too narrow for their returning turne stand still they might but that could neither bee continuall nor to purpose and to fight for the way in so perillous a place was either to put a wilfull period to their liues or extremely hazard them That they may therefore both passe in safety the one lyes down th' other goes ouer him so while their passage is quiet their liues are secure from death from danger I haue euer thought it idle to continue in strife if I get the victory it satisfies my minde but then shal I haue his malice too which may endamage me more so my gaine will bee lesse then my hindrance If I be ouercome vnwillingly thē is the disgrace mine and the losse and though I haue not his malice yet shall I not want his scorne I will in things not weighty submit freely The purest gold is most ductible t is commonly a good blade that bends well If I expect disaduantage or misdoubt the Conquest I thinke it good wisedome to giue in soonest so shall it be more honor to doe that willingly which with stiffenesse I cannot but hazard vpon compulsion I had rather be accounted too much humble then esteemed a little proud the Reede is better that bends and is whole then the strong Oake that not bending breakes If I must haue one giue me an inconuenience not a mischiefe the lightest burthen is the easiest borne III. To make a perfect man there is requisite both Religion Nature Nature alone we know too loose religion alone will seeme too hard some for Religion haue I knowne formall strict yet haue so wanted the pleasing parts of a good nature as they haue beene feared but not loued for being of a fiery spirit euen slender occasions haue made way to the divulging of their own imperfections either by too seuere a reprehension or else by too soone sodaine Contempt both which make much for the harbouring of hate against themselues by making them esteemed either rash Censurers or angry proud ones and wee all know that as Iudgement is neuer shot suddenly but from a fooles bow so blind Choller broke into expression is the true marke of an intemperate minde others there yet rest whom it tickles much to chatter of their own merits and they cannot lay an egge but they must cackle or like the boasting PHARISEE trumpet out the report of their owne praises if not out of an affected singularity and an ouerweening opinion of their owne excellence yet for lacke of an humble and discret nature that should cause their obseruation bee busied at home And this is that makes the world disdaine contemne them selfe commendation is an arrow with too many feathers which we leuelling at the marke is taken with the wind and carryed quite from it Some againe for nature I haue found rarely qualified ennobled with such a mild affability such a generous spirit and such sweetnesse of disposition and demeanour that their humble courteous carriage haue preuailed much in the affection of those with whom they haue had commerce yet because they haue wanted Religion that like a good subiect should make an elaborate worke rare they haue onely in a superficiall applause wonne the approbation of the vnsteady multitude who loue them more for suffering their rudenesse then for any noble worth that 's obuious to their vndiscerning Iudgements But in all this they haue got no reuerence no respect at all Thus Religion without Nature in men meerely naturall begets a certaine forme of awfull regard but to them 't is like a tyrannical Prince whom the people obey more for feare of an austere rebuke then for any true affection they beare to his person Now Nature without Religion oft wins loue and this is like a Master too familiar with his seruant that in the beginning gains loue but shall in the end find contempt and his toleration will be made an allowance of ill Both together are rare for qualification Nature hath in her selfe treasure enough to please a man Religion a Christian the last begets feare the other loue together admiration reuerence I will like I will loue them single but conioyn'd I will affect and honour IIII. I finde to him that the tale is told beliefe onely makes the difference betwixt a truth and lyes for a lye beleeued is true and truth vncredited a lye vnlesse he can carry his probation in 's pocket or more readily at his tongues end for as he that tels a smooth lye is iudged to speake truth till some step forth to contradict his vtterance so hee that tels an vnlikely truth is thought to broch a lye vnlesse he can produce conuincing reason to proue it onely the guilt or iustice of the thing rests in the knowing conscience of the Relator In the hearer I cannot count it a fault 't is easie to bee deceiued in miracles in probabilities albeit the iudgement that passeth on them bee both honest wise apprehensiue and cleere In the teller iustly if it bee a lye there needs no text to confute it if it seeme so and he cannot purge it discretiō were better silent I will tell no lies lest I bee false to my selfe no improbable truths lest I seeme so to others If I heare any man report wonders what I know I may haply speake what I but think shal rest with my self I may aswell be too suspicious as ouer credulous V. Three things are there which aggrauate a miserie and make an euill feeme greater then indeede it is Inexpectation Vnacquaintance want of Preparation Inexpectation when a mis-hap comes suddenly and vnlooked for it distracteth the minde and scares both the faculties and affections from their due consultation of remedy whereas an euill foreseene is halfe cured because it giueth warning to prouide for danger Thus the falling of a house is more perillous than the rising of a floud for while of the former the hurt is more vnauoydable by reason both of the violence and precipitation The latter through the remissenes of comming is lesse dangerous lesse preiudiciall there being time either to auoyd the place or to countermure If this suffice not think but how odious treason would shew in a deare friend from whom we only expected the sweet embraces of loue the conceit onely is able to kill like a madde Dogg's biting that not onely wounds the body but insaniates the soule Secondly Vnacquaintāce Familiaritie takes away feare when matters not vsuall proue inductions to terror The first time the Fox saw the Lyon hee feared him as death the second hee feared him but not so much the third time hee grew more bold and passed by him without quaking The Imbellicke peasant when hee comes first to the field shakes at the report of a Musket but after he hath rang'd thorow the furie of two or three Battels he then can fearelesse stand a breach and dares vndaūted gaze death in the face Thirdly want of preparation When the enemie besiegeth a Citie
not prepared for Warre there is small hope of euasion none at all to conquer none to ouercome How much more hard is the winter to the Grashopper then the Pismire who before hauing stor'd her Garner is now able to withstand a famine Lest then I make my death seem more terrible to me then indeed it is I will first daily expect it that when it comes I may not be to seeke to entertaine it if not with ioy as beeing but flesh yet without sorrow as hauing a soule Secondly I will labour to be acquainted with it often before it come thinking it may come so whē I know it better I shal better sustaine it with lesse feare without terror Thirdly I will prepare for it by casting vp my accounts with God that all things euen and streight betwixt vs whensoeuer he shall please to call for me I may as willingly lay down my life as leaue a prison Thus shall I make my death lesse dreadfull and finish my life before I dye He that dyes dayly seldome dyes dijectedly VI. A good beginning haue I oftē seen cōclude ill Sin in the bud is faire sweet pleasing but the fruit is death horror hell Something will I respect in my way most in my Conclusion in the one to preuent all wilfull errors in the other to insure a Crowne For as Iudgement hath relation to the manner of dying so hath death dependance on the course of liuing Yet the good end hath no bad beginning it once had A good consequence makes the premises so esteemed of and a sweete rellish at the leauing off makes the draught delightfull that at the first did taste vnpleasant That is well that ends well and better is a bad beginning that concludes well then a prosperous onset that ends in complaint What if my beginning hath been ill sorrowes ouerblowne are pleasant that which hath beene hard to suffer is sweet to remēber I will not much care what my beginning be so my end be happy If my Sunne set in the new Ierusalem I haue liu'd well how-euer afflictions haue sometimes clouded my course VII Extreme longings in a Christian I seldome see succeed well surely God meanes so to temper his as hee would not haue their affections violent in the search of a temporall blessing or else hee knowes our frailety such as wee would be more taken with the fruition of a benefit then the Author Prosperities are strong pleaders for sinne Troubles be the surest Tutors of goodnesse How many would haue dyed ill if they had liu'd merrily GOD hath seuerall wayes to reduce his to his own orders among which I am perswaded none is more powerfull then restraint of our wils It sends the soule to meditation wherby she sees the worlds follies in such true colours of vanitie that no sound discretion can thinke them worth the doting on and though our discontentments so transport vs as we see not the good we reape by a Depriuation yet sure wee are happier by this want for wee are all like women with Child if wee had the things we long for how soone should we eate and surfet When nature findes her ardent desires fulfilled shee is rauenous and greedy yea then shee hath so little moderation as 't is not safe to satisfie her If I can I will neuer extremely couet so though I meet with a Crosse it shal neither distemper nor distract mee but if my desires out-strip my intention I will comfort my selfe with this that the enioyment might haue added to my content and endangered my soule but the want shall in the end be a meanes to embetter them both Gods Saints shall with ioy subscribe to his wil though heere for a time it may seeme to thwart them VIII A worthy Act hath hee done that hath learned to refraine his tongue and surely much euill hath hee preuented if hee knowes when to be well silent Vnkindnesses breed not so many Iarres as the multiplying of words that follow them How soone would these coales dye if the tongue did not enkindle them Repentance often followes speaking silence either seldome or neuer for while our words are many sinne is in some in most Goe to the Crane thou Babbler reade her storie and let her inform thee who flying out of Sicily puts little stones in her mouth lest by her owne garrulitie she bewray her selfe as a prey to the Eagles of the mountaine Taurus which with this policy she flyes ouer in safety euen silence euery where is a safe safeguard if by it I offend I am sure I offend without a witnesse while an vnruly tongue may procure my ruine and prooue as a sword to cut the thrid of my life in two 't is good alwayes to speake well in season and is it not as safe sometimes to say nothing hee that speakes little may mend it soone and though hee speakes most faults yet hee exceedes not for his words were few To speake too much bewrayes folly too little an vnperceiuing stupiditie I will so speake as I may be free from babbling Garrulitie so bee silent as my Spectators may not account me blockishly dull Silence and speech are both as they are vsed either tokens of Indiscretion or badges of Wisedome IX 'T is a hard thing among men of inferiour ranke to speak to an earthly Prince no King keepes a Court so open as to giue admittance to all commers and though they haue they are not sure to speede albeit there bee nothing that should make their petitiōs not grantable Oh how happy how priuiledged is then a Christian who though he often liues heere in a slight esteeme yet can hee freely conferre with the King of Heauen who not onely heares his intreaties but delights in his requests inuites him to come and promiseth a happy welcome which he shewes in fulfilling his desires or better fitter for him In respect of whō the greatest Monarch is more base then the basest vassaile in regard of the most mighty and puissant Emperour Man cannot so much exceede a beast as God doth him what if I be not known to the Nimrods of the world and the Peeres of the earth I can speake to their better to their Master and by prayer bee familiar with him importunity does not anger him neither cāanything but our sins make vs goe away empty while the game is playing there is much differēce between the King and the Pawne that once ended they are both shuffled into the bag together akd who can say whether was most happy saue onely the King had many checks while the little Pawne was free and secure My comfort is my accesse to heauen is as free as the Princes my departure from earth not so grieuous for while the world smiles on him I am sure I haue lesse reason to loue it then hee Gods fauour I will chiefly seeke for mans but as it fals in the way to it when it proues a hindrance I hate to be loued X. The vertuous
man is a true wonder for it is not from himselfe that hee is so But that I see so many wicked I meruaile not 'T is easier running downe the hill then climing it They that are this way giuen haue much the aduantage of them that follow goodnesse Besides those inclinations that sway the soule to vice the way is broader and more ready hee that walkes through a large field hath onely a narrow path to guide him right in the way but on either side what a wide roome he hath to wander in Euery vertue hath two vices that close her vp in curious limits and if shee swerues though but a little she suddenly steps into errour Fortitude hath Feare and Rashnesse Liberalitie Auarice and Prodigalitie Iustice hath Rigor and Partialitie Thus euery good mistresse hath two bad seruants which hath made some to define vertue to bee nothing but a meane betweene two vices wherof one leads to excesse the other to defect making her like the roofe of a Church on whose top wee scarce find roome to turne a foote in but on either side a broad road to ruine in which if we once be falling our stay is rare our recouery a miracle The man that is rare in vice I will neuer admire if he goes but as hee is driuen hee may soone be witty in euill but the good man I will worthily magnifie he it is can saile against the wind make the thorny way pleasant and vnintangle the incumcumbrances of the world XI What sinne is there that we may account or little or veniall vnlesse comparatiuely seeing there is none so small but that without repentance is able to sinke the soule in eternall Damnation Who will thinke that a slight wound which giues a sodaine Inlet to Death But should wee grant this errour yet these of all other I obserue the most dangerous both for their frequency and secrecie the one increasing them to a large heape the other so couering them as we see not how they wrōg vs The raine that fals in smallest drops moistens the earth makes it mire slimy and durte whereas a hard showre that descēds violētly washeth away but soakes not in Euen the smallest letters are more hurtfull to the sight then those that are written with a text pen. Great sinnes and publicke I will auoide for their scandal wonder lesser priuate for their danger and multitude both because my God hates them I cannot if I loue him but abhorre what hee loathes XII Memory and forgetfulnesse are both in friendship necessary Let me remember those kindnesses my friend hath done to mee that I may see his loue and learne gratitude Let mee forget those benefits I haue performed to him lest they shuffle out the effect of my loue and tell mee hee is requited Thus may we together increase our friendship and comforts otherwise a man may haue many acquaintances but no friends though vnthankefulnes banisheth loue Gratitude obtaines a repealement XIII I obserue besides the inward Contents of a peaceable cōscience two things wherein a Christian excels all other men In true Valour In Fidelitie In true Valour that is in a iust quarrell for if his cause bee naught there is none more timerous then hee and indeed to shew much Courage in a bad matter is rather a token of desperate folly then any badge of a magnanimous minde but in a iust cause he is bold as a Lyon Nothing can daunt his euer vndaunted minde Not Infamy for he knowes in this his share is not worse then his Masters while it is for his names sake he knowes he is in it blessed If there bee any Nectar in this life 't is in sorrowes wee indure for goodnesse Besides hee weighes not how he fals to the world and men so he may stand firme to his heauenly Father That God we fight for is able enough to vindicate al our wrongs Not afflictions how many did Iob and the Apostles wade through with Courage with Content These he knowes are heere but for a time transient and momentany neither shall the Israelites liue alwayes vnder the tyranny of Pharaoh or the trauels of the Wildernes He knowes also the more abundant in sorrowes heere the more abundant in ioyes hereafter His teares shall returne in smiles his weepings in a streame of pleasures God doth not recompence with a niggardly hand hee shall finde his ioyes as an ouer-flowing Sea and his glory beyond thought exuberant Not Death for he knowes that wil be his happiest day and his bridge from woe to glory Though it bee the wicked mans shipwracke 't is the good mans putting into harbour where striking sayles and casting Anchor he returnes his lading with aduantage to the owner that is his soule to God leauing the bulke still mored in the Hauen who is vnrigg'd but onely to be new built againe and fitted for an eternall voyage Had not Christians had this solace how should the Martyrs haue dyed so merrily leaping for ioy that they were so neere their home and their heauen dying often like Samson among his enemies more victory attending their end then proceedings Ah peerelesse Valiance vnconquerable Fortitude Secondly in Fidelitie There is no friendship like the friendship of Faith Nature Educatiō Benefits cannot all together tye so strong as this Christianitie knits more sure more indissoluble This makes a knot that Alexander cannot cut For as grace in her selfe is farre aboue nature so likewise is she in her effects and therefore vnites in a far more durable bond And a Christian though he would resolue with himselfe to deale double yet if he be sincere in spight of his resolution his conscience will rate him checke him and deny him to doe it nay though he would he cannot resolue He that is borne of God sinnes not and the Spirit of sanctification will not let him resolue vpon ill This is that Fidelity that wee finde and admire in many that haue chosen rather to embrace the flame dye in silence then to reueale their Companions and Brethren in Christ Tyrants shal sooner want inuention for torments then they with tortures be made treacherous The League that heauen hath made hell wants power to breake Who can separate the coniunctions of the Deitie Againe as well in reproofe as in kindnesse doth his loue appeare For howsoeuer hee conceales his friends faults from the eye of the world yet hee affectionately tels him of them in priuate not without some sorrow on his owne part for his brothers fall He scornes to be so base as to flatter and he hates to bee so currish as to bite In his reprehensions he mingles Oyle and Vineger hee is in them plaine and louing Inuiolable amitie Inualuable loue Heere is met Courage and Constancy one to withstand an Enemie an other to entertaine a friend Giue me any foe rather thē a resolued Christian no friend vnlesse a man truely honest A father is a ready treasurie a brother an infallible comfort
were not extraordinarily vvarie I might soon counterfet some mans humour false and that would bane my drift For both to Vertue and to Vice is Flatterie a false glasse making the one seeme greater the other lesse then it is and if it lights on a noble discretion it is euer so vnhappy as to beget the ruine of it selfe But I imagine I could doe it with such exactnesse that euen the eye of Lyncaeus could not espy it yet when one should commend mee for one thing and another for the contrary vvhat vvould the vvorld thinke of mee that could thus in one bee hot and cold should I not be censured as a Tymorist Yes surely and that iustly neither could it but be iust with God at last to vnmaske my Flatterie and vnrip my folly in the view of the multitude Priuate sinnes are punisht with a publike shame A supposed honest man found lewd is hated as a growne Monster discouered by the blabbe of Time Sinne is a concealed fire that euen in darknesse will so worke as to bewray it selfe If I liue vertuously and with piety the world will hate me as a Separatist and my Reputation will be traduced by the Ignominious aspersion of maleuolent tongues To be good is now thought too neere a way to contempt That which the Ancients admired wee laugh at A good honest man is a foole What then shall I to please a man displease a Christian I had rather liue hated for goodnesse then bee loued for Vice Hee does better that pleaseth one good man then hee that contents a thousand bad ones I would if it could be please all yet I would winne their loues vvith honesty otherwise let their hate wound mee rather then their loue imbrace What care I for his friendship that affected not vertue hauing his hate he may hurt mee outwardly but inioying his loue I will iustly suspect my soule of some ill For if his affection be toward me 't is sure because hee sees somthing in mee that pleaseth himselfe but while hee sees euery thing vnlike him how is 't possible I should bee beloued of him since diuersities breed nothing but disvnion and sweet Congruitie is the mother of Loue. XXI Who admires not the Wisedome of Demosthenes in the answere hee returned to Corinthian Lais Poenitere tanti non emo Certainely had hee not knowne it from a selfe experience 't is not possible a HeatheÌ„ should haue spake so diuinely All our dishonest actions are but earnests laid downe for griefe Vice is an infallible fore-runner of wretchednesse Let the Worldling tell me if he findes it not true that all his warrantable aberrations wherein he hath dilatedly tumbled himselfe end at last either in anguish or confusion Sinne on the best condition brings repentance but for sinne without repentance is prouided hell 'T is not folly but madnes euen the highest that makes a man buy his vexation I wil force my selfe to want that willingly which I cannot enioy without future distaste Though the Waspe falles into the hony that after drownes her yet the Bee chuseth rather to goe to rhe Flowre in the field where shee may lade her â—highes securely and with leisure then to come to the shop of the Apothecarie where shee gets more but makes her life hazardable XXII Workes without faith are like a Salamander without fire or a fish without water In which though there may seeme to be some quicke actions of life and symptomes of agilitie yet they are indeede but fore-runners of their end and the very presages of death Faith againe without Workes is like a bird without wings who though she may hop with her companions here vpon earth yet if she liues til the world ends shee 'l neuer fly to heauen But when both are ioyn'd together then doth the soule mount vp to the Hill of eternall Rest these can brauely raise her to her first height yea carry her beyond it taking away both the will that did betray her and the possibility that might The former without the latter is selfecoozenage the last without the former is meere hypocrisie together the excellencie of Religion Faith is the Rocke while euery good action is as a stone laid one the Foundation the other the structure The Foundation without the walls is of slender value the building without a Basis cannot stand They are so inseparable as their coniunction makes them good Chiefely will I labour for a sure Foundation Sauing Faith and equally will I seeke for strong wals Good Workes For as man iudgeth the house by the edifice more than by the Foundation so not according to his Faith but according to his Workes shall God iudge man XXIII 'T is a rare thing to see a rich man religious we are told that his way is difficult and not many mighty are chosen For while the earth allowes them such ioyes 't is their heauen and they looke for no other Their pleasures are sufficient vnto them both for honour solace and wealth who wonders to see them carelesse of the better when they dote vpon the worse neither the minde nor affection can bee seriously diuided at once Againe euen low Commons whom they thinke meanely of are higher often in vertues of the minde are dearer vnto God then they shall sit in heauen aboue them Are there not many seruants that in life haue born the burthen now crowned with vnending Ioyes while their masters are either in a lower degree glorious or excluded that coelestiall societie I dare make it a part of my faith yet auouch my selfe no Hereticke Euen in meanest things GOD shewes his mighty power Impossibilities are the best aduancers of his Glory For what we least beleeue can be done wee most admire beeing done Yet in this obserue the mercy of God that though the Worldling hath not pietie in his thoughts yet God giues him all these good things that hee hath no right to albeit by his owne ill he like enuy extracts euill out of good so they proue in the end nothing but paper pillars and painted fruite Let all men blesse God for what they enioy they that haue wealth for their riches I will praise him that he hath kept them from me I haue now what is good for me and when my time comes my ioy shall abound XXIIII A vertuous man shining in the puritie of a righteous life is a Lighthouse set by the Sea-side whereby the Mariners both saile aright and auoyd danger But he that liues in noted sinnes is a false lanthorne which shipwrackes those that trust him The vertuous man by his good carriage winnes more to godlines and is the occasion of much good yea it may bee so long as the Moone renewes For his righteousnes dyes not with him those good examples which he liued in and those pyous workes which hee leaues behind him are imitated and followed of others both remayning and succeeding So they are coÌ„ueyed from one generation to another and he next God is a
consumes and quite goes out Nor further can this amity be euer approued or sure or sincere For hee that loues me for my gifts sake loues my gifts aboue my selfe and if I should happen to light on aduersitie I should not finde him then to appeare there being no hope of a gainefull requitall If I giue any thing it shall be because hee is my friend not because I would haue him so not so much that I may haue his loue but that already hee hath mine I will vse them sometimes to continue friendship neuer to begin it I doe not hold him worthy thankes that professeth me a kindnesse for his own ends XLV Nothing more saddens the soule of a good man then the serious apprehension of a iust shame If it were false his own cleerenesse would bee a shield strong enough to repell the darts of slander For man is neuer miserable till Conscience turnes his enemy If it were but the losse of riches there were a possibilitie of a recouerie if of friends hee might finde more or content himselfe with the knowledge of their happinesse in that glorious Mansion of the Saints if of corporall anguish a quiet minde might mitigate his paines or industry with time take a truce with sorrowes but this misery is immedicable Credit once lost is like water so diffusiuely spilt that 't is not in humanitie to recollect it If it bee it hath lost the purity and will for euer after be full of soile and by how much his honesty was more noted by so much will his shame bee more and his griefe For see what a horrour he hath before him all will bee now ready to brand him with the odious and stigmaticall name of an Hypocrite His Reputation which though it bee not dearer then his soule yet he prizeth aboue his life will be blacked with an eternall staine which nor absence time endeuour nor Death can wash away If he liues and could in himselfe forget it yet the enuious world will keepe it vpon record and when hee mindes it not rub it on his galled soule If he could fly from his Countrey that would like a Bloud-hound follow him if he dyes that will suruiue him and make his very graue contemptible nay so farre will it spread as somewhat to infect his friends and though haply in himselfe hee may bee bettered by so rash a fall yet the cruell and vncharitable world will euer thinke him worse In this I dare not follow it in doing that may cause this I hope I shall not I will first striue to be void of the act might bring shame next not to cast it in the dish of the penitent If my sufferings bee vniust I am sure in the end I shall find them comfortable If God hath pleas'd to remit offences why should I commemorate them A good life is a fortresse against shame and a good man's shame is his benefit the one keepes it away the other when it comes makes it proue profitable XLVI The will for the deed is oft with God accepted and he that is a thankefull Debtor restores a benefit Many benefits nay all I possesse O Lord from thee I know I haue receiued requite them I cannot returne them I may not and to rest ingratefull were a sin inexcusable Since then I cannot retaliate thy loue or retribute thy fauours yet Lord will I owe them with a desire to pay XLVII There is not any thing eates out friendship sooner then concealed grudges Though reason at first produceth opinion yet opinion after seduceth Reason Conceits of vnkindnesse harboured and beleeued will worke euen a steady loue to hatred And therefore reserued dispositions as they are the best keepers of secrets so they are the worst increasers of loue Betweene friends it cannot be but discourtesies wil appeare though not intended by a willing act yet so taken by a wrong suspect which smothered in silence increase dayly to a greater distaste but reuealed once in a friendly manner oft meet with that satisfaction which doth in the disclosure banish them Sometimes ill tongues by false tales sow Discord betweene two louers Sometimes mistakes set the mind in a false beliefe Sometimes iealousies that flow from loue imprint suspition in the thoughts All which may find ease in the vttering so their discouerie be in mildnesse otherwise choller casts a mist before the eyes of the minde and when it might see cleerely will not let it If betweene my friend and my selfe a priuate thought of vnkindnesse arise I will presently tell it and bee reconciled if he be cleere I shall like him the better when I see his integritie if faulty confession gaines my pardon and binds mee to loue him and though we should in the discussion iarre a little yet will I bee sure to part friendly Fire almost quench't and laid abroad dyes presently put together it will burne the better Euery such breach as this will vnite affection faster a little shaking prefers the growth of the tree XLVIII I haue sometimes wish't my selfe in some high seate of honor with what folly I haue after seene and been displeased with my selfe with my desires so vnbefitting vvisedome so dissonant from Christianity For what can a high place conferre vnto mee that can make my life more truely happy if it addes to my ioyes it increaseth my fear if it augments my pleasure my care is more and my trouble But perhaps I shal haue reuerence weare rich apparell and fare deliciously alas cold flames wet raymēt Haue I not known some inioying all and neuer found other fruit but enuie beggery and disease so haue in the end wished to change for lower Honors for meaner dignities accounting themselues as the flag on the top of a ship-mast as more high and more visible so more and euer open to the wind and stormes being as a worthy Iudge once answered one that gaue him his title of Honor True Honorable seruants to post through the toyles of a circuit and thinke on any mans busines but their owne Ah Tissue couer to a straw Cushion But I shal haue more means so shal I do the more good I grant but may I not doe as much good with lesse meanes 'T is a question who shall haue more reward of him that does most in quantity or most according to the proportion of his meanes If Christ may be admitted as arbitrator the poore Widdow gaue more then al the rich ones I feare if I had more I should spend more in waste sure I am I should haue more to answere for Besides who knowes what a change wealth might work in me what a snare hath it proued to many that like the Sunne haue in the morning of their time mounted themselues to the highest pitch of perspicuity and brightnesse which when they haue once attained they decline fall vanish are gone leauing nothing behind thē but darke night blacke reputation If not this what can I tell but that I might gather like
the vniust aspersions of malicious Censure who euer was that was not slandered Though hee should be beleeu'd awhile yet at last my actions would out-weigh his words and the disgrace rest with the intender of the ill So that webbe of scandall they would iniect vpon me my life shal make a garment for themselues to weare That stone that iniury casts euer in the end lights on her selfe LX. Two things a man ought to respect while hee liues heere his inward integritie and his outward vprightnesse his piety toward God and his reputation among men The one is by performance of religious duties the other by obedience to the lawes publike the one makes his life famous the other his death happy so both together bring credit to the name and felicitie to the soule I wil so be alone as I may be with God so with company as I may please the godly that report from good men may speake me vertuous Thus whensoeuer my breath shall bee made but aire they shall beleeue and I know my selfe to bee blessed The death of a good man is like the putting out of a wax perfumed Candle hee recompences the losse of light with the sweet odour hee leaues behinde him LXI As it fareth between two friends that haue been ancient familiars yet dwelling asunder the one out of a carelesse neglect forgets and omits his vsuall duty of visitation and that so long that at last he forbeares to goe at all so their loues decay and diminish not proceeding from any Iarre but onely out of a stealing neglect of renuing their loues Euen so it fals out between God the carelesse Christian who when hee hath long omitted the duty of Prayer and perhaps hath some small motiues of a happy returne the Diuell askes him with what face hee can now repaire vnto him hauing been so long a stranger both to him and that holy duty Dis-respect is the way to lose a friend Hee that would not continue a friend may neglect him and haue his aime Experience hath taught mee how dangerous neglience hath beene how preiudiciall how soone it breeds custome how easily and insensibly custome creepes into Nature which much labour and long endeuour cannot alter or extirpate In this cause there is no remedy but violence and the seasonable acceptance of opportunitie The vigilant Mariner sailes with the first winde and though the gale blow somewhat aduersely yet once lanched forth hee may either finde the blast to wombe out his sailes more fully or else helpe himselfe by the aduantage of Sea-roome whereas he that rides still anchor'd in the Riuer and will sayle with none but a wind faire may either lye till hee lose his voyage or else rot his Barke in the Harbour If a supine neglect run me on these sands a violent blast must set me afloat againe In things that must bee 't is good to be resolute I know not whether I shall haue a second call or vvhether my first motion shall die Issuelesse I am sure I must returne or perish and therefore necessitie shall adde a foot to my weake desires yet I will striue more to preuent this by frequent familiaritie then beeing an estranged friend to renue old loues not that after errour I would not returne but that I would not stray at all LXII The good man hath many sorrowes that the wicked man neuer knowes of his Offences the sinnes of the Time the dishonour of God the dayly increasing of Satans kingdome and the present misery of his fathers children So that many times when the prophane man is belching out his blasphemies hee inwardly drops a teare in his soule and is then petitioning heauen for his pardon But to strengthen him vnder the burthen of all these he hath one ioy that were all his sorrowes doubled could make him lightly beare them and this is the truth of Gods promises If I haue more troubles then another I care not so I haue more ioyes God is no tyrant to giue mee more then my load I am well in the midd'st of all while I haue that which can vphold me in all Who deserues most honour of the sluggard that hath kept his bed warme or the man that hath combated a monster and master'd him Iob was not so miserable in his afflictions as hee was happy in his patience LXIII The enuious man is a squint-ey'd foole and must needs want both wit and honesty for as the wise man hath alwayes his mind fixed most on his owne affaires so on the contrary hee obserues other mens while those that are propper and pertaining to himselfe inioy the least of his counsell and care He sees others is blind at home he lookes vpon others as if they were his and neglects his own as if they were anothers Againe that which he intends for mischiefe a secret disgrace euer addes some splendour to the brightnesse of his worth he doth so vniustly maligne as if wishing him infamous he would labour to make him famous or desiring to kill him would prescribe him a Cordiall Enuie like the worme neuer runs but to the fairest and the ripest fruit as a cunning Bloud-hound it singles out the fattest Deere of the Herd 't is a pitchy smoake which wheresoeuer we finde wee may be sure there is a fire of vertue Abrahams riches were the Philistims enuie Iacobs blessing bred Esaus hate He 's a man of a strāge constitution whose sicknes is bred by anothers health as if nature had made him an Antipathite to vertue If hee were good or meritorious hee would neuer grieue to haue a companion but being bad and shallow himselfe hee would damme vp the streame that is sweete and silent so by enuying another for his radiant lustre he giues the world notice how dark and obscure hee is in himselfe Yet to all these blurres if it were a vice that could adde but a dramme of content there might something bee spoken in way of Apology But whereas all other vices are retained either for pleasure or profit this only like a barren field brings forth nothing but bryars and thornes nothing but a meager leanenesse to the pined corps accompanied with griefe vexation madnesse If another excell me in goodnesse I 'le make him my example to imitate not my blocke to stumble on If in wealth I shall with him blesse God for his plenty neuer grudge at those faire fauors of heauen God hath enough both for mee and him but if he deserues better let mee applaud the diuine Iustice not taxe it If the vice it selfe shall not cause me to shunne it yet the folly of it shall awe mee so much as not to shake hands with a Serpent so foule 't is only the weake-sighted that cannot endure the light A strong eye can vnhurt gaze the Sunne LXIIII. The Councell the Philosopher gaue the young men of Athens may with much profit be appli'd by a Christian viz. That they should often view themselues in a glasse that
if they were faire and well featured they should doe such things as should bee beseeming their amiable shape but if foule and ill fauored that then they should labour to salue the bodies blemishes by the beauties of a mind accoutred with the ornaments of vertue good literature The Law is the Christians looking glasse which will shew all without either flattery or partiality 'T is a globe hung in the midd'st of the roome vvhich will shew thee euery durty corner of thy soule If thou hast wandered in a darke way this will tell thee thy aberrations and put thee againe into true path In it vvill I often behold my selfe that if I bee free from the outward actuall violation of it any thing faire or haue some beauties I may study dayly how to maintaine them how to increase them But if I find my selfe like a Leopard in his spots or an Ethiopian in his hiew naturall blacke and deformed as I cannot be otherwise in my selfe it shall yet make mee see my defects and striue to mend them Knowne deformities incite vs to search for remedy The knowledge of the disease is halfe the cure LXV There is no man so badly inclin'd but would gladly bee thought good no man so good already but would be accounted somewhat better Which hath oft made me sit down with vvonder at the choise excellēcy of religious vertue that euen those which in heart contemne this Princesse yet cannot but think it an honour to be counted as attendants to her Such a diuine and amazing Maiestie there is in Goodnes that all desire to weare her Liuery though few care to performe her seruice Like proud Courtiers they would faine bee Fauorites but scorne to attend If then they cannot but affect her that are her enemies how should they loue her that ioy to be friends If I bee bad let my care bee to bee good indeed not thought so If any good parts already shine in me I had rather in silence know my selfe better then haue the vnconstant world deeme me either rare or excellent LXVI It was well said of Dauid The vvicked man shall not liue out halfe his dayes for by his intemperancy hee puls on himselfe either diseases or iudgements which cut him downe before hee bee fully growne And though his dayes bee multiplyed he makes thē seeme much shorter then indeed they are For besides the beeing taken away by vntimely accidents there bee two things that seeme to contract time in a more compendious scope Either excessiue and secure ioy or else a sure expectation of ill One of these in euery wicked man hath residence The former is too ordinarie the latter not so common nor fully so dangerous The first hath his conscience so cast in a sleepe that it feeles not those priuy and perillous wounds that sinne impaires it withal All is frolicke iocund merry and he swimmes in the fullest delights inuention can procure him his eye 's inchanted with lasciuious obiects his eare charmed with scurrilous talke his taste glutted with luxurious ryots his smell filled with artificiall perfumes and his armes heated with the wanton imbraces of lust euery sence hath his seuerall subiect of solace and while in all these his affections are wholly taken vp in the present apprehension of pleasure how can hee count of the precipitate pace of time that like an Arrow from a strong bent Bow sings with the speed of his course If his delights would giue him leisure to meditate a little on this he might be so much himself as to know how his time posteth But letting it passe as a thing vnthought of his end steales on him vnlook't for vnwelcome vnawares and all those voluptuous merriments wherein in his life-time he imbathed himselfe now seeme as a day that is past whose Sunne declin'd at noone But if otherwise this sensualitie blinds him not or that his conscience be awake alreadie then alas how timerous and terrifi'd he is with the expectation of his doome and finall confusion wishing that hee were either some senslesse stone that the bitter throes and pangs of despaire might not feelingly pierce him or else that he had such wings as could procure his escape from death and marrowsearching Iudgement So like a condemned man that knowes the date of his dayes hee lyes telling the clocke and counting the houre which he spends in wishing euery day a yeere euery houre a day euery minute an houre that still he might awhile inioy the sweet possession of his deare and beloued life Thus either while his soule cleaues to the midd'st of his mirth his way beguiles him or else while he quiuers with the consideration of the shame that attends him he sailes with such feare that he mindes not his voyage so is suck't into Gulfe e're euer hee be aware A full swinge in pleasure is the way to make man senselesse A confident perswasion of vnauoidable misery is a ready path to despaire These potions that are good but tasted are mortal ingurgitated Pleasure taken as Physick is like a cordiall to a weakened body and an expedient thought of our dissolution may bee as a corrosiue plaister to eate away the deadnesse of the flesh Both are commendably vsefull I will neither be so Iouiall as to forget the end nor so sad as not to remember the beginning of life God XLVII Though Prayer should bee the key of the day and the locke of the night yet I hold it more needfull in the morning then when our bodies do take their repose For howsoeuer sleepe be the Image or shadow of death when the shadow is so neere the substance cannot be farre yet a man at rest in his chamber is like a sheepe impenn'd in the fold subiect onely to the vnauoidable and more immediate hand of GOD whereas in the day when hee roues abroad in the open and wide pastures he is then exposed to many more vnthought of accidents that contingently and casually occurre in the way Retirednesse is more safe then businesse who beleeues not a ship securer in the Bay then in the middest of the boyling Ocean Besides the morning to the day is as youth to the life of a man if that be begun well commonly his age is vertuous otherwise God accepts not the latter seruice when his enemy ioyes in the first dish Hee that loues chastity will neuer marry her that hath liued a Harlot in youth Why should God take thy dry bones when the diuell hath suck't the marrow out LXVIII GOD hath left three books to the world in each of which hee may easily be found The Booke of the Creatures the book of Conscience his written Word The first shewes his omnipotency The second his Iustice the third his mercy and goodnesse So though there bee none of them so barren of the rudiments of knowledge but is sufficient to leaue all without excuse apologies yet in them all I find all the good that euer either the Heathen or the