MƲLTƲM in PARVO: Or, some Useful SAYINGS, IN VERSE and PROSE, &c.
Say, — Soul of Mine;
Judge Hales on Changes and Troubles, Contemp. p. 380.
Judge Hales Contempl. p. 121.
On Man's Mortality.
Now we desire a better Country, that is an Heavenly, for we look for another City which hath Foundations, whose Builder and Maker is GOD.
SOME USEFUL SAYINGS IN PROSE.
1. THE Fear of the LORD is the first step to be accepted of HIM, and true Wisdom obtaineth HIS Love.
2. Blessed is that Soul that heareth the LORD speaking in her, and receiveth from HIS Mouth the Word of Comfort.
3. Blessed are those Ears that hearken only to the Divine Voice, and listen not to the Allurements of the World.
4. He that hath little Understanding, and feareth GOD, is better than he that is exceeding Wise, and transgresseth the Law of the most HIGH.
5. He that intends to attain to the more inward & Spiritual things of Religion, must, with JESUS, depart from the multitude and press of People.
6. 'Twas Sir Henry Wotton's Motto, after all his Travels and Embassies, I have at length learn'd, That the greatest Wisdom is got by a quiet retirement.
Let it be our care to live here, as we ought; contented with the Condition Providence allots us; whatever we may meet with in the way, we shall be Happy in the end: Which the Wise considers.
7. Learn to overcome thy self in all things, for the Love of thy CREATOR.
8. If thou spend the Day profitably, thou wilt have cause to rejoyce in the Evening.
9. Simple Obedience is to be preferred before all Worldly Wisdom.
10. The Glory of a good Man is the Testimony of a good Conscience; have That and thou wilt have inward Peace in the midst of many troubles.
11. To do alwaies well and to have low thoughts of thy self, is a sign of an Humble Soul.
12 They that follow Sensuality, stain their own Consciences and lose the favour of GOD.
13. Withdraw thy self violently from that, to which nature is viciously inclin'd.
14. They that avoid not small faults, by little and little fall into greater.
15. They that live at liberty and ease, shall ever live in disquiet.
16. True quietness of Heart is got by resisting our Passions, not by obeying them.
17. Remember alwaies thy end, and how that lost time never returns.
18. If we engage into a large Acquaintance, and various Familiarities, we set open our Gates to the Invaders of most of our time.
19. Time fruitlesly passed away, will in the end cause an aking Heart.
20. Defile not thy Mouth with Swearing; neither use thy self to the Naming of the Holy ONE.
21. Let the Name of GOD be sparing in your Mouth, but abundantly in your Heart.
22. The Jews of Old accounted the Name JEHOVAH so Sacred, that they durst not utter it; the High Priest alone, and that in the Temple only, but once in the Year at their Solemn Feast, while he blessed the People, might have leave to mention it, for others it was Death, Buxt. Lex.
23. It is a mark of solly and ill nature to hate reproof.
24. Sin and Sorrow are unseparable Companions, thou canst not let in the one, and shut out the other; he that swims in Sin, must sink in Sorrow.
25. Corrupt Examples may sway with weak minds, but the wise in heart will regard and consider their own Duty.
26. Oppose no Man willfully, neither follow any in evil Courses.
27. The clean Soul of a Christian is the House of GOD, and also the House of Prayer, whose Body is his Temple.
28. There are some that Pray often, yet are not heard to speak much. There are many that make long Prayers, yet Pray not at all—acceptably.
29. Prayer is a more Spiritual and Secret thing in the Sanctified, than is understood by most.
30. Religion (however pull'd several waies) is of it self a quiet and strifeless thing; Holy indeed, but Harmless, and Divine: yet still shining forth in much Plainness and Simplicity. Be you of that Religion which gives Glory to GOD on High, on Earth Peace, and Good-will towards Men.
31. True Religion is not to fill Heads with Notions and Opinions, but to Sow in the mind [Page 22]the Seed of Virtue, to direct how to Govern Passions, and to destroy self-will.
32. Virtue and Goodness ought to be owned in all Parties and Opinions, and if these were practised it would reconcile all Men to each other.
33. Obstinacy is an Advantage to our Enemies, a Trouble to our Friends, and the assured overthrow of our Selves.
34. So gracious is Providence, that every Man has a Light set up within himself for a Guide.
35. Cordially espouse all Virtue, constantly decline and hate all Vice.
36. To be humble to Superiors, is Duty; to Equals Civility; to Inferiors Courtesie; to all Safety.
37. It is to be Observ'd, that the Poor Man sings at his Plow, while the Rich Man frets in his Palace: This shews, that 'tis the mind not the fortune that makes us happy.
38. Art thou desirous of a Kingdom, saies the Philosopher, I will presently shew thee one: Rule wisely over thy Self.
39. The Glory of the Aged is their Experitence and their Wisdom, the Glory of a young Man is his Modesty and Submission.
40. He that is a Companion of Riotous Men, shameth his Father and dishonoureth his Moher.
41. 'Tis not for young Men to drink Wine, nor for lovers of Virtue to be Drinkers of strong Drink.
42. Be not a Companion with Wine bibbers, nor with Riotous eaters of Flesh, Prov. 23.20.
43. He that will be lavish in his Superfluities, will afterwards find himself unavoidably straitned in his necessities.
44. Conscience once embased, the Heart once polluted by vicious Courses, is not easily recovered to the true Fear of the LORD.
45. Youth should be a Pattern for Virtue, not a Priviledg for Vice: Therefore let thy Virtues be Grave, whilst thy Years are Green.
46. Be meek and courteous to all, yet choose only the Virtuous and Harmless for your Companions. The Dove flocks not with Ravens.
47. Let thy Speech be sober and seldom: To know how to be silent, is a great advantage to speak well; and he that knows not how to do the one, knows not the other.
48. Who heareth much and speaketh little, may best discern Falshood from Truth.
49. We ought alwaies to keep a Bridle at our Mouths, even in Religious and Holy Occasions; because it is hard to fall into arguing, without offence to GOD and our Neighbour.
50. Let thy Speech be short, comprehending much in few Words. For long Discourses, Amplifications, and Repetitions, are a sign of Ostentation in the Speaker, tedious and irksom, and of no real good, to the Hearer. Even in a good cause, or on a good subject, a man may say too much.
51. The beginning of strife, is as when one letteth out Water; therefore leave off Contention before it be medled with, Prov. 17.4.
52. Silence is a Guard of the Conscience, a Bridle from Insolence, and a sign of Innocence, and preserves from many Evils.
53. They that turn an others words to a worse end than was intended, shews an evil mind; and are far from doing therein as they would be done unto.
54. There is more desireableness in Meekness and Innocency, than in all the Mountains of Prey or Self exaltation.
55. A virtuous Man is more Patient in Adversity, than a Vicious in Prosperity.
56. I will learn contentment by considering others wants and my own enjoyments, and not learn discontent from others enjoyments and my own wants.
57. A Rich Worldling is rather to be pitied for what he wants, than envied for what he has.
58. Unsatiable desires in Temporals, make a man poor in Spirituals.
59. How little soever the thing be, if it be inordinately loved, it defileth the Soul, and hindreth the injoyment of the chiefest Good.
60. There is nothing in the World conduceth more to the Composure and Tranquility of the Mind, than the serenity and clearness of the Conscience; keep but That safe and untainted, the Mind will enjoy a Calm and Tranquility in the midst of all the Storms of the World. And altho the Waves beat, and the Sea works, and the Winds blow; the Mind that hath a quiet and clear Conscience within, will be as stable and as safe from Perturbation as a Rock in the midst of a tempestuous [Page 25]Sea, and will be a Goshen too, and within it self, when the rest of the World without is like an Egypt for Confusion and Darkness, Judge Hales Contempl. 373.
61. Whatever thou dost hazard or lose, keep the Integrity of thy Conscience, both before troubles come and under them; it is a Jewel will make thee Rich in the midst of Poverty, a Sun that will give thee Light in the midst of Darkness, a Fortress that will keep thee safe in the greatest Danger, and that is never to be taken from thee, unless thou thy self betray it and deliver it up. p. 374.
62. Many words do not satisfie the Soul, but a good Life comforteth the Mind, and a pure Conscience giveth great assurance in the sight of GOD.
63. He that keeps the Law of GOD and abstains from the impurity of the World, that is, the good Man, the just Liver; he is the Apostles true Jew and Circumsition.
64. The Curse of the LORD is in the House of the Wicked, but HE blesseth the Habitation of the Just.
65. Whoso feareth the LORD, it shall go well with him at the last; and he shall find favour in the day of his Death.
66. If I choose the LORD for my Portion, then Mercy and Goodness shall follow me whilst I live, and Glory and everlasting happiness shall be my Portion when I die.
67. Let reason go before every Enterprise: And Counsel before every Action.
68. Tho a good Life hath but few daies, yet a good Name endures for ever.
69. What are the delights of the World to the Peace of my Conscience? Rather let me be Poor with a good Heart, than rich with an evil Mind.
70. How can Pleasures content me, whilst the Sting of them Poyson me?
71. Never think those true hearted Friends to thee, that are false to their own Consciences.
72. A froward Man soweth strife: and a Whisperer seperateth very Friends.
73. They who suffer their own Wills and Lusts to Rule, not only oppress others thereby, but stifle and crucifie the Just and Faithful witness in themselves.
74. There are no such Enemies without, as unruly Lusts and Passions within, therefore labour to overcome them all.
75. Humility and Abstinence keeps the Body and Mind, in much evenness and tranquility; but Pride and Fulness are Pernitious to both.
76. Afflictions are sent for the good, even of good Men; and it is their fault if they have not that effect.
77. Let thy Afflictions make thee humble, and thy deliverance therefrom the more increase thy humility.
78. Follow Peace and Holiness with all Men, not only with your Friends, but with your very Enemies; that you may be the Children of the HIGHEST, and of a good example to all Mankind.
79. Happy is he that shall be exe [...]is'd in these things, and he that layeth them up in his Heart shall become Wise.
Something touching Excess, by Judge Hales.
THe great folly of Mankind, is the unruliness and want of Government of the Sensual Appetite or Lusts: Hence grows Intemperance and Excess in Eating and Drinking, unlawful and exorbitant Lusts: and these exorbitances break out into very foolish, vain, and imprudent actions, exhaust the Estate, wast and consume the Health; embase and impoverish the mind; destroys the Reputation, and fills the World with much of that folly and disorder that is every where observable.
It was alwaies my care to use the Creatures with Temperance and Moderation;—Not to Luxury and Excess, to make provision for my Lusts, with Vain-glory or Ostentation, but for the convenient support of my Nature and Condition;—I looked not upon the Wine when it gave its colour in the Cup, nor gave my self over, either to Excess or Curiosity in Meats or Drinks; I checked my self therein,—And still remembred I had the Creatures under an account, and was ever careful to avoid excess or intemperance, because every excessive Cup or Meal was in danger to leave me in arrear to my LORD.