What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!

What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!

We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.

No marvel if the worldling escape earthly afflictions. God corrects him not. He is base born and begot. God will not do him the favour to whip him. The world afflicts him not, because it loves him: for each man is indulgent to his own. God uses not the rod where He means to use the Word. The pillory or scourge is for those malefactors that shall escape execution.

I account this body nothing but a close prison to my soul; and the earth a larger prison to my body. I may not break prison till I be loosed by death; but I will leave it, not unwillingly,when I am loosed.

For every bad there might be a worse; and when one breaks his leg let him be thankful it was not his neck.

Sorrows, because they are lingering guests, I will entertain but moderately, knowing that the more they are made of the longer they will continue: and for pleasures, because they stay not, and do but call to drink at my door, I will use them as passengers with slight respect. He is his own best friend that makes the least of both of them.