comfort fill thou our hartes with such a desire and longing after thee that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the flesh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long take hold on vs that see me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the stomacke that say peace peace and all is well when destruction and death is bayted ore with them but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exercise our selues both day and night our whoole felicity Let that treasure be our pleasure that is layd vp in heauen all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitternesse but in this there is neyther bitternesse nor end blesse good Lord the seed of thy word that shall this day be sowen in our harts and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the same that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the saluation of our soules in that great day of ioy and sorrow and for the better furtherance thereof good father inlarge and reforme our vnderstanding keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in such sort that no ill word be vttered by or through the same and so rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not our hands that they touch not our feet that they go not too our eyes that they see not our eares that they heare not our sences that they tast not our harts that they consent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good that thereby thy loue may be confirmed in vs and we in it that so we may walke cherfully in our vocations wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all such as perseuer in thy wayes without wearinesse to the end which graunt and whatsoeuer besides in thy wisedome thou knowest needfull and necessary for vs good father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we further intreat thy mercy and goodnesse towards vs in that forme of prayer which he himselfe hath both commanded and taught vs saying our father c. An euening Prayer for the Sabaoth day O eternall God and most mercifull father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light darkenesse day and night in whose handes is contained that ouerflow of goodnesse that filleth all the empty and indigent creatures in the world in the ayre in the earth in the sea and on the land who ordaynest times and seasons successions and discentes ould age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and a labour an increase and a decrease and a perpetuall motion and change ouer all the sublunary things in this world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many howers since broke out of darkenesse and cheard the world with her light and the sunne arose and came forth as a bridegrome out of his chamber and reioysing as a Gyant to runne his course and his beames are now steeped in night darkenes the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitory pleasures and delights which haue there increase there height and there suddaine decrease againe and there is no continuance or stability in any thing vnder the sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast apointed for rest which Lord so blesse vnto vs that as this day thou hast gratiously ministred strength vnto vs to walke in our vocations blesse our good indeauours studies and labours our hearing meditating on thy word to the comfort of our bodies and soules so we may be thankefull therefore hauing alwayes thy hand to sustayne vs to effect and finish those councels and labours which we vndertake for thy glory so good Lord blesse this night vnto vs that we may now receiue that comfort and strength which thou hast graunted to our weake nature by the which we are sustayned and daily renued and refreshed to our labours and further we beseeche thee as the night shadoweth darkeneth all things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake hide our sins from thy sight that they neuer stand vp to accuse vs vnto thee beeing buried in eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe this night so our minds by the hope of thy mercy may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer that so beeing wholy refreshed both in body and in mind we may arise with alacrity chearfulnesse vnto thy seruice this day insuing and all the dayes of our life after succeding that when death which is the end of all flesh shall remoue vs from thence into the graue of corruption where our bodies shall dissolue to the matter they are though now they seme not from the which it is as easy for thee to rayse them vp from the smallest graine of dessolution as from our naturall sléepe for I beleeue that the time shall come when all that are in the graue shal heare the voyce of the sonne of God when he shall speake vnto the earth giue and to the sea restore my sonnes and daughters and to all the creatures in the world keepe not backe mine inheritance and to the prisoners of hope lodging a while in the chambers of the ground stand forth and shew your selues and the earth shall disclose her bloud and shal no longer hide her slain and the sea shall find no rest till her drowned be brought forth nor any creature in the world be able to steale one bone that it hath receiued but all kinds of death shall be swallowed vp in generall victory and in his name that hath wonne the feild for vs we shall ioyfully sing thanks be to God that hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ whence our bodies being awaked to that euerlasting day of light which shall neuer be obscured with darkenesse more where we shall be made pertakers of that vnspeakable inheritance that thy saints and holy ones enioy which is honour glory and peace a garland of righteousnesse an incorruptible crowne fruite of the tree of life sight of the face of God following the lamb fellowship with Angels and Saints and the congregation of the first borne new names white garments pleasures at the right hand of God and fulnesse of ioy in his presence for euermore whither he bring vs that hath made vs that must raise vs from both these sleepes for the glory of his blessed name Amen A further Description of this heauenly Ierusalem and blessed happinesse therein taken out of the Man Cathol of W. C. IN Syon lodge me Lord for pitty Syon Dauids Kingly Citty Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keyes are Christs vndoubted word VVhose dwellers feare none but the Lord VVhose walles are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease
that it is thy vncomprehended mercy that before this thou hast not abridged our dayes cut vs off and cast vs into the bottomlesse pitte of hell from wheÌ„ce there is no redemption or thought of mercy but in vayne wherefore bouldened by this one mercy of thine thy patience and long suffering more then all our deserts can euer recompence we will presume to begge another which is that thou wilt touch our harts with a godly sorrow for our sinnes not small but greuious not a handful but innumerable not past but present not secret but exemplary and open in the face of God and man so that if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deserts Sathan would reioyce but we should mourne neuer to see thy face againe the sun nor the moone the day nor the night although a perpetuall darkenesse the heauen nor the earth nor any other of the blessed workes of thine hands that of thine infinit goodnes thou hast prepared for man what shall wée then doe but vnder the wings of thy mercy séeke our refuge beseching thee to extend thy goodnesse and compassion towards vs which thy dearly beloued sonne our Sauiour and redemer with a loue aboue all loue hath so dearly purchased for vs by his innocent and pretious bloud the least drop whereof is sufficient to heale all our wounds and to wash away all our iniquities to releiue all our wantes and blot out all our transgressions but without thy grace a light vnto our feet and a lanthorne vnto our pathes we are able to do nothing but sinne losing our selues in the thicke mists of iniquity Therefore good father as thou hast appointed all the creatures in the world to serue man and hast ordayned him only to serue thee so giue vs grace that we considering the largenesse of our priuiledge and the honour thou hast indued vs withall with changed affections our willes and natures regenerate and purified by thy gratious spirit we may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life vntill we be renued to the image of thy sonne in whom thou art well pleased and in vs wilt be well pleased if we displease not thee to please our selues if we be angry with our sinnes the deuil our vanities and all that would seperate vs from thee and with harty repentance for our former misdeedes and a zealous indignation against our selues that euer wee haue fallen into so beastly corruption taking héed that wee fall not againe into the same relapse vpon paine of thy heauy displeasure and yet there is no cause O God most iust why thou shouldest bee pleased with sinners which art displeased with sinne but for his sake that dearly payd therefore in the heat and burthen thereof and sinned not the bosome of whose merry in this desert of his if it be not open with Abrahams to receiue vs poore and impotent Lazars with the rich glutton we goe downe into hell from the which deliuer vs for thy mercies sake sweet Sauiour Christ Amen A meditation against the feare of death written in french by the learned P. M s du Plessis THe Crowne and end of all wretchednesse and mysery the key to let vs out of this world of sorrow the doore and the passage to all eternity why should we feare why should we thinke of with so leaden an appetite why should we feare to find that we liue to seeke why should we not harken to the summons therof with ioy as the sicke man harkeneth to the clocke which to the godly brings an end both of sinne and sorrow and all the miseries which are due vnto eyther being so many and so great that they passe the explication or comprehension of man for the best of this life what euer was it but as a bed of flowers ouergrowne with a feild of weedes but as a calme of the sea disquieted with the breath of euery wind the temper of what mans brest was euer so seasoned that it was not subiect to a thousand passions wrested and wrung with so many discontentes that the waight and burthen thereof hath ouer-borne the patience of suffering In beauty honour riches wealth or in any other sensual pleasure who euer found contentmeâ—t that hath wisedome to way them and esteme them truly as the were for the first who euer possest it in the greatest desire with the largest extension that found not saciety or discontent in the fruition and possession that was not tormented with enuy or iealousy the one lancing within or the other reuelling without in honour or riches or any other corporall or mentall guift the fayrest and most admired flowers that the earth brings forth to the delight and pleasure of man-kinde from the which preheminence or prayse or pleasure may be deriued or nature something soothed vp which itches after ambition and admiration that found not vnder these flowers weedes ' nay serpentes to poyson and sting the very life bloud of that felicity if any there were in them from the fullest fountaine of worldly ioy floweth some bitternesse there was neuer pleasure so absolute were it as short as the flash of lightning that before a man hath power to say behould inlightneth the world then dies in obscurity that was not alayed with some abatement and if it were absolute for the time the time is so short that there is a griefe therein what are all pleasures but as a vapor that appeare for a little time and afterwards vanish away sometimes pleasure asswageth paine but most commonly paine killeth pleasure and if our dayes were distinguished the good with white and the euill with blacke stones at the end of our liues we should find more blacke then white the pleasures in the dayes of Noah there eating drinking marying and giuing in mariage thy gaue there content for a time till the flood came and tooke them all away the yongman hath is pleasure to reioyce in the dayes of his youth the chearfullnesse of his hart and the lustes of his owne eyes but in all these there lies a bitternesse the richman hath his pleasure Luke 16. Purple and fine linnen delitious fare euery day and he knoweth not what the griefe of Lazarus meaneth and yet there liâ—s a worme vnder the root of all these goodly branches and surfets and sacieties with these creep in vpon him and if he set his hart therupon let him know with the yongman and all that are caried away with any pleasure in the world that there is a heauy reâ—conning to be rendered for these things the thought wâ—ereof in the middest of all â—ollities shall be stroken dead therwith and to these the thought of death will be greuous Be not therefore drunke with these sensuall delights and pleasures as with new wines which are not pleasures absolute but limited allayed with a thousand discontents and if they were absolute yet of no continuance and therefore greuous since there is nothing else but the
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
vnto the cloudes by the good thoughtes and motions of the spirit and sometimes cast mee downe to the ends of the earth euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell by the temptations and allurements of the world and the deuill till I come vnto the hauen of my rest to the which Lord bring mee for thy mercies sake Amen In time of pestilence TThe life of man most glorious Lord therof by whose handes it was made in whose hands it is inlightned with such vnderstanding capacity so large ample thy creatures benefits so good so innumerable and all for the delight and seruice of man which are so powerful and comfortable to him in the ouerlooking thereof in his large discourse and reason that he could wish in this world a perpetuity without change not knowing in his fleshly and blinded indgemēt what may be more in heauen with thée to content his naturall desire that he inioys not in this eclipse glimpse of thy goodnes vpon earth that lands possessions sumptuous building gorgeous clothing the cōfort of children friends seruāts with many other adiunctes cannot be equalled or exceeded in the world to come we confesse O thou giuer of all good guiftes y◠we are not worthy of the least of these thy benifits not thy friēds but thine enemies such that haue pulled thee frō the crowne to the Crosse nayld thee there vnto death and not greeuing our selues that we haue thus greeued thée snacht thy benefits out of thy hands not returning that easy curtesy vnto thee thou requirest of vs which is nothing but gratuity and thankes being more vngratefull vnto thee for all we haue for by thee we liue and moue and haue our being inioying nothing but from thy al-filling hands from that ouerflowing fountaine of thy goodnes yet more returning to a mortall man for one single curtesy then to thee for all these correct O Lord this fault in nature this vniuersal defect in mākind O Lord if thou hast prepared so good things for thy enemies and friends together what hast thou in store for thy elect there seuered surely such things as the eye hath not sene the eare hath not hard the tongue cannot vtter the hart cannot conceiue w e thée ò Lord there is fulnes of ioy at thy right hād pleasures for euermore Psal 16. who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasure Psal 36. where ioy shal be euer present yet we cannot be filled or rather filled but not satisfied what it is O Lord thou knowest best but there is the fountaine spring from whēce all goodnes floweth take vs into thy besome vnder the wings of thy mercy into that celestiall habitation where the sight and splendor of that heauenly presence shal more delight then all the obscured and mixed pleasures the world can afford on the other side we know as a strong motiue vnto vs the vnsupportable and heauy iudgement prepared against the day of wrath for those y◠haue drunke downe sinne as the Leuiathan the waters terrefie O Lord our vnderstanding with there horrour fearfullnes y◠we neuer come there to feele them bring vs by one meanes or other to the heauen of our happinesse what thy promises cānot perswade let thy threatnings performe by y◠terrour of thy punishments which are impossible to be vttered and yet must be indured bound hand and foot cast into vtter darkenesse where thy fauour nor mercy shall neuer-more be extended where nether the light of the sunne nor the moone or starres much lesse the light of Gods face shal euer shine where for euer shal be weping and gnashing of teeth without determinatiō or ceasing O Lord who is able to indure it thy Angell y◠walkes in the darkenes and striketh at noone dayes the many dangers that accompany our wretched liues the least of which one time or other strikes home take vs in our pallace in our gardēs in ourwarehouses in the feild on the sea on the earth in the ayre in our beds at our tables whatsoeuer our bodies do whatsoeuer our minds thinke comes thy messēger in one shape or another takes vs by the hand leades vs from whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs to the tribunall seat of thy iustice and mercy where we are eyther to be acquitted or condemned eyther to be receiued or thrust out Lord therfore deale with vs according to thy mercy that if thou prolong our liues bring vs safe out of this storme tempest of mortality that by y◠fal slaughter of others we be brought to such a serious cōsideration of our owne mortality estate y◠we make our preparation thereunto all y◠days of our life knowing y◠he may fal in his tent y◠hath escaped y◠feild perish in y◠hauen y◠hath passed y◠Ocean y◠it must be surrendered one time or another and if it please thée the we fall by y◠stroke of this thy deuouring Angel as the corruption ranlinesse of our nature infectious enough to procure it and bring to passe that thou accept as my deed my will desire and purpose to serue thée my intent for my action that I would as if I should liue to glorifie thée make mée out of loue with this wretched world and all the allurements and baytes therein and in loue only with thee and thy heauenly kingdom for thy blessed name sake Amē For humility vpon these considerations THou mighty Lord of heauen and earth who holdest the ball of the world in thy hand and keepest all times and seasons as in a register who art all hand all eye all foot for strengthe for fight for swiftnesse to whom the in-most chambers and retired clossets the tabernacles and habitations of mortall men nay the hartes and bosomes of all the creatures in the world are vnfoulded and layed open as leuill to thy sight as the aire which we looke on with our eyes what cā we do the is hid frō thy sight ten thousand times brighter then y◠sun or whether can we go y◠our sins offences lye not naked before thée surely no otherway there is but only to inuolue them in the clowds mistes of sighes repentance repentance the guift of God the ioy of Angels the salue of sins the heauen refuge of sinners O where remaines the subiect of the title the Angels sin not and therfore need not repentance nor the spirits of darkenes for the sentence is already past condemnation sealed it is only for me most wretched sinner y◠I am for my brethren of the same inheritance to vs alone doth it belong and we perceiue it not we eat and feed delitiously we are wanton with thy guifts O God abusing them in surfet and riot and luxuriouslye we sinne in drinking in procuring an appetite to exceed therein we sin in our cloathing most superfluously attyred like the rich glutton condemned to hell as if we would exceed Salomon and match the lillies of
before we vtter them going vnto him that calles come vnto me all you that trauell and are heauen loaden and I will refresh you To him therefore let vs goe to him let vs send vp these trusty embassadours our Prayers Prayer the sweet cesterne and conduite of grace by the which all the benefits and guiftes in that heauenly treasure-house are cōtinued reserued and renued vnto vs. Prayer the keye that opens where no man shuts and shuttes where no man can open that enters where no man hath passage and returnes where no man can hinder Prayer the life of the soule when being perplexed with such griefe of hart as neyther Wine nor strong drinke according to the aduise of Salomon can comfort her misery hauing no word to speake nor comfort to apply when it is day wishing for nightes approach and when it is night saying to her selfe when shall it be morning how euer the season no comfort succeeding neither by light nor darkenesse nor in any worldly felicitye wishing as often as shee openeth her lips and draweth in breath into her nostrils if God were as hasty to fulfill as she to desire O that thou wouldest hide me in the graue and keepe mee secret vntill thy wrath were past Iob. 14. yet then euen then she assumeth the winges of a doue the motion and agility of the spirit of God she flyeth by the strength of her Prayers into the bosome of Gods mercy and there like the arke vpon the mountaines of Armenia is at rest Therefore if any be afflicted let him pray let vs not presume in the height of our prosperity with Dauid to say as hee did I shall neuer be remoued thou Lord of thy goodnesse hast made my hill so strong least with him we suddainly shall see a change Thou diddest but hide thy face and I was sore troubled then cryed I vnto the Lord and prayed vnto my God saying what profit is there in my blood Psal 20. therefore let him that standes take good heed that he doe not fall let vs put our confidence in the Lord our God and pray vnto him and to none other neither let vs presume vpon our selues nor any earthly meanes beside for her was neuer contemplation exercise or any kinde study in the world so acceptable to the maiestie of God so gratious in his sight so linked and true a friend to him that makes vse of it as prayer is It waketh in the night season it restes not in the day it forsaketh vs not by land nor by sea in health nor in sicknesse in prosperity nor in aduersity in weale nor in woe liuing nor dying it is our last friend and most indissoluble companion Let vs therefore loue it and therefore let vs vse it There was neuer name in heauen or earth so worthy to bee called vpon so mighty for deliuerance so puissant for protection so gainfull for successe so compendious to abridge vnnecessary labours as the name of IEHOVAH our most mercifull Father and the image of his countenance Iesus Christ Therefore to the Lord there was neuer Sanctuary so free for Transgessors in the strongest priuiledge neuer such safety neuer holes in the rocke so open for the doues of the field the armes of any mother so open to her childe as the bowels of Gods compassion to all faithfull beleeuers Therefore to him and therefore faithfully and in that method fitnesse and propriety as Thomas hauing the obiect of his prayer before his eyes euen Christ Iesus my Lord and my God There was neuer creature liuing vnder the line of the Sun that saw not affliction in his dayes neuer was there any to whom affliction was not grieuous and irke-some yet neuer was there affliction so great but it hath beene vnder the correction of the Lord whose hand hath beene able to maister it Therefore to euery affliction as they come in seuerall kindes for our seuerall sins and transgressions so our prayers must bee seuerall and framed and fitted thereunto and powred forth both with wisedome and zeale that they come not harshly vndigested to those eares that can both sift and try the one and the other the delicasie and tendernesse whereof must bee wisely intreated and the fauour of his countenance carefully sought after the example of him that knew in his soule that a faint and dissembled prayer would returne empty into the bosome of him that sent it vp But a broken and contrite spirit the Lord would not despise neuer sent vp his petitions but with the deepest affection and zeale of his minde with the most sincere integrity and meditated zeale that might be for Euery night washt he his bed and watered his Couch with teares the bloud of the soule and the wine of Angels the pretious and significant pearles of contrition that preuaile without words and effect where words faile And therefore feruently after his example that thou mayst haue the force of two tongues in thy suit the better to speed And to auoyd the malediction which thou mayst else receiue in stead of a blessing for cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently And as we may learn precepts and draw many excellent examples from the lines of the heathē Philosophers writers so here to this wee may learne a zeale in our prayers euen of those wodden Priests K. 1. 18. of whom it is written that they called vpon the name of Baal frō morning to noone and when they had no answere they cryed aloud nay they cut themselues with kniues till the bloud flowed so they prayed not onely in teares but in bloud and shall not wee the children of the light bee as zealous in our generation And frō the agony zeale of the son of Righteousnesse that in the daies of his flesh offered vp prayers supplications with strong cryes teares to him that was able to helpe him learne to adresse our selues in our necessities of whom the Gospel further declares not only that he kneeled at the naming of whose name all knees haue bowed both in heauen earth and vnder the earth but that he fell vpon the ground the footstoole of his owne maiesty and lay vpon that face that neuer Angell beheld without reuerence and when he had prayed before hee prayed more earnestly as the Scriptures record hee once prayed and departed and a second time and yet a third time departed and departed euermore vsing the same petitions his prayer ascending by degrees like incense and perfume and not onely his lippes went but his agony and contention within was so great that an Angell was sent from heauen to comfort him and with the trouble of his soule sweat like droppes of bloud trickling downe to the ground Let vs not therefore offer vp this sacrifice but remēber this blessed example of this our blessed sauiour in our imitation that they may be blessed in their speed and we in their successe and not to vtter them remisse and carelesse as if our spirites
Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
can deliuer vs but thy out-stretched arme we rely not vpon our selues nor continuing therein forsake thee so long till at last thou forsake vs and we perish vtterly but Lord preuenting it so rend our harts that they may bleed in sorrow for the same that thou maist forgiue vs our great vnthankefullness end all the rest â—â— our sins our ignorances willfullnesse necligences presumptions and all other our transgressions and rebellions o Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake wash them all away in his bloud nayle them fast vnto his Crosse and bury them in his graue where let them consume to nothing hauing not that resurrection that our bodies shall haue from thence least thy should come to iudgement with vs cloath vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with his spirit worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsfull minds mortifie our sinful lusts and adorne vs withall thy graces open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our harts to follow it direct vs in thy wayes and keepe vs from declining from thee teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this world that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come and to that end we besech thee be mercifull vnto vs at this time and receiue vs into thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our prayers watch thou ouer vs to our good and giue vs such rest and sleepe that we may be fitter inabled to serue thée the next day in our exercises studyes and callings heare holy father from heauen and graunt vs all these our requests and whatsoeuer else thou knowest may be for our good for Iesus Christ his sake thine only sonne and our only sauious to whom with thee and thine holy spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendered all power praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen A morning Prayer for a priuate famely It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late except the Lord be with vs so vaine a thing is man therefore we will not attempt any thing before we haue taken counsell and strength from the Lord that he may deliuer vs from euery euill worke if we aske that thing which is euill deny our ignorance if we aske that thing which is good Remember thy promise IN peace and safety we layed vs downe and rose againe for thy gratious eye watched ouer vs that we might take our rest The heauens declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy goodnesse yet thou hast not so respected all nations and thou hast loued Syon thy little hill a nooke and corner of the world far seperated from the serpent and fenced from the wild beast yet who considereth the euill we haue deserued is gone into other landes because their Gods be not like vnto our God we haue had much experience of thy goodnesse yet we trye thee still we proue thee still and yet we see thy workes thou hast seperated vs from schisme heresy that we should be ioyned vnto thee euen a new creature come out of darkenesse to light according to the working of knowledge in vs. O bind our harts with thy feare that we part not from thy loue for our selues and for our brethren we here prostrate our soules before thee O Prince most excellent for the name of thy onely Sonne one drop of mercy to coole this â—ire of sinne nothing good Lord â—o change thy mercy yet the whelâ—es doe eate the crummes that fall from their maisters Table first wee yeeld thee harty thankes for all at once next wee humbly beseech thee for the generall quittance which thy Sonne hath sealed for our sinnes then for all graces we pray thee let vs not want the thing without which wee cannot serue thee plant in our hearts true feare of thy name obedience â—oâ— our Prince and loue to our neighbour giue power good Father to our prayers that they may be effectual sollicitors for thy grace and fauour in all occasions and seasons grant vs true humility in prosperity perfect patience in aduersity peace in Christ and ioy in the holy Ghost This is our desire to liue godly righteously and soberly so blesse vs and keepe vs good Father to the end of our liues Turne vs O God of our saluation grant that we may grow froÌ„ strength to strength that thy Church militant may be like thy triumphant in heauenly charity and al communion of Saints write thy Lawes on the Table of our hearts with the finger of thy good Spirit that by vs they may be often euidently read practised in our liues and conuersations Blesse them which blesse vs looke vpon this realme in thy mercy preserue our King let not the eye of Great Brittaine become dim or loose his sight be gratious and mercifull vnto our friends and parents according to the flesh comfort thy afflicted Saints and members confound the power of Antichrist send thy feare amongst them make their time short and defend thine owne cause and as thou art sanctified in vs before them so bee thou magnified in them before vs yâ— all the world may conuert say En Deus Christianorum Great art thou O God of the Christians and there is none omnipotent besides thee iust and mercifull recompensing righteousnesse and reuenging iniquitie transgressions yesterday and to day and the same for euer and euery where Grant these things O heauenly Father with thy blessing vpon this family O Lord leade them out and bring them in bee at the beginning the middle and end of all their businesses that thou maiest see them accomplished to their best aduantage and for because the world is a forrest of briers many dangers therein that may intangle vs so that when wee part and go out wee are not sure to méet and come in againe vnlesse thou guide vs by thy hand and protect vs vnder the wings of thy safe-guard Therefore bee present and assistant vnto vs and euery one of vs then happy shall wee be and all things shall prosper that wee take in hand which Lord fulfill vnto vs and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shall better foresee for our good euen for his sake who died for sinne and sinned not in whose name we further pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. God the Father which hath made vs blesse vs God the Sonne which hath redeemed vs preserue vs God the Holy-ghost which hath sanctified vs confirme our faith to the end and in the end Oh God Father Sonne and holy Ghost saue vs. AMEN An Euening prayer for a priuate Family Our transgressions are more in number then the hairs of our head wee repent vs of them all from the bottome of our hearts O Father be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs them O Lord God our most mercifull Father vnto thy diuine Maiesty what might wee render as an Oblation acceptable vnto thee which hast
to seuer the goates from the sheepe then to imbrace both Iew the gentle now to deuide betweene seruant and seruant at the same mil betweene man and wife in the same bed betweene Iacob and Esaw in the same womb to giue a blessing to the one and a curse vnto the other know therfore the danger of deferring thy repentance and eschew that common sinne least it one day fall thus heauy vpon thee 15 Often and euer thinke vpon the loue of Christ neuer enough to be thought vpon the gratious and admired worke of thy redemption by the bloud of that immaculate and vnspotted Lambe Christ Iesus at the very name whereof shall be bowed all the knees in heauen and in earth but at the thought thereof shall be rent all the hartes of both a mistery so great that the host of heauen admire and the Angels desire to prye into whom in thy poore measure imitate in admiration of his mercy and iustice how they meet imbrace and kisse each other and be thankefull to him that hath so gratiously dealt with thee and all mankind 16 Periculosum existimo quod bonorum virorum non comprobatur exemplo e contrario There was neuer that goodnesse or vertue in the world that might be imitated eyther with ease or difficulty by life or death in whose steps some haue not imitated to tread the end of whose dayes hath bene peace vpon earth and glory with the saints in heauen so on the other side there was neuer vice that set foot vpon earth from yâ— least sence that infects to that which waighes downe to the pit of hell that hath not had imitatours whose reward hath bene misery and contempt vpon earth and a continuance augmentation thereof in the lake of perdition in the world to come therefore let the reward of the on and the punishment of the other be euer set before thy eyes that thou maist follow the better and eschue the worse 17 Do not that iniure to any other that thou wouldest not another should doe vnto thee though thou canst oppresse not yâ— poore by thy might be not quarellsome a company keeper nor gamster nor surety but for a tried friend a good occasioÌ„ because for besides the iosse of time which these expend they draw oâ— oaths quarels surfets sicknes and for the most part end in bloud he the hath any of these cannot rightly intitle his owne goods to himselfe nor anything that he doth possest 18 Againe I say haunt not tauernes alehouses brothels but beware of the danger of the expence the bane both of body and soule and take heed yâ— thou take not delight in any vnlawful thing for there is no one vice that hauing wholly possest a man that is not accompanied with a whole traine of wickednesse at the heeles thereof able to eat vp and deuoure the very root and substance of goodnesse it selfe therâ—ore take heed that thou fal not into the snars therof 19 Keepe not company with any notorious or detected person by whom though not otherwayes thy reputation and credit may be called in question in the opinion of the world for by the company be it good or euill that thou kepest such shalt thou be censured to bée for similis similem querit and in what company soeuer thou come haue a care that the company may be rather bettered by thy presence then any way impeached therby kéepe a straight watch ouer the words thoughts deeds of thy heart restraining the liberty thereof where it would extend further then conuenient and honest 20 Bee fearefull to commit sinne especially any examplar sinne to shew the way as it were to others least they perish therein vnrepentant and it be one day layd to thy charge euery one shall haue enough to answer for himselfe woe to him that shall bee prest with the weight of his owne and others euery sin as a milstone to presse him downe to the pit of Hell Certaine sentences or Rules of good life and pertitinent to the Precepts going before Seruire Deo regnare est 1 THE seruice of God is perfect freedome 2 Where ignorance finds no mercy contempt shall sure find misery 3 There is no man borne without sinne happy is he that increaseth it least 4 Till death there is no man happy then happy is he that dies in the Lord. 5 Make vse of time for it passeth with a swift foot and that which followes most commonly is not so good as that which goes before 6 Hee that vngodlily dies rich shall haue many mourners to his graue but few comforters at his iudgement 7 Expect that loue from thy children that thou thy selfe hast tendered to thy parents 8 So dispose thy time as if thou shouldest liue long and yet as if thou shouldest dye suddainly 9 Doe well to thine enemies that they may become thy friends 10 It is the part of a wiseman to preueÌ„t iniuries ere they happen of a valiant maÌ„ to withstand them ere they come 11 Out of other mens faults iudge how odious thyne owne are 12 There is more trust in vertue then in oathes 13 Hee that wil speake what he would shall heare that he would not 14 Delight not to speake ill of the dead 15 Striue to be rich in that that when thy shippe shall perish suffers no shipwrack 16 Learne that being a child that will adorne thee being a man 17 The wast of time is a deare expence 18 It is better to fall amongst the Rauens of the ayre then the flatterers of the earth for the one strikes the dead but the other wounds the liuing 19 He liues in vaine that hath no care to liue well 20 Greatnesse is not the cause of goodnes but goodnes is the cause of greatnesse 21 So loue that thou maist hate so hate that thou maist loue 22 If by thy labour thou accoÌ„plish any thing that is good the labour passeth but the good remayneth to thy coÌ„fort if for thy pleasure thou shalt do any thing that is ill the pleasure passeth but the euill remayneth to thy sorrow 23 The goodman will not â—in for the loue hee beares to God and goodnesse it selfe But the euill man for feare of punishment 24 Be thou neuer so ould thou maist euery day learne therefore neuer be ashamed to learne that thou knowest not 25 Dispise not ould age but greiue to see it miserable 26 Sweare not often but performe what thou swearest beeing honest though to thy losse 27 T is tiranny to do what may be done and not regard what ought to be done 28 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body forbeare it being any way preiuditiall to thy soule 29 So loue thy best friend that thou be not thine owne worst enemy 30 Desire in any thing rather to be in substance without shew then in shew without substance 31 Forbeare to speake much for he that doeth shall not often speake well and it is better to be lame in