the glorious state of wickednesse but therein contemplate the justice of Divine Providence for vertue is not distinguished by any sensible reward from vice And who dares consult with the eternal wisdome or who can compare with Omnipotence This makes me chearful in the greatest calamity and contemne all worldly things in respect of an honest fame LXXIII I know the separation of the body and soul in regard that nature abhors all evacuation dis-union and dissolution may be said to be unnatural yet I can apprehend this dis-junction as a necessary means to a more glorious redintegration and incorruptible union I know that there is a mutual relation and commerce a friendly society and interchangable conversation betwixt these two Yet I can see an image of Divinity a picture of heaven an impresse of eternity in the inward part which cannot appear and shine forth in its true lustre in that genuine purity and brightnesse till this dirty clay this red earth this body of dust be scoured off and refined for a resurrection I know that both shall meet againe so purified so rarified so together glorified as now I cannot conceive an expression to certifie my understanding but can understand enough to strengthen and confirme my faith I believe and know that both shall be renued with such perfection and absolute grace that there shall be no roome left fit for a temptation for a disease the Soul without hope or fear or anger or grief free from all tumultuary passion and rebellious lusts the body free from all paine and anguish and sicknesse the whole man void of all necessity of sin and misery I will not fear death that is the occasion of all this blessednesse Life is nothing else but a progresse unto death and death is nothing else but an entrance into life I know it is the end of all misery and the beginning of all happiness Against the fear of death and the desire of death I do thus conclude I wil so live that I may die happily I will so die that I may live eternally Lord give me thy grace here and I will not doubt of thy glory hereafter LXXIV Let our course of life be what it will we shall finde misery enough Abroad the Courts of Justice torment us as much as our own cares at home The Countrey is a kind of oppression with continual labours the Sea a confusion of dangers Travel if we go out rich is but a temptation of spoile and rapine if poore a provocation of scorne and contempt Matrimony is no more then a conjunction of mutual calamities and a single life a solitary mischief Children are monuments of care and barrenness a curse of Oblivion Youth is a tormenting fury Age a stump of weaknesse What is all this life of ours which we dote upon so much but a point of time a little grain of salt a summer flower a fading pleasure and yet sleep like a severe Publican and other idle diversions our officious enemies toile away above half this inconsiderable stock of nature What is Man but an Earthen vessel a fraile bottle a statue of snow or wax that melts at every blaze and will admit any impression a rotten chip a withered leaf a course thread spun out into Atomes This is that animal {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a creature for a day that starts up like a mushrum and vanishes like a shoure of frogges All things under the Sunne are vanity but he is All vanity a circle a whimsey a figure a fancy a feather a trifte a nothing a dream of a shadow and the shadow of a dream He is but a living carkasse a walking Ghost something in a trance a monument of death If this be our condition while we live who would not be ambitious to die LXXV We are but generated dust at first and at last degenerated ashes The soul in the body is but confined as it were to some dark prison The grave is not so strait a lodging to the body as the body is to the soul for the body is not sensible of this narrow imprisonment but the soule every day feels the iron weight of her fleshly fetters The flesh is a burden to the soul are we afraid of ease we shall never finde rest and quiet till God the Lord and proprietary call for his abused talent and repose it safe in those eternal Mansions What a benefit is this to be deprived of that darknesse and stupidity which hindred our prospect to be estated in an unchangable condition to enjoy an undeterminable felicity why should we be lesse unwilling to put off this fleshly garment than we are to undress our selves every night why should we be loath to change this vile body for eternity to shift this thread-bare-coat to be superinvested with immortal glory what but some strange misbelief and infidelity can obstruct the desire of this happy dissolution The world is full of miseries and heaven is full of blessings enough to excite the most dull heart to pant after this glorious change Death in it self is nothing are we afraid of nothing are we frighted with a Chimaera How shall I encounter with an Host if I tremble at a shadow There is nothing fearful in death if we embrace it with a good conscience An honest man cannot die a dishonest death It is reported of the Emperour Vespasian that when he lay upon his death-bed breathing out his last he made a sudden start and raised himself upon his feet Being requested to lie down again he refused and yeelded up his spirit with these words Oportet imperatorem stantem mori It behoves an Emperor to die standing which with a little change may become the mouth of a good Christian Oportet Christianum triumphantem mori It behoves a Christian to die triumphing LXXVI Every day we suck in fresh aire and breath it out again Our very Being is but an Emblem of mortality but after death we are no more dead then we live indeed when we cannot die Here we die many deaths but hereafter we shall live one everlasting eternal life Here we are subject to many inconveniences and much distress there we are free from all Who would not more willingly pass out of this world and if it were lawful thrust himself out than stay behinde in a throng of woful confusions can there be a worse Hell then is exercised on Earth if there be any greater torment then the guilt of sin sure it is prepared for those that remaine miserable in the judgement What is it that doth so trouble our apprehension Other afflictions because usual and familiar we endure well enough by acquaintance with our misery we can arme our selvs against the violence of fortune the fury of injustice the raging of poverty the cruelty of a Tyrant Familiarity they say breeds contempt now what more common then Death what more natural what a world is gone before us of all sorts and degrees Kings Prophets
ashes we may Canonize a Saint but cannot make him such by our greatest adoration The goodnesse of an action is in the stamp and character of its own nature not in the value of a vain report It were labour lost to pursue vertue if it could be taken from us by the violence of a railing tongue And though false witnesse may prevail for a time against the best innocence yet the Iudge of all the world cannot be unjust in his judgement XLI By the composition and stature of our bodies we are admonished how to behave our selves one towards another Every man ought to dwell within his own bounds and limits without incroaching upon his neighbours part As there is space and roome enough in the Head for those operations that are there fixed and the like in the rest of the Members by reason of that good order and consent setled amongst them So the world is sufficiently great to serve all if we had but skill to bear with one another if every man would be content with his own state and condition and satisfie himselfe with those peculiar gifts which he hath received from our Soveraign Lord as a member of the same body XLII 'T was well said of one Dreams are but dreams that is nothing but vanity Yet by these a wise man can make a large discovery of his own inclination The night sometimes represents things clearer then the day Sleep which is but the shadow of death can furnish our soules with lively thoughts The retired fancy is not disturbed with any outward object and finds room enough to expatiate it self To give credit to every dreame and to neglect all argues too much indiscretion in both extreames Superstion will make a God of nothing contempt will make nothing of God The Braine is not destitute of her vigilant motions under the greatest load of drouzie Morpheus It will become our wisdome to make a useful collection of our most extravagant fancies which we may do well enough and yet not abuse our faith with too much curiosity or observation XLIII What miseries attend this life when our best things are but vanity and vexation Solomon had a general experience of this universal frame yet could finde nothing but emptiness at the bottome The world was made of nothing consists of forms worth nothing and at last shall returne to nothing This will give our discretion wings to flie to heaven the state of true blisse of everlasting joy As God made every thing by his power of nothing so let us by grace from God make nothing of every thing let us slight and neglect these transitory fading toyes let us behold all as nothing and behold our Lord as All in all XLIV He that would settle a distracted State must first subdue all his Enemies To exalt a troubled Kingdome it is necessary that some should be made shorter by the hoad The humble sheep can never rest securely while the devouring wolves are at liberty Mercy and favour prove cruel sinnes when exercised upon a brood of Traitors for the innocent suffer when such guilty men are reprieved The members of a Common-wealth are torn in pieces when Rebels get a head above their Soveraigne Divisions and factions are the tortures of a Crown and he that neglects a correction must needs fall under it A quick dispatch is the onely cure for such desperate diseases A Prince that stayes to hear what his good rebellious Subjects can say for themselves does but suffer them to destroy him in a way of complement and send him to heaven for his happiness XLV We are all apt to dispute for a priviledge of revenge and every man would have the power of a King within him and something more The little shrub will contend with the lofty Cedar for supremacy Therefore those primitive Champions underwent as hard a service in subduing their affections to be prepared for a ready submission to the wilful tyranny of some wicked Prince as when they endured their fiery tryal or the most subtil torments of persecution This I believe was the greatest conquest The sweet assurance of an innocent death will countervaile the worst extremity of paine and miserable torture A good conscience is a continual feast or to use the expression of a learned Divine food in famine freedom in fetters health in sicknesse life in death XLVI As the body cannot live except it receive such food and nourishment as is agreeable to its nature so the soul cannot thrive if it want the knowledge to which it is naturally inclined And as life is preserved by heat in our bodily parts so the being of our foules consists in the apprehension of that fervor which the love of God bestows upon it The Spirit which is separated from the favour of God is in a mortal condition The blessed estate of eternity belongs to those that are animated with the warme beams of a living mercy The means appointed to obtain this happinesse is the heavenly and eternal word which we use as a preparative to receive those precious viands of everlasting glory XLVII Marriage is a composition of both Sexes The Creation was imperfect till Adam parted with a piece of himself to be returned with interest It is some kinde of an affront to Nature if there be no impediment to reject wedlock It is that by which the world subsists and he that upon reasonable termes will not improve such a benefit is an enemy to the very essence and whole constitution of man-kinde The chastity of a single life is a rare jewel and blessed are they that can preserve it entire yet honest Matrimony is the best remedy either to prevent or cure a lascivious disease When couples joyne with mutual favour and affection the danger of temptation is not so great but a solitary vertue is not so well armed against the fiery darts of Satan XLVIII Nothing becomes Authority so well as a grave and sober moderation Violence can never consist with peace He that rises above his heighth may fall below himself Preferment is a curse to him that knows not how to use it and many men had beene happy if they had not been exalted A man may know his distance and yet not part with his humility for 't is a vertue requisite in all conditions It is good to moderate the greatnesse of our prosperity with humble thoughts for he whose minde exceeds his fortune is miserable enough in the highest advancement XLIX When the tongue runnes over we may presume the heart is full of vanity He that speaks much of himself never considers what he ought to do His intention upon the fame makes him neglect the worth of his actions He takes it for granted that all his deeds are currant coine and therefore is bold to assume the glory of a high renown as the natural purchase of his merit Thus presuming that he cannot act amisse he passes by the best opportunities of doing good and is onely great in the
visible motion advance themselves by degrees into a fruitful state and condition The creature without life is not without action With what a brave carere the shining Sunne spreads his diurnal pace And how the sister Moon in a constant change follow this leading dance How nimble is the fire how piercing is the air How the Sea rowles about with perpetual waves All which may teach man a lesson of laborious diligence and raise him from the lethargy of a non-imployment Laziness corrupts both the body and the minde Nothing can be so tedious and irksome as to want business Exercise keeps the heart in tune and feeds the spirits with a lively sense whereas doing nothing disorders the brain and starves the quickest wits into a dull discontent VIII Boldness is an Ornament to a vertuous man but when 't is put on to boulster up a vicious act nothing more odious Bashful vertue 't is a foolish sin and bold vice is a sinful bravery Too much modesty intangles the soule with many impediments and over-daring drives headlong into infinite dangers Remorse for sinning is a divine grace but to be ashamed of goodnesse is the next way that leads to impiety How many good natures have betray'd themselves for want of courage to deny an unreasonable importunity As I would not stubbornly reject the worst request so I shall never grant the beâ—t without some intimation of power in the libertie of a denial I will neither accept nor afford any thing in such a manner but that the world shall see I could easily forbear to confer and as easily refuse a benefit IX If a man were nothing but all eare yet a boundlesse tongue would tire his patience And commonly those that are tedious in their discourse are also impertinent He that regards his matter will not strive for words He that loves to hear himself talk considers not what will please others How was poore Horace tortured with the shuffling shifting voice of Crispinus Like the scraping of a trencher or the noise of a drum to a learned Student such are the ill sounds of a talkative mouth to a judicious hearer The teeth and lips seeme to be drawn out as a circle to keep in the slippery speech which must needs run some hazard when it runs too far without these lines of communication But if a present danger cannot fright the secure speaker I wish those that love to speak much would consider that one day they must give an account for every idle word X. It is an easie task to censure another Hardly any thing can be undertaken without some mistakes No man can express himself so exactly but a censorious critick will finde matter enough to work upon We may easily spy a fault where there are many vertues It is not always a part of wisdom to discover a folly Ignorance is a busie fool that would seem wise by condemning others when it knows least it self He that is alwayes raking in ashes will but foule his own face and he that seeks to diminish the credit of his neighbour may cast a blemish upon his own reputation XI There are certain birds of Paradise which make the best musick in a Cage The sweet singer of Israel was most full of melody in his greatest Afflictions David could blesse God in a cave Iob on the dunghill The prison sometimes is the Saints Quire where the heart is at liberty while the body is under restraint and their very groans are acceptable notes of praise and benediction The good mans sorrow is never without some joy Our very hope can afford us songs of deliverance When our heavenly father makes up the consort who can forbeare to tune his voice and keep time with him Heaven and happinesse waits upon them that with patience attend his leasure Gods presence translates the Dungeon into a Sanctuary turns Babylon to Hierusalem captivity into triumph Our Jaylors are our life-guard our enemies our servants since they serve but as instruments to his will upon us who is indeed our Master He is happy enough that can patiently expect salvation As the Marriner keepes under hatches till the tempest be allayed so our present misery is nothing but a safe retiring till all dangerous stormes be blown over and we arive at last to the Haven of our Rest. XII In experience I shall observe this Rule rather spend too little then too much For covetousness there may be some satisfaction but the Prodigal is lost beyond all Redemption He that spends above his abilities will never be able to make himselfe amends I had rather deceive the expectations of others then cosen my self He that straines his estate to be accounted liberal may be thought covetous when all 's spent for the world is most apt to censure those that decline their former course Give God his due in Tythes the poor in Almes and thy self in Necessaries and there will remaine no great superfluitie of wealth to cast away in vanity XIII Our joys in this world do not alwayes run smooth and clear The best Contentments have some kinde of muddy mixture the sweetest cup hath some Lees at the bottom Our outward peace is frequently interrupted our inward peace is oftentimes eclipsed Here is no constant satisfaction in this Region of vicissitude Our comforts are neither full nor permanent We must look for that happinesse in heaven Who would live in this vale of brittle earth where every thing consumes and nothing is everlasting In the highest advancement some clouds will overshadow us In the heighth of joy there may be a depth of sorrow There is a kinde of connexion in contrarieties Here prosperity and adversity are linked together It is said of Hezekiah after his glorious victory over the host of Zenacherib that in those dayes Hezekiah was sick to the death Those dayes are these dayes and all dayes in our sphere where the greatest blessings are perpetually attended with some discontents and such sometimes that sicknesse or death would be a blessed remedy XIV Nothing makes the work of God in the compositions of our bodies more admirable then the beauty of their shape and curious Art used in the workmanship For this cause the Royal Prophet considering his Creation cries out as one ravished with admiration I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made No image or picture can be compared with the form of a mans body no imbroydered piece can be so well wrought or set out with such variety of excellent figures But when we consider that besides there is a soul inclosed in this exquisite frame as farre above it as that above all other things we cannot be so unthankful or unreasonable as not to acknowledge that the divine hand of heaven hath a peculiar influence of benediction and favour to the race of mankinde beyond all other Creatures whatsoever XV In every work we are to regard as well the manner of performing it as the work it self
It is not enough to say our prayers to go to Church to hear a Sermon to receive the Sacrament to gives alms but all this must be performed with hearty devotion Though the Ark be brought to his place of Rest yet God is not well pleased to have it drawn with Oxen in a Cart The widows two mites were more acceptable then all the others wealth she gave all she had with all her heart whereas they perhaps out of pride or ostentation cast in their superfluities into the common treasure A cup of cold water freely given shall not want a reward Our best services are nothing worth if not seasoned with truth and discretion Therefore God once made a breach upon his people because they sought him not after the due order Our duties are undutiful if not duly marshalled and fitly ranked Service without a method is worse then ill manners No action can be well done without a good meaning none well meant without a comely and decent behaviour Every circumstance must bear the sense of sound wisdome and cleare justice XVI Beauty is a grace that proceeds from the proportion agreement and harmony of things it is then most seemly in the body of man when it follows nature alone without any blemish or defect How far we may use the help of Art and disguise a deformity to appeare more comely then we are by our Creation a sober Christian may easily resolve As God is not pleased if we mangle and maâ—erate our bodies with cruel tortures so he cannot but be offended when we over-garnish them with gaudy colours and lay on the varnish of a deep complexion It is to be feared that they can hardly speak from their heart that cannot blush from their own blood When the face can dissemble so well the tongue may be suspected too A painted feature is the emblem of vice which would seem to be adorned with the blushing colours of vertue when she intends nothing but temptation We are not to disfigure our faces when we fast in our greatest sorrow nor reform them too much when we feast in our highest mirth we must not mar Gods work we must not mend it so as if it should need no additions of glory hereafter XVII Wicked men judge of other mens afflictions by their own The Amalekite was very well pleased with the death of Saul and therefore thought the news would be welcome to David for which instead of a reward he lost his life It sounds very ill in Davids ear that his enemy was destroyed though he stood betwixt him and a Crown He desires not to rise in his Throne by the fall of another He finds no matter of joy in a Kingdome got by blood Thus different are the thoughts of a good soul from the vaine conceits and imaginations of a worldly minde Therefore they deceive themselves that measure the disposition of others by their own standard The giddy drunkard thinkes the world runs round as well as his braines The vitious man accounts vertue an impossibility and will not be perswaded that there is any such thing indeed as conscience or Religion till at last woful experience constraine him to confess the truth with too late Repentance XVIII The prosperity of wicked men may breed in weak mindes some doubt of Gods providence They live as if they had a security for everlasting happiness Whereas vertue lies unregarded and contemned assaulted with continual stormes of misery The bold sinner never misses of preferment but modest innocence may starve without compassion How seldome do we see any preferred for his deserving qualities Villany is so much in fashion that 't is absurd to be vertuous 'T is true Vice is the gallant of this world and the only favourite of fortune but our observation may yet inform us that shame is the consequent of sin There are few exorbitant crimes but have their attended torments though not alwayes apprehended Both punishments and blessings have their season of maturity The Judgements of God never faile though they may be protracted Some corrections are in secret All offences are not branded with a publick mark If there were no other torment but the guilt it selfe it were enough to express the misery of a sinful life XIX The soul in respect of the body may be compared to an excellent Workman who cannot labour in his occupation without some necessary instruments and those well wrought and prepared to his hand The most skilful Musician cannot raise any harmony from an instrument of musick out of tune We are therefore to be very careful of these external parts since the spirit which moves in them can naturally produce no actions of worth if this instrumental frame be out of order Hence it is that those men who abuse their bodies by the violence of intemperate sinnes are sometimes over-taken either with a sleepy dulnesse or a wilde distraction Their souls are not able to produce any worthy Act after a defect contracted upon their Organs or else are unwilling to be restrained and confined to a bad lodging or a loathsome dungeon A good servant is a credit to his Master a fine case is an Ornament to the jewel a sound body is an honour to his immortal mistris and is most fit to be a partner with her in everlasting glory Whereas we may justly fear that they who bury themselves alive in rottennesse shall inherit nothing but that which is worse then corruption a generation of perpetual torments XX It is strange to see what alterations time will make Those works which were built to perpetuate the memory of our Ancestors are now laid level with the dust how miserable were man if all his happinesse consisted in the remnant of a glorious Name and yet this was all the immortality which some expected after death The strongest Bulwarks of Renown cannot resist the breath of all-devouring age Change and decay are the elements of every state and condition The most ancient monuments and bones of the dead have been defaced with sacrilegious hands There is so little certainty in what we enjoy that we cannot hope to bequeath an infallible substance to our posterity We may sometimes observe more changes in a few years then in all probability of expectation many ages could produce The world is like a Lottery where a man may be made or undone in a moment The same person is Craesus to day and Irus tomorrow There is no confidence or assurance in any worldly thing we can neither recal what is past command what is present nor prevent what is to come XXI Amongst all those varieties of instruments made for the service and use of man we cannot but admire the great nobility and worth of speech with which he is endued above other creatures By this we can convey our counsels and thoughts to one another without this there would be but little benefit of the sense and understanding which God hath bestowed upon us Beasts have a
comfortably use those favours which God and nature have bestowed upon him As I would not overvalue any thing least I be too much affected with grief in the loss so I will learn to know the just price of what I have least my desire of more increase beyond all measure of satisfaction XXXII Those of the ancient Philosophers that were great admirers of Eloquence have propounded the image of an Orator as it were of one who in speaking drew out the golden chaine from his tongue and fastned it to the eares of his Auditors Such vertue and power it hath to hold men to moderate and guide their affections such is the pleasing violence of a few well placed words that our desires seeme to be captivated and bound up to the will of the Speaker Truth indeed is truth though it be plainly delivered Religion can oblige the soul without these glorious bonds yet when the daughter of time and the mother of peace appear in their handsome Robes the heart must be very stubborne and obstinate that will not yeeld it self a willing slave XXXIII There is no designe be it never so wicked but is masked with a pretence of some good for that which is absolutely evil and plainly appears so to be hath no agreement with the will of man and therefore the worst mischiefs are commonly set on foot under a colour and shadow of goodnesse Vice is like a painted strumpet which seems extraordinary faire and comely when perhaps there is rottennesse in the bones as well as deformity in the soul Treachery and mischief have alwayes a pleasing outside whereas vertue for the most part goes plaine and naked Well may that man set himself out that hath nothing lovely within Wickednesse if it be not courtly will never be courted And the gastly visage of sin if it were not covered with an handsome vaile could never tempt men to forsake their own freedome and become the servants of so vile a Mistresse XXXIV I will be kinde and courteous to all but familiar with none but my intimate and equal friends for the love of inferiours often-times degenerates into contempâ— Yet I had rather my carriage should savour of too much humility then over-much state for the affections which proceed from popularity are not so dangerous as those passions of feare and envy which alwayes attend the proud I will not think my self too good to look upon any man but I will be sure that he whom I receive into my bosome acquaintance shall be at least as good a man as my selfe XXXV The death of a Martyr is attended with much glory and renown who would not willingly embrace and entertaine that profession which is more precious then life it self The condemned innocent hath sometimes converted the unjust Iudge and by a glorious eluctation over-thrown the malice and envy of his adversaries Eternity is the reward of every true Christian yet they that die for Religion think they purchase heaven at an easie rare The lively voice of a powerful preacher is not armed with such effectual Eloquence They that will not be won with words cannot but admire the cheerful Rhetorick of their constant resolutions The Roman ensignes never spread so farre as the Christian standard and those Red-characters have confuted the Egyptian learning If we cannot maintain this Doctrine with the losse of life it is in vain to teach it with the expence of breath But how far are they out of fashion that study to disgrace it with both and cannot be perswaded to entertain this profitable instruction within the verge of their opinion or practise XXXVI As we cannot live without eating and drinking so it is requisite that we receive our sustenance with that moderation that no more be taken in then is necessary for the nourishment and refection of our bodies If we take too little we are guilty of Theft and Robbery upon our selves if too much of violence and oppression and instead of satisfaction impose a burthen upon the flesh and for preservation induce destruction but the danger that falls out by not observing a mediocritie is more to be feared on one side then the other Our appetite is more apt to offend in the excesse then in the defect They that use their daily bread as Gods blessing cannot transgress either way but like a skilful Chymist that can refine his gross materials into a pure quintessence by the Art of sobriety temperance and gratitude are wont from their bodily food to extract a dyet for the soule which shall feed and preserve it to eternal life XXXVII A counterfeit zeale will degenerate into malice There are no such Enemies to the House of God as those that seem to be the greatest friends A profest adversary to the Church may be avoided but a close enemy will not discover his hatred till it be too late to resist Thus mischief can walk in the disguise of Religion and Envy plays the Jesuite in a holy mask I will always suspect his heart whose tongue flames with sacred words when wanting their fit opportunities and delivered in a hasty fit of devout passion Be not righteous overmuch is good Counsel For Extreame puritie will turne at length into manifest impiety XXXVIII There can be no condition of peace allowed to our souls except while we remain here in this earthly Garison with our utmost strength and power we resist the rebellious corruption and tyrannicall enforcements of sin Some learned Criticks would have Peccatum sin to be derived from Pecus a Beast Properly enough if we consider the nature thereof for by that we degenerate into a beastly disposition How then can we expect the friendship and love of him who made us men when we entertain that which deprives us as it were of our peculiar liar existence and proper Being If we make an Agreement or keep in league with wickednesse he that as a friend is able to crown his blessings with eternity as an enemy to destroy without end will redouble his anger and revenge XXXIX I will endeavour to live so as if I saw God a perpetual spectator of my actions Never yet was sinner so destitute of shame and grace so arm'd with impudent boldnesse that he durst always act a mischief before every mans face If I consider that God sees my secret sinnes more plainly then any man my best works I should out of modesty forbear to commit a shameful fault and out of feare to offend him who is both witnesse and Iudge XL Nothing is so generally beloved as the immortality of a Noble name and yet this in it self confers nothing to our happinesse or misery either before or after death it matters not how we are censured so we be really good and if we be ill a little credit may hide but cannot abate our vilenesse The hypocrisie of a false renown doth rather aggravate then diminish our unworthinesse We may trample upon the graves of the dead but cannot hurt their
blood and ruine are making merry without Can we complaine of obscurity when scarce any open place is secure enough How happy was the Church under ground when in that darknesse there was light enough to see heaven In that narrow imprisonment they were yet free from persecution Those seven thousand which Elijah knew not of were well known to him that preserved them And when Elijah himself was sought for by Iezabel where had he been if he had been every where They that have strength enough to burn in glorious flames may scorne to save themselves by flight but if God afford this help to our weaknesse we have reason to be thankful for an easie judgement which appointed as the means of our deliverance turns into a blessing Let me be separated from the comfortable society of my dear friends deprived of the benefit of my owne countrey aire exposed to misery and the contempt of strangers alwayes forgotten never observed let me be an obscure dark inmate a son of earth an ignominious bastard in the worlds opinion a neglected slave I shall think this disgrace a great honour if I may rest safely under the shadow of the Almighty LXII Although mans greatest excellency above other creatures consists in the nobility and worth of his Soul yet there are other points of high value and concernment in the matter forme and use of all the parts of which the body is composed not to be found in any other creature besides Man Whereby we are taught that Almighty God having prepared and built this earthly lodging for such a spiritual guest it is therefore not to be neglected no not after the dissolution Our bodies are the bodies of immortal souls whilest living not to be abused by intemperance when dead not to be cast away with a dishonourable neglect Our Members are the Organs of a divine Spirit without which it cannot exercise those admirable faculties from whence proceed all those operations of grace and vertue which make men great and famous in the world favourites of heaven and glorious Saints Our happinesse is not compleat till both meet They that destroy and vilifie this outward fabrick as much as in them lies endeavour a perpetual divorce and separation LXIII The heart is the spring of life and the fountaine of all vitall spirits dispersed into every part of the body yet notwithstanding this preheminence and dignity it cannot subsist without the coole refreshing of the lungs or the veines proceeding from the liver or the strings of the sinews or the necessary support and guard of the ribs and bones which are as so many strong Forts and Bulwarks on every side Thus the greatest men who in regard of their power and authority have the lives of others at their command are yet so farre from being able to maintain their own greatnesse that without the aid and defence of inferiours they must needs fall to dust Nothing but Almighty God is absolute of it selfe and there is not any thing that depends not in such sort at least of something else as that it cannot remain long in any firm state and condition without the service of another Who then can be so proud as to advance himself above his neighbour in such an high conceit as not to knowe he may want the least of Gods creatures for his preservation No man is great but by comparison which implies so much defect that he stands in need of more then what he hath or is to constitute the worth or being which he enjoys LXIV The Newter is an Hermophrodite in his opinion One of little use or benefit to his Countrey He dares hardly professe any religion but for the time thinkes that best which is most prevalent We may well wonder to see the strange distractions of Church and Common-wealth but we may wonder more that any should be so indifferent to partake of either side such men love truth onely for their ease and can easily dispence with conscience for a little pleasure But they that are thus content to serve two Masters at once shall have none but the devil to serve at last He that will halt between two opinions can never go upright in his conversation and we may safely conclude that that man hath little grace that hath too much Religion LXV We may finde by experience that our inward corruptions are more dangerous than outward provocations There is no such baite as the affection Self which many times betrayes the sweetest natures and best dispositions to an unruly wantonnesse Lust is a Serpent which if once entertained windes it self into the Soul and gnawes the Conscience while it destroys the body till in the end it prove an inextricable misery of madness When the memory shall recollect the secret pleasures of our wanton youth and knows not whether to entertain them with horror or delight but is feaver-shaken betwixt both being kept warm with the remaining embers of desire and benummed with the feare of hell what a hard knot will this be to untie what a labyrinth to get out of what a riddle to resolve if there were no other remedie the due condsideration of the holinesse of God were a sufficient coercion from this evil When I contemplate the divine Nature void of all profanesse and filthy corruption so full of purity and absolute perfection that will not endure the least defilement of sinne my thoughts run round in a desperate carere I begin to condemn my self and almost repent that I was made a man How is it possible to please him that can delight in nothing but a spotlesse innocence while we bear about us this heavy burden of miserable uncleannesse How was the wisdom of Solomon befooled that could not shut his eyes from beholding this vanity where was the vertue of those holy Patriarchs that could not drive off such a wickednesse what was the integrity of Davids heart that would entertain such a deceitful monster was this the unhappinesse of their condition and can I be free Lord what flesh and blood are we made of if circumvented with the necessity of such a sinful misery which yet by the contemplation of the infinite and celestial beauty may be restrained though while we dwell here in this earthly Tabernacle we cannot procure a total suppression How can I runne into any actual transgression of dishonesty if I believe the God of chastity cannot behold such a debauchment without offence When therefore I feele a wanton provocation dancing in my blood and the fire of lust begin to keep her unchast revels in this consecrated Temple I use no other charm but thus whisper to my self How can I do this great evil and sinne against God LXVI Those afflictions strike deepest which bereave us of the object of our love How many parents are unwilling to be rid of a charge by the losse of a child desiring still to be happy in the riches of their poverty How loath was David to part with his
future amendment LXXXIV It is some kinde of happinesse to be under restraint The wide world affords many mischiefs of which we are free in a prison A man can hardly go abroad and preserve his own innocence such is the contagious infection of sinne that it spreads it self into our hearts through our eyes we can scarce behold wickedness and be safely honest Conversation is full of danger so that he which enjoys his liberty may want protection Besides security in imprisonment we have the benefit of contemplation The soul can best enlarge her faculties when the body is a close prisoner Then the Spirit will expatiate it selfe when the flesh is confined to a narrow roome The Tower and the Fleet have produced many works which shall prove their Authors famous to posterity who perhaps if they had not bin buried thus alive had died in obscuritie neither their persons or their knowledge had been ever known The light of grace shines forth in the darkest dungeon and we may finde the way to heaven though wanting elbow-room This use we may make of our worst miseries and thus be contented with our discontents LXXXV When wicked men are full of iniquity then God makes empty the vials of his wrath till then his own deare Saints must expect their deliverance The Amorites are reprieved to the fourth generation but judgement comes at last and cannot be resisted great provocations leave us no roome for mercy The voice of blood cries for revenge Fruitful sins growe into punishment When the harvest of folly is ripe then our heavenly Father puts in the sickle of his justice that he may reap to himself glory out of our corruptions Those that use Cart-ropes to draw on vanity deserve to be lashed with a cordy whip When head and heart when hands and feet are imployed in continual mischiefe when all interests are improved and all means used to a sinful end what can be expected but utter confusion A stiff-necked people must be hardly dealt with If sin grow impudent the judge will not be modest or moderate in his anger A brazen forehead may be blasted with iron lungs When sinners never stop but at judgments they must look to be well paid for their paines It is fit that their wages should be answerable to their work There is a day of Recompence wherein every man shall receive his due All accounts must be made even they that have done much shall obtaine more whether of good or evil LXXXVI The greatest mercies are best observed in the depth of misery As a black foyle to a sparkling Diamond such are our afflictions to the goodness of God Though nothing can give addition to his glory yet then his grace appears most graceful to us when set off by the shadow of our miseries Continual prosperity is an oppression to the soul whereas happinesse after suffering fills the heart with active joy If we suffer alwayes our pains cannot be long because life it self is short but a good name which follows it is everlasting The advantage of a faire report after death will swallow up the judgements of our present time the dark mist of our mournful condition cannot obscure the brightness of such a favour if we have but faith enough to apprehend it Gods mercy is more wonderful in deliverance then in preservation Where there is more danger there is more honour The state of Redemption is better then that of innocency Had Adam never fallen Christ had never risen to our justification We that were cut off by sin and death are made lively monuments of rich compassion This is our wonder this is the greatnesse of his good will when we are delivered from the very jaws of destruction then it plainly appears that his mercy is above all his works LXXXVII The Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England is such as was first established by general Councels and Synods and afterwards confirmed by the Lawes of the State Unity and uniformity necessity and order strength and beauty are the ingredients of our religion and who would not love such a wholesom sweet composition They that take a delight to broach new opinions to introduce strange innovations cannot wish well to the peace of our aged mother It may be needful to repaire a breach but 't is neither wisdom nor justice to pull down the frame of an ancient building to make way for an altâ—â—ation God blesse us from such a reformation that must be advanced in the ruines of a wel-setled Government and constitution LXXXVIII The Schismatick is a creature that abhors the very name of a Counsel or a Synod He cannot endure the weight of an obligation to any Law for he thinks himself advanced in an higher degree of glory then weakly to submit to the tuition of an external government He hath found out a nearer way to heaven then by following the doctrine of the Catholick Church He makes no account of Canonical obedience but as a quality only fit for them that weare the livery and mark of the Beast Subordination to a Superiour power whether civil or Ecclesiastical sounds worse with him then chains or shakels as destructive to the liberty of Saints and the freedom of a Christian fellowship In brief he is such a piece of confusion that he knows not himself what he is and we are extreamly perplexed to think what he may be when he comes in the way of our Meditations LXXXIX A true jeere is a jest in earnest which is worse then down-right railing A smiling cut-throat is the most injurious villain To turn truth into a matter of mirth is to banish all favourable compassion which is the bond of society and friendship An abusive wit is but a sweet poyson which though for the present it affect the taste yet afterwards it infects the heart A generous spirit scorns to solace himself with the disgrace of another I will not triumph in the wounds of an enemy nor insult upon the weaknesse of a friend For the common frailty of our nature is such that we may condemn our selves when we laugh at others XC He is neither wise nor good that will take any advantage of another by way of insultation Revenge may make a Giant of a dwarfe and no man can be so miserable but one time or other he may have happinesse enough to require an injury Every little Bee hath his sting and the least of creatures hath malice enough to right it self Despair will put life into a very coward and he that will suffer much will not suffer always A fury that proceeds from disdain will ruine him that caused it We may neglect an enemy with safety and honour but to contemne him is both dangerous and damnable XCI Nothing puts a man so much out of tune as discontent A little mudd will defile a whole cistern of fair water A fretting spleen like a mist that puts out heavens eye obscures the soul with cloudy fumes and makes the