we to be to shunne 〈◊〉 sinnes , which make us ●ll such desperate Debtors . Oh let mee ever bee paying ●hee with thankes , who to ●et me free didst willingly ●oe to Prison thy selfe .

I Doe not a little wonder at this Common-wealth of Flies . Every one by his proper diligence in particu●ar , aduances the riches of the state in generall . There are 4. things remarkeable 〈◊〉 this little busie-body . 1. The make no strangers Deniz i● 2. They bring home store 〈◊〉 wealth but transport littl● 3. They harbour no sluggis● droanes . 4. They goe fort● well furnished with wing , an● sting , for defence , or offence . A good patterne for Nation and societies of men , happy Republiques where store o● wealth flowes in , but littl● goes out : where All are kep● from idlenes , and are well imployed , and where ships go● forth like Bees , that can up on all lawfull occasions , eythe● fly , or fight , well stored with Ammunition . It 's no otherwise with the soule of a faithfull Christian. It must not ●●mit of strange Gods , or ●range worship . It must fetch 〈◊〉 grace by spirituall labour and diligence . It must hate ●dlenes as the ruine of it's wel●●are , and when it goes out in ●er spirituall warr , must ●e furnished with the whole Armour of God . I doe ●eseech thee ( O Go● ) to ●ake me a subiect of this na●ure , and a Bee in this Hive .

I See not this mourning Seruiteur attend my corps in a Cloudy day , nor in darke night , Nor when I 〈◊〉 still in a close study . It 〈◊〉 onely my attendant in th● Sun-shine , or in the Moon-light , or else in such plac● as are capacious of bo● these Celestiall Candles . 〈◊〉 plainely see that flatte● most followes a prosper● state . Parasites hide th●e● heads in dangerous occa●●ons . A reserued life v●●tuously imployed admits 〈◊〉 such Hang-byes . Men who lives , and actions are public and courteous , are pester most with such vermine , th● doe me this fauour , that th● make the world beleeve th● I am a substance , or else ha● ●t . And this is the state of ●he soule . What is the world ? ●he ●lesh ? Wealth ? Honour ? ●ut mee●e shadowes , which ●n perilous times eyther appeare not , or to no good purpose . He shall bee my friend that will bee my ●ompanion in a storme . Prosperity gets followers , but Adversity makes the true distinction of them . There ●s no trust in such Reeds ; ●or he sung truely .

THis heavenly Candle is comfortable For his light and heat , admirable for his beauty and motion ; necessary to all the inhabitants 〈◊〉 the world . He is wisely , and ●orthily placed , and he keepes his station , and honourably performes the will of his Master , he moves not ob●iquely , but directly in his course . It is a great blessing when good men are advanced to preferment . When Moses , and Aaron-rule the ship of the Church , and Common-wealth , it then goes safely , stands firme , and feares not winds , or waves . What respect , and reverence ought the Magistrates of the Church , and Common-wealth to have of Inferiors . Such glorious lights ought to be much and highly honoured ; Our ●afety and wel-being comes from them , These keepe all the Heavens in an order , and comely motion . It is a manifest symptome of a diseased Commonwealth , when these are not esteemed : These are the eye and heart of the body politique . All inferiour members receive comfort from their wisedome . Learne me ( Oh God ) a quiet subordination and a conscionable submission to these worthy lights . I see the Sunne gives heat to all . Gods blessings are not to be impropriat . He that gives to others shall not have the lesse virtue in Himselfe . It is usuall for one Candle to light up another . Bonum quò commu●ius , eò meli● ▪

I Cannot but thinke o● that saying of St. Paul● The creature doth groane under the bondage of corruption . How meekly , and patiently It submits to the Knife . At sight of this , I may say , Ec●e Agnus Dei , who so quietly suffered all the iniuries offered him , & as a sheepe before the shearer , so opened he not his mouth : His adversaries were not so violent , and eager in their thirsting for his life , as hee was ready , and willing to lay it downe , and whereas they thought to conquer him by malice , hee did conquer them by meeknes , and mercy . How different was thy desire from theirs , Thou ( O Saviour ) camest to give them all eternall life , and they hunted with bloody wils to take away life from thee . I see also the lot & share of all thy holy ones , They are Tanquam oves , and Agnelli . They are but counted as sheepe for the slaughter : Oh Butcherly and bloody world ! will not the blood of that One satisfie thy madnesse ? must thou needs swim in the blood of his poore members also ? persecution even to death is the portion of Gods children . The head hath suffered , and 〈◊〉 must all looke to follow : all that will live godly in Iesus Christ must suffer persecution : ( Oh God ) learne mee courage , and chearefulnes in all tryals , for thy name sake , for I know this , if I suffer with thee here , I shall reioyce with thee here●fter .

THis defends our persons , 〈◊〉 and offends our Enemies , use makes it bright . Vp●● some occasions the scabbe● is either the best , or worst pla●● for it ; It 's terrible in 〈◊〉 hand of an expert Warriou● Many should use it , who 〈◊〉 for feare , or favour , or both , 〈◊〉 it rust . Three sorts of 〈◊〉 ought to use it discreetly , 〈◊〉 publique Magistrate , the S●●dier , and the Traveller . It ●●so showes mee the nature● that spirituall word of tru●● which is the safest Buck●● and sheild for our soules , 〈◊〉 bodies , in all conflicts 〈◊〉 combats , destroyes all 〈◊〉 power , and Armadoes of th● Prince of darknesse ; the ●●ner it is used , the more exc●●lent it is . The mouth of diligent Prophet showes the Energie of it . They doe ill ●hat debarre the use of this weapon to Gods people . It 's ●ll when 40000. Israelites can scarce have it , or use it rightly , but it 's worse when the Magistrate will not , and when the Prophet cannot handle it .

Lend me courage ( Oh my Saviour ) in my calling and this weapon . So I need not feare the malice , or multitude , faces , nor forces of those presumptuous Philistins . Teach thou my Hands to Warr , and my Fingers to fight , then I need not question the conquest . If I perish , it 's mine owne weakenesse and cowardize , not the insu●●ficiency of the Instrument's

IT 's not Every mans happines to enjoy such a blessing without fruit , how well is it with him that hath good administred to him in such plentifull , and rare Models . I am perswaded that her hus●band feares God : For she is promised a portion onely to men of that qualification . Hee need not feare his Enemies , because his Quiver is full of these Arrowes . It 's well when goodnesse multiplies , such Seed cannot bee sowen too soone , nor spring up too fast . Sterility is fittest when the wombe is not holy . God threatens to give dry breasts , and barren wombs as a curse to sinfull , and disobedient Husbands .

Thy Church ( O Saviour ) is as this virtuous Matron well stored with Daughters , and Olive branches to adorne the Courts of that new Hierusalem , in her Husbands Absence how she mournes , how lovingly and patiently she desires , expects , and prayes for his comming , how prudently shee governes her family ? and how carefully doth shee provide for there diet , and sustenance ? And just so it is with thy Syon , Thy long absence makes her seeme as a Widow , and how earnestly , and often hath , and doth she pray for thy second comming ; and I as one of her youngest sonnes doe cry and pray to see my Fathers presence . Come Lord Iesus , come quickly .

TEach us ( Oh Lord ) so to Number our daies , ●hat we may apply our harts ●nto wisedome , for so soone ●asse we away , and are gone , All flesh ( I see ) is Grasse , ●nd all the beauty of it is as ●he flower of the feild , Thou ●Oh God ) hast determined ●he number of our dayes which we cannot passe . See what followes the seperation of the soule , and body . As long as this Tabernacle lodged the soule , It was sensible , active , could heare , see , speak , or move , now that guest is driven forth by the Maker , there is nothing in it , but breeds loathsomnesse .

I plainely see that all confidence in man is vaine , and deceitfull , we must all dy● for sinne , but keepe me from dying in sinne , since I mus● dye , let me end in grace , no● in nature . I descry the nat●●rall mans unfitnes for an● spirituall exercise , what 〈◊〉 he performe without Christ And as the body is dea● without the soule , so both soule and body without grace , Oh let me alwaies be as a dead man unto sinne , so this death shall end in life , and this dissolution shall be the onely meanes to have both happily , and gloriously united .