festers no trouble like to that which is felt not seen the disease that seizes the heart is most dangerous I am resolved my sorrows shall not enter past skin deep why should my mind be concerned in all that concerns me this may be my remedy in every malady to retire home and it is but keeping the door shut and the wind cannot enter so that if I suffer I may thank my self LXXIII All things here run round there is nothing new under the Sun what is was or may be the wheel is still turning that which is past will come about again I will not wonder at what I see it is no more than what hath been before let my case be what it will I am neither first nor last others have drank of the same cup and some will pledge me LXXIV Small things through concord are encreased but discord destroys all peace produces plenty but variance want I like not those Salamanders whose Element is the Fire if possible I would live peaceably with all men quietnesse is the greatest happinnesse I will strive neither to give nor to take offence but carry my self as circumspectly as I can thaâ— there may be no occasion of contention eitheâ— from me or them LXXV What is past cannot be recall'd Time is ball'd behind millions will not fetch back the last moment gone once and ever gone the stream runs but returns no more the Clock never strikes backward if the Glasse be turned up again it is for another hour how prodigal have I been of that which both the Indies cannot buy Lord make me more thrifty of my time lest what I have lost I lack I have done but little night draws on and there is no working in the Grave whither I am going LXXVI There is no pleasure but by continuance ceaseth to be a pleasure too much of one thing is good for nothing honey may become loathsom choice gives content to be confin'd marres all the daintiest dish if always fed on proves unsavoury the sweetest Wine will turn sowre the softest bed to lie on long will be uneasy there is no satisfaction in any single comfort I long and loath and love again this is the life I lead hence I conclude creatures cannot give content I will go farther and fare better LXXVII Is any outward affliction befallen thee snarle not at the stone but see the hand that threw it look upward and look inward it is the Father corrects his Child know thy fault from feeling blame none but him thou mayest thy self and thank thy folly learn instruction from correction kisse the Rod and take heed thou beest not beaten for stubbornnesse welcom the message and the messenger shall be discharged LXXVIII Is thy Estate gone it was anothers before thine and what wonder it is now anothers who can hinder what will away grieve not for that thou couldest not keep but get that thou canst not lose perchance if thou hadst not lost thou hadst been lost think of thy deliverance as well as of thy damage however it were childish to complain hast thou lost what thou hadst thou mayest have what thou hast lost but if it be not recoverable why should'st thou vex thy self for nothing and make thy draughts more tart with thy tears LXXIX Art thou banished or imprisoned all places are alike to a wise man he scorns to be confined neither seas nor walls can binder him what if thy body be bounded thy mind is free when abroad at home though I leave my place I do not leave my company my best friend will not leave me and what do I not enjoy whilst I enjoy my God and my self LXXX Do reproaches trouble thee slight what thou canst not shun despise what thou dost not deserve concern not thy self with their cattle what is that to thee it were a folly to mind the yelping of every Curre what is the Moon the worse for the Dogs barking let Rabshecaies rail and Shimeies slaunder I would value it no more than the wagging of a straw shall every scratch ranckle consider it is the common fate of good men to be ill spoken of this serves for a foil to thee the filth will blow back into their own faces LXXXI Art thou sick it is but the flesh that feels it is the body only upon the bed the soul is free not subject to disease but suppose a sympathy between such friends yet consider the Potion that makes thee sick does thee the most good thou hast to do with a wise Physician who knows when to use Corrosives and when Cordials he prescribes to the nature of the distemper no more than necessary no less than will work the Cure besides the disease sometimes proves the remedy LXXXII Do things go ill with Church or State a common calamity is best born if thou canst not divert the plague endeavour to secure thy self take shelter for a while storms will be spent or else be past should the ship miscarry a planck might conveigh thee to shore but why shouldst thou fear the Vessel when God guides the Helm let him alone to steer at Sea thou mayest look for change of weather keep thou close in thy Cabbin what hast thou to do to meddle steering belongs not to the Passenger but to the Pilot. LXXXIII Hath death deprived thee of thy dearest friends thou art following as fast as thou canst their glass is run thine is running their bell rings out and thine is towling bear with their absence but a while you are not like to be long asunder and what though parting be bitter a meeting will make amends LXXXIV Hast thou lost a good Wife it is for her good thy loss is her gain it is better being in Heaven than here she hath finish'd her course and got her Crown storms still beat on thee but she is housed thou art working she is paid what thou hast in propriety she hath in possession mourn no more it is incongruous to grieve for one in glory save thy tears for thy self thou mayest need them not she if this will not suffice yet chear up for shame consider as thou wert a husband so thou art a man LXXXV Is thy Son dead no marvel thou didst beget him mortal flowers are sometimes pluck'd before they are blown Graves are not all of a size no age will exempt from death it is more wonder thou hast lived so long than that he dyed so young what though the fruit falls when the tree stands LXXXVI Art thou afraid of death be more familiar and thou wilt less fear it thou cam'st upon condition to return and is not home to be desired death is but a dirty lane that leads to our Fathers house what though body and soul part both are safe and the better part happy is the weary traveller loath to rest doth the souldier like to be besmear'd with sweat and blood death welcomes me first with victory and helps me to what I fought for LXXXVII Is it
only friendship which is stronger than death and those the friends whose fortunes are embarqued in the same bottom who are resolved to sink and swim together XX. My friend is as it were my self there is but one soul in two bodies neither am I more my own than my friends I have nothing but what is his what I have he hath if he will he may command both me and mine XXI Whatever thou dost do quickly it may be too late to tarry for leasure want of a power follows want of will delayes are dangerous what thou art unfit for to day perchance to morrow thou wilt be more unfit besides who can call another moment his I will dispatch what I have to do lest something be left undone I had rather want work than time and finish too soon than be surprized XXII There are many not worthy of light on whom the Sun shines prosperity is oft-times the portion of the basest of men there is no judging by appearance all is not gold that glisters a Dunghil will stink still let me be a flower though I grow in the shade Providence appoints the place what is good for others may be bad for me XXIII Necessity is no friend to freedom there is no liberty where there is no remedy I will come under the least obligation possible and act by choice not constraint what is forced is not thank-worthy that which is free is only kindly I will have my hand observe my heart then shall I do what I will while I will but what I do XXIV As the Furnace tryes the Gold so misery proves the man his suffering shews his strength troubles are the only tryals the resolution is known by the opposition the patience by the pain XXV I never thought him happy who thought himself miserable the mind is the man if another hath what I can be without what is he the better or I the worse while he wants more and I less he is not happy that enjoyes but that doth not desire Satisfaction lies not in Addition but Substraction A Monarch may be miserable but content is more than a Kingdom I can be what I will while I will be what I can XXVI Socrates passing through the Market cryes out How much is here I do not need Nature is content with little Grace with less Poverty lies in opinion what is needful is soon provided and enough is as good as a Feast I am worth what I do not want my occasions being supplied what would I do with more XXVII The fear of Death is worse than Death it self it is better to be dead than alwayes dying give me the man that dares to dye that opens his breast boldly and bids to Death defiance that can welcom the King of Terrors and look him in the face with a smile I will account my last enemy my best friend who shews me my Crown when almost spent and helps me to what I fought for XXVIII They may kill but cannot hurt 'T was the saying of Seneca when doomed to dye and it argued a brave Heroick spirit Whom need a Christian fear whose life is hid with Christ he is out of Gun-shot the reach of men and Devils whatever happens nothing harms him to kill him is the greatest kindness you send him but to Heaven the sooner XXIX I have read of a Phylosopher that being pounded in a Morter bid his Tormentors in derision beat on the Sack of Anaxarchus he looked on the body but as the bag and knew the treasure was secure it matters not what becomes of the Casket when the Jewel 's safe and what though the shell be crack't when the kernel is whole and untoucht it were below me to shrink or look pale at any thing when Heathens can bear torments with a smooth brow if they can be so valiant it were a shame for a Christian to be a Coward XXX He fights with a shadow that fights with a Saint who can neither be hit nor hurt a Christian walks invisible and is invulnerable you strike at you know not what the stone falls short it never comes near him XXXI In living as in swimming the lesser luggage the better why should I then repine to be eased of what doth hinder perchance if I had not lost I had been lost it is a mercy in a shipwrack to escape naked what I lament might have drowned me XXXII Opportunity comes neither often nor continues long it is good striking while the Iron is hot to lose the occasion is the loss of all I will endeavour to take the fittest time for every action lest I should slip the season I cannot promise my self any other opportunity than the present I will hoise Sail while the wind is fair XXXIII Fortune does often favour the most daring Nothing venture nothing have desperate designs many times succeed and things beyond hope happen I have known strange results of a resolution while some have sought death they have found both life and glory I will look before I leap then leap at all he is a Coward that will shun the Combat where the Crown countervails the Conquest XXXIV It is uncertain how the Evening proves who knows whether the Sun will shine at setting it sometimes goes down clear and sometimes in a cloud there is no depending on what is doubtful since I cannot foresee what may fall out I will provide for that I cannot prevent that I may bring my mind to my condition when I cannot my condition to my mind XXXV Divine wrath proceeds to punish by degrees but makes amends for its slowness with its severity the longer the blow is fetching the sorer is the stroke abused patience turns to fury forbearance is no acquittance I had rather fear before I feel than feel before I fear XXXVI He hath every thing that desires nothing a contented mind is richer than Croesus or then the Indies this turns all we touch to gold and is the only pearle of price more worth than a World He is the happy man that can see and scorn who does not covet but contemns and hath at home what others seek abroad what doth he not enjoy who enjoyes himself XXXVII Satisfaction lies in proportion and in propriety without both there can be no content what is not fit or not our own will never make us happy that serves best that sutes best is most comfortable and most comely I will shape my Last to my foot a Shooe too big is uneasie and too little pinches what matches the mind must likewise be the mans or all is nothing I may starve for famine while another hath food to spare what is that to me which is not mine XXXVIII That which is ill-gotten is usually ill-spent a covetous Father hath commonly a prodigal son what the one rakes the other scatters he that knows not how to get knows not how to keep lightly come will lightly go what is gained by ill means is spent in an ill manner
is got is glory see the Trophies and the prize reckon upon the Lawrel thou must fight but shalt not be foyled and it matters not what Heaven cost thee when the reward is worth it XXXII Let thy thoughts be provident but not perplexive dost thou foresee a sorrow prevent it if thou canst if not entertain it with a smile why should every scratch rankle it were a folly to fret and sume for what thou canst neither help nor binder Patience becomes the Pilot though the winds blow cross what I do not occasion I will bear as unconcerned if the fault be not mine why should the feeling XXXIII Live as one that must die and perhaps the next moment be always in a travelling posture in a readiness to be gone sit loose to the world consider thou art upon thy way not at home thy Inne is no dwelling place fix not thy affections where thou canst not fix thy habitation give not death a double labour to send thy soul from thy body and thy heart from the creature I will look upon all as dying and my self half dead what may be is uncertain what is past is dead to me hence I conclude I can call no more than the present minute mine XXXIV Whenever thou art sollicited to sin consider how dear it cost Christ and how dear it will cost thee trace him from the Garden to Golgatha nay from the Cratch to the Cross and see what he suffered for imputed sin what then mayest thou expect to suffer for thine own if thou canst not sin at a cheaper rate it will not be worth thy while to sin lay the pleasure against the punishment and see how the scale stands XXXV Hast thou done any thing that doth displease to despair is more displeasing if Justice be thy foe yet Mercy is thy friend confess thy fault and amend do so no more and all is well a lame leg may be as strong as ever and the sick as sound none but a Cain thinks his sins too great to be forgiven this were the greatest sin to despond were to disparage God and his Grace and at once to question his Mercy and Christs Merits it is a double wrong to offend and after to doubt of pardon XXXVI Run not the danger of a Death-bed Repentance why shouldest thou hazard Heaven besides the folly of deferring what must be done and if at all why not now time tarries not and assure thy self there will be no calling back of time there is no working in the Grave whither thou art going the day is for doing night draws on the Curtains will be drawn imagine thou hearest Death cry Dispatch the next voice may be Depart let a Death-bed find thee fit not fit thee thou wilt have enough to do to die XXXVII Look upon thy Taper and there see the Embleme of thy time if a blast blow it not out yet it burns and like as the wax so dost thou waste perchance thy decay is insensible yet one day succeeds another and thy last day will come the silver cords will be loosed and the golden bowls be broken death proceeds by degrees but it will e're long diffuse it self through every member and it will be said of thee as thou hast said He is dead others are gone and thou art going to a Land of darkness as Darkness it self it will not be always thus thy Grave will be digged and the Bells ring for thy Funeral walk as becomes the light it will not last long burn clear to the socket why should'st thou go out in a snuff and leave a stink behind thee XXXVIII Labour not to lengthen thy life but to better it do much in a little time he hath lived long enough that hath lived well enough a good life makes a great age do not desire to be longer from God than needs must make haste rid away thy task betimes to protract thy work prolongs thy wages after the heat comes the hire pay-day comes after labour a recompence signifies something done and when the account is taken thy life will be measured by action not by hours XXXIX Desire to be dissolved to be with Christ is best of all here is nothing worth thy stay though Heaven be worth the waiting be therefore content to live but willing to die watch for the word when the voice shall cry Come and eccho back Amen even so come Lord Jesus what dost thou part with but pain for pleasure a Prison for a Palace fetters for freedome at best but a few crums that fall from the Table to take thy fill at the first hand with the Bridegroom and his friends XL. Be chearful in every conâ—ition what a dishonour is it to the Master for the Servants to be still repining it argues the wages is not worth the work it discourages those who want employment I have often thought the generality of Professors too blame for their lumpish melancholly carriage which brings an ill report upon Religion as if it marr'd all mirth and were inconsistent with their Profession when none have less cause to be sad than a Saint nor indeed any besides to be chearful XLI Be couragious and fear nothing but to offend in doing thy duty despise thy danger venture upon any thing upon the warrant of a command he that bids thee can bear thee out perchance beasts shall not bite nor the fire burn however better thou lose thy life than he his glory he can give thee another and reward thee for the former thy loss will be thy gain none shine brighter in Heaven than those who swim thither in streams of their own blood XLII Run not into a needless danger it is not the Cause without the Call makes a Martyr thou wilt have no comfort in a suffering thou bringest upon thy self keep thy station and stir not out without thy Commander calls thee he cannot do well that disobeys Souldiers and Saints are under discipline and are not to be disposed of at their pleasure thy place is appointed where thou must either fight in or fall XLIII If another have wronged thee against his will willingly forgive the wrong let the intention make amends for the action thou art hit by accident he did not aim at thee his hand perchance might slip or his eye dazle who can be against a mischance though it prove a misfortune I look upon him as less in fault who is sorry that he hurt me than he who would but could not I will measure the mischief by the malice and the malice by the meaning XLIV Let him who is thy Alpha be thy Omega God gave thee to thy self give thy self to him Rivers run to the Ocean every thing tends to its center live to him by whom thou livest look upon thy self not as thy own and what thou hast to be none of thine remember the reckoning when the account is to be called thou art entrusted as a Steward be faithful to thy trust hide not thy Talent