the father beare Unto his tender child his sonne most deare That seeing him lie sick upon his bed As if his soule were from his body fled That he both speakes and weepes the child alas As if it were a trifle lets it passe He takes him by the hand my child quoth he Knew I thy wants I soone would sucker thee The child not able to expresse a word Unto his tender father doth afford A smiling looke and fixing of his eye Full fast upon him striveth earnestly To make his mone to shew where lies his paine But wanting strength his striving is in vaine His father does the best he can to ease Him of his paine and what he thinks may please His mind or palate he forthwith takes care How to provide the same he does not spare His purse nor person but as one that were Out of his wits he without heed or feare Goes runs and rides and makes with spur and whip His horse o're vallies and high mountaines skip But finding still his labour to no end He makes what haste he may or can to send For its deare mother and his tender wife And bids the messenger run as for life And tell her that her child is growne so weake That for a world a word it cannot speake She hearing this sad newes makes no delay Her husband runs to meet her by the way And meeting her his mind doth thus unfold Deare-heart I doubt not but thou hast been told How that my sonne lies sick and cannot speake His heart with paine is ready for to breake And mine with griefe because I understand Not what he meanes when he with head and hand And other moving parts does what he can To shew his mind to me unhappy man I pray thee goe and see if thou canst find By any signes its meaning or his mind And though it cannot speake through griefe and paine Yet if thou canst imagine guesse or gaine By any signe what it desires of me Doubt not my love it shall soone granted be More tender mercies will God manifest Unto his children when they are opprest With waves of sorrow and in such distresse That how to pray aright or to expresse Their minds they known not a he accepts their sighes Their sobs their teares their grones and mournfull cries He takes their godly meaning for the deed In peeces he 'le not break the bruised reed Nor quench the smoking flax Mat. 12. Esay 42 1. Psal â—2 12.33.1 oh then be glad And much reioyce in God you that are sad In heart because you cannot pray draw near To him with boldnesse doubt not God will heare The chatt'ring of his Saints and their request Will grant or what in wisdome he sees best For we oft times for want of judgement crave And earnestly desire such things to have As are at best but losse drosse dung and durt And such as might both soule and body hurt The earthly parent will not give a stone Unto his child when he for bread makes mone Mat. 7.7 Not yet a serpent when he craves a fish Nor for an egge a scorpion nor a dish Of deadly poison if then parents know How on their children good things to bestow Much better can our heavenly Father tell What 's for our good who does so far excell In grace and wisdome parents whilst they live For want of judgement to their children give Such things as prove their bane yea oft such things As strange diseases on the bodie brings Psal 75 3 104 8.145.14 But God that did both earth and heaven frame And every thing perteining to the same Who governs all things by his mighty hand Their ends and natures well doth understand He knowes what 's pleasing unto flesh and blood And what may further our eternall good And therefore doth in mercy oft denie a Us what we aske with zeale and fervencie Yea when we aske for stones he gives us bread The food of life eternall yea in stead Of serpents fishes and for dung and drosse A weighty crowne of glory yea for losse Of life goods or good name eternall gaine In stead of pearles and jewells he a chaine Of his celestiall graces will bequeath Whose splendor will obscure all things beneath In stead of partridge woodcocks snipes and phesants Which now a daies are meats for clowns and peasants In stead I say of such like dainty fare Which many make their god God will prepare A table for his Saints deckt with such meate As shall them so suffice that thereof eate That they shall never thirst nor hunger more After those things they thirsted for before In stead of costly buildings and great places Which upstarts oft for want of grace disgraces We with the Angels shall in heaven sing Sweet songs of praise to our eternall King In stead of great attendance and respect Which many as some more then God affect We have the blessed Angels to attend Our persons and from harme us to defend In stead of high-borne kindred and great friends On which so many fooles too much depends God makes himselfe a father and a mother A wife to one a husband to another In stead of milke and hony wine and oyle Whereof too many prodigalls make spoile We have the sincere milke of his pure word Which doth both hony wine and oyle afford For rich attire whereby so proud some grow That they themselves or friends can hardly know With robes of sanctity he cloathes us here That we for aye his princely robes may weare In stead of musick for to please the eare A pleasing voice we shâ—ll from heaven heare Saying this is the way to life and light Deâ—tro 4.12 Ezek. 33 32. Turne neither to the left hand nor the right The second thought VVHo is' t that strikes us is' t a deadly foe Or one desirous of our overthrow No ti 's our best and dearest friend nay rather Psal 94.12.66.10 Laâ— 1.12 Our ever-loving God and tender father What comfort may this yeeld unto a soule That is constrain'd its weaknesse to condole Who can expresse what ease the grieved find When they this truth consider well in mind Troubles and sorrowes may the good befall But this will make them triumph over all Simile The sick man need not doubt distrust or feare His Doctors care who hath a father deare For his Physitian nor the least doubt make Whether those med'cines he may safely take Which he prescribes not onely with great care But with his owne hand likewise does prepare Lesse cause Gods people have to be afraid In time of triall or so much dismaid When they should suffer for the Gospells sake Which lies then bleeding as it were at stake If they consider well who doth them call Yea for what end and purpose and withall How by his mightie and all-ruling hand He governs all things both on sea and land So that the divell nor his instruments Can bring to any purpose their
intents Without leave from above this truth we find Marke 5.12 Confirm'd by Scripture to confirme the mind Of all the faithfull how the divels were Not able of themselves once to draw neare The heard of swine for they of Christ besought Not only leave to goe as if they thought That of small force but to be sent that so They might be able into them to go What comfort may the soule from hence apply Unto its selfe in its extemity How may it reason with the Lord and say My God my guide my judge my staffe and stay Could not the divels go into those swine Without thy sufferance and leave divine Couldst thou oh Lord by thy almighty hand So mercilesse a creature so command As fire and such a fire in such a place That those three children through thy strength and grace Could walke i' th midst thereof Dan. 3.17 and not so much As have their garments smell was thy power such And shall I feare the face of mortall man Whose life is but a bubble blast or span I know oh God of might thou art the same Psal 75.2 Numb 1â— 23 Thou canst not change Jehovah is thy name Thou didst the Jsraelites with Manna feed And gav'st them quailes in their great want and need Thou brought'st forth streames from rockes both hard and high Thou mad'st great swelling rivers to be drie Bashan and Carmell are at thy command Great Princes at thy voice amazed stand The Cedars tall thy voice asunder rends At thy rebuke great-swelling Neptune bends Thou canst effect things opposite to nature To pleasant wine thou canst turne running water Saint Iohn th'Evangelist was put to boile Into a Cauldron full of scaulding oile Yet by thy hand of providence oh God He rather came annointed forth then sod I know thy hand hath wrought many a wonder Psal 89 5 6.7 to thâ— 19. Psal 74 14.15.16 17.18 Psal 136.4 Psal 78.13.21 Dividing seas and cleaving rocks asunder Slack in thy promise I thee never tooke Thou hast no time thy chosen flock forsooke At thy command I never tooke up armes But thou hast stood between me and my harmes 1. Sam. 17.35 3â— Then though my foes in campe against me lie And will in battle picht their forces trie I in thy name will be both strong and stout Because thy hand doth fence me round about For sure I am thy all supporting grace Will strengthen me my foes quite to deface Dan. 3. Had not those hungry lions so much power As Daniel thy deare servant to devoure Could they not hurt him with their griping pawes Nor teare his limbs asunder with their jawes Then give me blessed Lord true faith that I In time of triall may on thee relie Being assured that it is the rod Of a kind father and a loving God 1 Sam 3.18 It is the Lord saith Eli that doth smite Let him do what seems good in his owne sight I was as dumbe and would not speake a word Because I knew that it was thou oh Lord Iob. 1.21 The Lord doth give saith Iob and take away And blessed be his holy name for ay Lament 3.37.38 Amos 3.6 What evill's there in any place or land That is not wrought by my alworking hand A sea of comfort for the comfortlesse In times a of trouble sorrow and distresse Is this our father and our tender God Like children let us humbly kisse the rod How may this elevate our drooping hearts When Sathan with his sore-soule-wounding-darts And such as are his factors here below Our soules and bodies seeke to overthrow Anno 1588. Had not the Lord himselfe may England say Been on my side when mountaines high of prey And such as did delight to swim in blood Came in upon me as a swelling flood Their rageing streames had overwhelmed all My worthy cedars shrubs and bushes small Had not the Lord himselfe the soule may say Been on my side hell gates before this day Against me had prevail'd death and the grave Had made of me a bondman and a slave Simile How grievous to the child would it appeare If for a fault committed he should heare His tender father in his fury say Unto his servants take you him away Out of my sight and presence and for it Give him what punishment you shall thinke fit If this were our condition surely we Of all men should most miserable be But knowing that we neither can nor shall Thus in the hands of men or divells fall We may triumph and in our troubles sing Glory be to the Lord Our Supreme King Whose word a lion to a lambe can turne At whose command the fire shall cease to burne Mountaines shall dance the roofe of heaven shall shake Iob. 26.10.11 Earth like an asping leafe for feare shall quake The stars shall cease to shine the moone perforce Shall be compel'd to alter in her course Rocks shall grow moist great hils shall be made plaine Great swelling Neptune shall be cleft in twaine A raven shall Elias feed the flood Shall not hurt Noah nor such as be good The greedie whale shall Ionas cast on shore Whom she had swallowed downe three daies before The crowing of a cocke shall Peter bring Upon his knees a viper shall not sting A holy Paul a stone in Davids sling Shall bring Goliah to the dust the Sun Shall cease his swift and wonted course to run The fire of Sodom shall not hurt at all A holy Lot prison nor bonds a Paul A cruell Pharoh nor a bloodie Saul A Moses or a David no nor all The pollicie and might of divels in hell Or of their instruments which so excell In hellish subtletie a shall able be To hurt the godly in the least degree The Lord doth reigne oh let the earth rejoyce And let his Saints triumph with chearfull voice The third thought Rom 8.28.29 THough troubles grievous seeme to flesh and blood Yet all things worke c together for the good Of such as love the Lord whether they be Advanc'd to honour or in low degree Whether they be in sicknesse or in health 2. Reg. 6.27.30.33 Whether they be in poverty or wealth For nothing d happens to the just by chance But by the hand of divine providence And though God seeme to disregard our cries And mournfull teares and for a time e denies Our earnest suites yea in our greatest need And cause our troubles much more to exceed 1 Cor. 19.9 Yet he no time hath his forsooke nor will Because he will his promises fulfill A wise Physitian seekes not for to please The sicke mans fancie but looke what may ease And miâ—igate his paine he will apply Though for the present he encrease thereby The measure of his griefe and as it were Add sorrow unto sorrow feare to feare Yet in the end he cures him of his paine And to his former health restores againe Such is the weaknesse of our flesh that
we Thinke nothing good for us but what may be Pleasing to nature but the God of grace Oft from his dearest servants hides his face And makes them for a time in wants a to live That he to them eternall life may give Psal 94 12.13 14. He often suffers them to be perplext And by infernall spirits strangely vext That they might walke more humbly in his sight And feare to sin against his grace and might Yet in due time they b shall find ease and rest And with great gladnesse see their foes supprest For sure his mercies are and from above He loves them with an everlasting c love Simile A wise Physitian through his skill and art Cures many times a man by taking part Of that away which does by d nature feed The vitall spirits when they moisture need He can so temper poyson by his skill That it will prove a very wholesome pill And shall not God who by his power brings Light out of darknesse and doth call such things As never were shall he not able be To make his crosse our chiefe felicitie Psal 68 4â— Psal 103.19 He that could turne those waters into blood Can turne what we terme ill unto our e good He that could cause cleare water to be wine A barren tree to be a fruitfull vine Without all controversie if he please And see it for our good can with like ease Convert our sorrowes into joy our teares To sollid mirth yea our soul-wounding feares And doubting of his care and providence Unto well-grounded hope and confidence He can so order all our crosses here That to the world at length it may appeare That it was good for us to beare the rod And scourges of so mercifull a God If by affliction then thou hop'st to finde Good to thy soule peace to thy troubled minde Looke not so much upon the a Crosse to see What hope or likely-hood therein may bee As to the promise b which the Lord hath made Which shall stand good when earth and heaven fade Cast all thy soule-disturbing cares aside God can and will what 's for thy good provide Could we our hearts unto this temper bring And fully be perswaded of this thing We should not so much stagger as we doe When we the crosse of Christ should undergoe Simile What grievous tortures do the sick endure From time to time in waiting for a cure As launcing c searing cupping losse of blood Hoping all will at length bee for their good E'vn so this would correct the too much feare That is in us if we perswaded were That all the troubles of this present life As losse of friends of husband children wife Of goods good name yea and of life if we Be cal'd thereto much for our good will be Then thou oh mighty God of gods who art The framer and disposer of the heart Convince our minds and so our hearts perswade That in these brinish waters we may wade With chearfulnesse of spirit soule and mind Although we saile against both tide and wind For sure we are though stormes and waves may rore We safely shall at length be brought to shoare And when this pilgrimage shall have an end The noble peeres of heaven shall attend Upon our persons and with triumph bring Us to the city of our heavenly king Unto a city made of gold most pure Whose ground-worke shall for evermore endure Unto a city that shall neither have Need of the Sun or Moone Revel 21.43 for God that gave Them lifght and splendor at the first will be Our light and life to all eternitie O joy above all joyes what can annoy The soule that is possessed with this joy O light above all lights without whose light Man cannot judge the day time from the night What mists and fogs mans mind should so obscure That he should not discerne thy light so pure O light of all the world teach us the way That leads unto this light that so we may In despite of all lets behold at length Thy blessed face in vigour and full strength O blessed sight God in himselfe to see My selfe in God and God himselfe in me O soule-rejoycing-sight what shall I see My friends and kindred in felicitie O full and perfect light what a shall I so Enlightend be hereby as God to know As I am knowne what shall I understand The secret works of his alworking hand Shall I poore sylly wretch acquainted be With all the secrets of the Trinitie How shall my soule triumph when in this place I shall behold my Maker face to face How shall I shout for joy exult and sing When I shall reigne with my eternall king If in his mothers wombe Iohn Baptist were Constrain'd to leape for joy when Christ drew neare Unto his mother Mary how shall we Exult for joy when Christ himselfe will be Not onely with us but in us that so Our joy and peace might ever over flow If that the Israelites for joy did sing When Salomon the wise was crowned king What cause shall we have to rejoyce when we Shall Christ behold in pompe and Majestie The wisemen greatly did triumph when they Found out the babe which in a manger lay How then shall we rejoyce triumph and sing When on his throne we see him sit as king O happy sweetnesse and sweet happinesse Thy soule-rejoycing joyes who can expresse 1. Cor. 2.9 Here 's fulnesse without loathing strength and health Without decay or sicknesse gaine and wealth Without losse or deceit peace without feare Joy without griefe love without hatred here 1. Cor. 13.15 Is knowledge without error holinesse Without uncleannesse truth and godlynesse Without dissembling concord without strife Beauty without deformity Dan. 12. Esay 32. and life Without the feare of death or any fainting Fame without shame and feature without painting Rest without sloath or labour grace and glory Transcending a all things that are transitory O holy judgement seat shall I appeare Before a Judge Acts 10 23. Mat. 3 9 Ioh 8.34 that neither will for feare Nor favour partiall be what shall I see Those men condemn'd who have condemned me Without a cause how can they in this case Without amazement looke me in the face O blessed fellowship what shall I be By grace united to the Trinitie Shall I bee seated in the Angels row Who for my sins deserve to be below The worst of all the divells oh what heart Is able to conceive the hundred part Of those soul-chearing joyes which from this roote In great aboundance dayly spring and shoote O blessed feast of feasts here is indeed The true and perfect Manna which will feed And please the b eater so that he no longer After the world shall either thirst or hunger O reall royall feast who can relate What King did such a feast e're celebrate We reade in Esther of a feast Est 1.4 that were Kept by King Assuerus halfe a yeare But
mute He does not stand the matter to dispute He entertaines no malice in his brest But meekly dies with Consummâ—tum est In times of trouble then the Godly may Ponder these things well in their minds and say Unto their stubborne hearts why are you sad Why do we fret and fume as men halfe mad Didst thou sweet Jesu with such meeknesse beare The heavie weight of sinne for us who were Thy deadly foes didst thou not shun nor scorne O mighty King to be so meanely borne O blessed God Heb. 7.17 wert thou content to take On thee our humane shape and for a our sake Become a servant who art Lord of all Wouldst thou come from thy throne unto a stall To be so meanly lodg'd as in a manger To be scarce entertained as a stranger Wouldst thou oh great Law-giver subject be Unto the censure of the Law that we Might be set free didst thou oh Lord I say For us poore slaves so great a ransome pay Wouldst thou oh blessed God become accurst For such as were of all thy creaturrs worst Wouldst thou oh supreame Judge so farre submit As to be judg'd of men didst thou acquit Those that condemned thee yea didst thou pray To God for their b forgivenesse who did lay Their bloody hands on thee and shall not we In all estates and times contented be Didst thou such drops of blood and water sweat To cleanse our soules from sinnes so soule and great Wouldst thou be taken when thou mightst have fled That we to hell might not be captive led Wouldst thou by sinfull men be bound that so The twisted cords of sinnes thou mightst undoe Didst thou in meeknesse blessed Lord permit Those sinfull-shamelesse wretches for to spit Disgracefully upon thy blessed face To cleanse our faces from sinnes soule disgrace Wouldst thou be hoodwink'd with a vaile that wee Thy lovely face and countenance might see Wouldst thou be buffetted and beat with staves From strokes of hellish fiends to free such slaves Mat. 26 6â— Couldst thou sweet Lord of life contented be To suffer death for such as hated thee Hast thou done this all this and that for such As rebels were and now shall we thinke much To beare thy crosse who understand and know How thou such love didst manifest and show Freely and fully when we were both slaves To sin and sathan helfire and our graves Surely sweet Jesus did we understand This love of thine aright it would command Our stubborne wills and stony hearts constraine Before all things thee to affect againe And surely did we love a thee as we ought Our hearts to such a temper would be brought That at thy hand we should not so repine But chearfully submit our wills to thine Then God of love we humbly thee desire With this thy love our hearts so set on fire That in these evill daies we may submit To beare what punishment thou shalt thinke fit To lay upon us give us faith to stay Our selves upon thy promises alway The fift thought 1 Pet. 1.6.7 Prov. 17 3. Eceles 2. leg cap. â—ot Psal 119.176 VVE ought to count all trialls as the rod And favour of an over-loving God Who still corrects us when we goe b astray And erre like lost sheepe in an unknowne way Yet so corrects that he his c love might show And that the world may plainly see and know That he will not spare sin though in the best Of his deare Saints and servants truly blest That he from sin their hearts might purifie And prove their faith love zeale and constancie 1 Pet. 1.6 7. A tree well-rooted in the ground stands fast And is not shaken downe with every blast Silver and gold the furnace can endure The drosse consumes the gold remains more pure So by these trialls some are a purer made When others like to drosse consume and fade Who in the time of peace will make such show Of zeale and godlinesse that none can know Or judge by outward works but that they are Such as Gods holy will and word preferre Before all worldly profits yea before Their lives and liberties their pompe and store Although they reigne on earth as petty kings Fully possessed with all outward things They go to church twice on the Sabbath day As if they went to heare what God would say They heare they read they fast and daily pray And where their tythes are due they duly pay Out of their plenty great excesse and store They give unto the needy and the poore Yea in their lives such fruits they will expresse Of truth integrity and godlinesse That all the world would judge them pure in heart And such as would from Gods lawes never start Yet when the time of triall draweth nigh And God begins his Saints to prove and trie They are so danted 1 Kings 18.21 that they do not know Which way to take what in this case to doe For want of faith on Gods word to relie Meekenesse to waite and servent zeale to flie To him for aide who never failes the just Or such deceive as in his mercy trust They fall away from God and godlinesse And scoffe at what they did before professe They are not semper idem for their minds Are found to varie ofter then the winds And such as these would sooner shed their bloods If there were cause for saving of their goods Then for the Gospel such will lose their lives Undo themselves their children friends and wives Rather then want their wills or put up wrongs When in Gods cause they want both hearts and tongues Simile As when much water falls and westwinds blow Luke 8 13. And flouds come in so fast to overflow The wonted bounds or limits know we shall Whether our houses will stand firme or fall In times of triall some are constant found Others like seed cast into stony ground Wanting both root and moisture faith to lay Fast hold on God and meeknesse for to stay The leasure of the Lord cannot abide The scorching heat wherewith the just is tride The empty vessell makes the greatest sound Those that seeme best the worst are often found The fairest birds may have the foulest feet Mars for a time great Iove may friendly greet And promise weather faire and happy gales And make the Navigator hoist up sailes Yet in this case he dares not be too bold Because he feares it is too calme to hold For if Saturnus crosse him in his way He comes forth as a Lion for his prey Thus did the Lord proove in the wildernesse The Israelites whereby they did expresse What was in each mans heart for we may find How some adored Idols some repin'd At Gods just dealing how some were content Meekely to beare his plague and punishment How some grew worse and worse and did commit Offences fetched from th' infernall pit Thus God the faith of Abraham did try Gen. 22 1. Heb. 11 17 To manifest unto the world thereby
sometimes giving leave Unto bloud thirsty tyrants to bereave Them of their lives and livings so that they Not without cause may with their Master say That foxes have their holes the bird her nest Luke 9.58 But we have not a place wherein to rest Or put our heads but are from place to place Toss'd like a tennis-ball with great disgrace When such as have their minds bent unto ill In honour and in wealth doe flourish still But now observe their ends well in thy minde Esay 65.13 14. And thou the godly mans estate shall finde More to be wish'd Psal 37 37. the wicked we may see A while to flourish like a laurell tree But so he dies and suddenly to hell Is drag'd by divells Luke 16 evermore to dwell In utter darkenesse and for aye to be In everlasting paines and misery Behold the world 's turn'd upside downe with him For he that did in worldly pleasure swim Must now sustaine an angry Judge his ire And ever burne in ever burning fire He that was wont to feed on dainty fare Now pines away with horror and despaire His dainty mouth that relish'd nought at all But what was sweet now nothing tastes but gall His throat that once did swallow down strong drink Is now more full of filth then any sinke He that had musick once to please the eare Can nothing now but hellish yellings heare He that had all things that might please the eye Sees nothing now but what may terrifie Him to behold he that was wont to have All pleasant odors that contentment gave Unto the sense of smelling now in hell Can nothing else but noysome savours smell He that was deckt with silks and crown'd with fame Is cloth'd with horrour and eternall shame He that had many friends and kinsfolke deare In time of sicknesse to revive and cheare His dying heart salves for his griefe and sore Shall weep and howle in hell for evermore And shall no comfort ease nor succour finde Nor any friend where to disclose his minde He that spent many dayes and nights in vaine Would give a world one minute to regaine He that was wont to brag and brave it out With big and daring words and valour stout With thunder threatning words can neither daunt Nor with faire speeches hellish fiends inchant His feet that nimble were to run and goe Cannot convey his soule from endlesse woe His hands that once were able to defend Himselfe his goods his neighbour and his friend Are now fast bound in everlasting chaines And cannot free his soule from endlesse paines And last of all he that did once possesse All pleasures and delights this wildernesse Could yeeld to man is now in such distresse That men nor Angells can the like expresse He that did once drinke wine and water strong A drop of water craves to coole his tongue Those pleasures which before he thought most deare As daily soule-tormenters now appeare Sweet meats require sowre sawce vain pastimes paine Mirth misery after fair weather raine Hot summers thunder lightnings and strange sights Cause in the aire faire dayes oft foulest nights The just shall this behold and feare the Lord Prov. 29.16 Psal 103.15 16 17 18. And laugh at him and say with one accord Behold the man that made not God his stay But trusted in his strength his muck and clay But now observe the upright and the just Psal 119.142 Which in the Lord at all times put their trust For sure the end of such is endlesse peace God in the end their comforts will encrease Behold poore Lazarus falls sicke and dies And ther 's an end of all his miseries The case is altred much for he that lay At Dives gate in want is now for aye Ev'n with an everlasting Crowne possest And ever shall in Abra'ms bosome rest He that at Dives gate beg'd crums of bread And such as from his table fell is fed With blessed Angells in that blessed place Where he beholds his Maker face to face He that a beggar was of petty things Is now advanc'd above all earthly Kings Then let us be content in a each estate And not esteem our selves unfortunate When we the wicked and ungodly see To flourish as it were a lawrell tree For sure the just mans poore estate 's a worth more Then the ungodly mans great pompe and store Yet ought we not in any case to be So far content with our estates that we Thereby grow carelesse if with plenty blest Or desperate in minde if long opprest With want and need for such unpleasant weeds Not from the spirit but the flesh proceeds If God then give us b peace and happy daies Deut. 6.10 11 12. Let us remember evermore to praise And blesse his holy name and humbly crave His blessing on our selves and what we have Or else our c health and wealth our strength peace Will our eternall misery encrease Simile He that hath been halfe pin'd for want of meat And comes unto a place where he may eat His fill may glut his feeble stomach so That he thereby more faint and sick shall grow So when we fading-false-conceived pleasures Honours preferment and all worldly treasures Embrace with too great and too deep content They often prove to us a punishment Or if the Lord afflict us any waies With sicknesse or diseases that our daies Grow wearisome to us yea if he send The plague so hot amongst us that one friend Dare not come to another if his hand Bring the devouring sword into our land And after that a famine if he smite Our soules with pangs of hell and so affright Our minds with honour of our sins that we Cannot tell where to rest still a let us be Gratefull and meek yet ought we not to stand Like stocks and stones when God shall lay his hand Upon us or our Kingdome as if we Did not discerne or feele our misery This is no true contentment but a kinde Of sottishnesse or wilfulnesse of minde 'T is not enough to say in God we trust Though we say well therein for so we must Such thoughts as these must not be entertain'd Without we use the meanes by God b ordain'd To set us free for this may prove a signe That we are such as tempt the powers divine Let 's not in anger then with God dispute Nor through despaire in minde grow resolute Iames 5.13 But take St. Iames his counsell whilst we may Are we affl cted Let us humbly pray We may in times of trouble and distresse Unto the throne of grace have free accesse We may with boldnesse to the Lord draw neare Heb. 10 19 cap. 4. v. 14 15 16. And crave as many things as we want here So that we crave them in that manner still Which is best pleasing to his holy will If grievous troubles long upon us lie And God seems for to slight our dolefull crie Let us reflect unto
lest with cursed Cain Our soules for ever burne in endlesse paine Amen 7. Precept Mediti ∣ tation 7 The pure in heart enricht with saving grace With joy shall see the glory of thy face To filthy lusts Lord we are much enclin'd O sanctifie both body soule and minde As we have faulty been herein so grant We may repent and leave this filthy haunt Amen 8. Precept Mediti ∣ tation 8 We know thy Law doth say thou shalt not steal Yet we both rob thy Church and Common-weal In both we are but drones we live to spend What others get and for no other end We in thy vineyard idle stand yea we Ev'n in our private callings sloathfull be Nay Lord we as if of all grace bereft Against thy majesty use fraud and theft Our conscience knowes it to bee very true Our practice shewes that we withhold thy due Thy due is honour glory laud and praise But we blaspheme thee by our evill waies Yea we might see were we not like blind moles Our theft toward our rulers bodies soules O Lord bow downe the heavens and behold Us in thy Son with mercies manifold Unto thy justice we dare not appeale Nor to our merits for if thou shouldst deale With us as we have dealt with thee we might Justly expect that thou shouldst us requite With everlasting woe O blessed God Rather correct us with thy tender rod Use us like children though we must confesse We have been rebells ready to transgresse Upon the least enticements of the divell The world the flesh to ought that hath been evill Make us in word and deed more just and true That we may give to God and man their due Amen 9. Precept THou lovest truth Lord in the inward parts But we have both deceitfull tongues and hearts Grant we may not for envie feare or gaine False witnesse beare dissemble lie or faigne Amen 10. Precept IT is thy will that we should be content With what in mercy thou to us hast sent But we are apt to murmur and repine And to accuse thy providence divine As if thou wert unjust or didst not know How upon men thy blessings to bestow We thinke some have too little some too much When others prosper we are apt to grutch To covet and desire those things which we In conscience know anothers right to be Lord make us for be content with what Thou hast appointed for to be our lot Have mercy Lord upon us and incline Our hearts to keepe all these thy laws divine Amen A few other short Ejaculations 1. Ejaculation WE cannot pray nor praise thee as we would Indeed we can do nothing as we should For when our minds are bent to do thy will Our adversaries tempt us most to ill O that our waies were so direct that we Might keepe they statutes O that we could be What thou wouldst have us be Lord we desire To worship thee with hearts and minds intire Lord let our sighes and groanes acceptance find For perfect deeds accept our willing mind Amen 2. Ejaculation OUr many slips our weaknesse do proclaime Yet we desire to love and feare thy name We have not faith we speake it Lord with griefe Yet we believe Lord helpe our unbeliefe Amen 3. Ejaculation LOrd we are Pilgrims apt to go astray To lose our selves or faulter by the way O let thy holy word and spirit guide And strengthen us that we may never slide Amen 4. Ejaculation LOrd in the world I am a silly sheepe Thou art the shepeheard of my soule oh keepe Me safely in thy sheepefold let me not Wander in by-waies as one quite forgot Rather then I should in such waies remaine Use any meanes to fetch me home againe Amen 5 Ejaculation LOrd I am deafe and dumbe yea lame and blind O by thy word illuminate my mind Make me the tidings of true joy to heare That thou again my broken bones mayst cheare Guide and direct my feet into thy waies Open my mouth and I shall shew thy praise My heart is hard I cannot turne to thee For Christ his sake in mercy turne to me Amen 6. Ejaculation MY foes are many mighty of great power Subtile and such as would my soule devoure But I am weake not able to withstand The least of them without thy helping hand O helpe thy servant Lord my God most just For in thee wholly do I put my trust Unlesse thou be my buckler and my shield I know my false and fainting heart will yield Me with thy holy armour arme that I May never shrinke nor from my colours fly Amen 7. Ejaculation HOw long O Lord how long wilt thou withhold Thy favour from me is thy love growne cold How long wilt thou reject me I am thine Unto my suite O Lord thine eare incline I sue for mercy let thy mercy save Me from the power of sin hell and the grave Then shall I sing thy praises and rejoyce Amongst thy Saints with heart and chearefull voice Amen 8. Ejaculation I Was conceiv'd brought forth and borne in sin And all my life and daies have spent therein And by this meanes that image quite defac'd Which through thy mercie once in me was plac'd Sin as a leprosie hath overspred Both soule and body so that from the head Unto the foot there is no part that we Knowing our selves aright can say is free Lord wash us in the bloud of Christ and so We shall be whiter then the driven snow Renew thy image in us once againe We are thy creatures do not us disdaine Of all faults past wipe out the totall sum And give us grace that for the time to come We may resist the world flesh and the divell Learne to doe well by ceasing to doe evill Amen 9. Ejaculation THou all my life hast beene my tender father Leave me not now but shew me mercy rather In my distresse the sorrowes of the grave Lay hold on me O for thy Sonnes sake save Me from her jawes receive me to thy glorie When thou shalt call me from things transitorie Amen Epilogus sive conclusio ad lectorem Lectores LIbrum hunc cui titulus est The Soules Solace in time of trouble or Soveraigne Remedies against Despaire in manus vestras humillime commendo aequo cum animo eum perlegite quamvis curtas abreviatas hasce in venietis meditationes de utilitate tamen his vobiscum bene digestis ne dubitetis obsecro Deum consolationis ut sint mihi vobisque omnibus solamen vitâ articulo mortis FINIS