Occasionall meditations by Ios. Exon ; set forth by R.H. Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. 1631 Approx. 202 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 192 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A68133 STC 12688.5 ESTC S103693 24168250 ocm 24168250 3860 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A68133) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 3860) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 680:7 or 1818:7) Occasionall meditations by Ios. Exon ; set forth by R.H. Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. Hall, Robert, 1605-1667. The second edition. [14], 232, [12], 233-347, [5] p. Printed by W.S. for Nath. Butter, London : 1631. Signatures: A¹²(-A1) B-K¹² L¹⁰ [x]L⁸ M-P¹² Q⁴. Title in architectural border. A later state of the second edition containing meditations 1-91, with quires L M-P¹² Q⁴ containing meditations 92-140 appended. Item at reel 1818:7 imperfect: print show-through and tightly bound with slight loss of print. Item at reel 680:7 identified as STC 12688. Reproductions of originals in the Folger Shakespeare Library and Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Meditations. 2005-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-11 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-08 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2006-08 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion OCCASIONALL Meditations . BY IOS : EXON . Setforth by R. H. The second Edition . LONDON . Printed by W. S. for Nath. Butter . 1631. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE , My very good Lord , IAMES Lord Viscount Doncaster . RIGHT HON : FInding these Papers amongst others lying aside in my Fathers study , whereof I conceiued good vse might bee made , in regard of that Spirituall aduantage which they promised ; I obtayned of him good leaue to send them abroad , whereto he professed himselfe the more easily induced , for that his continuall and weighty imployments in this large and busie Diocesse will not yet afford him leasure to dispatch those his other fixed Meditations on the Historie of the new Testament ; In the meane time , the expressions of these voluntary and sudden thoughts of his , shall testifie how fruitfully he is wont to improoue those short ends of time , which are stolne from his more important auocations ; and ( vnlesse my hopes faile mee ) the Patterne of them may prooue not a little beneficiall to others . Holy mindes haue been euer wont to looke through these bodily obiects , at spirituall , and heauenly ; So SVLPITIVS reports of S. MARTIN , that seeing a Sheepe newly shorne , he could say ; Loe here 's one that hath performed that command in the Gospell ; hauing two Coats shee hath giuen away one , & seeing an Hogheard freezing in a thinne suite of skinnes ; Loe ( said hee ) There is Adam cast out of Paradise , and seing a meadow , part rooted vp , part whole ; but eaten downe ; and part flourishing , hee said , The first was the state of Fornication , the second of Marriage , the third of Virginity : But what doe I seeke any other authour , then the Lord of Life himselfe ? Who vpon the drawing of water from the well of SHILO , on the day of the great Hosanna , tooke occasion to speak of those Liuing waters , which should flow frō euery true beleeuer , Iohn 7. 37 ; and vpon occasion of a bodily feast ▪ Luke 14. entred into that Diuine discourse of Gods gracious inuitation of vs to those Spirituall viands of grace and glory . Thus , mee thinkes , we should still bee climing vp in our thoughts , from Earth to Heauen ; and suffer no obiect to crosse vs in our way without some Spirituall vse , and application ; Thus it pleased my Reuerend Father sometimes to recreate himselfe , whose manner hath beene , when any of these Meditations haue vnsought offerd themselues vnto him , presently to se● them downe ; a course which I wish had beene also taken in many more , which might no doubt haue beene very profitable . These , as they are , I send forth vnder your Honourable Name , out of those many respects , which are , in an hereditary right , due to your Lordship , as being apparent heire to those two singular Patrons of my iustly Reuerenced Father , The eminent vertue of which your noble Parents in a gracious Succession yeelds to your Lordship an happy example ; which to follow is the onely way to true Honour ; For the dayly increase whereof here ; and the euerlasting crowne of it hereafter , his prayers to God shal not be wanting , who desires to bee accounted . Your Lordship deuoted in all homble obseruance , RO : HALL . OCCASIONALL MEDITATIONS . The Proeme . I Haue heedlesly lost ( I confesse ) many good thoughts , these few my Paper hath perserued from vanishing ; The example whereof may prehaps bee more vsefull then the matter ; Our actiue Soule can no more forbeare to thinke , then the Eye can choose but see , when it is open ; would we but keepe our wholsome notions together , Mankind would bee too rich ; To doe well , no obiect should passe vs without vse , Euery thing that wee see , reades vs new lectures of Wisedome , and Pietie ; It is a shame for a Man to be ignorant , or Godlesse , vnder so many Tutors . For me , I would not wish to liue longer , then I shall be better for my eyes ; and haue thought it thanke-worthy ; thus to teach weake mindes , how to improoue their thoughts , vpon all like occasions . And if euer these lines shall come to the publique view , I desire , and charge my Reader , whosoeuer he be , to make mee , and himselfe so happie , as to take out my lesson ; and to learne how to read GODS great Booke , by mine . OCCASIONALL MEDITATIONS . I. Vpon the sight of the Heauens mouing . I Can see nothing stand still but the Earth ; all other things are in motion ; Euen that Water which makes vp one Globe with the Earth , is euer stirring in ebbes and flowings ; the clouds ouer my head , the Heauens aboue the clouds ; these , as they are most conspicuous , so are they the greatest patternes of perpetuall action ; what should wee rather imitate then this glorious frame ? O God when we pray that thy will may bee done in Earth , as it is in heauen , though we meane chiefly the inhabitants of that place , yet wee doe not exclude the very place of those blessed inhabitants , from being an example of our Obedience . The motion of this thy Heauen is perpetuall , so let mee euer be acting so mewhat of thy will ; the motion of thine Heauen is regular , neuer swaruing from the due points ; so let me euer walke steddily in the wayes of thy will ; without all diuersions , or variations from the line of thy Law ; In the motion of thine Heauen , though some Starres haue the●● owne peculiar , and contrary courses , yet a● yeeld themselues to the sway of the mayne circumuolution of that first mouer ; so , though I haue a will of mine owne , yet let mee giue my selfe ouer to bee ruled , and ordered by thy Spirit in all my wayes ; Man is a little world ; my Soule is heauen , my Body is earth ; if this earth bee dull and fixed , yet O God , let my heauen ( like vnto thine ) moue perpetually , regularly , and in a constant subiection to thine holy Ghost . II. Vpon the sight of a Diall . IF the Sunne did not shine vpon this Diall , no body would looke at it ; in a cloudy day it stands like an vselesse post , vnheeded , vnregarded ; But when once those beames breake forth , euery passenger runnes to it , and gazes on it ; O God , whiles thou hidest thy countenance from mee , mee thinkes all thy Creatures passe by mee , with a willing neglect ; indeed , what am I , without thee ? And if thou haue drawne in me some lines , & notes of able indowments , yet , if I be not actuated by thy Grace , all is , in respect of vse ; no better then nothing : But , when thou renuest the light of thy louing countenance vpon mee , I finde a sensible , and happy change of condition ; me thinkes , all things looke vpon mee with such cheere , and obseruance , as if they meant to make good that Word of thine ; Those that honour mee , I will honour ; now , euery line and figure , which it hath pleased thee to work in mee , serue for vsefull , and profitable direction ; O Lord , all the glory is thine ; giue thou me light , I shall giue others information ; both of vs shal giue thee praise . III. Vpon the sight of an Eclipse of the Sunne . LIght is an ordinary and familiar blessing ; yet so deare to vs , that one houres interception of it sets all the world in a wonder . The two great Luminaries of heauen , as they impart light to vs , so they withdraw light from each other . The Sunne darkens the full Moone , in casting the shadow of the Earth vpon her opposed-face ; The new Moone repayes this blemish to the Sunne , in the interposing of her darke body betwixt our eyes , and his glorious beames ; the earth is troubled at both : O God , if wee bee so afflicted with the obscuring of some peece of one of thy created Lights , for an houre , or two ; what a confusion shall it be , that thou , who art the God of these lights , ( in comparison of whom they are meere darknesse ) shalt hide thy face from thy creature for euer ? Oh thou that art the Sunne of righteousnesse ; if euery of my sinnes cloud thy face ; ye● let not my grieuous sinnes eclipse thy light ; Thou shinest alwayes , though I doe not see thee , but , oh , neuer suffer my sinnes so to darken thy visage that I cannot see thee . IIII. Vpon the sight of a gliding Starre . HOw easily is our sight deceiued ? How easily doth our sight deceiue vs ? Wee saw no difference betwixt this Starre and the rest ; the light seemed alike , both whiles it stood , and whiles it fell ; now , wee know it was no other , then a base ●limie meteor , guilded with the Sun-beames ; and now , our foot can tread vpon that , which ere while our eye admired ; Had it been a Starre , it had still , and euer shined ; now , the very fall argues it a false and elementary apparition ; Thus our Charity doth , and must mis-lead vs in our Spirituall iudgements ; if wee see men exalted in their Christian profession , fixed in the vpper region of the Church , shining with appearances of Grace ; wee may not thinke them other them starres , in this lower firmament ; but , if they fall from their holy station , and imbrace the present world ; whether in iudgement or practise , renouncing the Truth , and power of godlinesse ; now we may boldly say , they had neuer any true light in them ; and were no other then a glittering composition of Pride , and hypocrisie ; O God , if my charity make mee apt to bee deceiued by others , ●et mee be sure not to de●eiue my selfe ; perhaps , some of these apostating Starres haue thought ●hemselues true : let their mis-carriage make mee ●eedfull ; Let the inward ●●ght of thy Grace more ●onuince my truth to my ●elfe , then my outward profession can represent mee glorious to others . V. Vpon a faire Prospect . VVHat a pleasing variety is heere o● Townes , Riuers , Hills Dales , Woods , Medowes each of them striuing t● set forth other ; and al● of them to delight th● eye ? So as this is no other then a naturall ; an● reall Landskip drawne b● that Almightie , and ski●●full hand , in this table o● the Earth , for the pleasure of our view ; no other creature besides Man is capable to apprehend this beautie ; I shall doe wrong to him that brought mee hither , if I doe not feed my eyes , and praise my Maker ; It is the inter mixture , and change of these obiects that yeelds this contentment both to the sense , and minde ; But , there is a sight , O my Soule , that without all varietie , offerres thee a truer and fuller delight ; euen this Heauen aboue thee : All thy other prospect ends in this ; This glorious circumference ●ounds , and circles , and inlightens all that thine eye can see ; whether thou looke vpward , or forward , or about thee , there thine eye alights , there let thy thoughts bee fixed . One inch of this lightsome Firmament hath more beauty in it , then the whole face of the Earth ; And yet , this is but the floore of that goodly fabricke , the outward curtaine of that glorious Tabernacle : Couldst thou but ( Oh that thou couldst ) looke within that vayle , how shouldst thou bee rauished with that blissefull sight ? There , in that incomprehensible light , thou shouldst see him whom none can see , and not bee blessed ; thou shouldst see millions of pure and maiesticall Angels , of holy and glorified Soules : there , amongst thy Fathers many mansions thou shouldst take happie notice of thine owne : Oh the best of earth , now vile and contemptible ; Come downe no more , O my Soule , after thou hast once pitched vpon this heauenly glory ; or if this flesh force thy descent , be vnquiet till thou art let loose to immortality . VI. Vpon the frame of a Globe casually broken . IT is hard to say whether is the greater , Mans art , or Impotence ; He that cannot make one spire of grasse , or corne of sand , will yet bee framing of Worlds ; he can imitate all things , who can make nothing ; Heere is a great world in a little roome , by the skill of the workeman , but in lesse roome , by mis-accident ; Had hee seene this , who vpon the view of Platoes Booke of Common-wealth eaten with Mice , presaged the fatall mis-carriage of the publike State ; hee would sure haue construed this casualty as ominous : What euer become of the materiall world , ( whose decay might seeme no lesse to stand with diuine Prouidence , then this Microcosme of indiuidual man ) sure I am , the frame of the morall world is , and must be dis-ioynted in the last times : Men doe and will fall from euill to worse ; He that hath made all times hath told vs that the last shall bee perilous ; Happie is hee that can stand vpright , when the world declines ; and can indeauour to repaire the common ruine with a constancy in goodnesse . VII . Vpon a Cloud . VVHether it were a naturall Cloud , wherewith our ascending Sauiour was intercepted from the eyes of his Disciples , vpon mount Olivet , I inquire not ; this I am sure of ; that the time now was , when a Cloud surpassed the Sunne in glory ; How did the intentiue eyes of those rauished beholders enuie that happie meteor ; and since they could no more see that glorious Body , fixed themselues vpon that coelestiall Chariot , wherewith it was carried vp . The Angels could tell the gazing Disciples ( to fetch them off from that astonishing prospect ) that this IESVS should so come againe , as they had seene him depart ; He went vp in a Clōud ; and hee shall come againe in the clouds of heauen , to his last iudgement ; O Sauiour , I cannot looke vpward , but I must see the sensible monuments ; both of thine ascension , and returne ; let no cloud of Worldlinesse , or Infidelitie hinder mee from following thee in thine Ascension , or from expecting thee in thy returne . VIII . Vpon the sight of a Graue digged vp . THe Earth , as it is a great deuourer , so also it is a great preseruer too : Liquors and Fleshes are therein long kept from putrifying ; and are rather heightened in their Spirits by being buried in it ; But aboue all , how safely doth it keepe our bodyes for the Resurrection ; wee are here but layd vp for custody ; Balmes , and sere-clothes , and leads , cannot doe so much as this lappe of our common Mother ; when all these are dissolued into her dust ( as being vnable to keepe themselues from corruption ) shee receiues and restores her charge : I can no more with-hold my body from the earth ; then the earth can withhold it from my Maker . O GOD , this is thy Cabinet or shrine , wherein ●hou pleasest to lay vp ●he precious reliques of ●hy deare Saints , vntill ●he Iubilee of Glorie ; with what confidence should I commit my selfe to this sure reposition , whiles I know thy word iust , thy Power infinite ? IX . Vpon the sight of Gold melted . THis Gold is both th● fairest , and most solide of all mettals ; yet 〈◊〉 the soonest melted wit● the fire ; others , as the● are courser , so more chu●lish , and hard to b● wrought vpon by a dissolution ; Thus , a sound an● good heart is most easi●● melted into sorrow and feare , by the sence of Gods iudgements ; whereas the carnall minde is stubburne , and remorselesse ; All mettals are but earth , yet some are of finer temper then others ; All hearts are of flesh , yet some are , through the power of grace , more capable of Spirituall apprehensions : O GOD , wee are such as thou wilt bee pleased to make vs : Giue mee an heart that may bee sound for the truth of Grace , and melting at the terrors of thy Law ; I can bee for no other , then thy Sanctuarie on earth , or thy Treasurie of heauen . X. Vpon the sight of a Pitcher carried . THus those that are great , and weake , are carried by the eares vp and downe of Flatterers , and Parasites ; Thus ignorant and simple hearers are carried by false and mis-zealous teachers , yet , to bee carryed by both eares is more safe , then bee carryed by one ; It argues an empty pitcher to be carryed by one alone ; such are they that vpon the hearing of one-part , rashly passe their sentence , whether of acquiall , or censure . In all disquisitions of ●idden Truthes , a wise man will bee led by the ●ares , not carried ; that ●●plies a violence of pas●●on ouer-swaying iudge●ent ; but in matter of ●uill and occurrence , and vnconcerning rumour , it is good to vse the Eare , not to trust to it : XI . Vpon the sight of Tree f●●● blossomed . HEere is a Tree ouer layd with blossomes it is not possible that a● these should prospe● one of them must need● rob the other of mo●sture , and growth ; I do not loue to see an Infa●cie ouer-hopefull ; 〈◊〉 these pregnant beginnings one facultie staru● another , and , at last , leau● the minde sap-lesse , an● barren ; as therefore w● are wont to pull off som● of the too-frequent blossomes , that the rest ma● thriue , So , it is good wisedome to moderate the earely excesse of the parts , or progresse of ouer-forward child-hood . Neither is it otherwise in our Christian profession ; a sudden and lauish ostentation of grace may fill the eye with wonder , and the mouth with talke , but will not , at the last , fill the lappe with fruit . Let mee not promise too much , nor raise too high expectations of my vndertakings ; I had rather men should complaine of my small hopes , then of my short performances . XII . Vpon the report of a Man suddenly strucke dead in his Sin. I Cannot but magnifie the iustice of GOD , but withall I must praise his Mercy ; It were woe with any of vs all , if GOD should take vs at aduantages ; Alas , which of vs hath not committed sinnes worthy of a present reuenge ; had wee beene also surprized in those acts , where had wee beene ? Oh GOD , it is more then thou owest vs , that thou hast wayted for our repentance ; It is no more then thou owest vs , that thou plaguest our offences ; The wages of sinne is Death ; and it is but iustice to pay due wages : Blessed bee thy Iustice that hast made others examples to mee : Blessed be : thy Mercy , that hast not made me an example vnto others . * ⁎ * XIII . Vpon the view of the Heauen and the earth . VVHat a strange contrarietie is heere ? The Heauen is in continuall motion , and yet there is the onely place of rest ; the Earth euer stands still , and yet heere is nothing but vnrest and vnquietnesse ; Surely , the end of that heauenly motion is for the benefit of the Earth ; and the end of all these earthly turmoyles is our reposall in heauen ; Those that haue imagined the earth to turne about , and the heauens to stand still ; haue yet supposed that wee may stand , or sit still , on that whirling Globe of earth : how much more may wee bee perswaded of our perfect rest aboue those mouing Spheares ? It matters not , O GOD , how I am vexed heere below a while ; if , ere long , I may repose with thee aboue , for euer . XIIII . Vpon occasion of a Redbre●● comming into his Chamber . PRetty bird , how chea●fully do'st thou sit an● sing , and yet knowest n●● where thou art , nor whe●● thou shalt make thy ne●● meale ; and , at nigh● must shrowd thy selfe in 〈◊〉 bush , for lodging ; Wh●● a shame is it for mee , th●● see before mee so libera● prouisions of my GOD and finde my selfe s● warme vnder my ow● roofe , yet am ready 〈◊〉 droupe vnder a distru●●full , and vnthankfull du●●nesse . Had I so little certainty of my harbour and purueyance , how hartlesse should I bee , how carefull ; how little list should I haue to make musicke to thee or my selfe ; Surely , thou , camest not hither without a prouidence , GOD sent thee not so much to delight , as to shame mee , but all in a conuiction of my sullen vnbeliefe ; who vnder more apparent meanes , ●m lesse cheerefull , and ●onfident , Reason and ●aith haue not done so much in mee , as in thee , heere instinct of nature ; want of fore-sight makes hee more merry , if not more happie heere , then the fore-sight of better things maketh mee . O God , thy prouidence is not impayred by those Powers thou hast giuen mee aboue these brute things ; Let not my greater helps hinder mee from an holy security , and comfortable relyance vpon thee . XV. Vpon occasion of a Spider i● his Window . THere is no vice i● man , whereof ther● is not some analogie i● the brute Creatures : 〈◊〉 amongst vs Men , there are Theeues by land , and Pirates by sea , that liue by spoyle and blood ; so is there in euery kind amongst them variety of naturall Sharkers ; the Hauke in the ayre , the Pike in the riuer , the Whale in the sea , the Lyon , and Tyger , and Wolfe in the desert , the Waspe in the hiue , the Spider in our window . Amongst the rest , see how cunningly this little Arabian hath spred out his tent , for a prey ; how heedfully hee watches for a Passenger ; so soone as euer he heares the noyse of a Fly a farre off , how hee hastens to his doore , and if that silly heedlesse . Traueller doe but touch vpon the verge of that vnsuspected walke , how suddenly doth hee seize vpon the miserable bootie ; and after some strife , binding him fast with those subtile cords , drags the helplesse captiue after him into his caue . What is this but an Embleme of those Spirituall free-booters , that lie in waite for our soules : They are the Spiders , wee the Flies ; they haue spred their nets of sinne , if wee bee once caught , they bind vs fast , and hale vs into Hell. Oh LORD , deliuer thou my soule from their crafty ambushes ; their poyson is greater , their webs both more strong , and more insensibly wouen ; Either teach mee to auoyd tentation , or make mee to breake thorough it by Repentance ; Oh let mee not bee a prey to those fiends that lye in waite for my destruction . XVI . Vpon the sight of a Raine in the Sunshine . SVch is my best condition in this life , If the Sunne of GODS countenance shine vpon mee , I may well bee content to bee wet with some raine of Affliction ; How oft haue I seene the Heauen ouer-cast with clouds and tempest ; no Sunne appearing to comfort me ; yet euen those gloomy and stormy seasons haue I rid out patiently , onely with the helpe of the common-light of the day , at last , those beames haue broken forth happily , and cheared my Soule ; It is well for my ordinary state , if through the mists of my owne dulnesse , and Satans tentations , I can descry some glimpse of heauenly comfort ; let mee neuer hope , whiles I am in this Vaile , to see the cleare face of that Sunne without a showre : such happinesse is reserued for aboue ; that vpper region of glory is free from these doubtfull and miserable vicissitudes . There , O GOD wee shall see as wee are seene . Light is sowne for the Righeous , and ioy for the vpright in heart . XVII . Vpon the Length of the way . HOw farre off is yonder great Mountaine ? My very eye is weary with the fore-sight of so great a distance ; yet time and patience shall overcome it ; this night wee shall hope to lodge beyond it ; Some things are more tedious in their expectation , then in their performance . The comfort is , that euery step I take , sets mee nearer to my end ; When I once come there , I shall both forget how long it now seemes , and please my selfe to looke backe vpon the way that I haue measured . It is thus in our passage to Heauen ; my weake nature is ready to faint vnder the very conceit of the length , and difficulty of this iourney ; my eye doth not more guide , then discourage mee ; Many steps of Grace , and true obedience , shall bring me insensibly thither ; Only , let mee moue , and hope ; and GODS good leisure shall perfect my Saluation . O Lord , giue mee to possesse my Soule with patience , and not so much to regard speed , as certainty ; When I come to the top of thine holy hill , all these weary paces , and deepe sloughes shall either bee forgotten , or contribute to my happinesse in their remembrance . XVIII . Vpon the Raine and Waters . VVHat a sensible interchange there is , in Nature , betwixt vnion , and diuision ; Many vapours rising from the sea , meete together in one cloud ; that cloud falls downe diuided , into seuerall drops ; those drops runne together , and in many rills of water , meete in the same channels ; those channels run into the brooke , those brookes into the riuers , those riuers into the Sea ; one receptacle is for all , though a large one ; and all make backe to their first , and maine originall : So it either is , or should be with Spirituall guifts ; O GOD , thou distillest thy Graces vpon vs , not for our reseruation , but conueyance ; those many-fold faculties thou lettest fall vpon seuerall Men thou wouldst not haue drenched vp , where they light ; but wouldst haue deriued , through the channels of their speciall vocations , into the common streames of publique Vse , for Church , or Common-wealth ; Take backe , O Lord , those few drops thou hast rayned vpon my soule , and returne them into that great Ocean of the Glory of thine owne bounty , from whence they had their beginning . * ⁎ * XIX . Vpon the same Subiect . MAny drops fill the Channels , and many Channels swell vp the brookes , and many brookes raise the Riuers , ouer the bankes ; the brookes are not out , till the channels bee empty ; the riuers rise not , whiles the small brookes are full ; but when the little rivulets haue once voyded themselues into the mayne streames , then all is ouerflowne . Great matters arise from small beginnings ; Many littles make vp a large bulke ; Yea what is the World but a composition of atomes . Wee haue seene i● thus in ciuill estates ; th●● empayring of the Commons hath oft beene th● raising of the great ; their streames haue runne low● till they haue beene heightened by the confluenc● of many priuate inlets ▪ Many a meane channel hath beene emptyed , to make vp their inundation ; Neither is it otherwise in my , whether outward , or spirituall condition : O GOD , tho● hast multiplyed my drop● into streames , As out o● many minuts thou ha●● made vp my age , so out o● many lessons thou hast made vp my competencie of knowledge ; thou hast drayned many benificent friends to make mee competently rich . By many holy motions , thou hast wrought me to some measure of Grace : Oh , teach mee , wisely and moderately to inioy thy bounty ; and to reduce thy streames into thy drops , and thy drops into thy clouds , humbly , and thankefully acknowledging whence , and how , I haue all that I haue , all that I am : XX. Vpon occasion of the lights brought in . VVHat a change there is in the roome , since the light came in ▪ yea in our selues ? All things seeme to haue a new forme , a new life ; yea , wee are not the same we were : How goodly a creature is light , how pleasing , how agreeable to the spirits of man ? no visible thing comes so neere to the resembling of the nature of the soule , yea of the God that made it ; As contrarily , what an vncomfortable thing is darknesse ; in so much as wee punish the greatest malefactors with obscuritie of Dungeons ; as thinking they could not be miserable enough , if they might haue the priuiledge of beholding the light ; yea , hell it selfe can bee no more horribly described then by outward darknesse : What is darknesse but absence of light ? The pleasure , or the horror of light , or darknesse is according to the quality and degree of the cause , whence it ariseth ; And if the light of a poore candle be so comfortable , which is nothing but a little inflamed ayre , gathered about a moystened snuffe , what is the light of the glorious Sunne , the great lampe of Heauen ? But much more , what is the light of that infinitely-resplendent Sun of righteousnesse , who gaue that light to the Sunne , that Sunne to the world ; And , if this partiall , and imperfect darkenesse bee so dolefull , ( which is th● priuation of a naturall o● artificiall light ) how vnconceiuable , dolorou● and miserable , shall tha● bee , which is caused through the vtter absence of the all-glorious GOD ▪ who is the Father o● lights ? O Lord , how iustly doe wee pitty those wretched Soules , that sit in darkenesse and the shadow of death , shut vp from the light of the sauing knowledge of thee , the onely true God ; But , how am I swallowed vp with horror , to thinke of the fearefull condition of those damned soules , that are for euer shut out from the presence of GOD , and adiudged to exquisite and euerlasting darknesse . The Egyptians were weary of themselues , in their three dayes darkenesse , yet we doe not find any paine that accompanyed their continuing night ; What shall wee say to those wofull soules ; in whom the sensible presence of infinite torment shall meet with the torment of the perpetuall absence of GOD ? O thou , who art the true light , shine euer ▪ through all the blinde corners of my Soule ; and from these weake glimmerings of Grace , bring me to the perfect brightnesse of thy Glory . * ⁎ * XXI . Vpon the same Occasion . AS well as wee loue the light , wee are wont to salute it , at the first comming in , with winking , or closed eyes ; as not abiding to see that ; without which wee cannot see . All suddaine changes ( though to the better ) haue a kinde of trouble attending them ; By how much more excellent any obiect is , by so much more is our weake sence mis-affected in the first apprehending of it : O LORD , if thou shouldst manifest thy glorious presence to vs heere , wee should bee confounded in the sight of it ; How wisely , how mercifully hast thou reserued that for our glorified estate ; where no infirmity shall dazle our eyes ; where perfect Righteousnesse , shall giue as perfect bouldnesse , both of sight , and fruition . XXII . Vpon the blowing of the Fire . VVEe beat backe the flame , not with a purpose to suppresse it but to raise it higher , and to diffuse it more ; Those afflictions , and repulses which seeme to bee discouragements , are indeed the mercifull incitements of grace . If GOD did meane iudgement to my Soule , hee would either withdraw the fuell , or powre water vpon the fire , or suffer it to languish for want of new motions ; but now , that he continues to me the meanes , and opportunities , and desires of good , I shall misconstrue the intentions of my GOD , if I shall thinke his crosses sent rather to dampe , then to quicken his Spirit in me . O GOD , if thy bellowes did not sometimes thus breath vpon mee , in spirituall repercussions , I should haue iust cause to suspect my estate ; Those few weake gleeds of Grace that are in mee , might soone goe out , if they were not thus refreshed ; still blow vpon them , till they kindle ; still kindle them , till they flame vp to thee . XXIII . Vpon the barking of a Dog. VVHat haue I done to this Dog , that hee followes mee with this angry clamour ? Had I rated him , or shaken my staffe , or stooped downe for a stone , I had iustly drawne on this noyse ; this snarling importunity . But , why , doe I wonder to finde this vnquiet disposition in a bruit creature , when it is no newes with the reasonable . Haue I not seene innocence , and merit bayed at by the quarrelsome , and enuious vulgar , without any prouocation saue of good offices ? Haue I not felt ( more then their tongue , ) their teeth , vpon my heeles , when I know , I haue deserued nothing , but fawning on ? Where is my grace , or spirits , if I haue not learned to contemne both ? O GOD , let mee rather dye then willingly incurre thy displeasure ; yea , then iustly offend thy godly-wise , iudicious , conscionable servants ; but if humor or faction , or causelesse preiudice fall vpon mee ; for my faithfull seruice to thee ; Let these bawling currestyre themselues , and teare their throates , with loud , and false censures , I goe on in a silent constancy , and if my eare bee beaten , yet my heart shall be free . XXIIII . Vpon sight of a Cocke fight . HOw fell these Creatures out ? Whence grew this so bloudy combate ? Heere was neyther old grudge , nor present iniurie . What then is the quarrell ? Surely nothing but that which should rather vnite , and reconcile them ; one common Nature ; the are both of one feather . I doe not see eyther of them flye vpon Creatures of different kinds ; but whiles they haue peace with all others , they are at warre with themselues ; the very sight of each other was sufficient prouocation . If this bee the offence , why doth not each of them fall out with himselfe , since hee hates , and reuenges in another , the being of that same which himselfe is ? Since Mans sin brought Debate into the World , nature is become a great quarreller . The seeds of discord were scattered in euery furrow of the Creation , and came vp in a numberlesse variety of antipathies , whereof yet none is more odious , and deplorable , then those which are betwixt creatures of the same kinde . What is this but an image of that woefull hostility which is exercised betwixt vs resonables , who are conioyned in one common humanity , if not , Religion ? Wee fight with , and destroy each other , more then those creatures that want reason to temper their passions : No beast is so cruell to man , as himself ; where one man is slaine by a beast , ten thousand are slaine by man. What is that warre which wee study and practise , but the art of killing ? What euer Turkes and Pagans may doe , O Lord how long shall , this brutish fury arme Christians against each other ? Whiles euen diuels are not at enmity with themselues , but accord in wickednesse , why doe we men so mortally oppose each other in good ? Oh thou , that art the GOD of Peace , compose the vnquiet hearts of men , to an happie and vniuersall Concord , and at last refresh out Soules with the multitude of Peace . XXV . Vpon his lying downe to rest . WHat a circle there is of humane actions , and euents ? Wee are neuer without some change , and yet that change is without any great varietie ; wee sleepe , and wake , and wake and sleepe ; and eate and euacuate and recreate , and labour in a continuall interchange , yet hath the infinite wisedome of God , so ordered it , that wee are not wearie of these perpetuall iterations , but with no lesse appetite enter into our dayly courses , then if wee should passe them but once in our life . When I am wearie of my dayes labor , how willingly doe I vndresse my selfe , and betake my selfe to my bed ; and ere Morning , when I haue wearied my restlesse bed , how glad am I to ryse and renew my labour ? Why am I not more desirous to be vncloathed of this body , that I may be cloathed vpon with Immortality ? What is this but my closest garment , which when it is once put off , my Soule is at liberty and ease . Many a time haue I lyen downe heere in desire of rest , and after some tedious changing of sides , haue risen sleepelesse , disappointed , languishing in my last vncasing , my body shall not faile of repose , nor my Soule of ioy ; and in my rising vp , neither of them shall faile of Glory ; What hinders mee , O GOD , but my infidelity from longing for this happy dissolution ? The world hath misery and toyle enough , and Heauen hath more then enough blessednesse to perfect my desires of that my last and glorious change . I beleeue , Lord , helpe my vnbeleefe ? XXVI . Vpon the kindling of a Charcole fire . THere are not many Creatures but doe naturally affect to diffuse and inlarge themselues ; Fire and Water will neyther of them rest contented with their owne bounds ; those little sparkes that I see in those coales , how they spread , and enkindle their next brands ; It is thus morally both in good , and euill ; eyther of them dilates it selfe , to their Neighbourhood ; but especially this is so much more apparent in euill , by how much wee are more apt to take it . Let but some sparke of hereticall opinion bee let fall vpon some vnstable , proud , busie spirit , it catcheth instantly ; and fires the next capable subiect ; they two haue easily inflamed a third ; and now the more society , the more s●eed ▪ and aduantage of a publike combustion . When we see the Church on a flame , it is too late to complaine of the flint and steele ; It is the holy wisedome of superiours to preuent the dangerous attritions of stubborne , and wrangling spirits ; or to quench their first sparkes in the tinder . But , why should not Grace and Truth bee as successefull in dilating it selfe to the gaining of many hearts ? Certainly these are in themselues more winning , if our corruption had not made vs indisposed to good : O God , out of a● holy enuy and emulation at the speed of euil , I shall labour to enkindle others with these heauenly flames , it shal not be my fault if they spread not . XXVII . Vpon the sight of an humble and patient Begger . SEe what need can doe ; This man , who in so lowly a fashion croucheth to that Passenger , hath in all likelyhood as good a stomacke as hee , to whom hee thus abaseth himselfe ; and if their conditions were but altered , would looke as high , and speake as bigge to him , whom hee now answeres with a plausible and deiected reuerence . It is thus betwixt God ; and vs : Hee sees the way to tame vs , is to hold vs short of these earthly contentments : Euen the Sauagest Beasts are made quiet and docible , with want of food , and rest ; Oh GOD , thou onely knowest what I would doe , if I had health , ease , abundance ; doe thou in thy wisedome and mercy so proportion thy guifts , and restraints , as thou knowest best for my soule . If I bee not humbled enough , let mee want ; and so order all my estate ; that I may want any thing saue thy selfe . XXVIII . Vpon the sight of a Crow pulling off wooll from the backe of a Sheepe . HOw well these Creatures know whom they may bee bold with ? That Crow durst not doe this to a Wolfe , or Mastiue ; The knowne simplicity of this innocent beast giues aduantage to this presumption . Meekenesse of spirit commonly drawes on iniuries . The cruelty of ill natures vsually seekes out those , not who deserue worst , but who will beare most . Patience and mildnesse of Spirit is ill bestowed where it exposes a man to wrong and insultation ; Sheepish dispositions are best to others ; worst to themselues . I could be willing to take iniuries ; but I will not be guilty of prouoking them by lenity ; for harmlesnesse let me goe for a Sheepe , but whosoeuer will bee tearing my fleece ; let him looke to himselfe . XXIX . Vpon the sight of two Snayles . THere is much variety euen in Creatures of the same kinde . See there , two Snayles ; One hath an house , the other wants it ; yet both are Snayles ; and it is a question whether case is the better ; That which hath an house hath more shelter , but that which wants it , hath more freedome ; The priuiledge of that couer is but a burthen ; you see if it haue but a stone to clime ouer , with what stresse it drawes vp that beneficiall lode ; and if the passage proue strait , finds no entrance : whereas the empty Snaile makes no difference of way ; Surely , it is alwayes an ease , and sometimes an happinesse to haue nothing ; no man is so worthy of enuy as he that can be cheerful in want : XXX . Vpon the hearing of the street cries in London . VVHat a noyse doe these poore soules make in proclaiming their commodities ? each tels what hee hath , and would haue all hearers take notice of it ; and yet ( GOD wot ) it is but poore stuffe that they set out , with so much ostentation ; I doe not heare any of the rich Merchants talke of what bags hee hath in his chests , or what treasures of rich wares in his store-house ; euery man rather desires to hide his wealth ; and when he is vrged , is ready to dissemble his ability . No otherwise is it in the true Spirituall riches ; hee that is full of Grace , and good workes , affects not to make shew of it to the world , but rests sweetly in the secret testimony of a good Conscience ; and the silent applause of GODS spirit witnessing with his owne ; whiles contrarily the venditation of our owne worth , or parts , or merits , argues a miserable indigence in them all ; O GOD , if the confessing of thine owne guifts may glorifie thee , my modesty shall not bee guilty of a niggardly vnthankfulnesse ; but for ought that concernes my selfe , I cannot bee too secret ; Let mee so hide my selfe that I may not wrong thee ; and wisely distinguish betwixt thy praise , and my owne . * ⁎ * XXXI . Vpon the Flies gathering to a galled Horse . HOw these Flyes swarme to the galled part of this poore Beast ; and there sit feeding vpon that worst peece of his flesh ; not medling with the other sound parts of his skin ; Euen thus doe malicious tongues of Detractors ; if a man haue any infirmity in his person or actions , that they will bee sure 〈◊〉 gather vnto , and dwell vpon : whereas his commendable parts , and well-deseruings are passed by , without mention , without regard ; It is an enuious selfe-loue , and base cruelty that causeth this ill disposition in men ; In the meane time this onely they haue gained , it must needs bee a filthy Creature , that feeds vpon nothing but corruption . * ⁎ * XXXII . Vpon the sight of a darke Lantborne . THere is light indeed , but so shut vp , as if it were not ; and when the side is most open , there is light enough to giue direction to him that beares it , none to others : He can discerne another man by that light , which is cast before him , but another man cannot discerne him ; Right such is reserued knowledge ; no man is the better for it , but the owner ; there is no outward difference betwixt concealed skill ; and ignorance ; and when such hidden knowledge will looke forth , it casts so sparing a light , as may only argue it to haue an vnprofitable being ; to haue ability without vvill to good ; power to censure , none to benefit : the suppression or ingrossing of those helpes vvhich GOD vvould haue vs to impart , is but a Theeues Lanthorne in a true mans hand ; Oh GOD , as all our light is from thee , the Father of Lights , so make mee no niggard of that poore Rush-candle thou hast lighted in my Soule ; make mee more happy in giuing light to others , then in receiuing it into my selfe . XXXIII . Vpon the hearing of a Swallow in the Chimney . HEre is Musicke , such as it is ; but how long will it hold ! When but a cold morning comes in , my guest is gone , without eyther warning , or thanks ; This pleasant season hath the least neede of cheerefull notes ; the dead of winter shall want , and wish them in vaine : Thus doth an vngratefull Parasite : no man is more ready to applaud , and inioy our prosperity , but when with the times our condition bigins to alter , hee is a stranger at least ; Giue mee that Bird which will sing in winter , and seeke to my window in the hardest frost ; there is no tryall or friendship but aduersity ; Hee that is not ashamed of my bonds , not daunted with my checkes , not aliend with my disgrace , is a friend for me ; One dram of that mans loue , is worth a world of false and inconstant formality . XXXIIII . Vpon the sight of a Flie burning it selfe in the Candle . VVIse SALOMON sayes , the light is a pleasant thing ; and so certainly it is ; but there is no true outward light vvhich proceeds not from fire : The light of that fire then is not more pleasing , then the fire of that light is dangerous ; and that pleasure doth not more draw on our sight , then that danger forbids our approach : How foolish is this flye , that in a loue and admiration of this light , will know no distance , but puts it selfe heedlesly into that flame , vvherein it perishes ; How many boutes it fetcht , euery one nearer then other , ere it made this last venture ; and now that mercilesse fire taking no notice of the affection of an ouer-fond Client , hath suddenly consumed it ; Thus doe those bold and busie spirits , vvho vvill needs draw too neare vnto that inacessible light ; and looke into things too vvonderfull for them , So long doe they houer about the secret counsailes of the Almighty , till the vvings of their presumptuous conceits bee scorched , and their daring curiositie hath paid them with euerlasting destruction ; Oh LORD , let mee bee blessed with the knowledge of what thou hast reuealed , Let mee content my selfe to adore thy diuine wisedome in what thou hast not reuealed ; so let mee inioy thy light , that I may auoyd thy fire . * ⁎ * XXXV . Vpon the sight of a Larke flying vp . HOw nimbly doth that little Larke mount vp singing towards Heauen , in a right line ; whereas the Hauke , which is stronger of body , and swifter of wing , towr●● vp by many graduall compasses to his highest pitch ? that bulke of body , and length of wing hinders a direct ascent , and requires the helpe both of ayre , and scope to aduance his flight ; whiles that small bird cuts the ayre without resistance , and needs no outward furtherance of her motion ; It is no otherwise with the soules of men in flying vp to their Heauen ; some are hindered by those powers which would seeme helps to their saring vp thither ; great wit , deepe iudgement , quicke apprehension , sends men about with no small labour for the recouery of their owne incombrance ; whiles the good affections of plaine simple soules raises them vp immediately , to the fruition of God ; vvhy should vve be proud of that vvhich may slacken our vvay to Glory ; vvhy should vvee bee dishartened vvith the small measure of that , the very vvant whereof may ( as the heart may be affected ) facilitate our vvay to happinesse ? XXXVI . Vpon the singing of the Birds in a Spring morning . HOw cheerefully doe these little Birds chirpe and sing out of the naturall ioy they conceiue at the approach of the Sun , and entrance of the Spring ; as if their life had departed , and returned with those glorious and comfortable beames ; No otherwise is the penitent and faithfull soule affected to the true Sunne of Righteousnes , the Father of lights ? When he hides his face , it is troubled , and silently mournes away that sad Winter of Affliction ; When hee returnes , in his presence is the fulnesse of ioy ; no song is cheerefull enough to welcome him ; Oh thou , who art the GOD of all consolation , make my heart sensible of the sweet comforts of thy gracious presence , and let my mouth euer show forth thy praise . XXXVII . Vpon a Coale couered with ashes . NOthing appeares in this heape , but dead ashes ; heere is neyther light , nor smoake , nor heate , and yet , when I stirre vp these embers to the bottome , there are found some liuing gleeds ▪ which doe both containe fire , and are apt to propagate it ; Many a Christians breast is like this hearth ; no life of Grace appeares there , for the time , eyther to his owne sence , or to the apprehension of others , whiles the season of temptation lasteth , all seemes cold and dead ; yet still at the vvorst , there is a secret coale from the Altar of Heauen rak't vp in their bosome ; vvhich vpon the gracious motions of the Almighty , doth both bewray some Remainders of that diuine fire , and is easily raised to a perfect flame ; Nothing is more dangerous then to iudge by appearances : Why should I deiect my selfe , or censure others for the vtter extinction of that spirit , which doth but hide it selfe in the soule for a glorious aduantage ? XXXVIII . Vpon the sight of a Blackemore . LOe , there is a Man vvhose hew showes him to bee farre from home , his very skin bewayes his Climate ; it is night in his face , whiles it is day in ours ; What a difference there is in men , both in their fashion , and colour ; and yet all Children of one Father ? Neither is there lesse variety in their insides ; their dispositions , iudgements , opinions differ as much as their shapes , and complexions , That which is beauty to one , is deformity to another ; Wee should bee lookt vpon in this mans Country , with no lesse wonder , and strange coynesse , then hee is heere ; our whitenesse would passe there for an vnpleasing indigestion of forme ; Outward beauty is more in the eye of the beholder , then in the face that is seene ; in euery colour that is faire which pleaseth : The very Spouse of Christ can say , I am blacke but comely ; this is our colour Spiritually , yet the eye of our gracious GOD and Sauiour can see that beautie in vs , wherwith he is delighted ; The true MOSES marries a Blackemore , CHRIST his Church : It is not for vs to regard the skin , but the Soule : If that bee innocent , pure , holy , the blots of an out-side cannot set vs off from the loue of him who hath said ; Behold , thou art faire my Sister , my spouse ; if that be foule and blacke , it is not in the power of an Angelicall brightnesse of our hide , to make vs other then a loathsome Eye sore to the Almighty ; O GOD. , make my inside louely to thee ; I know that beauty will hold ; whiles weather , casualty , age , disease may deforme the outer-man , and marre both colour and features . XXXIX . Vpon the small Starres in the Galaxie or milkie Circle in the Firmament . VVHat a cleere lightsomnesse there is in yonder Circle of the Heauen aboue the rest ? What can wee suppose the reason of it , but that the light of many smaler starres is vnited there , and causes that constant brightnesse ? And yet those small starres are not discerned whiles the splendor which ariseth from them is so notably remarkable : In this lower heauen of ours , many a man is made conspicuous by his good qualities , and deserts , but I most admire the humility and grace of those , whose vertues and merits are vsefully visible , whiles their persons are obscure ; It is secretly glorious for a man to shine vnseene ; Doubtlesse it is the height that makes those stars so small , and insensible ; were they lower , they would bee seene more ; there is no true greatnesse without a selfe-humiliation ; we shall haue made an ill vse of our aduancement , if by how much higher we are , wee doe not appeare lesse ; If our light be seene , it matters not for our hiding . XL. Vpon the sight of Boyes playing . EVery age hath some peculiar contentment ; Thus wee did , when wee were of these yeares ; Me thinkes I still remember the old feruour of my young pastimes . With what eagernesse and passion doe they pursue these Childish sports ; Now , that there is a whole handfull of cherry-stones at the stake , how neare is that boyes heart to his mouth , for feare of his play fellowes next cast ? and how exalted with desire and hope of his owne speed ; those great vnthrifts who hazard whole Mannors vpon the Dice , cannot expect their chance with more earnestnesse , or entertaine it with more ioy , or griefe : We cannot but now smile to thinke of these poore and foolish pleasures of our Childhood ; there is no lesse disdaine that the Regenerate man conceiues of the dearest delights of his naturall condition ; He was once iolly , and iocond , in the fruition of the world : feasts and reuels , and games , and dalliance were his life ; and no man could bee happy without these ; and scarce any man but himselfe ; but when once Grace hath made him both good and wise , how scornfully doth hee looke backe at these fond felicities of his carnall estate ; now he findes more manly , more diuine contentments ; and wonders hee could bee so transported with his former vanity . Pleasures are much according as they are esteemed ; One mans delight is another mans paine ; Onely Spirituall and Heauenly things can settle and satiate the heart with a full and firme contentation ; Oh GOD , thou art not capable eyther of bettering , or of change ; let me enioy thee ; and I shall pitty the miserable ficklenesse of those that want thee ; and shall bee sure to bee constantly happy . * ⁎ * XLI . Vpon the sight of a Spider and her Web. HOw iustly doe wee admire the curious worke of this Creature ? What a thred doth it spin forth ? What a web doth it weaue ? Yet it is full of deadly poyson ; There may bee much venome , where is much Art ; Iust like to this is a learned , & witty Heretick ; fine conceits , and elegant expressions fall from him , but his opinions & secretly-couched doctrines are dangerous , & mortall ; were not that man strangely foolish , who because he likes the artificiall drawing out of that web , would therefore desire to handle , or eate the Spider that made it ? Such should bee our madnes , if our wonder at the skill of a false teacher should cast vs into loue with his person , or familiarity with his writings ; There can bee no safety in our iudgement or affection , without a wise distinction ; in the want whereof wee must needs wrong GOD , or our selues : GOD , if wee acknowledge not what excellent parts hee giues to any Creature ; our selues , if vpon the allowance of those excellencies , wee swallow their most dangerous enormities . XLII . Vpon the sight of a Naturall . OH God , Why am not I thus ? What hath this man done , that thou hast denyed wit to him ? or what haue I done that thou shouldst giue a competency of it to mee ? What difference is there betwixt vs but thy bounty , which hath bestowed vpon mee what I could not merit , and hath withheld from him what hee could not challenge . All is , O God , in thy good pleasure , whether to giue , or deny ; Neither is it otherwise in matter of Grace . The vnregenerate man is a Spirituall foole ; no man is truly wise but the renewed ; how is it , that whiles I see another man besotted with the vanity and corruption of his nature ; I haue attained to know God , and the great mystery of Saluation , to abhorre those sins which are pleasing to a wicked appetite ? Who hath discerned me ? Nothing but thy free mercy , O my GOD ; why else was I a Man not a brute Beast ? Why right shaped , not a Monster ? Why perfectly limmed , not a cripple ? Why well-fensed , not a foole ? Why well affected , not graceles ? why a vessell of honour , not of wrath ? If ought be not ill in mee , O LORD , it is thine ; Oh let thine bee the praise , and mine the thankfulnesse . XLIII . Vpon the Loadstone and the Iett . AS there is a ciuil commerce amongst men for the preseruation of humane Society , so there is a naturall commerce which GOD hath set amongst the other Creatures for the maintenance of their common being ; There is scarce any thing therefore in nature , which hath not a power of attracting some other ; The fire drawes vapors to it , the Sunne drawes the fire-Plants drawes moysture , the Moone drawes the Sea , all purgatiue things draw their proper humors , a naturall instinct drawes all sensitiue Creatures to affect their owne kinde ; and euen in those things which are of imperfect mixtion , wee see this experimented , So as the senselesse stones and mettals are not voyd of this actiue vertue ; the loadstone drawes Iron , and the iett , rather then nothing , drawes vp strawes , and dust ; with what a force do both these stones worke vpon their seuerall Subiects ; is there any thing more heauy and vnapt for motion then Iron , or steele ? Yet these doe so run to their beloued loadstone , as if they had the sence of a desire and delight ; and doe so cling to the point of it , as if they had forgotten their weight for this adherence . Is their any thing more apt for dispersion then small strawes , and dust ? yet these gather to the Iett , and so sensibly leape vp to it , as if they had a kind of ambition to be so perferred ; Me thinks , I see in these two a meere Embleme of the hearts of men , & their spirituall attractiues ; The grace of Gods spirit , like the true Loadstone , or Adamant , drawes vp the yron heart of man to it , and holds it in a constant fixednesse of holy purposes , and good actions ; The world like the Iett drawes vp the sensuall hearts of light and Vaine men , and holds them fast in the pleasures of sin . I am thine yron , O Lord , be thou my Loadstone . Draw thou mee and I shall run after thee : Knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy name . * ⁎ * XLIIII . Vpon hearing of Musicke by night . HOw sweetly doth this Musicke sound in this dead season ? In the day time it would not , it could not so much affect the eare ? All harmonious sounds are aduanced by a silent darkenesse ; Thus it is with the glad tidings of Saluation ; The Gospell neuer sounds so sweet , as in the night of persecution , or of our owne priuate affliction ; It is euer the same , the difference is in our disposition to receiue it . O God , whose praise it is to giue songs in the night , make my prosperity conscionable , and my crosses cheerfull . XLV . Vpon the fanning of Corne. SEe how in the fanning of this Wheat , the fullest and greatest graines lye euer the lowest ; and the lightest take vp the highest place ; It is no otherwise in mortalitie ; those which are most humble , are fullest of Grace ; and oft times those haue most conspicuity , which haue the least substance ; To affect obscurity or submission , is base and suspicious ; but that man whose modesty presents him meane to his owne eyes , and lowly to others , is commonly secretly rich in vertue ; Giue me rather a low fulnesse then an empty aduancement ; XLVI . Vpon Herbs dryed . THey say those herbes will keepe best , and will longer retaine both their hewe and verdure , which are dryed thus in the shade , then those which are suddainly scorched with fire , or Sunne ; Those wits are like to bee most durable , which are closely tutored with a leisurely education ; Time and gentle Constancy ripens better then a suddaine violence ; Neyther is it otherwise in our spirituall condition ; A wilfull slacknesse is not more dangerous , then an ouer-hastening of our perfection ; If I may be euery moment drawing nearer to the end of my hope , I shall not wish to precipitate . XLVII . Vpon the quenching of Iron in water . HArke how that Iron quenched in the water hisseth , and makes that noyse , which whiles it was cold , or dry , it would neuer make ; wee cannot quench hot and vnruly desires in youth without some mutiny , and rebellious opposition . Corruptions cannot be subdu'd without some relucation , and that reluctation cannot bee without some tumult : After some short noyse , and smoake , and bubbling , the mettall is quiet and holds to the forme , whereinto it is beaten , O GOD , why should it trouble mee to finde my good indeauours resisted , for the little brunt of a change , whiles I am sure this insurrection shall end in an happie peace ? XLVIII . Vpon a faire coloured Fly. WHat a pleasant mixture of colors there is in this Flye ; and yet they say , no flye is so venemous as this ; which by the outward touch of the hand corrodes the inmost passages of the body ; It is no trusting to colours , and shapes ; wee may wonder at their Excellency ; without dotage vpon their Beautie . Homelinesse makes lesse shew , and hath lesse danger ; Giue mee inward vertue and vsefulnesse ; let others care for outward glory . XLIX . Vpon a Glow-worme . WHat a cold Candle is lighted vp in the body of this sorry Worme ? There needs no other disproofe of those that say there is no light at all without some heate ; Yet sure an outward heate helps on this coole light ; Neuer did I see any of these bright wormes but in the hote moneths of Summer ; in cold seasons , eyther they are not , or appeare not , when the nights are both darkest , and longest , and most vncomfortable . Thus doe false-hearted Christians in the warme and lightsome times of free and incouraged profession , none shine more then they ; In hard & gloomy seasons of restraint , and persecution all their formal light is eyther lost , or hid ; Whereas true Professors eyther like the Sun shine euer alike , or , like the Starres , shine fairest in the frostiest nights : The light of this worme is for some shew , but for no vse ; any light that is attended with heate can impart it selfe to others , though with the expence of that subiect wherein it is ; this doth neither wast it selfe , nor helpe others ; I had rather neuer to haue light , then not to haue it alwayes ; I had rather not to haue light ; then not to communicate it . L. Vpon the shutting of one Eye . WHen wee would take ayme , or see most exquisitely , wee shut one eye : Thus must wee doe with the eyes of our Soule ; When wee would looke most accurately with the eye of Faith , wee must shut the eye of Reason ; else the visuall beames of these two apprehensions , will bee crossing each other , and hinder our cleare discerning ; Yea rather , let mee pull out this right eye of Reason , then it shall offend mee in the interruptions of mine happy Visions of GOD. LI. Vpon a Spring-water . HOw this Spring smoketh , whiles other greater Channels are frozen vp ; this water is liuing , whiles they are dead ; All experience teacheth vs that Well-waters arising from deepe springs , are hotter in Winter , then in Summer ; the outward cold doth keepe in , and double their inward heat . Such is a true Christian in the euill day ; his life of Grace gets more vigor by opposition ; hee had not beene so gracious , if the times had beene better ; I will not say hee may thanke his enemies , but I must say hee may thanke God for his Enemies ; O GOD , what can put out that heate , which is increased with cold ? How happy shall I be , if I may grow so much more in Grace , as the World in Malice ? * ⁎ * LII . Vpon Gnats in the Sunne . VVHat a Cloud of Gnats is heere ? Marke their motion ; they doe nothing but play vp and downe in the warme Sunne , and sing ; and when they haue done , sit downe and sting the next hand , or face they can seize vpon ; See heere a perfect embleme of Idlenesse and Detraction ; how many do thus miserably mispend their good houres ? Who after they haue wasted the succeeding dayes in vaine , and meerely-vnprofitable pastime , sit downe , and backe-bite their Neighbours . The Bee sings too sometimes , but shee workes also : and her worke is not more admirable , then vsefull ; but these foolish Flyes , doe nothing but play , and sing to no purpose ; euen the busiest , and most actiue spirits most recreate , but to make a Trade of sport , is for none but lazie Wantons . The Bee stings too ; but it is when shee is prouoked ; these draw blood , vnoffended , and sting for their owne pleasure : I would bee glad of some recreation but to enable , and sweeten my worke ; I would not but sting sometimes where is iust cause of offence . But God blesse mee from those men , which will euer bee eyther doing nothing , or ill . LIII . Vpon the sight of Grapes . MArke the difference of these Grapes ; There you see a cluster , whose grapes touch one another , well ripened ; heere you see some straglers , which grow almost solitarily , greene and hard . It is thus with vs , Christian societie helpeth our progresse ; And , woe to him that is alone ; Hee is well , that is the better for others ; but he is happy by whom others are better . LIIII . Vpon a Corne field ouergrowne with Weeds . HEere were a goodly field of Corne , if it were not ouer-laid with Weeds ; I doe not like these reds , and blewes , and yellowes , amongst these plaine stalkes and eares : This beauty would doe well else-where ; I had rather to see a plot lesse faire , and more yeilding ; In this Field I see a true picture of the World ; wherein there is more Glory , then true substance ; Wherein the greater part carries it from the better ; Wherein the natiue Sonnes of the Earth out-strip the aduentitious brood of grace ; Wherein Parasites and vnprofitable hang-byes doe both rob , and over-top their Masters ; Both Field and World grow alike , looke alike ; and shall end alike ; both are for the fire ; whiles the homely and solide eares of despised Vertue shall be for the garners of immortality . LV. Vpon the sight of Tulipaes and Marygolds , &c. in his Garden . THese Flowers are true Clients of the Sunne ; how obseruant they are of his motion , and influence ? At euen , they shut vp , as mourning for his departure , without whom they neyther can nor would flourish , in the morning , they welcome his rising with a cheereful opennesse , and at noone , are fully display'd in a free acknowledgment of his bounty : Thus doth the good heart vnto God ; When thou turnedst away thy face I was troubled , saith the man after Gods owne heart ; In thy presence is life , yea the fulnesse of ioy : Thus doth the carnall heart to the world ; when that withdrawes his fauour , hee is deiected ; and reuiues with a smile : All is in our choyse ; whatsoeuer is our Sun will thus carry vs ; O God , bee thou to mee , such as thou art in thy selfe ; thou shalt bee mercifull in drawing mee ; I shall bee happy in following thee . LVI . Vpon the sound of a crack't Bell. WHat an harsh sound doth this Bell make in euery eare ? The Mettall is good enough ; it is the rifte that makes it so vnpleasingly iarring ; How too like is this Bell to a scandalous and ill-liued Teacher ? His calling is honourable ; his noyse is heard farre enough ; but the flawe ( which is noted in his life ) marres his Doctrine ; and offends those eares which else would take pleasure in his teaching ; It is possible that such a one , euen by that discordous noyse may ring in others into the Tryumphant Church of Heauen ; but there is no remedy for himselfe but the fire ; whether for his reforming , or iudgment . * ⁎ * LVII . Vpon the sight of a blinde Man. HOw much am I bound to GOD that hath giuen mee eyes to see this Mans want of eyes ? With what suspition and feare he walkes ? How doth his hand and staffe examine his way ? With what iealousie doth he receiue euery morsell , euery draught , and yet meets with many a post , and stumbles at many a stone , and swallowes many a flye . To him the world is as if it were not , or as if it were all rubbes , and snares , and downfalls ; And if any man will lend him an hand , he must trust to his ( how euer faithlesse ) guide without all comfort saue this , that hee cannot see himselfe mis-carry . Many a one is thus Spiritually blind , and because hee is so , discernes it not ; and not discerning complaines not of so wofull a condition . The God of this world hath blinded the eyes of the Children of disobedience ; they walke on in the wayes of death ; and yield themselues ouer to the guidance of him who seekes for nothing but their precipitation into Hell. It is an addition to the misery of this inward occaecation , that it is euer ioyned with a secure confidence in them whose trade and ambition is to betray their Soules . What euer become of these outward sences which are common to mee with the meanest , and most despicable creatures ; O Lord , giue mee not ouer to that Spirituall darknesse , which is incident to none but those that liue without thee , and must perish eternally , because they want thee . LVIII . Vpon a Beech-tree full of Nuts . HOw is this Tree ouerladen with mast , this yeare ? It was not so the last ; neither will it ( I warrant you ) bee so the next ; It is the Nature of these free Trees , so to powre out themselues into fruit , at once , that they seeme afterwards eyther sterile , or niggardly : So haue I seene pregnant wits ( not discreetly gouerned ) ouerspend themselues in some one maister-peece so lauishly , that they haue prooued eyther barren , or poore and flatt in all other subiects . True-Wisedome as it serues to gather due sap both for nourishment , and fructification , so it guides the seasonable and moderate bestowing of it in such manner , as that one season may not be a glutton , vvhiles others famish : I vvould be glad to attaine to that measure and temper that vpon all occasions I might alwayes haue enough , neuer too much . LIX . Vpon the sight of a peece of Mony vnder the Water . I Should not vvish ill to a Couetous man , if I should wish all his Coine in the bottome of the Riuer ; No pauement could so well become that streame ; no sight could better fit his greedy desires ; for there euery peece , vvould seeme double , euery teston would appeare a shilling , euery Crowne an Angell . It is the nature of that element to greaten appearing quantities ; vvhiles wee looke through the ayre vpon that solide body , it can make no other representations : Neither is it otherwise in spirituall eyes , and obiects ; if wee looke with carnall eyes through the interposed meane of sensuality , euery base and worthlesse pleasure will seeme a large contentment ; if with weake eyes wee shall looke at small and immateriall truthes aloofe off , in another element of apprehension , euery parcell thereof shall seeme maine , and essentiall ; hence euery knack of heraldry in the sacred genealogies , & euery Scholasticall quirke in disquisitions of Diuinity , are made matters of no lesse then life , and death to the Soule . It is a great improuement of true wisedome to be able to see things as they are , and to value them as they are seene . Let mee labour for that power and stayednesse of iudgment , that neither my senses may deceiue my mind , nor the obiect may delude my sense . * ⁎ * LX. Vpon the first rumour of the Earth-quake at Lime , wherein a Wood was swallowed vp with the fall of two Hills . GOod LORD ; how doe wee know when wee are sure ? If there were Man or Beast in that-Wood , they seemed as safe as wee now are ; they had nothing but Heauen aboue them , nothing but firme Earth below them ; and yet in what a dreadfull pit-fall were they instantly taken ; There is no fence for Gods hand ; A man would as soone haue feared that Heauen would fall vpon him , as those Hills ? It is no pleasing our selues with the vnlikelyhood of diuine iudgemens . We haue oft heard of Hills couered with Woods , but of Woods couered with Hills I thinke neuer till now ; Those that planted or sowed those Woods , intended they should bee spent with fire , but , Loe , GOD meant they should bee deuoured with Earth ; Wee are wont to describe impossibilities by the meeting of Mountaines , and behold heere two Mountaines are met , to swallow vp a Valley ; What a good God it is whose prouidence ouer-rules , and disposes of all these euents ? Townes or Cities might as well haue beene thus buried , as a solitary Dale , or a shrubby Wood : Certainly the God that did this , would haue the vse of it reach further then the noyse ; this hee did , to show vs what hee could , what hee might doe ; If our hearts doe not quake , and rend at the acknowledgement of his infinite Power , and feare of his terrible iudgements as well as that Earth did , we must expect to bee made warnings , that would take none . LXI . Vpon the sight of a Dormouse . AT how easie a rate doe these Creatures liue that are fed with rest ; So the Beare and the Hedge-hog ( they say ) spend their whole winter in sleepe , and rise vp fatter then they lay downe ; How oft haue I enuyed the thriuing drowsinesse of these Beasts ; When the toyle of thoughts hath bereaued mee of but one houres sleepe ; and left mee languishing to a new taske ; and yet , when I haue vvell digested the comparison of both these conditions , I must needs say , I had rather vvaste vvith vvorke , then batten vvith ease ; & would rather choose a life profitably painfull , then vselessely dull and delicate . I cannot tell vvhether I should say those Creatures liue , vvhich doth nothing ; since vve are vvont euer to notifie life by motion ; Sure I am their life is not vitall ; For mee , Let me rather complaine of a mind that vvill not let mee bee idle , then of a body that vvill not let mee vvorke . LXII . Vpon Bees fighting . VVHat a pitty it is to see these profitable , industrious Creatures fall so furiously vpon each other , and thus sting and kill each other , in the very mouth of the Hiue ; I could like vvell to see the Bees doe this execution vpon Waspes , and droanes , enemies to their common stocke , this sauours but of Iustice ; But to see them fall foule vpon those of their owne wing , it cannot but trouble their owner , vvho must needs bee an equall leeser by the victory of eyther ; There is no more perfect reesemblance of a Common-vvealth , vvhether ciuill , or sacred , then in an Hiue : The Bees are painfull and honest Compatriots , labouring to bring Waxe and Hony to the maintenance of the publike state ; The Waspes and Droanes are vnprofitable and harmefull Hangbyes , which liue vpon the spoyle of others labours ; whether as common Barattors , or strong Theeues , or bold Parasites , they doe nothing but robbe their Neighbours . It is an happie sight vvhen these feele the dint of Iustice , and are cut off from doing further mischiefe ; But to see well-affected and beneficiall Subiects vndoe themselues vvith duells , vvhether of Law , or Sword ; to see good Christians of the same profession , shedding each others blood , vpon quarrels of Religion , is no other then a sad and hateful spectacle ; and so much the more , by hovv much wee haue more meanes of reason and Grace to compose our differences , and correct our offensiue contentiousnesse ; Oh GOD , who art at once the Lord of Host , and Prince of Peace , giue vs warre with spirituall wickednes , and Peace with our Brethen . * ⁎ * LXIII . Vpon Waspes falling into a Glasse . SEe you that narrow-mouthed glasse , vvhich is set neare to the Hiue , marke how busily the Waspes resort to it ; being drawne thither by the smell of that sweet liquor vvherewith it is bayted ; see how eagerly they creepe into the mouth of it ; and fall downe suddainely from that slippery steepnesse , into that watery trap , from which they can neuer rise ; there , after some vaine labour , and wearinesse , they drowne , and dye ; You doe not see any of the Bees looke that way ; they passe directly to their Hiue , without any notice taken of such a pleasing Bayt ; Idle and ill disposed persons are drawne away with euery temptation ; they haue both leisure and will to intertaine euery sweet allurement to sin , and wantonly prosecute their owne wicked lusts till they fall into irrecouerable damnation ; Whereas the diligent and laborious Christian , that followes hard and conscionably the workes of an honest calling , is free from the danger of these deadly intisements , and layes vp hony of comfort against the Winter of euill ; Happy is that man who can see and inioy the successe of his labour ; but , how euer , this wee are sure of ; if our labour cannot purchase the good wee would haue , it shall preuent the euill wee would auoyd . * ⁎ * LXIIII. Vpon a Spring in a wilde Forrest . LOe heere the true patterne of Bounty ; What cleare chrystall streames are heere , and how liberally doe they gush forth and hasten downe , vvith a pleasing murmur , into the Valley ; Yet you see neyther Man nor Beast , that takes part of that vvholsome and pure vvater ; It is enough , that those may dip vvho vvill ; the refusall of others doth no whit abate of this proffered plenty ; Thus bountifull House-keepers keepers hold on their set ordinary prouision , whether they haue guests , or no ; Thus conscionable Preachers powre out the liuing Waters of wholsome Doctrine , whether their Hearers partake of those blessed meanes of Saluation , or neglect their holy indeauours ; Let it bee our comfort that wee haue beene no niggards of thes coelestiall streames , let the world giue an account of the improuement . LXV . Vpon the sight of an Owle in the twilight . WHat a strange Melancholicke life doth this Creature lead ; to hide her head , all the day long , in an yuie-bush , and at night , when all other Birds are at rest , to flye abroad , and vent her harsh notes ; I know not why the ancients haue sacred this Bird to wisedome , except it be for her safe closenesse , and singular perepicacity ; that when other domesticall and ayrie Creatures are blind , shee onely hath inward light to discerne the least obiects for her owne aduantage ; Surely thus much wit they haue taught vs in her ; that hee is the wisest man , that would haue least to doe with the multitude ; that no life is so safe as the obscure ; that retirednesse , if it haue lesse comfort , yet lesse danger and vexation ; Lastly , that hee is truly wise who sees by a light of his owne , when the rest of the world sit in an ignorant and confused darknesse , vnable to apprehend any truth , saue by the helpes of an outward illumination . Had this Fowle comne forth in the day time , how had all the little Birds flock't wondring about her , to see her vncouth visage , to heare her vntuned notes ; shee likes her estate neuer the worse , but pleaseth her selfe in her owne quiet reseruednesse ; It is not for a wise man to bee much affected with the censures of the rude and vnskilfull vulgar , but to hold fast vnto his owne well-chosen and well-fixed resolutions ; Euery foole knowes what is wont to be done ; but what is best to bee done , is knowne onely to the wise . LXVI . Vpon an arme benummed . HOw benummed and ( for the time ) senselesse is this arme of mine becomne , onely with too long leaning vpon it ? Whiles I vsed it to other seruices , it fayled mee not , now that I haue rested vpon it , I finde cause to complaine ; It is no trusting to an arme of flesh ; On whatsoeuer occasion we put our confidence therein , this relyance will bee sure to end in paine , and disappointment ; O GOD , thine arme is strong and mighty ; all thy Creatures rest themselues vpon that , and are comfortably sustained ; Oh that wee were not more capable of distrust , then thine omnipotent hand is of wearinesse and subduction . * ⁎ * LXVII . Vpon the Sparkes flying vpward . IT is a feeling comparison ( that of IOB ) of man borne to labour , as the sparkes to flye vpward ; That motion of theirs is no other then naturall ; Neyther is it otherwise for man to labour ; his minde is created actiue , and apt to some or other ratiocination ; his ioynts all stirring ; his nerues made for helps of mouing ; and his occasions of liuing call him forth to action : So as an idle man doth not more want Grace , then degenerate from Nature . Indeed , at the first kindling of the fire , some sparkes are wont , by the impulsion of the Bellowes , to flie forward , or sideward ; and euen so , in our first Age , youthly vanity may moue vs to irregular courses ; but when those first violences are ouercome ; and wee haue attained to a setlednesse of disposition , our sparkes flye vp , our life is labour ; And why should wee not doe that , which we are made for ? Why should not GOD rather grudge vs our being , then wee grudge him our worke ? It is no thanke to vs that wee labour out of necessity ; out of my obedience to thee , O GOD I desire euer to bee imployed ; I shall neuer haue comfort in my toyle , if it be rather a purueyance for my selfe , then a Sacrifice to thee . * ⁎ * LXVIII . Vpon the sight of a Rauen . I Cannot see that Bird but I must needs thinke of ELIAH ; and wonder no lesse at the miracle of his faith then of his prouision ; It was a strong beleefe that carryed him into a desolate retirednesse to expect food from Rauens ; This fowle , wee know , is rauenous ; all is too little that hee can forage for himselfe ; and the Prophets reason must needs suggest to him , that in a dry barren Desart bread and flesh must be great dainties ; yet he goes aside to expect victuals from that purueyance ; Hee knew this Fowle to bee no lesse greedy , then vncleane ; Vncleane , as in Law , so in the nature of his seed ; What is his ordinary prey but loathsome carrion ? Yet since GOD had appointed him this Cator , he stands nor vpon the nice points of a fastidious squeamishnesse , but confidently depends vpon that vncouth prouision ; And accordingly , these vnlikely purueyours bring him bread and flesh in the Morning , and bread and flesh in the Euening . Not one of those hungry Rauens could swallow one morsell of those viandes , which were sent , by them , to a better mouth ; The Riuer of Cherith sooner fayled him , then the tender of their Seruice No doubt , ELIAHS stomacke was often vp before that his incurious dyet came ; When expecting from the mouth of his Caue , out of what Coast of Heauen these his Seruitors might bee descryed , vpon the sight of them , hee magnified , with a thankefull heart , the wonderfull goodnesse and truth of his GOD ; and was nourished more with his faith , then with his food : O GOD , how infinite is thy prouidence , wisedome , power ? We creatures are not what wee are , but what thou wilt haue vs ; when thy turne is to be serued , wee haue none of our owne ; Giue mee but faith , and doe what thou wilt . LXIX . Vpon a Worme . IT was an homely expression which GOD makes of the state of his Church , Feare not , thou Worme IACOB ; Euery foot is ready to tread on this despised Creature ; Whiles it keepes it selfe in that cold obscure Cell of the earth ( wherein it was hidden ) it lay safe , because it was secret , but now that it hath put it selfe forth ; of that close Ca●e , and hath presented it selfe to the light of the Sunne , to the eye of Passengers ; how is it vexed with the scorching beames , and wrings vp and downe , in an helplesse perplexity ; not finding where to shrowd it selfe ; how obnoxious is it to the foules of the ayre , to the feet of men , and beasts ? He that made this Creature such , and calls his Church so , well knew the answerablenesse of their condition : How doth the World ouer-looke , and contemne that little slocke , whose best-gard hath euer bin secrecy ? And if euer that despicable number haue dared to shew it selfe , how hath it 〈◊〉 scorched , and tramp●ed vpon , and intertained with all variety of Persecution ? O Sauiour , thy Spouse fares no otherwise then thy selfe ; to match her fully , thou hast said of thy selfe , I am a Worme and no man ; Such thou wert in thine humbled estate , here on earth ; such thou wouldst bee ; But , as it is a true word that hee who made the Angels in Heauē , made also the Wormes on earth , so it is no lesse true , that hee who made himselfe and his Church Wormes vpon Earth , hath raised our nature in his person aboue the Angels , and our person in his Church to little lesse then Angels ; It matters not how wee fare in this Valley of tears , whiles wee are sure ; of that infinite amends of Glory aboue . LXX . Vpon the putting on of his Cloathes . VVHat a poore thing were Man , if hee were not beholden to other Creatures ? The Earth affords him flaxe for his linnen , bread for his belly , the Beasts his ordinary cloathes , the Silke-worme his brauery ; the backe and bowels of the Earth his mettals and fuell ; the Fishes , Fowles , Beasts his nourishment ; His wit indeed workes vpon all these , to improue them to his owne aduantage ; but they must yield him materials , else hee subsists not . And yet wee fooles are proud of our selues , yea proud of the cast Suites of the very basest Creatures : There is not one of them that haue so much need of vs ; They would inioy themselues the more , if Man were not ; Oh GOD , the more wee are sensible of our owne indigence , the more let vs wonder at thine alsufficiency in thy selfe ; and long for that happie condition , wherein thou ( which art all perfection ) shalt bee all in all to vs. LXXI . Vpon the sight of a great Library . VVHat a world of wit is here pack't vp together ? I know not whether this sight doth more dismay , or comfort me ; it dismayes me to thinke , that heere is so much that I cannot know ; It comforts mee , to thinke that this variety yeelds so good helps to know what I should ; There is no truer word then that of SALOMON , There is no end of making many Bookes ; this sight verifies it ; There is no end ; indeed , it were pitty there should . GOD hath giuen to Man a busie Soule ; the agitation whereof , cannot but through time and experience , worke out many hidden truthes ; to suppresse these would bee no other then iniurious to Mankind ; whose minds like vnto so many candles , should bee kindled by each other : The thoughts of our deliberation are most accurate ; these wee vent into our Papers ; What an happinesse is it , that , without all offence of Necromancy , I may here call vp any of the ancient Worthies of learning , whether humane , or diuine , and conferre with them of all my doubts ? That I can at pleasure summon whole Synodes of Reuerend Fathers , and acute Doctors from all the Coasts of the Earth ; to giue their well-studyed iudgements in all points of question which I propose ? Neyther can I cast my eye casually vpon any of these silent Maisters , but I must learne somewhat : It is a wantonnesse to complaine of choyse ; No Law bindes vs to read all ; but the more we can take in , and digest , the better-liking must the minds needs bee ; Blessed bee GOD that hath set vp so many cleare Lamps in his Church . Now , none but the wilfully blind can plead darknesse ; And blessed bee the memory of those his faithfull Seruants , that haue left their bloud , their spirits , their liu●● in these precious Papers ▪ and haue willingly wasted themselues into these during Monuments , to giue light vnto others . LXXII . Vpon the red Crosse on a doore . OH signe fearefully significant ; this Sicknesse is a Crosse indeed , and that a bloudy one ; both the forme and the colour import Death ; The Israelites doores whose lintells were besprinkled with blood , were passed ouer by the destroying Angell ; here , the destroying Angell hath smitten , and hath left this marke of his deadly blow ; Wee are wont to fight cheerefully vnder this Ensigne abroad , and be victorious ; Why should we tremble at it at home ? Oh GOD , there thou fightest for vs , heere against vs ; Vnder that wee haue fought for thee , but vnder this ( because our sinnes haue fought against thee ) wee are fought against by thy iudgements . Yet Lord , it is thy Crosse , though an heauy one ; It is ours by merit , thine by imposition ; O Lord , sanctifie thine affliction , and remoue thy vengeance . LXXIII . Vpon the change of Weather . I Know not whether it be worse , that the Heauen looke vpon vs alwayes with one face , or euer varying ; for as continuall change of Weather causes vncertainty of health , so a permanent setlednesse of one season , causeth a certainty of distemper ; perpetuall moysture disolues vs , perpetuall heate euaporates or inflames vs ; cold stupefies vs , drought obstructs and withers vs ; Neither is it otherwise in the state of the minde ; if our thoughts should bee alwayes Volatile , changing , inconstant , wee should neuer attaine to any good habite of the Soule , whether in matter of iudgement , or disposition ; but if they should bee alwayes fixed , wee should run into the danger of some disperate extremity ; to bee euer thinking , would make vs mad ; to bee euer thinking of our crosses , or sinnes , would make vs hartlesly deiected ; to bee euer thinking of Pleasures and Contentments , would melt vs into a loose Wantonnesse ; to bee euer doubting , and fearing , were an Hellish seruitude ; to bee euer bold , and confident , were a dangerous presumption ; but the interchanges of these in a due moderation , keepe the Soule in health ; O GOD , howsoeuer these Variations bee necessarie for my Spirituall condition ; Let mee haue no Weather but Sunne-shine from thee ; Doe thou lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon mee ; and stablish mee euer with thy free Spirit . LXXIIII . Vpon the sight of a Marriage . WHat a comfortable and feeling resemblance is heere of CHRIST , and his Church : I regard not the persons , I regard the institution ; Neyther the Husband , nor the Wife are now any more their owne ; they haue eyther of them giuen ouer themselues , to other ; not onely the Wife , which is the weaker vessell , hath yeilded ouer her selfe to the stronger protection , and participation of an abler head ; but the Husband hath resigned his right in himselfe ouer to his feebler consort ; So as now , her weaknesse is his ; his strength is hers ; Yea their very flesh hath altered property ; hers is his , his is hers ; Yea their very Soule and Spirit may no more bee seuered in respect of mutuall affection , then from their owne seuerall bodyes : It is thus , O Sauiour , with thee and thy Church ; Wee are not our owne , but thine ; who hast married vs to thy selfe in truth and righteousnesse ; What powers , what indowments haue wee but from , and in thee ? And as our holy boldnesse dares interesse our selues in thy graces , so thy wonderfully-compassionate mercy vouchsaues to interesse thy selfe in our infirmities ; thy poore Church suffers on Earth , thou feelest in Heauen ; & as complaining of our stripes , canst say , Why persecutest thou mee ? Thou againe art not so thine owne , as that thou art not also ours ; thy Sufferings , thy Merits , thy Obedience , thy Life , Death , Resurrection , Asscension , Intercession , Glory ; yea thy blessed Humanity , yea thy glorious Deity , by vertue of our right , of our Vnion , are so ours , as that wee would not giue our part in thee for ten thousand Worlds . Oh gracious Sauiour , as thou canst not but loue and cherish this poore and vnworthie Soule of mine , which thou hast mercifully espoused to thy selfe ; so giue mee Grace to honour and obey thee , and forsaking all the base and sinfull riuality of the World , to hold mee onely vnto thee whiles I liue here , that I may perfectly inioy thee heereafter . LXXV . Vpon the sight of a Snake . I Know not what horror wee finde in our selues at the sight of a Serpent ? Other Creatures are more loathsome , and some no lesse deadly then it ; yet , there is none , at which our bloud riseth so much , as at this ; Whence should this bee , but out of an instinct of our old enmitie ? Wee were stung in Paradise , and cannot but feele it : But here is our weaknesse ; It was not the body of the Serpent that could haue hurt vs , without the suggestion of sinne ; and yet wee loue the sinne whiles wee hate the Serpent ; Euery day are wee wounded with the sting of that old Serpent , and complaine not ; and so much more deadly is that sting , by how much it is lesse felt : There is a sting of guilt , and there is a sting of remorse ; there is mortall venome in the first , whereof wee are the least sensible ; there is lesse danger in the second ; The Israelites found thēselues stung by those fiery Serpents in the Desart ; and the sense of their paine sent them to seeke for Cure ; The World is our Desart ; and as the sting of Death is Sinne ; so the sting of Sinne is Death ; I doe not more with to finde ease then paine ; If I complaine enough , I cannot faile of cure ; O thou , which art the true brazen Serpent , lifted vp in this Wildernesse , raise vp mine eyes to thee , and fasten them vpon thee ; thy mercy shall make my soule whole , my wound soueraigne . LXXVI . Vpon the ruines of an Abby . IT is not so easie to say what it was that built vp these Walles , as what it was , that pull'd them downe ; euen the wickednesse of the Possessours ; Euery stone hath a tongue to accuse the Superstition , Hypocrisie , Idlenesse , Luxury of the late owners . Me thinkes I see it written all along , in Capitall letters vpon these heapes ; A fruitfull Land maketh hee barren for the iniquity of them that dwell therein ; Perhaps there wanted not some Sacriledge in the Demolishers ; in all the carriage of these businesses , there was a iust hand , that knew hovv to make an vvholsome and profitable vse of mutuall sins ; Full little did the Builders , or the in-dwellers thinke that this costly and warme Fabricke should so soone end violently in a desolate rubbish : It is not for vs to be high-minded , but to feare ; No Roofe is so hye , no Wall so strong , as that sinne cannot leuell it with the Dust ; Were any pile so close that it could keepe out ayre , yet it could not keepe out iudgement where sinne hath beene fore-admitted ; In vaine shall wee promise stability to those Houses which wee haue made witnesses of , and accessaries to our shamefull vncleannesses , The firmnesse of any building is not so much in the matter , as in the owner , Happy is that Cottage that hath an honest maister , and woe bee to that Palace that is viciously inhabited . LXXVII . Vpon the discharging of a Peece . GOod LORD ; how witty men are to kill one another ? What fine deuises they haue found out to murder a farre off ? To slay many at once ; and so to fetch off liues ; that whiles a whole Lane is made of Carcasses with one blow , no body knowes who hurt him ? And what honour doe wee place in slaughter ? Those armes , wherein wee pride our selues , are such , as which , wee , or our Ancestors haue purchased with blood ? The Monuments of our Glory , are the spoyles of a subdu'd and slaine Enemy ; Where contrarily , all the titles of God sound of Mercy , and gracious respects to Man : God the Father is the maker and preseruer of men ; God the Sonne is the Sauiour of Mankind ; God the Holy Ghost styles himselfe the Comforter : Alas , whose image doe we beare in this disposition , but his , whose true title is the Destroyer ? It is easie to take away the life , it is not easie to giue it ; Giue mee the man that can deuise how to saue Troupes of men from killing , his name shall haue roome in my Calender ; There is more true honour in a Ciuick garland , for the preseruing of one Subiect , then in a Lawrell , for the victory of many Enemies ; Oh God ; there are enow that bend their thoughts to vndoe what thou hast made , enable thou mee to bestow my indeauors in repriuing , or rescuing that which might otherwise perish ; Oh thou who art our common Sauiour , make thou mee both ambitious , and able to helpe to saue some other besides my selfe . LXXVIII . Vpon the tolling of a passing-Bell . HOw dolefull and heauy is this summons of Death ; This sound is not for our eares , but for our hearts ; it calls vs not onely to our prayers , but to our preparation ; To our Prayers for the departing Soule ; to our preparation for our owne departing ; Wee haue neuer so much need of Prayers , as in our last Combat ; then is our great Aduersary most eager ; then are wee the weakest , then nature is so ouer-laboured , that it giues vs not leisure to make vse of gracious motions ; There is no preparation so necessary as for this Conflict ; all our life is little enough to make ready for our last houre ; What am I better then my Neighbours ? How oft hath this Bell reported to me the farewell of many more strong and vigorous bodies then my owne ; of many more cheerfull and liuely spirits ? And now what doth it , but call mee to the thought of my parting ? Heere is no abiding for me ; I must away too ; Oh thou that art the GOD of comfort , helpe thy poore Seruant that is now strugling with his last enemie ; His sad friends stand gazing vpon him , and weeping ouer him , but they cannot succour him ; needs must they leaue him to do this great worke alone ; none but thou , to whom belong the issues of death , canst relieue his distressed and ouer-matched Soule ; And for mee , let no man dye without mee ; as I dye dayly , so teach mee to dye once ; acquaint mee before hand with that Messenger , which I must trust too ; Oh teach mee so to number my dayes , that I may apply my heart to true wisedome . LXXIX . Vpon a Defamation dispersed . WEre I the first ▪ or the best that euer was slandered , perhaps it would bee somewhat difficult to command my selfe patience , Griefe is wont to bee abated eyther by partners , or precedents ; the want , whereof deiects vs beyond measure , as men singled out for patternes of misery : Now , whiles I finde this the common condition of all that euer haue beene reputed vertuous , why am I troubled with the whisperings of false tongues ? O GOD , * the Diuell slandered thee in Paradise ; O Sauiour , men slandered thee on earth more then Men or Diuels can reproach mee ; Thou art the best , as thou art the best , that euer was smitten by a lying and venemous tongue : It is too much fauour that is done mee by malicious lippes , that they conforme mee to thy sufferings ; I could not bee so happie if they were not so spightfull ; Oh thou glorious patterne of reproached innocence , if I may not dye for thee , yet let mee thus bleed with thee . LXXX . Vpon a ring of Bels. WHiles euery Bell keepes due time , and order , what a sweet & harmonious sound they make ? All the nieghbour Villages are cheared with that common Musicke ; but when once they iarre , and checke each other ; eyther iangling together , or striking preposterously , how harsh and vnpleasing is that noyse ; So that as wee testifie our publike reioycing by an orderly and well-tuned peale ; So when wee would signifie that the Towne is on fire wee ring confusedly . It is thus in Church and Common-wealth ; when euery one knowes and keepes their due rancks , there is a melodious consort of Peace and contentment ; but when distances , and proportions of respects are not mutually obserued ; when eyther States or persons will bee clashing with each other , the discord is grieuous , and extreamely preiudiciall ; such confusion eyther notifieth a fire already kindled , or portendeth it ; Popular States may ring the changes with safety ; but the Monarchicall gouernment requires a constant and regular course of the set degrees of rule and inferiority , which cannot bee violated without a sensible discontentment , and danger ; For mee , I doe so loue the peace of the Church and State , that I cannot but , with the charitable Apostle , say , Would to God they were cut off that trouble them ; and shall euer wish eyther no iarres , or no clappers . LXXXI . Vpon the sight of a full Table at a Feast . WHat great Variety is here , of flesh , of fish , of both , of neither ; as if both Nature and Art did striue to pamper vs ; Yet mee thinkes , enough is better then all this , Excesse is but a burden , as to the prouider , so to the Guest ; It pitties and greeues mee to thinke what toyle , what charge hath gone to the gathering of all these daintyes together , what paine so many poore Creatures haue beene put to , in dying for a needlesse Sacrifice to the Belly ; what a Penance must bee done by euery accumbent ; in sitting out the passage through all these dishes ; what a taske the stomacke must bee put to in the concoxion of so many mixtures ; I am not so austerely scrupulous as to deny the lawfulnesse of these abundant prouisions , vpon iust occasions ; I find my Sauior himselfe more then once at a Feast ; this is recorded as well as his one long Fast : Doubtlesse our bountifull GOD hath giuen vs his Creature , not for necessity onely , but for pleasure : But these exceedings would bee both rare , and moderate ; and when they must bee , require no lesse patience then temperance ; Might I haue my option , Oh GOD , giue mee rather a little with peace and loue ; Hee whose prouision for euery day , was thirty measures of fine flower , and threescore measures of Meale , thirty Oxen , an hundred Sheep , besides Venison , and Fowle , yet can pray , Giue mee the Bread of sufficiency ; Let mee haue no perpetuall Feast but a good Conscience ; & from these great preparations ( for the health both of Soule and body ) let mee rise rather hungry , then surcharged . LXXXII . Vpon the hearing of a Lute well play'd on . THere may bee ( for ought wee know ) infinite inuentions of Art , the possibility whereof wee should hardly euer beleeue , if they were fore-reported to vs ; Had wee liued in some rude , and remote part of the World , and should haue beene told , that it is possible onely by an hollow peece of Wood , and the guts of Beasts , stirred by the fingers of men , to make so sweet and melodious a noyse , wee should haue thought it vtterly incredible ; yet now that wee see and heare it ordinarily done , wee make it no wonder ; It is no maruell , if wee cannot fore-imagine , what kinde , and meanes of harmony GOD will haue vsed by his Saints , and Angels in Heauen ; when these poore matters seeme so strange to our conceits , which yet our very senses are conuinced of ; Oh GOD , thou knowest infinite wayes to glorifie thy selfe by thy Creatures , which doe farre transcend our weake , and finite capacities ; Let mee wonder at thy wisdome and power , and bee more awfull in my adoratious , then curious in my inquiries . LXXXIII . Vpon the sight and noyse of a Peacocke . I See there are many kindes of Hypocrites ; Of all Birds this makes the fayrest show , and the worst noyse ; So as this is an Hypocrite to the eye ; There are others , as the Black-bird , that lookes foule and sooty , but sings well ; this is an Hypocrite to the Eare ; There are others that please vs well , both in their shew , and voice , but are crosse in theyr carriage and condition , as the Popingay , whose colours are beautifull , and noyse delightfull ; yet is apt to doe mischeife in scratching and byting any hand that comes neare it ; These are Hypocrites both to the eye ▪ and eare ; Yet there is a degree further ( beyond the example of all brute Creatures ) of them , whose show , whose words , whose actions are faire , but their hearts are foule , and abhominable ; No outward beautie can make the Hypocrite other then odious : For mee , let my profession agree with my words , my words with my actions , my actions with my heart ; and let all of them be approoued of the GOD of truth . LXXXIIII . Vpon a penitent Malefactor . I Know not whether I should more admire the Wisdome or the Mercy of God in his proceedings with men ; Had not this man sinned thus notoriously , hee had neuer beene thus happy ; whiles his courses were faire , and ciuill , yet hee was gracelesse ; now his miscarriage hath drawne him into a iust affliction ; his affliction hath humbled him ; God hath taken this aduantage of his humiliation , for his Conuersion : Had not one foot slip't into the mouth of Hell , hee had neuer beene in this forwardnesse to Heauen ; There is no man so weake , or foolish , as that hee hath not strength or wit enough to sinne ; or to make ill vse of his sinne . It is onely the goodnesse of an infinite GOD , that can make our sinne good to vs , though euill in it selfe ; Oh GOD , it is no thanke to our selues , or to our sinnes , that wee are bettered with euill ; the Worke is thine , let thine bee the Glory . LXXXV . Vpon the sight of a Lilly. THis must needs bee a goodly Flower that our Sauiour hath singled out to compare with SALOMON , and that not in his ordinary dresse , but in all his royalty ▪ Surely the earth had neuer so glorious a King as hee , Nature yeilded nothing that might set forth royall magnificence , that hee wanted ; yet hee that made both SALOMON and this Flower , sayes that SALOMON in all his royaltie was not clad like it ; What a poore thing is this earthly brauery that is so easily ouermatched ? How ill Iudges are wee of outward beauties that contemne these goodly Plants , which their Creator thus magnifies ; and admire those base mettals , which he ( in comparison hereof ) cōtemnes : If it be their transitoriness that embaseth them ; what are we ? All flesh is Grasse , and all the glory of man as the flower of Grasse : As we cannot be so braue , so wee cannot bee more permanent ; Oh GOD , let it bee my ambition to walke with thee hereafter in white ; Could I put on a robe of starres here , with proud HEROD , that glittering garment could not keepe mee from Lice , or Wormes ; Might I sit on a Throne of Gold ; within an house of Iuory , I see I should not compare with this Flower ; I might bee as transitory , I should not bee so beautifull ; What matters it whether I go for a flower , or a weed , heere ; whethersoeuer , I must wither : Oh thou which art greater then SALOMON doe thou cloath mee with thy perfect Righteousnesse , so shall I flourish for euer in the Courts of the House of my God. LXXXVI . Vpon the sight of a Coffin stucke with Flowers . TOo faire appearance is neuer free from iust suspicion ; whiles heere was nothing but meere Wood , no Flower was to be seene here , now that this Wood is lined with an vnsauory Corps , it is adorned with this sweet variety ; the firre whereof that Coffin is made , yeilds a naturall redolence alone ; now that it is stuffed thus noysomely , all helpes are too little to counteruaile that sent of corruption ; Neyther is it otherwise in the liuing ; Perpetuall vse of strong perfumes argues a guiltines of some vnpleasing sauour . The case is the same Spiritually ; an ouer-glorious outside of Profession implyes some inward filthinesse that would faine escape notice ; Our vncomely parts haue more comelinesse put on ; Too much ornament imports extreame deformity ; For mee , let my show bee moderate , so shall I neyther deceiue applause , nor merit too deepe censure . LXXXVII . Vpon the view of the World. IT is a good thing to see this materiall World ; but it is a better thing to thinke of the intelligible World ; this thought is the sight of the Soule , whereby it discerneth things , like it selfe , Spirituall , and Immortall ; which are so much beyond the worth of these sensible Obiects , as a Spirit is beyond a body , a pure substance beyond a corruptible , an infinite God aboue a finite Creature ; O GOD , how great a word is that which the Psalmist sayes of thee , that thou abasest thy selfe to behold the things both in Heauen , and Earth ? It is our glory to looke vp euen to the meanest peece of Heauen ; It is an abasement to thine incomprehensible Maiesty to looke downe vpon the best of Heauen ; Oh , what a transcendent Glory must that needs bee , that is abased to behold the things of Heauen ? What an happinesse shall it bee to mee , that mine eyes shall bee exalted to see thee ; who art humbled to see the place , and state of my blessednesse : Yea , those very Angels that see thy face , are so resplendantly glorious , that wee could not ouer-liue the sight of one of their faces , who are faine to hide their faces from the sight of thine ; How many millions of them attend thy Throne aboue , and thy Footstoole below , in the Ministration to thy Saints ? It is that thine inuisible world , the Communion wherewith can make mee truly blessed ; Oh GOD , if my body haue fellowship here amongst Beasts , of whose earthly substance it participates ; Let my Soule bee vnited to thee , the God of Spirits ; and bee raised vp to inioy the insensible society of thy blessed Angels ; Acquaint mee before-hand with those Citizens and affaires of thine Heauen ; and make me no stranger to my future Glory . LXXXVIII . Vpon the stinging of a Waspe . HOw small things may annoy the greatest ? euen a Mouse troubles an Elephant , a Gnat a Lion ; a very Flea may disquiet a Gyant ; What weapon can bee nearer to nothing then the sting of this Waspe ? Yet what a painfull wound hath it giuen mee ; that scarce-visible point how it enuenomes , and rankles , and swels vp the flesh ? The tendernesse of the part addes much to the griefe ; And if I bee thus vexed with the touch of an angry Flye , LORD , how shall I bee able to indure the sting of a tormenting Conscience ? As that part is both most actiue , and most sensible , so that wound which it receiues from it selfe , is most intollerably greeuous ; there were more ease in a nest of Harnets , then vnder this one torture : O GOD , howsouer I speed abroad , giue mee Peace at home ; and what euer my flesh suffer , keepe my Soule free . Thus pained , wherein doe I find ease but in laying Hony to the part infected ? That Medicine onely abates the auguish ; How neare hath Nature placed the remedy to the offence ? Whensoeuer my heart is stung with the remorse for sinne , onely thy sweet and precious merits , O blessed Sauiour , can mitigate , and heale the wound ; they haue vertue to cure mee , giue mee grace to apply them ; that soueraigne receit shall make my paine happy ; I shall thus applaud my griefe , It is good for me that I was thus afflicted . * ⁎ * LXXXIX . Vpon the Araignment of a Felon . VVIth what terrour doth this Malefactor stand at that Barre ? His hand trembles , whiles it is lift vp for his tryall ; his very lips quake , whiles hee saith , not guilty ; his countenance condemnes him before the Iudge ; and his feare is ready to execute him before his Hang-man : Yet this Iudge is but a weake man , that must , soone after , dye himselfe ; that sentence of Death , which he can pronounce , is already passed by Nature vpon the most innocent ; that act of death , which the Law inflicteth by him , is but momentany ; who knowes whether himselfe shall not dye more painfully ? O God , with what horror shall the guilty Soule stand before thy dreadfull Tribunall in the day of the great Assizes of the World ? Whiles there is the presence of an infinite Maiesty to daunt him ; a fierce and clamorous Conscience to giue in euidence against him ; Legions of vgly , and terrible Diuels wayting to seize vpon him ; a Gulfe of vnquenchable Fire ready to receiue him ; whiles the Glory of the Iudge is no lesse confounding , then the crueltie of the Tormenters ; Where the Sentence is vnauoydable , and the Execution Euerlasting , Why doe not these terrors of thee , my GOD , make me wise to hold a priuy Sessions vpon my Soule , and actions ; that being acquited by my owne heart , I may not bee condemned by thee ; and being iudged by my selfe I may not bee condemned with the World ? XC . Vpon the Crowing of a Cocke . HOw harshly did this note sound in the eare of PETER ; Yea pearced his very hart ? Many a time had hee heard this bird , and was no whit moued with the noyse ; now , there was a Bird in his bosome that crow'd lowder then this ; Whose shrill accent conioyned with this , astonished the guilty Disciple : The weary labourer when hee is awakened from his sweet sleepe by this naturall Clocke of the Houshold , is not so angry at this troublesome Bird , nor so vexed at the hearing of that vnseasonable sound , as PETER was , when this Fowle awakened his sleeping Conscience , and call'd him to a timely repentance ; This Cocke did but crow like others ; neither made , or knew any difference of this tone , and the rest ; there was a diuine hand that ordered this Mornings note to be a Summons of Penitence ; Hee that fore-told it , had fore-appointed it : that Bird could not but crow then ; and all the noyse in the High-Priests Hall could not keepe that sound from PETERS eare , But , O SAVIOVR , couldst thou finde leasure , when thou stoodst at the Barre of that vniust , and cruell Iudgement , amidst all that bloudy rabble of Enemies , in the sense of all their furie , and the expectation of thine owne Death , to listen vnto this Monitor of PETERS Repentance ; and vpon the hearing of it , to cast backe thine eyes vpon thy Denying , Cursing , Abiuring Disciple ? O Mercie without measure ; and beyond all the possibility of our Admiration ; to neglect thy selfe for a sinner , to attend the repentance of one , when thou wert about to lay downe thy life for all . Oh GOD , thou art still equally mercifull . Euery Elect Soule is no lesse deare vnto thee : Let the sound of thy faithfull monitors smite my eares : and let the beames of thy mercifull eyes wound my heart , so as I may goe forth and weepe bitterly . * ⁎ * XCI . Vpon the Variety of thoughts by way of Conclusion . VVHen I bethinke my selfe how Eternity depends vpon this moment of life , I wonder how I can thinke of any thing but Heauen : but , when I see the distractions of my thoughts , and the aberrations of my life , I wonder how I can bee so bewitched , ( as whiles I beleeue an Heauen ) so to forget it . All that I can doe , is to bee angry at my owne vanity . My thoughts would not bee so many , if they were all right ; there are tenne thousand by-wayes for one direct ? As there is but one Heauen , so there is but one way to it ; that liuing way , wherein I walke by Faith , by Obedience . All things , the more perfect they are , the more doe they reduce themselues towards that vnitie , which is the Center of all perfection : Oh thou who art one , and infinite , draw in my heart from all these stragling , and vnprofitable Cogitations ; and confine it to thine Heauen , and to thy selfe , who art the Heauen of that Heauen . Let mee haue no life but in thee , no care but to inioy thee , no ambition but thy Glorie ; Oh make mee thus imperfectly happy before my time ; that when my time shall bee no more , I may bee perfectly happie with thee to all Eternitie . FINIS . THE TABLE . MED . FOL . 1 Vpon sight of the Heavens moving . 1. 2 Vpon the sight of a Diall . 4. 3 Vpon sight of an Eclipse . 7. 4 Vpon sight of a gliding Starre . 9. 5 Vpon a faire prospect 12. 6 Vpon the frame of a Globe casually broken . 16. 7 Vpon a Cloud . 18. 8 Vpon the sight of a Graue digged vp . 20 9 Vpon the sight of Gold Melted . 22. 10 Vpon the sight of a Pitcher carried . 24. 11 Vpon sight of a Tree full blossomed . 26. 12. Vpon the report of a man suddenly strucke dead in his sinne . 28. 13 Vpon the view of the Heaven and the Earth . 30. 14 Vpon occasion of a Redbrest comming into his Chamber 32. 15 Vpon occasion of a Spider in his window . 34. 16. Vpon the sight of a Raine in the Sunne shine . 38. 17. Vpon the length of the Way . 40. 18 Vpon the Raine and Waters . 42. 19. Vpon the same Subiect . 45. 20 Vpon occasion of the lights brought in . 48. 21 Vpon the same occasion . 53. 22 Vpon the blowing of Fire . 54 ▪ 23 Vpon the barking of a Dog. 57. 24 Vpon sight of a Cockfight . 59. 25. Vpon his lying downe to rest . 63. 26 Vpon the kindling of a Charcole fire . 66. 27 Vpon the sight of an humble and patient Begger . 69. 28 Vpon the sight of a pulling pulling off Wooll from the backe of a Crow Sheepe . 71. 29 Vpon the sight of two Snayles . 73. 30 Vpon the hearing of the Street-cryes in London . 75. 31 Vpon the Flyes gathering to a galled Horse . 78. 32 Vpon the sight of a darke Lanthorne . 80. 33 Vpon the hearing of a Swallow in the Chimmey . 82. 34 Vpon the sight of a Flye burning it selfe in the Candle . 84. 35 Vpon the sight of a Larke flying vp . 87. 36. Vpon the singing of the Birds in a Spring-morning . 89. 37. Vpon a Coale couered with ashes . 91. 38. Vpon the sight of a blackmore . 93. 39 Vpon the small Starres in the Galaxie , or milky Circle in the firmament . 96. 40 Vpon the sight of Boyes playing . 98. 41 Vpon the sight of a Spider and her Webbe . 102. 42 Vpon the sight of a Naturall . 104. 43. Vpon the Loadstone and the Iett . 107. 44 Vpon the hearing of Musicke by night . 111. 45. Vpon the fanning of Corn. 112. 46 Vpon Herbes dried . 113. 47. Vpon the quenching of Iron in Water . 115. 48 Vpon a faire coloured flye . 116. 49. Vpon a Glow worme . 117. 50 Vpon the shutting of one Eye . 120. 51 Vpon a Spring water . 121. 52 Vpon Gnats in the Sun. 123. 53 Vpon the sight of Grapes . 125 54 Vpon a Corne field ouer-growne with Weeds . 126. 55 Vpon the sight of Tulipaes and Marygolds in his Garden . 128. 56 Vpon the sound of a crak't Bell. 130. 57 Vpon the sight of a blind Man. 132. 58 Vpon a Beech-tree full of Nuts . 135. 59 Vpon the sight of a peece of money vnder the water . 137. 60. Vpon the first rumour of the Earthquacke at Lime , wherein a Wood was swallowed vp with the fall of two Hills . 140. 61 Vpon the sight of a Dormouse . 143. 62 Vpon Bees fighting . 145 63 Vpon Waspes falling into a Glasse . 149. 64 Vpon a Spring in a wild Forrest . 152. 65 Vpon the sight of an Owle in the Twy-light . 154. 66 Vpon an arme benum med . 157. 67 Vpon the sparkes flying vpward . 159 68 Vpon the sight of a Rauen . 162 69 Vpon a Worme . 166. 70. Vpon the putting on of his clothes . 169. 71 Vpon the sight of a great Library . 171. 72 Vpon the red-Crosse on a Doore . 175. 73 Vpon the change of Weather . 177 74 Vpon the sight of a Marriage . 180. 75 Vpon the sight of a Snake . 184. 76 Vpon the ruines of an Abby . 187. 77 Vpon the discharging of a Peece . 190. 78 Vpon the telling of a passing Bell. 193. 79 Vpon a Defamation dispersed . 196 80 Vpon a ring of Bels. 198. 81 Vpon the sight of full Table at a Feast . 201 82 Vpon the hearing of a Lute well plaide on 204. 83 Vpon the fight and noyse of a Peacocke . 207. 84. Vpon a penitent Malefactor . 209. 85. Vpon the sight of a Lilly. 211. 86 Vpon the sight of a Coffin stucke with flowers . 214. 87 Vpon the view of the World. 216. 88 Vpon the stinging of a Waspe . 220. 89 Vpon the Araignment of a Felon . 223. 90. Vpon the Crowing of a Cocke . 226. 91 Vpon the varietie of thoughts by way of Conclusion . 230. FINIS . Occasionall Meditations , not before set forth . XCII . Vpon the sight of an harlot carted . VVIth what noyse and tumult , and zeale of solemne justice is this sin punished ; the streets are not more full of beholders , then clamours ; Every one strives to expresse his detestation of the fact , by some token of revenge ; one casts myre , another water , another rotten egges upon the miserable offender ; neither indeed is shee worthy of lesse : but , in the meane time , no man lookes home to himselfe ; it is no uncharity to say , that too many insult in this just punishment , who have deserved more ; Alas , wee men value sinnes by the outward scandall , but the wise and holy God ( against whom onely our sinnes are done ) esteemes them according to the intrinsecall iniquity of them : and according to the secret violation of his will and justice ; thus , those sinnes which are sleight to us , are to him haynous . Wee ignorants would have rung Davids adultery with Basins , but , as for his numbring of the people , we should have past it over as veniall ; The wise justice of the Almighty found more wickedness in this , which wee should scarce have accused ; Doubtlesse there is more mischiefe in a secret infidelity , which the world either cannot know , or cares not to censure , then in the foulest adultery ; Publique sins have more shame , private may have more guilt ; If the world cannot charge me of those ; it is enough that I can charge my Soule of worse : let others rejoyce in these publique executions ; Let me pitty the sinnes of others , and be humbled under the sense of my owne . XCIII . Vpon the smell of a Rose . SMelling is one of the meanest , and least useful of the senses ; yet there is none of the five , that receives or gives so exquisite a contentment as it ; Mee thinkes there is no earthly thing that yeelds so perfect a pleasure to any sense , as the odour of the first rose doth , to the sent : It is the wisedome and bounty of the creator so to order it , that those senses which have more affinity with the body , & with that earth whereof it is made , should receive their delight and contentation by these things which are bred of the earth ; but those which are more spiritfull , and have more affinity with the Soule , should bee reserved for the perfection of their pleasure , to another world ; There , and then onely , shall my sight make my soule eternally blessed . XCIIII . Vpon a cancelled Bond. WHiles this obligation was in force , I was in servitude to my parchment ; my bond was double , to a payment , to a penalty ; now , that is discharged , what is it better then a waste scrole ; regarded for nothing but the witnesse of its owne voydance , and nullity . No otherwise is it with the severe Law of my Creator ; Out of Christ it stands in full force , and bindes me over either to perfect obedience , which I cannot possibly performe , or to exquisite torment , and eternall Death , which I am never able to indure ; But now , that my Saviour hath fastened it cancelled to his crosse ( in respect of the rigour & malediction of it ) I looke upon it as the monument of my past danger and bondage : I know by it , how much was owed by mee , how much is payed for mee ; The direction of it , is everlasting , the obligation ( by it ) unto death is frustrate : I am free from curse , who never can be free from obedience . O Saviour , take thou glory and give mee peace . XCV . Vpō the report of a great losse by Sea. THe earth and the water are both of them great givers , and both great takers : As they give matter and sustentatiō to all sublunary creatures , so they take al back againe , insatiably deuouring , at last , the fruits of their owne wombs . Yet , of the two , the earth is both more beneficiall , and lesse cruell ; for , as that yeilds us the most generall maintenance & wealth and supportatiō ; So it doth not lightly take ought from us , but that which we resigne over to it , and which naturally falls backe unto it ; Whereas the water , as it affords but a small part of our live-lode , & some few knacks of ornament So it is apt violently to snatch away both us and ours : and to bereave that which it never gave : it yeilds us no precious mettals , and yet in an instant fetches away millions ; And yet , notwithstanding all the hard measure we receive from it , how many doe wee dayly see that might have firme ground under them , who yet will be trusting to the mercy of the Sea ; Yea how many that have hardly crawled out from a desperate ship wracke , will yet be trying the fidelity of that unsure , and untrusty element : O God , how venturous we are , where we have reason to distrust , how incredulously fearefull , where we have cause to be confident ? Who ever relyed upon thy gracious providence , and sure promises , O Lord , and hath mis-carryed ? Yet here we pull-in our faith , and make excuses for our diffidence ; and if Peter have tryed those waves to be no other then solid pavement under his feet , whiles his Soule trod confidently ; yet when a billow and a winde agree to threaten him , his faith flagges , and he begins to sinke : O Lord , teach me to doubt where I am sure to find nothing but uncertainty ; and to be assuredly confident , where there can be no possibility of any cause of doubting . XCVI . Vpon sight of a bright skie full of starres . I Cannot blame Empedocles if he professed a desire to live upon earth , onely that he might behold the face of the heavens ; surely ( if there were no other ) this were a sufficient errand for a mans being here below , to see & obserue these goodly spangles of light above our heads , their places , their quantities , their motions : but the employment of a Christian is farre more noble , and excellent ; heauen is open to him ; and he can looke beyond the vayle , and see further above those starrs , then it is thither ; and there discerne those glories , that may answer so rich a pavement ; vpon the cleare sight whereof , I cannot wonder if the chosen vessell desired to leave the earth , in so happy an exchange . O God , I blesse thine infinitenesse , for what I see with these bodily eyes ; but , if thou shalt but draw the curtaine and let me by the eye of faith see the in-side of that thy glorious frame , I shall need no other happiness here ; My Soule cannot be capable of more fauour then sight here , and fruition hereafter . CVII . Vpon the rumors of Warres . GOod Lord , what a shambles is Christēdome becomne of late ? How are men killed like flyes , and blood poured out like water ? Surely the cruelty & ambitiō of the great have an heavie reckoning to make for so many thousand soules ; I condemne not just armes ; those are as necessary , as the unjust are hatefull ; even Michael and his Angels fight ; and the style of God is the Lord of Hostes . But wo be to the man by whom the offence commeth ; Usurpation of others rights , violation of oathes and contracts , & lastly erroneous zeale are guilty of all these publique murders . Private mens injuries are washt off with teares , but wrongs done to Princes and publique States are hardly wipt off but with blood . Doubtlesse that fearefull comet did not more certainly portend these warres , then these warres presage the approach of the end of the world ; The earth was never without some broyles , since it was peopled but with three men ; but so vniversall a combustion was never in the Christian world since it was : O Saviour , what can I thinke of this , but that , as thou wouldst have a generall peace upon thy first comming into the world , so upon thy second comming thou meanest there shall be a no lesse generall warre upon earth : that peace made way for thy meeke appearance ; this warre for thy dreadfull and terrible . XCVIII . Vpon a Child crying . IT was upon great reason , that the Apostle charges us not to be children in understanding . What fooles wee all once are ? Even at first , we cry , and smile wee know not wherefore ; we have not wit enough to make signes what hurts us , or where wee complayne ; we can wrye the mouth , but not seeke the brest , and if we want helpe , we can onely lament , and sprawle , and dye . After , when some months have taught us to distinguish a little betwixt things , and persons , wee cry for every toye ; even that , which may most hurt us ; and , when there is no other cause , we cry onely to heare our own noyse , and are straight stilled with a greater ; & if it be but upon the breeding of a tooth , we are so wayward , that nothing will please us ; and if some formerly-liked knack be given to quiet us , wee cast away that which we have , if wee have not what wee would seeme to like . We feare neither fire , nor water , nothing scarres us but either a rod or a fayned bug-beare ; we mis-know our parents ; not acknowledging any friend but the Taylor , that brings us a fine coate , or the Nurse that dresses us gay ; The more that our riper yeares resemble these dispositions , the more childish wee are , and more worthy both of our owne and others censure . But againe , it was upon no lesse reason that the Apostle charges us , to be children in maliciousnesse : Those little innocents beare no grudg ; they are sooner pleased , then angry ; And if any man have wronged them , let them but have given a stroke unto the Nurse , to beat the offender , it is enough ; at the same instant they put forth their hand for reconcilement , and offer themselves unto those armes that trespassed . And when they are most froward , they are stilled with a pleasant song : The old word is , that an old man is twice a child ; but I say , happy is he that is thus a child alwayes . It is a great imperfection to want knowledge , but of the two , it is better to be a child in understanding , then a man in maliciousnesse . XCIX . Vpon the beginning of a sicknesse . IT was my owne fault , if I look't not for this ; All things must undergoe their changes ; I have injoyed many fayre dayes ; there was no reason I should not at last make account of clouds , and stormes ; Could I have done well , without any mixtures of sin ; I might have hoped for entire health ; But , since I have interspersed my obedience with many sinfull faylings , and enormities , why doe I thinke much , to interchange health with sickenesse ? What I now feele I know ; I am not worthy to know what I must feele ; As my times , so my measures are in the hands of a wise and good God ; My comfort is , he that sends these evils , proportions them ; If they be sharpe , I am sure they are just ; the most that I am capable to indure , is the least part of what I have deserved to suffer : Nature would sayne be at ease ; but , Lord what ever become of this carcasse , thou hast reason to have respect to thine owne glory ; I have sinned and must smart ; It is the glory of thy mercy to beat my body for the safety of my soule . The worst of sicknesse is payne , and the worst of payne is but death : As for payne , if it be extreme , it cannot be long ; and if it be long ' ( such is the difference of earthly , and hellish torments ) it cannot be extreme ; As for death , it is both unavoydable , and beneficiall ; there ends my misery , and begins my glory ; A few groanes are well bestowed for a preface to an immortall joy . Howsoever , O God , thy messenger is worthy to be welcome ; It is the Lord , let him do whatsoever he will. C. Vpon the challenge of a promise . IT is true ; an honest mans word must be his maister ; when I have promised I am indebted , and debts may be claymed ; must be payed ; but yet , there is a great deale of difference in our ingagements ; Some things wee promise because they are due ; some things are onely due , because they are promised . These latter , which are but the mere ingagements of curtesie , cannot so absolutely binde us , that notwithstāding any intervention of unworthinesse , or misbehaviour in the person expectant , Wee are tyed to make our word good ; though to the cutting of our owne throates . All favourable promises presuppose a capacity in the receiver ; where that palpably fayleth , common equity sets us free ; I promised to send a faire sword to my frend ; he is , since that time turn'd frantick ; must I send it , or be charged with unfaithfulnesse , if I send it not ? O God , thy title is the God of truth , thou canst no more cease to be faithfull , then to be ; How oft hast thou promised , that no good thing shall be wanting to thine , and yet wee know thy dearest children have complayned of want ? Is thy word therefore challengable ? Farre , farre , be this wicked presumption from our thoughts . No : These thy promises of outward favours are never but with a subintelligence of a condition : of our capablenesse , of our expedience . Thou seest that plenty , or ●ase would be our bane ; thy love forbeares to satisfie us with an harmfull blessing : We are worthy to be plagued with prejudiciall kindnesses , if we do not acknowledge thy wisedome , and care in our want . It is enough for us that thy best mercies are our dues , because thy promises ; we cannot too much clayme that which thou hast absolutely ingaged thy selfe to give , and in giving shalt make us eternally happy . CI. Vpon the sight of flies . WHen I looke upon these flyes ; and gnats , and wormes , I have reason to thinke ; What am I to my infinite Creator more then these ? And if these had my reason , why might they not expostulate with their Maker , Why they are but such ; why they live to so little purpose , and dye without either notice or use ; and if I had no more reason then they , I should bee ( as they ) content with any condition ; That reason which I have , is not of my owne giving ; he that hath given mee reason , might as well have given it to them ; or , have made me as reason-lesse as they ; there is no cause why his greater gift should make me mutinous , and malecontent ; I will thanke my God for what I am , for what I have ; and never quarrel with him , for what I want . CII . Vpon the sight of a fantasticall Zelote . IT is not the intent of grace to mold our bodies anew , but to make use of them , as it findes us ; the disposition of men much followes the temper of their bodily humors . This mixture of humors , wrought upon by grace , causeth that strange variety , which we see in professions pretendedly religious ; when grace lights upon a sad melancholike Spirit , nothing is affected but sullennesse , and extreme mortification ; and dislike even of lawfull freedome ; nothing but positions , and practises of severe austerity ; when contrarily , upon the cheerefull and lively ; all drawes towards liberty and joy , those thoughts doe now please best , which enlarge the heart to mirth , and contentation ; It is the greatest improvement of Christian wisdome to distinguish ( in all professions ) betwixt grace and humor ; to give God his own glory , and men their owne infirmityes . CIII . Vpon the sight of a Scavenger working in the channel . THe wise providence of God hath fitted men with spirits answerable to their condition ; If meane men should beare the minds of great Lords , no servile workes would be done ; al would be commaunders , and none could live ; If contrarily , great persons had the low spirits of drudges , there could be no order , no obedience ; because there should be none to command ; now , out of this discord of dispositions , God hath contrived an excellent harmony of government , and peace : since the use which each sort must needs have of other , bindes them to maintain the quality of their own rankes ; and to do those offices which are requisite for the preservation of themselves , and the publique . As inferiours then must blesse God for the graces and authority of their betters ; So must Superiours no lesse blesse him for the humilitie and serviceablenesse of the meaner ; and those which are of the midrank , must blesse him for both . CIIII. Vpon a payre of Spectacles . I Looke upon these , not as objects , but as helps ; as not meaning that my sight should rest in them ; but passe through them ; and by their aid , discerne some other things which I desire to see ; many such glasses my soule hath and useth : I looke through the glasse of the creatures , at the power and wisedome of their maker : I looke through the glasse of the Scriptures at the great mystery of redemption and the glory of an heavenly inheritance ; I looke through Gods favours , at his infinite mercy ; through his judgements , at his incomprehensible justice ; but as these spectacles of mine presuppose a faculty in the eye , and cannot give me sight when I want it , but only cleares that sight which I have ; no more can these glasses of the creatures , of Scriptures , of favours and judgements inable mee to apprehend those blessed objects , except I have an eye of faith whereto they may bee presented ; these helps to an unbeleeving man , are but as spectacles to the blinde . As the naturall eyes , so the spirituall have their degrees of dimnesse ; but I have ill improved my age , if , as my naturall eyes decay , my spirituall eye bee not cleared and confirmed ; but at my best I shall never but need spectacles , till I come to see as I am seene . CV . Vpon moates in the Sun. How these little moats move up and downe in the Sunne , and never rest , whereas the great mountaines stand ever still , and move not , but with an earthquake ; even so light and busie spirits are in continuall agitation , to little purpose ; whiles great deepe wits sit still , and stirre not , but upon extreme occasions : were the motion of these little atomes as usefull , as it is restlesse , I had rather bee a moat then ▪ a mountaine . CVI. Vpon the sight of a bladder . EVery thing must bee taken in his meete time ; let this bladder alone till it be dry , and all the winde in the world cannot raise it up , whereas , now it is new , and moist , the least breath fills , and enlarges it ; it is no otherwise in ages , and dispositions ; informe the child in precepts of learning & vertue , whiles years make him capable , how plyably hee yeeldeth , how happily is hee replenished with knowledge and goodnesse ; let him alone , till time and ill example have hardened him ; till hee be setled in an habit of evill , and contracted , and clung together with sensuall delights , now hee becomes utterly indocible ; sooner may that bladder bee broken then distended . CVII . Vpon a man sleeping . I Do not more wonder at any mans art , then at his , who professes to thinke of nothing , to do nothing : and I do not a little marvell at that man who sayes hee can sleepe without a dreame ; for the minde of man is a restlesse thing : & though it give the body leave to repose it self , as knowing it is a mortall & earthly peece , yet it selfe being a spirit , and therefore active , and indefatigable , is ever in motion : give me a sea that moves not , a Sunne that shines not , an open eye that sees not ; and I shall yeeld there may bee a reasonable soule that workes not : It is possible that through a naturall , or accidentall stupidity , a man may not perceive his owne thoughts ; ( as sometimes the eye or eare may bee distracted , not to discerne his owne objects ) but in the meane time , he thinkes that , whereof he cannot give an account ; like as wee many times dreame when we cannot report our fancy . I should more easily put my selfe to schoole unto that man , who undertakes the profession of thinking many things at once : Instantany motions are more proper for a spirit , then a dull rest . Since my mind wil needs be ever working , it shall bee my care that it may alwaies be wel imploy'd . CVIII . Vpon the sight of a deaths-head . I Wonder at the practise of the ancient both Greeks , and Romans , whose use was to bring up a deaths-head in the midst of their feasts , on purpose to stir up their guests , to drinke harder , and to frolicke more ; the sight whereof , one would think should have rather abated their courage , and have tempered their jollity ; but however it was with them , who beleeved there was nothing after death ; that the consideration of the short time of their pleasures , and beeing , spurred them on to a free and full fruition of that mirth and excesse , which they should not long live to enjoy ; yet to us that are Christians , and therefore know that this short life doth but make way for an eternity of joy , or torment afterwards , and that after the feast , wee must account of a reckoning ; there cannot be a greater cooler for the heat of our intemperate desires , and rage of our appetites , then the meditation of the shortnesse of life , and the certainty of death : Who would over-pamper a body for the wormes ? who would be so mad as to let himselfe loose to that momentany pleasure of sin , which , ere long , must cost him everlasting pain , and miserie . For mee , mee thinkes this head speakes no other language then this ; Leese no time , thou art dying , do thy best , thou maist do good but a while , and shalt fare well for ever . CIX . Vpon the sight of a left-handed man. IT is both an old and easie observation , that however the senses are alike strong , and active on the right side , and on the left ; yet that the limbes on the right side are stronger then those of the left ; because they are more exercised then the other ; upon which selfe same reason it must follow , that a left-handed man hath more strength in his left arme , then in his right ; neither is it otherwise in the soule : our intellectuall parts grow vigorous with imployment , and languish with dis-use : I have knowne excellent preachers , and pregnant disputants that have lost these faculties with lacke of action ; and others , but meanly qualified with naturall gifts , that have attained to a laudable measure of abilities , by improvement of their little . I had rather lacke good parts , then that good parts should lacke mee ; Not to have great gifts is no fault of mine , it is my fault not to use them . CX . Vpon the sight of an old unthached Cottage . THere cannot bee a truer embleme of crazie old age ; Moldred and clay walls ; a thinne , uncovered roofe ; bending studds ; darke and broken windowes ; in short , an house ready to fall on the head of the indweller : The best body is but a cottage ; if newer , and better timbred , yet such as age will equally impaire , and make thus ragged , & ruinous ; or , before that , perhaps casualty of fire or tēpest ; or violence of an enemy ; One of the chief cares of men is to dwel wel ; some build for themselues , faire , but not strong ; others build for posterity , strong but not faire , not high ; but happie is that man that builds for eternity , as strong , as faire , as high as the glorious contignations of heaven . CXI . Vpon the sight of a faire pearle . VVHat a pure and precious creature is this , which yet is taken out of the mudde of the sea ; Who can complaine of a base original , when hee sees such excellencies so descended ? These shel-fishes that have no sexes , and therefore are made out of corruption , what glorious things they yeeld , to adorne and make proud the greatest princesses ? Gods great workes goe not by likely-hoods ; how easily can he fetch glory out of obscurity , who brought all out of nothing ? CXII . Vpon a screene . MEE thinkes this screene , that stands betwixt me and the fire , is like some good friend at the Court , which keepes from mee the heate of the unjust displeasure of the great ; wherewith I might perhaps otherwise be causelesly scorched ; but how happy am I , if the interposition of my Saviour , my best friend in heaven , may screene mee from the deserved wrath of that great God , who is a consuming fire ? CXIII . Vpon a Burre-leafe . NEither the vine , nor the oake , nor the Cedar , nor any tree , that I know , within our climate , yeelds so great a leafe as this weed , which yet , after all expectation , brings forth nothing but a burre , unprofitable , troublesome ; So haue I seene none make greater profession of religion , then an ignorant man ; whose indiscreet forwardnesse yeelds no fruit but a factious disturbance to the Church , wherein hee liues ; Too much shew is not so much better then none at all , as an ill fruit is worse then none at all . CXIV . Vpon the singing of a Bird. IT is probable that none of those creatures that want reason , delight so much in pleasant sounds , as a bird ; Whence it is , that both it spends so much time in singing ; and is more apt to imitate those modulations which it heares from men ; Frequent practise ( if it be voluntary ) argues a delight in that which wee doe ; and delight makes us more apt to practise ; and more capable of perfection in that wee practise ; Oh God , if I take pleasure in thy law , I shall meditate of it with comfort , speake of it with boldnesse , and practise it with cheerefulnesse . CXV . Vpon the sight of a man Yawning . IT is a marvellous thing to see the reall effects and strong operation of consent , or Sympathye , even where there is no bodily touch ; So one sad man puts the whole cōpany into dumps ; So one mans yawning affects , and stretches the jawes of many beholders ; So , the looking upon bleare eyes taints the eye with blearenesse ; From hence it is easie to see the ground of our Saviours expostulation with his persecutor ; Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou mee ? The Church is persecuted below , hee feeles it above , and complaines ; So much as the person is more apprehensive , must hee needs bee more affected . O Saviour , thou canst not but bee deeply sensible of all our miseries and necessities . If wee doe not feele thy wrongs , and the wants of our brethren , wee have no part in thee . CXVI . Vpon the sight of a tree lopped . IN the lopping of these trees , experience , and good husbandry hath taught men to leave one bough still growing in the top ; the better to draw up the sappe from the root ; The like wisedome is fit to bee observed in censures ; which are intended altogether for reformation , not for destruction ; So must they be inflicted , that the patient be not utterly discouraged , and stript of hope , and comfort ; but that , whiles he suffereth , he may feele his good tendered , and his amendment both aymed at , and expected . O God if thou shouldest deale with me as I deserue , thou shouldst not only shred my boughs , but cut downe my stocke , and stocke up my roote ; and yet thou dost but prune my superfluous branches , and cherishest the rest ; how unworthy am I of this mercy , if whiles thou art thus indulgent unto mee , I bee severe and cruell to others , perhaps lesse-ill-deserving then my selfe ? CXVII . Vpon a Scholler that offered violence to himselfe . HAd this man lyen lōg under some eminent discontentment , it had been easie to find out the motive of his mis-carriage ; Weake nature is easily over-laid with impatience ; it must bee onely the power of grace , that can graple with vehement evils , and maister them : But here the world cannot say what could be guilty of occasioning this violence ; this mans hand was full ; his fame untainted ; his body no burden ; his disposition ( for ought wee saw ) faire ; his life guiltlesse ; yet something did the tempter finde to aggravate unto his feeble thoughts , and to represent worthy of a dispatch ; What a poore thing is life , whereof so sleight occasions can make us weary ? What impotent wretches are wee when wee are not sustained ? One would thinke this the most impossible of all motions ; naturally , every man loves himselfe ; and life is sweet , death abhorred ; What is it that Sathan can despaire to preswade men unto , if hee can draw them to an unnaturall abandoning of life , and pursuit of death : Why should I doubt of prevailing with my own heart , by the powerfull over-ruling of Gods spirit , to contemne life , and to affect death , for the sake of my Saviour ( in exchange of a few miserable moments , for eternity of joy ) when I see men , upon an unreasonable suggestion of that evill spirit , cast away their lives for nothing , and so hastening their temporall death , that they hazard an eternall ? CXVIII . Vpon the comming in of the Iudge . THe construction of men and their actions is altogether according to the disposition of the lookers on . The same face of the Judge without any inward alteration , is seene with terror by the guilty , with joy and confidence , by the oppressed innocent ; like as the same lips of the bride-groome drop both myrrhe and hony at once ; hony to the well disposed heart ; myrrhe to the rebellious : And the same cup relishes well to the healthfull , and distasts the feverous ; the same word is , though a sweet , yet a contrary savour to the different receivers : and the same Sunne comforts the strong sight , dazles the weake ; For a man to affect either to do , or speake that which may bee pleasing to all men , is but a weake and idle ambition , when wee see him that is infinitely good , appeare terrible to more , then he appears lovely . Goodnesse is it selfe with what ever eyes it is lookt upon : There can be no safety for that man that regards more the censure of men , then the truth of beeing ; Hee that seekes to win all hearts , hath lost his own . CXIX . Vpon the sight af a heap of stones . VNder such a pile it was , that the first martyr was buried ; none of all the ancient Kings had so glorious a tombe ; here were many stones , and every one pretious ; Iacob leaned his head upon a stone , and saw that heavenly vision of Angels ascending , and descending : Many stones light upon Stevens head , in the instant of his seeing the heavens opened ; and Jesus standing at the right hand of God : Lo , Iacob , resting upon that one stone , saw but the Angells ; Steven being to rest for once under those many stones , saw the Lord of the Angels , Iacob saw the Angels moving ; Steven saw Jesus standing ; As Iacob therefore afterwards , according to his vow , made there an altar to God ; so Steven now in the present , gathers these stones together , of which hee erected an holy altar , whereon hee offered up himself a blessed sacrifice unto God ; and if there bee a time of gathering stones , and a time of casting them away ; this was the time wherein the Jewes cast , and Steven gathered up these stones for a monument of eternall glory : O blessed Saint , thou didst not so clearly see heaven opened , as heaven saw thee covered ; thou didst not so perfectly see thy Jesus standing , as hee saw thee lying , patiently , courageously under that fatall heap : Do I mistake it , or are those stones , not flints and pebles , but diamonds and rubies , & carbuncles to set upon thy crowne of glory ? CXX . Vpon sight of a Bat and Owle . THese night-birds are glad to hide their heads all day , and if by some violence they bee unseasonably forced out of their secrecy , how are they followed , and beaten by the birds of the day ? With us men it is contrary , the sonnes of darknesse do with all eagernesse of malice pursue the children of the light : and drive them into corners , and make a prey of them : the opposition is alike , but the advantage lyes on the worse side ; Is it for that the spirituall light is no lesse hatefull to those children of darknesse , then the naturall night is to those cheerfull birds of the day ? Or is it for that the sonnes of darkenesse , challenging no lesse propriety in the world , then the foules do in the lightsome aire , abhorre and wonder at the conscionable , as strange and uncouth : howsoever , as these Bats and Owles were made for the night , being accordingly shaped , foule , and ill-favoured ; so we know these vicious men , ( how ever they may please themselves ) have in them a true deformity ; fit to bee shrouded in darknesse ; and as they delight in the workes of darknesse , so they are justly reserved to a state of darknesse . CXXI . Vpon the sight of a well-fleeced sheepe . VVHat a warm winter coat hath God provided for this quiet innocent creature ? as indeed , how wonderfull is his wisedome and goodnes in all his purveiances ; those creatures which are apter for motion , and withall most fearfull by nature , hath hee clad somewhat thinner , and hath allotted them safe and warme boroughs within the earth ; those that are fit for labour and use , hath hee furnished with a strong hide : & for man whom he hath thought good to bring forth naked , tender , helplesse ; he hath indued his parents , and himselfe with that noble faculty of reason , whereby hee may provide all manner of helps for himselfe ; Yet againe so bountifull is God in his provisions , that hee is not lavish ; so distributing his gifts , that there is no more superfluity , then want ; Those creatures that have beakes , have no teeth ; and those that have shells without , have no bones within ; All have enough , nothing hath all : Neither is it otherwise in that one kinde of man , whom hee meant for the Lord of all ; Variety of gifts is here mixed with a frugall dispensation ; None hath cause to boast , none to complain ; Every man is as free from an absolute defect , as from perfection ; I desire not to comprehend , O Lord , teach mee to doe nothing but wonder . CXXII . Vpon the hearing of Thunder . THere is no grace whereof I finde so generall a want in my selfe , and others , as an awfull feare of the infinite majesty of God ; Men are ready to affect , and professe a kinde of familiarity with God , out of a pretence of love , whereas if they knew him aright , they could not thinke of him without dread , nor name him without trembling ; their narrow hearts strive to conceive of him , according to the scantling of their owne strait , and ignorant apprehension ; whereas they should only desire to have their thoughts swallowed up with an adoring wonder of his divine incomprehensiblenesse ; though he thunder not alwaies , he is alwaies equally dreadfull ; there is none of his works which doth not bewray omnipotency : I blush at the sawcinesse of vaine men , that will bee circumscribing the powerfull acts of the Almighty within the compasse of naturall causes ; forbearing to wonder at what they professe to know ; Nothing but ignorance can be guilty of this boldnesse ; There is no divinity but in an humble feare , no philosophie but in a silent admiration . CXXIII . Vpon the sight of an hedg-hogge . I Marvelled at the first reading , what the Greekes meant by that proverbe of theirs ; The Foxe knowes many pretty wiles , but the hedg-hogge knowes one great one : but when I considered the nature , and practise of this creature , I easily found the reason of that speech , grounded upon the care , and shift that it makes for its owne preservation ; whiles it is under covert it knowes how to barre the fore-dore against the cold Northerne , and Easterne blasts ; and to open the back-doore for quieter and calmer aire ; When it is pursued , it knowes how to roll up it selfe round , within those thornes with which nature hath environd it , so as the dogge , in stead of a beast , findes now nothing but a ball of prickes , to wound his jawes ; and goes away crying from so untoothsome a prey : Hee that sent the sluggard to schoole to the pismire , sends also in effect the carelesse and imprudent man to the hedg-hogge ; whiles hee saith , if thou bee wise thou shalt bee wise for thy selfe : The maine care of any creature is self-preservation ; whatsoever doth that best , is the wisest . These creatures that are all body , have well improved the instincts of nature , if they can provide for their bodily safety ; Man , that is a reasōable Soule , shall have done nothing , if he make not sure work for the better part . O God , make mee Soule-wise , I shall never envy their craft , that pitty my simplicity . CXXIV . Vpon the sight of a Goate . THis creature is in an ill name ; it is not for any good qualities , that God hath made choice of the goate , to resemble the wicked and reprobate soule ; It is unruly , and salacious , and noysome ; I cannot see one of them , but I presently recall to my thoughts the wofull condition of those on the left hand ; whom God hath set aside to so fearefull a damnation . They are here mixed with the flock , their colour differs nothing from the sheepe ; or if wee doe discerne them , by their rougher coate , and odious sent , wee sever our selves from them ; but the time shal come , when he shall sever them from us , who hath appointed our innocencie to the fold , and their harmefulnesse to an everlasting slaughter . Onwards , if they climbe higher then wee , and feede upon those craggy clifts which wee dare scarce reach to with our eyes ; their boldnesse is not greater then their danger , neither is their ascent more perilous , then their ruine deadly . CXXV . Vpon the sight of the blinde and the lame . HEre is a true naturall commerce of senses ; The blinde man hath legges ; the lame man hath eyes ; the lame man lendes his eyes to the blinde , the blinde man lendes , his legges to the lame ; and now both of them move ; where otherwise , both must sit still , and perish ; it is hard to say whether is more beholden to other ; the one gives strength , the other direction ; both of them equally necessary to motion ; though it bee not in other cases so sensible , yet surely this very trafique of faculties is that , whereby we live , neither could the world subsist without it ; one man lends a braine , another an arme ; one a tongue , another an hand ; he that knowes wherefore hee made all , hath taken order to improve every part to the benefit of the whole ; What doe I wish ought that is not usefull ? And if there bee any thing in me that may serve to the good of others , it is not mine , but the Churche : I cannot live but by others , it were injurious if others should not likewise share with mee . CXXVI . Vpon the sight of a Mappe of the World. WHat a poore little spot is a coūtry ? A man may hide with his thumbe , the great territories of those , that would bee accounted Monarchs . In vain should the great Cham , or the great Mogull , or Prester John seeke here for his Court ; it is well , if hee can finde his kingdome , amongst these parcels : And , if wee take all together these shreds of Ilands , and these patches of Continent , what a mere indivisible point they are in comparison of that vast circle of heaven wherewith they are incompassed ? It is not easie for a man to bee knowne to that whole land wherein hee lives : but if he could be so famous , the next country perhaps never heares of his name : and if he can attain to be talked of there , yet the remoter parts cānot take notice that there is such a thing : and if they did all speake of nothing else , what were hee the better ? Oh the narrow bounds of earthly glory : Oh the vaine affectation of humane applause : Only that man is happily famous , who is known , & recorded in heaven . CXXVII . Vpon the sight of hemlocke . THere is no creature of it selfe , evill : mis-application may make the best , so : and there is a good use to be made of the worst : This weed which is too well proved to be poysonous , yet to the Goat is medicinall : as serving by the coldnesse of it , to temper the feverons heat of that beast : so wee see the Marmoset eating of spiders , both for pleasure , and cure : Our ignorance may not bring a scandall upon Gods workmanship , or if it do , his wisedome knowes how to make a good use even of our injury : I cannot say but the very venome of the creatures is to excellent purpose , how much more their beneficiall qualities ? If ought hurt us , the fault is ours , in mis-taking the evill for good : in the meane time wee owe praise to the maker and to the creature a just and thankfull allowance . CXXVIII . Vpon a Flowre-de-luce . THis flowre is but unpleasingly fulsome for sent , but the root of it is so fragrant , that the delicatest Ladies are glad to put it into their sweet bagges : contrarily the rose-tree hath a sweet flowre , but a savour-lesse root , and the saffron yeelds an odoriferous and cordiall spire , whiles both the flowre , and the root are unpleasing : It is with vegitables , as with mettals , God never meant to have his best alwayes in view ; neither meant hee to have all eminences concealed . Hee would have us to know him to be both secretly rich , and openly bountifull . If we do not use every grace in its owne kinde , God leeses the thankes , and wee the benefit . CXXIX . Vpon the sight of two trees , one high , the other broad . Those trees that shoot up in height are seldome broad ; as contrarily , those trees that are spreading , are seldome tall : it were too much ambition in that plant , which would bee both wayes eminent : Thus it is with men ; The covetous man that affects to spread in wealth , seldome cares to aspire unto height of honour : the proud man , whose heart it set upon preferment , regards not ( in comparison thereof ) the growth of his wealth : There is a poore shrubbe in a valley ; that is neither tall nor broad , nor cares to be either , which speeds better then they both : the tall tree is cut downe , for timber , the broad tree is lopped for firewood : besides that the tempest hath power on them both , whereas the low shrubbe is neither envied by the winde , nor threatned by the axe , but fostered rather , for that little shelter , which it affords the shepheard : If there bee glory in greatnes , meannesse hath security : Let me never envy their diet , that had rather bee unsafe , then inglorious . CXXX . Vpon the sight of a drunken-man . REason is an excellent facultie ; and indeed , that which alone differenceth us from brute creatures ; without which what is man but a two-legged beast ? and , as all precious things are tender , and subject to miscarriage , so is this above others ; the want of some little sleepe , the violence of a fever , or one cup too much puts it into utter distemper ; What can we make of this thing ( Man I cannot call him ? ) Hee hath shape ; so hath a dead corps , as well as he ; hee hath life , so hath a beast as well as hee ; Reason , either for the time hee hath not , or , if hee have it , he hath it so depraved , and marred for the exercise of it , that brutishnesse is much lesse ill-beseeming ; Surely , the naturall bestiality is so much lesse odious then the morall , as there is difference in the causes of both ; That is of Gods making , this of our own It is no shame to the beast , that God hath made him so , it is a just shame to a man , that he hath made himselfe a beast . CXXXI . Vpon the whetting of a sithe . REcreation is intended to the minde , as whetting is to the sithe ; to sharpen the edge of it ; which otherwise would grow dull , and blunt ; hee therefore that spends his whole time in recreation , is ever whetting , never mowing ; his grasse may grow , and his steed starve ; as contrarily he that alwaies toyles , and never recreates , is ever mowing , never whetting ; labouring much to little purpose : as good no sithe , as no edge : Then onely doth the work goe forward , when the sithe is so seasonably , and moderately whetted , that it may cut , and so cuts that it may have the helpe of sharpening : I would so interchange , that I neither be dull with worke , nor idle and wanton with recreation . CXXXII . Vpon the sight of a looking-glasse . VVHen I looke in another mans face , I see that man , and that man sees mee , as I doe him : but when I looke in my glasse , I doe not see my selfe : I see onely an image or representation of my selfe : howsoever it is like mee , yet it is not I : it is for an ignorant child to looke behinde the glasse , to finde out the babe that he seeeth : I know it is not there : and that the resemblance varies according to the dimnesse , or different fashion of the glasse . At our best , wee doe but thus see God here below : One sees him more clearely , another more obscurely : but all in a glasse : Hereafter , wee shall see him , not as he appeares , but as hee is : So shall wee see him in the face , as hee sees us : The face of our glorified Spirits shall see the glorious face of him who is the God of Spirits : In the meane time , the proudest dame shall not more plie her glasse , to looke upon that face of hers , which shee thinkes beautifull , then I shall gaze upon the clearest glasse of my thoughts , to see that face of God , which I know to bee infinitely faire , and glorious . CXXXIII . Vpon the shining of a peece of rotten wood . HOw bright doth this wood shine ? When it is in the fire , it will not so beame forth , as it doth in this cold darknesse : What an embleme is here of our future estate ? This peece , whiles it grew in the tree , shone not at all , now that it is putrified , it casts forth this pleasing lustre : Thus it is with us : whiles wee live here , we neither are , nor seeme other then miserable : When we are dead once , then begins our glory , then doth the soule shine in the brightnesse of heavenly glory , then doth our good name shine upon earth in those beames which before envie had either held in , or over-cast . Why are wee so over-desirous of our growth , when wee may bee thus advantaged by our rottennesse ? CXXXIV . Vpon an Yvie tree . BEhold a true Embleme of false love : here are kinde embracements , but deadly : how close doth this weed cling unto that Oake , and seemes to hugge , and shade it ? but in the mean time drawes away the sappe , and at last kils it : Such is an harlots love , such is a parafites : Give mee that love , and friendship , which is betweene the vine , and the elme , whereby the elme is no whit worse , and the vine much the better : That wholesome and noble plant doth not so close winde it selfe about the tree , that upholds it , as to gall the barke , or to sucke away the moisture : and againe the elme yeelds a beneficiall supportation to that weake ( though generous ) plant . As God , so wise men know to measure love , not by profession , and complement , ( which is commonly most high , and vehement in the falsest ) but by reality of performance : Hee is no enemie that hurts mee not : I am not his friend whom I desire not to benefit . CXXXV . Vpon a quartan ague . I Have known whē those things , which have made an healthfull man sick , have been the means of making a sick man , whole . The quartan hath of old been justly stiled the shame of Physicians : Yet , I have more then once observed it to bee cured by a surfet : One divel is sōetime used for the ejection of another ; Thus have I also seene it in the sicknesse of the Soule : The same God whose justice is wont to punish sinne with sinne ; even his mercy doth so use the matter , that he cures one sinne by another ; So have we knowne a proud man healed by the shame of his uncleannesse : a furious man healed by a rash bloodshed . It matters not greatly what the medicine bee , whiles the Physician is infinitely powerfull , infinitely skilfull ; What danger can there be of my safty , whē God shall heale me , as well by evill , as by good ? CXXXVI . Vpon the sight of a loaded cart . IT is a passionate expression , wherein God bemoanes himselfe of the sinnes of Israel , Ye have pressed mee as a cart is pressed with sheaves ; An empty cart runs lightly away , but if it be soundly laden , it goes sadly , sets hard , groanes under the weight , and makes deepe impressions ; the wheeles creak , and the axeltree bends , and all the frame of it is put unto the utmost stresse , He that is ōnipotēt can bear any thing but too much sin ; his Justice wil not let his mercy be over-strained ; No marvel if a guilty Soul say , Mine iniquity is greater then I can beare ; When the infinite God complaines of the weight of mens sins ; But , let not vaine men thinke that God complaines , out of the want of power , but , out of the abundance of mercy : He cannot be the worse for our sinnes ; wee are . It grieves him to bee over-provoked to our punishment ; Then doth Hee accoūt the cart to crack , yea to breake , when hee is urged to breake forth into just vengeance ; O Saviour , the sins of the whole world lay upon thee , thou sweatedst blood under the loade : what would become of mee , if I should beare but one sheafe of that loade ; every eare whereof , yea every graine of that eare were enough to presse downe my Soule to the nethermost hell ? CXXXVII . Vpon the sight of a Dwarfe . AMongst all the bounteous gifts of God , what is it that he hath equally bestowed upon all ? except it be our very being , whiles we are ; he hath not given to all men the same stature of body , not the same strength of wit , not the same capacity of memory , not the same beauty of parts , not the same measure of wealth , or honor ; thus hath hee done also in matter of grace : there are spirituall dwarfes , there are giants ; there are perfect men , children , babes , embryons ; this inequality doth so much more praise the mercy , and wisedome of the giver , and exercise the charity , and thankefulnesse of the receiver ; the essence of our humanity doth not consist in stature ; he that is little of growth , is as much man , as hee that is taller ; Even so also spiritually , the quantity of grace doth not make the Christian , but the truth of it . I shall be glad , and ambitious to adde cubits to my height ; but withall it shall comfort mee to know , that I cannot bee so low of stature , as not to reach unto heaven . CXXXVIII . Vpon an importunate Begger . IT was a good rule of him that bad us learne to pray of beggers ; with what zeale doth this man sue , with what feeling expressions , with how forceable importunity ? When I meant to passe by him with silēce , yet his clamour drawes words from mee ; when I speake to him , though with excuses , rebukes , denialls , repulses , his obsecrations , his adjurations draw from me that almes which I meant not to give ; how hee uncovers his sores , & shewes his impotence , that my eyes may help his tongue to plead ; With what oratory doth he force my compassion ? so as it is scarce any thanke to mee that hee prevailes . Why doe I not thus to my God ? I am sure I want no lesse then the neediest ; the danger of my want is greater ; the almes that I crave , is better , the store and mercy of the giver infinitely more , Why shouldst thou give mee , O God , that which I care not to aske ? Oh give me a true sense of my wants , and then I cannot bee coole in asking , thou canst not bee difficult in condescending . CXXXIX . Vpon a medicinal potion . HOw loathsome a draught is this ? how offensive , both to the eye and to the sent , and to the tast ? yea , the very thought of it , is a kind of sicknesse ; & , when it is once down , my very disease is not so painefull , for the time , as my remedy ; how doth it turne the stomach , and wring the entrayles , and workes a worse distemper , then that whereof I formerly complained ; And yet , it must bee taken for health ; neither could it bee so wholesome , if it were lesse unpleasing ; neither could it make mee whole , if it did not first make mee sick . Such are the chastisements of God , and the reproofes of a friend ; harsh , troublesome , grievous ; but in the end they yeeld the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse . Why doe I turne away my head , and make faces , and shut mine eyes ; and stop my nostrils , and nauseate , and abhorre to take this harmelesse potion for health , when we have seene Mountebanks to swallow dismembred toades , and drinke the poysonous broath after them , only for a little ostentation , and gaine ? It is onely weaknesse , and want of resolution that is guilty of this queasinesse ; Why doe not I cheerefully take , and quaffe up that bitter cup of affliction , which my wise and good God hath mixed for the health of my soule ? CXL . Vpō the sight of a wheel . THe Prophet meant it for no other then a fearefull imprecation against Gods enemies , O my God , make them like unto a wheele ; whereby what could he intend to signifie , but instability of condition , and suddaine violence of judgement ; Those spoakes of the wheele that are now up , are , sooner then sight or thought whirled downe ; and are straight raised up againe , on purpose to bee depressed ; Neither can there bee any motion so rapid , and swift , as the circular . It is a great favour of God that hee takes leasure in his affliction , so punishing us that wee have respites of repentance : there is life and hope in these degrees of suffering ; but , those hurrying and whirling judgemēts of God , have nothing in them but wrath , and confusion . O Lord , rebuke me not in thine anger ; I cannot deprecate thy rebuke ; my sinnes call for correction ; but I deprecate thine anger ; thou rebukest even where thou lovest ; so rebuke me , that whiles I smart with thy rod , I may rejoyce in thy mercy . * ⁎ * FINIS . The Table . MED . FOL . 92 VPon the sight of an harlot carted . 233 93 Vpon the smel of a rose . 236 94 Vpon a cancell'd bond . 238 95 Vpon the report of a great losse by Sea. 240 96 Vpon sight of a bright skie full of starres . 244 97 Vpon the rumors of Warres . 246 98 Vpon a child crying . 249 99 Vpon the beginning of a sicknesse . 253 100 Vpon the challenge of a promise . 256 101 Vpon the sight of flies . 260 102 Vpon the sight of a fantasticall Zelote . 262 103 Vpon the sight of a Scavenger working in the channell . 264 104 Vpon a paire of Spectacles . 266 105 Vpon motes in the sun . 269 106 Vpon the sight of a bladder . 270 107 Vpon a man sleeping . 271 108 Vpon the sight of a deaths-head . 274 109 Vpon the sight of a left-handed man. 277 110 Vpō the sight of an old unthached Cottage . 279 111 Vpon the sight of a faire pearle . 281 112 Vpon a screene . 282 113 Vpon a Bur-leafe . 283 114 Vpon the singing of a Bird. 285 115 Vpon the sight of a man Yawning . 285 116 Vpon the sight of a tree lopped . 288 117 Vpon a Scholler that offered violence to himselfe . 290 118 Vpon the comming in of the Iudge . 293 119 Vpon the sight of an heape of stones 296 120 Vpon the sight of a Bat and Owle . 299 121 Vpon the sight of a well-fleeced sheepe . 301 122 Vpon the hearing of Thunder . 304 123 Vpon the sight of an Hedge hogge . 307 124 Vpon the sight of a Goat . 310 125 Vpon the sight of the blinde and the lame . 312 126 Vpon the sight of a Mappe of the World. 314 127 Vpon the sight of hemlocke . 317 128 Vpon a Floure-de luce . 319 129 Vpon the sight of two trees , one high , the other broad . 320 130 Vpon the sight of a drunken-man . 323 131 Vpon the whetting of a sithe . 325 132 Vpon the sight of a looking-glasse . 327 133 Vpon the shining of a peece of rotten wood . 329 134 Vpon an Yvy tree . 331 135 Vpon a quartan ague . 333 136 Vpon the sight of a loaded cart . 335 137 Vpon the sight of a Dwarfe . 338 138 Vpon an importunate Begger . 340 139 Vpon a medicinall potion . 343 140 Vpon the sight of a Wheele . 346 FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A68133-e250 * Si Christus Iudam passus est , cur non ego patiar Birrhichionem ? Dial. de S. Martine Seuer . Sulpit.