Sermons preached before his MajestySermons preached before his Maiestie

I say, it is not needful that every action ¹should be considered; as in a journey, you know it is not needful for a man to think of every step, but the first intention of the journey will carry him a great way; so set the ²heart aright, and that intention will carry a man through many actions, though he stand not to consider every particular; but because our hearts are so ready to go out of the way, like young horses that are not accustomed to ³the high way, they are ready to turn aside ever and anon, except the hand be upon the bridle continually; so this consideration must be ever and anon repeated in the heart to keep it strait, it is apt else to turn a side. This ⁴we must learn to do in things that belong to godliness, in other things we are apt enough to do it; the young man is apt to consider how he shall satisfy his flesh, and the desires of it, how he shall obtain his pleasures; the ancienter men, they consider how they may increase their wealth, how they may keep correspondency, as it is said of the good house-wife, She considereth a field and gets it, Prou. 31. there is too much of this consideration, ⁵men consider such outward advantages: the thing that we require row, is to consider how we may walk circumspectly and holily before God in all things, this is the ⟨p. 86⟩thing that we ought to consider, & to neglect this and to intend other things, is no better than madness: If a man do but consider seriously what he is, what his condition is, and what he is fit for, he will reckon it madness to intend other things as he doth; we reckon men mad, when they fall a gathering straws, ⁶and stick their clothes with flowers, when they scrabble upon the walls, because we think these actions unmeet for a man: So come to a Christian, when he is occupied in trifles, in pleasures and honours, (for they are no better) when men do this with all their endeavour, this is as unmeet for a Christian, this is as much below a Christian, as those other actions, that I named, are below a man; and it is as truly spiritual madness, as the other is natural frenzy; consider of this therefore, and come to your selves. I am not too harsh in calling it madness, the Scripture calls it so, in