How many men have damned their souls that they might dye rich and to that end like overflowing Rivers have growne great by the ruins of their Countrey upon this account chiefly that they may go out of the world wealthy when Scypio's moderation and abstinence have reared him up a more glorious Monument then his Conquests 10 Philostratus being imployed by Ptolomy in building that famous Pharos neer Alexandria engraved in the solid and durable Marble his own name and in plaister over it the Kings that his in time being worne off his own might be seen to perpetuity Sin imprinteth in my fancy favourable and specious conceits of it but there are characters in my conscience of another tenour which will abide there when the other are vanisht and no more to be remembred 11 William Wickham being appoynted by King Edward in building a stately Church wrote in in the windows This work made William Wickham for which being charged by the King as assuming the honour of that work to himself as the author being onely overseet he answered that He meant not he made the work but that the worke made him being before but beggarly and then in great credit Lord when we read in thy Word that we must work out our own Salvation thy meaning is not that our Salvation should be the effect of our work but our work the evidence of thy Salvation 12 The Empresse Maud being closely beset by her enemies neere Winchester caused her selfe to be put into a Coffin and as one dead was safely conveighed through their Troupes Evill concupiscences beset my soul with an almost impossibility of escaping but the way to avoid them is by becoming dead to sin not to live any longer therein 13 They tell of a Tree in Japan that flourisheth and is fruitfull if kept in a dry earth but with moysture which causeth other trees to flourish withereth Such is the sincere Christian to whom the crosse is a crutch affliction raiseth up his affection and the heate of persecution makes his graces flourish and fruitfull but the gentle showers of prosperity decayeth his greennesse and usually makes his graces torpid if not livelesse 14 Among the Turks every one is of some Trade the Grand Seignior himself though Lord of so many Countries yet daily imployes himselfe in some chosen Occupation because even Adam in Paradise was by divine appointment not left idle An huge condemnation to those of our times who think it a disgrace to be ingaged in any profitable imployment whereby they may promote the common good and their own being almost all onely of the trade of that Assirian whose Motto was Ede bibe lude 15 Herbert in his travells tells of Fowle which if you shoote some the rest fly not away but render themselves an easie prey to him that will kill them How many such foolish men are there whom others harmes make not wary but are intangled in the same fetters of lust and misery wherein they have seen others and themselves have been formerly ensnared 16 The River Tigris passing through the Lake Arethusa mingleth not his waters with it but retaines its tast and colour different from that of the Lake Such should the Christian be though conversing in the world yet reserving the savour of Godlinesse and colour of religious profession unallayed 17 The Virgins of Miletus through an unkind Melancholy being their own executioners and that mischief much encreasing there was a Law made that those so dying should be carryed naked exposed to view through the City upon which that evill ceased modesty and the shame of being so laid open though after death prevailing more then all other considerations could How sad is it that among us professing Christianity there should be of the shamefacer sex straining healths through their Smocks c. and prostituting that vertue which by the heathen was estimated at so high a rate 18 The Hircanians do use to banquet under the falls of their Rivers as in the shade which are so steep that they shoote over their heads It often is that wretched sinners riot it under the guilt of those sinnes that a tender conscienced person would tremble to think of 19 They have Trunks in India called Sampatans through which they shoot arrows so invenomed that if they prick the skin it is very dangerous but if they draw bloud it is irrecoverably deadly The first motions to sin arising from that root of bitternesse appeare never without sad effects but Lord let them never draw bloud by consent from my will that their deadly venome should seize my vitalls 20 Demetrius King of Syria being taken prisoner by the King of Parthia and by him marryed to his own sister and with all desirable things entertained oft attempted and at laft effected an escape into his own Countrey Lord with what enjoyments soever I am derained from thee yet let the desire of my soule be to thy name and to the remembrance of thee and at last let me obtaine an happy escape to thee 21 Maud the Empresse being besieged by the forces of King Stephen in Oxford when the snow covered the ground made her escape thence by arraying her self and followers in white sheets Lord I am besieged by thy justice and the guilt of sin compasseth me about on every side but Oh cloath me with the white Robe of thy Sons Righteousnesse that I may escape the execution of thy vengeance 22 Sixtus Quintus being a great abettor of the Spanish Faction when a Cardinall was the greatest enemy of it when chosen Pope the Papall dignity not being compatible with the Spanish greatnesse in Italy Lord how far soever I abetted the reigne of sin in my heart before I received thy Spirit of adoption yet now let me ever be a zealous opposer of it the Kingdome of sin being so inconsistent with the dignity of a son 23 The Papists say that their pictures of the Virgin Mary are exactly like her being begun by Angels and finished by Saint Luke though 't is to be seen that in them the Painters have used their wonted liberty not two of them being in all things alike and one of them of no small fame representing a blackmore Nay there was a fellow of them that like Apelles with his Hellen from the beauties of severall courtisans before him drew the picture of this Virgine How safe and to our credit is it to continue in the truth for the children of the father of lyes at one time or other will shew their cloven feet and to our shame discover their breed 24 Though the Northern people have made many irresistible irruptions into the South like a torrent bearing all before them yet 't is observed that they never obtained any durable Empire the Southern wit being an overmatch for the Northern strength If concupiscence break forth and hurry into sin exercising some sudden acts of tyranny yet let it not get any stable dominion let the efficacy of thy grace
Christian Chymistrie EXTRACTING The Honey of instruction from variety of OBJECTS BEING An handfull of Observations Historicall Occasionall and out of Scripture With Applications Theologicall and Morall By CALEB TRENCHFIELD sometime Minister of the Church at Chipsted in Surrey Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her wayes and be wise Pro. 6.6 I went by the field of the slothfull and by the Vineyard of the man voyd of understanding Then I saw and considered it well I looked upon it and received instruction Pro. 24.30 32. London Printed by M. S. for H. Crips at his shop in Popes-head Alley next Lombard Street 1662. To my ever Honoured Uncle Daniel Shetterden Esq SIR Why I should dedicate this small piece to you will not be askt by those to whom we are both known why I should not would Your great respect to a godly faithfull Ministry hath merited to be in this kind confest by much abler pens but your particular favour to me challenged the first fruits of mine You gave out your hand when I first began to go and your incouragement and assistancy then besides what since requires to be first acknowledged now My capacity extends not to a fatted Calfe out of the stall I here present you with a Bunch of Grapes like those of our Countrey comparatively sower nay positively so for 't is out of mine own Vine yard and I dwell in a cold aire and churlish soile that would abase even a generous Vine being fitter for perry and sider If you can pick out hence any Grape meet for your pallate that may be for food or physick if not like Wine to cheare the heart yet as vinegar to whet your stomack to what 's better I shall be glad if I may be but in this kind serviceable to your better thoughts and intend your heat though per antiperistasin I know you have candour enough favourably to interpret what admits it and charity enough to cover what 's faulty and goodness enough to accept of and patronize what is if any such here be worthy of it in confidence whereof I lay these before you in testimony of my desires to serve you and on purpose to shew that I would do some thing to approve my self somewhat worthy to be Your so much obliged Nephew Caleb Trenchfield CHRISTIAN Chymistrie 1 SCypio Africanus being shew'd a very rich shield answered that it was the manner of the Romans to trust more in their right hands then their left But most of those Champions set down in the Lords book of Worthies are memorized rather for the defensive then offensive and there is usually more honour got in that field by suffering then doing 2 Agesilaus playing with his young son and riding upon a reed to make him sport was dirided by one of his familiars as being too vaine to whom he answered hold thy peace till thou thy self art a father and then we will heare thy advice When we meet with infirmities which have befallen some of the servants of God in their exigencies we are ready to deride their weaknesse or suspect their sincerity but let us suspend our Judgements till our soules be in their soules stead 3 The Miuturnians changing their purpose of slaying Caius Marius into purposes of conveighing him to the Sea side were in their passage thither either to go a great way about which his danger would not allow or to go through a wood which they accounted sacred and the highest sacriledge to carry any thing out of it that had been once brought into it In this exigency an old man among them steps out and resolves the doubt saying no way was to be scrupled whereby Marius might be saved Our dayes have shewn us many of that opinion that nothing should be accounted holy which stood in the way of their ambition but Lord make me alwayes willing rather to go about for the obtaining of my purposes then to tread over where thou hast set bounds 4 Cardinall Poole being chosen Pope by a free and faire Election yet either out of an high conceit of his own worth or too much desiring to shew his moderation and integrity would not then be confirmed but willed the Conclave to consider of it till the next morning in which time another of the Cardinalls had so prevailed with the rest that they rejected Poole and chose him Pope Those things which we apprehend our selves to be excellent in we commonly desire so much to make a shew of that like Physitians who willing to appeare richly clad swelter in Plush in hot summer by our ostentation we render that ridiculous and offensive which might otherwise prove greatly to our reputation and advantage 5 Philip King of Macedon being importun'd by a poor widdow to do her justice answered that he was not at leasure to whom she replyed then cease to be a King for to do justice is that you are a King for which he hearing apprehended himself so homely spoken to that he took care of her cause incontinently Lord thou requirest of us that we should do thee service but we are ready to say we cannot intend it but it may well be replyed to us then cease to live for therefore gavest thou us our lives that we might lay them out in thy service 6 Hipponicus intending to dedicate a costly statue was advised by a friend to imploy Policletus a famous workman in the making of it but he said That he would not make use of such an one in that businesse whose Art should be rather regarded then his cost When in preaching the great truths of Gospell Salvation the enticing words which mans wit teacheth art sought out the art is so much lookt upon by the auditors that the matter is for the most part lost 7 A Limner being desired by a certain person to draw for him an Horse tumbling which he mistaking drew one running which when he had brought home the person imploying him grew angry that according as he had appoynted he had not represented him tumbling to whom he answered Turne the piece and your running Horse is a tumbling one Many differences have been among us wherein we have been very angry that others have not concur'd with our apprehensions when the difference hath been onely the different way of representing 8 Diogenes seeing some Rhodians gorgeously apparelled while others admired them said Tush That 's nothing but pride and seeing some Spartans by in their thred-bare Caps said That 's but another sort of pride When the vaine men of the world apply to a fantastick gallantry t is manifest that it is nothing but pride Oh would that when religious persons appeare to deny the world they did not give cause to say that theirs is pride too 9 Scypio the Conquerour of Hanniball and scourge of Carthage though by many triumphs he had replenished the common treasury yet in all his life never bought one acre of ground for himself nor left money enough in his Coffers to bury him
designe to be glad when it is said tous Let us go up to the house of the Lord but it is better to lead in such company to be Captains of the Lords Host but then we shew what spirit we are of when like Elijah we are very jealous for the Lord in such general defections that we seem only left that we can tread the wine-presse alone though of the people there be none with us can say as Joshua I and my house will serve the Lord though all Israel beside desert his interest 182 Lewis then Duke of Orleance rebelling against Charls the eighth King of France and joyning in confederacy with the Duke of Britain was taken prisoner in battel by the Earl of Trimovil being afterward King of France and moved by some about him to be revenged of the Earl said That the Earl had done nothing but his duty and wisht That he might never find a worse Subject in time of need then the Earl in that action had approved himself Such preaching as doth search the heart awaken conscience and hedg about the soul with thorns that it cannot find its paths and takes it captive in the Lords bonds is under the censure of men as unreasonably austere and rigorous but when their eyes are opened to discern the true interests of their souls they then find that that 's the preaching fit for the recovery of souls and that they had never been cured if they had not been cauterized 183 Richard the first being in his Palace at Westminster had news brought him That the French King besieged one of his Towns beyond the Seas whereupon he vowed That he would not turn his back till he had raised the siege and immediately caused the walls to be digged down before him and without farther delay hasted over and relieved the place How many good purposes are lost for want of present execution while we pretend to consult for the fittest opportunity we loose the present opportunity and while we are determining what time to repent in we leave our selves no time wherein to repent 184 A certain Priest in France being converted to the truth and imprisoned for it being brought to examination recanted upon which recantation being delivered out of prison was in the very passage out slain by two Gentlemen that bare an old grudge to him Lord they that will not lose their lives upon that excellent accoutn of thy glory how just is it that it should be lost to them upon the unprofitable account of humane frailty or others malice what rare husbandry is ti then to lose the life for thy sake when that Rose is offered up a sweet savour to thee and shall be richly rewarded by thee which otherwise would have faded of it self or have been clipt off with the rest of the Bush 185 One claiming Justice of Aristides for injuries that another had done him told him That the same person had spoken very unhandsome and vile words of Aristides himself to whom he said Friend if he have wronged thee ought prethee make it appear for upon the account of righting thee am I at this time here not to vindicate my own wrongs When will it be that judgement shall not be perverted that the equity of the cause and not the affection of the party accused shall be considered for how often hath it been sufficient to put and keep those sheep in the Pound not because they have trespassed but have not our mark upon them and have dispatcht those Doves not because they have not been innocent but not of our colour 186 A Bishop being charged with an hainous offence and condemned to dye for it had grace given in to him before his execution so that with floods of tears he lamented his sins with an heart abundantly poured out he besought the Lord for pardon saying That he had said prayers before but never prayed till now What odds is there between the tongue when it is the tuned instrument of others invention and when it is the tunable instrument of the hearts affection when the breath that moves it is not out of the bellows of a formal devotion but the breathings of the soul to God and pantings after him how differently is the Lord affected the languid oscitancy and distracted perfunctoriness of prayer not dictated from the heart like an arrow shot from a broken bow falling short of the Throne of Grace but it is the inditings of that spirit of prayer and supplication that layes bands upon the Divine Majesty and will not let him go untill it hath a blessing 187 Philip King of Spain being minded by one of his Courtiers That that was the day of his father the Emperours resignation answered and of his repentance too intimating that that resignation was no sooner done then wisht undone With what unresolvednesse do we resolve to desert the world our hearts having secret practice with it even then when our understandings are convinced of the vanity of it and we professe most against it our repentance though as to the matter of it not to be repented of yet to be repented of as to the manner 188 Pliny reports of a Maid in his time On her marriage day changed into a man and others tell of the same metamorphosis so reall that some afterward have had wife and children Those that are espoused to Christ in the bond of the New Covenant are truly changed from the effeminacies of lust and of a vain conversation and become masculine enobled to generous and heroick designs prest to quit themselves like men 189 Archimedes being intent upon a Mathematicall demonstration at the time when Syracusa was taken a Souldier breakes into his study upon him with his sword directed at him to whom he turn'd about and said Prethee friend let me alone till I have finisht my Demonstration with which the rude fellow incensed run him through without more ado With what content have those refined souls bestowed themselves in the search of humane Science when with high satisfaction to themselves they have hunted forth out of the rude masse some more sublimed notion with what exultation have they clapt their hands at and applauded their own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as yet their wisdome was but of the earth earthy with what rare delight then may we be imployed in the search of those divine mysteries which the very Angels themselves desire to pry into 190 The very suspition of Protestanisme is almost Capital where the Inquisition is established but the Jews are by publick allowance suffered in Rome it self under the Popes Nose though the Protestant agree very much with the Papist in his belief as a Christian the Jew not at all In Turkey the Christians have free exercise of their Religion but the Persian Sect is so hated that a Zelez slew an Embassadour of theirs only upon the account of that difference though the Christian wholly disavow their Mahomet the Persian only dissents about his
Successor Thus we daily see a greater disgust because of some petty differences in circumstantials where yet there is agreement in the vital part of fundamental truth and holy living then because of those notorious profanesses which unchristian a man and make him as an Heathen man and a Publican 191 A Crocodile out of the River Niger drew in with ihs tail nine slaves chained together and devoured them but the Chain not being digestible proved his destruction being found in him dead Lord at how great sins dare this heart of mine venture and at how long a train as the Ox drinketh down water in huge quantity and with great delight but there is a Chain of guilt with it surely deadly that can neither be vomited nor vented this makes me cry My bowels my bowels I am pained at my very heart but the comfort is there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian there 192 At the siege of Rochel a certain Souldier from the walls observing the Duke of Anjou afterwards Henry the 3d. to stand viewing the Fortifications fired at him which one of the Esquires of his body perceiving in the very moment stept before him and saved the life of his Lord by the losse of his own Lord the arrows of thy vengeance are levelled at the Caul of my heart and it is justice that they should smite me under the fifth rib but let that Jesus who saves his people from their sins call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a middle person step between Let the chastisement of my peace be upon him and by his stripes let me be healed 193 Marcellus at the taking of Syracusa being greatly desirous to save the life of Archimedes gave strait charg through his army That every person should endeavour his safety but a Souldier breaking in upon him at his study not knowing him slew him How much better is it to be one of those marked out by him with the writers Ink-horn by his side how much greater security in being one of those who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst of the City how much more certain safety had Jeremiah Baruch and Ebedmelech when Jerusalem was stormed by Nebuchadnezzar being those to whom God had promised their lives for a prey 194 Fabius Maximus dying suddenly the day before the end of his Consulship Rebius sued to be Consull for the few hours of that year which remained Lord how short hast thou made our lives if compared with the Crow or Stag and how much shorter are they made by many crosse accidents and how much shorter doe we make them by our many intemperances and how much shorter yet are they made by thy just judgement when for our presumption and carelesness in thy worship we are sick and weak and some fall asleep and yet how fond are we of this little remnant that we often hazard an immortal soul for it But Oh do thou direct my aims to that which admits of no termination as to extent of time or enjoyment 195 Some Roman Souldiers flying from Amida when taken by the Persians wandred in the deserts almost choaked with thirst till they came to a deep well whence yet they had nothing to draw the water with till necessity found out this invention They pull'd off their shirts and cut them out into long slips which they tyed together making a bunch at the end by which through a manifold repetition squeezing the hunch they drew up water enough to quench their thirst When we come to the word to draw water out of the wells of salvation we are unfurnished of Pitchers for that purpose our ears are dull of hearing our hearts fat and hard to understand here a little and there a little a frequent repetition must be often applicatious for of much we carry away but a very little our judgements but a little informed our affections but a little rectified or elevated Alas alas they that think rare attendances wil serve the turn or that they shall be told but what they know manifest that they are not sensible of their own dullnesse nor consider that the Apostle Peter thought it meet to put those often in remembrance who knew those things and were established in the present truth 199 A certain person that had sold a street of houses and laid out the money in costly apparrel came to Court and being in a prease there cryed to them To make way for one that had an hundred Tenements on his back Lord thou hast said That thou art pressed under our sins as a Cart is pressed under sheaves and the burden of our iniquity brings down from thee a burden of punishment yet is the weight of sin fo far from being grievous that instead of lamenting the pressure we boast of the number but if we are not weary and heavy laden with the sense of our transgressions now they will at that day press us down into the lowest hell 200 Neer the Lake Agnano there is a Cave into which for the experience of Travellers the neighbouring Inhabitants are wont to put their Dogs which are no sooner in but they are as dead immediately with eyes set and tongues hanging out but taken thence presently and thrown into the Lake they recover for which cause those Dogs no sooner see a stranger coming but if not timely prevented away they get them packing to the adjoyning mountains not to be got again to make a new experiment Lord thou saidst In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death and we never descend into acts of iniquity but we are afresh dead in trespasses and sins and that irrecoverably if not washed by faith and repentance in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleannesse but if we have so escaped when temptation again presents it self shall we not get us packing by no means to be brought to another tryall 200 Cleopatra the wife of Cyricoenus having taken Sanctuary at Antioch after her husbands overthrow her Sister Gryphina the wife of Gryphus most importunately solicited her death and though Gryphus much perswaded her desivery yet she her self commanded the Souldiers in to dispatch her but a few dayes after the same Gryphina falling into the hands of Cyricoenus was by him made a sacrifice to his Wives Ghost They are not our times alone that by their mutability have taught men that great lesson of moderation all ages have witnessed That the Lord is at hand a just Judge to execute vengeance on those who have not by their miseration to others shewed their sense that they also are in the body even those whom God sent out to be his Executioners he hath afterward plagued because they did their work without pitty OCCASIONALL Observations 1 IN that emendation as 't is thought to be of the English Tongue by the addition of forreign words of divers Languages though possibly we may speak more finely yet not which is the end of speech more significantly but alwayes more laborioufly few