wish well to the Publick and make thine own Peace with God for thy particular Offences Renew the Covenant with God of a holy and strict Obedience and then pour out thy Prayers and Tears for an universal Mercy Then thou wilt not only pull away one Brand from this Consuming Fire but assist to quench the common Conslagration 11. THY Heart bleeds to see the woful Vastation of Civil Discord and the deadly fury of domestick Enemies Certainly there is nothing under Heaven more dreadful than the Face of an Intestine War nothing that so nearly resembles Hell Killing Dying Torturing Burning Shrieks Cries and Ejaculations fearful Sounds and furious Violences and whatsoever may increase Horror The present Calamity oppreâ—â—es one another Fear One is quivering in Death another trembles to expect it One begs for Life another will sell it dearer Heâ—e one would rescue one Life and loseth two another would hide himself where he finds a Merciless Death Here lies one bleeding groaning and grasping parting with his Soul inextremity of Anguish and another of a Vigorous Spirit kills and dies at once Here one wrings her Hands teaâ—s her Hair and seeks for some Instrument of a self-inflicted Death rather than yield her Chastity to a bloody Ravisher another clings to her Husband and takes part of the Murtherers Sword rather than let go her Embraces One is tortured for the Discovery of hid Treasure another dying upon the Rack out of Jealousie 12. IT is pity that Christians should be so bloodily Cruel to one another That he who bears the Image of God should thus turn Fiend to his own Flesh and Blood These are worthy of our bitterest Lamentations I love the Speculation of Seneca's Resolutely-Wise Man that could look upon the glittering Sword of an Executioner with undazled Eyes and makes it indifferent whether his Soul pass out of his Mouth or Throat But I should more admire the Practice Whilst we carry this Clay about us Nature in the best of us must shrink in at the sight of Death Yet these are the due Revenges of the Almighty's Punitive Justice so provok'd by our Sins that we cannot claim an easier Judgment 13. DOST thou not see Physicians when the Body is highly Distemper'd and the Blood Inflam'd to order the opening of a Vein and extracting out so many ounces as may leave the rest sit for Correction Why art thou over-troubled to see the great Physician of the World take this Course with sinful Mankind Certainly had not this great Body by wilful Disorder contracted these Spiritual Diseases and defiled the Blood that runs in these Vulgar Veins with Riots and Surfeits we had never been so Miserable as to see these Torrents of Christian Blood running down our Channels But could we bewail and abandon our former Wickednesses we might live in hope that at last this deadly Issue might stop and dry up and leave a Possibility of a Blessed Recovery 14. THOU art amaz'd with Grief to see the Pestilence raging in our Streets in so frequent a Mortality as breeds a question concerning the number of the Living and the Dead That which is wont to abate other Miseries heightens this the Company of Participants It was certainly a hard and sad Option that God gave to David after his numbring the People Chuse thee whether Seven Years Famine shall come unto thee in thy Land or three Months Flight before thine Enemies or two days Pestilence 2 Sam. 24.13 We may believe him when we hear him say I am in a great Strait but his wise Resolutions soon brought him out Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord for his Mercies are great And let me not fall into the hands of Man 2 Sam. 24.14 He that sent these Evils know their Value and the difference of their Malignity 15. YET he opposes three days Pestilence to seven Years Famine and three Months Vanquishment He knew there was advantage betwixt the dull Activity of Man and the quick Dispatch of an Angel It was a favour that the Angel who in One Night destroy'd an Hundred fourscore and five thousand Assyrians 2 King 19.35 should in three days cut off but Seventy thousand Israelites But the Almighty in his Judgments remembers Mercy We read of Grand Cairo wherein Eighteen hundred thousand were swept away in one Years Pestilence enough one would imagine to have De-Populated the whole Earth And in our Chronicles of so general a Mortality that the Living were hardly sufficient to Bury the Dead In the Year 1624 died of the Plague in one Week Four thousand four hundred sixty three and in our last Visitation 1665 was a larger Number In one Week Seven thousand one hundred sixty and five and in the whole Year Sixty eight thousand five hundred ninety six It was his tender Mercy that he spared any Alive But he Wounds that he may Heal and in wounding heals us for his Compassions fails not to us Sinners 16. THESE are dreadful demonstrations of God's Displeasure but there is this alleviation of our Misery that we suffer more immediately from a Holy Just and Merciful God The Kingly Prophet had never made that distinction in his Choice if he had not known a difference betwixt the Sword of an Angel and an Enemy betwixt God's more direct and immediate Infliction and the Malice of Men. It was but a poor Consolation given by a Victorious Enemy to dying Lausus Comfort thy self in thy Death with this that thou fallest by the Hand of Aeneas But surely we have just Reason to Comfort our Souls when a Pestilential Death compasses us about from the Thought and Intuition of that Gracious Hand under which we suffer So as we can say with good Eli It is the Lord. 17. IT is not amiss to nominate those Maâ—ks of Infection God's Tokens such they are and ought to Summon up our Eyes and Hearts to that Almighty Power that sends them with the Resolution of Holy Job Tho thou kill me yet will I trust in thee It is none of the least Miseries of Contagious Sickness for it bars us from the Comfortable Society and Attendance of Friends or else repays their Love and kind Visitation with Death Be not dismaid with this Solitude thou hast Company with thee whom no Infection can indanger or exclude There is an invisible Friend that will be sure to adhere to thee though thou art avoided by Neighbours and will make all thy Bed in thy Sickness and supply thee with those Cordials which thou in vain expect'st from earthly Visitants 18. INDEED justly do we stile this Sickness for the Mortalness and Generality of the Dispersion Yet there is a Remedy that can cure and confine it Let but every one inspect the Plague of his own heart and the Land is healed Can we with David see the Angel that smites us and erect an Altar and offer God the Sacrifices of our Prayers Penitence and Obedience we shall hear him say It is enough 2 Sam. 24.16 His
fortitude takes off his terror If as a Messenger of God he is sent to convey thee to happiness what reason hast thou to be afraid of thine own bliss It is one thing what Death is in himself a privation of Life such as nature cannot chuse but abhor Another what he is by Christ made unto us and introduction to Life and a harbinger to Glory 21. WHY would the Lord of Life yield unto Death and by yielding vanquisht him but to alter and sweeten him to us and of a fierce Tyrant make him a Friend and Benefactor And if we look upon him thus changed and reconciled how can we chuse but bid him welcome 22. THOU art afraid of the pangs of Death Some have dyed without any great sense of pain Some have yielded up their Souls without a groan And how knowest thou what measure God hath allotted thee Our Death is a Sea-Voyage The holy Apostle desired to lanch forth Phil. 1. wherein some find a rough and tempestuous passage others calm and smooth Such thine may prove and so thy dissolution may be easier than a fit of sickness 23. BUT if God had determined otherwise look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith Heb. 12.2 the Son of God the Lord of Glory see with what Agonies he conflicted what torments he endured for thee Look upon his Bloody Sweat Bleeding Temples Furrowed Back Nailed Hands and Feet Rack'd Joints and Pierc'd Side Hear his strong Cries consider the Shame Pain and Curse of the Cross which he underwent for thy sake Say whether thy sufferings can be comparable to his He is a Cowardly and Unworthy Soldier that follows his General sighing Behold these are the steps wherein thy God and Saviour hath trod before thee Walk on couragiously in this deep and bloody way and after a few paces thou shalt overtake him in Glory For if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2.12 24. THOU shrink'st at the thoughts of Death Is it not for over-valuing Life and making Earth thy home Rich Persons that live at ease are loth to stir abroad especially upon hard and stormy Voyages Perhaps 't is so with thee wherein I cannot but much pity thy weakness in placing thy contentment where a wiser Man could find nothing but vanity and vexation 25. ALAS what is our Exile if this be our home What entertainment to be enamour'd on Distempered humours hard usages violent passions and bodily sicknesses sad complaints disappointed hopes and frequent miscarriages Momentany Pleasures mixt with sorrows and lastly umbrages of joy and real miseries Doth these so bewitch thee that when Death calls thou art ready to reply as the Devil to our Saviour Mat. 8.29 Art thou come to torment me before the time 26. ARE these such contentments as allures thee to the World as St. Peter was to Mount Tabor Mat. 17.4 Master It is good for us to be here if thou have any Faith in thee look up to the other World where thou art going and see whether that true Life pure Joy perfect Felicity and Eternity may not be worthy to draw thy heart to a longing desire of Fruition and a Contempt of what the Earth can promise in comparison of infinite blessedness 27. IT was one of the defects which Sir Francis Bacon found in Physicians that do not study Remedies to procure the easie passage of their Patients through the Gates of Death Such helps I leave to the care of the skilful Sages of Nature the use I supose must be with caution lest whilst they endeavour to sweeten Death they shorten Life 28. BUT let me prescibe this spiritual means of thine happy Euthanasia which is a faithful disposition of the labouring Soul that can truly say with Timothy 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and Chap. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day 29. THOU startest ar the mention of Death How canst thou but blush to read of Socrates when the Message of Death was brought him applauded the News with much joy Or of a Cardinal of Rome that received the Intimation of his approaching Death Cry'd out the news is good and welcome Is not their Confidence thy Shame who believing that when our Earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 yet shrinks at the motion of taking possession of it 30. CANST thou with dying Mithridates be unwilling to forsake this light when thou art going to a light more Glorious than the Sun It is our infidelity that makes us unwilling to die Did we think the Soul sleeps as well as the Body from the moment of the dissolution till the day of Resurrection death might be unwelcome 31. OR did we think we should wander to unknown places to uncertain entertainment or fear a scorching Tryal upon the Emigâ—ation in flames little inferiour to those of Hell there were some cause to tremble at the approach of Death But we can boldly say with the Wise Man VVisd 3.1 2 3. The Souls of the Righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them In the sight of the unwise they seem'd to die and their departure is taken for misery and their going from us to be utter destruction but they are in peace 32. OH thou of little Faith why fearst thou â—hide thy self as that dying Saint of old and say my Soul go boldly forth what art thou afraid of Lo the Angels are ready to receive thee and carry thee to Glory leave there this wretched Body and be possess'd of Heaven After a momentary darkness upon Nature thou shalt enjoy the Beatifical Vision of God Be not afraid to be happy but say in Faith what Jonah said in Anger Jonah 4.3 It is better for me to dye than to live 33. I am afraid to dye This is Natures voice But wilt thou hear what Faith saith To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain If therefore Nature reigns in thee thou must be affrighted with Death But if true Grace be prevalent in thy Soul that Guest shall not be unwelcome Was ever any Man afraid of Profit and Advantage Such is Death to the Faithful Whosoever finds Christ his Life shall be sure to find Death his gain for he is thereby brought to a near Communion with him Whereas before he enjoyed him by the dim apprehension of Faith now he clearly and immediately enjoys that Glorious Presence which only makes blessedness 34. THIS is it that causeth Death to change his Copy and renders him who is formidable pleasing and beneficial I desire to depart and to be with Christ saith the Man who was rapt up in the third Heaven had it been only departing he
had not been in such an extasie but to depart and to be with Christ is that which raiseth his Soul 35. WHEN Socrates was to dye for his Religion he comforted himself with this that he should go to Orpheus Homer Musaeus and the other Worthies of former Ages Poor Man Could he have known God manifested in the flesh and received up into Glory 1 Tim. 3.16 and in that glorified state sitting at the right hand of Majesty could he have known the Blessed Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Angels Arch Angels Principalities and Powers and the rest of the most Glorious Hierarchy of Heaven Could he have been acquainted with that Celestial Choir of the Spirits of Just Men made Perfect Heb. 12.23 Could he have known the God and Father of Spirits the Infinite and Incomprehensible Glorious Diety whose Presence transfuses Everlasting Blessedness into all those Citizens of Glory And could he have known that he should have an undoubted interest in that infinite Bliss how gladly would he have taken of his hemlock and how joyfully would he have passed to that happy World 36. ALL this we know and no less assured then of our present being with what comfort should we think of changing our present Condition with a Blessed Immortality How sweet a Song was that of old Simeon Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation That which he saw by the Eye of Sence thou seest by the Eye of Faith even the Lords Christ verse 16. he saw him in Weakness thou seest him in Glory why should'st thou not depart not in peace only but in joy and comfort 37. HOW did the Proto-Martyr Stephen triumph over the rage of his Enemies and the fury of Death when he had once seen the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God Acts 7.56 God offers the same blessed prospect to the Eye of thy Soul Faith is the Key that opens the Heav'n of Heav'ns fix thy eyes upon that Glorious and Saving Object Thou canst not but lay down thy Body in peace and send thy Soul into the hands of him that bought it with the cheerful and sweet Recommendation of Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Acts 7.39 A Prayer at the Hour of Death O LORD GOD Almighty I humbly acknowledge my own vileness through the whole course of my Life And seeing thou hast thus long spared me now accomplish thy Mercy in me Be thou my God forever and my Guide unto the end O Comfort me now my Heart trembleth in me and the terrors of Death are fallen upon me give me the long expected fruits of my hopes proposed to me in thy Word O Blessed Jesu who art the Death of death now shew thy self my Saviour Take from my afflicted Soul the sting of Death and assure me of Victory Loose the Pains allay the Fears and Sorrows and Sweeten the bitterness of Death untill in my enjoying thy Presence it be swallowed up in Victory O Holy Saviour who hast had Experience of all our miseries for Sin without Sin and hast admitted us to be Baptized into the Similitude of thy Death and Resurrection Let me now feel in my Languishing Soul the Power and Efficacy thereof 2. O Christ whose Human Soul in thy Passion for my Redeemption was heavy unto Death now mercifully Consider my Frailty who am now at the point of Dissolution O now give me an Invincible Faith in thee against which the Gates of Hell shall never prevail now speak Peace and Comfort to my poor Soul Thou who pouredst out thy Soul to Death for me receive my wearied Spirit to Eternal Life Let not this fearful passage be too bitter to me but be thou ever present with me in all my sufferings O Holy Ghost the Comforter of all the Elect leave me not Comfortless let me be gathered to my Fathers in Peace Bring me to that Life wherein thou hast promised to wipe away all Tears from our Eyes Where shall be no more Death Sorrow Pain nor any bitter Effects of Sin Lord hear me O thou who despisest not a broken contrite Heart have mercy upon me Lord receive my Petitions and in thy appointed hour come Lord Jesus my Saviour and Redeemer deliver me from this bondage of Corruption even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen SECT XVII Of Judgment 1. THOU apprehendest true Death is terrible but Judgment more both succeed upon the same decree It is appointed unto Men once to dye but after this the judgment Heb. 9.27 It is not more terrible than thought on Death because he strikes and lays before us examples of Mortality cannot but sometimes take up our hearts but the last Judgment having no visible proofs upon our thoughts too seldom fright us 2. YET who conceives the Terror of that day When the Sun shall be turn'd into darkness and the Moon into blood Acts 2.20 That day which shall burn as an Oven when all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as the stubble Mal. 4.1 That day in which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 That day wherein the Lord Jesus shall be reveal'd from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess. 1.7 8. That day wherein the Lord will come with fire and with his Chariots like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire for by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh Isa. 66.15 16. That day wherein the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him and shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory and all Nations shall be gathered before him and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats Mat. 25.31 32. And that day wherein all the kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him Rev. 1.7 3. THAT great and terrible day of the Lord Joel 2.31 wherein if the powers of Heav'n be shaken how can the heart remain removed And if the World be dissolved who can abide it Alas we are ready to tremble at Thunder in a Cloud and at Lightning that glances our Eyes what shall we do when the Heavens shall break in pieces and be on flame about our Ears Oh who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth Mal. 3.2 4. YET be of good cheer amidst all this horror there is comfort whether thou be one whom it shall please God to reserve upon the Earth to the sight of this dreadful day he knows in whose hands our times are but this we are sure of that we are upon the last days And we may spit
the days of a mispent Youth so now accomplish thine own Work give me an Heart faithfully to adhere unto thee that I may constantly Endeavour to Redeem the many Errors of my life past by becoming a Pattern of Faith and Obedience in all those with whom I Converse with for the Future Lord fill me with thy Holy Spirit that I may bear more fruit in my Age Forsake me not now I am Old and Gray-Headed Neither Remember the Sins and Follies of my Youth 2. O let thy Power appear in my Weakness and the Operation of thy Spirit in the Decays and Ruins of this Earthly Tabernacle by the evident repair of thine own Image in me Mortifying the remainds of Sin and assuring me of my Election and Calling in Christ Jesus And now O Lord that the time of my departure draweth nigh give me a vigilant Spirit that I may be ready when thou Summonest me Lord there are but few steps between me and this Worlds period O strengthen me with thy Grace give me a lively Faith an Invincible and Constant perseverance in this Race of the few and evil dayes of this Earthly Pilgrimage that by thy merciful Assistance I may so run that I may obtain That when thou pleasest to give me rest from my Labours and gather me to my Fathers I may against all the pains and Sorrows of Death willingly and cheerfully yield up my Soul into thy Gracious Hands in full assurance of my Redeemption and Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen SECT XVI Of Mortality 1. THOU fearest Death The Holiest Wisest and Strongest have done no less He is King of Terrors and must command Thou mayst hear the Man after God's own heart say Psal. 116.3 The sorrows of Death compassed me And Psal. 88.3 4 5. My Soul is full of troubles my life draweth nigh to the Grave I am counted with them that go down to the Pit as a Man that hath no strength free among the Dead And Good Hezekiah upon the message of Death Chattered like a Crane or a Swallow and went mourning as a Dove Isa. 38.14 2. THOU fearest as a Man but must strive too ver-come as a Christian which thou mayst perform if from the terrible aspect of the Messenger thou cast thine eyes upon the Amiable Face of God that sends him Holy David shews the way Psal. 18.5 6. The snares of Death prevented me In my distress I called upon the Lord and cryed unto my God and he heard my voice out of his Temple and my cry came before him even into his ears He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto God the Lord belong the issues of death Psal. 68.20 3. MAKE God thy Friend and Death shall be an advantage Phil. 1.21 It is true what the Wise Man said VVisd 1.13 Chap. 2.24 that God made not death but through envy of the Devil death came into the VVorld But though God made him not he is pleas'd to employ him as his Messenger to Summon some to Judgment and Invite others to Glory and those the Psalmist makes mention of are these latter Psal. 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints And what reason hast thou to abomâ—nate that which God accounts precious 4. THOU art afraid of Death Acquaint thy self with him more and thou wilt fear him less Bears and Lyons at the first sight affright us but upon frequent viewing lose their Terror Inure thine eyes to the sight of Death and that Face shall not displease thee Thou must shortly dwell with him for a long time for the days of darkness are many Eccl. 11.8 but in the mean time entertain him as the blessed Apostle doth 1 Cor. 15.31 I protest by your rejoycing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I dye daily 5. INVITE him to thy Board lodge him in thy Bed discourse him in thy Closet and walk with him in thy Garden as Joseph of Arimathea did and by no means suffer him to be a stranger to thy thoughts This familiarity shall bring thee to delight in his company whom thou didst formerly dread then thou mayest with the blessed Apostle say Phil. 1.23 I have a desire to be with Christ which is far better 6. THOU art gievously afraid of Death Fears are apt to imagin and aggravate evils Even Christ himself walking upon the waters and the Disciples trembled as at some dreadful Apparition perhaps thou lookst at Death as some utter abolition or extinction of thy being and nature must needs shrink at the thought of not being at all This is an ill and dangerous misprision For it is but departing which thou call'st Death 7. SEE how God stiles it to Abraham Thou shalt go to thy Fathers in peace thou shalt be buried in a good old Age Gen. 15.15 And Jacob Gen. 49.33 When Jacob had ended commanding his Sons he gathered up his feet into the bed and yielded up the Ghost and was gathered unto his People So that dying is going to our Fathers and gathering to our People with whom we shall live in a better World and re-appear Gloâ—ious Let but thy Faith represent Death to thee in this shape and he will not appear terrible 8. DO but observe in what familiar terms God Confer'd with Moses concerning his Death Deut. 32.49 Get thee up into this Mountain Abarim unto Mount Nebo which is in the Land of Moab and behold the Land of Canaan which I gave unto the Children of Israel for a Possession and dye in the Mount whither thou goest up and be gathered to thy People as Aaron thy Brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his People So it is no more go up there and dye should it have been go a days Journey in the Wilderness to Sacrifice it could have been no otherwise expressed or as if it were all one to go up to Sinai to meet with God and go up to Nebo and dye Neither is it otherwise with us only the difference is that Moses must first view the Land of Promise and then dye whereas we must first dye and then see the Promised Land 9. THOU art troubled with the fear of Death What reason hast thou to be Afflicted with that which is common to Mankind Remember the words of Joshua Josh. 23.14 Behold this day saith he I am going the way of all the Earth If all the Earth go this way couldst thou think there is a by-path left thee to tread in were it so that Monarchs Princes Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles were allow'd any easier passage out of the World thou mightst perhaps repine at a painful dissolution but now since all go one way there can be no ground for a discontented murmur 10. GRUDGE if thou wilt that thou art a man but grudge not that being a man thou must dye It is true those whom the last day shall find alive shall not dye but they shall be changed 1 Cor. 15.51 52. but this change shall be
an Annalogical Death a speedy Consumption of all our corrupt and drossy Parts so as the pain must be the more intense by its shortness than in the ordinary course of death Briefly that change is death and our death is a change as Job stiles it Job 14.14 The difference is not in the pain but in the speed of the Tâ—ansaction Fear not then the sentence of Death remember them that have been before thee and that come after for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh Ecclus. 41.3 11 THOU fearest Death So do not Infants Children or Distracted Persons as the Philosopher observes Why should reason render us more Cowardly than defect of reason doth them Thou fearest that which others wish for O Death how acceptable is thy sentence to the needy and to him whose shrength faileth that is now in the last age and is vexed with all things and to him that despaireth and hath lost patience Ecclus. 41.2 VVherefore is light given saith Job to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in Soul VVhich long for hid Treasures which rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can find the grave Job 3.20 21 22. 12. HOW many invite the violence of Death and if refus'd do as Ignatius threatned he would do to the Lyons force his Assault Death is the same to all The Difference is in the Disposition of the Entertainers could'st thou loost upon Death with their eyes he would be as welcome to thee as to them At least why shouldst thou not labour to have thy heart so wrought upon that this Face of Death which seems lovely and desirable to some may not appear over-terrible to thee 13. THOU art afraid to die Could'st thou have been capable in the Womb of the use of reason thou wouldst have been more afraid of coming into the World than thou art of going out For why should we be more afraid of the better than of the worse Better is the day of death than the day of ones birth saith the Preacher Eccles. 7.2 better every way our birth begins our miseries our death ends them The one enters the best into a wretched World but the other enters the good into a World of Glory Certainly were it not for our infidelity as we came crying into the World so we should go rejoycing out And as some have solemnized their Birth-day with feasting and triumph the Primitive Church hath enjoyned rejoycing upon the Dying day of her Martyrs and Saints 14. THOU abhorrest Death and fleest from it as from a Serpent but dost thou know his sting is gone what harm is there in a sting-less Snake Hast thou not heard of some delicate Dames that have carried 'em in their Bosom for coolness and pleasure of their smoothness The sting of Death is Sin 1 Cor. 15.56 He may hiss and wind about us but cannot prejudice us when that Sting is out Look up O thou believing Soul to thy blessed Saviour who hath pluckt out this sting of Death and happily triumphs over it O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15.55 15. THY Soul and Body old Companions are loth to part It is but forbearing their Society a while they but take leave of other till they meet at the Resurrâ—â—â—â—on in the mean time they are safe and the better 〈…〉 It is commendable in the Jews otherwis◠〈…〉 Men that they call their Grave 〈…〉 thâ— House of the Living and when thâ—y 〈…〉 â—urial of their Neigbours they 〈…〉 â—nd cast it into the Air with those words of the Psalmist 72.16 They shall flourish and put forth as Grass upon the Earth 16. DID we not believe a Resurrection of the one part and a re-uniting of the other we had reason to be daunted with thoughts of a Dissolution But now we have no cause to be dismayed with a little Intermission It was the saying of a Wise Heathen That Death which we so fear and flee from doth but respite Life for a while not take it away The day will come which shall restore us to Light again Settle thy Soul in this assurance and thou canst not be discomfited with a necessary Parting 17. THOU art afraid of Death when thou art weary of thy days labour art thou afraid of rest Hear what thy Saviour who is the Lord of Life esteems of Death Joh. 11.11 Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth and of Jarius his Daughter Matt. 9.24 The Maid is not Dead but Sleepeth Neither useth the Spirit of God any other Language concerning his Servants under the Old Testament Now shall I sleep in the Dust saith holy Job Job 7.21 and of David 2. Sam. 7.12 When thy days be fulfilled thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers nor yet under the New For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.30 18. THE Philosophers were wont to call Sleep the Brother of Death but God says Death is no other than Sleep it self a Sleep sure and sweet When thou liest down at Night to thy Repose thou canst not be certain to awake in the Morning as when thou layest thy self down in Death thou art sure to wake in the Morning of the Resurection Out of this Bodily Sleep thou may'st be startled with some noise of Horror fearful Dreams Tumults or allarms of War but here thou shalt rest quietly in the place of Silence free from all internal and external Disturbances and in the mean time thy Soul shall see none but Visions of Joy and Blessedness 19. BUT oh the sweet and hearty expression of our last rest and the Issue of our happy resuscitation which our holy Apostle hath laid forth for the consolation of his mournful Thessalonians 1 Thess. 4.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him So that our belief is Antidote enough against the worst of Death And why are we troubled when we believe Jesus dyed and what a Triumph is this over Death that the same Jesus who dyed rose again And what a comfort is it that the same Jesus who arose shall come again and bring all his with him in Glory And lastly what a strong Cordial is this to all good Hearts that all which die well sleep in Jesus Thou thoughtest perhaps of sleeping in the Bed of the Grave and there indeed is Rest But he tells thee of sleeping in the Bosom of Jesus and there is Immortality and Blessedness O blessed Jesu in thy presence is the fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal. 16.12 Who would desire to walk in the World when he may sleep in Christ. 20. THOU fearest Death But on what terms doth Death present himself to thee If as an Enemy as the Apostle stiles him 1 Cor. 15.26 The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death thy unpreparedness will make him dreadful but thy readiness and
Dunghil O that my Grief were throughly weighed and my Calamities laid in the Ballance together For now it would be heavier than the Sand of the Sea Therefore my words are swallowed up for the Arrows of the Almighty are within me the Poyson whereof drinketh up my Spirits The Terrors of God do set themselves in Array against me Job 6.2 3 4. Dost thou not hear the Man after God's own Heart speak of the Voice of his Roaring Psal. 22.1 He that shrunk not from the Bear the Lyon nor Goliah of Gath is now drenching his Bed with his Tears Psal. 6.6 Dost thou not hear the Faithful crying out I am the Man that hath suffered Affliction by the Rod of his Wrath c. Surely against me he is turned he turneth his hand against me all the day my Flesh and my Skin hath he made old he hath broken my Bones Lam. 3.1 3 4. Consider the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs the great Favourites of Heaven some on Gridirons others in Boyling Caldrons some on Spits others under Saws some in Flames others crashed with the Teeth of Wild Beasts some on Racks others in Fiery Furnaces Most of 'em in such Torments as in comparison thy Pains are but a Sport But to leave Mortality and sinful Dust and Ashes thou may'st behold the Son of God and Lord of Life the King of Glory God blessed for ever sweating drops of Blood in his dreadful Agony and mayst hear him cry upon the Tree of Curse and Shame My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matth. 27.46 Alas What are we capable to suffer in proportion of these Tortures What are we that we should think much to share with the best of God's Saints nay even with the dear and eternal Son of his Love our ever blessed Redeemer Had not God prescribed this their way to Heaven they had not waded so deep in Blood 10. WHY do we repine to wet our feet where they waded If from these Holy Ones we turn our Eyes we shall find Examples among meer Pagans For instance He who we used to account infamous for Voluptuousness Epicurus the Philosopher who on his Dying-day when he lay extreamly tormented with the Stone in the Bladder and a tearing Cholick in his Bowels as it were grasping for Life yet even then writing to his Idemeneus can out of the strength of his Resolutions profess his Cheerfulness and can stile even that day Blessed It was the same Mouth that could boast that if he were frying in the Brazen Bull of â—alaris he could there find Contentment What should I tell thee of a Mutius Scaevola who in a Glorious Revenge voluntarily burnt off his Right Hand not without the Envy and Pity of his Enemies or of a Regulus that after so high a Provocation offers himself to the worst of the merciless Fury of his Tormenters Why shouldst thou admire saith wise Seneca that some should be well pleased to be Scorch'd Wounded Rack'd or Kill'd Frugality is a pain to the Riotous Labour a punishment to the Lazy Continence a misery to the Wanton and Study a torture to the Sloâ—hful 11. ALL these are not in their own Nature difficult but we are infirm and inconstant Shall Pagans attain to this height of Magnanimity by their Fortitude And shall we Christians droop under gentler Sufferings We profess the advantage of Faith to uphold and chear us But poor Ethniâ—k Souls they never heard of a Merciful God to Comfort 'em They never knew those sweet Messages from Heaven Call upon me in the day of Trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt Glorifie me Psal. 50.15 Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest Matth. 11.28 Strengthen ye the weak Hands and confirm the feeble Knees Say to them that are of a fearful Heart Be strong fear not behold your God will come with Vengeance even God with a Recompence He will come and save you Isa. 35.3 4. They had not the Heart of a Job to say I know that my Redeemer liveth Job 19.25 Nor the Eyes of a Stephen to pierce the Heavens to see their Saviour standing at the Right hand of God But out of their Vigour elevated with an arrogant Ambition of that Fame which they believed would survive 'em Whereas we Christians know that we have the Father of Mercies to stand by us a Redeemer to deliver us a Comforter to strengthen and refresh us sweet and infallible Promises to sustain us And at last a Crown of Eternal Glory to reward us 12. THOU art pained with Sickness View not what thou feelest but think what Punishment thou hast deserved Wherefore doth a living Man complain a Man for the punishment of his Sin Lam. 3.39 Alas the Wages of every Sin is Death a Death of Body and Soul Temporal and Eternal Any thing below this is Mercy There is not the least of thy Transgressions but hath merited the infinite wrath of a just God and more Torments than thou art able to undergo What dost thou complain of Ease Where thou owest a thousand Talents thou art bid to Take thy Bill and write down Fifty Luke 16.6 Wilt thou not magnifie the Clemency of so favourable a Creditor Surely were every Twig which creates a Smart a Scorpion and every Breath thou sendest forth a Flame This were yet less than thy Deserts Oh the infinite goodness of our Indulgent Father that uses so gentle a Correction to us Tell me thou nice Patient if thou canst not suffer these Stripes how thou wilt endure those that are infinitely sharper Alas What are these Trifles to that Hell which abides for the Impatient There are Torments without Mitigation eternal Pains without Intermission which thou can'st not suffer nor avoid Fear them and murmur not at these prostrate thy self low under the hand of God and be thankful for a tolerable Misery How graciously hath the Wisdom of God thought fit to temper our Afflictions if they prove sharp they are not long and if long not over sharp that our Strength might not be depressed by those Trials we undergo Therefore aspire a Contentment in thy self and thy Languishment will be easie or thy Pain soon over Extream and Everlasting are Terrors reserv'd for the Wicked hereafter that are durable painful and not capable of any Relaxation What a Moment is it that thou dost suffer Yea nothing in respect of Eternity which thou must either hope for or fear Endure a while patiently that thou mayst not be infinitely Miserable 13. THOU complainest of Pain Of what use were thy Patience if that were mitigated God never gives Vertues without an intent of their Exercise To what end were our Christian Valour if we had no Enemy to Encounter Thus long thou hast supinely slept in a secure Garison where thou hast heard no Trumpet but thine own and hast turned thy Drum-head into a Table for Dice lavishing out thy days in varieties of idle Recreations Now God draws thee
are raised to a greater height of Godly Zeal than ever Corinth had never been so rich in Grace if not defiled with so foul a Crime Confess now if this be not in effect thy Case Shouldest thou ever have detested thy Sin if thou had'st not been drawn in to commit it Shouldst thou have had so fervent a Love to God had it not been out of a sense of his great Mercy in remitting it Wouldst thou have been so weary in thy Stops as thou art if thou hadst not slip'd Give Glory to God but shame to thy self and Bless him for the benefit that he hath been pleased to make of thine Offending him 11. BUT Alas thou sayst my Case is far worse than it is conceiv'd I have been more than once miscarried into the same Sin For after I have made profession of my Repentance I have been transported into my former Wickedness Having washt off my Sin as I thought with many Tears yet I have suffer'd my Soul to be defiled again I must not flatter thee this Condition is Dangerous Those Diseases which upon their first Seisure have receiv'd Cure after a Relapse have threatned Death Look upon the Saints of God thou shalt find they have kept a distance from that Fire wherewith they have been formerly Burn'd Thou shalt not find Noah again Uncovered through Drunkenness Nor Judah climbing to Tamer's Bed Thou shalt not take Peter again in the High-Priest's Hall denying his Master or after St. Paul's Reproof Halting in his Dissimulation Gall. 2.11 12 13. 12. BUT tell me notwithstanding Art thou truly serious with thy God Hast thou doubled thy Humiliation for the Reduplication of thine Offence and sought God more instantly with an unfeigned Contrition Hast thou found thy Soul hath a greater detestation of Sin than thine acquaintance with it hath indulg'd thee Hast thou taken this occasion to lay hold on thy Saviour and to reinforce the Vows of strict Obedience If so this unpurpos'd Reiteration of thy Sin shall be no Prejudice to thy Salvation It is one thing for a Man to walk on willingly in a beaten Path of Sin another thing for him to be led out of the way of Righteousness by the violence of a Temptation which he soon recovers by a sincere Repentance 13. THE Best cannot but he overtaken with Sin But He that is Born of God doth not commit Sin 1 Joh. 3.9 He may be transported but makes not a Custom of doing ill His Heart is against that his Hand is drawn to And if in this inward Strife he is over-power'd he lyes not down with a willing Mind but struggles and with a reassumed Courage tramples on that which formerly supplanted him Didst thou give thy self to a resolved course of Sinning and betwixt whiles smite thy Breast with a formal God forgive me I should have no Comfort for thee but rather send thee to an afflictious Remedy of the Almighty for Correction if possibly those Stripes may prevent thine Everlasting Torments 14. BUT now since What thou hatest that thou dost and thou dost that which thou wouldst not and it is no more thou that dost it but Sin that dwels in thee Rom. 7.19 20. Exclaim as much as thou wilt on the sinfulness of thy Sin bewail thy Weakness with a better Man than thy self O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 But know that thou hast found Mercy with God Thy repeated Sin may grieve but cannot prejudice thy Soul Had we to do with a Finite Compassion it might be abated by wasting it self on a frequent Remission as a great River may be drawn dry by many small Out-lets But now that we deal with a God whose Mercy is Infinite it is not the greatness or number of our Offences that makes a difference in his free Remission That God who hath charged our weak Charity Not to be overcome of Evil but to overcome Evil with Good Rom. 12.21 justly scorneth that we should imagine his Infinite and Incomprehensible Goodness can be check't with our Evil. 15. IT was not without a singular Providence that St. Peter came to our Saviour with that Question in his Mouth Lord How often shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him till seven times That it might produce this Gracious Answer for our perpetual Comfort I say not unto thee until seven times but until seventy times seven Matth. 18.21 22. Lord if thou wilt have us sinful Creatures indulgent to one another in our Mutual Offences what Limits can be set to thy Mercies in our Sins against Thee Be we Penitent for thou art Gracious A Prayer against Temptations O Lord thou art the God of my Strength and to thee alone I fly for refuge the Tempter is now busie and labours to undermine me and more especially when I least suspect him But O let me be always ready to meet him in the Gate before he advances too far upon me Let not a Supine carelessness seize upon my Spirits but excite me to Vigilancy that I may stand upon my Guard ever prepared to resist him even in the beginning of his first Assaults Lord grant I may be fortified with Faith Courage and Resolution so that with the Assistance of thy Grace I may gain the Conquest 2. FURNISH me with thy compleat Armour the Helmet of Salvation the Sword of the Spirit and the Shield of Faith whereby Satan may be vanquished do thou Arm and so Strengthen me with thy Grace that through the Power of thy Might I may prevail against him and put him to flight when he is intending the greatest mischief and most advantage against me so shall I sing Praises unto thy Name both now and ever and teach others to resort unto thee in their greatest dangers and hardst Conflicts even then when the powers of darkness shall most obstruct them Amen SECT V. Imbecillity of Grace 1. THOU complainest of the Imbecillity of Grace Some little motions thou art sensible of God's Spirit but so insignificant that thou canst not find any solid Comfort Thou seest others thou say'st whose Breasts are full of Milk and their Bones moistned with Marrow Job 21.24 whil'st thou languishest under a Spiritual Leanness and Imbecillity Thou wantest that vigorous Heat of holy Affections and that Alacrity in the Performance of Holy Duties which thou observest in other Christians I like this Complaint and tell thee That without this thou could'st not be in the way to happiness 2. THINK'ST thou that those whom thou esteem'st eminent in Grace make not the same moan that thou do'st Certainly they never had any if they did not complain of too little Every Man is sensible of his own wants and ready to pass secret Censures upon himself for being applauded by others Even the Man after God's own heart can say But I am Poor and Sorrowful Psal. 69.29 He was a great King when he said so it was not Meaness in Estate that troubled him but
Cement Souls as Grace For here the Union is wrought by a better Spiâ—it than our own even that blessed Spirit who stiâ—es himself Love 1 Joh. 4.18 The greater thine Affection the heavier thy Loss But let me tâ—â—l the I fear thou art accessary to thine own Afflâ—ction Didst thou expect this Loss Did thy Heart say What if we should part Didst thou not ovâ—â— enjoy this Blessing If so these are no small Disadvantages 3. AS every Evil so this especially is aggravated by our Unexpectation Neither hadst thou been so oppressed with Sorrow if thou hadst foreseen it It is our weak inconsideration if we welcome these Earthly Comforts not as Guests but Inmates some are importunately Hospitable to entertain their Friends that they have no power to let 'em Depart Whereas we ought according to the Advice of Seneca to possess 'em as those that make account to fore-go 'em and fore-go 'em as if we possest ' em And the Apostle St. Paul gives us this Advice to Use this World as if we us'd it not for the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7.30 31. 4. THOU art griev'd for the loss of a Dear Friend Take heed lest thy Love had too much of Humanity and too little of the Deity All Blessings as they flow from the Father of Mercies should be enjoy'd in him But if we enjoy 'em as in themselvs our Love degenerates into Carnal It is a sure Rule that Love depends upon the thing affected but when that ceaseth Love is Extinguish'd As he that loves a Face for Beauty when Deformity appears it cools his Affection He that respects a Man for Bounty disregards him when he is Impoverish'd 5. DID'ST thou value thy Friend for Wit Complaisance and kind Offices All these are lost and thy Love with them But if thou didst affect him for Eminency in Goodness for the sake of God that dwelt in him thy Love cannot be lost because thou enjoy'st God in whom thou loved'st him Comfort thy self therefore in God in whom he was thine and yielded him cheerfully into those Hands from whom thou receiv'st him 6. THOU hast lost a true Friend That Jewel was to be priz'd for the rarity of it The World affords Friends enough such as they are Friends of the Purple as Tertullian calls them Friends of the Basket as the Poet nominates them such as love thy Loaves and Fishes and thee for them Wealth makes many Friends saith the Wise Man Prov. 14.20 and Chap. 19.4 But where is the Man that loves thee for thy self for being Vertuous divested of all By-respects Whil'st there is Honey in thy Pot the Wasps and Flies will be buzzing about it but the Honey being gone the Vessel remains quiet 7. WAS he so much thine as not to leave thee in Adversity Did he honour thee when the World despised thee Did he follow with Applause whilst thou wert hooted at by the Multitude Would he have own'd thee if he had found thee stripped and wounded in the Wilderness Such a Friend is worthy of thy Tears But take heed thy Love prove not envious If God hath thought him fitter for Society of Saints and Angels dost thou repine at his happiness Thou hast lost his Presence he is advanc'd to the Beatifical Presence of the King of Glory Now Whether is thy Loss or his Gain the greater 8. THOU hast lost thy Friend Say rather Thou hast parted with him That is properly lost which is past Recovery and past hopes to see any more It is not so with this Friend thou mourn'st for He is but gone Home before thee and thou art following him You will both meet in your Father's House and enjoy each other more happily than you could have done here below How just is that Charge of the Blessed Apostle That we should not mourn as Men without Hope for those that do but sleep in Jesus 1 Thess. 4.13 14. Did we think their Souls vanish't into Air as that Heathen Poet prophanely expresseth it and their Bodies resolv'd into Dust without all Possibility of Reparation we might weep out our Eyes for the utter Extinction of those we lov'd But if They do but sleep they shall do well John 11.12 Why are we Impatient for their Reposal in the Bed of Earth when assured of their waking to Glory 9. THOU hast lost a Dear Wife the Wife of thy Youth the desire of thine Eyes Prov. 5.18 Isa. 54.6 Ezek. 24.16 Did you not take each other upon Terms of Re-delivery when call'd for Were you not in Uniting put in mind of Dissolution Till Death us do part Was she Vertuous Knowest thou not there was a Pre-Contract betwixt Christ and her Soul ere thou could'st Claim her Body And canst thou grudge his Challenge of his own Wilt thou not allow him to call for a Consummation of that happy Match Did'st thou so affect her that thou would'st not have her Soul Glorious If thou loved'st her not as a Man but a Christian envy her not that better Husband who for her Dowry gives Immortality 10. THY Son is dead What marvel is it that a Mortal Father hath begot a Mortal Son Marvel rather that thou hast liv'd to enjoy and lose a Son We lie open to so many Casualties that our Subsistence is almost Miraculous Thou hast lost a piece of thy self For what are Children buâ— Colonies deduced from our Flesh yea rather our selves in other Models This loss cannot but go near thee But what was the Disposiâ—ion of the Son thou mournest for If graceless and debauch'd as thy Shame so thy sorrow should die with him Place the hopes thou might'st have had if his Reclaiming against the Fears of his increasing in Wickedness and thou could'st have made no other Account but of Dishonour and Discomfort 11. IF it be sad that he is taken away in his Wildness it had been more heavy had he added to the heap of Sin to augment his Torments If he were Gracious he hath a better Father than thy self whose Interest was more in him than thine And if that Heavenly Father have thought good to prefer him to a Crown of Immortal Glory why should'st thou be afflicted with his Advancement Why should'st thou not rather rejoyce that thy Loyns have assisted to furnish Heav'n with a Saint Were it put to thy Choice that thy Son might be call'd from his Blessed Rest and return to his Earthly Relations Could'st thou be so injurious as to wish the Misery of so disadvantagious a Change to to that Soul which as it was never of thy Production so it were pity it should be at thy disposing Rather labour to have thine own Soul so disposed that it may be ready to follow him into those Blessed Mansions and that it may love and long for Heaven so much more to dwell among the Spirits of the Just made perfect A Prayer against Immoderate Grief for the Loss of Friends O GOD the God of the Spirits of all Flesh thou killest and makest
are thy Guests and Inmates to Sojourn with thee in this Retiredness What if the Light be excluded from thee It cannot hinder thee from seeing the Invisible The Darkness hideth not from thee saith the Psalmist but the Night shineth as the Day the Darkness and the Light are both alike to thee Psal. 139.12 5. I may say without dubiousness God hath never been so evidently seen as in darkest Dungeons for the external Light of Prosperity directs our Visive Beams which are strongly contracted in a deep Obscurity He must descend low and be in Darkness that would see the glorious Lights of Heaven by day They ever shine but not seen except in the Night If thine Eyes be blessed with this invisible Prospect thou art exempt from envying those Persons tho they could see all that the Tempter represented to the view of our Saviour upon the highest Mountain All the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them 6. THOU art forced to Retiredness but with what Disposition of Mind and Body If thou hadst a burden'd Soul the open and free Air could not refresh thee and if thou have a sincere Heart a strict Closeness cannot dismay thee thy Thoughts can keep thee Company and cheer thy Solitariness If thou hadst an unsound Body afflicted with the Gout Rupture or Luxation of some Limb thou wouldst not complain of thy Retiredness thy Pain would make thee insensible of thy Confinement But if God have blessed thee with Health how easily may'st thou digest an harmless Limitation 7. A Wise Man as Laurentius observ'd doth much in Solitude So may'st thou employ the Hours of thy close Retiredness and bless God for so happy an Opportunity How memorable an Instance hath our Age afforded us of an Eminent Person to whose Learning we are all oblig'd for that noble History of the World The Court had his Youthful Years and the Tower his latter Age The Tower Reform'd the Court in him and produc'd these worthy Monuments of Art and Industry which we should in vain expected from his Freedom and Jollitry It is observ'd that shining Wood within doors loseth its Light It is otherwise with this and many active Wits which had never shin'd if not for Confinement 8. THOU art close shut up Anchorets have sued for this as a Favour which thou esteemest a Punishment and having obtain'd it have plac'd Merit in that thou apprehend'st Misery Our History relates of one who when the Church Where his Cell was annex'd was on Fire would not come out but Die and lye Buried under the Ashes of that Roof where his Vow had fix'd him 9. THOU art Imprison'd Wise Men are apt in all Events to enquire into the Causes Wherefore dost thou suffer Is it for thy Guiltiness Make thy Goal God's Correction-House for the reforming of thy Wickedness Remember and imitate Manasses the evil Son of a good Father who upon Humiliation by his just Imprisonment found an happy Expiation of his horrible Idolatries Muders and Witchcrafts whose Bonds brought him home to God and himself Is it for Debt Think not to pay thy Creditors with a lingring Durance if power be in thine hands for a Discharge If there is Fraud and Injustice in this Confinement Fear thou a worse Prison if thou wilt wilfully live and die Indebted when thou mayst be Free and Honest 10. STRETCH thine ability to the utmost to satisfie others tho thou art Impoverish'd But if the hand of God have disabled thee labour what thou canst to agree with thy Creditors If they are Cruel look up with Patience to the Almighty who thinks fit to afflict thee with their Unreasonableness and make the same good use of thy Sufferings as if from the immediate Hand of thy Creator If it be for a good Cause rejoyce in this Tribulation and be exhilerated with the Blessed Apostles that thou art Counted worthy to suffer shame and bonds for the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts 5.41 For every just Cause he owns Neither is he less a Martyr that sufâ—ers for his Conscience in any of God's Commandments than he who suffers for matter of Faith and Religion 11. REMEMBER that Cordial Word of thy Saviour Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.10 In such a Prison thou shalt be sure to find good Company as Joseph Micaiah Jeremiah John Baptist Peter Paul and Silas and all the Holy Martyrs and Confessors of Christ from the first Plantation of the Gospel to this present Repent if thou canst to be thus accompanied and choose not rather to violate a good Conscience for freedom than to be kept under a Momentary Restraint 12. THOU art a Prisoner Make the best of thy Condition close Air is warmer than open and how frequently do we hear Birds sing sweeter Notes in Cages than in Woods It is thy defect if thou art not amended by thy Retir'dness Thou art a Prisoner So is thy Soul in thy Body there not restrain'd only but fetter'd yet complains not of the straitness of these Clay-Walls or weight of those Bonds but patiently waits for a happy Goâ—l-delivery So do thou attend with all Long-suffering the good hour of the Pleasure of God Thy period is set not without regard to thy Advantage He in whose hand are all Times hath determined a sit time to free thy Body from these Prison-Walls and thy Soul from this Prison of thy Body and to restore Body and Soul from the Bondage of Corruption to the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 A Prayer in Confinement O Holy Lord God who wouldest not the death of a Sinner but rather that he should turn from his Wickedness and live Lord Convert my Soul remove my Sins and frame my Heart Affections and Life according to thy blessed Will Thou who hearest the Poor and despisest not the Wretched Captive visit all that are bound Lord hear them in an acceptable time and help them in the day of Salvation Preserve the Oppressed and Despised of Men Say unto the Prisoners go forth and to them that are in Darkness shew your Selves Bind up the Broken Hearted proclaim Liberty to the Captives and open the Prison to them that are shut up Comfort them that Mourn let their deep Sighing come before thee And according to the greatness of thy Power preserve thou them that are appointed to dye 2. LORD lift thou up my head enlarge my feet and bring me out of all bondage that I may live to serve and praise thee in the Assembly of thy Servants However thou pleasest to dispose of me Let all my Sufferings redound to thy Glory and my own Salvation Give me Patience to endure and a constancy to depend on thee a firm Faith to apprehend thy Promises and a hope to expect thy Saving Health Consider my Weakness and lay no more upon me then thou wilt Enable me to bear cheerfully Sanctifie my Afflictions and make them good to me in the
of Pleasure I have gladly withdrawn my self from that Imperious Mistress 13. WHAT an unreasonable Vassalage our Youthful Lusts subject us to we need no other Instance than in Sampson who was effeminated by his impotent Passion and weakned to betray his Life to a mercinary Harlot and to endure to hear her say Tell me wherewith thou mayst be Bound to do thee hurt Judg. 16.6 How easily might he have answered her O Delilah even with these Cords of Brutish Sensuality How was Solomon Besotted with his Strange Wives and drawn away to Worship strange Gods 1 King 11.5 14. AND how may Fir-trees howl when Cedars fall Who can hope to be free from being transported with irregular Affections when we see such great precedents of Frailties From the danger of these sad Miscarriages our Age happily secures us disposing us into quiet Harbour whence we may see Youth toss'd with Tempests of unruly Passions from which Seniority hath free'd us 15. ANNEX Experimental Knowledge which Age enriches us every Dram is worth Pounds of Junior Contentments In comparison the Speculative Knowledge is weak and imperfect This may come at an easie rate perhaps cost us nothing That commonly we pay dear for and is esteem'd valuable If Experience be the Mistress of Fools I 'm sure 't is the Mother of Wisdom For the long Observation of variety of Actions and Events in the whole course of our Life must needs leave such sure Rules of Judgment as may be unfailable Directions for our selves and others 16. IN vain shall this be expected from our Minority which the Wise Philosopher excludes from being Judges of true Morality And well might the Old Man say Ye Young Men think us Old Men Fools but we Old Men know you Young Men to be Fools And indeed what value Ignorance may put upon it this Fruit of Age the Earth hath nothing equally so precious It was Prophane but fit for the Mouth of an Heathen Poet That Prudence is above Destiny But surely a Christian may justly say That next to Providence Humane Prudence may challenge the supream Place in Earthly Affairs and Age claim the greatest Interest in that vertue 17. YOUNG Elihu could say Job 32.7 Multitude of years should teach Wisdom And the Wise Man Ecclus. 25.4 5. Oh how comely a thing is Judgment for Gray-Hairs and for Ancient Men to know Counsel Oh how comely is the Wisdom of Old Men and Understanding and Counsel to Men of Honor. And the Grecians could say That young Men are for Action and old Men for Advice And among the Romans Senators take their Name from Age. That which causeth weakness of Aged Eyes is they better discern things further off and by the strength of their Mental Eyes they perceive Judgments or Advantages at a distance and accordingly frame their Determinations 18. IT is observ'd that Old Lutes sound better than New It was Rehoboam's Folly and Undoing 1 King 12.6 7 8 9 10 c. to follow the Advice of Green Heads and abandon those Grave Senators of his Fathers Counsel Not that Age of it self is Rich in Wisdom and Knowledge But well cultur'd and improv'd is valuable There are Old Men that live and have a Being upon Earth who can give no Proof of their many Years but only Gray-Hairs and Infirmities There are those who like to Hermogenes are Old whilst Young and Children when Old These the Elder they grow are more stupid 19. TIME is an ill Measure of Age which should rather be meted by Proficiency Ripeness of Judgment and Monuments of commendable and useful Labours If we have thus imployed our selves our Autumn will shew what our Spring was and our Gray-Hairs will give us more Cause to fear Pride than Dejection We accuse Age of many Weaknesses and Indispositions But these Imputations are not Universal Many of these are Faults of the Person not of the Age. All Wine doth not sowr with Age neither doth every Nature 20. OLD Oyl is clearer and hotter in Medicinal Uses than New Some are pettish and morose in Youth and others are mild gentle and sociable in their decayed Years Some are crazy in their Prime and others in their Wain are Vigorous And many before the fulness of their Age have lost their Memory as Hermogenes Corvinus Antonius Carracalla Georgius Trapezuntius and Nizolius 21. SOME whose intellectuals have so happily held out that they have been best at the last Plato at fourscore and one died with his Pen in his hand and Demosthenes when Death Summon'd him at an 100 Years he bemoan'd himself that he must now die when he began to gain knowledge And as for Spiritual Graces and Improvements the Psalmist satisfies us Psal. 92.12 13. Such as be planted in the House of the Lord shall flowrish in the Courts of our God They shall also bring forth more fruit in their Age and shall be fat and well liking 22. BUT the chief Benefit of Age is our approach to our Journeys end For the end of motion is rest and once attain'd their remains nothing but fruition Now Age brings us after a weary Race within some breathings of our Journeys end For if Young Men may die Old Men must a condition which a carnal heart bewails and abhors complaining of nature as Niggardly in Dispensations of the shortest time to her noblest Creatures and envying the Oaks which many generations must leave standing and growing 23. NO marvel the Worlding thinks himself at home and looks upon Death as a banishment He hath placed his heav'n here below and can see nothing in his remove but Annihilation or Torment But for Christians who know that whilst we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 and do justly account our selves Foreigners our Life a Pilgrimage Heaven our Home how can we but rejoice that after a tedious and painful Travel we do now draw near the threshold of our Father's house wherein we know there are many Mansions and all Glorious John 14.2 24. I could blush to hear a Heathen say if God would offer me the choice of renewing my Age and returning to my Childhood I should heartily refuse it for I should be loath after I have passed so much of my Race to be recalled back from the Goal to the Bars of my first setting out and to hear a Christian sighing and sobbing at the thought of his Dissolution Where is our Faith of a Heav'n 〈◊〉 after long Sea-beaten we are loath to think of putting into the safe Harbour of Immortality A Prayer for the Aged O LORD GOD of my Salvation I humbly render thee all hearty thanks for thy abundant Mercies and Favours Spiritual and Temporal for thy Gracious Preservation of me from my Youth untill this present Moment That thou hast spared me in thy Fatherly Mercy when in thy Justice thou mightest have destroyed me Lord as thou hast given me space for Repentance and reserv'd me to these Years who mightest justly have cut off
in the Faces of St. Peters Scoffers that say where is the promise of his coming Knowing that the Lord is not slack but he that shall come will come and not tarry 2 Pet. 3.4 9. Heb. 10.17 And some may live to see the Son of Man come in the Clouds of Heaven in this last Scene of the World 5. IF so let not thy heart be dismay'd with these fearful things Thy change shall be sudden one Moment shall put off Mortality and clothe thee with Incorruption not capable of fear and pain The Majesty of this appearance shall add to thy Joy and Glory Thou shalt then see the Lord himself descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God Thou shalt see thy self and those other which are alive and remain to be caught up into the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shalt thou be ever with the Lord. On this Assurance the Apostle subjoyns Wherefore comfort one another with these words 1 Thes. 4.16 17 18. And if ever there were comfort in words not of Men or Angels but of the God of Truth these will afford it to our trembling Souls 6. BUT if thou be one whom God hath determin'd to Summon before the great day of his appearance here is a joy unspeakable and full of Glory For those that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him 1 Thes. 4.15 They shall be of that Glorious Train which shall attend the Great Judge of the World Yea they shall be Co-assessors to the Lord of Heaven and Earth in this Judicature sitting upon the Bench when guilty Men and Angels shall be at the Bar To him that overcometh saith Christ will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father upon his Throne Rev. 3.21 What place is here for any terror since such heavenly Magnificence fulness of Joy and Eternal Glory 7. THOU art afraid think of Judgment I had rather thou wert awful than timorous when St. Paul Acts 24.25 discoursed of the judgment to come it is no marvel that Felix trembled But the same Apostle when he pressed to his Corinthians the certainty and generality of our appearance before the Judgment-Seal of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body whether good or evil adding knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men but we are made manifest to God 2 Cor. 5.10 11. 8. THE holiest Man is not exempted from the dread but slavish fear of the great Judge We know his infinite Justice and are Conscious of our manifold failings And how can we acknowledge these and not fear But this fear works not in us a Malignant repining at the severe Tribunal of the Almighty but a careful endeavour to approve our selves that we may be acquitted by him and appear blameless in his presence How justly may we tremble when we look upon our Actions and Deserts But confidently appear at the Bar where we are assur'd of a discharge Being justified by Faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5.1 When we think of a Conflagration of the World how can we but fear But when we think of a happy restitution of all things how can we but rejoice in trembling Acts 3.21 9. THOU quakest at the expectation of Judgement Surely the Majesty of that great Assize must needs be formidable And if the delivery of the Law on Mount Sinai Exod. 19.16 18. were with so dreadful a Pomp of Thunder and Lightning Fire Smoak and Earthquakes that the Israelites were half dead with fear in receiving it with what terrible Magnificence shall God come to require an account of that Law at the hands of the whole sinful generation of Mankind 10. REPRESENT unto thy thoughts that which was shewed to the Prophet Daniel Dan. 7.9 10. Imagine thou sawst the Ancient of days sitting upon a Throne like a fiery flame a fiery stream issuing and coming forth from before him thousand thousands ministring unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before him the judgment set and the Books opened Or as John the Daniel of the New Testament saw Rev. 20.11 12. A great white throne and him that sat on it from whose Face the Earth and the Heavens fled away and the dead both small and great standing before God and the Books opened and the Dead judged out of those things which were written in those Books according to their works 11. LET the eyes of thy mind foresee that which these bodily eyes shall once see and tell me how thou feelest thy self affected with the sight of such a Judge such an appearance and such a process And if thou art in a trembling Condition cheer thy self with this that thy Judge is thine Advocate that upon that Throne sits not greater Majesty than Mercy It is thy Saviour that shall sentence thee how safe art thou then under such hands Canst thou fear he will doom thee to death who dyed to give thee life Canst thou fear he will condemn thee for those sins which he hath given his blood to expiate Canst thou fear the rigour of that Justice which he hath so fully satisfied Or canst thou misdoubt the miscarriage of that Soul he hath so dearly bought 12. NO all this Divine State and Magnificence makes for thee Let those guilty and impenitent Souls Rom. 2.5 who have heaped unto themselves Wrath against the day of wrath quake at the Glorious Majesty of the Son of God for whom nothing remains but a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10.27 But for thee who art reconciled unto God by the Mediation of the Son of his love and incorporated into Christ and made a Member of his Mystical Body thou art Commanded with all the Faithful to look up and lift up thy head for now the day of Redemption is come Luk. 21.28 Ephes. 4.30 13. AND indeed it is thy priviledge since by vertue of a blessed Union with thy Saviour this Glory is thine every Member hath an interest in the Honour of the Head Rejoyce therefore in the day of the Lord Jesus Phil. 2.16 And when the Tribes of the Earth shall wail Rev. 1.7 Do thou Sing and call to the Heavens and Earth to bear thee Company Let the Heavens rejoyce and let the Earth be glad Let the Sea make a noise and all that is therein Let the Fields be joyful and all that is in it Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoyce before the Lord for he cometh for he cometh to judge the Earth and with righteousness to judge the World and the People with his Truth Psal. 96.11 12 13. 14 THOU art affâ—ighted with the thought of the Great Day Think oftner and thou shalt less fear it it will come surely and suddenly let thy frequent thoughts prevent it it will come as a Thief in the
Mar. 12.7 Luke 20.14 How sure work did they think they had mâ—de when they saw him through their subtil procurement nailed to the cross and dying upon that tree of shame and curse when they saw him laid under a Sealed and Guarded Gravestone And now begins their Confusion and his Triumph Now doth the Lord of Life trample upon Death and Hell and to perfect his own Glory and Man's Redemption by his most Glorious Resurrection 20. AND as it was with the Head so with the Members When Satan had done his worst they are zealouser upon their sins and happier upon their miscarriages God finds out a way to improve their evils to advantage and teaches them of Vipers to make Soveraign Treacles and safe and powerful Trochises The Temptations of Satan sent from his Power Malice and Subtilty are but fiery darts for their Suddenness Impetuosity and Penetration If we can hold the Shield of Faith before us Eph. 6.16 They shall not be quenched but retorted in the Face of him that sends them and we shall with the holy Apostle find and profess that In all things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 And in a bold defiance of all the Powers of Darkness say ver 38 39 I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. A Prayer in Spiritual Conflicts O Blessed Jesu the Lord of Life Prince of Glory and Captain of our Salvation the perplexing trouble of my destracting thoughts do by their sly insinuations and secret importunities disturb the quiet of my mind and make my holy duties become a weariness to my Soul They cool the heat they damp the Vigor and dead the Comfort of all my Devotions Yea even when I beseech God to forgive my sins I then sin whilst I am praying for forgiveness whether it be in the Church or the Closet so Frequently and so Violently do these vain thoughts withdraw my heart from thy service that I cannot have confidence thou hearest my Suit because I know by Experience my own deafness and therefore sure needs must thou O God be far off from my Prayers whilst my heart is so far out of thy presence and hurried away with a Crowd of vain Imaginations 2. But Lord keep my Faith fixt upon thy Mediation let me behold thy Incense when I offer my Sacrifice and though distractions have withdrawn me from my self yet let not distrust drive me from my Jesus O give me an encrease of Saving Knowledge which will prove a sure means of Sanctifying my thoughts Mortifie in me all vile Affections and Inordinate Passions and suppress all evil thoughts and vain Imaginations and by thy Special Grace Excite and Cherish in me Holy and Speritual Affections Thou who hast vanquisht Satan and all the powers of Darkness O give Victory to me and all languishing Souls in our Spiritual Conflicts guide us with thy Counsels sustain us with thy Grace refresh us with thy Comforts preserve us in thy Love and crown us with thy Glory Amen Amen Hallelujah SECT XIX The Character of Patience 1. PATIENCE is a peaceable disposition of the whole Man not troubled nor troublesome but abstaining from whatsoever may disturb himself or others In its Definition we may observe these five heads first the nature of Patiencâ— it is peaceable and quiet not subject to sudden Passion light Motions or short Affections towards it but an habitual Disposition and due Composure of a Mans self which may bear the impression of David's Motto Psal. 120.7 I am for Peace 2. SECONDLY the subject of Patience The whole Man not the external but the internal the heart and head the mind and manners must be dispos'd and compos'd towards it Principally indeed the Heart For out of it are the issues of Life Prov. 4.23 and unless there be a Meek and Quiet Spirit 1 Pet. 3.4 It is impossible to acquire it but withall there must be a quiet Hand Psal. 24.4 A quiet Eye Job 31.1 A quiet Ear Prov. 2.2 And a quiet Tongue Psal. 39.1 And all parts and faculties of the Soul disposed to Patience 3. THIRDLY the parts of Patience is not in being troubled or being troublesom neither actively impatient in displeasing others nor passively impatient in being disquieted by others Fourthly the practice of Patience is an abstinence from whatsoever may disturb for so the word Patience commonly Translated doth import And St. James doth thus describe it Jam. 1.21 A laying aside of all filthiness and superfluity of maliciousness 4. FIFTHLY The Object of Patience or Impatience either in our selves or others Men disquiet themselves either by Causeless conceit of offence offered when it is not By being too suspicious and Inventers of evil things Rom. 1.30 or by too much taking to heart an offence when it is offered by being too Furious 2 Tim. 3.3 Men disturb others either in offering occasion of offence by being Injurious and Disorderly 2 Thess. 3.11 or by bitter seeking Revenge being full of Maliciousness Rom. 1.29 So Men likewise disturb themselves and others when they continue in their sins and never think of Repentance As Elijah told Ahab 1 King 18.18 It is thou and thy Fathers house that trouble and disquiet Israel 5. BY this short view we have taken of Patience we may behold the true Character of a Patient Man He is one of a Mild Nature and true Christian Temper swift to hear slow to speak and slow to wrath 1 Pet. 3.4 Phil. 2.5 Jam. 1.19 His head is not over-laden with Cares of this Life nor his heart with Fears his eyes are not itching after Vanities nor his Ears after Novelties Luk. 21.34 Prov. 29.25 Jer. 22.17 Act. 17.21 6. His Hands are not intermeddling with impertinent business nor his Feet swift to run into Evil His Mouth is far from Cursing and Bitterness kept in as a Bridle that it should not Offend 1 Thes. 4.11 Prov. 4.26 Rom. 3.14 Psal. 39.1 Psal. 17.3 His whole body is fit for a Load of Injuries which he bears not out of baseness and cowardise because he dares not Revenge but out of Christian Fortitude because he will not Rom. 12.13 7. HIS Arms are strengthned by the Mighty God of Jacob his hands are washt in Innocency and his breast is the breast plate of Righteousness Gen. 49.24 Psal. 26.6 Eph. 6.4 The hid-man of his heart consisteth of A meâ—k and a quiet Spirit and his Bowels are Bowels of Mercy Meekness and Compassion 1 Pet. 3.4 Col. 3.12 His Loins are girt about with Truth his Knees are pliable to Bow his Legs to bear and his Foot standeth in an even place Eph. 6.14 Psal. 26.12 8. HE is one can moderate himself in Prosperity and content himself in Adversity His hopes are so strong they can insult over the greatest discouragements and his apprehensions so deep that
Meekness Humility and Patience hearken unto thy Saviour's Lesson Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your Souls And St. Paul earnestly beseeches us Ephes. 4.1 2 3. To walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith we are called with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love And David gives us this Comfort Psal. 25.8 Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment and such as are gentle them shall he learn his way And Psal. 9.18 For the poor shall not always be forgotten The patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever Psal. 37.9 Wicked doers shall be rooted out but they that patiently abide the Lord those shall inherit the land And then lastly thou mayst say to thy great joy and comfort I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my calling Psal. 40.1 3. WHEN thou art cast down on thy Bed of Sickness Call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray James 5.14 This was Hezekiah's Recipe when he was sick unto Death then he turned his Face to the Wall and prayed 2 King 20.1 2. Pray with David Psal. 6.2 Have mercy on me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed And take the Counsel of the wise Man Ecclus. 38.9 My Son in thy Sickness be not negligent but pray unto the Lord and he will make thee whole 4 IF thou art afflicted in Conscience pray with David Psal. 8.5 6. The sorrows of Hell compassed me about and the snares of Death prevented me In my distress I called upon the Lord and cryed unto my God 5. ART thou infested with importunate Temptations pray earnestly with St. Paul when the Messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him 2 Cor. 12.8 Thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me And Holy David he complains while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted thy fierce wrath goeth over me But unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee Psal. 88.15 16 17. 6. IF thou art disheartned with imbecillity of Grace use David's Prayer I am feeble and sore broken I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart Lord all my desire is before thee Psal. 38.8 9. 7. WHEN thou aâ—t afflicted with loss of Reputation and Slander of Evil Tongues say with the Psalmist The mouâ—h of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me they have spoken against me with a lying Tongue Hold not thy peace O God of my praise Psal. 109.1 2. 8. IN time of publick Calamities of War Famine or Pestilence pray with good Jehosaphat who importun'd God with his Gracious Promise made to Solomon If when evil cometh upon us as the Sword Judgment or Pestilence or Famine we stand before this house and in thy presence and cry unto thee in our affliction then thou wilt hear and help And shuts up his zealous Supplication with neither know we what to do but our Eyes are upon thee 2 Chron. 9.12 9. AT loss of Friends in thy affliction pray and have recourse to God as Ezekiel when Peletiah the Son of Benajah died Ezek. 11 13. Then fell down upon my face and cryed with a loud voice and said ah Lord God! Wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel 10. IN time of Poverty pray with David Psal. 109.24 25 26. I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me I became also a reproach to them when they that looked upon me shaked their heads Help me O Lord my God Oh save me according to thy mercy 11. IN Confinement pray with Jonah when he was shut up within the Living-Waâ—ls of the Whale Jonah 2.1 2. I cryed by reason of my affliction unto the Lord and joyn with Asaph in prayer Psal. 79.11 Oh let the sorrowful sighing of the Prisoners come before thee and according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die 12. IN Exile use Solomons Prescription 2 Chr. 6.36 37 38 39. If thy people be carried away into a Land far off or near Yet if they bethink themselves in the Land whether they are carried and turn and pray to thee in the Land of their Captivity If they return to thee with all their hearts and pray towards the Land thou gavest to their fore-fathers c. then hear thou from Heaven even thy dwelling place their Prayer and their Supplication 13. HAST thou lost thy Seeing and Hearing make thy address to him that said Who hath made mans mouth or who maketh the Dumb and the Deaf or the Seeing or the Blind Have not I the Lord Exod. 4.11 Cry aloud to him with Bartimeus Mark 10.47 51. Lord that I may receive my sight And if thou be hopeless of thine outward sight yet pray with the Psalmist O Lord open thou mine Eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal. 119.18 14. ART thou afflicted with Sterility pray with Isaac who intreated the Lord for his Wife because she was barren And the Lord was intreated of him and Rebekah his Wife conceived Gen 25.21 And Hannah she prayed in bitterness of Soul unto the Lord and wept sore and received a Gracious Answer 1 Sam. 1.10 15. ART thou troubled and weakened for want of repose pray with Asaph Psal. 77.3 4 1. I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed thou holdest mine eyes waking I am sore troubled that I cannot speak I cryed to God with my voice even unto God with my voice and he gave ear unto me 16. DOST thou droop under Old Age Pray with David Oh cast me not off in the time of Old Age forsake me not when my strength faileth O God thou hast taught me from my Youth Now also when I am Old and Gray-headed O God forsake me not Psal. 71.9 17 18. 17. ART thou troubled and dismayed with fears of Death Pray with David Psal. 18.3 4 5 6 13. My Soul is full of troubles and my Life draweth nigh unto the Grave I am counted with them that down into the pit I am as a man that hath no strength free among the dead thou hast laid me in the lowest pit in darkness in the deep But unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee 18. DOST thou tremble at the thoughts of Judgment So did the man after Gods own heart Psal. 119.120 My flesh trembled for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments look up with Jeremiah and say to thy Saviour O Lord thou hast pleaded the causes of my Soul thou hast redeemed my Life O Lord judge thou my cause Lam. 3.58 59. 19. ART thou afraid of the Power Malice and Subtility of thy Spiritual Enemies Use Psal. 59.1 Deliver me from mine Enemies O my God defend me from them that rise up against me O hide me from the