mans braine if it flow not from heaven it is odious to heaven The only way to bring comforts and to intaile a comfortable prosperity upon our Posterity is our conscionable inward obedience to God The services of our love to Gods Children are never thanklesse When wee are dead and rotten they shall live and procure blessings to those that never knew perhaps nor heard of their progenitors If we sow good workes succession shall reape them and wee shall be happy in making them so Doubtlesse that childe is happy whose progenitors are in heaven for he is left an inheritor of blessings together with estate whereas wicked Ancestors lose the thankes of a rich Patrimony by the curse that attends it A Good heart hath learned to frame it selfe unto all conditions and can change his estate without change of disposition rising and falling according to occasion whereas the worldly minde can rise easily but knowes not how to descend either with patience or safety OF all creatures Christians should have least interest in themselves but should live as given to benefit of others not caring much for what they have and nothing for what they have not seeing all worldly things though they require long labour in getting yet affoord but a short pleasure in enjoying them WIcked men that know the filthinesse of their soules dare not so much as view them but shift off all checks of their former iniquity with vaine excuses of good fellowship Whence it is that every small reprehension galls them because it calls the eyes of the soule home to it selfe making them see a glimpse of what they would not Like a foolish and timorous Patient who knowing his wound very deepe cannot endure the Surgeon should search it whereof what can ensue but a festering of the part and a danger of the whole body The old proverbe is true Oft and even reckonings make long friends Many prodigall wasters runne so far in bookes that they cannot abide to heare of a reckoning Happy is he that summes up his estate often with God he shall thereby know what he hath to expect and answer for neither shall his score run on so long that he shall not know his debts or feare an account or despaire of paiment FEw men feare to doe ill every man to suffer ill wherin if we consider right we shall finde that wee feare our best friends for Prosperity usually makes us forget our death Adversity on the other side makes us neglect our life Now if wee measure both of these by their effects forgetfulnesse of death makes us secure neglect of this life makes us carefull of a better So much therefore as neglect of life is better than forgetfulnes of death and watchfulnesse better than security so much more beneficiall should wee esteeme Adversity than Prosperity T Is a base thing to get goods only to keep them wee see that God who is only infinite rich holdeth nothing in his own hands but gives all to his Creatures But if wee wil needs lay up where should wee rather repose it than in Christs Treasury which is the poore mans hand There should all our superfluity bee hoarded up where doubtlesse it shall be safely kept and surely returned us If our money were anothers wee could but keepe it onely expending it shewes it our owne t is better to lay it out well than to keep it safely NO worldly pleasure hath any absolute delight in it but as a Bee having honey in the mouth hath a sting in the taile Why then should wee be so foolish to rest our hearts upon any of them and not rather labour to aspire to that one absolute Good in whom is nothing savouring of griefe nothing wanting to perfect happinesse EVery man acts his part upon this worlds Theatre The good man is a Comedian who however hee begins ever ends merrily but the wicked man acts a Tragedy and therefore alwaies ends in horrour Who sees an Oxe grazing in a fat and rank pasture and thinks not that hee is neere to the slaughter whereas the leane beast that toiles under the yoke is farre enough from the shambles The best wicked man cannot bee so glorious in his first shewes as hee is miserable in the conclusion THat affection which is grounded on the best and most Heavenly vertue must needs be the safest for as it unites man to God so inseparably that no temptations no torments no not all the gates of hell can sever him so it unites one Christian soule to another so firmely that no outward occurrents no imperfections in the party loved can dissolve them Hee that loves not the childe of God for his owne and his Fathers sake more than a friend for his commodity or a kinsman for bloud never received any sparke of true heavenly love IT happens to Christians in their pilgrimage to a better life as it doth to Travellers who meet with many hosts but few friends Good friends are a great happinesse and therefore should not easily bee lost nor must they bee used as suits of apparell which when wee have worne thred-bare wee cast off and call for new Nothing but death or villany should divorce us from an old friend we should still follow him so farre as possibility or honesty can guide us which if he chance to leave we should yet leave him with sorrow THere is no man so pure in whom we may not mislike somewhat and who may not as justly mislike somewhat in us Our friends faults therefore if little should bee swallowed and digested if great they should be smothered at least winked at to others yet lovingly notified to him WHy should we vexe our selves because another hath vexed us Injuries hurt not more in the receiving than in the remembrance A small injury should goe as it comes great ones may dine or sup with us but if they lodge with us we shall finde them very irksome A Friends death as it may moderately grieve us so it may another way much benefit us in recompence of his want for it should make us think more often and seriously of earth and of heaven of earth for his body which is reposed in it of heaven for his soule wch possesseth it before us of earth to put us in minde of our like frailty and mortality of heaven to make us desire and after a sort emulate his happinesse and glory and it is a true saying he which hath himselfe hath lost nothing IT is better not know than by knowledge to bee made miserable he that never tasted the pleasures of sinne longs least after those deceitfull contentments 'T is easier to deny a guest at the first than to turn him out having stayed awhile The senselesse man knowes not what joy hee loseth when he fondly lasheth into new offences While the Conscience is unspotted it can make us smile even on the Rack and in Flames but that once wounded our joyes are buried at once and wee throw a jewell from
guiltinesse of deformity it hides it selfe in the brest where it is once entertained and hates the light or because the tongue is so fee'd with self-love that it is loth to be drawn to any verdict against the heart or hands Or is it out of an idle misprision of shame which whilest it should be placed in offending is mis-placed in disclosing our offence How ever sure it is that God hath need even of racks to draw out Confessions for scarse in death it selfe are we wrought to a discovery of our errors O Lord since wee have sinned why should we be niggardly of that action wherein we may at once give glory unto Thee reliefe to our soules Whatsoever the sore be never any Soule truely applied this remedy and died never any Soule escaped death that applied it not TO know evill by others and not speake it is somtimes discretion to speak evill of others and not know it is alwayes dishonesty he may bee evill himselfe that speaks good of others upon knowledge but he can never be good himselfe that speakes evill of others upon suspition To speake all we know shewes too much folly to speake more than wee know shewes too little honestie He that spends all that is his owne is an unthriftie Prodigall but he that spends more than his owne is a dishonest Vnthrift Wee may sometimes know what wee will not utter but should never utter what wee doe not know HEaven being our Home and Christ our Way wee should learne to know our Way ere wee haste to travell to our Home He that runnes hastily in a Way he knowes not may come speedily to a Home he loves not Seeing Christ is our Way and Heaven our Home wee should rather chearefully endure a painefull Walke than sadly want a perfect Rest AS it is not against reason to be passionate so wee should not be passionate against reason as wee should both grieve and joy if we have reason for it so we should not joy nor grieve above reason but so joy at our good as not to take evill by our joy so grieve at any evill as not encrease the evill by our griefe THe Widowes Mite was of more worth than the Riches of superfluitie Hee gives not best that gives most but he gives most that gives best If we cannot give bountifully yet we should give freely and what wee want in our hand supply by our heart He gives well that gives willingly HE that contemnes a small fault commits a great one Many drops make a shower and what difference is it to be wet either in the Raine or in the River if both be to the skin There is small benefit in the choice whether wee goe downe to Hell by degrees or at once THe Devill is not more black-mouth'd than a slanderer nor a slanderer lesse malicious than the Devill for to have themselves thought as good as any other they will not have any thought good that dwells neere them He is to be suspected as scarce honest that would with a slander make us to suspect another as dishonest the worst of tame beasts is the flatterer and the worst of wilde beasts is the slanderer I Admire with reverence the justice and wisdome of the Lawes but deplore with compassion the abused practice of them and resolve rather to beare with patience a haile-shower of injuries than to seek shelter at such a thicket where the brambles shall pluck off my fleece and doe me more hurt by scratching than the storme would have done by hailing That Physick is not to be chosen which makes the remedie worse than the disease TO be good is now thought too neere a way to contempt Hee that lives vertuously and piously the world commonly hates and his reputation shall be traduced by the ignominious aspersion of malevolent tongues None can scape the Lash of Censure He that is never so profuse and vicious shall be loved of some though not of the best A supposed honest man found lewd is hated as a growne Monster Privat sinnes are often punisht with publike shame for sinne is a concealed fire that even in darknesse will so worke as to bewray it selfe 'T is impossible to have every ones good word because howsoever wee carry our selves some Cynicks will barke at our courses I had rather live hated for goodnesse than be loved for vice he does better that pleaseth one good man than he that contents a thousand bad ones I care not for his friendship that affects not vertue since it must needs be partly fained for diversities breed nothing but disunion and sweet congruitie onely is the Mother of true Love VIce is an infallible forerunner of wretchednesse All our dishonest actions are but Earnests layd downe for griefe anguish or confusion Sinne on the best condition brings repentance but for sinne unrepented is provided Hell He is in the highest degree of madnesse that desires to buy his vexation We should force our selves to want that willingly which wee cannot enjoy without future distaste The Bee chuseth rather to goe to the flower of the field for Honey where shee may lade her thighes securely and with leisure than to the Apothecaries shop where shee gets more but makes her life hazardable WOrks without faith are like a fish without water in which though there may seeme to be some quick actions of life and symptomes of agilitie yet they are indeed but the fore-runners of their end and the very presages of death Faith againe without works is like a Bird without wings who though shee may hop with her companions here on Earth yet living till the worlds end shee 'l never flye to Heaven When both are joyned together then doth the soule mount up to the Hill of eternall Rest Faith is the foundation good works the structure the foundation without the walls is of slender value the building without a Basis cannot stand We should first labour for a sure foundation saving faith but equally seeke for strong walls good workes for as the house is judged by the edifice more than by the foundation so not according to his faith but according to his works shall God judge man HE lives truly after death whose pious actions are his pillars of remembrance though his flesh moulders to drosse in the grave yet is his happinesse in a perpetuall growth no day but addes some graines to his heape of glory Good works are seeds that after sowing returne us a continuall harvest A vertuous man shining in the purity of a righteous life is as a light house set by the Sea side whereby the Mariners both saile aright and avoid danger But hee that lives in noted sinnes is as a false Lanthorne which shipwrackes those that trust it or like one dying of the Plague who leaves an infection to the whole Citie Doubtlesse he runnes a wofull course that lives lewdly and dies without repentance SEcrecie is a necessarie part of policie divulged intentions seldome proceed well Things
troubles When therefore thy Conscience like a sterne Sergeant shall catch thee by the throat and arrest thee upon Gods debt let thy only plea bee that thou hast alreadie paid it Bring forth that bloudy acquittance sealed unto thee from Heaven by Faith in Christ and streight way thou shalt see the fierce and terrible looke of thy Conscience changed into friendly smiles and that rough and violent hand that was ready to drag thee to prison shall now lovingly embrace thee and fight for thee against all the wrongfull attempts of any Spirituall Adversarie But the time wil come when the carelesse sinner shall bee plunged in woes and shall therefore desperately sorrow because he sorrowed not sooner for sin He may feast away his Cares for a while and bury them with himself in wine and sleep but after all these frivolous evasions they will returne again nor will they be repelled but increased hereby Sin owes him a spight and perhaps will pay him when hee is in worse case to sustaine it Namely up his Death-bed which shall prove very grievous unto him for his many wilfull adjournings of Repentance HE said wel who when some skilfull Astrologer upon calculation of his Nativitie had foretold him some specialties concerning his future estate answered Such perhaps I was borne but since that time I have been born again and my second Nativitie hath crossed my first The Power of Nature is a good Plea for those that acknowledge nothing above Nature but for a Christian to excuse his intemperatenesse by his naturall inclination and to say I am borne cholericke sullen Amorous c. is an Apologie worse than the fault For wherefore serves Religion but to subdue or governe Nature We are so much Christians as wee can rule our selves the rest is but forme and speculation THere is no difference but continuance betwixt Anger and Madnesse for raging Anger is a short Madnesse else what argues the shaking of the hands and lips the palenesse rednesse or swelling of the face glaring of the eies stammering of the Tongue stamping with the Feet unsteadie motions of the whole Body wilde distracted Speeches and rash Actions which we remember not to have done Doubtlesse a milde Madnes is more tolerable than frequent and furious Anger OVr Cowardlinesse and unpreparednesse is Deaths chiefest advantage wheras true boldnesse in confronting him dismayes and weakens his forces Happy is the Soule that can send out the Scouts of his thoughts before-hand to discover the power of Death a far off then can resolutely incounter him at unawares upon advantage such a one lives securely and dies with Comfort Death argues not Gods displeasure Abel whom God loved best dies first when the Murtherer Cain is punished with living COntentation is a rare Blessing because it either arises from a fruition of all comforts or a not desiring of some wee have not We are never so bare as not to have some benefits never so ful as not to want somthing yea as not to bee full of wants God hath much adoe with us either we lacke health or quietnesse or Children or wealth or company or our selves in all these Nature is moderate in her desires but Conceit is insatiable Who cannot pray for his daily bread when hee hath it in his Cup-bourd but when our owne provision failes then not to distrust God is a noble triall of Faith All grudging is odious but most when our hands are full To whine in the midst of abundance is a shamefull unthankfulnesse it is a base cowardise so soon as ever we are called from the garrison to the field to think of running away then is Fortune worthy of Prayse when wee can endure to be miserable O God I have made an ill use of thy mercies if I have not learned to be content with thy corrections NO benefit can stop the mouth of impatience if our turne be not served for the present former favours are either forgotten or contemned No marvell wee deale so with men when God receives this measure from us One Moone of ill weather makes us over-looke all the blessings of God and more to mutine at our sence of evill than to praise him for our variety of good It is an unfound praise that is given a man for one good action Many distrust God in their necessity that are ready to follow his guidance in their welfare if wee follow God and murmure it is all one as if wee staid behinde We can think him absent in our wants yet cannot see him absent in our sinnes It is wickednesse not affliction that argues him gone for he is most present when he most chastises And the sorrow of repentance comes never out of season all times are alike unto that Eternity where to we make our spirituall moanes that which is past and that which is future are both present with him It is neither weake nor uncomely for an old man to weep for the sins of his youth Such teares can never bee shed either too soon or too late THere is scarse a vicious man who name is not rotten before his Carcasse Contrarily a good mans name is often heire to his life either borne after the death of the Parent Envy not suffering it to come forth before or perhaps so well growne up in his life time that the hope thereof is the staffe of his age and the joy of his death The name of the wicked may be feared a while but is soone forgotten or cursed The good mans either sleepes with his body in peace or wakes as his soule in glory Vertue is not propagated Children naturally possesse only as bodily diseases so the vices of their Parents The grain is sowne pure yet comes up with chaffe and huske Hast thou a good son he is Gods not thine Is he evill nothing but his sinne is thine Help by thy prayers and endeavours to take away that which thou hast given him and to obtaine of God that which perhaps thou hast and canst not give else maist thou name him a possession but finde him a losse SPirituall gifts are so chained together that who excels in one hath alwaies some eminency in more Faith is attended with a Bevy of Graces he that beleeves cannot but have hope if hope patience he that beleeves and hopes must needs have joy in God if joy love of God hee that loves God cannot but love his brother his love to God breeds piety and care to please sorrow for offending feare to offend Vertues goe ever in troopes and that so thicke that sometimes some are hid in the crowd which yet are but appeare not IT is a rare evill that hath not something to sweeten it either in sence or in hope otherwise men would grow desperate mutinous envious of others weary of themselves The better the thing is wherein we place our comfort the happier we live and the more we love good things the better they are to us The worldling laughs more but the
Christian is more delighted Thou laughest not at the sight of an heap of thy gold yet thy delight is more than in a jest that shaketh thy spleene As griefe so joy is not lesse when it is least expressed It must needs be a strong and nimble soule that can mount to heaven possessing abundance of earthly things If thou finde wealth too pressing abate of thy load either by having lesse or loving lesse or adde to the strength of thy activity that thou maist yet ascend It is more commendable by how much more hard to climbe up to heaven with a burthen THe meaner sort of men would be too much discontented if they saw how far more pleasant the life of others is and if those of higher ranke could looke downe to the infinite miseries of their inferiours it would make them either miserable in compassion or proud in conceit It is good sometimes for the delicate rich man to looke into the poore mans Cup-board and seeing God in mercy lets him not know their sorrows by experience yet to know it in speculation Which will teach him more thankes to God more mercy to men and more contentment in himselfe I never saw Christian lesse honoured for a wise neglect of himselfe If our dejection proceed from the conscience of our want it is possible wee should be as little esteemed of others as of our selves but if we have true Graces and prize them not at the highest others shall value both them in us and us for them and with usury give us that honour we withheld modestly from our selves I never read of Christian that repented him of too little worldly delight he that takes his full liberty in what he may shall repent him how much more in what hee should not The surest course in all earthly pleasures is to rise with an appetite and to be satisfied with a little That mans end is easie and happy whom death findes with a weake body and a strong soule HErein as much as in any thing the perversnesse of our nature appeares that wee wish death or love life upon wrong causes we would live for pleasure and die for paine Iob for his sores Elias for his persecution Ionas for his Gourd would presently die and outface God that it was better for him to die than to live Wherein we are like to garrison souldiers that while they live within safe walls and shew themselves once a day rather for ceremony and pompe than need and danger like warfare well enough but being once called forth to the field they hang the head and wish themselves at home THe shipwrack of a good Conscience is the casting away of all other excellencies It is no rare thing to note the soule of a wilfull sinner stripped of all her Graces and by degrees exposed to open shame for since he hath cast away the best it is just with God to take away the worst and to cast off them in lesser regards which have rejected him in greater THe tongue will hardly leave that to which the heart is inured if we would have good motions to visit us in sicknesse we must send for them familiarly in health for such as a mans delights and cares are in health such are both his thoughts and speeches commonly on his death-bed And no marvell though the worldling often escapes earthly punishments God corrects him not because hee loves him not he will not doe him the favour to whip him The world afflicts him not because it loves him for each one is indulgent to his owne God uses not the rod where he meanes to use the sword the Pillory or scourge is for those Malefactors which shal escape execution LAughing is proper to Man alone amongst all living creatures though indeed he ought ever to be weeping because he ever sins and the beasts might rather laugh to see man so much abuse his most excellent part his reason Doubtlesse if man knew before he came into the world what should be his portion in the world he would feare his first day more than his last wherefore we ought to moderate our affections and in imitation of our great Lord and Saviour who was a man of sorrows we should not be altogether composed of mirth SEldome hath any man got either wealth or learning with ease and the greatest good is most difficult in obtaining he must not thinke to get Christ that takes no paines for him If men can endure such cutting such lancing and searing of their bodies only to protract a miserable life for a short time how much should we care what we doe or what we suffer so wee may win Christ No paine should bee refused for the gaining of Eternity MVch ostentation and much learning seldome meet together The Sun rising and declining makes long shadows but being at the highest makes none at all Skill when it is too much shewne loseth the grace as fresh coloured wares that are often opened lose their brightnesse and are soiled with much handling It is better to applaud our selves for having much of that we shew not than that others should applaud us for shewing more than we have The conscience of our owne worth should cheare us more in their contempt than their approbation comfort us against the secret check of our knowne unworthinesse Every man hath an heaven and a hell Earth is the wicked mans heaven his hell is to come contrarily the godly have their hell upon earth where usually they are vexed with many afflictions and temptations by Sathan and his complices their heaven is above in endlesse happinesse Though they sow in teares they shall reape in joy though their seed time be commonly waterish and lowring and their spring wet they shall bee sure of a cleare and joyfull harvest It is no marvell if the wicked have peace in themselves being as sure as temptation can make them Princes wage not warre with their owne subjects The The godly are still enemies and must therefore looke to be assaulted both by stratagems and violence Wherefore nothing should more joy us than our inward unquietnesse A just war is far more happy than an ill conditioned peace EVery good prayer knocketh at heaven for a blessing but an importunate prayer pierceth it though as hard as brasse and makes way for it selfe into the eares of the Almighty And as it ascends lightly up carried with the wings of faith so it ever comes laden downe againe upon our heads In prayer our thoughts should not be guided by our words but our words by our thoughts Good prayers never came weeping home and by fervent prayer we are sure to receive either what we aske or what we should aske VErtuous actions are a mans best monument Foolish is the hope of Immortality and future praise by the cost of sencelesse stone when the Passenger shall only say here lies a faire stone and a filthy Carkasse That only can report us rich but for other praises our selves must build
are given too loosely the affections runne wildly on without a guide to ruine It should be our vigilance to curbe desires betimes that so they may not wander beyond moderation our owne Will being a blinde Conductor good Precepts to an ingenious Nature are Bitts that restraine and hurt not AN Eternall Kingdome is often lost for the gaine of toyes and vanities Who is there that hazards not his soule for the pleasures or profits of sinne which when they have what have they got but shadowes and vexations The wealthie man is like a Pouder-Master who hath provision against an Enemie but is ever in danger to be blowne up himselfe And as for the best of Earthly pleasures they are farre sweeter in the expectation than in the enjoyment the most excellent wee shall finde but lame and halting It is great vanitie to cast away our Soules on such transitorie Trifles which when wee have wee are neither sure to enjoy nor to finde commodious HE that reacheth promotion without Gods calling him may flourish a while but cannot thrive He that is most fit for a place of note seldome seekes it so much as hee is sought to for it whereas ever the Bramble that is low and worthlesse cryes out aloud Make me a King Many would be Magistrates that know not how to be men but the understanding man knowes that 't is better to live in the Valley where the times tempests blow over him than to be seated on a Mountaine top where every blast threatens both his ruine and fall Howsoever others measure him hee knowes his owne height and will not exceed it It is better live honestly though meanely than by unlawfull practises to usurpe a Crowne GReat is the wisdome and goodnesse of God in hiding from evill men and spirits those meanes seasons which taken might proove most prejudiciall to his Owne wee had beene oftner foiled if Satan could have knowne our hearts Sometimes we lye open to evills and 't is our great happinesse that Hâ—â—â—â—ely knowes it that in stead of tempting pitties us And how just is it with God that those that seeke mischiefe to others finde it to themselves and even whilest they are spreading of Nets are ensnared their deliberate plotting of evill being surprized with a sudden judgement EVery gracious heart is in some measure scrupulous and findes more safetie in feare than in presumption For hee whose strictnesse commands a restraint from things unlawfull surely dares much lesse take free scope to evill and by how much that state is better where nothing than where all things are allowed by so much is the strict and timorous better than the lawlesse Consciences There is hopes of that man who is scrupulous of his wayes while he that makes no bones of his actions is apparantly hopelesse OF all moral vertues Humility is most beautifull she both shunnes Honour and yet is the way to it she rocks Debate asleepe and keepes Peace waking yet doth foster and cherish her It is a vaine thing to continue in strife hee that lives most quiet lives most secure from death and danger 'T is better be accounted too humble than esteemed a little proud The purest gold is most ductible 't is commonly a good blade that bends well THe Winter is far harder to the Grashopper than the Pismire who before having stored her Garner is now able to withstand a famine When a mishap comes suddenly and unlooked for it distracteth the minde and scares both the faculties and affections from their due consultation of remedie whereas an evill foreseene is halfe cured because it giveth warning to provide for danger IF there be any Nectar in this life 't is in the sorrowes we endure for goodnesse for they are but for a time transient and momentany The Israelites shall not live alwayes under the tyrannie of Pharaoh or the travells of the Wildernesse That God we fight for is able enough to vindicate all our wrongs and the more abundant our sorrowes are here the more plentifull shall our joyes be hereafter our teares shall return in smiles our weepings in a stream of pleasures God doth not recompence with a niggardly hand we shall finde our joyes as an overflowing sea and our glory beyond thought exuberant Death shal be our happiest day and as a Bridge from woe to glory though it be the wicked mans shipwrack it is the good mans putting into harbour where striking sailes and casting anchor hee returnes his lading with advantage to the Owner namely his soule to God leaving the Bulke still moored in the haven who is unrigged only to be new built againe and fitted for an eternall voyage GOod parts ill employed are weapons that beeing meant for our defence wee madly turne their edges and wound our selves they may make us faire in shew but in substance more polluted they are but as a saddle of gold to the back of a galld horse adorn us they may better us they cannot Grace onely can make a man truly happy what shee affordeth can content sufficiently and easily furnish the vast rooms of the mind Without her all are nothing with her even the smallest is true sufficiencie We should never think our selves the neerer heaven for possessing much on earth a weake house with an heavy roofe is in most danger He that gets heaven hath plenty enough though the earth scorn to allow him any thing hee that failes of that is truely miserable though shee give him all shee hath for it is a poore reliefe in misery to bee only thought well of by those that cannot helpe us Our outward gifts may winne us applause with men but inward grace wanting wee shall never gaine approbation with God WE are not rich or poore by what wee possesse but by what we desire for hee is not rich that hath much but he that hath enough nor is he poore that hath little but hee that wants more If God make us rich by store wee should not impoverish our selves by covetousnesse but if hee make us poore by want wee should enrich our selves by content HE ne're was so good as hee should be that doth not strive to be better than hee is neither will he ever be better than hee is that doth not feare to be worse than hee was For it is the greatest of all sinnes alway to continue in sinne and where the Custome of sinning waxeth greater the Conscience for sinne growes the lesse It is easier to quench a sparke than a fire and safer to breake the Cockatrices egge than to kill the Serpent IT is a competent estate onely that yeelds the quiet of content Abundance is a trouble want a miserie basenesse a scorne advancements dangerous disgrace odious Wee should not climbe lest we fall nor lye on the ground lest wee are trod on wee are safest while our legges beare us It is madnesse to desire either to freeze or burne a competent heat is most healthfull for our bodies REsolution without Action is a sloathfull
we should commit our cause to the God of vengeance not meddle with his prerogative he will revenge better than we can and more perhaps than we desire The wronged side is the safer side If in stead of meditating revenge we can so overcome our selves as to pray for our enemies and deserve wel of them we shal both sweeten our owne spirits and prevent a sharp temptation which wee are prone unto and have an undoubted argument that we are sons of that Father that doth good to his enemies and Members of that Saviour that prayed for his persecutors and withall by heaping coles upon our Enemies heads wee shall melt them either to conversion or confusion WEe are not disquieted when wee put off our clothes and go to bed because we trust Gods ordinary Providence to raise us up again And why should wee be disquieted when we put off our bodies and sleep our last sleep considering we are more sure to rise out of our graves than out of our beds Nay we are raised up already in Christ our Head who is the Resurrection and the life in whom we may triumph over death that triumpheth over the greatest Monarchs as a disarmed and conquered Enemy THat which belongs to us in our calling is care of discarging our duty that which God takes upon him is assistance and good successe in it Let us do our work and leave God to do his owne Diligence and trust in him is onely ours the rest of the burthen is his He stands upon his credit so much that it shall appeare wee have not trusted him in vaine even when we see no apparance of doing any good Peter fished all night catcht nothing yet upon Christs word casting in his net again he caught so many Fish as brake it COvetousnesse when men wil be richer than God wil have them troubles all it troubles the house the whole family and the house within us our pretious soule which should be a quiet house for Gods Spirit to dwell in whose Seat is a quiet Spirit If men would follow Christs method and seeke first the Kingdome of Heaven doubtlesse all other things should be cast upon them GOd is neerest to us in troubles when our enemies on earth conclude our utter overthrow God is in Heaven concluding our glorious deliverance Vsually after the lowest Ebbe followes the highest Spring-tide Christ stands upon Mount Sion and will worke our raising by that very meanes by which our enemies seeke to ruine us There is no condition so ill but there is Balme in Gilead Comfort in the God of Israel The depths of miserie are never beyond the depths of mercy Naturall men from the common light of Nature discovering there is a God will in extremities run unto him and God as the Author of Nature will sometimes heare them as he doth the young Ravens that cry unto him But comfortably and with assurance those onely have a familiar recourse unto him that have a sanctified sutable disposition unto God as being well acquainted with Him It is an excellent ground of sincerity to desire the favour of God not so much out of self-aimes as that God may have the more free and full praise from us considering the soul is never more fit for that blessed duty than when it is in a cheerfull plight IF we seriously think of what is our Duty God will surely thinke of what shall bee for our Comfort we shall feel God answering what we look for from Him in doing what he expects from us Can we have so meane thoughts of Him that wee should intend his glory and he not much more intend our good Yet many doe grossely mistake in taking Gods curse for a blessing To thrive in an ill way is a spirituall iudgement extremely hardening the heart There can neither be grace nor wisdome in setling upon a course wherein we can neither pray to God for successe in nor blesse God when he gives it WHen we are at the lowest yet it is a mercy that we are not consumed wee are never so ill but it might be worse with us whatsoever is lesse than Hell is undeserved and it is a matter praise worthy to God that we yet have time and opportunitie to get into a blessed Condition THe Apostle thought it the first duty in affliction to pray Is any afflicted let him pray Is any joyfull let him sing Psalmes Praising of God is then most comely though never out of season when God seems to call for it by renewing the sence of his mercies in some fresh favours toward us If a Bird will sing in Winter much more in the Spring If the heart be prepared in the winter time of Adversitie to praise God how ready will it be when it is warmed with the glorious sun-shine of his Favour OVr life is nothing but as it were a Webbe woven with interminglings of wants and favours crosses and blessings standings and failings combat and victory therefore there should be a perpetuall intercourse course of praying and praising in our hearts We should often apply these generalls of Holy-writ to our selves to stir up our hearts to praise God He will never leave nor forsake us he will be with us in fire and water the issue of all things shall be for our good we shall reap the quiet fruit of righteousnesse and no good thing will he withhold from them that live a godly life If wee had a spirit of Faith to apply such like generall promises wee should see much of Gods goodnesse in particular toward us God promiseth the forgivenesse of sin and yet thou findest the burthen thereof daily upon thee Neuerthelesse cheere up thy selfe when the Morning is darkest then comes day after a weary weeke comes a Sabbath and after a fight victory will appeare wee must endure the working of Gods Physicke when the sick humor is carried away and purged then we shall enioy desired health PRaising of God may well be called Incense because as it is sweet in it selfe and sweet to God so it sweetens all that comes from us Wee cannot love and joy in God but he wil delight in us when we neglect the praising of God wee lose both the comforts of his Love and our owne too Our praising God should not bee as sparkes out of a flint but as water out of a Spring natural ready free as Gods Love to us as Mercy pleaseth him so should praises please us For unthankfulnesse is a sin detestable both to God and man and the lesse punishment it receives from humane lawes the more it is punished inwardly by secret shame and outwardly by publicke hatred if once it prove notorious THe living God is a living Fountaine never drawne dry he hath never don so much for us but he can and will doe more If there be no end of our praises there shall be no end of his goodnes by this means we are sure never to bee very miserable how can he be dejected
revengefull MEe thinks it is torment enough for the poore man to want and yet I see every man ready to adde to his affliction by neglect Proud Haman was hanged and poore Mordecai raised to his honour There is no man so fixt in greatnes but may fall nor any so low in miserie but may rise why then should wee slight any mans meanes since we know not his destinie Nothing doth so powerfully call home the conscience as affliction neither need wee any other act of memorie for sinne than miserie Actions salved up with a free forgivenesse are as not done and as a bone once broke is stronger after well setting so is Love after reconcilement Yet as wounds though healed leave a scar behind them so injuries though remitted leave a guilty remembrance in the actors and it must bee a great favor that can appease the Conscience of a great injurie for a guilty conscience seldom thinks it selfe safe COrruption when it is checked growes mad with rage as the vapour in a cloud which would not make that fearefull report if it met not with opposition A good heart yeelds at the stillest voice of God but his most gratious motions harden the wicked Many would not have been so desperately setled in their sins had not the Word controlled them Any thing seems due worke to a carnall minde save Gods service nothing superfluous but religious duties Christ tells us there is but one thing necessarie Nature saith there is nothing but that needlesse REligion doth not call to a weake simplicitie but allowes as much of the Serpent as the Dove Lawfull Policies have from God both liberty in the use and blessing in the successe A wicked heart never looks inward to it self but outward to the Reproover if that afford exception it is enough as Dogs run first to revenge on the stone What matter is it to me who he be that admonishes mee Let me looke home unto my selfe and also to his advice if that be good my shame 's the more to be reproved by an evill man As a good mans allowance cannot warrant evill so an evill mans reproof may remedy evil NOthing but innocencie and knowledge can give sound confidence to the heart Ignorance as it makes bold intruding men into unknowne dangers so it makes men often causelesly fearfull Herod feared Christs comming because hee mistooke it had the tyrant known the manner of his spirituall regiment hee had spared both his owne fright and the bloud of others And hence it is that wee feare death because we are not acquainted with the vertue of it WOrdly Cares are fitly compared to Thornes for as they choke the Word so they prick our Soules Neither can the word grow up amongst them nor the heart rest upon them Spirituall Cares are as sharp but more profitable They paine us but leave the soule better they breake our soule but for a sweeter rest we are not well but either while we have them or after wee have had them It is impossible to have spirituall health without these as to have bodily strength with the other Hee lives most contentedly that is most secure for this World most resolute for the other SAtan never feares us but when we are well imploied and the more likelihood hee sees of our profit the more is his envy and labour to distract us he is ever busiest in our best actions and most in the best part of the best as in the end of prayer when the heart should close up it self with most comfort We should therfore strive so much the more towards our own good as his malice strives to interrupt it We do nothing if we contend not when wee are resisted The Devill steals upon us suddenly by temptations because he would foile us and if we be not armed ere we be assaulted wee shall be foiled ere we can be armed HE that intermits good Duties incurreth a double losse of the blessing that followeth good and of the faculty in doing it Want of use causeth disabilitie as Custome perfection He that omits prayer in his closet can hardly pray in publique but with a cold formalitie Hee that discontinues meditation shall be long in recovering whereas the man inured to this exercise performs both well and with ease CHristianity is both an easie yoke and a hard hard to take up easie to beare when once taken The heart requires much labour ere it can be induced to stoop under it and finds as much content when it hath stooped The worldling thinks Religion great servitude but the Christian knowes whose slave he was till he entred into this service and that no bondage can bee so ill as freedome from these bands Every good action hath his let and hee can never be good as he ought that is not resolute The regenerate Christian both is and knowes himselfe truly great and thereupon mindeth and speaketh of spirituall immortall glorious Heavenly things but every Worldling is base minded and therefore his thoughts creepe still low upon the earth The more the soule stoopeth to earthly matters the more unregenerate it is ALl our future good wee hold only in hope and the present fauour of God wee have many times when we feele it not The stomacke finds the digestion even in sleep though we perceive it not We are most happy when wee know our selves so But miserable were many Christians if they could not be happy and know it not It is not a mans naturall parts but his graces that crown him honest sottishnesse is better than prophane eminence None ever did so much mischiefe to the Church as those that have been excellent in wit and learning others have been spitefull enough but were not able to accomplish their malice That Enemy is most to bee feared that hath both strength and craft to hurt us THe Conscience can have no perfect peace while sinne is within to vexe it no more than an angry swelling can cease throbbing aching while the Thorne or corrupted Matter lies rotting underneath Time that remedies all other evils of the mind encreaseth this which like to bodily diseases proves worse with continuance and growes upon us with our age Sin is a perpetuall Make-bait betwixt God and man betwixt a man and himselfe ever working secret unquietnesse to the heart The guilty man may have a seeming Truce a true peace hee cannot have which makes the galled soule seek refreshing in varietie of pleasures places and companies yet after many such vaine wearyings finds no rest but complaines of remedilesse and unabated torment for alas what availes it to seeke outward reliefes when our executioner is within us Nero after so much innocent bloud shed may change his Bed-chamber but his Friends being as parts of himselfe will ever attend him The soule may flee from the body but the Conscience will not flee from the Soule nor sin from the Conscience It is a divine Power only that can uphold the mind against the rage of inward