Bradstreet's "Meditations Divine and Moral"

 

1

There is no object that we see, no action that we do, no good that we enjoy, no evil that we feel or fear, but we may make some spiritual advantage of all; and he that makes such improvement is wise as well as pious.

 

4

A ship that bears much sail and little ballast is easily overset, and that man whose head hath great abilities and his heart little or no grace is in danger of foundering.

 

6

The finest bread hath the least bran, the purest honey the least wax, and the sincereest Christian the least self-love.

 

8

Downy beds make drowsy persons, but hard lodging keeps the eyes open; a prosperous state makes a secure Christian, but adversity makes him consider.

 

11

That town which thousands of enemies without hath not been able to take hath been delivered up by one traitor within, and that man which all the temptations of Satan without could not hurt hath been foiled by one lust within.

 

14

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.

 

19

Corn, till it have past through the mill and been ground to powder, is not fit for bread.  God so deals with his servants: he grinds them with grief and pain till they turn to dust, and then are fit manchet [fine bread] for his mansion.

 

31

Iron, till it be thoroughly heat, is uncapable to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction and then beats them on His anvil into what frame he pleases.