V. i i J (.1

Ah 0
The }Ya%iclentr of God. mode¬ rates all things. PfalmSo.
. . / . . .
The Godly ac- knowledg n9 fortHM.
CHAP. X L IV.
I . • j J t .‘i 4-j* *’-»5 * .1 “ t. *•#,** - j
Of Exercife tf herewith the forces wearied are refiored , both of the Mind
and of the Body.
Qlnce the Nature of man cannot fubfift unlefte it take fome time
*3of refrefhment, and be releafed from labour for a while. We muft indulge fome relaxation to our felvcs, leaft the forces of our bodies and fouls grow feeble, and be overcome with immoderate bufinefie. For as pleafing and feafonable fleep reftores and re- Toreflpomh* frefhes the weary lims after labour ; fo alfo remiilion or intention hour is good. repairs and raifeth up the tired mind and fpirits that are exhauft- cd with conftant ftudies and lucubrations. The Antients when Thedelightof they had their Vacation from bufineffe of the Common-wealth, and Courts of Law, took their pleafure in the Country, and reap¬ ed as much profit in husbandry as they took delight in it. For be- fides the Woods and green fields that were moft pleafant to look upon, and befidcs places fet with Trees, and adorned withOfiers, beiides the commodities of their Farms, and country houfes, and fweet retreats, they reaped a moft lawfull and plentiful profit from their well-tilled land, and large harveft, and yearly reven- nues. For profit joyned with honefty and Juftice can be dif- comraended by no man. For, as Cicero faith, of all things that men get profit by, there is nothing better than husbandry, or more profitable, or more becomming a free-born man. So Hefiod thought that nothing was fo magnificent and becomming Kings*
than
U t. Offic.
■^ 66 The Benefit of Exercife. Chap.44,
than to till the ground, and to be employed in Country affairs of Husbandry.
h Husbandman Wherefore the old Romans hating the City , went into the is never idle* country, as if they came out of captivity. For here you (hall find
many things to offer them fclves, that you may take pleafure inby courfc} for fometimes it is time to prune and lop Trees j then the plcafant fpring invites us to inoculate and to graft Trees: Herat, wed. js tjme t0 drefle Vines, and when the Vine branches are
fprung up, to plant the high growing popular Trees.
Virg. X. Georg.
Sometimes to catch wildbeafls infnares , and then Birds with lime twigs , and after that again ,
To compajse round iVoods with T)ogs3 and by turn. To entrap Birds , and busies for to burn.
Manykiuds ef exerci( e.
Vi RurtS feed and rtfiejb the fight.
Mufick delights eft emend.
Va.l.i.c.1.
Cicero 1 . Tuf- cul.
Hunting and Hawking is healthfull for young people, and fuch as are of ripe age, and is a fit exercife for them, and is not to be difeommended fo a man be not over-addiCted to it, and do not fpend all his time in following and deftroying wild beafts, neg¬ lecting ferious matters, and his houfhold affairs. But it wonder¬ fully refrefheth a mans mind, to delight himfelf in geographical Tables, and within the compaffc of his ftudy to travel over the long and large bounds of the world, and to meafure with his eyes and compafte thofe places that are far diftant from us, rather than to fpend his eftate to go from home thither, and to wander into forrain pans. I reckon amongft cofmographical Charts and Maps, pictures that arc artificially drawn, and well painted with fit colours, or luch as are naked without any painting at all, which do not affcCt our eyes with an empty fpeculation, efpecially if we be free from luperftition, but they afford us fome documents for venue and godlinefie, fuch are thofe that comprife the (acred Hi- ftones. Whence the Antients rightly called PiBuremute, o r fi- lcnt Poetry, and Poetry was called living and fpeaking, and not dumb picture. But pleafure in Mufick is commendable and very delightfome, which exceedingly refrefheth and checreth a droop¬ ing mind. For this by a confentof voices and inftruments found¬ ing tunably, doth nor onely delight our ears with variety of founds but doth raife our fpirits vital and animal with a noife that is fpread every wherethrough the arteries, difeuffing all clouds and fadneffe from our minds, and making them to be lively and ready for employment. Hence it was that Pythagoras was wont when he awakened to awaken his mind with a mufical inftrument, that he might be the better rowfed to undergo his functions, and daily bufinefle : and again, at night going to bed he would eafe his mind by playing on his Harp or Lute, that his affections might be the more calm. So Epaminandas, a Prince of Greece , is reported to have fung well to the Harp ; and all Greece ,as Qicero teftifies, fup- pofed thatall learnjhg coi fitted in a confent of voices and Inftru- , ments, and he that was not skill’d in that was held to be unlearn- , ; ed.
Chap.44. The Antients were fiudious in Mufick.
367
cd. So in elder times at Kings Tables they were wont to ling the
ions of the great men ofthe World, playing upon a Harp unto „LTUT‘ it. So Ftrgil writes.
Long bayrd Iopas on guilded Lute doth play , which Art great Atlas taught him, as mofi men do fay „ Omfings the wandring Moon , or labours of the Sun ? Another be'afis and men , whence forms and fire begun ■> ArCturus, and the weeping clufiersyand both wains , And why the winter Sunfofoon the Ocean gains ,
Or what makes longer daye$y and jhorter nights remain .
Befides other arguments, the Hiftory of the Prophet David flicws The Hthem that the Hi brew people wanted not the ufe of this delight, and reic^dm it was adorned and much efteemed of by great men amongft them.
For King David was wont to ling his lacred hymns to the Harp,’ * K^stg. and to pacify the furious and dilcontented mind of Saul that was D*vidhm°*r* hurried and vexed with an ill fpirit, and melancholly, by play- Muficd™iK« ing fweetly on this Infirument, and fo he brought him to be of a ments* * bettermind. Alfo the Prophet Elifha being exafperated with the 42^3. importunate interruption ofthe Kings, taking an Inftrument, by Elllhah harmony and muficali tunes, he compofed his mind, and when ^Sci?xth he had fecled his affections, and removed all paffions from himfelf, being enfpired with Gods fpirit, be began toProphcfie, and tofore- fhew to rhe three Kings what fhould be the iffue of that bufindle.
And the facred word of God thews in many places that Muficians were wont to be employed at Feafts. So the Wife man taking zccUhii: his fimilitude from Jewels adorned with Gold 5 As, faith he, a Carbuncle adorns Gold : fo doth a confort of Mufick at a Ban¬ quet, where men drink wine with moderation. And, as the fame Authour faith, the Emrald which hath a tranfparent and full s miitudet green colour, called commonly Amaranty beautifies the Gold: fo Muficd doth the harmony of Muficians at a pleafanc Banquet. But that Jewels™ no man fliould be given too much to chefe kind of delights, and * bufy himfelf therein beyond meafure, he fhews by the way what we fhould prefer before it ^ Wine and Mufick cheer the mind and Eccl • 4a* heart, but the ftudy of Wifedome is better than them both. In. deed Sfaios reprehends drunkards with Wine, and fuch as are con- Eriia sreproves ftantly given to fealtings, and delight themfeives with the fweet r>,'Hn^du founds of mufical Inftrnmentsj but it is bccaufe therein they con- ildered notGod, nor referred unto him any of thofe things they fo plentifully enpyed, from whole bounty all things proceed. For chap.f thus he threatens them, Wo to you that rife early to follow after ; drunkcnndle,anddrink untill theeveningthat you may be infla¬ med with Wme 5 The Lute and Harp, and Timbrel and Pipe, are in your feafte -y but you confider not the work ofthe Lord, nor re¬ gard the operation of his hands. That is, you havenot your e^s and minds lifted up unto God, from whofe bouncy 8c munificence all thefe things come. The Prophet Amos handlcth the fame ar- Ames 6;
gumcnr*
3^8
The Benefit of Exercise.
Chap.44
ftraos cm - plains of drunk aids. ,
lefs violent exercife.
gumenc, and. he doth reprehend all iafcivious and drunken men with fuch like threats. Wo to them that are rich in Sion, who walk .flately, who lye on beds of Ivory , and flretch themfelves upon their cou - ches 3 that chant to the found of the riolly and invent to themfelvesln- fruments of Mufukywho drink wine in bowls , and annoint themfelves with the chief oyntments, yet none of them arew grieved for the calamity of the poor, nor do they lament their mifery, there is no regard or refpett had to the needy , and no thanks is returned unto God for his fo great bene¬ fits. Wherefore mufical delights, and at that time to ufe Wine and meats moderately, whereby our drooping and feeble fpirits are revived andraifedup, whereby meiancholique fumes are dif- fipated, hath no harm in it, nor can defervedly be complained of « by any perverfe crabbed man, unlefleby theabufeof thefe things and conftant ufe, men fall into a deep forgetfullnefle of God and facred things, and of their own falvation. Amongft the more eafy exercifes and fuch as arc Idle troublefome and laborious, are en- cluded riding on horfeback, orfayling in Botes or Ships, or elfe. walking in the fields and open Ayre, or in pleafant Gardens, or f hepleafure ef unc|er Vines that make long Arbours, fo that to walk under thefe frefhetbour roofs and vaulted places full of green leaves, is no Idle wholefome
mnds. than it is delightfome. And if we chance to be tired and weary
with walking, there want not in well-ordered Gardens fhady bowers and places of refreihment, whereweraay cool our felves, and keep off the heat. But when we would Band in the open Sun, andexpofeourfelvestothefree Ayre, we may do that in the Zoic'bfe 1 places wide fields, or upon fome eminent and high place. But as amongft and m winter moderate and wholefome exercifes for Budents and magiftrates,, l\nthe°sun. ^ ic is very convenient to read aloud with a clear voice, and to fpcak out orations frequently : fo for Brong and luBy people, wreflling is good, and to ihoot, or play at Tennis, which Galen approves in a book fet forth to thatpurpofe, and to play at cudgels or. fight on v Horfeback, whereby the natural heat is augmented, and the body
grows ftrong, the bloud running through all the parts, and hence it is that fuch as ufe exercife have a good colour, and their skin is very handfome and red. Yetletthofe that ufe thefe fports re- v member thus much, that they mull: do all with moderation, leaft violent and winding motions (hould caufe luxations of their lims ; that is, leaft any partfhould bediflocated, or removed out of his ' place, by their toilfome Birring and turning ol their bodies. And as our minds are not prefently to be wearied with ftudy ing fo foon as we have eaten our meat, that the Bomach may more commo- \ dioufly be employed about concoCtion 5 that the natural heat may not be difperfed and fcattered : So when men have eaten freely they muft not fall to over-hard labour, for violent and uncompo- Vi&lent rnvmz pe(j motions hinder concoction, and all immoderate agitations of imts concetti- body, carry the raw and undigeBed meats into the Veins, and
thefe become the feminaries of difeafes, obfiru&ions and putrefa- cockd what it &ion proceeding from thence. The Antients ufed to play at Cock¬ er. all, or cafling of huckle bones, which is done with fmooth (beeps
hrvnf>c»
J-
Chap.44« Seierall forts of Recreations. $69
bones, the Dutch call them Pickelen, wherewith our young maids
that are not yet ripe ufe to play for a husband ; and young married
folks, defpife thefefo foon as they are married. But young men
ufe to contend one with onother with a kind of bone taken forth of
Oxefeet. The Dutch call them Coten, and they play with thefe
at a fet time of the year, as they do alio with Nuts and iRattles,
which childifh fports are contemned and rcje&ed by them when
they are fomething elder, fo that once paft fifteen years old, they
hold it notfecmly and not generous to be employed in toyes, for as
Bor ace faith, after a childifh manner. 1. Serm.u. 3,
They build them houf ?$, and put Mice to Carts,
Play at even and odd , and ufe f uch *Arts,
To ride on flicks , but if one with a beard ,
Delights int , he is mad , and to be fear'd.
Moreover Cockals,which the Dutch call feelings are different vice an difff from Dice, for they are fquare, with four Tides, and Dice have fix, the ufe whereof is fo frequent id Europe that many men oft-times by the ufe of chefe waft all their patrimonies, and when rhey have fpent all, they are thus brought to beggery ; whereas Cockals are ufed by maids amongft us, and do no wayes wafte any ones efface.
For either they pafle away the time with them, or if they have
time to be idle, they play for fome fmall matter, as for Cheft-
nuts, Filbcrds, Pins, Buttons, ardfome fuch juncacs. But young whippingofd
youth do.merrily exercife themfelves in whipping the top, and to r°V'
make it run fwifdy abour, that it cannot be fecn, and will deceive
the fight, and that in Winter, to catch themfdves i heat. Perfm Sat‘ &
faith that this kind of exercife was ufual amongft the Antientsa
and he and others were exceedingly delighted in it.
1 ‘ . :
For that by right was mofl de fired thing,
T 0 know what ere the right fife point might bring „ .
And what the world cafl of the Dice might not i Not to be cheated by the f mall mouth’d pot , who had mofl Art to whip the top about.
J*. J J'
v. r
Virgilhdte makes fnerition of this childifh inftniment, and he rhepotwasef compares in moft elegant Vcrfes, the mind of Lavima that was earth as ours is3 agitated by the Furies for the love of Turnm to a whirlgigg, and that it was turned round like to a top, (for fo it is called in Dutch) uw-mub ^ that is driven about with whips and fcourgeso He profecutes the Spreerf. ftiatter thus.
Then jhe unhappy by huge monflers chas'd,, Runs madding through the great City in hafle , Like to a Top that's whipt by wanton boyes , in open Court amongfl their childifh toyes.
d d a
Pirg. I. 7« *
ttnetd.
The elegant de~ ftription of Virgill.
///.. V
which
37®
Exercife of youth.
Chap.44,
Jugurtha’s
tQTvardneJfe.
Exercife of youth .
liifmom plays.
f$at a Dy is.
which they admire when it turneth rounds S 0 fbee through Cities ran , ’mono ft people found.
Children are commonly wont to be bulled in thefe (ports, but when boyes grow to be young men they defire fomelmore decent employments. In all exercile whereby the body or mind may re* ceive home benefit, we muft ftill have a care of decency and ho- nefty. So Saluft commends Jugurtha’s towardnefle, when it was not depraved with ambition and defire of a kingdome 5 For he fo foon as he was grown up, being ftrong and well favoured, but moftofalljaboundingin wit, hedidnotgive bimfelf over to lux¬ ury and idlenefte to be corrupted : but as the manner is of that na¬ tion, to ride, (hoot, run with his equals, and when he wan the ho¬ nour from them all, yet he was beloved by all, and would do very much, and fpeak little in his own commendation. Avoid Dice and Cards, and fuch other delights of idle people, as things moft hurtfulland infamous. For in thefe fports Art and skill prevails not, but fraud, and cogging, and cheating; reafon, counfel, and Wifedome, can do nothing, but chance, fortune, and accident. Dice or hazard comprehends all plays fubjeft to chance, or for¬ tune, as Dice caft out of the hand, or out of a Box, Tables, alfo every way of cafting Dice, fo that it is not allowed in the (mailed matters, and childrens games, if it be often ufed or deceitfully, or contentioufly. So Martial fpeaks wittily.
Childifto paftimeS feem to be harmlefje things ,
Tet often fuch delight great m if chief brings .
Wherefore fince in thefe fports commonly they do all with craving, defrauding and wicked intention, fo much moderation muft be ufed, as to feek for recreation therein rather than gain.For thofe that are ignorant are often coufned of their money by cunning Gameftcrs. And though in fuch fports fome hopes of gain tick- leth the minds of men, and he that wins is taken with the reward : yet we ought to do nothing with too earned a defire of gain and ad¬ vantage. Exercife and fport is appointed and allowed not for hopes of gain, but for recreation and for our health-fake, and that the mind being tired may be refrefhed, and obtain new forces to fall upon bufinefleas before.
Such is the nature and condition ofGamefters and Dicers, that ofDtiit-piayers. when men have once taken a delight therein, they can hardly leave it. For men of the fame Trade allwaies foliciting them, they are drawn to thofe loffefull games continually, which vice is alfo imbred to Whoremongers. Thereforefore Ovid gives good counfel!.
l. 24.
Gain mull not le by fraud.
the condition
Scorn gain, mad defire doth vex mans mind , And Dice will make men thereto ftill endin’ d.
la
37i
Chap. 45* bu fine fie we mufl call reafon into ceunfell
In my opinion a defire and induftry to get gain can be denied to no man, to maintain his family thereby: yet we mult follow fuch gam as is profitable and honeft, and that wrongs no other man.
It is a good frying of PlauttU, Every man ought to be diligent to get gam, rather than crafty. For things got by finifter and wicked 111 gotten goods means, beiides that they get a man an ill name, are feldome laft- thing, ing, buffoon vanifb away, as riches that come by fraud, flattery, informing, cavilling, ufury, Dice, Cards, and fuch like., Where¬ fore ufe all means to. perfwade fuch as arc your fellow; ftudents to abltain from wicked actions, and to draw them to honeft, honour¬ able, and vertuous defigns. For this office of humanity not one- Iy deferves commendation amongft Cordial men, but ic is weli- pieafmg unto God, as the Lord teftifies in Jeremiah . He that fepa- chap. if, rates the pretious from the vile, (hall be as my mouth. Where¬ by he intimates that he hath done fome notable bufinefle, and to come next unto God, and to deferve divine honour,who hath drawn himfelf or his neighbour (for there is nothing more dear, or ofgrea- JcremIa^ ter price with God than man) from bafe things, from a polluted faceo‘en and fordid life, and from the wayes of errour, and becomes the Authour and means to bring a man to lead an honeft life, and tQ be blamelefle in his behaviour. To which.may be referred thac ; of the Apoftle James ; Brethren, if any amongft you erre' from the Qbnf^\ truth, and one converts him, let him. know that he who turns a (inner from bis til wayes , (hall fave a Soul from death, and (ball cover a multitude of iniquities.
CHAP. XL Vo
V" ' In dll bufineff e be mufl call Reaf m into Counfell .
4rN every a&ion and bufinefle of our lives all things are to be fo 1 moderated by reafon and counfel, that we may not do to day ■"■what we (hall repent of to morrow. It is filthy to do any thing fo, that when it is done you fhould be forced to fay, I had not thought, you (hall more leldome fall upon this rock if you do not ; 1 J
your bufinefle head longly and carelefly, but with coofideration, maturity and prudence, that all may be laid to the rule of reafon.
So Salujl, commands rightly* Confult before you begin, and Nothing is tolm j when you have taken couafcl, do what you do maturely. And dmheedicjij . (ficero faith, what ever you do, ufe diligent, preparation for it. To l. i. op, which appertains that Proverb, Haftenwith leafure, and that is done foon enough which is well done.
i>dd 2 C I I A Pa
3 7 2 Doubting makes the mind Scrupulous. Chap.4 6 , 47,
ghap: xlvi.
2)0 nothing which you doubt of.
DO nothing that may breed a fcruple in your mind, and may caufeyou to be doubtfuil, fo that you are uncertain whether l' x* it be juft or urijuft that you go about. For Juftice, as Cicero faith,
is clear enough of it felf, and is joyned with vertuc and ho n city ; Butdoubting is next to injuftice and other vices. To this agrees w ^ that of Saint iW, Happy is that man who condemneth not him felf in
Doubting makes that which he alloweth: that is, who in going about any bufinefle the mind fern* doth not fecretly feel his Confcience reclaiming him from it. StfPauiita Which fentence though the Apoftle writ it concerning choice of fiace explain'd. meats, and to avoid offences, as I faid before, yet may it fitly be applyed to other matters. For in every action, wherein we do any thing without a firm and certain conftancy of mind, but with doubting and wavering, we are condemned by our own Confci- ences. For it is naught and finfull, whatever is againft Confcience, and wherein we approve, not our minds to God by faith. For when any man doth a thing that is good, and doubts whether it be fo or n of he thereby declares that he is ready to do what is naught, if occafion be offered, or he can find opportunity. But true Piety, and folid Wifdome accompanied by faith, and fupported by Gods fpiritdoch judge all things knowingly, and will not attempt to do any thing that may have the leaft appearance of evilly or may pol¬ lute the mind or confciencewithany fin. .
; - — - T - - - ~
CHAP. XL VI I.
* s -
The rewards of Tertue and rice.
ftcafun is kb* V Y THat Cato the elder was wont often to fay to hit fellow-foul*. mmary. \y diers, ought to be imprinted in every mans mind. If a •man by labour do any good thing, that is joyned with honefty $ the labour pafleth away, but the good deed remains. If a man Venue is cm comtl^t any fin with pleafure: the plcafure as a momentary nd[ " thing is foongon, and flyes away, but the fin and wickedncfie is indeliblfcand flicks faft to us alwaies. Hence is the Proverb, Once j proverb a - a f coffer ever good houf e-keeper . For whoever in a bafe bufinefle ? wttftm’ hath made havock of his hbnefty and reputation, fhall hardly get the name of an honefi man, though he be grown rich and wealthy. Plato's exhor - By filch like reafons did Phto ftir up young men to obtain felicity, tatum to ver- fecting before them the Images of vertue, and of viiious pleafure.
For ftidden repentance, and perpetual vexation, difquictncfle of mind, and continual grief, accompanicsthe momentary and ihort delights of the one; but there follows the few labours and travels
of
373
Gb.ap.48. The beginning of our attions muft be from God,
of the other, a quiet and peaceable mind, a fecure Confcience, with folid and eternal joy. To this we may apply that fentence What delights is momentary, what vexeth us is eternal. ^
CHAP. XL VIII.
n We muft take the beginnings of all our actions from God,
XT \7Hatfocver thou haft a pur pole to do, and to bring to Y Y paftc, alwaies take Counlelnrftlrom the greateft and our aftioHi belt God. So if thou cfetermine to deal upon any thing, or to un- frm dertakc any publick or private employments, defire affiftance from God, that he would infpire you with what is belt, and molt for your good. For it can fcarfe be faid what great felicity in the fuc- cefle of bufinefle comes from hence, and how much conducing thereunto it is, to refer all our defires to the will of God. And commonly chofe that do not begin thus, proceed but unluckily, and with ill event. Hence it is that God threatneth in Bfaiah. wo un- cbaf.Ul to the rebellion* children that take counfell but not of me , who cover with a coverings but not of my fpirit. By whicn wofds he denounceth unto them an unhappy and unproljpcrous fuccefie ; becaufe they looked for fuccour and help elfewhere, and not from God, and took no counfel from him, nor asked any anfwer from him, who God govern rules overall, and hath the dominion and Empire of the whole mr «Kmu World. For- by him (as Solomon faith) Kings Reign y and princes do 8* juftice j By me Princes rule , and Noble s, even all the Pudges of the Earth, Counfel and Equity,and Prudence and Strength, and Ho¬ nour and Power are his 5 he gives them theif power and Jurif- didlion, to govern and rule theif fubje&s by. Since therefore GotTk theft ft' all things are brought to pafle by the will of God, and he is the caab*% prime caufe of them all 5 we muft beg with all our might from him, for a happy fucceffe on all our bufinefiq and that lie would be plcafed to grant unto us all things good and ne- ceflary to live well and happily by* Chrift gives us warning of this, when he faith, Firjtfeek the Kingdome of God and his Righ- teoufnejSe, and all other things jh all be freely adminiftred unto you ofLH^'*im his bounty^ and added thereunto. That is the moft happy begin- ing of the day, which is begun from the contemplation of heaven¬ ly things, from the Evangelical doctrine, and pray fing the Majefty of God.
374
Tho morning the be(l time for prayer. Chap.4^,50,
The waning is fit for prayers.
Tfalm f. Ffalm 6 1,
Chap. 17.
Chap. t-6.
The place of E== fay interpreted.
CHAP. X LIX.
The morning early is the left time to fit our minds ,. and to lift them
up unto God,
THere is no part of the day fo Et to pray unto God as the mor¬ ning is, For then the mind is more lively, the darkncfle of the night being gon,and is more fit to conceive wholdome co¬ gitations. The facred Scriptures every where teftify, that the ho¬ ly Prophets were wont to do fo. For David being in a ftrait, faith. My voice jhalt thou hear in the morning O Lord $ In the morningj&ill / diredmy prayer unto thee, and will leek up$ In the mornings jhall rfij prayer come unto thee. SoE[aiah$ In the morning^fh all the Lord hear¬ ken unto me, that I may lifien unto him, who giveth me warning . And again My Soul de fired thee in the night feafon , with my fpirit within I
will feel thee early . By which words the Prophet fhews, that all his mind and all the faculties of his Soul, and fpirits both vital and animal were fixed upon God continually, fo that no time fhould pa fie without the thoughts of him 5 but all our words, deeds, and thoughts of our heart fhould be dirc&ed unto God, ^
CHAP. L.
when the day is ended wemufi examine our mind) for an account of the
a8 ions we have done that day,.
we mft require areafonof our a&idns and ex¬ amine our minds.
AT even examine thy mind concerning all thy words and deeds done orfpoken that day, fo when' the day is ended be¬ fore you fettle your felf to fleep, take an account of every dayesa&ions, and ask thy mind for a reafon thereof: what evil! thou, haft amended this day, what vice thou haft oppofed ? in what thou art grown betters what addition hath been made to piety ? and what progrefTe thou haft made in vertue ?
Virgin vire wherein he f ailed) what's done in time , what not 2
What good there came by fuch or fuch a deed , what was let flip i what aUion was begot ,
That better had been changed I and at need , What help he lent , or done what grief might breed .
It can hardly be fpoken3 how quiet and peaceable the mind of f/e mufl daily man will be, and what fweet reft and fleep a man will take, when boidafurpofe as with a purpofe of amendment, one difeuftes the clouds of his amendment. mjnc| wjth fuch thoughts. But becaufe the a&ion of the day, and fuch things as we fee in the day-time, do fometimes hinder our fleep, we mu ft careful) y labour to pafle the day with honeft em¬ ployments
Chap. 5 1.
Faults mufl not be extenuated .
- m - : _ - _ . J71^
ployments, that nothing fall foul upon the mind that may hinder . out reft, and make us fleep unquietly.
bottejl .
CHAP. LI. i
\ Tf
« J
Let no man fl atter himf 'elf in his faults, or extenuate his evill deeds.
IF any thing be done foolifhly, and contrary to right reafon, Faults mu fat and honefty, and decency : never think how you may flatter be ******40, your felf in your errours, or extenuate your faults by excufing chemj for excufing of (in breeds confidence of finning, and gives occafion to commit the fame fins again. So when David had ob- ferved how much mifehief proceeded from this errour of his mpiacTof the mind, he fa id, Incline not my heart O Lord to main torn words, to find Prophet David cut excufes for my fins. In which words he prayes that anevir mind *xVlamtd' or intention may be far from him, which wicked men being trou¬ bled heap one wickedntfle upon another, and they extenuate and leflen their fins, and will fuffer no fault to belaid to their charge.
By which blindneffe and darkneffeof mind it comes to paffe, that when the mind is once hardned in fins, and bound with evill de¬ fires, it tails daily to worfe and worfe, and finks down without any hope of comming forth. ■ To which appertains that of Solo- mon . The wicked when he is come into the depth of fin, defpifeth ' * '* counfel, that is, he is perfwaded he hath done no harm, and is not much troubled for the wickednefTe he hath committed, but as the lame writer faith, Confufion and reproach follow him. Where¬ by he fhews that he undergoes fo great Ioffe of his reputation, and is fo branded with infamy, that he {hall hardly ever after procure or defer ve the name of an hone ft and upright man.
After the fame manner are they hampered, who, when they have a racked man! offended, and are fallen into any fin, will not acknowledge and ™indubard- confefleit, though the wrack of their confidence extort it from them, but they are filent and hold their peace, and hope that in time all (hall be forgotten. For it falls out with them as with Afimiupm boyes who will not leave off when they are forbidden, cfpecially the mm $ ' where they hope it may be concealed, and may not come to their cMAnn' Parents Ears. We have examples hereof in *s4.dm and Catn, and in their poderity, to whom original fin was derived. Where- confejjis* fjfrj fore thofc that defire to have peace of Confcience, and not to be tortured, mull not drive to conceal or deny fheir fins, but mud confefie them unto God. For to acknowledg and confefie our fins is the means to procure forgivenefie, and wailies away all fpots sil and foulneffc from us, but to conceal and deny Our faults exafpe- vamomfim, rates the evil, and makes our caufe the worfe. Which David vfalml i. having proved in hi hi felf 5 faid, becaufe I held my peace, my bones confumed through my daily complaining 5 pain and anguifh indeed made me to cry out, and complain, but it made me not
con-
y?6
All our good comes from God.
Chap.52.
contefle ray faults. But forthwith he intends to open his fins unto % God whom he certainly knows to be ready and ealy to forgive his
fins, when he or any man repents heartily and hates his fins. Wherefore trufting in God,lfaid,I will conkfle unto God againft my felt my own iniquity, and thou forgaveft the wickednelfe of my God is fac'd to fin. F or fuch is the love and good will of God toward men, fuch pardon. [s his mercy and eafinefle to be intreated, that fo foon as men pur¬ pose to repent he remits their tranfgreflions. Which he makes chap- 6$ » plain by Efaiah thus. And it (hall be that I will hear them be-
fore they call, and whilft they yet fpeak I will liften unto them. Whereby he {hews that his favour and loving kindneffe is ready, that if a man onely purpofe to lead a better life, God prefently forgives him the wickednefle he hath done. So we read in Ezechiel , at what time foever a (inner {hall repent of his wick- ednefle. I will remember his iniquities no more.
Chap, * 8,
All the good that befall a meto j he mull refer uptp God .
a Cor, 4.
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CHAP. LI I.
we muft refer unto God all the good that befallstu .
IF in this frail and mortal body, and momentary and vanilhing life, any thing befalls thee that is royal, fplendid, magnificent 5 If a man have large pofleflions and revenues, if he have abun¬ dance of wealth and riches, and he live in honour and renown, dig¬ nity, glory 5 If his mind be endued with the knowledge of many things, and he hath prudence and Wifedome; if his body be in health, and lively, or if any thing more happen unto him 5 you muft acknowledge that you have received all this from God, who is a moft mercifull and munificent father, from whom corometh every good gift. Saint Paul recals unto this thankfullnefle the proud perlon who is fwoln with an empty conceit of himfelf, and he takes away from him all his confidence in thefe words: what haft thou which thou haft not received ? and if thou haft received it, why boafteft thou, as though thou haddeft not received it >God urgeth the fame, and fpeaks it to every man in Jeremiah , Let not the Wife man glory in his Wifedome, Let not the Strong man glory in his ftrength,nor the rich man in his riches, but let every man glory in this, that he knoweth me. He that glorieth, faith Saint Pauly let him glory in the Lord, from whom we have abun¬ dantly obtained all good things by Jefus Chrift, who is made by God unto us, Wifcfome, Juftice, San&ification, Salvatidn, and Redemption. But that no man may applaud or flatter himfelf, or vaunt himfelf too infolently, of his external or internal gifts. Saint lWadmoni(heth us, that we carry this treafure in earthen veflels, that is, in frail and dying bodies, whereby every man may under¬ stand that this muft beaferibed to the vertue and power of God, and not to mans ftrengthi For as all the Light, Wifdome, Ver¬ tue and Tuftice that is in a man muft be referred to God and to the
377
Chap. 5 3* D°l beration in c hooting our Courf ? of lift.
Father of Lights,from whom ail good and perfed: gilts dcfccnd, as Si. I Ames the Apoftle certifies :So all the fault and wickednefie that cbaP- *• is in mans mind, what blindnefle and ignorance there is, what cor¬ ruption and depravednc-fic 5 murt all be afcribed to our pernici¬ ous will, and no fault can be imputed unto God. For fin, and the tranlgreflion of Gods Law, brought upon us all miferies, . favour mind*. calamities, difeafcs of body and mind, and laftly, death it iclfj mfd. 1. and this fowed in our minds all rcadinefte to do what is evil.
CHAP. L 1 1 1.
There mufl he confederation had in making choice of what courfe of life
we are determined to lead,
IN choofing the courfe of life, you mean to lead, and wherein Deiihmio>i in you purpoie to reft and continue unto your old age, this firft oi choofing our . all murt be thought upon to enter upon all tilings with confi- courle deration, and not rafhly to addid your felf to any Calling, from whence afterwards if you fhould repent your lcif, you may not lawfully return, and depart from ir. For they who in their youn^ ger years, enter upon any courfe of life, before they underhand what they do, and to what they arc by nature prone unto, and yet bind themfelvesuntoitfor ever, they lead an uncomfortable life, and full of trouble, and forrow, if at any time (as commonly it fals out) they prove to be weary of that condition, or they find them- felves not able to undergo the burden of it. Wherefore let no man inconfideratcly tye himfelf in chains^but, before he enters upon any a
courfe of life, let mm take time to deliberate what Calling he hatn moil mind unto, and what Trade he liketh beft. In which deli¬ beration, as Cicero perfwades, every man murt confider his own in - L. 1. ojfic> ' clination,and fo ufing all care in regulating his life, he may perfc- vere in the purpofe he hath undertaken. For many who ftrive for the beft things are deceived, not fo much by their will as by the wu. errourofthe way they light upon, and they wander from the mark that Chrift hath fet before us, tofuperftition and a falfe {hew of Religion. But from Chrift chiefly murt we fetch our helps of falvadon, who alone being our Pilot, we fail in this Sea of the John 10. world unto our defired harbour. He is the dore that makes an entrance for us to the Father.He is the way, the truth and the life, -
from which Satan attempts to turn us, who changing himfelf into fromchnfi. an Angel oflight by wicked Teachers, thrufts into mens minds falfhood for truth, doubtfull things for certain things, counterfeit things for what is finccre, and for fafe things fiich as are hurtfull unto us. This was the firft impofture of our ene my whereby he Adamw« de- fet upon Adamy and he caft a mift and darknefte upon his mind, flew of truth and he defrauded him who was fimple and overcredulous by a flie w of truth , and he forbears not to do the fame to all his poftc-
Eec rity,'
Of Marriage.
Chap.54„
37S
rity, and by abolifhing the fincere worfhip of God, and faving Religion, to bring in fuperftirion, idolatry, falfe dodrine, and doubtful! and dangerous courfcs of life, and laftly, to ufe all de¬ vices to draw mankind from the true knowledge of God by ex- cinguifhing the light of truth, and putting out the brightneffc of faith, and fo to bring upon the mind an Egyptian and utter dark- aefle.
Definition of Matrimony.