thou King of Saints Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy and all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Psal 112.6 The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance A fifteenth Comfort in Death We may well rejoyce at Gods gracious messenger of Death because it is the wiping of all tears from our eyes and the finall end of all our troubles and sorrows the world the flesh the devill shall no more oppresse distract and hurt us with their distractions delusions and deceits Eccl. 4.1 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the Sunne and behold the tears of the oppressed and none comforteth them Ver. 2. Wherefore I praise the dead which now are dead above the living which are yet alive Hos 13.14 Hear what comfort our loving God gives us I will redeem them from the power of the grave I will deliver them from death O death I will be thy destruction repentance is bid from mine eyes A sixteenth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is the imitating of our Saviours passion as farre as we are able that we may see his glory Matth. 10.38 He that taketh not his crosse and followeth after me is not worthy of me And Chap. 16. ver 24. If any man will follow me let him forsake himself and take up his crosse and follow me And somewhat more Luk 9.23 If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his crosse daily and follow me And Chap. 14. ver 27. Whosoever beareth not his crosse and cometh after me cannot be my Disciple 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer we shall also raigne with him if we deny him he also will deny us Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Matth. 10.24 The Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant above his Lord it is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the Master of the house Belzebub how much more them of his houshold A seventeenth Comfort in Death It is our freedome from sinne death and hell and all our enemies The day of death saith Solomon is better then the day of birth therefore is that day a day of rejoycing to us St Paul desireth to be dissolved and to be with Christ and saith it is the best of all Rom. 6.7 He that is dead is freed from sinne Ver. 11. Likewise think ye also that ye are dead to sinne but are alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. An eighteenth Comfort in Death It is our taking possession of the fullnesse of rest in the communion of Saints in the love of the eternall God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost and therein peace for ever therefore rejoyce Lazarus is said to be presently carried into Abrahams bosome where most sure he had immediate possession in a high degree of eternall peace Gerrards Meditat. p. 25. Death is the beginning of a holy life Isa 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man considereth it in heart and mercifull men are taken away and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come Peace shall come they shall rest in their beds every one that walketh before him Matth. 11.28 29. Hear our gracious Saviour Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will ease you Take my yoak on you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall finde rest unto your souls 2 Thes 1.7 And to you which are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall shew himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels And if then surely also from our severall changes till then Heb. 4.3 9. For we which have beleeved doe enter into rest There remains therefore a rest for the people of God for he that is entred into his rest hath also ceased from his own works as God did from his let us study to enter into that rest Job 3.12 13. Why did the knees prevent me and why did I such the breasts for so should I now have lyen and been quiet I should have slept then and have been at rest A nineteenth Comfort in Death Jesus Christ is in Death and Life to us gain and causeth death to be to us advantage the end of unexpressible evils the beginning of unexpressible and eternall joy Phil. 1.21 For Christ is to me both in life and death advantage All the miseries of Lazarus end in his death and his eternall joyes begin in Abrahams bosome Our Saviour Jesus entred by the gate of death into his glory and thereby hath prepared joyes 2 Cor. 2.9 such as eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive for them that love him Isa 35.10 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with praise and everlasting joyes shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladnesse and sorrow and mourning shall flee away A twentieth Comfort in Death Doubt not of the all-sufficient love of God to thee in his Sonne Jesus He that gave thee a body when thou hadst none can give thee a heavenly body so soon as thou art at liberty from this of earth and will most certainly dispose of thee in Jesus as of his servants which is the best for thee His power and his will is sufficient to give thee joyes beyond thy thoughts Have thou true faith and true belief that God is and that he is the rewarder of them that seek him Give him thy whole soul and spirit and humbly crave the assistance of the eternall God that he will for his Sonne Christ Jesus his sake fully and freely enable thee to give to the Sacred Trinity in Unity three Persons but one Almighty God Father Sonne and holy Ghost all honour glory and praise as his most obedient servant for ever And say with true faith and love O gracious Father Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven And in thy most free and gracious love to a poor sinner in Jesus Christ thy only Sonne my Saviour doe thou compell my unworthy and corrupted will to doe unto thy most Sacred Majesty true and perfect service Doe thou O blessed Father for thy free goodnesse sake convert me wholly into that service for thou art my only Lord God and I am thy servant so come Lord Jesus come quickly and receive my spirit Amen Amen Matth. 19.26 With God all things are possible Gen. 17.1 I am God all-sufficient walk before me and be thou perfect Chap. 15. ver 1. Fear not I am thy buckler and thy exceeding great reward Psal 50.7 Hear O my people and I will speake hear O Israell and I
infectinn save least sinnes doe cry and crying have Affectedness Affectednesse in carriage needs must gain esteem of shallow idlenesse and vain Sobernesse A sober carriage if apparell sute speak grounds of wisdome gain a good repute Creature Take heed the Creatures have not cause to cry at thy misusing them and cruelty Earth Possesse so much of Earth from more refrain then thou canst order to eternall gain Rest What helps not hinders what doth not assist is enemy to thy eternall rest The minde To write or speak more to affect the minde then guide the soul is folly unrefin'd Teaching If minde and soul be from a sacred word both joy'd and taught such teaching is from God Good and Evill Ill 's onely ill and good is onely good their consequences must be understood Gettings Is ought worth sinfull getting when we see our seeming comforts scarce last seventy Vain joy Be not too jocund when the Sunne doth shine for suddenly it 's noon and must decline Comfort In all transactions underneath the Sunne hence is true comfort that God's will done Good life While we walk worthy of our Makers praise our peace is sound in good or evill dayes Vpright Walking Who laden much with earth can walk upright with lesser load may surely walk more streight The Way Thrice happy want and grief and low degree you are the living way appointed me History By History learn how to act thy part and wisely know thy predecessors Art Nothing new What hath been is and what is may be done Wisdome saith Nothing 's new under the Sunne Practice To read the story and thereof to speake without the practick part shews judgment weak Nature Thy own corrupted nature's sure to blame then what suits most therewith is most the same Reason Our cursed sinnes doth reason so deface that ancient custome much usurpes her place Custome When without pains we leave accustom'd sinne Then Leper change thy spots and More thy skinne Friends unkinde If Friends prove foes and since it must be so be linkt no faster then thou maist let goe Friends death Death thou hast parted us but we shall meet beyond thy power each others blisse to greet Imployments Though worldly businesse us divide a farre yet in Gods service we united are Affronts Give no offence passe by affronts for why it's wisdoms counsell wise men passe them by Anger Anger is open to the greatest harme it armes thy foes and doth thy self disarm Law Doe right to all without Law or offence thy common Law let be good conscience Suites Sue not at Law untill thou 'st throughly tri'de to get but near thy right all wayes beside Judgment If thou be call'd thy judgment for to give remember God that judgeth right doth live Family He that a wife or family controuls ought last to feed their bodies first their souls Exact living From truest principles of filiall love are all the motions of the holy Dove Devotion In daily duties and devotion due be constant fervent and thy words but few Sabboth Make not the Sabboth shortest of the seaven but strictly keep it morning noon and even Publike Fasts or Feasts In publike duties publike fasts or feasts for publike presidents keep them at least Private Fasts When thou as is most fit set'st dayes apart to humble thee doe it with all thy heart Change In all the change that to this life is due change onely Adam old for Adam new Sacraments The blessed Sacraments ought for to move thy soul to tears of thanks in truest love Attending the Word By sacred preaching the true heavenly Word is offer'd us felt heard and understood Duty To all the creatures severall rights it 's fit to give their due as we will answer it Love to God Convert thy soul and see thou doe not move for hope or fear but serve in truest love Meditation Our duty to our God I 'le not relate Heavens joyes hells torments see thou meditate Prayer In prayer prostrate thy most humble spirit in true obedience that 's thy Saviours merit Sudden The sudden act and what is rashly done hath penitence for his companion Tumults Avoid all tumults for their usual spring is pride and envy and a height in sinne Company Take heed of company keep watchfull eyes there 's fewest friends the most are enemies Feare Fear not too much what may the body harme but love our God and trust his mighty arme Evill dayes For evill dayes when worldly friends afford nor peace nor comfort have it in the Lord. Good dayes Those dayes are good and onely good begins when we abound in love subdue our sinnes Beliefe Belief is that for which we ought to pray for sacred guidance in a holy way Reading the Scriptures In reading Scriptures least understanding erre craveth ' holy Ghost for thy interpreter Authors In humane authours so much multiplied the truth of all by holy Writ is tried God With filiall fear we must our souls prepare before we speak his Name for whom we are Souls In studying of souls know it 's not given to self to know it self within a prison Bodies Thy bodie 's mortall life 's but like a breath then walk prepared for a joyfull death Family Consider those allotted to thy charge thy bond 's more great their liberty more large Friends If thou hast found a friend beyond a brother blesse God therefore thou'lt hardly finde another Enemies Of all thy foes take heed of smiling jeast the hypocrite of all is deadliest Occasions In businesse and occasions that depend upon this life consider well the end Reward The innocent and humble minde regard with due respect consider and reward Punishment The childe the simple and the haughty minde are fit for punishments of severall kinde Writing Speak well but better write writings from farre Arts. The perfect use of Arts are helps to call back our pure nature lost in Adhm's fall Recreations Use recreations to refresh the minde and better it for use of every kinde Callings Callings are call'd of God that we therein may with us others to his Kingdome bring Removings In all removals amongst humane race thou' rt still as near to thy eternall place Slander If envy smite thee with his lying tongue works before words confute both old and young Troubles In all the troubles that our works doe merit our comfort is the Father Sonne and Spirit Advice In all my counsell the just summe is this crave wisdome of our God the gift is his The Resolve BUt centre me and fix my soul aright in true obedience to my Makers will Let me converted be as is most right in perfect service as true beauty will Then let his pleasure cast me to those snares of worldly torments minde and body both What ever work it be in peace or warres it 's his imployment triall of my troth It is my safest way the onely path of his blest pleasure onely leading right To my eternall blisse therein his wrath due for my sinnes is covered from my
will testifie unto thee for I am God even thy God Against Presumption and Despair at all times but especially upon the Death-bed Sathan that old and lying Serpents suggestion to Presumption COme now thou mayest eat drink sleep and be merry because thou hast lived according to Gods commands and now art going to thy masters rest whom thou hast truly and punctually served farre above the service of thousands that doubt not at all of their salvation the due reward of their godlinesse of living For thy Originall sinne which thy Father Adam committed thou didst it not therefore in justice God cannot charge thee with it and he will not visit the sinnes of the Fathers upon the children As for thy actuall sinnes of ignorance that cannot in justice be laid to thy charge which thou knewest not to be a sinne nor the time of its commission Thou hast lived so carefully to please thy God that few have been so strict in walking in his Laws thou maist professe to have kept all his Commandements from thy youth thou hast had no other God nor worshipped any graven Image and hast not delighted to take his Name in vain Thou hast constantly kept the Sabboth hast honoured thy Parents hast not murthered nor adulterized nor stollen nor borne false witnesse nor covered but hast been contented with thy portion therefore so long as life is in thee eat drink and be meery for certainly the Angels are charged to keep thy soul and body to eternall life as thy fellow servants of God for ever The Souls Answer Avoid thou old and lying Spirit truth cannot proceed out of thy mouth without defilement am not I from Adams loynes and can I then be clean Did not his sinne that thy envy brought him into corrupt his whole body and am not I as part of it proceeding from it Could I doe all that I am commanded of my God were I not still an unprofitable servant Doth not my least sinne in thought word or deed besides my originall corruption deserve punishment infinite as my God whom thereby I rebell against is infinite Can a clean thing proceed out of an unclean Instead of keeping have I not broken all the commands of my God times without number and in degrees infinite As thou wast a lyar to Adam the first man upon earth so thou art for ever and as it was then said The seed of the woman shall break thy head so shall it be for ever to my salvation in the free love and mercy death and passion merit and redemption of Jesus Christ my Lord. Sathan his motives to Despair I was deceived indeed and turning over another leaf in my black book there I finde a quite contrary character of thy life I see thou hast imitated and added to all Adams rebellions he disobeyed and broke one Commandement once and therefore had that terrible sentence pronounced against him by Gods own mouth to be cast from Paradice he and his posterity for ever But thou hast broken all Gods Commandements times without number and in degrees beyond expression infinite Thy life hath been nothing else but a constant breaking of them unlesse thou look for salvation from these breaches which is a way impossible thou hast no hope therefore satisfie thy self with what thou canst not help and cease to aske or seek or knock any more at Gods gate of mercy for it is fast shut against thee and sinners cannot enter in at it now thou and I must burn together in hell for ever from which there is no redemption for us I have recorded against thee in places infinite that thou hast made thee many Idoll gods in hearty seeking of vain earthly things and thou hast loved and worshipped them as Images of thy desired lusts The Name-of God thou hast repeated invain and no one Sabboth hast thou truly kept Thou hast not reverenced nor honoured thy Father and Mother but in thy thoughts at least hast them despis'd and murthered them or others Thou also hast adulteriz'd in heart and in thy faculties stollen thy neighbours goods Thou hast coveted and borne false witnesse too against thy neighbour Almighty God gave his Angels charge to keep his servants from wrongs and hurts but thou hast not served him therefore thou belongest only to me whom thou hast punctually served The Souls Answer O my Enemy thou sayest thou wert mistaken and so indeed thou wert and art and ever wilt be in seeking to snatch the servants of my God out of his hand for although my God suffer thee a while to walk the earth his pleasure is in a good time appointed to cast thy chains upon thee in a place prepared from which thou maist not move for ever I most humbly confesse and have so I trust confessed all my sinnes and more in number then what I can comprehend infinite such I acknowledge are my wounds my sore disease proceeding from thy hate and envious gulf Yet know I have a medicine I have a salve sufficient a Jordan stream to make me clean if not more clean then if I had not sinned and this my cleansing is more my certain life then was my standing clean if then I had not sinned so that thy envy now is my advantage thou knowest it well but lovest not to remember that my precious Antidote whereby I am secured from thy Aspish poison so closely carried under thy lying tongue it is that free redeeming love and bloud of that most valiant Sampson whose Name is Jesus Christ that quickly snapt in sunder thy treble corded lye of vain deceit he is my Captain that never lost nor will lose any of his souldiers without his word I move not at his command I le gladly meet thee with million of Juries of my sinnes before the judgment-seat of God and when thou hast proved me guilty as I doe confesse thou wilt soon appear the Serpent and principall authour of my great offence and I an accessary by thy deluding lies perswading and to thy uttermost power compelling me to doe the evill that I would not doe and hindring me from doing good therefore know that my Saviour Christ my Captain and my God will plead his death and then I live and thou shalt bear the due deservings of my sinnes for ever in eternall flames for they are thine therefore Sathan in humble reverence to my Saviour avoid get thee behind me my good God hath provided a place in Heaven with his servants for me that I may be even where he is and as his servant see his glory and this notwithstanding all my sinnes and ill deserts onely of his free love and mercy whereby he hath with his bloudy sufferings redeemed my soul from hell my just desert because he is good and his mercy endures for ever so come Lord Jesus come quickly even as thy will may be done with the Father and the holy Spirit three persons but one eternall God for ever Amen True Love 1. TO love our good God
though there were neither Hell of his justice nor Heaven of his mercy 2. True love will choose rather to serve our good God in Hell for ever if it could more fully and better do him perfect service in those flames then to be for ever in the highest joyes of Heaven these not to serve him as fully and as truly 3. To desire the eternall and whole conversion of thy soul and body for ever into the everlasting service of thy good Creatour in true love and to finde therein thy true peace is true love Love truly converted into the will of God is Heaven and those that are so converted may be said to be in Heaven upon earth for neither love nor Heaven can here be perfect but although they be still in their earthly tabernacles they have heavenly peace both of minde and conscience which cannot be quite taken from them although here must be no perfection whereby the whole will of almighty God without which either by appointment or permission nothing comes to passe is the true joy and content of their mindes wills and souls The love of our good Father is shown to us in his Sonne Jesus who as it were took satisfaction for our sinnes in his sufferings that his justice being satisfied in the sufferings death and passion of our Saviour Jesus we might have onely the mercy of our good Father to appear before which in his eternall love to us is sufficient for our Salvation when the justice of our good God could no other wayes be satisfied but by our damnation The great and unexpressible love prevailed with the sacred Deity for us when our Saviour Jesus could have been rescued from his sufferings for us with more then twelve legions of Angels and when he could have had as great honour if not greater in our condemnation then in our salvation Let our souls and bodies then with all their faculties be converted into the true love of our Saviour Jesus for ever For His 1. Coming down from his Fathers right-hand from his being God with his Father for ever 2. Poverty that thou mightest be rich 3. Not having whereon to lay his head 4. Wandrings and fastings and prayers for thee 5. Being betrayed 6. Being apprehended as a malefactor 7. Being fasly accused 8. Scarlet robe of derision 9. Crowne of Thornes 10. Being condemned 11. Nayling to the Crosse 12. Cruell thirst 13. Sweating bloud 14. Side stricken with a spear 15. Bleeding water and bloud at that wound 16. Sufferings from his cradle to his grave 17. Bitter passion causing him to cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 18. Lying in the grave 19. Resurrection 20. Now sitting at the right-hand of his Father and in him our Father in Heaven there asking the forgivenesse of all our sinnes of his Father who never denies him any thing Wherefore let us stand at the foot of the Crosse of this our Saviour weeping for sorrow that our sinnes caused his sufferings but for joy that through his infinite love shewed therein we are freed from sinne death and hell and have a place prepared in the power of his might where we shall see and partake of his blessed glory as his elected servants for ever Amen Thou needest not to fear death for thy Saviour hath destroyed the sting of death that is the Devill Read Heb. 2.14 15 16 17 18 verses there 's comfort enough in any condition the words are these Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him which had the power of death that is the Devill And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and a faithfull High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted See an admirable expression of the infinite love of God which may preserve us from despair and may give us true joy from our humble desires to serve him though we cannot desire much more perfectly serve him as we ought Isa 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people will your God say speak comfortably to Jerusalem and say unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquities are pardoned From hence is sweet and solid comfort in all conditions An humble Prayer O Lord remember thy mercies draw me unto the Sonne of thy love Psal 139.23 24. and lead me in the way of thy precepts Try me O God and know my heart prove me and know my thoughts and consider if there be any way of wickednesse in me and lead me in the way for ever 5.8 Lead me O Lord in thy righteousnesse because of my enemies 27.11 make thy way plain before my face Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of my enemies by enemies understand inward and outward of the soul and of the body but especially those inward enemies which are the ruin and destruction of both 31.3 For thou art my rock and my fortresse therefore for thy Name sake 43.3 direct and guide me Send thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy mountains and unto thy tabernacles 143.10 Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God let thy good Spirit lead me unto the land of righteousnesse Draw me O God and I will runne after thee Cant. 1.4 Psal 28.3 Job 7.16 Draw me not away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity I shall not live alwaies O spare me then for my daies are but vanity I rejoice O Lord my God in thy love because thou art mercifull and wilt spare me as a man spareth his sonne that serveth him for thy mercy endures for ever Selah Thou art my good Father O my Creatour thou wilt not punish me nor impute to me my Originall sinnes which descended upon me from the wicked rebellion of my first parents even as my body is from them but the soul that sinneth and doth not look towards thee nor desire thy gracious gift of true repentance it shall die Yet art thou O my good Father wholly and only good and thy mercy endures for ever Selah Thou wilt not punish the presumptuous sinnes and vanities of my youth for thou art good and thy mercy endures for ever Selah Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner O God but wouldst that all should be converted from their evill waies and live Thou art my All-sufficient God of mercy whose will is all things both in Heaven and earth I trust in Jesus thy only Sonne my Saviour
and pleasing our naturall and corrupted affections Q. What is the principall gift of God to a man in this life A. True Wisdome Q. What is true wisdome A. To be wise to the soul Q. What is perfect folly A. Foolishnesse and neglect towards the soul Q. What are corrections A. They are the chastisements of almighty God and contrary to corrupted nature Q. What use are we to make of them A. To move us to a willing submission to the will and dispose of our Creator Q. Should they move us to contemn life and desire death A. No but rather to rejoice in the longest and hardest work of his sacred pleasure Q. Ought we most to rejoice when we enjoy the fullnesse of this world A. No but rather to fear it to be the portion of the ungodly Q. What understand you by almighty God A. I understand a Spirit not to be seen by the outward eye of the body Q. How is he to be seen and known A. By the eye of the soul Q. What is the eye of the soul A. Faith and reason Q. How shall Faith and reason be guided A. By the Law of Nature and by the holy Scriptures Q. What doth the Law of Nature shew us A. That there is one almighty God for ever to be worshipped and obeyed by us who hath created and made us and hath power ever our souls and bodies for ever Q. What further teacheth it A. That mortality belongeth to the body and immortality to the soul Q. What further A. That there is good and evil and that the good will be rewarded and the evil-doer will be punished by the Creator especially after this life is ended Q. What are the holy Scriptures A. They are sacred instructions and Lawes sent unto us by almighty God Q What is the scope and intent thereof A. To admonish teach and instruct us to holinesse and righteousnesse in life and conversation Q. What doe they further teach A. True Faith and saving belief Q. What is Faith A. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Q. What is belief A. It is a pure perswasion grounded on the word of almighty God Q. What is the true belief concerning the sacred Trinity A. That of the Apostles called the Apostles Creed Q. Rehearse that Belief A. I beleeve in God the Father Almighty c. Q. What doth this Faith and true belief shew us A. That there are three Persons but one Eternall God Q. How are these three persons named and divided A. Into the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Q What is the Father A. We beleeve that the Father is the incomprehensible begetter of the Sonne thereby fitting him to receive an earthly body like to ours sinne onely excepted that so he might therein and thereby satisfie the justice of his Father due for sinne by us committed in our earthly bodies which could no otherwise have been satisfied for but in the just destruction and damnation both of our bodies and souls for that the sinne of the body in its due desert slayeth the soul Q. What is the Sonne A. We believe that he is the only Mediator betwixt the Fathers justice and mans sinnes and that he intercedeth and maketh peace by his merits with the Father for us and that besides him we have no Mediator Q. What is the Holy Ghost A. We believe that he is the sacred Spirit of mercy proceeding from the Father and the Sonne whereby our hearts are guided unto all the true performances of saving duty Q. Are there not then three Gods A. No three Persons but onely one God Q. Is the power and operation of all the three Persons upon the creature one and the same A. We believe their power to be equall as one God but severally instrumentall to mans salvation as three Persons which seemeth plain by the holy Scriptures Q. Do the Scriptures then shew this sacred Trinity in Unity three Persons but one eternall God their power and proceedings towards the creature and the duty of the creature to this Creator A. Yes verily and there is no other means to know it more truly Q. Is it not then most necessary to be perfect in the Scriptures and to meditate on them continually A. Yes surely for thereby we are made wise to salvation Q. What is the Good of this life A. A free and joyfull submission to the good providence of almighty God and a diligent walking in his Lawes Q. What is the evill of this life A. An unsatiable desire of such things as will not satisfie the soul Q. What is the soul A. It is the unexpressible invisible immortall spirituall man Q. What will content the soul A. Things onely like it self pure spirituall and eternall Q. What is time A. It is the passage of our life and pilgrimage in this world Q. What is our chief work in our time A. To fit our selves by the assistance of the holy Spirit for a happy eternity Q. What is Eternity A. It is chiefly to us after this life it is entred into by us at our death and is without end Q What are earthly things A. The things visible in this world given us to use with praise and thanks to the giver Q. What are heavenly things A. All that we can conceive by happinesse but they are onely negatively demonstrated to us Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can mans heart conceive these unexpressible mercies of our Almighty Creator Q. What is our duty in this life A. It is joyfully and willingly to bear the burden and heat of the day in the service of our Creator during his pleasure untill he call us to our rest Q. What is it to be dissolved and to be with Christ A. It is to be separated by death from this earthly tabernacle and to be received into the communion of the blessed souls who are dissolved from their earthly bodies and are with him Q. How ought we to use the present enjoyments of this life A. As if we used them not and to keep our selves unspotted of them Q. How are we to provide for the life to come A. By an humble diligent and watchfull walking in the wayes and Commandements of almighty God Q. What are the chief and summe of the Commandements of the Almighty A. Those which he gave to Moses written in Tables of stone Q. How many of them are there A. Ten. Q. Which are they Rehearse them A. The same which almighty God spake c. Q. What is Religion A. It is to extoll the Almighty above the highest and to cast down man below the lowest Q. What is pure Religion A. Pure Religion and undefiled before almighty God and the Father is this to visit the fatherlesse and the widow in their necessities and to keep our selves unspotted of this world Q. Are we able of our selves to live unspotted A. No we must humbly crave the almighty power and strength of the holy
Give thou O God and frame thy servant thankfully to see his yearly gain for his hourly service his eternall joy for his temporall grief the infinite rest from his finite sufferings How fit is it O my Father that I should as well suffer as raigne with my Saviour and to know that the present afflictions of this life are unworthy of the joyes that in thy most free and gracious mercy shall be revealed and given unto me O my good Father give unto me thy most evill deserving childe all those sweet and blessed scourges crosses and afflictions even whatsoever is necessary and needfull to frame my impersect soul and body fit for thy eternall and most perfect service And truly O my Father although I were to have of thy justice my self-condemning sentence to all eternity so soon as this life is ended yet my serious thoughts would not make choice to spend my time in sinfull vain delights but would rather choose thy fatherly chastisement and corrections temporall although they also were to be as I deserve eternall for thy corrections as all that proceedeth immediately from thee my God are sweete they sad the countenance thereby making the heart better I submit wholly to thy will O my eternall Good To be thy servant is my Heaven for thou art the Lord my God and I am thine Thou art the will and the deed O my God guide me for thy Names sake to doe thee service and in thy goodnesse accept of my desire thy own most gracious gift suffer not sinne O my Father to raigne in my corrupted mortall body let not my soul offend my God however my body may offend him let not my will offend my God however my actions may offend thee but let the desires of my soul and the inclinations of my spirit be so commanded by thy sacred power that they may truly will and doe thee true and perfect service now and for ever and doe thou for thy own mercies sake to the works of thy own hands and for the merits of Jesus Christ thy onely Sonne my Saviour convert my most imperfect will into most perfect actions in thy most perfect and everlasting service And when these dayes of my sinfull pilgrimage are ended when I return to thee my God my hope my joy from this my earthly tabernacle doe thou O my blessed Creator re-create my soul and body that so thy blessed will may be my eternall perfect joy and comfort and that to be thy servant wheresoever and howsoever may be the blessed Heaven of my soul and body for ever O my Good Eternity I doe not onely humbly crave these mercies and what is necessary to salvation which is the perfect admittance into thy sacred service for my self and such as are near to me in this life but also that it be thy blessed will even for all that thou hast appointed to immortality in thy gracious converting of sinners from the wickednesse of their waies that so if it be thy blessed will to whom all things are possible we might be all as one flock under thee the great and gracious shepheard of our soules that so the number of thy elect being accomplished the blessed resurrection may appear before thee and we become fit inhabitants for that new Heaven and new earth which thou hast appointed and sinne and sorrow may cease from us thy unworthy servants And further my humble suit is that thou wouldest give us to see all thy gracious dispensations towards us in this life to know that nothing falls upon us by chance and fortune but by thy especiall providence and appointment Give us to know we are not our own but thine and that it is most right thou shouldest dispose of thy own for ever make us to rejoice onely in thy dispose for that thou art most good and gracious and knowest better what is best for us than we can know or aske Now O my good Creator take us into thy almighty protection and direction for ever thou hast been wonderfull in mercy and goodnesse to every one of us thou hast delivered infinite of us from infinite evils which we see others visited with which we may justly judge deserve better at thy hands then we have done we humbly beseech thee let this thy mercy lead us to repentance and make us to love thee as thou hast loved us that hath not spared thy Son to death for us that so thy justice being satisfied in his sufferings for our sinnes which could no otherwise have beene satisfied but in our damnation thy mercy may be sufficient for our salvation and although I have provoked thy justice by my daily sinnes to my just condemnation yet doe I cast my soul and body even for its eternity upon thy mercy and doe disclaime all other judgment then thy gracious pleasure in which I will in thy gracious strength with peace rejoice and therein rest for ever Wherefore to thee O gracious Father to thee O sacred Sonne to thee O eternall Spirit three persons but one everlasting God be ascribed as is most due all honour glory and praise by thy whole creation now and for ever Amen The Blessing O Blessed Childe whose parts his age out-run Whose vertues stile him man before his stature Each eye beholds him as ' the rising Sunne Each heart applauds him as a Pearle in nature Yea very strangers blesse his hopefull breeding And breathe out prayers to his happy speeding But when fresh springing budds proove canker-fretted With taint of vice or rust of happy sloth Their dearest friends that see their hopes defeated To speak them fair or deigne a look are loth But view such noysome weeds with nausious scorn Yea parents wish ill-thriving plants unborn The fear of God doth only guide aright The perfect way to sacred wisdom's treasure Then let this fear direct with powerfull might Thy twisted thred spun out by natures leasure So with thy daies thy saving health will grow To perfect joy in sins just overthrow Let Heavens powre down their sweetest influence let them enrich you with the earth's best treasures Let them withall instill Truths Quintessence heavens joyes doe far surmount all earthly pleasures Let the celestiall powers you guard and guide and countermine when wicked powers conspire Let spotlesse blood which ran from harmlesse side quench unto you the ever burning fire And let the winged Posts void of delayes from glorious Throne whom great Jehovah sendeth Translate your souls when death shall end your daies to that celestiall blisse which never endeth FINIS An Index or Table directing to severall Points and Discourses in this Book THe Authors Epistle Parents and Children travell together towards the grave Parents must give an account for their Children Children must herein assist their Parents We should live together here as we would live together hereafter Hence take comfort in the dissolution of godly friends that we shall goe to them and shall never part page 2. Our constant work Beware of
I thinke it meete as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance Seeing I know that the time is at hand that I must lay down this my tabernacle I will endevour therefore that ye allso may be able to haue remembrance of these things after my departure Pet. 2.1.13.14.15 The lord will perfect that which concerneth me Psal 138.8 THE COUNSELL AND ADMONITION OF HENRY MASSINGBERD Esq TO HIS CHILDREN PSAL. 111. 10. PROV 9.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome a good understanding have all they that doe thereafter PROV 4.7 Wisdome is a speciall thing therefore get wisdome and above all thy gettings get understanding TIT. 1.15 To the pure all things are pure but to the corrupt all things are corrupted There may be both good and evill produced from all earthly things for that Every pot hath two handles Char. of Wisd LONDON Printed by A.M. Anno Domini 1656. I haue not sate with vaine persons neither will I goe in with dissemblers Psal 26 4. Wee ought to aske and knocke and seeke and pray His constant guidance in his perfect way How vile a shape doth beare this bone When th'perewigg of flesh is gone Learne from this dryed bone and parched skull The body 's foule blest soules are beauty full THE Counsell and Admonition OF Henry Massingberd Esq TO HIS Children SCRIPTURES ROM 15.14 I Trust you will admonish one another in the fear of God 1 Thes 5.12 13. Love them that admonish you and be at peace among your selves 2 Thes 3.15 Count him not an enemy that offends but admonish him Jer. 42.19 Know certainly that I have admonished you this day Exod. 18.19 Hearken now unto my voice I will give thee counsell and God shall be with thee Job 21.16 The counsell of the wicked is far from me Psal 1.1 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night Psal 16.7 I will blesse the Lord who hath given me counsell And 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and then receive me to glory Prov. 8.9 They are all plain to him that understandeth and right to them that finde knowledge Psal 31.15 My times are in thy hands O God Job 10.20 Are not my dayes few Job 14.1 Man is of few dayes Eccles 1.4 One generation goeth and another cometh Gen. 27. â— I know not the day of my death Eccl. 3.2 There is a time to be born and a time to die Eph. 6.1 Children obey your parents Phil. 4.17 I desire fruit that may a bound to your accompt Joh. 14.3 That where I am ye may be also 2 Sam. 122.3 I shall go to him he shall not return to me Eph. 4.5 6. One Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Math. 6.10 Thy kingdome come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Job 14.14 All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait untill my change come Joh. 9.4 I must work the work of him that sent me to day the night cometh when no man can work Amos 4.12 Prepare to meet thy God O Israel Eccl. 11.3 Where the tree falleth there it lies Matth. 25.3 They that were foolish took their lampes and no oyl with them Heb. 3.7 8. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith to day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Mark 13.37 What I say unto you I say unto all Watch. Prov. 4.1 Hear ye children the instruction of a father and attend to know understanding Isa 38.19 The father to the children shall make known thy truth Prov. 22.6 Train up a childe in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Gen. 18.19 For I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to doe justice Psal 133. Prov. 1.7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisedom and instruction And ver 8. My sonne hear thou the instruction of thy father and despise not the law of thy mother Joh. 15.17 These things I command you that you love one another And 13.34 A new commandement I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another 1 Joh. 4.24 He that loveth God loveth his brother also 1 Pet. 1.22 See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently Acts 7.27 Ye are brethren why doe ye wrong one another Job 1.21 The Lord gave the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. 1 Tim. 6.17 Trust not in uncertain riches Eccl. 5.13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sunne namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Matth. 6.20 Lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven Rev. 8.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the world nor the things of this world Phil. 3.15 As many as be perfect be thus minded James 1.27 Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherles and the widow with some relief in their afflictions and to keep himself unspotted from this world Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures Matth. 22.19 You erre not knowing the Scriptures Psal 127.5 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it Heb. 11.6 He that comes to God must beleeve that he is and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seck him Eccl 2.26 For God giveth to men that is good in his sight wisdome knowledge joy Psal 30.1 I will extoll thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up And 68.4 Sing unto God sing praises to his Name extoll him that rideth upon the heavens Psal 39 5. Man at his best estate is altogether vanity 1 Sam. 2.7 The Lord bringeth low and lifteth up Psal 18.2 The Lord is my rock and my fortresse my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust Ver. 30. As for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord is tried he is a buckler to all those that trust in him Luk. 2.14 Glory to God on high on earth peace Joh. 14.23 But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and truth Psal 34.18 The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart and saveth those that be of a contrite spirit And 51.17 A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Mal. 3.3 Offer to God the sacrifice of righteousnesse Psal 116.17 I will offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. Job 4.7 Who ever perished being innocent And
22.30 He shall deliver the Iland of the innocent and it is delivered by the purenesse of thy hand Rom. 12.1 That you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost that is in you a Gen. â— 27 God created man in his own Image b Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Rom. 10.12 The same God over all is rich unto all that call upon him Psal 50.3 10. I will have no bullock out of thy house nor he-goat out of thy fold for every beast of the forrest is mine and the cattell upon a thousand hills Psal 109.22 For I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me Psal 22.22 I will declare thy Name unto my brethren and in the midst of the Congregation will I praise thee Ver. 25. My praises shall be of thee in the great Congregation I will pay my vowes before them that fear thee Psal 40.8 I delight to doe thy will O God yea thy Law is in my heart Matth. 6.10 Thy will be done O God in earth as it is in Heaven Heb. 10.7 I come to doe thy will O God Prov. 5.21 For the waies of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings And 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine Psal 139.20 Thy enemies O God take thy Name in vaine And 145.2 Every day will I praise thee and I will blesse thy Name for ever and ever And 99.3 Let them praise thy great and terrible Name for it is holy Levit. 22.2 Speak to Aaron and to his sonnes that they profane not my holy Name for I am the Lord. And Psal 111.9 Holy and reverent is his Name And Ezek. 39.25 I will be jealoas for my holy Name Eccl. 8.2 I know it shall be well with them that fear God that fear before him Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Prov. 29.25 The fear of man bringeth a snare but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe And 30.5 God is a shield to them that put their trust in him Rom. 8.28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God Matth. 10.19 30. Are not two Sprrrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father But the very hairs of your head are all numbred 2 Cor. 1.3 Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort Psal 23.4 Thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me Isa 66.13 As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted Isa 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the wayes and see and ask for the old pathes where is the good way and walk therein and you shall finde rest for your souls Rom. 8.10 And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life because of righteousnesse Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn thy statutes And 126.5 Them that sowe in tears shall reap in joy Jer. 22.13 I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoyce for their sorrow Lam. 3.25 It is good for a man that he bear the yoak in his youth 1 King 3.9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart that I may discern betwixt good and bad Psal 119.34 Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart And v. 73. Give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandements Dan. 12.10 None of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Gal. 5.17 For these two are contrary one to another Job 9.20 If I justifie my self my own mouth will condemn me if I say I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse Psal 37.27 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way And 50. 23. Who so offereth praise glorifieth God and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 119.67 71. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I learned thy word It 's good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Psal 68.3 Let the righteous be glad let them rejoyce before God let them exceedingly rejoyce And Prov. 29.6 In the transgression of an evill man there is a snare but the righteous doth sing and rejoyce Psal 38.13 For I will declare my iniquity and be sorry for my sinne 2 Cor. 7.9 10. Now I rejoyce not that you were made sorry but that you sorrowed to repentance for ye were made sorry after a godly manner For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of but worldly sorrow worketh death Jer. 10.24 O Lord correct me but with judgment not in thy anger lest thou bring me to nothing Psal 119.33 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it to the end And 143. 8. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul to thee Deut. 8.5 Thou shalt also consider in thy heart that as a man chastiseth his sonne so the Lord thy God chastiseth thee Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom he receiveth Matth. 22.29 You erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse 1 Cor. 2.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his holy Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Rom. 10.6 Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above who shall descend into the deep that is to bring Christ up from the dead but the Word is nigh thee the word of faith which we preach Matth. 7.15 Beware of false prophets Eph. 4.14 That we be no more children tossed to and fro by the sleight of men to every winde of Doctrine whereby they lie in wait to deceive
Correction is the sweet beams of Gods love to soften us that so we may receive the marks of his saving mercy take great heed thou be not as the Spider upon the Flower that gathereth poison nor as clay to the Sunne which is hardened by it but be thou as wax softned and fitted for impression and as the Bee that gathereth honey from the Flower I advise you to labour much in the Scriptures especially be very perfect in the new Testament they are the medicine of life and in them rightly understood is salve for every sore and sound counsell in all occasions Labour to be a good text-man for Scripture interprets it self although in some places there seems literall contradiction yet the holy Spirit trieth all and findes all holy right and good tending to the all and only good our temporall and eternall peace which cannot be taken from us Psal 34.10 The Lyons shall want and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any thing that is good that is to say they shall have all good spirituall and temporall including in this word good all such temporall things as may be necessary to salvation for whatsoever is contrary thereto is neither good nor profitable but bad and pernitious and therefore God doth not give temporall felicity to all his servants but only to such of them as he knowes with the help of his grace will use it well to his honour and glory and to such it is a furtherance of salvation whereas to wicked men though it be also Gods gift yet it is not properly counted Gods gift to them but evill and punishment not a blessing but a curse not felicity but misery by reason that it makes them more insolent proud and licentious and by consequence increaseth their damnation this is the plain meaning of the Psalmist and accordingly will one Scripture interpret another Again Psal 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart What is that think you plenty credit vain honour ease full tables riches c. No no but that in the want or fullnesse of these things you shall rest in God and therein have your full desire that your will being united to the will of God you shall desire nothing but what is sutable to his will and pleasure and wholly rejoyce in your will that the will of God is done which is only good and the best for you Search not too curiously into Gods Majesty and mysteries lest thou be oppressed with the glory of them Take great heed of infecting thy judgment with false doctrine be alwaies most humble in the sight of God and offer unto him the chastity of an inward minde Never cease from good works during life but lay up the treasure of all thy love in heaven and be assured that for thy well doing thou shalt have thy reward of true joy and peace in minde and conscience in this life as a heavenly gift when earth perhaps denies thee any and perfect peace for thy eternity and further know that who doth a work never so good and laudable in it self if he doe it to gain the applause of the world more then out of duty and obedience to almighty God he shall have his reward that is perhaps the vain-glory he looked for a worldly reward but not my reward that is the most blessed and glorious reward of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ a heavenly reward which he hath laid up eternally for his blessed Saints and servants in heaven My wishes to you are that you will every one of you seriously observe my drift herein and that you will not only read and practise it in the best construction for your souls good but that you will teach others so to doe especially your Children if God shall give you any and to this joyn hearing reading prayer meditation blessed alms and charity and all other Christian duties in true love to almighty God for his own sake to your neighbours for his Commandements sake and both for obedience sake unto his sacred Majesty Consider that as one generation goeth so another cometh and it shall be only well to the righteous be righteous then and our good God will surely blesse you and in the best time of his providence will bring us all together to eternall peace in Christ Jesus Children I do not command you to study read or love this book above others by far more learned Authors because of any oratory wit or learning there is shewed in it but because in its right construction I trust it is pious true and honest and comes from a near related heart that truly desires and hopes in the sweet and saving mercy of our good God to live with you all in the eternall and perfect welfare of your souls and bodies when our short dangerous and various conditioned pilgrimages in this world are ended and that truly endeavours and desires the perfect welfare of your souls and bodies and the true conversion of both into the sincere love of our Creatour more then all the world besides therefore seriously consider this and the Lord give you perfect wisdom from heaven in all things Amen Your Father H. M. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Pet i. 2.2 Though infant vanityes doe vs accuse Yet humble innocence our God doth chuse Death watches time time parts with euery sand Death and our time are partners hand in hand And as the sands doe change theire glass Soe I in change my life must pass Advice or Admonition OF A FATHER There are three Ages principally distinguished in a Mans Life The first is Infancie Childhood Youth The second is Manhood The third is Old age The first to be spent in learning from others and therein our duty is to be diligent and love our Teachers For Youth well spent a true foundation is Of an immortall monument of blisse The second to be spent in more laborious learning both from our selves and others especially to know thy self for mans heart is deceitfull doe thou present thy strength unto the Lord For Thou canst not finde a better friend more fit To have thy strength then he that gave thee it The third to be spent both in teaching others and thy self for length of dayes increaseth wisdome and he that truly seeks in time may finde For When deaths pale face appears and wrinkled brow Thou knowst thy aâ—count is near not when nor how Infancy and Childhood Youth strength and hoary age if death prevent not make our pilgrimage Jer. 4.31 FOr I have heard a voice as of a woman in travell and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first childe Jer. 49.25 Anguish and sorrow have taken her as a woman in travell Deut. 12.30 Take heed to thy self that thou be not snared Eccl. 9.12 So are the sonnes of men snared in an evill time when it falleth suddenly upon them
you and abound they will make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ Ver. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blinde 1 Joh. â— 15 Love not the world nor the things of the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Prov. 14.14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satufied from himself Psal 34. from the 10th to the end The young Lyons doe lack and suffer hunger but they that fear the Lord shall not want any thing that is good Come my children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desirech life and loveth many dayes that he may see good Keep thy tongue from evill and thy lippes that they speake no guâ—l Depart from evill and doe good seek peace and ensue it The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their cry The face of the Lord is against them that doe evill to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all He keepeth all his bones not one of them is broken Evill shall slay the wicked and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate The Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate Prov. 14.15 16. The simple beleeveth every word but the prudent man looketh well to his goings A wise man feareth and departeth from evill but the fool rageth and is confident Eccl. 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man Ver. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evill NOw we have by the mercy of God obtained a fruitfull plantation in this promised Land let us plant in it good and wholesome fruit for men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figgs of thistles Here we may proceed in the sixth Age of our Life and third ascent of our Manhood under the notion of constant Action and hereby our duty is by all means to endeavour the good of all the heavens lead us to this by shining upon all without hopes of gain or requitall shewing thereby the duty of a good man to his neighbour to be constantly conversant in some good employment of the body minde or both is a very lively branch of true vertue which keeps a man unvanquished and is not subject to pleasures and hath its reward in it self Vertue doth alone bring forth solid joy and only enables a man to bear all the changes and chances of this life with comfort and doe you rightly consider all the branches that proceed from this root and you will finde that they are firmly united with linkes unseparable as all the branches of a tree have but one root to nourish them so all the Vertues have but one principall foundation which is the doing all things out of true obedience to the service and commands of almighty God therefore is true Vertue most highly to be aspired unto Wisdome is a true branch of it which makes a man rightly to understand the nature use and property of all things and counteth nothing evill but vice which it is alwaies sufficiently fortified against and cannot enter there Teach mee o lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keepe it vnto the end Psal 119.33 Take heede of wasting time for when it 's spent There 's noe redemption from the great Judgment Vaine wretched pride beholde within thy sight Is death or dayes falce pleasure or delight My dayly dying freinds that take theire flight At highest noone bid mee remember night where vertue and honesty dwelleth if injury be the sufferance of some evill and a wise man cannot suffer evill then there is no evill that appertains to a wise man every injury is a diminution of him to whom it is offered and no man may receive injury without some detriment either in good-Name body or goods but a wise man can loose nothing he hath all his goods inclosed with the enjoyment of true vertue as for other things he useth them as borrowed and what man is so much moved at the losse of what is not his own but if injury can attempt nothing which is proper to a wise man because the whole is conserved by his vertue it must follow that a wise man cannot be injured because he sets not his heart upon earthly things as if they were his own knowing that the possession of all those things that abound externally is slippery and un-assured plant then plentifully in the vineyard of Vertue and be thou a flourishing branch of this blessed root so thou shalt relieve others with thy pleasant fruits without diminishing of thy own store and plenty prosperity shall not puff thee up nor adversity deject thee true goods are never subject to moth rust and canker neither can thieves break through and steal them heavenly riches shall have a heavenly reward and earthly changes cannot approach their dwelling Wisdome will advise thee to be very carefull how thou dost ingage thy self either by word or action especially amongst a croud with a multituâ—e in a warre a civill warre against a Prince a present power rather fly such a flame if any conveniency will permit avoid the fire while fury is fierce let it passe thee for violent things are seldome permanent I cannot shew you a certain way to avoid the dangers that time and chance may bring upon you or upon your country in your generations for outward things true vertue and inward treasure must secure you it must be wisdome that heavenly gift obtained by true and hearty prayer and humble obedience that must guide your feet in the way of peace that peace which the world the flesh the devill cannot deprive us of which the God of Heaven grant us all for his mercies sake Amen Into thy hands I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed it or lord God of truth Psal 31.5 If wee a blest Creatoure and a saviour haue Our duty is to worke and faith to craue Vnto my mother earth I am now gon Vntill the morning resurrection As quickly as the Sand falls to his place Soe sudden is the change of humane race Gen. 2.8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed Ver. 15. And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dresse it and to keep it Prov. 20.18 Every purpose is established by counsell and with good advice make warre And 24.6 For by wise
is a businesse of great weight and importance and we must give an exact account thereof take heed of deferring and putting off this justice to thy self resembling such as deferre buying till the market be over how foolish is it to begin to live when we must cease to live he that means to doe a great work in a short time had need to follow it very close least his time cease before his work be finished and he faulty because he took o more time or lost so much when indeed we need nothing more Life is short and the art of well living is long betimes then learn how to live to God and to thy self how to be least alone when no body is with thee And then be watchfull of vain delusions and temptations our great enemy the devill hath deceitfull baits both for lonelinesse and for company Contemplation meditation prayer and practise is the happy life let thy body be subject to thy spirit and let thy spirit be wholly subdued by the Spirit of the Lord so shall thy body be a fit instrument for vertue and a holy Temple for thy God Doe thou justice to thy self in getting and ordering riches love a competency entertain them well got into thy house not into thy heart and strive to use them as a just steward to thy masters use that their departure may be as honest as their entrance if they part without thy leave let them carry nothing but themselves from thee no part of thy content or comfort let not that be setled on them the right use of the creature is to walk worthy of thy Creatour Thus much of justice Now a word or two of sound Judgment what it is and it is the strict and wary triall and consideration of every thing to the utmost it is the examining of a matter to finde out the bottome of it what it may produce and where the way lyeth unto its period it is the free and ready acceptance of the truth where and whensoever it appears and shewes it self it is the weighing the reasons and counter-reasons on all parts the weight and merit in them thereby to work out the truth And it is contrary to that sleight and carelesse way of judging and passing by things upon the first sight and appearance as if we were able to see what was in the house before we entred in or what lay under the stone before we removed it this is that grievous folly which men truly call rashnesse and self conceitednesse and all wise men count it shallow empty and want of sound judgment for justice and right it self being unadvisedly performed and by chance without sound judgment and consideration of the matter may as to the Judg be false or at least undeserving praise and commendation therefore endeavour not only to doe good but to doe it knowingly willingly and wittingly and from a pure and right principle which sheweth sincere and upright wisdome and is worthy the righteous title of justice and sound judgment 2 Chron. 1.10 Give me now O Lord wisdome and knowledge that I may goe out and come in before this people Ver. 12. Wisdome and knowledge is granted to thee Job 28.28 Behold the feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome and his tongue talketh of judgement And 51. v. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me know wisdome And 19. v. 12. Teach us to number our daies that we may apply our hearts to wisedome Jer. 4.22 They are wise to do evill Psal 50.23 To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Eccl. 10.10 Wisdome is profitable to direct Prov. 3.5 6. Trust to the Lord with all thy heart and lean not to thy own understanding in all thy waies acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Verly Be not wise in thy own eyes feare the Lord and depart from evill 1 Cor. 1.20 Hath not God made foolish the wisdome of this world And 2.5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God And 3.19 For the wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with God for it is writen he taketh the wise in his own craftiness 1 Cor. 2.6 Howbeit we speake wisdome amongst them that be perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought Ver. 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God or dained before the world unto our glory Eph. 1.17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him 1 Cor. 12.8 For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit Exod. 31.3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and in understanding Prov. 10.23 It is a sport to a fool to doe mischief but a man of understanding hath wisdom Luk. 16.8 And the Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light Psal 101.2 I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way I will walk within thy house with a perfect heart Prov. 13.14 The Law of the wise is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death Gen. 17.1 I am the almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Deut. 18.13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God Job 1.8 Hast thou considered my servant Job a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evill Prov. 11.5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness Jer. 10.3 The customs of the wicked are vain Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceive me Psal 143.8 Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee doe I trust Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee Job 23.15 When I considered I was afraid Psal 50.22 Now consider this ye that forget God least I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Eccl. 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of God and be more ready to hear then to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they doe evill Psal 51.2 3. Wash me throughly from my iniquities and cleanse me from my sinne for I acknowledg my iniquity and my sinne is ever before me Ver. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceive me Jer. 3.13 Onely acknowledge thy iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God And Chap. 14. Ver. 20. We acknowledg O Lord our iniquities and the iniquities
of our Fathers for we have sinned against thee 1 Cor. 2.11 For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him 1 Sam. 7.3 And Samuel spake to all the house of Israel saying If you doe return unto the Lord with all your hearts then put away the strange god Ashteroth from among you and prepare your hearts to the Lord and serve him only 1 Cor. 28.7 I will establish his Kingdom if he be constant to doe my Commandements and my judgments as at this day Prov. 4.5 Get wisdom get understanding forget not neither decline from the words of my mouth Ver. 6. Forsake her not and she will preserve thee love her and she will keep thee Ver. 26. Ponder the pathes of thy feet and let all thy wayes be established Eccl. 5.13 There is a sore evill which I have seen under the Sunne namely riches kept by the owners thereof to their hurt And Chap. 8. Ver. 9. There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition 1 Joh. 2.16 For all that is in the world the the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world Ver. 17. And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his masters cribbe but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Job 16.3 Shall vain words have an end Josh 1.8 This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to doe according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Jer. 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand in the wayes and see and ask for the old pathes where is the good way and walk therein and you shall finde rest for your souls Lam. 3.40 Let us search and try our wayes and turn again unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates Mich. 7.19 He will turn again he will have mercy upon us he will subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes into the depth of the sea 2 Cor. 10.4 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing thot exalteth it self against the knowledge of God Matth. 7.7 Aske and it shall be given you seek and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you And 18. Ver. 14. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little childe the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven James 4.10 Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Job 22.9 When men are cast down then thou shalt say there is lifting up and he shall save the humble person Deut. 30.15 19 20. See I have set before thee this day life and good death and evill I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live that thou maist love the Lord thy God and that thou maist obey his voice and that thou maist cleave unto him for he is thy life Matth. 17.27 Notwithstanding least we should offend them goe thou to the sea and cast in a hook and take up the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt finde a piece of money that take and give unto them for me and thee Phil. 1.27 Only let your conversation be is becomes the Gospell of Jesus Christ Amos 4.12 Prepare to meet thy God O Israell Psal 40.1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry Psal 106.13 They soon forgot his works they waited not for his counsell Isa 25.9 Loe this is our God we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Sam. 2.15.26 Behold here I am let him doe unto me what seemeth good unto him Psal 89.30 If his children forsake my Law and walke not in my judgements Ver. 31. If they breake my Statutes and keepe not my commandements Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquities with stripes Psal 74.19 O deliver not the soul of thy Turkle Dove unto the multitude of the wicked Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill Numb 11.4 And the mixed multitude fell a lusting Prov. 24.1 My sonne feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Ver. 22. For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knowes the ruine of them both Gen. 2.18 It is not good for man to be alone Matt. 4.4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the Devill Joh. 6.14 And Jesus departed into a Mountaine himselfe alone And c. 8. v. 16. I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me And c. 16. v. 32. Ye shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me Phil. 4.11 I have learned in what estate soever I am in therewith to be content Eccl. 6.9 Better is the sight of the eyes then the wandring of the desire 1 Tim. 6.9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition Eccl. 7.3 Sorrow is better then laughter for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better 1 Tim. 1.8 The Law is good if a man use it lawfully Prov. 15.2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright but the mouth of the foolish poureth out foolishnesse Psal 50.23 To him that ordereth his coversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 15.5 He that doth these things shall never be moved And 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Psal 101.2 I will behave my selfe wisely in a perfect way And 119.98 Thou through thy Commandements hast made me wiser then my enimies Prov. 10.19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sinne but he that refraineth his lips is wise And 26.12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit there is more hope of a foole then of him And 10.14 Wise men lay up knowledge but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction Psal 11 â—5 A good man sheweth favour and lendeth he will guide his affairs with
Five thee survive Four be immortaliz'd One more is gone the path of mortall race The rest rejoyce in hope to see thy face Thy Ninth and last born childe our gracious God Diâ— friendly free thee of but oh his rod Some ten dayes after for my sinnes I fear Took thee to joy left me to labour here Labour I will but only in his strength Is all my joy all my eternall wealth About some Thirty three was all thy age Thy worldly trouble and thy pilgrimage Thy five dayes sicknesse needs I must relate As rarest pattern fit to imitate What thanks for grace in thy child-bearing pain What humble yeelding unto death again What free submission to thy Fathers will Either to die or wait his pleasure still What sorrow for to hear of shedding blood What fear least warre should doe more hurt than good So that thy faith thy promise-bearing-pain Confirmes our hope our hope to meet again Another thus IN Infancy thou wert of humble spirit In Youth thy love to piety did merit In Womans years thy neighbours truly speak Thee sober modest studious and meek Loving true peace and all that loved good In Charity relieving poor with food Zealous in duty to thy gracious God Feeding with joy upon his sacred word This as thy years increast did daily grow To high perfection both in deed and show See that when death first had his licence given From thy Creatour by decree of Heaven He stood at distance onely shew'd his dart To see if fear would make thee shrink the smart But finding still the Roses white and red Adorn thy face as they were customed The second day he nearer doth advance Adds sorer sicknesse as his furtherance And finding still thy firm undaunted faith The third day shewes his much enraged wrath The fourth day seeing that no worldly deare Could change thy Christian courage into feare The fift and last to the utmost of his power Without his sting produc'd the fatall hour To the Soul IMpale thy self my soul and circle in thy wandring thoughts from worldly vain deceits Which maketh errours covereth her sinne And perywiggs with fraud her base retreats Darkens the knowledge and bemists the eyes Guilding the pit-falls of her vanities And let thy towring fence ascend more high Then doth the panting ayre or feathered wing So that the Prince thereof may not come nigh To scale the batlings or disturb within But let thy sacred soul most freely breath It self in Heavens joyes though thou beneath And keep out from thy peacefull Paradice All proud and haughty thoughts which make thee seem Better then others in thy darkned eyes When least of others thou thy self should'st deem And take unto thee infant humble blisse For of such vertue the true Kingdome is Keep out from hence all covetous avarice For that 's a partner with the proud disdaine That eggs thee on to cast off all advice And makes thee throw off godlinesse for gain And take unto thee goods most justly got Using this world as if thou used it not Take heed of setting up an Idoll here For that 's soon done before thou be aware Take heed of prizeing any thing so deare As thy own maker fear and have a care Serve thy own Maker thy own God alone Serve fear and love him for he 's onely One Three Persons yet one God our Maker is So holy Scriptures teach us to believe The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost it is True faith the confirmation doth us give No other true belief of Heavens wayes Can man make out unto his Makers praise Take to thy self and truly put in use Those ten most blessed Precepts Moses gave From our Creatour which men much abuse By false construction thinking for to save Thereby their trespasses but alas it 's vaine To think the soul can live where sinne doth raigne Misguided conscience often guides us wrong Yet we no better guide then conscience have If it be guided right by true and long Practice of piety prayer and counsell grave For our good Maker the true humble heart Truly converts and teacheth him the Art Blest and for ever prais'd be God alone Which gives us comfort notwithstanding sinne And hath a store of mercies of his owne A fountain for the soul to wash it in That in the merits of his onely Sonne Our souls appear free'd from corruption Then cast off from thee every sinfull thought And all appearances that evill be What er'e it is though ner'e so deerly bought If it but move to sinne cast it from thee And let thy pious prayers and humble soul Thy earthly passions and thy sinne controule Keep out by thy impal'd and circled guard Hopes in rebellion or by feats of armes Let civill warre for no hopes or reward Move thee to trample on thy neighbours harmes But pâ—ty all distrested and well know The sword 's abus'd seldome reforms below And keep from thee all idle wandring wayes That have no end in motion tend to nought When men seek nothing so they spend their dayes In vain conceits moov'd by a wandring thought And being empty of all good within The Devill ready is to fill with sinne Civill Warre FLy Civill warres what 's good they oft undoe Peace is my Alpha and Omega too Y' trust none hurts me for why none I hate I wish all peace least all repent too late Neuters are fittest men th' unbyass't life Makes a fit judge to end debate and strife Demeanours in severall Accidents and Occasions Life WIth Life remember Death and soon commence to love thy Maker and his providence Health Peace War In Health take Physick Peace provide for Warre fly all excesse and fly the Civill jarre Sicknesse In Sicknesse sorrow not but know it 's best in thy Creatours providence to rest Sorrow When Sorrowes doe possesse thy troubled soule take heed thy will doe not thy God controle Joy Take heed of too much joy and laughing much true serious thoughts doe leave a better touch Affliction In all Afflictions while thy time doth runne with true content say Lord thy will be done Single life There 's great temptation waits a Single life more outward ease oft brings more inward strife Marriage Weddings like winter Sunne at noon-shine bright but often clouds appear and sudden night Discourse In thy Discourse take heed of speaking more then thou thy self know'st to be true before Dispute Opinionated men in their Dispute rather themselves then others doe confute Travell Use words to get their speech but mark thou well their Laws and Customs and what doth excell Study In closet Study where no eye doth see remember God and thy eternitie Forraigne Countrey If thou from home to Forraign parts be call'd take heed thou be not in their vice enthral'd Distresse at sea When raging seas oppresse thy trembling barke Saints have their haven Doves their Noah's Arke Wretchedness Thrice wretched he that humane Lawes must force to doe the right he knowes Sinne. Thy soul from sinnes
them that goe down into the pit Cause me to hear thy loving kindenesse in the morning for in thee doe I trust cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee Deliver me O Lord from my enemies viz. from my sinnes I fly unto thee to hide me teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God thy Spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightnesse Quicken me O Lord for thy Names sake for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soul out of trouble And of thy mercy cut off my enemies viz my sinnes and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant I will rejoyce to work in thy vineyard O my creatour and in the strength of thy mercies will attend thy call to rest as thy most obedient servant Amen V. Comfort Take comfort in a constant thirsting to be dissolved and to be with Christ as his servants are who be already dissolved if almighty God in Christ Jesus were so pleased Read Gerrards Meditations Though death as to us is bitter yet in from pag. 268 unto pag. 302. our trust on almighty God in Christ it is sweet For who keepâ—th his word shall never see death Joh. 8.51 The misery of a Christian dieth but not the Christian man we lose not our friends at their death but they goe before us to the place of our enjoyment of them in Christ Jesus for ever as we may well beleeve Luk. 2.29 Simeon saith Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace And Phil. 1.23 The Apostle desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Rev. 7.9 The elect have robes in token of innocency and palms in their hands in token of victory therein are all tears wiped away from our eyes Ver. 17. And therein is no mourning nor grief nor any cry heard but rest from labour Chap. 21. v. 4. and 14.15 Our blessed Saviour shews the great benefit of being dissolved when his Disciples were sad at it he said Joh. 14.28 If ye loved me ye would rejoyce rather Phil. 1.21 Death is gain The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to his Sonne therefore rejoyce in thy true belief to goe to that judgement For Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that who so beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Matth. 18.14 Neither is it the will of our Father that one of the little ones should perish Ver. 11. Our Saviour came to save that which was lost He takes away the sinnes of the world He died for the sinnes of the world He hath a gracious call for us as Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you He maketh intercession for us and hath blotted out the hand-writing which was against us Joh. 5.24 He that heareth his word and believeth on him that sent him hath life everlasting and shall not come into condemnation O my Saviour I beleeve yet help thou my unbelief and increase thou my faith Eph. 5.29 30. That I may truly and as I ought beleeve my self to be and be a member of thy body of thy flesh and of thy bones O my Saviour in the power of thy might and as thou diedst to save sinners make me holy is thou the Lord my God art holy The dayes of my pilgrimage are few and evill My conversation is in Heaven and I desire to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living When shall I appear before thy face O God As the Hart panteth after the fountain of water so doth my heart after thee O God At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore I shall be abundantly satisfied with the plentifullnesse of thy house and thou shalt give me to drink of the brook of thy pleasures for with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light Thou O Lord art the portion of my inheritance and my exceeding great reward Thou shalt of thy free love to sinners shewed in Jesus Christ cover me with the garment of salvation and cloathe me with the white robe of righteousnesse where there is no hunger nor thirst nor scorching Sunne Of the fruit of the vine shall I drink in thy Kingdome for thy words are spirit and life therefore shall death be swallowed up in victory and thou O Saviour shalt for thy free merit in the blessed mercy of our eternall Father wipe away all tears from my eyes for ever for thou art my all-sufficient Lord God While we live we cannot hope to cease from sinne but when we die we hope to sinne no more which consideration doth administer great comfort in the remembrance and appearance of death to those that are truly weary of sinning against their God VI. The first Comfort in the pangs and passages of Death First Because the will of God is therein done in Jesus Christ which is certainly the best for us It is appointed to all men once to die and after that comes the judgment Heb. 9.27 2 Cor. 4.14 Knowing that he which hath raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus therefore we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily Ver. 17. For our light afflictions which are but for a moment causeth unto us a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glory while we look not on the things that are seen but on the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seen are eternall Read Gerrards Meditations p. 109. praying for a blessed departure out of this life and a blessed resurrection unto life ever lasting And Read the fift Chapter of the 2d Cor. in which is admirable comfort in the passages of death that we may be present with the Lord. Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptations for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Then present thy sould a true devotary unto our most gracious Father in Jesus Christ and say with David Psal 31.5 Into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Ps 71.23 My lips will rejoyce when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast delivered And rejoyce with Paul Gal. 3.13 saying Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law when he was made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Then gathering thy spirit freeing thy soul of worldly thougths say in faith and true repentance in full assurance that our good God is all-sufficient and that his mercy endures for ever and that in Jesus thy Saviour he hath elected and adopted thee his sonne Come Lord Jesus my most dear Saviour come quickly Amen VII A second Comfort in the passages of Death Take
or indeed the least sorrow Matth. 27.27 Then the souldiers of the Governours took Jesus into the Common-hall and gathered about him the whole band Ver. 28. And they stripped him and put upon him a scarlet robe Ver. 29. And platted a Crown of thorns and put it upon his head and a reed in his right-hand and bowed the knees before him and mocked him saying God save the King of the Jews Ver. 30. And spit upon him and took a reed and smote him on the head Ver. 31. Thus when they had mocked him they took the robe from him and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucifie him Ver. 33. And when they were come unto the place called Golgotha that is to say the place of dead mens sculls Ver. 34. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink Ver. 35. And when they had crucified him they parted his garments and did cast lots that it might be fullfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Psal 22.18 They divided my garments amongst them and upon my vesture did cast lots Ver. 36. And they sate and watched him there Ver. 37. They set up also over his head his cause written This is Jesus the King of the Jews Ver. 38. And there were two thieves crucified with him one on the right hand and the other on the left Ver. 39. And they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads and Ver. 40. Saying Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three dayes save thy self if thou be the Sonne of God come down from the crosse Ver. 41. Likewise also the High-Prists mocking him with the Scribes and Pharisees and Elders said Ver. 42. He saved others but he cannot save himself if he be the King of Israell let him now come down from the crosse and we will beleeve him Ver. 43. He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Sonne of God Ver. 44. That same also the thieves that were crucified with him cast in his teeth Ver. 45. Now from the sixth hour was there darkness over all the land untill the ninth hour Ver. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Ely Ely lamasabachthani that is My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Ver. 47. And some of them that stood there when they heard it said This man calleth Elias Ver. 48. And straight way one of them ranne and took a spunge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink Ver. 49. Others said Let be let us see if Elias will come and save him Ver. 50. Then Jesus cried with a loud voice again and yeelded up the ghost Now then let us be glad and rejoyce to goe to him our Saviour our joy our peace what way soever he is pleased to call us through the most bitter torments of minde or body by weaknesses sicknesses and imperfections and let us be most assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Tim. 2.3 Let us therefore suffer afflictions as good souldiers of Jesus Christ For it is a true saying If we be dead with him we shall also live with him if we suffer with him we shall also raign with him if we deny him he also will deny us Yea 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions Here have we no continuing City but we seek one to come Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him in well doing as unto a faithfull Creatour knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world As many as our Saviour loveth he rebuketh and chasteneth Be zealous therefore in the truth and amend and rejoice alwayes that the will of God in Christ Jesus thy Saviour is therein done which is the best for thee Amen X. A fift Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our going from sorrow to joy Isa 17.1 The righteous perisheth and no man considereth it in heart and mercifull men are taken away and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come 2 King 22.19 20. But because thy heart did melt and thou hast humbled thy self before the Lord when thou heardest what I spake against this place and against the inhabitants of the same to wit that it should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me I have also heard it saith the Lord behold therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be put into thy grave in peace and thy eyes shall not see all the evill which I will bring upon this place this was the great love of God to King Josiah See 2 Chron. 34.28 Luk. 16.22 Lazarus by a blessed dissolution is eased of all his pains sores diseases fears and troubles is called for out of the prison of the body and presently by the happy messenger of death is made fit and carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome where all the elect are in joyes incomprehensible freed from sinne and sorrow forever Amen XI A sixth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our being gathered to our nearest alliance our kindred and our parents 2 King 22.19 20. Josiah was gathered to his fathers in great abundant mercy as I mentioned before See the most sweet and gracious call of the eternall mercy to Moses Deut 32.48 49 50. which I lately mentioned And the Lord spake to Moses the self same day saying Goe up into the mountain of Abarim unto the mount Nebo which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho and behold the land of Canaan which I give to the children of Israell for a possession and die in the mount which thou goest up unto and thou shalt be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor and was gathered to his people Gen. 25.8 The Abraham yeelded up the spirit and died in a good age an old man and of great years and was gathered to his people Numb 20.26 Almighty God commanded Moses to take Aaron and Eleazer his sonne and to bring them up into the mount Hor and to cause Aaron to put off his garments and to put them upon Eleazer his sonne saying Aaron shall be gathered to his fathers and shall die there Numb 30.1 2. Almighty God doth bid Moses avenge the children of Israel of the Mideanites and in token of acceptance and reward faith afterwards thou shalt be gathered to thy people Gen. 15.17 And Ishmaell yeelded up the spirit and died and was gathered to his people Chap. 35. ver 29. And Isaak gave up the ghost and died and
was gathered to his people And Chap. 49. ver 26. Jacob saith I am ready to be gathered to my people bury me with my fathers Observe There is no sign or shew of sorrow in him for he might well rejoyce to exchange earth for Heaven And Ver. 33. Then Jacob made an end of giving charge to his sonnes and plucked up his feet into the bed and gave up the ghost and was gathered to his people It is an infinite and an incomprehensible mercy of God that his love in Jesus is to call us in his good time from our disserving rather then serving of him here and that with thousands of fears cares and griefs to be gathered to his servants our fathers and nearest friends in peace XII A seventh Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our entrance into the true communion of Saints By the Gospell we are joyned to the Angels and Patriarchs even in this life much more shall we be united to the true heavenly serving our eternall mercy with them when we shall cease from sinne Heb. 13.22 23. Ye are come to the mount Sion and to the City of the living God the celestiall Jerusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels and to the Congregation of the first-born which are written in Heaven And to God the Judg of all and to the spirits of just and perfect men Ver. 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new Testament Col. 1.9 The Apostle saith For this cause we pray for you and do desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding Ver. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God Ver. 11. Stengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfllunesse Ver. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Ver. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darknesse and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne Ver. 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgivenesse of sinnes Ver. 15. Who is the Image of the invisible God the first-born of every creature Ver. 16. For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Ver. 17. For he is before all things and by him all things consist Ver. 18. And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Ver. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullnesse dwell Ver. 20. And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in Heaven Ver. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight 1 Thes 3.12 13. The Lord increase you and make you abound in love one towards another and towards all men to make your hearts stable and unblameable in holinesse before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints Jude ver 14. Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his Saints Rev. 7.9 I beheld saith the Apostle and behold a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lambe clothed with long white robes and palmes in their hands Ver. 14. And an Elder said unto me These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their long robes and have made their long robes white in the blood of the Lambe Ver. 15. Therefore are they in the presence of the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them Ver. 16. They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sunne light on them neither any heat Ver. 17. For the Lambe which is in the midst of the Throne shall govern them and shall lead them unto the lively fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes XIII An eighth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our ceasing from sinne and the entrance into our eternall rest and peace Heb. 4.9 10. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God For he that is entred into his rest hath also ceased from his own works as God did from his Chap. 6. ver 20. Let us study therefore to enter into that rest least any fall through disobedience Into which peace the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus that is made a High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec Job 3.13 For so should I now have lyen and been quiet I should have slept then and been at rest Ver. 14. With the Kings and Counsellors of the earth which have builded themselves desolate places Ver. 17. The wicked have there ceased from their tyranny and there they that laboured valiantly are at rest Ver. 18. The prisoners rest together and hear not the voice of the oppressors Ver. 19. There are small and great and the servant is free from his Master XIV A ninth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our going to doe the will of God our most loving and mercifull Father in Jesus Christ without sinning against his most blessed and sacred Majesty In dying we doe the will of God Heb 9.27 For it is appointed to all men once to die and after that comes the judgement Rom. 6.7 For he that is dead is freed from sinne Joh. 14.28 When our Saviour had acquainted his Disciples of his departure from them by his passion they were sorrowfull For which our Saviour seemed to reprove them and said If ye loved me ye would rather rejoyce because I said I goe unto the Father for my Father is greater then I. XV. A tenth Comfort in Death It is the love of our good God unto us to take us away from the evill to come therefore rejoyce at this his gracious call of infinite mercy to that heavenly mansion which our blessed Saviour hath prepared for us in his Fathers house Joh. 14.2 In my Fathers house are many mansions or dwelling places if it were not so I would have told you I goe to prepare a place for you 1 King 11.11 12. The Lord said to Solomon I will surely rend the Kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant Notwithstanding in thy dayes I will not doe it because of David thy Father but I will rent it out of the
hand of thy sonne 2 Tim. 3.1 This know in the last dayes shall come perillous times Ver. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy Vor. 3. Without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers intemperate fierce despisers of them which are good Ver. 4. Traiterous heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a shew of godlinesse but denying the power thereof turn away therefore from such Nah. 1.7 Say thou with the Prophet Nahum The Lord is good and a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him In thee O Lord doe I trust let me never be ashamed O my God Amen XVI An eleventh Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is the going to the place where our Saviour is according to the call and being of his servants Joh. 14.3 And though I goe to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there may ye be also Phil. 1.21 For Christ is to me both in life and death advantage Ver. 22. And whether to live in the flesh were profitable for me or what to choose I know not Ver. 23. For I am greatly in a straight on both sides desiring to be loosed and to be with Christ which is best of all Psal 50.5 Gather my Saints together unto me those that make a Covenant with me with sacrifice Isa 40.10 11. Behold the Lord God will come with power and his arm shall rule for him behold his reward is with him and his works before him he shall feed his flock like a shepheard he shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosome and shall guide them with young Matth. 3.12 He will gather the wheat into his garner Eccl. 12.7 And dust returns to the earth as it was and the spirit returns to God that gave it XVII A twelfth Comfort in Death Rejoyce in the Diseases pains pangs and troubles in thy minde or body because the way to Heaven is through many afflictions and it is the way our blessed Saviour went before us let us rejoyce then to follow him in it Luk. 6.46 Our blessed Saviour saith Why call ye me Master and doe not the things that I speak Psal 34.19 Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Rom. 8.35 Who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions Isa 48.10 I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction saith the Lord And 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Be sober and watch for your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist steadfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren which are in the world Remember the love of our Saviour Jesus in his taking upon him our sinnes our flesh c. See his love to us his suffering for us from his cradle to his grave Read the Scriptures See some notes thereof in the title true love to God in this book Psal 119.49 Remember thy promise made to thy servant wherein thou hast caused me to trust it is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickned me Ver. 92. Except thy Law had been my delight I should have perished in my affliction I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou quicknest me I am thine save me for I have sought thy precepts Behold my affliction and deliver me for I have not forgotten thy Law Plead my cause and deliver me quicken me according to thy word XVIII A thirteenth Comfort in Death Rejoyce because it is our going to enjoy such as were our nearest friends in this life in unexpressible heavenly enjoyments according to our heavenly Fathers will in Jesus without any fear of losing them or those joyes for ever It is our being gathered to our Fathers and then surely to all our friends which are the servants of our Saviour Christ The joyes of Heaven are such as eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive for that the flesh cannot discern nor punctually understand the spirit Who knowes a man viz. the soul save the spirit c. The change in death is our being gathered to the place where our Saviour is that we may see his glory then certainly no joy or comfort can possibly be wanting neither can there be any fear of losing them any more he is the sure foundation of eternall comfort and a building set thereon cannot fail Hear what St John saith Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my word he shall never see death God is most gracious his mercy endures for ever he is onely good he accepts the will for the deed if we truly will to obey and love his word although we doe it not Rom. 7.20 It is not us but sinne that doth offend And certainly the authour and actor of sinne in us our old enemy that old and lying Serpent the devill shall in the justice of God to him and the loving mercies of God to us in Christ bear the burthen of our sinnes which deserve and shall have upon him eternall death A fourteenth Comfort in Death Rejoyce For that after a short time those friends left behinde us in this world shall be in Jesus gathered to us to our eternall communion and praise of our everlasting most dear and loving Father with them without offending or danger to offend his most blessed and sacred Majesty for ever Job 14.1 Man that is born of a woman is of short continuance and full of sorrow James â— 14 For what is your life it is even a vapour that appears for a little time and afterward vanisheth away Job 10.20 Are not our days few Chap. 14. ver 5. Are not his days determined the number of his moneths are with thee thou hast appointed his bounds which he cannot passe Psal 103.15 The dayes of a man are as grasse as a flower of the field so flourisheth he Man is like to vanity his dayes are like a shadow which vanisheth Rom. 6. â— For he that is dead is freed from sinne Ver. 11. Like wise also think ye that ye are dead to sinne but are alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Rev. 15.2 3 4. And I saw as it were a glassie sea mingled with fire and them that had got victory of the beast and of his Image and of his mark and of the number of his name stand at the glassie sea having the harps of God and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty just and true are thy wayes
my God and man which I have solemnly made and taken I have promised to thy sacred Majestie my unworthy service though but the least part of my dutie upon condition to receive mercy from thee which in particular thou hast been gratiously pleased as I may judg to give me but I alas have wholly left undone my promise with thee so that surely I admire thy patience that thou hast not ere this cast me into hell amongst thy enemies Thou hast of thy free mercie given me time of repentance I trust thou wilt in thy great goodnesse give me true repentance it self even such as thou wilt not despise O give it me for thy mercies sake O my Creatour as thou lovest sinners in Jesus and hast mercie for the works of thy own hands give me true and saving grace lead and draw me to thee in true repentance Lord thy long-suffering and patience to me doth give me some hope of thy electing me to mercie O give me the full assurance of it by a true and a lively faith Open thou I most humbly pray for Christ Jesus his sake my dark and closed eyes so that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law blesse me O my Father in not imputing sinne unto me for man liveth not by bread only but by every word of thy mouth O God What is man that thou art mindefull of him Psal 8.4.144.3.89.5 or the Sonne of man that thou visitest him Lord what is man that thou regardest him or the Sonne of man that thou thinkest upon him Behold thou hast made my daies as a hand-breadth and my age as nothing in respect of thee surely every man in his best estate is altogether vanitie When thou O God with rebukes dost chastise man for sinne as a moth his beauty doth consume surely every man is vanity Doubtlesse man walketh in a vain shadow he disquieteth himself in vain he heapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them And now Lord what wait I for my hope is even in thee deliver thou me from all my transgressions Who can withstand thy chastenings surely every man living is vanitie Selah O my God I humbly beseech thee for my Saviour Jesus Christ his sake and in thy love through him to poor wretched and miserable sinners forgive all my Oathes and my hypocrisie towards thee or man all my blasphemies lies false and doubtfull speeches my vanities and offendings of thee by thought word and deed O let thy sweet free and saving mercy forgive all my secret sinnes and from my presumptuous sinnes good Lord deliver me least they get the dominion over me I humbly beseech thee seeing sinne must raigne in this my earthly tabernacle give me grace and strength I humbly crave of thy most sacred Majestie that I may submit unto it unwillingly as to the subjection of a cruell Tyrant not willingly with joy and comfort as to a lawfull Prince Give me grace and strength I most humbly pray with Ephraim to bemoane my self in secret and truly desire to be released from the cruell oppression of this Tyrant to be dissolved and be with thee my only joy and peace that I may serve thee as thy faithfull servants and never offend against thee any more Amen I beseech thee O my Saviour and my God for the whole remainder of my life that yet I have to live under the Sunne remember not thou against me my former iniquities but make haste and let thy tender mercies prevent me that I offend not against thee nay I doubt not in Jesus but thou my mercifull God wilt of thy free goodnesse prevent me Psal 27.11.86.11 Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of my enemies Teach me thy way O Lord and I will walk in thy truth knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name Turn away mine eies from vanity and quicken me in thy way 119.37 Stay my steps in thy pathes that my feet doe not slide Shew me thy waies O Lord and teach me thy pathes for all thy pathes O Lord are mercie and truth unto such as keep thy Covenants and thy testimonies O my God I plainly see my evill and my sinne the bitternesse of my waies are before me I must judge and condemne my self for the least sinne guilty of infinite punishment even as thou the Lord my God whom I offend and rebell against thereby art infinite But O what then is the due desert from thy severe justice for those innumerable heapes of wickednesse and transgressions which momentarily increase upon me through my corruption wherewith I have provoked thee to anger and which continually call for judgment for my eternall destruction as my due deserts Although I see no way of pardon without great fears and doubts yet I will delight my self in the mercies of thee my God and commit my waies unto thee my Redeemer for I know thou wilt bring it to passe I humbly beseech thee O my Father my hope my joy the onely rest and peace of my eternitie guide me and lead me in the perfect way of thy blessed service as thy true and faithfull servant from this moment for ever O leave me not nay I doubt not in Jesus but thou wilt ever guide and not leave me untill I be in the house of thy love in the place of thy rest which thou O my Father in thy infinite love hast prepared for thy servants untill the door be shut that I cannot return unto my own vanities againe even so come O my Father in Jesus Come quickly Amen A Prayer O thou that hearest prayers unto thee shall all flesh come look upon our Saviour and our mercy and let not our unworthy prayers offend thee O Almighty and our all-sufficient Lord God whose will is all things both in Heaven and earth who art only good and whose mercy endures for ever to thee the grave is open and from thee there is no covering for destruction thou stetchest out the North over the empty place and hangest the earth upon nothing thou bindest thy waters in the clouds and the clouds are not broken under them thou holdest back the face of thy Throne and spreadest the clouds upon it Thou hast set bounds to the waters untill the day and night come to an end The pillars of Heaven tremble and quake at thy reproof the sea is calm by thy power and by thy understanding thou smitest the pride thereof Thy spirit hath garnished the Heavens and thy hand hath formed the crooked serpent Loe these are part of thy waies O mighty God but how little a portion have we of thee and who can understand thy fearfull power Thou art the God of the spirits of all flesh great art thou O Lord and most worthy to be praised thy greatnesse is incomprehensible Thou good Lord be mercifull to all us that desire or would at least both desire and fully prepare our whole hearts to seek and
perfectly to serve thee the God of our Fathers although we be not clensed according to the purification of the Sanctuary O Lord we beseech thee let thy loving kindnesse and thy mercie to poor miserable sinners in Jesus direct our hearts as the hearts of thy elected servants to pray unto thy sacred Majestie in spirit and truth and we humbly beseech thee let thy ears hearken to our praiers and the praiers of all thy servants who desire to fear thy Name Two things we most humbly beg of thee O our mercy denie us not them before we die Remove farre from us vanity and lies Give us neither poverty nor riches feed us with food convenient for us least we be full and denie thee and say Who is the Lord or least we be poor and steale and take the Name of our God in vaine so we will praise thee O Lord in the power of thy might saying Thou wast angry with us because of our mighty sinnes provoking thee but thy wrath is turned away and thou comfortest us Thou art our preserver and our refuge we will trust and will not feare for thou Lord God art our strength and long and our salvation O our good and blessed Lord and King in the power of thy mercie we will extoll thee and will blesse thy Name for ever and ever Praise ye the Lord O our soules we will praise the Lord during our lives as long as we have any being we will sing unto our God O our God blessed is the man unto whom thou imputest not iniquity O teach us thy statutes Teach us to pray unto thee in a time when thou maist be found Thou art our secret place thou preservest us from trouble thou compassest us about with joyfull deliverance because thy mercie endures for ever O instruct us and teach us the way that we should goe and guide us with thine eye least we be like the horse and mule which have no understanding O our loving God give us grace to trust in thee that thy mercie may compasse us and that we may rejoice in thy salvation and give thee praise with all the faculties both of our souls and bodies continually O cause us to trust truly in thee for so we shall not perish Give us grace and strength O Lord by the power of thy saving spirit in Jesu truly to humble our selves for the afflictions and sinnes of our enemies so in thy mercie shall our praiers return into our own bosomes but doe thou save and comfort them O Lord for thy goodnesse and let it be thy will O God that our tongue utter thy righteousnesse and thy praise every day We desire to doe thy will O our God yea thy Law is within our hearts deale with thy servants according to thy mercies and teach us thy statutes we are thy servants grant us therefore understanding that we may know thy testimonies we love thy Commandements above gold yea above fine gold therefore we esteem all thy precepts most just and hate all false waies Thy testimonies are wonderfull therefore doth my soul keep them The entrance into thy word sheweth light and giveth understanding to the simple Look upon us O Lord and be mercifull unto us as thou usest to doe unto them that love thy Name Direct our steps in thy Word and let none iniquity have dominion over us shew the light of thy countenance upon thy servants and teach us thy statutes Righteous art thou O Lord and just in thy judgments Trouble and anguish are come upon us yet are thy Commandements our delight The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is everlasting O grant us understanding and we shall live Hear our voice O Lord according to thy loving kindnesse O quicken us according to thy judgments Great are thy tender mercies O Lord quicken us according to thy free mercy and thy goodnesse Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israell know us not yet thou O Lord art our Father and our Redeemer thy Name is for ever O give us thy saving spirit of life in Jesus from Heaven for we can receive nothing except it be given us from Heaven O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy waies and hardned our hearts from thy feare returne for thy servants sake and for our Saviour Jesus Christ his sake doe thou write our Names in the book of life with thy servants Let our complaints come before thee O Lord and give us understanding according to thy word Let our supplications come before thee O Lord and deliver us according to thy promise Our lipps shall speak thy praise O God when thou hast taught us thy statutes Our tongues shall treat of thy word for all thy Commandements are righteous Let thy hand help us for we have chosen thy precepts We have longed for thy salvation O Lord and thy Law is our delight Let our souls live and they shall praise thee and thy judgments shall help us We have gone astray like lost sheep seek thy servants for we doe not forget thy Commandements Our sinnes O Lord our sinnes they have taken hold of us that we cannot look up they are more in number then the hairs of our heads therefore our hearts have failed us Let it please thee O Lord to deliver us make haste O God to help us Our souls thirst for God even for the living God when shall we come and appear before the presence of God O God thou art our guide for ever have mercy upon us according to thy loving kindnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away our offences Wash us throughly from our iniquities and cleanse us from our sinnes for we know our iniquities and our sinnes are ever before us Against thee against thee onely have we sinned and done evill in thy sight that thou mayest be just when thou speakest and pure when thou judgest behold we were born in iniquity and in sinne have our mothers conceived us Thou O Lord lovest truth in the heart therefore give us wisdome in our inward affections Purge us with hysop and we shall be clean wash us and we shall be whiter then snow make us to hear of joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Hide thy face O Lord from our sinnes and put away all our iniquities Create in us clean hearts O Lord and renew right spirits within us O cast us not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from us Open thou our lips O Lord and our mouthes shall shew forth thy praise Deliver us from bloud O God of our salvation and from the secret trapps of our deadly enemy Have mercy upon us O God have mercy upon us for our soul trusteth in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will we trust till the afflictions of our sinning against thee be overpast We will call upon the most high God even to the God that performeth his promise towards us We will
dwell in thy Tabernacles for ever and our trust shall be under the coverings of thy wings O God thou art our salvation and our glory the rock of our strength in thee onely is our rest We beseech thee put thy Law into our hearts and write it in our mindes and remember our sinnes and our iniquities no more O our good God we trust we have received the knowledge of thy truth deliver us from sinning against thee O Lord God of hosts hear our prayers hearken O God of Jacob thou art our shield look upon the face of thine anointed for a day in thy Courts is better then a thousand otherwhere I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickednesse Thou art our Sunne and our shield and wilt give grace and glory and no good thing wilt thou with-hold from them that walk uprightly O Lord of hosts blessed is the man to whom thou givest grace to trust in thee and to whom thou imputest not his sinne so deale with us thy unworthy servants O our eternall mercie Nay we doubt not but in Jesus Christ thou wilt give us eternall life for in him there is sufficient that thou shouldest forgive and not impute our sinnes unto us Selah In whom we trust thou hast elected us to mercy as thy faithfull servants Amen O most powerfull Jehovah O Eternitie I am hungred and cannot be satisfied I am thirsty and cannot be quenched I am weary and can have no rest I mourne and cannot be comforted I am poor and have no helpe I sinne and cannot satisfie I am thy servant and cannot serve thee I am thy labourer and cannot work I am most vile and unworthy yet look thou upon me O God in Jesus and for the love of him only give me thy holy Spirit conduct and lead me in this my sinfull pilgrimage to thee my God my only joy and eternal repose even to the place of my Fathers who are dead in thee my God who rest from their labours and their desired work in thy gracious and loving acceptance of them in Christ Jesus follow them O give me thy love to poor sinners for that and that only is sufficient for me It is all joy to me to work in the vineyard of my Master and to see the Evening of his loving call to rest draw on I greatly rejoice in the love and service of my Saviour Jesus I rejoice to die because I know my Saviour liveth I rejoice to leave my Children because I know the mercies of my God preserveth his servants to the joyes of Eternity and to temporall peace also as it shall be best for their eternall happinesse I rejoice to leave the world because I finde it not a fit instrument to serve my Saviour and that I have cause to fear disserving him there with Pious Sentences GOD gives the cold according to the Cloth God knowes who is a good Pilgrim God Almighty and a Father have no requitall God worketh in a little time God kept nothing lost God raigneth where he pleaseth Gods servants have a good Master Job Ch. 14. V. 1. MAn that is Eves posterity hath short continuance Yet armies of his miseries continually advance 2 He shooteth forth as doth a fleure that 's presently cut down He vanisheth and in one houre the grave becomes his Crowne 3 And yet thou openest thine yes upon so vain a shade And causest him to enterprize in judgment ' gainst thy aide 4 O Lord who can bring a clean thing Or who dare look on thee O King if thou please not to smile 5 Thou hast determined his dayes his moneths are known to thee Thou hast appointed out his wayes how where his end shall be 6 O turn away thy angry rod O stay thy chastizing Untill my day desired when I shall cease to sinne 7 For there is hope that though a be cut and hewed down May have it's shading branchand be tree as formerly 't was known 8 Although the root of it wax old within its tombe or grave And though the slook of it be dead within its antient cave 9 Yet by the sent of water it may budde and bloome againe And bring forth boughs and become fit as plants for to remaine 10 But man is sick and dies and goes foes to his long biding place Man perishes from friends from where 's honour where 's disgrace 11 As the great waters part from sea and are not to be found And as the floods dry up and they become as parched ground 12 So man doth sleep and doth not rise he shall not wake againe He shall not from his sleep arise while Heaven doth remaine 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave and secret chamber Untill thy wrath were past for sinne and then wouldst me remember 14 If a man die shall he here live oh all my wandring doome That thou hast pointed I will waite untill my changing come 15 Thou shalt call me and then I shall unto thee answer make Thou lovest thine own handy-worke for thine own mercy sake 16 But now thou numbrest all my steps and dost not stay my sinne As if I could pay all my debts in which I lived in 17 My sinnes and my iniquities thou hast fast sealed up As in a bagge whereof is fill'd my sinfull flowing cup. 18 And surely as the hills decay that from their place are found And as the rocks doe mould away that change their antient ground 19 And as the waters break the stones when thou dost overflew Even so thou dost destroy the hope that man hath here below 20 Thou dost prevaile against his soule so that he goes as clay He changes qâ—ite his countenance when thou casts him away 21 Ah! he knowes not whether his sonnes shall honourable be Nor doth he understand if they shall sit in low degree 22 But while his flesh is upon him he shall have sorrowes store And while his soule is bound in sinne he shall have more and more My GOD. O Guide me to thy dwelling place O lead my feet to thee O draw me hard for l'me o' th' race of poor mortalitie O punish not thy servants sinne though mad and wondrous vaine Remember in discharge of them thy only Sonne was flame O give me for to know my God though I' have not chosen thee Yet thou hast chosen me in him thy servant for to be O make me thirst to come to thee to that sweet place of rest Where are thy servants which of old thou freely lovedst best Amen O Saviour Jesus Righteous Hope I Am born and hope to die a Christian and I much rejoice to performe the sacred Law of Christ my Saviour to the utmost of my power knowledge and understanding Of all reformed and professed churches I acknowledge my self to be of the reformed Church of England which I take to be most consonant and agreeable to my Saviours institution yet dare I not affirm my
saved where then shall wretched sinners appeare Beleeve not every spirit but prove the spirits if they be of God Do not understand that thou maist beleeve but beleeve that thou maist understand Faith is the assurance or substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seene Lord what I have been pardon what I am amend what I shall be direct Those sharpe corrections which the body wound if rightly used do make the soul more sound The sweetest Comfort AS a deare Mother comforteth her Son whom she hath borne So will I helpe and comfort thee at evening and at morne Isa 63.13 Nay though a Mother should forget compassion to have Yet is my mercy towards thee even when thou canst not crave Isa â—9 15 Colos 3.4 When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shall we also appeare with him in glory Ver. â— Mortyfie therefore your members which are on the earth fornication uncleannesse the inordinate affection evill concupiscence and covetousnesse which is colatry Ver. 6. For the which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience Ephes â— 3 But fornication and all uncleannesse or covetousnesse let it not be once named amongst you Ver 4. As it becometh Saints neither filthynesse neither foolish talking neither jesting which are things not comely but rather giving of thankes Mark 7.21 For from within even out of the heart of man proceed evill thoughts adulteries fornications murthers Ver. 22. Thefts covetousnesse wickednesse deceit uncleannesse or wantonnesse a wicked eye back-biting pride foolishnesse Chap. 4. ver 1â— The lusts of the world and the flesh enter into the heart and choake the Word and it is unfruitfull Therefore in true zeal and faith pray O Lord my God for Christ Jesus his sake Matth. 6.13 Leade me not into temptation but deliver me from evill Endure thou with patience and in the strength and mercy of thy Saviour resist thy temptations wherewith the world the flesh and the Devill joyne in desire to destroy thee Jam. 1.12 For blessed is the man that endureth temptations Ver. 13. For when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Let no man say when he is tempted that he his tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evill neither tempteth he any man 1 Cor. 10.13 Know that there hath no temptation taken you but such as appertaineth to man and God is faithfull which will not suffer you to be tempted above that you be able but will even give the issue with the temptation that you may be able to beare it Selah 1 Pet. 2.11 I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the soul 2 Tim. â— 2â— Flee also from the lusts of youth and follow after righteousnesse faith love and peace with all them that call on the Lord with pure hearts Amen The Sunne that 's set may rise againe and freshly gild his glorious traine But man is sicke and dies and where are all his pleasures priz'd so deare Yet a ter some few times are past he shall receive a raising blast Eccl. 7.2 Who can tell man what 's good at need in his vaine life and daies Or who shall after him succeed his works and all his waies I see Eccl. 4.8 most vaine of vanities which to relate breed's fear One spares no toyles no paines nor lies for wealth yet hath no Heire Mat. 25.26 c. O humbly begge of God most high that he would give thee grace To use thy Talent in the way of his just Stewards race Job 7 7. Remember well thy brickle life thy bubble shade-like spanne Hast fit thee for eternity ' gainst these few sands be runne Prov. 13.7 8 9. Two things I humbly begge my God do not thou me deny Before thou strike me with thy rod before I fall and die Put farre from me all vanities and all dissembling lies Feed me with food convenient thy lawes to exercise Least I be full and thee deny and say who is the Lord Least I be poor and steale and take thy Name in vaine O God Amen as is thy good will in Jesus Of worldly rest It 's good to want fly fullnesse here least here thou hast thy fill Of worldly wish that without care thou doest or good or ill For good so done is wickednesse if from a maxime right It be not with true humblenesse to God as in his sight Take heed therefore of worldly things whatever doth appeare To make thee say for they have wings it 's good for to be here Least so thou say Know it is good to fly the vaine excesse For outward joyes at highest flood are full of emptinesse Then fill thy soul with wisdome pure and thou shalt plainly see That 's onely good that doth assure good of eternity The Devill hath a secret snare in all our thoughts words and actions a tare at least among the Corne Therefore watch and care to prevent him at your perill On the L M.W. dying in Child-bed the Infant living My dearest Childe the daily growing love Of thy deare Father will not have thee stay To beate impetuous waves like wandering dove From worldly tumults I will take away My sweetest lilly yet least no Phaenix be I l'e leave a root a little branch of thee That hence may grow such fruit as thou didst beare Such hopes of piety such vertuous flowers Such innocence such humble waies to share Such piety adorn'd thy daies and houres Such full preparednesse for heavenly joyes That wrong it were to put thee off with toyes Therefore my dearest welcome to thy houre Let all my Angels shew there glad rejoyce Let thine alli'd who are and are to come Then thankes and praise send forth in joyfull voice For well you know my dearest onely Sonne No longer suffr'd then his work was done So all my Children if I take them thence Where sin doth raigne where sorrowes multiply If of my love I make them soone commence Their lasting blisse their joy eternally This they must know to be their onely good Thus would I have my actions understood Another on the same L.M.W. CAn dearest love more to the life appear Then when the Child beset with mortall dread When outward meanes will not preserve from fear Sorrow and sin will not be vanquished To take the most assured change of death Which unto Saints is perfect life and breath For in this life we nothing perfect have But sin and sorrow which bespot the soul And since our great Creatour will her save From sin which in us doth his Image foule His will be done and his dispose be blest Most due it is that we therein should rest Knowing assured here is no abide Nor solid dwelling here to habit in As Saints have gone before the Gate is wide We shall succeed her if not barr'd by sinne Then shall we meet and perfect blisse partake
unpreparednesse Parents must chiefly take care of their Childrens soule and principle them in good Love of and in the truth most necessary p. 3. The endowments of the minde excell the adornments of the body A heavenly Deity to be acknowledged Wherein true Religion consisteth p. 4. The benefit of true Religion How Almighty God must be served A pure and true Sacrifice p. 5. Outward Ceremonies not to be contemned nor abused Submission is our duty in prayer A ask nothing contrary to the revealed will of Almighty God p. 6. Use not the Name of God without serious premeditation His Name is holy All honour is due unto it p. 7. The good of necessity and of correction p. 8. Corrections work to good or hurt Labour to be a good Text-man p. 9. In what sense Gods servants want nothing that is good but have their hearts desire p. 10. Search not over curiously into the misteries of the Almighty Take heed of infecting thy judgment with false doctrine Be not weary of well-doing Vain-glory hath at best but a worldly reward p. 11. It shall onely be well with the righteous p. 12. The first Age. The three chief destinguished Ages of mans life Infancy like the Red sea p. 13. Let not time passe in vaine p. 14. Death holds all our years in possession therefore fasten on to day Losse of time considered a great grief He that hath lived long hath often lived little Life is onely time spent with prudence and circumspection p. 15. Death is alwayes very nigh at hand p. 16. The second Age. What the action of this Age is Of what materials foundations ought to be p. 17. Learn not what must be unlearned Observing others changes fits us for our own Fly offences Corrupted nature first offereth corruption p. 18. How Tutors and Fathers of Children ought to be disposed p. 19. The third Age. Temperance necessary Passing Jorden dangerous The chiefest place is vertue The society of vertues inseparable p. 20. Vertues cannot be taken from us Earthly vanities may Quench not the spirit p. 21. A recitall of certain Vertues p. 22. The fourth Age. Wisdome and right reason necessary Prudence and humility are especiall guides to the mine Anger an enemy to reason The designes of reason and anger different Wisdome distinguisheth us from the beasts The properties of Wisdome The company and advice of wise men profitable 24 25. From Almighty Gods forbearance learn patience An honest Calling very necessary It must not hinder devotion A Souldiers life and calling very dangerous p. 26. The fift Age. Marriage dangerous Means that may make an Eunuch p. 28. Some directions in marriage p. 29. Chastity in both Sexes like laudable The inconveniences of incontinency p. 30. 31. The sixth Age. Endeavour the common good Vertue to be desired p. 32. Wise men set not their hearts on earthly things Prosperity pusseth not them up nor adversity casts them down Engage not in a croud nor in Civil warre p. 33 34. The seaventh Age. Fortitude gravity and consideration is required Wisdome is the Candle of the Lord. A wise foresight necessary p. 35. Anger a high degree of madnesse Anger onely good against thy own oversights Complements commonly guilded untruths The heart and tongue are said never to wax old Lies are abominable p. 36 37. Fortitude or valeur What difference betwixt military valour and true fortitude p. 38 39. The eighth Age. A carefull watch over our selves at all times most necessary p. 40. Over what this watch is chiefly needfull Will the guide of the vulgar Reason of the prudent Ambition full of vanity and is onely just in its own punishment Humility the true embleme of Honour p. 41 42 43 43 44 45. The ninth Age. Sound judgement and justice what Justice not to be executed by the lump p. 46. Punishment and reward the hands of justice It must begin at home as well as Charity Live not by chance We may live both seriously and chearfully Defer not justice to thy self not buying till the market be past The happy life What the right use of the creature Sound judgement what Rashnesse and self-conceitednesse what p. 47 48 49. The tenth Age. True wisdome what The practicall part chiefly profits Wisdome three wayes discovered Wisdome doth peaceably attend all things even death As necessary for a man to study and know himself as it is naturall to him to think and be near himself Know thy self is a heavenly salutation Want hereof causeth much sinne One just act maketh not a just man p. 50 51 52 53. Wisdome subdueth passion Three traps that the most are taken with No limit in what is false No happinesse without subduing corrupted desires p. 54. The multitude unconstant They praise things past desire things to come and despise things present Severall things to beware of p. 55 50 57. Wisdome governs good and subdues evill How to carry our selves in company Three considerations Beware of flatterers Marks to know them from friends p. 58 59. Beware of suretyship Of all excesse Beware of chusing friends Of Suits and of revenge p. 60. A constant preparednesse for death most necessary p. 61. The too late repentance of the wicked after death p. 63. A generall Discourse of Religion p. 66. Reason The ten Ages The Metaphor p. 71. Humility p. 72. Why Sinne is forbidden and Righteousnesse commanded p. 73. The Life and Death of E.M. p. 74 75. A Speech to the Soul p. 75 76. Civil Warre p. 77. Demeanour Upon severall Accidents and Occasions p. 78. The Resolve p. 82. A Discourse shewing Honour dangerous Earthly things empty Order of Estate and Family Education of Children The Golden mean What tends to Eternall happinesse onely good A competency the best Great Estates have great troubles Our Saviour refused earthly treasures Disposall of Estate in life or death Respect the righteous Duty in using the Creatures They exceed in Sence we in Reason Some liberty from necessity p. 84. Severall comforts from Scripture both in life and death p. 87. Against Presumption and Despair at all times but especially upon the death-bed Satans suggestions and the Souls answer p. 107. True Love p. 110. A Prayer p. 112. A Confession and suit for pardon in Jesus p. 114. A Prayer p. 117. Pious Sentences JOB Chap. 24. in Meeter p. 121. My God Righteous Hope p. 122. Wise Sayings of the Ancients p. 126. For the mortification of the flesh p. 133. The sweetest Comfort p. 140. Of worldly rest On L.M.W. dying in Childe-bed p. 142. For L.M.W. in sicknesse p. 143. The least that tends to Eternall good unestimable p. 144. A Consult with the Soul p. 145. The Offring p. 155. The Belief p. 156. The Farewell p. 158. A Catechisme p. 160. A Discourse betwixt Adam and Eve p. 167. A Prayer p. 168. The Blessing p. 172. There are divers words mistaken misplaced mispelled added and omitted some of which I here mention the Readers care must reform the rest PAge 38. line 29. for vertue read valour p. 56. l. 13. for propriety r. piety and l. 36. for at r. all p. 67. l. 13. for sleiget r. sleight p. 71. l. 17. for health r. wealth p. 73. l. 22. for wreakes r. reckes and l. 28. for yet r. that p. 74. l. 13. for be r. tree p. 75. l. 11. for see r. so and l. 27. for maketh r. masketh p. 82. l. 4. for beauty will r. cenâ—ynill p. 84. l. 10. for their r. the. p. 109. l. 29. for if then I had not sinned r. if that I had not fallen p. 121. l. 37. for tombe or r. toom'ye p. 124. l. 18. for curaces r. cutaces p. 130. l. 8. for gapde r. garde r. garde and l. 22. for soy r. foy p. 138. l. 26 for enime r. enim p. 142. l. 32 for share r. steare p. 143. l. 1. for houre r. home l. 4. for then r. their l. 31. for shew r. chere p. 145. l. 40. for jarre r. ire p. 146. l. 12 and l. 13. should change places p. 150. l. 14. for both r. what p. 158. l. 9. for roote r. rocke p. 168. l. 41. for distruction r. distraction FINIS
Spirit Q. What then are the best works of a man in this life A. Works of Charity Q. What is Charity A. To help them that need out of a true principle of obedience and love to almighty God Q. Doth Charity extend to all men A. Yea but especially to the houshold of faith Q. What shall be the justifying sentence of the Saints at the resurrection A. Charity See Matth. 25. For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me sick and ye visited me in prison and ye came unto me Q. What shall be the condemning sentence of the wicked A. Their want of Charity I was hungry and ye gave me no meate thirsty and ye gave me no drink a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not Q. How is the love of the Saints each to other in this life A. As is their hope to live together in their eternity Q. What is their comfort for eternity A. That they shall be converted into the perfect will and service of their Creator for ever Q. What is Prayer A. It is the pouring out the soul to almighty God requesting things lawfull with full submission to his holy will and pleasure Q. What is the best form of Prayer A. That which our Saviour himself hath taught us Q. What is that Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name c. Q. Is no other form of Prayer lawfull to be used A. Yes surely as also Prayers on the sudden and upon all occasions so as they be sincere and hearty Q. Are Prayers to be said onely at the Church A. No surely we may pray in any place or condition nay we must pray continually which we doe while we heartily desire and therein do our duty Q. What is truly a Church A. It is the communion of Saints on earth professing and practising the service of the Almighty Q. Which is the most pure and perfect Church on earth A. We beleeve the Christian Church professed under the Reformation of England Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in the Church A. Two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Q. What is Baptisme A. It is our first admittance into the Church the Water signifying our washing from sinne in the blood of Christ Q. What is the Lords Supper A. A Thankfull remembrance of his satisfying sufferings for our sinnes Q. How ought we to receive it A. Humbly thankfully preparedly Q. How often is it necessary to be received by us A. Four times ordinarily in the year besides upon extraordinary occasions Q. What if we think that we cannot prepare our selves so as that we may receive it faithfully and thankfully and as we ought A. We must by the help of godly Ministers and other pious persons instruct our selves and also by hearing reading fasting prayer and meditation and by all other helpfull wayes prepare and fit our selves for the worthy receiving of this token of our Saviours love and that at our perill Q. May it not then be wholly omitted A. No we ought hereby so to remember our blessed Saviour in our time as we would be remembred by him in our eternity Q. But is there such a necessity in receiving of it as if we doe it not we doe neglect and omit a most necessary duty to salvation whatsoever the occasion or reason be A. No Our blessed God never bindes his servants to impossibilities if lawfull occasions call and take us from necessary opportunity of receiving it so it be without all neglect or contempt on our part it must then be onely in our hearts and wills thankfully acknowledged by us which in his good mercy will be accepted of us for the deed Q. How ought we to carry our selves towards our Children A. With due admonition instruction and imployments Q. How to Servants A. With constant labour and instruction Q. How to the estate A. Not prodigally thereby making our selves uncapable of doing good with it nor too much sparingly to hoard it up from the good end it was created Q. May we give all to Children and Kindred without any respect to others A. No by no means for we are onely stewards to it and must give an account of it to almighty God who lends it us whose will it is that we take for our selves and families such an under proportion thereof that we may be sure to have sufficient relief and charity for the poor distressed Saints whensoever we meet with them that our estates may in some sort at least be helpfull to their necessities but the laying all upon the present and future provision for our selves and Children thereby wholly neglecting Charity is most abhominable Q. What is life A. It is that which preserveth and prepareth the body to be a fit and apt organ for the operations of the soul and chiefly said to abide in the blood Q. What is death A. It is the conclusion and end of all our dayes the master-piece of all our work as we are prepared to entertain it so we are prepared to receive and enter into eternity Q. Is there any change of that condition in which death sends us to our eternity A. No but as the tree falleth so it lies Q. What then is the one thing necessary for the whole course of a mans life A. To watch So saith our Saviour to all men Watch. A Discourse betwixt Adam and Eve Eve My dearest heart fain would I know How all our children down below Observe and keep our Lawes For oft me thinks I hear a cry As if our childrens cruelty Each tore like Lyons jawes Adam Yes truest Love I doe believe Those precepts we to them did give When we were once anseen They soon cast off that natures love Which we so strict to them did give As if it had not been Eve Dear Sir what should this noise afford Doth Cain or his wretched sword Command all humane race Doth he and all his cursed line Poor Abels off spring undermine And so the worst take place Adam Yes truly dear I doe perceive Our peacefull precepts we them gave They wholly leave undone And that which we knew to be worst Which kill'd just Abel O accurst Is chief under the Sun Thou knowest we said thou shalt not kill Nor to thy neighbour doe no ill In body goods or name Yet doth the glittering tyrant sword Destroy all peace and in a word Turnes honour into shame For whereas peace was Abel's crown And warlike Cain was cast down With sentence just ejected Now he that most of all doth ill He who the most doth slay and kill Is most of all respected The true obedience to our God Our duty to obey his word Which in our hearts doth sound They doe divide into such parts By Sophistry and cunning arts That truth is hardly found The government of