Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

XV.

It is the greatest madness in the world, to be a hypocrite in religious profession. Men hate thee, because thou art a Christian, so much as in appearance: God hates thee double, because thou art but in appearance: so, while thou hast the hatred of both, thou hast no comfort in thyself. Yet, if thou wilt not be good, as thou seemest; I hold it better, to seem ill, as thou art. An open wicked man doth much hurt, with notorious sins; but a hypocrite doth at last more shame goodness, by seeming good. I would rather be an open wicked man, than a hypocrite; but I would rather be no man, than either of them.

XVI.

When I cast down mine eyes upon my wants, upon my sins, upon my miseries; methinks no man should be worse, no man so ill as I, my means so many, so forcible, and almost violent; my progress so small, and insensible; my corruptions so strong; my infirmities so frequent, and remediless; my body so unanswerable to my mind: But, when I look up to the blessings that God hath enriched me withal, methinks I should soon be induced to think none more happy than myself: God is my Friend, and my Father; the world, not my master, but my slave: I have friends, not many, but so tried, that I dare trust them; an estate, not superfluous, not needy, yet nearer to defect than abundance; a calling, if despised of men, yet honourable with God; a body, not so strong as to admit security, but often checking me in occasion of pleasure, nor yet so weak as to afflict me continually; a mind, not so furnished with knowledge that I may boast of it, nor yet so naked that I should despair of obtaining it: my miseries afford me joy; mine enemies, advantage: my account is cast up for another world. And, if thou think I have said too much good of myself, either I am thus, or I would be.

XVII.

The worldling's life is, of all other, most discomfortable: for, that, which is his God, doth not alway favour him; that, which should be, never.

XVIII.

There are three messengers of death; Casualty, Sickness, Age. The two first are doubtful; since many have recovered them both: the last is certain. The two first are sudden: the last leisurely and deliberate. As for all men, upon so many summons, so especially for an old man, it is a shame to be unprepared for death: for, where others see they may die, he

sees he must die. I was long ago old enough to die; but if I live till age, I will think myself too old to live longer.

XIX.

I will not care what I have; whether much, or little. If little, my account shall be the less; if more, I shall do the more good, and receive the more glory.

XX.

I care not for any companion, but such as may teach me somewhat, or learn somewhat of me. Both these shall much pleasure me; one as an agent, the other as a subject to work upon: neither know I, whether more; for, though it be an excellent thing to learn, yet I learn but to teach others.

XXI.

If Earth, that is provided for mortality and is possessed by the Maker's enemies, have so much pleasure in it, that worldlings think it worth the account of their heaven; such a sun to enlighten it, such a heaven to wall it about, such sweet fruits and flowers to adorn it, such variety of creatures for the commodious use of it; what must Heaven needs be, that is provided for God himself, and his friends? How can it be less in worth, than God is above his creatures, and God's friends better than his enemies? I will not only be content, but desirous, to be dissolved.

XXII.

It is commonly seen, that boldness puts men forth before their time, before their ability. Wherein, we have seen many, that, like lapwings and partridges, have run away with some part of their shell on their heads: whence it follows, that, as they began boldly, so they proceed unprofitably, and conclude not without shame. I would rather be haled by force of others to great duties, than rush upon them unbidden. It were better a man should want work, than that great works should want a man answerable to their weight.

XXIII.

I will use my friends, as Moses did his rod while it was a rod, he held it familiarly in his hand; when once a serpent, he ran away from it.

XXIV.

I have seldom seen much ostentation, and much learning, met together. The sun, rising, and declining, makes long shadows; at midday when he is at highest, none at all. Besides that, skill, when it is too much shown, loseth the grace:

as fresh coloured wares, if they be often opened, lose their brightness, and are soiled with much handling. I would rather applaud myself, for having much, that I shew not; than that others should applaud me, for shewing more than I have.

XXV.

An ambitious man is the greatest enemy to himself, of any in the world besides: for he still torments himself with hopes, and desires, and cares; which he might avoid, if he would remit of the height of his thoughts, and live quietly. My only ambition shall be, to rest in God's favour on earth, and to be a Saint in heaven.

XXVI.

There was never good thing easily come by. The heathen man could say, "God sells knowledge for sweat;" and so he doth honour for jeopardy. Never any man hath got either wealth or learning, with ease. Therefore, the greatest good must needs be most difficult. How shall I hope to get Christ, if I take no pains for him? And if, in all other things, the difficulty of obtaining whets the mind so much the more to seek, why should it in this alone daunt me? I will not care what I do, what I suffer, so I may win Christ. If men can endure such cutting, such lancing, and searing of their bodies, to protract a miserable life yet a while longer, what pain should I refuse for eternity?

XXVII.

If I die, the world shall miss me but a little: I shall miss it less. Not it me; because it hath such store of better men: not I it; because it hath so much ill, and I shall have so much happiness.

XXVIII.

Two things make a man set by; Dignity, and Desert. Amongst fools, the first without the second is sufficient: amongst wise men, the second without the first. Let me deserve well; though I be not advanced. The conscience of my worth shall cheer me more in others' contempt, than the approbation of others can comfort me against the secret check of my own unworthiness.

XXIX.

The best qualities do so cleave to their subjects, that they cannot be communicated to others: for, whereas patrimony and vulgar account of honour follow the blood, in many generations; virtue is not traduced in propagation, nor learning bequeathed by our Will to our heirs; lest the givers should wax

proud, and the receivers negligent. I will account nothing my own, but what I have gotten; nor that my own, because it is more of gift than desert.

XXX.

Then only is the Church most happy, when Truth and Peace kiss each other; and then miserable, when either of them balk the way, or when they meet and kiss not for, truth without peace, is turbulent; and peace without truth, is secure injustice. Though I love peace well; yet I love main truths better: and, though I love all truths well; yet I would rather conceal a small truth, than disturb a common peace.

XXXI.

An indiscreet good action, is little better than a discreet mischief. For, in this, the doer wrongs only the patient: but, in that other, the wrong is done to the good action; for both it makes a good thing odious (as many good tales are marred in telling,) and, besides, it prejudices a future opportunity. I will rather let pass a good gale of wind, and stay on the shore; than launch forth, when I know the wind will be contrary.

XXXII.

The World teacheth me, that it is madness to leave behind me those goods, that I may carry with me: Christianity teacheth me, that what I charitably give alive, I carry with me dead and Experience teacheth me, that what I leave behind, I lose. I will carry that treasure with me by giving it, which the worldling loseth by keeping it: so, while his corpse shall carry nothing but a winding cloth to his grave, I shall be richer under the earth, than I was above it.

XXXIII.

Every worldling is a hypocrite; for, while his face naturally looks upward to heaven, his heart grovels beneath on the earth: yet, if I would admit of any discord in the inward and outward parts; I would have a heart that should look up to heaven in a holy contemplation of the things above, and a countenance cast down to the earth in humiliation. This only dissimilitude is pleasing to God.

XXXIV.

The heart of man is a short word, a small substance, scarce enough to give a kite one meal; yet great in capacity: yea, so infinite in desire, that the round globe of the world cannot fill the three corners of it. When it desires more, and cries, Give, give," I will set it over to that Infinite Good, where, the more it hath, it may desire more, and see more to be de

66

sired. When it desires but what it needeth, my hands shall soon satisfy it: for, if either of them may contain it, when it is without the body; much more may both of them fill it, while

it is within.

XXXV.

With men it is a good rule; to try first, and then to trust: with God it is contrary. I will first trust him, as most wise, omnipotent, merciful; and try him afterwards. I know it is as impossible for him to deceive me, as not to be.

XXXVI.

As Christ was both a Lamb and a Lion; so is every Christian: a Lamb, for patience in suffering, and innocence of life; a Lion, for boldness in his innocency. I would so order my courage and mildness, that I may be neither lion-like, in my conversation; nor sheepish, in the defence of a good cause.

XXXVII.

The godly sow in tears, and reap in joy. The seed-time is commonly waterish and lowering. I will be content with a wet spring, so I may be sure of a clear and joyful harvest.

XXXVIII.

Every man hath a heaven and a hell. Earth is the wicked man's heaven; his hell is to come: on the contrary, the godly have their hell upon earth, where they are vexed with temptations and afflictions, by Satan and his complices; their heaven is above, in endless happiness. If it be ill with me on earth, it is well my torment is so short, and so easy: I will not be so covetous, to hope for two heavens.

XXXIX.

Man, on his deathbed, hath a double prospect; which, in his lifetime, the interposition of pleasure and miseries debarred him from. The good man looks upward, and sees Heaven open, with Stephen; and the glorious Angels, ready to carry up his soul: the wicked man looks downward, and sees three terrible spectacles; Death, Judgment, Hell, one beyond another; and all to be passed through, by his soul. I marvel not, that the godly have been so cheerful in death, that those torments, whose very sight hath overcome the beholders, have seemed easy to them. I marvel not, that a wicked man is so loth to hear of death; so dejected, when he feeleth sickness; and so desperate, when he feeleth the pangs of death: nor that every Balaam would fain die the death of the righteous. Henceforth, I will envy none, but a good man: I will pity nothing so much, as the prosperity of the wicked.

« EdellinenJatka »