Meditations and Contemplations

MEDITATIONS AND VOWS. — CENTURY T. 9

Upon them utibtdden. It were better a man should want wmk, than that great works should want a man answerable to their weight.

xxni.

I will use my friends, as Moses did his rod : while it was a rod, he held it familiarly in his hand ; when once a serpent, he ran away from it.

XXTV. I have seldom seen much ostentation^ and much learning, met tocether. The sun, rising, and declining, makes long shadows ; at midday when he is at highest, none at all. Besides that, skill, when It is too much shown, loseth the grace : as fresh coloured wares, if they be often opened, lose their brightness, and are soiled wiili much handling. I would rather applaud myself, for having much, that 1 shew not ; than that others should applaud me, for siiew^ing more than I have.

XXV.

An ambitious man is the greatest enemy to himself, of any in the world besides : for he still torments himself with hopes, and desires, and cares ; which he might avoid, if he would remit of the height of his thoughts, and live quietly. My only ambition shall be, to rest in GotPs favour on earth, and to be a Saint in heaven.

XXVI. There was never good thing easily come by. The heathen man could say, " God sells knowledge for sweat ;" and so he doth ho- nour for jeopardy. Never any man hath got either wealth or learning, with ease. Therefore, the greatest good must needs be most dilhcult. How shall I hope to get Christ, if I take no pains for him ? And if, in alt other things, the difficulty of obtaining whets the mind so much the more to seek, why should it in this alone daunt me ? I will not cure what I do, what I sutler, so I may win Christ. If men can endure such cutting, such lancing, and searing of their bodies, to protract a miserable life yet a while longer, what pain should I refuse for eteruity ?

XXVII. If I die, the world shall miss me but a little : I shall miss it less. Not it me ; because it hath such store of better men : not 1 it ; becsBOse it hath so much ill, and I shall have so much happiness.

XXVIIL Two things make a man set by ; Dignity, and Desert. Amongst fools, the first without tlie second is sufficient : amongst wise men, the second without the first. Let me deser> e well ; though I be not advanced. The conscience of my worth shall cheer me more in others' contempt, than the approbation of others can conifort one against the secret check of my own uiiworthiness.

DEVOTFOKAt. WORKS.

xxrx.

TTic best qualities do so cleave to their subjects, that they can- not be conmiunJcated to othei"s : for, whereas patrimony and vul- gar account of honour follow the blood, in many generations; virtue is not traduced in propagation, nor leaniing bequeathed by our Will to our heirs ; lest the givers should wax proud, and the receivers negligent. I will account notliing my own, but what I have gotten ; nor tliat my own, because it ia more of gift than desert,

XXX.

Then only is the Church most happy, when Truth and Peace kiss each other ; and then miserable, when either of tliem halfc the way, or when they meet and kiss not : for, truth without peace, is turbulent; and peace %vithout truth, is secure injustice. Though ] love jKjace well ; yet I love main truths better : and, though I love all truths well ; yet I would rather conceal a small truth^ uian disturb a common peace.

XXXI An indiscreet good action, is little better than a discreet mi*, chief. For, in tJiis, the doer wrongs only the patient : but, in that other, the wrong is done to the good action ; for both it makes a good thing odious (as many good tales are marred in telling,) and, besides, it prejudices a future opportunity. I will rather let pass a good gale of wind, and stay on the shore ; than launch forth, when I know tlie wind will be contrary.

XXXII. The World teacheth me, that it is madness to leave behind me those goods, tliat I may carry ivith me : Christianity teacheth me, that what 1 charitably give alive, I carry with me dead : and Ex- perience teacheth me, that what 1 leave behind, I lose. I will carry tliat treasure with me by giving it, which the worldling loseth by keeping it : so, while his corjjse shall carry nothing but a wind- ing cloth to his grave, I shall be richer under the earth, than I waa above it.

XXXIII. Every w«)rldling is a hypocrite; for, while his face naturally looks upward to heaven, his heart grovels beneath on the earth : yet, if I would admit of any discord in tlie inward and outward parts; 1 would have a heart that nhould look up to heaven in a noly contemplation of the things above, and a countenance cut down to the earth iti hunnliatiitn. This only dissimihtude ii pleasing to God.

XXXIV. The heart of man is a short word, a small substance, .scarce enough to give a kite one meal ; yet great in capacity : yea, so in- finite 10 de«ire, that the round globe of the world cannot fill the thn« coroen of it. When it desires more, and cries, '* Give,

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MEDITATIONS AKD VOWS.— CENTURY I. 1 1

give,'* I will set it over to that Infinite Good, where, the more it nath, it may desire more, and see more to be desired. When it desires but what it needeth, my hands shall soon satisfy it : for, if either of them may contain it, when it is without the body ; tnuch more may both of them fili it, while it is within.