I now began to be sensible of my folly, and so resolved to take up in time, and redeem by degrees my lost credit by a temperate sober life; but that I found I had wasted my self extremely, by which means I became lesse capable of reacting what I had before done, and my mind in a manner satiated, I question whether I should have had now such penitent thoughts. For a while I kept my Shop diligently and constantly; I would not drink with any but at home; my sudden alteration made people admire, and the suddennesse of my reformation was the common discourse of all my Neighbours: The Parson of our Parish hearing of my strange alteration, came to me, which I admired at; for before, he that had the least care or respect of his Reputation, would avoid all occasions of being seen in my company, lest they might be suspected extravagant and deboist. _Pares cum paribus facillime congregantur._ Birds of a Feather will flock together. The shortness of his hair declar’d him a member of the _Circumcision_, but his _triple cap_, or three _caps_ on his head, shew’d, though he hated the very name of _Rome_ or _Babylon_, yet he lov’d formerly a Whore _in private, though common_. His Cloak was fac’d down with _zeal_ before, and his Band appear’d but as a _broad hem_, to shew that a _hem_, with _two or three formal spits_, or a feigned Cough, was the usual supply of his discourse, when he had _thrasht_ himself in his _Cloak_ out of breath in the _Pulpit_. His looks resembled the _bleer-ey’d Printing_ at _Geneva_ (and his face like that sort of ragged paper on which they work off their impressions. After he had set his face into a Platform, he delivered himself. I shall not relate exactly his own canting words, or what he borrowed from Scripture, being sensible, _non est tutum ludere cum sacris_, but give you the substance, which was first a reproof for my extravagancies: secondly, some general instructions, (pickt out of a common-place Book) for my future practice: and lastly, some encouragements drawn from various motives to proceed (without looking back) toward a good life: on which three points he ran divisions strangely, till Dinner-time, and then his stomach petitioned him to shut his mouth, lest it should be deprived of its appetite by receiving in too much air. In this seeming strictness of life I lived two or three months, and now some began to have charitable thoughts of my Soul: & that I might regain my runnings out by future diligence and industry. I had several Matches offered me, which I saw, but liked them not; for I had always been a general lover, and could not now come to particulars. At last it was my misfortune to see one, whom I was wisht to; and which at first sight robbed me at once, both of my self and good company.