content for it is not much that nature wants it is lesse that she requires Take up therefore the care of riches only to serve thy turne in this life and as thou findest thy selfe drawing neerer home the more disburthen thy selfe of them knowing that he is but a foolish traveller that will furnish himselfe for a litle way as if his journey were of many Miles and if in thy journey thou meete with any crosse or affliction which the good are most subject unto being heere from home in a strange place in body goods or good name first looke backe to thy selfe what thou hast deserved and then looking up to heaven 1 Sam. 3.18 say with Eli It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life because he would please him that hath chosen him to be a Souldier 2. Tim. 2. ver 4. 2 IT ill becommeth a Souldier that is upon service for his King and Countrey when hee should be bending both wit and force for the annoying of the enemy then to bee contriving or making Merchandise with him and as ill or rather worse it becommeth a Christian when hee hath given up his name to become the Souldier of Christ Iesus then to be traffiqueing and trading with the Devill dealing with him about worldly affaires Thou therefore that hast by Baptisme put on Christ Iesus Gal. 3.27 proclaming him to be thy King and vowing thy selfe to be his Souldier stand to thy tackling be strong and quite thee like a Man feare none but God and yeelde to nothing but godlinesse which hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come Turne thine eyes from the things of this World and fix them upon heavenly consider it is a Crowne thou runnest for a kingdome thou fightest for fight therefore manfully and so at last having fought that good fight of faith thou shalt inherit the Kingdome and raine regally without opposition or annoyance for ever for thou shalt please him whose Souldier thou art 1 Sam. 2.30 and who hath thus honoured thee NOVV will I arise sayeth the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lift up my selfe Esay 33. ver 10. 3 AS the nource to weane her child from the too earnest desire after her breast layes some bitter thing thereupon which having prevailed shee eyther wipes it off or throwes it away So deales God with the bitter enemies which he stirreth up against his peopl to weane them frō sin the love of the World hee at the last turnes their rage and fury upon themselves though they bee for the present Thornes in his Churches side Numb 33.55 and Prickes in their eyes and vexe them in the land wherein they dwell yet having executed and brought to effect his purpose hee at the last sweepes them away with the besome of destruction Esay 14.23 and kills their roote with famine For their actions proceeding from an hatred against Gods people and not from obedience they are at the last justly punished of God for that they have in such cruell manner made havocke of his people Let this then arme thee with patience when the Hand of God is upon thee Job 13.15 To trust in him though hee slay thee or when he doth exercise thy faith by wicked instruments yet still to relie upon him for deliverance for he will in his due time deliver thee he will arise and be exalted so that thou shalt see thy desire upon thine enemies O. JOB 21. vers 23.25 ONE dyeth in his full strength being in all ease prosperity And another dyeth in the bitternesse of his soule and never eateth with pleasure 1. VVHAT is the life of mā but a journey or pilgrimage through the desart of Sin toward the land of Promise the heavenly Ierusalem Esay 33.24 where no inhabitant shall say I am sick In which progresse some parents see their childrē consumed for presumption like Nadab and Abihu Leut. 10.2 Some both parents and children are devoured for rebellion like Corah his company Numb 16.31 but most children see their parents interred in the Wildernesse for their manifold transgressions and disobedience Man is borne with a condition to die and not only old men must but the youngest and lustiest may die Nay our whole life is a continuall death Infancy dies in childhood childhood in youth youth in strong age that in old age and old age is our Nebo from whence having taken a veiw of the holy Land we die according to the word of the Lord for it was Satans language he first spake the word yee shall not die at all Deut. 34.5 Some depart out of this World like a guest out of his Inne willingly others leave it like a Man pluckt out of his house Gen. 3.4 against their will one dyes like a Lampe or Candle wasted and consumed so dyes the old man the other like fier quenched with water violently so ends the yong man so that will they nill they yet all returne to Golgotha The workes of God are unsearchable and his wayes past finding out wherefore the godly and the wicked are many times deceived in the end God aimes at The wicked doe many times so flourish and end in such pompe and the godly are so afflicted and die so despisedly in the eye of the World that the one thinkes the godly mans life to be but madnes Wisd 5.4 and the other that he hath clensed his heart in vaine but the time will come when the wicked shall be scattered away like chaffe Psal 1.5 and the righteous shall stand in great boldnes before the face of such as have tormented him Wisd 5.1 Therefore judge not thou thy selfe hated of God because thou art poore and endest thy dayes without pleasure neyther judge thy selfe beloved because thou art rich and departest in prosperity but labour in both estates to die the Servant of the Lord and so bee thou low Wis 5.5 or high rich or poore thou shalt have thy Portion among the Saints ONELY by Pride doth Man make contention Pro. 13 10. 2. PRIDE is a disease of the minde whose efficient cause is the good gift of God abused to wit a wealthy estate yea so easilie doth prosperity infect that hardly can a Man be rich and not tainted with this disease While the families of Abraham Lot were not greate there was peace and quiet but assoone as they were encreased peace was excluded and debate admitted into the roome then began the hearts to bee possest with that contentious rhetorique of Mine and Thine which parted those whom neither adversity nor peril 's in famine or exile could sever or part assunder It is commonly sayd that poverty parts good company but it is more often seene that those have bin severed by prosperity whom a meaner estate had lovingly knit in a firmer bond for wealth inflameth the
VIATICVM ANIMAE OR VVholesome repast for the Soule in her Pilgrimage towards Ierusalem which is above Prepared and made ready by the diligent search Paynes of Iohn Hodges Priest M. of Arts and Vicar of Shakerstone in Leicester-Shire NON est in carendo difficultas nisi quum fuerit in habendo capiditas Aug. lib. Confess If God will keepe me in this iourney which I goe and will give me Bread to eate and Cloathes to put on then shall the Lord be my God Gen 28.20.21 Quisquis exit in Lucem iussus est Lacte et Panno esse contentus Senec. Epist 20. LONDON Printed by J. N. for G.W. and are to bee sold at the Signe of the Spurr under S. Mildreds Church in the Poultrey 1638. To the Worshipfull JOHN HARBORNE of Tackley in the County of Oxford Esquier Sir I NEVER wish'd my selfe great or rich or if I did for a time entertaine such a thought it was only then when I was musing how to be thankfull Ingratitude I hate and want ability for ample and due performances wherfore I held it better to present a little of whatsoever came to hand then like churlish Nabal to give nothing at all Here is no banquet royal abundance of daintie dishes as though you were at home Dapes dapsies Pura sine animalibus esca but a dish of Herbs fit for the use of man right Pilgrimes fare a bit and away I dare not brag it savory for your taste as fit for your graver judgement this blessing therefore which your Servant hath brought unto you let it be given I pray you unto the young ones 1 Sam. 15.27 that walke at your feete I was once minded like the cruel pareÌ„t to have slain the issue of my braine froÌ„ the birth Medeaâ— or like an Idolatrous Israelite have made it passe through the fier till calling to minde that saying of Plinie The dregs cannot lie so thicke in it but a man may therout drawe som cleare liquor There is no book so bad but may affourd some good I resolved to preserve that which was appoynted to dye and with it in the throng to presse into the World What entertainment it is like to find with most I have a shrewd aime therefore send it to your protection for shelter against a storme For my proceeding by way of application that which is to others an exhortation is to you an pprobation Qui mone ut facias quo diam facis ipse monendo acoÌ„mendatioÌ„ for Ad bene faciendum incitator est benefacientis encomiastes Laudat et hortatu comprobat acta suo perswasion to doe well is the weldoers encomium More I would make mention of were it but to commend your example to posterity but I know your modesty will rather dislike then allow of such prayse And therefore I leave your owne works to prayse you in the Gates wishing all the blessings from above beneath to light upon your head Psal 133. and 128. yea like Aarons precious oyntment let them runne downe to the beard border of your garments to the fruitfull vine on the side of your house and the Olive Plants round about your Table This hath bin shal be the prayer of him who desires nothing more in this life theÌ„ that hee may bee thought worthy to be your servant in Christ Iesus JOHN HODGES From my poore Vicarage of Shackerstone in Leicestershire November 7. 1637 A PROVERBS 16.31 AGE is a Crowne of Glory when it is found in the way of Righteousnes FIrst MAN is a venerable Creature but then especially when antiquity prescribes what a shame then is it when those Silver locks which God hath appoynted to bee the Emblemes of honor are by his best Creatures made the Pageants of coÌ„tempt We worthilie honor old men for their temperance moderation experience c. But wheÌ„ their tottering Tabernacles are stuft with drunkennesse lust and boyish thoughts how shall we honor them then It is meere mockery for a boyish minde to be suited in the colours of Age Chrys in Heb. Hom 7. and whilest old men doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 youth it they become children of yeeres and GOD makes their old Age most despised Vere senectus illa veneâ—abilis c. Wouldst thou then have others honor thy graie haires doe thou first honor them by a godly life Ambro Epist 60. for those yeeres onely are truly honorable which good works and not hoarie haires onely doe beautifie and adorne Desire not therefore so much to live long as to live well wast not the time which of it selfe hasteth too fast least thou be constrained to confesse that though thou hast reckoned many yeeres yet thou hast lived but a short time which can no waies comfort a wicked life but this Testimony of a well spent life is a Crowne of dignity and a most comfortable Possession ALL that thine hand shall finde to doe doe it with all thy power for there is neyther worke nor invention nor knowledge nor wisedome in the Grave whither thou goest Eccles 9.10 2 THIS life is a life for mercy neyther is there any crying or calling for mercy after it and therefore our Saviour Christ sayth the night commeth to wit of death in which no man can worke John 9 4. Iohn 9.4 Wherefore that thou mayst finde the gate of Mercy open unto thee at thy departure hence shew mercy and doe good presently and heere Eccles 11.3 for as the Tree falleth so it lyeth and thou canst neyther imagine nor doe any thing for thy salvation and peace in the pit of darknesse and of death ASKE not of the Lord preheminence neyther of the King the seate of honor Ecclus. 7.4 3 EVERY estate is blessed to a good man who doth not so much consider what or how much he enjoyeth as whence and from whom he receiveth it whether hee abound or want he knowes it is from the Lord 1. Sam. 2.7 1 Sam. 2 7 And he hath learnt therewith to be content But when we once begin to give ambition feete to trample on the good we have wee are easily carried to a seate as tickle and slipery as the seate of Eli. 1. Sam. 14.18 1 Sam. 14 18. Therefore if the Lord hath graunted thee the request of Agur Pro. 30.8 Pro. 30 8. And setled thee in such an estate as hee knowes best for thee blesse GOD for the same and seeke not to climbe those Pinnacles of the Court where thou canst neyther rest without feare nor come downe without falling B. PROVERBS 15.17 BETTER is a dinner of greene Hearbs where love is then a stalled Oxe and hatred therewith 1. THE Soules sweetest Musicke is that blessed close where two hearts by an unanimous consent meete in one body whilst Man and Wife doe thus like cleane beasts joyne in an equall yoake they are like the Philistims Kine to Bethshemesh in one path and turne
doore of thy mouth that nothing may come out thence but what thou hast seriously pondered betweene thy selfe and thee and then keepe not backe counsaile Ecclus 4. when it may doe good neyther hide thy wisedome when it may be famous this shall bring joy to thy selfe and others for a word in due season Pro. 15.23 how good is it it is then like a goad like a Nayle fastned by the master of the assemblie Ecclus 12.11 pricking forward and stirring up the good to a ready embracing of it and taking such deepe roote in them that it cannot at any time be removed or forgotten K. PROVERBS 4.23 KEEPE thine heart with all diligence for thereout commeth life 1. THE Rudder is but a smale thing yet it guideth the whole Ship the hearte is farre lesse yet it ruleth the whole man Now as the Marriner though hee know all the dangerous shelves in the Sea yet many times for want of present heede he rushes upon them and suffers Shipwracke so though Man knowes many things to be evill yet the heart being neglected hee falls upon them and so makes havocke of all Therefore set watch and ward over thine heart that it depart not froÌ„ the living Lord watch to pray and pray to watch that thou enter not into temptatioÌ„ the divel thine adversary is alwayes watching and if hee catch thee napping he will take thee as he finds thee if the guarde of thine heart grace faith c be fallen asleepe within thee looke not to be awaked by thine enemies warning-peece but make account as those who are stung with the Aspis that thou art fallen into a deadly sleepe and shalt bee gone in a trance a trice the Lord knows whither KEEPE thy way farre from the strange woman and come not neere the doore of her house Pro. 5.8 2 THERE is a way which seemes good in a Mans eyes and voyde of danger which notwithstanding if he travaile in it bringeth him eyther with the Oxe to the slaughter Pro. 7 22. or with the foole to the stocks though it bee deckt with ornaments carpets laces and seeme all smooth way yet are there many dangerous Pit-fals wherein many fal downe wounded and at length are slaine outright the best end of it is woe sorrow and certaine destruction for it goeth downe to the chambers of death and this is the way of a Man with a Mayde Though the strange women speake praceable and her words be softer then butter yet are they very swords pricking to the heart and killing the Soule though she have a Virgins face yet hath shee a ravenous tayle and though she tune most Sweete lullabies to the eare yet if wee stop them not and lend her a deafe one when all both flesh and blood Pro. 5.11 is consumed we shall mourne at the end Come not therefore neere unto the strange woman for it is ill jesting with her thou mayest as safely preserve thine health among infectious people or venemous Serpents as thy goodnesse among harlots wherefore avoyd them and goe not by them turne from them and passe by KEEPE not company with drunkards nor with gluttons for the drunkard and the glutton shall bee poore Pro. 23. verse 20. 21. 3. THERE are two Nations of sinne eternall enemies to the people of God like Moab and Ammon begotten of those two base daughters of health in their fathers forgetfulnesse Drunkennesse and Gluttony of eyther of which may bee sayed that of Ambrose concerning dauncing How many faults are in that one wickednesse Intemperance in meate and drinke like the witch Circe transformeth Men into severall sorts of beastes in which Metamorphosis they thinke themselves borne only to powre downe strong drinke and to devoure the good creatures of God but as the Moth secretly fretteth the garment so poverty commeth upon them unawares and they end in raggs Become thou not therefore a pledge with such neither be thou of that ragged regiment If thou chaunce to sit at their costly table streatch not thine hand wheresoever thine eye looketh Ecclus 31 12. and thrust it not with it into the dish Remember that an evill eye is a shrew Ecclus 19.1 and that a man that is given to drunkennesse shall not be rich L. PROVERBS 12. Vers 28. LIFE is in the way of righteousnesse and in that path-way there is no death 1. VVHO so beleeveth in the Lord keepeth his commandements and hee that trusteth in the Lord shal take no hurt for the eyes of the Lord have respect unto them that love him to deliver their soules from death to cover them under his winges and to keepe them sure under his feathers so that though a thousand fall at their side Psal 91.7 and ten thousand at their right hand yet none evill shall come nigh them Whilist Israel walked in the way of the Lord neyther Man nor beast Earth nor water nothing could annoy them Exod 14. â—… The Sea shall part to make them an easie passage the earth in forty yeeres travaile shall not make their foote to swell Deut. 8.4 the noysome and pestilent beast shall not come nigh to hurt them Ezek. 34.28 ibid. neither shall Men though Anakims prevaile against them But when they once forsooke the Kings high-way to wander in by pathes who then were they not a prey unto If then thou desire to live long and to see good dayes eschew evill and doe good Psal 1.1 Walke not in the counsaile of the wicked neyther stand thou in the way of sinners for hee that followeth evill Pro. 11.19 seeketh his owne death and becommeth his owne murtherer but righteousnesse delivereth from death Pro. 10.2 and leadeth unto life Pro. 11.19 2 LET another Man prayse thee and not thine owne mouth a stranger and not thine owne lips Pro. 27. Vers 11. 2 THERE are a sort of People in the World who doe not so much talke of their good deeds because they have done them as doe them that they may talke of them but what doe such Men else then with a great deale of cost and no lesse paines purchase hatred to themselves For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas i e Many will hate thee if thou love thy selfe Let not then thy mouth be the Herald to proclaime thine owne worth rather let that be the office of some other Man only let it be thy cheifest care to doe all things well that others may profit thereby in imitating that themselves which they commend in thee It is I grant a good thing to be praysed but it is a better to bee prayse-worthy desire not so much the acclamation of many as of those that are good account it as great a misery to be commended of bad Men as if thou wert well spoken-of for doing ill let it be thy joy when the evill are displeased at thy well-doing judge it a commendations beyond coÌ„pare when thou art traduced evill spokeÌ„-of for
nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy He both prepares the good will of man August Enchir cap. 3 1. Repent Peter fol. 117. that it may be fit to be holpen by grace and also aydeth it being prepared Hee preventeth him that is unwilling that hee may bee willing and followeth him that is willing that hee may not will in vaine Blasphemous then is it to hold that the will of man should worke with Gods Grace in any thing that is good Indeede as they are workes and actions so they proceede from the will of man but as they are good works they are only the workes of grace as our Savior Christ told his Disciples John 15.5 Without me yee can doe nothing Yet in the very act of conversion the will of man is not idle nor without all motion and sense as a dead image but it followeth the Spirit of God that draweth it not by any violent necessitie but by sweetning and softning our hearts by his holy Spirit For in one and the same moment God moveth and boweth the will Non violenta necessi◅ate sed infandendo suavitatem ◅er spiritum sanctum bid and causeth us to bee willing indeed but yet so as all the efficacy of the worke is from the Spirit of God who of unwilling maketh obedient and of slow and dull maketh us runne Let this then teach thee himiliation for if there be no goodnesse nor any aptnesse to that which is good in us why should we be lift up with any conceipt of our selves rather glorifie God with acknowledgment of thy poverty and by earnest Prayer crave the assistance of Gods grace to quicken thee and effect the worke of thy conversion that so thou mayst performe those duties which God requireth of thee Thus doth the Church of God in divers places Convert thou me Jer. 31.18 and I shal be converted And againe Turne thou us unto thee O Lord Lam. 5.21 and wee shall be turned Yea Da Domine quod jubes jube quod vis Soliloq cap. 18. St. Augustine had that sweete Prayer oft in his Mouth Lord give grace to doe what thou commaundest and then commaund what thou wilt Otherwise there can be no good looked for in any of us And therefore Moyses maketh this the cause why the people were no more moved to repentance by all the gracious proceedings and administrations of God toward them in the wildernesse namely That the Lord had not given them an heart to perceive Deut. 29.4 nor eyes to see nor eares to heare unto this day QVENCH not the spirit 1 Thes 5.19 2 THE graces of the holy Spirit in this life are like sparkes of fier which may soone be quenced with a litle water as oft as wee sinne we cast water upon the Spirit of God and as much as in us lies wee put out the same Therefore let it bee thy speciall care to avoyde and make conscience of every thing wherein thou mayst offend and grieve the holy Spirit of God He is a Spirit most pure and will have an undefiled Temple to dwell in keepe therefore thy Vessell cleane thy body pure which is his Temple doe nothing that may disquiet or molest him least by abusing thy selfe by sinne thou cause the Holy Ghost with griefe to depart from thee QVEENE Esther also being in danger of death resorted unto the Lord Esther 14.1 3 THERE bee two things that fill the heart full of endlesse griefe outward calamities and a wounded conscience which as Salomon speakes none can beare Pro. 18 14 and the only comfort in distresse is to have recourse to GOD by earnest Prayer and although hee seeme not to heare presently Job 13.15 yet to trust in him with Iob even unto the death Rowle thy selfe therefore upon the Lord and cast all thy care upon him who careth for thee and though GOD or wicked men afflict and vex thee yet let it not drive thee from this Rocke of comfort to vaine and sorry shifts The Lord hath comforts for his children that will quiet and support them in any feares and dangers his consolation will make a man sleepe without a Bed live almost without a Soul they will make a man bold in danger quiet in trouble and live in the jawes of death Rejoyce therefore in all thy troubles but let it be in the Lord and hee will give thee strength to withstand thē for the joy of the Lord is our Strength R. PROVERBS 11. Vers 4. RICHES availe not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death 1. RICHES of themselves are not simplie evill but as they are corrupted by abuse it is possible though hard for a Man to bee rich and yet to bee a good Man neyther doth the Prophet advise us to have no riches Psal 62 10. but that wee should not set our hearts upon them But alas so easilie doth a prosperous estate make a corrupted minde that povertie were much better for many There is a fonde imagination possesseth the heart of most men that wealth brings some happinesse and that if they have abundance they are then in safety and in an happy case This is evident by a common speech that such or such a man cannot doe amisse for he is wealthy and hath the World at will as if they should say hee is free from danger no hurt can come unto him But wealth is a very weake defendant against the LORDS assaults it shall not stand them in any stead neyther deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. Ezeck 7.19 Trust not therefore to thy riches Ecclus 5.1 and say not I have enough for my life for thou knowest not how soone they may be taken from thee or thou thy selfe pluckt from them Ecclus 1 1◅ 19. the time draweth neere that thou must leave all such things unto others and then whose shall those things be that thou hast provided RIGHTEOVS lips are the delight of Kings and the King loveth him that speaketh right things Pro. 16. ver 13. Ecclus 10.17 2 BLESSED is the Land when the King is the sonne of Nobles vertuouslie trained up and delighting in the grave advice of his Sage counsellors then doth he like the Sunne in the Firmament shine gloriouslie and as it so hee comforteth and rejoyceth the hearts of all that are under his rule But when his eares are stopt to honest and wholesome Counsaile and tyed onely to the tongues of flatterers and Thrasonicall Sycophāts a woe it is to the land Pro. 11.14 for the people must needes fall 2 Chron. 12.1 When foolish Rehoboam the Sonne of wise Salomon forsooke the Law of the Lord all Israel went with him Looke what manner of Man the ruler of the City is such Ecclus 10.2 are all they that dwell therein his very example is a secret kinde of Law and whatsoever hee doth himselfe he seems to command it to
others Which may bee a warning not onely to Princes themselves but to all that be in authority to have a care that they become not publique and notorious offenders Let me counsaile you in particular as S. Barnard did Eugenius the Pope It makes much to thy perfection to avoide both evill and the shew of evill in the one thou shalt provide for thy conscience in the other for thy credite REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the evill dayes come not nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them Ecclus 12. ver 1. 3 THERE are many enemies to grace but none more to bee feared then those that fight within us against us and though all Ages bee fruitfull in evill yet none more then Youth which besides all other enemies hath it selfe the greatest enemie to it selfe being destitute of its owne and scorning the good advise of others That which Salomon spake in jest and derision the Young man takes in good earnest Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the light of thine eyes c. And therefore takes his swinge in pleasures presuming that old age is the onely fit time to turne to God So that many times by continuance and longer custome in sinne hee makes his sinnes of a double die even Crimson sinnes yea his sins Esay 1.18 become like a Disease in the bones whereof if one recover many doe rot away Oh therefore harden not thy heart but to day heare Gods voyce calling thee to repentance remember the evill dayes will come Ecclus 12.1 wherein if thou presume to doe great matters to frequent the Church to heare the Word c. thou mayst peradventure bee deceived It is reported of Alexander that great Conquerour that when his Master Aristotle perswaded him to forbeare the Warres till hee were growne to a full and perfect age that hee answered I feare that if I tarry till I come to that age I shall loose much of the heate and vigour of my youth So doe thou answere all temptations whatsoever which shall perswade thee to put off thy repentance till thou beest old Old Age hath enough to doe with its owne griefes there are so many Aches in thy bones so many Crampes in thy joynts and so many paynes in all parts of thy body that thou shalt have litle leasure to think on any thing that is good Would not all Men condemne him for a foole or a mad-man that should lay the heaviest burthen upon the weakest beast who hath enough to doe to beare up it selfe and should let a stronger goe empty by So remember that it is no lesse folly to exempt thy youth which is strong and lusty from the taske of repentance and to impose the same upon thy decrepit old age already sinking under it's owne burthen And that it is the greatest injury unto the Lord that can bee for a man to consecrate the prime day of his youth to the service of the Devill in the pursuite of sinfull pleasures and to serve God with the rotten bones of his doating old age herein men deale with God like the Israelites who if they had ever a Lame a Scabhed Mat. 1.8 or a sick beast that they would bring to the Altar as if any thing had bin good enough for the LORD but all the fat and well-liking they kept to them selves and as to the Israelites so wil God say to such men as these I have no pleasure in you neither will I accept your offerings at your hands Mal 1.10 O therfore let it be thy care to turne unto the Lord betimes And to seeke him while he may be found Esay 55.6 Eccles 12.3 before the keepers of the house doe tremble and the strong men bow themselves and the grinders cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out by the windowes So shalt thou be an happy old man in thy Youth as too too many by deferring the worke of their Repentance are unhappily yong in their Age. S. JOB 2. vers 4. SKINNE for skinne and all that everâ—d man hath will hee give for his life 1. VVEe are easilie glewed to the things of this life and doe quicklie fasten our minds upon each smale contentment we finde heere and hence it is that wee are so hardly drawne from them being is loath to part from them as from our dearest lives and onely in this case wee sing loath to depart yea with an eye in Sodome and an hoofe in Egypt with much auckwardnesse and backwardnesse wee forsake the one to save the other how dearelie soever wee prise these wordlie commodities yet wee set life at an higher rate and gladly fell all that wee have to purchase this Iewell Doe not thou then staine the glorious Splendor of this pretious jem by vitious living much more take heede thou prove not a Rebell against GOD by a willfull destroying of his workeman-ship doe not thou eyther for the avoyding of evill or procuring of good lay violent hands upon thy selfe least seeking to shunne a temporall calamitie thou fall into an eternall misery like the fish that leapeth out of the broyling Pan into the burning flame The Crocadiles of Nilus pursue such only as flie from them but flie such as stand to them so doth the Devill if hee bee resisted hee turneth his backe and onely preasseth upon such as give him ground Give not place therefore to the Devill Ephel 4.27 nor to such horrible motions as he will bee ready to suggest â—ohn 5.39 but have recourse to the Scriptures search them for the sweete and gracious comforts which they afford arme thy selfe with a constant faith in them Ephes 6.16 and so shalt thou bee able to quench all the fiery Darts of Satan doe thou stoutlie and valiantly resist him Iam. 4.7 and hee will flie from thee but if thou yeeld unto him thou must needs fal into his fearefull Snares and offer violence to that which should be most charily preserved and wilfully perish by thine owne hand SHALL wee receive good at the hand of God and not receive evill Iob 11. ver 10. 2 GOD alone knowes best When to wound and when to heale Deu 32.39 when to kill and when to make alive when to afflict with sorrow when to send comfort thus doth hee many times deale with his deare Children putting into all their Cups of comfort and contentment the bitter drams of sorrow and greife And all this to teach us not to expect any perpetuity of felicity heere wee are all subject to vicissitude change and alteration and what wee are to day wee cannot say with warrant and make it good that wee shall bee the same to morrow Doe thou therefore from hence learne how to entertaine comforts when GOD sends them to use them