' Joshua xxiv. 15 ; Ps, cxii. 7 ; Mai. iii. 6. The poor heathen coukl say, that change of place causeth not any change of mind, &o. :
Coelum non animun mutant qui trans mare currunt. — (Horat. lib. i. ep. xi.) * See Index sub voce for other references to this. — G. ^ = 'tipple.' — G.
SoQ A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. II.
are like the chameleon, ready to change their hue with every one they converse with ; they are like Polypus, that resembleth every stone that it sticketh to ; or they are like the buskins anciently used in tragedies^ that would serve either leg alike ;^ they are as fit for one society as an- other ; or Uke the players that used them, such as acting princely parts, wear royal apparel, keep state, and demean themselves gravely and soberly, so long as they are in public view upon the stage ; but when they have done acting, are no sooner off the stage, but they pass pre- sently into another habit, and retain neither their princely behaviour nor apparel, but are most beggarly, base, and debauched, either in private among themselves, or among their companions like themselves.* Unsound hearts can accommodate themselves to the times, and comply with them, whatever they be. With Proteus they will transform them- selves into all shapes ; as the times change, so will they ; what the times favour, that they will favour ; what the times commend, that they will commend ; what the times cry up and admire, that they will cry up and admire ; and what the times frown upon and condemn, that they will frown upon and condemn. Look, as curious and well drawn pictures seem to turn their eyes every way, and to smile upon every one that looks upon them, so these can turn with the times, they can look as the times look, and smile as the times smile ; they can say with the times, and sail with the times ; sometimes they can act one part, and sometimes another part, as the times require. If the times reqiiire a large profession, they can make it ; if the times bespeak them to leave their religion at the church door, they can leave it. But now, a sincere Christian, he will labour to be so much the more gracious, by how much the more the times are licentious. A sincere Christian is like gold. If you cast it into the fire, it will not waste ; if you throw it into the water, it will not rust, it will retain its own purity and excellency where- ever you dispose of it. But,
V. Fifthly, A gracious heart sets himself most against his darling sin, his hosom-sin, against the sin of his complexion, constitution, inclination, and calling, &c., Heb. xii. 1. There is some one sinful quality that is more predominant in the heart of man than any other.' There is some one Delilah, some one darling sin that a man is more apt to play withal, and to hug in his own bosom, than any other. There is usually some one sin that is a favourite, some one sin which the heart is most fond of, and which the bias of the soul doth most naturally and strongly incline towards. Pliny writeth of some families that had privy marks on their bodies peculiar to those of that line ; and so every man hath as it were his privy sin, which is most justly and peculiarly called his; as in a ground that lieth unfilled, amongst the great variety of weeds, there is usually some master weed, one among the rest that is rifer and ranker than all the rest. And as it is in the body of man, that although in some decree or other, more or less, there be a mixture of all the four elements, not any of them wholly wantmg, yet there is some one of them predominant that gives the denomination ; in regard whereof .some are said to be of a sanguine, some of a phlegmatic, some of a cho- leric, and some of a melancholic constitution. Now, thus it is in the souls of men. Though there be a general mixture and medley of all
' Lucian. * Seneca, ep. 76, &c. ' Pcccatum tn delUiia. — Augustine.
Chap. II.] a cabinet of jewels. 357