the nobility ever after disdained to be admitted into that degree, and so that order in France was extinguished. Seeing that nowadays drinking, and swearing, and wantonness are grown frequent even with base beggarly people; it is high time for men of honour, who consult with their credit, to desist from such sins. Not that I would have noblemen invent new vices to be in fashion with themselves alone, but forsake old sins, grown common with the meanest of people.

ONE LOOKED ON THE WEST.

THE Sidonian servants agreed amongst themselves, to choose him to be their king, who, that morning, should first see the sun. Whilst all others were gazing on the east, one alone looked on the west. Some admired, more mocked him, as if he looked on the feet, there to find the eye of the face. But he first of all discovered the light of the sun shining on the tops of houses. God is seen sooner, easier, clearer in his operations than in his essence. Best beheld by reflection in his creatures. For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.

AN ITALIAN PRINCE.

AN Italian prince, as much delighted with the person as grieved with the prodigality of his eldest son, commanded his steward to deliver him no more money, but what the young prince should tell his own self. The young gallant fretted at his heart, that he must buy money at so

dear a rate, as to have it for telling it, but (because there was no remedy) he set himself to task, and being greatly tired with telling a small sum, he broke off in this consideration. Money may speedily be spent, but how tedious and troublesome is it to tell it! And by consequence how much more difficult to get it! Men may commit sin presently, pleasantly, with much mirth, in a moment. But O that they would but seriously consider with themselves how many their offences are, and sadly fall accounting them! And if so hard truly to sum their sins, sure harder sincerely to sorrow for them. If to get their number be so difficult, what is it to get their pardon?

BEAT THYSELF.

I SAW a mother threatening to beat her little child for not rightly pronouncing that petition in the Lord's prayer, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. The child essayed and offered as well as it could to utter it, adventuring at tepasses, trepasses, but could not pronounce the word aright. Alas, it is a SHIBOLETH to a child's tongue, wherein there is a confluence of hard consonants together; and therefore if the mother had beaten defect in the infant for default, she deserved to have been beaten herself.

The rather because what the child could not pronounce the parents do not practise. O how lispingly and imperfectly do we perform the close of this petition, as we forgive them that trespass against us! It is well if with the child we endea

vour our best, though falling short in the exact observance thereof.

AS IT WAS.

SOME alive will be deposed for the truth of this strange accident, though I forbear the naming of place or persons.

A careless maid, which attended a gentleman's child, fell asleep whilst the rest of the family were at church; an ape, taking the child out of the cradle, carried it to the roof of the house, and there (according to his rude manner) fell a dancing and dandling thereof, down head, up heels, as it happened.

The father of the child, returning with his family from church, commented with his own eyes on his child's sad condition. Bemoan he might, help it he could not. Dangerous to shoot the ape where the bullet might hit the babe; all fall to their prayers as their best refuge, that the innocent child (whose precipice they suspected) might be preserved.

But when the ape was well wearied with its own activity, he fairly went down, and formally laid the child where he found it, in the cradle.

Fanatics have pleased their fancies these late years with turning and tossing and tumbling of religion, upward and downward, and backward and forward, they have cast and contrived it into a hundred antic postures of their own imagining. However, it is now to be hoped, that after they have tired themselves out with doing of nothing, but only trying and tampering this and that way to no purpose, they may at last return and leave religion in the same condition wherein they found it,

REPENTANCE.

THE difference between true and false repentance, is as great, as that between the running of water in the paths after a violent shower, and the streams that flow from a living fountain. A false repentance has grief of mind, and humiliation, only for great and glaring offences; or until it supposes pardon for them obtained; true repentance is a continued war against sin, a permanent, inward shame for its defilements, until death sounds the retreat.

There is no coming at the fair haven of eternal glory, without sailing through the narrow straits of repentance.

It is Christ, that grants repentance unto life, And, if ever you will repent, with a kind repentance, you must either have it from Christ, or go without it.

Repentance includes self-abhorrence: as a man not only loathes poison, but the very dish or vessel that smells of it.

The reproaches of Christ are precious. It is better to be preserved in brine, than rot in honey.

GODLINESS.

GODLINESS includes a supreme love of himself, and a constant prevailing desire to please him, mixed with a holy reverential awe, or fear of offending him. I have joined these together, because they appear of equal necessity and use to constitute that frame and temper of mind, wherein the essence of piety or true godliness doth consist. Fear is necessary to keep God in our

eye; it is the office of love to enthrone him in our heart. Fear cautiously avoids whatever may offend; love yields a prompt and liberal service. Fear regards God as a witness and judge; love cleaves to him as a friend, nay, a father. Fear maketh us watchful and circumspect; love renders us active and resolute. In short they go hand and hand, and mutually assist each other. Love keeps fear from being servile and distrustful; and fear keeps love from being forward and secure; and both spring from one root, namely, faith in God, as a being possessed of infinite perfection, and related to us as our Creator and Governor, our Redeemer and our Judge.

ADVANTAGE OF AFFLICTIONS.

AFFLICTIONS are God's most effectual means to keep us from losing our way to our heavenly rest. Without this hedge of thorns on the right hand and left, we should hardly keep the way to heaven. If there be but one gap open, how ready are we to find it, and turn out at it? When we grow wanton, or worldly, or proud, how doth sickness, or other affliction, reduce us? Every Christian, as well as Luther, may call affliction one of his best schoolmasters; and with David may say, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word." Many thousand recovered sinners may cry, "O healthful sickness! O comfortable sorrows! O gainful losses! O enriching poverty! O blessed day that ever I was afflicted!" Not only the green pastures and still waters, but the rod and staff, they comfort us. Though the word and