Having thus gathered up his thoughts and found where he is, he may now be fit for his constant devotion; which he falls upon, not without a trembling veneration of that Infinite and Incomprehensible Majesty, before whom he is prostrate: now he climbs up into that heaven, which he before did but behold; and solemnly pours out his soul, in hearty thanksgivings and humble supplications, into the bosom of the Almighty: wherein his awe is so tempered with his faith, that, while he labours under the sense of his own vileness, he is raised up in the confidence of an infinite mercy. Now he renews his feeling interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, his blessed Redeemer; and labours to get, in every breath, new pledges of his gracious entireness: so seasoning his heart with these early thoughts of piety, as that they stick by him all the day after.

Having thus begun with his God and begged his blessing, he now finds time to address himself to the works of his calling.

To live without any vocation, to live in an unwarrantable vocation, not to labour in the vocation wherein he lives, are things which his soul hateth. These businesses of his calling therefore, he follows with a willing and contented industry: not as forced to it by the necessity of human laws, or as urged by the law of necessity out of the sense or fear of want, nor yet, contrarily, out of an eager desire of enriching himself in his estate; but in a conscionable obedience to that God, who hath made man to labour as the sparks to fly upward, and hath laid it upon him both as a punishment and charge, In the sweat of thy brows shalt thou eat thy bread.

In an humble alacrity he walks on in the way, wherein his God hath set him: yet not the while so intent upon his hands, as not to tend his heart; which he lifts up in frequent ejaculations to that God, to whom he desires to be approved in all his endeavours; ascribing all the thanks, both of his ability and success, to that omnipotent hand. If he meet with any rubs of difficulty in his way, he knows who sent them, and who can remove them: not neglecting any prudential means of remedy, he is not to seek for a higher redress.

If he have occasion of trading with others, his will may not be the rule of his gain; but his conscience: neither dares he strive for what he can get; but what he ought. Equity is here the Clerk of the Market; and the measure, which hewould have others mete out to himself, is the standard whereby he desires to be tried in his mensurations to all other. He hates to hoist prices, upon occasion of his neighbour's need; and to take the advantage of forfeits, by the clock. He is not such a slave to his trade, as not to spare an hour to his soul: neither dares he be so lavish, as utterly to neglect his charge, upon whatever pretence of pleasure or devotion.

Shortly, he takes his work at the hand of God, and leaves it with him; humbly offering up his services to his great Master in Heaven; and, after all his labour, sits comfortably down in the conscience of having faithfully done his task, though not without the intervention of many infirmities.

SECT. III.

HIS RECREATIONS.

HIS RECREATIONS (for even these human frailty will sometimes call for) are such, as may be meet relaxations to a mind over-bent, and a body tired with honest and holy employments; safe, inoffensive, and for time and measure fitly proportioned to the occasion: like unto soft music, betwixt two long and stirring Acts: like unto some quick and savoury sauce, to a listless and cloyed stomach: like unto a sweet nap, after an overwatching.

He is far from those delights, that may effeminate or corrupt the mind; abhorring to sit by those pleasures, from which he shall not rise better.

He hates to turn pastime into trade; not abiding to spend more time in whetting, than till his edge be sharp. In the height of his delectations, he knows to enjoy God; from whom as he fetches his allowance, so he craves and expects a gracious acceptation, even when he lets himself most loose. And if, at any time, he have gone beyond his measure, he chides himself for the excess; and is so much the more careful, ever after, to keep within compass.

He can only make a kind of use of those contentments, wherein light minds are transported and can manage his disports without passion; and leave, a loser, without regret.

A smile, to him, is as much as a loud laughter, to the worldling neither doth he entertain mirth as his ordinary attendant; but as his retainer, to wait upon his serious occasions: and, finally, so rejoiceth, as if he rejoiced not.

SECT. IV.

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HIS MEALS.

HIS MEALS are such, as nature requires, and grace moderates; not pinching himself with a penurious niggardliness, nor pampering himself with a wanton excess. His plate is the least part of his care: so as his fare may be wholesome, he stands not upon delicacy.

He dares not put his hand to the dish, till he have looked

up to the Owner; and hates to put one morsel into his mouth, unblessed; and knows it his duty to give thanks for what he hath paid for: as well considering, that neither the meat that he eats, nor the hand and mouth that receives it, nor the maw that digests it, nor the metal that buys it, is of his own making.

And now, having fed his belly, not his eye, he rises from his board satisfied, not glutted; and so bestirs himself upon his calling, as a man not more unwieldy by his repast but more cheerful, and as one that would be loth his gut should be any hinderance to his brain or to his hand.

If he shall have occasion to entertain himself and his friends more liberally, he dares not lose himself and his feast. He can be soberly merry, and wisely free: only in this he is willing not to be his own man, in that he gives himself for the time to his guests. His caterer is friendly thrift; and temperance keeps the board's end, and carves to every one the best measure of enough.

As for his own diet when he is invited to a tempting variety, he puts his knife to his throat; Prov. xxiii. 2: neither dares he feed without fear; as knowing who overlooks him.

Obscenity, detraction, scurrility are barred from his table: neither do any words sound there, that are less savoury than the dishes.

Lastly, he so feeds, as if he sought for health in those viands, and not pleasure; as if he did eat, to live: and rises, not more replenished with food, than with thankfulness.

SECT. V.

HIS NIGHT'S REST.

He pre

In a due season he betakes himself to his REST. sumes not to alter the ordinance of day and night; nor dares confound, where distinction is made by his Maker.

It is not with him as with the brute creatures, that have nothing to look after, but the mere obedience of nature. He doth not, therefore, lay himself down, as the swine in the sty, or a dog in the kennel, without any further preface to his desired sleep; but improves those faculties, which he is now closing up, to a meet preparation for a holy repose.

For which purpose, he, first, casts back his eye to the nowexpired day, and seriously considers how he hath spent it; and will be sure to make his reckonings even with his God, before he part. Then, he lifts up his eyes and his heart to that God, who hath made the night for man to rest in, and recommends himself earnestly to his blessed protection; and then closeth his eyes in peace, not without a serious meditation of his last rest: his

VOL. VII.

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bed represents to him his grave: his linen, his winding-sheet; his sleep, death; the night, the many days of darkness: and, shortly, he so composeth his soul, as if he looked not to wake till the morning of the Resurrection.

After which, if he sleep, he is thankfully cheerful; if he sleep not, his reins chasten and instruct him in the night season; and, if sleep be out of his eyes, yet God and his angels are not whensoever he awakes, in those hands he finds himself; and therefore rests sweetly, even when he sleeps not. His very dreams, however vain or troublesome, are not to him altogether unprofitable, for they serve to bewray, not only his bodily temper, but his spiritual weaknesses, which his waking resolutions shall endeavour to correct.

He so applies himself to his pillow, as a man that meant not to be drowned in sleep, but refreshed: not limiting his rest, by the insatiable lust of a sluggish and drowzy stupidness; but by the exigence of his health, and habilitation to his calling and rises from it, not too late, with more appetite to his work, than to a second slumber; cheerfully devoting the strength renewed by his late rest, to the honour and service of the Giver.

SECT. VI.

HIS CARRIAGE.

His carriage is not strange, insolent, surly, and overly contemptuous; but familiarly meek, humble, courteous: as knowing what mould he is made of; and not knowing any worse man, than himself.

He hath a hand ready upon every occasion to be helpful to his neighbour; as if he thought himself made to do good. He hates to sell his breath to his friend, where his advice may be useful: neither is more ambitious of any thing under heaven, than of doing good offices.

It is his happiness, if he can reconcile quarrels, and make peace between dissenting friends.

When he is chosen an Umpire, he will be sure to cut even betwixt both parties; and commonly displeaseth both, that he may wrong neither.

If he be called forth to Magistracy, he puts off all private interests; and commands friendship to give place to justice. Now he knows no cousins, no enemies; neither cousins for favour, nor enemies for revenge: but looks right forward to the cause, without squinting aside to the persons. No flattery can keep him from browbeating of vice: no fear can work him to discourage virtue. Where severity is requisite, he hates to enjoy another's punishment; and where mercy may be more

prevalent, he hates to use severity. Power doth not render him imperious and oppressive; but rather humbles him, in the awful expectation of his account.

If he be called to the honour of God's Embassy to his people, he dares not but be faithful in delivering that sacred message. He cannot now, either fear faces, or respect persons. It is equally odious to him, to hide and smother any of God's counsel, and to foist in any of his own; to suppress truth, and to adulterate it. He speaks not himself, but Christ; and labours, not to tickle the ear, but to save souls. So doth he go before his flock, as one, that means to feed them no less by his example, than by his doctrine; and would condemn himself, if he did not live the Gospel, as well as preach it. He is neither too austere in his retiredness, nor too good-cheap in his sociableness: but carries so even a hand, that his discreet affableness may be free from contempt; and that he may win his people, with a loving conversation. If any of his charge be miscarried into an error of opinion, he labours to reclaim him, by the spirit of meekness; so as the mis-guided may read nothing but love, in his zealous conviction. If any be drawn into a vicious course of life, he fetches him back with a gentle, yet powerful hand: by a holy importunity, working the offender to a sense of his own danger, and to a saving penitence.

Is he the Master of a Family? he dares not be a lion in his own house; cruelly tyrannizing over his meanest drudge: but, so moderately exercises his power, as knowing himself to be his apprentice's fellow-servant. He is the mouth of his meiny to God, in his daily devotions; offering up for them the calves of his lips, Hosea xiv. 2. in his morning and evening sacrifice: and the mouth of God unto them, in his wholesome instructions, and all holy admonitions. He goes before them, in good examples of piety and holy conversation; and so governs, as one, that hath more than mere bodies committed to his charge. Is he the Husband of a wife? he carries his yoke even: not laying too much weight upon the weaker neck. His helper argues him the principal; and he so knows it, that he makes a wise use of his just inequality: so remembering himself to be the superior, as that he can be no other than one flesh. He maintains, therefore, his moderate authority, with a conjugal love: so holding up the right of his sex, that, in the mean time, he doth not violently clash with the brittler vessel. his choice was not made by weight, or by the voice, or by the hue of the hide; but for pure affection grounded upon virtue: so the same regards hold him close to a constant continuance of his chaste love; which can never yield, either to change or intermission.

Is he a Father of children? he looks upon them as more