duty O man is Eccles 12.24 Psal 7.11 namely To fear God and keep his Commandments not only because he is angry with the wicked every day but because he by his love constraines thee and expects no returnes from thee but thy self Own him in all his holy Counsels Precepts Threats Ordinances Servants and love whatever bears his Image and Superscription Follow Peter in his tears and Faith not in his frailty and abnegation thy Saviour is thy Lord and thou oughtest to own him for such as well on the Cross as on the right hand of Glory and his sevants ought to be as dear to thee when they are tormented persecuted afflicted provided they be stedfast and such as suffer for well doing on whom the Spirit of Glory rests as when applauded preferred and crowned for this if thou doest enterance will be made thee into Acquaintance with thy God whom to know is to be wise and whom to live with is to be happy Step 5. to Acquaintance with God Step 5 is identity of mind therefore the Apostles says Phil. 2.5 Let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus not the same essentially but the same dispositively the same effectively wish in a holy ardency and warrantable impatience that you could oblige God as much by service as he doth you by Creation Preservation and the good things of Glory which he promiseth yea rather wish to be like him in Grace and Holiness then in Greatness and Puissance There is nothing works Acquaintance so kindly and reasonably as congruity the Proverb is Birds of a feather will flye together there is natuly a kind of Magick in assimulation we love Climates and Cloathes Books and Meats Faces and Fashions proportionable to our Geniusses most and the exterior sense is much at the Devotion of the interior idea and the fanciful Formatory Did you ever see contrarys agree while so and not rather their friendliness bubble up from their union as one prevayling forced the other into complyance Or can it be imagined that God and man should agree while the one is too great to have equal the other not humble enough to own a Superior In wordly conversation there is nothing more distasted and declines Acquaintance then contrariety of Principle yea it often invites to hatred and hostile procedures even where naturally there is antithesis to contrariety and altogether an ignorance of any demerit in the object saving this nude inconformity All Compounds are made of Simples that serve in their conjunction to the proposed end and though numerically they differ yet in coagulo they conspire to serve one univocal Designe In building crooked straight long short little great sappy hearty Timbers conforme to the model of the Edifice and the Surveyers Art In medicines simples laxative retentive hot cold by a kindly and even cooperation recover health and honour the Physician which otherwise would discredit the one and endanger the other the like effect hath compleasans in friendship which is a marriage not of Sexes but minds not to purposes of Generation but Conversation And therefore those mistake the Mark much who think to reduce God to their bounds his holy nature to their impure practices and will be acquainted with him not upon his own but their own termes If they may have a Dalilah in their lap if they may keep their right eye and right hand if when they go into the house of Rimmon they may be pardoned well and good they are contented to enter amity with God But if he commands to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye Matth. 5.29 Gen. 12.1 Rev. 18.4 if he call to them to leave their Country to come out of Babylon to forsake father and mother then with the rich man in the Gospel they go away heavy crying out with him Matth. 19.22 Non tanti emam poenitentiam to these Gadarens Swine are beyond Christ glass before pearles and this little world in view more precious then that better in promise Well but Acquaintance with God is never the worse because these covet it not but upon cheap and dishonourable termes which wil not be yeilded unto Those that know what it is to have the eyes of their Understanding opened to converse with God not remotely but as mortal Nature by Divine indulgence may with open face 2 Cor. 3.18 think all things loss and dung in comparison of it accounting themselves never estranged from the true end of their being but when they are without the Vail when the lines of their inheritance are not cast out to them in this lot of love when they wander in the Wilderness of the wolrd and commune not with that God whose comforts are above the world who is whatever earth and heaven can yeild admired for he is all in both and nothing in either is delectable but what he is nor are we ever truly our selves but when we are like him in that partaking of his Divine Nature which our being is capable of and his blessed purpose hath designed us to Last Step to Acquaintance with God Last Step. is assiduous attendance on him fits and gird now and then visits seldom amount to intimate friendship those intervals and faint treatments like cold and indigested Meteors hang hovering but never condense and body into any solidity like dainty meats which rather puff up then feed or like gay clothes which adorn more then comfort Nature The greatest ingredient to many mens friendship is a Cap or a Congee Your humble Servant and Passionately yours which wise persons eye as the purliew in which the Rascal Deer mostly the Nobler rarely and therefore use those Modes rather in Symphony with the plurality then out of allowance and choice Many in the matters of God and in Duties of Religion whereby we should acquaint our selves with him are as fetchant and wavering as these in less consequentials are they wait not at the posts of Wisdoms door they come not early they go not to bed late they eat not the bread of sorrow that they might purchase this one thing necessary Earnest they are not nor do they by a holy impetuosity and violence seise on Heaven not wrastle with God not let him go til he bless them with his Acquaintance yet do they expect to partake of God as fully as Zachary and Elizabeth who wait upon him daily and walk in his Commandments without reproof but how vainly these expect grapes from thornes and figs from thistles the Consequence shewes God keeps them at distance he feeds them with the husks he loves those that fear him not formidine poenae sed virtutis amore and he values those highest who are most importunate undismissable whom not a non decet will discourage from begging crumbs Mat. 15.26 27. whom no Moment no company will dishearten from resolving with Job Though thâ—u killest me Job 13.15 yet will I trust in thee These are the Merchants our
TWO BRIEF MEDITATIONS I. OF MAGNANIMITIE UNDER CROSSES II. OF ACQUAINTANCE With GOD. BY E.W. Esquire Pene omnis vita Naufragium est Salvian l. 3. Sunt fata deum sunt fata locorum Statius In hoc profundum inquietumque projecti mare alterâ—is aestibuâ— reciprocum modo allevans nos subitis increments modò majoribus damnis deserens assidueque jactans nunquam stabili consistimus loco Pendemus et fluctuamur et alter in alterum allidimur et aliquando Naufragium facimus semper timemus Senec. consol ad Polib c. 28. LONDON Printed by Thomas Maxey 1653. To the nobly accomplished Pair Dr JOHN GAUDEN AND Mris ELIZABETH GAUDEN his Wife Sir Madam I Hold it an Heresie in Civility as wel as Religion to divorce those whom GOD and their Loves have united Ex affectu omnes introducuntur nuptiae Justin cod de Nupt. l. 26 not only in a neer Relation but a more dear Affection And since I am highly satisfied Par pari jungatur conjux quicquid impar diffider that no Marriage is more amply expressive of sincere love and reall complacency then is Yours which God hath blessed with a Diapason of Contents I cannot but bespeak You to pardon me while I conjoyn You in this Dedication which tels the World that it is much my ambition to appear a friend to Your Vertues and in what I may a requiter of Your Civilities Accept therefore my noble Friends these Papers not as in the least proportionate to the reall service I should do you nor as clad in such Tissues of Language and florid Fancy as would become me to prepare for entertainment of your curious eyes but as an earnest of that great respect which shall be ever owned due to You from Greenford this 30 of Novem. 1653. Sir Madam Your humble Servant and truly affectionate Friend ED. WATERHOUSE A MEDITATION OF MAGNANIMITY under Crosses THere is no man but as he is mortal and by sin subjected to sorrow so ought he to prepare for and submit to those Tryals Servitutis nomen culpa meruit non Natura S. Aug. de Civ Dei l. 19. cap. 15. which not Nature but Transgression hath brought upon him God created us for his own service and it had been our perfection to continue what he made us While Nature knew no Master but him it needed no help nor feared it any hinderance in doing what was required of it But when Curiosity deluded by the varnish of the Serpents suggestion had perswaded man to usurp upon God in exceeding the bounds of his Makers appointment then rushed in those rebel Passions and troublous Diseases as Gods avengers of that insolence which had Pride and presumption for its Author and Encouragement Our Nature curbed by nothing but necessity and bound to the peace by the power of divine Soveraignty began to sink under the sense of that Might it had provoked and that Mercy it had abused God the protoplast and grand exemplar of pity considering whereof we are made by that promise that he would not strive with man alwayes Gen. 6.3 seeing he was but dust securing us against utter ruine calls our wandring mindes to contemplate and hearts to bemoan that folly which at once lost us Innocence and Impassibilitie Now we are left to Passions which switch and spur us without mercy and like all comers knock at our gates for entrance Love Joy Anger Fear c. act like tumultuous waves their several parts in our mindes and lives yea t is of the Lords mercy that the Jewel of Eternity is not lost in this crowd and the vessel in which our durable Treasure is proves not prize to those Pirats that surround her and is not naufragated in those seas that rise high Unum habuit filium sine peccato nullum sine flagello Zech. 13.7 and call to heaven for vengeance In all the catalogue of Mankind there was but one who prescribed against sin and that was the Man Gods Fellow but not one who could bring a writ of priviledg from sorrow for Christ though the Son of Love was designed by God the Father to be the Captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings Heb. 2.10 not as he deserved them â— Pet. 2.22 for there was no sin in him nor guile found in his mouth but as he observed the method of God who by his death and passion called immortality to light Here is the great Trophie of a combating Christian that no tryall can harmfully vanquish him who is one with that Victor who hath triumphed over all worldly evils leading captivity captive and condemning death in his body on the tree But since the Man is elder then the Christian Ezek. 16.6 God finds us in our blood before he refines us by effectual vocation and Arguments from Nature seem more congruous to lead the Van of this discourse then those which being more precious and perswasive are as the reserve for the dead lift to speed home execution I shall by Gods leave and by his assistance assigne some arguments to fortifie us against the utmost disappointments our course of life can meet and be made seemingly unhappy by And truly me thinks I hear my heart a suter to my pen in the words of Livius Drusus Si quid in te artis est ita componâ— domum meam ut quicquid agam ab omnibus perspici possit Velleius Paterculus l. 2. p. 28. to the Architect that was to build his house O Friend if thou hast any art so dispose mine house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xâ—nopn Memorab 4. that mine actions therein done may be visible to every eye So would I frame and model my Discourse Satius est moribus Antiquorum prudentium vivere quam corum tantum linguâ arte loqui Auson lib. 2. cap. 33. as one who desires to practise what he prescribes preferring actions above words and endeavouring rather to follow the Vertues of Wise men then to speak their Language And here as the Poet of old Inopem me copia fecit There is so great a harvest of Arguments that it seems more then an Herculean labour to answer the importunities of them and becomes a strait to me to chuse which of them shall be Master of the feast and Prince de l'Amour for what is there in Nature which contributes not to mans incommodation from what quarter of this Globe are not wafted to him engines of mischief in what state climate age is he not infested with somewhat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which makes him cry out with him in Stobaeus O that I were one day free from trouble And therefore since every thing more or lesse serves to this drudgery I will omit curiosity of order and produce them in that Method my Genius presents them to me And the first Argument to allay impatience Argum. 1 and perswade to courage under them is that of the Preacher The thing that hath been is that which shall
Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary to the Queen Knight of the Gartar and Chancellor of the Dutchy was a man of great wisdom and industry to promote his Mistris and the Nations Service yet was he so nibbled at by those Momusses his enemies whom he detected and by others whose parts he obscured and therefore incurred their revenge and disaffection that having spent his estate contracted many debts for service of the Publike lost his credit by non-payment of them and resting wholly unrecompensed at least to the proportion of his desert and labour his heart broke his enemies had their desire glorying in the obscurity of his Funerals which were at S. Pauls Church in the night time without any Funeral Solemnity or magnificent proceeding There are multitudes of instances of this nature as numerous almost as the fishes were in the Disciples net enough to overcharge this paper as they did that net but I pass them by concluding this with the dying lamentation of famous Queen Elizabeth who finding her selfe when she grew old and sickly slighted by her Courtiers as unfit for Goverment and applications covertly made to the rising Sun Browns Ann. Q. Eliz. p. 382 complained of her inconstant Favorites and false Courtiers in these words They have yoaken my neck Sapienti maju◠periculum ab invidia quam navigarti à tempestate vel pralianti ab hostibus I have none now to trust mine Estate is turned topside turvey So true is that of Apollonius Tyanaeus Greater danger betides a wiseman from envy then a Sea man from a Tempest or a Souldier from his enraged foe Sometimes self-love made the Thessalian women murder Lais the beautiful Mistris of their youthful men that so they might be less despised sometime the tickle of popular giddiness Ad reprehendenda alia dicta facta ardet omnibus animus Salian de Ord. Religios eggs on to censure and pursues desperately what it hates but understands not things by ill will are ever represented worse then they are and so as may give some lovely blush to envyes meager deformity Secta Stoicorum licet apud imperitos male audiret tanquam nimis dura nullam benigniorem lenioremque esse nullum amantiorem hominum Senec. Clem. l. 2. c. 5. Seneca tells us that the Stoicks who were ill thought on by the ignorant as too rigid were the most gentle and loving Sect of men Good Lord that Satan should have such power in our passions as to make our eyes evil on good men and graceful actions yea so far to degenerate as to cross as much as in us lyes what God has crowned and will support to full growth Who would think that Fulvius the Roman should coin a scoff for every action of Antoninus and charge on him neglect of the Senatorian gravity in going amongst the Captives the day dedicated to Janus and letting them touch his garment whereby they were enfranchised and that he walked without his traine and Equipage of State Or that Cardinal Langi should acknowledge the Reformation of the Mass honest the liberty of meats convenient and the demand just to be disburthened of so many commandments of men History Counsel Trent p. 55. and yet cry out against Luther as a poor Monk and a not to be indured instrument in such a cause or that Saint Jerom should be forced to complaine that his detracting enemies were such Scribere disposui si vitam tamen dominus dederit si vituperatores mei saltem fugientem me inclusum persequi desierint In vita Malchi Monachi that they carped at his words and followed him with reproaches even when he both shunned all provocation of them and was a Recluse But that is true of Xenophon and Velleius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenophon Paedag. Nunquam Eminentia invidiâ carent Vellcius lib 2. Great parts occasion great envies this Envy is the Gallowes that Hamons have for Mordecaies in this day of mourning the worlds Esaus plot revenge on Jacobs For as Caesar said in his Oration against Ariovistus Every thing that transcends the Vulgar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Dion l. 38. p. 84. is subject to dislike and emulation which breaks out into an array of Subjects against Governors and arives at the ruine of both Nor must it be strange to us thus to suffer for well doing since that good actions and brave men have been mistaken and misused ariseth from the good pleasure of God who by this designes their clarification and cals to wise men to look about them while these evils of Satans malice and mans envy surround them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epictetus the Divel is no Loyterer he is ever in his walk the perpetual motion to mischief is his and he trains up his Instruments to assiduity and ruining vigilancy in every Garden-plot of Vertue he brings up weeds over every clear Heaven in the soul he casts some dismal and unbeauteous cloud his ill will to man is in combate with the best actions though he fights against small and great vertues in us yet his main designe is to surprize mans King the Heart and if he miss that he fumes and projects revenge with great accurateness and when hee sees the Michael of Mercy with his Angellick Forces come to the rescue of man by him assaulted then hee retreats to his small games and turnes Adder hissing out his poison upon all occasions He hath not only Vinegar and Gall to imbitter the sufferings of good men but the poyson of Asps to blemish their best actions and most spotless intents Read we not in holy Writ of the Devotion of Hannah begging a man child of God and that not for Politick but Pious ends that she might consecrate him to God censured Drunkenness and that by a good man through 1 Sam. 1.14.17.28 his mistake And of Davids brethren miscalling his coming to the Army to be pride of heart when as indeed God led him thither the better to bring his pleasure about in the surprise of Goliah by his courage Is not Jobs Sanctity asserted Craft Job 1.9 10 11 and his Godlinesse Gaine by Satan who avers his love to God mercenary and his Zeal coolable upon withdrawing of Blessings on him and his Was not our Lord Jesus traduced for a Wine bibler Matth. 1.19.12.24 a friend of Publicans and sinners a deceiver Luke 11.15 one that cast out Divels by Beelzebub when as he in Superlative love and stupendious Charity came from the Region of Glory and out of the bosome of his Father to accomplish the Work of our Redemption and to endow us with his Grace and Glory who were and without him ever had been strangers to both and after he was ascended and left his Apostles to seminate the Gospel and to impregnate the believing world were they not accounted the very dregs of mankind Bablers Seducers enemies to Government when indeed they were to serve not rule to
it makes them cry out of Prosperity as captived Craesus did of Solon O Solon Solon had I hearkned to thy premonitions I had never been so unprovided for bonds and captivity Of these then that which the Apostle saves of the Unchaste widdow is most true they are dead when they live 1 Tim. 5.6 But to the Godly it is far otherwise their peace outward is ever sanctified not as to the present use of it for they may faint in the Sunshine they may be lifted up through abundance of Revelation but as to the Sacred end and ultimate result of it God shall turn this by the Sacred Chymistry of Omnipotency into Good Rom. 8.28 This is within the pale of All things work together for good to them that love God Away then thou Accuser of the Brethren avoid thou Tempter to Evil and thou Mortar Piece of Divine Fury Satan Away yee children of Darkness who hate those of Light because your deeds are evil forbear your tauntings of those whom the Lord hath smitten justifie not those whose Iniquitous Ballances have made themselves onely weighty and all others too light the Standard of Justice is coming round Dan. 5.25 your doom is Mene tekel Vphursin the glory of your forged Sanctimony is defaced God will humble the pride of men and polish his rusted Saints by the arising beams of the Sun of Righteousness The Churches Soveraigne is at hand and though his first coming was in humilitie his next will be in glorie to ride in triumph over all feigned Piety and to set these Goats of Lust and Rage on his left hand Lift up O holy ones your heads Your Redemption draws nigh Hee that dyed for you will owne you and expects you should owne him in preserving his seamlesse coat from rents and in keeping unity of Spirit though there be difference of Language Peace be O holy souls to you the peace of this world not by its gifts but by Donation of him who hath subjected all things prepare your selves by holy love to deal out your Riches to those that want freely ye receive freely give O far be it from you to give vinegar and gall to your brethren since your Father in Heaven gives you the generous liquor of Love and bids you do as you would be done by Take your fils of the waters of outward plenty Marah is cured the bitterness of death is past Christ hath by his Cross so crucified the world to you that it is now become your Vassal not your Lord remember there is the portion of Peace annexed to Acquaintance with God So do and so have But is this all are the grains of allowance only in Externals Is my Carcass more worthy then my Soul What shall be done to that animula blandula 2 Pet. 1.4 which is after a sort Partaker of the DIVINE Nature is there no accrewment to that Doth God take care of Sparrowes and of the haires of our heads and is there no provision made for that which is the Nightingale of Eternity Surely yes two for one the double portion for this first-born One portion respects its conjunction here with the body and the other its separation from and glorification with the body in Heaven the first in Grace the second in Glory the first in via the Comfort and Peace of a good Conscience and the latter and better in Patria of a good God in a glorious Kingdom Heaven 2 Peace Internal not Physical sans Palpitation of the Heart sans exclamation of the Passions or their crowing shrils in the brain but peace Metaphysical the peace of God in the brest of man God as it were incarnate sitting on the Tribunal of a Mortal Judicatory Now the winter is past the stormes are over the singing of birds is come the voice of the Turtle of the Primum Mobile is heard O Extatick Elamire O Seraphick Ela O Note stept aside from the Quire of Angels to entice our Admirations Doth God dwell with man can these houses of clay contain him that is whatever is Infinite and Incomprehensible which he is Be thou O Lord with my pen and let it be thine Instrument to decipher this which is so rare which is whatever Nature can aspire to value Peace of Conscience a Jewel which abates not price a child of light admired in all Ages Persons Countries sought after when not had cherished where possessed deplored when lost whom Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Christians valued and to which they peered nothing Peace of conscience the Salt that seasons Mirth sweetens Sorrow and the Plummet that sounds the bottom of every coast and discovers Shipwrack and safety Peace of Conscience the Touchstone of our innocency the probate of our Zeal the Furnace of our Charity for then only can we love God and our Neighbor when his love is shed abroad in our hearts by his holy Spirit who works this peace in us Peace of Conscience that Phenix nest made up of the Persumes of Graces out of which expiring rises peace of Eternitie Peace of Conscience heaven on earth glory in weakness light in obscuritie Abrahams bosom in Lazarus sores Peace of Conscience Goshen in Egypt Gods Segullah to the Alchimy of the worlds Admirables the fat kine of holy serenity that by a miraculous transposition swallow up all the lean kine of worldly cares and confounds the wisdom of secular interests Peace of Conscience the Lily of the vallies in which Christ nestles the Rose of Sharon on which the Sun of Righteousness smiles to which Solomons bravery is but Beggery and Herods oratory but babling Peace of Conscience compared with which Balm of Gilead is but like the trifling Compound of a Quack Salve and the Gold of Ophir but as dross and dung Peace of Conscience to which Power and Policy Arts and Armies Councels and Senates are but as Molehils to Mountains Ants to Men Atomes to the body of this earth and the dwindling light of the candle to the center of light enveloped in the Sun Peace of Conscience the Musick to which Orpheus his Harp and Arions Pipe helped on with Syrens voice are but so many straines of perfect discord and displeasing Harmony Peace of Conscience the best companion of life the sweetest Confessor at death the noblest Memorial after death nay the souls prodomus next under Christ to Heaven for thither it ran on Cornelius his errand to display his Almes and thither it must go to the credit and comfort of all that have it For there is none of this peace to the wicked saith my God Here O profane worldlings here O wretched Politico's yee are outstripped pleasures profits honors have no suffrage in this confistory they cannot make their Masters partakers of this delight to which all others are but shadowes as far beneath them as drops to the Ocean Neither Alexanders Power nor Solomons Wisdom nor Mithridates his Wealth nor Justinians Learning nor Galens Receipts nor Archimedes his Experiments can