gWfl‘R DS MA YOK. W; Special. tent: die: Lame in Feflf’ow ‘ Sanfli Michaelixflxcbdngeli 16 7 9. dnnoqge 'Regniv‘Regiy-C Ain'o LIB: Sewndi A7231. 06.- XXXiia is». Can-R1 dbth défii‘e- Mr‘. SW2..- ‘ ., man-to PrinthisSerrnonpreach’di‘ Yéfibrdayr at; the ~ guild’Hall-Z’Chappel;.., befO-re ~ the ~- LOFdi?MdjOl-' andgryfldérmem thhls c.1121“ Ya .. WA GS T315 FE. y». we V.) ""“"“.Y: 3;}; ,',,.(v~~" ’4 THE W I S D O M; Publick Piety I DISCOLIRSED, INA . Lord MAYOR and ALDERMENI [At the G u I L D ’ H A LL Chappe‘l, - :By EDMZIND SERMON, Mafier of Arm 5, I SERMONL PREACHED mm the flight Iannoamblc T H E .L ‘4 (”the CITY of I L O N D O N, I S cptemb. xxViii. I 6 7 9. and late of St. Wary HAL L in OXFORD. I. Printed for Walter Kettz‘llyy, at the Bzflyof 5 Head 1 LONDON, in St. Paul’ 3 Church- Yard, 1 6 7 9. A To nhé Right Honourable Sn“ fflMES EQWIZERDS ‘i Lord Of the CITY 0f LCNDON And tho Honourable Court of LDE nght Honourable; ' 7' 1&5 0111 great 7V 01k of Wag 11413;}; I 10 11101151 4111! 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However ”337/945 22 212222 70222“ pttttettce. firfi 20212.22) for :it 12222: “Your goodne : deCVWdrdI 0422212sz "171%?”th exfmt’ I 22th 225222 the “Dz/2022292 “whtth couIt't‘ hot the fit well heartt’,’ were more wort/)2 9f 722222" fight and perttfitl 13222 ftehtts W212) I httmhl) ‘IDetl‘tMtet'o 702222 1‘22, MIMI/5&3 AFCEPMWB 22.22221 mtperfi’EI til/2222.2 , ‘ Pttett The EPISTLE DEDICATORii Prion of that Mademtion and Trudence; which, a: it bat/2 mac/e Your government 0/ a great Cit j/O Meful and advantageom: to it, in 4 mm: mom and ab]? mEz‘ed Time fimay ztever- continue to befl (w fince/Efid to Promote the benefitaf‘ 73%“le Team and @rdt’r :: which 1}: five ‘Pmyer of ' RIGHT HONOUR'AB’L‘E’E YORK? molt . humbly devoted} in all“ 'Obfeigirancefi ED M MIN-D swamo N; sf( 1) SERMON IA M. III. XIII. W190 w 4 wife 2mm, and endaed mt]: know» ledge among/l you. ? let him flee»: out of a good converfiztion bi: war/g wztb wee/g ndsofwzfdem ' . ; % THe reannia‘bIe Soul being the excellency of ' Mans nature, and wiICIom and knOW‘i led gethe PerIeéIio’n oI that; no wonder that aIIWho ghave any reIPeéI for themIeres, and! that value the honour of their Creation, Ihou’IeI ardently aIIeéI thoIe accomphIhrnents OI the mind; or at leaII the opmion \anCI repute oI them. It was not Without good reafon, that our S13 viour declared the higheII Punlfhment to be due to him Who Ihould Iay‘ to another, Thou fooli [Mat B 5.22] 2, 19 S erman preacla’d Sepag. ’5; 2 2.] that be particularly faid concerning fuch- a reproacher of his neighbour, that he was in danger of Hell-fire. Becaule the imputingol fol- ly toa man, being in effect to degrade him from: his manhood, and to rank him with. a lower fort of creatures that are void of reafon, as it is a re- fieétion- upon God’s workmanlhip, fo it hath ever been by the univerfal refentment of mankind, ta- ken for one of the molt. unfuflerable affronts and Provocations that can be given. > -- SOthat nothing is more apt to dilTol've all the ties, and deflroy all. the endearments of common friendfhiB, to llir up the malignity of choler and indignation, and confequently to Produce all the mifchiefs enluing thereupon .- Nothing doth foon- er exafperate men to variance, aud engage them in the molt irreconcilable quarrels and bloody combats. ,. . .. . ' " . : F For the moi-3t mean and degenerate-{pint is even toim patience lenfible- of the infamy of ignorance and. indifcretion. - And; generally to-tax men With ‘ lack of wit, is more unpardonable than to brand them with want of honefly. . ’Tis. later to ima- each their morality than their underl’tanding; and to, dilparage their judgment is a morefiintole- rable offence, than. with the fever‘elt reflexions to exgole' their ’conlcience. And the reafon is, be» carafe [aefbre tbe Lord Meier. g haufe to thofe who have any conlc'ience, the de~ Priving them of realon is the fame thing as the denying them religion; nay, 'tis the fame thing as to make them healts, which are uncapable of the imprellions of Divinity. And as for. th—ole who have no conference, thofe very-men think it their interel’t to preferve a, reputation of Policy and cunning, albeit they feldom ufe it, but? to carry them through fuch actions as are unconfcion- able. " > . ‘ ' But though the World hath {0 much fondnefls and concern for the title of wifdom, and el’teems it to be. [0 very glorious and reverend A; yet the unhappinefs of it is, that the molt 0f men run a- way with the empty name of wifdom, not know- ing what Particular thingisintended by it. Some general and confufed ‘ conceit they have offome— thing that is very excellent and noble; but being ignorant) of the {Pecialty wherein it confil’ts, they commonly run counter to their own aims,ancl flee from wifclom whilfl they afpire towards it, And feeing truth is but one, and the oppolite mifialies‘ are infinite; _’tis nowoncler. that men lhould in» vent as many ways to be wife, as they ; have of lhewing themfelves vain and imprucl ent;no won;- der that in this cafe their errors {hould be mani- fold, when rightly to Perfue wifdom arguesfome B 2' ‘ pofleflion \. '4: a] Sermon- premb’d ‘ ‘ Sep.zg-. Membn of it, and; hat-him 3 but difcrction cm truiy infohm us What it: félf is. Now. in: this variety of humane imaginations, the Wifdom of God interpofcth its diheétion and? umpiragc _; and“ to relic vc- the weaknefi: of our: minds, and to prevent the uncertainty anda’extra- Va‘gamce of our choice, gives us adiifinfi not-icon.» ‘ @f the wifdom Which-is- properly 170 called»; that ID We might-not be loft—- in the maze (3f ourowm thou ghts'l,’ but might clearly difeemt the way and; method, by which-we may Iuecefsfgflly fleet t0» wards that great attainment; , ' . ’ But {Being wifdomdirefis us to that whith is; 'Gm‘icrm’vm and-ornament», and facing the glory, of the heft capacity lies in that ~9‘caxerci4b of it, into Whrch .1456 and 'afikien: r£dué6th it; and {thing with?” that-every honomable cmplbymentéis ma- naged5by proper rules and laws]; ’tis eafiextoibc: conceived that fuch infirm-aims ”as reach to thc truth of wifélom; muftextend tosthcfiduc Condu& ahdiigovemmcntof ouriaflions. 4 I 3 " * ".‘A‘nd farther, inthat the mefi perfeé‘tt of'oup afliens arethof‘e that m-‘pu-bli'ck, and-that. ismofh ahchrablc to our; capacity Wlfieh we db in Rh... _ "firm ”to-70m ‘cdm‘rfion’i‘ea’guc' and-{misty with the: ’ 96“ 6f mankind; it. ‘fdflbws; that noivpreceptsi tome- “Pwflwhelght 9f Wlfdm *3”.t thofe that teach- us: M 1767(0)? fibe Lprd ".21"- "‘ us rightly to comPofe and order ourwonverfatmn 1n the World. And therefore according to ehefe meafures 81.711112” refolves that 1111;101:1111: quefli- on, To Whom the charaé’ter of W1fdom and kn0W~ ledge truly belongs? as 1t 13 Plainly exPreITed 1n, the Words of the Text, Who 11 a wifi "1412,6996. Where we need not Rand cr-1t1ca fly to difPute;._ Whether the APoflle meant, that a good converm ' fat1on tempered With meeknefs 1s a demonfl‘ratmn of Wffdom and knowledge; or that Wifdom and; knowledge ohhge and d1reét men to fuch awn-- verfinmn, 1tbe1ng 1111115111111: fame, Which (121151.: of the two We take: becanife if a ooodmonverfaw 11011 be a 2 1100f of W11dom, thenb Wffidom 1111111:- oblige an d1reét us to it. and if Wi‘idom doth oblige and direct us to Inch a canverfhflon, no» thing W1thout that converfatmn can be a Proof? of W1fdom. And therefore ’to Proceed Two th1nos are: to be confidered 11.1 the words. ' (1.) That a good converfaztion 11 a Prmc1Pa‘lf 11gn of a Wife and underflanding man. (2 .) flat meeknefs 15 an eflentml Part of that: ood converfatmn Which denomrnates a man H1111 1y W113: and hnowmg. ~ (11) A good converfanen is a Prxnerpal fign ‘1‘. .53 3 ‘ 31???? of a.- wfle and underfiand1n~g man Thxs will; *1 'L ant-L 6 J Sermm Preacb’d Sep.7.g; appear evident whether we conlult the Princif pies. _ ' . . _ ( t.) Of that wildom which is revealed; Or, (2..) Of that which is natural. . ‘ - ( i.) If we confult the principles of that wif. dom which is revealed. For this wifdom teach- eth us, that as our life was not given us by our own Power, [0 it is notto be {Pent to our own Purpofes. ‘ _ , God hath made us fociable Creatures, and fit- . ted us for converling with tho-{e of our own frame; and thereforemot to have }C..0rrefpondence with thofein whofe nature we communicate, that is, not to Perform thofe Offices for them which We are capable of doing, is to contradict the end of our Creation. , . . a . .,» _ The fairelt pretenCe that can be“ made for Mens Withdrawing themfelves from humane enter- courle, ' and addicting themfelves to folitude and retirement is this, that thereby. they have freedom [for thofe contemplations, from which company and bufinefs doth divert them. , ¥ ‘But what I pray are thole Contemplations? If they are fuch nice and lubtle things as exhaul’t Mens age and flrength, and at 1219: leave their Judgments unrefolved, and their Vertue unim- Proved; I, ltnow no man of whom they are re- quired, . ‘ 'before fbgLord Maia“. 7 quired, but contrariWile they are forbidden to all. But as for fuch as are more neceflary and, ufeful to the government of a Man’s life, there needs no fuch long time to be {pent for fatisfaction about them. And as they are made obvious by an or-' dinary diligence, fo when they " are fully compre- hended by one, it is his. duty to impart them to others. . ' . .- . - This, if any lover ol Privacy, and his own thoughts neglect as a thing not incumbent upon him ;. 'tis plain that he tranfgrelleth the rules of that common: jullice, which if others {hould as . little regard as himfelf,the world could. not fublifia" .FOr,is not the Man .“Who muleth‘ in, his Cell, 1764 holden to; others. for: his temPOral fiipport? Do hislofty fpeculations and curious enquiries pro- vide the Bread. that he eats, or the Cloaths he Puts on ?. If then he receive fuchbenefit from the la- bOurs of other Men, common jul’ticerequires that aCcordingi to his capacity he lhould make them fome recompence. And no way is fo con'veni‘a entfor making them a requital, as the allowing them the advantage of his Chrillianconverlatiorr with them. ’ . - - ’Tis true, Men may be allowed to live reelule; for a leafon, in order to the Preparingof them» . fielwes for a. publicls‘ Qflice, lo 392M the Baptilta W118 €81 _ A Sermon 1178th Sep 28.. Wm M the Defer” until the time (if he fimifig ism» flfmel [Luk.1.80.] So the Schools of: the Pro- sphets were places fequeffred from common fami- harity and bufinefs, and dedicated to the Rudy of .ufeful knowledge, fuch as might put them into . the befi capac1ty to receive the gift of prophecie, and the admomtions of God. , .But then that gift in the 712th Church was ordained for the benefit and. edification of others, aswel! as it was afterwardsin the Chriffian. So that notwithffanding the inffance all'edged , he that ’conceais himfeif Within a Cloyf’ter, and de- Votes hlmklf to a perpetuity of fol iitarinefis, doth manifeff!y Oppofe the defigns of riVaey- , he makes that his end which was only his way, con— founds his education with his empioyment, and ‘ takes up his reff in that fecrecy and retirement which was intended to fit him for the d1fcharge of form: pubiich trufi. ' But if it be incumbent upo11Me11 to be at pub lick fp1rits, and to do their Generation fervice- and confeqwemly to be of fociabl e tempers, and to converfe With their nghbours tis as requi- fite that their converfation fhould be good. F011 it were better that We had no communication at all With Men, than that it fhould be fuch as car- rapts good 11111111111111: And hoW much it is our . wifdom , ,hefore the Lord Waive. 9 wifdem by What hath beeti dictated to us in the Gel cal, to walk honeflly and Without blame, is ' evidgnt from hefice, that the wrath If God u reveal? ed from Heaven againfl all ungodlmefs and unrighteouj? nefs of men, who hald‘t—he truth in unrighteOufnefgL-Rom; t. 1 8.] and that the Lord yefw i/hall he revealed from Heaven with ht? mighty Angels, in flaming Fire,’ *tahing vengeance of them that know not God, and that ohcy not the Gofpel, [z'T'helll l. 7, 8.] So that 210-- cording to thePrinciPles of Chriflianity, *tis our greatel’t Wifdom tobe of an'upright conver’fativ' on; becaufethecOntra-ryisour damnation, And to {hew how deplorable a “flate'of mifery it iste which an evil converfation leaves us liable,our Sa4 viour hath Plainly told us, [Man 18. 6.] that whofi jhall ' oflend, that is, {candali-ze, § or by Wick; ed Practice make to offend one ' cf thofe little one: that helieve in him; it were hater for him that a Mill-flan: were hung ahout his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the'Sea. All which he will . find-to be true, when he is call: into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimflone. . But a good Converfation is not an argument of Wifdom, as wifclom is only taken for a zealOus care of our own welfare; but allo as it implies firength of reafoh; and {omndnel‘s of judgment to take-rightmethods, that this welfare may be ' C ' ’ fecuredt 16* J Sermon preacé’d - Sep.28. feeurecll Fer Religion doth not-Wholly. confil’z in being affectionately . concerned for that which is ultimately to. be defired ; but it requires fobe—r.‘ nefs of mind, regularity of thought, and an un- derl’canding, well informed, fuchasds of ability .1 to apprehend, .énd "propofe What is really corn-V Vd-ucrve-to our great advantage. . _ And? what neceffity there is! of a». Man’s being; very jnclieiousg' in order-- to hisbeing capable of a; good converfation, will appear upon, more ac:- counts then one. For if ‘Weconfider the frailties-.» to which we, our-[elves are fubject; if we call to: mind how many vain and enchanting fancies, how many f’crong and pres-engaged“ affectionsshow ma: ny fubtle infinuations of our enemy, and how «ma.- ny furprifing temptations. of theWofld, deacon-r tinually beltege us. - to bring us into» bondage to Eon y anclvice, we cannot but acknowledge that" there is need? 0f very great prudence and: fore- fight,,ofmthe mol’c ferious ‘ confideration, and of the mall “Haid- anc’l watchful mind. tolefcaPe the dangers wherewith we. are encompaflcd‘u And: he that by {humming all thofe mares can approve himfell a Chriflian, doth certainly {how himfelf ta, be a». very greatyMan; ~ flgainnne great law of Chrilli‘ansconverfationjs film; we Walklcharitably,with refgect and compall’ , .. n . lien; ‘ ’ ”""“_‘~\.~1 before If"? Lard Manor. . 11 {ion toWarCIs our weak Brethren. So that iii) Man 5 converfation is uanameabIe but his, Who doth nothing Wheifeby he CauIeth his Neighbour to oIIenCI This 13 plainly anCI Iully determined by the APoIIIe, [I Car. 8.] Where he IIates that great cafe oI conIcience, of eating things oIIered 1n IacriIice to Idols. For [11. 4. 3 he grants, that the thing 111: it IelI is not ahIquter IinIuI: be. cauIe he that Imcw that an Idol was nothing 111 the WoIId, and that there was hit one true God might eat CI thoIe meats as the gift of that GOCI; giving thanks to him, and not paying any was. {hip and honour to the Idol: But then he teIIs us [11... .7 j that the taking? oI this liberty might be ptejudicinl to. fame weak 111121116113, who having not Io: much judgment to ChIIinguiIh as others;r ' might by their example be encouraged to eat. With confiience sf. r19: Mal, as the expmefhém runs; that 19, with Iome Portion at IeaII of that refpeé’t which the Hesthens gave to their IdoIs in their FeIhvaIs " , And the GenetaI ruIe that prcfides in this Cafe holds no leIstJ' .1n ah the parts of a Chriflian 3 Me: For in eVery aEIion tis his duty to conIuIt, not onIy the 111tegrity of his own conICience, but aI Io the IaIety. oI his Neighheurs; and he is by the IIi‘iCIeII law oI rel1gien bound upon Pain of C 2.: damna- .7! at, a‘ —< 44“ "=.‘— m dSernzon'preacb’dé K Septzgf. damnation, to~ abfiain from an y publick aéh which by a prObability of eOnfequence and na- tural tendency. may. ind-nee his Neighbour, tocom.» mita (1-11.. ' i i ' And- whereea Man is bound to wallé fo-l- cita- cumfPeétly, there is, need“ of very. good, d‘ifcretis on to make-all things regular. He that mulls. oonfidet all the weaknefs of others, and ufe cau+ tion that the ignorant may not be enfnared by his praétice, mull very well‘foreCafl in. his mind what may" betlae- circumflances- and events of ‘ afliens; and; thisaitgues.‘ no..'fmall-z dexterity of ' rea‘font ’ ‘ Nay farther, Chriflianity' doth-notonly ob‘a-ig lige: nus coconfult they. condition-:of thefimple; but of? the froward too;- We may not tranfaél at-any rate as we'~-~plea{e, with thofe: who are ‘of crookedtempers. When they are ‘runreafonablet, we mul’ti be difcreet; and whens-they areVmad andoutragious, we muflbe calm and moderate: Jr‘ufi men mul’t not flander, revile and‘tthrea‘tené or: exercife revenge and ciu'elty, becaufe the Sons of Belial do fol. The man .of'God-g of What condition foever, mufl be gentle and patient: But when-a Manis all‘aulteclwit—h infolent pro-a vocations, not; to be difcompofiedr an d“ tranfpom ted fi)‘: as .to;.a£b any thing? unbefeeming the gra-a * ‘ Y“?- Eefore the Lord Maior. " 1;- vity of his judgment, or the dignity of his placer is certainly an argument of a moI’t admirable prudence, and demonfiratesthe goVernment and command of himIelI to be very ingular (2 .) II We confult the principles of that WiI" - dom which 1s natural, a good converfation Will: appear to be a Principal fign of a wife and2 um“ derflanding Man; And that upon Two ac-f CO‘llfllIS : (1.) BecauIe a good converfation deth mofi oonduce to a Man 5 prefervation. (2.) Becaufe that adminiI’ters the truefl fatifi faction. (1.) BecauIe it doth moIt conduce toa IVIan sf“ Prefervation ‘3 -‘-= 2 =- = -- -~. - ' And becauIe I would not have my argumenta» to be precarious, or give occaIion to any to I21)» that they take the advantage of a Popular pre- judice and opinion, 2 Ifhall beg your leave to dif- courIe1t a little, as if I Iuppofed my IelI to have“- to do With thofe to whom Scripture and G022 Ipel Is no: authority. To proceed then: Tis pofiible that many are,“ not Io well acquainted: with the Fandamen'taIT maxims of truth and reafon, and the CourI-ei and? government OI the World; or have: not Io good a faculty to draw conclufions {140111 thofe Prim; caplesg. 34. J Sermon‘prehclé’d 185313.28. ‘QiPles’ asby the fir’ength of their loizvn reafonipg , to find out a Goldto Whom belongs» Pow'er and Judgmenti 5 But theni’tisias certain; that; by all- the foPhifCry and fpeculation iinaginableyno Mani iS‘aible to ProVethatrghfii‘eisina futh Beihg, as governs and. gives laws; 11mm; ,zand will hereafter - reward, and punilh Men according as their con- veglations have. been .3001 or evil. And there'- ‘ifore a ftate of vertue is in wiIdom to be Preferred: bfifore "thataaf vices». 11pm dmsfmfe ofuléifefy :axnd Prefervation ; becaufe'hbwever thingsrir; a good Mm ,Caflfl’Oti, be imifemble .-.;lmrenfterr,a Whereas a wicked man, though he be an Atheift, mayifor" ought. hekmflsbcfo 'etcrmilly; :: and it: is a di4 ctate of Wifdom in cafe of uncertainty: to were: adaspgogggend 4 pgovide .againfi- -- rife Worft that may be i=1uPPéfed iQ-happen. The only Objection: that Cafl‘.b©:-mad€§ag&infi this, iséstha-t uncertaih’ty is notuto begreferred before certainty; but to this ’EfiligiQm {memes obiigfis us, when :Perfiécmion? .arifoth; fifflflzsfibegaé‘tflmt of it; {Tori atiiuchv time" the keeping of'our confciencegdamnifies: 11‘s: inga Preientconviemhhéwand for. the? fake of what We, expect Wis ddie was good :which We have in MB“ Q1313? pimfible 3.3 Hinekyemonmayfeem, ‘ II iseirfily; flogged," ,g_;£mba&d¢; m: .11: minim-tit -. not éqfore tbe Lard Mam 47:1; not all times, let us but cOflfi‘d-er the vafi- thfPro- Portion that there 1s between the {hort age of Man, and that Eternity which ianitely exceeds all time: that 111 a- very fhort {Pace, it will be all one whether a Man lived here 111 Plenty, or Pe hilhecl for. want of Bread; yea, if we confider him 111 refPect only to this World that 11:- Will be: all one whether ever he had had any Being 111 it or no: let us but coanler how {mall the goods» are which the Atheift Pollélleth, 111 comParifon, of the evils Which he may Julizly fear;- and we, muft conclude that it is 11o wifdom to keep H1cl1~ mconliderable certainties, When werun a hazard: that IS 111Hn1tely more coanerable" ’nthey Ell)?“ eially when lhOfe Prefeet centammes are f0 nncer» tain, as that We are 11111121011113 final [6111 of them :2 every moment and the Pretended uncertamhes are {(1 far certain, that the bell reafon Of: M21117»: doth oblige him to exPect them. -- (2.)!‘1 -- good converlation cloth aclmmifler the 1:111:11 fat1sfaflion; For- this only am make?» " Men hope for a future blelleclnefé And what" letisfaé’tion 1s comparable to the 1111111111 Idokrng; to the recomPence of the reward 2 This 1s a joy: that the irreligious man Wants: and to take him: 111 the 111011 favourable Circuml’tanees, it cannot bet fomewhat 111111 and 21111161 him 1111 his delight: €071 - .16 I 11 Sermon Predeb'd “Sep 28. tothink, that after a'little time he can enjoyit no more. But-fuppofe-he faith that he hath no :need of ~ aholy-comfort: that he can carefs himfelf with the diverfions of mirth, and Fortifie his mind by Pleafuresagainfi all melancholy and forrowful .Prefagea ;-_ yet it cannotbe denied, butthatthe hofe of real happinefs hereafter is a greater Ia- tisiaé'tion, than barely not to be difmayed with the terrors of Death and Judgment. .Befides, feeing the Atheif’t cannot with all his art difprove the Articles of our Faith ; he hath no way to feeurehimielf from. the fad jealoufies and {ufpicions of future mifer-y, but by debauch- ing his mind, and hurrying himfelf beyond all confideration. ”And, whatWifdom I pray is in that complacency, *which Prohibits the beft ufe of our reaion, and wretchedly .enjoyns the un- \ ,derftanding to withdraw. Nor is this, carnal folace of the irreligious Man only unfound and irrational, but (as all Inch things are,)it isalfo unftable : it aCcompanieth a Man When he hath leaft need of it; but alibon as he is deititute of other helps, that forfakes him too. For upon confideration of the whole matter, we {hall find that this is a .folace only‘for them, Whore 61mm? are plentiful. and 'conftituti. Ons A WW-" WWme.—__________‘_¢L~__ - , ‘ ~ . . —. , _ 1 . — . . v . , - . l 3‘ Zcfore 7358 Lark! Mai-or.“ 17 ans firm; whole minds are not trolled, :nor‘th’eir {Pirits decayed. it may; attend Men Whil-{t they are rich and healthful ; bat when-they (all um der Poverty orpain, it vaniflaeth like adre—amor‘ fhadow. ‘ ’ . ' 7 ' ’Tis true indeed, if a Man be only poor, Athe? ifm can .prefcribe this remedy, to Real and filc’h his Neighbours goods, that his own 'fubl’tance may beencreafed by it :» which yet is but a de- Iperate remedy, where “there "is either Pubick law and juflite ina Nation, cor but the natural dictate aof ‘felf-Prefervation, as there isin all {grivate men and inacontention which is here to e fuppofed; atis yery great odds but the Pooref’c willibei-over: come. - - ,, And when this way of Men’s makingt‘heirconi dition better Proves unfuccelsful, irreligfion hath nothing better to Propofe to them, than by“ a firoke at their life to Put an end to it. And this is all the comfort it can adminii-ler to them in time of ficknefs, when they are, :neith’er‘ab'le to hurt others nor help themfelves ; When theirsfiiztl at'vb'or-sall Manner of meat; and they fay of laughter it if mad ; when the molt pleafant recreations are diflafifulto them. And is this a {atisfaé‘tion e~ qual'to whatthe jul’t Man hath, who in thee-ri- tic‘al minute ofafflié’tion and diflrels triumphs in y a. _ _, _ . D _ . the the prelpcét OI Goals 3'“ faivatlen 3 Hom- ” I much better were it Ion a Ma-n in 1111311313 and; texture to. hazve 1103:1111 the 11311 aItmg God 3" Ibis hope weak! turn his very evils. into: hetpe and make Death it felI to appear his greatefl: 3.1211. vantage Se great Iupports has fighteeufnefs 111 the worfi eItate, 31161131116 Ipmt of a .qut Man-4. will fuflam hi1 mflmm- And IQ mush may {1115 flee to be Ippkee; to? the 5191. thmg emIlderable in the Werds, me. That a geed Gehvctfation 1s 3‘.» 311110931 I13:1 of a W1Ie1.and umderIIandmg Mam . .1 new proceed to. .._ . r , (2) The fecondth 1113,: Whmh $1. that meek nefs 13 an eff:t.1t:ial Part uhthat: gent! cenvcrIa-s tion which denommates. a M2111 t1u1y W1Ie andj - knowmg ' 1~ r a The truth OI 11113 W111 appear: Three Grounds . :- I) BecaIIIe meeknefls Preferves the Wonld; from 1101111316: and dlfqutetnefs . (3.) It Is an: advantagmto M3313 conIerence-h .md éifeourfe. , . . (g ). It: makes them fuccefsful 111 themunder». talimgs ' ; (1..) Meekaefs FreIerve: the 11111114111111.1111... h} e and ddqmflnefs It 15 uponthefe ver} 1 texms. commanded hymns Swam- EMat 11219}J Take ~ tier"; 9 19 my (sink: upon. ym, main-learn of . mi, far I” “m ”mi-and «[9375 m been; and ye flmfl find rdi'mtofyaur fault x- "Tis the naturoof meekne‘fs’to calm the mind,“ “and prefcrfi'e itfi'om venetian. "-Forit is contra- rymo {wrath and fury; and ‘therefbre flock how . :mu‘chtroubie stage is stat Man’s {pi-sit, {0 much doth meeknieis helpzus to avoid. " g : ~ Not doth sit oral y :Prevefistr the trouble sand-m: ~:m€nt5'o‘f anger, "but it is taifo “infeparabl'y "tinite’d Wfishother "quitting Grasces, fuch as humility “and contentment bfi'y Whichémesms an fretting Paffii- onsere [3&1]:de 4:: Fox 136th isof fo/fefrious a temp gee as mmto begincenledmfifib Provocations, can cortaitfiy amid theafolslies‘af Pride md diftonteht'; he Can idirxfii‘sfied ‘imf'afiow-irpiaee, Wheremhu gracious-God imitsrhim,‘ Vaéndrchearfullyécfifuiéfm [in the 'diiPofais When we have raged and tormented our , felves never fo much, our anger may indeed help to make things worIe, but is the molt unlikely . means. to put. them into a better Pofiure. ' " COnfider again; that if there were nothwa-‘r-b ‘ tings:ahdieprovocations, there would ;be' no need of fueh a 'vertue asmeeknefs; nor' would. there .xbeany {uch vertue at all. For if nothing crolled us,’ but all things Went according to our mind, there Would ‘be'nofoccafio-n nor trial of .meeknefs, for it would be impoflible that we lhould be o- therwife than pleafed. But becaule things will fall out Oppofitely' to our delires and expeétati- one, therefore meeknefs is eujoyned as‘a means. to relieve us. :We may do 'Well to confider withall, that if thingshappe‘n fo. ill as to dilquiet us, whether it i 38. before the Lord s_ l. 219- is not Wifdom’ to make the bell that We Can of them, and for whether it be not Our wifdom, 11-1- ltead of flruglmg wnhaprovocanon, tq Iupprefs and Rifle our relentments of 1t ;. And leem g anger is moft frequently {111‘er up by the provocatione that are g1Ven by Men; and feeing we are not angry with Men, but thn we judge 23that they deal unduly with us; As it becomes us to fee that this judgment be true, and that we 1. do not unjufily apprehend a wrong When there is none done to us; f0 upon condit1on that we are injured, it were worthy of gour confiderationj, how muCh 1t degrades a Perfon who hath the ho- nour to be juf’t, to Hoop to low to the brutilh as to be wounded With a refentmentortheir Villany , and hoW much it it: beneath the mind of {uCh a man to be difordered by the rudenele of d1lorder- ly men. The very being Concerned at their 1n- fol ence dOth but make it too plaulible, Whilfl 1t theWs them to be fuch as deferve conhderation If: fufer fools gladly (faith the Apolhle fem-591: yam." film are Wife, [2 Cor. II . l9. 3 And lair-h the W1fe man, [ProV. 26-... 4 ] flnfwer not a fool? according to 1m. fol] , Iefl thou alfa be [ille— unto [aim :; that 13, take notice of him no farther than 131 he- geeflary to Prevent the evil that may Eollow from the tol eration or his Pride and vanity It. being; at 30: dSmeth $613.28. fisegmach tbs‘vsfiilzhmz toTfiibrtiBt hiswifiio’m t0- thé gleaiuve’a’nd > 00m sou-intent of a fool, who m- ged: and ~13 i’cofifidm 1:7 ’ -‘ Wh‘dfe' 'bmflh Pamons‘firfl deprive him of fobeqffsnietmd =flhcn= give "him Wage ma“ Ménéfs totexpofei his ' Want of it. ,S@".;Ttm€ is. thit-‘fayifi% ‘o'f Sbiémon,~-[Provg 1 4. 29.] He that t? flaw to WM? 4% oflgreat Mderfiandifig: {mt 134/921: it Ionfiys offpri‘t nod-mid folly1 ' 2 4(0) A's/0M tildfie=w0rkflyLafleflions and dc? film; “which. ate the "primitive and: fundamental ihtemives to »ang6r,“ais vactouifne‘fs anél Am- rbfl’ldn For thefe make Men competitors for tin famethings, and {0 Hit up anger and emu. i—atiogn amongift them. One is dilfileéfeél , 7-be-' catwfcjwficb‘thér \tifigfiiesr awayfffliis - prafit- 31‘wa tint)»- than, The‘cwfwhistNéighboui Reps in between himand -‘