GOOD THOUGHTS IN

WORSE TIMES.

PERSONAL MEDITATIONS.

1. CURIOSITY CURBED.

FTEN have I thought with myself, what disease I would be best contented to die of. None please me. The stone, the colic, terrible as expected, intolerable when felt. The palsy is death before death. The consumption a flattering disease, cozening men into hope of long life at the last gasp. Some sicknesses besot, others enrage men, some are too swift, and others too slow.

If I could as easily decline diseases as I could dislike them, I should be immortal. But away with these thoughts. The mark must not choose what arrow shall be shot against it. What God sends I must receive. May I not be so curious to know what weapon shall wound me, as careful to provide the plaster of patience against it. Only thus much in general: commonly that sickness seizeth on men which they least suspect. He that expects to be drowned with a dropsy, may be burnt with a fever; and she that fears to

be swoln with a tympany may be shrivelled with a consumption.

H

II. DECEIVED, NOT HURT.

EARING a passing-bell, I prayed that the sick man might have, through Christ, a safe voyage to his long home. Afterwards I understood that the party was dead some hours before; and it seems in some places of London the tolling of the bell is but a preface of course to the ringing it out.

Bells better silent than thus telling lies. What is this but giving a false alarm to men's devotions, to make them to be ready armed with their prayers for the assistance of such who have already fought the good fight, yea, and gotten the conquest? Not to say that men's charity herein may be suspected of superstition in praying for the dead.

However, my heart thus poured out was not spilt on the ground. My prayers, too late to do him good, came soon enough to speak my good will. What I freely tendered, God fairly took, according to the integrity of my intention. The party I hope is in Abraham's, and my prayers I am sure are returned into my own bosom.

L

III. NOR FULL, NOR FASTING.

IVING in a country village, where a burial was a rarity, I never thought of death, it was so seldom presented unto me. Coming to London, where there is plenty of funerals (so that

coffins crowd one another, and corpses in the grave justle for elbow room), I slight and neglect death, because grown an object so constant and

common.

How foul is my stomach to turn all food into bad humours? Funerals neither few nor frequent, work effectually upon me. London is a library of mortality. Volumes of all sorts and sizes, rich, poor, infants, children, youth, men, old men, daily die; I see there is more required to make a good scholar than only the having of many books: Lord, be thou my schoolmaster, and teach me to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom.

I

IV. STRANGE AND TRUE.

READ, in the Revelation,* 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 fleshy 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. John's eyes to search it), it seemed deadly.

But mark what immediately follows: And his deadly wound was healed. Who would have suspected this inference from these premises. But

* Rev. xiii. 3.

is not this the lively emblem of my natural corruption? Sometimes I conceived that, by God's grace, I have conquered and killed, subdued and slain, maimed and mortified, the deeds of the flesh never more shall I be molested or buffeted with such a bosom sin: when, alas! by the next return, the news is, it is revived and recovered. Thus tenches, though grievously gashed, presently plaster themselves whole by that slimy and unctuous humour they have in them; and thus the inherent balsam of badness quickly cures my corruption, not a scar to be seen. I perceive I shall never finally kill it, till first I be dead myself.

V. BLUSHING TO BE BLUSHED FOR.

A

PERSON of great quality was pleased to

lodge a night 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 custom, and giving Satan advantage to assault it. Yea, the loosening of such a link might have endangered the scattering of the chain.

Bold bashfulness, which durst offend God whilst it did fear man. Especially considering, that though my guest was never so high, yet by the laws of hospitality, I was above him whilst he was under my roof. Hereafter, whosoever cometh within the doors, shall be 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 entreated to kneel down by it.

SHA

VI. A LASH FOR LAZINESS.

HAMEFUL my sloth, that have deferred 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 hanselled it with prayer. The publican standing, Job sitting,* Hezekiah lying on his bed, Elijah with his face between his legs. But of all gestures give me St. Paul's :‡ For this cause I bow my knees to the father of my Lord Jesus Christ. Knees, when they may, then they must be bended.

I have read a copy of a grant of liberty from queen Mary to Henry Ratcliffe earl of Sussex, giving him leave to wear a nightcap or coif in her majesty's presence,§ counted a great favour, because of his infirmity. I know in case of necessity, God would graciously accept my devotion, bound down in a sick 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 laziness may suspect, lest thus my bed taking me up prove a presage of my ensuing sickness. But may God pardon my idleness this once, I will not again offend in the same kind, by his grace hereafter.

* Job, ii. 8. Ephes. iii. 12.

+1 Kings, xviii. 42.

Weever's Fun. Mon. p. 635.

G