English words being more then dissillables the other generally having their antepenultimaes A competent estate and that which is far greater are not differenced as to the content of the enjoyer for though this may ruffle more and the pomp may be greater yet it signifies the same to the owner He that hath an horse to ease his insirmity is as well supplyed in that for which an horse is usefull as he that must stay till four or five servants be ready to accompany him and he as well stored that hath an honest entertainment wherewith to bid his friend welcome and can shake hands with him in token 't is hearty as he that with a numerous service and solicitous ceremony must complement his Guest to a Non-plus 2 They say That he who will find an Hare sitting or Partridge lying must alwayes keep in his mind the Idea of those creatures as they are in that posture which the fancy being prepossessed with will presently apprehend them or any like them When the mind is forestalled with prejudice either against persons or things it soon beleeveth what it pre-conceiveth and will either find crimes or make them 3 I had a Bullock so swollen with wind that it break his Diaphragma and the poor creature dyed in great torture yet I considered it fared better with it then with a man afflicted with the Gout or Stone because wanting reason its miseries were not aggravated by a reflexion of the mind upon the pains suffered It is not the least of the happinesses of a man having grace that he is able to discern those gifts and to behold himself like the Kings Daughter all glorious within so shall it be no small addition to the infelicities of the damned that they shall have the exercises of their reason which they have so much abused to consider the goodnesse of that God of whom they are deprived and the greatnesse of those miseries by which they are punished 4 Two Goats meeting together on a long narrow Bridge the straitnesse of which was such that neither could go by other nor turn about to go back one of them lay down flat while the other went over him and so there became easie passage for both When the interest of dissenting parties meet in such narrownesses as are hard to be accommodated how much would the submission of one part to the present necessity conduce to the advantage of both 5 Being to confer the going of my Watch with a San-Diall which was to be set by the Compasse and finding it not to agree therewith my unwillingnesse to have my Watch convicted of error made me ready rather to set the Dial by my Watch then my Watch by the Dial. Lord how many times hath my self-love induced me by false interpretations and glosses to bring the strait rules of thy Word to a complyance with my irregular affections then by an holy submission to make my affections comply with the rules of thy Word 6 I saw a Kitling practising the way to mouse with active motions and ingenuous turns gaining an aptness to prey in all postures and I observe other creatures by a natural instinct are prompt to those functions which are proper to their species but man knows nothing except to cry but what he is taught Lord as my great desire is that those whom thou hast given me may not be as they were born fools so give me to care chiefly that they may be spiritually wise 7 Being abroad one day my Horse got loose and run away from me and would not be recovered till he came to the Stable Dore I followed after him full of anger and purposes of punishing till I thus considered Lord am I thus angry that a creature by thee subjected to my Dominion doth thus shake off the yoke and retract his serviceableness when I a Subject to thy Soveraignty by an originall and every way unlimitted right so often have with drawn my service from thee Oh let me with more diligence and universality approve my obedience to thee and with more patience suffer neglect from them 8 The motion of the Primum mobile not only hurryes about the inferiour Orbs but even the Comets also seated in the aire are whirl'd about with the same Circulation Not only those of the same gang are turned about by the vertigo of Faction but many times also well meaning souls of different Principles and designs are transported by their vicinity with the same passions 9 Thunder is rare with us in the winter and prodigious in that season according to that saying Winters thunder is Englands wonder because those hot and dry vapors of which Thunder is generated are not exhaled from a rigid and congealed earth as ours then for the most part is Lord when my heart was frozen in that Winter of impenitency and unbelief the thunder of conscience was not frequent that inconsiderate estate seldome producing any such apprehensions but since my soul hath been brought out of that Prison conscience hath been londer and its checks are more often O let conscience every day have lesse cause to speak but let it every day be more quick of speech 10 The return of the Sun is no less certainly expected in Green-land where the night is of some moneths then with us in the Summer Solstice when day is never quite shut in Lord that eternall glory which thou hast promised and I by faith have apprehended how far off so ever is no lesse certainly expected then that daily bread wherewith I am by thee so frequently supplyed nor let me more despair of the Sun-shine of thy favour in the long night of trouble then in those perplexities which endure but for a very little season 11 Passing with a Candle from one room to another I saw they were only enlightned as I brought the Candle in successively one after another but as soon as the Sun arose they were altogether and at once enlightned Lord the knowledge which I have of my heart is only by degrees as I view the affections and actions of it one after another but thou beholdest them at one view those that are past present and to come Oh do thou who art so perfect an Anatomist and so exactly knowest my frame what it is straiten what is irregular cure what is corrupt and supply what ever defect thou findest there 12 I took a Plumb-stone and would have crackt it but could not I would have cleft it with a knife but it was not penetrable I set it in the ground and after a few dayes I found the kernel had shot out a tender sprout which had split the shell and â—ade its passage through Lord the hamnser of assliction breaks not this stony heart the sharp sword of thy threatnings pierce it not but let the sweet efficacies of thy mercies quicken the infused principle of thy grace that it may cleave all obstacles and send forth shâ—â—ts bearing fruit to thee abundantly 13 Being in London and
How many men have damned their souls that they might dye rich and to that end like overflowing Rivers have growne great by the ruins of their Countrey upon this account chiefly that they may go out of the world wealthy when Scypio's moderation and abstinence have reared him up a more glorious Monument then his Conquests 10 Philostratus being imployed by Ptolomy in building that famous Pharos neer Alexandria engraved in the solid and durable Marble his own name and in plaister over it the Kings that his in time being worne off his own might be seen to perpetuity Sin imprinteth in my fancy favourable and specious conceits of it but there are characters in my conscience of another tenour which will abide there when the other are vanisht and no more to be remembred 11 William Wickham being appoynted by King Edward in building a stately Church wrote in in the windows This work made William Wickham for which being charged by the King as assuming the honour of that work to himself as the author being onely overseet he answered that He meant not he made the work but that the worke made him being before but beggarly and then in great credit Lord when we read in thy Word that we must work out our own Salvation thy meaning is not that our Salvation should be the effect of our work but our work the evidence of thy Salvation 12 The Empresse Maud being closely beset by her enemies neere Winchester caused her selfe to be put into a Coffin and as one dead was safely conveighed through their Troupes Evill concupiscences beset my soul with an almost impossibility of escaping but the way to avoid them is by becoming dead to sin not to live any longer therein 13 They tell of a Tree in Japan that flourisheth and is fruitfull if kept in a dry earth but with moysture which causeth other trees to flourish withereth Such is the sincere Christian to whom the crosse is a crutch affliction raiseth up his affection and the heate of persecution makes his graces flourish and fruitfull but the gentle showers of prosperity decayeth his greennesse and usually makes his graces torpid if not livelesse 14 Among the Turks every one is of some Trade the Grand Seignior himself though Lord of so many Countries yet daily imployes himselfe in some chosen Occupation because even Adam in Paradise was by divine appointment not left idle An huge condemnation to those of our times who think it a disgrace to be ingaged in any profitable imployment whereby they may promote the common good and their own being almost all onely of the trade of that Assirian whose Motto was Ede bibe lude 15 Herbert in his travells tells of Fowle which if you shoote some the rest fly not away but render themselves an easie prey to him that will kill them How many such foolish men are there whom others harmes make not wary but are intangled in the same fetters of lust and misery wherein they have seen others and themselves have been formerly ensnared 16 The River Tigris passing through the Lake Arethusa mingleth not his waters with it but retaines its tast and colour different from that of the Lake Such should the Christian be though conversing in the world yet reserving the savour of Godlinesse and colour of religious profession unallayed 17 The Virgins of Miletus through an unkind Melancholy being their own executioners and that mischief much encreasing there was a Law made that those so dying should be carryed naked exposed to view through the City upon which that evill ceased modesty and the shame of being so laid open though after death prevailing more then all other considerations could How sad is it that among us professing Christianity there should be of the shamefacer sex straining healths through their Smocks c. and prostituting that vertue which by the heathen was estimated at so high a rate 18 The Hircanians do use to banquet under the falls of their Rivers as in the shade which are so steep that they shoote over their heads It often is that wretched sinners riot it under the guilt of those sinnes that a tender conscienced person would tremble to think of 19 They have Trunks in India called Sampatans through which they shoot arrows so invenomed that if they prick the skin it is very dangerous but if they draw bloud it is irrecoverably deadly The first motions to sin arising from that root of bitternesse appeare never without sad effects but Lord let them never draw bloud by consent from my will that their deadly venome should seize my vitalls 20 Demetrius King of Syria being taken prisoner by the King of Parthia and by him marryed to his own sister and with all desirable things entertained oft attempted and at laft effected an escape into his own Countrey Lord with what enjoyments soever I am derained from thee yet let the desire of my soule be to thy name and to the remembrance of thee and at last let me obtaine an happy escape to thee 21 Maud the Empresse being besieged by the forces of King Stephen in Oxford when the snow covered the ground made her escape thence by arraying her self and followers in white sheets Lord I am besieged by thy justice and the guilt of sin compasseth me about on every side but Oh cloath me with the white Robe of thy Sons Righteousnesse that I may escape the execution of thy vengeance 22 Sixtus Quintus being a great abettor of the Spanish Faction when a Cardinall was the greatest enemy of it when chosen Pope the Papall dignity not being compatible with the Spanish greatnesse in Italy Lord how far soever I abetted the reigne of sin in my heart before I received thy Spirit of adoption yet now let me ever be a zealous opposer of it the Kingdome of sin being so inconsistent with the dignity of a son 23 The Papists say that their pictures of the Virgin Mary are exactly like her being begun by Angels and finished by Saint Luke though 't is to be seen that in them the Painters have used their wonted liberty not two of them being in all things alike and one of them of no small fame representing a blackmore Nay there was a fellow of them that like Apelles with his Hellen from the beauties of severall courtisans before him drew the picture of this Virgine How safe and to our credit is it to continue in the truth for the children of the father of lyes at one time or other will shew their cloven feet and to our shame discover their breed 24 Though the Northern people have made many irresistible irruptions into the South like a torrent bearing all before them yet 't is observed that they never obtained any durable Empire the Southern wit being an overmatch for the Northern strength If concupiscence break forth and hurry into sin exercising some sudden acts of tyranny yet let it not get any stable dominion let the efficacy of thy grace
In the Italian they were left to rest upon their own leggs Lord I find my selfe indifferently able to resist temptation from without thy grace being assisted with shame feare and other helps which reason bringeth But the difficulty is then to stand when assailed by unruly passions of which no eye is witnesse but thine own therefore assist thou that insused principle with such fresh supplies from thy selfe that though the combate be more arduous yet the victory may be certaine 36 There being a great mutiny among the Souldiers of Alexander the Great he bespake them with the most pacifying language that he might but observing that rather to exasperate then allay their fury he leaped from his Throne and with his own hands ran his sword through some of the most mutinous upon which the rest relented and begging his pardon complyed with his commands When my affections prove mutinous and rebell against grace there 's no arguing of the case with them for they gather strength by treaty but the way is to fly in the face of them by an immediate detestation there being no expedient in this case like a speedy resolution 37 A Grecian Ambassador being at the Persian Court where 't is expected that reverence be done to the King by prostrating the body upon the ground a thing so abhor'd by the Grecians that they executed some of their Ambassadors at their returne for so doing he purposely let fall his Ring at his entrance that by stooping downe to take it up he might seeme to do that reverence which they expected and yet preserve his own thoughts by directing his intention to another purpose Lord how many have found out bolder and balder inventions wherewith to cheat their consciences for the accomplishing of their ends acting though more plausibly yet no lesse certainly contrary to their principles but do thou assist me that I may exercise my selfe alwayes to have a conscience voyd of offence first towards thy selfe and then towards men 38 The Lacedemonians had two staves exactly like one of which the Generall had to the Wars the other remained with the Ephori messages of importance and secrecy were written upon slips of Parchment rouled upon one of these staves wch being taken off could not be read the lines answering unequally till rouled upon the other staffe of the same size Lord the booke of thy eternall decrees is the staffe kept by thee that of thy Word the staffe delivered to me if the characters of thy Election written upon my heart are legible applyed to thy Word I am certaine they are such as will be acknowledged by thee when at that day they shall be applyed to thy eternall decrees 39 Under the Papacy any sins find easie absolution if the person be not suspected of Protestanisme and any opinions have tolerable favour if not derogatory from Papall authority How often besides by Jehu hath that question been put who is on my side who and if the party have been right for that cause if his religion be that of Mahomet or his life like that of Apicius he need not doubt but he shall find fair entertainment 40 The Persian being invaded by the Great Turke burnes up all which may be of any use to sustaine man or beast that those who could not be overcome by force might be weakened with famine Sine cerere Bacchofriget Venus and not to make provision for the flesh is not the least help to abate the strength of lust 41 Philonides Alexanders Currier passing from Scicion to Elis accomplished his journey thither in much more day-light then he could returne back againe because in his passage Westward he accompanied the Sun in his returne Eastward contrarily Lord in seeking after the things that are spirituall I find the comfort long abiding after those pursuits because in such actions thy Spirit the Comforter beares me company but the pleasure of the things of this life is quickly benighted because thy Spirit leads another course 42 At that memorable battel between the Carthaginians and Romanes at the Thrasimene Lake a very great earthquake at the same time happening was not apprehended by either Army The most important and shaking considerations never so earnestly prest seldome obtaine audience from hearts taken up with the immoderate cares after things of this life 43 'T is a tradition that the elder Church used the recitation of two Creeds that called the Apostles and the Nicene the one with a low the other with a loud voice because the first was composed in the times of persecution when the Church durst but as it were whisper its Confession the other in the time of peace when it might make a bolder profession Lord if it be thy will give us peace that thy Truth may be spoken loud and professed publickly if otherwise give us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to whisper it but professe it boldly 44 There was a Beugalan not long since who is said to live three hundred and thirty years but in that time had his hoary head changed to its originall blacknesse and his decayed teeth supplyed with new ones There 's none shall live that life which never endeth but are first new borne and restored as to those decayes which Adams fall brought putting off the old man which is corrupt with his deeds and putting on the new which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 45 I have hugely wondred that Bishop should be censured by the Pope as an Heretick for affirming Antipodes the assertion being so rationall and Pliny long before having with so much evidence of reason discourst of it But Lord this is thy just Judgement that if we shut our eyes against supernaturall light we should be fooles in that which is humane 46 The Great Mogull for his recreation is said to cause his Huntsmen to ride forth on a tame Elephant till they find a wild one with whom the tame committing fight and both engaged fast by their trunks men to that purpose attending bind the hinder feet of the wild one and so secure him In like manner Harts are taken by fastning a net to the hornes of a tame one who fighting with the wild so surely entangleth his craggy hornes that he easily becomes a prey to them that waite that opportunity How often is it that the dissentions of Christian Brethren have not onely made them serviceable to the lusts and passions of wicked men but a prey also to their cruelty 47 In a skirmish between the Protestants and Papists in those civill Wars in France a souldier of the Protestants party gained an horse much esteemed of by the enemy for the redemption of which they offered three prisoners that day taken in exchange but that offer being rejected they inraged slew the men immediatly before his eyes a few dayes after the same souldier being engaged on that very horse was by his fiery headstrongnesse carried so far into the enemies Troups that he could not be
are to run the wayes of thy Commandements but our lamenesse is least subject to thy censure when it is most under our own 85 The Elephant though of the greatest bulk and vastest strength yet above any other creature is plagued with flyes and least able to remedy that inconvenience not having so much as an haire on his tayle wherewith to drive them away Lord with how many incommodities hast thou allayed the great things of this world so that it is questionable even to carnall reason whether great matters with their many evills are more eligible then lesse with fewer troubles Oh therefore let me not be discontented with my meane estate being a greater cannot be had without discontent 86 L. Domitius having drunk poyson with intention to rid himselfe out of this world for feare of being Caesars Captive afterwards would by all meanes have hindred the operation of it Lord in our exigences and straits we are free to make large promises of what we will do for thee and give unto thee but when the storme is over and the present passion downe we wish that the obligation had never been made and devise shifts how the penalty may be avoided But let us be a shamed of this inconstancy and be established in the first resolution not onely because thou wilt not cancell the bond but because the debt is most just without it 87 That famous Cato was fourty four times cal'd into Judgement yet every time acquitted Oh how happy is it if we have envious and malicious accusers yet to have impartiall and upright Judges Lord how often doth Sathan accuse me before the Throne of thy justice yet while thy Son is my Advocate with thee I shall be acquitted not because I am not guilty but because he is Righteous 88 Alexander the Great being presented from the spoiles of Darius with a most rich Cabiner beset with Gold and what else might make it more precious and his friends each of them giving his thoughts what use it should be for said that the Books of Homer should be kept in it as judging them fittest to be reserved in so precious a receptacle Lord thou hast given us thy Scriptures better Books then those of Homer and my heart is my most precious Cabinet Let other things be rejected as lesse valuable but let these be not onely laid up but written in my heart yea let them like Aarons Almond Rod blossome and beare fruit also 89 Agesilaus in his travels was wont to lodge in the holiest places of the Temples of the Gods that they themselves might be witnesses of his private doings Lord there is no place but hath thee for a spectator and we have call'd thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from our apprehensions of thy allseeing presence let me therefore be sahamed to do that when thou onely art conscious which I would not should be laid open to the veiw of men and Angels 90 Alexander the Great sending to the Athenians that they should deliver up the Thebans which had fled to them unlesse they would have him War upon them Phocian being desired to speak his opinion said That truly he lamented much the case of those Thebans but it were better for one City to mourne then two Lord thou requirest of us the delivery up of the concernments of flesh and bloud if we would have thee our friend though we are loath report from them yet it is better that the body lament the losse of those deare conveniences then that soule and body both lament eternally in Hell 91 At the battell of Crefcy where Edward the black Prince led the Van being then but eighteen yeares of Age the King his Father drawing up a strong party to a rising ground there beheld the conflict in a readinesse to send reliefe where it should be wanted The young Prince being sharply charged and in some danger sends to his Father for succour who delayes to send any so that another messenger comes to crave it to whom he answers Go tell my son that I am not so unexperienced a Commander as not to know when succour is wanted nor so carelesse a Father as not then to send it but he intended the honour of the day should be his sons and therefore let him with courage stand to it and be assured that help should then be had when it might conduce most to his renowne God draws forth his servants to fight in the spirituall warfare where they are engaged not onely against the strong holds of carnall reason and the exalted imaginations of their own hearts but also in the pitched field against Sathan and his wicked instruments but they poor hearts when the charge is sharpe are ready to despond and cry with Peter Save Lord we perish but God is too knowing to oversee their exigences and too much a father to neglect their succour but if help be delayed it is that the victory may be more glorious by the difficulty of overcoming 92 'T is said of Crassus that though he were the most avaritious man then living yet above all men he hated those that were so Strange it is that though likenesse be the true cause of love yet proud and coverous men admit no fellow a manifest conviction of the disorder of sin that agrees not with its selfe whereas grace never is but is loved where grace is 93 A Getulian shepherd being assaulted by a Lion and otherwise unprovided of resistance cast his loose coat upon the Lions head whereby the beast not only lost his fiercenesse but as if his strength had layen all in his eyes was by the man easily taken and bound When I have confidered what the Lions of England have suffered from the Romane Bishops I have even admired how so great strength and courage could be so amated but I observed the vaile of ignorance was throwne over their eyes which made them so rame and submissive to that See a policy so often proved of great advantage that to this day they are in doubt whether that or Divide impera be the surer Trump Thus have we seen whole heards of stronger cattell subject to the discipline of a little Boy because they poor creatures know not their owne strength and it is easie to take him at all advantage that to prevent his own calamities is without eyes 94 A certaine person at a game among the Athenians call'd Casting of the Dart slew accidentally with his Dart one of his companions Piricles spent an whole day with some Sophisters his familiars in dispute Whether the Dart or he that threw the Dart or he that instituted the sport were guilty of the mans death 'T is a Proverbe The greatest Clarks are not alwayes the wisest men and certainly this is not the least part of their folly that they delight to canvasse frivolous questions which engender strife rather then edifying and are wittily vaine more then profitably learned either to others or themselves how many are there accurately seen in
Henry the Eighth to the Pope being admitted to have Audience the Pope held out his Toe to him to kisse which a Spaniell of the Eaths seeing catcht in his mouth but the Earle not liking to take his dogs leavings left the kisse which he had first hanselled Sathan offereth filthy stinking lusts under the pretence of pleasure or honour to us which vile and uncleane sinners greedily catch at and well were it if we were too curious to tast of that Cup wherein those swine have dabled 106 The War betweene the Duke of Burgudy and the Swissers began but for a load of Sheepskins wherein the Drake refusing all offers of accord lost in three battells his honour wealth and life Of how great advantage to us while we are in this world is moderation whereby even easily those differences are accommodated and mischiefes avoyded which our frowardnesse and obstinacy widen unmeasurably and many times involve us in utter ruine past recovery 107 Doctor Harvy reporteth of a Wench living in the Countrey which went to London there in that Forrest of people to conceale her shame and lay down her great belly of which being delivered in the Moneth of September and a few dayes after recovering strength went home where in December following she was brought to bed of another child to the manifest evidence of her dishonesty Lord this is not the least of my infelicities that this heart doth superfoetare a suggestion of Satan is no sooner brought forth but eftsoones my heart is delivered of another nay as Pliny reports of Ponticke Mice even the young ones yet unborne are with young Therefore Lord as to these conceptions give my heart what wilt thou give it even a barren womb and dry breasts 108 A Citizen of Megalopolis being on his death-bed and his friends lamenting by him said to them To dye is not grievous to me hoping in the other world to meet with such good company as Pythagoras Homer Hecatoeus If there be such an association of affections between those where Learning onely hath knit the knot as to make death it selfe to be desired for company let the Apostles Cupio dissolvi be no more wondred at when the company to be enjoyed are God the Judge of all and Jesus the Mediator of the new Testament and the Spirits of just men made Perfect and the bond of Union even the same Spirit 109 Henry the Eighth being an hunting an expected raine fell whereupon one of his Noblemen came to him saying It raines hard my Leig and hath spoiled your sport to whom he said And so let it raine When those things befall us which are above our power by our patient sufferance we bring them under our Command 110 At the battell of Montlhrey a Nobleman of the King of France his side fled without stay to Luzignan and an other of the Earle of Charolois side to Quesnay le Court which are above three hundred miles asunder 't were well if in all Wars the contest were who should flee farthest Certainly in the battell against sin he is surest of the victory that least comes neere it 111 Policletus being to make two Statues contrived one of them according to the exact rules of his Art the other according to the fancy of every one that came by which when he had exposed to publicke view the first was applauded by all the other laught at by those that had themselves given direction for its fashion What itching fingers hath every meane person to be medling with those in publicke imployments and they who cannot ken their A. B. C. will yet take upon them to censure their Teachers and direct for the management of their function Yea Lord we are ready to say Why is it thus and to think if we had the disposing of worldly affairs those things should never have been which have happened but we would more compendiously effect those ends which we think God proposeth to himselfe But were it so how would unruly passions and unbridled affections distort us and lead us into factions and fooleries to the vexation of others and disquieting of our selves and perverting those ends which culminantly should have been in our eyes 112 On an Iland on the North of Scotland there is a Fowle which layeth but one egg and that fastened by the slime which accompanies its production at the small end on some stone which she hatcheth by holding it in her foot but if it be removed from the place where it was fastned no Art can fix it there againe Lord thy Spirit suggesteth an holy motion and fastneth on the stone of my heart with that evidence of the holinesse justnesse and goodnesse of it which accompanieth it which if attended to by a carefull hand may be brought forth to an happy perfection but if it be let fall from my heart by suffering that evidence to coole by negligence or be disturbed by worldlinesse 't is almost impossible in the like manner to resettle it 113 There is an Hill upon the Coast of America where such plenty of Sea Fowle roost that they cover it thick with their dung so as no Plant grows there which the husbandmen carry thence for the manuring of their grounds which makes them beare with incredible fertility Lord to that end doth Satan bespread my heart with the abominable filth of uncleane suggestions that a good thought might have no abiding there But let that wicked one be disappointed of his end that what he intended should kill may become usefull to me that thy grace may be actuated and exercised by what he designed should decay it and the abhorrency of his pest may make me delight in and be more laborious in thy service 114 Alexander the Tyrant of Pheren seeing a Tragedy acted and being moved to teares by a lamentable passage in it rose up and said to one of his familiars that He was ashamed to shew himselfe commiserating the fained sufferings of others and not to take pity of the miseries by himselfe brought upon his own Citizens Lord thou hast disposed the heart of man to compassion no heart so stony but admits of some degrees distressed orphans and diseased Lazers we cannot but relent to though not releeve our greatest cruelty is to our selves to that best part of our selves our souls which may so justly lament and cry these are the wounds which I received in the house of my friends 115 Rought having been at the Martyrdome of Austoo returning home was met by a friend and asked Where he had been who answered To learne the way which he went afterwards in a fiery Chariot 'T is better to go to the house of mourning then the house of feasting Sadnesse contracting the soule Mirth dilating it But 't is excellent to be present at the departure of the servants of God many rare experiences are to be learned there Those so travelling in the very Thorniest part of the way to heaven give both choice direction and confirmation The
speaking to us in the Scriptures which is better 151 The Embassadors of the French King charging the Earle of Charalois in bitter termes with a confederacy with the Duke of Britaine the Earle many times intreating his Fathr Philip that he would give him leave to speak for himselfe the old Duke in the end said I have already answered for thee as me-thinketh a Father should answer for his Son but if thou hast a mind to speak thy selfe bethink thy selfe to day and speak to morrow and spare not The words which we are to speake to captious greatnesse need much premeditation that they may admit of no exception But Lord there is not a word in our mouthes which is not written in thy Book for which we must nor give an account to thy justice But Oh that therefore I were so wary as to set a watch before the door of my mouth that I offend not with my tongue 152 Two brothers travelling upon the road fell in discourse of a woman known to them both which one of them praised as very handsome the other thought her faire but not so faire which difference in Judgment though nothing pertinent to either yet grew to that passe as that they fell together by the ears and had slaine one the other if not accidentally parted How many different opinions are there among us Brethren of the same Religion as to fundamentalls so far from being necessary to Salvation that it is questionable whether they be any thing pertinent which yet we are so hot about that nothing but bloud will part us when the things for which we have quarelled would pose a good invention to tell you what tendency they have to the edifying of the Body of Christ 153 The Leigeors having broken the peace made with the Duke of Burgundy for performance of which they had given 300 Hostages it was debated in the Dukes Counsell what should be done with the Hostages The Lord of Contay advised to kill them all a person of great wisdome and moderation and never before observed to speak so cruelly How uncharitable is it to censure any man for one Act committed when a sudden passion or acrimonious humor may bias the mind quite beyond its accustomed tenor 154 Of those Hostages which they of Leige had given to the Duke of Burgundy for the performance of their Covenants with him upon their breach of which he sent home unharmed the greatest number proved unthankfull and tooke Arms against the Duke but five or six of them were so mindfull of the benefit they had received that by their meanes he entered Leige an enterprize so eminent that a servant of the Duke said he durst hardly have craved of Gods hands so great successe Excellent is it to do good and to communicate for though the subjects of our benefaction may many as in a Lottery prove blankes yet we may many times meet such a prize as may make ample amends 155 The City of Venice begetteth wonder in the beholders in this chiefly to see so many stately and magnificent structures lifting up their towring heads as if like the Poets Venus they had been begotten of the Seas foame and in that place ejected or else seated there by as great a miracle as that Faith should worke which should say to that mountaine be thou removed and set in the midst of the Sea The excellent and glorious vertues of the servants of God deserve our view and imitation but this makes them works of wonder that they have their seat in such hearts as are not unlikely onely but having in some respe4ct an impossibility to such productions 156 Ericthonius being lame in his feet first invented the Chariot to hide that imperfection and Pericles being long headed was therefore alwayes represented with an Helmet and our Queen Anne covered the Wen in her neck with a Ruff which she first brought in fashion How do we wish that the deformities of our bodies never were or might ever be hid a crooked leg or gibbous shoulder how it troubles us which yet if concealed can never be rectified but happy we if we were as sensible of the deformities of our souls for the remedying of which crookednesses the holy Spirit hath given us such strait rules to comply with 157 Ravillak that murthered Henry the fourth of France ☞ though in his execution he suffered most exquisite torments yet was observed never so much as once to name the name of God or any other way make shew of repentance Who would put off repentance to a dying bed in confidence to have it then at our call when sicknesse with the very presentations of death its selfe leaves that heart unmollified which custome in sin hath hardened 158 Alibiades went to one of his friends houses that had a great feast and bad one of his servants take away halfe the Plate that stood on the Cupboard wherewith the guests incensed said It was a bold and injurious part nay saith the Master very favourable hath he dealt with us that he hath left us any when he might have taken all Lord when thou cuttest off our suprfluities we are ready to repine that thou dealest hardly with us but what cause have we rather to acknowledge thy clemency and goodnesse that mayest take all and yet leavest us any thing that can claime nought 159 Fabius Maximus rode on horseback to his Son being Consull then disparching affairs of State in the Market place which the Son seeing senr an officer to command his Father to alight and come on foote if he had any thing to say to the Consull While all wonder at the unhandsomnesse of this Command the Father alights and hasting to his Son imbracing him applauds his magnanimity that he had preferred the honour and interest of the Common-wealth before that of a Father Lord thine is the Soveraigne interest of the world and happy we if the sense of that lye so much upon our hearts as that whatsoever is deare and precious to us else be made to vail Bonnet to thy concernments 160 A Lacedemonian having lost his Son and being reproved as indulging his sorrow in that he wept for him answered I am not so much to be reprehended Natura enim me flebilem fecit Lord if we much lament the losse of our deare relations let it not be the effect of our impatience but the issue of our affection 161 Dionisius being expelled Sicilia and banished to Corinth was asked What good the doctrine of Plate had done him who replyed To beare this adversity patiently Lord if the times any when should prove so disasterous as to prevent the more favourable effects of thy truth as instead of that love and veneration it should beget to render the professors of it the subjects of persecution yet let us never be disappointed of this fruit that we know how in patience to possesse our souls 162 Alexander being at Troy one offers to shew him Paris his Harpe I marry said
others affectionatly ministred to him and suffered Martyrdome for the truth with him 'T is an huge argument of a gracious heart to submit to reproof many that have been active for Christ have yet fallen off upon such an account Abner that more than once and more than any ventured his life for the house of Saul yet deserted it being checkâ— by Ishbosheth concerning Rispah 172 Vitellius in his passage to Rome after the victory obtained by Caecinua and Valens against the Othonians would needs see the place where the battel was fought which if but newly stricken yet would have rendred an horrid Spectacle so many mangled bodyes and divided joynts and carkasses of men and horses which careless death had there promiscuously scattered giving a sad representation but it being the fourtieth day after the corrupted gore and putrefaction of so many unburied bodyes made the sight beyond imagination horrible which yet Vitellius with delight beheld rejoycing in the slaughter of so many Citizens without the least discountenance or shew of miseration To how great hardness of heart and height of inhumanity doth custome in sin bring the soul what would be trembled at by those that are but beginners in iniquity is accounted sport by those flesht in ungodliness Let the young men arise and play before us said Joab Rare sport where the play-mates run their swords in each others side and fell down dead together 173 A certain person of our Countrey having a suit with another a long time for a small plot of ground not worth 40 pounds left by Will 500 pounds per annum for the maintenance of the suit after his death Oh the imperfection of our Laws or corruption of our Lawyers that any suit can admit of so tedious and costly a decision but alas did he look for peace in Heaven that would have a Civil war thus survive him 174 Alcibiades having done huge exploits for which the Athenians call'd him from bannishment and made him their General sending him out with a Fleet of an 100 sail they were so high-flown in their expectations from him that they looked to hear soon after his departure of the subduing of no small Countryes by him beyond all possibility of accomplishing which he not effecting but yet as much as in reason could be expected they change their former conceit of his sufficiency into suspicion of his fidelity and without more evidence condemned him Lord we are high in our expectations of great things from thee and are ready to murmur as if too straitly dealt with by thee not because thou givest us not what we have cause to expect but because we expect that which there is no cause thou shouldst give us 175 Harvey affirms the heart though the fountain of life yet to be without feeling which he proves by a Gentleman he had seen who by an Imposthume had an hole in his side through which not only the Systole and Diastole of the heart might be discerned but the heart it self touched with the finger which yet the Gentleman affirmed that he felt not 'T is an argument that such a soul is of eminent and publique conducement usefull to derive good to others that is less sensible of private injuries when those peevish spirits that are intent upon their particular affronts are taken up with their own to the neglecting of what they might benefit the publick by 176 In the reign of Nero there were very many undone not by their enemies only but by their friends who too solicitously intending their safety that very means rendred them suspected and became their ruine If Satan cannot destroy us as an enemy he indeavours it as a friend if he cannot fasten his remptations upon us under the notion of sin and the ugly hue of a direct opposition against God he alters his method and transformeth himself into an Angel of Light if he cannot perswade to a neglect of Gods service then to a superstitious worship of him he is like an enemy when he fawns and frowns and is ever not to be suspected only but resisted alwayes for he is ever the father of lyes 177 King Edward the second being taken by the Queens forces was committed to some persons to convey him to a place of safety who going about to shave him that he might not be known took cold water out of a ditch to wash him with saying That should serve his turn now to whom he answered That he would have warm water whether they would or no even his own tears Though the cruelty of enemies and calamity of persecuting times may deny us the many conveniences and deprive us of the advantages of this life yet do what they can they cannot deprive us of Gods favour if we deprive not our selves of it by a simple complyance 178 'T is siad of the Lyon that being proveked he beats himself with his own tail to raise his anger and incense himself that his spirits being stirred he might lay out himself more forcibly Those that are of melancholy and froward spirits when disasters befall them either by their too much poring on their present sufferings or misboding worse make those burdens heavier and like wind in rainy weather set them close and tye knots upon their Whipcord and pin their Rods to make them yerk the more severely 179 Richard the first being reproved by a Fryar and told That he had three Daughters which if he did not dispose of would undoe him Pride Covetousnesse and Leachery he answered If the were the businesse he would bestow them presently Pride to the Knights Tempplars Covetousnesse to the Cistercian Monks and Leachery to the Fryars Whe good advice is given us we enervate the strength thereof or pervert the use by quarrelling with or recriminating the person that gives it whereas if good counsel come from a Balaams Asse or the Devil himself reprove sin if the Conscience plead guilty reformation is a due debt 180 Demosthenes coming to Corinth with design to enjoy the famous Courtizan Lais she askt him so great a sum that he returned saying He would not buy repentance at so dear a rate Sinfull pleasure is never to be purchased at easie tearms sin being so full of iniquity that it never demands an equall compensation no less then a precious immortall soul will serve the turn in lieu of those pleasures which perish in the using and are no sooner found then lost 181 Edward the first before the death of his father with other Confederates undertaking a voyage to the Holy Land by the way they invaded Tunis where having taken a very great spoyl the rest purposed with their booty to return home which design the Prince withstanding but in vain said That as he had vowed a journey for the recovery of the Holy land so thither he would go though none but Fowen his Horse-keeper accompanied him It is good to have the heart in such tune as to joyn in concord with others in a religious
Successor Thus we daily see a greater disgust because of some petty differences in circumstantials where yet there is agreement in the vital part of fundamental truth and holy living then because of those notorious profanesses which unchristian a man and make him as an Heathen man and a Publican 191 A Crocodile out of the River Niger drew in with ihs tail nine slaves chained together and devoured them but the Chain not being digestible proved his destruction being found in him dead Lord at how great sins dare this heart of mine venture and at how long a train as the Ox drinketh down water in huge quantity and with great delight but there is a Chain of guilt with it surely deadly that can neither be vomited nor vented this makes me cry My bowels my bowels I am pained at my very heart but the comfort is there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian there 192 At the siege of Rochel a certain Souldier from the walls observing the Duke of Anjou afterwards Henry the 3d. to stand viewing the Fortifications fired at him which one of the Esquires of his body perceiving in the very moment stept before him and saved the life of his Lord by the losse of his own Lord the arrows of thy vengeance are levelled at the Caul of my heart and it is justice that they should smite me under the fifth rib but let that Jesus who saves his people from their sins call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a middle person step between Let the chastisement of my peace be upon him and by his stripes let me be healed 193 Marcellus at the taking of Syracusa being greatly desirous to save the life of Archimedes gave strait charg through his army That every person should endeavour his safety but a Souldier breaking in upon him at his study not knowing him slew him How much better is it to be one of those marked out by him with the writers Ink-horn by his side how much greater security in being one of those who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst of the City how much more certain safety had Jeremiah Baruch and Ebedmelech when Jerusalem was stormed by Nebuchadnezzar being those to whom God had promised their lives for a prey 194 Fabius Maximus dying suddenly the day before the end of his Consulship Rebius sued to be Consull for the few hours of that year which remained Lord how short hast thou made our lives if compared with the Crow or Stag and how much shorter are they made by many crosse accidents and how much shorter doe we make them by our many intemperances and how much shorter yet are they made by thy just judgement when for our presumption and carelesness in thy worship we are sick and weak and some fall asleep and yet how fond are we of this little remnant that we often hazard an immortal soul for it But Oh do thou direct my aims to that which admits of no termination as to extent of time or enjoyment 195 Some Roman Souldiers flying from Amida when taken by the Persians wandred in the deserts almost choaked with thirst till they came to a deep well whence yet they had nothing to draw the water with till necessity found out this invention They pull'd off their shirts and cut them out into long slips which they tyed together making a bunch at the end by which through a manifold repetition squeezing the hunch they drew up water enough to quench their thirst When we come to the word to draw water out of the wells of salvation we are unfurnished of Pitchers for that purpose our ears are dull of hearing our hearts fat and hard to understand here a little and there a little a frequent repetition must be often applicatious for of much we carry away but a very little our judgements but a little informed our affections but a little rectified or elevated Alas alas they that think rare attendances wil serve the turn or that they shall be told but what they know manifest that they are not sensible of their own dullnesse nor consider that the Apostle Peter thought it meet to put those often in remembrance who knew those things and were established in the present truth 199 A certain person that had sold a street of houses and laid out the money in costly apparrel came to Court and being in a prease there cryed to them To make way for one that had an hundred Tenements on his back Lord thou hast said That thou art pressed under our sins as a Cart is pressed under sheaves and the burden of our iniquity brings down from thee a burden of punishment yet is the weight of sin fo far from being grievous that instead of lamenting the pressure we boast of the number but if we are not weary and heavy laden with the sense of our transgressions now they will at that day press us down into the lowest hell 200 Neer the Lake Agnano there is a Cave into which for the experience of Travellers the neighbouring Inhabitants are wont to put their Dogs which are no sooner in but they are as dead immediately with eyes set and tongues hanging out but taken thence presently and thrown into the Lake they recover for which cause those Dogs no sooner see a stranger coming but if not timely prevented away they get them packing to the adjoyning mountains not to be got again to make a new experiment Lord thou saidst In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death and we never descend into acts of iniquity but we are afresh dead in trespasses and sins and that irrecoverably if not washed by faith and repentance in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleannesse but if we have so escaped when temptation again presents it self shall we not get us packing by no means to be brought to another tryall 200 Cleopatra the wife of Cyricoenus having taken Sanctuary at Antioch after her husbands overthrow her Sister Gryphina the wife of Gryphus most importunately solicited her death and though Gryphus much perswaded her desivery yet she her self commanded the Souldiers in to dispatch her but a few dayes after the same Gryphina falling into the hands of Cyricoenus was by him made a sacrifice to his Wives Ghost They are not our times alone that by their mutability have taught men that great lesson of moderation all ages have witnessed That the Lord is at hand a just Judge to execute vengeance on those who have not by their miseration to others shewed their sense that they also are in the body even those whom God sent out to be his Executioners he hath afterward plagued because they did their work without pitty OCCASIONALL Observations 1 IN that emendation as 't is thought to be of the English Tongue by the addition of forreign words of divers Languages though possibly we may speak more finely yet not which is the end of speech more significantly but alwayes more laborioufly few
desirous to know the time of the day I viewed the Clocks and by the first I saw it was past eleven by the next but half an hour after ten the third was as much in the other extream and the fourth dissented from the other three then I applyed my self to the Dials but I found them as the Clocks onely agreeing in disagreeing from one another hence I concluded there could be no dependance on them who concurred so little with themselves I therefore turned my selfe to observe the setting of the Sun which though not alwayes the same yet hath a motion ever regular and agreeable to it self and to dispose of my affairs by that The variety of opinions among learned men manifesteth That there can be no certainty where there is so much dissent therefore in the conduct of my life Lord give me Nullius jurare in verba Magistri and to respect not so much what men say who can and do erre as what thy Word saith which is alwayes consonant to its selfe and erreth not but as misapprehended or mis-reported by us 14 Two persons being in competition for a place of honour a third engageth vigorously for one of them against the other the obliged person soon forgetteth those civilities done him having obtained his ends and grows shy of his Benefactor being confident that his merits call'd for that requitall which he meant not but the dis-obliged person graves the opposition of that third person on his mind with the pen of a Diamond and catcheth at the next opportunity to shew his animosity by a smart Animadversion Vespatians Captains relieved not the Citizen of Taracene in the miseries which for their interest they suffered when they of Capua are by them severely punished for the injuries which they had offered Lord who would displease thee to please men when our services are rewarded by thee not according to their merit but thy goodness and our dis-services through thy Son are both forgiven and forgotten The businesse of Vriah is then past over with silence when Davids uprightnesse after many Generations hath a frequent and honourable memoriall 15 Being abroad one day and without a Dinner a Comrade who had forethought the worm would bite had provided a piece of powdered Beef of which he was willing to communicate which though it were dry of it self and not a drop of drink to wash it down yet I eat it up very savourily and as Darius by his puddle-water gave it great commendation Lord how many of thy mercies through our fullnesse are nauseated by us which want would make more relishing and our necessities render precious 16 Having a design to plant a nursery with Crab-stocks I found many in Hedgrows and other places which I had many times before past by and not observed Lord fix the aim of my soul on thy glory and my affections on things above then those opportunities tending to spiritual advantage will be with promptnesse embraced which before were neglected or not observed 17 Upon the Rode to London I met a Team at a stand and neither skill of the Driver nor strength of the Horses could move the Cart out of the slough till another Team came which joyned with the former drew it out presently The cryes of particular Christians have not removed those evils wherewith they have been pressed when the united supplications of the Church have been heard so well pleased is the Lord with the unity of his people that what they agree of on earth he hath promised shall be done for them in Heaven 18 I fell one time into company where he was counted of the best wit that could devise the shortest Grace and most stomacks there were too squeamish to digest a Thanksgiving that did descend to express particulars But surely such wit will be of no use in the Kingdome of Heaven and those affections will no wise agree with that place where praise shall be the only imployment of glorified spirits 19 Walking in the streets I met a Cart that came neer the wall so I stept aside to avoid it into a place where I was secure enough but being desirous to be out of all possibility of danger I got off further Lord sin is that great evill of which thou complainest that thou art pressed as a Cart is pressed how can it then but bruise me to powder Oh let me therefore think my self never sufficiently secured from its danger nor the occasions of it far enough avoided 20 I met a Coffin made of such sweet wood adorned with such curious hinges deckt with such stately appurtenances as seemed to give ornament to death it self and make a grave desireable which yet in a few hours was to be covered with dust How is the life of man imployed about and intent upon matter of ostentation and how much of a vain shew is used in death it self that so fully discovers that all is but a vain shew 21 Being in company with some persons one among them undertook to relate a story which he had but begun as the rest fell to other discourse among themselves so as that he was fain to beg their attention by many Parenthesis of commendation that it was a very pretty story How vain is it to prostitute words to those that either think they have too much wit of their own to value the conceits of others or that have too little to apprehend them 22 Horsemen say that ill-bred Mares usually bring the fattest and well-favouredst Colts which yet afterwards prove unhandsome Jades whereas those of a good strain are meager and unsightly for the first yeer but after are of rare shapes and proof The freest and fattest promises are usually of the leanest performances whereas they that engage slowly performe surely 23 On the Rode to Guildford I passed by a Chalk-pit neer the way the top of which was railed about I observed it was not for fence but caution for the avoiding the stupendious precipice whereby the unwary traveller might be endangered Lord if thou hast set us bounds in thy word 't is not out of envy or ill will unto us as the Devil suggested to our first parents but where-ever we are by thee limitted it is for our advantage and security not our detriment 24 Viewing one night a bon-fire made upon an hill a great way off and comparing it with the evening star it seemed bigger brighter then that but after I had looked upon it a while I perceived it to decay in greatnesse and light till at last it was not to be discerned but the star retained still the same quantity beauty though now and then a Cloud for a time did obscure it Many have appeared like burning and shining lights while the fuel of worldly advantages hath lasted but when that faileth they disappear when those Lamps lighted with the Celestial fire of divine grace though the clouds of crosse occurrences or mist of temptation may sometimes hinder their appearing so glorious
yet they are alwayes the same by a regular and unchangeable brightnesse 25 A neighbour of mine had a little childe which with a fall put its arm out of joynt which the father by its unquietnesse perceiving was going to a Chyrurgion for remedy but while he was in consultation about it the Childe got another fall and thereby had his arme set right again so that it found ease and grew cheerfull upon it immediately Lord why are we out of heart when crosse occurrences befall us and think our selves undone when the great ones frown on us and are ala mort when our expectations are disappointed thou art he who by thy all-disposing providence canst make the very same things as the thrust of the Spear the impostumed person harm and heal us 26 A Rose-bush clipt in May and so disappointed of bearing fruit in June yet gave forth a plentifull crop of Roses in November Lord if the Spring and Summer of my life hath been like Oneâ—imus unprofitable and without that truit which might well be expected 't is of thy mercy that I was not eradicated when as the fruitless fig-tree was accursed though the time of figs was not yet come Oh therefore let my former barrenness be recompenced with such a fruitfullness as may out-goe the usual account of a November season 27 I passed by an Ants Nest set upon so steep a bank that their provision as fast as they brought it thither tumbled down again to the bottom which they as Sisiphus with his stone with continual labour setcht up again yet for divers years changed not the scituation of the Nest though a much more convenient place was hard by How many inconveniences do foolish and absurd customs beget us while like the Irish who tye the Plow to the Horse taile we pertinaciously stick to those practices which reason condemneth as inconvenient or erroneous when a more sober advice would easily present us with that which would be more usefull though lesse used 28 I saw a sheep in a very rainy day whose well-grown fleece as it kept him warm so it drank in the wet and thereby made the inconveniency of the rain much greater As the grace of God makes a man able with patience to bear his sufferings so it makes his sufferings more for beside his particular griefs he hath a fellow-feeling of all the concernments of Gods people too 29 I overtook a friend travelling to his house which though it were a Mile out of my way yet for his good company sake I went along with him Lord if thy providence effect thy glory though out of the way of my temporal advantage yet let me not be unwilling to comply with thy providence though with the losse of my present accommodations 30 A box wherein was some quantity of Civet being opened the scent thereof diffused it self to all the by-standers but was not alike resented by all not that the odour had not an equall diffusion but because their senses were not alike good or prepared to the reception of it If there shall be different enjoyments of the glory which shall be hereafter revealed 't is probable the odds will be not in the different manner of revelation but measure of apprehension Lord let therefore my heart be enlarged with the love of thee now that it may be filled with the more enjoyment of thee then 31 I saw an Orchard planted with choice of and the choicest of fruits but no good husbandry bestowed upon it afterwards but suffered to lye undigged and over-grown with Nettles and cropt by Cattel so that the Trees were hinderly and shrubbed having nothing neer attained that growth which otherwise they would I heard a Sermon the other day wherein I heard such smart and seasonable exhortations as possest my soul with many pious purposes which yet alas wanted that good husbandry which should have caused those thoughts to flourish into good works I am sensible I have lost a precious advantage I will therefore bestir me to recollect them out of the rubbish of impertinencies which lye in my heart and will take care of them that they be fenced with circumspection stak't with resolution digged about with religious exercise wed with caution and watered with prayer 32 An Hog was wallowing in his mire while the neat Cat sat licking her self and washing her face not willing to wet her foot though for fish so much desired I praised her cleanlinesse and would have done more but that I considered it was not out of election but disposition that she was so cleanly Lord some sins are escaped me not because I have chosen thy precepts but I have a natural disinclination to them if thou hadst never forbidden it I should never have been a drunkard that cloud in the brain and fretting heat in the stomack which but one draught between meals alwayes occasioneth is a sufficient bridle against that intempenance But Oh that all the considerations which Divine or Humane Light afford were sufficient to check those sins to which my constitution violently prompteth 33 Going by water the water-man was very curious of my sitting if I turned about he said It hindered his Boats going every motion was to him a fault and my tongue could hardly be removed from side to side but 't was complained of and this that our passage might be more speedy How nice a thing is peace of conscience how small a more offends it not acts of sin only but purposes to sin nor those only but abortive motions yea concupiscences not consented to the pure eyes of an infinitely holy God are something paralled by the quick sence of a tender conscience 34 The bloud in the Arteries is full of spirits and pulse which it looseth in the veins and therefore is returned again into the heart to receive there new heat and refection Every institution though in its first instruments it were lively and profitable yet in its after traductions it generally grows languid and corrupt and had need of a review Religion in the Primitive times was like bloud in the Arteries but now as in the Veins and sure it had need be often returned to the heart again rectified by the Word 35 I saw a Tree which grew by a too potent neighbour that over-grew it and dript it shrewdly but yet it thrust forth its boughs endeavouring to gain the open Heavens and the Suns uninterrupted aspect Lord thou knowest those inordinate desires which grow so neer my heart how much my soul is dript by them and how weak all my actings of grace are because of them if it be thy will let them be grub'd up by the roots if otherwise let my soul be averse and turn away from it endeavouring after a free acting to thee that I may partake of the dews of thy grace and the shining of thy favour 36 In a field of Oats I observed there were some taller then the rest and of a much fairer shew which when I had
making an Oration to the people of Athens which was generally by them applauded said to a friend that stood by What unhandsomess hath slipt from me that this evil people so much approve of 45 Reading of a Book which treated of horseman-ship I found this Tetrastick If a Colt have four white feet keep him not a day If he have three white feet put him soon away If he have two white feet send him to thy friend If he have one white foot keep him to his lives end I could not devise the reason why the odds of white should be so great odds in the choice or what a black or white foot should conduce to the goodnesse of the horse but sometime after I had a gelding an able horse indeed but for that cause only not approved because he had three white feet for the white foot before was much more brittle and hoof-bound and far lesse than the other that was black so that he was never hard travelled but he complained of it whence I concluded that whitenesse in the hoof did either cause or argue brittleness and other faults besides There is no such Doctor as experience how much is the doctrine of Assurance inveighed against as an inlet to licentiousness as if that soul must be bold to sin that had certainty to be saved whereas to the soul that hath had experience of this affair there is nothing then the contrary more manifest for that Spirit which seals the soul to the day of redemption seals it by the impression of its own holinesse upon it begetting thereby in it an opposition to sin so as that if there were no hell to fear yet sin would be resisted as that which is contrary to that holy principle and destructive to this new creature yea this Spirit acts the soul to God as its highest and chiefest good for which cause it presseth after him with all acts of duty and serviceablenesse whereby it may more enjoy him and dreads sin more than death as being that which separates it from his God whom he loves and prizeth above life it self 46 The heart of Oake grows from the top to the bottom of the Tree as appears when if the upper part of a young Oak be cut off there will be heart to be seen but at the lower end not any Our zeal for wayes of worship or ought else should have its original upwards beginning in conviction of the judgement from cleer and apparent evidence of truth whereas that which is not according to knowledg is like a mettal'd horse but head-strong or like strong purges in unskilfull hands rather likely to kill then cure 47 When I observe how many sparks of fire may be stricken out of a little shiver of a Flint I have been ready to think that a Paradoxical expression as cold as a stone and have wondered it should not burn ones fingers but I considered that fire is generated or manifested but by contrition by which yet other is extinguished There are many persons of such meek and calm tempers that you would think they had no fire for you shall not discover any heat but let them be opposed in matters of Religion or otherwise 't is like the rubbing of a dry stick till it inflame by that opposition they gather heat and shew more sire then could possibly be imagined 48 At a Sermon I saw a person so earnest to write it that he left his devotion before the prayer was done to provide tackling ready for the purpose but as though he had been a Clock wound up for one hour assoon as the glasse was out his fit was over though the discourse were continued a little longer and more pertinent and usefull then the former part The Apostle saith The Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets so as that they are not impulst into disorder and confusion and as that is a preposterous worship wherein one service leaps over the back of another so is that a pursy devotion the pulses whereof are numbred exactly with the sands of the glasse and they have a carnall Religion who think not dayes and nights too tedious at Cards or a Tavern but would have been sadly put to it had they been Pauls Auditors when he preacht till midnight 49 Two Merchant ships met at Sea with 16 sail of Turks men of war against whom though it were impossible to make such resistance as to come off yet they were resolved to sell their lives at a dear rate therefore with utmost height of courage they fought them for a while which the enemy seeing and observing their resolution such as that their prize would not equall their losse they drew off and left them In that contest which our souls have with our spiritual enemyes he that fights most resolved comes off best weak resistance incourageth the assault and he that parlyes is like Eve in Paradise more than half lost the surest way to overcome is to resist stedfastly in the faith 50 Some English Merchants being in Africk and hunting there the wild Bore they had one in chase and almost tyred him so that he manifestly gave out when a lesser but a fresh one was difloged from the adjoyning thickets and joyned himselfe with the former by whose company he was so animated that he assumed new courage and strength so that he escaped the hunters hands We read in Acts 2.42 That the new Converts continued in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship not so much to shew their complyance to Christian discipline as to be fortified with that consociation Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another The People of God in their troubles are not a little animated by the assistancy of fellow-sufferers Paul when he saw the Brethren took courage Acts 28.18 51 I was in a place where a story was painted in the windows it was very rare and curious but me-thought the workmanship did not make amends for the harm it did in darkning the windows whose principall use is to give light There are many Ceremonies which have a fine appearance when they are used in divine worship but me-thinks they make not amends for the harm they do in distracting the mind from that inward intention so principally required in divine adoration having a tendency rather as a Noble person said of a great Ladyes singing Mattens that it heightned or destroyed he knew not whether all the hearers devotion to delight the carnall then raise the affections of the inward man 52 Looking upon a Spinster I observed that if the Flax be drawn out too fine it breaks and is uselesse if too grossely it is gouty and unhandsome but the mean as the strength of the Flax will bear is best to the sight and for use The handling of any subject too finely is seldome profitably and too rudely is tedious and disgustfull but as the strength of the subject will bear like Bird-lime at a due rate takes most and holds
If vile and revengeful thoughts get room once in our hearts unlesse they be mortified with much contrition and holy sorrow they will shew themselves in sad effects notwithstanding all the bars that nature or reasn can lay upon them 71 I saw a Land-skip having Mountains and Trees and Castles and Groves which though particularly expressing that variety in a Landskip requisite yet those several things were so joyntly placed that together they represented a mans head Gods dealings with his people have such various aspects that they seem nothing lesse then to promote their benefit and appear nothing different from the distractions and confusions which befall other men yet are they by the divine providence so disposed that according to the Apostle they do co-operate to effect their good 72 I rode by a field which was very good ground but yet bear a pittyful crop not but that the Land was in very good heart and fit for an ample production but the husbandman presuming upon its strength had been wanting to give it that tillage as was requisite How many by too much confidence have miscarryed through presumption of their abilities ingaging in divine affairs with so cold preparation that they have come off poorly without that answer upon their spirits that might have been otherwise expected 73 I saw a vessel of water upon the ground and I observed it spread its self to every part to the searching of every cranny and filling of every crevice The new-birth is said to be by the water and the spirit the spirit in that birth being as water not only that it cleanseth the soul but that it diffuseth it self universally leaving not any part unsearched not any lust unmortified but ingaging the soul to cleanse from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit and perfecting holinesse in the fear of God 74 I had a Lamb whose Dam forsook it assoon as it was yeaned they brought it home and suckled it upon one of the Cows which in a few dayes grew as fond of it as of her own Calfe the Lamb grew up and applyed her self wholly to the Kine bleating after them if at any time she mist them and by no means associating her self with the sheep her natural companions When God made a Covenant with Abraham and his Seed he gives this as a reason Because he knew Abraham that he would teach his children and his household after him to keep the Commandements of the Lord Good education having so great an influence that it generally engageth men to a profession sometimes so introduceth grace that the time when conversion hath been wrought is not discovered and we may impute it somewhat to this cause that we find a series of religious persons in Davids family and some others Good cause to be perswaded that the faith which dwelt in the Grandmother Lais and Mother Eunice would be in the son Timothy also when from a child he had known the holy Scriptures 75 The beams of the Sun as they are scattered at large do not much heat when at the same time contracted in a burning-glasse they inflame combustible matter fitly placed The beams of Gospel light as they are diffused in publick preaching much affect not but if gathered together by recollection and applyed by serious consideration then is the soul like to take the holy fire of divine grace at them 76 I rode by a Garden where I saw store of grasse growing in the walks and other plants heaped one upon another in disorder which had a most ungratefull sight in that place which yet did not much amiss in the adjoyning field Those that have given their names to God they are his Garden and disorderly lusts raging there are much more provoking the eyes of divine glory then in those who are professedly profane the man without a wedding garment might have scap't at least without so severe an Animadversion if he had not intruded to that nuptiall feast 77 I had a Clove-Gilliflower of a very good sort which being set in a cold ground and not that care had of it that should have been the first and second years it bear Cloves but the third year only single white ones If the heart be planted with the generous purposes and the most noble resolutions yet will there be a forsaking of the first love and a degenerating into low and carnall complyances where there is not a constant culturage exercised and care had to keep up the bent of the soul and actuate grace for if the last things be not better then the first the latter end will be worse than the beginning 78 I saw two parcels of Cattel turned into one Close of ground where at their first meeting they shewed their distinction by their separation and hostility but after they had so entred common for a few dayes their opposition ceased and they mingled one with another without any difference There is nothing preserveth Faction like Separation a community in priviledges and preferments dissolves those distinctions and animosities which would have been still kept a foot by a diverse aspect The Pope in that great defection from him renewed in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth when he saw there was no likelihood of a present return yet kept his faction on foot by that Bull forbidding them any community with the Protestants in worship whereby that party was kept visible and entire which otherwise would have mouldred away and have been swallowed up of that which was more prevalent and they were preserved as Recusants that would have been lost as Papists 79 A Landskip having the particulars so disposed of as that together they represented a mans head being shew'd to many none apprehended it other then a Landskip as it seemed to be but being told that it was a mans head and seeing the reason of the representation and their fancy possest with it they could not apprehend it as any other When men unacquainted with the mystery of Godlinesse are conversant in the externall worship of God they are intent only upon the opus operatum and are taken up meerly with the outward performance but when the vail is taken off their hearts they then perceive there is a further design ordinances being so disposed by the divine grace that the result of them may be the inward man and the dedication of the affections of the heart to God 80 Being ingaged in a long and difficult employment and considering how much was yet to do I grew faint and half resolved to desert it but looking back and finding how many leaves were dispatched I took courage and resolved not to end till I had ended In my progress heavenward when I look forward and view those Legions of lusts from within to be fought with beside those oppositions from without which emerg daily and the many difficulties which on every side make that way strait I am even at a stand but when I turn mine eyes and behold how much the grace of God hath
already conquered I resolve through divine assistance not to sit down till there be not a Canaanite left for though the difficulties are many and great yet ipso opere poscitur animus and every fight leaves me stronger and more expert SCRIPTURE Observations 1 IT is recorded of Solomon that he was seaven years a building of the Temple but thirteen years in building his own house 1 Kings 6. ult not that he bestowed more cost or curiosity upon his own but he had more industry and expedition in that of God 'T is a Proverb with us of that which goes slowly on that it is Church work men act carelesly and coldly in things that concern the interest of God but are active and affectionate in their own affairs The zeal of thy House haeth eaten me up was the speech of him whose heart mis-gave him in that he dwelt in an house of Cedars and the Ark of God under Curtains 2 When Pharoah sought to slay Moses upon the slaughter of the Egyptian Exod 2.15 We read that Moses fled from the face of Pharoah and dwelt in the Land of Midian and yet Heb 11.27 it s said By faith he left Aegypt not fearing the wrath of the King Though Moses's flying out of Egypt was an act of present necessity yet it was an act of former election he had made choice to suffer affliction with Gods people before ever he slew the Egyptian so that though Pharoahs wrath was the proximate cause yet it was not the remote and more principal one but his faith in closing with Gods interest to which therefore his leaving of Egypt is worthily attributed How differently doth God deal with us to what men use to do in our eminentest acts of kindness for them if there be any probability of an imputation that we aim at our own interest the thanks is wholly lost we are reckoned not as their friends but our own But God hath very much of charity for us and reckons those things done only upon the account of his glory wherein yet we had much of respect to our own safety 3 We read 2 Sam 13. ult That David was comforted concerning Amnon seeing he was dead when as the reason why he mourned for his son every day was because he was dead a Paradox indeed but that the divine providence hath so ordered it that as our joyes are allayed with their griefs so our griefs are counterpoised with their comforts our very poysons having their Antidotes and the sting of Scorpions never so readily and so surely cured as with the oyle of Scorpions David ceaseth to lament Amnon being dead because being dead he was past recovery this very thing bringing ease to our sorrows that they cannot be eased 4 We find John Baptist with most apparent evidence pointing out Jesus to be the Christ John 1.29 yet afterwards sends his Disciples to him with this doubtful question Art thou he that should come or do we look for another Matth 11.13 Though Jesus had given by his many miracles greater evidence that he was the Messias adding the witnesse of his works to the divine revelation yet Johns faith is weaker With what favourable allowances must even the excellencies of the people of God be laid in the ballances this very man set apart by God to bear witnesse to Christ and doing that office of preparing the way of the Lord so fully and with so much integrity is here found pittifully halting what great reason is there that our obedience should be sincere for it is never full and that our hearts should be upright for they are never perfect But what abatement was this to Johns testimony could the people rely on his witness who himself questioned it but saith our Saviour I have greater witnesse than that of John God never layes the stresse of his designs upon mens shoulders so as that they should miscarry through their frailty he ever takes care to secure the issue of his own purposes though instruments shew themselves to be men and not God 5 When Joseph brought his father before Pharaoh the Text saith Gen 47.7 That Jacob blessed Pharaoh Yet the Apostle saith Heb 7.7 That without controversie the lesse is blessed of the better Better in that place is taken for the more honourable yet Pharaoh was the King of a potent Realme Jacob the Head of no great Family though Pharaoh was more honourable with men yet Jacob was more honourable with God his interest was greater in Heaven often reckoned as one of the first three Worthies in that Court. As to the business of blessing greatnesse can be content goodnesse should take place A wicked King of Israel can call Elisha Father and stile him The Chariots of Israel and the Horse-men thereof Goodness makes it self honourable even among those that hate it and such as dislike the practice of it yet like well the blessings that come by it 6 When Abraham was to offer up Isaac He bound him and laid him upon the Altar Gen. 22.9 We read not of any reluctancy in Isaac yet to make sure work he is bound Abraham knew not how flesh bloud might strive at the very pinch and disturb the service 'T is good to be sure and not to allow that any Latitude which is sometimes refractory always weak it 's an happy providence that prevents the hazard of a shamefull retreat by taking away the means of flight Though Ridley came with all willingness to the stake yet he said to the Smith that fastned the Chain about him Good fellow knock it in fast for the flesh will have its course The good man knew how much ado he had to perswade it to that encounter and he knew not how it might start at the push 7 When Peter had an express command from the Lord to follow him yet he asketh And what shall this man do John 21.21 When there is no shew for us to dispute Gods Commands and argue about our duty instead of doing it then we needlesly interpose in the concernments of others and mind their business not our own making a stand in our way to Heaven and delay our following Christ while we turn about to look on others and are unconcernedly inquisitive after their affairs 8 We have some expressions in Scripture wherein we may suppose an hyperbole as that of the left-handed Benjamites slinging stones to an hairs breadth some wherein an hyperbole is manifest as John ult ult But doth God that cannot lye allow himself a Latitude to speak beside the truth or doth he comply with the exorbitant modes of men neither but God speaking to men speaks after the manner of men who because they cannot just hit the white and describe the thing exactly do when the thing is eminent rather shoot beyond it then beneath it allowing the hearer to make such abatement as the necessity of the thing requireth sometimes as the conveniency as in those we may call them complementall expressions 1 Sam 24.14
from the improbability arguing that such a thing would not be because naturally it could not be withall tacitely suspecting the Messenger therefore the Angel tels his name and gives a sign not only to confirm the truth but chastise his unbelief They were good men both and well beloved but their different tempers required a different dispensation God is not partiall though he use variety of threshing instruments for the good corn in all is not discovered otherwise the wheel must be turned over some when the rod will suffice for another 21 We read Gen 3. ult that when Adam was expulsed Paradice That was a flaming sword turning this way and that way to preserve the Tree of Life 'T is to be wondered at that that place then should need a Guard to defend it which now needs a finger to point at it the judgements of learned men varying about nothing more than the scite of it no peculiar Tree no particular beauty distinguishing that Garden nor yet those Rivers issuing thence so punctually described giving other then a guess at it Did that Garden which Adam in innocency was to Till afterwards when the ground was curst degenerate with the rest and more hastily into a wilderness and as Corruptio opes-morum est pessima So here it should be Citissima too like Apostates that grow worse more and more speedily than other wicked ones But well might it be that that Guard should be remitted for though Adam at his first removall from Paradise might have desires of returning the present sense of so great a losse being then upon him yet this sense every day abated as the strength of sin got ground and prevailed so than that was at first desired was afterwards lesse at last forgotten besides habits of sin gathered strength daily and were confirmed by repeated acts and that depravation of nature whereinto Adams fall brought minkind was more and more inhanced and by custome in sin man was daily farther debauched so that as Gods judgements encreased continually so the means of like were farther removed and mans thoughts for it and possibility to attain it every day decayed 22 After the death of Jacob when the sons of Israel feared Joseph would remember against them what they had done to him they make this their plea Forgive the trespasse of the servants of the God of thy father There is no greater argument to prevail for a mutual compliance then unity of Religion for what should keep those at a distance that are joyned together by that straitest obligation that are one in that most superlative one thing 23 When the mother of James and John requested the Lord Mat 20.21 That her sons might sit one on the right hand the other on the left our Lord replyes to them as it seems at the first view quite besides the purpose asking them a question little pertinent to that they treated him about for what appertained their drinking of the cup he should drink of being baptized with the same baptisme to the sitting at his right hand and left in his Kingdome but if we consider it it will appear very much for these young men were solicitous about what was to be had not what was to be done their eyes were upon the end more than the way the reward than the work thought more of reaping than sowing yea before they had sown therefore our Lord remembers them of the Teary seed-time puts them in mind of the bitter cup and baptisme wherein the deep waters should go over their soul 't was time to tell them of the Stony Thorny Rode that talkt of setting down before they had well set out What store of Suitors would Heaven have if there were no more to do but go in and possesse the Land if there were never an Anakim to be fought with first beside the way to glory is through the place of a skull Christ must suffer these things and enter into his glory to the Throne over the Thorne If we suffer with him we shall be glorified together they that are before the Throne of God are such as came out of great tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lamb. 24 I find no sort of men more frequent than the Pharisees in their disputes with Christ of none fewer that beleeved we find these captious hearers curious questionists censorious observators but have any of the Pharisees beleeved on him these had Cats eyes that saw best in the dark knowing men in the impertinencies of the Traditions of the Elders and therefore witty to dispute against the truth no men farther removed from conversion then the carnally wise and superstiriously religious But beside to talk of Religion seems to be the business of these men they ask what is the great Commandement in the Law rather then take care to do it Religion should have its rice in the head and flow thence to the heart but when 't is a standing Pool there when men are ricketty great heads but unproportionable hearts are all for disputation nothing for observation like those who study the Philosophers stone while they would be rationally rich they become really poor 25 The Apostle Peter puts a strange question 1 Pet. 3.13 Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good Who will Nay Who will not What a Cloud of sufferers upon that very account might be here called in to confute the Apostle nay Paul might be set against Peter he sayes 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live Godly in this life must suffer tribulation yea Peter against himself 1 Pet 2.19 where he speaks of a man for conscience toward God enduring grief suffering wrongfully but the Apostle speaks de jure not de facto and verily innocency is not a little consolation to the sufferer a good conscience carrying alwayes Balm along with it to anoint the stripes and Sugar to sweeten the bitter Cup that tyranny or cruelty may inforce upon us beside the confidence uprightness having holdnesse makes the forehead as an iron wall serenes the front so that it retorts the shame brings the oyl of gladness instead of the confusion of face which clouds the guilty An huge satisfaction too ariseth from the reflex act of the soul when it looks into its selfe and finds fair weather there whereas guilt hath an ugly hue and terrible look and alwayes brings terrour and affrights with it 26 When the Herodians came to Christ with design to betray him though the Lord had power to have avoided their cruelty as he did that of the Jews yet he chuseth rather by a prudent reply to evade their Trap Caesars image upon their Coyn being an argument either of his right or power so that they must pay Tribute out of justice or necessity yet with such a limitation as would surely keep them within bounds reserving to God his due that that Soveraign Lord be not deprived of his right
with the Foot how shall I be able to stand in the day of battell when in the cause of thy truth there must be a resisting to bloud if I am nothing active in resisting of sin now am I like to abide in the Watch-tower whole nights that like the Disciples cannot watch one houre to prevent temptation Oh let me be therefore much in spirituall exercises now and in cutting off the right hands and plucking out of the right eyes of corrupt desires that I may be ready to deny the conveniences and preciousnesses of life when the emergences of thy interest shall call me to it 74 In the Province of Dariene in South America the mens heads are so hard that they will break a sword smitten on them Alas how many are there of such darkned understandings and seared consciences that those piercing discourses which have deeply penetrated others make on them no impressions but are returned back with scornes and scoffs or dasht in pieces without effect 75 Cardinall Campeius being sent by the Pope Legate into England about the divorce of Henry the eighth from the Lady Katherine Landing at Dover not in such equipage as was by Cardinall Woolsey thought meete for his dignity he sent him divers Mules and Muleters richly habited to furnish his train more pompously these passing with the said Cardinall through the City of London where all the Citizens arranged to expresse their devotion and his wel-come being disturbed by some accident fell a kicking and flinging so as down fell their Coffers broken upon the stones which were thought to containe precious treasures and rich apparell but instead thereof out flew old Bootes and Shooes broken Bridles and Girts to the solemne derision of the red Hats Lord to what purpose will it be to make a shew and but a shew of a long train of graces when my emptinesse shall be manifested at that generall assembly of men and Angells and my hypocrisie will make me but the more abundantly ashamed 77 There is a ground in some part of Italy into which what is driven is so fast detained as not to be pulled out Lord make my heart of such soile that the impressions of thy Word which alas have so often been like untimely fruit shaken off with every wind may be fixed past possibility of removall 78 The Ocean continually floweth into the Mediterranean Sea by the Straits of Gibraltar and the Euxine alwayes floweth into the same Sea by the Proponticke yet is there no appearance that the Mediterranean is more filled though no passage whereby it sends forth its waters is discovered nor seemeth the Euxine Sea any thing lessened though there appeare no supply of waters to it but by some small Rivers Many there be of large revenues but bare purses who yet are strait handed to acts of charity while others free to good works and of much meaner incomes are yet well stored with that which to those good ends they daily spend vaine expences by a private consumption wasteth the one while Gods blessing by a secret retribution returnes with interest what was laid out upon his account 79 Neere Assos there are stones which in few dayes not onely consume the flesh of dead bodies but the very bones too and there is an earth in Palestine of the same operation Lord let the mortification of this body of death in me be of the like speedy execution that those lusts which are more confirmed and seeme more durable may through the power of thy grace have a quick consumption 80 Julius Caesar having taken at Pharsalia and Thapsus the Cabinets of Pompey and Scypio his utter enemies wherein were many Letters from their partakers whereby the men and their designes against Caesar would have been discovered by a rarer example then our dayes have yeilded without once reading the inclosed Epistles caused them all to be immediately burned Lord that book wherein all even my most secret iniquities are written will by the accuser at that day be brought before thee but let thy mercy blot out that hand-writing with the bloud of thy Son that no charge may be framed there either to confound or shame me 80 'T is said of Agesilaus King of Sparto that He ruled his Countrey by obeying it gaining so far upon the Sphori and Senate by complying with what they desired that he might do what himselfe would Lord what freedom is it to be thy servant for I may then do what I will if I will do but what thou commandest in doing thy will I cannot do amisse but in serving thee serve my selfe 81 King Pirrhus being asked Whither Python or Cephesias were the best Fluteplayers answered that in his Judgement Polyperchan was the best Captaine intimating that it was not worth the enquiry who were best skil'd in those Arts which were so little pertinent Lord let me be offertedly ignorant of those things that are wicked and vaine well may the children of this world be wiser in those things of their generation then the children of Light The posterity of Cain are storied to be the first inventers of Arts they might be witty in that upon which they were wholly intent the pious seed had their aimes above they might well overlook what others saw whose eyes were fixt below but when God comes to reckon up the wits of the world those onely will be accounted witty that are so for heaven 82 Summers Henry the Eights Jester kept a Catologue of the indiscretions of the Court which the King desiring to see found his own name there for intrusting an Italian with some thousands of Crowns to buy Barbary Horses but saith the King How if he do returne and bring the Horses I gave him money for 't is then saith Summers onely the blotting out of your name and putting his in How often are we guilty of such improvidences wherein our successe is to be ascribed not to our wisdomes but others folly such successes are like wellfavoured children of an uncomely venter when though we dandle the babe yet we are ashamed of the mother whereas what is done uprightly and done prudently may like nature produce a monstrous birth but hath ever its excuse made for it though it may be blamed it can never be shamed 83 Polienclus a very fat man in an hot day perswading the Athenians in an Oration to make War with King Philip Phocian told the people they should do well to undertake it upon such a mans motion who was likely to do much with his Armor on his back that was in such a sweat with delivering an Oration We are ready to think we shall appeare much for God if we are concerned to resist unto bloud but how unlikely when we come so poorly off in our contention against any poor lust 84 Agesilaus being lame of one of his feete was wont to prevent the mocks of others by merrily jesting himselfe at his own infirmity Lord we are Mephibosheths lame in both our feet when we