First Meditation upon Eve.

THIS was the Mo­ther of us all, the Common Womb of the World. Here man had his first rise, and descent. And, as Rivers come from the Sea; So all have their Breath from her. But, O my heart! As Jepthah brake out with Sorrow, and Reluctancy, when his Daughter came out to meet him; So must we needs Say Judg­es, xi. 35. Aliss, our Mother! thou hast brought us very low, and thou art one of them, that troublest us. [Page 2] Hinc illae lacrbymae! This is the cause of my Wo, and makes my tears trickle down, like a Shower of Rain. Thou wast the cause of our life: true, we must acknow­ledge it; But withall, through thy Fall, the whole World fell with thee. O the Sad Catastrophe! Into what a Sea of miseries didst thou plunge thy Progeny! Now nothing, but wringing of hands. In Matt. ii. 18. Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her Children, and would not be Comfort­ed, because they were not. Upon this thy lapse it had been better for us, we had never been born, never seen the Sun, that glorious Lamp of Heaven. An Ugly Yoad, or fell Dragon is in a happier con­dition. All Sensitive, and Vegetative Creatures far transcend the Ratio­nal. The eating of one Apple shook the Ʋniverse; and made the Stars [Page 3]fall from heaven. By thee we lost Paradise, not a Terrestrial onely, but a Cel [...]stial. — But this is not all: the one half of our miseries is not told us. Our wretchedness, and infelicitie 1 King x. 7. exceed the fame, that ye have heard. — How my Soul trembles! My Thoughts trou­ble me, the joynts of my Loyns are loosed, and my Knees for fear smite one against another. Bel­shazzar's sad Catastrophe is ours.

Through thee, we lost not heaven Poena Damni. alone, enough to cause a Nabal's heart to dye within him, and become like a Stone; but like­wise gained that of Poena Sensus. Sense. Isaiah! xxx. 33. A Tophet, a Yelling, and Confused Pit made deep, and large; the Pile whereof is Fire, and much Wood; and the Breath of the Lord, like a Stream of Brimston, doth Kindle it. The prayer of Saint Augustine shall be ever mine. Here (O Lord) bu [...] me to ashes, cut my [Page 4]body to pieces, that thou mayest save me for the future. O, let my Soul live with Thee, and no matter, though I suffer in this world a thou­sand exquisite deaths.

Job. xxxviii. 2. But who is this, that darkens Counsel without Knowledge? Chap. xl. 5. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea twice but, I will proceed no fur­ther. How is wretched man Quan­tum multa­tus ab illo! altered! What a glorious change upon the Sudden! The heavens Smile upon us, all is Serene, and clear. No dire Eclipse, or dark Cloud, to obscure our Sun. Man, reassume thy Courage; Wipe of the Tears from thy Cheeks; behold, a harmeless Dove comes to thee with an Olive branch in her mouth, and the Waters are abated. O golden Sentence! Gen. iii. 15. The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpent's head. No Honey, or Honey-Comb so Sweet. I am even Ravished with the Contemplation, and as it were [Page 5] rapt into the third Heaven. Now Satan do thy worst, thy Venom is spit. Psal. cxlvi. 1, 2. Praise, ye the Lord: Praise the Lord, O my Soul! While I live, will I praise the Lord! I will Sing praises unto my God, while I have any being.—Eve, thou hast now given us Heaped measure, pressed down, and running over. A full Compensation hast thou made us. Thy, and our God, hath caused thee to be Instrumental in our Re­stauration. By Faith in that pro­mised Messiah to come, art thou Saved; and we by Faith in him, as Come already, dead, buried, ri­sen, and ascended into heaven. — In thy State of Innocency thou hadst free will, but subject to temptation. Yet thy Fault was freely perpetrated, and not com­mitted by Coaction. Thou hadst power from above to Stand; thank thy Self for thy fall. Thy destru­ction is of thy self, O Israel! Sweet [Page 6]Father, whom thou lovest now, thou lovest ever. We may fall into Sin, and fall again; but not finally, nor totally. Thy Promises in Christ Jesus are without Repent­ance: like the Law of the Medes, and Persians, they alter not. Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but Thy word shall not fail.

O Lord, Support us with thy Grace, and Sweet Influences of thy blessed Spirit; that we fall into no Sin. If thou forstake us, we pe­rish. Let him, that thinketh he stands, take heed, lest he fall. Fa­ther, Cloath us with Humility, as with a Garment, and make us Sensible of the heavy Weight of our Sins. As weary, and heavy-la­den, let us make to him, who took our Transgressions upon him, that knew no Sin, that we may have Rest, even the forgiveness of all our Sins, lest they sink us into irrecoverable Perdition. O Jesu, sis mihi Jesus. Amen.

2. Meditation upon Sarah.

THis may be the World's Mistress, or the Females Tutouress, to learn her Sex Obedi­ence. She knew well, that Man was not made for the Woman; but the contrary: and therefore tends the end of her Creation. She scorns to stand in Competiti­on with her Husband; but nulls a paritie, and calls him Lord.

A Scanctified Woman is a rare Creature; having more Lustre in her, then any twinkling Star. How calm the Sea is, when there's no wind stirring! Her house is as Silent, as the night. There is no Pro and Con; for no sooner said, but done. Happy that Man in the fruition of such a Wife. He is Prov. xxxi, 23. known in the Gates, when he sit­teth among the Elders of the Lord. No Harmony like to Still-Musick. [Page 8]The Man eats, drinks, and sleeps in quiet. No disturbance, where there is such a Consort; for his days are prolonged; he dyes in peace, and is gathered to his Fathers in a good old age. Here's an help meet for him; because in two di­stinct Bodies there's but one Soul. O, what Contentment is there, where there is such an accord! In such a well-tuned Instrument there can be no flaw; but every Touch enchanteth the ear, and at­tracts attention.

To you then, whose Lot is fallen into so fair a ground; Be not you Imperial, and unnatural. Prove not unkind to a Spouse so lovely, who hath made you all, as so ma­ny Pompeys, nad Caesars. Return love for love, and grieve not, cause­less, so harmless a Creature. Suf­fer not a Tear to sully so Sweet a Face; but tender her contentment, as the Apple of your Eye. Who, [Page 9]in his right Wits, would injure such a Bed-fellow? Compare Light and Darkness, Heaven and Hell, with a perverse woman to Such a Wife: and what a vast dis­proportion! If ever there was a Pa­radise on Earth, it's here. Except the Fear of God, and the Joys of Heaven alone, to such a woman there is no compare. Let no Churl­ish Nabal ever kiss her Lips; much less crop the flower of her Youth. A Wight, so rarely accom­plished, let no rude hand attempt once to touch.

3. Meditation upon Rebekah.

MOdest, and faithfull Re­bekah, thou comest next to hand, a Daughter well becom­ing such a Mother. Thou sham­est not thy kind; for thou enjoyest her vertues. Thou, Chast Penelope! How many may blush to read [Page 10]thee! The unplucked Rose, and Lilly, not more pure. No Snow in Salmon whiter. Thou wast as innocent, as a new-born Babe; true, as the Turtle-done to her Mate; and, though married, ever a Virgin. Like Joseph, thou wert of Canon­proof, and no assault could once Seale thy Walls. As a well-disci­plined Army, none could break thy Ranks; but alwaies thou puttest the Enemy to a rout.— O thou one of a thousand! unpa­ralell'd, incomparable woman! What Bays sufficient to Crown thy Temples? Thy memory is Sweet, and Lovely: and thy chost fellows praise thee. How an I transport­ed with thee? My Genius promp me: and yet, alass! my Pen falls short of her encomiums.—

Look into this Prospective, you weaker vessels, behold a lively pat­tern for your imitation. Cast your eyes upon this Sampler, and [Page 11]write after this fair Copy. Your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost, defile them not then. No unclean thing can enter heaven. Shake off your Paramours, if you love your Souls, and be faithfull to your married beds. Wrong not your Husbands, your own flesh, your precious Souls. It will be bitterness in the later end, believe me. God is pure, and hates all uncleanness. Cast not away that better part, which is capable of Immortality. Your pleasures are but momentary, which, so soon, as injoyed, vanish.

4. Meditations upon Abigail.

WIse Abigail, thou art now my Subject, pity, a Fool should have been thy Husband; for Nabal was his name, and folly was with him. He was a Churl too, that, hadst thou not been wise, one [Page 12]house had been too little for both. A Crooked piece of Timber some­time is in a fair Building, and a perverse man my have a compleat woman; else the whole Fabrick would fall.—This is none of the meanest blessings, had a man but eyes to see it. Setting the Grace of God aside, and the orna­ments of the Soul, a vertuous woman hath no Peer.—See how this fair Water quencheth the violence of Fire. David is resolved to cut off root, and branch, all that apper­tained to Nabal. Like Jehu he marcheth Furiously, intent upon Revenge, for the unmanly affront of that Fool. She presently goes forth to encounter him, a weak woman with a man of war. Hear her Rhetorick. 1 Sam. xxv. 24, and so a­long, &c. Ʋpon me, my LORD, upon me let this Iniquity be, and let thine Handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine Handmaid, [Page 13]&c. Not a word, but hath its weight, and Emphasis, Good God, how immense is thy wisdome, when a poor woman is so rare! Needs must thou, our Creatour, be wise, when a Silly Creature is so accomplished. This Wisdome was that wisdome, which was from above, pure, peaceable, gentle, easie-to-be-intreated, &c. James iii. 17. Like the holy cyl, with which the vessels of the Sanctuary were anointed, it had the best Ingredi­ents. Here was no Machiavellian Policy, or Cromwellian. Stand off, ye Sons of Belial, you brats of a perverse woman. Her Tongue was touched with a coal form the Al­tar: theirs set on fire of h [...]ll, earthly, Sensual, Devilish. The S [...]n now makes for the Cloak. She attempts it, and effects it. As a sud­dain dam reared up, she turns the Torrent another way. A blessed Success! See, how low are the wa­ters [Page 14]now? Jordan is driven back: and that face, which was once Terrible, now Smiles. Not one drop of blood spilt. The big Mountain is delivered of a mouse. What Instrument so mean, but succeeds through divine assist­ance. Abigail, thou plaiedst thy part well, and wentest of the Stage with a Plaudit. Thou wert not unrewarded neither, for thy Share was much; the Corydon dyes, and in his room stepps up a Prophet, and a King.

5. Meditations upon Naomi, and Ruth.

HEre are a pair of Vertues; they go hand in hand, and one God serves them both. Ruth, happy for thee, thou met test with such a Mother; and Naomi, no less happy wert thou, in having such a Daughter. Call thy Self [Page 15]no more Mara; for thy Daughter-in-law, which loved thee, was be­loved of God. How wonderfull are thy waies, O Lord, How un­speakeable thy Goodness! God is no respecter of persons; but whom he will save shall be saved, who­soever saith Nay. No reason can be shewn Stat pro ratione voluntas. for it, but this, It is his will, his pleasure. Thus the Apostle concludes. So them, it is not of him, that willeth, nor of him, that runneth; but of God, that sheweth mercy. Rom. ix. 16.

How Attractive is Heaven! How doth Grace add wings, where there were leaden heels be­fore! How greedily doth she now Swallow that, which once her Stomack loathed. For a Moab­ite to become an Israelite; an Ido­later, a true worshipper of God; a Devil, a Saint; and that upon the suddain, is a strange Metamor­phosis. All the Blocks in her way [Page 16]she removes. Neither her Coun­try, people, her Sister-in-law, who returned back, nor her Gods can stay her progress. The place she went to, she knew not, all were Strangers to her; besides this, she was in a wanting Condition: yet none of these can stop her. Ruth. i. 16. For whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. No relation can obstruct those, whom God means to call. Now they arrive at Beth­lehem, yet poor, and indigent.—Faith gives us no Charter to ex­empt us from poverty. This Lot often falls upon God's dearest children. Affliction commonly is their Coviator, their fellow-traveller, and companion. Yet, in this low Ebb, they were not dejected; nor forsaken of God. The Young wo­man gleans in the field of Boaz, & God gives her favour in his Sight, [Page 17]under whose Wings of provi­dence she came to Shrowd. Ne­ver any, that trusted in him, was confounded. Will God shake them off, that cling unto him? Can a natural Mother see her Child cry after her, and her Bowels not yearn upon it? Much less, will God turn his back upon those, who make such haste after him. But see how the goodness of the Lord dogs her, and follows her step by step. Ruth iii. My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? Here's no love lost (as we use to say) a full Com­pensation is made, and an ample retribution. Mark this, you un­natural women, and dye your Cheeks into a blush. Hang down your heads, for shame, you dege­nerate Mothers, you Masculine Creatures, and Stony Niobes. The ostrich lays her Eggs, and then leaves them to the mercy of the [Page 18] Traveller; So, many procreate Children, and leave them at Six, and Sevens, to Sink, or Swim, all's one to them. Is this Religion? Is this all the fruits of their Profes­sion? The savage Bears are more natural; for they lick their young into a form, and are indulgent to them. One would not think so sweet a Creature was so Cruel. But 'tis no News, Latet anguis sub Herba. for a Snake of­ten to ly under the Smooth Grass; and for Sodom's Golden Apples to vanish into Smoak.

To proceed, Ruth obeys her Mother, comes softly to Boaz, un­covers his feet, and lays her down by him. The man awakes, and is afraid Ruth iii. 9. I am Ruth thine hand­maid (saies she) Spread therefore the Skirt over thine Hand-maid; for thou art a near Kinsman. She ventures hard, and puts to Sea; but, God giving her a favourable wind, makes a good voyage, returns [Page 19]to Naomi Richly-laden, with a promise from Boaz, to perform the part of a kinsman to her. — Take the Result of all. The Marriage is Solemnized with Ac­clamations of Joy; a general Consent, and Content, and she, who, of late, gleaned a few ears after the Reapers, is now Mistress of the whole field. — Religion, and Mo­desty is a fair Portion; and weighs more with Wise men, then ei­ther Wealth, or Beauty. Gen. xiv. 21. Give me the Persons, and take the goods to thy Self, said the King of Sodom to Abraham So, for My part, give me the Woman, and let who will, take the Portion, and proportion to himself. Though, I confess, when all concurr in one, these Simples make an excellent Compound. Yet, put Vertue into one Scale, and the rest in the other; it weighes them all down to nothing. — Na­omi, thy Daughter now is better [Page 20]to thee, then Seven Sons; for she is thy Support in thine old-age. As choice Spirits of Life, she strength­ens thy feeble knees. Goodwas it for thee to be afflicted; for thou must now confess, with that Sweet Singer of Israel, thy Rod, and thy Staff comfort me. To Conclude, their Lives were Tragic mical, a Medly, a Composition of Sowr and Sweet. Yet, though their day was somewhat dark & gloomy, the go­ing-down of their Sun was clear.

Meditations upon the Shu­nammite.

CHarity, I seldom meet with thee, and therefore we must not part so. Greatness, and Good­n [...]ss to meet in one, is a glorious fight. To do good to all is our Duty; but especially to the hous­hould of Faith. The Object adds Lustre to it, and Crowns it. This [Page 21] Woman hath scarce her fellow: which puts me in mind of that Maxime in Philosophie, Nul simile est idem. No like is the same. Let us come to par­ticulars. — And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a Great Woman, and she comp [...]lled him to eat bread. I must stop at this middle point. Com­pelled him, said I? Is there such an one living? It's a rare Bird upon Earth then, somewhat like a black Swan. 'Tis well now adays, if Importunity gets any thing. Were the Prophet living now, he would hardly finde the like entertainment. He might implore the Charity of some Fe­males, who are called Christans too, (but Ironice) untill his heart aked, and with them 1 King. xviii. 26, 27. Cry aloud from Morning till Noon, and from Noon till Night, and yet have no voice, nor any to answer, nor any, that regarded. The Prophets fare [Page 22]worse, then any, in our late Times of Reformation, or rather Defor­mation, they, with the weakest, ever went to the Wall, unless some confiding Boys, with their Shel [...] upon them, who should have gone to Jericho till their Beards had grown; Or Such old Peny-Fathers, those excellent Tex [...]uaries, and Boanerges, who could baul loudest Curse ye Meroz. These indeed were fed at Jezebel's Talbe. No Muzzel-man among the Turks in higher esteem. The poor Eli­shas, as if they had the Curse of Elie's Posterity, were fain to crouch for a piece of Silver, and a Morsel of Bread. So sad was their Con­dition, and so deplorable. — But my Shunammite, thou Sanctified Woman, and Glory of thy Sex; thou hadst a better Spirit, to the Shame of future Ages, and to kin­dle an holy zeal of Emulation in nobler Souls.

Yet this is but positive all the while; She ascends a degree high­er. And so it was, as oft as he pass­ed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. — She was not weary of welldoing; but, like the Sun, re­joyed to Run her course. She was none of those, that give a bit, and a knock: and she Scorned to return that Common, and pe­nurious Objection, You were here once before. Grace is Communica­tive, and, like the Widon's Oil, ne­ver stops so long, as there is a vessel more to receive it. Perse­verance in Goodness makes a Chri­stian compleat. You did run well, who did hinder you; Gal. v. 7. Many for a Spirt run Swiftly, their Setting cut is Violent, but that's not perpetual, like Jades, they are soon tired, the Chariot-wheels of their Devotion are taken off, that, at last, they drive heavily, One jeeringly said to Hannibal;

To begin in the Spirit, and to end in the Flesh, is to no purpose; we lose both our Oil, and Toyl. Not to go forward is to go back­ward. The Exit proves all our actions, and Crowns the Play — To make her Superlative, and I have done.

Let us make a little Chamber, I pray thee, on the Wall, and let us set for him there a Bed, and a Table, and a Stool, and a Candle-stick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. I should scarce have given Credit to it, had it not been Recorded in Sa­cred Writ. And I awake yet, or in a dream? I can but admire yet at this Arabian Bird, when I compare her with the Scornfull [Page 25]Dames of this Age. A Dancing-Master, or a Fidler, hath free In­gress, Egress, and Regress, when the poor man of God must stand with­out, and blow his fingers; for he hath no pottage to cool. Out come the servants, this Gill, and that Flurt, Cerberus the Porter, whose Fathers they would sometime have scorned to set with the dogs of their stock, (as holy Job once said in his agony, Job. xxx. I.) and they look on them as sowr as a Carb. The Prophets have not a word to say being first seen by the Basilisks, and stand dumb as Planet-struck. Democritus Juniour saw how it was with the Ministers in his time, when he brake out in these words:

But for the Scum of the World, the Riff-raff, every base Mecha­nick & Trencher-waiter, to affront, and scorn the Ambassadours of the most High, is a Sin transcendent, a Shame to Religion, and an hissing to the whole earth. — Pardon me, you more Noble Wights, and forgive me this wrong. Some of you have taken in the poor wan­dring Levite, and, with Obadiah, have fed the Lord's Prophets with Bread and Water. Samaritan like, you have poured oil into the deep wounds of many, that have been half-dead in misery, ready to breath out their last. You have given drink unto them, that were ready to perish, and wine unto those, that were of heavy hearts, that they [Page 27]might drink, and forget their po­verty; and remember their misery no more. Prov. xxxi. 6, 7. This you did, to your Perpetual praise, and let his Right-hand forget his Cunning, that proves ingrate. Here was some Intermission of Sor­row, a time of breathing, had not that wild goard marr'd the pottage, that they could eat no more of it. Let them ever be an hissing, a by­word, and a Proverb to all after-a­ges, that were the first breakers of this peace, who Resolved upon the Question, That no suffering Mi­nister, in the cause of God, and his King, should have House, or Home, or where to lay his head. — You Pretenders of Reformation, you wicked Hamans, and Sons of Am­meda [...]ha, you Cannibals, and blood-sucking Horse-leaches: the pit, which ye have digg'd for others, you may chance fall into your selves. Look to in, for as sure, as [Page 28]the Lord liveth, the same measure will be measured to you again, if you repent not. There is a God, that sits in heaven, shall laugh you to Scorn, and have you in derision. But this by way of digression. To our subject. God, who will not let a Cup of Cold water pass unre­warded, returns a blessing equiva­lent. For her charity, he fructi­fies her womb, and gives her a Son. Never was Bread yet cast upon the waters, but in due time it was found again. He, that giveth to the poor, lendeth unto the Lord, and he will repay it. The Sea supplies all Ri­vers, and yet is full; the Sun af­fords Light, and Heat to all Sub­lunaries without Substraction; One Candle lights many, and no diminution: So Charity, (though thought prodigal) is a full Sea, a transparent Sur, and a Candle not­extinguish'd.

Meditaion on Bath-sheba.

FAir Venus had a Mole, the Sun sometime is Eclips'd, the Moon in her Wane, and thou, Bath-she­ba (though otherwise vertuous) hadst thy failings. I would wil­lingly go backward, and cover thy nakedness, should I not be thought partial. Yet I will not blaze thee to thy shame, but, as a Mercurie's finger, set thee up, to direct all Travailers the right way. Thou did'st wash thy self; so thou mightest, who should hinder thee? But herein thou erredst; it was too publick, thou wert visible, the King saw thee, and thy Beauty charmed him. My Construction of thee shall be Candid. I believe thou didst it not to that intent, to blow that fire, which was apt e­nough to kindle of it self, neither didst thou imagine thy Sove­reign [Page 30]a spectatour. But thou might­est have been more private, and this mischief has not happened.— Of all the Senses, the Eye is most affective, and what Poyson pene­trates the Heart, is let in at that Window. No object more attract­ive, then Beauty; for, be the Me­tal never so hard, this Load-stone will draw it. Nothing hath been able to divert the Current of this stream. What Remora can put a stop to such a Vessel in its Carrier? Samson could slay a thousand Men with the Jaw-bone of an Ass, and yet one Delilah makes an Ass of him, puts out both his Eyes, so that he grinds at the Mill and becomes ridiculons to the uncir­cumcised Philistines. When that Wretch Balaam could no way curse the people of God, he puts this Stumbling-block before them, and they presently fall. This She-Divel puts them more to a rout, [Page 31]then an host of armed men. Solomon was Wise, yet in his old Age be­comes a Child again, his wife draws his heart from the living Lord, and he falls down to an Idol. One wanton Helen, in ten years Wars, caused a slaughter of more, then a Million of Men. What should I say more? The Triumphs, and Victories, obtained by this thing called Woman, no Tongue is able to express. This Wish of Valerius Maximus to his Friend shall be mine. — The Omnipotent God deli­ver thee from an Omnipotent Wo­man. — But let's not do Bath­sheba too much wrong neither. She did not prostitute her self, as a Mercenary Strumpet. No; she was strongly Courted, and Imporiuned, and that by a King. Which Cir­cumstances lessen her Fault, and extenuate her sin. — She was no Shutile-Cock, or Tennis-ball, to be tossed, and banded by every Game­ster; [Page 32]but like a Royal fort won by storm. Who can wash their hands in innocency? They, that are with­out sin, let them throw the first stone. Good God! what are we without thy supporting hand, without as­sisting Grace? If thou forsakest us, we fall. Vae ettam lau­dibili vitae hominum; Si, remota misericor­dia, di­scutias eā. Aug. Miserable were that Conversation, though never so pure, if thou shouldst examine it with­out a Compassionate Ey. Much Dross would be found in the finest Gold, when it comes to the fire. What is a blinking Candle to the Sun? How deformed, and foul would an Ethiopian seem, compa­red with an exquisite beauty? The very Angels are not pure in his Sight. Strike we then our Top-sails, and let us vailour Bonnets, Down with your Tails, you Birds of Juno, and proud Peacocks; cast your Crowns before his Throne, fall down before him, and worship him, that sits on it, who liveth forever, and [Page 33]ever. — Let me give this Caveat onely to either Sex; and I have done. — And first, to you, the weaker. Cloath your selves with Modestie, as with a Garment; Shun all occasions of Sin, admit not any Lascivious em­brace; frown upon all Comple­ments, that tend to dishonour; and, Basilisk like, strike them dumb with looks. Who dare speak obscenely to a Chast Ear, or lay Rude hands on a resolved Spirit? A Castle, which stands out a Storm, or two, wearies the Enemy, and makes him raise his Siege. How­ever, consent not to the motion; but still reply in Negatives. But, if through Divine permission, they prove too strong for you, it's a Rape, no Conquest. — A word unto you of the more worthy Gen­der. God hath given you the Prerogative, you have the Birth­right, lose it not for a Mess of Pot­tage. [Page 34]Let not one base Lust deface the Image of your Creatour. To be foiled by your inferiour is disho­nourable: and for the Foot to rule the Head, is another Antipodes, and no less, the Monstrous. Let not her, who was given to thee for an Help, be the occasion of thy fall; lest thou be like one of those Simple ones, a man void of understanding, that goeth as an Ox to to the Slaughter, or as a Fool to the Correction of the Stocks; Prov. vii. 7, 22. Yet in this thou art onely Passive, and that's enough too; for her house is the way to Hell, going down to the Chambers of death; verse 27. But to importune, ag­gravates thy fault. And now, thou man after God's own heart, thou wert more in the Transgres­sion, then Bath-sheba, deeper in the mire, then she. Thou wert her Sovereign, and shouldest have [Page 35]been rather to her a Shelter from the Storm, an Haven of repose, and a refuge in time of need. What's a Trembling Partridge in the gripes of a towring Falcon? Sweet God! how soon may we lapse, when thy choicest Saints have fallen? If any be guilty this way, with Amnon, hate the Sin se­ven times more, then e're you loved it, turn that Tamar out, and barr the door after her.

Meditations upon the Virgin Mary.

EVE, thou wert not so bitter to us, but here's one as Sweet. Thou didst eat of a sowre Apple, and thy childrens Teeth were set on edge. Through thee we all were at a loss, in a winding maze, and la­byrinth of Sorrow, not knowing which way to get out. Thou [Page 36]didst drive us both from a Terre­strial and Celestial Paradise. But Mary, like to Ahimaaz, hath out­run thee, and brought us good ti­dings, even of great joy to all people. She was delivered of a son, whose name is Jesus, who shall save his peo­ple from their sins. O the height, and depth, the length, and breadth of God his goodness towards man­kind! Those, that sat in darkness, and in the Shadow of death, have seen a marvellous Light. Now the slaves are taken from the Gal­lies, and all the Prisoners set free. We are now out of Egypt, that House of Bondage, and journeying through a vast Wilderness, to the Heavenly Canaan, which flows with Milk, and Hony. Blessed art thou, fair Maiden, among Wo­men; for, no sooner was the Voyce sounded in our Eart, but our Hearts; leaped in the womb of our Bodies for joy. Our year of Jubile [Page 37]is come: and not the Jews onely, but the Gentiles have light, and gladness, and joy, and honour; yea joy, and gladness, a Feast and a good day. Hester. viii. 16, 17. But not to Hyperbolize too much, lest I rob God of his honour, I will ac­quiess. Thou wert greatly belo­ved, and now a Glorious Saint in heaven; for God hath regarded the lowliness of his Hand-maiden, and, behold! from hence forth all Genera­tions shall call thee Blessed. For he, that is Mighty, hath done to thee great things, and Holy is his Name. Yet we will not free thee from Original Sin (as some dream) make an exception, when the Rule is general without any. Hadst thou not born Christ in thy heart by faith, as well as in thy Womb, and brought him forth in a Sancti­fied life, as thou didst into the world, thou hadst but shook the Tree, beat the Bush, or started a Hare, [Page 38]produced a Saviour to thy Fellows, and been a Cast-away thy self. But thou shakest off those Vermine at once, puttest to Non-plus thy base Parasites, and Clawbacks, as if they were Planet-struck. My Soul doth magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour. What Spirit then was he of, that belched this Blasphemy. Hear it, and let both Ears ringle — Mary is the Mediatrix of our Salvation, of our Conjunction, Justification, Re­conciliation, Intercession, and Com­munication. How doth this agree with her own Magnificate? But why should I foul my hands with such dirt, and rubbish? — Learn humility from the Mother of our Lord; even from her, who was highly favoured, and be not conceited of your own worthey, she-Saints. God sees no sin in you, as you would make us believe, and therefore are above Ordinan­ces. [Page 39]The Preaching of the Word, and Administration of the Sacra­ments according to Divine institu­tion, concerns you not; for you are Babes of Grace, and by your second Baptism, contrary to Scri­pture, and the Practice of the Primi­tive Church, your sins are washed off. This is the Tale you tell us; though, with the Sow, that was washed, you are turned again to your Wallowing in the Mire; 2 Pet. ii. 22. Never had the Devil such an Harvest since the world was, as in these late Times of Reformation: and who would think it? Any with half aney might well see, what sad effects that thing, called Liberty of Consci­ence, would produce.

Meditations upon Miriam.

I Have met now with a Pro­phetess, and a Virgin both; one, [Page 40]that was Sister to a Prince, and Priest. But this did not so much Enn [...]ble her, as her Vertues; for her chiefest Ornaments were the Graces of her Soul, and the more precious Jewels were inclosed in that Cabinet. How bravely didst thou lead thy women in their dance before the Lord? With what grace didst thou foot it? E­very step sounded forth the praises of the most High. Thy Song was gracious, and, like thy Spirit, it re­turns to him, that gave it. The subject of it was praises, and their Object the Lord. Like the Smoak of Incense, they ascend upwards; and, as a most sweet Perfume, di­sperse a redolent smell through­out the Camp. Surely, this was no other, then the house of God, and this was the Gate of Heaven. Hear the burden of her song, and let it ra­vish your hearts, and draw them to divine contemplation. Notone [Page 41] syllable, but Emphatical. Exod. xv. 21. Sing un­to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse, and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea. — Most Angelical! when the matter of our exaltation intends onely the glory of God, when the stream of our affections run that way. Incomparable is that Harmony, when every string speaks an Halle­lujah: and that voice Seraphical, which warbles forth such Musical Airs to the piercing of the Clouds. O my Soul how divine are thy raptures, into what extasie of joy art thou swallowed! Mayst thou, with Noah's Dove, finde no rest for the sole of thy foot, till thou return to this Ark. Let that Mariner suffer Shipwrack, which will not make to this Port; and those Rivers before ever dryed up whose reflux tends not to that Sea, where they have their flux, and overflowings. — Lift up thy [Page 42]self then, thou Worldling, and let not thy thoughts, with Staan, compass the Earth to, and fro, and walk up and down in it. Thou Dor, end not thy flight ever upon a dunghill. Prove not thy self unnatural.

Seek those things, which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God; saith the Apostle: he, that was wrapt into the third heaven; Coloss. 3.1. — The Birds of the Air, the mute Fishes of the Sea, and brute Beasts will in­struct thee. They all move in their proper Sphere. Philosophy will tell thee, that ponderous things tend downward, and light the con­trary. Throw but a Stone in the [Page 43] Air, and how it will hast to its proper Center? Take a Fish out of the water, and it will gasp for Breath. Shall all Creatures both Sensitive, Vegetative, the insectile too, the poor silly Fly, praise the Lord in their kind and is the Prince of all, Man alone, defective? Shall he so basely degenerate? The Poet will clear the Point.

With the blind Mole, the wretch is ever under ground, and casting up alwaies Earth above him. As a Pioner he, and as another Nero, he rips the womb of his mother. Like green and liquid fuel, he [Page 44] quencheth that fire, which should kindle his thoughts into an holy Flame, and make them Sparkle, and mount upward to heaven. — Though he liveth, moveth, and hath his being from God onely: yet he will not pay one Pepper corn of Thankfullness, in acknowledg­ment of his Lord, of whom he holds all, that he injoys, and be­ing but Tenant-at-will, may every minute be ejected, turned out his bense of Clay, and cast into that In­fernal Prison, from whence he must never expect Redemption, till he hath paid the uttermost mite.—

Meditations upon Hannah.

HEre's a steril Woman, but not Barren: for she is big with Grace, and bare in her Soul those lovely Twins of Faith, and Supplication. She was not im­patient [Page 45]with Rachel; Give me Childen, or else I dye: but hum­bly addresses her self to him, who hath the Key of the womb, and who alone withheld the fruit of it. She, in the bitterness of her Soul, prays to the Lord: yet her Lips move onely, to prevent all sinister ac­ceptions. She was not long­winded hypocritical Pharisee. No Enthusiast, or gifted sister, those pretenders of Sanctitie, who have a name that they live, but are Revel iii. I. dead. Neither was it out of too much fondness, or indulgency, to dandle a puppet on her knee, which is the fault of many mothers, neglecting, the mean while, the main business, it's breeding and Religious educati­on: but vows, and performs it too, to give him unto the Lord all the days of his life. I cannot but ad­mire her Pietie, and deservedly say of her, as they sometime of Ju­dith; There is not such a Woman [Page 46]in the Earth. She hath now a Son, and she brings him to Eli, and the Child ministers unto the Lord before the Priest. Our Women, for the ma­jor part, run into extremes, either they are too cruel, or too mild. The mean in which virtue consists, that arrow flyeth beyond them. Some are rather Step-dames, then natural Mothers. Others again, with the Ape, kill their young with embracing. This, of the two, is more Common with the feminine gender. Their beloved Adonijahs they will not displease at any hand, or once say, Why have you done so; 1 Kings. i. 6. They give them the Rains, and care not, though they run to the Devil. Hawking, Hunting, and so forth, are the Arms they bear, that you may know from what house they come. Needs must that Garden be overgrown with weeds, when it's no better look'd too. Nature [Page 47]without Art, or Science, is blind. We are not born religious, but are made so through grace, and vertu­ous education. This makes us a­lone differ from Brutes, and gives the distinction. Take a Colt un­broken, and who can back him? So, without discipline, and goot nurturing of youth, they become unserviceable in Church, and State, and have no more Savour in them, then there is in the white of an egg. Yet this is the height of many womens ambition, if they can but leave their Brats a fair revenue, to be honoured in the World, it's all they look for; let their Souls Sink, or Swim, be Saved, or Damn­ed. O Salvage Mothers! What answer will you one day give at God's Tribunal-Seat for your neg­lect? Your Children shall dye in their iniquity: but their blood will be re­quired a your hand. They, whom you so dearly loved, or rather [Page 48]hated; will be bound to Curse you, and with horrour break— Let the day perish, wherein we were born, and the night, wherein it was said, that a man-Childe is concei­ved! Why dyed we not from the Womb? why did we not give up the Ghost, when we came out of the Belly? Why did the knees prevent us, or why the breasts, that we should suck? Job. iii. 3, 11, 22. See, see to it in time, and be not the mean of their eternal death, to whom you once gave a temporal life.— But, to pro­ceed, Being young, she devotes him to the Lord's service. Samuel ministers before the Lord, being a Childe girded with a linen E­phod. Sam. ii. 18. — She thought no Master so worthy of him, as God, nor any Service com­parable to Divine. A Star seems small, and contemptible in the eys of many, though it be great, [Page 49]and honourable in the Thoughts, and Acceptions of the Almighty. The Ministery is of so mean Esteem with some, that, with Jeroboam, they think the lowest of the people are good enough to serve that Turn. The yonger Brother must be the Parson; when the H [...]ir looks a squint at it, as a thing far be­neath him, a descension too base, and derogative to his Birth. Ten­der eyes water at the Sun; and none, but Aesop's Dunghill. Cock, will prefer a Barly-Corn before a Jewel. But, Be in known unto all Men by these presents, whosoever thou art, and how high soever thou lookest; Thou honourest not the Calling, but the Calling thee. What greater Honour, then to be Fishers of m [...]n? To be in­strumental in the saving of one Soul, and rescuing it out of the Power of Sathan, that Apollyon, and D [...]stroy­er, is more glorious, then to Con­quer [Page 50]the whole World. I will end with that of King Charles the First of Blessed Memory.— ΕΙ­ΚΩΝ ΒΑΣΙ­ΛΙΚΗ, upon the denying his Ma­jesty the Attend­ance of His Chaplains. Indeed, I think, both Offices, Regal, and Sa­cerdotal, might well become the same Person, as antiently they were under one Name, and the united Rights of Primogeniture. Nor could I follow better Presidents, if I were able; then those two eminent Kings, Da­vid, and Solomon; Not more fa­mous for their Crowns, and Scepters, then one was for devout Psalms, and Prayers; the other for his divine Parables: Whence the one assumed the Name of a Prophet, and the o­ther of a Preacher. Titles indeed of greater Honour, if rightly placed; then any of those the Roman Em­perours affected, from the Nations they subdued: it being infinitely more glorious to convert Souls to God's Church by the World; then to conquer men to a Subjection by the Sword.

Meditations upon Phinehas.

HEre's matter both of Joy, and Sorrow. Tidings came to this gravid Woman, and near Her Time; that the Ark of God was ta­ken; and that her Husband, and Father-in-Law were dead.— Heavy, disconsolate News, suffici­ent to dissolve into Tears an heart of Flint, to break a Triangle of Stone. And, indeed, I can scarce refrain my Self in the penning so Sad a Story. Her Soul, no question, was vexed within her, and, with Rebekah, in the Womb of it She had much Struggling. Yet at last the Oil swims at the Top, the deepest Wound, which went nigh­est her heart, was the loss of the Ark. The G [...]ory is departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken; 1 Sam. iv. 22. And, this being said, She falls asleep One [Page 52]would have thought the Birth of her Son might somewhat have asswaged her Grief, and, as a com­fortable Cordial, in part have cu­red, or, at least, eas'd the Dis­tempers of her Spirit. But no­thing will do it, like a Vessel sur­charged, she sink [...]; and, being full of anguish, wanting Vent, burst­eth. — Nothing should go so nigh a Christian, touch them more to the quick, then the decay of Religion; when they see God's Service, and his Ordinances, in an Eclipse; or, as this Good Woman, the Ark even violently taken from them, by rude, and uncircumcised Hands. I remember that Passage of Camelia, the Mother of the Gracchi; when a Matron of Cam­pania came to visit her, and de­sired to have a Sight of her Jew­els; She, waving it, held her in discourse, until her Sons came home: and then, pointing to [Page 53]them, said, Haec sunt Ornamenta mea; These are my Jewels, my Or­naments. Even so the pure Preach­ing of the Word, and the lawful Ʋse of the Sacraments; which are the Marks of a true Church, are, at least should be, the Ornaments of Christians, and the only distinct Characters between the true, and false Church. The loss of these should most perplex us, as things of highest Concernment; being Means appointed of God to the eternal Welfare, and Salvation of our Souls. This should be the proper Subject of our Sorrow. To see Religion decay, Charity wax cold, the house of Prayer made a Den of Theeves, as we have of late. To see Profession a Cloak to palliate mens Avarice; the Orthodox, able, and faithful Pastours, removed in­to Corners, plundered, and se­questred, and many not, as yet, re­stored; and to see a Company of [Page 54]ignorant Balaamites, more fit, with the Gibeonites, to divide Wood, rather then the Word, to pert up, and to poyson the people with Errours, Heresies, and Do­ctrines of Devils, to the danger of many thousand Souls. This, I say, should strike a sudden Damp with­in us, put us into a Cold Sweat, and make us weep into a Torrent; for the Glory is departed from Israel, the Ark of God is taken. If this will not cause their Tears; I pray God they be not one day cast into utter Darkness, where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of Teeth for ever.

Amen.

Meditations upon Joseph's Mi­stress.

THE fair and pleasant wea­ther is at a Period, and the cold and deep Winter approach­eth. The ways now are dirty, [Page 55]no walking abroad; onely let us look out, and see how foul the road is, in comparison of what it was. Here is one of Nilus Breed, a Wo­man-Crocodile, one, whose Tears, and actions were not onely feigned, but mischievous. See how impu­dently, and shamelesly she courts him. And she said, Ly with me; Gen. xxxix. 7. By this Impera­tive voice, like another Herricano, sh [...] thought to blow up the chast youth with a Gust, and frame him to her Will. The first Onset ha­ving a repulse, she thought to weary him through importunity, wherefore she solicits him day by day to condescend; Verse 10. but the powder will not take, and therefore she goes another way to work, and trie, if opportunity will do it. But, alone together, and none of the men within, she caught him by his garment, saying, Ly with me; Verse 12. Yet, for [Page 56]all this Fire, the Tinder will not burn, Joseph is impregnable, and, be­ing armour of Proof, no bullet can pierce him. Now hear, and wonder, when all her strings break, she cries Whore first, and basely pretends a Rope offered her. The Hebrew Servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me; Verse 17. O the wick­edness of an imperious, whorish wo­man! Who would think so fair a face had so foul an heart! A Box so externally pol shed should be re­plenished with such venom? But no marvel, for a graceless woman to outvy a Serpent. — The Whore now is Carted, let every bed und filed throw dirt upon her; for she is hatefull to God, a bane to Youth, injurious to her husband, and a shame to her Sex. — And you, Young ones, in your spring, and Fl [...]wer, look upon Joseph, the world's mirrour, the Chast, the [Page 57] Vertuous. Can you view this piece, and not be in love with it? Can you read this, and give your strength to wowen? Yield not to a Common Prostitute. When this Syren sings, stop your ears, you run else on a Rock, or Quick­sand. Let your part upon the Stage of this would be Chastitie; that you may go off with a Plaudite. Keep your virginity untouch­ed, so shall you be fit Temples for the Holy Ghost. Christ was lay'd in a new Tomb; if you would have his Company, let your Con­versation be pure, and chast.

Meditations upon Delilah.

HEre is another of the same Form, an excellent proficient in the Black-Art; one, that Coun'd her Lesson perfectly. She was prettily seen in Rhetorick, for she could speak well: and a Logician [Page 58]too, being expert in Fallacies. She prostitutes, and gives Sampson her Body: but not her heart; though she gained his to his de­struction. Sampson was a Nazarite from his Youth, a Type of Christ, an Enemy, to the Philistines, and a de­stroyer of their Country by divine appointment. The Lords plough with his heifer, and promise to give her, each of them, eleven hun­dred pieces of silver, to get out of him where his great strength lay. See how cunningly she carries it: the Gipsey hath Hony in her mouth, but Gall in her heart. Tell me, I pray thee, where thy great Strength lyeth; and so, by her importunity, urging him from time to time, that his Soul was vexed unto death, he tells her all his heart; and he, that with the Jaw-bone of an Ass slew a thousand men, she makes an Ass of him, puts out his Eyes, and now he grinds in the [Page 59] Mill, and is become a Fool to the Ʋacircumcised. O the mazie, and false heart of an ungracious Woman! No Toad more replete with poyson, then such an unsan­ctified Creature. A Vitious wo­man cancels the bonds of Religion, and Nature. A pure Maremaid Monster, half woman, half fish; or rather an incarnate Devil: to betray a confiding Lover into the hands of implacable enemies: That of the Poët with me is Ca­nonical; Believe not such a woman, though she should breath her last. What act so horrid, that a Merce­narie Strumpet will not do? All former Familiaritie, amorous dal­liance, and mutual embracings, are all buried in Oblivion. Who would trust a Whore; for, grease her in the fist, and, if she can, shee'l damn thee. All the Plagues of Egypt are blessings to this Cannibal. If thou fearest God, tenderest the [Page 60] Peace of thy conscience, and mind'st the Salvation of thy pretious Soul; fly the sight of this Basilisk.— For Riddles, she is a Lamia; for enchantments, a Circe; for Cruelty, a Devil. She is so ugly, that no Pen can draw her to the Life. She is a Sea of Mischiefs, which no Line can sound, and a Remora, that puts a stop to Vertue in all Vessels, that sail by her. Sampson, of a thousand Tun Burthen, was stay'd by it, and so hailed a shore by the Ʋncircumcised, and then rifled. What should I say of this Witch? Mount Aetna spits not forth more Fire, and her Smoak ascends from the bottomless Pitt. The wish of Velerius Maximus to his friend shall be mine to every individual; Det Deus omnipotens, ut omnipoten­ti faemina semper libereris: The Omnipotent God deliver thee from an Omnipotent woman.

Meditations upon Jezebel.

FRom Evil to worse. Here have I met with a pretious Saint. One, whose Religion was a Cloak to cover her Villany, a Sheep in shew, a Fox indeed, a Wolf in Cruelty. These three may be compar'd to the three Furies; Alecto, Megaera, and Tisyphone: but, of all the Degrees, this is Superla­tive, and falls short of none, but the Devil, which may seem a Pa­radox too. It were hard to com­pose a Play of her, the Scene be­ing in Hell, and the Stage so Tra­gical, enough to fright the Specta­tours. But see an Act, or two, and then discede the House with an Hiss. Ahab, being denyed Na­both's Vineyard, more sick in Mind, then Body, throws him­self on the Bed, where, like the troubled Sea, the Waters cast up [Page 62] mire, and dirt. There's no Peace, saith my God, to the wicked. In this Distraction comes up the Monnte­bank, who, to recover him, ap­plies Poyson, making the Cure worse then the Disease. A dear Purchase! when a man exchangeth his Soul for a Vineyard. But see the Devilishness of this Woman. She writes Letters in Ahab 's name, and seals them with his Seal, and sends them to the Elders, and Nobles. Mark the Contents. Proclaim a Fast, and set Naboth on high a­mong the People, and set two Sons of Belial before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blas­pheme God, and the King; and then carry him out, and stone him, that he may dye. 1 Kings. xxi. 9, 10. O incomparable villany! impietie in the abstract! A Woman? a Devil ra­ther. Must Religion be a Bawd to Murther? It must: but it aggra­vates the Sin, and contracts more [Page 63]guilt to the Soul. Feigned Sanctitie is a double iniquitie, and they sin twice, who do it under a pre­tense of Holiness.— This hath ever been the Common-road to all horrid, and black deeds. When we had no King in Israel, and every man did as seemed best in his own eyes; Religion brought up the rear, and the Scattered Troops of Hypocrisie rallied, and fought under that Banner. Should the Devil appear dreadfull, he would scare the Witch her self.— Our pretended Triennial, and long-winded Parliament (who made this Kingdom another Ach [...]ldamae a Field of Blood, and place of dead men's Sculls.) put this vizard on. Reformation, the glorious name of Reformation was all the Cry. When we were made worse, then Gally slaves among the Turks, or God's people in Egypt, who made Brick without Straw, and through [Page 64]intolerable burdens, and impositi­ons, even weary of our lives: yet the Libertie of the Subject, and Reformation was pretended. But God, pitying our miseries, looked through the pillar of Fire, and of the Cloud, on the Host of these Egyptians, and troubled them, he took off their Chariot-wheels, that they drave heavily, and the Rump (though not drowned) was Sacri­ficed in the Fire.

There is not a Sectary, but hath Religion for his pretense. Religion hat been the Common­sewer, through which all Kenels have run; and, like the Physicians Catholicon, applyed to all foul dis­seases. But a seeming Saint is a real Devil. Now to our Theme a­gain. She was the first painted woman we read of, not, like the Picts, to terrifie, but to attract. Fu­rious Jehu came to Jezreel. Jeze­bel paints her face, and tires her [Page 65]head, and looks out at a window; 2 King. ix. 30. By this she thought to captivate him, before whom two Kings could not stand. Her first Complement was,— Had Zimri peace, who slew his Master? As if she had been no Homicide, though she murdered Naboth. O the Deadness of a cauterised Soul! Coul'd she speak this, and yet guilty of innocent Blood? Truly, Custom in Sin takes from us all since, and feeling of it. No judgment so fearfull, as a benummed Consci­ence, when one perpetrates a sin, and never mindes it. The Sea, that's now calm, when a storm comes, will prove turbulent, and cause it to rage, and foam. Wa­ters, which are stopped, when the Banks give way, break in with more violence. At one time, or o­ther, thou wilt say to thy Consci­ence, as Ahab to Elijah, Hast thou found me out, O mine enemy, hast thou [Page 66]found me? Tuta esse scelera, secura non possunt. Thy sins may, to thy thinking, be safe; but can­not be secure. Thy Conscience will bark, and bite, and without Repentance, that worm live to per­petuitie. Lake Prometheus his Vulture, it will continually gnaw thy heart, and add to the measure of thy endless torments. She paints her Face, and paints her Sin, which nothing can wash off but Tears of contrition in the blood of Christ.— But hath she no Sisters living? Yes, and such, who are called Christians too, which make their sins out of measure sinfull. We have many Jezebels, who, when natural Beautie falls short, they would repair by art. Angli quasi Angeli, said a Pope once of some of our Boys, who were brought be­fore him; but, should be have seen some of our Women, he would have changed his Tale; and in­stead [Page 67]of Angels, have given them the deserved Epithete of incarnate Devils. Many so dawb, and slaver their faces, that they look more like Puppets, then women; and pictures rather, then living Crea­tures. As for Hypocrisie, and seem­ing Holiness, that shew of Godliness, denying the power, not such an harvest since Adam, as in our pre­tended times of Reformation. Well, mark the result, Jezebel was devoured by Dogs. Repent, you degenerate women, that you be­come not a prey to the Devil.

Meditations upon Athaliah.

THE Way, as yet I see, is very foul. I thought the last would admit no Comparison; but I have now met with her Match. They may very well go for Sisters: for they are as like, as two Twins, bloody Nimrods [Page 68]both, and mighty Hunters before the Lord. I may say of this as is Recorded of Caligula, Lutum Sanguine maceratum. Suet. a Lump of clay soaked in Blood. Her Com­plexion was altogether sanguine: and no water could quench her Thirst, but choice Spirits of Life; for She destroys all the 2 Kin. xi. 1. Seed Royal. Ambition is the Cut-throat of nearest Relations: and, where it reigns, there's no room for Ver­tue. Like Hell, and the Grave, it's never satisfied. If a Crown be the Gain, all the H [...]unds are let loose. How many have broke their Necks in the pursuit of it? Nay; how many have damned their Soul, to Climb up this Culmen? It is so sweet a Bait, that many Gud­geons have nibbled so long at it; that they have been caught to their Destruction. Caesar, and Pompey were great Gamesters at it: One could brook no Superiour, the other scorned a Competitiour; [Page 69]but their Exit was miserable, and their Sun went down in Blood. Great Alexander, who grieved he had not more Worlds to Conquer, was nipped in the Eud, and con­fined within a winding-Sheet, and a Coffin. Bajazet, the Turk, whom once all Asia could not hold, was at last cooped up in a Cage; where he might complain to his Maho­met, and dolefully Tune forth his Misfortunes. Crook'd-Back Rich­ard, the Vsurper, (who, to gain a Crown, murdered his Nephews in the Tower, and drowned his own Natural Brother, the Duke of Cla­rence, in a But of Malmsey) after three Years, and odd Moneths Reign, had his full Compensation, and Retribution: For he was slain in Bosworth field, and, being be­smeared with dirt, and blood, was tyed behind a Pursivant, to the Scoff, and Wonder of both Ar­mies. But, what need I search [Page 70]the Records, or look back to Anti­quity? 'Tis fresh in our Memories; Oliver Cromwel, whose Name not long since was terrible, as Captain Drake's was to the Spaniards. What Seas of Blood did he wade through? What Numbers of Father­less Children, and Widows, did he make, whose Cryes, and Com­plaints would have forced a Sym­pathy from an hard-hearted Jew, to condole with them? Into what Miseries were the Royal Party, those noble Souls, who fought for God, and their King, plunged? Loyalty, and Piety would then have made any miserable. King Saul 1 Sam. xv. 9. saved alive the best of the Sheep, and of the Oxen, and of the Fatlings, and of the Lambs; but every thing, that was vile, and re­fuse, he utterly destroyed. But here, on the contrary, the best of men, and the fattest, harmless as Sheep, and innocent as Lambs, the nobly-born, [Page 71]true-hearted Gentry, and the Or­thodox Clergy, were hailed to the Slaughter; and the vile, refuse, and rascal People, the rebellious, and schismatical were reserved. Ambition, onely Ambition, was the Devil, that let loose that ac­cursed Blood-Hound. But, mark his sad Catastrophe.— His Vale to the world was unhappy: for He Intra­vit ut Vul­pes, regna­vit ut Lu­pus, mor­tuus est ut Canis. Dictum de Bonifa­cio Octavo Papa. came in like a Fox, He reigned as a Wolf, and dyed like a Dog. And, behold this miscreant Wo­man, Hell's fourth Fury, after a­while, being put forth the Ranges, is slain; 2 King. xi. 16. Sic transit gloria Mundi. Thus the seeming Glory of the world vinisheth. And the Bladder, blow up with Wind, with one Spurn is gone.

Meditations upon Sapphira, Acts v.

WE say, The nigher the church, the farther from God; and, indeed, many times it proves so, take it either by way of Profession, or Station, and the Proverb will often be made good. A Possession is sold, but a part one­ly is brought, and layed at the A­postles Feet. 'Tis impious, and irre­ligious to part Man, and Wife; for those, whom God hath joyned toge­ther, let no man put asunder. But, it had been happy for Sapphira, she had been less indulgent, and distinct in this particular. Well; she was privy to the Sale, and to the Sin. Grace is Communicative; and so is Vice. A drowning Man plucks the next, that's to him, in with him; and one, struck with the Plague, loves Company. When Sin con­ceives, [Page 73]the Sign is in Gemini, and brings forth Twins. Sacril [...]ge walks not alone; but must have a lye to wait upon it. Yea; for so­much, said this Poor Soul: and pre­sently falls down at the Apostles feet, and yields up the Ghost; Verse 10. ubi pecata, ibi procella. Aug. A Storm is ever at the heels of Impietie: and, where Sin is Mistress, Sighs attend as Hand-maidens. As Solomon, in the Singnlar Number, addresses his Speech to his Young man, I will deliver in the Plural. Eccles. xi. 9. Rejoyce, O ye Sinners, and let your hearts chear you, and walk in the waies of your hearts, and in the Sight of your eyes; but know ye, that for all these things God will bring you into Judgement.

This Sin of Sacrilege, with us, as Fornication with the Papists, is counted venial; though, other­wise in God's eye, damnable. If not so; what mean the bleating of the Sheep, and the lowing of the Oxen, [Page 74]which I hear? (as Samuel said to Soul, in another sence 1 Sam. XV. 14.) Why are Livings every where so small, and, with Pharaoh's Kine, so lean, and il [...]-favoured, that the Man of God is fain to graw upon a Crust? Is not this to make Brick without straw? And yet, which is beastly, and unreasonable, they will exact the tale of their Bricks, expect from their Minister that, which he is not able to perform. How can the Ox tread out the Corn, when his mouth is muzzled? And how can he preach, who hath not bread many times to satisfy the hungry bellies of himself, and Family? O Cruelty to be abhorred! Aves pa­seunt, ferae par [...]unt, homines saeviunt: the Birds feed us, for Elijah was fed by Rvens; Salvage Beasts spare us, so the fierce Lyons Daniel in the Den; but (shall I speak it?) Men onely are cruel, and devour. This is that, which brings both Mini­sters, [Page 75]and Ministrie in Contempt, to the scorn of the World, the shame of Religion, the dishonour of God, and, without repentance, the damnati­on of their Souls. For the affront, offered to them, is offered to God himself: and 'tis a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God. We know who said it. Luke x. 16. He, that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he, that despiseth me, despiseth him, that sent me. This simple Woman came to a sudden end for keeping Back part of that, which was her own, or perhaps for concealing it onely; what judgement then must they expect, who keep back, and detain from their Pastours that, which is their own? Gen. xlix. 6. O my Soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their Assembly, mine Honour, be not thou united. The pitifull Pharisee, who was an Hypocrite, a verbal onely, and external Professour, shall one day rise in judgment against [Page 76] this generation, and condemn it; for he paid his Tithes even unto Mint, Anice-seed, and Cummin, when some Christians, so called Nomine, non re, in name onely, would not willingly spare the pa­ring of their Nails. Well; let them cosen, and cheat: Aurum ha­bent Tolosanum, they, or their posteritie, will be met with; and, when the hand of the Almighty lights heavie upon them, they will then cry out, as the Philistins did, when the Ark was brought into the Camp; Vae nobis! Vae nobis! Wo be unto us! Wo be unto us! Hear, and tremble; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Mal. iii. 8, 9, 10. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee. In Tithes, and Offerings. Ye are cursed with a Curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole Nation, &c.— Her next sin was Lying. Yea, (said she) for so much. [Page 77]Had she left this out, and spoken Truth: her fault had been the less, but now it's aggravated. To per­petrate a Sin, is bad enough; but to maintain it, is a great deal worse. O Sapphira! would thy Lying had perished with thee; but, thou art dead, thy Sin survives, and, like a Gangrene, hath dilated it self far and wide, as if from thee heredita­ry. This is thought small; for it is Epidemical: yet, it bids defi­ance to God, and spits in the Face of the Almighty. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; said once thy Saviour. What therefore can be more contrary, and opposite to him; then Falshood? Every like delights. and rejoyceth in its like; saith Phi­losophy. Now, thy God is Truth, yea Truth it self; by Consequent then Falshood, and Lying must needs be odible to him. What E­molument comes by Lying? All, that I know, is onely this, Shame, [Page 78]and not to be credited, when they speak the Truth. Let them weep; and presently we say, Crocodili Lacrymae, Behold the Tears of a Crocodile! and, let their Speech seem never so fair, and seconded by deep Oaths, and Imprecations; Yet, it is but taken as ridiculous, and as a Syren's Song, that tends onely to the Ruin of the poor Ma­riner. The female Sex common­ly is the fairer, and of a more tender Constitution; therefore more attractive: Yet nothing doth more imbellish them, then Vertue, an innocent and harmless Conversation. Their Tongues, and Hearts should be ever Covi­aetours, and fellow-Travellers, and nothing should put a Divorce be­tween them. The Calves of our Lips is a Sacrifice pleasing to God; but it must be without Blemish. He cannot away with Halting, nei­ther accept that, which wants an [Page 79] Eye. Me thinks, that Proverb should not be amongst Christians; Plain dealing is a jewel, and he, that useth it, dyes a Beggar. How! a Beggar? this is no fair play, and those scales were not right, to waigh down so precious a Commoditie. We have another equivalent, Obse­quium a­micos, Ve­ritas odium parit. Flattery gets friends, Truth hatred: but more is the pity. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the Streets of Askelon; lest the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce, lest the Daughters of the Ʋncircumcised tri­umph. Admire the depth of this sin. It's a precipice so steep, that it will strike terrour in any but to look down; and, being once known, by the grace of God, deterr all Passengers from coming that way. You are of your Father the Devil, and the works of your Father you will do, &c. He was a murderer from the be­gining, and abode not in the truth; because there is no truth in him. [Page 80]When he speaketh a lv, he speaketh of his own; for he is a lyer, and the fa­ther of it. John viii. 44. See who brings up the rear of the Black­guard. Revel. xxi. 8. But the Fearfull, and Ʋnbelieving, and the Abominable, and Murtherers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Lyers, shall have their part in the Lake, which burneth with Fire, and Brimstone; which is the second death.