destroie vs without any losse Thou hast giuen all thinges vnder heauen for our vse either necessarye or conuenient and yet diddest thou not thinke that enough but thou hast allsoe appointed thine angells to attend vpon vs to stande aboute vs to watch ouer vs to bee messengers for our seruice beetweene thee and vs. And not onelye mankinde hast thou exceedinglye both honoured and enriched with thy blessinges but the heauens the starres the earth the aire the seas the floudes the day the night and whatsoeuer else thou hast ordained either for the necessitie or delight of man are by thee renued and restored to the end for which they were created For all thinges were made for the seruice of man and man for the seruice of God but once they serued those who serued idoles and then they were without anie dignitie then in a verie kinde of death being diuerted from the right vse of their creation But now they are exalted now reuiued now they reioice to serue those who serue and worship thee O Lorde But why doe I confine thy benefites within the compasse of the whole worlde They haue prepared downe into hell they haue alsoe surmounted aboue the heauens Thou hast subdued the kingdome of Sathan thou hast broken the chaines of darkenesse and death thou hast loosed the captiuitie of hell By thee alsoe the angells expect a restitution of the breach which was made amongst them by reuolt of those which fell O singular grace O admirable goodnesse whereby mankinde is saued the elementes are renued hell is vanquished and heauen is repaired O beutifull O bountifull Iesu thou hast blessed al creatures all creatures againe doe blesse praise thee by thy holinesse they are blessed by thy happinesse they reioice by thy fullnesse they flourish O holy O happie O high Iesu how is my dull sight dazelled with thy exceeding brightnesse My affections laboure to attaine vnto thee but whether I pray thee doest thou flie the pursuite of my vnderstanding How exceedest thou the compasse of my conceite Tarry O Lord tarrie a while for my feeble feete which straine to followe thee hide not thy selfe from my dim eies which seeke to see thee haue pittie vppon my weake soule which wearily panteth after the sauour of thy saluation Reach forth thine heauenly hand leade mee Lorde lighten mee Lorde let mee put the finger of my faith into thy woundes let mee looke a little how thou hast loued mee Oh wonder of wisdome O miracle of mercie God made all thinges and God was made man God made all-thinges of nothinge and without man all-thinges had turned to nothinge God made all thinges of him selfe but God would not restore all thinges without man Hee was beegotten of God by whome all thinges were made hee was borne of a woman by whom all thinges were renued he was beegotten of God with out whome there was nothinge hee was borne of a woman without whome nothing was well O Christ perfect God and perfect man O sweete safetie O secure ioye howe wonderfull how worthy a matter how weightie is it which I doe beehoulde I am much delighted to see it and yet I scarce dare vtter it Let my sences bee silent for a time let the tumultuous cogitations of my minde bee quiet reason cannot shewe her selfe more reasonable then to leaue resoning in matters aboue her reach What was hee made and what hath hee made vs Shall I speake with ioie or with modestie houlde my peace But that which my hearte doth beelieue with loue shall not my mouth confesse with praise I wâ—ll speake therefore not with an high but with an humble spirite not to glorie in my selfe but to glorifie God The Sonne of God was made man to make men the sonnes of God If then hee hath made vs the sonnes of his father hee hath therby made him selfe our brother therfore our intercessor is our brother our iudge is our brother our Sauiour is our brother our God is our brother With what assurance then may wee hope what feare shall inforce vs either to dispaire or to doubt seeing our saluation dependeth vpon the will of our most louing brother With what securitie may wee flie vnto him with what bouldnesse may wee embrace him with what confidence may wee intreate him Our louinge brother will giue vnto vs the good which wee do desire and forgiue vs the euell which wee doe deserue hee will aske for vs hee will obtaine for vs whatsoeuer is expedient the sonne wil entreat the father for his children and the father will heare the sonne for his brethren Let the diuell then doe his worst to dismay mee let my foolish feare murmur as much as it will let them both vrge they re abiect obiections and saye who art thou howe greate are thy sinnes and where in Gods name are thy demerites I will answere with assurance I knowe what I am my felfe and I knowe who hee is vnto whome I trust Hee hath giuen mee his gracious worde who is both in promise true and mightie in performance hee will doe what he can for my safetie and can doe whatsoeuer hee will When I call to my consideration the inestimable both bent of his loue and treasure of his mercie then may I plainly both see and say as the seruant of the prophette did when his eies were opened they are more that stande for vs then they who are against vs. 2. Reg. 6. 15. The multitude of my sinnes shall neuer choake his loue I can want noe merites soe longe as hee doeth want noe mercies If his loue bee greate my sinnes are but small and if greate bee his mercies greate likewise shall bee my merites He hath registred mee on his backe he hath engrauen me in his handes hee hath sealed me on his side the whippes the nailes the speare haue surely signed his loue vnto mee they proclaime his mercie to bee claimed of all men they crie comfortably vnto mee that I neede not feare Hee hath displaied his blessed bodie abroade vpon the crosse his armes spreade to imbrace mee his heade bowed downe to kisse mee his hearte laide open to loue mee Into those armes of my Sauiour will I runne beetweene these armes will I rest beetweene these armes will I reioice I will sprinckle my heart with the bloud of this lambe and the destroyer shall haue noe power to hurte My sinnes greater then can bee forgiuen Thou liest Caine our sinnes can stande in noe degree of comparison with the mercies of God but soe farre as God is greater then man soe much doeth the goodnesse of the one exceede the euell of the other As the nature of God is infinite and vnmeasurable soe cannot his loue bee limitted soe is there noe measure of his mercie as the nature soe the goodnesse of God is knowne only to him selfe The sonne of God hath taken our substance vpon him hee hath exalted it aboue the heauens he hath seated it in the kingdome and glorie of
thy deserts O Lord I confesse vnto thee that my harte is vncleane and that I am a man of polluted lippes wallowing in the dunge and stinkinge in the rottennesse of my owne sinne soe that I may iustlye tremble to appeare before thy glorious presence much more to present vnto thee thy pure prayses out of my defiled mouth But who except thou O Lorde can make mee cleane and what is pure which thou hast not purged Thee therefore O Father of life O Lord of light thee with all the forces of my soule thee most humbly most earnestly I do beseech heare O mercifull helpe O myghtye Lord helpe thy seruant whome of thy mercie thou hast created clense my filthynes lighten my darknes enflame my coldenes quicken my dulnes awake my drowsines reuiue my deadnes repaire the ruines of my soule enlarge the frame of the vnderstanding thereof clense it from all earthly corruption garnish it with thy heauenly graces that it may bee conueniently both fitt and furnished to receiue thee that thou maist make thine entrie possesse that which is thine owne both by creation also by redemption and that as thou art exalted aboue all creatures soe aboue all creatures I may honour thee loue thee and praise thee not with that affection wherewith my weakenesse is able either to doe or to desier but with that perfection wherewith in dutie I should and wherewith thy Saintes and angells indeede doe O giuer of life O restorer O preseruer O enlightner of life O most louinge and louely Lorde But what shall I say where shall I finde full praises to extoll thee my speach faltreth and my spirit faileth my tongue can applie no fitting wordes neither can my minde supplye sufficient matter I want wordes to expresse my minde I want alsoe a minde to apprehende thy merites I conceiue farre aboue the abilitie of my vtterance and yet farre vnder the dignitie of thy desertes Lord my soule is desirous to yeelde praises to thee for thy benefites but it is vnable to conceiue that which is worthy and vnwilling to vtter that which is vnworthy it is ashamed to sende forth woordes knowinge how weake they are for soe weightie an office without thy presence it can neuer attaine to any degree of thy praise let it therefore haue thee O Lorde that it may in some measure praise thee For what worthy praise can I giue vnto thee by whose goodnes I was created by whole mercie I was redeemed by whose power I am preserued and by whose grace I looke to bee glorified when I was not thou diddest make mee when I was lost and forlorne thou camest downe and tookest mortallitie vpon thee to redeeme mee thou a King diddest humble thy selfe to exalt mee thou wert sould to redeem mee thou wert wounded to heale mee and thou diddest dye to saue mee O sonne of God how hast thou abased thy selfe how were thy affections inflamed how large were the limits of thy mercie Lorde thou hast loued mee more then thy selfe beecause for my sake thou wouldest endure not onely a contemptible life but both a shamefull and painfull death And yet did not thy loue in this sorte leaue mee but thou hast continuallye soe followed mee with thy fauours as though thou haddest regarded mee alone and neglected all thy other creatures When I wandred thou diddest seeke mee when I was ignorant thou diddest instruct mee when I offended thou diddest correct mee when I sorrowed thou diddest comforte mee when I stumbled thou diddest stay mee when I fell thou diddest raise mee when I stoode thou diddest strengthen mee in my affaires thou diddest direct mee in my troubles thou diddest helpe mee in my dangers thou diddest deliuer mee waking thou diddest inlighten mee sleeping thou diddest watch mee sinninge thou diddest suffer mee and prayinge thou diddest heare mee Further thou hast annointed mee with thy holy spirit and giuen mee a minde to follow thee thou hast called mee by thine owne name and thou hast sealed mee with thy bloude vnto eternall life These and manye other benefites haue I receiued some in hand and some in hope although through my owne sinnefull demeanor I haue almost both let go my hold and lost my hope But what if by my owne fault I haue lost these graces shall I bee vnthankefull to him by whose fauoure once I had them Lorde I can yealde noe reason wherefore I had them but that thou wert mercifull ney can I say any thinge nowe I haue soe neere lost them but that thou art iust therefore I thanke thee beecause thou diddest giue mee them I am sorie beecause I haue noe better kept them and I pray thee that thou wouldest againe fully restore them For I assure my selfe that thy goodnes is as willinge to restore as it was to giue and that my weakensse is as able to recouer as it was to receiue Therefore O Lorde Iesus by thy precious teares by thy blessed bloude which thou diddest shedd for my redemption by the aboundance of thy mercies I most humbly beeseech thee saue thy seruant saue one of thy members though poore and feeble saue I saye a part of thy selfe Be as greate in pardoning those that are submitted vnto thee as in punishing those that are rebellious poure vpon my heart the sweete streames of thy mercies conforme my life confirme my faith settle mee in a right and vpright course and contynue mee in the same euen vnto the end The worlde O Lorde is wrapped in darkenesse whereby it is made subiect both to the pollicies and power of our most dangerous and deadly enemy who beeing the prince of darkenes is thereby become alsoe the prince of the worlde but by thy light his malice is discouered by thy wisdome his deceites are auoided and by thy strength his power is repelled Hee hath manye and verye greate thinges I confesse to laye vnto my charge but for thy names sake O Lorde rebuke him and deliuer me Drawe my desires aboue the pitch of his darkenesse raise my soule out of this myrie lake of misery which affoordeth nothing but eyther daungers or discontentmentes that this filthy lumpe of flesh onely may abide on earth but my thoughtes may continually attend vpon thee O sweete Iesus the way of health the gate of life the pallace of pietie of ioy of safetie I doe too much depresse thy benefites whilest I labour to expresse them for they haue not onely filled but ouerflowed the frame of the worlde But O thou who vnfealest the silence of the dumbe vntie my tongue that I may declare thy goodnes and giue my voice a power to praise thee for the same By thee O Lord the exile is reduced the captiue redemed the sinner is iustified the sicke are healed the dead are raised and the damned are saued By thy goodnesse wee are created by thy power wee are preserued by thy mercye wee are saued Thou diddest create vs without any neede thou doest gouerne vs without any labour thou mayest
to his feast I coulde neyther see nor sorrowe for my sinnes did not he both enlighten my vnderstanding and soften my sences Hee hath not enlightened my vnderstandinge to drowne it in darknes he hath not softned my sences because he could not breake them and why then hath hee thus wakened the one and weakened the other It is euen soe hee that hath hetherto in patience expected mee doeth now in pittie call me Speake then Lord speake vnto thy seruant thunder into the inner eare of my harte breake my deafenesse that I may heare thy voice Lorde thou lookest for mine amendmente that I may haue thy fauour and I looke for thy fauour that I may amende Woe is mee how longe haue I staied Alas how late doe I come how slowlye doe I hasten howe doeth my resolution stick betweene loathnesse and necessitie woe is me wretch how cunningly doth the deuell seeke to delay mee what arte hath he vsed to keepe the line from breaking wherat the fish was caught not drawing him violently but letting him play vpon the hooke which hee soe greedely had swallowed O my God the sunne of my life hath passed his Meridian and I am now in the after noone of my age the night of nature will come fast vpon mee when death as Gods sergeant will arrest my bodie vpon debt to nature her selfe my soule vpon trespasse committed against God The one hee will binde hand and foote and committe close prisoner to the graue the other he will arraigne in the high court of heauen where God shall bee both partie and iudge to aunsweare to all obiections as well of errour as of contempt At this houre of death when the sinnfull soule beginneth to bee loosed from the fetters of flesh O good God howe is it troubled what terrours are presented vnto it Then beginneth it to throwe the thoughtes freely into euery corner of the conscience to see the sinnes which it hath done to perceiue the vengeance that it hath deserued to consider that the time of repentance is then at an end and that it is set vpon the immoueable pointe of passage to a most stricte triall vncertaine howe the best actions that it hath done shall bee examined It is desirous to stay it is compelled to goe and as it often happeneth that whilest one thinketh too much of dooing he leaueth to doe the effect of his thinking soe whilest it lamenteth the losse of all the time that is past it looseth that little which then remaineth Looking backe it esteemeth the whole race which it hath runne as a short steppe looking forward it behouldeth the infinite space of eternytie wherin it hath to continue lifting vp the minde to heauen it discouereth a most bright beautifull glorie againe castinge it downe vpon the earth it seeth all thinges enfoulded in a mistie darknesse Heereupon a new swarme of thoughts stingeth the minde It lamenteth that it was soe chained with the enchauntmentes of a momentanie estate as scarce to thinke vpon the condition which neuer shall haue end that to satisfie the flesh which is to be a nest of wormes it hath neglected the spirite which was to haue bin a companion of Angells that it hath lost for soe short a shewe the eternall substance of pleasure that it hath exchanged the treasure of immortall glorie for the trash of floating vanitie O if it had but a smal time more of amendment how seriously would it conuerte what a sharpe and seuere course would it set into but it is like vnto a horse desirous to runne miserably spurred but soe short reined that hee cannot stirre or like vnto those who in their dreames are taken with some fearfull vision which sweate with payne and striue to crie for helpe but cannot finde any strength to crie In the meane time the head shooteth the back aketh the hart panteth the throate ruttleth the tongue faultreth the breath shortneth the flesh trembleth the veines beate the hart stringes crack the eyes wex dimme the nose sharpe the browes harde the cheekes colde and wanne the lippes pale the handes numme the iointes stiffe the whole bodie is in a colde sweat the strength fainting the life vanished and death drawing on Neither will the children and friendes for whose sake the sick shall often thinke them selues damned for beare in this instant of extremitie but continually like flesh flies they will offer molestation Whilst these summoners of death doe execute their office all the wicked actions wordes and thoughts are broght into presence they are heaped together and aggrauated to the vttermost they giue the conscience many a colde pull and lie vpon the hart as heavie as leade Faine would the sinner turne away his eye but hee shall bee compelled to behold them they will all crie vnto him wee are thy workes wee will goe with thee Then shall the conscience sharplye accuse the memory giue bitter euidence reason shall sit as iudge feare shall stand as executioner and scarce is there any seuere sentence in all the bible against sinne which the deuell will not bring into minde vrging euery poynt and amplifying it by construction Then will resolution bee turned to trembling pride into basenesse confidence into despaire Then will bee a greate difference in iudgment from that which men beare commonly in this worlde in soe much as the sinner shall be forced to cry and confesse we simple men thought their life to be but madnesse whose end wee now esteeme most honourable but wee haue wearied our selues in craggye waies wee are worne out in pursuing vanity and the waies of the Lorde wee haue not knowne Neuer did tirant exercise his rage with greatet cruelty vpon anye that hee most hated then the miserable sinner shall then vpon him selfe in iustly condemninge in vainly acknowledging in vnprofitably lamenting the errours of his actions whilest the paines of parting shall drawe the powers of the minde from true repentance All vaine pleasures are then at an end and as quite forgotten as if they had neuer bin at all Yea euery wicked delighte shall geue sharp twitches to the soule especially whē it considereth that it is to endure the smart for manye thinges wherof it must leaue the plesure to others Somtimes the sinner more able to abide death then the feare of death wisheth to bee discharged from beeinge guided by soe euell a soule not in full hope that his tormentes shall thereby either end or abate but according to the nature of greife the present being most painfull hee desireth to chang and to put in aduenture the ensuing But when he doth perceiue infinite legions of deuells prepared to receiue him and the horrours of hell open for his entertainment then is hee in a maze of amazement then like one that houldeth a wolfe by the eare bitten whilest hee holdeth and slaine when hee lett goe Well then secure and sencelesse soule howsoeuer the deuell woulde beare thee in hande as hee did thy first parentes
that thou shalt not die yet assure thy selfe this heauie houre this fearfull this dangerous this vnauoidable passage is not farre from thee euen in the fardest and fairest course of nature and may bee euerye houre by many vsuall accidentes both of violence and of sicknesse Thy continuance is onely certaine in vncertaintie and God would haue the time vnknowne because thou shouldest bee allwayes readie Awake therfore and watch ouer thy selfe looke vpon the pale horse and him that sitteth thereon whose name is Death prouide that thou be not sodainely surprised and die before thou beginne to liue Loose not the offer of occasion whilest it may not onely bee taken but offereth yea sueth to bee taken and if it be not now taken will neuer heereafter be ouertaken Christ yet distributeth the treasures of hys mercye the doore standeth yet open to all that will bee suiters for the same his nature is nowe as apte to forgeue as hys power will be able hereafter to punish The kings of Israell were not so famous for heir mercy among the seruauntes of Abinadab as the God is among vs. When thou didst sinne hee did spare when thou didst deferre he did expect when thou shalt returne he will eÌ„brace The bowelles of his mercie doe still ouerflowe neyther wante their issues to deriue the streames thereof into thy soule his backe was torne hys handes and feete were pierced hys side was opened throughe these holes thou maist see the aboundaunce of his loue at these holy holes thou maist taste the sweetenesse of hys mercy Present thy selfe therefore vnto him in all those humble behauiours which the consideration of his maiestie and thy miserie can possibly frame be penitent for the time past and resolue for the time to come and with as greate confidence as necessitie crye vnto him and say O Christ O eternall light O life of all thinges to whom nothing is soe greate that it can resist nothinge soe small that it is contemptible whom no man is soe good that he doth not neede noe man soe euell that he may not hope I beseech thee by the noblâ—st title that in my greatest affliction I can geue my selfe that I am thy creature and by thy onely name of comfort vnto sinners that thou art mercifull heare my vile voyce helpe my distressed soule and in the time of necessitie and trouble bee graâ—ious vnto me Behold O Lord howe my conscience lyeth queasomed vnder the multitude of my offences behold how I am borne downe wyth the weight of my owne weakenesse and doe not thou whose propertie is not onely to spare but to helpe eyther lighten the burthen or lay vnder thy heauenlye hand my soule must needes sincke downe into hell But thou O Lord hast neither delight nor likinge in the death of sinners thou didst dy to raise vs vp from the death of sin O good Iesu thou diddest redeeme vs when wee were thine enemies and shall wee bee destroied now wee are thy suppliantes thou diddest call vs to mercie when wee craued none and wilt thou denye vs now we are suiters for it through thy death wee were brought vnto life and shall we dy now thou doest lâ—ue O thou whoe helpest the weake wich a worde behoulde I come I call I looke for thy mercie hide not thy face stoppe not thine eare cast mee not out of thy regarde let it suffice that I feel mine own weaknesse and want least I should haue beene too proud in my selfe now let thy power and plentye appeare that thereby I may bee confident in thee O Christ the guide of those that seeke thee the light of those that see thee and the life of those that loue thee O sweete Sauiour what shall I say whether shall I goe where shall I seeke thee or wherefore doe I not see thee O my God if thou bee absent from mee where shall I seeeke thee if in all places thou art present wherefore doe I not see thee O infinite goodnesse passing all humane both search and sight thou both fillest and includest all thinges thou art in euerie place present without either seate or motion giue mee grace for thy loue and desires sake I beeseech thee to cast off the blinde burthen of fleshlye affections subdue my reason regenerate my will and purifie my nature lead my desire that I may seeke thee lighten my vnderstandinge that I may see thee for I can neither seeke thee without thou direct mee nor see thee except thou reueale thy selfe Gracious God I haue noe goodnesse in my selfe but onely to finde that I haue no goodnesse like a scholler who is come to that degree of knowledge to knowe him selfe vtterly ignorante but suffer I beseech thee some beutifull beame of thy maiestie to shine into my soule disperse the cloudes wherwith my conscience is ouercast melt the mistie darknesse which couereth my vnderstanding O thou who saydest let there be light and light was made speake the worde and my soule shall bee enlightened that I may playnly see thee and perfectly knowe thee and ardently both desire and loue thee O surpassinge light deliuer mee from the shadow both of ignorance and errour and consequently from the darkenesse of death swallow me vp in the depth of thy brightnesse dazell my eyes that I maye not bee able to see any thing but thee possesse all my bodily sences that my sinnefull affections or rather defections may finde no place but that I maye soe feele thee that I haue noe feelinge of my selfe O Lord of life allthough I am a sinner yet I am thy creature beecause thou hast made mee yea and made me againe both by redeeming and by often renuing mee helpe mee therefore whome of thy goodnesse thou hast fashioned let mee not perish in my miserie whom of thy mercie thou hast redeemed gouerne mee heerafter whome hetherto thou hast preserued despise not O Lord the worke of thine owne handes For wherfore hast thou created mee beecause thou wouldest damne mee It had bin better for mee neuer to haue bin made then to bee confounded in my owne corruption Listen O Lord to the crie of thy poore Orphane cast mee not off in thy displeasure and my distresse forsake mee not for thy sake I beeseech thee And although I haue in such sorte both defiled and defaced this thy creature that thou mayest iustly refuse to take knowledge of mee yet by thy mercies I pray thee wherein thou art more wonderfull then in all thy workes remoue the one and renue the other rubbe out with thy bloode the staines which sticke in my soule and then thou wilt knowe it to bee thy creature O Lord my God at whose presence all powers doe shake at whose becke all creatures obey looke fauourably vpon me from thy glorious seate let thy maiestie shine vnto mee through thy mercie bee not angrye with vs wormish weak elinges although we offend for thou knowest what wee are and whereof we are made Is not man rottennesse are not