God loves to see his creatures happy; our lawful delight is His; they know not God that think to please Him with making themselves miserable. The idolaters thought it a fit service for Baal to cut and lance themselves; never any holy man looked for thanks from the true God by wronging himself.

Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave.

If religion might be judged of according to men's intentions, there would scarcely be any idolatry in the world.

Our good purposes foreslowed are become our tormentors upon our deathbed.

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.

Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.

We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men; we know not the inward canker that eats out all their joy and delight, and makes them really much more miserable than ourselves.