2"* S. VI. 147., Oct. 23. '58.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



321 



LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23. 1858. 



OU) WOBDS AKD PHRASES FROM THE PDEITAN 

 WRITERS. 



In a former number of "N. & Q." (2"" S. v. 

 293.), a correspondent suggested that the writings 

 of the early Puritans afibrded many examples of 

 English proverbs and words now obsolete. These 

 works, and those of a kindred sort, are indeed a 

 rich mine of information on, and illustration of, 

 many curious and interesting subjects. Perhaps 

 the following quotations, which have been culled 

 from a few books of this character, may be ac- 

 ceptable for "N. & Q." 



Proverbs, or Proverbial Expressions. — 



" He that thinks he works for a song (as we say), will 

 not sing at his work." — Gurnall's Christian in Armour, 

 edit, of 1663, iii. 20. 



" Those whoso sermons when delivered in their audi- 

 tories smell (as Chalens said of Demosthenes' Orations') 

 of the lamp, are the fruits of much prayer and study; yet 

 when they are to publish them to the world, they will 

 survey every sentence, weigh ever}' word, bestow more 

 care and labour on them : hence, possibly, our proverbial 

 speech when a thing is done exactly, — ' This is done in 

 print.' " — Geo. Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling, 1668, 

 p. 42. 



" He looks that, in his parlour, where he gives enter- 

 tainment to his friends, all things should be in print." — 

 lb., p. 79. 



" If his heart be in his garden, O how neatly it is kept ! 

 it shall vie, as we say, in print." — Gurnall's Christian in 

 Armour, ii. 267. 



" He missed his market." — lb., iii. 20. 



" He (an unfaithful minister) may fear lest God from 

 heaven should give him the Zye while he is in the pulpit." — 

 lb., iii. 355. 



" Solomon observed his (Adonijah's) drift, to make 

 Abishag but a step to his getting into the throne," &c. — 

 lb., iii. 337. 



" Ejaculatorj' prayer need not interrupt the Christian, 

 nor break squares in his other employments." — lb., iii. 

 385. 



" Men, when they are frolique, and upon the meny pin, 

 then they have their catches and songs." — Jb., iii. 3^6. 



" A little of these upon a knife's point will content him." 

 — lb., iii. 672. 



" Though people arc not to pin their faith on their mi- 

 nister's sleeve, yet they are to seek the law at his mouth, 

 for Malachi ii. 7."— lb., iii. 209. 



. " Get thy interest in the promises cleared up. This is 

 the hinge on -which the great dispute betwixt thee and 

 Satan will move in the day of trouble." — lb., iii. 235. 



" Their backs are not broad enough to bear," &c. 



" The smith, we say, and his penny, both are black, so 

 wert thou and all thy duties and performances while un- 

 reconciled in God's eye." 



" Indeed, best is best cheap." 



" David thought himself cock sure, as we say, of ^d's 

 favor in Psalm xxx. 6, 7." — Jacob's Altar, by N. Whit- 

 ing, 1659, p. 47. 



" It is said of the Pope, he can never want money, tvhile 

 he can hold a pen ; his writing of pardons and indulgences 

 fillcth his coflers." — Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling, 

 p. 104. 



" They ought to consider what the shoulders can bear." 



— Calvin on Jeremiah, i. 8. 



" His office would not be according to a common say- 

 ing, a mere play." — lb., i. 18. 



" All think they are wise enough ; Oh, do you think 

 that I am a child ? or, as is commonly said. Do you think 

 I am a goose ?" — lb., viii. 8. 



" ' / hate the wise who is not wise for himself,' is an old 

 proverb." — lb., viii. 9. 



" They speak incorrectly who represent God's justice in 

 opposition to His mercy : hence the common proverb — 

 ' / appeal from justice to mercy .' ' " — Jb., ix. 23. 



"Experience sufficiently proves the truth of the old 

 proverb, ' What is ill got is ill spent.' " — lb., xvii. 11. 



" Like a nose of wax, for it can be turned to anything." 



— lb., xxiii. 17. 



" As it is said in the proverb, ' Eveji quickness is delay 

 when we have ardent wishes' " — lb., xxxiii. 15. 



" Though all confess, according to the common proverb, 

 that ' Necessity is a mistress whom all are bound to obey,' 

 j'et the greater part struggle with necessity itself." — lb,, 

 xxxviii. 23. 



French and Italian Provei'bs and Expressions. — 



" There seems implied a kind of ironv as we commonly 

 say, II faut bruler tous les rivres." — Calvin on Jeremiah, 

 viii. 8. 



" Promiscuous and without any difference, as we say 

 in our language pele mele." 



" As we say in French de courte veue, who sees only 

 things near, as it were before the ej'es." — Jb., xxiii. 23. 



" There cannot be a more certain argument of a de- 

 caj'ed stomach than the loathing of wholesome and solid 

 food, and longing after fine guelques choses of new and 

 artificial composition." — Bp. Hall's VTorks, vol. v. 207. 



"It is no commendation to Englishmen that they are 

 Frenchmen's apes. A la mode de France is most in the 

 gallants' mouths." — Swinnock's CItristian Mali's Calling, 

 p. 317. 



" Unjust gain, like the Jtalian buttered sponge, may go 

 down glib, but it swelleth in the body." — Jb., 348. 



" The Italians say, ' Play, wine, and women consume a 

 man laughing." — Gurnall, iii. 180. 



References to Customs, Sfc. — 



" One I have heard of that would not be present at any 

 funeral, could not bear the sight of his own gray hairs, 

 and therefore used a blacklead comb to discolor them." — 

 Gurnall's Christian in Armour, ii. 397. 



" Long hair, gaudy garish apparel, spotted faces," &c. — 

 Jb., ii. 237. 



" If thou wert in prison, thou hadst rather learn to 

 read thy neck verse, than lose thy life for want thereof." 



— lb., iii. 189. 



" As the wiping of the Table Book before we can write 

 anything well on it." — Jb., iii. 465. 



Words, Application of, or Formation of, illus- 

 trated. — 



" Assassinants, intending to stab," &c. — Jb., iii. 230. 



" It is not far that sense can reach, and but little fur- 

 ther that reason's purblind eye can see." — Jb., iii. 249. 



" The slutlery of the cook." — /&., iii. 256. 



" Like some wrangling barreter, who gets what skill he 

 can in the law." — Jb., iii. 84. 



" It (secret sin) doth wile and disorder the heart." — 

 J/>., iii. 294. 



" There are dregs enough within to royk, and distem- 

 per the spirit." — lb., 026. 



"If the workman's tools be blunt or gapt, no work can 

 well be done." — J6., iii. 294. 



