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
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
the difference between esse and existere that yet are to seek in that great question what they shall do to be saved 95 Marcus Livius Governour of Tarentum for the Romanes when Hanniball tooke it kept the Castle till the City was recovered againe by Fabius who then envying the honour done to Fabius for that exploit said in open Senate that It was not Fabius but himselfe that was the cause Tarentum was taken againe Truth saith Fabius for if thou hadst not lost it I had not won it When man was at first created Liberum arbitrium was made Governour of that estate of innocency but Freewill quickly lost it onely some inconsiderable remnants of naturall light reserved now when glory is given to Christ for mans restoration Freewill steps up and boasts its selfe the cause of mans recovery but no otherwise certainly then that man had not needed to be restored if Freewill had not undone him first 96 Arostotle being sick his Physitians intending applications to him said That he desired to be cured not as a Farrier doth an Horse but as a man capable of an account of the way of the cure that apprehending the reason of those receipts he might the better comply with the distastfullness of those potions which should be received Well were it if in those cures which State Physicians have applyed in Religious causes they would not have dealt altogether by Club Law as if onely bruites had been their Patients but have done us the favour to let us see the reason of the cure that what we could not take as toothsome we might yet as wholsome 97 A certaine wealthy Matron having promised a young man to make him her Heire dyed leaving him inscribed in her Testament who providing a sumptuous funerall for her interment she in the very time of the solemnity being the seaventh day revived and lived divers yeares after to the tedious prorogation of his hopes whence arose that Proverb Mulieri ne credas ne mortuae quidem Lord how often have I been perswaded that this old man had been mortified but yet to the sadding of my heart I find it contrary to expectation revived Lord let not my hopes be disappointed though they be thus delayed and if this body of death do not die suddenly yet let it at last dye utterly 98 Vraba in Peru is of so rich a soile that the seed of Cucumbers and Melons sowne will beare ripe fruits in twenty eight dayes after How happy were it if such were the soile of my heart wherein the immorrall feed of the Word might produce its fruits with the like earlinesse fertility and plenty But alas how hinderly do all good purposes appeare how short of expectation of the time how long shall I be with you how long suffer you 99 Those Countries which are seated under the Line have then their Winter when the Suu is neerest them being then continually vexed with raines and stormes When the Sun of prosperity shines on men most 't is usually Winter in their hearts and the tempests of temptation rage most there then 100 The women in Brazill after their travell soone apply themselves to houshold affaires the husbands in their stead keeping their beds visited and comforted up with restorative broths So fareth it with those vagabond beggers who are well supplyed from doore to doore till they have full cheeks and toating Noses while the poore hous-keeper who is ashamed to beg lookes thin and faint the sweat of his browes being the bread of his family yet without our provision or pity 101 The Emperor Sigismunds Army in his expedition against the Turk were so elevated with confidence of their own number that they said if Heaven should fall they should be able to keep it off with their Halberts who yet were most of them miserably slaine by the Turkes and 't is observed that very few Armies have come off with victory that entred battell fledge upon the wings of selfe-confidence The Frech at Poictiers and Agincourt sold the prisoners before the day but found to their cost the Beare-skine was not to be divided before 't was taken Those that fight in that spirituall combate against sin Sathan and his instruments are then strongest against their enemies when they are weakest in themselves A faint hearted Saunders stands to his tackling in the fire when a confident Pendleton quits the field before any encounter In this warfare we are more then Conquerors but through him that hath loved us 102 William Gardiner who struck the Host out of the Cardinalls hand in Portugall when he had his right hand cut off took it up with his left and kissed it having his left cut off stooped down and kissed that also and being burnt afterwards by degrees rather roasted to death then burnt shew'd such magnanimity as was exceedingly admirable Thomas Benbridge suffering for the Gospell in Queene Maries daies when the fire seiz'd on him not being able to indure the smart thereof cryed I recant and so was taken out of the fire but afterward repenting his fact was the seaventh day after burned with much Christian constancy enduring the torment which through the ill making of the fire was very great God glorifies himselfe not onely in the courage but in the infirmity of his servants Gardiners resolution gave not more evidence to the truth then Benbridg's weaknesse questionably whether so much for Benbridg's soft nature shew'd that it abhorred torment and would faine have escaped the violence of fire but the evidence of truth was so much upon his spirit that seeing the deare things of the flesh and the concernments of the soule could not be joyned the flesh was necessitated though unwillingly to the terriblenesse of torment rather then the soule should deny the clearnesse of that light which shined into it 103 Galba lived in the Reigne of five Emperours in credit and fortunate under all of them but when Emperour himselfe quickly ruined and slaine happier under others Government then his own There is nothing to which the heart of man even in infancy shews more disgust then subjection to anothers Government That naturall jurisdiction that one man hath over another to advise and reprove is not without much reluctancy submitted to by any even then when the conscience witnesseth the debt of obedience to God the heart secretly wisheth the cancelling of that Bond and that there were no such superiority in God Yet what creature needeth so much Government as man other creatures conforme to those rules nature hath enjoyned Man is above all other exorbitant and never more happy then when most confin'd 104 The Chariot Horses of Claudius Caesar which he sent to the Circensan Games at the first starting threw their driver yet performed their course and won the Prize Those that are of meane parts and much exercise are able to do more when engaged then they of greater abilities and leste use 105 The Earle of Wiltshire sent Embassador with some others by
Devill then exercising them most and with greatest variety of temptations and those dying Swans never singing so sweetly as at their expiration 116 Charles the Seaventh King of France having a jealousie that those about him by the instigation of his son did intend to poyson him abstained from meat so long that when he would have eaten he could not his passages being shrunk up with too much abstinence and so dyed miserably of famine There is a time when Gods Spirit strives with man motions to good are frequent and vehement upon the soule when with a certaine violence we are drawne to good the feare of God is before our faces as with Balaam that we dare not rush into sin but if these strivings be still resisted these motions slighted and this feare repel'd the time will be when God will say my Spirit shall not alwayes strive 117 In the conspiracy of Otho against Galba when Otho had invaded the Army and was acknowledged by it there was a strong report that Otho was slaine which very many of the Senators and Knights of Rome hearing presented themselves to Galba professing their sorrow that the occasion to shew how much they would have done for his security was taken away of which yet when the truth proved otherwise not a man did once appeare in his defence Lord when thy justice seemes to be suspended and because thou punishest not speedily therefore thou wilt not at all how daring and presumptious is this heart what promises of pleasure and security in sin doth it make but when conscience is awakened and the expectations of thy vengeance received it is not lesse ready to despond then it was before presumptious and daring Therefore Lord though I desire to serve thee out of a principle of onenesse with thee and affection to thee yet no bonds are too many to restraine rebellious corruptions and I had rather the Rod should be ever held over me then I should grow wanton through the want of it 118 Mount Taurus hath his head continually covered with snow though elevated far toward the Sun when the much more low lying valleys are parcht with excessive fervor because the beams of the Sun passing upon those Hills obliquely affect them with little heat whereas below the heat is doubled by reverberation Those that are as I may call them single-guilt Auditors that give the word an hearing and but an hearing are left with cold and snowy affections but those have their hearts like the Disciples journying to Emaus burning within them that reflect the word back againe by meditation 119 Philip Duke of Burgundy was wont to say That the Citizens of Gaunt love their Princes Son well but their Princes never Such is the fond heart of man disliking and weary of what is in present reaching after what is to come which when obtained we as much disgust and loath as we before fondly pursued 120 Grinoeus lying upon his death bed said That he was going to that place where now Luther and Calvin agreed well together The differences of Judgment that are between good men will be composed or at least qualified in this life when persecution cometh but they will be extinguished in the other world when we shall see no more in aenigmate but face to face but the animosities that are betweene evill men arising from corrupt hearts and cursed lusts shall be exasperated in Hell where like the Army of Midian every mans sword shall be against his brother the Devils shall torment men and men one another and there shall be consent in nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth 121 Lewis the Eleventh King of France having been a great oppressor of his subjects by excessive Taxes when he grew old resolved to redresse that and other mischiefs whereby they had been oppressed but was in a short time after this purpose prevented by death There are twelve hours in the day wherein men may work but we are bad accomptants and reckon for the most part that but five which is past Eleven and therefore as to all good purposes begin too late but happy is he that alwayes makes use of the present for he is sure not to be disappoynted nor misreckoned 122 Three Martyrs being bound to one stake one of them finding his heart sadded and fainting through the apprehension of the danger went from under the chaine and fell down and prayed and therein finding that comfort he wanted rose up joyfully and going to his fellows together with them couragiously suffered Lord we can saile no further in this troublous Sea then the gales of thy Spirit drive us if those faile we are presently becalmed even then when our course is most vigorous 't is thou that not onely winds up our soules but art the spring that moves them if that be down their motion to thee-ward ceaseth for 't is thou that gives us to will and to do of thy good pleasure 123 Agesilaus hearing news of the overthrow of Pisander at the very time of his joyning battell with the Thebans caused the contrary tidings to be reported in his Camp least his Souldiers should be discouraged and came out himselfe with a Garland of flowers on his head and publickly sacrificed to the Gods giving them thanks for the goodnews We have seen much such politick Religion in our dayes when there hath been praying and fasting and giving of thanks not according to the truth of our concernments but mens ambitious ends But Lord though thou hast been thus mocked and Religion made a stalking Horse to Policy yet be thou found neverthelesse of those that seek thee in truth and thy services not lesse used because they have been thus abused 124 Theramenes coming out of an house was no sooner abroad but the house fell down and crushed them that were in it which good fortune the Athenians congratulating he said O Jupiter what is it for which thou hast farther reserved me And not long after engaging for the Common-wealth against the thirty Tyants was by them put to death Lord when thy goodnesse succoureth us in our dangers and giveth us those deliverances which thou deniest to others let us take care not so much to enjoy our selves in that safety thou hast vouchsafed us as to answer those ends wherefore thou hast preserved us 125 I read of the sister of Edward the third married to David King of Scots that she was called Jane Make-peace How fortunate were it if not every Kingdome but every Family had one deserving that name For what animosities are bandied between kindred and kindred neighbour and neighbour man and wife which an indifferent skill piously affected might easily compose 126 'T is said of the Army of Vitellius that in their march from Germany against Otho were vigorous and full of courage in induring the troubles and hardships of the War and ready to execute the commands of their Captains but in their march out of the City against Vespatian they were faint
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
As when David calls himself A Dog a Flea Abigail will be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of David vers 25.41 Ziba may take all seeing the King was come again in peace 9 When I read the condition of the oath which the Spyes made to Rahab Joshua 2.19 that they would be quit of their oath if at the taking of Jericho that Scarlet thread were not tyed in the window I thought the tying of it there would be let alone till Jericho were besieged especially to avoid suspition that the Spyes were conveyed that way but the first thing I read of after the Spyes departure is The binding of the Scarlet thrend in the window She thought that Cord whereon her life hanged could not be hanged out too soon might have been too late Oh the irrationality of a late repentance Must the body be besieged with sickness before that work be done upon which eternal life dependeth How often is it that that is never done because we think to do it late and what we intend to do anon we therefore do never And surely that work is fittest to be done to day concerning which it is so unsafe to boast of to morrow 10 When the brethren of Joseph met with trouble in Egypt they said one to another Gen 42.21 We are verily guilty concerning our brother There were many years had passed since they had sold him and we hear not any thing of it till now and yet we find no prompter but their own consciences There is this advantage by affliction that it gives the soul a stand and makes it look about it begets that observation which before it had not those threshing instruments discover that chaffe before not seen and when we are emptied from vessell to vessell we see those Lees not till then apprehended Art thou come to call my sin to remembrance and slay my son saith that woman Not to call her sin into Gods remembrance that it might be punished with the death of her son as by the death of her son to call her sin into her remembrance what it was appears not probably the unlawfull generation of that son forgotten long since put in the wallet behind but exposed to view upon this occasion 11 When I read Jacobs dream and his words upon it Gen 28.17 I wondered at the coherence between them the dream representing nothing but mercy words of grace promises of benefaction in the most abundant manner and yet when he awakes he cryes How dreadfull is this place who would not have expected other inference from such words as those But Gods countenance though clear with smiles yet strikes awe in the beholder the evidences of Gods love are so far from begetting presumption that they leave the soul in an holy trembling and fear to offend When God gives into the soul the Charter of its spiritual priviledges and richly lades it with the fraight of divine promises then is it most sensible of its distance and ballasted with the apprehension of its own unworthiness When God makes Abraham of his counsel and tells him what he would do then cryes Abraham That he is but dust and ashes 12 When Lot parted from Abraham and had his choice given him whither he would go he chuseth the plain of Jordan having respect to the fruitfulness of the place and its being watered every where but without consideration of the wickednesse of the inhabitants which yet the Spirit of God intimates should have been thought of for 't is immediately added Gen 13.13 But the men of Sodom were sinners before the Lord exceedingly But how ill this carnall project succeeded besides the grieving his righteous soul from day to day with the unrighteous conversation of the wicked being carried captive by the Kings and after dispoiled of all his substance in the ruine of Sodom It being just with God that when we prize the wealth of this world before that of a better and the health of the body before that of the soul so to dispose of it that we fail of our design and that proves to our losse in that very way wherein we intended it for our gain 13 A Promise being made to Abraham of a son we read Gen. 17.17 He fell upon his face and laughed saying Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old and shall Sarah that is ninety years old bear The like promise being made to Sarah we read Gen 18.12 she laughed too saying After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also Surely there appears no such difference either in the words or laughter as there was in Gods sense of it for Sarah is reproved Abraham applauded What odds doth the heart make in humane actions God discerning a vast difference in the very same works those services which are performed by heartless Formalists having a rank favour in Gods nostrils the same services acted by a truly religious Votary being a most acceptable Spectacle in the eyes of divine glory 14 I observe a strange ambition in Sarah and Rachel that rather then they would be wholly childless they would have them by their maids and that which 't is like they would have stormed at upon another account yet they themselves upon the score of satisfying their fancies are the Authors of and if their husbands get children to be born upon their knees it shall qualifie the apprehensions of their own Sterility Lord I am sensible of my barrenness that I have been to thee very fruitless the immortall seed of thy Word how often hath it been cast upon my heart without any productions but let my desire to fructifie be such that I may endeavour others may bear upon my knees that that seed through my means may be diffused to others also 15 We are told Heb 9.4 That in the Ark there was the pot of Manna Aarons rod that budded and the Tables of the Covenant Yet 1 Kings 8.9 't is said There was nothing in the Ark but the Tables of the Covenant When I observed the diversity of those Texts I thought and I suppose truly that the Relative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had for its Correlative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that the pot of Manna and Aarons rod are noted as the Contents of the Holyest of Holyes not of the Ark to which agree that Scripture Exod 16.33 where there is mention made of laying them before the Testimony not in the Ark that being reserved as a peculiar Bibliotheca for the Tables of the Law there being by divine appointment a more solemn and peculiar custody allotted to them then to any thing else in the world beside not only to keep them for observation as to preserve them from violence neither abstraction nor addition being allowed there but exact and punctual compliance the most prudential consultations of humane reason alwayes meeting with unhappy successe Sauls providence in preserving the best of the