Diary of a Thankful Christian, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
The manner how a Journall or Diary is to be uſed, according to the rules of Practiſe.
AND thus far of the rules of Obſervation. We come now to the rules of Practice, which are to be followed, for the better improvement of ſuch a Journall or Diary; and they are theſe twelve.
1. Look often into this Journall, and read it over: Of all imployments in the world, a ſtudious is the moſt ingenuous; wherein the underſtanding, judgement, and memory, the moſt noble faculties of the ſoul, are principally imployed: Of all ſtudies he …tudy of Hiſtory ſeems to be moſt excelent: Hence even the Scripture it ſelf is for great part Hiſtoricall; that the hearts of …eople might be the better taken with it, and …elight in it: Of all Hiſtories, the Hiſtory of mens Lives is the moſt pleaſant: Such Hiſtory, amongſt many commendations that may be given to it, this is not the leaſt, that it can call back Times, and give life to thoſe …hat are dead; & like a Landskip give a lively diſcovery of the actions of the Grandees in former ages. But of all Hiſtories of Lives, ſhould think, the Hiſtory of a mans owne Life (even out of common principles of ſelf-love) muſt needs be moſt acceptable. To be able to read our Lives even from the wombe to this preſent moment; from the cradle, within ſome few dayes of the grave, would ſurely be a ſtudy as profitable as delightfull. It ſeems that Jacob had ſome skil in the art of memory, though he wrote not ſuch a ſtory; who when he prayed unto God that he might be delivered from the hands of his Brother Eſau, that he might the better prevail with God, he argues from the experience he had of his former goodneſſe, and gives him a brief narrative of his life, in ſome particular paſſages of providence; With my ſtaffe I came over this flood Jordan, Gen. 32. 10.and now I am become two bands. And queſtionleſſe this duty was taught every Iſraelite, who when they came yeerly to offer their basket of firſt-fruits to the Lord, did uſe to run over a ſhort hiſtory of their Fathers lives (wherein their condition hadD…t. 26. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. been wrapped up) in theſe words: A Syri…n ready to periſh was my Father, and he went downe into Aegypt, and ſo journed there with a few, and became there a Nation great, mighty, and populou…: And the Aegyptians evill intreated us, and laid upon us hard bondage; and when we cryed unto the Lord God of our Fathers, the Lord heard our voyce, and brought us out of Aegypt into this Land, &c.Eſt. 6. 1, 2. It is reported of A…aſhueroſh, that one night when he could not ſleep, he ſent for the Book of the Chronicles of his owne Kingdome, and they were read before him: Now of all the parts of that Hiſtory, that which concerns things done in the time of his Reign was principally choſen; wherein was written what good ſervice Mordecai did him in diſcovering the treaſon of Bigthan and Tereſh againſt him, which probably was moſt acceptable to him, as may appear in the ſequel in that Hiſtory.
Tamerlane the moſt victorious Emperour of the Tartars, the night before he ſought that fatall battle with Bajazet the Turkiſh King, having caſt himſelf upon a rich carpet in his pavillion, called for a Book, wherein was contained a hiſtory of the Lives of his Anceſtors; which he uſed often to read for this end, that he might the better imitate that which was worthily done by them, and learn alſo to decline ſuch dangers as they by their over fight had faln into. And ſurely ſuch Hiſtories of our Fathers are but next dore to our owne, and may provoke us to look into our owne lives with more care and caution. And I am aſſured, to read a ſtory of our owne lives, would be a ſtudy (next that of the holy Scripture) as pleaſant and profitable as any.
2. When you have read over this Journall, and ſeen what you have, caſt up alſo all your wants, and ſee what at preſent you ſtand in need of. When Iſrael and his family went down into Aegypt, it was fair weather all the way, they had rich proviſion for their journey. Joſeph his Son came out to meet him in great ſtate, and they were received into Goſhen, the beſt of all the Land of Aegypt: But when Iſrael went out of Aegypt towards Canaan, they met with many ſtor…, their wants were great, their enemies mighty, their dangers grievous; a red Sea, a howling Wilderneſſe, bloody Amalekites, and fiery Serpents were in their way. So falls it out with any Chriſtian; who, though whileſt he walked in the broad way, that leads to more then an Aegyptian darkneſſe and bondage, he had no cauſe of complaint, but all went well with him; yet when he ſet his face to heaven, and walkt in that narrow way that leads to life, then found that his wants were many, and his temptations great. The beſt, even in the midſt of their abundance, have their juſt complaints; and he that hath moſt, hath not all. One man hath wealth, but no honour, he is under a cloud; another hath wealth and honour, but not a dayes health ſcarce in a monethmonth; a third hath all theſe, but not a childe. The life of the beſt is like a ſhuttle-cock kept up a while betwix… two battle-dores, and at the laſt falls to the ground: Betwixt proſperity and adverſity, good dayes and evill, light and darkneſſe, our lives run on, and at the laſt we are laid in the grave.
The Germanes have a proverbiall ſaying of the three Princes Electors, that the Pal…ſgrave hath the honour, Brandenburg the land, but the Duke of Saxony the money.Gen. 2. 17. No man hath all. Even Adam in Paradiſe was taught to want ſomething, he muſt not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good andJoſh. 1. 1, 2, 7, 13, 15. evill. Moſes, one of the five grand favourites of heaven, called in one chap. five times the ſervant of the Lord. And to be a ſervant of God is a great honor; Deo ſervire regnare eſt, To ſerve God is to reign. And yet Moſes muſt not go into the Land of Canaan, though he begg'd hard for it: Let it ſuffice Deut. 3. 25.thee, (ſaith God to him) ſpeak no more to me of that matter. I know no man that enjoys that abundance of all good things, but I may ſay to him as our Saviour to theMar. 10. 21. young man in the Goſpel, One thing thou lackeſt. If the poſſeſſion of many things make us proud, God knows how by the want of one thing to keep us humble. Oh be ſure that one thing be not that one thing neceſſary; namely, faith, by which we may ſee God in all, enjoy God with all, and love God above all.
3. In the midſt of all our wants, reckon how many wayes thoſe wants are ſupplyed with other comforts. God uſually makes us a good amends, as David ſaid to Abiſha, when Shimei railed on him; It may be God 2 Sam. 16. 12.will requite me for this curſing this day. If Adam may not eat of the fruit of the treeGen. 2. 16. in the midſt of the Garden, yet of the fruit of every tree in the Garden beſides he might freely eat. If Moſes may not goe into theDeut. 34. 6. Land of Canaan, yet his body ſhall have the moſt honorable buriall that ever man had; the Lord buried him, and no man knows of his ſepulchre unto this day, and his ſoul went to heaven, which was far better. If we be ſtraightned in outward comforts, and enlarged with ſpirituall graces; if we be weak in body, and ſtrong in the Lord; if poor in the world, and rich in faith; if forſaken of friends, and God ſtands by us, we have no great cauſe to complain.
Travellers into forain parts will tell you, that thoſe Countreys that are moſt Paganiſh, are moſt ſtored with gold and ſilver, and that thoſe lands that are without thoſe rich mines, have more of the knowledge of Chriſt and his wayes. One man hath little to live upon but his labours, but he hath a very ſtrong and healthy body. Many times the pooreſt men have moſt children, which ſome eſteem a great bleſſing, though others look upon it as a burthen, and put it into the bill of charges. EvenEſt. 5. 11. Haman, when he boaſted before his wife and friends of his great wealth and honors, reckons the multitude of his children amongſt his great preferments. If one childe be a bleſſing, then ten children are ten bleſſings.Pſ. 127. 4, 5. Children of youth (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) are like arrows in the hand of a mighty man; happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. And certainly many a man would willingly part with half his eſtate for the fruit of the loyns and wombe. If God ſend mouths,Deut. 33. 24, 25. he will provide meat. Aſhur's bleſſing was children, but God will provide for him and them. Aſhur ſhall be bleſſed with children▪ (ſaith Moſes) but let him be acceptable to his Brethren, and let him dip his foot in oyl; his ſhoes ſhall be iron and braſſe; and as his dayes be, ſo Gen. 49. 20.ſhall his ſtrength be: His bread ſhall be fat, (ſaith Jacob) and be ſhall yeeld royall dainties. Every childe that cometh into the world, commonly hath two breaſts.
The like may be ſaid of any other wants, and the ſeveral wayes by which God is pleaſed to ſupply them very graciouſly to his; yea, ſometimes to thoſe that are without. It is ſaid of Galba the Emperor of Rome, that he had a crooked body, but a good head; inſomuch that one ſaid of him, Ingenium Galb… male habitat: Galbo's great wit had but an homely habitation. Aeſop was much deformed, but very wiſe; and Eraſmus, a plain man, but a great Scholar. Such a man (and bleſſed be God there are many ſuch) is but one ſtory high in the world; but a very godly man, and high in Gods favour, and eſteem of all his people.
To conclude, could any man live the dayes of Methuſelah, and ſhould all his way lie by Weeping-croſſe; God reconciled in Chriſt, with the enjoyment of heaven at the laſt, would make amends for all.
4. Take great notice of the ſingular peculiar excellency of all Gods diſpenſations towards you above the world. Your waters are become wine, your gleanings are better then the vintage of the world. GodHeb. 12. 7. dealeth with you as with Sons; the Servant ſhall have his wages, and it may be a livery, but the Son ſhall have better: He is the Saviour of all, but eſpecially of them1 Tim. 4. 10. that believe. Every paſſage of providence towards you, if you be the Lords, hath ſomething more ſpeciall in it. God hath choyce mercies for a choſen generation, peculiar favours for a peculiar people, hidden comforts for his hidden ones; that which eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, nor can enter into a carnall heart to conceive.
See this made good in three paſſages.
1. Such have ever what the world hath, and ſomething more, an overplus; the meaneſt Chriſtian may vie comforts with the greateſt men of the world, as Paul ſometimes2 Cor. 11. 22, 23. with the falſe Apoſtles. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Iſraelites? So am I. Are they the ſeed of Abraham? So am I. Are they Miniſters of Chriſt? I am more; in labours more abundant, &c. So a gracious heart: Are the men of the world honorable? So am I that am a Son of God, and a partaker of the divine Nature. Have they friends? So have I, that have union to, and communion with Jeſus Chriſt and his members. Are they rich? So am I, that am rich in faith, and an heir of heaven; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet poſſeſſing all things; as ſorrowing, yet alwayes rejoycing. I can take more content in my tears, then they in their dayes of jollity. Have they health, peace, liberty, money? I am more; in comforts more ſingular, in promiſes more abundant. God deals with his and the world, as Joſeph dealt withGen. 43. 34. his Brethren; their ſacks were all fill'd, and their money put into their ſacks. But Benjamin & 45. 2.ſhall have the ſilver cup, which proved a pledge of love at the laſt. All are bountifully feaſted, but Benjamin's meſſe is beſt. God is good to all, but his owne ſhal have ſomething over and above; riches, and the God of riches; honour, liberty, health, and a good right to them, with a gracious uſe of them; which the world never had. And not onelyonly ſo, but in that ſalvation wrought for mankinde, by the death of Jeſus Chriſt, Gods owne people have ſomething more then others; according to that of the Apoſtle, He is the Saviour 1 Tim. 4. 10.of all men, eſpecially of them that believe. He ſaves all; that is, from that inevitable ruine the ſin of Adam had involved them in, and making them ſalvable upon conditions of another covenant; ſo that now ſalvation is not impoſſible, as it was before Chriſt, but may be offered to any man, even the Jailor, a boyſterous bloody fellow, upon condition of believing; according to the tenor of that commiſſion, He that believeth Mar. 16. 15, 16.ſhall be ſaved. So that a ſpeciall ſalvation is afforded to believers. Chriſt was a ranſome for all, 1 Tim. 2. 6. but the Saviour onelyonly of his body, Eph. 5. 23. He redeemed allRom 8. 29, 30. from preſent ruine, but called, and juſtified, and glorified onelyonly whom he knew before, and had predeſtinated to be conformed to his Image. He ſaves none thus, but thoſe forJoh. 17. 9. whom he prayed, and he prayed not for the world.
2. Such, even in thoſe outward enjoyments, have ſomething more ſingular then the world; that little that a righteous man hath, is better then the great revenues of Pſal. 37. 16.the wicked; their wealth is better, their liberty better, their honor better, their peace better then other mens. For they have theſe things & mercy with them, and a bleſſing upon them. They have theſe things, as by the ſame covenant, ſo with the ſame love that they enjoy Jeſus Chriſt, and a little bleſſed is betterGen. 26. 12. then a world enjoyed. It is ſaid of Iſaac, that he ſowed his ground, and received an hundred ſold, and the Lord bleſſed him. He waxed great, and grew on till he became very great; but the Lord was with him, and bleſſed him. Others have a bit and a whip, a cruſt and knock; rich and reprobate, honorable and damned. Abundance, and go ye curſed at the laſt. A little in mercy is abundance, and abundance with bleſſing is Gods plenty. And indeed, he that can bleſſe a little, can blaſt a great deal.Gen. 4. 12. If Cain till the ground, and ſow his ſeed, the earth is curſed to him, it ſhall not b…ing ſorth, or yeeld to him her ſtrength. Hence the word in the Greek foreign, ſignifies both bounty and bleſſing; and indeed that is truely bounty that is thus bleſſed, Rom. 15. 29. 1 Cor. 10. 16. 2 Cor. 9. 5.
3. God ever gives to his owne, ſatisfying mercies, contenting goodneſſe. No man but a childe of God could ever truely ſay as Jacob did, I have enough, Joſeph is alive. My redeemer liveth. There is much difference between the men of Gods hand, that are the men of this, world, and the men of his heart; and there is as great a difference betwixt the …l…ing of the belly, and the ſatisfying of the …oul▪ Thou filleſt their bellies (ſaith David, Pſal. 17. 14, 15.ſpeaking of the men that are his hand) with … …id treaſure; but as for me, I will behold thy … in righteouſneſſe, I ſhall be ſatisfied when I …wake with thy likeneſſe. Theſe outward things to the world is but a belly-…ull, and how ſoon is the belly emptyed? but they …hat hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, ſhall be Matth. 5. 6.ſatisfied. God gives the world the worlds goods, but not the Saints goodneſſe. He gives the world, as ſometimes he did to Iſrael, their requeſt, but ſends leanneſſe intoPſa. 106. 15. the ſoul; a fat purſe, and a fat heart; a whole eſtate, and a whole heart; a fat body and a …ean ſoul; but he deals better with his own, he fulfils the deſires of them that fear him. If he afflict them, he ſanctifies their afflictions, or they are not ſatisfied. If he give to them, he gives them all things that concern life and godlineſſe, or they are not ſatisfied. If he forgive them, he forgives all their iniquities, and remembers their ſin noIer. 31. 34. more, or they are not ſatisfied. Hence it is obſervable, that the Saints of God in the Old Teſtament, are ever mentioned in the Goſpel with honor, but their faults and failings never remembred. Ye have heard of the patience of Job (ſaith James) ſo have we readJam. 5. 11. ſomething of his impatience, but that is quite forgotten. Ye have read of the Faith of Abraham, of the Grief of Lot for the David, the Wiſdome of Solomon, &c. … their ſins are not remembred in the Goſpel▪ On the contrary, thoſe wicked ones whoſ… 1 Joh. 3. 12. Gal. 4. 29. Heb. 12. 16. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Jude v. 11.names are recorded in the Old Teſtament, are never mentioned in the New Teſtament but with ſome blot; as, Cain, who was of that wicked one; Iſmael, the perſecuter; Eſa…, the profane; Balaam, the covetous; Corah, the Gainſayer, &c. But what ſaith the LordJer. 50. 20. of theſe? In thoſe dayes, and at that time, the iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none; and the ſins of Judah, and they ſhall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reſerve.
5. Take great heed that the want of ſome one thing, do not rob you of the comfort of all the mercies that you enjoy beſides. For ſuch is the perverſneſſe and waywardneſſe of mans nature, that though ſome have had more, have more, and look to enjoy more then they can either want or wiſh for; yet they are more troubled with the ſenſe of one want, then they are comforted in, or thankful for all they have. This was not onelyonly the fault of A…ab, whom not the royalties of the Kingdome, nor the Cities he had built, nor the Ivory houſe that he had made, would content and1 Kin. 2. 14. comfort, unleſſe he might have Naboth's vineyard alſo, which was denyed him. NorEſt. 5. 13. was this the fault of Haman alone, who though he did what he liſted, and had what he pleaſed, under the favour of his royall Master; yet loſt the comfort of all, becauſe … would not bow. What avails all (ſaith he) ſo long as I ſee Mordecai ſitting in the Kings gate? but it was the fault of good …achel, that was able to wreſtle with God;Gen. 30. 1. who, though ſhe had what a loving Husband could afford her, yet would die of the …ullens, becauſe ſhe had no Son. Yea, even Abraham (as ſome think) failed in this, who brake out into this diſcontented ſpeech before God, What wilt thou give me, ſeeing I & 15. 12.go childleſſe? As if all had been nothing, no not Gods being his ſhield, and exceeding great reward, unleſſe God gave him a Son: Though ſome have thought that his complaint reached higher, (to whom I encline) What wilt thou give me? all hitherto is nothing, if I goe childeleſſe, if Chriſtleſſe, if Saviourleſſe; for it is ſuch a Son that I have waited for, in whoſe ſeed the Nations of the earth ſhall be bleſſed; and it is ſuch a Son that thou haſt promiſed me; and if not ſuch a Son, all is nothing.
6. Reckon often, not onelyonly what you have, and what you want, but what you may want; caſt up all hazzards. Who knows what lies in the wombe of the next morning? All the pomp of the world is but a fancy and may ſoon vaniſh.
It is ſaid of Agrippa and Berenice, that when they came to Jeruſalem to hear Paul, Act. 25. 23.they entred with great pomp; the word in the orig▪ is foreign, with great fancy, with great pomp. And how ſoon are affair▪ …ſt. 7. 10.changed in a Kingdom, or in a family? Hamo… the great Minion in the Court of Ahaſhueroſh▪ is hanged on that tree that he prepared for Mordecai. It hath been obſerved by Hiſtorians, of Tiberius, Emperor of Rome; of Mahomet the Great, Emperor of the Turks; and of Henry the Eight, King of England; that there was no ſecurity in their love, but that ſuch as were higheſt in their favour, were neereſt to ruine. Who ever hath read the ſtories of Bajazet and Bellizarius, who fell from the higheſt pinnacle of greatneſſe, to the loweſt extreme of all ſcorn and miſery, but will acknowledge the uncertainty of all ſublunary comforts? Saladine the great Sultan of Aegypt, and Conqueror of the Eaſt, to ſhew the frailty and vanity of all worldly felicity, commanded on his death-bed, that no Princely ſolemnity ſhould be uſed at his Funerall, more then his ſhirt faſtned to the point of a Launce, and carried before his dead body, a Prieſt going before, and crying aloud to the people in this ſort: Saladine, of all the great riches and honor that he had in his life, carries no more with him at his death then his ſhirt. A Duke of Exeter, that marry…d K. Edw. the fourth his Siſter, was ſeen barefoot, begging in the Camp of the Duke of Burgundy. Hence a wiſeman will caſt up his hazards, and reckon upon loſſes, thus. Here is a fine houſe, & a moſt pleaſant habitation; but a fire may ſuddenly levell it even with the ground. Here is a competent eſtate of land, but riotous children may ſpend it; here is a great ſumme of money, but as that fire that came down from heaven, that conſumed the ſacrifice, and the wood; and lickt up all the water in the trench about the Altar that1 Ki. 18. 38. Elija… cauſed to be made: ſo ſickneſſe, or ſuri…yſhip, or long Suites in Law, or a Civil war, may conſume all. I have thoſe comforts in wife, children, relations, friends, that few have; but how ſoon death may deprive me of all, I know not: And he died, and he dyed is the end of every mans ſtory; and the winding ſheet of the ſtrongeſt man, and the choyceſt friend. I have health, ſtrength and ſuch perſonall endowments that many want; but I may ſuddenly by ſome noyſome diſeaſe, or violent diſtemper, be ſtript of all. Yea, which is more then all this, I have peace with God and mine owne conſcience; it is fair weather over head, though foul under foot; though I meet with ſome trouble in the world, yet the lamp of God ſhines upon my tabernacle, and the Almighty is with me, as Job ſometimes ſaid of himſelf; yet I may be forſaken, and left to my ſelf, and the moſt dreadfull terrors get hold of me for a time; yea, God may write bitter things againſt me, and make me poſſeſſe the ſins of my youth; for there is no evill of ſin, but that againſt the holy Ghoſt; nor evil of ſorrow, but that of the bottomleſſe pit, but may befall me. When Joſeph dreamt of his great preferment, he never dreamt of his impriſonment. We often look upon that we have, but ſeldome conſider what we doe or may want.
When a great City was burnt to aſhes, Seneca had this ſaying, Ʋna dies intereſt inter magnam civitatem & nullam: One day makes a great difference betwixt a great City and Dan. 4. 30, 31, 32.none. Is not this great Babylon (ſaith Nebuchadnezzar) which I have built for the houſe of my Kingdome, and the honor of my Majeſty, by the might of my power? Whileſt the word was in the Kings mouth, there fell a voyce from heaven, ſaying, Oh Nebuchadnezzar! to thee be it ſpoken, The Kingdome is departed from thee, &c. The ſame hour was the thing fulfilled. Chriſts propheſie of the ruine of the Temple, and thoſe ſtately buildings that the diſciples ſhew'd him, Matt. …4. 2.was dreadfull; Verily, I ſay unto you, there ſhall not be left here one stone upon another, that ſhall not be thrown down.
7. In the next place, from hence ſtudy ſeriouſly the vanity of all creature-comforts, honors, pleaſures, riches, friends; O quan…um est in rebus inane! Oh how much vanity is in theſe things! was the ſaying of Perſeus long agoe. By this time we are faln upon the dregs of time, the laſt and worſt age of the world; and now theſe things run a tilt, and thereforeEccleſ. 1. 2. have the leſſe in them. Vanity of vanities, ſaith the Preacher, all is vanity. Vanitas eſt debitae entitat is vacuitas: Vanity is nothing elſe but the want of a juſt entity or being.
Now, 1. A juſt being is a preſent being, but theſe things are often furtheſt off when we have moſt need of them. God onelyonly is aPſal. 46. 1. preſent help in trouble, and can be with us in all places, according to that promiſe toGen. 28. 15. ….
2. A juſt being is a conſtant being, but theſe things laſt not, our pleaſures end in pain, our plenty in penury, our honor in contempt; The faſhion of this world paſſeth 1 Cor. 7. 31.away; the foreign, the ſpecies, the figure, the image; like a brave picture drawn upon the ice, that under the heat of the Sun is ſoon gone. God onelyonly is from everlaſting toPſal. 90. 2. everlaſting.
3. A juſt being is a perfect being, that hath all excellencies in it; but theſe things want ſomething ſtill: Nihil eſt ab omni parte beatum: Nothing here is in every part compleatly happy; onelyonly God is a perfect good, and he that enjoys him, needs no more.
4. A juſt being is a ſolid being, that hath no evill in it at all; but theſe things are not onelyonly vanity, but vexation of ſpirit. Augendicura, & amittendimetus: A care to get, and a fear to loſe, like burs, ſtick cloſe to our choyceſt comforts. Theſe things at the firſt fight ſeem very good, but better conſidered, are not ſo. Quae cito aſpecta placent ea melius inſpecta diſplicent; as Seneca could ſay, They are ſeemingly good, but not certainly ſo. Like Calipolis, a City, that at a great diſtance ſeems very beautifull; but if you come nigh to it, anſwers not expectation; but God onelyonly is a ſolid good; he is light, 1 Joh. 1. 5.and in him there is no darkneſſe at all. He is altogether excellent.
See the vanity of theſe things yet further in foure paſſages.
1. They are ſo vain, that all the world, the profits of it, the pleaſures in it, were it ten times better then it is, are not enough to make up one childes portion, though a ſervant behinde the Mill, or a dru… in a Kitchin, if godly, the eternal, almighty, alſufficient God, is but enough to be his portion:Pſa. 117. 57. Thou art my portion▪ O Lord, ſaith David. This one promiſe, I will be thy God, will outweigh them all.
2. They are ſo vain that a fancy, a conceit, a jealouſie, a humour, an ungrounded fear, will rob a man of the comfort of them all (and what are theſe things without their comfort?) and make him run quite2 Ki 7. 6▪ 7. away from them, as the Syrians once did from their camp, and all their treaſure. One man will not live, becauſe his minion will not love. Another man will haſten to the g…ave, becauſe his commodities are dead, and lie on his hand.
3. They are ſo vain, that had one man as much wealth and honor, as much pleaſure and outward content as his heart could deſire, or the world afford him, yet within 24 hours he would be weary of all, and muſt go ſleep; God draws the cu…t…in of the night, and hides them all from the world under that dark canopy. Here omnium … eſt ſatietas, all things have their fulſomneſſe, and therefore we have day and night. In heaven no night, there we ſhall never be weary of our enjoyments, but delight in them unto all eternity.
4. They are ſo vain, that ſuddenly when we leaſt think of it, they are gone. Good news from them is like the ſound of bels in a ſtorm; ſometimes that pleaſant ring is very neer, and ſuddenly it cannot be heard. I have ſeen a man compaſſed about with plenty, and variety of all earthly comforts that can be imagined, in a ſhort time come to nothing; his honor, wealth, friends, peace, liberty, health, beauty, poſterity, attendants; like a great flock of birds, with one ſhout ſcared quite away, and return no more; pluckt all from him, and never any more recovered. Oh! ſtudy much the vanity of all ſublunary contents. You can never have high thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt, his promiſes, ordinances, union to him, communion with him, till you have low thoughts of the things of the world. Solomon Eccleſ. 1. 2.firſt wrote his Eccleſiastes, before his Song of Songs; he could firſt ſay by experience, All is vanity, before he could ſet it downe under his owne hand that Chriſt was the chi… …eſt Cant. 5. 10, 16.among ten thouſand, and altogether lovely.
Therefore, in the next place, be very moderate in the uſe of theſe things. Take heed you laſh not out too much of your love upon them, and delight in them. Take heed you make them not idols, left God pluck them away from you. As it is an high point of wiſdome to ſeek theſe things remiſly, ſo it is an argument of a great meaſure of grace, to uſe them ſoberly, and part with them willingly. Quantum canis Appula tantum. Like the dog that runs by the river Nilus, where the Crocodiles lie, and wait for their prey; but a ſip, a taſte, and be gone, left they be ſurpriſed and devoured by them.Jon. 4. 6, 8. For Jonah to be glad of his gourd was ſafe, but to be exceeding glad, was ſinful. And his vexation was greater in the loſſe, then his content was in the enjoyment of it; his very life is now a burthen to him, becauſe his gourd is pluckt away from him. And indeed, ſtrong affections to theſe things are good for nothing, unleſſe to breed ſtrange afflictions: How many have loſt their diſpoſitions amongſt their advancements; becauſe when riches and promotion come, they ſet their hearts too much upon them. Magiſtratus virum indicat; give a man place and power, and you may ſoon ſee what he is; thoſe ſnakes of corruption that lay hid in the cold winter of want and meanneſſe, will ſtir abroad in the ſunſhine of honour and greatneſſe.
It is reported of Pope Sixtus quintus, that before he attained the Papall dignity, he was the moſt humble crouching Fryer that (as my Author ſaith) was ever lodged in an oven; but once ſeated in that chair, the ſtouteſt and proudeſt Prelate that ever ware a triple crown. Some have obſerved, that even Judas, before he had the Bag-office, carried himſelf honeſtly and ſoberly; but afterward, he grew ſo covetous, that rather then he would want money, he would ſell his Maſter.
Oh therefore take heed that your affections run not out in ſo full a ſtream to theſe things. Height of affection, as well as height of eſtate is dangerous. Set not your affections Col. 3. 2.(ſaith the Apoſtle) upon things on earth. God would not take away our affections, he would onelyonly tune them. If they be ſet upon theſe things, and not ſet upon God, they are out of tune. Riches are like briars and thorns, good to ſtop a gap with; but if you lay them in your beds, and ſet your hearts on them, this you ſhall have of my hand, you ſhall lye down in ſorrow. They are good ſervants, but bad Maſters. Let the world follow you as a ſervant, and be thankfull; but do not you follow the world as a Maſter, leſt you prove the greateſt ſlaves. If riches have been thy god, make them thy ſlave. Serve it as Diagoras did Hercules his image made of wood; being in an Inne, and having nothing to ſeethe his broth with, made a fire with it. All theſe things will I give thee, was the Devils ſtrongeſt temptation, and therefore reſerved to the laſt place. Hopes of preferment have overcome thoſe whom impriſonment and the fear of the loſſe of all could not move. Take heed therefore, and beware of covetouſneſſe. It is true, that temptation prevailed not againſt our Saviour, but it may overcome us, becauſe we have three enemies to contend and fight with, Sin, World, and Devill; he had but two, the World and the Devil, whoſe temptations though fierce and frequent, could never prevail; becauſe, though like to us in all things, yet ſin was excepted.
9. But above all ſublunary things, take great heed you truſt not too far, depend not too much upon men; no, not thoſe men that may have been inſtrumental for your good.Iſa. 2. 22. Ceaſe ye from man (ſaith the Prophet) for wherein is he to be truſted? Put not your truſt in Princes, (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) nor in the Son of man. Neither in this generation, nor the next, for they are all but Sons of men, andPſal 39. 5. every man at his beſt eſtate is altogether vanity. We are apt to think that the next man may be better, but ſeldome comes a better, becauſePhil. 3. 2. Mat. 10. 17. all are men. Beware of dogs, ſaith the Apoſtle; but our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, Beware of men; though more modeſt and moderate, yet if but men, they will deceive, and peradventure perſecute you. The moſt intimate boſome friend may prove an Achitophel, if but a man. As you ſhould not fear them too much, ſo do not truſt themPſal. 49. 16. too far; not fear them, though they be made rich, and the glory of their houſes be made great; for men of low degree are vanity, and & 62. 9.men of high degree are a lye; if laid in the ballance, they are altogether vanity. All the Nations Iſa. 40. 15, 17.(ſaith the Prophet) are as the drop of a bucket, and are counted as ſmall as the duſt in the ballance. All nations before God are as nothing, and are counted to him leſſe then nothing and vanity. What then is one mighty man? Ten hundred thouſand times leſſe then a drop. A drop may wet, but it cannot drown; be not afraid of him then, will you be afraid of nothing, of a vanity, of a drop? Neither do you truſt them too far. Truſt ye not in a friend, (ſaith Micah) put no confidence in a guide, keep the dores of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy boſome. And why ſo? ch. 7. v. 4.Mica. 7. 4, 5, 6. The beſt of them is a briar, the moſt upright is ſharper then a thorny hedge. And in v. 6. The Son diſhonoureth the Father, the Daughter riſeth up againſt her Mother, the Daughter in law againſt her Mother in law, and a mans enemies are the men of his owne houſe. Thou ſayſt (ſaith Ratſhaketh to Hezekiah) I have counſell and ſtrength for the 2 Ki. 18. 20▪war, but they are but vain words. Thou ſayſt, ſuch a Prince is my friend, and ſuch a great man is my kinſman, but they are but vain words. For he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who ſhall enjoy them; not himſelf knows, much leſſe thou. What was Canaan the better for the Sons of Anak, or Baſ… for their Og, or the Philiſtines for their Goliah▪ So, what art thou the better for thy mighty friends? It is true, where goes the bucket there goes the rope, (as the Spaniard hath it in his proverb) the rope depends on the bucket: But if thy friend fail, where are all thy hopes? But above all, truſt no mans judgement ſolely in matters of Religion; becauſe a man of note, for great learning and piety. I will not pin my faith upon any mans ſleeve, (ſaith Sir Tho. More) becauſe I know not whither he will carry it: What if a very godly man? I never ſaw that Chriſtian yet, but I might ſee ſomething of a man in him; enough of the old man in the new man to trouble the beſt man. Groſſe errors have been maintained by good men, to the prejudice of publick peace:Matth. 16. 22. Even Peter a good man, adviſed Chriſt not to go up to Jeruſalem, but to favour himſelf; and when he was at Antiocb, he diſſembled,Gal. 2. 12, 13, 14. and many of the Iews diſſembled likewiſe with him; yea, Barnabas was brought into the diſſimulation alſo. When mens parts are great, their graces eminent, their names high, and their power large, we are in danger to be biaſſed by their counſels.
To conclude this paſſage, remember this advice one gave to his friend; it may do you good that have much to do with men.
1. Have communion with few.
2. Be intimate with one.
3. Deal juſtly with all.
4. Speak evill of none.
It is ſomewhat ſingular, but I am ſure very ſafe, to have one as our intimate and boſome friend. Alexander had his Epheſtion, and David in the Wilderneſſe a Jonathan, and in the Court his Huſhai, called the Kings friend. Yea, even Chriſt himſelf had John, if I may not ſay his Favourite, yet certainly the Diſciple whom Jeſus loved above the reſt. And he is a wiſe man that will not put all into his Creed, that he puts up in his Paternoſter; nor will ſhew every man his minde or his money, he may converſe with. Give unto Caeſar the things that are Caeſars; unto God, the things that are Gods. Give faithfulneſſe to men, but truſt in God. And I am ſure, to ſpeak evil of none, unleſſe we have a calling; to deal juſtly with all, with whom we have any dealing, will bring us much comfort living, great peace dying, and a good report when we are gone hence, and ſhall be ſeen no more.