1. Sam. 1.8 mine Elkanah is better vnto me then many sonnes Farewel affected knowledge and learnings lore 1. Cor. 2.2 for I esteeme not to know any thing saue Iesus Christ and him crucified Farewell humanists and artists studies my studie shall be in the Librarie of the holie Ghost Psal 1.1 and therein will I meditate day and night Fare well Philosophie and diuing into Naturall causes I will erect my thoughts vnto him that is the primum mobile Gen. 1.1 the cause of causes Farewell the knowledge of the Law and quirkes of earthly statutes the gleaning of Theologie is better then the whole vintage of Iustinians facultie Farewell Physicke the lengthner of mens liues Luke 5.31 Iohn 15.5 my Physitian is the same that is my life Farewell Geometrie and measuring of the earth Philip. 3.20 I will now measure the celestiall Globe of heauen in my thoughts Farewell Astronomie acquaintance with the Starres soare vp I will aboue the starrie skie Reuel 1.16 to know him that in his right hand holdeth the seuen starres Farewell Arithmetique the Art of Numbring Lord teach me to number my daies Psal 90.12 that I may applie mine heart to wisedome Musicke farewell my musicke shall be hencefoorth Halleluiahs to the King of Heauen Reuel 19.4 Farewell this world for a moment and welcome Christ Iesus for euer THE WORLDS Wonder TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND Worshipfull Ladie the Ladie Mary Ley. MAdame Master Richard Greenham Master Ioseph Hall they which haue proceeded Graduats in the Art of Meditation doe commend the infinite obiects in the Theater of the world as the most fit subiect of Meditation Reason sheweth this their position to be most true for where may wee haue either more varietie of matter for our minds to worke vpon or more readie meanes to set the same on worke then in the great varietie of the worlds wonders which are continually obuious to our eyes The whole world is a table wherein is portraited foorth vnto vs infinit wonders in the seuerall natures of all the creatures not for vs to view alone but with a fruitfull vse to meditate vpon All the creatures are made for Man and shall not we be led by the prospect of them to wonder at the mercifull respect God hath to so poore a creature as Man There is none of all the creatures but readeth vs a lecture in this common schoole and shall we be such idle truants as to learne nothing of so many masters The workes of the Lord are great Psal 111.2 and ought to bee sought out of them that loue him Vers 4. He hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance O that wee vsing the creatures so continually as we do would make better vse of them then vsuallie we doe I haue here set downe a little paterne of meditation in this kinde had some skilfull Apelles hand been in it to draw and polish the lines of it it might peraduenture bin worth the perasall Now in this colour as it is though I my selfe be silent in crauing pardon for it or excusing it yet you might iustly say vnto me as Apelles said to an vnskilfull Painter Though thou hadst said nothing yet may I easily gesse by the workmanshippe that it was done in haste As it is Madam I make bold to consecrate this little Treatise to your name the rather for that besides all other respects of duty which doe oblige me vnto your Ladiship you vouchsafed such kinde acceptance vnto the first fruits of my labors in this kinde which vnder your name was sent to see the world In hope of the like acceptation of these my poore endeuours and fauourable pardon of my boldnesse I commend this meditation following to your better meditations and your selfe with all your holy meditations to the Almighties good blessing Your Ladiships in all Christian duties G. W. THE WORLDS Wonders PSAL. 8.9 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world PAul the Apostle of the Gentiles disputing with the Athenians the most wise learned amongst the Gentiles Act 17.22.23.24.27 when hee saw their blind deuotions in ignorantly giuing worship vnto God vnknowne as by the inscriptiō on one of their Altars he did perceiue wondred much at this their ignorance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that this great God should be to thē vnknowne seeing that by groping after him they could not chuse but finde him in the very workes of wonder which hee had done For albeit the heauen is his throne Isai 66.1 1. King 6.1 and the earth his footstoole neither dwelleth hee in Temples made with hands Act. 7.48 Deut. 4.15 16. and no man hath seene any similitude or likenes of him at any time Act. 14.17 yet hath hee not left himselfe without sufficient witnes not onely in his word but also in his works yea The inuisible things of him that is Rom. 1.20 his eternall power and Godhead are seene by the creation of the world being cōsidered in his works that men might be without excuse Which when I think vpon I cannot chuse but wonder at the Buzzardlike Atheists soule-blinded monsters of our age Against Atheists who in their hearts do say Psal 14.1 There is no God and whose vnderstanding is so darke and dimme that they cannot discerne themselues nor see a God that is the fountaine of all Natures in so cleere a glasse as the mirrour of his creatures They see an Heauen abundant in varietie of influences ouer them an Earth so plentifull in al sorts of commodities vnder them a Sea so full of wonders by thē they see a world which is a building infinitly admirable for the firmenes capacitie vse order and motion of it and in themselues may see themselues a little world or abridgement of the greater world and yet cannot surmise a God that was the compactor of this Heauen and the endower of this Earth and the controller of the Sea the worlds both the greater and the lessers Creator Isay 1.2 O ye heauens be astonied at this you bruit and senselesse creatures conuince these reasonable creatures vnreasonable and void of sense Isay 6.9 Rom. 11.8 They are possessed with the spirit of slumber and wilfully they winke with their eyes like the Idols of the Heathen Psal 133.15.16.17 Eyes haue they but see not eares but heare not hearts but cannot vnderstand As for my part I can no where fixe mine eyes but that I doe behold a liuely Idoea of the incomprehensible Deitie the whole world being a booke or large volume Du Bartus in oper sex dierum and euery kinde of the so many kinds of creatures being a leafe or page wherein in grand characters and great capitall letters are engrauen the wonders of our God most wonderful so that he which runneth by cannot chuse but reade it For first The Heauens wonders when I look vp to the heauens
or with Heraclitus I should rather weepe One maketh his heauen of the drosse and rubbish of the earth The diuers vaine delights of the most part his muckie wealth and so becommeth a slaue vnto his slaue Another maketh his bellie his god Philip. 3.19 reposing his chiefest felicitie in pampering of his guts An other toadlike swelleth with ambition seeking after vainglorious honour as children after feathers flying in the aire tossed about hither and thither with the blast of manie mouthes Another like Narcissus becomes inamoured on Natures dowrie his beautie Ouid Metam or Natures shame his cloathes An other seateth his chiefest pleasure in a Dog another in a Kite another in a Horse another in a smoake euaporating weede The better sort at least wise to mans eyes the more ingenious either like Pharao glorie in their wit Exod. 1.10 2. Sam. 16.23 Act. 24.1.2.3 or like Achitophel in their policie or like Tertullus in their eloquence or like Babels Monarch Dan. 4.27 proud Nebuchadnezzar in their building or like Zenacherib in their greatnes 1. King 18. 1. Sam. 17.5 1. King 12.8 or like Goliah in their streÌ„gth or like Rehoboam in their birth Iohn 7.48 or like the Pharisies in their knowledge Iosh 9.3 or like the Gibeonites in their cunning or else in some accidentall gifts as we call them of Nature wit or fortune Arist Ethic. lib. 2 All these with a thousand more men pleasing pleasures and delights A censure vpon the former delights which worldlings value at so high a rate were they tenne thousand thousand times better then they are I see no reason why I should count them any better theÌ„ apparant losses bitter sweets gliding shadowes gaudie toyes yea but chips drâ—ffe and dung in comparison of those inestimable treasures and delights which are to be had in Christ Iesus For besides that if wee would compare them together they are past coÌ„parison Psal 103.11 and as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so much more excellent is Christ Iesus vnto the soule then any earthly solace can be in the world what reason is there if we had no hope at all of heauen or expectation of greater happinesse in another world why wee should set our hearts or fixe our affections vpon any thing here in this world what gaine can I make what contentment is it possible that I shuld find in any of these things whose goodnesse is but in shew Isai 40.6 whose pleasure is but in opinion whose glorie is but as a flower of the field with which the minde is neuer satisfied the affection neuer quieted the appetite neuer contented but if we had the experience of them all together we should prooue his testimonie of them all to be most true who had experience in them more then any Eccles 1.2 They are vanities of vanities vanitie of vanities nothing else but vanitie I cannot chuse but wonder at the Anakims of our age Nobilitie that carrie their heads aloft and speake with a presumptuous mouth Numb 13.29 Psal 78.5 because they stand vpoÌ„ their blood and bragge of their Nobilitie when as I see that Nobilitie it selfe bee it neuer so pretious a pearle in the worlds eye is but a name without a nature a shadow without a substance make the best of it it is but the daughter of rottennesse Iob 17.14 and the sister of wormes the glorie of it is but a nominall credit begged froÌ„ dead men a trifling title raked from their graues who are long since dissolued into dust and ashes Gen. 3. No blood so noble but is attainted with Adams shame and when the pedigree is fet as farre as possibly it may bee Luke 16. poore Lazarus may shake hands with rich Diues and call him cosin Me thinks it is but madnes and a fretting phrensie which I see in many whose onely marke they aime at is their honour Hanor when as Honour what art thou but a bubble quickly vp on a suddeÌ„ down a very blazing starre dreading the minde with presaging ruine O yee ambitious aspiring spirits what caÌ„ you see in Honor that you should affect it when it most frowneth vpoÌ„ her seruants and casteth downe those whom it lifteth vp The greatest honors are exposed to the most dangerous aduentures enuying censures Dignities doe but digge thorow the heart with cares Offices are but seruices Psal 49. and man being in the greatest honor may be compared to the beasts that perish yea you Demigods shall turne to dust as well as other Psal 82.6.7 And as for Beautie Beautie is but losse fooles they are in my conceit which please themselues with it when they see it in themselues or endanger their soules for it when they behold it in others For vaine is beautie Prouerb 31. and deceiueable is the fauour of the countenance The fairest face in the world rase it ouer but with a little scratch and the grace thereof is gone let an Ague visit it the flower thereof is decaied let the soule depart from it but halfe an houre and this louely face is pale grimme and gastly to looke vpon O ye glittering Ladies and dainty Dames whose glorie is your beautie and whose labor is your vanitic that face of yours vpon which the winde may not blow nor the Sun shine nor the ayre breathe those vermillion cheeks so streaked either with natures sanguine blush or else bedaubed with counterfeit colours borrowed froÌ„ a dissembling art That bodie so trimly adorned with rich apparell costly ornaments what are they but the food of vermine and the crawling place of wormes the inheritrix of rottennesse and subiect of putrifaction The time is comming yea the time commeth on apace when the keepers of the house shall tremble Eccles 12.3.4.5 and the strong men shall bow themselues and the grinders cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out at the windowes and dust returne to dust againe What madnesse then is it to glorie in our carcase Apparell or to take pride in our bodies vestments as if a malefactor should be proud of his halter or a begger bragge of his rags the very ensignes of his base estate The apparell that we weare wee are beholding to the dumb and vnreasonable creatures for it worse then beasts we if wee take pride in that which beasts haue worne before vs. For our Wollen we are beholding to the sillie Sheepe for our Linnen to a Weede for our Silkes vnto the very excrements of Wormes our Gold is but the dregs of the earth our pretious pearles wee borrow from the fishes and bee our cloathing neuer so costly Matth. 6.29 yet none no not Salomon himselfe in all his royaltie is cloathed like the lilies of the field There is an euill sicknes vnder the Sun Riches and it is much amongst men to compasse sea and land for hoarding vp of
earth commeth bread to strengthen man Psal 104.15 and wine to make glad his heart and oyle to make him a cheerful countenance Vers 6. Vers 17. The stones thereof are a place of Saphirs Pearles Rubies Topazes and pretious Iewels are taken out of her rocks And shall I theÌ„ tread vpon so rich a Theater as the earth and not acknowledge the wondrous Maiestie of God the founder O no senselesse and brutish creature were I then Therefore this my soule must euer bee the burthen of my song O Lord how manifold are thy workes Psal 104.24.25 In wisedome hast thou made them all The earth is full of thy riches so is the sea also great and wide wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great Which when I do behold The Seas wonders and know that it is but water and that is an humor naturally spreading and yet see it higher then the earth Gen. 1.10 against its owne nature without limit solid Lord thinke I then how wonderfull are thy workes thou mightie controller of the Sea How could this be How commeth this to passe Surely thou hast set vp the Sea with doores and inuironed it with bars Iob 38.8.10.11 thou hast said hitherto shalt thou come but no further and here shalt thou stay thy proud waues They that goe downe into the sea in ships Psal 106.23.24 25.26.27.28.29 and occupy in the great waters they see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe For he commandeth and raiseth the stormie winde and it lifteth vp the waues thereof They mount vp to the heauen and descend to the deepe so that their soule melteth for trouble They are tossed to and fro and stagger like a drunken man then they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble and hee bringeth them out of their distresse He turneth the storme to calme so that the waues thereof are still In this liquid region goe the ships there play the infinite multitude of fishes both smal and great Psal 104.26 there remaineth that Leuiathan The Whale Iob 41. whose skales are like stroÌ„g shields whose bones are like barres of iron his heart as strong as a stone Vers 6. Vers 15. and as hard as the nether milstone his neisings make the light to shine and his eyes are like the eye lids of the morning Vers 9.10.11 out of his mouth goe lamps and sparkes of fire his breath maketh coales to burne he maketh the depth to boyle like a pot and the Sea like a pot of oyntment Hee maketh a path to shine after him Vers 22.23.24 one would think the depth as an hoare head in earth there is none like him no neither so great riches nor so many wonders as in the sea How full of wonders then both heauen and earth and sea the eye of man beholdeth but a part of them neither can mans heart conceiue the least part of Gods mightie power in them But for whoÌ„ were all these things made All these wonders for mans sake Gen. 17.1 and why did God ordaine such wonders in the wonders in the world Surely not for himselfe for he had no need of these things Ast 17.28 being himselfe the alsufficient essence from whom all things haue their being Neither were these things created onely for a shew but for the vse of man whom God made in his owne image according to his own likenes to rule ouer the fish of the Sea Gen. 1.26 and ouer the foule of the heauen and ouer the beasts ouer euery thing that creepeth and mooueth on the earth which when I do consider Lord say I then what is man that thou art mindfull of him Psal 8.5.6 and the son of man that thou visitest him thou hast made him heere on earth as a Demigod c rowned him with glorie and worship Thou hast made him to haue dominion in the worke of thine hands thou hast put all things vnder his feete yea thou hast made him the chiefest of all thy works of wonder For man being the last of all the workes created The wonders in man Sanctius his animal mentisque capacius altae dâ—erat ad huc and the end for whose sake the rest of the creatures were created could not but be the chiefest and most perfect worke of all these worldlie creatures and therefore is made by the eternal God as an epitome of the whole world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in regard of the perfect analogie and resemblance betweene him and the great worlds frame is not vnfitly tearmed the lesser world There being nothing in the vast compasse of the vniuersal circumference The resemblance betweene man and the whole world whose likenes or liuely representation is not summarily comprised in man as in a most perfect compendium or abridgement whose reason as the most powerfull mistris power of the soule subdueth to her dominion and direction the seruill vnder-faculties and sensuall appetites like as the first moued sphere carrieth with his motion the subiect inferiour circles The Souie resembleth the Primum mobile whose heart hauing the middle part of the body for his habitation giueth life and heate vnto all the rest of the parts of the bodie The Heart whereby they bee preserued inabled to performe their naturall and proper functions like as the Sunne The Sunne which being situated in the middest of Heauen illighteneth all things with his raies and cherisheth the whole and all things therein contained with his life preseruing heate The fabricke of whose bodie doth consist of that neuer sufficiently admired temperature of all the foure Elements and no part of all his bodie but so miraculously composed that euery part thereof may serue for a work of wonder Who can sufficiently expresse or wonder enough at the excelleÌ„cie of man so little a creature made but of the dust That he by contemplatioÌ„ should soare vp to the skies and be able to discourse of the motioÌ„s aspects and effects of the celestiall orbe that he should ride vpon the Seas and search and passe ouer the liquid floods that he should vendicate both earth and sea vnto his profit and domineere ouer the beasts and know the nature of all the creatures that he should contriue the Arts and Sciences to a methode and being absent to speak to men farre distant by letters written that hee should in this mortalitie seeke after immortalitie and haue a seate prepared for him in heauen after life ended here on earth O God how wonderfull are thy workes euen in our selues No tongue is able to expresse though I did nothing else but wonder I cannot sufficiently admire it Psal 116. Psal 92. Psal 111.2 Surely this is the Lords doing and it is maruellous in our eyes O Lord how glorious are thy workes Vers 4. An vnwise man doth not vnderstand it and a foole taketh no notice of it But well I wot the gracious
But what should I speake of the losse of these toyes and trifles they must part with life it selfe Iob 2.4 Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will hee giue for his life But all the wealth and riches in the world cannot purchase one houres lease of longer life Death will claime his due an inexorable creditor which when it cannot chuse but breede an horror in the heart of him that lieth a dying so will it fill his soule with direfull griefe to call to minde the vaine attempts of his forepassed life whē they shall sigh for griefe of mind and say within themselues O senselesse we and more then frantick fooles We haue wearied our selues in the way of wickednesse Syracides 5.1.3.7.8.9 and wee haue gone through dangerous waies but we haue not knowne the way of the Lord. What hath our pride profited vs or what profit hath the pomp of our riches brought vnto vs all those things doe passe away like a shadow 2. Cor. 5. and as a post that passeth by At that day will God be knowne of them to be a terrible God and dreadfull Hee will then write bitter things against them Iob 13.26 and make them possesse the sinnes of their youth The conscience will come in then with her bill of accounts and shew many old reckonings and arrerages of sinnes and Satan will shoote foorth many millions of canons of desperation against the sicke besieged soule and lay before his eyes the large bedrole of their sinnes which when the guiltie conscience cannot denie O how it filleth the heart with horror and souseth the dreadfull soule with feare How bitter and lamentable is that parting farewell which they make to their departing soule Aelius Adrianus Animula vagula blandula quae nunc abibis in loca pallidula frigida nudula c. like that of Adrian the Romane Emperour when he was now a dying My darling soule poore soule poore fleeting wandring soule my bodies sometimes best beloued ghest and equall whither art thou now going pale wanne and naked into places vgly dismall full of horror and tribulation Yet happie yea thrice happie were it The wicked haue no peace after death if death were the Catastrophe of the sinners Tragedie and the end of their being might come with the end of their earthly liuing Their soules posting to hell happy were it for them if like to dogges and toads and beasts they might perish and bee no more but loe their chiefest woe is yet to come for when they lie in the graue like sheep Psal 49.14 Iob 19.26 death gnaweth vpon thē whiles wormes destroy their carkase hell fire seaseth vpon their soules and vexeth them with torments What shall I heere recount the sudden dreadfull passage of their soules from the bodie to their doome dragd downe by furious fiends of hell vnto their place of torment 2. Pet. 2.4 Iude 6. where they shall be in euerlasting chaines vnder darknes vnto damnation and to the finall iudgment of the great day At which day good Lord what horror amazement will affright them when the vngodly whose bodies are rotten in the dust of the earth The horror of the wicked at the day of resurrection Matth. 25. shall on a sudden be roused from their deadly sleepe by the Trumpet of an Angell and like guiltie malefactors they shall come foorth of the filthie dungeon of rottennes to appeare at the tribunall for their triall 2. Cor. 5. What a dreadfull day will that bee for those that haue passed their time securely here in this world how will they be amazed at the suddennes of this their rousing vp from the bed of death What a sea of miseries and terrors shall rush vpon them when on a sudden being raised vp Matth. 24.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37 and apparelled with the same robes of their bodies so long laid vp in the wardrope of the dust they shall heare about their eares so hideous a noyse of Trumpets sound of waters motion of all the elements when they shall see the earth reeling and tottering the hils and dales skipping the Moone darkned 2. Pet. 3.12 the Starres falling downe from heauen the firmament shiuered in peeces and all the world in a flaming fire If Adam Gen. 3.8 after his eating of the forbidden fruite would faine haue hid himself from God walking in the garden at the coole of the day how shall the desperate forlorne sinner then abide the presence of the Iudge 2. Thess 1.7 not walking in the coole of mercie but comming in flaming fire and sitting in his throne of Maiestie Matth. 25.31 Reuel 20.12 when the books shall be opened when not onely they shall be called to account for their grosse and hainous sinnes Matth. 12.36 but shall be compelled to giue account for euery idle word Rom. 2.16 and their verie secret thoughts shall be brought to iudgement 1. Cor. 1. Alas what wil those wise people doe then that now liue in delights and count a christian conuersation foolishnesse What shift will they make in those extremities what will they answere for themselues doubtlesse they shall not be able to answere him one of a thousand Iob 9.3 whither will they then turne themselues Will they hope that the Bill of their Inditement may be lost Reuel 2.23 They haue small hope of that for he who is their Iudge searcheth the heart and reines yea all things are naked and open to his eyes Hope they that their greatnes shall countenance them out Behold he findeth no stedfastnes in the Angels Iob 4.18.19 how much lesse then in them that dwell in houses of clay and whose foundation is in the dust Doe they perswade themselues that they can bribe the Iudge Loe Prou. 11.4 Matth. 16.16 riches auaile not in the day of wrath and what shall a man giue for a recompence of his soule Doe they hope vpon a Psalme of mercie or a pardon There was a time indeed when that was offered vnto them if with repentant mindes they would haue accepted of the same but now there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin Heb. 10.26.27 but a fearfull looking for of iudgement which shall deuoure the aduersaries Good Lord then what will the wretched sinner doe at that most dolefull day what shift will he make He shall euen drie vp for very feare Matth. 24. Hee shall seeke death and death shall flie from him Reuel 6.15.16 He shall crie to the hils to fall vpon him and to the mountaines to couer him But all in vaine for there shall hee stand a desperate forlorne caitise wretch vntill he receiue that dreadfull and irreuocable sentence Matth. 25.41 Goe thou cursed wretch into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his angels Which finall sentence once pronounced The endlesse miserie of the wicked after the day of iudgement me thinks my heart doth quake to thinke
is with vs indeed God is alwaies with his and hath a speciall care of them Psal 46.7 Psal 34.15 Vers 18. Vers 7. Psal 30.6.7 The God of Iacob is our refuge The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their crie the Lord is neere vnto them that are of a contrire heart The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his tents round about them that feare him and deliuereth thē He is their shelter from tempests and stormes of troubles he keepeth them safe vnder his protection as the henne doth the chickens vnder her wing Luke 13.34 Deut. 32.10 yea hee keepeth them as the apple of his eye Psal 34.10 The lions doe lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Psal 23.1 Rom. 8.31 God is their shepheard what can they want Hee is on their side who can bee against them 1. Sam. 2.30 He honoreth them whose disgracing of them can hurt thē In euery estate he saueth and vpholdeth them by his prouidence 1. Pet. 5.7 what miserie can befal them God is their God for euer and euer Psal 48.14 euen their guide vnto the death Psal 149.9 This honour shall be to all his Saints And albeit heere it please the Lord for a while to trie thē with affliction Affliction taketh away nothing of Gods sweetnes and to chastize them with his correction to mingle their wine with Aloes and to send much bitternes into their cup Yet howsoeuer it be God is good to Israel Psal 73.1 Malach. 3.6 1. Cor. 4.9 euen to those that are pure in heart Ye sonnes of Iacob shall not be cōsumed though you are in distresse yet you shall not be forsaken Psal 30.5 Heauinesse may endure for a night but ioy will come in the morning Hosea 6.2 After two daies he will reuiue vs and the third day hee will raise vs vp againe Thy chastisements O Lord are like the pretious balme of Gilead Psalme which will not breake but supple our heads How many thousands of thy Saints may say It was good for vs Psal 119.71 yea exceeding good that wee were in troubles Thou O Lord Prouerb 3.11 doest loue those whō thou chastenest and albeit no chastising for the present seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous yet afterward it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnes vnto them which are therby exercised Heb. 12.11 Rom. 8.18 For the afflictions of this world are not worthie of the ioyes that succeed them Rom. 8.28 Heb. 12.6 and All things euen afflictiōs themselues turne to the best to them that feare God and are signes that they are beloued of God Behold the patient childe of God whose afflictions are the greatest and marke and behold his end Psal 37.37 for the end of that man is peace And though God for a while doe seeme to hide away his face so that the godlie soule goeth heauie and mourning all the day long Psal 30.11 yet God will turne their mourning into ioy Psal 56.8 he will loose their sackcloth and gird them with gladnes Rom. 8.37 he will put their teares into his bottle and in all these things in the end they shall bee more then conquerors O Lord of hosts how amiable are thy tabernacles The boldnes of the faithfull in their prayers Psal 84.1 how ful of sweetnes Why Lord wee see here vpon earth how hard a matter it is to haue accesse to the great men of this world which differ from our selues not in stuffe but in vse and that for a while and to an earthly Prince but at sometime and for some one pleasure is few mens cases to obtain an entrance when as we may boldly presse in to the portall of thy priuie chamber and with confidence breake our mindes lay open our griefe Mark 11.24 preferre our suite and commune familiarly with thee as with a friend when wee will as often as we will thou neuer being wearie of vs neuer taking scorne nor reiecting vs yea thou doest inuite vs to come vnto thee and art more neere to heare then wee to aske and although in our prayers there are manifold infirmities and wee know not how to pray as wee ought and are soone wearie and cold in praying yet the spirit helpeth our infirmities yea the spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed Rom. 8.26 O when was there any that could say he prayed in vaine if his prayer were it selfe not vaine who can repent or bethinke any minute of time herein spent This is the assurance which wee haue of him 1. Ioh. 5.14 that if wee aske any thing according to his will hee heareth vs. And albeit God doth not presently grant our requests and sometimes seemeth to defer the hearing of the prayers of his seruāts yet is his goodnesse heerein exceeding large to them that feare him All this turneth to the best for them their faith being exercised their hungring after grace more heereby strengthened and encreased thēselues stirred vp the better to esteeme of the graces of God whē they haue thē and to shew themselues more thankfull for them Whoso is wise will obserue these things Psal 107.43 that he may vnderstand the louing kindnes of the Lord for his mercie is great vnto the heauens Psal 108.4 and his trueth reacheth vnto the clouds Psal 145.9 15. The Lord is good to all and his mercies are ouer all his workes The eyes of all wait vpon him and he giueth them their foode Hee maketh the Sun to shine vpon the euill and the good Matth. 5.45 and sendeth raine on the iust and vniust Luke 6.35 He is kind euen to the vnkind Psal 87.2 yet the Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue all the inhabitants of Iacob He hath liberally prouided for them aboue all other both here in this life and in the life to come he hath laid vp for them his sweetest sweetes A taste whereof though they haue here in this world and that so glorious as that it is ineffable yet the full fruition is reserued for them in a better world whē they shall bee replenished with the sweetnes of his presence and see him face to face at whose right hand are fulnesse of pleasures for euermore If in this life only we had hope in Christ 1. Cor. 15.19 we were of all men the most miserable and yet in this life also our sweetnes we feele in God is incomprehensible but there is reserued for vs a better life and in that life a richer sweetnes by many thousand degrees more then tongue can speake 2. Cor. 5.1 or heart can thinke Wee know this that when this earthly house of our tabernacle shall be destroyed wee haue a building not made with hands 2. Cor. 5.2 but eternall in the heauens therefore wee sigh desiring to be
the mother of which it selfe was begotten No lesse wonderfull is the Haile which the Almightie casteth forth like morsels The Haile Psal 147.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifieth haile in that place though our trāslations reade it frosts Exod. 9.23 a liquid thing being made solid and it selfe being nought but water yet by an Antiperistasis of heate and cold a thing in Nature admirable is conglobated into a stone deadly to the herbes and noxious to the trees of the field What shall I heere speake of the Frosts Meteors partly earthy partly watrie or of the glassie wonder of the Ice when the earth groweth into hardnes and the clods like iron are fast together Frost The hoare frosts lie vpon the earth like ashes Iob 38.29.38 Psal 147.16.17 Ice who can abide the cold of the ice When the North winde bloweth an ice is frozen of the water it abideth vpon the superficies thereof Syracides cap. 43 19.20 and clotheth the waters as with a breastplate the Sunne ariseth and it melteth and is dissolued as it was before These and many more then these are thy wonders O Lord from aboue O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in al these things In wisedome hast thou made them all Psal 8.1.2 and they declare thy mightie power No lesse are thy wonders to be seene here below through the whole circumference of the earth and in the deepe For first to begin with the very Earth it selfe The Earths wonders which albeit in comparison of the Heauen it be but as a prick or point Iob 38.18 yet who can perceiue the breadth of it or reckon the circuit of the same The Earth is set vpon a foundation immoueable Aristot 2. de coe lo ait Mathematicos sui temporit attribuisse terrae 40. myriades stadiorum Later Astrologers describe the whole circuit of it to be 2000040 miles and yet the foundation thereof is a thing of nought hanging in the middle of the ayre whose figure although it bee sphaericall like a globe or bowle yet by the alprouident dispositiō of the Almighty Creator is so interlined with hils and dales and woods and riuers that in a wonderfull excellencie wee cannot but admire the infinite varietie Psal 104.5 Iob 26.7 Here wee see the loftie mountaines giuing statelie prospect from their aspiring tops here Mountaines Psal 104.8 Vallies Psalme Riuers the humble Vallies to laugh and sing with corne and grassie profits here the crystall springs and siluer riuers sliding sometimes more silently sometimes in a basser sort sometimes in a shriller note making musick amongst the pepbles And as we walke by the way O what a glorious spectacle it is to view the flagrant Meddowes cloathed with grasse Meddowes and enameled with al sort of eye-pleasing flowers Woods Thickets lined with most pleasant shade of diuers sorted Trees Trees Trees richly decked foorth with leaues and swelling in varietie with their seuerall kindes of fruites Birds Oh what an heauenly consort out of the Wood-quire resounds vnto our eares from the cheerfull chirping of the many well tuned Birds How sweete a prospect it is vnto our eyes to looke vpon the great varietie both in kind and qualitie of the Beasts Beasts To see the harmelesse Sheepe feeding with sober securitie Sheepe Lambes and their pretie Lambs skipping with bleating choragy Oxen. To see the strong necked Oxen laboring in the furrow and plowing the vallies after vs and the stately Horse Iob 39.12 Horses for all his fearefull neyings to submit his back vnto vs when I fee these strong and sturdie beasts so ouerruled to yeeld their backs to seruing and their liues to feeding weake and feeble man Lord thinke I then of how vnmatchable power and vnbounded wisedome art thou which couldest subdue without repining these so great to this so little But when I further think vpon those greater and wilder beasts which God hath placed in the earth in the maiestie of the creature how can I but admire the incōparable maiesty of the Creator Behemoh Iob 40.10.11.12.13 Behold Behemoh whom hee hath made to licke grasse like the oxe whose taile is like the Cedar Vers 17. his bones like staues of brasse and his small bones like staues of iron can the trees couer him with shadow or can the willowes of the riuer compasse him about The Lions The great and princely Lions roring after their pray doe seeke their meate of God Iob 39.1.2 when they couch in their places and remaine in the couert to lie in wait He appointeth the time when the wilde goates bring foorth yong Iob 39.4.5 and numbreth the moneths for the Hindes to calue Vers 12. Who can tame the Vnicorne and bring him to the crib What pleasant wings hath God giuen to the Peacocks Vers 16. what wings of brasse vnto the Ostrich what length of daies vnto the Hart swiftnes vnto the Hare wilinesse vnto the Fox properties admirable euen in euery sort of the beasts vnreasonable who can number their seuerall kindes or describe the seuerall natures of them But leaue wee these Little beasts and creeping things and cast our eyes but on the lesser creatures which one would thinke but Natures excrements meere superfluities and yet good Lord in them how many workes of wonders The wisest of either Heathen or Christian Sages sendeth vs to little Pismires Emmets Ants or Emmets to learne diligence for they hauing no guide Prou. 6.6.7.8 gouernour nor ruler prepare their meate in summer and gather their foode in harnest What a sweete decorum in their order obserue the sillie Bees Bees the fabrick of whose celles or houses and the glory of whose merchandise cannot be matched by any wit or art of man What Spinster can make a webbe like the contemned Spider Spider or Weauer frame vpon his woofe so exquisite a forrell Silkeworme as the little Silk-worme weaueth out of his bowels If I should reckon vp al the mightie wonders in these little creatures how endlesse would the subiect be No these are cōmon and triuiall before our eyes which euery where on earth below wee see Eccles 3.11 Psal 111.3 Loe God hath made euery thing beautifull in his time and where may we cast our eyes but we may behold his works of wonder Should I meditate of all the fruitful seeds and trees and buds from the Cedar vnto the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall Vertues of herbes 1. King 4.33 O how secret hidden vertue may we behold in most of them what especiall vse in each of them Yea diue wee downe into the bowels of the earth what store of proiects wonderful lie hidden there There the Siluer mineral hath his veine Iob 28.1.2 and the burnished Gold his place Iron is taken out of the dust and Brasse is molten out of the stone Vers 5. out of the same
swords to apprehend him like a theefe Iohn 18.12 when hee that made vs free was bound and haled and dragd and brought as a sheep to the slaughter Isai 53.7 as a lambe dumbe before his shearer so hee opened not his mouth Bitter be the remēbrance of that gloomie night Iob 39. and let the starres of the twilight be dimme through the darknes of it when he that gaue others often sight Mark 8.22 Mark 10.46 Isai 9.1 and came to lighten those that sate in darknesse himselfe was blindfolded to bee made a scorne of he that neuer offered wrong Matth. 4.15 and when himself was wronged opened not his mouth Luke 22.64 was buffeted and smitten on the cheeke that face Isai 53.7 that glorious face of his which on mount Thabor shined as the Sunne was made a loathsome Iewish spitting place Matth. 17.2 Mark 14.65 Psal 45.6 1. Cor. 4.9 Iob 3.6 and himselfe the head of men and angels made a gazing stock to men and angels Let that day be darknes and not bee ioyned to the daies of the yeere nor come into the accounts of the moneths wherein with sighes and sobs I call not to minde that dolefull day when hee which one day shall come in the clouds with glorie and great maiestie Matth. 24.30 was brought before the tribunall of an earth pettie Iudge Matth. 27.1 and stood at the barre with all disgrace and infamie Isai 53.7 when hee the innocent Lambe was arraigned though found not guiltie was condemned wrongfully Matth. 27.22 hee the prince of glory was placed as a grieuous malefactor between two thieues Ioh. 19.18 his sacred hands and feete being nailed to the crosse Iohn 19.2 his head scratched rent and torne with a thornie crowne and his sacred sides pierced thorow with a gastly souldiers speare Iohn 19.34 with which there gushed foorth both blood and water Behold see if there were any sorrow like vnto this sorrow which is done heere vnto my Sauiour Lament 1.12 wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the day of his fierce wrath witnes the griestly gastly grone giuen by himselfe whiles hee was hanging on the crosse when that hee bellowed foorth his Eli Eli Matth. 27.46 lamasabachthani My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Witnes the whole face of Nature chaunged at his suffering Vers 51. The Sunne being clothed in blacke Vers 52. the pillers of the earth rocking Vers 53. the vaile of the temple renting the rocks shieuering and the very graues themselues opening their more then brasen gates But why was al this To saue and what was the end of Christ his comming into the world and his suffering of so many things heere in the world Surely he came for vs not for himselfe he came to saue Therefore did the Lord anoint him therefore did hee send him that he might preach good tidings to the poore Isai 61.1 and binde vp the broken hearted and preach libertie to the captiues and to them that are bound the opening of the prison To preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord Vers 2. to comfort them that mourne to giue beautie for ashes the oile of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauinesse that they might bee called trees of righteousnesse Vers 8. the planting of the Lord that hee might be glorified This was the good shepheard that came to seek vs lost and wandring sheepe Iohn 10. this is that mighty champion which came to deliuer vs from the iawes of the lion and the wolfe 1. Sam. 17.34 Numb 21.9 this is that brazen Serpent which cureth vs stung to the heart by that old fierie Serpent Satan Iohn 3.14 this is that good Chirurgion whose comming was to heale our sores Luke 10.33 The good Physitian who came to saue vs from death Matth. 9.12 Iohn 10.10 He came to saue so saith he himselfe I am come that they might haue life and haue it in abundance So saith the Angell of him which brought newes of his comming into the world Vnto you this day is borne a Sauiour Luke 2.11 which is Christ the Lord. O sweete Iesu Cantic 1.2 thy very name is as an ointment powred out to make the virgins loue thee Well maist thou be called Iesus for there is no other name vnder heauen whereby we may be saued Matth. 2.27 but by thine whose name agreeth with thy nature to saue the people from their sinnes The very sauour of which so flagrant ointment of his pretious name Sinners Cantic 1.2.3 as it well may draw the loue of all good hearts vnto him and make them runne after him so when I further consider with my selfe our qualitie and condition what we were when first he cast his loue vpon vs me thinkes it carrieth mee beyond admiration that so great a Sauiour should so much as respect such vile and miserable wretches for this so sweete a Sauiour came not to call the righteous Matth. 9.13 but sinners to repentance Were we righteous No there was none righteous Psal 14.2.3 no not one we were all gone out of the way there is was none of vs all that did deserue his fauour no not one Were wee his friends that hee did impart such kindnes vnto vs Nay wee were his deadly enemies we were sinners Rom. 5.8.9 Doubtlesse one would scarse die for a righteous man but God setteth out his loue towards vs seeing that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. The partie offended came to helpe the offenders the iust to die for the vniust the innocent for the guiltie the king of peace for his enemies Christ Iesus to saue sinners We were dead in sinnes and trespasses wherein wee walked according to the course of the world and after the prince that ruleth in the aire Ephes 2.2.3.4 but he rich in mercie through his great loue wherewith he loued vs was content to die for vs to quicken vs. We were alients from the common wealth of Israel strangers from the couenant Ephes 2.12.14.19 without hope without God in the world He is become our peace who by breaking downe the stop of the partition wall had made vs of strangers and forrenners citizens with the Saints and of the household of God Our habitation our kindred was of the land of Canaan Ezech. 16. Vers 3. our father was an Amorite and our mother an Hittite in our natiuitie when we were borne Vers 4. our nauell was not cut wee were not washed in water to soften vs Vers 5. nor salted with salt nor swadled in clouts Vers 6. None eye pitied vs to doe any of these things vnto vs or to haue compassion on vs then did he passe by vs saw vs polluted in our own blood he said vnto vs euen then when wee were in our blood Thou shalt liue