precept is more vsuall saith Cyp. among the precepts of Christ than that we should insist or be deligent in giuing of almes and not be greedie of earthly possessions but to lay vp treasure in heauen Sâ—ll your possessions saith hée and giue it in almes And again Lay not vp treasure for your selues on earth c. If thou wilt be perfect goe sell all that thou hast and giue to the poore and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen To conclude He calleth them Abrahams children whom hee seeth to be diligent in helping and feeding the poore 3. Concerning Pilgrimes or Strangers Thou oughtest to harbour Pylgrimes To pilgrimes Hospitalitie or Strangers Such good gests shalt thou receiue cherish and refresh as may no way empeach thy good name or bréede thée any mischiefe Exercise therefore Rom. 12. 1. Pet. 4. Heb. 13. Hospitalitie And bee yée readie to harbour one another without grudging Item Be yee not vnwilling to harbour strangers for by this meanes some vnawares haue lodged Angels And Saint Augustine saith Learne O thou Christian to giue entertainment least peraduenture hee against whom thou shuttest thy doore and to whom thou deniest entertainement be God himselfe Or at least one of Gods Saints of whoÌ„ it is saide whatsoeuer ye did to one of these little ones which belieue in me ye did it to me And contrariwise whatsoeuer ye did not yee neglected to doe to me These things giue to thy neighbour while he is yet aliue And remember that thou art a debter Duties to the dead to the dead Performe to them therefore the last duties of pietie to wit mourning and buriall for as these who are sicke and at the point of death are to bée visited and comforted so those that bée dead must haue their right which are called iust for we ought both to mourne for them and to burie them Wherevpon the sonne of Syracb saith If any man dye bewaile and lament him as if Syrach â—8 thou haddest suffred some great losse and then wind his body according to the custome and see that he may be honestly buried These things shalt thou performe as a man but much rather as a Christian man both to the liuing and dead Now moreouer thou must haue a regard what thy neighbour hath deserued Retribution or recompence of thée and what good turnes thou hast receiued that thou maiest recompence and requit them For iustice requireth that thou retribute and repay the good turns thou receiuedst with good turns as being a due debt Retribute therefore or returne to thy friend friendship and at the least thankefulnes for his well deseruing of thee 1. Concerning friendship Thou doest returne friendship if in good will and curtesse thou doe render Friendship mutuall loue to thy friend Recompence therefore hartie good will with hartie good will enterchange curtesies such as be honest and possible But thou shalt be carefull to set thy affection on such as thou perceiuest to bée With whoÌ„ bent earnestly to true godlinesse and a serious studie of vertue that yee may growe vp together in godlinesse as it were one heart Therefore Eccles saith Ioyne thy selfe to good men and reioyce with them Item A sure friend is Syrach 9. 6. a strong hold hee that hath such a one possesseth a great treasure And Cassian saith That is faithfull friendship and a coniunction indissoluble or a ioynt that cannot be dissolued which is founded vpon equalitie of vertues for the Lord maketh men that are of like manners or conditions to dwel together in one house And therfore in those onely loue can continue without breach in whom there is one purpose wil who wil nil the same thing or one thing 2. Concerning gratitude or thankfulnesse Thou doest returne thankefulnesse Gratitude to thy neighbour who hath deserued well of thée when thou doest render vnto him a thankeful remembrance of a benefit receiued with a willing declaration of thy good will both in word and déed Carry therefore towardes thy benefactors a minde or desire to recompence benefites rrceiued or at the least a heart most readie to wish well But if thou canst requit good turnes receiued with gifts and curtesies Chrisostom saith The best gardian of benefits is the memorie of benefits and a continuall confession of thankes And Bernard Nothing can be returned more acceptable by the receiuer to the giuer than if he shewe himselfe thankfull for that he secretly receiued for he doth reproach to the spirit of grace who doth not take a good turne from him that giueth it with a gratefull minde Thus hauing abandoned vnrighteousnesse labour to attaine righteousnesse 1. Begin I say to enter the way of saluation by Conuerting from euill to good 2. Faint not for any temptations which are in the way 3. But goe forward by denying thy selfe 4. And following Christ in the way of holy vertues by 1. A firme purpose to attaine to vertue by 2. A fortitude ouercomming all impediments by 3. A swéet contentment in vertues possession by 4. A daily examination of our profiting in the way of vertue The Epilogue or Conclusion containing An encouragement or spur to vertue That thou maiest ô man be enflamed in the studie of Pietie and Charitie First by reasons takeÌ„ froÌ„ Christianitie Consider at large these short sayings LEt the most holy and most glorious God allure thée by the perfectioÌ„ of his vertues whose glorie thou oughtest earnestly to further 2. Let the eternall knowledge of God whereby thou art foreknowne prouoke thée to holinesse 3. Let the vndeserued and frée loue of God wherewith thou art loued the mercie and grace of God wherewith he preuenteth thée drawe thée 4. Let thy holy predestination to life first holy or blamelesse next eternal procure thée 5. Remember that thou art created by thy Creator to walke in holinesse and righteousnesse 6. Let the Image of God thy father and Creator whom thou oughtest to resemble not to be a degenerate or vnkindly sonne inuite thée 7. Let the wonderfull benefite of Gods preseruation and gouernment whereby thou art maruellously kept euen vnto this houre exhort thée 8. Let the vnspeakable loue of God the father who gaue his onely sonne to thée and to death for thée encline thée to godlinesse 9. Let the inestimable or vnvaluable benefite of thy Redemption bring thée to an holy obedience for thou wast redéemed that thou shouldest be thankefull 10. Let the patterne of perfection and charitie Iesus Christ whose steps thou must follow enflame thy heart with the loue of charitie 11. Let the dignitie of thy calling lead thée to holines of life for thou art called not to vncleannes but vnto holines 12. Call to minde how thou wast reconciled to God who was offended with thy sins by Christ that thy sins were forgiuen thée that thou mightest liue to God and righteousnesse 13. Let the gifts of the holy Ghost which are giuen thée to sanctifie thée who
whereof is comprised in this Sillogisme or reason Cursed is euery one that abideth not in al thinges that are written in the Lawe to doe them From hence the conscience gathereth but I haue not a bidden in them wherevpon it concludeth Ergo I am accursed Héerevpon ariseth that sorrow or rather horror of mind not so much for sinne which is in the assumption as for the punishment of the Curse which is in the conclusion This Terrour of the Lawe if the grace of the Gospell come not betweene would driue a man to desperation 2 The second sorrow is for Sinne it Sorrow of offence 2. Cor. 2. selfe and for the Offences committed against God it is called Godly sorrow or a sorrow to Saluation The Efficient cause of this sorrow is Efficient cause the holy Ghost who in this case is called the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Spirit of Adoption Abba Father This openeth our mouth and enlargeth our hart to call God our Father and to call vpon him familiarly Now the Instrument whereby the holy-Ghost doth worke this sorrow or Instrument rather loue in our hearts is the Preaching of the Gospell the somme whereof is comprised in this Sillogisme or reason Hee that beleeueth shal obtaine remission A Sillogisme of sinnes shal be iustified and saued From hence the hart by Faith gathereth but I beleeue Ergo I shall obtaine remission of my Sinnes I shal be iustified and saued In this cōclusion as their is matter of vnspeakable ioy So also there is in that same matter of sorrow which is conceaued vpon the knowledge of Gods mercy for offending so mercifull a father Of this sorrow the same Bernard saith Bernard When I bethink me how I haue offēded my heauenly father I haue good cause to be ashamed Sorrow though I be not terrified He hath voluntarily begotten me by the worde of Truth Hee spared not his only begotten for me so begotten So he hath shewed himselfe a Father to me but I haue not againe shewed my selfe a Sonn to him With what face do I now lift vp mine eies to behold so good a Father being so bad a Sonne I am ashamed that I haue cōmitted things vnworthy my begetting Iam ashamed that I Or my kind haue liued so degenerate frō such a father O let mine eyes gush out with water Let confusion couer my face Let shame ouerwhelm my coūtenance darknes possesse it Let my life languish in sorrow and my yeres in mourning fie for shame whatfruit Rom 6 had we of those things wherof we are now ashamed If I haue sowne in the flesh I shal reape nothing of the flesh but corruption if in the world that also passeth the lusts thereof what I haue not beene ashamed wretched mā to preferre transitory vaine thinges whose ende is death before the loue and honor of my Eternall father I am confounded I am confounded to heare If I be your Father where is my honor c. Reuersion or returne to God A descripti-of God 2 Hauing turned frō sin y◠worst euil return to God the best good whom thou hast forsaken Take a view of God who calleth thee to whom thou must haue recourse He is Ens Compleat absolute of himselfe the chéefest good most simple most perfect therfore diuine Eternall before all things in all things after all things and in the highest degrée within all things not included without all things not excluded aboue all things not lifted vp vnder all things not cast downe to this Ens return thou Hee is the cheefe good most actuall most liberall indefficient perfect in him all goodnes Essentially and aboue all Excellency is found from him all goodnes is deriued to all creatures without any diminution to himselfe By cleauing vnto him by Faith and Charitie all the Saints are made good and happy whom by communion and participation of his goodnes he doth fill and as it were make drunke with plentie To this most excellent and most bountifull good returne that being deliuered from euill thou maiest be made pertaker of good Now thou doest returne by Faith and How to remine confidence of minde wholy resting in the mercy of God the Father through Iesus Christ and his merits This is a wonderful and supernaturall faculty of the hart apprehending and receiuing of Christ by the holy ghost and applying him to our selues Heareof riseth an internall and effectuall An Internall perswasion perswasion by the forcible working or certification of the holy Spirit concerning the mercy of God the Father in Christ Verily verily I say vnto you hee Ioh 6. that beleeueth in mee hath Eternall life Item beleeue in the Lorde Iesus and thou Act 16. Ephes 3. Eph 1. shalt be saued Item By Christ wee haue an entrance through confidence Item In whom yee haue hoped after that yee hard the worde of Truth euen the Gospell of Saluation In whom after ye beleeued yee were sealed with the holy spirit of promise Item Which spirit testifieth to our spirit Rom. 6. that wee are the sonnes of God But that this Faith which is the frée The practise of Faith gift of God and is not giuen to euery one may arise in thy hart First thou shalt doe thy endeuour to The knowledge of the Gospell attaine the knowledg of the Gospel by the illumination of the holy Ghost My iust seruant by his knowledg shal iustefie many Especially thou shalt labour by an inward sence of thine owne wants to consider the promises of the Gospell whereby thou shalt giue an assent to the Gospell hard that thou be not in that number of whom it is saide That the Worde hard Heb. 4. did not profit them because it was not ioyned with faith in them that hard it For God would haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the Truth Secondly thou shalt conceiue Hope of pardon whereby thou shalt beleeue that Hope of pardon thy sinne is pardonable though it be not yet pardoned thou shalt say with the prodigal Luke 15. sonne I wil arise and go to my Father and wil say vnto him Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee neither am I worthy any more to be called thy sonne make me as one of thy hyred seruants Thirdly thou shalt eagerly hunger and Hungring thirsting for grace thirst for his grace whieh is offred thee in Christ and shalt earnestly begge that He who is Alpha and Omega the first and the last will giue thee of the fountaine of liuing Water freely When thou art proceeded thus farre Christ doth count thee happy Blessed are they that hunger and Math. 5. thirst after righteousnes for they shal be satisfied Fourthly thou shalt come to the throne Accesse to the throne of grace Heb. 4. of grace that by apprehending Christ there thou maist finde mercy with the father Now in
those businesses and occasions which either hold him in sin or stay him from the race rule of vertue or casteth him into such sinnes as can be by no means excused And so much the greeuouser is the fal as the degree of holines from whence we fall is higher 1. First therefore thou must deliberate Remedies of a newe kinde of life more earnestly to be pursued by a renouation of serious repentance and faith 2. Meditate with thy selfe on thy end which may be sodaine and cannot be auoided and other the last things which follow death 3. Consider that Hypocrisie and dissembling is most odious to God A simple nature saith Bernard such as God is requireth simplicitie of heart woe be to the sinner that entreth the land two waies for no man can serue two maisters 4. Viewe and waigh the life of luke-warme frozen cold men that knowing it thou maiest dislike it disliking it in others thou maiest amend it in thy selfe 5. Cowardnesse and feare must bee Pusillanimitie to be mortified mortified for when a man is entred the way of Christ the mind many times is assailed with griefe either by expectation of some euill or danger approaching or by desperation of safetie or deliuerance from some euil or danger present But bee not dismaied in thy minde Heare and pray to him who saith Say to the faint harted be of good courage and faint not And say with Dauid I Esay 35. Psal 54. did waight for him who saued me from my pusillanimitie of spirit and from the tempest Why fearest thou O thou coward Feare argueth a base minde conceiue a firme hope of the prouidence of God whē Exhortation thou striuest with the anguishes of Pusillanimitie thou must lift vp thy minde to Gods prouidence Resist with a good courage and set thy selfe by the helpe of Gods spirit against the whole rout of phantasies Discusse saith Gregory the mistes of mourning least thou who in the time of tranquillitie didst thinke greatly of thy sefe in the time of perturbation doe confound thy selfe with the terrors of thy base thoughts Peraduenture God will bring thée by this Good effects Pusillanimitie to a studie of humilitie that by it that loftie pride which euen in good actions lieth in waight euen for holy men may be laide flat or hee hath a purpose to purge thy soule of that affection of selfeloue whereby oftentimes thou art wont to please thy selfe more than is méete How be it what is it that thou néedest Comforts against sundry sorts of feare The crosse greatly to feare or be amazed at 1. Is it the Crosse or Affliction If thou be godly the crosse and affliction is to thée ineuitable or not to be shunned it is profitable honorable and glorious it confirmeth thine adoption it renowneth thy vertues it banisheth vices Beare therefore the crosse with a good courage 2. Doest thou feare the anguish of Sicknesse sicknes Thy body is mortall there is no cause then that thou shouldest feare sicknes which leadeth to death Sicknesse bréedeth hollome Philosophy to wit A meditation of death the vices of the mind are cured by the diseases of y◠body thou learnest to abandon selfeloue and the loue of the world and to hope for a better life Faith Hope and Inuocation of God becomes more ardent 3. Art thou afraid of the losse of worldly things Losse of earthly things Trust in God leane on his most holy promises surely Gods truth is immoueable his power impregnable his bountie immeasurable he will not leaue thée nor forsake thée 4. Doth the terror of death trouble Death thy mind Cast off the feare which incredulitie that is to be banished doth strike into thée compare the course of this life with the last period or end thereof Art thou not tossed with perpetuall miserie If thou be wise with the wise man thou Eccles. 1. Commodities of death wilt say Vanitie of vanities al is vanitie Be not afraid of death wherby thou shalt be deliuered from the tyrannie of sinne from the snares of the world from the temptations of Sathan from the rage of false brethren and shalt come to the port of felicitie out of the sinke of euils eternall death shall not touch thee because eternall life is prepared promised sealed and confirmed to thée in Christ Beléeue and thou shalt haue eternall life 5. Dost thou tremble at the assaults of Satan God doth furnish his with strength to resist Satan Being vpholden by the wisdome vigilancie and inuincible power of Christ thy head cal vpon God take vnto thée christian patience cōstancy with the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit and by Gods grace and perseuerance thou shalt be safe 6. Art thou astonied with thy many and great sinnes Sinne. Behold the remission of all thy sinnes purchased by Christ promised giuen and sealed vnto thée why tremblest thou Behold the loue and mercie of God the father the satisfaction and intercession of Iesus Christ and admit the comfort and assistance of the holy Ghost 7. Thou quakest for feare of the last The last iudgemēt Iudgement and Tribunall Be of good comfort and settle thy selfe throughly on the promises of saluation so often repeated in holy Scriptures The loue of God the father and the couenant of his grace through the satisfaction of his sonne Iesus Christ is immutable and he shall bee our Patrone and Aduocate in that iudgement Thou for thy part as often as thou sinnest so often returne to Daily repentance God by a renewed repentance and faith apprehend the grace of God the father the merites of Iesus Christ the consolation of the holy spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance heare the manifold afflictions of this worlde with a patient minde séeing thou hast accesse vnto the Throne of grace powre out thy praiers to thy God sigh and send vp thy affections and thy hope shall not bee confounded but thou shalt enioy vnspeakeable felicitie in heauen Amen The fourth member Profice vlterius Goe yet further forward in attaining righteousnesse VVHen we haue denied vnrighteousnes we must procéede to A transition attaine righteousnes According to that Cease from euil do good vertue must succeed in the place of vice Now in séeking after the way of righteousnes and life beware thou decline not either to the right hand or to the left Let vs then goe forward In vertues and with a good courage In virtutibus In virtute Concerning vertues knowe y◠they are Vertues Gods gifts great goods to be desired for thēselues that they are the gifts of God most precious and with most earnest praier and desire to be begged of him And if thou obtaine them God is to be thanked who hath endowed thée with so great graces The first care must be to attaine them The next is to keepe them when they are gotten Thou shalt both get thē and kéep
expresse his example in the actions of our life God doth shew himselfe a father vnto vs Surely we are too vnthankfull if we shewe not our selues as children to him Christ hath clensed vs by the lauer of his bloud let vs shame to defile our selues with new staines or filthines He hath also inserted vs into his mysticall body let not vs fall away from that bodie by sprinkeling our selues with foule blots The holy Ghost hath dedicated vs to God as holy temples let vs by his helpe who dwelleth in vs make Mat. 5. our light so to shine before men that they may see our good works that our heauenly father may be glorified We haue the Angels our guides and watchmen let vs not by the filthie stinke of our sinnes driue them from vs. Our soules and bodies are destined to heauenly glory and mortalitie Let vs labour earnestly to keep them pure and vndefiled against the day of our Lord Iesus Christ What is therefore for to be done by vs I haue with a good meaning for our mutuall edification in Christ gathered like a Bee and framed out of all the best Authors this fire of Christian Pietie and Charitie that stirring vp one an other brotherly and enflaming one an other in the way of a godly conuersion and holy conuersation we may attaine to the true felicitie of eternall life Take ye this of me your vnworthie Minister with all fauourable countenance reade it with me with a minde desirous of Christian holinesse Let it goe with me and you all our life long He alludeth to the title Vade Mecum Fauour with good will the labours of your seruant studious of your saluatiō tending to Gods glorie Well then ye reuerend men and beloued brethren let vs enter the way of true happinesse by a true conuersion and godly conuersatiō Let vs not faint in the way for any difficultie or burthen of temptations but let vs goe forward in a continuall studie of continencie and obedience vnto righteousnes and by righteousnes vnto the glorie of eternall life And afore all things let vs do our endeuour to learne to denie our selues O how hard and difficult a matter is it for a man to forget and forsake himselfe A hard thing to forsake our selues and to apply his whole soule to the obedience of God How vnpleasant a thing is it for a worldly man not to seeke his owne but by doing all things according to Gods wil to seek the glorie of God Let vs by denying our selues patiently beare the crosse that God doth late vpon vs that we may be conformed to Christ and by humilitie acknowledge our owne infirmitie and begge the grace and helpe of God When we haue thus forsaken our selues let vs not neglect our neighbors From our selues to our neighbours From both to God but rather preuent them with honour and in good earnest imploy our selues wholely to procure their commoditie From our selues and our neighbors yea and from all things let vs cast our eyes vpon God and resigning our selues and all that is ours to his will Let vs yeelde all the affections of our mindes to be subdued by him If any thing fall out prosperously let vs ascribe it to God not to our selues If any thing succeed not according to our wish let vs not be dismayed with impatiencie but if any euil happen vnto vs let vs not therefore recken our selues vnhappie neither let vs complaine against God for our estate Almightie God graunt that by his holy spirit working effectually in our hearts and minds we may with carefull industry search out the way of Truth and Charitie with ardent desire long to come to our heauenly Father and hauing found out knowne the way we may with good courage enter it and with godly care walke in it fleeing the vanitie and inconstancie of the world that we neither goe backward nor decline either to the right hand or to the left The God of mercy and sanctification so frame the course of our liues in the vse of earthly things that we pamper not our selues too much but that we vse the world as if we did not vse it That 1. Cor. 7. we may learne no lesse to beare penury meekly than abundance moderately That we may restraine Luxury our deadly enemy least we turne the helps of our life into hinderances Let vs remember that these earthly things are by the goodnes of God appointed for our commoditie that they might be as pledges wherof we must one day yeeld an account In all the actions of our life let vs carefully looke vnto the speciall calling To looke to our calling wherevnto God hath called vs to do those things which beseeme it and to shunne whatsoeuer is vnseemely for it To conclude the eternall Father grant vs to cōtemne this wicked world whatsoeuer appertaines vnto it and as is meete to meditate on the life to come and the incorruptible Crowne in heauen These things ye Reuerend men and brethren I wish to you and my selfe which my wishes and studies if I shall perceiue not altogether to bee vnpleasing vnto you I shal seeme to haue reaped sufficient and plentifull fruite for my labour in this Booke and peraduenture shall be stirred vp to performe some greater matter The Lord Iesus blesse you all and euery one aboundantly from heauen Amen Fare ye well and liue ye happily At Stoade Idibus Octob 1604. Seneca Epist 116. YE commaund vs say they too hard matters We are fraile men we cannot abridge our selues of all things Hee Answeres Because we loue our vices we defend them And we had rather excuse them than excusse Shake thē off them we pretend we cannot the truth is we will not Epictetus Lib. Dissert Cap. 31. Of Diog. Cyn. I haue no guard no swords nor pompe nor outward terrors In stead of those A good conscience giues me boldnes armes me with power I esteeme Honestie for very loue without lawe or penaltie Other men are harbowred within walles doores or couertures I liue vnder the broad skie and wide world in the eyes and viewe of euery one I desire onely to please God And yet whiles I do thus it falls out that I am railed on yea and beaten but what maruell Of boyes and fooles that cannot abide to be rubd on the gaule yet wil I neither chaunge my minde nor leaue my manner And euen those that beate me I loue as a father or as a brother A Synopsis or viewe of this little booke whose Title is Vade mecum Goe with me Deere Pietie and Rare Charitie This little booke hath six parts 1. A Prologue sententious Foure members 1. Incipe Beginne 2. Ne Defice seu regredere Faint not or goe not backward 3. Sed profice Go forward or profit 4. By denying vnrighteousnes and By following of righteousnes An Epilogue sententious 1. The summe of the Prologue All men desire to Knowe and Liue. LEt vs
first learne to knowe that we knowe how to liue godly Let vs learne to knowe God and To know Our selues For he that knoweth himselfe knoweth God He that knoweth God shall be made like to God c. Let vs so liue here that hereafter wee To liue may liue with Christ for euer For this life is not to be desired for it selfe but for another life vnto which we must come by the gate of death Therefore that we may euer liue with Christ Let vs learne both to Liue and well Dye We learne to liue well by meditating on death Wee learne to dye well by liuing godly We leare to liue godly by dying happily To this way there is a marke set vz. Eternal life And the way to this marke The mark and the way Ioh. 14. How to know the way is Iesus Christ our Sauiour who saith I am the way the truth and the life we attaine to the knowledge of this way 1. By a right vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures 2. By Illumination of the holy Ghost 3. Wherof ariseth an experience feeling God himselfe working in vs. Begin therefore O man Know and Liue. Begin faint not but goe forward 1. Beginne to enter the way of life The first member which leadeth to the marke of saluation The entry is made by a conuersion The Conuersion is made by An auersion from sinne the worst Conuersion twofold Auersion from sin Euill and by A Reuersion to God the best good 1 In turning from sinne consider O sinner thy miserable estate while thou art yet in thy sinne Thou art an enemie to God and he The miserable state of a sinner to thée A friend to Sathan nay a slaue both to Sathan sinne Beggerly filthy and guiltie of eternal death Beg therefore the grace of God which may preuent thée accompanie thée and follow thée Now Gods grace in the Conuersion of a sinner vseth two meanes The knowledge of sinne and knowledge of sinne A consternation of the mind 1. We come by the knowledge of sin by the lawe which is the rule of righteousnes By knowing how sinne is bread vz. 1. Foure waies inwardly in the heart How sin is bread By suggestion delight consent defence 2. Foure waies also is it performed in worke First priuily next openly without shame Then it groweth to a custome At length it comes either to securitie or desperation Consider also the heinousnes of sinne vz. It is an iniurie to God A grieuous waight casting vs headlong A tyranny of satan A gilt not pardonable if Christ had not died The sonne of God must néedes dye to purge it 2. After the knowledge of sin followeth Cōsternation of mind a consteruation or casting down sorrowing for sinnes committed And fearing Gods wrath Hereof ariseth A feare and A sorrowe A feare thréefold Least we be forsaken of grace depriued of the sight of God Feare and tormented in Hell A sorrow twofold The first for feare of punishment which is called a worldly Sorrow sorrowe The second for sinne and offending of God which is called a godly sorrowe Either of them is wrought by the spirit of GOD but by diuers Instruments vz. The first by the Lawe The second by the Gospell 2. In returning to God we must consider Reuersiō to God the nature of God That he is the chiefe good c. We returne by faith resting in the By faith mercie of God the father in the merits of Iesus Christ his sonne This faith ariseth in our hearts First How it riseth the Illumination of the spirit with an inward sense of our own wretchednesse Secondly succéedeth a hope of pardon that although wée feele not our sinnes yet pardoned we hope they are pardonable Thirdly we shall perceiue an hunger and thirst of the grace that is offred vs in Christ Fourthly thou shalt come to the Throne of grace that there thou maiest finde fauour Now in this accesse thou shalt performe Two things in returning two things Thou shalt confesse thy sinnes generally and specially Thou shalt aske perdon of thy sins with groanes which cannot be expressed Fiftly thou shalt by an assured perswasion imprinted in thée by the holy Ghost apply the premises of the Gospell specially to thy selfe Here looke to the practise of Dauids Dauids practise Delaies dangerous repentance And beware of delaies and long lingring meditate the shortnes of thy life And the manifold dangers of delaies vz. The treasuring vp of wrath The alienation from God An euill conscience The offence of the Angels The engladding of Sathan The tragicall ends of impatient sinners Faint not neither goe backward The secōd member When thou hast in some sort learned entred the way of life walke in it with thankesgiuing take héede thou faint not neither goe backward 1. Resist therefore temptations for Temptations God tēpteth and why God to whom thou art returned will try his new souldier Both to stirre thée vp to long for the rest of thy heauenly country And to draw thée from the loue of the world And that thou maiest knowe from dines whence thou hast power to resist Here thou must haue these helps in a rea Ardent Prayer Constant Hope A strong Patience 2. Sathan thy aduersarie from whom Sathan tempteth thou art fallen will sift thée Though he be most subtile as a Serpent yet listen not to him Neither yet trust thine owne iudgement Though he be very strong as a Lion yet resist him being armed with a true faith in Christ wherby thou shalt quench his fierie darts 3. Often times we tempt our selues Domesticall enemies for we haue our domesticall enemies for euery one is tempted when he is drawne away and enticed with his owne concupiscence Against this inward enemie we must make warre continually by mortificatiō 4. Without vs in the world many Externall enemies temptations are offered which may disturbe our wittes But thou O man shalt ouercome them By shunning or remouing the occasions of euill 5. To conclude thou shalt méete with manifold temptations vz. Manifold temtations 1. The memory of former sinnes which griefe is byting but it is not vnprofitable 2. Sometime the remēbrance of former sins with a delight which is very hurtful 3. The troubles and vexation of a Christian life 4. The contempt of the world striking a certaine shame of our profession into vs or alluring vs by his loue to these temptations are set downe their remedies And the danger of Relapse is shewed least the last be worse than the first Relapse dāgerous Dangers of relapse Relaps is dangerous in three respects 1. On the diuels part who séeketh to returne to his house from whence he went out 2. On Gods part whose spirit is grieued and he as it were deluded 3. On mans part himselfe who getteh a custome of sinne hardly to bee recouered Goe forward or profit To goe forward in the
inioy the most pleasant company of thy God thy creator conseruer Redéemer sanctifier whom beholding face to face thou shalt rest in his ioy who shal be all in all vnto thée Thou Cor. 13 shalt be with Christ the fayrest among Iohn 12 men and shalt see his glory which the father hath giuen him 3 Héere shalt thou beare the Image of the heauenly man and with open face 2 Cor. 3. thou shalt behold the glory of God and shalt be transformed into the same Image from glory to glory There that which is perfect commeth in place and that 1 Cor. 13 Math. 13. Luk 20 1 Iohn 3. which is vnperfect shal be abolished and thou shalt know euen as thou art knowne Thou shalt shine as the sunne in the kingdome of God the Father Thou shalt be as the Angels of God and as the sonnes of God are Thou shalt be like to God who appeareth vnto thee 4 Heere shalt thou be gathered to the company of the holy Angels and to the Heb 12 Congregation of the faithfull who are recorded in heauen where is mutuall knowledge perfect loue perpetuall praising of God 1. Pet. 3. 5 Héere thou shalt be replenished with al ioy without tediousnesse in an heritage immortall vndefiled incorruptible To those that loue him God hath prepared 1 Cor. 2. such ioyes as the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither the hart can conceiue in the heauenly Paradice 2 The way to this marke is laid open to The way to the marke Ioh. 14. Ibid. 6. Act. 14 vs. First our Sauiour Christ saith I am the way the truth and the life next it is said by him Euery one that seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him hath Eternall life and thirdly by many tribulations must we enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Therfore Christ is the way we must enter by faith we must walke through tribulations For straight narrow is the Matth. 7 way that leadeth to life This way of life to the iust is good holy right immaculat elect It is vnknowne What manner of way to mans reason few enter into it there are few walkers among so many talkers and vnpleasant and difficult is it to the flesh because of the companions that accompany the Travellers euen the crosse and deniall of our selues Yet this is the way which God hath set before vs which is pleasing to him wherin he directeth vs and which leadeth to him 3 This way is to be learned out of the Where this way is to be learned holy Scriptures rightly vnderstood by the illumination and schooling of the holy Ghost confirmed by vse and frequente meditation till by experience we féele the Spirit of God to worke in our hearts and by practise wée perceiue a chéerfulnes to walke in the waye of Godlinesse The first member Incipe beginne Ierem 6 Enter O man the way of life and looke diligently about thée where that way is and walke in it Beginne the marke is life there is a way that leades vnto it set thy longing to attaine to thy heauenly father from whom thou art declined after the world and the Deuill The first entry by conuersion Conuersion in 2. pointes 1 Acursion from euill Make thy beginning or entry by conuersion let thy conuersion be by auersion or turning away from euill euen the worst euill and by a reuersion or returne to good euen the best good Turne away therefore from euil euen the worst euill which is sinne and turne Ierem 25. vnto good the best good who is God Let euery man turne away from his wicked way and from his vngodly desire Motiues to turne from sinne Alienation from god Consider O thou sinner thy miserable estate whiles thou art yet in thy sinn 1 Thy sinne doth turne thée from God and God from thée whom it greuously offendeth and maketh thée his vtter enemy Now what can be more grieuous then to haue and feele God to be thine Enemie 2 Thou becommest worthy by thy sinne to be forsaken of God and after a sort to Depriuation of graces be brought to nothing being brought to extreame beggery of the Spirit to wit being depriued of Gods grace and glory To be without the chiefe Ens and good is either to be miserable or else to be nothing at all 3 Thy sinne maketh thée of a man a friend to the Deuill yea his seruant and Consorting or seruing of the Diuell slaue and the heyre of hel fire Every man by sinning selleth his owne soule to the Deuill taking the sweetnes of temporall pleasures as a price for it Againe on the other side also thou driuest away from thée As much as in thee lieth by sinning the good Angell thy kéeper 4 Sinne is a most filthy thing as the scripture setteth it out like mire wherein The filthines of sinne swine wallow like dreggs rottennes corruption leprocie Behold the prodigal Luke 15. sonne wallowed in the mire of Luxury at the last liuing among an heard of Swine Looke also if thy soule stinke not by the putrifaction and corruption of the wouÌ„ds of thy sinnes 5 If thou wax olde in thy sinne O thou Custome of sinne daungerous least impatienie follow sinner it will exercise a great Tirannye ouer thée by custome and by custome of sinn Satan so that thou shalt not repent though thou sometimes desire to repent For sinne is barbarous and exerciseth tiranny ouer the Soule that is once taken captiue to the ruine of thâ—se that receiue it chrysostom I confesse I sighed not being bouÌ„d with yroÌ„ chaines but with mine own yron wil mine August lib 8 enemie had possessed my will and had of it made a chaine for me and had bound me fast I strugled with my selfe and was ouerthrowne of my selfe 6 Whilest thou continuest in sin thou dost sustein the gyft of eternall punishment that is thou art depriued perpetually of the Eternall punishmeÌ„ts vision or sight of God and art tormented with euerlasting paine of most ardent fire Epilogus Call to minde therefore with me the miserable state of a Sinner thou art Gods enemy depriued of gods grace most beggerly most filthy a slaue to the Diuell vnder the tirrany both of Sinne and Satan an heyre of Hell Turne therefore from this worst euill But that thou maist conuert by turning from euill and returning to God Gods helpe to be craued thou hadst néede of the help of Gods grace to preuent accompany and follow thée For it is God that giueth Repentance by Grace threefolde 2. Tim 2. the knowledge of the Truth that wee may recouer out of the snares of the Diuell who are holden Captiue at his will It is God that worketh in vs both to wil Phillip 2. and to performe Say therefore with ioying Conuert me O Lorde and I shal be Ierom. 31. de voc gent Lib. 2. The working of
this accesse thou shalt performe two things First thou shalt humbly purely and Confession of sinne faithfully confesse thy sinnes generally and in particular Whervpon shal follow remission of them before God According to that I wil make my sinne knowne Psal 32. vnto thee and mine iniquitie will I not hide I said I will confesse my defaults vnto thee O Lorde and thou tookest awaye the punishments of my sinne Say with the Prodigal sonn Father I haue sinned against Luke 15. Heauen and against thee neyther am I worthy any more to be called thy sonne Secondly thou shalt intreat for pardon Intreating for pardon Rom. 8. for thy sinnes with grones that cannot be expressed and that with continuance In which case the spirit will helpe forward our infirmities For we know not what to aske as we ought but the spirit entreateth for vs. Finally to conclude a certaine and speciall perswasion must be sensibly and effectually A certayne perswasion imprinted in the hart whereby the promises of the Gospell must be applyed to thy Faith that Christ may speak inwardly to thy hart Be of good comfort my Sonne thy sinnes are forgiuen thée Sée therefore O man thou that returnest to God that thou giue thine assent vnto the Worde of God and withstand doubting and distrust and then by experience thou shalt féele a sence of ioy and comfort A patterne of the practise of Dauids repentance Dauid after his fall repenting giues the first place to the knowledge of his Knowledge of sinne sinne Haue mercie saith he on me O God after thy great mercie And vpon Psal 51. which Psalme Gregorie sayeth I should despayre of the healing of my wound If I did not presume of the omnipotencie of my Phisition Let others seeke for small mercy that haue sinned ignorantly I as I haue grieuously falne so haue I greatly offended But thou O omnipotent Phisition dost both correct the contemners and instruct the ignorant and pardon the confessors I doe know mine owne wickednesse and my sinne is alwaies against mee Here is present sayeth Gregorie the miserable Gregorye man let mercie also be at hand I know my own miserie if I did not acknowledge my selfe miserable I should not labour in mourning 1 I acknowledge that I haue sinned of Manifold acknowledgements mine owne accord and wicked will therefore I doe not hide mine vnrighteousnesse I know from what I am falne and what I haue incurred I know to whom I haue inthral'd my selfe by sinne euen to the Diuell the enemie of all goodnes I know the blot that I haue gotten by sinne and the filth wherewith I haue horriby defiled my selfe 2 I acknowledge that I haue sinned against Manifould wayes against God thée onely and done euill before thée against thee my Creator whom I vnhappy creature haue not serued but haue rather cleaued to the creature then to the Creator Against my Lorde against whome I as a most wicked seruant haue rebelled to obey thine enemye against thée my Law giuer whose will while I shoulde haue followed I haue shamefully despised and to satisfie my lust I haue transgressed thy Lawes Against thee my most louing Father for whose innumerable benefits I haue béene so long vnthankefull yea with whose benefits beeing fatted and pampred I haue kicked against thée my Father and being forgetfull of thy loue I haue preferred mine owne Loue and the Loue of the Creatures before thée Finally against thee my good God most mightie most iust haue I sinned whiles I haue departed from thée on whome I should wholy haue depended and in whome onely as my ende I should haue rested 2 After the knowledge of sinne came A consternation Psal 6. a feare or coÌ„sternation of his mind which did inuade his minde Lorde sayeth he rebuke me not in thy fury neyther chasten me in thy wrath 3 Héere vpon a great sorrow possessed Sorrow for sinne Ps 38 his hart Mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and are like asore burthen to heauy for mee to beare my wounds are putrified and corrupt through my foolishnesse I am racked and vexed exceedingly my hart panteth my strength hath Ps 51. forsaken me c but an humble and contrite hart thou wilt not despise Hope of pardon psal 6. 4 Hope of pardon succéedeth Turne thee O Lorde and deliuer my soule saue mee for thy mercie sake because in death no man remembreth thee and in Hell who will confesse thee As my soule sayeth Gregorie is turned to thee by the storme of repentance so turne thou to Gregorie me by the calme of mercy and being turned to me deliuer my soule And therefore Dauid saieth to his soule why art Psal 42 thou cast downe O my soule and why frettest thou within me Trust in God for I will yet praise him 5 After hope of pardon Dauid communeth Faith pâ—al 25. with God and resteth in him O my God in thee doe I trust let me not be put to confusion The Lorde is my saluation In thee O Lorde doe I hope let me neuer be confounded 6 Out of this Faith breaketh out from Confession the soule a coÌ„fession watching to heauen I said I will confesse my sinnes vnto the Psal 32. Lord and thou tookest away the punishment of my sinne My sorrow is euer Psal 38. in my sight for I will open my iniquitye before thee and bee carefull for my sinne 7 A purpose of amendment of life followeth Purpose of AmendmeÌ„t Psal 6. Psa 39. Depart from mee all yee that worke iniquitie For the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weepinâ— I saide I will take heede to my waies that I offend not in my tongue 8 Finally he reioyceth with an inward Inward ioy and peace Psal 103. sense of ioy and peace Praise the Lorde O my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thy diseases he will not alway be striuing or chiding neither keepeth in his anger for euer c. Returne into thy rest O my soule because God hath beene bountifull to thee Thus doe we depart from euill not Counersion not without greefe without a sorrow of euill that is wee are sorry wee haue béene euill neyther doe we approach to good as to God without Faith in him For hee that will come to Heb. 11. God must beleeue that God is Now this departing from euill and approaching to good imports a certaine Conuersion imports a change vnde et alio Threefould chaunge which hath two tearmes or bondes vz from whence and whether This chaunge is in the minde will and harte An the minde there is a change of the 1 In the mind Iudgement and counsell The minde disaloweth the euill that is done and alloweth the good that is to be done 2 In the will In the will the chaunge is on this wise the will refuseth the euill which hetherto it
commandements and following thy example I may through patience inherite the promise through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull 5. Against Enuie pray thus father who hast commanded vs to loue our neighbours as our selues the poyson against which loue is Enuie which sorroweth at the prosperity of our neighbor and ioyeth at his miserie Giue me grace therefore O Lord to shun this plague which hurteth more the possessor than him that is enuied For the auoiding whereof Grant mee grace to contemne all humane things to long for that heritage which multitude of heires doth not strengthen that I may reckon the gifts of my neighbours as mine owne and communicate my gifts with them that Enuie being set apart we may reckon that ours which they possesse and that we possesse may be theirs as Members of one body whereof Christ is the head O Almightie God and most mercifull father who resistest the proud and giuest Against Pride pray thus grace vnto the humble For as pride is the roote of all euill so it is the ouerthrowe of al vertues and as an infectious disease corrupteth all the faculties of the soule Giue me grace therefore O Lord to beate down this great euill By taking a diligent viewe of my selfe that finding mine owne wants I may lay downe my Pride By conferring my state with the first estate of our first parents I may see from whence I am fallen By knewing the lawe I may knowe my owne infirmities And by setting before me Christes example I may learne Humilitie who when hée was Lord of Men and Angells yet became a perfect patterne of Humilitie and Contempt of the world that we being humbled in our selues might â—e exalted of thée Through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull Against dulnes in 〈…〉 exercises pray thus father I acknowledge my dulnes and lukewarmnes in going forward in the way of life whose effects daily I féele in my selfe For. How often doe I pray without attention and feruencie of spirit How often do Ill effects I meditate diuine things without affection of my minde and therefore without fruit How hardly doe I rid my selfe from ydle companie How seldome doe I returne into my selfe to gather my spirits to examine my own state I looke into my selfe as it were through a Lattice without repentance or amendment of life I talke freely of other men and seuerely censure their déeds and words O how willingly doe I passe my time in vaine showes or outward things to relieue my wearines How often doe I séeke comforts here and there solace my selt with ydle thoghts How grieuously do I bear discipline correctioÌ„ I obey laws but for a fashioÌ„ with lothsomnes vnwillingnes O how often do I auoide labours which are necessary and profitable to saluation I séeke to bee gracious and in fauour with men How doe I neglect the vse of the Sacraments How seldome and negligently doe I heare godly Sermons How carelesse hitherto haue I bene to auoide sinne How presumptuous of mine owne strength How much haue I pampered my selfe making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes thereof I call to minde my olde manners and the pleasures of sinne not with griefe and disliking but with a delight and liking Grant me therefore O Lord thy Dangers of Lukewarmnes grace that I may ouercome this roote of vices I acknowledge the daÌ„ger wherein a Lukewarme man doth stand whom thou hast threatned to vomit out whose state is miserable and end searefull Giue me grace therefore not to fall backe into mine old sinnes that I be not in danger of a greter ruine but that recouering out of the gulfe of these mischiefes I may with a more chéerefull minde runne the way of life Stir vp in me O Lord an Remedies ardent desire of newnesse of life make me continually to meditate on my ende which if it should happen to be sodaine and I vnprouided the things that come after will be more grieuous which my end that it may be blessed I beséech thée for Iesus Christ his sake c. Amen When thou art entred O my soule In case of Pusillanimitie or feare a coÌ„municatioÌ„ with the soule the way of life thou art perhaps grieued either with the expectation of some euill at hand or with distrust of deliuerance from some euill present But pray O my soule with Dauid I expected him who deliuered me from my feare and from the storme Conceiue an assured hope in Gods prouidence and flée to him in the time of trouble Peraduenture he will humble thée by this temptatian to beate down thy pride which assaulteth the godly euen in holy actions or be purposeth to purge thée of selfe-loue whereby thou pleasest thy selfe many times more than is meete But what is it O my soule that thou néedest feare Doest thou feare the Crosse and affliction The crosse not to be feared If thou be godly the Crosse and affliction as it cannot be shunned so it is profitable and glorious to the godly It abateth vices it encreaseth vertues it confirmeth our Adoption c. Beare it therefore patiently and couragiously 2. Doest thou shrink at sicknes Thy Not sicknesse body is subiect to death why then doest thou so grieue at sicknes which prepareth to death which to the godly is a passage to life Moreouer the sicknes of the body doth many times cure the diseases of the soule 3. Doest thou grieue for the losse of Not losse of worldly things worldly things Belieue in God take hold of his promises He will not leaue thee nor forsake thée 4. Doth the terror of death astonish thée Not death Cast off feare which riseth of infidelitie Compare the course of this life with the last periode thereof Art thou tossed with continual miseries Feare not death which shall deliuer thée from the tyranuy of sin from the deceits of the world from the temptations of Sathan Eternall death shall not touch thée because life is prepared for thée in Christ 5. Doe the assaults of Sathan terrifie thée Remember that God doth arme Not Sathan such as be his with power to resist Satan Thou shalt ouercome by Christ our Captaine Call vpon God and arme thy selfe with the Shield of faith the sword of the spirit c. And by Gods grace thou shalt ouercome 6. Art thou amazed with thy many Not many or great sinnes and great sins The remission of thy sins is sealed and confirmed to thee by many and great promises by Christ and in Christ therefore thou oughtest not to 1. Ioh. 2. feare If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate to the father euen Iesus Christ the righteous 7. Doth the terror of the last iudgment Not the last Iudgment make thée tremble Cast off this feare call to mind the loue of God the father in his sonne and that the same Son of God is both thy
aduersitie to fall from good to euill Graunt me méeknesse whereby my Meeknes soule may so appease the rage of Anger that it preuaile not aboue reason and put it out of place but that it may encline rather to pardon than reuenge To conclude graunt me humilitie that Humilitie I waxe not proud in opinion of my gifts or graces aboue other but truly acknowledging my owne infirmities I may not onely not preferre my selfe before other but also preferre euery one before my selfe So shall not my Angry part breake forth like a wilde beast into rage but be a furtherance to me in the course of vertue Through Iesus Christ Amen Giue me grace O Lord to moderate The concupiscible part my lusts by Temperance in Abstinence and Continence Graunt that I may restraine the desires pleasures and delights of the Temperance body which being naturall are the more hardly restrained Let my soule therefore striue against them by temperance in vsing moderately meates and drinkes ordained for the nourishment of the body that whether wée eate or drink we may doe it to thy glory Grant me Chastitie to contemne my Chastitie Lusts in a holy moderation of the parts giuen for generation that I may kéepe theÌ„ within the bounds of the lawful vse ordained by thée in holy wedlock That my Lustes by thy grace being Chastised they may not rage to make me brutish nor defile my soule to make me odious to thee but being by thy grace and spirit subdued my soule and body may be an holy Temple acceptable to thée Through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almightie God and most merciful Goods of the body father thou hast giuen vs leaue to take care for our bodies â—o that the same be moderate Giue me grace therefore so to prouide Life and health for my bodye that I make not prouision for the flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof but that the care of life and health which we séeke to preserue may by thy goodnes be so blessed that I may be the better able to performe the duties of my calling And if my health be impaired grant O Lord that the meanes which I shal vse to remoue diseases may by thy goodnes In sicknes take good effect And that whether in sicknes or health I may be both content and thankfull to thee who knowest best what is best for euery man and turnest all to the best for them that loue thee Through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Thou also hast commaunded vs O Lord to conteÌ„t our selues with our estate 3. External goods whether in pouertie or riches whether in contempt or honour Giue me grace therefore with a thankfull minde towardes thee to content my Contentment selfe with my lot and not to séeke by gréedie care to encrease Graunt that I may by godly industry Godlie industrie get my liuing neither enriching my selfe by vnlawfull meanes nor eating the sweat of other mens browes but eating the lawfull labour of mine owne hands Possessing riches holily and vsing them frugally Graunt that I may by vertue godlines Honest fame and honest arts purchase a good estimation and report with the good and honest that as farre as is lawfull I may regard the estimation among men and where it is not attained but with euil circumstances I may contemne it together with all false reports and contempt of the wicked and malicious so that there be alwaies within my selfe the testimonie of a good conscience towards thée That finishing the course of this life in an holy calling whether through penury or aboundance through contempt or honour I may attaine the celestial crowne through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull 3. Towards our neighbours father thou hast taught vs that we are not borne to our selues but that wée should loue our neighbours as our selues I acknowledge therefore that Iewâ— vnto my neighbors the duties of Iustice both to all in generall and to some specially both to the living and to the dead both in inward affection and in outward effect Giue me grace therefore to embrace all men as men yea as thy Image with To all men a louing affection wishing vnto them all good as to my selfe and as much as lyeth in me to be at peace with all men Yeelding due beneuolence vnto all men in countenance gesture word and déede helping and furthering them to the vttermost of my power Grant that I may through true charitie To some speciall haue a feeling of other mens miserie to suffer with them that suffer through true loue to relieue them to giue almes to the poore to harbour the strangers c. That I may be partaker of that blessing Come ye Blessed in herit the kingdome c. Giue me grace to yéelde vnto my superiours reuerence and obedience as vnto thee and forthée To my Inferiours humilitie and beneficence in conference and conuersion To my friends mutuall loue and gratitude in affection of heart and signes of thankfulnes And because thou hast commanded vs To the dead to doe good euen vnto the dead Graunt that I may bee readie to performe vnto the dead the last Christian dutie in moderate mourning ouer them and decent buriall of their bodies in hope of the Resurrection not forgetting to shew my good will and liberalitie towards their posteritie their widdowes children and kindred c. That in this wise performing the duties The conclusion of Iustice required of euery Christian hauing by thy grace O Lord Entred the way of godlines and charitie And Fainting not in the same but going forward not onely To the deniall of all vnrighteousnesse but also To the practise of righteousnesse euen with perseuerance I may in the ende attaine the crown of glory by Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The Epilogue consisting of Reason and Sentences both of Christians and Heathens to stir vp our endeuour loue to Pietie and Charitie Is referred to the Members of the former treatise Therefore they are easily conuerted to our vse by the prayers aboue framed God grant this booke and labour may haue good successe according to the Authors wish in his Epistle Dedicatory Amen FINIS