thy seruice to thy seruaunts Blesse vs in this part of thy seruice prayer and thanksgiuing to thee and Because none are to meddle with anie part of thy seruice but thy called seruants good Lord bestow that grace vpon vs that we feele more and more our effectuall Calling before wee presume to come neer thee becaus each duty is to be done by and in the name of thy sonne we confesse that till our ingraftment into him by grace the appreheÌ„sion of faith through thy spirit our effectuall calling doth not appeare so that if we waÌ„t faith thy spirit we must not intrude our selues into thy sight but our attendaÌ„ce is vpon the diuell and thou wilte not part seruice with him O Lord in the weaknes of faith we presume accept of vs be in the middest of vs thou hast strongly vs called to obedience in this and all other things by worde and worke it is a dept therefore to be rendered heare of vs Lord receiue it we confesse our sinns haue driuen vs far awaie they are many and great thy Curse is the due of them to our shame we confesse we haue beene warned and yet since warning against our knowledge and conscience of forgetfullnes weaknes and sometime of frowardnesse we haue of our naturall inclination as lightly esteeming thee thy law transgressed offeÌ„ded Nowe Lord albeit wee can destroy our selues yet we Cannot saue our selues wee intreat thy Ritch mercy for our pardon our sauiour Iesus Christ for our ful satisfactioÌ„ Lord in that mercy pardon vs in Iesus christ be coÌ„tented wel ple-w t vs for former conceiued displesurs forget theÌ„ in the multitude of thy coÌ„passions remoue theÌ„ with sin of al kinds the cause of them and so iustice being answered thy wrath appeased hel gates shut a conquest assured Let vs walke in the coÌ„fort of this peace yea in holines assuraÌ„ce of it as we haue lost all by that life rule of sin so we pray that let vs find our selues restored by the death and captiuity of sinne let our vnderstanding be lightned let our memory be sound let our wills be holy let our affection be honest let our conscience be tender and ready to euery good exhortation let our apetites be sober let vs be free from bondage to prophanenes in al our faculties in all our liues at all times and in all places let vs perseuer striue and ouercome Let vs be armed and watch let vs heare read and pray let vs meditate and study in thy loue let all sad motions and passions be examined and if ill suppressed let vs resigne al our bodies and soules holinesse vnto thy seruice Let vs not want that we ought to haue let vs not haue that we ought to waÌ„t or that is good to be wanting Lord let vs shew mortification in al our behauiour Let the life of righteousnes appeare in all our actions inward and outward secret open Let vs Regard our callings the duties belonging to the same Let vs haue grace to finde out all the sound and peculiar Euidence of thy kingdome let vs determine to keepe thy word let vs vowe it whatsoeuer standeth in the waie O Lord be our keeper in our waies this day and for euer looke from heauen vpon thy whole Church euery member of it militant that hath neede of the prayers of thy saintes especially this part of it where we liue and aboue euery particular member Lorde let it please thee to regard our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiesty with his Queen the noble Prince of Wales their Son with the residue of that Royall issue haue an eie deare Father to his Maiesties honorable priuy Councell to councell them and to the trusty nobility to sanctifie them and to all subordinate maiestrates of City and Cuntry to be the God of gods among them and to stir them vp to stand in the gap and to take thy part against the Diuell and his and to animate them blesse them hereunto and to guide them Let thy word haue a free passage let all lets be remooued let the piller and cloude of protection further it night and day· Let all that are able and willing to help in Macedonia be called in and countenaÌ„ced let knowledge heale painfulnes a godly life appear in all thy ministers Let hearing and obedience meet in all thy people becaus few preferred by thee doe prefer thee before their chiefe ioyes O Lord turn their harts as they beloÌ„g to thee let generall consideration hee had of the beneaÌ„ts thou bestowest to mooue the hearts of al high and low to put to hand to help thee against Anti-christe and the diuell and let the corrections of thy hande especially that heauy rod and stroke of the pestilence continued and greatly spread through the kingdome this foure yeares be stayed let there be an humiliation proportionable generall earnest true vnfained without delay Least thy angell haue his commission inlarged not onely to kill hundreds but thousands as not long since not onely thousands but millions O Lorde stop yet the mouth of our cheefe crying sins in the howse of Dauid in the house of NathaÌ„ in the house of Leuie in all the howses of Iudah let a search bee made good Lord for Achan for Ionas that our state may be calme and the Epha sent into Shinnar Lord help thy church in all places and in all things let Babilon fall let the Iewes come on let all them be as Meroz that haue ill will and no good will to Sion Amen Euening Prayer O Rich God infinite in all goodnesse we presume again to resort to that ouerflowing fountain Lord turn vs not awaie though we be fools like thy seruant Gedeons Armie that we cannot tell the fittest way to take in the sweetnes of thy goodnes yet accepte of our weaknes because that good minde and harte we haue thou art the author of it thou hast called and beckned vs to thee now we are come to know thy good plesure to beg from thy liberality what shall please thee thy doâ—e of mercy is euer open to thy saintes and thou fittest as Abraham at the dore to entertaine poore weary and heauy loaden ones and we know thou hastest to meet vs to do vs good like a good God according to thy accustomed goodnes we are therfore confidently comforted that in this that the least soule-whispering of an adopted child is as odours to thee though it be silly and as the chattering of Ezechiah O Lord we willingly confesse to thy praise that thou hast hearde our praiers offered to thee in the morning we haue through thy mercy fared well this day in soule and body not withstanding the spight of Satan the malice of our sinne the pestilent enmity of corrupt nature and the enuy of the world and the deceits of others among whom we dwell O prouident kind Lord and Father we haue
brethren and to bewaile their wretched estates Sinne neuer more than in these our dais of the gospel abouÌ„ded the gretest part of the world at Sathauists diuels in conuersation worshippers of the vgly beast that hath seueÌ„ heads ten horns whose badge is blasphemy of that daÌ„ned serpeÌ„t the prince of the air the graÌ„d enemy of mankind that goeth vp and down like a roaring lion seeking whom he may deuoure Yea Saint Iohn saith that Whatsoeuer is in the world is either the coÌ„cupiscence of the flesh or the concupiscence of the eye or the pride of life hac tria pro trino numine mundus habet this is The Trinity which the world doth worship In stead of God the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost the world doth worship the diuel the world and the flesh the concupiscence of the flesh that is carnall lâ—turye the concupiscence of the eye that is worldly couetousnesse eche priâ— of life that is diuelish ambition The way to hell is abroad a wide way whole multitudes walk in the same but few there be that can finde out the narrow way of anâ—mâ—t of life the Heathen man could say this Plurima pessima the most are the worst preciosa non sunt numerâ—sa good meÌ„ are od men Wasps and hornets swarm but few painfull bees are to be found the treasure vp the hony of good works in the hiue of their hearts and come laden home with the same as Virgil writeth of the Bees At fessamulta referuns se nocte minores crura thymo plena No maruail therfore if Dauid cried out to the Lord for help in his daies saying Helpe Lotâ— helpe for good and godly men decay The world therfore may be compared to the earth Aske the earth it will tell thee that it doth affordé much matter for base pets but very little stuffe for Golde ask the Gardner and he will tell thee that he hath more Nettles than Rases more Weeds than flowers more â—rambles than Vyâ— you aske thine owne conscience and it will tell thee that there is Magna plâ—itudo hominum sed magna solisudo homorum id est there is a great plenty of men but there is a greate scarcity of goodmen A good man is a Phenix he is Rara anis in terris nigroâ—ua â—llima cygâ—i A rare bird a blacke â—an Wee haue many couetous Churâ—s that will with the foole in the Gospell commend their soules to Plutus that was colled of the bâ—athen Deus diuitiaâ— The god of riches but more â—ly he is Dâ—mon diuitiarum the diuell â—f riches and thinke themselues safe when they haue spoken peace to their souls on this manner Soule take thy rest for thou hast goods laid vp for many daies making their chest their heauen and their pictures their GOD. Wee haue many Achabs Tyrannicall extortioners deuourers of their brethren eating them vp like bread Many adulterers as appereth by the great number of Bastardes in this Realme Many rebellious traytors and Antichristian conspirators as did appeare the last Nouember Many conceyted Herodes many proude Nebuchadneâ—rs and many vaine glorious Iâ—bels many swearers forswearers drunhardes mocks-goâ—s many wee haue in a worde damned belboundes cursed ceâ—tifes and most miserable miscreâ—ts How little doe these lamentable wretches think of 〈…〉 of accounâ— how little do they imagin of that â—ofull sentence Goe from me ye cursed c. the Lorde grant to all men onâ— with another his grace that they may haue this Scripture alway sasâ—ding in their eares Of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the daye of iudgement The consideration of this last day made Ierome afraide to offend Whether I eate or drinke sayth hee or whatsoeuer I doe else me thinks I heare this saying sounding in myne eares Arise ye dead and com to iudgement The which when I consider it makes mee quake and shake and not dare to committ sinne which otherwise I shoulde haue committed O that men woulde remember their ende then they should neuer offend O that men woulde alwayes set before their eyes the quatnoâ— nonissima the day of death the day of iudgement the ioys of heaueÌ„ and the torments of hel then would not men liue so loosely but they would with al diligence worke out their saluation with feare and exembling the which care of godlinesse the lord grant to al men Thus much shal suffice for this first part of this Scripture namely for the parties that shall giue an account who they be namely all men whatsoeuer But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall speake they c. 2 Of what things must we giue an account There must an account be made of many yea of things innumerable but especially of these fiue 1 Of the thoughts of our hearts according to that of SalomoÌ„ there shall inquisition be made for the thoughts of the vngodly there shall not a wicked thought passe in iudgement If Adam had committed but one disobedient thought in heart against Almighty God with full consent of will to haue performed the same and though be had not actually broken Gods commaundement it was necessarie that the seâ— Adam who is a rayser of our ruins the ransom for our offences and the restorer of life shold come and suffer the cortures of hel as he did or els we with Adam had gone the high way to eternall 〈◊〉 No marualle therfore if our Sauiour Christ accounted him an adulterer that lusted after a woman saying VVhosoeuer looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart It is the malicious nature of the diuel as saith Barnard to inâ—ise meÌ„ to mischiefe Damorum est mala suggerere nostrum est noÌ„ consentire It is the property of the diuel to intice and suggest men to euill it is our partes not to consent to his inticements but to resist them maÌ„fully according to that of Peter VVhoÌ„ resist ye stedfast in faith The diuell outwardly by the world and inwardly by the corruptioÌ„ of our nature doth daily allure vs to sinne Now if we consent to those his wicked motions whether wee performe them outwardly in art yea or no before God wee haue committed the sinne according to that of Iohn He that hateth his brother is a manslayer because in will in wish and in desire be hath already slaine him although be doth not bring it into outward act either for feare of the lawe of man in that case or for want of iust and â—e oportunity for the effecting therof Yea the sin of thought the sin conceiued in the heart of man is not only a sin but it is the roote beginning of all sins whatsoeuer for it is not that which goeth into man that defileth him but that which coÌ„meth out of him that is that which procedeth
trueth in his words yea he reporteth of himselfe in John that he is via voritas vita the way the truth and the life He therefore that speaketh truth to his neighbour sheweth himselfe to bee the child of Christ Iesus the fountaine and origo of al truth but he that speaketh â—asings and vttereth forth lies sheweth himselfe to be the childe of the diuel the author originall of all lies 2 Christ had vt in verbis profit in his words as he spake truly so he spake profitably he neuer spake one idle or vnprofitable word throughout the whole course of his life which was aboue 32 years 3 Christ had moderameÌ„ in verbis A mean in his wordâ— the neuer was in words excessiâ—e and when iust and necessarie occasion was offered hee was neuer deficient but Ladie meane I meane golden vertuâ— drew forth his well contriued wordes out of the rich content of his euer-flowing heart He fulfilled that saying of Iesus the son of â—h the wordes of the wise are weighed in a ballance In these three thinges should euerie one imitate Christ Iesus and then wee should abstaine as hee did from idle vaine friuolous and vnprofitable words for which a great account must be giueÌ„ the which imitation of Christ the Lord for Christ his sake graunt to all men that they being like vnto him may bee receiued to reigne with him and his holy Angels in the thrice happie heauens at that day Amen But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall c. 3 To whome this account must bee giuen although in this scripture the Iudge is not expresly mentioned yet notwithstanding quod subintelligitur non dâ—est that which is vnderstoode is not wanting and therefore not to bee omitted This Iudge therefore before whose tribunall seat all mankinde must appeare it is Christ for he was annointed of his father into a triple office to be a Priest after the order of Melchisedech to be a Prophet after the order of Dauid to be a King after the order of Salomon Therfore Christ as hee is king ouer all in heauen and earth is this iudge before whome wee muste all appeare the truth of this is euident in the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Corinthians VVe must all appeare before the tribunall seate of Christe c. Wee read also in Iohn that the father iudgeeth no man but hee hath committed all iudgement to his sonne And in Mathew it is written that all power is giuen to Christe in heauen and in earth This was prophecied of him in the Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee aske of mee and I wil giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the ends of the earth for thy possession thou shalt crush them with a Scepter of iron and breake them in peeces like a potters vessel And againe in another place Sit thou at my righte hand vntill I make thine enemies thy footstoole Yea it is an article of our faith to beleeue that Christ shall come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead Christ is therfore the iudge yea he is the vorus Index a righte Iudge for this word Index that is Iudge is as much as ius dicens id est One that speaketh iustice and Iudice that is to iudge is as much as ius dice to speak iustice and iudicium that is iudgement is as much as iurisdicium if I may so terme it that is a iust and righte speech So Christ being an vprighte iudge maintaineth iustice in iudgement hee is a iudge that will vse no partialitie but will reward euery man according to his works he is a iudge that hath no respecte of persons Men in this world may fitly be compared to actors of a Comedie vpon a stage Whereto one acteth that part of a Prince another of a Duke another of an Earl another of a noble man another of a GentlemaÌ„ another of a Magistrate another of a merchant another of a countrimaÌ„ another of a seruaÌ„t one acteth one part one another so long as they are vpon the stage so long there is respect according to their parts one of another amongst them but when the Comedie is ended and the stage pulled downe then there is no such respect amongst them yea many times he that played the basest part is the best man So likewise so long as men art suÌ„dry parts vpon the stage of this earth that is so long as men doe liue in seuerall vocations so long there is respect amongst men and that worthily but when as the Come die shall bee ended that is the day of doome shal come vpon all men when as the stage shall be pulled downe that is the earth shall bee chaunged for the earth shall neuer bee brought ad non ens to nothing but onely the corruptiue qualities shall bee consumed then shall there bee no respecte of persons amongest men yea it may bee that the poore man shall be greater before God than the rich man Yea and Besides all this vpon the earth GOD hath no respecte of persons although there bee respecte amongest men but euery man shall receiue according to his workes the Prince as wel as the subiecte the rich as well as the poore If a Iudge then should come into a citie should iudge the greatest part of the citty to death sparing no man nec precio nec prece neither by bribes nor intreaties would not euery man in that Citty be in great perplexity and feare so feare this Iudge who shall come with thousandes of Angels in greate Pompe Maiestie and Glorie into the citty of this world and iudge the greatest part of mankinde to death and damnation sparing no man neither pretto nor prece neyther by bribes nor yet by intreaties a Iudge that wil vse no partiality A Iudge that is able to destroy both bodie and soule in hell are for euermore feare this iudge this terrible Iudge this iust Iudge this strict Iudge that wil not suffer one idle word to escape in iudgement thou that hast offended this Iudge by thy manifolde transgressions thou that hast deserued for them euerlasting torments in the pit of hell feare him quake and tremble before him at the hearing of this hard saying But I say vnto you that of euery idle words that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement If Paule a chosen vessel and a faithful seruant of Iesus Christ was afraide of this iudgement if the iust and vprighte man Iob cried out and said Quid agam quò me conuertam cum venerit dominus ad iudicandum What shall I doe O whither shall I tuâ—ne me when the Lord commeth to iudgement If blessed Hilary who from the fourteenth yeere of his age serued the Lord in singlenesse of heart and in sincerity of life to his liues end was afraid of this day as it appeareth by
shall goe without according to that country Prouerbe If you will not when you may when you will you shall haue nay And it is commonly seene that qualis vita finis eta as a man liueth commonly be dieth he that will liue without repentance must look to die without repentance Though God spared the thiefe at the laste gaspe yet set no man presume of that for that was a medicine against desperation and not a matter of imitation saith one God spared one that no man mighte despayre he spared but one that no man might presume Let euery man therefore in the feare of God without all delay seeke for amendmente of life Let them as Gregory wisheth Plangere plangenda Bewaile their sinnes that ought to be lamented and as they haue giuen their members as weapons of vnrighteousnes to iniquity so let them now giue them as weapons of righteousnesse to holines Repent dear brethren betimes Viue deâ— gratus tote mundo tumulatus crimine mundat us semper transire paratus that is Liue vnto God a thankfull wight to the world die clense thy selfe froÌ„ wickedns alwaies ready hence to fly Play the wise steward lay vp treasures in heauen for thy soul imitate the Pismire which gathers in Sommer wherby she may liue in winter Damascene reporteth an excellent Historie touching this purpose saith he There was a country where they chose their king of the poorest and basest sort of the people and vpon any dislikement taken they would depose him from his throne and exile him into an Iland where hee should bee starued to death Now one wise fellow coÌ„sidering hereof sent mony before into that IlaÌ„d into which he should be banished and when he was banished he was receiued into the iland with greate triumph So against thou be banished by death from this world without penny or farthing for naked thou camest naked thou must go thou must prouide whils thou art in this life whereby thou maiest liue in heauen hereafter Let nothing therfore make thee deferre thy amendment but whilest Christ calleth thee run vnto him Put on Ieromes resolution who said If my mother wete hanging about my neck if my brethren were on euery side howling and crying and if my father were on his bare knees kneeling before me to detaine mee in their wicked and sinfull course of life what woulde J doe I would shake off my mother to the grouÌ„d I woulde despise and hate all my kindred and kinsfolkes and I would tread and trample my Father vnder my feete thereby to flie to Christ when he calleth me So shouldest thou resolue the amendment of life The Lord of Heauen for his sweet Sonne Christ Iesus his sake graune to thâ—r deere Reader and me to both of vs his holy Spirit that we may stand vnblameable before the Iudge at that great and generall day that we beeing clothed with the long white Robes of righteousnesse may be in the number of those to whom it shall be said then Come yee blessed children of my father inherite the kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this â—eer father for thy deere sonnes sake Christ Iesus our onely Lorde and Sauiour To whom with thee and the holy spirit we ascribe all power glory and dominion and stag Halleluiah to thee O blessed Trinitie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A shorte disputation betweene the deuill and the poore soule of a Christian Sathan THou hast beene a greate Sinner Soule Yes but I am not soe Sathan Thou art damned for that thou haste done Soule No thou lyest SathaÌ„ God hath promised otherwise to all that beleeue repent and amend Sathan Thou beleeuest not as thou sayest thy selfe Soule Yes I beleeue and I desire to beleeue bettter holinesse of desire doth seale Gods fauour to me Sathan Thy hearte is hard and so are al theirs whome god hath reiected Soule No sathan make the worste of it thou canst it is but a soule trance for a time the holy ghost remaineth for I feele him still Sathan Doest not thou see that god hath taken thee in hand and hath laide a heauie iudgement vpon thee Soule God indeede hath like a mercifull father taken me in hande to make mee a newe creature and like a louing father to correcte me but his mercy will he neuer take from me and no wrathful Iudgment shall be towardes me Sathan Euery Pulpit rings of thee and euery parte of scripture proclaimes thee to bee myne Soule The Lord reprooue thee sathan for this Slaunder for all scriptures and Pulpits tell me I am gods dearely bought Sathan Shewe me Gods seale for that or els thou art mine Soule I can weepe for sinne and I hate sinne in my selfe and others and I loue vertue and the vertuous which are the Armes of Christe in his seale and I find my hart formost in his place marching on to heauen Sathan This thou didst but nowe thou haste left thy first loue Soule Thou haste saide ynough for mee the loue of God is like himselfe vnchangeable his guiftes and calling are without repentance once Loue and neuer hate as once Loued and neuer hated Sathan Thou hast confessed that thou haste no such feeling in Prayer and Sermons as in times past Soule What gaynest thou by that for in Christs wooing dayes I was shewed the riches of his grace but though I see not that dayly so highly to inflame me yet Christ is neuer the poorer neither do I cease to loue him shew me any one of gods elect that feeleth his loue at al tymes alike it is not the manner of graces working thou hast no skill in graces affaires Sathan There is some matter I warrant thee against thee that God heares not thy prayer when thou callest vppon him as thou confessest Soule I know thou markest my confession but the more I confesse againste my selfe the more I magnifie Gods mercy Sathan But tell mee why God will not heare the prayer Soule Sathan God hears my prayer but his delight is to heare the prayers of his Children often therefore he doth delay Sathan God careth not for such a wretch as thou art Soule The more wretch I am in thy sighte and also in mine owne the more amiable I am to him and so auoyd sathan and speake no more A short death-bed Dialogue Sathan DEath is come and I must haue thee Soule Death is welcome but thou shalt goe without mee heere are others to carry me Christ my redeemer hath sent his Angels for me Sathan Death will carrie thee to Hell Soule No he must carry me no whither but end me the Angells must carrie mee to mine owne place I haue euidence to shewe which I will not vouchsafe to shewe thee therefore auoyde Lord Iesus that hast bought me take me I doe heere surrender my selfe to thee Amen Speake not a worde more but let thine eies be closed vp in silence Morning prayer O Lord That blessest