it a Crovvn vvill require my contests and my combats I that sovve in tears shall reap in joy the Harvest vvill pay for all I shall have my wages when working time is done what is in hope shall be in hand red Robes shall put on white no sign of sweat nor blood no more foes no more fighting XVII There is nothing more miserable than man nor more proud what creature so helplesse and so unhappy his body more brittle than that of beasts and his mind in continual trouble I am still subject to sickness and to sorrow diseases and discontents prey upon this carcase like Vultures upon the Carrion what am I but the channel wherein the waters of Marah flow XVIII The fairest flowers do soonest fade beauty is soon blasted that which flourisheth at noon towards night withers there is an end of all perfection all is vanity what is the world but a poor empty thing both in the whole and in every part its pleasures perish and putrefie and that which smells the sweetest decays and dies its profits are only gilded not Gold which rubs off while in your hands as for its honours they are but as smoke a blast ' or bubble I will love nothing much which I cannot love long I find the less I lean upon a brittle staff the longer it keeps from breaking inordinate affection usually causeth sudden separation XIX It is better to endure than to do evil to suffer than to sin the crime is worse than the punishment nothing shall force me to offend why should I displease my God or defile my self besides the hazard I run of Hell I know the worst of what can befall me here but know not what may follow the inconvenience of an after reckoning XX. Innocency is the greatest felicity a good Conscience is a continual feast this is the only musick which makes a merry heart this makes Prisoners sing when the Jaylor trembles it matters not who accuses if I can clear my self there is no Law where there is no transgression yet would I not be guilty were I sure to pass unpunished Conscience might condemn which is both Witnesse Judge and Jury XXI Liberty is a thing inestimable there is nothing in the world of so great a value he must needs be poor who hath not this pearl to be confined is the greatest torment though a Pallace were the Prison a man may be no lesse a prisoner though his fetters were of Gold I cannot but wonder to see some so lightly to esteem their freedome who for preferment will sell themselves for slaves forced to dance attendance when they might command I am free and cannot brook to be bound I had rather loose my life than my liberty why should I be tyed to persons or to place XXII There is nothing more detestable than disgrace nothing more odious than servitude we are born to honour and liberty let us keep these or die with glory my credit is my crown and my liberty my life all were gone should I part with these I would sooner dye than live in shame better it is to dye bravely than to live basely XXIII As thou sowest so thou reapest the seed is the same as to its nature and its quality Corn will continue Corn and Tares will be Tares still he that sows to the flesh shall reap corruption I will mind my Seeds-time as I would find my Harvest knowing as I am now I shall be then if I loyter in the Spring my Crop will be according XXIV Piety is the foundation of vertue where the Spring is polluted the stream cannot be pure and where the ground-work is not good the building is not lasting he does nothing that begins not well that is only praise-worthy which proceeds from a right principle Divinity is a better stock than Morality to graff on little can be expected from depraved nature I do not look for Grapes from Thorns nor Figs from Thistles as is the tree so is the fruit XXV Affect not ostentation covet rather to be good than to appear so imitate the Publican rather than the Pharisee in cheating the world thou wilt cheat thy self let the inside be the better side deserve praise but do not desire it forget what thou art and press forward to what thou shouldest be content not thy self with the measure thou hast attained there is no standing at a stay and while another is better thou mayest mend XXVI Think no sin small the least is a load too heavy for the backs of men and Angels a crime committed against an infinite God deserves to damn thee and what comfort can it be in Hell to consider a small matter hath brought thee thither or might have kept thee thence I will look upon it as an aggravation of the offence to offend for little or nothing besides I may fear lest I count great sins small and little sins none XXVII Promise nothing to your prejudice however perform what you promise no Bond binds like the word of an honest man be careful of engaging and then let thy care be to disengage thy self it matters not though the Obligation be not sealed by an Oath or subscribed by Witness thy Conscience is as a thousand and will put the Bond in Sute it were better pay the Principle than Principle Cost and Charges XXVIII Do not only submit to the Will of God but subscribe likewise to his Wisdome conclude not things go cross when every circle tends to its center whatever befalls thee is best for thee if it be not good in it self yet it does thee good Providence is not purblind there is no such thing as chance the wheel is full of eys though some dispensations seem dark XXIX Be not a Servant to thy Slaves thy Money or thy Body thou art not born to so base a bondage why shouldest thou obey where thou mayest command use thy Estate and enjoy thy self let all be subservient to thy Soul and thy Soul to the Lord of all know thy place and keep a distance suffer no encroachment to be made upon thy Prerogative every thing is below thee if thou beest not below thy self XXX Look upon that to be good which is lawful not what is gainful go not out of Gods blessing into a warm Sun serve him rather than thy own turn take not any unwarrantable course to purchase wealth better want than be wicked it will appear so at last in the winding up of the bottome I had rather be poor and pious than grow rich in a wrong way XXXI Trouble not thy self that others have fewer troubles the burden is but proportioned to the back and he that lays on will either lift with thee or lighten it argues courage in thee and confidence in thy Captain that thou art chose for a Champion the hardiest Souldier is set to the hardest service as is thy venture so will be thy victory thy conquest will be as thy combat who will refuse any thing where what
will prove my Crown I will therefore smart and smile LXXXI He that spends more than he needs may need what he spends Prodigality is the greatest folly no wonder if he that wasts wants he is the wise man who in plenty provides for a day of scarcity and layes up for a wet day that lives within himself saving is the best way of getting all is sure gain it is good walking with a Horse in ones hand what is the end of profuseness but a Prison or a Halter LXXXII To be over frugal argues a poor and mean spirit such are good to none not to others nor to themselves a man hath but what he enjoyes for any thing more he is not much the better what we make use of is only ours the rest signifies little and is little less anothers as I would not be lavish so neither will I live so much below my fortunes as to be their slave I abhor what is base and beggerly and scorn more a person of a poor spirit than the poorest person LXXXIII That falls out sometimes in a day which never fell out before it does not follow what never was shall never be unlikely things are brought to pass and who can tell what may happen what alterations have I seen such as no ear till now hath heard of who could imagine the changes which of late have been it is not mine only but the Worlds wonder what hath been may be I will not then presume here is nothing constant neither can I be certain of any thing LXXXIV Avoid sloath if thou wouldst avoid scorn shame is the reward of a sluggard idleness will bring thee to want and beggary there is nothing of price and value but what is purchased by sweat and pains they are pebbles not pearls which are to be had for stooping gold is not got by gaping nor honour without toyle and hazard it is working earns the wages and running wins the race fighting makes way for conquest and conquest for the triumph without striving is got neither gold nor glory LXXXV As you season the Vessel so it smells bend the Twig while it is young the soft Wax will take any impression but delay may make that difficult which was at first easie it is better dealing with a child than with custom let the seed be good thou sowest or Weeds will be all thy Crop the ground will bring forth Wheat or Tares upon thy husbandry very much depends thy harvest LXXXVI It is as unreasonable as dangerous to defer amendment till we can sin no more no thanks then sin leaves us not we sin shall we spend the day in the Devils drudgery and put off God with the evening shall Satan have the flower and God have the bran he that deserves all surely deserves best we need not fear to begin too soon that cannot do too much I never heard of any good too young or too good LXXXVII It is as ridiculous as unreasonable to put off Repentance to old age what a folly is it to leave the hardest work to the weakest time we shall find it work enough then to grapple with our distempers disease enough to do to dye besides though true Repentance is never too late yet late Repentance is seldom true LXXXVIII He that will divulge his own secrets never trust with thine how can he that is false to himself be true to thee neither is any fit to make a friend who hath not this retentive faculty it were folly in any to make such a choice and the greatest treachery to betray wherein there is imposed confidence I think no wrack can force me to commit this unpardonable sinne I will not know what I may not keep but will keep what I know LXXXIX There is nothing I more abhor than a backbiter this is the very worst of Vermine these the incendiaries and fire-brands of a Nation the Salamanders that live in the flames it is a cowardly part to come behind and below a man of mettal I will scorn to take any advantage of my greatest enemy he shall see the blow when I strike it and before he feels it neither will I make a party against a single person it is childish to complain what hath another to do with my wrong besides the injustice to condemn without witness or at least confession evidence cannot be taken but face to face he that passeth any other sentence is a Murderer not a Judge XC Blame not another wherein thou art blame-worthy thou canst not accuse him but thou dost shame thy self in his fault thou mayst see thy own the same Glass will discover both thy face and his you are cast by your own confession and condemned out of your own mouth should I reprove and be guilty my Conscience would check me no less for hypocrisie than for the Crime I enveigh against neither is a party a competent Witness XCI I have read of those that have laughed till they have dyed but have seen some laugh till they have cryed hence I conclude that mirth in its extream is madness I pity those who go merrily to execution and dye laughing give me that joy which ends not in tears that joy which hath no end why should I drink of puddle water when I may follow the stream to the Ocean XCII Hast thou a breathing time it is to fit thee for the next encounter do not think thy foes though they flee are fovled Satan hath his stratagems it is his craft to conceal his courage he is not routed when he retreats his flying is but in order to a further fighting and goes back only that he may return with greater force I will still stand upon my guard lest I should be surprized an enemy is not to be trusted XCIII Do not depend too much upon prosperity Clouds may return the Sun may be eclipsed and the day overcast suppose the wind be now fair it may come cross and the gale against thee I have known some blown back to Sea when within sight of shore and others arrived at the Haven of a supposed happiness and mored at Anchor have I seen shipwrackt in the Harbour XCIV Conveniencies have their inconveniencies and comforts their crosses thousands have found sorrow from whence they looked for satisfaction and proportionable to the expectation is the disappointment the fear of losing what we have takes off much from the delight in enjoying besides creatures cannot perform as they promise us or we our selves why should I catch at a shadow or set my heart upon that which is not a Glass is not a Diamond it may cut but cannot content XCV Prepare for the worst the best will help it self if what thou fearest fall not out thou art made amends for thy lost labour fewer words cannot imply more folly than to say I never thought it were better to see and shun than to feel the stroak rather prevent than repent I will have my Armour ready though I do not use
the same will not serve the principle is expected with the improvement every year must have its encrease thy sum will be the greater the more thou hast and the longer why should I tarry that must account for my time Lord fit me for thee and take me to thee take my heart and then take me I would be with thee were I but untyed if my work be done or may be by another I am desirous to be discharged I came from thee and shall be restless till I come to thee XLV Love God for himself and other things for him use the creature to enjoy God thou mayest see the Potter in the Clay in his workmanship admire his wisdome let every thing be in subordination to him there is no reason for a Rival he will be paramount his power claims that prerogative deny him not his due he made thee Lord over other creatures that he might be Lord over thee and them they serve thee that thou maist serve him XLVI Look upon every action of thy life to be a matter of moment and be well advised in what thou dost do not delay yet deliberate propose ponder and then proceed undertake nothing rashly and go through with what thou undertakest let the executative part be dispatched as soon as possible lest thou shouldest be too late loyter not after thou art set out for fear thou beest benighted thy work encreases and thy time decreases in a word let thy carriage be as becomes a wise man and a Christian XLVII Be good though thou beest not so accounted if thou canst not satisfie others satisfie thy self whoever accuseth yet let thy conscience clear thee persevere in a good cause though neither thou nor thy cause prospers remember the Crown is given not to them that combat but to them that conquer XLVIII Scruple not to observe those dayes the Church hath celebrated and remember the institution was for imitation rather than recreation besides surfeting cannot please that Saint who pleased God by fasting I cannot wrong Saints departed more than to make their memory the occasion of my sin and shame I will keep therefore Holy-days holy XLIX In every thing look to the end through the means it is not enough God hath promised something on thy part is to be performed make good the condition and he will make good his promise up and be doing man is not such a helpless creature as he imagines he deserves to sink that will not endeavour to save himself neither will desires do thou mayest wish thy heart out and yet want thy wish he that is fallen into a pit may pray and perish L. So live as that thou mayest neither be afraid to dye nor ashamed to live let grace be thy guide to glory to live let it be Christ and and then to dye will be gain deserve well in thy way but desire to be at thy journeys end let not the sight of thy last stage scare thee so act thy part that thou mayest leave the stage with applause and the spectators may clap their hands all my aim is to come bravely off my acting may please others but does not please me LI. Have high thoughts of Heaven yonder twinckling Stars are but the pavement of that House if those be under foot what is over head eye hath not seen nor ear heard what God hath provided for them that love him what is the World but a howling Wilderness to the Coelestial Canaan and yet there is some delight in the Desart From thence draw this deduction If the Out-houses be so stately what is the Palace of the Great King the glory which is reserved and shall be revealed our Cockle-shells are too little to lave that Ocean in which we shall be swallowed up to all eternity if a cluster hath such sweetness what is there in the Vintage the first fruits fall short of the Harvest if a few glimpses of glory which God affords his Servants in their straits be so satisfying how will it be when faith is swallowed up of fruition if praelibations be so pleasing what will it be to drink at the Well-head if we have so much to bear our charges in our journey what shall we meet with at home if there be so much laid out for sinners what is there laid up for Saints when God shall cull his Wheat from the Tares in the day when he makes up his Iewels LII He that is penitent is innocent tears will wash away the foulest spots since I cannot be without sin I would not be without sorrow that which is sweet in the mouth may be bitter in the stomack then shall I fear forbidden fruit when I find my pleasant morsels of such hard digestion it is better not to be sick than cured and Repentance is a Purge I will use it not as food but Physick I wish I could be well without it but Lord where I am not innocent make me penitent LIII It is never too late to do well better now than not at all I will labour the more the more I have loytred that I may fetch up what I have lost and redeem what I cannot recall that as I have hitherto lived to little purpose I may do much in a little time he gets soonest to the Goal not that sets out first but runs fastest LIV. The remembrance of a past labour is sweet the Saylor sings when the storm is over and the weary Traveller when he comes to his Inne will please himself in telling of his toil and trouble what was grievous to undergo may be delightful to review to repeat a past pain is a pleasure I will not so much think of my grief as my glory I shall gain by my tossings when I am landed the worse hath been my passage the more welcome will be my Port. LV. Death will equal all in the Grave there are no degrees rich and poor are there alike it is a place that admits of no priority Bones do not justle who knows the Cedar from the Shrub when both are consumed to ashes there is no distinguishing Dives by his dust it will soon be the same with the beggar and the best mountains must be levell'd with the lowest plains and great ones with the ground LVI What might have been may be that which is past may return it may clear up and be overcast again all things here are still in motion and ebb as well as flow I will so anchor as not to fear when the tide falls to be left on Land it may be worse although it now goes well the wind may turn and the black Clouds that were blown over may be blown back I will provide for what I cannot prevent it is wisdom to foresee the shower LVII Death passeth upon all the slayer follows the slain the Judge as sure as the Condemned dyes the Jaylor as the Prisoner there is no condition is excepted it is a Decree from whence there is no appeal the Prince is as