OCCASIONALL Meditations BY IOS EXON Setforth by R. H. The second Edition LONDON Printed by W. S. for Nath. Butter 1631. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE My very good Lord IAMES Lord Viscount Doncaster RIGHT HON FInding these Papers amongst others lying aside in my Fathers study whereof I conceiued good vse might bee made in regard of that Spirituall aduantage which they promised I obtayned of him good leaue to send them abroad whereto he professed himselfe the more easily induced for that his continuall and weighty imployments in this large and busie Diocesse will not yet afford him leasure to dispatch those his other fixed Meditations on the Historie of the new Testament In the meane time the expressions of these voluntary and sudden thoughts of his shall testifie how fruitfully he is wont to improoue those short ends of time which are stolne from his more important auocations and vnlesse my hopes faile mee the Patterne of them may prooue not a little beneficiall to others Holy mindes haue been euer wont to looke through these bodily obiects at spirituall and heauenly So SVLPITIVS reports of S. MARTIN that seeing a Sheepe newly shorne he could say Loe here 's one that hath performed that command in the Gospell hauing two Coats shee hath giuen away one seeing an Hogheard freezing in a thinne suite of skinnes Loe said hee There is Adam cast out of Paradise and seing a meadow part rooted vp part whole but eaten downe and part flourishing hee said The first was the state of Fornication the second of Marriage the third of Virginity But what doe I seeke any other authour then the Lord of Life himselfe Who vpon the drawing of water from the well of SHILO on the day of the great Hosanna tooke occasion to speak of those Liuing waters which should flow froÌ„ euery true beleeuer Iohn 7. 37 and vpon occasion of a bodily feast Luke 14. entred into that Diuine discourse of Gods gracious inuitation of vs to those Spirituall viands of grace and glory Thus mee thinkes we should still bee climing vp in our thoughts from Earth to Heauen and suffer no obiect to crosse vs in our way without some Spirituall vse and application Thus it pleased my Reuerend Father sometimes to recreate himselfe whose manner hath beene when any of these Meditations haue vnsought offerd themselues vnto him presently to seâ— them downe a course which I wish had beene also taken in many more which might no doubt haue beene very profitable These as they are I send forth vnder your Honourable Name out of those many respects which are in an hereditary right due to your Lordship as being apparent heire to those two singular Patrons of my iustly Reuerenced Father The eminent vertue of which your noble Parents in a gracious Succession yeelds to your Lordship an happy example which to follow is the onely way to true Honour For the dayly increase whereof here and the euerlasting crowne of it hereafter his prayers to God shal not be wanting who desires to bee accounted Your Lordship deuoted in all homble obseruance RO HALL OCCASIONALL MEDITATIONS The Proeme I Haue heedlesly lost I confesse many good thoughts these few my Paper hath perserued from vanishing The example whereof may prehaps bee more vsefull then the matter Our actiue Soule can no more forbeare to thinke then the Eye can choose but see when it is open would we but keepe our wholsome notions together Mankind would bee too rich To doe well no obiect should passe vs without vse Euery thing that wee see reades vs new lectures of Wisedome and Pietie It is a shame for a Man to be ignorant or Godlesse vnder so many Tutors For me I would not wish to liue longer then I shall be better for my eyes and haue thought it thanke-worthy thus to teach weake mindes how to improoue their thoughts vpon all like occasions And if euer these lines shall come to the publique view I desire and charge my Reader whosoeuer he be to make mee and himselfe so happie as to take out my lesson and to learne how to read GODS great Booke by mine OCCASIONALL MEDITATIONS I. Vpon the sight of the Heauens mouing I Can see nothing stand still but the Earth all other things are in motion Euen that Water which makes vp one Globe with the Earth is euer stirring in ebbes and flowings the clouds ouer my head the Heauens aboue the clouds these as they are most conspicuous so are they the greatest patternes of perpetuall action what should wee rather imitate then this glorious frame O God when we pray that thy will may bee done in Earth as it is in heauen though we meane chiefly the inhabitants of that place yet wee doe not exclude the very place of those blessed inhabitants from being an example of our Obedience The motion of this thy Heauen is perpetuall so let mee euer be acting so mewhat of thy will the motion of thine Heauen is regular neuer swaruing from the due points so let me euer walke steddily in the wayes of thy will without all diuersions or variations from the line of thy Law In the motion of thine Heauen though some Starres haue theâ—â— owne peculiar and contrary courses yet aâ— yeeld themselues to the sway of the mayne circumuolution of that first mouer so though I haue a will of mine owne yet let mee giue my selfe ouer to bee ruled and ordered by thy Spirit in all my wayes Man is a little world my Soule is heauen my Body is earth if this earth bee dull and fixed yet O God let my heauen like vnto thine moue perpetually regularly and in a constant subiection to thine holy Ghost II. Vpon the sight of a Diall IF the Sunne did not shine vpon this Diall no body would looke at it in a cloudy day it stands like an vselesse post vnheeded vnregarded But when once those beames breake forth euery passenger runnes to it and gazes on it O God whiles thou hidest thy countenance from mee mee thinkes all thy Creatures passe by mee with a willing neglect indeed what am I without thee And if thou haue drawne in me some lines notes of able indowments yet if I be not actuated by thy Grace all is in respect of vse no better then nothing But when thou renuest the light of thy louing countenance vpon mee I finde a sensible and happy change of condition me thinkes all things looke vpon mee with such cheere and obseruance as if they meant to make good that Word of thine Those that honour mee I will honour now euery line and figure which it hath pleased thee to work in mee serue for vsefull and profitable direction O Lord all the glory is thine giue thou me light I shall giue others information both of vs shal giue thee praise III. Vpon the sight of an Eclipse of the Sunne LIght is an ordinary and familiar blessing yet so deare to vs that one houres interception of it sets all the world in
Maker O GOD this is thy Cabinet or shrine wherein â—hou pleasest to lay vp â—he precious reliques of â—hy deare Saints vntill â—he Iubilee of Glorie with what confidence should I commit my selfe to this sure reposition whiles I know thy word iust thy Power infinite IX Vpon the sight of Gold melted THis Gold is both thâ— fairest and most solide of all mettals yet 〈◊〉 the soonest melted witâ— the fire others as theâ— are courser so more chuâ—lish and hard to bâ— wrought vpon by a dissolution Thus a sound anâ— good heart is most easiâ—â— melted into sorrow and feare by the sence of Gods iudgements whereas the carnall minde is stubburne and remorselesse All mettals are but earth yet some are of finer temper then others All hearts are of flesh yet some are through the power of grace more capable of Spirituall apprehensions O GOD wee are such as thou wilt bee pleased to make vs Giue mee an heart that may bee sound for the truth of Grace and melting at the terrors of thy Law I can bee for no other then thy Sanctuarie on earth or thy Treasurie of heauen X. Vpon the sight of a Pitcher carried THus those that are great and weake are carried by the eares vp and downe of Flatterers and Parasites Thus ignorant and simple hearers are carried by false and mis-zealous teachers yet to bee carryed by both eares is more safe then bee carryed by one It argues an empty pitcher to be carryed by one alone such are they that vpon the hearing of one-part rashly passe their sentence whether of acquiall or censure In all disquisitions of â—idden Truthes a wise man will bee led by the â—ares not carried that â—â—plies a violence of pasâ—â—on ouer-swaying iudgeâ—ent but in matter of â—uill and occurrence and vnconcerning rumour it is good to vse the Eare not to trust to it XI Vpon the sight of Tree fâ—â—â— blossomed HEere is a Tree ouer layd with blossomes it is not possible that aâ— these should prospeâ— one of them must needâ— rob the other of moâ—sture and growth I do not loue to see an Infaâ—cie ouer-hopefull 〈◊〉 these pregnant beginnings one facultie staruâ— another and at last leauâ— the minde sap-lesse anâ— barren as therefore wâ— are wont to pull off somâ— of the too-frequent blossomes that the rest maâ— thriue So it is good wisedome to moderate the earely excesse of the parts or progresse of ouer-forward child-hood Neither is it otherwise in our Christian profession a sudden and lauish ostentation of grace may fill the eye with wonder and the mouth with talke but will not at the last fill the lappe with fruit Let mee not promise too much nor raise too high expectations of my vndertakings I had rather men should complaine of my small hopes then of my short performances XII Vpon the report of a Man suddenly strucke dead in his Sin I Cannot but magnifie the iustice of GOD but withall I must praise his Mercy It were woe with any of vs all if GOD should take vs at aduantages Alas which of vs hath not committed sinnes worthy of a present reuenge had wee beene also surprized in those acts where had wee beene Oh GOD it is more then thou owest vs that thou hast wayted for our repentance It is no more then thou owest vs that thou plaguest our offences The wages of sinne is Death and it is but iustice to pay due wages Blessed bee thy Iustice that hast made others examples to mee Blessed be thy Mercy that hast not made me an example vnto others * ⎠* XIII Vpon the view of the Heauen and the earth VVHat a strange contrarietie is heere The Heauen is in continuall motion and yet there is the onely place of rest the Earth euer stands still and yet heere is nothing but vnrest and vnquietnesse Surely the end of that heauenly motion is for the benefit of the Earth and the end of all these earthly turmoyles is our reposall in heauen Those that haue imagined the earth to turne about and the heauens to stand still haue yet supposed that wee may stand or sit still on that whirling Globe of earth how much more may wee bee perswaded of our perfect rest aboue those mouing Spheares It matters not O GOD how I am vexed heere below a while if ere long I may repose with thee aboue for euer XIIII Vpon occasion of a Redbreâ—â— comming into his Chamber PRetty bird how cheaâ—fully do'st thou sit anâ— sing and yet knowest nâ—â— where thou art nor wheâ—â— thou shalt make thy neâ—â— meale and at nighâ— must shrowd thy selfe in 〈◊〉 bush for lodging Whâ—â— a shame is it for mee thâ—â— see before mee so liberaâ— prouisions of my GOD and finde my selfe sâ— warme vnder my owâ— roofe yet am ready 〈◊〉 droupe vnder a distruâ—â—full and vnthankfull duâ—â—nesse Had I so little certainty of my harbour and purueyance how hartlesse should I bee how carefull how little list should I haue to make musicke to thee or my selfe Surely thou camest not hither without a prouidence GOD sent thee not so much to delight as to shame mee but all in a conuiction of my sullen vnbeliefe who vnder more apparent meanes â—m lesse cheerefull and â—onfident Reason and â—aith haue not done so much in mee as in thee heere instinct of nature want of fore-sight makes hee more merry if not more happie heere then the fore-sight of better things maketh mee O God thy prouidence is not impayred by those Powers thou hast giuen mee aboue these brute things Let not my greater helps hinder mee from an holy security and comfortable relyance vpon thee XV. Vpon occasion of a Spider iâ— his Window THere is no vice iâ— man whereof therâ— is not some analogie iâ— the brute Creatures 〈◊〉 amongst vs Men there are Theeues by land and Pirates by sea that liue by spoyle and blood so is there in euery kind amongst them variety of naturall Sharkers the Hauke in the ayre the Pike in the riuer the Whale in the sea the Lyon and Tyger and Wolfe in the desert the Waspe in the hiue the Spider in our window Amongst the rest see how cunningly this little Arabian hath spred out his tent for a prey how heedfully hee watches for a Passenger so soone as euer he heares the noyse of a Fly a farre off how hee hastens to his doore and if that silly heedlesse Traueller doe but touch vpon the verge of that vnsuspected walke how suddenly doth hee seize vpon the miserable bootie and after some strife binding him fast with those subtile cords drags the helplesse captiue after him into his caue What is this but an Embleme of those Spirituall free-booters that lie in waite for our soules They are the Spiders wee the Flies they haue spred their nets of sinne if wee bee once caught they bind vs fast and hale vs into Hell Oh LORD deliuer thou my soule from their crafty ambushes their poyson is greater their webs both more strong and more
true Clients of the Sunne how obseruant they are of his motion and influence At euen they shut vp as mourning for his departure without whom they neyther can nor would flourish in the morning they welcome his rising with a cheereful opennesse and at noone are fully display'd in a free acknowledgment of his bounty Thus doth the good heart vnto God When thou turnedst away thy face I was troubled saith the man after Gods owne heart In thy presence is life yea the fulnesse of ioy Thus doth the carnall heart to the world when that withdrawes his fauour hee is deiected and reuiues with a smile All is in our choyse whatsoeuer is our Sun will thus carry vs O God bee thou to mee such as thou art in thy selfe thou shalt bee mercifull in drawing mee I shall bee happy in following thee LVI Vpon the sound of a crack't Bell. WHat an harsh sound doth this Bell make in euery eare The Mettall is good enough it is the rifte that makes it so vnpleasingly iarring How too like is this Bell to a scandalous and ill-liued Teacher His calling is honourable his noyse is heard farre enough but the flawe which is noted in his life marres his Doctrine and offends those eares which else would take pleasure in his teaching It is possible that such a one euen by that discordous noyse may ring in others into the Tryumphant Church of Heauen but there is no remedy for himselfe but the fire whether for his reforming or iudgment * ⎠* LVII Vpon the sight of a blinde Man HOw much am I bound to GOD that hath giuen mee eyes to see this Mans want of eyes With what suspition and feare he walkes How doth his hand and staffe examine his way With what iealousie doth he receiue euery morsell euery draught and yet meets with many a post and stumbles at many a stone and swallowes many a flye To him the world is as if it were not or as if it were all rubbes and snares and downfalls And if any man will lend him an hand he must trust to his how euer faithlesse guide without all comfort saue this that hee cannot see himselfe mis-carry Many a one is thus Spiritually blind and because hee is so discernes it not and not discerning complaines not of so wofull a condition The God of this world hath blinded the eyes of the Children of disobedience they walke on in the wayes of death and yield themselues ouer to the guidance of him who seekes for nothing but their precipitation into Hell It is an addition to the misery of this inward occaecation that it is euer ioyned with a secure confidence in them whose trade and ambition is to betray their Soules What euer become of these outward sences which are common to mee with the meanest and most despicable creatures O Lord giue mee not ouer to that Spirituall darknesse which is incident to none but those that liue without thee and must perish eternally because they want thee LVIII Vpon a Beech-tree full of Nuts HOw is this Tree ouerladen with mast this yeare It was not so the last neither will it I warrant you bee so the next It is the Nature of these free Trees so to powre out themselues into fruit at once that they seeme afterwards eyther sterile or niggardly So haue I seene pregnant wits not discreetly gouerned ouerspend themselues in some one maister-peece so lauishly that they haue prooued eyther barren or poore and flatt in all other subiects True-Wisedome as it serues to gather due sap both for nourishment and fructification so it guides the seasonable and moderate bestowing of it in such manner as that one season may not be a glutton vvhiles others famish I vvould be glad to attaine to that measure and temper that vpon all occasions I might alwayes haue enough neuer too much LIX Vpon the sight of a peece of Mony vnder the Water I Should not vvish ill to a Couetous man if I should wish all his Coine in the bottome of the Riuer No pauement could so well become that streame no sight could better fit his greedy desires for there euery peece vvould seeme double euery teston would appeare a shilling euery Crowne an Angell It is the nature of that element to greaten appearing quantities vvhiles wee looke through the ayre vpon that solide body it can make no other representations Neither is it otherwise in spirituall eyes and obiects if wee looke with carnall eyes through the interposed meane of sensuality euery base and worthlesse pleasure will seeme a large contentment if with weake eyes wee shall looke at small and immateriall truthes aloofe off in another element of apprehension euery parcell thereof shall seeme maine and essentiall hence euery knack of heraldry in the sacred genealogies euery Scholasticall quirke in disquisitions of Diuinity are made matters of no lesse then life and death to the Soule It is a great improuement of true wisedome to be able to see things as they are and to value them as they are seene Let mee labour for that power and stayednesse of iudgment that neither my senses may deceiue my mind nor the obiect may delude my sense * ⎠* LX. Vpon the first rumour of the Earth-quake at Lime wherein a Wood was swallowed vp with the fall of two Hills GOod LORD how doe wee know when wee are sure If there were Man or Beast in that-Wood they seemed as safe as wee now are they had nothing but Heauen aboue them nothing but firme Earth below them and yet in what a dreadfull pit-fall were they instantly taken There is no fence for Gods hand A man would as soone haue feared that Heauen would fall vpon him as those Hills It is no pleasing our selues with the vnlikelyhood of diuine iudgemens We haue oft heard of Hills couered with Woods but of Woods couered with Hills I thinke neuer till now Those that planted or sowed those Woods intended they should bee spent with fire but Loe GOD meant they should bee deuoured with Earth Wee are wont to describe impossibilities by the meeting of Mountaines and behold heere two Mountaines are met to swallow vp a Valley What a good God it is whose prouidence ouer-rules and disposes of all these euents Townes or Cities might as well haue beene thus buried as a solitary Dale or a shrubby Wood Certainly the God that did this would haue the vse of it reach further then the noyse this hee did to show vs what hee could what hee might doe If our hearts doe not quake and rend at the acknowledgement of his infinite Power and feare of his terrible iudgements as well as that Earth did we must expect to bee made warnings that would take none LXI Vpon the sight of a Dormouse AT how easie a rate doe these Creatures liue that are fed with rest So the Beare and the Hedge-hog they say spend their whole winter in sleepe and rise vp fatter then they lay downe How oft haue
liuing call him forth to action So as an idle man doth not more want Grace then degenerate from Nature Indeed at the first kindling of the fire some sparkes are wont by the impulsion of the Bellowes to flie forward or sideward and euen so in our first Age youthly vanity may moue vs to irregular courses but when those first violences are ouercome and wee haue attained to a setlednesse of disposition our sparkes flye vp our life is labour And why should wee not doe that which we are made for Why should not GOD rather grudge vs our being then wee grudge him our worke It is no thanke to vs that wee labour out of necessity out of my obedience to thee O GOD I desire euer to bee imployed I shall neuer haue comfort in my toyle if it be rather a purueyance for my selfe then a Sacrifice to thee * ⎠* LXVIII Vpon the sight of a Rauen I Cannot see that Bird but I must needs thinke of ELIAH and wonder no lesse at the miracle of his faith then of his prouision It was a strong beleefe that carryed him into a desolate retirednesse to expect food from Rauens This fowle wee know is rauenous all is too little that hee can forage for himselfe and the Prophets reason must needs suggest to him that in a dry barren Desart bread and flesh must be great dainties yet he goes aside to expect victuals from that purueyance Hee knew this Fowle to bee no lesse greedy then vncleane Vncleane as in Law so in the nature of his seed What is his ordinary prey but loathsome carrion Yet since GOD had appointed him this Cator he stands nor vpon the nice points of a fastidious squeamishnesse but confidently depends vpon that vncouth prouision And accordingly these vnlikely purueyours bring him bread and flesh in the Morning and bread and flesh in the Euening Not one of those hungry Rauens could swallow one morsell of those viandes which were sent by them to a better mouth The Riuer of Cherith sooner fayled him then the tender of their Seruice No doubt ELIAHS stomacke was often vp before that his incurious dyet came When expecting from the mouth of his Caue out of what Coast of Heauen these his Seruitors might bee descryed vpon the sight of them hee magnified with a thankefull heart the wonderfull goodnesse and truth of his GOD and was nourished more with his faith then with his food O GOD how infinite is thy prouidence wisedome power We creatures are not what wee are but what thou wilt haue vs when thy turne is to be serued wee haue none of our owne Giue mee but faith and doe what thou wilt LXIX Vpon a Worme IT was an homely expression which GOD makes of the state of his Church Feare not thou Worme IACOB Euery foot is ready to tread on this despised Creature Whiles it keepes it selfe in that cold obscure Cell of the earth wherein it was hidden it lay safe because it was secret but now that it hath put it selfe forth of that close Caâ—e and hath presented it selfe to the light of the Sunne to the eye of Passengers how is it vexed with the scorching beames and wrings vp and downe in an helplesse perplexity not finding where to shrowd it selfe how obnoxious is it to the foules of the ayre to the feet of men and beasts He that made this Creature such and calls his Church so well knew the answerablenesse of their condition How doth the World ouer-looke and contemne that little slocke whose best-gard hath euer bin secrecy And if euer that despicable number haue dared to shew it selfe how hath it 〈◊〉 scorched and trampâ—ed vpon and intertained with all variety of Persecution O Sauiour thy Spouse fares no otherwise then thy selfe to match her fully thou hast said of thy selfe I am a Worme and no man Such thou wert in thine humbled estate here on earth such thou wouldst bee But as it is a true word that hee who made the Angels in HeaueÌ„ made also the Wormes on earth so it is no lesse true that hee who made himselfe and his Church Wormes vpon Earth hath raised our nature in his person aboue the Angels and our person in his Church to little lesse then Angels It matters not how wee fare in this Valley of tears whiles wee are sure of that infinite amends of Glory aboue LXX Vpon the putting on of his Cloathes VVHat a poore thing were Man if hee were not beholden to other Creatures The Earth affords him flaxe for his linnen bread for his belly the Beasts his ordinary cloathes the Silke-worme his brauery the backe and bowels of the Earth his mettals and fuell the Fishes Fowles Beasts his nourishment His wit indeed workes vpon all these to improue them to his owne aduantage but they must yield him materials else hee subsists not And yet wee fooles are proud of our selues yea proud of the cast Suites of the very basest Creatures There is not one of them that haue so much need of vs They would inioy themselues the more if Man were not Oh GOD the more wee are sensible of our owne indigence the more let vs wonder at thine alsufficiency in thy selfe and long for that happie condition wherein thou which art all perfection shalt bee all in all to vs. LXXI Vpon the sight of a great Library VVHat a world of wit is here pack't vp together I know not whether this sight doth more dismay or comfort me it dismayes me to thinke that heere is so much that I cannot know It comforts mee to thinke that this variety yeelds so good helps to know what I should There is no truer word then that of SALOMON There is no end of making many Bookes this sight verifies it There is no end indeed it were pitty there should GOD hath giuen to Man a busie Soule the agitation whereof cannot but through time and experience worke out many hidden truthes to suppresse these would bee no other then iniurious to Mankind whose minds like vnto so many candles should bee kindled by each other The thoughts of our deliberation are most accurate these wee vent into our Papers What an happinesse is it that without all offence of Necromancy I may here call vp any of the ancient Worthies of learning whether humane or diuine and conferre with them of all my doubts That I can at pleasure summon whole Synodes of Reuerend Fathers and acute Doctors from all the Coasts of the Earth to giue their well-studyed iudgements in all points of question which I propose Neyther can I cast my eye casually vpon any of these silent Maisters but I must learne somewhat It is a wantonnesse to complaine of choyse No Law bindes vs to read all but the more we can take in and digest the better-liking must the minds needs bee Blessed bee GOD that hath set vp so many cleare Lamps in his Church Now none but the wilfully blind can plead darknesse And blessed bee the memory of
those his faithfull Seruants that haue left their bloud their spirits their liuâ—â— in these precious Papers and haue willingly wasted themselues into these during Monuments to giue light vnto others LXXII Vpon the red Crosse on a doore OH signe fearefully significant this Sicknesse is a Crosse indeed and that a bloudy one both the forme and the colour import Death The Israelites doores whose lintells were besprinkled with blood were passed ouer by the destroying Angell here the destroying Angell hath smitten and hath left this marke of his deadly blow Wee are wont to fight cheerefully vnder this Ensigne abroad and be victorious Why should we tremble at it at home Oh GOD there thou fightest for vs heere against vs Vnder that wee haue fought for thee but vnder this because our sinnes haue fought against thee wee are fought against by thy iudgements Yet Lord it is thy Crosse though an heauy one It is ours by merit thine by imposition O Lord sanctifie thine affliction and remoue thy vengeance LXXIII Vpon the change of Weather I Know not whether it be worse that the Heauen looke vpon vs alwayes with one face or euer varying for as continuall change of Weather causes vncertainty of health so a permanent setlednesse of one season causeth a certainty of distemper perpetuall moysture disolues vs perpetuall heate euaporates or inflames vs cold stupefies vs drought obstructs and withers vs Neither is it otherwise in the state of the minde if our thoughts should bee alwayes Volatile changing inconstant wee should neuer attaine to any good habite of the Soule whether in matter of iudgement or disposition but if they should bee alwayes fixed wee should run into the danger of some disperate extremity to bee euer thinking would make vs mad to bee euer thinking of our crosses or sinnes would make vs hartlesly deiected to bee euer thinking of Pleasures and Contentments would melt vs into a loose Wantonnesse to bee euer doubting and fearing were an Hellish seruitude to bee euer bold and confident were a dangerous presumption but the interchanges of these in a due moderation keepe the Soule in health O GOD howsoeuer these Variations bee necessarie for my Spirituall condition Let mee haue no Weather but Sunne-shine from thee Doe thou lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon mee and stablish mee euer with thy free Spirit LXXIIII Vpon the sight of a Marriage WHat a comfortable and feeling resemblance is heere of CHRIST and his Church I regard not the persons I regard the institution Neyther the Husband nor the Wife are now any more their owne they haue eyther of them giuen ouer themselues to other not onely the Wife which is the weaker vessell hath yeilded ouer her selfe to the stronger protection and participation of an abler head but the Husband hath resigned his right in himselfe ouer to his feebler consort So as now her weaknesse is his his strength is hers Yea their very flesh hath altered property hers is his his is hers Yea their very Soule and Spirit may no more bee seuered in respect of mutuall affection then from their owne seuerall bodyes It is thus O Sauiour with thee and thy Church Wee are not our owne but thine who hast married vs to thy selfe in truth and righteousnesse What powers what indowments haue wee but from and in thee And as our holy boldnesse dares interesse our selues in thy graces so thy wonderfully-compassionate mercy vouchsaues to interesse thy selfe in our infirmities thy poore Church suffers on Earth thou feelest in Heauen as complaining of our stripes canst say Why persecutest thou mee Thou againe art not so thine owne as that thou art not also ours thy Sufferings thy Merits thy Obedience thy Life Death Resurrection Asscension Intercession Glory yea thy blessed Humanity yea thy glorious Deity by vertue of our right of our Vnion are so ours as that wee would not giue our part in thee for ten thousand Worlds Oh gracious Sauiour as thou canst not but loue and cherish this poore and vnworthie Soule of mine which thou hast mercifully espoused to thy selfe so giue mee Grace to honour and obey thee and forsaking all the base and sinfull riuality of the World to hold mee onely vnto thee whiles I liue here that I may perfectly inioy thee heereafter LXXV Vpon the sight of a Snake I Know not what horror wee finde in our selues at the sight of a Serpent Other Creatures are more loathsome and some no lesse deadly then it yet there is none at which our bloud riseth so much as at this Whence should this bee but out of an instinct of our old enmitie Wee were stung in Paradise and cannot but feele it But here is our weaknesse It was not the body of the Serpent that could haue hurt vs without the suggestion of sinne and yet wee loue the sinne whiles wee hate the Serpent Euery day are wee wounded with the sting of that old Serpent and complaine not and so much more deadly is that sting by how much it is lesse felt There is a sting of guilt and there is a sting of remorse there is mortall venome in the first whereof wee are the least sensible there is lesse danger in the second The Israelites found theÌ„selues stung by those fiery Serpents in the Desart and the sense of their paine sent them to seeke for Cure The World is our Desart and as the sting of Death is Sinne so the sting of Sinne is Death I doe not more with to finde ease then paine If I complaine enough I cannot faile of cure O thou which art the true brazen Serpent lifted vp in this Wildernesse raise vp mine eyes to thee and fasten them vpon thee thy mercy shall make my soule whole my wound soueraigne LXXVI Vpon the ruines of an Abby IT is not so easie to say what it was that built vp these Walles as what it was that pull'd them downe euen the wickednesse of the Possessours Euery stone hath a tongue to accuse the Superstition Hypocrisie Idlenesse Luxury of the late owners Me thinkes I see it written all along in Capitall letters vpon these heapes A fruitfull Land maketh hee barren for the iniquity of them that dwell therein Perhaps there wanted not some Sacriledge in the Demolishers in all the carriage of these businesses there was a iust hand that knew hovv to make an vvholsome and profitable vse of mutuall sins Full little did the Builders or the in-dwellers thinke that this costly and warme Fabricke should so soone end violently in a desolate rubbish It is not for vs to be high-minded but to feare No Roofe is so hye no Wall so strong as that sinne cannot leuell it with the Dust Were any pile so close that it could keepe out ayre yet it could not keepe out iudgement where sinne hath beene fore-admitted In vaine shall wee promise stability to those Houses which wee haue made witnesses of and accessaries to our shamefull vncleannesses The firmnesse of any building is not
Giue mee the Bread of sufficiency Let mee haue no perpetuall Feast but a good Conscience from these great preparations for the health both of Soule and body let mee rise rather hungry then surcharged LXXXII Vpon the hearing of a Lute well play'd on THere may bee for ought wee know infinite inuentions of Art the possibility whereof wee should hardly euer beleeue if they were fore-reported to vs Had wee liued in some rude and remote part of the World and should haue beene told that it is possible onely by an hollow peece of Wood and the guts of Beasts stirred by the fingers of men to make so sweet and melodious a noyse wee should haue thought it vtterly incredible yet now that wee see and heare it ordinarily done wee make it no wonder It is no maruell if wee cannot fore-imagine what kinde and meanes of harmony GOD will haue vsed by his Saints and Angels in Heauen when these poore matters seeme so strange to our conceits which yet our very senses are conuinced of Oh GOD thou knowest infinite wayes to glorifie thy selfe by thy Creatures which doe farre transcend our weake and finite capacities Let mee wonder at thy wisdome and power and bee more awfull in my adoratious then curious in my inquiries LXXXIII Vpon the sight and noyse of a Peacocke I See there are many kindes of Hypocrites Of all Birds this makes the fayrest show and the worst noyse So as this is an Hypocrite to the eye There are others as the Black-bird that lookes foule and sooty but sings well this is an Hypocrite to the Eare There are others that please vs well both in their shew and voice but are crosse in theyr carriage and condition as the Popingay whose colours are beautifull and noyse delightfull yet is apt to doe mischeife in scratching and byting any hand that comes neare it These are Hypocrites both to the eye and eare Yet there is a degree further beyond the example of all brute Creatures of them whose show whose words whose actions are faire but their hearts are foule and abhominable No outward beautie can make the Hypocrite other then odious For mee let my profession agree with my words my words with my actions my actions with my heart and let all of them be approoued of the GOD of truth LXXXIIII Vpon a penitent Malefactor I Know not whether I should more admire the Wisdome or the Mercy of God in his proceedings with men Had not this man sinned thus notoriously hee had neuer beene thus happy whiles his courses were faire and ciuill yet hee was gracelesse now his miscarriage hath drawne him into a iust affliction his affliction hath humbled him God hath taken this aduantage of his humiliation for his Conuersion Had not one foot slip't into the mouth of Hell hee had neuer beene in this forwardnesse to Heauen There is no man so weake or foolish as that hee hath not strength or wit enough to sinne or to make ill vse of his sinne It is onely the goodnesse of an infinite GOD that can make our sinne good to vs though euill in it selfe Oh GOD it is no thanke to our selues or to our sinnes that wee are bettered with euill the Worke is thine let thine bee the Glory LXXXV Vpon the sight of a Lilly THis must needs bee a goodly Flower that our Sauiour hath singled out to compare with SALOMON and that not in his ordinary dresse but in all his royalty Surely the earth had neuer so glorious a King as hee Nature yeilded nothing that might set forth royall magnificence that hee wanted yet hee that made both SALOMON and this Flower sayes that SALOMON in all his royaltie was not clad like it What a poore thing is this earthly brauery that is so easily ouermatched How ill Iudges are wee of outward beauties that contemne these goodly Plants which their Creator thus magnifies and admire those base mettals which he in comparison hereof cōtemnes If it be their transitoriness that embaseth them what are we All flesh is Grasse and all the glory of man as the flower of Grasse As we cannot be so braue so wee cannot bee more permanent Oh GOD let it bee my ambition to walke with thee hereafter in white Could I put on a robe of starres here with proud HEROD that glittering garment could not keepe mee from Lice or Wormes Might I sit on a Throne of Gold within an house of Iuory I see I should not compare with this Flower I might bee as transitory I should not bee so beautifull What matters it whether I go for a flower or a weed heere whethersoeuer I must wither Oh thou which art greater then SALOMON doe thou cloath mee with thy perfect Righteousnesse so shall I flourish for euer in the Courts of the House of my God LXXXVI Vpon the sight of a Coffin stucke with Flowers TOo faire appearance is neuer free from iust suspicion whiles heere was nothing but meere Wood no Flower was to be seene here now that this Wood is lined with an vnsauory Corps it is adorned with this sweet variety the firre whereof that Coffin is made yeilds a naturall redolence alone now that it is stuffed thus noysomely all helpes are too little to counteruaile that sent of corruption Neyther is it otherwise in the liuing Perpetuall vse of strong perfumes argues a guiltines of some vnpleasing sauour The case is the same Spiritually an ouer-glorious outside of Profession implyes some inward filthinesse that would faine escape notice Our vncomely parts haue more comelinesse put on Too much ornament imports extreame deformity For mee let my show bee moderate so shall I neyther deceiue applause nor merit too deepe censure LXXXVII Vpon the view of the World IT is a good thing to see this materiall World but it is a better thing to thinke of the intelligible World this thought is the sight of the Soule whereby it discerneth things like it selfe Spirituall and Immortall which are so much beyond the worth of these sensible Obiects as a Spirit is beyond a body a pure substance beyond a corruptible an infinite God aboue a finite Creature O GOD how great a word is that which the Psalmist sayes of thee that thou abasest thy selfe to behold the things both in Heauen and Earth It is our glory to looke vp euen to the meanest peece of Heauen It is an abasement to thine incomprehensible Maiesty to looke downe vpon the best of Heauen Oh what a transcendent Glory must that needs bee that is abased to behold the things of Heauen What an happinesse shall it bee to mee that mine eyes shall bee exalted to see thee who art humbled to see the place and state of my blessednesse Yea those very Angels that see thy face are so resplendantly glorious that wee could not ouer-liue the sight of one of their faces who are faine to hide their faces from the sight of thine How many millions of them attend thy Throne aboue and thy Footstoole
I know by it how much was owed by mee how much is payed for mee The direction of it is everlasting the obligation by it unto death is frustrate I am free from curse who never can be free from obedience O Saviour take thou glory and give mee peace XCV Vpō the report of a great losse by Sea THe earth and the water are both of them great givers and both great takers As they give matter and sustentatiō to all sublunary creatures so they take al back againe insatiably deuouring at last the fruits of their owne wombs Yet of the two the earth is both more beneficiall and lesse cruell for as that yeilds us the most generall maintenance wealth and supportatiō So it doth not lightly take ought from us but that which we resigne over to it and which naturally falls backe unto it Whereas the water as it affords but a small part of our live-lode some few knacks of ornament So it is apt violently to snatch away both us and ours and to bereave that which it never gave it yeilds us no precious mettals and yet in an instant fetches away millions And yet notwithstanding all the hard measure we receive from it how many doe wee dayly see that might have firme ground under them who yet will be trusting to the mercy of the Sea Yea how many that have hardly crawled out from a desperate ship wracke will yet be trying the fidelity of that unsure and untrusty element O God how venturous we are where we have reason to distrust how incredulously fearefull where we have cause to be confident Who ever relyed upon thy gracious providence and sure promises O Lord and hath mis-carryed Yet here we pull-in our faith and make excuses for our diffidence and if Peter have tryed those waves to be no other then solid pavement under his feet whiles his Soule trod confidently yet when a billow and a winde agree to threaten him his faith flagges and he begins to sinke O Lord teach me to doubt where I am sure to find nothing but uncertainty and to be assuredly confident where there can be no possibility of any cause of doubting XCVI Vpon sight of a bright skie full of starres I Cannot blame Empedocles if he professed a desire to live upon earth onely that he might behold the face of the heavens surely if there were no other this were a sufficient errand for a mans being here below to see obserue these goodly spangles of light above our heads their places their quantities their motions but the employment of a Christian is farre more noble and excellent heauen is open to him and he can looke beyond the vayle and see further above those starrs then it is thither and there discerne those glories that may answer so rich a pavement vpon the cleare sight whereof I cannot wonder if the chosen vessell desired to leave the earth in so happy an exchange O God I blesse thine infinitenesse for what I see with these bodily eyes but if thou shalt but draw the curtaine and let me by the eye of faith see the in-side of that thy glorious frame I shall need no other happiness here My Soule cannot be capable of more fauour then sight here and fruition hereafter CVII Vpon the rumors of Warres GOod Lord what a shambles is Christēdome becomne of late How are men killed like flyes and blood poured out like water Surely the cruelty ambitiō of the great have an heavie reckoning to make for so many thousand soules I condemne not just armes those are as necessary as the unjust are hatefull even Michael and his Angels fight and the style of God is the Lord of Hostes But wo be to the man by whom the offence commeth Usurpation of others rights violation of oathes and contracts lastly erroneous zeale are guilty of all these publique murders Private mens injuries are washt off with teares but wrongs done to Princes and publique States are hardly wipt off but with blood Doubtlesse that fearefull comet did not more certainly portend these warres then these warres presage the approach of the end of the world The earth was never without some broyles since it was peopled but with three men but so vniversall a combustion was never in the Christian world since it was O Saviour what can I thinke of this but that as thou wouldst have a generall peace upon thy first comming into the world so upon thy second comming thou meanest there shall be a no lesse generall warre upon earth that peace made way for thy meeke appearance this warre for thy dreadfull and terrible XCVIII Vpon a Child crying IT was upon great reason that the Apostle charges us not to be children in understanding What fooles wee all once are Even at first we cry and smile wee know not wherefore we have not wit enough to make signes what hurts us or where wee complayne we can wrye the mouth but not seeke the brest and if we want helpe we can onely lament and sprawle and dye After when some months have taught us to distinguish a little betwixt things and persons wee cry for every toye even that which may most hurt us and when there is no other cause we cry onely to heare our own noyse and are straight stilled with a greater if it be but upon the breeding of a tooth we are so wayward that nothing will please us and if some formerly-liked knack be given to quiet us wee cast away that which we have if wee have not what wee would seeme to like We feare neither fire nor water nothing scarres us but either a rod or a fayned bug-beare we mis-know our parents not acknowledging any friend but the Taylor that brings us a fine coate or the Nurse that dresses us gay The more that our riper yeares resemble these dispositions the more childish wee are and more worthy both of our owne and others censure But againe it was upon no lesse reason that the Apostle charges us to be children in maliciousnesse Those little innocents beare no grudg they are sooner pleased then angry And if any man have wronged them let them but have given a stroke unto the Nurse to beat the offender it is enough at the same instant they put forth their hand for reconcilement and offer themselves unto those armes that trespassed And when they are most froward they are stilled with a pleasant song The old word is that an old man is twice a child but I say happy is he that is thus a child alwayes It is a great imperfection to want knowledge but of the two it is better to be a child in understanding then a man in maliciousnesse XCIX Vpon the beginning of a sicknesse IT was my owne fault if I look't not for this All things must undergoe their changes I have injoyed many fayre dayes there was no reason I should not at last make account of clouds and stormes Could I have done well
if wee take all together these shreds of Ilands and these patches of Continent what a mere indivisible point they are in comparison of that vast circle of heaven wherewith they are incompassed It is not easie for a man to bee knowne to that whole land wherein hee lives but if he could be so famous the next country perhaps never heares of his name and if he can attain to be talked of there yet the remoter parts cānot take notice that there is such a thing and if they did all speake of nothing else what were hee the better Oh the narrow bounds of earthly glory Oh the vaine affectation of humane applause Only that man is happily famous who is known recorded in heaven CXXVII Vpon the sight of hemlocke THere is no creature of it selfe evill mis-application may make the best so and there is a good use to be made of the worst This weed which is too well proved to be poysonous yet to the Goat is medicinall as serving by the coldnesse of it to temper the feverons heat of that beast so wee see the Marmoset eating of spiders both for pleasure and cure Our ignorance may not bring a scandall upon Gods workmanship or if it do his wisedome knowes how to make a good use even of our injury I cannot say but the very venome of the creatures is to excellent purpose how much more their beneficiall qualities If ought hurt us the fault is ours in mis-taking the evill for good in the meane time wee owe praise to the maker and to the creature a just and thankfull allowance CXXVIII Vpon a Flowre-de-luce THis flowre is but unpleasingly fulsome for sent but the root of it is so fragrant that the delicatest Ladies are glad to put it into their sweet bagges contrarily the rose-tree hath a sweet flowre but a savour-lesse root and the saffron yeelds an odoriferous and cordiall spire whiles both the flowre and the root are unpleasing It is with vegitables as with mettals God never meant to have his best alwayes in view neither meant hee to have all eminences concealed Hee would have us to know him to be both secretly rich and openly bountifull If we do not use every grace in its owne kinde God leeses the thankes and wee the benefit CXXIX Vpon the sight of two trees one high the other broad Those trees that shoot up in height are seldome broad as contrarily those trees that are spreading are seldome tall it were too much ambition in that plant which would bee both wayes eminent Thus it is with men The covetous man that affects to spread in wealth seldome cares to aspire unto height of honour the proud man whose heart it set upon preferment regards not in comparison thereof the growth of his wealth There is a poore shrubbe in a valley that is neither tall nor broad nor cares to be either which speeds better then they both the tall tree is cut downe for timber the broad tree is lopped for firewood besides that the tempest hath power on them both whereas the low shrubbe is neither envied by the winde nor threatned by the axe but fostered rather for that little shelter which it affords the shepheard If there bee glory in greatnes meannesse hath security Let me never envy their diet that had rather bee unsafe then inglorious CXXX Vpon the sight of a drunken-man REason is an excellent facultie and indeed that which alone differenceth us from brute creatures without which what is man but a two-legged beast and as all precious things are tender and subject to miscarriage so is this above others the want of some little sleepe the violence of a fever or one cup too much puts it into utter distemper What can we make of this thing Man I cannot call him Hee hath shape so hath a dead corps as well as he hee hath life so hath a beast as well as hee Reason either for the time hee hath not or if hee have it he hath it so depraved and marred for the exercise of it that brutishnesse is much lesse ill-beseeming Surely the naturall bestiality is so much lesse odious then the morall as there is difference in the causes of both That is of Gods making this of our own It is no shame to the beast that God hath made him so it is a just shame to a man that he hath made himselfe a beast CXXXI Vpon the whetting of a sithe REcreation is intended to the minde as whetting is to the sithe to sharpen the edge of it which otherwise would grow dull and blunt hee therefore that spends his whole time in recreation is ever whetting never mowing his grasse may grow and his steed starve as contrarily he that alwaies toyles and never recreates is ever mowing never whetting labouring much to little purpose as good no sithe as no edge Then onely doth the work goe forward when the sithe is so seasonably and moderately whetted that it may cut and so cuts that it may have the helpe of sharpening I would so interchange that I neither be dull with worke nor idle and wanton with recreation CXXXII Vpon the sight of a looking-glasse VVHen I looke in another mans face I see that man and that man sees mee as I doe him but when I looke in my glasse I doe not see my selfe I see onely an image or representation of my selfe howsoever it is like mee yet it is not I it is for an ignorant child to looke behinde the glasse to finde out the babe that he seeeth I know it is not there and that the resemblance varies according to the dimnesse or different fashion of the glasse At our best wee doe but thus see God here below One sees him more clearely another more obscurely but all in a glasse Hereafter wee shall see him not as he appeares but as hee is So shall wee see him in the face as hee sees us The face of our glorified Spirits shall see the glorious face of him who is the God of Spirits In the meane time the proudest dame shall not more plie her glasse to looke upon that face of hers which shee thinkes beautifull then I shall gaze upon the clearest glasse of my thoughts to see that face of God which I know to bee infinitely faire and glorious CXXXIII Vpon the shining of a peece of rotten wood HOw bright doth this wood shine When it is in the fire it will not so beame forth as it doth in this cold darknesse What an embleme is here of our future estate This peece whiles it grew in the tree shone not at all now that it is putrified it casts forth this pleasing lustre Thus it is with us whiles wee live here we neither are nor seeme other then miserable When we are dead once then begins our glory then doth the soule shine in the brightnesse of heavenly glory then doth our good name shine upon earth in those beames which before envie had either held in or