that are in the heauens where no base or corrupt thing commeth The Sunne is a creature that shall be darkned yet who is able firmely to fixe his eyes vpon the glorie thereof How much more glorious may I thinke is he that made it whom neuer mortall man could euer see and liue Moses seeing as it were but the shaddow of his glorie receiued yet such a trāsplendencie of glorie in his coūtenance through that litle sparke of Gods glorie as the Children of Israel could not behold the brightnes of it What glorie then shall I thinke the Elect of God shall receiue from GODS al-fulnesse of glorie which is so vnspeakeable as cannot bee conceiued But as the Iron partaking the feruent heate of the fire becomes like vnto the fire so I with the rest of Gods Saints shall so partake of his glorie as this my corruptible bodie when it hath put on incorruption shall become totally glorious through the transplendencie of his glorie The bodie of man is a beautifull visible workemanship yet it is of the earth earthie how much more beautifull is the inuisible soule of the regenerate man which is of heauen heauenly spirituall and inuisible Seeing then that earthly and visible creatures be so glorious as they doe administer great contentment and delight vnto the carnall eye How much more will Gods inuisible works delight the spirituall sense of Gods elect when they shall at full partake of them Who then will not long and desire to see them much more to be partake◠of them especially of that glory which whosoeuer inioyeth shall bee delighted with no other obiect And I verily beleeue that one day I shall see it and say with Dauid As I haue heard so haue I seene in the Citie of our God and shall not but acknowledge that it exceedes all that I haue heard with mine eares seene with mine eyes or conceiued with my heart by infinite degrees So gracious is God as he giueth greater things then man can conceiue by his promises although I cannot as yet sufficiently conceiue much lesse speak of the surpassing excellencie of that glorie yet will I meditate thereupon the more to make the pleasures of this life of no account and the more to kindle in me a desire to be dissolued to enioy that vnspeakable glorie which cannot be attayned vnto but by death The word Glorie imports matter of dignitie and I see the whole multitude of humane creatures desire it bending all their studies and endeuours to obtayne it But alas what is it is it not like Ionahs Gourd growing vp and withering all in a day What man then of ordinarie vnderstanding will be so earnest eager in atchieuing this moment any and so remisse and carelesse in seeking to obtayne that perpetuall glorie for I see that this worlds glorie is ful of suspicion care feare troubles and dangers euen in the best estate subiect to change but the future shall be free full of all constant happinesse and absolute content and therefore more to be desired then all humane greatnesse it fades not as did glorious Salomons and other temporall Potentates and Princes who yet may truely challenge condigne glorie aboue others in this life through their morall vertues yet not thereby truely glorious without the assurāce of that which is to come which nothing shall be able to blemish as doe enemies sicknesse and crosses dishonour and eclipse the earthly honored Gods iudgements also doe often fall vpon the vnduely dignified not vpon the truely honourable as they are honored by men but as they are men offending the GOD of glorie Who exalteth the humble meeke and casteth the insolent and proud euen Princes downe to the ground The glorie to come shall no man or matter blemish or diminish which glorie I see now but as through a vaile as in a glasse much imperfectly but when I shall be dissolued when my earthly and spirituall parts shall be made one againe then I verily beleeue that I shall see at ful and freely enioy that inestimable glorie namely my glorified Redeemer face to face and shall be transformed into the same glorie so that nothing shall bee left in mee but that which shal be wholly glorious O how hath the Lord magnified his mercie towards me He hath raysed mee from the dust hee hath deliuered my soule from hell and assured mee to sit with him in glorie and to be filled with the ioyes that are at his right hand to eate at his Table to drinke of the Riuers of his pleasures and in his light I shall see light and bee changed by the sight of his countenance The faces of the iust shall shine as the Sunne in the firmament when the glorie of God shall shine vpon their soules and bodies together changed from corruption and made partakers euen of the diuine nature Can the tongue of Man or Angels then expresse the aboundant felicitie that the Saints of God shal enioy no it confoundeth al the imagination of man to conceiue the vnspeakeable glorie that there will appeare now darkely apprehended through faith One torch giueth light to the whole roome where it burnes but where there are many burning the light is farre the greater If one Sunne in the firmament giue light to so ample and spacious a world as we here liue in and the face of euery iust man shal shine as the Sunne what a glorious light and beautifull sight will there bee in the heauens where millions of millions of glorified Men with Angels Archangels Seraphins and Cherubins shall shine as so many bright and beautifull Sunnes together all taking their light from that all-shining Light of lights the Sonne of the liuing God all knit together in the band of one Spirit in so sacred a communion and vnion that euery one of them shall account the glorie of another the augmentation of his owne ioy contrarie to the course and condition of the worldly glorious who emulate and enuie all others that exceede or equalize them in glorie Moreouer with what spirituall ioy shall I behold my most louing Redeemer and Sauiour Iesus Christ sitting as absolute Prince of Glorie by whose Merits I haue obtayned this surpassing glorie MEDIT. XI The glorie to come makes the the godly willing to dye and the rather for the crosses of this life NOw then seeing so great a weight of glorie set before the eye of my faith why should I be afraid to lay downe this my mortall bodie in the graue although I know it shall there rot putrifie turne again to dust yea to more vile Earth then whereof it seemeth now to bee made Were my beautie as Absaloms it shal become a stinking Carrion lothsome and filthie To what end then should I so vnnecessarily respect it as to adorne it with superfluous needles Ornaments Why should I couet to fill and feed it with daintie and delicious fare And why
prosperitie Teach mee good Father how to kéepe a diligent account of all the benefits and blessings I here receiue of thée and what vse I from time to time make of them knowing that there will come a day when I shall bee called to answere the same Grant therefore that I may so gourrne my selfe that I may bee able with boldnesse and truth to giue account of my time spent and my talents how I haue disposed them that I may bee found faithfull in my little and be made partaker of the greatnesse of thy Glorie in the Heauens Though I be a Stranger a Soiourner here in Earth yet grant Lord that I may haue my conuersation in Heauen Giue me Wisedome that I may finish this my Pilgrimage in thy fauour and for that I cannot so number my dayes that I can know how long I haue to liue let the residue of my life be a preparation to Death and the meditation of Death cause in mee continuall watchfulnesse for the comming of thy Sonne O God forsake mée not vnto the end so shall I neuer fall from or forsake thee Enable mee heere so to walke as becommeth thy sonne though in great weaknesse I haue finished my course to this day Grant Lord that I may bring forth better fruites from this day to the end of my dayes through thy Grace and in the end bée receiued to eternall Glorie through the merits of my alone Sauiour and Redéemer Jesus Christ to whom with thée O God the Father and the Holy Ghost be euermore ascribed all Power and Glorie Amen O Lord euermore increase my faith FINIS LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Richard Meighen and are to be sold at his Shops at Saint Clements Church ouer against Essex house and at Westminster Hall 1619. Death certaine the time vncertaine Luk. 16. 22. Future ioy and paine in the extreme degree Body and Soule louingly linâ—kt Heb. 9. 27. Iob. 11. Io. 1. 1. Matt. 9. 25. 1. King 17. 22. 2. Kin. 4. 35 Dying twice 2. King 13. 21. Not necessarie to know the houre of death Time of the last Iudgment vnknown Mar. 13. 32 A good life must precede a happie death Luk. 16. 22. 23. Difference betweene Gods children and worldlings Phil. 1. A Christian resolution Gal. 2. 20. Reue. 3. 1. 1. Tim. 〈◊〉 Iohn 14. 6. What it is to liue carnally Matt. 20. 9. God is bountifull without our merit 2. Cor. 5. 1 2 Luke 16. 23 Our merit Gods mercies 1. Tim. 2. 5. Reue. 3. 11. Col. 2. 15. Satans policies No neede to feare Satan Iob. 26. Matt. 12. 29 Iob. 7. 1. Rom. 8. 33. 34. 1. Iob. 2. 10. Iob. 10. 28. Rom. 8. 34. The Christians hum blenesse Psal. 145. 9 Gods mer cies greater then our sinnes The assurance of a good Christian. Iudg. 15. 14 Iob. 19. 27. There is a sowing time and reaping time of bodies Life but lent vs. Christs death a Christians life 2. Pet. 3. 8. The bodie findes no tedious tarrying in the graue The graue a bed of rest Reue. 14. 13 Death a sleepe Mar. 9. 44. Death in shew more fearefull then in deede Rom. 2. 5. A spiritual and carnal life here Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Gal. 5. 19 20. Fruits of the flesh Fruits of the Spirit Counterfeit imitation of good men Hypocrisy most to be condemned Rom. 7. 16. How Will is free and not free 1. Cor. 2. 10. Mat. 7. 7 8 Prayer Psal. 25. 1 2 86. 4. Iam. 1. 6 7. Psal. 89. 48 Luke 12. 39 Iam. 4. 13. 2. Cor. 5. 6. Col. 2. 10. Col. 2. 15. The benefit of Christs death The best men often stagger at the consideration of death Ioh. 18. 17. Mat. 26. 39 Ecclus. 41. 1 Body and soule shal be glorified Death will come not looked for Gen. 5. 25. verse 4. Gen. 9. 29. Decrease of mens ages Deut. 34. 7. Not to depend on long life Time past short in expectation long Sudden death in others a fearefull spectacle Feare Mat. 14. 26 1. Pet. 2. 17. 1. Ioh. 4. 18. Col. 3. 22. Psal. 33. 18 DiffereÌ„ce of feare The want of wisedome the want of feare Hos. 14. 9. Psal. 128. 1. God must blesse vs before we can feare him Rom. 7. 18. Phil. 2. 13. Feare the gift of God Psa. 111. 10 Psal. Iob 1. 1. Reu. 14. 13. Psal. Rom. 12. 9. 1. Thes. 3. 15 1. Pet. 5. 8. 1. 2. Rom. 14. 12. 3. Eccles. 12. 14. We must giue account after death The heart the fountaine of al euill Iere. 17. 9. Gen. 6. 5. Satan watchfull ouer our inclinations aswell as actions Satan in his temptations steales vpon vs. The watch of a Christian Phil. 4. 8. Satan encounters vs not alone Our corrupt inclinations aduantage to Satan Eph. 5. 11. Tit. 2. 12. Rom. 13. 12 Rom. 12. 9. Though wee bee tempted we shall not fall Matt. 14. Act. 7. 59. Act. 12. 2. Mar. 13. 33 Mat. 24. 42. The Parable of the Thiefe Luk. 12. 39. 2. Cor. 6. 6. 1. Pet. 3. 10 11. Ecclus. 4. 20 The generall Audit is at hand therefore to prepare our account Mat. 18. 24 2. Pet. 3. 10 Mal. 4. 1. Zeph. 1. 14. 15 16. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Christs second comming fearfull None shal be able to answere the seuere Iudge 1. Cor. 1. 7. Phil. 3. 2. Tim. 4. 8. Luk. 21. 36. Ps. 50. 3 10. Ver. 11. Psal. 42. 5. Psal. 37. 34. Patience Matt. 6. 25. 1. Pet. 5. 7. Psal. 55. 22. 2. Cor. 11. 28 Heb. 13. 7. Matt. 6. 33 Pro. 10. 28. 1. Pet. 3. 9. 1. Pet. 4. 14. Esa. 30. 18. Attendance How feare and desire stand together Example The most diligent may bee found vnprofitable Attention two-fold 1. 2. Attention to selfe imperfections The Husband mans atteÌ„dance and attention Watchfulnesse in patience merits nothing because it is all vnperfect Correction necessarie Counterfeit patience True patience The place of freedome is heauen Gods forbearance to punish Rom. 7. 21 22 23. Verse 19. The opinion of Merit and Workes of Supererogation blasphemie They that can merit need no Repentance Psal. 43. 3. Heb. 11. 6. Iam. 2. 20. Rom. 11. Rom. 8. 24. The Fathers before Christ saw Christ to come Mat. 3. 17. Mat. 17. 5. 2. â—et 1. 17. Heb 9. 24. Patience in the husbandman Gal. 6. 8. Men most miserable but for the hope of another life Iude 20. 21. Vaine and carnall obiections against Faith and Beliefe Ro. 10. 9 10 Ia. 2. 18 19. Iam. 2. 21. Gen. 22. Iam. 2. 23. Faith the gift of God yet ours by imputation Iam. 2. 20. Rom. 14. 23 Heb. 11. 6. Sacrifice of the Masse Act. 7. 49. Heb. 4. 14. 1. Tim. 2. 5. The true vse of the SacrameÌ„t of the Lords Supper Rom. 7. 18 19. and 2. 13. Eph. 2. 8 9. Gal. 5. 4. We cannot suppresse sin but by grace Iob. 1. 16. The benefit of death The glory to come farre exceedes mans vnderstanding Wordes cannot expresse the glorie to come If worldly things be glorious how
23 5. Ios. 5. 10. 17 b  18 c  19 d The 15. of this moneth the Israelite departed out of Egypt Numb 33. 3. 20 e  21 f Calends of May. 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 g  The 16. of this moneth Hezekiah made an end of sanctifying and purging the Temple 2 Chron. 29. 17. 23 A  24 b  25 c  26 d  The 18. of this month the childieÌ„ of Israel walked on drie land through the midst of the red sea Exod. 14 19. 27 e  28 f  29 g  30 A Day before the Calends of May. The 24 Daniel saw his vision Dan. 10 4.    The 25. of this moneth the feast of S. Marke is obserued 5. May called of the Latins Maius hath 31. daies Graecians Scriâ—ophorion Hebrevves Liar vvhich is their 2. moneth 1 b Calends The first of this Moneth Moses vvas commanded to number the children of Israel Numb 1. 1. c. 2 c  3 d Nones of May. 6 5 4 3 4 e  5 f  The 5. of this Moneth Christ is thought to haue ascended vp into heauen Mar. 16. 9. Luk. 24. 51. Act. 19. They which could not keep the Passeouer at the day appointed by the Lord vvere willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this month Nu. 39. v. 10. 11. So did the Israelites at the commandement of King Hezekiah 2. Ch. 30. 15. 6 g Day before the N. 7 A Nones of May. 8 b  9 c  10 d Idus of May. 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 e  12 f  13 g  14 A Day before the Id 15 b Idus of May. 16 c  17 d  The 16. day Manua rained from heauen Exod. 16. 14 18 e  19 f  The 17. day Noah entred the Arke and the floud began Gen. 7. 11. 13. 20 g  21 A  22 b Calends of Iune 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 The 22. fire from Heauen consumed such as murmured against the Lord Nu. 11. 23 c  24 d  25 e  The 23. the Israelites with great ioy triumphingly entred into the Castle of Ierusalem 1. Mac. 13. 51. 26 f  27 g  28 A  29 b  Noah the 27. the wateâ— being dried vp came foorth of the Arke Gen. 8 14. c. 30 c  31 d Day before the Calends of Iune The first of this Moneth is vsually celebrated for the feast of Philip and Iacob 〈◊〉 Iune called of the Latins lunius hath 30. daies Graecians Ekatâ—mbâ—iâ—n Hebrewes Siuan which is their third moneth 1 e Calends The first comming of the childreÌ„ of Israel vnto mouÌ„t Sinai was the 1. of this moneth where they abode 11. moneths and 20. daies in which time all those things were done recorded in Exod. cap 19. 1. c. 2 f Nones of Iune 4 3 3 g  4 A Day before the N. 5 b Nones of Iune 6 c  7 d  8 e Idus of Iune 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 f  The sixth of this moneth Alexander that mighty Monarch of the world was borne of whom Dan. c. 11. 3. doth proÌ„phesie Also on this day that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus numbred among the 7. wonders of the world was set on fire by Herostratu The Iewes likewise kept their feast of Pentecost on this day 10 g  11 〈◊〉  12 b Day before the Id 13 c Idus of Iune 14 d  15 e  16 f  17 g  18 A  19 b  20 〈◊〉  21 d Calends of Iuly 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 e  The 23 of this month the first edict came out for the safetie of Gods people the Iewes against Haman and the rest of their enemies Esther 8 9. 23 f  24 g  25 A  26 b  27 c  28 d  The 29. of this month the Arke of Noah through the increase of waters was lifted vp from the earth Gen. 7. 12. 29 e  30 f Day before the Calends of Iuly       Festiuall daies in this moneth are the 24. which is the feast of S. Iâ—â— Baptist. 29. which is S. Peters 7. Iuly called of the Latins Iulius hath 31. daies Graecians Metageitmon Hebrewes Thamus being their 4. moneth 1 g Calends  2 A  The 5. of this moneth Ezechiel saw his visions Ezech. 1. 1. 3 b Nones of Iuly 6 5 4 3 4 c  5 d   6 e Day before the N. The 6. of this moneth the Capitol of Rome counted one of the 7. wonders of the world was burned and the mirror of Christian Princes King Edward the sixt died the sixt of this moneth Anno â—553 7 f Nones of Iuly 8 g  9 〈◊〉  10 b Idus of July 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 c  12 d  13 e  14 f Day before the Id.  15 g Idus of Iuly  16 A  The 9. of this moneth Ierusalem after it had a long while been besieged by Nebuchadnezzar was taken Ier. 39 2. 17 b  18 c  19 d  20 e  21 f   22 g   23 A Calends of August 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 The 〈◊〉 of this month Iulius Caesar the first Roman Emperor was borne Of him is this moneth called Iuly 24 b  25 c  26 d  27 e   28 f  The 18. of this month the Egyptians begin their yere Plin. lib. 8. cap. 47. 29 g  30 A  31 b Day before the Calends of August  The 25. of this moneth is the feast of S. Iames the Apostle and vpon this day K James was crowned King of England 1â—â—3 8. August called of the Latins Augustus hath 31. daies Graecians Boedromion Hebrewes Ab which is their 5. moneth 1 c Calends  2 d Nones of August 4 3 The first of this moneth Aaron 40. yeeres after the childreÌ„ of Israel were come out of Egypt died on mouÌ„t Hor Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra with his coÌ„pany came out of Babel vnto Ierusalem Ezra 7. 9. 3 e  4 f Day before the N. 5 g Nones of August 6 A  7 b  8 c Idus of August 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 d  10 e   11 f   12 g Day before the Id The 7. of this moneth Nebuchadnezzar burnt the house of the Lord and â—l Ierusalem 2. King 25. 8. 9. 13 A Idus of August 14 b  15 c  16 d   17 e   18 f  The 10. of this moneth some thinke Ierusalem to haue been burnt by the Babylonians Ierem. 52. 12. Iosephus lib. 5. cap. 26. said it was burned afterward by the Romans the same day Therefore doe
sinners I had perished through thy iust iudgement long agone euen in my youth for as soone as I was able to speake though vnderstanding little I indeuoured to excuse my childly errors with vntruths falshood lying growing to mans estate and to the abilitie to act greater sinnes I omitted no one forbidden vanitie offered to any of my sences but greedily imbraced it and as I increased in yeeres and in strength to sinne so did I increase in cōmitting wickednesse neither reuerencing thee nor seeking to know thee or to obey thee according to my dutie but rebelled against thee and thy Lawes as if thy threats against sinne and sinners had been only to terrifie and not to punish them And thy promises of spirituall comforts and future happines had been only to withdraw mee from my carnall delights wherein I reposed all my felicitie perswading my selfe there was no danger in sin nor reward for well-doing Thus foolish was I and ignorant by nature shewing that I had no originall goodnesse in mee but corrupt in my conception sinfull in my birth and wicked in my life and consequently the childe of wrath This masse of miserie befell me by the fall of the first man ADAM in whom I was first good and pure and righteous and holy like vnto thee O God of heauen And had not Adam defaced that Image of sanctitie in himselfe I should haue remained holy as thou art holy for euer But by his disobedience I lost in him all obedience towards thee and became a Rebell like vnto him euen in his loynes for in him I was conceiued in sinne and through the corruption of that my conception I only bring forth iniquitie Beeing thus miserably cast downe from glorie to shame from light to darknesse from sanctitie to sin from Heauen to Hell to whom shall I appeale for reliefe whose aide shall I craue for the obtayning of thy fauour loue againe for being depriued of thee I am dead being aliue if I die without thee I die eternally But Lord now I know thee and whom thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST and I know that in thy seuere iustice through him thou remembrest mercie and in thy fierce wrath thou shewest compassion which in nothing appeareth so much as in the performance of thy promise in sending thy Sonne the Seede of the Woman who according to thy Couenant hath conquered Satan and trodden downe the Serpent by whome our first Parents were inuenomed and stung vnto death and I in them But now in and by that sacred Seede Iesus Christ that poysonous sting is remoued and all beleeuers restored to life Therefore Lord Iesu thou Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon me take away my sins wash me and make mee cleane through thy bloud from all my filthinesse giue me a liuely faith to take hold of thy merits and to depend vpon thy promises of saluation And that I may apply thy salutarie death vnto my sicke and diseased soule wounded by the dart of sinne and guilt of disobedience set thy righteousnesse against my sins and thine obedience to my disobedience couer me with the Robe of thine owne Innocencie that the foulenesse of my deseruings may be hidden from mine highly-offended God who by promise will impute thy most absolute integritie to be mine as he imputed and laid all the sinnes of Adams posterity vpon thee as thine Lord now at the last lighten mine vnderstanding purifie my heart sanctifie my will order all mine affections and actions and rectifie so my conuersation as I may walke as thy truly adopted sonne in holinesse and true righteousnesse and be kept euer blamelesse vntill the glorious appearing of Christ my Sauiour in whose name I now come vnto thee most louing and mercifull Father beseeching thee for his sake that I feeling and confessing the hainousnesse of my sinnes past and groning vnder the burden of them may feele the release and ease of them in that I through thy holy Spirit am assured and stedfastly doe beleeue that CHRIST my most louing Redeemer hath borne the burden of them euen for me Grant deare Father that I being assured hereof in my conscience may be renewed in the inner man through thy grace that I may hate detest and abhor sinne and indeuour to liue according to thy will all the dayes of my life And for as much gracious Lord God as I must here continue during thine appointed time in this dangerous wildernesse of many vanities subiect to many troubles tryed with many temptations and compassed with many and infinite miseries and dangers hauing of my selfe no succour no defence no safetie but in thine alone fauour power and prouidence I humbly pray and beseech thee O mercifull Lord God to looke downe from heauen vpon me in mercy and louing kindnesse Shew mee thy wayes teach mee thy pathes leade mee euer in thy Truth and instruct me in the things that I ought to learne and learne mee how to practise to leade my life according vnto the same lest I follow vanities and delight in sinne lest I fall into troubles and there bee none to deliuer mee lest Sathan preuaile against me and I fall from thee and lest I fall into dangers and perish in my miseries Turne thy face towards me O Lord and cheere me with the brightnesse of thine amiable countenance for when thou turnest thy face from me I faint and when thou hidest thy countenance I fall fearefully As long as thou art with me I am safe when thou leauest mee then troubles afflict me enemies insult me and triumph ouer me I am then subiect to all miseries Satan with his temptations preuaileth my corrupt affections misleade me the world with vanities distract me and I am not able to looke vp my heart is cast downe my mind is estranged from all goodnesse and my will is carried into all forbidden things So that I am as a dead man or rather no man but the meere image of a man in whom dwelleth neither right reason nor humane vnderstāding a beast in thy sight Hide not therefore thy face from me O Lord nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure Thou hast been euer and in all things my succour leaue me not now O Lord nor forsake me O God of my saluation But continue thy loue and fauour towards mee that I may againe recouer my spirituall strength and be enabled to serue thee with a faithfull constant and obedient heart vnto the end In my necessitie furnish me O Lord with all competent meanes for the maintenāce of my present life and estate here in plen tie make me truly thankefull in want patient in sicknesse be thou my Physician and heale me and preuent Satan that he in the time of my finall visitation ouer charge me not laying before the eyes of my weake conscience my sins past but arme me with the assurance of thy mercies and with a liuely hope of future glorie with thee in the heauens
horrible thunder and all things shall bee suddenly surprized by the greatnesse of his Maiestie that shall appeare with flames of fire And many that shall liue to behold this fearefull Apparition as all men shall remayning aliue in that Day for none shall bee able to shut their eyes and the eyes of them that are now rotten in the graues shall be opened shall seeke to hide themselues from the face of that most terrible Iudge but in vaine The sight of the Iudge that can condemne but the bodie is fearfull to the offendor What then will the sight of this Iudge of Iudges bee vnto the wicked to sinfull and secure worldlings who comes not with a mortall Sherife accompayned with a Trayne of fantasticall Attendants but with millions of Angels at whose presence the Heauens shall shrinke away with a noyse the Elements shall melt with â—eate and the earth with the works thereof the great and glorious Buildings and the things therein shall bee burnt with vnquenchable Sulpher O who will not consider this who will not watch and be sober knowing that this great and terrible Day this Day of Wrath is comming and at hand a Day of Wrath to the wicked but to them that feare God in loue and liue in his feare a Day of ioy and gladnesse there fore shal they hold vp their heads for their redemption draweth neere Seeing then that all things that wee see and here enioy the Heauens aboue vs the Earth beneath vs the Seas and all things in them shall bee thus consumed and wee know not how soone nor when one particular iudgement namely the day of our death shall be What manner persons ought wee to bee appeare must euery man and answere answere alas what can we answere to him that comes not to iudge the bodie onely which yet is terrible but the soule and bodie not to a temporall punishment but to eternall torment The stoutest cannot but be stricken dumbe at the very sight of this great Iudge who will giue sentence according to that euery one hath done in the flesh good or euill O that I could therefore clense my heart from euill to good I cannot it is the worke of the Spirit of God in mee which hee worketh euen of his owne good pleasure freely therfore I pursuing this good begunne in mee daily going on from faith to faith from grace to grace I shall become fit through Gods acceptance in Iesus Christ to waite for the Day of death or the generall dissolution with gladnesse It is the rich grace of GOD bestowed on me whereby I haue my conuersation in Heauen from whence I looke for the comming of my Sauiour the Lord Iesus In whom and by whom there is laid vp for mee the Crowne of Righteousnesse and not for me only but for all them that loue and looke for his second appearing I will therefore watch and pray by the grace of GOD continually that I may bee counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that I may stand before the Sonne of man without feare A Prayer for continuall watchfulnesse that neither the generall nor the particular Day of Iudgement come vpon mee vnprouided The Prayer O Lord my God in Jesus Christ who art terrible and fearefull euen to them that séeke thée how much more fearfull wilt thou appeare when thou settest thy wrathfull countenance against the wicked such as now haue no feare of thy Name Giue me I pray thée a continual watchful heart euer to bée exercised in diuine and heauenly things and leaue mee nor vnto mine owne affections which are by nature full of corruption and sinne wherein if thou shouldest take mee suddenly I should be found a most vnprofitable seruant to bee bound hand and foot and east into vtter darknesse where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth O hide thy face from my sin and blot out all mine iniquities Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free Spirit Why art thou cast down O my Soule and vnquiet within me waite on God he neuer faileth them that trust in him Waite thou on the Lord O my Soule keepe his way and he shall exalt thee that thou shalt inherit the Land euen the Land of Promise Spirituall Canaan new Ierusalem When the wicked shall perish thou shalt see it Such as are blessed of GOD shall inherit the Land And they that bee cursed of him shall be cut off Endue mee therefore good Father with thy grace that I may euer thinke of my end that I presume not vpon long life resting secure as if I had none account to make vnto thée of my time and talents heere receiued of thée and how they haue béene spent by me nor any holy duties required to bee performed in this my Pilgrimage and Banishment where I haue no continuing Citie but I séeke one to come Holy Father giue mée thy Spirit and Grace euer to bring forth heauenly fruits that whensoeuer wheresoeuer or howsoeuer I shall depart hence I may be yet found faithfull and of the number of them whom Christ when hee commeth may find waking in well-doing that the sentence Go ye cursed be not pronounced against me but bee of the societie of them that shall heare Come yee blessed Grant this for Jesus Christs sake in and by whom I haue the promise of eternall life to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee all power and praise ascribed for hee is worthie Lord increase my faith MEDIT. VII WAtchfulnesse then being a principall meane to preuent the sudden surprise that death might make vpon mee there followeth necessarily Patience an inseparable companion of Watchfulnesse which implies care attendance and attention The care here meant is not for any worldly thing for these I cast my care vpon God for he careth for me But such a care as Paul had of all the Churches 2. Cor. 11. 28. seeking the kingdome of God and the righteousnes thereof Matt. 6. 33. then will not God faile mee nor forsake me The care therfore that I couet to haue is how to preuent sinne and flye Securitie which are contrary to a godly care and consequently contrary to true watchfulnesse and therefore farre from true patience which worketh not vpon securitie and carnall peace but vpon wayting for the promise of Redemption This is the patience which the Children of God haue whose patient abiding shall be gladnesse I will not therefore render euill for euill nor rebuke for rebuke but contrariwise I will blesse knowing that I am thereunto called that I should be the heire of blessing 1. Pet. 3. 9. And if I be rayled on for the name of Christ shall I discouer my weakenesse through impatience no there is a blessing promised for the Spirit of glorie and of God resteth on
whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne And therefore the opinion of meritorious works and works of supererogation I beleeue cannot be grounded on a true sauing faith for to assume selfe-power to doe good and there-by to merit saluation is meerely against Christ and his merits as is also the pretēded propitiatorie sacrifice of the Masse and the reall being of Christs flesh in the Eucharist not onely not necessary to enter into my beliefe but rather that I beleeue that the death of Christ once for all apprehended by a liuely faith and his merits applyed for the pardon of my sinnes to my vnderstanding 〈◊〉 is a 〈◊〉 sufficient for the washing away of the sins of as many as doe truely beleeue and earnestly repent and doe receiue in that faith the sacramentall signes of the breaking of his body and sheading of his bloud vpon the crosse namely bread and wine faithfully I beleeue that Christ cōtinues really in heauen sitting at the right hand of God a continuall and alone Mediator euen for me and that the heauens shall so contayne him vntill his second comming vntill which time the Sacrament is left vnto all beleeuers to be a remembrance vnto them of his death which is a sufficient propitiation for the sinnes of all beleeuers I doe therefore beleeue that the holy Ghost possessing my heart at my participation of that holy Sacrament worketh faith in me which faith looketh backe vnto the death of Christ vpon the crosse beholding as it were by the eye of the same faith the breaking of his bodie and the powring out of his bloud euen then sacramētally represented vnto mee by the bread broken signifying his bodie and by the wine powred out signifying his bloud which I corporally eating and drinking I doe as verily taste of the vertue of Christs death in my heart by faith as I do taste in my mouth the bread wine And this I beleeue to be the true vse of this holie mystery whereof all faithfull receiuers do no otherwise partake of Christs bodie now crucifyed then the faithfull Iewes did partake of him in eating the Paschall Lambe prefiguring the death of Christ to come as now we solemnize the commemoration of his death past but that they had it vnder a more darke vayle which now being taken away appeareth to vs most perspicuously and cleerly MEDIT. X. Christ elected none for foreseene workes I Doe not beleeue that GOD elected me for the foreseen good works that I would doe for I disclayme all inherent goodnesse by nature and doe belieue that God giues me both will and the power to doe good and all the good that I doe I acknowledge to be of God and the euill that I doe to bee of my selfe therefore the good that I doe I doe not beleeue to be the cause but the effect of mine election I confesse that God did foreknow I would doe good not but that hee likewise forepurposed to indue me with his owne Spirit whereby I should doe it therefore is not the worke mine but the Spirits that God hath giuen me for if I should beleeue that God foresaw the good that I setting the Spirit of God aside should doe and therefore did elect mee were it not to beleeue that mine own workes were the cause of mine election and so assume vnto my selfe power to worke mine owne saluation which God forbid God giues the wil and the power to worke and rewards the worke not as a debt hee owes mee for my worke but as he first gaue me the will and the power freely so hee rewards not my work but manifesteth his mercie wherein hee likewise as hee freely elected mee so hee freely bestowes vpon me his saluation through his owne meanes and therefore I rather vtterly condemne my best works then to expect any meritorious reward for them I feele the force of mine owne corruption daily and that appeares in the whole course of my life by the fruits which of them-selues are euer euill which I cannot suppresse but by the grace of GOD in Christ. If I knewe nothing by my selfe to yeeld me cause of doubt yet were not I thereby iustified But I know no good in my selfe what shall I say then am I condemned God forbid for as God did freely elect mee so hee freely iustifies mee not for mine owne good workes the best of which are imperfect but of his owne free mercie by imputing Christs righteousnesse and merits vnto me in whom and with whom a Crowne of glorie is laid vp in heauen euen for mee from whose fulnesse I receiue euen here grace for grace whereby and not by any meanes of mine owne I doe grow and increase and the elder I waxe in Christ the more I fasten my roote and the more I flourish in the Spirit for They that are planted in the Courts of the Lord shall flourish in their age and bring forth fruit and happy are they that are in Christ Iesus whom neither life nor death nor things present nor things to come shall separate from the loue of God Shall not Death then separate me from Christ no it shall not only not separate me but it shall bring me into his Real and Royall presence into his Kingdome of glorie new Ierusalem where I shall see his Maiestie as farre to exceed the glorie of Salomon in the day of his magnificent Coronation as the Sunne exceedes in brightnesse the darkest and blackest cloud Is this then the hurt that Death can doe vnto mee and shall I feare it will a wise man refuse a rich possession for not passing to it by an ordinarie bridge by which hee hath seene millions goe before him And shall I desire to dwell in this base and beggerly cottage this ruined and rotten house of clay in labour trauaile care feare trouble enuie griefe and a thousand miseries rather then passing by the ordinaire way of death to inherit a glorious Kingdom God forbid I desire farre rather to be with CHRIST in glorie which glorie I beleeue farre surpasseth both what is or can be spoken or conceiued of it The very Angels that presently partake of it cannot expresse it nay the holy Ghost though hee doe assure vs that it is prepared for all Gods elect yet the very fulnesse of it is not reueiled words cannot so sufficiently declare it as that the most illuminate man can expresse it not Paul himselfe though hee were taken vp into the third Heauen where hee heard and no doubt sawe wonderfull things yet could hee not discouer them to the full apprehension of any mortall But by the glorie that God hath reueiled in his works by the Firmament the Sunne the Moone the Stars the Seas the Earth the order and course of all his creatures visible may leade vs to iudge by way of comparison That if the things for the vse of mortall men here bee so wonderfull and glorious what are they
punishments But in stead of ouer-pressing mee with troubles hee mitigatâ—s euen the small corrections that hee sendeth nay rather which I draw as it were vpon my selfe And among other dangers I find pouerty and want not the easiest to bee borne neither can my debts bee long borne withall for I see a necessitie inforceth that which my will is readie but I am vnable to performe And therefore no small portion of affliction oppresseth mee for as I acknowledge my selfe worthily inferior to other men in Vertues so in greatnesse for as by birth I had no pricefull patrimonie so hath not the World affoorded mee a gaiâ—full facultie yet labour I though I lacke What shal I say or thinke Is God only gracious vnto the worldly-glorious and hath he not regard to such as are of a meane estate in this life Doth the Holy Ghost visit the soules of the wealthy with comfort in their carnall fulnesse and delights and leaueth hee the poore forlorne and comfortlesse here Nothing lesse but as Christ had meat to eat that his Disciple knew not of so the poorest of Gods Children haue their inward and spirituall consolation such as worldly and carnall men know not of But what is this to the satisfaction of the World can my inward and spirituall wealth pay worldly debts It may bee a good meanes thereof for God hath promised vnto the faithfull that hee will bee their helping Father what they want he will in his 〈◊〉 supply though hee delay the performance of his promise the more to occasion mee to pray yet iâ— his promise yea Amen as truly to bee performed as if it were already done But saith the fleshly minde it is long looked for And it is but foolish idlenesse of a curious braine that seekes not timely meanes by right or wrong to releeue his wants nay that indeuours not his owne aduancement in this life as doe such as are carefull to prouide for themselues and their posterities Thus the worldly man speaketh to his own heart not vocally but by his present greedinesse of thiâ— lifes fulnesse Soule take thine ease thou hast enough to whom againe the poorest true and faithfull child of God may answere that in his meanest estate hee resteth as well content and hath through the blessing of God a sweeter and more refreshfull Dinner and Supper with a morsell of Bread or a dish of Roots and Herbes in his poore base and beggerly Cottage yea in a Prison or Dungeon then hath the couetous Glutton faring deliciously euery day It may be said vnto me Why doe I then complaine I answere Not for that I am not rich in Reuenewes in Gold Siluer Iewels Sheepe and Oxen Men-seruants and Maydeseruants nor for that I equallize not others in worldly glorie but for that necessitie a great and powerfull Commander hath me vnder her foot keeping mee low that I cannot rise nor attaine vnto meanes by mine honest endeuours to to pay what I owe only my heart earnestly desireth to owe nothing to any man but loue But this dischargeth mee not of the burden of my Creditours clamours and of the conceiued shame that my penurie procures mee What then what remaineth that I should doe Surely I will waite on God who neuer leaueth those that are his without helpe in their greatest need I will indeuour to satisfie all men their due and my desire shall be in all good conscience to discharge mine vttermost dutie and then I doubt not but God in his Christ will excuse all my enforced defects and although man will not God will accept the will for the deed MEDIT. XII Gods Prouidence sufficient for the faithfull man I Haue learn'd that man liueth not by bread only but by the Word of God which contayneth such and so many sweet promises of Gods presence with mee and of his Prouidence ouer mee as I laying them vp in my heart by Faith am fed with that blessed sacietie of spirituall and inward comforts which maketh the new man to grow daily in all fulnesse of heauenly contentment drowning and swallowing vp all superfluous cares of this life wherein I am indeed seene to liue and yet I speake as I desire I wish to haue my conuersation totally in Heauen As I haue a corporall being so I conuerse in the Earth and earthly things but I haue also a spirituall and so I haue my conuersation spirituall namely in Heauen from whence I receiued my spirituall life And where after this life I know I shall liue euer The true Child of God liues here but in shew of his bodily presence his inward part which is his regenerate minde is alwaies coÌ„uersant in heauen which is his home but the carnal and vnregenerate man hath both his visible and inuisible parts set especially on worldly things conuersant with the vanities of this world in spirituall darknesse Heauen I confesse in respect of the locall situation thereof is farre aboue the apprehension of my naturall eyes yet by the grace of God I apprehend such spirituall comforts from heauen as I beleeue they are euen here the very true earnest of that ioy which I shall hereafter receiue at full and though this earnest bee not the quantitie yet it is of the qualitie of the heauenly ioy there laid vp for mee after this life when and where all corporall miseries shall haue an end and I shall become a free-man of that heauenly Citie where I shal want nothing that is good nor bee oppressed with any thing that is euill But who can bee perswaded of this my happie estate to come considering my hard estate here I cannot in my bodie which is corrupt and sinfull shew anie visible token of the assurance of glory to come as it were from heauen as sanctified Steuen did whose face did shine before his Persecutors as the face of an Angell Such a confirmation of inward comfort in mine afflictions by celestiall visible tokens now needes not for that I striue not to seeme a Saint or to bee so reputed in or of the world though I doubt not but I am so wherein the more sincere I seeme to shew my selfe so much the more procure I the contempt of the world The Kings daughter is all glorious within so the children of God howsoeuer base and abiect they may seeme to the world they are beautifull within They may be outwardly as was poore Lazarus beggerly and full of corporall diseases as was holy Iob in his miseries and were not the doctrine of the bodies resurrectioÌ„ true that I beleeued it could I with patience vndergoe the harsh entertaynment that the world imposes vpon me as crosses miseries emulations enuie pouertie labour with contempt and al sorts of discontents domesticke and forraigne within without in body and minde In all which the assurance of my bodies resurrection to glorie which none but mine owne heart feeleth is the
diuine vnderstanding But GOD sees the blindnes of them that are wise to the world and fooles to God and obserueth also those that are fooles to the world who are wise to GOD. Though he haue his dwelling on high he yet abaseth himselfe to behold things as well in the Earth which is his footestoole as the things in Heauen the throne of his Maiestie And I know and verily beleeue that God is no idle obseruer of the things that befall vnto euery man in this life Some things come to passe euen of his owne meere prouidence for the corporall comfort and reliefe of his distressed children as to the widdow of Sareptha Some to their spiritual comfort as when Philip was sent to the Euâ—uch And some things God tolerates men to atchieue by vnlawful means As Ahab Naboths Vineyard And because things fall not out to an equall allotment to all but some to be aduanced some kept low some in prosperitie some in pouertie some vndeseruing richly rewarded some deseruing not regarded there be that thinke of God as the Syrians did onely to bee a God of the Mountains of great men of the world not of the Vallâ—ies of poore oppressed meÌ„ of the world as if he were not 〈◊〉 God that cared for the poore Whatsoeuer therfore the men of worldly minds think howsoeuer they perswade themselues I doe constantly beleeue that there is nothing great nor small no man high nor low but is vnder Gods Prouidence as touching the successe of whatsoeuer they doe Doth God number the haires of â—â—r heads and put our teares in a bottle and shall I not thinke that hee regardeth ruleth appointeth and disposeth greater things that concerne mee I beleeue that the preferment and dignitie of one and the keeping of another in meane estate is as far from fortune and chance as it is from a mans owne power to adde a cubit to his stature or to make a haire blacke that is white It is not then in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that giueth what euery man runneth for And therefore I thinke that when I haue done all I can by my best and sincerest endeuours to increase my portion I can lawfully adde no more then I haue done to the inlarging of mine estate To heaue to shoue to striue to struggle to insinuate to flatter to cogge to face lye and deceiue are as easily learned as to be an honest man And hee that is either ignorant of or not apt in practice of these he may liue censured 〈◊〉 simple man but no laudable Politician but of a base weak and deiected condition of which ranke I am numbred But I may answere my Censurers as Dauid did How long will yee iudge vnâ—â—â—â—ly and accept the persons of the 〈…〉 yet there is no doubt but that many rich and wealthy men may bee free from the former kind of policie and haue innoâ—ent hearts and cleane hands MEDIT. XVII Not good to yeeld to euill meanes to get wealth IT is a fearefull thing to yeeld vnto vnlawfull motions and meanes to become rich by the Examples of Achan and Gehezi whom God gaue vp to their couetous hearts and to walke according to their own counsels whose rewards well weighed may make others as I desire to beware yet according to the course of common carnall policie these were wise fellowes and prouident There was not so thriftie a fellow in all the Campe of Israel as Achan was for although many precise and scrupulous Fooles past by and neglected the wedge of Gold hee thought it wisdome to singer it though a curse were laid vpon it hauing learned belike of Horace That none but Fooles will refuse Gold that can get it A foolish Proposition without a disiunction and restriction Gold indeed is lawfull lawfully gotten not contrarie Elisha refused but Gehezi his seruant tooke the forbidden reward as many seruants of great men at this day doe who haue not Elishaes spirit to follow and discouer them But he that gaue the spirit to Elisha knows all altogether though the Achans and Gehezies of this olde politike World haue learned to bee more secret vnseene and vn-noted They grow wealthy vn-awares to men hauing but some colourable office or trade who can taxe them with Talents of Siluer or Wedges of Gold Only they are admired for their wit much reuerenced for their wealth gazed on for their glorie and flattered for their felicitie and therefore thinke they are euen here in the very bosome of Paradise and in so high fauour of God as they could bee content to dwell here in the Earth with that contentment they now haue all eternities seldome or neuer calling to mind that they must dye and that it may bee suddenly as others doe and that they must yeeld an account both for the getting and vsing of their wealth and greatnesse God is not ignorant of Briberies Extortions Oppressions and wrongs that men vnlawfully commit in their lawfull callings as they with Gehezi thinke he is no he knowes their thoughts much more secretest Briberies nicely termed Gratuities Gehezi was leprozed for one and that a seeming lawfull Gratuitie and should I thinke to escape a more deadly leprosie by such and so many extorted Gratuities plaine Briberies as I might take to make me rich One common Gratuitie nor twentie can effect that which some men bring to passe vnder colour of some imployments The benefit whereof lawfully taken cannot so much and so speedily enrich them as they are obserued to enrich themselues partaker of whose secrets let my soule neuer be Vnhappie is hee that cannot liue contentedly in a lawfull calling by the fruits of the lawfull execution of the same and more vnhappie is he that to increase his competent estate doth vse vnlawfull and forbidden meanes Such a man no doubt is ignorant that the feare of God is great riches and that godlinesse is gaine Neither of which can stand with a couetous desire of superfluous riches For the feare of God and godlinesse are Twins borne at one birth by the Siprit of God working by faith which brings forth hope both which they seeme to want that are sollicitous and ouer-greedie to get the pelfe and pillage of the World who cannot containe themselues within the limits prescribed by the Holy Ghost namely In whatsoeuer estate wee are therewith to bee content not caring for too morrow as doubting of Gods Prouidence but hauing food and rayment to be therewith satisfied This Doctrine though it be Christs owne is too restrictiue it is a hard and harsh Commandement so contrary to the practice of carnall-minded men as many of them would eyther wish it striken out of the Booke or to heare such a pleasing glosse vpon it as might moderate the seueritie of it They are content to take what the time present will afford them yet they thinke it not sufficient
true peace with or in the World and happie is hee that hath warres with it and peace with God But here is the miserie of miseries hence is griefe hence often vpbraydings especially domesticke the want of daintie fare gay and fashionable garments and the want of meanes to preferre and aduance Posterities is the Houshold Breake-peace and to auoid this miserie some runne into a mischiefe vsing sinister and vnlawful means to satisfie the World and worldly mindes displeasing God to please vaine fantasies yet for a time it is sweet and pleasant yeelding a kind of content and carnall comfort such as CHRIST fore-told that Worldlings should haue in this life as the Rich man in the Gospell had but GODS owne Children should haue contrarie enentertainmēt in the world they should want weepe and lament as Lazarus did and as their estates of wealth and want pleasure and paine faith and infidelitie doe differ so do their ends for fulnes and want mirth and mourning ioy and sorrow idlenesse and labour stand not together in this life neither yeeld they like comfort or calamitie after death There are but two extremes in riches and pouertie but their degrees are infinite so are there of pleasure and paine after this life The true vse of riches and the patient acceptance of a meane estate are equall and receiue eequall proportion of reward So the abuse of riches and the impatient vndergoing of a poore estate shall be equally punished whether therefore I bee poore or rich I am in neither happie but so farre as I walke in either of them in the feare and loue of God that giues both for the good of the good and to the reproofe of them that abuse either O happie is that heart that harbours the hope of heauenly things it is contentedly satisfied with the smallest portion the world doth yeeld and yet resteth not idle in well-doing but carefully indeuoreth so to liue as willingly not to be chargeabe to any desiring rather to bee able to helpe the needie and to owe nothing but good will to any Naked came I into the World poore and in a meane estate I liue and naked I must goe hence as touching my spirituall part I shall be clothed with the Robe of my Redeemers merits in the Heauens vntill my bodie shall be raysed againe and then reunited vnto my soule and both become one bodie clothed with eternall glorie And therefore Come Lord Iesus come quickly and finish these dayes of sinne that I may partake of thy glorie THE HVSBANDS Christian counsell to his Wife and Children left poore after his death PART 1. Death certaine his comming vncertaine BY the former Discourse ye may perceiue that Death will certainly come vpon mee and you as vpon all men but when where or how no man knowes and that after death all shall come to Iudgement and yeeld account for whatsoeuer they haue done in this life and therefore wee all should prepare vs against the time by continuall watchsulnesse in well-doing You may also conceiue and I know you haue too well experimented my poore estate to bee such as I cannot leaue behinde me such testimonies of my worldly happinesse as many other men doe to them they leaue behinde them that may challenge some remembrance by their worldly substance And therefore in stead of such commemorations I desire before I goe hence and bee no more seene to leaue such token of my loue towards you as I can that you may likewise remember mee in Christian imitation after my death wishing you to take that in good part at my hands that I shall giue you in counsell though words I know make none wealthy In stead therefore of Possessions and Pecuniary Portions I wish you euer to esteeme the fauor loue and prouidence of God your chiefest riches who as he hath been euer mine so will hee bee assuredly yours if in faith yee serue him and seeke him Bee yee therefore patient in that which in this life necessitie inforceth to be vndergone howsoeuer hard and vnsauourie it bee to flesh and bloud and make of that necessitie a vertue which if bee taken with grudging turnes into sinne The time will not bee long which will giue end to the greatest miseries then what difference can there bee obserued betweene them that haue abundance and them that haue least they shall carrie equall portions to their graues only nakednesse which both the rich and poore the glorious and the base brought into the World with them yet their future portions may differ as did the Rich mans and Lazarus Let vs therefore as long as we liue together couple and comfort our hearts together in the Lord whose pleasure it is and that in loue to keepe vs low in this World to the end wee should not be transported from the loue of heauenly to earthly things the best whereof is our bodie which yet is compared to a Flowre that fades and comes to nothing If therefore pouertie and afflictions continually possesse vs and presse vs downe euen vnto our liues ends Let vs rest euer faithfull cleauing constantly vnto God for hee careth for vs so shall wee bee the lesse carefull for worldly things Care not for your liues saith Christ namely what yee shall eate or what yee shall drinke nor for your bodies what yee shall put on for the bodie is more worth then meate and of more value then rayment bee it neuer so precious yet shall it naturally rot as the Garment doth but so much the more precious is the bodie though it perish by how much it shall bee futurely glorified But the bodies of the disobedient and wicked are so much the more base and vile then is a garment by how much it shall not so totally perish as the garment doth but bee reserued and raysed to endlesse torments The fowles of the ayre are brought in by Christ to teach man to cast his care vpon God Who careth for the verie fowles though they sow not nor reape nor carrie into barnes yet they are fedde and nourished by God but they are not idle for as God hath ordained food for them so are they to flye to and fro to seeke it teaching as not to rest careles of lawfull labours though Christ say Care not for to morrow but rather that we should bee so much the more industrious euery where by all meanes at all times in our lawfull callings omitting no opportunitie lawfully to encrease our store Christ likewise by way of comparison brings in the Lillyes of the field setting their glorie to the glorie of our corrupt bodies shewing that although wee labour and toyle and carke and care and busie our bodies and braynes about superfluous and vanishing things wee can neuer bee comparable to the glory of the Lilly other glorious beautifull flowers no not Salomon in his most glorious robes yet as glorious as these
God on your side and his Minister the Magistrate in his stead to defend you Troubles and aduersities of themselues as they are sent of God are to be borne with more then patience euen with ioy they shall cause your mindes to bee set on things profitable and will make you wise in learning good things Therefore saith Dauid It is good for mee that I haue beene in trouble that I might learne thy Statutes PART IIII. The benefit of aduersities ADuersities bring those that are much exercised with them to the contempt of earthly and desire of heauenly things Paul that sanctified Vessell of God had many afflictions imprisonments whippings scourgings stonings reproches which hee yet imbraced for the loue of Christ and they wrought in him a hatred of worldly things and desired only to be disselued to be with Christ his Master in Glorie acknowledging that Christ was his as he is our life and death was to him as it shall bee to vs if wee liue here in him aduantage The light affliction which yee shall here indure but for a moment shall cause vnto you a farre most excellent and eternall weight of Glorie Therefore looke not on with a longing desire for the things of this life which are seene but for the things that are not seene for The things that are seene are temporall but the things that are not seene are eternall Who then would not rather long to bee clothed with that House which is from Heauen then to remaine here in a base Cottage full of troubles and most vncertaine whatsoeuer yee indure here yee cannot merit by it for it is only either in way of a punishment for sinne or sent of God to preuent sinne I account not saith Saint Paul that the afflictions of this present time are worthy of the glorie which shall bee futurely shewed me If Pauls afflictions could not merit the glorie to come how much lesse shall yours or mine Wee must make our account before-hand not to goe to Heauen by eating and drinking by getting and hoording by pleasure and profit but through hunger nakednesse Pouertie Enemies and many troubles and afflictions Therefore saith the Wiseman Refuse not the chastening of the Lord neither be grieued with his correction for whom the Lord loueth him hee correcteth euen as the father doth the childe in whom he delighteth So that afflictions approue you the Children of God if with patience yee endure chastening for by correction God offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto sonnes and if yee bee without correction whereof all the Children of God are partakers then are yee bastards and no sonnes PART V. Great difference betweene the Children of GOD and Worldlings THere is in deede great difference betweene the children of God and the men of this World in this life for Uerily verily saith CHRIST I say vnto you vnto his owne yee shall weepe and lament but the World Worldlings shall reioyce and yee shall sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy and your ioy shall no man take from you Seeing the God of Truth affirmeth this good from the seeming euill of affliction I hold correction which comprehendeth all aduersities to be good for that it maketh prosperitie the sweeter wheÌ„ it comes and to learn vs how to behaue our selues in both as to be patieÌ„t in the one and not to waxe proud in the other but in what estate soeuer ye bee to bee therewith content as was Saint Paul Who had learned not of the World though in the World to know how to bee abased and how to abound Euery where and in all things hee was instructed both to be full and to be hungrie hee was able to doe all things through Christ that strengthened him It is not then in our power to beare afflictions and to endure all things with patience namely troubles and to be thankfull in prosperitie it is the gift of GOD in Christ wherefore seeing yee suffer according to the will of God commit your soules to him in well-doing as vnto a most faithfull Creator Yee see then that it is necessarie for you sometimes to suffer afflictions that ye may call to minde your sinnes the cause of your afflictions and then the remedie of your sinnes The whole need not the Phisician but they that are sicke The rich need not to seeke God they haue enough but the poore that want Therefore doe the poore and needie and men afflicted yeeld him more honour then the â—ich and prosperous and are euer more occupied in spirituall exercises then they to whom all things doe so prosperously succeed as they scarcely haue leisure to thinke on the calling vpon God Trouble no doubt is irke some to a carnal mind but to them that feare God acceptable keeping them from securitie For as long and as often as the Israelites enioyed peace and prosperitie they became secure carelesse of seruing of God and to forget his blessings But when troubles came vpon them and Enemies beset them then they sought the Lord and he deliuered them out of their distresse Seeke the Lord alwayes and ye shal find rest for your soules Among all other afflictions Pouertie is one of the greatest and by diuers meanes seizeth vpon a man Some actiue some passiue the actiue are inordinate expendings gaming and a riotous and lasciuious life The passiue are either Gods visitations as were Iobs or Selfeidlenesse the Mother of Pouertie the Step-mother of Wisdome and Godlinesse flye therefore these Ryoting and Idlenesse as two dangerous Vipers that deuoure a man ere hee bee aware vse therefore lawfull meanes commanded honest and vertuous endeuours in some necessarie and praise-worthy Profession or calling The Bee and the Ant little Creatures teach you to bee industrious who cannot abide an idle drone or sluggard in their societies Therefore haue they euer sufficient PART VI. The idle presume to haue that they deserue not IDlenesse presupposeth Presumption for how idle soeuer the slothfull person is yet hee presumeth to craue and haue what hee deserueth not neuer comes good successe to him that so presumeth though it succeed sometimes to satisfie his euill desire yet it brings with it an vnsauourie reward such as commonly befalleth him that feareth not God To liue without labour cannot be held libertie for while the bodie is idle the minde is sowing the seeds of sinne and within few dayes he reapes the fruites of sorrow Without good care and diligence no estate can prosper and by industrie the meanest estate is made competent and what is labour It is not as some idle drones account it a burden to the bodie no it is light and easie if the mind be willing to which nothing is more irkesome then idlenesse and corporall ease yet some thinke nothing so consonant and agreeable to their greatnesse as idlenesse or which is as ill euill and forbidden imployments and therefore is not labour simply
daily offend if yee bee truely sorrie for it hee will not cast you off but will receiue you as his sonnes and daughters Mary Magdalen was a woman of a defiled conuersation Peter weake for fear denied his Master Dauid committed two great sinnes Whoredome and Murder Paul persecuted Gods people yet vpon Repentance they all receiued pardon Yee may not therefore imitate them as they were sinners but imitate their Repentance and lye not in your sinnes God indeed is gracious but ye may not sinne that grace may the more abound God for bid for although God be mercifull hee is not totally mercie but is also iust and in his iustice hee might condemne all humane creatures for no man is righteous in his fight And therefore none without Christ in whom all that shal be saued are saued Take theresore holde of him and his mercies and mediation through Faith so were your sins as red as bloud they shal be made as white as snow and were they as Purple bee made as white as wooll by the sheading of his bloud vpon the Crosse. Cast off all feare and despaire therefore only beware of relapses fall not backe againe bee not like the Dogge and the Sow and take heede of presumptuous sinning as to sinne perswading your selues ye will and can repent when yee list and so much the more boldly because ye haue learned that God is mercifull This is to quench his Mercie and to incense his Iustice and to harden your hearts in the custome of sinning so should ye haue Iudgement without Mercie Such as thus sinne against God are enemies to the Crosse of Christ and contemners of the Mercie of God who shall melt away as Waxe at the fire and perish at the presence of God But the Righteous shall bee glad and reioyce yea they shall leape for ioy not the Righteous in their owne opinion or the Righteous in shew but the truly Righteous to whom the Righteousnesse of Christ is freely imputed Take heede therefore that yee assume not vnto your selues to bee righteous for before God there is none no not one righteous in the Earth ye may obiect and say How then shall any man reioyce seeing there is none righteous none in or by their owne inherent Righteousnesse for the best mans actions are in and of them-selues euill euermore without Christ. He therefore that is truely righteous is righteous by imputation not by actuall perfection Abraham nor Isaak nor Iacob nor Iob nor Dauid nor Daniel no not Enoch or Elias nor Peter nor Paul nor that Diuine Apostle Iohn were of them-selues by nature so perfect holy or righteous as that any of them durst to stand vpon their owne merits by them to bee saued no the Blessed Virgin acknowledged Christ to bee her Sauiour Beware therefore of that generation of Vipers Iusticiaries who assume vnto themselues that puritie and power as they do and are able to fulfill all the Commandements and whole Law of God which the most righteous man Christ excepted could neuer doe Christ came to saue Sinners confessing their owne vnworthinesse not such as neede no other workes of Redemption but their owne workes of perfection by which workes they shall bee iudged without the imputation of the worthinesse of Christs Merits vnlesse they repent their iudgement is pronounced alreadie O flye from the hearing of any bewitching tongue whatsoeuer that shall indeuour to make you beleeue that yee may liue without sinne They are Lyers the children of the father of Lyes and would make you Lyers like vnto themselues who though they bee men in shape yet are they Monsters indeed they would seeme Dcified and alas they are Deuils incarnate haue no conuersation with such men yet striue and studie to be perfect namely to attaine vnto such perfection as the dearest children of God can haue in this life Stand not at a stay but endeuour to proceed from faith to faith from one diuine vertue to another vntill yee become perfect in Christ in whom and not in your selues your absolute perfection consisteth and when yee haue done all that yee can acknowledge your selues farre imperfect and vnprofitable seruants for the way to glorie is by humilitie and hee that exalteth himselfe shall be brought low The humble man thinks euery man better then himselfe and thinkes his best actions worthy rather to bee reprooued then rewarded And vpon due consideration of his deserts is so farre from iustifying himselfe as hee is ashamed of his owne vnworthinesse he casts himselfe downe and the Lord lifts him vp But hee that iustifies himselfe lifts himselfe vp and makes himselfe equall with God and God doth cast him downe to haue his portion with Lucifer Remember the reiection of the proud Pharises iustification and the acceptation of the Publicans humiliation your humilitie consisteth in your voluntarie subiection vnto the Ordinances of God who reuealeth vnto the poore in spirit the knowledge of his will and hides it from them that assume vnto themselues knowledge sufficient without the Doctrine of his Word Yee can in nothing bee more like vnto Christ then in meeknesse and humility two adiuncts of Christ not much vnlike in operation The first namely Meekenesse is most properly shewed in your conuersation among men The second which is humilitie sheweth it selfe in patient submitting your selues without any inward discontent to what it pleaseth God to doe with you or against you against you neuer though your carnall vnderstanding may so conceiue it Iob was contented with all his afflictions resoluing himselfe that though GOD would kill him yet would he trust in him And should you professing humilitie grudge when any thing befalls you for your good farre be it from you rather prayse God exalt his Name fall downe before his footstoole imbrace his Discipline for he is holy and to be loued and feared loued in that hee is your God who hath created you and preserued you to bee feared in that hee is iust and may iustly condemne you in the strictnesse of his Iustice. Enter therefore into his gates with prayse and into his Courts with reioycing prayse him and blesse his Name for hee is good his Mercie is euerlasting and his Truth namely the performance of his promises endureth from generation to generation Serue him with gladnesse and come before him euer with ioyfulnesse for though hee be in the Heauens yet looketh hee downe from his holy Sanctuarie to heare the mournings of the Prisoners and to deliuer them that are appointed to death Let your soules therefore euermore prayse the Lord not your tongues and lippes only which are outward and oftentimes Organs of Hypocricie Remember and keepe in minde all his benefits for they are more towardes you then yee are able to number hee for giueth all your sinnes he healeth all your infirmities he giueth you all good things he preserueth you in troubles supplyeth your
wants redeemeth your liues from the Graue and hath prouided for you a Crowne of Glorie And Wife although I your poore Husband shall leaue you a penurious and desolate Widdow hee will bee vnto you a prouiding Husband cleaue vnto him And though I shall leaue you poore fatherlesse children cast your care vpon him he will care for you hee will bee your Father and as a most louing and helping Father obey him as most dutifull and faithfull Children And when the time of my dissolution shall come which cannot be long I must obey and I am readie I shall goe a little before you and yee shall shortly follow if ye goe not before mee which is in God euen to the place of mine assured happines if with faith ye imbrace obey the wil of him that calleth you while ye yet liue as becommeth the Children of so Gracious a Father In the meane time the same God blesse you all with his true Feare continuall Peace and competent Plentie A briefe collection of Diuine comfort for mine owne and the incouragement of euery Christian to dye willingly FOr asmuch as death is the end of this life and this life duly considered an vnpleasant passage to a better and whether it shall bee long or short it behoueth vs to vndergoe with patience in hope whatsoeuer entertainment this World shall afford vs. Iob had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie and painfull nights were appointed vnto him The dayes of Iacobs pilgrimage were few and euill yet some thinke their pleasantest dayes are here in the earth therefore desire no better not so with me knowing that after this life there is layd vp for me a crowne of righteousnes and not for me only but for all them that loue the appearing of the Lord Iesus There is little reason therefore that I or any other that haue tasted and do daily taste of the bitter cup of this liues vanities and miseries should desire longer to be pressed or oppressed there with but rather to comfort my selfe in a godly and patient expectation of the time when my dissolution may come desiring to bee dissolued and to be with Christ to whom no man commeth but he must remooue out of this house of clay and that cannot bee by any other meanes but by death that is by the destruction or change of this earthly Tabernacle either leauing it in the earth for a season or to be taken vp suddenly at Christs second comming but howsoeuer I know and am assured that both soule and bodie shall bee together and for euer be glorified in the end be clothed with a house not made with hands eternall in the heauens Who then can but sigh in desire to be an inhabitant in that house which is perpetuall and glorious I looke for it in hope confidently assuring my selfe that Christ shall bee then magnified in my bodie whether it bee by life or death for whether I liue I liue vnto him or whether I die I die vnto him whether therefore I liue or die I am the LORDS for I know that he whom I haue beleeued is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day wherein my mortall bodie shall bee quickned made like vnto his glorious bodie therefore will I willingly lay downe my life and commit my soule vnto God as vnto my most faithfull Creator A comfortable Meditation and Prayer to bee considered and said by euery Christian being neere the time of his dissolution NOw O Lord now draw néere vnto my soule and redéeme it for the time is at hand wherein I shall taste of the cup of death Now therefore is the acceptable time for thee to receiue my soule in the multitude of thy mercies which are wonderfull therefore doe I trust vnder the shaddow of thy wings my soule cleaueth vnto thée for thy right hand vpholdeth mée My soule thirsteth for thée my flesh longeth greatly after thée whose louing kindnesse is better to mee then life for from thée commeth my saluation Haue mercy vpon mée O God haue mercy vpon me for my soule trusteth in thée and vnder the shaddow of thy wings wil I trust till this my finall affliction be ouer-past My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared to come vnto thée make it constant in thée because I know that although this body for a time shall wither yet it shall be in the house of my God as a gréene Oliue trée euer to flourish and be blessed Thou Lord thou hast chosen me and hast caused me to come vnto thée my saluation is of thine owne frée mercy and of thy frée and Fatherly election I shall dwell in thy Courts for euer and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thy Kingdome of glorie I shall drinke of the Riuers of thy pleasures for with thée is the Well of life and in thy Light I shall sée light Let thy good Spirit leade mee in the Land of Righteousnesse and bring me by thy strength to thy holy and heauenly habitation plant mee in the Mountayne of thine inheritance euen in the place which thou hast prepared and in thy sacred Sanctuarie which thou hast established that I may sée thy goodnesse in the Land of the liuing Let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse and let me be satisfied with the fulnesse of the glorie of thy Countenance for in thy face is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand are pleasures for euermore Into thy hands oh Lord I commend my spirit for thou hast redéemed me O Lord God of truth shew a token of thy goodnesse and fauour towards me that they which wish euill vnto my soule may sée it and be ashamed and they that loue thy Name obserue it and be confirmed in thée who hast euermore holpen me and comforted mée Increase my faith and prepare my soule to come vnto thee AMEN To thee O Lord God only wise and only mercifull be ascribed all praise thanks dominion and glorie for to thee it only belongeth Priuate Prayers for Morning and Euening A Morning Prayer for priuate Families ALmightie LORD GOD most mercifull and louing FATHER Maker and Preseruer of all thy creatures but especially the Sauiour and Sanctifier of all them that beléeue in thée by the merit and vertue of the bloud of Iesus Christ Receiue at the hands of vs thine vnworthy seruants in the Name of Iesus Christ this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies from time to time bestowed vpon vs for electing vs of thine owne free fauour before the world was made for creating vs of nothing in humane and not in the shape of brute creatures for redéeming vs with the most precious death of thine owne Sonne when wee were captiues and slaues vnto Satan for calling vs by the preaching of thy blessed Word and frée Spirit when we were strangers vnto thee for iustifying vs by the