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DEmeane thy selfe more wa∣r••y in thy study, then in the street. If thy publique actions have a hundred witnesses, thy p••i••••t have a thou∣sand. The mul••••••••de lookes but upon thy actions•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conscience lookes into them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 multitude may chance to excuse thee, i•• not acquit thee, thy conscience will accuse thee, if not condemn thee.
OF all vices take heed of Drun∣kennesse; Other vices are but
fruits of disordered affections: this disorders, nay, banishes reason: O∣ther vices but impaire the soule, this demolishes her two chiefe fa∣culties; the Understanding, and the Will: Other vices make their owne way; this makes way for all vices: Hee that is a Drunkard is qualified for all vice.
IF thy sinne trouble thee, let that trouble comfort thee; as pleasure in the remembrance of sinne exas∣perates Justice, so sorrow in the re∣pentance of sinne mollifies mercy: it is lesse danger to commit the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we delight in, then to delight in the sinne we have committed, and more joy is promis'd to Repentance, then to Innocency.
THe way to God is by thy selfe; The way to thy selfe is by thy owne corruptions: he that baulkes this way, erres; he that travels by the creatures, wanders. The motion of the Heavens shall give thy soule no rest: the vertue of Herbs shall not encrease thine. The height of all Philosophy, both naturall and mo∣rall, is to know thy selfe, and the end of this knoweledge is to know God.
INfamy is where it is receiv'd: if thou art a Mudde-wall, it wil stick; if Marble, it will rebound: if thou storme at it, 'tis thine: if thou con∣temne it, 'tis his.
IF thou desire Magistracy, learne to forget thy selfe; if thou under∣take it, bid thy selfe farewell; he that lookes upon a common cause with private eyes, lookes through false Glasses. In the exercise of thy politique office, thou must forget both Ethickes and Oeconomickes. He that puts on a publique Gowne, must put off a private Person.
LEt the words of a Virgin, though in a good cause, and to as good purpose, be neither violent, many, nor first, nor last: it is lesse shame for a Virgin to be lost in a blushing silence, then to be found in a bold Eloquence.
ARt thou in plenty? give what thou wilt: Art thou in pover∣ty? give what thou canst: as what is receiv'd, is receiv'd accor∣ding to the manner of the receiver; so what is given, is priz'd according to the measure of the giver: he is a good workeman that makes as good worke as his matter will permit.
GGd is the Author of Truth, the Devill the Father of Lies: If the telling of a truth shall endanger thy life, the authour of Truth will protect thee from the danger, or re∣ward thee for thy dammage. If the tell 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lye may secure thy life, the father of Lyes will beguile thee of thy gaines, or traduce the securi∣ty. Better by losing of a life to save
it, then by saving of a life to lose it. However, better thou perish then the Truth.
COnsider not so much what thou hast, as what others want: what thou hast, take heed thou lose not. What thou hast not, take heed thou covet not: if thou hast many above thee, turne thy eye upon those that are under thee: If thou hast no Inferiours, have patience a while, and thou shalt have no Superiours. The grave requires no marshall.
IF thou ••eest any thing in thy self, which may make thee proud, look a little further, and thou shalt find enough to humble thee; if thou be wise, view the Peacocks feathers with his feet, and weigh thy best
parts with thy imperfections. He thar would rightly prize the man, must read his whole Story.
LEt not the sweetnesse of con∣templation be so esteem'd, that action be despis'd, Rachel was more faire, Lea more fruitfull: as contem∣plation is more delightfull, so is it more dangerous: Lot was upright in the City and wicked in the Moun∣taine.
IF thou hast but little, make it not lesse by murmuring: if thou hast enough, make it not too much by un∣thankefulnesse: He that is not thankfully contented with the least favour he hath receiv'd, hath made himselfe incapable of the least fa∣vour he can receive.
VVHat thou hast taken unlaw∣fully, restore speedily, for the sinne in taking it, is repeated eve∣ry minute thou keep'st it: if thou canst, restore it in kinde: if not, in value; if it may be, restore it to the party; if not, to God: the Poore is Gods Receiver.
LEt the fear of a danger be a spur to prevent it: Hee that feares otherwise, gives advantage to the danger: It is lesse folly not to en∣deavour the prevention of the evill thou fearest, then to feare the evill which thy endeavor cannot prevent.
IF thou hast any excellence which is thine owne, thy tongue may
glory in it without shame; but if thou hast receiv'd it, thy glory is but usurpation; and thy pride is but the prologue of thy shame: Where vain-glory commands, there folly coun∣sels; where pride Rides, there shame Lacquies.
GGd hath ordained his creatures, not onely for necessity, but de∣light; si••ce he hath carv'd thee with a bountifull hand, feare not to re∣ceive it with a liberall heart: He that gave thee water to allay thy thirst, gave thee wine to exhilarate thy heart. Restore him for the one, a necessity of thankes, returne him for the other, the chearfulnesse of praise.
IF the wicked flourish and thou suffer, discourage not: they are fat∣ted
for destruction; thou art Dieted for health; they have no other Hea∣ven but the hopes of a long Earth; thou hast nothing on Earth but the hopes of a quicke Heaven: if there were no journies end, the travell of a Christian were most comfort∣lesse.
IMpe not thy wings with the Churches feathers, lest thou flie to thy owne Ruine: impropriations are bold Metaphors; which continued, are deadly Allegories: one foot of land in Capite, encumbers the whole estate: The Eagle snatcht a coale from the Altar, but it fired her Nest.
LEt that table which God hath pleas'd to give thee, please thee: He that made the Vessell knows her b••rthen, and how to ballast her; He
that made all things very good, can∣not but doe all things very well; If thou be content with a little, thou hast enough: if thou complainest thou hast too much.
VVOuldst thou discover the true worth of a man? Be∣hold him naked: distreasure him of his ill-got Wealth, degrade him of his deare bought honour•• disrobe him of his purple Habit•• Discard his pamper'd body; then looke upon his soule, and thou shalt finde how great he is, Naturall sweetnesse is never sented but in the absence of artifi∣ciall.
IF thou art subject to any secret folly blab it not, lest thou appeare impudent; nor boast of it, lest thou seem insolent. Every mans va∣nity
ought to be his greatest shame: and every mans folly ought to be his greatest secret.
IF thou be ignorant, endeavour to get knowledge, lest thou be bea∣ten with stripes: if thou hast at∣tain'd knowledge, put it in practice, lest thou be beaten with many stripes. Better not to know what we should practice, then not to pra∣ctice what we know; and lesse dan∣ger dwels in unaffected ignorance, then unactive knowledge.
TAke heed thou harbor not that vice call'd Envy, lest anothers happinesse be thy torment, and Gods blessing become thy Curse: vertue corruted with vain-glory, turnes Pride: Pride poyson'd with malice,
becomes Envy: joyne therefore Humility with thy Vertue, and Pride shall have no footing, and Envy shall finde no entrance.
IF thy endeavour cannot prevent a Vice, let thy Repentance lament it: the more thou remembrest it without hearts griefe; the deeper it is rooted in thy heart: take heed it please thee not, especially in cold blood. Thy pleasure in it makes it fruitfull, and her fruit is thy destru∣ction.
THe two knowledges, of God, and thy selfe, are the high way to thy Salvation; that breeds in thee a filiall love; this a filiall feare. The ignorance of thy selfe is the beginning of all sinne, and the igno∣rance
of God is the perfection of all evill.
RAther do nothing to the purpose, then be idle, that the Devill may finde thee doing: the Bird that sits is easily shot, when fliers scape the Fowler: idlenesse is the dead Sea that swallowes all Vertues, and the Selfe-made Sepulcher of a living man: the idle man is the Devils hir••ling; whose livery is rags•• whose diet and wages are famine, and dis∣eases.
BE not so madde as to alter that Countenance which thy Crea∣tour made thee: Remember it was the worke of his Hands; if it be bad, how dar'st thou mend it? If it be good, why dost thou mend it? art thou asham'd of his worke, and
proud of thy owne? he made thy face to be knowne by, why desirest thou to be knowne by another: it is a shame to adulterate modesty, but more to adulterate nature. Lay by thy art, and blush not to appeare, what he blushes not to make thee. It is better to be his Picture then thy owne.
LEt the ground of all thy Religi∣ous actions be obedience: exa∣mine not why it is commanded, but observe it, because it is commanded. True obedience neither procrasti∣nates, nor questions.
IF thou would buy an inheritance in Heaven, advise not with thy Purse, les•• in the meane while thou lo••e thy purchase: The Wi∣dow
bought as much for two mites, as Zaccheus did for halfe his estate: the prize of that purchase is what thou hast, and is not lost for what thou hast not, if thou desire to have it.
VVIth the same height of desire thou hast sinn'd, with the like depth of sorrow thou must re∣pent: thou that hast sinn'd to day, de∣ferre not thy repentance till to mor∣row: he that hath promised pardon to thy Repentance, hath not promi∣sed life till thou repent.
TAke heed how thou receivest praise from men: from good men neither avoid it, nor glory in it. From evill men, neither desire it, nor expect it: To be praised of them
that are evill, or for that which is evill, is equall dishonour: He is hap∣py in his worth, who is praised by the good, and imitated by the bad.
PRoportion thy charity to the strength of thy estate, lest God proportion thy estate to the weake∣nes••e of thy charity: Let the lips of the poore be the trumpet of thy gift, lest in seeking applause, thou lose thy Reward. Nothing is more pleasing to God then an open hand, and a close mouth.
DOst thou want things necessa∣ry? Grumble not: perchance it was a necessary thing thou should'st want: Endeavour lawful∣ly to supply it; if God blesse not thy endeavour, blesse him that knoweth
what is fittest for thee. Thou art Gods Patient: Prescribe not thy Phy∣sitian.
IF anothers death, or thy own de∣pend upon thy confession, if thou canst, say nothing: if thou must, say the Truth: it is better, thou loose thy life, then God, his Honour: it is as easie for him to give thee life, be∣ing condemn'd; as repentance, ha∣ving sinn'd: it is more wisdome to yeeld thy Body, then hazard thy Soule.
CLoath not thy language, either with Obscurity, or affectation: in the one thou discover'st too much darknes, in the other, too much light∣nes: He that speaks from the under∣standing, to the understanding, is the best interpreter.
IF thou expect death as a friend, prepare to entertaine it: If thou expect death as an enemy, pre∣pare to overcome it: Death has no advantage, but when it comes a stran∣ger.
FEare nothing, but what thy indu∣stry may prevent: Be confident of nothing but what fortune cannot de∣feat: it is no lesse folly to feare what is impossible to be avoided, then to be secure when there is a possibility to be depriv'd.
LEt not the necessity of Gods de∣cree discourage thee to pray, or dishearten thy prayers; doe thou thy duty, and God will doe his pleasure:
if thy prayers make not him sound that is sicke, they will returne, and confirme thy health that art sound: If the end of thy prayer be to obtain thy request, thou confinest him that is infinite: if thou hast done well, be∣cause thou wert commanded, thou hast thy reward in that thou hast obeyed. Gods pleasure is the end of our prayers.
MArry not too young, and when thou art too old, marry not, lest thou be fond in the one, or thou dote in the other, and repent for both: let thy liking ripen before thou love: let thy Love advise before thou choose; and let thy choice be fixt be∣fore thou marry: Remember that the whole happinesse or unhappinesse of thy life depends upon this one Act. Remember nothing but death can dissolve this knot. He that weds in
haste, repents ofttimes by leisure: And he that repents him of his owne act, either is, or was a foole by con∣fession.
IF God hath sent thee a Crosse, take it up and follow him: use it wisely, lest it be unprofitable; Beare it patiently, lest it be intolerable: Be∣hold in it Gods anger against sinne, and his love towards thee; in puni∣shing the one, and chastening the other: if it be light, sleight it not; if heavy murmure not: Not to be sensi∣ble of a judgement is the symptome of a hardned heart; and to be dis∣pleas'd at his pleasure, is a signe of a rebellious will.
IF thou desire to be magnanimous, undertake nothing rashly, and feare nothing thou undertak'st: Feare no∣thing
but infamy: Dare any thing but injury; the measure of magnanimity, is neither to be rash, nor timorous.
PRactise in health, to beare sick∣nesse, and endeavour in the strength of thy life to entertaine death: He that hath a will to die, not having power to live, shewes neces∣sity not vertue: It is the glory of a brave mind to embrace pangs in the very a••mes of pleasure: What name of vertue merits he, that goes when he is driven?
BE not too punctuall in taking place: If he be thy superiour, 'tis his due; if thy inferiour, 'tis his disho∣nour: It is thou must honour thy place; thy Place, not thee. It is a poor reward of worth that consists in a right hand, or a brick-wall.
PRay often, because thou sinn'st alwayes: Repent quickly, lest thou die suddenly. He that repents it, because he wants power to act it, repents not of a sin, till he forsakes not: He that wants power to actuate his sin, hath not forsaken his sin, but his sin him.
MAke Philosophy thy journey, Theology thy journeyes end: Philosophy is a pleasant way, but dangerous to him that either tires or retires: in this journey it's safe, nei∣ther to loyter, nor to rest, till thou hast attained thy journeyes end: He that sits downe a Philosopher, rises up an Atheist.
FEare not to sinne, for Gods sake, but thy owne; Thy sinne over∣throwes
not his glory, but thy good: He gaines his Glory not only from the salvation of the Repentant, but also from the confusion of the Rebel∣lious: There be vessels for honour, and vessels for dishonour, but both for his honour. God is not grieved for the glory he shall lose for thy improvi∣dence, but for the horror thou shalt finde for thy impenitence.
INsult not over misery, nor deride infirmity, nor despise deformity. The first, shews thy inhumanity: the second, thy folly; the third, thy pride: He that made him miserable, made thee happy to lament him: He that made him weake, made thee strong to support him: He that made him deform'd, gave thee favour to be humbled: He that is not sensible of anothers unhappinesse, is a living stone; but he that makes misery the
object of his triumph is an incarnate Devill.
MAke thy recreations, servants to thy businesses, lest thou be∣come slave to thy recreations: When thou goest up into the Mountaine, leave this servant in the Valley: When thou goest to the City, leave him in the Suburbs. And remember, The servant must not be greater then his Master.
PRaise no man too liberally be∣fore his face, nor censure him too lavishly behind his backe, the one favours of flattery; the other, of ma∣lice; and both are reprehensible: The true way to advance anothers ver∣tue, is to follow it; and the best meanes to cry downe anothers vice, is to decline it.
IF thy Prince command a lawfull act, give him all active obedience: if he command an unlawfull act, give him passive obedience. What thy well-grounded conscience will suffer, doe chearfully without repi∣ning; where thou maist not do law∣fully, suffer couragiously without Re∣bellion: Thy life and livelihood is thy Princes, Thy conscience is thy owne.
IF thou givest, to receive the like, it is Exchange: if to receive more, it is covetousnesse: if to receive thanks, it is vanity: if to be seen, it is vain-glory; if to corrupt, it is Bribery; if for Example, it is forma∣lity; if for compassion, it is Charity; if because thou art commanded, it is obedience. The affection in doing
the work, gives a name to the work done.
FEar death, but be not afraid of Death. To feare it, whets thy ex∣pectation: To be afraid of it, duls thy preparation: if thou canst endure it, it is but a fleight pain; if not, it is but a short pain: to fear death is the way to live long; to be afraid of Death, is to be long a dying.
IF thou desire the love of God and man, be humble; for the proud heart, as it loves none but it selfe, so it is beloved of none, but by it self: The voice of humility is Gods mu∣sick, and the silence of Humility is Gods Rhetorick. Humility enfor∣ces, where neither vertue nor strength can prevaile, nor Reason.
LOok upon thy burning Taper, and there see the Embleme of thy Life: The flame is thy Soule; The wax, thy Body, and is commonly a span long; The wax, (if never so well tempered) can but last his length; and who can lentghen it? If il tempe∣red, it shall wast the faster, yet last his length; an open window shall ha∣sten either; an Extinguisher shall put out both: Husband them the best thou canst, thou canst not lengthen them beyond their date: leave them to the injury of the Winde, or to the mercy of a wastfull hand, thou hast∣nest them, but still they burn their length: But puffe them out, and thou hast shortned them, and stopt their passage, which else had brought them to their appointed end. Bodies ac∣cording to their constitutions, stron∣ger or weaker, according to the e∣equality
or inequality of their Ele∣ments, have their dates, and may be preserv'd from shortning, but not lengthened. Neglect may wast them, ill diet may hasten them unto their journies end, yet they have liv'd their length; A violent hand may interrupt them; a sudden death may stop them, and they are shortned. It lies in the power of man, either permissively to hasten, or actively to shorten, but not to lengthen or extend the limits of his naturall life. He onely, (if any) hath the art to lengthen out his Ta∣per that puts it to the best advantage.
DEmean thy selfe in the presence of thy Prince, with reverence and chearfulnesse. That, without this, is too much sadnes; This without that is too much boldnesse: Let thy wis∣dome endeavour to gain his opinion, and labour to make thy loyalty his
confidence: Let him not find thee false in words, unjust in thy actions, unseasonable in thy suits, nor care∣lesse in his service: crosse not his pas∣sion, question not his pleasures, Presse not into his Secrets; Pry not into his Prerogative: Displease him not, lest he be angry; appeare not displeas'd, lest he be jealous: the anger of a King is implacable: the jealousy of a Prince is incurable.
GIve thy heart to thy Creator, and Reverence to thy Superi∣ors: Give diligence to thy Calling, and eare to good Counsell: Give Almes to the poor, and the Glory to God: Forgive him that ignorantly offends thee, and him that having wittingly offended thee, seeks thee. Forgive him that hath forcibly abu∣sed thee & him that hath fraudulent∣ly betray'd thee: Forgive all thine enemies, but least of all, thy selfe:
Give, and it shall be given thee; For∣give, and it shall be forgiven thee; The sum of all Christianity is, Give, and Forgive.
BEe not too great a niggard in the commendations of him that professes thy own quality: if he de∣serve thy praise, thou hast discove∣red thy Judgement; if not, thy mo∣desty: Honour either returns, or re∣flects to the Giver.
IF thy desire to raise thy Fortunes, encourage thy delights to the casts of Fortune, be wise betimes, lest thou repent too late; What thou get∣test, thou gainest by abused Provi∣dence; what thou losest, thou losest by abused Patience; What thou win∣nest is prodigally spent; what thou
losest is prodigally lost: it is an evill trade that prodigality drives: and a bad voyage where the Pilot is blind.
BEe very wary for whom thou be∣comest Security, and for no more then thou art able to discharge, if thou lovest thy liberty. The borrow∣er is a slave to the lender: The Secu∣rity is a slave to both: Whilst the Borrower and Lender are both ea∣sed, the Security beares both their burthens: He is a wise security that secures himselfe.
LOok upon thy affliction as thou doest upon thy Physick: Both im∣ply a disease, and both are applyed for a Cure; That, of the Body; This of the Soule: If they work, they pro∣mise health health: if not, they threa∣ten
death: He is not happy that is not afflicted, but he that findes hap∣pinesse by his affliction.
IF the Knowledge of Good whet thy desire to good, it is a happy Knowledge: if by thy ignorance of Evill, thou art surpriz'd with Evill, it is an unhappy ignorance. Happy is he that hath so much Knowledge of Good, as to desire it, and but so much Knowledge of evill, as to feare it.
WHen the flesh presents thee with delights, then present thy selfe with dangers: Where the world possesses thee with vain Hopes, there possesse thy selfe with true feare: When the Divell brings thee Oyle, bring thou Vinegar. The way to be safe, is never to be se∣cure.
IF thy brother hath offended thee, forgive him freely, and be recon∣ciled: To doe Evill for Evill, is humane corruption: To doe Good for Good is civill retribution: To do Good for Evill is Christian perfecti∣on: The act of Forgivnesse is Gods Precept: The manner of Forgive∣nesse is Gods President.
REverence the Writings of holy Men, but lodge not thy Faith upon them, because but men: They are good Pooles, but no ••ountaines. Build on Paul himselfe no longer then he builds on Christ: if Peter re∣nounce his Master, renounce Peter. The word of man may convince Reason; But the word of God alone can compell conscience.
IN civill things follow the most; in matters of Religion, the few∣est; in all things follow the best: So shall thy wayes bee pleasing to God; so shall thy behaviour be plausi∣ble with men.
IF any losse or misery hath befalne to thy brother, dissemble it to thy self: and what counsell thou givest him, register carefully; and when the Case is thine, follow it: So shall thy owne Reason convince thy passion, or thy passion confesse her own un∣reasonablnes.
WHen thou goest about to change thy morall Liberty into a Christian Servitude, prepare thy selfe to be the worlds laughing-stock: if thou overcome her
Scoffs, thou shalt have double Honor: if overcome, double Shame: He is unworthy of a good Master, that is a∣sham'd of a bad Livery.
LEt not the falling of a Salt, or the crossing of a Hare, or the crying of a Cricket trouble thee. They por∣tend no evill, but what thou fearest: He is ill acquainted with himselfe; that knowes not his own Fortunes more then they. If evill follow it, it is the punishment of thy Superstition; not the fulfilling of their Portent: All things are lucky to thee, if thou wilt, nothing but is ominous to the Superstitious.
SO behave thy self in thy course of life, as at a banquet. Take what is offer'd with modest thankfulnesse: And expect what is not as yet offer'd with hopefull patience: let not thy
rude Appetite presse thee, nor a sleight carefulnesse indispose thee, nor a sullen discontent deject thee, Who desires more then enough, hath too much: And he that is satisfied with a little hath no lesse then e∣nough: Be•••• ••st cui Deus obtulit parcâ, quod sat is est, manu.
IS thy Child dead? He is restor'd, not lost: is thy treasure stolne? it is not lost, it is restored: He is an ill debtor, that counts repayment losse. But it was an evill chance that took thy child, and a wicked hand that stole thy Treasure: What is that to thee? it matters not by whom he requires the things from whom he lent them: What goods are ours by loan, are not lost when willingly re∣stored, but when unworthily receiv'd.
CEnsure no man, detract from no man: Praise no man before his
face; traduce no man behinde his back. Boast not thy selfe abroad, nor flatter thy selfe at home: if any thing crosse thee, accuse thy self: if any one extoll thee, humble thy selfe. Honour those that instruct thee, and be thank∣full to those that reprehend thee. Let all thy desires be subjected to Rea∣son, and let thy reason be corrected by Religion. Weigh thy selfe by thy own Ballances, and trust not the voice of wild opinion: Observe thy selfe as thy greatest enemy, so shalt thou become thy greatest friend.
ENdeavour to make thy discourse such, as may adminster profit to thy Selfe, or Standers by, thou incurre the danger of an idle Word: Above all Subjects, avoid those which are Seurrilous, and obscene; Tales that are impertinent, and im∣probable, and dreams.
IF God hath blest thee with a son, blesse thou that son with a law∣full calling: chuse such employ∣ment, as may stand with his Fancie, and thy Judgement: His country claymes his ability toward the buil∣ding of her honour. If he cannot bring a Cedar, let him bring a shrub. Hee that brings nothing usurps his life, and robs his country of a Servant.
AT the first entrance into thy E∣state, keep a low saile: Thou maist rise with Honour; Thou canst not decline without shame: He that begins as his Father ended, shall end as his Father begun.
IF any Obscene Tale should chance to slip into thine Ears, a∣mong the varieties of Discourse
(if opportunity admit) reprove it: if otherwise, let thy silence, or change of countenance interpret thy dislike: the smiling Ear is Baud to the lasci∣vious Tongue.
BEe more circumspect over the works of thy Braine, then the Actions of thy Body: These have in∣firmity to plead for them: but they must stand upon their own bottomes: These are but the objects of few; They, of all: These will have Equals to defend them: they have Inferi∣ours to envie them; Superiors, to de∣ride them; al to censure them: It is no lesse danger for these to be proclaim'd at Pauls Crosse, then for them to be protested in Pauls Church-yard.
VSe Common place-Books, or Collections, as Indexes to lig•• thee to the Authours, lest thou be••
bus'd: He that takes Learning up on trust, makes him a faire Cup-board with anothers Plate. He is an ill ad∣vised purchaser, whose title depends more on Witnesses then Evidences.
IF thou desire to make the best ad∣vantage of the Muses, either by Reading to benefit thy selfe, or by Writing, others, keep a peacefull soul in a temperate body: A full belly makes a dull brain; and a turbulent Spirit, a distracted Judgement: The Muses starve in a Cooks shop, and a Lawyers Study.
VVHen thou communicates thy selfe by Letters, heighten or depresse thy stile according to the quality of the party and businesse; That which thy tongue would pre∣sent to any, if present, let thy Pen represent to•• him, Abse••t: The
tongue is the mindes Interpreter, and the Pen is the Tongues Secre∣tary.
KEep thy soule in exercise, lest her faculties rust for want of mo∣tion: To eat, sleepe, or sport too long stops the naturall course of her naturall actions: To dwell too long in the employments of the body, is both the cause, and signe of a dull Spirit.
BE very circumspect to whose Tuition thou committ'st thy childe: Every good Schollar is not a good Master. He must be a man of invincible patience, and singular ob∣servation: he must study children that will teach them well, and rea∣son must rule him that would rule wisely: he must not take advantage of an ignorant father, nor give too
much ••ar to an indulgent Grandmo∣ther: the cōmon good must outweigh his private gaines, and his credit must out-bid Gratuities: he must be deli∣gent, and sober, not too familiar, nor too reserv'd, neither amorous nor phantasticke: Just, without fierce∣nesse, mercifull, without fondnesse: if such a one thou meet with, thou hast found a Treasure, which, if thou know'st how to value, is invaluable.
LEt not thy laughter handsell thy owne jest, lest whilst thou laugh at it, others laugh at thee: neither tell it often to the same hearers, lest thou be thought forgetfull, or barren. There is no sweetnesse in a Cabage twice sod, or a tale twice told.
IF opinion hath lighted the Lampe of thy Name, endeavour to en∣courage
it with thy owne Oyle, lest it go out and stinke: The Chroni∣call disease of Popularity is shame: If thou be once up, beware: From Fame to Infamy is a beaten Roade.
CLense thy morning soule with private and due Devotions; till then admit no businesse: The first-borne of thy thoughts are Gods, and not thine, but by Sacriledge: thinke thy selfe not ready till thou hast prais'd him, and he will be al∣wayes ready to blesse thee.
IN all thy actions thinke God sees thee; and in all his actions labour to see him; that will make thee fear him; this will move thee to love him; The feare of God is the be∣ginning of Knowledge, and the Knowledge of God is the perfection of Love.
LEt not the expectation of a re∣version entice thy heart to the wish of the possessours death, lest a judgement meet thee in thy expe∣ctation, or a Curse overtake thee in thy fruition: Every wish makes thee a murtherer, and moves God to be an Accessary; God often lengthens the life of the possessour with the dayes of the Expectour.
PRize not thy selfe by what thou hast, but by what thou art; hee that values a Jewell by her golden frame: or a Book by her silver claspa, or a man by his vast estate, erres: if thou art not worth more then the world can make thee, thy Redeemer had a bad penny worth, or thou an un••••rious Redeemer.
LEt not thy Fathers, nor the Fa∣thers, nor the Church thy Mo∣thers beleef, be the ground of thine: The Scripture lies open to the hum∣ble he•••••••• but lockt against the proud Inquis•••••••• he that beleeves with an implicate Faith is a meer Empe∣ricke in Religion.
OF all sinnes, take greatest heed of that which thou hast last, and most repented of: He that was last thrust out of doores, is the next rea∣diest to croud in againe: and he that thou hast forest baffled, is likeliest to call more helpe for a revenge: it is requisite for him that hath cast one devill out, to keep strong hold lest seven return.
IN the meditation of divine My∣steries, keep thy heart humble; and thy thoughts holy; let Philosophy not be asham'd to be confuted, nor Logick blush to be confounded; what thou canst not prove, approve; what thou canst not comprehend, beleeve; and what thou canst be∣leeve, admire; so shall thy ignorance be satisfied in thy Faith, and thy doubts swallowed up with wonders: the best way to see day-light, is to put out thy candle.
IF opinion hath cried thy name up let thy modesty cry thy heart down, lest thou ceceiveit; or it thee: there is no lesse danger in a great name then a bad; and no lesse honor in deserving of praise, then in the enduring it.
VSe the holy Scriptures with all reverence; let not thy wanton fancy carve it out in jests, nor thy sinfull wit make it an advocate to thy sin: it is a subject for thy faith, not fancy; where Wit and Blasphe∣my is one Trade, the understanding's Banckrupt.
DOst thou complaine that God hath forsakē thee? it is thou that hast forsaken him: 'tis thou that art mutable: in him there is no shadow of change, in his light is life; if thy Will drive thee into a Dungeon, thou mak'st thy own darknesse, and in that darknesse dwels thy death; from whence, if he redeem thee, he is mercifull; if not, he is just; in both, he receives glory.
MAke use of Time, if thou lov'st Eternity: know, yesterday cannot be recall'd, to morrow cannot be assured: to day is onely thine; which if thou procrastinate, thou losest, which lost, is lost for ever: One to day, is worth two to morrows.
IF thou be strong enough to en∣counter with ••he times, keep thy Station; if not, shift a foot to gain advantage of the Times. He that acts a Begger to prevent a Thiefe, is ne're the poorer; it is a great part of wisedome, sometimes to seem a fool.
IF thou intend thy writings for the publique view, lard them not too much with the choice lines of ano∣ther Authour, lest thou lose thy own
Gravy: what thou hast read and di∣gested being delivered in thy owne Stile becomes thine: it is more de∣cent to weare a plaine suit of one entire cloth, then a ga••dy garment checquer'd with divers richer frag∣ments.
IF God hath blest thee with inhe∣ritance, and children to inherit, trust not the staffe of thy family to the hands of one. Make not many Beggers in the building up of one great heir, lest if he miscarry through a prodigall Will, the rest sink through a hard necessity. Gods allowance is a double portion: when high blood, and generous breeding breake their fast in plenty, and dine in poverty, they often sup in Infamy: if thou de∣ny them Faulcons wings to prey on Fowl, give them Kites stomachs to seize on Garbage.
BE very vigilant over thy childe in the April of his understan∣ding, lest the frosts of May nippe his Blossomes. While he is a tender Twig, strengthen him; whilst he is a new Vessell, season him; such as thou makest him, such commonly thou shalt finde him. Let his first les∣son be Obedience, and the second shall be what thou wilt. Give him Education in good Letters, to the ut∣most of thy ability, and his capaci∣ty. Season his youth with the love of his Creatour, and make the feare of his God the beginning of his know∣ledge: If he have an active spirit, rather rectifie then curbe it; but rec∣kon idlenesse among his chiefest faults. Above all things, keep him from vain, lascivious and amorous Pamphlets, as the Primmers of all Vice. As his judgement ripens, ob∣serve his inclination, and tender him
a Calling, that shall not crosse it: Forced Marriages and Callings sel∣dome prosper; shew him both the Mow, and the Plough; and prepare him as well for the danger of the Skirmish, as possesse him with the ho∣nour of the prize. If he chuse the profession of a Schollar, advise him to study the most profitable arts: Po∣etry, and the Mathematicks, take up too great a latitude of the soule, and moderately used, are good Recreati∣ons, but bad Callings, being nothing but their owne Rewrd: if he chuse the profession of a Souldier, let him know, withall, Honour must be his greatest wages, and his enemies his surest Paymaster. Prepare him a∣gainst the danger of a Warre, and advise him of the greater mischiefes of a Garrison; let him avoid De∣bauchnesse, and Duels to the utmost of his power, and remember he is not his owne man, and (being his Countries servant) hath no estate in
his owne life. If he chuse a Trade, teach him to forget his Fathers House, and his Mothers Wing: Advise him to be conscionable, carefull, and constant: This done, thou hast done thy part, leave the rest to Provi∣dence, and thou hast done it well.
COnvey thy love to thy Friend, as an Arrow to the Marke, to stick ••here, not as a Ball against the Wall, to rebound back to thee: that friend∣ship will not continue to the End that is begun for an End.
MEditation is the life of the soul; Action is the soule of Medi∣tation, Honour is the reward of acti∣on: So meditate, that thou maist do; So'do, that thou maist purchase Ho∣nour: For which purchase, give God the Glory.