may remove to my house in Heaven IV. Few care how well they live but how long they reckon their lives by the time they tarry as if they came into the World for nothing to go out as they came not considering he hath the greatest applause not that acts most but best I believe I have more business here than only to look on it behoves me to bestir my self lest before I dispatch my task death should dispatch me V. Divinity teaches doing not saying to live great things not to speak great words ayrie notions make a noise but that which is solid does not sound the deepest Waters are the most silent when the Sun is highest it casts the least shadow thorns make the greatest crackling profession lies in practice in the life is the life of Religion I like example better than precept when the person proves the president VI. He that sutes with his Estate is a rich man Wealth consists not so much in quantity as in the quality of the professor he that hath less may have enough and he that hath most can have no more a lesser Ship needs lesser Sail there can be no poverty where there is proportion sutableness is the ground of satisfaction a Cottage will content a Codrus it is not what I have but what I am less will serve a dwarfe than a Gyant and me perchance than another man I do not want what I can be without Water may quench my thirst and a few grains may serve my turn as well as a Granary I need no more in my Journey than will bear my charges the rest will be supplied at home VII Felicity is an unquiet thing Alexander weeps there were no more Worlds to conquer how projective is prosperity how restless is the man through care and contrivance he beats his brain and every vein works he sees something he still lacks and leaves no stone unturned to attain it which when he hath he is unhappy still and perchance in greater torment he is never satisfied full nor fasting for when he knows not what he wants he wants he knows not what VIII He is not poor that hath not much but he who would have more want lies in wishing he lacks most that longs most none so rich as he that does not covet but contemn he hath all that desires nothing he hath content and content is all I will not judge of the man by his money but by his mind and he who thinks a little is not enough will think enough too little IX There is no torture to a tormenting Conscience better the body wrackâ— than the mind a wounded spirit who can bear this is a Hell on this side Hell how do the flames of that infernal fire scorch and singe a poor soul reflecting upon its sins and sentencing of its self dreadful is the doom of a condemning Conscience no storm like that which is raised by the Wind that riseth out of the bottomless Pit Lord let it blow and beat and what it will so the Vessel be tite and there be but a calm within let the Bird in my breast sing though in a Winter-season I had rather the World were against me than be against my self X. Men speak evil of thee but they are evil men the tongue does but declare what the heartendites from bad thou canst not expect better what is filthy in the fountain cannot be fair in the stream no wonder thou hast not a good word from such as these likeness produceth love I will suspect my self if any speak well of me of whom I cannot speak well neither will I value the yelping of every Curre no more than the Moon the Dogs barking that serves for a foyle to set me forth which sets forth their folly XI Study to please the best not the most respect the nature rather than the number the quality not the quantity gold is tryed by the touchstone not by the balance wise men judge of things as they are not as they seem and there are few which are competent Judges who can think himself the wifer for pleasing fools XII If thou wilt be happy resolve to despise and to be despised slight what thou canst not shun and endure what thou canst not cure stand upon thy guard and let nothing get within thee keep what thou canst in thine own keeping and trust none but thy self see not with anothers eyes but alwayes have thiâ—â— about thee think thy present state still the best if not in it self yet for thee look not upon that as good which cannot make thee better have nothing in admiration and be sure have as low thoughts of thy self as others can have of thee prepare for the worst but make the best of what befalls thee resolve thy will into the Will of God and thou needest not be troubled at any thing XIII Let not the Authority of the Speaker move thee mind what is said not who speaks there is no man but may erre Homer himself sometimes sleeps I will not pin my faith upon anothers sleeve nor take the position from the person whoever is my friend I am more a friend to truth and if the Devil be in the right I should wrong him not to believe him an enemy may by chance give good counsel honey from a Weed is not worse than that drawn from a flovver a blind man may hit the mark and a better Archer miss it XIV Bear chearfully vvhere there is no remedy patience is the only prudence make a vertue of necessity vvhat must be vvhy not vvillingly to sit dovvn and cry vvill not lessen our burden or our vvay to pore upon our grief makes it the more grievous that is not a trouble vvhich vve do not think of give me the man that can both smart and smile that sleeps svveetly in a storm and carries his Crosses as unconcerned vvho notvvithstanding the greatest difficulties goes merrily about his vvork and is jogging on all vveathers I vvill mind my duty more than my danger and fear nothing but to offend I vvill assent to vvhat I cannot prevent and do nothing by constraint but by choice it vvere a shame for me to sigh for sorrovv or to startle at any blovv vvhat pleases God shall please me XV. Think every day thy last thou couldest never yet call to morrovv thine there is no necessity thou shouldest have a day to dye in as much may be done in a moment the stroak is soon given look not for death before thee the Serjeant comes behind the time past is dead and gone the present upon departing I have been long dying and cannot look to live long there vvill be a last day and this may be my last XVI He values not his labour that overcomes neither pain nor peril is reckoned by him that gets the prize the end makes amends for the means he that vvins the race never repents the running vvhat though Heaven cost me hot vvater it vvill be richly vvorth
subject to this arrest as the poorest Peasant the Grave is the general meeting place it matters not much who get thither first whither all are going and where all meet all the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes LVIII There is nothing in the world but death certain we know whither we are bound but what may befall us in our voyage we do not know it does not always blow alike we are sometimes up and sometimes down seldome steer steddy yet we still sail to the same Port though not by the same Point what uncertainty am I at that can neither find out what degree I am in nor judge at my course by my Compass since I cannot be sure I will not be secure LIX He that hath least trouble lives best a quiet life is the only life what content can there be in a crowd it is sad being at Sea in a storm a hurry of business makes but our passage the more boisterous I would neither be idle nor much employ'd I do not think the world worth wasting my self or my time a man may get and be a loser Gold may be bought too dear I will delight in what I do and enjoy what I have while others strive for Crowns my mind is to me a Kingdom LX. Pleasure is soon past and oft-times leaves more cause of penitence than of remembrance the sweetest morsels slide down the soonest and the soonest make us sick what is wholesome is seldom toothsome where there is honey there is a sting sorrow is the effect of sin the sweetest Rose hath its prickles there is a bitter sweet in the best state vanity will prove vexation pleasure ends in repentance if not in pain why should I covet what cost too dear it is a bad bargain where the profit will not countervail the pain LXI Use causes custom and custom takes away conscience he that sins often will not know when he sins to do nothing else will make it seem nothing what was at first strange will by degrees become familiar and gets acquaintance by continuance I will endeavour to crush the Cockatrice in the egge a spark is easier quench'd than the flame the best way to prevent a mischief is to stifle sin in its motion I will keep temptation at arms end lest if it get within me I receive the foil and joyning with corruption should carry me captive LXII There is nothing so bitter which a brave mind cannot bear great sufferings sute best with a great spirit a heavy load with a strong shoulder it is not the burden but the back not what is laid on but him that bears it Lord give me what thou commandest and command what thou pleasest if thou callest me to that I never did give me that I never had let one hand be under as the other is upon me that I may carry my crosses chearfully and troubles may not trouble me LXIII The way to Hell is easie there is no difficulty in going down hill it is a plain path that leads to the infernal pit I will not mind my baiting place so much as my journeys end nor the way I go as whither I am going neither complain that it is no better all is well that ends well I am or shall be past the worst and Heaven will make amends for all LXIV It is best to die before thou desirest how many deaths must he die that lives till he desires to die we wish not for the worst and it is more wisdom to prevent than to cure I will not think that can come too soon which may prevent both sin and sorrow I cannot be too soon happy nor rid of sin too soon LXV That which an Age was building is not an hour destroying what famous Fabricks the work and wonder of many Ages have been soon consumed to ashes some Cities lie buried in their ruines and nothing of some to be seen here is no abiding City I will seek that which is above whose builder and maker is God LXVI Vices are learn'd without a Master weeds need no sowing what grows wild will grow alone nature will nourish her own which she both produces and provides for without the help of Art while what is good is gain'd by sweat and pains I will the least value what cost the least trouble and comes without care as knowing Gold is got with difficulty and Pearls with pain but Pebbles are in every place LXVII I will account that my Country where I am well why should I be confind suppose I be not where I was born what was in my Parents power is now in mine I am left to my own liberty to pitch where I please what folly were it to restrain my self who am not obliged to persons or to place why should not my body be as free as my mind and neither Sea nor Land can bound my thoughts let narrow souls take up with a narrow room the world is my Country where-ever I am I shall think my self every where at home LXVIII The greatest happiness consists in a mans own will and it is in his own power to make himself happy felicity lies in fancy he was a brave fellow that thought all the Ships that came to Athens were his own who so rich as he I am as I esteem my self it matters not though I have not of my own when what another hath is mine LXIX Moderation in prosperity argues a great mind to keep an even course when all Sails draw shews the Ship to be well ballasted I will not value my self by what I have but by what I am the change of my condition shall never change me whatever alters yet will not I this shall be my Motto Still the same LXX This is the miserable condition of mankind we are born one way but dye many how many thousand casualties are we subject to the least whereof might prove as mortal as Goliah's Spear no creature so contemptible which cannot kill us what a strange uncertainty are we at that are sure of nothing we daily walk over many Graves and carry our lives in our hands since I know my sentence I will prepare my self not knowing but the next accident may prove the Executioner LXXI He that cannot hope let him not despair many things fall out which could not be foreseen and who can tell what may happen why should I give my self for gone it may clear up at noon or in the afternoon after a storm comes a calm a foul morning may prove a fair day but if my case be concluded and my sun be to set in a cloud it is but withdrawing for a while in the Grave all is close and still I shall there be well though no where else let it rain or blow or what it will it shall neither wet nor awake me LXXII That grief is light which is capable of counsel it is a good sign to see the plaister at the sore the wound is worst that
is got is glory see the Trophies and the prize reckon upon the Lawrel thou must fight but shalt not be foyled and it matters not what Heaven cost thee when the reward is worth it XXXII Let thy thoughts be provident but not perplexive dost thou foresee a sorrow prevent it if thou canst if not entertain it with a smile why should every scratch rankle it were a folly to fret and sume for what thou canst neither help nor binder Patience becomes the Pilot though the winds blow cross what I do not occasion I will bear as unconcerned if the fault be not mine why should the feeling XXXIII Live as one that must die and perhaps the next moment be always in a travelling posture in a readiness to be gone sit loose to the world consider thou art upon thy way not at home thy Inne is no dwelling place fix not thy affections where thou canst not fix thy habitation give not death a double labour to send thy soul from thy body and thy heart from the creature I will look upon all as dying and my self half dead what may be is uncertain what is past is dead to me hence I conclude I can call no more than the present minute mine XXXIV Whenever thou art sollicited to sin consider how dear it cost Christ and how dear it will cost thee trace him from the Garden to Golgatha nay from the Cratch to the Cross and see what he suffered for imputed sin what then mayest thou expect to suffer for thine own if thou canst not sin at a cheaper rate it will not be worth thy while to sin lay the pleasure against the punishment and see how the scale stands XXXV Hast thou done any thing that doth displease to despair is more displeasing if Justice be thy foe yet Mercy is thy friend confess thy fault and amend do so no more and all is well a lame leg may be as strong as ever and the sick as sound none but a Cain thinks his sins too great to be forgiven this were the greatest sin to despond were to disparage God and his Grace and at once to question his Mercy and Christs Merits it is a double wrong to offend and after to doubt of pardon XXXVI Run not the danger of a Death-bed Repentance why shouldest thou hazard Heaven besides the folly of deferring what must be done and if at all why not now time tarries not and assure thy self there will be no calling back of time there is no working in the Grave whither thou art going the day is for doing night draws on the Curtains will be drawn imagine thou hearest Death cry Dispatch the next voice may be Depart let a Death-bed find thee fit not fit thee thou wilt have enough to do to die XXXVII Look upon thy Taper and there see the Embleme of thy time if a blast blow it not out yet it burns and like as the wax so dost thou waste perchance thy decay is insensible yet one day succeeds another and thy last day will come the silver cords will be loosed and the golden bowls be broken death proceeds by degrees but it will e're long diffuse it self through every member and it will be said of thee as thou hast said He is dead others are gone and thou art going to a Land of darkness as Darkness it self it will not be always thus thy Grave will be digged and the Bells ring for thy Funeral walk as becomes the light it will not last long burn clear to the socket why should'st thou go out in a snuff and leave a stink behind thee XXXVIII Labour not to lengthen thy life but to better it do much in a little time he hath lived long enough that hath lived well enough a good life makes a great age do not desire to be longer from God than needs must make haste rid away thy task betimes to protract thy work prolongs thy wages after the heat comes the hire pay-day comes after labour a recompence signifies something done and when the account is taken thy life will be measured by action not by hours XXXIX Desire to be dissolved to be with Christ is best of all here is nothing worth thy stay though Heaven be worth the waiting be therefore content to live but willing to die watch for the word when the voice shall cry Come and eccho back Amen even so come Lord Jesus what dost thou part with but pain for pleasure a Prison for a Palace fetters for freedome at best but a few crums that fall from the Table to take thy fill at the first hand with the Bridegroom and his friends XL. Be chearful in every conâ—ition what a dishonour is it to the Master for the Servants to be still repining it argues the wages is not worth the work it discourages those who want employment I have often thought the generality of Professors too blame for their lumpish melancholly carriage which brings an ill report upon Religion as if it marr'd all mirth and were inconsistent with their Profession when none have less cause to be sad than a Saint nor indeed any besides to be chearful XLI Be couragious and fear nothing but to offend in doing thy duty despise thy danger venture upon any thing upon the warrant of a command he that bids thee can bear thee out perchance beasts shall not bite nor the fire burn however better thou lose thy life than he his glory he can give thee another and reward thee for the former thy loss will be thy gain none shine brighter in Heaven than those who swim thither in streams of their own blood XLII Run not into a needless danger it is not the Cause without the Call makes a Martyr thou wilt have no comfort in a suffering thou bringest upon thy self keep thy station and stir not out without thy Commander calls thee he cannot do well that disobeys Souldiers and Saints are under discipline and are not to be disposed of at their pleasure thy place is appointed where thou must either fight in or fall XLIII If another have wronged thee against his will willingly forgive the wrong let the intention make amends for the action thou art hit by accident he did not aim at thee his hand perchance might slip or his eye dazle who can be against a mischance though it prove a misfortune I look upon him as less in fault who is sorry that he hurt me than he who would but could not I will measure the mischief by the malice and the malice by the meaning XLIV Let him who is thy Alpha be thy Omega God gave thee to thy self give thy self to him Rivers run to the Ocean every thing tends to its center live to him by whom thou livest look upon thy self not as thy own and what thou hast to be none of thine remember the reckoning when the account is to be called thou art entrusted as a Steward be faithful to thy trust hide not thy Talent