A Pair OF TWO MORNING'S MEDITATIONS. The first against Parity. Sect. I.  
THough Men by Nature are equal, yet so it is, that being borne to live in society, and this society not being able to subsist without peace, peace without union, union without or●●r, order without distinction, distinction with●●t dependency, or dependency without authority, yet the same Nature which made men equal (in one respect) hath immediately commanded them to be subject to one head, and to wave their equality, for the avoiding of confusion. GOD himself in the Creation framed not many men at once, who might the sooner have stored the Earth: he made but one Man only: yea so, as that he made not Man and Woman together of Earth: but first drew one Man from the Earth, and extracted one Woman, from that only one Man: to show, (as St. chrysostom divinely noteth) how his intention was to establish Derivation, Dependency, Domination, Principality, yea and Monarchy among men, and to reduce them all under one Root and Superior, causing them all to proceed from one only, to the end all might depend upon one. He ever since, hath at all times instituted Temporal Princes and Rulers over his chosen people: first Patriarches, than Dukes, after this judges, and in conclusion Kings. His Providence concluding in Monarchy, (calling himself by the stile and name of King) as the chiefest highest title, and the most perfect form of Government. As Nature which proceedeth by degrees in her works, first maketh Mercury out of the vapours of the Earth, after, out of Mercury, silver, and out of silver, gold, the crown and perfection of all Metals: so JESUS CHRIST coming (af●er) into the World, (albeit he was Lord and King of Kings, of Heaven and Earth) hath (by his word, as example) confirmed temporal policy and authority, commanding to give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar: And the Apostle enjoineth us, under pain of eternal damnation, to yield to our temporal Sovereigns, Obedience, Tribute, Respect, Honour, and our Prayers, because he defends our lives and goods from violence: Obedience, since he derives his power from GOD: Respect, in that he is his Minister: Honour, by reason he beareth his Image: Prayers, in reflection to, and upon, the great need he hath of GOD'S assistance in defending us. Divine and Evangelicall Law obligeth us, to yield him all these duties. Obedience, in regard of his authority: Tribute, to defray his great charges: Respect, in regard of his Ministry: Honour, for his dignity: Prayers, for his necessities.  
Ita dicit, ut sencit. A.P.   

The Second Against preposterous and irregular COUNSELS. Sect. II.  
ALL the true good of Man, both particular and public, dependeth upon the safe conduct of good Counsels, good Counsels on true wisdom, and this true wisdom on GOD. Now since (according to Philosophical maxims) one cannot deliver an assured judgement of things, but in considering the reference, relation, and connexion they have with primary causes: God, therefore, who is this first cause, aught to be the primary object, and principal rule of all our judgements and counsels, if we desire to secure our judgements from error, and our counsels from temerity. For, whatsoever men have, at any time, established of good or just in temporal Laws, either imprinted in them by nature, or deduced by reason, or known by inspiration, or manifested by revelation, if it stray from this principle, it is unjust, and what is unjust is violent, and what is violent cannot challenge the name of Law. For this is the most solid ground of the most eminent commendations we can give to the truly wise Politician, who, over and above the natural capacity of spirit, and of humane wisdom acquired by study, and experience of affairs, addeth divine knowledge, which he taketh as the principal guide of all his motions, reasons, maxims, counsels, decrees, and actions. He doth not (as the Lesbian bvilders) fit his squire or rule to the stone or timber, as they do who seek to accommodate God to their necessities and affairs, or justice to the times, but he fitteth and fashioneth the timber and stones to the squire or ruler, affairs and necessities to God, and the times to justice. He imitateth good Pilots, who holding the hand on the helm, lift up their eyes to heaven, to receive from the Pole and stars the conduct of themselves and ships: for whilst he manageth the steering of Civil affairs, he hath his eyes fixed on eternal verities, and upon the divine Law, whence he taketh his notions, levy, and directions. And as the Highpriest of the old Law, drew the answers and oracles he delivered to the people, from a precious stone he carried on his breast, which in a marvellous manner (as some have delivered) represented unto him God's pleasure by its colour, sometimes red, at another time black; one while pale, then white, then changeable, according to occurrents: In like manner, the true wise man, taketh his counsels and resolutions from God's Law, A Precious Topas (as David termeth it) not hung at his breast, but fastened to his heat, Oh God, I have hid thy words in mine heart, etc. Psal. 119.11.127. There doth he find (in eternal reasons) the true rule of things passed in all seasons, and contemplateth in  verities, the constant IDEA of whatsoever is subject to change and revolution; whence taking his measures, he (after, or thereafter) guideth the inconstant by the constant, causing it to slide into stability, the temporal by the eternal, the figure of the world (which passeth) by God's Truth, which is eternally permanent.  
Dixi. A. P.  
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Exod. 28.17.  Row 1. Sardus 6. 2 Emeraud 4. 3 Ligute. 4 Beril 8. Topaz 9 Saphir 2. Agate. Onyx. Carbuncle Diamond. Amethyst 12. Jaspar 1.  
Revelat. 21.19, 20. Alphabetical order. Alphabetical order. Foundation. 1. Jaspar 4. Amethyst 12. Agate 3 0. 2. Saphir 2. Beril 8. Amethyst 3 12. 3. Chalcidonie.  Chalcidonie 3. Beril 4 8. 4. Emerald 2. Chrysoprasus 10. Carbuncle 1 0. 5. Sardonix.  Chrysolite 7. Diamond 2 0. 6. Sardius 1. Emerald 4. Emeraud 2 4. 7. Chrysolite.  Jacinct 11. Jaspar 4 1. 8. Beril 4. Jaspar 1. Ligute 3 0. 9 Topas 1. Saphir 2. Onyx 4 0. 10. Chrysoprasus.  Sardius 6. Saphir 3 2. 11. Jacinct.  Sardonix 5. Sardius 1 6. 12. Amethyst 3. Topas 9 Topaz 1 9 Rows Foundations. Rows. Foundations.    Perme A. P. 8.20.44.