me downâ— and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord onely makest me dwellin safety Psal. 4. 8. Dauid by this declareth his ovvne bodily infirmity vvherunto all men are likevvise subiect namely to such debility as without rest and sleepe they cannot long continue yet this rest as he acknowledgeth may be a troublesome rest vnles God blesse it for as Dauid did so all men lye downe and take their rest but all not in peace for such as lye downe forgetting God God leaueth them to themselues and so their sleepe in stead of peace turneth into troublesome dreames idle sinfull imaginations horrible visions and fearefull fantasies whereby not onely the body is distempered but the soule also grieuously vexed And therefore though we couch vs on a bed of Downe with Curtaines of gold Couerings of silke these administer not the peace that Dauid speaketh of but God is he that giueth it onely It is not then the sweet sound of Musicke or the cradle of pleasures that can giue vs that peaceable sleepe and safe rest that Dauid speaketh of but Prayer vnto God in faith and true attonement with him in Christ thoughts free from sinne and the conscience cleered may safely assure a man that when he lyeth downe God is with him and when he riseth vp God wil not giue him ouer but be his God louing and mercifull for euer A Prayer for the Euening MY God and Father louing and al-sufficient I yéeld thée praise and thankes for thy mercies in that thou hast this day past strongly guarded mée with thy hand louingly refreshed mée with thy fauours and now safely brought mée to the end of this day night and darkenesse being at hand wherein all thy creatures draw to their rest And I wretched creature finding mine owne infirmity and imbecillity run now vnto thy heauenly fauour who hast made me of that brittle and grosse matter as cannot continue without rest after labour without sléepe after waking and without comfort after sorrow and griefe I doe therefore beséech thée as thou art the Fountaine of all rest and succour and health and helpe so thou wilâ— consider mée in my weakenesse and giue mée strength sée and behold my miseries and be mercifull vnto me And sith the time now is come wherein I couet rest and sléepe receiue me into thy protection and yéelde me thy helping hand that when this my corrupt lumpe of flesh shall through the heauinesse and dulnesse of sléepe be depriued of mouing and sense and ablenesse to helpe it selfe I may be kept safe and securely preserued by thée for it is thy selfe Lord onely that makest mée dwell and abide in safety Thou art my Watch-man when I slumber thou art my Defender when I am in danger thou art my Castle my Rocke my Sword my Buckler and my Refuge thou art to me and for me all in all without thée what am I but a beast that know nothing but a blocke that féele nothing but a wretch that can doe nothing rightly And therefore deare Father stretch out thy louing fauour ouer the house wherein I rest let thy Angels compasse the bed whereon I rest and thy holy Spirit kéepe my soule and spirit in peace when I rest that I may rest in peace that I may rise in peace and liue in peace that the troubles of the world dismay me not that the sleights of sinne deceiue mée not and that the deuices of the wicked ouertake me not but as I am weake of my selfe I may be made strong by thy strength as I am poore of my self I may be made able by thy riches and as I am ignorant of my selfe I may be made wise in thée so shall my lying downe be acceptable my sléepe comfortable and my rising vp profitable In hope of this thy free bountie louing fauour and high prouidence I will lay me downe and take my rest let it be in peace and Lord let it be vnto me and all thine when they rest swéet and comfortable in thée who makest all thine to rest and rise vp in safety Amen O Lord increase our Faith An Euening Prayer where the Family assembles O Most high mighty God Father and Protector of all things in heauen earth before whom all creatures feare and tremble were it not in that thou hast commanded vs neuer durst wée appeare before thée so corrupt is our nature and so many are our sinnes But good Father thou doest bid and therefore wée obey thou doest call and therefore we come giue vs spirits to pray aright Wee yéelde thée most humble and hearty thankes for all the mercies that euer thou hast bestowed vpon vs in body or minde in our selues or in ours priuate or common temporall or eternall Many and marueilous haue they béene and still are vpon vs yea eueu good Lord past finding out This day what thou hast done for vs which of vs knoweth or is able to expresse Father of heauen forgiue vs that wée cannot acknowledge them or praise thée for them as we ought and quicken vs in this duty more and more Pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer we haue offended thée withall this day or at any time either in thought word or déede euen our secret sinnes such as we haue committed and know not of remit them vnto vs for Christs sake change vs O Lord and we shall be changed create in vs cleane hearts and renue a right spirit within vs. Breake the strength of sin that would subdue vs more more And O mercifull Father so frame these hearts of ours within vs that we may more delight to liue according to thy will then to enioy all the world and all the pleasures therein Lay it often good Lord before our eyes by thy remembring Spirit that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into vs that we should liue as we list but that in holines and righteousnesse we should walke before thée all our daies Lay it before vs O Lord that the time will come when the Trumpet shall sound the dead shal rise and we euen we here met together at this time all and euery one of vs shal most assuredly stand before thy Judgement-seate with naked hearts with open and vnâ—olded consciences there to giue an account how and what we haue done Then shall all such as haue beléeued in Christ and truely serued thée in this life to their endlesse ioy heare that most comfortable voice of thine Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the Kingdome prepared for you But woe woe to all carelesse liuers in that day they shall drinke the wiue of the wrath of God be tormented in fire and briâ—stone before the holy Angels before the Lambe They shall haue no rest day nor night and the smoake of their torment shall ascend for euermore Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs knit these hearts of ours fast vnto thée and now while we haue time giue vs grace not onely rightly to thinke of these things but
discharge that duty whereunto wee are bound by our seuerall callings which in thy prouidence either are already or shal be allotted vnto vs. Hold vs we beséech thée by thy right hand that we fall not into any danger of body or minde Guide vs by thy holy Spirit in the paths of righteousnesse set continuall watch before our lips that wee offend not with our tongues Keepe our eyes from looking any more vpon and our hearts from seeking after or consenting vnto vanities shut vp our eares that they delight not in hearing the things offensiue to thy sacred Maiesty Rule gouerne our hearts that wée may be alwayes studious of good things and that wee may be alwayes truely inclined to deale faithfully with all men and inable vs to performe all duties required at our hand by them and keepe both our hands and feete that wee goe not about or take any thing in hand dishonourable to thee dangerous to our selues or hurtfull to any and that all that wée think speake or doe may be to the glory of thy name Let vs not spend the time O Lord of this our pilgrimage any more in wantonnesse idlenesse or vanity but in all godly vertuous exercises alwaies in simplicity and singlenesse of heart and in a good conscience as becommeth thy dearest Children Blesse we humbly beséech thée and prosper all the labors and works of our hands and blesse all the Creatures which thou hast appointed for our vse that wée may receiue comfort and reliefe in them and by them in due season by thy blessing and by the daily comfortable vse of them be the more moued and stirred vp to a thankfull acknowledging thy fatherly goodnesse in vouchsafing them vnto vs which without thy blessing would rather turne to our preiudice then profit rather to a curse vnto vs then to our true comfort therfore good Father blesse vs to a godly vsing of al thy good creatures and thy creatures to a comfortable vse for vs. And forasmuch good Father as our duty in this sacred exercise of prayer bindeth vs also to intreate thy Maiestie for all our Brethren and Sisters members of that body whereof thy Sonne Jesus Christ is the head frame in vs a true perfect and hearty zeale to pray and heare vs also for them beséeching thée to raise vp the Ministry of thy Gospell in all places of the earth that by the meanes thereof such as doe appertaine to thy Kingdome may be daily called home to thy fold and that the Kingdome of Satan Antichrist Sinne and darkenesse may be weakened and more and more beaten downe in all the world hold vp maintaine the scepter of thy word where thou hast already planted and aduanced the same increase all the meanes by which it may be increased and confirmed and weaken all the powers that resist or striue against it Blesse those O Lord that endeuor to promote and further it increase their zeale wisdome knowledge and power him especially good Father whom in great mercy towards vs thou hast made Soueraigne ouer vs Iames thy seruant our King and all his Royall Issue the Counsellors Magistrates Nobility and the Preachers of thy holy word all godly and Christian Families all true Professors of thy Gospell Beséeching thée to powre on euery of them in their seuerall Callings such graces benefits and blessings as are most méete for them wherby they may all shew themselues thy true and faithfull miuisters in furthering all sincerity in Religion and all purenesse and godlinesse of life not onely in themselues but in others so farre as appertaineth to their charge publike or priuate Beséeching thée also to be mindfull to comfort all our afflicted Brethren and Sisters howsoeuer or for whatsoeuer they suffer especially such as suffer for the testimony of a good conscience Comfort all them that are pressed downe with the burthen of their sinnes helpe relieue succour and assist all that be in want in misery and affiction that flie vnto thée for succour And as good Father we doe thus boldly begge at thy hands these many and seuerall fauours for our selues and others so Lord accept at our hands our humble thankfulnes which we here yéeld vnto thée for thy manifold blessings and benefits daily so louingly and fréely bestowed vpon vs both inward and outward spirituall and corporall in number infinite for greatnesse vnspeakeable and for goodnesse farre better then wée could either aske or thinke beséeching thée to continue thy gracious fauour towards vs alwayes and in all things that we may still giue thée the glory for our continuall safety and reliefe In the Morning Adde this ANd finally we thanke thée good Father that thou hast so graciously kept and preserued vs this night past and hast giuen vnto our bodies rest and hast brought vs to the beginning of this day in peace good Father pardon whatsoeuer corruption hath taken hold of vs this night pardon our present dulnesse of Spirit coldnesse of Zeale weaknesse of Faith and all whatsoeuer offendeth thée in vs blesse the labours of our hands and our godly endeuours this day and make vs rather able to be helpfull to others that néede then to be forced to aske or to be chargeable to any by reason of our corporall wants Grant these things good Father and al other graces necessary for vs and for euery member of thy Church for Jesus Christ thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee further pray Our Father which art c. In the Euening Adde this WE thanke thée also most gracious Father for that thou hast so mercifully kept and relieued vs this day past beséeching thée to receiue vs also this night into thy Fatherly protection and kéep our soules bodies and goods frée from dangers let thine Angels encampe about vs guard vs and defend vs giue vnto our bodies that competent rest and sléepe that may be onely sufficient and let our thoughts be euer on thée in loue feare and due obedience and reuerence that wée may be fearefull to commit the least euill yea in the darke which with thée is as the noone day Watch ouer vs good Father that Satan preuaile not against vs and giue vs grace to be alwayes watchfull for the time when our Lord and Sauiour Jesus Christ shal make his glorious appearance in the clouds to finish these dayes of sinne And at this time pardon O Lord our weakenes in prayer our coldnes in zeale and whatsoeuer doth hinder vs from the true publishing of our own wants and imperfections at full thy praise and glory as thou deseruest increase our Faith and grant vs and all thy Children all other graces necessary for soules and bodies for Jesus Christs sake in whose name we further pray Our Father c. A Prayer for the King It is God that giueth deliuerance vnto Kings it is he that rescued Dauid his seruant from the hurtfull sword Psal. 144. 10. Take away the wicked from the King and his throne shall be established
cast-awaies but in our owne consciences the childrē of God through Christ and they in their own conceits blessed in their wealth wanton and delicate and loose liues but by the Word of God without repentāce Reprobates And therefore faith Christ vnto them Woe be vnto you that are rich for you receiue your consolation in this life And againe Weepe and howle yee wealthy and worldly men for the miseries that shall come vpon you But vnto his little ones such as are least estéemed in the World he saith Feare not my little Children I haue prepared for you a City And againe I will neither faile you nor forsake you What shall wée then say The Lord is our portion and our sure defence why then should wée feare what man can doe vnto vs Esay 9. 7. The zeale of the Lord of Hoasts will performe this Let vs therefore rouze vp our soules that are dulled with our miseries and let vs rest vpon him that is the God of mercies Let vs be faithfull patient and humble let vs only grieue that we haue sinned and be fearefull to offend againe Let vs fall downe before his foot-stoole for he is holy let vs cry to him for hee is pittifull let vs aske of him for he is liberall let vs referre vs to his will for he is louing O Lord increase our Faith Here follow sundry most effectuall Prayers for distressed men howsoeuer their trials continue or increase When thou saydest Seeke my face my heart answered Thy face O Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. IT appeareth by this resolution of godly Dauid that hée was moued by the Spirit of God in his troubles to séeke aide from aboue and not in the Earth of God and not of Man And to the end that Dauids true affection which he bare towards the good of all Posterities and especially the loue of God towards his Children might be recorded to their perpetuall encouragement it is continued euen vnto vs that wée that are euen now afflicted should sée and as in a glasse behold the good will of God wherein hée willeth vs to séeke his face which importeth a most swéet encouragement that all men troubled should séeke aide at God who to the end that this World and the comforts thereof should not allure his Children lest they should be also miscarried thereby and so be condemned with the World hée setteth a veile as it were before their eyes namely pouerty ignominy crosses miseries and sundry calamities that they delight not in the face and shape of this World but that rather it appearing vgly and nothing pleasant vnto them they might séeke another way to comfort themselues namely the most amiable face of heauenly Iehouah who willeth vs as hée did will Dauid to séeke him onely in our distresse that is to call on him faithfully to craue his fauour instantly and to leade our liues vprightly So shall his most louing countenance shine vpon vs his hand be extended towards vs and his power and might be with vs. And therefore as hée saith fréely Séeke ye 〈◊〉 let vs instantly and faithfully séeke him with our whole hearts so shall wée be sure to sée his saluation after wée haue patiently vndergone the swéete burden of the yoke of his fatherly chastisements A Motiue to the Prayer following for Patience in Affliction PErforce maketh a man patient against his will but that cannot be called Patience but a discontentment But thatis Patience when a man beareth all iniuries wrongs crosses afflictions and miseries with a willing minde without grudging or murmuring without seeking or vsing any euill or sinister practice or attempt to ease himselfe of that which God layeth vpon him wherein he would seeme to be wiser then God who knoweth better then the wisest man what is best for him And therefore Dauid giueth counsell To wait patiently vpon the Lord and to hope in him in what estate soeuer we be although we be poore and see others rich and prosper Fret not thyselfe for him which prospereth in his wayes Psal. 37. 7. Naturall reason is deceiued when it conceiueth men happiest that prosper most in the world for then were the Word of God not true which saith Many are the troubles of the righteous◠and then were the wicked in better case then the godly for they prosper best in the world But reade the 37. Psalme their estate is there described their end presaged and the godly comforted and confirmed in patience A Prayer for patience in affliction very comfortable HEauenly Father mercifull and louing full of power absolute in wisedome vnsearchable in thy prouidence and giuer of all diuine and spirituall graces whereby thy children are guided in the way of Obedience supported in their dangers and relieued in their wants whereby they learne to loue thée for thy mercies to reuerence thée for thy greatnesse and to obey thée for thy goodnesse and in all the changes and alterations of their estates to imbrace Patience whereby such as thou blessest become thankefull such as thou afflictest become méekely contented and beare the burden of their crosses without any outward shew of discontentment or inward grudging or murmuring at thy corrections but depending vpon thy fatherly prouidence they are either timely deliuered or inwardly comforted their hearts eased and their consciences quieted neuer presuming to limit the time when or the manner or meanes how thou shouldest ease or reléeue them but rest assured by thy Spirit working in their hearts that they are thine and therefore all things are promised by thée in thy Word to work together for their good sicknesse of the body griefe of the minde want of necessaries enemies and all crosses all conioyne to worke good vnto those that are thine and being hereof assured they rest themselues in patience and wait thy timely release for their miseries in hearty obedience to thy will And for that most gracious Father it is not the nature nor in the power of man to accomplish these heauenly duties no not in thine owne Elect giue mée this heauenly vertue Patience to vnder-goe whatsoeuer thou shalt lay vpon mée with a willing and contented minde acknowledging that I know nothing lesse then thy secret purpose in working with man in this life why thou aduancest one and pullest downe another Why one prospereth and another is miserable knowing yet by thine own Word and Promise that to such as are thine all things turne to their good And therefore I come vnto thée who hast willed mée to come I begge of thée who hast willed mée to aske and I knocke at thée who hast willed mée to enter into thy presence and all for Patience Good Father giue patience vnto my perplexed Soule that howsoeuer I féele either inward griefe or outward troubles I may rest me onely in thée and by thée in peace within howsoeuer the outward man séeme to perish And let neither my fainting heart be cast downe nor my spirit disquieted within mée nor my conscience
of thée to call mee from mine errours of the truth from sinne to saluation and from death to eternall life I must confesse against my selfe that I haue deserued the darts of eternall death and to be shut out of the land of the liuing but mitigate thine anger and turne thy heauy displeasure into loue and liuely reliefe and let me once taste and be refreshed with that comforting riuer that maketh glad thy distressed Children O God of hoasts come and behold my desolation and cause those thy deadly darts which so fast stick on me by little and little to fal away and cure the wounds which thou hast made Binde vp the sores of my sorrowfull soule clense the corrupted affections of my defiled heart lighten the dim eyes of my darke vnderstanding wash me throughly from mine iniquities and purifie me from sinne Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse againe after my long mourning giue me reliefe againe after my long want set me vpon a sure rocke and plant me on a fruitfull ground among the flourishing trées that prosper by the swéet waters of thy liuely fauour Oh cast me not away deare Father cast me not away from thy presence restore me rather to the glory of thy saluation and establish me with thy frée Spirit Lord open my mouth that my tongue may be an instrument to praise thée for thy liberall reliefe and ready helpe in my néede and necessity So when thou shalt renue my decaied store and replenish my empty basket when thou shalt yéelde comfort to my sad soule and refresh my sorrowfull heart I will surely vtter foorth thy praise with vnfained lips I will giue glory vnto thy name and publish thy mercy to all the world Oh â—e therefore vnto me a spéedy helper delay not too long to come my saluation for behold I am in a miserable case as thou well knowest poore as thou séest Reiect not yet my petition who cry instantly to thée for helpe O helpe before I perish vtterly hold mée fast by thy hand and lift me vp againe before I fall altogether Thou hast not promised I know that which thou wilt not performe and therefore I will waite faithfully for the time is at hand that thou hast ordained for my deliuery And therefore by the priuiledge of a liuely hope which will neuer make them ashamed that fixe it on thée I will perseuere confirme my hope and make it perfect vntill I may inioy the liuely fruits of thine assured saluation O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the eight Prayer In which the poore distressed man craueth pardon for his sinnes the cause of his miseries THe poore man as it were ouer-charged with the burthen of his miseries wisheth himselfe wings to flie away from all occasions of calamities but forthwith checketh his rashnesse folly in seeming desirous to hide him from God that is euery where and can euery where punish the transgressours of his will And therefore prayeth that God will bridle his affections and giue him patience appealing vnto the Almighty who knoweth his desires to doe well though the peruersenesse of his nature doe draw him into things offensiue and therefore disclaiming his owne worthinesse craueth pardon and mercy acknowledging the generall weaknesse of all mankinde and his owne to be the greatest of all and therefore prayeth for strength for wisdome and instruction affirming him to be most happy indeede whom he fauoureth by reason of the infinite blessings that he euen here enioyeth in this mortall life although hee withall cryeth out against the miseries that doe still oppresse him keeping fast hold through hope that yet God will not suffer him to perish nor fall vtterly because he is a rock whereon the righteous such as doe take hold of the death and passion of Christ doe rest most safe from al dangers and therefore concludeth his Prayer with an instant Petition that God wil giue him a blessed end of his hope that he may talke of his glory and sing of his praise that all men may see by his example that God respecteth the cause of the needy The eight Prayer in distresse OH that I had winge like a Doue then would I flye away from these troubles and make mine abode in the wildernes among the thick bushes and branches of the Cedars rather then to endure these intollerable miseries among the sonnes of men But alas Lord what doe I consult thus with the vaine wisedome of flesh and bloud thou art God and were I in the Wildernesse thou art there were I in the vttermost parts of the earth thou art there were I on the highest mountaines or in the bowels of the Earth or in the Sea or in the clouds thou art there and canst there also finde me out and there visite mine iniquities with stripes and my sinnes with scourges It booteth mée not to couet to hide me from thée better is it for mee to subiect mée vnto thy will And therefore bridle mine affections tame the vnrulinesse and fiercenesse of my heart reforme the words of my mouth teach me right wisedome and learne me true vnderstanding vouchsafe me perfect patience and then shall I be néerest vnto that liberty which I long for and best fréed from the dangers which I feare and soonest enioy the comforts that I desire O make no long tarrying O Lord but hasten my deliuerance preserue me from the furious stormes raging tempests that are yet ready to giue my wearied Soule a new encounter Wherefore hast thou left vnto vs by thy Word a commandement to cast our cares vpon thée and tolay our burdens vpon thée promising to comfort vs and to ease vs It is not to deceiue but to deliuer vs. Thou séest my desires and knowest the secrets of my heart and all 〈◊〉 wayes are manifest before thée If therefore I should iustifie my selfe thou wilt condemne mee if I hide my sinnes thou findest out my corruptions and that all my righteousnesse is worse then vanity it selfe And therefore disclayming mine integrity I craue pardon and aske mercy wherein thou art rich and whereof thou art most bountifull euen to such as acknowledge their owne weakenesse wants and wickednesse To thy mercy I appeale I flie vnto thée I depend on thée I lay my burden vpon thée fearing thée and reuerencing thée louing thée and trusting in thée What imperfections O Lord séest thou in mée for which thou shouldest thus afflict me O wretch that I am amost wicked one a corrupted one defiled within and without how can I plead any good duties done vnto thée But good Father thou art not ignorant of the generall vanity of man who is euill in his best wayes and the most pure of vs is imperfect Pardon then my weakenesse and giue mée that strength and that zeale and that obedience and that perfect loue that thou requirest Be vnto me a Father to instruct me in true wisedome be vnto me a guide to leade mée in that way that leadeth vnto
request if it be according to his will reuealed in his word and for all that he giueth requireth onely true thankfulnesse for requitall not that thankfulnesse which some carnally minded rich men would séeme to afford him a cap vailed with both the hands with words onely I thanke God This may be counterfeit and lip-thankefulnesse which God respecteth as the offring of hypocrites The organs of the tongue lips are necessary instruments to declare the meaning of the heart if they moue by the power of a féeling spirit but if the mouth speake in these diuine offices what the heart inforceth not it shall not onely not profit but witnes against the heart conscience that déepe dissimulation before men hypocrisie before God that shall worke their own iust condemnation But wée must fall downe vpon the knées not onely of the outward body but of a liuely féeling heart acknowledge that all we haue receiued to be his blessing and especial gift which if we can rightly performe it will follow that of the same faith wil procéede with words of thankfulnesse workes of obedience which God accepteth aboue all sacrifices whatsoeuer But who so still asketh and receiueth blessings and onely saith They are the gifts of God and disposeth of them contrary to the rule which God hath prescribed in his Word that thankfulnes will returne into his bosome as sin and he be imputed a plaine vsurper of his blessings For as when a man by faire and flattering meanes obtaineth any thing of his friends and hauing obtained it reiecteth the kindnesse of the giuer and becommeth ingratefull and vnkinde what is it but méere extorting of the thing obtained Although the all-séeing eye of God fore-séeth the heart and knoweth how and to what end wée aske whether for our owne gaine or his glory and hée often bestoweth great benefits vpon men neuer desiring them in open spéech The very groanes of the heart ascend vnto God and God is moued euen with the méere desires and that oftentimes when they procéede not of faith yea hée granteth the very things that the wicked long for but not for their comfort onely to fulfill their carnall appetites to make them so much the more beholden to him for their worldly and corporall prosperity and makes their condemnation so much the more iust by how much they are inexcusable for not seruing God in true obedience which is the summe of most acceptable thankefulnesse for all blessings It is the nature of al men to couet earthly things which wée sée God giueth to the euill as well and in greater measure then to the godly yet are the godly farre more thankfull for their smallest then the wicked for their greatest portions which last doe hunger and thirst continually to adde more and more corporall meanes vnto what they haue and no abundance can make a stay to their coueting neither can there be satisfaction to the couetous And howsoeuer it increase all their thankfulnesse is swallowed vp in their Chests or cast vpon their fields giuen to their wits to their Art or drowned in their vanities the backe and belly haue their condigne gratifications of the most and they are most beholding to some who rest as much indebted vnto these two in answering their necessities as vnto God in a sort to whom they owe many and will neuer pay any thankes And yet the prophanest of these will say that all the things they inioy are the gifts of God But as for the cordiall and true thankefulnesse it is a language vnknowne vnto them The blessings of God to many may be compared to swéet showres and our hearts to dry ground receiuing them to refresh it when it is weary but returning no drops backe againe no more doe vnthankefull men returne condigne thankes for Gods greatest benefits but as the Sun by his force and exhalations draweth vp the moistures of the ingratefull earth by force so when men can kéepe their vsurped and extorted earthly blessings no longer then they bestow them and yet oftentimes not at all consulting with the true owner God the lender but bestow them to some such ends as are displeasing vnto him as was their former abusing them They dispose of them by their wils as it were against their wils their Testaments are as testimonies of their vnwillingnesse to leaue what they so dearely loued which proueth their grosse ingratitude euen in their last conflict with death who commonly is not so cruell an Enemy but he telleth a man by one token or another that he must prepare himselfe to endure his encounter sometimes many dayes many moneths and often many yéeres before hee shew his vttermost force in all which time the most forgetfull and most vnthankefull man might call himselfe to minde and consult and consider wherefore and by whom the things he enioyeth were bestowed vpon him if by his owne deserts or by his owne méere industry let him then kisse his owne hand as the author of his happinesse but if it came of the frée gift and méere beneuolence of God let him rather cut off his hands then rest vnthankefull to God who can turne as we sée wealth into wretchednesse mirth into mourning health into sicknesse strength into weakenesse and all whatsoeuer a man in this world delighteth in into bitternesse and wormwood all which may be assured to turne to their good whosoeuer rest patient and thankfull Who then will not affoord so small a recompence for so great blessings And all thankefulnesse is comprehended vnder this one word Obedience Sacrifices were acceptable duties done in their time vnto God but obedience is more acceptable then all other kindes of sacrifices This obedience consisieth not in the outward ceremonies of performing onely the outward duties required at our hands as to liue in this World without doing hurt to others in paying that wée owe in doing good to such as doe vs seruice and to loue them that loue vs but in doing good to them that doe vs hurt in giuing them that take from vs in forgiuing them that offend vs in louing them that hate vs in feeding them that wee sée hunger-starued in cloathing them that we see want their corporall couering in comforting the sad and â—rowfull in visiting such both with counsell and aide that haue not their wished liberty of Body or Minde and in performing such other offices of Christian commiseration and piety as are commanded vs in the Word of God to be done towards our Brethren and Neighbours These are outward workes which being performed by a féeling heart touched with the Spirit of God are swéet sacrifices to God and are accepted of God as that true thankfulnesse which God requireth in recompence of our abundance which God so fréely and louingly bestoweth vpon vs aboue others in this life and for his spirituall gifts and blessings as the blessing of the inward peace of conscience the blessing of the knowledgâ— of his Word and Testimonies the benefit of
Faith of Repentance of other diuine graces hée onely requireth the true vse of them as to loue him aboue all things to liue in sobriety temperance in his feare in the exercise of true religion in prayer in hearing his Word preached in reading the same with reuerence in continuall going forward from faith to faith from one heauenly vertue to another and in behauing our hearts inwardly in such a liuely and willing remembrance and execution of his diuine Will as nothing may miscarry vs from what hée hath commanded or draw vs into what hée hath forbidden Thus if hée finde vs prepared hée will then as hee hath promised blesse vs more and more and giue and bestow vpon vs more and more of his spirituall benefits and adde vnto our stocke and store such abundance of all necessary outward things of this life as wée shall not onely be able to féede cloathe maintaine and relieue our selues with wished contentment but will giue such continuall increase as we shall be able to performe these former duties to his néedy members and there by not onely testifie to the World our Faith by our workes who will glorifie God for vs but God shall sée our faith in him and approue our outward workes amongst men to be good by our faith These being the fruits of true obedience and obedience the most acceptable sacrifice of thankfulnesse a worke not onely not painefull or tedious but most swéet vnto the soule let vs unbrace it as the true wisedome which for the swéetenesse passeth the hony and the hony-combe and for preciousnesse and worth of more value then the finest gold or dearest earthly Jewels Who will not then apply his heart vnto this most acceptable thankefulnesse to which is promised a new and daily renuing of blessings one blessing shall follow another as the swéet drops of the morning dew happy is the man that is in such a case But most vnhappy the man forgetting God and Gods benefits nay who offereth the sacrifice of praise in a false or a cold or counterfait manner as Cain did who would be séene to giue vnto God part of his earthly abundance but because it was done with no true affection it was not accepted no more are these vnworthy praises which many worldlings séeme to flatter God withall offering the Sacrifices not of idle but of hatefull fooles though in common spéech they can make semblance of great piety As when they speake of Gods blessings the increase of their Corne Oile and Wine the prosperity of their Cattle the long continuance of the health of their bodies good successe in their affaires they can vse an outward kinde of humiliation bowing their counterfait knée and â—ailing their dissembling â—onnet as if the true praise of God consisted in these ceremonies when indéede their hearts are full of â—â—arice their hands of Bribes and their lips of dissimulation Hath God respect to these kinds of offerings No he accepteth the obedience to his will and his will is that thankfulnesse to him being in heauen not séene should begin in earth in doing good to our brethren whom we daily see else though God vouchsafe to seâ— as hée did vpon Cain a marke vpon such vngratefull dissemblers that they come not into misfortune in this life like other men yet it shall be a marke of their reprobation which they shall cary with them to their eternal graues Had not the men of the old world great blessings at the hands of God But where was their thankefulnesse The earth was full of cruelty a base recompence for so many blessings yet did thinke themselues very secure yea when God in his secret Justice prepared their general confusion Was God so strict in obseruing so seuere in punishing the whole world for vnthankefulnes hauing but the Law of nature their guide and will hée be lesse to a stiffe-necked people or to one disobedient person hauing the vse of his word Is not mans vnthankfulnes towards man censured in most euill part by man how much more mans vnthankfulnesse to God Laban found great benefit and many blessings to grow vnto him in his earthly estate by Iacobs faithfull and true seruice yet how vnkindly did he reward him Gen. 31. 2. Yet sée the mercies of the Lord who séeing thankfull Iacobs afflicted heart vnder his vngratefull and seuere Master wrought his deliuery and sent him from cruell Laban rich But did Iacob attribute his successe and increase of his wealth to procéede from his care and industry or did he attribute it to his â—rt of speckled Rods No hée confessed by whose meanes he was so blessed namely by God to whom as to the Author of all the good that befell him he gaue the glory saying at his returne Ouer this Brooke I came with my staffe and scrippe onely but loâ— Lord I now returne with mighty Droues Here was the true and liuely image of the Sacrifice of praise in godly iacob and the very picture of ingratitude in vnthankefull Laban giuing thankes neither to God nor Men for his prosperity Many Labans now liue that receiue the benefits of poore mens trauels and endeauours and at the hand of God rich blessings and yet they will not admit either the helpe of man nor the prouidence of God to be the meanes of their aduancement but their owne wit policie desert or humane friendship and to defend their grosse and 〈◊〉 ingratitude â—â—icke not to aâ—firme that the Seruant that laboureth is worthy of his hire I am saith this caruall Logician the Seruant of God and therefore worthy of the gifts I receiue from him Such hellish Syllogisms worldly men the Schollers of perdition can frame against themselues not finding the subtilty of the Diuell in these Arguments who striueth to colour by his Sophistry this erronious conceit of theirs in assuming desert to receiue good where they deserue to receiue euill euermore The Seruant of an earthly Master may performe in some measure his Masters worke and may thereby deserue his promised hyre but who so thus pretendeth himselfe to be or is indéede the seruant of God by whom a lawfull calling may be assigned him howsoeuer he wade in the execution of his externall vocation yet hée commeth to farre short of his true duety commanded as he not onely meriteth no earthly or temporall benefits but to be corrected with many stripes As who so looketh into or compareth his owne performance with the Commandements of God shall finde himselfe so farre behinde with God in thankefulnesse for his least benefits as hée shall be driuen to confesse he is vnworthy of the Bread and Rayment be it neuer so meane that hée inioyeth which also how meane soeuer it be it is the gift of God and in no other nor by any other meanes made ours but in Christ alone without whom the greatest Riches the most glorious Estate and most wished earthly prosperity becommeth a curse vnto them that make them not theirs by him that
worlds for that thou createdst mee being nothing and being borne a sinfull reprobate by nature diddest redeeme mée from Satan and hell and adoptedst mée one of thine owne children by thine owne Sonnes bloud in whom and for whose sake thou acceptest me an heyre with thy Saints of the glory of Heauen And for â—ine assurance here in this life hast giuen mée not onely thy promise in thy Word but hast sanctified mée with thy holy Spirit whereby I beléeue and can in some measure resist the motions which arise in mee by meanes of that originall corruption which I brought into the world and beare about mée which could not but condemne mée were it not that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the righteous did iustifie me by a liuely apprehension and a faithfull féeling of his most frée merits working for me and in my behalfe These most swéete spirituall fauors so farre surmount the apprehension of the most wise in the world and any féeling to the comfort of carnall men that they cannot assure themselues of their owne saluation a more miserable estate then which cannot light vpon man How much then Lord am I wretched creature bound vnto thy frée mercy in choosing mee to be one of thine owne by Adoption and to giue mée the earnest-penny of thy Spirit to assure mee thereof and that so farre from presuming vpon any desert of mine owne as I wholly condemne my selfe and acknowledge all my hope and assurance to be wrought in me by thine owne frée loue I vnworthy deseruing nothing lesse deseruing rather thine heauy and high indignation and consequently thy iust Judgements whereby in stead of my frée election I should be reiected in stead of my redemption I should be condemned and to be retained in the fearfull power and bondage of Satan and hell in stead of my sanctification and iustification I haue merited reprobation and yet deare Father in the abundance of thy fauors I haue and doe inioy the blessings of all spirituall comfort and contentment and withall haue inioyed so many corporall comforts and earthly graces at thy hands as are more in number then my sinnes which are more then the dust of the earth my life I had of thée the continuance thereof of thée the health of my body thou preseruest and when I haue beene sicke thou hast healed me In my hunger thou féedest mée and refreshest me when I am thirsty thou cloathest me and which is more thou bearest me as the Eagle doth her young euen vpon the wings of thy prouidence so that I haue bin defended from infinite imminent dangers both from the perill of the sword and the plague and from the violence of many misfortunes which might haue befallen me whereby had I not béene protected by thée I had perished long agoe and many times being poore thou hast relieued mée being eâ—uied thou hast kept mee from the power and open force and secret deuices of my many enemies And moreouer which is not the least Lord thou hast not onely giuen mée the vse of my limbes and seruice of my senses but hast taught my heart to conceiue and my hands to performe that by which in thy prouidence I profit in my calling and liue How then most gracious and louing Father am I bound vnto thy diuine Maiesty for such and so many heauenly and spirituall blessings and corporall and â—arthly benefits the least of which as I haue not deserued so can I not make recompence vnto thée for the least But as thou hast fréely bestowed them all vpon me in Christ so in Christ I returne to thée the glory in whom thou art well pleased and in him reconciled vnto mée or else would the benefits which I receiue become rather a curse then a blessing vnto me Oh that I were therefore of wisedome sufficient of power able in disposition willing and in zeale so seruent as I might powre forth thy deserued praises with a ioyfull heart But good Father accept the sacrifice of my wiâ—ling minde and impute not vnto me either weakenesse or vnwillingnes vnthankfulnesse or forgetfulnesse of this high duty forasmuch as that all-sufficient Lambe sacrificed for mée mediateth as well for me and in my behalfe my inward thanksgiuing presenteth them vpon thine altar of mercy as he euer presenteth vnto thée my prayers for pardon of my sins Of my selfe Lord I cannot bring thée Abel or Elias sacrifice but an heart of true thanksgiuing which it may please thée to accept as thou didst the sacrifice of Bullockes and Goates â—nd let mée Lord be truely able to offer vnto thée Dauids morning and euening sacrifice of praise especially that most swéete and preuailing sacrifice of â—iliall obedience which thou so much acceptest and although it can merit no fauour at thy hands as it is my worke it being sanctified in Christ it is the speciall meane not onely to discharge my duety in part but to obtaine new and continuing blessings and benefits at thy hands in Christ to whom with thée and the holy Ghost be all honour power praise and thanksgiuing for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith and make me euermore thankfull Another thankesgiuing in and for Gods gentle corrections O Eternall God powerfull and true which bringest downe to nought again aduancest thou in mercy often correctest thy dearest children and holdest them in by afflictions lest their ouer-much liberty should giue them ouer-much scope to run astray and consequently to sinne and dishonour thy name to their owne destruction Therefore O louing and most mercifull and deare Father I doe yéelde thée thankes that thou hast visited me with crosses and beaten me with gentle afflictions and corrected mée with fatherly chastisements for they are thy louing imbracements welcome to the spiritually minded â—â—kesome yet to flesh and bloud that fauour not of any thing contentedly but of sinne delight and vanity baites and snares of death Good therefore is it for mée deare Father that thou hast humbled me with thy louing corrections and great is thy fauour yeâ— and thy prouidence and power past all the capacity of the wisest for 〈◊〉 Lord I haue found fauour in thy sight I haue receiued comfort at thy hands euen in the time of my déepest afflictions yea when I was cast downe and in the conceit of mortall men confounded altogether thou yet didst take me vp and didst not suffer mée to perish vtterly for when mine enemies laid waite for mée and snares to take mée and intended my destruction they were by thée preuenced of their purpose and when they hasted to take me they stumbled and fell and I escaped from them as a bird from the snare of a Fowler therefore doe I giue thée the glory I praise thy name and I will magnifie thy goodnesse for euer O Father who hath looked vpon me in my troubles but thou who hath sustayned me but thou who hath fed me but thou who hath preserued me but thou who tooke me out of the Lyons