sheets are but Collections out of other mens Works well Sumpsi non surripui and as Varro speaks of Bees de re rust lib. 6. Minime maleficae nullius opus vellicantes faciunt deterius what wrong have I done Si apparet unde sumptum sit aliud tamen quam unde sumptum sit apparet And as nature doth with the aliment of our bodies so do I concoquere quod hausi dispose of what I take Thou findst fault with Barbarisme Tautologie Dialect Method being without Art Invention or Judgement I will confess thou canst not think worse of me then I do of my self Nasutus fis usque licet fis denique nasus Non potes in nugas dicere plura meas Ipse ego quam dixi Yet let me tell thee Primus vestrum non sum nec imus I must abide the censure for Pro captu lectoris ha bent sua fata libelli Opinion alters so in humane race She makes the fancie various as the face Some come as Bees to suck honey others as Spiders are for poison And as the Dutch-host saith in a surly manner Aliud tibi quaeras diversorium betake thy self to some other Book if this please not And to conclude I humbly submit my self to the truly judicious and thorowly learned appealing to their candor intreating them to lay aside the persons of Judges for that of friends this being but a Pamphlet whether the bulk or worth be considered And though in this learned and knowing age wherein so many things are written by those with whom lam not worthy to be named and that I might have spared my pains the world already being under such a glut of Books I am encouraged by a saying of Saint Austins That it is good and profitable to the Church of Christ that the same things be written of by diverse men in diverse books because those books which come to the view of some will not come to the sight of others and by this means the truths of Christ will bee the sooner and easier spread and propagated And therefore to testifie my love to the truth that the sun of righteousness may not go down in our daies I shall exhort all to stick close to the interest of Christ For Christians have agood Master and God's work is such as will improve and crown it self From my Cottage inVdimer near Rye in Sussex 1658. Macte Good Company BEING A Collection of various serious pious Meditations useful for instruction consolation and confirmation Assistente Deo Mart. 18. 1657. CENTURY I. 1. BAd times amongst Christians should have a Christian construction that the changes of the time make us not Changelings 2. It 's a glory to behold amongst men of several opinions one heart and one spirit of grace and heavenliness in them all 3. Bodily misery is to make us sensible of soul-misery God pulling the rope without to make the bell speak within 4. He that lifts his soul out of sin by halfs lifts and lets fall again sinking the soul lower and so the Divel a little stirred and not cast out takes stronger hold 5. So long as we are sinful we must be sorrowful and to be entertained at David's Ordinary is no dishonor his tears were his meat day and night 6 As salt water upon sweet wax extingusiheth the tapour So brackish tears upon the broken heart puts out the blaze of sin 7. Grief without cause is madness and without moderation is hopelesse 8. God is upon the giving hand when he gives a new heart 9. The tear which floweth from the soul of a faithful man out of the sense of evil purifieth the conscience and makes it quiet 10. Since mans fall it hath been his sin not to weep yet too much weeping may be turn'd into sin For tears as they are the effects of sin so they may be the actors of sin 11. Christ alone who wept in the Garden can plead our atonement and by the power of his Passion restore us to comfort 12. Sin brings in sorrow but let not sorrow bring in more sin by causing us to murmure or charge God foolishly 13. God never delivered any man for his repentance and yet never any in mercy without repentance either giving repentance before or with the deliverance 14. Better troubles then sin continue to have peace return and hearts unturned is worse then war 15. Better know five words of Scripture by our own experience then five thousand by anothers Exposition 16. Such is Gods Sovereignty over us that he may use us as he pleaseth and wee must be quiet under his hand 17. There 's no trusting to any creature comforts they be so uncertain 18. No man is without sin yet the afflictions of many are not for their fins 19. True faith is often assaulted but never finally overthrown 20. God's judgments are often secret but never unjust 21. It 's not safe judging of our spiritual estate by God's dealing in our outward estate 22. No condition so low but Gods hand can reach us and save us 23. A choice blessings to have a healthful mind in a healthful body and of the two it 's better that the body be sick then the soul 24. From one sin there 's but a short and easie passage to another 25. Men who are too greedy to know others are too carelesse to know themselvs 26. True reformation is in abhorring not absteining loathing not leaving of sin 27. A good trial of a sincere heart when there 's sweet proportion and godly harmony betwixt our actions justifying one another 28. That is a man's God and treasure wherewith his heart is most affected 29 And as affection shews the heart so affliction discovers both corruption and grace 30. In sin man's deceitful heart abstracts the pain from the pleasure and in godlinesse it severs the crown of glory from the crown of thorns 31. That any thing is coeternal with the Creator is repugnant both to Religion and Reason 32. God from all eternity had the same power of Creation which in the beginning he put in execution 33. No man hath cause to brag of himself his beginning was of nothing 34. Man was created to do the will of the Lord not his own 35. God's gradual proceeding in the creation should occasion man's deliberate meditation 36. The creature was onely made had by sin and proves bad to sinners 37. Man hath no cause to be proud being made of that element on which every creature may set his foot and lay his dung 38. Man's rebellion against the Creator is often punished with the creatures rebellion against himself 39. God is so far from allowing man to live lawlesse in any estate that he put him under law in the state of innocency 40. The fruit we reap of the tree of knowledge is not too much to desire forbidden knowledg 41. It 's the sign of a base mind to think he can win more credit by his garments then his graces for a sanctified soul is
heart at first doth tremble at the least sin or error but through custome and continuance will bear up any sin or error 14. The more sensible the soul is of outward things the lesse 't is of spiritual things 15. He that sets his love upon the creature loseth the very strength of his soul 16. Wise men when they go about spiritual duties cut themselves short of the use of the creatures 17. Conscience hardned in some great sin makes no stop in fin 18. A heart will not easily be kept tender that is not under the means of grace 19. A Reprobate hath joined with his heart security insensibleness obstinacie and contempt of the means 20. A Christian may have hardnesse of heart and yet feels it as a man that hath the stone and know it 21. If God take away the grace a man hath he becoms worse of himself then he was by nature 22. They that are not bettered by Religion under the means are so much worse by their use of the means 23. Spiritual grief for sin though it be not so vehement as outward grief for losses yet it is more constant 24. If there were no weaknesse in us what need Christ continue making peace for us in heaven 25. They that have a tender heart from God have also a tender heart for God 26. A tender heart is fit to run any errand of God's sending because its pliable 27. Tender hearts lay to heart other mens estates weeping over the misery of the wicked rejoicing at the good of the godly 28. A cerimonial hypocrite is more hard to be wrought upon then Turk or Pagan 29. It 's a disposition not unbefitting the greatest Monarch to humble himself before the great God 30. It 's the glory of a Christian that he hath got grace to humble himself 31. Many are humbled who are not humble and cast down who have proud hearts 32. True sorrow cannot speak distinctly for broken hearts speak but broken words 33. Justification of God and self-condemnation go with true humiliation 34. Hee that thinks highly of himself robs God of his glory and makes himself an Idol 35. An humble heart is a vessel of grace for so much humility so much grace 33. After the measure we empty our selvs in that measure we are filled with the fulnesse of God 37. All grace flows in upon the humble soul as water from the hills into the valleys making the soul rich in God 38. Seeing humble fouls are onely safe and secure we must either humble our selvs or God will 39. God works many times by graceless persons but he doth not work in them 40. Thunderclaps over our heads are feared but not those which are far off so wicked men fear judgment near but regardless if far off 41. If humiliation have not faith and hope to raise the soul to some comfort it turns to desperation 42. True humility makes a man nothing and yet fills the soul in God 43. A wicked man may be sensible of his judgment but not of the cause 44. Adversity will never hurt where there 's no iniquity 45. Outward expressions of sorrow are no further good then when they come from inward grief and affection for God must have inward affections or else he abhors outward actions 46. It 's an easie matter to force tears but it 's hard to afflict the soul 47. It 's the sin of many in stead of renting their cloaths in coming before God come to shew their bravery and to be seen 48. That man is falsly humble and truly proud who while he afflicts the body omits the soul 49. Tears for sin proceeding from inward grief is a temper becoming any Christian 50. All expression and manifestation of devotion is little enough so it be without hypocrisie 51. Magistrates who are tenderly affected with the condition of the people shall have a people carry a tender affection to them 52. It 's great cause of weeping to a gracious heart that it cannot weep 53. It 's a bad sign when we itch to hear of another man's fall thinking thereby to hide our own wickednesse 54. Praier begs blessing from God and thankfulnesse continues them with man 55. Many times there 's most grief where there are fewest tears 56. Spiritual sorrow is a great deal better then naturall for it fats the soul 57. God puts all his children's tears in a bottle But wicked men spare him a labour for they seldom weep though they have most cause 58. A broken heart expresseth it self more in sighs and groans then in words which the Spirit onely understands 59. It 's our wisdom to observe how God hears our prayert that so we may be suitably thankfull 60. He that prayes with a resolution to fin goes to God with a petition in one hand and a dagger in another 61. Whatsoever the crosses of a good man be his last end shal be assuredly blessed 62. God takes notice of every good word and work the godly do and will reward it 63. Hypocrites are recompenced because God will not be in their debt and it 's all their desire 64. When a Christian lookes onely on the ill that 's in him he robs God of his glory and himself of comfort 65. The good are scattered amongst the bad in their life but in death they shall be gathered to God 66. He that joins himself in love and affection to wicked men on earth shall be also joined in torment and destruction in hell 67. God sometimes reservs men in this life to worse miseries then death it self 68. One death is better then many and a sudden sometimes better then a lingring 69. A man may out-live his happinesse so that life it self may prove a judgement 70. Sight of misery works deeper on the soul then the hearing of it 71. Death indeed is the King of fears very terrible but that which is at the back of death is more terrible hell and damnation 72. Some men's death is like Josiahs a mercy and a correction 73. Many times good parents are taken away that they may not see the ruine of their children 74. Good Christians like good corn will sooner be ground to powder then yield either to the rough blasts of persecution or the smooth flattering gales of error and heresie 75. The chief care of the chief Magistrate is for the good of Church and State 76. Man is freed from the Law as it 's his Judge but not as it 's his Counsellor 77. If a godly man go out of the way he shall smart for it and be whipt home again 78. He that hath stuck long in the mire of sin must be haled and pulled out by violence and must not look for peace and comfort presently 79. Wee walk by faith in this world sense and sight is reserv'd for another world 80. No good is to be done to the soul by praiers and cries so long as we are carelesse of purifying the heart 81. Despise not the outward
of sin 91. Children must not be counted bills of changes for they are greater blessings then any outward thing else 92. Wo to those parents whose gain for their children is the loss of their own souls 93. Emptiness and poverty presseth hose most who once were full and rich 94. Great and good rich and holy are happy but rare conjunctions 95. To be extream poor or rich is one extream temptation 96. That man is rich in grace who is very poor but very holy 97. Temptations are greater and stronger upon the full and rich then the poor and empty 98. God never gives any thing evill in it self to those who are good nor the chief good to those chat are evill 99. There 's fire in all estates ill gotten which at last will consume them 100. The time we spend in spirituall duties is the time gained for secular therefore to turn poor if thou turn godly fear not CENTURY 8. 1. MUtual agreement amongst children is a comfortable blessing to parents 2. Nothing more uncomely and unnaturall as rents divisions and brawlings in a family 3. Prodigality of time is the worst and most dangerous prodigality 4. Faith is a glutinous monopolizing grace possessing Christ and by a close application making him wholly the soul's 5. The faithfull soul takes sure hold of Christ in the time of darkness and temptation 6. Christ lodged in the heart is as a bundle of myrrhe sweet and bitter at once preserving joy and trembling together 7. If thy heart swell too high and grow proud taste and chaw the bitter plant of Christ's death and it will break the imposthume 8. If thy heart fail thee in any conditon smell at the sweetnes of Christ and he will transmit life and comfort 9. The virtue of Christ's death never dieth but floweth down to ail ages for ever 10. God hath appointed that where the crosse is there also is the cordiall against it 11. Divine love is the caus of divine beauty and rejoyceth in it's own work 12. The beauty of the soul is the holiness of it being God's Image 13. Christ hath the truth and essence of beauty whereas earthly things have it only in estimation 14. The unquiet brains of men tossed with opinions rest in the scripture as in a bed 15. Our sins are thorns and so are temptations to sin and afflictions for sin 16. Heresies and schisms are worser then the sharpest stings and thorns to the Church 17. Women lose their good name not onely by keeping ill company but by keeping none 18. As weary travellers seek cool arbours and delight in them so doth the weary soul after and in Christ 19. Some men carry a thin shaddow of piety and zeal but no more 20. It 's neither losse nor dishonour to be vanquished in the field where Christ is General for at last we shall be conquerors 21. A holy soul is sick and weary and lives not in her self but in Christ in whom her life is hid 22. They are happy beyond expression who are transfixed with the wounds of Christ's love 23. It 's no waies befitting Christians to lye down and stretch themselves in sinfull pleasures 24. It 's our duty comfort to draw near to Christ in affection and conversation 25. Holy practise makes grace visible and brings out from the heart to the life 26. A parent may put money in a childs purse but he cannot put grace in his heart 27. Prayer which requires a holy heart many times makes a holy heart 28. None can come at the spirit of another but the Spirit of God 29. Moderate refreshing and recreation may well become holy men 30. The care of parents ought to live as long as they and their children live together 31. Children when grown in years must not think they have out-grown obedience and honour to their parents 32. The speciall care of a holy father is for the soul of his child 33. Such parents whose care is onely to make their children great not good in this world are themselves the Devils children 34. Grace is very attractive it desires to draw others into fellowship 35. He that doth ill by thy advice the ill shall be reckoned unto thee 36. All holy duties call upon us all for a holy preparation 37. It 's seldome the duty sanctifies us unless we be sanctified for the duty 38. It 's very bad to make a preparation and then to put off or neglect the duty 39. It 's God's due and our duty to give God the morning the first and best part of the day 40. As the morning is a friend to the Muses so to the Graces it being the best praying time 41. It 's not safe to let sin lie upon our consciences unrepented 42. He that hath guilt upon his soul hath a fire in his soul 43. Prayer is a lifting up of the soul and elevation of the spirit unto God 44. By distinguishing the times many Scrptures are made to agree 45. He that sacrificed offered up a beast but he that obeyeth offereth up himself 46. God in the Sacrament sees the death of his Son and that satisfies him and man sees the death of his Saviour and that justifies him 47 Actings of faith powering out of prayer makes Sacraments effectuall to man acceptable to God 48. Christ was ever and is and shall be the only remedy and cure of sin 49. Every one is saved by particular actings of his own faith and therefore every soul must believe for it selfe 50. We cannot converse in this uncleane and dirty world but some uncleanness will fasten upon us 51. To be without grosse sin is our holiness on earth to be without any sin is the holinesse of heaven 52. A good heart turns suspicious of others sinning into intercession that they may be pardoned not in accusations that they may be defamed 53. He that repents of those sins which he only fears he hath committed shall be sure to repent of those he doth commit 54. It 's too easie a matter to sin about holy things lawfull things often being the occasion of unlawfull 55. For a man to blesse God in his sin is a very high strain of wickednesse 56. Every sin is a turning from God but few sins are a farewell to God 57. The heart is to be kept with all manner of keeping for sinfull thoughts are dangerous sins 58. The heart of man is so wicked as to sin over one sin a thousand times 59. Renewed sin require renewed repentance and we must give over repenting when wee have don sining 60. That which men do out of conscience they will do it out of peresverance for nature may have good moods but grace is steady 61. Usually where God gives much grace he tries grace much 62. All things in heaven and earth are disposed by the unerring wisdom and limited by the Almighty power of God 63. Sleep is a short death and death is a long sleep 64. It should be the voice of every soul
Good Company BEING A COLLECTION Of Various Serious Pious Meditations Christian Experiences Sayings Sentences useful for Instruction Consolation and Confirmation By JOHN MELVIN M. A. Preacher of the Word at Vdimer in Sussex Job 5.27 Loe this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good Erubescit quisque pravam mutare sententiam ne aut inconstans putetur aut diu errâsse seipso Judice teneatur August Nullum majus malum libertate errandi Id. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and sold at his shop over-against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside 1659. To my beloved Parishioners the Inhabitants of Udimer such sufficiency of Grace as may bring them to fulness of Glory Gentlemen and Neighbours IN Athens was a Law called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby all strangers were compelled to get them Patrons and the custome of Dedicating Books in antient and warrantable If therefore bountiful charitie good esteem of Gospel truths intire love to the Author be inducements to choos a Patrone I need not go far for in my own Parish are all these besides the Gentleman lives amongst you who presented me and hath hitherto been as good as his promise to me and I hope he will continue so besides many other civil courtesies from him in particular and you in general for all which I acknowledge my selfe much ingaged To you therefore I dedicate these my poor pains to testifie the equall duty which I owe and the impartial respect I bear to all to make you all as one Patrone I had a farr and free Call to this place and I have spent almost one full Apprenticeship amongst you who have ever accepted my labours and respected my person though a stranger When you were pleased to make choise of me there was probability of a competent subsistence in reference to the present allowance and the obtained augmentation but this shortly passed over as a cloud without water and was never enjoied the charitable contribution of well-affected people hath been much lessened also by their death which as it is my loss so I hope it is their gain But O the misery of this place beyond others which is no small grief to many of you that out of one Impropriation of 200 l. per annum onely 30 l. should be the painful incumbents allowance and but 8 l. of that pretended to be due the rest lookt upon as a gratuity This is harder measure then the most rigid Sequestrators use to their most supposed enemies allowing them the fift part and tying them to no duty I refer all Impropriators to the serious and timely consideration of these places Mal. 3.8 9 10. Act. 19 37. not onely the light of the Word but the light of Nature condemns it And let men remember that the antient and best Laws of this Nation so and though a toleration at present yet we shall be judged at last by God's Law not man's Adrichomious reports that Ahaz Diall was made of the Brazen Altar of whole burnt Offerings Fecit ex Altari holocausti aeneo 2 King 16 17. it was but poor reparation to set up a Diall with 12 hours in lieu of the 12 brazen Oxen which was under the great sea Thus carnal men conceive Out of Mr. Fullers Pisgah pag. 400. they may safely steal God's Dove stick down a feather in the room thereof Nature will be content with little and Grace with lesse for the just live by faith and comfortably too We must look upon the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.6 7 8 9. I shall onely remember you who are as a remnant left of this sharp but short Visitation of the same Apostles precept Gal. 6.9 this is the main end of my calling and the mark I aim at in publishing and dedicating this to you that by a conscionable observance and kind acceptance you may gain much profit and I much comfort In it you have the variety of many not the prolixity of few points Multum loqui est rem superfluis agere verbis Aug. Ep. 121. In presenting you with this Tract I will put you in mind of the charge of noble Alexander who conquered a great part of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To esteem the whole world as their Country good men as their Country-men the bad as strangers Upon presumption of which I shall not fear to expose my brood as the Eagles do theirs to the raies of the open Sun Give me leave therefore as your loving Monitor to commend unto you the constant reading of the Scripture which may be called your Husbands Jesus Christ's Love-letter all other books being but scribling and pamphlets in comparison of that and to read it all pari pietatis affectu with the same holy reverence and affection yea to translate Scripture into your life that your working and walking may be Scripture explication for as David saith Psal 119.96 I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Commandement is exceeding broad And you have lived in an age to see a glorious King out-live his own and Kingdoms earthly glory besides many other great alterations O that your heart may be a repository to lay up carefully treasure this broad Commandement when all earthly perfections prove false and fading your souls may be furnished with holiness here and happiness hereafter and that you may be sensible that nothing can satisfie but grace or glory or God him self The way to heaven is not strewed with Roses but like the crown of Christ here on earth set with Thorns not smiles and loving embracements from the world but wounds and strokes do await all those who have received the press-money of the Spirit are enrolled for the Christian warfare and every soul must expect that of Jacob to Joseph Gen. 49.23 Therefore the Scriptures not onely makes us wise to salvation 2 lim 3. ver 15 16. and valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 in these sceptick times but they present us with sundry platforms of the righteous conflicting with many troubles and in all your trials support and anchor your souls with these Scriptures Psal 34 19. Rom. 8.28 whatsoever God takes away from us if he give us a new heart we may conclude he is upon the giving hand and that he hath somewhat else to give when he hath given a love unto and a longing after his truth in the mean time these meditations may be a help to you in bearing all affliction a help to patience in suffering to faith in believing to hope in waiting for the salvation of the Lord. Here are Cordials for the reviving of spirits and medicine for the cure of distempers Antidotes against the infection of spreading and soul-destroying errors caveats against Hell-damning drowning sins Exhorting you to glorifie God in every condition and to have good thoughts and to speak good Words of God who minds us nothing but good and though he should strip you naked yet
do in some things will excuse the bad we do in others 16. The Gospel requires truth and not perfection for sincerity is a Christians perfection 17. The want of wisdom and warinesse is the cause of many a Christians fall 18. A Christian may go very high upwards in good works onely with this exception that he never look to be justified by them 19. The Devill is busie at every good work either in the beginning to hinder it or in the end to defile it 20. No grace stronger then humility none weaker then the proud 21. So much faith as a man carries to Christ so much grace he brings from him 22. Wicked men may be freed from trouble onely the godly man hath grace to carry himself well in trouble 23. Holy men should know the strength of grace in their souls for confirmation of faith and bettering their obedience 24. The more grace the more a man is sensible of spiritual crosses 25. The life of grace is known by our spiritual appetites after the means of grace 26. God will set light by that man's salvation who sets light by his honour 27. Grace onely qualifies a man's actions and affections 28. Where there is no grace there is either all joy or all sorrow 29. Sorrow exceeds when it hinders in our callings as Christians and as men 30. Quietnesse is the stay of the soul to do or receive 31. Sorrow and sin agree in this to bring the soul of a poor man downward 32. The Divel since he cast himself down labours to cast all down 33. It'â— no wisdom to go to the highest step of the laâ—deâ— to our election before wee come to the fâ—ults of it in our sanctification 34. Some seek too much for comfort in sanctification when it should be lookt for in justification 35. It 's vain to trouble our selves with the issue of things for the future and neglect the means for the present 36. Vanity at one time or another brings vexation of spirit 37. A godly man in the greatest trouble recovers himself 38. A godly man who hath laid up store of grace before hand can remove solitarinesse having God and himself to speak to 39. Set thy soul in a right frame when trouble comes and nothing shall hurt thee 40. Every man hath a Court in himself to cite try and condemne himself 41. He that cites and condemns himself puts the Divel and tormenting conscience out of office 42. It 's a miserable thing to desire to know all things and yet not to know our selves to look alwaies abroad and never at home 43. The best work of the new creature is within which the world cannot see 44. Ask sin the reason of this or that and thou shalt find it most unreasonable 45. He that believs God will give him everlasting life will trust him for his daily bread 46. Faith hath a quieting and comforting power with it 47. It 's a shame to see Christians live so unquiet and discontented as if there were no Father in heaven or providence on earth 48. A Christian may mourn like a Dove but not roar like a beast under affliction 49. It 's no matter what the disease be if God be the Physician 50. As in a City men account more of their own house then of all the City biside so more comfort in this word My God then in all the world 51. He that makes God his God makes all other things his also 53. Mercy flows naturally from God as water flows from a fountain 54. God shoot's not his judgments as children arrows at randome but wheresoever they light he hath his aim 55. Happy man who hath God's mind with his rod instruction with correction 56. It 's neither wisdom nor holinesse to allow or defend the least infirmity 57. It 's folly to venture upon fin at any time for we shall at one time or another hear of it 58. They that come not to the Father in Christ by the Sacraments know not his goodness and they that come irreverently know not his greatnesse 59. God the wise Physician who loves his patients alike doth not administer potions to all but according to the nature of the disease and exigent of the party 60. Sick souls make sick bodies God aiming at the cure of the soul in the touching of the body 61. It 's better to be God's prisoner on the bed of sicknesse then sinfully to use health 62. He that sins with company must look to be tormented with company 63. Every stubborn wilfull sinner is a double murtherer of soul and body 64. Every man is naturally willing to deceive and be deceived in the state of his soul 65. Judging of our selvs prevents God's judging for things done in one Court cannot be judged in another by equity 66. As they who have a Plant which bears venemous fruit dig it at the root So if thou wouldst kill sin go to the heart 67. It 's not the having of corruption which damns men but the affections they carry to their corruptions 68. It 's our comfort to groan under infirmities looking upon them as enemies and objects of mortification 69. He that makes no conscience of secret sins shall fall into open sins 70. Poison is dangerously taken in sweet gloves so corruption mingles it self with our best duties 71. When men regard not the manner of doing holy things God regards not the matter 72. The want of sound judgment in some men makes them lay a plaister on a sound place and condemne a true man for a traitor 73. Bless that soul who labours by good counsel to hinder thee from any sinful course 74. It 's the character of a good heart to desire to converse with better then it self 75. It 's wisdome to prevent the trouble of sickness with the trouble of Physick so to judge our sins by conscience here that they bee not judged by God hereafter 76. Christ is very sweet to that soul who is excercised in the search of his own heart 77. It 's an ill time to get grace when we should use it 78. Pardoning mercy and healing mercy go alwaies from God to the godly together 79. When man spares no sin God spares all 80. They that are taken from the evil of the world have aims and ends above the world 81. Inward affections where our joy or delight is are the best discoveries of the state of our souls 82. There 's a concatenation betwixt grace and glory grace is the gate and glory is the reward 83. All the time a carnal man lives is but the time betwixt the sentence and execution 84. It overcomes many tentations many times to have a good conceit of God 85. No flesh without its scum no garden without its weeds no Christian without his failings 86. There 's a vaste difference betwixt the broacher and drinker of Error the one is possest with obstinacy the other with facility lenity and credulity 87. Errors are so dangerous and infectious
praiers when they intend to fall one upon another 48. To every good work we had need of renewed assisting grace 49 Against every evil we are tempted to we had need of delivering grace 50. O! how a sudden winde of temptations trips up the heels of a strong man sometimes 51. He that is privie to his own soul of good intentions to abstain from evil may presume God will assist him against evil 52. God not onely delivers from ill and out of ill but many times from a greater ill by a lesser 53. Rather then a man shall miscarry when God hath any work for him to do he will work a miracle 54. Death is sometimes a preservation it self sending a man to heaven his harbour and rest 55. It 's the fate of Kings many times to out live their glory and Kingdoms 56. He that keeps heaven for us keeps us also for heaven 57. The firm belief and hope of heaven are effectual for a holy life and conversation 58. We must one time or another have those graces on earth which fits us for heaven 59. An humble soul is ever thankful for the least measure of grace 60. Man's imploiment in heaven is singing of Psalms and so much as we are given to this exercise are we in heaven 61. The extent of our desires to God's glory should be carried to all eternity 62. A beggarly maintenance makes a contemptible Ministry 63. A Christians care is that there be no breaches made upon the Doctrine sealed by the blood of the Martyrs 64. An evil Governor is not onely a poison to the State and Church whilst hee he lives but the mischief of it afterwards 65. All the good actions of the life meet together and comfort a man in death 66. As men cast seed upon seed where the ground is fruitful so the more good we do the more opportunities of doing good are still offered 67. As we are in a perpetual Proficiency in this life so there 's a perpetual necessity of means and Ministry 68. We may enter upon all the means of saving knowledge upon this ground because Christ our teacher is able and willing to lead us from one degree to another 69. Christ not onely brings doctrine but wit and grace to the inward man 70. After Christ the Father loves all in Christ with the same love wherewith he loves Christ 71. As all heat in the creature is from the Sun so all piety and goodness flows from God above 72. The love of God is the spring of all duties and graces making us not onely good but comfortable as birds in the Spring 73. Faith is nothing but the act whereby we apprehend the love of God to us in Christ 74. They that have Christ for their Redeemer shall have heaven for their inheritance the Spirit for their guide the Angels for their attendance 75. God fills the bellies of many men with inward things whose hearts he never filled with his love 76. The sooner a sinner comes into God it 's the easier and his comfort will be the stronger 77. To thrive in a course of sin is a sign of reprobation 78. The way to keep God's love in us is to be careful to keep our selves under th means of salvation and to look on God as he is presented in the Gospel 79. Some are kept a little longer under the Law before they come under Grace 80. Seasonable afflictions sanctified are evidences of God's love 81. Our love to God is sincere when it comes from the Word and the Spirit and from good things there manifested to the soul 82. If we have God's love no matter what we want or in what condition we be 83. As the Sun doth not alwaies shine out so the love of God is not alwaies manifested 84. Rejoice in thy portion lesse or more whosoever thou be who finds the love of God in the best things 85. The want of feeling of God's love to us causeth the defect of our love to pity piety charity duty 86. He hath need of much reverence watchfulnesse and humility who will preserve himself in the love of God 87. God's love is better then life it self and if we have not this no matter what we have 88. All is love and mercie to those who are in Christ the beloved 89. Christ by his Spirit dwells in all believers therefore they should labour all to be one 90. How excellent were it if all men had the same thoughts the same religion the same aims and affections to good things a thing to be desired but not hoped for 91. If Christ be in the soul then tumults and fightings also for nature is long yielding to grace 92. They that are in Christ must not think it strange or be much troubled with inward oppositions 93. Into whatsoever soul Christ comes he will scourge out the lusts and sweep out the filth of that soul 94. They who entertain Christ onely in the brain give him as bad entertainment as they who forced him in a manger 95. It 's to no purpose or comfort to have Christ in our tongues and the world in our hearts 96. If Christ take up the heart and affection for his rooms then there flows a base esteem of all worldly excellencies 97. Christ was in Zacheus's heart before he was in his house else he had never been so charitable 98. Sometimes it 's needful we trust the judgment of others better then our own to know who dwells in us 99. As the Sun-beams are pure still though shining upon dunghills so is Christs Spirit not joining but wasting and consuming corruption 100. Christ dwells largely in that soul where the Word is its reason the Commandements its will God's glory its joy CENTURY 5. 1. A Heart having once entertained Christ is never content till it be with Christ in heaven 2. It 's dangerous thrusting our selves into such company whom we know to grieve the Spirit of God 3. If the soul apprehend Christ to bee gone let it observe how it lost him and recover him by the contrary 4. Discouragements proceed from carnal outward things but comforts proceed from the presence of divine things 5. Afflictions amongst the wise heathens could not hinder the life of reason and can they among Christians hinder the life of grace 6. God fits Prophets for persons giving them teachers sutable to their desires 7. Where grace is there will be without doubt mercy 8. It 's sign of life when a Christian is sensible of inconveniences 9. God first makes us fit and then makes use of us for to work 10. It 's a true disposition of a child of God to have a heart tender soft and pliable 11. Nothing so hard as the heart of man if wrought upon it must be by an Almighty power 12. The Adamant is only melted by blood so is the heart of man by Christ crucified 13. As water begining to freez will bear nothing almost but after a while any thing so a tender
Ministry of the Word for it is accompanied with the internal power of the Spirit 82. Let not thy affections rove and the world or Divel can do thee no hurt 83. He that suppresseth sin at the first motion shall assuredly find comfort 84. If we mean to come to heaven we must not live in any known sin for it wasts grace 85. A Christian must mend his pace every day that grace may shine more and more to the perfect day 86. Every poor map is not a blessed man except his bodily poverty bring him to spiritual poverty 87. He that hath spiritual comforts hath them cheap if they cost him many a tear 88. The heart is never so chearful as when it powrs out it self in tears and sighs to God 89. Spiritual mourning secures the soul from hell-mourning 90. The way to divert too much bleeding is to open a vein and the onely way to stop unseasonable grief Is to turn our tears against our sins 91. All worldly sorrow must be sorrowed against but sorrow for sin is a sorrow never to be repented of 92. The adventure and the return of the stock of Praier is most certain to increase more and more 93. God forfeits not his Word but we our Praiers when we seek things which crosse God's nature or will or are hurtfull or not necessary in themselves 94. He that knocks at heavens door onely in death deservs to have the door knockt against his head 95. He that would speed in temporal things must first seek spiritual 96. He that desires to speed in praier must go to God with a knowledg and sense of his own insufficiency to succour himself 97. Cold praiers have cold answers for how should God hear us when we hear not our selves 98. They must look to be denied in their praiers who deny Christ in his members 99. The forgetfulnesse of received mercies makes God to forget us 100. He that will be sure to have his praiers heard must make a trade of praier being constant in it CENTURY 6. 1. WE must lay our hand on the plow and then pray that our endeavours may second our devotion 2. To ask grace and not to use the meant is to knock at heavens gate and pull it to us that it do not open 3. He that saies Lord forgive me my sins without a desire to leave them cannot be heard except God forfeit his Word 4. Things inconvenient and unnecessary are profitably denied us 5. If heavenly things were soon obtained they would be soon forgotten 6. He that puts in his petition at one door may willingly go about to another door to have an answer so let God appoint the way and means and deliverance shall be the more speedy 7. Nothing more humbls the child of God then to be buffeted with base temptations 8. When God laies a plaister to our wound we cry take it off when by holding it on the cure is done 9. He hath not lost his praiers but is doubly paid who with the crosses of the world hath his heart driven off from the world 10. He that hath most grace bath most work to do and greatest trials to buckle with 11. He that lets himself loose to any gross sin shall be sure to find it in his praier 12. Some are as unfit to pray as ever David was to march in Saul's armor 13. The bringing forth of a right praier is in a manner like the bringing forth of a child with many throws yet when the child is born there is joy 14. He that sees not the print of his imperfections is neither humble patient nor pitiful not knowing himself brother or God 15. A Verbal confession of frailty without humility mercy and use of the means is meer hypocrisie 16. Man's body in the grace is free from pain but not dishonor 17. Uprightnesse may stand with imperfection beauty with deformity some light some darknesse in the best 18. Our infirmities should be matter of humiliation not desperation 19. He that studies not to know himself will soon grow proud 20. Though the glory of a Saint be not obvious to every eye yet they have an excellencie in them in the midst of all deformities 21. He that see 's not a true Christian to be a glorious creature hath but a fleshly eye 22. It neither comes from good nor works any good to delight in speaking and hearing other men's enormities 23. Some people come to the means at first as children to the School very eagerly but afterward very hardly drawn to it at all 24 No company or comfort should put off the thoughts of death 25. Death will be very terrible to that man who dies not in his thoughts daily 26. It 's an easie matter to speak of death but to bring it home to the heart is very hard 27. Sin unrepented will bring a sting in the time of death filling the heart with sorrow the soul with amazement the conscience with horror 28. Our eies should be casements to let in fresh air not corruption 29. He that laies much upon natures back will break it and he that trusts to natural parts shall be disappointed 30. All carnal pleasures and delights are but poison if grace in the heart be not an antidote 31. Peace of conscience makes a man rejoice in sorrow and live in death 32. He that sees his own wants and weaknesse will often desire to communicate 33. An hypocrite shews sometimes a greater measure of profession then a Christian but is like corn on the house tops that quickly grows and is quickly down 34. All the hands and hearts on earth will do no good upon a resolute sinner 35. A child of God coming to Christ's Table eats judgment to avoid condemnation 36. He that would profit by heavenly mysteries must be knit to them not by the brain but by affection 37. Christ's prepared medicines minister no comfort unlesse applied to our soul 38. We cannot have Christs benefits unlesse we have himself 39. The signs seal no grace to the soul where there is no faith 40. We are very sensible of bodily hunger but soul hunger is hardly felt 41. He that will not be broken from sin shall have no portion in Christ's body broken 42. Gentlemen-like qualities pride pleasure intemperance bring souls apace to hell 43. He that makes a divorce betwixt his soul and corruption is in the state of grace 44. 'T is no presumption but duty to judge by our calling of our election 45. To know there is a Christ and not our interest in him is rather a punishment then a comfort 46. Faith and hope may be distinguished but not separated for faith hath ever hope 47. A fearful doubting soul lives vext in the suburbs of of hell 48. A weak and dumb evidence may be true as the strongest 49. As grace and glory so sin and shame go alwaies together 50. The more sanctified affliction on earth the more weight of glory in heaven 51. It 's all
our selvs for life or death 21. Though pardon of sin be pronounced yet God hath the keeping of joy in his own hand 22. Every falling into sin is not upon all four a quite falling away 23. Samson's strength was in his locks but our strength against sin and errour is in Christ 24. A believing spirit trembles at any thing which hinders or grievs the Spirits working 25. Sense of God's love is sometimes withdrawn to make us mourn for it the more 26. When afflictions are doubled it 's time to pray hard believe and apply the promises and then deliverance will come 27. In the use of means run alwaies to Christ that he may work virtue being onely in him 28. God's time of helping the poor and needy is when all other help is at a stand 29. After faith ends on earth comes the life of vision in heaven 30. Redemption in regard of efficacie is no larger then God's Election for those which the Father gave in Election Christ by Redemption saves 31. God's general call in the Church is to call out his own 32. God rains the showers of his Ordinances upon all but Believers have onely the benefit of it 33. It 's no matter what cavills wicked men raise of God's intention and election seeing more grace and means are offered then they are willing to entertain 34. Christ is our husband faith yields consent and consent makes the match 35. Many are in the state of grace relying on mercy and wanting the assurance of pardon 36. Satan applying himself to the distemper of a melancholy spirit keeps it in darknesse 37. Sincerity is the holy man's perfection in the use of all means 38. A man may have excellent parts and no grace at all which are given for the good of others because such neglect faith humility and a broken spirit which are more then gifts 39. Parents shew their love most to the weakest child so God manifests his comforts most to weak Christians 40. Where there is faith there is praier for faith is the parent of praier and praier is the breath of faith 41. The living of a happy life consists in the assurance of God's love to our souls 42. The sense of Christs love in pardoning sin constrains us to an holy violence in performing of duty 43. Look upon the love of God and it will cut the sinews of sin and distrust in providence 44. Come in and stoop to Christ in doing thy duty and thou puts this question out of question that thou art one of God's Elect. 45. They who have no conflict in their spirit and no interruption in their estate may greatly fear their condition 46. In cases of desertion and seeming deadness trie which way soul the goes in its desires 47. Complain of thy self and sins to Christ and let sin have no quiet possession 48. He is a true Christian who lives in no grosse sin nor allows of no small sin 49. That man dies comfortably who believs Christ will have a care of his soul 50. Some Scriptures are become hard to understand because of so many diversities of understanding 51. Little Scripture is so sincere and indemnified as to please all conjectures and satisfie all interests and spirits that inquire into them 52. It 's a wilful error to choose to be solitary where there 's one Catholick consent and harmony 53. It 's dangerous to take by-paths where the open road is free and safe 54. He that chooseth singularity wil fall into many absurdities and implications 55. He that dotes upon his own invention and proposeth to himself a separate notion will ravish and wrest the Word by an audacious force 56. Many things lie yet hid in the Scripture as full of darknesse as wonder 57. Some undo a great deal of learning by an extreme ingredient of superstition or novelty 58. They that are most void of learning and experience dabble most in dark places 59. Though many things in Scripture be obscure and profound yet nothing superfluous 60. He reads the Scripture with danger of infection who brings the Plague with him 61 Carnal pleasures sowr and wither by using but spiritual become fresh and delightful 62. That heart is worse then iron whom Christs loadstone cannot attract 63. The graces of Christ are like the eternal springs of the earth that cannot dry up but are and shall be diffused until his whole house be filled 64. The love of Christians to Christ is no blind precipitate passion but guided by reason and election 65. Grace destroies not nature but perfects her by supernatural reliefs 66. There 's special intimacie and kindnesse betwixt Christ and those that fear him 67. Joy breeds from love to its root and where one is shed abroad the other trickls after it 68. The more we mind God by contemplation the more we admire and seek him 69. Many souls are black through the night of persecution yet comely in hope and patience 70. False teachers have many folloâ—â—… as wasps have combs but no honey 71. Some are Kite-eied to espy the filthinesse and carrion cast out of their brethren passing over their graces 72. Affliction may discolour the Church for a season but her proper and constant complexion will be beauty for ashes 73. None so implacable and bitter as hereticks and Schismaticks sons of the same mother the Church but not of the same Father God 74. Get under Christs protection and Government and he will not suffer thee to lack 75. He is in greatest danger of erring who travels alone 76. Babylon holds many of God's people yet let them not make such places their refuge much lesse their election 77. It 's truly Christian for a man to love those who hate him and do him wrong 78. It aggravates a man's sinfulnesse to be unholy wilst he converseth with such as are holy 79. It brings honour to God and man to be upright amongst those who are unjust 80. Perfect holiness is the aim of Saints on earth it 's their reward in heaven 81. As the salt Sea makes not the fish salt so no filthiness destroies true grace 82. Some men can personate Religion but are not religious persons 83. He who hath a plain heart hath also square dealings 84. If God hath given thee grace thou hast the best and choicest blessing can be given 85. Grace may be more eminent in some then in others yet every man hath every grace who hath any grace at all 86. It 's a great dishonor to our profession not to be upright in our dealings and conversation 87. Fear being all duty and every grace if uprightness of dealing be not from it it 's a heathenish virtue not a Christian grace 88. The fear of the Lord sweeps the heart and keeps the life clean 89. Holy enmity against sin is the temper of a godly man's heart 90. He that will avoid sin must avoid the occasion of sin and he that will keep from the act must keep from the way
who will make him toil and sweat and pay him at last with death 8. It 's no small trouble to possess good things when we cannot enjoy them 9. Many afflictions to our sense are somtimes worse then death 10. As death finds many before they look for it so some look for death and cannot find it 11. It 's a great deal better for a man to expect death when it cometh not then to have death come when he expects it not 12. The darkness of affliction it a great increase of our affliction 13. Holy wisdom and prudence bids us prepare for evill in our good daies 14. They can ill bear any trouble who look for nothing but comfort 15. The more our hearts are loosened from the creatures the more assurance wee have of enjoying the creatures 16. The best way of teaching is out of our own experience and exact disquisition 17. Largness of gifts and helps from God should quicken us unto a more chearful and vigorous study of our duties 18. It 's a great blessing for men to have helps and comforts answerable to their imployments and hearts also to use them 19 The study of the creature is of excellent use to lead us to the knowledg of the Creator 20. The more knowledg a man hath the more ignorance he discovers in himself 21. The good which satisfies a man must bear proportion to his heart and inward man 22. The right use of pleasure is not to take up the whole man but to mitigate the bitterness of severer studies 23. In things of this world somtimes they who have least wisdom or goodness have greatest success 24. The wise and circumspect are many times frustrated in those courses which were contrived with greatest skill and cunning 25. It 's dangerous Judging of mens wisdom or folly goodness or badness by outward events 26. As a little cloud darkens the light of the sun So a little trouble darkens the content of all our enjoyments 27. It 's the love of God which puts sweetness in all our outward mercies 28. Power without piety is very apt to degenerate into cruelty 29. It 's the height of impiety to fetch any power or advantage from any ordinance of God to commit it 30. Faith looks on the pride and power of wicked men as a very vain thing even in the height of their greatness 31. It 's matter of comfort to the oppressed that their cause shall be judged over again and themselvs righted 32. It 's a vain conceit to think contentment tied co a small estate and vexation to a greater whereas true content knows as well how to abound as how to want 33. It 's woful when men have enough for back and belly calling and decency of state but not enough for the eye 34. Wealth is a great ornament to wisdome and the sinews of action 35. The more sensible any man is of sin in himself the more meek and charitable he will be to others 36. As a little flie corrupts much pretious perfume so a little folly blemisheth much a wise man's reputation 37. To a man made up of pride and folly other men much wiser then himself appear but fools 38. They who are impatient of rule over them have mine very near them 39. Where wisdom is wanting to direct our actions labour will prove endless 40. The Politician's pretence may be fine and spiritual but his ultimate end is gold and greatness 41. It 's very sad to see men quoting Scripture to palliate their impious actions 42. Woe to that man who sacrificeth the publick peace to private interest 43. Nothing so much conceals deformity and pretends beauty as the mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion 44. It 's policie to say grace to our designs be they never so wicked and to give thanks for the success be it never so bad or bloody 45. No man is more hated of God then an hypocrite for a counterfeit Religion shall find a real hell 46. It 's common amongst Rebels and Hereticks to mention old Traitors for new Martyrs 47. The will of a wicked man is often an offender when his hands are innocent the sin being out of his reach 48. For learned men to have turbulent spirits is the dishonor of the Gown and shame of the Pulpit and somtimes the ruine of their Country 49. A Politician when he hath made his best use of a seditious Preacher leavs him to his own wild distemper directing his thoughts to another end 50. Few men are able or willing to distinguish God's permission from his approbation 51. Christ's Kingdome was not of this world nor yet is a Christian's happinesse 52. He that asserts temporal happinesse to be a true Index of divine favour must not say Mahomet is an Imposter 53. Fortunate sins are very dangerous temptations 54. A meer Professor is alwaies of the prevailing Religion harboring a room in his heart if occasion be to lodge the contrary 55. The Magistrate who hath no voluntary room in the hearts of his people must use all means to gain a coercive 56. It 's great pity such slender evasions in breaking Oaths should satisfie Christians which have been scorned by Heathens 57. It 's no heresie to say many have been saved by their infidelity in not believing Politicians pretences 58. Some men cover wrong with wrong as if the the commission of a second sin were enough to justifie the first 60. Necessity is the common sanctuary for tyrants sinful actions 61. They who study to be great by any means must by all means forget to bee good 62. If all the gay things which men fondly fancy in a Crown were really to be found hee pays too dear that pawns his soul for it 63. It 's the humor of many when they have once rushed into a party or opinion implicitly to prosecute it as desperately as if they were under demonstrative convictions of equity 64. Soon angry when small injuries are done to our selves and still patience in great wrongs done to God shew our hearts to be naught 65. Our hearts cunningly trip up our heels when we are to run the race set before us 66. There 's a mystery of sin lying in the folds of the heart which we shall never see except God's Spirit enlighten us 67. When a Seducer speaks a truth hee doth set a snare to catch the truth in 68. Policie in wicked men is more powerful sometimes to restrain their corruption then grace in others who are truly religious 69. An hypocrite speaks not out of but contrary to the abundance of the heart 70. No greater thief then a slanderer for he robs his brother of his good name which is above gold or silvers 71 What a mockery it is when men are carefull to pay their servants their due and yet rob God and his Church of their due 72. Sectaries cry out against Papists persecution in Queen Maries time and yet cease not to vent their malice against the Ministers in