as God is more ready to promise than threaten and to perform them rather than execute these Psal 103.8 9. 80 He must be of a very weak Understanding or very perverse Will who is so illogical as to conclude from the ill practise of men professing a good Religion that the Religion is bad and will not distinguish between Fact and Faith Practise and Principle and so is he that will give way to such inconsequential reasonings as to conclude from one bad or some bad that all are so That because Judas was a Traytor none of the Disciples were true faithful and honest 'T is impertinent and absurd to say This is their Religion and they are all alike 81 Conscience is a Deputy-God as Moses was made a God to Pharaoh 1. To declare the Will of God 2. To instigate to the doing thereof And 3. To bring Plagues and Terrors if it be not obeyed Rom. 2.15 82 To sin is humane-like to grieve for 't is Saint-like but to persevere in and to boast of it is Devil-like John 8.44 83 Every sin transgresseth Gods Command but they who prefer the Traditions of men before the Commands of God do make his Commands of none effect Math. 15.6 9. and Mark 7.7 13. 84 A man may conceive more in an hour than all the greatest of Kings or Emperours did ever enjoy as Rocks of Diamond Heaps of Pearl Mountains of Gold but 't is impossible to think what God is able to do or to conceive what God will do for them that love him Eph. 3.20 1 Cor. 2.9 85 'T is not the Faith of sense which is seeing nor the Faith of Reason which is knowing but the Faith of Revelation which is believing that the Gospel requires He◠11.1 John 20.31 86 Where there is not quiet in passive Obedience the sincerity of active may be doubted Job 4.3 4 5. 87 We should look to it that we be gracious as well as vertuous and not only be conformable to the dictates of Philosophy but of Divinity We should do good not only for others sake or our own sake or Vertues sake but for Gods sake We then do well and shall hear it said Well done good and faithful servants when the good we do is from the love of God as the Principle 1 John 5.3 by the Will of God as the Rule Gal. 6.16 and to the Glory of God as the End 1 Cor. 10.31 88 Some men are so impudently wicked that though they take Gods Name into their Mouth yet they hate to be reformed and because God is silent they think he gives consent and that he is such an one as themselves Psal 50.16 21. that God is as much a lover of sin as they are for Mal. 2.17 they stick not to say Every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord and he delighteth in them or Where is the God of Judgment and Because Judgment is not executed speedily therefore their heart is fully set to do evil Eccles 8.11 God is scarce known or acknowledged but as he is a God of Judgment Psal 9.16 Now seeing nothing else but Judgment will convince them hence it is that David Jeremiah c. do so often pray for Judgment on the wicked viz. that they may know they are but men Psal 9.20 that they may seek thy Name O Lord that they may know that thou whose Name is Jehovah art most High over all the earth Psal 83.16 18. They pray for evil to do them good and seem to curse them that they may be blessed For such cursings are not the imprecations of their spirit but the predictions of Gods Spirit to signifie not what they desire may be but what God threatens shall be their condition if they persist in their sin and what they deserve for having sinned They that call for fire from Heaven know not what spirit they are of Bless and curse not yea bless them that curse you and pray for them that despitefully use you and perhaps both they will be and you will speed the better Matth. 5.44 45. To curse any person or thing passionately is an infirmity at least but to do it maliciously is impiety at the best 89 No man can positively and infallibly say what God will do with the Man of Sin as to the particulars of his punishment or the time of it nor how God will recover the World from under the power of Antichristianism 'T is to be wisht it may be and some believe it will be by the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God rather than by the Sword of VVar and the wrath of man by conversion than by confusion by turning hearts than by taking away lives Surely next to sin nothing can be more cross and dreadful to a Christian Genius and Spirit than war 'T is sad to think of fighting and dying but sadder to think of damning I should be very jealous of and angry with my self should I find an inclination to please my self in the ruine the death especially in the damnation of any person and I am pretty confident that if it might pass according to the Votes of good men they would all wish and pray that no one person might sin any more or perish for ever and whatever shakings yet remain for this world till the Judgment Day that they may begin and end only in holiness and be managed with a meek and quiet Spirit Isa 2.4 Hag. 2.6 7. Jam. 3.13 18. 90 To hold Communion with men that are sinners and not to have Communion with their sins is an excellent sociable spirit To extend it where the Rule commands and deny it where the Rule forbids qualifies us to converse with God and Men 1 Cor. 5.9 10 11. Eph. 5.6 17. 1 John 1.3 7. 91 If we have not been thankful for great mercies God may and somtime doth take them away that he may bring us to have a great value and to be thankful for the least of mercies Lam. 3.22 2 Kings 20.16 20. 92 The heart may be allowably toucht and feel when objects of 〈◊〉 and grief present themselves to and are upon us God allows us to give Nature its due provided we deny not him his due Our blessed Lord and Saviour was sensible of such things Heb. 4.15 and without it a man should be not only a Stoick but a Stock and 't would be no exercise or tryal of grace if matter of grief and fear were not perceived and felt Heb. 12.11 93 God rested not from his work of Creation till man was made nor can man rest from his pursuits after the Creation till God be enjoyed Psal 73.25 Fecisti nos Domine propter te nec acquiescimus donec ad te perveniamus said St. Austine thou madest us for thy self O Lord and we are not quiet till we come unto thee And 't is only in the God-Man Christ Jesus that God is and we can be well pleased 94 Love is the fulfilling of the Law Faith the
the farthest way about since a man may as soon arrive to contentment as yea and sooner than to that which he seeks but as a means to it Luke 12.15 Heb. 13.5 59 Why do so few men confess their sin 'T is because they are in them 't is for him that 's awake to declare his dream Were men awake and their eyes open they would confess and cry out of sin as the most ugâ—ly hideous and dreadful thing and more frightful than the Devil himself Acts 2.37 Rom. 7.9 with 24. 60 'T is Treason against the Law of Love and of God for any to marry unless they Wed that is unless they love and be true to their Love Prov. 5.19 Heb. 13.4 61 Some have been admirable in the World in whom their acquaintances have not observed any remarkables Few men have been admired of their familiars for others see their excellencies but these see their imperfections Every one may represent an honest man upon the Stage but in House and in Bosome to keep rule and decorum that 's brave indeed being if at least it be without art 2 Cor. 1.12 Psal 101.2 c. 62 Innocency towards God and Independency on man are rare things they most contribute to our quiet and content Guilt God-ward and beholdenness to men do often lie heavy for Obligations are severe things and leave not so much as a mans will at liberty for that stands bound by a title of gratitude Nothing as the Italian Proverb costs a man more dear than gifts for what is sold a man gives but his money but for gifts and obligations a man gives himself and some men give away other mens rights and their own conscience for a gift receiv'd Exod. 23.8 Deut. 16.19 Prov. 17.23 Phil. 4.11 12 17 18. Yet 63 A man doth most freely enjoy what 's given when it 's deserved or can be requited and that a man is not under need but hath in his will or power to live without it for 't is hard to think any Liberality so free or Hospitality so pure and hearty as would not be attended with grudging not to say reproach if the person were necessitous A great deal of that which goes under the Name of generosity and bounty may be without love or charity Phil. 4.11.17 2 Cor. 11.7 to 10. and 2 Cor. 13. to 18. 1 Cor. 13.3 Prov. 23.7 64 Some persons as fearful ones antedate their misery and take it up afore-hand and by thinking make themselves miserable before they are they are as sad for fear of suffering as if they suffered and for fear of the future lose the present as if men should kill themselves for fear of dying and make themselves miserable because they may be so They grieve more than they need who grieve before they need John 16.6 1 Pet. 3.14 Phil. 1.27 28. 65 In Hospitals as an excellent person observes we may see the various shapes of humane misery and how many souls are narrowly lodg'd in Synecdochical bodies who see their earthen Cottages moulder away to dust limb after limb who survive and live but to see themselves dead and buried by peece-meals I apply it thus Ah how should they who are whole and well bless God that they are not as other men are We little think how much we owe God for what we are not that we are not sick not lame not deaf c. 2 Cor. 4.8 9. The Apostle rejoyceth in four Nots So 2 Cor. 6.8 9 10. T will much help us to thank God for what we have if we consider what others want and to bless him for what we are not if we consider what we were Rom. 6.17 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Tim. 1.12 13. 66 Many times that which should be the cause of compassion becomes an argument for cruelty and more misery is laid on them who are already miserable as if it were just to add affliction to the afflicted and not to pity which is the least comfort to men in misery Psal 69.26 and 71.11 Zech. 1.15 67 A man should measure his greatness by his goodness and should not love greatness but that therein he may shew his goodness in the greater glory 2 Sam. 7.2 1 Chron. 29.1 16. Psal 16.2 3. 68 None should cease to be good men that they may appear to be good friends 2 Sam. 13.3 5. 69 We are most like God when we are as willing to forgive as powerful to punish and admirable is his vertue and praise who having cause and power to hurt yet will not 2 Sam. 16.9 12. 70 Some Philosophers have written in the praise of Self-murther as if in some cases it were a noble act of courage but surely had they understood Divinity they would not have pleaded for that which is a breach of Gods command yea and contrary to the fundamental Law of Nature Self-preservation Every man is intrusted with Self-safety and he that justly pursues it not is his own Traytor much more he who unjustly destroys it There was never any creature that willingly kill'd it self beside man and they that do so aime though amiss at some kind of safety from want or pain or shame or some other mis-feared danger as Achitophel and Judas did So that killing one-self is but a false colour of courage proceeding rather from fear and cowardise for were it not respecting of harm a man would not regard what might be done to him and Hope being of all other the most contrary thing to fear and self-killing being an utter banishment of hope it must needs receive its ground from fear and despair He who said thou shalt not kill meant thy self in the first place for self love is the measure of love to others Matth. 22.39 On the whole therefore these and such others must be false and foolish sayings viz. 'T is better to die viz. thus than live a beggar better to die than to live in disgrace c. Oh no! 'T is better to suffer than to sin and that any should take away thy life than thy self 'T is a foolish thing and cowardly to put ones self to death to escape being put to death 71 Vice it self is many times fain to take sanctuary of Vertue and persons that have offended to seek their help from them whom they have offended as Shimei did 2 Sam. 19.18 22. we should carry it vertuously and friendly to all for who knows to whom he may be beholden but they who will not be good for Gods sake will hardly be good though they may do good on other considerations 72 The great God is so good that he not only condescends and humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in Earth Psal 113.6 but which is the wonder of wonders he doth beseech and even beg men to be reconciled to receive his grace and favour 2 Cor. 5.20 and surely they will do very little for God who will not be entreated by him to be happy themselves 73 However men may be exalted they
might do evil but that they might do good and well Psal 90.12 Eph. 5.15 16. As for Sports and Pastimes the best of them come so near to idleness and the worst of them to vice that as the one is not to be allowed any so the other no considerable part of our time Eccl. 9.10 and 11.9 and 12.1 38 Many men live as if they had no souls to save or at least as if they had no mind to save their souls Prov. 8.36 which some read spernit animam he despiseth his soul as if 't were good for nothing but to be damned and as we read it 't is to shew that sinners do nothing but wrong and undo themselvs they are Felones dese self-murtherers Luke 12.20 21. 39 Some men and some called Gentlemen scorn to pray to God as much as to beg of men Job 21.13 14 15. And some care for only so much Religion as will save their credit in this World and not their souls in the other World Vertue and Godliness they think are good names and words but they will have no acquaintance with the things 2 Tim. 3.5 40 Some men instead of laying up their treasure in Heaven lay up and place heaven in their treasure Luke 12.20 21. They make Gold their God Job 31.24 yet it may be can be content to hear of honouring God so long as 't is not with their substance Prov. 3.9 41 Without Gods assistance we can do nothing John 15.5 2 Cor. 3.5 and without Gods blessing all we do will come to nothing 1 Cor. 3.7 42 We should rather heal than discover yet rather discover than flatter the vices of them with whom we converse Gal. 2.14 43 We should so speak as that none may be the worse but all the better for hearing us that all may be brought to the love of goodness and hatred of sin by our discourse Eph. 4.29 Col. 4.6 44 'T is very hungry-wit that can feed on such nauseous diet as deridingly to discourse of and rejoyce at other mens infirmities or calamities yea though they be enemies Prov. 23.17 Job 31.29 Prov. 17.5 Psal 35.15 And 't is very dwarfish-wit base low and sordid like that of Ziba which cannot tell how to advance it self but by trampling on others reputation 2 Sam. 16.3 45 When riches increase we should not be affected with them nor when they decrease should we be afflicted for them Transports and Torments are equally to be avoided A man should never lose the serenity and calmness of his mind either in enjoyments or in dis-appointments in gains or losses How and where to learn it see Phil. 4.11 12 13. 46 He hath not spent his life ill who hath learned to die well in order to which we must above all endeavour that our sins may die and we may see them dead before our selves 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. 47 He can never live contentedly that fears to die It 's no great thing to live slaves and beasts can do that but 't is a great thing to live and die well 2 Tim. 4.6 7. 48 It 's a good and cheap time to die in when to live is rather a burthen than a blessing and there is more evil in life than good and indeed there are many things in life worse than death beside our sins our sicknesses and sometime physick too that many times we undergo many deaths to avoid one but yet 't is best to submit to God both for time and way and 't is our duty to live and use good means to live as long as we can that we may bring glory to God whether by doing or suffering Isa 57.1 Phil. 1.20 25. 49 The best way never to be crost in our desires is to make Gods Will our own by this we shall never miss of having our own free choice in all things Matth. 26.39 and we should never say Fiat volunt as mea nisi quia tua our will be done but only as and because 't is Gods James 4.15 50 Obedience and well doing is the good mans wages as well as work and he will be doing good though he do good for nothing else and they who do not good are as we say too good that is starke-naught and good for nothing at all Psal 14.4 5. 51 The pain of getting the care of keeping and fear of losing takes away much of the comfort of having riches See Solomon's Ecclesiastes 52 He is the true Gentleman who is Gods Servant the Worlds Master and Sins Conquerour Heb. 11.25 53 'T is cold comfort to see ones enemy in a bad and not ones self in a good condition that he is miserable and we not happy which we can never be if our sin be not subdued as well as and which is the worst of our enemies 'T is to be base to conquer men and be conquered by lusts Prov. 16.32 54 Man made sin and sin unmakes for it unmans and by taking away the likeness of God ungods man or man doth sin and sin doth undo man Prov. 8.34 Ezek. 16. 55 He that is not so good as he may be in his present condition is not like to be as good as he should be in another condition we do but flatter and abuse our selves with promises and purposes of what we will be while we neglect to be what we ought Eccles 9.19 Deut. 5.27 29. 56 He that doth not do good for Gods-sake in a time of prosperity is not like to suffer evil for Gods-sake in a day of adversity and so backward Job 2.10 Eccles 7.14 57 Ambition is never quiet but restless and incroaching crying like the Horse-leech Give Give at first it longs to be next the best then to be equal with the best and then to be chief above the best and what it ends in may be observed in Absalom Haman and Julius Caesar c. They that will by unlawful means climb highest are like to fall lowest for Pride is the Vsher to a Fall Prov. 16.18 58 Friends usually fail them that fly as either suspecting the persons and their cause or fearing what they may suffer for their sakes 1 Sam. 21.1 1 Sam. 29.4 5. 59 Man is not only born but new-born to trouble Matth. 16.24 2 Tim. 3.12 60 It 's too usual in prosperity to forget the threatnings Hos 2.13 and in adversity to forget the promises of God Isa 49.14 17. 61 Many times when men come to a We will God comes to a You shall the judgement is as their sin and God is as much set on his will for judgement as men are set on their will for sin 1 Sam. 8.19 Hos 13.11 Psal 109.17 18. 62 Worldly men are for the rudiments of the World because they bring in the things of the World and cry out Great is Diana of the Ephesians because she brings no small gain unto the Craftsmen and by which they have all their wealth Acts 19.24 35 28. Hence 't is that the Pope prevails more than a General Council
18 A Wise Man may learn much of or by a Fool but a Fool especially the conceited one will not learn any thing of a Wise Man Prov. 1.7 and 26.12 19 Though we have learnt to call and celebrate the World and things thereof by the great Names of Grandure and Gallantry by the pleasing Names of Pleasure and Prettiness by the affected Names of Honour and Happiness by the taking Names of Beauty and Bravery yet we do but miscall and flatter it yea abuse out selves to boot for it's proper Names are far otherwise Vanity of Vanities being it's first Pronomen and Vexatiof Spirit it's second and Sirname Cognomen as the great and searching Antiquary found them to be Eccl. 1.1 2. 20 God will not be put off with a mouth full of good words 't is in vain to say to him Lord Lord by way of Profession Prayer and Appeal if we do not do his Will for though we may plead with him and quote our many preachments c. yet he will profess that he never knew us no not then when casting out Devils c. but will bid us depart as Workers of Iniquity even then when we pretended to preach up Holiness and to cast out the Devil and all his Works Matth. 7.21 22 23. 21 They mourn for sin on the best account who mourn for it as the worst of evils and herein the worst 〈◊〉 't is against God Psal 51.4 and they that do so will mourn for other mens sins as for their own for they are against God also and it may be fear'd they never truly griev'd for their own who can rejoyce at other mens 1 Cor. 13.6 22 When we make other mens sins our own they will make us smart as much as if they were our own And we may call other mens our-other mens sins not only when we command and counsel or take pleasure in their sin but when we do not reprove them for their sin and use all due means to prevent or to remove their sin 1 Kings 12.28 30. 1 Sam. 3.13 23 Philosophy and Moral Discourses may teach men the Art of concealing their Vices the way how to cuâ— off the luxuriant branches and excrescencies of corruption but the Scripture-Doctrine only teacheth the way oâ— subduing and putting them to death by laying its Axe to the root of the Tree the very Heart Moral Doctrine maâ— kelp to make good men but ' twiâ— never make good Christians for wâ— are such only by learning of Chriâ—â— Jesus Eph. 4.20 24. 24 Alas How often are many mens Vertues nothing else but the results and effects of their Vices 'T is Covetousness makes some Temperate and Ambition makes others Liberal and Just nay Lust makes some so religious as to pray James 4.3 but they either aske and miss or else are punished with the grant of their own desires Oh what a sorry thing is man how few are there that know themselves how often are the actions commendable and not the man Well-fare simplicity and godly sincerity which make not only the actions but the persons approved 2 Cor. 1.12 25 Of all the store of Vanities which are in the World Eccles 1.2 Man is one of the greatest Psal 39.5 and of all men the Irreligious Atheists who brain-sick that they are endeavour to be worse than they can for they offer violence to the faculties and inclinations of their own souls and wish that with and say that in their hearts which for their hearts they cannot stedfastly believe Psal 14.1 so that though they may have a great deal of security 't is impossible they should have any satisfaction 26 We should be very careful to behave our selves so as to give all persons occasion to love us at least to give none an occasion to hate or despise us Heb. 12.14 1 Tim. 4.12 27 What an uneasie and sickly condition is poor man in full of impatiency and discontent all about him is Vanity himself in his best estate is Vanity yea altogether Psal 39.5 Weariness attends not only his labour by day but his sleep and rest by night what of frights what of dreams what of very long lying the man 's not at ease in an easie bed 28 The most laborious and principal study is to study ones self to know ones self how to live at home and converse alone not only company but Books seduce us from it Meditation is a large and powerful study to them that can imploy themselves in it Too many peruse others more than themselves as some study Humane Writings more than Divine 't is more easie and a diversion and we being idle seek these things for pastime as if time lay heavy on our hands and we had not imployment enough in our selves Psal 4.4 and 39.3 4. 29 How many different and all very poor things do many persons entertain and comfort themselves with when they come to die either the great Name and Estate they shall leave behind them or the confidence of their childrens worth or the avoiding of this lives mischiefs or the revenge that hangs over their heads who have been procurers of their death such as these are the miserable comforts that many men have But on the other hand how many are tormented with the sting of sin and a guilty conscience with the fear of dying and shame of living or with solicitudes and thoughtfulness of what will become of that and them they shall leave behind Ah how few can meet death half way and welcome it as a friend Surely none but they who have kept faith and a good conscience 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. How few are fit and willing to die Surely none but they who are in Christ Jesus Phil. 1.23 Rom. 14.8 30 Here below there is no satisfaction for any but disquietment for all but them that are of an heavenly and divine mind who live to and hope to live with God Psal 39.6 7. 31 In the Old Testament the Prophesies of the latter dayes were of good and glorious times but in the New Testament the latter dayes are foretold to be apostatizing and perilous bad for suffering and worse for sinning 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 32 'T is natural to own and acknowledge a God Rom. 1.19 but to own and acknowledge Jesus Christ to be Son of the Living God is supernatural Matth. 16.17 and to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is Eternal Life and this only John 17.3 33 The very questions and debates about the Souls Immortality is a proof that 't is so for as none can distinguish between rational and irrational who have not a rational soul So none can distinguish between Mortal and Immortal who have not an Immortal Soul Even so the controversies that are about the Mystery of Godliness do prove that without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3.16 33 Books that contain pleasure and profit are most likely to be lik't at least 't is most rational that
many great men are at their service When David would have built the Temple saith God to the Prophet Go tell my servant David 2 Sam. 7.5 but when David had sinned in the matter of Vriah 't is only said the Lord sent Nathan unto David 2 Sam. 12.1 the Title of honour my servant is left out Our honour dies when we live in and unto sin God will not honour them with the Name of his servants who dishonour him by serving their own lusts Rom. 6.16 20. 38 'T is clear and evident that it cost the Apostles as much if not more pains to preserve them in the truth whom they had converted than it did to convert them at first as by their Epistles is apparent and it is in it self as great an instance of the power of God Psal 110.3 compared with 1 Pet. 1.5 As wicked men need conversion so converted ones need strengthening Luke 22.32 and to be exhorted not to be high minded but to fear Rom. 11.20 and to take heed least they fall 1 Cor. 10.12 39 'T was Sauls sad complaint 1 Sam. 28.15 I am sorely distressed for the Philistines make war against me and God is departed from me So dolefully and more will sinners one day cry out sickness sin death and devils are upon me and God hath forsaken me and I know not what to do Oh forsake not God by sinning least God forsake you for sinning against him and his wrath come upon you Eph. 5.6 40 When God saw all that he had done to be very good he entred into rest Gen. 2.2 so when we can see what we have done to be good and well done we may enter into the rest of a good Conscience here 2 Cor. 1.12 and shall enter into the Rest the Sabbatisme of glory hereafter Heb. 4.9 10. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest and labour so that rest may be the end of our labour Heb. 4.11 Rev. 14.13 41 Next to impenitency take heed of late repentance for though true repentance is never too late yet late repentance is seldome true and if true as it may be yet it must needs be very uncomfortable because a man hath sin'd as long as he could and cannot live longer to give proof of his repentance Prov. 27.1 42 Some mens repentance is very near as crazed and faulty as their sin they repent of sin but sinfully for their very repentance needs repenting of as is implied 2 Cor. 7.10 seeing it flows but from a worldly sorrow they would make us believe they feel great remorse and are inwardly much displeased with sin but as to amendment they shew us none As for that Repentance of old age it 's for the most part but accidental for they leave not sin but sin leaves them and a sick-bed Repentance is too often like 〈◊〉 man i. e. sickly and the recovery of the man to life hath many times proved his Repentance dead because he hath not walkt in newness of life but returned like the dog to his vomit c. 2 Pet. 2.32 43 If the form of Godliness without the power cannot go to heaven surely the power of ungodliness must needs go to hell 2 Tim. 3.5 Kom 1.18 44 There is but one way to heaven Joh. 14.6 Acts 4.12 but there are many ways to hell as many as there are sins and 't is all one to the Devil so we go to hell whether we go in the common road of Profaneness or in the seemingly pleasant walks of hypocrisie Matth. 24.51 with Luke 12.46 45 He that would have his affliction short or have ease under it should quickly and quietly submit to God for when we subscribe to his wisdom and submit to his will 't is as if and as much and better than if we had had our own wills Psal 39.9 46 Self-penance is will-worship and meer Epicurisme where pain is pleasant for as long as people impose it on themselves they do not deny their town will but fullfil it and while they beat down the body they do but â—pusse up the flesh Col. 2.20 23. 47 A seared conscience an hardned heart a being given up is a kind of fore-runner and earnest of yea as it were a sealing up of men to damnation for whereas the damned are in hell hell is in these and would any think madness or the dead Palsie to be best because such men feel nothing having lost their senses by their disease which is a greater punishment than any other it being that of loss Rom. 1.28 Eph. 4.18 19. 2 Thess 2.11 12. 1 Tim. 4.1 2. 48 There is a necessity of disproportion and disparity between meâ— and men for were all persons equalâ— the world could not consist Superierity and Inferiority are the Pillan thereof and therefore we are so ofter called upon to obey them that are over us and that not for wrath sake but for conscience Rom. 13.5 49 Man seems to be one of the weakest parts of the Creation for there 's searcely a creature by which he hath not been conquered A flie the kernel of a grape c. hath overcome Conquerours Mice Lice c. were too hard for the Aegyptians We need therefore pray as David Psal 39.4 and with Moses Psal 90.12 and to think of what is said James 4.14 for though we know that there is but one way of coming into theworld yet none knows how many ways there are of going out 50 'T is a known Maxime that a Negative makes nothing known for we know things by discovering not what they are not but what they are and therefore to give only negative Characters of Christians is not to describe them nor can they only make them known to themselves or others Hence throughout the Scripture the Negative and the Affirmative are for the most part joyn'd together Rom. 12.2 1 Pet. 1.14 15. Eph. 4.17 25. 51 God in Scripture compares his Church to an Espoused Wife and himself to an Husband yea to a Jealous Husband how careful then must they be who are married to such an husband to abstain not only from all pollution but from all suspicion of sin 2 Cor. 11.2 3. 52 There is a natural over-charitable affection in most men to their own ways Prov. 16.2 and 21.2 and which yet seems strange the worse they are the more men are inclin'd to favour them but the reason is because the worse they are the more they are their own for mens sins are not so much from the Devil as from themselves and though he may tempt yet 't is they that sin James 1.14 53 He that by Grace is as good as the best was by Nature as bad as the worst Eph. 2.2 3. 54 Before the coming of Christ the Father trusted the Son that he would make satisfaction and since the coming of Christ he trusts the Father that he shall have satisfaction in seeing the travel of his soul safely deliver'd Isa 53.11 55 A Woman may sooner be deliver'd of a Child
externals but how sad will it be to go as I may say religiously i. e. hearing and praying to Hell Ezek. 33.31 James 1.23 27. Matth. 7.21 22 23 26 27 28. 4 Take heed of doing that in with or for company for which thy heart may smite thee and thou must repent when thou art alone Exod. 23.2 1 Sam. 24.4 5 6. 5 They are sad joys and displeasing pleasures which a man must repent of or be damned for and such are all the pleasures of sin or sinful pleasures such as sin puts us upon or such as flow from sin 6 Endeavour to maintain such thoughts of grace and sin heaven and the world as you have or seem to have when you are at prayer then we seem to look on sin as ugly and odious and on the world as vanity and emptiness on grace and glory as the most desirable things but how little doth our conversation say of this while at prayer we seem to be fervent in spirit but when off it like water taken from the fire cold again 1 Chron. 29.18 7 A Christian should and will endeavour to use the world and sin as they used Christ that is to crucifie them Gal. 5.24 and 6.14 8 If the Law of the Members do oppress thee cry out as Paul did Rom. 7.24 and God will hear the cry of the oppressed Psal 9.9 9 God sometimes suffers others to be dis-ingenious towards us to correct our dis-ingenuity towards him sometime by them of our own bowels 2 Sam. 12.11 and rather than fail a dumb beast shall speak and rebuke mans madness 2 Pet. 2.16 10 All our grace is from God who is the God of all grace of all kinds and all degrees of grace the Author the Preserver and Finisher of it 1 Pet. 5.10 11 The vanity and unsatisfactoriness of the things of this world appears in this that a fancy an humour an ungrounded fear will rob us of all the comfort of it and what are all these things without the comfort of them and how many deprive themselves of much good for fear of losing it which is Nabal like to die for fear of dying 1 Sam. 25.37 Thus many kill themselves while they are alive for worldly sorrow is good for nothing but to work death 2 Cor. 7.10 12 It is as great a mercy to want that patiently which God denies as to use that cheerfully which God gives Job 2.10 13 When we believe we receive Christ into our selves John 1.12 for he dwelleth in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 and when we love we give up our selves to Christ 2 Cor. 8.5 Faith then worketh by love or as the Greek hath it is effectually wrought by love the receiving of Christ into our selves by faith is warrantis'd by love i. e. our giving up our selves to Christ 14 Gods measure is ever best so much health and no more so much wealth and no more is best for thee as God sees good for though we beg for daily bread 't is fit that God should be our Carver Prov. 30.8 15 It 's a great evidence of pride and passion when the want of one thing robs us of all the comfort we should take in the rest Gen. 30.1 beside inordinate affection will chuse for it self though on hard conditions and is often punisht with having it's will as Rachel was who no sooner had her wish viz. Children but two and she died 16 God orders all our afflictions for the quality of them what they shall be for the quantity how much and how great they shall be and for the duration how long they shall be Gen. 15.13 A stranger afflicted 400 years there 's all three 17 There is not more comfort from Gods giving us any thing we want than there is safety in waiting on God for the supply of our wants Lam. 3.25 26. and surely there 's no mercy that 's worth praying for but is worth waiting for and if the mercy shall be ours 't is sit the time should be Gods who doth all in the best time even in due time 1 Pet. 5 6. 18 A mercy granted may not be in love though it be the return of a prayer for God hath granted some their desire in wrath Psal 78.29 30 31. compared with Psal 106.15 19 If we have never so many and good means to bring about an end it 's God must bless them if but a sew means God can multiply them if they be contrary God can use them if there be none God can create them or work without them When Jehosaphat knew not what to do his eyes were to God who is never at a loss but always knows what to do and is never out of his way 20 There never was man but died or was changed as Enoch and Elijah and never shall be man but must die or be changed it hath been the end of most mens stories and he died and 't will be of all mens to die or to be changed 1 Cor. 15.51 Let us therefore prepare for death and wait all the dayes of our appointed time till our change shall for it must come Job 14.14 21 God hath further designes than men can reach we see not all at once the best enjoyments do often issue from the greatest disappointments so that we have cause to bless God for crossing us Gen. 50.20 22 'T is a great sign that the rod is in love when thou dost not only bear but hear the rod so as to learn the lesson of growing the better for being beaten Psal 94.12 'T was a pretty one of a little child when corrected Kiss me Mother and whip me again Oh when a rod begets love 't is an argument that 't is from love 23 We should sear none but God and be afraid of nothing but sin and blessed is he that so feareth always Prov. 28.14 24 There are many Cordials that God will not give to his children till they be faint or sick strong consolations are reserved for great tribulations 2 Cor. 1.4 5. 25 If we will take a true measure and make a right estimate of good or evil it must be as it relates to the soul Matth. 10.28 2 Cor. 4.16 c. 26 Man is Gods Creature sin is mans and misery is sins Man was Gods Image sin is mans image and misery is sins image 't is only by Christ Jesus that we are freed from misery sin and our selves and brought to God and his Image 1 Pet. 3.18 27 We live by many Deaths our Natural Spiritual and Eternal Life is by death Many Creatures are put to death to keep us alive yea Christ Jesus died that we might live and we our selves must die that we may live Oh how good is God to us who hath made not only the Creatures ours but Christ ours and in and by him death ours Who makes every thing the worst as well as the best to work together for good to them that love him Rom. 8.28 and though we are less than the least
they should as profiting the more because they delight and delighting the more because they profit by this rule the Book of Books the Bible should be most acceptable 2 Tim. 3.15 17. 34 How poor a thing is man and humane life The Vanities of Childhood the wanderings and unsettlements of Youth the Cares if not Vexations of Married the desires and longings of Unmarried Folks the diseases and other ill-attendants of Old-age make life a wearisome thing yet few care and fewer are fit to die We may cry out as he O Solon yea O Solomon Eccles 11.1 and 12.1 and 12.13 35 Take man in his acquired accomplishments as Learning c. by which one would think to find him much refined and harmonized yet here he is much-what as he was before giddy straying and uncertain There is no man but on examination and experience must yeeld that time or more exact discovery hath discarded often dis-credited if not wholly dis-opinioned his former opinions the inconsistency and ambulatoriness of the age of man will evince it In Childhood the greatest good in our opinion was Play then Pleasure then Conquest then Honour then Gain succeeded confuted and wore out each other and if there be so much of detrusion and justling in those opinions which be natural to us how much more in those that be acquired so that in all conditions from his Cradle to his Grave where he must lie ere long man doth little but lifquiet himself Psal 39.6 36 He that hath most riches is most in debt for he owes God not only for what he is but for more than he is worth Gen. 32.10 1 Chron. 29.16 37 He that looks often on beauty is like to be troubled with sore eyes Job 31.1 Matth. 5.28 and if he take not heed with a sinning heart for the eye not only affects but infects the heart as at first so still Gen. 3.6 38 We may love him or her too too much but we can never love them well with or for whom we can be willing to sin and venture to be damned or at best to buy repentance at a dear rate for they are woful pleasures that we must repent of or be damned for and such are all the pleasures of sin Prov. 7.22 23. and 5.7 14. and 7.24 27. 39 Ever since Eve sinned the daughters of men as one saith have been troubled with fits of the Mother viz. Curiosity and Pride and I may add they will never be cured till they do become the Daughters of Sarah 1 Pet. 3.1 6. 1 Tim. 2.9 15. As the Sons of Adam are cured of the bruise they got by his Fall in becoming the Sons of Abraham Gal. 3.29 Rom. 4.12 40 Seeing we have lived here and must die and yet live after death and others succeed us when we are gone we are greatly concern'd to send before us a very good treasure Matth. 6.19 20. 1 Tim. 6.18 19. to carry with us a very good conscience 2 Tim. 4.6 7. and to leave behind us a very good example John 13.15 Phil. 3.17 1 Tim. 4.12 41 Antichrist is not only one that opposeth Christ but also one that puts himself in the place of Christ pretending to act for him but indeed acts against him See Dr. More 's Idea of Antichristianisme There were those that were called Christs yet were Antichrists Matth. 24.23 24. 1 John 3.4 2 Ep. of John 7. Many called Gods that were but Idols and accordingly there are to this day them that are called Christians in Name but are indeed Antichristians Let Papists look to it 42 In transgressing the First Table we do sin against God yet may not sin against man but in transgressing the Second Table we sin not only against man but against God also and in many cases God hath shewn himself more offended with the breach of the Second Table than with omitting some duties against the First Matth. 9.13 and 12.7 and Isa 1.11 16. and always declares them to be but pretenders to the obedience of the first who are not practisers of the Second 1 John 3.17 and 4.20 and is most severely angry with them that make the duties of the first a Cloak for their breach of the second Matth. 23.14 43 Many men do not only chuse Hell but purchase it as Judas did they will not inherit Hell but pay for it They who as Judas sell their salvation buy their damnation 44 The Irascible as Anger c. do more hurt than the Concupiscible as Love c. Passions these are indeed more sensual but those are more Devilish Jam. 3.14 15. 45 We do not more need the zeal of generous Love than the caution of well-advised Fear which hath resisted as many and as strong temptations and done as great things as Love Gen. 22.12 Heb. 11.17 and God that bids us love bids us also fear him both are to be exercised and they are then well employed when we love to please the God we fear and fear to displease the God we love VVhom should we fear but God who can do most against us or love but God who hath done can and will do most for us 46 Patience is an excellent temperate Grace it was never injurious to any but as it is happy to it self so it is alwayes innocent to others Its ambitions of nothing but Martyrdome Jam. 1.4 47 There is no valour to that of Christian Fortitude which had rather suffer the greatest injuries than do the least Matth. 5.39 41. 48 Nothing is unthankful but evil Angels and wicked men For not only the Oxe knows his owner and the Ass his Masters Crib Isa 1.3 but Stories tell us of Beasts of Prey who have usually no bowels of mercy nor sense of Justice have yet a kind of ingenuity to remember benefits Lyons have done so 49 As health consists in temperament so the best way to preserve it is temperance And 't is good for the Souls health also 2 Pet. 1.6 and as good health makes the Body so a good Conscience the Soul and both make the man happy 50 Vain men having set their hearts on an earthly Beauty idolize it with a Divine Love and we may observe them in their Courting to run out into deifying and adoring Complements which plainly shews that the natural instinct and inclination of Love ascends to a Divinity Oh therefore set your affections on God above where the way of life is to them that are wise Prov. 15.24 For as 't is impossible to look directly upward and downward with the eyes of the body at the same time so no less to love God and Mammon Matth. 6.24 Col. 3.1 2. 1 John 2.15 Jam. 4.4 51 Many persons celebrate and admire the Vertues of them that are dead yet cannot endure the same Vertues in them that are living Matth. 23.29 32. and thus Many that were envied while they lived have been Sainted when dead 52 Some that dare not make a trade of sin will yet make a recreation of it now