Henry the Eighth to the Pope being admitted to have Audience the Pope held out his Toe to him to kisse which a Spaniell of the Eaths seeing catcht in his mouth but the Earle not liking to take his dogs leavings left the kisse which he had first hanselled Sathan offereth filthy stinking lusts under the pretence of pleasure or honour to us which vile and uncleane sinners greedily catch at and well were it if we were too curious to tast of that Cup wherein those swine have dabled 106 The War betweene the Duke of Burgudy and the Swissers began but for a load of Sheepskins wherein the Drake refusing all offers of accord lost in three battells his honour wealth and life Of how great advantage to us while we are in this world is moderation whereby even easily those differences are accommodated and mischiefes avoyded which our frowardnesse and obstinacy widen unmeasurably and many times involve us in utter ruine past recovery 107 Doctor Harvy reporteth of a Wench living in the Countrey which went to London there in that Forrest of people to conceale her shame and lay down her great belly of which being delivered in the Moneth of September and a few dayes after recovering strength went home where in December following she was brought to bed of another child to the manifest evidence of her dishonesty Lord this is not the least of my infelicities that this heart doth superfoetare a suggestion of Satan is no sooner brought forth but eftsoones my heart is delivered of another nay as Pliny reports of Ponticke Mice even the young ones yet unborne are with young Therefore Lord as to these conceptions give my heart what wilt thou give it even a barren womb and dry breasts 108 A Citizen of Megalopolis being on his death-bed and his friends lamenting by him said to them To dye is not grievous to me hoping in the other world to meet with such good company as Pythagoras Homer Hecatoeus If there be such an association of affections between those where Learning onely hath knit the knot as to make death it selfe to be desired for company let the Apostles Cupio dissolvi be no more wondred at when the company to be enjoyed are God the Judge of all and Jesus the Mediator of the new Testament and the Spirits of just men made Perfect and the bond of Union even the same Spirit 109 Henry the Eighth being an hunting an expected raine fell whereupon one of his Noblemen came to him saying It raines hard my Leig and hath spoiled your sport to whom he said And so let it raine When those things befall us which are above our power by our patient sufferance we bring them under our Command 110 At the battell of Montlhrey a Nobleman of the King of France his side fled without stay to Luzignan and an other of the Earle of Charolois side to Quesnay le Court which are above three hundred miles asunder 't were well if in all Wars the contest were who should flee farthest Certainly in the battell against sin he is surest of the victory that least comes neere it 111 Policletus being to make two Statues contrived one of them according to the exact rules of his Art the other according to the fancy of every one that came by which when he had exposed to publicke view the first was applauded by all the other laught at by those that had themselves given direction for its fashion What itching fingers hath every meane person to be medling with those in publicke imployments and they who cannot ken their A. B. C. will yet take upon them to censure their Teachers and direct for the management of their function Yea Lord we are ready to say Why is it thus and to think if we had the disposing of worldly affairs those things should never have been which have happened but we would more compendiously effect those ends which we think God proposeth to himselfe But were it so how would unruly passions and unbridled affections distort us and lead us into factions and fooleries to the vexation of others and disquieting of our selves and perverting those ends which culminantly should have been in our eyes 112 On an Iland on the North of Scotland there is a Fowle which layeth but one egg and that fastened by the slime which accompanies its production at the small end on some stone which she hatcheth by holding it in her foot but if it be removed from the place where it was fastned no Art can fix it there againe Lord thy Spirit suggesteth an holy motion and fastneth on the stone of my heart with that evidence of the holinesse justnesse and goodnesse of it which accompanieth it which if attended to by a carefull hand may be brought forth to an happy perfection but if it be let fall from my heart by suffering that evidence to coole by negligence or be disturbed by worldlinesse 't is almost impossible in the like manner to resettle it 113 There is an Hill upon the Coast of America where such plenty of Sea Fowle roost that they cover it thick with their dung so as no Plant grows there which the husbandmen carry thence for the manuring of their grounds which makes them beare with incredible fertility Lord to that end doth Satan bespread my heart with the abominable filth of uncleane suggestions that a good thought might have no abiding there But let that wicked one be disappointed of his end that what he intended should kill may become usefull to me that thy grace may be actuated and exercised by what he designed should decay it and the abhorrency of his pest may make me delight in and be more laborious in thy service 114 Alexander the Tyrant of Pheren seeing a Tragedy acted and being moved to teares by a lamentable passage in it rose up and said to one of his familiars that He was ashamed to shew himselfe commiserating the fained sufferings of others and not to take pity of the miseries by himselfe brought upon his own Citizens Lord thou hast disposed the heart of man to compassion no heart so stony but admits of some degrees distressed orphans and diseased Lazers we cannot but relent to though not releeve our greatest cruelty is to our selves to that best part of our selves our souls which may so justly lament and cry these are the wounds which I received in the house of my friends 115 Rought having been at the Martyrdome of Austoo returning home was met by a friend and asked Where he had been who answered To learne the way which he went afterwards in a fiery Chariot 'T is better to go to the house of mourning then the house of feasting Sadnesse contracting the soule Mirth dilating it But 't is excellent to be present at the departure of the servants of God many rare experiences are to be learned there Those so travelling in the very Thorniest part of the way to heaven give both choice direction and confirmation The
How many men have damned their souls that they might dye rich and to that end like overflowing Rivers have growne great by the ruins of their Countrey upon this account chiefly that they may go out of the world wealthy when Scypio's moderation and abstinence have reared him up a more glorious Monument then his Conquests 10 Philostratus being imployed by Ptolomy in building that famous Pharos neer Alexandria engraved in the solid and durable Marble his own name and in plaister over it the Kings that his in time being worne off his own might be seen to perpetuity Sin imprinteth in my fancy favourable and specious conceits of it but there are characters in my conscience of another tenour which will abide there when the other are vanisht and no more to be remembred 11 William Wickham being appoynted by King Edward in building a stately Church wrote in in the windows This work made William Wickham for which being charged by the King as assuming the honour of that work to himself as the author being onely overseet he answered that He meant not he made the work but that the worke made him being before but beggarly and then in great credit Lord when we read in thy Word that we must work out our own Salvation thy meaning is not that our Salvation should be the effect of our work but our work the evidence of thy Salvation 12 The Empresse Maud being closely beset by her enemies neere Winchester caused her selfe to be put into a Coffin and as one dead was safely conveighed through their Troupes Evill concupiscences beset my soul with an almost impossibility of escaping but the way to avoid them is by becoming dead to sin not to live any longer therein 13 They tell of a Tree in Japan that flourisheth and is fruitfull if kept in a dry earth but with moysture which causeth other trees to flourish withereth Such is the sincere Christian to whom the crosse is a crutch affliction raiseth up his affection and the heate of persecution makes his graces flourish and fruitfull but the gentle showers of prosperity decayeth his greennesse and usually makes his graces torpid if not livelesse 14 Among the Turks every one is of some Trade the Grand Seignior himself though Lord of so many Countries yet daily imployes himselfe in some chosen Occupation because even Adam in Paradise was by divine appointment not left idle An huge condemnation to those of our times who think it a disgrace to be ingaged in any profitable imployment whereby they may promote the common good and their own being almost all onely of the trade of that Assirian whose Motto was Ede bibe lude 15 Herbert in his travells tells of Fowle which if you shoote some the rest fly not away but render themselves an easie prey to him that will kill them How many such foolish men are there whom others harmes make not wary but are intangled in the same fetters of lust and misery wherein they have seen others and themselves have been formerly ensnared 16 The River Tigris passing through the Lake Arethusa mingleth not his waters with it but retaines its tast and colour different from that of the Lake Such should the Christian be though conversing in the world yet reserving the savour of Godlinesse and colour of religious profession unallayed 17 The Virgins of Miletus through an unkind Melancholy being their own executioners and that mischief much encreasing there was a Law made that those so dying should be carryed naked exposed to view through the City upon which that evill ceased modesty and the shame of being so laid open though after death prevailing more then all other considerations could How sad is it that among us professing Christianity there should be of the shamefacer sex straining healths through their Smocks c. and prostituting that vertue which by the heathen was estimated at so high a rate 18 The Hircanians do use to banquet under the falls of their Rivers as in the shade which are so steep that they shoote over their heads It often is that wretched sinners riot it under the guilt of those sinnes that a tender conscienced person would tremble to think of 19 They have Trunks in India called Sampatans through which they shoot arrows so invenomed that if they prick the skin it is very dangerous but if they draw bloud it is irrecoverably deadly The first motions to sin arising from that root of bitternesse appeare never without sad effects but Lord let them never draw bloud by consent from my will that their deadly venome should seize my vitalls 20 Demetrius King of Syria being taken prisoner by the King of Parthia and by him marryed to his own sister and with all desirable things entertained oft attempted and at laft effected an escape into his own Countrey Lord with what enjoyments soever I am derained from thee yet let the desire of my soule be to thy name and to the remembrance of thee and at last let me obtaine an happy escape to thee 21 Maud the Empresse being besieged by the forces of King Stephen in Oxford when the snow covered the ground made her escape thence by arraying her self and followers in white sheets Lord I am besieged by thy justice and the guilt of sin compasseth me about on every side but Oh cloath me with the white Robe of thy Sons Righteousnesse that I may escape the execution of thy vengeance 22 Sixtus Quintus being a great abettor of the Spanish Faction when a Cardinall was the greatest enemy of it when chosen Pope the Papall dignity not being compatible with the Spanish greatnesse in Italy Lord how far soever I abetted the reigne of sin in my heart before I received thy Spirit of adoption yet now let me ever be a zealous opposer of it the Kingdome of sin being so inconsistent with the dignity of a son 23 The Papists say that their pictures of the Virgin Mary are exactly like her being begun by Angels and finished by Saint Luke though 't is to be seen that in them the Painters have used their wonted liberty not two of them being in all things alike and one of them of no small fame representing a blackmore Nay there was a fellow of them that like Apelles with his Hellen from the beauties of severall courtisans before him drew the picture of this Virgine How safe and to our credit is it to continue in the truth for the children of the father of lyes at one time or other will shew their cloven feet and to our shame discover their breed 24 Though the Northern people have made many irresistible irruptions into the South like a torrent bearing all before them yet 't is observed that they never obtained any durable Empire the Southern wit being an overmatch for the Northern strength If concupiscence break forth and hurry into sin exercising some sudden acts of tyranny yet let it not get any stable dominion let the efficacy of thy grace
designe to be glad when it is said tous Let us go up to the house of the Lord but it is better to lead in such company to be Captains of the Lords Host but then we shew what spirit we are of when like Elijah we are very jealous for the Lord in such general defections that we seem only left that we can tread the wine-presse alone though of the people there be none with us can say as Joshua I and my house will serve the Lord though all Israel beside desert his interest 182 Lewis then Duke of Orleance rebelling against Charls the eighth King of France and joyning in confederacy with the Duke of Britain was taken prisoner in battel by the Earl of Trimovil being afterward King of France and moved by some about him to be revenged of the Earl said That the Earl had done nothing but his duty and wisht That he might never find a worse Subject in time of need then the Earl in that action had approved himself Such preaching as doth search the heart awaken conscience and hedg about the soul with thorns that it cannot find its paths and takes it captive in the Lords bonds is under the censure of men as unreasonably austere and rigorous but when their eyes are opened to discern the true interests of their souls they then find that that 's the preaching fit for the recovery of souls and that they had never been cured if they had not been cauterized 183 Richard the first being in his Palace at Westminster had news brought him That the French King besieged one of his Towns beyond the Seas whereupon he vowed That he would not turn his back till he had raised the siege and immediately caused the walls to be digged down before him and without farther delay hasted over and relieved the place How many good purposes are lost for want of present execution while we pretend to consult for the fittest opportunity we loose the present opportunity and while we are determining what time to repent in we leave our selves no time wherein to repent 184 A certain Priest in France being converted to the truth and imprisoned for it being brought to examination recanted upon which recantation being delivered out of prison was in the very passage out slain by two Gentlemen that bare an old grudge to him Lord they that will not lose their lives upon that excellent accoutn of thy glory how just is it that it should be lost to them upon the unprofitable account of humane frailty or others malice what rare husbandry is ti then to lose the life for thy sake when that Rose is offered up a sweet savour to thee and shall be richly rewarded by thee which otherwise would have faded of it self or have been clipt off with the rest of the Bush 185 One claiming Justice of Aristides for injuries that another had done him told him That the same person had spoken very unhandsome and vile words of Aristides himself to whom he said Friend if he have wronged thee ought prethee make it appear for upon the account of righting thee am I at this time here not to vindicate my own wrongs When will it be that judgement shall not be perverted that the equity of the cause and not the affection of the party accused shall be considered for how often hath it been sufficient to put and keep those sheep in the Pound not because they have trespassed but have not our mark upon them and have dispatcht those Doves not because they have not been innocent but not of our colour 186 A Bishop being charged with an hainous offence and condemned to dye for it had grace given in to him before his execution so that with floods of tears he lamented his sins with an heart abundantly poured out he besought the Lord for pardon saying That he had said prayers before but never prayed till now What odds is there between the tongue when it is the tuned instrument of others invention and when it is the tunable instrument of the hearts affection when the breath that moves it is not out of the bellows of a formal devotion but the breathings of the soul to God and pantings after him how differently is the Lord affected the languid oscitancy and distracted perfunctoriness of prayer not dictated from the heart like an arrow shot from a broken bow falling short of the Throne of Grace but it is the inditings of that spirit of prayer and supplication that layes bands upon the Divine Majesty and will not let him go untill it hath a blessing 187 Philip King of Spain being minded by one of his Courtiers That that was the day of his father the Emperours resignation answered and of his repentance too intimating that that resignation was no sooner done then wisht undone With what unresolvednesse do we resolve to desert the world our hearts having secret practice with it even then when our understandings are convinced of the vanity of it and we professe most against it our repentance though as to the matter of it not to be repented of yet to be repented of as to the manner 188 Pliny reports of a Maid in his time On her marriage day changed into a man and others tell of the same metamorphosis so reall that some afterward have had wife and children Those that are espoused to Christ in the bond of the New Covenant are truly changed from the effeminacies of lust and of a vain conversation and become masculine enobled to generous and heroick designs prest to quit themselves like men 189 Archimedes being intent upon a Mathematicall demonstration at the time when Syracusa was taken a Souldier breakes into his study upon him with his sword directed at him to whom he turn'd about and said Prethee friend let me alone till I have finisht my Demonstration with which the rude fellow incensed run him through without more ado With what content have those refined souls bestowed themselves in the search of humane Science when with high satisfaction to themselves they have hunted forth out of the rude masse some more sublimed notion with what exultation have they clapt their hands at and applauded their own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as yet their wisdome was but of the earth earthy with what rare delight then may we be imployed in the search of those divine mysteries which the very Angels themselves desire to pry into 190 The very suspition of Protestanisme is almost Capital where the Inquisition is established but the Jews are by publick allowance suffered in Rome it self under the Popes Nose though the Protestant agree very much with the Papist in his belief as a Christian the Jew not at all In Turkey the Christians have free exercise of their Religion but the Persian Sect is so hated that a Zelez slew an Embassadour of theirs only upon the account of that difference though the Christian wholly disavow their Mahomet the Persian only dissents about his
every day weare out the strength of sin 25 William Wickham begging of King Edward the Bishoprick of Winchester was told by him It was not fit for him he being no learned man to which he answered That in recompence thereof if his Majesty pleased to bestow it he would make many learned men which he effected by erecting Winchester Colledge How many of those goods dedicated to the incouragement of the learned have since the dayes of Henry the Eighth fallen into illiterate mens hands 't were well if they had so much of Wickhams conscience as to reimburse some of them at least to those primitive pious ends 26 A certaine person of that Parliament wherein the Statute for the releife of the poor passed and a great indeavourer for the procuring of that Act coming down into the Countrey askt his Steward what the people said of that Statute who answered that he heard a labouring man say that whereas formerly he was wont to worke six dayes in the week now he would worke but four which abuse of that good provision so affected that pious Patriot that it drew teares from his eyes in abundance Lord thou hast made many provisions in thy Word for my supportation and comfort and hast promised in my necessities thy supply and protection but let not my presumption of help from thee cause my neglect of any of those meanes for my Spirituall or temporall preservation which thou hast injoyned 27 The Sea called Sargasso though four hundred miles from any land and so deep as no ground is to be found by sounding yet abounds with an herb called Sargasso like Samper so thick that a Ship without a strong Gale can hardly make her way Lord if temptation from without be never so far removed yet the corruption of my heart doth continually send forth the bitter fruits of evill thoughts so that good purposes find very difficult passage but blow thou with the fresh gales of thy Spirit that my resolutions to serve thee may have a free course notwithstanding 28 A certain person pretending himself borne blind and cured of that defect by visiting the shrine of Saint Albon with great concourse of people admiring the Saint and praising his faith was brought before Humphrey called the good Duke of Glocester being at that place the very day of the cure who seeming to desire satisfaction on the perfectnesse of the cure askt the man What colour his gown was of he answered Purple and in that rightly and so of the colour of any other thing of which he was askt where by he discovered his own hypocrisie for said the Duke If the Saint hath given you your sight he hath not withall given you the knowledge of colours which is not attained but by experience Lord thou hast wrought a cure upon the eyes of my mind by enlightning them with thy truth but let me not render thy cure suspected by undertaking to discerne those Mysteries which are onely to be knowne by experience in heaven 29 Sir Edwin Sandys reporteth upon his own knowledge of devout Papists who have dared to perjure themselves in judgement presuming upon the present and easie remedy of confession Lord thou hast in thy Word discovered repentance and faith in the Bloud of thy Son as the meanes of blotting out of the sins of my soule and how apt is my heart to take liberty to sin with purpose of applying this remedy against the evill consequences of it but let me not so trample under my feet the Bloud of thy Covenant as an unholy thing but keepe me that such presumption may not prevaile over me 30 Upon the Coast of Norway the ayre is so subtilly peircing that it insensibly benums the members chills the bloud and brings certain death if not with speed prevented as our King James had experience when there he was a Royall Suiter to Queen Anne The ayre of ill company with a pestilent contagion doth seize the heart if not with a diligent and constant resistancy repelled Lord I would not willingly be where such a breath rageth lest like Joseph I learne to sweare by the Life of Pharoah but if by thy providence I am cast into such company let me be like Salt to season them and not be leavened by them 31 In the King of Persia's Court there was an allowance of severall Countries for the maintenance of his wives apparell one Countrey for the tire of their heads another for their necks and other for other parts of their bodies The English nation wants little now of being at that passe for if a Gentleman have twenty Farmes how many of them must be parcelled out for his wife one of them unlesse of good revenue not sufficing to furnish her with laced shooes and other tingling ornaments belonging to them And truly this vanity hath so far prevailed on both sexes that it starved the poore and driven all good hospitallity out of doores 32 Malhamut the King of Cambaia accustomed himself so to the eating of poyson that his breath was venomous to those that spake with him and those women which he used for his lust were never the subjects of a second dalliance but dyed in the congression Those that accustome themselves to sin their very company is contagious but a strict familiarity with them cannot be had without the greatest danger 33 Bajazet the great Turke being in his March against Tamerlane overheard a Shepherd sweetly tuning his Oaten pipe to whom he said Happy thou that art not distracted with these solicitous and weighty cares We oft admire the peace and contentedness of the meane estate but are more in love with the pomps and vanities of the wealthier like Alexander who said Vellem Diogenes esse si Alexander non essem 34 Apelles coming to the house of Protogenes and not finding him at home was by the servant required his name that he might tell his Master who was there to speake with him in answer to whom he askt for a pencill and therewith drew a line on a tablet there standing and bid him shew that to his Master when he came home at sight whereof by the Art exprest therein Protogenes knew none but Apelles hand did it Lord the impulses of thy Spirit of Satan and my own corruption make their accesses to my heart but without a name by which they may be knowne whose they be but if the lines drawne on the tablet of my heart be holy regular and conformable to the rules of thy Word I know then 't is thy hand that did it but if they impresse other Characters let them be disdained as none of thine and the doore shut against them as those that are minded to destroy 35 The Romane State never met with such disasterous fortune as when assailed at their own doores The Gaules and Hanniball afterward Warring upon them in Italy bringing their Common-wealth almost to an utter expiration because in forraigne Wars they fought much with Auxilliary strength beside their own
brought off but was there slaine and the horse recovered Lord in that valuation which my heart sets upon the things here let me observe that due subordination least while I too much prize the things I love much those very things procure the losse of those things I love more 48 At Boghar a Citie of the Zagaethaian Tartars there is a River which causeth to them that drinke thereof a worme in the legge which if not pul'd out or partially proves certainly deadly Such is sin if entertained in the soule begetting a guilt and fearfull expectation of Gods vengeance and surely damnable if not cleansed out by faith in the Bloud of Jesus 49 The Germans knowing themselves no matches for the Italian in respect of their craft and subtilty make amends for that want by a peremptory sticking to those resolutions which they had before considerately taken up I find my selfe no wayes able to deale with that old Serpent who hath so many methods of deceit but let him say what he will or can Lord do thou fix me irremovably on this resolution I have said I will keep thy Commandements alwayes even to the end 50 The Inns of Poland give no entertainment to the traveller but bare walls without bed or board or other accommodation whatsoever Alas how oft is my heart such a guest-chamber to good thoughts and pious designes where they find such welcome as decayed persons have from their wealthier friends 51 In Peru a man may passe from Summer to Winter in a few houres there being in the plaines a louring skie continually stormes and everdropping clouds when at the same time the mountaines have a serene heaven and a verdure in all respects suitable to a Summer season Such variety doth my heart afford where the old man rageth with unruly passions and disorderly affections and irregular concupiscences But blessed be God within a little space a better face of things is to be seen the regenerate part bringing in that calmnesse meeknesse and regularity agreable to a Gospel Sunshine yea even then the spirit is willing when the flesh is weake 52 When Cyrus besieged the Citie of Babilon the River Euphrates was the greatest obstruction to his designe till he cut out many channels and diverted the streame into them which before when united was deeply Navigable but now divided became in every place fordable The diffusion of the mind into variety of thoughts and subjects renders it uncapable of any deepe search but he is like to be profound that sums his thoughts to one purpose till obtained Vnite my heart to the feare of thy Name 53 There is a Plant in Sumbrero an Iland of India which is locomotive the roote being a worme like an house snaile if this Plant be taken up it dryeth into a solid stone by how much it had exceeded other Plants in sense and motion by so much more degenerating into a stone it exceeded in hardness Thus it is with those who being once enlightned and by a tast of the powers of the world to come transported beyond the common sort of inconsiderate soules if they apostatize they become the worst and most stony hearted of men bitter scoffers or cruel persecutors 54 The City Weinspurg of the Guelphian Faction being besieged by the Emperour and cruelly threatned the women of the City besought him they might have leave to depart taking with them only what they could carry on their backs to which he consenting they each past forth bearing on their backs their husbands If love could procure a compliance between married couples in those things not so easily nor in some respects possibly so seemely yet for generall advantage it would be found an expedient oftentimes conducing not to the comfort onely but safety of both 55 Peter Walde a rich Merchant in Lyons walking the streets with some of his friends one of them fell suddenly downe dead with which spectacle he was so affected that he immediately reformed his life became the beginner of the Waldenses which for so many ages have stood forth couragious Confessors of the Truth Lord how suddenly and unexpectedly mayest thou call for this breath that is in these nostrils and time to me shall be no more let me therefore improve the present time to do thee service and secure my soul being the time to come depends upon so much uncertainty 56 There is a tree in Mindanao the halfe of which Easterly sited is a great Antipoison but that part respecting the West the greatest poyson in the world So is it in the regenerate where the fleshly part perpetually brings forth the venomous offspring of vile lusts but the spirituall part is in a constant resistancy against those poysonfull effects 57 There are a sort of fishes in the Southern Ocean which when pursued by other fishes in the Sea fly into the ayre but are then made a prey to a Sea fowle which continually watcheth that opportunity Lord if I am in private my own unruly passions disquiet me if in publick temptations from without assault me but Oh let thy grace be sufficient for me that though I be Concussus I may not be Excussus though on every side and ever assailed yet never overcome 58 There is an Idoll in Madure a part of the East-Indies called Chocanada which they say in a vision willed a Priest to signifie to the King of Madure that one of they two must abide in his house upon which he unwilling there should be any competition between him and his Idoll resigned his Palace to him How is it that we are lesse complying with our God not expelling that worst part of our selves our lusts that he may be intempled in our hearts 59 A certain Noble man of France was wont when his Armor was buckled on and approaches made to battell to be taken with such a trembling that it loosed the retentive faculty of his body yet valourous in the face of his enemy and with much courage lost his life at the battle of Pavye Lord the very thought of what persecutions may befall because of thy truth makes my heart tremble but if thou ingage me in that combate supply me with thy assisting grace that like that Saunders my present weaknesse may be succeeded with a most stout contestation against thy most inveterate and bitterest enemies 60 The Aegyptians were wont with great cost and enquiry to search out a Bull to be their Apis whom having worshipped for a time after their superstition they drowned in a fountaine and then with great lamentation for his losse they imployed the like cost and quest for the finding of another Oh the hazards and hardships wherewith the things of this world are sought by us which being had we as foolishly spend as if indeed Satius esset quaerere quam quaesisse when like the Hawke we leave the killed Quarry and pursue that which flyes away 61 The people of Numidia are said not to wash their hands in some yeares an
others affectionatly ministred to him and suffered Martyrdome for the truth with him 'T is an huge argument of a gracious heart to submit to reproof many that have been active for Christ have yet fallen off upon such an account Abner that more than once and more than any ventured his life for the house of Saul yet deserted it being checkâ— by Ishbosheth concerning Rispah 172 Vitellius in his passage to Rome after the victory obtained by Caecinua and Valens against the Othonians would needs see the place where the battel was fought which if but newly stricken yet would have rendred an horrid Spectacle so many mangled bodyes and divided joynts and carkasses of men and horses which careless death had there promiscuously scattered giving a sad representation but it being the fourtieth day after the corrupted gore and putrefaction of so many unburied bodyes made the sight beyond imagination horrible which yet Vitellius with delight beheld rejoycing in the slaughter of so many Citizens without the least discountenance or shew of miseration To how great hardness of heart and height of inhumanity doth custome in sin bring the soul what would be trembled at by those that are but beginners in iniquity is accounted sport by those flesht in ungodliness Let the young men arise and play before us said Joab Rare sport where the play-mates run their swords in each others side and fell down dead together 173 A certain person of our Countrey having a suit with another a long time for a small plot of ground not worth 40 pounds left by Will 500 pounds per annum for the maintenance of the suit after his death Oh the imperfection of our Laws or corruption of our Lawyers that any suit can admit of so tedious and costly a decision but alas did he look for peace in Heaven that would have a Civil war thus survive him 174 Alcibiades having done huge exploits for which the Athenians call'd him from bannishment and made him their General sending him out with a Fleet of an 100 sail they were so high-flown in their expectations from him that they looked to hear soon after his departure of the subduing of no small Countryes by him beyond all possibility of accomplishing which he not effecting but yet as much as in reason could be expected they change their former conceit of his sufficiency into suspicion of his fidelity and without more evidence condemned him Lord we are high in our expectations of great things from thee and are ready to murmur as if too straitly dealt with by thee not because thou givest us not what we have cause to expect but because we expect that which there is no cause thou shouldst give us 175 Harvey affirms the heart though the fountain of life yet to be without feeling which he proves by a Gentleman he had seen who by an Imposthume had an hole in his side through which not only the Systole and Diastole of the heart might be discerned but the heart it self touched with the finger which yet the Gentleman affirmed that he felt not 'T is an argument that such a soul is of eminent and publique conducement usefull to derive good to others that is less sensible of private injuries when those peevish spirits that are intent upon their particular affronts are taken up with their own to the neglecting of what they might benefit the publick by 176 In the reign of Nero there were very many undone not by their enemies only but by their friends who too solicitously intending their safety that very means rendred them suspected and became their ruine If Satan cannot destroy us as an enemy he indeavours it as a friend if he cannot fasten his remptations upon us under the notion of sin and the ugly hue of a direct opposition against God he alters his method and transformeth himself into an Angel of Light if he cannot perswade to a neglect of Gods service then to a superstitious worship of him he is like an enemy when he fawns and frowns and is ever not to be suspected only but resisted alwayes for he is ever the father of lyes 177 King Edward the second being taken by the Queens forces was committed to some persons to convey him to a place of safety who going about to shave him that he might not be known took cold water out of a ditch to wash him with saying That should serve his turn now to whom he answered That he would have warm water whether they would or no even his own tears Though the cruelty of enemies and calamity of persecuting times may deny us the many conveniences and deprive us of the advantages of this life yet do what they can they cannot deprive us of Gods favour if we deprive not our selves of it by a simple complyance 178 'T is siad of the Lyon that being proveked he beats himself with his own tail to raise his anger and incense himself that his spirits being stirred he might lay out himself more forcibly Those that are of melancholy and froward spirits when disasters befall them either by their too much poring on their present sufferings or misboding worse make those burdens heavier and like wind in rainy weather set them close and tye knots upon their Whipcord and pin their Rods to make them yerk the more severely 179 Richard the first being reproved by a Fryar and told That he had three Daughters which if he did not dispose of would undoe him Pride Covetousnesse and Leachery he answered If the were the businesse he would bestow them presently Pride to the Knights Tempplars Covetousnesse to the Cistercian Monks and Leachery to the Fryars Whe good advice is given us we enervate the strength thereof or pervert the use by quarrelling with or recriminating the person that gives it whereas if good counsel come from a Balaams Asse or the Devil himself reprove sin if the Conscience plead guilty reformation is a due debt 180 Demosthenes coming to Corinth with design to enjoy the famous Courtizan Lais she askt him so great a sum that he returned saying He would not buy repentance at so dear a rate Sinfull pleasure is never to be purchased at easie tearms sin being so full of iniquity that it never demands an equall compensation no less then a precious immortall soul will serve the turn in lieu of those pleasures which perish in the using and are no sooner found then lost 181 Edward the first before the death of his father with other Confederates undertaking a voyage to the Holy Land by the way they invaded Tunis where having taken a very great spoyl the rest purposed with their booty to return home which design the Prince withstanding but in vain said That as he had vowed a journey for the recovery of the Holy land so thither he would go though none but Fowen his Horse-keeper accompanied him It is good to have the heart in such tune as to joyn in concord with others in a religious
examined I fund were light and husky and no wise comparable for substance with the rest for these were wilde ones In the worship of God those things which are of humane invention seem much more plausible and carry before them a much greater shew of devotion then those which are of divine institution what a glorious appearance to the eyes of flesh and bloud hath a curiously engraved Crucifix or a Popish Procession compared with the simplicity of the Sacramental preparation how laudable seems the Salt and Spittle and those other knacks of Papistical Ceremony in respect of the Baptismal Lotion but you will find that as these are fair so they are wilde not being of divine appointment and empty not having the divine promise to make them virtual for the nourishment of souls 37 In a street of London as I passed by I observed over an Entry written This is Court which when I considered to make true English of I observed between is and Court a Flower de luce fairly carved whereby I understood that superscription intended to tell you That there was Flower de luce Court God hath discovered his truth to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes signifying his mind to us in figures and not in words at length sometimes by things done as when Torquatus cut off the heads of the highest Poppyes sometimes by very omissions as Melchisedechs Genealogie sometimes by halfe words as that important truth of Christs Divinity where a piece of a word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opposition to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 differenceth the Messiah from the whole Creation therefore 't is unsafe to conclude any thing from the word till with much caution we consider how and what is concluded 38 A person accustomed to walk with a fine staffe neatly painted met with his adversary with whom words grew to that height that they came to blows whereupon he threw away the fine staffe then in his hand and catcht up a rough Crab-tree Cudgel fit to give such unkind embraces as he intended When men look upon their concernments as but indifferent they like well to make use of those fine persons who think they get so much repute and reverence by the polished sentences that mans with teacheth but when they apprehend their souls lying under pressing exigences they then desire to apply themselves to those whose holinesse and zeal and soul-searching Ministry have begotten an expectation of soul-good from them and who by their being an example of good works have made their very youth venerable 39 I saw a Picture of the King on horse-back and though I had no skill in limning yet I misliked one of the horses legs because it held not a Symmetry with the rest of the Horse nor agreed with that posture wherein the horse was represented There is no better way for a lesse discerning judgement to judge of the motions of the heart whether they be of the Spirit of God then to observe their agreement with the mind of the Spirit discovered in the Word with which if they are not harmonions and analogicall 't is certain they are not indited by that Spirit which is alwayes like it selfe and in whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of changing 40 Being to speak with a person whose Chamber was foure pair of Stairs high I was almost tyred with climbing up to it having been well travelled before hand which made me to think that if there were a Jacobs ladder whose top should reach to Heaven and that were to be ascended by bodily action it would be a matter of no small time labour to get thither an age would hardly suffice for its accomplishment Can it then be that those cold wishings and wouldings should ever bring a man thither or that it will be so easie at the last gasp to leap out of the Devils lap into Akrahams bosome 41 Oyntment made as hot as can be applyed to an horse outwardly will not scall'd him but a drench given him inwardly little more then blood warm will kill him Imploy an hypocrite about any thing of outward action let it be never so eminent and he will keep pace with your expectation there is no foiling him upon that account but engage him on that which shall necessarily require self-deny-all or the mortification of his secret lust in that you shall find him more jadish then could be imagined 42 A person that went naked neckt was reprehended by a friend as using a garb immodest and unlawfull which she gain-saying they agreed to put their different judgements to the decision of a grave Divine of their acquaintance to whom the Lady presenting her self demanded his opinion whether it were lawfull for her to use that mode to whom he answered That he conceived that guize unlawfull for those whose azure veins meandring in their soft and pearly bosomes might be a temptation to lust but he thought it lawfull for her whose swarthy skin and course grain afforded no such temptation How great and manifest is our pride and vanity that to follow the fashion we not only subject our selves to thole garbs which are inconvenient and trouble-some but also discover those imperfections that cause others to deride and scorn us 43 I went to hear a Sermon and intending to joyn with the Minister in his prayer before it he began with so low a voice that I might guesse what he said hear I could not yet was I in the posture of a Supplicant and my mind directed thereto but my time was meerly lost being unfitted for a private devotion with the expectation of that which was publick and not in a capacity to joyn in publick devotion because I heard not what was said Miserable Papists how are they abused with their Latine Service wherein they cannot pray by themselves being disturbed by a noise of words nor with others being ignorant of the Tongue for which blind devotion yet our Countrey men took arms in Edward the sixth dayes yea indeed how heartless is that devotion that understands not what it doth or minds not what it understands 44 A Gentleman of quality but no good qualities profest a great deal of good liking to me and affection for me I begun to consider what I had done that might oblige such a person whom all good would disoblige I began to suspect I had not walked uprightly and that he had misconstrued my civillity for approbation thus I parted from him with much distrust of my self but the next time I came into his company his countenance was altered and I had such an aspect from him as was usuall from such as he Surely things and men receive much of discovery from the men that like them there being an eternall opposition between the bad and good and from their love we may judge much of the quality of the object whence I ever suspected that those wayes in worship or otherwise were not good which your profane swearing wicked persons contend and stickle for Phocian
while the petty ones be complyed with Our Saviour would not run himself into the Lyons jaws when he might go out of his way with a good conscience Religion doth not entangle a man in unnecessary and impertinent snares God allows we should stand aside when the immediate concernments of his glory do not call us out precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and therefore to be exposed but upon a very eminent account not squandered away Those that would not acept deliverance did so not because they were prodigal of their lives but could not have equall conditions for the simplicity of the Gospel and Dove-like innocency may well shake hands with the Serpentine prudence and an honest policy 27 VVhen our Saviour sent out the seventy Disciples to preach he charged them not to go from house to house Luke 10.7 yet Paul herein witnesseth his integrity to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus that he had taught them publickly and from house to house Acts 20.20 Pauls practice did not clash with the Lords precept our Lord forbids such a going from house to house as was upon the account not of teaching but of entertainment He would not that his servants should like beggars go from dore to dore low and unworthy waye for lively-hood agree not with the profession of those whose maintenance is cal'd double honour They are sent out without a scrip yet must make no base shift for their provision but observe a comely gravity in the same house remain eating and drinking such things as they give not by an unhandsome crouching to beg that hire which a true labourer may challenge as his due 28 In the charge which Paul gives Timothy to bring the things he left at Troas he takes especiall care for his Books and Parchments The chiefest furniture of a Minister is his Library and that which men reckon much as his commendation that he is a good Scholar there being nothing more contemptible then a dull headed illiterate Preacher but here 's the mischief of it that while they require Brick of us they give us no Straw their maintenance being such that if it hold out to buy a Cloak there is nothing left for Books and Parchments 29 When our Lord was invited to the Pharisees house he sets down with unwashen hands Luke 11.38 't was not unknown to him what was the Tradition of the Elders or the Pharisees judgement in that respect neither may we think him uncomplying with such things of decency and cleanlinesse as humanity required and though he might with a good conscience and would 'tis probable have washed afore dinner yet we see him therefore refusing it because they would make that necessary which was indifferent The very Esse of external worship being divine appointment while men go about to make that Religious which God left as indifferent they actually destroy what they intend to establish for which cause the Lord doth not only reprove such injunctions of theirs as were contrary to Gods Law but such as were beside it arguing hereby that they worshipped God in vain because they taught for Doctrine the Commandements of men and this very thing emphatically sets a Character upon Jeroboams time appointed by him for worship that it was the month which he had devised of his own heart 30 He that should have read that prophesie in Hosea Hos 12.1 would little have thought of such an interpretation as the Spirit giveth for who would have imagined that those words Out of Aegypt have I called my son should foretell Josephs bringing up Jesus out of Egypt 'T is hard to deduce certain conclusions from passages meerly propheticall and as dangerous to engage in things of practice only upon the conduct of such light as those places afford they being intended rather for confirmation than narration for which cause we find those predictions of our Saviour concerning his sufferings and resurrection hid from the Apostles but after they were effected then they remembred that he had said these things unto them and they beleeved the Scriptures and the word which Jesus had spoken 31 When I heard Herods promise and oath to the daughter of Herodias That he would give her what soever she should ask to the half of his Kingdome Mark 6.22 I expected she should have come in and requested some lusty boon a Dutchy at the least but behold she desires John Baptists head in a Charger there could be no such satisfaction in the Heremites head that the impotent soul should thus desire it if malice had not set so great a price upon it But whither will not the spirit of revenge transport us the good man had reproved an incestuous marriage and no lesse then his head must pay for it though purchased at so dear a rate as halfe a Kingdome but it seldome is that the purchases revenge maketh are not like Copy-hold Land paid for twice as this woman in a short time after dearly found for what the Prophet reproved Caesar disallows and punisheth 32 When Mary Magdalen stood weeping at the Sepulchre she turns about and seeth Jesus but knew him not Joh. 20.14 It doth not appear that the body of Jesus was changed after his resurrection as to what it might be known from another by for he shews Thomas the print of his nails and 't is said of the Disciples travelling to Emaus That their eyes were withholden that they should not know him implying that otherwise they would but we find no such cause here yet she mistakes him for the Gardiner The good woman was intent upon her sorrow and was suprized with so sudden and unexpected a discovery It is most dark at day break and Gods way of revealing himself is usually by contraryes as Abraham believed in hope against hope God steps in with such unlooked for mercies that his people doth not believe their own enjoyments Psal 126.1 VVhen God turned again the captivity of Sion we were like those that dream Thought they dreamed not crediting that deliverance reall but imaginary when we think comforts are farthest off 't is but turn about and they are before us for God delighteth that his mighty arm be made apparent and then to save when his people have no power and there is none shut up nor left 33 Our Lord sayes to Mary John 20.15 Woman why weepest thou whom seekest thou and yet she knows him not but when he says Mary she cryes Rabboni when he bespeaks her with the generall name of Woman he is undiscovered to her but when by the peculiar name of Mary he is own'd by her as Master So great a difference there is between general and particular calling how many have unprofitably heard Christ speaking to them in is word till he hath called them by name and that word by a particular application hath been laid upon their hearts Yea what odds is there between publick preaching and particular speaking how many have received more instruction