The ways of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Pleasure for evermoâ—â— A GOOD Companion For A CHRISTIAN Derecting him in the way to God being Meditations Prayers for every day in the Weeke and Graces before after meate London Printed by G.P. for Rich Collins 〈◊〉 his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at y e 3 Kingâ— 1634 A GOOD COMPANION FOR A CHRISTIAN Directing him in the way to God being Meditations and Prayers for euery day in the weeke and Graces before and after meate Call vpon me in the day of Trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me Psal. 50. LONDON Printed by G. P. for Richard Collins and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Three Kings 1632. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD GORGE Baron of Dondaulk MOST noble my good Lord My deceased Father very ofteÌ„ suruaied the Kings Lands but now by me he humbly tenders himselfe to be suruaied by you This small Treatise the issue not of his body but his braine he left with vs his children to assure vs and al men that himselfe chiefly studied and shaped his courses so to dye that he might neuer dye that he prepared himselfe so to depart froÌ„ the earth that when he did leaue the Earth he had no other busines but to leaue the Earth for his actions were but an example of his precepts Now my very noble Lord my poore selfe being a dependant vpon your honored House hauing nothing in me to expresse my obliged duty no not so much as aduise or wishes since your being good performance of goodnesse makes all my wishes vaine I beseech you but to read and suruay not what you should doe but what you haue done that your sanctified discreetnesse may be a mirror to others and an inforcement to me euer to remaine Your vertuous honorâ— humbly deuoted seruant I. NORDEN To the Reader IT is the word of the Word One thing is necessary many are troubled about many things but did any euer repent that he had set his house in order Did euer any liue the worse in that they were euer prepared to dye Indeed in our Age desperate Security makes many foole-hardy but those which are so much men that they know they haue a Soule and so far Christian men that they belieue they must giue an account of their steward-ship will entertaine this Treatise as right vsefull The world knowes my Father in his life time wrot many Meditations but God only knoweth that this he composed at his end for his death time for before he could bring it into the world himselfe went out of the world In naturall duty therefore to the memory of my deceased Father and in a Christian Charity to the common good J haue set forth this Booke with my hearty prayers to God that we may so set our house in order that whensoeuer the Bridegrome shall call we may not only haue lamps in our hands but oyle in our Lamps and Lights in our oyle that is not only a profession but a perseuering expression of true Christianity I. NORDEN A COMPANION FOR A CHRISTIAN to guide him in the way to God Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye Isay 38.1 No difference in the naturall substance of poore and rich HEZECHIAH that good King of Judah being sick supposed of a plague sore was commanded by God To set his house in order for he should die wherby it appeareth that as all men are borne to dye so are they subiect to that pestilent infirmitie To show that there is no difference of men in respect of their naturall bodies Kings Princes and Poorest people are all made of one and the same substance and subiect to all like and the same infirmities and therefore none but such as forget wherof they are made will scorne as many doe such as are in respect of themselues basely attired or poore in substance as the rich man in the Gospell did poore Lazarus No cause why the rich should disdaine the poore ANd as the rich proud amongst vs at this day doe foolishly conceiuing an opinion of theÌ„selues that in regard of their riches and reuenues their outward attire and vaine brauerie they are made of a more delicate matter than the poor and that the meanely attired are not fit to come neere them much lesse to touch them But let the richest and the brauest robed be rest of his riches and the poore man enioy it and let the poore man be attired with his glorious garments and then it will appeare that the difference is only in riches and pouertie not in the beautie or basenesse of either Poore and rich incident to equall infirmities AND as touching their infirmities what sicknes is it that befalls the poore that is not incident to the rich And what priuiledge hath the rich to preuent death more than the poore man hath Only the means of physicke which preuaileth not when the time set by the almightie is come And the like set time hath the poore before which time though he take no physicke though necessarie he shall not dye Rich and poore must dye and come to iudgement BVt it is appointed equally to rich and poore that they shall dye and come to iudgment And therfore it is a dutie required by God And fit in Christian discretion and policie not only that Kings and men of great estates the rich and wealthy Men are to set their house in order while they are in health BVt that all men of what estate condition or degree soeuer they be not only in the time of my common plague or infectious disease yet then especially and when they be sicke but rather in their best health and strength should not only haue continually in their mindes that they must dye but at all times to set keep and continue their houses hearts and senses and members of their bodies in order knowing they must dye yet not knowing the time that when the time commeth be it neuer so sudden they may dye in peace with God and with all men in a good conscience Men of meanes are so to settle their possessions and goods as may reserue peace after their deaths ANd as much as in them is so to dispose and settle their worldly possessions and goods as peace may be preserued and continued amongst such as they intend shall enioy them when they are dead for although all men know that it is appointed that they must dye yet are not all men of like watchfulnes or preparation against the time of death Many are slacke in setting their houses in order SOme liue long and many years and become not bodily sicke at all and therefore it seldome or neuer commeth into their mindes that they must dye and so put off the setting of their houses in order and to reforme their liues vntill many of them be preuented And when they would they cannot either for want of time or of
memorie or of sense performe it Some haue long and lingring sicknes looking as it were euery day to dye and yet can hardly finde time to set their house and liues in order Suddaine death preuents men of setting their houses in order SOme also are taken suddainly not only in the time of common infection wherein all sorts are in most and equall danger but in time of seeming greatest safetie and of least cause of feare which we haue seene by the suddaine death of many which haue taken no time at all to settle their estates but haue been inforced to leaue their houses in the same order they were in whē they liued cleane out of order And few there be that prouidently and timely set and wisely keep and continue their houses and liues in such order as by Gods command they ought to doe by reason of their worldly cares And that is the reason that many goe disorderly to their graues how pompously soeuer they be attended on at their funerall solemnities Many inconueniences grow by the neglect of setting mens houses in order before they dye THe neglect of this commanded dutie of setting their worldly estates in order a dutie in humane discretion and Christian policie fit to be remembred and performed of all men is also the cause that many quarrells contentions sutes in law enmities sinister vngodly and malitious practices sometimes tending to bloud doe arise not only betweene strangers but betweene brethren betweene brethren and sisters wife and children and dearest neerest kinsfolks and friends contending especially for lands and goods of such as dye without orderly disposing of that they are constrained to leaue behind them when they dye All men are bound to this duty of setting their houses in order ALL men therefore are bound to this dutie but especially such as haue great possessions to dispose and much goods to be queath and to set in order aboue other times when any common plague or sicknesse raigneth to set their houses in order for there is no man or woman priuiledged at such a time And there is commonly no man but hath either issue or some neere of bloud lawfully to inherite his lands and friends to enioy his goods yet if he dispose them not in his lifetime but leaues them to catch that catch may it cannot be but sutes and quarrells will arise betweene such as will contend for the right of inheritance left doubtfull The like about Administrations of goods of an intestate dead partie causing many times more monie to be spent in law than the lands or goods are worth they contend for thus vncertainly left And therefore better it were for a man to dye not seized of a foote of land nor possest of more goods than will bring him decently to his graue than by the greatnes of his possessions and his much wealth vndisposed and not duly ordered to breede vncharitable and vnchristian quarrells among kinred and friends to the offence of God for the pelfe he leaues behinde him when he dyes And perhaps sinisterly and corruptly gotten which seldom prosper long to them that shall enioy them Aduertisements to the rich men RIch men therefore aboue all other haue neede to remember to set their houses and estates in order in time knowing their time is short and vncertaine and the greater possessions and the more abundance of wealth they haue the more circumspect ought they to be to liue in the feare of God and to set their houses in order before they dye for the more they haue the greater will be their accompt and the more haue they to answere for when they are dead for howsoeuer men either borne to inherite or haue gotten and purchased as they will say with their owne monies and haue heaped vp great abundance of riches and possessions by their owne industries policies and worldly wisdome They must not yet thinke as many doe that these possessions and goods are so theres as to vse them at their owne pleasures to the fulfilling of their owne carnall delight or to hoord them vp and as it were to wrap them in a napkin that none may be the better for them vntill they be inforced to leaue them whether they will or not assuming vnto themselues that lawlesse libertie and abusing that speech Js it not lawfull for me to doe with mine owne what I list no they are not so simply thine that thou shouldest abuse them but to vse them to his glory that gaue them or rather lent them vnto thee Though peraduenture to thine owne vexation thou gettest them to thy more care thou keepest them and to thy most griefe thou must leaue them which last approueth that they are not thine as thou reputest them thine for thou must leaue them and they will leaue thee whether thou wilt or not yet if in the meane time thou vse not thy possessions and wealth to the good of Gods children howsoeuer thou dispose them to be inioyed after thy death it wil not profit thee giue them to whom or to what vse thou wilt for if thou labor not in thy life time to be assured that thy name is written in the booke of life good deedes to be done by a deputie after thy death cannot auayle thee while therefore thou hast time doe good and while thou hast power ouer the lands and goods that God hath lent thee to be vsed by thee to Gods glory and comfort of his needy members Leaue not that duty required euen of thy selfe to be performed thou knowest not by whom after thy death Rich men must answere according as they haue receiued and bestowed HAst thou many talents put them to good vse and thou shalt haue a good reward for if he that receiued but one talent was cast into vtter darkenes for not applying it to the good of Gods children what will become of them that haue great possessions and many talents of siluer and gold layd vp in their chests doing no good with them to the poore children of God when they shall suddainly be called before the high and seuere Iudge Will their answere be sufficient to say I haue appointed mine heire to giue such and such lands and mine executor such and such Legacies to good and pious vses But may it not to be said rather vnto him Thou foole couldest not thou thy selfe haue done it better in thy life time and not to haue left the doing of it in trust to an vncertaine Attorny after thy death who is as mortal as thy selfe The cause why rich men will not part with any their wealth before they dye THou mayst say as many men thinke if I should giue or dispose my lands or goods while I am in perfect headth how could I maintaine mine estate according to my ranke I was the Son of a worshipfull or honorable Father whose lands descended vnto me 〈…〉 I not to make the best of it and increase it if I can Why should I giue away that
impious and vngodly vses while they liue setting neither house nor heart nor soule nor body in order before they dye Many neuer thinke of Death till they be sicke AND when the summons of death beginne to seize vpon them then they beginne to bestirre them saying as some haue done and must I dye making an vnwilling will giuing and bequeathing what they could no longer keepe Yet when a mans will is made and all things disposed if he can get but a little breathing time a yeare or two ten or more they to whom he hath assigned his lands and bequeathed his goods shal be neuer the better for his gifts vntill he die and that were it possible not till doomes day And they that would haue seemed to haue mourned at his funerall for the losse of so good a benefactor will turne their mourning which should haue been for his death into sorrow and sadnesse for the recouery of his health and will be euen sick to thinke they shal be longer preuented by his recouery of that they were in hope presently to haue enioyed Jf men could see the fruits of their gifts in their posterities in their graues they would repent that euer they were rich HE that flatters not himselfe in the greatnesse of his means to 〈◊〉 what fame will flie of him when he is dead for his bounty distributed not to the needy members of Christ when he was aliue if he could but looke out of his graue and see the gallants that he hath made to ruffle in their riot and lasciuiously commonly to consume what he so long and laboriously scraped together he would wish himselfe rather to haue been a man of farre inferior meanes than to haue been the meanes to increase the sinne of them whom he seemed to loue and would no doubt haue been more carefull in setting his house his soule his body conscience and affections in better order than he had done by giuing it rather to the poore Delay not to set thy life lands and goods in order BE wise therfore thou that hast houses lands possessions and much goods to dispose Set them in order in time and obserue well how and to whom and to what vses thou meanest to dispose them and delay not till thou be sick For thou knowest not when nor where nor how thou shalt end thy life and thinke not that the abrupt making of thy will can bring a disordered house suddainly into such order as God requireth while thou art therfore in thy perfect health set thy house in order against the time of thine vncertaine death and see thou haue well gotten that which thou hast heaped together and if thy conscience strictly examined tell thee that thou hast gotten any part of it by wrong shew thy selfe a good Zacheus restore it fourefold before thou dye that thou maist dye in the fauour of God in Christ otherwise it had been better for thee to haue dyed a begger Fit euery man to make their wills IT is a very religious and Christian duty in euery man possessing any lands or goods in the world to make his will and to settle his estate in good order be it neuer so meane before he dye which is in part meant by Gods command to set thy house in order namely thy houshold lands and goods but that is not all the orderly setling of thy house before thou dye Whereof a family consisteth A Houshold or family consisteth of husband and wife parents and children master and seruants among whom if a godly order be not set continued and kept before thou be constrained through sicknesse to make thy will thou wilt hardly set it in order before thou dye How a family ought to be ordered IF loue and amity haue not been and maintained in the feare of God between man and wife If parents haue not instructed their children in the knowledge of exercised them in the true seruice of God if children haue not obeyed their parents if masters haue not wisely gouerned their seruants giuing them their salaries and necessaries if seruants haue not done their duties faithfully to their masters and all mutually together and sometimes man and wife in priuate serued the Lord in faithfull prayer during their perfect healths that house is out of order head and members and cannot in a moment by a will written in an houre or two be brought into order Therefore deceiue not thy selfe by delaying to set thy house in order and euery part and person thereof and thinke it not sufficient to settle thy worldly goods and lands by thy last will as thou dost imagine thou hast made thy will for whether thou dispose thy lands or giue thy goods while thou art aliue neither shall thy lands nor goods want owners when thou art dead Parents ought to prouide for their children the chiefe hope of children IT is a duty also ioyned with a care in parents to lay vp and prouide for their children and a fatherly dutie it is and a duty that children for the most part take greater hold of than of care to performe their duties to their parents And therefore it is hard to iudge whether he that layes vp little and giues only education vnto his children to liue futurely by some lawfull calling or he that is solicitous and ouer-carefull to prouide for the present maintenance of his children in idlenesse before and in wantonesse through the hope of great portions after his death be most to be condemned if the 〈◊〉 be not more blameable he is more superstitious than the former too much care argues least faith He that cares not for his family i◠an infidel and he that is too solicitous for them is no lesse HE shewes not himselfe a Christian in deed that cares not for his family but spends his time in idlenesse and his meanes in vnthriftinesse but rather an infidel But he that exceeds in coueting which in it selfe is sinne and striues against the streame of Gods direction getting by right or wrong spending superfluously vpon his family or hoording and laying vp for his posterity as is said before hauing little or no regard to help releeue and comfort the poore that haue an interest in the superfluity of his abundance as if the Lord could not prouide for his children if they feare and serue God aswell as he hath done for himselfe this man shewes himselfe as neere an infidel as the former Parents should leaue behind them good examples for their children to imitate THE best portion thou canst leaue behind thee is a manifest example and paterne of a godly life for thy children and friends to imitate and to giue them if conueniently nothing else some necessary manuall trade or lawfull profession to liue by when thou art dead Great patrimonies oftentimes soone spent IF thou haue lands and possessions and great stocks of money to leaue to thy children thou thinkest them richly prouided for and thy house in good order and yet we see
practising it conscionably they may at thy hands through Christ Iesus obtaine the remission of their sins past and receiue from thy diuine Maiesty confirming and comforting grace for the time to come power to preseuer and continue thy seruants vnto their dying daies Giue them light instead of darkenesse peace for trouble and eternall happinesse instead of worldly felicitie that tasting the sweetnesse of celestiall comfort they may despise terrestriall and after this life ended in ioy inioy the perfect ioyes of eternall glory through Iesus Christ my Lord and blessed Sauiour Amen A Prayer after the Word heard O Gracious Lord of thy bountifull goodnesse thou hast through thy Sonne Iesus Christ sent for my learning and vnspeakeable comfort thy word of truth the Gospell which none can learne but by hearing and none can heare but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent I humbly beseech thee therefore to giue me thy grace that as I haue heard thy word at this time by thy minister and messenger so I and all that haue heard may know and vnderstand the same retaine and practice it according to thy heauenly will that I may thereby grow in knowledge increase in grace and bee a liuely instrument of thy glory vnto my liues end Amen A short prayer for willingnesse to dye and a preparation vnto Death O God in whose hands consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Sonne Iesus Christ his sake vouchsafe to giue me grace to set before mine eyes as a most certaine marke whereto this fraile body of mine must tend by death this being to the faithfull the end of paine and the beginning of pleasure but to the secure and gracelesse the ending of temporall blisse and felicity and the in-let or entrance vnto eternall torments weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth Giue mee therefore good Lord an earnest desire of seruing thee and leading my life agreeable to thy will that whensoeuer it shall please thee to call for me by death I be not through feare stricken with any horror of damnation and doubt of saluation that at my last gaspe I may neuer cast away my confidence nor my hope of reioycing but through a liuely faith in Iesus Christ I may rest vpon him the corner stone and sure rocke of my saluation and so depart this life in peace and in a ioyfull expectation of a blessed resurrection and be content to lay downe this mortality of mine to receiue it in the day of Christ a spirituall and glorified body that then being euer with my Lord I may with all thy saints sing a continuall Alleluiah to the praise and glory of my redeemer and Sauiour Amen A short prayer for competency of maintenance O Lord my God the maker and preseruer of Angels men and all creatures infinite in thy power and wonderfull in thy loue vnto all the sonnes of men Thou hast promised neuer to faile those that attend and depend vpon thee Thou openest thine hands and fillest all things liuing with plenteousnesse neuer suffering any of thine to perish for want that carefully seeke reliefe and comfort from the disposition of thy most gracious bounty and beneficent goodnesse suffer mee not to want necessaries for this present life nor those things without the which I cannot comfortably serue thee in the duties of christian calling enable me to liue without distracting cares to this end blesse my labours and endeauours that I may haue sufficient for me and mine and not be chargable vnto any but rather able to doe good vnto others that may stand in need of refreshing from me Giue mee neither pouerty nor riches feed me with food conuenient for me lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and take the name of my God in vaine Afford me that portion of temporall blessings health wealth maintenance as thou in thy wisdome shalt think conuenient and behoofefull for me not so much for delectation and satisfying of the flesh with the concupiscences thereof as for sustentation of this mortall life of mine and consolation of my heart and spirits and making of them more ioyous and chearefull in thy worship and seruice Let neither ouermuch pouerty oppresse mee that I be driuen to vse meanes contrary to thy Law nor too great a saturity fulnesse and plenty so pâ—ste me vp that I forget the goodnesse of thee my God or fall into any the least riotous excesse as if thou hadest hired mee by thine abundant blessing to grow the more wanton and vicious O God as thou art of ability and power so thou art willing to succour such as bee in want to relieue the oppressed to comfort the afflicted to raise the lowly and to aid the needy and therefore sweet Lord I humbly craue thy fauourable assistance towards me to blesse my store and replenish my basket with thy blessings that I may be able to liue in thy Faith Feare and Loue and out of the depth of misery and danger of all men through Iesus Christ Amen A short prayer to vse wealth as we ought O God almighty the giuer of all good things thou art my stay my comfort and only guide direct me I pray thee to imploy that talent which thou hast bestowd upon me for the aduantage and aduancement of thine owne glory Lord thou hast beene abundantly gracious and bountifull vnto me and hast blest my store and increase with wealth insomuch that I haue not only that which sufficeth mine owne necessity but haue also sufficient to releeue others in time of their neede Giue mee therefore a will to disperse a broad and giue vnto the poore according to the aboundance of my wealth to feede the hungry to clothe the naked and minister vnto thy distressed Saints that I may not liue vnto my selfe but for the helpe of all those that want my furtherance that I may lay vp in store a good foundation against the time to come and bee found of thee in peace inioying life and saluation through Iesus Christ Amen A prayer for a woman with childe O Mercifull God and omnipotent Father and creator of all things who in the beginning diddest place mankind in most unspeakeable happinesse where they should haue continued had not our first parents broke thy diuine precept and charge giuen them in paradise and thereby procured most iustly thy wrath and indignation against themselues and their posterity for euer so that the earth for their sakes was accursed denying things necessary for their vse without great labour paines and industry And vnto vs the daughters of Eue for our transgression thou hast adiudged most grieuous paines and torments of body in the trauaile of child-birth saying that in sorrow and great paines we shall bring forth our fruit A heauy sentence thou knowest it is O Lord and we feele it to take sharpe effect in vs but sweet Lord for as much as thou art mercifull bringest all things to passe
deare Father I confesse my weakenesse is such that I want patience to endure thy tryall take from me thy heauy hand or lay no more vpon mee then I can beare giue an issue vnto all temptations and make a way for mee to escape and in the end grant me a finall deliuerance As thou madest me of dust so thou canst take from me my breath againe and cause me soone to returne vnto my originall earth againe yet spare mee a little that I may recouer my health and strength before I goe hence and be no more seene There is I confesse no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger nor rest in my bones because of my sinnes my heart panteth my strength faileth my beauty and liuely-hood consumeth like a moth-eater-garment O Lord if it be thy will remoue thy stroake away from mee and consume mee not by the blow of thy hand Ease mine agonies mittigate mine extremities be mindfull of my sorrowes and mercifull vnto my sinnes redeeme my life from destruction strengthen my weakenes heale my disease and cause mee againe to walke before thee in the land of the liuing But if thou hast otherwise determined of me to translate mee hence thy will be done grant me patience vnder thy correcting hand and a liuely faith in the all sufficient and efficacious merit of Christ my Sauiour If thou wilt not heale my disease yet forgiue me mine iniquity seale vnto mee a free pardon of all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne say vnto my soule that thou wilt be my saluation In affiance of thy mercifull absolution cause me to declare mine iniquities and be filled with godly sorrow which may worke repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Sprinkle mee with the bloud of Christ and puriâ—â—e me from my dayly pollutions that being washed iustified and sanctified I may be presented vnto thee without spot or wrinkle Let nothing separate mee from thy loue but giue me perseveing grâ—ce to hold out vnto the end that dying thine Angels may conuey my soule into Abrahams bosome there to raigne with thee world without end Amen A Prayer to bee vsed by the friends of the sicke c. O Lord our God and most gracious Creator thou madest vs immortall creatures but by sinne we haue brought death and destruction vpon our selues for we haue profaned thy Sabbaths contemned thine ordinances cast thy word behinde our backs liued in all sinne and sensuality spirituall slumber and security so that thou mightest iustly cut vs off from the land of the liuing and giue vs our portion which hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth But Lord for thy mercy sake and for the merits of thy Sonne spare vs a little and giue vs space of amendment before we goe hence and bee no more seene and grace whereby we may draw neare vnto thee to seeke thy fauour in Iesus Christ. Correct vs in thy mercy and not in thy Iustice lest wee should be consumed and brought to nothing If thou giue ouer our bodies vnto sickenesse let it be to the destruction of the body of sin that being aliue vnto God through Iesus Christ we may grow in grace and bee more fruitfull in all good workes And whilest wee liue teach vs to dye dayly mortifying the deeds of the flesh contemning the world with the vanities thereof Weane vs from inordinate selfe-loue that wee may not endeare our selues too much to these transitory liues of ours but may bee ready to depart when it shall please thee to call for vs knowing that we cannot liue euer with thee vnlesse we be willing to dye and be with thee Wherefore we pray thee take away the bitternesse of death and sweeten by the wood of Christs Crosse these waters of Marah that we may sigh and groane in our selues desiring to be deliue-from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Worke in vs a willingnesse to depart but yet we humbly intreat thee let our liues and the life of this thy sicke seruant bee now and euer precious in thy sight looke mercifully vpon him that is grieued with sicknesse Lord if thou wilt thou canst make him whole Send him therefore helpe and health from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend him Let the enemy haue no aduantage against him nor the wicked approach to hurt him but bee thou present with him and strengthen his faith increase his patience vnder thy correcting hand Lift vp by the hand of thy mercy and Fatherly indulgence this thy seruant from the bedde of his sorrowes If thou wilt longer exercise him lend him strength to endure thy tryall and in the end bee bettered by it If thou hast determined to take him hence certify him how long he hath to liue make him to know his end and the measure of his daies that by prayer and repentance of faith hee may prouide wisely for his last end and bee found of thee in peace and inioy euerlasting happinesse dispose his â—editations aright for death and in the howre of death and alwayes make him to deny himselfe in renouncing iustification by any inherent worth or righteousnesse In all sorrowes and sufferings let thy comforts reioyce his soule To this end mortifie in him the corruption of nature quicken him with the soule of new life and establish him with thy free Spirit purge his heart from worldly thoughts and his minde from carnall desires motions and affections Wash his soule and body with the blood of Christ and sanctifie him throughout both in Spirit soule and body with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that departing in the true faith not casting away his confidence nor hope of reioycing in full assurance of a blessed resurrection he may haue boldnesse in the day of Christ and passe from death to life and bee euer with thee to behold thy glory grant this for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Another Prayer to be vsed by those that are about the sicke O Lord our God great and glorious thou that art the Iudge of all the earth we dust and ashes vile and miserable sinners doe here most humbly cast downe our selues before thee for our sinnes which are the causers of all the euils of punishment which thou inflictest on the sonnes and daughters of men Deare Father heare vs and forgiue whatsoeuer is past and grant that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee through newnesse of life walking before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all our dayes And because the dayes are evill giue vs grace to redeeme the time and numbring our dayes aright apply our hearts vnto wisdome Cause vs constantly to eschew euill and doe good to seeke peace and ensue it Looke mercifully on this thy seruant grieued with sickenesse and sanctifie this visitation vnto him that those graces which thou hast begun to worke in him may be strengthened increased and by degrees perfected Restore vnto him the voice of ioy and health that the
that my father left me Sayes another I haue possessions indeed which I haue purchased as mine owne proper inheritance wherin who can pretend interest but my selfe Should I forgot that which I haue dearely paid for to them that I know not Men ought not to be prodigall in giuing away their goods IT is not meant that any man should be prodigall and consume the inheritance of a Father though many haue wantonly consumed honorable and inferior estats to their dishonour and shame without doing that which God requireth of all men to be done to his glory and their owne future assured comfort Neither is it vnlawfull for any man to purchace so it be by his mony lawfully gotten But neither he that hath it by descent nor he that doth purchace possessions but is bound both to lend and to giue especially to the needie members of Christ. But thou wilt say who are they how shall I know them Surely they that beare but the outward image of Christs humanity must be supposed to be of the number of them to whom thou oughtest to doe good for if thou giue to any poore man whose heart thou knowest not if thou doe it in the name of one of the members of Christ though he be not thy worke is accepted of God as done to himselfe And thou shalt not thereby diminish but procure a blessing vpon the rest of thy lands and goods for God hath promis'd it Euery man is but a steward vnder God of his lands and goods ANd deceiue not thy selfe but know that though thy possessioÌ„s came by descent or purchace and thy goods by gift or by thine owne industrie thou art but steward of them vnder God to feed the hungry to clothe the naked to lend vnto and to releeue the poore And not to conuert them totally as most men doe to thine owne priuate pleasures or worldly profits Say not with Nabal what is Dauid or who is the Sonne of Ishai who are the children of God that I should giue or lend them my siluer and gold my bread or my victualls that J haue prouided for mine own children my seruants and friends Shall I giue it to beggers or lend my monie to poore snakes that will neuer pay me againe Some rich men seeme to loath the Poore IT grieueth such Nabals indeed to look vpon the poore but with disdaine much lesse to giue or lend vnto them wherewith to releeue and comfort them And yet they thinke God loueth them dearely because he heapes vpon them daily more and more this worlds Mammon yet care not for the poore like Iudas that bare the bag Therefore cry the poore vnto the Lord against such hard stonie and couetous hearted miserable rich men And the Lord heareth in heauen and will reward them as they reward the poore for as the poore cry and the rich will not heare them so shall the rich cry and the Lord will not answere them and hence it comes that Christ himselfe affirmes it to be as hard a thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen as for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle this is no skarre-crow Why there are poore and rich in the world HOw can these men set their houses in order before they dye when their hearts are hardened and out of order while they liue nothing regarding Christ in his members There shal be euer some poore in the land saith Moses And Christ saith the poore shall you alwayes haue with you And why only to try the charity of the rich If you releeue them you releeue Christ in them If you afflict them Christ is afflicted by you in them What reward they shall haue that helpe the poore members of Christ. GOd will repay whatsoeuer man giueth or lendeth vnto his distressed members Giue therefore to him that asketh and from him that would borrow turne not away And your reward shal be great And ye shal be called the children of the most high Yet notwithstanding this assured reward and this most glorious title What say the rich to the poore that begge or would borrow This is no giuing age and worse of lending The time indeed is in euery string out of tune harpe where a man will or can he shall find a most harsh discord and all out of order in poore and rich the poore will not worke and the rich will not giue And now begins the Lord to see whether it wil be brought into better order by his fauourable chastisements the body is sicke and the members droope and drop away and yet are men slacke to set their houses much lesse their soules in order before they dye Men seeke to runne from death but carry the infection of sinne with them MEn that are affraid to stand the aduenture of the dissolution or their bodies at home are fled to hide themselues from Gods correcting rod. Let them bewaâ—e that they carry not with them a more pestilent infection in their soules than they seeke to escape in their bodies Some aduenture their soules where they dare not aduenture their bodies IT is strange that many men that are valorous and aduenturous that for the getting of a little mucâ— of the world will aduenture their soules and yet of so faithlesse fearefull and cowardly hearts as they will not aduenture their bodies in the place where they haue laid their soules already to pawne Death finds men euery where DIscretion indeed it is to auoid infection of the body But he that seekes to saue his life may lose it and he that flies farthest off may find death as neere him as at his owne house when he returns for he that flyes in a desperate distrust of Gods power prouidence and protection may preuent the danger but assuredly as great a danger attends him yet if he seek to auoid it in the faith and feare of God in hearty prayer referring himselfe to the will of God for his dissolution or preseruation whether he liue or die he is safe and more happy in his death being the Lords than ten thousand that remaine out of order aliue abroad or at home The loue of this world make men feare death BVt what makes men chiefely to flye death only the loue of the world and the glory and riches thereof because these in the vaine conceit of themselues are most happy of all men and so they are reputed but only of the worldly minded because God suffers them to grow great and rich and glorious and full of the meanes to make them to thinke themselues the deare children of God blessing themselues in the increase of their riches and therfore is the very name of death bitter vnto them Who then dares say vnto such a great man in these dayes as Esay did to Hezekiah Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye would he not spew such a plaine dealing friend for euer out of his good conceit Riches make the better man TAke heede whosoeuer
many times that the great patrimonies and portions left by carefull Fathers to their children consumed and riotously spent before their parents be halfe consumed in their graues which might be some cause to restraine fathers from being too solicitous superfluously to enrich their children seeing so many examples of the euill successe of other mens care The best portions fathers can leaue their children IF thou therfore haue possessions lands or goods to leaue to thy children season them while thou liuest as much as is in thee both by paines practice and prayer in the true knowledge of faith and obedience to God in Christ and then if they abuse what thou leauest them thou hast discharged the part of a religious and carefull father And so shall the disorderly consuming or abusing of them light vpon their owne heads pouerty and misery fit rewards for the riotous Possessions and wealth without wisedome hurt posterities RIches and reuenewes are indeed the good blessings of God and necessary means to shew bounty and liberality to them that haue need but if wisedome be not ioyned with the riches and possessions thou leauest behind thee if the feare of God guide them not in the godly vse and preuent the vngodly abuse of them it had been better for thee to haue died without being owner of them and better for thy children that they had none of them at all for when children destitute of vnderstanding smell the sauour of rich possessions or great portions assured them after their parents death it infects their minds as the pestilence which sheweth it selfe by the tokens so this infection doth by the apparent marks of insolencie pride and a very noisome swarme of impious vices wherby God is dishonored the simple seduced the godly abused and the vulgar likwise infected Fit for parents to conceale what they meane to leaue their children ANd therefore discreet parents will conceale their purpose of disposing their lands and giuing their goods and keep the knowledge of what they haue from their children as they will keep gunpowder from the fire for as a a sparke will set the whole into a flame suddainly so let a father once inkindle hope in a disorderly sonne and it shall set all his vngodly desires on fire which will hardly be extinguished till comming to his hands all be speedily consumed Not so to respect posterities as to neglect the members of Christ. ANd therefore it behoueth thee not so to respect thy posterity as by their greatnesse expected to make them more proud and wicked in present Nor so to regard to benefit thy friends as to neglect the poore children of God For as hath been said before thou art but a steward of that thou hast and therefore if thou giue the childrens bread which are the distressed members of Christ and bestowest it to superfluous vses remember the vniust steward being called to an accompt as thou must be thou knowest not how soone and thinke before-hand how thou canst answere it As all men are stewards so they must thinke of their accompt IT wil be required of thee how thou hast bestowed thy masters goods the goods that God the great master of the family hath put into thy hands to giue euery of his seruants his due portion out of it If thou say as he knoweth thou hast done I haue maintained my wife with some part of the goods thou gauest me according to the best fashions the time afforded I haue according to my calling furnished my table inuiting my friends to be partakers with mee with part I attired my children and brought them vp as became the children of a father of my reputation I built me a faire and chargeable house with complete furniture within and without I haue purchased lands for my children after mee Some gold and siluer plate c. I haue disposed and giuen to my friends before I dyed Many idle expences wil be disallowed at the great Audite HEre is a large bil and of diuers particulars too great it is to be feared to be allowed at that great and generall audit for the Auditor is iust he will allow only necessaries but as for superfluous charges he will disallow so wilt thou be found charged to answere what thou hast vnnecessarily spent Duties required of euery man to haue alwayes his house his soule and body in order of most men omitted HE gaue thee in charge indeed as before is remembred that thou shouldest prouide for thy family thy wife children and seruants but remember withall thou wert commanded to feed the hungry to cloth the naked and distressed widowes whom thou hast neglected for the pride of thy wife whom thou mightest haue comely and decently attired and yet clothed the desolate widowes also Thou mightest haue plentifully furnished thy Table and vsed thy meats and drinkes with thy friends in the feare of God with thanks yet not to eate thy mâ—rsells alone with thy friends that would require thee with the like but that the poore the fatherlesse the widow and the hungry should haue been partakers with thee Thou mightest haue competently clothed thy children and yet haue couered the naked too though but with the cast raggs of thy children if thou wouldest bestow no better on them Thou mightest haue builded thee a competent house for thy selfe and family to haue liued and lodged in and haue reserued one poore houell for the harbounlesse members of Christ to haue had shelter in and not to passe by and see them lye without doores like forlorne beasts The poore members of Christ haue right to a part of euery rich mans goods THou mightest lawfully haue purchased land for thy children yet mightest thou haue allowed some part with Ananias and Saphira to haue releeued the needy that haue no earthly portion Thou mightest haue giuen and bequeathed thy siluer and gold which thou keptst in thy chests to thy children and friends and not haue forgotten that thou hast giuen that whereunto as touching a part Christ in his members had right A house disordered in a mans life can hardly be left in order when he dyes HOw wilt thou answere the omission of all these precisely required duties and thy superfluous expence bestowed vpon thy selfe and thine Is it possible that a house thus dâ—sorderly guided euen to thâ— last can be set in order before a man dye though the law can find no fault or flaw in the orderly conueyance of thy lands nor with thy last will yet there is a law that requires charity and mercy that will condemne thee to be a steward to be bound hand and foote and to be cast into vtter darkenesse Redeeme the time REdeeme thou therfore the time whosoeuer thou art that liuest set thy house in order it is yet time if thou haue but the will though preuented of the deed doe thine endeauour and it shal be accepted neuer too late to amend How to set thy house in order SET thy house in the true feare and
to spend nor giue and when her louers haue as they thinke been much beholden to her for her bounty in fulfilling their corrupt desires then she begins to shew herselfe in her likenesse picking their pockets and rifles them of al that she gaue them dispossessing theÌ„ of their great reuenewes disrobes them and deplumes them of their peacocks attire and brings not a few of them to pouerty and shame and casts them off as the harlots did the prodigall sonne And if she be so kind to some as to suffer them to be seene to ruffle and florish long dandling them in her lap of lasciuiousnesse yet at last she sends them to their graues stript of all and turnes them away as poore men naked as they came to her only with a silly sheet to couer their nakednesse vnseemely to be seene of men O shut thine eyes therefore make scorne to bestow the time of casting one looke with delight vpon the best things she offers thee necessaries excepted being so vncertaine and so certainly dangerous How to imploy our inward sight BEtter it is for thee and to thy more solide comfort and true content through faith to be assured to see thy Redeemer in his glory hereafter for euer than to be here as it were bewitched with the inchantments of the deceiuing things thine eyes doe here see which doe so fasten carnall affections to earthly things that thou canst haue no time to looke vp from whence thy redemption if thou be one chosen of God comes and where are hid the vnspeakable treasures that the Lord reserueth purchased by Christ for them that haue their eyes fixed on him by faith The carnall eye a hinderance to the spirituall CLose vp then thy greedy eye that is so pragmaticke a promotor of all deceiuable obiects to the heart that ingrosseth all that is offered vnto it that delighteth it And commonly shutteth out the most excellent inuisible things because the naturall eye sees only things visible in the world and hinders the spirituall eye from beholding the things of heauen Mischiefes proceeding from the carnall eye THis carnall eye makes the heart an Idolater by coueting a murtherer by enuying a theefe by desiring an adulterer by lusting a glutton by longing And this by the abuse of the eye and consent of the heart abusing and disordering the whole body the house of the soule and the soule it selfe Aboue all seeke the illumination of the inward eye LEaue then the fulfilling of the lusts of thy corporall eye which only seeth by the light of nature and seeke by faithfull prayer the illumination of thine inward eye whereby thou maist apprehend spirituall and heauenly things The sight of the spirituall eye THis internall eye is inlightened through the spirit by the word preached and vnderstood whereby we see God our Creatour as we see his works by our naturall eye we see Christ Jesus his Sonne proceeded froÌ„ God the Father we see him suffering not onely many grieuous abuses iniuries lying in his humanity among the Iewes but his bitter ignominious death vpon the Crosse But also our Redemption and Saluation in and by him By the same eye of a liuely faith we see and apprehend his merits we see him stand a mediator for vs at the right hand of his Father interceding betweene vs sinners and our offended God and in whom we are imputed righteous Things only seene by a spirituall eye through faith LAbor to see and apprehend this great mystery of our Redemption and Saluation which none can see by his quickest eye of naturall wisedome no it is foolishnesse to the naturall man to thinke that God could haue a Sonne made flesh to be conceiued in the wombe of a Virgin without man to bee borne into the world according to the course of men to dye and within three dayes to rise againe by his owne power being God and immediately after to appeare in the same humane shape and to eate bread and in the same body to ascend into the heauens and there to remaine a glorified body and that in the same body hee shall come againe accompanied with Millions of Angels to iudge aswell them that remaine aliue at his comming as them that are already turned into dust in their graues burned to ashes perished in the seas and deuoured by beasts And that their bodies that haue dyed fiue thousand yeeres since euen Abel and all that haue dyed since being vtterly consumed that euen their bodies now dust shall rise againe and be re-united to the soules of the righteous to be eternally glorified with Christ and his Elect And of the wicked to be eternally tormented with the Diuell and his angels The cause why men couet not that spirituall illumination THese things are hid from the eye of nature and naturall reason and apprehension and that is the cause that many wanting that spirituall eye of heauenly illumination doe apply their carnall eyes to the things here below that doe not onely not profit them but grieuously endanger him They haue neither the will nor the knowledge how to seeke as they are commanded The Kingdome of Christ and the righteousnesse thereof wherein consisteth the assurance of all them that shall be partakers of that Heauenly Kingdome with Christ found of them that seeke it in the word of truth and apprehended by the eye of a liuely faith which is 〈…〉 of the same Ieâ—us Christ. Hearing of the Word the meanes of spirituall illumination VSe therefore the meanes to attaine vnto this celestiall illumination heare the Word attentiuely pray feruently lifting vp thine eyes to heauen seeke holinesse and purity for the pure in heart haue onely the promise to see God here by the eye of faith and hereafter euen with these eies by which we now behold his creatures Striue with a continuall holy violence to bee enlightned from heauen Then shalt thou see to set not onely this outward sense of seeing in order and thy domestick family and goods but the rest of thy senses thy whole body and soule in order perfectly and religiously before thou dye Touching the examination and ordering of thine eares HAuing considered briefly the reformation and ordering of thy tongue eyes it behoueth thee likewise to examine how thou hast formerly vsed or abused thine eares Organs and instruments of hearing likewise placed neere the intellectiue part of thy head the chiefe outward part of thy body The eare is not so apt to heare as the eye to see ANd although the eare be not so actiue in motion to heare as the eye is to see that can in a moment turne it selfe to many and seuerall obiects nor so fluent as the tongue that moues it selfe in what and in what diuers discourses the minde moues it vnto yet the eares through their passiue and penetrable quality are apt to entertaine things which may moue the heart to conceiue and stirre vp the will to affect as euill things as the eye or tongue The eare
body or drinke to quench their thirst whereby they doe not onely grieuously offend God in abusing the good creatures which hee hath made and more plentifully giuen vnto vs than to many other Nations not only bread in abundance to strengthen vs wine and other drinks to comfort vs and oyle to cheere vs but al other things necessary for the vse of man which many buse through the inordinate desire of the Taste vnto gluttony and drunkennesse trampling as it were vnder their feet the good gifts of God to the shame and ouerthrow of many Death often followeth the excesse of eating and drinking WEE haue seene fearefull examples of the sudden death of many not onely by ouer eating but farre more and far more fearefull of such as haue not onely drunke themselues drunke but euen drowned themselues in wine and strong drinke and all to please this seeming harmelesse sense the Taste Take heed therefore please not thy Taste too much nor follow the desire of thy Palat for the one surfetteth the body the other infatuateth the head Wine is a mocker saith the Wise man and strong drinke is raging And therefore he that vseth much wine cannot be sober And hee that delighteth in strong drinke cannot be but intemperate furious and out of order Dangerous to bee in company of Drunkards DAngerous it is to be in the coÌ„pany of Drunkards though a man himselfe bee neuer so sober and temperate for they are many times in the nature of franticks and know not what they doe as hath not beene seldome seene that men haue gone seeming sober friendly into Tauernes and like places and yet when drink hath ouercome them one hath slaine the other ere they came forth Drunkennesse and Gluttony works of darkenesse and their reward DRunkennesse and Gluttony are worthily numbred among the manifold wicked workes of darkenesse and whosoeuer disordereth himselfe in them is as farre from inheriting the Kingdome of God as are Adulterers Jdolaters Murtherers Theeues and as farre as euen witches the very Agents of the Diuell and shall with these impenitent miscreants be turned ouer to be tormented with the prince of darkenesse his angels and ministers for euer as they serued and obey'd Sathan in their life in those grosse sinnes and dye therein vnrepented and without setting their soules and affections in order before they dye So shall they bee fellow partakers of his and their torments And this shall bee the reward of them that thus abuse this necessary sense of Taste and yeeld too much to please their inordinate Appetites The Diuell hath drunkards his ministers to make others drunk THere is yet a sort of Drunkards by whom the Diuell vseth to make others drunke who can deuoure much wine and strong drinke and beare it farre beyond others who can and will boast to out-drink twenty companions and not be drunke and drinke them all drunke But woe to them that are mighty to drinke wine and vnto them that are strong to powre in strong drinke and this is a man fit for the diuels seruice for where it is the diuels practice to prouoke to sinne whosoeuer takes that office vpon him is really the diuels minister whosoeuer enforceth a man to drink more than is sufficient is a master-Drunkard and the more he can tumble vnder the Table or send reeling into the streets the more doth his master the Diuell hug and approue him a seruiceable minister And such instruments of Sathan are to be found in many ciuill companies but woe will be vnto them for their owne drunkennesse howsoeuer they beare it how much more for procuring others so hainously â—o offend so mighty a God as can and hath said hee will cast such impious wretches with their master the Deuill into the Lake of fire and brimstone their to drinke of the vyall of his heauy wrath their vttermost fill for euer Auoid the society of Gluttons and Drunkards KEepe not company with Gluttons noâ— Drunkards for as Salomon saith The Glutton and the Drunkard shall bee euer poore yea though he be rich in purse hee cannot but be poore in piety Saint Paul willeth thee neither to eate nor drinke with Gluttons and Drunkards nor be partakers with them in any excesse for pouerty is not all the punishment threatned for these sinnes for they shall not enter into Kingdome of heauen but shall be kept out as vomiting dogs and filthy swine and partake of the torments prepared for the Diuell and his Angels Woe against Drunkards THis is the woe which the Prophet Ieremy pronounceth against them that rise vp early to follow drunkennesse especially to them that with their owne delight doe make others drunke And to them that continue vntill night many night and day till wine doe inflame and enrage them And to make them the more merry which â—ill men may doe They haue the Harpe the Violl Timbrell and Pipe noyses of finest musick and which is most shamefull and offensiue wanton lasciuious songs with drunkennesse in their feasts to the dishonour of God and corrupting if it were possible the godly that are in their companies A fearefull thing to dye in Drunkennesse IT is a fearefull thing to bee drunk but a more fearefull thing to dye or be slaine in drunkennesse As Ammon was by his Brother Absalom Elah by Zimri Olophernes by Iudith and not a few before our owne eyes haue beene If thou loue thy selfe temper thy Taste and bridle thine Appetite refraine the company of drunkards and partake not with the Gluttons lest thou bee either corrupted by them or bee punished with them Moderation in dyet to be vsed VSE temperance and moderation in thy dyet fulfill not thy lustfull affections nor thine inordinate appetite in ouer-much eating or drinking offensiue to thy health and displeasing to GOD and when thou hast glutted thy selfe with ouer-much feeding and swallowed vp too much wine and strong drinke euen inforcing thee to vomiting of it vp againe is it not lothsome as well as painefull vnto thee And thinkest thou thy soule also feeles not a heauy burthen of thy bodies surfetting The true vse of the Taste VSE thy Taste to that end that God hath giuen it thee namely onely to distinguish and iudge betweene sweet and sowre wholsome and vnwholsome meats and drinkes Hony from Gall for without the Taste thou shouldst finde no difference of the relish of edible things the most tainted and contagious would bee as pleasing vnto thee as the most salutary How the appetite may be vsed or abused AND as this sense to this end is of most necessary vse so is thy appetite a quality of thy body expedient working a desire in the stomacke to receiue nourishment for the reliefe of the whole body which may bee also abused by the ouer-satisfying of the Taste in that wherein it most delighteth oppressing the Appetite which in it selfe is content with competent But being ouer-fed it beginneth to loth the best food which by this means seemes
vnpleasant and so at length refuseth necessary nourishment to sustaine and maintaine the body as is seen in sicke folkes when their Appetite decayes the Taste is out of order best meates and drinkes seeme vnto them of vnsauoury relish And this distemperature commonly proceeds by ouermuch oppressing the body by pleasing the Taste and ouer-charging the Appetite with surfeiting and drunkennesse whence doe spring all the infirmities and diseases of the body numberlesse as a punishment inflicted vpon such as abuse the good creatures of GOD to please their inordinate Tastes and Appetites Gods good creatures are abused by surfeiting and drunkennesse MANY are the varieties of Gods good creatures of both kindes both of meates and drinkes which he hath prouided for our vse not to bee abused but to bee receiued with thankesgiuing as wee are commanded that whether wee eate or drinke if wee receiue but a morsell of bread to sustaine vs or a cup of cold water to refresh vs we ought to receiue it and vse it to the honour and glory of God that giues it But how can hee eate to GODS glory or his owne good that eates to surfeit And how can he drinke to the praise of God that drinkes himselfe or others drunke Hee eates and drinkes to his owne shame beyond the measure of beasts which cannot be compelled to eate or drinke more than is sufficient vnlesse it be the Dogge the Wolfe and such vncleane creatures as eate to vomit and presently returne to their feeding and the swine that will drink drunke and wallow in the vncleane puddle To which Beasts Gluttons and Drunkards are fitly resembled Not to oppresse thy heart with ouer-eating and drinking TAke heed therefore lest at any time thy heart which is the principall part and life of thy body be ouercome with surfeiting and drunkennesse and so death seize vpon thee through thine excesse and thou dye suddenly as many haue done before thou canst either set thy domesticke estate thy soule or thy body againe in order and so be reputed author of thine owne death and descend suddenly to the pit of eternall perdition a fearefull farewell froÌ„ thy friends and family Eat not the bread of oppression BEware also thou eate not the bread of oppression nor drinke the wine of extortion rather let thy poore oppressed brother and sister be partakers with thee of thy bread and other the good creatures that God hath plentifully lent thee for to eate and drink alone of thine abundance when Lazarus lyeth lyeth crying at thy gates for meate is dangerous as appeareth by the example of the rich Glutton in the Gospell being in hell cryed for but could not get the drop of a finger of water to refresh him It is not ouer-feeding preserues life but brings diseases and shortens life THinke not that it is the fulnesse of delicate meates and most delitious wines and strongest drinks that continues thy life or maketh thee lusty and strong for the fattest and fullest fed bodies neyther liue longest nor proue strongest but are more subiect to sicknesses and infirmities and to many kindes of Maladies than are they that feed sparingly and temperately euen of meanest food and weakest drinkes receiued with thankefulnesse As Daniel who refused the daintiest fare that came from the Kings Table and chose rather in faith and the feare of God to feed on pulse or pease and became of better liking more fat and faire than his fellowes that fared and fed on the Kings dainties dilitiously euery day Thankefulnesse to God the sauce that seasons our meates and drinkes THe sweetest sauce that sauours and seasons all sorts of our meates and drinkes is thankfulnesse to GOD for giuing them faithfull prayer for a blessing vpon them And then let them bee neuer so meane bee it pulse pease roots or hearbs instead of daintiest foule or fish and a dish of cold water instead of wine shall sustaine poore men women and children and make them as fat faire and strong as such as fare farre more daintily as appeareth by many that haue very meane fare and yet liue by the blessing of God but if God send his creatures in a more ample manner they may not be abused nor the meanest contemned Meane fare through prayer sustaines the poore aswell as dainty faire the rich THey that eate and drink more for delight than they doe for their necessity of hunger and thirst may liue and looke as leane and meagre as the poorest and the poorest that eate and drinke with prayer and thankes shall bee sufficiently satisfied The rich many times turne the good gifts of God into wantonnesse through excesse and the poore doe often turne their penury and want of corporall food into the fulnesse of spirituall satiety and are sufficiently releiued their bodies well ordered and their health preserued Daintiest and meanest fare turne to like excrement THere is great difference indeed of the furniture of Tables all but for nutriment and did such as feed of the fairest and finest cates consider whether their delicate food turne not to like lothsome excremeÌ„t as doth meanest fare they might rather seeme to bee ashamed to thinke vpon the matter whereon they so much delight to feed that so soone turneth to that which lotheth them to looke vpon when it comes from them againe Then in regard of their dainties to despise meaner fare and such as feed on it Euery creature hath its proper food and appetite TASTE is common to man and beasts as are hearing seeing and the rest but are diuerse in appetite euery creature hath it's proper food and can by it's taste distinguish the proper from the improper nourishment and seldome exceeds in the vse so the temperate man the man knowing and fearing God findeth in himselfe a taste of another and of a more high nature a spirituall appetite and hungreth and thristeth as much for heauenly and permanent as doth the corporall appetite for vanishing and perishing food Spirituall taste and appetite BY this spirituall Taste he sauoureth the sweetnesse of the Lord how comfortable his mercies are and how operatiue his graces working in him an heauenly appetite Longing as Salomon did for Wisedom and Knowledge to governe his kingdome for spirituall and heauenly vnderstanding to gouerne his house the house of his soule and aboue all his soule it selfe which being out of order none of the rest can be in good order But when hee hath by this inward and spirituall taste discerned the bitternesse of Sinne and the sweetnesse of Sanctitie and brought his Affectionâ— his Minde and Will to effect minde and desire heavenly things then his Appetite begins to hunger and thirst for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof distasting all such Carnall Corporall and Worldly things as sauour not his renewed taste Then is faithfull prayer his onely exercise and the Word of Truth his onely delight What food pleaseth the spirituall taste His food is holy Meditation his practice Hâ—militie Meekenesse Temperance and
bee burning lights burning as being zealous in feruency and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for charity sanctity and all holy graces of thy spirit Thy Vrim and Thummim being on them as vpon thy holy ones let them be sound for doctrine and holy for life and conuersation preaching let them practice and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concerne thy kingdome Open and let open vnto them the dore of vtterance that they may teach thy word freely and boldly Take away all differences contentions from amongst them make them examples to those that beleeue in soundnesse of doctrine and integrity of conuersation And because the rule of my life depends vpon thy word in their mouthes blesse them with all graces fit for their calling that I may giue thanks vnto thee for them finding thy blessing vpon mee through their labours and may praise thy name for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Night O Euerlasting and euerlouing Father mercifull Lord God creator guider and preseruer of all men and all things who creating man after thâ—ne Image in wisdome knowledge and vnderstanding enriching him with all gracious abilities helpes and fâ—rtherances for the working out of his owne saluation with feare and trembling giue me a reuerence of thy maiesty and a feare of thy most holy name which is so dreadfull and terrible that being by thy grace forewarned I may fly from thy wrath to come and at this present come before thee in all confidence of thy goodnesse to implore thy grace and the manifestation of thy fauour Looke downe from heauen thine holy habitation and behold with the eye of thy loue and tender compassion mee poore soule that distrusting mine owne righteousnesse goe out of my selfe calling vpon thee in the words of the Publican and saying O God bee mercifull to me a sinner Write not bitter things against mee neither suffer me to possesse the sins of my youth Forgiue and forget all my transgressions and cast mine iniquities as farre from thy presence as is the east from the west And pardon good Lord I humbly beseech thee the faults and frailties which haue escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath whether they bee sinnes of omission or commission wash them all away in the blood of thy Sonne sanctifie me by the Word thy word of truth that this day hath sounded in my eares grant that like good seed sowne in good ground it may take root downeward and bring forth fruite vpwards to the glory of thy great name the praise of thy grace and credit of the Gospell O let thy word be euer in my minde to meditate of it in my mouth to speake of it and in my life and conuersation to practice it By it worke in my heart Faith Hope Charity and al other supernaturall graces which accompany saluation open mine eyes that I may see thy Law and incline mine heart that I may loue the truth and louing the same may yeeld obeâ—ience vnto it doing thy will on earth or at least endeauouring to doe it as the Angels in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasâ—ng and vniuersally without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy word So shall I not be distracted with foolish feares nor dispaire of thy mercy but euer hope and trust in thee and finde grace to helpe mee at a time of neede Grant this O Father for thy Christ my Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiours sake who euer liueth and raigneth with thee one true immortall euerlasting God to whom with thy blessed Spirit and thee O holy and heauenly Father be ascribed of me and all thine all honour and glory world without end Amen Monday A morning Prayer O God my God and Father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thine especiall gift grant that to the rest of thine exceeding benefits towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from sound and sweet sleepe the image of a corporall death so also thou wouldest deliuer my minde and affections from the sleep of sinne and from the darkenesse of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it from naturall sleepe And seeing thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this day which is the first day of the weeke bee thou as this night past and euer heretofore present with me and president in me Lèt thy holy Spirit be my counsellour and instructor my God and my guide to lead mee into all truth Helpe me by the assistance of the same Spirit to watch ouer my thoughts words and works that I may neither think speak nor do any thing which is not warranted by thy word but that setting thee and thy law before my eyes I may come to the knowledge of thy will in all reuerence and humility of soule submit my selfe thereunto that ordering my life and conuersation thereby and walking according to this rule peace may be upon me as vpon the Israel of God Let mee neither oppresse nor defraud my brother in bargaining buying and selling false weights and ballances or the like dishonest meanes but guide me so by thy grace that my conscience may euer cheere mee vp through a delightfull apprehension of thy blessefull fauour To this end order thou my paths and establish my goings in the way of peace grace and saluation Cause thou mee to walke before thee and be vpright make me to provide things honest before thee and men behaue my selfe as in thy sight and doe vnto others as I would bee dealt withall my selfe Let no sin inordinate lust or vnruly passion haue dominion ouer me but helpe thou mee to leade captiuity captiue to kill and crucifie my lusts and sinfull affections and wage warre with my corruptions vntill through Christ which strengtheneth mee I shall proue more then conqueror Grant this vnto mee for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday night O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ I doe here in all humility prostrate and cast downe my selfe before the foot-stoole of thy throne of grace to offer vnto thee this mine euening sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the crosse to be a propitiation and meritorious sacrifice for the sinnes of the world Lord heare me and helpe me and be mercifull unto mee my sinnes are great but thy mercies are greater my trespasses finite but thy compassions infinite neuer faile though I faile of my duty towards thee yet thou art good and gracious vnto such as seeke thy face and fauour humbling themselues and powring out their soules before thee Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that as the heavens are higher then the earth so thou wouldest extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Indue me with faith sanctify me with all other
as are thine as feare thy name walking before thee and labouring to be vpright Lord send comfort vnto them and lift vp the light of thy gracious countenance vpon them And Lord receiue them and me and all that belong vnto me this night and euer vnto thy gracious protection through the mediation of Iesus Christ In whose name and words I finish these my imperfect prayers and meditations saying as he himselfe hath taught mee in the Gospell c. Our Father which art c. Saturday A Morning Prayer O Lord most great and gracious louing Father in Iesus Christ sanctifie I humbly beseech thee this day vnto me and my selfe now and euer vnto thy seruice And here O Lord I giue thee thanks for that thou hast kept me this night past vnto this present houre and moment and hast brought mee vnto the last day of the weeke grant that I may spend the same soberly righteously and holily Bring me to the knowledge of thy righteous will in all things that knowing it I may endeauour to doe the same to thy glory the peace of mine owne conscience and the safety of my soule Purge my soule from sinfull lusts and affections and cleanse my conscience from all pollutions and defilements thereof that I may euer with boldnesse of Spirit and affiance in thy mercy behold thy face and grace in Iesus Christ. Roote out of my minde all couetous malitious and lustfull thoughts keepe me from sinne and from vncleanenesse bee thou my guide in all my wayes my stay and succour in all my necessities Put an end and period vnto the motions of the flesh enlarge mine heart for all holy duties and habituall graces of thy Spirit that I may nourish them as my life In these my prayers I am not mindfull of my selfe alone but of thy whole Church howsoeuer distressed or wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth I pray vnto thee likewise for thy seruant and our dread soueraigne Charles our king and gouernour O Lord as thou hast graced him with a crowne so crowne him with thy grace and as thou hast giuen him a glorious kingdome here so giue him heareafter part of thy kingdome of glory Be mercifull vnto our most gracious Queene Mary the young Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth her royall issue Blesse preserue and prosper all those that trauaile in an honest way whether by sea or land and likewise all women in trauaile with child and sicke persons troubled both in body or minde or howsoeuer diseased O Lord speake peace vnto their consciences and as thou hast laide them down with the one hand so raise them vp with the other if not to this life to life eternall and that not for any merits of mine Lord I disclaime them all but for the precious merits of thy Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Saturday An Euening Prayer O Lord God Almighty mercifull Father maker and preseruer of all things looke downe I beseech thee with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me miserable and sinfull wretch prostrating my selfe soule and body vpon my benknees before thy diuine maiesty humbly beseeching thee to looke vpon me in much mercy pardon my sins enrich me with thy graces sanctifie mee with thy grace and bring mee to thy glory and there refresh my soule with such things as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceiue Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing be iustified Examine not my wayes this weeke past by the strict rule of thy Law neither reward me in the rigour of thy iustice but for Iesus Christ his sake haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner that haue deserued the seuerest of thy punishments As the heauens are higher then the earth so extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Satisfie my soule with thy mercy and that right soone so shall I reioyce and bee glad in thee and learne to praise thee euermore And now O Lord as this weeke is at an end so let my sins haue end and neuer bee reiterated or done any more Lord call me not to an exact account for them for Lord I confesse I am worthy of death and eternall damnation yet seeing there is mercy with thee that thou mightest bee feared and loued for euermore spare mee I humbly beseech and haue mercy vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies And being graciously reconciled vnto thee be thou pleased to be my mercifull protector and preseruer from all perils and dangers this night blesse me with quiet rest that being refreshed in my body I may bee cheered vp in my minde and made the more fit to serue thee in the duties of my calling and sanctifie thy Sabbath and keepe it as a glorious day vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Sermon VOuchsafe O most mercifull God to open the closet of my dark vnderstanding that thy word may enter thereinto and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being excluded heauenly knowledge may enter in and that growing daily in knowledge I may bee more and more renued in the spirit of my minde and doe all such good works as thou commandest and commendest vnto me in thy word Giue me grace that the seed of thy word being sowen in my heart it may take deepe roote downeward and bring forth fruit vpward to the credit of the Gospell the comfort of my poore soule and aboue all to the glory of thy most holy name So let thy Spirit rule and guide the lips of thy seruant and minister as that he vtter nothing but the word of Truth with such boldnesse that neither feare nor affection stop not the passage of the same Make mee to attend and waite vpon thine ordinance desiring to be satisfied with the crums that fall from this thy table And because the haruest is great the faithfull labourers but a few I pray thee who art Lord of the haruest to send forth such as may be industrious And conscionable in the discharge of their ministeriall duties Let thy Vrim and Thummim bee vpon them as vpon thine holy ones that sincerity of doctrine and integrity of conuersation may adorne their persons and beautifie their function and calling Banish from this sacred work al such as are not sent from thee let them haue no exhibition from thy church running without commission from thee Lord guide the heart and tongue of him whom I shall heare this day that he may speake home vnto my conscience and leaue no corruption vnbowelled but that his words may separate all sinfull affections from me and stir me vp to bee a follower of it in all holy vertues and gracious acts Blesse all the hearers of thy word make them doers of the same not deceiuing of their owne soules Grant that thy messengers diuiding the word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we