sheets are but Collections out of other mens Works well Sumpsi non surripui and as Varro speaks of Bees de re rust lib. 6. Minime maleficae nullius opus vellicantes faciunt deterius what wrong have I done Si apparet unde sumptum sit aliud tamen quam unde sumptum sit apparet And as nature doth with the aliment of our bodies so do I concoquere quod hausi dispose of what I take Thou findst fault with Barbarisme Tautologie Dialect Method being without Art Invention or Judgement I will confess thou canst not think worse of me then I do of my self Nasutus fis usque licet fis denique nasus Non potes in nugas dicere plura meas Ipse ego quam dixi Yet let me tell thee Primus vestrum non sum nec imus I must abide the censure for Pro captu lectoris ha bent sua fata libelli Opinion alters so in humane race She makes the fancie various as the face Some come as Bees to suck honey others as Spiders are for poison And as the Dutch-host saith in a surly manner Aliud tibi quaeras diversorium betake thy self to some other Book if this please not And to conclude I humbly submit my self to the truly judicious and thorowly learned appealing to their candor intreating them to lay aside the persons of Judges for that of friends this being but a Pamphlet whether the bulk or worth be considered And though in this learned and knowing age wherein so many things are written by those with whom lam not worthy to be named and that I might have spared my pains the world already being under such a glut of Books I am encouraged by a saying of Saint Austins That it is good and profitable to the Church of Christ that the same things be written of by diverse men in diverse books because those books which come to the view of some will not come to the sight of others and by this means the truths of Christ will bee the sooner and easier spread and propagated And therefore to testifie my love to the truth that the sun of righteousness may not go down in our daies I shall exhort all to stick close to the interest of Christ For Christians have agood Master and God's work is such as will improve and crown it self From my Cottage inVdimer near Rye in Sussex 1658. Macte Good Company BEING A Collection of various serious pious Meditations useful for instruction consolation and confirmation Assistente Deo Mart. 18. 1657. CENTURY I. 1. BAd times amongst Christians should have a Christian construction that the changes of the time make us not Changelings 2. It 's a glory to behold amongst men of several opinions one heart and one spirit of grace and heavenliness in them all 3. Bodily misery is to make us sensible of soul-misery God pulling the rope without to make the bell speak within 4. He that lifts his soul out of sin by halfs lifts and lets fall again sinking the soul lower and so the Divel a little stirred and not cast out takes stronger hold 5. So long as we are sinful we must be sorrowful and to be entertained at David's Ordinary is no dishonor his tears were his meat day and night 6 As salt water upon sweet wax extingusiheth the tapour So brackish tears upon the broken heart puts out the blaze of sin 7. Grief without cause is madness and without moderation is hopelesse 8. God is upon the giving hand when he gives a new heart 9. The tear which floweth from the soul of a faithful man out of the sense of evil purifieth the conscience and makes it quiet 10. Since mans fall it hath been his sin not to weep yet too much weeping may be turn'd into sin For tears as they are the effects of sin so they may be the actors of sin 11. Christ alone who wept in the Garden can plead our atonement and by the power of his Passion restore us to comfort 12. Sin brings in sorrow but let not sorrow bring in more sin by causing us to murmure or charge God foolishly 13. God never delivered any man for his repentance and yet never any in mercy without repentance either giving repentance before or with the deliverance 14. Better troubles then sin continue to have peace return and hearts unturned is worse then war 15. Better know five words of Scripture by our own experience then five thousand by anothers Exposition 16. Such is Gods Sovereignty over us that he may use us as he pleaseth and wee must be quiet under his hand 17. There 's no trusting to any creature comforts they be so uncertain 18. No man is without sin yet the afflictions of many are not for their fins 19. True faith is often assaulted but never finally overthrown 20. God's judgments are often secret but never unjust 21. It 's not safe judging of our spiritual estate by God's dealing in our outward estate 22. No condition so low but Gods hand can reach us and save us 23. A choice blessings to have a healthful mind in a healthful body and of the two it 's better that the body be sick then the soul 24. From one sin there 's but a short and easie passage to another 25. Men who are too greedy to know others are too carelesse to know themselvs 26. True reformation is in abhorring not absteining loathing not leaving of sin 27. A good trial of a sincere heart when there 's sweet proportion and godly harmony betwixt our actions justifying one another 28. That is a man's God and treasure wherewith his heart is most affected 29 And as affection shews the heart so affliction discovers both corruption and grace 30. In sin man's deceitful heart abstracts the pain from the pleasure and in godlinesse it severs the crown of glory from the crown of thorns 31. That any thing is coeternal with the Creator is repugnant both to Religion and Reason 32. God from all eternity had the same power of Creation which in the beginning he put in execution 33. No man hath cause to brag of himself his beginning was of nothing 34. Man was created to do the will of the Lord not his own 35. God's gradual proceeding in the creation should occasion man's deliberate meditation 36. The creature was onely made had by sin and proves bad to sinners 37. Man hath no cause to be proud being made of that element on which every creature may set his foot and lay his dung 38. Man's rebellion against the Creator is often punished with the creatures rebellion against himself 39. God is so far from allowing man to live lawlesse in any estate that he put him under law in the state of innocency 40. The fruit we reap of the tree of knowledge is not too much to desire forbidden knowledg 41. It 's the sign of a base mind to think he can win more credit by his garments then his graces for a sanctified soul is
or hurt 66. For a man to be stupid and sensless under spiritual afflictions argues a very ill temper 57. As all flowers wither when the Sun withdraws his influence so do all graces when Christ departs 58. Conscience kindles a fire upon the breach of integrity that burns inwardly and consumes the marrow and drinks up the spirits 59. Envie is an everlasting burning which nothing will satisfie but its own blood 60. It makes heavie afflictions light and long short to look where they end for the sight of the end shortens the way 61. Not to be warned by others is a sure presage of ruine for storms begin in one place and end in another 62. The greatest part of ourknowledge is the least part of our ignorance 63. The more worth is in any man the lesse self-conceitednesse and the lower in our own eies the higher in God's sight 64. The fire of heaven turns men into Saints and separates them from sinners 65. If bread fail feed on faith and thou maist make a good living of it for when meat is taken away God will take away the stomach and faith fears no famine it keeps us from diffidence in Gods promises and makes us possess our souls in patience 66. Our self-accusations in our confessions take out the sting and poison of Satan's malicious accusations 67. O! the deep sorrow our hearts should be filled withall when we see Christ bleeding upon the Cross 68. What soul-wound's so deadly that cannot or may not be healed by the death and healing wounds of Christ 69. The woâ—k of faith is to make the soul betake it self to the wounds of Christ as the Dote to the clefts of the rock for shelter and security against all fears and distresses that wrath and guilt may put the Considence to 70. Our whole life is a continual warfare and we must look for the continual hail-shot of Satanical assaults and suggestions 71. Christians fight and faint not your reward is sure your armor is of proof the old serpent hath his head bruised 72. Many tempt Satan to tempt them by venturing on the occasion of sin or by inconsideration and security 73. A full belly and a foul heart seldom go uncoupled for in the Anatomy of our bodies the parts of gluttony and lust are linked together and so are the sins themselvs 74. Too much eating quite takes away our stomachs from all holy duties 75. Holiness becoms all men but best of all publick persons both for example of good and liberty of controlling evil 76. It 's a gross dull capacity that cannot or will not distinguish betwixt the work and the instrument the weakness of the person and the power of the function 77. The glory of Israel the Ark was no waies lessened by coming from the Philistins 78. Far be it from us to think if the sacrificer be unclean that the offering is so 79. Elias was a holy wise man yet he rejected not his meat because Ravens brought it 80. Learning will pine away if forced to officiate at the Tables end for the trencher 81. The Pulpit is a place that requires both learning and industry for Saint Paul found as great want of his books as his Cloak in winter 82. He gives twice who gives speedily for the more speed the more comfort 83 Many a man's Executor proves the Executioner of his Will and Estate 84. It 's a general complaint that the end of our daies out runs the begining of good works 85. The poor most times may thank the death or disease of rich men not their charity 86. Happy is he who makes his candle go before him not behind him for early beneficence hath no danger many joies 87. The use of riches is great if there be qualification in our desires 88 It 's as impossible to expresse the joies of heaven as put the sea into a bottle 89. It 's but justice that he who hath sinned out his own eternity should suffer out God's eternity 90. The object of repenting sorrow is sin not punishment and a good man fears more the committing of the one then suffering of the other 91. Pardoned sin disquiets a repenting heart and grievs him to have been such a beast to offend so gracious a God remembring the sins God hath forgotten 92. He that sheds a sea oâ— tears and drowns not his sins in that sea is never the better 93. He that sighs prays and begs for mercy and lives in sin deceivs himself having no truth in that repentance 94. Every grace which brings to heaven must be a tried grace 95. A man's wealth and will must both be good for if his hands be full and the heart empty he deservs pity more then commendation having riches but neither goods nor blessings 96. It 's said of the Divel he abode not in the truth because no truth is in him so Sectaries abide not in Religion because no Religion is in them 97. Truth once in the heart will dwell and rule there 98. A man may preach soundly and discourse judiciously and yet be unsound at heart 99. A Christian must be careful to avoid all blemishes but especially covetousness as being most contrary to his profession whose hope is in heaven 100. God's children have variety of conditions some more comfortable then others CENTURY 3. 1. THe love of God is constant in the variety of conditions and there 's no shadow of change in God howsoever the changes of our life be 2. How rugged the way to heaven be it 's no matter so we come there 3. A prudent Christian in the variety of conditions knows how to avoid the sins incident to that condition 4. Grace is above all conditions making a man patient in a mean estate and not proud when he doth abound 5. He that hath an inheritance in another world sets a light esteem upon all things below 6. Self-denial is the first lesson in Christs school learn this and thou shalt be content in any condition 7. He that hath God to be his Father hath a large portion in any estate 8. There 's poison in every thing without grace and grace pulls out the sting and finds good in the worst things 9. The best things of a Christian are not at the mercy of the world nor at the mercy of his several conditions 10. Rising and murmuring of corrupt nature in any condition becomes not a true Christian 11. The right use of our daily infirmities is to make them the subject of humiliation and the object of mortification 12. Customary sins are not sins of infirmitie except the ground of the infirmity be rooted in the heart as an inclination to be angry which holy men repent of and get victory over it at last 13. He that pleads for sin discovers a false heart for this is an enormity not an infirmity 14. Universality of obedience is the triall of a sincere Christian being a good man in all his relations 15. Let us not think the good we
heart at first doth tremble at the least sin or error but through custome and continuance will bear up any sin or error 14. The more sensible the soul is of outward things the lesse 't is of spiritual things 15. He that sets his love upon the creature loseth the very strength of his soul 16. Wise men when they go about spiritual duties cut themselves short of the use of the creatures 17. Conscience hardned in some great sin makes no stop in fin 18. A heart will not easily be kept tender that is not under the means of grace 19. A Reprobate hath joined with his heart security insensibleness obstinacie and contempt of the means 20. A Christian may have hardnesse of heart and yet feels it as a man that hath the stone and know it 21. If God take away the grace a man hath he becoms worse of himself then he was by nature 22. They that are not bettered by Religion under the means are so much worse by their use of the means 23. Spiritual grief for sin though it be not so vehement as outward grief for losses yet it is more constant 24. If there were no weaknesse in us what need Christ continue making peace for us in heaven 25. They that have a tender heart from God have also a tender heart for God 26. A tender heart is fit to run any errand of God's sending because its pliable 27. Tender hearts lay to heart other mens estates weeping over the misery of the wicked rejoicing at the good of the godly 28. A cerimonial hypocrite is more hard to be wrought upon then Turk or Pagan 29. It 's a disposition not unbefitting the greatest Monarch to humble himself before the great God 30. It 's the glory of a Christian that he hath got grace to humble himself 31. Many are humbled who are not humble and cast down who have proud hearts 32. True sorrow cannot speak distinctly for broken hearts speak but broken words 33. Justification of God and self-condemnation go with true humiliation 34. Hee that thinks highly of himself robs God of his glory and makes himself an Idol 35. An humble heart is a vessel of grace for so much humility so much grace 33. After the measure we empty our selvs in that measure we are filled with the fulnesse of God 37. All grace flows in upon the humble soul as water from the hills into the valleys making the soul rich in God 38. Seeing humble fouls are onely safe and secure we must either humble our selvs or God will 39. God works many times by graceless persons but he doth not work in them 40. Thunderclaps over our heads are feared but not those which are far off so wicked men fear judgment near but regardless if far off 41. If humiliation have not faith and hope to raise the soul to some comfort it turns to desperation 42. True humility makes a man nothing and yet fills the soul in God 43. A wicked man may be sensible of his judgment but not of the cause 44. Adversity will never hurt where there 's no iniquity 45. Outward expressions of sorrow are no further good then when they come from inward grief and affection for God must have inward affections or else he abhors outward actions 46. It 's an easie matter to force tears but it 's hard to afflict the soul 47. It 's the sin of many in stead of renting their cloaths in coming before God come to shew their bravery and to be seen 48. That man is falsly humble and truly proud who while he afflicts the body omits the soul 49. Tears for sin proceeding from inward grief is a temper becoming any Christian 50. All expression and manifestation of devotion is little enough so it be without hypocrisie 51. Magistrates who are tenderly affected with the condition of the people shall have a people carry a tender affection to them 52. It 's great cause of weeping to a gracious heart that it cannot weep 53. It 's a bad sign when we itch to hear of another man's fall thinking thereby to hide our own wickednesse 54. Praier begs blessing from God and thankfulnesse continues them with man 55. Many times there 's most grief where there are fewest tears 56. Spiritual sorrow is a great deal better then naturall for it fats the soul 57. God puts all his children's tears in a bottle But wicked men spare him a labour for they seldom weep though they have most cause 58. A broken heart expresseth it self more in sighs and groans then in words which the Spirit onely understands 59. It 's our wisdom to observe how God hears our prayert that so we may be suitably thankfull 60. He that prayes with a resolution to fin goes to God with a petition in one hand and a dagger in another 61. Whatsoever the crosses of a good man be his last end shal be assuredly blessed 62. God takes notice of every good word and work the godly do and will reward it 63. Hypocrites are recompenced because God will not be in their debt and it 's all their desire 64. When a Christian lookes onely on the ill that 's in him he robs God of his glory and himself of comfort 65. The good are scattered amongst the bad in their life but in death they shall be gathered to God 66. He that joins himself in love and affection to wicked men on earth shall be also joined in torment and destruction in hell 67. God sometimes reservs men in this life to worse miseries then death it self 68. One death is better then many and a sudden sometimes better then a lingring 69. A man may out-live his happinesse so that life it self may prove a judgement 70. Sight of misery works deeper on the soul then the hearing of it 71. Death indeed is the King of fears very terrible but that which is at the back of death is more terrible hell and damnation 72. Some men's death is like Josiahs a mercy and a correction 73. Many times good parents are taken away that they may not see the ruine of their children 74. Good Christians like good corn will sooner be ground to powder then yield either to the rough blasts of persecution or the smooth flattering gales of error and heresie 75. The chief care of the chief Magistrate is for the good of Church and State 76. Man is freed from the Law as it 's his Judge but not as it 's his Counsellor 77. If a godly man go out of the way he shall smart for it and be whipt home again 78. He that hath stuck long in the mire of sin must be haled and pulled out by violence and must not look for peace and comfort presently 79. Wee walk by faith in this world sense and sight is reserv'd for another world 80. No good is to be done to the soul by praiers and cries so long as we are carelesse of purifying the heart 81. Despise not the outward
Ministry of the Word for it is accompanied with the internal power of the Spirit 82. Let not thy affections rove and the world or Divel can do thee no hurt 83. He that suppresseth sin at the first motion shall assuredly find comfort 84. If we mean to come to heaven we must not live in any known sin for it wasts grace 85. A Christian must mend his pace every day that grace may shine more and more to the perfect day 86. Every poor map is not a blessed man except his bodily poverty bring him to spiritual poverty 87. He that hath spiritual comforts hath them cheap if they cost him many a tear 88. The heart is never so chearful as when it powrs out it self in tears and sighs to God 89. Spiritual mourning secures the soul from hell-mourning 90. The way to divert too much bleeding is to open a vein and the onely way to stop unseasonable grief Is to turn our tears against our sins 91. All worldly sorrow must be sorrowed against but sorrow for sin is a sorrow never to be repented of 92. The adventure and the return of the stock of Praier is most certain to increase more and more 93. God forfeits not his Word but we our Praiers when we seek things which crosse God's nature or will or are hurtfull or not necessary in themselves 94. He that knocks at heavens door onely in death deservs to have the door knockt against his head 95. He that would speed in temporal things must first seek spiritual 96. He that desires to speed in praier must go to God with a knowledg and sense of his own insufficiency to succour himself 97. Cold praiers have cold answers for how should God hear us when we hear not our selves 98. They must look to be denied in their praiers who deny Christ in his members 99. The forgetfulnesse of received mercies makes God to forget us 100. He that will be sure to have his praiers heard must make a trade of praier being constant in it CENTURY 6. 1. WE must lay our hand on the plow and then pray that our endeavours may second our devotion 2. To ask grace and not to use the meant is to knock at heavens gate and pull it to us that it do not open 3. He that saies Lord forgive me my sins without a desire to leave them cannot be heard except God forfeit his Word 4. Things inconvenient and unnecessary are profitably denied us 5. If heavenly things were soon obtained they would be soon forgotten 6. He that puts in his petition at one door may willingly go about to another door to have an answer so let God appoint the way and means and deliverance shall be the more speedy 7. Nothing more humbls the child of God then to be buffeted with base temptations 8. When God laies a plaister to our wound we cry take it off when by holding it on the cure is done 9. He hath not lost his praiers but is doubly paid who with the crosses of the world hath his heart driven off from the world 10. He that hath most grace bath most work to do and greatest trials to buckle with 11. He that lets himself loose to any gross sin shall be sure to find it in his praier 12. Some are as unfit to pray as ever David was to march in Saul's armor 13. The bringing forth of a right praier is in a manner like the bringing forth of a child with many throws yet when the child is born there is joy 14. He that sees not the print of his imperfections is neither humble patient nor pitiful not knowing himself brother or God 15. A Verbal confession of frailty without humility mercy and use of the means is meer hypocrisie 16. Man's body in the grace is free from pain but not dishonor 17. Uprightnesse may stand with imperfection beauty with deformity some light some darknesse in the best 18. Our infirmities should be matter of humiliation not desperation 19. He that studies not to know himself will soon grow proud 20. Though the glory of a Saint be not obvious to every eye yet they have an excellencie in them in the midst of all deformities 21. He that see 's not a true Christian to be a glorious creature hath but a fleshly eye 22. It neither comes from good nor works any good to delight in speaking and hearing other men's enormities 23. Some people come to the means at first as children to the School very eagerly but afterward very hardly drawn to it at all 24 No company or comfort should put off the thoughts of death 25. Death will be very terrible to that man who dies not in his thoughts daily 26. It 's an easie matter to speak of death but to bring it home to the heart is very hard 27. Sin unrepented will bring a sting in the time of death filling the heart with sorrow the soul with amazement the conscience with horror 28. Our eies should be casements to let in fresh air not corruption 29. He that laies much upon natures back will break it and he that trusts to natural parts shall be disappointed 30. All carnal pleasures and delights are but poison if grace in the heart be not an antidote 31. Peace of conscience makes a man rejoice in sorrow and live in death 32. He that sees his own wants and weaknesse will often desire to communicate 33. An hypocrite shews sometimes a greater measure of profession then a Christian but is like corn on the house tops that quickly grows and is quickly down 34. All the hands and hearts on earth will do no good upon a resolute sinner 35. A child of God coming to Christ's Table eats judgment to avoid condemnation 36. He that would profit by heavenly mysteries must be knit to them not by the brain but by affection 37. Christ's prepared medicines minister no comfort unlesse applied to our soul 38. We cannot have Christs benefits unlesse we have himself 39. The signs seal no grace to the soul where there is no faith 40. We are very sensible of bodily hunger but soul hunger is hardly felt 41. He that will not be broken from sin shall have no portion in Christ's body broken 42. Gentlemen-like qualities pride pleasure intemperance bring souls apace to hell 43. He that makes a divorce betwixt his soul and corruption is in the state of grace 44. 'T is no presumption but duty to judge by our calling of our election 45. To know there is a Christ and not our interest in him is rather a punishment then a comfort 46. Faith and hope may be distinguished but not separated for faith hath ever hope 47. A fearful doubting soul lives vext in the suburbs of of hell 48. A weak and dumb evidence may be true as the strongest 49. As grace and glory so sin and shame go alwaies together 50. The more sanctified affliction on earth the more weight of glory in heaven 51. It 's all
better then a silken suit 42. He doth not God's will but his own who doth no more then himself will yea such a man takes pains to go to hell 43. God will find flaws in that for which wee look for thanks 44. If to do well cause discontent wee then offend not against men but their errours 45. He that doth no more then he is bound to do is rather wary then good 46. Adam notwithstanding the dignity of his condition variety and plenty of provision was set to work in Paradise 47. He that strikes deadly chooseth a sharp weapon so Satan chooseth the sharpest wits for instruments of mischief and seducement 48. It 's not company simply but good company which is good for man or woman 49. As it is not safe to be at Satan's mess though our spoon be never so long so it is not safe to lend an ear to a seducer 50. A sinful conscience which seeks to shun Gods presence discovers as much folly as faultiness and is like the fish which swims to the length of the line with the hook in the mouth 51. Satan can hurt a Saint but in the heel which is far from the head and though painful yet it is not mortal 52. Sin is the wicket that let death into the world 53. Fine apparel is a reproach to him that wears it being as a scarfe to the arme put out of joint 54. They are profane Niggards who think any thing too good for the servants and service of God 55. Wee are loth with Cain to confess our selves our brothers keeper and too willing to be his executioner 56. They that cannot forbear to sin cannot bear what is due to them for their sin becoming injurious to God's Mercy by diffidence and to his Justice by impatience 57. Self-guiltiness in some is the chief motive to suspition in others 58. Wicked men turn divine patience into humane presumption 59. Generation in the flesh and regeneration in the Spirit proceed from different principles 60. Man's head is a mint of evil imaginations his heart a sink of inordinate affections his memory a closet of sin full of fancies and impressures 61. God many times wills a change yet never changeth his will 62. God who made man without his help will not destroy him without his fault 63. As the Carpenters who built Noahs Ark were not saved in it so some preach others into the Church and live themselvs out of it 64. It 's as proper for sin to raise fears in the soul as for rotten flesh and wood to breed worms 65. Christians must labour as well to see God in his works as to believe him in the Scriptures 66. To break the bruised reed to trouble the grieved spirit to strike the breath out of a mans body who is giving up the ghost is cruelty upon cruelty 67. It 's the duty piety and humanity of the living to see their friends and relations fairly interred 68. Sincerity and safety go together 69. Gods commands are just in themselvs and justly commanded unto men nothing so great but we are bound to do it nothing so small that we may be allowed to sleight it 70. Whatsoever God commands there 's weight and worth in it to make it regarded 71. He that obeys not God in all things but with choice and exception obeys him not at all 72. Gods promises how fair or fierce soever never fail of an answerable effect he being immutable in his counsel unresistable in his power 73. It 's safer to go against the stream with godliness then to be carried along with ungodlinesse and overwhelmed in it 74. Every sin casts another shovel of brimstone upon the sinners soul in hell 75. The Saints in heaven onely keep holy day 76. Every cessation from sin is not a resurrection from sin 77. They that forget God in their life forget themselvs in death 78. He that watches not his first in clinations to sin but feeds them with the honey and milk of Gods mercy shall be drawn from presumption to desperation in God's mercy 79. Sin which comes in forma pauperis or pretends reason is very dangerous 80. Every man hath so many Gods as he hath habitual sins 81. Grace is no grace to me till I know I have and would have more of it 82. It 's strange God should think man enough for himself and man should not be satisfied with God 83. That mans heart is not sincere who loves God by the proportion of temporal blessing 84. It 's sin to distrust God in necessary things and to press him in superfluous things 85. No man ever lost his faith but hee that thought it not worth the keeping 86. It 's a powerful Sermon to see a man leave his ill-gotten goods and cast off his beloved sin 87. He that hath least of this world hath enough to weigh him down from heaven by an inordinate love of that little and he that hath most hath not too much to give for heaven and happinesse 88. Heaven will cost a rich man more then a poor man because he hath more to give for it 89. Rich and poor are alike in this that they must leave all which retard their present and constanâ— following of Christ 90. True repentance is when the sad soul weeps more blood at more pores then the weak body sweats drops of water and that more for the displeasure of God then the stripes of his displeasure 91. Not at all to be punished is a great affliction better be called Satan with Peter then friend with Judas 92. He is an imprudent man who disposes of years to come when he is not lord of to morrow 93. If any thing quenches the heat of sin the desire of money or the rise of sin it 's the consideration of death present 94. In the raging fits of sin and in the midst of their madnesse some have physick from God and are reclaimed 95. He that defers his repentance because of the thiefs example deludes his own soul for he was called at the first call not at the last and it is not for our imitation but to keep us from desperation 96. If there be any defect of joy in heaven it 's this that we cannot longer express our love by suffering for God 97. Faith in Christ is a full evidence yet suffering is a new seal upon that faith 98. They that neglect the good opinion of others neglect those virtues which should produce that good opinion 99. All the world never joined to deceive one man nor was ever any one man able to deceive the whole world 100. Better have no being then be without Jesus CENTURY 2. 1. ACcustome thy self to affliction before it comes and it will be no stranger when it comes 2. As long as I have God by the hand and feel his loving care of me I can admit any weight of his hand any furnace of his heating 3. To flatter our selvs in any licentiousnesse with an opinion of
do in some things will excuse the bad we do in others 16. The Gospel requires truth and not perfection for sincerity is a Christians perfection 17. The want of wisdom and warinesse is the cause of many a Christians fall 18. A Christian may go very high upwards in good works onely with this exception that he never look to be justified by them 19. The Devill is busie at every good work either in the beginning to hinder it or in the end to defile it 20. No grace stronger then humility none weaker then the proud 21. So much faith as a man carries to Christ so much grace he brings from him 22. Wicked men may be freed from trouble onely the godly man hath grace to carry himself well in trouble 23. Holy men should know the strength of grace in their souls for confirmation of faith and bettering their obedience 24. The more grace the more a man is sensible of spiritual crosses 25. The life of grace is known by our spiritual appetites after the means of grace 26. God will set light by that man's salvation who sets light by his honour 27. Grace onely qualifies a man's actions and affections 28. Where there is no grace there is either all joy or all sorrow 29. Sorrow exceeds when it hinders in our callings as Christians and as men 30. Quietnesse is the stay of the soul to do or receive 31. Sorrow and sin agree in this to bring the soul of a poor man downward 32. The Divel since he cast himself down labours to cast all down 33. It'â— no wisdom to go to the highest step of the laâ—deâ— to our election before wee come to the fâ—ults of it in our sanctification 34. Some seek too much for comfort in sanctification when it should be lookt for in justification 35. It 's vain to trouble our selves with the issue of things for the future and neglect the means for the present 36. Vanity at one time or another brings vexation of spirit 37. A godly man in the greatest trouble recovers himself 38. A godly man who hath laid up store of grace before hand can remove solitarinesse having God and himself to speak to 39. Set thy soul in a right frame when trouble comes and nothing shall hurt thee 40. Every man hath a Court in himself to cite try and condemne himself 41. He that cites and condemns himself puts the Divel and tormenting conscience out of office 42. It 's a miserable thing to desire to know all things and yet not to know our selves to look alwaies abroad and never at home 43. The best work of the new creature is within which the world cannot see 44. Ask sin the reason of this or that and thou shalt find it most unreasonable 45. He that believs God will give him everlasting life will trust him for his daily bread 46. Faith hath a quieting and comforting power with it 47. It 's a shame to see Christians live so unquiet and discontented as if there were no Father in heaven or providence on earth 48. A Christian may mourn like a Dove but not roar like a beast under affliction 49. It 's no matter what the disease be if God be the Physician 50. As in a City men account more of their own house then of all the City biside so more comfort in this word My God then in all the world 51. He that makes God his God makes all other things his also 53. Mercy flows naturally from God as water flows from a fountain 54. God shoot's not his judgments as children arrows at randome but wheresoever they light he hath his aim 55. Happy man who hath God's mind with his rod instruction with correction 56. It 's neither wisdom nor holinesse to allow or defend the least infirmity 57. It 's folly to venture upon fin at any time for we shall at one time or another hear of it 58. They that come not to the Father in Christ by the Sacraments know not his goodness and they that come irreverently know not his greatnesse 59. God the wise Physician who loves his patients alike doth not administer potions to all but according to the nature of the disease and exigent of the party 60. Sick souls make sick bodies God aiming at the cure of the soul in the touching of the body 61. It 's better to be God's prisoner on the bed of sicknesse then sinfully to use health 62. He that sins with company must look to be tormented with company 63. Every stubborn wilfull sinner is a double murtherer of soul and body 64. Every man is naturally willing to deceive and be deceived in the state of his soul 65. Judging of our selvs prevents God's judging for things done in one Court cannot be judged in another by equity 66. As they who have a Plant which bears venemous fruit dig it at the root So if thou wouldst kill sin go to the heart 67. It 's not the having of corruption which damns men but the affections they carry to their corruptions 68. It 's our comfort to groan under infirmities looking upon them as enemies and objects of mortification 69. He that makes no conscience of secret sins shall fall into open sins 70. Poison is dangerously taken in sweet gloves so corruption mingles it self with our best duties 71. When men regard not the manner of doing holy things God regards not the matter 72. The want of sound judgment in some men makes them lay a plaister on a sound place and condemne a true man for a traitor 73. Bless that soul who labours by good counsel to hinder thee from any sinful course 74. It 's the character of a good heart to desire to converse with better then it self 75. It 's wisdome to prevent the trouble of sickness with the trouble of Physick so to judge our sins by conscience here that they bee not judged by God hereafter 76. Christ is very sweet to that soul who is excercised in the search of his own heart 77. It 's an ill time to get grace when we should use it 78. Pardoning mercy and healing mercy go alwaies from God to the godly together 79. When man spares no sin God spares all 80. They that are taken from the evil of the world have aims and ends above the world 81. Inward affections where our joy or delight is are the best discoveries of the state of our souls 82. There 's a concatenation betwixt grace and glory grace is the gate and glory is the reward 83. All the time a carnal man lives is but the time betwixt the sentence and execution 84. It overcomes many tentations many times to have a good conceit of God 85. No flesh without its scum no garden without its weeds no Christian without his failings 86. There 's a vaste difference betwixt the broacher and drinker of Error the one is possest with obstinacy the other with facility lenity and credulity 87. Errors are so dangerous and infectious
that the least error entertain'd prepares the heart for greater and disposeth it to reject all truth at last 88. Seducers arguments are not settling but startling keeping men in a wavering condition 89. Piety and verity truth and godlinesse are like Hippocrates twins living and dying together 90. Sectaries lay out their time in examination of opinions and not of conscience looking after the notions of the brain not the bettering of the heart 91. The endeavour of the erroneus are for party not piety faction not faith not considering so much now a man lives but what doth he hold 92. Seducers may be known by their crooked expression uttering truth and error in one sentence shadowing their opinions with the Veil of godlinesse and their mistakes with the flowers of truth 93. As Physicians give bitter pills in sugar sops so Seducers vent damnable errors in fine expressions 94. It 's no small tentation when men in high esteem for piety and ability fall into error 95. The Seducer changes his opinions as often as he can get customers for his new ones 96. The Polypus by changing his colour hunts and takes the fishes so Seducers serve their followers 97. Seducers arguments are like Spiders webs catching little flies simple Christians 98. Where there 's curiosity and wantonness of brain old truths are rejected as stale meat 99. It 's the Divels policy to reproach true Religion by sending many false ones into the world 100. Men's outward conversation should be no protection to their errors for we are to judge of persons by their faith and not faith by persons Century 4. 1. AS dead Fish are carried along by the stream so are dead Christians by the times 2. The new creature is nursed and born under the Ordinances for faith comes by hearing and grows by the same 3. Men commonly who cast off Ordinances cast off also godlinesse for Ordinances awe men's consciences and keep them in a sober modesty modest sobriety 4. He is but a bad Christian that is so by fits and girds in publick assemblies and not in closets in hearing and not in practising 5. All secondary causes are but the rods of affliction in God's hand therefore we should make our peace with the Judge and not go to the Serjeant 6. Error spreads much by the strangeness of people to their spiritual guides 7. It behoovs us to be wary and circumspect seeing all men may deceive and be deceived some errors are so like truths 8. The clearer the water is the deeper wee see so where there 's least passion there 's most judgment for passion muds the understanding 9. Scripture is the great Standard of truth unto which all opinions must bee brought 10. A man may attain much literal scriptural knowledge and yet the minde of God in the Bible not in the man's heart 11. Religion at some times without profession may be profitable but profession without Religion is alwaies execrable 12. Whatsoever a man receivs upon the account of dispute or argument he is bound to disown when he meets with a more subtil argument or Sophister 13. Every head is not big enough to grapple with the depth of some arguments 14. The arguing of every truth disputes men out of truth into Atheism 15. There 's a holy sympathie betwixt a regenerate heart and a precious truth 16. As Oyle mixeth not with other liquors nor incorporates into no body so the divine unction like a well-spring of water works out all the filth that 's cast into the soul 17. He that hath light in his understanding and no honesty in heart is like a ship with no ballast and a great Sayl lying open to every wind 18. Comfort when not found on earth is very sweet to thy soul from heaven 19. There 's more mercy in God then can be sin or evil in us 20. God who requires rather truth of heart then length of time makes sick souls by a sharp repentance shoot out suddenly that if taken out of the world they may be eternally saved 21. He that is good onely under the Crosse is never good doing it from the fear of punishment not hatred of sin 22. It 's hypocrisie when in sicknesse we desire our recovery not the grace of God 23. It 's the hell of hell to damned souls that they brought themselves thither 24. God in bringing his children home sees the furthest way about is nearest suffering them to fall in sin and by sin to shorten their daies and so occasion their repentance 25. A Child of God at the worst is better then a Worldling at the best 26. We have often more occasion to blesse God for crosses then for comforts 27. There 's a blessing to the godly hidden in the very worst things 28. It argues neither grace nor wit for a man to take occasion to sin because God will save him for though God save such a man's soul he will take such a course with him as to make him deeply repent of trying conclusions with God 29. It requires much wisdom to manage our profession to our own comfort and God's glory 30. Education may civilize but not subdue onely grace makes the new change on the heart 31. Hee who hath tasted of heavenly comforts cannot but shew pity to others which he hath felt from God himself 32. Deliverance shall come when wee are fit to receive the greatest comfort and to render God the greatest glory 33. Never despair of the Church for rather then it shall fail it shall breed in a Lion's den 34. That which is not enjoied with overmuch pleasure is parted withall without over-much grief 35. In great distresse the Spirit of Praier will difference a sincere heart from an hypocrite 36. Such is our own inclination and Satan's temptation that no lesse then an Almighty power can deliver us from evil 37. A true Christians desire is not onely to clear his conscience from the guilt of sin past but to avoid for it the future 38. Grief no further yields comfort then it hath care of prevention 39. The triall of repentance is when we turn not onely from sin but to the contrary good 40. We wrong both the goodnesse and greatnesse of God in not trusting him for the time to come by the experience of former favours 41. Old Christians ought to be strong in faith upon this account that their old favours should help them to set upon new 42. Wicked men have not any bettering deliverance no preservation but a reservation to a worse 43. Doing ill is the cause of all ills and we may thank our ill in doing for ill in suffering 44. The Crosse neither daunts the godly man's courage nor stains his conscience 45. A purpose to live in one sin is enough for the Divel to hold his possession and in death to claim us for his own 46. He that hath not a care to prevent sin never yet truly did repent for sin 47. It 's ridiculous for Duelists to go to
praiers when they intend to fall one upon another 48. To every good work we had need of renewed assisting grace 49 Against every evil we are tempted to we had need of delivering grace 50. O! how a sudden winde of temptations trips up the heels of a strong man sometimes 51. He that is privie to his own soul of good intentions to abstain from evil may presume God will assist him against evil 52. God not onely delivers from ill and out of ill but many times from a greater ill by a lesser 53. Rather then a man shall miscarry when God hath any work for him to do he will work a miracle 54. Death is sometimes a preservation it self sending a man to heaven his harbour and rest 55. It 's the fate of Kings many times to out live their glory and Kingdoms 56. He that keeps heaven for us keeps us also for heaven 57. The firm belief and hope of heaven are effectual for a holy life and conversation 58. We must one time or another have those graces on earth which fits us for heaven 59. An humble soul is ever thankful for the least measure of grace 60. Man's imploiment in heaven is singing of Psalms and so much as we are given to this exercise are we in heaven 61. The extent of our desires to God's glory should be carried to all eternity 62. A beggarly maintenance makes a contemptible Ministry 63. A Christians care is that there be no breaches made upon the Doctrine sealed by the blood of the Martyrs 64. An evil Governor is not onely a poison to the State and Church whilst hee he lives but the mischief of it afterwards 65. All the good actions of the life meet together and comfort a man in death 66. As men cast seed upon seed where the ground is fruitful so the more good we do the more opportunities of doing good are still offered 67. As we are in a perpetual Proficiency in this life so there 's a perpetual necessity of means and Ministry 68. We may enter upon all the means of saving knowledge upon this ground because Christ our teacher is able and willing to lead us from one degree to another 69. Christ not onely brings doctrine but wit and grace to the inward man 70. After Christ the Father loves all in Christ with the same love wherewith he loves Christ 71. As all heat in the creature is from the Sun so all piety and goodness flows from God above 72. The love of God is the spring of all duties and graces making us not onely good but comfortable as birds in the Spring 73. Faith is nothing but the act whereby we apprehend the love of God to us in Christ 74. They that have Christ for their Redeemer shall have heaven for their inheritance the Spirit for their guide the Angels for their attendance 75. God fills the bellies of many men with inward things whose hearts he never filled with his love 76. The sooner a sinner comes into God it 's the easier and his comfort will be the stronger 77. To thrive in a course of sin is a sign of reprobation 78. The way to keep God's love in us is to be careful to keep our selves under th means of salvation and to look on God as he is presented in the Gospel 79. Some are kept a little longer under the Law before they come under Grace 80. Seasonable afflictions sanctified are evidences of God's love 81. Our love to God is sincere when it comes from the Word and the Spirit and from good things there manifested to the soul 82. If we have God's love no matter what we want or in what condition we be 83. As the Sun doth not alwaies shine out so the love of God is not alwaies manifested 84. Rejoice in thy portion lesse or more whosoever thou be who finds the love of God in the best things 85. The want of feeling of God's love to us causeth the defect of our love to pity piety charity duty 86. He hath need of much reverence watchfulnesse and humility who will preserve himself in the love of God 87. God's love is better then life it self and if we have not this no matter what we have 88. All is love and mercie to those who are in Christ the beloved 89. Christ by his Spirit dwells in all believers therefore they should labour all to be one 90. How excellent were it if all men had the same thoughts the same religion the same aims and affections to good things a thing to be desired but not hoped for 91. If Christ be in the soul then tumults and fightings also for nature is long yielding to grace 92. They that are in Christ must not think it strange or be much troubled with inward oppositions 93. Into whatsoever soul Christ comes he will scourge out the lusts and sweep out the filth of that soul 94. They who entertain Christ onely in the brain give him as bad entertainment as they who forced him in a manger 95. It 's to no purpose or comfort to have Christ in our tongues and the world in our hearts 96. If Christ take up the heart and affection for his rooms then there flows a base esteem of all worldly excellencies 97. Christ was in Zacheus's heart before he was in his house else he had never been so charitable 98. Sometimes it 's needful we trust the judgment of others better then our own to know who dwells in us 99. As the Sun-beams are pure still though shining upon dunghills so is Christs Spirit not joining but wasting and consuming corruption 100. Christ dwells largely in that soul where the Word is its reason the Commandements its will God's glory its joy CENTURY 5. 1. A Heart having once entertained Christ is never content till it be with Christ in heaven 2. It 's dangerous thrusting our selves into such company whom we know to grieve the Spirit of God 3. If the soul apprehend Christ to bee gone let it observe how it lost him and recover him by the contrary 4. Discouragements proceed from carnal outward things but comforts proceed from the presence of divine things 5. Afflictions amongst the wise heathens could not hinder the life of reason and can they among Christians hinder the life of grace 6. God fits Prophets for persons giving them teachers sutable to their desires 7. Where grace is there will be without doubt mercy 8. It 's sign of life when a Christian is sensible of inconveniences 9. God first makes us fit and then makes use of us for to work 10. It 's a true disposition of a child of God to have a heart tender soft and pliable 11. Nothing so hard as the heart of man if wrought upon it must be by an Almighty power 12. The Adamant is only melted by blood so is the heart of man by Christ crucified 13. As water begining to freez will bear nothing almost but after a while any thing so a tender
one to Christ thy surety to pay thy great debts as thy small ones 52. Upon whom God bestows much cost there he looks for some answerable fruits 53. Sin may draw down judgment on a godly man but it shall not rest on him 54. The Church hath evermore received more hurt by discord then open enemies 55. In all diseases take away the proud and dead flesh and the plaister will fall off 56. When the fuel of sin is taken away Gods fiery wrath ceaseth 57. Saints by their great falls lose their communion but not their union with God 58. Of all burthens the absence of God's favour is most intollerable 59. Except healing and pardoning mercy go together man hath no comfort and God no glory 60. It 's very ill when small temptations makes us question the truth of God's promises 61. It 's sad to see carnal men contriving other waies of coming to Christ then ever he ordained or revealed 62. We must go to the promises for enlargement to duty our service requiring no portion but meer poverty and emptinesse 63. He that is content Christ should take all from him and dispose altogether of him hath a holy frame of heart 64. It 's Satan's policy either to let us see no sin or nothing but sin 65. Never any saved but rebells nor received mercy but such as opposed mercy 66. No Scripture saith the greatnesse of man's sin hinders the greatnesse of God's mercy 67. It 's not properly some men's unworthinesse but their pride which hinders them from Christ desiring something in themselves and not to have all from him 68. There 's no limitation of the riches of God's free grace but onely in the sin against the Holy Ghost 69. God shews mercy not because wee please him but because mercy pleaseth him 70. Whatsoever sight of sin unfits a man for mercy that sight is sinful 71. He that depends upon the power and mercy of God in his Ordinances shall find proportionable succour and success 72. When all means fail let the soul look up to God and out from it self being the fittest time to meet God and disappoint Satan 73. As a tree may want leaves and fruit not wanting sap or moisture so a Christian may want sense and feeling when there is faith 74. Sometimes some mens souls are like sullen children refusing their meat because they have not what they would 75. It 's a bad custome some men have never to be well but when judging rashly of their eternal being 76. Some men in hearing study how to find answers to put by their comforts 77. He â—hat listens to carnal pleas sins deeply and wounds his soul dangerously 78. He that enters the lists with Satan concerning God's Decrees will be carried into a wood where no body comes and no comfort to be had 79. We must not measure the riches of God's love nor sweetnesse of his grace by our own conceits 80. In self-judging observe the good as well as the bad and do not lie at the catch with thine own soul to take it at the worst 81. There 's a great deal of evil in that self-willed proud heart who hath all his objections answered yet renews them afresh 82. It 's a sin to reject mercy when God offers it as to kill a man which he hath forbidden 83. It 's better crosse our own humors then crosse God's Spirit 84. Stubborn peevish souls if saved in the end yet they are as it were in hell upon earth 85. Let souls hold to the Word in their dispute with Satan and he will be weary and go away 86. Look from one end of the heavens to the other and see if ever any man leaning upon God was disappointed 87. A soul leavs all other things for that which is chief with the soul 88. Faith gives a kind of being to whatsoever we do or speak 89. We must not think to bring any good to the promises but go to them for all good 90. We must not look for sanctification till we come to the Lord in vocation 91. O precious faith which brings all goodnesse with it grace here happinesse hereafter 92. There would be a sweet mutual peace in God's holy mountain if every one kept in his own limits knowing his duty 93. It 's an eminent and infallible mark of regeneration to have the violence and fierceness of our nature taken away 94. He that refuseth works of mercy to those in need is a murtherer 95. The doctrine of Christ is preached to many but the power thereof extended but to few 96. That man is holy and harmlesse who when opportunity of doing evill is offered can abstain 97. It 's a blessed thing when we are provok'd to forbear to revenge our selves 98. It 's a sign of a woful state when our tongues flie out in words and our hearts are set on mischief in small matters 99 No man can love a saint as a saint but a saint 100. Religion and Rebellion are inconsistent CENTURY 7. 1 NO man is turned unto God but he loves the society he formerly hated 2. It 's dangerous too much to admire fleshly excellency for those gifts of goodness which are in the same 3. As there is a cruell justice many times so there may be a cruel mercy 4. A heart set upon chafing brawling and raging is void of comfort 5. He may be assured of the remission of sin who is released from the bondage of sin 6. No sin so small but there 's an enmity against God in it and a dishonour to God 7. He that would make all comfort sure to himself let him make this sure first that his sins are forgiven him 8. The onely way to quiet our hearts is to hearken what God saies 9. All God's children must be plowed and have the clods of their corruption broken 10. Misery to the righteous is as a sojourner but it rests on the back of the wicked man 11. The means time and measure of afflictions is of God's own appointment 12. The wounds of a friend with holy reproof are precious but his wounds by sinful counsel are pernicious 13. There 's another life besides the natural life and the root of it is Christ our life 14. That nothing can suffice man coms from a divine instinct to make him seek out another life wherein consists happinesse 15. He that finds such an antipathy betwixt his spirit and sin as betwixt him and poison hath true grace in his heart 16. We must hate the conversations of such who hinder us in the growth of spiritual life 17. As without shedding of blood no forgivenesse of sin so without the Spirit sealing the promises to our souls we have no comfort 18. Christ is the fountain of spiritual life but faith is the pipe conveying it to us 19. Better for us to sleep in a house full of Adders and Serpents then in a state of sin 20. Happy practice when with the day we clear the sins of the day fitting
our selvs for life or death 21. Though pardon of sin be pronounced yet God hath the keeping of joy in his own hand 22. Every falling into sin is not upon all four a quite falling away 23. Samson's strength was in his locks but our strength against sin and errour is in Christ 24. A believing spirit trembles at any thing which hinders or grievs the Spirits working 25. Sense of God's love is sometimes withdrawn to make us mourn for it the more 26. When afflictions are doubled it 's time to pray hard believe and apply the promises and then deliverance will come 27. In the use of means run alwaies to Christ that he may work virtue being onely in him 28. God's time of helping the poor and needy is when all other help is at a stand 29. After faith ends on earth comes the life of vision in heaven 30. Redemption in regard of efficacie is no larger then God's Election for those which the Father gave in Election Christ by Redemption saves 31. God's general call in the Church is to call out his own 32. God rains the showers of his Ordinances upon all but Believers have onely the benefit of it 33. It 's no matter what cavills wicked men raise of God's intention and election seeing more grace and means are offered then they are willing to entertain 34. Christ is our husband faith yields consent and consent makes the match 35. Many are in the state of grace relying on mercy and wanting the assurance of pardon 36. Satan applying himself to the distemper of a melancholy spirit keeps it in darknesse 37. Sincerity is the holy man's perfection in the use of all means 38. A man may have excellent parts and no grace at all which are given for the good of others because such neglect faith humility and a broken spirit which are more then gifts 39. Parents shew their love most to the weakest child so God manifests his comforts most to weak Christians 40. Where there is faith there is praier for faith is the parent of praier and praier is the breath of faith 41. The living of a happy life consists in the assurance of God's love to our souls 42. The sense of Christs love in pardoning sin constrains us to an holy violence in performing of duty 43. Look upon the love of God and it will cut the sinews of sin and distrust in providence 44. Come in and stoop to Christ in doing thy duty and thou puts this question out of question that thou art one of God's Elect. 45. They who have no conflict in their spirit and no interruption in their estate may greatly fear their condition 46. In cases of desertion and seeming deadness trie which way soul the goes in its desires 47. Complain of thy self and sins to Christ and let sin have no quiet possession 48. He is a true Christian who lives in no grosse sin nor allows of no small sin 49. That man dies comfortably who believs Christ will have a care of his soul 50. Some Scriptures are become hard to understand because of so many diversities of understanding 51. Little Scripture is so sincere and indemnified as to please all conjectures and satisfie all interests and spirits that inquire into them 52. It 's a wilful error to choose to be solitary where there 's one Catholick consent and harmony 53. It 's dangerous to take by-paths where the open road is free and safe 54. He that chooseth singularity wil fall into many absurdities and implications 55. He that dotes upon his own invention and proposeth to himself a separate notion will ravish and wrest the Word by an audacious force 56. Many things lie yet hid in the Scripture as full of darknesse as wonder 57. Some undo a great deal of learning by an extreme ingredient of superstition or novelty 58. They that are most void of learning and experience dabble most in dark places 59. Though many things in Scripture be obscure and profound yet nothing superfluous 60. He reads the Scripture with danger of infection who brings the Plague with him 61 Carnal pleasures sowr and wither by using but spiritual become fresh and delightful 62. That heart is worse then iron whom Christs loadstone cannot attract 63. The graces of Christ are like the eternal springs of the earth that cannot dry up but are and shall be diffused until his whole house be filled 64. The love of Christians to Christ is no blind precipitate passion but guided by reason and election 65. Grace destroies not nature but perfects her by supernatural reliefs 66. There 's special intimacie and kindnesse betwixt Christ and those that fear him 67. Joy breeds from love to its root and where one is shed abroad the other trickls after it 68. The more we mind God by contemplation the more we admire and seek him 69. Many souls are black through the night of persecution yet comely in hope and patience 70. False teachers have many folloâ—â—… as wasps have combs but no honey 71. Some are Kite-eied to espy the filthinesse and carrion cast out of their brethren passing over their graces 72. Affliction may discolour the Church for a season but her proper and constant complexion will be beauty for ashes 73. None so implacable and bitter as hereticks and Schismaticks sons of the same mother the Church but not of the same Father God 74. Get under Christs protection and Government and he will not suffer thee to lack 75. He is in greatest danger of erring who travels alone 76. Babylon holds many of God's people yet let them not make such places their refuge much lesse their election 77. It 's truly Christian for a man to love those who hate him and do him wrong 78. It aggravates a man's sinfulnesse to be unholy wilst he converseth with such as are holy 79. It brings honour to God and man to be upright amongst those who are unjust 80. Perfect holiness is the aim of Saints on earth it 's their reward in heaven 81. As the salt Sea makes not the fish salt so no filthiness destroies true grace 82. Some men can personate Religion but are not religious persons 83. He who hath a plain heart hath also square dealings 84. If God hath given thee grace thou hast the best and choicest blessing can be given 85. Grace may be more eminent in some then in others yet every man hath every grace who hath any grace at all 86. It 's a great dishonor to our profession not to be upright in our dealings and conversation 87. Fear being all duty and every grace if uprightness of dealing be not from it it 's a heathenish virtue not a Christian grace 88. The fear of the Lord sweeps the heart and keeps the life clean 89. Holy enmity against sin is the temper of a godly man's heart 90. He that will avoid sin must avoid the occasion of sin and he that will keep from the act must keep from the way
of sin 91. Children must not be counted bills of changes for they are greater blessings then any outward thing else 92. Wo to those parents whose gain for their children is the loss of their own souls 93. Emptiness and poverty presseth hose most who once were full and rich 94. Great and good rich and holy are happy but rare conjunctions 95. To be extream poor or rich is one extream temptation 96. That man is rich in grace who is very poor but very holy 97. Temptations are greater and stronger upon the full and rich then the poor and empty 98. God never gives any thing evill in it self to those who are good nor the chief good to those chat are evill 99. There 's fire in all estates ill gotten which at last will consume them 100. The time we spend in spirituall duties is the time gained for secular therefore to turn poor if thou turn godly fear not CENTURY 8. 1. MUtual agreement amongst children is a comfortable blessing to parents 2. Nothing more uncomely and unnaturall as rents divisions and brawlings in a family 3. Prodigality of time is the worst and most dangerous prodigality 4. Faith is a glutinous monopolizing grace possessing Christ and by a close application making him wholly the soul's 5. The faithfull soul takes sure hold of Christ in the time of darkness and temptation 6. Christ lodged in the heart is as a bundle of myrrhe sweet and bitter at once preserving joy and trembling together 7. If thy heart swell too high and grow proud taste and chaw the bitter plant of Christ's death and it will break the imposthume 8. If thy heart fail thee in any conditon smell at the sweetnes of Christ and he will transmit life and comfort 9. The virtue of Christ's death never dieth but floweth down to ail ages for ever 10. God hath appointed that where the crosse is there also is the cordiall against it 11. Divine love is the caus of divine beauty and rejoyceth in it's own work 12. The beauty of the soul is the holiness of it being God's Image 13. Christ hath the truth and essence of beauty whereas earthly things have it only in estimation 14. The unquiet brains of men tossed with opinions rest in the scripture as in a bed 15. Our sins are thorns and so are temptations to sin and afflictions for sin 16. Heresies and schisms are worser then the sharpest stings and thorns to the Church 17. Women lose their good name not onely by keeping ill company but by keeping none 18. As weary travellers seek cool arbours and delight in them so doth the weary soul after and in Christ 19. Some men carry a thin shaddow of piety and zeal but no more 20. It 's neither losse nor dishonour to be vanquished in the field where Christ is General for at last we shall be conquerors 21. A holy soul is sick and weary and lives not in her self but in Christ in whom her life is hid 22. They are happy beyond expression who are transfixed with the wounds of Christ's love 23. It 's no waies befitting Christians to lye down and stretch themselves in sinfull pleasures 24. It 's our duty comfort to draw near to Christ in affection and conversation 25. Holy practise makes grace visible and brings out from the heart to the life 26. A parent may put money in a childs purse but he cannot put grace in his heart 27. Prayer which requires a holy heart many times makes a holy heart 28. None can come at the spirit of another but the Spirit of God 29. Moderate refreshing and recreation may well become holy men 30. The care of parents ought to live as long as they and their children live together 31. Children when grown in years must not think they have out-grown obedience and honour to their parents 32. The speciall care of a holy father is for the soul of his child 33. Such parents whose care is onely to make their children great not good in this world are themselves the Devils children 34. Grace is very attractive it desires to draw others into fellowship 35. He that doth ill by thy advice the ill shall be reckoned unto thee 36. All holy duties call upon us all for a holy preparation 37. It 's seldome the duty sanctifies us unless we be sanctified for the duty 38. It 's very bad to make a preparation and then to put off or neglect the duty 39. It 's God's due and our duty to give God the morning the first and best part of the day 40. As the morning is a friend to the Muses so to the Graces it being the best praying time 41. It 's not safe to let sin lie upon our consciences unrepented 42. He that hath guilt upon his soul hath a fire in his soul 43. Prayer is a lifting up of the soul and elevation of the spirit unto God 44. By distinguishing the times many Scrptures are made to agree 45. He that sacrificed offered up a beast but he that obeyeth offereth up himself 46. God in the Sacrament sees the death of his Son and that satisfies him and man sees the death of his Saviour and that justifies him 47 Actings of faith powering out of prayer makes Sacraments effectuall to man acceptable to God 48. Christ was ever and is and shall be the only remedy and cure of sin 49. Every one is saved by particular actings of his own faith and therefore every soul must believe for it selfe 50. We cannot converse in this uncleane and dirty world but some uncleanness will fasten upon us 51. To be without grosse sin is our holiness on earth to be without any sin is the holinesse of heaven 52. A good heart turns suspicious of others sinning into intercession that they may be pardoned not in accusations that they may be defamed 53. He that repents of those sins which he only fears he hath committed shall be sure to repent of those he doth commit 54. It 's too easie a matter to sin about holy things lawfull things often being the occasion of unlawfull 55. For a man to blesse God in his sin is a very high strain of wickednesse 56. Every sin is a turning from God but few sins are a farewell to God 57. The heart is to be kept with all manner of keeping for sinfull thoughts are dangerous sins 58. The heart of man is so wicked as to sin over one sin a thousand times 59. Renewed sin require renewed repentance and we must give over repenting when wee have don sining 60. That which men do out of conscience they will do it out of peresverance for nature may have good moods but grace is steady 61. Usually where God gives much grace he tries grace much 62. All things in heaven and earth are disposed by the unerring wisdom and limited by the Almighty power of God 63. Sleep is a short death and death is a long sleep 64. It should be the voice of every soul
who will make him toil and sweat and pay him at last with death 8. It 's no small trouble to possess good things when we cannot enjoy them 9. Many afflictions to our sense are somtimes worse then death 10. As death finds many before they look for it so some look for death and cannot find it 11. It 's a great deal better for a man to expect death when it cometh not then to have death come when he expects it not 12. The darkness of affliction it a great increase of our affliction 13. Holy wisdom and prudence bids us prepare for evill in our good daies 14. They can ill bear any trouble who look for nothing but comfort 15. The more our hearts are loosened from the creatures the more assurance wee have of enjoying the creatures 16. The best way of teaching is out of our own experience and exact disquisition 17. Largness of gifts and helps from God should quicken us unto a more chearful and vigorous study of our duties 18. It 's a great blessing for men to have helps and comforts answerable to their imployments and hearts also to use them 19 The study of the creature is of excellent use to lead us to the knowledg of the Creator 20. The more knowledg a man hath the more ignorance he discovers in himself 21. The good which satisfies a man must bear proportion to his heart and inward man 22. The right use of pleasure is not to take up the whole man but to mitigate the bitterness of severer studies 23. In things of this world somtimes they who have least wisdom or goodness have greatest success 24. The wise and circumspect are many times frustrated in those courses which were contrived with greatest skill and cunning 25. It 's dangerous Judging of mens wisdom or folly goodness or badness by outward events 26. As a little cloud darkens the light of the sun So a little trouble darkens the content of all our enjoyments 27. It 's the love of God which puts sweetness in all our outward mercies 28. Power without piety is very apt to degenerate into cruelty 29. It 's the height of impiety to fetch any power or advantage from any ordinance of God to commit it 30. Faith looks on the pride and power of wicked men as a very vain thing even in the height of their greatness 31. It 's matter of comfort to the oppressed that their cause shall be judged over again and themselvs righted 32. It 's a vain conceit to think contentment tied co a small estate and vexation to a greater whereas true content knows as well how to abound as how to want 33. It 's woful when men have enough for back and belly calling and decency of state but not enough for the eye 34. Wealth is a great ornament to wisdome and the sinews of action 35. The more sensible any man is of sin in himself the more meek and charitable he will be to others 36. As a little flie corrupts much pretious perfume so a little folly blemisheth much a wise man's reputation 37. To a man made up of pride and folly other men much wiser then himself appear but fools 38. They who are impatient of rule over them have mine very near them 39. Where wisdom is wanting to direct our actions labour will prove endless 40. The Politician's pretence may be fine and spiritual but his ultimate end is gold and greatness 41. It 's very sad to see men quoting Scripture to palliate their impious actions 42. Woe to that man who sacrificeth the publick peace to private interest 43. Nothing so much conceals deformity and pretends beauty as the mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion 44. It 's policie to say grace to our designs be they never so wicked and to give thanks for the success be it never so bad or bloody 45. No man is more hated of God then an hypocrite for a counterfeit Religion shall find a real hell 46. It 's common amongst Rebels and Hereticks to mention old Traitors for new Martyrs 47. The will of a wicked man is often an offender when his hands are innocent the sin being out of his reach 48. For learned men to have turbulent spirits is the dishonor of the Gown and shame of the Pulpit and somtimes the ruine of their Country 49. A Politician when he hath made his best use of a seditious Preacher leavs him to his own wild distemper directing his thoughts to another end 50. Few men are able or willing to distinguish God's permission from his approbation 51. Christ's Kingdome was not of this world nor yet is a Christian's happinesse 52. He that asserts temporal happinesse to be a true Index of divine favour must not say Mahomet is an Imposter 53. Fortunate sins are very dangerous temptations 54. A meer Professor is alwaies of the prevailing Religion harboring a room in his heart if occasion be to lodge the contrary 55. The Magistrate who hath no voluntary room in the hearts of his people must use all means to gain a coercive 56. It 's great pity such slender evasions in breaking Oaths should satisfie Christians which have been scorned by Heathens 57. It 's no heresie to say many have been saved by their infidelity in not believing Politicians pretences 58. Some men cover wrong with wrong as if the the commission of a second sin were enough to justifie the first 60. Necessity is the common sanctuary for tyrants sinful actions 61. They who study to be great by any means must by all means forget to bee good 62. If all the gay things which men fondly fancy in a Crown were really to be found hee pays too dear that pawns his soul for it 63. It 's the humor of many when they have once rushed into a party or opinion implicitly to prosecute it as desperately as if they were under demonstrative convictions of equity 64. Soon angry when small injuries are done to our selves and still patience in great wrongs done to God shew our hearts to be naught 65. Our hearts cunningly trip up our heels when we are to run the race set before us 66. There 's a mystery of sin lying in the folds of the heart which we shall never see except God's Spirit enlighten us 67. When a Seducer speaks a truth hee doth set a snare to catch the truth in 68. Policie in wicked men is more powerful sometimes to restrain their corruption then grace in others who are truly religious 69. An hypocrite speaks not out of but contrary to the abundance of the heart 70. No greater thief then a slanderer for he robs his brother of his good name which is above gold or silvers 71 What a mockery it is when men are carefull to pay their servants their due and yet rob God and his Church of their due 72. Sectaries cry out against Papists persecution in Queen Maries time and yet cease not to vent their malice against the Ministers in
whom the piety and zeal of those holy Martyrs are revived and doctrine continued 73. No mans calling must call him from God or godliness for particular callings must give place to the generall 74. The power command or example of great men is no warrant to sin 75. An unsound conscience is large and can swallow any thing but a sincere conscience is strait and the least thing sticks in her throat 76. He that takes custom for a safe rule of his actions takes a crooked rule and a blind guide by the hand 77. The falls of holy men in Scripture should teach us rather fear then boldnesse to sin 78. It denotes a sincere heart when it grievs for another man's sin 79 Adversity unites those many times whom prosperity divides 80. Sectaries cry Come out of Babylon and in the mean time fall into her substantial errours which are both her foundation and frame 81. It 's better many waies to swallow a Ceremony then rend a Church 82. Though Sectaries intend it not yet Antichrist and Hell have no better Agents 83. Death many times borders upon birth and the cradle stands in the grave 84. All the contentments of this life are as far from sincerity as contentment 85. O death if thy pangs be grievous yet the rest which follows thee is sweet 86. Let no Christian despise the means of his salvation when he knows the Author 87. The bread of the Sacrament was once the Bakers now it is God's the water was once every man's now it is the Laver of Regeneration 88. It is to thee O God we must powr out our hearts who onely can make our bitter waters sweet 89. Contentation is a rare blessing because it ariseth from a full fruition of all comforts or a not-desiring of some which we have not 90 No man so bare as not to have some benefits none so full as to want nothing yea as not to be full of wants 91 It is our faithlesness that in visible means we see not him who is invisible 92 Our greatest pleasures on earth are but pains in their loss 93 To whine in the midst of abundant riches is a shameful unthankfulness 94 When a heart is hardned with passion it will endure much e're it will yield to relent 95 God will be waited on and will give the consummation of his blessings at his own leisure 96 Let salvation be never so plentiful if we bring it not home and make it ours by faith we are no whit the better 97 Nothing so sovereign which being perverted may not annoy instead of benefitting us 98 Man would forget at whose cost hee lives if he wanted nothing 99 Lenity is ill-bestowed upon stubborn natures and it 's an injurious senslesness not to feel the wounds of our reputation 100 I care not how little or unpleasant a potion I find in this wilderness if the power and benefit of Christ's precious death season it to my soul Trino-uni-soli-Deo gloria FINIS Books lately printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Sign of the three Crowns over-against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap side 1659. A Learned Commentary or Exposition upon the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians by Dr. Richard Sibbs published for publick good by Thomas Manton Folio The Dead Saint speaking to Saints and Sinners living in several Treatises viz. The sinfulness and greatest evil that is in sin on 2 Sam. 24.10 The love of Christ to his Spouse on cant 4.9 Nature and Roialties of Faith on John 3.15 The slowness of heart to believe on John 1.50 The cause signs and cure of Hypocrisie with motives and helps to sincerity on Isaiah 58.2 The wonderful workings of God for his Church and people on Exod. 15.11 Never before published by Samuel Bolton D. D. late Mr of Christ Colledge in Cambridge Folio Four profitable Treatises very useful for Christian practice viz. The killing power of the Law The Spiritual Watch the New-birth Of the Sabbath by the reverend William Fenner late Minister of Rochford in Essex Folio There are going to the Press some new pieces of Mr. William Fenners late of Rochford in Essex never yet printed preserved by a special Providence one of which is a second part of his Wilful Impenitencie being five Sermons more that he preached upon the 18 of Ezekiel and the 32 Verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between 1. The Hypocrite in his best dress of seeming virtue and formal duties And the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience As also between 2. The blackest weeds of daily infirmities of the truly godly eclipsing saving grace and the reigning sins of the Unregenerate that pretend unto that godliness they never had By that late burning and shining Lamp Mr Samuel Crook B D. late Pastor of Wrington in Somerset Folio Mr. John Cotton his practical Exposition on the first Epistle to John second Edition corrected and inlarged in Folio A Theatre of flying Insects wherein especially the manner of right ordering the Bee is excellently described with discourses Historical and Physical concerning them with a second part of Meditations and Observations Theological and Moral in 3 Centuries upon the same subject by Samuel Purchas M. A. in 40. Catechizing God's Ordinance in sundry Sermons by Mr. Zachary Crofton Minister of Buitolphs Aldgate London the second Edition corrected and augmented The Godly man's Ark in the day of his distress discovered in Diverse Sermons the first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Elisabeth Moore Whereunto is annexed Mrs. Elisabeth Moores Evidences for heaven composed and collected by her in the time of health for her comfort in the time of sickness by Edm. Calamy B. D. and Pastor of the Church at Aldermanbury 8. Peoples need of a living Pastor at the Funeral of Mr. John Frost M. A. by Mr. Zach. Crofton The Gale of Opportunity and the Beloved Disciple by Thomas Froysel in 80. The Wedding Ring fit for the finger in a sermon at a Wedding at Edmonton by Will Secker Enchiridion Judicum oâ— Jehosaphats charge to his Judges opened in a sermon before the right honorable the Judges and the right worshipful the Sheriffe of the County Palatine of Lancast Together with Catastrophe magnatum or King David's lamentation at Prince Abner's Incineration by John Livesey minister of the Gospel at Atherton 80. The Journal or Diary of a thankfull Christian a Day-book of National and publick personal and private passages of Gods providence to help Christians to thankfulness and experience By John Beadle Minister of the Gopsel at Barnstone in Essex large 8. Mr Robinsons Christians Armor in large 8. Book of Emblems with Latine and English verses upon Lights By Robert Farly smal 8. A most Excellent Treatise containing the way to seek Heavens Glory to flye Earths vanity to sear Hells horror with godly prayers the Bell-mans summons 12. Johnsons Essayes expressed in sundry Exquisite Fancies Sion in the house of mourning becaus of Sin and Suffering being an exposition upon the fifth Chapter of the Lementations by D S. Pastor of Vpingham in the County of Rutland Groans of the Spirit or a Trial of the truth of Praier A Handkercher for Parnets Wet-eyes upon the death of their Children or Friends The one thing necessary By Mr. Thomas Watson Minister of Stephens Walbrook 8. A Plea for Alms delivered in a Sermon at the ' Spital before a solemne Assembly of the City on Tuesday in Easter week April 13 1658. By Mr. Thomas Watson Minister of Stephens Walbrook Lond. 80. Moses Unveiled or those figures which served unto the pattern and shadow of heavenly things Pointing out the Messiah Christ Jesus briefly explained whereunto is added the Harmony of all the Prophets breathing with one mouth the mystery of his coming and of that redemption which by his death he was to accomplish To confirm the Christian and convince the Jew very profitable and full of comfort By Willam Guild Minister of God's Word at King-Edward in Scotland Holy things for holy men or the Lawyers Plea non-suited c. In some Christian reproof and pity expressed towards Mr. Prynn's book intituled The Lord's Supper briefly vindicated c. By S. S. Minister of the Gospel Divine Principles or a Scripture Catechism c. Good Company being a collection of various serious pious meditations useful for instruction consolation and confirmation By J. Melvin minister of the Gospel at Vdimer in Sussex A Religious Treatise upon Simeon's song or instructions how to live holily and die happily by Timothy Woodroffe B. D. Pastor at Kingslaâ—d in Herefordshire An Antidote against Henry Haggaâ—s poisonous Pamphlet intituled The Foundation of the Font discovered or a Reply wherein his audaciousness and sophistry in arguing against Infant-baptism discipleship Church-membership c. is detected his caviâ—s against Mr. Cook Mr. Baxter and Mr. Hall are answered c. by Aylmar Houghton minister of the Gospel at Prees in Salop â—… Five sermon in five several styles or waies of preaching the first in Bishop Andrews's way the second in Bishop Hall's way the third in Dr Mayns and Mr. Cartwrights way the fourth in the Presbyterian way and the fiftâ— in the Independent way of preaching by A. Wright minister of the Gospel The Reformation in which is reconciliation with God and his people or 1. Subjection to the State remonstrated viz. that all that receive protection ought to yield subjection to this present power the old Protestant's Doctrine opposite to that of the Fift-Monarchy c. 2. Church-Government reformed shewing that the Church should be governed by Scripture-Bishops Presbyters Pastors all unitedly subordinated under the supreme Magistrate 3. Faith in which all should be Baptized is cleared or a Catechism unveiâ—ing the Apostles Creed with Annotations in which Faith Ordinances and Government are professed as in the Primitive times in opposition to all Errors and Heresies by W. K. Minist FINIS