the glorious state of wickednesse but therein contemplate the justice of Divine Providence for vertue is not distinguished by any sensible reward from vice And who dares consult with the eternal wisdome or who can compare with Omnipotence This makes me chearful in the greatest calamity and contemne all worldly things in respect of an honest fame LXXIII I know the separation of the body and soul in regard that nature abhors all evacuation dis-union and dissolution may be said to be unnatural yet I can apprehend this dis-junction as a necessary means to a more glorious redintegration and incorruptible union I know that there is a mutual relation and commerce a friendly society and interchangable conversation betwixt these two Yet I can see an image of Divinity a picture of heaven an impresse of eternity in the inward part which cannot appear and shine forth in its true lustre in that genuine purity and brightnesse till this dirty clay this red earth this body of dust be scoured off and refined for a resurrection I know that both shall meet againe so purified so rarified so together glorified as now I cannot conceive an expression to certifie my understanding but can understand enough to strengthen and confirme my faith I believe and know that both shall be renued with such perfection and absolute grace that there shall be no roome left fit for a temptation for a disease the Soul without hope or fear or anger or grief free from all tumultuary passion and rebellious lusts the body free from all paine and anguish and sicknesse the whole man void of all necessity of sin and misery I will not fear death that is the occasion of all this blessednesse Life is nothing else but a progresse unto death and death is nothing else but an entrance into life I know it is the end of all misery and the beginning of all happiness Against the fear of death and the desire of death I do thus conclude I wil so live that I may die happily I will so die that I may live eternally Lord give me thy grace here and I will not doubt of thy glory hereafter LXXIV Let our course of life be what it will we shall finde misery enough Abroad the Courts of Justice torment us as much as our own cares at home The Countrey is a kind of oppression with continual labours the Sea a confusion of dangers Travel if we go out rich is but a temptation of spoile and rapine if poore a provocation of scorne and contempt Matrimony is no more then a conjunction of mutual calamities and a single life a solitary mischief Children are monuments of care and barrenness a curse of Oblivion Youth is a tormenting fury Age a stump of weaknesse What is all this life of ours which we dote upon so much but a point of time a little grain of salt a summer flower a fading pleasure and yet sleep like a severe Publican and other idle diversions our officious enemies toile away above half this inconsiderable stock of nature What is Man but an Earthen vessel a fraile bottle a statue of snow or wax that melts at every blaze and will admit any impression a rotten chip a withered leaf a course thread spun out into Atomes This is that animal {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a creature for a day that starts up like a mushrum and vanishes like a shoure of frogges All things under the Sunne are vanity but he is All vanity a circle a whimsey a figure a fancy a feather a trifte a nothing a dream of a shadow and the shadow of a dream He is but a living carkasse a walking Ghost something in a trance a monument of death If this be our condition while we live who would not be ambitious to die LXXV We are but generated dust at first and at last degenerated ashes The soul in the body is but confined as it were to some dark prison The grave is not so strait a lodging to the body as the body is to the soul for the body is not sensible of this narrow imprisonment but the soule every day feels the iron weight of her fleshly fetters The flesh is a burden to the soul are we afraid of ease we shall never finde rest and quiet till God the Lord and proprietary call for his abused talent and repose it safe in those eternal Mansions What a benefit is this to be deprived of that darknesse and stupidity which hindred our prospect to be estated in an unchangable condition to enjoy an undeterminable felicity why should we be lesse unwilling to put off this fleshly garment than we are to undress our selves every night why should we be loath to change this vile body for eternity to shift this thread-bare-coat to be superinvested with immortal glory what but some strange misbelief and infidelity can obstruct the desire of this happy dissolution The world is full of miseries and heaven is full of blessings enough to excite the most dull heart to pant after this glorious change Death in it self is nothing are we afraid of nothing are we frighted with a Chimaera How shall I encounter with an Host if I tremble at a shadow There is nothing fearful in death if we embrace it with a good conscience An honest man cannot die a dishonest death It is reported of the Emperour Vespasian that when he lay upon his death-bed breathing out his last he made a sudden start and raised himself upon his feet Being requested to lie down again he refused and yeelded up his spirit with these words Oportet imperatorem stantem mori It behoves an Emperor to die standing which with a little change may become the mouth of a good Christian Oportet Christianum triumphantem mori It behoves a Christian to die triumphing LXXVI Every day we suck in fresh aire and breath it out again Our very Being is but an Emblem of mortality but after death we are no more dead then we live indeed when we cannot die Here we die many deaths but hereafter we shall live one everlasting eternal life Here we are subject to many inconveniences and much distress there we are free from all Who would not more willingly pass out of this world and if it were lawful thrust himself out than stay behinde in a throng of woful confusions can there be a worse Hell then is exercised on Earth if there be any greater torment then the guilt of sin sure it is prepared for those that remaine miserable in the judgement What is it that doth so trouble our apprehension Other afflictions because usual and familiar we endure well enough by acquaintance with our misery we can arme our selvs against the violence of fortune the fury of injustice the raging of poverty the cruelty of a Tyrant Familiarity they say breeds contempt now what more common then Death what more natural what a world is gone before us of all sorts and degrees Kings Prophets
minde so intent upon her misery that she never seeks for a redresse Society cannot cure this disease for it disturbs all conversation A froward man offends all and all offend him But those discontents are most irksome which may not be revealed for then the heart withers and consumes without hope of comfort Good Counsel is restorative the want of which drives men into a desperate ruine Sorrow smothered up murders the patient and like an undermining Pioner digs for destruction XCII Too much freeness will make any man poore and miserable An excessive bounty concludes in a loathsome defect Mischief ever follows him that hath overmuch goodnesse Necessity makes them vile whom fortune made liberal and liberality made wretched Prodigality must have fuel to maintain it hence those that give most covet most A treasure strangely wasted must be supplied by extraordinary means yet what pity is it that a Noble-nature should be forced to commit unworthy Acts How have the best dispositions been thus violated by an extravagant sweetnesse Many men had held out better if they had not gone so fast at first A sober pace never tires Put a horse to his full speed in the beginning and he will faile before the journeys end but a gentle rider prevents both the danger of stumbling and the trouble of tyring XCIII Conceit will make any thing unpleasant we are built much upon opinion which yet is but a sandy foundation One man is all for mirth and musick company and revels another findes more pleasure in a retired privacy Spending is a recreation to some gain to others In all this variety of humours the imagination breeds content and delight Our own thoughts are the mould in which we cast the model of our happinesse Our affections are minted by the inclination of the heart and every passion beares the stamp of a conceited belief But how miserable is our greatest glory that hath no other consideration to make it valuable but our own perswasion He that relies upon such a credit for his welfare may quickly drive himself into a fooles Paradice But fancy of prosperity is adversity indeed and to have no assurance of heaven but by a dream is to fall head-long into hell XCIV Nothing is so full of change and alteration as man Proteus never knew so many various shapes Our Passions turn us round in a perpetual circle of vicissitude Love sometimes whirles about to an extremity of hatred Many have killed those for whom they have been willing to die What a slender thread holds together the patron and his favourite and how small a matter can undo or break this union How hardly are some men pleased in their Dyet being constant in nothing but variety and yet not satisfied Our Recreations do discover a giddinesse and our most solemn actions speak something of mutability Our apparel is the very emblem of inconstancy A plain suit to day rich robes to morrow This is the imperfection of humanity The weaknesse of our nature bewrays it self in an unsteadfast motion Other things alter not but according to their object Constancy is a noble vertue yet where vice is predominant it is no more then wilful folly The way to perfection is to change for the better Therefore a firme resolution without discretion is most dangerous His condition is desperate that will not be perswaded to leave his sins XCV There is no temptation or adversity which hath not a peculiar and proper medicine from some part of our Saviours cross When the winde of Ambition swells the sailes of my affection I will think how the head of the Church was dejected in this exaltation what reproach and scorne he endured from those that were not worthy to behold him He that was Supream judge of all would be content to undergo the death of a malefactor When the sting of Envy plucks my heart I will remember how sweetly and ingeniously he gave up himself in our behalf what a favourable friend he was to his worst enemies When I am solicited by Intemperance how he was pleased with gall and vinegar besides a full cup of his Fathers wrath When tempted with some dishonest pleasure how his whole life was void of all delight what were the pains of his tormenting Agony and cruel passion If I am moved with anger how like the quiet Lamb he never opened his mouth but for a prayer or blessing Who can be angry with his neighbour when he hears him pray for his enemies Father forgive them for they know not what they do If poverty afflict my soul or a covetous desire incline my heart to an unlawful gaine then I will consider how the Lord himself the Lord of the whole universe was content to be borne in a Stable and die in the Field a manger for his cradle and for his death-bed the cross In this manner I can please my self and finde extraordinary comfort in the greatest Affliction of body or minde I can boast of my infirmities rejoyce in my adversity be proud of my unhappiness and blesse God that I am counted worthy to follow the footsteps of my dear Redeemer and thankfully imbrace all the miseries both of life and death XCVI The entertainment of any sin whatsoever may work our final overthrow That enemy is most dangerous which is least regarded and many men are thus soothed to destruction They flatter themselves in some little transgresgression yet beare a profest hatred to every grand impiety Every man will professe an absolute enmity with those apparant vices as these Rapine Murder Adultery Incest and the like but simple fornication is but a moderate use of pleasure an harmlesse trick of youth an easie escape a sweet Trespass Who can claim a propriety in goodness or vertue that doth thus delight himself with a spotless innocence The Gnat a small creature flying into the eye of a Caldean Lion which are of a clear wit tender composition so torments that fierce and mighty Prince of Beasts with his little sting that he is forced by the extreamity of paine with his own claws to deprive himself of sight and life Thus the least offence is sometimes great enough to drive the purest conscience of the strongest Christian into a wound and mortal despaire XCVII That man is a Prince indeed that knows how to command his tongue Silence will prevent a mischief which too much talk will induce and aggravate A discourtesie may be smothered up and hush'd by a temperate forbearance of words but we seldom see blowes given without a volloy of ill language Superfluity of speech like water sprinkled upon coales doth raise the fire of contention which otherwise would go out of it self Thus thinking to extinguish we inflame discord and our breath becomes the bellows to a fiery fewd Thus when we endeavour to coole we increase the heate and the mouth while it labours to blow out the sparks stirres up the fuel of indignation till it flame about our eares It is well
ashes we may Canonize a Saint but cannot make him such by our greatest adoration The goodnesse of an action is in the stamp and character of its own nature not in the value of a vain report It were labour lost to pursue vertue if it could be taken from us by the violence of a railing tongue And though false witnesse may prevail for a time against the best innocence yet the Iudge of all the world cannot be unjust in his judgement XLI By the composition and stature of our bodies we are admonished how to behave our selves one towards another Every man ought to dwell within his own bounds and limits without incroaching upon his neighbours part As there is space and roome enough in the Head for those operations that are there fixed and the like in the rest of the Members by reason of that good order and consent setled amongst them So the world is sufficiently great to serve all if we had but skill to bear with one another if every man would be content with his own state and condition and satisfie himselfe with those peculiar gifts which he hath received from our Soveraign Lord as a member of the same body XLII 'T was well said of one Dreams are but dreams that is nothing but vanity Yet by these a wise man can make a large discovery of his own inclination The night sometimes represents things clearer then the day Sleep which is but the shadow of death can furnish our soules with lively thoughts The retired fancy is not disturbed with any outward object and finds room enough to expatiate it self To give credit to every dreame and to neglect all argues too much indiscretion in both extreames Superstion will make a God of nothing contempt will make nothing of God The Braine is not destitute of her vigilant motions under the greatest load of drouzie Morpheus It will become our wisdome to make a useful collection of our most extravagant fancies which we may do well enough and yet not abuse our faith with too much curiosity or observation XLIII What miseries attend this life when our best things are but vanity and vexation Solomon had a general experience of this universal frame yet could finde nothing but emptiness at the bottome The world was made of nothing consists of forms worth nothing and at last shall returne to nothing This will give our discretion wings to flie to heaven the state of true blisse of everlasting joy As God made every thing by his power of nothing so let us by grace from God make nothing of every thing let us slight and neglect these transitory fading toyes let us behold all as nothing and behold our Lord as All in all XLIV He that would settle a distracted State must first subdue all his Enemies To exalt a troubled Kingdome it is necessary that some should be made shorter by the hoad The humble sheep can never rest securely while the devouring wolves are at liberty Mercy and favour prove cruel sinnes when exercised upon a brood of Traitors for the innocent suffer when such guilty men are reprieved The members of a Common-wealth are torn in pieces when Rebels get a head above their Soveraigne Divisions and factions are the tortures of a Crown and he that neglects a correction must needs fall under it A quick dispatch is the onely cure for such desperate diseases A Prince that stayes to hear what his good rebellious Subjects can say for themselves does but suffer them to destroy him in a way of complement and send him to heaven for his happiness XLV We are all apt to dispute for a priviledge of revenge and every man would have the power of a King within him and something more The little shrub will contend with the lofty Cedar for supremacy Therefore those primitive Champions underwent as hard a service in subduing their affections to be prepared for a ready submission to the wilful tyranny of some wicked Prince as when they endured their fiery tryal or the most subtil torments of persecution This I believe was the greatest conquest The sweet assurance of an innocent death will countervaile the worst extremity of paine and miserable torture A good conscience is a continual feast or to use the expression of a learned Divine food in famine freedom in fetters health in sicknesse life in death XLVI As the body cannot live except it receive such food and nourishment as is agreeable to its nature so the soul cannot thrive if it want the knowledge to which it is naturally inclined And as life is preserved by heat in our bodily parts so the being of our foules consists in the apprehension of that fervor which the love of God bestows upon it The Spirit which is separated from the favour of God is in a mortal condition The blessed estate of eternity belongs to those that are animated with the warme beams of a living mercy The means appointed to obtain this happinesse is the heavenly and eternal word which we use as a preparative to receive those precious viands of everlasting glory XLVII Marriage is a composition of both Sexes The Creation was imperfect till Adam parted with a piece of himself to be returned with interest It is some kinde of an affront to Nature if there be no impediment to reject wedlock It is that by which the world subsists and he that upon reasonable termes will not improve such a benefit is an enemy to the very essence and whole constitution of man-kinde The chastity of a single life is a rare jewel and blessed are they that can preserve it entire yet honest Matrimony is the best remedy either to prevent or cure a lascivious disease When couples joyne with mutual favour and affection the danger of temptation is not so great but a solitary vertue is not so well armed against the fiery darts of Satan XLVIII Nothing becomes Authority so well as a grave and sober moderation Violence can never consist with peace He that rises above his heighth may fall below himself Preferment is a curse to him that knows not how to use it and many men had beene happy if they had not been exalted A man may know his distance and yet not part with his humility for 't is a vertue requisite in all conditions It is good to moderate the greatnesse of our prosperity with humble thoughts for he whose minde exceeds his fortune is miserable enough in the highest advancement XLIX When the tongue runnes over we may presume the heart is full of vanity He that speaks much of himself never considers what he ought to do His intention upon the fame makes him neglect the worth of his actions He takes it for granted that all his deeds are currant coine and therefore is bold to assume the glory of a high renown as the natural purchase of his merit Thus presuming that he cannot act amisse he passes by the best opportunities of doing good and is onely great in the
as well as Religion is necessary in a Divine Truth may be apprehended without much knowledge but it cannot be taught without a large measure of understanding A man may have faith enough for himself and yet want power to infuse it into others The Arts are nothing else but Reason improved and Divinity though it transcend does never crosse nature Morality is a servant to Grace and such a Queen cannot be without her attendants Conscience and Phylosophy may well stand together a good Pastor is well furnished with both Without the first none will without the second none can rightly instruct the people LVI I will ever suspect that man that makes too much haste to gaine my acquaintance A violent affection goes away as fast as it comes a fire of straw is easily kindled and quickly out Love that is ripe too soon like Summer fruit will not hold out in the Winter of affliction A durable friendship is built upon consideration He that thrusts himself upon me may be presumed to want honesty or judgement either he hath some designe upon my person or else is not worthy of my knowledge Religion is the best ground of a familiar society And I shall think that he hath but little in himself that will venture upon me not yet informed of mine LVII Travel to a wise man is a lesson of experience The deepest Schollars cannot by their reading comprehend so much as others that want learning have seen and observed A narrative information is sometimes no more then a dreame many times a very lie and 't is impossible to make so good a collection of what we hear or read as of that which is clearly represented to the sight Our Maps do but contract the understanding which is enlarged by a full view and open contemplation of the place There are some so wedded to their home that they will not approve of any voyage into forraigne parts As 't is a practice commonly taken up by young gallants meerly for fashion sake I cannot but condemn it but if we go with a thrifty intention to informe our selves and have a care to the maine chance if Gods grace and goodnesse do not leave us when we leave our Countrey I know not any thing that can be especially to persons of honour and men of great birth and fortune more convenient lawful and in some sort necessary LVIII War is our misery and yet oftentimes proves necessary an inevitable malady that turns to a benefit as it may be the means to prevent a greater mischief or procure an unexpected happiness It is the best way sometimes to expell poyson by a contrary poyson and such destructive medicines may preserve the patient and ruine the sicknesse When our Peace is corrupted with luxurious sinnes it is time to launch it with a revengefull sword and the state must be wounded to the quick to let out her putrifaction Who would not rise from his sleep when a just cause calls him forth when the War-like Trumpet sounds an Alarme to our drousie spirits who is he that can willingly embrace a senseless ease Warre is a remedy as well as a disease though sometimes it prove a remedy worse then the disease brings health as well as sickness and preserves the active minde which having no object to work upon consumes it self it renues the Nobility of a decayed house and scoures off the foule aspersions of a long contracted infamy whether false or real it revives the natural fire that lies raked up in dust and ashes and stirs the heart to a generous contention LIX A good Souldier is a good man for grace and valour are never separated He knowes that the practise of sinne is a dishonour to his Lord and a disgrace to that service and imployment which he hath undertaken Holiness he accounts the best prize and thinks Religion a thing as necessary in the field as in the Church His carriage and conversation is most eminent and conspicuous The most exemplary patterne of vertue and severe example of goodness He maintains Christianity with his life and his perfections shine brighter than his sword He bears a just and single heart in a righteous cause As conscience brought him to the Warre so that shall preserve him alive or dead nor can he proceed valiantly in any action without it He alwayes endeavours to march like a Christian walks worthy of his extraordinary calling Such he esteems it a profession of extreame necessity not like our mercenary Sword-men a common trade of villany and destruction The ten Commandments are his millitary orders He measures Martial-Law by the decalogue and hath skill to overcome his enemies without a breach upon that precept which forbids murder He loves conscience better then fame and thinks it impossible to obtain the last without the first He carries a clear countenance in a cloudy brow looks boldly like a lion and as he would fright the devil and all his Host but humbly fearful like the modest Publican at the sight of God He is free and kinde to his friends charitable to his worst enemies courteous and merciful to his captives faithful and loyal to his Prince good and just to all You may discern a mannerly rudenesse in his behaviour an eloquent plainnesse in his speech hearty sweet expressions without complement He is full of all deserving qualities wisdome justice temperance liberality These are all companions to fortitude his peculiar vertue He fears not the worst mischief that can befall him and will go on though all the powers in Hell should rise to his destruction He is confidently assured that he can lose no more then his body His peace is made with heaven and the greatest dangers of outward Warre cannot disturb that happy union He dares entertain Death in any habit in any place or at any time He is provided in the field and in his chamber and every houre he expects his last houre In the greatest storm of ill success he carries yet fair weather in his face His countenance is the Almanack by which others prognosticate their hopes and expectations If sometimes he miscarry through a light error or mistake his pardon may be as just as merciful nor is it fit that all former deserts should be covered in the grave of one misfortune A foile or two will adde more strength and courage for the next engagement Shall small offences be writ in Marble and constant vertues in fleeting sand shall one unlucky trespass blot out the remembrance of many victories LX Me thinks the very name of Man should perswade us to a peaceful quietnesse but if natural Reason cannot prevaile yet the respect we have unto Religion the profession of a Christian should work effectually When I hear the name of Man I am taken with delight as conceiving him the Subject of peace but when I read the title of a Christian my hope is confirmed beyond expectation yet amongst Christians we finde that discord which the Heathens would