TRUE BLISS. Blessed the man that well can use his bliss. NEED. Spenser. Need is mistress of all exercise. Thomas Bastard. THE RESIDUUM-CHOOSE? If thou dost ill, the joy fades, not the pains; Herbert. THREE LESSONS. There are three lessons to be learned from the history of Judas: First, that profession is not possession; secondly, that there may be the outward call without the effectual call; and, lastly, that conviction is not conversion. PROFESSION AND CONFESSION. Profession is swimming down the stream, confession is swimming against it. How many may swim with the stream, like the dead fish that cannot swim against the stream with the living fish; many may profess Christ that cannot confess Christ. THE ELM AND THE VINE. Oh! that we might see in every place piety the elm to every vine; the supporter of every profession. TO WHOM IS THE CROWN OF LIFE? The crown of life is promised not to him that escapes, but to him that endureth temptation. WHO OVERCOMETH THE STRONG MAN? None but Christ is strong enough to overcome the strong man. His person only hath strength enough to bear the curse of sin: his sacrifice only merit enough to make expiation for sin. His grace only virtue enough to remove the pollution of sin. Though we should take nitre and much soap, our sin would be marked still; but he cometh with "the refiner's fire, and with fuller's soap," and can wash out all. It was his business in coming into the world to destroy the works of the devil. et BE ANGRY AND SIN NOT." "Be angry and sin not." Now, he that would be angry and not sin, must be angry at nothing but sin; and at that not so much as it is an injury to us, as an offence to God. And he must not be so transported with anger, as to be unfitted and indisposed therewith, either for prayer to God, or pity to men. HUSH! All music sleeps where Death doth lead the dance. Spenser. " SAVE LORD, OR WE FERISH." Spenser. THE MOMENT OF DANGER. When as we think we most in safety stand, Drayton. THE SMOOTH FATH. The path is smooth that leadeth unto danger. Shenstone. THE PROGRESS OF FOLLY. Folly in youth is sin, in age is madness. LINKS. Daniel. Joy lighteneth wo, wo joy doth moderate. Drayton. THE RECKLESSNESS OF AMBITION. A diadem once dazzling the eye, The day too dark to see affinity: And where the arm is stretch'd to reach a crown, Friendship is broke, the dearest things thrown down. Drayton. HOW MANY PEOPLE FAIL TO BE WISE. The desire of being thought wise, is often a hindrance to becoming so; for such an one is more solicitous to let the world see what knowledge he hath, than to learn that which he wants. SELF-DECEPTION. Vain is the art that seeks itself for to deceive. Spenser. Our walls of flesh, that close our souls, God knew how weak, and gave A farther guard, even every man, an angel guide to save. And men for us be angels, while they work our souls to save. Warner. * THE MISSION OF ANGELS. * Is there care in heaven? is there love In the heavenly spirits to those creatures base, That may compassion of their evils move? There is: else much more wretched were the case Of men, than beasts; but O the exceeding grace Of highest God, that loves his creatures so: And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels he sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe. Spenser. |