thine and others salvations A good Wish about the Government of a Family wherein the former heads are epitomized THe Government of my Family being a special talent and trust committed to me by the blessed God The introduction and being a business of exceeding concernment both in regard of its influence upon the whole Kingdom which is raised or ruined by the good or wicked management of Families and in reference to the everlasting estates of the precious Souls in it wherewith I am charged I wish in general That I may never like a rotten post endanger the whole building of Church and State in any degree by my unfaithfulness in my place nor be so unmerciful and unnatural as to see that bloody Butcher Satan drive my children and servants like silly sheep to the Shambles of Hell and never stir or strive to rescue them out of his hands But thâ—t my resolution and practice may be according to Joshua 's religions pattern that whatsoever gods others serve whether the World or the flesh yet I and my house may serve the Lord. O that I might so walk in the midst of my house with a perfect heart that Grace like Maries box of Oyntment may perfume the whole house with its savour and that in every corner of it as it was said of holy Hoopers there may be some sent of godliness In particular I wish That I may keep my house so cleanly swept from the filth of sin Motives to exalt godliness in a family and so curiously furnished with the ornaments of the Spirit that it may invite the noblest Guest the ever glorious God to take up his abode in it My God hath told me Gods blessing will be on a god y family That the House of the Righteous shall stand Pro. 12.7 though sin rotteth the timber and maketh the houses of the wicked to fall that in the house of the Righteous is much treasure Prov. 15.6 even when there is but little silver thâ—t he blesseth the habitation of the Righteous Prov. 3.33 Surely his blessing can make my bed easie my sleep sweet my food savoury my cloaths warm my dwelling pleasant my children hopeful my wife a meet help my ground full of plenty and all I set my hands to to prosper O my soul what an argument is this to move thee to exalt holiness in thy house Thy God will bless it nay that God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain will come and dwell in it Without question his coming will as to Zacheus bring salvation to thy house the company of this King will turn thy Cottage into a Court and his presence will change thy dwelling were it a Prison into a Palace O! let nothing be in thy house which may be distasteful to so great and so good a Friend Let no sin dwell in thy Tabernacle but let Holiness to the Lord be written on every person room and vessel in it that whatsoever name other houses are known by the name of thy house may be from henceforth and for ever Jehovah Shammah The Lord is there I wish Gods curse will be on a wicked family That I may so give credit to the Word of Truth which saith That the Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked that the flying Roll of Curses the length whereof is twenty cubits and the breadth ten cubits shall enter into the house of the Thief and into the house of him that sweareth falsly and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof Zach. 5.2 3 4. and that he will pour out his wrath upon the Heathen which know him not and upon the families that call not on his name That I may tremble for fear that Atheism should raign in my house and so it should be ranked amongst the irreligious and markt for vengeance Alaâ— what a direadful noise do those Murthering pieces make in mine ears The Curse of God will canker all my comforts and blast all my blessings and that both speedily and irresistibly But O my soul meditate a little upon the latter Text which is a Prediction as well as a Petition What a bitter potion doth thy God give thee to purge Atheism out of thy family Consider its nature it is Wrath Pour out thy Wrath. Gods Anger is terrible like fire burning and overturning all before it if but a spark of it light upon his own people Psal 99. â— aâ—d 85.4 how pitifully do they roar out We are consumed by thine anger Cause thine anger towards us to cease O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger Truly no wonder that they thus bewail it for who knoweth the power of his anger Eut his Wrath is anger in the greatest degree Anger boiled up to the height O how scalding is this boiling Lead If the wrath of a King be the Messenger of death What is the wrath of an Almighty God This wrath can stuff thy bed with thorns and appoint wearisome nights unto thee it can sauce thy dishes with poyson infect thy raiment with plague sores fill thy body with torturing distempers thy soul with horrors and terrors it can waste all thy wealth in a moment and turn thy Wife Children and all thy comforts into amazing crosses and terrifying curses Hell it self is nothing else but this wrath to come one Spoonful one Drop of it will turn an Ocean of the sweetest Wine into Gall and Wormwood Wouldst thou be an Atheist in thy family for all the World to live one hour under this scorching wrath Alas it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of thy God for thy God is a consuming fire Observe further its measure pour out thy wrath When thy God poureth out his Spirit he giveth it in an extraordinary degree The persons upon whom it was poured are said to be full of the Holy Ghost If thy family be irreligious thou mayst expect this scalding wrath not by drops but by shorews to come pouring down upon it O my soul let this thought soak and sink so deep into thee that thou mayst dread the omission of duties in thy family as much as the unquenchable fire Let his favour make thee chearful in his service and let his anger make thee fearful of the least sin in thy house To this end I wish that I may use much circumspection whom I admit into my dwelling Directions for the exalting godliness in a Famâ—ly that as those who are to plant an Orch-yard get the best grafts they can so that mine house may be an Eden the garden of the Lord a Paradise on earth 1 Take heed whom thou makest members of thy Family I may as my occasions require look out for the choycest flowers the best and fruitfulest trees the holiest Christians in the Country O let me never make my house a Pest-house by taking in irreligious and infectious persons and such as
so dreadful but its certain and therefore calls for the more caution 2. By the season of it In the latter times When the world groweth old it will dore and decline when it comes to the bottom it will run dregs Its last days which should be best will be its worst days 3. By the causes procuring it Seducing spirits and Doctrine of devils Satan and his Emissaries will like Sampsons Foxes carry firebrands abroad to set the world in a hellish flame Secondly The Remedy is prescribed in reference to himself Something he must forbear Refuse prophane and old wives fables 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rejice Piscat Beza Excommunica alii If thou wouldst not swim down with the tide of those apostatising times take heed of steering thy course by prophane though ancient customs Refuse them with scorn reject them with anger let thy spirit rise and thy stomack turn at the very sight of such sins One way to prevent Apostacy is to refuse ungrounded antiquity The will of the Father of spirits not the ways of the fathers of our flesh is to be the rule of our walking It is well observed that God in no command but the second which forbids his Worship in any way not appointed by his Word threatneth to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children because superstitious Worshippers are of all men most strengthned by the Traditions of their Fathers They will tell us Shall we be wiser then our Fathers Now because they are resolved to sin with their Fathers God is resolved they shall suffer for their Fathers They that will follow their forefathers in sin for ought I know must follow their forefathers to hell If Timothy would not share in others declensions he must forbear others traditions Refuse prophane and old wives fables Something he must also follow after Exercise thy self unto godliness This is the special help which the skilful physician appointeth his beloved patient in those infectious times to preserve his soul in health As a pestiferous air is very dangerous to the body yet for a man to get and make it his work to keep a sound constitution will be an excellent means to prevent infection So an Apostatizing place or people is very dangerous to the soul spiritual diseases are more catching and killing then corporal but a spiritual habit of a real sanctity with a constant care to continue and increase it will be a soveraign means to preserve it in safety Bodies without life quickly corrupt and become unsavory not so living creatures Running waters are sweet and clean when standing ponds putrifie and abound in vermine He that is ever trading and thriving in godliness need not fear that he shall prove a bankrupt Carts overthrow not going up hill Timothy is considerable in his twofold capacity 1. As a Minister of Christ or in his particular calling in this respect he must exercise himself to godliness Non tan tum sana doctrina sed etiâ—m pia religâ—ola vita mâ—â—iâ—ri verbo opus â—st Beza in loc A Pastor must not onely some days give precepts but every day give a pattern to his people he must not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely divide the word rightly but also order his conversation aright He must as Nazianzen said of Basil thunder in his doctrine and lighten in his life Singular holiness is required of those that minister about holy things as Painters they must teach by their hands by their lives as well as by their lips Ministers must exercise themselves to godliness that is do their duties with the greatest diligence They are sometimes called the Salt of the earth Matt. 5 13 14 because they must waste themselves to prevent corruption in others Sometime the light of the world they must consume themselves to direct others in the way to heaven Greg in 1. cap. lob Gregory observeth that the Spirit of God appeared in two shapes in the shape of a Dove signifying innocency in the shape of Fire signifying activity The zeal of Gods house not the rust of idleness must eat the Minister up he must be a burning shining light if ever he would thaw the frozen hearts of his hearers Quic quid dâ—cit Lutherus quicquid scribit id in aâ—in as peâ—etrat mirificos relinquit aculâ—os in cordibus â—o minum Melch. Adam in vit Luther our Chappels must not be turned into Chappels of ease Christ neglected his food spent his strength wrought so hard that he was thought to be beside himself We are called Fishers Labourers Souldiers Watchmen all which are laborious callings We are compared to clouds the clods of the earth lye still but the clouds of heaven are ever in motion and dissolve themselves to refresh others But alas how many fleece their flocks Sacerdotum nomiâ—a acceâ—imus non ad quietâ—nâ— sed ad laboreâ—â— ut inver amuâ— in operâ— qâ—od sigâ—amur in no mine Greg. l. 4. ep 8. but never feed them as if their Benesices were Sine cures The Green-sickness is the maids and laziness many Ministers disease Who is instant in season and out of season It was a notable speech of Boniface the Martyr to one that asked him whether it was lawful to give the Sacramental wine in a wooden cup. Time was when we had wooden cups and golden Priests but now we have golden cups and wooden priests CHAP. II. The opening of the Text and the Doctrine 2. TImothy is to be considered as a member of Christ or in his general calling and so this Exhortation belongs to every Christian In it we may observe these three parts 1. The act Exercise 2. The subject of that act Thy self 3. The object about which it was to be conversant Vnto godliness Exercise thy self unto godliness I shall briefly open the terms in the Text and then lay down the Doctrinal truth Exercise The word signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exercei semetiâ—sem ad pietatem qui diligerter intambit action bus qui bus deus servitur Est in loc strip thy self naked it s a metaphor from Runners or Wrestlers who being to contend for the prize and resolved to put forth all their strength and power lay aside their cloaths which may hinder them and then bestir themselves to purpose as if Paul had said O Timothy let godliness be the object of all thy care and cost Follow thy general calling with the greatest industry pursue it diligently do not loiter but labour about it lay aside what may hinder lay hold of what may further and mind it as the main and principal work which thou hast to do in this world Thy self A Christians first care must be about his own spiritual welfare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Religion commands us to be mindful of and helpful to our neighbours and relations The Sun rayeth out his refreshing beams and the Spring bubleth up her purling streams for the
they follow their trade though they meet with many trials as resolved travellers whether the ways be fair or foul whether the weather be clear or cloudy they will go on towards their Heavenly Canaan They go from strength to strength till they appear before God in Sion Psa 84.8 When men follow godliness by the by and in jest they take it to farm and accept leases of it for a time but if the times come to be such that in their blind judgments it prove an hard penny-worth they throw it up into their Land-Lords hands Vadat Christus as he said cum suo Evangelio but men that make Religion their business take it as their free hold as their fee simple which they enjoy and esteem it their priviledge so to do for the whole term of their lives I have chosen thy statutes as my heritage for ever I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes always unto the end Psa 119.11 12. The godliness of an unsound professour is like the light of a Candle fed with gross and greasie matter as profit and honour and pleasure which continueth burning till that tallowy substance be wasted but then goeth out and leaves a stench behind it the holiness of a true Christian is like the light of the Sun which hath its original in heaven and is fed from above and thereby shines brighter and brighter to perfect day Prov. 4.18 CHAP. V. Religion is the great end of mans Creation I Come in the third place to the reasons The Reason of the Doctrine Why godliness should be every mans main and principal business First Because it is Gods chief end in sending man into and continuing him in this World It is without question that the work should be for that end to which it is appointed and for which it is maintained by a soveraign and intelligent workman Where the Master hath authority to command there his end and errand must be chiefly in the servants eye Laert invit Zen Zeno well defines Liberty to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a power to act and practice at a mans own Pleasure opposite to which servitude must be a determination to act at and according to the will of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Polit. c. 9. A servant is as the Oratour saith well nomen officii a word that speaks one under command he is not one that moveth of himself but the Masters living instrument according to the Philosopher to be used at his pleasure According to the title or power which one hath over another such must the service be Where the right is absolute the obedience must not be conditional God having therefore a perfect soveraignty over his creatures and compleat right to all their services his end and aim his will and word must be principally minded by them Paul gathers this fruit from that root The God whose I am and whom I serve Act. 27.23 His subjection is founded on Gods Dominion over him Now the great end to which man is designed by God Hic si is Iuâ—a naefornationis ut homo si etmplem De Deus ara homi nis is the exercising himself to godliness God erected the stately fabrique of the great World for man but he wrought the curious piece of the little World man for himself Of all his visible works he did set man apart for his own Worship Man saith one â—ustum est ut creatura laudet creatorem ipse enim ad laudan dum secreavit Aug. is the end of all in a semicircle intimating that all things in the World were made for man and man was made for God It is but rational to suppose that if this World was made for us we must be made for more then this World It is an ingenious observation of Picus Mirandula God created the Earth for beasts to inhabit the Sea for fish the Air for fowls the Heavens for Angels and Stars man therefore hath no place to dwell and abide in but the Lord alone The great God according to his infinite Wisdom hath designed all his creatures to some particular ends and hath imprinted in their natures an appetite and propensity towards that end as the point and scope of their being Yea the very inanimate and irrational creatures are serviceable to those ends and uses in their several places and stations Birds build their nests exactly bringing up their young tenderly Beasts scramble and scuffle for their Fodder and at last become mans food The Sun Moon and Stars move regularly in their orbes and by their light and influence â—dvantage the whole World The little Common-wealth of Bees work both industriously and wonderfully for the benefit of mankind Flowers refresh us with their sents Trees with their shade and fruits Fire moveth upward Earth falleth downward each by nature hastning to its center Thunder and Winds being exhalations drawn up from the earth by the heavenly bodies The ancient Philosophers and the old Divines among the Pagans did pourtray their gods in wood and stone with musical instruments not that they beleeved the gods to be fidlers or lovers of musick but to shew that nothing is more agreeable to the nature of God then to do all in a sweet harmony and proportion Platarch are wholly at though stubborn and violent creatures the call and command of the mighty possessor of Heaven and Earth and with them as with besoms he sweeps and purifieth the air Fish sport up and down in rivers Rivers run along sometimes seen sometimes secret never ceasing or tiring till they empty themselves into the Ocean the mighty Sea like a pot of water by its ebbing and flowing purgeth it self boyleth and prepareth * Piscis à pasco sustenance for living creatures Through this womb of moisture this great pond of the world as ** In contemp Bishop Hall termeth it men travel in moveable houses from Country to Country transporting and ex changing commodities Thus the Almighty Creator doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Plato saith observe a curious comely order in all his work and appoints them to some use according to their nature Surely much more is man the point in which all those lines meet designed to some noble end suitable to the excellency of his being and what can that be but to worship the glorious and blessed God and the exercising himself to godliness The Lord made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 God made things without life and reason Plato finem hujus mundi bonitatem dei esse affirmavit to serve him passively and subjectively by administring occasion to man to admire and adore his Maker but man was made to worship him actively and affectionately as sensible of and affected with that Divine wisdom power and goodness which appear in them As all things are of him as the efficient cause so all things must necessarily be for him as the final cause But man in an especial manner
are all called to be Souldiers Our whole life is a warfare All the days of my appointed time Job 14.14 An Expositor reads it Ad agendum natâ—milites Cicer. All the days of my warfare I will wait till my change come The Souldiers life is no lazy life Armies are wholly for action especially when they deal with such subtile strong adversaries that assault them day and night without ceasing Who can conquer three such mighty Monarchs as Flesh World and Devil are or force his way through their temptations and suggestions unless he fight in earnest and make it his business That fire if ever any had need to be hot that must melt and overcome such hard mettal and that hand if ever any had need to work hard that will remove and level such high mountains If the silly Hare pursued by such a pack of Hounds offer once to stand still or lye down she is sure to be torn in pieces and devoured There is a time saith the holy Bishop Hall Holy observ 20. when Kings go not forth to warfare our spiritual war admits no intermission it knows no night no winter abides no peace no truce this calls us not into Garison where we may have ease and respite but into pitcht fields continually we see our enemies in the face always and are always seen and assaulted ever resisting ever defending receiving and returning blows if either we be negligent or weary we dye We can never have safety and peace but in victory There must our resistance be couragious and constant where both yielding is death and all treaties of peace mortal Secondly There is a necessity of making it our main work Because of the multiplicity of businesses that is incumbent on every Christian That stream had need to run freely and with full force that must be divided into many channels That estate had need to be large that must be parted among many children Who can count the variety of works that every Christian must be engaged in how many Dangers he must wade through how many Snares must he avoid how many Taunts and Mocks must he abide how many Temptations must he conquer how many Graces must he exercise how many Lusts must he mortifie how many Duties must he perform every relation every condition calls for answerable duty and diligence every Ordinance must be improved by him every Providence must be sanctified to him Mercies must like a ladder mount him nearer to Heaven Misery must like the famine to the Prodigal force him to hasten to his Fathers house His Wife his Children his Servants his Neighbors his Friends his Enemies his shop his closets his visits his journeys do all require suitable service and who can perform it that is not diligent and sedulous Consider him in reference to Gods immediate Worship he must pray hear read meditate watch fast sanctifie Sabbaths sing Psalms receive the Sacrament and in all walk humbly reverently and uprightly with his God Consider him in reference to poor men he must love mercy and supply their necessities according to his ability and not like a muck-heap good for nothing till carried forth whatever men he deals with he must do justly love his Neighbor as himself and as God gives him opportunity provoke them to mind Grace and Sanctity as Musk perfume if possible all that he comes near Consider him in reference to himself he must live soberly vigilantly his heart is like a subtle sturdy theif ever seeking to break the goal and therefore must have a strong guard his corrupt nature is like fire and his whole man like thatch and therefore he must keep a narrow watch his Sences are the Out-works which Satan is ever assaulting by them to gain the Royal Fort of the Soul that he must defend them with care and courage day and night What is said of the Husbandman is true of every Christian His work is never at an end The end of one work is but the beginning of another He must always be imployed either in dunging dressing ploughing sowing harrowing weeding or reaping his ground he hath no leisure to be idle and lazy who hath so much work lying upon his hand Nullus mihi per â—tium exiit dies partem etiam noctium studiis vendico non vacosomno sed juc cumbo oculos vigilia fatigatos cadentesque in opere detinco Sen. epist 67. Seneca thought Philosophy cut him out so much work that he was necessitated to spend every day and part of the nights in making it up Christianity a nobler Mistris as she gives better wages so she commands greater work that her servants may say well with the Emperor Let no day pass without a line and with Solomons Houswife not let their candle to go out by night Prov. 30. The French Duke de Alva could say when he was asked by Henry the Fourth Whether he had seen the Eclipse of the Sun That he had so much business to do upon Earth that he had no time to look up to Heaven Sure I am the Christian may say with more truth and conscience That he hath so much business to do for Heaven that he hath no time to mind vain or earthly things That servant who doth ponder the strictness of his Master consider the shortness of his time conceive the largeness of his task and beleeve the weightiness of his work how it must be done or he is undone for ever will be easily convinced that it nearly concerns him that it highly behoves him to shake off sloth and sluggishness to gird up the loins of his mind to give it the precedency in all his actions to pursue it with industry against all opposition to persevere in it with constancy to his dissolution and in a word to make it his main business his principal work CHAP. VIII A Complaint that this Trade is so dead and the Worlds trade so quick THe Use which I shall make of this Doctrine shall be either by way of Complaint or Counsel First By way of Lamentation If Godliness ought to be every ones principal business How sadly should it be lamented that this calling is so exceedingly neglected What one man is there of many that doth follow this trade and exercise himself to Godliness Men generally cry out Trading is dead their particular callings are gone they make no considerable returns they stand in their shops all the day idle But may not God rather complain The holy heavenly trade is decayed and dead general callings are left and lost Why stand ye all the day idle and refuse to work in my vineyard While the Devil has whole droves to do his drudgery the Flesh vast flocks to flatter its fancies and the World many millions to admire and adore its vanities the ways of Sion mourn they are unoccupied none come to the solemn feasts all her gates are desolate While the Lawyers Closet is filled with Clients for counsel about their Estates the Physicians
chamber with Patients about their bodily health and the Tradesmans shop crowded with customers Jesus Christ is left alone Though he offereth wares which are of infinite worth and stretcheth out his hand all the day long yet no man regardeth It is reported of some Spaniards that live near the place where is store of fish P. Pâ—grim that they will rather go without them then take the pains to catch them Heaven and Happiness Saviour and Salvation are near men they are brought to their very doors and yet men will rather lose then labour for them rather go sleeping to Hell then sweating to Heaven All seek their own and none the things of Jesus Christ Offer a crust to a dog and he will catch at it offer him a Crown and he will contemn it offer these men the crusts of vanity and how greedily are they imbraced while the Crown of Glory is most unworthily dispised like beastly swine they trample this pearl under their feet and love to wallow in the mire But possibly you may say that there are many that make Religion their business onely they are so near me that according to the rule of Opticks which requires a due distance between the faculty and the object I cannot behold them they abound in every Country Parish Family All are Christians and make the Worship of God their main work I must answer as he did when he saw the vast Army of Antiochus There are many men but few Souldiers many mouths but few hands there are many nominal but few real Christians many that flourish like fencers beating onely the air but few that fight in earnest the good fight of faith Godliness hath many complemental servants that will give her the cap and the knee a few good words and outward ceremonies but Godliness hath few faithful friends that make her the Mistris of their affections that give her the command of their hearts and that wait upon her and walk with her all the day long Pretenders to her service are indeed like the sand of the sea numerous but practitioners or faithful servants are like the pearl of the sea rare and precious many court her but few marry her for indeed men generally deal with Godliness as the Germans with the Italians or the Dutch with the Spaniards hold a fair out ward correspondency enough to serve for mutual trade and traffick but enter not into a near familiarity they have no great intimacie with Godliness it s rather a stranger to them whom now and then they bestow a visit on for fashion sake then an indweller or constant inhabitant Lepidus Major a loose Roman when his Comrades were exercising themself in the Camp would lay himself down to sleep in the shade and cry out Vtinam hoc esset laborare would this were all the duty I were to do Such Souldiers are many who pretend to fight under Christs Banner when they should be watching their souls and warring with Satan and fin they are sleeping and snoring as if that were the way to work out their salvations Reader I must acquaint thee with the Physicians rule that Spontanae lassitudines morbos loquuntur Weariness without some apparent cause is a sign of a diseased body so thy laziness doth speak a very unsound soul This complaint is urged with a threefold consideration First How eager is the worldling for wealth and earthly things though they loyter about the meat which endureth to eternal life yet they can labour for the meat that perisheth though they are so negligent about the Kingdom of Heaven yet the Kingdom of Earth suffereth violence What pains do the Mariners take for treasure What perils doth the Souldier under go for plunder what labour and industry doth the Husbandman use for profit he riseth early sits up late denieth himself loseth his sleep rides and runs too and fro imbraceth all opportunities is eaten up almost with cares and fears all for the earthly maâ—â—â—â— whilst the heavenly Mansions are like the unknown part of the world which no man regardeth or looketh after They pant after the dust of the earth as greedily as hot creatures do after the air to cool their scorched intrails Amos 2.7 The Serpents curse is entailed on that poysonous brood the dust is their diet they feed on ashes Gen. 3.14 Amos 7. They laugh at dangers and trample upon difficulties they force their way through darkness and the shadow of death through stifling damps and overflowing floods through rocks and mountains in the pursuit of earthly treasures Job 28.9 10 11. It s said of the Dutch they are so industrious at Navigation that if it were possible to sail in ships to Heaven they would not come short of that Haven Ah what pity is it that this jewel should hang in a swines snout which would so well become the Christians finger that this diligence this violence should be exercised about mens earthly and particular which would so well suit their heavenly and general calling The ambitious person like the Panther Pliny nat hist lib. 8. cap 27. is so greedy of the poisonous Aconite hung up by the Hunters purposely in vessels above their reach of air and honour that he never leaves leaping and straining thereat till he breaks and bursts himself in sunder The covetous man saith one that hath more then enough yet perplexeth himself with his own wants look how like a fool he goeth leading his horse in his hand and carrying his saddle on his back till he be pickled in his own sweat and killed with cares when his horse would with ease carry him and his saddle The Voluptuous man like the Drone is busie about the glass of water baited with honey in it he labours and wearieth himself even till he be drowned How do men like the Israelites in the Egyptian bondage travel up and down and even weary themselves to gather straw What pains do they take to hew unto themselves broken cysterns Their chief strife is with the Toads who shall fall asleep with most earth in their mouths who shall leave this world with most wealth in their hands Their parts and gifts their time and talents are all improved to help forward their earthly trade They are wiser in their generation then the children of light Oh how lamentable is it that the oynions and garlick of Egypt are preferred before the milk and honey of Canaan Luthers Colloq Mensal p. 85. Lysippus made Alexanders picture with this posie tupiter asserai terram mihi ta assere coelum Luther tells us of a noble man at Vienna in the time of his abode there which made a great Supper and in the midst of his mirth belched out this windy and blasphemous speech If God will leave me this world to live and injoy my pleasure therein but a thousand years then let him take his Heaven to himself This man spake what most men think the bramble of their bodies reigneth and fire ariseth out
obtaineth the crown above all take the shield of faith Other jewels are of great value but this is the fairest sparkling Diamond Among all duties prayer seems to challenge the garland of honour Concerning the work of my hands command ye me This is the Favourite in the Heavenly Court to whom the King of Kings can deny nothing This duty is of such weight that it is frequently put for Gods whole worship Seek ye the Lord seek his strength seek his face evermore Psa 105.4 5. Gods Temple which was the beauty of holiness the habitation of the most high was baptized by God himself with this name My House shall be called of all Nations an house of prayer Isa 56.7 Gods people which are higher then the Kings of the Earth are known to be nobly born by this practice This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Jacob Psa 24.6 Nay God himself is pleased to wear prayers Livery and to be distinguished by the royal Robes of his relation to this duty O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psa 65.1 2. Pearles of a very high price are never set but in gold the choicest mettal The Worship and people of God are more worth then all this World but O how much is God worth yet all these glister gloriously in the ring of prayer There is no duty in my observation which hath so many precepts for it or promises to it as prayer and sure I am there is no duty which giveth more honour to God or receiveth more honour from God then prayer Prayer hath a twofold preheminence above all other duties whatsoever In regard of the universality of its influence and opportunity for its performance The universality of its influence As every sacrifice was to be seasoned with Salt so every undertaking and every affliction of the creature must be sanctified with prayer nay as it sheweth the excellency of gold that it s laid upon silver it self so it speaketh the excellency of prayer that not onely natural and civil but even Religious and spiritual actions are overlaid with prayer We pray not onely before we eat or drink our bodily nourishment but also before we feed on the bread of the Word and the bread in the Sacrament prayer is requisite to make every providence and every ordinance blessed to us Prayer is needful to make our particular callings succesful prayer is the guard to secure the fort royal of the heart prayer is the Porter to keep the door of the lips prayer is the strong Hilt which defendeth the hands prayer perfumes every relation prayer helps us to profit by every condition prayer is the Chymist that turnes all into Gold prayer is the Master workman if that be out of the way the whole Trade stands still or goeth backward What the Key is to the Watch that prayer is to Religion it winds it up and sets it a going It is before other duties in regard of opportunity for its performance A Christian cannot always hear or always read or always communicate but he may pray continually No place no coâ—pany can deprive him of this priviledge If he be on the top of a House with Peter he may pray if he be in the bottom of the Ocean with Jonah he may pray if he be walking in the field with Isaak he may pray when no eye seeth him if he be waiting at table with Nehemiah he may pray when no ear heareth him If he be in the mountains with our Saviour he may pray If he be in the prison with Paul he may pray where-ever he is prayer will help him to find God out Every Saint is Gods Temple And he that carrieth his Iemple about him saith Austin may go to prayer when he pleaseth Indeed to a Christian every house is an house of prayer every closet a chamber of presence and every place he comes to an Altar whereon he may offer the sacrifice of prayer Prayer is an humble lifting up the heart or pouring out the soul to God in the name of Christ It is a crying Abba Father As Scripture is Gods Letter wherein he openeth his mind to man so Prayer is mans Letter wherein he openeth his mind to God It is fitly resembled to Jacobs Ladder the bottom of which was on earth but the top reached to Heaven A thought can fly speedily to the uttermost parts of the earth so can prayer in a moment to the highest heavens One of the Fathers compareth it to a chain one end of which is tied to mans tongue the other end to Gods ear Another Ascensus mentis ad Deum A lifting up the mind to God Paul calls it a making known our requests to God Phil. 4. Jamblicus a prophane writer calleth prayer Rerum divinarum ducem lucem copulam qua homines cum Deo conjunguntur The guide and light of Divine truths the band whereby God and man are joyned together Clavis instarqua Dei penetralia aperiuntur Like a key that openeth Gods secrets Austin calls it Dei sacrificium diaboli flagellum Christiani subsidium A sweet savour to God a terror to the Devil and a shelter to a Christian Bernard calls it Vinculum invincibilis â—he Conqueror of him who is invincible Luther saith It is omnipotent Archimedes made such an engine that saith he Could I but finde where to fasten it I would not doubt but to remove the whole earth with it Such an engine is Prayer By prayer fire hath been quenched waters divided the mouths of Lions stopped iron gates opened the bottles of heaven opened and stopped the course of nature overturned diseases removed health restored sin subdued grace bestowed Kingdoms supported Church enemies scattered the blind restored the dead enlivened devils dispossessed and the blessed God himself conquered The Jews have a proverb Sine stationibus non staret mundus alluding to their standing posture in prayer the World would not stand without prayer When a great fire in Constantinople had fastned on a great part of the City took hold of the Church flamed in at several of the windows the Bishop ran into the Church fell down on his knees and would not rise from prayer till the fire was vanquished And as prayer hath hindred fire so it hath brought down water The Legions of Christians under Aurelius in a time of drought intreated rain of God and prevailed for which they were called The lightening Legion Prayer is the Midwife to bring all those mercies into the world to the Beleever which are conceived in the womb of the Promises It is the Christians messenger which he sends to Heaven for the supply of his necessities and like Jonathans bow it never returneth empty Oftentimes as the Eccho doubleth the voyce so doth the answer the prayer when the soul like Gehezi asketh but one talent God like Naaman forceth two upon it The Lord is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 Prayer is
what fire was his Sacrifice offered O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord defer not for the Lords sake That wine is best which is fullest of these heavenly spirits Winter fruits are sowre and unplesant to men and so are cold petitions to God Dan. 9.13 Reader when thou art praying for pardon how shouldst thou even poure out thy soul Alass when thou considerest if God do not pardon I perish eternally if sin be imputed I am damned how should thy heart cry out Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness after the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquities again Wash me from mine iniquities and cleanse me from my sin and again Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities once more Deliver me from blood guiltiness O God thou God of my salvation Psa 51.1 2 11 14. When thou art begging grace and purity with what earnestness shouldst thou pray beleiving how destructive sin is to thy precious soul and how offensive to the jealous just and Almighty God and in what absolute necessity thou standest in of holiness without which thou canst never see God As when the Clock strikes the Wheels within move notably we may hear them run round so when thy tongue is pleading with God for remission of sins and repentance towards God for the Son of God the Spirit of God and thine everlasting Salvation how should thine heart move what work should there be among thine affections to enforce those weighty petitions This fervency is necessary to prepare thy soul for the mercy thou desirest What men get lazily they spend lavishly but that food which a devout woman longeth for she prizeth much and eateth with most delight When one whispered Demostenes in the ear that he was beaten and desired him to plead his cause the Orator would not believe him till at last the man cryed out Now saith he I feel your cause It is the intension of the Spirit which giveth efficacy to our petitions It is not the length of the arm but the strength of it which draweth the bow so as to make the arrow fly fast and far Fervency to prayer is as wings to the Bird by which it mounteth up to heaven The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous prevaileth much James 5.16 When prayers are drivel'd like rhume out of a mans mouth they fall down at his feet The Mother will let the childe alone if it onely whimper and whine a little in the cradle but when it crieth outright then she hasteth to take it up This poor man cryed was not dull and drowsie there is his fervency and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles Psal 34.9 here is his prevalency There is no getting to the Indian Mines by the cold Northerz Seas though because it is a shorter cut some have attempted that way but they lost their labour Other duties are a serving God Prayer is a seeking God Now they that seek him early shall finde him Prov. 8.17 A low voice doth not cause a loud eccho neither doth a lazy prayer procure a liberal answer Sleepy requests cause but dreams meer fancied returns Where there is a cushion of ease under the knees and a pillow of idleness under the elbows there is little work to be done When Daniel had been fervent all day at prayer an Angel is sent to him at night with an answer Importunity prevaileth with an unjust Judge much more with a righteous and gracious God Though God be Almighty yet a fervent prayer through his grace hath held his hands Let me alone Exod. 32. Who holdeth the Lord saith Austin Moses earnest cry was the cord which I may speak with reverence fastned Gods hands Prayer is a sword to wound both sin and Satan but fervency is the edge of it doing the execution Zeph. 18.2 Cor. 12. For this I besought the Lord thrice When a man strikes his Enemies with his full strength then the wounds are made The lack of this fervency is the loss of many prayers The lazy petition tires before it comes half way to Heaven indeed it is eaten up as the cold honey of Wasps and Flies of wandring thoughts when fervent prayers like honey boiling over the fire is free from such ill guests An idle prayer like a lazy beggar wandreth and gaddeth up and down and as a rowling stone gathereth no moss The working of the affections in prayer like Davids harp allayeth those Devils which would disturb the Christian in this duty When a man is intent upon the God to whom he prayeth and eager after the mercies for which he prayeth though the World whisper him in the ear he cannot hear though Satan jog him by the elbow he will not heed him But here a caution will be seasonable The fire of thy fervency must be from Heaven not such strange fire as Nadab and Abihu offered to the Lord I mean it must not be the voice of nature an earnest cry for the enjoyment of creatures but the voice of the Spirit an importunate desire for conformity to and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ We read of those that howled upon their beds for corn and wine and oyl Hosea 7.17 Many like children roar are much out of quiet disturb others with the noise they make but it is for clouts for a Babey Who will shew us any good The voice of a Saint must be as of a wise son at full age for the inheritance Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me The Petitioner herein must be very careful he that rides apace had need to be sure that he is in the right way or else the freer his horse is the more he wandreth to his loss The greater the fire is the more watchful we must be that it be kept within the chimney the more earnest our affections are the more we must minde what our petitions be The promises of God must be the foundation of our prayers What he promiseth to give I may pray to receive Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119.49 but its dangerous for the building to jet out upon the Kings high-way beyond the foundation this may cause the house to fall or be taken down Because godliness hath the promise of this life I am bound to pray Give me this day my daily bread Temporal good things must be part of the matter of my prayer but because God promiseth these things conditionally so far onely as he seeth fit for his honor and my comfort therefore I must pray for them conditionally The Apish childe that crieth and squeeketh for the knife to be its own carver and will not be satisfied with its Parents feeding it deserveth the rod our prayers both for the matter and the manner must run parallel with Gods promises Prayer is a putting Gods promises into suit but he that sueth a Bond must minde the condition
sinners love their friends who love them and wilt thou be worse then Publicans and sinners Consider seriously Jesus Christ loved thee when thou wast in a loathsome estate Ezek. 16. when thou wast wallowing in thy blood when no eye pitied thee then was his time of love he passed by thee and said unto thee Live yea when thou wast in thy blood he said unto thee Live And wilt thou not love him Ponder the heat of his love possibly the greatness of that fire may warm thy heart and thou mayest reflect some heat back again for indeed love is a Diamond which must be written upon with its own dust He loveth thee as a servant surely this is a favour for he hath thousands of glorious Angels who count it their honor and happiness to serve him To be made one of his hired servants was the great priviledge desired by the Prodigal Ye call me Lord and Master and ye say well for so I am John 13.13 but though this may be somewhat it is not enough for him He loveth thee as a friend Ye are my friends John 15.15 I have not called you servants but friends Friends love entirely witness Jonathan and David Jonanathan loved David as his own soul Friendship is one soul in two bodies saith the Philosopher This is much but his love to thee is more then so he loveth thee as his Brother He is not ashamed to call them brethren I will declare thy name unto my brethren Heb. 2.11 Some Brethren are knit very close in the bond of love Camh. Brit. In Queen Elizabeths Reign in a fight between the Earl of Kildare and Earl of Ter Owen two of the Earl of Kildares Brethren were slain which he took so heavily that he dyed shortly Some write that there is no such love in the World as between Foster-Brethren in Ireland This love is great but his love is greater He loveth thee as his childe the stream of love descendeth most swiftly from Parents to their children He shall see his Seed Isa 53.10 How tender is the Mother of her childe Can the Mother forget her childe that sucketh her breast The Mothers bowels will yern towards her childe the Mothers breasts will put her to pain if not drawn and thereby minde her of her childe But though the Mother may prove a Monster and like the Ostrich leave her young to be destroyed yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord Thou art engraven upon the palms of my hands thy walls are ever before me Isa 49.13 14 15. Children have you any meat If not lo here is my body Thou mayst say of Christs love to thee as David of Jonathans Thy love to me is wonderful it far surpasses the love of women for he loveth thee as his Spouse Men do or at least should love their wives above all relations For this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother and cleave to his wife But who can conceive Christs love to his Spouse Thou art all fair my love thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse How fair is thy love my Sister my Spouse Cant. 4.8 9 10. The nearest affinity is Spouse and the nearest consanguinity is Sister to shew that his affection is like that of the nearest relations If this be not enough Reader he loveth thee as himself nay above himself he did as it were hate himself out of love to thee He denied himself displeased himself and gave himself to be buffeted scourged condemned wracked crucified and to be a sacrifice for thy sins Well is it possible for thee to read of this infinite love without love When wood hath been laid a sunning it takes fire presently Hast not thou been so fitted by the warm hot beams of this Sun that now upon the very thoughts of Christ thou art all in a flame Truly it would be as great a miracle for thee to be in such a furnace of love and not fired with love to him as for the three Worthies in Daniel to be in the midst of the fiery furnace and not burnt Christ loved thee so unspeakably as thou hast read as a servant as a friend as a brother as a childe as a wife as himself nay above himself all this when thon wast a sinner without strength yea his enemy which threefold gradation the holy Ghost taketh special notice of Rom. 5.6 8 10. and wilt thou ever give him cause to complain of thee as Paul of his Corinthians the more I love the less I am beloved Love him dearly love him entirely love him above all love him more then all say with the Spouse Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love and with holy Brandford sprinckle thy trencher thy food with tears that thou canst love so loving and so lovely a Saviour no more 3. When thou art at the Table Exercise repentance what sorrow for and anger against thy sins should the sight of a crucified Saviour cause Some tell us that if the murderer be brought near and touch the body slain by him it bleeds afresh O when thou who art indeed the murderer of the Son of God dost touch and taste his body and blood shouldst not thou fall a bleeding a weeping a fresh Behold his broken bleeding body with an eye of faith and thine eye cannot but affect thine heart with grief I am confident thou canst not see it with dry eyes Was his soul exceeding sorrowful heavy even unto death for thy sake and is not thine friend for thy sins Did he drop so much blood and canst thou drop never a tear the very rocks were rent at his sufferings and is thy heart harder then those stones Is it possible for the head to be so pained and peirced and the members not be affected with it surely Deep calleth unto Deep Deep sufferings in Christ for deep sorrow in thee O Christian If his body were broken to let his blood out thy soul may well be broken to let it in They shall see him whom they have peirced and mourn for him as one that mourneth for his onely Son Zach. 10.12 His love may make as Davids kindness even a Saul to lift up his voice and weep It is so great and so hot a fire that one would think it would distil water out of thee wert thou never so dry an herb When Christ sat at Supper in the Pharisees house Mary washed his feet with her tears When Christ and thy soul are supping together thou mayst well weep in remembrance of thy unkindness and wickedness But the cheifest reason why I mention repentance now to be exercised is not so much for thy contrition or sorrow for sin though when the sweet sauce is a little sharp with Vinegar the meat will rellish the better for it as for thine indignation and anger against sin When thou considerest that thy dearest Saviour in a cold night lay groveling on the ground all over in a bloody sweat that
Days and it may be got little soul-saving good Thou goest to the House of God where a table in the preaching of the Gospel is set before thee spread with all the dainties of Pardon Love Grace Peace and Eternal Life at which others sit and feed their Souls are fill'd with Marrow and Fatness and their mouthes praise the Lord with joyful lips but thou hast no stomack canst eat little and savour nothing I dare be the Physician to tell thee the cause cure of this the cause is Thy stomack is foul thy heart is unclean and therefore as a man that hath a cold or some disease predominant cannot rellish his meat but complains sometimes of the meat sometime of the Cook when the fault is in himself so thou canst taste no goodness in the best meat neither Prayer nor Scripture neither Sermon nor Sabbath are savoury to thee yet it may be thou blamest the Preacher he doth not dress the meat to thy mind when the fault is in the foulness of thy affections Thy cure must be to purge out this old leaven to take some pains beforehand in cleansing thy heart When the stomack is clean as after purging or fasting how sweet is a piece of bread So if thou wouldst but in secret search thy soul vomit up thy filth by a penitent confession cleanse thine heart by sincere contribution and wouldst then frequent the publique Ordinances thou wouldst finde prayer sweet preaching sweet the Sacrament sweet every service sweet O how wouldst thou love the habitation of Gods House and the place where his honor dwelleth Prepare to meet thy God O Christian betake thy self to thy chamber on the Saturday night confess and bewail thine unthankfulness for and unfruitfulness under the Ordinances of God shame and condemn thy self for thy sins entreat God to prepare thy heart for and assist it in thy Religious performances spend some time in consideration of the infinite Majestie Holiness Jealousie and Goodness of that God with whom thou art to have to do in sacred duties ponder the weight and importance of his holy Ordinances how they concern thy salvation or damnation thine everlasting life or death how certainly they will either further thine unchangeable welfare or encrease thine endless wo meditate on the shortness of the time thou hast to enjoy Sabbaths in how near thy life may be to an end how speedily and how easily God may take down thine earthly Tabernacle how there is no working no labouring no striving in the other World to which thou art hastning and continue musing and blowing till the fire burneth thou canst not think the good thou mayest gain by such fore-thoughts how pleasant and profitable a Lords Day would be to thee after such a preparation The oven of thine heart thus baked in as it were over night would be easily heated the next morning the fire so well raked up when thou wentest to bed would be the sooner kindled when thou shouldst rise If thou wouldst thus leave thine heart with God on the Saturday night thou shouldst finde it with him in the Lords Day morning Secondly Possess thy soul in the morning with the greatness of thy priviledge in the enjoyment of a Sabbath and such seasons of grace Look upon thy work that day as thy reward thy duty on that day as thy greatest Dignity O what a favour what an honor what happiness doth God vouchsafe to thee in affording thee such a golden season David though a King the Head of the best people in the World esteemed it an honor to be the lowest Officer in Gods House to be a Door-keeper there to fit at the threshold as it is in the Hebrew Psal 84.10 If the Queen of Sheba could say when she saw the wealth and heard the wisdom of Solomon Happy are these thy men happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom and blessed be the Lord God of Israel which delighted in thee to set thee on the Throne of Israel because the Lord loved Israel for ever therefore made he thee King 1 Kings 10.8 9. mayest not thou when thou beholdest the beautiful face of thy Saviour in the glass of Ordinances and hearest the sweet delightful voyce of Jesus Christ a greater then Solomon when thou seest the delicate and plentiful provision the feast of fat things of wine on the lees well refined which he makes for his people upon better ground say Blessed are thy servants that hear thee daily watching at thy gates waiting at the posts of thy doors Prov. 8.34 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee And blessed be the Lord God of Israel which delighted in thee to set thee on the Throne of Israel because he loved Israel for ever therefore hath he made thee King The Ordinances of God are called an appearing before God the fruition of them is a seeing his face Capernaum because of them was said to be lifted up to Heaven Who can tell what honor it is to appear in the presence of this King or what happiness it is to see his comely countenance Those that enjoy this are lifted up to Heaven Israel was an unparallel'd people because of this incomparable priviledge For what Nation is there so great which hath God so nigh unto them Deut. 4.7 In the Ordinances of God the Christian hath sweet communion with ravishing delight in and enflamed affection to the blessed God in them he tastes God to be gracious hath the First-fruits of his Glorious and Eternal Harvest Well might the French Protestants call their place of publique meeting Paradise Well might David cry out Psal 84.1 2. 27.4 How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts At the Tabernacle God did meet David Who can tell what joyful greeting there was at that holy meeting what sweet kisses what loving embraces God gave his soul As the Ordinances are Heaven in a glass so the Lords Day is Heaven in a map This is to be valued at an high rate because therein we enjoy all the means of communion with God in the highest degree and measure without interruption The Hebrews call thee Week days prophane days but this is an holy pious day The Greeks call them working days but this is a day of sweet rest Other days are common and ordinary handmaids but this is fitly termed by the Jews the Queen of days Many Daughters have done wisely but thou hast excelled them all Many days as Lecture-days Fast-days Thanksgiving-days have done vertuously have done valiantly but thou O Queen of days hast excelled them all They like Saul have slain their thousands of Spiritual Enemies but thou hast slain as David thy ten thousands They like the people must worship afar off but thou like Moses mayest draw near go up into the mount There is none like thee whom God knoweth face to face Well may other days say to thee as the people to David Thou art
God will sowre the whole lump of thy family-blessings I have seen the foolish taking root but suddenly I cursed his habitation Job 5.3 The words are not a malediction from Eliphaz private spirit but a prediction from Gods spirit as if he had said I was neither malicious against his person nor envious at his prosperous condition but by the help of the Holy Ghost I foresaw his destruction that though his house was built high yet his unholiness would lay it low Thou mayst possibly presume that though thou livest without God yet thou art beyond the reach of his rod thou canst mote thy house round against the fire of divine fury but thy confidence shall be rooted out of thy tabernacle and brimstone shall be scattered on thy habitation God will unkennel all such foxes and drag them to their deserved destruction When Dioclesian the Persecutor retired from the Empire to a private life Fuseb lâ—b 5. De vit Constant after he had feathered his nest fire rained down from Heaven and consumed his house When Nicephorus Phocas had built a mighty Wall about his Pallace for his defence he heard a voice in the night saying Though thou buildest thy wals as high as heaven sin is within and that will pluck it down The Leprous house must be pul'd down God will have every Brick Stone Tile and piece of Timber down Where is the House of the Prince and where is the dwelling place of the wicked Job 21.28 Atheism in thy house will bring a curse upon thy calling Job 5.2 3. The works of thy hands will fare the worse for the wickedness of thy heart On thy children its ill to be related to a Traytor diseases and so destruction may be hereditary Children may inherit both their Parents riches and ruine Job 5.4 5. Isa 14.20 His seed are far from safety they are crushed When a wicked man pulls down his house upon his head many in it perish with him as when Sampson pulled the house down upon the Philistines The curse of God will be a moth in thy Wardrobe murrain among thy cattel mildew in the field the plague to thy body wrath to thy soul will indeed make thy house a very hell upon earth The highest Family in the World without godliness though never so rich and ruffling is but like Golgatha a place full of frightful skulls and like a Church-yard full of carkasses gilded rotten and golden Damnation I shall now lay down some Directions how thou may exercise thy self to godliness as the Governor of a Family First Be careful whom thou admittest into thy Family Art thou unmarried and to chuse an Husband or Wife Do thy occasions call for a man-servant or a maid-servant Be careful where thou fixest for believe it not onely thy grace will appear in a good choice but also godliness will be much hindred or furthered by thy choice One sinner destroyeth much good Eccles 9.18 One man may pull down that house which many with much care cost and pains did set up We read that wicked men have been the better for taking godly men into their families as Laban and Potiphar but we never read that godly men were ever the better for having wicked persons into their families nay how much have they been the worse and by such been brought to great wickedness As black corn they smut and sully the good corn as rusty armor they injure that which is bright by being near it The Lacedemonians were so sensible of this that they would not suffer a stranger to abide among them above three daies lest by his evil example he should corrupt others And wilt thou Friend take them into thy house to dwell with thee that will bring the plague along with them and thereby probably destroy the bodies and souls of others Canst thou think it safe for a little Worldly advantage to be nigh them who are under Gods fury and next door to eternal fire Shall thy House be as Noahs Ark abounding in Creatures clean and unclean when God commandeth thee to worship him uprightly with thy whole family I hope Christian betthings of thee It was written over Plato's door 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is no man may come hither who is not a Geometer Let it be written over thy door None may expect to dwell here who will not make Religion his business Magnus a Roman Orator complaineth of St. Hicrom Epist Tom. â— Hierom that he brought many uncircumcised Greeks into the Temple and defiled Candorem Ecclesiae sordibus Ethnicorum the unstained chastity of the Church with the impure Sentences of Heathen Authors Take heed that thou dost not defile the Church of God for such thy house should be with Heathen themselves in Christian Habits If thou wantest a Wife consider before thou choosest Take heed whom thou takest into thy bed into thy bosom lest thou meetest with a Yoke-fellow that will draw as strongly towards Hell as thou dost towards Heaven It is rendred as the reason why one of the Kings of Israel was so wicked because he had to Wife the daughter of Ahab There is little work to be done when the second horse in the teem is always drawing back The Devil can make use of Eve to draw thee to undo thy self and posterity He can make use of the rib saith the Father alluding to that part of man out of which the woman was taken to break thy head The Heathen tell us that every man when he marrieth bringeth a good or an evil Spirit into his house and thereby makes his house either a Heaven or a Hell Be sure that wickedness do not woo for thee Do not send the unclean Spirits either of lust or covetousness or pride to make the match When men do as those Sons of God Gen. 6.1 who saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and took them Wives of them Gen. 6.1 hand over head it is no wonder that they are married and marr'd together Consider a Wife or a Husband is the greatest outward comfort or Cross in this World and let prayer be the messenger thou imployest about it A good wife is from the Lord Prov. 19.14 It is Gods special gift and therefore do thou go to him for it Peter Martyr saith That Adam in that deep sleep in which God formed Eve out of him was then praying for a meet help And Isaac went forth to pray when he had sent forth for a Wife He had need to have good counsel who is to take one to be his constant companion When Joshua entred into a League with the Gibeonites and never asked counsel of God how sad were the effects of it If thou entrest into a League with a man or a maid for I know not what Sex thou art of and dost not ask counsel of God expect a sad consequence of such rashness Why shouldst thou as our Proverb is for a little land take a fool by the hand sell the