Meditations and vowes, diuine and morall: a third century. By Ioseph Hall.

MEDITATIONS and Vowes .

GOod men are placed by God , as so many stars in this lower firmament of the world . As they must imitate those heauenly bodies , in their light and influence ; so also in their motion : and therefore , as the Planets haue a course proper to themselues , against the sway of the heauen that carries them about ; so must each good man haue a motion out of his own iudgement , contrary to the customs and opinions of the vulgar ; finishing his own course with the least shewe of resistance . I will neuer affect singularitie , except it bee among those that are vicious . It is better to doe , or thinke well alone , then to followe a multitude in euill .

What strange variety of actions doth the eye of GOD see at once round about the compasse of the earth , and within it . Some building houses ; some deluing for mettals ; some marching in troups , or encamping one against another ; some bargaining in the market ; some trauelling on their way ; some praying in their closets ; others quaffing at the Tauerne ; some rowing in the Galleys , others dallying in their chambers ; & in short , as many different actions as persons : yet all haue one common intention of good to themselues , true in some , but in the most , imaginary . The glorified Spirits haue but one vniforme work , wherein they all ioyne ; the praise of their Creator . This is one difference betwixt the Saints aboue , and below ; They aboue are free both from businesses and distraction : these below , are free ( though not absolutely ) from distraction , not at all from businesse . Paul could thinke of his cloke that he left at Troas ; and of the shaping of his skinnes for his tents : yet , through these he look 't still at heauen . This world is made for businesse : my actions must vary according to occasions : my end shall bee but one , and the same now on earth , that it must bee one day in heauen .

To see how the Martyrs of God died , and the life of their persecuters , would make a man out of loue with life , and out of al feare of death . They were flesh and blood , as well as wee ; life was as sweete to them , as to vs ; their bodies were as sensible of paine as ours ; we goe to the same heauen with them . How comes it then , that they were so couragious in abiding such torments in their death , as the very mention strikes horror into any reader ; and we are so cowardly in encountring a faire and natural death ? If this valour had beene of themselues , I would neuer haue looked after them in hope of imitation . Now , I know it was he for whom they suffered , & that suffred in thē , which sustained them : They were of themselues as weak as I ; and God can be as strong im me , as he was in thē . O Lord thou art not more vnable to giue me this grace ; but I am more vnworthy to receiue it : and yet thou regardest not worthines , but mercie . Giue mee their stength , and what end thou wilt .

Our first age is all in hope : When we are in the womb , who knows whether we shall haue our right shape & proportion of body , being neither monstrous nor deformed ? When we are born , who knowes whether with the due features of a man , we shall haue the faculties of reason and vnderstanding ? when yet our progresse in yeeres discouereth wit or folly ; who knowes , whether with the power of reason wee shall haue the grace of faith to be christians ? and when wee begin to professe well , whether it be a temporary , and seeming , or a true & sauing faith ? Our middle age is halfe in hope for the future , and halfe in proofe for that is past : Our olde age is out of hope , and altogether in proofe . In our last times therefore wee knowe , both what wee haue been , and what to expect . It is good for youth to looke forward , and still to propound the best things vnto it selfe ; for an old man to looke backward , and to repent him of that wherein hee hath fayled , and to recollect himselfe for the present : But in my middle age , I will looke both backward and forward ; comparing my hopes with my proofe ; redeeming the time ere it bee all spent , that my recouery may preuent my repentance . It is both a folly & misery to say , This I might haue done .

It is the wonderfull mercie of God , both to forgiue vs our debts to him in our sinnes , and to make himselfe a debter to vs in his promises : So that now both wayes the soule may be sure ; since hee neither calleth for those debts which hee hath once forgiuen ; nor withdraweth those fauours , and that heauen which he hath promised : But as hee is a mercifull creditor to forgiue , so is hee a true debter to pay whatsoeuer he hath vndertaken : whence it is come to passe , that the penitent sinner owes nothing to God but loue and obedience ; and God owes still much and all to him : for hee owes as much as hee hath promised ; and what hee owes by vertue of his blessed promise , we may challenge . O infinite mercie ! Hee that lent vs all that wee haue , and in whose debt-bookes we run hourely forward till the summe be endlesse ; yet owes vs more , and bids vs looke for paiment . I cannot deserue the least fauour he can giue ; yet I will as confidently challenge the greatest , as if I deserued it : Promise indebteth no lesse then loane or desert .

It is no small commendation to manage a little well : He is a good Waggoner , that can turn in a narrow roome . To liue well in abundance , is the praise of the estate , not of the person . I wil studie more how to giue a good account of my little , then how to make it more .

Many Christians doe greatly wrong themselues with a dull and heauy kind of sullennesse ; who , not suffering themselues to delight in any worldly thing , are thereupon oft times so hartlesse , that they delight in nothing : These men , like to carelesse guests , when they are inuited to an excellent banquet , lose their dainties , for want of a stomacke ; and lose their stomacke for want of exercise A good conscience keepes alwayes good cheere , he cannot chuse but fare well that hath it , vnlesse hee lose his appetite with neglect and slouthfulnesse . It is a shame for vs Christians not to finde as much ioy in God , as worldlings doe in their forced merriments ; and lewde wretches in the practise of their sinnes .

A wise Christian hath no enemies . Many hate and wrong him : but hee loues all men , & all pleasure him . Those that professe loue to him , pleasure him with the comfort of their society , and the mutuall reflection of friendship ; those that professe hatred , make him more warie of his wayes ; shew him faults in himselfe , which his friends would either not haue espied , or not censured ; send him the more willingly to seeke fauour aboue : And as the worst doe bestead him , thogh against their willes ; so he againe doth voluntary good to them . To doe euill for euill , as Ioab to Abner , is a sinfull weakenesse : To doe good for good , as Ahasuerus to Mordecai , is but natural iustice : To doe euill for good , as Iudas to Christ , is vnthankfulnesse and villany : Only to doe good for euill , agrees with Christian profession . And what greater worke of friendship then to doe good ? If men will not bee my friends in loue , I wil perforce make them my friendes in a good vse of their hatred . I will bee their friend , that are mine , and would not be .

All temporall things are troublesome : For if we haue good things , it is a trouble to forgoe them ; and when we see they must be parted from , either we wish they had not been so good , or that wee neuer had enioyed thē . Yea , it is more trouble to lose them , than it was before ioy to possesse them . If contrarily , wee haue euill things , their very presence is troublesome ; and still we wish that they were good , or that we were disburdened of them : So good things are troublesome in euent , euill things in their vse . They in the future , these in present : they , because they shall come to an end , these because they doe continue . Tell mee , thy wife , or thy childe lyes dying , and nowe makes vp a louing and dutifull life , with a kinde and heauenly parture ; whether hadst thou rather , for thy owne part , she had been so good , or worse ? would it haue cost thee so many heartie sighes and teares , if shee had beene peruerse and disobedient ? Yet , if in her life time I put thee to this choyce , thou thinkest it no choyce at all , in such inequalitie . It is more torment ( sayest thou ) to liue one vnquiet moneth , then it is pleasure to liue an age in loue . Or if thy life be yet dearer : Thou hast liued to graye hayres , not hastened with cares , but bredde with late succession of yeeres . Thy table was euer couered with varietie of dishes : Thy backe softly and richly clad . Thou neuer gauest denyall to either skinne or stomacke ; Thou euer fauouredst thy selfe , and health , thee . Now death is at thy threshold , and vnpartially knocks at thy doore , doest thou not wish thou hadst liued with crusts , and beene clothed with ragges ? Wouldest thou not haue giuen a better welcome to death , if he had found thee , lying vpon a pallet of straw , and supping of water gruell ; after many painfull nights , and many sides changed in vain ? Yet this beggerly estate thou detestest in health , and pitiest in others as truely miserable : The summe is ; A begger wisheth he might be a Monarch while he liues ; and the great Potentate wisheth he had liued a begger , when hee comes to die ; & , if beggery be to haue nothing , he shall be so in death , though he wished it not . Nothing , therefore , but eternitie can make a man truely happy ; as nothing can make perfect misery but eternitie : for as temporall good things afflict vs in their ending , so temporall sorrowes afford vs ioy in the hope of their ende : What folly is this in vs to seeke for our trouble , to neglect our happinesse ? I can be but well ; and this that I was well , shall one day bee grieuous : Nothing shall please me , but that once I shall bee happie foreuer .

The eldest of our forefathers liued not so much as a day to God ; to whome a thousand yeeres is as no more ; we liue but as an houre to the day of our forefathers ; for if nine hundreth and sixty were but their day , our fourescore is but as the twelfth part of it : and yet of this our houre we liue scarce a minute to God : For , take away all that time that is consumed in sleeping , dressing , feeding , talking , sporting ; of that little time there can remaine not much more than nothing : yet the most seeke pas-times to hasten it : Those which seeke to mend the pase of Time , spurre a running horse . I had more neede to redeeme it with double care and labor , then to seeke how to sell it for nothing .

Each day is a new life , and an abbridgement of the whole . I will so liue as if I accounted euery day my first , and my last : as if I began to liue but then , and should liue no more afterwards .

It was not in vaine , that the ancient founders of languages vsed the same word in many tongues , to signifie both Honor and charge ; meaning therein to teach vs the inseparable connexion of these two . For there scarce euer was any charge without some opinion of honour : neither euer was there honour without a charge ; which two , as they are not without reason ioyned together in name by humane institution , so they are most wisely coupled together by God in the disposition of these worldly estates : Charge without honor , to make it amends , would be too toylesome , and must needes discourage and ouerlay a man . Honour without charge would bee too pleasant , and therfore both would bee too much sought after , and must needes carie away the mind in the enioying it . Now many dare not bee ambitious , because of the burden ; chusing rather to liue obscurely & securely : And yet on the other side those that are vnder it , are refreshed in the charge with the sweetenesse of honour : seeing they cannot bee separated ; it is not the worst estate to want both : They whome thou enuyest for honour , perhaps enuy thee more for thy quietnesse .

Hee that taketh his owne cares vpon himselfe , loades himselfe in vaine with an vneasie burden . The feare of what may come , expectation of what will come , desire of what will not come , and inability of redressing all these , must needes breede him continuall torment . I will cast my cares vpon GOD , hee hath bidden mee ; they cannot hurt him ; he can redresse them .

Our infancie is full of folly ; youth , of disorder and toyle ; age , of infirmity : Each time hath his burden , and that which may iustly worke our wearinesse : yet infancie longeth after youth ; and youth , after more age ; and hee that is very old , as he is a child for simplicitie , so he would be for yeeres . I account olde age the best of three ; partly , for that it hath passed thorow the folly and disorder of the other ; partly , for that the inconueniences of this are but bodily , with a bettered estate of the minde ; and partly , for that it is neerest to dissolution . There is nothing more miserable then an old man that would bee yong againe . It was an answere worthy the commendations , of Petrarch , and that which argued a minde truely philosophicall of him , who when his friend bemoned his age appearing in his white temples , telling him he was sorry to see him looke so olde , replyed : Nay , be sory rather that euer I was yong to be a foole .

There is not the least action or euent ( whateuer the vaine Epicures haue imagined ) which is not ouer-ruled , and disposed by a prouidence , which is so far from detracting ought from the maiestie of God , for that the things are small , as that ther can be no greater honor to him then to extend his prouidence & decree to them because they are infinite : Neither doth this hold in natural things onely , which are chained one to another by a regular order of succession ; but euen in those things which fall out by casualty & imprudence : whence that worthy father , when as his speach digressed beside his intention to a confutation of the errors of the Manichees , could presently gesse , that in that vnpurposed turning of it , God intended the conuersion of some vnknown auditor ; as the euent proued his coniecture true ere many daies ; when ought fals out contrary to that I purposed , it shall content me , that GOD purposed it as it is fallen out : So the thing hath attained his owne ende , whiles it missed mine . I know what I would , but GOD knoweth what I should will . It is enough that his will is done , though mine be crossed .

It is the most thankelesse office in the world , to be a mans Pandar vnto sin . In other wrongs , one man is a wolf to another ; but in this , a diuel . And , though at the first this damnable seruice cary away reward , yet in conclusion , it is requited with hatred and curses . For , as the sicke man extreamly distasted with a loathsome potion , hateth the very cruze wherin it was brought him ; so doeth the conscience once soundly detesting sinne , loathe the meanes that induced him to commit it . Contrarily , who withstands a man in his prosecution of a sinne , while he doteth vpon it , beares away frownes , and hart-burnings for a time : but when the offending partie comes to himselfe , and right reason , hee recompenseth his former dislike with so much more loue , and so many more thankes . The franticke man returned to his wits , thinks him his best friend , that bound him , & beate him most . I will doe my best to crosse any man in his sinnes : If I haue not thankes of him ; yet of my conscience I shall .

God must be magnified in his very iudgements : Hee lookes for praise , not onely for heauen , but for hell also : His iustice is himselfe , as well as his mercie . As heauen then is for the praise of his mercie ; so hell for the glory of his iustice . We must therefore bee so affected to iudgements as the author of them is , who delighteth not in blood as it makes his creature miserable , but as it makes his iustice glorious . Euery true Christian then must learne to sing that compound dittie of the Psalmist : Of mercie and iudgment . It shal not only ioy mee to see God gratious and bountifull in his mercies , & deliuerances of his owne ; but also to see him terrible in vengeance to his enemies . It is no cruelty to reioyce in iustice . The foolish mercie of men is cruelty to God .

Rarenesse causeth wonder ; and more then that , incredulitie , in those things which in themselues are not more admirable , than the ordinary proceedings of nature If a blazing starre be seene in the skie , euery man goes forth to gaze , and spendes euery euening , some time in wondering at the beames of it . That any foule should bee bred of corrupted wood resolued into wormes , or that the Cameleon should euer change his colours , and liue by ayre ; that the Ostrich should digest yron ; that the Phoenix should burne her selfe to ashes , and from thence breed a successor ; wee wonder , and can scarce credite : Other things more vsuall , no lesse miraculous , wee knowe , and neglect . That there should bee a birde that knoweth , and noteth the houres of day and night , as certainely as any Astronomer by the course of heauen ; if we knowe not , who would beleeue ? Or that the load-stone should by his secret vertue so drawe iron to it selfe , as that a whole chaine of needles should all hang by insensible points at ech other , onely by the influence that it sends down from the first , if it were not ordinarie , would seeme incredible ; who would beleeue when hee sees a foule mounted as hie as his sight can descrie it , that there were an engin to be framed , which could fetch it downe into his fist ? Yea , to omit infinite examples , that a little despised creature should weaue nets out of her owne entrailes , and in her platformes of building should obserue as iust proportions as the best Geometrician , we would suspect for an vntrueth , if we saw it not dayly practised in our owne windowes . If the Sun shuld arise but once to the earth , I doubt euery man would be a Persian , and fall downe and worship it : whereas now it riseth and declineth without regard . Extraordinary euents ech man can wonder at : The frequence of Gods best workes causeth neglect ; not that they are euer the worse for commonnesse ; but because we are soon cloyed with the same conceit , and haue contempt bred in vs through familiarity . I wil learne to note Gods power and wisedome , and to giue him praise of both in his ordinary works : so those things which are but triuiall to the most ignorant , shall be wonders to me ; and that not for nine dayes , but for euer .

Those that affect to tell nouelties and wonders fal into many absurdities , both in busie enquirie after matters impertinent , and in a light credulitie , to what-euer they heare ; and in fictions of their owne , and additions of circumstances to make their reports the more admired . I haue noted these men , not so much wondred at for their strange stories , while they are telling , as derided afterwards , when the euent hath wrought their disproofe & shame . I will deale with rumors , as graue men doe by strange fashions , take them vp when they are growen into common vse before ; I may beleeue , but I wil not relate them but vnder the name of my author ; who shall either warrant me with defence , if it be true ; or if false , beare my shame .

It was a wittie and true speach of that obscure Heraclitus , that all men awaking are in one common worlde , but when we sleep , ech man goes into a seueral world by himself ; which thogh it bee but a world of fancies , yet is the true image of that little worlde , which is in euery mans heart . For the imaginations of our sleepe , shewe vs what our dispositon is awaking . And as many in their dreams reueale those their secrets to others , which they would neuer haue done awake : so all may and doe disclose to themselues in their sleep those secret inclinations , which after much searching , they could not haue found out waking . I doubt not therefore , but as God heretofore hath taught future things in dreames ( which kind of reuelation is now ceased ) so still hee teacheth the present estate of the heart this way . Some dreames are from our selues , vaine and idle like our selues : Others are diuine , which teach vs good , or mooue vs to good ; & others diuelish , which solicite vs to euil . Such answere commonly shal I giue to any temptation in the day as I doe by night . I will not lightly passe ouer my verie dreams : They shal teach me somewhat ; so neither night nor day shal be spent vnprofitably ; the night shal teach me what I am ; the day what I should be .

Men make difference betwixt seruants friends , and sonnes : Seruants , though neer vs in place , yet for their inferioritie , are not familiar . Friends , though by reason of their equalitie , and our loue , they are familiar ; yet still wee conceiue of them as others from our selues : But children wee thinke of , affectionately , as the diuided peeces of our owne bodies : But all these are one to God ; his seruants are his friends , his friends are his sonnes ; his sonnes , his seruants . Manie clayme kinred of GOD , and professe friendship to him ( because these are priuiledges without difficultie , and not without honor ) all the triall is in seruice . The other are most in affection , and therefore secret , and so may be dissembled ; this consisting in action must needs shew it selfe to the eyes of others . Ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoeuer I commaund you : friendship with God is in seruice , and this seruice is in action . Many weare Gods cloth , that knowe not their Master , that neuer did good chare in his seruice : so that God hath many retainers that weare his Liuery , for a countenance , neuer waite on him ; whom he will neuer owne for seruants either by fauour , or wages ; few seruants , and therfore few sonnes . It is great fauour in God , and great honour to me , that he will vouchsafe to make mee the lowest drudge in his familie ; which place if I had not , and were a Monarch of men , I were accursed . I desire no more but to serue ; yet , Lord , thou giuest mee more , to bee thy sonne : I heare Dauid say , Seemeth it a small matter to you , to bee the sonne in lawe to a King ? What is it then , oh what is it , to be the true adopted sonne of the King of glory ? Let mee not now say as Dauid of Saul , but as Sauls grand-childe to Dauid ; Oh , what is thy seruant , that thou shouldest looke vpon such a dead dogge as I am ?

I am a stranger here belowe , my home is aboue ; yet I can thinke too well of these foraine vanities , and can not thinke enough of my home . Surely , that is not so farre aboue my head , as my thoughts ; neither doth so farre passe me in distance , as in comprehension : and yet I would not stand so much vpon conceiuing , if I could admire it enough : but my straight heart is filled with a little wonder ; and hath no roume for the greatest part of glorie that remaineth . Oh God what happines hast thou prepared for thy chosen ? What a purchase was this , worthy of the blood of such a Sauiour ? As yet I doe but looke towardes it afarre off : But it is easie to see by the outside how goodly it is within . Although as thine house on earth ; so that aboue hath more glorie within than can bee bewrayed by the outer appearance . The outer part of thy Tabernacle heere belowe is but an earthly and base substance ; but within it is furnished with a liuing , spirituall , and heauenly guest : so the outer heauens , though they be as gold to all other materiall creatures ; yet they are but drosse to thee : Yet how are euen the outmost walles of that house of thine beautified with glorious lightes , whereof euery one is a world forbignes , and as an heauen for goodlines : Oh teach mee by this to long after , and wonder at the inner part , before thou letst mee come in to behold it .

Riches or beauty , or what-euer worldly good that hath been , doth but grieue vs ; that which is , doth not satisfie vs ; that which shall be , is vncertaine . What follie is it to trust to any of them ?

Securitie makes worldlings merrie : and therefore are they secure , because they are ignorant . That is onely solide ioy , which ariseth from a resolution ; when the hart hath cast vp a full account of all causes of disquietnesse , and findeth the causes of his ioy more forceable : thereupon settling it selfe in a stayed course of reioycing : For the other , so soone as sorrow makes it selfe to be seene , especially in an vnexpected forme , is swallowed vp in despaire ; whereas this can meet with no occurrence , which it hath not preuented in thought : securitie & ignorance may scatter some refuse morsels of ioy , sawced with much bitternesse ; or may be like some boasting housekeeper , which keepeth open doors for one day with much cheer , & liues staruedly al the yeer after . There is no good ordinary but in a good conscience . I pitie that vnfound ioy in others , & wil seek for this sound ioy in my selfe . I had rather weepe vpon a iust cause , than reioyce vniustly .

As loue keepes the whole law , so loue onely is the breaker of it ; being the ground , as of all obedience , so of all sinne ; for whereas sinne hath been commonly accounted to haue two rootes , Loue , and Feare ; it is plaine , that feare hath his originall from loue , for no man feares to lose ought but what he loues . Here is sinne and righteousnesse brought both into a short summe , depending both vpon one poore affection : It shall be my onely care therefore to bestowe my loue well ; both for obiect , and measure . All that is good I may loue , but in seuerall degrees ; what is simply good , absolutely ; what is good by circumstance onely with limitation . There bee these three things that I may loue without exception , God , my neighbour , my soule ; yet so as each haue their due places : My body , goods , fame , &c. as seruants to the former . All other things I will either not care for , or hate .

One would not think , that pride , and base mindednesse should so well agree ; yea , that they loue so together , that they neuer goe asunder . That enuie euer proceedes from a base minde , is graunted of all : Now the proud man , as hee faine would bee enuied of others , so he enuieth all men . His betters he enuies , because hee is not so good as they : He enuies his inferiours , because hee feares they should prooue as good as he : His equals , because they are as good as hee . So vnder a big lookes , he beares a base minde , resembling some Cardinals mule , which to make vp the traine beares a costly portemantle , stuffed with trash . On the contrary , who is more proud than the basest ( The Cynicke tramples on Platoes pride , but with a worse ) especially if hee bee but a little exalted ; wherein we see base men so much more hauty , as they haue had lesse before what they might bee proud of . It is iust with God , as the proud man is base in himselfe , so to make him basely esteemed in the eyes of others ; and at last to make him base without pride . I will contemne a proud man because hee is base , and pitie him because hee is proud .

Let me but haue time to my thoughts ; but leasure to thinke of heauen , & grace to my leasure , & I can be happy in spight of the world : Nothing , but God that giues it , can bereaue me of grace ; and he will not , for his gifts are without repentance . Nothing but death can abbridge mee of time ; and when I begin to want time to thinke of heauen , I shall haue eternall leasure to enioy it . I shall bee both wayes happy , not from any vertue of apprehension in mee ( which haue no peere in vnworthinesse ) but from the glory of that I apprehend ; wherin the acte and obiect are from the author of happinesse . Hee giues mee this glory , let me giue him the glory of his gift . His glory is my happinesse , let my glory be his .

God bestowes fauors vpon some in anger ; as he strikes other some in loue . The Israelites had better haue wanted their Quailes , then to haue eaten thē with such sawce . And sometimes at our instancie remoouing a lesser punishment , leaues a greater , though insensible , in the roume of it . I will not so much striue against affliction , as displeasure . Let mee rather be afflicted in loue , than prosper without it .

It is strange that wee men , hauing so continuall vse of God , and being so perpetually beholding to him , should bee so strange to him , and so little acquainted with him since wee account it a peruerse nature in any man , that beeing prouoked with many kinde offices , refuies the familiaritie of a worthy friend , which doeth still seeke it , and hath deserued it . Whence it comes that wee are so loath to thinke of our dissolution and going to God : for naturally where wee are not acquainted , wee list not to hazard our welcome ; chusing rather to spend our money at a simple Inne , then to turne in for a free lodging to an vnknowen Host , whome wee haue onely heard of , neuer had friendship with ; whereas to an entire friend , whose nature and welcome wee know , & whom we haue elsewhere familiarly conuersed withall , we goe as boldly and willingly as to our home , knowing that no houre can bee vnseasonable to such a one . Whiles on the other side wee scrape acquaintance with the world , that neuer did vs good , euen after many repulses . I will not liue with God , and in God , without his acquaintance , knowing it my happines to haue such a friend . I will not let one day passe without some acte of renewing my familiarity with him , not giuing ouer til I haue giuen him some restimony of my loue to him , and ioy in him ; and till he hath left behind him some pledge of his continued fauour to mee .

Men , for the most part , would neither die nor be old . When we see an aged man that hath ouerliued all the teeth of his gummes , the haire of his head , the sight of his eyes , the taste of his palate , wee professe , wee would not liue till such a cumbersome age , wherin wee prooue burdens to our dearest friendes , and our selues : Yet if it bee put to our choyce what yeer we would die , we euer shift it off till the next ; and want not excuses for this prorogation , rather than faile alledging wee would liue to amend ; when yet we doe but adde more to the heape of our sinnes by continuance . Nature hath nothing to pleade for this folly ; but , that Life is sweet : Wherein wee giue occasion of renewing that auncient checke , or one not vnlike to it ; whereby that primitiue vision taxed the timerousnes of the shrinking Confessors ; Yee would neither liue to be old , nor die ere your age : what should I doe with you ? The Christian must not thinke it enough to endure the thought of death with patience , when it is obtruded vpon him by necessitie ; but must voluntarily call it into his mind with ioy ; not only abiding it should come , but wishing that it might come . I will not leaue till I can resolue , If I might die to day , not to liue till to morrow .

As a true friend is the sweetest contentment in the worlde : so in his qualities , he well resembleth honie , the sweetest of all liquors : Nothing is more sweete to the taste , nothing more sharpe and cleansing , when it meetes with an exulcerate sore . For my selfe , I know I must haue faults ; and therefore I care not for that friend , that I shal neuer smart by : For my friends , I know they can not bee faultlesse : and therefore as they shall finde me sweete in their prayses and incouragements , so sharpe also in their censure . Either let them abide me no friend to their faults , or no friend to themselues .

In all other things we are led by profit ; but in the maine matter of all , wee shew our selues vtterly vnthriftie ; & whiles wee are wise in making good markets in these base commodities , wee shewe our selues foolish in the great match of our soules . God and the world come both to one shop , and make profers for our soules . The world like a frank chapman , sayes , All these wil I giue thee , shewing vs his bagges , and promotions , and thrusting them into our hands . God offers a crowne of glorie , which yet he tels vs wee must giue him day to performe , and haue nothing in present , but our hope , and some small earnest of the bargaine . Though we know there is no comparison betwixt these two in value ; finding these earthly things vaine , and vnable to giue any contentment ; and those other of inualuable worth and benefite : Yet wee had rather take these in hande , than trust GOD on his word for the future ; While yet in the same kinde we chuse rather to take some rich Lordships in reuersion , after the long expectation of three liues expired , than a present summe much vnder foote : As contrarily , when God & the world are sellers , and we come to the Mart , The worlde offers fine painted wares , but will not part with thē vnder the price of our torment : God proclaimes , Come yee that want , buy for nought . Now we thriftie men , that trie all shops for the cheapest penniworth , refuse GOD , profering his precious commodities for nothing & pay an hard price for that which is worse than nothing , painefull . Surely , wee are wise for any thing but our soules : and not so wise for the body as foolish for them . O Lord , thy paiment is sure , and who knowes how present ? Take the soule that thou hast both made , and bought : And let mee rather giue my life for thy fauour , than take the offers of the world for nothing .

There was neuer age that more bragged of knowledge , and yet neuer any that had lesse soundnesse . Hee that knowes not God , knoweth nothing ; and he that loues not God , knowes him not : For hee is so sweete , and infinitely full of delight , that whoeuer knowes him , cannot chuse but affect him . The little loue of God then argues the great ignorance euen of those that professe knowledge . I will nor suffer my affections to run before my knowledge : for then I shall loue fashionably onely , because I heare God is worthy of loue , and so bee subiect to relapses : But I wil euer lay knowledge as the ground of my loue . So , as I grow in diuine knowledge , I shal still profit in an heauenly zeale .

Those that trauell in long pilgrimages to the holy Land , what a number of weary pases they measure ? what a number of hard lodgings , and knowen daungers they passe ? and at last when they are come within view of their iourneys end , what a large tribute pay they at the Pisan Castel , to the Turkes ? And when they are come thither , what see they but the bare Sepulchre wherein their Sauiour lay ? and the earth that hee trode vpon , to the increase of a carnall deuotion ? What labour should I willingly vndertake in my iourney to the true Land of promise , the celestiall Ierusalem ; where I shall see and enioy my Sauiour himselfe ? What tribute of paine or death should I refuse to pay for my enterance , not into his Sepulchre , but his palace of glory ; and that not to looke vpon , but to possesse it .

Those that are all in exhortation , no whit in doctrine , are like to them that snuffe the candle , but powre not in oyle . Againe , those that are all in doctrine , nothing in exhortation , drowne the wike in oyle , but light it not ; making it fit for vse , if it had fire put to it ; but as it is , rather capable of good , than profitable in present : Doctrine , without exhortation , makes men all braine , no heart . Exhortation , without doctrine , makes the heart full , leaues the braine emptie . Both together make a man : One makes a man wise ; the other good . One serues that wee may know our duetie , the other that wee may perfourme it . I will labour in both : but I know not in whether more . Men cannot practise , vnlesse they know ; and they know in vaine , if they practise not . There be two things in euery good worke ; Honour and profite . The later God bestowes vpon vs , the former hee keepes to himselfe . The profit of our workes redoundeth not to God . My wel-doing extendeth not to thee . The honour of our work may not be allowed vs. My glory I will not giue to another . I wil not abridge God of his part , that he may not bereaue me of mine .

The proud man hath no God ; the enuious man hath no neighbor ; the angry man hath not himselfe . What can that man haue , that wants himselfe ? What is a man better , if he haue himself , want all others ? What is hee the neerer , if hee haue himselfe , and others , and yet want God ? What good is it then to bee a man , if hee bee either wrathfull , proud , or enuious ?

Man that was once the soueraigne Lord of all creatures , whom they seruiceablie attended at all turnes ; is now sent to the very basest of al creatures to learn good qualities , Goe to the Pismire , &c. And sees the most contemptible creatures preferr'd before him : The asse knoweth his owner ; wherein we , like the miserable heire of some great Peer , whose house is decayed through the treason of our progenitors , heare and see what Honours and Lordships we should haue had ; but nowe finde our selues below many of the vulgar : wee haue not so much cause of exaltation , that we are men , and not beasts ; as we haue of humiliation , in thinking how much wee were once better then we are ; and that nowe in many dueties we are men inferiour to beastes : so as those whome wee contemne , if they had our reason , might more iustly contemne vs ; and as they are , may teach vs by their example , and do condemne vs by their practise .

The idle man is the diuels cushion , on which hee taketh his free ease : who as hee is vncapable of any good , so he is fitly disposed for all euill motions . The standing water soone stinketh ; wheras the current euer keeps cleere and cleanly : conueying down all noysom matter that might infect it , by the force of his streame . If I doe but little good to others by my endeuours , yet this is great good to mee , that by my labour I keepe my selfe from hurt .

There can bee no neerer coniunction in nature , than is betwixt the bodie and the soule ; yet these two are of so contrary disposition , that as it fals out in an ill matched man and wife , those seruants which the one likes best , are most dispraised of the other ; so heere , one still takes part against the other in their choice : What benefites the one , is the hurt of the other . The glutting of the body pines the soule ; and the soule thriues best when the bodie is pinched . Who can wonder , that there is such faction amongst others , that sees so much in his very selfe ? True wisdom is to take , not with the stronger , as the fashion of the world is , but with the better : following herein , not vsurped power , but iustice . It is not hard to discerne , whose the right is ; whether the seruaunt should rule or the mistresse . I will labour to make & keepe the peace , by giuing each part his owne indifferently : but if more be affected with an ambitious contention , I will rather beate Hagar out of doors , than shee shall ouer-rule her mistresse .

I see iron first heated red hote in the fire , and after beaten and hardened with colde water . Thus will I deale with an offending friend : first heat him with deserued praise of his vertue , and then beat vpon him , and coole him with reprehension : so good nurses when their children are fallen , first take them vp and speake them faire , chide them afterwards : Gentle speach is a good preparatiue for rigor ; He shall see that I loue him , by my approbation ; and that I loue not his faults , by my reproofe . If hee loue himselfe , hee will loue those that mislike his vices ; and if he loue not himselfe , it matters not whether he loue me .

The liker we are to God , which is the best & only good , the better & happier we must needes be . All sins make vs vnlike him , as being contrary to his perfect holinesse : but some shew more direct contrariety : such is enuy ; For , whereas God bringeth good out of euill ; the enuious man fetcheth euill out of good : wherin also his sin proues a kind of punishment ; for wheras to good men euen euil things work together to their good ; contrarily , to the enuious , good things work togither to their euil . The euil , in any man , though neuer so prosperous , I will not enuy , but pity : The good graces , I will not repine at , but holily emulate ; reioycing that they are so good : but grieuing that I am no better .

The couetous man is like a Spider , as in this that he doth nothing but lay his nets to catch euery flie , gaping onely for a bootie of gaine ; so yet more , in that whiles hee makes nets for these flies , he consumeth his owne bowels : so that which is his life is his death . If there bee any creature miserable , it is hee ; and yet he is least to bee pitied , because hee makes himselfe miserable ; such as hee is I will account him ; and will therefore sweepe downe his webs and hate his poyson .

In heauen there is all life , and no dying ; in hell is all death and no life ; In earth there is both liuing and dying ; which , as it is betwixt both , so it prepares for both . So that hee which here below dies to sin , doth after liue in heauen ; and contrarily hee that liues in sinne vpon earth dies in hell afterwards . What if I haue no part of ioy here below , but still succession of afflictions ? The wicked haue no part in heauen , and yet they enioy the earth with pleasure : I would not change portions with them . I reioyce , that seeing I cannot haue both , yet I haue the better . O Lord , let me passe both my deaths here vpon earth . I care not how I liue or die , so I may haue nothing but life to looke for in another world .

The conceipt of proprietie hardens a man against many inconueniences , and addeth much to our pleasure : The mother abides many vnquiet nights , many painfull throwes , and vnpleasant sauors of her child , vpon this thought , It is my own . The indulgent father magnifies that in his own sonne , which he would scarce like in a stranger . The want of this to God-ward makes vs so subiect to discontentment , & cooleth our delight in him , because we think of him aloofe , as one in whom we are not interessed : If wee could thinke , It is my God that cheereth mee with his presence , and blessings , while I prosper ; that afflicteth mee in loue , when I am deiected ; my Sauiour is at Gods right hand : my Angels stand in his presence , It could not be but Gods fauour would bee sweeter , his chastisements more easie , his benefits more effectuall . I am not my own , while God is not mine : and while he is mine , since I do possesse him , I wil enioy him .

Nature is of her owne inclination froward , importunately longing after that which is denied her ; and scornefull of what she may haue . If it were appointed that we should liue alwaies vpon earth , how extreamly would wee exclaime of wearinesse , and wish rather that wee were not ? Now it is appointed we shal liue here but a while , and then giue roome to our successors , each one affects a kind of eternity vpon earth . I will labour to tame this peeuish and fullen humor of nature , & will like that best that must be .

All true earthly pleasure forsooke man when he forsooke his creator ; what honest and holy delight he before tooke in the duetifull seruices of the obsequious creatures ; in the contemplation of that admirable varietie , and strangenes of their properties ; in seeing their sweete accordance with each other , and all with himselfe ? Nowe most of our pleasure is to set one creature together by the eares with another ; sporting our selues onely with that deformitie , which was bred through our owne fault . Yea , there haue been , that haue delighted to see one man spill anothers blood vpon the sand ; and haue shouted for ioy at the sight of that slaughter , which hath fallen out vpon no other quarell but the pleasure of the beholders : I doubt not but as wee solace our selues in the discorde of the inferiour creatures ; so the euill spirits sporte themselues in our dissensions . There are better qualities of the creature , which we passe ouer without pleasure . In recreations I will choose those which are of best example and best vse ; seeking those by which I may not onely bee the merryer , but the better .

There is no want for which a man may not find a remedy in himself . Doe I want riches ? Hee that desires but little , cannot want much . Doe I want friends ? If I loue God enough , & my selfe but enough , it matters not . Do I want health ? If I want it but a little , & recouer . I shall esteeme it the more , because I wanted . If I be long sicke and vnrecouerably , I shal be the fitter and willinger to die ; & my paine is so much lesse sharpe , by how much more it lingreth . Doe I want maintenance ? A little and course will content nature . Let my minde bee no more ambitious then my backe and belly . I can hardly complaine of too little . Doe I want sleepe ? I am going whither there is no vse of sleepe : where all rest , and sleepe not . Doe I want children ? Many that haue them , wish they wanted : It is better to be childlesse , than crossed with their miscariage . Doe I want learning ? Hee hath none , that sayth he hath enough . The next way to get more , is to finde thou wantest . There is remedie for all wants in our selues , sauing onely for want of grace : and that a man cannot so much as see and complaine that hee wants , but from aboue .

Euery vertuous action ( like the Sunne eclipsed ) hath a double shadowe ; according to the diuers aspects of the beholders : One of glory , the other of enuie . Glorie followes vpon good deserts ; Enuie vpon glorie . Hee that is enuyed may thinke himselfe well : for hee that enuies him , thinkes him more then well : I know no vice in another wherof a man may make so good and comfortable vse to himselfe . There would bee no shadowe , if there were no light .

In meddling with the faultes of friendes , I haue obserued many wrongfull courses ; what for feare , or selfe-loue , or indiscretion : some I haue seen , like vnmerciful and couetous Chirurgians , keepe the wound rawe , which they might haue seasonably remedied , for their own gaine : Others that haue layd healing plaisters to skin it aloft , when there hath beene more neede of corasiues to eat out the dead flesh within : Others , that haue galled and drawen when there hath beene nothing but solid flesh , that hath wanted onely filling vp . Others that haue healed the fore , but left an vnsightly scarre of discredite behind them : He that would do good this waye must haue fidelitie , courage , discretion , patience . Fidelity , not to beare with ; courage , to reprooue them ; discretion , to reprooue them well ; patience , to abide the leasure of amendement ; making much of good beginnings , and putting vp many repulses , bearing with many weakenesses ; still hoping ; still soliciting ; as knowing that those who haue beene long vsed to fetters cannot but halt a while , when they are taken off .

God hath made al the worlde , and yet what a little part of it is his ? Diuide the worlde into foure parts ; but one , and the least containeth all that is worthy the name of Christendome ? The rest ouer-whelmed with Turcisme , and Paganisme : And of this least part , the greater halfe yet holding aright concerning God and their Sauiour in some common principles , ouerthrow the trueth in their conclusions ; and so leaue the lesser part of the least part for God . Yet lower ; of those that hold aright concerning Christ , how fewe are there , that doe otherwise then fashionably professe him ? And of those that doe seriously professe him , howe fewe are there that in their liues deny him not , liuing worthy of so glorious a calling ? Wherein I doe not pitie God , who wil haue glory euen of those that are not his : I pitie miserable men that do reiect their Creator and Redeemer , and themselues in him . And I enuie Satan , that he ruleth so large . Since God hath so few , I will bee more thankefull that hee hath vouchsafed mee one of his ; and be the more zealous of glorifying him , because wee haue but a few fellowes .

As those that haue tasted of some delicate dish , finde other plaine dishes but vnpleasant ; so it fareth with those which haue once tasted of heauenly things , they cannot but comtemne the best worldly pleasures : As therefore some daintie guest knowing there is so pleasant fare to come , I will reserue my appetite for it , and not suffer my selfe cloyed with the course diet of the world .

I finde many places where God hath vsed the hand of good Angels for the punishment of the wicked ; but neuer could yet find one wherein he employed ; an euill Angel in any direct good to his children . Indirect I finde many , if not all , through the power of him that brings light out of darkenesse , and turnes their euill to our good : In this choice GOD would and must be imitated . From an euill spirit I dare not receiue ought , if neuer so good ; I will receiue as little as I may from a wicked man . If he were as perfectly euill as the other , I durst receiue nothing ; I had rather hunger then wilfully dippe my hand in a wicked mans dish .

We are ready to condemne others for that which is as eminently faulty in our selues . If one blinde man rush vpon another in the way ; either complaines of others blindnesse , neither of his owne . I haue heard those which haue had most corrupt lungs complayne of the vnsauory breath of others . The reason is because the minde casteth altogether outward , and reflecteth not into it selfe . Yet it is more shamefull to be either ignorant of , or fauorable to our own imperfections . I will censure others vices fearefully , my own confidently , because I know thē ; and those I know not I will suspect .

Hee is a very humble man that thinks not himselfe better then some others ; and hee is very meane , whome some others doe not account better than themselues : so that vessell that seemed very small vpon the maine , seemes a tall ship vpon the Thames . As there are many better for estate then my selfe ; so there are some worse ; and if I were yet worse , yet would there be some lower : and if I were so low that I accounted my selfe the worst of all ; yet some would account themselues in worse case . A mans opinion is in others ; his being is in himselfe . Let me know my self , let others ghesse at me . Let others either enuie or pitie mee . I care not so long as I enioy my selfe .

He can neuer wonder enough at Gods workemanship , that knowes not the frame of the world : for he can neuer els conceiue of the hugenes , & strange proportion of the creatures . And he that knowes this can neuer wonder more , at any thing else . I will learne to knowe , that I may admire ; and by that little I knowe , I will more wonder at that I know not .

There is nothing he lowe , but toyling , grieuing , wishing , hoping , seuring ; and wearinesse in all these . What fooles are wee to bee besotted with the loue of our own trouble , and to hate our liberty and rest . The loue of misery is much worse than miserie it selfe . We must first pray that God would make vs wise , before wee can wish hee would make vs happy .

If a man referre all things to himselfe , nothing seemes enough : If all things to GOD , any measure wil content him of earthly things ; but in grace hee is infatiable : worldlings serue themselues altogether in GOD , making Religion but to serue their turns as a colour of their ambition , and couetousnes : The Christian seeks GOD onely in seeking himselfe , vsing all other things but as subordinately to him ; not caring whether himselfe win or lose , so that God may win glory in both . I will not suffer mine eyes and mind to be bounded with these visible things ; but will looke through all these matters , at GOD which is the vtmost scope of them : Accounting them onely as a through-fare to passe by , not as an habitation to rest in .

He is wealthy enough that wanteth not : He is great enough that is his owne master : He is happy enough , that liues to dye well . Other things I will not care for ; nor too much for these , saue onely for the last which alone can admit of no immoderation .

A man of extraordinary parts makes himselfe by strange and singular behauiour more admired ; which if a man of but common faculty doe imitate , hee makes himselfe ridiculous : for that which is construed as naturall to the one , is descried to be affected in the other . And there is nothing forced by affectation can be comely . I wil euer striue to go in the common rode : so while I am not notable , I shall not bee notorious .

Gold is the best metall , & for the puritie not subiect to rust , as all others ; and yet the best gold hath somedrosse . I esteeme not that man that hath no faults ; I like him well that hath but a fewe , and those not great .

Many a man marres a good estate , for want of skill to proportion his carriage answerably to his abilitie . A little sayle to a large vessell riddes no way , though the winde bee faire ; A large sayle to a little Barke drownes it ; A topsaile to a ship of meane burden in a rough weather is daungerous ; A lowe fayle in an easie gale yeelds little aduantage : This disproportion causeth some to liue miserably in a good estate ; and some to make a good estate miserable . I will first knowe what I may doe for safety , and then I will trie what I can doe for speede .

The rich man hath many friends ; although in truth riches haue thē , and not the man : As the Asse , that carried the Egyptian Goddesse , had many bowed knees , yet not to the beast , but to the burden . For , separate the riches from the person , and thou shalt see friendship leaue the man , & follow that which was euer her obiect : while he may command , and can either giue , or control , he hath attendance , and profer of loue at all hands ; but which of these da●es acknowledge him , when he is going to prison for debt ? Then these Waspes , that made such musick about this Gallypot , shew plainely that they came onely for the hony that was in it . This is the misery of the wealthie , that they cannot knowe their friendes : Whereas those that loue the poore man , loue him for himselfe . Hee that would chuse a true friend , must search out one that is neither couetous nor ambitious ; for such a one loues but himself in thee . And if it be rare to finde any not infected with these qualities , the best is to entertaine all , and trust few .

That which the French Prouerbe hath of sicknesses , is true of all e●●ls , that they come on horsbacke , and go away on foot : We haue oft seen a sudden fal , or one meales surfet hath stuck by many to their graues : wheras pleasures come like oxen , slowe and heauily ; and goe away like posthorses , vpon the spurre . Sorowes , because they are lingering guests , I will entertaine but moderately ; knowing that the more they are made of , the longer they will continue : And for pleasures , because they stay not , and doe but call to drinke at my doore , I will vse them as passengers , with sleight respect . He is his owne best friend , that makes least of both of them .

It is indeed more commendable to giue good example , than to take it ; yet imitation , how-euer in ciuil matters it be condemned of seruilitie , in Christian practise hath his due praise ; and though it be more naturall for beginners at their first imitation , that cannot swim without bladders ; yet the best proficient shal see euer some higher steps of those that haue gone to heauen before him , worthy of his tracing : wherin much caution must be had , that wee follow good men , and in good : Good men , for if wee propound imperfect patternes to our selues , wee shall be constrained first to vnlearne those ill habits we haue got by their imitation , before we can be capable of good : so besides the losse of labor , we are further off from our end : In good ; for , that a man should be so wedded to any mans person that he can make no separation from his infirmities , is both absurdly seruile and vnchristian . He therefore that would follow well , must knowe to distinguish well , betwixt good men & euill , betwixt good men and better , betwixt good qualities and infirmities . Why hath God giuen me education not in a desert alone , but in the company of good & vertuous men ; but that by the sight of their good cariage I should better my owne ? Why should we haue interest in the vices of men and not in their vertues ? And although precepts be surer , yet a good mans action is according to precept , yea , is a precept it self . The Psalmist compares the law of God to a lanterne ; good example beares it . It is safe folowing him that carries the light . If he walke without the light , hee shall walke without me .

As there is one common end to all good men , saluation ; and one author of it , Christ : So there is but one way to it , dooing well , and suffering euill . Doing wel ( me thinks ) is like the Zodiack in the heauen , the hie-way of the Sun , through which it dayly passeth ; suffering euill is like the Eclipticke line that goes through the midst of it . The rule of doing well , the law of God , is vniforme and eternall ; and the copies of suffering euill in all times agree with the originall ; No man can either doe well , or suffer ill without an example : Are we sawen in pieces ? so was Esay ; Are we headed ? so Iohn Baptist ; Crucified ? so Peter ; Throwen to wild beasts ? so Daniel ; Into the fornace ? so the three children ; Stoned ? so Steuen ; Banished ? so the beloued disciple ; Burnt ? so millions of Martyrs ; Defamed and flandered ? what good man euer was not ? It were easie to bee endlesse both in torments and sufferers : whereof each hath begunne to other , all to vs. I may not hope to speede better than the best Christians ; I cannot feare to fare worse . It is no matter which way I goe , so I come to heauen .

There is nothing beside life of this nature , that it is diminished by addition : Euery moment wee liue longer then other , and each moment that we liue longer is so much taken out of our life . It increaseth and diminisheth onely by minutes ; and therefore is not perceiued : The shorter steppes it taketh , the more slily it passeth . Time shall not so steale vpon me that I shall not discerne it , and catch it by the fore-lockes ; nor so steale from me , that it shall carry with it no witnesse of his passage in my proficiencie .

The prodigall man , while hee spendeth , is magnified ; when hee is spent is pitied : and that is all his recompence for his lauisht Patrimonie . The couetous man is grudged while he liues , and his death is reioyced at : for , when he endes , his riches begin to bee goods . Hee that wisely keepes the meane betweene both , liueth wel , and heares well ; neither repined at by the needie , nor pittied by greater men . I would so manage these worldly commodities , as accounting them mine to dispose , others to partake of .

A good name ( if any earthly thing ) is worth seeking , worth striuing for ; yet to affect a bare name , when we deserue either ill , or nothing , is but a proud hypocrisie : And to be puffed vp with the wrongful estimation of others mis-taking our worth , is an idle and ridiculous pride . Thou art well spoken of vpon no desert : what then ? Thou hast deceiued thy neighbours , they one another ; & al of thē haue deceiued thee : for thou madest thē thinke of thee otherwise than thou art ; and they haue made thee think of thy selfe as thou art accounted : The deceit came from thee the shame will ende in thee . I will account no wrong greater , than for a man to esteeme and report mee aboue that I am ; not reioycing in that I am wel thought of , but in that I am such as I am esteemed .

It was a speach worthy , the commendation , & frequent remembrance of so diuine a Bishop as Augustine , which is reported of an aged father in his time , who when his friendes comforted him on his sicke bed , and told him , they hoped he shuld recouer , answered ; If I shall not die at all , well : but if euer , why not now ? Surely , it is folly what we must doe to do vnwillingly . I wil neuer thinke my soule in good case , so long as I am loth to thinke of dying ; and will make this my comfort ; Not , I shall yet liue longer , but I shall yet do more good .

Excesses are neuer alone : Commonly those that haue excellent parts , haue some extreamly vicious qualities : great wits haue great errors ; & great estates haue great cares : whereas mediocrity of gifts or of estate , hath vsually but easie inconneniences : Else the excellent would not knowe themselues , and the meane would bee too much deiected . Now those whom we admire for their saculties , wee pity for their infirmities ; and those which finde themselues but of the ordinary pitch , ioy that as their vertues so their vices are not eminent . So the highest haue a blemished glory , and the meane are contentedly secure . I wil magnifie the highest , but affect the meane .

The body is the case , or sheath of the minde : yet as naturally it hideth it ; so it doth also many times discouer it : For although the forehead , eyes , and frame of the countenance doe some times belie the disposition of the heart , yet most commonly they giue true general verdicts . An angry mans browes are bent together , & his eyes sparkle with rage , which when he is well pleased , looke smooth & chearefully . Enuy hath one look ; desire another ; sorow yet another ; contentment , a fourth , different from all the rest . To shewe no passion is too Stoical , to shew all is impotent ; to shew other than we feel , hypocriticall . The face & gesture do but write , and make commentaries vpon the heart . I wil first endeuor so to frame and order that , as not to entertaine any passion , but what I need not care to haue layed open to the worlde : and therefore will first see that the Text be good ; then that the glosse bee true ; and lastly that it be sparing . To what ende hath God so walled in the heart , if I should let euery mans eyes into it by my countenance ?

There is no publique action which the world is not ready to scan ; there is no action so priuate , which the euil spirits are not witnesses of : I wil endeuor so to liue , a● knowing that I am euer in the eyes of mine enemies .

When we our selues , and all other vices are old , then couetousnes alone is yong , and at his best age . This vice loues to dwell in an olde ruinous cotage : Yet that age can haue no such honest colour for niggardlines & insatiable desire . A young man might plead the vncertainty of his estate & doubt of his future need ; but an old man sees his set period before him . Since this humor is so necessarily annexed to this age , I will turne it the right way , and nourish it in my self . The older I growe , the more couetous I wil be ; but of the riches , not of the world that I am leauing , but of the world I am entring into . It is good coueting what I may haue , and cannot leaue behind me .

There is a mutuall hatred betwixt a Christian , and the world : for on the one side , the loue of the worlde is enmitie with God ; and Gods children cannot but take their fathers part . On the other , The world hates you because it hated mee first . But the hatred of the good man to the wicked is not so extream , as that wherewith hee is hated . For the Christian hates euer with commiseration and loue of that good hee sees in the worst ; knowing that the essence of the very diuels is good & that the lewdest man hath some excellent parts of nature , or common graces of the Spirit of God , which hee warily singleth out in his affection . But the wicked man hates him for goodnes , and therefore findes nothing in himselfe to moderate his detestation . There can be no better Musicke in my eare , than the discord of the wicked . If he like me . I am afraid he spies some qualitie in me like to his own ; If hee sawe nothing but goodnes , he could not loue me , and be bad himselfe . It was a iust doubt of Phocion , who when the people praised him , asked , What euill haue I done ? I will striue to deserue ill of none : but not deseruing ill , it shall not grieue mee to heare ill of those that are euil . I knowe no greater argument of goodnes , than the hatred of a wicked man .

A man that comes hungry to his meale , feedes heartily on the meate set before him , not regarding the metal , or form of the platter , wherein it is serued ; who afterwards when his stomack is satisfied , begins to play with the dish , or to read sentences on his trencher . Those auditors which can find nothing to doe , but note elegant words & phrases , or rhetorical colours , or perhaps an il grace of gesture in a pithie and materiall speach , argue themselues full ere they came to the feast : and therefore goe away with a little pleasure , no profit . In hearing others , my onely intention shall be to feede my minde with solide matter : if my eare can get ought by the way , I will not grudge it , but I will not intend it .

The ioy of a Christian in these worldly things is limited , and euer awed with feare of excesse , but recompensed abundantly with his spirituall mirth : wheras the worldling giues the reignes to his minde , and powres himselfe out into pleasure , fearing only that he shall not ioy enough . He that is but halfe a Christian , liues most miserably ; for he neither enioyeth God , nor the world . Not God , because hee hath not grace enogh to make him his own : Not the world , because hee hath some taste of grace ; enough to shew him the vanitie and sinne of his pleasures . So the sound Christian hath his heauen aboue , the worldling here below ; the vnsetled Christian no where .

Good deeds are very fruitfull ; & not so much of their nature , as of Gods blessing multipliable : We thinke ten in the hundred extreame and biting vsury ; God giues vs more then an hundred for tenne : Yea , aboue the increase of the grain which wee commend most for multiplication . For out of one good action of ours , God produceth a thousand ; the haruest whereof is perpetuall : Euen the faithfull actions of the olde Patriarkes , the constant suffrings of ancient Martyrs liue still , and still doe good to all successions of ages by their example . For publique actions of vertue , besides that they are presently confortable to the doers , are also exemplary to others : & as they are more beneficiall to others , so are more crowned in vs. If good deedes were vtterly barren & incommodious , I would seeke after them for the conscience of their own goodness : how much more shall I now bee incouraged to performe them , for that they are so profitable both to my selfe , and to others , and to mee in others ? My principall care shall be , that while my soule liues in glory in heauen , my good actions may liue vpon earth ; and that they may be put into the bank and multiplie , while my body lies in the graue and consumeth .

A Christian for the sweete fruit he beares to God and men , is compared to the noblest of all plants , the Vine . Now as the most generous Vine if it bee not pruned , runs out into many superfluous stemmes , & growes at last weake & fruitlesse : so doeth the best man if he be not cut short of his desires , and pruned with afflictions . If it be painefull to bleede , it is worse to wither . Let me be pruned that I may grow , rather than cut vp to burne .

Those , that do but superficially taste of diuine knowledge , finde little sweetnesse in it ; and are ready for the vnpleasant rellish to abhorre it : whereas if they would diue deepe into this sea , they should finde fresh water neere to the bottome : That it sauors not well at the first , is the fault not of it , but of the distempered palate that tastes it . Good metals & minerals are not found close vnder the skinne of the earth , but below in the bowels of it : No good Miner casts away his mattocke because he findes a veine of tough clay , or a shelfe of stone ; but still delueth lower , & passing through many changes of soile , at last comes to his rich treasure . Wee are too soone discouraged in our spirituall gaines . I will still perseuere to seeke ; hardening my selfe against all difficulty . There is comfort euen in seeking , hope ; & ther is ioy in hoping , good successe ; & in that successe , is happines .

He that hath any experience in spiritual matters , knowes that Satan is euer more violent at the last ; then raging most furiously , when he knowes hee shall rage but a while . Hence of the persecutions of the first Church , the tenth and last vnder Dioclesian , and Maximinian , and those other fiue tyrants was the bloodiest Hence this age is the most dissolute , because neerest the conclusion . And as this is his course in the vniuersall assaults of the whole Church : so it is the same in his conflicts with euery Christian soule . Like a subtil orator hee reserues his strongest force til the shutting vp : And therefore miserable is the follie of those men who deferre their repentance till then ; when their onset shall be most sharpe , and they through paine of body , and perplexednesse of minde , shall bee least able to resist . Those that haue long furnisht themselues with spirituall munition , find worke enough in this extreame brunt of tentation ; how then should the carelesse man , that with the helpe of al opportunities could not find grace to repent , hope to atchieue it at the last gaspe , against greater force , with lesse means , more distraction , no leasure ? Wise princes vse to prepare tenne yeeres before , for a field of one day : I will euery day lay vp somewhat for my last . If I win that skirmish , I haue enough . The first & second blow begins the battel , but the last onely wins it .

I obserue three seasons wherein a wise man differs not from a foole ; In his infancie , in sleepe , and in silence : For in the two former wee are all fooles , and in silence all are wise . In the two former yet , there may bee concealment of folly ; but the tongue is a blabbe : there cannot bee any kinde of folly , either simple , or wicked , in the heart , but the tongue will bewray it . Hee cannot bee wise that speakes much , or without sense , or out of season : nor hee knowen for a foole that sayes nothing . It is a great miscrie to bee a foole : but this is yet greater , that a man cannot bee a foole , but hee must shew it . It were well for such a one , if he could be taught to keep close his foolishnesse : but then there should be no fools . I haue heard some which haue scorned the opinion of folly in themselues , for a speach wherein they haue hoped to shew most wit censured of follie , by him that hath thought himselfe wiser : and another , hearing his sentence againe , hath condemned him for want of wit in censuring . Surely he is not a foole that hath vnwise thoughts , but he that vtters them . Euen concealed folly is wisedom ; and sometimes wisedom vttered is folly . While others care how to speak , my care shall be how to hold my peace .

A worke is then onely good and acceptable , when the action , meaning , and maner are all good : For , to doe good with an ill meaning ( as Iudas saluted Christ to betray him ) is so much more sinfull , by how much the action is better ; which being good in the kind is abused to an ill purpose : To doe ill in a good meaning ( as Vzza in staying the Arke ) is so much amisse , that the good intention cannot beare out the vnlawfull acte : which although it may seeme some excuse , why it should not be so ill , yet is no warrant to iustifie it . To meane well , and doe a good action , in an ill manner ( as the Pharisee made a good prayer , but arrogantly ) is so offensiue , that the ill manner depraueth both the other . So a thing may bee euill vpon one circumstance , it cannot be good but vpon all . In what euer busines I go about , I wil inquire What I doe for the substance , Howe for the manner , Why for the intention : For the two first I will consult with God , for the last with my owne heart .

I can do nothing without a million of witnesses : The conscience is as a thousand witnesses ; and GOD is as a thousand consciences . I wil therefore so deale with men , as knowing that God sees mee ; and so with God , as if the world sawe mee ; so with my selfe , and both of them , as knowing that my conscience seeth me : and so with them all , as knowing I am alwayes ouerlooked by my accuser , by my iudge .

Earthly inheritances are diuided oft times with much inequalitie : The priuiledge of primogeniture stretcheth larger in many places now , than it did among the auncient Iewes . The younger many times serues the elder ; and while the eldest aboundeth , all the later issue is pinched . In heauen it is not so : All the sonnes of God are heires , none vnderlings ; and not heires vnder wardship , and hope , but inheritors ; and not inheritors of any little pittance of land , but of a kingdome ; Nor of an earthly kingdome , subiect to danger of losse , or alteration , but one glorious and euerlasting . It shall content mee here , that hauing right to all things , yet I haue possession of nothing but sorrowe . Since I shall haue possession aboue , of all that , whereto I haue right belowe , I will serue willingly , that I may reigne ; serue for a while , that I may reigne for euer .

Euen the best things ill vsed become euils ; and contrarily , the worst things vsed wel prooue good : A good tongue , vsed to deceit ; a good wit , vsed to defend error ; a strong arme , to murder ; authoritie , to oppresse ; a good profession , to dissemble ; are all euil : Yea , Gods owne worde is the sworde of the spirit ; which if it kill not our vices , killes our soules . Contrariwise ( as poysons are vsed to wholesom medicine ) afflictions and sinnes , by a good vse , prooue so gainefull , as nothing more . Wordes are as they are taken : and things are as they are vsed . There are euen cursed blessings : O Lord , rather giue mee no fanours , than not grace to vse them . If I want them , thou requirest not what thou doest not giue ; but if I haue them , and want their vse ; thy mercie prooues my iudgement .

Man is the best of al these inferiour creatures ; yet liues in more sorow and discontentment , then the worst of them : whiles that reason wherin he excels them , and by which hee might make aduantage of his life , hee abuses to a susspicious distrust . How many hast thou found of the foules of the ayre , lying dead in thy way for want of prouision ? They eate , and rest , and sing , and want nothing . Man , which hath better meanes to liue comfortably , toyleth , and careth , & wanteth ; whom yet his reason alone might teach , that hee which careth for these lower creatures made onely for man , will much more prouide for man , to whose vse they were made . There is an holy carelesnesse , free from idlenesse , free from distrust . In these earthly things , I will so depend on my maker , that my trust in him may not exclude my labour ; and yet so labour ( vpon my confidence on him ) as my indeuour may be voide of perplexitie .

The precepts , & practise of those with whom we liue , auaile much on either part . For a man not to bee ill where hee hath no prouocations to euill , is lesse commendable ; but for a man to liue continently in Asia ( as hee sayd ) where he sees nothing but allurements to vncleannesse ; for Lot to bee a good man in the midst of Sodom ; to be abstemious in Germany , & in Italy chaste ; this is truly praise-worthy . To sequester our selues from the company of the world , that we may depart from their vices , proceedes from a base and distrusting minde : as if wee would so force goodnes vpon our selues , that therfore only we would bee good , because wee cannot bee ill . But for a man so to bee personally , and locally in the throng of the worlde , as to withdrawe his affections from it , to vse it , and yet to contemne it at once , to compell it to his seruice without any infection , becomes well the noble courage of a Christian . The worlde shall bee mine , I will not be his ; and yet so mine , that his euill shall be still his owne .

He that liues in God , cannot bee wearie of his life , because hee euer findes both somewhat to doe , and somewhat to solace himselfe with ; cannot bee ouerloath to part with it , because hee shall enter into a neerer life and societie with that God in whom he delighteth : Whereas hee that liues without him , liues many times vncomfortably here , because partly he knows not any cause of ioy in himselfe ; and partly hee findes not any worthy employment to while himselfe withall ; Dyes miserably , because hee either knowes not whither hee goes , or knowes hee goes to torment . There is no true life , but the life of faith . O Lord let mee liue out of the world with thee ( if thou wilt ) but let mee not liue in the worlde without thee .

Sinne is both euill in it selfe , and the effect of a former euill , and the cause of sinne following ; a cause of punishment , and lastly a punishment it selfe . It is damnable iniquitie in man , to multiplie one sinne vpon another ; but to punish one sinne by another , in GOD is a iudgement both most iust , and most feareful : So as all the storehouse of God hath not a greater vengeance : with other punishments the body smarteth , the soule with this . I care not how God offends mee with punishments , so he punish me not with offending him .

I haue seene some afflict their bodies with wilfull famine , and scourges of their owne making ; God spares me that labour ; For hee whips mee daylie with the scourge of a weake bodie ; and sometimes with ill tongues . Hee holds mee short many times of the feeling of his comfortable presence , which is in trueth so much more miserable an hunger then that of the bodie , by how much the soule is more tender , and the foode denied more excellent . He is my father ; infinitely wise to proportion out my correction according to my estate ; and infinitely louing in fitting mee with a due measure . Hee is a presumptuous childe that will make choyce of his owne rodde . Let mee learn to make a right vse of his corrections , and I shall not neede to correct my selfe . And if it should please GOD to remit his hand a little ; I will gouerne my body , as a master , not as a tyrant .

If God had not sayd , Blessed are those that hunger ; I know not what could keep weake Christians from sinking in despaire : Many times all I can doe , is to finde and complaine that I want him ; and wish to recouer him : Now this is my stay , that hee in mercie esteemes vs not onely by hauing , but by desiring also ; and after a sort accounts vs to haue that which we want , and desire to haue : and my soule assuming , tels me I doe vnfainedly wish him , and long after that grace I misse . Let mee desire still more , and I knowe I shall not desire alwayes . There was neuer soule miscaried with longing after grace . O blessed hunger that endes alwaies in fulnesse . I am sory that I can but hunger ; and yet I would not bee full ; for the blessing is promised to the hungry : Giue me more , Lord , but so as I may hunger more . Let mee hunger more , & I knowe I shall be satisfied .

There is more in the Christian than thou seeest . For hee is both an entire bodie of himselfe , and hee is a limme of another more excellent ; euen that glorious mysticall bodie of his Sauiour ; to whom hee is so vnited , that the actions of either are reciprocally referred to each other . For , on the one side , the Christian liues in Christ , dyes in Christ , in Christ fulfils the Law , possesseth heauen : on the other , Christ is persecuted by Paul in his members , and is persecuted in Paul afterwards by others : hee suffers in vs , he liues in vs , he workes in and by vs : So thou canst not do either good or harme to a Christian , but thou doest it to his redeemer ; to whom he is inuisiblie vnited . Thou seest him as a man , and therefore worthy of fauour for humanities sake : Thou seest him not as a Christian , worthy of honor for his secret and yet true vnion with his Sauiour . I will loue euery Christian , for that I see ; honour him , for that I shall see .

Hell it selfe is scarce a more obscure dungeon in comparison of the earth , than earth is in respect of heauen . Heere , the most see nothing , and the best see little : Heere , halfe our life is night ; and our verie day is darkenesse , in respect of GOD . The true light of the worlde , and the Father of lights dwelleth aboue : There is the light of knowledge to informe vs , and the light of ioy to comfort vs ; without all change of darkenesse . There was neuer any captiue loued his dungeon , and complained when hee must be brought out to light , & liberty : Whence then is this naturall madnesse in vs men , that wee delight so much in this vncleane , noysome , darke and comfortlesse prison of earth ? and thinke not of our release to that lightsome and glorious Paradise aboue vs , without griefe and repining ? Wee are sure that wee are not perfectly well heere : If wee could bee as sure , that wee should bee better aboue , wee would not feare changing . Certainly our sense tells vs , wee haue some pleasure heere ; and wee haue not faith to assure vs of more pleasure aboue , and hence wee settle our selues to the present , with neglect of the future , though infinitely more excellent : The heart followes the eyes : and vnknowen good is vncared for ; O Lord , doe thou breake through this darkenesse of ignorance , and faithlesnesse , wherewith I am compassed . Let me but see my heauen , and I knowe I shall desire it .

To bee caried away with an affectation of fame is so vaine , and absurd , that I wonder it can bee incident to any wise man : For what a mole-hill of earth is it , to which his name can extend , when it is furthest carried by the wings of report ? And how short a while doth it continue where it is once spread ? Time ( the deuourer of his owne broode ) consumes both vs and our memories ; not brasse , nor marble , can beare age . How many flattering Poets haue promised immortalitie of name to their Princes , who now together are buried long since in forgetfulnesse . Those names and actions , that are once on the file of Heauen , are past the daunger of defacing : I will not care whether I bee knowen , or remembred , or forgotten amongst men , if my name and good actions may liue with God in the records of Eternitie .

There is no man , nor no place free from spirits , although they testifie their presence by visible effects but in fewe . Euerie man is an host to entertain angels , though not in visible shapes as Abraham and Lot . The euil ones doe nothing but prouoke vs to sin ; & plot mischiefe against vs ; by casting into our way daungerous obiects , by suggesting sinfull motions to our mindes , stirring vp enemies against vs amongst men , by frighting vs with terrors in our selues , by accusing vs to God . On the contrary , The good Angels are euer remouing our hinderances from good , and our occasions of euill , mitigating our tentations ; helping vs against our enemies ; deliuering vs from dangers ; conforting vs in sorowes ; furthering our good purposes ; and at last carrying vp our soules to heauen . It would affright a weake Christian that knowes the power and malice of wicked spirits , to consider their presence , and number ; but when , with the eyes of Elishaes seruant , hee sees those on his side as present , as diligent , more powerfull , he cannot but take heart again : Especially , if hee consider , that neither of them is without God , limiting the one the bounds of their tentation , directing the other in the safegard of his children . Whereupon it is comn to passe , that though there be many legions of diuels , and euery one more strong than many legions of men , and more malicious than strong , yet the little flocke of Gods Church liueth and prospereth : I haue euer with me inuisible friends , and enemies : The consideration of mine enemies shall keepe me from securitie , and make mee fearfull of doing ought to aduantage them . The consideration of my spirituall friends shall comfort mee against the terror of the other ; shall remedy my solitarinesse ; shall make mee warie of dooing ought indecently ; grieuing me rather , that I haue euer heretofore made them turne away their eyes , for shame of that whereof I haue not beene asnamed ; that I haue no more enioyed their societie ; that I haue been no more affected with their presence . What though I see them not ? I beleeue them . I were no Christian , if my faith were not as sure as my sense .

There is no worde or action , but may be taken with two handes ; either with the right hand of charitable construction , or the finister interpretation of malice , and suspicion : and all things doe so succeede , as they are taken . I haue noted , euill actions well taken , passe currant for either indifferent , or commendable : Contrarily , a good speech or action ill taken , scarce allowed for indifferent ; an indifferent one , censured for euill ; an euill one for notorious : So fauor makes vertues of vices ; and suspicion makes vertues , faults ; and faults , crimes . Of the two I had rather my right hand should offend : It is alwayes safer offending on the better part . To construe an euill act well , is but a pleasing and profitable deceite of my selfe : But to misconstrue a good thing is a treble wrong ; to my self , the action , the author . If no good sense can be made of a deed , or speach , let the blame light vpon the author : If a good interpretation may bee giuen and I chuse a worse , let mee bee as much censured of others , as that misconceit is punishment to my selfe .

I knowe not how it comes to passe , that the minde of man doth naturally both ouer-prize his owne in comparison of others , and yet contemne and neglect his owne in comparison of what he wants . The remedie of this later euill is to compare the good things we haue , with the euils which we haue not , and others grone vnder : Thou art in health and regardest it not ; Looke on the miserie of those which on their bed of sicknes , through extreamity of paine & anguish , intreat death to release them . Thou hast cleare eye-sight , sound lims , vse of reason ; and passest these ouer with slight respect : Thinke how many there are , which in their vncomfortable blindnes , would giue all the world for but one glimpse of light . How many that deformedly crawle on all foure , after the maner of the most loathsom creatures ; how many that in mad phrensies are worse than blutish , worse than dead : thus thou mightest be , and art not . If I be not happie for the good that I haue , I am yet happie for the euils that I might haue had , and haue escaped : I haue deserued the greatest euill ; euery euill that I misse , is a new mercie .

Earth , which is the basest element , is both our mother that brought vs foorth , our stage that beares vs aliue , and our graue where in at last we are entombed ; giuing to vs both our original , our harbour , our sepulchre : Shee hath yeelded her back to beare thousands of generations ; and at last opened her wombe to receiue them ; so swallowing them vp , that she still both beareth more , and lookes for more ; not bewraying any change in her selfe , while shee so oft hath changed her broode , and her burden . It is a wonder we can be proud of our parentage , or of our selues , while wee see both the basenesse , and stabilitie of the earth , whence we came . What difference is there ? Liuing earth treads vpon the dead earth , which afterwards descends into the graue , as senselesse and dead , as the earth that receiues it . Not many are proud of their soules ; and none but fooles can bee proud of their bodies . While we walke and looke vpon the earth , we cannot but acknowledge sensible admonitions of humilitie ; and while we remember them , we cannot forget our selues . It is a mother-like fauour of the earth , that she beares and nourishes me , and at the last entertaines my dead carcasse : but it is a greater pleasure , that she teacheth mee my vilenesse by her owne , and sends me to heauen , for what she wants .

The wicked man carrieth euery day a brand to his hell , till his heape be comne to the height : then he ceaseth sinning , and begins his torment . Whereas the repentant , in euery fit of holy sorrowe , carries away a whole faggot from the flame , and quencheth the coales that remaine , with his teares . There is no torment for the penitent ; no redemption for the obstinate . Safety consisteth not in not sinning , but in repenting : neither is it sin that condemnes ; but impenitence . O Lord I cannot be righteous ? let me be repentant .

100

The estate of he auenly and earthly things is plainely represented to vs , by the two lights of heauen , which are appointed to rule the night and the day . Earthly things are rightly resembled by the moon , which being neerest to the region of mortalitie , is euer in changes , and neuer lookes vpon vs twise with the same face , and when it is at the full , is blemished with some darke blots , not capable of any illumination : Heauenly things are figured by the Sun , whose great & glorious light is both naturall to it selfe , and euer constant . That other fickle and dimme starre is fit enough for the night of miserie , wherein we liue here belowe . And this firme and beautifull light is but good enough for that day of glory , which the Saints liue in . If it bee good liuing here , where our sorrowes are changed with ioyes ; what is it to liue aboue , where our ioyes change not ? I cannot looke vpon the body of the Sunne : and yet I cannot see at all without the light of it . I cannot behold the glory of thy Saints , O Lord ; yet without the knowledge of it , I am blinde . If thy creature be so glorious to vs here belowe ; how glorious shall thy selfe be to vs , when wee are aboue this Sun ? This Sunne shal not shine vpward ; where thy glory shineth : the greater light extinguisheth the lesser . O thou Sunne of righteousnesse ( which shalt only shine to mee , when I am glorified ) doe thou heate , inlighten , comfort me with the beames of thy presence , till I be glorified .

Amen . FINIS .