is fit to be God's champion that hath learned to be victor of himself.

It is not this sprinkling of cold water that can quench the fire of David's zeal; but still his courage sends up flames of desires; still he goes on to inquire and to proffer: he whom the regard of others' envy can dismay shall never do aught worthy of envy: never man undertook any exploit of worth and received not some discouragement in the way. Contemplations.

2. The Happy Man.

He is an happy man, that hath learned to read himself more than all books, and hath so taken out this lesson, that he can never forget it; that knows the world, and cares not for it; that, after many traverses of thoughts, is grown to know what he may trust to, and stands now equally armed for all events; that hath got the mastery at home; so as he can cross his will without a mutiny, and so please it, that he makes it not a wanton that in earthly things wishes no more than nature; in spiritual, is ever graciously ambitious: that for his condition, stands on his own feet, not needing to lean upon the great; and can so frame his thoughts to his estate, that when he hath least he cannot want, because he is as free from desire as superfluity: that hath seasonably broken the headstrong restiness of prosperity, and can now manage it at pleasure; upon whom all smaller crosses light as hailstones upon a roof; and for the greater calamities, he can take them as tributes of life and tokens of love; and if his ship be tossed, yet he is sure his anchor is fast. If all the world were his, he could be no other than he is; no whit gladder of himself, no whit higher in his carriage; because he

knows contentment lies not in the things he hath, but in the mind that values them. The powers of his resolution can either multiply or subtract at pleasure. He can make his cottage a manor or a palace when he lists; and his home-close a large dominion; his stained cloth, arras; his earth, plate; and can see state in the attendance of one servant: as one that hath learned, a man's greatness or baseness is in himself; and in this he may even contest with the proud, that he thinks his own the best. Or, if he must be outwardly great, he can but turn the other end of the glass, and make his stately manor a low and strait cottage; and in all his costly furniture, he can see, not richness, but use: he can see dross in the best metal; and earth through the best clothes: and in all his troop he can see himself his own servant. He lives quietly at home, out of the noise of the world; and loves to enjoy himself always; and sometimes his friend: and hath as full scope to his thoughts as to his eyes. He walks ever even, in the midway betwixt hopes and fears; resolved to fear nothing but God, to hope for nothing but that which he must have. He hath a wise and virtuous mind in a serviceable body, which that better part affects as a present servant and a future companion; so cherishing his flesh, as one that would scorn to be all flesh. He hath no enemies; not for that all love him, but because he knows to make a gain of malice. He is not so engaged to any earthly thing that they two cannot part on even terms; there is neither laughter in their meeting, nor in their shaking of hands tears. He keeps ever the best company; the God of spirits, and the spirits of that God; whom he entertains continually in an awful familiarity; not being hindered, either with too much light, or with none at all. His conscience and his hand are friends, and, what devil

soever tempt him, will not fall out: that divine part goes ever uprightly and freely; not stooping under the burden of a willing sin, not fettered with the gives of unjust scruples. He would not, if he could, run away from himself or from God; not caring from whom he lies hid, so he may look these two in the face. Censures and applauses are passengers to him, not guests; his ear is their thoroughfare, not their harbour; he hath learned to fetch both his counsel and his sentence from his own breast. He doth not lay weight upon his own shoulders, as one that loves to torment himself, with the honour of much employment; but, as he makes work his game, so doth he not list to make himself work. His strife is ever to redeem, and not to spend time. It is his trade to do good, and to think of it his recreation. He hath hands

enow for himself and others; which are ever stretched forth for beneficence, not for need. He walks cheerfully in the way that God hath chalked, and never wishes it more wide or more smooth. Those very temptations whereby he is foiled strengthen him: he comes forth crowned and triumphing out of the spiritual battles; and those scars that he hath, make him beautiful. His soul is every day dilated to receive that God in whom he is; and hath attained to love himself for God, and God for his own sake. His eyes stick so fast in heaven, that no earthly object can remove them: yea, his whole self is there before his time; and sees with Stephen, and hears with Paul, and enjoys with Lazarus, the glory that he shall have; and takes possession beforehand of his room amongst the saints. And these heavenly contentments have so taken him up, that now he looks down displeasedly upon the earth, as the region of his sorrow and banishment: yet, joying more in hope than troubled with the

sense of evils, he holds it no great matter to live, and his greatest business to die; and is so well acquainted with his last guest, that he fears no unkindness from him: neither makes he any other of dying than of walking home when he is abroad; or of going to bed when he is weary of the day. He is well provided for both worlds; and is sure of peace here, of glory hereafter; and therefore hath a light heart and a cheerful face. All his fellowcreatures rejoice to serve him: his betters, the angels, love to observe him: God himself takes pleasure to converse with him: and hath sainted him afore his death, and in his death crowned him.-Characters of Virtues.

3. The Deceit of Appearances.

SHOULD appearance be the rule, how scornfully would the carnal eye overlook the poor ordinances of God? What would it find here but foolishness of preaching, homeliness of sacraments, an inky letter, a priest's lips, a savourless message, a morsel of bread, a mouthful of wine, a handful of water, a slanderbeaten cross, a crucified Saviour, a militant Church, a despised profession? When yet this foolishness of preaching is the power of God to salvation; these mute letters the lively oracles of God; these vile lips, the cabinets of heaven to preserve knowledge; this unplausible message, magnalia Dei; this water, the water of life in the midst of the Paradise of God, äpiσtov pèv vdop; this bread, the manna of angels; this wine, heavenly nectar; this Church, the King's daughter, all glorious within; this dying sacrifice, the Lord of life; this cross, the banner of victory; this profession, heaven upon earth: Judge not therefore according to appearance.

Should appearance be the rule, woe were God's children,

happy were his enemies. Who that had seen Cain standing masterly over the bleeding carcass of Abel, Joseph in his bonds, his mistress in her dress, Moses in the flags, Pharaoh in the palace, David skulking in the wilderness, Saul commanding in the court, Elijah fainting under his juniper tree, Jezebel painting in her closet, Micaiah in the prison, Zidkijah in the presence, Jeremiah in the dungeon, Zedekiah in the throne, Daniel trembling among the lions, the Median princes feasting in their bowers, John's head bleeding in the platter, Herod smiling at the revels, Christ at the bar, Pilate on the bench, the disciples scourged, the scribes and elders insulting; would not have said, O happy Cain, Potiphar's wife, Pharaoh, Saul, Jezebel, Zidkijah, Zedekiah, Median princes, Pilate, Herod, elders; miserable Abel, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Micaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, John, Christ, the disciples? Yet we know Cain's victory was as woful as Abel's martyrdom glorious; Joseph's irons were more precious than the golden tires of his mistress : Moses' reeds were more sure than Pharaoh's cedars; David's cave in the desert more safe than the towers of Saul; Elijah's raven a more comfortable purveyor than all the officers of Jezebel; Micaiah's prison was the guardchamber of angels, when Ahab's presence was the councilchamber of evil spirits; Jeremiah's dungeon had more true light of comfort than the shining state of Zedekiah; Daniel was better guarded with the lions than Darius and the Median princes with their janisaries; John's head was more rich with the crown of his martyrdom than Herod's with the diadem of his tetrarchate; Christ at the bar gave life and being to Pilate on the bench, gave motion to those hands that struck him, to that tongue that condemned him, and, in the mean while, gave sentence on his judge: the disciples were better pleased with their stripes and weals.