by well doing to walke before God and to be vpright Thus whosoeuer prepareth himselfe in a sanctified life in earth he cannot feare death which is an entrance into a glorious life in heauen where God before whom he sincerely walketh hath prouided him a Citie a Kingdome a Crowne He then that longeth to see good dayes while he liueth will be euer studious to please him by whom he is assured he shall receiue that endlesse inheritance when he dies Let euery man therefore while it is to day pray that God will vouchsafe him his grace not to prolong his godly preparation to die but to teach him wisdome in the inner parts that he may so rectifie his conuersation as he may be acceptable to God through Christ in his life vpon earth and wishedly surrender vp his spirit to him that gaue it when he requires the same And to this holy purpose serueth this prayer following Remember euer that thou must die and thou shalt neuer doe amisse nor die eternally A Prayer to be often vsed that we may so liue as we neuer need feare to die fit to be often vsed of all men especially in sicknesse GOod and gracious Father who formedst me of dust and breathedst life into a lumpe of earth wher of I am made and hast made mee partaker of thy Spirit and so a liuing soule of an eternall being beyond that which thou hast done for any other earthly creature who dying perish turne wholly to dust whereof they are wholly and only made As for mee thou hast taught mee to know thy more then wonderfull work-manship and thy more then apprehensible fauour and loue in that thou hast not only made me a liuing creature as are the beasts of the field the fowles of the aite and creeping things of the earth but little inferiour to thine heauenly Angels giuing me a soule diuine and immortal which liueth eternally And of thy further and more free grace hast vouchsafed me a seed of the light of diuine vnderstanding and thy word of glad tidings to teach me thy will to direct and encourage me in the way of saluation lest hauing receiued the testimonie of thy louâ— here in this life and the earnest of thy Spirit I should yet liue to die and not die to liue Thou Lord knowest whereof I am made thou canst not forget that I am but dust giue me grace to remember alwayes my mortalitie and that I am borne to die and that then commeth iudgement Lord we are all the children of ssinning Adam elected and reiected according to thy will vessels of honor or dishonor as thou pleasest to make vs we are the clay thou the Potter thou giuest life and againe thou sayest Returne yee children of men to dust Oh what is man that thou so regardest him or the son of Man that thou so fatherly visâ—test him Thou hast clothed him with glorie And he hath brought shame vpon himselfe thou off reâ—â—st life vnto him but he hath embraced death And he shall die thou hast so decreed yet hast conceiled from him the time when the place where and the maner how to the end that none should presume vpon his strength health wisedome or wealth to become secure and in their securitie to forget thee sinne against thee our Creator whâ— as with the breath of thy mouth thou madest vs liuing soules so by the breath of thy mouth canst thou confouÌ„d our bodies soules yea Lord our dearest soules deare in respect of thee who gauest them deare in respect of him that shed his dearest bloud for them but most deare vnto vs wretches if for our mindes vanities and our bodies pleasures we should lose our bodies make shipwracke of our soules Precious in thy sight is the death of thy Saints but most feareful to the wicked in the death of their bodies that sleeping in the graue send their soules before them to be mutually tormented when they shall meet in Judgement This fearefull separation Lord amazeth mee when I consider it in my naturall vnderstanding not looking into the course of thy loue wherein thou didst send thy dearest Soune to die for sinners penitent Oh teach me thy waies instruct me in thy Commandements Giue me a repenting heart and sanctified conuersation that before I goe hence and be no more seene I may assure my selfe that I am of the number of them to whome thou imputest no sinne Let thy word worke fruitfully in mee the sauour of life vnto life Teach me and guide me in the true course of holy obedience in righteousnesse and true holinesse that I may euer walke before thee and be vpright giue me a prepared heart constantly and faithfully to desire to be dissolued to be with Christ. Take away the frailty of my fainting flesh increase and confirme my faith in thee and my hope of the glory promised in Christ after this mortall life Let me alwayes wait the time of my deliuery and be willingly content to lay downe this my earthly tabernacle and to giue vp my soule into thy hands giue me a continuall watchfull heart that death come not vpon me vnawares a prepared heart that I may be still readie when or where or how thou hast determined my dissolution Let nothing be so deare vnto me as Christ my Sauiour Let me esteeme all things as dung in respect of the glorie to come Let nothing bewitch or intice me to the loue of this sinfull life nor dismay or terrifie me froÌ„ embracing death But that I may vse this life as if I vsed it not and feare death as if I feared it not That when my life shall be swallowed vp of death I may then enter into that new life and treade downe death and the power thereof vnder my feete by Christ that triumphed ouer Satan death and Hell vpon the Crosse for me grant it for me my Lord my God my life my light my strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my faith and grant that I may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour Amen A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said of one in his sicknes or in any disease or defect of his sences or limbes fit to be read of or vnto the sick and diseased person SIcknes of the bodie is the gentlest and most fauourable crosse that God layeth vpoÌ„ his children and yet it is grieuous to flesh and bloud which delite altogether in Ease in Health in Strength of the body to which griefe sicknesse and weaknesse are contraries and therefore vnwelcome to carnall men who thinke nothing more to bee wished then power to sinne which power is diminished by sicknes and consequently in most salutarie and healthful for the soule And therefore doth the Wise-man counsell vs to humble our selues before we be sicke and while wee yet haue power to sinne to shew our conuersion whose counsell whoso truly and carefully followeth preuenteth the feare of death for he that before sicknes seaze vpon him duely
vs. Giue a holy preparation vnto our hearts willingly to submit our selues to thy good pleasure for life or death whether of theÌ„ thou shalt be pleased to worke for vs worke in vs for the one such thankfulnes as thou deseruest for so great a blessing as the prolonging of life and patience in the other knowing that it is appointed to euery man once to die Lord let not death which is but the dissol 〈…〉 ion of the soule from the bodie be ouer terrible vnto vs But rather make vs so to consider the benefit of our coniunction which through the mercie in Christ wee are assured shall follow our dissolution that we may reioyce that the meanes of our dissolution is foreshewed vnto vs which yet if thou in mercie mayest be pleased for a time to forbeare it may be vnto vs a liuely preuailing Motiue to stirre vs vp to a more religious faithfull and holy course of life before thee that with patience and hope we may waite the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ and appeare blamelesse in that day and in the meane time walke worthie of thee pleasing thee in all things strengthened with all might through thy glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes And grant that our soules may euermore depend on thee our God for of thee commeth our health and our saluation haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vpon vs O God for our soules trust in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will wee trust vntill this thy visitation bee ouerpast Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to stirre vp Souldiers to liue in the feare and seruice of God AMong all other professions in the world none is more dangerous then the militarie for Souldiers are euer neerest vnto casuall and vntimely death yet which is to be admired and lamented no sort of people are more loosely lasciuiously and barbarously giuen then they Whoredome Drunkennesse Rapine Blasphemie Oppression Tyranny and all kindes of vngodlines are frequent among them Much to be wondred at that men abandoned as it were to the mercilesse bullet and sword should walke so inordinately as if there were not a God in mercy to preserue them or in iudgement to confound them Aboue all men Souldiers ought to be most watchfull ouer their wayes and most mindefull of their vncertaine condition knowing that Captiuitie Wounds and Death are ineuitable companions of their profession The verie title of a Souldier importeth two kindes of warfare externall with corporall internall with spirituall enemies If a professed Souldier faint or faile in the first he is censured cowardly and not brauely minded which for outward disgrace hee will seeke to auoide If he be foiled in the second men and Angels will condemne his weaknesse if he preuaile in both how great is his commendation If therefore you that be or desire to bee Souldiers perfect and complete subdue and conquer first your owne inward and priuate enemies then incounter the common enemie with courage for before you haue manfully fought against and conquered Sinne and Satan and your owne carnal affections luâ—king within your hearts you can neuer with Christian courage confront the visible enemie marching furiously towards you for he that feareth not nor serueth God how valiant so euer hee seemeth outwardly yet feareth hee death and consequently feareth the ministers and instruments of death but whoso feareth and serueth God aright needes not feare the furie of mortall man who can kill but the bodie but the inuisible enemies kill the inward and better part the soule with the bodie Therefore seeke you peace and bee reconciled to God before you vndertake warreâ— with man for if God be against you if the strength of Goliah the policie of Achitophel the power of Senacherib the hoast of Pharaoh were all conioyned on your side you should come to like end as these vaine men did that thought themselues inuincible But if God bee on your side you neede not feare One shall bee able to incounter ten ten shall chase an hundred an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight It much importeth you that would bee accounted martiall men therefore to walke before God and to bee vpright pray vnto him for courage and good successe but before you pray you must striue with a godly resolution to abandon all your vngodly behauiour for God heareth nor nor respecteth the prayers of hypocrites such as draw nigh him with their lippes and intreate him in their words vtterly denying him in their workes Cast off the common course of prophane souldiours too well knowne to bee too impious follow the counsell of Christ who willeth you to doe violence to none to accuse no man falsely and to bee content with your wages Luke 3. 10. Being thus qualified repaire vnto God in a liuely faith vsing all meanes to encrease in diuine knowledge which begetteth all holy vertues wherewith being furnished whether you liue or die yee shall bee the Lords O Lord increase our faith A Prayer to be vsed of souldiers OH God of hoasts look downe vpon me thy vnworthy seruant who in this life labour both in a corporall and spirituall warfare fighting within and without Assist me first with thy grace faithfully to incounter strongly to resist and truly to triumph ouer sin and Satan who lie in ambush with armies of infernall souldiers seeking to surprize my inward and better part my soule and to depriue me of al godly affections that so I being conquered within may not be able rightly to performe my outward calling wherin thou Lord knowest I walke in coutinuall danger of my mortall life hauing of my selfe neither power nor policie to auoid the ordinarie perils and calamities that accompany 〈◊〉 in this course of life I am much sinfull and therefore I may the more feare that thou who hearest not sinners wilt refuse to goe with me to battell which euery where and at all times threatneth mee with captiuitie wounds or death as one abandoned in humane opinion to the mercilesse bullet and sword Giue me therefore Lord a repenting heart and a truly reformed conuersation that seeing by so many meanes death houereth ouer my head I may be euer readie and prepared in a holy and sanctified life to meet the same without feare knowing that death is but the issue out of a wildernesse of miseries troubles calamities and dangers and an entrance into that most sweet pleasant and Paradise plentifull of all good and most wished things wherein is no warre but peace no care but comfort no feare but ioy no miserie but mirth no hunger nor thirst no want but aboundance of all good things for the soule to enioy Make me therefore O gracious Lord God an vpright and faithfull souldier in this mortall warfare that I seeke not nor sinisterly take the goods or shâ—â—â— the blood of any man Take 〈◊〉 me al desire of vniust reuenge 〈…〉 pine and doing wrong to any Conforme mine hart and mine affections to
sobrietie modesty patience and true magnanimitie and boldnes Preuent in me wantonnesse ryoting drunkennes swearing blasphemy whoredome and such a profane and vngodly course as commonly too much accompanieth this militarie life And seeing Lord that I in duty am inforced to vse the sword against those that rise vp against vs blesse the vse of it to me as thou didst the sling of Dauid and the sword of Gideon teach my hands to war my fingers to fight Giue me a couragious heart vndaunted spirit to incounter the enemy as ofteÌ„ as need requireth make strong my loynes and fortifie my armes let good successe befall our armies daunt our enemies hearts Teach our Leaders and Commanders wisedome and Christian policie to direct vs and giue vs courage strength and obedience to performe our dutie with good conscience And if in thy wisedome peace be more to our profit and comfort and to thy glory then warre send vs peace in thy name and let both peace and warre life and death bee to our aduantage in Christ in whom al things are blessed to them that truly serue thee Let vs want no maner of thing Lord that is good vouchsafe vs all things necessary for our warfare Stand euer on our side and let thy sauing and protecting Angel preserue vs in all danger Remamber thy louing promises and thy mercies of old bee vnto vs a shield and buckler of defence and a sword of offence against our enemies accept vs into thy blessed protection neuer faile nor forsake vs O God of hostes Goe euermore foorth with our armies keepe euery one of vs free from the excommunicate thing sin and iniquity And sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that in thoughts words and deeds we may be approued not souldiers carnally valiant or desperately bold but truly and religiously couragious both in our outward and inward warfare through Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost beâ— ascribed all â—ouor and power for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore mightily defend vs. A MOTIVE TO a prayer to be said of such as trauaile by sea SVch as vse the seas as Dauid obserueth and haue occasion to passe the great waters by ship see the wonderfull workes of the Lord. Wonderfull in deed in the creation of so huge a heape of waters wonderfull in containing them within appointed limits wonderful in ebbing and flowing wonderfull in violence and rage wherein sometimes it swelleth and worketh wonderfull in respect of Iehouah at whose word the most furious waues therof are appeased And lastly wonderfull in respect of man whom God hath indued with the vnderstanding to frame a vessell wherein as in a house he may safely fly as it were through the furious furrowes of so mercilesse waters But all these wonders may be knitte vp in one namely in the wonderfull power and prouidence of Iehouah who by his word hath made the seas and gathered the great waters into one place and commandeth them not to passe their bounds and they obey hee hath giuen man iudgement and art to frame the hull to place the Roder to stretch out the Tacklings and to spread the sailes to descend into the deepe But if God should there leaue him to his owne will wit power or art though he haue his card and compasse to guide him he should neuer attaine his wished port when the winds blow the tempests rise the seas rage the waues lift them vp as vpon mountaines and hurle them downe againe as into deepe gulfes What then can art or force do Doe not their hearts then melt for feare vntill the winds cease the tempests appease the seas calme and the waues be still And who worketh this wished and most comfortable change only that mightie Jehouah hee that made the seas he commandeth them to rage to shew his power and againe willeth them to bee quiet to shew his mercie Are not these the wonderful workes of God who but he commandeth and the seas obey Ye therefore that are occupied in this dangerous trade of life bee not vnmindfull to serue the liuing God for ye see by experience how suddenly hee commandeth and calleth for a tempest and then ye thinke your selues neere vnto the doore of death Yet as saith Dauid When they cried vnto the Lord he deliuered them out of their distresse and brought them to the hauen where they would bee There is none that vseth the seas but hath seene and felt this If then they confesse not the power prouidence and louing kindnesse of Iehouah and acknowledge the wonderfull workes that he hath done for them euen before the sonnes of men Let them bee assured that a thousand perils futurely attend them But the most of them that exercise this kind of trauell shew themselues temporizers when dangers appeare they seeme much humbled promising reformation of their finfull liues they pray and are cast downe with importable feare and sorrow but the danger past they forget it and God that deliuered them from it especially wheÌ„ they approch the hauen where they would bee in safetie where in stead of giuing of thanks to God for his mercies in leading and conducting them the first thing they doe is to shew they owe him no duty by presently falling to transgresse his will by drunkennesse wantonnesse whoredome swearing and blaspheming him as though the danger past were the last they need to feare or could befall them But they deceiue themselues for God is patient and long suffering but neuer forgetteth them in iudgement that so forget and neglect his mercies Hee followeth them when they thinke dangers farthest off Shipwracke Pirats Famine or some other Iudgement seazeth vpon all carelesse Sea-faring men Wherefore yee that occupie the Seas remember that as in discretion you prepare all needfull things fit for your Sea voyage so are there things most materiall to bee prouided toÌ„wards your heauenly peregrination Godlinesse Faith Obedience true Feare and sincere Loue and seruice of God which if you omit let your corporall prouision bee neuer so plentifull let your ship bee neuer so strong neuer so swift of sayle neuer so well manned and munited the least breath of the Lords mouth is able to coÌ„found you No men haue more interims and times of leasure to serue God then Seafaring men Why then spend yee not those times in searching the word of God in prayer and in holy exercises that God may be your guide your defence preseruer and protector so shall all things goe well with you and whatsoeuer ye doe it shall prosper A Prayer to be said of such as haue occasion to vse trauell at sea GRacious Lord God mightie mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ who hast made all things by thy word And by thy power and prouidence dost gouerne all and all obey thee in their kinds the heauens the earth and the seas but man only is disobedient only rebellious therefore doe thy creatures whom thou madest to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 become aduersaries vnto man
most holy mystery by the outward receiuing of visible bread wine worke gracious Lord in me a true liuely and spiritual feeling of the grace which thou hast promised vnto all worthy Receiuers And for as much as our assurance dependeth vpon thy promise and thy promise confirmed vnto vs by a liuely faith and that faith is thine owne free gift also by the operation of thy holy Spirit worke in me Lord this faith that may confirme vnto mee the effect of thy promise the free forgiuenesse of my sinues newnes of life a holy and sanctified conuersation a right reuerend vse of all thy creatures a religious feare to offend thee and vnfained loue of thee in Christ that as I haue bin now a partaker of the outward elemēts I may also and absolutely partake of the inuisible grace that my soule may be liuely and continually fed with that heauenly bread which maketh our soules strong in and by him whose bodie and bloud I haue here sacramentally eaten drunke and thereby through faith am vnited euen of thy free mercie vnto and made one with thee in him in whom whosoeuer is truly ingrafted shall liue for euer in the glorious heauens with him as coheires of that endlesse Kingdome of glory which he purchased by his obedience to the death of the Crosse. Good father let the remembrance of that his death be so imprinted in my hart this day that I neuer forget it but couet to renue and continually retaine the remembrance thereof by often communicating at this holy Table which though it be as a snare vnto the vnworthy partakers it is a sure seale of saluation to the faithfull truly penitent And therefore good Father confirme my repentace renue mine obedience strengthen my faith Make me a liuely member of Christ that as I haue this day promised to become a new creature and thou hast renued againe to me thy promise of remission of my sins and of my reconciliation with thee through the bloud of the Lambe Let this holy and heauenly condition be truely performed in my behalfe for euer So shall I be assured that thou wilt neuer faile in thy sacred couenant of grace to me being euer the same yea and Amen Thou Lord knowest my strong corruptions and the feeblenesse of my naturall power to resist sinne and what strong and powerfull aduersaries there lie in wayte for my soule laying continuall snares to entangle mee anew to make if it were possible this my reuniting into thee in Christ of none effect and to seduce me again into the wayes of vngodlines But good Father preuent me with thy grace that as I haue promised this day to forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnesse so I may performe and perseuere in a sanctified life vnto my liues end through Christour Lord. Lord increase and confirme my faith euermore A MOTIVE TO a Prayer to be sayd of a man in any kind of trouble ALthough the word of God do approue Afflictiō to be necessary for them that shall be saued yet is it otherwise thought and helde of the carnall man who can hardly beleeue that it is a token of the loue of God towards him hee rather perswades himselfe that when God sends him great increase of Cattell Corne Oyle Wine Health Worldly prosperitie and the pleasures of this life that then God loues him But how farre hee is deceiued the holy Ghost declareth by the Prophet Dauid who confessed that it was good for him that he was afflicted And Christ himselfe affirmeth that through many troubles his Saint◠must enter into the kingdome of heauen Not by pleasures delites of the flesh and vanities of the mind If we did remember the sentence pronounced for Lazarus and against the Rich man and did duely consider it we could not but thinke prosperitie rather dangerous then delightfull and that a meane estate is more profitable then painefull Thou hast receiued thy pleasure saith Abraham but contrarily Lazarus indured paine Therefore art thou tormented and he is comforted No other reason is alleadged of either sentence yet neither of them is said to be punished or preserued for the ill or good that the one or other did Onely fulnesse and want plenty and penurie pleasure and paine are said to be the causes of either condition Not that the ones riches in themselues deserued damnation but the abuse or that the others pouertie deserued saluation but his patience which yet was not the cause but the effect of Gods election And the others abuse of the blessings of God an argument of his reprobatiō But God to preuent the grosse fruits of corruption in vs maketh our powers weake and our willes thereby the more conformable to his will As Physicke often preuenteth a disease that begins to seaze on the bodie and for the time is harsh lothsome bitter and much vnsauorie yet salutary in the end So is Affliction of whatsoeuer kinde medicinable to such as can brooke and digest it through faith patience and prayer and bringeth the affections into a sanctified temper That the vnholy humours of pride arrogancie auarice lust and other corporall and earthly vanities oppresse not the soule which is carried by the violence of superfluous vanities into many noysome desires and consequently into infinite hazards of making shipwracke of saluation Take it not therefore heauily whatsoeuer thou art that art visited with whatsoeuer crosse or triall although in it own nature it be euill being a punishment of sinne for he that made the bitter waters of Mara sweet and changed the nature thereof for his Israels sake hath changed the nature of the crosse to them that are his insomuch as they not onely find comfort in it But many sweet effects it bringeth foorth making them glorious in their basenesse rich in their pouertie strong in their weakenesse and liuely in their seeming death Moreouer it causeth vs to see how iust how prouident and how mercifull the Lord is how weake and miserable all mankind is And how fickle how inconstant and false the world is It beates downe the pride of nature and humbles vs that we are not so prone and apt to sinne as when wee haue prosperitie at will As our sins and transgressions are the fruits of our corruptions So are afflictions and crosses necessarie to mortifie them and to preuent their increase To speake of the kindes of trouble they are many yet may be reduced vnder these three heads pouertie sicknesse enemies vnder the first are comprehended the want of al necessaries vnder the second the griefes of body and mind and vnder the third whatsoeuer is aduersarie vnto vs. And therefore the prayer following is fit to be vsed in any of these that the Lord will be either pleased to remoue them to moderate their extremitie or to giue patience to vndergoe it A generall meditation or prayer in whatsoeuer trouble or crosse GRacious and most mercifull Lord God whose wisedome is past finding out and whose prouidence
he shal recouer and liue with them which kinde of comfort is rather iniurious then friendly for what if the partie thus idlely secured perish without repentance These kindes of comforters haue little cause to imagine they haue performed a Christian dutie in this their visitation of their sick friend whom they seemed to loue much bewailing his sicknes and yet content to send him away with the heauie burden of his sinnes A second Christian duty is to pray for the sicke either in priuate or in publike assemblies of and with such as are present with the sick person wherein also the sicke person may conioyne either in the whole prayer by an inward lifting vp of his repenting and faithful heart to God in a holy meditation of what they pray or to conclude with them all Amen The prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it be feruent The Lord by this meanes will strengthen him vpon his bed raise him to health or translate him in his good time To visite the sicke is an action most acceptable to God Yee haue visited me saith Christ when I was sicke therefore c 〈…〉 yee blessed c. Them that comfort the afflicted God will comfort He is the Father of mercies and comforteth vs 〈◊〉 all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any aff 〈…〉 by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of his or her friendes that visite them O Most gracious Lord God who hast made all things preseruest euen the meanest of them by thy prouidence a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without thee Much lesse can any thing befall man but by thy will and determinate counsell So that we doe acknowledge that thou visitest this thy seruant here at this present languishing and that the present infirmity wherewith he is afflicted is of theesent to humble him for his sinnes Let it please thee O Lord to behold him in mercy and lay not vpon him too great a weight of thy dispeasure knowing that man in his greatest strength is weake how much more feeble being crushed as it were in â—eeces by the violence of thy visitation mitigate if it please thee the extremitie of his sicknesse and giue him patience to beare this thy light and louing correction And for that sinne is the cause of all troubles and tribulations Remoue Lord the guilt of all his offences through the merits of Iesus Christ and moderate his punishmeÌ„t though in iustice the most iust man is worthy of more stripes then he is able to beare yet thou refusest no truely repenting sinner bee his sins as reâ— as scarlet thou hast promised to make them as white as snow through the blood of Iesus Christ the sauing Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Touch the hart of this thy seruant with a liuely feeling of his sinnes and a full assurance of thy mercy in forgiuing them That hee being really reunited vnto thee through an â—ufained faith in Christ may â—ouze vp his fainting soule vnto thee and by thee that howsoeuer his corporall weakenesse may argue the heauy displeasure towards him thy holy Spirit may yet work such peace in his conscienc through the assurance that his sins are freely forgiuen him that hee may take this thy visitation as a fatherly correction and louing chastisement for his former offences And that if thou be pleased to restore him to health it may worke in him a true renouation reformation of the rest of his life heare haue mercy vpon him O Lord haue mercy vpon him and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all his offences Looke fauourably vpon him cure him if it please thee restore him to health if it may stand with thy glory and his good But thou knowest Lord whether sickenesse or health bee most expedient for him whereof both he and wee are ignorant And therefore wee recommend him vnto thy fatherly disposition beseeching thee to confirme his hope assure him so of thy mercie that hee may imbrace life or death at thy pleasure and willingly to vndergoe this affliction knowing that all the tribulations which man can beare in this life are not worthy of the glory which thou hast prepared for them that loue thy second comming whâ—â— thou wilt giue to euery man according to his workes And therfore Lord turne his heart from the loue and vanities of this life vnto thâ— loue of the ioyes to come And 〈◊〉 him no longer set his heart and affections vpon this world or thâ— things in the world but onely and altogether vpon heauen and heauenly things That when the moment of time shall be wherein thâ—â— shalt determine the separation 〈◊〉 his soule from the bodie let 〈◊〉 the common enemie of our saluâ—tion preuent him But let thy sanctifying spirit possesse all thâ— powers of his soule that with holy alacritie and cheerefulnesse he may commend his spirit into thy hands and be thou pleased to reâ—â—iue him as one of thine adopted children into that celestial inheritance by the merits of Christ And in the meane time while hee shall rest here either in health or sickenesse be euer present with him for whose bodily recouery and hiâ— soules saluation O Lord hearâ— our prayers and let our cry come vnto thee Amen O Lord increase his and our faith for euermore A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before a man bâ—gin his Iourney HEe that well considereth the casualties of this life and hath but the least measure of vnderstanding and of the feare of God cannot attempt the least enterprise of the body but will forecast diuers daÌ„gers incident in euery action much more taking a Iourney on horse or foot being subiect to so many misfortunes and crosses as he maketh steppes in his wayes It is not rare to heare of one breaking his legge another his arme a third bruzing his body a fourth comming to vntimely death by falling off or from his horse nay the slip of the foote hath many wayes occasioned death besides hazard of meeting with and suffâ—ring danger by the ministers of Sathan and by malignant men laying wait to doe mischiefe Our bodies being thuâ— daily and vniuersally beset with perill requireth watchfulnesse in our wayes and walkings But it is not in our power wisdome to preuent the least crosse much lesse able are we to defend our selues as of our selues froÌ„ the hidden and sudden misfortunes of this lifes casualties And therefore had we neede to leaue our owne selfe wisedome and prouidence though not our Christian care and betake vâ— to the holy protection of the Holy one of Israel who guided Iacob in his Iourney towards Laban and the seruant of Abraham iourneying for a wife for Isack But they prayed for good successe So must euery faithfull man if he hope of the like Otherwise as the Lyon mette the Prophet and sâ—ue him So can God rayse
their faces at the glory of thy great Maiestie And as for man clothed with mortality thou affirmest cannot see thy face and liue And yet thou sayest Seeke my face Lord what is it to seeke thy face but to seeke thy truth and to search thy word to couet to know thy will and to bee truely instructed and faithfully and sincerely inclined to keepe thy commaundements Thy word is a light vnto our pathes and a lanthorne vnto our feet It is the life of our soules the heauenly Manna without it there is no light no hope no spirituall comfort no assurance of saluation O how deare ought this word then be vnto vs Farre more sweet then the hony or the hony combe more precious then golde yea then the finest gold therein Lord see wee thy face therein beholde wee thy louing countenance there finde we the hidde pearle which to purchase the wisest will sell all worldly vanities yet is it to the foolish foolishnesse and a stumbling blocke vnto the carnally minded Jt is a mysterie Lord and a secret hidden from the wise of the world and reuealed onely vnto the humble to such as acknowledge themselues ignorant and hunger and thirst for the knowledge of the truth Such hast thou promised to teach and to instruct in the way of true wisedome by reuealing thy word which howsoeuer it seeme in the outward letter easie to be vnderstood it hath a spirituall and diuine sense which requireth a spirituall and diuine interpretation which commeth not neither can it be apprehended by nature And therefore in thy great mercy and loue thou hast ordained meanes whereby they whom thou hast appointed to saluation may bee made able to vnderstand the same namely the outward ministrie of men and the iuward elumination of thy holy spirit for without the second the first auayleth nothing neither in the minister that speaketh nor they to whom he speaketh vnlesse hee be sent of thee and the hearers eares opened and their hearts prepared by thee hee preacheth and they heare in vaine To the one a woe is pronounced as not preaching the Gospel sincerely to the other a curse for not receiuing the good word of truth as into good and fruitfull ground bringing foorth the liuely fruits of a life answerable to that word which is either the sauour of life vnto life or the sauor of death vnto death O Lord I am now come into thy presence to heare thee speake vnto vs here assembled by the mouth of thy seruant whom thou hast sent to preach thy word open therefore mine eares prepare my heart sanctifie mine Attention inlighten mine Vnderstanding strengthen my memorie rectifie my will that I may diligently heare attentiuely harken retentiuely remember and willingly imbrace and practice what shall bee truely and sincerely deliuered by thy minister And let not thy word Lord that shall fall from his mouth bee either choaked in mee with the thorny cares of the world nor be cast into so corrupt a heart as the vaine delights of my minde should deuoure it nor into so â—arraine a heart as should not bring foorth fruit at the least twentie fold to the glory and prayse of thy most blessed name to the beâ—â—ering and better direction of my conuersation before men to the assurance and sure sealing vp of my saluation in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 prayse for euer Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said after a Sermon heard AS the body of a man 〈◊〉 beast neither groweth to strength nor co 〈…〉 nueth in health without naturall foodâ— no more can the soule of man liue without Spirituall food the word of God And as man by art helpeth nature to concoct and digest his food to make it nutratiue to his body So the spiritual man hauing heard the sauing word of God vseth the means to make it profitable to the soule for as natural food takeÌ„ into the mouth and instantly spet out againe though it be a while detained and chawed and not taken into the bodie relieueth not the body So the Word heard with the care and not conueyed into and retained in the heart yeeldeth no comfort vnto the soule but rather worketh a kinde of contempt by custome and a kinde of lothing of the Word as a matter without the which his soule may liue for as that meate wherein the pallet hath no feeling of a pleasing taste delighteth not the appetiâ—â— no more can that Word which is not sauourie and delightfull to the soule be pleasing or profitable to the outward eare and consequently nothing comfortable to the vnfeeling soule But it is not in the power of man by nature profitably or with comfort to heare much lesse to make true vse of the word of God It is the gift of God to open the eare which is common to the good and bad hearers but a worke of the holy Ghost to open and prepare the heart to receiue the Word and to bring forth the fruit thereof without the which it is not only not an idle sound but a killing letter for it neuer falleth into the ears of any but it is either the sauour of life vnto life by the operation of faith and repentance or the sauour of death vnto death by the hardnes of the impenetrable and impenitent heart Therfore it much behoueth Christians not only to be carefull to heare but to be diligent and considerate how they heare to lay it vp in their hearts to make vse of it vpon all occasions in prosperity and aduersitie in sicknes and health and in what estate soeuer he is for it is as a treasure to purchase in euery calamitie comfort through patience and in all consolation inward or outward liuely and true thankfulnes Whatsoeuer or whosoeuer therefore thou be that hast at any time tasted of the good word of God forget not that although it be pronounced by man it is the word of the most Highest who will take an account of thee how and what thou hast heard and if thou fold it vp in the napking of forgetfulnes and put it not forth to the vse of thy soule it shall be taken from thee euen that thou hast and thou cast out of his presence whose word and counsaile thou hast so neglected Be not therefore forgetfull to ruminate and as it were often to â—hew the cud of that word thou hearest as at the mouth of God and because we are naturally al flow to heare what we should heare and our mindes very hard to retaine the good things proceeding out of the mouth of God we are to pray and humbly to petition the Lord of life to turne the word heard to the sauour of life vnto our eternally life it ought to be our continuall studie yea aboue al our worldly cares and occasions to meditate of the word we haue heard that it slippe not out of our mindes it is a Iewell which we shall hardly
to auoid the danger when the blow is giuen The very terror of the miseries present will so astonish and perplexe our harts as we shal run as men amazed for succor and shal find none for reliefe and none will giue it and for safetie and none shall bee able to preserue vs from the destroying angels hand Our faith will faile vs our prayer will bee cold and not steed vs when we shall runne here and there as at our wits end for feare of the dangers before our eyes O let vs therefore delay no time to flie vnto God not with our old polluted ragges of sinne and iniquitie but with renewed hearts and heartie repentance Let vs meete the Lord as the Niniuites did so shall wee recouer our spirituall strength and if any of these calamities fall vpon vs wee shall bee hardie in Christ our Sauiour and with courage meete the enemie in the gap namely the sword vndergoe famine with constancie and in pestilence rest boldly on the prouidence of him that hath promised to keepe his faithfull ones in whatsoeuer danger And therefore let vs bee mooued to some consideration that as our fathers haue been visited with these calamities for their sinnes wee cannot dreame of greater immunitie considering our sins are as ripe and as rotten as were theirs and Gods power is not diminished but his heauie and punishing and destroying hand is readie to bee stretched out still A Prayer to God to be vsed in the time of peace to preuent warre in plentie to preuent famine and in the time of health to preuent the pestilence fit also to be vsed in the time of warre famine and the pestilence also GReat and terrible art thou O God and in thy furie takest vengeance against a rebellious stubborne stifenecked and a wicked people Bee patient with vs O Lord be patient with vs and although we be of vnholy coÌ„uersations spare vs and be merciful vnto vs. Shoote not the arrowes of thy displeasure against vs for the least of them is able to wound the hayrie scalpe of thy mightiest enemies and to crush them in peeces like a Potters vessell O stay stay thine anger against vs preuent warres draw not thy sword vpon vs take not the staffe of bread from vs send not the pestilence among vs for we are not able to stand in thy fight when thou art angrie Be appeased towards vs good Father in Christ our Mediatour free vs of the dangers which wee haue deserued and which as wee cannot but feare doe houer ouer our heads for our sins Our sinnes are many monstrous horrible and as it seemeth incorrigible Thou hast shaken thy sword ouer vs wee saw it and were for the time afraid thou hast punished vs with pestilence we haue felt it and were indangered Thou hast weakened the staffe of bread amongst vs wee haue tasted it And yet we continue in our wonted disobedience we goe on still in our wickednesse like vnto those rebellious Iewes that put to death the Lord of life who are giuen vp vnto a reprobate sence We also haue eies to see and yet see not our dangers eares to heare and yet we heare not with sense thy fearefull threats for sinne and thy seuere iudgements vpon them that transgresse thy commandements wittingly we haue hearts to perceiue and yet we seeme not to vnderstand those things that belong vnto our peace and punishment we are not sensible of thy displeasure but we lull our selues asleepe with the sweet deceiuing delights of our fleshly affections and harden our hearts as Adamants against thy word O gracious Father giue vs repentant hearts for our sins vnderstanding harts of thy will giue vs obedient hearts to practise true pietie and holinesse in faith vnfained that we may appease thy wrath inkindled against vs through Christ the Mediatour of all that returne to thee in a holy submission Turne vs therefore Lord and wee shall returne from our euill wayes and obtaine mercy in him that is our aduocate with thee Iesus Christ the righteous by whose intercession it may please thee to spare vs thy people spare vs let neither the sword that deuoureth without mercie come neere vs let not famine too much afflict vs that hath no measure in pinching and let not the pestilence steale vpon vs that secretly flieth and striketh without respect of person sere or age Lord giue vs repentance and accept thine owne gift our repentance and our atonement with thee that if it please thee these euils fall not vpon vs as wee haue deserued but being made one againe with thee thine eye may bee vpon vs euer in mercie to deliuer our soules in death and to preserue vs in faâ—ine Thou art God a strong hold in the day of trouble let vs not esteeme our selues strong in our own might nor leane vpon our own wisdome to defend our selues when any of these calamities shall bee inflicted vpon vs. Make vs righteous so shalt thou preserue vs thou art the strength and hope of Israel of al that are of a holy conuersation faithfull Bee vnto vs a strong rocke whereunto wee may alwaies resort in warre in famine in pestilence and in all the calamities that accompanie or follow them Make vs constant in all goodnesse giue vs helpe against trouble for vaine is the helpe of man Harken therefore vnto the prayer of thy seruants and deliuer vs in Christ. Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A short prayer to be vsed in the time of warre THe children of Israel continuing to commit wickednesse in the sight of the Lord the Lord raised the Philistims against theÌ„ who made war vpon them and made them their seruants for fortie yeeres Iudg. 13 1. he raised likewise the Ammonites against them who vexed them 18. yeeres Iudg. 10. 7. and gaue them into the hands of the Midianites for 7. yeeres Iudg. 6. 1. As men fal from God so he sendeth them enemies as it were to inforce their reformation and if these kinds of afflictions cannot win them hee giues them ouer to more sharper calamities as he did the children of Israel whom he deliuered into the hands of meere spoilers and sold them into the hands of their enemies round about them which way soeuer they went his hand was stil against them Iudg. 2. 14. 15. yet when they repented cried vnto him he raised vp meanes to release them and deliuered them Iudg. 3. 9. 10. whereby we may be mooued to seeke the Lord before the Lord send foorth his persecuring ministers as the children of Israel intreated Samuel to pray vnto God for them before their danger fell vpon them that God might bee pleased to preuent that which they feared and at Samuels intercession they were preserued and their enemies scattered and confounded 1. â—am 7 8. 9. This is the course that Christians ought to take first to clense themselues from sinne and then to repaire vnto God in humble supplication for defence and preseruation and by
canst thou with things meane in qualitie Daniel and his fellowes liued by pulse and water and were more strong and in better liking then they that had the ful measure of the Kings choice dainties Great and wonderfull art thou in thy power vnsearchable in thy prouidence and thou art one and the same for euer thy loue is not diminished towards them that loue thee neither is thy power weakened neither can thy prouidence be hindred but whatsoeuer thou willest commeth to passe in Mercie and lustice Will thou therfore good Father will thou and worke our comfort and reliefe and whatsoeuer we then need shall bee supplied vnto vs. Mollify the harts of such as haue reliefe in abuÌ„dance that detain it to inrich themselues when the poore perish Sâ—ffer vs not Lord to fall into greaâ—â—â— miserie and want then wee can bea rt Our flesh is weake and vnable to vndergo the want of necessary food giue vs Lord competent reliefe that we faint not nor perish altogether for thy Christs sake our only Redeemer and Aduocate for whose sake thou hast promised to deliuer the soules of thine from death and to preserue them in the time of famine Therefore Lord heare and grant our requests Amen Lord increase our faith and blesse vnto vs competent reliefe A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said in the time of the Pestilence THe Pestilence of all other pâ—â—gues is the most lothsome grieuous especially to the parties infected for that their dearest friends commonly flie them and forsake them none are readily willing to visite them and yet of all the three ineuitable plagues that God tendred to Dauids election hee made choice of this as willing rather to fall into the hands of God then of meÌ„ To flie before furious enemies in the warres is a fearefull thing and to pine and perish for want of food more grieuous then Death Therefore is the Pestilence rather to be vndergone then either the Sword or Famine but that we are not at our choice as Dauid was But as touching sinne in the same danger Sinne was the cause of his and sinne is the cause of our visitation And therefore to preuent the danger we are to make peace with our offended God by true repentance humble submission faithfull and vnfained prayer It was the remedie that Dauid vsed whereby the Lord was appeased with the Land and the plague ceased 2. Sam. 24. 25. Gods anger is easily appeased towards them that are truely penitent and humâ—â—y seeke him in faithfull prayer It appeareth that we haue prouoked the Lord by our sinnes to wrath and in his displeasure be visiteth vs with this heauie correction Let vs offer the sweet and acceptable sacrifice of prayer vnto him in vnfained sorrow for our sinnes It may be God will recall his destroying Angell out of our coasts But if he wil not be appeased pleased to stay his hand from punishing Let vs submit vs to his will in all Christian patience auoiding as much as in vs lieth the wilfull running into the danger and then if God haue numbred vs among them that he hath marked out vnto death let vs not bee dismayed or discouraged let vs not only not thinke vs the more vnhappie but far the more in the fauor of God in that he vouchsafeth vnto vs such a fatherly premonition to prepare vs that which by the course of nature in few yeares cannot be auoided death which seemeth far more terrible then indeed it is for though it hath the name of bitternes yet it is indeed the end coÌ„summatioÌ„ of al the vnpleasing things which our deceiued affections are miscaried by it is the end of sin and sorrow of dangers feares and miseries and is terrible to none but to such as only consider the dissolution of the soule from the bodie and doe not looke to the immediate coniunction of the soule with God we leaue indeed our corporall friends behinde vs whom wee loue But we ought to know that we go to a more blessed fellowship in the heauens to Christ our elder brother whom wee yet neuer saw but if wee loue him as he loued vs first we cannot but desire to see him which we cannot doe in our mortall flesh Let vs therefore with Saint Paul desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ with the Angels and with the spirits of iust and perfect men And let vs be of good courage in this danger of the body which if we caÌ„not flie let vs not feare knowing that whether we liue or die we are the Lords in Christ in whom we are assured that all things shall worke together for the best and to the consolation of them that loue God in life and death Weeping may indure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning A Praier to be said in the time of any mortalitie Pestilence or infectious sicknes O Lord our God who of the dust hast created all mankind for a time to breathe in this mortall life and at their appointed times thou sayest Returne againe into your dust yee children of men Looke wee humbly beseech thee vpon vs vnder thy hand visited with great mortalitie so besâ—t on euery side with the terrors of death as we cannot but deeme out selues neere vnto the graue Our festered corruptions haue brought forth stineking sins that haue deâ—â—â—ed our bodies and infected the verie aire wherein we liue whereby wee haue deseruedly drawne vpon vs in thy iustice this fearefull visitation Giue vs Lord repenting hearts renue right spirits wiâ—iâ— vs that we recounting our manifold and grosse sins may truly bewaile them in the bitternes of our hearts fill our heads with water make our eyes a fountain of teares that both inwardly and outwardly our sorrowes for our sinnes may be vnfainedly expressed and by our constant obedience and sincere seruice of thee our renued conuersations may be approued Make vs we beseech thee alwayes watchfull ouer our wayes that we erre not from thy Commandements in this time wherin many are striken with thy hand many are finally fallen asleepe Blesse vs wee beseech thee with that blessed prerogatiue to be thy truly adopted children in Christ so shall we be safe according to thy promise and this thy visitation shall not come neere our dwellings a thousand shall fall on our rig 〈…〉 hand and ten thousand on our left hand and yet not touch vs. But what are we Lord that we should presume vpon this freedome hauing deserued as heauie a weight of punishment as any whom thy hand hath visited Let not thy patience and long forbearing of vs perswade vs that either thou seest vs not or that for our owne worthines or desert thou passest by vs but rather to thinke that we are also of the number of them whom thou hast ordained to partake of this visitation that wee may apply our selues to a serious calling to mind of our offences and vnfained repentance for them before thy decree come forth against
in the Euening in priuate Families IT is a matter too common with many to passe the day in a kind of lawlesse vanitie and the night in carelesse securitie as if the day and night were only made for man to serue himselfe with the pleasures and profits he can make of either forgetting the true end for which either themselues or the day and night were made that themselues were made to glorifie their Maker in reason and religion The day to serue them for holy exercises and lawfull labours And the night for their corporall rest But contrarily themselues they prophane through many sinnes The day they abuse by idlenesse wantonnesse and vanities And the night they pollute with many forbidden euils And yet passe from day to night and from euening to the day light neuer calling to minde that holy duetie required of them thanksgiuing to God for blessings receiued their humble prayers for pardon of their sins committed and their continuall supplications for their safetie and prosperous successe in their labours and affaires Doth the profession of a Christian require no more then to eate and drink to labour or loyter to passe the time in gaming pleasure idlenes ease and slâ—â—pe Are not these the workes that worldlings wallow in Some are too great and glorious to labour and yet haue no leasure to pray Some are so busied in worldly affaireâ— as they can admit no time to serue God but the Sabbath day and then to come to the Church to see and be seene is the deuotion of many Is this to loue God aboue all things as all haue vowed to serue him before all things and to depend vpon him in all things It rather argueth that the Loue of God is not in them the Feare of God is farre from them and the Grace of God is not with them Remember yee that thus forget God that as the day is past that gaue light to the eyes and darkenesse come that shadoweth the Sunne So the day of Life passeth away and the night of Death approcheth wherein if we liue not in the light of grace while it is to day we shall neuer see the light of glorie to our comfort in the night of our bodies death Therefore before we betake vs to our rest let vs commend our selues and all that we haue in faithfull prayer to God calling together conioyning with our families if we haue any and in a holy and reuerent humiliation of bodies and mindes fall downe before him that seeth vs and who hath promised to be in the midst of two or three gathered together in holy prayer A prayer to be said in priuate Families in the Euening before they goe to rest ALmightie and most louing Lord God Father of compassion infinit in power iust in thy Judgements wonderfull in thy prouidence euer readie and neuer failing in mercie them that feare thy name we acknowledge thy great goodnes towards vs this day past and our owne vnworthines to partake of thy mercies by reason of our manifold and great sinnes which as it seemeth thou neither seest nor obseruest in that thou hast as it were passed by them so patiently this day as in stead of punishing them hast made vs rich partakers of many most acceptable blessings Yet Lord we doe not by this thy forbearance to punish vs either iustiâ—â—e our wayes wherein we haue walked this day or thinke our selues freed from thy displeasure for our sinnes but doâ— vtterly condemne our selues and wholly attribute our preseruation from punishment our health out peace our plenty and the good successe of our affairs vnto thine own free mercie and whatsoeuer crosse losse hurt or detriment hath be fallen vs this day in bodies goods credit or reputation among men we lay it and impute it wholly and altogether vnto our sinnes which haue worthily deserued much more then we feele or are able to beare what we or any of vs haue done against thee this day thou knowest what thou hast done for vs wet cannot expresse with our lips nor conceiue in our harts for thy mercies are so infinite and thy prouidence so high and so farre past finding out as the more we search and seek to know the hid treasures of thy loue towards vs so much the more ignorant we are of knowing what thou are we therefore acknowledge our selues stâ—ners and thy selfe the Father of incomprehensible mercies which as Dauid thy seruant confesseth are more then he could expresse Great and manifest haue bin thy fauours towards vs we haue found them felt them and enioyed them this day and all our dayes in thy keeping feeding cloathing and comforting our mortall bodies In giuing vnto vs preseruing for vs many things for our vse the beasts of the field the plants of the earth haue beene seruiceable vnto vs through thy blessing Giue vs we beseech thee vnderstanding and feeling hearts to acknowledge thy mercies Teach vs to know and to take knowledge of our own wants which are many grant that they may be supplied by thee Let vs looke into our owne corruptions that they may bee reformed and weakened by thee for Nature reuenleth not vnto vs our spirituall wants nor can cleanse vs from our sinnes which are many and yet we account them few great and yet we see them not weightie and yet they seeme light vnto vs we are spiritually poore and spirituall blinde yet not poore in spirit as we ought we are rather barren of spirituall knowledge and blinde to our owne imperfections which puffeth vs vp with a vaine conceiâ— of our owne worthines Our faith is feeble fraile and imperfect yet we thinke it strong our prayers are cold and weake our minds and affections wauering and inconstant in that diuine duty yet would we seem religiously zealous Thou findest in vs Lord these imperfections and we dote of our owne merit which is a meer forbidden presumption Open Lord the eyes of our vnderstandings that we may finde out and feele our own errors and looke into the working of thy grace wherein thou acceptest vs as poore in spirit by the imputation of Christs humblenes our faith perfect through the perfection of his obedience and our prayers auaileable through his preuailing mediation So that thy spirituall consolations in Christ are farre more abounding towards vs then we are able to comprehend Open therefore Lord the dore of thy diuine knowledge that we may become wise in thee and enter into that holy of holiest in puritie of spirit in faith sound with prayers feruent thanks vnfained Stirre vp in vs a greater measure of obedi 〈…〉 then hitherto we haue shewd vnto thee that we receiuing grace for grace may adde faith to faith wisedome to knowledge and finde how sweet a thing it is to serue thee truly to walke before thee in vprightnes of heart And as we are now come to the end of this day and consequently haue finished the trauaile thereof and now couet our rest so we may
of all then If thou wilt thou canst deliuer me or moderate the sentence against me or else giue mee patience to vndergoe whatsoeuer shall be laid vpon me and as I acknowledge 〈…〉 t my sinne is the cause of my restraint of my corporall feare and am truely sorry for mine offences So Lord I beseech thee pardon thou mee in Christ that whatsoeuer become of my bodily punishment I may be yet assured of thy fauour in the kingdome of glory through Jesus Christ Amen If vpon vniust occasion say thus For thou Lord knowest although I cannot but confesse that I haue many wayes offended thy high Maiestie yet in this whereof I am accused and for which my libertie is restrained I am innocent And therfore good father in lesus Christ giue me patience worke in the hearts of mine oppressors some remorce that they may recal repent of their iniustice Thou knowest how innoceÌ„t Ioseph was falsly accused And thou yet were pleased to permit him to be restrained long but in the meane time diddest giue him fauour with thâ— Gâ—olor and in the end diddest aduance him to honor Be pleased I beseech thee to deliuer me if it may be for my good or make the prison easie the â—â—olor louing giue me wisedome to make right vse of my present restraint and to acknowledge it to be for my sinnes and for my reformation And when I shall in thy prouidence receiue my former liberty let me not be ashamed of my restraint but rather glory in thy mercy that I suffer vpon an vniust accusation though I stand guilty before thee of infinite sinnes for which I am sorry and humbly craue pardon and thy diuine direction that I may lead a holy life in a godly and sincere conuersation before men and to walke before thee in vprightnes of heart through Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer If for the testimonie of thy faith in Iesus say thus THe witnessing of thy truth the profession of thy name which my persecutors persecute in me more then me for they aime more to suppresse the confession of thy glorious name then them that professe it they more seeke to abandon the publike practise religious vse of thy word and Gospel then the abuse And therefore good Father as thou hast in some measure inlightned mine vnderstanding of thy will and by thy spirit taught me how to professe thy name according to thy truth So confirme my faith therin and mine obedience to thee that neither this lothsome prison the furie of my persecutors nor the feare of death terrifie me from the constant profession of Iesus Christ whom these men seeke to persecute in his members And therfore Lord gracious in him in him looke vpon me here at this time restrained for his sake and either in thy mercy workâ— my deliuery out of their hands and out of this place of restraint by some ordinarie meanes as thou diddest extraordinarily deliuer thy seruants Paul Silos Peter and other thine Apostles out of their cruell captiuities or els giue me constant patience to indure thy tryal to vndergoe whatsoeuer shal seeme good vnâ—â— thee to lay vpon me And graciously consider the weakenesse of flesh blood which if thou suffer to preuaile in me I cannot stand And therefore assist me with thy holy spirit that as I haue begun so I may preseuere in thee and be sustained by thee vnto the end Let neither the vnsauory prison nor the bitternes of death remoue my heart nor let my tongue from professing thy name vnto the end if thou think me worthy of the glory of martyrdome and to crowne me with the honour of being a witnes of thy truth giue me an obedient heart and a thankefull minde willingly to lay down this earthly Tabernacle to whatsoeuer kind of death it shall please thee to giue mine and thine owne aduersaries power to inflict vpon me That after this life ended I may be really crowned with the merits not of my suffering but with the merits of him who suffered for me and for whose sake graunt Lord I may constantly suffer what thou pleasest to lay vpon me Amen Lord encrease my faith giue me patience and comfort in Iesus Christ. A MOTIVE TO A Prayer that wee may be alwayes readie to die and to be so prepared as wee may not feare death THough it had neuer bin writteÌ„ that it is appointed by God that all men must once die yet common experience and the continuall practise of death could not but assure all men that they must die If any man had bin priuiledged from the power of death since the creation men might haue beene perswaded that they might haue the like immunitie and freedome But seeing death hath not spared the strong the wise the rich nor the persons of mightiest potentates but all the godly and the wicked haue tasted of the cup of death What man is he that is so soâ—â—ed as to thinke he shall not die Nay to thinke that by reason of the strength of his bodie he shall liue many yeares Yet so foolishly perswaded are many men and assume vnto themselues a kinde of desperate boldnes to commit many grosse and grieuous sinnes promising vnto themselues a time of repentance in their decrepite age A preposterous rule of godlesse men who though they know that as sure as they liue they shall die and as sure as they liue and shall die so surely they shall liue or die eternally yet being deluded by the opinion of their strength and health and bewitched by their vaine idle and forbidden lusts of the flesh and the minde they delay their preparation to die wel vntill the time they haue no power to reforme their wicked liues past So that their present liuely carnall life is a begun spirituall death And the time of their foolishly prefixed repentance is the beginning of their endlesse condemnation But the truely wise indeed guided by grace haue the time of their dissolution continually before their eyes and in a holy meditation of death prepare themselues to die daily thinking euery day they rise that that is the day of their dissolution and when they betake them to their nightly rest they recommend them to their beds as to their graues and perswade themselues that that night may be the day-spring of their spirituall and neuer ending life Such as thus prepare themselues haue neuer any feare to die but in their hearts wish to be dissolued and to be with Christ And because that this holy preparation is not wrought neither can a man desire to leaue and remoue out of this earthly tabernacle by nature they cannot but naturally feare to die And therefore when the messengers of death begin to summon men vnprepared to their graues they cannot but entertaine horror in stead of hope and despaire in stead of assurance of the life to come How much then doth it concerne all men to abandon sinne betimes and to seek attonement with God
and wayes are full of hidden dangers which without thy protection could not but haue faln vpoÌ„ me so is not this place whereinto I am safely retired by thy prouidence free from perils and therefore as thou hast hitherunto kept me keepe me now in this place wherein if thou dwel not by thy power and louing fauor there cannot but abide Sathan sinne and vanities powerfull enemies and able to surprise the strongest naturall man Strengthen me Lord aboue nature and helpe the parts of most infirmitie that my soule body being strengthened I may be able to giue thâ—â— the more sound prayses and haue spirituall power to resist whatsoeuer shall spiritually seeke to seducâ— me and in thy prouidence preseruâ— me in body safe giue me whatsoeuer is needfull for me in this place and continue thy louing fauour towards me that all things at all times in all places may prosperously succeed vnto me depart not from me good Father but blesse me first that I may be euer blessed So shall all things goe well with me both going foorth and comming in and all things worke together for my continuall consolation wherefore giue me grace euer to loue thee in Christ mine euerlasting Redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said before a Sermon MAn by nature being a sincke of corruption and a gulfe of hidden hypocrisie his conscience naturally oppressed with a slauish feare lest his inward and secret euill thoughts should be reueiled and his hidden iniquities discouered as much as in him lyeth coueteth to shun the light of the word of God which comprehendeth both the killing Law and the sauing glad tidings of the Gospel by the one he is condemned and therefore hateth the sentence which pronounceth that whosoeuer sinneth shall die yet apprehendeth he not either the grieuousnesse of his sinnes nor the miserie of the Gospel which is the preaching of repentance and the forgiuenesse of sinnes but lying securely in his sinnes thinketh not of any account and therfore regardeth not much the word preached But wheÌ„ shame or authoritie presseth the carnall man to heare the word he thâ—â— heareth sinne reproued and the sinfull condemned which is so vâ—sauâ—ry vnto him as he wisheth himselfe out of the hearing Herod could not endure the preaching of Iohn Baptiâ—â— reprouing him for his brothers wife be it the Law or the Gospel that such men heare it is as harsh vnto them as the words of Michaiah to Ahab yet we must vnderstand that though maâ— deliuer the word it is not his but the word of God and therefore no man but such a one as is yet in the state of reprobation wil refuse to he are God who is mercifull and louing speake vnto him if it be but the threatning Law which teacheth what is sinne and what is the reward of sinne wherby being cast downe with sorrow that he hath committed things so contrary to the will of his Creator he may seeke atonement and reconciliation with his offended God by the Gospel the testimonie of his loue Are not my words saith God good vnto him that walkes vprightly Therefore none but the obstinately wicked will shun the word preached which aswell offereth remission of sinnes committed as it threatneth death to the impenitent The Scriptures in many places command vs to seeke the Lord which argueth that we by nature are strangers from God separated by sinne and to remaine so is the most miserable condition that can befall the sonnes of men And where is the Lord to be sought but in his word which is the life of the soule As the soule body are knit together and conserued by breath So are our soules connexed and conioyned vnto God by the word of truth preached by Gods minister apprehended by faith and practised in spirit and truth The naturall man couets and delights to refresh himselfe in his griefes and crosses by musicke by merry company and by reading prophane bookes or hearing pleasant conceited songs or comedies which doe not onely not comfort but rather increase their griefes Contrarily Dauid protested that hee sought and found the onely true comfort in the word of God So doe all that are truely qualified in the rules of right religion though worldlings account it a melancholike wearinesse to sit an houâ—e to heare God speake vnto them But let them thinke that this wearinesse shall be a witnesse against them that they belong not to the Lord. Euery man desires to see his image in a glasse for two ends the one to see his feature the other to correct his deformities And Saint Iames compares the word of God to a glasse wherein are two sorts of Images discouered namely of Nature and Grace The first sheweth what we our selues are the second what we ought to seeke to be namely to be like vnto our head Christ Iesus in all sanctitie and holinesse in suffering patiently and obeying God truely This is by no other meanes learned but by the word of God preiched But some that haue made the least progresse in the loue to godlinesse of life thinke it sufficient to read the word of God or the workes of good and godly men at home an exercise not to bee in it selfe condemned but in respect of it to neglect the word preached is the contempt of Gods ordinance who hath in greatest fauour instituted his ministers to teach by the powerfull preaching of the word which worketh a more deepe impression in the heart of the hearer then of the reader For if wee consider the authoritie of the word preached it is from God the ministery from the mouth of man who is the mouth of God he therefore that neglects or contemnes the word preached neglectes the meanes of his saluation which is faith in Christ Iesus For faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God preached It is not yet sufficient to heare the word but as Marie laid vp the word in her heart so must euery profitable hearer retaine the word in their mindes permit it to rule in their affections and to bring foorth the fruits thereof in their actions reioycing when they doe the commandements of God and grieuing when they transgresse the same And because there be many things that hinder the growing of this sauing seede and many grounds receiue it but onely one namely good ground can bring forth the fruit It behooueth to pray that our hearts may be made fit to heare our affections fit to loue and our whole man apt to cherish this seede by continuall holy practise Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said before the hearing of a Sermon THou Lord hast commanded vs or rather louingly inuited vs to seeke thy face and yet thou art in the highest heauens among thine Angels Seraphims and Cherubims and wee dust and ashes are in the earth full of infirmities not able to looke vnto much lesse into the heauens to behold thee there no the very Angels hide
the meanest in common reputation but in vse the most necessary member in a Common-wealth for by him and by his labour the accursed earth which naturally bringeth foorth nothing more plentifully then weeds vnprofitable excrements giueth bread to strengthen mans heart wine to comfort him and oyle to make him of a cheerefull countenance God giuing blessing who in the beginning made all his creatures good al seruing to hâ— owne glorie and to the vse and reliefe of maÌ„ But for sin they were accursed and the vse of them restored vnto the faithful in Christ by Christ yet are all men to vse the ordinarie meanes to cause the earth to bring foorth fruit by labour arte and industry Adam the first man that transgressed God appointed first to manure till digge and dresse that land which by and for his disobedieÌ„ce he caused to be accursed and we his generation haue the same 〈◊〉 imposed vpoÌ„ vs either to till ma 〈…〉 re plant to vse the best means to cause the earth to bring forth her increase or else to suffer it according to it naturall inclination to ouergrow with vnprofitable weeds so perish for want of necessarie reliefe Disdaine thou not therefore whatsoeuer thou be la 〈…〉 ious worke nor the husbandrie which the most High hath created And know that he that tilleth the land shall be satisfied with bread But he that is idle wanteth vnderstanding and shall come to pouerty Prou. 12. 11. That righteous Noab became a husband-man a tiller of the land a planter of vineyards Gen. 9. 20. Vzziâ—h a King delighted in husbandrie 2. Chron. 27. 10. Many good godly great and famous men haue beene husband-men Abraham and 〈◊〉 were shepheards so was Moses Elisha was a plough-man 1. King 19. 19. Gideon that famous Captaine of Gods Hoste was a thresher of corne Daâ—id was a shepheard Iacob also al the Patriâ—rks husbaÌ„d-meÌ„ or herdsmeâ— now is this famous become an infamâ—us professioÌ„ among many Gentility is of so high request and of so admired glory that many leaue the plough not as Elisha did and the threshing flore as Gedeon did to follow the Lord of life but to embrace prophane libertie and a licencious and lasciuious life They whose fathers by their sweat gate sweetnes out of the earth many of them sweare it and swagger it and sweate it away sweetly in sinful sinne so that the second or third generation of many of them either returne to the cart againe or to beggerie The moderne courses of humane proceedings in this kinde are to be lamented so much degenerating from the ancient The plough and the plow-mâ—n were in reputation as long as they kept themselues vnder the title of Husbandmen and Yeomen But since they turned Gentlemen plow-men they doe not but command to bee done while the Gentlemen follow not the plow taile They follow what they should flie and flie what they should embrace A preposterous course and that is the reason why so many good Graunges and Countrie Farmes 〈◊〉 hospitalitie haue lost the meanes 〈◊〉 relieue the poore as formerly they were able It were good that these new coined Gentlemen did take their fathers old occupation againe it will not onely not bee their disgrace but greatly to their commendation to take the plough taile in time againe and goe with the oxen as Elisha did and to threshing as Gedeon did and not to scorne that profession that supports a kingdome But leauing them that haue looked back and left the plough I exhort all men continuing of that ranck to reioyce in their labours that follow that worthiest of humane indeuors the manuring of the earth for there is a blessing promised to the religiously painful industrious in this kind Wherfore pray vnto God seriously and faithfully that it may please him to send a blessing vpon your labors for you may sow set and plant yet see smal increase without the blessing of God Paul may plant Apollo may water but God giues the increase Cattle corne oyle wine and all the necessories for mans life are giuen and preserued by God for man let vs then pray when we commend our seed to the earth that God will blesse it with increase so shall our flocks increase prosper also our oxen shal be strong to labor there shal be no want nor complaining in our streets True it is that the word of God affirmeth that it raines aswell vpon the corne and the cattle and all thingâ— belonging to the wicked doe prosper in humane vnderstanding aswell and better then of the godly but it is to bee remembred that the small things that the righteous hath are better then the great abundance of the wicked I haue framed a briefe prayer not vnfit to be vsed often of al that deale with corne cattell and manuring the earth not â—ying any to the forme but moouing them to heauenly meditation A Prayer fit to be vsed of husbandmen not vnfit for all men whatsoeuer WE cannot but with sorrow and shame cal to mind most louing Lord God in Iesus Christ our common accursed condition by the view and consideration of the earths sterrititie barrennesse and vnaptnesse of it oâ—â— accord to bring forth those thy good creatures whereof all men haue need for the sustentation of their mortall bodies much more are we put in mind of our originall transgression and disobedience by beholding the natural fruits of the earth bryers thornes thistles and weedes in stead of things profitable for mans vse agreeing with our cursed nature which bringeth foorth sinne in stead of sanctity the works of darkenesse in stead of the fruits of light the fruits of the flesh in stead of the fruits of the spirit and iustly remaineth that curse in force against vs wretched men and vpon the earth for our sakes perseuering in our old accursed corruptions And therefore good and gracious Father lee the death and merits of that immaculate Lamb restore vs bâ— a liuelie faith vnto the priuiledge of our first sinceritie that wee being inwardly sanctified we may be made partakers of all thy corporall comforts according to thy promise made vnto all true beleeuers in him that they shall be blessed in the house and in the field in their corne and in their cattle and in all things touching this life and the life to come Be pleased therefore louing Father to blesse our labors in tilling the earth in our sowing setting planting and dressing of the same Let the earth bring foorth her plentifull increase thirtie sixty and an hundred fold according to thy good pleasure to our vse Let our flocks prosper and bring foorth thousands and tenne thousands in our streets let our oxen and cattâ—â— be strong to labour Send seasonable showers good Father vpon o 〈…〉 fields fatten the furrowes thereof and refresh the dry and thirstie land when it is weary Showre downâ— the former and latter raine vpon the earth let our corne grow 〈◊〉 and shake as the Cebars
in Lebanon let our pastures yeeld plentiful and wholesome food for our câ—â—tle let our seruants be vnto vâ—â—â—â—stie strong faithfull and diligent in their labours Teach vs rightly to manage the things we take in haÌ„d and blesse all our handy labors and indeuours Continue the strength and vse of our limbs and sencâ—â— that wee may bee able to vndergoe that burthen patiently and thankefully which thou laidst vpon all mankind in the beginning the tilling and manuring of the earth which without thy blessing we cannot but confesse can yeeld vs no increase to our comfort our rising earely our hardest labour and our late and little taking rest can profit vs little without thy blessing Blesse vs therefore Lord and our labours blesse all that and those that do belong vnto vs. And as thy blessings and plentie shall increase and abound vnto vs so let our continuall desires to do good increase and according to our meanes be helpefull to the poore and needie and charitably performe all the workes of true pietie If riches increase make vs the more humble if they diminish make vs patient let not Satan delude vs in either with pride or dispaire Let not our corporall enemies haue power to preuaile against vs to hurt vs in bodie goods or good name Let vs walke before thee in true sinceritie let vs liue in thee religiously and faithfully in thy feare and loue and die in thy fauour in Christ Jesus Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A prayer to be vsed in the time of and to preuent any of these three seuerall common calamities that may happen vpon a people namely of warre of faminâ— and of the pâ—stilencâ— THere are three capitall and chiefe scourges wherewith God vseth to correct a disobedient people warre famine the pestilence the least of them of force to confound kingdoms War is a grieuous affliction where it is acted especially ciuill and internall combustionâ— in a kingdome where the father shall be against the sonne the sonne against the father brother against brother and one neighbor to shead anothers blood Where one friend stands suspicious and fearefull of another where is no certaine freedome no assured safetie of any mans person or goods but infidelity trechery rebellions treasons murders thefts rapines rauishments and vniuersal confusion threatens all men in all places by â—ll impious and bloodie meanes How many Countries kingdomes nations and people haue tasted of this vnsauorie cup histories humane and diuine amply intimate Our own Chronicles record many ciuill miseries to haue infested this kingdome and parts of the same where insurrections haue begun especially in the time of the dissention betweene Henrie the third and his Barons the troubles of the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster and other like troubles of later memorie And what calamities haue accompanied this kind of punishment are likewise at large related in domesticall and forraine in prophane and diuine histories namely famine and pestilence Samaria being besieged such was the famine there as an Assâ—s head was worth fourescore peeces of siluer and the fourth part of a kab of Doues dung was sold for fiue peeces of siluer mothers did seeth and eate their owne children 2 King 6. 25 28. 29. The like at the siege of Ierusalem according to Iosephus And as Plinie reporteth wheÌ„ Hambal besieged Cassilinum a City in Italy a mouse was sold for â—00 peeces of mony he that sold it died of famine he that bought it saued his life In these extreme famines things most lothsome became daintie foodâ— horses dogs rats mice hides of beasts shooes boots and many other abhorred things As not onely diuers cities in France and other forraine parts but our owne natiue countrie can too well witnesse not vnfit to be remembred as a necessarie caueat Acts and Mâ—n In the time of Edw. 2. the Scoâ—s taking opportunitie by the quarrelâ— that rose betweene the King and his Nobles about Pierce Gauestone inuaded England in so furious and hostile manner as our Countrie men vnder the crueltie of the enemie were besides the generall slaughter driuen to that penurie and want of victuals that they were inforced to feed on the former most vnwholsome relicks The King himselfe could hardly get corne and victuall to sustaine him and his followers Some did steale other mens children and ate them many prisoners were in that height of hunger as they tooke and tore in peeces new-come prisoners and ate them raw and halfe dead And this extreme famine and warre with the pestilence that followed the warre and the famine consumed the greatest part of the people in the land for it is commonly found by experience that warres follow securitie famine war and the pestilence followes famine A statute was therupon made in respect of the scarcity of bread that no corne should be vsed in making of drinke a statute fitly to be in part put in execution at this day being so highly abused to drunkennes one of the most capitall sins that draw downe threats of these calamities to be renewed vpon vs. And how is it considered what preuention is there fought fulnes plentie breed securitie our securitie idlenes our idlenes Atheisme Idolatrie selfe-loue contempt of God and his word oppressions cruelties pride riotousnesse lasciuiousnes wantonnesse and consequently the neglect of prayer And these call for warres warres for famine famine for the pestilence and these come with armies of euils vpon a people forgetting God fearefull to be considered euen the least of these namely that which Dauid chose being inforced to vndergoe one of the three It is an affliction much against our natures to yeeld vnto yet more tolerable then terriblâ— warre or intolerable famine It threatens death yet with a milder countenance then sterne warre or meager and consuming famine But seeing sin is the impulsiue cause of all these miseries in the fierce wrath of God who againe is the efficient and working cause how forgetfull are we wretches that find in our selues this cause of the causes of our dangers and will rest carelesse how by whom or by what meanes to preuent the comming of them vpon vs knowing that they are sudden And if the wrath of God bee inkindled yea but a little how shall we bee able to stand in his presence how shall wee auoid the comming forth and the execution of his most fierce decree If one destroying Angell could in one day by one of these three dreadfull calamities send so many soules vnto their places as of the people of Dauid and hoste of Senacherib what may we thinke if he send his other most fearefull ministers together to visit our trespasses Let vs therfore seek atonement with God in Christ in time Let vs not play the secure seruants that perswade them selues their Master wil be long in comming if he come and find vs in our drunkennes and surfering and bribing and tyrannizing ouer our weake fellow members it will bee too late then to seeke