Good Thoughts in Worse Times, Chapter 4 – Chapter 22
IIII. Strange and True.
I Read in the *Rev. 13. 7.Revelatation of a Beast, one of whose Heads was as it were wounded to Death. I expected in the next verse, that the Beast should die, as the most probable consequence, considering
1. It was not a scratch, but a wound.
2. Not a wound in a fleshly part, or out-limbs of the body, but in the very head, the Throne of Reason.
3. No light wound, but in outward Apparition, (having no other Probe but St. Johns Eyes to sea…ch it) it seemed deadly.
But marke what immediately followes, and his deadly wound was healed. Who would have suspected this inference …rom these premises. But … not this the lively Em…lem of my naturall cor…uption? Sometimes I conceive that by Gods Grace I have conquered and kill'd, subdued and …laine, maim'd and morti…d the deedes of the …sh: never more shall I be molested or bufseted, with such a bosom sinne when, alas! by the next …eturne, the news is, it is r…vived, and recovered. Thus Tenches though grievously gashed, p…esently plaister themselves whole by that …limie and unctious hu…our they have in them; and thus the inherent Balsam of Badnesse quickly cures my corruption, not a scarre to be seene. I perceive I shall never finally kill it, till first I be dead my selfe.
V. Blushing to be Blushed for.
A Person of great Quality was pleased to lodge a nig…t in my House. I durst not invite him to my Family-Prayer, and therefore for that time omitted it: thereby making a breach in a good custome & giving Sathan advantage to assault it. Yea the loosening of such a Linke, might have endangered the scattering of the Chaine.
Bold Bashfulnesse, which durst offend God, whil'st it did feare man. Especially considering that though my Guest was never so high, yet by the Lawes of Hospitality, I was above him, whilst he was under my Roofe. Hereafter whosoever cōmeth within the Dores, shall bee requested to come within the Discipline of my house; If accepting my homely diet, he will not refuse my home-devotion; and sitting at my Table, will be intreated to kneel downe by it.
VI. Alash for Lazinesse.
SHamefull my sloath, that havedeferred my Night-Prayer, till I am in bed. This lying along is an improper posture for piety. Indeed there is no contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath hanseled it with Prayer. The Publican standing, Iob *Iob. …8.…ting, Hezeki…h, lying on his bed, *… Kings ….Eli…h with his face between his l…ggs. But of all gestures give me St. Paules, *Eph 3. 12.For this cau…e I bow my knees to the Father of …y L… J…sus Christ. Kn… wh…n they may, then they must be b…nded
I have read a Copy of a grant of liberty, from Queene Mary to Henry R…ffe Earle of Sussex, giving him *Weavers f…n. Mon. p 635.leave to weare a Night-Cap or Co… in her Maj…sties presence, counted a great favour because of his Infirmity. I know in case of necessity, God would gratiously accept my devotion, bound downe in a sicke dressing; but now whilst I am in perfect health, it is inexcusable. Christ commanded some to take up their bed, in token of their full recovery; My lazinesse may suspect, least thus my bea… taking me up, prove a presage of my ensuing sicknesse. But may God pardon my Idlenesse this once, I will not againe offend in the same kind, by his grace hereafter.
VII. Roote, Branch, and Fruit.
A Poor man of Sevil in Spaine, having a fair and fruitfull Peare-tree, one of the Fathers of the Inquisition desired (such Tyrants requests, are commandes) some of the fruit thereof. The poore man, not out of gladnesse to gratifie, but feare to offend, as if it were a sinne for him to have better fruit, then his betters, (suspecting on his deniall the Tree might be made his owne Rod, if not his Gallows) plucked up tree, roots and all, and gave it unto him.
Allured with love to God, and advised by my owne advantag…, what he was frighted to do…, I wil freely performe. God calleth on mee to present h…m with *Math. 3.8.fruits, meet for repentance. yea let him take all, soule and body, powers, and parts, faculties, and members of both, I offer a sacrifice unto himselfe. good reason, for indeed the Tree was his, before it was mine, and I give him of his owne.
Bes…des it was doubtfull, whether the poore … …ateriall Tree, be…ng removed, would grow …. Some plants, transplanted (especially when old) become sullen, and do not enjoy themselves, in a …oile wherewith they were …nacquainted. But sure I am when I have given my selfe to God, the mov…ng of my soule shall be the …ending of it, he will dresse so foreign and foreign Ioh… 15.2.so prune and purge mee, that I shall bring forth …ost fruit in my Age.
VIII. God speed the Plow.
I Saw in seed-time an Husbandman at Plow, in very raining day, askin… him the reason, why h… would not rather leav… off, then labour in suc… foule weather, his answe… was returned me in the… Country Rythme. Sow Beanes in the Mud And they'le come up like Wood.
This could not bu… minde mee of *Psa. 126. 5, 6.David expression, They that so… inteares, shall reape i… joy. He that goeth fort… and weepeth, bearing pre… cious seed, shall doubtless… come againe with rejoyceing, bringing his sheave… with him.
These last five yeare… have been a wett and …oeful Seeds time to me, …nd many of my afflicted Brethren. Little hope have wee, as yet, to come …gaine to our owne …omes; and in a literall sense, now to bring our sheaves, which wee see others dayly carry away, on their shoulders. But if we shall not share in the former, or latter harvest here on Earth, the third and last in Heaven, wee hope undoubtedly …o receive.
IX. Cras Cras.
GReat was the Abundance and boldne… of the Frogs in *Exod. 8. 3.Egypt, which went up and came into their Bedchambers, and beds, and kneadingtroughs, and very Ovens. Strange that those Fenndwellers should approach the siery Region; But stranger, that Pharoah should bee so back ward to have them removed, and being demanded of Moses when hee would have them sent away, answered, to *Exod. 8. 10.Morrow Hee …uld bee content with …eir company one …ght, at bed and at bord, …ath belike to acknow…dge either Gods justice … sending, or power in …emanding them, but …ill hoping that they ca…ally came, and might …sually depart.
Leave I any longer to …onder at Pharoah, and …en admire at my selfe. …hat are my sinnes but … many Toades, spit…g of venome & spawn…ng of Poyson; croaking … my judgement, cree…ing into my Will, and …rawling into my affections, This I see, and suffer and say with Pharoah, t… Morrow, to morrow I w… amend. Thus as the H…brew Tongue, hath n… proper Present-tense, bu… two Future-tenses, so a… the performances of m… reformation, are onelyonly i… promises for the time to come. Grant, Lord, I may seosonably drowne this Pharoah-like procrastination in the Sea of repentance, least it drowne me in the Pit of perdition.
X. Green when Gray.
…N September I saw a tree bearing Roses, …hilst others of the same …ind, round about it, were barren; demanding …he cause of the Gardi…er, why that Tree was …n exception from the …ule of the rest, this reason was rendred, because that alone being clipt close in May, was then hindred to spring and sprout, and therefore tooke this advantage by it selfe, to bud in Autumne.
Lord, If I were curb'… and Snip't in my younger yeares by feare o… my parents, from those vicious excrescencies, to which that age wa… subject, give mee to have a godly jealousie over my heart, suspecting an …-Spring, least corrupt nature, (which without thy r…raining grace will have a Vent) break forth in my reduced yeares into youthfull vanities.
XI. Miserere.
THere goes a Tradition of Ovid, that fa…ous Poet (receiving …ome countenance from …is owne co fession *De tristibus lib. 2 Eleg. 10.) …hat when his Father was …bout to beate him, for …ollowing the plea…ant, …ut profitles…e study of …etrie, he u… correct…on promiss'd his Father, …ever more to make a …erse, and made a Verse, …n his very Promise. Pro…ably the same in sense, …ut certainely more elegant for composure, the… this verse with commo… credulity hath taken up. Parce precor, Genitor, posthac non versisicabo. Father on me pitty take Verses I no more will make.
When I so solemnely promise my Heavenly Father to sinne no more. I sinne in my very promise, my weake prayer… made to procure my pardon, increase my guiltinesse, O the dulnesse and deadnesse of my heart therein! I say my prayers as the *Exod. …2. 11.Iewes eate the …ssover in haste. And …hereas in bodily Acti…s motion is the cause … heate; cleane contra…, the more speed I make in my prayers the …older I am in my De…otion.
XII. Monarchy and mercy.
…N reading the Roman, (whilst under Consulls) … Belgick Historie of the …nited Provinces, I re…ember not any ca…itall offender being …ondemned, ever forgiven …ut alwayes after Sentence, followes executio… It seemes that the ve… constitution of a mul… tude is not so inclina… to save as to destro… Such Rulers in Aristocr… cies or Popular State… cannot so properly … called GODS, becau… though having the gre… Attributes of a Deity… Power, and Iustice, the… want (or wil… not use then … god-like property of GODS, clemen… to forgive.
May I dye in that Government, under which was borne, where a M… narch doth comman… Kings where they se… …use, have gratiously …anted pardons, to men …pointed to death; …rein the lively Image … GOD, to whom belongs … and *Dan 9 9.forgive…sse. And, although I …ill endeavour so to be…ve my selfe, as not to …ed my Soveraignes fa…ur in this kind, yet be…use none can warrant …s Innocency in all …ings, it is co… fortable …ing in such a common…ealth, where Pardons …retofore on occasion …ve been, and hereaf… may be procured.
XIII. What helps not hurt
A vaine thought are in my heart, insta…ly my corruption … taines it selfe to be … Advocate for it, plea…ding that the worst th… could be said against … was this, that it was Vaine thought.
And is not this the b… that can be said for … Remember O my sou… the *Luk. 13 7.Fig tree was char…ed not with bearing no…ous, but no fruit. Yea… barren Fig-tree bare … fruit of Annoyance, Cut it downe why cumbreth it the groun…? vain thoughts doe this ill in my heart that they doe no good
…esides the …ig-tree Pester'd but one part of of the Garden, good Grapes might grow, at the same time, in other Places of the Vineyard. But seeing my Soule is so intent on its object, that it cannot attend two things at once, one Tree for the time being is all my Vineyard. A vaine Thought engrosseth all the Ground of my heart, till that be rooted out, no good meditation can grow with it or by it.
XIIII. Alwayes seen, never minded.
In the most healthfull times, two hundred and upwards, was the constant weekely tribute paied to mortality in London. A Large Bill but it must be discharged Can one City spend according to this weekely rate, and not be Bankerupt of People? At least wise must not my short be called for, to make up the reckoning?
When onelyonly seven young-men and those chosen, *Plut. … lives in Thesco.by Lot, were but yearely taken out of Athens, to be devoured by the monster Minotaure, the whole Citty was in a constant fright, children for themselves, and parents for their children. Yea their escaping of the first, was but an introduction to the next yeares Lottery.
Were the dwellers and lodgers in London weekly to cast Lotts, who should make up this two hundred, how would every one be affrighted? Now none regard it. My security concludes the aforesaid number, will amount of Infants and old folke. Few men of middle age and amongst them, surely not my selfe. But oh! is not this putting the evill day far from me, the ready way to bring it the nearest to me? The Lot is weakly drawn (though not by mee) for mee, I am therefore concerned seriously to provide, lest that deaths Price, prove my Blanke.
XV. Not whence, but whither.
FInding a bad thought in my heart, I disputed in my selfe the cause thereof, whether it proceeded from the Devil, or my owne corruption, examining it by those Signes, Divines in this case recommended.
1. Whether it came in incoherently, or by dependance on some object presented to my senses.
2. Whether the thought was at full age at the first instant, or infant-like, grew greater by degrees.
3 Whether out or in the road of my naturall… inclination.
But hath not this Inquiry, more of curiosity then Religion? Hereafter derive not the Pedigree, but make the mittimus of such Malefactors. Suppose a confederacy betwixt Theeves without, and false servants within, to assault and wound the Master of a family: thus wounded, would he discuss, from which of them, his hurts proceeded, No surely, but speedily send for a Surgeon, before he bleed to death. I will no more put it to the Question, whēce my bad thoughts come, but whither I shall send them, least this curious controversy insensibly betray mee into a consent unto them.
XVI. Storme, steere on.
THe Mariners sayling with St. Paul, bare up bravely against the Tempest, whilst either Art or industry could befriend them. Finding both to faile, and that they could not any loner be are up into the winde, they even let their Ship drive. I have indeavoured Act. 26. 15.in these distemperate times, to hold up my spirits, and to steere them steddily. An happy peace here, was the port wherat I desired to arive. Now alasse the Storme growes to s…urdy for the Pilot. Hereafter all the skill I will use, is no skill at all, but even let my ship saile whither the winds send it.
Noahs Arke was bound for no other Port, but preservation for the present, (that Sh… being all the Harbour) not intending to sind land, but to sloat on water. May my Soule, (though not sailing to the desired Haven) onelyonly be kept from sinking in sorrow.
This comforts mee that the most weatherbeaten Vessell cannot properly be seized on for a Wrack, which hath any quick cattle remaining therein. My spirits are not as yet forfeited to despaire, having one lively spark of hope in my heart, because God is even where he was before.
17. Wit-out-Witted.
IOab chid the man, (unknown in Scripture by his name, well knowne for his wisedome,) fo… not killing Absalon when hee saw him hanged in the Tree, promising him for his paines, ten shekles and a girdle.
But the man, (having the Kings command to the contrary,) refused his proffer. Well hee knew that politick Stats men would have dangerous designes fetcht out of the fire, but with other mens fingers. His G…rdle promised might in payment, prove an haltar. Yea hee added moreover, that had hee kild Absalon, Joab himself *2 Sam. 18. 13.would have set himselfe against him.
Satan daily solicits me to sinne, (point blancke against Gods Word,) baiting me with profers best pleasing my corruption. If I consent, he who last tempted, first *Rev. 12.10.accuseth me. The fauning Spannnell, turnes a fierce Lion and roareth out my faults in the Eares of Heaven. Grant, Lord, when Satan shall next serve me, as Joab did th… nameless Israelite, I ma… serve him, as the name lesse Israelite, did Joa… flatly refusing his deceitfull Tenders.
XVIII. Hereafter.
DAvid fasted & prayed for his sick Sonn…, that his life might be prolonged. Put when he was dead, this consideration comforted him. I shall *Sam. 2. 12. 23.goe to him, But hee shall not returne to me.
Peace did long lie languishing in this Land. No small contentment that to my poore power, I have prayed and preached for the preservation thereof. Seeing since it is departed this Supports my soule, having little hope that Peace here should returne to mee; I have some assurance that I shall goe to peace heareafter.
XIX. Bad at best.
LOrd, how come wicked thoughts to perplex me in my Prayers, when I desire and endeavour onelyonly to attend thy S…rvice? Now I perceive the cau… thereof. at other times I have willingly entertained them, and now they entertaine themselves against my will. I acknowledge thy justice, that what formerly I have invited, now I cannot expell. Give me here after alwayes to bolt out such ill guestes. The best way to be rid of …uch bad thoughts in my Prayers is not to receive them out of my Prayers.
XX. Compendium dispendiune.
POpe Boniface the …th at the end of each hundred yeares, … a Iubilee at R…me, wherein people, bringing themselves, and money thither had Pardon for their sinnes.
Put Centenary yeares return'd but seldome Popes were old before and …vetuous when they came to their place. Few had the happinesse to fill their Coffers with Iubilee-Coyne. Hereupon,
*Examen. con. Trident. pag. 736. Colum. 2.Clement the sixth reduced it to every fifteenth yeare. Gregory the eleventh to every three and thirtieth. Paul the second, and Sixtus the fourth to every twentieth fifth yeare.
Yea, an Agitation is reported in the Conclave, to bring downe Iubilees to fifteenth, twelve, or ten yeares, had not some Cardinalls, (whose policy was above their coveteousnes) opposed it.
I serve my prayers, as they their Iubilees. perchance they may extend to a quarter of an houre, when powred out at large. But some dayes I begrutch this time as too much, and omit the …reface of my Prayer, with some passages conceived lesse material, and …unne two or three Peti…ions into one, so contracting them to halfe a quarter of an Houre.
Not long after, this also seemes two long; I decontract and abridge the Abridgement of my Prayers, Yea, (be it confessed to my shame and sorrow that hereafter I may amend it) too often I shrinke my Prayers to a m…nute, to a moment, to a Lord have mercy upon me.
SCRIPTURE OBSERVATIONS.
I. Prayer may Preach.
FAther, I thank thee (said our *John 11 41.Sav our, being ready to …aise Lazar…s, that thou h…st hea…d me. And I …now that thou he … me …, but because of the P…ople that stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. It is lawfull for Ministers in their publique Prayers to insert passages for the Edifying of their Auditors, at the same time petitioning God & informing their Hearers. For our Saviour glancing his Eyes at the Peoples instruction, did no whit hinder the stead fastnesse of his lookes, lifted up to his Father.
When before Sermon I pray for my Soveraigne & Master K…NG of great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Def…nder of the Faith, in all causes, and over all persons, &c. Some (who omit it themselves) may censure it in me for superfluous: But never more neede to teach men the Kings Title, & their owne …uty, that the simple may be informed, the forgetfull remembred thereof, and that the affectedly Ignorant, who will not take Advice, may have all … cuse taken from them. Wherefore in powring forth my prayers to God, well may I therein sp…inkle some by-drops for the Instruction of the people.
II. The Vicious Meane.
ZOphar the Naamath…te mentioneth a sort of men, in whose mouthes wickednesse is sweet, *Job 20.12.They hide it under their ton…ue, they spare it, and forsa…e it not, but keepe it still in their mouth. This furnisheth me with a Tripartite division of men in the World.
The first and best are those, who … sin out, loathing it in their judgments, and leaving it in their practice.
The second sort, notoriously wicked, who swa…low sinne downe, actually and openly committing it.
The third endeavouring and expedient betwixt Heaven and Hell, neither doe nor deny their lusts; neither spitting them out nor swallowing them downe, but rolling them under their tongues, epicurizing theron, in their filthy fancies and obscene speculations.
If God at the last day of judgement hath three hands, a right for the Sheep, a left for the Goates, the middle is mos… proper for these third sort of men. But both these latter kinds of sinners shall be confounded together. The rather because a sinne thus rolled, becomes so soft and suple, and the Throat is so short and slippery a passage, that insensibly it may slide downe from the mouth into the Stomach, and contemplative wantonnesse quickly turnes into practicall uncleanesse.