Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	die_v	good_a	let_v	4,185	5	4.2812	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56983	Enchiridion miscellaneum spare houres improv'd in meditations divine, contemplative, practical, moral, ethical, oeconomical, political : from the pietie and learning of Fr. Quarles & Ar. Warwick, Gents. : by it they being dead, yet speak (Heb. XI. 4).	Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644.; Warwick, Arthur, 1604?-1633. Spare minutes, or, Resolved meditations and premeditated resolutions.	1677 (1677)	Wing Q94; ESTC R6261	74,920	244

superiours it scorns inferiours it owns no equals in short till thou hate it God hates thee CHAP. XCVII SO behave thy self among thy children that they may love and honour thy presence be not too fond least they fear thee not be not too bitter least they fear thee too much too much familiarity will embolden them too little countenance will discouragethem so carry thy self that thy may rather fear thy displeasure than thy correction when thou reprov'st them do it in season when thou correct'st them do it not in passion as a wise child makes a happy father so a wise father makes a happy child CHAP. XCVIII WHen thy hand hath done a good act ask thy heart if it be well done the matter of a good action is the deed done the form of a good action is the manner of the doing in the first another hath the comfort and thou the glory in the other thou hast the comfort and God the glory that deed is ill done wherein God is no sharer CHAP. XCIX WOuld'st thou purchase Heaven advise not with thy own ability The prize of Heaven is what thou hast examin not what thou hast but what thou art give thy self and thou hast bought it if thy own vileness be thy fears offer thy self and thou art precious CHAP. C. THe Birds of the air die to sustain thee Beasts of the field die to nourish thee the Fishes of the Sea die to feed thee Our stomacks are their common Sepulcher Good God! with how many deaths are our poor lives patcht up How full of death is the miserable life of momentany man The end of the second Century THE Third Century CHAP. I. IF thou take pains in what is good the pains vanish the good remains if thou take pleasure in what is evil the evil remains and the pleasure vanishes what art thou the worse for pains or the better for pleasure when both are past CHAP. II. IF thy fancy and judgement have agreed in the choice of a fit wife be not too fond least she surfeit nor too peevish least she languish love so that thou mayst be fear'd rule so that thou mayst be honour'd be not too diffident least thou teach her to deceive thee nor too suspicious least thou teach her to abuse thee if thou see a fault let thy love hide it if she continue it let thy wisdom reprove it reprove her not openly least she grow bold rebuke her not tauntingly least she grow spitefull proclaim not her beauty least she grow proud boast not her wisdom least thou be thought foolish shew her not thy imperfections least she disdain thee pry not into her Dairy least she despise thee prophane not her ears with looss communication least thou defile the sanctuary of her modesty an understanding husband makes a discreet wife and she a happy husband CHAP III. WRinkle not thy face with too much laughter least thou become ridiculous neither wanton thy heart with too much mirth least thou become vain the suburbs of folly is vain mirth and profuseness of laughter is the City of fools CHAP. IV. LEt thy tongue take counsell of one eye rather then of two ears let the news thou reportest be rather stale then false least thou be branded with the name of lyer It is an intolerable dishoneur to be that which onely to be call'd so is thought worthy of a Stab CHAP. V. LEt thy discourse be such as thy judgement may maintain and thy company may deserve In neglecting this thou losest thy words in not observing the other thou losest thy self Give wash to swine and wort to men so shalt thou husband thy gifts to the advantage of thy self and shape thy discourse to the advancement of thy hearer CHAP. VI. DOst thou roar under the Torments of a Tyrant weigh them with the sufferance of thy Saviour and they are no plague Dost thou rage under the Bondage of a raving Conscience compare it to thy Saviours passion and it is no pain Have the tortures of Hell taken hold of thy dispairing soul compare it to thy Saviours torments and it is no punishment what sense unequally compares let faith enterchangeably apply and thy pleasures have no comparison Thy sins are the Authors of his sufferings and his hell is the price of thy heaven CHAP. VII ARt thou banisht from thy own Country thank thy own folly hadst thou chosen a right home thou hadst been no Exul hadst thou commanded thy own Kingdom all Kingdoms had been thy own the fool is banisht in his own Countrey the wiseman is in his owne Countrey though banisht the fool wanders the wiseman traruls CHAP. VIII IN seeking vertue if thou find poverty be not ashamed the fault is none of thine Thy honour or dishonour is purchased by thy own actions Though vettue give a ragged livery she gives a golden Cognizance If her service make thee poor blush not Thy poverty may disadvantage thee but not dishonour the● CHAP. IX GAze not on Beauty too much least it blast thee nor too long least it blind thee nor too near least it burn thee if thou like it it deceives thee if thou love it it disturbs thee if thou lust after it it destroys thee if vertue accompany it it is the hearts paradise if vice associate it it is the souls purgatory it is the wisemans Bonefire and the fools Furnace CHAP. X. IF thou wouldst have a good servant let thy servant find a wise master let his food rest and wages be seasonable let his labour recreations and attendance depend upon thy pleasure be not angry with him too long least he think thee malicious nor too soon least he conceive thee rash nor too often least he count thee humorous Be not too fierce least he love thee not nor too remiss least he fear thee not nor too familiar least he prize thee not In brief whil'st thou giv'st him the liberty of a servant beware thou losest not the Majesty of a Master CHAP. XI IF thou desirest to be chast in Wedlock keep thy self chast before thou wedd'st he that hath known pleasure unlawfully will hardly be restrained from unlawfull pleasure One woman was created for one man He that strays beyond the limits of liberty is brought into the verge of Slavery Where one is enough two are too many and three are too few CHAP. XII IF thou would'st be justified acknowledge thy injustice he that confesses his sin begins his journey towards salvation he that is sorry for it mends his pace he that forsakes it is at his journeys end CHAP. XIII BEfore thou reprehend another take heed thou art not culpable in what thou goest about to reprehend He that cleanses a blot with blotted fingers makes a greater blur CHAP. XIV BEware of drunkenness lest all good men beware of thee where drunkenness reigns there reason is an Exul vertu a stranger God an Enemy Blasphemy is wit Oaths are Rhetorick and Secrets are Proclamations Noah discover'd that in one hour drunk which

her object and thy fancy may be deluded in her subject let thy understanding moderate between thine eye and thy fancy and let thy judgement arbitrate between thy fancy and thy will so shal thy fancy apprehend what is true so shall thy will elect what is good CHAP. XVI ENdeavour to subdue as well thy irascible as thy concupiscible affections to endure injuries with a brave mind is one half of the conquest and to abstaine from pleasing evils with a couragious spirit is the other the summ of all humanity and height of morall perfection is Bear and Forbear CHAP. XVII IF thou desire not to be too poor desire not to be too rich He is rich not that possesses much but he that covets no more and he is poor not that enioy's little but he that wants too much the contented mind wants nothing which it hath not the covetous mind wants not onely what it hath not but likewise what it hath CHAP. XVIII THe outward senses are the common Cinque-ports where every subject lands towards the understanding The ear hear's a confused noise and presents it to the common sense The common sense distinguishes the severall sounds and convey's it to the fancy the fancy wildly descants on it the understanding whose object is truth apprehending it to be Musick commends it to the judgement The judgement severally and joyntly examines it and recommends it to the will the will whose object is good approves it or dislikes it and the memory records it And so in the other senses according to their subjects Observe this progress and thou shalt easily find where the defect of every action lies CHAP. XIX THe way to subject all things to thy self is to subject thy self to Reason thou shalt govern many if Reason govern thee wouldst thou be crowned the Monarch of a little world Command thy self CHAP. XX. THough thou givest all thou hast for charity sake and yet retainest a secret desire of keeping it for thy own sake thou rather leavest it then forsakest it He that hath relinquisht all things and not himself hath forsaken nothing he that sets not his heart on what he possesses forsaketht all things though he keep his possessions CHAP. XXI SEarch into thy self before thou accept the ceremony of honour if thou art a Palace honour like the Sun beams will make thee more glorious if thou art a Dunghill the Sun may shine upon thee but not sweeten thee Thy Prince may give thee hononr but not make thee honourable CHAP. XXII EVery man is a King in his own Kingdom If Reason command and passion obey his government speaks a good King if thine inordinate affection rules it shews a proud Rebell which if thou destroy not will depose thee there is no mean between the death of a Rebell and the life of a Prince CHAP. XXIII AVouw promise and a resolution have all one object onely differ in respect of the persons to whom they are made the first is between God and man The second between man and man the third between man and his own soul they all bind if the object be lawfull to necessity of performance if unlawfull to the necessity of sin they all take thee prisoner if the object be lawfull thy performance hath redeem'd thee if unlawfull blood and tears must ransom thee CHAP. XXIV IF thou hast any business of Consequence in agitation let thy Care be reasonable and seasonable continuall standing bent weakens the Bow too hasty drawing breaks it Put off thy cares with thy colaths so shall thy Rest strengthen thy labour and so shal thy labour sweeten thy Rest CHAP. XXV WHen thy inordinate affections do flame towards transitoty happiness quench them thus think with thy self if my Prince should give me what honour he hath to bestow or bestow on me what wealth he hath to give it could not stay with me because it is transitory nor I with it because I am mortall then revise thy affections and weigh them with their object and thou wilt either confess thy folly or make a wiser choice CHAP. XXVI WIth three sorts of men enter no serious friendship the ingratefull man the Multiloquious man the Coward the first cannot prize thy favours the second cannot keep thy Counsell the third dare not vindicate thy Honour CHAP. XXVII IF thou desire the time should not pass too fast use not too much pastime thy life in Jollity blazes like a Tapour in the wind the blast of honour wasts it the heat of pleasure melts it if thou labour in a painfull calling thou shat be less sensible of the flux of Time and sweetlier satisfied at the time of Death CHAP. XXVIII GOd is Alpha and Omega in the gre●t world endeavour to make him so in the little world make him thy evening Epilogue and thy morning Prologue practice to make him thy last though at night when thou sleepest and thy first thought in the morning when thou awakest so shall thy fancy be sanctified in the night and thy understanding rectified in the day so shall thy rest be peacefull thy labours prosperous thy life pious and thy death glorious CHAP XXIX BE very circumspect in the choise of thy company In the society of thine equals thou shalt enjoy more pleasure in the society of thy superiours thou shalt find more profit to be the best in the company is the way to grow worse the best means to grow better is to be the worst here CHAP. XXX THink of God especially in thy devotion in the abstract rather then the concrete if thou conceive him good thy finite thoughts are ready to terminate that good in a conceiv'd subject if thou think him great thy bounded conceit is apt to cast him into a conprehensible figure conceive him therefore diffused goodness without quality and represent him an incomprehensible greatness without quantity CHHP. XXXI IF thou and true Religon be not as yet met or met unknown by these marks thou shalt discove it First it is a Religion that takes no pleasure in the expence of blood Secondly it is a Religion whose Terents cross not the book of Truth Thirdly it is a Religion that takes most from the creature and gives most to the creatout if such a one thou meet with assure thy self it is the right and therefore professit in thy Life and protect it to thy Death CHAP. XXXII LEt anothers passion be a lecture to thy reason and let the Shipwrack of his understanding be a Seamark to thy passion so shalt thou gain strength out of his weakness safty out of his danger and raise thy self a building out of his ruines CHAP. XXXIII IN the height of thy prosperity expect adversity but fear it not if it come not thou art the more sweetly possest of the happiness thou hast and the more strongly confirmed if it come thou art the more gently dispossest of the happiness thou hadst and the more firmly prepared CHAP. XXXIV TO tremble at the sight of thy sin

makes thy faith the less apt to tremble the Devils beleeve and tremble because they tremble at what they beleeve their belief brings trembling thy trembling brings belief CHAP. XXXV AUthology is the way to Theology untill thou seest thy self empty thou wilt not desire to be fil'd he can never truly relish the sweetness of Gods mercy that never tasted the bitterness of his owne Misery CHAP. XXXVI IS any outward affliction fallen upon thee by a temporary loss advise with thy self whether it be recoverable or not if it be use all such lawfull and speedy means the violence and unseasonableness whereof may not disadvantage thee in the pursuit to recover it if not recoverable endure with patience what thou canst not recure with pains he that carnally asslicts his soul for the loss of a transitory good casts away the kernell because he hath lost the shell CHAP. XXXVII NAturall anger glances into the breasts of wisemen but rests in the besom of fools in them it is infirmity in these a sin there is a naturall anger and there is a spirituall anger the common object of that is the person of this his vice he that is always angry with his sin shall seldom sin in his anger CHAP. XXXVIII IF any hard affliction hath surprized thee cast one eye upon the hand that sent it and the other upon the sin that brought it if thou thankfully receive the message he that sent it will discharge the messenger CHAP. XXXIX ALl passions are good or bad according to their objects where the object is absolutely good there the greatest passion is too little where absolutely evill there the lest passion is too much where indifferent there a little is enough CHAP. XL. WHen thou dost evil that good may come thereby the evill is surely thine if good should happen to ensue upon the evill which thou hast done the good proceeds from God if therefore thou do evill thereby to occasionate a good thou laist a bad foundation for a good building and servest the Devill that God may serve thee where the end of evill is good in the intention there the end of that good is evill in the extention CHAP. XLI BE as farr from desiring the popular love as fearfull to deserve the popular hate ruine dwels in both the one will hug thee to death the other wil crush thee to destruction to escape the first be not ambitious to avoid the second be not seditious CHAP. XLII WHen thou seest misery in thy brothers face let him see mercy in thine eye the more the oyl of mercy is powr'd on him by thy pity the more the oyl in thy Cruse shall be encreased by thy Piety CHAP. XLIII REad not books alone but men and amongst them chiefly thy self if thou find any thing questionable there use the Commentary of a severe friend rather then the gloss of a sweet-lipt flatterer there is more profit in a distastfull truth then deceitfull sweetness CHAP. XLIV IF the opinion of thy worth invite any to the desire of thy acquaintance yeeld him a respect sutable to his quality too great a reservation will expose thee to the sentence of Pride too easie access will condemn thee to the censure of Folly things too hardly endeavour'd discourage the seeker too easily obtain'd disparage the thing sought for too easily got is lowly priz'd and quickly lost CHAP. XLV WHen conveniency of time hath ripen'd your acquaintance be cautious what thou say'st and courteous in what thou do'st observe his inclination if thou find him weight make him thine own and lodg him in a faithfull bosom be not rashly exceptious nor rudely familiar the one will breed contention the other contempt CHAP. XLVI WHen Passion is grounded upon Fancie it is commonly but of short continuance Where the foundation is unstable there the building is not lasting He that will be angry for any Cause will be angry for no Cause and when the understanding perceives the cause vain then the judgement proclaims the the effect voyd CHAP. XLVII IF thou desire to purchase Honour with thy wealth consider first how that wealth became thine if thy labour got it let thy wisdom keep it if Oppression found it let Repentance restore it if thy parent left it let thy vertues deserve it Solet thy vertues deserve it So shall thy honour be safer better and cheaper CHAP. XLVIII SIn is a Basilisk whose eyes ar full of Venom if the eye of thy soul see her first it reflects her own poyson and kills her if she see thy soul unseen or seen too late with her poyson she kills thee Since therefore thou canst not escape thy Sin let not thy Sin escape thy observation CHAP. XLIX IF thou expect'st to rise by the means of Him whom thy Fathers greatness rais'd'from his service to Court preferment thou wilt be deceiv'd For the more in esteem thou art the more sensible is He of what he was whose former servitude will be Chronicled by thy advancement and glory obscured by thy greatness However he will conceive it a dead service which may be interpreted by thee as a merited Reward rather than a meritorius benefit CHAP. L. TRust not to the promise of a common swearer for he that dare sin a gainst his God for neither profit nor pleasure will trespass against thee for his own advantage He that dare break the precepts of his Father will easily be perswaded to violate the promise unto his Brother CHAP. LI. LEt the greatest part of the news thou hearest be the lest part of what thou beleevest lest the greatest part of what thou beleevest be the lest part of what is true Where lies are easily admitted the Father of lies will not easily be excluded CHAP. LII DEliberate long before thou consecrate a Friend and when thy impartiall judgement concludes him worthy of thy bosom receive him joy fully and entertain him wisely impart thy secrets boldly and mingle thy thoughts with his He is thy very self and use him so if thou firmly think him Faithfull thou mak'st him so CHAP. LIII AS there is no worldly gain without some loss so there is no worldly loss without some gain If thou hast lost thy wealth thou hast lost some trouble with it if thou art degraded from thy Honour thou art likewise freed from the stroke of envie if sickness hath blurr'd thy beauty it hath deliver'd thee from pride Set the allowance against the loss and thou shalt find no loss gre●● He loses little or nothing that reserves himself CHAP. LIV. IF thou desire to take the best advantage of thy self especially in matters where the Fancy is most imploy'd keep temperate diet use moderate exercise observe seasonable and set hours for Rest Let the end of thy first sleep raise thee from thy Repose Then hath thy Body the best temper Then hath thy Soul the lest incumberance Then no noise shall disturb thy Ear No object shall divert thine Eye Then if thy sprightly Fancie

knowest must either be vomited or thy death CHAP. LVII SIlence is the highest wisdom of a Fool and Speech is the greatest trial of a Wise man if thou would'st be known a Wise man let thy words shew thee so if thou doubt thy words let thy silence feign thee so It is not a greater point of Wisdome to discover knowledg then to hide ignorance CHAP. LVIII THe Clergy is a Copy book their Life is the Paper whereof some is purer some Courser Their Doctrine is the Copies some written in a plain Hand others in a Flourishing Hand some in a Text Hand some in a Roman Hand others in a Court Hand others in a Bastard Roman if the choice be in thy power chuse a Book that hath the finest Paper let it not bee too straight nor too loosely bound but easie to lye open to every Eye follow not every Copy least thou be good at none Among them all chuse one that shall be most Legible and usefull and fullest of Instructions But if the Paper chance to have a Blot remember the Blot is no part of the Copy CHAP. LIX VErtue is nothing but an act of loving that which is to be beloved and that act is Prudence from whence not to be removed by constraint is Fortitude not to be allur'd by enticements is Temperance not to be diverted by Pride is justice The declining of this act is Vice CHAP. LX. REbuke thy Servants fault in private publique reproof hardens his shame if he be past a youth strike him not he is not fit for thy service that after wise reproofs will either deserve thy strokes or digest them CHAP. LXI TAke heed rather what thou receivest then what thou givest What thou givest leaves thee what thou takest sticks by thee He that presents a gift buys the Receiver he that takes a gift sells his liberty CHAP. LXII THings Temporal are sweeter in the Expectation Things Eternal are sweeter in the Fruition The first shames thy Hope the second crown's it it is a vain Journey whose end affords less pleasure then the way CHAP. LXIII KNow thy self that thou maist Fear God Know God that thou maist Love him in this thou art initiated to wisdom in that perfected The Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom The Love of God is the fulfilling of the Law CHAP. LXIV IF thou hast Providence to foresee a danger let thy Prudence rather prevent it than fear it The fear of future evils brings oftentimes a present mischief Whilst thou seek'st to prevent it practise to bear it He is a wise man that can avoyd an evill he is a patient man that can endure it but he is a vailiant man can conquer it CHAP. LXV IF thou hast the place of a Magistrate deserve it by thy Justice and dignifie it with thy Mercy Take heed of early gifts an open hand makes a blind eye be not more apt to punish Vice then to encourage Vertue Be not too severe least thou be hated nor too remiss least thou be sleighted So execute Justice that thou mayst be loved so execute mercy that thou mayest be feared CHAP. LXVI LEt not thy Table exceed the fourth part of thy Revenu Let thy provision be solid and not farr fetcht fuller of substance than Art Be wisely frugall in thy preparation and freely cheerfull in thy entertainment If thy guests be right it is enough if not it is too much Too much is a vanity enough is a Feast CHAP. LXVII LEt thy apparell be decent and suited to the quality of thy place and purse Too much punctualitie and too much morositie are the two Poles of Pride Be neither too early in the Fashion nor too long out of it nor too precisely in it what custom hath civiliz'd is become decent till then ridiculous Where the Eye is the Jury thy apparell is the evidence CHAP. XLVIII IF thy words be too luxuriant confine them least they consine thee He that thinks he never can speak enough may easily speak too much A full tongue and an emty brain are seldom parted CHAP. LXIX IN holding of an argument be neither cholerick nor too opinionate The one distempers thy understanding the other abuses thy judgement Above all things decline Paradoxes and Mysteries Thou shalt receive no honour either in maintaining rank falshoods or medling with secret truths as he that pleads against the truth makes with the mother of his Errour so he that argues beyond warrant makes wisdom the midwife of his folly CHAP. LXX DEtain not the wages from the poor man that hath earn'd it least God withhold thy wages from thee If he complain to thee hear him least he complain to Heaven where he will be heard if he hunger for thy sake thou shalt not prosper for his sake The poor mans penny is a plague in the rich mans purse CHAP. LXXI BE not too cautious in discerning the sit objects of thy Charity least a soul perish through thy discretion What thou givest to mistaken want shall return a blessing to thy deceived heart Better in relieving idleness to commit an accidental evil then in neglecting misery to omit an essential good Better two Drones be preserv'd then one Bee perish CHAP. LXII THeology is the Empress of the world Mysteries are her Privy Covncell Religion is her Clergy The Arts her Nobility Philosophy her Secretary The Graces her Maids of Honour The Moral vertues the Ladies of her Bed-chamber Peace is her Chamberlain True joy and endless pleasures are her Courtiers Plenty her Treasurer Poverty her Exchequer The Temple is her Court If thou desire access to this great Majesty the way is by her Courtiers if thou hast no power there the common way to the Sovereign is the Secretary CHAP. LXXIII IT is an evill knowledg to know the good thou shouldst embrace unless thou likewise embrace the good thou knowest The breath of divine knowledg is the bellows of divine love and the flame of divine love is the perfection of divine knowledg CHAP. LXXIV IF thou desire rest unto thy soul be just He that doth no injury fears not to suffer injury The unjust mind is always in labour It either practises the evill it hath projected or projects to avoid the evill it hath deserved CHAP. LXXV ACcustome thy palate to what is most usuall He that delights in rarities must often feed displeased and somtimes lie at the mercy of a dear market common food nourishes best delicates please most The sound stomack preferr's neither What art thou the worse for the last years plain diet or what now the better for thy last great Feast CHAP. LXXVI WHo ever thou art thou hast done more evill in one day than thou canst expiate in six and canst thou think the evill of six days can require less then one God hath made us rich in days by allowing six and himself poor by reserving but one and shall we spare our own flock and shear his Lamb He that hath done nothing but what

Health may be enjoyed sicknes must be endured one body is the object of both one God the Author of both If then hee give me health I will thankfully enjoy it and not think it too good since it is his mercy that bestowes it if hee send sicknes I will patiently endure it and not think it too great since it is my sinn that deserves it If in health I will strive to preserve it by praising of him if in sicknes I will strive to remove it by praying to him Hee shall bee my God in sicknes and in health and my trust shall bee in him in health and in sicknes So in my health I shall not need to feare sicknes nor in any sicknes despaire of health CHAP. X. IT is the usuall plea of poverty to blame misfortune when the ill finished cause of complaint is a worke of their owne forging I will either make my fortunes good or bee content they are no worse If they are not so good as I would they should have bine they are not so bad as I know they might have bine What though I am not so happy as I desire 'T is well I am not so wretched as I deserve CHAP. XI THere is nothing to be gotten by the worlds love nothing to be lost but its love by its hate Whey then should I seeke that love that cannot profit me or feare that malice that cannot hurt mee If I should love it for loving mee God would hate me for loving it If I loath it for hating mee it cannot hurt mee for loathing it Let it then hate me and I will forgive it but if it love me I will never requite it For since its love is hurtfull and its hate harmeles I wil contemn its hate and hate its love CHAP. XII AS there is a folly in wit so there is a wisdome in ignorance I would not be ignorant in a necessary knowledge nor wise above wisedome If I know enough I am wise enough if I seecke more I amfoolish CHAP. XIII IT 's no marvell that man hath lost his rule over the creature when he would not be ruled by the will of the Creator Why should they feare man when man would not obey GOD I could wish no creature had power to hurt mee I am glad so many creatures are ordained to helpe me If GOD allow enough to serve me J will not expect that all shoult feare me CHAP. XIV NO affliction for the time seemes joyous all time in afiliction seemes tedious J will compare my miseries on earth with my joyes in Heaven and the length of my miseries with its eternity so shall my journey seeme short and my burthen easie CHAP. XV. THere is nothing more certain than death nothing more uncertain than the time of dying I will therefore be prepared for that at all times which may come at any time must come at one time or another I shal not hasten my death by being still ready but sweeten it It makes me not die the sooner but the better CHAP. XVI THe commendation of a bad thing is it's shortnes of a good thing its continuance it were happy for the damned if their torments knew end 't is happier for the Saints that their joyes are eternall If man that is born of a woman be full of misery 't is well that he hath but a short time to live if his life be a walk of pain it s a blessing that his dayes are but a spann long Happy miseries that end in joy happy joyes that know no end happy end that dissolves to eternity CHAP. XVII HAd I not more confidence in the truth of my Saviour than in the traditions of men poverty might stagger my faith and bring my thoughts into a perplexed Purgatory Wherein are the poore blessed if pardon shall be purchased onely by expense Or how is it hard for a rich man to enter into Heaven if money may buy out the past presend future sinnes of himself his deceased and succeeding progeny If heaven bee thus fold what benefit has my poverty by the price already paid I find no happines in Room on earth 'T is happines for me to have Room in Heaven CHAP. XVIII THere is no estate of life so happy in this world as to yeeld a Christian the perfection of content yet there is no state of life so wretched in this world but a Christian must be content with it Though I can have nothing here that may give mee true content yet I will learn to bee treuely contented here with what I have What care I though I have as much as I desire if I have as much as I want I have as much as the most if I have as much as I desire CHAP. XIX IT is the greatest of all sins alway to continue in sin For where the coustome of sinning waxeth greater the conscience for sin growes the less it is easier to quench a spark then a fire I had rather breake the Cockatrices egg then kill the Serpent O daughter of Babylon happy shall hee bee that taketh thy childern whilest they are young and dasheth them against the stones CHAP. XX. NAture bids me love my selfe and hate all that hurt me Reason bids me love my friends and hate those that envie me Religion bids me love all and hate none Nature sheweth care Reason wit Religion love Nature may induce me Reason perswade me but Religion shall rule me I will hearken to Nature in much to Reason in more to Religion in all Nature shall make me carefull of my self but hatefull to none Reason shall make me wise for my self but harmeles to all Religion shall make me loving to all but not carles of my self I may heare the former I will hearken onely to the later I subscribe to some things in all to all things in Religion CHAP. XXI Abundance is a trouble want a misery honour a burthen baseness a scorne advancements dangerous disgrace odious Onely a competent estate yeelds the quiet of content I will not climbe least I fall nor lye in the ground least I am trod on I am safest whiles my leggs beare me A competent heate is moast health full for my body J would desire neither to freez nor to burn CHAP. XXII A Large promise without performance is like a false fire to a great Peice which dischargeth a good expectation with a bad report J will fore-think what J will promise that J may promise but what J will doe Thus whilest my words are led by my thoughts and followed by my actions J shall be carefull in my promises and just in their performance J had rather doe and not promise than promise and not doe CHAP. XXIII THe good meaner hath two tongues the Hypocrite a double tongue The good mans heart speaks without his tongue the Hypocrites tongue without his heart The good man hat oftentimes God in his heart when in his mouth there is no God mentioned the Hypocrite hath God