Friends Joseph Antip. l. 11. c. 8. when there is no need of them and to want them when there is need are both alike easie and common Such Friends were the Samaritans to the Jewes who claimed kindred of them in their Prosperity but in their Adversity they would not own them Is this thy kindness to thy Friend said Absolom to Hushai when as he supposed he had deserted his Friend David 2 Sam. 16.17 notwithstanding that he pretended great love unto him but the question may be more truly put to many in these dayes who do not only forsake their Friends in the day of their distresse Tuta frequens que via est c. Prov. 27.6 Dr. Jermin in loc Tremel Melius est cum severitate diligere quà m cum levitate decipeâ—e Aug. conf 9. but treacherouslie undermine them and betray them under a shew of Friendship Faithful are the wounds of a Friend saith Solomon but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful or as some render the Proverb the wounds of a Friend are to be nourished that is his Reproofs Corrections and Chastisements are to be received and esteemed as the fruits and effects of Love But the kisses of an enemy are to be prayed against the flattering speeches and fawning curtesies of pretended Friends we must desire God to keep us from the danger of for that they proceed from a deceitfull mind As Abner and Amasa found by wofull experience 2 Sam. 20.9 13 18. Psal 28.3 Peior est falsus amor quà m verum odium and our blessed Saviour who was betrayed with a kisse Such Friends David puts in his Letanie And Antigonus of purpose kept a Priest to pray and to offer up sacrifice to his gods that he might be kept from the Danger of them As for his open foes he said he would be carefull to defend himself Ah vile shame that amongst Christians lesse faithfullnesse in Friendship should be found then was amongst the Heathens we all professe our selves to be of the family of Christ would it were with us as in that that there were but one of 12 were unfaithfull to God and their Friend but we find it otherwise not one amongst twelve that are found faithfull The false dealing of Counterfeit Friends have more afflicted good men then all the wrongs that they have received by open enemies Psal 41.9 It was the Complaint of Luther Psal 41.9 A falsis amicis plus est mihi periculi quà m ab ipso toto Papatu This hath given just cause for some to say of their Friends as Nazianzen sometimes did to Basil that he had got nothing by their Friendship Basil Epist 31. but onely learned this Lesson not to trust a Friend The Naturalists tell us of a Gem or pretious stone which they call Ceraunias that glisters most when the skye is Cloudy and overcast with darknesse and to be found soonest as we say of Eeles in a day of thunder True Friends are like this Gem Not like those Brooks that Iob speaks of whereunto he compares his Friends which fail when there is most need of them If thou seest thy Friend in trouble and that he flies to thee for harbour Iob 6.15 19. prove not like the Bramble unto the sheep a means of his further sorrow and entanglement but afford him the best advice and help thou canst Remembring what Solomon saith that thou wert born to help him in that hour And to deny help unto thy distressed Friend and Brother when power is in thy hand is in a manner to deny thy birth And it is pitty that ever he was born who denyes to do that which he was born for And thus much we have gathered from the letter of the Parable now to the spirituall meaning And thence we are taught that God is that Friend to whom the Godly addresse themselves in all their wants and troubles Myst Doct. His bosome is their Refuge in the day of their Calamity This is confirmed by that of David Psal 32.5 6. Every one that is Godly shall pray unto thee Psal 32.5 6. As if he should say he that is Godly and holy will come to thee and pour forth his grievances into thy bosome yea every such one will do it of what degrees or rank soever So elsewhere unto thee shall all flesh come Psal 65.2 that is All sorts of men that are converted and brought into a League of Friendship with thee Psal 65.2 for flesh is there so to be taken as elsewhere Psal 145.21 Acts 2.17 they shall fly to thee and resort to thee as to their only Refuge in all their troubles Thus did Jacob a Patriarch in the day of his distresse Gen. 32.9 Hos 12.4 Moses and Aaron amongst the Priests Gen. 32.9 Hos 12.4 Numb 16.18 19 20 6. 1 Sam. 8.21 Psal 99.6 2 Chron. 20.12 2 King 19.14 15. 1 Sam. 1.15 Psal 34 6. Prov. 18.10 In all their tribulations they may be found at the door of the Tabernacle Numb 16.18 19 20 6. And Samuel amongst the Prophets 1 Sam. 8.21 These called upon the name of the Lord in the day of their Calamity Psal 99.6 The like did Jehosaphat and Hezekiah amongst the Kings of Judah As we read 2 Chron. 20.12 2. King 19.14 15. Time would faile me if I should instance in all of all sorts and rankes Women have made this Friend their Refuge as well as men 1 Sam. 1.15 Poor as well as Rich Psal 34.6 In short the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower saith Solomon Prov. 18.10 that is Look what a strong Tower is in time of Danger such is God His power Providence Mercy Goodnesse for by these is God knowen as men are known by their names to these that have recourse unto him Reas This the Godly well know and therefore in all their troubles and calamities they fly to him Psal 123.1 2. Psal 141.2 Lam. 3.41 Psal 25.1 their eyes are lifted up their hands are stretched out their hearts are carryed and that with speed as being well acquainted with the way and there they know they are safe For it is a Tower as high as Heaven it self as strong as strength it self and such a defence that all the Assaults that can be made against it are but like the blowing of leaves or paper bullers against a wall of brasse Object But if God be this Friend that must be sought unto what need we other and whereto tends that before delivered of seeking Earthly Friends in the day of our distresse Resp This Doctrine we have now delivered doth not trip up the heeles of the former point for albeit other Friends are to be made use of and resorted unto yet God is our Friend Paramount our choisestand best Friend for First all our earthly Friends are but Subservient under God and for God It is he that raiseth them up unto us Prov. 16.7 he it was that gave Joseph favour in the
her Affection They are like Mice in a Barne or Wasps about a Galley pot they swarme about us whilst something may be had So long as we are in a flourishing estate they will as birds in Summer build in our boughes but the leaves being fallen they delight not in our shadow Such were Adoniahs Friends no sooner had he usurped the Crown and proclaimed himself King but many joyned with him As Joab the Generall of Davids Army 1 King 1.7 and most of the chief Captaines and Commanders besides Abiathar the high Priest And yet saith the Text vers 8. the mighty men that belonged to David were not with him He had not the strength of the Armie on his side albeit he had most of the mighty Commanders of Soldiers for that they were not true unto him For all the shew that they made they did not respect Adoniah so much as their own ends therefore no sooner was Solomon proclaimed but they left Adoniah to himself to make good his own Title Such Friends David found in his prosperity Shemei was no Railer nor yet Achitophell a Traitor 2 Sam. 15.31 2 Sam. 16.5.13 Ester 7 8 9. but when the times turned they could turne with them and prove both Hamans Friends who had before smiled in his face and kissed his feet now finding the King incensed against him are ready to cover his head and help him to the halter 2 Tim. 4.16 And such Friends St. Paul found many who pretended love yet in his trouble forsook him and would not stand by him If they follow him it shall be with Peter a farre off And such a Time-serving Friend was Pompey to Cicero as we read in a storie who slipt out at a back dore when Cicero flew to him for safe-guard of his life and so left him to the mercy of his enemies Such Friends as these you may have many who sing to the tune of Fortune as they say they keep time but ever sing the Base saith one So that the case albeit these abound may be still put unto you Which of you shall have a Friend Secondly Ecclus. 6. Vers 9. Pro. 26.23 Psal 118.12 there is a Treacherous and a Perfidious Friend that turneth to enmitie and taketh part against thee and in contention he will declare thy shame Solomon resembles these to Potsheds overlaid with silver drosse Prov. 26.23 David to Bees they come about me like Bees saith he Psal 118.12 The Bee hath both hony and a sting so these have hony in their mouths but gall in their hearts One compares these to silken halters Mel in ore Fel in corde to halters for that they will strangle and choake a man to silken ones for that their words are smooth and soft as David found Psal 55.21 Others resemble them to Hangmen Diog. Laertius who with the one hand embrace a man when with the other they pluck out his bowels Or to Butchers who claw the Oxe on the â—ibs that they may have the fairer blow at his head Of such Friends as these Jeremiah gives warning Jer. 9.4.8 Judg. 9.6.23 1 Sam. 18.17 22.9 cap. 9.4.8 Such Friends were the Sichemites to Abimelech Judg. 9.6.23 Saul and Doeg to David 1 Sam. 18 17. and 22.9 And such Friends to Christ were those spyes sent forth by the Scribes and Pharises who feined themselves to be good men that they might the sooner entrap him in his talk Luke 20.20 Cassius and Brutus of whom the History makes mention were such treacherous Friends to Caesar Ptolomie King of Aegypt to Pompey Luk. 20.20 whose head he sent to Caesar for a present Antipater to Alexander Zophyrus to the Babylonians who betrayed them to Darius And such a one was Banester who betrayed the Duke of Buckingham his Master in the dayes of Richard the third which treachery was revenged by God both on him and his as our Chronicles mention These Friends are like Familiar Divells which forsake their Witches when they have brought them into fetters or at best but like Moses-rod they will seemingly be for a while a staffe to stay us but anon of a rodd they are turned into a Serpent mortally to sting us Many such Friends the world is full of but not a true Friend is to be found amongst them all Thirdly Vers 10.11.18 there is another kind of Friend that the Sonne of Syrach makes mention of A Back and Belly Friend who is a Companion at our Tables and will be as we our selves in prosperity The heart of these Friends are in our Pâ—â—ts or Pockets Aes in praesenti perfectum format amorem find them somewhat to give and they will find in their hearts to Love These are like the Reflexion of a Looking-glasse they will imitate any gesture that you use right Dotterell-catchers if you smile they will smile if you frown they will do so if you make a stand they will if you spread out a wing so will they if you hold the neck aside they will do the like As did Alexander's flatterers if thou stoopest with thy shoulders so will they do as did Plato's Schollars in imitation of their Master As thou art they will be as thou doest they will do Such Friends were those spoken of Hos 7.3 -6. Hos 7.3.6 John 6.26 who make Princes glad with their lies and flatteries And those the like who followed our Saviour for the Loaves and Fishes more for the meat then for the miracle Hic dat epulis accumbere Divum They seemed to say with Aeolus in Virgil this man keeps a good house come we will after him whilst the pot boiles their affections will Many such there are in the world who like Flyes come to the Honey pot like Ants come to the Wheat yet saith Seneca the Flyes are no Friends to the Honey nor the Ants to the Wheat Many of these Friends you may have and yet the question may be asked Which of you shall have a Friend As for true Friendship we may say of it as sometimes the Duke of Buckingham said to Bishop Morton in Richard the third's dayes It is gone on Pilgrimage and no man knowes when it will returne Wherefore Dan. Hist 231. be not deceived in point of Freindship think not to find all them Friends that would be counted so Julian the Apostate is not presently a Friend to Basil though in writing unto him he styled himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou art my Friend and beloved Brother Scarce a lettter comes unto thee but either the superscription or subscription mentions a Loving Friend But as it was said of Adrian by the multitude of Physitians the Emperour is dead so it may be as truly said by the multitude of Friends such as pretend themselves to be so many a man is undone for want of a true Friend In short Esteem not every hanger-by that pretends Friendship to you in prosperitie a fast Friend take away the Idoll-gold and then
into serious friendship withall The first is the Angry man make no friendship with an angry man Prov. 22.24 saith Solomon and with the furious man thou shalt not go Prov. 22.24 But here we must distinguish of Anger There is Anger mortified and subdued in a man and Anger raigning with the former nothing hinders but we may be familiar friends Some Friends may by Nature be somewhat hasty Friendship with these may not be excluded when through Gods grace they bridle themselves in some good measure But with the latter such a one as is a man of Anger whose Anger is his Lord and Master that cannot command his passion but is in bondage to it make no friendship with him the Reason the wise man renders vers 29. lest thou learn his wayes and get a snare to thy soul The love of Friends will quickly breed a love of their doings and so instead of getting a Friend thou wilt get a snare unto thy soul and fall into some evil and mischief into which Anger and Fury driveth men Secondly the Covetous man is not fit to be entred withall into a league of friendship for that friendship is ill made which is soon broken Actum est de amicitia Prov. 1.19 1 Tim. 6.10 2 Sam. 16.3 1 Sam. 25.10 2 Tim. 4 10. Mat. 26.14 15. and no band of friendship or amity will hold with the covetous person if ought may be gained by the breach of it And such are the wayes of every one that is greedy of gain he will not stick to take away life from the owner Prov. 1.19 Covetousness is the Root of all evil 1 Tim. 6.10 No sin so barbarous as it Experience verifieth this It breaks all bands of amity nature duty as might be exemplified in Ziba Nabal Demas Judas Love of Lucre causeth a man to betray the best Friend living All the kindness of the covetous is but like the Fowlars shrap wherein he casts meat not our of kindness to relieve the Birds but treachery to ensnare them Thirdly the Drunkard is as unfit a piece of Timber for this Building as either of the former for besides the learning of his vices there is no trusting him with our secrets his mind and stomach are alike neither can retain what they receive In his Cups Friends and soes are alike Familiars and strangers are of equal esteem Prov. 23.29 Who hath contentions Prov. 23 29. Nec verbosum arbitror eligendum Aug. de amiciâ— c. 14. who hath bablings c. but the Drunkard Alexander killed his friend in his drunkenness Any secret shall in drink be revealed of Friends Wife State through his much babling yea his own heart shall come up as easily as some of his drink no hope of a Drunkards secresie till his tongue be wormed Fourthly The crafty worldly and carnal Politician is held to be one of the worst sort of men to make a friend of Subtile heads have not the faithfulest hearts usually where a politique head sowes a false heart waters and there God gives no increase An instance we have in Achitophel who for worldly wisdom and policy was like the Oracle of God 2 Sam. 16.23 but he was like the Oracle of the Devil for his deceitfulness and treachery whilest David swayed the Scepter who more loyal then Achitophel but when David was in banishment who more perfidious and false-hearted Felth. Resolves pag. 256. Policy in friendship saith one is like Logick in Truth it is somewhat too subtil it is too full of Cranks and Angles for the discovery of a plain familiar Seek not a friend amongst these for they so often remove their Habitation that you will not know where to find them when you stand in most need Fifthly Nor is one of noted duplicity or double dealing fit for friendship such David speaks of Psal 12.2 he that is justly taxed with this aspersion that he is double-tongued Psal 12.2 or double-faced he is not to be trusted for although he speaks fair believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart saith Solomon Prov. 26.25 Leave this Dipthong out of your Alphabit much more out of your Creed Lastly Ecclus. 12.10.12 A reconciled Enemy we are warned to take heed of by the Son of Syrach As Iron rusteth so doth his wickedness therefore set him not by thee lest he destroy thee The very guilt of having done a wrong hath such deep Impression in the injurer as that he scarce ever after will confide in the person injured nor treat with him in sincerity He loves without trust as if he would one day hate and his friendship is alwayes startled with suspition for being conscious of his own unfaithfulness he will be alwayes jealous of thine through his own guiltiness And yet herein many circumstances are to be weighed and well considered before we refuse to receive one into our former friendship and favour who hath shewed himself an enemy unto us and dealt falsly with us As first whether the wrong he did us was out of weakness and frailty or out of envy and spight Secondly whether he hath shewed any tokens or evidences of unfeigned sorrow for the wrong done Hath he humbled himself and begged pardon of God and thee If so and that thou art perswaded of his Repentance nothing hinders but that thou mayst embrace him again as a Friend so dealt our Saviour with Peter Mark 16.7 Mark 16.7 But if he have offended malitiously and shewed no evident sign of sorrow and Repentance for his fault put no confidence in him He had need sit sure that backs that Horse which hath once cast his Rider It was Sampsons fault and folly Judg. 16.8.12.17 to trust Dalilah on her word when he had bin once and again deceived by her well deserves he to break his shins that stumbles twice at one stone And thus you have heard who are not fit to be made choyce of for intimate friends now for the Affirmative whom we are to chuse and where A good and gracious man Vera amicitia tantum inter bonos oritur inter bones profuit inter optimos consummatur Cassiodor 5. Psal is fit only to make a fast friend of There are that make three kinds of friendship 1. Profitable where profit is the bond 2. Pleasant where pleasure is the linck of our Affections 3. Honest where virtue is the Load-stone And the praeeminence by the confession of the very Heathen is given to the last which they say is the only perfect friendship For besides in this friendship above all other there is a similitude of Manners and Affections The godly being quickned by the same Spirit cannot but mind the same thing and affect the same thing and what gratious Affections are in any of us the same are in others which partake of the same spirit this praeeminence it hath that nothing can dissolve it no Sword can cut this Gordian knot in two They love in the truth
during life be quite shaken off It pleades more than ordinary acquaintance and familiarity even Inherence One house hath held us one breath served us one nutriment fed us one conception bred us It promiseth much content and delight unto us but it is a Table Friend a back or belly-friend This hath bin found to be deceitful and of double-dealing It brings forth meat in a Lordly dish as Jael did to Sisera Judg. 5.25 26. and calls Come in my Lord come in It presents delicates to our view but withall it puts the hand to the nâ—yl and workmans Hammer with the Hammer smites she Sisera she smites off his head Rom. 13.13 Gal. 5.21 after she hath pierced the Temples And withall it is given to drunkenness and excess It will please the Appetite what eâ—er come of it but if you cool the por the friendship of the flesh cools with it make no choyce therefore of the flesh for a friend if you be wise The Devil pretends great friendship to us Gen. 3.21 Math. 4.9 as he did to our first Parents You shall be as Gods And so to our blessed Saviour All this will I give thee But he is a treacherous friend his aim is to betray us and throw us down headlong from happiness He is too subtle a Politician to be a true friend unto us and being an enemy from the beginning it is no trusting of him though he seemingly be reconcil'd for his malice is implacable These are the three you must avoid in point of Friendship Quest There is a fourth that offers Friendship to us who is onely worthy And that is God himself who is desirous to enter into a League of Friendship with us and sends forth his Ambassadours his Ministers for this end intreating us to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5.20 2 Cor. 5.20 There was a time when God and man were Friends else reconciliation could not be for reconciliation is but the renewing of a former Friendship that hath bin interrupted and broken This Friendship God meant not to break not had he purpose to fall out with man nor had he done any thing by any purpose of his towards the violation of that Friendship man did the wrong yet he continuing his everlasting goodnesse to man invites him to return to his obedience and accept of the means of reconciliation return to the same state of friendship which he had at first And such a reconciled Friend as he is will be a Friend indeed unto us Not to our wealth not to our riches he needs not our Thousands of Rams nor our ten thousand Rivers of oyl Mich. 6.7 but it is for his own sake that he sets his heart upon us and for our sakes too that we may be eâ—erlastingly happy in his Friendship Nor is his Friendship sickle but constant not a Friend to day and a Foe to morrow but a Friend for ever he useth not his Friends as we do our Ladders bear them on our shoulders whilst we hope to climbe high by them and then throw them down and lay them on the ground nor as we do flowers keep them in our bosome whilst they be fresh and when they fade fling them on the Dunghill Dent. 31.8 Josh 1.5 Heb. 13.5 6. Psal 73.25 He will never fail us nor forsake us It we be not ashamed of him he will not be ashamed of us Say then as David Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee whom desire I for my friend but thee None but Christ none but Christ. But how may I be so happy as to have God my Friend what must be done to obtain his Friendship seeing by nature we stand in a stare of Enmity Resp First take the Course that the Tyrians and Sydonians did Acts 12.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Germen Acts 12.20 Herod was offended with them they make a Friend at Court Zarh 3.8 6 12. John 1.18 Zach. 13.7 Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine by whose mediation Herod was reconci ed We have a Blastus that Germen the Branch as the Prophet calls him who is Gods favorite or fellow-friend as he is termed Zach. 13.7 a bosome friend Iohn 1.18 get him to mediâ—â—e for thee and then for his sake God will be reconciled and become thy friend Shall Herod be appeased by Blastus his Intercession and not God by Christs Read 1 Iohn 2.1 2. Secondly 2 Cor. 5.18 there is an Instrument of Reconciliation drawen betwixt God and Man which you must subscribe and put your hands unto 2 Cor. 5.18 This word of Reconciliation is the Ministery of the Gospel all that is required there is to Believe and Repent which is the sum of all this must be subscribed unto dip your pens in the blood of the Lamb subscribe your names by acceptation of the offers of Reconciliation in the Gospel made do but subscribe accept and then God and Man will become Friends Thirdly if thou woudlst have God to be thy Friend see that thou beest of his acquaintance converse often with him and be often in his Company It is true as before you have heard Acquaintance is not friendship yet without Acquaintance no friendship can be had Good will a man may bear to him that he never saw But perfect friendship cannot be had betwixt such as never had the sight nor enjoyed the Company each of other It requires a mutuall frequentation and familiar conversation We read 1 Sam. 18.1 that the soul of Ionathan was knit with the soul of David and that Ionathan loved David as his own soul How this came to passe the Text shews in the words foregoing 1 Sam. 18.1 It came to passe that as David had made an end of speaking unto Saul c. Had not David bin in the presence of Ionathan had he not heard David speak and seen his carriage and spirit he had never been so taken with him as be was but now being in his Company and conversing with him his heart was fast knit and glewed to him And so it falls out betwixt God and us If we come into his presence frequent his Ordinances converse with him speak frequently by prayer unto him then his heart will be knit unto us and he will be our friend hereto to tends that of Eliphaz Iob 22.31 Job 22.21 Acquaint thy sâ—lf with him and be at peace that is by acquainting thy self thus with him a league of friendship will be made between you whereby good shall come unto thy soul so the Promise is Zach. 13.9 Fourthly Zach. 13.9 Similitudo moâ—um par micitiam see that thou conform thy self to Gods will and Nature Among men there is nothing so glewes and soders mens spirits as a similitude and conformity of manners and disposition when there is a sutableness of nature and incâ—ination there will quickly be a closing as you have hear so it is here He that loves purenesse of heart for the grace of his lips the
ours Use 2 How happy might we be if now at length we would be wise in redeeming of our Time Ephes 5.16 Good houres and opportunityes are merchandize of the highest rate and price and whosoever would be rich in Grace here or Grace hereafter must not suffer any faire opportunity to passe by him but must buy it up out of those Hucksters hands which would forestall the markets of it I meane Profits and pleasures of the world vaine sports and pastimes idle talking immoderate sleeping superfluous feeding c. We give our monyes for meat drink and apparrell so should we be content to part with our delights and pleasures to purchase some time for holy Dutyes We should get knowledge of the worth of the Commodity as Merchants do of that they buy David highly esteemed of the men of Isachar for that they had understanding of the Times 1 Chron. 12.39 1 Chron. 12.39 And God will highly esteeme of us if we be skilfull herein and wise to apprehend them It is good in this sense to be a Time-server So some read Rom. 12.11 Serving the Time the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being not much different in old briefe writing Rom. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ambrose Pellican Calvin Gualt Martyr Erasm The meaning is not that we should be as weathercocks turning with every blast of wind that our Religion should be an Almanack-Religion changing with the Time and season nor a Meridionall-Religion calculated to the height of Westminster nor a Lunary Religion that ebbs and flowes nor a State Religion that obeyes Affections of Persons but the meaning is that we should observe what is fitting for Time and Season and that do yet without departing from truth and honesty that we should reject nothing that in its season is offered nor embrace any thing that is not in its season tendered Quest But how shall a man come to know the fittest season of any actions Resp This indeed is a taske somwhat difficult For as it is God that hath allotted a Time for every action So it is from God that we come to find out the fittnesse and seasonablenesse of Time for each purpose and Action God hath made every thing beautifull in his Time saith Solomon also he hath set the world in their heart so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end Eccles 3.11 Eccles 3.11 The word that is translated the world doth properly signifie Tempus absconditum a hidden time and is so rendered by some learned Expositors Dr. Jerm in loc as best agreeing with the scrope of the place They read the words thus he hath made all things beautifull in his Time also he hath set a hidden Time in the heart of them that is he hath hid from the heart of men the Time for every thing which he hath appointed so that man of himself cannot find out the work which God maketh so beautifull on its Time So Eccles 9.12 Eccles 9.12 Man knoweth not his Time Such is his ignorance that herein the brute Creatures are preferred before him Jer. 8.7 Jer. 8.7 Yea the very Ant a silly and contemptible creature seemes herein to excell him Pro. 6.6 Pro. 6.6 Notwithstanding the heart of the wise man shall know it God will teach him to discerne both Time and Judgement Eccles 8.5 Psal 25.15 Eccles 8.5 God will guide him in the way that he should choose Psal 25.15 And this he doth both by his word and Spirit His Word is not wanting in pointing out the Time and Season for doing any Action of moment Isay 22.12 23. Nehe. 8.10 Jam. 5.13 Amos 5.13 Pro. 3.2.7 It gives us Rules when to Mourn and when to Rejoyce when to Pray and when to sing Psalms when to Reprove and when to be silent when to give and when to forbeare giving which Generall Rules a wise Christian will apply to his own occasions As for other particular occasions which occasionally happen Now for this Now for that These shall not want a secret knock and call at the Dore of a wisemans heart which shall be as if a man stood behinde him whispering to him saying Now it is a Time to speak to God for his Church and Children Now a word of comfort would be in season to such or such a distressed Creature Now it is a fitting Time to humble thy soul by Prayer before the Almighty and to set in with God to strike when he strikes like the Smith and his boy A secret guidance from Gods blessed spirit will pitch us upon the right Time Hol. 14.9 Who is wise will understand these things There are some other Particular Rules which may be very usefull to us for our direction in seasonable performance of good Actions such are these The first Opportunity that is offered to any for doing good or receiving good would be apprehended and not put by for that is commonly the best It being with Time as it is with a Vessell of Wine the best and purest part of it is first drawn out and that which remaines behind being neere the dreggs and Lees is the worst when a man omitteth a faire Opportunity offered him â—â—cts 24 25. he seldome meets with the like againe Foelix thought to have had a more convenient Time to send for Paul but he never met with it A wise Merchant takes his first Chapman And a wise Christian lets not slip the first occasion offered of doing what good he can Thus Samuel advised Saul when this shall come to passe do that which commeth next thy hand for so the words are to be read 1 Sam. 10.7 1 Sam. 10.7 Eccles 9.10 Hereto tends that of Solomon Eccles 9.10 whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might the hand findeth that which is within the reach of it or else within the grasp of it and whatsoever thy hand findeth to do is whatsoever thou art able whatsoever thou hast meanes to do Do that with thy might that is with all thy strength and ability lay fast hold on the first Opportunity suffer it not to slip from thee say not the Dore is now shut I cannot rise to give thee Secondly let the weightyest works have the praecendency those which are first in excellency should be first in Time Math. 6.33 Math. 6.33 No wise man puts off matters of greatest weight and importance till the last but gives them the priority both of Time and Place What Tradesman on a Market day would neglect a good Customer in his shop to heare a Ballad sung in the street What wise man having a suite at Law and the day of hearing at hand would neglect that and spend the Time in delivering letters to this or that Friend Mary was commended above Martha for this Luke 10.42 that she minded principally that one thing which was necessary If an opportunity