not cleared and confirmed but at my best I shall never but need spectacles till I come to see as I am seene CV Vpon moates in the Sun How these little moats move up and downe in the Sunne and never rest whereas the great mountaines stand ever still and move not but with an earthquake even so light and busie spirits are in continuall agitation to little purpose whiles great deepe wits sit still and stirre not but upon extreme occasions were the motion of these little atomes as usefull as it is restlesse I had rather bee a moat then a mountaine CVI. Vpon the sight of a bladder EVery thing must bee taken in his meete time let this bladder alone till it be dry and all the winde in the world cannot raise it up whereas now it is new and moist the least breath fills and enlarges it it is no otherwise in ages and dispositions informe the child in precepts of learning vertue whiles years make him capable how plyably hee yeeldeth how happily is hee replenished with knowledge and goodnesse let him alone till time and ill example have hardened him till hee be setled in an habit of evill and contracted and clung together with sensuall delights now hee becomes utterly indocible sooner may that bladder bee broken then distended CVII Vpon a man sleeping I Do not more wonder at any mans art then at his who professes to thinke of nothing to do nothing and I do not a little marvell at that man who sayes hee can sleepe without a dreame for the minde of man is a restlesse thing though it give the body leave to repose it self as knowing it is a mortall earthly peece yet it selfe being a spirit and therefore active and indefatigable is ever in motion give me a sea that moves not a Sunne that shines not an open eye that sees not and I shall yeeld there may bee a reasonable soule that workes not It is possible that through a naturall or accidentall stupidity a man may not perceive his owne thoughts as sometimes the eye or eare may bee distracted not to discerne his owne objects but in the meane time he thinkes that whereof he cannot give an account like as wee many times dreame when we cannot report our fancy I should more easily put my selfe to schoole unto that man who undertakes the profession of thinking many things at once Instantany motions are more proper for a spirit then a dull rest Since my mind wil needs be ever working it shall bee my care that it may alwaies be wel imploy'd CVIII Vpon the sight of a deaths-head I Wonder at the practise of the ancient both Greeks and Romans whose use was to bring up a deaths-head in the midst of their feasts on purpose to stir up their guests to drinke harder and to frolicke more the sight whereof one would think should have rather abated their courage and have tempered their jollity but however it was with them who beleeved there was nothing after death that the consideration of the short time of their pleasures and beeing spurred them on to a free and full fruition of that mirth and excesse which they should not long live to enjoy yet to us that are Christians and therefore know that this short life doth but make way for an eternity of joy or torment afterwards and that after the feast wee must account of a reckoning there cannot be a greater cooler for the heat of our intemperate desires and rage of our appetites then the meditation of the shortnesse of life and the certainty of death Who would over-pamper a body for the wormes who would be so mad as to let himselfe loose to that momentany pleasure of sin which ere long must cost him everlasting pain and miserie For mee mee thinkes this head speakes no other language then this Leese no time thou art dying do thy best thou maist do good but a while and shalt fare well for ever CIX Vpon the sight of a left-handed man IT is both an old and easie observation that however the senses are alike strong and active on the right side and on the left yet that the limbes on the right side are stronger then those of the left because they are more exercised then the other upon which selfe same reason it must follow that a left-handed man hath more strength in his left arme then in his right neither is it otherwise in the soule our intellectuall parts grow vigorous with imployment and languish with dis-use I have knowne excellent preachers and pregnant disputants that have lost these faculties with lacke of action and others but meanly qualified with naturall gifts that have attained to a laudable measure of abilities by improvement of their little I had rather lacke good parts then that good parts should lacke mee Not to have great gifts is no fault of mine it is my fault not to use them CX Vpon the sight of an old unthached Cottage THere cannot bee a truer embleme of crazie old age Moldred and clay walls a thinne uncovered roofe bending studds darke and broken windowes in short an house ready to fall on the head of the indweller The best body is but a cottage if newer and better timbred yet such as age will equally impaire and make thus ragged ruinous or before that perhaps casualty of fire or tēpest or violence of an enemy One of the chief cares of men is to dwel wel some build for themselues faire but not strong others build for posterity strong but not faire not high but happie is that man that builds for eternity as strong as faire as high as the glorious contignations of heaven CXI Vpon the sight of a faire pearle VVHat a pure and precious creature is this which yet is taken out of the mudde of the sea Who can complaine of a base original when hee sees such excellencies so descended These shel-fishes that have no sexes and therefore are made out of corruption what glorious things they yeeld to adorne and make proud the greatest princesses Gods great workes goe not by likely-hoods how easily can he fetch glory out of obscurity who brought all out of nothing CXII Vpon a screene MEE thinkes this screene that stands betwixt me and the fire is like some good friend at the Court which keepes from mee the heate of the unjust displeasure of the great wherewith I might perhaps otherwise be causelesly scorched but how happy am I if the interposition of my Saviour my best friend in heaven may screene mee from the deserved wrath of that great God who is a consuming fire CXIII Vpon a Burre-leafe NEither the vine nor the oake nor the Cedar nor any tree that I know within our climate yeelds so great a leafe as this weed which yet after all expectation brings forth nothing but a burre unprofitable troublesome So haue I seene none make greater profession of religion then an ignorant man whose indiscreet forwardnesse yeelds no fruit but
OCCASIONALL Meditations BY IOS EXON Setforth by R. H. The second Edition LONDON Printed by W. S. for Nath. Butter 1631. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE My very good Lord IAMES Lord Viscount Doncaster RIGHT HON FInding these Papers amongst others lying aside in my Fathers study whereof I conceiued good vse might bee made in regard of that Spirituall aduantage which they promised I obtayned of him good leaue to send them abroad whereto he professed himselfe the more easily induced for that his continuall and weighty imployments in this large and busie Diocesse will not yet afford him leasure to dispatch those his other fixed Meditations on the Historie of the new Testament In the meane time the expressions of these voluntary and sudden thoughts of his shall testifie how fruitfully he is wont to improoue those short ends of time which are stolne from his more important auocations and vnlesse my hopes faile mee the Patterne of them may prooue not a little beneficiall to others Holy mindes haue been euer wont to looke through these bodily obiects at spirituall and heauenly So SVLPITIVS reports of S. MARTIN that seeing a Sheepe newly shorne he could say Loe here 's one that hath performed that command in the Gospell hauing two Coats shee hath giuen away one seeing an Hogheard freezing in a thinne suite of skinnes Loe said hee There is Adam cast out of Paradise and seing a meadow part rooted vp part whole but eaten downe and part flourishing hee said The first was the state of Fornication the second of Marriage the third of Virginity But what doe I seeke any other authour then the Lord of Life himselfe Who vpon the drawing of water from the well of SHILO on the day of the great Hosanna tooke occasion to speak of those Liuing waters which should flow froÌ„ euery true beleeuer Iohn 7. 37 and vpon occasion of a bodily feast Luke 14. entred into that Diuine discourse of Gods gracious inuitation of vs to those Spirituall viands of grace and glory Thus mee thinkes we should still bee climing vp in our thoughts from Earth to Heauen and suffer no obiect to crosse vs in our way without some Spirituall vse and application Thus it pleased my Reuerend Father sometimes to recreate himselfe whose manner hath beene when any of these Meditations haue vnsought offerd themselues vnto him presently to seâ— them downe a course which I wish had beene also taken in many more which might no doubt haue beene very profitable These as they are I send forth vnder your Honourable Name out of those many respects which are in an hereditary right due to your Lordship as being apparent heire to those two singular Patrons of my iustly Reuerenced Father The eminent vertue of which your noble Parents in a gracious Succession yeelds to your Lordship an happy example which to follow is the onely way to true Honour For the dayly increase whereof here and the euerlasting crowne of it hereafter his prayers to God shal not be wanting who desires to bee accounted Your Lordship deuoted in all homble obseruance RO HALL OCCASIONALL MEDITATIONS The Proeme I Haue heedlesly lost I confesse many good thoughts these few my Paper hath perserued from vanishing The example whereof may prehaps bee more vsefull then the matter Our actiue Soule can no more forbeare to thinke then the Eye can choose but see when it is open would we but keepe our wholsome notions together Mankind would bee too rich To doe well no obiect should passe vs without vse Euery thing that wee see reades vs new lectures of Wisedome and Pietie It is a shame for a Man to be ignorant or Godlesse vnder so many Tutors For me I would not wish to liue longer then I shall be better for my eyes and haue thought it thanke-worthy thus to teach weake mindes how to improoue their thoughts vpon all like occasions And if euer these lines shall come to the publique view I desire and charge my Reader whosoeuer he be to make mee and himselfe so happie as to take out my lesson and to learne how to read GODS great Booke by mine OCCASIONALL MEDITATIONS I. Vpon the sight of the Heauens mouing I Can see nothing stand still but the Earth all other things are in motion Euen that Water which makes vp one Globe with the Earth is euer stirring in ebbes and flowings the clouds ouer my head the Heauens aboue the clouds these as they are most conspicuous so are they the greatest patternes of perpetuall action what should wee rather imitate then this glorious frame O God when we pray that thy will may bee done in Earth as it is in heauen though we meane chiefly the inhabitants of that place yet wee doe not exclude the very place of those blessed inhabitants from being an example of our Obedience The motion of this thy Heauen is perpetuall so let mee euer be acting so mewhat of thy will the motion of thine Heauen is regular neuer swaruing from the due points so let me euer walke steddily in the wayes of thy will without all diuersions or variations from the line of thy Law In the motion of thine Heauen though some Starres haue theâ—â— owne peculiar and contrary courses yet aâ— yeeld themselues to the sway of the mayne circumuolution of that first mouer so though I haue a will of mine owne yet let mee giue my selfe ouer to bee ruled and ordered by thy Spirit in all my wayes Man is a little world my Soule is heauen my Body is earth if this earth bee dull and fixed yet O God let my heauen like vnto thine moue perpetually regularly and in a constant subiection to thine holy Ghost II. Vpon the sight of a Diall IF the Sunne did not shine vpon this Diall no body would looke at it in a cloudy day it stands like an vselesse post vnheeded vnregarded But when once those beames breake forth euery passenger runnes to it and gazes on it O God whiles thou hidest thy countenance from mee mee thinkes all thy Creatures passe by mee with a willing neglect indeed what am I without thee And if thou haue drawne in me some lines notes of able indowments yet if I be not actuated by thy Grace all is in respect of vse no better then nothing But when thou renuest the light of thy louing countenance vpon mee I finde a sensible and happy change of condition me thinkes all things looke vpon mee with such cheere and obseruance as if they meant to make good that Word of thine Those that honour mee I will honour now euery line and figure which it hath pleased thee to work in mee serue for vsefull and profitable direction O Lord all the glory is thine giue thou me light I shall giue others information both of vs shal giue thee praise III. Vpon the sight of an Eclipse of the Sunne LIght is an ordinary and familiar blessing yet so deare to vs that one houres interception of it sets all the world in
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
will sing in winter and seeke to my window in the hardest frost there is no tryall or friendship but aduersity Hee that is not ashamed of my bonds not daunted with my checkes not aliend with my disgrace is a friend for me One dram of that mans loue is worth a world of false and inconstant formality XXXIIII Vpon the sight of a Flie burning it selfe in the Candle VVIse SALOMON sayes the light is a pleasant thing and so certainly it is but there is no true outward light vvhich proceeds not from fire The light of that fire then is not more pleasing then the fire of that light is dangerous and that pleasure doth not more draw on our sight then that danger forbids our approach How foolish is this flye that in a loue and admiration of this light will know no distance but puts it selfe heedlesly into that flame vvherein it perishes How many boutes it fetcht euery one nearer then other ere it made this last venture and now that mercilesse fire taking no notice of the affection of an ouer-fond Client hath suddenly consumed it Thus doe those bold and busie spirits vvho vvill needs draw too neare vnto that inacessible light and looke into things too vvonderfull for them So long doe they houer about the secret counsailes of the Almighty till the vvings of their presumptuous conceits bee scorched and their daring curiositie hath paid them with euerlasting destruction Oh LORD let mee bee blessed with the knowledge of what thou hast reuealed Let mee content my selfe to adore thy diuine wisedome in what thou hast not reuealed so let mee inioy thy light that I may auoyd thy fire * ⎠* XXXV Vpon the sight of a Larke flying vp HOw nimbly doth that little Larke mount vp singing towards Heauen in a right line whereas the Hauke which is stronger of body and swifter of wing towrâ—â— vp by many graduall compasses to his highest pitch that bulke of body and length of wing hinders a direct ascent and requires the helpe both of ayre and scope to aduance his flight whiles that small bird cuts the ayre without resistance and needs no outward furtherance of her motion It is no otherwise with the soules of men in flying vp to their Heauen some are hindered by those powers which would seeme helps to their saring vp thither great wit deepe iudgement quicke apprehension sends men about with no small labour for the recouery of their owne incombrance whiles the good affections of plaine simple soules raises them vp immediately to the fruition of God vvhy should vve be proud of that vvhich may slacken our vvay to Glory vvhy should vvee bee dishartened vvith the small measure of that the very vvant whereof may as the heart may be affected facilitate our vvay to happinesse XXXVI Vpon the singing of the Birds in a Spring morning HOw cheerefully doe these little Birds chirpe and sing out of the naturall ioy they conceiue at the approach of the Sun and entrance of the Spring as if their life had departed and returned with those glorious and comfortable beames No otherwise is the penitent and faithfull soule affected to the true Sunne of Righteousnes the Father of lights When he hides his face it is troubled and silently mournes away that sad Winter of Affliction When hee returnes in his presence is the fulnesse of ioy no song is cheerefull enough to welcome him Oh thou who art the GOD of all consolation make my heart sensible of the sweet comforts of thy gracious presence and let my mouth euer show forth thy praise XXXVII Vpon a Coale couered with ashes NOthing appeares in this heape but dead ashes heere is neyther light nor smoake nor heate and yet when I stirre vp these embers to the bottome there are found some liuing gleeds which doe both containe fire and are apt to propagate it Many a Christians breast is like this hearth no life of Grace appeares there for the time eyther to his owne sence or to the apprehension of others whiles the season of temptation lasteth all seemes cold and dead yet still at the vvorst there is a secret coale from the Altar of Heauen rak't vp in their bosome vvhich vpon the gracious motions of the Almighty doth both bewray some Remainders of that diuine fire and is easily raised to a perfect flame Nothing is more dangerous then to iudge by appearances Why should I deiect my selfe or censure others for the vtter extinction of that spirit which doth but hide it selfe in the soule for a glorious aduantage XXXVIII Vpon the sight of a Blackemore LOe there is a Man vvhose hew showes him to bee farre from home his very skin bewayes his Climate it is night in his face whiles it is day in ours What a difference there is in men both in their fashion and colour and yet all Children of one Father Neither is there lesse variety in their insides their dispositions iudgements opinions differ as much as their shapes and complexions That which is beauty to one is deformity to another Wee should bee lookt vpon in this mans Country with no lesse wonder and strange coynesse then hee is heere our whitenesse would passe there for an vnpleasing indigestion of forme Outward beauty is more in the eye of the beholder then in the face that is seene in euery colour that is faire which pleaseth The very Spouse of Christ can say I am blacke but comely this is our colour Spiritually yet the eye of our gracious GOD and Sauiour can see that beautie in vs wherwith he is delighted The true MOSES marries a Blackemore CHRIST his Church It is not for vs to regard the skin but the Soule If that bee innocent pure holy the blots of an out-side cannot set vs off from the loue of him who hath said Behold thou art faire my Sister my spouse if that be foule and blacke it is not in the power of an Angelicall brightnesse of our hide to make vs other then a loathsome Eye sore to the Almighty O GOD. make my inside louely to thee I know that beauty will hold whiles weather casualty age disease may deforme the outer-man and marre both colour and features XXXIX Vpon the small Starres in the Galaxie or milkie Circle in the Firmament VVHat a cleere lightsomnesse there is in yonder Circle of the Heauen aboue the rest What can wee suppose the reason of it but that the light of many smaler starres is vnited there and causes that constant brightnesse And yet those small starres are not discerned whiles the splendor which ariseth from them is so notably remarkable In this lower heauen of ours many a man is made conspicuous by his good qualities and deserts but I most admire the humility and grace of those whose vertues and merits are vsefully visible whiles their persons are obscure It is secretly glorious for a man to shine vnseene Doubtlesse it is the height that makes those stars so small and insensible were they lower
so much in the matter as in the owner Happy is that Cottage that hath an honest maister and woe bee to that Palace that is viciously inhabited LXXVII Vpon the discharging of a Peece GOod LORD how witty men are to kill one another What fine deuises they haue found out to murder a farre off To slay many at once and so to fetch off liues that whiles a whole Lane is made of Carcasses with one blow no body knowes who hurt him And what honour doe wee place in slaughter Those armes wherein wee pride our selues are such as which wee or our Ancestors haue purchased with blood The Monuments of our Glory are the spoyles of a subdu'd and slaine Enemy Where contrarily all the titles of God sound of Mercy and gracious respects to Man God the Father is the maker and preseruer of men God the Sonne is the Sauiour of Mankind God the Holy Ghost styles himselfe the Comforter Alas whose image doe we beare in this disposition but his whose true title is the Destroyer It is easie to take away the life it is not easie to giue it Giue mee the man that can deuise how to saue Troupes of men from killing his name shall haue roome in my Calender There is more true honour in a Ciuick garland for the preseruing of one Subiect then in a Lawrell for the victory of many Enemies Oh God there are enow that bend their thoughts to vndoe what thou hast made enable thou mee to bestow my indeauors in repriuing or rescuing that which might otherwise perish Oh thou who art our common Sauiour make thou mee both ambitious and able to helpe to saue some other besides my selfe LXXVIII Vpon the tolling of a passing-Bell HOw dolefull and heauy is this summons of Death This sound is not for our eares but for our hearts it calls vs not onely to our prayers but to our preparation To our Prayers for the departing Soule to our preparation for our owne departing Wee haue neuer so much need of Prayers as in our last Combat then is our great Aduersary most eager then are wee the weakest then nature is so ouer-laboured that it giues vs not leisure to make vse of gracious motions There is no preparation so necessary as for this Conflict all our life is little enough to make ready for our last houre What am I better then my Neighbours How oft hath this Bell reported to me the farewell of many more strong and vigorous bodies then my owne of many more cheerfull and liuely spirits And now what doth it but call mee to the thought of my parting Heere is no abiding for me I must away too Oh thou that art the GOD of comfort helpe thy poore Seruant that is now strugling with his last enemie His sad friends stand gazing vpon him and weeping ouer him but they cannot succour him needs must they leaue him to do this great worke alone none but thou to whom belong the issues of death canst relieue his distressed and ouer-matched Soule And for mee let no man dye without mee as I dye dayly so teach mee to dye once acquaint mee before hand with that Messenger which I must trust too Oh teach mee so to number my dayes that I may apply my heart to true wisedome LXXIX Vpon a Defamation dispersed WEre I the first or the best that euer was slandered perhaps it would bee somewhat difficult to command my selfe patience Griefe is wont to bee abated eyther by partners or precedents the want whereof deiects vs beyond measure as men singled out for patternes of misery Now whiles I finde this the common condition of all that euer haue beene reputed vertuous why am I troubled with the whisperings of false tongues O GOD the Diuell slandered thee in Paradise O Sauiour men slandered thee on earth more then Men or Diuels can reproach mee Thou art the best as thou art the best that euer was smitten by a lying and venemous tongue It is too much fauour that is done mee by malicious lippes that they conforme mee to thy sufferings I could not bee so happie if they were not so spightfull Oh thou glorious patterne of reproached innocence if I may not dye for thee yet let mee thus bleed with thee LXXX Vpon a ring of Bels. WHiles euery Bell keepes due time and order what a sweet harmonious sound they make All the nieghbour Villages are cheared with that common Musicke but when once they iarre and checke each other eyther iangling together or striking preposterously how harsh and vnpleasing is that noyse So that as wee testifie our publike reioycing by an orderly and well-tuned peale So when wee would signifie that the Towne is on fire wee ring confusedly It is thus in Church and Common-wealth when euery one knowes and keepes their due rancks there is a melodious consort of Peace and contentment but when distances and proportions of respects are not mutually obserued when eyther States or persons will bee clashing with each other the discord is grieuous and extreamely preiudiciall such confusion eyther notifieth a fire already kindled or portendeth it Popular States may ring the changes with safety but the Monarchicall gouernment requires a constant and regular course of the set degrees of rule and inferiority which cannot bee violated without a sensible discontentment and danger For mee I doe so loue the peace of the Church and State that I cannot but with the charitable Apostle say Would to God they were cut off that trouble them and shall euer wish eyther no iarres or no clappers LXXXI Vpon the sight of a full Table at a Feast WHat great Variety is here of flesh of fish of both of neither as if both Nature and Art did striue to pamper vs Yet mee thinkes enough is better then all this Excesse is but a burden as to the prouider so to the Guest It pitties and greeues mee to thinke what toyle what charge hath gone to the gathering of all these daintyes together what paine so many poore Creatures haue beene put to in dying for a needlesse Sacrifice to the Belly what a Penance must bee done by euery accumbent in sitting out the passage through all these dishes what a taske the stomacke must bee put to in the concoxion of so many mixtures I am not so austerely scrupulous as to deny the lawfulnesse of these abundant prouisions vpon iust occasions I find my Sauior himselfe more then once at a Feast this is recorded as well as his one long Fast Doubtlesse our bountifull GOD hath giuen vs his Creature not for necessity onely but for pleasure But these exceedings would bee both rare and moderate and when they must bee require no lesse patience then temperance Might I haue my option Oh GOD giue mee rather a little with peace and loue Hee whose prouision for euery day was thirty measures of fine flower and threescore measures of Meale thirty Oxen an hundred Sheep besides Venison and Fowle yet can pray
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
without any mixtures of sin I might have hoped for entire health But since I have interspersed my obedience with many sinfull faylings and enormities why doe I thinke much to interchange health with sickenesse What I now feele I know I am not worthy to know what I must feele As my times so my measures are in the hands of a wise and good God My comfort is he that sends these evils proportions them If they be sharpe I am sure they are just the most that I am capable to indure is the least part of what I have deserved to suffer Nature would sayne be at ease but Lord what ever become of this carcasse thou hast reason to have respect to thine owne glory I have sinned and must smart It is the glory of thy mercy to beat my body for the safety of my soule The worst of sicknesse is payne and the worst of payne is but death As for payne if it be extreme it cannot be long and if it be long ' such is the difference of earthly and hellish torments it cannot be extreme As for death it is both unavoydable and beneficiall there ends my misery and begins my glory A few groanes are well bestowed for a preface to an immortall joy Howsoever O God thy messenger is worthy to be welcome It is the Lord let him do whatsoever he will C. Vpon the challenge of a promise IT is true an honest mans word must be his maister when I have promised I am indebted and debts may be claymed must be payed but yet there is a great deale of difference in our ingagements Some things wee promise because they are due some things are onely due because they are promised These latter which are but the mere ingagements of curtesie cannot so absolutely binde us that notwithstaÌ„ding any intervention of unworthinesse or misbehaviour in the person expectant Wee are tyed to make our word good though to the cutting of our owne throates All favourable promises presuppose a capacity in the receiver where that palpably fayleth common equity sets us free I promised to send a faire sword to my frend he is since that time turn'd frantick must I send it or be charged with unfaithfulnesse if I send it not O God thy title is the God of truth thou canst no more cease to be faithfull then to be How oft hast thou promised that no good thing shall be wanting to thine and yet wee know thy dearest children have complayned of want Is thy word therefore challengable Farre farre be this wicked presumption from our thoughts No These thy promises of outward favours are never but with a subintelligence of a condition of our capablenesse of our expedience Thou seest that plenty or â—ase would be our bane thy love forbeares to satisfie us with an harmfull blessing We are worthy to be plagued with prejudiciall kindnesses if we do not acknowledge thy wisedome and care in our want It is enough for us that thy best mercies are our dues because thy promises we cannot too much clayme that which thou hast absolutely ingaged thy selfe to give and in giving shalt make us eternally happy CI. Vpon the sight of flies WHen I looke upon these flyes and gnats and wormes I have reason to thinke What am I to my infinite Creator more then these And if these had my reason why might they not expostulate with their Maker Why they are but such why they live to so little purpose and dye without either notice or use and if I had no more reason then they I should bee as they content with any condition That reason which I have is not of my owne giving he that hath given mee reason might as well have given it to them or have made me as reason-lesse as they there is no cause why his greater gift should make me mutinous and malecontent I will thanke my God for what I am for what I have and never quarrel with him for what I want CII Vpon the sight of a fantasticall Zelote IT is not the intent of grace to mold our bodies anew but to make use of them as it findes us the disposition of men much followes the temper of their bodily humors This mixture of humors wrought upon by grace causeth that strange variety which we see in professions pretendedly religious when grace lights upon a sad melancholike Spirit nothing is affected but sullennesse and extreme mortification and dislike even of lawfull freedome nothing but positions and practises of severe austerity when contrarily upon the cheerefull and lively all drawes towards liberty and joy those thoughts doe now please best which enlarge the heart to mirth and contentation It is the greatest improvement of Christian wisdome to distinguish in all professions betwixt grace and humor to give God his own glory and men their owne infirmityes CIII Vpon the sight of a Scavenger working in the channel THe wise providence of God hath fitted men with spirits answerable to their condition If meane men should beare the minds of great Lords no servile workes would be done al would be commaunders and none could live If contrarily great persons had the low spirits of drudges there could be no order no obedience because there should be none to command now out of this discord of dispositions God hath contrived an excellent harmony of government and peace since the use which each sort must needs have of other bindes them to maintain the quality of their own rankes and to do those offices which are requisite for the preservation of themselves and the publique As inferiours then must blesse God for the graces and authority of their betters So must Superiours no lesse blesse him for the humilitie and serviceablenesse of the meaner and those which are of the midrank must blesse him for both CIIII. Vpon a payre of Spectacles I Looke upon these not as objects but as helps as not meaning that my sight should rest in them but passe through them and by their aid discerne some other things which I desire to see many such glasses my soule hath and useth I looke through the glasse of the creatures at the power and wisedome of their maker I looke through the glasse of the Scriptures at the great mystery of redemption and the glory of an heavenly inheritance I looke through Gods favours at his infinite mercy through his judgements at his incomprehensible justice but as these spectacles of mine presuppose a faculty in the eye and cannot give me sight when I want it but only cleares that sight which I have no more can these glasses of the creatures of Scriptures of favours and judgements inable mee to apprehend those blessed objects except I have an eye of faith whereto they may bee presented these helps to an unbeleeving man are but as spectacles to the blinde As the naturall eyes so the spirituall have their degrees of dimnesse but I have ill improved my age if as my naturall eyes decay my spirituall eye bee