glorious He hath set vp the scepter of his kingdome in his heart so that all his enemies shall fall downe before him euen Sathan the chiefest of his aduersaries who fighteth continually against him and seeketh by all meanes to bring him into bondage and thraldome vnder him What should I say more Beeing vnited vnto Christ his redeemer and made bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh he is also ioyned and nearly allied vnto God the Father and so being ioynt-heire with the Sonne hath that crowne of immortal glory belonging vnto him and shal at length euen when this short life is ended liue and raigne in that celestiall kingdome with God himselfe and with all his holy Saints and elect Angels for euermore And in the meane-while euen whiles he liueth here crawling as it were vpon the earth hauing the place of his abode heere below where he is as one of no reputation in the world which knoweth him not he hath his life his conuersation and his chief abode in heauen being alwaies looking vp vnto that place of his glory which is aboue where Christ Iesus his sauiour sitteth at the right hand of his father his eyes are euer lifted vp vnto heaueÌ„ and set vpon those things which are within the vaile where his hope yea his heart is so that euen whiles he liueth with his bodie on earth in minde and in soule he is transported in a maner into heauen it selfe and seeth those things in spirit which are vnutterable and which flesh and bloud or the senses of a natural man can neuer reach vnto neuer be able in any sorte to comprehend O Lord who can expresse the honor which thou hast giuen vnto thy Saints who is able to declare the speciall grace which thou in thy infinite goodnes and mercie hast vouchsafed to euery one whom it hath pleased thee to giue vnto thy Christ and in him to elect and chose vnto life and saluation according to the good pleasure of thy will before the world was Oh with what glorie and honour hast thou crowned them how highlie hast thou aduanced them being moued thereunto by nothing that was in them but only of thy free loue and mercie that therby thou mightest cause thy infinite grace and glorie to shine forth vnto the world to the praise of thy name throughout all generations O blessed God whose mercy and kindnes vnto mankind is so infinit and incoÌ„preheÌ„sible seeing it hath pleased thee in the exceeding greatnes of thy loue and riches of thy grace towards mee in Christ to chuse mee vnto life and glorie and to make mee euen me so vnworthie a creature one of that small number whom thou hast so highly honored in this world and wilt for euer glorifie euen with that exceeding measure of glorie in the world to come O let my heart and my mouth neuer cease praising and magnifying thy great and glorious name and howsoeuer I may seeme vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world which doth neither know thee nor thine but hath alwaies hardly intreated those whom thou hast chiefly honored esteeming them as the scumme and ofscouring of the earth the very abiects of men yea men vnworthie to liue in the world yet let me neuer passe any thing at all how the blinde world doth iudge or esteeme of me or how it is affected towards me but let me alwaies reioyce in thee and glorie in thy saluation and rest continually in a comfortable hope and ioyfull expectation of all that goodnes of thine which thou hast treasured vp in store for mee in thy kingdome and whereof thou hast giuen mee the first fruits already as a pledge and assurance of that which I shal haue the full fruition of hereafter for euer An humble heart most pleasant vnto God a proud most vile and abominable AN humble and a lowlie hart is a mansion wherein the Lord delighteth to dwell he filleth and replenisheth it with the riches of the graces of his spirit but as for the proud and high minded they are an abomination vnto him His soule doth loath them and his spirit will neuer rest nor remaine with them they are no fit mansion for him yea they are meete only to be an habitation for Satan that euill and vncleane spirit who being the father of the children of pride can take no pleasure where hee findeth true humilitie but seeketh for lodging in those especially who are of a proud and hautie spirit These are his darlings in these is his chief delight in them he hath a roome alwaies ready trimmed prepared for him euen in the closets of their hearts where he dwelleth and raigneth continually from whence he will neuer depart as long as hee findeth so fit a mansion for him The onely way to cast him out of the heart and soule of man is to emptie it altogether of pride and to haue it garnished with that excellent grace of humilitie and lowlinesse O Lord who art the fountaine of all grace giue vnto me I earnestly desire thee a contrite spirit a meeke and an humble heart Banish all pride and vanitie of minde far from me and make me lowly yea base and vile in mine owne eyes that so that wicked spirit being vtterly dispossessed and finding no abiding place within mee I may bee fit to entertaine that good spirit of thine thou maist delight to dwell and remaine with me and to fill my emptie soule with those pretious riches and treasures of thy heauenly graces which are the things which my heart desireth and longeth after Oh doe thou heare me and satisfie me as my trust is in thee who I know assuredly wilt neuer faile me nor withhold thy goodnesse from me whiles I seeke vnto thee with a heart vnfained Confidence in any creature a most vaine thing WHat a vaine thing is it to put any trust or confidence in man or in any creature what is this but to rest vpon a broken reed How greatly do such deceiue themselues how oft doe they faile in their desires and misse that which they hoped for O Lord God who art glorious and wonderfull in power and strength nothing is or can be hard vnto thee thou only art my hope all my trust confidence is in thee Whom haue I in heauen or in earth but thee vpon thee thee only I rest and depend continually O doe thou neuer forsake me Suspition THE best man is alwaies leâ—st suspitious But hee that is giuen euer to mistrust and to suspect the worst of others as it may be iustly feared that hee hath a very corrupt and vnsound heart himselfe so it may bee vndoubtedly affirmed that he is very offensiue and displeasing vnto God very vnquiet in himselfe and most vncharitable towards his neighbour whom notwithstanding he hurteth not so much thereby as himselfe O Lord increase the grace of true charitie daily more and more in me Let me alwaies be looking into mine owne hart considering the
from the Eagle to the flie from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall from the starres of heauen to the dust of the earth and from the Angels of God to the wormes that creepe vpon the ground Who is there that considereth of them aright or is so affected with them as he ought Lord let me alwaies delight to be searching into them and in them as in a glasse see cleerely thy wisdome and mightie power and learne to know thee the Creator of all things both in heauen and in earth and in all places and knowing thee to worship and serue thee in spirit and truth lest I be like vnto the heathen who when by the frame and workmanship of the world and the creatures therein wherein thy maruellous wisdom is ingrauen they knew thee to be God and yet glorified thee not as God became vile and abominable and altogether inxecusable forsaking thee their Creator who art blessed for euer Amen Worke of Redemption OF al the workes of God that of the Redemption of man-kind is most wonderfull and glorious whether we consider the person of the Redeemer the persons redeemed or the meanes and manner in and by which it was effected and brought to passe It passeth all knowledge all vnderstanding The Angels â—et 1.12 those heauenly creatures doe admire at it and desire continually to haue a more cleare and perfect insight into it as being so great and vnsearchable a mysterie that no creature is able fully to comprehend the breadth the length and depth and height of it Oh the maruellous blindnes of men for whom it was wrought that they can see and discerne so little of it their great forgetfulnes that they so seldome remember it their extreame sottishnes that they scarce euer admire it in that holy maner that they ought yea rather little regard it and esteeme very lightlie of it O merciful God farre be it from me to sinne so great a sinne against thy maiestie by prising so inestimable a benefit so much vnder the worth and value of it and by being so meanely affected with it as the most are yea let me and al thy redeemed ones alwaies cleerely behold and faithfully remember this great and gratious worke of thine towards vs let vs highly esteeme of it reioyce continually and glorie in it and vncessantlie praise and magnifie thee for it for euer What can be rendred vnto thee O Lord for so great loue for those exceeding riches of thy grace towards vs in Christ Iesus what can be rendred vnto thee worthie of that infinit goodnesse of thine sufficient for so vnspeakable mercie and bounty All that we can returne vnto thee for it is honour glorie and thanksgiuing O let vs neuer be found wanting in this seeing we owe vnto thee much more although there is nothing that thou more desirest of vs and yet euen this is thy gift also yea thy especiall grace O doe thou make me truly and vnfainedly thankefull Mercies of God WE can neuer be sufficiently thankfull vnto the Lord for the least of those blessings which he daily and most freely vouchsafeth vnto vs health peace libertie maintenance and continuall protection preseruation c. and yet who is there almost that is heartily and vnfainedly thankefull for those great and wonderfull mercies of his which coÌ„cerne our eternall happinesse saluation in the heauens euen that glorious estate which of his free grace and bountie he hath promised vnto vs and will in due time giue vs full possession of for euer O the exceeding dulnesse of the hearts of men that are no more mooued with the consideration of these things yea that esteeme more of those ordinary kindnesses which are shewed vnto them by men then of all those infinit and vnspeakable blessings and benefites which are vouchsafed vnto them by so gratious a God so kinde and louing a Father O Lord let me neuer be vnmindfull of the least of thy mercies and fauours which thou hast shewed vnto me from the beginning of my life vnto this present giue me a thankful heart for them especially lift vp my heart and soule vnto a due and serious meditation of those great and inestimable mercies of thine wherein thou hast in a speciall maner shewed thy selfe so exceeding good and gratious vnto me in electing me vnto life and saluation in freeing and deliuering me from that wretched estate and that wofull miserie whereinto I was so deeply plunged by the sin of my first parents in redeeming me therefrom by so deare a price euen the death of thine own Sonne my blessed Sauiour in adopting me into the number of thy children by faith in him and in prouiding that glorious mansion for me in the heauens there to liue and raigne with thee for euer O giue me a liuely sense and feeling of thy goodnesse thy loue and vnspeakable mercies so gratiously vouchsafed vnto me so vile and vnworthie a creature Inflame my heart with an vnfained and most entire loue of thy maiestie and let my mouth alwaies praise thee yea let me in heart in soule and with all the powers of the same praise thee continually and yeeld that glorie which is due vnto thee both now and euermore Amen The folly of the wicked to be wondered at I Maruell much when I reade how the Israelits being in the way to Canaan a type of heauen for the goodnesse and pleasantnesse of it desired so oft and so earnestly to returne againe into Egypt a figure of hell it selfe where they had been so hardly intreated yea so cruelly and vnmercifully handled But much more do I maruell can neuer sufficientlie wonder at those who when the Lord offers to bring them out of the house of that spirituall bondage and not onely to free them from the power of darknesse and the tyrannie of sinne and Sathan but also by the light of his word spirit to leade and conduct them safely into that heauenly Canaan which floweth with the milk honie of his rich and plentifull graces euen the inheritance of his chosen the place where his honour dwelleth desire rather notwithstanding still to be vnder the hands of their cruel taske-masters in the kilnes among the bricks and in the yron fornace and to indure the most seruile and the most wofull and wretched thraldome and slauery that euer was or can be possibly that so they may fill themselues with the Onions and Garlike of Egypt Lord let the couÌ„sell of the wicked be farre from me suffer not thy seruant to delight in the waies of such a foolish generatioÌ„ who know not thee nor regard that which should be their happines But let me euer praise thee with ioyfulnesse that thou hast deliuered my soule out of the hands of my cruell and deadly enemies and brought me from the house of bondage the kingdome of darknesse and death it selfe into the wayes which leade vnto thy heauenly and glorious kingdome And although I
any thing not fearing the feare of those that bee thine enemies and hate thee Feare of God speaking in his word MEn we see oft times are stricken and amazed at the sudden noise of a great thunder-clap they tremble and quake yea this causeth many with the Heathenish Emperour to seeke for couert and to hide and shroud themselues for feare And yet behold such is the corruption of mans nature such is their stupiditie that although they heare daily a greater more dreadfull noise euen the mightie and terrible voice of God which soundeth in his word and whereby he threatneth them in most fearefull manner not only with temporall iudgement but also with eternall perdition and destruction yet they are scarce once moued they feare not they doe not quake and tremble but sooth vp themselues in the wickednesse of their hearts and blesse themselues in their sinfull and vngodlie waies thinking that al is well and dreaming of nothing but of peace and safetie when thir confusion is neerest and sudden destruction and desolation ready presently to seize vpon them O let it be otherwise with me with all them that feare thy name O Lord let me be touched rightly affected with the consideration of thy great and glorious maiestie when I behold thy wondrous and maruellous workes how thou casts forth thy lightnings vnto the ends of the world and thundrest from heauen with a mightie voice at the noise whereof euen the bruit beasts and dumbe creatures doe quake and tremble for feare Let these things cause me to acknowledge the greatnes of thy power to stand in a holie and awfull reuerence of thy presence and to giue glorie vnto thy name who art the mightie and glorious God of heauen and earth but let me be much more moued and inwardly affected when I heare the voice of that mightie and powerfull Word of thine which goeth out of thy mouth and which thou causest to sound in mine eares by the ministerie of men whom thou hast ordained and in and by whom thou speakest both to the eares and to the hearts of men O let this word of thine which in it selfe is mightie in operation and whereby through the working of thy spirit thou doest maruellous things let it strike and break in sunder this hard and stonie heart of mine let â—r cause me to tremble at the hearing of it yea euen to fall downe before thee and to adore thy maiestie to be afraid of thy displeasure and to serue thee with an humble and with a contrite heart all my daies Then according vnto thy promise thou wilt looke mercifully vpon me thou wilt deale exceedingly graciously with me yea though heauen be thy throne and the earth thy footstoole yet thou wilt vouchsafe to dwell with me by the comfortable presence of thy grace and blessed spirit for euermore Knowledge and conscience must goe togther MAny labour for knowledge few for conscieÌ„ce to practise those things which they know Such knowledge is vaine and bringeth no profit to him that hath it â—â—e what if thou couldest repeate all the most pithie sentences of the wisest and grauest Philosophers and the greatest Sages that euer were it were nothing Yea what if thou couldest say ouer the whole Bible without book and with the superstitious Iew tell exactly how oft euery letter were found in the same and withall wert able to expound the hardest and most difficult places therein that could be put vnto thee so that al that heard of thee did admire thee as one very rare and eminent in thy kinde All this were nothing it were in vaine and no waies auaileable vnto thee if thou wert not as carefull to haue thy heart touched thy minde sanctified and thy life reformed as thy head stuffed and filled with varietie and abundance of knowledge learning if thou didst not labour as much if not more for the practise of those things which thou knowest then for the bare and naked speculation it selfe without fruther profit Giue me grace O Lord as to vse all good meanes to attaine vnto all kinde of learning which is necessarie and profitable for me especially the knowledge of thy word and those secret and hidden mysteries which thou hast therein reuealed so much more with all diligence carefully and conscionably to practise those things which I haue learned ioyning to my knowledge vertue faith temperance patience godlinesse and vnfained loue and charitie vnto all men euen mine enemies and those that are most bitter towards me yea most wickedly and malitiously set against me that thus the knowledge which by thy blessing I shall attaine vnto may not bee idle or vnprofitable but I may abound and encrease in the fruits thereof to the praise of thy name the benefit of others among whoÌ„ I shall liue mine owne comfort in this life and the furtherance of my saluation in thy kingdome after this life for euer Another IT is not without cause that the Scriptures make the heart the seate of truth sinceritie and vprightnes and not the head seeing the heart is the seate and subiect of the affectioÌ„s the braine of knowledge vnderstanding iudgment A man may know and vnderstand much and yet be very ill affected he may be of a large capacitie and of a very deepe apprehension euen of the greatest mysteries of Christian religion and yet be of an exceeding corrupt minde and of a most vnsound life Knowledge is good and to be desired and sought for and that with diligence but yet good affection must be ioyned with it and increased by it or else it will not bee profitable but hurtfull and dangerous making the owner of it rather worse then better It is a good thing to know much but it is better and more acceptable to God to affect the good things wee know that wee might practise them and to dislike the euill we know that wee might shunne and auoid them God euer loued and delighted more in the truth and sinceritie of the heart then in the bare speculation and fruitlesse apprehensions of the minde and vnderstanding part Let it be my desire O Lord my care and my earnest endeuour rather to liue well then to know much let me labour for both since both are necessarie yet alwaies preferre this before the other seeing that without this is least profitable and more dangerous not of it selfe but through the fault of him that vseth it amisse making the life more corrupt and bringing with it the greater condemnation in the end The worldly mans Idoll THat which euerie one most setteth his heart vpon that doth hee make his God yea rather his Idol Thus the God of the couetous is riches euen that cursed Mammon The God of the voluptuous pleasure of the ambitious honour O then how many vile and wicked Idolaters bee there in the world Surely as many as doe giue themselues ouer to couetousnesse ambition and voluptuousnes euen the excessiue and inordinate desire of the vaine and
heart how much more the earnest supplications of the assemblies of the Saints and seruants of God euen his faithfull and beloued ones no doubt they pierce the cloudes open heauen-gates and enter into the presence of God himselfe and so preuaile with him that they cause him as to keepe backe his iudgements where they are feared so to powre down his blessings in abundance where they are desired O Lord grant that I may be frequent and earnest in praier both publique and priuate for my selfe and for others euen for thy Saints especially thy afflicted and distressed ones either in bodie or in mind and let it please thee as to make me carefull daily to pray and powre out my suits and supplications vnto thee for others so also in goodnesse to vouchsafe this grace and fauour vnto me that I may enioy the fruite and benefite of the prayers of thy seruants wheresoeuer or whensoeuer they shall be assembled in thy name crauing for thy blessing vpon thy Church and chosen children Heare O Lord from heauen and be mercifull vnto all and euerie one of thine that cals vpon thee in truth and faithfulnes let them taste of the sweetnesse of thy mercies yea let their emptie soules be satisfied and filled with thy grace and goodnesse that so they may praise thee with ioyfulnesse and both with heart and mouth sing vnto thy glory all their daies Blessings of God are not the lesse to be regarded because they are common EVen that glorious creature the Sunne because it riseth euerie day vpon vs is little thought of or regarded of the most The wondrous and admirable works of God because they are ordinarie and daily set before our eyes how meanely are they accounted of the greatest mercies and blessings of God because we heare of them and enioy them continually how slightly are they passed ouer by many of how few so highly prized and esteemed as they ought to be Lord let not thy workes thy mercies and fauours wherein thou hast shewed thy selfe so exceeding gratious vnto me aboue all deserts of mine let not them seeme the lesse in my eyes because it pleaseth thee in great kindnesse to make them ordinary vsuall vnto me let me not be the lesse mindfull of them the lesse thankfull vnto thee for them because in the riches of thy loue thou vouchsafest to make them cōmon by the continuall supplie and increase of them yea rather let me as it is meete I should be moued and drawne to be so much the more frequent in the daily and conscionable performance of those ordinarie duties and seruices which thou requirest of me and as thou enlargest thy hand in the continuance and increase of thy mercies towards me so inlarge my heart I humblie beseech thee that I may daily more and more increase in true thankefulnesse vnto thee vnto whom I owe my selfe and all things that I haue for in thee I haue all things without thee I can neither enioy nor hope for any thing which is good or to be desired The Angels watch ouer the godlie O How strongly are Gods children continually garded Lo what multitudes of those heauenly souldiours doe attend vpon them daily hourely euerie moment watch ouer them yea compasse them round about on euerie side so that they can haue no hurt but liue and end their daies in peace safety and happinesse O how blinde are the eyes of men that they doe not see and behold them yea rather how weake is their faith that will not beleeue this because they cannot see them with the eyes of their bodies Foolish and faithlesse people who will be perswaed of no more then they can see with the eye of flesh and haue an external view of by their outward sense why doe they not as fondly doubt whether they haue soules within them since they are spirits also which they neuer saw neither can see Lord open mine eyes that I may see that heauenly guard of thine wherewith it hath pleased thee to compasse me euen those celestiall Angels and ministring spirits which are set continually to attend vpon me that so I may be comforted in my greatest feares and encouraged with vndanted resolution to goe forward with constancie in thy wayes notwithstanding the opposition of the enemies of thy grace and truth knowing assuredly that they that are with me are more mightier then they that are against me The danger of security WIll that man be secure and carelesse of himselfe that knoweth certainly that his enemie lieth continuallie in waite for him seeking his vtter ruine euen the spoiling of his estate and the spilling of his blood yea will he not if there be any wisdome or prudence in him be verie watchfull verie circumspect and exceeding carefull to foresee and preuent all his dangerous attempts enterprises whereby he might haue the least aduantage at any time against him Few there are but are wise inough thus to procure the safetie and securitie of their bodily life and outward estate in this world and to safe-gard it that no enemie or aduersarie may impaire or hurt the same at any time And shall any then be so foolish so vnwise as not carefully by al meanes to prouide for the life and welfare of his soule yea to procure the safety both of soule and body and not onely his present but also his future estate in the heauens and yet loe such is the follie of the most yea euen of many of those who otherwise are wise and prudent men men of iudgement and vnderstanding Sathan that subtile that wilie and most malicious enemie lieth continually in waite for vs he omits no opportunity no occasion whereby he may get any aduantage against vs he neuer leaues tempting assaulting and assailing of vs but seekes continually by all meanes possible to vndermine our estate to worke our ruine and vtter ouerthrow both of our soules and bodies for euer yet most men how carelesse how secure are they as though they had no heart no vnderstanding yea do they not euen wilfully and willingly giue themselues to sleepe in greatest securitie when they are in greatest and most apparent and eminent danger euen then when the enemie is ready to make a spoile of them and eternall destruction and confusion to seize vpon them without all recouerie or hope of redemption O mercifull Lord thou seest how busie Sathan is in tempting me how many and how forcible meanes he vseth to preuaile against me O let me not be so carelesse and secure as others are but doe thou of thy especiall grace giue me wisdom from aboue to fore-see the dangers which may befall me carefulnesse and diligence with watchfulnesse and aduisednesse to preuent them and finallie grace and strenghth not onelie to encounter and resist but also to vanquish and ouercome that cruell and malicious enemie and aduersarie and in the end gloriouslie to triumph ouer him by the power and might of thy Christ in whom and through
may alwaies make pretious account of the least measure which it shall please thee in mercie to vouchsafe vnto me referre it wholly to thy honour and glory And sith whatsoeuer I am I am in thee whatsoeuer grace I haue I haue it from the whose gift onely it is let me be content with that portion which thou in thy wisdome and goodnesse allottest vnto me and knowing that for the present it is sufficient for me neither enuie those that haue receiued more lest I repine against thee nor despise those that haue lesse lest it displease thee and cause thee in iustice to withdraw that grace from me which in mercie thou hadst freelie giuen vnto me and to bestow it vpon those who would make better vse of it Death alwaies to be desired of the godlie IF anie shall take away from me my torne and ragged-worne coate and in stead thereof put vpon me a new and a better shall I thinke that I haue anie iniury done vnto me haue I anie cause to complaine as if I were wronged If the Lord vncloath me by depriuing me of this temporall this sinfull and corruptible life and in stead of it cloath me with that which is eternall incorruptible and most glorious doth he hurt me doth he any wrong or iniurie vnto me shall I complaine yea rather Lord let me desire alwaies to remoue out of this bodie and to dwell with thee for euer Let me desire earnestlie to put off this corruption to be dissolued to be with Christ my Sauiour in the heauens for this is that onelie happinesse and felicitie which I expect and hope for Lord euen when it pleaseth thee let me see thy saluation which thou hast promised The imprisonment of the godlie in this life THe godlie whiles they remaine in this world liue as it were in perpetuall imprisonment They are laden with manie chaines and fetters which lie heauie vpon them and cause them to sigh in themselues and to long earnestly for the time of their deliuerance freedom O blessed Lord thou knowest what a burden vnto my soule this corruptible and sinnefull bodie of mine is which I carry coÌ„tinually about with me and how this earthlie mansion keepeth downe and oppresseth my minde and maketh me heauie and vntoward for the performance of that good which thou commandest and wherein my heart desireth to approue it selfe vnto thee I am so fast in prison so much encumbred with manifold annoiances which are as it were so manie heauie irons pressing downe my minde and hindring me from walking before thee with that freedome of spirit and that cheerefulnes and alacrity wherein thou delightest that my soule mourneth secretlie within me and longeth to be freed from this miserie and bondage wherein I am now detained O Lord when wilt thou set me at libertie Continually doe I expect and waite for the redemption of this earthlie and sinfull bodie The vanitie of all earthlie things OH the vanitie of the things of this world riches pleasures honour whatsoeuer else to him that hath a carnall and fleshly eye may seeme most pretious and glorious how fruitles how fading and transitorie are they was there euer anie that found any true peace any sound ioy or contentment in anie or in all of them What a vaine thing then is it for any one to be carried with such an vnsatiable desire after them yea to place if not his onely yet his chiefe happines and felicitie in them as many doe O Lord draw my heart daily more and more from the things of this world whereunto the most are so fast glewed weane my soule both from the loue and desire of them and let my delight be in thee let me reioyce in thee continuallie yea let my soule alwaies long after thee and in comparison of thee esteeme of all these earthly things but as drosse meere vanitie A true discerning of the worlds vanitie maketh men willing to leaue it and desirous of a better estate out of it MAnie there be that complaine of the vanitie and deceitfulnesse of this world and yet are loth to leaue it to depart out of it Such either had neuer a true sight of the vanitie of all things here below and of the wretchednesse and miserie whereunto men euen the best are subiect in this life or else they neuer indeed fullie tasted of the blessednesse and felicitie of the life to come euen those endlesse ioyes and vnspeakable glorie which are prepared and reserued for the Saints in the kingdome of God or if they haue in some sort tasted of this heauenly gift yet without any certaintie or assurance that it belonged vnto them and that their right and portion should be in it and therefore could not be so soundly affected with it as thereby to be brought into a true dislike and contempt of this present euill world which notwithstanding at least they wouâ—d seeme to be out of loue with The man that seeth indeed how vaine how deceitfull and how miserable this world is and hath withall receiued the first fruits of the spirit of God and tasted of the sweetnes blessednes of the world to come and also knoweth that the assurance of the promise thereof is made and sealed vnto him and that by the truth it selfe euen by him whose word shall stand when heauen and earth shall passe away that man as he shall finde cause enough to complaine of this euill world wherein he liueth so it cannot be but that he should desire vnfainedly to be gone out of it to make change for a better euen that which his soule longeth after and in the hope and expectation whereof he resteth continually sighing in himselfe and waiting earnestly for the fruition and full possession thereof when as being vnclothed of the burden of this flesh loosed out of the prison of this earth he shal be clothed with glorie and immortality and liue for euer in that celestiall mansion not made with hands but eternall in the heauens O Lord when shall I be fullie deliuered from the bondage of corruption vnto which I am now daily subject when shall I lay downe this bodie of sinne and death which I now carrie continually about with me when shall I remoue out of this earthlie tabernacle when shall I leaue the wildernesse of this wearisome world and departing from hence be translated into that glorious kingdome of thine which thou hast promised vnto me My soule longeth to dwell in thy courts to see thy saluation to enioy thy blessed presence and to liue and rest with thee continuallie For here alas I find no resting place yea I see vanitie wretchednesse and miserie on euerie side in euerie place One sorrow succeedeth another The snares of many afflictions and temptations haue taken holde of me many deepe waters haue passed ouer me and euen almost ouerwhelmed me I am assailed continually with many and those verie dangerous and perillous enemies who fight against my
especially if he bee not only guiltie of the fact to himselfe but perceiues that the Iudge hath certain knowledge and cleere euidence of the same and of all the particular circumstances thereof Oh thē what a horrible feare shall possesse the hearts and minds of all sinful and vngodly wretches when they shall stand before that iust Iudge when they shall bee brought vnto their answere for al their vnrighteous wicked deeds which they haue committed in the whole course of their liues when that glorious God that seuere and mightie Iudge the Iudge of the whole world hauing a perfect register of all their actions words and workes yea of the secretest thoughts and imaginations of their hearts and hauing all things which euer they haue done as cleere as the Sunne or as crystall before him shall looke vpon thē with a fierie eye and with a frowning and irefull countenance and shew such signes of his wrathfull indignation against them as that the heauen shall shake and the earth tremble yea both heauen and earth flie away from his face and moue out of their places for the greatnes of his wrath which shall be more dreadful then the heart of man is now able to conceiue O then what an astonishment shall come vpon them how shall shame and confusion couer their faces how shall feare griefe and anguish euen rend their hearts and soules Neuer was Belshazzar so perplexed so amazed and astonished at the sudden appearing of the hand writing ouer the wall the forerunner of his speedie destruction as they shall then bee The chaunging of his countenance the troublesome thoughts of his minde the loosing of his ioynts and the smiting of his knees one against the other was but a shadow of that vnspeakeable dread horror and fearefull amazement wherewith all vngodly persons shall be then stricken and vtterly confounded in themselues Seeing O Lord that appearāce of thine in that day wherein thou hast appointed to iudge the world shall be so terrible vnto all the wicked that would not obey thee nor hearken vnto thy voice to walke in the waies of thy commandements O let the remembrance thereof make me alwaies carefull to refraine my foote from their paths and to endeuour my selfe vnto righteousnesse that so when their feare commeth I may haue cause to reioyce and be glad in thee yea euen to looke vp vnto thee with ioyfulnes and to glorie in thy saluation who then wilt shew thy selfe to be maruellous and exceeding glorious in all thy Saints euen al those that haue beleeued in thy name and waited for that blessed comming of thine which as thou hast promised so let it bee thy pleasure to hasten The excellencie of a true Christian O How great is the excellencie of euery true christian euen of euery one that is such a one not onely in name in title or outward profession but in deede and in trueth Surely his honour is great his estate is glorious yea the grace and dignity which he hath receiued is such as that the spirit of a mā is not able fully to discerne or to comprehend the same Although by nature he was the childe of wrath subiect vnto wretchednes and all miseries as well as others yet by grace he is become the sonne of God euen of the most high God and so partaker of endlesse blisse and happinesse He is borne againe by the spirit of God through the incorruptible and immortall seed of the word and so made a newe creature in Christ more excellent and glorious then those celestiall creatures the sunne the moone and all the starres of heauen Beeing thus inwardly renued in his whole nature which before was so much corrupted and decayed he is in a mysticall wonderfull maner ioyned and vnited vnto Christ and made a member of his bodie Beeing so ingrafted into him he receiueth spirituall life grace and strength from him vntill he come vnto a ripe and perfect age euen vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ his heade He is made partaker of the diuine nature then which there can be no greater excellencie sith therby he becommeth like vnto God and hath the liuely printe of his image stamped in his soule euen in those graces of renued knowledge wisedome righteousnes and true holines which shine therin Beeing created in this maner of God in Christ and framed vnto the similitude likenes of his owne image he is beloued of God as his chiefest treasure and chosen substance on earth more deare vnto him and more pretious in his sight then all these visible creatures his hearts delight is set vpon him He blesseth him daily with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things He hath giuen him right and interest vnto all things whether it be the world or life or death whether things present or things to come euen al things whatsoeuer There is not any thing but God causeth it to work for the best vnto him and turneth it vnto his profite and greatest good yea such is his wisedome and goodnes that by a speciall dispensation of his diuine prouidence he causeth poison to become wholesome vnto him making the very sinnes which man committeth to turne rather to his good then to his hurt in that by them beeing humbled in himselfe he bringeth him to renounce himselfe and to cleaue faster and nearer vnto him depending wholly and onely vpon him for the supply of all spirituall graces and strength and to be more carefull and watchfull ouer all his wayes and more circumspect and heedefull in auoiding all sinne and the occasions therof He hath those glorious creatures the Angels of God as ministring spirits continually seruing him as it were and attending vpon him yea garding him and compassing him round on euery side though to the eye of flesh they are inuisible and so not onely keeping and preseruing him from all dangers which might befall him but also beeing meanes from God to conuey much good vnto him as the experience of many faithfull seruants of God giueth cleare and euident proofe These euen these celestiall creatures are not onely his familiars and companions continually accompanying him but also his attēdants sent forth of God to watch ouer him and to waite daily vpon him He hath furthermore acquainted him with his will and reuealed his secret counsell vnto him as farre as is meete and conuenient for him euen that secret purpose of his which he had decreed in himselfe before all worlds he hath made manifest vnto him and giuen him a cleare sight of those hidden mysteries wherin is blessednes and true happinesse he hath made knowen vnto him the secrets of the kingdome of heauen He hath giuen him also his spirit that blessed spirit of grace and comfort to refresh and to cheere him vp in al his griefes and sorrowes and to leade him forth into greene and pleasant pastures so that he is fulfilled with that spirituall delight and heauenly ioy and solace which is vnspeakable and
paths of mine owne feete let me feare mine owne waies and suspect the worst of my selfe in all my actions being priuie vnto those secret corruptiōs which lie lurking within me and both thinke and hope the best of others because I know not what thy worke is or may be in them yea let me alwaies be ready to iudge accuse and condemne my selfe and euen in my thoughts to excuse and acquit others by making a fauourable interpretation of all their doings vntill such time as thou doest manifest giue cleere euidence that they are such as are not to be approoued Thus I shall please thee and not sinne against those towards whom I ought alwaies to bee charitably affected and free from all ill suspition and wicked surmizes Why the Lord suffereth oft times the infirmities of his children to be knowne to others IT is a meanes oft times to make a mā the more hūble to know that others are priuie vnto his wants his weaknesses and infirmities which hee was desirous to keepe secret to perceiue that the sores and blemishes of his soule lie open vnto the view of others which hee could wish rather were couered and kept close And for this end the Lord many times in mercie and goodnes doth suffer the shame and nakednes of his children to bee discouered before the face of others when as they would gladly haue it hid frō the eyes of all and not seene of any yea hee doth suffer them to fall by many weaknesses and infirmities euen such as are no waies pleasing but grieuous and irksome vnto them that so he may cause them to be the more humble and lowly and not to lift vp their hearts at any time aboue their brethren but so to demeane themselues that it may appeare that they esteem better of others then of themselues which is an excellent and a singular grace whereunto all that are yet defectiue herein should labour by all meanes to attaine O Lord if it seeme good vnto thee at any time to make others to see the weaknes of thy seruant to cause my wants imperfectiōs and infirmities to be knowne and discerned of others as thou knowest how readie I am to faile if thy grace doth not continually sustaine me let it not grieue me so much that others behold that in me which may cause me to be ashamed as make me euery day more carefull to vse al meanes to bee healed and cured of those diseases whereunto my soule is subiect and inclinable through sinne and to increase as in all other graces so especially in true humilitie and meeknes of spirit without the which I can neuer please thee nor haue the light of thy coūtenance shining vpon me The heauen of the godly and the hell of the wicked in this life IF there be a heauen in this world it is the true Christian onely that enioyes it in whose heart that blessed spirit doth dwell comforting and refreshing him continually in an vnspeakable maner If there be any hell in this life it is in the soule and conscience of the wicked and vngodly man whom Satan that euill spirit hath possessed and bereaued of that which should bee the ioy and comfort of his life and not that onely but also euen oppressed with many feares and sorrowes and with much anguish and horrible amazement arising from his hellish and guilty conscience O blessed God who hast giuen me to see the great difference which is betweene the estate of thy children and of the wicked and vngodly euen in this world how that the one is blessed and happie the other wretched and miserable grant that I may not at any time desire to haue the same lot with the wicked though it seeme outwardly to fare well with them but let me alwaies rest in thee and reioyce in that portion which thou hast giuen vnto mee knowing that on earth there can be no better inheritance nor any estate more to be desired The cares of this world what hindrances they are to the sincere and entire worship of God HE that is insnared and intangled with the things of this world or that is not free from all inordinate affectiōs whatsoeuer cannot haue a perfect and an vpright heart before God nor freedome of spirit in his worship and seruice The soule onely that is emptied of the troublesome cares and sinfull desires wherwith most are surcharged and the minde that is set at liberty from all earthly vanities is fit to come before God with truth vprightnes and sinceritie and to offer such sacrifices with which he is well pleased and wherein he most delighteth O Lord let not the excessiue and inordinate desire of any earthly thing cleaue vnto me emptie my heart of the cares of this world banish farre from me the loue of all those things whereby I may any waies bee hindred from the performāce of those duties which thou requirest of me and grant that I may be carefull to vse all meanes whereby my affections may be so rightly ordered that I may serue thee with a good heart in integritie and sinceritie all my daies True zeale THey that are trulie zealous are more zealous against themselues then others As they doe not when iust occasion and opportunitie is offered suffer the open sinnes of others to passe vnreproued so they are least partiall towards themselues but are readiest to check themselues euen for their inward and most secret corruptions As they haue an eye vnto the actions of others are carefull to discountenance sinne by fastening a seasonable rebuke and iust censure vpon it wheresoeuer it doth apparētly shew and manifest it selfe so especially they are alwaies chiefly prying into their own actions and hauing espied a fault are most seuere censorious in iudging and rebuking themselues for it They are grieued at the offences of others but their owne sinnes they doe most gall them yea they cā neuer be quiet whiles they see the relikes remainders of them abiding in them but euen groane daily vnder the burthen of them and vse all means to haue their hearts purged and freed from them Good Lord increase true zeal daily more and more in me let me not through childish feare nor any other sinister respect bee too slack and remisse in shewing my dislike of the sinnes which others doe commit against thy Maiestie and yet let me not be so readie to censure others as to reprooue and reforme my selfe A dangerous thing to affect the glorie of the world HE that loueth God and seekes his glorie cannot bee altogether carried away with the vaine glor e of this world but will either despise it or at least set very light by it He that loueth the glory of this world and doth not only affect it but is also very eager in the pursuite of it thirsting after the praise and applause of men it is a signe that there is little or no loue of God or of his glorie in him These are things that cannot
is not onely much distempered in his soule but euen out of his right minde and destitute of true wisedom and vnderstanding seeing that it bereaues a man of true glorie vnto which that is no waies comparable and depriues him of diuine and heauenly grace the most pretious iewell in this world and most to bee desired and sought for farre aboue all fading and earthly vanities For whiles that any seeketh to please himselfe ouermuch in receiuing honour of men he cannot but displease God verie highly and want that honor which is from aboue whiles he couets and hunts after the praise and applause of this world and desires to lift vp himselfe in the pride and vanitie of his heart aboue others the Lord resisteth him and denieth his grace vnto him so that of all others he is herein through the iust iudgment of God most barren and fruitlesse hauing perhaps the shadow and outward appearance of some morall vertues but wanting that which is the life and soule of them O Lord how little cause haue I to glorie of any thing that is in me except it be of my infirmities my weaknesses and manifold imperfections vnto which I feele my selfe continually subiect What is it for which I should esteeme my selfe to be any thing or to bee once worthie to bee accounted amongst the meanest of thy seruants For behold I am but a fraile and a sinfull man full of wretchednes and miserie nothing without thee not able to doe the least good but as I am strengthened and assisted by thee readie to faile and to sinke right down if I bee not continually sustained and supported by thee What shall I say If I haue any thing it is only thy gift and thy gratious blessing for the which I can neuer be sufficiently thankfull Farre bee it from me therefore to bee so misled with the vaine conceit of wicked and vngodly men that I should lift vp my selfe aboue that which is meete or glorie in any thing of this world lest it displease thee and cause thee in iustice to bring shame and dishonour vpon me but grant that I may reioyce and glorie alwaies and only in thee yea that I may extoll and magnifie thy name continually who art worthie of all praise and glorie both now and euermore The Christians Paradise in this life THe children of God liue continually in a paradise euen whiles they remaine in this world and seeme to others to be wretched and miserable subiect vnto manifold afflictions and diuers kinds of calamities They taste daily of the fruite of the tree of life and are refreshed with those inward spirituall ioyes and heauenly delights which are aboue all other ioyes and in comparison whereof all the pleasures and delights which this deceitfull and enticing world can affoord them are but meere vanitie They are certified of their saluation they know themselues to be elected redeemed by Christ their Sauiour and that none can take thē out of his hands who is so mightie and powerfull in himself and so gratious and louing vnto them yea by faith and hope they are ascended into heauen and in spirit behold that mansion place prouided for them and that glorie which he who neuer deceiued any that trusted in him hath promised vnto them the remembrance and ioyfull expectation whereof doth euen rauish their soules and cause them to glory in the Lord and in the riches of his goodnesse and mercie so gratiously bountifully vouchsafed vnto them when they were most vnworthie of it O blessed Lord open mine eyes that I may see the excellencie of that estate whereunto thou hast called mee of thy free grace take away that vaile which Satan seeketh to spread before me that so I might not see into that glorie which thou of thy endlesse loue and vnspeakable goodnesse hast made me partaker of euen in the middest of those weaknesses those infirmities and afflictions wherewith I am compassed about on euerie side Thou hast giuen me thy spirit to bee my comforter in all my sorrowes yea my faithfull guide to leade me along safely by the waters of diuine and heauenlie consolations and to conduct me with much peace and ioy thorow this vale of miserie vnto that promised rest that heauenly Canaan Euery day thou causest me to taste of thy goodnesse yea fillest me with thy hid treasures such as the world is not acquainted with Euen in the depth of miserie thou makest me to see and to enioy the blessednesse and glorie of thy Saints and chosen ones And after that I haue been for a while tossed in this sea wilt cause me speedily to arriue at that hauen where I would be yea thou wilt stretch forth thy hand and receiue me into thine owne presence cause me to behold thy face in that brightnes of glorie for euermore How the life to come ought to be desired of euery true Christian in regard of the excellencie and glorie of it THat heathenish pagan as is reported of him reading Platoes discourse of the soules immortalitie estate after this life was so rauished therewith that with the desire thereof he cast himselfe into the sea ended his life His act was sinfull and no waies to be imitated by any for no man is to cut off the threede of his life vntill the Lords appointed time but yet his vehement desire and earnest affecting of that glory which he apprehēded conceited in his minde may teach euen vs that are Christians to blush in our selues when we finde our hearts so dull and senseles that the remēbrance of that promised glorie and happine swill no more affect vs then ordinarily it doth the most Oh it should wholly possesse our soules and rauish our mindes and cause vs to labour by all meanes to get assurance vpon good euidence that we shall at length haue our part and portion in it being gathered togeher with all the Saints into that glorious kingdome those heauenly mansions O mercifull God how great is thy goodnes how vnsearchable are the riches of thy grace and fauour towards thy Saints and chosē ones those whom in Christ Iesus thou imbracedst before all worlds Oh how blessed and glorious is that estate which thou reseruest for them in the heauens and which thou wilt giue thē possession of as soone as these fraile and sinfull daies of theirs are ended Thou wilt cause them to shine as the starres yea as the sunne it selfe when it is in the greatest brightnes All kinde of impuritie and vncleannes beeing done away thou wilt clothe thē with the glorious robes of innocencie righteousnes and holines thou wilt adorne them with those pretious iewels of all diuine and heauenly graces and cause thy name to be written in their foreheads yea thou wilt set them vpon thrones with thy Christ with scepters in their hands and crownes on their heads and giue vnto them for an euerlasting inheritance that celestiall kingdome of endles blisse happines Thou wilt euery way