benefactors to such and such good vses Alas what auaileth this carnall ostentation if your names bee not written in the booke of life First and before all things then reconcile your selues vnto God by a free confession of the wrongs and iniuries you haue done vnto men though peraduenture you may cloake your crueltie by the Lawes of the Kingdome that admit forfaitures all aduantages more in terrour then for the admittance of such extremities as are daily done vnder colour of humane lawfull tolleration The diuine law of God admits no such libertie but commands all men especially the rich to doe good vnto all especially to such as are of the houshold of faith whom as it is not in your wisedomes to distinguish hauing amongst vs neither Iewes nor knowne Pagans or Athiests doe good to all men then shall you not misse some of that heauenly familie so will God reward you As for such as are wicked debtors able to pay and stand out leaue them to the power of the iustice of the Law only helpe the poore and doe your best to relieue the needie so shall you lend vnto the Lord who will become a debtor vnto you if it may be so said in the behalfe of the poore you shall relieue and will recompence you here in this life with competencie and hereafter with eternall glorie Encouragement for such as are molested and afflicted with enemies flatterers and their slaunders MAny troubles and afflictions are incident to the children of God and amongst the rest the feare of and the vexations of enemies is not the least yet necessarie for he that hath no enemie seemeth secure securitie breedes a carelesnesse of godly duties They that haue no changes namely they that fall into no troubles feare not God saith Dauid therefore are enemies necessarie for they will not onely vexe them whome they hate with all manner of euill practises to worke their hurt but will bee diligent obseruers of their liues and conuersations that they may bring them into shame and rebuke among the people And therefore Dauid prayed vnto God To guide him in his wayes because of his enemies Least they taking aduantage of his errors should publish his disgrace By the watchfulnesse of thine enemies thou maist learne to beware how thou walkest whereas if thou hadst none thou mightest runne into many forbidden actions and yet thinke thy selfe vpright It is better to haue many open enemies then one flattering and dissembling friend of thy knowne enemie thou maist beware but by a false friend thou maist be betrayed and yet hardly is a true friend knowne from a flattering enemie they both speake faire and alike which thou maist heare and beleeue both alike they may both offer to doe thee equall offices which thou maist with like acceptance imbrace but their mindes meaning and intentions are hidden and the best way to trye and distinguish them is to make them seuerally acquainted with some slight matter wherein thou maist seeme to haue offended intreating their opinions seuerally whether the offence be not such as thou maist feare some danger thy friend indeed will tell thee that it is indeed dangerous but the flatterer will tell thee tâ—sh it is nothing of him beware that will sooth thee vp in thine euill for he will discouer thy secrets The greatest and most secretst mischiefe that can befall a man is when he knoweth not his enemie from his friend and therefore is an open enemie to be preferd before a false friend by the words of an enemie vttered of thee or to thee thou maist knowe what hee meanes towards thee but by the flattery of a fawning friend thou canst not but be deceiued and fall into the hands of an enemie supposed to bee thy friend Faire speech and flattery deceiue the hearts of the simple And when a flatterer hath his opportunitie hee will bring slaunder vpon him he flattered But be thou vertuous and thou shalt either discouer the flatterer stoppe the mouths of slaunderers or turne their eares from them that heare them Remember how slightly Dauid past ouer the railing of Shemei he tooke it as sent from God from whome seeke thou counsell and hee will either discouer the hidden intentions of the flatterer or withstand the most violent practises of thy open enemie nay if thou relye faithfully vpon him and pray for his defence feruently hee will make thy very enemies thy friends yea bee they neuer so malicious neuer so violent neuer so close in their counsels neuer so politicke in their deuices thou shalt auoid them But beware thou giue no cause of offence to any man as Christ commandeth for woe is pronounced against them by whome offences come and take not offence vpon euery light occasion for so shalt thou neuer be free from being taken as an enemy to others or procure others to bee enemies to thee and if thou feele thy selfe culpable of causing offence thou shalt be worthily branded with the marke of a contentious person whose company neither wil the godly admit nor the wicked desire so shalt thou seeme vnworthy the societie of either If therefore thou haue erred in thy tougue by backe-biting others or gone so astray in the course of thy life as for which thou canst iustly accuse thy selfe or bee iustly accused make speedie reformation and delay not to bee reconciled to them that are offended thereat for thereby thou maist redeeme the good opinion of the good and peaceable which thou hast lost and stoppe the mouthes of the wicked and their slaunders whome thou hast iustly occasioned to speake euill of thee And if thou haue taken offence at any mans words or deeds vnlesse it be in the cause of God or the King thou bewraist thy weakenesse for if thou bee a true and faithfull member of Christ thou wilt beare with reproaches disgraces yea losses by his example rather then to be moued to reuenge for vengeance is the Lords and blessed art thou if for well doing or vndeseruedly thou sufferest these things if for euill it is a iust recompence for thy sinne If therefore thou be reuiled reuile not againe according to the example of Christ if thou be railed on say with Dauid rayled on and cursed by Shemei it may be the Lord hath bidden him and thinke not that any man can speake euill of thee or doe hurt vnto thee but God hath a hand in it either to punish thee in Iustice or to reforme thee in mercie for thou art but a man whose nature is to passe by and to wincke at thine owne and too strictly to marke another mans erronious words and workes And because thou art so dull sighted as either thou wilt not or canst not see thine owne faultes God openeth the eyes and the mouthes of other men to obserue and preach publickly the faultes thou thinkest thou hast committed in secret From hence springs quarels and
Psal. 51. Ver. 3. What confession wee must make Iam. 2. 10. Sorrow for sin a good beginning of true repentance yet not perfect without perseuerance in wel doing Sathans illusions 〈◊〉 4. 14. Not to beleeue Sathans suggestions Sâ—â— Iusiâ— Math. 8. 29 Sathan guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost 1. Ioh. 4. 14. Iam. 4. 7. As Christ triumphed ouer Sathan so shal all beleeuers Euery faith full Christian combating with Sathan hath Christ his second Sathan noting whereunto man is enclined feedes him with occasions to offend Eph 2. We are neuer free from trials Sathan hath swift wings to follow and to tempt sinners Most worthy men haue beene guilty of great sins If there were no sinne there needed no Redeemer None can loue God but such as he loueth Christ is the truth the way and the life Pray God accepteth inward sighs for sinne Sicknes of the soule sicknes of the body great afflictions The soule and body feele one the others sicknesse Sathan in our health tempteth vs to sinne and in sicknesse presents it vnto vs. Sathan is most busie to tempt vs to distrust God when wee are neerest our death The true childe of GOD is most tempted of Sathan wherby he may know that sathan hath no share in him When wee are wâ—akest and Sathan busiest God in Christ is strongest for vs. God sheweth great fauour by drawing vs out of the power of Sathan by sicknesse Exo. 15. 26. The neglect of the word and seruice of GOD a great sin Ioh. 11. 4. 15. Prayer an argument of the child of God The effects of true repentance Fit signes of repentance in a sicke man A sick man may inwardly pray thogh standers by obserue it not Wee may pray for health in our sicknes and seek to the Physician so we depend not more vpon his â—rt theÌ„ vpon Gods blessing To abandoÌ„ cunning men and women so reputed 2. Kings How thankfulnesse should appeare vpon recouery Comfort against death Not to fear death for it frees vs from many troubles and brings vs many blessings How to prepare vs for death How to disâ—ose of worldly things before we die and how to leaue all The ioyes of heauen are inexpressible Why wee should desire to dye Pouerty and want a great affliction Riches and pouerty variable Easier to fall then to rise Riches and pouerty may both proceede of Gods mercie The ground of true prosperity The cause and meanes are to be examined how a man comes poore To get and ryotously to spend is idlenesse it selfe Idlenesse the cause of many sinnes God sends pouerty want to weane vs from sinne that fulnes procured Great difference betweene the rich gluttoÌ„ aud poore Lazarus God dealeth well with vs to take away the meanes that make vs proud Pouerty nor riches make men good or euill Pouerty to some better then riches Men iâ—dged happy and vnhappy according to their welth and want God iudgeth not according to the outward appearance Foode and cloathing a sufficient portion Superfluous foode and rayment haue vndone many God is ready to receiue a prodigall God neuer faileth the faithfull Math. 15. 33. 34. Math. 14. 17 Mar. 6. 38. God can satisfie his children with little Deut. 29. 5. It is a great dishonour to God to thinke he cannot doe now as he did of old for the reliefe of his Before corporall wee are to aske spirituall things Math. 6. 13. God as he was so he is and will be for euer Why God depriueth men of their libertie The Prison a place of libertie to serue God It is a death to a carnall man to bee preuented of his pleasures The minde may bee at libertie when the bodie is imprisoned Many are worse after then before they were imprisoned None is restrained of his liberrie but by Gods Prouidence though man may bee the meanes As all men are sinners so all men deserue câ—rrection If a corporall prison be irksome what may we thinke of the infernall God restraineth men here to giue theÌ„ libertie hereafter The cause of imprisonment is to bee considered Gen. 39. 14 Math. 13. 4. He that is imprisoned without iust cause may reioyce 1. King 22. 27 Most godly men haue beene imprisoned As the cause is so ought the counsell to be Diuers causes of imprisonement What is required of a man imprisoned Treason the most capitall sin A Traytor worthy of most cruell death The Maiestie of a King daunteth a Traitor Traytors bewray their intentions by outward gesture No good subiect will pitie the death of a Traytor Murther a crying sin Act 28. 4. The blood of the murthered cryes against the murtherer The prison is a fit place for a murtherer to repent if he haue any grace It is not sufficient for a murtherer to confesse the fact to God but to men The guiltlesse maybe suspected and suffer for the fact of another not confessed Euery man knowes the offences against the Lawes that deserue death God sometimes punisheth an offendor for some former sin by the suspition of a fault he did not commit The offeÌ„ce of mans Lawe is the offence of Gods The sooner an offender is preuented of his sinne the happier is he Better to suffer here then hereafter Though the Law of God commandeth to owe to men nothing but loue yet there must bee lending owing but there ought to be no defrauding by owing Eccl. 29. 4. Ver. 5. 6. The picture of Bankrupts They that can will not pay are worthilie punished They that willingly would and cannot pay are to bee pityed Fit to examine the cause that driueth a man to borrow A good man may be indebted imprisoned for it and that no argument of Gods displeasure The pleasures whervpon men spend their meanes are nothing but drosse The last fit refuge for a poore man that cannot pay his debts Gen. 39. 14. to 21. Math. 7. 12. Luk. 6. 31. Math. 4. 24. Men ought to doe as they would be done vnto Charity begins at home a prouerbe often ill applied The course of cruell men Some brag to make dice of their poore debtors bones The policy of some creditors How can a cruell creditor pray forgiue me as I forgiue A godly rich mans best vsury They are deceiued that thinke goodnes to consist in goods Pro. 10. 15. 16. If the rich change robes with the poore the poore will be the Gentleman the rich the begger The rich Glutton and poore Lazarus Luk. 19. A worthy example for rich men to follow Good counsell for the rich A dead maÌ„ hath no goods Rich credicoâ—s must not wâ—rke all extremities that humane lawes permits Wilfull able debtors may be enforced Enemies are necessarie Psal. 55. 19. Enemies are better then flattering friends The way to trye a true friend from a flatterer It is a mischiefe not to knowe a friend from a flatterer Rom. 16. 18. The best meanes to auoid slander is to liue vertuously Math. 18. 7. To giue no cause of offence If
reforme thee to saue thee Ieremie the most famous amongst the Prophets confesseth that before the Lord touched him with affliction he was like a wilde and vntamed Colte and Dauid the worthiest among the Kings acknowledgeth that before he was afflicted he went awrye And Paul the chiefe among the Apostles thought it his greatest glory to suffer affliction for Christ and many they were that he suffered see 2. Cor. 6. Outward affliction or inward sorrow for thy sinnes hurt thee not the one argues the loue of God towards thee the other thy desire to obay him There is nothing more hurtfull to thee nor more offensiue to God then thine impatience thy murmuring and grudging at Gods gentle chastisements which are the euils of thy minde and most afflict thee whereas true patience in faith is as a brasen Bulworke against all the attemptes and assaults of sinne and Satan the workers of all the crosses troubles calamities in the world Imbrace therefore whatsoeuer befalleth thee with godly patience and the Lord assist thee Thine in Christian good will I. NORDEN The Table of the perticulars contained in this Booke A Prayer for the morning A Prayer before a man goes to his nightly rest 1 A preparation to godly patience page 1 2 Touching sinne the cause of all afflictions the confession and repentance of them and patience in troubles pag 20 3 Comfort for a man afflicted in conscience by reason of his sinnes pag. 47 4 A prayer for the forgiuenesse of most haynous sins that afflict the weake conscience of a sinner pag. 67 5 Comfort for the sick p. 77 6 A prayer to be often said of a sick man or woman 79 7 A prayer to be said for a sick man of faithfull friends that come to visite him 105 8 For such as are oppressed with pouerty and want not impertinent for the rich 112 9 A prayer to be said of such as are oppressed with necessity want of things necessary 133 10 A short prayer to be said of him that is in necessity and want 146 11 Generall counsell comfort for men imprisoned 153 12 Against Treason for which a man is worthily imprisoned 168 13 For such as are imprisoned as guilty or vehemently suspected of murther 173 14 A prayer for a man imprisoned guilty of murther 179 15 For such as are imprisoned for committing any offence against the Lawes of the Kingdome deseruing death 185 16 A prayer to be said of a prisoner accused and like to be condemned to death for some fact against the lawes or to any other corporall punishment 190 17 A prayer to be said of a penitent offender going to his execution or to any corporall punishment 200 18 For such as are imprisoned for debt 205 19 A prayer to be often said of a man imprisoned for debt pag. 216 20 A caueat for cruell creditors that keepe poore men in prison whom they know vnable to pay that for which they keepe them in prison 226 21 Encouragement for such as are enclosed and afflicted with enemies flatterers and their slaunders 241 22 A prayer for a man that hath vndeserued enemies and is subiect to slaunderous tongues flatterers and false friends 253 23 Counsell comfort for him that is persecuted for his constant profession of the Gospell of Christ. 263 24 A prayer for a man persecuted for his faith and profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. 281 25 Comfort and encouragement for such as are banished or enforced to liue out of their owne natiue Countrey either for feare of persecution for Gods word or of the furie of enemies that pursue them without iust cause 292 26 A prayer for a man banished frō his natiue Countrey for some crime committed or enforced to forsake it either for feare of persecution or of some mighty aduersary that doth vniustly oppresse him 304 27 Comfort encouragement for Parents that are crossed and grieued at the vngodlinesse and disobedience of their children fit for all Parents to reade pag. 314 28 A prayer to be vsed of godly Parents for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children and for patience not ouermuch to afflict themselues for the stubbornnesse and disobedience of a wicked son 332 29 A perswasion to patience in the crosses that often fall out betweene man wife fit to be considered of married folkes for their mutuall comfort with counsell to such as intend to marrie 341 30 A prayer to be said by man and wife together or by either of them at any time in priuate 359 31 How the husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his discontented wife 367 32 A prayer to be said often of a man who hath a wife of refractarie conditions 374 33 How the wife ought to behaue her selfe towards her husband though hee be faultie and hard to be pleased 379 34 A prayer for the wife that is vnequally yoked with an vnkinde vnthrifty or an vngodly husband 385 35 A comfortable conclusion shewing the benefit of afflictions to the end we may beare them in what nature or kinde soeuer they befall vs with the more resolute and godly patience 401 37 A prayer for the forgiuenes of sins and for the neglect of our duties in seeking to know God by the hearing of his word and the practise of the same fit daily to be vsed 391 36 A necessary prayer for strength to beare whatsoeuer afflictions with patience and for faith to resist the tentations of Sathan 418 A PRAYER FOR the Morning O Lord GOD heauenlie Father when I doe consider how many wayes and by how many sortes of sinnes I haue offended thee night and day and doe duly call to minde how graciously thou hast kept mee this night how many blessings and fauours I haue receiued of thee without number I am euen astonished at my great ingratitude and doe vtterly condemne my selfe of highest rebellion against thee Many haue beene the dayes weekes months and yeares that thou hast here afforded me to liue and in all the time of my life hetherunto thou hast graciously preserued mee plentifully releiued me continually kept me vnder thy fatherly protection in all my nights and dayes and hast beene euermore watchfull ouer me that I haue from time to time from night to day and from day to night beene euer sustained through thy grace though I haue some times felt thy correcting rod by some crosses for my sinnes yet haue they beene euer easie in comparison of my deseruings and profitable vnto me Lord pardon and forgiue me my sinnes forgiue my manifold offences wash me throughly by the blood of Iesus Christ my Redeemer and clense me from all my pollutions for they are many and I am ashamed that euer I gaue way vnto them But now Lord now though late I pray thee to leade me by thy Spirit in more obedience stay me that I runne not this day into any vnseemely or vngodly actions withholde mine eyes from vanities keepe vnder the vngodly affections
contentions and from thence mutuall enmitie malice and reuenge make vse therefore of these backe-biting reports heare them with silence and bewray not a double faulte in thy selfe as first to commit vnseemely things and then to take them as thine enemies whome God vseth as his meanes to reclaime thee from thine errors thou oughtest rather to loue them and to doe them what good thou canst though they seeme to hate thee If they curse thee blesse them if they slaunder thee pray for them Thou canst not doe thine enemie a greater hurt nor thy selfe more good then to doe him good for the hurt he intendeth to thee for So shalt thou heape coales of fire on his head And therefore hast thou not onely no cause to grudge that God sendeth thee enemies to watch ouer thee to keepe thee humble and in obedience and vpon whome through thy patience thou maist worke much good in louing them and seeking to be reconciled to them if they then showe themselues so furious and desperatly bent against thee as they will not be reclaimed thou art not barred of thy remedie by the Lawes and the Magistrate beareth the sword to punish them and to defend thee and if thou finde no preuailing meanes thereby to bee freed from their danger bewray thy case vnto God in faithfull prayer who is a iust God to defend thee in thy iust cause and a powerfull God whome thy mightiest enemies are not able to resist Though thine enemies anger and furie be neuer so great and threaten thee with sundrie things which they will doe against thee and euen gnash their teeth vpon thee as if they would eate thee vp bee not affraid bee onely faithfull and patient and thou shalt either see thine enemies become thy friends their hatred come to an end or them selues to vanish and consume away onely liue thou godly pray faithfully and vse all ordinarie meanes lawfully then bee assured if thine enemies were more then they are more powerfull and more furious then they be they shall stumble and fall God in his prouidence can finde secret and vnexpected meanes to deliuer thee from most deadly enemies if thou call faithfully vpon him and therefore cast thy danger vpon the Lord and hee will defende thee It is not in thine owne power or policie that can saue thee vnlesse with it and aboue it thou craue and haue the power and wisedome of God and his blessing to second any other meanes thou canst vse for what is a sword a speare or armour of esteemed proofe or the strength of a horse to saue thee they are all vaine and of no force of themselues as appeared by that monster Goliah armed completely with a Helmet Brigandine and Bootes of brasse a speare like a Weauers beame and a sword did these things saue him trust in none of these outward meanes trust in the Lord he is a strong rocke a fortresse and defence in whome and in or by no other meanes canst thou bee safe It is hee that breaketh the hornes namely weakeneth the power of the wicked and strengthneth the godly he will guide thee by his counsell hee will protect thee by his power and prouide for thee in his prouidence and in the end receiue thee to glorie out of the reach of all thine enemies Brooke thou therefore with godly patience all reproaches disgraces and slaunders it is but a little while and a light burthen to beare and in the end thou shalt receiue for the ignominie and slaunders thou vniustly indurest here glorie for euermore And therefore commit the safetie of thy body and preseruation of thy soule vnto the Lord in well doing in continuall faithfull prayer and he will heare thee and deliuer thee A Prayer for a man that hath vndeserued enemies and is subiect to slaunderous tongues flatterers and false friends O Lord my God in Iesus Christ louing mercifull I beseech thee see and consider the malice and secret practises of such as are become mine enemies whereof I neither knowe the true cause nor haue wittingly deserued their hatred or malice thus against me They priuily backe-bite me and slaunder me behind my backe they vpbraide me and speake euill of me vnto my face vniustly giue mee patience O Lord to beare it and wisedome so to carry my selfe in my conuersation and vocation as they may haue no iust cause thus to afflicte me I knowe and doe acknowledge that the sins which I haue committed against thy Maiestie deserue corrections but Lord though I haue offended thee to these mine enemies I haue done nor neuer intended any hurt yet thou seest and knowest what they haue done and what they intende against me Preuent them of their purposes frustrate their deuices and turne their policies and practises they intend against me either to nothing or against them selues If they wilfully and maliciously perseuere let them fall into the danger they wish to me Thou knowest their former flatteries and dissimulations and how they falsely pretended friendship onely as it now appeareth to supplant me and to confonud me if thou permit them Lord who can auoide the oylie words of a false heart but shall be seduced by them vnlesse thou that knowest the inward thoughts discouer their deceite Lord make me to know the secret intentions of all those that flatter me to doe me hurt and giue me wisdome to auoide the furie and force of mine open enemies and graunt mee grace to walke euer in thy truth knit my heart vnto thee that I fearing thy name and depending faithfully vpon thee I may make mine enemies ashamed of their slaunders and malicious practises against me Rescue me O Lord and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse in line thine eare vnto me and saue me from them that hate me Be thou my strong rocke whereunto I may alwayes resort when mine enemies assaile me In slaunderous words or wicked deedes publickely or priuatly Deliuer mee O God out of all their dangers out of the hands of all vngodly and cruell men for in thee is my trust in thee is my strength and of and by thee are the meanes to preuent the mischiefes they pretend and practise against me O stay my feete that they slippe not least they reioyce at my fall and Set a watch before the dore of my lippes that I offend not with my tongue Though they speake euill of me though they lay wayte for mee and though they take counsell together against mee yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills Though I heare their slanderous tonges though I know they detract mee and speake all manner euill against me giue me patience not to be moued to recompence euill for euill Preuent me of their laying wayte for me and frustrate all their combinations and practises against me And keepe me euer in thine obedience for I am of my selfe weake and may giue offence or at least offence may bee raken where no cause is giuen If they
alas I cannot maintaine of my selfe and therefore according to thy promise teach mee euen at the instant of my greatest accusation that through my ignorance in a zeale which I cannot maintaine by thy word I should giue aduantage to the aduersaries Lord giue mee wisedome strengthen and confirme my faith maintaine thine owne cause in me and by me touch my tongue with that celestiall coale from thine Altar then shall I be able to giue a good account to them that shall question me for the hope I haue in thee hold mee by thy right hand that I starte neither backe nor a side for feare Thou art stiled the Eternall the Almightie who hast said thou wilt not giue thy glorie vnto Images nor thy praise vnto any other for thine owne sake therefore for thine owne sake O Lord looke vpon the afflictions not which I suffer onely but what and wheresoeuer thy poore children persecuted doe suffer for thy sake euen by his meanes that makes himselfe euen drunke with the blood of thy Saintes and that thirsteth euen for the blood of Kings thine annointed that honor him not Thou seest it O Lord and feelest the miseries of thy poore children afflicted here for thy names sake by his mercilesse ministers O represse the rage and furie of these mercilesse men that falsly conceiue of the sauing blood of Christ and yet are neuer satisfied with shedding the blood of those whom thou hast chosen to bee witnesses of the truth of it as thou hast reueiled it in thy word Thou art the God of glorie glorifie thy name and make perfect thy praise in strengthening thy weake children to witnesse thy truth with faithfull boldenesse euen before and to the faces of thy greatest aduersaries make perfect thy power in our weakenesse thy wisedome in our ignorance and thy great glorie in our deiected basenesse and giue mee wisedome and strength to vndergoe with all spirituall patience these and all other my troubles and meanes if it please thee to auoyde the danger which seemeth neere vnto me submiting my selfe willingly to vndergoe what thou hast determined for me Lord euermore encrease and confirme my faith in Christ my Redeemer Comfort and encouragement for such as are banished or enforced to liue out of their own natiue Countrie either for feare of persecution for Gods word or the feare of enemies that pursue them without iust cause IT is a heauie crosse for a man to be banished the Countrie wherein he was borne from his parents friends and alies But in such a case the cause is most especially to be considered for which thou art abandoned or dost abandon thy selfe If thou be banished by authoritie it is for that thou art an vnprofitable member of the Common-wealth wherein thou hast beene bred and brought vp and then is thy banishment iust and fit for as one infected sheep couchant with the sound may indanger many it may be the whole flocke and to preuent it a good Shepheard will cull it out from the rest he will tarre it dresse it and vse his best meanes to heale it but if his art and industrie cannot preuaile he either abandons it from the flocke or knockes it in the head Euen so a politicke State finding an infectious member in the Common-wealth by whose wicked lewde and vngodly example and inticements other good subiects may be indangered to be seduced after admonition and threates of the Lawe which not preuailing it thinketh and is fit in policie either to banish him which is the least punishment or to extende the seueritie of the Laws vpon him If therefore thine exile proceede of thine owne vngodly merite take it with patience and thinke it a fauour of the State to hold it satisfied for thy transgression when it might in seueritie haue taken thy life It is also one thing to be banished from and another thing for a man to flie his Countrie Banishment presupposeth some great offence committed suspected or conceiued to be done by a man against the Lawes of the Kingdome from whence he is abandonned or against the Religion therein professed And a man to flie his Countrie argues either a guiltie conscience for some offence done for which hee dares not stand to the rigour and tryall of Iustice a common refuge for malefactors and often attempted also by some that stande fearefull of the furie and violence of some great and vnresistable enemie It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to forsake his Countrie as if he be persecuted for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ in a mans owne natiue Countrie hee may by Christs owne warrant seeke refuge in another Hee that is persecuted in one Citie let him flie to another Paul and Barnabas Christs worthy Apostles being oppressed by the malicious Iewes in Iconium for the profession of the name of Christ fled to Listra Derbe where they more freely preached the Gospell Neither is it vnlawfull to flie the furie and rage of a malicious enemie Eliah fled by Gods command from the furie and threates of Ahab that sought his life and after from Iezebel when Pharaoh sought to kill Moses Moses fled to the land of Mydian Iaacob was enforced to flie out of his natiue Countrie to Haran for feare of his brother Esau. Beware that thou in flying mistake not the cause as to flie from the truth and from the true worship of Christ to falshood and Idolatrie If for the profession of the truth thou be accused and restrained before thou canst make lawfull escape though thou be assured to dye for Christ vse no sinister practise to auoide it as distrusting God as the Disciples did that fled from forsooke Christ when he was taken neither flie thou as an euill doer as a Theef or a Murtherer or as guiltie of any other grieuous offence for which thou darest not to abide the tryall though for a time thou maist escape the sword of the Magistrate but the guilte of thine offence will followe thee into what remote Countrie soeuer thou goest and wheresoeuer thou carryest the guilt of thy crying sinne there also followes the Iudgement of God as it followed Kayne that slew his brother who ranne and ranged from place to place but still the Iudgement of God as a Blood-hound found him out Thy best refuge is to flie vnto God by repentance and prayer for mercie Many euilly disposed persons presuming to escape the Lawe by flying the Kingdome haue perpetrated most impious actions murthers treasons rebellious theeueries and the like and haue escaped but could neuer escape the Iudgement of God which hath either enforced them to returne and then to receiue their condigne punishment or haue endured greatest miseries disgraces and shame where they haue thought to be in most securitie and ease for howsoeuer runnagate traytors thinke that by committing some capitall mischiefe against their Soueraigne or State wherein they liue to fulfill