An eye to heauen in earth A necessarie watch for the time of death, consisting in meditations and prayers fit for that purpose. With the husbands christian counsell to his wife and children, left poore after his death.

PART. IX.

More euill then good men in the world.

TO consider duely the estate of the world, as common experience at this death findes it: It may bee ob∣serued, that the world is more fraught with wic∣ked * 1.1 then with men fearing God; so that it followeth, that there are more men apt and ready to hurt, then able or willing to helpe the distressed: and as the multitude is great, so their actions and conditions are many & diuers. Some men seeme onely hurtfull vnto themselues (according to

a foolish prouerbe, Hee is no mans foe, but his owne) as the drunkard & speud∣thrift, who yet are not on∣ly foes to themselues, but to others (notwithstan∣ding the prouerbe) draw∣ing them into their com∣panies and wicked socie∣ties, & by their examples, many take the same most vngodly course with them following likewise forbid∣den excesse and riot.

Some are apparantly * 1.2 hurtfull to themselues and others; as the enuious and malicious man: who, how∣soeuer hee aymes to hurt another, hee may misse of his purpose, but neuer of wounding himselfe, for his will to doe the euill he

intended, is imputed to him in diuine Iustice, as the deede done; God in his prouidēce preuenting the act, for his sake to whom it was intended: and how∣soeuer God permit a wic∣ked man, to hurt one that feares GOD, in body, goods, or reputation, the hurt that he giues is onely outward, and may worke to the good of him that is hurt; but hee that hurts, receiues a deadly wound within, and so much the more grieuous, by how much it is little felt; for an enuious man hurts with desire, and reioyceth in * 1.3 his wicked deede.

If therefore there come a Shemei, to raile causelesse

vpon you, a Iudas to be∣tray * 1.4 you; a Cain, causelesse to kill you; false witnesses, to accuse you, as the wie∣ked Iudges did Susanna; or an Achab, or a lezabel, to wrest from you both life and liuing: or whatsoeuer crosse or calamitie soeuer befall you, through the malice of men, grudge not thereat, nor seeke despite∣full reuenge; but examine your consciences, whether ye be guiltie of that which is laid to your charge; if so, confesse it, and repent it: or whether ye haue se∣cretly offended GOD in some thing, whereof yee were neuer accused, or for which yee were neuer pu∣nished. Thinke (if ye finde

any such thing in your selues, though no man else knowes it) that God vn∣derstands it: and there is no man, but vpon true & serious examination of his owne (peraduenture slum∣bering) conscience, but shall finde matter enough to prouoke God to anger, wherein hee may (though in loue) stir vp some She∣mei, a Iudas, a Cain, to raile on you, to betray you, to robbe or to wound you to death: all to rowse you out of your securitie (wherein the best man sometimes slumbers, as Dauid did) & cannot be awaked, vnlesse GOD send some seuere messenger to tell you, that thou art the man.

Seeing therefore yee * 1.5 shal be subiect, and that of necessitie, to so many dan∣gerous enemies; it be∣houes you euer to looke a∣bout you, and to haue an eye euen to heauen, while ye liue in the earth: & re∣member how watchfully ye ought to liue ouer your owne wayes, and what manner people yee are to shew your selues, in holy and heauenly conuersati∣on, preparing your selues before-hand, for any of these things, that when they come, yee knowing wherefore, and by whom they are sent, may make true vse of them; and in the meane time to walke so much the more warily,

watchfully, and soberly.

An vnwise man know∣eth * 1.6 not this, and a foole vnderstands it not: but if yee haue learned, or will learne and practise it a∣right, ye shall be happy in the worlds vnhappinesse. If yee bee ignorant, looke into, and search the Word of God, heare it, reade it, lay it vp in your hearts, make true vse of it: leaue off to sinne, and liue righ∣teously: if ye haue sinned, sinne no more: The Lord * 1.7 is full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great kindnes and truth. Hee will forgiue all your sinnes, and heale you of all your infirmities. It is hee that hath redeemed you, by the precious bloud

of his owne & only Sonne. And if you beleeue in him and obey him, he will fi∣nally crowne you with mercie and louing kind∣nesse, and shall from time to time fill you full of eue∣ry good thing: feare him and loue him, and then bee afraid of no mortall creature: for, if God be on * 1.8 your side, who can be against you? If yee continue vnto the end, ye shall assuredly bee saued. Therefore, I say, grudge not, though ye bee left behind me poore, and much destitute of the superfluous things of this world, God is your por∣tion, in whom yee haue a farre greater treasure, then the world can yeeld you.

If I could haue left you riches in aboundance, yee had beene, indeede, neuer truely the better, but in cōmon reputation, which is as variable as are vncer∣taine riches: & being left poore, yee are neuer the worse, but in opinion, which many times allowes of the worst, & condemnes the better: it is the vertue of your minde, that shines within, that is allowed of God, and giues light vn∣to men without.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Ioh. 3. 19.
• * 1.2

  Men ap∣parantly hurtfull to them-selues and others.
• * 1.3

  To beare all euils with pati∣ence, that men offer vs.
• * 1.4

  2. Sam. 16. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 6. Mat. 26. 47 Gen. 4. 8. Dan. 13. 1, 2 1. King. 21. 14.
• * 1.5

  We ought to be cir∣cumspect in our wayes.
• * 1.6

  All men know not why God sends them ene∣mies.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 103. 8.
• * 1.8

  Rom. 8. 31.