So are the early unions of an unfixed Marriage: watchful and observant, jealous and busy, inquisitive and careful, and apt to take alarm at every unkind word. For infirmities do not manifest themselves in the first Scenes, but in the succession of a long Society.
Jeremy Taylorsince God has appointed one remedy for all the evils in the world and that is a contented spirit.
Jeremy TaylorThis temporal fire is but a painted fire in respect of that penetrating and real fire in hell.
Jeremy TaylorFrom David learn to give thanks for everything. Every furrow in the book of Psalms is sown with the seeds of thanksgiving.
Jeremy TaylorThe pharisees minded what God spoke, but not what He intended. They were busy in the outward work of the hand, but incurious of the affections and choice of the heart. So God was served in the letter, they did not much inquire into His purpose; and therefore they were curious to wash their hands, but cared not to purify their hearts.
Jeremy TaylorGod hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends.
Jeremy TaylorThus Nero went up and down Greece and challenged the fiddlers at their trade. Æropus, a Macedonian king, made lanterns; Harcatius, the king of Parthia, was a mole-catcher; and Biantes, the Lydian, filed needles.
Jeremy TaylorA wise man shall overrule his stars, and have a greater influence upon his own content than all the constellations and planets of the firmament.
Jeremy TaylorNo man can tell but he that loves his children, how many delicious accents make a man's heart dance in the pretty conversation of those dear pledges; their childishness, their stammering, their little angers, their innocence, their imperfections, their necessities, are so many little emanations of joy and comfort to him that delights in their persons and society.
Jeremy TaylorGod hath prepared a little coronet or special reward (extraordinary and beside the great crown of all faithful souls) for those who have not defiled themselves with women.
Jeremy TaylorMarriage is the mother of the world. It preserves kingdoms, and fills cities and churches, and heaven itself.
Jeremy TaylorTo secure a contented spirit, measure your desires by your fortune, and not your fortune by your desires.
Jeremy TaylorThe greatest evils, are from within us; and from ourselves also we must look for the greatest good.
Jeremy TaylorA great fear, when it is ill-managed, is the parent of superstition; but a discreet and well-guided fear produces religion.
Jeremy TaylorMercy is like the rainbow, which God hath set in the clouds; it never shines after it is night. If we refuse mercy here, we shall have justice in eternity.
Jeremy TaylorAn unjust acquisition is like a barbed arrow, which must be drawn backward with horrible anguish, or else will be your destruction.
Jeremy TaylorTemperance is reason's girdle and passion's bridle, the strength of the soul and the foundation of virtue.
Jeremy TaylorAdultery itself in its principle is many times nothing but a curious inquisition after, and envy of another man's enclosed pleasures: and there have been many who refused fairer objects that they might ravish an enclosed woman from her retirement and single possessor.
Jeremy TaylorHe that does a base thing in zeal for his friend burns the golden thread that ties their hearts together.
Jeremy TaylorIn self-examination, take no account of yourself by your thoughts and resolutions in the days of religion and solemnity; examine how it is with you in the days of ordinary conversation and in the circumstances of secular employment.
Jeremy TaylorMistake not. Those pleasures are not pleasures that trouble the quiet and tranquillity of thy life.
Jeremy TaylorThe private and personal blessings we enjoy- the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty and integrity- deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life.
Jeremy TaylorA pure mind in a chaste body is the mother of wisdom and deliberation; sober counsels and ingenuous actions; open deportment and sweet carriage; sincere principles and unprejudiced understanding; love of God and self-denial; peace and confidence; hol
Jeremy TaylorFaith is the root of all blessings. Believe, and you shall be saved; believe, and you must needs be satisfied; believe, and you cannot but be comforted and happy
Jeremy TaylorWhat can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the skill of art is not able to make an oyster? To see rare effects, and no cause ; a motion, without a mover ; a circle, without a centre ; a time, without an eternity ; a second, without a first : these are things so against philosophy and natural reason, that he must be a beast in understanding who can believe in them. The thing formed, says that nothing formed it ; and that which is made is, while that which made it is not, This folly is infinite.
Jeremy TaylorMarriage is divine in its institution, sacred in its union, holy in the mystery, sacramental in its signification, honourable in its appellative, religious in its employments: it is advantage to the societies of men, and it is "holiness to the Lord.
Jeremy TaylorSo long as idleness is quite shut out from our lives, all the sins of wantonness, softness, and effeminacy are prevented; and there is but little room for temptation.
Jeremy TaylorMan and wife are equally concerned, to avoid all offence of each other, in the beginning of their conversation. Every little thing can blast an infant blossom.
Jeremy TaylorA celibate, like the fly in the heart of an apple, dwells in a perpetual sweetness, but sits alone, and is confined and dies in singularity.
Jeremy TaylorDrunkenness is an immoderate affection and use of drink. That I call immoderation that is besides or beyond that order of good things for which God hath given us the use of drink.
Jeremy TaylorThe Lord's Prayer is short and mysterious, and, like the treasures of the Spirit, full of wisdom and latent senses: it is not improper to draw forth those excellencies which are intended and signified by every petition, that by so excellent an authority we may know what it is lawful to beg of God.
Jeremy TaylorEnjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly: for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow.
Jeremy TaylorNothing is greater or more fearful sacrilege than to prostitute the great name of God to the petulancy of an idle tongue.
Jeremy TaylorGod is everywhere present by His power. He rolls the orbs of heaven with His hand; He fixes the earth with His foot; He guides all creatures with His eye, and refreshes them with His influence; He makes the powers of hell to shake with His terrors, and binds the devils with His word.
Jeremy TaylorSome friendships are made by nature, some by contract, some by interest, and some by souls.
Jeremy TaylorNo man can hinder our private addresses to God; every man can build a chapel in his breast, himself the priest, his heart the sacrifice, and the earth he treads on, the altar.
Jeremy Taylor