words of our Saviour Mark 8. 38. he acknowledged it openly It is very dangerous to walk in the dark Saints are children of the light and should have their light shining before others Lewis the eleventh of France was better at carnal politicks then real piety who desired his Son might learn no more then this He who cannot counterfeit must not wear a Crown SECT IV. FOurthly Labour to get some good by such as are evil The precious stone Amyanthon being cast into the fire is made the more clear and pure A skilful Naturalist will make some use of the most venemous Hearbs and Serpents A gracious person may improve the vilest sinners company to his own spiritual profit As wicked men are helpful to the temporal good so often to the eternal good of Gods people Like Leaves though they are nothing worth in themselves yet they keep the good fruit from blasting and hereby are instrumental to its further Growth and Ripening Ismenias the Theban Musitian taught his Scholars not onely by shewing them such as struck a clean stroak with Do so but also by shewing them such as bungled at it with Do not so Antigenidas thought men would like better and contend the more for skil if they heard untuneable notes Satan intendeth wicked men as dirt and earth onely to besmear and defile them but God outshoots him in his own bow and makes them as Fullers-earth to purge and purifie them As poisonous as they are in their own nature through the Correctives of the Spirit they become not only not hurtful but helpful to the beleiver Ungodly men are compared to dung and filth which we know being applied to the good Trees makes them more fruitful That slime and mudde which the overflowing of Nilus carrieâ—h along with it in the Summer Solftice causeth Egypt to bring forth abundantly The Graces of Saints have increased even by the abominations and oppositions of sinners Lots hatred of sin was the greater by viewing the unclean conversations of the Sodomites The Serpent Tyrus saith Brittenbacchus is so venemous that there is no remedy against its bitings but by cutting off the member yet even of this there is a Treacle made which serveth for excellent purposes Though the flesh of the Vulture saith Pliny be unwholsom and unmeet for meat yet it is most medicinable an Oyntment made of the fat of it is specially strengthning to the sinews Though ungodly men are ill food and not fit to be our ordinary constant diet yet they may be good Physick and profitable when necessity compelleth us to use them A deboice lewd Master may teach a Scholar many good lessons If God send us to School to the Beasts of the field Job 12. 7. Ask the Beasts and they shall teach thee I know no reason but much good may be learned from these brutes in the shape of men Some tell us that gold was extracted out of Ennius his dung Thou mayst Reader through the help of the Spirit get that which is better then Gold out of these noysom and loathsom persons The smell of Trefoil is often stronger in a moist and cloudy dark season then in fair weather So should the savour of a Saints graces be most fragrant amongst evil Companions 1. Let thy zeal be the more inflamed zeal is the heat or intention of the afâ—ections It is an holy warmth whereby our love and anger are drawn out to the utmost for God and his glory Now our love to God and his ways and our hatred of wickedness should be encreased because of ungodly men cloudy and dark colours in a table make those that are fresh and lively to appear more beautiful others sins should make God and Godliness more amiable in thine eyes Thy heart should take fire by striking on such cold flints David by an holy Antiperistasis did kindle from others coldness Psal. 119. 39. My zeal hath consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy word Cold blasts make a fire to flame the higher and burn â—he hotter A true child hearing others speak faintly is the more fervent in the commendation of his Father Because the wicked forsake thy law therefore I love thy commandments above gold yea above much â—ine gold Psa. 119. 127. Do others in thy presence declare their loathing of Gods preâ—cepts do thou love them the more Do they trample them under their feet do thou prize them at the greater rate Truly the more they dishonouâ— God by their swearing and scoffing at Godliness the more reason thou hast to honour him Phineas is Sainted in Gods Calendar for being zealous in Gods Cause as Varnish addeth a lustre to all colours and makes them amiable so zeal addeth a beauty to all our services and makes them the more acceptable The Spirit of God works like fire and if it dwell in thee t will make thee fervent in Spirit How little sign have they of their Saintships who can hear sinners belch out their blasphemies against God and tear the precious body of Christ in peices with Oaths and yet are as sensless as stocks and stones as if they had no relation to God and Christ The redeemed of the Lord are a zealous people Tit. 2. 14. Thou art but false in thy profession of friendship if thou canst behold others abusing thy friend and sit still Ah what true Christian can see hellish lusts embraced publiquely and the glorious Lord disowned openly and not loath the former and love the latter the more for it The Grecians would bring their children to hate drunkenness by shewing them Drunkards wallowing in their vomits what loathsom persons they were in such conditions Good examples are provocations to holiness Mal. 3. 8. Bad examples may work a detestation of vice Deut. 18. 9. Ephes. 4. 17. Wise men have more to learn of fools then fools of wise men said Cato That Trumpet which is filled only with wind may encourage and awaken a living man to the battle That person who is dead in sin may rouse up a sleepy yet living Christian and raise his affections more towards God 2. Let thy heart be the more inlarged in thankfulness Dost thou behold the prophane glorying in their pollutions Dost thou see sinners abusing Gods creatures Dost thou discern ungodly ones making a mock of sin jearing at holiness and riding post to Hell how should thy heart be raised in thankefulness to thy dearest Redeemer that thou dost not run with them to the same excess of riot and in the same road of eternal ruine Every time thou comest into such company and observest their wicked courses thou mayst well pity such deluded souls and praise thy gracious Saviour Mayst thou not think thus with thy self Lo here are those that play with the eternal fire and sport with the Almighties fury that dance merrily over the bottomless pit and take pleasure in the way to endless pains that are wholly regardless of God and Christ and Heaven and their unchangeable estates
affections to them Who would esteem much of that flower which flourisheth and looks lovely in the morning but perisheth and is withered at night How little are those things worth which are to day mine and to morrow anothers which make themselves wings and as birds flye away are no sooner in sight but almost as soon out of sight Though all the works and creatures of God are excellent and admirable in their degrees and places yet some are of far more worth then others because of their nearer relation to our spiritual souls and their eternal duration When I look upon honours and applause and respect in the world methinks its worth is little for I can see through that air it is but a breath a blast that quickly passeth away When I look upon houses and lands and silver and gold I may well judge their price low for there is a worm that will eat out and consume the strongest timberd-dwelling and gold and silver are corruptable things Riches are not for ever When I look upon my Wife and Children in whom I have through mercy much comfort and contentment yet their value as natural relations is small for so they shall not be mine for ever and therefore they that have wives are commanded to be as though they had none But when I look upon grace upon godliness upon religion upon the Image of God O of what inâ—â—nite worth and price and value are they because they are lasting they are everlasting they are mine for ever When honours and crowns and robes and scepters are but for a few days when stately pallaces and costly mannors and treasures gold and pearl are but for a short time when the most lovely and loving wives and husbands and sons and daughters and friends are frail and fading The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever Godliness is the good part that when thy relations and possessions and all the good thing of this life shall be taken from thee shall never be taken from thee Reader what an argument is here to provoke thee to spend and be spent to imploy all thy time and strength and talents to sell all for this pearl when it is of so great price that when all other priviledges excellencies royal or noble births high breedings preferments favours with Great men riches pleasures will onely as brass of leathren money be currant in some Countries in this beggarly earth it will enrich thee and enliven thee refresh and rejoyce thee for ever 11. Is not that worthy to be made thy business which all men even the greatest enemies to it will sooner or later heartily and earnestly wish had been their business We have an usual saying that what one speaketh may be false and light and what two speak may be false and vain and what three speak may be so but what all speak and agree in must have something of truth and weight in it And again we say Vox populi est vox dei The voice of all the people is an oracle Though as Christ said of himself so I may say of Godliness God himself beareth witness of it and his witness is true and it needeth not testimony from man yet as he made use of the testimony of Iohn to convince the Jews of their desperate wickedness and inexcusableness in not submitting to his precepts and accepting him as a Saviour So may I improve the witness of the whole world on the behalf of Godliness to convince thee Reader of thy folly and sinfullness in neglecting it and to shew thee how inexcusable thou wilt be found at the day of Christ if thou dost not presently set upon it and make it thy business It s evident that many men whose hearts are full of opposition to the ways of God and whose lives are a flat contradiction to his Word and Will do yet in their extremity seek him early and cry to him earnestly and flie to Godliness as the only shelter in a storm and safest anchor in a tempest The most prophane and atheistical wretches who have in their works defied God himself and in their words blasphemously derided godly men and godliness when they have been brought low by sickness and entred within the borders of the King of terrours and have some apprehensions upon their spirits that they must go the way of all the earth then as Naturalists observe of the dying Cuckoe they change their note send for godly Ministers godly Christians desire them to pray with them to pray for them hearken diligently to their serious instructions wish with all their hearts and would give their highest honours and richest treasures and imperial diadems and kingdoms if they have any and all they are worth that they had made Godliness their business and promise if God will spare them and lengthen their lives but a few days upon earth that they will have no work no calling no employment no design but how to please God and obey his counsel and submit to his Spirit and follow after holiness and prepare their souls for heaven O then Godliness is godliness indeed and grace is grace indeed Then they call and cry as the foolish Virgins to the wise Give us of your oyl for our lamps are gone out O give us grace give us godliness in the power of it for all our formal out side lazy serving of God is come to nothing The Serpent that is crooked all her life time when dying stretcheth her self straight As Dionisius on his death when he heard Thales discoursing excellently about the nature and worth of Moral Philosophy Cursed his pastimes and sports and foolish pleasures that had taken him off and diverted him from the study of so worthy a subject So these lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God whose lives are little else then brutish delights in a circle or a diversion from one pleasure to another whose business now is to mock at piety and persecute the pious when they come to be thrown by a disease on their beds and their consciences begin to accuse them for their neglect of Godliness and to convince them of its absolute necessity and they have some fears to be overthroâ—n by death then they curse their hauks and hounds and games and cups and companions and sensual delights that hindered them from making religion their business Experience testifieth this frequently in many parts of the Nation where the consciences of dying sinners are not seared with a red hot iron Some wish this whilst they live either under some great affliction or on a dying bed nay I am perswaded that most wicked men that live under the Gospel in their prosperity even when they have the world at will in the midst of their sensual delights have inward conviction that the course they take will prove cursed in the end and have some velleities or weak desires though overruled by carnal head-strong affections that they could leave those vanities and make religion their business But
be without fear of spiritual rapes Our danger will appear if we consider three particulars 1. Our minds are restless and will be employed either upon what is goodâ— or upon what is evil The mind of man is as a Mill-wheel continually turning about and drenching in the waters Our hearts are as a stirring child that cannot endure to sit still No Virgin hath so many Suitors for her love as our minds for their thoughts The Sun may as soon be stopped from his race as the heart from its thinking We are all in this respect like the Sea which cannot rest ever in motion Is not he a foolish miller that turnes the water which should grind his Corn into the High-way where it doth no good And is not he a foolish Christian that imployeth those thoughts about needless â—oy's which should help to provide him spiritual food As the natural heat will be ever working if it have not food to digest it will prey upon the spirits and destroy it self so the mind of man will be always busie if not in thinking of the excellencies of God or the love of Christ or the beauty and necessity of holiness then in speculative wantonness or contemplative wickedness in ambitious fancies or revengeful desires We are like a Boat swimming against tide there is no standing still if the Oar be left that we go not forward the Tide will carry us strongly backward If the ground be not sown with good seed it will of it self bring forth evil weeds 2. Satan is subtle and will not be wanting to fight us when he finds us alone and without any seconds to assist us The Raven which is called the Devils Bird is observed to haunt Deserts and solitary places When the Spirit of God would speak a Ciâ—ty desolate and without Inhabitants he tells us The Raven shall dwell in it When Satan was to enter the List against Christ and would try his utmost power and policy to overcome him he takes him to a Mountain alone Mat. 4. 8. The Scripture to shew the valour and strength of Christ sets out his conquest and victory over the Devil on his own Dunghil in the Wilderness When Christs Lambs are in the Desert alone they may soon be a prey to this roaring Lion Satan is a cunning suitor and will be sure to watch the time when the Parents are from home to wooe the Daughter and steal away her affections He that takes his leave of men to withdraw himself may be confident the Divel will come though more bold then welcome and sit with him When we know of the coming of so bad a gnest is it not good policy to forestal him by fâ—â—ling the house before-hand with loving and beloved friends 3. Our own â—arnal hearts will strive to improve our solitude to draw us to sin The Wife that lyeth in the bosome takes the opportunity of the night when she is alone with her Husband to draw him to her mind and to bend him to her will though she were afraid or ashamed to mention or motion her evil desires before others yet in secrecy she hath courage enough to do it and often with success Our flesh is nearer to us then our wives more intimate with us more powerful over us how frequently doth it draw us to those sins in secret which it dares not be so bold as to whisper to us in publique They devise mischeif on their beds Psa. 36. 4. When the good man is from home and gone a journey then the whorish woman commits adultery with strangers Reader thou canst no sooner be alone but thy corrupt heart will send thee many in wanton and theevish thoughts to bear thee company they will come as Lotâ— daugters to him to the dead time of the night and defile thy soul and thou shalt like Lot not know when they came in nor when they went away Thou little thinkest how subtle thy wicked thoughts are how easily they will wind themselves into and out of thy mind without giving warning or being taken notice of As the Serpent crept into Paradise secretly so do sinful thoughts into our hearts They conspire together against us as the adversaries of Iudah and do as good as say They shall neither know nor see till we come in the midst of them and cause the work of exercising themselves to godliness to cease Neh. 4. 11. As Gods Spirit hath filled his Prophets with excellent Revelations and visions in the night or day when they have been alone so our flesh filleth us with loathsome atheistical blasphemous thoughts oftentimes when we are by our selves Children never dirty their hands and faces or defile their cloaths more then when they get alone from Parents and Servants When thou art in solitude thou hast no humane friend to watch over thee and therefore haste the more need to watch narrowly over thy self No Town hath such need of a Warder no Peers gate of a Porter to keep out nasty beggers as thy heart hath of watch and ward to keep out wicked thoughts SECT II. THirdly Consider The exercising thy self to godliness in solitude will be a probable evidence of thy uprightness Men are wiâ—h-held in company from doing evil by the iron curb of fear or shame and provoked to do good by the golden spurs of praise or profit but in solitariness there are not such rubâ— in the way of lust to hinder our passage nor such baits in the way of holiness to encourage our progress The naked lineaments and natural thoughts of the soul are best discerned in secret The darkest night may afford us light enough to see our selves by when outward objects and occasions do not interpose to hinder our sight or discompose our souls No mans temper can be discovered by his carriage in a crowd of affairs no more then his countenance in a troubled water When the mind is stated in a due repose it bewrayeth her truest affections which in the midst of business she either doth not shew or not observe If many servants and several masters be together busie and active we can hardly tell to what Masters the particular servants belong but when the Masters be alone and walk singly their servants attend on them and are known Our Affections are the servants of our souls both rational and sensual whilst both these Masters are employed as in company it sometimes falls out and they wait it s not easie to judge which they serve in solitude one takes upon it self the government and then its visible what attendants it hath As it s said of grief Ille dolet vere qui sine teste doleâ— He grieves truly that weeps without a witness so it may be said of godliness he is sincere in his godliness who is godly in secret The best characters and truest pictures which can be drawn of the minds of men are to be taken from the bent of their thougâ—ts rather then from their works Wicked men cannot do the
thy pains Encline thine ear unto wisdome and apply thy heart unto understanding Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdom and out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding Prov. 2. ver 2 3 4 5 6. Did men but spend that time and strength about the knowledge of God which they spend in endeavouring to raise their families and advance their parties and interest and to suppress them that in their apprehensions stand in their way we should quickly have a Nation as famous for peace and love and holiness as now it is notorious for divisions and prophaness CHAP. XIII Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness A contented Spirit Avoiding those things that hinder Godliness THirteenthly If thou woulst exercise thy self to Godliness Labour to get a contented frame of heart A setled fixed frâ—m of heart as to all outward occurrences is like Ballast to a Ship which will help it to sail trim in all waters whereas a discontented spirit is as a light smal boat in the Ocean tossed about with every blast and always in danger of drowning I doubt not but the great Apostles diligence to learn this lesson perfectly I have learned in what state soever I am to be contented I know how to be abasâ—d and how to abound Philip. 4. 12. was a special means of his extraordinary growth and proficiency in grace It is generally observed that peevish persons whom nothing pleaseth are usually lean and thin in their bodies but those who are of chearful tempers and not overmuch troubled with any disasters are thriving and healthful The discontented soul whom eveâ—y heat or cold above ordinary puts into a fright or fever will rather decline then increase in his spiritual health but the Christian who is ever chearful in his God and Saviour and lives about these lower things as one indifferent about them will never be hindered by them in his work of holiness As a sickly man is hindered in his journey by every storm and ready to run to an House or stand under an Hedge at every shower so is a discontented person ready to turn aside or stand still at every unexpected providence when a contented man like a lusty resolved travellar keeps on his course whatsoever weather comes Godliness requires a contented mind to grow in 1 Tim. 6. 6. It is said of the Pelican that she is caught by the Shephards in this manner They lay fire not far from her nest which she finding and fearing the danger of her young seeks to blow out with her wings so long till she burns her self and makes her self a prey out of foolish pity to her young So many men out of unwise pity to their relations and possessions when they are at any time in danger for want of this contented spirit and qâ—iet submission to infinite wisdom trouble themselves so much and so long about them till they make themselves a prey to Satan and no whit preserve or secure those persons or things about which they are so immoderately anxious and sollicitous Whilst we are in this world we must expect various winds some sharp some warm some nipping some refreshing some with us some against us and unless we are prepared for all by an holy pliableness we shall be injured by every one Every strong wind whether with us or against us will be ready to overturn us if we want this ballast There is no condition in this life so blessed as to afford the perfection of content and yet there is no estate in this life so wretched but a Christian may be contented with it If thou hast as much as thou wantest thou hast as much as in reason thou desirest and therefore hast cause to be contented The way to true Riches saith Plato is not to increase our heaps but to diminish the covetousness of our hearts It were well for the world saith another if there were no Gold in it but since its the Fountain whence all things flow it s to be desired but onely as a pass to travail to our journeys end without begging Every man is rich or may be so if he will equal his mind to his estate and be but poor in his desires He that hath most wants somthing as Haman when he had the commander of one hundred and twenty Provinces at command He that hath least wants nothing if he want not a contented spirit He that can bring his heart to an even poize in all providences will avoid many temptations and escape many snares in which others are entangled The want of this renders many a mans life as unserviceable to God as uncomfortable to himself The discontented person like the Sea is seldom seen without storms and tempests A small mattâ—r puts him out of order and joynt and so unfits him for spiritual actions As hot Iron the smallest drop sets him a hissing like a rufled skein of silk every way taken to compose him entangleth him Discontent like Ink poured into a Bottle of Water turns all into blackness O Frind beware of it It hinders from praying A discontented man will rather poure out his passions then any sober prayers before the Lord. It hinders examining our selves Though quiet and calm waters will like a glass if we look into it shew us the image and likeness of our selves yet troubled and muddy waters will make no such representation Though the heart when calm and contented may shew us the face and features of our souls yet if muddied by discontent they cannot do it It hinders from hearing The noise of passion drowns the voice of the Preacher Men must with meekness receive the ingrafted word if they desire it should save their souls Iam. 1. When a Fountain is troubled there can no Water be drawn out of it but what is filthy and unsavoury When a person is discontented all his duties are distasâ—eful and unacceptable to God Therefore Christ more then once diswads his Disciples from it Let not your hearts be troubled Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid Joh. 14. 1 27. Diogenes resolved since many evils would befal him to keep himself steady in all he would oppose Resolution to Fortune Nature to the Law his Reason to his Affections But the Christian hath a better guide and better grounds for contentedness There be several thoughts which may quiet and compose the heart in all occurents 1. That Infinite wisdom ordaineth whatsoever befalleth me and the present condition that I am in is ever best for me If a greater portion of outward good things had been good for me I had had it my Father is not so careless of his Children as to deny them any thing that is good for them and if it be not good for me why
Did not ye hate me and expell me out of my Fathers house why are ye come unto me now ye are in distress Didst not thou hate me and expell me out of thy heart and house didst thou not deride and jeer and persecute me against all the commands and threatnings and promises and intreaties of God and his word and why art thou come to me now thou art in distress I must tell thee thou wilt then weep and howl and lament to God as the Israelites did in their extremity Deliver us only we pray thee this day Lord help me Lord save me Deliver me this day from the jaws of the roaring Lion Lord let not hell shut her mouth upon me Who can dwell in everlasting burnings who can abide devouring flames But thou mayst expect the same answer which God gave them Go and cry to the gods which ye have chosen let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation Go to the flesh and the world Go to thy riches and honours and sinful delights which thou hast chosen and preferred before me and let them deliver thee in this time of thy tribulation Where are those gods the rocks in which thou trustedst Let them rise up and help thee and be thy protection Iudg. 11. 6 7. Iudg. 10. 15 32. Deut. 37. 38. A Saint can sing in such a day of trial knowing that death is come to him as the Angel to Peter striking on his side not to hurt but to awaken him to beat off his fetters and set him in the glorious liberty of the children of God The Saint and the Sinner never differ so much at least in open view as in their ends Sin in the bud is sweet but in the fruit bitter and holiness though at first draught seems not so pleasant yet afterwards is all sweetness Though the path of sin be smooth and pleasing to thy flesh yet thou wilt find it slippery and killing to thy spirit It s like an evening star to usher in a night of blackness of darkness for ever The way of holiness is more harsh to the body but the onely Nectar of the soul Ah Reader if thou wilt but choose it thou wilt find by experience that t will be like Hannibal's passage over the Alpes a way which will require some pains but t will lead thee into the heavenly Paradise at that did him into the worlds garden Italy Reader Let me therefore bespeak thee or rather God himself Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Turn unto me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turn unto thee saith Lord of Hosts Zach. 1. 3. After all thy neglect and contempt of God and his word after all thy wandrings and wickedness thou hast one call more to turn and live In which thy Maker doth three times pawn and interpose the authority of his name to confirm his word The Lord of Hosts three times he doth as it were bring his Angels his Hosts with him in this precept and promise as once to Sinai at the delivery of the law 1. As witnesses of his truth 2. As avengers of him on them that despise his call 3. As rejoycers for those that turn unto him O friend Consider it that God who might have turned thee into hell commandeth thee now after all thy folly and lewdness to turn to him yea he promiseth that if thou dost come at his call he will meet thee half way and turn unto thee It is not for his own sake that he is so earnest with thee for he can be happy without thee he hath no addition by thy salvation he suffereth no diminution by thy damnation but he calleth on thee for thy good that thou mightst be happy in his favour It was the saying of Antigona that she ought to please them with whom she hoped to remain for ever Ah doth it not concern thee to please that God upon whom thoâ— dependest for thy eternal weal or wo When Antiochus was in Egypt in armes against the Romans they sent P. Popilius with other Ambassadours to him where when he had welcomed them P. Popilius delivered some writings to him containing the mind of his Masters which he he commanded Antiochus to read which he did Then he consulted with his friends what was best to be done in the business Whilst he was in a great study P. Popilius with a wand that he had in his hand made a circle about him in the dust saying Ere thou stir a foot out of this circle return thy answer that I may tell the Senate whether thou hadst rather have war or peace This he uttered with such a firm countenance that it amazed the King wherefore after he had paused a while he answered I will do what the Senate hath written or shall think fit Reader I shall onely allude to it and conclude Thou art if in thy natural estate a rebel against God thy heart is full of enmity and thy life of treason against his blessed Majesty thou art daily discharging whole vollies of shot against him he hath sent me as his Embassadour to offer thee terms of peace and to require thee in his name to throw down thine armes and to submit to his mercy I know thou art ready to consult with thy seeming friends but real enemies the world and the flesh what thou wert best to do in this case but whilst thou art thus musing I charge and command thee in the name of God and by his authority who sent me to thee that before thou closest the book thou returne to thy Maker in thy conscience thine answer whether thou hadst rather have peace with him whose wrath is infininety worse then death and whose favour is better then life or war If considering the excellency necessity and profit of godliness thou sayst I will through the help of Christ do all that the Lord hath written or thinketh fit to be done in order to my recovery out of this estate of woe and misery I shall inform thee that God is ready to receive thee the Spirit to assist thee thy Saviour to embrace thee the rich and precious promises of the Gospel containing pardon love peace eternal life are all ready to welcome thee But if thou deniest thy God thy real able and faithful friend and wilt gratifie thy profest though politick enemy the Devil so much as to continue in thine ungodly courses I must assure thee that Phrygan like thou wilt repent when it is too late and be taught by woful experience that it had been far better to have hearkened to the Counsels and Commands of God that with prudent Prometheus thou mightst have forseen a danger and shund it then to walk on in the broad way to hell with foolish Epimetheus without any consideration till thou art unconceivably and irrecoverably miserable and plunged in that lake and amidst those dreadful torments of which there is no FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE Chief Heads contained in the foregoing