already conquered I resolve through divine assistance not to sit down till there be not a Canaanite left for though the difficulties are many and great yet ipso opere poscitur animus and every fight leaves me stronger and more expert SCRIPTURE Observations 1 IT is recorded of Solomon that he was seaven years a building of the Temple but thirteen years in building his own house 1 Kings 6. ult not that he bestowed more cost or curiosity upon his own but he had more industry and expedition in that of God 'T is a Proverb with us of that which goes slowly on that it is Church work men act carelesly and coldly in things that concern the interest of God but are active and affectionate in their own affairs The zeal of thy House haeth eaten me up was the speech of him whose heart mis-gave him in that he dwelt in an house of Cedars and the Ark of God under Curtains 2 When Pharoah sought to slay Moses upon the slaughter of the Egyptian Exod 2.15 We read that Moses fled from the face of Pharoah and dwelt in the Land of Midian and yet Heb 11.27 it s said By faith he left Aegypt not fearing the wrath of the King Though Moses's flying out of Egypt was an act of present necessity yet it was an act of former election he had made choice to suffer affliction with Gods people before ever he slew the Egyptian so that though Pharoahs wrath was the proximate cause yet it was not the remote and more principal one but his faith in closing with Gods interest to which therefore his leaving of Egypt is worthily attributed How differently doth God deal with us to what men use to do in our eminentest acts of kindness for them if there be any probability of an imputation that we aim at our own interest the thanks is wholly lost we are reckoned not as their friends but our own But God hath very much of charity for us and reckons those things done only upon the account of his glory wherein yet we had much of respect to our own safety 3 We read 2 Sam 13. ult That David was comforted concerning Amnon seeing he was dead when as the reason why he mourned for his son every day was because he was dead a Paradox indeed but that the divine providence hath so ordered it that as our joyes are allayed with their griefs so our griefs are counterpoised with their comforts our very poysons having their Antidotes and the sting of Scorpions never so readily and so surely cured as with the oyle of Scorpions David ceaseth to lament Amnon being dead because being dead he was past recovery this very thing bringing ease to our sorrows that they cannot be eased 4 We find John Baptist with most apparent evidence pointing out Jesus to be the Christ John 1.29 yet afterwards sends his Disciples to him with this doubtful question Art thou he that should come or do we look for another Matth 11.13 Though Jesus had given by his many miracles greater evidence that he was the Messias adding the witnesse of his works to the divine revelation yet Johns faith is weaker With what favourable allowances must even the excellencies of the people of God be laid in the ballances this very man set apart by God to bear witnesse to Christ and doing that office of preparing the way of the Lord so fully and with so much integrity is here found pittifully halting what great reason is there that our obedience should be sincere for it is never full and that our hearts should be upright for they are never perfect But what abatement was this to Johns testimony could the people rely on his witness who himself questioned it but saith our Saviour I have greater witnesse than that of John God never layes the stresse of his designs upon mens shoulders so as that they should miscarry through their frailty he ever takes care to secure the issue of his own purposes though instruments shew themselves to be men and not God 5 When Joseph brought his father before Pharaoh the Text saith Gen 47.7 That Jacob blessed Pharaoh Yet the Apostle saith Heb 7.7 That without controversie the lesse is blessed of the better Better in that place is taken for the more honourable yet Pharaoh was the King of a potent Realme Jacob the Head of no great Family though Pharaoh was more honourable with men yet Jacob was more honourable with God his interest was greater in Heaven often reckoned as one of the first three Worthies in that Court. As to the business of blessing greatnesse can be content goodnesse should take place A wicked King of Israel can call Elisha Father and stile him The Chariots of Israel and the Horse-men thereof Goodness makes it self honourable even among those that hate it and such as dislike the practice of it yet like well the blessings that come by it 6 When Abraham was to offer up Isaac He bound him and laid him upon the Altar Gen. 22.9 We read not of any reluctancy in Isaac yet to make sure work he is bound Abraham knew not how flesh bloud might strive at the very pinch and disturb the service 'T is good to be sure and not to allow that any Latitude which is sometimes refractory always weak it 's an happy providence that prevents the hazard of a shamefull retreat by taking away the means of flight Though Ridley came with all willingness to the stake yet he said to the Smith that fastned the Chain about him Good fellow knock it in fast for the flesh will have its course The good man knew how much ado he had to perswade it to that encounter and he knew not how it might start at the push 7 When Peter had an express command from the Lord to follow him yet he asketh And what shall this man do John 21.21 When there is no shew for us to dispute Gods Commands and argue about our duty instead of doing it then we needlesly interpose in the concernments of others and mind their business not our own making a stand in our way to Heaven and delay our following Christ while we turn about to look on others and are unconcernedly inquisitive after their affairs 8 We have some expressions in Scripture wherein we may suppose an hyperbole as that of the left-handed Benjamites slinging stones to an hairs breadth some wherein an hyperbole is manifest as John ult ult But doth God that cannot lye allow himself a Latitude to speak beside the truth or doth he comply with the exorbitant modes of men neither but God speaking to men speaks after the manner of men who because they cannot just hit the white and describe the thing exactly do when the thing is eminent rather shoot beyond it then beneath it allowing the hearer to make such abatement as the necessity of the thing requireth sometimes as the conveniency as in those we may call them complementall expressions 1 Sam 24.14
Christian Chymistrie EXTRACTING The Honey of instruction from variety of OBJECTS BEING An handfull of Observations Historicall Occasionall and out of Scripture With Applications Theologicall and Morall By CALEB TRENCHFIELD sometime Minister of the Church at Chipsted in Surrey Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her wayes and be wise Pro. 6.6 I went by the field of the slothfull and by the Vineyard of the man voyd of understanding Then I saw and considered it well I looked upon it and received instruction Pro. 24.30 32. London Printed by M. S. for H. Crips at his shop in Popes-head Alley next Lombard Street 1662. To my ever Honoured Uncle Daniel Shetterden Esq SIR Why I should dedicate this small piece to you will not be askt by those to whom we are both known why I should not would Your great respect to a godly faithfull Ministry hath merited to be in this kind confest by much abler pens but your particular favour to me challenged the first fruits of mine You gave out your hand when I first began to go and your incouragement and assistancy then besides what since requires to be first acknowledged now My capacity extends not to a fatted Calfe out of the stall I here present you with a Bunch of Grapes like those of our Countrey comparatively sower nay positively so for 't is out of mine own Vine yard and I dwell in a cold aire and churlish soile that would abase even a generous Vine being fitter for perry and sider If you can pick out hence any Grape meet for your pallate that may be for food or physick if not like Wine to cheare the heart yet as vinegar to whet your stomack to what 's better I shall be glad if I may be but in this kind serviceable to your better thoughts and intend your heat though per antiperistasin I know you have candour enough favourably to interpret what admits it and charity enough to cover what 's faulty and goodness enough to accept of and patronize what is if any such here be worthy of it in confidence whereof I lay these before you in testimony of my desires to serve you and on purpose to shew that I would do some thing to approve my self somewhat worthy to be Your so much obliged Nephew Caleb Trenchfield CHRISTIAN Chymistrie 1 SCypio Africanus being shew'd a very rich shield answered that it was the manner of the Romans to trust more in their right hands then their left But most of those Champions set down in the Lords book of Worthies are memorized rather for the defensive then offensive and there is usually more honour got in that field by suffering then doing 2 Agesilaus playing with his young son and riding upon a reed to make him sport was dirided by one of his familiars as being too vaine to whom he answered hold thy peace till thou thy self art a father and then we will heare thy advice When we meet with infirmities which have befallen some of the servants of God in their exigencies we are ready to deride their weaknesse or suspect their sincerity but let us suspend our Judgements till our soules be in their soules stead 3 The Miuturnians changing their purpose of slaying Caius Marius into purposes of conveighing him to the Sea side were in their passage thither either to go a great way about which his danger would not allow or to go through a wood which they accounted sacred and the highest sacriledge to carry any thing out of it that had been once brought into it In this exigency an old man among them steps out and resolves the doubt saying no way was to be scrupled whereby Marius might be saved Our dayes have shewn us many of that opinion that nothing should be accounted holy which stood in the way of their ambition but Lord make me alwayes willing rather to go about for the obtaining of my purposes then to tread over where thou hast set bounds 4 Cardinall Poole being chosen Pope by a free and faire Election yet either out of an high conceit of his own worth or too much desiring to shew his moderation and integrity would not then be confirmed but willed the Conclave to consider of it till the next morning in which time another of the Cardinalls had so prevailed with the rest that they rejected Poole and chose him Pope Those things which we apprehend our selves to be excellent in we commonly desire so much to make a shew of that like Physitians who willing to appeare richly clad swelter in Plush in hot summer by our ostentation we render that ridiculous and offensive which might otherwise prove greatly to our reputation and advantage 5 Philip King of Macedon being importun'd by a poor widdow to do her justice answered that he was not at leasure to whom she replyed then cease to be a King for to do justice is that you are a King for which he hearing apprehended himself so homely spoken to that he took care of her cause incontinently Lord thou requirest of us that we should do thee service but we are ready to say we cannot intend it but it may well be replyed to us then cease to live for therefore gavest thou us our lives that we might lay them out in thy service 6 Hipponicus intending to dedicate a costly statue was advised by a friend to imploy Policletus a famous workman in the making of it but he said That he would not make use of such an one in that businesse whose Art should be rather regarded then his cost When in preaching the great truths of Gospell Salvation the enticing words which mans wit teacheth art sought out the art is so much lookt upon by the auditors that the matter is for the most part lost 7 A Limner being desired by a certain person to draw for him an Horse tumbling which he mistaking drew one running which when he had brought home the person imploying him grew angry that according as he had appoynted he had not represented him tumbling to whom he answered Turne the piece and your running Horse is a tumbling one Many differences have been among us wherein we have been very angry that others have not concur'd with our apprehensions when the difference hath been onely the different way of representing 8 Diogenes seeing some Rhodians gorgeously apparelled while others admired them said Tush That 's nothing but pride and seeing some Spartans by in their thred-bare Caps said That 's but another sort of pride When the vaine men of the world apply to a fantastick gallantry t is manifest that it is nothing but pride Oh would that when religious persons appeare to deny the world they did not give cause to say that theirs is pride too 9 Scypio the Conquerour of Hanniball and scourge of Carthage though by many triumphs he had replenished the common treasury yet in all his life never bought one acre of ground for himself nor left money enough in his Coffers to bury him
for War but prompt to all sedition Lord we are then ready to dispute thy Commands when we are unwilling to do them and we are then ready to charge thy wayes as full of difficulty when we are full of sloth We thinke this will excuse our neglect to say That we do what we can when indeed we do but what we will measuring our ability not by our strength but lazinesse yea we quarrel with discipline and find many faults with the rigour or equity of it 't is not because the rule is not straight but we are crooked and it is irksome to comply with it 127 'T is said of Galba that He could not so well be accounted virtuous as without vices 'T is not seldome that civility is mistaken for grace and we please our selves that we are not as others are then that we are what we should be Peter speaking of those that may apostatize expresseth them not by their actings of grace but Their escaping of the pollutions of the world The sinfullnesse of some sins may be discovered and through the light of conscience there may be an abhorring against them where yet there is no hearty closing with good not affectionate application to the wayes of Righteousnesse Lord let therefore the new creature be formed in me whereby I may not onely Be purged from dead workes but purified to serve the living God 128 Thomas Haukes going to the fire was requested to give them a signe whether the paine of burning were such as might be with patience endured which he promised to do by lifting his hands over his head so being in the fire and now to all mens apprehensions past moving the holy man remembred his promise and lifting his armes aloft clapped his burnt stumps together three times and then sunk down without any further appearance of life That the torment of fire should be tollerable to the body is past imagination unlesse it had first lost the sence of feeling but God that made the Bush burne but not burne up and torments bodies in Hell with fire without consumption can make fire consume the body but not torment Yea if men can make their consciences naturally tender past feeling by custome in sin is it much that God should make the body past feeling that is dedicated to his service and so cause a bed of fire to become a bed of doune Lord if such an exigence by thy Providence befall me let me not be solicitous what the suffering is but for thy assistance to beare it 129 In the contest between Vitellius and Vespatiau for the Empire of Rome there were overtures made to Vitellius of agreement to which he enervated by sloth and luxury was willing to hearken consulting what place of preferment to Condition for being contented himselfe to forge he had been Emperour if others would not have remembred it It often falleth out that they who have led the formost ranks in Religious designes while godlinesse hath been prosperous when it hath met with smart opposition have so far degenerated as by a shamefull apostasie to side with the adversary glad of any poor advantages that may be had thence not ashamed to forget they were professors but when they observe others remember their former profession 130 A Schoolemaster walking with one of his Scholers by a neighbours Orchard the Lad pluckt a Fig that hung over the Pale which the Master seeing rebuked him sharply and tooke it from him but presently eate it up himselfe Oh the very many who have greedily devoured those things which they counted a crime for others to look upon and have declaimed that as sacriledge wherewith they have filled their own Purses having weather-cock judgements turned about with the wind of their own conveniences and can tell you as Ployden by the Hogs That the case is altered 131 Protogenes that famous Limner was seaven yeares in drawing the Picture of Jalisus which when Apelles saw he said That the grace of the work was much but allayed by the length of the time I have heard such Sermons as have been Elephantis partus the workes of those who have thought a Sermon cannot well be conceived under a yeare or some moneths at least But I could never meet with any answering the expectations of so tedious a birth but they have been outdone as to the ends of a Sermon which is to informe the judgment and stir the affections by those who have brought forth such issues two or three times in a weeke at least 132 Pyrrus being admitted by the Athenians into their Castle Pyrra at his departure advised them Never more to admit any Prince upon the like account againe for it was too great a temptation for an ordinary fidelity to avoid Time was when I gave my soule that liberty to discourse with temptation that it was not my strength but thy mercy Lord brought me off let not that successe make me more adventurous but the sense of my danger for the time to come more circumspect and wary 133 In the fields about the City Narvi in Italy drought causeth dirt and rainy weather makes it dusty How strangly contrary are the effects of the meanes of grace on the disobedient the bright rayes of divine truth giving occasion to corrupt reason to resist it more strongly and the gentle showers of the word raise the dust of vile affections and passions by a certaine Antiperistasis like Salt in a Pot of Snow conducing to their farther obduration that of their own nature would mollifie and soften 134 Some travellers in Ethiopia finding some trees in a valley convenient for their repose alighted there to ease themselves ad cattell which while they were doing one among them observing a black cloud behind him advised them to a speedy departure from that place which they had scarcely done but so great a torrent of waters came downe there where before was nothing but dry ground driving all before it so as had certainly been their ruine if they had not complyed with that advice I observe by those clouds of unruly passions arising in my heart upon the presentation of some objects that my soul will he mightily endangered if those occasions of sin be not avoided Oh that my retreat may be therefore as speedy as my danger is certaine 135 A motion being made in the Senate for the restoring of some Achaians to their countrey ☜ who had been long banished thence which being much argued too and fro in the Senate Cato stands up and tells them It seemes they were not busie that could attend so long dispute whether Rome or Greece should bury those decrepit Achaians If we compare our ambitious thoughts and emulous animosities with our haftning to our graves we shall find our funeralls deserve our care more then our designs for while we contrive how to supplant one another death playes the Jacob with us and supplants us all 136 The Embassadors of the late King or Sweden having been over with us
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