a Iudiciall proceeding as if he made 〈◊〉 Session or Bench-businessâ— thereof as well condemnning as accusing unjustly Lord pardon my cursory and preserve me from sedentary sinnes If in haste or heate of passion I wrong any give me at leisure to aske thee and them forgivenesse But O let me not sit by it â—tudiously to plot or 〈◊〉 mischiefe to any out of malice prepense To â—hed bloud in coole â—loud is bloud with a witnesse XI By Degrees â—Ee by what staires wicked * Ahaz did climb up to the heigth of prophanesse First he * saw an Idolatrous Altar at Damascus Our eyes when gazing on sinfull Objects are out of their calling and Gods keeping Secondly he lik'd it There is a secred Fascination in superstition and our soules soone bewitched with the gawdinesse of false service from the simplicity oâ— Gods worship Thirdly he made the like to it And herein Vriah the Priest Patrâ— and Chaplaine well meâ— was the Midwife to delâ— ver the Mother-Altar of Damascus of a Babe like unto it at Hierusaleâ— Fourthly He * sacrificed on it What else could be expected but that when he had tuned this new instrument of Idolatry he would play upon it Fifthly he commanded the * People to doe the like Not content to confine it to his personall impiety Lastly he removed Gods Altar away That venerable Altar by divine appointment peaceably possess'd of the place for 200. yeares and upwards must now be violentlyejected by a usurping Vpstart No man can be starke naught at once Let us stop the progresse of sin in our Soule at the first Stage for the further it goes the faster it will increase XII The best Bedmaker VVHen a good man is ill at ease God promiseth to make all his * Bed in his sicknesse Pillow Bolster Head feet sides all his bed Surely that God who made him knowes so well his measure and temper as to make his bed to please him Herein his Art is excellent not sitting the Bed to the person but the person to the Bed insusing patience into him But O how shall God make my Bed who have no bed of mine owne to make Thou foole hee can make thy not having a bed to be a bed unto thee when Jacob slept on the * ground who would not have had his hard lodging therewithall to have his heaveÌ„ly dreame Yea the poore woman in Jersey * which in the reigne of Queen Mary was delivered of a child as she was to be burnt at the Stake may be said to be brought to bed in the fire Why not If Gods justice threatned to cast * Jezabel into a Bed of fire why might not his mercy make the very flames a soft bed to that his patient Martyr XIII When begun ended THe Scripture giveth us a very short account of some Battailes as if they were flightes without sights and the Armies parted as soone as met as Gen 14. 10. 1 Sam. 31.1 2 Cro. 25. 22. Some will say the spirit gives in onely the summe of the successe without any particular passages in acheiving it But there is more in it that so little is said of the fight For sometime the Question of the Victory is not disputed at all but the bare propounding decides it The stand of Pikes oftimes no stand the footemen so fitly called as making more use of their feet then their hands And when God sends a qualme of feare over the souldiers hearts it is not all the skill and valour of their commanders can give them a cordiall Our late Warre hath given us some instances hereof Yet let not men tax their Armyes for cowardise it being probable that the badnesse of such as staid at home of their respective sides had such influence on those in field that Souldiers hearts might be feare-broken by the score of their sinnes who were no Souldiers XIIII Too late Too late THe Elder Brother laid a * sharpe and true charge against his Brother prodigal for his riot and luxury This nothing affected his Father the mirth meat musick at the feast was notwithstanding no whit abated Why so Because the elder Brother was the younger in this respect came too late The other had got the speed of him having first accused himselfe 9 verses before and already obtained his pardon Satan to give him his due is my Brother and my elder by creation Sure I am hee will be my greivous accuser I will endeavour to prevent him first condemning my selfe to God my Father So shall I have an Act of indempnity before he can enter his action against mee XV Lawfull Stealth I find two husband and wife both stealing and but one of them guilty of felony And Rachel * had stolne the Images that were her Fathers and Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian In the former a complication of Theft lying sacriledge and Idolatry In the latter no sin at all For what our conscience tels us is lawfull and our discretion dangerous it is both conscience and discretion to doe it with all possible secrecy It was as lawfull for Jacob in that case privately to steale away as it is for that man who findes the Sun-shine too hot for him to walke in the shade God keep us from the guilt of Rachels stealth But for Jacobs stealing away one may confess the fact but deny the fault therein Some are said to have gotten their life for a prey if any In that sense have preyed on or if you will plundered their own liberty stealing away from the place where they conceived their selves in danger none can justly condemne them XVI Text improved I Heard a Preacher take for his Text Am I not thy Asse * upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day was I ever wont to doe so unto thee I wondred what he would make thereof fearing hee would starve his Auditors for want of matter But hence he observed 1. The siliest and simplest being wronged may justly speake in their ownâ— defence 2. Worst men have 〈◊〉 good Title to their ownâ— Goods Balaam a Sorcerer yet the Asse confesseth twise he was his 3. They who have done many good offices and faile in one are often not onely unrewarded for former service but punished for that one offence 4. When the creatures formerly officious to serve us start from their wonted obedience as the Earth to become barren and Aire pestilential man ought to reflect on his owne sinne as the sole cause thereof How fruitfull are the seeming Barren places of Scripture Bad Plow-men which make Balkes of such Ground Wheresoever the surface of Gods Word doth not laugh and Sing with Corne there the heart thereof within is merry with Mines affording wherenot plaine matter hidden mysteries XVII The Royall bearing GOd is said to have brought the Israelites out of Aegypt an * Aeagles-wings Now Eagles when removing their Young-ones have a different
GOOD THOUGHTS In Worse TIMES Consisting of Personall Meditations Scripture Observations Meditations on the Times Meditations on all kind of Prayers Occasionall Meditations By THO. FULLER B. D. LONDON Printed by W. W. for John Williams at the Crowne in St Pauls Church-yard 1647. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER WHen I read the Description of the Tumult in Ephesus Acts 9. 32. wherein they would have their Diana to be Jure Divino that it fell down from Iupiter it appears to me the too Methodicall caracter of our present confusions Some therfore cryed one thing and some another for the assembly was confused and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together O the distractions of our age And how many thousand know as liâ—tle why the sword was drawn as when it will be sheathed Indeed thankes be to God we have no more house burnings but many heart burnings and though outward bleeding bee stanched it is to be feared that the broken vaine bleeds inwardswhich is more dangerous This being our sad condition I perceive controversiall writing sounding somewhat of Drums Trumpets doe but make the wound the wider Meditations are like the Ministrel the Prophet called for to pacifie his mindaâ—liscomposed with passion which moved mee to adventure on this Treatise as the most innocent and inoffensive manner of writeing I confesse a Volumn of another Subject and larger Size is expected from mee But in London I have learnt the difference betwixt downright breaking and craving time of their Creditors Many sufficient Merchants though not Soluable from the present make use of the latter whose example I follow And though I cannot pay the Principall yet I desire such small Treatises may be accepted from me as Interest or consideration mony untill I shal God willing be enabled to discharge the whole Debt If any wonder that this Treatise comes Patron-lesse into the World let such know that Dedications begin now adayes to grow out of fashion His Policy was commended by many and proved profitable unto himselfe who insted of Select Godfathers made all the Congregation Witnesses to his Child as I invite the World to this my Booke requesting each one would patronise therein such parts and passages thereof as please them so hoping that by severall persons the whole will be protected I have Christian Reader so far I dare goe not inquiring into the Syre-name of thy Side or Sect nothing more to â—urthen thy Patience with Onely I will add that I finde our Saviour in Turtullian and ancient Latine Fathers constantly stiled a * Sequestrator in the proper notion of the Word For God and man beeing at ods the difference was Sequestied or referred into Christs his hand to end and umpire it How it fareth with thine estate on earth I know not but I earnestly desire that in heaven both thou and I may ever bee under Sequestration in that Mediator for Gods glory and our good to whose protection thou art committed By Thy Brother in all Christian Offices THO. FULLER PERSONALL MEDITATIONS I. Curiosity Curbed OFTEN have I thought with my selfe what Disâ—ase I would be best conâ—ented to die of None please mee The Stone the Cholick terrible as expected intollerable when felt The Palsie is death before Death The Consumption a flattering Disease cozening men into Hope of long life at the last gaspe Some sicknesse besot others enrage men some are too swift and others too slow If I could as easily decline diseases as I could dislike them I should be immortall But away with these thoughts The Marke must not chuse what Arrow shall be shot against it What God sends I must receive May I not be so curious to know what weapon shall wound me as carefull to provide the Plaister of Patience against it Only thus much in generall commonly that sicknesse seiseth on men which they least suspect He that expects to be drown'd with a Dropsie may bee burnt with a Feâ—vour and she that feares to bee swâ—lne with a Tympany may be shriveled with a Consumption II. Deceiv'd not hurt HEaring a passing-Bell I prayed that the sick man might have through Christ a safe Voyage to his long home Afterwards I understood that the party was dead some houres before and it seemes in some places of London the Tolling of the Bell is but a Preface of course to the ringing it out Bells better silent then thus telling Lyes What is this but giving a false alarum to mens Devotions to make them to be ready armed with their Prayers for the assistance of such who have already fought the good sight yea and gotten the Conquest Not to say that mens Charityherein may be suspected of Superstition in Praying for the Dead However my Heart thus powred out was not spilt on the ground My prayers too late to doe him good â—ame soone enough to speake my good will What I freely tendred God â—airely tooke according to the integrity of my Intention The Partie I hope is in Abraham's and my prayers I am sure are returned into my owne â—osom III. Nor full nor fasting LIving in a Country Uillage where a Buriall was a rarity I never thought of Death it was so seldome presented unto me Comming to London where there is plenty of Funeralls so that Coffins crowd one-another corps in the grave justle for Elbow roome I slight and neglect death because grown an object so constant and common How foule is my stomach to turne all foode into bad humours Funeralls neither few nor frequent worke effectually upon mee London is a Library of Mortality Uolumes of all sorts and sizes rich poore infants children youth men old men daily die I see there is more required to make a good Scholler then onely the having of many bookes Lord be thou my Schoolemaster and teach mee to number my dayes that I may apply my heart unto Wisedome IIII. Strange and True I Read in the * Revelatation of a Beast one of whose Heads was as it were wounded to Death I expected in the next verse that the Beast should die as the most probable consequence considering 1. It was not a scratch but a wound 2. Not a wound in a fleshly part or out-limbs of the body but in the very head the Throne of Reason 3. No light wound but in outward Apparition having no other Probe but St. Johns Eyes to seaâ—ch it it seemed deadly But marke what immediately followes and his deadly wound was healed Who would have suspected this inference â—rom these premises But 〈◊〉 not this the lively Emâ—lem of my naturall corâ—uption Sometimes I conceive that by Gods Grace I have conquered and kill'd subdued and â—laine maim'd and mortiâ—d the deedes of the â—sh never more shall I be molested or bufseted with such a bosom sinne when alas by the next â—eturne the news is it is râ—vived and recovered Thus Tenches though grievously gashed pâ—esently plaister themselves whole by that â—limie and unctious huâ—our they have in them
Promise Proâ—ably the same in sense â—ut certainely more elegant for composure theâ— this verse with commoâ— credulity hath taken up Parce precor Genitor posthac non versisicabo Father on me pitty take Verses I no more will make When I so solemnely promise my Heavenly Father to sinne no more I sinne in my very promise my weake prayerâ— made to procure my pardon increase my guiltinesse O the dulnesse and deadnesse of my heart therein I say my prayers as the * Iewes eate the â—ssover in haste And â—hereas in bodily Actiâ—s motion is the cause 〈◊〉 heate cleane contraâ— the more speed I make in my prayers the â—older I am in my Deâ—otion XII Monarchy and mercy â—N reading the Roman whilst under Consulls 〈◊〉 Belgick Historie of the â—nited Provinces I reâ—ember not any caâ—itall offender being â—ondemned ever forgivenâ—ut alwayes after Sentence followes executioâ— It seemes that the veâ— constitution of a mulâ— tude is not so inclinaâ— to save as to destroâ— Such Rulers in Aristocrâ— cies or Popular Stateâ— cannot so properly 〈◊〉 called GODS becauâ— though having the greâ—Attributes of a Deityâ— Power and Iustice theâ— want or wilâ— not use then 〈◊〉 god-like property of GODS clemenâ— to forgive May I dye in that Government under which was borne where a Mâ—narch doth commanâ—Kings where they seâ—â—use have gratiously â—anted pardons to men â—pointed to death â—rein the lively Image 〈◊〉 GOD to whom belongs 〈◊〉 and * forgiveâ—sse And although I â—ill endeavour so to beâ—ve my selfe as not to â—ed my Soveraignes faâ—ur in this kind yet beâ—use none can warrant â—s Innocency in all â—ings it is coâ— fortable â—ing in such a commonâ—ealth where Pardonsâ—retofore on occasion â—ve been and hereafâ— may be procured XIII What helps not hurt A vaine thought are in my heart instaâ—ly my corruption â—taines it selfe to be 〈◊〉 Advocate for it pleaâ—ding that the worst the could be said against 〈◊〉 was this that it was Vaine thought And is not this the bâ— that can be said for 〈◊〉 Remember O my souâ— the * Fig tree was charâ—ed not with bearing noâ—ous but no fruit Yeaâ— barren Fig-tree bare 〈◊〉 fruit of Annoyance Cut it downe why cumbreth it the grounâ— vain thoughts doe this ill in my heart that they doe no good â—esides the â—ig-tree Pester'd but one part of of the Garden good Grapes might grow at the same time in other Places of the Vineyard But seeing my Soule is so intent on its object that it cannot attend two things at once one Tree for the time being is all my Vineyard A vaine Thought engrosseth all the Ground of my heart till that be rooted out no good meditation can grow with it or by it XIIII Alwayes seen never minded In the most healthfull times two hundred and upwards was the constant weekely tribute paied to mortality in London A Large Bill but it must be discharged Can one City spend according to this weekely rate and not be Bankerupt of People At least wise must not my short be called for to make up the reckoning When onely seven young-men and those chosen * by Lot were but yearely taken out of Athens to be devoured by the monster Minotaure the whole Citty was in a constant fright children for themselves and parents for their children Yea their escaping of the first was but an introduction to the next yeares Lottery Were the dwellers and lodgers in London weekly to cast Lotts who should make up this two hundred how would every one be affrighted Now none regard it My security concludes the aforesaid number will amount of Infants and old folke Few men of middle age and amongst them surely not my selfe But oh is not this putting the evill day far from me the ready way to bring it the nearest to me The Lot is weakly drawn though not by mee for mee I am therefore concerned seriously to provide lest that deaths Price prove my Blanke XV Not whence but whither FInding a bad thought in my heart I disputed in my selfe the cause thereof whether it proceeded from the Devil or my owne corruption examining it by those Signes Divines in this case recommended 1. Whether it came in incoherently or by dependance on some object presented to my senses 2. Whether the thought was at full age at the first instant or infant-like grew greater by degrees 3 Whether out or in the road of my naturallâ— inclination But hath not this Inquiry more of curiosity then Religion Hereafter derive not the Pedigree but make the mittimus of such Malefactors Suppose a confederacy betwixt Theeves without and false servants within to assault and wound the Master of a family thus wounded would he discuss from which of them his hurts proceeded No surely but speedily send for a Surgeon before he bleed to death I will no more put it to the Question wheÌ„ce my bad thoughts come but whither I shall send them least this curious controversy insensibly betray mee into a consent unto them XVI Storme steere on THe Mariners sayling with St. Paul bare up bravely against the Tempest whilst either Art or industry could befriend them Finding both to faile and that they could not any loner be are up into the winde they even let their Ship drive I have indeavoured in these distemperate times to hold up my spirits and to steere them steddily An happy peace here was the port wherat I desired to arive Now alasse the Storme growes to sâ—urdy for the Pilot. Hereafter all the skill I will use is no skill at all but even let my ship saile whither the winds send it Noahs Arke was bound for no other Port but preservation for the present that Shâ— being all the Harbour not intending to find land but to sloat on water May my Soule though not sailing to the desired Haven onely be kept from sinking in sorrow This comforts mee that the most weather-beaten Vessell cannot properly be seized on for a Wrack which hath any quick cattle remaining therein My spirits are not as yet forfeited to despaire having one lively spark of hope in my heart because God is even where he was before 17. Wit-out-Witted IOab chid the man unknown in Scripture by his name well knowne for his wisedome foâ— not killing Absalon when hee saw him hanged in the Tree promising him for his paines ten shekles and a girdle But the man having the Kings command to the contrary refused his proffer Well hee knew that politick Stats men would have dangerous designes fetcht out of the fire but with other mens fingers His Gâ—rdle promised might in payment prove an haltar Yea hee added moreover that had hee kild Absalon Joab himself * would have set himselfe against him Satan daily solicits me to sinne point blancke against Gods Word baiting me with profers best pleasing my corruption If I consent he who last tempted first * accuseth me The fauning Spannnell turnes a fierce Lion and roareth out my faults