1. To quicken thee to exercise thy self to godliness in solitude.1 Consider, The benefit of solitude; well improved solitude is a good opportunity for godliness. Seneca was wont to say, that he seldom went into company, that he came not home worse then he went out. Society, as it hath much gain, so much perplexity; Solitude is a release to the soul that was imprisoned in Company. To be much in Company tires and wearies us; We are prone to count it a bondage, and the persons we associate with, our fetters; Retiring seasonably from them, sets us at liberty, and giveth us freedom to mount up to Heaven at our pleasure. Scipio would tell his friends, I have never better company, then when I have no company, for then can I freely entertain my own thoughts, and converse with all the learned that have been in former ages. Hierom speaks better, Sapiens nunquam solus esse potest •abet; enim secum omnes qui sunt & qui fuerunt boni — & si bominum sit inopia, loquitur cum Deo. A wise man can ⟨p. 358⟩never be alone, for he hath ever with him all the good men that are, or have been, and if he find any want of men, he can converse with God. It was a custom among the Indians, when their King went to bed, to pray with piping acclamations, that he might have happy dreams, and withal, consult well for the good of his Subjects; As if• the silent, secret night had been a friend to wisdom. One of the best Kings that ever the world had, tells us, My reins instruct me in the night season, Psa. 16. 7. The sensual worldling is a stranger to such secrecy: It hath in some respects an advantage of society, it hath not those clamours nor distractions with it, which hinder us in our heavenly trade; As it hath fewer allurements to good, so it hath fewer impediments of good, and fewer suggestions to evil, and truly the grand Argument to good, which is, instar omnium, is not wanting to it; It hath the presence of God. Every godly man may say in a sense, as Christ did, when his Disciples were to leave him alone, I am not alone, because the Father is with me, Joh. 16. 32. It is reported of Numa, that after the death of his Wife Tatia, he left the City, and gave himself wholly to walk in Fields and Woods, consecrated to the gods, and thence was said to enjoy the goddess Egeria, and that she made him her Husband. Plut. in vit. Num.
1. To quicken thee to exercise thy self to godliness in solitude.1 Consider, The benefit of solitude; well improved solitude is a good opportunity for godliness. Seneca was wont to say, that he seldom went into company, that he came not home worse then he went out. Society, as it hath much gain, so much perplexity; Solitude is a release to the soul that was imprisoned in Company. To be much in Company tires and wearies us; We are prone to count it a bondage, and the persons we associate with, our fetters; Retiring seasonably from them, sets us at liberty, and giveth us freedom to mount up to Heaven at our pleasure. Scipio would tell his friends, I have never better company, then when I have no company, for then can I freely entertain my own thoughts, and converse with all the learned that have been in former ages. Hierom speaks better, Sapiens nunquam solus esse potest •abet; enim secum omnes qui sunt & qui fuerunt boni — & si bominum sit inopia, loquitur cum Deo. A wise man can ⟨p. 358⟩never be alone, for he hath ever with him all the good men that are, or have been, and if he find any want of men, he can converse with God. It was a custome among the Indians, when their King went to bed, to pray with piping acclamations, that he might have happy dreams, and withal, consult well for the good of his Subjects; As if• the silent, secret night had been a friend to wisdom. One of the best Kings that ever the world had, tells us, My reins instruct me in the night season, Psa. 16. 7. The sensual worldling is a stranger to such secrecy: It hath in some respects an advantage of society, it hath not those clamours nor distractions with it, which hinder us in our heavenly trade; As it hath fewer allurements to good, so it hath fewer impediments of good, and fewer suggestions to evil, and truly the grand Argument to good, which is, instar omnium, is not wanting to it; It hath the presence of God. Every godly man may say in a sense, as Christ did, when his Disciples were to leave him alone, I am not alone, because the Father is with me, Joh. 16. 32. It is reported of Numa, that after the death of his Wife Tatia, he left the City, and gave himself wholly to walk in Fields and Woods, consecrated to the gods, and thence was said to enjoy the goddess Egeria, and that she made him her Husband. Plut. in vit. Num.
- 1Motives. 1. The benefit of solitude.
