thou reioycest more at the finding of one lost sheepe which hath long gone astray then ouer ninety and nine iust persons which neede no repentance Thou art ready to meet and embrace with the armes of thy mercy the Prodigall Sonne when he turneth homewards towards thee repenting his former folly and humbly crauing thy mercy Therefore there is nothing better for man then continually to consider thy great loue and fidelitie towards him and contrariwise his owne infidelitie and ingratitude towards thee for the Diuel is so enuious towards thy seruants that hee omitteth no time in tempting them yea euen then when they are about to repent and bewaile their sins he causeth them to doubt of their saluation to wauer in faith and cloggeth their consciences with the curse of the Law and equitie of Gods iustice in punishing their sinne that thereby they might neuer be at quietnes or rest in themselues but straight fall into the dungeon of desperation It is thou onely O Lord that canst heale their diseases ease their burthen cure their wounds and refresh their hungry spirits Wherfore if at any time the Diuell mooue vs to doubt or despaire of Gods goodnes and grace yet let vs not faint in faith or be hollow-hearted but rather bee bold in the bowels of Iesus Christ and with a sure confidence approch vnto the Mercy-Seat of God the Father who accepteth the satisfaction of his Son and alloweth the same to be a full ransome for all our sinnes and by this meanes we may finde fauour at the hands of our heauenly Father Many examples wee haue to perswade vs herein The Woman of Canaan cryed and her Daughter was cured The Centurion beleeued and his Seruant was made whole The Father prayed and his Sonne was clenfed of the foule spirit The Apostles cryed out Helpe Lord for wee perish and straightway they were deliuered Christ perceiued but the Faith of the people and he said to the sicke of the Palsie Be of good cheere my sonne thy sinnes are forgiuen thee The Mother and her companions doe but weepe and her sonne is raised from death to life Martha and Mary did but mourne and Lazarus was reuiued Mary the sinner sheadeth teares and hee said vnto her Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee A poore blinde man cryed out O Son of Dauid haue mercy on me and he receiued his sight The Thiefe hanging on the Crosse said but onely Lord remember me and Christ answered This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise O singular Faith of sinners what man hath at any time cried Iesu haue mercy on mee but forthwith hee hath found fauour obtained grace A sure faith procureth any thing at Gods hands but he that mistrusteth the Physician hindreth his owne health Our Sauiour Christ hath opened vnto vs the gate of his goodnes therefore let not vs runne headlong to the dungeon of desperation the dunghill of the Diuell Hee hath stretched out his hand to vs therefore let not vs turne away our face from him He hath opened vnto vs the Kingdome of Heauen therefore let not vs haste to destruction nor creepe to the lake of vnhappinesse but let vs by these examples of Gods graces to others acknowledge the mercies of God to bee many and maruellous towards man For whose cause doth the Sun shine by day the Moone and the Starres by night but for man For whose sake doth the Lord water the earth with deaw drops and showres of raine but for man Why blowe the Windes Why runne the Riuers Why spread the Springs Why budde the Trees Why growe the fruits of the earth And why increase the fishes of the seas but for the vse of man He is King and Lord of all creatures vnder the cope of heauen There is nothing that God hath not made subiect to man onely hee would that man should bee obedient vnto him Yet many times our mercifull God sendeth vs aduersitie eyther to cleere vs of our transgressions or to feare vs from sinne or to minister occasion of well-doing Thus was Abraham tryed So was Iob proued with many miseries Thus is euery one which liueth godly in Christ Iesus tryed in this world with sundry afflictions as the gold in the fire for whom the Lord loueth those he chasteneth Therefore wee beseech thee O Lord assist vs by thy might and mercy that we may patiently beare all trouble neede pouertie sicknes slander hatred imprisonment griefe and anguish of minde temptations of our deadly Enemy losse of lands and worldly wealth and all other calamities and discommodities Looke not on vs or our sins O Lord but behold thy Little one which was borne for vs He was wounded for our offences and by his stripes wee are healed Hee gaue his body to be beaten his cheekes to be striken for vs finners He turned not away his face from them that scorned him spit vpon him Looke O Lord vpon all the parts of his body from the crowne of his head to the sole of his foote and no paine shall bee found like vnto his paine Behold O blessed Lord the holy head of thy deare Sonne crowned with sharp Thornes the bloud running downe on his goodly visage Behold his tender body how it is scourged his naked brest is stricken beaten his bloudy side is thrust thorow with a speare his heart panteth his sinewes bee stretched forth his christall eyes dazell and lose their sight his princely face is wan and pale his pleasant tongue is enflamed with paine his inward parts waxe dry and starke his armes both blue and blacke his bones sore his comely legges be feeble and weake and the streames of bloud gush out of his side downe to the ground O Lord of mercy and God of comfort let all these sufferings of thine only and deare beloued Son pacifie thy wrath and be a sufficient recompence for all our misdemeanour towards thy Maiesty defend vs outwardly by thy might and cheere vs inwardly by thy holy Spirit that we may both in body soule glorifie thy Name feare thy might and loue thy mercy and hereafter walke in thy wayes so long as the breath is in our bodies And after that receiue vs body and soule into the heauenly Kingdome for the tender Death and Passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and praise world without end Amen An effectuall Prayer for those which be Lunatike or possessed with any euill Spirit O Most mighty mercifull God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Prince of power and the God of all comfort and consolation our strong Rocke our sure refuge and defence against the damnable and dangerous assaults of our enemies both bodily and ghostly which hast commanded vs in our greatest perils and necessities to flye vnto thee for safety and boldly to call vpon thee for our deliuery which also by thy diuine power and vnsearchable wisedome hast made heauen and earth
all things therein contained as Angels Archangels Men Women Children the beasts of the field the fishes in the Sea the Fowles of the Ayre and the Fruits of the Earth which all were made at thy Word and are subiect to thy power to vse at thy good will pleasure as seemeth best to thy Maiesty whether it bee to honour or dishonour saluation or condemnation We entirely beseech thee of thy goodnes O Lord and that with sorrowfull hearts trickling teares watery cheekes and groning spirits to be mercifull vnto vs all here assembled and to all thy people vexed with woe throughout the wide world but especially at this present we heartily desire thee to looke downe from heauen with the eyes of compassion and pitie vpon this thy creature and workmanship of thy hands who is now grieuously vexed and tormented in mind O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruants for then no flesh can be saued in thy sight We acknowledge O Lord that wee are miserable sinners vnworthy to lift vp our eyes to heauen or to gather vp the crums which fall from thy table Yet notwithstanding wee humbly beseech thee O deare Father not to deale with vs according to our deserts which is euerlasting death vtter shame and confusion hell fire perpetuall paine and damnation But according to thy accustomed clemency take from vs all ignorance hardnes of heart desperation and all the wyly suggestions and grieuous temptations of Satan our old enemy Let not the Diuell O Lord nor any hellish hound spoile thine inheritance which thou hast bought with the price of the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ Thou onely O Lord reignest in heauen in glory in earth in mercy and in hell in iudgement Thou onely art the author of life death sicknes and health ioy and paine It is thou which castest downe to hell and raisest vp againe to heauen yea it is thou and none other which giuest thy holy Spirit to bee a comfort to thine elect people and sometimes troublest their minds with illusions and vanities suffering Satan the roring Lyon and his Ministers to haue dominion for a time ouer them as appeareth at this present by thy iust iudgement declared and inflicted vpon this comfortlesse cayâ—ife thy poore prisoner and afflicted creature vnto the great anguish and torment of his soule and body to the discomfort of his wife friends and kinsfolke and to the terrour and feare of all that euer heare or see him in this wofull case O Lord thy iudgements are deepe and thy counsell vnsearchable and vnworthy are wee to know the counsels and secrets of the Highest much lesse ought wee curiously to search to vnderstand the causes of this woe and the occasion of this thy plague and grieuous crosse laid vpon this miserable man Notwithstanding whether thou hast thus visited him for his former sinnes and by that meanes to call him to repentance and amendment of life or to exercise his faith by the tryall of thy iustice or for the terrour and warning of all those that see or heare of him that they may therby feare thy name acknowledge thy power auoid thy heauy displeasure repent their sinfull liuing and call to thee betimes for mercie and grace or else to the end to shew thy great might glory vpon him and so to signifie vnto all people that thou art God alone that rulest both heauen and earth that stayest the madnes of the people and the furiousnes of the Fiend or for what cause so euer it bee that thou hast laid thy heauy hand of iudgement vpon him Yet wee humbly beseech thee O Lord God not of our selues or for our selues but in the bowels of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ whom thou hast made the Redemption of the world to mitigate thy sury by tender mercy asswage thy wrath and stay thy heauy hand already begunne and continued in fraile flesh Let not the Diuell nor all the powers in hell tempt him aboue that which hee shall be able through Christ his Sauiour to beare O Lord restore in him of thy goodnes whatsoeuer hath been decayed by the malice or suggestion of Satan or by his owne frailtie and wicked disposition or by any his enemies the flesh world Diuell or sinne We confesse vnto thee O Lord that sinne is rife in vs the flesh is fraile the world is wicked and the Diuell is most malicious O Lord God among these so many and mischieuous enemies what shall we deuise to do Whithershal we fly There is no way with vs but one wee must lift vp our eyes our hands and our hearts vnto thee O Lord Our help is from aboue our victory proceedeth from thy grace and Throne of thy Maiestie To heauen therefore wee lift vp both heart hands eyes and all our powers and vnto thee O gracious Lord we call and cry for helpe Breake the heauens come down O Lord let our prayers pierce thine eares Arise O God and scatter thine enemies and ours stay the race of Satan thon that art the glory of Sion and strength of Israel take from him his weapons and harnesse wherewith he goeth about to spoile thine Inheritance Bruze and breake the head of Leuiathan that subtill Serpent which seeketh nothing but our destruction Weaken his force disperse and confound all his politique practices whereby hee dayly goeth about to ouerthrow thy seeble flocke Let not this ramping and roring Lyon deuoure vs but chain him vp and tye him short halter and bridle his cruell deuices wherewithall hee worketh woe vnto thy seruants and Saints for he can doe nothing without thy permission thou which rulest the raging of the Sea that it cannot passe her bounds and hast Satan fettered and fast bound in chaines so that he cannot doe what hee would but what pleaseth thee for thy mercy hath conquered his cruelty to our great comfort Thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thee in the day of our trouble and thou wilt deliuer vs and we shall glorifie thee Thou hast also promised in thy holy Word to grant our godly Petitions saying vnto vs like a most louing Father Aske and you shall haue Seeke and you shall finde Knocke and it shall be opened vnto you We aske of thee with pensiue soules and would gladly obtaine mercy and forgiuenes of all our offences We seeke and would gladly finde that which wee haue lost by our vnthankefulnes and sinne we knock at the gate of Grace and will neuer cease knocking vntill thou open vnto vs the bowels of compassion and pitie and grant vs the feeling of thy good graces to the full satisfaction and quieting of our troubled spirits carefull consciences Therefore O God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost heare our prayers and grant our humble requests which with sobbing sighs contrite hearts cry vnto thee for succour O Lord haue mercy vpon vs haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and for thy Sonne Iesus Christs
accord came down from the seate of his Maiesty in the highest heauens into the vile and stinking bowels of the earth where he for my sake and all his elect did not abhorre to take flesh of the pure Virgin Mary and became man and in the same flesh suffered most bitter paine and torment being condemned by an earthly iudge to the most shamefull death of the Crosse and so was buried and descended into Hell rising againe for our iustification and ascending into heauen for our glorification and to open vs the gate of saluation which before was barred and fast shut vp against vs. And my beliefe is that as before hee came as a Lambe in humilitie and mercie to seeke and saue sinners So hee shall come againe as a Lyon in the end of the world in great glory Maiesty Mat. 25. 31 accompanied with Angels and heauenly Souldiers as a righteous Iudge of the quicke and dead separating the Sheep from the Goates adiudging the one as hirelings of Hell and the other as inheritors of Heauen And this among many others is a singular comfort to me to know assuredly that no other shall bee my iudge but he that is the Sauiour of my soule and suffered for my sinnes So that in all my perplexitie perill and danger I set this Iesus a Sauiour before mine eyes as a shield a buckler and sure wall between me and my spirituall soe the Diuel and all his tyranny assuring my selfe by this confidence that neither he by his cruelty nor all the Armie of hell can euer hurt or harme me or any of Gods Elect. Thirdly I beleeue in God the holy Ghost the third Person in Trinitie who by his grace louingly preserueth and sanctifieth mee and all the Elect people of God who dayly gouerneth and directeth mee in all my wayes and godly actions who sealeth vp my saluation by the stedfast hope that I haue in Christ Iesus assuring me inwardly that all his benefits are mine and by that meanes maketh me apply the same to the comfort of my soule who also mortifieth sinne in me who openeth and expoundeth vnto mee the diuine mysteries of God and moueth me to leade a godly life This is that blessed wind which bloweth where it listeth euen the Spirit of God which of carnall maketh vs spirituall of cruell meeke of malicious charitable of couetous liberall of dissolute temperate of foolish wise of earthly heauenly of the bondslaues of Satan the deare sonnes of GOD whereby wee may boldly cry Abba Father I beleeue that this holy Ghost is the earnest penny here on earth of my saluation in heauen and that hee will neuer forsake mee no not in the houre of death and my greatest danger but that hee will comfort me continually in all woe and temptations so that although I bee tryed by the touchstone of affliction grieued with extreme paine of bodie or torinented with inward vexation of minde yet I shall not be ouercome neither shall my crosse be greater then I shal be able to beare and endure For I know assuredly that this holy Ghost wil mercifully preserue me both in body and soule vnto the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to iudgment at the dreadfull day of doome and there present me holy and without blame before his Throne of grace although of my selfe vnworthy yet this sweet Comforter Rom. 8. 15 16. doth of his especiall grace beare witnes with my spirit and conscience and that in most comfortable manner that I am of the number of those which shall be saued and that I shall stand in the last day on the right hand of Christ and heare that cheerefull sentence to my great ioy and comfort Come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25. 34 possesse the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world You haue beene long Pilgrims on earth but now you shal bee Citizens in heauen you haue mourned a long time but now you shall laugh for euer I will wipe away all teares from your eyes Enter at last now that the heate of the day is past into your Masters ioy All these three persons before rehearsed I beleeue to bee one God in essence whose seate is in the heauens aboue and whose footstoole is the earth beneath Vnto whom all the Powers Angels and Saints in heauen are subiect and doe their dayly seruice in setting forth his praises casting downe their crownes at his foote and ascribing all honour and glory to the crowned King that sitteth vpon the Throne and reigneth for euermore and also to the Lambe his beloued sonne and our Sauiour God grant that wee may doe him like seruice here on earth Fourthly and finally I doe beleeue the holy Catholike Church which is Gods Elect people or the Congregation of the faithfull and is called the Kingdome of Christ Iesus Of this Kingdome Christ Apoc. 21. onely is Prince of this body Christ onely is Head and of this Spouse Christ onely is the Bridegroome This Church is called the Temple of the Holy Ghost a spirituall House a holy Nation a Royall Priesthood the Citizens of Heauen the Pillar of Truth the Arke of Noah the Cōmunion of Saints Agreeing at this day in all points of Scripture Faith and Religion with the Primitiue Church of God Firmely holding and boldly confessing one God one Faith one Baptisme one Lord and Sauiour of all Iesus Christ being the sheepe of Gods pasture to whom belongeth one fould and one Shepheard which here on earth is called the militant Church and in Heauen the triumphant Church of God Out of which Arke all perish and out of which Church there is no saluation but whosoeuer is not found therein he is without all doubt damned Of this Catholike Church of God I beleeue and am fully resolued that I am a member and that GOD hath a care of me and will preserue mee safe vntill I haue the fruition of his heauenly Ierusalem This Church is knit together and vnited by faith through the operation of the Holy Ghost as members of one bodie This Church hath the pure Word of God truely and sincerely preached and the Sacraments duely and faithfully administred among them These sheep heare the voice of the true Shepheard Christ Iesus and hee knoweth them and Ioh. 10. 3. they follow him and hee will giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any plucke them out of his hand nay the gates of Mat. 16. 18 hell shall not preuaile nor ouercome this Church They which bee of this Church shall haue remission of their sinnes continuall peace and ioy They shall shine and glister as the Stars of Heauen they shall bee clad with white garments and follow the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth they shall haue golden crownes clapped on their heads and shall see God face to face and haue fellowship with his Saints who continually sing praifes to the eternall King which was and is and is to come
humbly beseech thee to deale with vs in mercy stay thy hand and bid thine Angell cease from punishing Looke with a cheerefull countenance vpon thy people Blesse vs O heauenly Father within and without Be thou our guard thy Word our guide thy Spirit our comfort and thy Sonne our Sauiour Stay by vs continually hold vs vp by thy right hand strongly and direct vs by thy counsell wisely So shall we be inwardly comforted though the world conspire Satan rore the wicked rise vp against vs yea though the earth bee moued the pillars of heauen shake the Sea rage plagues fall all creatures frowne Yet shall not wee eyther feare tremble or bee dismayed with any boisterous blast of aduersitie so long as we trust in thee leane to thee serue thee and rest vpon thee as our strong Rocke for thou art mighty in the heate of iudgement and yet mercifull in the middest of miseries Haue pitie therefore vpon vs most miserable sinners mitigate thy fury asswage our pain release our smart and pardon our passed faults Wee confesse O deare Father that wee of our selues are the cause of our owne woe and prouokers of this thy plague and grieuous punishmēt which is fallen vpon vs most worthily Yea our owne detestable deeds committed against thy sacred will our obstinate pride in time of plenty our securitie in time of health our vnthankefulnes towards thy goodnes in time of prosperitie our contempt of thy Word dayly read and preached vnto vs did threaten long before this thy rodde and scourge of sicknes or some greater iudgement Our continuall transgressions as our Idlenes Wantonnesse Whoredome Drunkennesse Gaming Swearing Swilling Slandering Stealing Fighting Quarrelling Polling Pilling Vsurie Extortion and Oppression of the poore our Bribery Couetousnes Defrauding of the Widdow and Fatherlesse with a huge heape moe of such like vices haue beene the causes of this our miserie and smart which now wee feele to our torment and griefe and haue mooued thee the holy One of Israel to powre out the fearefull cup of thy wrath and vengeance vpon vs which thy iustice doth craue and wee dayly deserue Neuerthelesse deare Father of mercie though wee haue through our sinnes shewed our selues enemies vnto thee and vessels of thy wrath and vnworthy to pray vnto thee with our lying lips and polluted mouthes much lesse to obtain our suites at thy hands Yet most mercifull Father we beseech thee be fauourable vnto vs in shewing thy mercy vnto vs that are miserable For if thou O Lord doest strictly marke what is done amisse among men and wilt retaine our iniquitie O Lord who shall then be able to abide it or to stand in thy sight Verily no flesh no not the iustest man that liueth this day vpon the face of the earth Therefore O Lord wee returne to thee with our hearts and come home with the Prodigall Sonne although late at night repenting the rude race wee haue runned and being heartily sorrie for the lewd life we haue led we prostrate our selues and fall downe flat to the ground before the Throne of thy Grace beseeching thee as our tender and pitifull Father to embrace vs with the armes of mercy and compassion to turne away thy face from our lothsome sinnes and blot out of thy remembrance our former offences Reuiue O Lord our sorrowfull penitent spirits after the time of our try all comfort our carefull and contrite hearts for giue vs our trespasses Turne to vs in thy mercy which returne to thee from sinne direct our wayes hereafter in the workes of thy commandements increase our Faith and make these thy iudgements and grieuous plagues which thou hast worthily inflicted vpon vs for our wickednes be a caueat and warning blow vnto vs hereafter that wee neuer fall againe to our former folly nor heape vpon our owne heads thy wrath and vengeance lest a worse thing happen vnto vs but that this our chasticement may worke in our mindes true and vnfained repentance So that when thy heauenly hand shall slake from the execution of thy iust iudgement when thy wrath is appeased and wee safely deliuered acquitted and discharged of this misery wherein we are now wrapped we may indeed amend that which is amisse in vs tread Satan vnder our feet contemne the world mortifie the lusts of the flesh crucifie the whole body of sinne and as new-borne Babes shew our selues hereafter more thankefull for thy benefits powred vpon vs in most plentifull manner as for our health wealth tranquillitie and libertie the preaching of thy Gospell the true knowledge of thy will reuealed in thy Word the outward peace of our bodies and the inward comfort of our soules All which graces with many moe wee haue enioyed a long time in more ample manner then any other People or Nation vnder heauen O Lord wee humbly beseech thee continue thy good blessings towards vs thine vnworthy vnthankefull seruants grant that thy holy Name may be so glorified hereafter in all our thoughts words and workes during this transitorie life that in the end when thou hast wrought thy will with vs we may raigne with thee and al the holy company of heauen in the life euerlasting Grant also deare Father relaxation and release of thy plagues and punishments vnto this thine afflicted towne of and to all other countries townes houses and people which be in the like calamity and distresse for the loue and precious Passion of Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in whose blessed name wee bow the knees both of our soules and bodies and humbly prostrate our selues heere before the Throne of thy glorious Maiesty praying vnto thee as he hath taught vs and saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. The third Dutie of the Pastor THe third thing pertaining to a good Pastor is his godly counsell or admonition as for example Good Brother you must now in this time of Gods visitation call to minde your former life The more vicious and faultie you haue beene the deeper you ought to sigh and grone in spirit for your offences and whereinsoeuer you haue displeased God consider that amendment of life to come and repentance for your sinnes past is the way and meanes to become friends with him and to be at peace in your owne conscience But this repentance may not bee in mouth outwardly but inwardly in simplicitie of heart continually detesting that which is euill and ardently louing that which is good and acceptable to God And so though vnworthy of your selfe you may be accepted of God by faith in his beloued Sonne with whom the Father is well pleased but with vs and our vnrighteousnes he cannot bee but highly displeased it is good therefore to acknowledge and confesse your sinne to God and to submit your selfe to his Maiestie by true conuersion and sorrow of heart with an inward griefe and lothing of those sinnes which before you tooke pleasure in and crauing of mercy and pardon at his hands whom you haue
me O Lord a fit sacrifice for thy selfe by punishing my fleshly body and pardoning my sinfull soule Grant mee perfect remembrance of the houre of my death last gaspe that I may thankefully take this thy fatherly visitation and willingly beare my crosse after thy deare Son Iesus Christ my Sauiour O Lord prepare me for the good houre which thou hast appointed for the deliuerie of my soule out of this wretched world settle my thoughts and fixe my faith on the life to come that I neuer shrinke from thee and thy sauing health what paine or torment soeuer thou inflictest vpon mee here on earth yet deare Father let heauen be my reward in the end Finally so dispose of me good Lord as may be most meete for thy glory and mine own saluation in Christ Iesus my mercifull Redeemer and Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour power and praise world without end Amen A Prayer to be said in the pangs of Death O Infinite Deitie and vnmeasurable goodnes O blessed and glorious Trinitie O perfect loue and charitie haue mercy on mee and open the bowels of compassion vpon mee a wretched sinner wrapped in woe and ouerwhelmed with anguish of soule and vexation of spirit Into thy hands O Lord I wholly commit and resigne my selfe make haste O Lord to deliuer mee for it is high time My flesh trembleth my bones are brused mine eyes wax dimme my strength faileth my heart panteth and my sorrow and paine euery way increaseth O mercifull Creator shew mercy to thy creature In thee O Lord alone is all my trust In my misery and smart I haue no other to make my mone vnto but onely to thee O thou preseruer of men Therefore forsake me not vtterly but stand by me and with comfort relieue me in this my extremitie and last combate Stretch out thine arme O Lord and hold thy hands of pitie ouer me that lyeth here in woe and misery O Iesu O sweet Iesu mercie O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me O Father of Heauen help me O holy Spirit of God confirme comfort me O God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me O Iesus my sweet Sauiour receiue my silly soule into thy holy hands Place it O LORD for thy mercie sake with thine owne selfe in thy heauenly Kingdome among thine holy Angels and Saints O my good God and my heauenly Father pitie my case ease my paine comfort my soule and be mercifull vnto me Lord shew the light of thy louing countenance vpon mee And in the houre of my death strengthen my faith So that my body returning to the earth from whence it came my soule may ascend to thee which gaue it and at the day of doome generall iudgement when they shall both meete againe they may rise to life euerlasting thorow our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Short Petitions collected for the Sicke Partly out of other Authors BEhold O gracious Father the body of thy deare Sonne all to rent and torne and remember I most humbly beseech thee of how small base substance I am Behold O good God the grieuous paine Passion of Christ my Redeemer and forgiue the sinnes of me thine vnworthy and vnprofitable Seruant which am therby redeemed O Lord looke downe from Heauen incline thine eares vnto my prayers confort my sobbing soule cheere my carefull conscience increase my faith forgiue me my sinnes and haue mercy vpon me through Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen O Lord I beseech thee mercifully heare my prayers and spare mee which doe confesse my sinnes to thee that I whose conscience by sin is accused by thy mercifull pardon may be absolued through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen O GOD the Father which made mee blesse mee O God the Sonne which redeemed me preserue mee O God the holy Ghost which sanctifieth me confirme and strengthen me The blessing defence and sauing health of the Almighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost preserue mee from all euill and bring mee to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Glory be to thee O Father my Maker Glory be to thee O Sonne my Redeemer and glory bee to thee O holy Ghost my Comforter from age to age from posteritie to posteritie both here and in the world to come and let all people say Amen The peace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the power of his Passion the prayers of his Elect the Communion of Saints the sword of the Spirit and the shield of Faith bee betwixt mee and all mine enemies bodily and ghostly publike and priuate visible and inuisible both now and in the very houre of my death Amen O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Thou hast redeemed mee O Lord thou God of Truth Lord Iesu at thy pleasure and at the time which may be acceptable vnto thee receiue my spirit into thy heauenly Kingdome Amen The third Dutie of the Sicke THe third and last duty of the sicke person is to be patient in his sicknes or any other aduersitie willingly to beare the burthen of Christs Crosse so to follow him for the better performance wherof I haue thought good to annex to the premisses this short Treatise of Patience wherein I will obserue this order First I will perswade by Precepts to suffer aduersitie and all kinde of calamitie Secondly I wil produce out of the Scriptures some speciall and particular examples which may prouoke vs both to suffer affliction and to be patient therein Thirdly I will shew some Reasons to allure vs thereunto 1. Precepts perswading FIrst it is an old saying Patience in aduersitie is a goodly vertue and truely so it is and Patience is a rare vertue and so it may well bee because it is so seldome seene and neuer so seldome as in these our dayes wherein wee haue many motions to euill but few or none to that which is good We offer wrong we will take none Wee giue shrewde words to others wee can brooke none towards our selues Wee haue Eagles eyes to espy a mote in our Brothers eye but like blinde buzzards wee see none at all in our owne We complaine of euery griefe in our selues bee it neuer so little wee pitie none in others bee it neuer so great And therefore we had need both of Precepts to perswade and Examples to prouoke but I feare neither the one nor the other will preuaile or take place in vs. And why Mens hearts are steeped in bitter gall their hands are cruell their feete swift to shead bloud their braine busie to inuent mischiefe And to speake the truth without flattery Loue is lost Charitie is cold Faith is not to be found Pietie maketh mone being pinched by aduersitie and patience is gone beeing forced by extremity Wel what is to bee done in this wofull case Wee must comfort our selues with sentences and examples which are written for our
hee reuile his enemies Doth hee vvithstand his persecutors or doth hee blaspheme his Maker No no He patiently taketh his Martyrdome He doth not curse or desire vengeance from heauen to light vpon his Aduersaries but most humbly falleth downe vpon his knees praying for his persecutors and saying Lord lay not this sinne Act. 7. 60. to their charge Behold heere an example of a witnesse and true Professor of Christ Iesus a Martyr of such modestie and meekenesse as seldome or neuer hath bin seene This Disciple had both learned and recorded his Masters lesson Resist not Mat. 5. euill but loue your enemies Blesse them that curse you Doe good to them that hate you and pray for them that persecute you See how neere this man followeth his Masters manners Christ cryeth in the middest of his enemies Father forgiue them they wot not what they doe Stephen cryeth in the middest of his Stoners Lord lay not this sinne to their charge Christ said in his Passion Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit Stephen Act 7. 59. said in his stoning Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit Christ beeing crucified meekely gaue vp the Ghost Stephen being stoned sweetly fell on sleepe Here the man followed the Master at heeles yea euen to death Well in the extremitie of their sufferings they both haue patience they both pray they both forgiue they both resigne themselues and their soules to him that smiteth and healeth I say no more but God grant wee may tread in Stephens steps and doe as he did and then wee shall haue that hee had that is in the end of our suffering heere on earth wee shall haue heauen opened vnto vs see the glory of God and Act. 7. 55. Iesus standing at the right hand of God But what should I stand longer to repeat the examples of men who are mortall if I should proceede I should be weary in writing and you in reading the examples of those which were neuer weary of suffering There remaineth one Prophet VVhat did I say a Prophet Yea and more then a Prophet of whom all the Prophets haue prophesied The Prince of Prophets the Prince of Peace and the Prince of Patience VVho as he is most commendable euen so he is incomparable I neede not to name him he was named of the Angell in his mothers womb before he was borne into this sinfull world You know whom I meane the King of Glory the Head of the Church the Sauiour of the VVorld Christ Iesus the innocent Lambe of God who patiently suffered death for our sins Of whom S. Peter reporteth saying Christ suffered 1. Pet. 2. 21 for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps VVho being his Fathers best Beloued in whom Mat. 3. 17. his soule was well pleased yet suffered hee continuall crosses He that did many good deeds suffered many euill He suffered the Diuell to tempt him his owne Disciple to betray him the Iewes to deride him the malicious to blaspheme him and his enemies to slander him Againe beeing spitted vpon beaten backe and side buffeted on his face with fists whipped on his bare body cloathed in purple crowned vvith thorne c. hee behaued himselfe as meekely as the Innocent Lamb or shiftles sheepe vnder the hand of the shearer His aduersaries cry alowd Cruoifie him Crucifie him Christ crieth as fast Forgiue them forgiue them They cry against him Hee prayeth for them Hee that might haue commanded all the Angels and Saints in heauen and haue had them at a beck to reuenge his quarrell and defend his innocencie was so farre from requiting wrong that hee sharpely rebuked the rash enterprise of Peter that drew his sword and gaue but one blowe and hee healeth the partie whom he neuer wounded Hee cured the vnthankefull he gaue place to those that laid in wait for him and refused not to kisse the venemous lips of Iudas that betrayed him Hee despised no mans person were hee neuer so poore he refused no mans house were it neuer so homely and yet for all this his doctrine was contemned and his person persecuted He that giueth victorie to those that ouercome was beaten on the face vvith rods He that gaue heauenly and wholesome meate to others had bitter gall offred to himselfe He that gaue the water of life had vineger giuen to drinke He that was Innocencie it selfe was counted among the wicked Hee that healed others was wounded himselfe Hee that was the Truth was condemned by false witnes And he that must iudge all men was iudged of man And when his blamelesse and innocent life drew neere to an end and he ready to suffer a most shameful and bitter death the death of the Crosse How meekely he tooke it how modestly hee answereth how patiently hee suffereth how feruently he prayeth and how freely he forgiueth it is a matter worthy to be noted and printed in the perpetuall memory of man and to be an example to all posterities Art thou a Christian or follower of Christ in his crosse Art thou slandered and handled as hee was Then follow him looke vpon him and take him for an ensample of suffering aduersitie and of long patience Hee was not crowned before hee was crucified and thou must not be crowned before the victory If the world be iniurious to thee Christ is a rewarder cleaue to him forsake thy sinne and take vp his crosse and follow him Forsake the world and feare neither the Diuell nor affliction set Christ naked whipped crowned and crucified continually before thine eyes See how hee was bought and sold hated slandered and reiected of his owne The Iewes cry Away with him let him bee crucified that is let him bee tormented and hanged What euill hath hee done saith the Iudge I finde no fault in the man He hath committed nothing worthy of death I take him to bee an innocent or simple man Let vs therefore whip him and send him packing O no say they if thou let him goe thou art not Caesars friend The Iudge seeming still to fauour his innocencie maketh another offer You haue saith he a custome to let one prisoner loose vnto you We haue one Barabbas who is in for a Bird and fast in hold a Thiefe a Murtherer and a seditious fellow yee shall hang him and save Christ aliue Ah no say they Barabbas is a good fellow Deliuer him and Crucifie Christ Well if there bee no remedy saith Pilate I will Mat. 27. 24 wash my hands here before you all in witnes that I am innocent from the shedding of the bloud of this Iust Man This protestation of the Iudge and cleering of Christ might haue bridled them and their affected crueltie But alas they were as the world is now and euer will be peruerse and wilfull No reason could rule them no counsell could moue them no words could perswade them They runne headlong on their owne destruction saying His bloud Mat. 27. 25 be vpon vs and
Law to doe them Quest 4. Good Lord if this bee true then what a miserable case are all wee in beeing wicked and cursed creatures Answ Truely our state indeede is wretched and damnable and but that God of his infinite goodnes hath prouided a salue for this sore we should vtterly perish and then were 1. Cor. 15. 19. we of all men most miserable Quest 5. Do you beleeue then that there is a salue for so grieuous a wound and a remedy for so great a mischiefe Answ Yea verily I firmely beleeue and know it or else I could not with so cheerefull and patient a minde beare this crosse which God hath now laid vpon me Quest 6. I pray you what remedy is there against the sting of sinne and the curse of the Law Is there any thing in the world that can pacifie Gods wrath and mooue him to such mercy as may cause him to take away this deadly curse and giue vs a blessing Answ Yea God bee thanked that there is I can tell you so much though I be not Booke-learned yet I haue heard it and I doe vndoubtedly beleeue it because Gods Word doth teach it That when there was no means to be found for man to be saued neither in heauen nor earth it pleased our heauenly Father of his meere mercy to send his only begotten Sonne Rom. 8. 3. into the world to the end that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting So that that which was impossible to the Law in as much as it was weake because of the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh I doe therefore beleeue that this Sonne of God Iesus Christ hath quite taken away the curse of the Law Col. 2. 14. and nayled it vpō the Crosse Quest 7. These are good words indeed and generally spoken to all sinners but how can you apply this to your selfe Answ Because I know assuredly that I am Christs and haue the testimonie of the Holy Ghost in mee comforting mee and bearing witnes to my Spirit that I am the child of God and therefore may boldly cry Abba Father Gal 4. 6. c. Quest 8. Then I perceiue if you bee thus faithfully minded as you do professe that you are not afraid to dy neither is death so dread full vnto you as it is to many in these sinfull dayes Answ Although indeed death seemeth detestable to the most part of men especially to impenitent sinners and such as haue the wealth of the world at will Yet notwithstanding I see no reason why any wise man should feare that which cannot be auoided but rather all things considered aright they haue cause to couet it with the holy Apostle Saint Paul who desireth to be loosed and Phil. 1. 23. to be with Christ which is best of all because death is the doore to eternall life for we connot liue for euer but first we must dye And therefore the godly man after he is mortified heere by crosses and griefe of sicknes may cheerefully sing and say with the same Apostle Christ is to mee Phil. 1. 21. both in life and death aduantage And most comfortable to a good conscience is that sentence of Ecclesiastes A good name is better then a Eccl. 7. 3. good oyntment and the day of death then the day that one is borne The Preacher spake not this without booke nor without reason for then we change sicknes for health woe for wealth transitorie vanities for perpetuall ioyes and earthly trash for heauenly treasure c. Quest 9. You are in the right of it and haue hit the naile on the head in this point keepe you there and my life for yours But because I finde you in answering both wise and willing it incourageth mee to bee bold in questioning Doe you beleeue all the Articles of the Christian Faith which the true and Catholike Church doth hold at this day and all other Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the very and liuely Word of God the foode of your soule and the perfect way to eternall life and that there is sufficient matter contained in them to establish your minde and conscience to saluation according to the consent of Christs Apostles in the Primitiue Church Answ I constantly and vnfainedly beleeue all this you haue said to bee true and grounded vpon the Word of God as vpon a sure foundation which shal neuer faile nor fall And therefore it is called the Word of Life the Word of Rom. 3. 16. Grace the Word of Truth and the power of God to Saluation to euery one that beleeueth Quest. 10. Doe you detest and abhor all Idolatry Heresies errors schismes innouations and opinions which in any point do dissent or disagree from this liuely Word of GOD and the ancient Catholike and Primitiue Church Answ As these enormities of themselues are detestable and damnable euen so I do from my very heart detest and abhorre them all and most ardently I imbrace the Truth of Gods Word with all due reuerence to the same as to the heauenly will of GOD therein specified and reuealed to vs by his Seruants the Patriarks and Apostles of God and his Sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiour the Head of the Church And I am desirous to die a member of the same Church beeing the bodie and Spouse of Christ Quest 11. And do you euen in heart reioyce to liue and die in this Christian Faith and in the vnitie of this true ancient Catholique and Apostolique Church militant heere on earth which is and shall be the Communion of Saints the triumphant Church of God in Heauen Ans I reioyce in nothing so much for I know that out of the Church there is no saluation or safetie Those in old time that were found out of Noahs Arke being a Type of the Church perished by water but they which are not of the Catholike Church of Christ shall be tormented in Hell fire which shall neuer bee quenched Quest 12. Good Lord mee thinke it is a fearefull thing that the wicked should enter into euerlasting paine and vnquenchable fire And the words which are vsuall in the Scriptures are able to make any man tremble euen at the heart as Hell Mat. 8. 12. fire the bottomelesse pit vtter darknes vnquenchable fire perpetuall paine c. where shall bee weeping and Mar. 9. 44. gnashing of teeth where their worme dyeth not and the fire neuer goeth out Mee thinks this word neuer is a long one for if there were any hope that euer the wicked might feele any release or easement of their paine or that the damned might haue any end of their torment yea if it were but after a thousand or a thousand thousands of yeeres there were some comfort to be expected in time to come though it were long first yet time would once make an end and weare
whose then shal thy goods bee that thou hast prouided It is wisedome therefore for man to prouide for God then God will prouide for him Therefore good brother I beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ repent and correct your selfe betime reforme your manners and behauiour by the rule of Gods Law that you may auoid the curse thereof and bee preserued and saued that when Iesus Christ shall come to his Iudgement from the highest heauens in power and Maiesty accompanied with his holy Angels and Saints you may meete him with a ioyfull heart and obtaine the crowne of glory and victory which is the reward of Gods children and so reigne with that righteous Iudge in perpetuall peace continuall comfort and endlesse ioy which God grant to you and mee and all that loue his comming Amen And that wee may the better performe the Premises let vs in all our actions set these foure things before our eyes that is the Day of Death the Day of Doome that Condemnation of the wicked and the Saluation of the godly To the wicked and damned sort death is miserable Gods Iudgements terrible and their paine intolerable To the godly and such as shal be saued death is pleasant iudgement comfortable and their ioy perpetuall therefore it is better betime to repent reforme our selues with the godly then to driue off from day to day with the wicked which neither by Gods mercy nor iudgement will bee drawne to amendment but neglect all meanes and occasions and there is no better time nor fitter occasion to prepare our selues to our end then when we feele Gods heauy hand laid vpon vs by any kinde of crosse sicknesse or other visitation for therby God giueth vs friendly warning to make our selues in a readinesse and to giue ouer the world and happy man is hee whosoeuer hee bee which forsaketh sinne before sinne forsake him and that giueth ouer the world before the world giue him ouer for when wee haue discharged our selues of this world and this world shall be discharged of vs then we haue the greatest account of all to reckon for Therefore my deare brother that fearest God and beleeuest in him while thou art now chastised with sicknes and paine and perceiuest death to approach bestur your selfe betime follow Christ at foote prostrate your selfe before him fall downe flat on the earth deny your selfe acknowledge your sin trust in him neuer giue ouer cry and call aloud Miserere mei Domine miserere mei i. Haue mercy on me O Lord haue mercy on mee Cry with the Cananite O sonne of Dauid haue Mat. 15. 22 mercy on me and at length he will looke back take pitty vpon you forgiue you your sinnes and receiue you to his mercy Let the innocent Lamb of God be an example vnto you herein for Christ himselfe in his extreme agony when his sweat was like drops of bloud trick ling downe to the ground yet hee prayed earnestly to haue his Fathers Will fulfilled So must you do that is now weake and feeble in body bee feruent in spirit renounce the wicked world with all the vanities therein tread them vnder your feete Sursum cor Lift vp Col. 3. 1 2 your heart to God meditate vpon heauenly things for it is high time Behold the Sonne of GOD your mercifull Redeemer that sweat water and bloud for your sinnes behold him sitting on the right hand of his Father making intercession for you ioyne your selfe to him pray vnto God feruently in his name and say as he himselfe did in the anguish of his Spirit heere on earth Father into thy Luk. 23. 46 hands I commend my Spirit Thou hast redeemed mee O Lord God of truth Lord haue mercy vpon me and forgiue me my sins Sweet Iesu receiue my soule into thy Kingdome c. I beseech you gentle Brother thinke vpon my words in my absence and continue in this minde hauing a firme faith in Christ Iesus euen to your end And withall take in good part this my friendly admonition Let it worke in your heart true repentance to saluation and if you doubt any thing touching your beliefe life or Religion or any other priuate causes that may in some sort trouble your conscience I pray you let mee resolue you and I will doe my endeuour to satisfie you therein so far forth as may tend to your saluation and comfort which I heartily wish in Christ Iesus And so for this time I leaue you committing you to the tuition of him that is able to saue you The fourth duety of the Pastor THe fourth duety of the Pastour is to comfort the sick in all their distresse danger and feare with sentences examples and perswasions out of the Word of God especially toward their end We feare chiefely two things 1 Death in this life 2. Damnation after death I purpose not to speake much of eyther for if I did I should but make the volume of this book to large and so cause the Printer to waste paper to his further charges and my greater paines and yet say nothing but that which is set downe already by those that are better learned then my self and haue troden the way before mee Therefore hauing partly touched the same in my Questions I wil only adde these few lines following touching both for example sake It is an old rule in Physick Take away the cause and the effect is taken away with it Vnderstand therefore good Brother that the causes why men so much feare death be many according to the multitude of men and their manners The first cause is for that by death they lose many commodities and pleasures which in their life time they did long enioy and haue great delight therein as wife children parents friends lands liuings possessions sumptuous houses buildings worldly honours offices dignities All these and such like be call-backs and dayly coueted while life lasteth and yet dreadfull death dispatcheth vs of all these delights euen at a blow this is the feare of worldlings Secondly we feare death because of weakenesse diseases and bitter torments which are the forerunners warners and messengers of death This is the feare of the flesh The third cause why men feare death is incredulity or lack of faith in Christ This is the feare of conscience and proceedeth of ignorance or lack of knowledge in the Scriptures whereof our faith is grounded The fourth cause why we feare death is the danger of eternall damnation both of body and soule in hell fire This is the inward feare of the spirit But to bee short one comfortable blast of Gods spirit will extinguish and driue all these terrours quite away from vs euen as the winde doth driue away the thick clowds or mists which do separate vs from the light and sight of the Sunne First therefore for the losse of the world and all the drosse therein it is indeede no losse but gaine to those that by death enioy the company of
after Therefore auoid and away Satan tempt mee no longer doe not threaten mee damnation For I know and beleeue assuredly that there is Rom. 8. 1. no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus O how sweet is this blessed name Iesus which signifieth a Sauiour to the pensiue soule of a sinner O how much and how deepely are wee bound to God our heauenly Father for our saluation wrought by this his deare and onely Sonne in whom he acknowledgeth himselfe to be fully satisfied and appeased Mat. 3. 1◠for our sinnes This testimony proceeding from Heauen is so certaine that all the Diuels in hell and enemies in earth shall neuer be able to withstand it for no creature but Christ alone hath power to remit sinnes He it is alone that hath taken vpon him our Esay 53. 4. sinnes and borne our paines They that are strong need not Mat. 9. 12 13. the Physician but they that are sicke Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Our names are Luk. 10. 20 written in heauen and recorded for euer in the Book of Life For God so loued the Ioh. 3. 16 world that he hath giuen vs his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life For God sent not his Sonne into the world that hee should condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued These are comfortable words to all those that are clogged in conscience these are generall words vttered to the wide world by him that came to saue the world by him that hath promised will performe by him that calleth all and exempteth none as appeareth by that generall Sentence which cannot too often be recited Come vnto Mat. 2. 28. me all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you This comfortable call and cheerefull cry of Christ should bee printed in our hearts ring in our eares as an alarum night and day they should awake vs out of the sleepe of sinne and mooue vs to come at the first bidding You see how friendly and fatherly wee are called no place or countrie is excepted no time prohibited no sinner reiected but to all hee calleth and dayly hee calleth Come Come This word may serue for the first Call in this world and warne vs of the last Call in the day of Iudgement for the Iudge shall then rehearse the same Come ye blessed If you will obey the first Call here you shall heare the second Call hereafter to your great ioy and comfort VVe are all heere laden with sinne we are all weary of the burden it is too heauy for the best to beare Therefore let vs come to Christ our Lord and Master for ease hee hath already borne the burthen of our sinnes vpon his owne shoulders and nailed them fast vpon his Crosse VVhen we are most loden then lifts he for life when we are most in misery then hee is most mercifull and mighty when we are falne flat to the earth brought low to hell gate then hee stretcheth out his long and large arme of mercy and plucketh vs out of all danger deliuereth vs from the dunghill and danger of the Diuell and so leadeth vs ready by the hand to his Fathers Kingdome Thus he doth to all there is no respect of persons bond Gal. 3. 28. and free Iew and Gentile He refuseth not Publicans as Zacheus no not VVhoremongers Luk. 19. 5. and murtherers as Dauid not Drunkards as Noah and Lot not great sinners as Mary Magdalen not the Thiefe hanging on his right hand not persecutors as Paul no not swearers forswearers of themselues as Peter but most tenderly and louingly hee accepteth their repentance embraceth them with the armes of his mercie and forgiueth them their sinnes Now therefore good Brother in the time of this your tryall and Visitation I would wish you to apply these comfortable sentences and examples to your selfe for the better safety of your owne soule Are you iniured by your enemies Come to Christ he is able to redresse it Are you falsely accused or slandered You are the more like to your Master Christ Iesus for hee was so handled before you Are you troubled by mighty men Come to Christ for he pulleth down the mighty from their seat Are you forsaken of your friends Come to Christ for he forsaketh none except they first forsake him Art thou tormented with bodily sicknes Come to Christ for he smiteth and healeth Art thou in danger of death Come to Christ for hee is the life that shall neuer haue end Doe you feare hell damnation Come to Christ who hath deliuered you from hell and wrought your saluation who defying the Diuell hath said by his Apostle O death where 1. Cor. 15. 55 is thy sting O hell where is thy victory Let vs clap our hands reioyce at heart and say Thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ VVe may now boldly say with iust Iob the faithfull seruant of God I am Iob 19. 25 sure that my Redeemer liueth and hee shall stand the last on the earth And though after 26 my skin wormes destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh Whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for mee though my reines are consumed within me So that neither death nor dānation is terrible to those that behold Christ aright with the eyes of their Faith A sure faith obtaineth any thing at Gods hands as for example The Mat. 15. 22 woman of Canaan cryed O sonne of Dauid haue mercie on me and her Daughter was healed The Publican cryed God Luk. 18. 13 be mercifull vnto me a sinner and he went home iustified The Centurion beleeued and Mat. 8. 13. his sonne was restored The Mar. 5. 23. Master of the Synagogue prayeth and his Daughter was reuiued The Apostles cry Saue Mat. 8. 25. vs O Lord wee perish and they are saued euery one Not one person can perish Mat. 10. 33 no nor one hayre of his head without Gods diuine prouidence and permission For although our heauenly Father try vs by troubles in this world as the gold is tried in the fire yet after the time of tryall hee is neuer the further off But the more grieuous our sicknes is the greater our afflictions be and the more heauy our hearts waxe the more we ought to reioyce seeing our reward is great in Mat. 5. 12. heauen as Christ hath said whom wee ought to follow with our crosse on our backs here on earth if wee meane to raigne with him in heauen Therefore good Brother in your griefe and agony hold vp your hands and lift vp your heart to heauen despayre not at all feare not too much but be of good comfort And as Saint Augustine faith Aug. sent de Poenit. Ille solus diffidat
sake destroy not this afflicted creature in thy fury suffer not this troubled and tormented person to perish euerlastingly Take away from him good Lord this euill spirit and vilde affection wherewithall he is grieued and turmoiled and indue him with thy holy Spirit which may comfort his afflicted Spirit and frame his disposition heereafter to leade a godly conuersation and a quiet life So that after the tryall and sharpe taste of this thy fearefull iudgement he may make a godly and quiet end and be deliuered from euerlasting damnation and destruction O Lord the mo and the greater his sinnes be so much the more shall thy might and mercy appeare in his deliuerance and restauration Thy mercy O Lord is aboue all thy workes and thy power is wonderfull and inuincible Thou diddest command Mat. 3. 28. the Diuels which were very fierce in two persons yea and so terrible that no man might goe by that way where they were to goe out of them into the Herd of Swine insomuch that they were quiet at thy commandement where before they were bound with chaines and fetters and no man could tame them but night and day they cryed in the Mountaines and in the Graues and strooke themselues with stones Thou diddest also deliuer Mat. 9. 32. a man which was dumbe and possessed with a Diuel so that the people maruelled thereat Thou O Lord with the eyes of compassion and pitie diddest looke vpon the Woman of Canaan who cryed saying Haue mercy on mee O Mat. 15. 22 Lord the sonne of Dauid my Daughter is miserably vexed with a Diuell and her Daughter was made whole the same houre Thou also haddest mercie on the man that kneeled Mat. 17. 14 downe to thee and said Master haue on pitie my Mar. 9. 18. Sonne for hee is Lunatike and sore vexed for oftentimes hee falleth into the water and oftentimes into the fire and wheresoeuer the dumbe spirit taketh him hee teareth him and hee fometh and gnasheth with his teeth and pineth away and as soone as the spirit saw thee O Lord he tare him and he fell down to the ground wallowing and foming But thou incontinently diddest rebuke the vnclean spirit and saidst vnto him thou dumb and deafe spirit I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him and presently he departed and tooke his vltimum vale of him And many other times O Lord thou hast shewed as well thy might as mercie in deliuering the halt the maymed the dumbe the blinde the furious the sicke the Lepers and the lunatike and those which were possessed with Diuels by the ministery of thy Apostles and true Disciples And thou hast moreouer commanded vs saying Go into al the world preach the Gospell heale the Sicke comfort the Weake raise the Dead clense the Lepers and cast out Diuels Grant vnto vs thy deare children and faithfull seruants who are most earnest suters vnto thee at this present that we may in like maner finde fauour in thy sight so farre forth as we may obtain our request at thy gracious hands and haue our Petitions heard and that by the power of thy Word hearty Prayer and a true Faith in Christ Iesus thou wilt put Satan to flight destroy his Kingdome and vtterly extinguish all his suggestions and dangerous temptations and so restore vnto this afflicted person heere present his former health senses and vnderstanding for thy deare Son Iesus Christ his sake Create O Lord a new heart and reuiue thy holy Spirit in him that he do not blaspheme thy holy name but rather take thy visitation patiently and bee content to submit himselfe to thy good will and pleasure So that come life come death come sicknes come health come ioy come pain both he and wee and the whole world may magnifie and extoll thy blessed Name in all actions and as our bounden duty is dayly and hourely giue thee honour and praise for thy great goodnes and mercies towards vs through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A fruit full Prayer in time of any common sicknes or Plague O Lord God of Hosts most mighty and terrible our guide and gracious Gouernour whose iudgements and mercy are dayly and diuersly shewed vnto vs heere on earth whose praise the Angels and Saints aboue extol and magnifie whose power the Diuels themselues are forced to acknowledge and feare whose voice both windes and raging Seas do obey Thou most mighty and eternall God from whom proceedeth blessing and cursing mercy and iudgement health and sicknes Mercy to the penitent and godly iudgement without mercy to the Reprobate and wicked Thou it is which renuest thy plagues against man when hee offendeth whose vengeance from heauen is so sodaine and fearefull towards the rebellious and disobedient that for one sinne in Dauid thou diddest destroy with the lothsome disease of the Pestilence many thousands of his people Cast thine eyes of mercy vpon vs O thou preseruer of men which languish in this Land with the same diseases and sicknes Where not Dauid onely hath offended in trusting to his strength but euery Congregation and euery houshold hath not one way but many wayes prouoked thee to plague so vngodly and vngracious a people and now that the doore of thy store-house is open and thy plagues appeare wee see we haue offended and wee sorrow at the sight of our sinnes Now wee consider wee haue offended grieuously we haue done amisse wee haue dealt wickedly wee haue liued vngodly wee haue swarued from the way of Truth without any godly feare or remorse of conscience Thy benefits of peace health and wealth haue brought too too many of vs to such securitie and contempt of Religion that we abuse thy blessings as fast as thou powrest them vpon vs Our thoughts words and workes are vaine carnall and diuelish The fruits of the flesh haue ouergrowne the force of the Spirit Faith faileth sinne hath gotten the vpper hand and our reason is so ouer-ruled with affections that few are found settled in a dutifull forme of vpright and spirituall obedience Wherefore we confesse thou mightest iustly forsake vs as wee forsake thee and not only proceed to sting the whole body of this Land with sundry Plagues and Diseases but also for our sins condemne vs most iustly to eternall death whose consciences are so guilty that they condemne our selues And yet for all this thy mercy is vnmeasurable towards the humble and penitent though once thou spakest to Ieremy against thine owne people being disobedient to thee saying Though Moses and Samuel Ier. 15. 1. stood before mee yet haue I no heart or affection vnto this people Cast them out of my sight and let them depart some vnto Death some to the Sword some to Famine and some to Captiuitie This people was in a pitiful case and we are more miserable and sinfull and haue deferued a more heauy hand of thy iudgement to bee laid vpon vs. Notwithstanding O Lord wee