others affectionatly ministred to him and suffered Martyrdome for the truth with him 'T is an huge argument of a gracious heart to submit to reproof many that have been active for Christ have yet fallen off upon such an account Abner that more than once and more than any ventured his life for the house of Saul yet deserted it being checkâ— by Ishbosheth concerning Rispah 172 Vitellius in his passage to Rome after the victory obtained by Caecinua and Valens against the Othonians would needs see the place where the battel was fought which if but newly stricken yet would have rendred an horrid Spectacle so many mangled bodyes and divided joynts and carkasses of men and horses which careless death had there promiscuously scattered giving a sad representation but it being the fourtieth day after the corrupted gore and putrefaction of so many unburied bodyes made the sight beyond imagination horrible which yet Vitellius with delight beheld rejoycing in the slaughter of so many Citizens without the least discountenance or shew of miseration To how great hardness of heart and height of inhumanity doth custome in sin bring the soul what would be trembled at by those that are but beginners in iniquity is accounted sport by those flesht in ungodliness Let the young men arise and play before us said Joab Rare sport where the play-mates run their swords in each others side and fell down dead together 173 A certain person of our Countrey having a suit with another a long time for a small plot of ground not worth 40 pounds left by Will 500 pounds per annum for the maintenance of the suit after his death Oh the imperfection of our Laws or corruption of our Lawyers that any suit can admit of so tedious and costly a decision but alas did he look for peace in Heaven that would have a Civil war thus survive him 174 Alcibiades having done huge exploits for which the Athenians call'd him from bannishment and made him their General sending him out with a Fleet of an 100 sail they were so high-flown in their expectations from him that they looked to hear soon after his departure of the subduing of no small Countryes by him beyond all possibility of accomplishing which he not effecting but yet as much as in reason could be expected they change their former conceit of his sufficiency into suspicion of his fidelity and without more evidence condemned him Lord we are high in our expectations of great things from thee and are ready to murmur as if too straitly dealt with by thee not because thou givest us not what we have cause to expect but because we expect that which there is no cause thou shouldst give us 175 Harvey affirms the heart though the fountain of life yet to be without feeling which he proves by a Gentleman he had seen who by an Imposthume had an hole in his side through which not only the Systole and Diastole of the heart might be discerned but the heart it self touched with the finger which yet the Gentleman affirmed that he felt not 'T is an argument that such a soul is of eminent and publique conducement usefull to derive good to others that is less sensible of private injuries when those peevish spirits that are intent upon their particular affronts are taken up with their own to the neglecting of what they might benefit the publick by 176 In the reign of Nero there were very many undone not by their enemies only but by their friends who too solicitously intending their safety that very means rendred them suspected and became their ruine If Satan cannot destroy us as an enemy he indeavours it as a friend if he cannot fasten his remptations upon us under the notion of sin and the ugly hue of a direct opposition against God he alters his method and transformeth himself into an Angel of Light if he cannot perswade to a neglect of Gods service then to a superstitious worship of him he is like an enemy when he fawns and frowns and is ever not to be suspected only but resisted alwayes for he is ever the father of lyes 177 King Edward the second being taken by the Queens forces was committed to some persons to convey him to a place of safety who going about to shave him that he might not be known took cold water out of a ditch to wash him with saying That should serve his turn now to whom he answered That he would have warm water whether they would or no even his own tears Though the cruelty of enemies and calamity of persecuting times may deny us the many conveniences and deprive us of the advantages of this life yet do what they can they cannot deprive us of Gods favour if we deprive not our selves of it by a simple complyance 178 'T is siad of the Lyon that being proveked he beats himself with his own tail to raise his anger and incense himself that his spirits being stirred he might lay out himself more forcibly Those that are of melancholy and froward spirits when disasters befall them either by their too much poring on their present sufferings or misboding worse make those burdens heavier and like wind in rainy weather set them close and tye knots upon their Whipcord and pin their Rods to make them yerk the more severely 179 Richard the first being reproved by a Fryar and told That he had three Daughters which if he did not dispose of would undoe him Pride Covetousnesse and Leachery he answered If the were the businesse he would bestow them presently Pride to the Knights Tempplars Covetousnesse to the Cistercian Monks and Leachery to the Fryars Whe good advice is given us we enervate the strength thereof or pervert the use by quarrelling with or recriminating the person that gives it whereas if good counsel come from a Balaams Asse or the Devil himself reprove sin if the Conscience plead guilty reformation is a due debt 180 Demosthenes coming to Corinth with design to enjoy the famous Courtizan Lais she askt him so great a sum that he returned saying He would not buy repentance at so dear a rate Sinfull pleasure is never to be purchased at easie tearms sin being so full of iniquity that it never demands an equall compensation no less then a precious immortall soul will serve the turn in lieu of those pleasures which perish in the using and are no sooner found then lost 181 Edward the first before the death of his father with other Confederates undertaking a voyage to the Holy Land by the way they invaded Tunis where having taken a very great spoyl the rest purposed with their booty to return home which design the Prince withstanding but in vain said That as he had vowed a journey for the recovery of the Holy land so thither he would go though none but Fowen his Horse-keeper accompanied him It is good to have the heart in such tune as to joyn in concord with others in a religious
Successor Thus we daily see a greater disgust because of some petty differences in circumstantials where yet there is agreement in the vital part of fundamental truth and holy living then because of those notorious profanesses which unchristian a man and make him as an Heathen man and a Publican 191 A Crocodile out of the River Niger drew in with ihs tail nine slaves chained together and devoured them but the Chain not being digestible proved his destruction being found in him dead Lord at how great sins dare this heart of mine venture and at how long a train as the Ox drinketh down water in huge quantity and with great delight but there is a Chain of guilt with it surely deadly that can neither be vomited nor vented this makes me cry My bowels my bowels I am pained at my very heart but the comfort is there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian there 192 At the siege of Rochel a certain Souldier from the walls observing the Duke of Anjou afterwards Henry the 3d. to stand viewing the Fortifications fired at him which one of the Esquires of his body perceiving in the very moment stept before him and saved the life of his Lord by the losse of his own Lord the arrows of thy vengeance are levelled at the Caul of my heart and it is justice that they should smite me under the fifth rib but let that Jesus who saves his people from their sins call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a middle person step between Let the chastisement of my peace be upon him and by his stripes let me be healed 193 Marcellus at the taking of Syracusa being greatly desirous to save the life of Archimedes gave strait charg through his army That every person should endeavour his safety but a Souldier breaking in upon him at his study not knowing him slew him How much better is it to be one of those marked out by him with the writers Ink-horn by his side how much greater security in being one of those who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst of the City how much more certain safety had Jeremiah Baruch and Ebedmelech when Jerusalem was stormed by Nebuchadnezzar being those to whom God had promised their lives for a prey 194 Fabius Maximus dying suddenly the day before the end of his Consulship Rebius sued to be Consull for the few hours of that year which remained Lord how short hast thou made our lives if compared with the Crow or Stag and how much shorter are they made by many crosse accidents and how much shorter doe we make them by our many intemperances and how much shorter yet are they made by thy just judgement when for our presumption and carelesness in thy worship we are sick and weak and some fall asleep and yet how fond are we of this little remnant that we often hazard an immortal soul for it But Oh do thou direct my aims to that which admits of no termination as to extent of time or enjoyment 195 Some Roman Souldiers flying from Amida when taken by the Persians wandred in the deserts almost choaked with thirst till they came to a deep well whence yet they had nothing to draw the water with till necessity found out this invention They pull'd off their shirts and cut them out into long slips which they tyed together making a bunch at the end by which through a manifold repetition squeezing the hunch they drew up water enough to quench their thirst When we come to the word to draw water out of the wells of salvation we are unfurnished of Pitchers for that purpose our ears are dull of hearing our hearts fat and hard to understand here a little and there a little a frequent repetition must be often applicatious for of much we carry away but a very little our judgements but a little informed our affections but a little rectified or elevated Alas alas they that think rare attendances wil serve the turn or that they shall be told but what they know manifest that they are not sensible of their own dullnesse nor consider that the Apostle Peter thought it meet to put those often in remembrance who knew those things and were established in the present truth 199 A certain person that had sold a street of houses and laid out the money in costly apparrel came to Court and being in a prease there cryed to them To make way for one that had an hundred Tenements on his back Lord thou hast said That thou art pressed under our sins as a Cart is pressed under sheaves and the burden of our iniquity brings down from thee a burden of punishment yet is the weight of sin fo far from being grievous that instead of lamenting the pressure we boast of the number but if we are not weary and heavy laden with the sense of our transgressions now they will at that day press us down into the lowest hell 200 Neer the Lake Agnano there is a Cave into which for the experience of Travellers the neighbouring Inhabitants are wont to put their Dogs which are no sooner in but they are as dead immediately with eyes set and tongues hanging out but taken thence presently and thrown into the Lake they recover for which cause those Dogs no sooner see a stranger coming but if not timely prevented away they get them packing to the adjoyning mountains not to be got again to make a new experiment Lord thou saidst In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death and we never descend into acts of iniquity but we are afresh dead in trespasses and sins and that irrecoverably if not washed by faith and repentance in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleannesse but if we have so escaped when temptation again presents it self shall we not get us packing by no means to be brought to another tryall 200 Cleopatra the wife of Cyricoenus having taken Sanctuary at Antioch after her husbands overthrow her Sister Gryphina the wife of Gryphus most importunately solicited her death and though Gryphus much perswaded her desivery yet she her self commanded the Souldiers in to dispatch her but a few dayes after the same Gryphina falling into the hands of Cyricoenus was by him made a sacrifice to his Wives Ghost They are not our times alone that by their mutability have taught men that great lesson of moderation all ages have witnessed That the Lord is at hand a just Judge to execute vengeance on those who have not by their miseration to others shewed their sense that they also are in the body even those whom God sent out to be his Executioners he hath afterward plagued because they did their work without pitty OCCASIONALL Observations 1 IN that emendation as 't is thought to be of the English Tongue by the addition of forreign words of divers Languages though possibly we may speak more finely yet not which is the end of speech more significantly but alwayes more laborioufly few
If vile and revengeful thoughts get room once in our hearts unlesse they be mortified with much contrition and holy sorrow they will shew themselves in sad effects notwithstanding all the bars that nature or reasn can lay upon them 71 I saw a Land-skip having Mountains and Trees and Castles and Groves which though particularly expressing that variety in a Landskip requisite yet those several things were so joyntly placed that together they represented a mans head Gods dealings with his people have such various aspects that they seem nothing lesse then to promote their benefit and appear nothing different from the distractions and confusions which befall other men yet are they by the divine providence so disposed that according to the Apostle they do co-operate to effect their good 72 I rode by a field which was very good ground but yet bear a pittyful crop not but that the Land was in very good heart and fit for an ample production but the husbandman presuming upon its strength had been wanting to give it that tillage as was requisite How many by too much confidence have miscarryed through presumption of their abilities ingaging in divine affairs with so cold preparation that they have come off poorly without that answer upon their spirits that might have been otherwise expected 73 I saw a vessel of water upon the ground and I observed it spread its self to every part to the searching of every cranny and filling of every crevice The new-birth is said to be by the water and the spirit the spirit in that birth being as water not only that it cleanseth the soul but that it diffuseth it self universally leaving not any part unsearched not any lust unmortified but ingaging the soul to cleanse from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit and perfecting holinesse in the fear of God 74 I had a Lamb whose Dam forsook it assoon as it was yeaned they brought it home and suckled it upon one of the Cows which in a few dayes grew as fond of it as of her own Calfe the Lamb grew up and applyed her self wholly to the Kine bleating after them if at any time she mist them and by no means associating her self with the sheep her natural companions When God made a Covenant with Abraham and his Seed he gives this as a reason Because he knew Abraham that he would teach his children and his household after him to keep the Commandements of the Lord Good education having so great an influence that it generally engageth men to a profession sometimes so introduceth grace that the time when conversion hath been wrought is not discovered and we may impute it somewhat to this cause that we find a series of religious persons in Davids family and some others Good cause to be perswaded that the faith which dwelt in the Grandmother Lais and Mother Eunice would be in the son Timothy also when from a child he had known the holy Scriptures 75 The beams of the Sun as they are scattered at large do not much heat when at the same time contracted in a burning-glasse they inflame combustible matter fitly placed The beams of Gospel light as they are diffused in publick preaching much affect not but if gathered together by recollection and applyed by serious consideration then is the soul like to take the holy fire of divine grace at them 76 I rode by a Garden where I saw store of grasse growing in the walks and other plants heaped one upon another in disorder which had a most ungratefull sight in that place which yet did not much amiss in the adjoyning field Those that have given their names to God they are his Garden and disorderly lusts raging there are much more provoking the eyes of divine glory then in those who are professedly profane the man without a wedding garment might have scap't at least without so severe an Animadversion if he had not intruded to that nuptiall feast 77 I had a Clove-Gilliflower of a very good sort which being set in a cold ground and not that care had of it that should have been the first and second years it bear Cloves but the third year only single white ones If the heart be planted with the generous purposes and the most noble resolutions yet will there be a forsaking of the first love and a degenerating into low and carnall complyances where there is not a constant culturage exercised and care had to keep up the bent of the soul and actuate grace for if the last things be not better then the first the latter end will be worse than the beginning 78 I saw two parcels of Cattel turned into one Close of ground where at their first meeting they shewed their distinction by their separation and hostility but after they had so entred common for a few dayes their opposition ceased and they mingled one with another without any difference There is nothing preserveth Faction like Separation a community in priviledges and preferments dissolves those distinctions and animosities which would have been still kept a foot by a diverse aspect The Pope in that great defection from him renewed in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth when he saw there was no likelihood of a present return yet kept his faction on foot by that Bull forbidding them any community with the Protestants in worship whereby that party was kept visible and entire which otherwise would have mouldred away and have been swallowed up of that which was more prevalent and they were preserved as Recusants that would have been lost as Papists 79 A Landskip having the particulars so disposed of as that together they represented a mans head being shew'd to many none apprehended it other then a Landskip as it seemed to be but being told that it was a mans head and seeing the reason of the representation and their fancy possest with it they could not apprehend it as any other When men unacquainted with the mystery of Godlinesse are conversant in the externall worship of God they are intent only upon the opus operatum and are taken up meerly with the outward performance but when the vail is taken off their hearts they then perceive there is a further design ordinances being so disposed by the divine grace that the result of them may be the inward man and the dedication of the affections of the heart to God 80 Being ingaged in a long and difficult employment and considering how much was yet to do I grew faint and half resolved to desert it but looking back and finding how many leaves were dispatched I took courage and resolved not to end till I had ended In my progress heavenward when I look forward and view those Legions of lusts from within to be fought with beside those oppositions from without which emerg daily and the many difficulties which on every side make that way strait I am even at a stand but when I turn mine eyes and behold how much the grace of God hath
excusable fault for they have not water in those Deserts wherewith to do it If the poor Indian be an irreligious prophane unmortified sinner he will be in some respect or comparatively excusable the Fountaine opened for sin and for uncleannesse being set far off from him but what Apology will be found for such in our Western world where that fountaine is Prae manibus 62 There is a Poole in Comogena that sends forth a mud that burneth and is not to be quenched but with earth Lord my heart emits burning desires after worldly things which will be quenched in the grave at last Oh that the consideration of my latter end might do it now 63 The same yeare that Saguntum was destroyed by Hanniball a child was borne there which forthwith returned back againe into his mothers womb Lord the miseries undergone by us in this vale of teares might make us of his mind who faid that they were happiest who were never borne and they next which dyed soonest but if it be thy will that they shall be suffered by us yet let them by thy grace be sanctified to us that what is necessary may yet be profitable and what cannot be avoided may yet be the better by patience endured 64 They tell of an huge golden Idoll among the East-Indians borne in a massy chariot drawn by foure Elephants in procession under the wheels of which many persons somtimes to the number of five hundred at once put themselves and are so squeezed to death at which times also many cut off gobbets of their flesh and offer them to the Idoll slaying themselves at length in like devotion Hey me that such should be the effects of a blind zeale to a blinder Deity and that we should shrink from the service of the living God for feare of the losse of profit or credit yea that those our lusts so peremptorily required should not be cut off in devotion to him 65 You may behold the Aegyptian temples on the outside glorious with all possible magnificence but within no other Deity then some vile Cat or other such contemptible creature So is it with the outward pomp of Papisticall devotion yea and with the hypocriticall formalities of an onely ourside Religion wherein nothing is more solemne then the furniture of ceremonies nothing lesse then the devotion of hearts 66 At Segelmesse a City in Numidia they have no Fleas a priviledge they much boast of but are miserably infested with scorpions Wicked men think they are greatly happy in being free from the precisenesse and troublesome limitations which the godly comply with a poore priviledge if compared with those scorpions assured guilt and terror of conscience which every act of sin brings along with it 67 Captaine Saris sailing to Japan divers of the Japanenses by a Religion the Jesuits had taught them fell down on their knees to the pictures of Venus and Cupid in the Captaines Cabbin supposing them to be the Images of Jesus and his Mother this the Jesuits will excuse and say though the object be erroneous yet the worship was good the intention being aright directed Lord if my charity have been mistaken thinking I have relieved the truly necessitous when I have given to a sturdy vag bond yet accept I pray thee the sincerity of my intentions to do good to thy distressed members and for the time to come let my mistakes be on the right hand like those who instead of being Hosts to strangers entertained Angels unawares 68 There is a Well formerly dedicated to Jupiter Ammon which is very warme in the dawning of the day but cooleth as the Sun gets to his height and after recovers its warmth as the Sun beams decline from it So is it with the heat of spirituall zeal of pious souls which the Sunshine of prosperity usually makes languid and well were it if it could be againe recovered as that declineth 69 A certain Merchant travelling through the Lybian Deserts being oppressed with thirst gave ten thousand Duckets for a Cup of water How sensible are men of their bodily wants and how expensive in supplying them but how many would dye eternally through the spirituall thirst of water of life before they would be at the thousandth part of that cost for supply 70 The Indian King of Mexico in his Coronation was cloathed with a garment painted with Skulls and dead mens bones those rude people intending to admonish him in his new Soveraignty of his own mortality And how well were it if with us of more knowledge there would be more remembrance of those chambers of death where the pomps and vanities of this world shall passe but a long reckoning shall remaine to be accounted for 71 The Isle of Saint Thomas upon the coast of Africk is so excessively hot that European bodyes are not able to walke there and the earth perpetually drie there being neither Rivers nor raines but in the mid'st of the Isle there is a mountaine stored with Wood over which a cloud continually hangeth that distilleth so large a dew upon these trees as runneth downe thence so plenrifully as supplyeth the thirst of men and beasts and plants Lord this heart of mine is as a barren and thirsty land where no water is and the heat of inordinate desires so rageth that resolutions of well doing are languid and the exercises of thy grace faint But Oh let the cloud of thy presence be upon the mount of my retirement that from thence may flow plentifull distillations of thy grace for the remedying this barrenness and relieving this faintnesse I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart 72 A certaine person falling into the hands of the Indian Caniballs being sicke and faint was by them dismissed without farther harme as being judged by them unwholsome food How often is it that those very things which we lament and trouble us by God wise and gracious dispensation become preservations to us 73 The Commons of England being very importunate with Edward the Fourth to make War in France he consented to satisfie their importunity though willing rather to enjoy the fruit of his Wars and toiles and spend the rest of his dayes in peace Therefore he rakes with him a dozen of far Capon-earing Burgesses who had been the most zealous for that expedition these he imployes in all Military services to lye in the open fields stand whole nights upon the Guards causes their Quarters to be beaten up with frequent Alarmes which was so intollerable to those fat paunches accustomed to lye on their soft Downes and that could hardly sit on a Sessions Bench without their nods that a treaty being motioned by King Lewis none were so forward to presse the acceptance of his offers and hasten their returne into England as they and when there to excuse so little done by the King with so great preparations Lord how shall I be able to keep way with the Horsemen if I cannot hold out
the difference between esse and existere that yet are to seek in that great question what they shall do to be saved 95 Marcus Livius Governour of Tarentum for the Romanes when Hanniball tooke it kept the Castle till the City was recovered againe by Fabius who then envying the honour done to Fabius for that exploit said in open Senate that It was not Fabius but himselfe that was the cause Tarentum was taken againe Truth saith Fabius for if thou hadst not lost it I had not won it When man was at first created Liberum arbitrium was made Governour of that estate of innocency but Freewill quickly lost it onely some inconsiderable remnants of naturall light reserved now when glory is given to Christ for mans restoration Freewill steps up and boasts its selfe the cause of mans recovery but no otherwise certainly then that man had not needed to be restored if Freewill had not undone him first 96 Arostotle being sick his Physitians intending applications to him said That he desired to be cured not as a Farrier doth an Horse but as a man capable of an account of the way of the cure that apprehending the reason of those receipts he might the better comply with the distastfullness of those potions which should be received Well were it if in those cures which State Physicians have applyed in Religious causes they would not have dealt altogether by Club Law as if onely bruites had been their Patients but have done us the favour to let us see the reason of the cure that what we could not take as toothsome we might yet as wholsome 97 A certaine wealthy Matron having promised a young man to make him her Heire dyed leaving him inscribed in her Testament who providing a sumptuous funerall for her interment she in the very time of the solemnity being the seaventh day revived and lived divers yeares after to the tedious prorogation of his hopes whence arose that Proverb Mulieri ne credas ne mortuae quidem Lord how often have I been perswaded that this old man had been mortified but yet to the sadding of my heart I find it contrary to expectation revived Lord let not my hopes be disappointed though they be thus delayed and if this body of death do not die suddenly yet let it at last dye utterly 98 Vraba in Peru is of so rich a soile that the seed of Cucumbers and Melons sowne will beare ripe fruits in twenty eight dayes after How happy were it if such were the soile of my heart wherein the immorrall feed of the Word might produce its fruits with the like earlinesse fertility and plenty But alas how hinderly do all good purposes appeare how short of expectation of the time how long shall I be with you how long suffer you 99 Those Countries which are seated under the Line have then their Winter when the Suu is neerest them being then continually vexed with raines and stormes When the Sun of prosperity shines on men most 't is usually Winter in their hearts and the tempests of temptation rage most there then 100 The women in Brazill after their travell soone apply themselves to houshold affaires the husbands in their stead keeping their beds visited and comforted up with restorative broths So fareth it with those vagabond beggers who are well supplyed from doore to doore till they have full cheeks and toating Noses while the poore hous-keeper who is ashamed to beg lookes thin and faint the sweat of his browes being the bread of his family yet without our provision or pity 101 The Emperor Sigismunds Army in his expedition against the Turk were so elevated with confidence of their own number that they said if Heaven should fall they should be able to keep it off with their Halberts who yet were most of them miserably slaine by the Turkes and 't is observed that very few Armies have come off with victory that entred battell fledge upon the wings of selfe-confidence The Frech at Poictiers and Agincourt sold the prisoners before the day but found to their cost the Beare-skine was not to be divided before 't was taken Those that fight in that spirituall combate against sin Sathan and his instruments are then strongest against their enemies when they are weakest in themselves A faint hearted Saunders stands to his tackling in the fire when a confident Pendleton quits the field before any encounter In this warfare we are more then Conquerors but through him that hath loved us 102 William Gardiner who struck the Host out of the Cardinalls hand in Portugall when he had his right hand cut off took it up with his left and kissed it having his left cut off stooped down and kissed that also and being burnt afterwards by degrees rather roasted to death then burnt shew'd such magnanimity as was exceedingly admirable Thomas Benbridge suffering for the Gospell in Queene Maries daies when the fire seiz'd on him not being able to indure the smart thereof cryed I recant and so was taken out of the fire but afterward repenting his fact was the seaventh day after burned with much Christian constancy enduring the torment which through the ill making of the fire was very great God glorifies himselfe not onely in the courage but in the infirmity of his servants Gardiners resolution gave not more evidence to the truth then Benbridg's weaknesse questionably whether so much for Benbridg's soft nature shew'd that it abhorred torment and would faine have escaped the violence of fire but the evidence of truth was so much upon his spirit that seeing the deare things of the flesh and the concernments of the soule could not be joyned the flesh was necessitated though unwillingly to the terriblenesse of torment rather then the soule should deny the clearnesse of that light which shined into it 103 Galba lived in the Reigne of five Emperours in credit and fortunate under all of them but when Emperour himselfe quickly ruined and slaine happier under others Government then his own There is nothing to which the heart of man even in infancy shews more disgust then subjection to anothers Government That naturall jurisdiction that one man hath over another to advise and reprove is not without much reluctancy submitted to by any even then when the conscience witnesseth the debt of obedience to God the heart secretly wisheth the cancelling of that Bond and that there were no such superiority in God Yet what creature needeth so much Government as man other creatures conforme to those rules nature hath enjoyned Man is above all other exorbitant and never more happy then when most confin'd 104 The Chariot Horses of Claudius Caesar which he sent to the Circensan Games at the first starting threw their driver yet performed their course and won the Prize Those that are of meane parts and much exercise are able to do more when engaged then they of greater abilities and leste use 105 The Earle of Wiltshire sent Embassador with some others by
speaking to us in the Scriptures which is better 151 The Embassadors of the French King charging the Earle of Charalois in bitter termes with a confederacy with the Duke of Britaine the Earle many times intreating his Fathr Philip that he would give him leave to speak for himselfe the old Duke in the end said I have already answered for thee as me-thinketh a Father should answer for his Son but if thou hast a mind to speak thy selfe bethink thy selfe to day and speak to morrow and spare not The words which we are to speake to captious greatnesse need much premeditation that they may admit of no exception But Lord there is not a word in our mouthes which is not written in thy Book for which we must nor give an account to thy justice But Oh that therefore I were so wary as to set a watch before the door of my mouth that I offend not with my tongue 152 Two brothers travelling upon the road fell in discourse of a woman known to them both which one of them praised as very handsome the other thought her faire but not so faire which difference in Judgment though nothing pertinent to either yet grew to that passe as that they fell together by the ears and had slaine one the other if not accidentally parted How many different opinions are there among us Brethren of the same Religion as to fundamentalls so far from being necessary to Salvation that it is questionable whether they be any thing pertinent which yet we are so hot about that nothing but bloud will part us when the things for which we have quarelled would pose a good invention to tell you what tendency they have to the edifying of the Body of Christ 153 The Leigeors having broken the peace made with the Duke of Burgundy for performance of which they had given 300 Hostages it was debated in the Dukes Counsell what should be done with the Hostages The Lord of Contay advised to kill them all a person of great wisdome and moderation and never before observed to speak so cruelly How uncharitable is it to censure any man for one Act committed when a sudden passion or acrimonious humor may bias the mind quite beyond its accustomed tenor 154 Of those Hostages which they of Leige had given to the Duke of Burgundy for the performance of their Covenants with him upon their breach of which he sent home unharmed the greatest number proved unthankfull and tooke Arms against the Duke but five or six of them were so mindfull of the benefit they had received that by their meanes he entered Leige an enterprize so eminent that a servant of the Duke said he durst hardly have craved of Gods hands so great successe Excellent is it to do good and to communicate for though the subjects of our benefaction may many as in a Lottery prove blankes yet we may many times meet such a prize as may make ample amends 155 The City of Venice begetteth wonder in the beholders in this chiefly to see so many stately and magnificent structures lifting up their towring heads as if like the Poets Venus they had been begotten of the Seas foame and in that place ejected or else seated there by as great a miracle as that Faith should worke which should say to that mountaine be thou removed and set in the midst of the Sea The excellent and glorious vertues of the servants of God deserve our view and imitation but this makes them works of wonder that they have their seat in such hearts as are not unlikely onely but having in some respe4ct an impossibility to such productions 156 Ericthonius being lame in his feet first invented the Chariot to hide that imperfection and Pericles being long headed was therefore alwayes represented with an Helmet and our Queen Anne covered the Wen in her neck with a Ruff which she first brought in fashion How do we wish that the deformities of our bodies never were or might ever be hid a crooked leg or gibbous shoulder how it troubles us which yet if concealed can never be rectified but happy we if we were as sensible of the deformities of our souls for the remedying of which crookednesses the holy Spirit hath given us such strait rules to comply with 157 Ravillak that murthered Henry the fourth of France ☞ though in his execution he suffered most exquisite torments yet was observed never so much as once to name the name of God or any other way make shew of repentance Who would put off repentance to a dying bed in confidence to have it then at our call when sicknesse with the very presentations of death its selfe leaves that heart unmollified which custome in sin hath hardened 158 Alibiades went to one of his friends houses that had a great feast and bad one of his servants take away halfe the Plate that stood on the Cupboard wherewith the guests incensed said It was a bold and injurious part nay saith the Master very favourable hath he dealt with us that he hath left us any when he might have taken all Lord when thou cuttest off our suprfluities we are ready to repine that thou dealest hardly with us but what cause have we rather to acknowledge thy clemency and goodnesse that mayest take all and yet leavest us any thing that can claime nought 159 Fabius Maximus rode on horseback to his Son being Consull then disparching affairs of State in the Market place which the Son seeing senr an officer to command his Father to alight and come on foote if he had any thing to say to the Consull While all wonder at the unhandsomnesse of this Command the Father alights and hasting to his Son imbracing him applauds his magnanimity that he had preferred the honour and interest of the Common-wealth before that of a Father Lord thine is the Soveraigne interest of the world and happy we if the sense of that lye so much upon our hearts as that whatsoever is deare and precious to us else be made to vail Bonnet to thy concernments 160 A Lacedemonian having lost his Son and being reproved as indulging his sorrow in that he wept for him answered I am not so much to be reprehended Natura enim me flebilem fecit Lord if we much lament the losse of our deare relations let it not be the effect of our impatience but the issue of our affection 161 Dionisius being expelled Sicilia and banished to Corinth was asked What good the doctrine of Plate had done him who replyed To beare this adversity patiently Lord if the times any when should prove so disasterous as to prevent the more favourable effects of thy truth as instead of that love and veneration it should beget to render the professors of it the subjects of persecution yet let us never be disappointed of this fruit that we know how in patience to possesse our souls 162 Alexander being at Troy one offers to shew him Paris his Harpe I marry said
examined I fund were light and husky and no wise comparable for substance with the rest for these were wilde ones In the worship of God those things which are of humane invention seem much more plausible and carry before them a much greater shew of devotion then those which are of divine institution what a glorious appearance to the eyes of flesh and bloud hath a curiously engraved Crucifix or a Popish Procession compared with the simplicity of the Sacramental preparation how laudable seems the Salt and Spittle and those other knacks of Papistical Ceremony in respect of the Baptismal Lotion but you will find that as these are fair so they are wilde not being of divine appointment and empty not having the divine promise to make them virtual for the nourishment of souls 37 In a street of London as I passed by I observed over an Entry written This is Court which when I considered to make true English of I observed between is and Court a Flower de luce fairly carved whereby I understood that superscription intended to tell you That there was Flower de luce Court God hath discovered his truth to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes signifying his mind to us in figures and not in words at length sometimes by things done as when Torquatus cut off the heads of the highest Poppyes sometimes by very omissions as Melchisedechs Genealogie sometimes by halfe words as that important truth of Christs Divinity where a piece of a word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opposition to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 differenceth the Messiah from the whole Creation therefore 't is unsafe to conclude any thing from the word till with much caution we consider how and what is concluded 38 A person accustomed to walk with a fine staffe neatly painted met with his adversary with whom words grew to that height that they came to blows whereupon he threw away the fine staffe then in his hand and catcht up a rough Crab-tree Cudgel fit to give such unkind embraces as he intended When men look upon their concernments as but indifferent they like well to make use of those fine persons who think they get so much repute and reverence by the polished sentences that mans with teacheth but when they apprehend their souls lying under pressing exigences they then desire to apply themselves to those whose holinesse and zeal and soul-searching Ministry have begotten an expectation of soul-good from them and who by their being an example of good works have made their very youth venerable 39 I saw a Picture of the King on horse-back and though I had no skill in limning yet I misliked one of the horses legs because it held not a Symmetry with the rest of the Horse nor agreed with that posture wherein the horse was represented There is no better way for a lesse discerning judgement to judge of the motions of the heart whether they be of the Spirit of God then to observe their agreement with the mind of the Spirit discovered in the Word with which if they are not harmonions and analogicall 't is certain they are not indited by that Spirit which is alwayes like it selfe and in whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of changing 40 Being to speak with a person whose Chamber was foure pair of Stairs high I was almost tyred with climbing up to it having been well travelled before hand which made me to think that if there were a Jacobs ladder whose top should reach to Heaven and that were to be ascended by bodily action it would be a matter of no small time labour to get thither an age would hardly suffice for its accomplishment Can it then be that those cold wishings and wouldings should ever bring a man thither or that it will be so easie at the last gasp to leap out of the Devils lap into Akrahams bosome 41 Oyntment made as hot as can be applyed to an horse outwardly will not scall'd him but a drench given him inwardly little more then blood warm will kill him Imploy an hypocrite about any thing of outward action let it be never so eminent and he will keep pace with your expectation there is no foiling him upon that account but engage him on that which shall necessarily require self-deny-all or the mortification of his secret lust in that you shall find him more jadish then could be imagined 42 A person that went naked neckt was reprehended by a friend as using a garb immodest and unlawfull which she gain-saying they agreed to put their different judgements to the decision of a grave Divine of their acquaintance to whom the Lady presenting her self demanded his opinion whether it were lawfull for her to use that mode to whom he answered That he conceived that guize unlawfull for those whose azure veins meandring in their soft and pearly bosomes might be a temptation to lust but he thought it lawfull for her whose swarthy skin and course grain afforded no such temptation How great and manifest is our pride and vanity that to follow the fashion we not only subject our selves to thole garbs which are inconvenient and trouble-some but also discover those imperfections that cause others to deride and scorn us 43 I went to hear a Sermon and intending to joyn with the Minister in his prayer before it he began with so low a voice that I might guesse what he said hear I could not yet was I in the posture of a Supplicant and my mind directed thereto but my time was meerly lost being unfitted for a private devotion with the expectation of that which was publick and not in a capacity to joyn in publick devotion because I heard not what was said Miserable Papists how are they abused with their Latine Service wherein they cannot pray by themselves being disturbed by a noise of words nor with others being ignorant of the Tongue for which blind devotion yet our Countrey men took arms in Edward the sixth dayes yea indeed how heartless is that devotion that understands not what it doth or minds not what it understands 44 A Gentleman of quality but no good qualities profest a great deal of good liking to me and affection for me I begun to consider what I had done that might oblige such a person whom all good would disoblige I began to suspect I had not walked uprightly and that he had misconstrued my civillity for approbation thus I parted from him with much distrust of my self but the next time I came into his company his countenance was altered and I had such an aspect from him as was usuall from such as he Surely things and men receive much of discovery from the men that like them there being an eternall opposition between the bad and good and from their love we may judge much of the quality of the object whence I ever suspected that those wayes in worship or otherwise were not good which your profane swearing wicked persons contend and stickle for Phocian
making an Oration to the people of Athens which was generally by them applauded said to a friend that stood by What unhandsomess hath slipt from me that this evil people so much approve of 45 Reading of a Book which treated of horseman-ship I found this Tetrastick If a Colt have four white feet keep him not a day If he have three white feet put him soon away If he have two white feet send him to thy friend If he have one white foot keep him to his lives end I could not devise the reason why the odds of white should be so great odds in the choice or what a black or white foot should conduce to the goodnesse of the horse but sometime after I had a gelding an able horse indeed but for that cause only not approved because he had three white feet for the white foot before was much more brittle and hoof-bound and far lesse than the other that was black so that he was never hard travelled but he complained of it whence I concluded that whitenesse in the hoof did either cause or argue brittleness and other faults besides There is no such Doctor as experience how much is the doctrine of Assurance inveighed against as an inlet to licentiousness as if that soul must be bold to sin that had certainty to be saved whereas to the soul that hath had experience of this affair there is nothing then the contrary more manifest for that Spirit which seals the soul to the day of redemption seals it by the impression of its own holinesse upon it begetting thereby in it an opposition to sin so as that if there were no hell to fear yet sin would be resisted as that which is contrary to that holy principle and destructive to this new creature yea this Spirit acts the soul to God as its highest and chiefest good for which cause it presseth after him with all acts of duty and serviceablenesse whereby it may more enjoy him and dreads sin more than death as being that which separates it from his God whom he loves and prizeth above life it self 46 The heart of Oake grows from the top to the bottom of the Tree as appears when if the upper part of a young Oak be cut off there will be heart to be seen but at the lower end not any Our zeal for wayes of worship or ought else should have its original upwards beginning in conviction of the judgement from cleer and apparent evidence of truth whereas that which is not according to knowledg is like a mettal'd horse but head-strong or like strong purges in unskilfull hands rather likely to kill then cure 47 When I observe how many sparks of fire may be stricken out of a little shiver of a Flint I have been ready to think that a Paradoxical expression as cold as a stone and have wondered it should not burn ones fingers but I considered that fire is generated or manifested but by contrition by which yet other is extinguished There are many persons of such meek and calm tempers that you would think they had no fire for you shall not discover any heat but let them be opposed in matters of Religion or otherwise 't is like the rubbing of a dry stick till it inflame by that opposition they gather heat and shew more sire then could possibly be imagined 48 At a Sermon I saw a person so earnest to write it that he left his devotion before the prayer was done to provide tackling ready for the purpose but as though he had been a Clock wound up for one hour assoon as the glasse was out his fit was over though the discourse were continued a little longer and more pertinent and usefull then the former part The Apostle saith The Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets so as that they are not impulst into disorder and confusion and as that is a preposterous worship wherein one service leaps over the back of another so is that a pursy devotion the pulses whereof are numbred exactly with the sands of the glasse and they have a carnall Religion who think not dayes and nights too tedious at Cards or a Tavern but would have been sadly put to it had they been Pauls Auditors when he preacht till midnight 49 Two Merchant ships met at Sea with 16 sail of Turks men of war against whom though it were impossible to make such resistance as to come off yet they were resolved to sell their lives at a dear rate therefore with utmost height of courage they fought them for a while which the enemy seeing and observing their resolution such as that their prize would not equall their losse they drew off and left them In that contest which our souls have with our spiritual enemyes he that fights most resolved comes off best weak resistance incourageth the assault and he that parlyes is like Eve in Paradise more than half lost the surest way to overcome is to resist stedfastly in the faith 50 Some English Merchants being in Africk and hunting there the wild Bore they had one in chase and almost tyred him so that he manifestly gave out when a lesser but a fresh one was difloged from the adjoyning thickets and joyned himselfe with the former by whose company he was so animated that he assumed new courage and strength so that he escaped the hunters hands We read in Acts 2.42 That the new Converts continued in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship not so much to shew their complyance to Christian discipline as to be fortified with that consociation Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another The People of God in their troubles are not a little animated by the assistancy of fellow-sufferers Paul when he saw the Brethren took courage Acts 28.18 51 I was in a place where a story was painted in the windows it was very rare and curious but me-thought the workmanship did not make amends for the harm it did in darkning the windows whose principall use is to give light There are many Ceremonies which have a fine appearance when they are used in divine worship but me-thinks they make not amends for the harm they do in distracting the mind from that inward intention so principally required in divine adoration having a tendency rather as a Noble person said of a great Ladyes singing Mattens that it heightned or destroyed he knew not whether all the hearers devotion to delight the carnall then raise the affections of the inward man 52 Looking upon a Spinster I observed that if the Flax be drawn out too fine it breaks and is uselesse if too grossely it is gouty and unhandsome but the mean as the strength of the Flax will bear is best to the sight and for use The handling of any subject too finely is seldome profitably and too rudely is tedious and disgustfull but as the strength of the subject will bear like Bird-lime at a due rate takes most and holds
with the Foot how shall I be able to stand in the day of battell when in the cause of thy truth there must be a resisting to bloud if I am nothing active in resisting of sin now am I like to abide in the Watch-tower whole nights that like the Disciples cannot watch one houre to prevent temptation Oh let me be therefore much in spirituall exercises now and in cutting off the right hands and plucking out of the right eyes of corrupt desires that I may be ready to deny the conveniences and preciousnesses of life when the emergences of thy interest shall call me to it 74 In the Province of Dariene in South America the mens heads are so hard that they will break a sword smitten on them Alas how many are there of such darkned understandings and seared consciences that those piercing discourses which have deeply penetrated others make on them no impressions but are returned back with scornes and scoffs or dasht in pieces without effect 75 Cardinall Campeius being sent by the Pope Legate into England about the divorce of Henry the eighth from the Lady Katherine Landing at Dover not in such equipage as was by Cardinall Woolsey thought meete for his dignity he sent him divers Mules and Muleters richly habited to furnish his train more pompously these passing with the said Cardinall through the City of London where all the Citizens arranged to expresse their devotion and his wel-come being disturbed by some accident fell a kicking and flinging so as down fell their Coffers broken upon the stones which were thought to containe precious treasures and rich apparell but instead thereof out flew old Bootes and Shooes broken Bridles and Girts to the solemne derision of the red Hats Lord to what purpose will it be to make a shew and but a shew of a long train of graces when my emptinesse shall be manifested at that generall assembly of men and Angells and my hypocrisie will make me but the more abundantly ashamed 77 There is a ground in some part of Italy into which what is driven is so fast detained as not to be pulled out Lord make my heart of such soile that the impressions of thy Word which alas have so often been like untimely fruit shaken off with every wind may be fixed past possibility of removall 78 The Ocean continually floweth into the Mediterranean Sea by the Straits of Gibraltar and the Euxine alwayes floweth into the same Sea by the Proponticke yet is there no appearance that the Mediterranean is more filled though no passage whereby it sends forth its waters is discovered nor seemeth the Euxine Sea any thing lessened though there appeare no supply of waters to it but by some small Rivers Many there be of large revenues but bare purses who yet are strait handed to acts of charity while others free to good works and of much meaner incomes are yet well stored with that which to those good ends they daily spend vaine expences by a private consumption wasteth the one while Gods blessing by a secret retribution returnes with interest what was laid out upon his account 79 Neere Assos there are stones which in few dayes not onely consume the flesh of dead bodies but the very bones too and there is an earth in Palestine of the same operation Lord let the mortification of this body of death in me be of the like speedy execution that those lusts which are more confirmed and seeme more durable may through the power of thy grace have a quick consumption 80 Julius Caesar having taken at Pharsalia and Thapsus the Cabinets of Pompey and Scypio his utter enemies wherein were many Letters from their partakers whereby the men and their designes against Caesar would have been discovered by a rarer example then our dayes have yeilded without once reading the inclosed Epistles caused them all to be immediately burned Lord that book wherein all even my most secret iniquities are written will by the accuser at that day be brought before thee but let thy mercy blot out that hand-writing with the bloud of thy Son that no charge may be framed there either to confound or shame me 80 'T is said of Agesilaus King of Sparto that He ruled his Countrey by obeying it gaining so far upon the Sphori and Senate by complying with what they desired that he might do what himselfe would Lord what freedom is it to be thy servant for I may then do what I will if I will do but what thou commandest in doing thy will I cannot do amisse but in serving thee serve my selfe 81 King Pirrhus being asked Whither Python or Cephesias were the best Fluteplayers answered that in his Judgement Polyperchan was the best Captaine intimating that it was not worth the enquiry who were best skil'd in those Arts which were so little pertinent Lord let me be offertedly ignorant of those things that are wicked and vaine well may the children of this world be wiser in those things of their generation then the children of Light The posterity of Cain are storied to be the first inventers of Arts they might be witty in that upon which they were wholly intent the pious seed had their aimes above they might well overlook what others saw whose eyes were fixt below but when God comes to reckon up the wits of the world those onely will be accounted witty that are so for heaven 82 Summers Henry the Eights Jester kept a Catologue of the indiscretions of the Court which the King desiring to see found his own name there for intrusting an Italian with some thousands of Crowns to buy Barbary Horses but saith the King How if he do returne and bring the Horses I gave him money for 't is then saith Summers onely the blotting out of your name and putting his in How often are we guilty of such improvidences wherein our successe is to be ascribed not to our wisdomes but others folly such successes are like wellfavoured children of an uncomely venter when though we dandle the babe yet we are ashamed of the mother whereas what is done uprightly and done prudently may like nature produce a monstrous birth but hath ever its excuse made for it though it may be blamed it can never be shamed 83 Polienclus a very fat man in an hot day perswading the Athenians in an Oration to make War with King Philip Phocian told the people they should do well to undertake it upon such a mans motion who was likely to do much with his Armor on his back that was in such a sweat with delivering an Oration We are ready to think we shall appeare much for God if we are concerned to resist unto bloud but how unlikely when we come so poorly off in our contention against any poor lust 84 Agesilaus being lame of one of his feete was wont to prevent the mocks of others by merrily jesting himselfe at his own infirmity Lord we are Mephibosheths lame in both our feet when we