may say to thee Well done good and faithful servant and continue thee ruler in thine own house which many thy betters are not who yet are not greater sinners then thou though greater sufferers His usages varyed from Hosannahs to Crucifige's bids thee not marvel If the same breath blows hot and cold or that Favour hath a dark and bright side to thee He died lastly a shameful death do not thou defeat a noble death by a shameless life Thou O holy Soul hast met with disappointments here Who hath not Let thy comfort be that thou art or oughtest to be above all this world can afford Perhaps thy crosses have been in those things thou most admiredst Thou art well served who lovest any thing passionately but God whom thou shouldst love with all thy heart with all thy minde and with all thy might thy defeats are in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of thy hoped for fruition God sees thou art too indulgent to flesh and he loves to abase confidence in it What to others proves Gold to thee becomes drosse Comfort thy self thy best advantage is to come Heaven makes amends for all those manageries thou thinkst wise and wary succeed not when as thou wouldst wait upon God there is more in the lot cast into the lap then thou art aware of honest indeavors in the end have sure pay Patence though late profligates difficulty and disarms petulant resolution Mercy often forms noble Mercuries of rude logs and the greatest designs of beauty from the dull lowrings of mortal opposition That which is sowen in weaknesse shall in Gods time rise in power and bear down all that stand against it Thou lastly art out of love with thy self because thou canst not have thy will of this world study to prepare for that better before thou desire a cal from this death is a terror to those who have not part in the first Resurrection And if O holy soul thou findest thy comforts come in and thy God gives thee access to him with boldness then despise whatever would part thee and thy joyes chear up thy selfe with this that Christ is thine in his life thy pattern in his Spirit thy Comforter in his Word thy Rule in his death thine Attonement and in his glorious Session in Heaven thy Triumph that he is thy Sun by whose influence thou shalt be drawn up after him that he is thy sheild to defend thee from evil that he will give thee grace to glorifie him in a holy life before men and grace thee with glory before his Pather and his holy Angels But O holy soul all is not Gold that glisters all sufferings are not sanctified to sufferers because Pride and Folly has Martyrs which Christ crowns not Christs slock hear his voice and not a strangers keep in the fold not wander into by-wayes Let it be thy care to suffer not as a busie body not as an enemy to Government and a subverter of Order and civil Peace Non erga qui propter iniquitatem et propter Christianae unitatis impiam divisionem sed qui propter justitiam persecutionem patiuntur â—bi Martyres veri suns S. Aug. Ep. 50. ad Bonifac. Countem in these mistakes sober and prudent Christians ought not to be involved nor can any from just grounds of Magistratick severity against offenders take comfort in sufferings but as a Christian Martyr not with clamour but meekness Ann. 33. Q. Eliz Acts 7. last not reviling Powers as did Hacket but praying for persecuters as did Stephen Lord lay not this sin my suffering to their charge See O holy soul thou cleanse the inside of the cup and keep thy heart upright and trim Christ cares not for Pharisaicall outsides and ceremonious pomps he delights in the inner man in those addresses that are made to him from a pure heart and faith unfained to evidence which to men who judg by outward appearance the bodies concurrence in all devout and lowly demeanour is requisite And since thou knowest him a Spirit fear nothing more then a spiritlesse offering and beleeve nothing less acceptable to him then to be denyed the Male of thy Flock thy best and ripest parts Take heed thou mistake not Leah for Rachel and chuse the blear-ey'd world before Christ the Word that from the beginning to this moment speaks life and love to thee And who in all holy reverence be it written drank the health of Eternity to thee in his own bloud Matth. 26.58 and invites thee to pledg him in that Eucharistick Nectar which our holy Mother the Church fils out to all worthy Communicants and in which 1 Cor. 11.25 by command of him they celebrate the memoriall of his Passion And if O holy Soul the sorrows of thy life are too pressing for thee to prevail against Call thy Saviour to thy rescue He is a ready help in trouble He is a door of hope in the valley of Achor Hos 2.15 Achor vallis turbationis Gloss He that was thine Antisignanus in sorrow expects thou shouldest follow his Colours There is no fear of suffering and dying with this Phocion of Eternity who for his Martyrs hath Comforrs in Nolitimere mori cum Phocione and Crowns after torments This this held up Primitive Saints even to generous contempt of Death Saint Jerome reports that Hylarion being to die with eyes fixed on heaven thus spake My soul go forth of thy prison the body Egredere quid times egredere anima mea quid dubitas Septuaginta prepe aunis servisti Christo et mortem times In vita Hylar what fearest thou wherein doubtest thou Thou hast served Christ almost 70 years and dost thou now fear to dis I know it is a great work to obtain this Conquest Turkish Hist p. 220. to bring a Bajazet of mortal pride into the Cage of Self-denyall yet the Scholar of Christ must be this Tamberlaint and con this Part exactly Plus debet Christi Discipulus praestare quam mundi Philosophus S. Hieron Epist 26. ad Pammachum Christians who excell Philosophers in their Wages must also go beyond them in their Work And if O holy Soul thou retreatest and darest not enter the lists 't is a sign thou art unsatisfied of thy duty and settest light by thy birth-right Heb. 11.8 which is no better evidenced to thee then by Afflictions the badg of Legitimation Consider therefore that whatever trouble befalls thee is to file off thy pollution to give thy Vertue a transparency and to make thee more like him who is far above the Powers and Principalities of this vain World and its dulling and dangerous â—nvie Bid therefore defiance to all that would either court or compell thee to resigne Faith Hope Charity Patience Perseverance or any other piece of thy holy Armour to diffidence and impsous despair Consider every thing in this world shall have end and then if not before thy frailties and thine enemies injuries
taken not excluding reasons consult and when what wee ought and how to do what we ought precedes in our Designe what we do I know there are no actions of men but come under the tortures of censure and must pass the ordeal of detraction and commonly as raskal Cattle come not to the Shambles Non minâ—â— pâ—riculum ex magna famaÌ„ quam ex mala Tacit. annal 3 but goodly and fat so not the basest men and actions but the best and bravest hear worst and are most broken and dismembred on the wheel of prejudice 'T was a brave speech of the Emperor Manuel Quid virtute dignum unquam retribuit calumniosa interpretatiâ— malignorum Nihil tam Sanctum quod non audeat tentare calumnia Nicet Tom. 1. What saith he of true and Noble tendency hath not by ill will been misnamed Nothing so sacred but calumny profanes and deturpates And the rise hereof is envy and that from those who neither can Improbi vel tacitis justorum moribus arguuntur In Psal 118. nor will imitate or excel that vertue they condemne they know in S. Ambrose his words there is no greater a blemish to their impure lives then the holy conversation of a Man that is exact with God and walks by the rule Some have the hap to be applauded for what deserves censure and disfavour Praelatio alterius sine alterius contumeliá non potest procedere quia necelectio fine reprobatione Tercul Apolog. 12. as was that ignorant Scholer of Hyppomachus the Musician who kept neither touch nor time yet was cryed up for a rare Artist Maximum erroris Argumentum quod ab ignara turba laudaretur but his Masterprotested that the praiseful clamors of the ignorant multitude palpably blemished him for Vertue is seldom the darling of popularities nor Art the favourite of Crowds Some men are fortunate all their lives but envy to be revenged on them gnawes on their bones and disquiets their ashes the famous Duke of Bedford Regent of France under King Henry the VI. was envied his Tomb by certain French Monsieurs who requested Lewis the XI to deface it saying It was a reproach to their Nation to have such an enemy so honourably Entom'b Holinshed p. 612. But the wise and brave King replyed What Honour shall it be to us or to you to break this Monument and to pul out of the ground the dead bones of him whom in his life neither my Father nor your Progenitors with all their Power Puissance and Friends were once able to make flee one foot backward but by his Strength Wit and Policy kept them all out of the principal Dominions of the Realm of France Wherefore I say God have his soul and let his body now lye in rest which when he was alive would have disquieted the proudest of us all A noble speech and an eternal honour to the mouth that spake it Lilia mixta rosis Some men are traduced when they are past answer Semper quidem vertutes sequitur invidia feriuntque summos fulgura montes S. Hieron Ep. 27. ad Eustochium and are indited of Crimes in this lower bench when they are acquitted in the High Court of Heaven from which there is no appeal and to reverse which no Writ of Error lyes but most see themselves miserable by the malice and inconstancy of those they have never enraged but rather deserved of Gabinius the famous Roman General prayes to be discharged his Office not for fear of the stab or poison of a discontented and irreligious Monk which befel King John of England and King Henry the IV. of France a cursed engine of Dispatch which God hath appointed Hell to revenge nor yet fearing the Votes of the Senate to exoffice him he was a brave man and they could not find a meeter person for that charge but meerly blaming the peoples inconstancyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Dion l. 36. p. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion l. 75. p. 863. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion l. 75. p. 863. An major in co fuit doctrina à diis daiae copia an malitiae quâ persequebantur illum aemulicrudclitac Tusc l. 5. For who saith he of sound mind will wish a life of Envy or desire Power where Events which no mortal eye can fore-see or hand prevent are the pledges of his fame or infamy where good fortune causeth envy and ill censure Severus put two brave Commanders Crispus and Laetus to death upon no other cause but Envy because they had better skill in Conduct then himself Quintillus Plautianus a chief and aged Roman Senator who lived peaceably and retired from Rome to avoid suspicion medled with nothing a man of great years and veneration yet was put to death by Severus meerly out of fear because he was an exemplary man Anacharsis the brave Scythian of whom Tully sayes That he knew not whether the Gods gave him the greater measure of Learning or his enemies of malice came to his end by the prosecution of envy Famous Narses General to the Emperour Justine a victorious Conqueror over all his Masters foes and a dread to the world had many domestick enemies that detracted from him and so highly accused him though without all colour of deserving such misusage that he left his Charge the Court yea and his Master too and in revenge brought the Lombards into Italy who wasted it Cardinal Pool after all his Legations in the Councel of Trent his observances of the Pope and Cardinal Fernese yea notwithstanding his noble nature Genteel demeanor cordial adhesion to the Court of Rome when the Pope died and there was a choice to be made was not chosen Pope for suspicion of Lutheranism as was pretended but rather for that they envied that one of so winning a nature should have the Chair Hist Councel Trent p. 298. Great Athanasius the hammer of Primitive Heresie whom the Arians Sozom. l. 4. c. 9. Theod. l. 1. c. 30 when they could not silence by Argument sought to ruine by defamation of him they invented that he was a Magician that he consulted with the Divel that he gulled the world with a Sanctimonious outside while his heart and life was wicked leacherous and what not which was odious whereas indeed he was a a man of men and God cleared up his fame to the brightness of noon day Browns Addition to the Annals p. 326. The great Favorite of Queen Elizabeths time the Earl of Essex had these shaking and burning fits of envy and glory a long time upon him he was in his Mistris favor as was never any of her Privy Councel before 23 years of age Knight of the Gartar Earl Marshal of England General of her Forces by Sea and Land fortunate in the love of them yet had he Envyers who so ill construed and misrepresented his actions that thereby he came to the block and drew many to death with him Famous
shall determine and till then Breve putabe malum quod finis melior subsequetar S. Hieron ep 25. ad Blesillam bear them manfully For though sorrow be in the night of this life yet in the Morning of Eternity joy shall be to those sons of the morning on whom Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse ariseth for whom he is a Ransome and to whom he will be a glorious Benefactor The consideration hereof makes a good mans Departure hence more comfortable then can be the puissantst Nimrod's For though Saladine the great Conqueror of Asia Es Saladinus Asia Dominator ex tante Regno tantisque opibus nibil aliud secum fert Wolph in Memor ad ann 1192. carries nothing with him to his grave of all his Power and Wealth but his winding sheet yet doth a holy soul expire with assurance that he hath a building of God not made with hands but eternall in the heavens Indeed corporal death as an avoydance of evils and a safe port to a tempestuous life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas in yerbo is accounted a great accommodation to man and many have wished for it that they might unbend the bow of Nature which by long girting growes feeble but these little dream'd of that judgement succeeding it which all men must expect and which will make the greatest Foelix tremble From the dread of that the holy soul is freed his Advocate is his Judg the Accuser of impenitents Christs precious blood is his Evidence for Mercy He that hath the blood of this Lamb of God for his Laver cannot but be clean for it purgeth from all sin And he that by faith overcometh the world ought not to fear the fear of men but to stay himself in expectation of that Livery of Lustre which Christ hath promised to those whose names are in the Book of Life Rev. 3.5 and whom he will publikely avow his before the Father and the holy Angels To these death is sweet Why sweet it is their rest from labors it is their incoate Jubilee it is their pass by the first guard which obstructs their access to Christ whom to love is their grace and with whom to live their glory it is their Remove from a Valley of Tears to a Mount of Triumph from a tedious Service into an absolute Freedom from Sorrowes to Joyes from wants to Plenty from Pains to Pleasures from Decay to Confistence This is the portion of Gods children this is the Canaan for Israelites this the Kingdom prepared this the Top and Top-Gallant of a Christians Faith and Hope on this his eye of Faith is fixed with this his hand of Love is joyned and after this his foot of Perseverance speeds refusing all discouragements with that confidence Heaven makes amends for all This I am sure transcends the utmost bounds of Mortal largess the greatest Mirror of manhood the likest unlimited Presidents of Soveraignety can but give Rewards and Honours impermanent as themselves are these sons of Change cannot draw what lot they please and entail the Crowne of Glory on whom they most favour The greatest indulgence Legal Right and general Obedience expresseth to Temporal Monarchs is but that they declare the Heir to their petty Dominions Internal Vertues are not ex traduce nor are External Advantages ever entailed to our imperfect Bequests God onely can speak that Peace which is melody to a holy ear He can call the soul that is ready to sink as he did Peter on the water Matth. 14.29 Come to me and it is a happy ear that heares his voice and followes it There is no cause of fear when Obedience answers Divine Commands God never suffers them to lose their labour who duly seek what their soul lacketh and whom their soul delighteth in Himselfe nor is any mans Exit so conspicuous and noble as his whose death hath hope and whose renewed life is Glory and Eternity for though all rest from their Labours when their bodies are inhumated Rev. 14.13 yet are not all blessed because works of Comfort follow only those who dye recti in curia Coelesti in amity with the Churches Prince and the Believers Pilot Christ Jesus Luk. 1.23 31. I will never envy the Prodigal's one fatted Calf when I may have all my Faith dare beg and my Father will give since my Saviour assures me it is but ask and have I will ask but not I trust amiss For Wisdom to know how to live exactly in doubtfull times Patience whereby to undergo mischievous provocations Grace to manage what I have aright and acceptance of what I doe while I strive to do what I can and am humbled that I can be no more serviceable to him who deserves far above whatever creatures can think or doe FINIS The Errata may be thus corrected In the first Meditation Page 3 line 14 read meet with l 22 margin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 5 l 27 r quarter p 9 l 9 r Coat Armor p 8 l 32 r since p 10 l 15 r Ruryp p 23 l 27 ◠〈◊〉 p 25 boom r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 46 l 27 r those p 47 l 17 r. rection p 50 l 27 m r particeps p 53 l 22 r to one another p 56 l 30 r had p 59 l 30 r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the second Meditation P 4 l 3 after â—â—urred p 9 l 25 r veliety p 25 l 14 r exacts p 28 l 28 r sinners p 32 l 21 r no need p 34 l 15 r gift p 36 l 18 r his sores p 38 l 2 r hath p 42 l 10 r Oracular p 47 l 23 r retractation p 51 l 11 r God p 52 l 6 r dayes mar r praesentior p 59 l 6 r wil it be DIVINE MEDITATIONS ON ACQUAINTANCE With GOD. BY E.W. Esquire There be many that say Who will shew us any good Lord list up the light of thy countenance upon us Psal 4.6 Omnis copia quae non est Deus meus mihi est egestas LONDON Printed by Thomas Maxey 1653. The Introduction WHen I first gave vent to these night Meditations by penning them I had much debate with my self whether to conceal or publish them were most comely and convenient when I recollected the frequent prejudices that attend good meanings and the great odium that is cast on serious men by those triflers whose utmost ambition it is to blast the blessed fruit of Vertue by their unbenign breathes of detraction and how few there are of the Genteel World that think any thing more poysie then Romances worthy their perusal I condemned it to the heap of wast Papers as that which curious eyes would view with regret and captious natures peruse with little calmness But for as much as I have hitherto often offended God I will accuse my self and humbly implore his pardon in sacrificing by fire many though not beauteous yet undisfigured children of my fancy to silence upon the Altar and on the account