they would bee seene more there is no true greatnesse without a selfe-humiliation we shall haue made an ill vse of our aduancement if by how much higher we are wee doe not appeare lesse If our light be seene it matters not for our hiding XL. Vpon the sight of Boyes playing EVery age hath some peculiar contentment Thus wee did when wee were of these yeares Me thinkes I still remember the old feruour of my young pastimes With what eagernesse and passion doe they pursue these Childish sports Now that there is a whole handfull of cherry-stones at the stake how neare is that boyes heart to his mouth for feare of his play fellowes next cast and how exalted with desire and hope of his owne speed those great vnthrifts who hazard whole Mannors vpon the Dice cannot expect their chance with more earnestnesse or entertaine it with more ioy or griefe We cannot but now smile to thinke of these poore and foolish pleasures of our Childhood there is no lesse disdaine that the Regenerate man conceiues of the dearest delights of his naturall condition He was once iolly and iocond in the fruition of the world feasts and reuels and games and dalliance were his life and no man could bee happy without these and scarce any man but himselfe but when once Grace hath made him both good and wise how scornfully doth hee looke backe at these fond felicities of his carnall estate now he findes more manly more diuine contentments and wonders hee could bee so transported with his former vanity Pleasures are much according as they are esteemed One mans delight is another mans paine Onely Spirituall and Heauenly things can settle and satiate the heart with a full and firme contentation Oh GOD thou art not capable eyther of bettering or of change let me enioy thee and I shall pitty the miserable ficklenesse of those that want thee and shall bee sure to bee constantly happy * ⎠* XLI Vpon the sight of a Spider and her Web. HOw iustly doe wee admire the curious worke of this Creature What a thred doth it spin forth What a web doth it weaue Yet it is full of deadly poyson There may bee much venome where is much Art Iust like to this is a learned witty Heretick fine conceits and elegant expressions fall from him but his opinions secretly-couched doctrines are dangerous mortall were not that man strangely foolish who because he likes the artificiall drawing out of that web would therefore desire to handle or eate the Spider that made it Such should bee our madnes if our wonder at the skill of a false teacher should cast vs into loue with his person or familiarity with his writings There can bee no safety in our iudgement or affection without a wise distinction in the want whereof wee must needs wrong GOD or our selues GOD if wee acknowledge not what excellent parts hee giues to any Creature our selues if vpon the allowance of those excellencies wee swallow their most dangerous enormities XLII Vpon the sight of a Naturall OH God Why am not I thus What hath this man done that thou hast denyed wit to him or what haue I done that thou shouldst giue a competency of it to mee What difference is there betwixt vs but thy bounty which hath bestowed vpon mee what I could not merit and hath withheld from him what hee could not challenge All is O God in thy good pleasure whether to giue or deny Neither is it otherwise in matter of Grace The vnregenerate man is a Spirituall foole no man is truly wise but the renewed how is it that whiles I see another man besotted with the vanity and corruption of his nature I haue attained to know God and the great mystery of Saluation to abhorre those sins which are pleasing to a wicked appetite Who hath discerned me Nothing but thy free mercy O my GOD why else was I a Man not a brute Beast Why right shaped not a Monster Why perfectly limmed not a cripple Why well-fensed not a foole Why well affected not graceles why a vessell of honour not of wrath If ought be not ill in mee O LORD it is thine Oh let thine bee the praise and mine the thankfulnesse XLIII Vpon the Loadstone and the Iett AS there is a ciuil commerce amongst men for the preseruation of humane Society so there is a naturall commerce which GOD hath set amongst the other Creatures for the maintenance of their common being There is scarce any thing therefore in nature which hath not a power of attracting some other The fire drawes vapors to it the Sunne drawes the fire-Plants drawes moysture the Moone drawes the Sea all purgatiue things draw their proper humors a naturall instinct drawes all sensitiue Creatures to affect their owne kinde and euen in those things which are of imperfect mixtion wee see this experimented So as the senselesse stones and mettals are not voyd of this actiue vertue the loadstone drawes Iron and the iett rather then nothing drawes vp strawes and dust with what a force do both these stones worke vpon their seuerall Subiects is there any thing more heauy and vnapt for motion then Iron or steele Yet these doe so run to their beloued loadstone as if they had the sence of a desire and delight and doe so cling to the point of it as if they had forgotten their weight for this adherence Is their any thing more apt for dispersion then small strawes and dust yet these gather to the Iett and so sensibly leape vp to it as if they had a kind of ambition to be so perferred Me thinks I see in these two a meere Embleme of the hearts of men their spirituall attractiues The grace of Gods spirit like the true Loadstone or Adamant drawes vp the yron heart of man to it and holds it in a constant fixednesse of holy purposes and good actions The world like the Iett drawes vp the sensuall hearts of light and Vaine men and holds them fast in the pleasures of sin I am thine yron O Lord be thou my Loadstone Draw thou mee and I shall run after thee Knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy name * ⎠* XLIIII Vpon hearing of Musicke by night HOw sweetly doth this Musicke sound in this dead season In the day time it would not it could not so much affect the eare All harmonious sounds are aduanced by a silent darkenesse Thus it is with the glad tidings of Saluation The Gospell neuer sounds so sweet as in the night of persecution or of our owne priuate affliction It is euer the same the difference is in our disposition to receiue it O God whose praise it is to giue songs in the night make my prosperity conscionable and my crosses cheerfull XLV Vpon the fanning of Corne. SEe how in the fanning of this Wheat the fullest and greatest graines lye euer the lowest and the lightest take vp the highest place It is no otherwise in
infinite torment shall meet with the torment of the perpetuall absence of GOD O thou who art the true light shine euer through all the blinde corners of my Soule and from these weake glimmerings of Grace bring me to the perfect brightnesse of thy Glory * ⎠* XXI Vpon the same Occasion AS well as wee loue the light wee are wont to salute it at the first comming in with winking or closed eyes as not abiding to see that without which wee cannot see All suddaine changes though to the better haue a kinde of trouble attending them By how much more excellent any obiect is by so much more is our weake sence mis-affected in the first apprehending of it O LORD if thou shouldst manifest thy glorious presence to vs heere wee should bee confounded in the sight of it How wisely how mercifully hast thou reserued that for our glorified estate where no infirmity shall dazle our eyes where perfect Righteousnesse shall giue as perfect bouldnesse both of sight and fruition XXII Vpon the blowing of the Fire VVEe beat backe the flame not with a purpose to suppresse it but to raise it higher and to diffuse it more Those afflictions and repulses which seeme to bee discouragements are indeed the mercifull incitements of grace If GOD did meane iudgement to my Soule hee would either withdraw the fuell or powre water vpon the fire or suffer it to languish for want of new motions but now that he continues to me the meanes and opportunities and desires of good I shall misconstrue the intentions of my GOD if I shall thinke his crosses sent rather to dampe then to quicken his Spirit in me O GOD if thy bellowes did not sometimes thus breath vpon mee in spirituall repercussions I should haue iust cause to suspect my estate Those few weake gleeds of Grace that are in mee might soone goe out if they were not thus refreshed still blow vpon them till they kindle still kindle them till they flame vp to thee XXIII Vpon the barking of a Dog VVHat haue I done to this Dog that hee followes mee with this angry clamour Had I rated him or shaken my staffe or stooped downe for a stone I had iustly drawne on this noyse this snarling importunity But why doe I wonder to finde this vnquiet disposition in a bruit creature when it is no newes with the reasonable Haue I not seene innocence and merit bayed at by the quarrelsome and enuious vulgar without any prouocation saue of good offices Haue I not felt more then their tongue their teeth vpon my heeles when I know I haue deserued nothing but fawning on Where is my grace or spirits if I haue not learned to contemne both O GOD let mee rather dye then willingly incurre thy displeasure yea then iustly offend thy godly-wise iudicious conscionable servants but if humor or faction or causelesse preiudice fall vpon mee for my faithfull seruice to thee Let these bawling currestyre themselues and teare their throates with loud and false censures I goe on in a silent constancy and if my eare bee beaten yet my heart shall be free XXIIII Vpon sight of a Cocke fight HOw fell these Creatures out Whence grew this so bloudy combate Heere was neyther old grudge nor present iniurie What then is the quarrell Surely nothing but that which should rather vnite and reconcile them one common Nature the are both of one feather I doe not see eyther of them flye vpon Creatures of different kinds but whiles they haue peace with all others they are at warre with themselues the very sight of each other was sufficient prouocation If this bee the offence why doth not each of them fall out with himselfe since hee hates and reuenges in another the being of that same which himselfe is Since Mans sin brought Debate into the World nature is become a great quarreller The seeds of discord were scattered in euery furrow of the Creation and came vp in a numberlesse variety of antipathies whereof yet none is more odious and deplorable then those which are betwixt creatures of the same kinde What is this but an image of that woefull hostility which is exercised betwixt vs resonables who are conioyned in one common humanity if not Religion Wee fight with and destroy each other more then those creatures that want reason to temper their passions No beast is so cruell to man as himself where one man is slaine by a beast ten thousand are slaine by man What is that warre which wee study and practise but the art of killing What euer Turkes and Pagans may doe O Lord how long shall this brutish fury arme Christians against each other Whiles euen diuels are not at enmity with themselues but accord in wickednesse why doe we men so mortally oppose each other in good Oh thou that art the GOD of Peace compose the vnquiet hearts of men to an happie and vniuersall Concord and at last refresh out Soules with the multitude of Peace XXV Vpon his lying downe to rest WHat a circle there is of humane actions and euents Wee are neuer without some change and yet that change is without any great varietie wee sleepe and wake and wake and sleepe and eate and euacuate and recreate and labour in a continuall interchange yet hath the infinite wisedome of God so ordered it that wee are not wearie of these perpetuall iterations but with no lesse appetite enter into our dayly courses then if wee should passe them but once in our life When I am wearie of my dayes labor how willingly doe I vndresse my selfe and betake my selfe to my bed and ere Morning when I haue wearied my restlesse bed how glad am I to ryse and renew my labour Why am I not more desirous to be vncloathed of this body that I may be cloathed vpon with Immortality What is this but my closest garment which when it is once put off my Soule is at liberty and ease Many a time haue I lyen downe heere in desire of rest and after some tedious changing of sides haue risen sleepelesse disappointed languishing in my last vncasing my body shall not faile of repose nor my Soule of ioy and in my rising vp neither of them shall faile of Glory What hinders mee O GOD but my infidelity from longing for this happy dissolution The world hath misery and toyle enough and Heauen hath more then enough blessednesse to perfect my desires of that my last and glorious change I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe XXVI Vpon the kindling of a Charcole fire THere are not many Creatures but doe naturally affect to diffuse and inlarge themselues Fire and Water will neyther of them rest contented with their owne bounds those little sparkes that I see in those coales how they spread and enkindle their next brands It is thus morally both in good and euill eyther of them dilates it selfe to their Neighbourhood but especially this is so much more apparent in euill by how much wee are
Maker O GOD this is thy Cabinet or shrine wherein â—hou pleasest to lay vp â—he precious reliques of â—hy deare Saints vntill â—he Iubilee of Glorie with what confidence should I commit my selfe to this sure reposition whiles I know thy word iust thy Power infinite IX Vpon the sight of Gold melted THis Gold is both thâ— fairest and most solide of all mettals yet 〈◊〉 the soonest melted witâ— the fire others as theâ— are courser so more chuâ—lish and hard to bâ— wrought vpon by a dissolution Thus a sound anâ— good heart is most easiâ—â— melted into sorrow and feare by the sence of Gods iudgements whereas the carnall minde is stubburne and remorselesse All mettals are but earth yet some are of finer temper then others All hearts are of flesh yet some are through the power of grace more capable of Spirituall apprehensions O GOD wee are such as thou wilt bee pleased to make vs Giue mee an heart that may bee sound for the truth of Grace and melting at the terrors of thy Law I can bee for no other then thy Sanctuarie on earth or thy Treasurie of heauen X. Vpon the sight of a Pitcher carried THus those that are great and weake are carried by the eares vp and downe of Flatterers and Parasites Thus ignorant and simple hearers are carried by false and mis-zealous teachers yet to bee carryed by both eares is more safe then bee carryed by one It argues an empty pitcher to be carryed by one alone such are they that vpon the hearing of one-part rashly passe their sentence whether of acquiall or censure In all disquisitions of â—idden Truthes a wise man will bee led by the â—ares not carried that â—â—plies a violence of pasâ—â—on ouer-swaying iudgeâ—ent but in matter of â—uill and occurrence and vnconcerning rumour it is good to vse the Eare not to trust to it XI Vpon the sight of Tree fâ—â—â— blossomed HEere is a Tree ouer layd with blossomes it is not possible that aâ— these should prospeâ— one of them must needâ— rob the other of moâ—sture and growth I do not loue to see an Infaâ—cie ouer-hopefull 〈◊〉 these pregnant beginnings one facultie staruâ— another and at last leauâ— the minde sap-lesse anâ— barren as therefore wâ— are wont to pull off somâ— of the too-frequent blossomes that the rest maâ— thriue So it is good wisedome to moderate the earely excesse of the parts or progresse of ouer-forward child-hood Neither is it otherwise in our Christian profession a sudden and lauish ostentation of grace may fill the eye with wonder and the mouth with talke but will not at the last fill the lappe with fruit Let mee not promise too much nor raise too high expectations of my vndertakings I had rather men should complaine of my small hopes then of my short performances XII Vpon the report of a Man suddenly strucke dead in his Sin I Cannot but magnifie the iustice of GOD but withall I must praise his Mercy It were woe with any of vs all if GOD should take vs at aduantages Alas which of vs hath not committed sinnes worthy of a present reuenge had wee beene also surprized in those acts where had wee beene Oh GOD it is more then thou owest vs that thou hast wayted for our repentance It is no more then thou owest vs that thou plaguest our offences The wages of sinne is Death and it is but iustice to pay due wages Blessed bee thy Iustice that hast made others examples to mee Blessed be thy Mercy that hast not made me an example vnto others * ⎠* XIII Vpon the view of the Heauen and the earth VVHat a strange contrarietie is heere The Heauen is in continuall motion and yet there is the onely place of rest the Earth euer stands still and yet heere is nothing but vnrest and vnquietnesse Surely the end of that heauenly motion is for the benefit of the Earth and the end of all these earthly turmoyles is our reposall in heauen Those that haue imagined the earth to turne about and the heauens to stand still haue yet supposed that wee may stand or sit still on that whirling Globe of earth how much more may wee bee perswaded of our perfect rest aboue those mouing Spheares It matters not O GOD how I am vexed heere below a while if ere long I may repose with thee aboue for euer XIIII Vpon occasion of a Redbreâ—â— comming into his Chamber PRetty bird how cheaâ—fully do'st thou sit anâ— sing and yet knowest nâ—â— where thou art nor wheâ—â— thou shalt make thy neâ—â— meale and at nighâ— must shrowd thy selfe in 〈◊〉 bush for lodging Whâ—â— a shame is it for mee thâ—â— see before mee so liberaâ— prouisions of my GOD and finde my selfe sâ— warme vnder my owâ— roofe yet am ready 〈◊〉 droupe vnder a distruâ—â—full and vnthankfull duâ—â—nesse Had I so little certainty of my harbour and purueyance how hartlesse should I bee how carefull how little list should I haue to make musicke to thee or my selfe Surely thou camest not hither without a prouidence GOD sent thee not so much to delight as to shame mee but all in a conuiction of my sullen vnbeliefe who vnder more apparent meanes â—m lesse cheerefull and â—onfident Reason and â—aith haue not done so much in mee as in thee heere instinct of nature want of fore-sight makes hee more merry if not more happie heere then the fore-sight of better things maketh mee O God thy prouidence is not impayred by those Powers thou hast giuen mee aboue these brute things Let not my greater helps hinder mee from an holy security and comfortable relyance vpon thee XV. Vpon occasion of a Spider iâ— his Window THere is no vice iâ— man whereof therâ— is not some analogie iâ— the brute Creatures 〈◊〉 amongst vs Men there are Theeues by land and Pirates by sea that liue by spoyle and blood so is there in euery kind amongst them variety of naturall Sharkers the Hauke in the ayre the Pike in the riuer the Whale in the sea the Lyon and Tyger and Wolfe in the desert the Waspe in the hiue the Spider in our window Amongst the rest see how cunningly this little Arabian hath spred out his tent for a prey how heedfully hee watches for a Passenger so soone as euer he heares the noyse of a Fly a farre off how hee hastens to his doore and if that silly heedlesse Traueller doe but touch vpon the verge of that vnsuspected walke how suddenly doth hee seize vpon the miserable bootie and after some strife binding him fast with those subtile cords drags the helplesse captiue after him into his caue What is this but an Embleme of those Spirituall free-booters that lie in waite for our soules They are the Spiders wee the Flies they haue spred their nets of sinne if wee bee once caught they bind vs fast and hale vs into Hell Oh LORD deliuer thou my soule from their crafty ambushes their poyson is greater their webs both more strong and more
insensibly wouen Either teach mee to auoyd tentation or make mee to breake thorough it by Repentance Oh let mee not bee a prey to those fiends that lye in waite for my destruction XVI Vpon the sight of a Raine in the Sunshine SVch is my best condition in this life If the Sunne of GODS countenance shine vpon mee I may well bee content to bee wet with some raine of Affliction How oft haue I seene the Heauen ouer-cast with clouds and tempest no Sunne appearing to comfort me yet euen those gloomy and stormy seasons haue I rid out patiently onely with the helpe of the common-light of the day at last those beames haue broken forth happily and cheared my Soule It is well for my ordinary state if through the mists of my owne dulnesse and Satans tentations I can descry some glimpse of heauenly comfort let mee neuer hope whiles I am in this Vaile to see the cleare face of that Sunne without a showre such happinesse is reserued for aboue that vpper region of glory is free from these doubtfull and miserable vicissitudes There O GOD wee shall see as wee are seene Light is sowne for the Righeous and ioy for the vpright in heart XVII Vpon the Length of the way HOw farre off is yonder great Mountaine My very eye is weary with the fore-sight of so great a distance yet time and patience shall overcome it this night wee shall hope to lodge beyond it Some things are more tedious in their expectation then in their performance The comfort is that euery step I take sets mee nearer to my end When I once come there I shall both forget how long it now seemes and please my selfe to looke backe vpon the way that I haue measured It is thus in our passage to Heauen my weake nature is ready to faint vnder the very conceit of the length and difficulty of this iourney my eye doth not more guide then discourage mee Many steps of Grace and true obedience shall bring me insensibly thither Only let mee moue and hope and GODS good leisure shall perfect my Saluation O Lord giue mee to possesse my Soule with patience and not so much to regard speed as certainty When I come to the top of thine holy hill all these weary paces and deepe sloughes shall either bee forgotten or contribute to my happinesse in their remembrance XVIII Vpon the Raine and Waters VVHat a sensible interchange there is in Nature betwixt vnion and diuision Many vapours rising from the sea meete together in one cloud that cloud falls downe diuided into seuerall drops those drops runne together and in many rills of water meete in the same channels those channels run into the brooke those brookes into the riuers those riuers into the Sea one receptacle is for all though a large one and all make backe to their first and maine originall So it either is or should be with Spirituall guifts O GOD thou distillest thy Graces vpon vs not for our reseruation but conueyance those many-fold faculties thou lettest fall vpon seuerall Men thou wouldst not haue drenched vp where they light but wouldst haue deriued through the channels of their speciall vocations into the common streames of publique Vse for Church or Common-wealth Take backe O Lord those few drops thou hast rayned vpon my soule and returne them into that great Ocean of the Glory of thine owne bounty from whence they had their beginning * ⎠* XIX Vpon the same Subiect MAny drops fill the Channels and many Channels swell vp the brookes and many brookes raise the Riuers ouer the bankes the brookes are not out till the channels bee empty the riuers rise not whiles the small brookes are full but when the little rivulets haue once voyded themselues into the mayne streames then all is ouerflowne Great matters arise from small beginnings Many littles make vp a large bulke Yea what is the World but a composition of atomes Wee haue seene iâ— thus in ciuill estates thâ—â— empayring of the Commons hath oft beene thâ— raising of the great their streames haue runne lowâ— till they haue beene heightened by the confluencâ— of many priuate inlets Many a meane channel hath beene emptyed to make vp their inundation Neither is it otherwise in my whether outward or spirituall condition O GOD thoâ— hast multiplyed my dropâ— into streames As out oâ— many minuts thou haâ—â— made vp my age so out oâ— many lessons thou hast made vp my competencie of knowledge thou hast drayned many benificent friends to make mee competently rich By many holy motions thou hast wrought me to some measure of Grace Oh teach mee wisely and moderately to inioy thy bounty and to reduce thy streames into thy drops and thy drops into thy clouds humbly and thankefully acknowledging whence and how I haue all that I haue all that I am XX. Vpon occasion of the lights brought in VVHat a change there is in the roome since the light came in yea in our selues All things seeme to haue a new forme a new life yea wee are not the same we were How goodly a creature is light how pleasing how agreeable to the spirits of man no visible thing comes so neere to the resembling of the nature of the soule yea of the God that made it As contrarily what an vncomfortable thing is darknesse in so much as wee punish the greatest malefactors with obscuritie of Dungeons as thinking they could not be miserable enough if they might haue the priuiledge of beholding the light yea hell it selfe can bee no more horribly described then by outward darknesse What is darknesse but absence of light The pleasure or the horror of light or darknesse is according to the quality and degree of the cause whence it ariseth And if the light of a poore candle be so comfortable which is nothing but a little inflamed ayre gathered about a moystened snuffe what is the light of the glorious Sunne the great lampe of Heauen But much more what is the light of that infinitely-resplendent Sun of righteousnesse who gaue that light to the Sunne that Sunne to the world And if this partiall and imperfect darkenesse bee so dolefull which is thâ— priuation of a naturall oâ— artificiall light how vnconceiuable dolorouâ— and miserable shall thaâ— bee which is caused through the vtter absence of the all-glorious GOD who is the Father oâ— lights O Lord how iustly doe wee pitty those wretched Soules that sit in darkenesse and the shadow of death shut vp from the light of the sauing knowledge of thee the onely true God But how am I swallowed vp with horror to thinke of the fearefull condition of those damned soules that are for euer shut out from the presence of GOD and adiudged to exquisite and euerlasting darknesse The Egyptians were weary of themselues in their three dayes darkenesse yet we doe not find any paine that accompanyed their continuing night What shall wee say to those wofull soules in whom the sensible presence of
below in the Ministration to thy Saints It is that thine inuisible world the Communion wherewith can make mee truly blessed Oh GOD if my body haue fellowship here amongst Beasts of whose earthly substance it participates Let my Soule bee vnited to thee the God of Spirits and bee raised vp to inioy the insensible society of thy blessed Angels Acquaint mee before-hand with those Citizens and affaires of thine Heauen and make me no stranger to my future Glory LXXXVIII Vpon the stinging of a Waspe HOw small things may annoy the greatest euen a Mouse troubles an Elephant a Gnat a Lion a very Flea may disquiet a Gyant What weapon can bee nearer to nothing then the sting of this Waspe Yet what a painfull wound hath it giuen mee that scarce-visible point how it enuenomes and rankles and swels vp the flesh The tendernesse of the part addes much to the griefe And if I bee thus vexed with the touch of an angry Flye LORD how shall I bee able to indure the sting of a tormenting Conscience As that part is both most actiue and most sensible so that wound which it receiues from it selfe is most intollerably greeuous there were more ease in a nest of Harnets then vnder this one torture O GOD howsouer I speed abroad giue mee Peace at home and what euer my flesh suffer keepe my Soule free Thus pained wherein doe I find ease but in laying Hony to the part infected That Medicine onely abates the auguish How neare hath Nature placed the remedy to the offence Whensoeuer my heart is stung with the remorse for sinne onely thy sweet and precious merits O blessed Sauiour can mitigate and heale the wound they haue vertue to cure mee giue mee grace to apply them that soueraigne receit shall make my paine happy I shall thus applaud my griefe It is good for me that I was thus afflicted * ⎠* LXXXIX Vpon the Araignment of a Felon VVIth what terrour doth this Malefactor stand at that Barre His hand trembles whiles it is lift vp for his tryall his very lips quake whiles hee saith not guilty his countenance condemnes him before the Iudge and his feare is ready to execute him before his Hang-man Yet this Iudge is but a weake man that must soone after dye himselfe that sentence of Death which he can pronounce is already passed by Nature vpon the most innocent that act of death which the Law inflicteth by him is but momentany who knowes whether himselfe shall not dye more painfully O God with what horror shall the guilty Soule stand before thy dreadfull Tribunall in the day of the great Assizes of the World Whiles there is the presence of an infinite Maiesty to daunt him a fierce and clamorous Conscience to giue in euidence against him Legions of vgly and terrible Diuels wayting to seize vpon him a Gulfe of vnquenchable Fire ready to receiue him whiles the Glory of the Iudge is no lesse confounding then the crueltie of the Tormenters Where the Sentence is vnauoydable and the Execution Euerlasting Why doe not these terrors of thee my GOD make me wise to hold a priuy Sessions vpon my Soule and actions that being acquited by my owne heart I may not bee condemned by thee and being iudged by my selfe I may not bee condemned with the World XC Vpon the Crowing of a Cocke HOw harshly did this note sound in the eare of PETER Yea pearced his very hart Many a time had hee heard this bird and was no whit moued with the noyse now there was a Bird in his bosome that crow'd lowder then this Whose shrill accent conioyned with this astonished the guilty Disciple The weary labourer when hee is awakened from his sweet sleepe by this naturall Clocke of the Houshold is not so angry at this troublesome Bird nor so vexed at the hearing of that vnseasonable sound as PETER was when this Fowle awakened his sleeping Conscience and call'd him to a timely repentance This Cocke did but crow like others neither made or knew any difference of this tone and the rest there was a diuine hand that ordered this Mornings note to be a Summons of Penitence Hee that fore-told it had fore-appointed it that Bird could not but crow then and all the noyse in the High-Priests Hall could not keepe that sound from PETERS eare But O SAVIOVR couldst thou finde leasure when thou stoodst at the Barre of that vniust and cruell Iudgement amidst all that bloudy rabble of Enemies in the sense of all their furie and the expectation of thine owne Death to listen vnto this Monitor of PETERS Repentance and vpon the hearing of it to cast backe thine eyes vpon thy Denying Cursing Abiuring Disciple O Mercie without measure and beyond all the possibility of our Admiration to neglect thy selfe for a sinner to attend the repentance of one when thou wert about to lay downe thy life for all Oh GOD thou art still equally mercifull Euery Elect Soule is no lesse deare vnto thee Let the sound of thy faithfull monitors smite my eares and let the beames of thy mercifull eyes wound my heart so as I may goe forth and weepe bitterly * ⎠* XCI Vpon the Variety of thoughts by way of Conclusion VVHen I bethinke my selfe how Eternity depends vpon this moment of life I wonder how I can thinke of any thing but Heauen but when I see the distractions of my thoughts and the aberrations of my life I wonder how I can bee so bewitched as whiles I beleeue an Heauen so to forget it All that I can doe is to bee angry at my owne vanity My thoughts would not bee so many if they were all right there are tenne thousand by-wayes for one direct As there is but one Heauen so there is but one way to it that liuing way wherein I walke by Faith by Obedience All things the more perfect they are the more doe they reduce themselues towards that vnitie which is the Center of all perfection Oh thou who art one and infinite draw in my heart from all these stragling and vnprofitable Cogitations and confine it to thine Heauen and to thy selfe who art the Heauen of that Heauen Let mee haue no life but in thee no care but to inioy thee no ambition but thy Glorie Oh make mee thus imperfectly happy before my time that when my time shall bee no more I may bee perfectly happie with thee to all Eternitie FINIS THE TABLE MED FOL 1 Vpon sight of the Heavens moving 1. 2 Vpon the sight of a Diall 4. 3 Vpon sight of an Eclipse 7. 4 Vpon sight of a gliding Starre 9. 5 Vpon a faire prospect 12. 6 Vpon the frame of a Globe casually broken 16. 7 Vpon a Cloud 18. 8 Vpon the sight of a Graue digged vp 20 9 Vpon the sight of Gold Melted 22. 10 Vpon the sight of a Pitcher carried 24. 11 Vpon sight of a Tree full blossomed 26. 12. Vpon the report of a man suddenly strucke dead in his