treasures of grace, wisdom, humility, sometimes lié under russet coats. Whilst, on the other side, "the heart of the wicked is little worth," how much soever his clothes be worth. Alas! it falls out too frequently among us, as it does with men in the Indies, who walk over rich veins of gold and ore, lying hid under a rugged and barren surface, and know it not. For my own part, I desire not to value any man by what is extrinsical and worldly, but by that true internal excellency of grace, which makes the face to shine in the eyes of God and good men. I would contemn a vile person, though ever so glorious in the eye of the world; but honor such as fear the Lord, how sordid and despicable soever their appearance.

MEDITATION V.

On the Sight of a Robin picking up a Worm from a Mole-Hill.

Observing a mole working industriously beneath, and a bird watching intently above, I made a stand to observe the issue; when in a little time the bird descends, and seizes on a worm, which I perceived was crawling from the enemy below that hunted her, but fell to the share of another which from above waited for her. Methought this worm seemed to be the emblem of my poor soul, which is more endangered by its own lusts, than this worm was by the mole and bird: my pride, like the aspiring bird, watches for it above; my covetousness, like the subterranean mole, digging for it beneath. Poor soul, what a sad dilemma art thou brought to! If thou go down into the caverns of this earth, there thou art a prey to thy covetousness that hunts thee; and if thou aspire, or but creep upward, there thy pride waits to ensnare thee. Distressed soul, whither wilt thou go? Ascend thou mayest, not by vain elation, but by heavenly conversation; "the way of life is above to the wise."

Again; I could not but observe the accidental benefit this poor harmless bird obtained by the labor of the mole, who hunting intentionally for herself, unburrowed and ferreted out this worm for the bird, who possibly was hungry enough, and could not have been relieved but by the mole, the fruit of whose labor she now feeds upon.

Even thus the Lord oftimes makes good his word to his people; "The wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just.' This was fully exemplified in David, to whom Nabal spoke, "Shall I take my bread, and give it to one I know not whom?" And yet David reaps the fruits of all the pains and toils of Nabal at last. Let it never encourage me to idleness, that God sometimes gives his people the fruit of others' labor, but if Providence reduce me to necessity, and disable me from helping myself, I doubt not then, but it will provide instruments to do it.

MEDITATION VI.

On the Shooting of two Finches fighting in the Air.

How soon has death ended the quarrel betwixt these two little combatants! Had they agreed better, they might have lived longer. It was their own contention that gave both the opportunity and the provocation of their death; and though living they could not, yet, being dead, they can now, lie quietly together in my hand.

Foolish birds, was it not enough that birds of prey watched to devour them, but they must peck one another? Thus have I seen the saints, the birds of paradise, tearing and wounding each other, like so many birds of prey, and by their unchristian contests occasioning their common ruin; yea, and that not only when at liberty, as these were, but when engaged also; and yet, if ever Christians will agree, it will be either in a prison or in heaven; for in prison their quarrelsome lusts lie low, and in heaven. they shall be utterly done away. But O what pity is it, that those who shall agree so perfectly in heaven, should bite and devour each other upon earth!

MEDITATION VII.

On the Comparing of two Birds' Nests.

It is pretty to observe the structure and commodiousness of the habitations of these little architects; they act not by reason and counsel, but only by natural instinct, yet reason itself could hardly have contrived a neater building of such simple materials. How neatly has the

thrush ceiled or plastered his nest, with admirable art and industry! how warmly has the finch matted his! And both are well fenced against the injury of the weather.

This trifling object suggests to my thoughts a more excellent and serious contemplation, even the wonderful and unparalleled abasement of Jesus Christ, who for my sake voluntarily submitted himself to a more destitute and neglected state, than these birds of the air. "The foxes

have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." O melting consideration, that the glorious Son of God, "the Lord of glory," "the brightness of his Father's glory," who "was rich," and "thought it not robbery to be equal with God," who from all eternity was infinitely and ineffably

delighting and rejoicing in the bosom of his Father;" that he should manifest himself in the flesh, yea," in the likeness of sinful flesh," that is, in flesh that had the marks and effects of sin upon it, as hunger, thirst, pain, weariness, and mortality; and not only so, but choose such a state of outward meanness and poverty, never being possessed of a house in this world, but living as a stranger in other men's houses, and stooping in this respect to a lower condition than the very birds of the air, and all this for enemies! O let it work both admiration and thankfulness in my soul!-my body is better accommodated than the body of my Lord. "O Jesus, by how much. the viler thou madest thyself for me, by so much the dearer shalt thou be to me."

MEDITATION VIII.

On the early Singing of Birds.

How am I reproved for sluggishness by these watchful birds, which cheerfully entertain the very dawning of the morning with their cheerful and delightful warblings! They set their little spirits to work betimes, whilst my nobler spirits are bound with the bonds of soft and downy slumbers. For shame, my soul. Suffer not that publican sleep to seize so much of thy time, yea, thy best and freshest time. Reprove and chide thy sluggish body.

It is pity that Christians of all men should suffer sleep to take so much out of so small a portion as their time on earth

is. But alas! it is not so much early rising, as a wise improving those fresh and free hours with God, that will enrich the soul. O my soul, learn to prepossess thyself every morning with the thoughts of God, and suffer not those fresh and sweet operations of thy mind to be prostituted to earthly things; for that is experimentally true, which one in this case has pertinently observed, that if the world get the start of religion in the morning, it will be hard for religion to overtake it all the day after.

MEDITATION IX.

On the Haltering of Birds with a Hair. Observing, in a snowy season, how the poor hungry birds were haltered by a grain of hair cunningly cast over their heads, whilst, poor creatures, they were busily feeding, and suspecting no danger; and noticing that even whilst their companions were drawn away from them, one after another, all the interruption it gave the rest was only for a minute or two, whilst they stood peeping into that hole through which their companions were drawn, and then fell to their meat again as busily as before; I could not but say, Even thus surprisingly does death steal upon the children of men, whilst they are wholly intent upon the cares and pleasures of this life, not at all suspecting its so near approach.' These birds saw not the hand that ensnared them, nor do they see the hand of death plucking them one after another into the grave. And even as the surviving birds for a little time seemed to stand affrighted, peeping after their companions, then went as busily as ever to their meat again; just so it fares with the careless, inconsiderate world, who see others daily dropping into eternity round about them, and for the present are a little startled, and will look into the grave after their neighbours, and then fall as busily to their earthly employments and pleasures again as ever, till their own turn comes.

and

I know, my God, that I must die as well as others; but O let me not die as others do; let me see death before I feel it, and conquer it before it kill me; let it not come as an enemy upon my back, but rather let me meet it as a friend, half way. Die I must, but let me lay up a good

treasure before I go, carry with me a good conscience when I go, and leave behind me a good example when I am gone; and then let death come, and welcome.

MEDITATIONS ON BEASTS.

MEDITATION I.

On the Clogging of a straying Beast.

I

HAD this bullock remained quietly within his own bounds, his owner had never put such a heavy clog upon his neck; but I see the prudent husbandman chooses rather to keep him with this clog, than lose him for want of one. What this clog is to him, that is affliction and trouble to me. Had my soul kept close with God in liberty and prosperity, he would never have thus clogged me with adversity; yea, and happy were it for me, if I might stray from God no more; if, with David I might say, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy word." O my soul, it is better for thee to have thy pride clogged with poverty, thy ambition with reproach, thy carnal expectancies with constant disappointments, than to be at liberty to run from God and duty. It is true, am sometimes as weary of these troubles, as this poor beast is of the clog he draws after him, and often wish myself rid of them; but yet, if God should take them off, for aught I know, I might have cause to wish them on again, to prevent a greater mischief. It is said of Basil, that for many years he was sorely afflicted with an inveterate head-ache; he often prayed for the removal of it; at last God removed it, but instead thereof he was sorely exercised with the motions and temptations of lust, which when he perceived, he as earnestly desired his head-ache again, to prevent a greater evil. Lord, if my corruptions may be prevented by my afflictions, I refuse not to be clogged with them; but my soul rather desires thou wouldest hasten the time when I shall be for ever freed from them both.