starres in the skies yet I beleéue that thy mercie which is aboue all thy workes is able to dispense with the multitude of my sinnes and throughlie to cleanse and wash me from the blots and spots of mine iniquities And therfore O gratious God with vnfeined repentance I prostrate my selfe before theé crieng and calling vnto theé to deale with me in the measure of thy mercie and not in the weight of thy furie though my transgressions exceede number For if thou shouldest reckon with me in rigour I should be found more light than vanitie it would fare with me as with chaffe before the winde or as with bauen in a scorching fornace mine end would be death my reward confusion O heare me therefore O louing Lord faithfullie calling vpon thee with him that said O sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me and with her that said If I might but touch the hemme of his garment I shall be whole and with him that said Lord I beleéue oh helpe mine vnbeleéfe and with him that said Father I haue sinned against heauen and against theé and with him that said O Lord be mercifull vnto me a sinner Cast downe thy louing lookes vpon me lamenting Lazarus lieng in wofull case visited by thy hand and groning vnder the rod of thy correction spare me O God spare me O good Lord and be not angrie with me for euer I take it for an vndoubted truth that all manner of punishments proceéde from theé as accustomed meanes and wonted waies which thou vfest to call thy best children home and therfore I am in so much the more comfort that this thy visitation and chastisement is no signe of thine endles anger against me though sicknes and all kind of annoiances sprang and issued from sinne but a token and argument of thy fauour and louing kindnes Yea Lord though it tend to temporall death whereby my bodie is wounded yet I am reposed in this hope and affiance that my soule shall not seé corruption but shall be receiued into heauen to rest in the bosome of faithfull Abraham till the time be come of the generall iudgment glorious resurrection I knowe and it is the duetie of all true Christians to confesse no lesse that from the beginning thou visitedst thy children yea on them whome thou most tenderlie louedst thou diddest laie some portion of thy correction partlie to trie them in tribulation and to confirme their faith by patience in aduersitie but speciallie to assure their spirit that they are thy children and thou their father they thy shéepe and thou their shepheard they thy people and thou their gouernour they thy souldiours and thou their captaine they thy chosen and thou their glorie Thou calledst to the inheritance of thy kingdome after the daies of his pilgrimage were spent Abraham the father of the faithfull Thou calledst vnto the ioies of heauen Iacob and Ioseph when they had runne their appointed race Thou calledst vnto endlesse blessednesse that mild minded man the mirrour of méekenes Moses I meane thy righteous seruant when he had fulfilled his course Thou calledst vnto the place of eternitie Iosua and Caleb and other gratious Iudges of thy people when the houreglasse of their life was run out Thou calledst vnto the fort of felicitie Samuell and Dauid prophets of thine owne appointment when their full yeares were expired Thou calledst vnto the Paradise of perfect pleasure Ezechias Iosias other vertuous Kings when their earthlie tabernacle was torne and rent in sunder Thou calledst vnto euerlasting happinesse Esaie Ieremie and the rest of thy seruants the Prophets when they had liued their full time in this world Thou calledst vnto thy kingdome Iames Iohn Paule Peter and other thine Apostles when they had discharged their dutie in fulfilling their commission And to conclude thou calledst vnto the throne of triumph and victorie Iesus Christ thy son that immaculate and vnblemished lambe that innocent shéepe that swéete Samaritan and surgion of our soules when he had finished the spirituall building whereof he himselfe was the foundation and chéefe corner stone when I saie he had accomplished thy will and vanquished sinne Sathan death and hell In bringing which things about thou didest vse ordinarie meanes euen death the waie of all flesh that by their example thy seruants might be comforted in sicknes that as thy kindnes was plentifullie declared vnto them in deliuering them out of this wildernes and translating them to eternall happinesse so to me no lesse than vnto them though for a time thou laiest thy hand vpon me and scour gest me with thy rod thy fatherlie loue and affection is manifest For whome thou louest him thou chastenest and whippest euerie child thou adoptest and choosest that the consolation of their spirit may be the more increased Wo were I if thou shouldst not visit me O Lord wretched were my state and condition it thou shouldest not trie me with the fire of afflictions Sicknes is thy messenger pouertie is thy messenger yea death is thy messenger whome thou incessantlie sendest vnto thy seruants to call them vnto thée and thy kingdome In consideration whereof I thy child as I faithfullie beléeue adopted in Christ visited at this present by thy hand and patientlie abiding the sharpenesse of thy scourge am erected and incouraged with a certaine and infallible hope that at thy good pleasure thou wilt worke all in me for the best to my soule saluation and to thy selfe glorification Why should I murmur against thée though I am griped with anguish Why should I mistrust thy mercie though my paines be somewhat extreame Why should I despaire as though thou wert not mercifull No no so long Lord as there remaineth breath in my nostrels and so long as mine eies are open and so long as my tong hath the power of speach thy spirit being present with me and comforting me I will thus thinke with my selfe The Lords will be fulfilled when he séeth best time he will make an end of my tribulation He doth not punish me as a reprobate to my condemnation but he correcteth me as a child to my saluation I am the worke of his hands he created me and made me of nothing to the honour of himselfe did he make me and therefore I hope he will not destroie his owne workemanship though it resteth in his will and pleasure to dispose all things as séemeth best to his diuine Maiestie His child I am adopted in the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ inheritour of the kingdome of heauen through the spirit of sanctification a member of his mysticall bodie a grape of his vine a sheafe of his haruest a shéepe of his flocke and therefore I trust he will be my gratious God This is my comfort that thus thou doest chastise me not in iudgement to desperation but in mercie to consolation and this is my ioie that hereby I am assured that my name is written in his register and as for my faults he hath raced them
to the earth out of whose bowels he sprang The like lawe of necessitie tooke hold of mother Eue of Caine Abel Sheth and the issue of him and his to the daies of Noah who notwithstanding his preseruation in the Arke from the generall floud went the waie of his predecessors hauing liued the space of nine hundred and fiftie yeares 5 Abraham the father of the faithfull so named by the holie Ghost and after him all the Patriarches yea Moses that good man at whose intercession God spared the wicked Iewes manie a time and withdrew the whip of his vengeance wherewith he was purposed to smite them euen he and the rest Enoch onelie excepted who after his assumption was no more séene among men had but their time beyond which they might not by anie dispensation passe so that we sée euen in them notwithstanding their excellencie the waie of all flesh which is naturall death manifestlie expressed 6 It were more laborious and cumbersome than necessarie and requisite to adde anie more examples in so plain vndoubted an argument Considering then that these men being longer liuers than the rest paide tribute vnto Cesar it is verie vnlikelie that anie inferiour vnto them in all respects should be exempted from the discharge of so due a debt 7 This waie of all flesh walked Samson notwithstanding his wonderfull strength diuers waies declared Salomon for all his wisdome the brute whereof together with his magnificence and roialtie caused him to be renowmed far and néere so that neither the one were his fortitude and might incomparable yea so rare and strange as that the Lion of all beastes the valiantest was in his handling as weake as a Lambe nor the other were his knowledge so profound and heauenlie as that the signification of no secret was too high for his wit could adde one daie one houre no not so much as one minute to the length of their life no more than it is in mans power to put one cubite to his stature or to make one heare white or blacke 8 The conclusion therefore is euident that there is one waie of all flesh and that is death chance it either on land by sicknes on sea by drowning in battell by the sword chance it either by fire or famine by pestilence or other maladie chance it either sléeping or waking eating or drinking riding or running laughing or wéeping the common and ordinarie ende is death and all is but death be the meanes neuer so diuers This considered and aduisedlie thought vpon there were no better bridle to raine in the coltish nature of man and to restraine him from the filthie custome of sinne wherevpon dependeth eternall death and damnation for this is the footepath to felicitie The ninth Chapter 1 A dead coarse compared to a looking glasse and the necessarie doctrine therevpon depending 2 Of two differing waies deciphered by the letter Y. 3 The testimonie of Christ touching these two waies 4 Who they be that walke in the wide waie of wickednes and of the preposterous course of the world 5 That no man hath the power to reforme himselfe 6 Necessarie considerations for true Christians 7 Of such as hauing gone astraie in the wrong waie retired and drewe backe into the right and of one that would not be persuaded to tread in crooked pathes 8 Of such as walked in the wide waie of wickednes and of their wofull case 9 An exhortation how we ought to walke 1 THe waie of all flesh remembred as it is rehearsed the hearts of men by litle and litle must néeds growe into a misliking of sinne For as to haue a looking glasse before thy face and therin to take a view of thy phisiognomie is a present and readie waie to make thée sée anie blemish wart speckle freckle mole staine spot or wrinkle in thy countenance and to amend and reforme it if it be not naturall and brought euen from the verie cradle so to consider in a dead coarse the state of thine owne bodie when thou shalt be called if thou be touched with anie care of conscience should not onlie put into thy minde the remembrance of death but also the cause of the same which is sinne for that men die and returne to earth from whence they came the cause is sinne onlie wherewith if the nature of man had not ben corrupted his state had bene heauenlie diuine angelike immortall 2 This common and vsuall waie of all flesh is an entrance vnto two other waies beside which waies there is no third to be looked for These two waies as they differ in description as they varie in compas as they are vnlike in proportion so the walkers in these two waies are contrarie in disposition diuers in qualitie nothing like inclined These two waies manie hundred yeares past were signified and set foorth by a prophane Philosopher in a letter of the crosse rowe namelie Y wherein we may sée with what wisedome that heathen man weighed the waies of worldlings cutting his letter in two parts the one toward the left hand broade ample large and wide because of the multitudes which it receiueth the other toward the right narrowe and streight for that they are but few in number which treade in it and yet roome enough remaining and more indéede than is like to be occupied the more to be lamented 3 Of these two waies spake he in whome the thrée principall and soueraigne callings were crowned I meane Christ King Priest and Prophet For he tendering from time to time the sicklie soule of man and séeing by the mysterie of his diuinitie the manifold miseries wherein he was wrapped like a fish in a net besides the danger of damnation whereinto he was like had not the grace of God preuented him deseruedlie to runne did not onlie by preaching but also by working miracles séeke to laie a plaister to his festered sore but he refused the helping hand of the Physician the more pitie he had so little grace This Christ the expresse image of his father noted these two waies no doubt to singular purpose when he gaue vs this lesson worthie the learning saieng Enter in at the narowe waie for wide is the waie and broade is the gate that leadeth to destruction and manie they be that walke in it but narowe is the waie and streight is the gate that leadeth to life and few they be that go in at it because it is the footepath to felicitie 4 In this wide waie walke the wicked whome no counsell no admonition no preaching no teaching no denouncing of Gods iudgements can reuoke whose happines and felicitie séemeth vnto them so much the more perfect as they excéede in heaping sinne vpon sinne and make no conscience of their inordinate liuing naie who is in better case who in greater credite who more supported than he that glorieth in his filthines and counteth it no shame to beare about him euen in his forhead the notes markes and prints of his
abhominations How farre these swine are from the footepath to felicitie anie man may iudge 5 It is not to be spoken for the truth trieth it selfe that these men sit in the shadowe of death and though they séeme to haue their heauen in this life yet doubtles both their féete are in hell mouth and their bodies and soules are like to followe one daie except the wonderfull grace of God and his vnspeakeable mercie worke in them a strange and vnthought vpon alteration For no man of himselfe can streighten his crookednes plaine his roughnes soften his hardnes swéeten his sowrenes tame his wildnes refourme his wickednes cleanse his filthines supplie his vnperfectnes this is the worke of Gods spirit the aide and assistance whereof we must séeke by praier and inuocation before we can treade the footepath to felicitie 6 Now séeing that we are subiect vnto falling and not able to stand vnlesse the Lord staie vs moreouer for that the waie of the King and the begger in respect of this life is all one Againe séeing we haue a daie of resurrection when we all shall receiue as we haue deserued paine in hell or ioie in heauen were it not madnes naie were it not desperatenes in vs the cogitation of these things with a number more neglected to runne on still with full raine in wickednes to become slaues to sinne to serue Sathan to fight against God to adnihilate or make of none effect the merits of Christs passion to minister occasion to the Angels of mourning to gréeue the holie Ghost to buffet and wound thine owne soule to throwe thy selfe wilfullie into destruction I thinke yes what is thine opinion 7 Well fare the prodigall childe for he wandering in this wrong waie and being touched in conscience and taught that he was not right retired and came home with a sorrowfull song and lamentable outcrie Father I haue sinned Well fare Marie Magdalene for she trauelling in this bypath of perdition and inwardlie called to a reformation of her filthie life for she was a gréeuous sinner submitted her selfe fell on the ground stooped knéeled vpon her knées washed the féete of Iesus with her teares and wiped them with the heares of her head Well fare the poore and contemned Publicane for he in the heauines of his hart lamented that euer he ranne at randon in this crooked waie he thumped his breast with his fistes and from the verie bottome of his heart cried out for mercie saieng O Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Well fare the Niniuites for they hauing gone astraie like lost shéepe and walking in the waie of sinners which is the waie of death heard the Prophet Ionas ringing vnto them the alarum bell of repentance and being reuoked from their wickednes escaped threatened destruction Well fare Ioseph that paterne of integritie and vprightnes for he would not in anie wise walke with the wife of Potiphar in the waie of wantonnes her alluring lookes her flattering enticements her proffered violence her instant and importunate temptations notwithstanding These with millians more may teach and instruct such as tender the saluation of their owne soules that it is better to treade the streight and narrowe path of vertue and innocencie which leadeth vnto life though it séeme vnpleasant and troublesome than to wander in the wide waie of wickednes which tendeth vnto eternall death though it be most delectable and fragrant for this is no footepath to felicitie 8 But wo worth that cruell cutthrote whose maister hauing forgiuen him a great debt euen the summe of ten thousand talents arrested his fellowseruant for a debt of an hundred pence cruellie cast him in prison and would not release him till he had discharged the whole summe which was but fiue and twentie shillings This fellowe walked in the waie of wickednes and therefore he is condemned vnto death eternall Wo vnto that graceles and dissembling sonne who being commanded of his father to go and worke in his Uineyard answered that he would and yet went not but spent the time otherwise vnthriftilie this man walked in the waie of disobedience which is sinne and therefore is in danger of eternall death Wo vnto those merciles husbandmen vnto whome the trauelling housholder hauing let out his Uineyard and requiring the increase of the fame by his seruants whome he had sent to that purpose was not onlie withstoode in his message but had not onelie his seruants but also his onelie sonne the heire of all his lands kéeping possession abused beaten and killed These husbandmen for their crueltie and vniust dealing shall abie at the daie of iudgement and as they walked in the waie of death so death euen euerlasting death shall be their portion Wo vnto those vnthankefull and careles worldlings who being solemnelie inuited and bidden to that great supper in the Gospell excused themselues by the necessitie of their weightie affaires and refused to come for they in so doing neglected their owne soules health therby most wilfullie ran in danger of eternall death Wo vnto him that being vngarnished with a wedding garment durst notwithstanding sit downe at the banket for he in so doing did highlie offend the maister of the feast and by his presumption ranne in danger of death and damnation Wo vnto that yong man whom Christ by his owne mouth taught how to become perfect namelie by selling all that he had and giuing it vnto the poore which doctrine séeming bitter vnto him and too sharp for his digestion he departed too too heauie and sorrowfull as very loth to pay so deare for heauenlie treasure This rich Gentleman would not pay so hie a price for the discipline of Christ and therefore was so much the further off from life and saluation by how much he was nearer vnto death and condemnation Wo vnto that couetous foole who hauing his hart set vpon his halfepenie inlarged his barnes to receiue his plentifull crop singing swéetelie to his soule Be merrie and take thine ease thou hast wealth enough for manie yeares not mistrusting or doubting anie thing that the diuels were agréed that same night to fetch his soule away And thus he wretched worldling walked in the way of death and destruction Wo vnto the vncleane beastlie Gergesens among whom Christ working manie miracles was so farre from any curteous intertainment that he was desired for the safetie of their swine to depart from their coasts thus preferring their hogs before their souls health they wilfullie walked the way of death and vtter desolation not passing a point for the footepath to felicitie 9 The Scripture abounding with such examples teacheth vs the danger of walking in darkenesse and sitting in the shadowe of death And therefore néeding no better schoolemaister vnto Christ let vs be content to learne in them the wholsome lessons of life which if we print in the tables of our hart kéepe grauen in memorie as in a marble stone to imitate and followe them to be ruled
of the sea with sustenance conuenient and agréeing with their nature we beséech thée to accept at our hands this sacrifice of thankesgiuing offered vp vnto thée for thy manifold benefits and among all other for that thou hast hitherto prospered vs in our busines and labour which thou hast not made frustrate and vnfruitefull but with due measure and weight of profit aduantage hast let it passe out of our hands And we beséech thée O father that as thou hast hitherto bene the ouerséer of all our studies and trauels making them fruitefull and beneficiall vnto vs so it would please thée to continue still thine accustomed bountifulnes and to giue vs grace that for the same we may offer vnto thée not onlie the calues of our lips but also of our hearts through Christ Iesus our onlie sauiour and redéemer Amen The seuenth Blossome conteining A petition to be said at the putting off of our apparell GRant O gratious God thou giuer and preseruer of all creatures that as we put off this our apparell and cast it from vs so we may also thy grace helping and assisting vs put off the old man euen the man of sinne that clogged with the lesse vice and clothed with the more vertue we may be found fit for thée whensoeuer it shall please thée to call vs out of this world thorough Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The eight Blossome conteining A petition vnto God at our going to take naturall rest HEauenlie God which art so prouident and watchfull for the health and preseruation of thy children that they want nothing necessarie for the supportation and maintenance of this their transitorie life not houses to harbour in not garments to put on not foode wherewith to be nourished finallie nothing whatsoeuer it is that they stand in neede of whiles they leade their liues in this transitorie tabernacle we beseech thée that as thou hast let this daie passe luckilie ouer our heads safelie defending vs from all dangers and giuing vs the fruits of our labours least our working should be waste so it would please thée in like measure of mercie and peize of compassion to be our watchman this present night and euerie night so long as our bodies and soules remaine coupled in this vale of vilenes and miserie Also O father we heartilie beséech thée that although darkenes dimme the eies of our bodie wherby the vse of our externall and outward sight is made frustrate and voide yet the eies of our mind may still be broade waking and open continuallie looking for that comfortable comming of thy Christ in glorie that we may be in a readinesse when the trumpet soundeth Arise ye dead and come to iudgement which whether it be in the euening at midnight at the cock-crowing or at the dawning of the daie none can tell no not the Angels But whensoeuer it is O Lord so kéepe vs waking that when thou cōmest our lamps may be found burning Graunt this most mercifull father for thy sons sake Iesus Christ the righteous to whome with thée and the holie Ghost thrée persons and one omnipotent almightie euerlasting and onlie wise God be all laud praise honour dominion and glorie now and for euer Amen The ninth Blossome conteining A petition for a godlie life OPen our cies O Lord that we may behold the woonderfull secrets of thy lawe and therin as in a steele glasse discerne and sée our owne weakenes and by our weakenes our wickednes and by them both our accursednes O procure thou the pleasant comforts and consolations conteined in thy Gospell to sound the verie deapth and bottome of our soules by the plummet of a true and liuelie faith in Christ Iesus Graunt also we beséech thee that our drie and stonie harts by the swéete dewes and showres of thy heauenlie grace dropping downe and soking therinto may be so moistened and softened that like good ground they may euer be yéelding forth plentifull and pleasant fruits to the glorifieng of thy most holie name the supplanting of sin and the aduancement of vertue through the death and bloudshead of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen The tenth Blossome conteining A petition to be said in time of health being a thankesgiuing vnto God for that good blessing WE knowe O mercifull father that a rotten trée can not fructifie no more can the bodie of man diseased take anie pleasure in the vse of thy creatures at leastwise verie little if anie at all For as the morning deaw or waterie clouds falling vpon the field moisteneth the ground and maketh it fruitefull and pleasant euen so health and soundnes possessing euerie limme maketh the whole bodie and all the members of the same apt and able for anie exercise By the benefit whereof we purueie for our selues all such necessaries as are requisite for this our fraile life Knowing this most mercifull father we referre it vnto thy goodnes praising and magnifieng thée for the same and humblie beséeching thee to continue it in vs and to giue vs grace that we abuse it not anie manner of waie Graunt this O bountifull God for Iesus sake Amen The eleuenth Blossome conteining A petition in forme of a confession to be said in the time of sicknesse or otherwise when the partie diseased seemeth to be in danger ALmightie and most mercifull father the punisher of sinne and the iust rewarder of iniquitie I confesse vnto thée that the multitude of my transgressions and the lothsomnes of my life cannot but déepelie displease thy diuine Maiestie and deseruedlie crie out for vengeance against me yea vengeance to death for my misdéedes craue no better reward I knowe that sinne is such a filthie and ouglie thing in thy sight that who soeuer are stained and defiled therwith are euen an abhomination vnto thee for thou being the God of righteousnes delightest not in wickednes neither canst take anie pleasure in iniquitie I confesse that for sinne thou hast sent manie strange and terrible punishments vpon diuers people The olde world in the fulnes of their offences were ouerwhelmed with water from heauen to their vtter destruction The Sodomites were burned and their neighbours about them euen with fire and brimstone for the filthines of their offences The Aegyptians a people obstinate and rebellious and alwaies setting shoulder against the Prophets were rewarded for their misdeédes with most horrible plagues in the heate of thine indignation Yea the Israelits a people peculiarlie chosen to serue theé at what time they sinned greéuouslie and displesed thy diuine Maiestie turning by the manifoldnesse of their transgressions thy mercie into furie thy clemencie into anger thy long suffering into reuengement they felt the smart of thy rod not wrathfullie confounding them as castawaies but louinglie correcting them like children So most mercifull father hoping that in the bloud of Christ Iesus I am adopted into the number of thy children albeit my misdeédes are so manie that they far passe the sands in the seas or the
out of his reckoning booke Why then should I hang downe my head as though confusion were the portion of mine inheritance To them that loue God all things turne to good This his visitation is but a preparatiue to further felicitie which in due time he will reueale to me his seruant when he hath taken sufficient proofe and experience of my patience which I beséech him to establish and confirme that the possession of eternitie may be the reward of my sufferance Wherefore O most mercifull father if it be thine appointment as thy determinations are secret and hidden from the heart of man that this my sicknes and trouble be vnto death O then gratiouslie heare my supplication and let the voice of my crie enter into thine cares Giue me not ouer in my distresse and weakenesse when Sathan is most busie to spoile me but stand thou like an inuincible Giant on my right hand let the wings of thine almightines ouershadowe me euen vntill my last gaspe Moreouer graunt most mercifull father that at the separation and dissolution of my soule and bodie I may still continue thine my bodie turning into dust whence it tooke first substance and my soule possessing heauen whence it receiued bring O Lord send me a toifull resurrection at the date of iudgement and let me be numbred among the lambes whome thou hast chosen to be ioint-heires with thée of thine owne happines in heauenlie ioies O Lord heare my praier and let my crie come vnto thee Lord haue mercie vpon me Christ haue mercie vpon me O holie Ghost be my comforter O blessed Trinitie receiue my soule into the place of glorie Amen The twelfe Blossome conteining A petition to be said at the houre of death ouer the partie visited and lieng speechlesse O Eternall God the welspring of life and the treasure of true and euerlasting riches thou God of the quicke and the dead thou which hast appointed euerie man a mansion in this earthlie pilgrimage and placed vs here as tenants at thy pleasure to remoue and depart when it is thy will to call vs. thou euen thou which ridest vpon the wings of the winde whose seate is the heauen of heauens whose footstoole is the earth whose messengers are the Angels and celestiall hoast O bow downe thine cies of pitie looke vpon vs. O thou glorie of Sion thou beautie of Hierusalem thou Alpha and Omega thou which art incomprehensible the first person of the holie Trinitie open thy gratious eares and heare the petitions of vs thy seruants O heare vs and that betimes thou sauer of soules whiles breath is in the nostrels of this thy diseased and sicke creature for after this life it is too late to make intercession Thou hast chastened him O Lord inwardlie and outwardlie his strength is turned into weakenes his health into sicknes his flesh consumeth his limines are lame his eiesight waxeth dimme his spéech is stopped all his senses are numined his hart panteth life and death struggle within him and wrestle for superioritie He lieth in pangs he is past hope of recouerie to our iudgement he refuseth sustenance he can take no rest O looke vpon him thou comfort of Israell and deliuer Ioseph out of this prison O Lord haue mercie vpon him O God make him strong to endure this sharpe and bitter conflict Let not the terrour of death the torinent of his sicknes the losse of life or departing from anie transitorie pleasure withdrawe his heart from thée but as thou didst create it and powredst it into his bodie so vouchsafe to reserue it for thy selfe that thou maist be glorifiedin it both now and héereafter when it shall please thee to raise it vp with the rest of the bodie in the last resurrection Behold Lord he is not able to praie for himselfe thy hand is so heauie vpon him at this present he can not so much as lift vp a limme thou hast whipped him so sore he is past hope of health in the eies of man thou hast made such déepe furrowes vpon his backe he is spéechlesse because thou hast taken awaie the vse of his tongue lo Lord he lifteth vp his eies vnto heauen notwithstanding all these infirmities weakenesses O remember him forgiue him his sins remit and blot out of thy reckoning booke the ten thousand talents which he oweth thée He is not able to testifie the inward sorowe of his heart conceiued for sinne so sharpe and seueare is thy present visitation which iustlie and deseruedlie thou hast laid vpon him and surelie though thou didst punish him more rigorouslie yet thou art not accusable of iniustice For iust art thou O Lord in all thy workes and righteous in all thy iudgements But yet Lord we beséech thée to asswage the heate of thy wrath which if it burne still and continue vnquenched alas who shall be able to abide it Behold Lord how lowe he is brought all his bones are out of course which waie so euer he is turned he féeleth nothing but anguish no rest no ease no quietnes can he take such is the weight of thine anger against him for the instruction of vs that are aliue and here present at his visitation that we may learne thereby to detest sinne which is the cause of thy displeasure and to amend least a worse thing happen vnto vs. O Lord we beséech thée to consider our supplications and to accept the praiers which we powre out in thy presence in the behalfe of this our diseased brother And louing Lord if it be thy will to take him hence O then we beséech thee to shorten his time to end his lingering sicknes and so to deliuer him from all earthlie trouble But if it be thy pleasure to raise him vp being thus cast downe and to quicken strengthen him whome thy hand hath driuen almost to deathes dore then at the intercession of vs thy seruants hasten his time of recouerie and restore him vnto health and soundnes We praie for him O Lord not knowing the secrets of thy counsell which is vnchangeable deale with him as it pleaseth thée thine he is to order and dispose For thou art the potter and he but a lumpe of claie vnto thée we commit his soule and bodie thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen for thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen The thirteenth Blossome conteining 1 Gods vniuersall gouernement 2 That he annointeth Kings and Queenes and why 3 A petition vnto him in the behalfe of our gratious Queene Elizabeth 4 His mercie in preseruing her in time of tribulation 5 A praier for the continuance of her good estate 6 Against the enimies of the truth either to be conuerted or confounded 7 The Church of God and the Commonwealth two sisters 8 The death of Christ a full ransome for all our sinnes 9 Requestes to be dailie made of euerie true Christian. 1 O Gratious Lord and most mercifull father we acknowledge
the messenger of death but a wise man will pacifie him The heart of man purposeth his waie but the Lord doth direct his steps Uiolence and tyrannie are the ruine of a Realme but mercie vpholdeth the Kings throne Upbraide not thy better with contumelious talke least thou heape hot coles vpon thine owne head Without counsell thoughtes come to naught but in the multitude of counsellers is stedfastnesse Wisedome resteth in the heart of him that hath vnderstanding and is vnknowne in the minds of fooles Yeald to the magistrate dutifulnes and with thine equall vse courtesie Yong or old rich or poore strong or weake thou art not thine owne but Gods who made thée Zacheus the Publicane offering to make restitution if he had done anie man wrong teacheth the rich of this world what their duties should be Zerubbabell shall laie the highest stone of the spirituall temple his hands haue laid the foundation of the same The third sententious sequence of the A B C deliuering diuers doctrines of vertue and vice to be folowed and auoided A Sound heart is the life of the flesh but enuie is the rotting of the bones A faithfull witnes deliuereth soules but a deceiuer speaketh lies An angrie man stirreth vp strife but he that is slowe to wrath appeaseth strife Better is a dinner of gréene hearbes where loue is than a stalled oxe hatred therewith Better is a litrie with the feare of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therwith Better is a drie morsell if peace be with it than an house full of sacrifices with strife Childrens children are the crowne of the elders and the glorie of the children are their fathers Contemne not anie that is in authoritie for that is the readie waie to runne into Gods wrath Chasten thy sonne whiles there is hope and let not thy soule spare for his murmurings Diuers weights are an abhomination vnto the Lord and deceiptfull balances are not good Depart from the foolish man when thou perceiuest not in him the lips of knowledge Destruction shall light vpon them that imagine euill but to such as thinke on good things shall be mercie and truth Enter not into lawe with a rich man for it is in him to peruert equitie and right Exercise thy selfe in that which is honest so shall no shame followe there vpon Exempt thy selfe from the companie of wanton women for they leade thée the waie to hell Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall driue it awaie Frowardnesse is the token of a foole and inconstancie is a signe of little trust Followe not the counsell of the wicked least thou be partaker of their punishment Giue admonition to the wise and he will be the wiser teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning Good vnderstanding maketh acceptable but the waie of the disobedient is hated Grudge not to giue of thine abundance to him that is néedie least God be angrie He that mocketh the poore reprocheth him that made him and he that reioiceth at destruction shall not escape vnpunished He that is slowe vnto anger is better than the mightie man and he that ruleth his owne mind is better than he that winneth a citie How much better is it to get wisedome than gold and to get vnderstanding is more to be desired than siluer In the mouth of the foolish is the boasting of pride but the lips of the wise will beware of such It is a great abhomination when Kings are wicked for a Kings feare should be vpholden with righteousnes If thou sinitest a scornefull person the ignorant shall take better héede and if thou reprouest one that hath vnderstanding he will be the wiser Kéepe thy selfe from strife for therein consisteth a mans honour but they that haue pleasure in bralling are fooles euerie one Kings ought to be feared as the roaring of a Lion who so prouoketh him vnto anger offendeth against his owne soule Kindle not contention betwéene neighbour and neighbour for the Lord will roote such out of the land Laie no priuie wait wickedlie vpon the house of the righteous and disquiet not his resting place Let not thy wrath and gelousie moue thée to follow the wicked and vngodlie Like as the cold of snowe in the haruest so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him for he refresheth his maisters minde Make not thy boast of to morrowe for thou knowest not what may happen to daie Manie there be that séeke the princes fauour but euerie mans iudgment commeth from the Lord. Mercie in a King is like a pearle of great value in a golden crowne O happie is the land that hath such a King Nourture thy sonne with correction and thou shalt be at rest yea he shall do thée good at thine hart Neuer trust a flatterer with anie secret for such a one can not kéepe counsell Notwithstanding thou be poore and yet hast wisedome thou shalt be had in reuerence One poore man oppressing another by violence is like a continuall raine that destroieth the fruit Oppresse not the fatherlesse and widowe for the Lord himselfe will take vengeance Ouercome euill with good so shall the Lord blesse thée in all thy procéedings Put thou nothing vnto the word of the Lord least he reprooue thée and thou be found a lier Plentie bringeth lothsomnes and forgetfulnes of God O well is he that kéepeth measure Pitch not thy tents among the wicked least thou be ouerthrowne in their destruction Quéenes and Kings are to be feared of their subiects O well is he whose heart is obedient Quench the wrath of thine aduersarie with patience so shall his anger asswage Quicklie reforme thy selfe if thou haue offended and excuse not the thing wherin thou hast done amisse Riches and honour wait vppon wisedome yea excellent goodes and righteousnesse Receiue knowledge before siluer and vnderstanding before the finest gold Remoue from thée all malice and enuie for the heart of the froward is a tormenting hell Some men are rich though they haue nothing againe some men are poore hauing great riches Séeke wisdome in thy youth so shalt thou be honoured in thine age Set aside all slouthfulnesse and walke vprightlie in thy vocation and calling The lawe is a well of life vnto the wise that it may kéepe him from the snares of death The righteous eateth and is satisfied but the bellie of the vngodlie hath neuer enough The poore is hated euen of his owne neighbours but the rich hath manie friends Uisit thy friend in the time of his aduersitie so shalt thou shew thy faithfulnesse Uaine are all things vnder the Sunne onelie the word of God lasteth for euer Unto the counsell of the wise let thine eares be open but flée the conuersation of the wicked When it goeth well with the righteous the citie is merrie and when the vngodlie perish there is gladnesse Wéepe ouer the sinnes which thou hast committed and praie to God penitentlie for pardon Where pride is
most bountifull and gratious God thou hast giuen vs the vse of all these things and made vs possessours of the same we hartilie beséech thée to instill and let drop into the furrowes of our hearts the acceptable deaw of thankefulnes wherewith our entrailes being throughlie moistened and made souple we may remember and thinke vpon thy tender loue and more than fatherlie kindnesse and in thy gifts giue thée glorie and magnifie thy name with the sound of our tongues and the consent of our hearts 9 For alas what are we miserable and beggerlie wretches that haue nothing by inheritance but sinne and wickednes What are we able to giue considering that we haue nothing but that which we haue receiued in respect wherof our owne wretchednes bewraieth it selfe and our continuall neede and nakednes is manifest Onelie this thou requirest euen the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing which is the thing that we are commanded to paie vnto thée For recompense thou requirest none since that whatsoeuer thou giuest thou giuest fréelie without looking for reward 10 Wherfore most mercifull father and déere God make vs thankefull receiuers of thy benefites and that we may giue a testimonie of our thankefulnes loose and vntwist the strings of our tongues and open the pipes of our hearts that they both may sound foorth thy most magnificent maiestie and praise thée to whome perpetuall praise belongeth Graunt this necessarie petition most bountifull God for the merits of thy sonne Christ Iesus our onlie mediatour and aduocate Amen The second Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefit of our creation WE praise and magnifie thée O eternall GOD for thy great mercie in that it hath pleased thée among all the workes of thine hands to make vs the most excellent and noblest examples of thy iustice wisedome and goodnes We glorifie thée also for that immortall essence the principall part of our nature euen our reasonable soule which although it be not properlie comprehended in place yet is it resident in cur bodies and there dwelleth as in a mansion house not onelie to minister life to all the members and parts of our bodies and to make the instruments thereof méete and fitlie seruing for the actions wherevnto they are apointed but also to beare the chiefe office in the gouernement of our life and that not onlie about the duties incident and belonging to this earthlie and transitorie life but also to stir and quicken vs vp to the seruice and worship of thée our most mercifull Creator And as we praise thée for creating vs like to thine owne image not onlie in the outward frame of our bodies wherin thy glorie doth appeare but also in the inward shape of the soule which is the proper seate of thy likenesse so do we magnifie thée for all the graces and blessings wherewith it hath pleased thée to beautifie adorne and enrich the one and the other Beséeching thée to voutsafe vs the direction of thy spirit that we may during the time of our iournie in the wildernesse of this world emploie and vse them to that principall end whereto they were bestowed vpon vs namelie to the benefite of our brethren and the setting foorth of thine eternall glorie through Iesus Christ our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen The third Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefite of our election GLorie and praise be giuen to thée O Lord in that thou hast vouchsafed to call and elect vs a peculiar and chosen people vnto thy selfe and to reckon vs in the lot of thine inheritance being ordeined to saluation whereas contrariwise a great number are appointed to condemnation Which gratious gift of thine eternall election we referre not to anie worthines in vs or to anie merits of workes that we are able to do but onlie to the méere mercy and bountifull liberalitie of thée our maker who adoptest some into the hope of euerlasting life and iudgest othersome to eternall death which mysterie is laid vp in the height of thy heauenlie wisedome far aboue the reach of our reason and vnderstanding that according to thy will and pleasure thou mightest be honoured Like thankes be giuen vnto thée O most mercifull Father for that thou hast not onlie called vs vnto this glorious estate of grace but hast so assigned the same vnto vs that the certaintie of the effect thereof is not in suspense or doubtfull For it hath pleased thée of thine incomprehensible goodnes to binde vs together one with another in Christ our head we being his mysticall members and to knit vs vnto thy selfe with a knot vnpossible to be loosed For this thine vnspeakeable mercie we praise and magnifie thée and thy sonne Iesus Christ our tender mediatour and aduocate Amen The fourth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefite of our redemption WE giue thée most hartie thanks for all thy good gifts O eternall GOD of thy great goodnesse testified vnto vs euen from the beginning of the world to this present houre and speciallie for the performance of thy promise made vnto our forefathers the Patriarches and their generations but accomplished to vs vpon whome the ends of the world approch knowing that the noblenes and excellencie of our creation would so little profit vs considering our fall in the person of Adam that it would rather turne to our greater shame such is thy iustice who deniest vs when we be defiled and corrupted with sinne to be thy handieworke And therefore we cannot sufficientlie extoll thy bottomles bountie in tendering our decaied state that when we were danmed dead and lost in our selues didst send downe from heauen thy déerelie and onlie begotten sonne to take our nature vpon him and to die for our redemption that in him we might séeke for righteousnes deliuerance life and saluation according to the testimonie of thy seruant Peter teaching vs that there is none other name vnder heauen giuen vnto men wherein they must be saued By which name of Iesus he was not vnaduisedlie called or by chance and aduenture nor yet by the will of men but brought euen from heauen by an Angell the publisher of thy decrée with a reason also giuen because he was sent to saue the people from their sins Unto thée therefore O God the father our Creator and O Christ the sonne our redéemer be all honor and praise for euer and euer Amen The fift Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing vnto Christ for the benefite of our reconciliation MOst hartie thankes be giuen vnto thée O tender sauiour of our soules who being the immaculate and vnspotted Lambe of God the father wast well content to be charged with our offences that we might taste the sweete fruites of thine innocencie and didst most willinglie offer vp thy bodie an oblation vnto thy father after that definitiue sentence pronounced in the Consistorie had passed against thée in iudgement that we the children of wrath out-casts from the Common wealth of Israell strangers from the couenant enimies vnto
God might by the diuine vertue of thy death and passion be reconciled and escape the penaltie of the lawe to the curse whereof sinne had made vs subiect but thou by thy sufferings hast set vs at libertie and deliuered vs from danger of damnation We cannot imagine how to extoll thy mercie sufficientlie in taking vpon thée a worke of such difficultie euen the appeasing of thy fathers wrath kindled against vs in whome the glorious image of our Creator was shamefullie defaced Thy bowels of compassion and tender loue excéede all comparison For the manifold torments which thou in thy mortall bodie didst suffer in the presence of most vniust Iudges are assured warrants of thy tendernes ouer vs whome to set frée from punishment thou gauest thine owne déere and most swéete soule to be a satisfactorie oblation vpon the which all our filth of sinne might be cast and so cease as not imputable vnto vs anie more thereby reconciling vs vnto thy father and sealing the same attonement with thy pretious heart bloud To thée therefore be honour and praise for euermore Amen The sixt Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefite of our iustification LAude and praise be giuen vnto thée O eternall God who hast vouchsafed to adopt vs into the number of thy chosen children not for anie of our merits but for thy mercie sake the curse of the lawe taking force by sinne notwithstanding And we extoll thy goodnes O most bountifull father for that thou hast of thy frée grace for Iesus sake in whome thou art delighted staied the execution of thy wrath and vengeance against vs who haue prouoked thée to indignation by our manifold sinnes and wickednes which had vtterlie excluded and shut vs out of the gates of thy good will did it not please thée at the intercession of thy beloued sonne to receiue vs into fauour and to reckon vs for righteous by the remission of our sinnes and the imputation of thy sonnes righteousnes We haue so lead our life since the first time that thy hand planted vs in this world as that the whole race which we haue runne hath bene a kind of continuall kindling of thy furie to consume vs and yet O vnmeasurable mercie thou hast so pitied our weakenesses that thou hast and doest iustifie vs that is to saie acquite vs that were accused from all filthines and that by the mediation of thy sonne Iesus Christ not by allowance of our innocencie but by imputation of his righteousnes that in him we which in our selues are iudged vnrighteous might be counted righteous To thée therefore O most louing father and to Iesus Christ thy sonne be all honour and glorie Amen The seuenth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the gift of our sanctification ALmightie God which from time to time hast sanctified thy people and purged their harts from the prophane imaginations of idolatrous and heathenish vnbeléeuers that they might be a holie heritage a peculiar people vnto thee zealous of good workes and addicted vnto the deuout seruice of thée we praise and magnifie thy goodnes in that it hath pleased thée to sequester vs from the number of the pagan people who are altogether ignorant of thée and thy diuine worship and hast opened the eies of our vnderstandings and sanctified them by the visitation and presence of thy holie spirit whereby we haue atteined to the knowledge of thy truth and the mysteries reuealed in the same Which sanctification as thou hast vouchsafed to begin in vs so we most humblie beséech thée to continue euen to the end tearme of our life that the old leauen of maliciousnes being quite cleanfed awaie we may be changed into new dowe to serue thée in holines and righteousnes which is the end of our election O holie Ghost which didst descend in the similitude of a doue and in the likenes of clouen tongues ouershadowe vs we beséech thée and take vp thy dwelling in our harts that whatsoeuer we saie thinke or do may lauour and tast of sanctification so shall we for this and all other thy good graces as we are bound by dutie praise and glorifie thée for euer and euer Amen The eight Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for our preseruation OMnipotent God most mightie in word and déede which hatest nothing that thy holie hands haue created we praise and magnifie thée for all thy benefites bestowed vpon vs from our infancie vntill this our present age for caring and prouiding for vs all necessaries conuenient and agréeable to this our mortall life we thanke thée for our health wealth and libertie our peace quietnes tranquillitie our children offspring and affinitie all which are thy blessings not due to vs by desert but bestowed vpon vs of thy goodnes and frée will And as we glorifie thee for these thy temporall benefits so we magnifie thee and extoll thy most holie name for the rich treasure of thy word and Gospell for thy holie sacraments and other gifts powred vpon thy Church and congregation of whome we confesse our selues to be members and thy son Christ Iesus the principall and supreme head in whome béeing knit together like liuelie stones we make one spirituall building erected to the honour of thy most blessed name We giue thée thankes also O mercifull father for thy patience thy long sufferance and forbearing to punish vs dailie offending against thy diuine maiestie for the preaching of thy word to call vs home vnto thée by repentance and to a reformed life for defending vs from bodilie dangers at home and abroade by water and land in companie and alone whereas manie a one doth miscarrie as we sée and by due proofe are able to testifie For some are drowned some hanged some burned some boiled some dismembred some murthered one this waie another that waie destroied in strange forme and fashion by fire by water by weapon by famine by sicknesse and other casualties some suddenlie some lingeringlie some infamouslie and diuers diuerslie as they are eating as they are drinking as they are dansing as they are cursing as they are forswearing as they are sleeping as they are waking some betraied of their counterfet friends some insnard of their malicious enimies some falling into the hands of théeues on land some assaulted of pirats on sea and manie by manifold meanes ouertaken with diuers dangers oftentimes denouncing extremitie of death From the which perils for that it hath pleased thée of thine infinite clemencie to preserue and saue vs from our verie cradle wherewith we might haue bene ouerthrowne and so spéedilie dispatched had not thy holie hand ouershadowed vs and compassed vs round about being wrapped in our swathling cloutes we giue thée most hartie thankes and praise thy blessed name with pure vndefiled lips Accept our seruice receiue our sacrifice euen the eleuation and lifting vp of our hands and harts vnto thée the oblation of thanksgiuing presented vnto thy diuine Maiestie for thine innumerable graces and blessings