is purchased too late when wee over-stay prevention and trust to that experience we cannot live to redeeme Nor is it wisdome to stay till a judgement come home to us for the only way to avoid it is to meet it halfe way There is the same remedy both or war and of danger To provoke an enemy in his owne borders is the best stay of invasion and to solicite God betimes in a manifest danger is the best antidote against the greatest evils that can be fall us IT is a good signe when God chides us his round reprehensions are ever gracious forerunners of mercy whereas his silent connivence at the wicked argues deep and secret displeasure Fond Nature thinkes God should not suffer the winde to blow upon his deare ones because her selfe makes this fond use of her own indulgence But wheresoever God chastises there he is yea there he is in mercy Nothing more proves us his than his stripes he will not bestow whipping where he loves not HEE that commonly gives us power to crave sometimes gives us without craving that the benefit might be so much more welcome by how much lesse it was suspected and we so much more thankfull as he is forward When he bids us aske it is not that he needs to be entreated but that he may make us more capable of blessings by desiring them and where he sees fervent desires he seldome staies for words but how much more will he give when we aske that so freely gives before we aske BY contrary paces to ours it pleases God to come to his owne ends looking oft the contrary way to that we move No man can measure the conclusion of Gods acts by his beginnings hee that fetches good out of evill often raises the glory of men out of their ruine Wee love to goe the nearest way and often faile God commonly goes about and in his owne time comes surely home Necessity will drive us to seeke all helpes even those which our wantonnesse despised It is a safe course to make much of those in our peace whom wee must make use of in our extremity else it is but just that we should be rejected by them we have rejected VOws are as they are made like unto Sents if they be of ill composition nothing offends more if well tempered nothing more pleasant either certainty of evill or uncertainty of good or impossibility of performance make Vowes of no service to God When we vow that we cannot or what wee ought not wee mocke God in stead of honouring him It is a vain thing for us to goe about to catch God hoodwinkt for there is no comfort in Peradventure I may please God IT fals out often that those times and occasions which promise most contentment prove most dolefull in the issue as contrarily the times and events which we have most distrusted prove most beneficiall It is good in a faire morning to think of the storme that may arise before night and to enjoy both good and evill fearefully AS it becomes not children to be too forward in their choice so Parents ought not to bee too peremptory in their deniall It is not safe for children to out-run their Parents in setling their affections nor for Parents where the impediments are not very materiall to come short of their children when their affections are once setled the one is disobedience the other tyranny THe curtesies of the world are ever hollow and thanklesse neither doth it ever purpose so ill as when it shewes fairest None are so neare dangers as those whom it entertaines with smiles Whilest it frownes wee know what to trust to but the favours of it are worthy nothing but feares and suspitions open defiance is better than false love INdulgences of Parents is the refuge of vanity the bawde of wickedness the bane of children How easily is that Theefe induced to steale that knowes his Receiver When the lawlesnesse of youth knows where to finde pitty and toleration what mischiefe can it forbeare GOod dispositions love not to pleasure themselves with the disadvantage of others and had rather be miserable alone than draw in partners to their sorrow for the sight of anothers calamity doth even double their owne and if themselves were free would affect them with compassion As contrarily ill mindes care not how many companions they have in misery they can be content all the world were inwrapped with them in the same distresse IT is no love that cannot make us willing to be miserable for those we affect the hollowest heart can be content to follow one that prospereth Adversity is the only furnace of friendship if love will not abide both fire and anvile it is but counterfeit And in our love to God we doe but crack and vaunt in vaine if we cannot bee willing to suffer for him THe Rich exchanging their almes with the poore for their blessings have no cause to complaine of an ill bargaine our gifts cannot be worth their faithfull prayers Therefore it is better to give than to receive because hee that receives hath but a worthlesse almes he that gives receives an unvaluable blessing WEE cannot better please an adversary than by hurting our selves This is no other than to honour envy to serve the turne of those that maligne us and to draw on that malice which will weary us Whereas carelesnesse puts ill will out of countenance and makes it withdraw it selfe in a rage as that which doth but shame the Author without the hurt of the Patient In causelesse wrongs the best remedy is contempt GViltinesse is commonly clamorous and impatient whereas innocence is silent and carelesse of misreports It is naturall to all men to wipe off from their names all aspersions of evill but none doe it with such violence as they which for most part are faulty 'T is a signe the horse is galled which stirs too much when hee is toucht EVen the best may erre though not persist in it when good natures have offended they are unquiet till they have hastened satisfaction It cannot be spoken how much ease and joy the heart of man findes in having unloaded his cares and poured out his supplications in the eares of God since it is well assured that the fruit which is faithfully asked is already granted in heaven The conscience may well rest when it tels us we have neglected no meanes of redressing our affliction for then it may resolve to looke either for amendment or patience THose which are dearest to God doe oft times with great difficulty work out those blessings which fall into the mouthes of the carelesse The just disposer of all things holds it fit to keep us short of those favours we sue for either for the triall of our patience or the exercise of our faith or the increasing of our importunity or the doubling of our obligation THose hearts which are truly thankfull doe rejoyce no lesse in their restraint than in their receit and doe
Ros Coeli OR A Miscellany of Ejaculations Divine Morall c. Being an Extract out of divers worthy Authors Antient and Moderne Which may enrich the mean Capacity and adde somewhat to the most knowing Iudgement 1 TIM. 3.15 Meditate on these Things give thy selfe wholly to them that thy profiting may appeare to all LONDON Printed by Richard Herne 1648. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sr EDWARD POWEL Knight and Baronet one of the Masters of his Mties Court of Requests Noble Sir THere is a double Tie upon my duty towards you that bindes me to the largest acknowledgement that can bee exprest by my best abilities Your generall eminence both in Honour and the worthiest meanes to it Desert which duly chalenge the generall observance of all men and your particular noble favours to me that require from me a never sufficient gratitude But as Presents derive their value as well from the esteeme of the Receiver as from their owne inherent qualities so will you make this rich by your acceptance that is without all worth as it is my poore Donative though it containe in it selfe many secret and mysticall vertues being an Enchiridion of many rare subjects both Morall and Divine fit for the most serious observation and meditation The industry of many excellently-learned Authors whose severall Papers were most accidentally committed to me to be their fortunate though unworthy preserver and Publisher The only end for which I beg your Noble disposition to entertaine it is that it may be understood a testimony of his due thankfulnesse whose only ambition is to be knowne and stiled The humblest of your servants R. H. Octob. 18. 1639. Imprimatur THO: WYKES Ejaculations and Meditations Divine Moral Political AChristian in his lowest ebbe of sorrow is the Childe of God as well as when hee is in the greatest flow of comfort onely the Sunne of Righteousnesse darts not the Beames of his Love so plentifully and he can shew no more than God gives him When God hides his face needs must Man languish His withdrawings are our miseries His presence our assured joy Sin may cast the Good man in a trance it cannot slay him it may bury his heat for a time it cannot extinguish it It may make him in the Waine it cannot change his Beeing it may accuse it shal not condemn him Though God deprive him of his presence for a time he will one day re-inlighten him polish him and crowne him for Ever HEe that when hee should not spends too much shall when he would not have too little to spend Diogenes wittily asked a half peny of the Thrifty man and a pound of the Prodigall because the first he said might give him often but the other ere long would have none to give As to be too neere having enough is sordid basenesse so to spend superfluously though we have abundance is one of Follies deepest over-sights There is better use to be made of our Talents than to cast them away in waste God gives them not to spend vainely but to imploy profitably A Full delight in earthly things argues a neglect of heavenly Though the pleasures profits and honours of this life may sometimes shuffle a Christian out of his usuall course yet like the Needle in a Dyall remooved from his point he wavers up and downe in trouble runnes to and fro like Quick-silver and is never quiet till hee returnes to his wonted life and inward happinesse there he sets downe his rest in a sweet unperceived inward content which though unseene to others he esteemes more than all that the world calls by the name of felicitie PRide and Avarice usually attend great Fortunes 't is justly matter of amazement for a man to grow rich and retaine a minde unalter'd yet are not all men changed alike though all in something admit variation The same Spider kills the man that cures the Ape High Fortunes are the way to high Mindes Pride is usually the Child of Riches Contempt too often sits in the Seat with Honour causing arrogant spirits to contemne and scorne those which but of late they thought as worthy as themselves or better And of all Vices nothing doth so debase a man as Avarice it makes a Master slave to his servant drudge to his slave putting him under all whom God placed over all Miserable is the man that so cares for Riches as if they were his owne and yet so uses them as if they were anothers that when hee may bee happie in spending them will be miserable in keeping them and had rather dying leave wealth to his enemies than living relieve his friends Doubtlesse true Noblenes esteemes nothing more sordid than for a mans minde to be his Monyes mercenarie WHile bloud is in our veines sinne will be in our nature Our corruptions are diseases incurable while wee live they will breake out upon us wee may correct them wee cannot destroy them They are like the feathers in a Fowle cut them breake them out yet will they come againe onely kill the Bird and they will grow no more A weake Christians life is almost nothing but a vicissitude of sinne he sinnes first and after laments his folly Like a negligent Schoole-boy hee displeaseth his Master and then beseecheth his remission with teares Since wee cannot avoid sinne wee should learne to lament it true sorrow for sinne is the onely darke Entry that leades the way to the faire Court of Happinesse THere are no familiars so infectious as the angry Man and the Drunkard Anger is the fever of the Soule which makes the tongue talke idle it puts a man into a tumult that hee cannot heare what counsell speakes 't is a raging Sea a troubled water that cannot be wholesome for the use of any Which he well knew that advised us Not to make friendship with an angry man The Drunkard hath no memorie at all Excesse hath utterly consum'd it so that friends and foes familiars and strangers are for the present of equall esteeme Hee forgetfully speakes that in his Cups which if he were sober should be buried in silence first he speakes he knowes not what and after remembers not what he spake his minde and his stomacke are alike neither can retaine what they receive Whatsoever friend wee make choise of should be sure to have these two properties Mildnesse and Temperance otherwise 't is better to want companions than be annoyed with a mad man or a foole NOthing makes us more wretched than our owne uncontrouled Wills A loose Will fulfilled is the way to worke out a woe for besides the folly in beginning wrong the greatest danger is in continuance like a Bowle running downe which is ever most violent when it growes neere its Centre and period of aime Mans Will without discretion is like a blind Horse without a Bridle that should guide him aright hee may goe fast but runnes to his owne overthrow and while hee mends his pace hee hastens his owne mischiefe when the reines
every day in the perfect righteousnesse and obedience of his Saviour than the sinfull stirrings of his soule when hee findes something in himselfe alwayes enticing and drawing away his heart from God and intermingling it selfe with his best performances WE may with better leave use all the comforts which God hath given to refresh us in the way to Heaven than refuse them The care of the outward man bindes Conscience so farre as that wee should neglect nothing which may helpe us in a chearefull serving of God in our places and tend to the due honour of our bodies which are the temples of the Holy Ghost and companions of our soules in all performances but the intemperate use of the creatures is the Nurse of all passions because our spirits which are the Soules instruments are hereby inflamed and disturbed and it is no wonder to see an intemperate man transported into any passion SAtan and his instruments by bewitching the imagination with false appearances mis-leadeth not only the world but troubleth the peace of men taken out of the world whose estate is layd up safe in Christ Who notwithstanding passe their few dayes here in an uncomfortable wearisome and unnecessarie sadnesse of spirit being kept in ignorance of their happie condition by Satans juggling and their owne mistakes and so come to Heaven before they are aware Some againe passe their dayes in a golden dreame and drop into Hell before they thinke of it AS the distemper of Fancie disturbing the act of Reason oftentimes breedes madnesse in regard of civill conversation so it breeds likewise spirituall madnesse carrying men to those things which if they were in their right wits they would utterly abhorre MEn whose Wills are stronger than their Wits who are wedded to their own wayes are more pleased to heare that which complyes with their inclinations than a harsh truth which crosses them this presageth ruine because they are not counsellable Wherefore God suffers them to bee led through a fooles Paradise to a true Prison as men that will neither heare themselves nor others who would doe them good against their wills WHat an unworthy thing is it that wee should pittie a beast over-loaden and yet take no pittie of a Brother Whereas there is no living member of Christ but hath spiritual love infused into him and some abilitie to comfort others Dead stones in an Arch uphold one another and shall not living After Love hath once kindled love then the heart being melted is fit to receive any impression Vnlesse both pieces of the Iron be red hot they will not joyne together two spirits warmed with the same heat will easily solder together AS God loves not emptie hands so he measures fulnesse not by the hand but the heart A Widowes Mite is prefer'd before the Temples Treasure by Him who never askes how great but how good our offerings are GOod fellowship doth no way so well as in our passage to Heaven Many sticks layd together make a good fire which being single lose both their light and heat REmove the beame from thine owne if thou wilt clearely see the mote in thy brothers eye first learne then teach He gathers that heares he spends that speaketh and if we spend before we gather we may soone prove bankrout THe Devil alledged Scripture to tempt our Saviour and therefore no marvell though hypocrites make a faire shew to deceive with a glorious lustre of holinesse since we see from whence they have it No Devill is so dangerous as the Religious Devill which turnes the Tables of God into traps to catch Soules SAtan makes the ruggedest way seeme smooth while we tread in his paths but turne thy feet unto holinesse hee blocks up the way with temptation For never man endeavoured a common good without opposition and 't is a signe the Worke is holy and the Agent faithfull when hee meets with strong affronts SOmetimes the world under-rates him that findes reason to set an high price upon himselfe Sometimes againe it over-values a man that knowes just cause of his owne humiliation If others mistake us this can be no warrant for our error We cannot be wise unlesse we receive the knowledge of our selves by direct beames not by reflection unlesse wee have learned to condemne unjust applauses scorning the worlds flatterie frowne on our owne vilenesse with Lord I am not worthy GOd gives to his poore conscionable servants a kinde of reverence and respect even from those men that maligne them most so as they cannot but venerate whom they hate contrariwise no wit nor power can shield a lewd man from contempt for the wise providence of God commonly payes us with our owne choise So that when we thinke we have brought about our owne ends to our best content we bring about his purposes to our owne confusion HErod had so much Religion to make scruple of an Oath though not of a Murther No man casts off all justice and pietie at once but whilest he gives himselfe over to some sinnes he stops at others It was Lust that carryed Herod into Murther The proceedings of sinne are more hardly avoided than the entrance who so gives himselfe leave to be wicked knowes not where he shall stay OVr hood-winkt progenitors would have no eyes but in the heads of their ghostly Fathers and we are so quick-sighted in our owne eyes that we pittie the blindnesse of our able Teachers It is the boldnesse of Nature upon an Inch given to challenge an Ell for finding our selves graced with some abilitie wee strait flatter our selves with a facultie of more IT hath ever bin Gods wont by small Precepts to trie mans obedience which is so much the more as the thing required is lesse hee 'l trie thee with a trifle before hee trust thee with a talent and obedience ever meets a blessing IT is most seasonable in our worst to thinke of our best estate for both that thought will be best digested when wee are well and that change best prepared for when farthest from us HOw indulgent is the wicked rich man in studying his owne miserie Famine is his food and Toyle his recreation Cares are his cheeres and Torment his glory Hee remembers not that his wealth hath wings which pluckt or cut flye away or that his Soule hath so but Thou foole this night and it flyes from thy Riches to Hell I Like silent speaking well when our actions supply the office of our tongue Give me the Christian that 's more seene than heard for a loud tongue and a silent hand never escapes the brand of an hypocrite SAtan hath most advantage in solitarinesse and therefore sets upon Christ in the Wildernesse and upon Eve single and it is added to the glory of Christs victorie that hee overcame him in a single combat and in a place of such advantage Wherefore those that will be alone being cast downe by any spirituall temptation doe as much as in them lyeth tempt the Tempter himselfe
as much study how to shew their humble and fervent affections for what they have as how to compasse favours when they want them Their debt is their burthen which when they have discharged they are at ease WIcked men are upon all occasions glad to bee rid of God but they can with no patience endure to be rid of their sinnes but whilest they are weary of the hand that punisheth them they hold fast the cause of their punishment their false hopes cost them deare They could not bee so miserable if their owne hearts did not deceive them with misexpectations of impossible favour IT is hard not to over-joy in a sudden prosperity and to use happinesse is no lesse difficulty than to forbeare it Nature is too subject to extremities and is ever either too dull in want or too wanton in fruition it is no easie matter to keepe a meane either in good or evill THe mercies of God draw more teares from his children than his judgements doe from his enemies There is no better signes of good nature and grace than to be won to repentance by kindnesse Not to thinke of God unlesse we be beaten unto it is servile No warning will serve obdurate hearts wicked men are even ambitious of destruction Iudgements need not goe to finde them out they run headlong to meet their bane God will never acknowledge any convert that stayes in a known sin Graces and vertues are so linkt together that hee which hath one hath all the partiall conversion of men to God is hatefull hypocrisie and the triall of our sincerity is the abandoning of our wonted sins PRide and wantonnesse have marred these times Great Parents account it a dis-reputation to imploy their sons in courses of frugality and their pampered children thinke it a shame to doe any thing and so beare themselves as those that hold it the only glory to be either idle or wicked GOd never imployed any man in his service whom he did not inable to the worke he set him especially those whom he raiseth up to the supply of his owne place and the representation of himselfe It is no marvell though Princes excell the Vulgar in gifts no lesse than in dignity their Crownes and their hearts are both in one and the same hand if God did not adde to their powers as their honours there would be no equality GOds children cannot by any means be discouraged from their honour and love to his Ordinances if they see thousands struck downe to hell by the Scepter of Gods kingdome yet they will kisse it upon their knees and though their Saviour be a Rock of offence and the occasion of others falling they feed temperately on that whereof others have surfeited to death Nothing but grace can teach us to make use of others judgements for wicked men are not moved with ought that falls beside them they trust nothing but their owne smart and notwithstanding the daily representation of Gods judgements their peremptory resolution takes no more notice of them than if God had never shewne a dislike of their wayes HOw easie is it for us to mistake our owne estates to rejoyce in that which we shall finde the just cause of our just humiliation the end of a thing is better than the beginning the safest way is to reserve our joy till we have good proofe of the worthinesse and fitnesse of the object what are we the better for having a blessing if we know not how to use it GOd may be angry enough with us while we outwardly prosper It is his wisdome to take his best advantages he suffers us to goe on till wee should come to enjoy the fruit of our sin till we seeme past the danger either of conscience or punishment then even when we begin to be past the feeling of our sins we often begin to feele his displeasure for our sins but this is only where he loves for where hee meanes utter vengeance hee lets men harden themselves to a reprobate senselesnesse and make up their owne measure without contradiction as purposing to reckon with them but once for ever WEE should ever dislike sins but should not alwaies shew it discretion in the choice of seasons for reproving is no lesse commendable and necessary than zeale and faithfulnesse in reproving Good Physitians use not to evacuate the body in extremities of heate or cold Wise Mariners doe not hoise their sailes in every winde And as all times are not fit for reproofe so all persons are not fit to bee reprovers hee that casts a stone at an offendor should bee free from the offence otherwise he condemnes and executes himselfe in another person The conscience stops the guilty mans mouth and choakes him with that sin which lies in his owne breast which having not come forth by a penitent confession cannot finde the way out in a reproofe and if he doe reprove he doth more shame himselfe than reforme another A Mans heart can best judge of himselfe others can best judge of his actions As another mans conscience and approbation cannot beare us out before God so cannot our owne before men for oft-times those actions are censured by the beholders as wrongfull wherein we applaud our owne justice Happy is the man that can be acquitted by himselfe in private in publike by others by God in both Standers by may see more it is very safe for a man to looke into himselfe by others eyes in vaine shall a mans heart absolve him that is condemned by his actions A good conscience will make a man undauntedly confident and dares put him upon any triall where his owne heart strikes him not it bids him challenge all the world and all commers How happy a thing is it for a man to be his owne friend and Patron he needs not feare forreine broiles that hath true peace at home but he that hath a false and soule heart lies at every mans mercy lives slavishly and is faine to daube up a rotten peace with the basest conditions Truth is not afraid of any light and therefore dares suffer her wares to bee carried from a dim Shop-board to the Street doore Perfect Gold will be but the purer for trying whereas falsehood being a worke of darknesse loves darknesse and therefore seekes where it may worke closest THe greatest earthly Monarchs ought to walke by a Rule which if they doe transgresse they shall be accountable to him who is higher than the highest and desires not so much their precept as example For the sins of our Teachers are the Teachers of sin the sins of Governours doe both command and countenance evill HYpocrites rest only in formalities if the outward act be done it sufficeth them though the ground be distrust the manner unreverence the carriage presumption But God will have no worship of our owne devising we may only doe what he bids us not bid what he commands not Never did any true piety arise out of the corrupt puddle of
mans braine if it flow not from heaven it is odious to heaven The only way to bring comforts and to intaile a comfortable prosperity upon our Posterity is our conscionable inward obedience to God The services of our love to Gods Children are never thanklesse When wee are dead and rotten they shall live and procure blessings to those that never knew perhaps nor heard of their progenitors If we sow good workes succession shall reape them and wee shall be happy in making them so Doubtlesse that childe is happy whose progenitors are in heaven for he is left an inheritor of blessings together with estate whereas wicked Ancestors lose the thankes of a rich Patrimony by the curse that attends it A Good heart hath learned to frame it selfe unto all conditions and can change his estate without change of disposition rising and falling according to occasion whereas the worldly minde can rise easily but knowes not how to descend either with patience or safety OF all creatures Christians should have least interest in themselves but should live as given to benefit of others not caring much for what they have and nothing for what they have not seeing all worldly things though they require long labour in getting yet affoord but a short pleasure in enjoying them WIcked men that know the filthinesse of their soules dare not so much as view them but shift off all checks of their former iniquity with vaine excuses of good fellowship Whence it is that every small reprehension galls them because it calls the eyes of the soule home to it selfe making them see a glimpse of what they would not Like a foolish and timorous Patient who knowing his wound very deepe cannot endure the Surgeon should search it whereof what can ensue but a festering of the part and a danger of the whole body The old proverbe is true Oft and even reckonings make long friends Many prodigall wasters runne so far in bookes that they cannot abide to heare of a reckoning Happy is he that summes up his estate often with God he shall thereby know what he hath to expect and answer for neither shall his score run on so long that he shall not know his debts or feare an account or despaire of paiment FEw men feare to doe ill every man to suffer ill wherin if we consider right we shall finde that wee feare our best friends for Prosperity usually makes us forget our death Adversity on the other side makes us neglect our life Now if wee measure both of these by their effects forgetfulnesse of death makes us secure neglect of this life makes us carefull of a better So much therefore as neglect of life is better than forgetfulnes of death and watchfulnesse better than security so much more beneficiall should wee esteeme Adversity than Prosperity T Is a base thing to get goods only to keep them wee see that God who is only infinite rich holdeth nothing in his own hands but gives all to his Creatures But if wee wil needs lay up where should wee rather repose it than in Christs Treasury which is the poore mans hand There should all our superfluity bee hoarded up where doubtlesse it shall be safely kept and surely returned us If our money were anothers wee could but keepe it onely expending it shewes it our owne t is better to lay it out well than to keep it safely NO worldly pleasure hath any absolute delight in it but as a Bee having honey in the mouth hath a sting in the taile Why then should wee be so foolish to rest our hearts upon any of them and not rather labour to aspire to that one absolute Good in whom is nothing savouring of griefe nothing wanting to perfect happinesse EVery man acts his part upon this worlds Theatre The good man is a Comedian who however hee begins ever ends merrily but the wicked man acts a Tragedy and therefore alwaies ends in horrour Who sees an Oxe grazing in a fat and rank pasture and thinks not that hee is neere to the slaughter whereas the leane beast that toiles under the yoke is farre enough from the shambles The best wicked man cannot bee so glorious in his first shewes as hee is miserable in the conclusion THat affection which is grounded on the best and most Heavenly vertue must needs be the safest for as it unites man to God so inseparably that no temptations no torments no not all the gates of hell can sever him so it unites one Christian soule to another so firmely that no outward occurrents no imperfections in the party loved can dissolve them Hee that loves not the childe of God for his owne and his Fathers sake more than a friend for his commodity or a kinsman for bloud never received any sparke of true heavenly love IT happens to Christians in their pilgrimage to a better life as it doth to Travellers who meet with many hosts but few friends Good friends are a great happinesse and therefore should not easily bee lost nor must they bee used as suits of apparell which when wee have worne thred-bare wee cast off and call for new Nothing but death or villany should divorce us from an old friend we should still follow him so farre as possibility or honesty can guide us which if he chance to leave we should yet leave him with sorrow THere is no man so pure in whom we may not mislike somewhat and who may not as justly mislike somewhat in us Our friends faults therefore if little should bee swallowed and digested if great they should be smothered at least winked at to others yet lovingly notified to him WHy should we vexe our selves because another hath vexed us Injuries hurt not more in the receiving than in the remembrance A small injury should goe as it comes great ones may dine or sup with us but if they lodge with us we shall finde them very irksome A Friends death as it may moderately grieve us so it may another way much benefit us in recompence of his want for it should make us think more often and seriously of earth and of heaven of earth for his body which is reposed in it of heaven for his soule wch possesseth it before us of earth to put us in minde of our like frailty and mortality of heaven to make us desire and after a sort emulate his happinesse and glory and it is a true saying he which hath himselfe hath lost nothing IT is better not know than by knowledge to bee made miserable he that never tasted the pleasures of sinne longs least after those deceitfull contentments 'T is easier to deny a guest at the first than to turn him out having stayed awhile The senselesse man knowes not what joy hee loseth when he fondly lasheth into new offences While the Conscience is unspotted it can make us smile even on the Rack and in Flames but that once wounded our joyes are buried at once and wee throw a jewell from
us which is richer than the worlds wealth happy is he that desires to die unexperienced in the sweets of such sin he knowes not HE is not worthy of thanks that professeth kindnesse for his owne ends hee that loves me for my gift sake loves my gift above my selfe and if I should happen to light on Adversity I should not finde him then to appeare there being no hope of a gainefull requitall friendship won by large gifts resembles a straw fire that having matter to feede upon burnes brightly but let new fuell be neglected it dies consumes and quite goes out A Good life is a Fortresse against shame and a good mans shame is his benefit the one keepes it away the other when it comes makes it prove profitable for nothing more saddens the soule of a good man than the serious apprehension of a just shame and by how much his honesty was more noted by so much will his shame and griefe bee more because all will now bee ready to brand him with the odious and stygmaticall name of an hypocrite Wee should first strive to be voyd of the act may bring shame and next not to cast it in the dish of the penitent If our sufferings bee unjust wee shall bee sure in the end to finde them comfortable BEtweene friends it cannot be but discurtesies will appeare though not intended by a willing act yet so taken by a wrong suspect which smothered in silence increase daily to a greater distaste but once revealed in a friendly manner oft meet with that satisfaction which doth in the disclosure banish them There is not any thing eates out friendship sooner than concealed grudges Conceits of unkindnesse harboured and beleeved will worke even a steady love to hatred If a private thought of unkindnesse arise betweene my friend and my selfe I presently tell it and be reconciled If he be cleare I shall like him the better when I see his integrity if faulty confession gaines my pardon and bindes me still to love him Fire almost quencht and laid abroad dies presently put together it will burne the better a little shaking helps the trees growth every such breach as this may unite affection faster HOnour and high place upon earth can confer nothing unto us that may make our life more truly happy if it add to our joys it increaseth our feares if it augment our pleasure our trouble and care is the more great persons are like flags in the tops of Shipmasts as more high and more visible so more and ever open to the winde and stormes What a snare hath wealth proved to many that like the Sun have in the morning of their time mounted themselves to the highest pitch of perspicuity and brightnesse which when they have once attained they decline fall vanish and are gone leaving nothing behinde them but darke night black reputation The Theefe that meets with a full purse takes away it and returns a stab whilest the empty pocket makes the life secure Hee is not a compleat Christian that cannot be content with what be enjoyes we should rather settle our mindes to a quiet rest in that we finde than let her wander in a wearied solicitude after ungotten plenty we should ever esteeme that estate best which God gives us though we cannot thinke so yet doubtlesse it is so and to thinke against knowledge is a foolish suspition AS Providence is the mother of happinesse so Negligence is the parent of misery No vice so soone steales on us as the abuse of things in themselves It is good the Vine should flourish but let it alone and it ruines it selfe in superfluous branches Our pleasures are sometimes the inlivenings of a drooping soule but they easily steale away our mindes making us with a mad affection dote upon them to our destruction We should ever be most circumspect in things veiled either with goodnesse or sweetnesse for nothing steales more soules from God than lewd courses that are outwardly glorious THe formall amity of the world is confined to a face or to the possibility of a recompence languishing in disability and dying in the decease of the party affected It is true love that over-living the person of a friend will be inherited of his seed but to love the posterity of an enemy in a friend is the miracle of friendship That love was ever false that is not ever constant and the most operative when it cannot be either knowne or requited WE should not nourish the same spirits in our adverse estates that we found in our highest prosperity what use have wee made of Gods hand if we be not the lower in our fall Gods intent is we should carry our Crosse not make a fire of it to warme us by It is no bearing up of sailes in a Tempest nor is there a more certaine way to glory and advancement than a lowly dejection of our selves under Gods chastisements IT is one of the mad Principles of wickednesse That it is weaknesse to relent and rather to die than yeeld even ill Causes once undertaken must be upheld although with blood whereas the gracious heart finding its owne mistaking doth not only remit of an ungrounded displeasure but studies to bee revenged on it selfe and to give satisfaction to the offended THere can be no fitter invitation to temptation than the down-bed of idlenesse the industrious man hath no leisure to sin the idle hath neither leisure nor power to avoid sin Exercise is not more wholsome for the body than for the soule the omission whereof breeds matter of disease in both the water that hath been heated soonest freezeth and the most active spirit soonest tyreth with slacking The earth stands still and is all dregs the heavens ever move and are pure Wee have no reason to complaine of the assiduity of worke the toile of action is answered by the benefit if we did lesse we should suffer more Satan like an idle companion if he findes us busie flies back and sees it no time to entertaine vaine purposes with us We cannot please him better than by casting away of our worke to hold chat with him we can not yeeld so far be guiltless THere can bee no safety with that soule where the senses are let loose hee can never keepe his covenant with God that makes not a covenant with his eyes It is an idle presumption to thinke the outward man may be free while the inward is safe he is more than a man whose heart is not led by his eyes he is no regenerate man whose eyes are not restrained by his heart THe griefe that goes before an evill for remedy can hardly be too much but that which followes an evill past remedy can never be too little Even in the saddest accident Death we may yeeld something to Nature nothing to impatience Immoderation of sorow for losses past hope of recovery is more sullen than usefull our stomack may be bewrayed by it not our wisdome THere is