Sacred principles, services, and soliloquies or, a manual of devotions made up of three parts: I. The grounds of Christian religion, and the doctrine of the Church of England, as differing from the now-Roman. II. Daily, and weekly formes of prayers fortified with Holy Scriptures, meditations and rules to keep the soule from the common roads of sin, and carry it on in a mortified course. III. Seven charges to conscience, delivering (if not the whole body) the main limbs of divinity, which is the art not of disputing, but living well.

Eye.

But, my Soul, avoid extremities. Theirs who forbid it as a Mote in the * 1.1 Peoples Eye; And theirs, who abuse it as Dust under their Foot. What is Sa∣cred, must not be too Common; and * 1.2 what is Secret, must not be Enquired. Mysteries are Labyrinths which every Foot may not (must not) Tread: Ne∣cessaries, every mind ought, and may know. If thou wouldst not lose thy self then, walk not in the Woods, but Plaines: If thou wilt not drown thy * 1.3 self, Foard the shallowes, not the Deeps. And if thou canst not give thy selfe, take direction how, and where to goe and walk: And so thou maist advance much in all Holy wayes. The Pave∣ment

to Heaven is made there by Gods * 1.4 Hand; and thy Foot will not goe more wrong, because thy Eye sees the pave∣ment. Nay, of that thou art more sure, when thou dost Read then Hear: Mans Breath comes in with Gods Word into * 1.5 the Ear, but Gods Pure Word and Spirit into the Eye. Into the Eye? yes, and to the Heart too, from it; and to the Life, from that. For, my Soul, as many Saints have been made better, so some have been made Saints by the meer Reading of the Word. And the Desk, as well as the Pulpit, hath begot Converts; And sure it is a good Nurse, if a happy Mother of Spirituall life. Tolle, lege, made Saint Augustine Saint. * 1.6 And a Text read, turn'd Saint Antony Angel. My Soul, I would not have thee make a Chapter keep thee from a Ser∣mon; nor a Sermon make thee slight a Chapter: Use both right, and thou wilt be much bettered by both. And if with Eyes on Heaven, and Knees on Earth * 1.7, and Heart on Book, thou dost (at due times) turne the Sacred Volumes, thy Reading will be right. Yea, though leaves not inspiredly Sa∣cred. For when thy self readest Scrip∣tures, the flowers of Grace, thou art

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the Bee that gettest the Hony by thy own Hand: but in Good and Godly Bookes, another hath Gathered, and thou hast but, to Eat the Hony. Yea, what is far sweeter, and wholsomer to Holy and Heavenly Taste, O my Soul! be given to read Gods, and Godly * 1.8 Bookes: Good Aire breeds good Spi∣rit; and Gods Aire, Holy Breath. Where Flowers of Grace, and Plants of Paradise grow, (as on Holy Grounds) the Aire is good. Nor is it ill to smell a Posie made of no worse Flowers. Gods Bible is a Garden; a good Book a Posie. Take pleasure then, and take * 1.9 profit in both. And so thou wilt, if thou dost digest what thou dost see and hear. For, my Soul, they bring meat into thy Mouth; but that doth Prepare, * 1.10 and Distribute it to thy Nourishment. They Convey Gods Word to the Dores * 1.11 of thy House, but thou must not let it lie there, but lodge it in thy Heart, and make it Commander of thy life. And to entertain and observe it so, is the work, which, without serious, and strong Re∣solutions will never be done, the pro∣per act of

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 22. 29.
• * 1.2

  Deat. 29. 9 2 Pet. 3. 16 Heb. 5. 12. Joh. 5. 39. 1 Joh. 5. 13 Gal. 3. 2.
• * 1.3

  2 Pet. 1. 10 Heb. 5. 14. Pontifex ••nter Deū & homines ••ons cst. ••ern.
• * 1.4

  Phil. 2. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Act. 18. 26. Act. 16. 17.
• * 1.5

  1 Joh. 4. 1.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 19. 2•• Athanas.
• * 1.7

  C. Boro∣maeus. sic, &c.
• * 1.8

  Comparate vobis Bi∣blia animae pharmaca. Chrys.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 1. 2.
• * 1.10

  1 Pet. 2. 2.
• * 1.11

  Rom. 6. 17. Col. 3. 16.