Select Observations Collected out of Several Authors, Century 4
THE Fourth Century.
1. ARiſtotle thought that men were foreign, made good by Deſtiny rather than Diſcipline. And that foreign is not foreign. That Vertue is not to be attained only by Inſtruction, as ſome other Philoſophers thought.
2. The World is call'd in the Hebrew foreign from foreign which ſigniſies to ceaſe, becauſe it is ceaſing towards its end and period.
3. It was objected to the Jews, Meſſiam ſuam tardigradum eſſe; That the Meſſiah they lookt for was ſlow-paced, and long a coming. In which ſence ſome interpret that place, Pſal. 89.50, 51. Remember, O Lord, the reproach of thy Servants, wherewith they have reproached the Footſteps of thine Anointed. And the word for Footſteps in the LXX. is foreign, which Heinſius renders Tarditatem, Slowneſs.
4. Chriſt is thought to be Baptized in a Year of Jubilee, which was the thirtieth Jubilee after Iſraels coming into Canaan, and about the thirtieth year of Chriſts Life, who came to proclaim a Year of Jubilee in his Publick Miniſtry.
5. The Heathen obſerved this Order in their Sacrifices: Firſt to appeaſe their angry and adverſe Gods, before they ſacrificed to thoſe that were kind and propitious. Gyrald.
6. Some ſins, as Drunkenneſs, and Fornication, &c. proceed much from the Conſtitution of the Body, but ſome more immediately from the evil Habit of the Mind, as Pride and Covetouſneſs, and Envy, &c. and therefore are more ſinful than the other.
7. Mors Senibus in foribus eſt, Juvenibus in inſidiis. Death is before the old Mans face, but lies in Ambuſh to young Men. Candid are Candidati Mortis: The gray-headed are the Candidates of Death. Young men are taken away, old men go away.
8. One of the Ancients brings in Satan thus ſaying to God: Domine, ſit hic meus perculpam, qui noluit eſſe tuus per gratiam. Let this man be mine through his Sin, who would not be thine by Grace.
9. Dionyſius ordered one that was a great Flatterer of him, to be ſet at his Table in great State, attended with Muſick and plenty of Proviſion before him, and a Sword hanging by a ſmall Thred over his Head; whereby the King would convince the Man of the Circumſtances that attended his high Eſtate, to cure his Flattery.
10. Dei Conniventia non eſt coecitas. Calvin. Becauſe God for a while conniveth or winks at Sinners, it's no argument that he is blind and doth not ſee them.
11. Some obſerve, that after David had ſinn'd in Numbring the People, God calls him plain David, 1 Sam. 24.12. But when he was purpoſing to build God an Houſe, he calls him his Servant David, 2 Sam. 7.5.
12. The Herauld which hath on him his Coat of Arms is reſpected and feared, ſo did the Creatures all fear and do Homage to Man while he had Gods Image upon him.
13. Pliny writes of the Pome-Citron, it is alwayes bearing, when ſome of its Fruit falls off, other is ſpringing up, and other ripe. A fit Emblem of Chriſts Church, that will be upheld by a ſucceſſion of Converts in every Age.
14. Homer calls the Grave foreign: A Place of no delight.
15. Quicquid nocet, aliquo bono nos privat. Whatever hurts us deprives us of ſome good.
16. When any one dyed, the Romans would ſay, Vale, nos te ordine quem Natura permiſeris cuncti ſequemur. Farewell, we ſhall all follow thee as the Order Nature ſhall permit.
17. The Aethiopians were wont to chooſe the faireſt Men for their King. And Abſalom's Beauty might the more draw the People to him, but a wicked Heart lodged under it.
18. Anima diſperſa fit minor. The diſperſion of the He art amongſt many Objects, weakens it, which made David Pray, Ʋnite my Heart, Pſal. 86.11.
19. Julius Caſar would be pictur'd ſtanding upon a Globe with a Sword in one Hand and a Book in the other, with this Inſcription to it, Ex utroque Caeſar. A Caeſar in Learning and in War.
20. In Converſion God works upon men as Objects, and then worketh by them as Inſtruments.
21. Aegypt was watered with Mans Foot, Canaan with Rain from Heaven: Which may repreſent the difference betwixt the Moral Virtues of the Heathen, and the Graces of true Chriſtians.
22. Ʋriah carried from David a Letter to Joab, which contained his own Death in it, though he did not know it: So a Man may carry in his Heart ſome ſecret ſin, which may prove the Death of his Soul, and yet he not know it.
23. God ſhewed Man by his own Example that he muſt firſt labour before he enters into Reſt.
24. One asked Bernard a reaſon why he Preached ſo much better to day than yeſterday, anſwered, Hodiè Chriſtus, herè Bernardus. It was only Bernard Preach'd yeſterday, but to day Chriſt Preached in me.
25. If the Heathen made Eſculapius a God for finding out the Medicinal Virtues of Herbs, how much more is he to be acknowledg'd as God who made theſe Herbs, and put this Virtue into them: As Lactantius pleads with the Heathen.
26. Let Man and Beaſt Faſt and Cry to God, ſaid the King of Nineveh. The Beaſt would cry for want of Fodder.
27. Abſalom made Joab come to him, by ſeting his Field on fire: And in the dayes of Chriſt, Pain, Sickneſſes and Diſeaſes brought many to him. So many are brought home to God and Chriſt by Diſtreſſes and Afflictions.
28. There is a certain River in Peru which runs only in the day time by the Sun diſſolving the Snow upon the Hills which is congealed in the Night. So many are religious only in the Sun-ſhine of the Churches Proſperity.
29. Chryſoſtom was called by Cyricius Biſhop of Calcedon, foreign, becauſe he woul… not bend by any bad Compliances.
30. Otho Biſhop of Ments ſhut up a number of poor People in a Barn, and then ſe… it on fire; and when they cryed out, he … ſport ſaid, Heark how the Mice do ſqueak! Bu… afterwards was ſo followed with Mice in hi… Chamber, that he built a Tower on the Ri… ver Rhine to free himſelf, and yet they followed him thither.
31. About the ſame time of the Year tha… the Jews Cruciſied Chriſt, was Jeruſalem deſtroyed by the Romans.
32. What proportion is there betwixt th… ſhort Pleaſure of Eve in eating the forbidde… Fruit, and the Calamities that flowed fro… it.
33. Its ſaid that Diagoras turned Atheiſt b… obſerving a Man to eſcape and proſper tha… had forſworn himſelf about ſome Money b… intruſted in his hand.
34. The Primitive Chriſtians in their day… of ſolemn Humiliation, would lye proſtrate upon the ground, which they calle… foreign.
35. Hilarion, a good young Man, ſaid t… his Body, Ego te aſelle, faciam ut non Calcitre… … will uſe the Aſs ſo as he ſhall not Kick. He means, he would keep his Body in ſubjection.
36. There were two ſorts of Proſelytes: Th… Profelytes of the Convenant that were Circumciſed, and Conformed to all the Jewiſh Worſhip; and the Proſelytes of the Gate, who obſerved only the ſeven Precepts of No…ah, four whereof were required to be obſerved by the Converted Gentiles, Acts 15.20.
37. The practice of the Primitive Church in laying aſide ſomething for the poor every Firſt Day when they came together to Worſhip, is thought to be grounded upon that Commandment of God to the Jews, never to come up before the Lord empty.
38. Levi had his Name from a Hebrew word ſignifying to joyn, not only becauſe the Levites were joyned to the Prieſts in the Service of the Sanctuary; but becauſe they were …nſtruments to joyn God and the People together in the offering of thoſe Sacrifices that made their Peace with God. And Leah called her Son Levi, becauſe, ſaith ſhe, Now will my Husband be joyned to me: And we know God ſaith he was an Husband to Iſrael, Jer. …1.32. And Plato ſtyled a Prieſt foreign, a Maker of Peace betwixt God and Man.
39. The Tribe of Levi was appointed for the Prieſthood, not only out of reſpect to Moſes who came from Levi, but becauſe of the Zeal they ſhew'd for God againſt Idolatry in the Caſe of the golden Calf, whereof we read Exod. 32.26. which may teach Miniſters ſtill to be zealous againſt Idolatry, who name themſelves of the Tribe of Levi.
40. God ſaid to the Serpent, Ʋpon thy Belly thou ſhalt goe, Gen. 3.14. And the Heb… word foreign may ſignifie the Breaſt; which before, in the Serpent, was Erect, and it did not go upon it. And may denote the dejection of the Angels that fell from their Original dignity and uprightneſs.
41. Manna that was ſent from Heaven to be Food to the Iſraelites, was not known to them, that they ſaid foreign, What is this? So Chriſt when he came down as Living Bread from Heaven, was not known to the Jews; but they ſaid, Who is this?
42. Alexander the Great, that could contemn Death in the Field, yet fear'd it much when he lay ſick in Babylon; and as Plutarch ſaith, uſed Diviners, and many ſuperſtitious Eſſays to ſave his Life.
43. The ſenſitive Soul in a Beaſt performs the ſame material Acts which man doth by Reaſon. So a Moral Principle in the Heathen did the ſame things materially which true Grace doth in a Chriſtian.
44. Auſtin ſaith of the Damned, That they are Mortui vitae, and viventes morti: Dead to Life, and alive to Death.
45. The Load-ſtone will draw more ſtrongly when ſet in Iron: So Heaven attracts men more ſtrongly by the Fear of Hell.
46. A Stone hath a natural inclination to the Centre, tho hindred in its motion; ſo have the Saints to perfection of Grace, thô hindred by Sin and Temptations.
47. No Iſraclite would willingly expoſe himſelf to be ſtung of the ſiery Serpent, tho there was a Brazen Serpent provided for his healing. So we ought not willingly expoſe our ſelves to Sin, becauſe God hath provided a Remedy in Chriſt againſt it.
48. Julius Firmicius ſaith of the Heathen, Ab ipſis dris erudiuntur ad injuſtitiam: They are taught wickedneſs from their Gods, and derive an Authority for it from Heaven.
49. Chriſt hath done greater things by his Sufferings as Man, than by his Power as God. The effects of his Death being greater than …he works of Creation or Providence.
50. Pharaoh and his Hoſts were drowned in …he Red Sea, but the Infernal Pharaoh and his Hoſts are drowned and deſtroyed in the Blood …f Chriſt.
51. The Roman Generals after a Victory, …rſt entred the City privately, and then …ublickly in a ſolemn Triumph. So the Saints that conquer enter Heaven firſt privately at Death, and at the Reſurrection ſhall have a publick Entrance before Men and Angels.
52. The Eunuch mentioned Acts 8. was probably well inſtructed in the Jews Religion, yet reading a plain Prophecy of Chriſt in the 53. of Iſai. underſtood it not, which ſhewed the great Ignorance of Chriſt, and the Prophecies of him in thoſe times.
53. When God works upon men, he begin firſt with the Mind, Reaſon and Conſciences of men, and ſo brings over the inferious Faculties, the Senſes, and the whole man to himſelf: But the Devil begins at the Senſe and the Inferiour Faculties, to corrupt the Superiour, and poſſeſs them for himſelf: A… he did with our firſt Parents.
54. Knowledge that is only for Speculation, needs only to be floating in the Mind but that which is for Practice, needs to b… well digeſted, believed, and rooted in the Heart.
55. True Faith excludes not Doubting but refuſal.
56. The Jews when they admitted Proſelytes, would ask them, If they could for ſake Father, Mother, Countrey, Kindred, Honſ… and Land, to follow the true God, and th… true Religion; which ſome think Chriſt alludes to in the Goſpel when he ſpeaks o… leaving all to follow him.
57. Julian the Apoſtate gave this Account of the Goſpel, foreign. I have read it, known it, rejected it.
58. Many of thoſe that Crucified Chriſt found Mercy and were Pardon'd, but not any who Crucifie him to themſelves again. The former might do it out of Ignorance, but the latter ſin againſt Light and Knowledge, having further means of knowing Chriſt to be the Meſſiah, by his Reſurrection from the dead, and pouring out the Spirit upon his Aſcenſion, and the Illumination received upon their minds.
59. It is not only the Goſpel that works that Reformation that is found in many Chriſtians, but what it hath in common with the Light of Nature, and the Power of the Law, and the Inſluence of Example, and Love to Reputation, may influence Men in it.
60. We make a right Uſe of Ordinances, when we are by them quicken'd and ſtrengthned to all the Duties of Religion, but many reſt in the meer uſing them.
61. Tactus eſt fundamentum vitae ſenſitivae: Feeling is the Foundation of the ſenſitive Life, ſo is inward ſenſe and feeling of the ſpiritual Life.
62. Totus Mundus exercet hiſtrioniam: The whole World is as a Stage-play, or a piece of Pageantry, a Shew, a Faſhion, a Phancy without ſubſtance and reality, and the Phoenomena in Mens Brains are more than the Phoenomena in the Heavens.
63. It is not ſafe to remove, or move Foundations, foreign.
64. Peter Martyr ſaid, he being ſeventeen Dayes at Bucer's Houſe, He every day roſe from his Table either doctior aut melior, more Pious or more Learned.
65. Rei cujuſque perfectio eſt in adhaeſione ad ſuum principium. Aug. Every thing hath its moſt perfect Exiſtence in the Principle out of which it ſprings.
66. He that is a lover of others, will multiply his own Comforts by it, for he will rejoyce in other Mens good as his own. For Love maketh Union.
67. It is better to love than be beloved, for the one may be a ſign of Grace, which the other is not.
68. Seeing ſubordinate reſpects may be had to our ſelves in our ſerving God, it makes it hard to know whether we make God our ultimate end.
69. Old Jacob dying, ſaid, I have waited for thy Salvation. Old Simeon dying, ſaid, I have ſeen thy Salvation: Wherein we may ſee the difference betwixt the Old Teſtament and New.
70. There is a threefold Knowledge of Chriſt, Ex Lege, ex Evangelio, ex Viſione. By the Law, the Goſpel, and by Viſion.
71. The Butterſly ſlutters about Flowers, but gets no Honey as the Bee doth: So many compaſs Chriſt about with an Outward Profeſſion, but derive no Grace from him.
72. Anaxagoras ſaid he was born Coelum & Solem intueri: But a Chriſtian is to look higher than the viſible Heavens.
73. We ſhould not employ our Time and Studies about Minutiae & Argutiae, little things, and critical things, which Elian calls foreign. Conſumptions of Time.
74. Jonathan by taſting Honey had his Eyes enlightned. So the beſt Knowledge of ſpiriritual things is by taſting.
75. All other Waters may fail us, but that which came out of the Rock ſollow'd the Iſraelites; it did deſcend into Valleys, and climb up Hills, as the Chaldean Paraphraſe tells us.
76. Unſanctified Learning is like Quickſilver not kill'd, which turns to Poyſon.
77. Chriſt is compared to a great Rock in a weary Land, Iſa. 32.1. He bore the heat that we might ſit in the ſhade.
78. Death brings all Men together, as the King and Pawns are put together in the Bag when the Cheſs-game is over.
79. An Old Diſciple is like an ancient Oak that keeps its ſap to the laſt.
80. Hieron. ſaid of Paula, a Noble Woman, that ſhe was Sanctitate quam genere Nobilior: More Noble by her Holineſs than her Birth.
81. Horace ſets forth the Degeneracy of Mankind in a few pitthy words, Aetas parentum pejor Avis tulit nos nequiores: The Fathers worſe than Grandfathers, and their Children worſe than both.
82. Auguſtus had a Daughter call'd Julia, who grew ſo vicious that he would not own her for his Daughter, but rather as an Impoſthume broken out of his ſide.
83. Earl Morton put this Epitaph upon John Knox his Tomb. Here lyeth the Body of that Man who in his life-time never feared the face of any Man.
84. Thoſe Fruits of the Earth that run up much into Leaves and Stalk, will dye at the root: So ſome Mens Religion runs up all into Talk and Profeſſion, but have no root of Life within. Religion is the beſt Armour, but the worſt Cloak.
85. Painters lay firſt a good ground-Colour before they flouriſh. But many Men will flouriſh in Profeſſion, and have not laid a Foundation.
86. Under the Law there was a Sea of Water for the Prieſts to waſh in, and Lavers for the Sacrifices. Our Perſons, and our beſt Sacrifices need waſhing in the Blood of Chriſt.
87. foreign. Ill ſavours will drive away Bees, and ſmoak Doves, as Naturaliſts write. Let us take heed of that which may drive away from us the Holy Spirit.
88. Autumns Witherings tell us that the Sun is gone back: So when Profeſſors wither, it ſhews Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs is withdrawn.
89. It was a ſaying of Peter Moulin, When the Papiſts did forbid our Bibles, and perſecute us for reading them, we were then zealous to read them, but now we have free liberty to read them, we lay them aſide like Old Almanacks.
90. Alexander asked King Porus his Priſoner, How he would be uſed? he anſwered, foreign, like a King. So let Chriſtians and the Children of God live like themſelves.
91. Julian the Apoſtate did forbear Perſecuting the Chriſtians, Non ex Clementiâ, ſed ex Invidiâ: Not out of Kindneſs but Envy, becauſe he ſaw the more they were perſecuted, the more they encreaſed, as the Hiſtorian writes.
92. We ought to make uſe of our Judgment and Reaſon in our Enquiries and Endeavours in Matters of Religion: All which the Papiſts take away by their Implicit Faith.
93. Chriſt firſt made an Oblation of his Will to his Fathers Will, and then offered up himſelf a Sacrifice: As in Pſal. 40. Lo I come to do thy Will, O God! and Not my Will, but thine be done.
94. There are two Words uſed in the 53d. of Iſa. to ſet forth Chriſts bearing our Iniquity; the one is foreign, and the other is foreign. The one ſignifies the lifting up the Burden upon the Back, the other the ſtrong bearing it. Both are true of Chriſt.
95. The Wine mixt with Myrrh, offer'd to Chriſt upon the Croſs, was uſually give… to ſtupiſie the Senſe, and to mitigate the Pain, as ſome ſay, but Chriſt refuſed it, he was ſupported under his Pain by other means, and was willing to ſuffer to the utmoſt for out ſakes.
96. The Satisfaction Chriſt made for our Sin was not only Ex pacto, but Ex merito, by reaſon of the intrinſick Value that was i… his Obedience.
97. Severus the Emperor ſaid when he came to dye, Omnia fui & nihil profuit. I have been all things, and yet profited by nothing. But he never was a good Chriſtian.
98. I have ſomewhere read of Olympus an Arrian Biſhop, denying the Trinity, was ſtruck dead with three Thunderbolts from Heaven.
99. Auſtin thought that in the day of Judgment every Man ſhould behold all the Actions of his Life, Ʋno mentis Intuitu, with one glance of his Mind. A good Caution to all Men.
100. When Jacob found Laban's Countenance to frown upon him, he then thought of returning home; ſo the Frowns of the World ſhould make us look more Heavenward.