Flores Regij. OR, PROVERBES AND APHORISMS, DIVINE AND MORAL. As they were at several times upon sundry occasions, Spoken by his Most Excellent MAJESTY, JAMES, of famous Memory King of Great-Brittaine. Collected by J. L. S. LONDON, Printed by B. A. and T. F. for Ben: Fisher. 1627. Flores Regij. PROVERBES AND APHORISMS, DIVINE AND MORAL. 1. WORDS are not the difference of good men and bad, for every man speaks, therefore how noble a thing is Virtue; when no man dares profess any thing. 2. I love not one that will never be Angry: For as he that is without Sorrow, is without Gladness: so he that is without Anger, is without Love.. 3. There are Degrees of men in respect of one another, in respect of GOD all are equal, all are to use like Duty, like Reverence, towards him: All are alike beggars at God's door. 4. We are departed no further from the Church of Rome, than they from their first JESUS. 5. Give me the heart of a Man, and out of that all other his deeds shall be acceptable. 6. In , I would have a fashion should choose a man, and not a man the fashion. 7. It is one of the miseries of Man, that when he is full of days, and near his end, that then he should Love life most. 8. It hath like operation, to make Women Learned, as to make Foxes tame, which teacheth them only to steal more cunningly. The possibility is not equal, for where it doth one good it doth twenty harm. 9 Parents may forbid their Children an unfit match, but they may not force their consent to a fit. 10. No Country can be called Rich wherein there is War; As in the Low-Countries, there is much money, but the Soldiers have it in Pay from the Governors, the Boors have it for victuals of the Soldiers, the Governors have it from them again in taxes: So there is no Centre, no Honour. 11. No man gains by War, but he that hath not wherewith to Live in Peace. 12. God accepts the intent before the deed, for if a Man do justice because he would be Counted just, and not for God's glory, not because he stands answerable to GOD, if he do otherwise, or if he punish a man rightly, but withal satisfy his own malice; both these are abominable: if he give Alms only for his reputation sake, this is a wicked Deed, because there is Nullum medium, whatsoever is not of Faith is sin. 13. No man shall do ill, that thinks ere he undertakes, what the end will be, not what his passion would have it to be. 14. Time is the essence of many Laws, so that a King may do well at diverse times, both in making and abrogating the same Law. 15. I should think it a sign that GOD love's me not, if I should kill a man by chance, I would most unwillingly do that ill, which it lies not in my power to amend. 16. I do not think the greatest Clerks are nearest Heaven, much of their knowledge is superfluous; For BELLARMINE makes 400. questions of Faith, and not ten of them which toucheth our Salvation to understand. 17. Many have attempted to make Glass malleable, and so Gold artificial, but both in vain; for GOD doth ever cross the invention of Man, lest he should rejoice in his own work. 18. The persons of all men are to be alike. Equal to us, and our Hate or Love, should only go according to their Virtues or Vices. These bonds of kindred should only command us in all Civil duties, but not our judgements. And particular injuries should only make us hate that particular deed, but not the Doer in general. 19 Men of high understanding as they do many things above the Common strain: So they often fall into greater errors, than those of meaner Capacity, which in all their Actions, will rather do nothing faulty, than any thing extraordinary being of a temper better mixed then the former. 20. The Devil always avoids the mean, and waits upon extremities; So hath he sought to divide the world betwixt Atheism, and Superstition. 21. All extremities come round to one end, the simple obedience of the Papist, and the no obedience of the Puritan, the one breeds Confusion, the other, Ignorance and Security. 22. The end of the Law, is to punish sin when it is Committed, But to keep it from being Committed it cannot; As the Pope which thinks by allowing Fornication to avoid Adultery. 23. The wisdom of a King is chiefly seen in the election of his Officers, as in places which require a peculiar sufficiency, not to choose them that he affects most, but to use every man according to his proper fitness. 24. Virtue is easier than Vice, for the essential difference betwixt Vice and Virtue, is Truth and Falsehood: And it is easier and less pains to tell truth then a lie: And for vices of the senses, Custom is all in all; for to one that hath lived honestly, it is as much pain to Commit sin, as for another to abstain 25. It is likely that the people will imitate the King in good, but it is sure they will follow him in ill. 26. I have been often deceived, yet will I never leave to trust; neither shall the falsehood of some, make me think there is none honest. 27. All that ever writ of CHRIST, said, he was an honest man, they had so much natural sight as to see his Civil goodness, but they wanted the supernatural to perceive his Godhead. 28. The same sentence with diverse Relations may be both Holy and Devilish. 29. I wonder not so much that Women paint themselves, as that when they are painted men can Love them. 30. Of all the numbers of men, that have been slain in the War, not the tenth part have been fight but flying. 31. PARSON'S errs in his resolution, in making the difficulty of our Salvation, to lie in the hardness to find God's mercy; when indeed, it consists only in the right seeking of it; for then the other is sure. 32. God hath distributed his benefits so equally, that there is no Country which excelleth not all other in some thing, so that as it borroweth so it dareth: So in men, there is no one excelleth so in one thing, but hath need of another's wit in some other; From these two proceeds all Traffic and Society. 33. The Art of Physicians is very imperfect, for I doubt not but for every Disease, there is in Nature a several simple, if they could find it out: So that their Compounds do rather show their ignorance, than their knowledge. 34. The Devil where he cannot have the whole, seeks ever to get one part of the Soul, either the Will or the Understanding, which he may come easiest by; as in Protestants the the Will, in Papists the Understanding: A learned Papist and an ignorant, are of two Religions. 35. The Papists Religion is like HOMER'S Iliads of the siege of Troy, or VIRGIL'S Aeneods of the beginning of Rome, both of them had a foundation of truth, so had the Papists the Bible: But they have all added so much, that the first Truth is almost lost. 36. GOD never fails of his word, but where he threateneth ill to Man, as in punishing Niniveh, but always performs where he promiseth good, that, or better, as he promised to ABRAHAM and his seed, everlasting earthly blessedness, and in stead of that, gave them Heavenly. 37. Not only the Deliverance of the jews, till they came to the Land of Promise, but even their Daily preservation was miraculous: for, there was never any noted Plague in jerusalem, though it stood in a hot Climate, which had it been, would have endangered the whole Nation, it being to assemble thither twice every year of necessity. 38. Men are often in arguing, carried by the force of words further a sunder, than their question was at first, like two Ships going out of the same haven, their journeys end is many times whole Countries distant. 39 Cowardice is the mother of Cruelty; It was only Fear, that made Tyrants put so many to death, to secure themselves. 40. That fashion among the Romans' of killing themselves, was falsely called Fortitude, for, it was only to prevent the power of Fortune; when indeed, Virtue lies within quite out of her reach. Nor can any man be overcome but of himself: And so most truly were they, when they fled to Death for a refuge against Death. 41. It is easier to reclaim a man from any Heresy, then to Convert an Atheist to the Truth: For to believe, is the first Degree Common to all Religions: And an Atheist is to be brought so fare, before he come to choosing. 42. All Gods miracles are above Nature, but never against Nature, for that were to destroy his own work, which he cannot do, but he may excel it: therefore the miracle of the Papists Trans substantiation being against Nature, is false. 43. Types are the Images of the mind, which God allowed the jews to keep them from Images of the sense, and to show them, that his worship was to be in Spirit and Truth. 44. The Church at Rome, fell at first from her purity into Infirmities, then into Corruptions, then into Errors; and lastly, into abominations. GOD still punishing Sin with sin. 45. Most Heresies have proceeded, from mingling Philosophy with Religion; from that and policy, have all the Papist errors risen: when CHRIST tells them, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven. 46. We cannot conceive Eternity but by Faith, we cannot understand what GOD is; and of that ignorance comes all sin, for surely if we knew him, we would not offend him. 47. Men as often fall out about small things as great, because after the first contradiction, they maintain themselves not the thing. 48. Before CHRIST came, it was enough for the Fathers to believe only, since they must believe and understand both. 49. Those Princes, which seek to secure themselves by blood; shall find, that the more they kill, the more they have needs to kill. 50. The Church is to be believed, in the interpretation of the Scripture, but not directly against it; for when it differs from that, it is no longer the Church. 51. There are three kinds of Wisdoms that use to be in Kings, A sanctified Wisdom, A Wisdom which oftentimes strains itself to a less evil, so to avoid a greater, and a Wisdom of falsehood; the first, is both lawful and necessary; the second, is lawful, but not necessary; the third, neither. 52. All Governements howsoever in their Constitutions, in their practice tend to a Monarchy; And wheresoever the better sort of the people bear rule, there is always some one that resembleth a King amongst them: yea? though in the State of Venice, the Duke is but as it were a dead name; yet were it impossible, that their Commonwealth should long uphold itself, without him. 53. The preservation of the Bible, is miraculous, that it should remain pure, and entire, after it had passed the hands of Infidels which sought to destroy it, of Heretics which sought to pervert it, to their own advantage. 54. No indifferent gesture, is so seldom doom done without sin, as laughing; for, it is commonly raised upon things to be pitied; And therefore Man only can laugh, and he only can sin. 55. GOD made one part of Man of earth, the basest element, to teach him Humility, his Soul proceeded from the bosom of himself, to teach him Goodness: So that if he look downward, nothing is viler: if he cast his eyes to Heaven, he is of a matter more excellent than the Angels; the former part, was a type of ADAM; the second, of CHRIST, which gives life to that, which was dead in itself. 56. Much money makes a Country poor, for it sets a dearer price upon every thing. 57 At what time the Gospel did flourish, all kind of Learning did even abound, and upon the decay thereof, there came always a veil of darkness upon the face of the earth: The reason is a part of Religion, but Error and Superstition, is the safer by Ignorance. 58. A lie of error, is a fault of Credulity, not of falsehood; But a presumptuous lie, is that which a man makes, as GOD made the world of nothing. 59 All Gods Actions are for our good, either Spiritually, or Temporally although we cannot comprehend them at every time. 60. There is not that thing upon the earth, (that well examined) yields not somewhat worthy of knowledge; That Divine Artisan that made them, never fashioned any thing unprofitably, nor ever set forth any of his workmanship without some inward Virtue. 61. The gifts of the mind are not easily obtained, you must practise them with great pain, and difficulty, and good reason; for it were pity such preciousness, might be had for the taking. 62. It must needs show the Papists Religion to be ill, that they would plant it by Liberty and War; whereas the true Catholic Religion, rose by Fasting and Prayer. 63. Whatsoever is spent in earthly vanities, they either dye before us, or shortly follow after us, for all pleasures that are sensual, and have not reference to the main end of man's Creation, (which is the service of GOD) are vain and of no importance, but mere foolery. 64. When GOD destinates a man to do good, he makes every opportunity and occasion (though it seem never so harsh in man's eyes) to turn to his good and GOD'S glory; But when GOD leaves man to himself, he makes more opportunities than he finds, and without occasion takes occasion to work his own ruin to his own shame. 65. It is good to propound a man Fame, Greatness, Honour, and Estimation, for wading to find these, he may happily meet with Honesty, Temperance, Fortitude and Patience, And many times they that will not undergo Actions for Virtue's sake, will for Ambition. 66. An ill name may be free from Dishonesty, but not from some folly; we should not only be free from sin, but from suspicion, for it is not enough to be well Lived, but well reported, and oftentimes weighty matters are as much carried by reputation as substance. 67. Misfortunes are not acceptable in any kind, yet those are endured with most ease, that come rather by destiny, then by deserving. 68 In expense it is good to be neither pinching nor prodigal, yet if means allow it, rather thought a little profuse then too sparing, but the best way is, to make ability (which must always be measured, by the just Rule of our proper Revenue) our compass, to sail, and line, to walk by, And for extraordinary expenses, we must limit them by the worth of the occasion, for in matters that return not, we may be more magnificent. 69. He is not worthy to Command others, that cannot govern his own affections and unreasonable appetites. 70. No text of Law can be so certain; wherein, the circumstances will not make a variation. 71. justice's should be blind, and friendless, it is not by it, that, those that are in authority, should Reward their friends, or Cross their enemies. 72. Though outward Peace be a great blessing, yet it is fare inferior to Peace within, as Civil wars are more cruel and unnatural than wars abroad. 73. All Virtues turn to Vices, when they become the servants of impiety. 74. All Complainers be naturally given to exaggerate their own griefs and multiplies thereupon, As Papists do in England. 75. As a thing which is good ought not therefore to be abused, so ought not the Lawfulness of a good thing be forborn, because of the abuse thereof. 76. Every Man ought to discern wisely and truly of every Virtue and Vice, according to the true qualities thereof, and not according to the vain conceits of men. 77. Indifferent things if they be necessary, as food, sleep, and such like, in the qualities or form of using them, may smell of Virtue or Vice, and be great furtherers to any of them. 78. If our whole life were divided into four parts, three of them would be found to be consumed, on Meat, Drink, Sleep, and unnecessary employments. 79. There is great Difference betwixt justice and Equity, for justice by the Law, giveth every Man his own, and Equity in things Arbitriall, that which is meetest for him. 80. Drunkenness is a beastly Vice, and hath this property, that it is one of those Vices that increaseth with age. 81. Medicine hath that Virtue, that it never leaves a Man in that state wherein it finds him. 82. We should press to win GOD by importunity; if we obtain not at the first, and if we be not heard, should think, that that which we seek is not for our good. 83. A small sin wilfully committed, is fare more grievous before GOD, than a greater committed in a sudden passion, when Conscience is a sleep. 84. The thing only which without intermission, we are bidden to do, is to Pray: For as for other things they have their own time, but Prayer is never out of season. 85. We should not be like the Puritans in our prayers, who speak to GOD as to their fellows: and sit at CHRIST'S table, as with their Companions, Let us join reverence with the sweet confidence we have in GOD'S Love.. 86. Bread without the staff of bread, which is God's blessing, is no bread; For without this, even although it be in our mouths, we shall die for Hunger, like the miserable rich man, that in his greatest abundance of all things, died for want. 87. We pray in vain, GOD to save us, from temptation, if at every occasion we run unto it: Like one who voluntarily sticks in the dirt, and cries for help from those that pass by. 88 How can we paint God's face, when MOSES, the man that ever was most familiar with GOD, never saw but his back parts. 89. Put case, the Cross had a Virtue of doing miracles; as PETER'S shadow had, yet doth it not follow, that it is lawful to worship it, which PETER would never accept of. 90. If the Pope may err a as Man, but not as a Pope, I would know why the Pope doth not instruct or reform the Man, or wherefore the Man doth not require the Pope's instructions. 91. They are fools, who because it is said, Examine yourselves, and come, will not communicate till they be as they think perfect; forgetting that CHRIST came into the world, not for the healthful but sick, and that we come unto that Table, to be refreshed with that Spiritual food, bringing nothing with us but a purpose to amend. 92. Many do deceive themselves, in saying, they care not for the Father or Mother's Curse (so they deserve it not;) But beware, you must not invert the order of Nature, in judging your Superiors, chiefly in your own particular; For ever, the blessing or curse of the Parents, hath a Profitique power joined with it. 93. Beware of swearing and lying, though but in jest; For oaths, are but an use, use and a sin clothed with no delight or gain: and therefore, the more unexcusable even before men. 94. The Devil never assails a man, except he find him either void of knowledge, or of the fear of GOD. 95. If a Man shall once take upon him, to call that light, which GOD calls heavy, that sin Venial, which GOD calls Grievous, measuring any one sin by the measures of his lust and appetite, and not of his Conscience, what shall let him to do with the next, that his affections stir him to, the like reason serving for all, and so go forward till he place his whole corrupted affections in (GOD'S) room. 96. As none can be Scholars in a School, and not be subject to the Master thereof, so none can study or put in practise the Circles and art of Magic, without Committing any horrible dosection from GOD. 97. Treasurers and Ushers, are Commonly hated in Court; because of necessity, they must give Denials and Disgraces. 98. The Honour of a King, stands in the multitude of the People, and his strength and safety, in the Love of his Subjects. 99 They are not fit for the Court, that are either obstinate in Opinion, or uncourteous in Carriage, wherefore, the noble mind is most fit; For they are always more courteous, to take things in good part, than the base sort. 100 Every age breeds some exorbitant Spirits, who turn the edge of their own sufficiency, upon whatsoever they can Devour in their ambitious apprehensions, seeking rather a great then a good Fame, and holding it the chiefest Honour to be thought the wonder of their times, which if they attain unto, is but in the Condition of Monsters, that are generally much admired, but more abhorred. 101. Friendship is of that nature, as it always desires to be entertained with mutual good offices, therefore we must not suffer it to grow cold, for coldness is a Degree of Deadness. 102. They that are to make demands or requests to their Friends, must regard how the same may stand with the safety of their Friends, that their motions and requests may stand with their honour and surety to accord unto it. 103. The cause of Assembling all Parliaments, are two, for Laws, or Money; The one being the sinews of Peace, the other of War. 104. Good purposes, aswell in Princes as private Men, have many hinderers; therefore, when the Commodity or Discommodities of taking or refusing are once throughly weighed, a speedy resolution is the best to cut off such inconveniences, that delay of time commonly bringeth. 105. As the Natural body is delighted in Change, so is also the Politic body greedy of Alteration. 106. As a whole man meanly able, may do as much as a half man better able; So an inferior wit bend and Conversant upon one subject, shall many times with patience and meditation, dissolve and undo many of those knots and doubts, which a greater wit (distracted with many matters) would rather Cut in two, then unknit. 107. Such as are bend to hold with the Difficulties of effecting any thing, are Commonly against it. 108. Many neglect the wisdom to maintain themselves, that GOD hath bestowed upon them, and so worthily suffer by their own folly. 109. In Civil Actions he is the greater and deeper Politic, that can make other men the instruments of his will and ends, and yet never acquaint them with his purpose; So as they shall do it, and yet not know what they do; Then he that imparteth his meaning to those that he employeth. 110. GOD made Angels pure minds bodylesse, Beasts bodies mindelesse, but Man both body and mind the Horizon between both. 111. Errors by mistaking should not be too rigorously censured, but errors that be wilful, should not be spared. 112. The duty of a Magistrate, consisteth in three especial points, in Ruling, Teaching, and judging, that he be Wise to Govern, Virtuous to give Example, and Impartial to judge. 113. It is not fit that any thing should succeed well with the wicked, for it is a punishment of his fault. 114. As it is a principle of Nature, that Putrefaction is more contagious before maturity then after, so it is a position of Moral Philosophy, that men abandoned to vice, do not so much corrupt manners, as those that are half good & half evil. 115. The end of man's Creation is not for the slaughter nor education of Arms, to make men castawayes. 116. Virtuous Men will use their education military, as wisemen do their weapons, for ornament amongst their Friends, against their Enemies for Defence. 117. Those Actions that are intended for Opinion, are carried with more ceremony, then ordinary. 118. Dolus versatur in generalibus, Generals dwell too much in the air; therefore, he that will not be deceived must descend to particulars. 119. When JUPITER speaks, he uses to join Thunder to it; So a King should not speak, except he maintain it by Action. 120. CHRIST recommends unto us, the wisdom of Serpents, not thereby to Deceive or betray others, but to arm ourselves against the Deceit and treason of Hypocrites. 121. There is a Heaven and a Hell, Praemium & Paena, for the Elect and the Reprobate; but how many other rooms there be, we are not on God's Counsel. 122. Prayer, is one of the worthiest Actions we do; for we speak with GOD, and as it were enter in a reasoning with him, it brings down GOD from Heaven, & makes him to grant our will, and dwell with us and we with him Eternally. 123. Of Temporal goods, we should pray only for those that are necessary, for our being; or at least well-being, and not for those things, that are for Luxury and Superfluity; for such, are commonly baits to sin: But if GOD grant us also these, we should be thankful, and soberly use them according to our calling. 124. It was never found, that blood and too much severity, did good in matters of Religion; GOD never Loving to plant the Church by violence and bloodshed. 125. The whole Scripture, chiefly containeth two things, a Command, and a Prohibition, to do such things, and to abstain from the contrary; it is our Duty to obey in both. 126. It becomes every Officer and Commander, to know what belongs to his place, & not to encroach upon his Superiors, so shall good order be best kept in a great Family. 127. In two Degrees standeth the whole service of GOD by Man, interior upward by Prayer, exterior or downward by Works flowing therfrom, before the world. 128. He that nourisheth a faction between his servants in his own family, doth nothing else, but help to set his own house on fire. 129. Although a wicked King is sent by GOD for a Curse to his people, and plague for their sins; yet, it is not lawful for them to shake off that Curse at their own pleasures, that GOD hath laid upon them. 130. The safest guard a King can have, is the Love of his subjects, his greatest honour, their prosperity. 131. As Law is to a well governed Common wealth, so are good orders in household government, without which, no household can stand. 132. Heaven is governed by order, & all good Angels there; nay, Hell itself, could not well subsist without some order: and the very Devils are divided into Legions, and have their Captains; how can any Society then upon earth, subsist without order or Degrees. 133. Though MOSES were instructed, inspired, and Conducted, by Almighty GOD himself: yet, he refused not the good Council of JETHRO for the manner of his government, which also Almighty GOD allowed in him. 134. It is a certain rule in all dark Prophecies, that they are never clearly understood till they be accomplished. 135. Many respects may Lawfully let in Admission, that will not be sufficient causes of Deprivation. 136. No wise man can think him a fit man to Counsel him, or to govern under him, that cannot govern himself, and his own Family; and therefore, BASILIUS advised his Son to take such Counsellors, who had given proof and experience of their wisdom in the good Conduct and Direction of their own affairs. 137. Emulation is the bait of Virtue, for looking into the sweetness of the Reward, men undertakes takes the Labour. 138. It is less difficult for persons of indifferent estates, to make their choice of Friends, then for Great men; yet, only safe to Poverty; For there he must be in Love with himself, or nothing. 139. Better it is that matters be not stirred at all, then after they be once a foot and in motion, to give the Truth leave to lie gasping and sprangling under the violence of a Foreign faction. 140. Sometimes there is as good use, to be made of dishonest, as honest Friends; for Poisons are as necessary as wholesome Simples, if they be in a hand able to prepare them. 141. Suggestions are needless from abroad, when the mischief is felt at home. 142. Although particular men of all profession of Religion, have been some thiefs, some murderers, some traitors; yet ever, when they came to their end and just punishment, they confessed their fault to be in their Nature, and not in their profession; the Roman Catholics only excepted. 143. The friends of a private Fortune, are less dangerous; in greater, there is more gain, and so more loss: He that stands without, stands naked, and subject to every storm: who underpropped so long safe; but no sooner loosened, but ruined. 144. To answer an improbable imagination, is to fight against a vanishing shadow. 145. It is a true saying, that alleged kindness upon noble minds, doth ever work much. 146. Too much suspicion begets treachery, and an obstinate Belief is dangerous folly. 147. For a little money, a man may have more from the Pope, than ever GOD promised by his grace to grant; a remission of all sins past and to come. 148. Present crosses, are but preparatives to them we may feel. 149. Let no man think that he may frame and make his wife as he pleaseth, that ve SALOMON, the wisest King that ever was. 150. Although we are not stocks nor stones, not to feel Calamities; yet, we should not suffer the feeling of them, so to overrule and astonish our reason, as it may stay us from taking the best resolution, and using thereof for remedy that can be found out. 151. Age is venerable, not in respect of the appearance, but in respect of the annexion; because, Wisdom commonly accompanies such a presence. 152. The Devils are like the Pest, which smites those surest, which flies it furthest & apprehends deepliest the peril thereof. 153. ALEXANDER was not thanked & commended for Conquering the World, but for doing it before Thirty years old. 154. It is the greatest decay to Youth, either not to endure good advice, or not to believe it, until their peril and overthrow make them see it to their shame. 155. It is no power inherent in the Circles, or in the holiness of names of GOD used blasphemously, nor in whatsoever rites or ceremonies, that either can raise any infernal Spirit, or limit him perforce, within or without such and such Circles; but it is the craft of the Devil, the father of lies, who having first of all prescribed that form of doing, feigning himself to be commanded, and restrained thereby, will be loath to pass the bounds of those injunctions. 156. Continual experience proves, that Idleness, is ever the greatest spur to Lechery. 157. Man being Compounded of all the four Complexions (whose father are the Elements) although there be a mixture of them all in all the parts of the Body, yet must the diverse parts of this Microcosm or little world of ours, be diversely more inclined, some to one some to another complexion, according to the diversity of their uses: that of those Discords a perfect harmony may be made up, for the maintenance of the whole body. 158. He is said rightly to serve his Country, whose body executeth what his wisdom plotteth. 159. Common affability is commendable and not to be misliked, so it reserve the state of the party; otherwise, it is not Humility but Baseness. 160. Sauces, are more like medicines then meat, & they serve only for pleasing of the taste: and not for satisfying of the necessity of nature. 161. We own all men Salutation and a cap, but not familiarity; For, except we be sure, their worthiness deserves it, we betray ourselves. 162. Whatsoever GOD doth by a Medium, must know an end; what immediately, belongs to eternity. 163. The Slanderer, and he that desires to hear lies, are whelps of a litter; the one hath a Devil in his tongue, and the other in his ears. 164. Fortune hath no power over Wisdom, but of sensuality, and of lives that swim and Navigate without the loadstone of discretion & judgement. 165. The disposition of wicked men are perverse, Coaction must force them to goodness, and Correction restrain them from wickedness. 166. Man's happiness doth rest in the managing of his own time, so that every man may be blest and rich in perfection, if his own dissoluteness, and unthriftiness, incurs not the contrary. 167. All qualities without the direction of Virtue; profit not, but overthrew their possessors. 168. When the mouth of LAZARUS was shut, his sores spoke for him; so when we cannot use our hands in defence of our Country, we should lift them up for our Prince's protection. 169. If he be to be pitied, that bestows half his patrimony in Hobby-horses; then much more they, who having but a little time dedicate half to Sleep and Idleness. 170. As Troubles come for exercise of Virtue, and increase of Merit, so Affliction sends many to prayer and fasting, and few men seldom do well, except necessity enforce them; for Hunger & Povertie makes men industrious, & the Laws make them good. 171. As the servants of GOD are known by Humility and Charity, so the servants of the Devil are known by Pride and Cruelty. 172. The Confession of our sins do no less honour GOD, than his glory is blemished by Commission. 173. Suspicion is no where so conversant and powerful as among Princes, unto whom to say rightly, it rightly belongs: For howsoever they are, they have enemies; if Good, envious, if Evil, some that lay hold upon that occasion; yea, even their friends are doubtful, not being easy to be discerned, whether lovers of themselves or of their Fortunes. 174. To pray to the Lord with the lips for any Corporal benefit, and yet to have the heart fixed in confidence of any natural means, is a kind of spiritutuall Adultery. 175. He that is not a Philosopher, governs by guess, and will prove a dangerous statesman, for when uncontrolled affections meet with high Fortune, they commonly begin Tyranny and Oppression. 176. The difference between the godly and , is, that GOD doth visit the by punishments, names of Plagues, Curses, and Destructions, as the Plague of Egypt, the Curse of CAIN, the Destruction of Sodom; but the righteous, when he doth visit them, his punishments, corrections, chastisements and rods, which proceed from Instruction not Destruction, to purge them, not to destroy them. 177. It is not sufficient for him, that already hath enough to defend him from Baseness and want, only to eat, and drink, and make an even reckoning at the years end: for, that is base than baseness, no? Let him do his Country service, & purchase honour to his House; for we are not in the world for fruition, but for Action. 178. There is no difference between common Lovers, and common Whores, they both flatter, and make the name of Love their Bawds, to serve their particular pleasures. 179. As Man's nature is not only to strive against a present smart, but to revenge a passed injury; So we see, that Malice hath a longer life than either Liove or Thankfulness hath: For, as always we take more care, to put off pain, then to enjoy pleasure, because, the one hath intermission, and with the other we are satisfied; So it is in the smart of injuries, and the memory of good turns; Wrongs are written in marble, Benefits are sometimes acknowledged, requited rarely. 180. Almesdeeds merit nothing at God's hands, yet they make him our debtor according to his gracious promise. 181. Presumption is ever apt to draw comfort, from the vast ocean of appetite; But Discretion, from the sweet springs of opportunity. 182. He Counsels best, that prefers the cause of GOD, before any particular. 183. Where Goodmen are afraid, to call a Vice by the proper name, it is a sign that the vice is common, and that great persons (whom it is not safe to anger) are infected therewith. 184. He that knows not the true grounds of an evil cannot help it but by change, which is a Dangerous guide of a Common wealth. 185. Conscience, not grounded on knowledge, is either an ignorant Fantasy, or an arrogant Vanity; in one extremity the Papists err, in the other the Anabaptists. 186. Correction without instruction, is mere Tyranny. 187. GOD which is the great Lawmaker, by his Laws prevents sins; to the end, that punishments may be inflicted on it justly, as to avoid Idolatry, he forbiddeth making of Images; He that cannot live Chaste let him Marry, etc. 188. False Miracles and lying news, are the food of Superstition, which by credulity Deludes ignorant people. 189. GOD who calls his Elect unto himself, to make them enjoy Heaven, compels none to make defection from himself: Nam perditio tua, ex te Israel. 190. Time the Mother, will bring forth Verity her Daughter, in due season to perfection. 191. Riches are desired of wise men, only to keep them from baseness, and to exercise Charity. 192. A good Pastor is the Physician of the Soul, and aught to apply his Doctrine according to the tenderness or hardness of the Conscience, for want of which Discretion, some mons zeal hath done hurt. 193. It is a point of wisdom to maintain the Truth with as little Disputation as may be, lost a good Cause be marred with ill handling. 194. The best Laws are made out of those good Customs, whereunto the people is naturally inclined. 195. Gross and brutish errors, are sooner reform, than meaner escapes, for so much as the one cannot be defended without Impudency, whereas the other admits some Colour for excuse. 196. It is not lawful to use unlawful instruments, were it never for so good a purpose; for that Axiom in Divinity is most certain and infallible, Non est faciendum malum, ●vt bonum inde eveniet. 197. Valour is overcome by weakness, but being too much prized, it turneth to unbridled fury. 198. To bestow benefits of the Bad maketh them worse, and vilifieth the reward of the Virtuous. 199. Clemency is a Divine instinct, and worketh Supernatural effects. 200. By the Devil's means, Devils can nover be cast out; and therefore they are fools, who to cure a Disease cast on by a Witch, seek the help of some other Witch, whereas Prayer & amendment of life is the only Cure. * ⁎ * FINIS.