the guidance of him who seeks for nothing, but their precipitation into hell. It is an addition to the misery of this inward darkness, that it is ever joined with a secure confidence in those whose trade and ambition it is to betray their souls.

Whatever becomes of these outward senses, which are common to me with the meanest and most despicable creatures, oh Lord, give me not over to that spiritual darkness, which is incident to none but such as live without thee; and must perish eternally, because they want thee.

A Beech tree full of Nuts.

How is this tree overladen this year with fruit. It was not so last year, neither will it be so the next. It is the nature of these trees, so to pour out themselves into fruit at once, that they seem afterwards to be either sterile or niggardly.

So have I seen some strong minds, not well governed, overspend themselves on some one subject so lavishly, that they have proved either barren, or poor and flat, on all other occasions. True wisdom, as it serves to gather due sap, both for nourishment and fructification; so it guides the seasonable and moderate bestowing of it in such a way, that one season may not be a glutton, while others famish. I should be glad to attain to such a measure and temper, that upon all occasions I might always have enough, never too much.

A Piece of Money under the Water.

I SHOULD not wish ill to a covetous man, were I to wish all his coin in the bottom of the river.

No pavement could so well become that stream, no sight could better fit his greedy desires; for there every piece would seem double, every teston would appear a shilling, every crown an angel. It is the nature of that element to enlarge apparent quantities: while we look through the air upon that solid body, it can make no other representations.

It is the same in spiritual eyes and objects. If we look with carnal eyes through the medium of sensuality, every base and worthless pleasure will seem a large contentment. If with weak eyes we look at small and immaterial truths at a distance, in another element of apprehension, every parcel of it will appear essential. Hence every point of heraldry in the sacred genealogies, and every scholastic quirk in disquisitions of divinity, are made matters of no less than life and death to the soul. It is a great improvement of true wisdom to be able to see things as they are, and to value them as they are seen. Let me labour for that power and calmness of judgment, that neither my senses may deceive my mind, nor the object delude my senses.

A Wood swallowed up by an Earthquake.

OH how do we know when we are safe! If there were man or beast in that wood, they seemed as safe as we are now. They had nothing but heaven above them, nothing but firm earth below them; and yet in what a dreadful pitfal were they instantly taken. There is no fence for God's hand. A man would as soon have feared that heaven would fall upon him as those hills; but there is no securing ourselves against divine judgments. We have oft heard of hills covered with woods; but of woods covered with hills, I think never till now. Those who planted those woods, intended them for the fire; but lo, God meant they should be devoured with earth. We usually describe impossibilities by the meeting of mountains; and behold, here two mountains are met to swallow up a valley. How good is the Lord whose providence overrules and disposes all these events. Towns or cities might as well have been thus buried, as a solitary dale, or a shrubby wood. Certainly the Lord who did this, would have the use of it reach further than the noise. This he did to show us what he could, what he might do. If our hearts do not tremble at the acknowledgment of his infinite power, and the fear of his terrible judgments, as well as that earth did, we must expect to be made warnings, seeing that we would take none.

The Dormouse.

AT how easy a rate do these creatures live that are fed with rest. The bear and the hedgehog, they say, spend their whole winter in sleep; and rise up fatter than when they lay down.

How oft have I envied the thriving drowsiness of these beasts, when the toil of thoughts hath bereaved me of but one hour's sleep, and left me languishing to a new task. Yet when I have well compared both these conditions, I must needs say, I would rather waste with work than fatten with ease; and would rather choose a life profitably painful, than uselessly dull and delicate. I cannot tell whether I should say those creatures live which do nothing, since we usually discover life by motion; yet sure I am, their life is not vital. For me, let me rather complain of a mind that will not let me be idle, than of a body that will not let me work.

Bees Fighting.

WHAT a pity it is to see these profitable industrious creatures fall so furiously upon each other, and thus sting and kill each other in the very mouth of the hive. I could like well to see the bees do this execution upon wasps and drones, enemies to their common stock: this savours but of justice but to see them fall foul upon those of their own wing cannot but trouble their owner, who must needs be an equal loser by the victory of either.

There is no more perfect resemblance of a commonwealth, whether civil or sacred, than in a hive. The bees are industrious and honest compatriots, labouring to bring wax and honey to the maintenance of the public state. The wasps and drones are unprofitable and injurious, living upon the spoil of others' labours; whether as thieves or parasites, they do nothing but rob their neighbours. It is a happy sight when these feel the force of justice, and are cut off from doing further mischief: but to see well-affected and beneficial subjects undo them

selves with duels, whether of law or sword; to see christians of the same profession shedding each others' blood in religious quarrels, is no other than a sad and hateful spectacle; and so much the more as we have the means of reason and grace to compose our differences, and correct our offensive contentions.

Oh thou who art at once the Lord of hosts and Prince of peace, give us war with spiritual wickedness, and peace with all our brethren.

Wasps Falling into a Vial.

SEE you that narrow-mouthed glass, which is set near the hive? Mark how busily the wasps resort to it, being drawn thither by the smell of that sweet liquor wherewith it is baited. See how eagerly they creep into the mouth of the bottle, and fall down suddenly from that slippery steepness, into the watery trap from which they can never rise. There, after some vain labour and weariness, they drown and die. You do not see any of the bees look that way they pass directly to their hive, without any notice taken of such a pleasing bait.

Idle and ill-disposed persons are drawn away with every temptation: they have both leisure and will, to entertain every sweet allurement to sin; and wantonly prosecute their own wicked lusts, till they fall into irrecoverable damnation. Meanwhile the diligent and laborious christian, that labours hard in an honest calling, is free from the danger of these deadly enticements; and lays up honey of comfort, against the winter of evil. Happy is that man who can see and enjoy the success of his labour. This however we are sure of; if our labour cannot purchase the good we would have, it shall prevent the evil we would avoid.

A Spring in a Forest.

HERE is the true pattern of bounty. What clear crystal streams are here; and how liberally do they gush forth, and hasten down with a pleasing murmur into the valley. Yet you see neither man nor beast, that takes

part of that wholesome and pure water. It is enough that those may dip who will: the refusal of others no way abates this proffered plenty.

Thus bountiful housekeepers set on their ordinary provision, whether they have guests or no. Thus conscientious preachers pour out the living waters of wholesome doctrine, whether their hearers partake of those blessed means of salvation, or neglect their holy endeavours. Let it be our comfort, that we have been no niggards of these celestial streams: let the world give an account of the improvement.

An Owl in the Twilight.

WHAT a strange melancholy life this creature leads, to hide her head all the day long in an ivy-bush; and at night, when all other birds are at rest, to fly abroad and vent her harsh notes.

I know not why the ancients have held this bird sacred to wisdom, except it be for her closeness and singular perspicacity; that when other domestic and airy creatures are blind, she only hath inward light to discern the least objects for her own advantage. Surely thus much they have taught us in her; That he is the wisest man who would have the least to do with the multitude; that no life is so safe as the obscure; that retiredness, if it have less comfort, has less danger and vexation; and lastly, that he is truly wise who sees by a light of his own, when the rest of the world sit in an ignorant and confused darkness, unable to apprehend any truth, save by the helps of an outward illumination.

Had this fowl come forth in the day-time, how would all the little birds have flocked wondering about her; to see her uncouth visage, to hear her untuned notes! She likes her state however never the worse; but pleases herself in her own quiet reserve.

It is not for a wise man to be much affected with the censures of the rude and unskilful vulgar, but to hold fast his own well-chosen and well-fixed resolutions. Every fool knows what is used to be done; but what is best to be done is known only to the wise.