Verus Christianus, or, Directions for private devotions and retirements dedicated to ... Gilbert Ld. Arch Bishop of Canterbury ... by David Stokes.

XIX. The fulnes of our misery amplified by way of Instance.

WE have found the terme of our life to have so much of Nothing, that a Day, or a short time is too large an expression: now you may see, it is filled with so much variety of Misery, that we shall not be able to expresse it to the full.

It is no small part of our misery, though our h•…•…arts are so inlarged, & insatiable in the desire of seeming good things, so that the whole world is not able to fill one heart: yet on the contra∣ry, if they come to be filled with misery, a little of that (if they be not carefully looked to) will so choke them up, and oppresse them, that they will be ready to break. And this fulnes disco∣vers it self in trifles.

How is Haman out of all patience, if Mor∣decai do not shew him some respect? Esth. 5. 11. Neither the glory of his riches, nor the multitude of his children, nor the favour of the King, nor any thing would availe him, so long as Mordecai the Jew did no reverence to him. In the height of his felicity, the want of a poor Ceremony made him think of no other way to appease his wrath, then by sacrificing the whole Nation of the Jewes to his fury.

But what speak I of infolent ambitious Ha∣man? VVe may see the like in a Holy Prophet, but subject to those infirmities that we are.

How is the Prophet Jonas fully vexed, if he do but want his gourd, when the Sun began to convey a little more then ordinary heat? In that onely misery (if it deserve the name) he is so full of it, that it runs out at his mouth. And when God asked him, if he did well to be an∣gry for the Gourd, he gives him this strange Answer, that he did well to be angry unto d•…•…ath.

As it was in proud Haman, and angry Jo∣nas, so it is in most of us. The losse of one ex∣pected Pleasure, or Profit, or Dignity will set us in a pett, and make us forget our selves, and our best wayes of solace.

It were an infinite labour to run over all the Instances in this kind, to shew that we have hardly any one kind of misery, but is able to fill and burst the little heart of man. For the

meer fancy, and deluded apprehension of a dan∣ger, that perhaps will never come; yes, and of a danger past, hath power enough to lay wast the poor heart of man.

And if we escape those, and the hazardous mistakes, that Fancy (in dreams, or otherwise) presents, like bugbears, to affright us into no∣thing: we are not then secure. So many reall troubles may come from any thing that is near us, or about us.

There is not one member of the Body but may (we know not how soon) be attended with such pain, as may seem a piece of Hell u∣pon Earth, and make us think the rest and quiet of the body in a stinking grave, to be a Happines, not unworthy of our Ambition. So intolerable it is to indure the pain, and perhaps no less intolerable to indure the remedy.

But what speak I of diseases? there are a thousand other wayes to adde more measure to the fulnes of our misery, and make the stou∣test of men an instance of frailty.

A little poison can swell him into Death. A little pin can make way for his life to run out at. A little superfluous heat can render him (in a few dayes) key-cold. And the very look of a venemous eye can blast him into nothing.

Hunger can eat him up. Thirst can dry him into a very Skeleton. His own food that should pres•…•…rve his life, can breed the matter of his Death.

So weak a Castle is the Heart possessed of in this house of clay, which is full of holes to let in sorrow, diseases, and death, and hath as many passages, whereat Life and Comfort can take the wing, and fly away.

And yet can we (that know all this) busie our selves in building strange Castles in the Air. VVe can triumph in the Cobwebs of our own conceits, till death blow them away with our own breath. VVe can spend our short mi∣serable life in catching flies, or what is more vain.

And if misery come not fast enough upon us, we can invite and purchase it at our own cost. For what do we else, when we tempt it in by the eye, and make our own fears, loves, and Jealousies, the betrayers of our own strength. When we swallow it down in the tast, and buy our sharpest pains, with the shor∣test pleasure. When we suck it in at the other senses, and make our selves senseles by the or∣gan of sense. When our wild apprehensions ex∣pose us to scorn, and contempt, if not to the danger of Schism, and Heresy, or what else may proceed from the rash and disordered notions of the weak brain of man. When we make our selves sick of the Epidemical diseases of self-discontent, and the desire of change, though (a thousand to one) for that which is far worse. We can pick misery out of others seeming Felicity, and like all but what we have

•…•…ot. And, when we have got what we long∣•…•…d for, we can long as much to be rid of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exchange for a new Vanity of another, •…•…ame. Thus we tire our selves out of one •…•…ish into another, and through severall Em∣•…•…loyments, run our selves out of breath. As if •…•…ur short miserable life had not shortnes, and •…•…isery enough of it selfe: but we must catch •…•…t all meanes, and devises, that may shorten the •…•…ne, and fill up the other.

If all that we have hitherto said be not e∣•…•…ough to fill the bosome with excesse of mise∣•…•…y, there is nothing about us, but is able to •…•…rompt our memories with the sad accesses that •…•…re often made to all the former dangers, by •…•…ome heavy and disastrous event.

The Earth we tread on, hath often deceived •…•…er inhabitants, and devoured whole Cities on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suddain,

The Air we live by, hath often infected •…•…hole whole Countries, anf made the most •…•…opulous places a solitary wildernes.

Fire and Water (that we refresh our selves •…•…ithall) have been the unexpected destructi∣•…•…n, and ruine of many healthy bodies, and •…•…ourishing states.

The like may be said of other Creatures, •…•…at (some time or other) seem to conspire •…•…gainst us. But from no Creature do we suf∣•…•…er more, then we do from those of our own •…•…ind. Man's greatest •…•…isery is to fall into the

hands of man. Homo homini Daemon.

Nature hath not armed any one Creature with such shrewd weapons to fight against men•…•… as we have invented engines, and stratagems and malititious devises, to make away one an∣other, by whole troupes.

And yet, forsooth, Man is he, that is natu∣rally Animal politicum, a lover of society Man is he that Nature brings forth unarmed as if she intended him for Peace, and Cha∣rity.

How many of us then are very unnatural For, we find it too true, there is no such cru∣elty as the cruelty of one man to another No such variance as that between man, and ma•…•…: between brother, and brother.

Nay, I may come nearer.

No such variance, no such civil wars, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those which we have within our selves. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own Affections, and Reason are at the greate•…•… oddes. The Body and Soul are not so united but that their dissentions are as great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any.

Therefore no wonder. if we are often aff•…•…∣cted, and vext with other men: with our be•…•… friends, and kindred. For, we seldome conti∣nue long in peace, and good termes with ou•…•…∣selves.

And which of us is not conscious of som•…•… bitter conflicts, that we have had with ou•…•… own passions) if we be not ruled by them

which is far worse) To say nothing of the cruel whippes, and lashes that some have had from their own, conscience too.

This is the top of all the misery, that can fall upon man. Hardly can we adde any thing to this fulnes.

Put altogether, & you will say, we have heard enough, in confirmation of this truth: though only by way of Instance and Induction. Where the very reckoning up of the Particulars is able to tire and convince us, and make us willing to be freed from any further proof.